Transcript

Fire Away Friday is your chance to ask us your Bible question

>> Alex McFarland: It's Fireaway Friday on Exploring the Word. This is your chance to ask us your Bible question at 888-589-8840. That's 888-589-8840.

>> Bert Harper: You can also email your [email protected] or

>> Alex McFarland: visit facebook.com exploring the word.

>> Bert Harper: Exploring the Word. It's Fire Away Friday on American Family Radio.

>> Alex McFarland: P.S. verse 24 says, this is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it indeed. Now, Today is the 72nd day of the year 2026, and it's March 13th, and it's a Friday. Now, what that means is Fire Away Friday. And all our Bert Harper and I will do our best to answer the phones and give a good answer to any and every Bible question. So therefore, we want you to call in with a Bible question, and you may do that at 888-589-8840. Triple 888-589-8840. And we would love for you to be a part of this edition of Fireway Friday. Bert, can you believe that, in the year of our Lord 2026, we're already at the 72nd day?

>> Bert Harper: I tell you, I was not even thinking about that. But that leaves me with this question. How many days are left?

>> Alex McFarland: Huh? Okay, let me do the math in my head. 200, and I suppose 90 something.

>> Bert Harper: 93. That's exactly right. Yeah. When you said that, I said, okay, the first thing that came to my mind, well, how many days before Christmas? But anyway, then I said, well, I'll shorten it to the year. But anyway, it's good to be with you, Alex. And it is Fire Away Friday. And we love Fire Away Friday. You and I look forward to it. Brent does, and Marty and Richard, they even look forward to it. And, that means we get to hear from people all over the United States, all over our listening audience. And so we say thank you for listening and those that are taking time to ask those questions. We really do appreciate it. It would be a dull show on Fire Away Friday if nobody called Alex.

>> Alex McFarland: Well, that's true. And, you know, earlier this week, we were talking about how impressive the questions are. And, you know, for all these years, we've had lots of great listeners, lots of great questions. Somebody asked about what does it actually mean to give glory to God? And we did a little bit of a deep dive on what the word glory means and other questions. And so we look forward to hearing from you.

American Family Radio Network asks for listener testimonies about its programming

One other thing that we would ask of you Dear listeners, is that if you have a testimony about, this show, if this show has meant something to you, listener, testimonies or any of the great programming, my goodness, I think about today's issues and real, truth with Jeff Schrieve and the Hamilton Corner and Jenna, Ellis in the morning and Dr. Nurse Mama, and, there's so many great programs. The listener testimonies just a short minute long to say what God has done in your life through the programming of the American Family Radio Network. Bert, what is that number? If people would be so kind to call in and share what it means to them.

>> Bert Harper: This number that you're talking about on your listener testimonies is 8778-7688-9387-7876-8893. And again, one minute, two minutes. And you may get to hear that during Sharathon, and also sometimes we use it at different times throughout the year, but especially at Sharathon. And we would love to hear from you. So make that call. If God has done a good work in your life and helped you, we get letters and we get emails about it. it would be great to get phone calls about it as well with Alex.

Are you ready to get to the phone lines today? Let's do it

With that in mind, people have called in. Are you ready to get to the phone lines today?

>> Alex McFarland: Let's do it. Where shall we begin?

>> Bert Harper: Let's go to Michigan and talk to Jacob. Jacob, thank you for calling on this Fireway Friday. Go right ahead.

>> Caroline: Hey, good afternoon, gentlemen. I appreciate you, taking my call.

Pastor Jim Scudder says salvation is based on belief alone

My question is about salvation. so I had recently heard, pastor by the name of Jim Scudder said that, salvation is purely by, belief. at least from what I interpreted believing in Jesus alone. you know, believing Jesus is, you know, the son of the Father and came to save us. Now, my question is really, how does. I just want to understand how this ties in with a few verses. One of them is Matthew 19, where Jesus tells the rich man to sell everything. And then the, one of the other ones is James 2, where, James 2 19, where James says, show me your faith without deeds. I'll show you my faith by deeds. But he, he says that even the demons believe that there is one God. and then finally Galatians 5, 1921, which, in that Paul says, those who live, you know, with the, fruits of the flesh will not inherit the kingdom of heaven. So can you just explain the differences between all of you? Know that what a genuine faith looks like.

>> Bert Harper: Thank you. Thank you, Jacob. Let me do one or two things. The word believe is so, I think, sometimes misunderstood, Alex. First of all, the Greek word is from faith. It would be faithin. I know you could use the word trust, but the real word would be faithin in Christ. Let me read a scripture and I'm just gonna, throw it over to you. I think this does explain it, Jacob. It's the scripture we went over y in Ephesians 2, 8, 9, 10. For by grace you have been saved through faith. That's how salvation is. And that not of yourselves, it is a gift of God. Not of anything else. Not of works, not of baptism, but faith, not of works, lest anyone should boast. Now listen to verse 10. Cause after this salvation, this is where, it gets into the book of James. And I think also in that passage in Matthew. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Alex, in all the scriptures that we see, 8, 9 and 10 really talks about salvation and follow up. I, I, it does a good job with that, I think. In Ephesians 2, 8, 9 and 10. What about you?

>> Alex McFarland: Yeah, great, question. And for many centuries, Christians have talked about what is the role of works in the Christian life? clearly, I mean, if we look at all of the passages, salvation is by the work that Jesus did. We can't earn our salvation and nothing we do contributes to the redemption of a lost soul. But, I think what we understand is that, if a person is truly born again, good works will follow. the good works, they're not, the word meritorious. M. You know, it's not that we, you know, Jesus plus our efforts or some advantageous meritorious deed that we do. Now, the James 2:19, what's interesting is where it says the devils believe yet tremble. And we've talked about this verse many times. You know, Satan has a really good doctrinal statement. I mean, if you could ask the devil, are you aware that Jesus is the risen son of God? Even the devil could say, yes, I'm aware of that. He was born of a virgin. Jesus had no sin. He's coming again. Even Satan and his demons could say, yes, we are keenly aware of those things, but obviously he's not saved. What's the difference between. Bert, you mentioned the word, faith. You know, faith is a noun. We're going to make it a verb. Abraham, faith, God. and it was accounted to him, righteousness, we, you, you admit you're a sinner. You Put your faith in Jesus. We, we have faith. Jesus. So, when a person is truly born again, good works follow. But as I understand the totality of the Scriptures, it's not the good works that purchased our salvation, but Christ's finished work on Calvary, in whom and in which we trust.

>> Bert Harper: And let me add one thing and then we'll go to the next caller. God knows the heart of each person. And again, believe in your heart and confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus. Listen what that does. Believing in the heart starts and then it continues. It continues with confession. It continues with being his workmanship. So if nothing follows, Sal, if nothing follows that event that, you know, quote, where you receive Christ, there, is something shortchange because it comes with knowing Christ, knowing him, following him. And so make sure, all of you who are listening, that we have come to the place in our life where we placed our faith. Faith. We have trusted him. We faith in him. And, we're now following him, continuing and we pray. That would be our story.

Kimberly in Virginia has a question about ancient Israelites

Let's go to Virginia and Kimberly in Virginia has made this call. Thank you, Kimberly. Go right ahead.

>> Caroline: Good afternoon. It's good to speak with you.

>> Bert Harper: Yes, you as well.

>> Caroline: I have a question. I'm, I'm doing a two year Bible plan with, ah, FRC Tony Perkins.

>> Bert Harper: Oh, yes.

>> Caroline: And this morning I was reading in number seven, where the tribes brought offerings for the dedication of the tabernacle. And one of them was a grain offering of flour mixed with olive oil. And my question is, I pondered this, if they were wandering around in the desert and not settled yet, where did they get the flour and the oil? Because they were still eating on the manna diet at this time.

>> Bert Harper: Okay, Alex, did they bring it with them? Had it run out? What do you. Have you heard that question?

>> Alex McFarland: You know, I don't know that we've ever had that question before, but, you know, it's got to be part of this. The spoils they brought from Egypt, because, you know, there, there is a verse that talks about, stores s T O R e s meaning objects they had, that came from Egypt. The other thing is, they might. Bert, do you think maybe in, battles with the people of the land, the Canaanites, and whomever it could have been, spoils or plunders from battles they might have encountered.

>> Bert Harper: That is true. And again, all 12 of the tribes are mentioned in numbers, chapter seven. I have them, marked in my Bible. I just found that interesting as well, Kimberly, how each one had Their individual responsibilities and what they gave and how God used that. And again, Issachar, they brought, their fine flour with oil as a grain offering. And, to me, it has to be one of those answers, Kimberly, that Alex gave.

>> Alex McFarland: Well, and let me just say this too, Bert, in the Book of Numbers, which, we haven't. Do you know when. When's the last time we taught through the Book of Numbers, Bert?

>> Bert Harper: Let me see. I'm going to look here. I may have it marked in my Bible Numbers.

>> Alex McFarland: While he looks that up, Let me say this. In Numbers 11, Verse 8, it says the people ground daily the manna, to bake into cakes. So apparently, you know, the manna was almost like a grain substitute, you know, because they ground it and baked cakes and, the word flour. I need to look it up to see if it might have been a type of the manna. But here's the other thing numbers, 285 talks about they had the grain offering. And I believe they took a lot with them because the Israelites had this commitment to worship even though they were going on their wilderness journey. And so, when they left Egypt, they had plenty with them for the offerings and the rituals, didn't they, Bert?

>> Bert Harper: They did. It's just like in the ark, God had told them to get what they needed and, they brought it with them. I think that would be true with them as well there as they were going through the wilderness. Well, we're going to be back with more of Fire Away Friday, so get ready for your questions and hopefully the answers that we will share.

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>> Alex McFarland: Therefore, preparing your minds for action and being sober minded, set your hope fully

>> Bert Harper: on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. First Peter 1:13American Family Radio.

>> Alex McFarland: You weren't there the night it found me.

>> Caroline: You did not feel what I felt

>> Alex McFarland: when he wrapped his love all around me.

>> Caroline: And you don't know the cost of

>> Alex McFarland: the oil in my alabaster.

Exploring the Word comes from Arkansas on Friday

>> Bert Harper: Welcome back to Exploring the Word. It is far away Friday and we're going to go straight to the phone lines because we want to get your call in those of you that have called and those that will call. So we're going to Arkansas and talk to Lois. Lois, thank you for calling. Go right ahead.

>> Caroline: Thank you so much. to give a quick testimony. I try to listen every day and I have grown so much in my faith and especially with my prayer life. Thanks to both of you. I appreciate you both so much.

>> Bert Harper: Praise the Lord. Hey, Lois. Amen. Keep. Keep on going. One of the most important words in the, in the Bible, in the Christian's life is continue in the faith. So continue growing. Thank you. Go right ahead.

Lois: I just had a question about, um, the sovereignty of God

>> Caroline: M. I just had a question about, the sovereignty of God. Of course I believe it. And the Holy Spirit is working in me and I know feel, his presence and how he's working. I don't know if I can say it the right way, but I believe when I pray that God knows and will answer. I guess my question is if God is sovereign and he knows what needs to happen and he has his plan. I know that when we pray it brings us closer to God and grows our relationship. But I guess what I'm trying to ask is do we ever have the ability to change God's mind or how does he view our prayer? Does that make sense?

>> Bert Harper: Yes, it does, Lois. You did good. Let me see. Was there a king that. Let me see. He was going to die and he entreated God and God gave him, what, 15 more years? Alex, is that,

>> Alex McFarland: Was that Nebuchadnezzar?

>> Bert Harper: No, I think. Was it Hezekiah?

>> Alex McFarland: Was it Hezekiah?

>> Bert Harper: Yeah, it was Hezekiah. Did God change his mind or how. You know, I don't feel like we're pawns on a chessboard where God just moves us around the way he wants it. He combines and. Let me give this and I'll throw it to you. He combines what we do with his sovereign will to make it, make it for his glory. Alex, I believe that with all my heart. I don't know exactly how it works, but I do believe the Bible shows that. Go ahead.

>> Alex McFarland: You know, I think the word might be conditional. There are plenty of things about what God does in his interaction with the world that are unconditional. But, you know, I think about Jonah 3:10. God spared Nineveh after they repented of their evil ways. You know, Exodus 32:14. God was going to bring disaster on the Israelites, and Moses interceded for them. So. Yeah, well, I'll give you another one. second chronicles 7:14. If my people who are called by my name will turn from their sin and repent of their ways, then I will hear from heaven, bless them, and forgive their sin. So it's conditional on how we respond. If, we seek God and do right, there is blessing that follows. If we don't, there are repercussions. Now, some things, you know, the tide of history, the coming of Christ, the return one day, the eventual return of Christ, all of those things are in God's sovereign plan. And I don't think we can do anything to change any of that. But regarding our journey of getting saved and growing in the Lord, so much of the. The blessings of life are conditional on our response to God's overtures.

>> Bert Harper: Don't, you think, Bert, I agree with you fully. It's, you know, my sense of humor's off and weird, and I apologize. Apologize for I tell this, but there was a man that was so intrigued with God determining what's going to happen no matter what it is, and he stumped his toe, and he said, oh, I'm glad I got that over with. You know, Alex, that's pretty funny. Well, God, I just want to make this statement. I've made it before, and I've talked to, guys that are contractors and building houses, and I've asked them what's easier, building a new house or redoing an old house. And every one of them has said, man, redoing an old house is more difficult. And so God is able to. To carry out his will in our lives, even though we may have messed up with choices that we've made. Alex, that demonstrates God's power to me as I look at it and what I know and observe. So, Lois, thank you for that. Good question. We hope that helps. We really do.

Joanne calls from New York; we did lose her

Let's go to NewSong York and talk to Joanne? Joanne, thank you for calling. Hello? Yes, go right ahead. Joanne, what part of NewSong York are you in? Joanne, are you there? Joanne? Hello? Man, I don't. Well, we did lose her. we don't get a lot of calls from NewSong York, so I was anxious to hear that. But Joanne, if you're listening, please call back. will put you through and put you on. Let's go to Virginia and talk to Rob. Rob, thank you for calling.

>> Caroline: Hey, how you doing?

>> Bert Harper: Doing well. Go right ahead, man.

Alex: I believe that if a person is born again, they won't lose salvation

>> Caroline: so I've got a two parter question. One, is it possible to live, you lose your salvation? Follow up to that would be, if you've fallen or backslidden, is it possible that you quench the interaction of the Holy Spirit, that he may refuse to speak to you even no matter how much you reach out to him and beg him to talk to you like you once knew him?

>> Bert Harper: Okay, good question. Yeah, Alex, go ahead on this one first. We'll take time about going first.

>> Alex McFarland: regarding eternal security, I really believe that if a person is born again, they can't and won't lose their salvation. Now, if they apostatize and they turn away from God, and I don't mean just the momentary missteps and lapses that we all have, even godly, godly people can slip up in sin. You know, Paul writes about this in Romans 7, that even though we get saved, that old flesh doesn't give up without a fight sometimes. And, there are momentary lapses of sin. We all do things that we know we shouldn't, and that's sin. But I'm not talking about that. But Bert, if somebody absolutely repudiates the faith that they once affirmed, I don't think they ever really were born again in the first place, really. But, I'll say this and Bert, feel free to disagree. I mean, there are so many scriptures I think about John 10:28, I give to them eternal life and they will never perish, and nothing can pluck you out of my hand, said Jesus. But then there's Hebrews 6 that, you know, those who have tasted the heavenly gift and walked away, it's impossible to restore them to repentance. I say this. The Bible is clear enough to give us reassurance, but vague enough to keep us on our toes. But deep. Bert, I really, I do think that salvation is secure. And the eternal security, the believer, we call it, I believe it.

>> Bert Harper: You know, let me make two real quick statements. They turn that into once saved, always saved. I think there's a better statement using that short frame. If you're saved, you're always saved. Make sure you're born again. And the other thing is, Alex, and just respond quickly in this question. If you could lose your salvation. If a person like some people believe that they were saved, they denounced it, they went away, and they, quote, lost their salvation. And then those of us that believe our salvation is secure, we would say of that first person, he was never, or, she was never saved in the first place. The results are the same, aren't they?

>> Alex McFarland: Yeah, yeah, very good, very good observation. The results are the same. but, the book on this, I've mentioned it many times. Charles Stanley, the late, great Charles Stanley, wrote a book, Eternal Security. Can you be sure? It's not a large book, fairly brief, but I think it's a great. And he goes through all of the relevant passages. But, bottom line, yeah, we do, we believe in the eternal security of the, the truly born again person.

>> Bert Harper: Amen. Thank you, Rob.

Joanne: I always supported Israel, but I've heard questionable things recently

Let's go to NewSong York again. Joanne, are you there?

>> Caroline: I'm here now.

>> Bert Harper: Okay, well, I just got to ask, what part of NewSong York are you in, Joanne?

>> Caroline: Western NewSong York.

>> Bert Harper: Okay, well, thank you for calling. Go right ahead.

>> Caroline: Yes, my question has to do with Israel, and I always was. I always thought of myself as a Zionist, but sometimes I kind of wonder how much, Israel is playing a big part in the end times and how much we should be supporting them. I have conflicting views on Netanyahu and what's going on with the war. And it probably isn't going to be

>> Caroline: just a little war.

>> Caroline: It's going to be more of a. It seems to be expanding and I don't know, I just always supported Israel, but I've, heard some questionable things that have gone on. I know we're all falling short, but I still, I love, I love Israel. I love Netanyahu and my Huck Huckabee too. But I don't know, it just seems to be a, big mess over there right now.

>> Bert Harper: Okay, it has been a mess. The mess has been around for ages.

>> Caroline: Joanne.

>> Bert Harper: I'm not. It just think about it. Since 1940, even before that, it seems going in cycles. And right now, yeah, it does seem like that. Alex, go ahead and, respond to Joanne.

>> Alex McFarland: well, God bless you. I too, am a big supporter of Israel. and I think, yes, we should support the nation of Israel because Genesis 12:3, God told Abraham, and this goes to the line of Abraham, which certainly the Jewish people are. I Will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you. And the wording literally, you know, I will bless those who bless you and whoever curses you, I will curse. that's the wording of Genesis 12:3. Now the word Zionist comes really from the 1800s. Those that were, even back then, they wanted to re establish the nation of Israel. They were called Zionist. And it wasn't a bad word or a slur like it is nowadays as some use it, but it meant that those that were Zionist affirmed for Israel to repossess the land that's been theirs through all of human history. I mean really now, Bert, we as Americans, certainly as a Christian, we believe in Israel. We pray for the peace of Jerusalem and for them to be saved. But even all Americans, we should support Israel's right to exist.

>> Bert Harper: Exactly.

>> Alex McFarland: The right to the property that is theirs. And by that I mean that land. And Israel has the right to self defense. You know, you look at all the skirmishes and the battles and the wars over the last, you know, 77 years, they are not the aggressor, Bert. They, you know, Israel is not the aggressor. They're engaged in self defense which any sovereign nation should have the right to do.

>> Bert Harper: Amen. And let me say this, this, it's not just Israel. I mean Iran, their leadership was. How many Americans have been killed? it's been going on for 47 years, as much as they could. And so this battle is not just on Israel. And so yes, support them especially their right to exist. That doesn't mean we support every detail that they do in their lifestyles, but we do and they are a friend, there in the Middle east for us than it has been. We hope that helps. Joanne, we're, we're praying and we're praying God to get the glory, but at the same time we're praying for Iran, especially the believers that's in Iran the last 15 years. The, the greatest place for evangelism and just about all the mission agencies and people that keep an eye on this, the greatest place where, where salvation has been occurring with individuals is in Iran. So we're, so we're praying that God would use this even in their lives. And so join us not just praying for Israel, but here. We're praying for our fellow believers that are in Israel and Iran. And God can, and I'm praying he would, it would be reconciled to that point for a while. It's all going to turn one day. But right now we can have some peace and hopefully evangelism and missions there. Alex?

>> Alex McFarland: indeed. let me say this. There is a born again Muslim speaker and I'm not even going to give his name because I don't want to compromise, ah, this, although we very likely are going to bring this particular person to one of our speaker events this, this fall. But there is on really good authority, ah, like a thousand people a month getting saved in Iran. And that's probably a very conservative number. Bert, I was on a call earlier today and the person on the call is absolutely in, in the know and we rejoice in this and let's pray for more and more people over in Iran are leaving Islam and, and putting their faith in Jesus Christ. This is so exciting. Yeah, I'm sorry for all the battle and the danger over there, but, isn't it something even where Satan tries to have things stirred up, God is still at work and souls are still being saved.

>> Bert Harper: This is what we were talking about earlier, the sovereignty of God. God is able to take this mess and it is, you know, and God is able to do something with it that will bring, good and glory. And that's what we're praying about. Matter of fact, we don't have but a minute before we go to the break. Let's pray for this. Alex, would you mind leading us in prayer for Israel and the believers there in Iran?

>> Alex McFarland: Let's pray. Father God, even as we bow right now. There's been, two attacks on synagogues in America this week. And Father, in the name of Jesus, by the power of your holy Spirit, we pray for an end to antisemitism and Lord Jesus, the animosity so many hold. So protect the Jews, may they come to Christ. Give peace to Israel and Jerusalem and Lord, we rejoice. Please save the Islamic world. Bring the Muslims to true salvation, which is through Jesus, in whose name we pray. Amen.

>> Bert Harper: The AFR app is a powerful tool, but it does have limitations.

>> Alex McFarland: You can't use it to change the oil in your vehicle or get rid

>> Bert Harper: of carpets and stains.

>> Alex McFarland: It won't walk the dog, won't pick

>> Bert Harper: up the dry cleaning or take the kids to practice. But while you're doing those things, you can listen to your favorite AFR content through the app on your phone, smart device or Roku. Just go to your app store or visit afr.net listen to AFR wherever you go with the AFR, app.

>> Alex McFarland: Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, God Almighty who are the ears to come. With all Creation and sing praise to the king of kings. You are my everything and I will adore you.

If you want to share a listener testimony, we'd love to hear it

Welcome back to Exploring the Word. Fire away Friday. The number, if you've got a Bible question, 888-589-8840. And again, we mentioned earlier in the show listener testimonies. If you want to share a listener testimony. I know it's a lot of phone numbers here, but here's. Here's the one to record a testimony about what afr, or maybe exploring the Word means to you. That number is 8778-7688-9387-7876, 8893. And, just a, ah, recorded message about what the radio means to you. And we'd be grateful for that.

>> Bert Harper: Amen. We really would. We'd love to hear it. And others would as well. Well, let's go back to the phone lines and go to Texas and talk to Olin. Olin, thank you for calling today. Go right ahead.

>> Caroline: Yeah, Brother Bert, Brother Alex, I know we gotta win as many as people we can to Christ, but I gotta be honest. I think we're in the beginning of burden, pains, and, saying that. I've got to say this. I had major back surgery about five weeks ago, and I heated. I was getting real down and seemed like when I turned this program on and the others, it's. God is really with y' all because you touched my heart more than any time you could count. And I just want to thank y' all for what you do. God bless you, brothers. And don't change your thing. Just keep doing what you do. And, I love you a lot. Now, I'll let y' all go.

>> Bert Harper: Thank you, Olin. Amen. Listen, we praise God for the opportunity to just share his word. And Alex, when we do that, the word of God is powerful, isn't it? I mean, really, it's not. It's not as much. What we say about it is the word of God itself and just letting the word go forth.

>> Alex McFarland: Yeah, yeah. I mean, we completely give God all the glory and it's the power of scripture. And to Tim Wildmon's credit, his idea for this show was he said, just read the Bible and comment on it. Let the word do the work. And, Bert and I, we. We love it. I mean, this. This has got to be the most special, realm of ministry the Lord's ever been gracious enough to let me participate in.

>> Bert Harper: Me and you both. And thank God for it. So, Olen, I, pray that you'll Continue to improve. And, may. May you be continued to be encouraged as well.

Alex: Let's pray for Frank's sister ahead of a heart transplant

With that, let's go to Kentucky and talk to Frank. Frank, thank you for calling today. Go right ahead.

>> Caroline: Yes, sir. I wanted to call my. I know y' all are some powerful prayer warriors. I'm headed to North Carolina. My sister text. She's been in dope transplant hospital for about six weeks. And it was either the Lord was going to take her home or she was going to get a new heart, or she, texted this morning and they've got a donor heart that they're going to take out today and put in her tomorrow. Wow.

>> Bert Harper: Amen, Frank. Amen. Amen, Alex. what God has led man to do with his creation is amazing. And I still can't get over transplants. You know, how. How that works. So, Frank, we're going to pray with you, aren't we, Alex? Amen.

>> Alex McFarland: let's pray. Bert, why don't you pray that the procedure is successful?

>> Bert Harper: Father, I thank you for Frank. Thank you for him listening, for him having the. The encouragement to call, having the ability to do so, and Father, to bless us with joining him and others in praying for his sister. we don't know about the donor, but Father, whoever in the family, I pray, Father, that you have blessed them as well. And the sister, as she gets ready. We're praying for success for all of those involved, and, Father, for the doctor, the surgeons, the assistants, all the people that are involved in a, procedure like this. And we're praying that you would get the glory. And I pray that it would be a witness to all of those around to know of God's great power and his great love. We're asking for Frank's safety in travel. And, Father, we lift him up in Jesus name. Amen.

>> Alex McFarland: Amen.

>> Bert Harper: Thank you, Frank. We appreciate you, man. Go to Michigan and talk to Chad. Chad, thank you for calling. Chad, are you there? Let's try it a third time. Chad from Michigan, can you hear me? Okay. sorry about that. Chad would love to talk to you. Let's go to Arkansas and talk to Wayne. Wayne, thank you for calling today.

>> Caroline: You're welcome. God bless you, brothers. How are you doing?

>> Bert Harper: Well, it's good to hear from you.

>> Caroline: Good. I've got a question. I study eschatology pretty much. And in Zephaniah, I think there's three or four Old Testament books that are only three chapters long. Anyway, Zephaniah is three chapters in chapter two from, verse four through seven. If you guys that is. Is when President Trump was running for president. I'm sure that he doesn't know Stephania from a zebra. No offense. I love Donald Trump's. And anyway, if you read it, please read chapter two, verse four through seven, and, I'll hang up. And it's incredible. It says exactly that. God will be taken away and the land given back to Israel. But I wanted to see if that happened then. Did that prophecy was that for then, or was that prophecy for now? And what's happening now?

>> Bert Harper: Okay, thank you so much. We appreciate that. Chad, we hope God will bless you. Alex, can I read part of that and then you be ready? Sure, sure.

Zephaniah says Israel will be destroyed in an hour

Okay. Zephaniah, as he said, chapter two, starting verse four. For Gaza shall be forsaken, and Eschalon desolate. They shall drive out Ashdod at noonday, and Ekron shall be uprooted. Woe to the inhabitants of the sea coast. And it goes on then it says, o Canaan, land of the Philistines, I'll destroy you. So there shall be no inhabitant. And notice verse 7. The coast shall be for the remnant of a house of Judah. They shall feed their flocks there. In the houses of Eschalon, they shall lie down at evening. For the Lord their God will intervene for them and return their captives. Alex, is this one of those that's talking about one specific time, or is it talking about a, time in the future, a time present, or do you get two? yes, this happened partially at one time, and then it's completely fulfilled later. What do you get out of that one?

>> Alex McFarland: I think it's partial in the past, partial in the present, but it will be total in the future.

>> Bert Harper: Amen.

>> Alex McFarland: And you look down there and it says in verse seven, for the Lord their God will intervene for them and return their captives. And it talks about, like, in verse nine, Moab will. Fire will rain down. I really do think during the Great Tribulation, a lot of the, you know, the stars falling from the heavens, and then ultimately the great world system that has aligned itself against God, the church, and Israel is going to be destroyed in an hour. So, it says Warren, we're Warren Wiersbe would say the now and the not yet. Yes, it's now partial. But in the future, at some future point, it will be total.

>> Bert Harper: I was talking to someone here that I work with, and, a lot of folks drop by my office, and we get to talk about the Bible and what all God's doing. It's A great place. And, all that prepares me for this program, if you want to know the truth. But we were talking about this. Be careful, when something happens and saying, okay, this is the fulfillment of this. it fits in, but, a lot of times. Okay, I see that, but, it's not complete, you know, part of it, but yet the completeness is going to come later. Alex, I mean, isn't that what you were saying? When we see all of this coming about? It's. It's showing us what God's ultimately going to do in one of these times. It will be that time, won't it?

>> Alex McFarland: Yeah. Yeah. and our assignment now is to stay ready, stay faithful, and help others get ready as well.

>> Bert Harper: Amen. Thank you so much, and we hope that helps. Chad, let's go to Mississippi and talk to Brian. Brian, thank you for calling. Go right ahead, brother. Hey, yeah, get further away from your radio. We are here. And turn it down. And it, would help us so we don't have an echo. Go ahead, Brian.

>> Caroline: All right, you hear me loud and clear now.

>> Bert Harper: Yeah, go right ahead, brother. All right.

>> Caroline: Awesome.

Stephen in Acts 7 accuses people of idolatry with Rim Fan reference

All right, so I'm calling about the. From Acts, chapter seven, with the martyr of Stephen. Stephen refers to a, star of Rim Fan.

>> Bert Harper: And,

>> Caroline: I'm just kind of got curious about that and, kind of, you know, trying to figure out what exactly that was. And here's. It kind of looked familiar, but I just. Do y' all have any intel or about what that Rim fan. Star of Rim Fan is?

>> Bert Harper: Okay, Alex, Stephen in chapter seven, his sermon. What a sermon. And it's kind of unusual to have a sermon that complete and, and the response is obvious, but can you help, can you help, Brian?

>> Alex McFarland: you know what? There's a reference, okay? This is in Acts 7. And he's basically accusing the people of idolatry. And he mentions the star of your God, Rim Fan, which is referenced in AMOS 5. 26. Okay, now what this has to do with Rim Fan is related to Moloch, somehow. It's a false deity. It's possibly, Saturn, you know, but they, he also mentions the Amos 5. 26. Scripture mentions the tabernacle of Moloch. And Stephen is quoting this in Acts 7:43. Now, Moloch was a false God that they burned sacrifices to. And apparently Rimfan was another ancient false God that maybe had to do with, astrology or worship of the stars, which goes all the way back to the Tower of Babel on. Now get this. On the plane of Shinar, like the word shiny, the Tower of Babel might have been partially, you know, worshiping the, the stars, the creation. But yeah, I don't really know a lot more about it, other than it was just one of the many false deities that non Jews worshiped. And periodically Jewish people would lapse into this paganism as well. But that good convicting, preaching it by verse 54 of Acts 7, it got him stoned, didn't it?

>> Bert Harper: It really did. And so I, you know, when you see this and referring back, it still goes back to how it all ties in and sometimes what we don't know about it, we just know they knew about it. And we have limited knowledge on some of that. but we know that it was evil. The God of molech in Leviticus 20. Listen, it lays it out so plain that you see anything connected with that kind of worship. Deeply, deeply demonic. So hope that helps.

Alex: One caller talked about organ transplant for the heart

Brian, let's go to Texas and talk to Steve. Steve, thank you for calling. Go right ahead.

>> Caroline: Hey, appreciate you calling me, taking my call real quick. That one caller talked about the organ transplant for the heart. I believe it was, so just haven't looked at some of that stuff in the past and I know that's one of the things that we have, the technology, be able to do all that. but it looks like there's two different types of organ donation and one's like brain dead and the other one is where you're kind of just living on life support. And they said according to. For like brain dead is the most common type of organ donation for heart transplant. But it basically means that you're still alive, the heart is beating and actually take the heart why it's beating and I just wanted to see what your thoughts are on that. I mean it's I don't know, just that that makes me wonder about. Now the other type is essentially where you're on life support and they just pull the plug in, you die and then they take the, the organs out after the, the heart hasn't resuscitated and there's no, no evidence of life, no breathing. So that I think is pronounce of death. And I think you're fine there. But the other one makes me wonder. I just want to get your thoughts.

>> Bert Harper: Steve, it is, it is one of those issues that the person who's the donor and the family who is there need to take what you said seriously. I agree with you, Alex. Would you comment on that as well?

>> Alex McFarland: A, dnr, do not resuscitate. You know, and another thing that plays into it, and this is out of my league medically, I don't. I'm. I don't have any medical training. but flat brainwave, when, you know, a person is, as they say, brain dead in terms of reaction or response or any sort of cognition. I have read there are cases where there can be, like, no discernible brain activity, but some of the involuntary things, like a heartbeat are still there. This is a thing I would encourage people to pray about. This is an area of not just medical ethics, but medical ethics from a biblical perspective. And, you know, on my driver's license, I've got that I'm an organ donor. You know, if my heart or kidneys or something, if I were, you know, dead, if my organs could help somebody out, I'm an organ donor. But, Bert, we're living in a time when our technological abilities have just about outpaced our moral sensibilities.

>> Bert Harper: It is. And that's a concern for AI as well. That's one of the things. And we, as believers. I'll just say this. I, don't know enough to tell you everything, but I know we need to have a biblical worldview, and that's what we're going to try to help us have here on Exploring the Word at afr. Everything coming from a biblical worldview, whether it's organ donation, AI, we come at it. What does the Bible say, Alex? it's been good. We've had a good week, haven't we?

>> Alex McFarland: We've had a great week, folks. Thanks for being with us. And we'll pick it up, good Lord willing, on Monday with more of the Book of Ephesians. In the meantime, be in church. On Sunday, be in church. And if you. You can invite somebody and get them under the sound of the gospel as well. Blessings to you all. The views and opinions expressed in this

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