Transcript

Stay with American Family Radio for the next hour as we study God's word

>> Bert Harper: 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. Isaiah. chapter 43, verse one in the middle says, fear not, for I have redeemed you. I've called you by your name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I'll be with you. And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you. What a promise. Now I know this was to Israel, but it's true with God's people as well. God is with us and we want to talk about that today. And Alex McFarlane will be joining us in a little bit. He's teaching, a class but gets through before the hour's over. And when he gets through tomorrow, microphone, he'll be joining us.

AFR is partnering with preborn to provide free ultrasounds for pregnant women

But today we want to start out promoting preborn. it's one of the great partners that afr, works with and pre born is a campaign to Try to find 5000 ultrasounds provided by our listeners to help young women when they come and they find out they're expecting that baby, that when they see that ultrasound it doubles the opportunity and the time that they will choose to keep that baby. What an opportunity this is for you to participate and be a part of what preborn has done is doing and wants to do. And AFR we partner directly with them that that money that you give will go to provide an ultrasound and a pregnancy center somewhere that that baby's life will be saved by. But the neat thing about preborn, they not only do that for the baby, they share with that mother the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ and how he can save their soul. And so preborn man, you're getting the child and the mother of that child an opportunity to have a life that is so much better if they were to choose abortion. And so we want you to be a part of that. In, in the past, so many thousands of babies, lives have been saved, 400,000 babies lives have been saved through preborn. And they are really strategic now in our day when the abortion pill is accounting for more than 60% of the abortions, it's still an opportunity that they can have hope and they can reverse that abortion pill. Even that is possible today. And we thank God for that. $28 provides a free ultrasound. So that means 140 would provide five ultrasounds free for these women who come in and they're abortion minded and they're trying to show them that this life in them is a child, is a baby and they need to save that. And so if you want to be, you could provide an ultrasound machine with $15,000. What an opportunity that is for some of you who have the to do that. And so but we want you, whatever the amount, $28 or anything above that, to be given to preborn to save those babies lives and to share the good news of Jesus Christ with their mothers. If you want to be a part of that, write down these numbers, put them in your phone, have it there so you can do what God would have you to do. The number is 877-616-2396. Let me say it once again, I'll try to slow it down so you can write down every number correctly. 877-616-2396 or you can go to afr.net and donate online. It is secure af afr.net follow the that to preborn and you can donate online as well. So I hope you'll do that. So we believe, Alex and I do, we talk about it all the time. We believe the listeners that listen to, to exploring the word, they want to be involved and this is one of the great ways you can be involved. So I hope you'll do that and I hope you'll pray about it. Because today's the day of prayer and Tuesdays is that day that we just set aside and make prayer a priority. Now that doesn't mean we won't answer some questions if they come up, but it does mean we try to make prayer priority on Tuesday.

With that in mind, uh, I want to just finish chapter 42 real quickly

With that in mind, I want to just finish chapter 42 real quickly. It won't take me but a minute because we're ready to get to 43, which is a great promise. But in 42 verses 1:7 you have the first servant song. We went over that. But then in 10 through 12 you have the singing praises, of who God is. They join in and just praise God for who he is. But then in 13 and 17 you have the shout of the conqueror. In other words, he's Jesus. He's going to be more than a conqueror. He is the great deliverer. And then you have in 1825 the servants of God serving God the way they should and could.

Reed: Let's start in chapter 43, verse one

But that brings us to chapter 43 that we want to spend most of Our time on today especially honestly, the first three verses. And, we're deliberately going to go slow on these. This is a great promise. I've already read part, of one and then part and two. But let's start in chapter 43, verse one. And I want to read it. But now, thus says the Lord who created you, O Jacob. Again, Israel. He who formed you, O Israel. Fear not, for I have redeemed you. I have called you by your name. You are mine now. I just want to say what a position Israel is. That was true for them. He had plans for them. Yes, they were going to go into bondage, into captivity. But God says, man, I haven't forgotten you. I know where you are, and I'm going to bring you back. I'm going to redeem you. And I have called you by your name. Now, there's a beautiful song, and I heard it earlier this week. he knows my name. He knows my every thought. And that is our God. He knows your name. The hairs on your head, they're numbered. Does a sparrow fall to the ground? And he not know that, and even not know it. Take notice of it. And we talked earlier about the surfer, the, Servant song. A, bruised, you know, Reed. He will not break, although it's just ready to blow over. Touch, and it fall over. Our God is such a God and cares for us that that person that is so tender, hurting beyond measure, that woman that is about to have an abortion, or that woman that had the abortion, God still looks upon them and loves them. He loves that baby, that preborn child. And this is our God. So no wonder he says he who formed you. The Bible talks about him forming us in our deepest part. And, and when you see the DNA and how it works together and how it's like knitted together, you see that he formed you. He put it all together, but while you were in your mother's womb, and he took this and that. The color of your eyes, the. The. Your hair, how coarse it may be or how thin it may be, your height. And isn't that awesome to know that God formed you. He made you within mine. It makes me think of John 14, when Jesus said, I go to prepare a place for you. If you read that in the context, it. It makes it sound like he goes and to prepare a place with you in mind. In other words, he has this place for you and me. he. He's designed it. I'm going to even use the word decorate. That may be a little off but it He. He has made it with you in mind. He has that place for you. He formed you. He's prepared a place for you. For I have redeemed you. I've bought you out of slavery. I've brought. I've paid the price to set you free. That's what Jesus Christ did on the cross. He paid the price so you and I could be set free in Him. Not free to do everything we want that would destroy our lives, but freedom to follow him and use our lives for purpose and for his glory. That's exactly what God wants to do. He wants to use you in your life. That he formed you and he made you, set you aside so you could fulfill your purpose. I want to just tell you, it's awesome to know you have a purpose. It's awesome to know what that purpose is. And it's even greater for that purpose to be carried out in your life with God infusing you with power. And so that's what God wants to do. He's Christ in you, the hope of glory. So he says, I have called you by your name. And then these last three words in verse one, you are mine. You've been bought with a price. If you've been saved, you have been bought with a price. And you purchased you. He redeemed you. You are His. Those of you that are born again, you've experienced the new birth, you're His. And he has plans for you. And he goes before you. And we'll get to this in a minute. That doesn't mean everything's going to be smooth. Doesn't mean that there's not going to be hard and difficult times in your life. Matter of fact, Jesus said, as long as you live in this world, you're going to have tribulation, you're going to have trouble. we live in a fallen world, and everybody wants to know, why is this happening, why this happened? Because we live in a world, that is fallen away from what God's purpose is. But God has a plan. And even in these difficult times, Jesus Christ is Lord. And you can't help but think of Jesus, when he came walking on the water, the water was underneath him, and Peter could walk on it until he started looking at the waves and they may have been slapping him in his face. We don't know exactly. I'm going to be interested in hearing that story if Peter's got time to tell me one day when I get to heaven, we'll find that out. But can you imagine that? it's all under his feet. This world is his footstool.

God created us and gave us life, and we matter to him

It's under his feet. And so here in chapter 43, we are looking at what, who's who. God is our position in him. And it finishes up. Verse one. You are mine. Alex, I think you've joined us. When you hear that, those three words, chapter 43, verse one. You are mine. Does that, does that just make your world right with him?

>> Alex McFarland: Amen, indeed. I mean, that almighty God, you know, he says, I've called thee, created the Jacob, but that's every human being that God knows you. God loves you. we'll go back, but verse seven. Everyone that is called by my name, for I have created him for my glory. I have formed him, Yea, I have made him. Bert. doesn't it amaze you how God would give us life? I mean, he didn't have to do that. And yet he created us and gave us life, and we matter to him. That really should just, move the heart of any thinking person, shouldn't it?

>> Bert Harper: It really should. And so we want you to know this.

AFR is promoting preborn this week when we partner with them

And in the next segment, we're going to play, a, message about preborn. We're promoting preborn this week when we partner with them. And what a chapter to be on during this period of time about preborn. I want to read this again. Everyone who is called by my name, whom I have created for my glory, I, formed him. Yes, I have made him. Alex, that's in the mother's womb, isn't it?

>> Alex McFarland: Amen. personhood. Life begins at conception. It's one of the reasons that we love preborn and we just encourage people to give for an ultrasound. And, you know, the vast, vast majority of expectant mothers that see, a picture of their unborn baby. And by the way, as technology has improved, the picture of the unborn child made by God, beautifully growing, Those images are so vivid and clear. I mean, it's unmistakable. That is a life ordained by God.

>> Bert Harper: And, this chapter, these verses state it plainly. So you want to be a part of this, be a part of what God is doing through preborn to save babies, lives and mothers coming to know Christ. We'll be back right after the break. The AFR app is a powerful tool, but it does have limitations. You can't use it to change the oil in your vehicle or get rid of carpet stains.

>> Alex McFarland: It won't walk the dog, won't pick.

>> Bert Harper: Up the dry cleaning or take the kids to practice. But while you're doing those Things.

>> Alex McFarland: You can listen to your favorite AFR.

>> Bert Harper: Content through the app on your phone, smart device, or Roku. Just go to your app store or visit afr.net Listen to AFR wherever you go with the AFR app.

Alex: The incarnate Lord Jesus came down to earth to be our Savior

>> Alex McFarland: One day when heaven was filled with his praises, one day when sin was as black as could be, Jesus came forth to be born of a virgin, dwelt among men. My, example is he. The Word became flesh. The light shined among us. his glory revealed living. He loved me. Amen. The light shined among us. The incarnate Lord Jesus came down from heaven to earth to be our Savior because He loves us and we matter to God. I want to say to everybody listening, you matter to God. Verses 4 and 5 in Isaiah 43, since you were precious in my sight, says God, and he goes, and he says, fear not, for I am with you. I will bring thy seed from the east and gather thee from the west. You know, Bert, the beautiful thing about it, the fall of Genesis 3, the sin, the brokenness of the world, even our own sometimes stubborn disobedience, it has not and will not derail God's plan to show his love to the human race. And if we just come and turn back to Christ, he'll forgive us, restore us. And I will tell you, the journey with Jesus is a journey, of blessing, isn't it, Bert?

>> Bert Harper: It is. it is. And the blessing is he's with us. That's what you find out in verse 2. Notice the word, Alex. And you notice I'm looking at words. If you find two words alike in the same verse, it really speaks. Notice the four letter word. When. When you pass through the waters, when you walk through the fire. Not if, but when. So what does God guarantee in this world? You're going to have difficulty. And here it is that he uses four expressions. Through the waters, through the rivers, through the fire, the flame. Those are difficult and hard times in our lives. But notice, it says, when you pass through, not around, not over, not under. But what, Alex?

>> Alex McFarland: When it passes, it came to pass, didn't come to stay. Praise the Lord. You know, and that's true, Bert. I know this was written to Israel and the precious promises, but listen, even godly, faithful Christians, as verse 2 says, pass through the waters. I mean, there are times of tribulation and testing in every life, aren't there? In fact, Bert, I would say some of the most godly people that I've ever known have really suffered at seasons in life. And really, that's when the power and protection and provision of God, frankly, are most vivid. Would you agree?

>> Bert Harper: I agree fully.

There are some passages in the Bible that are strictly for Israel alone

In preparing for this, I was reading one of my favorite authors, which is Allen Redpath. And let me just say, if you find anything written by Allen Redpath, get it. But he was talking about. When he was in Chicago at Moody Church, he met this man that was so joyful. And, he said, I don't care what the circumstances were. We were at a meeting. He would be joyful. And he thought, man, he's got a lot easier church to pastor than I do. He must have one of those dream churches out smaller, just so many people and everybody pulling together, going in the same direction. He must not have any issues. And he said, finally they had a meeting where they would have the pastors and the wives. And his wife came, and she had suffered. This was years ago. And she was in braces, on crutches. and then, just barely coming in, and she had stricken with polio. And he had to help with her. He had to work with her. And she and he were the most joyful people in the world. And he started looking. He said, what have I been complaining about? You know, we will pass through difficulties. And, Alex, you're saying this is for Israel. It is. But it's God's people. It really is. Why? Because we have been redeemed. We are his. Okay. There are some passages in the scripture that is strictly for Israel and Israel alone. But when you come across this, the comfort and restoration, the redemption, the care of God, you have that promise as well. So it says. What is the promise? I will be with you, Alex. That is the promise. I'll never forsake you. I'll never leave you. I'm, with you always to the end of the age, being confident of this very thing, that God, who has begun a good work in you, will do what? Complete it.

>> Alex McFarland: Complete it.

>> Bert Harper: I know. I get. Really. Matter of fact, I'm planning on preaching from chapter 43, Sunday, the Lord willing. But listen, you're going to pass through the waters, but you come. You pass through the rivers. You can't help but think of the children of Israel coming through the Dead Sea and then coming through the Jordan River. listen. He will part the waters if he has to.

>> Alex McFarland: Amen.

>> Bert Harper: The first, the last part. And I'll throw it to you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned. You couldn't help but think of that. The three Hebrew children thrown into the fiery furnace that was heated. Let me See if I got this right, Alex. Seven times hotter than normal.

>> Alex McFarland: Isn't that something?

>> Bert Harper: And they. Oh, the only thing that burned up in that furnace was the ropes that were holding them. Yeah.

>> Alex McFarland: Is that. That is powerful, isn't it?

>> Bert Harper: It really is. And that what was. Who was in there with them?

>> Alex McFarland: The fourth man in the fire who looks like the son of God.

>> Bert Harper: Amen.

>> Alex McFarland: And that's true. And, you know, I want to here it says in verse one, fear not. It says in verse five, fear not. let's. We'll scan over and we're going to come back. But verse 11. I even I am the Lord, and beside me there is no Savior. Boy, that's really powerful. You go down there. Verse 15. I am the Lord, your holy one, the creator of Israel, your king. And there are so many verses in here about God who. go, if you would, over there to verse 25, Isaiah 43, 25. I even I am he that blots out your transgressions for my own sake and will not remember your sins. and 26, put me in remembrance. In other words, remember, take it to heart. Trust me on this. Let us plead together. Declare thou that thou mayest be justified. Now, here's the thing. God blots out our transgressions. he keeps his word. it's not that God owes us anything, but in his mercy and grace, he keeps his word. And if he would do the greater thing, pay for the sin of humanity, sacrifice his own son to be our redeemer, don't you think he also cares about how you're going to pay the mortgage and your prodigal child coming back? And that diagnosis that you're facing, I gotta say this about, you know, over and over, God says, fear not. Fear not. I'm with you, Bert. You, might remember.

Bert Stanley says he was terrified of being homeless because of childhood trauma

I know I remember it. The gas crunch of the seventies.

>> Bert Harper: I do. Yes.

>> Alex McFarland: when the early seventies began, our little egg farm was selling over a million dollars of eggs a year. That was not all profit, but anyway, my dad had built a very successful business. And we had McDonald's that had Egg McMuffins and all this stuff. When the 1970s ended, we were a million dollars in debt. And I. Well, remember the day that the bank came to put us out, and we were on the front porch and they were, you know, and my sister and I. And I don't think my mother completely knew how bad we were.

>> Bert Harper: And.

>> Alex McFarland: And, I want to tell you, for the rest of much of my life, up until just really recent years, I was terrified of being homeless because I remember the day the bank forcibly put us out. And my dad. I've told the story. My dad, went to a neighbor, this other farmer. They were friends for six or seven decades, but this one farmer lent my dad a few thousand dollars to hold the bank at bay. And we sold all the furniture. We slept on the floor. True. But I will tell you, I became. Fear isn't even a strong enough word. I just knew I was going to be homeless, broke, all that kind of stuff. And then my mother and dad, by watching Charles Stanley, they gave their life to Christ in the mid-1980s, and they really, really changed. And all of our problems didn't go away overnight. But little by little, as our family began to live for Christ, we saw things improve. Now, it took us, till 2014, but every debt was paid. All of that indebtedness finally got paid off. But here's my point. Even as a born again Christian, I had to really, really pray about trusting God. And Angie would tell me, she would say, why don't you trust God? God is going to provide. I'm here to tell you I've learned it. God is faithful. And, I guess I'm ashamed to tell you how much I did fear Bert, and how fearful I was. I will tell you this. God is a faithful God. And there just might be somebody listening right now. And you are going through the waters and you're in the valley, and we've all, to one degree or another, been there, Bert. Our God is a faithful God who always comes through for his children, doesn't he?

>> Bert Harper: He really does. Fear not. I've redeemed you. He says that over again. Fear not. Everyone who is called by my name, whom I have created for my glory, I, have formed. Yes, I have made him listen. You are. If you've been born again, you've been redeemed. You're the child of the King, the king of kings and the Lord of Lords. And we need to live like it. Listen, there's going to be an area of your life. I believe this all, my heart, Alex. Fear like you went through, my fear that I had is nothing like yours. But it was because of childhood trauma. And, still to this day, when I see that, I have to say, okay, God, I trust you. And there's nothing in this world that we do not put before trusting in him. We trust him. Why? I'll deliver you. I'll bring you through. And again, I know I'm doing it again. Not around, not over and not under, but through. We, go through this stuff and what do we do when we get to the other side? We bring him glory and honor. Mark, chapter two. when the four men had to let the paralytic down through the roof, you know, and he healed them, he forgave their sin and he told the man to walk. And the people went away saying, we've never seen anything like this before, Alex. God does that in our lives, doesn't he? And he wants to do it in those lives.

Preborn provides ultrasounds for low-income pregnant women for $28

Let me, I want to get preborn in one more time before we go to break. And Brent is going to play, a small testimony about preborn, about what it is and what God has done. Because we partner with preborn because we are amazed at what God has done in the past few years. 20 years, 400,000 babies have been saved. And this year we're looking at 5,000 ultrasounds given this week at $28. Ultrasound, you can give more than that, but that number, if you want to participate, is 877-6239-687761-62396 or donate online fr.net 5000. This, this week, Alex, is what we're our goal.

>> Alex McFarland: Amen. Well, if everybody listening would do. Would. Would underwrite one of these ultrasounds, there'd be many, many times more than that. But, Bert, give that number one more time. Preborn to save a life. And not only that, to put the gospel of jes. Of expectant mothers and fathers. What a great ministry. What's the number, Bert?

>> Bert Harper: 877-6162-3968-7616-2396. And remember, you can give securely [email protected] and Brent, you have that ready? Okay, let's try to hear this once again.

>> Caroline: Hi, my name is Susie. I live in Florida. And I just wanted to say that preborn means so much to me. it's so important for the mothers, that may have chosen an abortion and broken their heart for the rest of their life. But more importantly, the life of a baby that is innocent and needs that opportunity to live the life that you, God has planned out for them.

>> Bert Harper: Amen. Listen, those that work at these clinics, Alex, they, they're there. I, I know several that work locally here in our area in Tupelo, Mississippi and surrounding areas that each town. And what a difference they're making. One more thing about that, they don't just stop after the birth of the Baby. They provide baby clothes, diapers, car seats, counseling and much more. Free of charge, up to two years of assistance. that $28 is just the beginning of saving these babies lives. And the mother is hearing the gospel. And many times those mothers respond to the love of the Lord Jesus Christ. Alex.

>> Alex McFarland: Amen. It's a great ministry. It really is. by the way folks, if you're just tuning in, we're in Isaiah 43. And in the next segment we will take phone calls and questions as we always do. Tuesday really is our kind of day of prayer. Also, if you've got a prayer request and there certainly is much to pray about and that number, if you want to jot this down and you can, get to the front of the line I suppose, but it's 8885-8988-4088-8589-8840 and we'll get to those calls in the next segment. But Bert, you know what I was going to tell you, I was thinking about it. Now say this under conviction. I'm going to say a hundred percent of all the stuff I've worried about never did happen. I mean really. and I've. There, there are plenty of things that I have been obsessively paranoid about. Like I said, you know, I'm just being very transparent with you. I just knew that I would be homeless and broke all this stuff. I've never, it never happened. And I was so fearful. And many a time I've prayed and I said, lord, help me to trust you more. Oh God, you're so faithful. Jesus Christ is 100% faithful. I'm sorry I doubted you.

>> Bert Harper: Let me read verses 18 and 19 as we go out of chapter 43. Do not remember the former things that old fear, nor consider the things of old. Verse 19. Listen, behold, I will do a new thing now. It shall spring forth, shall you not know it. God is doing his work. 888-589-8840. Give us a call.

>> Caroline: This is Ron from Liberty Hill, Texas. Preborn to me is. And it's saving lives, it's saving mothers, saving babies. And it is doing the God's, God's will of keeping babies protected. And Dan and Jim and the rest of the crew that worked with them, are some of the best people I've ever met. They're 100% faithful. And they're bringing honor to God.

>> Bert Harper: It. And.

>> Caroline: We couldn't ask for a better organization to send our money to.

>> Alex McFarland: Don't stop praying don't stop calling on Jesus name Keep on pounding on heaven's door Let your knees wear out the floor Don't.

>> Bert Harper: Amen.

On Tuesday, it's prayer day for preborn ministries

That's, introduction song here for, exploring the Word. On Tuesday, it's prayer day. And if you have a prayer request, we're open to hear that. Triple 858-9884-088858-98840. So put down the first thing you want to pray for is preborn and whether or not you want to give $28 as a one time gift or more to help have an ultrasound. So a mother's chances of choosing life is doubled when they see that child on ultrasound. So preborn ministries, be sure and be praying for them. Alex, day of prayer today, isn't it?

Mary in Tennessee calls in seeking help finding a job and finding a church

>> Alex McFarland: It is, it is. We're going to begin in Tennessee. Mary in Tennessee. Thank you for calling, exploring the Word, taking my call. yes, welcome. What you got, Mary?

>> Caroline: I was not in prayer about work. I've been looking for a job for a while now and also prayer for my, family, my siblings and my kids, were not connected right now. And just praying for, salvation for those that don't know the Lord as well and also that I can find a church family in my area that I could connect with as well.

>> Alex McFarland: Amen. Amen. Well, let me pray. Mary, I hear you sister, and we're going to lift you up. Let me pray right now. Father, in the name of Jesus, thank you for Mary, our sister in Christ and calling in, Lord, I pray in the name of Jesus that you would just work in all areas of her life, Lord, help her find employment. And just maybe even this week, Lord, by your holy spirit and your guidance, just a wonderful, wonderful door will open. And Lord, we pray not only for Mary, but many others. You will bless them with jobs and gainful employment. I pray for her relationship with her, her kids, that you'll work in that. And, Lord, draw them closer to each other and closer to you. And I pray as she searches for a church that she'll find a great, great fellowship, of believers to plug in and grow. And just what a joy it is to be in a good church. So for these things and more and others listening that have similar concerns, Lord, we lift it all up to you. In Jesus name we pray. Amen. Amen.

A lot of believers believe that the Earth is flat

Well, let's go over to Kansas, where I'll be in the month of March, actually, Danny in Kansas. Welcome to Exploring the Word.

>> Caroline: Yeah, hi, can you hear me?

>> Alex McFarland: Yes. You're on. Yeah.

>> Caroline: yeah, I Had a question on biblical cosmology. I believe it's pronounced where, a lot of people, especially believers, you know, in the church, and I know it's not a salvation issue, but they believe that the Earth is flat. And I'm of the opinion that the Earth is a globe. And you know, what we've been taught, in school, and some even go as far as to say that, you know, NASA means to deceive and that we're, we're all deceived and the Earth is stationary and flat and we're not moving through space, you know, at so many miles per hour. So I just wanted to know what your guys take on that is.

>> Alex McFarland: Yeah, you know, one of the just shocking things of our time has been in the last really probably two, three, four years, Bert, the reemergence of belief in a flat Earth. I mean, it just, it's unthinkable that, you know, rational adults in the 21st century would believe in a flat Earth. And yet some, you know, do. and let me just say, biblically, there is no, no indication whatsoever that the Earth is flat. In fact, the Bible talks about how God sits on the circle of the earth. We went over that verse last week, didn't we, Bert?

>> Bert Harper: We did. And the actual word is sphere. S, P A G R E is what it means. And, So, Alex, the evidence in the scriptures is not flat. The evidence is a circle or a sphere.

>> Alex McFarland: Exactly. And let me just say what's fascinating is that, a few years ago, some flat Earth people, it was really kind of a joke. I think it was early in the life of the Internet, probably 20 years ago, there were some flat Earth societies, and it was really kind of a joke, and yet some people took it seriously. And, But a group, they were out in the ocean and they had lasers. You know how you can, you know, you can even buy lasers that shoot pretty far because people use lasers in building, you know, to true up a wall. But anyway, they were going to get these boats really far apart and prove that the Earth was flat. And yet the lasers were, obstructed because they didn't account for the curvature of the Earth. In fact, their little experiment to prove the earth was flat actually proved that the earth was spherical. And, so, one of the best speakers, if you Google him, and he speaks at our camps in the summer, there is a ministry called, Reasons for Hope. And there's a brilliant, brilliant scholar named Frank Figueroa. Frank Figueroa he's originally from Hawaii. Brilliant. The best lecture I have ever heard on this. And he'll be speaking this summer at our Equip youth camps. And the website for those is equipretreat.org. but, oh my goodness, if, you're a born again Christian, please don't discredit the intellectual capacity of the church by believing in a flat earth. I mean, not only the word of God, but pictures from outer space and just the world as we know they've known the earth was spherical for thousands of years. And here in the 21st century, let's not betray that knowledge.

>> Bert Harper: And again, look at the moon. why in the world would you have a full moon and then it go to a half a moon and then have you noticed the moon, the crescent moon, you know, and so, Alex, no reason why not in our day. Be sure. And I'm going to do this again. Preborn. The reason we're doing it, we had to do a pre record yesterday and we didn't get to push it real hard. So I was determined that we wanted the AFR listeners, especially those that listen to exploring the Word, to be a part of the preborn campaign here in, in the this year. And I'm going to give the number again. Don't mix this up. We, we hesitate to do this, but I think we've got two callers and that'll help us get out and pray for them. But the number, if you want to get to PreBorn is 877-616-239, 687-76-162396 or donate online. And we want those numbers to grow just like we do during Sherithon, during our time. We want to see a spike for preborn. We want to see a spike of the people that called in and say we want to provide an ultrasound. $28 for ultrasound or any above that would go toward other ultrasound. So be sure and do that. Alex, we got people online that's called in, don't we?

>> Alex McFarland: We do. I just got to give a couple of verses if I could. The only argument the flat Earthers have in Revelation 7:1 says, I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth. Now that is the one verse that flat Earthers use. But you know, in Matthew 24:31 it says Jesus would gather the elect from the four winds. So that's talking about north, south, east and West. But Isaiah 40:22 says God sits above the circle of the earth, the sphere so, just based on the Revelation 7:1, I mean, it's talking about north, south, east, and west. You cannot in any rational way conflate Revelation 7:1 to mean that the earth is flat. God help us.

We're praying for our sister Melinda in Kentucky. She is sick. Um, I have a prayer request, please

let's go to Kentucky. Melinda in Kentucky. Welcome to exploring the word and Melinda.

>> Caroline: Hello.

>> Alex McFarland: Welcome.

>> Caroline: I have a prayer request, please.

>> Alex McFarland: Sure.

>> Caroline: I'm sick, and my marriage is falling apart, and many situation is not good. I'm tired.

>> Bert Harper: Melinda, we. Listen. We got a feeling there's a lot of other people who are in those circumstances, and. But it's fresh with you. It is real with you. listen, stay with God. We're going to pray for you. rely upon him. Let me suggest this. we're studying Isaiah 43. Melinda, go through that and make this personal for you. when Melinda passes through the water, God's going to be with you. Melinda goes through the rivers, not going to overflow you. When you go walk through the fire, you shall not be. God's going to be with you, Melinda. That's the assurance you have. And look at all the others that God says he's going to be with you. Now, let me one more thing, and then we'll pray. Alex, you may have something to say before I pray, but, Melinda, I want to tell you the one person that is responsible for change, Evelyn Christensen, one of the great female writers of yesteryear, she's gone to be of the lord, but she wrote a book. Lord, change me and Alex. As much as a husband and wife can be close, children and parents can be close, the only person a person can change is themselves. And so, lord, change me into what I need to be. And when I change, others will change. They. It will not be the same. So we're praying for Melinda for strength. We're praying that God would show you, Melinda, that you can depend upon him and ask him. You know he's going to be with you, but you ask him to direct you and guide you. And you say, lord, wherever you lead, I'll follow. Alex, you got anything to encourage Melinda about?

>> Alex McFarland: Melinda used to live, right?

>> Caroline: Yes, sir.

>> Alex McFarland: You've accepted Christ and you're a believer, and you're saved, right?

>> Caroline: Yes, sir.

>> Alex McFarland: Good. Good. do you have a time every day, Let me encourage you. A time to pray and read God's word and just, to the best of your ability, you're walking with the Lord in your heart, in your life, right?

>> Caroline: Yes, sir.

>> Alex McFarland: Amen. Amen. Well, I want to give you a verse then. I want to pray. Matthew 6:33, it says, Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you. And please take God at his word. Matthew 6:8. And then I'm going to pray. But Matthew 6:8, it says God knows what we need even before we ask. So just with the help of the Holy Spirit, I want to encourage you to start praising God and thanking God for how he is providing and working and he will come through for you. I believe he is coming through for you and he's going to. But I'm going to pray right now. And folks, let's agree in praying God's blessings for Melinda. Father, in the name of Jesus, we pray for our sister Melinda. She knows you. She needs a touch from you. She is sick. She's weary. And Lord, I pray for her marriage. In the name of Jesus, strengthen and rebuild and restore her marriage. I pray her husband will love you, Lord Jesus, and love his spouse. And I pray for their marriage, their family. I pray for healing in her body from any sickness or disease. Lord, I pray for financial breakthrough and blessing in your provision. And Lord, give her joy. One of the fruits of the Spirit is joy. So even though it is, it is a journey. And Lord, we all, there are times we just have to really trust you as we're pressing through hard times and sometimes kind of a rocky path. But Lord, bless Melinda even this day. This is the day that things began to turn around. Because afresh and anew, she put her hope and all of her faith in you in Jesus name. And we thank you in advance for the way that you will bless Melinda and so many others as well. In Jesus name. In Jesus name. Bert, we serve a faithful savior, don't we?

>> Bert Harper: We do. He is faithful and he is on our side. And we. It's not us, him getting with us. We need to go where he is and trust him. And, Melinda, that's what we're praying, and that's what a lot of people are praying for.

We're still praying for preborn. Iran, just keep on praying for them

Also, two other things we add to our prayer list today. And I know I've brought it up for quite a bit. It's just a burden on my heart. Iran, just keep on praying for them, though. There's so many believers that are there and we don't know exactly how it's working and what all is going to happen, but we know those believers, we. We ask God to do a great work in their heart, their lives, and, we're just trusting God for that. And Alex, we're still praying for preborn. what a great gu. Dan Steiner is the founder of the president. Just a man of God, loves the Lord, and God's raised him up for such a time as this, hasn't he?

>> Alex McFarland: He really has. And the number I want you to give that Bert, about how people can give and underwrite an ultrasound. Save a life, probably save a soul because they give the gospel too. But Bert, people can give online, afa.net, but what's the telephone number?

>> Bert Harper: The number is 877-616-2396. Again, 877-616-2396. Would you call that number? $28 provides an ultrasound where it doubles the chances of a mother coming in who is abortion minded to change her mind and say, I want this baby to be born. And listen, we're looking forward to the end of the week when we can say over 5,000 babies were provided for the opportunity for life this week. Alex, It's a joy to partner with people like preborn, isn't it?

>> Alex McFarland: It is. I'm going to say to Everybody listening, Psalm 55:22, cast your cares on the Lord, and he will sustain you. Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you. Burr, isn't that a great promise?

>> Bert Harper: It is. He'll see you through. He'll never leave you. He'll never forsake you. Thank you for listening to Exploring the Word here on the American Family Radio Network. Tell someone about this program, but more importantly, tell them about Jesus.

>> Alex McFarland: The m views and opinions expressed in.

>> Bert Harper: This broadcast may not necessarily reflect those.

>> Alex McFarland: Of the American Family association or American Family Radio.