1 00:00:08,119 --> 00:00:11,760 S1: Persecution in the Middle East. The trends are disturbing and 2 00:00:11,760 --> 00:00:14,560 S1: few people have a better grip on what's happening there 3 00:00:14,600 --> 00:00:17,400 S1: than Todd Nettleton of the Voice of the martyrs. Coming 4 00:00:17,400 --> 00:00:19,759 S1: up on the land and the book, he shares firsthand 5 00:00:19,760 --> 00:00:22,560 S1: accounts from his recent trips to the Middle East. Some 6 00:00:22,560 --> 00:00:25,320 S1: of these stories offer amazing hope, and you'll be sharing 7 00:00:25,320 --> 00:00:28,080 S1: them over the dinner table, we promise. With that, we 8 00:00:28,120 --> 00:00:30,600 S1: welcome you to the land and the book from Moody Radio. 9 00:00:30,640 --> 00:00:34,720 S1: Our host, noted Old Testament scholar Doctor Charlie Dyer. I'm 10 00:00:34,720 --> 00:00:36,840 S1: John Gager, and, you know, you and I live in 11 00:00:36,840 --> 00:00:40,040 S1: uncertain days. In times like these, many people are asking 12 00:00:40,040 --> 00:00:43,239 S1: the big question Where is God? There are times when we, 13 00:00:43,240 --> 00:00:46,440 S1: as believers might start to wonder where God is and 14 00:00:46,440 --> 00:00:47,519 S1: what he's doing right. 15 00:00:47,840 --> 00:00:50,320 S2: That's exactly right. And our friends at Life in Messiah 16 00:00:50,320 --> 00:00:53,760 S2: have recently published a book that addresses this very issue. 17 00:00:53,800 --> 00:00:58,560 S2: It's titled Where Is God in Fearful Times Encouragement from Exodus. 18 00:00:58,960 --> 00:01:01,750 S2: This book is a study on Israel's ordeal in Egypt, 19 00:01:01,750 --> 00:01:03,870 S2: and what we can learn from this to apply to 20 00:01:03,910 --> 00:01:07,510 S2: our circumstances today. The lessons learned by the Jewish people 21 00:01:07,510 --> 00:01:11,110 S2: in Egypt are extremely relevant. God hears your cry. He 22 00:01:11,110 --> 00:01:13,869 S2: cares for you and he's working for your good and 23 00:01:13,870 --> 00:01:16,710 S2: his glory. Life in Messiah is now making this book 24 00:01:16,709 --> 00:01:19,590 S2: available for a limited time to the land. In the book, 25 00:01:19,630 --> 00:01:22,470 S2: listeners with a special deal to find out how you 26 00:01:22,470 --> 00:01:25,230 S2: can get a copy of this encouraging book for yourself, 27 00:01:25,230 --> 00:01:28,110 S2: or as a gift to share with others who are struggling. 28 00:01:28,270 --> 00:01:32,470 S2: Visit Life in Messiah org and click on the radio icon. 29 00:01:32,510 --> 00:01:34,270 S2: Now that's life in Messiah. 30 00:01:35,910 --> 00:01:38,950 S1: Well, we're down to the last few days of 2025, 31 00:01:38,990 --> 00:01:41,510 S1: but before we head into the new year, what do 32 00:01:41,510 --> 00:01:43,669 S1: you say we pause and look back at the top 33 00:01:43,670 --> 00:01:46,790 S1: stories of the past year? The main story for the 34 00:01:46,790 --> 00:01:49,550 S1: second year in a row has to be Israel's war 35 00:01:49,550 --> 00:01:52,990 S1: with Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran. What were the highs and 36 00:01:52,990 --> 00:01:55,910 S1: lows of this military struggle over the past year, Charlie? 37 00:01:56,110 --> 00:01:59,380 S2: You know, after the dramatic destruction of Hezbollah's leadership near 38 00:01:59,380 --> 00:02:04,460 S2: the end of 2024, Israel spent most of 2025 dismantling 39 00:02:04,460 --> 00:02:08,820 S2: Hezbollah's infrastructure in southern Lebanon. According to the ceasefire put 40 00:02:08,820 --> 00:02:11,700 S2: in place, Hezbollah was to disarm in Lebanon, with Israel 41 00:02:11,700 --> 00:02:15,780 S2: then pulling its remaining forces from the country. However, Hezbollah 42 00:02:15,780 --> 00:02:18,980 S2: failed to disarm and instead has been trying to rearm 43 00:02:18,980 --> 00:02:23,419 S2: and replenish its forces, including its leadership. In response, Israel 44 00:02:23,419 --> 00:02:28,579 S2: has launched almost daily strikes against Hezbollah positions, including training 45 00:02:28,580 --> 00:02:31,820 S2: bases and arms depots, and they still have their forces 46 00:02:31,820 --> 00:02:37,019 S2: in southern Lebanon. Switching now to Hamas, the ceasefire with them, unfortunately, 47 00:02:37,020 --> 00:02:40,419 S2: seems to be running parallel to that with Hezbollah in 48 00:02:40,419 --> 00:02:42,980 S2: the first phase of the cease fire. Hamas was supposed 49 00:02:42,980 --> 00:02:46,300 S2: to return all hostages, both living and dead, two months 50 00:02:46,300 --> 00:02:49,660 S2: after that 72 hour deadline had been set up. Hamas 51 00:02:49,660 --> 00:02:52,980 S2: still hasn't done that. They've also agreed to disarm, but 52 00:02:52,980 --> 00:02:56,220 S2: they've reneged on that promise as well. Israel pulled back 53 00:02:56,220 --> 00:02:59,650 S2: to ceasefire lines, but they've refused to do more until 54 00:02:59,650 --> 00:03:03,250 S2: Hamas fulfills its part of the initial agreement. President Trump 55 00:03:03,250 --> 00:03:05,489 S2: wants to move to the next phase of the agreement 56 00:03:05,490 --> 00:03:09,250 S2: with security forces and an interim government, but it's unclear 57 00:03:09,250 --> 00:03:13,130 S2: how this will happen unless Hamas disarms and cedes control. 58 00:03:13,450 --> 00:03:17,370 S2: Israel's conflict with Iran lasted just 12 days. Thankfully, in June, 59 00:03:17,610 --> 00:03:21,169 S2: Israel launched a surprise attack against Iran's missiles and military 60 00:03:21,169 --> 00:03:24,450 S2: and nuclear sites and the US, aided by helping intercept 61 00:03:24,450 --> 00:03:29,050 S2: Iranian missiles and by bombing key nuclear sites. Iran launched 62 00:03:29,050 --> 00:03:34,130 S2: 550 ballistic missiles and over a thousand suicide drones at Israel, 63 00:03:34,130 --> 00:03:38,850 S2: hitting civilian population centers, a hospital, 12 military, energy and 64 00:03:38,850 --> 00:03:44,010 S2: government sites, among others. Israel's attacks wiped out Iran's air defenses. 65 00:03:44,010 --> 00:03:47,170 S2: They also killed a number of top nuclear scientists and 66 00:03:47,170 --> 00:03:51,330 S2: destroyed many of Iran's ballistic missiles and launchers. The truce 67 00:03:51,330 --> 00:03:53,770 S2: that the US brokered held through the rest of the year, 68 00:03:53,810 --> 00:03:56,880 S2: though there are reports Iran has been trying to rebuild 69 00:03:56,880 --> 00:04:01,040 S2: its ballistic missile capacity while also resuming its nuclear program. 70 00:04:01,240 --> 00:04:04,440 S2: So as the year closes, what's really happened? Well, Israel 71 00:04:04,440 --> 00:04:07,400 S2: is no longer living under the immediate threat of rocket 72 00:04:07,400 --> 00:04:11,480 S2: and missile attacks by Hamas, Hezbollah or Iran. And in 73 00:04:11,480 --> 00:04:14,520 S2: many ways, life in Israel has returned to normal. However, 74 00:04:14,520 --> 00:04:17,560 S2: all three enemies are still present and still committed to 75 00:04:17,600 --> 00:04:22,200 S2: Israel's destruction. They're down, but they're definitely not yet out. 76 00:04:22,320 --> 00:04:24,520 S2: One of the main differences is that Israel is no 77 00:04:24,520 --> 00:04:27,400 S2: longer as complacent as it was two years ago. They 78 00:04:27,400 --> 00:04:30,440 S2: learned a difficult lesson, and they intend to remain strong 79 00:04:30,440 --> 00:04:33,120 S2: and prepared to keep from being surprised again. 80 00:04:33,279 --> 00:04:36,720 S1: Charlie, with months now to review what's our best assessment 81 00:04:36,720 --> 00:04:40,400 S1: of the true destruction of Iran's nuclear facilities? 82 00:04:40,800 --> 00:04:44,120 S2: Israel definitely set them back. The nuclear material that had 83 00:04:44,120 --> 00:04:47,440 S2: been stored is probably still available somewhere, but it's not 84 00:04:47,480 --> 00:04:51,120 S2: yet dug out from the rubble. They did a setback. However, 85 00:04:51,120 --> 00:04:53,599 S2: China and some other countries are trying to help Iran 86 00:04:53,600 --> 00:04:57,420 S2: get re-established. And if that doesn't get stopped, it wouldn't 87 00:04:57,460 --> 00:04:59,700 S2: take them very long to get back to where they 88 00:04:59,700 --> 00:05:00,419 S2: were before. 89 00:05:00,740 --> 00:05:03,219 S1: The second major story of the year, which was also 90 00:05:03,220 --> 00:05:07,340 S1: a top story last year, was the continued rise in anti-Semitism. 91 00:05:07,420 --> 00:05:09,980 S1: Why is there so much hatred of Israel and the Jews, 92 00:05:09,980 --> 00:05:10,820 S1: people ask? 93 00:05:11,060 --> 00:05:13,860 S2: You know, people sometimes point to the apparent disparity in 94 00:05:13,860 --> 00:05:17,100 S2: the level of destruction, the number of casualties between Israel 95 00:05:17,100 --> 00:05:20,859 S2: and Hamas. But that doesn't explain why the anti-Semitism began 96 00:05:20,860 --> 00:05:25,620 S2: the day after Hamas attacked, way back on October 7th, 2023. 97 00:05:25,660 --> 00:05:28,820 S2: You know, Gaza hadn't yet been attacked, just Israel. And 98 00:05:28,820 --> 00:05:31,940 S2: the video showed the atrocity on October 7th that were 99 00:05:31,980 --> 00:05:34,779 S2: actually filmed and released by Hamas. They were the ones 100 00:05:34,779 --> 00:05:39,060 S2: guilty of genocide. And the anti-Semitism began before even Israel 101 00:05:39,060 --> 00:05:43,460 S2: started to go after Hamas in Gaza. So what's the cause? Well, 102 00:05:43,500 --> 00:05:47,740 S2: anti-Semitism has always existed just below the surface. The war 103 00:05:47,740 --> 00:05:50,380 S2: with Hamas just gave those who hate Israel and the 104 00:05:50,380 --> 00:05:53,610 S2: Jewish people an excuse to attack more openly, I think, 105 00:05:53,610 --> 00:05:57,930 S2: while ignoring Hamas's genocidal attack on October 7th, and their 106 00:05:57,930 --> 00:06:01,450 S2: cynical use of hostages and civilians as human shields was 107 00:06:01,450 --> 00:06:04,330 S2: just simply ignored. Which tells me the real issue is 108 00:06:04,330 --> 00:06:08,330 S2: that people hate Israel. Iran supported Hamas and Hezbollah and 109 00:06:08,330 --> 00:06:13,570 S2: launched rockets and drones and missile attacks in 2024 and 2025. 110 00:06:13,610 --> 00:06:17,410 S2: But instead of condemning Iran, the UN expressed concern over 111 00:06:17,410 --> 00:06:21,210 S2: Israel's attack on Iran's nuclear sites, with some calling them 112 00:06:21,210 --> 00:06:24,690 S2: a violation of international law as though Israel shouldn't be 113 00:06:24,690 --> 00:06:28,930 S2: allowed to defend itself. Now, one disturbing change in 2025 114 00:06:29,130 --> 00:06:32,370 S2: is the rise in anti-Israel rhetoric on the part of 115 00:06:32,370 --> 00:06:36,570 S2: some who identify as conservative evangelicals. Thankfully, it's not a 116 00:06:36,570 --> 00:06:39,730 S2: large number, but they're trying to encourage more conservatives to 117 00:06:39,770 --> 00:06:42,890 S2: stop supporting Israel. Now, as we said last year, and 118 00:06:42,890 --> 00:06:46,810 S2: as we've said throughout the year, anti-Semitism has Satan's fingerprints 119 00:06:46,810 --> 00:06:49,930 S2: all over it. He rebelled against God. Originally. He tried 120 00:06:49,930 --> 00:06:52,880 S2: to kill God's Messiah at his first coming, and he's 121 00:06:52,920 --> 00:06:55,919 S2: actively trying to turn the world against God's chosen people 122 00:06:55,960 --> 00:06:59,920 S2: before the Messiah returns. The increase in anti-Semitism over the 123 00:06:59,920 --> 00:07:03,800 S2: past year is a reminder that Satan hates God, God's people, 124 00:07:03,800 --> 00:07:07,599 S2: and God's program. It's also a reminder that as believers, 125 00:07:07,600 --> 00:07:09,800 S2: we need to stand for the Jewish people and for 126 00:07:09,800 --> 00:07:13,280 S2: Israel's right to exist as a nation in their own land. 127 00:07:13,400 --> 00:07:15,240 S2: A land, by the way, that was promised to them 128 00:07:15,240 --> 00:07:16,280 S2: by God. 129 00:07:16,320 --> 00:07:18,680 S1: This is the land and the book from Moody Radio. 130 00:07:18,880 --> 00:07:21,600 S1: The third major story of the year, the transition in 131 00:07:21,600 --> 00:07:24,840 S1: Syria following the fall of the Assad regime last December. 132 00:07:24,880 --> 00:07:28,560 S1: What impact has this regime change had on the region? 133 00:07:28,800 --> 00:07:32,080 S2: Well, the impact has been mixed. On the positive side, 134 00:07:32,400 --> 00:07:36,000 S2: Ahmed Al-rashad is fiercely opposed to Iran and their attempts 135 00:07:36,000 --> 00:07:40,520 S2: to influence Syria and Lebanon. Iran supported the Assad regime 136 00:07:40,520 --> 00:07:43,800 S2: and used Syria to funnel supplies to Hezbollah, who also 137 00:07:43,800 --> 00:07:47,800 S2: helped Assad in his fight against the rebels. al-Qaida has 138 00:07:47,800 --> 00:07:50,360 S2: tried to cut off the arms pipeline from Iran to 139 00:07:50,510 --> 00:07:54,630 S2: Lebanon through Syria. Al Shiraz also reached out to President Trump, 140 00:07:54,630 --> 00:07:58,390 S2: suggesting he's open to promoting regional peace. However, on the 141 00:07:58,390 --> 00:08:02,950 S2: negative side, Al Jazeera's pedigree is with Islamic fundamentalism and 142 00:08:02,950 --> 00:08:06,790 S2: terrorist organizations like al Qaeda and the Nusra Front. Though 143 00:08:06,790 --> 00:08:10,270 S2: he's stressing economic reforms, he's also said he will not 144 00:08:10,270 --> 00:08:13,310 S2: join the Abraham Accords. And in an earlier speech to 145 00:08:13,350 --> 00:08:17,030 S2: his followers, he suggested their goal was not just Damascus, 146 00:08:17,230 --> 00:08:20,510 S2: but also Jerusalem. Over the past year, his followers have 147 00:08:20,510 --> 00:08:23,910 S2: been involved in conflicts and atrocities against the Alawites in 148 00:08:23,910 --> 00:08:27,870 S2: western Syria and against the Druze in southern Syria. The 149 00:08:27,870 --> 00:08:31,630 S2: West has so far been welcoming Al-shara. In November, he 150 00:08:31,630 --> 00:08:34,510 S2: met with President Trump and Vice President Vance and Secretary 151 00:08:34,510 --> 00:08:37,589 S2: of State Rubio in the white House. So does he 152 00:08:37,590 --> 00:08:40,550 S2: offer genuine hope for Syria and the region? Could his 153 00:08:40,550 --> 00:08:43,750 S2: leadership result in peace between Syria and Israel, as some 154 00:08:43,750 --> 00:08:48,350 S2: are hoping, and maybe further unify Sunni Muslims against Iran? Well, 155 00:08:48,350 --> 00:08:51,620 S2: we're not sure. I think more likely, his past association 156 00:08:51,620 --> 00:08:54,699 S2: with Islamic fundamentalism, as well as the actions of his 157 00:08:54,700 --> 00:08:57,900 S2: followers against the other minorities in Syria, are serving as 158 00:08:57,900 --> 00:09:01,580 S2: a reminder that countries need to approach him with caution 159 00:09:01,580 --> 00:09:04,500 S2: and make sure his actions align with his rhetoric. He 160 00:09:04,500 --> 00:09:07,780 S2: does represent a dramatic change in Syria, but is it 161 00:09:07,780 --> 00:09:11,020 S2: a change toward Western values, or is it a backdoor 162 00:09:11,059 --> 00:09:16,260 S2: change toward another ISIS like takeover by Islamic fundamentalists? And sadly, 163 00:09:16,260 --> 00:09:17,980 S2: we're going to have to wait and see because it's 164 00:09:17,980 --> 00:09:19,020 S2: unclear right now. 165 00:09:19,059 --> 00:09:21,740 S1: Yeah, that's for sure. The final story of the year 166 00:09:21,740 --> 00:09:25,579 S1: has to be the conflict over drafting the ultra-Orthodox into 167 00:09:25,580 --> 00:09:29,900 S1: the military. Is this resolution finally in sight to this conflict? 168 00:09:29,940 --> 00:09:32,020 S2: Yeah. You want to say. Oy vey. What's going on? 169 00:09:32,059 --> 00:09:34,300 S2: The story has been simmering for a long time, but 170 00:09:34,300 --> 00:09:36,820 S2: it burst onto the headlines this year because of the 171 00:09:36,820 --> 00:09:40,580 S2: war with Hamas from Israel's founding in 1948. The government 172 00:09:40,580 --> 00:09:44,540 S2: made an exception in military service for ultra-Orthodox Jews. Now, 173 00:09:44,540 --> 00:09:47,420 S2: for most years, that wasn't a problem for two reasons. First, 174 00:09:47,460 --> 00:09:51,130 S2: the number being exempted from military service was relatively small 175 00:09:51,130 --> 00:09:54,770 S2: compared to the overall population. And second, Israel's philosophy for 176 00:09:54,770 --> 00:09:58,730 S2: fighting wars was to fight short wars, achieve their strategic goals, 177 00:09:58,730 --> 00:10:01,090 S2: and then have the UN or someone else step in 178 00:10:01,090 --> 00:10:04,530 S2: and stop the fighting. Unfortunately, this war lasted over two 179 00:10:04,530 --> 00:10:08,050 S2: years and as it wore on, it impacted the entire country. 180 00:10:08,090 --> 00:10:11,490 S2: Reservists were called up multiple times instead of those 10 181 00:10:11,490 --> 00:10:14,209 S2: to 15 days of reserve duty in a year. Some 182 00:10:14,210 --> 00:10:17,130 S2: were serving 100 days or more, and that increased the 183 00:10:17,130 --> 00:10:20,449 S2: demand for the ultra-Orthodox to now start doing their fair 184 00:10:20,490 --> 00:10:23,810 S2: share to help alleviate the burden. The bill before the 185 00:10:24,050 --> 00:10:26,730 S2: Knesset is supposed to serve as a compromise, but even 186 00:10:26,730 --> 00:10:30,209 S2: if it's passed into law, it really won't solve the problem. Instead, 187 00:10:30,210 --> 00:10:32,610 S2: I think it will become a dominant campaign issue for 188 00:10:32,610 --> 00:10:34,050 S2: next year's elections. 189 00:10:34,490 --> 00:10:36,770 S1: And that's a look at news stories for the year. 190 00:10:37,370 --> 00:10:40,650 S1: Persecution in the Middle East. That's our focus. Next, as 191 00:10:40,650 --> 00:10:42,810 S1: we talk with Todd Nettleton of Voice of the martyrs 192 00:10:42,809 --> 00:11:00,520 S1: here on the land and the book. Persecution in the 193 00:11:00,520 --> 00:11:04,080 S1: Middle East. Occasionally it makes the mainstream news, but usually 194 00:11:04,080 --> 00:11:07,240 S1: it kind of slips under the radar. What's really going on? 195 00:11:07,400 --> 00:11:10,040 S1: Where is it the worst? And more importantly, how can 196 00:11:10,080 --> 00:11:13,600 S1: Christians make an impact on religious persecution in the Middle East? 197 00:11:13,880 --> 00:11:17,920 S1: Straight ahead. The year in review. Persecution in the Middle East. 198 00:11:18,160 --> 00:11:21,160 S1: Welcome back to the land and the book. I'm John Gager, 199 00:11:21,160 --> 00:11:23,400 S1: and I want to invite you to join me in 200 00:11:23,440 --> 00:11:26,720 S1: thinking through some ideas for showing the love of Jesus 201 00:11:26,920 --> 00:11:29,440 S1: to a muslim neighbor of yours, maybe a coworker, a 202 00:11:29,440 --> 00:11:33,520 S1: friend down the street. When engaging your Muslim friend, how 203 00:11:33,559 --> 00:11:37,480 S1: upfront can you be about your own faith in Jesus? Well, 204 00:11:37,520 --> 00:11:39,720 S1: you know, I've had the experience of being on a 205 00:11:39,720 --> 00:11:44,080 S1: train ride, and the Muslim friend next to me immediately 206 00:11:44,080 --> 00:11:47,140 S1: commented about my reading the Bible and wanted to engage 207 00:11:47,140 --> 00:11:49,580 S1: me about his faith versus mine. So it sounds to 208 00:11:49,580 --> 00:11:52,860 S1: me like Muslims are open to a pretty aggressive discussion 209 00:11:52,860 --> 00:11:55,860 S1: about religion. True or false? Stefano Ferrer with call of Hope. 210 00:11:55,860 --> 00:11:58,900 S1: What do you say? True and false. Okay. 211 00:11:58,940 --> 00:12:03,100 S3: It depends on the person. Here in the US and American, 212 00:12:03,100 --> 00:12:06,500 S3: are all Americans open to talk about their faith? No, 213 00:12:06,500 --> 00:12:08,900 S3: they are not. No, some of them are. Some of 214 00:12:08,900 --> 00:12:11,820 S3: them are not. The same with Muslims. You know, some 215 00:12:11,820 --> 00:12:15,180 S3: are open, some are not. But when they are open, 216 00:12:15,179 --> 00:12:18,540 S3: like this person on the train talking to you, hey, 217 00:12:18,820 --> 00:12:23,660 S3: then they even expect you being open. And you can 218 00:12:23,660 --> 00:12:28,820 S3: make no mistake. Tell them what you believe. No mistake 219 00:12:28,820 --> 00:12:29,540 S3: can happen. 220 00:12:29,580 --> 00:12:33,260 S1: Okay, so it's just like here in America, non-Muslims not 221 00:12:33,260 --> 00:12:37,020 S1: always open to discussions about faith. Muslims. Same thing. Good 222 00:12:37,020 --> 00:12:38,660 S1: advice to keep in mind as you reach out to 223 00:12:38,660 --> 00:12:41,580 S1: your Muslim friends. Stefano Ferrer is with call of Hope, 224 00:12:41,580 --> 00:12:43,780 S1: always a pleasure to visit with him here on Moody 225 00:12:43,890 --> 00:12:48,370 S1: Radio's The Land and the book. Todd Nettleton is vice 226 00:12:48,370 --> 00:12:51,050 S1: president of message for the voice of the martyrs USA, 227 00:12:51,410 --> 00:12:53,890 S1: and also host of the Voice of the Martyrs Radio. 228 00:12:54,130 --> 00:12:57,730 S1: His most recent book, when Faith Is Forbidden 40 days 229 00:12:57,730 --> 00:13:01,290 S1: on the Front Lines with Persecuted Christians, was published in 230 00:13:01,290 --> 00:13:05,329 S1: 2021 by Moody Publishers. Todd serves as a voice for 231 00:13:05,330 --> 00:13:09,530 S1: persecuted Christians, inspiring other believers of Christ to the examples 232 00:13:09,530 --> 00:13:13,610 S1: of those living in more than 70 hostile and restricted nations. Were. 233 00:13:13,610 --> 00:13:16,410 S1: Voice of the martyrs. Works. Amazing during his more than 234 00:13:16,410 --> 00:13:19,410 S1: 25 years of service with voice of the martyrs, Todd 235 00:13:19,450 --> 00:13:23,050 S1: has traveled the world and conducted face to face interviews 236 00:13:23,050 --> 00:13:26,850 S1: with hundreds of Christians who have suffered persecution in more 237 00:13:26,850 --> 00:13:30,250 S1: than 40 different nations. He's been interviewed more than 4000 238 00:13:30,250 --> 00:13:34,730 S1: times by media outlets including CNN, the Associated Press, the 239 00:13:34,730 --> 00:13:40,090 S1: Los Angeles Times, BBC, and, of course, Moody Radio. We 240 00:13:40,090 --> 00:13:42,410 S1: love having him on the program. Welcome back, Todd. 241 00:13:42,640 --> 00:13:44,320 S4: Thanks so much. It's good to be with you. 242 00:13:44,360 --> 00:13:48,240 S1: Okay. Question number one. Why does religious persecution in the 243 00:13:48,240 --> 00:13:51,920 S1: Middle East get panned by so much of the mainstream media? 244 00:13:52,720 --> 00:13:55,920 S4: That is a great question. I have a theory that 245 00:13:55,920 --> 00:13:58,360 S4: I have kind of come up with over my years 246 00:13:58,360 --> 00:14:00,960 S4: here at voice of the martyrs, and, and that theory 247 00:14:00,960 --> 00:14:03,800 S4: is there's going to be one story per year of 248 00:14:03,800 --> 00:14:07,760 S4: Christian persecution that sort of rises to the level where 249 00:14:07,760 --> 00:14:11,920 S4: the secular national media pays attention to it. Um, this 250 00:14:11,920 --> 00:14:15,560 S4: year that story was Nigeria. You know, President Trump tweeting out, 251 00:14:15,600 --> 00:14:18,439 S4: you know, Nigeria is now a country of particular concern. 252 00:14:18,559 --> 00:14:21,520 S4: That got the attention of the national media. And so 253 00:14:21,520 --> 00:14:24,840 S4: that's the story this year. And for whatever reason, that 254 00:14:24,840 --> 00:14:26,840 S4: seems to be the case, that it's one time a 255 00:14:26,840 --> 00:14:29,240 S4: year they're going to talk about Christian persecution. This year 256 00:14:29,240 --> 00:14:33,000 S4: it wasn't the Middle East, it was Africa. And somebody 257 00:14:33,000 --> 00:14:34,880 S4: asked me, you know, well, why did that happen? And 258 00:14:34,880 --> 00:14:37,200 S4: I'm like, I wish I could explain it because then 259 00:14:37,200 --> 00:14:39,760 S4: I could make it happen more often. But it seems 260 00:14:39,760 --> 00:14:41,320 S4: to be just once a year. 261 00:14:41,710 --> 00:14:44,430 S1: Okay. If you had to describe religious persecution in the 262 00:14:44,430 --> 00:14:47,510 S1: Middle East in terms of a line graph, would this 263 00:14:47,510 --> 00:14:49,590 S1: year's be a flat line, meaning things are kind of 264 00:14:49,590 --> 00:14:52,150 S1: holding steady? Or would you say there's an uptick in 265 00:14:52,150 --> 00:14:53,430 S1: religious persecution? 266 00:14:54,470 --> 00:14:58,790 S4: I would say it is mostly flat now. In some 267 00:14:58,790 --> 00:15:01,510 S4: ways there are more cases, but there's a silver lining 268 00:15:01,550 --> 00:15:05,150 S4: to that cloud. And oftentimes there are more cases of 269 00:15:05,150 --> 00:15:09,310 S4: persecution because there are more Christians in a place like Jordan, 270 00:15:09,310 --> 00:15:12,870 S4: in a place like Saudi Arabia. There are more followers 271 00:15:12,870 --> 00:15:15,910 S4: of Jesus Christ. So therefore there are more Christians being 272 00:15:15,910 --> 00:15:20,510 S4: persecuted or facing persecution. But overall, I don't think we've 273 00:15:20,510 --> 00:15:24,510 S4: seen any dramatic shifts in terms of government policy or 274 00:15:24,670 --> 00:15:28,470 S4: things that have really changed the situation on the ground. 275 00:15:28,470 --> 00:15:31,310 S4: For our brothers and sisters, they are still facing challenges, 276 00:15:31,310 --> 00:15:35,110 S4: and oftentimes it's not about the government, it's about their 277 00:15:35,110 --> 00:15:40,460 S4: own families. That's typically in a muslim context. Oftentimes That's 278 00:15:40,460 --> 00:15:43,820 S4: where persecution starts. It's your dad. It's your big brother. 279 00:15:43,820 --> 00:15:46,540 S4: It's somebody in your family who comes to you and says, listen, 280 00:15:46,540 --> 00:15:49,260 S4: we're a muslim family. And now you say you're not 281 00:15:49,260 --> 00:15:51,500 S4: a muslim anymore. Well, then we don't have a spot 282 00:15:51,500 --> 00:15:54,060 S4: for you. You can't be part of this family anymore. 283 00:15:54,340 --> 00:15:57,220 S4: That usually is the first line of persecution. And like 284 00:15:57,220 --> 00:16:01,060 S4: I say, that's not affected by government policy or what 285 00:16:01,060 --> 00:16:03,940 S4: the law says. That's what your dad says. 286 00:16:04,140 --> 00:16:06,980 S1: As a son of missionary parents, Todd Nettleton grew up 287 00:16:06,980 --> 00:16:10,180 S1: in both Papua New Guinea and Southern California. He serves 288 00:16:10,180 --> 00:16:12,900 S1: with voice of the martyrs and joins us today on 289 00:16:12,900 --> 00:16:15,420 S1: the land and the book. You mentioned Saudi Arabia a 290 00:16:15,420 --> 00:16:18,140 S1: moment ago. Uh, give us your assessment there. As we 291 00:16:18,140 --> 00:16:19,260 S1: look at the year in review. 292 00:16:19,740 --> 00:16:23,180 S4: You know, Saudi Arabia is a country that is changing 293 00:16:23,460 --> 00:16:27,060 S4: sometimes literally by the day. I had one of our 294 00:16:27,060 --> 00:16:31,260 S4: coworkers was in Saudi Arabia recently and, uh, called an Uber, 295 00:16:31,260 --> 00:16:34,580 S4: which again, think about that. He called an Uber. And 296 00:16:34,580 --> 00:16:36,820 S4: when he got in the car, the Uber was driven 297 00:16:36,820 --> 00:16:40,170 S4: by a woman. Huh. And he said, I almost fell 298 00:16:40,170 --> 00:16:43,410 S4: out of the car. I was so surprised because, you know, 299 00:16:43,450 --> 00:16:46,530 S4: ten years ago, women weren't allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia. 300 00:16:46,730 --> 00:16:50,170 S4: And now you have a fully veiled woman driving an Uber, 301 00:16:50,170 --> 00:16:53,890 S4: picking up a complete stranger. And ten years ago, women 302 00:16:53,890 --> 00:16:56,610 S4: weren't allowed to go out without a male relative. And 303 00:16:56,610 --> 00:17:00,570 S4: now they're driving Uber vehicles. So that's a sign of 304 00:17:00,570 --> 00:17:03,170 S4: the shift in the culture, the sign of the shift. 305 00:17:03,290 --> 00:17:05,850 S4: The crown prince is trying to bring in trade. He's 306 00:17:05,850 --> 00:17:09,450 S4: trying to bring in foreigners. And what does that mean 307 00:17:09,450 --> 00:17:13,210 S4: to religion? Well, you know, it's interesting when you say 308 00:17:13,210 --> 00:17:15,889 S4: we had this law because that's what the Quran tells 309 00:17:15,890 --> 00:17:18,409 S4: us to do. Women aren't allowed to drive because the 310 00:17:18,410 --> 00:17:20,970 S4: Quran tells us that's how it should be. And then 311 00:17:20,970 --> 00:17:23,810 S4: you say women are allowed to drive. What happens to 312 00:17:23,850 --> 00:17:26,250 S4: the people who heard that the Quran said they weren't 313 00:17:26,250 --> 00:17:28,850 S4: supposed to drive? They say, well, did the Quran change 314 00:17:28,850 --> 00:17:32,610 S4: or what changed here? That is planting some seeds of 315 00:17:32,609 --> 00:17:34,690 S4: openness for the gospel. They're like, wait a minute, our 316 00:17:34,690 --> 00:17:37,369 S4: whole culture is shifting. And and I thought our culture 317 00:17:37,369 --> 00:17:39,680 S4: was built on the Quran. So if it's shifting, does 318 00:17:39,680 --> 00:17:42,440 S4: that mean I didn't really know what the Quran said? 319 00:17:42,480 --> 00:17:45,119 S4: Or did the Quran change? Or are you just using 320 00:17:45,119 --> 00:17:47,240 S4: the Quran to try to tell me what to do? 321 00:17:47,640 --> 00:17:50,680 S4: That is creating an openness for the gospel. And so 322 00:17:50,920 --> 00:17:54,240 S4: there are people coming to faith in Saudi Arabia. It 323 00:17:54,280 --> 00:17:57,840 S4: is very dangerous. And again, they often face that family 324 00:17:57,840 --> 00:18:01,200 S4: pressure first, but then the authorities are willing to get involved. 325 00:18:01,200 --> 00:18:03,840 S4: But it is a culture and a country that is 326 00:18:03,840 --> 00:18:05,120 S4: changing by the day. 327 00:18:05,440 --> 00:18:08,520 S1: Todd list the top 2 or 3 most dangerous places 328 00:18:08,520 --> 00:18:10,360 S1: in the Middle East for believers today. 329 00:18:11,119 --> 00:18:13,240 S4: You know, I think you have to talk about Iran. 330 00:18:13,480 --> 00:18:17,320 S4: Iran is a country that has a large Christian population. Now, 331 00:18:17,359 --> 00:18:21,000 S4: there are many Iranians that have come to faith. And interestingly, 332 00:18:21,240 --> 00:18:23,440 S4: they have a similar story to what's happening in Saudi 333 00:18:23,440 --> 00:18:26,639 S4: Arabia that the government has said for 40 years. We're 334 00:18:26,640 --> 00:18:30,800 S4: running the country according to Islamic principles. And the people say, well, 335 00:18:30,800 --> 00:18:33,280 S4: wait a minute, why do we have such a broken economy? 336 00:18:33,320 --> 00:18:35,200 S4: Why do we have one of the highest drug addiction 337 00:18:35,200 --> 00:18:39,310 S4: rates in the world, Maybe Islam doesn't work. So that 338 00:18:39,310 --> 00:18:42,310 S4: is producing a large number of people who are open 339 00:18:42,310 --> 00:18:44,869 S4: to the gospel. But then the government is coming in 340 00:18:44,869 --> 00:18:46,790 S4: and saying, hey, we have to put a stop to this, 341 00:18:46,790 --> 00:18:49,510 S4: whatever it takes. And one of the things we saw 342 00:18:49,510 --> 00:18:53,190 S4: this year, and this was obviously a big national international 343 00:18:53,190 --> 00:18:55,750 S4: news story in the Middle East, was the war between 344 00:18:55,750 --> 00:18:59,670 S4: Iran and Israel. And the Iranian government has used that 345 00:18:59,670 --> 00:19:03,030 S4: as an opportunity to crack down on Christians because they 346 00:19:03,070 --> 00:19:06,070 S4: are seen as sympathetic to Israel. And so we've had 347 00:19:06,070 --> 00:19:08,670 S4: Christians who've been arrested. We've had Christians who have gone 348 00:19:08,670 --> 00:19:11,950 S4: to prison. And I spoke with one of our international 349 00:19:11,950 --> 00:19:14,670 S4: ministry staff just yesterday, and he said, you know, where 350 00:19:14,670 --> 00:19:17,670 S4: we used to see people charged with maybe minor offenses 351 00:19:17,670 --> 00:19:21,909 S4: of of having illegal literature or having something in their home. 352 00:19:22,109 --> 00:19:25,350 S4: Now we're seeing them charged with espionage. They're being told 353 00:19:25,350 --> 00:19:28,830 S4: that they're spies. And that carries the death penalty. So 354 00:19:28,830 --> 00:19:32,910 S4: they are really tightening the screws and jacking up the 355 00:19:32,910 --> 00:19:35,970 S4: penalties that Christians potentially face in Iran. 356 00:19:36,290 --> 00:19:39,050 S1: Religious persecution in the Middle East. We're looking at the 357 00:19:39,050 --> 00:19:42,129 S1: year end review. Todd, you travel regularly to the Middle 358 00:19:42,130 --> 00:19:46,090 S1: East without giving away specifics that might endanger someone. Tell 359 00:19:46,090 --> 00:19:48,930 S1: us a story that helps frame this conversation. 360 00:19:49,850 --> 00:19:52,410 S4: You know, so many stories come to mind, but I 361 00:19:52,410 --> 00:19:55,609 S4: think of someone in the Middle East who came to faith. 362 00:19:55,850 --> 00:20:00,090 S4: They were in a government job, so their employer basically 363 00:20:00,090 --> 00:20:03,690 S4: was the government. And as soon as people around them 364 00:20:03,690 --> 00:20:08,010 S4: recognized that they had left Islam and were now following Jesus, 365 00:20:08,290 --> 00:20:12,129 S4: they set out to make their life absolutely miserable. They 366 00:20:12,130 --> 00:20:16,090 S4: just put the screws. Every review was a negative review. 367 00:20:16,130 --> 00:20:19,090 S4: You're a terrible. They actually, at one point lock this 368 00:20:19,090 --> 00:20:22,890 S4: person up. But they kept coming back to I'm a 369 00:20:22,890 --> 00:20:25,129 S4: follower of Jesus, I love Jesus, I'm not going to 370 00:20:25,130 --> 00:20:28,369 S4: leave him. And so all of that pressure was brought 371 00:20:28,369 --> 00:20:32,010 S4: to bear from their employer, from their family, even, you know, 372 00:20:32,050 --> 00:20:36,600 S4: from the government, from authorities, the police. They refused to 373 00:20:36,640 --> 00:20:39,720 S4: deny Christ. They refused to walk away from Christ. And 374 00:20:39,760 --> 00:20:43,080 S4: that situation is still playing out. It's not completely finished. 375 00:20:43,119 --> 00:20:46,399 S4: One of the challenges in some of the very tightly 376 00:20:46,400 --> 00:20:49,840 S4: controlled areas of the Middle East is once you're identified 377 00:20:49,840 --> 00:20:52,800 S4: as a Christian, once the authorities know who you are 378 00:20:52,800 --> 00:20:56,560 S4: and who you worship, your life is so difficult that 379 00:20:56,560 --> 00:20:58,760 S4: it starts to look like, do I even have a 380 00:20:58,760 --> 00:21:01,000 S4: life here? Should I leave? Should I get out to 381 00:21:01,040 --> 00:21:04,080 S4: a safer place? And so that's one of the challenges 382 00:21:04,080 --> 00:21:06,760 S4: for our brothers and sisters. And this particular brother is 383 00:21:06,800 --> 00:21:08,880 S4: kind of going through that right now of, can I 384 00:21:08,880 --> 00:21:11,399 S4: stay here? Is there a place for me here? Does 385 00:21:11,400 --> 00:21:13,600 S4: God want me to be here, or should I go 386 00:21:13,600 --> 00:21:16,760 S4: someplace safer? And so I would encourage our listeners to 387 00:21:16,800 --> 00:21:19,879 S4: pray for Christians who are facing that decision. And, you know, 388 00:21:19,920 --> 00:21:21,480 S4: we want them to be safe. We want them to 389 00:21:21,480 --> 00:21:25,040 S4: be protected. At the same time, we want lighthouses for 390 00:21:25,040 --> 00:21:27,320 S4: Jesus Christ all over the Middle East. And if all 391 00:21:27,320 --> 00:21:30,600 S4: Christians leave, who's going to be there to share the gospel? 392 00:21:30,600 --> 00:21:33,470 S4: So that's one story that immediately comes to mind. And 393 00:21:33,470 --> 00:21:34,910 S4: like I say, I can't say where and I can't 394 00:21:34,910 --> 00:21:37,870 S4: say what his name is, but he is literally going 395 00:21:37,869 --> 00:21:38,790 S4: through that right now. 396 00:21:38,790 --> 00:21:41,629 S1: So what kinds of things do you hear from persecuted 397 00:21:41,630 --> 00:21:44,230 S1: believers when you're there in the Middle East and they're 398 00:21:44,230 --> 00:21:45,910 S1: sharing their stories? What are they telling you? 399 00:21:46,510 --> 00:21:48,870 S4: You know, one of the amazing things that we often 400 00:21:48,869 --> 00:21:52,830 S4: hear is some kind of power encounter with Jesus Christ 401 00:21:52,830 --> 00:21:56,030 S4: that led them to faith, and maybe it is a 402 00:21:56,109 --> 00:21:59,030 S4: dream or a vision where Jesus came to them. Or 403 00:21:59,070 --> 00:22:01,750 S4: they might say, the man in white. I had a dream. 404 00:22:01,750 --> 00:22:04,230 S4: I saw this man in white. And he said to me, 405 00:22:04,270 --> 00:22:08,270 S4: and I'll never forget one Iranian lady that I met. 406 00:22:08,270 --> 00:22:10,790 S4: And she had this dream. She had been a very 407 00:22:10,790 --> 00:22:14,389 S4: devout Muslim and and was frustrated, honestly, that she didn't 408 00:22:14,390 --> 00:22:17,870 S4: feel more satisfaction within Islam. And she went to bed 409 00:22:17,869 --> 00:22:20,350 S4: one night and basically said, Allah, I'm going to give 410 00:22:20,350 --> 00:22:23,030 S4: up on you because you're not doing anything for me. 411 00:22:23,350 --> 00:22:27,149 S4: And she had a dream that night, a bright light, 412 00:22:27,190 --> 00:22:29,550 S4: a man dressed in white who said, come to me, 413 00:22:29,550 --> 00:22:32,300 S4: all you who are weary and heavy laden, and I 414 00:22:32,300 --> 00:22:35,500 S4: will give you rest. Wow. And, uh, she woke up 415 00:22:35,500 --> 00:22:38,340 S4: the next morning and thought, wow, that that was a 416 00:22:38,340 --> 00:22:41,820 S4: strange dream. And she looked troubled at her office the 417 00:22:41,820 --> 00:22:44,420 S4: next day. And one of her coworkers, who just so 418 00:22:44,420 --> 00:22:47,020 S4: happened to be a Christian, said, what? You look kind 419 00:22:47,020 --> 00:22:49,420 S4: of upset. What? What's going on? And she said, well, 420 00:22:49,420 --> 00:22:51,300 S4: I had this dream last night and this man in white. 421 00:22:51,300 --> 00:22:54,379 S4: And he said, come to me. And this Christian coworker 422 00:22:54,420 --> 00:22:57,100 S4: pulled out a New Testament and showed her those words 423 00:22:57,100 --> 00:23:00,340 S4: in the Scripture. And that is how she came to 424 00:23:00,340 --> 00:23:03,620 S4: faith in Christ. And that's that's a very common occurrence 425 00:23:03,619 --> 00:23:06,580 S4: in the Middle East, a dream, a vision. Somebody prayed 426 00:23:06,580 --> 00:23:09,020 S4: for me in the name of Jesus and and the 427 00:23:09,020 --> 00:23:12,900 S4: prayer was answered. I was healed or my situation improved. 428 00:23:12,900 --> 00:23:15,980 S4: Jesus worked in my life, so I know that he's 429 00:23:15,980 --> 00:23:19,260 S4: the God who answers prayer. And one of the great 430 00:23:19,260 --> 00:23:21,899 S4: things about that when when you see that he's the 431 00:23:21,900 --> 00:23:25,139 S4: God who answers prayer, then when somebody comes to you 432 00:23:25,140 --> 00:23:27,820 S4: and says you shouldn't follow Jesus, you say to them, well, 433 00:23:27,859 --> 00:23:30,370 S4: he's the God who answers prayer. Of course I'm going 434 00:23:30,410 --> 00:23:33,450 S4: to follow him. He heard my prayer and he answered me. 435 00:23:33,690 --> 00:23:37,090 S4: They can't be talked out of it. After they see 436 00:23:37,090 --> 00:23:39,890 S4: that power, and after they know Jesus hears us and 437 00:23:39,890 --> 00:23:41,129 S4: he answers our prayers. 438 00:23:41,170 --> 00:23:43,770 S1: Todd Nettleton joins us today on the land and the 439 00:23:43,770 --> 00:23:46,850 S1: book he's with, voice of the martyrs. Uh, as believers, 440 00:23:46,850 --> 00:23:49,649 S1: we want to make a difference. But how, for example, 441 00:23:49,850 --> 00:23:51,970 S1: do we really make that much of a difference when 442 00:23:51,970 --> 00:23:55,890 S1: we write letters to foreign governments on behalf of imprisoned believers? Uh, 443 00:23:55,890 --> 00:23:59,050 S1: how do we pray? Specifically, what do you suggest? 444 00:23:59,730 --> 00:24:02,490 S4: You know, I think we do make a difference. The 445 00:24:02,530 --> 00:24:04,409 S4: first thing that they would ask us to do is 446 00:24:04,410 --> 00:24:06,650 S4: to pray. So so I just want to emphasize that 447 00:24:06,650 --> 00:24:09,730 S4: that's not my idea. That's not voice of the martyrs idea. 448 00:24:09,730 --> 00:24:12,090 S4: That's what they say when we say, how can we 449 00:24:12,130 --> 00:24:14,889 S4: help you? Pray for us, pray for us, pray for us. 450 00:24:14,890 --> 00:24:17,090 S4: And and one of the things we can pray, obviously 451 00:24:17,090 --> 00:24:20,410 S4: we do pray for God's protection, but let's pray that 452 00:24:20,410 --> 00:24:23,050 S4: they will have opportunities to be a witness for Christ 453 00:24:23,050 --> 00:24:26,730 S4: and that they will remain faithful in spite of pressure, 454 00:24:26,730 --> 00:24:30,400 S4: in spite of maybe family pressure, maybe police pressure or 455 00:24:30,400 --> 00:24:33,560 S4: government pressure. Let's pray that they will stay faithful in 456 00:24:33,560 --> 00:24:36,760 S4: spite of that. Then we can do some practical things. 457 00:24:36,760 --> 00:24:39,800 S4: We can write letters to Christians in prison. And I 458 00:24:39,800 --> 00:24:42,280 S4: had a conversation earlier this year with a woman whose 459 00:24:42,280 --> 00:24:45,480 S4: husband was a pastor who was in prison. And with 460 00:24:45,480 --> 00:24:48,320 S4: tears streaming down her face, she thanked me for the 461 00:24:48,320 --> 00:24:51,199 S4: letters that Vom had helped people write to her husband 462 00:24:51,200 --> 00:24:54,960 S4: in prison. She said that made such a difference for him. 463 00:24:54,960 --> 00:24:57,040 S4: It made it was such an encouragement for him to 464 00:24:57,080 --> 00:24:59,920 S4: know that he was not forgotten. He was so blessed 465 00:24:59,920 --> 00:25:02,520 S4: and so encouraged by them. So yes, writing letters makes 466 00:25:02,520 --> 00:25:05,639 S4: a difference. The other thing I would encourage people is Bibles. 467 00:25:05,640 --> 00:25:08,600 S4: There is a great need for God's Word in the 468 00:25:08,640 --> 00:25:10,760 S4: hands of our brothers and sisters in the Middle East, 469 00:25:10,760 --> 00:25:13,560 S4: and sometimes they can't go to Walmart and pick up 470 00:25:13,560 --> 00:25:16,800 S4: a copy. Sometimes it's blocked in their app store. They 471 00:25:16,800 --> 00:25:19,160 S4: can't get it on their phone. It has to be 472 00:25:19,160 --> 00:25:21,840 S4: delivered to them somehow. And voice of the martyrs is 473 00:25:21,840 --> 00:25:25,080 S4: involved in delivering over a million Bibles a year into 474 00:25:25,119 --> 00:25:27,950 S4: hostile and restricted nations. So that is a great way 475 00:25:28,070 --> 00:25:30,830 S4: to support our persecuted brothers and sisters as well. 476 00:25:30,830 --> 00:25:33,950 S1: Well, many more ideas, some practical tools and a way 477 00:25:33,950 --> 00:25:37,670 S1: to pray at Persecution Complex. We encourage you to visit 478 00:25:37,670 --> 00:25:40,790 S1: voice of the Martyrs at Persecution Complex. We'll link you 479 00:25:40,790 --> 00:25:44,110 S1: there at our website, The land and the org. Todd, 480 00:25:44,109 --> 00:25:46,709 S1: thanks for this update. Persecution in the Middle East. The 481 00:25:46,710 --> 00:25:47,590 S1: year in review. 482 00:25:47,830 --> 00:25:48,830 S4: Thanks for having me. 483 00:25:49,150 --> 00:25:51,869 S1: Up next, Gerald Peterman, to talk about the questions that 484 00:25:51,869 --> 00:25:54,350 S1: have been rattling around in your mind. All ahead on 485 00:25:54,350 --> 00:26:10,109 S1: the land and the book. Well, Christmas has come and gone, 486 00:26:10,109 --> 00:26:13,110 S1: but we've got a gift that you need to open 487 00:26:13,109 --> 00:26:15,990 S1: right now with us. Hi, I'm John Gieger. The other 488 00:26:15,990 --> 00:26:19,790 S1: half of us is Doctor Gerald Peterman answering Bible questions 489 00:26:19,790 --> 00:26:21,750 S1: at the land in the book. It is a real 490 00:26:21,750 --> 00:26:24,550 S1: gift to be able to ask a question and get 491 00:26:24,550 --> 00:26:28,260 S1: a real answer. and very satisfying. You. You take questions 492 00:26:28,260 --> 00:26:31,900 S1: from listeners constantly. What's the process like? Is it six 493 00:26:31,900 --> 00:26:33,460 S1: months before they get an email from you? 494 00:26:33,500 --> 00:26:37,580 S5: A week, maybe ten days? Um, maybe 36 hours. It 495 00:26:37,580 --> 00:26:39,020 S5: just kind of depends on how much time I have. 496 00:26:39,020 --> 00:26:40,140 S5: It's wonderful experience. 497 00:26:40,140 --> 00:26:42,420 S1: But it does not go into a black hole somewhere 498 00:26:42,420 --> 00:26:45,260 S1: and go unnoticed, unanswered. No, no, give them a few 499 00:26:45,260 --> 00:26:48,020 S1: days a week or a bit more, depending on his schedule, 500 00:26:48,020 --> 00:26:50,260 S1: and you'll get that answer and we'll share it on 501 00:26:50,260 --> 00:26:52,820 S1: a future broadcast. But it all starts with an email 502 00:26:52,859 --> 00:26:58,260 S1: to the land and the book at. The land and 503 00:26:58,260 --> 00:27:02,659 S1: the book at Moody's Questions focused on the book of 504 00:27:02,660 --> 00:27:05,980 S1: James that's coming up. But first, no question that we 505 00:27:05,980 --> 00:27:09,500 S1: all face fearful times from time to time. The question is, 506 00:27:09,500 --> 00:27:11,859 S1: what do we do with those fears? Wes Tabor of 507 00:27:11,859 --> 00:27:14,540 S1: Life in Messiah has written the book Where Is God 508 00:27:14,780 --> 00:27:18,700 S1: in Fearful Times, a biblical Account of the Exodus journey, 509 00:27:18,740 --> 00:27:21,060 S1: piece by piece. Wes, how do you think our lives 510 00:27:21,060 --> 00:27:23,700 S1: would be different if we today had a stronger grip 511 00:27:23,700 --> 00:27:27,130 S1: on this question? Where is God in fearful times? That's 512 00:27:27,130 --> 00:27:28,010 S1: a great question. 513 00:27:28,450 --> 00:27:31,850 S6: God is sovereign. God designs what we go through. We 514 00:27:31,890 --> 00:27:35,210 S6: decide how we will go through it. Our circumstances are 515 00:27:35,250 --> 00:27:38,370 S6: ordained of the Lord. They're there to humble us, to 516 00:27:38,410 --> 00:27:40,330 S6: test us, to prove what's in our hearts. 517 00:27:40,369 --> 00:27:42,050 S1: You've done such a beautiful job in this book of 518 00:27:42,050 --> 00:27:45,770 S1: bringing these scriptures alive, bits and pieces of passages that 519 00:27:45,770 --> 00:27:48,490 S1: come alive even as you discuss things like the Fear 520 00:27:48,490 --> 00:27:51,689 S1: Factor and Misery Index. It's all in the book. Where 521 00:27:51,690 --> 00:27:54,570 S1: is God in fearful times? How do you get a copy? 522 00:27:54,609 --> 00:27:56,530 S1: We've got one for you with your name on it. 523 00:27:56,570 --> 00:27:59,650 S1: If you'll visit us at Life in Messiah. Org click 524 00:27:59,650 --> 00:28:03,369 S1: on the Moody Radio button there. Life in Messiah. The 525 00:28:03,410 --> 00:28:07,290 S1: book is where is God in fearful times, the book 526 00:28:07,290 --> 00:28:11,129 S1: of James. That's our focus as we tackle questions that 527 00:28:11,130 --> 00:28:13,570 S1: maybe you've been wondering about here on the land and 528 00:28:13,570 --> 00:28:17,490 S1: the book, starting with an interesting one. Who is this 529 00:28:17,490 --> 00:28:20,169 S1: James that the book of James is all about. 530 00:28:20,170 --> 00:28:22,970 S5: Are a wonderful question. Love that. I'm going to stir 531 00:28:22,970 --> 00:28:26,990 S5: the pot and make some trouble. I'm a specialist at that. 532 00:28:27,190 --> 00:28:31,070 S5: When you find James in your New Testament, it's always Jacob. 533 00:28:31,670 --> 00:28:35,390 S5: What's underneath in the original language is always Jacob. Now 534 00:28:35,390 --> 00:28:38,070 S5: there are a couple of very important Jacob's for the 535 00:28:38,070 --> 00:28:41,630 S5: early church. One of them is the apostle Jacob. But 536 00:28:41,630 --> 00:28:45,670 S5: he gets killed by Herod in Acts 12. And the other, Jacob, 537 00:28:45,950 --> 00:28:48,470 S5: is the brother of Jesus. Or maybe we should say 538 00:28:48,510 --> 00:28:51,710 S5: the half brother of Jesus who writes this book. This 539 00:28:51,710 --> 00:28:55,510 S5: is the half brother of Jesus. Jacob is his name. 540 00:28:55,910 --> 00:28:59,790 S5: So that's astounding. You know why I find that astounding? 541 00:28:59,790 --> 00:29:03,030 S5: I find that astounding. Because when we go to John's gospel, 542 00:29:03,030 --> 00:29:05,870 S5: we know that during the ministry of Jesus, his brothers 543 00:29:05,870 --> 00:29:09,590 S5: weren't believing in him. So now here he is. Now 544 00:29:09,590 --> 00:29:12,630 S5: here he is. And he is a leader in the church. 545 00:29:12,750 --> 00:29:15,990 S5: He is courageous. He is spirit filled. And it's just 546 00:29:15,990 --> 00:29:17,550 S5: really wonderful stuff. 547 00:29:17,710 --> 00:29:20,510 S1: Okay, so the obvious follow up question is if his 548 00:29:20,510 --> 00:29:23,780 S1: name really is Jacob, why isn't the book really named Jacob? 549 00:29:24,100 --> 00:29:26,180 S5: Okay, that's good. If you're reading it in German, you're 550 00:29:26,180 --> 00:29:28,980 S5: reading it in Spanish. You'll see. Oh, that's Jacob, that's 551 00:29:28,980 --> 00:29:32,660 S5: my language, the equivalent of Jacob, but in English. Any 552 00:29:32,660 --> 00:29:36,580 S5: New Testament character who's called Jacob is translated James because 553 00:29:36,580 --> 00:29:40,420 S5: of the King James tradition. But wait, you can encounter 554 00:29:40,460 --> 00:29:43,500 S5: a character in the New Testament with the name Jacob. 555 00:29:43,660 --> 00:29:46,940 S5: If his brothers Esau. Right? So the Old Testament, Jacob, 556 00:29:46,940 --> 00:29:49,300 S5: if he's in your New Testament, he'll be called Jacob. 557 00:29:49,500 --> 00:29:52,420 S5: If there's a New Testament, Jacob, because of the tradition 558 00:29:52,420 --> 00:29:55,020 S5: with the King James Version, he'll be called James. 559 00:29:55,460 --> 00:29:58,220 S1: You know, you see this over in modern day Israel 560 00:29:58,220 --> 00:30:01,140 S1: a lot, too, with the names of streets, the names 561 00:30:01,140 --> 00:30:03,660 S1: of towns, the names of people. There's two and three 562 00:30:03,660 --> 00:30:06,260 S1: and four, and it's enough to make your head spin. 563 00:30:06,380 --> 00:30:08,060 S1: So this is not without precedent. 564 00:30:08,060 --> 00:30:09,340 S5: This is not without precedent. Sure. 565 00:30:09,380 --> 00:30:12,380 S1: Yeah. All right. Let's get to a really, really heart 566 00:30:12,380 --> 00:30:15,700 S1: of the matter kind of question that people wonder, doesn't 567 00:30:15,740 --> 00:30:19,460 S1: the book of James or Jacob say that salvation is 568 00:30:19,460 --> 00:30:20,900 S1: by works? 569 00:30:21,290 --> 00:30:24,330 S5: That is a really important question. We have to talk 570 00:30:24,330 --> 00:30:28,930 S5: about this. Short answer is no. James does not talk 571 00:30:28,930 --> 00:30:32,490 S5: about salvation by works. But I should give some detail 572 00:30:32,490 --> 00:30:35,850 S5: here so that we know exactly what we're doing. James 573 00:30:35,850 --> 00:30:40,450 S5: says chapter two was not Abraham our father justified by 574 00:30:40,450 --> 00:30:44,810 S5: works when he offered up Isaac on the altar? Hmm. 575 00:30:44,850 --> 00:30:48,770 S5: This is almost certainly the verse in question. But what 576 00:30:48,770 --> 00:30:51,850 S5: does justify here mean? So we have a little Greek 577 00:30:51,850 --> 00:30:57,330 S5: word dik dik. What can this word mean? This little 578 00:30:57,330 --> 00:31:03,570 S5: word dik could mean forgive, justify, claim to be right, redeem, 579 00:31:03,850 --> 00:31:08,170 S5: or it could mean show to be right, proclaim to 580 00:31:08,210 --> 00:31:12,330 S5: be right, honor as right. So two very different ways 581 00:31:12,330 --> 00:31:15,850 S5: of going. Let me give you an example. There's a 582 00:31:15,850 --> 00:31:20,120 S5: time in Jesus's ministry when Jesus is talking about John 583 00:31:20,120 --> 00:31:23,680 S5: the Baptist and saying, I tell you, among those born 584 00:31:23,680 --> 00:31:26,640 S5: of women, none is greater than John. Yet the one 585 00:31:26,640 --> 00:31:28,719 S5: who is least in the kingdom is greater than he. 586 00:31:29,080 --> 00:31:33,440 S5: When all the people heard this and the tax collectors too, 587 00:31:33,760 --> 00:31:40,360 S5: they justified God. There's our word. Uh oh. In other words, 588 00:31:40,360 --> 00:31:43,120 S5: they proclaim that God was right. They declared that God 589 00:31:43,120 --> 00:31:46,760 S5: is just. So Paul also uses this term, as you 590 00:31:46,760 --> 00:31:51,240 S5: can imagine, right? Romans three A man is not justified 591 00:31:51,240 --> 00:31:55,680 S5: by works, but by faith. Now we come back to Jacob. 592 00:31:56,160 --> 00:32:01,200 S5: Abraham was justified by works. That is, he was shown 593 00:32:01,200 --> 00:32:04,000 S5: to be right with God. He got right with God. 594 00:32:04,120 --> 00:32:09,240 S5: Way back in Genesis 15, when he believes God. And 595 00:32:09,240 --> 00:32:12,480 S5: God credited it to him as righteousness. But then seven 596 00:32:12,480 --> 00:32:16,960 S5: chapters later and many years later, Genesis 22, he offers 597 00:32:16,960 --> 00:32:22,670 S5: up Isaac that offering naturally fit with his already being justified, 598 00:32:22,670 --> 00:32:25,750 S5: and he was shown to be in the right with God. 599 00:32:26,430 --> 00:32:29,990 S1: Imagine your son or daughter, grandson, granddaughter in the class 600 00:32:29,990 --> 00:32:33,590 S1: with Doctor Peterman. That could happen if there are moody students. 601 00:32:33,630 --> 00:32:36,470 S1: If you've got somebody looking at an education down the road, 602 00:32:36,510 --> 00:32:40,910 S1: be sure to check us out at Moody Edu. And 603 00:32:40,910 --> 00:32:43,030 S1: for now, right now, you got a question that you're 604 00:32:43,030 --> 00:32:46,550 S1: tired of, of dragging around in your brain. Why not 605 00:32:46,590 --> 00:32:48,990 S1: email it to us at The Land and the book? 606 00:32:49,190 --> 00:32:55,550 S1: At the land and the book at Moody. I want 607 00:32:55,590 --> 00:32:57,470 S1: to take us to the third chapter of the Book 608 00:32:57,470 --> 00:33:01,430 S1: of James. There is an extended discussion about taming the tongue. 609 00:33:01,910 --> 00:33:04,790 S1: This is so central. It is so quoted by so 610 00:33:04,790 --> 00:33:07,510 S1: many people today. Why is this sort of I don't 611 00:33:07,510 --> 00:33:10,070 S1: want to say exclusive, because the Psalms certainly reference speech 612 00:33:10,070 --> 00:33:12,790 S1: and there are other comments about it. Why is this 613 00:33:12,790 --> 00:33:16,990 S1: the gold mine of conduct on Christian teaching about taming 614 00:33:16,990 --> 00:33:17,500 S1: the tongue. 615 00:33:18,060 --> 00:33:21,100 S5: Yeah, well, I'm sorry for an obvious answer, John. It's 616 00:33:21,100 --> 00:33:24,900 S5: a gold mine. Because Jacob addresses it so strongly, he 617 00:33:24,900 --> 00:33:28,580 S5: addresses it, and he narrows his focus in rather than 618 00:33:28,740 --> 00:33:31,860 S5: this being touched on several other places. No, he's given 619 00:33:31,860 --> 00:33:35,180 S5: us the primary source to go to. I take it 620 00:33:35,180 --> 00:33:38,180 S5: that James book is drawn a lot from the sermon 621 00:33:38,220 --> 00:33:40,340 S5: on the Mount. And certainly if we're in the sermon 622 00:33:40,380 --> 00:33:42,580 S5: on the Mount, you have to be very careful how 623 00:33:42,580 --> 00:33:45,180 S5: we speak. Is this getting in the direction you'd like 624 00:33:45,180 --> 00:33:45,620 S5: for us to go? 625 00:33:45,660 --> 00:33:46,300 S1: Yeah, sure. 626 00:33:46,700 --> 00:33:51,180 S5: So what does our speech indicate? Our speech indicates what's 627 00:33:51,180 --> 00:33:51,700 S5: in our heart. 628 00:33:51,740 --> 00:33:52,820 S1: Yes, yes. 629 00:33:52,860 --> 00:33:56,220 S5: What's down there? It becomes the question. And we should 630 00:33:56,220 --> 00:34:00,740 S5: realize that. And we should realize how one the tongue 631 00:34:00,780 --> 00:34:05,500 S5: reveals what's already inside. It doesn't create what's there. And 632 00:34:05,500 --> 00:34:08,580 S5: then number two, our tongue very, very, very much influences 633 00:34:08,580 --> 00:34:11,979 S5: other people. What we say, either for good or for ill, 634 00:34:11,980 --> 00:34:15,060 S5: for criticism or for encouragement. And there are times when 635 00:34:15,060 --> 00:34:19,170 S5: both criticism and encouragement need to be given. But how 636 00:34:19,330 --> 00:34:21,410 S5: we do it and when we do it, and whether 637 00:34:21,410 --> 00:34:24,930 S5: we do it in an uncontrolled manner. I think that's 638 00:34:24,930 --> 00:34:26,250 S5: extremely important. Yeah. 639 00:34:26,770 --> 00:34:28,850 S1: I've heard that Martin Luther thought that the book of 640 00:34:28,850 --> 00:34:32,410 S1: James was worthless and that he called the letter an 641 00:34:32,410 --> 00:34:36,410 S1: epistle of straw. I'm assuming because, uh, you know, he 642 00:34:36,410 --> 00:34:40,570 S1: was such a proponent of the gospel is by faith alone. Uh, 643 00:34:40,570 --> 00:34:42,410 S1: but but I'll let you have a shot at that. 644 00:34:42,450 --> 00:34:45,250 S5: No, John, you're giving us a really good answer. On 645 00:34:45,250 --> 00:34:48,890 S5: the one hand, Luther did call James an epistle of straw. 646 00:34:48,930 --> 00:34:51,290 S5: On the other hand, he didn't think it was worthless. 647 00:34:51,850 --> 00:34:55,770 S5: What's the key issue? The key issue is Luther was 648 00:34:55,770 --> 00:35:00,730 S5: focused on the gospel. Luther was focused on salvation by faith. 649 00:35:00,770 --> 00:35:05,730 S5: Luther was focused on God redeeming you because you trust him, 650 00:35:05,730 --> 00:35:08,210 S5: not by works. He was he was fighting a battle 651 00:35:08,210 --> 00:35:13,089 S5: against a corrupt theological system. And so this means he 652 00:35:13,090 --> 00:35:16,630 S5: loved Romans. This means he loved John's gospel. This means 653 00:35:16,630 --> 00:35:22,310 S5: he just really ate up Ephesians in Galatians, because that 654 00:35:22,630 --> 00:35:25,029 S5: gospel of free grace that is trusting Christ for your 655 00:35:25,030 --> 00:35:27,549 S5: salvation was so very, very, very clear. And then we 656 00:35:27,590 --> 00:35:30,990 S5: come to James, and it's not so clear. And so 657 00:35:30,989 --> 00:35:34,870 S5: he thinks, well, James is okay for teaching you how 658 00:35:34,870 --> 00:35:37,790 S5: to live. James is okay, perhaps for teaching you what 659 00:35:37,790 --> 00:35:40,190 S5: to do and what not to do. But from Luther's perspective, 660 00:35:40,190 --> 00:35:42,870 S5: that was all law. Now, if you know a little 661 00:35:42,910 --> 00:35:46,910 S5: bit about Lutheran theology, my dad was a really good Lutheran. 662 00:35:47,390 --> 00:35:51,710 S5: He reminds me all through Scripture, there's either law or grace. 663 00:35:52,110 --> 00:35:56,629 S5: All through Scripture, it's either law or grace. Yeah. And 664 00:35:56,630 --> 00:35:58,910 S5: if he doesn't find grace, he says, this has to 665 00:35:58,910 --> 00:36:02,469 S5: be law. Luther is the start of this kind of perspective. 666 00:36:02,590 --> 00:36:05,549 S5: So Luther didn't like James so much because he thought 667 00:36:05,550 --> 00:36:09,150 S5: that James was giving us law, not grace. 668 00:36:09,870 --> 00:36:11,630 S1: I don't know what book you're studying. I don't know 669 00:36:11,630 --> 00:36:14,979 S1: what question you've got, but there's one there, two there 670 00:36:14,980 --> 00:36:17,460 S1: maybe that you would love to have addressed in a 671 00:36:17,460 --> 00:36:19,540 S1: forum just like this. Well, it's easy to get that 672 00:36:19,540 --> 00:36:22,620 S1: question to us with an email to the land and 673 00:36:22,620 --> 00:36:28,939 S1: the book at the land and the book at. You 674 00:36:29,300 --> 00:36:31,780 S1: want to also remind you about our podcast, a really 675 00:36:31,780 --> 00:36:35,620 S1: neat tool for enjoying the program again yourself and for 676 00:36:35,620 --> 00:36:37,500 S1: sharing us with your friends. You've got a friend or 677 00:36:37,500 --> 00:36:40,140 S1: two who could benefit from this ministry, so point them 678 00:36:40,140 --> 00:36:42,859 S1: to our website where they can find the podcast at 679 00:36:42,900 --> 00:36:47,060 S1: the land and the book dot the land and the 680 00:36:47,060 --> 00:36:51,100 S1: book for a passage in Scripture. A place in the 681 00:36:51,100 --> 00:36:54,259 S1: Holy Land. They're coming together in Charlie Dyer's devotional. It's 682 00:36:54,260 --> 00:37:10,580 S1: next right here on the land and the book. Happy 683 00:37:10,580 --> 00:37:14,089 S1: New Year, Almost high. John Gager here. Welcome back to 684 00:37:14,130 --> 00:37:16,810 S1: segment four of The Land and the book. I'm not 685 00:37:16,810 --> 00:37:19,850 S1: about to rush you at all, but in our devotional, Charlie, 686 00:37:20,130 --> 00:37:23,450 S1: you have something to say about a wise New Year's resolution? 687 00:37:23,730 --> 00:37:26,250 S2: Absolutely, John, we've reached that time of year. 688 00:37:26,290 --> 00:37:28,730 S1: Okay, we'll look forward to that. First, though, let's share 689 00:37:28,730 --> 00:37:30,490 S1: this Holy Land experience. 690 00:37:34,650 --> 00:37:37,370 S7: Oh, yeah. Hi, this is Jim. Uh, I've been listening 691 00:37:37,410 --> 00:37:39,930 S7: to your program. It's great. I went to Israel a 692 00:37:39,930 --> 00:37:43,370 S7: couple of years ago, and it was a life changing experience. 693 00:37:43,370 --> 00:37:45,609 S7: I loved it, loved to go back. I haven't had 694 00:37:45,610 --> 00:37:47,810 S7: the chance now that I got young children at home, 695 00:37:49,090 --> 00:37:52,210 S7: as you can hear. But anyway, uh, everyone that calls 696 00:37:52,210 --> 00:37:55,810 S7: in about their experience always says that the Bible came alive. 697 00:37:55,810 --> 00:37:58,489 S7: And certainly when you go to Israel, you really have 698 00:37:58,489 --> 00:38:01,250 S7: a new perspective on reading the Word of God. The 699 00:38:01,250 --> 00:38:03,689 S7: thing that was amazing to me was when they talk 700 00:38:03,730 --> 00:38:06,690 S7: about how Jesus was in one place, and then he 701 00:38:06,690 --> 00:38:10,250 S7: was in some other place miles away, and the fact 702 00:38:10,250 --> 00:38:14,399 S7: that they didn't have transportation and had to walk all around, uh, 703 00:38:14,800 --> 00:38:17,320 S7: gives you a new perspective when you when you read 704 00:38:17,320 --> 00:38:20,280 S7: that and you go from city to city. So, uh, 705 00:38:20,560 --> 00:38:22,480 S7: I know you guys know this, but the word of 706 00:38:22,480 --> 00:38:26,200 S7: God is living and active and sharper than any two 707 00:38:26,200 --> 00:38:28,279 S7: edged sword. Read the word thanks. 708 00:38:29,120 --> 00:38:31,800 S1: If you got your Bible handy, and if it's convenient 709 00:38:31,800 --> 00:38:33,800 S1: for you to do so, open it to Matthew chapter 710 00:38:33,800 --> 00:38:36,840 S1: seven as we turn things over now to Charlie Dyer 711 00:38:36,840 --> 00:38:39,800 S1: for a wise New Year's resolution. 712 00:38:40,000 --> 00:38:42,239 S2: Thanks, John. Yeah, it's hard to believe we're at the 713 00:38:42,239 --> 00:38:45,719 S2: end of our final program for 2025. In just a 714 00:38:45,719 --> 00:38:47,719 S2: few days, we'll all be ushering in a new year. 715 00:38:47,719 --> 00:38:49,839 S2: And for many, the start of the new year will 716 00:38:49,880 --> 00:38:52,960 S2: bring with it one or more New Year's resolutions. Now, 717 00:38:53,000 --> 00:38:56,040 S2: such resolutions aren't a bad idea, but the secret to 718 00:38:56,080 --> 00:39:00,680 S2: success is follow through. Good intentions alone aren't enough. In fact, 719 00:39:00,680 --> 00:39:03,080 S2: Jesus made that very clear at the end of his message. 720 00:39:03,080 --> 00:39:06,480 S2: We often call the sermon on the Mount. Jesus delivered 721 00:39:06,480 --> 00:39:09,589 S2: his message on a mountainside somewhere in Galilee. we're not 722 00:39:09,590 --> 00:39:12,270 S2: told where, but the traditional Mount of Beatitudes is a 723 00:39:12,270 --> 00:39:16,190 S2: nice spot to commemorate the event. Its nearness to Capernaum 724 00:39:16,190 --> 00:39:19,870 S2: certainly matches the order of events described in Matthew. And 725 00:39:19,870 --> 00:39:22,310 S2: whether or not it's the exact spot, it's a good 726 00:39:22,310 --> 00:39:26,150 S2: place to visualize that amazing message. The exact spot where 727 00:39:26,150 --> 00:39:28,430 S2: the message was given might not be known, but the 728 00:39:28,430 --> 00:39:33,149 S2: message itself is unforgettable. Jesus, the Master Teacher, laid out 729 00:39:33,150 --> 00:39:35,750 S2: the true understanding of what a follower of God was 730 00:39:35,750 --> 00:39:38,629 S2: to be like. And the picture was far different from 731 00:39:38,630 --> 00:39:41,270 S2: the one painted by the religious leaders of that day. 732 00:39:41,750 --> 00:39:44,509 S2: When it came time to draw his message to a close, 733 00:39:44,550 --> 00:39:49,509 S2: Jesus dramatically described two possible responses, and his closing illustration 734 00:39:49,510 --> 00:39:53,790 S2: came right from the construction projects dotting the hillsides in Galilee. 735 00:39:54,150 --> 00:39:57,110 S2: It was a story of two builders and one storm 736 00:39:57,110 --> 00:40:00,150 S2: that brought about two very different results. So put on 737 00:40:00,150 --> 00:40:02,669 S2: your hardhat and follow me out to the two construction 738 00:40:02,670 --> 00:40:06,549 S2: sites described by Jesus. The house at the first construction 739 00:40:06,550 --> 00:40:10,300 S2: site seems to be progressing slowly, and it's quickly apparent 740 00:40:10,300 --> 00:40:13,740 S2: why the homeowner selected a building site on a hillside 741 00:40:13,739 --> 00:40:17,620 S2: which had a large bed of limestone partially exposed. The 742 00:40:17,620 --> 00:40:20,460 S2: ledge of hard limestone was tilted at a slight angle, 743 00:40:20,460 --> 00:40:23,980 S2: and the upper portion was originally covered with soil. The 744 00:40:23,980 --> 00:40:26,460 S2: homeowner had to scrape away a good deal of soil 745 00:40:26,500 --> 00:40:29,420 S2: to expose the bedrock, and then he had to chisel 746 00:40:29,420 --> 00:40:32,500 S2: away some of that bedrock to level out his foundation. 747 00:40:33,100 --> 00:40:36,380 S2: Because of all his extra work in preparing the foundation, 748 00:40:36,580 --> 00:40:40,420 S2: the walls were only partially built. He has weeks of 749 00:40:40,420 --> 00:40:43,780 S2: work left until he can move his family into his house. 750 00:40:44,180 --> 00:40:46,140 S2: My wife and I like watching the love it or 751 00:40:46,140 --> 00:40:50,780 S2: list it program on television. The program itself is very formulaic, so, 752 00:40:50,780 --> 00:40:53,220 S2: you know, the house remodel is going to run into 753 00:40:53,219 --> 00:40:56,820 S2: problems that will eat into the renovation budget. The problems 754 00:40:56,820 --> 00:40:59,660 S2: almost always are with things that weren't visible until the 755 00:40:59,660 --> 00:41:02,540 S2: drywall is pulled off, the ceiling torn down or the 756 00:41:02,540 --> 00:41:05,739 S2: flooring taken up. Only then do the workers discover the 757 00:41:05,739 --> 00:41:10,450 S2: cracked foundation, defective wiring, clogged pipes, and other hidden flaws 758 00:41:10,450 --> 00:41:12,609 S2: that need to be fixed and that suck up much 759 00:41:12,610 --> 00:41:15,730 S2: of the budget for the project. And this first homeowner 760 00:41:15,730 --> 00:41:19,250 S2: in Jesus's day must have felt the same way. Hacking 761 00:41:19,250 --> 00:41:22,570 S2: a foundation into solid rock was hard work. It added 762 00:41:22,570 --> 00:41:25,850 S2: time and expense to the project without contributing anything of 763 00:41:25,850 --> 00:41:29,690 S2: apparent value to the home itself. Once the house was done, 764 00:41:29,690 --> 00:41:32,010 S2: nobody would see all the work that went into preparing 765 00:41:32,010 --> 00:41:34,969 S2: that foundation. And don't get me wrong, all the work 766 00:41:34,969 --> 00:41:38,410 S2: on the foundation was valuable, but its value was hidden. 767 00:41:38,810 --> 00:41:40,810 S2: Now let's head down into the valley to see our 768 00:41:40,810 --> 00:41:44,290 S2: second building project. I can tell by your oohs and 769 00:41:44,330 --> 00:41:48,370 S2: ahs that you're impressed. This house is much farther along. 770 00:41:48,570 --> 00:41:50,570 S2: The walls are all done and the roof is almost 771 00:41:50,570 --> 00:41:54,250 S2: in place. This house will be completed and occupied before 772 00:41:54,250 --> 00:41:56,890 S2: the walls are even up in the first house. How 773 00:41:56,890 --> 00:41:59,529 S2: did the builder get so far ahead? He would say 774 00:41:59,530 --> 00:42:02,569 S2: the secret was the soil. Instead of trying to hack 775 00:42:02,610 --> 00:42:06,720 S2: a level foundation into a rocky, uneven hillside, this builder 776 00:42:06,719 --> 00:42:10,680 S2: found a flat spot in a fertile valley. In Jesus's story, 777 00:42:10,680 --> 00:42:13,239 S2: we read that he built his house on sand and 778 00:42:13,239 --> 00:42:15,719 S2: we picture a house on the beach next to the ocean. 779 00:42:16,160 --> 00:42:18,480 S2: The word Jesus used can refer to sand, but it 780 00:42:18,480 --> 00:42:22,040 S2: can also refer to alluvial soil, a powdery soil with 781 00:42:22,040 --> 00:42:25,239 S2: no rocks. Israel has some stretches of sand along the 782 00:42:25,239 --> 00:42:29,400 S2: Mediterranean coast, but most people didn't live in that area. However, 783 00:42:29,400 --> 00:42:33,120 S2: the valleys in Lower Galilee are filled with alluvial soil, 784 00:42:33,120 --> 00:42:35,240 S2: and it would be very easy to find a flat 785 00:42:35,239 --> 00:42:38,440 S2: spot there to build a house, especially in the summer 786 00:42:38,440 --> 00:42:41,560 S2: when the ground is hard and dry. Two men built 787 00:42:41,560 --> 00:42:45,480 S2: similar houses. One required far more effort, and as the 788 00:42:45,480 --> 00:42:48,400 S2: two men walked into their homes on a quiet fall night, 789 00:42:48,400 --> 00:42:50,480 S2: it seemed like the wise man was the one who 790 00:42:50,480 --> 00:42:54,000 S2: had all the benefits without having to expend so much energy. 791 00:42:54,400 --> 00:42:57,360 S2: But that's when the storm of the century hit. A 792 00:42:57,360 --> 00:42:59,000 S2: few years ago, we got to see one of these 793 00:42:59,000 --> 00:43:01,400 S2: storms during a land in the book trip to Israel. 794 00:43:01,640 --> 00:43:04,580 S2: We were in the Jezreel Valley, about to visit Megiddo. 795 00:43:04,620 --> 00:43:07,980 S2: When the heavens opened up, water poured off the hillside 796 00:43:07,980 --> 00:43:12,060 S2: at Megiddo, creating a stream inside the visitor center. We 797 00:43:12,060 --> 00:43:14,100 S2: had to give up and head back to the bus, 798 00:43:14,100 --> 00:43:16,540 S2: and then drive through a gully washer of a storm 799 00:43:16,540 --> 00:43:20,980 S2: to reach our hotel. And Jesus describes just such a storm. 800 00:43:21,260 --> 00:43:23,860 S2: The rains came down and the rivers and streams filled 801 00:43:23,860 --> 00:43:27,260 S2: and then overflowed their banks, and wild gusts of wind 802 00:43:27,260 --> 00:43:31,219 S2: whipped through the valleys, blasting against anything standing in their path. 803 00:43:31,620 --> 00:43:34,859 S2: And suddenly it became clear who was really wise and 804 00:43:34,860 --> 00:43:37,299 S2: who was foolish. The man who had built his house 805 00:43:37,300 --> 00:43:40,739 S2: on the sandy alluvial soil realized too late that the 806 00:43:40,739 --> 00:43:43,500 S2: soil was so smooth because it had been deposited in 807 00:43:43,500 --> 00:43:46,700 S2: the valley during some previous storm. He had built his 808 00:43:46,700 --> 00:43:50,459 S2: house on a floodplain. This past July, we saw news 809 00:43:50,460 --> 00:43:54,020 S2: footage of houses, cabins and cars caught in the floodwaters 810 00:43:54,020 --> 00:43:57,660 S2: of the Guadalupe River near Kerrville, Texas. We stared in 811 00:43:57,660 --> 00:44:01,620 S2: disbelief and horror as homes collapsed into heaps of rubble, 812 00:44:01,620 --> 00:44:04,569 S2: only to be swept along by the raging torrent that 813 00:44:04,570 --> 00:44:08,570 S2: claimed so many lives. Jesus ended his story by saying 814 00:44:08,570 --> 00:44:11,330 S2: the collapse of the house caught in the flood was great. 815 00:44:11,650 --> 00:44:15,450 S2: He definitely used a vivid closing illustration. But what does 816 00:44:15,450 --> 00:44:17,529 S2: this story have to do with us and with the 817 00:44:17,530 --> 00:44:21,089 S2: New Year's resolution? Jesus's point in his story was that 818 00:44:21,090 --> 00:44:24,770 S2: the two builders represented the two responses people could have 819 00:44:24,770 --> 00:44:27,529 S2: to his message. The wise builder was the one who 820 00:44:27,530 --> 00:44:31,609 S2: heard and decided to put Jesus's words into practice. This 821 00:44:31,650 --> 00:44:35,009 S2: involved effort and hard work, but it resulted in a 822 00:44:35,010 --> 00:44:39,410 S2: strong spiritual foundation. The foolish person was the one who 823 00:44:39,410 --> 00:44:42,410 S2: heard Jesus's words, but decided there had to be an 824 00:44:42,410 --> 00:44:45,570 S2: easier way and refused to expend all the effort needed 825 00:44:45,570 --> 00:44:49,730 S2: to put those words into practice. The houses look similar, 826 00:44:50,010 --> 00:44:53,290 S2: and certainly the one took less effort. But the difference 827 00:44:53,290 --> 00:44:56,529 S2: became apparent when the storm hit. And that brings me 828 00:44:56,530 --> 00:44:59,609 S2: back to the issue of a New Year's resolution. What 829 00:44:59,610 --> 00:45:02,600 S2: does the New Year hold in store for you. I'm 830 00:45:02,640 --> 00:45:05,000 S2: not a prophet, but I do know that life is 831 00:45:05,000 --> 00:45:08,080 S2: full of uncertainties and that this year will almost certainly 832 00:45:08,080 --> 00:45:11,799 S2: bring with it its share of storms. Why not resolve 833 00:45:11,800 --> 00:45:15,200 S2: for the coming year to be a true follower of Jesus? 834 00:45:15,520 --> 00:45:18,239 S2: To read His Word and put it into practice in 835 00:45:18,239 --> 00:45:22,880 S2: your life. Focus on your spiritual foundation. I don't know 836 00:45:22,880 --> 00:45:25,919 S2: what tomorrow holds, but I do know that a life 837 00:45:25,920 --> 00:45:29,160 S2: which is built on a solid foundation is able to 838 00:45:29,200 --> 00:45:32,640 S2: weather whatever storm might be in the forecast. 839 00:45:33,000 --> 00:45:35,400 S1: Thank you Charlie. You know, I wonder if it'd be 840 00:45:35,400 --> 00:45:38,040 S1: fitting for us to close this final program of the 841 00:45:38,040 --> 00:45:40,480 S1: year with a prayer. And in particular, Charlie, would you 842 00:45:40,480 --> 00:45:42,640 S1: pray for that person who is in the middle of 843 00:45:42,640 --> 00:45:46,120 S1: a storm right now, lacks the confidence, lacks the hope, 844 00:45:46,360 --> 00:45:48,560 S1: lacks the wisdom to know what to do. Would you 845 00:45:48,560 --> 00:45:50,440 S1: pray for us, Charlie, that listener in mind? 846 00:45:50,760 --> 00:45:53,879 S2: Sure, father, we do pray right now as we face 847 00:45:53,880 --> 00:45:57,560 S2: this coming year, and we know that many listening are struggling, uh, 848 00:45:57,560 --> 00:46:00,630 S2: whether it's personal or family or financial, whatever the storm 849 00:46:00,630 --> 00:46:03,589 S2: is that's hitting them right now. Lord, give them the 850 00:46:03,590 --> 00:46:06,469 S2: ability to put their trust in you. Help them to 851 00:46:06,510 --> 00:46:08,950 S2: find in your word the strength that they need. Help 852 00:46:08,950 --> 00:46:10,710 S2: them to come to you in prayer and then, Lord, 853 00:46:10,710 --> 00:46:13,390 S2: meet those needs. We know that you're able, and we 854 00:46:13,390 --> 00:46:14,790 S2: ask that you would do that in a way that 855 00:46:14,790 --> 00:46:17,430 S2: would bring glory to yourself, because we pray it all 856 00:46:17,430 --> 00:46:19,430 S2: in Jesus name. Amen. 857 00:46:19,469 --> 00:46:22,430 S1: Amen. Amen. And we'd love to connect with you further. 858 00:46:22,430 --> 00:46:24,310 S1: We're happy to pray with you specifically if you'll send 859 00:46:24,310 --> 00:46:27,790 S1: us an email, the land and the book at Moody's. 860 00:46:29,270 --> 00:46:33,750 S1: That's the land and the book at Moody's. Use that 861 00:46:33,750 --> 00:46:36,070 S1: same address to get your Bible question to Doctor Gerald 862 00:46:36,070 --> 00:46:39,430 S1: Peterman as well. The land and the book at Moody's. 863 00:46:40,550 --> 00:46:42,590 S1: Charlie been a blast. Been a great year together. Thank 864 00:46:42,590 --> 00:46:44,390 S1: you for all the great stories you've covered. 865 00:46:44,430 --> 00:46:46,150 S2: Uh you're welcome John. It's been fun. 866 00:46:46,310 --> 00:46:48,549 S1: And thank you for listening to the land and the 867 00:46:48,550 --> 00:46:51,029 S1: book Happy New Year. The land and the book is 868 00:46:51,030 --> 00:46:54,870 S1: a production of Moody Radio, a ministry of Moody Bible Institute.