S1: You know all about celebrating Christmas. But what about searching
S1: for Christmas? You say, hey, why would I need to
S1: do that? Well, because as a culture, we've lost some
S1: significant parts of the advent story. It's true. In a
S1: few minutes, we're going to sit down with J.D. Greer
S1: for compelling insights, and you won't want to miss Charlie
S1: Dyer's devotional or our look at your latest Bible questions. Hey,
S1: welcome to the land and the book with our host,
S1: Doctor Charlie Dyer, a middle East expert with many books
S1: on this subject. I'm John Gager, and you know, as
S1: the end of this year approaches, many world events have
S1: left us wondering what God's plan is for the future.
S1: And this is especially true when it comes to Israel.
S1: Despite its small size, boy, people around the world are
S1: intensely focused on what takes place there. And we wonder,
S1: are today's headlines somehow connected in any way with prophecies
S1: in the Bible? And how should followers of Jesus interpret
S1: current events as we await his second coming. Yeah.
S2: And to help answer those absolutely vital questions, our friends
S2: at Life and Messiah urge you to check out their book, God,
S2: Israel and Bible Prophecy with Scripture as its foundation. The
S2: book will take you on a journey into what God
S2: has in store for the Jewish people and the nations.
S2: This book is for anyone who wants to explore where
S2: modern day events fit on God's grand timeline. If that's
S2: you or someone you know, this would be a great
S2: resource or gift. Visit Life in Messiah. Org and click
S2: on the Moody Radio button there to find out how
S2: you can receive your copy of God, Israel and Bible Prophecy.
S2: That's life in messiah.org.
S1: And now let's swing our focus toward current events from
S1: the Middle East region. Events in Syria continue to unfold
S1: at a rapid pace. Charlie, what's the latest that we
S1: know from inside the country and how might it shape
S1: the future of the Middle East?
S2: Well, the jihadist coalition that toppled Assad is continuing to
S2: consolidate power. The initial wave of joy over the fall
S2: of Assad's brutal regime is giving way to a concern
S2: about the country's future direction. This is the second time
S2: jihadists have forcefully overthrown a regime. The first was Afghanistan,
S2: back in 2021, when the U.S. trained Afghan army simply
S2: collapsed before the Taliban. Now, at that time, the Taliban
S2: promised to continue allowing women to study and work promises
S2: that they've since broken. In a similar way, the leader
S2: of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the HTS, has promised to maintain
S2: the rights of women and religious minorities. But HTS grew
S2: out of al Qaeda, whose previous goal was the establishment
S2: of an Islamic state governed by Sharia law. This has
S2: minority groups in Syria, like the Christians and the Kurds,
S2: and the Druze and the Alawites very concerned. It also
S2: has Israel concerned. They've launched hundreds of airstrikes that have
S2: taken out most of the Assad regime's military assets. This
S2: includes the destruction of Syria's navy, its air force, its
S2: weapons storage depots, anti-aircraft systems and chemical weapons facilities. Doing
S2: so kept these weapons out of the hands of both
S2: the Syrian rebels and Hezbollah. It also opens the way
S2: for Israel to launch future attacks against Iran. Israel sent
S2: its forces into the demilitarized zone between the two countries
S2: to keep the jihadists from moving in. The events now
S2: underway in Syria could shape the future of that region
S2: in at least three ways. First, it definitely marks a
S2: setback for Iran. These Sunni rebel groups oppose Iran's influence
S2: in Syria. They oppose the Shiite religion, and they see
S2: it as a religious war with Iran as the dominant
S2: Shiite nation being the main enemy. Second, the takeover could
S2: pose a danger for those not in favor with an
S2: Islamic Sharia state. This would eventually include Israel. But before
S2: they focus on Israel, it's likely they'll try to go
S2: after the other groups within Syria itself. As I mentioned before,
S2: the Christians, the Kurds, the Alawites and the Druze, and finally,
S2: the one country in the region that could potentially benefit
S2: from this is Turkey. Turkey has supported these different jihadist groups,
S2: and they share a common religious connection through the Muslim Brotherhood. Still,
S2: it's unclear if the jihadists will allow themselves to become
S2: too closely aligned with Turkey or dominated by Turkey. Having
S2: eliminated the Persian influence, they may not want to substitute
S2: it with Turkish control, even though the Turks are fellow
S2: Sunni Muslims.
S1: Well, negotiations continue for the release of the remaining hostages
S1: being held by Hamas. How close might the two sides
S1: be to a final deal? We keep hearing stories, Charlie. Yeah.
S2: And it all depends on whom you listen to. A
S2: senior Hamas official said there is an excellent opportunity to
S2: declare an agreement with Israel and a cease fire arrangement
S2: for the Gaza Strip. Apparently, the groups are at the
S2: point where they're discussing which Palestinian prisoners would be released
S2: for the hostages. It's thought right now that 96 of
S2: the original 251 31 hostages still remain in Gaza. Israel
S2: believes at least 34 of those are dead, which would
S2: leave 62 hostages still alive. The plan under discussion would
S2: be to release the hostages in three phases. The first phase,
S2: which would last six weeks, would provide a cease fire
S2: that would include the exchange of the female, elderly and
S2: wounded hostages still alive, four Palestinian prisoners with three prisoners
S2: for every one hostage during that six weeks. The sides
S2: would also negotiate terms for the second and third phases
S2: with the remaining living hostages, and then the bodies of
S2: the rest to be released.
S1: Charlie, I wonder what leverage could Hamas still possibly hold
S1: that would allow them to dictate any of the terms
S1: in this conversation?
S2: The leverage are the people, the hostages themselves. Israel is
S2: so concerned to get them back. That's just part of
S2: the the ethos, the nature of Israel itself, that no
S2: one's going to be left behind. And as a result,
S2: the entire nation is being held hostage because of those hostages.
S2: Israel wants the hostages home. At the same time. And
S2: this is the trouble with it all, the government doesn't
S2: want to allow Hamas to remain there and remain in
S2: control of Gaza to continue their fight against Israel. So
S2: the bottom line, and this is where I think we
S2: need to go. We need to be praying for the hostages.
S2: But don't expect a lasting peace between Israel and Hamas
S2: anytime soon to come out of these negotiations from the.
S1: Land and the book this is Moody Radio Hour host
S1: Doctor Charlie Dyer. I'm John Gallagher with this week's look
S1: at current events as if Israel needed any more distractions.
S1: The trial of Prime Minister Netanyahu has resumed, with Netanyahu
S1: now being required to testify three days a week, six
S1: hours each day for several weeks. Remind us again of
S1: the charges against him. And why has this taking place,
S1: even as Israel is fighting a war?
S2: Yeah, Netanyahu is having to testify because the Supreme Court
S2: refused to grant an extension, even in the middle of
S2: all the fighting for the past four and a half years,
S2: the prosecution has been presenting its case against Netanyahu. Now
S2: he's being given an opportunity to present his side of
S2: the story. Netanyahu is charged with bribery, fraud and breach
S2: of public trust, covering three separate cases. I'll try and
S2: cover these briefly in case 1000. He's accused of receiving
S2: gifts from wealthy tycoons in exchange for help with business
S2: and personal matters. While Netanyahu claims the gifts were gifts
S2: from friends, and his assistance was the kind government officials
S2: ought to provide for citizens, he's claiming there's no linkage.
S2: So the gifts weren't bribes, they were just gifts. In
S2: case 2000, Netanyahu is accused of helping a newspaper gain
S2: a greater competitive advantage over another in exchange for more
S2: positive news coverage. However, he says no deal ever took place,
S2: nor did he ever intend for one to happen, and
S2: the negative news coverage continued unabated. And finally, in case 4000,
S2: which is considered the most serious one, Netanyahu is accused
S2: of pushing government policies that favored one specific media owner
S2: in exchange for more positive news coverage. He's claiming the
S2: news organization continued doing negative stories about him during the
S2: time in question, which shows he never made a deal
S2: and that any changes in policies that might have taken
S2: place were made by others. Netanyahu is using his time
S2: on the stand to present his perspective on the charges,
S2: and to make his own case that this is a
S2: mixture of overzealous prosecution bordering on political persecution. It seems
S2: like the more appropriate thing for the prosecution to do
S2: during wartime would be to temporarily suspend the trial until
S2: after the conflict is over. Sadly, that didn't take place.
S1: Charlie, I wonder if there's any way to gauge a
S1: sense of popular thought on all of this. Does the
S1: average Israeli citizen say, look, this is, you know, political
S1: witch hunt? Or do they say, no? You know, we're
S1: we're pretty sure that wrong has been committed here. Is
S1: there any kind of a public opinion idea?
S2: Well, there are there are opinion polls being released all
S2: the time, and this has changed nothing. Right now, probably
S2: a majority would not like Netanyahu or have some concerns
S2: about him. However, if elections were held right now, his
S2: party would still be the largest party and would very
S2: likely be able to form a coalition. So where they
S2: were just after the last election is about where the
S2: people are right now. You either like him or don't
S2: like him, but nothing has really changed.
S1: Story number four. Israeli researchers have developed a breakthrough Covid
S1: 19 vaccine that is, get this needle free, inexpensive to produce,
S1: and requires no refrigeration. Tell us about this new development
S1: out of amazing Israel.
S2: You know, John, it was exactly four years ago this
S2: month when the first vaccines for the Covid virus became available.
S2: You know, that was you think back about it. That
S2: was a scary time. And I don't want to get
S2: into the debate that still swirls around the virus and
S2: all those vaccines. But we do know the vaccines developed
S2: back then needed to be refrigerated before being administered by
S2: medical personnel, and those limitations made the vaccine unsuitable for
S2: use in many developing nations. Now, scientists from Israel and
S2: Portugal have developed an inexpensive and effective nano vaccine against
S2: Covid 19 that can be stored at room temperature and
S2: administered as a nasal spray. It has the same efficacy
S2: as existing vaccines. The new vaccines don't rely on the
S2: full protein expression using mRNA like the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. Instead,
S2: the scientists use tools to identify two short and simple
S2: amino acid sequences in the virus's protein. They synthesize them
S2: and encapsulated them in nanoparticles. Final studies of the vaccine
S2: are continuing, but are very promising, and hopefully this new
S2: approach for Covid 19 will also be able to be
S2: used on future diseases and will soon be available thanks
S2: to the dedicated researchers of Amazing Israel, along with their
S2: colleagues in Portugal.
S1: And that's a look at current events from the region
S1: with our host, doctor Charlie Dyer. You know all about
S1: celebrating Christmas, but what about searching for Christmas? You say,
S1: why would I need to do that again? Because as
S1: a culture, I think we have lost some significant parts
S1: of that advent story. We're going to talk about what
S1: those missing items are how we find them and more
S1: with our special guest, JD Greer. Coming up, searching for
S1: Christmas right here. The. Question what if instead of just
S1: enjoying the Christmas holidays, we seized them, went out of
S1: our way to be intentional with unsaved friends, coworkers, and
S1: neighbors by sharing Jesus in fresh, new ways? What if
S1: we steered conversations toward thoughts about Jesus and and what
S1: Christmas is ultimately all about? And what if there was
S1: a simple tool to help you do just that? Wouldn't
S1: you want to know about it? Hey, welcome to the
S1: land and the book segment two. I'm John Gager, and
S1: before we welcome today's guest, let's welcome this thought about
S1: being more strategic in loving our Jewish friends and neighbors
S1: for Christ. So you're engaged in a conversation with your
S1: Jewish friend, and it's turning toward spiritual things. The question is,
S1: what kind of Jewish questions should you ask of your
S1: Jewish friend Greg Savitt? What do you think?
S3: Well, I think you should use the Socratic method. That's
S3: the way that I've learned where there is questions and
S3: that leads to teaching. I like to ask Jewish people,
S3: do they believe in God? Do they believe in the Messiah?
S3: How are their sins forgiven? What do they think of
S3: repentance and ask them those questions?
S1: So what if they respond, though, in ways that are
S1: clearly not consistent with biblical truth? You don't want to
S1: get into an argument. No, you.
S3: Don't want to get in an argument, but you want
S3: to share from Scripture the Scripture in Exodus 32 when
S3: Moses says, his name will be blotted out of the
S3: book of life. So if there's a book of life,
S3: there's also a book of death, so there's heaven and
S3: hell there. Also, King David talks about a book of life,
S3: and there's a book of life. There's a book of Death. Yeah.
S3: If there's just a book of life, that means Hitler,
S3: Mussolini and Pol Pot are all going to be in
S3: in heaven.
S1: Greg Savage serves with Rock of Israel and joins us
S1: with insights here on the land and the book. Judy
S1: Greer is pastor of the Summit Church in Raleigh, Durham,
S1: North Carolina, the author of several books, and the founder
S1: of Judy Greer Ministries. He's also the pastor of Summit Life,
S1: a daily broadcast and weekly TV program, and Ask the
S1: Pastor podcast. He serves as a member of the Board
S1: of Directors of Chick fil A, serves as a council
S1: member for the Gospel Coalition, and recently served as the
S1: 63rd president of the Southern Baptist Convention. Pastor JD and
S1: his wife, Veronica are raising four awesome kids, and we're
S1: super glad to connect with him today on the land
S1: and the book. Welcome, JD.
S4: Thank you so much for having me, John.
S1: So you have traveled to Israel before. I have to ask,
S1: how does your familiarity with the land shape your understanding
S1: of the Christmas story?
S4: Yeah, well, you know, some of it is, to be
S4: totally honest, it can be a little underwhelming just because
S4: the land is the land and you kind of go
S4: with this idea that it's some kind of special place,
S4: but it's not. And that's actually part of the, you know,
S4: to me, the magic of it, because you realize that
S4: it sort of reinforces Jesus was an actual person living
S4: with real people, with real problems, you know, ministering in
S4: these places. It's pretty overwhelming when you're, you know, standing
S4: in places thinking about him, teaching and thinking about, you know,
S4: where the nativity took place. Unfortunately, you know, there are
S4: certain kind of Christian traditions that love to sort of
S4: kind of think of it as junking it up with
S4: all kinds of tinsel and sparkly things when when really
S4: it's just the simplicity of Jesus entering into the lives
S4: of broken people. So yeah, it's almost like, you know,
S4: there's what shows in is out that that gives you
S4: a visual. Being there does even more than that. Just being,
S4: you know, on location. Yeah.
S1: One other quick question about Israel, your favorite place. Everybody's
S1: got one. Having been there, what comes to your mind?
S1: I mean.
S4: It's hard not to say the garden Tomb. You know,
S4: there's some question as to where he actually where the
S4: tomb was, but I don't know. Just just thinking about that, about,
S4: you know, 2000 years ago, death just being shattered as
S4: this thing rolled back and Jesus walked out. That had
S4: to be among the favourites.
S1: Well, if his voice sounds familiar, you might just be
S1: a fan of Summit life as I am the daily
S1: broadcast with pastor JD Greer. He's our guest today on
S1: the land and the book. You know, there are a
S1: whole lot of us who get sweaty palms just thinking
S1: about sharing Jesus with our unsaved friends. But Christmas, seems
S1: to me, is the one time of the year when
S1: folks are just a little more open. How does that
S1: square with your experience, JD?
S4: Yeah, I mean, statistically it's verifiable. I mean, it's certainly
S4: my experience, but I always tell our people, you get
S4: two free times a year that the number of people
S4: in our country who say that they would accept an
S4: invitation to go to church. It's something like think, you know, 35%
S4: and it goes to 75%. And so it's an opportunity
S4: just to say, come along with me. And and people
S4: go in. And usually if you go to a gospel
S4: preaching church, the pastor is trying to make the gospel
S4: the simplest and clearest. So yeah, it's an opportunity. I
S4: would hope people wouldn't squander it.
S1: Now you have created a powerful tool in a small
S1: book searching for Christmas. At what point did you say, hey,
S1: I think this could be really useful.
S4: Actually, I have to confess, it wasn't my idea that
S4: my friends at the Good Book Company came and they said,
S4: you know, you guys put so much energy into your
S4: Christmas Eve services, and it's where we'll have it's probably,
S4: you know, we almost double our attendance during that time.
S4: And he said, with this kind of spiritual appetite, have
S4: you given people a very simple tool just to share
S4: Christ with their neighbors? Our favorite kind of reaching out
S4: is not when, you know, I'm doing it just from
S4: the pulpit, but when people are doing it with their
S4: neighbors and with their friends. And a lot of times
S4: they can do that better over, you know, coffee through
S4: a book like this that's just short and accessible presents
S4: some of the most pressing questions that Christmas answers, and
S4: shows how really, this yearning that we experience at Christmas
S4: is something that God has written deep in our hearts.
S4: That these questions were precisely the questions that Jesus came
S4: to answer when he came 2000 years ago.
S1: I noticed you opened with a hilarious personal story about
S1: gift giving. What other precautions did you take in writing this?
S1: To make sure the message of the book comes across
S1: as winsome and friendly, rather than stuffy or judgy?
S4: Yeah. You know, if you're a dad of four kids
S4: like I am, then any ideas of stuffy or pretentiousness,
S4: especially around Christmas, is that's just out the window. You know,
S4: kids have a way of totally shattering all your kind
S4: of idyllic visions of how it should be. You know,
S4: I always tell people, if you get the image of
S4: me as a pastor, like with my kids dutifully sitting
S4: around the table, you know, saying, feed us the word, daddy,
S4: you know, or teach us, that's that's not what happens.
S4: I mean, it's a lot of throwing stuff and food
S4: fights and all kinds of stuff, but you know, into that. Again,
S4: not to press this point too much, but, you know,
S4: the shepherds, we think of them as really kind of
S4: quaint little idyllic scenes sitting there in our mangers. But,
S4: I mean, the shepherds were considered at the time, the
S4: lowest of the low. They were the ones who were
S4: I mean, their testimony wasn't even regarded as reliable in court.
S4: They were considered thieves and liars and just people that
S4: had been, for the most part, rejected by society. And here,
S4: that's the ones that the angels chose to announce his
S4: birth to, because that's the one whom the good news
S4: is the best news for.
S1: Is this book only appropriate for someone who has already
S1: indicated they're somewhat curious spiritually? Or could I share it
S1: with a friend at work? Or maybe a neighbor that
S1: I've had not much of a previous conversation with about
S1: my faith?
S4: Yeah, no, I actually that's a great question, because the
S4: intention of the book is to mirror the message of
S4: Christmas itself. You know, there's not a lot of indication
S4: that these shepherds were spiritual seekers. They were just people
S4: trying to make a living. But they were people that,
S4: you know, had deep questions. That's what I found about
S4: people in our society, is that we all have the
S4: same set of questions, and we choose different ways of
S4: answering them. Some people choose religious ways, some people choose
S4: irreligious ways. But we're all trying to find happiness and
S4: peace and security, identity. And all those questions are deep existential,
S4: personal questions. And whether your neighbor is choosing a religious
S4: way or an irreligious way, they're still seeking after some
S4: of these same kind of ideas. And so that's one
S4: of the advantages of Christmas, especially, is because even secular
S4: society recognizes the yearning for identity, security and happiness is
S4: something that that we all have. And and it's a
S4: good opportunity for us to say, hey, here's one of
S4: the ways that Jesus engages.
S1: That it's great to connect with J.D. Greer and you
S1: on today's edition of The Land and the book. I'm
S1: John Gager. In the book, you go into detail about
S1: some of the names of Christ as presented in Isaiah
S1: nine six. Let me ask, how do you explain Jesus
S1: as the wonderful counselor in our day?
S4: Well, wonderful implies divine Counselor. You know, I actually think
S4: our modern day understanding of the word counselor is a
S4: good starting place. Obviously, they didn't have a, you know,
S4: an entire psychology profession back then like we do today.
S4: But the idea of a counselor who takes the time
S4: to understand your brokenness and your pain, who will enter
S4: into that pain, that's one of the things that counselor implies,
S4: is that not only is he understanding and able to apply,
S4: you know, a balm to your soul, he's actually going
S4: to walk with you through it. You know, I was
S4: just thinking about this recently. In my own life, sometimes
S4: what we need is not explanation of what God is doing.
S4: What we need is somebody just to bear the pain
S4: with us. And what the New Testament tells us is
S4: that the Spirit of God actually searches our heart and
S4: explores our pain. He feels it with us, and he
S4: expresses our pain and groanings that cannot be uttered. You know,
S4: which means that whatever tears you're, you're weeping now. Jesus,
S4: he feels those tears with you and he is actually
S4: praying on your behalf from inside you, back to God.
S4: So yeah. Wonderful, counselor.
S1: Some of our listeners right now are from urban areas,
S1: and they they don't need any convincing that we live
S1: in a, you know, a dark time. There's darkness around them,
S1: whether it's decrepit buildings and present crime or whatever. Then
S1: there are others who live in comfortable suburban settings. Maybe.
S1: How do you go about helping these people see just
S1: how good the good news is? I mean, in my neighborhood,
S1: they're all doing pretty well. JD I mean, they're driving
S1: nice cars. They live in nice homes, and they often
S1: seem like they don't need a thing. But that's not
S1: necessarily true.
S4: Yeah, it's ironic that it's usually the people that are
S4: in the neighborhood, like the one you just described that
S4: you lived in. Those are the ones that are the hardest.
S4: And Jesus said, it's the poor in spirit who end
S4: up receiving the kingdom of God. I've spent all my
S4: life trying to become anything but poor in the spirit.
S4: I wanted to be rich in spirit. I want to
S4: have all my needs met, or at least middle class
S4: in spirit. You know where I feel like I've got
S4: the ability to to work, you know, and obtain those things.
S4: But just like, you know, to go back to the
S4: shepherds or to go to Mary and Joseph themselves, you know,
S4: a poor couple that is now you ever wonder, you know,
S4: why God and the way he set up the birth
S4: of Jesus is, you know, he actually created a scandal.
S4: You know, I mean, here's Mary. You know, they're they're
S4: living in a chaste way, but now they're accused of
S4: what was considered, in those days, just a shameful, you know, really,
S4: really shameful misdeed. And God creates that. But part of
S4: the reason for that is because he's communicating to people
S4: that if you're like a shepherd and you're at the
S4: bottom of the pile or you're you're like Mary and Joseph,
S4: and even if you're misunderstood and, and been cast to
S4: the side, you are who I'm coming for. Yeah. I'm
S4: coming to show you a love that will make your
S4: life complete. Even if your situation of poverty or or
S4: being cast out. Even if that doesn't change in the
S4: next 2 or 3 months. He came for you. And
S4: his love is the thing that your soul most needs.
S1: Maybe you're just connecting with us. Welcome. This is the
S1: land and the book. I'm John Geiger. Our guest is
S1: JD Greer, who has written searching for Christmas. All right.
S1: Speak to somebody directly right now who is honest enough
S1: to admit they really don't know Christ as their forgiver.
S1: Maybe they're living in that urban setting, or maybe they're
S1: living in that very comfortable suburban setting or a rural setting.
S1: Wherever they are, they need Jesus, and they're just now
S1: getting a hint of that. What's their next step?
S4: The first step is actually the most important. So the
S4: first step is realizing that the source of our brokenness,
S4: whether that's relational brokenness or whether we struggle with addictions
S4: or whether it's just a depression or a low self-esteem,
S4: the source, ultimately of everything goes back to a broken
S4: relationship with God. And what the gospel tells us is
S4: that try as hard as we may to fix that
S4: broken part of us. We never can fix it, because
S4: the missing piece is God Himself. And what separates us
S4: from God is our sin. Sin being the choices that
S4: we made to do things our way instead of God's way.
S4: The good news of the gospel is that God came
S4: himself to overcome our sin problem, and he did that
S4: by living the life we were supposed to live, a
S4: life of truth and beauty and justice, and then dying
S4: to death, that we had been condemned to die in
S4: our place. And he offers it to us as a gift,
S4: a gift that we just receive. That's certainly what the
S4: book that I wrote, searching for Christmas, is all about,
S4: is the simplicity of that gift, how to receive it,
S4: how to start that relationship with Jesus and be transformed.
S4: So that could be a step. Another step is if
S4: you got a Christian friend that is active in church,
S4: you know, ask them and say, you know what? How
S4: can I know for sure that I belong to God
S4: and that that I have eternal life? And if they
S4: don't give you a good answer, then just open the
S4: Bible and read the book that God wrote and has
S4: been People's Guide to salvation for 2000 years. So any
S4: one of those three steps is what I would recommend.
S1: For somebody who says, I want to deal with this now,
S1: would you lead them in a in a brief prayer
S1: that would be appropriate for them?
S4: Yeah. Right now, literally right now, the Bible says Romans
S4: 1013 says, whosoever shall call upon the name of the
S4: Lord shall be saved. It says, if you confess with
S4: your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your
S4: heart that God raised him from the dead, you will
S4: be saved. So right now, right now, you could just say,
S4: Lord Jesus, I confess that you are the Lord. I
S4: confess that you're the one that's in charge. You are
S4: the Son of God. And then you tell him, say,
S4: I believe that you died on the cross and rose
S4: from the dead as the substitute payment for my sin.
S4: And I receive that offer of salvation. And then say
S4: thank you for saving me. Thank you for saving me. And, father,
S4: we pray for those right now that are listening that
S4: weren't expecting this when they dialed into this podcast or
S4: when they were listening on the radio. We know that
S4: you've heard them. We know that you've met them where
S4: they are, and we know that you have an incredible
S4: life ahead for them. And so we thank you for
S4: this moment in Jesus name. Amen. Amen.
S1: Well, it's gone too quickly, our time with pastor JD Greer.
S1: But we thank you for that investment. We thank you
S1: for the book searching for Christmas and we hope you
S1: have a wonderful Christmas season. Thank you JD. Appreciate your time.
S4: No problem. Thank you so.
S1: Much. Up next on the land in the book, it's
S1: a look at your Bible questions. Stick around for more.
S1: Welcome to segment three of The Land and the book.
S1: Hope your day is going well. I'm John Gager back
S1: with our host, Charlie Dyer. It's always fun to find
S1: out what you are curious about as you as you
S1: search through the scriptures. We're going to get to question
S1: one after this thought. As the end of this year approaches,
S1: many world events have left us wondering what God's plan
S1: is for the future, and that's particularly true when it
S1: comes to Israel, despite its small size. People all around
S1: the world are intensely focused on what takes place there,
S1: and our today's headlines connected in any way with prophecies
S1: in the Bible. How should followers of Jesus interpret current events?
S1: As we await his second coming? Lots of questions.
S2: That's right. And to help answer these crucial questions, our
S2: friends at Life and Messiah urge you to check out
S2: their book, God, Israel, and Bible Prophecy with Scripture as
S2: its foundation. This book will take you on a journey
S2: into what God has in store for the Jewish people
S2: and the nations. This book is for anyone who wants
S2: to explore where modern day events fit on God's grand timeline.
S2: If that's you or someone you know, this would be
S2: a great resource or gift. Visit Life in Messiah org
S2: and click on the Moody Radio button to find out
S2: how you can receive your copy of God, Israel and
S2: Bible Prophecy. That's life in messiah.org.
S1: And here we are at question one for today's Q&A segment,
S1: this one from Mark. He says, I don't feel that
S1: I understand the concept of a father's blessing in Genesis
S1: 27 and then chapter 49. It seems to involve prophetic
S1: future telling what the father declares in the blessings will happen.
S1: Were these fathers prophets? I mean, Isaac and Jacob seem
S1: to know the rules about blessing sons, and if they did,
S1: how did they know?
S2: Yeah, and unfortunately, we don't have much information in the
S2: Bible to help provide a solid answer. By my reckoning,
S2: those are the only two examples of fathers offering such
S2: a blessing, and I don't see anything similar even for Abraham. Now,
S2: here might be some reasons that we do see this.
S2: These blessings occur before any of the Bible had been
S2: revealed by God in written form. So it was a
S2: time in history when God communicated directly to and through
S2: the patriarchs. Later we have written revelation like Psalm one
S2: that helped describe the blessing for the righteous. Now there
S2: are instances when God revealed future events to the patriarchs,
S2: and those include God's revelation to Abraham concerning Israel's 400
S2: year sojourn in Egypt, or God's revelation to Jacob that
S2: he would return to the land he was fleeing from
S2: his brother. So in that sense, they did receive direct
S2: revelation from God and did function as prophets. Isaacs intended
S2: blessing for Esau is actually interesting in light of the
S2: full narrative. Remember, Rebekah was having a difficult pregnancy, and
S2: God revealed to her that she was going to have
S2: twins and that the older would serve the younger. Now,
S2: assuming she shared that with her husband, Isaac should have
S2: known which child was selected by God, but the rightful
S2: owner of the birthright becomes even clearer when Esau sells
S2: the birthright to Jacob for a bowl of red stew.
S2: So when it came time for Isaac to bless. It
S2: appears that he was trying to bless the wrong son.
S2: And when he wanted to bestow the blessing on Esau.
S2: Now much of the blessing he gives is connected to
S2: God's earlier promise to Rebekah. So I would say God
S2: intervened to make sure a father's personal preference didn't override
S2: God's sovereign revealed plan in that case.
S1: Marcia says, I'm wondering about the scripture in Joel two
S1: verse 28 where it says, and afterward I will pour
S1: out my spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters
S1: will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, and your
S1: young men will see visions. Is this referring to the
S1: last days? Thanks for your thoughts on this passage.
S2: Yeah. And, Marcia, your thoughts are right on target. You know,
S2: as you comment about an earlier answer I had given there,
S2: I was referring to the gift of prophecy coming to
S2: an end during the church age. But Joel two does
S2: say the gift of prophecy will again reappear during the
S2: end times, after the church has been raptured and the
S2: tribulation begins. God will apparently raise up prophets in Israel
S2: to provide new revelation to those facing the terrible times.
S2: In fact, in addition to Joel two, revelation chapter 11,
S2: verse three mentions two specific prophets God will raise up
S2: during that time who will minister in Jerusalem. So there
S2: will be additional prophecies and revelations during the tribulation period.
S1: Joanne says, I was wondering when Noah and the family
S1: came out of the ark. What did they find? A
S1: beautiful new earth ready for habitation or total devastation like
S1: we've seen recently in the South. Or perhaps something in between?
S2: Yeah. And as we think about the pictures that artists
S2: have painted, you know, I think they kind of get
S2: it a little bit wrong. You know, we're not told
S2: in great detail, but I do see some hints in
S2: Genesis seven and eight that tell us it probably looked
S2: more like what we were seeing after those recent floods.
S2: We know the water receded for a number of days
S2: and and sent out the birds to look for them.
S2: So when I put it all together, I think what
S2: Noah saw when he came out of the ark, he
S2: didn't find beautiful, newly refurbished earth, you know, and everything blossoming. Instead,
S2: he came out to find a landscape that was starting
S2: to recover. Several months after the worldwide flood, trees and
S2: plants were beginning to sprout. The ground had generally dried up,
S2: but the effects of the flood had totally changed the landscape.
S2: The ark was near the top of Mount Ararat, and
S2: as the land gradually dried out, Noah's descendants moved to
S2: the south and east and ended up in what is
S2: today southern Iraq. I suspect the climate had changed so
S2: drastically from the Pre-flood era that they went in search
S2: of a warmer, drier region, and that's why they eventually
S2: ended up on the plain of Shinar, near Babylon.
S1: This is the land in the book from Moody Radio,
S1: doctor Charlie Dyer, our host, working his way through some
S1: of the latest questions that have come in to us
S1: via email. I'll share our email address later on if
S1: you've got a question. Todd wants to know do you
S1: think Paul had been married at one point? I seem
S1: to remember being told that as a Pharisee he would
S1: have been, but I'm not sure if that's correct.
S2: Yeah, I think those who tried to say Paul was
S2: married do base it on him being a Pharisee. And
S2: I think they're reading too much into the cultural background.
S2: You know, theologically, Jesus was aligned more with Pharisees than
S2: with the other religious groups in Israel at that time.
S2: And he wasn't married. When the Essenes are described in
S2: the first century, Josephus says some, though not all, chose
S2: to remain celibate. My point here is that being unmarried
S2: as a man wasn't unknown. The only passages that we
S2: have in the Bible that speak directly to the matter
S2: are in first Corinthians. First Corinthians seven seven Paul writes,
S2: talking about being married versus being single. He said, and
S2: I wish all men were as I am. And in
S2: the context he's saying he was unmarried and he tells
S2: why he feels that way in the present crisis that
S2: the church was facing. Paul then adds, if someone chooses
S2: to get married, you have not sinned. So he's not
S2: promoting celibacy as a choice for all times, but as
S2: a wise course of action in that present difficult time.
S2: And then later in first Corinthians. In chapter nine, Paul
S2: talks about the rights he had as an apostle, which
S2: he chose not to exercise, and one he says was
S2: the right to be married. He says, don't we have
S2: the right to take a believing wife along with us?
S2: But I've not used these rights, he says. And I
S2: think what he's stating there is that he could have
S2: been married, but he chose not to. And as a result,
S2: I just think he wasn't married. It seems that's what
S2: he's clearly saying in those passages.
S1: Renee asks his God, who is omnipresent, also in hell.
S1: In Psalm 139, verse eight, David wrote, if I lie
S1: down in Sheol, you are there. And revelation 1410 says,
S1: the unsaved will be tormented with burning sulfur in the
S1: presence of the holy angels and of the lamb.
S2: Yeah, I need to balance those two passages with two
S2: other passages. The first comes from Jesus's words in Matthew 25,
S2: near the end of the Olivet Discourse. He's focusing on
S2: the time of his second coming, and when he separates
S2: the sheep, the believers from the goats were the unbelievers
S2: at the time of his return. He says to the unbelievers,
S2: depart from me, you who are cursed into the eternal
S2: fire prepared for the devil and his angels. Those being
S2: judged are commanded to depart to the lake of fire,
S2: and says they'll go away into eternal punishment. So it
S2: suggests the punishment, and a judgment involves expulsion from the
S2: presence of Christ and into the lake of fire. The
S2: other passage is Second Thessalonians one and verses eight and nine.
S2: Paul describes what will happen to the unsaved at the
S2: return of Christ. He says he will punish those who
S2: do not know God and do not obey the gospel
S2: of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting
S2: destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord
S2: and from the majesty of his power. The Greek says
S2: they will be away from the face, literally the presence
S2: of the Lord. So one aspect of eternal judgment is
S2: eternal separation from God's presence. Now let me harmonize that
S2: with those other verses. The word Sheol in Psalm 139
S2: refers to the place of the departed dead. And certainly
S2: as a believer, David knew that if he were to die,
S2: he would go to the grave or the underworld, and
S2: God would still be there. So I can't push that
S2: verse too far. It's also not clear in revelation 1410
S2: whether the lake of fire is being described in connection
S2: to God because of his omnipresence, or because it's geographically nearby.
S2: That is is the passage saying God's omnipresent even in
S2: the lake of fire, or that the lake of fire
S2: is visible to God and perhaps to others. And I
S2: think about the parable Jesus gave in Luke 16, where
S2: We're Lazarus, and the rich man died. And the rich man,
S2: it says, could see he was in torment. But he
S2: saw Abraham far away with Lazarus. So is part of
S2: the eternal judgment being eternally separated from God. It seems
S2: like there is a gulf fixed, but it's one where
S2: they can see from one side to the other. And
S2: those few details are all we have, and so it's
S2: hard to go beyond that.
S1: Brian takes us to the story of Achan in the
S1: book of Joshua, pointing out Achan took something that was
S1: not from the Battle of Jericho. My new American Standard
S1: Bible says that Achan was stoned along with his sons
S1: and daughters. Some Bible students might say Achan's family helped
S1: cover up the theft, although the text doesn't seem to
S1: say that. Did the sons and daughters have to be stoned?
S2: Well, I apply it this way. Clearly, Achan was the
S2: one who deliberately disobeyed God and who took these items
S2: from Jericho. But in his confession, he admits he stole
S2: these items and hid them in the ground inside my
S2: tent with the silver underneath, he says. So I believe
S2: it's reasonable to assume that when Achan Aiken returned from
S2: battle and dug that pit in his tent and buried
S2: the stolen items, it was obvious to the family what
S2: he was doing. The tent was a common area where
S2: the entire family lived, worked, ate, and slept. They hadn't
S2: stolen the items, but they understood and they knew what
S2: the command had been before the battle. So otherwise, I
S2: believe Aiken's family were judged, as we might say now,
S2: for knowingly aiding and abetting his actions. In this case,
S2: God was judging them for their own sin in the matter.
S1: Hey, if you've got a question you'd like to run
S1: by us, send it to the land and the book@moody.edu
S1: the land and the book@moody.edu. Don't go away. Charlie Dyer's
S1: devotional is next here on the land and the book.
S1: When you think about it, the Christmas season is a
S1: time of mystery, Delving into that ancient story of God
S1: taking on flesh in the form of Jesus, His son. Wow.
S1: Absolutely amazing. But we've got a mystery for you yet
S1: today to discover in Charlie Dyer's devotional coming up. Charlie,
S1: you've titled This Time Today What.
S2: A Christmas Triptych.
S1: And a lot of us are wondering what a triptych is.
S1: We'll let you get to that after this testimony from
S1: someone who's traveled to the Holy Land and shares this
S1: with you and me.
S5: Hello. I've been listening to a little bit of the
S5: program today, and I wanted to say that as a
S5: high school teacher, it is refreshing to hear a program
S5: on a Christian station to using only the scriptures as sources.
S5: It was refreshing to hear a level headed scholarship sound
S5: educational judgment in the discussion of the nature and origins
S5: of the Jewish race. I have been in complete agreement
S5: with what I've heard, and I find that my students
S5: in high school honors students. Students who are supposed to
S5: be well-educated have many, many prejudices and misconceptions, some of
S5: which are based on religion from all quarters, both Christian
S5: and other religions, and also which are based simply on
S5: the information they're getting through all kinds of web pages television,
S5: perhaps even from their own families. It is refreshing once
S5: again to hear a discussion which has an evenness about
S5: the sources and what I consider to be authentic educational
S5: authority or scholarship. Thank you for the discussion.
S1: All right. A triptych. I'm guessing there's three of something
S1: in this, but I'll let you take it away. Charlie.
S2: Thanks, John. Yeah. Back in the dark ages of auto travel,
S2: before the era of GPS and satellite navigation, a long
S2: road trip was something of an adventure. It usually required
S2: two people, one to drive while watching out for potholes,
S2: and a second to fold and refold the map while
S2: keeping watch for upcoming turns and intersections. And then the
S2: American Automobile Association revolutionized the entire process by introducing the triptych,
S2: a slim, spiral bound grouping of pages focused on the
S2: best route to take. It was one of the real
S2: pluses of being a member of triple A. Years later,
S2: while serving in seminary administration, I was asked to work
S2: with an interior designer helping decorate a new building on campus.
S2: One day, the designer asked me to go with their
S2: group to the downtown Marquette Convention Center to look at accessories,
S2: including triptychs for the walls. Now, I had trouble trying
S2: to imagine triple A triptychs hanging on office walls, but
S2: not wanting to appear stupid, I simply agreed to go.
S2: And I'm glad I remained silent because I learned a
S2: new homonym, a word that's pronounced the same way but
S2: is spelled differently, and that has a totally different meaning.
S2: The triptychs we were going to see were large paintings
S2: hung in three sections side by side, and that thought
S2: came to mind as I focused on the message I
S2: want to explore today. So button up your jacket and
S2: come with me as we pay a visit to the
S2: studio of Isaiah to view his triptych of the Messiah
S2: he prepared just for the nation of Israel. Each of
S2: the three panels tells its own unique story, but aligned
S2: side by side. They blend into a magnificent portrait of
S2: Israel's coming king. 700 years before his birth, the first
S2: panel is found in Isaiah seven and eight. The panel
S2: itself is in two parts, with one side mirroring the other.
S2: On the far left is a dark portrait of an
S2: unfaithful king named Ahaz. He refused to trust in the
S2: Lord or ask for a sign from the Lord, so
S2: God himself provided a sign to show that Ahaz would
S2: not remain, but another will eventually rise to replace him.
S2: And what's the sign? The Virgin will be with child
S2: and will give birth to a son and will call
S2: him Immanuel. The child will be born in a time
S2: of trouble for Judah. And before he reaches the age
S2: of accountability, the nations feared by Ahaz would be laid waste. Sadly,
S2: because of Ahaz disobedience, Judah would also experience a time
S2: of trouble. On the right side of the first panel
S2: is what looks at first like a mirror image a
S2: woman giving birth to a son. But on closer inspection,
S2: several contrasts can be seen. The woman is actually Isaiah's wife,
S2: and in this portrait, the judgment of Judah's nearby enemies
S2: will take place within a few years before his son
S2: can even say daddy or mommy. This is a near
S2: prophecy whose fulfillment points to the certainty of the previous prophecies.
S2: Later fulfillment. The fall of these two kingdoms within two
S2: years was a certain sign that a young woman, a virgin,
S2: at some point in the future, would give birth to
S2: a son who would be named Emmanuel, God with us.
S2: The center picture in Isaiah's triptych is perhaps the most
S2: striking of all. Isaiah does a masterful job of interposing
S2: brilliant light over a very dark background. The background focuses
S2: on Galilee, but now it's Galilee of the Gentiles. The
S2: nations have come to oppress Israel. Isaiah uses dark verbal
S2: shades to paint this background distress, gloom, darkness, living in
S2: the shadow of death. But into this dark image blazes
S2: a great brightness. The people see a great light that
S2: suddenly dawns on them, replacing gloom with gladness. And what's
S2: the central focus of this second picture? What turns despair
S2: into joy? The answer leaps out from the very center
S2: of the painting. For to us a child is born,
S2: to us a son is given, and the government will
S2: be on his shoulders, and he will be called Wonderful Counselor,
S2: Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace of the increase
S2: of his government and peace, there will be no end.
S2: He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom,
S2: establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that
S2: time on and forever. There's the child again. But now
S2: we learn this child, Emmanuel, God with us, is born
S2: to reign as the divine King sitting on David's throne.
S2: The brush strokes in this second picture are bold and dramatic.
S2: No mere baby, this one to be born will have
S2: titles that present him as being God with us. Wonderful counselor,
S2: Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. It's hard to
S2: take our eyes off this dramatic portrait, but we must.
S2: There remains one final picture in this triptych, so we
S2: turn our gaze to that last divine painting in chapters
S2: ten and 11. The initial colors are dark but more muted.
S2: On the left are hints of both judgment and restoration,
S2: judgment on the Assyrians coming to devastate the land because
S2: of King Ahaz disobedience. This ties the third picture back
S2: to the first one. But then there is God's promised
S2: restoration and deliverance for his remnant. He will restore his
S2: people and lift the yoke of oppression from off their necks.
S2: Our gaze is once again drawn to the right side
S2: of the painting, the progression taking us still again to
S2: the birth of a child. The details in this part
S2: of the painting force us to slow down and examine
S2: it with great care. A shoot will come up from
S2: the stump of Jesse. From his roots a branch will
S2: bear fruit. The spirit of the Lord will rest on him.
S2: The spirit of wisdom and of understanding, a spirit of
S2: counsel and of power, a spirit of knowledge and of
S2: fear of the Lord. And he will delight in the
S2: fear of the Lord. He will not judge by what
S2: he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he
S2: hears with his ears, but with righteousness he will judge
S2: the needy, and with justice he will give decisions for
S2: the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth
S2: with the rod of his mouth. With the breath of
S2: his lips he will slay the wicked. Righteousness will be
S2: his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist. We
S2: step back to take a more panoramic view of the
S2: entire triptych. It's a portrait of a child being born,
S2: but it's far more than the mere birth of a child.
S2: This child is God with us. This child will be
S2: the Prince of Peace sitting on David's throne. This child
S2: will vanquish evil and wickedness. This child will usher in
S2: a time of universal peace and harmony. This child is Jesus.
S2: The triptych painted 700 years before his birth this week.
S2: As you get ready to celebrate Christmas, focus on more
S2: than just a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying
S2: in a manger. Focus on more than just the wise
S2: men showing up to offer gifts to this child. That
S2: child was and is God incarnate. And that child will someday,
S2: perhaps very soon, return to sit on David's throne to
S2: rule over all. And with that thought in mind, have
S2: a blessed Christmas.
S1: You know, before we let you go, I have to ask,
S1: have you made this child who became a man who
S1: is now our Savior, Jesus, at the right hand of
S1: the father? Have you made him your Savior? Have you
S1: asked him to forgive you for your wrongdoing? Put him
S1: in charge of your life. You can do that today.
S1: A friend will pray with you right now at eight, eight, eight.
S1: Need him. Explain answers to your questions and there's no hassle.
S1: There's no cost because there's nothing to buy. So call 888.
S1: Need him right now. Well, thank you, Charlie, for that devotional.
S1: Thank you for listening to the broadcast. And as Charlie says,
S1: we do hope you have a very wonderful Merry Christmas.
S1: I'm John Gager The Land and the book is a
S1: production of Moody Radio, a ministry of Moody Bible Institute.