Transcript

Fire Away Friday on American Family Radio is your chance to ask a Bible question

>> Jeff Chamblee: It's Fireaway Friday. Fire Away Friday on Exploring the Word. This is your chance to ask us your Bible question at 888-589-8840. That's 888-589-8840. You can also email your question@wordfr.net or visit facebook.com exploring the word. Exploring the Word. It's Fire Away Friday on American Family Radio.

>> Alex McFarland: You know, the Bible says in Act Chapter 3, repent, turn to God so that your sins be blotted out, that the times of refreshing may come from the Lord and that he may send the Messiah who has been appointed for you, even Jesus. That's Acts 3:19 and 20. The times are refreshing. Well, good afternoon, everybody. Alex McFarland here along with Jeff Chambley. And this is Fire Away Friday. Now, every day on Exploring the Word, we look at God's word and what the scripture says about salvation, life and God's solutions for your problems. But, Jeff, yesterday was the national day of Prayer. And after I was on Exploring the Word with Bert, it was my joy to drive and be. in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, near City Hall. We had a gathering with the mayor and a prayer gathering. But I was thinking about all the people, 19,000 locations yesterday where people gathered publicly to call out to the Lord and Acts 3:19, repent, turn to God. Your sins be blotted out, and the times of refreshing may come. There's a lot of blessing when people and a nation turn to the Lord, isn't there?

>> Jeff Chamblee: It sure is, Alex and I was privileged to be here, in our home base of Tupelo, Mississippi, at the, courthouse. A great turnout for the National Day of Prayer. And I'm reminded about those sacred assemblies in the Old Testament when God's people come together and they repent and call out to God publicly. And it was a great time of fellowship, great time of prayer. So, yeah, what a blessing.

>> Alex McFarland: Amen.

We would love to hear from you if you've got a Bible question

Well, I want to give the number because what we do on Fireaway Friday, it's all questions, all the hour. Here's the number, toll free. 888-589-8840. That's 888-589-8840. We would love to hear from you if you've got a Bible question. You know, we just finished up our study of the Book of Exodus, Monday. Good. Lord willing, Bert and I will begin the Book of Romans, one of my absolute favorite books of the Bible. Such just the Mount Everest of salvation scripture, the Book of Romans. And so maybe you've Got a question about that. But, let's do a little bit of introduction, you know, getting together today.

Jeff Shambley is with the American Family Association

Jeff Shambley, you're so faithful to help us and sit in if Bert is traveling or if I'm stuck in an airport, which is kind of my lot in life some days. but, for those that may be unaware, tell about the vital work you do, Jeff, with the American Family Association.

>> Jeff Chamblee: Well, it's a privilege to be able to work in the stand, department. We produce a magazine that's published every month and we also have a weekly, ah, radio show and podcast called the Stand Radio, which I host and produce Saturdays at 4 and Sundays at 8pm Coming up this weekend, Ken Ham will be my guest and we'll talk about his conversation with astronaut Barry Wilmore, in the, at the International Space Station and about the upcoming astronaut encounter at the Ark encounter this summer. So we have a great conversation and also a young filmmaker named, Caleb Cook who's talking about living boldly for God and making films. So a great program coming up this weekend.

>> Alex McFarland: Well, you've interviewed a lot of people, haven't you?

>> Jeff Chamblee: You know, I love doing that. And I tell you, I've got one coming up this next week. It's an interview that will hopefully air in the next month. It's with Dr. Baruch Korman. And we're going to be talking about how to understand the Bible. and so I am looking forward to that conversation. But, yeah, lots of interesting people indeed.

Jeff Carland is starting a speaker series called Conversations that Matter

>> Alex McFarland: Well, and let me tell folks just briefly about what I've got the privilege of being a part of. This weekend. We're starting a speaker series called Conversations that Matter. And our first speaker this weekend, it's Dinesh D'Souza. He's the number one New York Times best selling author, just a brilliant scholar, brilliant apologist and defender of the Christian faith. And the website for our speaker series is Conversations that Matter. Conversations that matter. Well, alexmcfarland.com conversations and so if you happen to be in, we call it the Grand Strand, Myrtle beach, but it's largely Wilmington, Shalot, Florence Mullins, Charleston, this wonderful region, we would love to see you. And there are still tickets available. Alexmcfarland.com conversations well, Jeff, may we begin to talk to some folks on the telephone?

>> Jeff Chamblee: Yeah, let's go at it.

Allen from Kansas is our first guest on this edition of the show

>> Alex McFarland: All right. Fire, away. Friday, Allen from Kansas, you're our first guest on this edition of the show. Yeah, I was recently reading in, in first and Second Samuel, where Saul was in a, was wounded in a Battle. And he asked his armor bearer to kill him. And his armor bearer wouldn't do it. So it says that Saul fell on his sword and died. Some chapters later, David encounters a fella who says that he killed Saul. So apparently the guy that David encountered is a liar, because there are no contradictions. We all know that, right? Just a misunderstanding somewhere. And David has this person killed for killing King Saul. You know, I think this, you know, is Saul is one of the people in the Bible, like Judas, that really essentially commit suicide. And I think the one that David met who brags because it's like this, trying to curry favor with the boss. Oh, King David. Saul was against you. Saul threatened to kill you. Hey, you'll be proud. I killed him. And David puts that person to death. So I think it was. And Jeff, from all the commenters I've ever read, it was braggadocio. And this person was thinking he would curry favor. But David was a very righteous man. And, you know, even when Saul was trying to kill young, David, David wouldn't slander him. You know, they were in a cave. David could have taken Saul unawares and had him killed. But he didn't do that, did he?

>> Jeff Chamblee: No. And what stands out to me in these passages, and you just mentioned that, that David had an awesome respect for. For God's anointed. And over and over you see that David is not going to lay his hand on Saul. And he reacts violently against a man that says that he did. And so you see David's humility and his understanding that God has an anointed man, and you just don't touch him.

>> Alex McFarland: Yeah. Yeah. thank you. So, Allen, this really wasn't part of your question, but, there's no contradiction there. It's just that other guy gave a false report about saying he killed Saul, when in fact he really did not. Saul committed suicide. Let's go to Alabama. Corey. I'm sorry. Corky. Corky in Alabama. Do I have your name right? You do. Well, welcome. It's good to have you friends with.

>> John: Tim and Walker and Wesley and do some work with Coach Tuberville on all that.

>> Alex McFarland: That's great. That's great. We're glad you're part of the ministry. What you got for us, Corky? Yes, sir.

>> John: I'm driving right now, and I can't look up the verse, but, it's in Matthew and, Luke. God will give good gifts to those who ask. Matthew says Luke says God will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask?

>> Alex McFarland: So my question is, how do we.

>> John: Get the Holy Spirit?

>> Alex McFarland: Well, great question. you get born again and the Holy Spirit comes to indwell you. And the Spirit of God has been working on you your whole life anyway, guiding you. But, Jeff, as I read scripture, you know, Galatians says that we're baptized into Christ through God's Holy Spirit. And so I believe that, and Ephesians 4:30 says, do not grieve the Spirit of God that not only indwells us, but seals us to the day of redemption. And yes, you know, there's not only the good gift of God's indwelling Holy Spirit, but the spiritual gifts, which is, really a supernatural empowerment to live the Christian life and serve the body of Christ. Every believer has some spiritual gifts. Now, I don't believe any Christian has all of the gifts, but whether it be teaching or administration or wisdom, there are a lot of spiritual gifts, and those are good gifts. So it all begins the moment you turn your life over to Christ. Receive Jesus as your savior. Jeff, what do you say?

>> Jeff Chamblee: Absolutely. The Spirit of God comes in us and dwells in us when we are born again. Jesus said that he would send the comforter to us, and he did. In the birth of the church, the Holy Spirit gives the believer all that we need. In the book of Ephesians, Paul says that he seals us with his Holy Spirit, which is a down payment, a guarantee of our inheritance. So the Holy Spirit is a necessary part of the new birth, and we have him at the new birth.

>> Alex McFarland: Amen. Hey, by the way, one of the great, books on the Holy Spirit is by Billy Graham. And, I would encourage you to study and read. And, Jeff, it doesn't seem like we hear much preaching on the Holy Spirit. At least, in the circles I travel, you don't hear as much about it as we should. And we need the Spirit of God to send revival, not only culturally, nationally, but personally. And fortunately, God will do that. Mike in Louisiana. Mike. Welcome to Exploring the Word. By the way, folks, the number 888. 589, 8840. If you've got a Bible question, Mike, you're on.

>> Speaker D: Well, thank you for taking my call. I enjoy listening to your show.

Someone had to betray Christ for prophecy to be fulfilled, Mike says

I have to say I'm calling with, I think, a point of maybe a little disagreement, but maybe a clarification. A, couple of weeks ago, the topic of Judas came up, and it's one that's always perplexed me. I. I guess in terms of a question, and I'm not trying to do a gotcha question, I just. If we believe what we say we would believe and the way it's presented in orthodox fashion, then, then Judas is an eternal hell, a damnation, and he betrayed Christ. And I guess I have trouble understanding that because it had to happen. Someone had to betray Christ for the prophecy to be fulfilled. So I got a real problem with that. I think it's a conundrum that cannot be solved.

>> Alex McFarland: Well, and you know, I hear you Mike, and I think one of the ways to phrase the question is to ask this, is it a deterministic world where people have no recourse and are not accountable for their actions? And I would say based on all that we know, the answer is, no, it isn't. because Jesus said, woe unto him who betrays the Son of man. It would be better that he wasn't born. And so let me just say, none of us can certainly know all of the, the motives and machinations that went through the mind of Judas. Judas was in a sect with Barabbas that wanted Israel to go to war with Rome. And the Messiah came. And presumably Judas did not consent to be one of the disciples because here's the Savior that's going to teach us how to be born again. apparently Judas saw in Jesus a would be revolutionary that would help instigate the war with Rome. But that was not God's plan of salvation. So Judas eventually betrayed Jesus, as we know, for 30 pieces of silver. He didn't have to do it. He did it. God knew what he would do. But Judas was not a pawn in the hands of a deterministic God. Jeff, what do you say?

>> Jeff Chamblee: Well, the scriptures are going to be fulfilled. And Jesus many times said that this happened, that the scriptures might be fulfilled. that is a mysterious working between how God ordained something in scripture and it comes to pass. To say that Judas did not have a decision that's a bona fide decision would not be true. Judas absolutely was responsible for his decision and, and his judgment was just.

>> Alex McFarland: Yeah. wow. Great questions folks, all the hour. Jeff Shambley, myself, Alex McFarland will do our best to answer the questions.

Preborn Ministries fights for the babies. To donate, dial pound 250

>> Bert Harper: Call us if we've learned anything from this election. It's how important it is for us to fight, fight, fight. We also learned how desperately the left wants to fight to take babies lives. Which is why every day PreBorn Ministries fights for the babies. Preborn's network of clinics are positioned in the highest abortion areas. Fighting for mothers deciding between the life and death of their child. Preborn welcomes these women with God's love and offers them a free ultrasound to introduce their precious baby and hear the beautiful heartbeat. This amazing encounter gives her baby a fighting chance and the majority of the time she'll choose life. Would you join PreBorn in the fight for life? One ultrasound is just $28 and $140 will sponsor five ultrasounds. Babies are worth fighting for. To donate, dial pound 250 on your cell and say the key word baby. That's £250 baby or visit preborn.com afr that's preborn.com afr all gifts are tax deductible and PreBorn has four star charity ratings. Fight, fight, fight for the babies.

>> Alex McFarland: Sin runs deep. Your grace is more grace is found. Is where you are, where you are. Lord, I am free. Holiness is Christ in me.

>> Jeff Chamblee: And welcome back to Exploring the Word on American Family Radio. It is Fireaway Friday. That song Lord I need you is so true. We need the Lord every single day. Hey, before we get back into our study, in our questions today, and by the way, let me give you the phone number. It's triple 8589-884088-88589-8884. For your questions, I'd like to mention that coming up in October, October 30th and 31st, is the AFA at the Ark event at the Creation Museum and the Ark Encounter in Kentucky. A lot of great things happening there, including Thursday, ah night dinner with the astronomer, Dr. Danny Faulkner. A, breakfast the following day, Dr. Georgia Purdom will be speaking, a wonderful speaker. And then Friday night, dinner and panel discussion with Tony Vitagliano, Walker Wildmon, Wesley, and many others at the at the event. So you can check that out at the website. Let's see, where is that afa.net you have that events afa.net events and click on AFA at the Ark. So that's going to be an exciting.

>> Alex McFarland: Event coming up that's going to be really fun.

Pamela in Texas needs prayer for nerve pain in her legs

Well, we're taking calls and questions. Wow, I have a great slate of calls. We're going to go to Texas. Pamela in Texas. Welcome to Exploring the Word. Hello?

>> Caroline: Hello.

>> Alex McFarland: Yes, you're on.

>> Caroline: Oh, I'm calling for prayer, but I want to say thank you for your radio station. I try to listen to you guys every afternoon waiting for my daughter carpooling and you did. And I love your station. It really helps.

>> Alex McFarland: Oh, thank you. Well, to God be the glory.

>> Caroline: Yes, but, I need help in prayer because I keep praying for the Lord to heal me. And I'm being with this pain for so long, for many years. And what's wrong with me, why he doesn't listen to my prayer? I asked the Holy Spirit to disown me, but this painting doesn't go away. So I just need prayer. I have this pain in my legs, in my back. I think I have a problem with my nerve. And, it's very painful.

>> Alex McFarland: Well, I'm sorry to hear that. And we do want to pray for God to alleviate that pain. And, two things. Let me just say, having been married to a nurse for 35 years, I trust that you have good medical care. Maybe you've gone to a doctor and, you know, make sure that, you know, you're getting good medical care for all of your physical needs. But also the other thing, Pamela, do you know the Lord or you've accepted Christ and you're saved?

>> Caroline: Yes, I'm born again. And, I have been.

>> Alex McFarland: Amen. That. That is just wonderful. Well, you know, Jeff, Jesus is our healer. Sometimes it's not on the timetable that we wish sometimes. But one of the beautiful things is that we grow. We trust him, even in the midst of hardship. But, Jeff, would you pray for Pamela?

>> Jeff Chamblee: I would be glad to. Let's pray together. Father, thank you for Pamela and for, the call that she's made today. And thank you, Lord, that she is seeking you. And we do join with her in praying that you would heal her body and take this pain in her legs and her back away. And Father, as she waits upon this healing, Lord, would you draw close to her? Father, we pray that she would grow in wisdom and in love and in knowledge of you through this pain, Lord, that you would be with her in a very tangible way. And we pray this in Jesus name. Amen.

>> Alex McFarland: Amen. Amen. Thank you for calling in.

Brother Alex from Georgia Ed welcomes Exploring the Word to AFR

Going over to Georgia Ed in Georgia Ed, welcome to Exploring the Word.

>> John: Hello, Brother Alex. How are you today?

>> Alex McFarland: Blessed. How you doing?

>> John: Oh, I am blessed, too. Longtime listeners AFR and. And, Valex McFarland and Bert Harper.

>> Alex McFarland: Well, to God be the glory and thank you.

>> John: Amen. I want to ask, for some help with resources. Have a friend that recently, has come to salvation and has been ordained in the denomination, of the Church of God. Been to a couple men's events with him. Really, really, really enjoyed, I see the Lord working in his life and those These meetings always end with folks speaking in tongues and even interpreting for themselves. And I am praying through, seeking opportunity to talk with him about acts to the Holy Spirit. What I believe is the language. I know this is just a doctrinal difference is not a. But I don't want to discourage him, Alex. I want to continue to encourage him, in his faith, in his newfound faith and And. But I haven't been to any more gatherings with him because of not talking. I want to talk to him about my discomfort in that setting. Everything is great. The worship is great, the Word is great. And then it always, it always goes to that instance, or usually usually it does or the times that I've attended.

>> Alex McFarland: So.

>> John: And I'll hang up and listen. I appreciate you and I thank God for afr.

>> Alex McFarland: Amen. Amen. well this is great.

This is an area where Christians sometimes have differences of opinion

Let's talk about this a little bit because. And I want to preface this to say, Jeff, this is an area where equally good, godly, well intentioned Christians sometimes have differences of opinion. And let me say, we all agree Jesus is the son of God. He shed his blood to wash our sin away. The Bible is God's inerrant, infallible word. So I want you to know folks that where you land on this issue is not a salvific issue. We all agree that the third member of the Trinity, God, the Holy Spirit, regenerates, our soul, indwells the believer, seals the believer. the question comes down to how the gifts of the Spirit are manifested in the church. And you know Jeff, as I'm even talking about this, I think about there's so much, much more common ground on which we agree than we disagree. We all agree the Holy Spirit indwell, the Holy Spirit gives gifts, supernatural abilities for the working out of the gospel. and in our day, Jeff, let me just say this. When I first got saved there in the late 80s, I remember, it was even kind of a little bit acrimonious because you had well known Pentecostals and charismatics, some of whom I've come to know. They're great, fantastic people like Pat Robertson and I was on his show many times. And then others like Jerry Falwell, who I knew very well and he was not a Pentecostal. But I want to, before I even talk about this, I want to say here's what Satan wants. Satan would want Christians to divide, on any issue, but especially, I mean think about something so precious and so Personal, like the indwelling Holy Spirit. So I want to say, regardless of where anybody lands on this, our tongues for today, are they not? Please don't burn bridges with other Christians. I will say this now. There, are plenty of Bible verses, and, you know, here are the disagreements. you've got Peter, in Acts 2:1:4, the believers were filled with the Holy Ghost. They began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. And what's interesting in Acts 2 is there are 16 known languages that they were sharing the Gospel in. or people at least were hearing the gospel in. you know, read Acts, 2, 8, 13, 16 languages. But then hang with me. And Jeff, I'm sorry to take so long, but I want to set this up.

>> Jeff Chamblee: Yeah, please.

>> Alex McFarland: You've got one, Corinthians 12, 4, 11 that talks about the Holy Spirit giving a message of wisdom and the self. Same Spirit giving other gifts, miraculous powers, prophecy, distinguishing of spirits, another speaking in different kinds of tongues. Now, here's, And I'm just speaking for myself here. I really don't believe that the spiritual gifts we read about in the Book of Acts or first Corinthians have stopped for today. And I know people say, oh, in 1 Corinthians 13, when that which is perfect has come, and they'll say, that which is perfect is the Bible, therefore, the gifts stop. you know, Augustine talked about speaking in tongues. John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist Church, supported the full gifts of the Spirit, including tongues. Martin Luther referred to it, others haven't. So I just want to say this, and Jeff, I will throw it to you. I just don't think the works of the Holy Spirit have stopped. I think the Holy Spirit of God can do anything in the modern church that he's ever done in the church. It's not, can the Spirit give gifts and work? Are Christians willing to be filled with and led by the Holy Spirit? But, Jeff, you feel free to agree. Disagree.

>> John: No.

>> Jeff Chamblee: You know, I've come through a lot of, changes in my walk with the Lord on this subject from the time that I was saved in college to today. And I've kind of gone the full gamut of what I've held to on this. I will say this, that in First Corinthians 14, one thing that we can know for sure is that there's a primacy of prophecy in the church setting rather than tongues. So in a situation where you have a believer, and Paul alludes to this in 1st Corinthians 14. Where there is a tongue, there must be an interpretation. Otherwise, hold off. So that there is a primacy on what we do understand. Namely, so that those who come into your assembly who are not of the Lord's may, not. One may not, be confused as to what's going on. How can they say amen if they don't understand what you're saying? Paul says himself, I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all. Yet in the church, I would rather speak five words with my understanding so we can know that the primacy of prophecy and understanding is to be made in the church. Now, whether or not there is a prayer language that a person can have, you know, I'm just going to leave that to the Lord. I've got relatives and family members, who would agree with that. that's not my experience, but, like you, Alex, you know, I'm just going to kind of hold back and let the Lord lead on that there's room for disagreement on it.

>> Alex McFarland: There is room for disagreement and unity, in the body and not letting Satan divide us.

>> Jeff Chamblee: Exactly.

>> Alex McFarland: that is so important.

Jeff Faraway: I believe we receive the Holy Spirit when we repent

well, on a similar note, let's go to North Carolina. Sherry in North Carolina. Welcome, to Exploring the Word.

>> Speaker G: Yes.

>> Caroline: Hey, that was actually the topic, I was going to speak on, about the guy said about how do you get to receive the Holy Spirit? And I'm start off, I'm holiness. And you know that that moves different than other religions. According to Acts 2, 37, 38, and 39, it speaks on, how they asked Peter, what must we do to be saved? And he began to explain to them, repent, Be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the removal of your sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Well, and I have experienced that and how the other gentleman was talking about speaking in unknown tongues. That does happen today. And I received the, Holy Ghost November 16, 2009. And you, repent. And I was baptized in Jesus Christ's name and not, the Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost, because those are his titles, those are not his name. And you receive the Holy Ghost, and then you live right until he come. And like the gentleman was just said, I heard a piece of it, but I had my radio down. He was saying, you know, about if someone do have that gift of speaking in tongue and nobody's there to interpret it, the Bible did tell you, speak to yourself. You know, walk away, because you're going to confuse People that do not understand what's going on. So those are, the things that, you know, the Bible speaks on. How do you receive Jesus? How do you receive the Holy Ghost? And then in, Psalms. Wait a minute, I wrote it down. Where the Lord say, be holy. For I, the Lord your God, am holy. And he's. He said to worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. That was Psalms 96 and 9. So this way, you know. And also, I have a pastor that. Well, not my pastor, but on YouTube, Pastor Gino Jennings, he can break that down better than I can because I'm not a preacher. But, if your listeners wanted to listen to him, Pastor Gino Genes, he breaks down, how do you receive the Holy Ghost as well.

>> Alex McFarland: Let me, Let me, jump in here. Sherry, thanks for calling. I, want to say a couple of things. Romans 8. 9 says that of the Christian, we are not of the flesh, but of the Spirit. if in fact, the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of God does not belong to him. So when we belong to Jesus, the Spirit of God indwells us. First Corinthians 12:13 says, we are baptized by one spirit into one body, and we are all given one spirit to drink. Jeff, I was thinking about this. Wouldn't it be good if we could be unified? Since really every born again believer, is given the one spirit to drink or to experience. So I believe that we receive the Holy Spirit when we repent, turn from sin, and believe in Jesus Christ. Now, the one thing, Sherry, I would lovingly disagree with you on, I think the Trinity, Father, Son, Holy Spirit, Father, Son, Holy Spirit. those are not three different titles for Jesus. Those are the three persons of the Godhead. And I know that, in Acts 2:38, it says, Be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. But at the Matthew 28, Jesus himself says, you know, baptizing them, in the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost. So, Jeff, you could baptize somebody in the name of God, the Holy Spirit, because God is indivisible. Whether you invoke one member of the Trinity or acknowledge all three, God is one and indivisible. Absolutely.

>> Jeff Chamblee: That's an important doctrine. One being three persons in the Godhead. We'll be back with more questions in just a few moments on Faraway Friday. Here on Exploring the Word.

>> Alex McFarland: Is our.

>> Jeff Chamblee: Theology of money upside down. Our vision is that all Christians would see God as their ultimate treasure. You know, it's a Game changer of an idea. And we start with this idea that God owns everything, and we are his household managers of what he has entrusted to us. So we own nothing. But we have stewardship, responsibilities. Faith and Finance with Rob west, weekdays at 9am Central or on the AFR app.

>> Alex McFarland: These days my heart's always on the run these days the world's spinning out of control True, these days are Fast and the Furious.

Doug: Who are the 12 apostles, Betty? Betty: There were many

Welcome back to Exploring the Word. The first fire away. Friday in the month of May, Jeff. I can't hardly believe it's May already, you know.

>> Speaker G: Here.

>> Alex McFarland: Yeah, yeah. And the number is 888-589-8840. And we're going to go to calls. We'll, continue in Arkansas, I believe it is, Doug. in Arkansas. Thanks for holding. Welcome to the program. Yes, sir. I appreciate your show. Well, appreciate you listening, my friend. I, would like to say one thing, and I'll ask you a question. As far as speaking in tongues. Don't do the pda. What do you mean? She's got the interpretation Personal. Was it PDA Personal? Display of anointing as. Ah, a section. Okay.

>> Jeff Chamblee: All right.

>> Alex McFarland: Keep it in the closet. Okay. What's your question, Doug? my question is, is who are the 12 apostles? Judas hung himself. The arm of the flesh brought in Matthias, and then Paul saw him have born out of time. Yeah, well, you know, Matthias was chosen to replace Judas after Judas committed suicide. And, you know, I don't know that I would say it was the arm of the flesh. They selected, a replacement, but Paul was an apostle. Now, Paul was not one of the original 12 disciples, but Paul had seen the risen Christ, so he was, by the biblical definition, an apostle. And he even invoked that himself. Paul says, am I not an apostle? Have I not seen the Lord? And he had, you know, seen, the resurrected Jesus, which qualified him to legitimately be called an apostle, you know, but there were others, you know, that, you know, James and, Andrew and, you know, all the 12 disciples were not necessarily all, 12 apostles. There were many, many apostles. Jeff, I would say that, you know, in 1 Corinthians 15, where it talks about the, risen Jesus was seen by up to 500 people at once. Having seen the resurrected Christ. I mean, that that really made the number of apostles increase, didn't it?

>> Jeff Chamblee: Yeah. The word apostle means sent ones. you know, and I would agree with you, Matthias, I believe that the Scripture records that the apostles sincerely, prayerfully sought who to replace Judas with And Matthias was chosen. and then, Paul absolutely is an apostle because he saw the risen Christ. So, yeah, I don't know if you could say that there are. Are you saying, Alex, that you believe that there are many apostles other than the 12?

>> Alex McFarland: Well, you know, in verse seven, like of 1 Corinthians 15, after that, Jesus was seen of James, then of all the apostles, last of all, seen of me as one born out of due time, for I am the least of the apostles. And then, you know, all of these that, saw the risen Christ and went out. Let me just say this, and it does mean sent. One Sean McDowell wrote in his, dissertation how just hundreds and hundreds, we know the disciples were willing to die for this. And then so many hundreds of other Christians were willing to die as well. And I would say by being martyrs. and the word martyr means witness apostles, martyrs. They were sent ones, they witnessed to the reality of the gospel. I don't think it would be disingenuous to call these early church leaders that gave their life for the proclamation that Christ had risen. they were certainly apostolic, weren't they?

>> Jeff Chamblee: So there would not be any apostles today because they would not have seen the risen Christ. And that's kind of the distinction there.

>> Alex McFarland: Is that right? Exactly. I do not believe there are apostles today. They are disciples. And we hope you are one. And, you know, every apostle was a disciple, but not every disciple was an apostle. Yes, Betty in Virginia. Betty, thanks for holding. Welcome to the program.

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

Question: Genesis gives lineage of Cain through Methuselah

I have just a question. I starting to read through the Bible again after many times, but this morning I was reading and Genesis, and In, chapter four, it gives on verse 17 about the lineage of Cain through Methuselah. Then over in chapter five, it gives the lineage of Seth through Methuselah. So which is correct and what's. Why I don't understand the difference there.

>> Alex McFarland: Let's see. Did you say Genesis 4:17?

>> Caroline: Genesis 4:17, yes. That's where came through Methuselah, Cain knew.

>> Alex McFarland: His wife, and she conceived and bear Enoch. And Enoch built a city called the name of the city after the name of his son Enoch. And then it goes on down there. Enoch was born. unto Enoch was born. Ired begat Mehujael. M. and Mehujael begat Methuselah. Methusel.

>> Alex McFarland: Okay. And then, what's the other verse, Jeff, that she mentioned?

>> Jeff Chamblee: I think it was in chapter seven.

>> Alex McFarland: Okay, maybe I'm wrong. Betty, do you have the other six?

>> Caroline: Three, verse 26.

>> Alex McFarland: Yeah. Okay. And, Noah.

>> Jeff Chamblee: No.

>> Alex McFarland: All right, what was it?

>> Caroline: Noah.

>> Alex McFarland: Yeah.

>> Caroline: chapter five, starting in verse six.

>> Alex McFarland: Chapter five, starting in verse six. Okay. I don't know. I might have to look into this and see. Mahaliel. Yeah. Let me to do this justice because the genealogies are just fascinating. but I guess the question, one question I have is, is the Methusel of Genesis 4:18, is that the famed Methuselah, ah, that lived 960 years? Jeff, offhand, because, like in Genesis 5:27, the days of Methuselah were 969 years. So I'm not for sure. Here's the question. Is the methuselah of Genesis 5:27 the Methusel of Genesis 4:18? And I would say they're two different people. Now I want to look into this. The names are very similar, but they're not identical.

>> Jeff Chamblee: Right. Which is not uncommon with some of the Hebrew names because there are variations on those names and this may be the case.

>> Alex McFarland: Yeah. And, to get the other calls in, let me study on this. Betty. I'll report back probably Monday. But my initial reaction just not having looked into this. These names are spelled differently, so they must be two different people. But we will report back on that. Thank you for that wonderful question.

One, uh, I don't think we've had before, but Dorothy in Oklahoma

One, I don't think we've had before, but, Dorothy in Oklahoma. Dorothy, welcome.

>> Jeff Chamblee: Dorothy.

>> Alex McFarland: Hello, Dorothy.

>> Jeff Chamblee: Yeah, go right ahead.

>> Alex McFarland: Dorothy, are you there?

>> Caroline: Yes, I'm here.

>> Alex McFarland: Yes. you're on. Welcome.

>> Caroline: Thank you very much. Thank you. this question.

>> Jeff Chamblee: Yeah, turn your radio down if you will, Dorothy, because it may be confusing if you hear us in two different. Two different sources.

>> Caroline: All right.

>> Jeff Chamblee: Yeah.

>> Caroline: All right. You hear me now?

>> Jeff Chamblee: Yes,

>> Caroline: Yes.

Chris in Texas has a question about what day is the Sabbath day

I have, this concern about what day is the Sabbath day. I've studied in the Bible about the Sabbath and in Genesis 2 it says where God blessed the seventh day and he rested on that day. And then in the commandments, Exodus 20, verse 8 through 11, it tells us how we should, remember it and keep it holy. And then the Bible tells us also about Jesus. I think it's in Matthew where Jesus, is Lord of the Sabbath. I've attended a, ah, Seventh Day Baptist church. There are Seventh Day Baptist churches, Seventh Day Adventists, Seventh Day Pentecostals. And so I, just want some clarity. You know, this. God doesn't have two Sabbaths. And so, you know, I've been being taught that Sunday was the Sabbath. But according to what these, brothers and sisters have shown me in the Bible, the seventh day, which is named Saturday, is the Sabbath. And they say it starts Friday evening, at sunset, and then Saturday evening at sunset. So, you know, I want to be, obedient to God's word. So I'd like some, you know, comments from you brethren about, you know, what people should do in regards to keeping the Sabbath day.

>> Alex McFarland: God bless you. God bless you. Well, you're right. In. In Genesis 2, 2 and 3, it says that God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it, because on it God rested from all his labor, which he had done in creation. So, you're right. There's one Sabbath, and it's. It's Saturday. Now, the church, Christianity has worshiped on Sunday from time immemorial because that was resurrection day. And I want to say it as clearly as I can. And, you know, Jeff, I've got a lot of. We've had a lot of listeners that have said that, you know, to be a Christian, you've got to keep a Saturday Sabbath and a, ah, day of rest is wonderful and fine, but Sunday is not the Sabbath. Sunday is the day that within four weeks after the cross. Scholars tell us within four weeks after the cross, Christians were worshiping on Sunday morning because that was the day Jesus rose. And I just want to say with all my heart, salvation, the plan of salvation does not involve keeping the Sabbath first. John 5:1. Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God. So, keep a Sabbath if you want to. But understand, keeping a Saturday Sabbath has nothing to do with getting born again. Yeah.

>> Jeff Chamblee: Well said.

>> Alex McFarland: Yeah. hey, by the way, I just happened to see this. I know time fleets away, but I was looking in my lexicon. Okay. methuselah of Genesis 4:18. It means man of God. This is the father of Lamech. The very next entry. Methuselah, the longest living human recorded in the Bible. The grandfather of Noah, an ancestor of Christ. Genesis 5:21. So Methuselah and Methuselah have to be two different people.

>> Jeff Chamblee: Yeah.

>> Alex McFarland: At least in. In this particular, Old Testament lexicon I've got, there are two different people. Okay. Chris in Texas. Chris in Texas. What you got, my friend? Hello.

>> John: Hello.

>> Speaker G: Good. Good evening, brother. How y'all doing?

>> Alex McFarland: Good. Blessed. Good to have you.

>> Speaker G: Amen. Amen to that. Amen. Amen to that. Yes, sir. yes, sir.

Many today feel it once you get baptized that they receive the Holy Spirit

A few callers earlier, a young lady was talking about being baptized, and she in titles, right? And, I, you know, I. Obviously in the Book of Acts, none of the disciples or apostles, ever baptized in titles. And it's always in Jesus name. M. Right. And I understand, you know, where, you know, Jesus said, go baptize them in name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. And that's the whole Godhead, right? And that the Bible says the whole Godhead is from Jesus. So I just, I mean I was baptized in titles first, but then the Lord had led me to be baptized in his name and, and I did. In Jesus name and but a few days before that, I received the Spirit from nowhere, guys. And that's why I'm doing my next M. Here's my question. So the Spirit came at me with no words uttered, words I never heard before, and I was by myself and I knew it, it was the Holy Spirit. But here's my question. Jesus, he talks about in John3.8, he describes it when one receives the Holy Spirit, right? he says, the wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or, where it's going. So is it with everyone born of the Spirit? So I feel like many today feel it once you get baptized that they receive the Holy Spirit. But here Jesus is saying that it's like the wind. It's like nobody know knows when one is born in the Spirit. It's like the wind, you know, we don't know which way the wind blows. So that's my question. What do you think about what Jesus says there? And yes sir, that's it.

>> Alex McFarland: Well, you know, Jeff, remember Jesus in, Matthew 28, it says, Go into all the world, make disciples. And really the wording means as you are going, I think, to be, led by the Holy Spirit of God to experience incredible opportunities, to serve God and to really feel the presence of. You've got to always be at the ready as you're going. You just never know. You don't get spiritual at 11am Sunday morning and then Monday through Saturday, not be in tune with the Spirit where Jesus says, as the wind blows where it wants to. And so it is with everyone born of the Spirit of God. Jeff, one of the great adventures of the Christian life is to experience the joy of the Lord. The leading of the Lord, being used by the Lord when you least expect it out, just living everyday life. And that's why we need to always be living in such a way that the Spirit of God is in control of us. Would you agree?

>> Jeff Chamblee: Absolutely. You know, we walk in the spirit, not in the flesh. And we are listening, to the voice of God as we live every day. Chris, I think in John 3 very, very quickly, when he speaks of the spirit like the wind, he's speaking to Nicodemus about what it means to be born of the Spirit. He's speaking of salvation and the fact that you can't see it coming or going when a person is born again. I think in this case he's talking about the born again conversion experience, and not necessarily being led by the spirit as you walk. That's just my take on it.

>> Alex McFarland: Well said. Michael, and others. I'm sorry we couldn't get to everyone. We're just about out of time. Hey, Jeff, it's great to be with you. And folks, let me encourage you. Be in church on Sunday, wherever you are. Find a good Bible believing church. Maybe bring somebody into the sound of the gospel. But thanks for listening to Exploring the Word. May God bless you in all things. Tell somebody about afr. But most of all, tell everybody about Jesus. The views and opinions expressed in this broadcast may not necessarily reflect those of the American Family association or American Family Radio.