Hamilton: God has called us to be his ambassador even in this dark moment

>> Abraham Hamilton III: Darkness is not an affirmative force. It simply reoccupies the space vacated by the light.

>> Abraham Hamilton III: This is the, Hamilton Corner on American Family Radio.

>> Abraham Hamilton III: It should be uncomfortable for a believer to live as a hypocrite, delivering people

>> Abraham Hamilton III: out of the bondage of mainstream media and the philosophies of this world.

>> Abraham Hamilton III: God has called you and me to be his ambassador even in this dark moment. Let's not miss our moment.

The Hamilton Corner is hosted by Abraham Hamilton III

>> Abraham Hamilton III: And, now the, Hamilton Corner.

>> Abraham Hamilton III: Good evening everybody. Welcome to the Hamilton Corner. Abraham Hamilton III is my name. I'm the host of the program. Here, joined by the Corner contingent right across from me once again is our friendly neighborhood woodaholic, Mr. Marty Sparks, perpetually in recovery nonetheless. And we are joined also by producer extraordinaire, Mr. J. Mack, Mr. Jeff McIntosh, in the screening room, often imitated, but never duplicated. And we're ready to rock and roll with today's edition of the program.

Many of you are making transition from part time jobs to full time jobs

At this very moment, many of you, if not most of you, are making your transition from your part time jobs where you generate an income, to your full time jobs where you cultivate an outcome. And as you do so, I want to remind you to do it with intentionality. Income generation is important, but our culture has applied the terminology of it being our full time jobs. And in many ways that has been conflated with identity. But the truth is for all believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, because every single believer is called to ministry, called to participate in the fulfillment of our King's commission, the Great Commission. And for those of you who are listening, who are not yet believers, I just want to urge you, as you see all the things swirling around our, in the world, in our own nation, to embrace the Lord's grace through, in salvation. Now, don't wait, don't hesitate. You see all of these things happening. They just confirm that the Bible is true. the scripture says that when the Lord returns, it will be as it was in the days of Noah. And you think about as it was in the days of Noah and everyone did what was right in their own eyes. What, what could that look like? And, could it, could it look like grown people fighting for the right for children?

>> Bert Harper: No.

>> Abraham Hamilton III: Let me say it this way. For the right to permanently mutilate the bodies of children, all, ah, in the name of transgenderism. Could it look like, you know, rampant pornography, sex trafficking, fornication and adultery, and then to add insult to demonic injury, enshrining as a right, the right to slaughter, the natural byproduct of physical intimacy between adults in the name of freedom. Think about that. For freedom's sake, let's kill these innocent unborn children. It could look like. And in this, you want to talk about absurd, obtuse, insane, whatever description you want to put on it. You have people upset that the NBA canceled a, basketball game night with a theme. You know, you go to basketball, the theme is, you know, Holly beach themes and the. Oh, no, no, no. The theme for the Atlanta Hawks Monday night basketball game was Magic Monday. And most of you know what I'm talking about. Praise God that you don't. Magic City is a popular strip club in Atlanta. You see Marty's face? In the Atlanta Hawks, they're going to have a, celebration of the strip club as the theme for their Monday night basketball game. And then get this, because you had one basketball player, Luke Cornette, who spoke up about it, saying, guys, that's, that's a. So we're going to degrade women and girls and we're going to do it. And that's going to be the theme of an NBA game. And you got, other basketball players mad at him for saying something about it as it was in the days of Noah. That's kind of what it looks like, guys? And it just simply shows that the Bible is true. And so because the Bible is true, everything that the Bible teaches is true. So don't harden your heart when the Lord draws you for salvation, draws you to himself and salvation. Repent and believe, man. Because eternity is a long time to be wrong. It's a long time to be wrong. For those of you who are believers, this also highlights why we must work while it is day. We must work while it is day. Because when the nighttime comes, no one will be able to work. Then to the word of God we go. And this scripture we're going to discuss today kind of aids us in navigating this. Colossians, chapter four, verses five and six is where we're going to focus to begin the program today.

The Apostle Paul instructs believers to conduct themselves with wisdom toward outsiders

Colossians, chapter 4, verses 5 and 6. The apostle Paul is writing to the church at Colossae and he says this and this. This is, I pray that you would ponder this and welcome the Lord to root this in your heart. Just as I'm praying that the Lord would root this in my heart as well. The scripture says this. Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to Each person. Now, to be clear, when the text says, conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, the Apostle Paul is using terminology to describe those who are not yet believers. So, he's instructing believers as to how we should conduct ourselves concerning those who are not yet believers. One of the first things that should be embraced and understood from this text is that the Lord requires us as believers to anticipate, to pray for, and to prepare ourselves to engage those who are unbelievers. This should not be something that we should approach with a casual disposition. It shouldn't be like, m. Maybe one. Maybe it should happen. This is something that we should anticipate and I would even add, or I would include seek out. Seek opportunities to be the hands and feet of Jesus, to proclaim his gospel, and to begin the process of a discipleship relationship. That should not be something that should sneak upon us like a burglar. Man, you know, strangest thing happened to me today. Marty, you won't believe this. Marty might sound like bro, man from the fifth floor. Hey, Marty, man, you never believe what happened to me today. Man, can you believe in Martin? They had a apartment full of sandwiches and they had this one cat in there. Man, can you believe he ain't know the Lord, man? No, it's for the believer. We should ask God to give us opportunities to shine the light of Christ, to give us opportunity to pray, to proclaim his gospel, that this isn't something that should sneak upon us. And then we should. We should welcome the Lord to prepare us for the engagements here. The Lord is guiding us by his spirit through the Apostle Paul's writings to conduct ourselves with wisdom toward outsiders. One of, our prayers should be that, Lord, would you give me wisdom today to engage those who do not yet know you? Lord, would you give me wisdom as to how I conduct myself and how I interact with those who do not yet know you? We say things very casually, but the truth is no man is promised tomorrow. So we should not allow opportunities just kind of slip out of our hands. But we should seek to be effective and as the scripture says here, making the most of the opportunity. I understand, man. I live in the same world you all live in. I understand, you know, going to the grocery store, going to run errands, doing different things that we not might not want our agendas intruded upon. But I told a brother one time, even when you go on vacation, we not on vacation from being a disciple of Jesus Christ. So you might be on the cruise ship, and, man, you might have Somebody that you can share the gospel with sitting as you get in, in. In the buffet line. You're in the buffet line. Look, I know it's buffet guys, but I like to say buffet. You waiting on, on the sandwiches. It might be a good time to take advantage of, conduct ourselves with wisdom. It should also bring to the forefront of our consideration that we need wisdom to engage. Don't just use this kind of. And I'm, get to that next part of verse, the next verse. Don't just get to the point where you kind of have a routine rote thing that you use. You have a script almost like you're an actor. You know, stage left when the next scene comes, then line like you have a ready to roll line. Now, don't misconstrue what I'm saying. It's good to be prepared, having thought through some things, maybe having considered what some objections might be. Consider who the person, may be present that you may be encountering what they are presenting with. But the scripture bears this out. And you'll see next that, guys, every person is an individual. Not everybody's circumstances are identical, which is why you get to the next verse, verse 6. Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how to respond to each person. Guess what that highlights for us? That your response to one person will most likely not be identical to your response to another person. Each person requires the grace that is particular to that individual. Each person requires the wisdom that is particular to that individual. So we should get out of this mindset to where we kind of have this, script, as I referred to earlier, that we just. We pull out for every circumstance because each circumstance is going to be the exact one. You know, one of the ways the Lord helped and is helping to sharpen my wife and I in this area is that each of our children are different. And each of them have different questions. Each of them have different ways that they express themselves. And each of them have even different learning styles where they receive information. So we cannot have a kind of cookie cutter approach that we do the exact same thing with each one of them at each stage and expect the same result. Guys, they each are, individuals. And the Lord helps us in interacting with our own children to prepare us to deal with people outside of our home to say, hey, you know, even if you think this person might look like somebody you talked to before, they may come from a background that is similar to the person before, they are not identical to the person you talked to. Previously. And so setting our course to.

>> Bert Harper: To.

Joseph Parker: Apostle Paul says to devote yourself to prayer

>> Abraham Hamilton III: To seek the Lord earlier, verse, verse two. In this exact same chapter, the Apostle Paul says, devote yourself, yourselves to prayer. Devote yourselves to prayer. We think about devotions, and yes, m our family, we have family devotions on a daily basis. But there's a devotion to prayer that's required for us and required of us. And in devoting ourselves to prayer, we seek the wisdom of God and the sharpening of our Lord. And for the Lord to enable us to have a speech that is grace filled as seasoned with salt. Every time I think about the salt seasoning, I think about my mom cooking back in NewSong Orleans, you know, because I'm telling you, unseasoned chicken is an uncivilized presentation, let me tell you. But I would look at how my mom took particular care to season the food she represented to us. And it was important to her because she wanted the food she prepared for us, her children, to be easily entreated, readily entreated, readily received. So she would season it. We should seek to have seasoned words in the seasoning. You know, it may not be philae for the gumbo. You know, it may not be the Trinity. I'm not talking about the Holy Trinity, and I'm talking about the Trinity for cooking. That's what they call it in NewSong Orleans, the Trinity. But the seasoning for our speech is the grace of our God that militates toward us in the presence of our God as we seek Him. And that, we approach each image bearer with an individual disposition. And I'm going to continue to lean in on the notion of hospitality as a means of ministry, that we will utilize our homes as ground base, as, ground zero, if you will, our foundational, outpost, if you will,

>> Bert Harper: for

>> Abraham Hamilton III: reaching out to those most immediate, immediate to us, most the closest to us. We have a people that God calls to foreign missions, and I am exceedingly grateful for them. That's one of the things that I think, that has been a blessing to our nation, is that we've sent the most missionaries into the world in the history of the world. But we need a lot of domestic missions too, man. We need a lot of neighborhood, mission block mission, local and community mission. I pray that the Lord would cause this to be deposited in you in the manner that he desires it to be. But we got to get away from simply looking at all the things that are challenging and negative in the world and not seeing man. God has called his bride to be salt and light in the place and in the time that he's planted us. And as we seek the wisdom of God and welcome him to season our speech with, with the. The grace seasoning, and we consider how we should respond to each and every individual person who may not yet know the Lord. And we make the most of those opportunities because eternity truly hangs in the balance.

>>  : A discipleship minute with Joseph Parker.

>> Joseph Parker: He who dwells in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, he is my refuge and my fortress. My God in him I will trust. Psalm, 91, verses 1 and 2. In a perilous world, so many people are afraid, they're fearful. In a world where inner cities and many other communities are just simply dangerous places to be, we see the drug trafficking, human trafficking, muggings, murders, physical and sexual abuse. There is a place of safety in this world, and it's found in God. It's found in that secret place, that intimate relationship with God. No one can protect you like God can.

>> Abraham Hamilton III: But it's important for us to do

>> Joseph Parker: our part to appropriate, to place ourselves in that secret place. Praying Psalm 91 every day is a very wise thing for all believers to do. No one can protect you like God can.

>> Abraham Hamilton III: Shining light into the darkness.

This is the Hamilton Corner on American Family Radio

This is the Hamilton Corner on American Family Radio.

>> Abraham Hamilton III: Welcome back to the Hamilton Corner. Abraham Hamilton III here, and I'm delighted to have on the program a brother who, when we get together, they always tell us, you guys need to try to do a better job of keeping the energy up because you are a bit too calm and sounds a bit too much like you're narrating at a golf match. That is not what happens.

>> Bert Harper: Yeah, they, what they accuse me of is learning to whisper in a sawmill.

>> Abraham Hamilton III: Well, you already hear his voice. My guest, guys, is one half of that dynamic duo that hosts Exploring the Word every day right here in American Family Radio. I'm speaking of none other than Pastor Bert Harper. Pastor Bert, thank you for joining me here on Hamilton Corner this evening.

>> Bert Harper: Thank you, A.B. it is so good to be with you. I appreciate you. Appreciate you and your show.

>> Abraham Hamilton III: I, too.

>> Bert Harper: Both of them, man.

>> Abraham Hamilton III: Well, praise God.

>> Bert Harper: Amen.

Exploring the Word Daily is a unique offering in our daily lineup

>> Abraham Hamilton III: Well, I wanted to have you on the program for a couple reasons, but I do want to invite you, for those who may not be aware, to share a little bit of, what you do on Exploring the Word Daily and how that is a unique offering in our daily lineup. On the radio program, one of the

>> Bert Harper: most interesting stories I heard was what our leader, Tim wyman said by 3 o' clock in the afternoon. We're ready for just some Bible, not commentary from about what the Bible says about today's issues. So, about 15 years ago, they started exploring the Word and Marvin Sanders and Alex McFarland were on there. And I came on board during that time. But, during that time again, Marvin began to have some illness and they asked me to come on in. And now we've been doing it 14 years where we just. Usually it's a book of the Bible. Right now we're going through Ephesians. And I won't say we do it verse by verse, but we do it section by section of those verses and we just enjoy it. And the purpose is salvation and discipleship. That's, Alex and I look at it that way. It's opportunity. We've had people to be saved right there while we were doing the program, as they called in, and we have a lot of people last week we got a message of someone that was saved listening, to this program, and they just wanted to say thank you. So I praise God for that opportunity.

>> Abraham Hamilton III: Oh, that's. Man, that is so amazing and it's so profound and so needed, because the most desperate and enduring need, I say this on this show pretty much almost daily in our country, the most desperate and enduring need is for the gospel to be proclaimed and for disciples to be made.

>> Bert Harper: When I was. Now I'm older than you guys now, but when I was in school, Marty may remember, but you know, we had Bible reading, we had prayer. A, matter of fact, in my little community, believe it or not, which is in northeast Mississippi where I grew, we had summer school because we were farmers and. And we got out in the spring and fall to plant the crops and then to gather the crops and we went to school during the summer. Usually during the summer, the two churches that we had in our little community of Wheeler, Mississippi, they would have a revival. And, we got to turn out and go to the revival. We'd walk down the street. Now everybody went because that was the opportunity not to have to study English. And so even those people that didn't go to church in those days, they received the word of God. And you know what an opportunity that was. We've come a long way from that, Abe. But it was a good time to be able to grow up and to hear that and see that and see how good of an effect it had on the people that listened.

>> Abraham Hamilton III: Yeah, I mean, we not only have come a long way from That I would argue, and I don't think it could be successfully contradicted. I would argue that we've been intentionally, manipulated away from that.

>> Bert Harper: If you don't know the truth, you're easily manipulated. M. That's the whole idea. When you have truth, the Bible is a standard. and in Ephesians today we talked about that. Said, after you get these things, you're able to live wise.

>> Bert Harper: You know, knowing who Christ is and knowing what he's done for you and letting the word of God speak, it makes you able to make decisions, able to discern what's going on with individuals in the world.

You mentioned that you guys frequently get testimonies from people saved through your program

>> Abraham Hamilton III: You mentioned that you guys frequently get testimonies and hear back from people who surrender their lives to Jesus or maybe even rededicate their lives to the Lord as a result of the program that you do on a daily basis. Is that something that you've seen consistently now, having done it for 14 years?

>> Bert Harper: Yes, it is. And it's amazing. Alex and I both have gotten to go to, prison facilities, preach with them. A lot of them have their Bible study around, exploring the Word time they're able to do that and invite others. We've seen, so many people come to know Christ and we hear about it and we thank God for it and people get back in church. And we got this one call, last week. Someone that could not, because of past crimes, paid the price out, got saved. But yet he's restricted on where he can go. And so exploring the Word is that part of his life where he wouldn't get to hear the preaching live, but he can turn on the radio and hear daily the word of God being proclaimed. And that's what Alex and I do. He is very academic. You know, he's been a seminary president and you know, all that. I'm pastoral pastored for 40 something years plus and yet studied the word, preached expository. And we bring those two, you know, avenues together and it kind of makes it unique preaching, but having a discussion and then as Alex says, it's like, you're preaching a sermon at the end. We take Bible questions. Somebody holds their hand up and asks, I got a, I got a question, Pastor, about what you just said. Uh-huh. And it makes, it makes it a unique program I think man.

>> Abraham Hamilton III: And that's a great combination to have because you know, the Bible says that we are to study to show ourselves approved, the workman worthy of hire, and being able to articulate that and having the combination of the pastoral heart combined with the years in the pastorate and the academic, approach combined in an individual offering is something that is unique. And I can see how it benefits, the people who tune in.

>> Bert Harper: I learned a lot from Alex and he says he's learned from me. Now we don't know, but, we go on there. We're learners ourselves. If we ever quit being learners ourselves, we need to fold up our tent and do something else. And we're still doing it. Go through a book. We've gone through every book of the Bible in these years and going back over some second and third time and guess what? Every time we see something, oh man, it's fresh. It's fresh. That's the word of God.

>> Abraham Hamilton III: That's amazing. You know, just yesterday in our first segment, we refer to two Peter chapter one, verses, one through nine. When the scripture talks about if these qualities are yours and they are increasing, they'll fortify you from being an NASB 95, renders it useless and unfruitful in your knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ and what you just said. If we're not continually learners, one of those qualities were knowledge that we are continually learning. the thing that was provocative and jolting that I kind of zeroed in on quite a bit yesterday was that the reality exists that we can be Christ followers, yet be useless and unfruitful in our knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. And I believe that one of the things that's contributed, as I said earlier, that we haven't just, become a, less godly society, has been an intentional manipulation of our society to provoke us to be less godless. One of the things I would argue that has contributed to that is a lack of understanding of the necessity of being continually fruitful. And that being evident in being, voraciously hungering and thirsting for righteousness continually.

>> Bert Harper: I would agree fully. Because what you're doing, Abe, is, I believe it's Satan's agenda. We know his agenda and he's always had his arsenal principalities and powers. And they influence and they try to find the places of greatest influence.

>> Bert Harper: And I use the big E's entertainment, education and economy, those three. Satan has infiltrated so much that, it's difficult. But God has his agents praise the Lord in those places. And I thank God for that. It's not. The ground is not level. God's bigger than. And sometimes we lose sight of that. God has that perspective and we need to. I think what I perceive after what you said, if we stay in the word of God, stay fruitful, look at things from a biblical worldview, God's eyes, give me my father's eyes. You know, we need to look at everything like that. I think we can have the perspective and not lose hope and not, you know, just go away, say, well, that's the way it is. No, we're to be active in trying to make things different or build the worldview. And that's right. Afr. That's the reason, man, years ago, I got on board with AFR because I could see, hey, we want to make a difference in this world that God has given to us, man.

>> Abraham Hamilton III: You're absolutely right when you say the ground is not level. And this is something that people need to really embrace and understand. When you think about, well, what's the corresponding opposite of God? Most people think, well, the devil. Well, the truth is there is none, you know, stands alone. God stands alone in the category unto himself. Satan is nothing beyond a fallen angel. The only corresponding opposite of that might be Micah, you know, an angel. But God has no corresponding opposite. So God and his people are majority. I don't care what the count might be. And he's demonstrated that all throughout history. But he's chosen for his agents, to be his people. And by and large, too many of his people have kind of taken the bait, if you will, to absent ourselves from being his agents and just being content with kind of being sidelined. Commentators will assess how dark it is and how bad it is to complain about it, but our responses are often not reflective of our convictions that may be espoused verbally but not in action.

>> Bert Harper: Being a Mundy quarterback, no, we need to get in the game. Too many of us are in the stands applauding or booing or whatever we do. we need to be active in what God's called us to do. And I believe in God's calling for every believer. They have their gifts. They should have. I call them. It said, shape your spiritual gift, your heart or your passion, you, Your abilities, your personality and your experiences. God works those, and that makes every believer unique. No one else like them because they're all, you know, we're all different in every way. But God uses us in those positions that he's given us and opportunities to let them see our good works and glorify our Father who's in heaven. And we need to be busy about that.

>> Abraham Hamilton III: Amen. His glory should be our top Line.

>> Bert Harper: Amen.

>> Abraham Hamilton III: Investment, the glorification, the glory of our Father should be our animating principle.

Operation Epic Fury reports sleeper cells of terrorists in Iran are being activated

I'm pretty sure I don't know because I don't host exploring the word. but I'm pretty sure you've gotten some calls and asking, well, what are your take. What is your take on what's happening with Operation Epic Fury in Iran and their reports indicating now that sleeper cells of terrorists in our own country are being, activated, so to speak. as you get those calls, how have you been responding to those who have inquired of you?

>> Bert Harper: Well, our whole idea is that God is in control. That's the first thing that we need to understand and know God is in control. We can trust him. we also, I would say that nothing should get between us and our faith and trust in the Lord. We know Satan does not just roll over and die. So he's going to be active. And he came to kill, steal and destroy. So guess what he'll do? He'll use anything. There's nothing that he will not use in order to try to bring fear into our lives. And I think the worst thing to do is always operate in fear. Fear and faith do not come at the same time. faith should override perfect, you know, perfect love casts out fear. And perfect love is what, based on Jesus Christ, Faith in him. And so, yeah, what's taking place over there justifying, it. I remember what I said in the pulpit where I'm preaching right now was there are just wars, you know, and what gives me hope. Yes, what we did, I'm hoping will work for good. But in the last 10 or 15 years, Iran has been the place where more people have come to Christ than just about any other country. I remember going to the NRB around 12 years ago and I was going by one of the booths and it was an Iran mission. I interviewed him for the other program I do, exploring missions. And he said that because of the Internet, we're able to infiltrate all behind and get in there and share the truth. And they're responding. I remember then he said, they're responding in thousands. And it has not quit. We had, Alex was able to be in a school two, weeks ago, and he was able to talk about what was taking place there. And he had a, girl that was from Iran. Her family was still over there. She had gotten out and was in that school and she was talking about how many believers are in Iran. So I'm praying. Here's my prayer. I'm Praying that God would use these Iranians, those that love the Lord and those that want freedom, real freedom. They could have the opportunity to rise up and hey, God, God doesn't fit into our box. M. And wouldn't it be something that Iran of all places, would become a place of missions? Listen, let me share this with you, see what you think about it. Abe, I look at what took place in the United States and undo this real quickly. And it was that we had the first Great Awakening before we had the Revolution.

>> Abraham Hamilton III: The American Revolution.

>> Bert Harper: Exactly. And we had this basis to break away from England and we had the capacity to start a new nation. Why? Because of the biblical background that we had had at the first Great Awakening. Iran's had an awakening, spiritual awakening. I think this sets it up different than a lot of others that they had no idea what, what they would do, if they've received Christ and there's a large group of them, they've got some wisdom in order to see what they can do to overcome the enemy. I'm praying for that, brother. I'm telling you that right now, man.

>> Abraham Hamilton III: I had, Bill Federer on last night, or some might say Bill Federer had me on, depending on.

>> Bert Harper: I know Bill Federer. One question.

>> Abraham Hamilton III: yeah, he was explaining the distinction between Shiite and Sunni and Sufi Islam and how Iran is a Shiite nation. But for people to come to faith in Christ in Iran, really it's a death sentence. So we're not talking about casual, you know, well, going through the drive through at Mickey D's and coming to faith in Christ. These are people who, as the scripture says, love not their own lives unto, death in order to, become Christ followers. And so, man, I. My heart is with you and praying that those who have been, have been born again, that they might be, animated to be salt and light and in the nation where they are planted. And, and who knows because I am one that I refuse to try to place limitations or to place up, create a box to put the King of kings and the Lord of Lords. He doesn't nor will he ever try Amen. To fit. You're listening to the Hamilton Corner. My guest is Pastor Bert Harper, co host of Exploring the Word Word right here on American Family Radio.

>>  : Afa, action takes attacks on the family seriously. The enemies of the family constantly employ new tactics to try to sneak past our radar. They know if we stand together, their evil plans will fail. Your gift to AFA action allows us to stay vigilant against their onslaught. And if you give this month you'll receive access to the Cultural Institute video When your faith is illegal by Frank Harbour on AFA Stream as our thanks. You can make your gift [email protected] hello,

>> Bert Harper: I'm Sam Rohr, president of the American Pastors Network, a, growing national network of pastors committed to the authority of scripture and preaching the whole counsel of God. We believe biblical obedience is the foundation for revival and impacting our culture for Christ is our duty. For too long the pulpits of America have been silent on the important issues such as marriage and family and assault on liberty. Join us in the battle for truth on stand in the Gap weekend Sunday evenings at 6pm on American Family Radio. And visit us@american pastorsnetwork.org War with Iran

>> Joseph Parker: this is David Wheaton, host of the Christian Worldview. President Trump delivered a speech to the nation outlining the justification for attacking Iran jointly with Israel, which centers around Iran, Iran's decades of attacks against US and Israel and their efforts to make nuclear weapons. This is ample justification, despite most all on the political left and some on the right opposing it. Prophetically, this is a war that involves Israel and Iran. Historically, Persia. The Bible says Iran will be part of a coalition that invades Israel before the return of Christ. We don't know when, but let's be ready because Jesus said you redemption is drawing near. Hear our most recent program about the war with iran@ah, thechristianworldview.org and then tune in this weekend for another topic that will sharpen your worldview.

>> Bert Harper: Listen to the Christian Worldview with David

>>  : Wheaton Saturday mornings at 8 Central on American Family Radio.

>> Abraham Hamilton III: The Hamilton quarter podcast and one minute commentaries are available at afr.net back to the Hamilton Corner on American Family Radio.

Abraham Hamilton III will speak about grandparents at Activate Summit this summer

>> Abraham Hamilton III: Welcome back to the Hamilton Corner, Abraham Hamilton III here with Pastor Bert Harper, co host of Exploring, the Word right here on American Family Radio. You can hear it daily at 3pm Central Time, 4pm Eastern Time. What an amazing program that they have. We're having a great conversation. We talked before about or mentioned the necessity of the body of Christ, not merely being spectators, being fruitful and useful and actively engaged. And there is a summit coming up this summer to deal with that directly on the Head, AFA's Activate Summit for which you will be one of the speakers. Would you share with the audience here? What, is the Activate Summit?

>> Bert Harper: Well, it is an equipment, but it's also the speakers, you know there's going to be some evangelism in it because not everybody that's A church member is a born again believer. That's true. But it is for equipping the saints and the idea of it. And it's one of the areas that activate goes into. They have areas and it's the family. And that's one of the reasons that I was invited. I love the theme roots to fruit and growing down in having your roots and then spreading out for the fruit. And they've asked me and my wife Jan will be helping me. We'll be talking to about family. And for some reason they wanted me to speak about grandparents. Can you figure?

>> Abraham Hamilton III: Gee, I wonder. Yeah, I wonder why, grandparents. What is that all about?

>> Bert Harper: Yeah, so I just tell folks we're going to go to Psalm 127 and 128.

>> Bert Harper: Because it is one of those passages that cover children, parents and grandparents. And you don't have a lot of information in the Bible about quote, how to be a grandparent. but it is a place of influence. But listen. And that's, that's a great position to be in as, as a grandparent. So we're going to try to equip them. But you got others like doctor, nurse, mama, Dr. Jessica Peck, she'll be there. Jess Reeve, he'll be there with his wife. I know as well. He said, and just a great preacher, great teacher as well. We've had him at our fishbowl retreat before and just does a great job of communicating and equipping. So it's going to be a good, good program. It's in July and matter of fact the dates are 16th through the 18th and people can register now and so we're looking forward to it. We've already started preparing, Jen and I have, because we want to really be effective. It's an area, you know, we've done the pastor and wife fellowship. You've been there, we do that. We do marriage conferences where we've done that. So this is a first for us for grandparents. Although we refer, refer to it because it's no trouble talking about your grandchildren.

>> Abraham Hamilton III: No, not at all. And I really think the life stage for grandparents can be one of the most fruitful, life stages for ministerial engagement. For many people, not everybody, we have different life circumstances. But for many people, sometimes they're at a place where they have more resources than they had, prior times in their lives. They have more time sometimes than they've had previously. But we often say in our church we don't Retire, we refire.

>> Bert Harper: Amen.

>> Abraham Hamilton III: That concept of retirement as it's commonly understood, you don't really find that in

>> Bert Harper: the scripture, pastoring as long as I have, I've seen people, they could not do what they used to physically and even mentally. So they have to change. Yeah. Make an adjustment. And, the people come to my mind, just the people I've pastored and the adjustments, but never a place for the sidelines.

>> Abraham Hamilton III: Amen.

>> Bert Harper: And, so we. You're to stay active. God's got a purpose for you.

>> Abraham Hamilton III: Yeah. And I think the church and our country will be served well by, focusing some attention there. You know, I call them the seasoned saints.

>> Bert Harper: Yeah, that's right.

>> Abraham Hamilton III: So that the seasoned saints, you know, we were in Colossians 4 earlier. Let our speech be seasoned with grace, as with salt. You know, the seasoned saints, they have more seasoning, Amen. Hopefully, than some others, and to be able to be more effective. So that is something, that I think is a unique offering.

The Activate Summit is geared toward equipping grandparents for missions

How often do you have a conference that you have a particular portion dedicated to equipping grandparents?

>> Bert Harper: Amen. We're looking forward to. I'll tell you this story. It's on the other program that I do, exploring missions with our son Nathan. And, we had this couple. they had pastored here, but their children were gone. They had grandchildren, but this is the time they volunteered for missions and they had to go through an agency that didn't have age restrictions. But they said, we can go for half the price that it would take for someone to go with a family because we have our income coming in. And he said, and we know we can. Unless God does something physically, we can put in 10 to 12 years on the mission field and it be a lot more fruitful. We know what we know better now to do than we did then. We don't have all the overhead that a lot of them would have. And what an opportunity. So grandparent, I would say the same thing. You said the timeframe, the availability of maybe finance, of being able to share and to do some things to make a difference. And so, if I'm not worth coming, it's worth coming to hear my wife. I guarantee you that. So.

>> Abraham Hamilton III: Well, I think it's going to be an amazing. An amazing time together. to register, you Simply go to activate.afa.net you'll see there. You can register there. I believe there's some early bird registration until April.

>> Bert Harper: That's right.

>> Abraham Hamilton III: April 30th is the deadline for that. As I understand. it's going to be a great opportunity for you to be a part and the whole hope. And the objective, I know, is for the cumulative effect of what transpires there is that people leave equipped to be active.

>> Bert Harper: Amen.

>> Abraham Hamilton III: And to engage.

>> Bert Harper: That's good. Activate. By the way, I did not know this until I heard it the other day. Thursday night, they're going to have something really, really special. They're going to have Trivia Friday with Tim, Ed, and J.J. now. Okay, so laughter is good, like a medicine. So make sure you come Thursday night and get your dose of medicine with those three individuals. You know, I'm looking forward to hearing that. I just, So it's your last sum. You'll be equipped, you'll be challenged. I think you'll be blessed.

>> Abraham Hamilton III: that's a good combination.

>> Bert Harper: I think that happens.

>> Abraham Hamilton III: That is a great combination. The Activate Summit, July 16th through the 18th. Go to activate.afa.net to register. You'll be able to hear Pastor Burton and his wife Jan. Pastor Jeff Schrieve. Your Trivia Friday Live will be there on Thursday. Several other people will be there.

You have women being discouraged away from motherhood, says Pastor Burt

And you mentioned the family and grandparents, and I asked you about this. there was an article I came across, and first it was an article on this publication called the Cut. it's not a publication I recommend, and you had some others who were, analyzing or responding to the article in the Cut. But it's something that you see on the rise in our country, just as you're having more outspoken advocates for heterodox things like polyamory and all this kind of insanity. there was a candidate for Congress in the Nashville area in Tennessee named Afton Bend, you know, and she. She talked about how her mom told her, you don't need to have babies. You need to seek power. That's what. That's what her mom trained her. And I'm thinking, man, what a mind trip that your mom is telling you that babies are a hindrance to your career prospects. You're talking to your own daughter. Can you imagine, basically, a mom telling her, I wish I didn't have you. I could have been more powerful in my life. I mean, it's crazy, but the. The Cut had an article on it, which, you know, it's horrifying because these things are being discussed more and more popularly. But the article was titled I Regret having Children. I Regret having Children. And sadly, it was several young moms who were profiled in the article. And that basically, that's what they were talking about. Well, that contradicts what the scripture says. You're going to refer to Psalm 127, where the Lord says, children are a blessing from the Lord. Pastor Bert, what is happening in our society when you have people, saying these things? You combine it with the sinful commitment to abortion in our country, and now you have women being discouraged away from motherhood. What's happening in our country?

>> Bert Harper: It is a spiritual battle. It really is. And I say this. We meet on Mondays in the same

>> Abraham Hamilton III: group of people, meaning you and I, Beth, Bert and I are in a meeting on Mondays together.

>> Bert Harper: And, what happens? The only way you can explain some things. Satan has blinded the minds. Now think of not blinded the eyes, but blinded the minds where you don't see clearly. Now, blindness has different those that are totally blind and then those that are obscured to a place where they are considered blind. So what happens, when Satan enters into this false teaching? It's always going to be, Now when it starts off a lie, they're gonna try to get it as close to the truth as they can in order to try to obscure it. And it not be so absolutely wrong that everybody says that's a lie. But what happens, it gets further and further away. The lie continues going, and the lie continues to breed and grow and get further away from the standard that God has laid out. So this is what's happened in our country with faith, family, you know, women saying, okay, we have a right to. And they did. They had the rights to do what they. The equal vote and all that. I don't want to go, but, you know, but what happens, Satan then builds in something of untruth into it, and it gets to the point where it's so obscure like this that children, you know, they're bad, they're not good, they'll hinder you, they'll harm you. And, so Satan has blinded the minds. Now how do you. How do you fight against that? You always do. Always with truth, always with truth. Just because somebody deviates from the standard, you don't change the standard in order to accommodate them. So we stick with the truth of God's word, which talks about children, be a heritage to the Lord, Happy as a man, has his quiver full of them. They're like arrows in the hand of a warrior. Listen, what that woman is doing, she's giving up the real power that she. And, I can't help but think about John and Charles Wesley's mother, you know, ah. As she would have all those Children. But she always had a time. And what an influence that woman had on the world, Abe. And what was she? She was a. I'm just going to say it. She was a stay at home mom, and she influenced the world through them. I would say they believed a lie, and they're really going in the opposite direction of where their power really is. Who said that? He that rocks the cradle, you know.

>> Abraham Hamilton III: Yeah, yeah. Rocks the world.

>> Bert Harper: Or she who, you know, rocks the cradle.

>> Abraham Hamilton III: Yeah.

>> Bert Harper: That's giving up power when you give up that opportunity.

>> Abraham Hamilton III: Yeah.

Abe Hamilton: The pulpits of America need to reign in truth

You mentioned, and I often refer to Spurgeon's description of discernment, where it's not merely distinguishing right from wrong, Spurgeon said, but discernment also includes distinguishing right from almost right. And like you said, the most effective lies, they're introduced being very, very, very close to the truth. So, there's an element of truth that rings true, but the lie never stays pat. As time continues, the lie continues to diverge from the truth. And, you have things like this. I also. And again, I say this, I never intended for this to be a saying, but my original producer, Jeff Reed, made it kind of a tag for the show. but it says darkness is not an affirmative force, but it reoccupies the space vacated by the light. And I think it's important when you have notions like this article from the Cut, that these things are confronted and combated with truth, because you have, with the combination of the decimation of the family, the norm today, the majority of children who are born into the world today, they are born into fatherless homes. That's the statistical reality. So when you have that statistical reality and you have this great, great chasm where you have people who are in environments where the life circumstances seem to ring true with this article, in the absence of their life experience and their life experiences in this lie, being confronted with the truth of God's word, that truth can.

>> Bert Harper: That.

>> Abraham Hamilton III: I'm sorry, that lie can grow legs. And so you end up with a generation like Aston Ben who believes that, oh, no, no, no, no. Children are a burden to life. They're a hindrance. I don't want children. I want power. And what they don't understand is that you never end up better off by rebelling against what God has designed.

>> Bert Harper: I heard this years and years ago, and it really hit me. I want to preach the word. Preach truth of the word. And it is this. If you're not being fed right, you'll go to the garbage dump to get Food. And this is the importance. That's why afr the Hamilton corner, exploring the Word, all the others on our program, you know, saturated in truth. And people can feed upon the truth. And when you feed upon the truth, it brings forth the fruit that you were talking about. It brings forth the willingness to do what God wants you to. But if you're not getting truth, that's why the pulpits of America need to reign in truth. And, that is the word of God, Abe. Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life. his Word is set apart in heaven, sanctified in heaven. Listen, so we stand on the Word, and regardless of what people might say about us, whatever they might say in 2026, we need a different focus. No, the word of God is it.

>> Abraham Hamilton III: And seeing Christ Jesus, so well said and so very true. And I would just add that there's no such thing as a benign lie. so just as you said that the pulpits must be saturated in truth, God's people must be saturated in truth and be willing to confront the lies as presented in our everyday interactions. That when these lies are presented, for example, around the water cooler or, or, you know, you, you have friends or family members that say, man, you know, I read this article and man, you know what I have, man, yeah. Children are a burden that we, we in those instances consider Colossians 4, you know, seek the wisdom of God, that our speech be seasoned with grace, as with. With salt, and that we seek how we ought to respond to each person. That's what Colossians 4, 6 says in those moments. Because in the absence of truth, when there's starvation, people even go to the dump for food. We want to be the hands and feet of Jesus and be a source of people to be nourished and avoid the dumps.

>> Bert Harper: Praise the Lord.

>> Abraham Hamilton III: Amen. The views and opinions expressed in this broadcast may not necessarily reflect those of the American Family association or American Family Radio.

0:00 - 15:00. Colossians 4:5-6. God has provided guidance and instruction for us concerning how Christ-followers are to engage unbelievers. 

15:00 - 31:00. Pastor Bert Harper, co-host of Exploring the Word on AFR steps into “The Corner.”

31:00 - 48:00. Mankind’s hubris leads to self-destructive ideologies.

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