Transcript

This is your chance to ask us your Bible question on American Family Radio

>> Bert Harper: It's Fireaway Friday on Exploring the Word.

>> Alex McFarland: 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 question@wordfr.net 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: Well, I know this ver the Book of Numbers, but it's a good verse. I've been thinking about it today and maybe, you'll meditate on this one over the weekend. Ephesians 2:10. For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared beforehand for us to do.

Alex McFarland: Is Bible doctrine practical? Bert Harper: Yes

Well, Alex McFarland here along with Bert Harper. And this is Fire Away Friday on Exploring the Word. So all hour we'll take your Bible questions and we'll do our best to give you a good biblical, not only a factual answer, but a practical answer. Because, Bert, God's word is practical and livable and it is the roadmap for life and eternity, isn't it?

>> Bert Harper: It really is. And I've thought of something, Alex, I want you to comment on it. The practicality comes from the doctrine. In other words, when you get the doctrine down of whatever it is, God's holiness, concerning God's care and love, from that you get the practicality of how God does operate. So they're not separate. They are together. And so, yes, it is practical. It's great.

>> Alex McFarland: You know, I'm glad you said that. Doctrine, doctrines like Jesus is the son of God and he paid for our sins on the cross, and the Bible is God's holy word, these are doctrines. And if anybody ever wonders, is doctrine practical? Of course it is. Because doctrine, Bible doctrine is truth. And Bert, I really can think of nothing more important than we believe what is true.

>> Bert Harper: Amen. Amen.

Fireway Friday number is triple 858-98-8840

Well, Alex, it's Fireway Friday and that number again is triple 858-98-8840. Triple 858-9840. If you'll call now, you'll get into the queue. We've got some calls that have come in, some that will be coming in. So if you got that Bible question, we to get to it today and excited about the questions that we'll get to Alex.

>> Alex McFarland: And we give extra credit for Esther related questions.

>> Bert Harper: Okay? Hey, those of you that are new, that do not know who Esther is, it is Alex's dog. And, early on, listen, she would participate Barking. She's kind of settled down and doesn't bark as much. But she's around, and we appreciate that.

>> Alex McFarland: She is right here with me. And by the way, the number. Number is 888-589-8840. And, Bert, can I share.

Can I begin with one question that came in off? Okay. One second. Would you mind waiting?

Can I begin with one question that came in off?

>> Bert Harper: Okay. Would you mind waiting? I already got Philip up, ready to go. Okay, let's go to that. One second. Is that all right? Okay. Philip, thank you for calling.

>> Caroline: Well, thank you for, taking my call.

Philip went through a bad divorce last year; now he's considering reconciliation

I just wanted to know if it would be out of order today to ask for you guys to pray, for a situation that I have going on, in my life. Is that out of order?

>> Bert Harper: No, it's not prayer. Hey, we treat this like a. Like a Bible study group, a Sunday school group, and prayer is requester. Okay, go right ahead, Philip.

>> Caroline: Well, I appreciate that. just real quickly, I don't want to divulge too much information, but I went through a bad divorce in October of last year, and my wife and I. And I'm going to try not to break up. My wife and I were both ministers, and I take responsibility for this divorce. I allowed ministry to become an idol over the marriage. And it was one of those situations that I was just brokenhearted. But recently, that door has been open again, and I just want for you guys to pray God's will. I don't believe, except in few circumstances, that it's God's will that anyone get divorced. So if you would pray for me. And I also have a Bible question. John, chapter eight, verse six through eight. And this is going to be sort of a comical question, if you will. I just want your interpretation on, what you think Jesus was writing in the clay or sand. And, just please forgive me. I don't have that verse in front of me.

>> Bert Harper: Okay, we got it. Yeah. Yeah, we got it, Philip. Thank you. We're going to pray first. Is all right, Alex. And let me say this. I hate to put this as a promotion, but it fits right in. That's why Jan and I started Fishbowl Retreat years ago, over 20 years ago, before we even came to AFR. Because we knew pastors, ministers that had happened just exactly like Philip. they. They got their priorities all out of order, and Fishbowl is all of that's about. So if you want your pastor and wife and them have that help, go to repairing the foundations.net and you register them for the Fishbowl retreat. Father, I thank you that Philip is looking at the possibility of reconciling. And Father, we're praying. I've been a part of several marriages, that were reconciled after separation and some even after divorce. And God, I pray in the name of the Lord Jesus that you'd give Philip wisdom and, to navigate this. And Father, let him see the priority he needs to have in his life. In Jesus name. Amen.

>> Alex McFarland: Amen.

Bert Reynolds: God could have prevented the Guadalupe river flooding

>> Bert Harper: The question, what was Jesus riding in the dirt there, Alex?

>> Alex McFarland: Well, you know, and this is famously when the woman was caught in adultery or taken in adultery. And it says in verse 6 of John 8 that they were tempting him, that they might have a cause to accuse him. Now, Billy Graham used to say that he felt like maybe Jesus was writing the Ten Commandments, which would include thou shalt not commit adultery. but others have speculated that maybe Jesus was writing their names in the sand. Because, you know, here they, these Pharisees, verse three, that brought the woman. Well, they many, or maybe all of them, knew that woman and perhaps had been part of her client base, shall we say, you know, well, I.

>> Bert Harper: Wrote down their names. I, you know, Jesus, listen, he had that side to him. He was loving and caring, but he knew to turn over the tables, money changers, to tell them, no, no, you're hypocrites. He was straightforward, and you can be straightforward in love. And, our Lord Jesus did that. Philip, praying for you. Thank you for that question, Alex. What was that Internet, question, man?

>> Alex McFarland: Well, I've got an article on townhall.com about the. The floods. You know, why do bad things happen in this world? And somebody had emailed me and said, if God could have prevented the flood of the Guadalupe river, why didn't he? And I suppose we could ask that of anything. A tsunami or tornado. And, Bert, here. Here's the thing. yes, God is omnipotent and all powerful, and he could, Jesus proved he could control the weather. But, for some reason, and I'll put it this way, we have to look at caused versus allowed. God did not cause trouble or flooding or death. He didn't cause it, but clearly he did allow it. And, Bert, we're in a fallen world. And let me say, in the fallen world, there's human sin, but there's also natural disasters. And this world as we see it around us is not the perfect Eden that was originally created, is it?

>> Bert Harper: It is not. And listen, tragedy has been a part of the fall, since the Garden of Eden. That's it. And it is true. God intervenes sometimes, and sometimes he does not. I have not found that secret exactly what it is, but I trust him, and I know he can. I go Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Our God is able to deliver us, O King, but if not, we're still not going to bow down to worship you. And our God is able, and, we know that. But we trust him no matter what. And that's where it lies.

Let's go to Kentucky and talk to Steve. Steve, thank you for calling today

Let's go to Kentucky and talk to Steve. Steve, thank you for calling today.

>> Alex McFarland: Yeah, hi.

>> Caroline: Good afternoon, guys. I really appreciate both of you. And I was told if I mentioned the name Esther that I would get a 10% discount.

>> Alex McFarland: God bless you. God bless you. Yes.

I believe Jesus and his contemporaries probably were multilingual

Pull to the first window.

>> Caroline: I, was going to ask you guys, in the gospels, the four gospels, they were they speaking, Hebrew and Aramaic? Because there are occasions where it says what language he was speaking. And it was never in Greek, but Greek, was the spoken language of the day and of the world. And Christ even said that he was not of the world. And I was just wondering if he spoke in Greek.

>> Bert Harper: Okay, Steve, let me share with you. It wasn't necessarily the spoken language. It was the written language. Language is what you get with Greek and, with the Roman Empire, you had all kinds of different languages spoken. And in that area, it was Aramaic, Alex. The main. But yet, in even some of the Greek texts, you find some Aramaic phrases. You know. Go ahead, Alex.

>> Alex McFarland: Well, you know, it's interesting. Around 120, there was an early Christian, writer named Papias. And Papias wrote a lot of history that, scholars really lean on and listen to this carefully. Papias said Matthew wrote in the Hebrew tongue. Now, I think that's interesting because it references Hebrew written and Hebrew spoken. The Hebrew tongue. He didn't just say the Hebrew language. I. I believe that Jesus and his contemporaries probably were multilingual. I mean, Jesus, in the temple, they would read Hebrew, and speak Hebrew, although the Old Testament had been put in Greek. it's called the Septuagint, because many of the people there, not only in Jerusalem, but, Jews that were in Rome didn't necessarily m. They might not be as fluent in Hebrew as their parents or grandparents were. So I think, Koine Greek that was spoken. Aramaic that was spoken like Abba. Father, that's Aramaic. Daddy, Abba. but then, the language of the educated was Hebrew.

>> Bert Harper: You remember Jesus on the cross. And it was, important to put the crime of the person being crucified above their head there on the cross. Polyx is in three languages, wasn't it?

>> Alex McFarland: It was, it was. And you know that he said that he was the king of the Jews. That's what the Jews wanted. but Pilate put it up there, the king of the Jews in, in several languages. So in all likelihood they, they were very multilingual.

>> Bert Harper: They really were. Okay, we're going to have time to get to Charles in Kentucky. Charles, go right ahead with your question. It will probably answer it on the other side. Yeah, go ahead, Charles.

>> Caroline: Okay. I want to be cremated. And I have heard that that is not biblical and I know that I could look it up, but I just wanted to hear what you guys had to say on it.

>> Bert Harper: Okay, Alex, you answered that before we have to go to break. Go right ahead.

>> Alex McFarland: Well, the Bible doesn't really specify a mode of interment or burial or the disposal of a human body. it definitely does say that the spirit and the body will be reunited, believers in a glorified body and non believers in a body of death, as the Bible says. But I really think that because of economic reasons and other personal choices, I really think it's a matter of Christian liberty. Bert, what do you say?

>> Bert Harper: I agree with you. I use this one of my first, issues with it, or I'd say events of it, someone being cremated. He was a Greek scholar, taught at Mid America Seminary. He chose to do it because of finances and missions. So I believe it is the Christian liberty. We'll be back with more right after the break. Will you take a moment and celebrate life with me?

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>> Alex McFarland: For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we.

>> Bert Harper: Have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven not built by human hands. Second Corinthians 5, verse 1. American Family Radio Shine Jesus, shine Fill this land with the Father's glory.

>> Caroline: Set.

>> Bert Harper: Our hearts on fire. Amen. Ah, I love that song. And I don't know if Brent just let it stay there. If he put it in there. I've been sort of busy, so I didn't get a chance to mess with the rotator. Well, thank you, Brent. you can do that one quite every week if you'd want to. I, just love that because I listen. That's what exploring the Word and afr. We want God just to saturate our lives with the word of God and then it fills us. And Holy Spirit of God just uses that. And may it shine. Jesus, shine in and Blaze shirt. Spirit Blaze. Alex.

We got a great idea on Facebook about helping spread American Family Radio

Brent, was it on Facebook, Brent, that we got. It was. It was Facebook message. Okay. We got a great idea on Facebook and I've asked Brent to share a bit. Little bit about it and, we're going to try to make something of this. Go ahead, Brent. I had a message from Tracy, out of, Dixon Springs, Illinois. she sent pictures of her church son out in front of the church. And they were posting the call letters to the Paducah, Kentucky station that broadcasts AFR right across the river. And so she is challenging all the churches to put the call letters of the station. They listen to AFR on their church sign. And I'm going to go one step further and go ahead and send me those pictures to Facebook on the exploiting the word American Family Radio Facebook page and everybody will see them. Okay, let's put is that one up on ours already. I have not yet. M. That's kind of a surprise. So, okay, we're going to put that up and tell the name of the church because they. If you got that name, they. They deserve, Dixon Springs Springs Baptist Church. Dixon Springs Baptist Church. Praise the Lord. Way to go.

>> Alex McFarland: That is awesome.

>> Bert Harper: Thank you all.

>> Alex McFarland: So Dixon Springs Baptist there, and it's in, Paducah, Kentucky.

>> Bert Harper: No, that's in. She's in Dixon Springs, Illinois. The station that she listens to, they listens. Listen to as a church is out of Paducah, Kentucky. And that's going to be wgcf. Okay, man. Way to go. Thank you.

>> Alex McFarland: Isn't that nice?

>> Bert Harper: That is awesome. So we want to do that. That will help. Listen. You spread the message. Listen. And that's helping spread the message. And Alex and I are going to guarantee you we. We're going to do our very best. Stick to the word of God. What does God say? And, we're that's our desire, that's our goal. With a spirit of love and care, but with conviction and courage, and that's what we want to do.

Anonymous Facebook question asks if it's sin to marry after being divorced

Also, we got a question on Facebook, right? We do. Well, let's go ahead and do that. It's an anonymous Facebook question. the person's asking, is it sin to marry after being divorced? Okay, that is a general question with no particulars. Alex. A lot of times if I'm on a, talking to an individual, I go into depth about it and I use ask him, is there any hope to save the first marriage? I do that. I don't know if you did that or not, but, you know, and a lot of times the other person's married. There's no hope. But, you know, it needs some qualifiers there. Would you put some qualifiers on it?

>> Alex McFarland: Yeah. And I mean, what was the circumstance around the divorce? what about the other person? I mean, and this is what James Dobson, would say. And I worked for Dr. Dobson. I bring up his name because, you know, when the. All those years he led Focus on the Family. Besides being, I think, an expert in, marriage and relationships, I know him to be an incredibly godly man who tries and tries to hold true to God's word. And Dr. Dobson said, look, when marriages can be saved and marriages can be restored, and there are countless examples of couples that separated or divorced and came back together. Right. But, I think Dr. Dobson said that God is a God of grace. And, and when people ask forgiveness for maybe how things went wrong and they were part of that unfortunate, thing that, somebody could get a fresh start and it wouldn't necessarily be a sin for them to remarry, but, ask forgiveness for past sins, commit their life afresh to the Lord and move forward doing it God's way for the present and future. What do you think about that?

>> Bert Harper: Well, if you remember our first caller, Philip, he and his wife divorced, and he said, and I take chief responsibility for it. Take responsibility of what you did. Don't blame, don't criticize others. Take your responsibility, learn from it, and then try to again do your best, I think, to make it right in best way. If, if neither party has remarried, do everything you can to restore that marriage. Sometimes it cannot be. But then I do think, Alex, under those conditions, the possibility of remarriage reality. But, again, you don't have to. You don't have to be married to be happy. You can. Paul, the apostle Paul. Listen, look what he Did. So don't let marriage be. Oh, the ultimate, the ultimate is serving God where you are and okay, so thank you Facebook, we appreciate that. Well, let's go to Illinois, man. We got a full load. We're going to try to get to as many. William from Illinois. Thank you, Colleen E. Montague for calling.

>> Caroline: William, good day.

Bert says natural disasters are part of a fallen world

These brothers, and everything has been going on lately and the blame being passed around on weather. what do you think about Job situation with Satan had some control of weather and also his boils and disease. they ever look in that direction to see if maybe some of this stuff ain't coming that direction?

>> Bert Harper: Okay, we first of all let me say about Job, God. God gave Satan some lead way and permission to do what he did. Yeah, it wasn't like a, ah, what a car block. there was limits, weren't they?

>> Alex McFarland: there were, there were limits. And in Job, chapter one, you know, God allowed Satan to put forth his hand and touch all that he has. but you cannot kill him. And you know, there were a lot of things going on there because we learned some things about spiritual warfare in the book of Job that I don't think we would have known any other way. God had some good purposes to allow Satan, to do what he did. does Satan still control the weather today or have that ability? I don't know. I think really that natural disasters are part of this fallen world. And somebody asked me once, how are natural disasters related to human sin? And Bert, before I tell you what I say to that, let me let you respond to that.

>> Bert Harper: Well, the fall of man was catastrophic. Just remember that we know the flood was catastrophic, but the fall of man was catastrophic, which opened the door for operation of disaster. Yes, that's part of it. And then Satan compound into that. But what's happening out in Texas. And I read an article on this while so much of quote media is trying to blame, okay, it was the weather, system not working. It was that this article said with these people, what reigns first is faith in God and it is being demonstrated. The same thing happened, I think it was in Pennsylvania or somewhere when that man, came to that Amish school and started shooting them. And what did they do? They saw God operate. They said, no, we're trusting God. And so even in this disaster words, getting out, God is being praised for lives that were saved. Alex.

>> Alex McFarland: Exactly, exactly. But yeah, the flood of Noah was a judgment on human sin. And the weather extremes that we have are due to really the ripple effects of the Global flood even to this day. So, it's a world, a fallen world. And the world all around us is not the perfect world God created. But what did we do with that world? Well, we tainted it with sin, didn't we?

>> Bert Harper: We did. And hey, men have been designed utopia since. And the thousand year reign is going to show us the peaceful purpose that God had in mind in the first place. So make sure you're saved. Make sure, you know, Christ is savior, regardless of what might happen between then and that time. Let's go to Illinois and talk to Tracy. Tracy, thank you for calling.

Brent: We would love it if other churches would use our sign

>> Caroline: Hi, y'. All. How are you doing today?

>> Bert Harper: Doing great.

>> Caroline: I just want to thank you both, both that you do such a wonderful job. And it's just. I love just listening to everything on afr, but I especially love exploring the Word. I called, I told the call screener that our church, Dixon Springs Baptist Church, has put up a sign and it has the, call letters and the number on FM number for where we listen to exploring the Word. So we went ahead and put it up on our church sign. And, we just want other churches to do it. It's kind of a church challenge. And so we would love it if, other churches would use their sign. So exploring the Word could be. And all the other rape shows that are on, AFR could be, you know, listened to. We're hoping that just people go by, they see our sign and they just, you know, they tune in.

>> Bert Harper: Amen.

>> Caroline: I just appreciate y' all so much.

>> Bert Harper: Thank you. Thank you. Yeah, go ahead.

>> Caroline: We have a vacation Bible school coming up pretty soon. At the end, at the end. And it's all about Jesus and his miracles. And I would just love it. And we're a very small church, but I would just love it if we could have prayer for this VBS coming up.

>> Bert Harper: Well, let me tell you what we're going to do. The church where I'm interim pastor, Ozark Baptist Church here in Northeast Mississippi, they're starting Sunday night with our vacation Bible school. A lot of them have already had it, but more are coming. How much good Alex has done through vacation Bible schools in the summer.

>> Alex McFarland: Oh, my goodness. VBS is wonderful. And in fact, at Mount Pleasant Church, where I've been helping out periodically, we're starting VBS this Sunday too.

>> Bert Harper: Amen.

>> Alex McFarland: And, we're doing Wonder Junction, which is a, ah, kind of a Wild west theme. And it was put out by, Answers in Genesis. So, you know, that's going to be good.

>> Bert Harper: It's Going to be good. Let me pray. Father, thank you for. Traci, thank you for that church there that would do this. And Father Alex and I, we want to be faithful with what you've given us is this platform of exploring the Word. And I know our team does. Brent. so many of us, Father. Marty, so many that is working, Jameson, that are working hard to make sure that this is what you desire. And, Father, we pray that you would bring success to the Bible schools that are going on there, in Illinois, in North Carolina, here in Mississippi, and all across the nation. And, Father, may people come to know you as Savior and Lord in Jesus name. Amen again. Thank you, Tracy. Praise the Lord. Let's go to South Carolina and talk to Jack. Jack, thank you for calling.

>> Caroline: Thank you.

>> Bert Harper: Go right ahead.

>> Caroline: in First Kings 4:26, it says Solomon had 40,000 stalls for horses. Shortage shares 12,000 horsemen. Second Chronicles 9:25 says now Solomon had 4,000 stalls for horses. And I've just run into this preparing a Sunday school lesson. I've got several commentaries. Most of them don't even touch it. And study Bibles. And the ones that do call it a copyist error. How do y' all see this?

>> Bert Harper: Okay, thank you. Thank you so much, Jack.

>> Caroline: Thank you.

Bert: I think there's some truth in that, Alex

>> Bert Harper: Alex. let me give you this. And I'm not sure this is the answer that you would want, Alex, or Jack, but, you know, when they went to the tomb, which one of the Gospels said there was one angel and one said there were two angels? I remember my Bible professor at Blue Mountain College. I know or refer to Dr. James Travis quite a bit, but he made that kind of impression. He said, I want to just tell you if there was two. There was one, and one of the Gospels concentrated on the one, the other one concentrated on the two. And so there's some truth in that, Alex, because I think it brings continuity to the Gospels, but not duplication. You know what I mean?

>> Alex McFarland: and by the way, I want to recommend a couple of books, and then I want to speak to this, but, Gleason Archer, spelled just like it. Sounds great, great. book that I highly recommend called the Encyclopedia of Bible Difficulties. Did you ever see that book?

>> Bert Harper: I have. Since you have talked about it, I've seen it, yes.

>> Alex McFarland: And then this one. This is awesome. Folks, I would urge you to own a copy of this book by Norman Geisler, and it's, called the Encyclopedia of, How did he name it? the original copy was when critics ask. When critics ask. And then they renamed it something like the Big Book of Bible Difficulties or something. But, the book by Gleason Archer and the book by Norm Geist, they're so good. But here's the thing. In 1st Kings 4:26, it speaks stalls of horses. That's what it says. But in Second Chronicles, 9, 25, it says horses and chariots. Now, Second Chronicles 1:14 says that Solomon had 1400 chariots. So I don't think there is a necessary contradiction. Now, let me just say this, folks. It's important to speak with precision. A necessary contradiction, irreconcilable would be, solomon had horses. And then a sentence goes, solomon didn't have horses. But I think most, historians believe that the first Kings 4 and the second Chronicles 1 and the second Chronicles 9 are talking about different buildings, different facilities. sure. You know, one had, you know, 40,000 horses. And maybe, it says cities of horses that could hold 750 each. One last thing, Bert. When we were at, Megiddo in Israel, and by the way, Alex, Angie, Jan and Bert will be going with Tim Wildmon to Israel next March, Lord willing, perhaps you want to come with us. But we actually toured. They've excavated one of Solomon's stables that. We actually have pictures of it. And there were 700, like, feed troughs as far as you could see. So Solomon's vast ownership of horses, I think is pretty well documented.

>> Bert Harper: It really is. And again, there are some things. And there are some difficult passages. Okay, how. And we talk about this all the time. And we was talking about it Yesterday about Hebrews 6, about falling, you know, Alex, and. Yeah, I, love what you said. There's enough there that makes you think, man, I'm staying right with God. It's not a, you know, block cash that I can live anyway. No. Once I've come to Christ, I'm a new creature. The old has passed, the new has come. And so if it hasn't happened in your life that you're not right with God, do it now. We'll be back with the last segment of Exploring the Word right after this break. Do not turn to wait.

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>> Bert Harper: Soon and very soon.

>> Alex McFarland: Oh, I love that song. Soon and very soon we're going to see the king.

>> Bert Harper: I promise I didn't do that on purpose. Pulling them out, isn't it? No, I just haven't played with the rotator, so everything's a repeat.

>> Alex McFarland: So we are back. The number is 358-98840. Bert, I know we have a lot of calls, on hold, so we're going to try to get straight to it.

>> Bert Harper: Okay, let's go to Texas and talk to Joe. Joe, thank you for calling.

>> Alex McFarland: Hello.

>> Caroline: Thank you. Thank you for having me.

>> Bert Harper: Okay, brother, go right ahead.

>> Caroline: Yes, sir.

My question is about visiting a person's grave after they have passed away

My, my question is about, visiting a person's grave after they have passed away. where in the Bible does it say that it's okay or if it's wrong to do that?

>> Bert Harper: Okay, just let me share this. After Jesus died, let me see what happened. Early, after the Sabbath day, the first day of the week, they made their way to the tomb. Alex, you know, again, I think, and there are several places that talk about. I, would say when Joseph was in, Egypt carrying his bones back. And guess where they went. They went back to the place. Abraham and Isaac. Those burial places, there are some biblical, I think biblical examples of that, aren't they?

>> Alex McFarland: Yeah. Well, in Genesis 23, Abraham buried Sarah, his wife had died. And so, you know, there's nothing wrong or unclean or something like that about visiting a grave of a loved one. the only caution, as a Christian, we know that, our loved ones that were believers are with Christ. I knew a lady, and she had, a son that died. And she was very broken up about it, understandably so, but she just kind of got obsessed and would go to the grave and sit for hours and talk to her son. And, we all grieve differently, I suppose, but, you know, we've got to lean into Christ. And there's nothing wrong with going to a grave site to pay respects. We put flowers on our parents graves. Angie and I do her parents and my parents too. But, the thing about it, I. We don't want it to become an obsession, you know?

>> Caroline: Burt.

>> Bert Harper: That's a good word, Alex. That's good. Let me share this. To make, if you're doing this and you're planning yours, or if you're helping someone, put something, make the headstone a witness, you really can. And, for people like me, I'm not morbid, but I enjoy visiting cemeteries and looking and seeing because there's history behind that. I can go back about four, five generations, on some sides of my family where grandparents, great, great grandparents are buried. And I love to read that headstone. What does it say? It says something about their marriage. And so make the headstone a witness. That's not necessarily for you to visit, but when others by, they'll do the same thing they did with those 12 stones when the children of Israel crossed the. The Jordan River. What does this mean? And they read that, and they say, man, I need to get right with God. So, Alex, I think it can be a witness.

>> Alex McFarland: Bert, I got to throw something in here. You know, before COVID I went through several years of debating. Lots of atheists at universities, and atheists would say, oh, America was not founded as a Christian nation, and the settlers weren't even Christian. Well, you know, it's been a blessing to speak in 2200American churches. And, many times I would walk through a cemetery and look around, and I noticed something, I bet, 10 years ago, Bert, especially east of the Mississippi, the cemeteries. Some cemeteries have graves going back to the 1700s. Down here in the Carolinas, I mean, there's cemeteries that go back to the 1600s. Now, here's the thing. Prior to the mid 20th century, all the cemeteries, I'm going to say 80% of the headstones, maybe 90%, will have some Bible verse or something Christian. Once in a blue moon, you'll see a headstone of a Jewish person, maybe has a star of David, but really in the cemeteries. And I've been to hundreds, of gravestones, you know, pre 20th century, going back 200 years and 200 years plus, you know, almost 100% of the headstones have something biblical and Christian. Tells me early America was really populated with Christians, wasn't it?

>> Bert Harper: It really was. And, you learned a lot of history there. So thank you for that good call. We hope it helped.

Kenneth says Christians worship on Sunday because Jesus is our Sabbath

>> Caroline: Joe.

>> Bert Harper: let's go to Texas and talk to Kenneth. Kenneth, thank you for calling.

>> Caroline: Good afternoon. I love your program. I'm gonna make this quick. I got a couple of things. Number one, Jesus said in the synagogue the first time he spoke, he said, I've not come to change one jot or tittle from the law. and then, but today I hear, that we don't have to keep the Sabbath because Jesus is our Sabbath. Is our Sabbath rest. So, what do you think about that?

>> Bert Harper: Okay. Kenneth, thank you. Listen, all I know, if we're wrong about worshiping, and I don't mean to be sarcastic, Kenneth, it's this. We're wrong about worshipping on the first day of the week. Sunday, the early church, Corinth and others, man, they blew it early. Alex, I know it's a little sarcasm, but it says Paul would say, on the first day of the week, when you gather together, be sure and bring your money and have it ready when I come. Didn't he?

>> Alex McFarland: Yeah, he did. And, you know, even some of the, secular historians of the 1st century, Phlegon and Pliny and different Roman, historians noted that the Christians would rise before daybreak on the first day of the week and worship. And one even said they sing hymns to Christ as to God. So you've got early Christian worship, and it was on Sunday. Why Sunday? Resurrection day. And, you know, Hebrews chapter four says that in Christ we have entered into his Sabbath rest. there remains a Sabbath for the people of God. But it's in Jesus Christ, isn't it?

>> Bert Harper: It really is. And again, I use this, and a lot of things are repeated the Sabbath. We get that question quite a bit. The Sabbath does recognize and honor God in creation. On the seventh day, he rested. The two great themes of the Bible is creation and redemption. In other words, creation tells us where we came, tells us where we're going, especially in Christ Jesus. And so what happened on that, the first day of the week of Jesus resurrection. It's a celebration of what God had done to bring it about keeping the law imperfect that no man had ever done before. So, listen, this is the main thing. You worship him. Alex, you know, I know guys, I know churches. They work in a place. In the churches where, people are on shifts of all kinds, and they have a Saturday service, not because they don't believe Sunday's not good, but they want to have a place for those to come and worship. So worship the Lord. And, listen. Worship him. Okay, let's go to Mississippi. And it's Ted. Ted. Thank you for calling. Ted, can you. I don't know what that sound is. Try it again, Ted. Try it real quick. We can't hear you good, but make it quick and we can get it, I think.

>> Caroline: All right, how about that? Now,

>> Bert Harper: That's better.

>> Caroline: Yeah, you got me this time.

>> Bert Harper: Yeah, go right ahead. Turn your radio off.

>> Alex McFarland: Ted.

>> Bert Harper: Ted? Well, we lost him. Sorry about that, Ted. And, he was asking. I got it. Enough. This, it's from 1st Samuel 16:14. But the spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and a distressing spirit from the Lord troubled him. Usually that's about. You mean the Lord sent him this distressing spirit, Alex? That's usually the question. Go ahead.

>> Alex McFarland: Yeah, Saul was in sin. I mean, really, he brought it on himself, didn't he? And God, it does show. Just like Job one. Satan and his demons are probably champing at the bit to oppress and work through people to cause trouble. God allowed this to happen. But Saul did it to himself, didn't he?

>> Bert Harper: He really did. He brought it on himself. So what do we learn from that? Do not open yourself up to sat. Now for the believer. Satan can not possess you, but he can influence you. Don't even give Satan a position of influence in your life. And it usually comes through the senses, Alex. What we see, what we hear, what we, you know, read all those. So do not give Satan room and to operate. And if you've never been born again, listen, that means you're open for Satan and him to come in and do more damage than you could ever believe.

We ask those who have never been born again to trust Jesus Christ as savior

So we're asking those of you that are listening, but you've never been born again, trust Jesus Christ as savior. Ask him to forgive you of your sin. He died on the cross for you, and he rose again, overcoming sin and death. And you right now can say, lord, I'm a sinner. I'm lost. I know I'm undone without you. I ask you to forgive me of my sin as I turn away from that and turn to you, asking you to be Lord of my life now and forever. If you've never done that, I pray you do that right now.

Alex: Jan, don't throw in the towel on your marriage

Well, Alex, let's go to Jim in Arkansas. Jim, go right ahead.

>> Caroline: I hope you can hear me. I'm in the middle of a rainstorm underneath the tarp.

>> Bert Harper: Well, you're clear. Go right ahead, man.

>> Caroline: Okay, super. I want to tell you a story real quick about my, president of my college, Clifton Gain us at Harding College. Back in the 60s, he went on a cruise, and they asked him how. How long people have been married. Anybody been married 30 years, 40 years? 50 years, 60. Finally got up to 70. And he was the only one that raised his hand. And I said, how long you been married, sir? And I've been married 72 years. And there's only two reasons that I've been married that long. And he says, well, what are they? He says, number one, we didn't divorce. Number two, neither one of us died.

>> Bert Harper: Listen, great, Jim, I love What Billy, Graham's wife said, you know, about being married to a good forgiver. Alex, has Auntie had to forgive you for kind of mismanaging time? I am picking on you about time because I know how, man, you do so many things.

>> Alex McFarland: I'm telling you, Angie has crowns in heaven, and, she has forgiven much. And. And that's how marriage works. the. The Ruth Graham quote. she said marriage should be the union of two forgivers.

>> Bert Harper: Amen.

>> Alex McFarland: And, I will say this, and. And I know. Look, in a fallen, sinful world, stuff happens. I will say this, though, that, I've had lots of people come to the altar over the years, men, and they'll say, you know, 10 years ago, I left my wife, and if only I could go back. And I wish I hadn't have done that. And God forgives and God restores, and I don't want people to be under a burden of guilt. but if you've made decisions that you deeply, deeply regret, turn it over to Jesus. But, if you're pondering something, don't, Dr. Dobson would always say, don't throw in the towel on your marriage. He would say this. He would say, lose at anything else, but win with your marriage and family.

>> Bert Harper: Great advice, Jan. We do marriage conferences, and we've done Pastor Wide. We work on the marriage that you're in. Work is hard to stay in it, as maybe some of people work to get out of the one they were in. And the marriage that you're in is the one God is desiring to succeed, and we want that to happen. And I know I repeat myself on that all the time, Alex, but I think it's worth it. Let's go to Ohio and talk to Carrie. Carrie, thank you for calling.

Alex: I am wondering if the Gog and Magog war has already happened

>> Caroline: Hello. I am wondering if the Gog and Magog war that is talked about in Ezekiel, if that already happened, or is that a future event that is yet to happen?

>> Bert Harper: It's going to happen, Alex. Go ahead.

>> Alex McFarland: Yeah, and by the way, this is in our book that's coming out in the Fall Burden. I have a book. It's, at the. At the publishers even right now, and it'll be out. I think the official Release date is October 7th, but, it's going to be available during the Fall Share a thon. And that is a great, great honor. I don't think the battle of Gog and Magog has happened yet. I think it is a future event. It's in Ezekiel 38 and 39, but so many nations of the world, including Russia and China and the Islamic world, are going to team up to fight against Israel, but ultimately fight against God, aren't they?

>> Bert Harper: They really are. And that's who it is. And if you're battling things in your life and, and you know, you're disobedient, you know, it's the Lord, submit to him. that's the whole idea. Lord, I'm yours. Have control of my life. John the Baptist prayed as good a prayer as I could ever pray. Lord, may I decrease and may you, increase. Alex, that's my prayer. Let's go to Tennessee and talk to Leslie. Leslie, thank you for calling.

Leslie: I noticed something in Daniel about delivering people from fiery furnace

>> Caroline: Hey, guys, I want to say thank you so much. Earlier in the program, you said that you do your best to teach what God says in his word, and that's the only way to do it. But I noticed when you, you quoted from Daniel, chapter three, the issue with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego going into the fiery furnace, you quoted the first half of verse 14, that God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace. And that's absolutely true. But they also went on to say, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. Because that's the main challenge, isn't it? Nebuchadnezzar presented it to these three guys that you're going in the furnace if you don't bow. And. And then he said, and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands? Amen. So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are making it clear to the king, our God is able and he will. Now, it gets confusing in verse 18, because in some Bibles it says, but if he does not. Now that's a problem, because if he. If they said he will, and then they say, but if he does not, that's double minded.

>> Bert Harper: Oh, what he's saying here, Let me just say this, Leslie. God is delivering them one way or the other. Alex, you know what I mean? Death, for those that are sick and you're a believer, you're going to be healed here or the hereafter. so I think that's what they had in mind. Go ahead.

>> Alex McFarland: Yeah. but the beautiful thing about it, he says in verse 18, O King, we will not serve your gods, nor worship the golden image you've set up. faithful even unto death if necessary. That's how we should be as well. Well, hey, folks, I'm gonna say this. I'm gonna turn it over to Burt. Be in church on Sunday.

>> Bert Harper: Amen. And worship the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. He's overcome. He's overcome sin and death. And he's coming back. Let's be ready.

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

>> Caroline: Broadcast may not necessarily reflect those of.

>> Bert Harper: The American Family association or American Family Radio.