1 00:00:08,880 --> 00:00:11,520 S1: When you and I hear the word risk, we usually 2 00:00:11,520 --> 00:00:14,319 S1: think about, oh, maybe the stock market or perhaps the 3 00:00:14,320 --> 00:00:18,000 S1: risk involved with a job transfer. But Christ followers in 4 00:00:18,000 --> 00:00:21,320 S1: Iran understand that word very differently. Just to speak the 5 00:00:21,320 --> 00:00:24,400 S1: name of Jesus is dangerous there. Coming up, you'll hear 6 00:00:24,400 --> 00:00:28,120 S1: stories that will amaze, encourage, and inspire. Hey, this is 7 00:00:28,120 --> 00:00:30,720 S1: the land and the book with author and conference speaker 8 00:00:30,720 --> 00:00:34,360 S1: Doctor Charlie Dyer, also a noted Middle East expert. I'm 9 00:00:34,360 --> 00:00:37,920 S1: John Gager and Charlie Romans 116 clearly says that the 10 00:00:37,960 --> 00:00:41,360 S1: gospel is to the Jew first and also to the Gentile. 11 00:00:41,360 --> 00:00:43,640 S1: But how do you share the gospel with a Jewish person? 12 00:00:43,880 --> 00:00:47,000 S1: Because of cultural, historical, and religious differences, it can be 13 00:00:47,000 --> 00:00:50,800 S1: challenging to navigate a gospel conversation with somebody from a 14 00:00:50,800 --> 00:00:54,880 S1: Jewish background. You ever wondered maybe how the professionals do it? 15 00:00:54,920 --> 00:00:57,480 S2: Well, to answer that question, our friends at Life in 16 00:00:57,480 --> 00:01:00,590 S2: Messiah want to mail you samples of the tracks their 17 00:01:00,590 --> 00:01:03,870 S2: staff use as they share the gospel. This will serve 18 00:01:03,870 --> 00:01:06,830 S2: a dual purpose of equipping you with methods of presenting 19 00:01:06,830 --> 00:01:10,270 S2: the gospel, while also supplying you with tracks you can 20 00:01:10,270 --> 00:01:13,630 S2: share with your Jewish friends and neighbors. Life in Messiah's 21 00:01:13,630 --> 00:01:16,430 S2: Prayer is that these tracks will help further the spread 22 00:01:16,430 --> 00:01:19,589 S2: of the gospel among the Jewish people. To receive this 23 00:01:19,590 --> 00:01:22,190 S2: helpful assortment of tracks, all you need to do is 24 00:01:22,190 --> 00:01:25,790 S2: visit Life in Messiah org and click on the radio 25 00:01:25,790 --> 00:01:31,190 S2: button for more information. That's life in Messiah. Don't miss 26 00:01:31,190 --> 00:01:33,190 S2: out on this great opportunity. 27 00:01:33,590 --> 00:01:36,309 S1: And now we'll swing our focus toward current events, all 28 00:01:36,350 --> 00:01:38,910 S1: based in the Middle East. At the end of last week, 29 00:01:38,910 --> 00:01:41,429 S1: we were told that a cease fire between Israel and 30 00:01:41,430 --> 00:01:44,350 S1: Hamas was to be announced within a matter of days. 31 00:01:44,510 --> 00:01:47,910 S1: But then the process seemed to hit more snags. Where 32 00:01:47,910 --> 00:01:50,070 S1: do things stand now and what else is happening in 33 00:01:50,070 --> 00:01:50,710 S1: the region? 34 00:01:51,030 --> 00:01:53,990 S2: Well, President Trump still believes the cease fire will take 35 00:01:53,990 --> 00:01:57,830 S2: place shortly, but the reasons why it hasn't already happened 36 00:01:57,830 --> 00:02:00,980 S2: are complex. The main reason given is that the two 37 00:02:00,980 --> 00:02:05,140 S2: sides can't agree on how far back Israeli forces need 38 00:02:05,140 --> 00:02:09,940 S2: to withdraw during the cease fire. Israel presented several different proposals, 39 00:02:09,940 --> 00:02:13,579 S2: but Hamas rejected each one. Hamas is using the lack 40 00:02:13,580 --> 00:02:16,380 S2: of a deal to drive a wedge between Israelis and 41 00:02:16,380 --> 00:02:20,180 S2: their government. They're offering the hostages in return for Israel 42 00:02:20,180 --> 00:02:23,579 S2: pulling out of Gaza and ending the war, leaving Hamas 43 00:02:23,580 --> 00:02:27,820 S2: still armed and in control. Prime Minister Netanyahu wants Hamas 44 00:02:27,820 --> 00:02:32,220 S2: defeated and its control over Gaza ended. But he's also 45 00:02:32,220 --> 00:02:36,340 S2: facing multiple challenges. There's this large and vocal group in 46 00:02:36,340 --> 00:02:39,019 S2: Israel that wants the war to end, and the hostages 47 00:02:39,020 --> 00:02:42,859 S2: returned home regardless of the price to be paid. And 48 00:02:42,860 --> 00:02:46,460 S2: within his own coalition, he's facing pressure from several groups, 49 00:02:46,460 --> 00:02:50,060 S2: including the ultra orthodox Who's Different parties make up 18 50 00:02:50,100 --> 00:02:53,459 S2: of the 67 seats in his coalition. We'll talk about 51 00:02:53,460 --> 00:02:55,980 S2: that problem next, but I'll just say here that the 52 00:02:55,980 --> 00:02:59,410 S2: ultra orthodox are not happy. A second block in the 53 00:02:59,410 --> 00:03:03,450 S2: coalition pressuring Netanyahu are the two right wing parties led 54 00:03:03,450 --> 00:03:08,090 S2: by Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich. Their two parties account for 55 00:03:08,090 --> 00:03:12,090 S2: 20 of the 67 seats in the coalition. Among other things, 56 00:03:12,090 --> 00:03:15,370 S2: they're not in favor of a temporary ceasefire with Hamas. 57 00:03:15,610 --> 00:03:18,970 S2: And as if all those problems aren't enough, other issues 58 00:03:18,970 --> 00:03:23,130 S2: in the region are also creating tensions. An adviser to 59 00:03:23,169 --> 00:03:26,930 S2: Iran's speaker of the parliament posted a picture on Instagram 60 00:03:26,930 --> 00:03:31,970 S2: showing mushroom clouds from two nuclear explosions blanketing Israel. It 61 00:03:31,970 --> 00:03:34,650 S2: was a not so subtle hint at what he wants 62 00:03:34,690 --> 00:03:37,650 S2: Iran to do. And a group linked to the Islamic 63 00:03:37,650 --> 00:03:41,930 S2: Revolutionary Guard Corps issued a call for Muslims worldwide to 64 00:03:41,970 --> 00:03:46,410 S2: assassinate President Trump, offering a reward of $40 million for 65 00:03:46,410 --> 00:03:50,010 S2: doing so. And finally, any hope for peace between Israel 66 00:03:50,010 --> 00:03:54,330 S2: and Syria seems to have evaporated when Syrian forces launched 67 00:03:54,330 --> 00:03:58,280 S2: an attack against the Druze city in southern Syria. Prime 68 00:03:58,280 --> 00:04:01,520 S2: Minister Netanyahu has vowed to help protect the Druze from 69 00:04:01,520 --> 00:04:05,119 S2: ethnic attacks, and Israel struck a number of targets in 70 00:04:05,120 --> 00:04:08,800 S2: Syria as a warning to their government. A cease fire 71 00:04:08,800 --> 00:04:12,320 S2: between Israel and Hamas might be on the way, but 72 00:04:12,320 --> 00:04:15,160 S2: that's not the same as having lasting peace. 73 00:04:15,320 --> 00:04:18,320 S1: Charlie, given the fact that Prime Minister Netanyahu is an 74 00:04:18,320 --> 00:04:22,400 S1: absolutely no win situation, no matter what he does, why 75 00:04:22,400 --> 00:04:25,640 S1: not just follow his gut? What keeps him from moving 76 00:04:25,640 --> 00:04:29,080 S1: swiftly and decisively and just going the direction he thinks 77 00:04:29,080 --> 00:04:29,880 S1: they should go? 78 00:04:30,160 --> 00:04:32,719 S2: Well, he does do that, but it's interesting. He always 79 00:04:32,720 --> 00:04:35,440 S2: appears to delay. But I think he's because he's evaluating 80 00:04:35,440 --> 00:04:39,440 S2: options until he knows what will achieve the accomplished results 81 00:04:39,440 --> 00:04:42,400 S2: without bringing on additional problems. So in the end of 82 00:04:42,400 --> 00:04:44,920 S2: the day, he attacked Iran. It took a while to 83 00:04:44,920 --> 00:04:48,159 S2: get there, but when he did, he scored a massive victory. 84 00:04:48,160 --> 00:04:51,320 S2: And so I trust him. But as a consummate politician, 85 00:04:51,320 --> 00:04:54,520 S2: he's always looking for the best timing and the best goals. 86 00:04:54,620 --> 00:04:57,340 S1: That's doctor Charlie Dyer. I'm John Yeager. This is the 87 00:04:57,339 --> 00:04:59,500 S1: land and the book. We're in the first of four 88 00:04:59,500 --> 00:05:02,099 S1: segments in our broadcast where we look at current events 89 00:05:02,100 --> 00:05:04,380 S1: from the Middle East. Well, as you mentioned briefly, the 90 00:05:04,380 --> 00:05:07,700 S1: ultra-Orthodox Jewish parties are again threatening to bring down the 91 00:05:07,700 --> 00:05:11,700 S1: government if a law exempting the ultra-Orthodox from serving in 92 00:05:11,700 --> 00:05:15,060 S1: the army isn't passed. Could this be the issue that 93 00:05:15,060 --> 00:05:17,620 S1: finally causes the current government to collapse? 94 00:05:17,940 --> 00:05:20,980 S2: Yeah, I think it could, though not right away. The 95 00:05:20,980 --> 00:05:24,219 S2: ultra-Orthodox have been demanding a law to limit the drafting 96 00:05:24,220 --> 00:05:27,659 S2: of ultra-Orthodox into the military. They also want the bill 97 00:05:27,700 --> 00:05:31,779 S2: to water down any sanctions or penalties against draft dodgers 98 00:05:31,779 --> 00:05:35,700 S2: and the religious institutions that are encouraging the ultra-Orthodox not 99 00:05:35,700 --> 00:05:39,780 S2: to serve. Knesset foreign Affairs and Defense Committee Chair Yuli 100 00:05:39,779 --> 00:05:42,580 S2: Edelstein has been trying to craft a bill that could 101 00:05:42,580 --> 00:05:45,380 S2: meet the needs of all sides. And Monday, he presented 102 00:05:45,380 --> 00:05:48,660 S2: the outline of that bill to Netanyahu and representatives of 103 00:05:48,660 --> 00:05:53,969 S2: the ultra-Orthodox parties. The ultra-Orthodox angrily rejected it, The law 104 00:05:53,970 --> 00:05:58,770 S2: included personal sanctions on draft dodgers and institutional sanctions. If 105 00:05:58,770 --> 00:06:02,810 S2: recruitment targets aren't met and those targets increase over time. 106 00:06:03,250 --> 00:06:06,290 S2: Edelstein admitted the law wasn't perfect, but he believes it 107 00:06:06,290 --> 00:06:10,050 S2: helps meet the military's needs, while also helping guarantee that 108 00:06:10,050 --> 00:06:14,530 S2: those who enter the army as ultra-Orthodox will leave as ultra-Orthodox. 109 00:06:14,890 --> 00:06:18,330 S2: The ultra-Orthodox parties announced their decision to leave the government 110 00:06:18,330 --> 00:06:21,690 S2: and the coalition over this bill. Now, that doesn't mean 111 00:06:21,690 --> 00:06:25,609 S2: the government will immediately collapse. That process is unlikely to 112 00:06:25,650 --> 00:06:29,850 S2: happen until the Knesset returns from its summer recess in October, 113 00:06:29,850 --> 00:06:32,290 S2: but it does make it very difficult for the government 114 00:06:32,290 --> 00:06:35,690 S2: to function in the meantime. Netanyahu, as we just said, 115 00:06:35,690 --> 00:06:38,169 S2: is a master politician. But this is one of the 116 00:06:38,170 --> 00:06:41,330 S2: most difficult challenges he's faced, and it could very well 117 00:06:41,330 --> 00:06:44,130 S2: force him to dissolve the government in the fall and 118 00:06:44,130 --> 00:06:47,289 S2: call for new elections in early 2026. 119 00:06:47,690 --> 00:06:51,330 S1: Palestinian sheikhs in the Hebron area have proposed a possible 120 00:06:51,560 --> 00:06:55,960 S1: alternative to a Palestinian state. What exactly have they proposed and? 121 00:06:56,000 --> 00:06:59,280 S1: Could it solve the impasse between Israel and the Palestinians? 122 00:06:59,520 --> 00:07:01,400 S2: Yeah. You know, 32 years ago. It's hard to believe 123 00:07:01,400 --> 00:07:03,719 S2: it's been that long. But 32 years ago, the Oslo 124 00:07:03,720 --> 00:07:08,000 S2: Accords designated the Palestinian Authority as the governing authority of 125 00:07:08,000 --> 00:07:12,200 S2: the Palestinian people. Sadly, under Arafat and Abbas, that group 126 00:07:12,200 --> 00:07:14,840 S2: failed to achieve peace. And even though most of the 127 00:07:14,840 --> 00:07:18,160 S2: world still believes the Palestinian Authority and a two state 128 00:07:18,160 --> 00:07:22,400 S2: solution are the answer to the Israeli-Palestinian issue, the rise 129 00:07:22,400 --> 00:07:25,840 S2: of Hamas and their attack against Israel on October 7th 130 00:07:25,880 --> 00:07:28,960 S2: have buried that option in the mind of most Israelis. 131 00:07:29,080 --> 00:07:31,560 S2: And that's where this announcement by a group of five 132 00:07:31,560 --> 00:07:34,480 S2: prominent clan leaders in Hebron seems to offer a new 133 00:07:34,520 --> 00:07:37,920 S2: way forward for peace. They want the region around Hebron 134 00:07:37,920 --> 00:07:41,640 S2: to secede from the Palestinian Authority and establish its own 135 00:07:41,640 --> 00:07:45,640 S2: independent emirate that would join in the Abraham Accords. They 136 00:07:45,640 --> 00:07:48,240 S2: would recognize the State of Israel as the nation state 137 00:07:48,240 --> 00:07:51,710 S2: of the Jewish people, and Israel would recognize the Hebron 138 00:07:51,710 --> 00:07:54,790 S2: Emirate as the representatives of the Arab residents in the 139 00:07:54,790 --> 00:07:58,230 S2: Hebron district. They want to establish a business governance model 140 00:07:58,230 --> 00:08:01,590 S2: like the United Arab Emirates, rather than trying to establish 141 00:08:01,590 --> 00:08:04,990 S2: states on a Western model which consistently fail in the 142 00:08:04,990 --> 00:08:08,510 S2: Middle East. They would build tribal loyalty under the control 143 00:08:08,510 --> 00:08:11,990 S2: of one family, like the UAE or Saudi Arabia or Qatar. 144 00:08:12,470 --> 00:08:14,870 S2: By entering the Abraham Accords, they would seek to bring 145 00:08:14,870 --> 00:08:19,390 S2: about prosperity for their citizens through economic cooperation with Israel. 146 00:08:19,630 --> 00:08:22,590 S2: Similar emirates could be formed around different tribal families in 147 00:08:22,590 --> 00:08:26,470 S2: the West Bank and Gaza. Now, unfortunately, at least right now, 148 00:08:26,470 --> 00:08:30,310 S2: this idea probably won't come to pass. It's opposed, obviously, 149 00:08:30,310 --> 00:08:34,270 S2: by the Palestinian Authority and by groups like Hamas and 150 00:08:34,270 --> 00:08:36,310 S2: by much of the West, who are locked into the 151 00:08:36,309 --> 00:08:40,429 S2: idea that a Western style state is what's required. 152 00:08:41,070 --> 00:08:45,950 S1: Well, Ken, using microbes to replace cement help save the environment. 153 00:08:46,070 --> 00:08:50,819 S1: Researchers at the Technion offer a more environmentally favorable way 154 00:08:50,900 --> 00:08:54,179 S1: forward for construction. I'm curious, Charlie, tell us about this 155 00:08:54,179 --> 00:08:56,300 S1: latest innovation from Amazing Israel. 156 00:08:56,620 --> 00:08:58,700 S2: Yeah. And it starts with a report from the UN. 157 00:08:58,740 --> 00:09:02,620 S2: According to them, the construction industry is the largest emitter 158 00:09:02,620 --> 00:09:08,620 S2: of greenhouse gases worldwide, accounting for 37% of all global emissions. 159 00:09:08,900 --> 00:09:14,420 S2: Cement production alone accounts for 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions. 160 00:09:14,700 --> 00:09:17,699 S2: And that prompted the researchers at the Technion in Haifa 161 00:09:17,700 --> 00:09:22,500 S2: to develop an interdisciplinary research project called Cyano Gems that's 162 00:09:22,500 --> 00:09:27,699 S2: cyano capital gems, but all written together. And that project 163 00:09:27,700 --> 00:09:34,500 S2: focuses on photosynthetic architecture. The project utilizes microorganisms that photosynthesize 164 00:09:34,500 --> 00:09:38,660 S2: using sunlight to create food from carbon dioxide and water. 165 00:09:38,860 --> 00:09:42,820 S2: The process removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and releases 166 00:09:42,820 --> 00:09:47,020 S2: oxygen instead using a 3D robotic printer. They use the 167 00:09:47,170 --> 00:09:51,290 S2: Microorganisms rather than cement. To bind the sand together, the 168 00:09:51,290 --> 00:09:55,290 S2: organisms form a biofilm to create calcium carbonate, which in 169 00:09:55,290 --> 00:09:58,689 S2: nature is what's used to create materials like shells, bones 170 00:09:58,690 --> 00:10:02,689 S2: and teeth. The material dries at room temperature, and one 171 00:10:02,690 --> 00:10:07,970 S2: ton of microorganisms can absorb 1.8 tons of carbon dioxide. Wow. 172 00:10:08,010 --> 00:10:11,689 S2: The projects currently being showcased at an international exhibit of 173 00:10:11,690 --> 00:10:16,130 S2: architecture and design in Milan, Italy, using microorganisms to act 174 00:10:16,130 --> 00:10:19,730 S2: as a sustainable alternative to cement to bind sand particles 175 00:10:19,730 --> 00:10:23,770 S2: together while lowering the emission of greenhouse gases. That's just 176 00:10:23,770 --> 00:10:26,370 S2: the kind of innovation we love to hear about from 177 00:10:26,370 --> 00:10:27,569 S2: amazing Israel. 178 00:10:27,770 --> 00:10:31,689 S1: Thank you Charlie. Appreciate that story. Very interesting. And as always, 179 00:10:31,730 --> 00:10:34,210 S1: we've got lots coming your way. This program, including a 180 00:10:34,210 --> 00:10:37,690 S1: conversation about Iran, what we must know about Iran from 181 00:10:37,690 --> 00:10:40,850 S1: a daily life perspective. Somebody who was born and raised 182 00:10:40,850 --> 00:10:43,370 S1: in Iran is our guest. Later on, we've got questions 183 00:10:43,370 --> 00:10:46,490 S1: and answers with Gerald Peterman and then Charlie Dyers devotional. 184 00:10:46,490 --> 00:10:49,079 S1: So a full broadcast for full segments. They're all coming 185 00:10:49,080 --> 00:10:51,160 S1: your way as you stick with us here on Moody 186 00:10:51,160 --> 00:11:08,319 S1: Radio's The Land and the book. When you and I 187 00:11:08,360 --> 00:11:11,680 S1: hear the word risk, we usually think about the stock 188 00:11:11,679 --> 00:11:15,080 S1: market or maybe the risk involved with a job transfer. 189 00:11:15,520 --> 00:11:19,079 S1: But Christ followers in Iran understand that word very differently. 190 00:11:19,320 --> 00:11:22,439 S1: How differently? But you're about to find out. Hey, welcome 191 00:11:22,440 --> 00:11:25,520 S1: back to the land and the book. I'm John Gieger, and, 192 00:11:25,520 --> 00:11:27,600 S1: you know, here in the United States, there's no risk 193 00:11:27,600 --> 00:11:30,200 S1: at all in sharing Jesus with a muslim friend. So 194 00:11:30,440 --> 00:11:32,520 S1: here's a thought to hang on to check this out. 195 00:11:33,120 --> 00:11:36,280 S1: Question should I visit a mosque to better understand my 196 00:11:36,280 --> 00:11:39,359 S1: Muslim friend, or is this maybe not a good idea? 197 00:11:39,400 --> 00:11:42,360 S1: That's a question for Samuel Naaman, who serves on faculty 198 00:11:42,360 --> 00:11:44,920 S1: at the Moody Bible Institute, born and raised in Pakistan. 199 00:11:44,920 --> 00:11:45,700 S1: What do you say? 200 00:11:46,059 --> 00:11:48,980 S3: Well, at least for our female listeners, I think that 201 00:11:48,980 --> 00:11:51,059 S3: we have to be very cautious going to the mosques. 202 00:11:51,059 --> 00:11:54,340 S3: Some mosques are open, but some are not. If you 203 00:11:54,340 --> 00:11:56,740 S3: want to go and visit a mosque, maybe go at 204 00:11:56,740 --> 00:12:00,660 S3: the invitation of your Muslim friend and it's okay, you 205 00:12:00,700 --> 00:12:02,900 S3: you will go. Probably if it's a Friday prayer, you'll 206 00:12:02,900 --> 00:12:04,820 S3: sit in the back or depending on where you are, 207 00:12:05,260 --> 00:12:08,140 S3: you can observe. So I don't feel threatened to go 208 00:12:08,140 --> 00:12:11,420 S3: to a mosque. But for a long term relationships, I 209 00:12:11,420 --> 00:12:14,500 S3: think it becomes very, very difficult. But sure, I mean, 210 00:12:14,540 --> 00:12:17,820 S3: I take my students to mosques and all those things. Absolutely. 211 00:12:17,860 --> 00:12:21,460 S3: Because let them see. And in depending on many mosques 212 00:12:21,460 --> 00:12:24,420 S3: and other places, they are very welcoming. I just want 213 00:12:24,420 --> 00:12:26,179 S3: to make sure when I visit a mosque that we 214 00:12:26,179 --> 00:12:29,020 S3: will not get a lecture of three Hours of Islam only. No, 215 00:12:29,020 --> 00:12:31,020 S3: I mean that that happens, you know, because they feel 216 00:12:31,020 --> 00:12:32,820 S3: sometimes that, well, this is it. Now, if we have 217 00:12:32,820 --> 00:12:36,780 S3: 50 Christians and let's just bombard them with our message. 218 00:12:37,100 --> 00:12:39,140 S3: So we have to be very cautious and careful. We 219 00:12:39,179 --> 00:12:41,979 S3: are here as your guest. We need to remind them 220 00:12:41,980 --> 00:12:44,410 S3: you have invited us, or we have requested you to 221 00:12:44,450 --> 00:12:47,530 S3: come and visit. And this is our purpose is just 222 00:12:47,530 --> 00:12:49,610 S3: to visit, not for debate and all those things. We 223 00:12:49,610 --> 00:12:52,010 S3: just want to observe what you do and how you 224 00:12:52,010 --> 00:12:52,370 S3: do it. 225 00:12:52,410 --> 00:12:55,370 S1: Doctor Samuel Niemann is on the faculty at Moody Bible Institute. 226 00:12:55,410 --> 00:12:57,810 S1: He was born and raised in Pakistan, so has a 227 00:12:57,809 --> 00:13:00,170 S1: unique vantage point in sharing these thoughts with us here 228 00:13:00,250 --> 00:13:04,450 S1: on the land and the book. In his younger years, 229 00:13:04,450 --> 00:13:08,050 S1: Shah Ahmadi worked as a survey engineer in Iran before 230 00:13:08,090 --> 00:13:11,970 S1: fleeing political persecution at age 22. But God had a 231 00:13:11,970 --> 00:13:16,610 S1: different plan. Despite facing hardship and loss, Brother Ahmadi's heart 232 00:13:16,610 --> 00:13:19,850 S1: was stirred by the overwhelming love of Christ to serve 233 00:13:19,850 --> 00:13:23,130 S1: in full time ministry. His journey from a man seeking 234 00:13:23,170 --> 00:13:26,890 S1: truth to becoming a passionate evangelist is a tribute to 235 00:13:26,929 --> 00:13:30,170 S1: God's faithfulness and the life changing power of the sacrifice 236 00:13:30,170 --> 00:13:34,210 S1: and resurrection of Jesus. Today, Reverend Ahmadi serves as the 237 00:13:34,210 --> 00:13:38,410 S1: Partner Engagements Coordinator at Iran Alive Ministries. Welcome to the 238 00:13:38,410 --> 00:13:39,570 S1: land and the book, sir. 239 00:13:39,690 --> 00:13:42,010 S4: Thank you so much for your invitation. 240 00:13:42,130 --> 00:13:44,520 S1: Well, we have to go back to the beginning. And 241 00:13:44,559 --> 00:13:46,880 S1: that beginning would include how did you come to know 242 00:13:46,880 --> 00:13:51,080 S1: about Jesus in a nation that is largely hostile to Christ? 243 00:13:51,480 --> 00:13:54,960 S4: Oh, that was a miracle. Bible says he chose us not. 244 00:13:55,000 --> 00:13:58,120 S4: We didn't chose him. So I heard the gospel in 245 00:13:58,120 --> 00:14:02,800 S4: England that time. I was very depressed. I was drinking 246 00:14:03,000 --> 00:14:07,839 S4: alcohol and smoking and going to club. My lifestyle was 247 00:14:07,840 --> 00:14:11,760 S4: very tough, very hard, and I started going to Moscow 248 00:14:11,760 --> 00:14:14,200 S4: when I was age eight. I memorized most parts of 249 00:14:14,200 --> 00:14:19,280 S4: Quran age 13, so before 20 I was very religious, 250 00:14:19,280 --> 00:14:22,560 S4: very committed, going to mosque, doing the, you know, five 251 00:14:22,600 --> 00:14:25,920 S4: time praying, fasting and all of that. But because of 252 00:14:25,960 --> 00:14:29,760 S4: the political problem, when I left Iran, I become angry 253 00:14:29,800 --> 00:14:33,600 S4: against God and about God. Anything I learned about Islam. 254 00:14:33,600 --> 00:14:36,040 S4: So by that point I was in England. I was 255 00:14:36,040 --> 00:14:38,880 S4: in a good situation when I heard the good news 256 00:14:39,160 --> 00:14:42,430 S4: that drove me to the church. So when I went 257 00:14:42,430 --> 00:14:44,750 S4: to church, the power of God, the Holy Spirit touched 258 00:14:44,750 --> 00:14:48,270 S4: me in an incredible way and I experienced love of God. 259 00:14:48,270 --> 00:14:52,350 S4: And the second thing was giving me Bible. Comparing Bible 260 00:14:52,350 --> 00:14:55,830 S4: with Quran for one year, which I found many difference 261 00:14:55,830 --> 00:15:00,950 S4: between Islam and Christianity. And so the last part was 262 00:15:00,990 --> 00:15:04,150 S4: the dream I had. I saw Jesus in my dream 263 00:15:04,150 --> 00:15:08,190 S4: I was dead. Jesus came and through the cross gave 264 00:15:08,190 --> 00:15:11,430 S4: me a life. So that three incidents lead me here 265 00:15:11,430 --> 00:15:14,550 S4: in the gospel, reading the Word of God and dreams 266 00:15:14,550 --> 00:15:16,550 S4: and vision about Jesus Christ. 267 00:15:16,710 --> 00:15:19,550 S1: Well, what what kind of a ripple effect did that have, 268 00:15:19,590 --> 00:15:22,830 S1: say months later for you? What changes did you notice? 269 00:15:23,270 --> 00:15:26,390 S4: My life started changing. I become a new person. All 270 00:15:26,390 --> 00:15:30,270 S4: my depression gone and break. All the addiction I had. 271 00:15:30,310 --> 00:15:32,950 S4: I become a new person. I start sharing the gospel. 272 00:15:32,950 --> 00:15:35,190 S4: Every person was seeing me and they were saying, what 273 00:15:35,190 --> 00:15:40,030 S4: is different? You look happy. You smile, you talk differently. 274 00:15:40,030 --> 00:15:42,980 S4: Friendly and I told them Jesus Christ came in my life. 275 00:15:42,980 --> 00:15:46,460 S4: I started sharing gospel with people and many of them 276 00:15:46,460 --> 00:15:49,260 S4: were receptive. Many of them. They ignored me because many 277 00:15:49,260 --> 00:15:53,340 S4: of them were from Muslim background. But God's grace. Ultimately, 278 00:15:53,340 --> 00:15:56,860 S4: many of my family came to Christ inside Iran. Right now, 279 00:15:56,900 --> 00:16:01,180 S4: the 28 of my family become a Christian. Include my dad, 280 00:16:01,180 --> 00:16:04,900 S4: my mom. I baptized them in Turkey and by God's grace, 281 00:16:04,900 --> 00:16:07,580 S4: inside the UK, we saw with our team, with the 282 00:16:07,580 --> 00:16:11,060 S4: church members and the leaders, we saw more than 1000 283 00:16:11,060 --> 00:16:14,500 S4: people came to Christ last 15 years of our ministry 284 00:16:14,500 --> 00:16:15,739 S4: in United Kingdom. 285 00:16:15,740 --> 00:16:19,180 S1: Wow! Shah Ahmadi has been used of God to lead 286 00:16:19,180 --> 00:16:21,900 S1: more than a thousand Muslims to Christ and baptize them, 287 00:16:21,900 --> 00:16:24,700 S1: as he said, witnessing firsthand the miraculous power of the 288 00:16:24,700 --> 00:16:28,220 S1: Holy Spirit to heal, to deliver and transform lives as 289 00:16:28,220 --> 00:16:30,700 S1: it happened for him. He's our guest today on the 290 00:16:30,700 --> 00:16:34,020 S1: land and the book. Well, I understand that Iran Alive 291 00:16:34,020 --> 00:16:37,740 S1: Ministries was founded in 2000 with a vision to transform 292 00:16:37,740 --> 00:16:41,170 S1: Iran into a Christian nation. Now, that's sort of like 293 00:16:41,170 --> 00:16:44,090 S1: sticking a finger in the eye of the leadership of Iran. 294 00:16:44,370 --> 00:16:47,890 S1: So what's your guess as to how your ministry is 295 00:16:47,890 --> 00:16:51,410 S1: perceived by the Iranian government? And what kind of opposition 296 00:16:51,410 --> 00:16:54,690 S1: does the government represent to Iran Alive ministries? 297 00:16:55,290 --> 00:16:58,730 S4: Yes. One side, many people, they come and cries and 298 00:16:58,730 --> 00:17:02,610 S4: that makes them get scared. And Iranian government, scared of 299 00:17:02,610 --> 00:17:05,730 S4: any movement because of the Iranian life, have more than 300 00:17:05,770 --> 00:17:11,010 S4: 7 million daily viewers. Makes government very scared because through 301 00:17:11,050 --> 00:17:14,890 S4: satellites and through daily viewers, we have, we can speak 302 00:17:14,890 --> 00:17:18,050 S4: to their life daily basis, which means they can cause 303 00:17:18,050 --> 00:17:20,969 S4: any movement. Actually, our movement is about the Jesus we 304 00:17:20,970 --> 00:17:23,690 S4: want to. People come to Christ, but government is so 305 00:17:23,690 --> 00:17:28,050 S4: scared and by God's grace, even from them, you know 306 00:17:28,090 --> 00:17:30,889 S4: they want to hear what we saying in TV. They 307 00:17:30,890 --> 00:17:33,850 S4: listening and some of them become Christians. So God works 308 00:17:33,850 --> 00:17:35,130 S4: for good as well. Yeah. 309 00:17:35,170 --> 00:17:37,879 S1: Well, what about your ministry partners in Iran? What kind 310 00:17:37,880 --> 00:17:41,680 S1: of dangers do they face and how is that danger mitigated? 311 00:17:41,720 --> 00:17:45,000 S4: Oh, it's been a very tough, you know, like persecution 312 00:17:45,000 --> 00:17:48,959 S4: is very high inside Iran. Many people, they get arrested. 313 00:17:49,240 --> 00:17:53,080 S4: And it's just saying like attending house church is can 314 00:17:53,080 --> 00:17:55,600 S4: cause 5 to 10 years going to prison if someone 315 00:17:55,600 --> 00:17:58,280 S4: get baptized can go to prison for ten years. If 316 00:17:58,280 --> 00:18:01,520 S4: someone holds the Bible, if they arrested, they can go 317 00:18:01,520 --> 00:18:05,280 S4: to prison more than three years. If you evangelize again, 318 00:18:05,320 --> 00:18:09,160 S4: same thing. They put themselves in. I'm working with American government, 319 00:18:09,160 --> 00:18:13,119 S4: working with Israel government. They put extra, you know, lie 320 00:18:13,160 --> 00:18:16,240 S4: on the people's life after being a Christian and attending 321 00:18:16,240 --> 00:18:19,480 S4: house churches. So they're going through a lot of persecution 322 00:18:19,480 --> 00:18:23,040 S4: when they arrested, like a husband, say, wife and the children, 323 00:18:23,080 --> 00:18:25,440 S4: they starve from death from the, you know, not having 324 00:18:25,440 --> 00:18:29,960 S4: food because nobody work in the household or many different 325 00:18:29,960 --> 00:18:33,160 S4: persecution people they face. And when they arrested in the prison, 326 00:18:33,200 --> 00:18:38,070 S4: they force them to convert to Islam, convert back and 327 00:18:38,070 --> 00:18:40,670 S4: they beaten them. They, you know, lied to them. They say, 328 00:18:40,670 --> 00:18:43,110 S4: now we gonna do all kind of things to you, 329 00:18:43,109 --> 00:18:47,310 S4: to your family. So people go through the emotional persecution. 330 00:18:47,310 --> 00:18:51,630 S4: They go through physical, financial, those they become a Christian. 331 00:18:51,630 --> 00:18:54,510 S4: They can't go to universities if publicly they say they 332 00:18:54,510 --> 00:18:57,870 S4: are Christian. So there's a lot of things the government 333 00:18:57,869 --> 00:19:01,070 S4: do to them to stop being a Christian inside Iran. 334 00:19:01,070 --> 00:19:03,550 S1: If you've joined us midstream, this is the land and 335 00:19:03,550 --> 00:19:07,470 S1: the book. I'm John Geiger. Today's guest, Reverend Shah Ahmadi, 336 00:19:07,790 --> 00:19:12,670 S1: who serves as the partner engagements coordinator at Iran Alive Ministries. Shah, 337 00:19:12,670 --> 00:19:15,109 S1: let's say that you and I today are somehow able 338 00:19:15,109 --> 00:19:19,350 S1: to parachute into a small town far from Tehran. We're 339 00:19:19,350 --> 00:19:21,350 S1: in Iran now. We manage to knock on a door 340 00:19:21,350 --> 00:19:24,869 S1: in the couple inside, welcome us in. Our conversation turns 341 00:19:24,869 --> 00:19:27,710 S1: toward matters of faith and we talk about how Jesus 342 00:19:27,710 --> 00:19:30,550 S1: has changed our lives. Let me ask you what kinds 343 00:19:30,550 --> 00:19:34,550 S1: of roadblocks might come up as we discuss Jesus and 344 00:19:34,550 --> 00:19:37,969 S1: His offer of salvation. In other words, their feeling secure 345 00:19:37,970 --> 00:19:40,930 S1: that no one is watching or listening. What is the 346 00:19:40,930 --> 00:19:44,370 S1: average person's objection to Christ in Iran? 347 00:19:44,770 --> 00:19:47,530 S4: Right now, I would say eight out of ten will 348 00:19:47,530 --> 00:19:51,770 S4: listen to our conversation very deeply. Iran. 40 years ago, 349 00:19:51,770 --> 00:19:55,450 S4: we had 500 believers. Right now we have more than 350 00:19:55,450 --> 00:20:02,530 S4: 2.5 million believers inside Iran. According to operation Ward 19.8 351 00:20:02,810 --> 00:20:06,450 S4: is the evangelical rate of the Iranian. They come to Christ, 352 00:20:06,490 --> 00:20:08,889 S4: fastest growing church in the world. That shows many people 353 00:20:08,890 --> 00:20:12,090 S4: they live in Islam. More Christians came to Christ last 354 00:20:12,090 --> 00:20:16,290 S4: 40 years than beginning of Islam till now. That shows 355 00:20:16,290 --> 00:20:20,290 S4: how receptive people they are, especially inside Iran. The reason 356 00:20:20,290 --> 00:20:23,450 S4: is that because of the government in such a bad thing, 357 00:20:23,450 --> 00:20:26,010 S4: horrible things to the, you know, cows and all kind 358 00:20:26,050 --> 00:20:29,290 S4: of terrorist activities causing all kind of bad thing inside 359 00:20:29,290 --> 00:20:32,010 S4: the country and outside the country and the people of Iran, 360 00:20:32,050 --> 00:20:34,919 S4: they see that they live in Islam slum in big number. 361 00:20:35,119 --> 00:20:37,880 S4: So that means when I'm saying we're going to share 362 00:20:37,920 --> 00:20:40,800 S4: in the gospel, we're saying about Jesus, change my life. 363 00:20:41,040 --> 00:20:44,920 S4: And they listening because they're looking for something or somebody 364 00:20:44,920 --> 00:20:47,640 S4: or some way to change their life when they see 365 00:20:47,640 --> 00:20:51,959 S4: someone is living testimony, sharing that is like Jesus impacting 366 00:20:51,960 --> 00:20:54,680 S4: my life. They are receptive. So eight of the ten 367 00:20:54,720 --> 00:20:57,520 S4: will listen if they don't see any danger around them 368 00:20:57,520 --> 00:20:59,119 S4: or anybody listening to them. 369 00:20:59,520 --> 00:21:03,520 S1: What do you think American Christians fail to understand about 370 00:21:03,560 --> 00:21:04,600 S1: today's Iran? 371 00:21:05,080 --> 00:21:08,200 S4: The people of Iran is totally different of government of Iran. 372 00:21:08,240 --> 00:21:11,400 S4: Government of Iran became on power like 40 years or 373 00:21:11,400 --> 00:21:15,280 S4: 50 years. And the people of Iran, they love Israel, 374 00:21:15,280 --> 00:21:19,760 S4: they love America, they love, you know, Europe. And uh, 375 00:21:19,920 --> 00:21:24,520 S4: before time of Shah and Khomeini, like Iranian revolution, which 376 00:21:24,520 --> 00:21:28,399 S4: I'm talking about 45 years ago, Iran and America were aligned, 377 00:21:28,440 --> 00:21:30,960 S4: Iran and Israel were aligned. And so I think this 378 00:21:30,960 --> 00:21:33,990 S4: is one of the big thing, is people. They don't 379 00:21:33,990 --> 00:21:35,429 S4: have a clear knowledge. 380 00:21:35,750 --> 00:21:39,950 S1: Shah Ahmadi works alongside pastors, leaders and fellow believers to 381 00:21:39,990 --> 00:21:43,750 S1: further the gospel. He serves as the Partner Engagements Coordinator 382 00:21:43,869 --> 00:21:47,429 S1: at Iran Alive Ministries. We've heard that Iran's economy is 383 00:21:47,430 --> 00:21:50,790 S1: not great. How does that impact the way average citizens live? 384 00:21:50,910 --> 00:21:52,949 S1: And is it a factor at all in the impact 385 00:21:52,950 --> 00:21:54,109 S1: of the gospel message? 386 00:21:54,390 --> 00:21:58,870 S4: Oh my goodness people. They are suffering because they remember 387 00:21:58,869 --> 00:22:02,470 S4: around 50 years ago, Iran was top three most prosperous 388 00:22:02,470 --> 00:22:05,910 S4: country in the world in a time of Shah. And we, 389 00:22:05,910 --> 00:22:10,550 S4: we had everything and the works, economy, jobs, everything was 390 00:22:10,550 --> 00:22:14,470 S4: great stats, but right now is opposite. And so people, 391 00:22:14,470 --> 00:22:19,109 S4: they are struggling. So that really makes people angry. In relationship. 392 00:22:19,109 --> 00:22:21,270 S4: There's a lot of divorce as a result of that 393 00:22:21,270 --> 00:22:24,669 S4: because the husband, they couldn't provide what the wife wants 394 00:22:24,710 --> 00:22:27,670 S4: or the similar things even like a normal thing. So 395 00:22:27,830 --> 00:22:31,500 S4: but other side is that kind of brokenness when they 396 00:22:31,540 --> 00:22:34,420 S4: hear about the gospel, when they hear about power of Jesus, 397 00:22:34,420 --> 00:22:38,300 S4: the middle of that darkness, when they receive the inner peace, joy, 398 00:22:38,300 --> 00:22:42,020 S4: life and salvation, and people they see in this husband 399 00:22:42,020 --> 00:22:44,700 S4: and wife, they were struggling, this family were struggling, they 400 00:22:44,700 --> 00:22:48,300 S4: getting divorced. Suddenly this life changed. And when they ask them, 401 00:22:48,300 --> 00:22:50,500 S4: what's the reason? They say, Jesus came to my life 402 00:22:50,859 --> 00:22:53,780 S4: and forgiven each other. We start looking for eternal life. 403 00:22:53,820 --> 00:22:56,380 S4: We start looking for the, you know, God miraculous to 404 00:22:56,380 --> 00:23:00,180 S4: provide them for us. So these are become a living testimony, 405 00:23:00,220 --> 00:23:02,939 S4: middle of the that darkness, the country and the whole 406 00:23:02,980 --> 00:23:04,419 S4: economic system going on. 407 00:23:04,700 --> 00:23:07,820 S1: Well, what do you think the West can learn, specifically America, 408 00:23:07,820 --> 00:23:10,660 S1: from the growth of Islam in the UK, and how 409 00:23:10,660 --> 00:23:14,020 S1: believers in the US should or could prepare for this 410 00:23:14,020 --> 00:23:16,180 S1: growth in our backyard? Our response? 411 00:23:16,340 --> 00:23:19,180 S4: Oh my goodness, you touch my heart. When I went 412 00:23:19,180 --> 00:23:23,340 S4: there in 2008, brother, I became a Christian. So I 413 00:23:23,340 --> 00:23:26,420 S4: started sharing gospel in Liverpool and with our team. But 414 00:23:26,420 --> 00:23:28,740 S4: one of the things we saw and we warned many 415 00:23:28,740 --> 00:23:32,889 S4: pastors and leaders We saw a lot of Islamic leaders 416 00:23:32,890 --> 00:23:38,290 S4: and others strategically planting mosques. Extremist Islamists, those people, they 417 00:23:38,290 --> 00:23:42,730 S4: plan them for every nation, planning for the Islam growth 418 00:23:42,730 --> 00:23:45,649 S4: in that nation. So we told them, but they didn't listen. 419 00:23:45,690 --> 00:23:48,810 S4: Second thing about the sharing the gospel with those people 420 00:23:49,130 --> 00:23:51,649 S4: while we were sharing the gospel with people, Muslim people 421 00:23:51,650 --> 00:23:55,609 S4: in that country. New church come along. Few church support us. 422 00:23:55,609 --> 00:23:58,250 S4: Few church. They said we are not interested. So I 423 00:23:58,250 --> 00:24:01,450 S4: was telling them, you know, sometimes we go to the nation, 424 00:24:01,450 --> 00:24:04,530 S4: sometimes nation comes to us, but doesn't matter. The nations, 425 00:24:04,530 --> 00:24:07,170 S4: they are here, we need to reach them. We need 426 00:24:07,170 --> 00:24:10,409 S4: to evangelize them. We need to put a mission, the 427 00:24:10,490 --> 00:24:14,169 S4: focus on them, to reach them. So number three was 428 00:24:14,170 --> 00:24:18,370 S4: about the political ignorance, which is was great in that country. 429 00:24:18,410 --> 00:24:23,369 S4: Unfortunately they politically they opened the doors. And so now 430 00:24:23,369 --> 00:24:26,570 S4: they are reaping unfortunately, and they have become a very, 431 00:24:26,609 --> 00:24:29,760 S4: you know, worse. And in Europe it's not in UK, 432 00:24:29,800 --> 00:24:34,080 S4: it's just taken control of Europe. And um, yeah, starting 433 00:24:34,080 --> 00:24:37,000 S4: from church, going to the political, you know, decision they 434 00:24:37,000 --> 00:24:38,320 S4: made over that country. 435 00:24:38,800 --> 00:24:42,600 S1: What's one thing American Christians could easily do that would 436 00:24:42,600 --> 00:24:46,160 S1: have significant impact in Iran? But maybe we're right now 437 00:24:46,200 --> 00:24:48,200 S1: not doing anything come to mind? 438 00:24:48,720 --> 00:24:53,359 S4: I would say pray and give. Pray is massively impacting 439 00:24:53,359 --> 00:24:57,000 S4: the nations and people experiencing Jesus and dreams and visions 440 00:24:57,000 --> 00:25:00,600 S4: like never before. So as I said, my family came 441 00:25:00,600 --> 00:25:03,119 S4: to Christ. Eight of them came as a result of Jesus, 442 00:25:03,160 --> 00:25:06,320 S4: encountered them in dreams and vision in person. And I 443 00:25:06,359 --> 00:25:09,600 S4: hear many, many people through the daily viewers we have. 444 00:25:09,840 --> 00:25:12,680 S4: But second thing is giving those missionaries, those people that 445 00:25:12,720 --> 00:25:14,760 S4: work in your life is one of them. There's a 446 00:25:14,760 --> 00:25:17,680 S4: lot of ministry. You can search them, you know, ask 447 00:25:17,680 --> 00:25:20,880 S4: God to if that leads you just give towards that. 448 00:25:20,880 --> 00:25:24,080 S4: Because missionary inside Iran or the people inside Iran, they 449 00:25:24,119 --> 00:25:27,590 S4: working so hard to spread the gospel. Together we can 450 00:25:27,590 --> 00:25:30,350 S4: make the God all the glory and honor and spread 451 00:25:30,350 --> 00:25:30,990 S4: the gospel. 452 00:25:31,390 --> 00:25:35,470 S1: That's Reverend Shah Ahmadi, who serves as partner engagements coordinator 453 00:25:35,670 --> 00:25:38,790 S1: at Iran Alive Ministries. Love your heart, brother. Thank you 454 00:25:38,790 --> 00:25:39,750 S1: for your stories. 455 00:25:40,030 --> 00:25:42,030 S4: Thank you so much for inviting me and giving me 456 00:25:42,030 --> 00:25:45,470 S4: this opportunity. Hope you and your listeners be blessed. 457 00:25:45,510 --> 00:25:48,830 S1: Amen. Amen. Well, don't go away because Gerald Peterman is 458 00:25:48,830 --> 00:25:50,830 S1: up next with a fresh set of Bible questions. I'm 459 00:25:50,830 --> 00:25:54,150 S1: looking forward to hearing what you're wondering about next on 460 00:25:54,150 --> 00:26:08,950 S1: the land and the book. Malcolm Forbes said the smart 461 00:26:08,950 --> 00:26:12,750 S1: ones ask when they don't know and sometimes when they do. 462 00:26:13,310 --> 00:26:16,350 S1: Asking and answering questions is what our next segment is 463 00:26:16,350 --> 00:26:19,830 S1: all about. Welcome back to the land and the book. 464 00:26:19,869 --> 00:26:22,990 S1: I'm John Gager, welcoming Doctor Gerald Peterman to the conversation. 465 00:26:22,990 --> 00:26:26,030 S1: He serves as field chair of Bible and Theology and 466 00:26:26,140 --> 00:26:29,220 S1: professor of Bible at Moody Bible Institute. Hope you're doing well, Jerry. 467 00:26:29,260 --> 00:26:30,500 S5: Yes. Very good. 468 00:26:30,540 --> 00:26:33,340 S1: All right. Well, you know, Romans 116 says the gospel 469 00:26:33,340 --> 00:26:36,460 S1: is to the Jew first and also to the Gentile. But, 470 00:26:36,500 --> 00:26:38,500 S1: you know, how do you share the gospel with a 471 00:26:38,500 --> 00:26:42,260 S1: Jewish person with all the cultural, historical and religious differences? 472 00:26:42,300 --> 00:26:45,379 S1: I mean, it's sometimes challenging to navigate this kind of 473 00:26:45,420 --> 00:26:48,860 S1: a gospel conversation with somebody from a Jewish background. You 474 00:26:48,859 --> 00:26:50,820 S1: ever wondered how the professionals do it? 475 00:26:51,220 --> 00:26:54,460 S5: To answer this question, our friends at Life in Messiah 476 00:26:54,460 --> 00:26:57,820 S5: want to mail you samples of the tracks their staff 477 00:26:57,859 --> 00:27:00,500 S5: use as they share the gospel. This will serve a 478 00:27:00,500 --> 00:27:04,940 S5: dual purpose of equipping you with methods of presenting the gospel, 479 00:27:04,940 --> 00:27:07,620 S5: and also supplying you with tracks you can share with 480 00:27:07,619 --> 00:27:11,220 S5: your Jewish friends and neighbors. Life and Messiah's Prayer is 481 00:27:11,220 --> 00:27:13,740 S5: that these tracks will help further the spread of the 482 00:27:13,740 --> 00:27:17,340 S5: gospel among the Jewish people. To receive this helpful assortment 483 00:27:17,340 --> 00:27:19,940 S5: of tracks, all you need to do is visit Life 484 00:27:20,100 --> 00:27:24,260 S5: in Messiah and click on the Moody Radio button for 485 00:27:24,260 --> 00:27:29,290 S5: more information. That's life in Messiah. Don't miss out on 486 00:27:29,290 --> 00:27:30,410 S5: this great opportunity. 487 00:27:30,450 --> 00:27:33,210 S1: All right. And we'll dive into our pile of questions 488 00:27:33,210 --> 00:27:36,449 S1: from listeners, starting with Jarrett, who says there are a 489 00:27:36,450 --> 00:27:40,490 S1: number of emerging popular pastors and teachers who assert that 490 00:27:40,490 --> 00:27:43,850 S1: the miracles that Jesus did were not done as part 491 00:27:43,850 --> 00:27:47,330 S1: of his divine nature, but were only his assessing the 492 00:27:47,330 --> 00:27:51,450 S1: Holy Spirit's power with their deduction that we, followers of Jesus, 493 00:27:51,450 --> 00:27:54,290 S1: could do the same things that Jesus did if we 494 00:27:54,290 --> 00:27:58,090 S1: access the Holy Spirit's power. This troubles me. Can you comment? 495 00:27:58,210 --> 00:28:00,370 S5: Well, Jared, it troubles me too. So I'm so glad 496 00:28:00,369 --> 00:28:03,770 S5: you brought the question. I have three passages of Scripture 497 00:28:03,770 --> 00:28:08,170 S5: that come to mind. First is Mark 127. Jesus is 498 00:28:08,170 --> 00:28:11,409 S5: in the synagogue. He casts out a demon. And then 499 00:28:11,410 --> 00:28:14,170 S5: it says, the people were amazed, so that they questioned 500 00:28:14,170 --> 00:28:18,689 S5: among themselves, saying, who is this? A new teaching with authority. 501 00:28:18,730 --> 00:28:23,710 S5: He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him. 502 00:28:24,150 --> 00:28:27,350 S5: Note they see that Jesus is the one who has 503 00:28:27,350 --> 00:28:31,710 S5: the power. Secondly, with the disciples, Jesus is in the boat. 504 00:28:31,750 --> 00:28:35,430 S5: He stills the storm and they were filled with great 505 00:28:35,430 --> 00:28:38,390 S5: fear and said to one another, who then is this, 506 00:28:38,710 --> 00:28:43,150 S5: that even the wind and the sea obey him? It's 507 00:28:43,150 --> 00:28:45,710 S5: not that the disciples are saying, Oh Jesus, you rely 508 00:28:45,710 --> 00:28:47,990 S5: upon the spirit. I don't doubt that he does that. Yeah, 509 00:28:48,030 --> 00:28:50,830 S5: but they see Jesus as the focus of the power. 510 00:28:50,870 --> 00:28:53,310 S5: And then the last passage is near the end of 511 00:28:53,310 --> 00:28:57,310 S5: John's gospel. Jesus did many other signs. He says, in 512 00:28:57,310 --> 00:28:59,630 S5: the presence of his disciples, which are not written in 513 00:28:59,630 --> 00:29:01,790 S5: this book, but these are written so that you might 514 00:29:01,790 --> 00:29:05,510 S5: know that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. 515 00:29:05,550 --> 00:29:08,910 S5: In other words, why are the signs being done so 516 00:29:08,910 --> 00:29:11,310 S5: you can know this is the Son of God. It's 517 00:29:11,310 --> 00:29:14,070 S5: the Son of God who has the power. 518 00:29:14,310 --> 00:29:17,990 S1: Yeah. And had we those same capabilities, they would in 519 00:29:17,990 --> 00:29:19,710 S1: some way, in the eyes of some point to us 520 00:29:19,710 --> 00:29:20,430 S1: rather than him. 521 00:29:20,430 --> 00:29:21,670 S5: Right? Right. 522 00:29:21,710 --> 00:29:24,460 S1: Good question Jared. Thank you for that. Here's one from 523 00:29:24,460 --> 00:29:27,780 S1: Eric who takes us to Psalm 105 verse four, which says, 524 00:29:27,820 --> 00:29:32,260 S1: seek the Lord and his strength. Seek his presence continually. Well, 525 00:29:32,260 --> 00:29:34,540 S1: how do you seek the Lord in his strength and 526 00:29:34,540 --> 00:29:37,580 S1: seek his presence continually? Is this done through prayer? What 527 00:29:37,580 --> 00:29:39,740 S1: does it mean to seek the Lord's strength as its 528 00:29:39,740 --> 00:29:44,380 S1: spiritual strength? Physical strength? How do you obtain this strength? 529 00:29:45,060 --> 00:29:47,980 S5: I just love Eric's questions. He asks really good ones. 530 00:29:48,020 --> 00:29:50,700 S5: The fact of the matter is, you know, we can 531 00:29:50,700 --> 00:29:54,700 S5: live our lives ignoring God, sadly. Yeah, we can do that. 532 00:29:54,700 --> 00:29:57,940 S5: So let me point out four things. First, this psalm 533 00:29:57,980 --> 00:30:01,700 S5: talks about spiritual strength, not physical strength. It talks about 534 00:30:01,700 --> 00:30:06,740 S5: a spiritual strength, a strength to obey, a strength to worship. 535 00:30:06,860 --> 00:30:10,380 S5: And then secondly, I think this is about not trusting yourself. 536 00:30:10,380 --> 00:30:13,860 S5: What does Proverbs three five say? Trust in the Lord. Right? Right. 537 00:30:13,900 --> 00:30:15,820 S5: Not yourself. It doesn't matter how pretty we are, it 538 00:30:15,820 --> 00:30:18,020 S5: doesn't matter how strong we are. We've got to be 539 00:30:18,020 --> 00:30:21,810 S5: trusting in the Lord and the beginning of this Psalm 540 00:30:22,250 --> 00:30:24,730 S5: gives us part of an answer to Eric's question. The 541 00:30:24,730 --> 00:30:28,210 S5: beginning of the psalm says, seek the Lord and his strength. 542 00:30:28,250 --> 00:30:32,890 S5: Give thanks to him. Make his acts known among the peoples. 543 00:30:32,930 --> 00:30:36,690 S5: So one way we pursue God's strength and God's power. 544 00:30:36,690 --> 00:30:39,050 S5: If we just bring them into our life, we bring 545 00:30:39,050 --> 00:30:41,250 S5: them into our life, and we let other people know 546 00:30:41,690 --> 00:30:42,850 S5: he's in our life. 547 00:30:43,050 --> 00:30:45,250 S1: Yeah. You know, I didn't mean to interrupt you there, 548 00:30:45,250 --> 00:30:46,970 S1: but it seems like it could be something as simple 549 00:30:46,970 --> 00:30:49,570 S1: as a conversation, you know, between you and a friend 550 00:30:49,570 --> 00:30:52,250 S1: or you and a spouse. Boy, it's amazing what God 551 00:30:52,250 --> 00:30:55,170 S1: did on that walk this morning. The sunrise was unbelievable. 552 00:30:55,370 --> 00:30:57,490 S1: You know, when we when we give him that credit, 553 00:30:57,490 --> 00:30:59,570 S1: when we bring him into the conversation, as you say, 554 00:30:59,970 --> 00:31:02,170 S1: it presents an undeniable focus on him. 555 00:31:02,210 --> 00:31:04,570 S5: John, you're absolutely right. There's just so many times where 556 00:31:04,610 --> 00:31:07,010 S5: if our mind was set a certain way, we could 557 00:31:07,010 --> 00:31:09,410 S5: see that God is active. Yeah. I think this is 558 00:31:09,410 --> 00:31:12,890 S5: the answer to Eric's question. See, have your eyes open 559 00:31:12,890 --> 00:31:14,090 S5: to where God is active. 560 00:31:14,210 --> 00:31:16,410 S1: So we're going through a list of questions today. And 561 00:31:16,410 --> 00:31:18,810 S1: if you've got one you'd like to bring into the mix, 562 00:31:18,810 --> 00:31:21,640 S1: it's welcome any time at the land and the book 563 00:31:21,880 --> 00:31:26,680 S1: at Moody's. That's the land and the book at Moody's. 564 00:31:28,080 --> 00:31:32,400 S1: Larry takes us to Matthew 27, where Judas's money buys 565 00:31:32,440 --> 00:31:36,400 S1: a field. Matthew writes about that which was spoken to Jeremiah, 566 00:31:36,840 --> 00:31:39,280 S1: and Larry says the quote that follows seems to come 567 00:31:39,280 --> 00:31:43,240 S1: from Zechariah 11. Previously in Matthew 27, he writes about 568 00:31:43,240 --> 00:31:46,040 S1: the money Judas threw back into the temple and how 569 00:31:46,040 --> 00:31:48,840 S1: they took that money to buy the potter's field. Could 570 00:31:48,840 --> 00:31:51,840 S1: Matthew have been thinking of Jeremiah 18 and 19 regarding 571 00:31:51,840 --> 00:31:55,600 S1: clay in the potter's hand, and chapter 19 which says 572 00:31:55,600 --> 00:31:57,080 S1: they will bury in Topheth. 573 00:31:57,600 --> 00:32:01,120 S5: I love this because as Larry talks about his question, 574 00:32:01,120 --> 00:32:03,600 S5: he's beginning to answer his question, and I think he's 575 00:32:03,600 --> 00:32:07,239 S5: doing a great job. I think the primary reference that 576 00:32:07,240 --> 00:32:10,280 S5: Matthew is making is to Jeremiah 19. We find the 577 00:32:10,280 --> 00:32:13,640 S5: locality of the potters. Verse one. The blood of the innocent. 578 00:32:13,640 --> 00:32:18,080 S5: Verse four, the valley of slaughter denoting violence. Verse six. 579 00:32:18,270 --> 00:32:21,910 S5: and then the place is called a burial ground. Verse 11. 580 00:32:21,910 --> 00:32:26,310 S5: So Matthew is working with first Jeremiah, and then he's 581 00:32:26,310 --> 00:32:30,469 S5: bringing in a small portion from Zechariah about the 30 582 00:32:30,470 --> 00:32:35,270 S5: pieces of silver. So I think Matthew references Jeremiah because 583 00:32:35,270 --> 00:32:37,110 S5: he's the primary source. 584 00:32:37,230 --> 00:32:41,630 S1: Okay. From Carlene. A question about revelation chapter seven, where 585 00:32:41,630 --> 00:32:44,830 S1: Dan is left out of the list of 12 tribes, 586 00:32:44,830 --> 00:32:48,070 S1: and Manasseh and Joseph, on the other hand, are included. 587 00:32:48,230 --> 00:32:49,670 S1: Why is that? She wants to know. 588 00:32:49,710 --> 00:32:51,750 S5: Well, it's a puzzling question. I wouldn't want to be 589 00:32:51,750 --> 00:32:53,790 S5: left out. So let's think about this for just a minute. 590 00:32:53,830 --> 00:32:58,350 S5: If if we look at the so 2021 times, there's 591 00:32:58,390 --> 00:33:00,870 S5: a list of there's a genealogy of the 12 tribes 592 00:33:00,870 --> 00:33:03,510 S5: in the Old Testament. And they're very, very similar, but 593 00:33:03,510 --> 00:33:07,590 S5: they're not always exactly the same. So I double checked this. 594 00:33:07,630 --> 00:33:11,590 S5: You can compare Genesis 35, verses 23 to 26 with 595 00:33:11,590 --> 00:33:15,510 S5: First Chronicles chapter two. The first three verses and the 596 00:33:15,510 --> 00:33:17,620 S5: list of the 12 tribes are very similar, but they're 597 00:33:17,620 --> 00:33:21,420 S5: not exactly the same. So something similar is happening in revelation. 598 00:33:21,700 --> 00:33:25,700 S5: Here's what I think is happening. First, Judah appears out 599 00:33:25,740 --> 00:33:29,620 S5: of order, I think because our Lord is from the 600 00:33:29,620 --> 00:33:34,420 S5: tribe of Judah. So Judah is taken on a new significance. Secondly, 601 00:33:34,700 --> 00:33:38,900 S5: Dan is left out. Ephraim is left out. Why is that? Well, 602 00:33:38,900 --> 00:33:43,300 S5: probably because back in Deuteronomy 29. Back in judges 18, 603 00:33:43,500 --> 00:33:48,380 S5: they fall into idolatry. So they get excluded. Who comes 604 00:33:48,380 --> 00:33:51,020 S5: in to fill the place of Dan? It's the half 605 00:33:51,020 --> 00:33:55,220 S5: tribe of Manasseh. Add on the two younger brothers of Jacob, 606 00:33:55,220 --> 00:33:58,100 S5: Joseph and Benjamin, and you've got your 12. So that 607 00:33:58,100 --> 00:34:02,100 S5: you have 12 times 12,000 for the 144,000. 608 00:34:02,580 --> 00:34:04,620 S1: My question, by way of follow up, is why the 609 00:34:04,620 --> 00:34:08,140 S1: differences in the genealogies? Why shouldn't they be consistent? 610 00:34:08,620 --> 00:34:11,700 S5: You could take and line up the brothers in terms 611 00:34:11,700 --> 00:34:16,250 S5: of their age, purely chronologically, or you could take and 612 00:34:16,250 --> 00:34:18,810 S5: you can line up the brothers according to what mother 613 00:34:18,810 --> 00:34:19,770 S5: they were born to. 614 00:34:19,810 --> 00:34:20,330 S1: Okay. 615 00:34:20,370 --> 00:34:23,489 S5: And then you could list the proper wife, Leah, first. 616 00:34:23,810 --> 00:34:27,050 S5: Or you could list. This rarely happens. You could list 617 00:34:27,050 --> 00:34:30,089 S5: the favorite wife first. Rachel. Right. Or then you could 618 00:34:30,090 --> 00:34:34,570 S5: list the two servant girls last, third and fourth. Or 619 00:34:34,570 --> 00:34:37,330 S5: you could list their children according to their age. So 620 00:34:37,330 --> 00:34:39,290 S5: this is one of the things that leads to a 621 00:34:39,290 --> 00:34:40,610 S5: variety in the list. 622 00:34:40,650 --> 00:34:43,089 S1: Okay, so let's zoom out for just a moment on genealogies. 623 00:34:43,090 --> 00:34:45,370 S1: One last question. Why study them? I mean, these are 624 00:34:45,410 --> 00:34:49,210 S1: in many cases, names we can hardly pronounce, let alone characters. 625 00:34:49,210 --> 00:34:52,810 S1: We can find out much about. Why study genealogies in 626 00:34:52,810 --> 00:34:54,009 S1: Scripture in general? 627 00:34:54,170 --> 00:34:57,250 S5: Yes. Well, here's at least at least one reason for 628 00:34:57,250 --> 00:35:00,969 S5: studying a genealogy, especially for studying within the family. This 629 00:35:00,969 --> 00:35:05,250 S5: is one family of Jacob. What typically happens is the 630 00:35:05,290 --> 00:35:08,890 S5: firstborn is the one who receives the blessing. The firstborn 631 00:35:08,890 --> 00:35:13,610 S5: is the one who receives power, authority, recognition. But that 632 00:35:13,610 --> 00:35:18,069 S5: doesn't happen with Reuben, the firstborn, because he commits a 633 00:35:18,070 --> 00:35:23,070 S5: moral error and he loses that place. And then who's 634 00:35:23,070 --> 00:35:27,270 S5: born next to last? Joseph. But you read the book 635 00:35:27,270 --> 00:35:30,950 S5: of Exodus, and Joseph is second in command in Egypt. Yes. 636 00:35:30,989 --> 00:35:33,350 S5: You wouldn't have thought that this spunky little kid would 637 00:35:33,390 --> 00:35:37,069 S5: turn out to be anybody special. But he has. And 638 00:35:37,070 --> 00:35:40,230 S5: he's shown to persevere through trial, and he's shown to 639 00:35:40,230 --> 00:35:45,190 S5: be someone extremely wise and very relationally skilled. But he 640 00:35:45,190 --> 00:35:47,430 S5: was out of place. In other words, that's a shocking, 641 00:35:47,469 --> 00:35:50,750 S5: unexpected thing in light of what's happening within the family. 642 00:35:51,070 --> 00:35:53,549 S1: Time for one last question. This one from Allen, who's 643 00:35:53,550 --> 00:35:56,549 S1: wondering about some things about Jonah. He says, I've heard 644 00:35:56,550 --> 00:35:59,390 S1: that Jonah's tomb was in Iraq, near the city of Nineveh, 645 00:35:59,510 --> 00:36:03,190 S1: and was looted or destroyed by ISIS in 2017. So 646 00:36:03,190 --> 00:36:05,670 S1: how did the biblical book of Jonah get back to 647 00:36:05,710 --> 00:36:08,550 S1: Israel to become a part of the Bible? Did Jonah 648 00:36:08,550 --> 00:36:11,910 S1: return to Israel or have someone else return with his book? 649 00:36:12,150 --> 00:36:15,419 S1: Why would Jonah stay in Nineveh and die there? Is 650 00:36:15,420 --> 00:36:18,299 S1: Jonah's tomb a fake, or is it really his tomb? 651 00:36:18,500 --> 00:36:22,180 S5: Interesting questions. You know, Jonah's mentioned 28 times in the Bible, 652 00:36:22,180 --> 00:36:25,660 S5: 18 times in the book named after him. Nine times 653 00:36:25,660 --> 00:36:29,180 S5: by Jesus in the Gospels, once in second Kings 14. 654 00:36:29,180 --> 00:36:32,380 S5: But I'm sorry to say that none of these passages 655 00:36:32,380 --> 00:36:36,899 S5: answer Allan's question, so I'm sorry. The answer is, I 656 00:36:36,900 --> 00:36:37,660 S5: don't know. 657 00:36:37,700 --> 00:36:41,300 S1: Yeah, just not revealed. Well, lots of ground cover today 658 00:36:41,340 --> 00:36:44,219 S1: as always. And again, we want you to know your 659 00:36:44,219 --> 00:36:46,500 S1: question is welcome to if you'd like to email us, 660 00:36:46,500 --> 00:36:49,219 S1: please do that at the Land and the book at 661 00:36:51,020 --> 00:36:55,339 S1: the land and the book at Moody's. I'm looking forward 662 00:36:55,340 --> 00:36:58,620 S1: to Charlie Dyer's devotional. It's next right here. Stick around. 663 00:37:11,340 --> 00:37:12,969 S1: We're sure glad you've stuck with us here at The 664 00:37:12,969 --> 00:37:15,730 S1: Land and the book. I'm John Geiger asking Charlie Dyer, 665 00:37:15,730 --> 00:37:16,730 S1: do you like to fish? 666 00:37:17,130 --> 00:37:18,330 S2: I do not, John. 667 00:37:19,330 --> 00:37:21,489 S1: I, uh, I'm not crazy about fishing, but I do 668 00:37:21,489 --> 00:37:23,729 S1: like it enough that I have been a part of 669 00:37:23,730 --> 00:37:26,610 S1: four half day fishing charters. What do you think of that? 670 00:37:27,010 --> 00:37:29,450 S2: Uh, I think you're for half day fishing charters ahead 671 00:37:29,450 --> 00:37:30,489 S2: of me, my friend. 672 00:37:30,489 --> 00:37:33,810 S1: Well, you know, it's fun only because I know just 673 00:37:33,810 --> 00:37:37,450 S1: nothing about fishing. But I've noticed the captain knows everything. 674 00:37:37,450 --> 00:37:40,930 S1: But you say something fishy might have happened in the 675 00:37:40,969 --> 00:37:42,529 S1: biblical city of Bethsaida. 676 00:37:42,690 --> 00:37:44,129 S2: That's exactly right. 677 00:37:44,170 --> 00:37:46,890 S1: That's the title of today's devotional. We'll get there after 678 00:37:46,890 --> 00:37:49,130 S1: this pause for a Holy Land experience. 679 00:37:53,370 --> 00:37:55,810 S6: You asked us to call if we had been to Israel. 680 00:37:55,810 --> 00:38:00,090 S6: We just returned from Israel. We went with a group 681 00:38:00,090 --> 00:38:04,129 S6: from our church, College Park Church in Indianapolis. We had 682 00:38:04,130 --> 00:38:06,930 S6: a fabulous experience, and I have to tell you that 683 00:38:06,930 --> 00:38:09,450 S6: I did not want to go when we met the 684 00:38:09,450 --> 00:38:12,640 S6: people that we're leading the tour. I said, hi, my 685 00:38:12,640 --> 00:38:15,720 S6: name is Jill and I don't want to go. So 686 00:38:15,760 --> 00:38:18,080 S6: they had to had to do a hard sell for me. 687 00:38:18,080 --> 00:38:20,120 S6: But I will tell you that it really was a 688 00:38:20,120 --> 00:38:23,920 S6: phenomenal trip. And the highlight for me was being on 689 00:38:23,920 --> 00:38:27,640 S6: the Sea of Galilee and actually walking where Jesus walked. 690 00:38:28,600 --> 00:38:32,759 S6: It was just an incredible experience and I would recommend 691 00:38:32,760 --> 00:38:37,239 S6: it to anyone. And I never for one moment felt unsafe. 692 00:38:37,280 --> 00:38:40,400 S6: Even as we stood on the Syrian border, I never 693 00:38:40,400 --> 00:38:44,960 S6: felt unsafe. So I recommend it so much. It's got 694 00:38:44,960 --> 00:38:47,000 S6: to do it. It has to be on your bucket list. 695 00:38:47,040 --> 00:38:47,680 S6: Thank you. 696 00:38:49,600 --> 00:38:52,560 S1: Great to hear what people are thinking as they travel 697 00:38:52,600 --> 00:38:56,160 S1: to the Holy Land. We're headed for Second Samuel chapter three. 698 00:38:56,160 --> 00:39:00,040 S1: And I'm intrigued, Charlie, with your devotional title, Something Fishy 699 00:39:00,239 --> 00:39:01,160 S1: in Bethsaida. 700 00:39:01,640 --> 00:39:05,960 S2: Absolutely, John. In fact, Bethsaida, the name means house of fishing. 701 00:39:06,280 --> 00:39:09,750 S2: But there's something fishy about Bethsaida. Now follow me up 702 00:39:09,750 --> 00:39:11,950 S2: on the site and I'll show you what I mean. 703 00:39:12,350 --> 00:39:15,470 S2: The first thing that's fishy about the site is its location. 704 00:39:15,950 --> 00:39:18,270 S2: If the name of the town means house of fishing, 705 00:39:18,510 --> 00:39:21,750 S2: where's the water? The ruins of this town are about 706 00:39:21,750 --> 00:39:24,469 S2: a mile from the Sea of Galilee. In fact, that's 707 00:39:24,469 --> 00:39:27,750 S2: why it took so long to discover the site and 708 00:39:27,750 --> 00:39:31,790 S2: why the actual location is still debated. At first glance, 709 00:39:31,790 --> 00:39:34,350 S2: this place where we're standing looks like the kind of 710 00:39:34,350 --> 00:39:37,910 S2: marketing ploy a real estate agent might use to entice 711 00:39:37,910 --> 00:39:40,950 S2: people to buy into this development. I can hear the 712 00:39:40,950 --> 00:39:43,950 S2: marketing pitch now. Have I got a deal for you? 713 00:39:44,150 --> 00:39:46,149 S2: You can get in on the ground floor of our 714 00:39:46,150 --> 00:39:51,750 S2: latest seaside development in Galilee. House of fishing. Located almost 715 00:39:51,750 --> 00:39:54,790 S2: on the shore of the beautiful Sea of Galilee. Now 716 00:39:54,790 --> 00:39:59,069 S2: this fishy fact can be explained. It's possible that sediment 717 00:39:59,070 --> 00:40:02,950 S2: rushing down the Jordan River filled in the area around Bethsaida, 718 00:40:02,950 --> 00:40:06,509 S2: creating a delta that pushed the water further south. It's 719 00:40:06,510 --> 00:40:09,420 S2: also possible the town could have had a separate harbor 720 00:40:09,460 --> 00:40:12,500 S2: a short distance away. So even though the place we're 721 00:40:12,500 --> 00:40:16,380 S2: standing is not on the water's edge, this was Bethsaida. 722 00:40:16,780 --> 00:40:19,700 S2: They even uncovered a house here where they found fishing hooks, 723 00:40:19,700 --> 00:40:23,140 S2: anchors and lead weights for nets. But this leads to 724 00:40:23,180 --> 00:40:26,339 S2: the second thing that's fishy about Bethsaida. The town was 725 00:40:26,340 --> 00:40:29,940 S2: the original home of Peter, Andrew and Philip. And Matthew 726 00:40:29,940 --> 00:40:33,620 S2: 11 lists Bethsaida as one of the three towns where 727 00:40:33,620 --> 00:40:37,339 S2: Jesus performed most of his miracles. So what's fishy? Well, 728 00:40:37,380 --> 00:40:40,700 S2: name a miracle performed in Bethsaida. If you're good at 729 00:40:40,700 --> 00:40:44,299 S2: Bible trivia, you might come up with Mark eight, Jesus's 730 00:40:44,300 --> 00:40:46,739 S2: healing of the man where he had to perform the 731 00:40:46,739 --> 00:40:50,620 S2: miracle twice. But in the passage it says. Jesus led 732 00:40:50,660 --> 00:40:55,780 S2: the man outside Bethsaida before performing the miracle. So technically, 733 00:40:55,780 --> 00:40:58,140 S2: Jesus was in the city when the blind man was 734 00:40:58,140 --> 00:41:01,580 S2: brought to him. But the man wasn't healed in Bethsaida. 735 00:41:01,940 --> 00:41:04,740 S2: The only other miracle connected with Bethsaida is the feeding 736 00:41:04,739 --> 00:41:08,210 S2: of the 5000. Luke nine, says the event took place 737 00:41:08,210 --> 00:41:12,770 S2: just after Jesus and the disciples withdrew to Bethsaida. But 738 00:41:12,770 --> 00:41:16,569 S2: Matthew 14 says the miracle happened in a solitary place, 739 00:41:16,730 --> 00:41:20,010 S2: not in the town, and John six places the actual 740 00:41:20,010 --> 00:41:23,930 S2: miracle on a mountainside. Apart from these two miracles, we 741 00:41:23,969 --> 00:41:28,129 S2: don't know any other miracles Jesus actually performed in this town. 742 00:41:28,370 --> 00:41:31,850 S2: Something fishy is going on. But the biggest fish story 743 00:41:31,850 --> 00:41:34,690 S2: of all from Bethsaida is the one about the slimy 744 00:41:34,730 --> 00:41:37,210 S2: son who got off the hook here. If you don't 745 00:41:37,210 --> 00:41:39,810 S2: know that story well, I'm sure you'll remember it once 746 00:41:39,810 --> 00:41:42,690 S2: I fill in some of the details. The story begins 747 00:41:42,690 --> 00:41:46,009 S2: at this very site. But a thousand years before the 748 00:41:46,010 --> 00:41:51,529 S2: time of Jesus. The town had a different name back then. Geshur. Actually, 749 00:41:51,530 --> 00:41:53,689 S2: this was likely the name of both the town and 750 00:41:53,690 --> 00:41:56,730 S2: the kingdom over which it ruled. I still see that 751 00:41:56,730 --> 00:41:58,770 S2: quizzical look in your eye. So let me add a 752 00:41:58,770 --> 00:42:02,850 S2: few more details. The kingdom of Geshur stretched northeast from 753 00:42:02,850 --> 00:42:06,440 S2: here almost to Damascus. And the king who ruled over 754 00:42:06,440 --> 00:42:09,040 S2: the region during the time of David was a man 755 00:42:09,040 --> 00:42:12,200 S2: named Talmai. It was early in David's reign and he 756 00:42:12,200 --> 00:42:15,520 S2: was still working to secure his throne. The Bible describes 757 00:42:15,520 --> 00:42:18,160 S2: it as a time when there was war between the 758 00:42:18,160 --> 00:42:21,160 S2: house of Saul and the House of David. We know 759 00:42:21,160 --> 00:42:23,839 S2: the outcome of the story, but at the time other 760 00:42:23,840 --> 00:42:26,719 S2: nations didn't know who would come out on top. And 761 00:42:26,719 --> 00:42:30,440 S2: in those situations, it was always better to hedge one's bets. 762 00:42:30,880 --> 00:42:34,480 S2: And that's what makes one historical footnote in second Samuel 763 00:42:34,480 --> 00:42:39,000 S2: three so important. The writer notes the rise in David's strength, 764 00:42:39,000 --> 00:42:41,799 S2: and even illustrates it by naming the six sons born 765 00:42:41,800 --> 00:42:44,640 S2: to David. During this period, each son is born to 766 00:42:44,640 --> 00:42:48,359 S2: a different wife. Sadly reflecting the reality of marriage in 767 00:42:48,400 --> 00:42:51,799 S2: that day. But the writer pauses in his genealogy at 768 00:42:51,800 --> 00:42:56,120 S2: son Number three, providing one additional detail that seems to 769 00:42:56,160 --> 00:42:59,360 S2: set this son apart from the others. The third son 770 00:42:59,360 --> 00:43:03,680 S2: was Absalom, the son of Mayakka, the daughter of Talmai, 771 00:43:03,800 --> 00:43:07,980 S2: king of Geshur? During that time, kings would form alliances 772 00:43:07,980 --> 00:43:11,340 S2: through marriage. We don't know if David approached Talmai or 773 00:43:11,380 --> 00:43:14,859 S2: Talmai approached David, but in either case, David married the 774 00:43:14,860 --> 00:43:18,660 S2: daughter of the King of Geshur. I just think it's 775 00:43:18,660 --> 00:43:23,219 S2: possible that David visited this city and walked on its streets. 776 00:43:23,580 --> 00:43:25,859 S2: We don't know for sure, but we do know who 777 00:43:25,860 --> 00:43:29,460 S2: did walk on these streets. Absalom. Later, in the Book 778 00:43:29,460 --> 00:43:33,020 S2: of Second Samuel, we discover the treacherous nature of David's 779 00:43:33,020 --> 00:43:36,580 S2: third son. He plotted the murder of his brother Amnon. 780 00:43:36,900 --> 00:43:40,460 S2: It was a sordid period in David's family history. Amnon 781 00:43:40,460 --> 00:43:45,500 S2: had raped Tamar, Absalom's sister, and Absalom wanted revenge. David 782 00:43:45,500 --> 00:43:48,739 S2: failed to act against Amnon, and that was wrong. But 783 00:43:48,739 --> 00:43:53,700 S2: so was Absalom's deceit and vengeance. Absalom murdered his older brother, 784 00:43:53,700 --> 00:43:56,620 S2: who was first in line to the throne, and then 785 00:43:56,660 --> 00:44:00,260 S2: Absalom fled for his own life to Talmai, the son 786 00:44:00,260 --> 00:44:03,970 S2: of Ammihud, the king of Geshur, Were. For three years 787 00:44:04,010 --> 00:44:07,490 S2: Absalom lived in exile in Geshur, right on the hill 788 00:44:07,489 --> 00:44:10,850 S2: where we're now standing. Three years, thinking about all he 789 00:44:10,850 --> 00:44:14,009 S2: had done and all he'd left behind. But instead of 790 00:44:14,010 --> 00:44:17,089 S2: softening his heart, the timing is sure seemed to have 791 00:44:17,090 --> 00:44:21,210 S2: hardened Absalom even more. Absalom was eventually allowed to return 792 00:44:21,210 --> 00:44:25,170 S2: to Jerusalem, and after two more years was reconciled to David. 793 00:44:25,170 --> 00:44:29,569 S2: Or at least David thought they had reconciled. David forgave Absalom, 794 00:44:29,570 --> 00:44:34,370 S2: but Absalom never forgave David. Something fishy was going on. Finally, 795 00:44:34,410 --> 00:44:38,009 S2: Absalom was ready to unveil his treacherous plot to overthrow 796 00:44:38,010 --> 00:44:41,970 S2: and kill his own father. It started so innocently. Absalom 797 00:44:41,969 --> 00:44:44,609 S2: went to his father with a request. Please let me 798 00:44:44,610 --> 00:44:46,529 S2: go and pray my vow, which I have vowed to 799 00:44:46,570 --> 00:44:49,290 S2: the Lord in Hebron. For your servant made a vow 800 00:44:49,290 --> 00:44:51,810 S2: while I was living in Geshur in Aram, saying, if 801 00:44:51,810 --> 00:44:54,730 S2: the Lord shall indeed bring me back to Jerusalem, then 802 00:44:54,730 --> 00:44:57,490 S2: I will serve the Lord. And the king said to him, 803 00:44:57,530 --> 00:45:00,370 S2: go in peace. So he arose and went to Hebron. 804 00:45:00,690 --> 00:45:03,520 S2: But when Absalom arrived in Hebron, he announced that he 805 00:45:03,520 --> 00:45:07,600 S2: was now king. What followed was still another sad chapter 806 00:45:07,600 --> 00:45:10,600 S2: that marred the final part of David's reign, and it 807 00:45:10,600 --> 00:45:14,920 S2: cost Absalom his life. Well, it's about time to leave Bethsaida. 808 00:45:15,120 --> 00:45:17,760 S2: But what can we take with us from our time here, 809 00:45:17,760 --> 00:45:22,640 S2: inside this fishy house of fishing? Let me suggest two thoughts, 810 00:45:22,640 --> 00:45:26,319 S2: one from the Old Testament and one from the new. First, 811 00:45:26,360 --> 00:45:29,880 S2: Absalom reminds us of the need to keep short accounts 812 00:45:29,880 --> 00:45:33,799 S2: with God. Absalom's bitterness against his brother and then his 813 00:45:33,800 --> 00:45:37,600 S2: bitterness against his own father led to his downfall. The 814 00:45:37,600 --> 00:45:40,440 S2: writer of Hebrews says it this way see to it 815 00:45:40,440 --> 00:45:43,040 S2: that no one comes short of the grace of God, 816 00:45:43,160 --> 00:45:46,520 S2: that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and 817 00:45:46,520 --> 00:45:50,759 S2: by it many be defiled. And second, Bethsaida reminds me 818 00:45:50,760 --> 00:45:55,760 S2: of the warning slapped on every stock prospectus. Past performance 819 00:45:55,800 --> 00:45:59,640 S2: is no indication of future results. In the New Testament, 820 00:45:59,640 --> 00:46:02,670 S2: Bethsaida Seda was an important city. One of the capitals 821 00:46:02,670 --> 00:46:05,549 S2: of the region ruled by Herod Philip. It was one 822 00:46:05,550 --> 00:46:09,950 S2: of the top three cities where Jesus performed miracles, and 25% 823 00:46:09,950 --> 00:46:15,550 S2: of Jesus's disciples came from this town. Impressive it is. 824 00:46:15,910 --> 00:46:18,989 S2: But look at it. Today. Bethsaida reminds us not to 825 00:46:19,030 --> 00:46:21,790 S2: live life in the rear view mirror. It's not what 826 00:46:21,790 --> 00:46:25,350 S2: we've already done that's important, but what lies ahead. Remember, 827 00:46:25,390 --> 00:46:28,549 S2: God is infinitely more concerned with your future than he 828 00:46:28,550 --> 00:46:30,790 S2: is with your past. And to forget that is to 829 00:46:30,830 --> 00:46:34,310 S2: allow ourselves to become like Bethsaida is today, nothing more 830 00:46:34,310 --> 00:46:36,469 S2: than a shadow of what it once was. 831 00:46:36,989 --> 00:46:40,509 S1: Something fishy in Bethsaida. Thank you, Charlie, for that devotional. 832 00:46:40,750 --> 00:46:44,110 S1: Hope you've enjoyed today's program. Can't believe our time is gone, 833 00:46:44,469 --> 00:46:46,990 S1: but Lord willing, we'll be back again next week. I'm 834 00:46:46,989 --> 00:46:50,110 S1: John Yeager for Charlie Dyer and Dan Anderson, our producer. 835 00:46:50,150 --> 00:46:52,790 S1: The land and the book is a production of Moody Radio, 836 00:46:52,830 --> 00:46:54,870 S1: a ministry of Moody Bible Institute.