Transcript

American Family Radio takes your Bible questions live on American Family Radio

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

Bert Johnson: Things that stick with you make an impression in Bible

Welcome to Exploring the Word.

>> Alex McFarland: You know, it's amazing how things stick with you and make an impression. When I was growing up, in Greensboro, North Carolina, there was a church that we would go by, and on their sign it said, one Lord, one faith, one baptism. And I remember when I was a child and maybe our parents car would pass that church sign. I was just learning to read and it said, one Lord, one faith, one baptism. And I thought, now what in the world does that mean? I wondered what that meant. Years and years later I would learn that that comes from Ephesians, chapter 4, verse 5. And we in Ephesians 4 today. And you know, Bert, it's amazing. I think about the things that I've heard and seen over the years that they stuck with me. And then when I found Christ at age 21 and I began to read the Bible, so many things kind of coalesced in my mind. And I think the Lord was doing these, letting these, seeds be sown that would bear fruit one day. And I guess as we get into Ephesians 4, I want everybody to be encouraged that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. God's word does not return void. And the seeds of truth that are sown into hearts and minds and souls. The Holy Spirit works on those seeds and makes them germinate, doesn't he?

>> Bert Harper: Amen. And then fruit comes from that. That's the neat part of it. It's not just the plant itself, but it is that which germinates, brings fruit.

Alex: Paul writes about walk in chapter four of Ephesians

Again, we thank you for listening to exploring the Word, as Alex has said. And we're starting in chapter four. Now sometimes we ask, why, raising three sons, Alex? one of the first words that each one of our sons learned was why. And so chapter four is talking about there's a word that's repeated five times and it's found in chapter four, verse one, Walk. W A L K. Now it's talking about your lifestyle, it's talking about going on. And you find it in chapter 4, verse 1, chapter 17 twice you find the word walk. Chapter 5, verse 1, 5, 8 and 5. 15. Now what happens is because of chapters 1, 2, 3 that Paul presents concerning what our, riches are in Christ Chapter four, five and six talks about how we should respond to that. So it starts out, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord beseech you. I beseech you to have. To have a walk worthy of the calling for which you were called. Because of what precedes this. Therefore, I know I say this, but I'll probably say it every time because it taught me so much. When you see the word therefore, you ask the question, why is it therefore? It's because of what he presented. What we have in Christ, who we are in Christ. Let me just put it in my vernacular. We need to act like it. You know? what was that, Andrew Griffith? Andy would tell Opie, remember who you are, you know?

>> Alex McFarland: And did he say, act like somebody?

>> Bert Harper: Like somebody. So I think a chapter four, five and six, you could say, act like somebody. I think that's good, Alex.

>> Alex McFarland: Amen. Amen. You know, there's some irony. you know the apostle Paul, who we love so much, he would ask rhetorical questions. Don't you know that you're not your own? But sometimes the apostle Paul would really. And he was, of course, writing under the direction of the Holy Spirit. He would be ironic. And chapter four, verse one begins, I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation wherewith you are called the word prisoner. Bert, this is really ironic because the apostle Paul was, imprisoned several times. And, he was, in Caesarea, you know, at one time. Now, isn't it believed that Ephesians was one of the times when he was in a Roman imprisonment?

>> Bert Harper: I think it would nearly have to because of when he went to Ephesus and spent time there. Yes, it is. I think you're right.

>> Alex McFarland: But here's the thing. The imprisonment of Paul, in human terms, being incarcerated in a cell, I mean, he spent at a minimum of two years and over two years in actual prison cells. and during the Caesarean and Roman imprisonments, he wrote Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon. But here's the thing. Here's the real one to whom he was bound, and that's Jesus. And that's why, let me just say this, and I'll throw it back to Bert. Your relationship with Christ transcends any human circumstance. You might think it's physical or financial or some external thing impinging on you. No. I will tell you what surpasses everything. Your true identity is your identity in Jesus. He says, therefore, I am the prisoner of the Lord. Praise God. Later, he would call himself the bond slave of Jesus Christ. And here's the thing. The most free you'll ever be, the greatest liberty, freedom is when you're the slave of Jesus.

>> Bert Harper: Hallelujah.

Alex: Keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace

And now let's give another irony here. I think. Prisoner, and he uses the word walk, okay? you know, he may walk around in his cell, but, you know, not a walk. And just talking about that being, you know, one of his prison epistles, as they call it. And he's a prisoner, walks worthy. You also mentioned other books that he wrote. Listen to what he says in Colossians. Similar to the same thing he says as a prisoner. He says, Chapter 1, verse 10 of Colossians that you may have a walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him. Worthy walk. Now, I just want to tell you what he's referring to is because of the. Therefore, and then his desire when he says, I beseech you, if you really know Christ, Alex, if he is real to your life, your walk should be worthy. It should be worthy of the calling. In other words, your walk and your talk, what you say, what you do should match. It should run parallel. And then in verses two through three, I think he gives, characteristics of that. Well, let me read this and let's get it out. how should you walk? With all lowliness, Verse two, there's one. And gentleness, there's two. With long suffering. There's at least three. Bearing with one another in love. That's one or two. You could get some more on that one. Verse three. Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. You see all these qualities that's in your daily life, and he's admonishing them because of what Christ has done for you. And the Holy Spirit of God being in you. He refers to the ministry of the Holy Spirit about 12 times total in the book of Ephesians. So because of what Christ has done, the Holy Spirit's indwelling. You need to live up to your calling and walk these ways with humility, with meekness, suffering long, loving one another. Endeavoring to keep what? The unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. So, Alex, keep the unity. I think that's important. Does that mean uniform or does it mean just, keeping the unity? It means agreeing with Christ. And when we agree with Christ, we agree with others. And we need to make a big deal out of unity and not uniformity. We're not cookie cutters Christians, are we?

>> Alex McFarland: Well, listen, have you ever known anybody that, tore that you know the ligament in the back of their. From the heel to the calf.

>> Bert Harper: Yes.

>> Alex McFarland: pull a hamstring or something like that can be very painful. I've got a dear friend who played college basketball, and he, you know, that ligament tore loose, and it was just excruciatingly painful. Well, it says, keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. And the word there. Bond, is the word for ligament. And in the body, I mean, if the ligaments and connective tissues were torn loose, I mean, it'd be very painful. It would actually be debilitating. Right. Well, in the church, it's the same way. The peace and the unity and the harmony and the Christian love and the respect. Just the things that make any group a family, an organization, a church, be able to function together productively. There's got to be m. Connectedness and the bond. B O N D. The bond of peace. I think it's very, very, telling that it's the word from which we get the word ligament. Amen.

>> Bert Harper: That's good, Alex.

>> Alex McFarland: And we don't want those ligaments torn apart, do we?

>> Bert Harper: We do not. We're to be connected that way and, endeavoring, striving. you're not walking around. Oh, you know, I don't like the way he does that. I don't like the way she says that. Listen, we try to find a place when you. And you say it well, when we agree that Jesus Christ is Lord, and he is our Lord, and we're walking with him. And the Word of God is, a lamp under our feet, a light under our path. And we agree with God, man. We're unified. We may not see everything eye to eye concerning baptism, concerning election, concerning. I, would say eschatology. But Jesus Christ is Lord of all, and we need to walk in that. And, so it is the unity of the Spirit. In other words, it's the Holy Spirit of God. Can help us do that, Alex? I, think it starts out with the first one that is used. Let me just say this. When it says, in all lowliness, humility. In other words, if we don't have real humility, I don't think we will really care about keeping the unity of the faith. You know, you and I can talk now. It's amazing how you and I, different states, different educational, schools and everything. How much we agree. People talk about. Do y' all just agree to agree? No, it's. It's the word of God and our. That does that. And it has the Idea. Hey, I'm not always right. Alex has taught me some things that, well, I didn't see.

>> Alex McFarland: I've learned so much from you, Bert, and continue to,

>> Bert Harper: Isn't that real humility?

Alex and Bert discuss the importance of biblical unity in revival

Teachable.

>> Alex McFarland: Well, amen. And do you know, that is one thing. You know, if you're backing up a vehicle, they say, be careful of the blind spots. And I tell you, if there's a, blind spot that I'm so paranoid and fearful of, I don't want to get to the point that I'm unteachable, you know, really. But it is the Holy Spirit. Verse 4 says, there's one body and one spirit, capital S. The Holy Spirit of God, even as you are called in one hope of your calling. Bert and I, we hadn't done this very long, and we realized that we agreed on everything. And, we would prep and talk on the phone, sometimes a long time, very often a short time. And it was like we didn't have to spend too much time convening together because we just knew we would be on the same page. And, yes, it's the Holy Spirit, but it's also this. We both came to the table, thoroughly, thoroughly in agreement that the Bible is God's word, and the Bible is the authority for the individual Christian and for the church collective. And, do you know, I really do think that is one of the great secrets to revival, is when the body of Christ agrees to live in light of the word of God.

>> Bert Harper: Amen. Alex.

>> Alex McFarland: that's one of the keys.

>> Bert Harper: When we come back, let's connect the unity with verses 4, 5, and 6. When it says 1. There are some things that, when it comes to unity, the one, the part that we're looking at one Lord, one faith, one baptism. It's going to be real important. We're going to talk about that, and I hope you'll be blessed by staying tuned and listening to more of, exploring the word.

>>  : 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

>>  : up the dry cleaning or take the kids to practice. But while you're doing those things, you can listen to your favorite AFR 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 McFarland: we give thanks to God always for all of you constantly mentioning you in our prayers, remembering before our God and Father, your work of faith and labor of love

>> Bert Harper: and steadfastness of hope in our lord Jesus Christ.

>> Jeff Chamblee: 1st Thessalonians 1:3American Family Radio Exploring the Word on American Family Radio. Connect with Alex and Bert on the Exploring the Word Facebook page. Facebook.com exploring the word or email wordfr.net

>> Caroline: your words give us life that's never ending.

>> Caroline: Your words bring us love that never fails. Everything else will.

>> Bert Harper: Amen. Amen. You can't wait to get to that line. That's what's going to last.

American Family Radio asks that you share a listener testimony

Hey Alex, I know we love Sharathon. What's your favorite part of Sharathon Yourself?

>> Alex McFarland: Well, you know, one of the things that means the most are the listener testimonies. And they are just so moving really, because it reminds all of us and we give God all the praise. But how this radio is making an impact. And folks, we would ask that you would share a listener testimony. Now I'm going to give a number that I would ask you to write down. This is not the call in number for questions, but the number for listener testimonies. It's 877-876-8893. And don't be shy, but if this has blessed you or encouraged you and helped you, or maybe you came to the Lord listening to some of the programming on the American Family Radio Network, maybe you came back to the Lord. Call 877-876-8893 and just you take about 60 seconds and just say, you know, tell us who you are and how this radio ministry or the American Family association, you know, there's the magazine, the stand magazine, and just the multi, multifaceted works of AFA and specifically AFR radio. How it's blessed you, that would really be an encouragement to millions of people, ourselves included.

>> Bert Harper: Amen. And we're, we're going to have share a thon 7th, 8th and 9th of April. It's coming up, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. We look forward to it. And so call in. We would love to hear from you.

Bert says each one of us is given grace according to Christ's gift

Well, Alex, again, right before we went to break, we was talking about the unity. And then one, he put those right together. And you mentioned verse five, that sign. I've seen it that well as well. But let's go over this and let's name the things that he says. One.

>> Alex McFarland: One body, One body, one spirit. Even as you recall, in one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all, but unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. You know, Bert, when it talks about, in verse five, one faith, I think about Jude, verse three, the little book of Jude, near the end of the Bible. And it says that we are to contend for the faith once delivered to the saints. there's one way of salvation, one good news gospel. it doesn't get, revised. It doesn't get changed or improved upon. It's that one message of salvation. And all these. O N E. These ones, we serve a very orderly God who has done very specific, very intentional things to bring the human race to himself.

>> Bert Harper: And to each one that got me the Word each verse seven, it is there. But to each one of us, grace was given. Now he's about to introduce gifts that's been given again. You find them in Romans, you find them in Ephesians, you find them in Corinthians, these spiritual gifts. Now, the ones we're looking at here in, Ephesians in just a moment, it really has more to do with the individual who has received that gift, but he still calls it gift. But to each one of us, grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift. And so here it is. We've all received this because we're part of the what One. It's neat to be part of the One. You catch the meaning? I'm throwing out the One Faith, the One and its church. I, was reading one of the guys, and it was talking about somebody talking about the one church. How many? There are so many churches. Well, there's the Body of Christ, all believers who have become one in Christ. But then you also have the local part of that, representing part of the whole in a local church. Where you do what? Where you, I would say, dwell, where you minister, where you serve and use those gifts for the. For the glory of God. So, Alex, that each one, that's important, isn't it?

>> Alex McFarland: It is. It's vitally important. And, folks, you are a part of that body. I mean, if you're a believer, this is your family, this is the church that you're a part of. The calling. You know, when Paul talks about, the vocation and the calling. Verse 4, One Hope of youf Calling. Now, when I hear the Word, a call, I think about an assignment and a purpose and a mission. And there is this hope and the hope of heaven. And I don't mean a hope like, cross your fingers and let's Just see if I make it. No, I'm not talking about that. If you've trusted Jesus, you have assurance of salvation. It is our trust, our faith, our belief. But, Bert, we're not just saved merely to go to heaven. important as that is. And of course, that's vital. And I think all of us, when we open our heart to Jesus or walk the aisle or make that prayer to get saved, because we want to go to heaven, not hell. Of course, that's only rational. But with that wonderful gift of forgiveness comes a, calling. And it's to be a part of telling the world of Jesus and bringing the world to Christ. Over there. In verse 8, which is a quote from Psalm 68 about Jesus after he died on the cross, but before he rose, he, as the scholars, say, he spoiled the grave. He led captivity, captive, the saints of old, from Abraham's bosom to the presence of God and gave gifts to men, which I think that. And this is maybe an entire show we could do on this sometime about the spiritual gifts he would give to the church. And upon his resurrection and ascension, the. Then Pentecost would happen. The church would be initiated. But, Bert, the gifts, the spiritual gifts, and we've talked about them quite a number of times, they are part of our calling to live out not only the Christian life, but the Great Commission.

>> Bert Harper: He equips the called. That's the whole idea. He equips the called. Now, that doesn't mean you do not develop that gift, that equipping that he has given you. it is. We develop that. We, follow instructions from the word of God and help from others to develop this skill, this ability, this gift that God has given us for his glorification and the edification of the church. Remember those two words, Glorifying God and edifying the church. That is exactly what we do.

How do we do that? By living up to our calling to share good news

Now, how do we do that? By living up to our calling to share the good news, to live it. And what we're talking about here in chapter four, five and six is living it. Okay, Alex, not just talking about. Have you ever heard that sermon? I'd rather hear a sermon than hear one anytime. I'd rather see a sermon than hear one anytime. And listen, the Bible says that the world will see our good works and glorify our Father who is in heaven. It doesn't say hear, but it says see. So it's to be lived out. Now, how does that work? They're seeing our walk, the walk that is worthy, that's in unity, and that's in oneness with God, in agreement with the word of God gifted us what we need in order to do that. yeah, he's left us here after our salvation started, but he's equipped us to live here as well. We're to be in the world, but not of the world. We are to be transformed. How? By the renewing of our mind. So, we don't need to throw up our hands and say, oh, we can't do it in 2026. It's too hard. The world is in such a mess. No, he's given us what we need when we need it at that time, hasn't he?

>> Alex McFarland: He really has. And it's been often said, these might be hard times, but these are the times that we've been given.

>> Bert Harper: Amen. We need to make the most of them.

>> Alex McFarland: Exactly. And so we, have the same calling they had in the first century. we have the same calling the church has had in every era to make Christ known.

Prior to the resurrection, Jesus descended first into the lower parts of the earth

Now, let's dive in a little bit. I was in verse eight, which, of course is a fulfillment of, Psalm 68. When he ascended up on high, this is Jesus, who rose from the grave, ascended to heaven. He led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. Now, that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above the heavens, that he might fill all things. Okay, this is deep. Christ was put in the lower parts of the earth, I think, in a couple of senses. Sure. His body was put in the tomb there on that Good Friday. He was taken down from the cross and his body was laid in the grave. But he went into the realm of the dead. He really did. I mean, this is pretty deep. But prior to the resurrection, taking all the scriptures, as best we can tell, Bert, I remember how one of my great, theology professors, Dr. Harold Wilmington, and if you've ever seen Wilmington's Guide to the Bible, it is fantastic. But prior to the resurrection, in the realm of the dead, which Psalms talks about the lower parts of the earth, there was, the realm of the believing saints of old, paradise or Abraham's bosom. But there was also hell, and I think about Luke 16. And this was before the cross or the empty tomb. But Jesus was talking about the rich man who died and was in hell. And to those, unbelieving people of old, there was really a proclamation of condemnation. To the saints of old, there was a proclamation of victory. And he, after Having gone into the realm of the dead, ascended. Therefore there is verse 11. And following that, Jesus the head of the church, he purchased it with his own blood. He gave some apostles and some prophets and some evangelists and some pastors and teachers for the perfecting of the saints for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. The word in verse 12, perfecting, many have said, and I agree, it means like equipping, get this, equipping the saints for the work of the ministry. Now there's a lot we could say, but let's comment on this.

>> Bert Harper: Bert.

>> Alex McFarland: there is full time vocational ministry. Some people are called to be a full time pastor or in full time ministry or a full time missionary. But all of the saints, verse 12, every born again believer is part of this. The most long lasting throughout hundreds and hundreds of years, the greatest endeavor the world has ever seen. God's church on the great commission to bring souls unto salvation. Every believer has a part to play, every one.

>> Bert Harper: And when you see verse 11 again, these are individuals, giftedness for people, apostles, 12 of them. Now again, I know, Judas fell and yes, Paul was an apostle born out of due time and all that. They were the apostles that saw the risen Lord in that day. They had to have prophets because the NewSong Testament had not been written. And you see the gift of the apostles, laying on of hands. And there were some of that. But evangelists were all to do the work of evangelists. But some pastor and teachers. I believe the and is not in the original Greek. It's pastor, teacher and the pastor. It's the word shepherd. Yes, we can get the word elder out of there. But teacher, when Jesus said, listen Peter, feed my sheep, feed my flock, we're to feed them the word of God. And what do they do for the equipping of the saints for the work of the ministry? Now it doesn't mean that the pastor does the work, the evangelist does the work by themselves. It means that they equip the saints for the work of the ministry. Now how do they do that? By, yes, teaching, but also by example. Alex. So, watching the pastor, being a student of the Word, that should be an example. The pastor sharing and leading and sharing Christ. The pastor visiting those that are hurting and helping them. It's an example to the flock that the whole flock or the whole church be a part of it. And what does it do? It edifies the body of Christ. Now it builds them up in character, but it also builds it up in Numbers too, man. they'll see your good works and glorify the Father who's in heaven. They'll say, where, where did that come from? Oh, it's down at that church. You ought be a part of it, you know, how come to know Christ. And yes, it builds up the body in every way. Not just through, the, you know, discipline of it, not just through the ministry of it. But I believe when we do it correctly, it grows because you have fruit. Not just the fruit of the spirit, but you'll have fruit producing fruit, won't you?

>> Alex McFarland: Amen. You know, it's uncanny. A few moments ago I talked about how we think the same thing and it's the Holy Spirit. That's exactly what I was about to say. perfecting the saints for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. And that we all Christians play a role in this. And certainly the ministers, but all believers adding to the church numerically and spiritually. Now what's so beautiful is the word perfecting the saints. It means equipping the saints for the work of the ministry. And look, God does it. But yeah, there's, there's effort, there's the work of prayer and intercession. There's the physical exertion of showing up, doing. You know, Bert, sometimes you're in a pulpit preaching a sermon, sometimes you're taking a meal to a shut in, sometimes you're, you know, out talking to people and giving out flyers and I mean there's, there's a lot to the work of the ministry. But the word edifying is the word for architecture. We're architecturing.

>> Bert Harper: Amen. Building it up.

>> Alex McFarland: Gallic's big church, aren't we?

>> Bert Harper: Preach it, brother. Thank you. Hey, listen, we're going to take phone calls and we'd love to have your phone call about a Bible question. We'd love to hear it. The number, 858-9884. PreBorn's whole mission is to rescue babies from abortion and lead their families to Christ. Last year PreBorn's network of clinics saw 8,900 mothers come to Christ. Please join us in this life saving mission. To donate go to preborn.com afr now

>> Jeff Chamblee: back to the Bible study with Alex and Bert.

Alex King to speak on prophecy and end times this weekend on American Family Radio

You're listening to Exploring the word on American Family Radio.

>> Bert Harper: The word was and the word is.

>> Caroline: The word will be.

>> Alex McFarland: Welcome back to Exploring the Word. Hey, here's the number for Bible Questions. It's 8885-898840-88589-8840. And as we get ready for calls, I'd like to remind everybody this weekend, I'm very excited. Saturday, and Sunday, this is 3-21-22. I'm going to be at Emerald Isle Chapel by the Sea. Now this is kind of near Wilmington, North Carolina, down on the coast. Emerald Isle Chapel by the Sea. And their website is eichapel.org and, I'm very excited. Pastor Clay Olson, Pastor Robert Carnegie, a longtime friend. But what I'm going to be doing on Saturday night, and there's the address and everything, the time, 7pm to 8:30. I'm going to be teaching on prophecy and the end times. Answers to the common questions on prophecy and the end times. And this is really about our book that Bert and I did, on Bible prophecy that just came out. And then I'll be preaching Sunday morning. But if you're in the Mid atlantic region, eichapel.org Chapel by the Sea. I'd love to see you this weekend, Saturday and Sunday.

>> Bert Harper: I hope it goes great. Alex, appreciate you being on the road and, what you do and how you share Christ. We appreciate that.

Stephanie from Mississippi says her father suffered from alcoholism

Well, we do have people that have called in, so we want to go to the phone lines. And first is Stephanie from Mississippi. Stephanie, thank you for calling today. Go right ahead.

>> Caroline: Can you hear me?

>> Bert Harper: Yes, we sure can.

>> Alex McFarland: Welcome.

>> Bert Harper: What part of Mississippi you from, Stephanie?

>> Caroline: Lena. Which is right outside of Carthage.

>> Bert Harper: I know where that is. Believe it or not. Alex and, I both have been to Carthage, so it's good to hear from you.

>> Caroline: Yeah, I know what y' all were in, first at the first church, a couple months ago. And anyway, I wanted to just share testimony. my dad was. He was amazing, but bless his heart, he suffered with alcoholism. Him and my mother both did, but they were functioning alcoholics. And I spent my whole life praying, lord, please let them get sober and, and use them. Well, they started to age and I saw that they weren't. But I didn't give up. I just kept praying and I said, you know, Lord, if you can't let them get sober and be used by you, just don't let my daddy. I saw my daddy was dying. I said, just don't let my daddy die drunk. And I continue to pray that prayer and pray that prayer. And he died in 2020. But guess what? He had six weeks of sobriety.

>> Bert Harper: Amen.

>> Caroline: And he, And he, I mean, he knew the Lord. He knew the Lord, but alcoholism had just was controlling me. And. But the Lord gave him six weeks of sobriety, and he got his m. His Head on straight. And when he died, I listened to y' all yesterday, and I wasn't able to call him. But when he. When he died, y' all were talking about the angel being in the corner of the room when. Well, he. He had. They had given him morphine and, those last days. And anyway, when the last day, he wasn't able to communicate real well. And he told me, he said, home, Home. And he said. I said, yeah, Jesus is waiting on you. And I know my daddy's in. In heaven, and I know that the Lord loves us. And I remind myself it took 40 plus years for him to answer that prayer, but, he answered it.

>> Bert Harper: Amen.

>> Caroline: Faithful. The Lord is faithful. And I just wanted to share that because there were many times over my life that I just didn't think the Lord heard me because they just never quit drinking. I mean, they were great. They were amazing people. And my mother, since. Since my dad died, she is completely sober, and she's been sober since.

>> Bert Harper: Amen.

>> Caroline: Five months after my dad died. And we all thought she was gonna die.

>> Bert Harper: Amen.

>> Caroline: Because of their alcoholism also.

>> Bert Harper: Praise the Lord.

>> Caroline: I just. He took over 40 years for him for. For the Lord to answer that prayer. But he did. He did, and he will. And so I just want. And I believe that. That over in the corner, there he is. Because my daddy was. He was going home. Home. And I said, yeah, Daddy, he's going to get to go home soon. And my mom and dad didn't talk like that, but I know that they knew the Lord, because I remember.

>> Bert Harper: Stephanie, thank you for calling. What a blessing. I just want to tell you, do not give up. Those of you who have loved ones and you've been praying, don't quit. Continue. And I could tell you story after as much as I've been, pastoring Alex, story after story about God's faithfulness. He is, isn't he?

>> Alex McFarland: He is so faithful. And like Luke 18:1, we always pray and don't give up.

>> Bert Harper: Amen. Stephanie, thank you for calling. And I thank you very much.

Jose says God told him to prepare food so he can eat it

Let's stay in Mississippi. Is it, Jose?

>> Caroline: Yes.

>> Bert Harper: Go right ahead, brother.

>> Caroline: Okay. I'm sorry about my English. I don't speak English very good. Okay.

>> Alex McFarland: You sound great.

>> Bert Harper: Yeah, go ahead.

>> Caroline: Reading the Bible. I was reading the Bible, and I read something about God told this person to eat, make some food, prepare the food with some food, you know? And I want to know why. Why it's like, don't make sense to me, Alex.

>> Bert Harper: Got that.

>> Alex McFarland: so God was making food with. Did he say fruit?

>> Bert Harper: Is that what you said, Jose?

>> Caroline: Yeah, he told him to prepare some food so he can eat it. And then he say he told to God, they know that he never ate nothing if pure in his life. Why he want to do that?

>> Alex McFarland: Are you talking about Peter?

>> Bert Harper: Peter? Is it in the book of Acts, Joseph, or do you remember?

>> Caroline: Wow, I don't remember. M. But

>> Bert Harper: okay, we're going to take it that it's from there. Alex, go ahead. that sounds the most, you know, memorable thing that I can know.

>> Alex McFarland: I think what you're thinking about, brother, is in Acts, chapter 10, okay, the apostle Peter had a vision and there was a. It's Peter's vision of a great supper, really. And there's all these foods that included some animals that had been, forbidden, under Jewish law. And God told Peter, kill and eat. Three times. He says this. And Peter goes, no, Lord. Now, you know, I've never put anything impure in my mouth. And the real purpose of this was that we're not under law anymore. And it was paid on the cross. And so, by the way, when, the voice of God said to Peter, get up and kill and eat, Peter refused. He says, I'm not going to eat anything impure. And the voice replies, what God has made clean, do not call impure. And, ah, as I understand that, sir, and Bert, in Christ we are free. We're not under the ceremonial laws. We are made right with God and free in Christ based on what Jesus did on the cross.

>> Bert Harper: Amen. The ceremonial law. Ah, Alex, that's the way we get to Christ. Not through the blood of, lambs and goats anymore, but through the blood of Christ. So that part passed away, right? the ceremonial, law.

>> Alex McFarland: Yeah. And like, for example, the prohibition against eating pork, you know, the pig was viewed as an unclean animal. And a pious, observant Jew, pre Calvary, wouldn't have dared to eat, you know, pork or shellfish. you know, there were dietary prohibitions, but in Christ, you know, Paul says, all things are lawful for me, but will not be dominated by anything. Everything in moderation.

>> Bert Harper: Paul said, Amen, Jose. We hope that helps. That's where that is in Acts, chapter 10. Great, great teaching. Thank you for calling, brother.

Alex: Jasper, how do you know if you're called to preach gospel

Let's go to Iowa. Jasper, thank you for calling. Go right ahead.

>> Caroline: yes, I have a question. can you hear me okay?

>> Bert Harper: Yes, sir. Yes, go right ahead.

>> Caroline: I've been a student of The Bible and Christian most of my life. How do I know according to scripture, if I'm called to preach the gospel?

>> Bert Harper: Okay, Alex, let me give you a real quick story and Jasper you listen. See if it's some of it. I couldn't believe God would ever call me to preach a guy that slaughtered the king's English. The guy that was so shy and backward in so many ways. But God had different ideas. He equips you. I felt that way first, Jasper. I felt that way that God was calling me. Okay? And then I had the opportunity in a small group to start preaching to see if there was freedom in that, to see if there was a knowledge. Yes, this is it. Alex. And my, the ones that I've tried to help know that in Jasper, the pastors that I had, they let me speak to a smaller group. Now I didn't want to embarrass myself and others in front of a huge group, but a small group to see if there was there was that call in there. Because whom he calls, he equips, doesn't he Alex?

>> Alex McFarland: He really does. God bless you and we will certainly be praying for you. I'm going to put it this way Bert, and your experience is much like my own. I think there are internal confirmations and external confirmations. Now the internal is a, desire and a conviction. You know, all I wanted to do was be involved in gospel work. I mean I was in church. and by the way, let me just say this, that if you're feeling a call to full time ministry, I really think you've got to be involved in church. And I look back, I often mention Macedonia Baptist Church and pastor Mark Sink, rest his soul, Bert. I was involved in all kind of church. I used to set out the chairs for Angie to teach Sunday school. We weren't married. And I remember I was very shy and I felt I would never get up in front of people and speak. And I remember I would set chairs out because she taught Sunday school to the elementary kids. And I thought this is my job, I got to get there because I'm the guy that sets up all the chairs and everything. This is my role. Well then I got asked to speak and share my testimony. Now meanwhile on my job and at college I was witnessing and you know, I just, all I wanted to do was try to see people get saved. And then I got asked to teach a Sunday school. And I remember a time or two I just really was in prayer and I said lord, if you're calling me to full time ministry, I want that, I would do it, but I'm so unsure. And Bert, let me just say in my own experience, different ones would say, and nobody knew what was going on in my heart. I don't think many people knew. But in a number of different places, I'll be brief. People said, alex, you should be a minister. Because people would come to me with Bible questions and I didn't. I mean this was three decades before exploring the Word and yet it just seemed like people would ask me Bible questions. So I was studying and I guess my point is, internally God is at work externally through circumstances and even maybe the confirmation of people around you. And then so it's by gifting and by calling and by choice. I went forward one Sunday and I said to the church, I, think God's called me to the ministry. I have no idea what that's going to look like, but I want to be held accountable that I'm going to try to obey the call of God. And for me, Bert, it was very incremental. It was some incremental steps. What do you say Bert?

>> Bert Harper: I would agree with that. And the affirmation of others does help. I had the same thing and stay in the Word, Jasper. I tell you, and I know you can read the same scripture and you see it's the same thing, but God would show different things. during that period of time I saw the word go, I heard, you know, and it would get my attention. I'd see the word preach, preach, teach. It would get my attention as I read the Word. I wasn't wanting to, I was wanting to not do it, I can tell you that right now. But God did get my attention. Let the word of God be a part of that as well. Thank you Jasper. And we're going to pray for you. We got Larry in Alabama and I see that he has a prayer request. So we're going to pray for Jasper and Larry together in a minute. But Larry, what is your prayer request, brother?

>> Caroline: It's for a friend of mine, Jimmy. I worked with him, part time for Enterprise when we used to ferry cars and everything. And he's had a stroke and everything and he's like I say, he's in hospices at the Huntsville Hospital. So I appreciate it if you do a prayer for him.

>> Bert Harper: We will, Jamie. Is that right Jimmy?

>> Caroline: Yes.

>> Bert Harper: Okay.

>> Alex McFarland: I think that's what he said.

>> Bert Harper: Okay, let me pray for Jimmy, and Jasper here. Father, I thank you that Larry has a heart for a friend. And Father, we want friends that way. And we're praying for Jimmy right now. God, that you would be with him at that place. And Father, draw him to yourself no matter where he is spiritually, that his mind, and I think he would dwell on you if he knows you. If he doesn't, Father, bring him to yourself and even in his mind, heart, Father, that he would confess you as Lord. And I'm praying for Jasper, God, that you would help him to know he's called. That's what it says today in Ephesians 4:1. We're all called. So, Father, if that's full time ministry, I pray you would affirm it in his heart and he'd respond, in Jesus name. Amen. Amen.

Alex, you touched on the spiritual gifts today

We have time for one more and it's Donna in Texas. Donna, thank you for calling. Go right ahead.

>> Caroline: Hi, yes, I just wanted to ask, because you touched on the spiritual gifts today, I just wanted to ask, if you think they're all still in effect, because there's a few that I don't think that they are. I think that they were in effect until the scriptures were written. But I would just like, to hear, what you think about that.

>> Bert Harper: Alex, do you get the full question?

>> Alex McFarland: What would that be like from the Ephesians 4? apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers.

>> Caroline: I think I'm really thinking of First Corinthians, ah, 12. It's around 13. Yeah, 12.

>> Alex McFarland: The spiritual gifts. Great, question. And I don't know that I can completely do it justice, in just a little bit of time that's left. in general, I think, yes, I think all the spiritual gifts are still operative. and I know that there's some that say, well, since the Bible got completed, some of the spiritual gifts have been withdrawn. I don't know that I see that, now. Different areas of the body, different churches. God seems to be more demonstrably present than others. But I really think the Holy Spirit can do anything in his church he's ever done in if we're willing and available.

>> Bert Harper: Bert. Amen. And listen, Satan always has a, disguise. He always has a counterfeit. He always does. So we want the real deal, and that is following Christ, letting him be Lord of our lives. Thank you for listening to Exploring the Word.

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