WEBVTT - Hour 1: Bible Q & A from Chicago 0:00:00.840 --> 0:00:05.119 Live from the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. It's open 0:00:05.120 --> 0:00:18.240 line with doctor Michael Melnick. Hello, friends. Welcome to Open Line. 0:00:18.239 --> 0:00:22.759 This is Moody Radio's Bible study across America. My name 0:00:22.760 --> 0:00:26.079 is Michael Melnick. I'm the academic dean at Moody Bible 0:00:26.079 --> 0:00:29.320 Institute and also a professor of Jewish studies there. I'm 0:00:29.320 --> 0:00:32.320 so grateful you're joining me around the radio kitchen table 0:00:32.320 --> 0:00:37.080 this morning. We're talking about your questions about the Bible, 0:00:37.159 --> 0:00:40.840 God and the spiritual life. The normal procedure of this 0:00:40.840 --> 0:00:43.319 program is for those of you who are listening to, 0:00:43.360 --> 0:00:46.519 call in with your questions. Not so today. Today's a 0:00:46.520 --> 0:00:48.919 very special open line. We have a a group of 0:00:48.960 --> 0:00:51.080 guests here at the Moody Bible Institute. We're in the 0:00:51.080 --> 0:00:55.720 historic kind of historic studio B here. Uh, there was 0:00:55.720 --> 0:00:59.600 a historic studio we've renamed this newer building. We still 0:00:59.700 --> 0:01:02.100 have the historic studio B, and we're all sitting around 0:01:02.100 --> 0:01:05.619 in here and our listeners are going to ask the 0:01:05.620 --> 0:01:09.420 questions not from the radio, but the listeners here in 0:01:09.420 --> 0:01:12.340 the studio. It's kind of a special day, but I'm 0:01:12.340 --> 0:01:14.340 sure they're going to ask the questions that you're thinking 0:01:14.340 --> 0:01:16.900 of out there. You're like, well, I wanted to ask that, 0:01:16.900 --> 0:01:19.420 so keep listening. I'm sure they're going to ask you 0:01:19.420 --> 0:01:22.500 a question. We've got a lot of people working here today. Uh, 0:01:22.500 --> 0:01:27.820 Chris Segard, Joel Swan, Omar Mendoza handling all things technical, 0:01:28.060 --> 0:01:32.060 and Tricia McMillan is here producing as always. And of course, 0:01:32.060 --> 0:01:35.140 to hear is helping out. And Lisa thanks for that. 0:01:35.140 --> 0:01:38.100 If you like you can send a question to our website. 0:01:38.340 --> 0:01:42.220 And what you do is go to Openline radio.org. Click 0:01:42.220 --> 0:01:45.460 on the link there that says Ask Michael a question 0:01:45.459 --> 0:01:47.700 and if you're listening would like to get your question in. 0:01:47.740 --> 0:01:50.300 That may be one way you can get it in. Uh, 0:01:50.300 --> 0:01:54.220 we'll be taking some of those questions as well. Uh, 0:01:54.500 --> 0:01:56.780 but I hope you get yourself a cup of coffee 0:01:56.820 --> 0:02:00.720 and get your Bible. Joining me for this first part 0:02:00.720 --> 0:02:04.080 of the program is someone that I rely on to 0:02:04.120 --> 0:02:07.000 hear teach the word all the time. His name is 0:02:07.000 --> 0:02:10.040 Mark Jobe. He's the president of Moody Bible Institute. I'm 0:02:10.040 --> 0:02:11.320 so glad you're here with me. 0:02:11.680 --> 0:02:16.000 Michael. It's always a joy to be with you. And 0:02:16.280 --> 0:02:18.919 I love this program. By the way, big fan. My 0:02:18.919 --> 0:02:21.400 wife's a fan of the program as well. She's here 0:02:21.400 --> 0:02:24.120 in the studio as well. So if you hear extra 0:02:24.160 --> 0:02:25.680 loud clapping, that's her. 0:02:25.880 --> 0:02:30.720 That's it. That's right. Well, uh, we're going to just 0:02:30.720 --> 0:02:33.400 get started with a question and we're going to start 0:02:33.400 --> 0:02:35.880 with Stephanie. Hi, Stephanie. 0:02:35.919 --> 0:02:36.600 Good morning. 0:02:36.600 --> 0:02:40.720 Where are you from, Stephanie Palatine. Palatine, Illinois. Okay. Northwest 0:02:40.720 --> 0:02:42.960 suburbs of Chicago. Glad you're here. 0:02:43.120 --> 0:02:46.560 Thank you. So my question is, what are a few 0:02:46.560 --> 0:02:49.720 things we can focus on to point others to Christ? 0:02:49.760 --> 0:02:54.960 Believers and unbelievers and conversations with others during these times. 0:02:55.639 --> 0:03:02.780 Are during these times. Very bad times that are uncertain financially. 0:03:03.139 --> 0:03:08.660 Wars in the world. Difficulties. I always say ask Mark job. 0:03:14.300 --> 0:03:17.660 You know, Stephanie, that's a great question. I want to 0:03:17.660 --> 0:03:21.459 start by saying this. Every time I have a conversation 0:03:21.460 --> 0:03:26.540 with someone, I'm aware that God has already been working 0:03:26.540 --> 0:03:29.740 in their life way before I talked with them. So 0:03:29.740 --> 0:03:33.180 I go with the assumption that the Holy Spirit is 0:03:33.180 --> 0:03:37.420 already working there. And so it's not like I'm starting 0:03:37.420 --> 0:03:40.820 from scratch. I know that God is drawing them. And 0:03:40.820 --> 0:03:42.580 so I go with that assumption, first of all, that 0:03:42.580 --> 0:03:46.020 God is drawing them. In fact, just yesterday we had 0:03:46.020 --> 0:03:50.340 a little boat ride and I walked out into the 0:03:50.340 --> 0:03:54.260 little balcony there and the captain and someone else were there. 0:03:54.260 --> 0:03:59.320 I initiated a conversation with them and, um, just life 0:03:59.320 --> 0:04:02.920 in general, and then started talking about spiritual things. And 0:04:02.960 --> 0:04:05.960 they perked up and I said, you know, people are 0:04:05.960 --> 0:04:08.640 being drawn to God these days because there's a lot 0:04:08.680 --> 0:04:12.360 of turmoil. And sometimes in the midst of turmoil, uh, 0:04:12.360 --> 0:04:16.320 people start looking to the heavens. And so there's a 0:04:16.320 --> 0:04:20.640 felt need in everybody's life. When people came to Jesus, 0:04:20.640 --> 0:04:23.560 they didn't come because they were looking for a redeemer. 0:04:23.600 --> 0:04:28.880 They were looking for relief. Uh, someone was sick. Kid 0:04:28.880 --> 0:04:32.560 is demon possessed. They felt oppressed by the Roman government. 0:04:32.880 --> 0:04:39.200 So keep in mind God's drawing them. They, uh. Everybody 0:04:39.560 --> 0:04:44.400 has a sense of emptiness without God. And so go 0:04:44.400 --> 0:04:48.480 to those places. It may start with a divorce that's pending, 0:04:48.720 --> 0:04:52.559 a son that's in the hospital, depression, anxiety that they're 0:04:52.560 --> 0:04:56.979 going through. And then connect it to God, who ultimately 0:04:56.980 --> 0:05:00.180 is the answer. That's how I approach it, typically. 0:05:00.339 --> 0:05:03.140 I think that it's interesting. Paul wrote Colossians while he 0:05:03.140 --> 0:05:06.219 was in prison. It says in Colossians four two, devote 0:05:06.220 --> 0:05:10.740 yourselves to prayer. Stay alert in it with thanksgiving. Okay. 0:05:10.779 --> 0:05:12.740 He says, you need to be praying. Here's what we 0:05:12.740 --> 0:05:16.020 need to be praying for, he says. At the same time, 0:05:16.060 --> 0:05:19.620 pray also for us that God may open a door 0:05:19.620 --> 0:05:22.220 to us for the message to speak the mystery of 0:05:22.220 --> 0:05:25.100 the Messiah for which I am in prison. So he's 0:05:25.100 --> 0:05:29.420 looking for opportunities. He wants them praying for open doors 0:05:29.620 --> 0:05:33.020 in the prison. I think that's so interesting. He's not saying, well, 0:05:33.020 --> 0:05:35.700 I'm in prison. What am I going to say? He's 0:05:35.700 --> 0:05:38.099 looking for them to pray for him. I think we 0:05:38.100 --> 0:05:41.740 should be praying for open doors in our own lives. Uh, 0:05:41.980 --> 0:05:44.980 that whatever we're at, whether it's at work or walking 0:05:44.980 --> 0:05:47.260 the dogs in the neighborhood, even I have two dogs. 0:05:47.500 --> 0:05:50.620 I think our primary purpose for having dogs is not 0:05:50.620 --> 0:05:52.500 because of the great joy they bring. Because they bring 0:05:52.500 --> 0:05:54.469 a mess to the house. The reason we have dogs 0:05:54.470 --> 0:05:56.190 is we walk them in our neighborhood. We get to 0:05:56.190 --> 0:05:58.950 meet all our neighbors. That's why we do that. And 0:05:58.950 --> 0:06:04.270 people talk to us. Uh, and, uh, he says, so 0:06:04.270 --> 0:06:08.430 that I may reveal it, uh, as I am required 0:06:08.430 --> 0:06:11.230 to speak. And then he tells them to act wisely. 0:06:11.510 --> 0:06:16.950 And also, you should always be gracious, seasoned with salt, 0:06:16.950 --> 0:06:20.270 make it flavorful. Mhm. Uh, so that you may know 0:06:20.270 --> 0:06:23.390 how you should answer each person. So I would say 0:06:23.430 --> 0:06:28.630 pray for open doors to learn to speak with boldness 0:06:29.029 --> 0:06:34.270 seizing those moments, but also tact. Uh, and uh, we 0:06:34.270 --> 0:06:37.630 should point people to the Lord obviously do it, not 0:06:37.630 --> 0:06:41.430 in an obnoxious way, but in a flavorful way. And 0:06:41.550 --> 0:06:43.910 I think that happens as we talk to people. We 0:06:43.950 --> 0:06:47.870 diagnose where they're at, uh, by listening to them. So 0:06:47.870 --> 0:06:50.790 I think the key for ministering to people is actually 0:06:50.790 --> 0:06:56.089 learning to be good listeners. And then when we listen well, 0:06:56.250 --> 0:06:59.490 we can respond and ask good questions. And that's how 0:06:59.529 --> 0:07:03.409 doors seem to open for me and speak to those 0:07:03.410 --> 0:07:04.810 issues as best you can. 0:07:04.930 --> 0:07:05.489 Thank you. 0:07:05.529 --> 0:07:05.929 Okay. 0:07:08.250 --> 0:07:08.610 Hi. 0:07:08.850 --> 0:07:09.730 My name is Mary. 0:07:09.770 --> 0:07:12.450 Hi, Mary. My question. Go ahead. Tell us where you're from. 0:07:12.450 --> 0:07:12.850 I'm always. 0:07:13.010 --> 0:07:14.290 Mendon, Ohio. 0:07:14.330 --> 0:07:15.450 Mendon, Ohio. 0:07:15.490 --> 0:07:17.410 Yeah, it's near Salina. Do you know where Salina is? 0:07:17.450 --> 0:07:21.650 Yeah, sure. Is there a big city nearby? 0:07:22.010 --> 0:07:22.690 Lima. 0:07:22.810 --> 0:07:23.770 Lima. Yeah. 0:07:23.810 --> 0:07:27.810 Okay. Why does it take years for some prayers to 0:07:27.810 --> 0:07:28.530 be answered? 0:07:29.970 --> 0:07:36.090 Ah, if only I knew. I'm not sure that anyone 0:07:36.090 --> 0:07:39.290 can give a perfect answer, but I'm going to again 0:07:39.330 --> 0:07:40.450 start with Doctor Jobe. 0:07:41.570 --> 0:07:47.010 Well, you know, sometimes we think that prayer is convincing 0:07:47.010 --> 0:07:52.750 God to see it our way and to do things 0:07:52.750 --> 0:07:57.470 our way. Um, but Scripture is clear. Isaiah tells us 0:07:57.470 --> 0:08:03.070 that God's thoughts are much higher than ours. His ways 0:08:03.070 --> 0:08:07.350 are much higher than ours. And I believe that sometimes 0:08:07.350 --> 0:08:10.630 it takes years because, um, in fact, I just I 0:08:10.670 --> 0:08:16.110 just preached about this in chapel recently where, uh, do 0:08:16.110 --> 0:08:20.630 you remember the story of Mary, Martha and Lazarus? Uh, 0:08:20.870 --> 0:08:24.110 they believe their their brother is sick, and so they 0:08:24.110 --> 0:08:30.590 call Jesus. And Jesus deliberately delays two more days. And 0:08:30.790 --> 0:08:33.470 it seems strange that the person that he loves, he 0:08:33.470 --> 0:08:36.230 doesn't run and try to fix it. But he had 0:08:36.230 --> 0:08:40.270 a bigger narrative, and I reminded our students that sometimes 0:08:40.270 --> 0:08:43.630 it feels like God is not answering our prayer immediately, 0:08:43.910 --> 0:08:46.550 but because God has a bigger narrative, sometimes he let it. 0:08:46.590 --> 0:08:50.410 He lets it get worse. In fact, none of us 0:08:50.410 --> 0:08:53.890 would really know the story of Lazarus. We we would 0:08:53.929 --> 0:08:58.810 barely know his name if Jesus had answered the prayer immediately. 0:08:58.809 --> 0:09:02.170 But he waited. He waited until things got worse. He 0:09:02.170 --> 0:09:05.930 waited until Lazarus died, and then he resurrected him. And 0:09:05.929 --> 0:09:10.050 we all know the story because Jesus did not answer 0:09:10.090 --> 0:09:13.810 it when Martha and Mary wanted him to. And so 0:09:13.809 --> 0:09:17.209 we have to keep in mind that prayer is aligning 0:09:17.210 --> 0:09:20.290 our hearts with God's plan, not just trying to convince 0:09:20.330 --> 0:09:22.690 God about our plan. And I think when we pray 0:09:22.690 --> 0:09:26.290 in the spirit, we get more more aligned with the 0:09:26.290 --> 0:09:29.970 heart of God and more and more saying, God, you're sovereign. 0:09:29.970 --> 0:09:32.450 This is what I would like, but Lord, not my will, 0:09:32.490 --> 0:09:33.490 but yours be done. 0:09:34.250 --> 0:09:37.290 You know, I think that there's something important to remember. 0:09:37.650 --> 0:09:41.370 This is something that I really appreciated that message in chapel. 0:09:41.410 --> 0:09:46.850 But there's a a Jewish tradition that the spirit of 0:09:46.850 --> 0:09:50.910 the person stays by the body for three days. So 0:09:50.950 --> 0:09:54.190 the Lord Jesus waited for the fourth day. And then 0:09:54.230 --> 0:09:56.949 he raised Lazarus on the fourth day to prove that 0:09:56.950 --> 0:10:00.309 he could raise us all in the last day. And 0:10:00.510 --> 0:10:02.790 I think that that is one of the reasons he 0:10:02.790 --> 0:10:06.870 had a purpose for delaying. As long as a prayer 0:10:08.230 --> 0:10:11.189 is in the will of God. I think it's it's 0:10:11.190 --> 0:10:16.390 really important that we recognize that and persist, because that's 0:10:16.390 --> 0:10:20.110 what Jesus said. He told them a parable. He told 0:10:20.110 --> 0:10:23.110 them a parable on the need for them to pray 0:10:23.150 --> 0:10:27.870 always and not to become discouraged. That means if I'm 0:10:27.870 --> 0:10:31.310 praying for something and it's a legitimate request, and it's 0:10:31.309 --> 0:10:34.910 something that would bring glory to God and and honor him, 0:10:35.550 --> 0:10:40.790 and he's saying, no, so far, no, no. Persist. And 0:10:40.790 --> 0:10:43.829 the reason we persist is because God is probably teaching 0:10:43.830 --> 0:10:47.210 us something as we wait on him to to trust him. 0:10:47.210 --> 0:10:49.050 So I think that's why we have to do it. 0:10:49.050 --> 0:10:53.569 Just as he was teaching something to Martha and Mary 0:10:53.610 --> 0:10:56.810 about their brother Lazarus. Okay. Yeah. We're going to take 0:10:56.809 --> 0:11:00.290 a break here. Uh, and when we come back, uh, 0:11:01.809 --> 0:11:05.689 we're going to take more of your questions right here, uh, 0:11:05.690 --> 0:11:09.050 in our studio B at Moody Bible Institute with this 0:11:09.050 --> 0:11:13.090 beautiful live audience. We're really grateful for you being here. 0:11:13.130 --> 0:11:15.770 Grateful for all of you listening. Stay with us. This 0:11:15.770 --> 0:11:18.570 is Mark Jobe. Michael Dolnick right here on Moody Radio's 0:11:18.610 --> 0:11:38.210 Open Line. We'll be right back. Back to Open Line 0:11:38.210 --> 0:11:42.089 with our live studio audience asking the questions today. So 0:11:42.090 --> 0:11:46.230 glad you're listening in today. Uh, it's it's just great 0:11:46.230 --> 0:11:48.670 to see all these faces asking the questions, I hope. 0:11:48.710 --> 0:11:51.550 I know they're asking questions that you've wondered about as 0:11:51.550 --> 0:11:54.390 well as you listen. So keep listening and you can 0:11:54.390 --> 0:11:57.030 always write to us. The way to do that is 0:11:57.030 --> 0:11:59.870 go to Openline radio.org. Click on the link that says 0:12:00.110 --> 0:12:02.230 Ask Michael a question and you can fill out your 0:12:02.230 --> 0:12:06.470 question there. Now people have often often asked, where do 0:12:06.470 --> 0:12:08.750 we get the Bible from? I know it's God's Word, 0:12:09.230 --> 0:12:12.630 but where is it from? How did these ancient books 0:12:13.790 --> 0:12:18.030 get turned into the the leather bound book that I'm reading, 0:12:18.870 --> 0:12:22.830 doctor Jay Carlini, uh, who taught for many years at 0:12:22.830 --> 0:12:27.110 Western Seminary in Portland, wrote a book called The Story 0:12:27.110 --> 0:12:30.670 of the Bible, and that is our current resource. It's 0:12:30.710 --> 0:12:36.150 a great, informative journey through scriptures development, starting from divine 0:12:36.150 --> 0:12:42.709 inspiration to copying the transmission of that text and finally, well, 0:12:42.710 --> 0:12:47.770 not finally canonization translation modern translations that we're reading about today. 0:12:47.809 --> 0:12:49.650 If you want to know the story of the Bible, 0:12:49.809 --> 0:12:52.850 this is a great resource. It shows how God worked 0:12:52.850 --> 0:12:58.370 through human authors, scribes, translators to give us God's Word 0:12:58.370 --> 0:13:02.050 that we should be reading regularly. And it is a great, 0:13:02.050 --> 0:13:04.810 great resource, and we want to send it to you 0:13:04.809 --> 0:13:06.850 as a way of saying thank you for any gift 0:13:06.850 --> 0:13:09.770 you send in, uh, a gift of any size. We 0:13:09.770 --> 0:13:12.890 want to say thanks and send you a copy of 0:13:13.090 --> 0:13:16.090 The Story of the Bible by Doctor Lainie. Uh, if 0:13:16.130 --> 0:13:17.530 you'd like to give a gift, all you have to 0:13:17.530 --> 0:13:24.530 do is go to our website, online radio.org, call (888) 644-7122 0:13:24.570 --> 0:13:27.130 or open line radio.org. And you'll be able to give 0:13:27.130 --> 0:13:29.690 a gift. And we appreciate it so much. We want 0:13:29.730 --> 0:13:33.610 to say hey use this resource by Doctor Jay Carlini, 0:13:33.809 --> 0:13:35.850 The Story of the Bible. We're going to go back 0:13:35.850 --> 0:13:37.689 to our questions right here in the studio. 0:13:38.850 --> 0:13:42.870 Hi Michael, I'm Jeff from northwest Ohio, and we're part 0:13:42.870 --> 0:13:45.790 of a discipleship class at home talking about the sovereignty 0:13:45.830 --> 0:13:49.550 of God. So my question is, how does God's sovereignty 0:13:49.590 --> 0:13:53.670 and man's free will work together in salvation? 0:13:55.830 --> 0:13:59.110 If only I knew. I mean, that is one of 0:13:59.110 --> 0:14:03.710 the questions that people ask all the time. And they're 0:14:03.830 --> 0:14:08.470 what happens is theologians. Well, some theologians say they can 0:14:08.470 --> 0:14:13.750 explain it. And, uh, I had a book that explained 0:14:13.750 --> 0:14:16.710 it and I tried to read it, and I am 0:14:16.710 --> 0:14:19.270 I guess I'm not a philosopher because I'm like, I'm 0:14:19.310 --> 0:14:22.510 not getting this. And then, uh, I have a friend 0:14:22.710 --> 0:14:26.990 who was the valedictorian, highest grades at Dallas Seminary when 0:14:26.990 --> 0:14:30.510 I graduated, and he was visiting my house, and he 0:14:30.510 --> 0:14:32.630 saw that book, and he picked it up, and I 0:14:32.630 --> 0:14:34.950 was cooking dinner, and he came into the kitchen and 0:14:34.950 --> 0:14:38.350 he says, do you understand any of this? And I said, no. 0:14:38.750 --> 0:14:41.730 And he said, good, because I felt really dumb as 0:14:41.730 --> 0:14:46.370 I was reading this. And now here's the crazy thing 0:14:46.410 --> 0:14:53.690 to me is that both divine sovereignty and human responsibility 0:14:54.050 --> 0:14:56.010 are not just mentioned in the Bible, they're mentioned right 0:14:56.010 --> 0:15:00.370 next to each other. Um, and so I think it's 0:15:00.370 --> 0:15:04.330 a mystery. It's a secret that God understands. And we 0:15:04.370 --> 0:15:08.970 don't we're responsible. We need to believe God is sovereign. 0:15:09.010 --> 0:15:13.130 He calls and has that effectual call. He chose those 0:15:13.130 --> 0:15:16.530 who believe before the foundation of the world. He he, uh, 0:15:16.890 --> 0:15:21.650 he did it right, but we're still responsible. Uh, and 0:15:21.650 --> 0:15:25.050 I'm going to let our, uh, friend, doctor Mark Jobe, 0:15:25.090 --> 0:15:26.250 explain how it works. 0:15:28.170 --> 0:15:31.210 You know, Jeff, I get that question asked a lot. 0:15:31.210 --> 0:15:35.850 And it is as you try to wrestle through decisions 0:15:35.850 --> 0:15:39.830 and why things happened. It's a tough one when it 0:15:39.830 --> 0:15:43.630 comes to salvation. Particularly, though, let me just say this 0:15:44.430 --> 0:15:52.270 any theological view that diminishes your passion for evangelism is misguided. 0:15:53.030 --> 0:15:56.470 So I've encountered people that say, well, you know, God 0:15:56.470 --> 0:15:59.630 is sovereign, so why do I need to share? Paul's 0:15:59.630 --> 0:16:03.910 the one that penned in Romans, specifically some of the 0:16:03.910 --> 0:16:07.030 passages about the sovereignty of God, and he was the 0:16:07.030 --> 0:16:10.790 most passionate evangelist that we know. So we know that 0:16:10.790 --> 0:16:15.230 God's sovereignty doesn't preclude us proclaiming the gospel. At the 0:16:15.230 --> 0:16:18.830 same time, we also understand that if we take on 0:16:18.830 --> 0:16:23.350 the responsibility to saving people that we become, we take 0:16:23.350 --> 0:16:26.510 the place of the Messiah. And so it's a beautiful 0:16:26.550 --> 0:16:30.270 balance between God, your sovereign, and in control. But I 0:16:30.310 --> 0:16:34.670 am going to share with everybody as passionately and pray 0:16:34.670 --> 0:16:38.410 passionately as I can. And that's the beautiful balance that 0:16:38.410 --> 0:16:41.410 is there. So it shouldn't take away your passion, but 0:16:41.410 --> 0:16:46.370 it also shouldn't put a responsibility on your shoulders that 0:16:46.370 --> 0:16:47.970 only belongs to Jesus. 0:16:48.010 --> 0:16:53.770 Yeah. You know, Philippians 212 says this, uh, it says 0:16:53.770 --> 0:16:57.970 work out your own salvation. And that a responsibility we 0:16:57.970 --> 0:17:01.290 have not to be saved, but to carry it out, 0:17:01.290 --> 0:17:04.730 to work it out. So we be believe and follow 0:17:04.770 --> 0:17:08.570 and obey. Work out your own salvation. And then the 0:17:08.570 --> 0:17:10.609 next verse says, for it is God who is working 0:17:10.609 --> 0:17:15.530 in you. Okay. God's sovereignty. And there right next to 0:17:15.570 --> 0:17:18.170 each other. And it happens all the time in Scripture. 0:17:18.170 --> 0:17:23.170 This is what, uh, what I think of Spurgeon. Uh, well, 0:17:23.570 --> 0:17:25.770 let's start with this. Let's start with C.S. Lewis in 0:17:25.770 --> 0:17:30.410 the great book, uh, one of The Chronicles of Narnia, when, uh, 0:17:30.850 --> 0:17:34.410 these kids asked to be brought to Narnia. And this 0:17:34.410 --> 0:17:39.899 girl meets. Jill meets Aslan, the lion, and she says, 0:17:39.900 --> 0:17:42.899 we're only here because we called and said we wanted 0:17:42.900 --> 0:17:46.179 to come. And he says, you would not have called 0:17:46.619 --> 0:17:51.980 if I didn't make you call. I'm like, as far 0:17:51.980 --> 0:17:53.939 as the heavens are above the earth so far are 0:17:53.940 --> 0:17:57.020 my thoughts higher than your thoughts and my ways higher 0:17:57.020 --> 0:17:59.300 than your ways. This is what Spurgeon asked when he 0:17:59.300 --> 0:18:04.419 was asked to, uh, how does he reconcile human responsibility 0:18:04.420 --> 0:18:08.700 and divine sovereignty? He said, I wouldn't try. I never 0:18:08.700 --> 0:18:12.500 reconcile friends. And I think that's we just we just 0:18:12.500 --> 0:18:16.540 live with both. So. Okay, okay, we've got our next 0:18:16.540 --> 0:18:20.899 question coming from my friend Rick right there, I see him. 0:18:21.460 --> 0:18:27.180 Hi, I'm Rick from, uh, northwest Detroit area. Um, my 0:18:27.180 --> 0:18:30.820 question is, uh, my children prayed when they were young 0:18:30.859 --> 0:18:34.300 to receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, and 0:18:34.340 --> 0:18:37.400 they're not walking with the Lord. Haven't for many years. 0:18:39.960 --> 0:18:43.840 How do I reconcile that? Are they saved? Are they 0:18:43.880 --> 0:18:46.879 not saved? Because when they prayed that prayer, it seemed very, 0:18:46.880 --> 0:18:51.479 very genuine. We had lots of discussion and. And now 0:18:51.920 --> 0:18:54.280 they have no interest. They're not walking with the Lord. 0:18:56.359 --> 0:18:58.560 You know, Rick, I think that there's a lot of 0:18:58.560 --> 0:19:03.680 parents that struggle with that same idea. And I would 0:19:03.680 --> 0:19:11.119 say this when a it's it's somewhat challenging to discern 0:19:11.720 --> 0:19:18.919 because our salvation is never by works. Um, and sometimes 0:19:18.920 --> 0:19:22.719 someone makes a decision and then starts living in the flesh. 0:19:23.359 --> 0:19:28.080 The problem with being a believer that's not living right 0:19:28.080 --> 0:19:33.659 is that there's a question of fruit. Um, and so 0:19:34.260 --> 0:19:39.139 I would say this, I would say that, um, when 0:19:39.380 --> 0:19:43.980 people's fruit comes into doubt for a long period of 0:19:43.980 --> 0:19:48.100 time and, um, then you have to go to the 0:19:48.100 --> 0:19:51.660 root and say, did they really understand? Did they really 0:19:51.660 --> 0:19:55.660 make a decision? And if someone, especially when they were young, 0:19:55.820 --> 0:19:59.860 prayed a prayer but hasn't demonstrated a lot of fruit 0:19:59.859 --> 0:20:03.780 in their life, then my heart would be to make 0:20:03.820 --> 0:20:07.980 sure that they understand what it means to follow. Only 0:20:08.020 --> 0:20:11.420 God knows, ultimately. But if I haven't seen a lot 0:20:11.460 --> 0:20:14.300 of fruit, then I'm going to press in to say 0:20:14.300 --> 0:20:16.740 I want to make sure, you know, and I would 0:20:16.740 --> 0:20:20.460 press them in. I would continue to evangelize until I 0:20:20.460 --> 0:20:24.420 see fruit, because I think when, um, when someone is 0:20:24.420 --> 0:20:27.340 in the vine, they will show fruit. Um. 0:20:27.660 --> 0:20:30.540 Also, I think that it's so important that we recognize 0:20:30.540 --> 0:20:33.080 that children sometimes will we'll assent to something and they 0:20:33.080 --> 0:20:35.760 really believe it, you know, because they believe their parents 0:20:35.760 --> 0:20:37.960 when they're kids. But as they get older, they make 0:20:38.000 --> 0:20:40.720 adult decisions. I've talked to a lot of people who 0:20:40.880 --> 0:20:43.840 are really committed followers of Jesus. They said they made 0:20:43.840 --> 0:20:48.080 a decision when they were very small, but then, as 0:20:48.080 --> 0:20:52.320 they were in their teen years and or even a 0:20:52.320 --> 0:20:56.480 little bit older, that's when they were really confronted with, 0:20:56.520 --> 0:21:00.080 do I really believe this? Something happened in their life, 0:21:00.359 --> 0:21:04.160 a breakup with a boyfriend or a girlfriend or some 0:21:04.160 --> 0:21:08.040 sort of tragedy? The loss of a loved one? Something 0:21:08.040 --> 0:21:11.040 happens in their life and they think, do I really 0:21:11.040 --> 0:21:14.200 believe this? And they said, yes, I do. And others say, 0:21:14.240 --> 0:21:16.000 you know, I had this event happen in my life. 0:21:16.000 --> 0:21:18.040 My dad died and I didn't think it was fair 0:21:18.040 --> 0:21:20.840 that God took him so young. And and then they say, 0:21:20.840 --> 0:21:24.240 I just don't believe this. And, and I think that's 0:21:24.240 --> 0:21:28.440 what happens. Children will often assent to what their parents think, 0:21:28.440 --> 0:21:32.340 but they will come to an adult decision, and I 0:21:32.540 --> 0:21:35.780 have often thought that we have to keep praying for 0:21:35.780 --> 0:21:40.060 those kids and not be obnoxious, not beat them over 0:21:40.060 --> 0:21:43.420 the head. You know they will talk about it with 0:21:43.420 --> 0:21:47.379 us as we pray for them. And the the other 0:21:47.500 --> 0:21:50.940 issue that we parents have to do is we have 0:21:50.940 --> 0:21:54.100 to just keep loving them and keep that relationship strong. 0:21:54.619 --> 0:21:57.980 So it's not based on, you know, well, I'm only 0:21:57.980 --> 0:22:01.100 going to be loving towards you if if you follow 0:22:01.100 --> 0:22:03.820 this faith and, you know, a lot of times as 0:22:03.820 --> 0:22:07.580 people hit midlife, I knew a guy. He abandoned the faith. 0:22:07.580 --> 0:22:10.780 He got kicked out of Christian college. He was, uh, 0:22:10.780 --> 0:22:16.140 just troublesome. He married a Jewish woman who didn't know 0:22:16.140 --> 0:22:19.860 the Lord. He was not walking at all, denied at all. 0:22:20.380 --> 0:22:23.020 And then they adopted a baby. And he thought, what 0:22:23.020 --> 0:22:25.939 am I going to give this child? And all of 0:22:25.940 --> 0:22:27.780 a sudden he came back to the faith. And that's 0:22:27.780 --> 0:22:30.000 how I met him, because he thought, I need Michael 0:22:30.040 --> 0:22:32.200 to help me with my. My wife, you know, here 0:22:32.200 --> 0:22:35.080 and to share the good news with her. And she 0:22:35.080 --> 0:22:38.680 did come to the Lord. But, uh, the the interesting 0:22:38.720 --> 0:22:42.400 thing to me is he said I believed it all along. 0:22:42.400 --> 0:22:44.800 I just didn't want to live by it. And so 0:22:44.960 --> 0:22:47.600 in midlife, he came. So you just don't know. You 0:22:47.600 --> 0:22:49.000 don't know. Keep praying. 0:22:49.000 --> 0:22:49.960 Thank you. Okay. 0:22:51.040 --> 0:22:52.640 Here comes our next question. 0:22:55.160 --> 0:23:00.240 My name is Bill, and I'm from Palatine, Illinois. Uh, doctor? Doctor, Jobe, 0:23:00.240 --> 0:23:03.520 this reference comes out of Second Kings two. How do 0:23:03.520 --> 0:23:07.280 I begin to understand why? The story of Second Kings two, 0:23:07.320 --> 0:23:11.560 where Elisha, the jeering young men and she bears fit 0:23:11.560 --> 0:23:14.720 into God's character and redemptive story? 0:23:17.720 --> 0:23:21.800 Yeah. That's it. I, I like that passage particularly because 0:23:21.800 --> 0:23:23.920 what were they calling Elisha? 0:23:25.000 --> 0:23:26.680 Uh, old baldy head, maybe. 0:23:26.720 --> 0:23:29.340 Yeah. That's it. And I. 0:23:30.300 --> 0:23:32.300 I hadn't thought of that when I asked the question. 0:23:32.340 --> 0:23:34.820 Yeah, I think you did it on purpose, Michael. I 0:23:34.820 --> 0:23:36.940 think that was specific. Yeah. 0:23:40.340 --> 0:23:41.460 Uh, my. 0:23:42.859 --> 0:23:45.220 That's one of my life verses. 0:23:45.260 --> 0:23:48.179 You know, and just, uh, you know, in case you make. 0:23:48.180 --> 0:23:48.700 Fun. 0:23:48.740 --> 0:23:52.220 Hey, watch out, because something could happen, right? Yeah. 0:23:52.580 --> 0:23:55.540 But my life verses from Leviticus 13. If a man 0:23:55.540 --> 0:23:59.060 loses the hair on his head, he is bald. He 0:23:59.060 --> 0:24:04.540 is clean. And that's what. That's what Leviticus 13 says. Uh, 0:24:04.660 --> 0:24:09.100 I think there's a couple of things. These are it 0:24:09.100 --> 0:24:12.859 says in my version, some small boys. I'll read you 0:24:12.859 --> 0:24:16.500 the verse from there. Elijah went up to Bethel. He 0:24:16.500 --> 0:24:19.380 was walking up the path. Some small boys came out 0:24:19.380 --> 0:24:24.180 of the city and harassed him, chanting, go up, Baldy, 0:24:24.380 --> 0:24:27.560 go up, Baldy! He turned around and looked at them 0:24:27.560 --> 0:24:30.000 and cursed them. In the name of the Lord. My goodness. 0:24:30.760 --> 0:24:33.240 Then two female bears came out of the woods and 0:24:33.240 --> 0:24:42.080 mauled 42 of the children, and then he returned to Samaria. Wow. Well, 0:24:42.119 --> 0:24:45.359 first of all, I would never translate that. Small boys. 0:24:45.960 --> 0:24:52.880 I believe the Hebrew refers to, uh, young adults. So 0:24:52.920 --> 0:24:56.960 think of a gang. And if only 42 of them 0:24:57.480 --> 0:25:01.280 were perished from the bears, how many were there? Wilding 0:25:01.560 --> 0:25:06.120 and attacking the prophet? Hmm. And why were they attacking 0:25:06.119 --> 0:25:10.920 the prophet? Because their great rebellion against God and his word. 0:25:11.280 --> 0:25:14.760 Because the prophet gave it. And so, as a warning 0:25:14.920 --> 0:25:18.840 to this. Think about it. They're going around on camels 0:25:18.840 --> 0:25:23.080 with leather tunics, you know, and they're looking rough. And, 0:25:23.280 --> 0:25:27.980 you know, these are the ones that were rebelling against God, 0:25:27.980 --> 0:25:31.820 and this was a great sign that they needed to 0:25:31.859 --> 0:25:35.980 to really yield themselves to the Lord. And so that's 0:25:35.980 --> 0:25:39.139 what I would say. Uh, I hope I hope that helps. 0:25:39.140 --> 0:25:39.580 Thank you. 0:25:39.619 --> 0:25:41.340 Yeah. We're going to come back in just a moment 0:25:41.340 --> 0:25:44.619 with more of the questions from this live audience. Stay 0:25:44.619 --> 0:25:47.540 with us. This is Open Line with Mark Jobe, Michael Melnick. 0:25:47.820 --> 0:26:10.340 We'll be right back. Welcome back to Open Line. I 0:26:10.380 --> 0:26:13.660 am so happy to have this live audience here asking 0:26:13.660 --> 0:26:17.500 the questions, but some questions have come in via email. 0:26:17.740 --> 0:26:20.379 The way to do that is to go to Open 0:26:20.380 --> 0:26:23.380 Line radio.org. That's the website. There's all sorts of links 0:26:23.380 --> 0:26:26.320 there that you're going to find helpful at Openline radio.org. 0:26:26.520 --> 0:26:29.720 And one says Ask Michael a question. If you click 0:26:29.720 --> 0:26:32.080 on that, if you're listening, you can always write your 0:26:32.080 --> 0:26:35.520 question in. And joining me right now for the Febc 0:26:35.560 --> 0:26:39.120 mailbag is Tricia McMillan. Uh, I am so grateful that 0:26:39.119 --> 0:26:44.240 Far Eastern Broadcasting partners with us. The Far Eastern Broadcasting 0:26:44.240 --> 0:26:47.800 Company partners with Openline, with Moody Radio to bring Openline 0:26:47.800 --> 0:26:52.720 to you. And they, uh, they help bring the Febc 0:26:52.760 --> 0:26:57.440 mailbag every week. Febc brings the gospel through media and 0:26:57.440 --> 0:27:02.359 through personal contact to people all over the globe. It 0:27:02.359 --> 0:27:05.439 is a really marvelous ministry. Check it out. Go to 0:27:05.480 --> 0:27:10.680 their website, febc. And there's a link there to their 0:27:10.680 --> 0:27:13.560 podcast called Until All I've Heard. I know you're going 0:27:13.600 --> 0:27:17.600 to really, uh, be encouraged by listening to that podcast 0:27:17.640 --> 0:27:20.919 until all have heard. Joining me also right now is 0:27:20.920 --> 0:27:24.460 Tricia McMillan, producer of Open Line and also helping me 0:27:24.460 --> 0:27:28.100 answer these questions because of our live audience being here. 0:27:28.100 --> 0:27:31.060 I made Eva come to the studio today and Eva 0:27:31.580 --> 0:27:34.220 is here. She's the person that usually texts me the 0:27:34.220 --> 0:27:38.460 answers to questions because she's home listening, but today she's here, 0:27:38.460 --> 0:27:44.020 so she'll straighten it out, right? Right. Live without a text. So. Okay, Tricia, 0:27:44.020 --> 0:27:44.740 what have we got? 0:27:44.780 --> 0:27:46.899 All right. First question is from Jill in Texas who 0:27:46.900 --> 0:27:49.980 listens on the Moody Radio app. She would like clarity 0:27:49.980 --> 0:27:53.260 with being led by the Holy Spirit in evangelism. Since 0:27:53.260 --> 0:27:56.580 we're commanded to go and spread the gospel and make disciples. 0:27:56.740 --> 0:27:58.820 Is that all the leading that we need to talk 0:27:58.820 --> 0:28:02.300 to anyone and everyone, wherever we go, at every opportunity? 0:28:02.340 --> 0:28:04.660 I have a hard time discerning who to talk to 0:28:04.700 --> 0:28:07.420 about the gospel and when to share. 0:28:07.619 --> 0:28:10.260 Well, I like the principles that you guys talked about. First. 0:28:10.820 --> 0:28:11.540 A couple segments, a. 0:28:11.540 --> 0:28:15.300 Couple segments ago, but the verse that has really encouraged 0:28:15.300 --> 0:28:17.540 me to talk to every person that I have a 0:28:17.540 --> 0:28:20.500 chance to talk to, no matter if it's the barista 0:28:20.500 --> 0:28:24.120 Easter in Dunkin Donuts, or, you know, the person in 0:28:24.119 --> 0:28:27.000 the bank or the person that I just run into 0:28:27.040 --> 0:28:32.040 walking down the street. Is Colossians chapter one, verse 28 0:28:32.080 --> 0:28:35.200 and 29. And I memorized this verse years ago in 0:28:35.200 --> 0:28:36.639 the original Living Bible. 0:28:37.080 --> 0:28:39.920 The original, the original, because that was what Paul wrote, right? 0:28:39.960 --> 0:28:41.800 No, because you know what? There's been so many different 0:28:41.800 --> 0:28:44.240 editions of it. It doesn't read the same as when 0:28:44.240 --> 0:28:47.200 I originally memorized this. You know, back. 0:28:47.240 --> 0:28:48.360 Back when Ken Taylor wrote. 0:28:48.360 --> 0:28:50.360 It. Ken Taylor. Yeah. Ken Taylor was, you know, a 0:28:50.560 --> 0:28:54.600 college student at the time. Um, but because it says 0:28:54.600 --> 0:28:58.000 so everywhere we go, we talk about Messiah to all 0:28:58.000 --> 0:29:01.720 who will listen everywhere we go, warning them and teaching 0:29:01.720 --> 0:29:05.240 them as well as we know how. This is my work, 0:29:05.480 --> 0:29:07.960 and I can do it because of the Holy Spirit 0:29:08.000 --> 0:29:10.640 who is at work within me. Now, if you have 0:29:10.640 --> 0:29:13.640 the new American standard, which is my my favorite version, 0:29:13.640 --> 0:29:19.440 it says we proclaim Messiah, admonishing every man and teaching every, 0:29:19.860 --> 0:29:23.100 person with all wisdom so that we may present every 0:29:23.100 --> 0:29:27.420 person complete in Messiah. So I think everywhere we go, 0:29:27.460 --> 0:29:29.780 we need to talk about him at every opportunity. 0:29:29.980 --> 0:29:32.380 So I think that one of the things that happens 0:29:32.420 --> 0:29:36.180 is I try to get people to be curious. So 0:29:36.180 --> 0:29:40.900 I listen to people if I'm, you know, getting an Uber, 0:29:41.060 --> 0:29:43.580 I listen to the driver, I talk with the driver. 0:29:44.060 --> 0:29:46.380 I try not to be obnoxious, but people love to 0:29:46.380 --> 0:29:50.420 talk about themselves. And so I just ask them questions 0:29:50.420 --> 0:29:53.540 about themselves. And even as to and we and then 0:29:53.580 --> 0:29:57.780 finally they'll say, and what do you do? And there 0:29:57.780 --> 0:29:59.100 are times, you know, when I used to lead a 0:29:59.100 --> 0:30:03.180 messianic congregation. Uh, not when I was a professor at Moody, 0:30:03.180 --> 0:30:05.420 but I was in a Jewish community. And I'd get 0:30:05.420 --> 0:30:08.100 a Jewish person talking and they'd say, and what do 0:30:08.100 --> 0:30:12.140 you do? And I'd say, you don't want to know. 0:30:13.100 --> 0:30:17.420 And they'd say, why? And I'd say, well, you just 0:30:17.420 --> 0:30:20.709 get upset. They said you work for the IRS. No, no, 0:30:21.430 --> 0:30:25.950 it's totally fine what I do. But you'll just be upset. No, 0:30:25.950 --> 0:30:28.150 I won't get upset. You promise you won't get upset? 0:30:28.470 --> 0:30:31.070 And then I tell them I lead the congregation with 0:30:31.070 --> 0:30:33.750 Jewish people who believe in Jesus, and they start to 0:30:33.750 --> 0:30:36.470 get upset. I said, see, I told you you'd get upset. No, no, 0:30:36.470 --> 0:30:39.230 I'm not upset. Why do you believe that? And I 0:30:39.710 --> 0:30:44.190 felt by doing that they gave me permission to explain. 0:30:44.790 --> 0:30:47.350 And that's something that I try to live by all 0:30:47.350 --> 0:30:50.470 the time. Uh, you know, people say, what do you 0:30:50.470 --> 0:30:57.110 do for a living? I'm a professor. Where? Moody Bible Institute. Really? But, uh, 0:30:57.510 --> 0:31:02.710 to me, that that helps people understand where I'm coming from. 0:31:02.750 --> 0:31:05.030 And so I just look for opportunities and. And why 0:31:05.030 --> 0:31:05.630 would you do it? 0:31:05.670 --> 0:31:07.350 Yeah. You just, you know, you kind of raise that 0:31:07.350 --> 0:31:09.590 issue and you think, well, man, I work in a 0:31:09.590 --> 0:31:12.150 bank or I'm a house painter or I'm a mechanic 0:31:12.150 --> 0:31:15.350 or whatever, but whatever you do, there's something in that 0:31:15.590 --> 0:31:19.330 that helps you to bring up the issue of your 0:31:19.330 --> 0:31:20.090 faith in Jesus. 0:31:20.090 --> 0:31:23.010 I have a friend who's a salesman and he says, uh, 0:31:23.970 --> 0:31:27.370 I sell insurance, but that's really not very important. There's 0:31:27.370 --> 0:31:29.290 something much more important about me. 0:31:29.330 --> 0:31:31.290 Right. And, you know, some people would say, well, you know, 0:31:31.330 --> 0:31:31.570 I don't. 0:31:31.610 --> 0:31:31.930 What is. 0:31:31.930 --> 0:31:34.570 It? I don't work outside the home. Maybe, you know, 0:31:34.610 --> 0:31:37.810 maybe you're a mom at home or you're a grandmother 0:31:37.810 --> 0:31:40.770 or a grandfather who's retired or whatever. You can say, 0:31:40.770 --> 0:31:43.570 I've got the most important job in the world. I 0:31:43.610 --> 0:31:46.170 get to spend time with my grandchildren. Well, why is 0:31:46.170 --> 0:31:48.370 that such an important job? And then you can talk 0:31:48.370 --> 0:31:49.490 about that. Yeah. 0:31:49.730 --> 0:31:50.170 So. 0:31:50.210 --> 0:31:52.170 And I found when there's something in your life that 0:31:52.170 --> 0:31:54.650 you're excited about, it's like, let me tell you about 0:31:54.650 --> 0:31:57.969 this new sweater I found. I mean, it just you 0:31:57.970 --> 0:32:01.090 find every opportunity that you can to talk about it 0:32:01.090 --> 0:32:03.890 and bring it up. And I, I don't I don't 0:32:03.890 --> 0:32:07.290 think that we view the gospel as the same way necessarily, 0:32:07.290 --> 0:32:11.930 unless it is actively working in our hearts and our lives. Um, 0:32:11.930 --> 0:32:14.650 even beyond it, like just oozing out of us. But like, 0:32:14.690 --> 0:32:17.310 I'm excited about this, and you need to know why 0:32:17.310 --> 0:32:18.590 this is so important. 0:32:18.630 --> 0:32:22.630 Yeah, right. Yeah. And never be ashamed. Yeah. Don't say. Oh, 0:32:22.790 --> 0:32:26.190 I you know, I like the situation that Michael talked about. 0:32:26.190 --> 0:32:30.350 You'll be upset, but it's not because we're ashamed. You know, we. 0:32:30.350 --> 0:32:31.270 Just wanted not to be. 0:32:31.270 --> 0:32:34.670 Upset. We're just excited about what we're talking about. We 0:32:34.710 --> 0:32:37.470 never need to be ashamed or to preconceive that they're 0:32:37.470 --> 0:32:39.670 going to think of us in a negative way, because 0:32:39.670 --> 0:32:41.229 let's just go ahead and talk about how much we 0:32:41.230 --> 0:32:43.470 love Jesus and how much Jesus loves them. 0:32:43.470 --> 0:32:46.190 I have a great friend in my neighborhood. He's, uh. 0:32:47.150 --> 0:32:50.390 I was walking my dogs. His kids were petting the dogs, 0:32:50.390 --> 0:32:57.229 and that's how we met. And he said, uh, he said, uh. So, uh, 0:32:58.390 --> 0:33:02.590 what do you do? And I said, I'm a college professor. 0:33:02.630 --> 0:33:05.390 This is about 8 or 9 years ago. He said, oh, really? 0:33:05.390 --> 0:33:08.070 What do you teach? And I said, Jewish studies. And 0:33:08.070 --> 0:33:11.150 he said, where? And I said, Moody Bible Institute. He says, oh, 0:33:11.190 --> 0:33:12.670 you're the guy that lives on the corner. We heard 0:33:12.670 --> 0:33:16.410 about you in this neighborhood And I said, oh, you did. Anyway, 0:33:16.410 --> 0:33:19.250 it turned out his grandfather was my rabbi growing up 0:33:19.250 --> 0:33:19.890 in Brooklyn. 0:33:19.890 --> 0:33:21.730 So here we are in Chicago. Yeah. 0:33:22.850 --> 0:33:26.450 And, uh, and he said, uh, so you're one of 0:33:26.450 --> 0:33:29.170 those Jewish people who believe in Jesus. And I said, yeah. 0:33:29.210 --> 0:33:31.210 He says, why in the world would you do that? 0:33:31.850 --> 0:33:34.450 I said, do you have some time? I can tell you. 0:33:34.930 --> 0:33:37.490 And he said, yeah. And he wanted to know. And 0:33:37.490 --> 0:33:40.690 and we've had great discussions about it for a long time. 0:33:40.930 --> 0:33:44.290 So all right, next question is from Pamela in Ohio 0:33:44.330 --> 0:33:48.010 listens to Wtxf. What is the significance and the use 0:33:48.010 --> 0:33:51.410 of the mezuzah? Can you explain its purpose? I'm also 0:33:51.410 --> 0:33:55.170 curious if it's appropriate for non-Jewish individuals to use a mezuzah. 0:33:55.450 --> 0:33:57.489 Also big fan of your program and proud to be 0:33:57.490 --> 0:34:00.730 a kitchen table partner, which is our monthly supporters. Okay, 0:34:00.770 --> 0:34:01.570 thank you for that. 0:34:01.650 --> 0:34:05.330 Uh, Deuteronomy six says that we should bind the word 0:34:05.330 --> 0:34:07.690 of God. You know the words hear, O Israel, the 0:34:07.690 --> 0:34:10.770 Lord our God, the Lord is one. And loving the 0:34:10.770 --> 0:34:13.430 Lord with all our heart and our soul and our 0:34:13.430 --> 0:34:19.790 strength bind these words on our hearts, right? Repeat them 0:34:19.790 --> 0:34:21.790 to your children. Talk about them when you sit in 0:34:21.790 --> 0:34:24.149 your house, when you walk along the road, when you 0:34:24.190 --> 0:34:27.989 lie down, and when you get up. Bind them as 0:34:27.989 --> 0:34:29.710 a sign on your hand, on your forehead. Write them 0:34:29.710 --> 0:34:34.310 on the doorposts of your house. The word doorpost in 0:34:34.350 --> 0:34:39.070 Hebrew is mezuzah. And so Jewish people have taken this 0:34:39.070 --> 0:34:42.990 very literally. And they have these cylinders, these. 0:34:43.950 --> 0:34:45.070 Kind of little boxes. 0:34:45.070 --> 0:34:45.710 Boxes. 0:34:45.750 --> 0:34:47.670 There are a lot of different styles. Yeah. 0:34:47.950 --> 0:34:53.430 That have these words written very small and placed inside 0:34:53.950 --> 0:34:57.030 the written in Hebrew in the mezuzah, and they bind 0:34:57.030 --> 0:35:00.750 them to the doorposts. And we do too. Even if 0:35:00.750 --> 0:35:02.950 you came to my office at Moody Bible Institute, I 0:35:02.950 --> 0:35:05.469 have a mezuzah on the door. 0:35:05.469 --> 0:35:08.190 To remind us of the importance of God's Word. And when. 0:35:08.190 --> 0:35:08.509 You go. 0:35:08.510 --> 0:35:08.830 In. 0:35:09.030 --> 0:35:09.710 And when you go. 0:35:09.710 --> 0:35:09.990 Out. 0:35:10.469 --> 0:35:13.250 That's what it is. And some people wear them on 0:35:13.250 --> 0:35:14.210 a pendant, like. 0:35:14.210 --> 0:35:15.530 Yeah, like a necklace. Yeah. 0:35:15.850 --> 0:35:18.130 About the importance of putting God's word in your heart. 0:35:18.969 --> 0:35:22.290 And what do you think? Is it only for Jewish people? 0:35:22.330 --> 0:35:24.130 No. I think anyone could do this. It could be 0:35:24.130 --> 0:35:27.209 a reminder. And it could also be a conversation starter. Like, 0:35:27.210 --> 0:35:28.569 why do you have. What is this and why do 0:35:28.570 --> 0:35:30.129 you have it there? And then you could say, because 0:35:30.130 --> 0:35:32.210 the God's Word is so important to me, and this 0:35:32.210 --> 0:35:35.370 is to remind me to live by it as I 0:35:35.410 --> 0:35:37.370 come and go out of my house all the time. 0:35:37.969 --> 0:35:40.930 Yeah. Okay. Thanks for bringing those questions. Yeah. We have 0:35:40.930 --> 0:35:44.650 a question from one of our audience here in the 0:35:44.650 --> 0:35:47.930 studio who tell us who you are. 0:35:48.090 --> 0:35:50.370 I am Bryce. I'm with my wife, Anna. 0:35:50.530 --> 0:35:52.410 I'm really glad you brought Anna with you. 0:35:52.450 --> 0:35:52.689 Yeah. 0:35:52.730 --> 0:35:53.650 Glad to see you guys. 0:35:53.770 --> 0:35:58.009 She's my right hand. We are from Franklin, Tennessee. And 0:35:58.010 --> 0:36:01.209 good morning, Michael and Eva. I think I know the answer, 0:36:01.210 --> 0:36:04.850 but I just it always gets me in John 131 0:36:04.890 --> 0:36:09.330 and John 133 twice it says I did not know him. 0:36:09.730 --> 0:36:13.790 I believe this is John the Baptist baptizer speaking. And 0:36:13.790 --> 0:36:16.750 we all know he was Jesus's cousin, so I don't understand. 0:36:16.750 --> 0:36:17.750 I did not know him. 0:36:18.030 --> 0:36:23.510 Uh uh, let's, uh, let's read the whole verse there. 0:36:23.630 --> 0:36:28.350 John 131. Verse 31, it says, I didn't know him, 0:36:28.350 --> 0:36:31.390 but I came baptizing with water, so he might be 0:36:31.390 --> 0:36:35.390 revealed to Israel. Then verse 33, I didn't know him, 0:36:35.390 --> 0:36:39.950 but he who sent me to baptize with water told me, 0:36:39.950 --> 0:36:43.950 the one you see, the spirit descending and resting on. 0:36:43.989 --> 0:36:46.469 He is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit. 0:36:46.830 --> 0:36:51.590 Seems interesting. I've just been reading John, um, and just 0:36:51.630 --> 0:36:54.350 read this yesterday, and I don't think it meant he 0:36:54.350 --> 0:36:57.590 didn't know him. Like, oh, this is Yeshua, my cousin 0:36:57.590 --> 0:37:01.310 who lives in Nazareth. But I think the knowing indicates 0:37:01.310 --> 0:37:05.310 he didn't realize that he was the Messiah like from 0:37:05.310 --> 0:37:08.230 a child. I don't think that Jesus wore a little button, 0:37:08.250 --> 0:37:12.410 said Yeshua the Messiah, so everyone would know who he was. 0:37:12.810 --> 0:37:15.489 Neither did he wear a button that said Yeshua the 0:37:15.489 --> 0:37:18.450 Child Carpenter. You know, he was just a regular person, 0:37:18.489 --> 0:37:21.770 a regular cousin. And at this point. 0:37:21.969 --> 0:37:27.410 Think about how annoyed Cousin John was when he saw Yeshua. 0:37:27.890 --> 0:37:32.129 He was always the good kid. Except for that time 0:37:32.130 --> 0:37:35.850 when he stayed behind in Jerusalem. But otherwise he was 0:37:35.850 --> 0:37:37.890 the kid that was like, why is he always doing 0:37:37.890 --> 0:37:39.130 the right thing? And we're not. 0:37:39.170 --> 0:37:41.810 He's never getting in trouble. What's going on? 0:37:41.850 --> 0:37:45.129 Yeah. So. And even when he stayed behind, he was 0:37:45.130 --> 0:37:48.969 obeying his father in heaven. So, uh, anyway, uh, I 0:37:49.010 --> 0:37:51.810 hope that it's not that he didn't know Jesus. It's 0:37:51.810 --> 0:37:55.170 that he didn't know he was the Messiah. So. And 0:37:55.290 --> 0:37:56.690 and that was revealed to him. 0:37:57.050 --> 0:37:57.890 At the baptism. 0:37:57.890 --> 0:38:01.450 At the baptism. So, Anna, uh, I actually asked you 0:38:01.450 --> 0:38:04.209 to get up there at the microphone with, uh, with 0:38:04.210 --> 0:38:08.350 Bryce because you told me today that you guys are 0:38:08.350 --> 0:38:09.670 kitchen table partners? 0:38:09.670 --> 0:38:10.550 We are indeed. 0:38:11.030 --> 0:38:11.390 Yay! 0:38:11.430 --> 0:38:12.070 Thank you. 0:38:12.190 --> 0:38:15.830 Kitchen table partners are people who give monthly to open 0:38:15.830 --> 0:38:18.270 lines so that we can be on the air every week, 0:38:18.270 --> 0:38:21.390 and we're really grateful for it. So just tell us. 0:38:21.750 --> 0:38:24.950 I'm amazed when every, every time I meet a kitchen 0:38:24.950 --> 0:38:28.069 table partner. Uh, what is it that prompted you to 0:38:28.070 --> 0:38:29.590 become a kitchen table partner? 0:38:30.310 --> 0:38:32.710 We'd been listening to Open Line for at least a 0:38:32.710 --> 0:38:35.430 couple of years, and we were supporting Moody Radio in 0:38:35.430 --> 0:38:38.670 general because we loved so much of the programming. But 0:38:39.190 --> 0:38:41.830 as we've been listening and especially, I would say, the 0:38:41.830 --> 0:38:44.670 last two years, we have such a heart for Israel 0:38:44.670 --> 0:38:48.150 and for the Jewish people. And you bring that perspective 0:38:48.150 --> 0:38:53.550 so much to your programming. And we have become so 0:38:53.989 --> 0:38:58.230 committed to Open Line every single Saturday that we've adjusted 0:38:58.230 --> 0:39:03.069 our life schedule to be at our kitchen table, making coffee, 0:39:03.790 --> 0:39:07.129 sharing the word with you and Eva and any of 0:39:07.130 --> 0:39:09.770 your guests, and we just feel like it's an investment 0:39:09.770 --> 0:39:13.009 that we can tangibly participate with Open Line and keep 0:39:13.010 --> 0:39:15.450 you on the air because you've impacted us. 0:39:15.690 --> 0:39:17.770 Hey, you can become a kitchen table partner too by 0:39:17.850 --> 0:39:21.690 going to our website, Open Line radio.org, and we'll talk 0:39:21.690 --> 0:39:24.090 about that more when we come back in just a moment. 0:39:24.090 --> 0:39:24.770 Thank you. 0:39:33.450 --> 0:39:37.210 And we're back with our live audience right here at. 0:39:37.489 --> 0:39:41.650 The Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. Our studio B live 0:39:41.650 --> 0:39:44.930 audience asking the questions today. So grateful. Joining me today 0:39:45.090 --> 0:39:47.609 in the second half of the this hour has been 0:39:47.650 --> 0:39:50.450 Eva Wright. And she's still here. I'm glad she's here 0:39:50.489 --> 0:39:52.210 answering questions. There's a couple of things I need to 0:39:52.250 --> 0:39:55.330 mention before we get back to questions. We were just 0:39:55.330 --> 0:39:57.370 talking about Kitchen table partners at the end of the 0:39:57.370 --> 0:40:01.610 last segment. I'm so grateful for Anna and Bryce from Franklin, Tennessee, 0:40:01.650 --> 0:40:05.070 being kitchen table partners and their commitment to this program. 0:40:05.070 --> 0:40:07.989 I so, so appreciate it. And one of the things 0:40:09.110 --> 0:40:12.030 that I like to do, Trish and I produce a 0:40:12.430 --> 0:40:15.149 Bible study moment every other week for people who do 0:40:15.150 --> 0:40:18.029 become kitchen table partners. And so you get it in 0:40:18.030 --> 0:40:20.790 your mailbox, your email, click on it and hear a 0:40:20.790 --> 0:40:24.509 little Bible study ten minutes or so. And I hope 0:40:24.510 --> 0:40:28.350 it really encourages people in the word. Uh, but I 0:40:28.390 --> 0:40:33.830 mostly appreciate the generosity and graciousness of people who stand 0:40:33.830 --> 0:40:36.109 with us because it takes a whole team to bring 0:40:36.110 --> 0:40:39.469 this program. You can see even today we have Tricia here, 0:40:39.469 --> 0:40:43.109 our producer, our engineers. It's it's not just me. And 0:40:43.110 --> 0:40:46.150 I so appreciate the partners, kitchen table partners who are 0:40:46.150 --> 0:40:48.350 part of the team. If you're listening and you think, yeah, 0:40:48.350 --> 0:40:50.509 I think I'd like to become a kitchen table partner, 0:40:50.630 --> 0:41:04.530 call 88864471228886447122. Or just go to open line radio.com. And also, uh, 0:41:05.170 --> 0:41:08.650 we have a conference coming up here at Moody Bible Institute. 0:41:08.690 --> 0:41:13.290 It's coming up just on April 12th. It's called called, 0:41:13.290 --> 0:41:16.810 and it's a women's conference. Uh, some great keynote speakers. 0:41:16.850 --> 0:41:24.210 Elizabeth Whitson. Excuse me. Sandra Gillan workshops. Uh, pre-conference intensive. 0:41:24.330 --> 0:41:29.609 It's really terrific. Just go to Moody conferences. By the way, 0:41:29.610 --> 0:41:33.450 this is only for the women listening. Uh, men, I 0:41:33.450 --> 0:41:35.610 know you want to go, but you can't. It's a 0:41:35.610 --> 0:41:40.290 women's conference. Uh, Moody conferences.com, and there are online and 0:41:40.290 --> 0:41:40.969 in person. 0:41:41.010 --> 0:41:43.810 Fantastic. If you have an opportunity to come down to 0:41:43.850 --> 0:41:46.090 campus free parking. It's really good. 0:41:46.410 --> 0:41:50.330 Also, I want to mention one other thing. Uh, that, uh, 0:41:50.530 --> 0:41:54.250 Passover is coming April 12th and Chosen People Ministries is 0:41:54.250 --> 0:41:59.130 offering a booklet called Passover A time for redemption. Appreciate, uh, 0:41:59.130 --> 0:42:03.180 Chosen People Ministries partnering with us and also offering this book. 0:42:03.180 --> 0:42:06.380 It's a free copy that shows how the Passover Lamb 0:42:06.380 --> 0:42:10.460 foreshadows the coming of the Messiah, Jesus, our true Passover lamb. 0:42:10.620 --> 0:42:12.379 And if you'd like a copy of that, just go 0:42:12.380 --> 0:42:16.740 to our website openlibrary.org. Scroll down, you'll see it says 0:42:16.780 --> 0:42:20.379 a free gift from Chosen People Ministries, and you click 0:42:20.380 --> 0:42:21.980 on that. It'll take you to a page where you 0:42:21.980 --> 0:42:25.180 can sign up for your own copy of Passover A 0:42:25.180 --> 0:42:26.820 time for redemption. 0:42:27.140 --> 0:42:28.060 And got. 0:42:28.060 --> 0:42:28.180 Them. 0:42:28.180 --> 0:42:28.339 All. 0:42:28.340 --> 0:42:29.420 In there. There we go. 0:42:29.900 --> 0:42:34.339 All right. My name is Philip. Um, I'm from Accra, Ghana, 0:42:34.460 --> 0:42:35.379 West Africa. 0:42:35.580 --> 0:42:36.700 Wow, that's a long trip. 0:42:36.739 --> 0:42:41.339 Long trip? Yeah. So, um, how does God express his 0:42:41.380 --> 0:42:43.100 anger in these days? 0:42:44.580 --> 0:42:44.819 Ah. 0:42:46.460 --> 0:42:50.219 You know the Bible. This is this is the kind 0:42:50.219 --> 0:42:53.220 of question where, you know, people say, oh, God was angry. 0:42:53.219 --> 0:42:56.500 And that's why there was a hurricane or a tornado 0:42:56.700 --> 0:43:00.880 or some natural disaster or the flooding. And I think 0:43:02.000 --> 0:43:07.600 I feel very reluctant to say that God's just zapping someone. 0:43:07.600 --> 0:43:10.400 And here's why. Because the were it not for his mercy, 0:43:10.840 --> 0:43:13.480 we'd all be consumed. You know, I would be a 0:43:13.480 --> 0:43:17.879 little pile of of dust and and ash. Uh, if 0:43:17.880 --> 0:43:21.560 God judged me every time, I deserved it. And and 0:43:21.560 --> 0:43:23.560 so I think that's very important for us to remember. 0:43:23.560 --> 0:43:28.000 I think of Luke 13, where the Lord Jesus, uh, 0:43:28.040 --> 0:43:29.600 they come to him and they say, have you heard 0:43:29.600 --> 0:43:32.440 about Herod? Not Herod. Pilate mixing the blood of the 0:43:32.440 --> 0:43:38.360 sacrifices with Galileans. And they were probably offering their Passover sacrifices, 0:43:38.360 --> 0:43:41.960 and he killed them and mixed their blood with the sacrifices. 0:43:42.360 --> 0:43:47.400 And the Lord Jesus, uh, doesn't he doesn't answer the 0:43:47.400 --> 0:43:50.000 problem of evil differently. He points out, what about the 0:43:50.040 --> 0:43:54.680 Pool of Siloam? Or there's a tower there fell on people. Uh, 0:43:54.680 --> 0:43:57.200 and this is what he says in both circumstances, whether 0:43:57.200 --> 0:44:01.860 it's a natural disaster, like a tower falling over or a. 0:44:03.940 --> 0:44:08.420 Human guilt disaster like Pilate doing this wicked thing. The 0:44:08.420 --> 0:44:11.660 Lord Jesus says, do you think that these Galileans were 0:44:11.660 --> 0:44:13.819 more sinful? Do you think these people who live in 0:44:13.820 --> 0:44:17.580 Jerusalem were more sinful? No, I tell you, but unless 0:44:17.580 --> 0:44:20.739 you repent, you will all perish as well. Then he 0:44:20.739 --> 0:44:23.540 tells the story of the barren fig tree. And the 0:44:23.580 --> 0:44:27.020 point of that is, if God were to express his 0:44:27.060 --> 0:44:33.140 anger for everyone that deserves it, would there be towers 0:44:33.140 --> 0:44:36.700 falling on all our heads? There be pilots, you know, 0:44:36.739 --> 0:44:40.299 murdering us all. But God is merciful. The thing that 0:44:40.300 --> 0:44:44.180 we need to remember is that these events, we all 0:44:44.180 --> 0:44:48.500 deserve them. But God calls us to repent and turn 0:44:48.500 --> 0:44:52.340 our lives over to him. And his anger is then relented, 0:44:52.820 --> 0:44:56.940 and his mercy is seen in us not being having 0:44:56.980 --> 0:44:59.600 towers falling on us all the time. I think that's 0:44:59.600 --> 0:45:01.960 something that's important. Did you want to add anything on that? 0:45:02.000 --> 0:45:04.640 I knew in John nine where he talks about who sinned, 0:45:04.680 --> 0:45:08.439 that the man was blind. And Jesus said, neither this 0:45:08.440 --> 0:45:10.720 man nor his parents sinned, but so that the glory 0:45:10.719 --> 0:45:12.680 of God might be made known. I think we should 0:45:12.719 --> 0:45:15.120 be very careful and not point at people and say, 0:45:15.120 --> 0:45:17.520 this happened to you because you sinned. This is on 0:45:17.520 --> 0:45:19.879 you because you're wicked, or this happened to that city 0:45:19.880 --> 0:45:22.400 because it's a wicked city. You just don't see that 0:45:22.400 --> 0:45:23.160 in the scriptures. 0:45:23.200 --> 0:45:25.600 But what we do see is, boy, that should have 0:45:25.600 --> 0:45:26.360 happened to me. 0:45:26.400 --> 0:45:28.840 Yeah. And also, and also we see that God causes 0:45:28.840 --> 0:45:31.200 the sun to. And the rain to, to fall on 0:45:31.200 --> 0:45:33.359 the just and the unjust alike. And we should thank 0:45:33.360 --> 0:45:35.920 him for his mercy and not be pointing our finger 0:45:35.920 --> 0:45:37.160 at people for being wicked. 0:45:37.200 --> 0:45:39.600 And part of the reason for these tornadoes and hurricanes 0:45:39.600 --> 0:45:42.160 and floods and all these things is because we live 0:45:42.160 --> 0:45:45.920 in a fallen world and the whole creation is groaning, 0:45:45.960 --> 0:45:49.480 looking forward to its time of redemption. Romans eight says, 0:45:49.760 --> 0:45:55.000 and so I think rather than calling out God's anger 0:45:55.040 --> 0:45:58.700 at people, Let's recognize God's mercy that this isn't happening 0:45:58.700 --> 0:46:01.220 all the time, and not only God's mercy, but call 0:46:01.219 --> 0:46:03.380 upon people to experience God's mercy. 0:46:03.739 --> 0:46:04.580 By their faith in. 0:46:04.580 --> 0:46:05.140 Their faith in. 0:46:05.140 --> 0:46:06.580 Jesus, in his resurrection. 0:46:06.620 --> 0:46:09.739 Yeah. Thank you Philip. Thanks for that. Well, I can't 0:46:09.739 --> 0:46:13.180 believe first hour is open. That's. Thanks for listening, everyone. 0:46:13.700 --> 0:46:17.460 The fastest hour I've had in a long time. Keep listening. 0:46:17.500 --> 0:46:19.500 There's a second hour of Open Line with our live 0:46:19.500 --> 0:46:21.859 audience coming up in just a few minutes. If your 0:46:21.860 --> 0:46:24.780 station doesn't carry Open Line, check out our website or 0:46:25.060 --> 0:46:27.700 our podcast. You can listen to it there. During the 0:46:28.180 --> 0:46:31.620 the break, check out our web page. Open Line radio.org 0:46:31.940 --> 0:46:34.780 has all sorts of links that you'll find interesting. Uh, 0:46:35.540 --> 0:46:38.060 how to get our current resources, how to hear something 0:46:38.060 --> 0:46:40.700 about where I'm going. You can check out my web 0:46:40.739 --> 0:46:44.140 page there as well. Our Bible study across America will 0:46:44.140 --> 0:46:47.300 continue in just a moment. Open line with Doctor Michael 0:46:47.300 --> 0:46:50.900 Ray is a production of Moody Radio, a ministry of 0:46:50.900 --> 0:46:52.299 Moody Bible Institute.