Transcript

American Family Radio explores the Bible with answers to your Bible questions

>> Jeff Chamblee: The Bible. It's the word of God, sharper than any two edged sword. This sacred book is living and active and contains all that's needed for life and godliness. Stay with American Family Radio for the next hour as we study God's word and take your Bible questions. Welcome to Exploring the Word.

Bert Harper and Alex McFarland study the book of Isaiah

>> Bert Harper: How would you like to hear set your house in order, for you shall die and not live. Well, King Hezekiah heard that. And you find this in chapter 38, verse one. And it kind of says, sets up the two chapters that we're going to cover today, the Lord willing, 38 and 39. And Hezekiah, okay. Set your house in order, for you shall die and not live. This is Bert Harper along with Dr. Alex McFarland. And on exploring the Word, we study the word of God. We want to make much of Jesus share with you how you can know him, how you can grow in him, and how you can serve him. And in the book of Isaiah, we. And we're finding a lot of that information, Alex. As we come to chapter 38 and 39, we find out that Hezekiah, you know, a great king, but he's man. The frailty of humanity is real. No matter your position, no matter how long you may be serving him, you stay on guard and stay close to him all the way to the end, don't you?

>> Alex McFarland: Well, you really do, Bert. It's great to be with you and great to be with everybody. What an honor to be in God's word today. You know, yesterday, I like Hezekiah, don't you?

>> Bert Harper: Oh, yes.

>> Alex McFarland: When he was facing the threat of Assyrian, invasion, he took this letter into the temple and spread it before the Lord and fell down and prayed and declared his complete dependence on the God of Israel. But you're right, the hands of time don't stick. Stand still. And, you know, the Bible says in Hebrews chapter nine, that it's appointed unto man once to die, but after this the judgment. But so Hezekiah, there is the pronunciation of his own mortality. But he's laid down on a bed and he turns his face to the wall and prays unto the Lord. This is Isaiah 38, 2. And he said, remember now, O Lord, I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart or a unified heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore, says verse three, or bitterly. Bert, this just my heart goes out to this scenario, doesn't it? You he lays looks, to the wall. And he does what is just the natural human thing. He pours out his heart to God, doesn't he?

>> Bert Harper: He really does. And again, when we see Hezekiah, this is. This is not in chronological order when it comes to chapters 36 and 37. this is before then. And, and so Isaiah, when he puts it together, he's putting it together for a reason. And, and again, let me remind you, in chapters 30, 6 and 37, the big person was Assyria. Now, right now it is this illness. But when we come to chapter 39, there's a new person rising up. And he's introduced in this. And Hezekiah is this pivotal king during this period of time. And so, Alex, for him to cry out to the Lord bitterly, as it says in the new King James. And it says he had a loyal heart. In other words, it wasn't. No, perfect, but loyal he was. He was wanting to please God. And so here he is, he cries out to the Lord. And the response was awesome. Then the word of the Lord came to Isaiah saying, go and say to Hezekiah. Thus says the Lord, he's heard your prayer. I have seen your tears, and I've added to your days. Fifteen years. Now, what happens here? Isaiah seems to have told him this. And Hezekiah, as you said, in his bed, turns over to the wall and he prays, weeps bitterly. And before Isaiah gets to his next destination, God intervenes and says, Isaiah, turn around and go back to Hezekiah, I got another word for him. Doesn't it seem it happens kind of that quickly?

>> Alex McFarland: Well, it does happen that quickly, yes. God. God can definitely act suddenly and often does. But I think verse five would be an encouragement because, listen, it may be a health issue, it may be a financial issue, it may be praying for an unsaved loved one, but we have all cried out to God. Certainly we have. And here's what the Lord, the God of David, thy father, I have heard thy prayer. I have seen thy tears. Behold, I will add unto thy days. Fifteen years. And Bert, I just want to say this to every, believer out there who has cried out to the Lord with prayers and petitions. God hears, God sees, God knows, God acts. I just think it's so tender. I've heard Hezekiah. I hear you. Those tears. I know about it. I will add to your days. 15 years. We serve a good God.

>> Bert Harper: Amen. Ah, the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much, Alex. Again, loyal heart, not perfect. But loyal love, the Lord, his actions showed it. But you hit it. God saw, God heard, God knows, God responds. And I don't know of another place that's any clearer. Then hear the words are said. And verse six says, I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria. Now see, we already know that because again, what took place in 36 and 37? we know. And he's writing this. And this took place beforehand because, Nacherib had already laid waste to all of Judah. But then when he was getting ready to attack, Jerusalem, tear the walls down or besiege it, however he was going to it, 185,000 of his men were slain1. One night, it looks like. And here it says, I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria. And I will defend this city. I Again, these words just speak to my heart.

Psalm 139 says he will defend this city against the enemy

>> Alex McFarland: Amen.

>> Bert Harper: you know, he says, I will defend this city. He's a strong and mighty tower. He's a shield. When you read the Psalms, you hear all those words, don't you? And it's kind of defense against the enemy, isn't is.

>> Alex McFarland: It? Is.

Alex: What does a sundial have to do with daylight savings time

hey, I gotta tell you, we need to talk about a sundial for a minute. Okay, Bert, from Andy Griffith. Do you remember the town of Seiler City?

>> Bert Harper: I do, yes.

>> Alex McFarland: Okay. That's where my mom grew up. And ah, m. My grandmother lived, well, in Syler City. The public library has a big sundial. And when I was a little kid, you know, that fascinated me that they could, you know, tell time by the shadow. You know, this piece of granite comes up. And anyway, I remember at some point in my young life I heard a preacher preach about this because, ah, in verse seven kind of seems to be Isaiah talking. This shall be a sign unto you from the Lord that the Lord will do this thing that he has spoken. Behold, I will bring again the shadow of the degrees which. Which has gone down in the sun dial. The sundial of Ahaz, 10 degrees backward. So the sun returned 10 degrees, by which degrees it was gone down. And every time we'd go through Silo City and I would see that sundial, I would think about the miracle of how, you know, what God did to give Hezekiah reassurance. The sundial of ahaz was moved 10 degrees backwards by a supernatural miracle that the falling shadow on the markers went back. and what does that mean? Look, God runs the solar system. The rotation of the earth obeys God's command. That's how God could move the sundial backwards. And it was a reassurance to Hezekiah.

>> Bert Harper: Okay, with that in mind, little humor. You know, I enjoy it. What does a sundial do with daylight savings time, Alex?

>> Alex McFarland: Oh, you know, I never thought about that.

>> Bert Harper: Enough said. When I heard that, I thought, fall back. You know, that's why spring forward, spring forward. So there they dial back. So anyway, I just, My mind. Brent's over here. He's saying, oh, me. so I apologize for my humor.

Bert: Isaiah 38:19 is really a call to praise God

>> Alex McFarland: Now, this. Isaiah 38, 7, 9. Might be the world's first instance of daylight savings time.

>> Bert Harper: That's it. Okay, now, when you come to verse nine, we find out King David was a great poet. What about Hezekiah here, Alex, in verses 10, all the way through 20. again, we could go through verse by verse, but there are some highlights here that I just love. And I'm going to give my.

>> Alex McFarland: He's quite the composer, too, because this is a song of deliverance.

>> Bert Harper: It is. And, you can go back and do it. I do want to just go to verse 17 straight on. Indeed. It was for my own peace that I had great bitterness. But you have lovingly delivered me so from the pit of corruption, for you have cast all my sins behind your back. Alex. that is kind of in the middle of this whole song that he sings, this poem that he writes. But that's the thrust of it, is the goodness of God. Now, I go over it in detail.

>> Alex McFarland: Well, yeah, and let me encourage people to read 10 through 17. It is very beautiful. Oh, my goodness. It's just beautiful. And just as he cried out to God from his heart, now he's praising God from his heart. And he talks about, you know, that age is departed, removed from me as a shepherd's tent. I've cut off, like a weaver, my life. He will cut me off with pining sickness. that's much like the sons of Orpah, Mahlon and Chilion. Chilion means pining or sickly. I reckon till morning that as a lion, so will he break all my bones from that day even to night. So he's talking about the frailty of life, but then he alludes to the fact that our life comes from God. by the Lord we live, in, verse 17, for peace I had great bitterness. Now, let me just say this. While we need to be praising God, rejoicing and understanding that he is our source. Verse 18. For the grave cannot praise thee, death cannot celebrate thee. They that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth. The living. The living. He shall praise thee as I do this day. The father to the children shall make known thy truth. Bert, believe it or not, Isaiah 38:19 is really a call to all of us to be about the praise of God, the joy of the Lord, and being an ambassador for the Lord while we're in the land of the living.

>> Bert Harper: Exactly right. Alex, again, as I was highlighting and underlining, verse 17 and verse 19, they really did speak to my heart. What is the father's responsibility? The Father shall make known your truth to the children. you can't help but think of Deuteronomy 6. You can't help but think what God expects of us. And as a father and a grandfather, myself, and speaking to those that have children and grandchildren, what, what a responsibility we have to do this? When shall we do it? While we're living. So that when we have gone from the land of the living to the glory of the Lord that he has prepared for us. we leave a legacy. And it's not going to be the bank. it's not going to be the house and the car, although those may be left. But that which is lasting is going to be truth. The Bible says, sanctify them through thy truth. Thy word is truth. And it's settled in heaven. Alex, it sounds like he has eternity in mind here. Does it to you?

>> Alex McFarland: Well, he really does. And, you know, I had the privilege, earlier of being on, I recorded with Jenna Ellis, and we were talking about how our nation needs a move of God, and we do. But I want to tell you, the thing for which I really, really pray is for God to raise up fathers and husbands and godly men. I mean, that will be transformative. And like verse 19, the Father imparts God's truth to his children.

>> Bert Harper: We're going to finish this chapter, then we're going to move on to chapter 39, which kind of makes a transition into the rest of Isaiah. You don't want to miss it because God was working then, and he's working now. We'll be right back.

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>> Dr. Jessica Peck: I know that my redeemer lives I know that my redeemer lives still keeping all his promises the same Jesus the same Jesus. Amen.

>> Alex McFarland: Jesus keeps all his promises. Praise his name. Hey, we're going to be, resuming Isaiah, chapter 38 here in just a second.

Alex and Bert are gathering testimonies about Preborn's ministry

this is exploring the word, Alex and Bert. And we're very, very honored that you're listening. Dan Steiner. And PreBorn is just, ah, they are valued, valued colleagues in the ministry. And we are gathering stories which are testimonials of people whose lives have been touched by the ministry of PreBorn. And I want to give a number, Bert and let's just challenge people if your life has been touched by PreBorn. Call if you've got a brief testimony, like a minute or 2 minutes M at most. But 877-876-8893. Now, that's not the line for Bible questions today. We'll get to that later. But for a listener testimony regarding preborn and how the Lord used PreBorn's ministry in your life. 877-876-8893. And your testimony might be heard on the radio later on. And, it's always an inspiring thing, isn't it?

>> Bert Harper: It really is. We love PreBorn. Love Dan Steiner. Just a great. He's usually. We've had as, a guest on this program several times, and it may be you got the blessing of partnering with PreBorn. they love to hear that. They love to hear people who partnered with PreBorn to get these UL ultrasounds to these individuals, Alex. So the joy of giving, not bragging, just praising the Lord. Say he opened up the doors for me to be a part of the ministry of PreBorn by giving and, those testimonies, I think they'll be a blessing to a lot of people. So, I pray that you'd do that. 8, 7, 7, 8 7, 6, 8, 8, 9, 3.

>> Alex McFarland: Amen. Amen.

All healing comes from God because He has made us, Bert says

Well, before the break we were reading, ah, Isaiah, 38, 19. The living. The living shall praise thee as I do this day, says Hezekiah, the father to the children shall make known thy truth. and he says, wrapping up here. The Lord was ready to save me. Therefore we will sing my songs to the stringed instruments all the days of our life in the house of the Lord. For Isaiah has said, let them take a lump of figs and lay it for a plaster upon the boil, and he shall recover. Hezekiah also said, what is the sign that I shall go up to the house of the Lord? Now, maybe this thing from which he was delivered, maybe it was a type of a cancer. You get the impression that, you know, God healed him, but he had some sort of tumor or something like that. But he praises God for the 15 years of life that was added to him.

>> Bert Harper: I'm amazed at God's healing, when you see about Jesus, healing the people who were blind, sometimes he put mud in their eyes, sometimes he spoke, sometimes he touched them. God's healing, it's God. And, he may use doctors, he can use therapists, he can just touch your life. But ultimately, all healing comes from God because He has made us. He's our creator. he's established it where our cells reproduce. I forgot what the numbers are with you and Angie, Alex, you may remember how many cells die every day, and they have to be, you know, new cells. Come on. And, this is the power of God. So just because he told them to put this poultice on it does not diminish the hand of God in healing.

>> Alex McFarland: You know, it's interesting, the very same word, the boil, or, It's a Hebrew word, shechin. S H E C H I N, really, that's the same word used in the sixth plague back in, Exodus, chapter nine. The boils or really kind of tumors that came on people's lives. So, God healed Hezekiah from this. But we're going to somewhat radically change gears in chapter 39. And there's really a prophecy. This is a short chapter about the captivity in Babylon. And it says, you know, that people are going to come from a far country, even from Babylon, and the days will come that the fathers will be carried to Babylon. Verse 6. Nothing shall be left. And Bert, these times of blessing and revival, times of backsliding and captivity, it seemed to be a cycle, all throughout the trajectory of the Old Testament, didn't it?

>> Bert Harper: It really did. And you read the Book of Judges. And you see it again and again. But then when you get past that and get into the kingdom, the United Kingdomnomics, the divided kingdom, you see this cycle continue in drawing close to God, falling away from God, judgment coming, repentance. And.

Alex: Isaiah 39 is kind of like a snapshot of God's future

And so it is there now, Hezekiah, we find out this king from Babylon who is at this point in time, kind of just off the radar. Assyria, is the one that's on the radar. Assyria, is because this is back before Assyria was completely destroyed. And so this is going.

>> Dr. Jessica Peck: And.

>> Bert Harper: But God looks at the future. And so this king of Babylon comes And Hezekiah, verse 2, was pleased with them, showed them the house of his treasures, the silver, gold, spices, ointments, the armory, all that was found among the treasures. There was nothing in the house or in the dominion that Hezekiah did not show this king in his entourage. Now, again we see pride, but we also see something here. I'm not sure this king of Babylon came just to pay the respects to Hezekiah who had been healed. I think he may use the letter of saying, we're so thankful you're all right, as undercover to find out what they had and if they needed it. Alex, do you catch that?

>> Alex McFarland: Yeah, well, in verse four, Hezekiah. I don't know if it was pride or being very naive, but he's showing all the things in the treasure houses. But I think this was a reconnaissance mission. That's it, Merodach, Baladan, he is this, Chaldean ruler who comes from Babylon. And you know what his name means? His name. This is very interesting. His name means oppression, not the Lord. Fascinating name. He's definitely not the Lord, but he is going to be one who exacts oppression down the road. So this Isaiah, 39 is kind of like a little snapshot from the future, isn't it?

>> Bert Harper: It really is. And, again, Isaiah, ah, speaks to Hezekiah. Again, let me go over it. Hezekiah was a man that loved God. We have already said he served God with a loyal heart. He did. God heard his prayer. We find out. King David, great king, but what mistakes he did make. Peter, great apostle, great man, but, Paul withstood him to the face when he was kind of using. Had a double standard, I would say. And, I would say about the apostle Paul. Great man, very false. But I think, Barnabas said was, was letting him know about John. Mark. Hey, we, need to have some grace here. I had grace toward you when you came To Jerusalem.

>> Alex McFarland: Do you? You know, I was just about to say, and I don't mean to digress, this would be a fascinating study, which biblical figures, almost have a flawless walk. I was about to say the apostle Paul. Saul became Paul the apostle. I have an idea. Paul would have been a pretty hard guy to work for. He almost had a little bit of unforgiveness. But he did get ah, right with John Mark again.

>> Bert Harper: He did, he did. Let's give credit there. But Joseph in the Old Testament, just great, great man.

>> Alex McFarland: I was thinking of Joseph. He seemed to have, an unblemished service record, didn't he?

>> Bert Harper: He really did. And there are those that think he was a little bit braggart when he started out. But some think that, no, he was just telling the future. And so there, you know. But here's what we do know. There's none perfect. No, not one. Only the Lord Jesus Christ. And, everybody else has sinned and come short of the glory of God. No matter how close you get, as I use that illustration, if you have to cover 10ft in a jump and you get 9ft and a half, 6 inches, you still fall to the bottom. And so, Alex, it's all the grace of God. And I think it's here with Hezekiah.

>> Alex McFarland: Amen.

>> Bert Harper: And, God's grace for him.

>> Alex McFarland: verse eight of chapter 39, again a very brief chapter. Then said Hezekiah to Isaiah, good is the word of the Lord, and the word there really means just or right is the word of the Lord which he has spoken. He said, moreover, for there shall be peace and truth in my days. Well, you know, that too is a little bit naive because, sin and sinners are always ready to, oppose truth and goodness. But again, chapter 40 is kind of a snapshot.

Dr. Alex Hill: We need to pray for peace and truth for America

>> Bert Harper: Well, Alex, before we leave, chapter 30 39, let me do this. I've heard a lot of people criticize Hezekiah because it says, at least there will be peace and truth in my days. In other words, kind of arrogant. I don't think that conveys the complete heart of Hezekiah, because in 2 Chronicles, chap. 32:26, when it, you know, again, we talked about this in Kings, Chronicles, in Isaiah, this, whole, issue in Hezekiah's life is reported. But in chapter 32 26, Hezekiah, after this had told him and it was going to be taken away from him, Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart. He and the inhabitants of Jerusalem so that the wrath of the Lord did not come upon them in the days of Hezekiah. I don't think necessarily Verse eight. I'm, not sure it conveys. I think he said that. I think he said it with a thankful heart, not an arrogant heart because it says he said it with an humble spirit. Alex, do you.

>> Alex McFarland: Yes, you're right and I'm glad you point that out. but you know, one translation says at least there will be peace and truth in my days. And, and let me just say this for a second. I don't think we ever have to settle for the bare minimum. I mean, you know, God is at work, but let's pray that he'll work even more and send a great revival. so at least there shall be peace and truth in my days. We know he's praising God, but, I think we need to pray for peace and truth for our kids and grandkids.

>> Bert Harper: Amen. I just want to go back. Let's think of our founding fathers, you know, for our country, our America. Alex, as your mind, you keep all these in your mind and you can recall them. I can't quite do it the way you do, but the men who signed that constitution pledging their lives, everything, their.

>> Alex McFarland: Wealth, their fortunes, their sacred honor.

>> Bert Harper: Yeah, and I've gone over that. How many of them paid that price with their lives imprisonment? They lost all, everything. They did. Why? Because they were looking past their days and they were looking at the next generation.

>> Alex McFarland: Yes.

>> Bert Harper: And, I, I, how many times missionaries, William Carey and others go into these foreign countries and having very little success, number wise. In other words, the number of people that came were small. But guess what happened in the second and third generation? More and more. And so you can't always judge necessarily with the numbers, the impact someone has on, on, on generations. You know what I'm talking about, Alex?

>> Alex McFarland: Exactly. Hey, by the way, and talking about like how we need, just as Hezekiah was praying for his nation, you know, we are to care for and pray about our nation, America. the Bible says seek the peace of the city. the founders of America, I wonder if they could have envisioned how this nation would give the world everything from airplanes to penicillin to indoor air conditioning. God has so blessed this nation. And one thing I gotta say, and I want to get to Isaiah 40, but, folks, regardless of what you hear, one of the great scholars of American history was a man named Carl Becker. He was at Cornell University, and in his day he wrote Two books. One was called the Declaration of Independence, and the other was called the Heavenly City. it was about the founding of America. Now, Carl Becker himself was not a believer. As far as I know, he never did become a Christian, but he was said to be the expert on the philosophies of America's founders. He studied all the signers of the declaration in depth. 56 signers. Let me tell you what he said. And I quote. The philosophy of America's founders was essentially at one with the Christian faith.

>> Bert Harper: Amen.

>> Alex McFarland: End of quote. oh, were they secularists? Were they deists? A, man who, Not a. Not a blogger, but an expert. Dr. Carl Becker said the philosophy of the founders was essentially at one with the Christian faith. Now, that's been why we were. We have been. We potentially could be again that city on a hill that has been talked about.

>> Bert Harper: Amen. Alex. This is, you know, the NRB is coming up in February, the national religious broadcasters, and we're going to be there. And some of the people that's going to be there is the sight and sound, you know, those, the ministry of all those things they did, like, you know, in Missouri and up in Pennsylvania. And I saw it, they're developing a new one, and it's the relationship between George Whitefield and Ben Franklin. Okay. And, God uses godly men, George Whitefield, to penetrate and I would say influence men like Benjamin Franklin. And when you look at not only believers that signed the Constitution, but the individuals that influenced them, the first great Awakening took place before. Before the Revolutionary War, before that Constitution. that's no accident, Alex. I, think that is what we're doing. Well, we're going to take phone calls and we'll save chapter 40 for next week because really, there's a transition. There really is a transition between the first 39 chapters and then the last 27 chapters. So I think it would be appropriate for us to do that Monday. The phone number, 888-589-8840. If you have a Bible question, we would love to hear it. We're living in a time when truth is under attack. Lies are easy to tell, easy to.

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Bruce: What a great testimony. What a godly testimony

>> Dr. Jessica Peck: The devil thought he had a hold of me he told so many lies that I believe Got too weak to carry on I thought that I was too far gone but then I heard a voice from Calvary.

>> Bert Harper: Welcome back to Exploring the Word. This is Bert and Alex and we are glad you're listening, Alex. We get emails, we get text, Facebook. Brent settles that. And sometimes our questions, we love them but sometimes we. It's a testimonial. I just want to share some of this with you and our audience. It just speaks about God and people who are following him and just pleasing him. It says hi. When I was 18 years old, that was 30 years ago. I was traveling by bus from Colorado to Arkansas with my four month old son. He started to get sick and bad cold, ear infection along the way. Those of us that are parents, we know about all that. We got to Kansas City where we were supposed to change buses and somehow we missed the bus. It was going to be a 12 hour layover before the next one and I was almost out of baby formula. She says I was a mess. There was a lady must have noticed I was having a tough time and she asked me what's going on and she could help. For some reason I trusted this stranger and me and my son left the bus station with her. She took us to her parents house and it turns out this was a family of Christians. They prayed for us. They took care of my son while I got some much needed sleep, fed me when I woke up. They even had gone to the store and bought my son some more baby formula and a bag full of snacks and drinks for the trip. They took us back to the bus station almost 12 hours later to catch our bus. They prayed over us again, gave me their number to call when we made it home. I don't know what I would have done being almost out of formula, broke, stuck in a strange city where I Knew no one had these people not come into our lives when they did. Truly God's people, good people. I guess my question is that over the years I've heard a lot of people say that Christians are some of the worst people in the world. I've heard that a lot. Why do so many non Christians feel this way? Alex, that testimony really hit home in saying, hey, God's agents are everywhere. Let's look for the opportunity to make him known.

>> Alex McFarland: Amen. What a great testimony. What a great testimony. And you know, you hear about one or two failures of high profile Christians. But what you don't hear, and I don't know that we'll hear it till we get to heaven, are the millions upon millions of good godly deeds done every single day. And we're doing it for the Lord and as unto the Lord. And so, you know, many people we could. I'm not going to digress because we've got calls waiting. But I will tell you, like a Pulitzer nominated historian Rodney Stark said it was Christianity that built America.

>> Bert Harper: Amen.

>> Alex McFarland: And what a great testimony. Thank you. Do, we have this person's name that sent this in to us?

>> Bert Harper: We don't know. I'll get Brent to check. It's not listed here and we'll check and see.

>> Alex McFarland: Thank you, ma'. Am. What a godly testimony. Well, the number, if you've got a Bible question, it's 888-589-8840. Triple 858-9840. And we're gonna, we'd love to hear your calls and your questions. And we've got a call now from Arkansas, Bruce, in Arkansas. Welcome to the program.

>> Caroline: And we're gonna.

>> Alex McFarland: Hey Bruce, you there?

>> Bert Harper: Turn your radio off or, down, Bruce. And then we'll be ready. Go ahead, Bruce.

Bert Harper says personhood survives death in Christian worldview

>> Caroline: Yeah, I was, I was curious, whenever we pass on in our, ah, in our life, is our spirit going to be.

>> Alex McFarland: I didn't quite hear all that. But absent, from the body is to be present with the Lord. We, you know, our spirit, the person. One thing that's unique to the Christian worldview, Bert, is that personhood survives death. And now you'll be, if you're a believer, you'll be in a glorified perfected state, but you'll still be Bert Harper. And every, you know, Eastern thought like Hinduism and Buddhism says you just vanish and the personality is obliterated in the big cosmic pond. no Christianity. This is why, personhood is part of our pro life worldview. Because God saves persons, doesn't he, Bert?

>> Bert Harper: He really does. The rest of Bruce and I got it here. He was asking, will we remember our time on earth? I honestly believe the evidence is that we will, because God's going to. He's going to evaluate us not whether we enter heaven or not, but according to the crowns that we can receive and throw it and cast at his feet. So I do believe, Bruce, there's going to be some remembrance of what we did. It also says he's going to wipe away all tears. And, if Peter is an example of this, before he did die, when he remembered that he had rejected Jesus Christ and denied him three times, he wept bitterly. I, think there will be some tears that God has to wipe away. Okay, listen to this. Lori wrote this letter. And, Lori. L A U, R, I E. Is that right, Brent? L A, U. Lori, thank you. If you're listening, thank you for writing that letter. It was a great testimony and it.

>> Alex McFarland: Really blessed our heart. Thank you and thank you, Bruce. We're going to go to Louisiana Shannon in Louisiana Shannon, thanks for holding and welcome to Exploring the Word.

Bert Shannon: The Bible does clearly say that the senior pastor is male

>> Caroline: Well, hi, guys. How y' all doing?

>> Alex McFarland: Good. Good to hear from you.

>> Caroline: Longtime listener, first time caller.

>> Alex McFarland: Thank you.

>> Caroline: I was in a debate earlier with my uncle, and he tried to tell me that women could be preachers and priests and so on and so forth. And I was like, no, no. And he was like, you're gonna have to get me some scripture on that. I said, I tell you what, when my guys come on this afternoon, I said, I've never called, but I'm a call and I'm asking because they can give it to me faster than I could find it.

>> Bert Harper: Okay, Alex, I just want to say the guys, when we come on. That's pretty good. I love that. Alex, let me see. About pastors and I would say this. Senior pastors, the Bible is. I don't know how to say it is clear concerning that position. Deacons and deaconesses, its servant. And phoebe, chapter 16. I don't. Hey, I'm just going to the scripture. I'm not trying to. I'm more interested in being, biblical than I am being any denomination. You know, it says she was a deaconess. Now, again, whether it was ordained or not, we don't know. But she was a servant of the Lord serving in a church. hey, that's a high calling, isn't Is?

>> Alex McFarland: And, let me say that this is under the heading of ecclesiology or how we do the church. And I think the, quintessential passage would be one Timothy, chapter three. And you've got really, in verses one through seven, the qualifications of a pastor. And then in eight, 13, you've got the qualifications of a deacon. And in both cases, both Pastor 1st Timothy 3, 1, 7, and in deacons, 1st Timothy 3, 8, 11, it talks about being the husband of one wife. In other words, this is male leadership. But it also speaks about, in verse 11, the wives being godly people. But at the same time, you did mention Romans 16:1, where Phoebe was a deaconess. And let me just say this, Bert. The Bible does clearly say that the senior pastor is male. there is no. In the NewSong Testament. And really, in 1900 years of church history, you do not have female clergy. Only up until the women's movement of the 70s. And really, there's a philosophy called egalitarianism that insists there is no distinction between male and female roles. Now, I want to be very clear. Men and women are equal before God in worth, personality, personhood, humanity, dignity. But we're obviously unique biologically, and we're unique in terms of our calling. And, So, unpopular or not, the Bible really does, in 1 Timothy 3 have, pastors and deacons. And I'm going to say that First Timothy 3 is really normative for the church age. Wouldn't you say so?

>> Bert Harper: I would agree. One thing about chapter three in first Timothy is interesting. For the bishop, it only says something about his wife. And it says, they shall have the husband of one wife. That's all that it says in the wives of the deacon. Notice it gives a whole verse to it. Likewise, their wives lives may be, reverent, not slanderous, temperate, faithful in all things. there seems to be, in the servanthood. Okay, Serving, as deacons are. The word is a transliteration of the Greek word dikonos, which means servant. There seems to be this position of the servant, male and female teaming up, together more effectively to serve. Alex, I hope you catch what I'm saying. And, again, the husband, and wife, the pastor, yes, they are to team. But it seems like when it comes to the servanthood of the deacon and his wife, there seems to be a greater emphasis putting on it, working together according to 1 Timothy 3. Do you catch that as well?

>> Alex McFarland: Exactly. And let me just say, in the carrying out of church, we're not to follow trends or culture or jump on bandwagons. We're to follow the scriptures.

>> Bert Harper: Amen.

>> Alex McFarland: but thank you, Shannon, and blessings on you.

Kelly in Ohio welcomes Exploring the Word to your home

Let's go to Ohio. Kelly in Ohio. Kelly, welcome to Exploring the Word.

>> Caroline: Hello.

>> Alex McFarland: Hi. You're on.

>> Caroline: hello. Is this Mr. Alex?

>> Alex McFarland: It is Alex and Bert. Yes.

>> Caroline: And missed Mr. Burt. Yeah, I don't, Hey, my name is Kelly and I'm from Ohio. And you guys made me a fan of you guys. I'm a fan.

>> Alex McFarland: Well, God bless you. Hey, keep your eyes on Jesus.

>> Bert Harper: Our fan club meets in the local phone booth down the street. No, I'm joking. Okay. go ahead. I'm.

>> Caroline: I really am a fan, you know. Now here's.

>> Bert Harper: Here's the story.

>> Caroline: Four years ago, I heard you guys on the radio and I said, I ain't gonna listen to this. I'm sorry, I'm not gonna listen. But I guess what you got me.

>> Alex McFarland: To God. To God be the glory. Well, Kelly, I trust you're a believer. You. You've received Christ as your savior.

>> Caroline: Guess what?

>> Alex McFarland: What?

>> Caroline: Yeah. The Lord is my savior. Let you know every. Every day at 4 o'. Clock. Right today here in the High. I put that radio on and drive home with you guys on it. Okay?

>> Alex McFarland: Amen. God bless you. Hey, Kelly, here's what I want to do. If you would. Brent Austin, our producer, if we can get your address. I'm going to go into the next room. I'm going to get you a copy of our 100 Bible questions and answers, and we're going to send you a book. And thank you for your enthusiasm for this program.

>> Bert Harper: Kelly, I want to tell you Alex and I are fans of our listeners.

>> Alex McFarland: Amen.

>> Bert Harper: M. The program that we do, we do the Bible study, but we do the question and answer. it would not be exploring the Word without those of you who listen and call in and email and text. Thank you.

>> Alex McFarland: Amen. Amen. We're going to go to. I believe it's Iowa. Gene in Iowa. Welcome to the program. Hello. Yes, sir. You're on.

>> Caroline: Oh, my. Okay.

Gene: God started by banishing Lucifer out of heaven

I was wondering how God created Lucifer and he created us. And if it wasn't for Lucifer, we wouldn't be sinning. Has God ever. Has God ever. He's punished the people, but is he ever punished Satan?

>> Bert Harper: Okay. He started by banishing him out of heaven. We know that, don't we, Alex?

>> Alex McFarland: Yeah. I mean, it's probably hard for us to understand now. Lucifer's ultimate punishment. Satan's ultimate punishment. He'll be thrown in the lake of fire, which burns with fire and brimstone. Forever. And so, I'm telling you, Satan has, an eternity of really bad punishment coming. But on some level that we probably can't fully appreciate, being banished from the presence of God. There was Gabriel, Michael, Lucifer, the angels. And Lucifer and his followers were ejected, cast down and that downward. That's a key, part of this. But I would think there is a pain and a punishment. And then for all these years of history, he has known his destination is perdition, Hell forever. there's no escaping it. Satan is defeated. The full punishment has not been implemented yet. But boy, it's coming, isn't it?

>> Bert Harper: It will be. It's going to happen, Gene. And those justice, judgment, God's judgment may grind slowly, but it grains, exceedingly fine. And so he's going to get his. You don't have to wonder or know. And we've read. I know this is a cliche, but I'm going to use it anyway. We've read the last of the book and I'm glad I'm a follower of Jesus Christ.

>> Alex McFarland: Alex, Don from Tennessee, I'm sorry we didn't get your call. Try again tomorrow. Cause tomorrow is Friday. We call it Fire Away Friday. All questions, all the hour. Don and everybody else, try to join us again tomorrow if you could.

>> Bert Harper: We would love it. And Alex, it's been good. I've enjoyed these first four days. here, in the book of Isaiah on exploring the Word and there is 27, seven more chapters to go and there's a lot more in Isaiah. So get ready for Fireaway Friday, but also read ahead if you want to be blessed and read Isaiah, chapter 40 and get ready for Monday because it's going to be good as well. Thank you for listening to Exploring the Word. Thank you for listening to all the program on afr. Tell someone about it, but more importantly, tell them about Jesus.

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