1 Peter 4:10-19: Purpose In Suffering

Stay with American Family Radio for the next hour as we study God's word

>> Bert Harper: 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: What do you think of when it comes to the subject of suffering? Well, according to First Peter, chapter four, it might be rejoicing. we'll talk about that and much, much more on this edition of Exploring the word. Alex McFarl here along with Bert Harper. And we are so honored that you're listening to the American Family Radio Network. We invite you to get a copy of God's Word and turn to the New Testament book of First Peter, because that's where we are. And Bert, the way my Bible is printed, we're one page away from wrapping up First Peter, and it kind of makes me sad. I'm enjoying this.

>> Bert Harper: Well, we're going to go to 2 Peter, but if you wanted a contemporary, I would say book to go along with First Peter would be the book of James. Have you noticed how many things are interchangeable? Now, Peter wrote for suffering and James wrote for living in an ungodly world. But both of them is talking about living in a difficult time. And so here in First Peter, chapter four, as we start, you'll find the word suffering mentioned again and again and again. They were already suffering, but guess what was coming their way, Alex?

>> Alex McFarland: What's that?

>> Bert Harper: More suffering and persecution. And more severe. More severe. That's exactly right. So we're in chapter, four. We're going to look at verse 10. We covered it a little bit the last time, but I just looked at verse 10 and I felt like we needed to give it a little bit more time because. Let me just read this. As each one has received a gift, minister to one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Now, that verse stands alone. But notice each one has received received a gift. Now, it is not the gift. The gift is the gift of salvation through Holy Spirit. A gift is referring to a ministering gift. Paul went to great lengths to talk about spiritual gifts. And he said, each one here, Peter agrees with Paul and says, each one has received this gift. And what do you do? Minister with it as to one another and as what? Good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Now, I want you to do something and I'll turn it over to you. Integrate the word here as it says the gift and manifold grace. Now, you catch what I'm saying? the Gift, whatever that may be. One gift. Now, a, lot of believers have more than one spiritual gift, but some, if you have one, what do you do? You, it's incorporated with the manifold grace of God, his salvation, him using us, and then the other is to one another, making us a part of a family.

>> Alex McFarland: You know, salvation is by the grace of God, but the Christian life is by the grace of God, same grace, and certainly the journeys of life. And that would include the sufferings and the struggles. Yesterday I had the privilege of preaching at Mount Pleasant Church outside of Greensboro. And I was in First Peter 2. And there's this amazing, part of One Peter 2. And it relates to what we're talking about now, but the call to suffering. And you think, well, wait a minute, I thought if I come to the Lord, everything's just going to be, you know, hunky dory. Well, listen, if you put your faith in Christ, your destination for eternity is set. You're secure in Christ. If you're saved, bound for heaven.

Alex: Only the Christian worldview can promise this, Bert

But the journey down here, and some of my points yesterday, and I want to relate that to 1st Peter 4, 10, but there is the call to suffering and Christ our example in suffering, the journey of suffering, the paradox of suffering, in that it is a gift and it's by his grace and we grow. and Jesus, it says in 1st Peter 2:22, he did no sin, there was no guile in his mouth, and yet when he was reviled, he did not answer back. All right, there's the paradox, but then there's finally the potential power of suffering. And Bert, we may be talking to some Christians even right now that are going through hard things and we don't minimize that. But the beautiful thing, and really only the biblical worldview can promise this, when you turn your trials and sufferings over to Jesus, and He will help you through and you will grow now in heaven, you'll get crowns and rewards. But really, atheism can't promise this. And Eastern religions say, well, it's karma and who knows why and who knows how. But in the Christian worldview, it does not promise you always a pain free life. But there's blessing, there's growth, there's benefit, there's rewards in heaven, and there's a powerful witness, the way we navigate the hard times of life.

>> Bert Harper: Hearing that, compared to what he said in verse 10, chapter 4, about the sufferings, you could add that word that is used here, the manifold grace of God, the manifold suffering of the saint. So each one of the sufferings, wherever they come from how they are, where they are, why is met by what the grace of God. And the grace of God is sufficient. That's what. That's what God told Paul. And what's what Paul experienced. That my grace is sufficient for you. And, over also we find out that what he said, in. In a book of Colossians, it talks about the ministry that God has. And it also. 2nd Tim. 2nd Corinthians, he talked about the ministry that we have, that the ministry and the Spirit that God's given us is sufficient. So here it is, Alex. The grace of God is sufficient to meet each area and level of suffering. Amen. M. That is it. Verse 11 continues. Says, and if anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. That's the utterances of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it with the, ability which God supplies. That in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory, the dominion forever and ever. Here it is. That God would ultimately get the glory of what? Your suffering, of your words, of your ministry. That God would be glorified through Christ in all of those things. What's the ultimate aim for a believer?

>> Alex McFarland: The glory of God.

>> Bert Harper: That's the whole idea. And right here in verse 11, I, think it's compounded there that no matter what you're going through, the suffering, that they've talked about earlier, the speaking, whether you speak for him, and then the ministering, no matter how you minister, do all for the glory of God. And it says, whom belong, glory and dominion for how long?

>> Alex McFarland: Ever and ever.

>> Bert Harper: How long is that, Alex?

>> Alex McFarland: Forever? Yes. For his glory and the beautiful thing about it. And again, only the Christian faith can make this promise. But he works all things for his glory and our good. you and I, and I've mentioned this a time or two, but Barry Maguire, we see him every year at nrb. And, his family is in the car wax business. But he. I asked him back in February, I said, Barry, you are the most joyful person I've ever met. And he said, well, it was the early 70s, we had all kind of troubles. And, you know, he said, my wife and I were saved, but we just were not living in joy. And he said, I heard the preacher preach on a Sunday night about Romans 8:28, that all things for the believer, ultimately we'll work together. And he said, this preacher said, if you're a Christian, nothing bad can ultimately happen to you. Now we said, well, wait a minute. There's a diagnosis. There's a health issue. He said, my wife and I made a determination. Barry McGuire said, We're going to trust God and joyfully, even when we're in the waiting room. And he is the most joyful person. He's on YouTube. But let me just read verse, 12, if I may, from 1st Peter 4, beloved, that's. The believers think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you as though some strange thing happened unto you. I, looked this up, and it basically says, don't be surprised. That's right, because, okay, we're in a fallen world now. God loves this world. People are getting saved. But let's remember we are in enemy territory.

>> Bert Harper: The.

>> Alex McFarland: That a, fallen world of sin at war with the Lord. And of course, there's going to be some crossfire and some static when you're a saint in a world of sin.

>> Bert Harper: It'S going to be there. Right? Yeah. Okay, let me ask you this. Should you expect trials?

>> Alex McFarland: You really should.

>> Bert Harper: Okay. Is it possible? And the answer to this is yes, because I had someone tell me this. We need to paint a true picture of the life that is following your salvation.

>> Alex McFarland: Yeah.

>> Bert Harper: It's not easy. It's. You have a friend that will go with you, never leave you. You won't bypass your suffering. You won't go over it. You won't go around it. You can't go under. You got to go through it.

>> Alex McFarland: Yep.

>> Bert Harper: And it is a part of that.

Alex: First Peter 4 talks about suffering and God's glory after it

And do you think possibly, Alex, there's been some people, they really did trust Jesus Christ as Savior. They did not know what would follow. And for a while, man, they struggled in their Christian life. Unexpected, the difficulty that might come their way. And it caught them by surprise. And they said, oh, I didn't necessarily sign up for this, but if it was real, I do believe the Holy Spirit of God will minister your way through it.

>> Caroline: But.

>> Bert Harper: But I think that's why he would send them out two by two, I think. Well, I know. And I also know that's why he wants to be a part of a local church. And even in a local church, I think you need to be a part of a local small group. You know, have you noticed the numbers of Jesus working? There's 500, there were 70, there was 12. And then even in the 12, he would mark them out in threes.

>> Alex McFarland: Peter, James, and John.

>> Bert Harper: Every time, if you look at those 12, you'll find them numbered in threes. And how he works it around. So those. There's something about that that really will strengthen you because you're going to go through some hard times, and it is good to have somebody with skin on.

>> Alex McFarland: Yes.

>> Bert Harper: Beside you.

>> Alex McFarland: Indeed. Indeed. And, you know, Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, when Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die. And it's all for our good. It is all for our good if we allow. And, you know, even though, hey, even the Christian life, there's going to be some tears, there's going to be some dark, night of the soul, but God is faithful. And if you're in the midst of, a hard season, Christ is with you. He loves you. And the body of Christ will, as you said, Bert, walk along to help. Hold our arms up. Now, verse 13, before you get.

>> Bert Harper: Wait, look at the last phrase. Are you in verse 13? Go ahead. I'm sorry, I jumped ahead. That's what I get for jumping. Go ahead.

>> Alex McFarland: Rejoice inasmuch as you are partakers of Christ's sufferings, that when his glory shall be revealed, you may be glad also with exceeding joy. Okay, now it's Jesus death on the cross by which our sins are paid. We do not suffer to pay our sin debt. part of the sanctification and the growth process is being a disciple. But here is the thing. At least to some tiny, tiny degree, I think we have at least a glimmer of understanding about what our Lord went through. partakers, as Jesus suffered, so do we.

>> Bert Harper: Well said. Notice two words in verse 13. I didn't want to skip it. Sure. I'm sorry. A while ago.

>> Alex McFarland: No.

>> Bert Harper: Be glad with exceeding joy. Now, there's two words, glad and joy, using together. When is this happening? When his glory is revealed after the suffering. You catch?

>> Alex McFarland: Yeah.

>> Bert Harper: At the present time, we may not understand the suffering that we are going through, but at that time, it will be revealing. Means use later. You know the Book of Revelation? Okay, these are coming. This is what's going to happen. But what will happen when you understand it all? Gladness for it with exceeding great joy. That's what's waiting on us as believers, Alex.

>> Alex McFarland: Well, and when the morning light shines, you forget the hard times real fast.

>> Bert Harper: Praise God.

>> Alex McFarland: this is exploring the world. Alex and Burt coming to you live from the American Family Radio Network. Stay tuned. More of First Peter 4 and your questions.

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>> Alex McFarland: He's on it?

>> Bert Harper: He is on it.

>> Alex McFarland: He always picks the right songs.

>> Bert Harper: Well, you're here live today, Alex.

>> Alex McFarland: I am. Praise God.

>> Bert Harper: Now that doesn't mean you're dead somewhere else, but it means you're in the studio today.

>> Alex McFarland: Well, it's always a blessing to be here at the American family Radio Network and we've got some special days, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday of this week and I wanted to be here and this is really special for Bert and I but we're very blessed. I have all this gear that we travel with in a in a case and it most of the time works but Brent Austin and I are a lot of times on the phone, frantically seconds before airtime.

>> Bert Harper: A.m. I connected.

>> Caroline: Yeah.

>> Alex McFarland: And you know to be in the studio where I can see you face to face and we know the microphones are on, it's blessing their advantage.

>> Bert Harper: There again, Share a thon is coming up and we kick it off in the morning at 6 o'. Clock. I'll be there here with Fred Jackson early in the morning as we start Sharathon and we're looking forward to it and the premium gift appreciation gift.

>> Alex McFarland: Let's let them be surprised. Okay, let me just say this. Tomorrow you're going and really be in prayer and we hope you'll participate. Something Bert and ah, I have worked on for quite a number of months and you'll hear about it about 500 times this week.

>> Bert Harper: That's right. And so we're looking forward to it and glad you're in for that. It's always good to have you. But during Sherithon, when it is man, it's quick and go from one to the other. It's good to have you here.

Our job is to glorify God and to be a witness for Christ

Well, let's go back to the word of God here. And again we looked at verse 13, where you have sufferings, that is followed that will reveal the glory. And you will be glad with exceeding joy. Not just joy, exceeding joy. Now, Alex, we have joy in our heart, but one of these days we'll have exceeding joy.

>> Alex McFarland: Amen. You know, one of the old songs says, lord, haste the day when my faith will be sight.

>> Bert Harper: It's going to happen.

>> Alex McFarland: this is going to happen. We will see Jesus, we will be with Jesus. And let's remember you in the first segment. You said our, our job is to glorify God and to be a witness for Christ.

>> Bert Harper: When we do that, it is a witness. And then when we share with verbiage what hopefully they've seen, we've talked about it, that in First Peter, if any man ask you of the faith, why would they ask you of your faith if they didn't see something or hear something?

>> Alex McFarland: Do you know what about? I'm, going to say. A month ago I went to visit a, dear saint of God in a rest home in North Carolina. And this lady, she had been living alone for a few and she fell and she couldn't live alone anymore. And so she went to. And let's just be honest, she's going to spend her final years in this assisted living facility. And, you know, that's kind of somber, but I went in there and her roommate was a lady from upstate New York. And, Patsy is the lady that she had left her home. She was so full of joy. Her roommate had, in the last several weeks, recommitted her life to Christ. And she said she had a very upstate New York accent. And she said, you know, I had been in church when I was a little girl. It's been decades. I didn't know if I was really a Christian or not. But Patsy has told me about Jesus and we've prayed together every day. And here are these two ladies in the final years, full of joy, fellowshipping around the gospel of Jesus Christ. And I thought about that. you can get depressed, you could just mentally implode emotionally. But here's a lady in not the greatest situation, but being a witness for Jesus. And one of the, people out there, I went to see her. And one of the helpers said, that lady has just brought joy to this place. Now, it takes the spirit of the Lord to give us the strength to do that. But really, isn't that our assignment, Bert? To walk with Christ and to represent him wherever we happen to be?

>> Bert Harper: It's really in two words, actions and attitude. Okay, what do they see? What do they see? What you're doing? What do they see? When you go through those difficult times, those attitudes, it is a witness. Verse 14 continues. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, that means, insulted. It could be the word insulted. Blessed are you for the spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part it says he is blasphemed, but on your part he is glorified. Listen again. We live in a fallen world. Don't you know, Count it strange. And, we've already talked about that in verse 12. To think concerning the fiery trial. Don't think it's strange when people might insult you for being a follower of Jesus Christ. What do you think you're going to get out of it? You think it's going to do you any good? You know, you can hear it all. It can be very light, surface, or it can be very, very deep. And here it says, if you are but let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or a busybody, a meddler in any other people's matters. Now here it is. What a contrast. In other words, if you're going to be reproached, let it be cause of your life and your attitude toward following the Lord Jesus Christ. And do not follow him into these things of murdering, of, suffering. Now what does that make it sound like? Sounds like. Okay, if you really look at it over in First Peter, he talks about the governors and, and the, kings have an authority to do what? Punish evil.

>> Alex McFarland: Just like Paul says in Romans 13. So 14 and 16 talk about suffering for having been a witness for Christ. 15 right there in the middle says, look, it's not persecution if you do some evil thing, you know, and there's murdering, stealing, evildoer, or even a busybody, which in the original language means a troublesome meddler.

>> Bert Harper: Let me ask you this. Are you surprised that he would put a troublesome meddler in the same list as murderer?

>> Alex McFarland: not when you think about it. I mean, it might seem like a surprise. But listen, acting in the flesh is acting in the flesh, isn't it?

>> Bert Harper: What did James say about that? Tongue, set on fire the very pit of hell. So it is serious. So be careful.

>> Alex McFarland: And verse 16 really echoes verse 14. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God on this behalf. Remember, 1st Peter 2:15. Really, 1st Peter 2:12 and 15 says, this is the will of God, that by doing well, you'll put silence the arguments of foolish men. Here's the thing. If you're witnessing for Christ and people make fun of you or even physically persecute you, that's just part of the deal. And there are parts of the gospel that a fallen world just recoils against. You know, God loves you. Okay, Most people are okay with that. But repent of sin, and the world does not have the authority to declassify any sins. sex outside of marriage is still a sin in the eyes of a holy God. marriage cannot be redefined. Gender is fixed, not fluid. And so there are parts of the canon of revelation that a lost world is going to just have a brain aneurysm over. But calmly, lovingly, but unflinchingly, we stand for truth.

>> Bert Harper: That's why in, verse 16, let him not be ashamed.

Alex: Let us glorify God in this matter through our attitude

Because what will they do? They'll try to shame you. You mean you're not going to let them love who they love?

>> Alex McFarland: You're narrow.

>> Bert Harper: Yeah, you're so narrow, mind. And here it is. Do not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter. Now, if we're going to glorify God in this manner, it's not just what we say, but it may be an attitude of how we say it. Alex. And, have you ever heard body language? Okay, yeah. Yeah. It can speak loudly. And, our attitude toward people will be picked up. Now, again, what you want is your words, your actions, and your attitude all line up with the scriptures. That's what you desire to do. And here in verse 17. For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God. And if it begins with us first, what will it be? The end of those who do not obey the gospel of God. Do we need to examine ourselves to see if we are in the faith? Alex?

13 times the Bible tells Christians to judge, Alex says

>> Alex McFarland: Well, let's talk about the word judgment for a minute. Because the world over and over says, judge not, that you be not judged. you and I did a show probably a year ago of 13 times. I saw this outline the other day. 13 times the Bible tells Christians to judge. So the next time somebody plays the card, well, the Bible says, judge not. Let me Say, in and of ourselves. You're right. We're just saved sinners. But the word of God most certainly is in a position to pass judgment on all people. Now, it says this. The time has come that judgment must begin at the house of God. And if it first begin with us, the believers, what shall the end be of them that obey? not the gospel. Okay, I looked up the word judgment in the Greek lexicon. You know what it means? It means the application of the law. Okay. If the law and the word of God is applied to us and then evaluation made, and we're born again, believers by the grace of God, then how's a fallen, rebellious world going to fare when the application of God's law is laid down alongside there, you know?

>> Bert Harper: Amen.

>> Alex McFarland: folks, this is a serious thing to prepare to meet a holy God, as we all invariably will do.

>> Bert Harper: So we judge concerning, the law of God, others and the actions, but we also use that same format on us ourselves. Alex. That's what, you know, we. We must make a judgment concerning us. Now, who, is what I'm doing right? How do I do that? My feelings are the word of God. What popularity, what the world says, or the word of God? How am I going to judge how many? As pastor, I've heard this. Well, I've prayed about it, Pastor, and I don't. I don't care what the Bible says. I've heard that. I've prayed, you know, about divorce and remarriage, about an affair. I've. I've heard it in this. Well, I've prayed about it. And listen, I don't know who they were praying to or how they were praying through, but God's response to you does not contradict the word of God. And that is whole ideal. So we need to look inside ourselves as well. And, we need to look and examine ourselves if we're in the faith and make sure that we know Christ.

>> Alex McFarland: Amen.

>> Bert Harper: Now, verses 18 and 19 finishes this chapter up.

>> Alex McFarland: Powerful.

>> Bert Harper: And it is a good break, because when you come to chapter five, verse one, it kind of switches to the elders. But listen to 18 and 19. Now, anytime you see those conjunctions, therefore, now and then, just. Okay, now here's the setup. In other words, here's what I said. Now then, now, if the righteous one is scarcely saved, where will the ungodly and the sinner appear? That's from Proverbs 11. Therefore, let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to him in doing good as to A faithful creator. Here's the bottom line. Trust God with what you have given him. I've asked him to come into my life, and I met that by him dying on the cross for me. I confessed my sins, which means I agreed with God concerning them, turned away from them and turned to him. Now, what if we can? If we do that, what will the unrighteous, the ungodly. How in the world are they going to appear before God? they appear before God and the Word is condemned. We stand before God. Forgiven. Alex. The forgiveness of our sin is so important to know that our God, who paid the price through his son Jesus Christ, as a ransom for our sin, has set us free at the liberty. That's what it talks about in, Corinthians, chapter three, ver. Second Corinthians three about we have this liberty that's in Christ Jesus. What is it? The liberty to be who God intended us to be.

>> Alex McFarland: Amen.

>> Bert Harper: Without salvation, we will never be all that God wants us to be, will we?

>> Alex McFarland: Well, and let me just say this, folks. If you're listening to the program and you are not really sure that you've come to Christ or you, you know, you think, well, if it turns out there's a God, here's what I plan to say on that day. Look, there's not going to be a debate. And it's not, you know, when you leave this world and eternity looms before you, it's not going to be a job interview where you can twist God's arm and say, well, I know I did this and this, but here's why. No, if you haven't got Jesus in your life, your eternity is already set in concrete, and it's called hell. I mean, because the Bible says all have sinned. The Bible said that, we're all under wrath and condemnation. So right now you have the opportunity to come out from under judgment, wrath, lostness. You can call on the name of the Lord. You can be saved. And Jesus, I mean, you're hearing this broadcast right now because God loves you. God wants you to be forgiven.

If you don't have Jesus, there is no recourse

God wants you to be aware of Jesus. And then finally, you open your heart and you call on him. And so when Peter asked this question, Paul usually asks the rhetorical questions. You know, if the righteous scarcely be saved, what shall. Where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? And the answer is, if you don't have Jesus, there is no recourse. Come to Jesus. But what is that number? Is it 1, 800?

>> Bert Harper: Need him. Triple 8. Need him.

>> Alex McFarland: Triple 8 need him.

>> Bert Harper: If you need to, talk to someone and they'll pray with you, they'll talk with you and go to Triple eight need him. They're a ministry that is just committed to help people know Jesus Christ as savior. Triple eight need him.

If you've got a Bible question, we'd love to hear from you

Well, Alex, before we go into chapter five, let's save that because it kind of turns a corner and we can set this up again. that we are not going to be going through scriptures in, in First Peter the next three days, although we may refer to it and do it during some of the time of Sharathon. But twice a year, here at afr, we set aside three days in the spring, three days in the fall to let our listeners become supporters. We know they listen, we know they pray. But you can have the opportunity to give in the next three days during Sharathon. We're looking forward to that. don't turn off your radios, leave it on because you're going to hear testimonies of what God has done. That number if you want to call us today, 888-589-8840. As we watch world events unfold and fulfill scripture, it's hard to believe anyone could doubt God and his word are real. And yet there are so many who either question or completely refuse to believe it. The God who speaks is a 90 minute documentary that hits the doubt head on with evidence that proves God is real and his word is the ultimate authority. Watch it anytime and invite others to watch with you.

>> Alex McFarland: Just visit stream.afa.net that's stream.aca.net welcome back to Exploring the Word. Alex McFarland along here with Bert Harper. You are listening to the American Family Radio Network and the number. If you've got a Bible question, we'd love to hear from all the listeners. And your questions mean a lot and we do our best to give you a good answer. The number is 888-589-8840. That's 888-589-8840. And you know Bert, I don't know the exact number but in 15 plus years we've answered a few questions or.

>> Bert Harper: Tried to, haven't we've tried to and the most I think We've gotten it one fire away. Friday was 20, something like that. M we average on fireway Friday we average from 12 to 14 questions if.

>> Alex McFarland: I don't get too long winded out.

>> Bert Harper: So we could, we could multiply that and figure out how they are and but hey, you ready to go Phone calls.

>> Alex McFarland: Now we're gonna get one of my favorite places. A lot of great people out in Kansas, one of whom is Scott. Scott from Kansas. Thanks for calling.

Scott had severe chronic pain and a friend listened to him vent frustration

Welcome to Exploring the Word.

>> Caroline: I always enjoy your guys show. This one really struck a nerve for me. I've dealt with severe chronic pain for years and, you know, different intensities. A couple years ago, after a few months, after a knee surgery, I also had severe sciatic nerve pain down the same leg. Then I pulled the hamstring on the same leg, and I was miserable. And, I've gotten better over the years, you know, with my long suffering and not getting angry in my pain. And what really helped, as a friend who knew I was going through a difficult time, showed up unannounced, sat on my couch and just let me vent my frustration. Not cursing God or anything, but just frustration. And, you know, he wasn't like one of Job's friends who tried to find out why I'm suffering and what I did wrong, but he was just there to let me cry out to him. And it's just so important. We're there for one another.

>> Alex McFarland: A listening ear meant a lot, didn't it?

>> Caroline: Yep.

>> Bert Harper: Well, I, you know, listening, I think maybe a ministry that we don't use as well as we should. M. Seriously, you know, and, having somebody that can listen. Have you ever heard this? Do you listen to answer or listen to learn?

>> Alex McFarland: Wow, that's convicting.

>> Bert Harper: Yes, it is. And what Scott had was a friend that was listening. Not necessarily answer, like Job's friend, but learning what he was feeling, learning from him. Scott. Thank you, brother. And, listen, frustration with pain, you know, that's part of it. But remember what it said there, that God's glory would be revealed. And it usually comes later.

>> Alex McFarland: God bless you, Scott.

William in Illinois, welcome to Exploring the Word

Let's go to Illinois. William in Illinois, welcome to Exploring the Word.

>> Caroline: Thank you, brothers. being from Illinois, we have one of the most wicked governments in Chicago area. The rest of state doesn't follow that pattern. Since you were speaking on judgment today, I. I can't understand why a city can get in that condition. Because D.L. moody came from Chicago. And, as far as judgment, people don't realize God has put that hail there for the devil. These angels with that kind of judgment, it's going to be severe on them. And, we're going to be following after that. Not because we're doing something here that's going to equate to that, but we'll be with that condition. I don't understand how people can't understand it, that, if they're going to have several hundred years on earth to be judged with all the stuff they've done.

>> Bert Harper: Well, let me say this, William. has Satan blinded the minds of.

>> Alex McFarland: Those, The God of this world? Satan has blinded the minds of unbelievers.

>> Bert Harper: That. Honestly, that is. That's some ways the only way you can explain what some people believe and do and what just on about DL Moody. All it takes is one generation, you know, for it to go from. It usually is compounded, but it's one generation away. So you want to pass on your faith.

>> Alex McFarland: Amen. Michael in Texas. Michael, welcome to the program.

>> Caroline: Thank you. My question short. I understand there's a Christian denomination called the United Pentecostal Church, in which one of their doctrines is they. They flat out denied the tri. Unity of God, the Trinity. My question is, can a person be saved if they not misunderstood or don't totally understand the Trinity, because none of us do. But if they flat out deny it, like the UPC church, says, God is only a one person. God the Father, and God the Son and the Holy Spirit are manifestations. Thank you.

>> Bert Harper: Okay, Alex, God bless you.

>> Alex McFarland: You know, one of the, heresies of the early church that was condemned, came to be known as modalism. there was a man named Sibelius, and he was, deemed a heretic. And he had this idea that, you know. And by the way, let me just say this. a lot of heresies come about when people have an assumption they want to defend, rather than taking the Bible for what it says. Because if you read the Bible for what it says, clearly you get Father, Son, Holy Spirit, one God. Sure, there's. There's only one God, but there is the Trinity, which really is a combination of two words. Tri, unity, God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit. Now, let me say this. I'm going to throw it to Bert. And I remember when I was in seminary, there was a lot of, the upc, the United Pentecostal, and they were in Virginia. I was at Liberty University. They were very vehemently denying the Trinity. And, it influenced some of the students. and a lot of the professors really had to help some of the students through the confusion they were in. Here's the thing. It's one thing to be ignorant of, some of the deep things of scripture. And, you know, getting to heaven is not a theology exam. It's accepting Christ. And I think there are a lot of People that maybe they're uninformed. But then overt rejection and distortion of what the Bible is clear about, that's something totally different.

>> Bert Harper: If you don't understand, you will bring something into you that you think you've got it, but you don't. And you believe a lie, you know, rather than the truth, because the truth. What'd you say? Complex? Some of the complexities of the doctrines, the trinity, the sovereignty of God and the free will of man and letting them work together. Alex, are those easily to understand? No. But the Bible, what teaches both of them.

>> Alex McFarland: Yeah, we've said this several times. All of the Bible, Genesis to Revelation, all of the Bible is equally inspired, but it's not all equally understandable. You know, God, God loves me. A five year old can understand that. But Ezekiel's wheel within a wheel and I mean there's, it's all equally inspired. So I would say for someone who is knowingly, overtly trying to deny what the Bible plainly says, I would try to help them examine if they've really come to Christ.

Susie in North Carolina attended a revival in Myrtle beach last weekend

Susie in North Carolina. Susie, thanks for holding. Welcome.

>> Caroline: Hi. I was with you on Friday night and Saturday morning in Myrtle beach and it was wonderful.

>> Alex McFarland: Oh, God bless you folks. We had Jenna Ellis, whom you know from the Jenna Ellis show, and we had Mark Walker, who's the international ambassador for religious freedom, Caleb Collier from Church and State and one of the great pastors I know Steve Fairchild from Low Country Community Church. And we had people there, almost a thousand people from a number of states. Susie, thank you for coming. And that it was like a Friday night Saturday revival.

>> Caroline: Wasn't really was. And the bonus was going to the old Presbyterian Church and praying in the after, in the early afternoon and hearing the history of that property.

>> Alex McFarland: Let me say this Susie, God bless you. All right. There's a highway called Highway 17, but it's. For hundreds of years it's been called King's Highway. And since the 1500s, Wesleyan Methodist, Anglican, Baptist, all these groups have come there from the 1500s up through the 1700s. And this area really from about. There's a North Carolina fishing village called Little river all the way down into South Carolina called Georgetown. Some historians call that the cradle of American evangelism. Francis, Asbury, all the Wesleys and we were George Whitefield, the famed British evangelists that led Benjamin Franklin to Christ. We were on a very spot where we know the Wesley's preached and very probably there's a historical marker about George Washington speaking to his men there. And we were just, asking God to ignite something all over again.

>> Bert Harper: Sometimes you do feel like you're on holy ground. You know what I mean?

>> Alex McFarland: Amen. Yeah, amen. Paula in Arkansas.

>> Caroline: Yes.

Bert says when the Bible condemns homosexuality, it means all homosexual activity

I wanted to ask. I had a church member ask me that she had seen or heard, and it mentioned that homosexual was bought into the Bible terminology in the 1940s. What word did they use before that?

>> Alex McFarland: Let me say this, and I think I heard the word a little bit where it says in First Corinthians 6, First Corinthians, chapter 6, 9, and following says, do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? And it goes down there. And there is a word that's, translated homosexuals. And it's the Greek word arsenokoite, which means what? It means homosexuality. And I've had some that want to argue for, They'll say, well, you know, it was never understood to mean homosexual activity, up until modern translations. because the King James, it's in all these people. I want to be very clear. It's not saying these people can't be saved, but it says you have to repent and turn from. From it. And it says, do not be deceived. Neither fornicators. Now, that's heterosexual immorality. Nor idolaters, nor adulterers. See, fornication is sex outside of marriage between two unmarried people. Adulterers is relations with someone who's not your spouse. But then the King James says, nor effeminate. Now, but in the Greek, it's the word arsenicoite, which from time immemorial has meant homosexual activity. Now, the pro gay. And by the way, MD Perkins wrote an incredible book called Dangerous Affirmation.

>> Bert Harper: Right.

>> Alex McFarland: You can get it from AFA Publishing. But, let me just say, without belaboring the point too much, Paula, no, when the Bible condemns all homosexual activity, that's what it means. It's not a recent contrivance, is it, Bert?

>> Bert Harper: When you look back and read the book of Romans, you find out it does not use the word that it does in Corinthians, but it explains the relationship between male and male, female and female, and it is condemned. And so you find it again that Paul is consistent on that, and it is homosexuality. And, again, such were some of you is what it says. In other words, God has what delivered you. he didn't come to save us in our sin. He came to save us from our sin, and he delivers us. Thank you. Paula.

>> Alex McFarland: also in North Carolina, Flint. Flint in North Carolina. Welcome to Exploring the Word.

>> Caroline: Thank you.

Robert in Oklahoma asks about biblical references to day of the Lord

I had a question about several, places in the Bible talks about the great day of the Lord or the day of the Lord. Are they the same or is it a time period or. I'm just curious about that.

>> Bert Harper: Okay. Is it talking about a coming day of the Lord?

>> Alex McFarland: When, do you know the word day? because especially. And by the way, be sure to tune in often. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, because you're going to hear about a resource that's going to address this. there is the day of the Lord, as in the return of Christ. There is a day and a time and a moment when the eastern sky is going to split. But there's also the seven year tribulation that in the Old Testament is the time of Jacob's trouble, the day of the Lord, that is the final heptide, which means a period of sevens. So Bert, I think day of the Lord, it generally means the return of Christ, but it's also sometimes used as a reference to the tribulation.

>> Bert Harper: And if it's the day of the Lord, it would be at the end of that tribulation.

>> Alex McFarland: Yes.

>> Bert Harper: it's kind of like the Battle of Armageddon. When you look at that and you read about the battle, it's more than just a little battle in an area. It is more, it's a whole landscape of battles all over that area, but in one location. Got time for one more?

>> Alex McFarland: Quickly, Robert in Oklahoma. quickly, if you, if you could, my friend.

>> Caroline: Now, can you hear me all right?

>> Alex McFarland: Yes, sir.

>> Caroline: Okay. I have some friends I was talking to about some of the recent deaths of some of our founders or theologian or ministry founders, and one of them being, John, MacArthur.

>> Alex McFarland: Yes.

>> Caroline: And I've heard, I've heard him spoken a lot on, on this program, and, and even hear his messages a lot, you know, but. Which I really like. But, but what I'm getting at is the first thing they said to me was, well, he's, he was a, Calvinist, you know, and I googled said he was a pastor, a minister and a Calvinist. And I'm just, you know, I've heard, I've heard your messages of believing, in free will. And I'm just wondering how does, how does his.

>> Bert Harper: Hey, Robert, we're running out of room. We got what you was talking about. Alex, we got a minute left. Go ahead.

>> Alex McFarland: let me say this. there are core beliefs of Christianity, who, God is Jesus, the risen son of God. He paid our debt on the cross. we agree. John MacArthur was a great man of God. He really was. Now, on some of the, I guess you might call it secondary, teachings I didn't agree with. I don't agree with double election. That's the non elect irrevocably with no recourse or bound for hell. I would not. When it says, whosoever will may come. I think whosoever. Let's unpack the petals of the tulip.

>> Bert Harper: We'll have to do that. So we may take our time to do that. We've got a lot of things we need to do on programs. That's one of them. Thank you for listening to Exploring the Word today. Alex, I'm glad you're in the studio. Look forward to the next three days. And here on Exploring the Word, I want to tell you, we want you to pray that God would have his way.

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

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