American Family Radio takes your Bible questions live on American Family Radio
>> Bert Harper: The Bible.
>> Alex McFarland: 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.
>> Bert Harper: Stay with American Family Radio for the
>> Alex McFarland: next hour as we study God's word and take your Bible questions.
Exploring the Word explores the importance of the church and the local church
Welcome to Exploring the Word. You know, nowadays people often ask me, you know, what about the future of the church? The world seems darkened and sinful and you know, there are many statistics about young people that are raised in church and don't stay with the church. And some people ask me, you know, what might be the future of the church in America. And I always default to a verse that is, great encouragement. Although we can't just throw up our hands and not do the things that are our responsibility. But Matthew 16:18, Jesus said, I will build my church and the gates of hell with will not prevail against it. Today on Exploring the Word, we're going to talk about the precious priority, the value and the worth, and frankly the importance of the church and the local church as well.
Alex McFarland welcomes Bert Harper to Exploring the Word
This is Alex McFarland. I welcome you to today's edition of Exploring the Word with me as always, my dear brother, colleague and friend, Bert Harper. And Bert, you've, you and Jan have given considerable amounts of your life to the church. And, and it's a subject that is very near and dear to both of our hearts, isn't it?
>> Bert Harper: It is. And when you think of that, everybody talks about the universal church and I understand that thought. But when you get down to it and you hear what Paul writes and what Jesus says, it is that local body, which makes up the totality of the church. But yes, we've given your life, our life, and just served as pastor and wife, served as a staff member and, and just grew up part of the church, Alex. And in it, I remember hearing the message about the body of Christ and I just thought, man, that's a great way. If we could all work together the way the body works together. and it really hits home when we see what Paul was teaching concerning the church.
>> Alex McFarland: Well, you know, I'm going to say this, and this is certainly my story and I bet it resonates with a whole lot of folks listening. In the church, I found my Savior. In the church, I found my spouse. In the church, I found myself. I mean, I really found what matters to me. I found my calling, Bert. I found my future, really through the church of the Lord Jesus Christ. Everything about me and everything I hold dear in my life. My security, my stability, my joy, my purpose. I found it all in and through the church.
>> Bert Harper: Well, I could. I will say the same thing. And matter of fact, it was the same local church. I was saved as a 12 year old boy at Wheeler Baptist Church here in Northeast Mississippi, and I was baptized in that same church. I met Jan at church. I was in the choir, although I couldn't sing. But I tell folks it's a great place to look for girls. And she was visiting that day and I saw her. And, we married there at that same church. I was called. I was ordained in that church. And it was the same local church. So, yes, the church, vital part of our lives, and it continues to be. And although, you travel from church to church just about every week, you are in a different church, Alex, all around the United States and even abroad. And. And isn't it great to have fellowship with brothers and sisters in Christ? That's what's amazing is the fellowship that you have with someone and the language is different, the culture is different, everything about it is different. But Jesus is the same. And we come into that relationship and have fellowship, with a body of believers, whether it be in Poland, whether it be in Nicaragua, whether it be in Canada, United States. It's amazing to feel at home in the body of Christ.
>> Alex McFarland: Well, amen.
Alex: Bert says unstructured Christianity loses momentum in impacting communities
And, you know, we are talking about the church, and we're going to read a scripture here in just a minute. We're going to read a little bit from First Corinthians, chapter 11. And, you know, to be clear, there is the church universal, that's believers everywhere, and then there is the local church. And I hope and I trust that everybody listening is a part of a local church, because that, that is on, the disciples to do list. Bert. I believe every born again believer needs to be part of a group of believers banded together for the purpose of world evangelization. A local church. And by the way, let me just throw this in here. sometimes I talk with young leaders and, you know, I speak on panels and this and that. I know there are a lot of young people that, you know, they don't like organized religion, quote, unquote. And they'll often say, well, you know, the church is not the building. It's not the bricks and the mortar. It's the body of Christ. And I know that, believe me, I know that the church is not just the physical structure. But I will say, Bert, that unstructured Christianity, kind of runs out of steam and loses Its momentum, especially in terms of impacting the community and the culture. It's been the structure and. And the organization that has really given a lot of, momentum and stability. You know, there's church have been around for centuries. There's churches that have touched cities for decades. And you know, we. We're keenly aware that the church, that's the believers. But. But there's something to be said for consistent, regular scheduled meetings, going to church. There's just something about the discipline of being a part of a thriving church. And the structure adds to the impact, doesn't it?
>> Bert Harper: It does, Alex. And let me say, when you look at the early church, everybody says, oh, I'll go back to the early church. They, met regularly at a certain place at certain times. They had organizations. They had. Paul wrote to the church at Philippi and says bishops and deacons, they already had organizations and they had the leadership set. And so you see that now I do believe you can organize yourself out of being able to hear from the Lord. when we were worshiping with the worship leaders that we, would worship and the music director and others, and we'd call it planned spontaneity. And yes, we had it laid out what we felt like God would have us do. But we also entered into it knowing that God could intervene and God could direct us in a certain way. And sometimes that's lost. And I think that's, what people, see in organized religion. Sometimes it can be so structured that if the Holy Spirit wasn't there, he would not be missed. And So I understand some of that thought, but I agree fully with you, Alex, that even denominations and people say, well, I don't like denominations. Well, if you don't have denominations, guess what you have. You usually have a state church. And so I praise the Lord for those. But don't let your denomination, whatever it might be, keep you from following the Lord with fellowship with other believers who know Jesus Christ. Follow Christ, love his word is on mission for God. you may not agree on everything and every I dotted and every T crossed, but on the essentials, there used to be on this old movie, it may still be on. On television, one of the m. movie, channels, you know, the Essentials. And every time I heard that what they'd do, they would bring an old classic movie and they would talk about what is essential to making that movie. You know, the plot, you know, how it works out. Well, there are some essentials, and that's what we're talking about today. We're going to talk about the essentials that go into a body of believers. And Alex, I find it intriguing to see that each part is vital and is important. Paul. Paul kind of fusses on those who said, I have no need of thee. He says, don't you dare say that. We have need of one another, don't we?
>> Alex McFarland: Well, we really do. We really do. And, you know, denominations, developed, over, you know, through Europe and in America because. For a couple of reasons. One, to pool resources, to put our resources together for the purpose of world missions. You know, because, none, of us can really do the Great Commission alone. And so denominations were, you know, groupings together to. To put our resources together for world missions, but also for theological things. And there are the essentials, the basics of the faith. And then there are, you know, denominational distinctives, which are, you know, not, so much matters of conviction, but, sometimes matters of preference or understanding. And. And that's okay. But you know what? Let me read a couple of scriptures here, and then we're going to get into.
We're going to talk about the church. The purpose driven life. When you know that you have purpose in life
We're going to talk about the church. And, folks, we're going to give, eight people that make up the church. And all of us wear one or more of these hats. But in First Corinthians 11, Paul says this, and he compares it to a husband and a wife. Christ and the church. Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ, you know, follow me as I follow Christ. And he says in verse three, I would have you know that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is the man. Now, I know people don't like to hear that today, but, the head of the home is the husband. and under the husband is the wife. And it says, the head of Christ is God. And really this ties into Ephesians 1. Let me read Ephesians 1:21, 23. That Jesus is far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in the world to come. Jesus is above it all, and the Father has put all things under his feet and given him to be the head over all things. The church. Ephesians 1:22. The church. Ephesians 1:23, which is Christ's body and the fullness of him that fills all in all. Now, I know that's a mouthful, but the church is the body. Christ is the head. And if we're a believer, we're a part of that body all under Christ. Am I reading that right? Bert?
>> Bert Harper: You are correct. And for those of you that don't like the idea of a man and a woman, just remember where the head is located. It's located on top of the neck, and the neck turns the head in the direction that it needs to go. And I use that parallel. I don't know if you can do it with Angie, but Jan. Yes, I'm, I'm. Let's full steam ahead. But praise the Lord for my wife, who is, able to help direct some of that energy that I have. Alex. And so we need one another. And don't, don't think it's that we do need one another, the husband and the wife, and each one of them has a role. But when you come to Christ, he is the head. He is the one, and we are to fulfill our purpose. Alex, you know, Rick Warren did it great. The purpose driven life. I agree with that fully. When you know that you have purpose in life as a believer, it changes your whole thought pattern, your whole dimension. When you know you were born and then you were saved and you are equipped for purpose, and that's what we're talking about today. Your purpose is to be found. And one of these eight people that we're talking about being a part of the body. Alex, to me, that's exciting to know that we're created and we're redeemed for purpose. a purposeless life, I hate to say it, will, will seem meaningless to the person who is living it. And, we're born and saved for purpose.
>> Alex McFarland: You know, Bird, I was doing some research for Exploring the Word for some other shows that we're going to do down the road, maybe in a few weeks. But, one of the most toxic things for, for people of any age, older people, but young people too. And it's just, it's unhealthy. And that's isolation. Yeah, isolation. To be cut off, to spend too much time alone is actually unhealthy. And I was reading some sociologists that were talking about how young people, that if they spend just time on computers and mobile devices and too much time on a screen, that's unhealthy. isn't it good that the church gives us purpose? And at every age, the church gives us, socialization and relationships.
>> Bert Harper: Amen. Jesus could have done it, but he called his disciples to follow him and he called 12 to be very close to him when he could have said no, it's just up to me. I'm glad I'm a part of his church. America's 250th birthday.
>> Alex McFarland: It's a great excuse to have some extra cake and ice cream, but we can help your celebration go well beyond that.
>> Bert Harper: Show your patriotism with America 250 apparel
>> Alex McFarland: that will become a memento of this special year. We also have special episodes on AFA Stream to help underscore that America is a Christian nation and help you find God in the Constitution.
>> Bert Harper: Find all of this and more in one place.
>> Alex McFarland: Afa.net topics250 welcome back to Exploring the Word on American Family Radio. What, will I say when I'm filled to the flame like I am
>> Bert Harper: now?
>> Alex McFarland: I know you're able. I know you can see through the fire with your mighty hand. But even if you don't, my hope is you alone.
Alex McFarland: How do you become a member of Christ
>> Bert Harper: Welcome back to Exploring the Word. Bert Harper, Alex McFarland with you today, and we're enjoying the study concerning Christ Church, and we, pray that you're a part of it. How do you become a member? By trusting Jesus Christ as savior. Now, how do you do that? You come to the place in your life where you know you're lost, you're undone without God. And God purposely sent his son, Jesus Christ, to live the perfect life, become the perfect sacrifice on the cross as he became sin for us.
>> Alex McFarland: And.
>> Bert Harper: And then he died as that sacrifice. But on the third day, he rose again and was acceptable unto God. And he said, come unto me and I'll present you to the Father. Now, how do you come unto him? By faith. You repent. You trust him as Savior and Lord. It's not just knowledge. It is a, complete trust in him. And then you're part of the body of Christ. And yes, you need to be baptized as a disciple. it's not enough just to be a convert. You need to be a disciple. And you do that by following baptism, studying in his Word, and serving him. And so I hope you're a part of a local church serving the Lord. Let me give this scripture, Alex, and I'll throw it back to you. We're in First Corinthians 11. But First Corinthians 12 also has the idea. Verse 12 through 14. Let me read that. For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are, one body, so also is Christ. For by one spirit, we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. Now listen to verse 14. For, in fact, the body is not one member, but many. Praise the Lord. you know, I'm glad I'm not one big hand. that would be just horrible. I'm glad I have a hand and a foot, an eye and a nose. having parts of a body are important, aren't they?
>> Alex McFarland: Well, they are. They are. But you're right, it's not just a hand. It's not just a foot or a leg, but it's the whole body. do you remember a song and. Oh, man, this was a great song probably 25 years ago by Twyla Paris. How beautiful. And sometimes they would sing it when you do communion. And, how beautiful is the body of Christ. And there was a lyric in that song. It said, how beautiful the radiant bride who waits for her groom with light in her eyes. How beautiful when humble hearts give the fruit of pure lives so that others may live. How beautiful is the body of Christ. And I love that. That, First Corinthians 12 that you mentioned. For as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, yet are one, so also is the body of Christ. And, you know, we're one, but we. We're many. I would encourage people. If you've never taken an international mission trip, I know it's a lot of work. You gotta get a passport and everything, but go on a mission trip. Because, Bert, isn't it just a precious thing when you meet in a different culture? And, I know here in my home state of North Carolina, we've done a lot of work with, well, the Dominican Republic and El Salvador and a lot of, you know, Central America and South American cultures. But you go and you have Jesus in common, and it's like family. I mean, total strangers, vastly different culture, different in so many ways. But yet, when you've got Jesus in common, I mean, it's just the most harmonious thing. and to go and you see God, work and you. You get. At least it was for me, Bert. I sensed what it was to be united with the body of Christ as I began to go on international mission.
>> Bert Harper: I agree with you fully, Alex. It just. It was amazing. My first was in Honduras, and we went to a church on a Wednesday night, and we had lanterns, didn't have electricity. the music director was playing the guitar, and they were singing in Spanish, Amazing Grace. But guess what? I recognized the tune. And as bad as I sing, I couldn't help but join with them. And there was unity. It's not uniformity. The church is not uniformity. we don't all look alike. It's amazing when you go to a different culture or even here in America, a different church where it may be made up of many M and multiracials and, you know, dressed differently. Yes. There is, it's not necessarily unanimity, where we all say exactly the same thing, but it is unity, where we believe that Jesus Christ is the very son of God who delivered us out of that horrible pit and. And set our feet on the rock and put a new song in our heart. Alex, we should be singing the same song and the same tune, on that issue, shouldn't we?
>> Alex McFarland: We should. You know, that is a great point. That is really a great point. Unity, but not just uniformity. And so in the, in the body of Christ, friend, you have a place. You do. You really do have a place.
Bert Harper says you get into the church through being born again
And let's talk about some of the different people. And, you know, we're. We're one body. And you get into the body one way through the new birth, through putting your faith in Christ and being born again. And, you know, perhaps your family's been in a church for many years. Maybe, maybe five generations of your family has been a part of a certain local church. That's fine. there's. There's churches here in North Carolina, One in Greensboro, one down at Fayetteville, where there's McFarland's, going back 200 years. But while my family has been a part of these particular churches, I got into the church by being born again through Jesus. And that's, one of the people that make up the church. The first, I would say, are recipients. Recipients of God's grace and God's salvation. And first and foremost, we want to be clear on that, don't we, Bert?
>> Bert Harper: You.
>> Alex McFarland: You get into the church not by signing a card, but by meeting the Savior.
>> Bert Harper: Yeah. And believing certain things. Yes, our belief, but it's trusting in the one who has taught us. You know, the book of James teaches a lot about faith and works and how they work together. A, faith that is real works. And he says even the demons believe that Jesus was the son of God and rose from the grave because they saw it, and they even believe and tremble. They even have an emotional response. But trust in the Lord as Savior, giving your life to him. The word. You know, I've searched for words that would cross all denominations and try not to be denominational oriented. And it is a full surrender Alex, it really is. I give up on, myself. And I know that Bert Harper cannot deliver the goods. I. I can't deliver what is needed in order for me to inherit eternal life. And I surrender myself to Jesus Christ, who paid it all on the cross, and I'm following him the rest of my life. God has given us the opportunity to receive what he paid for, Alex.
>> Alex McFarland: Amen. Amen. And, you know, if you're a recipient of his grace, you're a part of the church. You know, you're. You're a believer. And so that's, That's the way that you enter into this wonderful body. You get grafted in through the new birth. And you're right. We try to think up the. The. The words to use that draw people, not create barriers. I really think, a few people, maybe nobody ever did that as well as Billy Graham. And the way that he did touch the world, he made it all about Jesus.
>> Bert Harper: Yes.
>> Alex McFarland: And, you know, a quote that we use so much is by a Sri Lankan evangelist. And I've heard this quoted, but it originated with, D.T. niles. Daniel, Tham Bairaja Niles. He lived 1908 to 1970. He was from Sri Lanka. What a profound insight. He said, christianity, evangelism is one beggar telling another beggar where he found bread.
>> Bert Harper: Amen. Whew. That's as good a definition. if you've pastored. Let me just put it this way. If you've pastored a church for any time and you help someone, it will not be long till someone else will show up asking for help as well. it is true the beggars share that information. And, Alex, I just. When D.T. niles. When I heard that, I said he, had to pastor, and he found the perfect. The perfect quote to tell about what evangelism is.
>> Alex McFarland: Well, I know. And, you know, especially knowing that he was from Sri Lanka, that was very impoverished, you understand that he really knew what it was to be in a culture of hunger and poverty. And as much as people want food bred that way, I mean, the bread that, everybody needs, as Jesus said, the bread of life. You know, your fathers ate manna in the wilderness, but Jesus came to give a bread that would fill you eternally, and that's salvation. So the church is made up of recipients of that. The church is made up of disciples. And, you know, Bert, we use variants of this discipleship, and, you know, discipling.
A disciple is someone who has come to Christ and continuous following him
But let's talk about what it means to be a disciple, because Remember, in Matthew 28, 18, 20, Jesus told us to make disciples. So I ask you, Pastor Bert, what is a disciple?
>> Bert Harper: It is someone who has come to Christ and continuous following him and becomes a lifelong biblical spiritual learner who puts it into practice. Now, that's rather long, but it's true. We're not just learning. We're not just following. We're. We are being and doing. You know, doing stuff doesn't make you who you should be. First Corinthians 13 talks about that. Though I do this, Though I do this and have not love, it profits me nothing. But being who you are and then doing. What did James say about that? Don't be just hearers of the Word, but be doers of the Word. I would say that is a disciple. And it is. How long, Alex?
>> Alex McFarland: Well, it's a lifelong follower.
>> Bert Harper: It is. Amen.
>> Alex McFarland: You know, we've talked about this. You know, sometimes in the Gospels, they would call Jesus rabbi or rabboni, which means teacher. and a teacher, in that day, got to pick their pupils. In fact, for a certain, rabbi to invite you to become one of his disciples was a great, great honor. I mean, it wasn't just, hey, you know, I think I'll. I'll flatter you and sit under your teaching. No, if a rabbi called you to be one of his disciples, it was a really big honor. And so a disciple is a lifelong follower, A consistent, obedient, lifelong learning follower. That's what a disciple is.
>> Bert Harper: Well, let me ask this, Alex. I'm interrupting, but this is important. The Bible does not teach for a, lifetime of rebellion, a lifetime of backsliding. We don't hear a lot about that word. Backsliding.
>> Alex McFarland: Wow.
>> Bert Harper: God. The Bible does not teach lifelong backsliding.
>> Alex McFarland: Does, doesn't. It doesn't. And let me just say this. if you're born again, been made alive through the spirit, you've repented, you've believed, you're saved. The Bible uses a lot of words. You know, Peter preached, be converted, repent, be converted, that your sins be blotted out. this idea, and I'm glad you bring it up, of a perpetual state of carnality. That's not a disciple, is it, bro?
>> Bert Harper: It is not. And let me just share if that is your case. You enjoy hearing, you know, Christian radio, you enjoy exploring the Word, but you're not there. You're following from afar. You know, that's what they said concerning those. When Jesus was arrested, they did it from afar. no, you want Close up and personal. A disciple is someone that's close up and personal with Christ. You remember when they were, picking the apostles and he picked them and those that would follow him. When they looked at Matthias, there was someone who followed Jesus close up, who was there for his resurrection. The Apostle Paul. He, knew Christ. He took it three years in the Arabian desert where he was close up with Christ and Christ would, appear to him, the risen Christ on the road to Damascus. Let me just tell you this, this disciple is, is not, it's lifelong learning close up and personal, Alex.
>> Alex McFarland: Well, you know, in, in the arts, they talk about disciples in, in painting. You know, if somebody is a painter who's a realist, they might say they're a disciple of Norman Rockwell, you know, because they paint that style. And you know, I play a lot of guitar and, and you know, depending on how you play, they'll know who your influences were. And, you know, I've, I've played a lot of oldies and they'll say, oh, he's a disciple of Chuck Berry, because I can play a lot of that 50s stuff. the thing is, you know, if in sports, in the arts, the one who influenced you, they know you're a disciple of this or that school of thought because it shows up. Well, if we're a disciple of Jesus, it ought to be really evident, you know, and the way we live and what our priorities are. They know that we're his disciple and we're to make disciples, another person that makes up the church. Not only recipients and disciples, but worshipers. And we are to worship and serve our savior. And Hebrews 10:25, you know, back to the organized church and going to church, Hebrews 10:25. Do not forsake the assembling of yourselves together as the manner of some is. In other words, even in that day, there were some who were backslidden about going to church. But so much the more, as you see the day approaching, Bert, with the situation of the world and the nearness, the daily, ever growing nearness of Christ's return, shouldn't we be more plugged into church than ever before?
>> Bert Harper: More than ever? and no matter what size your church is, if you go to a mega church, thousands of people there, or if you go to a church plant where 20 people are showing up right now, you need to be a part of that church and use your gifts. Let me say this too. The first three we've talked about, recipients, disciples and worshipers. If you're A member of the church. You should be all three of these. All three of these. These are not separated. They go together. And I would say this about the worshiper. unless we're worshiping, you don't have to worship with the same way. Some people like old hymns, some people like the new, music. But worship the Lord. You're not worshiping the music, you're not worshiping the style, you're not worshiping the translation. You're worshiping the Lord Jesus Christ. Let us come together and worship him. Alex.
>> Alex McFarland: Amen. This is Exploring the Word. You're listening to Bert and Alex. We're in First Corinthians 12. Stay tuned. We're going to continue with eight people who make up the church when Exploring the Word comes back after this.
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This is a pre recorded show because Bert and Alex are on the road preaching
>> Alex McFarland: Welcome back. You're listening to Exploring the Word on American Family Radio. Finding myself in the midst of you beyond the music, beyond the noise all that I need
>> Bert Harper: is to be with
>> Alex McFarland: you and in the quiet I hear your voice. Welcome back to today's edition of Exploring the Word. You are listening to the American Family Radio Network. Alex and Bert here. And this is a pre recorded show because Bert and I are on the road preaching so we can't take live calls today. But I do want to tell you that you can listen to archived shows on afr.net in fact, Bert, we had a listener in Colorado told me that they have on their computer 30 hours of exploring the Word from, the shows. They said they listen early in the morning, sometimes before work. And so you know There are so many shows, and there's a lot of great content from all of the speakers from Abe Hamilton and Miki Addison and today's issues and so much content. Because, you know, I'm going to summarize what we want to do. We want to evangelize the lost and equip the. The saved.
>> Bert Harper: Praise the Lord.
>> Alex McFarland: Yeah. So, you can listen to Exploring the Word live or on afr.net and we appreciate you doing that. You know, it's been said the church is one organization that exists for the benefit of its non members, and we can't.
>> Bert Harper: If a church quits doing that, they quit being a church.
>> Alex McFarland: I know.
>> Bert Harper: I mean, if you're just meeting to meet to feed the people who are there, you've lost your identity as the church that Christ, birthed here upon this earth.
>> Alex McFarland: Well, you know, we talked about how the church is made up of recipients of grace, disciples, learning followers, worshipers of the true God. But number four, the church is made up of custodians. And I don't just mean the man that takes care of the building. I mean custodians of truth. First, Timothy 3:15 says that we are God's household, the church of the living God, the pillar and ground that is the foundation of truth. isn't it true that, I think about this, Bert. I'm in a lot of, churches, and sometimes in the lobby, there'll be an old Bible with records of birth and baptism, marriages and death. And do you know in many a court case when, the county records are a little sketchy and hard to piece together, church records have been admissible in court cases because the church has been the custodian of the lives of people, families, births, deaths, marriages, baptisms. But we are also not only custodians of personal histories, we're the custodians of, of the eternal truth, of the Son of God, our Savior.
>> Bert Harper: And it all starts with Jesus, when he said, I am the way, the truth and the life. No one can come to the Father but by me. And he is the truth. And it says, you shall know the truth, and the truth will set you free. The truth is so important. That's why we call to have a biblical worldview. if you're viewing the world through a different lens than the lens of scripture, you're going to have a warped view. And we look at what's going on in the world today, even in the United States, and we hear what some people are advocating, what some people believe and what they desire. And, you know, they're looking through the lens of secularism. They're looking through the lens of selfishness, of materialism. And so truth is the only one that balances life and death. It's the only one that balances poverty and prosperity. It's only through. You can try it through government as much as you can, But Jesus knew the only way. To whom much is given, much is required. Now, does that mean, just knowledge? No, I think it. Well, I know it means wealth as well. If you're spending your wealth all on yourself, something's wrong. You, I love Amos. You remember what Amos called over in the Old Testament? Those families, the woman and the husbands that were spending all their wealth on themselves. He called the women, you cows of Bashan. now, I wouldn't start off a sermon the way that Amos did. You know, he did it that way. But, Alex, it's true, it's only through the truth of Jesus Christ that we have this balance, isn't it?
>> Alex McFarland: Well, it really is. And, you know, speaking of custodians, in a way, it's kind of almost like tenants. you know, we're handling the truth. And Jude verse three says that, you know, we are to earnestly contend for the faith once delivered to the saints. The faith, the message of Jesus, and we're to zealously, consistently, faithfully contend for it. You know, Bert, early in our work, we rented an office. And that was kind of scary to commit to a lease. You know, I'd never done that before, but I read that lease, and it said that we could do anything we wanted to in that office, conduct our business and so forth. But it said we couldn't change the office, could not tear down a wall, could not repaint the walls. You know, we could, do normal things to conduct our business, but we weren't to renovate or tear down or. Or knock out anything. We were the tenant, not the owner. And I think about this when people nowadays want to say, well, you know, what the Bible calls sin? It's not really sin anymore. No, no, look, we're the custodians of the truth, but we're not the changers of truth. I mean, we can occupy the building, but we can't knock out the walls, shall we say? And so, look, we are to proclaim the message, but we aren't to reinvent or rewrite the message, are we, Bert?
>> Bert Harper: Praise the Lord. It's the old, old story that is still relevant today.
Bert Harper: Every Christian is a messenger for the gospel
Now, Alex, we're not only Custodians of the truth. But we're messengers, propagators of the gospel or the good news. What a treat. Now, is this exclusive? Is it talking about just paid pastors or messengers? is it talking about the message that we proclaim that Jesus has saved our lives, and we want you to
>> Alex McFarland: know it, all of us, not just the preachers, but all the people? Acts 1, verse 8 says, and there's a collective noun, you, but you shall receive power after that. The Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be witnesses. and so here's the thing. that. That body of believers, the plurality of all Christians, it's you and me. It's everybody. Thank the Lord for Billy Graham and David, Jeremiah and Tony Evans. Thank the Lord for the people that we, know and love. But every last one of us is a messenger for the truth. let me quote Rick Warren. Rick, Warren said, our culture has accepted two huge lies. The first, that is, if you disagree with somebody, it must mean you fear them or hate them. You're phobic or you hate them. No. And Rick Warren goes on, he says, the second is that to love somebody must mean that you agree with everything they believe or do. Both are nonsense. You don't have to compromise convictions to be passionate. Now, the reason I shared that lengthy quote, Bert, as a messenger, we are to proclaim the good news, but we're not to rewrite or truncate the good news, are we?
>> Bert Harper: We are not. We're to speak the truth in love. Now, I've got a voice that is loud. I'm passionate about. You've heard me preach, and, you think I'm passionate on the radio. Get in person and wow, you know, it comes across.
>> Alex McFarland: Bert Harper is a great preacher, by the way.
>> Bert Harper: And I know my loudness sometimes gets in the way, but, you know, we're to be compassionate, Alex. we're to love those people. They have believed a lie. It doesn't mean that we bend, or it means we break for them, but it means that we stand in love. And, what was it that Carl Sandburg said about Abraham Lincoln? he was still in velvet, when it came to believing the things that he believed, he. He was like steel. He did not bend. But when it came time to deal with people who did not agree with him, he was like velvet. And we need a little bit of that in our society today. We need some Abraham Lincoln in our society, public, and private, in business and politics, in the church and in the community. What Rick Warren has said is so true, Alex. it has been said is a cliche. You know, we hate the sin. We hate the sin and love the sinner. Now, you know, the world does not understand that. So this messenger that we're talking about is backed up by what we talked about in the fourth one. And that's the truth. They go together, don't they?
>> Alex McFarland: Well, they do. They really do. And so we are to be messengers. we're to be examples. you know, we're to be a role model. I read the verse where Paul said, you know, follow me as I follow Christ. Sadly, I think some of the reason that there is rampant unbelief today is because, you know, Christians have not always been great examples. Titus 2:10. I've always loved this verse. Been fascinated by this verse, actually, where it says that they may adorn the doctrine of our God and Savior in all things. Adorn, which is like the word for garnish. You know, Bert, Thanksgiving is a big time at our house. It probably is at your house too. And I mean, you know, it's always appealing when the table is ready for dinner. But Thanksgiving or birthdays or a big dinner, man, you set that table and you put flowers and it's just garnished and adorned to make it as appealing as possible. Aren't we by our life and our. Our smile and our countenance and just like you said, the, the gentleness of an Abraham Lincoln. Aren't we to be an example and make the Christian experience as appealing, to appear as appealing as possible?
>> Bert Harper: Amen, Alex. And. And again, that adorning is your good and you good works. Jesus said it. They shall see your good works and glorify the Father who is in heaven. Years ago, there was. They were doing one of those things about this is your life. Although it wasn't that same program, but it was Billy Graham's program. And it's put on concerning Corrie Ten Boone. And, so they were coming out and they were telling their experiences of how they knew Corrie Ten Boone. And if you don't know about Corrie Ten Boone, you need to read her books. Tramp for the Lord. The Hiding Place. The movie from Worldwide Pictures that Billy Graham put out. The Hiding Place. It is worth your time to watch it. But they were thanking God for Corrie 10. Boom. And when she came out, Cliff Barris handed her roses. Had to be three to four dozen roses. And she got them and held them up, and then she just held them to The Lord. And she held them up and, Clif said, what are you doing? She said, I learned a long time ago if any praise comes my way, I. I just give it on to the Lord. And that's what we're to do. If men start saying man, you've really helped me in a time of need, you were there at a time when I didn't know where to turn, but you were there. We're to take that praise and just give it unto the Lord as we adorn Him. He has done that for us.
To ornament something is to make it pretty and make it appealing
We need to do it for him as well. Alex.
>> Alex McFarland: Well, you know, it's interesting where, you know, we are to be examples, and it says that we are to adorn the. The gospel. it's like garnish the table, as I said, but it's also, a verb that is going to make you think of a noun, ornament. Now, when you think of Christmas ornaments that adorn a Christmas tree, but to ornament something is to make it pretty and make it appealing. And, you know, Bert, I think about the, The. The ornaments of the Christian life, like gentleness and kindness and compassion and wisdom. You know, wisdom. Because, Titus there, you know, while I was talking about that Titus 2:10 verse, you know, Titus talks about that we, are to, you know, know the doctrine of our God, that we're to preach, Jesus Christ, the doctrine of God our Savior, some of the ornaments, the ornamentation of a Christian life, self control, the ability to forgive. I mean, isn't a. And can't you tell it, Bert, a person that's walked with the Lord maybe for decades, and maybe they're old and aged and physically, they're, you know, aged. But there is just something incredibly powerful about the saint of God that, after a life of pursuing Jesus, they just radiate Christ.
Alex: To be at the bedside of a dying saint is beautiful
>> Bert Harper: Alex, I know we need to go to the next one, but I want to say, to be at the bedside of a dying saint who's adorned or, give ornaments to the Lord with their life is a beautiful, beautiful death. How beautiful is the death of a saint in the sight of the Lord? Nothing says it better. Thank you for reminding us of that.
>> Alex McFarland: Well, I know, and we've got a couple of more points, but we've said this on the show. It occurred to me 20 years ago, part of the Christians to Do list is to become a good old person. And the time to start is, is when you're young. Angie and I went to See, a dear saint of God last week who is suffering with cancer. And, you know, our culture has so much to say about beauty. And, you know, there's all the, you know, Hollywood stars and starlets. So we went to visit this dear saint of God, and, you know, she's knocking on the door of 90 years old. But I was thinking to myself, this woman is so beautiful because it's a beauty, that's way beyond physical attributes. It's the beauty of God. And all of us not only can have that, but really we're called to it. And it's a beauty that very often maybe the world doesn't know about, but we're also to be servants. Mark 10:44, Jesus said, he who would be the greatest among you would be the servant of all. Now, boy, in the eyes of the world, this is counterintuitive, isn't it?
>> Bert Harper: It turns the world upside down just like those men did. Why? They were servants. So the highest honor in his kingdom is a servant. Jesus said, I came m not, to be served, but I came to serve. Who washed the feet up there in the upper room, Alex?
>> Alex McFarland: Jesus washed the feet. And, you know, Peter said, hey, Lord, I'm not going to let you do that. And Jesus said, well, either you let me wash your feet or you don't have a part of me. And Peter rightly said, well, then wash everything about me.
>> Bert Harper: That's when we're pilgrims, we're going on this journey. Abraham was a pilgrim, Paul was a pri. We're just a passing through. But these are eight different people in the church today, and some of it, we're multiple. You may be one of all of them, and if you are, praise the Lord. Alex, thank you for sharing this with us. That the body of Christ is beautiful and a radiant bride, isn't it?
>> Alex McFarland: And aren't we. Are we grateful to be a part of it? Folks, you've been listening to Exploring the Word. We hope you'll tell somebody about this show, but most of all, tell somebody about Jesus. Tell everybody and be in church. Be in church on Sunday, and we hope you'll raise your life and your family on Christ, the head of the church. The views and opinions expressed in this broadcast do not necessarily reflect those of the American Family association or American Family Radio.
