Transcript

Next hour as we study God's word. Ask your Bible questions

>> Bert Harper: The Bible.

>> Alex McFarland: It's the word of God.

>> 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.

>> Alex McFarland: Next hour as we study God's word.

>> Bert Harper: And take your Bible questions.

The Apostle Paul penned a book that we call second Timothy

Welcome to Exploring the Word.

>> Alex McFarland: Well it was written around the autumn period of maybe 65, 66 AD and it was written from what would be his dad death cell. The Apostle Paul penned a book that we call second Timothy. And today on Exploring the Word we embark on a study of this. It's part of a three book series we call the Pastoral Epistles. Well church history calls it that. but we welcome you to Exploring the word. Alex McFarland here along with Bert Harper. And we are so honored that you're listening. And we'll get into second Timothy today. If you're just now tuning in, it's the right day because you've, you've not missed anything yet. We're starting second Timothy and then of course later on we'll take your calls and Bible questions. So glad you're listening to Exploring the Word. Bert, several weeks back you and I started first and second Timothy and Titus and I love these, because I just find myself over and over reading them. Just personally I, I refer to these books just all the time in, not only in the ministry but just for my own personal encouragement as a believer. Don't you think these are especially encouraging and helpful books?

>> Bert Harper: They are Alex, and it's good to be with you as we go through these. And again two Timothy, so important. All of them are good. But two Timothy holds a special place because you know, everybody wants to know what were they la. What were the, their last words? What was the last thing that person said before he went to be of the Lord? Well you have it in two Timothy with what Paul would have to say now. He lived a little bit past that, but this is the last recorded word that we have, the last book that he wrote. And as you said somewhere 65, some people even say 67 the possibility. But it was during the Nero persecution that you know, it had been legal but now it is illegal. And so Christians are being persecuted. And Peter had written about what was going to happen during this, trying to get the saints ready. And now we find out Paul is in the midst of it being persecuted and he had probably gone from, come from Spain and was a, you know, I would say he was probably. We'll get to this. He was probably arrested quickly and, and Taken away so that he didn't have time to prepare or anything. But we're going to get into this. And, not only Paul writing it, Alex, but let me take one more minute and I'll turn it back to you, who he wrote it to. To Timothy. And I just want to say this. We're not doing the introduction yet, but notice verse two. To Timothy, my beloved son. Okay, Son. Now, he would refer to that. With that in mind, you skip down to verse five, Alex. And again, I'm jumping ahead, but this is worth it. that he was talking about. And he was. Verse 3. I meant verse 3, not verse 5. Notice this. I remember you in my prayers night and day. Now, speaking as a parent, now this was his spiritual son, you as a parent, and you're a, believer and follower of Christ. And you have your children and grandchildren. I want to just tell you, you pray for them all during the day. At night, before you go to bed, you're or asleep, you're praying for them. When you get up in the morning, you're praying for them. So this relationship that we find between Paul and Timothy, is, Is just so personal and so real. And you catch that in two Timothy, you see Paul's heart not only for the gospel, not only for the kingdom, Jesus Christ, but you also see his heart for his spiritual son, Timothy. Alex.

>> Alex McFarland: Amen. Amen.

Paul wrote his last letter with a clear conscience, Bert says

And you know, we're going to come on a phrase that I really love. let me read a little bit. Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life, which is in Christ Jesus. To Timothy, my dearly beloved son, as you mentioned, grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. I thank God whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience. By the way, that's a reference, Bert, to the fact that the faith Paul affirmed, the faith in the Messiah, was really the saving faith that goes all the way back to Abraham. They in faith looked for the Messiah that would come. So this gospel, while the full revelation of Jesus, and the preaching of salvation by God's grace through faith in Christ from Pentecost onward, that constitutes the church age. But this is not anything new. Belief in a Messiah that would redeem us from our sins, that really has been the promise all the way back to Genesis 3:15 in the garden, wasn't it, Bert?

>> Bert Harper: It really is.

>> Alex McFarland: When Paul says, I serve God from my forefathers on, this is nothing invented or contrived or brand new. This is the Promise of the Messiah that would be sent by God from time immemorial, with pure conscience. In other words, no angle, no motive or scheme.

>> Bert Harper: Another word for pure, Alex, is clear. Okay? When something is pure, it's clear. so clear conscience. What, you want to clear your conscience? How did you do that? You do it by confession, repentance, by making things right. So here he is, writing his last letter with a clear conscience. That's. I just had. I know a buddied in on you. I'm sorry, but that. That was significant.

>> Alex McFarland: You know, that is true. And really, that's. That's all of us. Why are we doing this? Why are we on exploring the word why? Why do we call you? To know Christ, get in church, bear fruit, serve Christ for. For two reasons and two reasons only. Gratitude and glory to God. And because people really do need Jesus. That's all this is about. To praise and glorify our loving Savior. And we're doing it because people need the Lord.

>> Bert Harper: Amen.

>> Alex McFarland: and I think Paul would say, that's. That's all the reason we're doing this.

Bert says Timothy and Paul first met on Paul's first missionary journey

Now, I love something in verse five and six.

>> Bert Harper: Before you go any further, do you mind me adding one thing? Okay. Introduction. It's Timothy. Where. Where did they first meet? Now, this has been years since Timothy and Paul came together on his. On his first missionary journey, Paul went through a town called Lystra.

>> Caroline: You.

>> Bert Harper: You find this in chapter 14 of the book of Acts. And you'll find some very difficult things happen there. But there's no doubt that he was probably introduced to Timothy or, Timothy heard him and knew about him on that one. Well, few years later, after he would come through on his second missionary journey in Acts chapter 16, this is where Timothy joins him. And, he. He's. He's ready to be a part of the team. So this is the guy who. Someone that they've been around, traveled together, traveling together, yet to know one another, and, And. And Paul. And Paul would send Timothy here and there to do some things. So this is the guy we're talking about, a deep, deep relationship, aren't we, Alex?

>> Alex McFarland: We really are. And I would encourage people to read Acts 14 through 16, and you'll get some backstory. I just. I was going to say in verse five and six, I love the balance, the parallelism, you might say. Paul says that he remembers something, and then he calls Timothy to remember something, and he says, I caught when I called to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in you. you know, he's joyful. He talks about, you know, with tears, I greatly desire, I want to see you, I pray for you. And he says, I rejoice when I in my own heart I remember that you've got authentic, genuine faith. But he says also, but I'm calling you to remember something. You know, I put the in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God which is in thee by the laying on of hands. So I'm remembering things and it motivates me. You remember things and it'll motivate you. It's just, it's a lovely word structure there, isn't it?

>> Bert Harper: It really is. And again you see these words, mindful, being mindful of your tears. In other words, Timothy had that relationship as well. This is not a one sided relationship. This is a relationship where you had correction. Where you had encouragement, where you had approval and, and the whole relationship that I may be filled with, what joy. Now Alex, let me just be, let me try to put it in a way. There's people that you look forward to seeing and it's all right. But there are some people you really look forward to. And every time you think about seeing them and meeting up with him again, it brings complete joy to your life. And this is being expressed by Paul. Paul's in prison. this is not like his first imprisonment at the end of Acts where he's in under house arrest and people are going and coming. You'll find later on in this book that everybody had rejected him just about it because of the illegal ality of Christianity and they didn't want to be associated with Paul and putting their lives in danger. So he is saying Timothy, although sometimes they had to encourage him to be courageous, sometimes he had to encourage him about his health and his gifts. He says, I can't wait to see you. you'll bring joy to my life even in my circumstances, Alex. I want to be that kind of person in people's lives that, that I bring joy to them. And again that's a desire because of a relationship that is shared in Christ Jesus, isn't it?

>> Alex McFarland: Well, it really is. It really is. Bert. That's a great word. And we want to be one of those people that you know, the joy of the Lord that flows and emanates from us just lifts everybody else up as well. And certainly we've been around those kind of people and we can be that kind of people as well. But you know, stir up the Gift of God, verse 6. In other words, stimulate or, or foster or feed. And that one of the reasons, and I'm gonna get on my soapbox momentarily, one of the reasons that we say be in church. Look wherever you are in America, there are 345,000 churches. Take your pick. But find a good Bible believing church and find out how you can serve because it is in the church that you'll find where your strengths and gifts are and stirring up the gift of God. And there are a lot of gifts. But Bert, it is in the context of the church that we have opportunities to serve and we get guidance and direction. And I just think, I mean you could be a born again Christian and not really get involved in the local body of Christ, but you'll never be everything you could be for Jesus and his great commission unless you're part of a local church. I just believe that, Bert.

>> Bert Harper: Amen. Alex, you see, what did Paul do? Everywhere he went, he planted a church. What's important today in missions planting a church, they, they may start out with a small Bible study somewhere, but if they continue and they grow, guess what happens A that builds into a church. One last thing. Let me say, I think this is it. and it's connected to verse 6. Stir up the gift that is in his grandmother and his mother had something to do with all this. And you've mentioned Lois and Eunice and if you ever wonder how can I keep that in order, which one was the grandmother and which one was the mother, just remember, let, let Lois L E Eunice T Timothy, the next thing I'd love to say and it'll take us out to the end, what Paul is saying here, this should be generational. Sunday was Grandparents Day and I use that as an illustration about leaving a legacy, building a legacy. More important than leaving an inheritance is leaving a legacy. Here in Timothy we see Lois and Eunice in their part teaching those scriptures. What a legacy they left in in a son and a grandson. Timothy. Well, we're going to be back, Alex and we'll continue in this. We're excited about it.

American Family Radio is collecting listener stories about how God has blessed them

We want you to stay tuned because there's more in one Timothy, because of listeners like you, preborn helped to rescue over 67,000 babies. Your $28 to sponsor one ultrasound doubled a baby's chance at life. Your tax deductible gift saves lives. Please join us in this life saving mission. To donate, go to preborn.com afr.

>> Caroline: The.

>> Bert Harper: Lord looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there Are any who understand any who seek God. Psalm 14, verse 2. American Family Radio.

>> Alex McFarland: Been caught up in the worry and anxiety keeps tearing me apart, but I've been down and out, before. And every time I cry out to the Lord, he meets me in my knee. I've seen and I believe.

>> Caroline: God is.

>> Alex McFarland: Good all the time, faithful.

>> Bert Harper: Amen. God is good all the time. He is faithful. He is a faithful friend that sticks closer than a brother. Alex, Right now, this week we're collecting listener stories. that means people that's been blessed by afr. The, I would say any program on afr, we want them to call in and leave a testimony that can be used possibly during Charathon. Needs to be about a minute or two minutes. So if you're listening today and you, you know you've been blessed, we hear it all the time. Alex hears it live. I hear it. this weekend I was, up in Walnut, Mississippi at a Missions conference and had two or three people coming up and saying what AFR meant to them. And you call in. So would you mind calling in and living a sh. Leaving a short testimony about one minute to two minutes about, hey, how AFR has blessed you. And you can do that by calling this number now. Jot it down, pray about it, write it out, and then just call it in. 8778-768893-87787-6893. And it can possibly be used during Shareathon, but it'd be an encouragement. That's the most encouraging thing about Sharathon is hearing how God is using AFR for lives to be changed. So make that call right now. 877-876-8893.

Bert Harper: We had an amazing event in Jacksonville, Arkansas

>> Alex McFarland: Bert speaking about that, I want to give a big shout out to Pastor, Joe Manning and the people in, Jacksonville, Arkansas, which is near Little Rock, Arkansas. And I had the privilege of being there Friday through Sunday and we had just an amazing event at Bethel Baptist Church. And, I got to speak and do Q and A and then I preached on Sunday. And you know, a lot of people came from all over Arkansas and we had just an all day session Saturday. We had some incredible music and I give Pastor Joe Manning and his dear wife and staff and a lot. There were Christian radio stations, there were just. It was fantastic. But I met a young man named Nate and he's probably listening right now. And Bert, he talked about how for a number of years he's listened to you and me and at his job there's a lot of Muslims and atheists. And he said that they're always peppering him with questions, you know, how do you know the Bible is true? How do you know that God is real? And this young man, and I think he's probably in his early to mid-20s, it was. I just was moved. He said how much exploring the Word had helped him. And he came up to me and he gave me a big hug, and he said, you have no idea what you and Bert Harper mean to me. In my walk and my witness, and we prayed together. He recorded an unbelievable testimony. I'm sending it to Jonathan Coker and Brent Creely even as we speak, actually. But, for one thing, I just want to say, to God be the glory, but to everybody. And as I travel, I'm. I'm in a church, like, every weekend somewhere. And, people say so many nice things. And Bert would say this. I say it. We just give God the praise. But if it sounds like that we're excited about God's word is because we are. And, hey, I love. In verse six, Paul says to Timothy, stir up the. The gift of God which is in thee. And that word there means put to use. That's what it means. Now let me say this. I'll throw it back to Bert. Some of you, God's given you a singing voice, and you need to use it. Maybe be in the choir or praise team. Some of you can help. And maybe you've got administration, and, you're just real organized. Well, you can help take the. The role in Sunday school, or you can serve on a committee. Some of you, you. You, don't mind doing the work of prayer. You can spend hours in prayer and intercession, and we need that, well, help lead the prayer team, the outreach team. Some of you, God has blessed you. And I want to say that there are some people that can make more money by accident than the rest of us could on purpose. Well, you're a sender. Some of us are goers. And you can give and you can send and whatever, but, Bert, this really. The words jump off the page at me. Stir up the gift of God which is in thee. And that means we are to put it to use. Am I right?

>> Bert Harper: You are right on connect six and seven. Now, okay. Why would you not use it? Verse seven. For God has not given us a spirit of fear. Don't be afraid to use that gift God has given us, but of power. God has given it to you through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, the power in us. And With a sound mind, he will give you wisdom and reasoning when it comes. And I will call it to remembrance for you and help you. So when you stir up the gift of God that is in you, and then you look at what God has given us in order to accomplish that, Alex, there should be no reason whatsoever for you to pull back and say, no, no, you go forth. God has given it to you. God has empowered you with it. He's given you everything that you need in order to use it for God's glory. And, Alex, when it's used for God's glory, I just want to tell you, it will go forth and it will accomplish what God sent his word to do. As you share God's word.

Alex Ward: Don't be ashamed of your gifts and abilities

Ah, when you bake that cake, there's a lady, and I've talked about her quite a bit. I mean, she didn't feel like she had anything to offer the Lord. She had been saved quite a while. And I just knew of another lady that used her baking skills because she was. She would have to lay down for a while and then get up a while and do some stirring and different. She would make a cake, and it would take a long time because of her, inability. She had always served the Lord by teaching, by sharing, and all of a sudden found herself kind of homebound. But she used that cake. And there was a lady that heard that, and she said, you know what, man? I can bake. And to this day, she is still using that gift. So don't think of anything. say, oh, mechanics. God can use you. You can drive. I know folks that use their. Their driving ability to go and get people who cannot get to their doctor's appointments.

>> Alex McFarland: But.

>> Bert Harper: But they take them. Alex, listen, turn it over to the Lord. Does God give the increase on things like this?

>> Alex McFarland: He does. He does. And, you know, we've all got gifts and abilities. And I know some people that, they are anointed to cook in the kitchen. And I know people that are so organized. And I'm thinking about a church I'm helping out right now. And, there are people in that church that can lead a business meeting. I mean, the finance committee meeting is edifying and uplifting. It is so well run. And listen, folks, whatever your strength and ability is, don't hold back. use your gift for God and his church. Now, I like this in verse 8. Be not thou therefore, ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but be partaker of the affliction of the gospel according to the Power of God. Here's, the thing. Remember Paul in Romans 1:16 said, I'm not ashamed of the Gospel. And Paul, it's interesting, he's asking Timothy to not be ashamed of his chains. See, Paul is incarcerated as he's writing this. do you know, the gospel is going to take you many places, folks. places that are a blessing and refreshing, places that are challenging and will stretch you. Don't be ashamed of the gospel, and don't be reluctant to go where the service of the gospel might lead you.

>> Bert Harper: Alex, guess what? That word ashamed, you know, I'm going to keep up with it, is used three times in this chapter. Now, there are a little. And this is a Bible study. This could be a devotion. It can even be a sermon that Bert Harper. But notice, first of all, he says to Timothy in verse eight, you don't be ashamed, therefore you don't be ashamed. But then he goes ahead in verse two, and Paul says, I am not ashamed of this. but then in verse 16, he talks about a third person, Onesperus, who says, was not ashamed of my chain. Listen, now this goes back. I do believe in verse 8 with me in the sufferings of the Gospel. In other words, the sufferings of the gospel, you're going to be talked about. You're, you're going to be. Your motives will be tried, everything. And they say, oh, he just does it for man. He just does it for this. No, he says, I'm not ashamed, Timothy. I'm not ashamed. you don't be ashamed. And Onesimus certainly wasn't ashamed. And so guess what, Alex, that leaves you and me, we don't need to be ashamed either, do we?

>> Alex McFarland: No, we don't. Hey, you know, I got to say this, folks. I was talking about being in Arkansas. One of the people that came out to hear us preach on Saturday, a dear friend, Lee Ward. Lee Ward is in Stuttgart, Arkansas. He's probably listening right now.

>> Bert Harper: That's the duck capital, hunting capital of the world.

>> Alex McFarland: I have heard that.

>> Bert Harper: Yeah.

>> Alex McFarland: It's also one of the rice production.

>> Bert Harper: Yeah, that's the reason the ducks come there.

>> Alex McFarland: Well, is it really?

>> Bert Harper: Yeah.

>> Alex McFarland: my friend Lee Ward, and I have known some soul winners that witness and lead people to Christ. Lee Ward is the evangelist of Stuttgart, Arkansas, and he has led more people to Christ. And he came, drove, ah, clear across the state to be with us in our conference on Saturday. And I just want to say, you know, talking about not being ashamed of the gospel and going where the gospel leads this man, if you happen to be in that part of Arkansas, you need to get to know Lee Ward. He can teach you how to be a soul winner. And we're all supposed to be. And he's not a minister. He's just, ah, an on fire Christian who's leading people to Christ. And so listen, when we have found Jesus, we're supposed to help others find Jesus and what a joy that is. You know, Bert, it was the gospel and concern about the souls of all my friends that brought me out of my shell. I mean, this was way out of my comfort zone, but I just knew all my buddies needed to get saved.

Paul is talking to Timothy about not being ashamed of the testimony of Jesus

And, anyway, so Paul is talking to Timothy about not being ashamed of the testimony of our Lord. Now, the Bible, if somebody asks you really, do you believe the Bible is God's word? that creation stuff in Genesis 1 and 2. Do you believe in biblical creation? Don't be ashamed to say, yes, I believe it. You believe Jesus is the one and only way? Come on, there's Muslims, Buddhist, Hindus, but you're telling me you think Jesus is the one way to heaven? Don't be ashamed to say, that is correct. That is what the Lord said. So, Bert, there's a lot in verse eight about not being ashamed of the testimony of our Lord.

>> Bert Harper: Amen. And the reason you don't need to be ashamed, there's several reasons. But the real, the reason, especially the evidence, is on the side of creation. It really is. And if you need help with that, go to the art, go to the Creation Museum, you can check in at their website, you can look at others. And the evidence is there. I mean, listen, and the evidence of Jesus Christ being real and what he did, the resurrection, the evidence is there. And so don't be ashamed, not just because of what he's done in your life and you know it. But, but, be ready to give an answer. The faith that is in you. And that faith is real. And Alex, I agree with you, but share with me. Paul is saying, okay, I've gone before you, Timothy, I've. I know what it is to suffer. He's not asking Timothy to do something that he has not plowed ahead before us. And so don't be ashamed of the sufferings for the gospel. According to what? The power of God? Alex, the power of God is not diminished in 2025. It is still the power of God to save those who are lost. That is. You remember that old song? It took a miracle. Took a miracle to put the stars in space. And all that George Beverly Shea wrote, okay, but the greatest miracle of all is when he saved my soul. Listen, Alex, it's still a miracle. And it happens all over the world. People being saved today, even in 2025.

>> Caroline: Amen.

>> Alex McFarland: okay. Verse nine. God who hath saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began. My goodness. second Timothy one, nine. There's a library of theological truth in that one verse. Called us with a holy calling, saved us, in Christ Jesus before the world began, but is now made manifest by the appearing of our Savior, Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. Now, you know what's so cool about verse 10? The word Jesus abolished death.

>> Bert Harper: Amen.

>> Alex McFarland: Now he died on the cross. He rose again. He said in John 6:40, Believe in me and you'll have everlasting life. The word abolished is in the Greek. The word unemployment. Jesus put death out of a job. Amen. M Jesus unemployed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. And so we know it, it's manifested, it's applied parent to us. It's been revealed. And Paul says, where unto I am appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher of the Gentiles. Bert, comment if you would, on verse 11. Okay. A preacher or proclaimer. Okay, we got that. An apostle. He saw the risen Jesus. That's what an apostle is. But this, Hebrew of the Hebrews, one of the most brilliant, thoroughly schooled Jewish people of the ancient world. But yet he was sent to the non Jews. What about that?

>> Bert Harper: It is amazing. Peter, who was, I mean, he, you know, he fought against the Gentiles a little bit. He became more pastor in Jerusalem, one of the pastors geared to that. He had to be broken out of the Jewish culture and the Jewish mindset. Paul, on the other hand, as you said, who he was, and yet God used him to go to the gentile world. One more thing before we quit off on verse 11. This is God's own purpose. You have been set aside. What was those words? Saved. Called to do. God's purpose. That's you and that's me. Let's do what God's called us to do. We're going to take phone calls. That number 888 589. 8 8.

>> Alex McFarland: 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.

>> Bert Harper: Minute documentary that hits the doubt head on with evidence that proves God is real and his word is the ultimate authority.

>> Alex McFarland: Watch it anytime and invite others to watch with you.

>> Bert Harper: Just visit stream.afa.net that's stream.aca.net.

When the thief takes, you build us back

>> Alex McFarland: When the thief takes. When our hopes cave. You build us back. You build us back. When the earth shakes. When the world breaks. You build us back. You build us back.

Alex McFarland and Bert Harper take your Bible questions

Welcome back to Exploring the word. Alex McFarland and Bert Harper here we're going to take calls. Hey, the number is 888-589-8840. That's triple 858-9840. We would love to hear your Bible question. We'll do our best to give you a good biblical answer. And while some of those calls come in, let me, remind people that, we've got this, upcoming Sunday, actually September 14th in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. We're almost to the end of our summer speaker series, Conversations that Matter. And this weekend we've got Lauren Green from Fox News. She's a best selling author. You've seen her no doubt countless times delivering the news on Fox. And we're talking about the state of the local church. And we've got Mark Walker from the Trump White House in person. He's the international ambassador for religious freedom. We've got a number of great leaders and if you want to, you know, I call it help for the plateaued or declining church, you're going to get inspired, you're going to get equipped and it's free, it's just free. So, September 14th, Myrtle beach, and complete information is at my website, Alex mcfarland.com and Bert, let me just say this as we go to questions, Again, the number 888-589-8840. Please pray for my home state of North Carolina. Bert, I don't know if you saw it in Charlotte. There was a terrible stabbing on the train. There's a shuttle that goes in and out of downtown and there was a Ukrainian girl just minding her own business. And the video showed that this felon that was out on the streets, a convicted felon, but he was set loose by a judge. He just starts stabbing. And sadly, this Ukrainian girl supposedly had come here for a better life and was just executed, if you will, totally needlessly. And, it's made national news. But a lot of people in North Carolina are very, very distraught. And, I just pray that the. The Holy Spirit of peace and order would fall on our nation.

>> Bert Harper: Bert, let's do that. Father, I can't imagine the family and the hurt that they're experiencing after making the. The trip from Ukraine to America, where she. Freedom and protection. But, Father, again, taken away from her. I pray you would be with the people of North Carolina, the city of Charlotte, these cities, so many of them, Father, it's just been a gathering place for difficulty in many times. I think that's one reason in Acts 1:8, when it starts sharing the Gospel, it starts with the city, Jerusalem, and then you go out and, Father, so many churches have deserted the cities that are downtown because it is so hard, and they've gone to the. To the outskirts where it's safer. So, Father, I pray that you would help churches to see the mission that is available to them, even difficult and hard to share the good news of Christ right there in the midst of the difficulty and the heartache, but be with his family, Father. Be with the people of North Carolina. Help our nation, God, in Jesus name. Amen.

>> Alex McFarland: Amen. Amen.

Matt in Missouri thanks God for prayers for his wayward daughter

Well, we're going to start our calls in Missouri. Matt in Missouri, thanks for holding. And you are the first caller on today's edition of Exploring the Word.

>> Caroline: Hello, my brothers. I wanted to start, Monday off with a praise for you.

>> Alex McFarland: Okay.

>> Caroline: I call. I called in about a month ago and asked for prayers for my sweet daughter who had slipped away in the LGBTQ community, and I hadn't heard from her in about a year.

>> Alex McFarland: Okay.

>> Caroline: she texted. She texted me yesterday and said, dad, I've been in church for the last three weeks. I'm in church today. I want to talk to you.

>> Alex McFarland: Amen.

>> Bert Harper: Hallelujah.

>> Caroline: He called me last. Last evening, and I got to hear my baby girl's voice and, told her about the prodigal son. And I said, even though you're away at college, I'm throwing my robe on you right now, and it's done and it's over, and you're here now.

>> Bert Harper: Amen.

>> Caroline: She let me pray with her glory.

>> Bert Harper: Matt, we're rejoicing. There's praise going up all over America and even the world thanking God for that. I could not help but think about fresh wind, fresh power. SEM. Jim Sembla talking about the church praying for his wayward daughter. On a Tuesday night, they bombarded heaven. The next morning, that daughter showed up at the house of the pastor Jim Sembla. And his wife. And she asked the question, who prayed for me last night? I want to just tell you, power in prayer. Let's not forget it. Matt. Thank you for that. And we're rejoicing, and we want to ask you that you. That his daughter would continue coming and growing in the Lord Jesus Christ. We're praying for that, Matt.

>> Alex McFarland: Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.

Robert in Ohio has a question about heaven and hell. How do you respond to that

Stephen in Texas, welcome to Exploring the Word.

>> Caroline: Hey, guys, how are you doing?

>> Bert Harper: Good, brother. Go right ahead, Stephen.

>> Caroline: Hey, my question is I haven't read Revelation in a couple years, and I read it, I read it last week, and it kind of stumped me because it's a debate that I've had with several people, and luckily they didn't point that out. My question is, I think it's in Revelation 17. It talks about those who weren't written in the Book of Life before the beginning. And so I've had different conversations with people that will debate with me or try to talk to me about, well, it's already known where you're going to heaven or hell. I'm like, no, no, that's why Jesus died. This is the purpose of Jesus and believe in him. How do you respond to that? And my second part, if I can, Alex and Burke, is later on in Revelation, it talks about the wall, you know, heaven coming down 1400 plus feet square, including height, with the wall that's 200 plus feet thick. And everybody that's not in the Book of Life hasn't gone to heaven is outside the wall. I'm like, man, I never have grasped that when I read Revelation, but I get where these people have this concept that, well, you don't ever go to hell. You just, you just stay here on Earth. How would you respond to somebody that throws that up at you? that hell isn't just outside the wall.

>> Bert Harper: Okay, Stephen, Thank Alex. Go ahead, brother. We got callers. We'll get to as many as we can today. Go ahead for Stephen.

>> Alex McFarland: Yeah, Revelation 17:8 speaks about those not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world. let me say, at the very least, the Book of Life has existed from before the world began, because Jesus was the Lamb designated to be slain for our sins before the world began. Now, it doesn't necessarily say that the Book of Life was populated, although I do want to say this. God, by being omniscient, God knows everything. There's nothing to be known that God couldn't know. He knows everything. And, yes, and this, this is a mystery that I don't know our human minds can fully comprehend. Throughout the Bible, we get the providence of God, but we also get the responsibility of man. how those two, interface, I don't completely know.

>> Bert Harper: But they do. But they do.

>> Alex McFarland: They do.

>> Bert Harper: Yes.

>> Alex McFarland: God is sovereign. God knows all. And, and yet we are accountable to respond to the truth that we've been given. So, many, many, many will receive Jesus. Many will reject Jesus, sadly. And when the new heaven and the new earth are ushered in eternity proper, there are those outside the city that not because God forced them to go to hell, but they rejected the truth they'd been given and they would not receive salvation. Hey, heaven is predicated on you accepting Christ. Hell happens, though, predicated on those that have rejected Christ.

>> Bert Harper: And there is that place of torment. It really is. Thank you, Stephen.

>> Alex McFarland: Ohio. Robert in Ohio. Robert, thank you for holding and welcome to Exploring the Word.

>> Caroline: How you brothers doing?

>> Alex McFarland: We're blessed to hear from m. You.

>> Caroline: Yes, sir.

>> Alex McFarland: I just want to know if.

>> Caroline: You could share with me, what.

>> Alex McFarland: Is the meaning of, Jude 20. But ye beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost. What do you say, Bert?

>> Bert Harper: Okay. You build yourself up. You work out your own salvation. That doesn't mean you work for your salvation, but after you receive it, you. You, you work at it. It's like having a garden. You got to weed it, you got to tend it. And so, beloved, building yourself up. we're on a foundation. Edification. That's the whole idea. The Holy Spirit is a ministry of edification. And we build ourselves up. David would even say he encouraged himself in the Lord. And so that's the reason the Bible says meditate on these things. I, Philippians 4:8. So we build ourselves up in this holy faith. It is a holy faith. Praying in the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is our. He is that person that takes our prayers up when we don't even know what to utter. And we pray in the spirit of the, the Holy Holy Spirit. He is there indwelling us, but he's also taking that which we don't even know how to utter. He knows our needs. And, and Alex, it seems like if I read that right, he can take our needs to the Father, even sometimes when we don't even know what we stand in need of.

>> Alex McFarland: Bert, I looked this up and Robert, this might be an encouragement to you. in the original language, the word in. In the English in. Well, in Greek, it's en. En. Right. Okay. Praying in the Holy Ghost or I look this up and among other things, it says, you know, praying, about after.

Alex says praying in the Holy Spirit means being obedient to the Lord

but it says to give oneself wholly to W H O L L Y. In other words, praying wholly yielded to the Holy Spirit. Bert, I've been on my knees in prayer before, and I felt like God said, alex, you need to go apologize for something you said.

>> Bert Harper: Amen.

>> Alex McFarland: I have been praying on my knees and I felt like the Lord said, alex, you need to manage, your time better. Whatever. I think praying in the Holy Ghost means that you're willing to, respond and obey no matter what the Lord tells you.

>> Caroline: Amen.

>> Bert Harper: Alex, I'll give this real quick. It won't take but a moment. I was at a church here in Mississippi where I was pastoring and a home burned in the community. It was one of those cold winter nights when, if you came to, quote, Wednesday night service, you really meant business. And there wasn't a lot of us there. But we were praying for that family. But I heard a noise taking place while we said, we're going to pray for that, that family. And I noticed a man walking out. Mr. Coates. His last name was Coats. And, he had not heard that. But anyway, we went on ahead and prayed for more, did a little Bible study. But at the end he comes back in and, Mr. Coates held up his hand. He said, we really need to pray for that family. He says, I am. I felt impressed of the Holy Spirit to go. I knew where they were. He took them some money and prayed with them while we were at church praying. He took those prayers on his feet and went to help them and pray for them. I want to just tell you, I think he was praying in the Holy Spirit, being moved by the Holy Spirit to be obedient. Alex, he, taught me a lot. I'll put it that way.

>> Alex McFarland: Amen. Amen. I want to get a couple of more calls. There's a story similar to that that I want to tell, but not now, but, Diana in Texas. Diana, thank you for holding.

Alex asks why God would kill all the people with the flood

Welcome to the American Family Radio Network and exploring the Word.

>> Caroline: Hi, how are you?

>> Alex McFarland: Good. Thank you for calling.

>> Caroline: Hear me.

>> Alex McFarland: Yes.

>> Caroline: Okay. I've been reading in Genesis and, I just want to know why they would. Why God would kill all the people with the flood just for them to come back the same way as they were before.

>> Bert Harper: Go ahead, Alex.

>> Alex McFarland: Genesis 6, verse 5. And God saw the wickedness of man was great on the earth, that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. the Flood was a judgment. And in a way, the global flood is somewhat pictorial of the global flood of judgment that'll come, not flood of water, but during the tribulation, there's going to be a global judgment on a prodigal planet. Bert, for one thing, you know, Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. Eight souls were saved. The human race was restored through Noah's sons, Shem, Ham and Japheth. And Christ came. But, the caller, she says, when it just goes back to sin all over again, that shows how much we need a redeemer, doesn't it?

>> Bert Harper: It really does. And I love that passage. I turned to it. Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. When Jesus was here and he was on earth, he was looking for faith. You remember, he said to the centurion, I have not found, so great a faith, not even in Israel. He's looking for it. He looked for faith in Nazareth. Not finding any, he left. You know, and so that's the whole idea. Even in a wicked, dark world, faith and grace. And Noah, he and his family. Praise God for them, Alex.

>> Alex McFarland: Amen. Amen. The flood of Noah is, something really important to know about and study and believe.

John: What is the password to get to heaven? Alex: Jesus

We're going to go to Ohio, John, in Ohio, if you don't mind somewhat quickly there, sir, because we want to get your question in.

>> Caroline: Thank you. Guys, this is John. I, am, a soul winner. My. I have a question that I've been trying to figure if there's a scripture specifically or what your thought is, what is the password to get to heaven?

>> Bert Harper: Okay, word past word, let me set this up. Alex, you take it away. God looks on the heart, John, so he looks deeper than our words. Take it away, Alex.

>> Alex McFarland: Well, I think it's a proper name. And, I mean, if there were a password to get to heaven, it would be Jesus.

>> Bert Harper: Amen.

>> Alex McFarland: It would be Jesus. but here's the thing. D. James Kennedy, he said this, this question. If. If God asked you, why should I let you into my heaven? What would you say? And every now and then, people will say, oh, I've tried to be a good person, or, I'm not such a bad guy. That's not it. That Jesus, the son of God, paid my sin debt on the cross, and I put my faith in Christ, and I'm saved because of the blood of Jesus that washed me clean. I have, nothing in my hand. I bring simply to his cross. I cling, as the old song said. But, folks, we hope you've believed in Jesus if not, you can do it today. You can call out to Christ right this minute and he will hear you. He will save you.

>> Bert Harper: Amen. And it's the greatest pathway direction you can go in your life. Thank you for listening to Exploring the Word. We're in the book of 2 Timothy. If you want to read ahead, go ahead. It's just four chapters. It won't take you long, and we'll be ready to resume class tomorrow here on Exploring the Word.

>> Alex McFarland: The views and opinions expressed in this.

>> Bert Harper: Broadcast may not necessarily reflect those of the American Family association or American Family Radio.