Transcript

Stay with American Family Radio to study God's word this week

>> Bert Harper: The Bible. It's the word of God. Sharper than any two edged sword.

>> Alex McFarland: This sacred book is living and active.

>> Bert Harper: And contains all that's needed for life and godliness. Stay with American Family Radio for the next hour as we study God's word.

>> Alex McFarland: And take your Bible questions.

Alex McFarland and Bert Harper host Exploring the Word on Tuesday

>> Bert Harper: Welcome to Exploring the Word.

>> Alex McFarland: Humble yourselves therefore, under the mighty hand of God that he may exalt you in due time. Keep casting all your care upon him, for he cares for you. Well, those famous words are from 1st Peter 5, 6, 7. And with that, we welcome you to today's edition of Exploring the word. Alex McFarland here along with Bert Harper. And you are listening to the American Family Radio Network. And we're deeply honored that you are. Tuesdays are special days for a number of reasons. And we're going to continue in First Peter, chapter five and, the Word of God, and then we'll take your telephone calls. And Bert, we love Tuesdays. We love every day of the week. But, it's kind of a fellowship and a church family atmosphere because on Tuesdays we pray for each other, don't we?

>> Bert Harper: We really do. Tuesdays and Fridays have become highlights, I would say, of a week that we enjoy each day. But, Tuesday, the prayer request and the praises, like you said, we get to share those as well. And people have caught on to the prai. They've called in and saying what God has done. And Alex, we rejoice in what God's doing to exploring the Word. And we thank God for that. So yes, it is. And I would say this about that, you know, God's the one that exalts us. And so who do you want to please? If he's the one that exalts us, do we want to please man or God?

>> Alex McFarland: We want to please God. Adrian Rogers. And folks, we urge you to familiarize yourself with the, the books and the sermons of Adrian Rogers. He's long since gone to heaven, but he used to say this. I used to watch him. He, would say, live your life for an audience of one.

>> Bert Harper: That's it.

>> Alex McFarland: He said, if you please God, it doesn't really matter who you displease. And if you displease God, it doesn't matter who you do. Please live your life for the Lord. And that's what we encourage. And we do have some praises, some big time praises. And as we get into first Peter 5, a couple of things that we want to say.

Operation Christmas Child is a global ministry led by Franklin Graham

you know, it's getting near that time where we pack some Shoeboxes, isn't it, Bert?

>> Bert Harper: It really is.

>> Alex McFarland: Christmas Child. OCC and Samaritan's Purse is a global ministry, fantastic ministry led by Franklin Graham, the son of Billy Graham. and anyway, Bert, millions and millions and millions of children and ultimately their parents and villages and whole regions have come to Christ through Operation Christmas Child. And whenever I see the green and red shoeboxes begin to pop up about this time of year, makes me think of Christmas. But it also makes me think of the gospel going out there to people everywhere.

>> Bert Harper: Isn't that something that goes hand in hand? Since 1993, when Operation Christmas Child began, there's been 232 million shoebox shipped to children in 170 countries. And in each one of those boxes was this you can do and how you can know Jesus Christ as savior. And because of that and what they've done with it, with a followup about following Jesus, 12 million, children has gone through that to find out more about Christ. And when you say children, guess what? Children come from families that have mom and dads and other siblings. And so this is compounded. And I, I know I use that word a lot, but it is, in other words, it's like a ripple effect. One affects another and another and another. And so Operation Christmas Child. Start getting those toys ready. And you said the church that you're a member of, y' all are have 800 ready to go, is that right?

>> Alex McFarland: Big shout out to South Elm Street Baptist Church in Greensboro, North Carolina. And Pastor Lawrence Clapp and I will be having breakfast in the morning. But South Elm Street Baptist has got 800 shoeboxes done. They had a prayer and a dedication Sunday and they're going to be doing even more still. But and we're not that large of a church, actually. I don't, I don't know. In two services, South Elm, Street might run 350 people. But anyway, everybody everywhere and I think it's such a wonderful concept to give a child a toy, you know, and some like a washcloth and some personal items that children need, but also the gospel. Every one of those shoeboxes has materials to present Jesus Christ. And you know Bert, when we've had some of the OCC representatives on the show every year, a lot of them have come to Christ, you know, in very far flung areas of the world. And they would say, you know, I was the first person in my village to become a born again believer, things like that. It's a great ministry and it warms our heart to be a part of it, doesn't it?

>> Bert Harper: It really does. And if you want to know more about it, you can go to samaritanspurse.org occ samaritanspurse.org Occ the collection week. You got until November, 24th. And, so start doing it now. If you haven't done it, start. And you can go online again. Let me give you that. And find out what kind of toys, which ones do not need to be shipped. And 10, dollars will help get it there. And they'll send you something so you can track where your shoebox goes, which country, and what's God doing with it. Samaritans. Purse.org occ hey, I've got a praise.

Alex: We have a new brother in Christ in Romania named Axel

>> Alex McFarland: And we are getting into first Peter, but, folks, listen to this. You all have a new brother in Christ in Romania named Axel. Now, yesterday we had, Sergei Brasov, a, born again Jewish believer. But here's the thing. I had gotten an email from someone in Romania, a German man, but he's in Romania, but he's originally from Germany. And he had some questions, and he was torn between Islam and Christianity, and he had some questions about the resurrection. We talked up until showtime, and I said, hey, I've got to be on the radio, but please call me back. And, he did. And we talked after the show yesterday, Axel and I, I was praying, I did my best to answer some questions, but, it was very powerful. And I called Bert last night, and, this man who. And he's listening right now, I'm sure of it, listening online. Axel, we prayed for you, but he accepted Christ on the telephone last night after exploring the Word. And he found us on the Internet, had some questions about the resurrection, and, you know, in spite of thousands of miles of distance and, cultural differences. And Bert, I'll tell you this, I thought to you, we got down to brass tacks. And I said, now, Axel, your father, if you make this decision and you accept Christ and you trust Jesus, it is Jesus and Jesus only, do you understand that, that you're not dabbling a little bit of Jesus, a little bit of Islam. And he said, no. And I said, I want you to, renounce Islam and you're accepting Christ and Christ alone. He said, absolutely. And Bert, we rejoice in that, don't we?

>> Bert Harper: We do. We praise God. Listen, God is using people all over the world. And people all over the world, many of them are seeking, they really are seeking truth because they've been fed so much untruth that they. And they're realizing this is not real. And so what an opportunity is for exploring the word AFR for your church, your ministry, Operation Christmas Child. What an opportunity God has given us, here in 2025, going into 2026, to really see what God has done. Facebook may be one of the places. I just heard a story about somebody on Facebook that seemed desperate. And they. They just saw that comment of desperation and they decided to. To, you know, secretively or privately, I say contact them. And that person said, man, what you did in contacting me really made a difference in how I look at life. So look for those opportunities that God gives you, whether it's on Facebook, whether it's person to person, whether it's on the radio, God is at work, Alex. And here in First Peter, Chapter 5, we find out how he works best. He works best in an humble servant, someone that is okay, Lord, I'm yours. I have nothing of my own but what you have done with me. I want you to use me in a real way to touch the world. And I think Peter comes across with that when he says this in verse five of First Peter, chapter five. Likewise, you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you, be what, submissive to one another and be clothed with humility. For God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble clothed with humility. Alex, there's no room for selfish pride in a, Christian's life now. There's thankfulness and there's the joy and, and there is all of the courageousness that God can give you, but there's no room for pride in saying, look what I've done. Look what I've accomplished, that we do not build ourselves up. And so here it is, submit yourselves one to another. And now that's what he's meant. Two things that Peter gets across, and I'll throw it back to you in First Peter is one submission. He's talked about it earlier about submissive in government, submissive to leadership, submissive in a home. And here it's submissive to one another in the church. And here it is. The other one is suffering. Matter of fact, he's not through. And when we get to verse 10, you'll see that he wraps it up about suffering. So those two things, we need to expect suffering if we're walking with Christ. And we need to be humble as we walk with him as well.

>> Alex McFarland: Yeah. You know that verse 5 has a quote from Proverbs 3 God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Now, verse six is a principle. Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time. If you flip it over. If you exalt yourselves, God will humble you. And so, Bert, I've met a lot of guys that are in the ministry, younger guys. It's wonderful. It's a glorious thing to hear the call of God. But notice the phrase in due time. a lot of things, a lot of great blessings come along when you serve Jesus. But God is the God of, the timetable, isn't he?

>> Bert Harper: It's God's time. You could say this. It's not translatable. It's translated correctly. But he will exalt you in his time. He really will. He knows when.

There's so much about the Christian life that involves waiting

And, Alex, you fly all the time, and you've got to know where you're going, but you also got to know what time you got to be there to take off, don't you?

>> Alex McFarland: Well, you really do. You really do. And there's so much about the Christian life that involves waiting. And I know, you know, I'm kind of, like, proactive. Come on, let's, let's. Let's get about it. You know, type A, kind of go get them. But there is so much about consistency, patience, and just waiting on God and maybe somebody listening. And you're in the middle of, you know, something you've prayed for for a long time. And people pray for, you know, a spouse. People pray for, conflicts to get resolved, financial health. I mean, you know, for a prodigal to come back to the Lord, a lot of things. And folks, when you're doing all that you know how to do, you're living for Christ, you're praying and putting it before the Lord, and you don't feel like you've gotten an answer yet. Well, just be patient. Bert, I believe God is at work, even if we don't humanly see what he's doing.

>> Bert Harper: Amen.

>> Alex McFarland: God is at work. There's so much about waiting for due time in the journey of a Christian.

>> Bert Harper: Think of Moses, okay? For 40 years, he was in the wilderness, and the children of Israel were praying, Lord, why don't you do something about our slavery? God was doing something in those 40 years. He is raising up Moses to deliver her. And so, Alex, God, is at work, and he will exalt you the way. Not only in his time, but let me say, in his way. He will exalt you in his way. Not Your way, not what I want, but your will be done. Alex, we're going to continue here. We'll finish up first, Peter chapter five, and then take phone calls for prayer requests and praises. So we don't want anyone to go away. Stay tuned for more because you'll be blessed to hear what God is doing.

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First Peter 5:7 says you can trust God with everything

Well, we're in First Peter, chapter five. We're going to try to finish up here in verse seven. Do you know. Let me ask everybody out there and then I'll ask Alex. Do you know God cares for you? Alex, when you, know God that He cares for you, what can you trust him with?

>> Alex McFarland: Oh, you can trust him with everything. your future, your present, your safety, your guidance, your financial provision. And I can say this, as a learner in process, you can trust him with your hopes and dreams and your to do list, can't you?

>> Bert Harper: You really can listen to these words casting all your cares upon him. M. One more question. I'm full of questions today. And I'm asking, Alec, what does all mean in the Greek?

>> Alex McFarland: a L. L All means All. That's all. All means.

>> Bert Harper: And so there's nothing too big or too small to go before God.

>> Alex McFarland: There's nothing too insignificant. Nothing too small. You know, he. The very hairs of our head are numbered. And so we can trust God. I, love verse seven. Casting all your care on him because he cares for you. all your care on him. That's first Peter 5:7. one of the wedding presents we got was a, ah, plaque. And it hung on our wall, and still we have it. But it says, casting all your care upon him, for he cares for you. Just, like God saw the widow's mite, the tiny, tiny little coin. God sees the hairs on our head. Our days are numbered before we're even born. Bert, we can trust God with our hopes, our dreams, our fears, our aspirations, our guilt. you know, we've all. If we're honest, we got things that we wish we hadn't have done years ago. Bring it all to Jesus. All to Jesus. Because he loves you, the whole person. Bert, we've said this many times. he regenerates our spirit. He renews our mind. He glorifies our body. God saves the whole person.

>> Bert Harper: Hallelujah.

>> Alex McFarland: And he is the redeemer of every.

>> Bert Harper: Every.

>> Alex McFarland: Every nook and cranny of your life.

>> Bert Harper: Amen.

Alex Martin: Be sober, be vigilant against Satan's temptations

Well, before we get to verse 8, this sets it up. What do you need? Pride or humility to face the temptations of Satan? Now listen to this. After he gets through this. Humbling yourself before God, his mighty hand casting your cares upon him. Be sober, be vigilant. That means, that we should be very watchful. Because your adversary, the devil, walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings. There's that word again. Are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. Now listen to that. It's not on your own. It's through humility, trusting in the Lord. And. And you better put your cares cast on him. If you don't. And you think they're all on you or something else beside you, you're an open target for Satan's devices. So. But when you trust him, you. You let him have his way in your life. You're ready for the battle, the armor of God being put on. But it make good judgment. He is our adversary. And he, he make. Let me ask you this. He is a formidable foe. But his roar is very loud. I know that. have you ever heard their bark is worse than their bite? Oh, yeah. Now, I want to tell you for the believer. And you can find this in the Book of Colossians. I preached on it Sunday, in the Church Hillcrest in New Albany that I was at. And it was this, that Jesus has triumphed over the enemy. He is a wounded. He's a wounded enemy. Now, here's the thing about wounded enemies. They're very. They're very dangerous because, they know. They try to get at you because they're wounded. And they're not going to last forever. So Satan is that enemy. But we can. You can, through Jesus Christ, become that person that's more than a conqueror in Christ Jesus. Can't we, Alex?

>> Alex McFarland: We can. We absolutely can. You know, Bert, I looked up that word in the. In the English translation in verse eight is, translated vigilant. Be sober. Be vigilant. Because your adversary, the devil is a roaring lion, walks about seeking whom he may devour, whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. Okay? And really, 10 through 14 is kind of the closing salutation.

Bert says Christians need to be vigilant in their walk toward Christ

But, before we get there, let's sort of, button up verses 8 and 9. The word vigilant literally means stay awake. Stay awake. And, I really think that we have to, every single day as a Christian, really be, mindful and focused on our walk, our growth, our witness, our worship. So I was looking up that word. Stay awake. Don't fall asleep at the switch, as the old saying goes. and I like this. It means responsibly watchful.

>> Bert Harper: That's it.

>> Alex McFarland: Now, we don't have to be, obsessive, oh, the devil's going to get me. No, we belong to Christ. If you're a believer, you don't have to be, obsessively paranoid or something like that. you don't have to just beat yourself up about the past. I think about the Apostle Paul. You know, he could have been prideful. I wrote half the New Testament. I am the Apostle Paul. But he wasn't prideful that way. Paul, on the other hand, he could have beaten himself down. Oh, God doesn't love me. I was a participant in the first martyr, the death of Stephen. I persecuted the church. Oh, I'm, no good God, no. He said, I am what I am by the grace of God. I was a sinner, but I receive mercy. And so, Bert, this vigilance that verse eight speaks about, this being watchful over one's self and one's journey. I think the way to do that is to be make sure that your heart, your life, your plans, your past, your present, you look at it through the lens of scripture and Bert. emotions, pride, our own, finite, flawed ways of thinking. We need to reorder our mind and our perspective and our very life. It's got to be guided by, shaped by, informed by scripture, the word of God, doesn't it?

>> Bert Harper: All the way, Alex. man. Well said. Why? Because. Why do you have to be having good judgment, sober and being watchful, carefully watchful. Because Satan will appear the adversary as an angel of light. And he also is like a wolf in sheep's clothing. So he has to distract from who he really is. He's got to present himself in a completely different way than he really is because he is the destroyer. And the enemy has come to kill, steal and destroy. So we've got to be sober and vigilant. And the word walks has the idea of stalks. You know, a lion.

>> Alex McFarland: Oh yeah.

>> Bert Harper: Stalks. Its prey.

>> Alex McFarland: Predator.

>> Bert Harper: Exactly. So Satan or his demons, they are looking out how to get even the believer to stumble and fall. He's trying to get those that do not know him that they would not. And confuse them so they would not believe truth. So Satan is there now. How do you do that? Verse nine, right? Resist him. Resist him. If. If Eve had only resisted Satan and, and the serpent and what he was trying to do. Steadfast in the faith. There it is again. Resist him. Not just on your own, but steadfast in the faith. The faith. Knowing who God is. Knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. You're not the only one I know for prayer requests. And we were going to bring that up, so I'm just going to bring it up right now. Nigeria is going through great persecution. Thousands are being, say are. Are being slain. They're being killed. Muslim. The whatever is it hope or Baha, I cannot ever say that. Right. but the Islam, people there also in China. Brent was just telling me Brett Bart news has told him that this past weekend Chinese government has arrested a lot a lot home church pastors and is incarcerating them. So here it is. The sufferings that's going on in the world. They're our brothers in Christ, they're our sisters in Christ and we join them. And that's what said. So what do we do? We come against Satan. Don't let him overtake you. The sufferings is real. But be resistful toward him and straight dependent in faith on Christ.

>> Alex McFarland: Amen. Well, it. And by the way, Burt mentioned the prayer day, and we would love to hear your prayer request. We'll just, agree together in prayer. The number. We'll get to it in a few moments, but it's 888-589-8840. That's 888-589-8880. And we would love for you to share your prayer request that we'll get to in just a moment. So, be calling in, if you would.

Alex: Bert says salvation is validated by your suffering and your service

it sort of turns a Corner at verse 10. And let me read this. It's just so beautiful after all these wonderful doctrinal promises and admonitions for Christian living. Verse 10. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that you have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you to him, be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. And then the closing words by Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose I have written briefly exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein you stand. The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, salute you. And so doth Marcus, my son, greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen. And so concludes this magnificent five chapter book that we call First Peter. Bert, let's go back just a bit to verse 10. talk about a benediction, you know, at the end of the service, maybe the preacher says, you know, in the name of the Father, Son, Holy Spirit, go in peace till we reconvene at the accepted time. You know, benediction, this is about as beautiful as human words could possibly convey. The God of all grace who has called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus. Now, Bert, that salvation by God, who to this world extended grace, the spirit of the Lord drew us to Jesus, called us born again. We are, participants in the eternal glory that is and will be, and it's all through Christ Jesus birth. That first first half of the sentence of, first Peter 5, 10 is just beautiful beyond words.

>> Bert Harper: It is. Alex, listen. God's grace, God's glory. His grace extended to us so we could bring him glory through us. That's what he has done for us. We're to bring him glory. That's the reason you one of the reasons you've been saved. God wants you to be with him in eternity, but he. He keeps you here on earth after you've been saved to bring him glory to See what work God has done. And now it's only through Christ Jesus, no one else. And then he brings up one of the subjects that is all through the book of First Peter. Matter of fact, I would say this is the purpose of, of First Peter, to help us in our suffering. He says, after you have suffered a while, not if, but if, not if, but when, after, he might perfect you. Now, that means material you grow, you help, finish, you establish, strengthen and settle you. Look at those words. In other words, suffering that God will use what settle you. It will strengthen you, it will establish you, and it will mature you. Alex, if it wasn't for suffering and then God using that suffering, I think we would be like that unstable man that's always talked about in the Bible.

>> Alex McFarland: Yeah, that's true. And notice this. I believe this is the Christian life, okay? The God of glory saves us by Christ Jesus. Okay? After that, you have suffered a little while. And the disciples journey down here is wonderful, glorious and yet, punctuated by sufferings, persecutions, all these things it says make you perfect, stablish, strengthen and settle you. And the word, establish there is really the word mature and confirm you. Now, your salvation is validated by your suffering and your service. Now, I want to be clear. Salvation is not by works. You, are the beneficiary of the work Christ did. But if, you journey, you stay with Jesus, you suffer not for sins, but for being a Christian. Sometimes there is a price to pay and you journey on. Then you're going to be glorified one day. But down here, Bert, the Christian Life, whether it's 10 years or 80 years or however long it is suffering for a little while really, isn't it?

>> Bert Harper: It is. And that's what he started off with. In season you're going to be.

John: Silvanius and Mark were on Paul's first missionary journeys

Now let's finish up. We don't have a lot of time. But he mentions two names, Silvanius, Mark, let me say, I think they're connected with the apostle Paul, Silas. He took out on his second missionary journey. Mark was on Paul's first missionary journey. And then, he went with Barnabas. So here it is, a faithful brother. And then, Mark, my son. Isn't that a beautiful relationship that I couldn't get over the cross relationships, not just with Paul, but now with Peter. it's awesome when that happens, isn't it?

>> Alex McFarland: Now, is this John Mark?

>> Bert Harper: I believe it is, as best I.

>> Alex McFarland: Can tell, disqualified by Paul, but would later be forgiven in second Timothy 4, 11. hallelujah.

>> Bert Harper: Amen.

>> Alex McFarland: Here's the thing, John, Mark, he had Peter vouching for him, didn't he?

>> Bert Harper: He really does. And Paul did. Before he died in second Timothy, he told Timothy, bring Mark with you. He'd be profitable to me right now.

>> Alex McFarland: Look, and I got to throw this out, folks. In the Christian journey, you might have burned, a bridge in times past, and maybe you got sideways with a fellow brother, before everybody has left this world, do some fence mending.

>> Bert Harper: Amen.

>> Alex McFarland: Even Paul, even the great apostle Paul did that.

>> Bert Harper: He did. Hey, we're going to take prayer requests. And, that number that you Want to call, 888-589-8840. We want to hear from you. And if you got any praises, share those with us as well. We'll be back right after this break.

AFA relies on the generous gifts of people like you

Hey, I'm curious.

>> Alex McFarland: Would you help AFA continue to stand in the gap for future generations of our families?

>> Bert Harper: You know, we rely on the generous gifts of people like you, and you can help keep the mission of AFA going strong well into the future with.

>> Alex McFarland: Planned giving through the AFA Foundation.

>> Bert Harper: If you have questions, we can answer them and then help you set up.

>> Alex McFarland: A charitable gift annuity or a bequest. You'll leave a legacy that will impact your grandkids and beyond.

>> Bert Harper: Visit afafoundation.net to find out more. Amen. That was a Brent Austin song, I guarantee you there. Alex, Brent, was over there. He was jamming that you could tell that he is the grave robber.

Revelation 17 seems to indicate church at Babylon is symbolic for Rome

Well, we want to get to the prayer request. People have called in, and if you got more, we're going to try to get to as many as we can. 888-589-8840. And we're ready to go. But real quickly, before we go, 1 Peter, chapter 5, verse 13. She who is in Babylon. Alex, do you think that might be the Babylon? Let me see. Do you think that might be the city of Rome?

>> Alex McFarland: I think it is. You know, Revelation 17 seems to indicate the church at Babylon is really kind of a symbolic name for the city of Rome.

>> Bert Harper: Yeah, I believe it is.

>> Alex McFarland: To make sense.

>> Bert Harper: It does, and we just thought we'd throw that in to make sure, that gives a better understanding of it.

Laurie from Virginia calls with prayer request for her brother Tommy

Well, we've got a lot of people that's called in. Let's go, brother.

>> Alex McFarland: Laurie in Virginia, you're our first caller today. Welcome.

>> Caroline: Well, thank you for taking my call, Burton, Alex, I love you both, and praise the Lord. Yes, I need a prayer request for my brother Tommy. We're concerned about his M. health and his mental health. And I'm trying to get him to accept Jesus in his life and, you know, the love of God and also to have God have his protection around my brother.

>> Bert Harper: Okay, Lori. M. Tommy is his name. Those of you that are prayer warriors, some, of you do this. You do it like people in a classroom, you know, a small group. There'll be somebody over there that'll write every prayer request down. Alex, you know, so we've got a bunch of those that's writing this name down. So we're writing Tommy's name down. He, physically, spiritually, he needs to get right with God, doesn't he?

>> Alex McFarland: Amen. We often pray. Lord, please keep this person alive physically till they could be born spiritually. Laurie, we're going to pray. We're also from Virginia. Paul. Paul, welcome to Exploring the Word.

>> Caroline: Thank you. Alex and Burt, longtime listener, first time caller. bless you guys.

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

>> Caroline: Thank you so much. Yes, sir. I went through, some pretty, aggressive, radiation for, tonsil cancer about four years ago. And it's turned out to be the gift that keeps on giving. you know, radiation just takes everything away from you.

>> Alex McFarland: And I ended up.

>> Caroline: My jaw has actually fractured because of it. they pull bone out of my leg to replace my jaw. I'm having some trouble with the healing on it, and I'd like to ask you gentlemen to pray for me with that, if you would, please.

>> Bert Harper: Paul, we'll do it. Alex, is it all right for us to take time to pray for Tommy and Paul right now?

>> Alex McFarland: yes. Would you lead us?

>> Bert Harper: I will. Father, I thank you for Lori calling about her brother Tommy and God, we are coming to you, petitioning you to, as Alex said, to keep him alive, protect him physically. And Father, I pray that you would put people around him that know Jesus Christ and would show and tell exactly what Christ has done. And, Father, that he would see that and see that he needs to have a relationship with you that brings peace, that brings calmness, brings courage, all of those things when you let him to be, Lord. So we're praying for Tommy that he would come to know you. And Father, I thank you for Paul. He's been listening and he got through today. And man, the radiation treatment and all, all those treatments that, for cancer, whatever it is, Father, they're difficult and they're hard, and, Paul has been through that. And now he's had to have the bone transplant from one place to another. And Father, it's always difficult and hard, but we're praying, God, that you would be with him, strengthen him, give the doctors knowledge that they need. And Father, I pray that overall you would get the glory. That's. That's the bottom line in what Paul Peter said today, that we're to give him glory no matter what the circumstances are. So I'm praying for that, that Lori would. That Paul would give you glory, and Alex and I do as well. In Jesus name, Amen.

>> Alex McFarland: Amen. Amen.

Deborah is praying for her nephew who is incarcerated

well, in my home state of North Carolina, Deborah, in North Carolina, you are on Exploring the Word.

>> Caroline: Yes. Hi. Thank y' all for taking my prayer. My nephew, his name is Arthur. A R T H U r He's incarcerated. And he called me and he said the food there is really bad. And we, could just pray for him. He was panicking because I guess he didn't realize how bad food was.

>> Alex McFarland: Wow. Does he know the Lord?

>> Caroline: I don't think so. I'm, just trying to witness to him, tell him about Jesus. But he's got his. You know, I don't know. Young people, they may hear it come in one year out the other, but I don't really think so.

>> Alex McFarland: And his name is Arthur.

>> Caroline: Yes. We could really pray for him.

>> Alex McFarland: I'm going to right now, Deborah, and, thank you for sharing that. Lord, in the name of Jesus, thank you for Deborah listening, and she's concerned about her nephew. And Lord, I pray that in this season you'll work in Arthur's life. Lord, I pray, that even though to be incarcerated, that's not ideal, but as he, is there, help him, tolerate the food. I pray the food wouldn't, be, unhealthy or something, but, maybe even he would, remember to be grateful for having some food, even though it's not what he would want. But most of all, we lift up Arthur, that he would be saved. And lord, in John 15:16, you tell us that if we ask according to your will, in Jesus name, it would be done. And Lord, we know you were not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance. So I pray for Arthur and, Lord, that he will think about you. Even right now, he would be thinking about the gospel that he's heard and so that he would open his heart and be saved. And I know there are many others. we have people in jails and prisons listening right now. Many take what we try to teach, and they teach Bible study in the prisons. And Lord, I've met in Mississippi, in Texas, in Alabama, inmates that use exploring the Word for Sunday school lessons. Glory to God. And so we, we pray for a special blessing and your presence with those that are listening, even right now behind bars. And Lord, just, save the lost, revive the church, and may all of us, may our ways be pleasing in your sight. In Jesus name we ask it, Lord. Amen.

>> Bert Harper: Amen.

Brent needs prayer for his mother in law who has an autoimmune disease

Alex, before we go to the next caller, we got calls that are coming in, so we're excited about that. But, Brent, you had a prayer request you was going to share with us and a praise too, about your mother in law. Do that real quickly. Yeah. Without going into a lot with, my mother in law right now, because we don't know a whole lot, but we do know that things are turning around, very contrary to what we had originally been told. And we had a prayer request. Facebook. Yes. one I've got is Matthew. he needs prayer for his wife who has an autoimmune disease. And I'm asking prayer for a special friend that I just met on Facebook. His name is Jimmy. he was on the edge of giving, up. I just ran across his comment on a Facebook, page that I follow. And I reached out to him and, he was very appreciative. And, he said it's given him a lot of, hope and courage. Now that somebody just out of the blue said, hey, I want to pray for you. Amen. Thank you, Brent. Keep on doing that.

>> Alex McFarland: Amen. West Virginia is where Charles is located. Charles, thanks for holding. Welcome to Exploring the Word.

>> Caroline: Hi, Bert. Hi, Alex. I appreciate you taking my call.

I just had a praise report that I wanted to share with everybody

I just had a praise report that I wanted to share with everybody because I felt really encouraged by it. And this show encourages me every day listening to you all when I drive home from work. But, I had a situation where my son and I hadn't, spoken for almost five years. And I continually prayed, for God to restore our relationship. And it was hard to do it for all that time. And sometimes you have to make yourself pray when you don't want to. God does not necessarily work on our timeline, but I just want to encourage others to. If you have a situation like that, stick with it. Keep praying. God does answer prayers. God is good. He's still on the throne. And I give him all the praise and glory for what the work is that he did with my son and my relationship. And I think it may even be used to help bring my father back to Christ by The way he acted when I, told him about this the other day. So I just want to give thanks to God. Thanks to Jesus. Thank you all for encouraging me daily.

>> Bert Harper: Amen. Praise God. Amen. From whom all blessings flow. Relationship. He's the relationship restorer, you know.

>> Alex McFarland: Amen.

>> Bert Harper: And he really is. And unhealed, broken relationships. I just want to tell you, they. That and unmet, you know, expectations. There are two of the things that really grade on people. And so we praise the Lord for this relationship restored. Charles. Thank you, brother. And pray for Charles's dad as well. Right, Alex?

>> Alex McFarland: Amen. Amen.

Lee in Virginia needs a lot of prayer for the election this year

Lee in Virginia, I believe you've got a very relevant prayer request.

>> Caroline: Yes, sir. I appreciate you guys so much. And we need a lot of prayer for the election here. And God's will be done.

>> Alex McFarland: Amen.

>> Bert Harper: Oh, man. Virginia, is hot spot. It really is. And, we're, we're asking God to, you know, the governor's race, the attorney general, all of it. And there's a place you can go I voter Guide and you, if you don't know anything about it, you can find out by I voter Guide and find out where these candidates stand. And, the one in Virginia, it's been pretty prolific, far as the information, hasn't it, Alex? Besides us praying, just get informed as you pray. You want to combine those two things, don't you? Being informed and then praying.

>> Alex McFarland: Well, yes, to be informed. And also New York City. Mamdani, the Marxist, anti Semite, anti capitalist, Muslim. Come on, folks, we need to intercede. And also, let me just say this, I know we're talking about spiritual things, but I will tell you, President Trump, we need to pray for him, and the peace deal in Israel. I mean, there's so much good that is happening. And I know the woke globalists would love to get back the houses of Congress and retaliate. and it is imperative, it is imperative that we need not only the sovereignty of God, but the people of God to vote and vote conscientiously.

>> Bert Harper: Amen.

>> Alex McFarland: And so that's a matter of prayer.

Dennis in Missouri has two prayer requests, one for his ex wife

Dennis in Missouri. I think it's. Am I right, Dennis, Are you in Missouri?

>> Caroline: Yes, sir.

>> Alex McFarland: Welcome. Thank you for holding.

>> Caroline: You know, I have two prayer requests. One of them is for my ex wife and one is for my brother. I don't know where my ex wife stands with the Lord, but, concerned about her and my brother, who's 80 years old, I tried to witness to him, but he tells me he doesn't want to hear anything. About the gospel and I get concerned about him because he is 80 and I don't know how many more years he's got to live. M and he's very much on my mind.

>> Alex McFarland: Okay, I hear you brother.

>> Bert Harper: We're going to pray. Alex is artif. I pray right now.

>> Alex McFarland: Please do, Father.

>> Bert Harper: I thank you for Dennis calling in. I thank you for a heart of compassion that we can sense in his life and for others that have called in Father. And we're praying for his ex wife that she would, she doesn't, he doesn't know exactly where she is and what's going on. But Father, you do. That's awesome thing that you do know exactly where they are, you know exactly what they need. And God, we're praying that you would intervene in her life in such a way that she would turn to you and then trust you. We pray for his 80 year old brother, Father, who doesn't want to hear, God, I pray you'd bring some dreams into his life at night. Dreams that would upset him enough to make him say I, I do need to be concerned. You've dream. You use your word but you also use dreams. You're using dreams to bring Muslims to the point where when they tell peop. When they're being told about Jesus said that's who I've been dreaming about. So I pray that for Dennis's brother God that you would intervene right now in Jesus name. Amen.

>> Alex McFarland: Amen. Thank you for sharing that, Dennis. in Mississippi. Jason. Jason in Mississippi, you are on exploring the Word.

>> Caroline: Thank you so much. I would like. I'll pray for my mother, Bobby Rolls. She is in the hospital with a very bad UTI and it's messed her up physically and mentally.

>> Bert Harper: Yeah.

>> Caroline: And she has a long way to go and I just need some prayer.

>> Alex McFarland: Amen.

>> Bert Harper: You know, this is so unreal. We think it's mild but UTI is the difference that it can cause. And even the kidney, half of all diseases affect the kidney in such a bad way and what takes place. So we'll pray for that. Her name is Bobby. Alex, go ahead.

>> Alex McFarland: Let me share one too. We've got a very, very dear friend in Macon, Mississippi, David Barge. He might be listening right now. And mention was made of the persecution of Christians in China. right now, today. David Barge just sent me this. Chinese Communist Party arrests dozens of pastors in quote, a coordinated wave of persecution. I'm reading an article that David Barge sent me about an extensive coordinated wave of persecution against house churches. Christians and, pastors are being arrested. Christians, it says Christians. And Christian leaders are just being arbitrarily detained and they disappear very often. And so I know we've only got about a minute left for Jason's, mother, but also for the church in China. They are under intense persecution and they're in danger. Bert, would you pray about that?

>> Bert Harper: I will, Father. I thank you for Jason calling. And I'm praying for Bobby, his mom. I know what a UTI can cause with confusion physically and. And we're praying for her healing. God let the doctors know what they need to do. But, Father, you intervene. You're the great healer. You're the great physician. And Father, we're praying for our brothers and sisters that are in China. Those pastors here, Alex and, I, we're ministers and we're able to share on the radio without reprisal and their suffering. I pray God, that you would be with them and help them and help us know how to deal with as a country, Father, that there would be some hope there for them. We pray that you would strengthen them, help them no matter if they're in prison. If they're not, they may be with you. They are with you, Father. We thank you that we have that assurance. Thank you again, Lord Jesus, for what you're doing and what you're going to do. In Jesus name, amen.

>> Alex McFarland: Amen. Amen. Well, it's been a good show. We've wrapped up first, Peter. We will continue on in. And, we thank you for listening. Thank you for your prayers and support and participation in American Family Radio. And Bert, we always tell people to tell them about this radio, but even.

>> Bert Harper: More importantly, what tell people about Jesus Christ. He is Lord.

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

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