American Family Radio invites you to call in with prayer requests for Jesus
>> Jeff Chamblee: The Bible. It's the word of God, sharper than any two edged sword. This sacred book is living and active and contains all that's needed for life and godliness. Stay with American Family Radio for the next hour as we study God's word and take your Bible questions. Welcome to Exploring the Word.
>> Alex McFarland: Well, good afternoon, everybody. Alex McFarland here on the American Family Radio Network along with Jeff Shambley. And this is Exploring the Word. Now we'll pick it up as we always do. And we are in numbers, chapter 29. But Tuesdays are a very special day because it is also a day of prayer and we all need prayer and we all have concerns that we are bringing before the Lord. So later on we will take your prayer request live and I would encourage you to call in and get in the queue. I'm going to give the number even though we're not going to pick up the phone, yet for a while. But the number is triple. 858-9884-088858-98840. There's a lot to pray about. The Bible says that we're to seek the peace of the city. And you know, over the weekend there was the tragic stabbing in Traverse City, Michigan. There's been a shooting in New York City. obviously we are still, even though it's three years in now, we're praying about the war between the Ukraine and Russia and how we certainly wish, wish peace would come to that region. We pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Psalm 122, verse 6. And of course, you know, there is no, request too minuscule. We're to Hebrews says, come boldly before the throne of grace. So whatever's on your heart, we want you to call in and we'll join together in prayer. But first, Jeff Shambley and I are going to look at more of numbers 29. And Jeff, welcome. It's good to have you back again today.
>> Jeff Chamblee: Always a pleasure. Thanks so much, Alex.
>> Alex McFarland: Hey, well, thank you, sir.
Alex Bennett: Stand magazine is the monthly official publication of American Family association
before we go into numbers 29, give people, kind of a synopsis of what's going on with the Stand, online, on air, and your great work for afr.
>> Jeff Chamblee: Well, thanks. Alex, I'm the host and producer of the Stand Radio, which is the podcast version of our Stand magazine.
>> Alex McFarland: Of course.
>> Jeff Chamblee: The Stand magazine is the monthly official publication of American Family association. the latest on culture, faith and family in that magazine every single month. Great. And I have the privilege of producing a radio program with many of those guests this weekend. Katie Faust of the Ministry them before us will be with me and we'll talk about a global children's rights movement and how really the concern for what is good for children should drive a lot of the discussions that we're having in, national and international policy. So that'll be a great conversation this weekend.
Alex, where are you today? Are you, um, in a youth camp
Alex, where are you today? Are you, in the middle of a youth camp? Another one or where are you?
>> Alex McFarland: Well, no, I'm in the middle of an adult camp, really a camp, but I'm still at the COVID all this week at the Billy Graham Training center in Western North Carolina, along with J. Warner Wallace, just an amazing brother in the Lord. And he and I are teaching a couple of hundred people from all over, the Western hemisphere, really. we're teaching apologetics and there are a lot, a lot of AFR listeners. Earlier today I had the privilege, besides praying with a lot of the people here, we're going over how to defend the Christian faith. And Jeff, as you know, you and I, I give God the glory. You and I made an award winning video about eight years ago on biblical worldview and apologetics for children. But, J. Warner Wallace and I are here at the COVID And just earlier today met with a young adult man from the Houston, Texas area who was an atheist up until just a few months ago. And he came to Christ and he, is listening to Christian programming on afr. And you know what, what such a thrill is, and probably even right this minute, there are people of all over the continuum, some people that have walked with the Lord for decades and some that are brand new believers. And yet we all have Christ in common. And one of the things, as much as I love apologetics and that's what we're doing, I love the great writers, CS Lewis and folks like that, but there's no substitute in the life of a believer for the word of God.
>> Jeff Chamblee: Amen.
>> Alex McFarland: there's no saying, and I'd love your comment on it. As we get into numbers 29 says, many books I read to consider, one book I read to believe the Bible. That's a pretty good observation, isn't it?
>> Jeff Chamblee: Yeah. You know, one of the things that occurs to me when I read the scripture, it reads me. You know, I read it, but it reads me every single day. So, where would we be without the, living and abiding word of God? So amen to that, Alex.
>> Alex McFarland: Amen.
The offerings on the day of atonement directly speak of Christ's work on cross
Well, we've been in a lot of scriptures that are about the sacrifices, very intricate and really the offerings on the day of atonement. Numbers, 29, 7 through 11 talk about the day of atonement which Jewish, people observe to this day, which is called Yom Kippur, the day of atonement. And there were you know, whether it be lambs or bulls or even goats, like verse 11, one kid of the goats for a sin offering. And there's a, ah, continual burnt offering and drink offerings, very intricate to habitually, perpetually be done up until the coming of the Messiah. And Jeff, I think about this in inasmuch as Jesus fulfilled all of the law in all of its intricacies, you know, meal offerings and oil and meat and lambs and you know, a lamb in the morning and the evening. And you know, 14 lambs are mentioned in verse 17. You know, there is so much about the incarnation of Christ. I mean there's a lot. We know the virgin born, sinless Son of God. But I think about one of the things that, probably we won't fully know till we get to heaven are just the significance of all of the aspects of Christ's life here on earth. 33 short years, 3 years of ministry here on earth. But it was all significant, all purposeful, because it was all for the fulfillment of God's law and God's Word.
>> Jeff Chamblee: Yeah. The day of atonement. The offerings on the day of atonement, very directly speak of Christ's work on the cross. Obviously he is our great high priest who entered the holy of holies to offer not the blood of an animal, but his own blood. That's the core of the gospel. That's the only way that you and I can be reconciled to God is by the sinless atonement of the Son of God on our behalf. And so that really is central to what we believe. One other thing I'd like to point out, Alex, in this first verse, in verse seven you just mentioned, and I don't think this occurs in any of the other feasts, is the phrase you shall afflict your souls. That's a unique phrase, that's to the day of atonement that I don't find in the feast of Tabernacles and other places. I looked that up and it means to be wretched, to be crouched, to be suffering and to bend your soul. And it reminds us that, you know, God requires this affliction, in us to reflect repentance. But more than that, it's to be reflected in the way that we treat our neighbor. Part of the affliction that we see in Isaiah is to loose the bonds of the wickedness, to undo heavy burdens, share your bread with the hungry. So this idea of afflicting your souls is repentance. But it's not only inward. It's to be manifested in how we. How we, show, the law to those around us, how we exercise that to our neighbors around us. So I was really blessed by that truth.
>> Alex McFarland: Well, amen.
Jeffrey Freud: The word contrition dates back to the 1600s
And you know that phraseology there of afflicting the soul, which, is in numbers 29. It reminds me of a word you just don't hear a lot anymore than. That's the word contrition. And let me say, going as far back as the 1600s to the pilgrims and the Puritans, they would call for days of prayer. And we know what that is. They would call for days of humiliation. Now, we might think, well, to be humiliated, that's not a good word. But to be contrite, it means bowed and broken. It's actually a pharmaceutical word. contrite. Contrition would be like when an apothecary or a pharmacist would grind in a bowl, would, grind something to powder. And when something was contrite, it was just ground to dust and could be used as. As a medicine. Well, in our day and age, I mean, we don't hear much about repentance or bowing in, humble contrition before God, humiliation and really to, you know, really subjugate ourself before the Lord and to bow before the Lord and to say, lord, I'm a sinner, I deserve your wrath. A couple of more words and I'll throw it back to you. But some of the. In the aftermath of the Protestant Reformation, there were. Among the different, you know, groups and camps, there were the Puritans. And they would talk about, you know, bowing before God in humility, and they, would really lament how sinful they were. And they would use the phrase that they were deserving of God's just displeasure. Now, in other words, we're sinners and we need God's grace. And I gotta say, I just think that we need to realize in the modern church of the 21st century that, like the affliction of the Soul in numbers 29, that really, I mean, it's just the grace of God that we're up and about today. And rather than, arrogance and pride, we need humility and brokenness and contrition before a holy God.
>> Jeff Chamblee: Yeah, it Reminds me of the word. I believe it's in Isaiah, where the Lord says, this is the one that I esteem. This is the one that I look upon. He who is humble and, and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word. And boy, that just speaks volumes to us as 21st century Christians, doesn't it? I mean, you know, a lot of times we have pride sort of built into our. The way that we approach worship in sort of a flippant way too many times. But even if you have a, you know, a worship service that has contemporary elements, we still can come in very contrite and humble and bowed in soul, as you've said. So it's really an inward attitude that we need to have.
>> Alex McFarland: Well, I'll say this, and I'll get off my little, soapbox. Look, I'm not a legalist. I'm not. I know we are gracelings, but I travel a lot. I'm in a different church about every weekend. And whenever, okay, I hear the song Amazing Grace sometimes. Once in a blue moon, I'll hear the song at the cross. alas. And did my savior bleed? And did my sovereign die? Would he devote that sacred head. Jeff, I know you're very musical. I'm going to let you fill in the blank. Would he devote that sacred head for what?
>> Jeff Chamblee: Such a worm as I was the original.
>> Alex McFarland: Thank you.
>> Jeff Chamblee: Yeah, it was changed, but that was the original. Those were the original words.
>> Alex McFarland: Like everywhere I go they'll say, and did my sovereign die? Would he devote that sacred head for someone such as I. Or, in amazing grace, How sweet the sound that saved. Now, the original word said a wretch like me. And they always seem, that saved someone like me or something. No, listen, without Jesus we are a worm. A rich. And by the way, that's, you know, a pro. One of the prophecies. I believe it's in Isaiah 53 or Psalm 22. I'm sorry, I am a worm and no man. where he who knew no sin was made to be sin for us.
>> Jeff Chamblee: Yeah.
>> Alex McFarland: And, Jesus was our sin bearer. And we. Listen, I realize that, Freudian psychoanalysis may not think that worms and wretches are good descriptors for our self esteem. but really, they're accurate because that's what we are without Jesus. We are wretched, and blind and naked if we don't have the, the righteousness of Christ, which is only, received through repentance and faith.
>> Jeff Chamblee: Amen. Well said, Alex. I Think we need to retain that attitude as we come into worship, as well. So. Very good.
>> Alex McFarland: A.W. tozer, many years ago, great Christian leader of the 60s. Well, he died in the early 60s, but Tozer said, the way up is down. You know, if we're going to rise, we're going to have to humble ourselves before God. Well, I hear that music. And, I have, digressed, maybe too long. When we come back, we're going to finish up numbers, chapter 29, plus your calls. This is our day of prayer, Tuesdays. So call in with a prayer request, and we'll just pray together. We'll, lift up, with a unified heart and voice, our prayer request before God. The number 888-589-8840.
Jeff Shambley: Advent is a sweet savor to the Lord
>> Jeff Chamblee: Welcome back to Exploring the Word on American Family Radio.
>> Alex McFarland: There is hope for the helpless, rest.
>> Jeff Chamblee: For the weary, and love for the broken heart. There is grace and forgiveness, mercy and healing.
>> Alex McFarland: He'll meet you wherever you.
>> Jeff Chamblee: And welcome back to Exploring the Word. I'm Jeff Shambley along with Alex McFarland. If you're following along with our study today, we are in Numbers, chapter 29, moving into about verse 12, speaking of the offerings at the feast of tabernacles. Alex, this is five days after the offerings on the day of atonement. So we're moving through these feast days.
>> Alex McFarland: Exactly, exactly. And as we said there, well, I'm going to read there. On the 15th day, day of the seventh month, you shall have an holy convocation. Do no servile work, and keep a feast unto the Lord. Seven days, offer burnt offering, sacrifice made by fire, a sweet savor unto the Lord. You know, Jeff, the sweet savor the Bible talks about, the prayers of the saints are an aroma to the Lord, in obedience. And by the way, in Hosea, when they build altars, but they were doing it in disobedience. it was not pleasing to the Lord. And really, so many things dying and the blackness of sin. I've got my own thoughts about this. But isn't it something that all these sacrifices for the fallenness of the people, done in God's way, though, are a sweet savor to the Lord?
>> Jeff Chamblee: Yeah, it's a paradox, isn't it, because you have all of the slaying of these animals, there's blood on the altar, and like you said, there's this constant repetition of smoke and the smell of burning flesh. But offered with a heart of contrition, as we've talked about, and with love for the Lord, it is a, what the Bible says is a sweet aroma. In Second Corinthians 2:14, that imagery is carried over into the New Testament. For as believers, Paul writes, we are to God. Speaking of Christians, the sweet aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. So even today, when we live our lives in dedication to the Lord, there's a sense where our lives are a, pleasing aroma to the Lord. Just like these Old Testament sacrifices.
>> Alex McFarland: Exactly. Well, there were daily offerings, there were Sabbath offerings, there were monthly offerings, and there were festival offerings. And that's really what, like tabernacles, this is one of the festival offerings. And there was a certain rhythm to, to life, you know, for the ancient Israel, there is now, even in the church age, I don't know that we can make every single comparison. But you know, in the early church, really, up until, I'm going to say, 75 years ago, there was what was called a liturgical calendar.
>> Alex McFarland: And, and now look, I'm a Protestant, but. And one of the great, cries of the Reformation was priesthood of the believer. Right. And that is true. You can pray directly to Jesus, you can read the, the Scriptures yourself. And First John 2:27 says, the Spirit that gave the words will teach you the words. And I believe in the Reformation, view of priesthood of the believer. But Jeff, most churches nowadays, they would not know, epiphany and Pentecost and, you know, Ash Wednesday, you know, which by the way, is a Protestant observance. and I presided over an Ash Wednesday service back in the spring, and I had somebody really tear into me for, doing an Ash Wednesday service. Ah, but here's my thing. the liturgical calendar that really did characterize the church for about 1850 years, that put a rhythm throughout the year and mileposts, what the Wesleys would have called habits of holiness. Those aren't a bad thing, are they?
>> Jeff Chamblee: No, I think of two. There's Pesach, which would be Easter or Paschal, and then Advent, I think, has really made its way back into evangelical churches, at least as I was leading music and worship, on Sundays. Advent was always a part of what we did during the, you know, the weeks leading up to, leading up to Christmas. But no, I agree with you. I think liturgy, the church calendar is very helpful, not as a rule, but as an aid to help us to hit all of those spots and those wonderful illustrations of what Christ has done for us.
The Feast of Tabernacles foreshadows the Messiah's return
Alex, this Feast of Tabernacles, is also called and our listeners may be familiar with this word Sukkot. So in, Judaism, it's the Feast of Tabernacles. Obviously, it's a seven day feast, and the eighth day is a sacred assembly. And this feast foreshadows the peace and prosperity of the reign of the Messiah in the millennial kingdom. And so it's a great way. And we can't lose sight of the fact that Jesus is returning as we worship. That's got to be in our minds. And so this feast does that.
>> Alex McFarland: Amen. Well, it's the week of October 6th this year. And you know what? we're not judaizers and we're not restorationists in terms of that. But I think it's good to make people aware of these things and, to, like you say, because they so vividly depict and portray things to come. The millennial reign of Christ. And the sacrifices. Okay, so all of these sacrifices, there was a burnt offering, a grain offering, a peace offering, a sin offering, a trespass offering in daily, weekly, monthly and festival, intervals. And praise God. it's all fulfilled in Jesus. But, really, I would encourage people to read the entirety of chapter 29. I'm going to read verse 39. These things you shall do unto the Lord in your set feasts, beside your vows and your free will offerings, and your burnt offerings, and for your meat offerings, and for your drink offerings, and for your peace offerings. And Moses told the children of Israel according to all that the Lord commanded. Moses. So it's a lot. I mean, this will be, the prescription for what they'll do for really the remainders of their lives. And let's segue into chapter, 30. It's a relatively short chapter. Moses spoke to the heads of the tribes concerning the children of Israel, saying, this is the thing which the Lord hath commanded. If a man vow a vow unto the Lord, or swear an oath, to bind his soul with a bond, he shall not break his word. He shall do all that according that proceeded out of his mouth. And the same with a woman. If a woman vow, vow unto the Lord, and bind herself by a bond, being in her father's house in her youth, and her father hear her vow, and her bond, wherewith she hath bound her soul, and her father shall hold his peace or keep quiet, then all her vows shall stand, and every bond wherewith she hath bound, her soul shall stand. But if her father disallow her in the day, he hears not any of her vows or her bonds Wherewith she shall bind her soul. all the bonds Wherewith she hath bound her soul shall stand. And the Lord shall forgive her because her father disallowed her. Okay. There's the implication of a female, that is a minor, still living in her father's house. Now, what someone might vow before God, I suppose it would be impossible to completely know, although we have some examples of people that made vows unto the Lord. But one thing that is very clear is the keeping of one's commitments to God. And while we're not under law, we're under grace. I think it still stands that we should keep our commitments to God.
>> Jeff Chamblee: Yeah. And the interesting thing here, the father is mentioned as the one who. It's the argument from silence. So if the father is silent, it implies consent. And so you have, in the middle of all this discussion of the offerings and all of these different things and worship, you come to the family level and you see that God is intimately concerned with how the family works. And I'll say this. The father not, as you know, we don't carry this priesthood, so literally over into the New Testament. But the father is placed in the home as the spiritual head of the family. And I think that's what we can extrapolate from this into the New Testament life. And of course, there are homes where there's a single mother. In that case, she's the spiritual leader of that home. But God has ordained for that man to be there. And can you imagine how critical it is that he's a godly man so that he responds correctly? I mean, the amount of responsibility that's placed with him is incredible. But the father is mentioned very prominently here.
>> Alex McFarland: Well, let me say this. We talked earlier last week about how in numbers, daughters were to get an inheritance, just like sons. So on the one hand, let me say this, that, the Bible is the pioneering document when it comes to human rights, when it comes to acknowledging the personhood of all human beings. And that would include women's rights. And yet here, we basically see that a vow that a woman might make unto the Lord is really, if she's under her father's roof, he, the father has the power to, annul that vow. And if her husband hears it, and he can remain, silent. This is verses 7 and 8. The husband can remain silent and let it stand, or he can intervene and it shall be of none effect. And the Lord shall forgive her. Now, really, the female. And this is, I think, very pictorial of the church the bride of Christ and Jesus the head. The female, whether she's under her father's roof or her husband's roof, her welfare and her potential culpability before God is really protected. Standing between the woman and either the judgment of God could be her father or her husband. Now, I'm keenly aware, Jeff, that the more feminist minded listeners of us might say, well, just a minute, you know, that's, very patriarchal. Patriarchal, that's misogynistic. That the man, you know, let the woman be autonomous. Well, you know, the Bible absolutely advocates for the rights of women and the personhood and the worth and value and dignity of females as well as males. But in a way, the fact that in chapter 30, the vows made by people for point number one, we are to keep our vows to the Lord. If we make a vow. And maybe, maybe someone even listening has prayed and he's lord, please I beg of you, heal my loved one of sickness, and Lord, I'll serve you as long as I live. I mean, in the human heart we try to bargain with God and we pray, and God is very merciful and he intervenes not only, without compromising his sovereign will, but God advocates and blesses us so much. But yes, here the woman is not autonomous from her father or her husband really. And I realize that goes against the grain of modern feminism, but women, were not sent off to war, women were not put in combat. Women even were shielded, at least to a degree, in their presence before Almighty God.
>> Jeff Chamblee: Yeah, it's God's beautiful design. And it's something as believers, you know, we approach with humility and thankfulness. You, know, there's certainly no room for pride in that. But, we follow God's design and it's part of his good plan.
Any vow of a widow or divorced woman shall stand against her
I notice in verse, nine alex of that chapter, in the case of a widow or divorced woman, where there is no. The husband is not there, the father is not there, she is bound by herself. Let me read that verse also. Any vow of a widow or divorced woman by which she has bound herself shall stand against her. So there is a situation where she is directly accountable to God apart from a husband or a father, if she is a widow, or a divorced woman.
>> Alex McFarland: Well, and the word against there, it's not that, she's in judgment of God, at least not yet. If she didn't keep the vow, that would be different. But it's like if you, put up a, The word I'm looking for is, A deposit, or like, if you put up something against a debt, you know, here is collateral. That's the word I'm looking for. Her word is collateral. in other words, this vow is collateral against her. and what is the collateral? Right standing before God. In other words, what you're saying is, God, if I don't keep my promise to you, I will no longer be in right standing with you. That's the collateral. And so, her vow of every widow, and I've heard that is divorced. Wherewith they have bound their souls shall stand that vow. and your relationship with God is the collateral. You're bound to do it. Let me just say, if you've ever, whatever you pray to God, and look, we're under grace, maybe even right now, if people are thinking, well, I made a promise, I didn't keep it. I was part of a commitment, and I didn't follow through. Well, confess that to God and move forward. And as Christ said to people in his day, go and sin no more. You know, but God is a personal God, the God of the Bible. And Jesus our Savior is a personal savior. I think we need to treat the Lord with respect. even more than that, reverence feared obedience, even though God is a good God. Proverbs 1:7 says, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. And one last thing I'll say. And again, we are all. I'm a child of the Reformation. However, I mentioned priesthood of the believer, that we, we might have reformed out too far, because priesthood of the believer does not mean militant autonomy. Jeff, One of the things, even this week that I'm speaking on at this apologetics conference is the red letter only movement.
>> Jeff Chamblee: Okay. Yeah.
>> Alex McFarland: many professed Christians, although I'm deeply concerned for them, and they, they said we don't have to know, read, be aware of, or care about the Old Testament. And then, the letters of Paul and the remainder of the New Testament, only the red letter words of Jesus. Well, that might sound good, but none of us have the right to do that. we are free in Christ, but that doesn't mean unanswerable to God. Paul addresses that in Romans. Well, we're going to take prayer requests, so call in. You will get through. Lines are open. 888-589-8840. Your prayer requests when we continue on exploring the Word.
>> Jeff Chamblee: Every day, AFA offers biblical insight on issues that others aren't willing to touch in the hopes that you'll become a. That's why we're offering an in depth worldview training course called Activate. Thirteen different professors teaching 18 sessions, all available online, including a printed workbook to help you apply what you've learned and one year access to AFA streaming content to give you even more resources. Find out more about Activate and sign up [email protected] don't stop praying Please bring this in.
>> Alex McFarland: Don't stop calling on Jesus name Keep on pounding on heaven Heaven's door Let your knees wear out the floor. Don't stop believing. Don't stop praying don't stop believing. You know that, let your knees wear out the floor. That's really a reference to a house in London where the Wesleys had spent so much time praying next to a window that the knee prints were hollowed out in the floor. And the story is that I think it was probably in the 40s, but a group of, students from Wheaton College went to London to visit the Wesley house. And one young man on the tour group kind of was, suddenly not there. And they went back and he wanted to pray and put his knees in that spot where the prayers of the Wesleys had worn out the floor. And it was a young Billy Graham because he wanted to be able to pray in the same spot where, as that song says, their knees had worn out the floor. Beautiful imagery. we're going to take prayer requests. The number 885-898-9840. I've got a prayer request for, one thing. This weekend I have the great honor of being in Cedar Falls, Iowa, the Cedar Falls bible conference, Saturday, August 2nd. Good Lord willing, I'll be speaking at 9:30am, 11:00am and 7:00pm and Jeff, I have a prayer request then. In the big scheme of things, this is probably gonna sound rather mundane, but it's actually kind of critical. I really am asking for prayer. I finish up here at the Billy Graham center, at noon on Friday, August 1st, and then I'm at 4pm to fly to Cedar Rapids, Iowa to go to the Cedar Falls Bible Conference. I'm praying for the airplanes to be on time. And seriously, those of you that fly much at all, you know, I'm entirely serious because the airlines, they just don't keep a lot of punctual schedules anymore. So my prayer request to everyone when I fly out of Asheville on Friday, August 1, that I would be on time.
>> Jeff Chamblee: Yeah, well, we can identify with that. And so you're a man. That's got to be somewhere. So we will definitely pray for that. Alex. I Will add one to the list as well today. My daughter Devin and I mentioned this several weeks ago ago. She has got a rare form of melanoma. And so she's been referred to the Moffitt Cancer center down in Tampa. She's there today with my wife, will be there for about another three weeks. And she's undergoing chemotherapy all week long in preparation for a til treatment coming up this weekend. So the prayers are obviously for healing and for God to be with her during this time, that she would be, you know, relatively comfortable through all of this and that they would be able to share Christ with those around them as they're down there.
>> Alex McFarland: So thank you for sharing that. Devin. If you don't mind me asking, how old is Devin?
>> Jeff Chamblee: Devin's 37 and three children. And so you know, we're praying for her and for Justin and the children. so Devin's been fighting this for a little over a year, year and a half or so. So she's. We're hopeful that this treatment will do the trick, but she's down there. Yeah. Thank you for that.
>> Alex McFarland: Well, let's all be faithful to lift Devin up in prayer and certainly will. we're going to go to Greg in Mississippi.
Jeff: Would you pray for Greg's family, that they keep family ties intact
Greg, thank you for calling, exploring the Word and welcome to our afternoon of prayer.
>> Caroline: Hey man, thank you for taking my call, guys. God bless you. Praise the Lord. yes, I'm going to be in prayer, if you would. my brother, my sister left, I'm 62. And my sister Greta, she's she's two years younger than me. And then my brother Brandon Presley ran for governor here on the Democratic side and seems like after the election, we've just drifted apart and we're the only three left out of both sides of the family. The good Lord took them all home and just want to be in prayer that just bring us back together. You know, we all need our family. One day we're going to have to have our family in heaven. But I sure do miss them and love them and like I said, we just drifted apart. And it just breaks my heart at times and but anyway, I just Matthew 18:19 says, you know, we're two or more together, that we can, whatever the Lord if he's willing, I'm sure. Willing.
>> Alex McFarland: Wow, Greg, I am so honored that you would share that. And we listen, we've only got one family and we need to cherish it and try to keep it together. And that, that's a very special prayer request there. Jeff, would you pray for Greg's family, that they would keep the family ties intact?
>> Jeff Chamblee: Yes. Let's pray. Father, thank you for this opportunity to pray this afternoon and to join our hearts together. Lord, I thank you for our brother Greg and for the concern and the burden you placed on his heart that there would be, an increased fellowship and relationship developed between him and his siblings. And I pray, Lord God, for that. I ask, Lord, that you would put on the mind and the heart of his siblings the same thing, Lord, that they would pray for him and that they would, pick up the phone and call and communicate. And Lord, that there would be love shown and shared between them. And Lord, that that might result in much praise and glory to the name of Jesus and Father, we pray that you would give him peace and that you would sustain him as he waits on this in Jesus name. Amen.
>> Alex McFarland: Amen. Amen.
Lana in Indiana has a prayer request for her grandson Alex
we're going to go to Lana in Indiana. Lana, welcome to Exploring the Word.
>> Caroline: Thank you for taking my call. my, I have a prayer request for my grandson. He's 27 years old. He'd been on an adult website, talking to this girl in Tennessee for several weeks. And the next thing we know he is being arrested and of course he's put in a newspaper. He charged his. I'm 83, so I can't get all the wording right. But somehow the charges in the paper said something about soliciting a minor for statutory whatever. Anyway, he got arrested and taken to a small town, you know, where it gets to everybody. And he wound up with six months in prison because this girl was 15 years old. Now what she got out of it on for lying about her age on an adult website, I don't know. But she had super Christian parents who were very outraged and apparently influential in that town. But he wound up serving six.
>> Jeff Chamblee: All right, yeah. Lana, thank you for calling in. Our heart breaks for you as your, as you're concerned for your, for your 27 year old grandson. Alex, would you lift up Lana and her family?
>> Alex McFarland: Let's pray together. Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus, I pray for this dear grandmother Lana and the grandson. Father, this is a tragic thing and there have been a lot of people that have gotten in similar troubles through the Internet. There's so much evil and just immorality on the Internet. Lord, I pray this man would turn his life to you, that he would turn his life completely over to you, Lord, and that he would be able to, get past this. And of course things like employment and ultimately marriage and a family, which are your design. But ultimately that he would be set free from sexual sin. that he would understand the gravity of what he did and having one day paid his debt to society, that moving forward he would completely walk with you. And Lord, I pray for our nation that you would send a revival of morality and righteousness and please purge our culture from the wickedness and inappropriate world that is so much of the Internet. In Jesus name we ask it Lord. Amen.
>> Jeff Chamblee: Amen.
>> Alex McFarland: Amen. well, let's see. Linda in Texas. Linda, thanks for holding. You are on Exploring the Word.
>> Caroline: Thank you very much.
Friends of mine have a precious prayer for their granddaughter
I just have a real precious prayer here and I'm not usually, you know, able to listen at this time. Okay. It's a little girl named Rosie. It's very, very precious. Friends of mine and it's their granddaughter and she's been in intensive care since I guess Sunday. she had wisdom teeth removed, braces put on and ever since that happened, she was just started with intense pain where she's in intensive care on morphine 24 hours a day.
>> Alex McFarland: Wow. Thank you for sharing that. my goodness, that sounds very debilitating and golly. we'll pray for little Rosie in icu. And by the way, we've got time for some more prayer requests. I know there are people on hold but the number is 888-589-8840. And ah, also if you do have a Bible question today, we'll take that as well. Please, everybody pray for little Rosie there.
James in Virginia has lost custody of his daughter because of alcohol addiction
we're going to go to James in Virginia. James, welcome to our program.
>> Caroline: M. Hey, thank you. I appreciate your time. So I, we have a friend of the family whose daughter has lost custody of her child because of alcohol, and continues to get worse with additional DUIs and just cannot seem to be released from the need to compulsively drink. so is facing all the legal and family, impacts there. So I'd appreciate your time on that.
>> Alex McFarland: Wow, very, very sad. Well, Jeff, would you lead us in prayer and if you would, you know, pray for Rosie. And I see you pray for this colleague to be set free from the, the grip of alcoholism and my goodness, this parent child relationship when, when social services has to intervene and take custody away from a parent, how sad that is. But Jeff, lead us, would you?
>> Jeff Chamblee: Yeah.
Father, we pray for Linda who called in from Texas concerning Rosie
Let's turn our hearts together. Father, we come again to you. Thankful that you hear our prayers through Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord, we bring these requests to you. Father, we pray for Linda who called in from Texas concerning Rosie, a little girl, Lord, who is experiencing a, terrible pain, Lord, and is in strong medication right now. Lord, we pray that you would strengthen her and heal her. Lord, I pray for her parents who are right beside her, that you would give them the peace that passes all understanding, Lord, that the nurses and doctors would know how to take care of Rosie and that you would just restore her. And Lord, we pray for this young lady who has had her children taken from her, Lord, and is a slave to alcohol. And God, we pray that you would deliver her from that and that you would work in her life by bringing people into her life, bring the word of God into her life. Lord, I pray that you would set her free and that she would give her life and dedicate herself to serving you. And Lord, I pray for all who surround her, that you administer to them as well, Lord, that you would receive the glory in Jesus name. Amen.
>> Alex McFarland: Amen. Amen. Thank you, Jeff. The number is 888. 589. 8840.
Brent Austin asks for prayer for pastors who preach without shame
Brent Austin says we have Jackie, a listener who wants prayer for pastors who preach without shame. and I'm assuming perhaps maybe to fearlessly, unapologetically preach the word of God. pastors who preach without shame. I don't know if that means shamelessly preach that what is false or fearlessly preach that which is true. But let me pray. I can relate. So let me pray for the American pulpit it that, Lord, we come before you and the church is your church. Lord Jesus, you are the head of the church. You raise up some under shepherds, pastors and leaders. And Lord, I pray, Lord, I know Jeff Shambley is, a ministry leader in his church. So is Bert Harper. I, am as well. But lord, for the 500,000 ordained clergy in America, Lord, I just imagine. I fondly think about what it would be if 500,000 ordained ministers would proclaim salvation in Jesus, repentance and turning away from sin, revival and getting on our face and crying out to you, Lord. And so I do pray, like Jackie, we agree together in prayer that the American pulpit would be a. Aflame with truth, with your word, with righteousness, calling, calling sinners to repentance, calling Christians to commitment, calling out that your church would live for the Great Commission. And Lord, we've been so blessed and we thank you. our churches, we have pews and a roof over our head and there are many parts of the World where believers worship outdoors because there is no building, and many worship, in danger because they don't have religious freedom. And so, Lord, we've got so many blessings. May we not lose it, may we not squander it. And, Lord, like Jackie suggests, and we are taking it to heart. We lift up the American church and all of the pastors and leaders in Jesus name, and for his glory, we pray. Amen.
>> Jeff Chamblee: Amen. Guys, I've got one from Facebook. it's Dana. And I remind you, you can always, email your questions. You can, send them to us on Facebook, messenger your prayer request, your.
>> Caroline: Praises, any of those, anytime.
>> Jeff Chamblee: Not just on Tuesday. So this one's from Dana. She's asking for prayer for her brother, Craig. he has stage four cancer.
>> Alex McFarland: Craig with stage four cancer. Thank you, Brent. Excuse me. Thank you for sharing that. Jeff, would you pray for Craig? And while you pray for Devin as well. Also, folks, I've got a friend I was in seminary with, Eladio Quintanilla. We call him Lottie Eladio, great brother in the Lord. He's at Baptist Hospital in Winston Salem, North Carolina. He's younger than me, and he's getting treatment for cancer. But for Devin, for Craig, and for my seminary colleague, Eladio, Jeff Chambley, would you pray for us?
>> Jeff Chamblee: Let's pray. Father, we come to you this afternoon again thanking you that you hear us through Christ and we lift up these, Lord, who are suffering from cancer and that you would minister to them, Lord, for, Craig with stage four cancer. Lord, we pray for him that you'd give him peace, that as he experiences whatever treatments that he's taking, Lord, that he would be responsive to those things. And that, Lord, you would just fill him with peace. Lord, we pray for death today and Anita, as they're in Tampa, that you would, be present with them as she's taking this chemotherapy, and that you would give her, peace, Lord, and comfort as she's going through this. And that, Lord, that you would touch her and heal her body. Pray for brother Lottie, Lord, as he's, experiencing cancer as well, Lord, that you would work in his body and restore him. And God, open his mouth to testify of your greatness, even to those who take care of him today. In Jesus name, Amen.
>> Alex McFarland: Amen. Amen. Jeff, well said. To testify of God's greatness. Yeah, we serve a great God. And so, folks, thank you for listening. Thank you, Jeff Shambley, for being with us. as far as I'm aware, Bert Harpel will be back tomorrow. And we, want to thank you, dear listeners, for listening to the American Family Radio Network. Keep your radio tuned to afr. Tell people about the great programming. But most of all, we. We always encourage people. Tell everybody about Jesus.
>> Jeff Chamblee: The views and opinions expressed in this broadcast may not necessarily reflect those of the American Family association or American Family Radio.
