S1: Hello, friends. Welcome to Open Line, Moody Radio's Bible study
S1: Across America. This is our second hour. I'm so glad
S1: to be with you. Uh, taking your questions about the Bible, God,
S1: and the spiritual life. My name is Michael Wright, and
S1: this is the Bible study across America. Uh, we're live
S1: sitting around the radio kitchen table talking about your questions.
S1: So you set the agenda with your calls, the phone
S1: number (877) 548-3675. That's (877) 548-3675. If you can't call, you can
S1: always go to our website. That's open line radio.org. You
S1: can click on the link that says ask Michael a
S1: question and post your question there. I hope you have
S1: a second cup of coffee, and I hope you still
S1: have your Bibles open, because we're going to be talking
S1: about the scriptures right now. We'll talk with Stacy in Clearwater, Florida,
S1: listening on. Welcome to Open Line, Stacy. How can I
S1: help you?
S2: Good morning. Um, my question is, how was Aaron able
S2: to meet back up with Moses when Moses fled Egypt
S2: after murdering the Egyptian soldier?
S1: Well, the verse that you're calling about is Exodus 427.
S1: Now the Lord had said to Moses, go and meet
S1: Moses in the wilderness. So he went and met him
S1: at the mountain of God and kissed him. Right. That's
S1: the verse you're talking about.
S3: Yes. Yes.
S1: He just they set their GPS for the mountain of God,
S1: and they used that to get right where they needed
S1: to go. What do you think best?
S2: That was what I was wondering, because they did not
S2: have the communication options.
S3: Well, now, this is. This is your.
S1: Presumption, Stacy. Uh, here's the thing. That Moses, uh, had
S1: already gone back to Egypt. It says that Moses was
S1: there and or it was going back to Egypt. But
S1: so it was 40 years. He spent 40 years in Egypt,
S1: then 40 years in the wilderness. Now he's going back.
S1: And then he had 40 years leading the children of Israel.
S1: That's his 120 year life. So I think it's just
S1: a there must have been messengers going back and forth. Uh, Moses,
S1: I'm sure when he landed in Midian, sent messages. There
S1: was messengers that would bring messages to let his family
S1: know where he was, because he knew who his family was.
S1: He knew Aaron. He knew Miriam. He knew his mother. Uh, Jochebed.
S1: And so I'm sure he let them know that. And
S1: then obviously with, uh, with this command from the Lord.
S1: And Moses on the way. There must have been messengers
S1: that got sent in advance about where they were supposed
S1: to meet. And so maybe it was, uh, Aaron who
S1: sent the message to Moses saying, Moses, meet me at
S1: the mountain of God. And that's where they met. So
S1: I think that's that's the best explanation that there must
S1: have been messengers in between that led them to know
S1: where each would be. Okay.
S2: Thank you. I always wondered that. Thank you.
S3: Sure.
S1: I'm so glad. You know, so often when we read
S1: the Bible, the Bible doesn't answer those kinds of questions
S1: because the author makes his determination about what he thinks
S1: is most important. But so often what we need to
S1: do is fill in the gaps just so we can
S1: see that these narratives are expected to be taken at
S1: face value, that they are true. Which is why someone
S1: will say, where did the baskets come from? Like last hour? Uh,
S1: for the feeding of the 5000. And, uh, this one.
S1: How did they meet? And so much of it is. Yeah,
S1: we can figure out a way that makes sense, but
S1: obviously don't want to miss the spiritual message about Moses
S1: and Aaron leading and God telling them how they're supposed
S1: to lead the children of Israel and when they failed,
S1: how they had to reap the consequences of that. So anyway,
S1: thanks for your call, Stacy. Really appreciate it. Uh, we're
S1: going to talk to Theresa in Evanston, Illinois, listening on.
S1: Welcome to Open Line. Theresa. How can I help you today?
S4: Morning. Good morning. Doctor. Thank you so much for teaching us.
S3: Sure.
S4: Um, my question is on Romans 826 and 27. I
S4: wanted to understand how it what it means and how
S4: it works, that the Holy Spirit Himself intercedes for us
S4: in our prayers with unspoken groanings.
S3: Mhm.
S1: Well, what do you have any opinion about what that is?
S4: So well. When I was giving it thought, I was
S4: thinking that maybe it could mean something like this. If
S4: I'm going to pray before work, say I'm on my
S4: way to work and I'm just going to pray for
S4: an easy day, you know, not too much difficulties, but
S4: I know that that isn't really a good way to pray.
S4: The Holy Spirit would probably say, use my difficulties to
S4: bring glory to God. Give me strength in the weaknesses.
S4: Help me to be a shining light for everyone that
S4: I come in contact with. But the thing is then,
S4: I know that already. If the Holy Spirit is praying
S4: for me something I already know that that's how I
S4: should pray.
S1: The reason I ask that is that a lot of
S1: my friends in the past used to say that this
S1: verse is an example of why people should pray in
S1: tongues in unknown languages, and they said, that's praying in
S1: the spirit. Now the thing is, I don't believe that
S1: this verse is saying that because if you read the verse,
S1: it says in the same way, the spirit also joins
S1: to help us in our weakness because we don't know
S1: what to pray for, pray for as we should, but
S1: the Spirit himself intercedes for us. And here it is
S1: with unspoken groanings, uh, word groanings that are too deep
S1: for words. Some versions say, uh, if it's too deep
S1: for words, then it's not articulate, it's not spoken. And
S1: then if someone were praying in tongues, that would be
S1: spoken words, even if the spirit allegedly was praying through
S1: them as they prayed in tongues. So it's not talking
S1: about tongues. And I'm glad we agree about that. I
S1: think it's a little bit different than the way you
S1: put it. It's talking about when we are weak and
S1: we don't know what to pray. There are times in
S1: our lives we're going to hit a circumstance that we've
S1: prayed about. It's a difficulty. Maybe it's a loved one
S1: that is very sick. Or maybe it's a conflict that
S1: you're having with someone and you don't know how to
S1: resolve it. It may be something that that's just really
S1: deeply painful. And you, you've prayed about it and you
S1: get to the point where you think, I just don't
S1: know what to pray anymore. I can't pray anymore. I'm done.
S1: I just don't know what to do. And when we
S1: come to those roadblocks in prayer, the Holy Spirit intercedes
S1: for us right there in the presence of God. The
S1: Holy Spirit goes to the father and brings our groanings,
S1: our pain, our difficulties to the father for us because
S1: we don't even know what to pray anymore. And and
S1: that's a comfort to me, because I have come to
S1: places like that in my life where I just didn't
S1: know what to do anymore. And I knew the Holy
S1: Spirit gave me peace because he was interceding for me.
S1: Does that help?
S4: Yes it does. Thank you and thank you for explaining
S4: about that. It isn't like a prayer language. Praying in tongues.
S4: I don't think that, but sometimes I don't know how
S4: to answer someone that does believe that. So thank you
S4: for that as well.
S1: Sure. Well, it's my pleasure. Thanks for calling, Theresa. Uh,
S1: we're going to talk to Susan in Georgia, listening on WNBA.
S1: Welcome to Open Line. Susan. How can I help you?
S5: Hello. It's good to hear you. Your voice. Uh, I
S5: hear you on the radio. And I try to get
S5: through last week but couldn't get through. Um, I I'm
S5: I'm a little bit unsure of what this verse means.
S5: It's Matthew, chapter eight verses. Uh, well, it starts after
S5: the centurion, you know, asked Jesus to go to his
S5: house to heal his servant. Um, he he didn't want
S5: Jesus to go to his house, but he said that
S5: he could do it right there, you know, because he
S5: he has men over him there. And and so Jesus
S5: marveled in verse ten at what? He said that he
S5: marveled at that at his great faith. You know, but
S5: he said, assuredly, I say to you, that I have
S5: not found such great faith, not even in Israel. And
S5: I say to you that many will come from east
S5: and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
S5: in the kingdom of heaven. But the sons of the
S5: kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness, and there
S5: will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Um, and then
S5: he just turned around and told the centurion to go
S5: his way and that his servant would be healed. Now
S5: I'm wondering, uh, can you explain this to me? Because,
S5: I mean, I got my own thoughts, but I'd like
S5: to hear you explain that to me, please. What Jesus
S5: meant by that. I mean, you know, because he said
S5: that they'll come from the east and west and they
S5: will sit down in heaven, you know, in the kingdom
S5: of heaven.
S1: Let me just say it's kind of interesting because the
S1: very same story takes place in Luke seven. And Luke
S1: writing to Gentiles has a slightly different emphasis. So I
S1: want to point that out to you before I talk
S1: about Matthew with you.
S5: Okay.
S1: Uh, it says in Luke seven that, uh, that the elders,
S1: the Jewish elders, came and they requested that they saved
S1: the life of this centurion's servant. When they reached Jesus,
S1: they pleaded with him earnestly, saying, he is worthy for
S1: you to grant this, because he loves our nation and
S1: has built us a synagogue. And then it says, So
S1: Jesus went with them. It seems like the Abrahamic Covenant
S1: is coming out here, that because he had blessed the
S1: Jewish people, the Lord Jesus was now going to bless
S1: him by caring for this servant of his. And so
S1: writing to Gentiles, it's almost like Luke includes this idea
S1: that you have to be concerned and be like this
S1: centurion who had a great care, great love for the
S1: Jewish people. And you can see that there in Luke seven,
S1: verses four and five. Okay. So that's, uh, the, the
S1: I will bless those who bless you aspect of the
S1: Abrahamic covenant coming to fruition. And that's what Luke wrote
S1: to Gentiles. Now Matthew is writing to Jewish people and
S1: to to Matthew. He's going to emphasize Matthew is going
S1: to emphasize to Jewish people that just because you're Jewish
S1: doesn't grant you automatic entry into the kingdom of heaven. Uh,
S1: that this Gentile had greater faith than all of Israel.
S1: That's what he says. But the sons of the kingdom,
S1: there will be people who are Jewish who are relying
S1: on the fact that they have this Abrahamic covenant, but
S1: they don't have a personal faith, and they won't. And
S1: they refuse to believe in the Messiah, that those people
S1: will be kept out. It's just the emphasis here is
S1: that when when Matthew is writing to Jewish people, he's
S1: talking to them about their need to be spiritually responsive
S1: to the Lord Jesus and to believe in him. And
S1: when he when Luke is writing to Gentiles, he's reminding
S1: them of their need to love and care for Jewish
S1: people according to the Abrahamic Covenant.
S5: Okay, that's what I thought it was. I really did,
S5: I thought that's what it was, but I just wanted
S5: to make sure that that's it, that I had it right. Um,
S5: and I thank you.
S1: But it's so interesting to me to see the, the,
S1: the message as it's given to Gentiles, the same story
S1: as opposed to how it's given to Jewish people. You know,
S1: one of the things that the Mishnah says that all
S1: Israel share in the world to come. Uh. And then
S1: it has a whole bunch of exceptions. And I think
S1: that's kind of important that, uh, that's what the Lord
S1: Jesus is doing. Exactly what the mission did. That God
S1: made these promises to the sons of the kingdom. But
S1: if they don't believe there's some that won't be part
S1: of those promises. So that's that's a great reminder. Well,
S1: thank you for your call, Susan. We're going to take
S1: a break here. When we come back, we're going to
S1: take more of your questions. Remember you can write to
S1: us at openlibrary.org. You click on the link that says
S1: Ask Michael a question. Or you can call (877) 548-3675 with
S1: your question about the Bible, God or the spiritual life.
S1: We'll be right back with more straight ahead on open Line.
S1: Welcome back to Open Line. I'm so glad to be
S1: with you today. I did want to tell you about
S1: our resource. You know, it's so important when we read
S1: the Bible there are questions that come up. And I
S1: know you. You think, well, I'll just wait till open
S1: line and I'll call Michael and he'll give me the answer.
S1: But actually, when we're reading the scriptures, it's so important.
S1: There's place names. There are individuals, people that we see
S1: in the text, uh, there's events that take place, holidays.
S1: And we think, I wonder what those are. Well, the
S1: answer is that the best thing to do is to
S1: look it up in a Bible dictionary. A dictionary isn't
S1: just for words. A Bible dictionary has people, places, events
S1: and it explains them. And our current resource. When you
S1: give a gift of any size, we want to say
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S1: publisher of my favorite Bible translation, the CSB. Well, the
S1: Ultimate Bible Dictionary is easy to carry, easy to use.
S1: It's just a little book, but it's a great resource
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S1: really really grateful at this season, especially the end of June,
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S1: give a gift now. Uh, we're going to go to
S1: the phones again. We're going to talk to Kristen in Schaumburg, Illinois,
S1: listening on WNBA. Welcome to Open Line. Kristen. How can
S1: I help you today?
S6: Good morning, Doctor Reidel. Nick, can you please tell me
S6: what the what's the difference between the white Throne judgment
S6: and the judgment seat of Christ? And who will stand
S6: before each.
S1: Well, the judgment seat of Christ, or the Bema seat
S1: of the Messiah is described in Second Corinthians chapter five.
S1: It's also, in a sense, it's not called that in
S1: first Corinthians three, but that's what it's describing in first
S1: Corinthians three. It talks about our works being judged and
S1: that there are some like wood, hay and straw, and
S1: they were judged by fire and they'll be burned up,
S1: and others are gold and silver and precious, uh, uh, gold.
S1: I'm sorry. Yeah. Precious gems. Uh, and they won't be
S1: burned up and so. Uh, but it says if a
S1: person has no good works, that everything they have will
S1: be burned up. But if they know the Lord, they
S1: will still be saved yet so as through fire. So
S1: that's that's what that passage is talking about. And then
S1: in second Corinthians five, it talks about the Bema Seat
S1: that we're going to stand before the Lord at the
S1: Bema Seat, the judgment seat of the Messiah. Uh, it says,
S1: for we must all appear before the Bema Seat or
S1: the tribunal or the judgment seat of the Messiah, so
S1: that each may be repaid for what he has done
S1: in the body, whether good or worthless. That's second Corinthians 510.
S1: So that's that's what's taking place. I believe that will
S1: take place during the tribulation period in heaven. And then, uh, uh,
S1: when the believers are all there, uh, the that's that's
S1: when we'll all be there and we'll that's when the
S1: judgment seat of the Messiah will take place. Uh, the
S1: great White Throne judgment takes place after the thousand year reign.
S1: And that's the judgment of non-believers. Everyone will be resurrected.
S1: Believers already will have been resurrected, but non-believers will be
S1: resurrected this time. And they will stand before the judge.
S1: And this will be their final judgment. Does that help?
S1: That's in revelation chapter 20. Okay.
S6: Thank you very much.
S1: Okay. Thank you. Thanks for your call. Uh, we're going
S1: to talk to Harry in Ohio, listening on WC. Welcome
S1: to Open Line, Harry. How can I help you?
S7: Thank you very much, doctor Mike. Um. Love the fastest
S7: two hours in radio. Love your show. Thank you. My question.
S7: You're welcome. My question is, why? Back to the time
S7: of Esther. To Hitler to present day. Why are the
S7: Jewish people such a hated people?
S1: Well. First of all, let's start with what is anti-Semitism?
S1: It's hatred of the Jewish people. It's not hatred of
S1: people who speak Semitic languages, which is what some people
S1: will say. anti-Semitism is the hatred of the Jewish people.
S1: It was coined by Wilhelm Marr at the end of
S1: the 19th century. He was the founder of the anti-Semitic League,
S1: and he wanted to find a more scientific sounding term
S1: for his racial hatred of the Jewish people, and the
S1: German word up to that point had been judenhass Jew hatred.
S1: And so he changed it to anti-Semitism so that he
S1: could have a more quote unquote scientific sounding term. That's
S1: where that term comes from. And it didn't start with Heymann.
S1: It actually goes back to Pharaoh. Remember Pharaoh getting rid
S1: of the male committing genocide, trying to commit genocide of
S1: the Israelite slaves? That's where it goes back to. Right.
S7: Okay.
S1: Um, and it's one of the things that, uh, it
S1: seems like people don't realize it is the most irrational hatred.
S1: It is a conspiracy theory that has no truth to it.
S1: So what is the true source of it? Psalm 83
S1: gives us one key. In Psalm 83 it says, those
S1: who hate the God of Israel will also hate the
S1: people of Israel. So in Psalm 83, here's what it says,
S1: turning to it right now. Um, it says, see, speaking
S1: to God. See how your enemies make an uproar. Those
S1: who hate you have acted arrogantly. They devise clever schemes
S1: against your people. They conspire against your treasured ones. They say, come,
S1: let us wipe them out as a nation. So that
S1: Israel's name will no longer be remembered. For they have
S1: conspired with one mind. They form an alliance against you. So, uh,
S1: part of what's going on with the hatred of the
S1: Jewish people is hatred of the God of Israel. That's
S1: why they hate the people of Israel. Revelation 12 tells
S1: us that Satan wants to destroy the woman described there
S1: that gives birth to the the the Messiah in Revelation 12.
S1: And that woman is symbolically there to represent Israel, not
S1: the Virgin Mary, but rather to represent Israel and wants
S1: to destroy Israel. And so, uh, it's satanic. Uh, that's
S1: the source of it. Satan hates whom God loves. So
S1: that's one reason that there's so much anti-Semitism is that
S1: Satan hates whom God loves. God has chosen the Jewish people.
S1: He's got a special he calls Israel my firstborn in
S1: Exodus four. And so I believe that the Jewish people
S1: at large are hated by people because Satan hates the
S1: Jewish people, because he hates whom God loves. Then also
S1: Satan wants to obstruct God's plan. That's why he wants
S1: to destroy Israel before the first coming of the Messiah.
S1: He wants to destroy Israel. So that, uh, what would
S1: happen is that If he could have killed every last
S1: Jewish person before the coming of the Messiah, the Lord
S1: Jesus could not have been born if there had been
S1: no Jewish people for him to be born from. And also, uh,
S1: the key to the Second Coming rests with the Jewish people.
S1: The Lord Jesus says in Matthew 23, verses 37 through 39,
S1: he says, you won't see me again to Israel until
S1: you welcome me back, until you say, blessed is he
S1: who comes in the name of the Lord. And so
S1: he says to Jewish people, you have to welcome me back.
S1: And that's what will spur the end of the tribulation
S1: and bring the Messiah to deliver his people. One day
S1: the Jewish people will turn to him. So if Satan
S1: can destroy every last Jewish person, well then the result
S1: would be that maybe he could obstruct the return of
S1: the Lord Jesus. But God promises that he will always
S1: preserve his people. Jeremiah 31, verses 31 through 34 he
S1: says about the Jewish people. If you could measure the heavens,
S1: you can't. If you can search out the foundations of
S1: the deep, go to the core of the earth. If
S1: you can make the sun, moon and stars stop shining.
S1: If you can do those things, only then could you
S1: destroy the Jewish people. God will protect and preserve his people. Okay.
S7: Okay. What a great answer and explanation. I appreciate it
S7: so much.
S1: Thank you. And by the way, this is something, Harry,
S1: that we all need to take a stand against. We
S1: are living in an age where anti-Semitism has gone up 400%
S1: in the last two years. It's gone up 1,000% in
S1: the last ten years. Uh, it is exploding. Not just
S1: here in America, but around the world. Those of us
S1: who love the God of Israel and follow the Messiah
S1: of Israel need to take our stand with the people
S1: of Israel and oppose this hatred. That's what we need
S1: to do, Harry. Uh, thanks for your call.
S7: Amen. Thank you.
S1: Sure. Hey, Esther, we've got a minute before break. Can
S1: you go ahead and just ask your question? I'll see
S1: if I can answer it real quickly.
S8: Hi. My question is, who is Judah? What is Judah?
S8: Is it a city? Is it, um, a place somewhere?
S1: Okay.
S8: And dance.
S1: Okay, I'll tell you. Judah was one of the sons
S1: of Jacob who became the father of the tribe of Judah.
S1: So that's what happened. And then when the nation of
S1: Israel split. So the ten northern tribes became known as Israel.
S1: The two southern tribes of Judah and Benjamin became known
S1: as the nation of Judah. And when the people of
S1: Judah were called Judeans, then they went to captivity, and
S1: they became known in captivity from Judah Yehuda. They became
S1: known as Yehudim Jews. That's where that's where that came from.
S1: And that's who the Judeans are today, are the Jewish people. Uh,
S1: I hope that helps real quickly with the answer of
S1: Who is Judah? We're going to come right back with
S1: more questions in a moment. This is Michael Ray Dolnick
S1: on Open Line. Stay with us. More questions straight ahead.
S1: Welcome back to Open Line. It's time for the Febc mailbag.
S1: Far Eastern Broadcasting Company brings the gospel to people through
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S1: but especially find their podcast until All I've Heard featuring
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S1: with her associate producer, Duncan. Hey, Tricia. I do there's
S1: a couple of things I want to mention before we
S1: get to Duncan's question. One, I wanted to thank you
S1: because last hour I mentioned that I'm going to Israel
S1: in September. And I said, uh, that we have limited space. We,
S1: I think, have 4 or 5 spots left and that
S1: of those 4 or 5 spots that we only have
S1: this week, and then we're going to shut down registration.
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S1: And I said, just go to our website openlibrary.org and
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S1: that link about going to Israel in September. Uh, that's
S1: one thing. And then the other thing is, uh, I
S1: was at an event last night with a number of people,
S1: and this is kind of interesting. There were about half
S1: this group of 40 that I was meeting with were
S1: open line listeners. Oh.
S9: That's cool.
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S9: Or.
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S1: It's part of that, that teamwork that we have that
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S1: really care about. That's all I'm saying. I appreciate that. So, uh. Well, Tricia,
S1: tell me about your associate producer that's there today.
S9: Well, today I brought my associate producer, uh, Duncan, who
S9: is ten, and he just finished fourth grade. Love.
S1: You found him someplace?
S9: I did. He lives with me. It's my son.
S1: Okay.
S9: There we go. Um, it's my son. He just finished
S9: fourth grade. Loves the Bible, loves reading the Bible is
S9: always like, loves Bible trivia questions. knows a lot. If
S9: you have a question, he there's a good chance he's
S9: read about it and could answer it for you. Um,
S9: and so I have a listener who has a question
S9: about judges nine. But Duncan also had a question about
S9: judges nine, and his comes first in the chapter. And
S9: so I figure he could ask it first.
S1: That's great. Go ahead. Hey, Duncan, are you there?
S10: Yes, I am.
S1: Okay, well, uh, you've been reading judges nine. Judges is
S1: a hard book for a ten year old. I just
S1: want to say so. I'm pretty impressed. Uh, what? What's
S1: your question there from judges nine?
S10: Um, my question is, why did Abimelech's brother refer to
S10: him as brambles?
S1: Um, there's that parable that Jotham gave, uh, on Mount Gerizim, and, uh,
S1: it's a parable about trees setting out to anoint a
S1: king over themselves. They said to a beautiful olive tree.
S1: You reign over us. And the olive trees said, nah,
S1: I don't want to do that. And, uh, because I have,
S1: I have a better function. I have to give oil.
S1: And then they went to a fig tree which has wonderful,
S1: delicious fruit, sweet, good fruit. And they said, rule over us.
S1: And they said the same thing to the grapevine, and
S1: each wanted to do what they were supposed to do.
S1: Then a bramble comes along and a bramble, you know,
S1: they they don't do much good. Uh, they don't have
S1: sweet fruit. They don't have make, uh, any good drink.
S1: They don't, uh, uh, produce olive oil, nothing like that. Uh,
S1: they just kind of take up space, and it's unworthy.
S1: And as a result of being unworthy, uh, the bramble
S1: is what they compare Abimelech to. The trees said to
S1: the bramble, come and reign over us. And the bramble
S1: said to the trees, if you really are anointing me
S1: as king over you, come and find shade in my refuge,
S1: in my shade. Uh, and uh, then he talks about
S1: what he would do. He would hurt them, uh, if
S1: they didn't follow him. And so all it's saying is
S1: Abimelech was unworthy for being king and that he would
S1: make trouble for them. That's what it's saying, that he
S1: was an unworthy leader. Okay, go ahead and ask me.
S1: Don't ask your mom. What's your follow up?
S10: Um, my follow up.
S1: Question. No, don't ask another question. Did you understand what
S1: I was saying about this parable? Okay, good. Because we
S1: have to go to another question, but I really appreciate
S1: you asking these questions. It shows excellent reading. Duncan, keep
S1: it up. Okay. Okay. He's nodding his head at me.
S9: Good. Yes. Uh, next question is from Jeffrey and Brianna
S9: on Facebook said in judges 923 so just a few
S9: verses later it says, when Abimelech is actually verse 22,
S9: when Abimelech had ruled over Israel three years, God sent
S9: an evil spirit between Abimelech and the lords of Shechem.
S9: They treated Abimelech deceitfully. And they're asking, why did God
S9: send an evil spirit? More specifically, it's troubling that God
S9: is the one who sent this spirit, this evil spirit.
S1: One of the things I often do is point out
S1: something that Erwin Lutzer, my friend, my my former pastor
S1: before he became pastor emeritus of Moody Church, uh, wonderful.
S1: Erwin Lutzer has often said that even the devil is
S1: God's devil, and that when an evil spirit is sent,
S1: that God is still sovereign over that, and that even
S1: evil spirits can accomplish God's purposes. And what happened here
S1: is Abimelech had ruled Israel for three years, and God
S1: sent this evil spirit because he is sovereign even over
S1: those spirits. And they treated us because of this, these
S1: evil spirit. There was conflict between Abimelech and the sons
S1: of Shechem. They treated Abimelech deceitfully, so that the crime
S1: against the 20 sons of Jerubbaal might come to justice,
S1: and their blood would be avenged on their brother Abimelech,
S1: who killed them. And so what God did is he
S1: sovereignly allowed that evil spirit to create this conflict, so
S1: that Abimelech might be brought to justice. So, uh, it's
S1: even the devil is God's devil. He, uh. Nothing can
S1: the enemy can do without God's permission to accomplish it.
S1: So that's that's what I would say the answer to
S1: that is.
S9: Okay. All right. Thank you for that. Uh, next question
S9: is from Beth in Pennsylvania. listens to Wgvm and on
S9: the Moody Radio app, she said she's a kitchen table partner. Yay!
S9: Because I feel it's important to share and understand God's Word.
S9: We are blessed to have a godly team such as
S9: yours to help us deepen our biblical knowledge.
S1: See, I told you they like the team.
S9: I know they like the team. So thank you Beth,
S9: for your support and for being a kitchen table partner. Uh,
S9: her question comes from a conversation that she had with
S9: a coworker. She, the coworker, stated that no Christian should
S9: ever be sick. And if we are, it's because we
S9: have sinned. Because we are protected through Jesus blood sacrifice
S9: and our faith. And she uses, uh, James 514 and
S9: 15 for healing if we do get sick, which talks
S9: about anointing with olive oil in the name of the
S9: Lord and the prayer of faith will save the sick person,
S9: and the Lord will restore him to health. If he
S9: has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Beth, though, says,
S9: I thought being a Christian only saves us spiritually. Um,
S9: and wants to know if there's Scripture or a book
S9: that she can share with her friend. And maybe what
S9: what is this verse saying? And when Christians get sick.
S9: James 514 and 15.
S1: Sure. Um, well, first of all, all sickness is a
S1: result of sin. It's Adam's sin. Yeah, we live in
S1: a fallen world. That's why there's germs. That's why, uh,
S1: there are cells that go crazy and become cancer. And
S1: because we live in a fallen world and sickness won't
S1: go away until we are redeemed completely and resurrected. And
S1: we don't have bodies that are affected by this fallen world. Uh, now,
S1: as for followers of Jesus, I think it's interesting that
S1: Paul says in second Timothy 419 he says, I left
S1: Trophimus sick at Miletus. Now, why would if Paul thought
S1: everyone should be well and could heal anyone, he wouldn't
S1: have left Trophimus sick at Miletus. He also tells Timothy,
S1: take a little wine for your stomach's stomach's sake and
S1: for your many ailments. Uh, apparently he didn't say Timothy.
S1: Just pray and you'll be healed. He said, take some
S1: wine for your stomach's sake. Uh, many people think that
S1: there was a eyesight problem. The thorn in his flesh
S1: that Paul had. And in Second Corinthians chapter 12, he
S1: said that three times he prayed that the Lord would
S1: remove it. And and God said, my grace is sufficient
S1: for you. Do you remember what, I think it was
S1: someone that called Pastor Cole and said that they were
S1: told that they they shouldn't walk with a cane. I believe.
S9: I do. Yes.
S1: What did Pastor Cole, the my the the previous host,
S1: the previous host.
S9: Of Open Line said something to the effect of, well,
S9: you should hit him with the cane and tell them
S9: it wouldn't hurt if they really believed.
S1: Yeah. That's it. Which? Which I could never say, but no.
S1: But I love that answer. Yeah. In James five, it
S1: seems to me that that's reading way too much into
S1: this passage. If it indeed is speaking about physical healing,
S1: which I think is questionable. If it is, it's really
S1: talking about that it's possible to have a physical illness
S1: because of sin in our lives, and that when the
S1: person comes to repentance, not only will they be raised up,
S1: but that they will also their sins will be forgiven.
S1: It says in verse 15. Uh, so call for the elders.
S1: It's not the prayer of faith of the individual who
S1: is sick, but the prayer of faith of the elders
S1: will raise him up and his sins will be forgiven.
S1: So it's a prayer of restoration. Now the the other
S1: thing is, if you look at the words that are
S1: used for sickness, they are frequently used for grief or
S1: emotional sickness, not physical sickness. And this could be a
S1: sickness of spirit that's being spoken of, not physical ailments
S1: that that are being healed. And, uh, there's a long
S1: time ago I read an article, a journal article in
S1: Bibliotheca Sacra that makes the case for this being, uh,
S1: sort of like a depressive spiritual emotional sickness. Okay.
S9: Which I have, you know, experienced prayer can be very
S9: helpful in those situations.
S1: Yeah.
S9: Absolutely necessary.
S1: Yeah. Now, what I think is most interesting is people
S1: will say it's the person who prays who's sick, that
S1: that person is the reason that they didn't have enough faith,
S1: that that's why they won't be raised up. But this passage,
S1: when you say he calls for the elders and it's
S1: the prayer of faith by the elders, not of the.
S9: One who is sick.
S1: Yeah, I think that's interesting. So let's blame the elders.
S9: Yeah.
S1: So but we're going to go to break here. Thank you.
S1: That was Tricia McMillan and her son Duncan, her associate producer.
S1: My name is Michael Wright. We'll be right back with
S1: more of your questions right here on Open Line. Stay
S1: with us. Welcome back to Open lines. So glad to
S1: be with you today. Uh, my name is Michael Riedel
S1: and had a great time studying the Bible with you today.
S1: I do want to mention that I'm sure you know
S1: Israel is in a war. It's not a war that
S1: Israel wanted. It's not a war that Israel sought. The
S1: nation didn't start it. They didn't want it. They didn't
S1: anticipate it. It came as a result of the terrible
S1: October 7th attack by Hamas, when they murdered more than
S1: 1200 Jewish people on one day, more than any other
S1: people since any other Jewish people since the Holocaust. Uh,
S1: they captured 251 people, and Israel is been torn up
S1: now after 600 days. Um, 600 days of war. It
S1: is really, uh, very, very stressful in Israel. Well, what
S1: does the future hold? Chosen People Ministry is one of
S1: our ministry partners and an organization reaching Jewish people around
S1: the globe, is offering a special book, Israel's Glorious Future.
S1: The book details God's faithfulness to his covenant promises and
S1: points to biblical prophecies yet to be fulfilled yet in
S1: the future. And it gives hope, despite the current difficulties
S1: that Israel is facing, because Israel's future is glorious. If
S1: you'd like a free copy of Israel's glorious future, just
S1: go to Openline Radio.com. That's our website, npr.org. Click on
S1: the link that says A Free gift from Chosen People Ministries,
S1: and you'll be taken to a page where you can
S1: sign up for your own copy of Israel's Glorious Future. Well,
S1: we're going to talk to Donna in Buffalo Grove, where
S1: I live for 12 years, Buffalo Grove, Illinois, listening on Wmbi.
S1: Welcome to Open Line. Donna. How can I help you?
S11: Hey, doctor. Nick, thank you for taking my call. And
S11: I got to hear Trish McMillan's voice and say, I
S11: was so excited.
S1: Oh that's great.
S11: My question. Yeah. I love her. Um, my question is
S11: I go to a Bible study and I just kind
S11: of listen in at work once a week, and it's
S11: not my main Bible study, but there was a person
S11: in the Bible study, and he was referencing Second Corinthians
S11: 517 that to be born again in Christ and to
S11: be saved, you must know the minute it happened, how
S11: it happened, the time the scripture you were reading and
S11: if it happened suddenly, and if it doesn't happen suddenly,
S11: then you're not saved. And so I wanted your take
S11: on that because I don't believe that myself. But, um,
S11: I'm hoping other people in the Bible study are listening,
S11: because I think that's kind of dangerous. But what what
S11: is your explanation of it or what is your opinion
S11: of that?
S1: Well, I think that people are born again suddenly, uh,
S1: in an instant, in a crisis, but they may not
S1: necessarily be aware of it.
S2: Okay.
S1: They might be able later on to look back. Oh yeah,
S1: that would be but it might be unclear to them.
S1: I remember a trip I took back when I was
S1: in college. A whole bunch of us were driving to
S1: the East Coast and it was my car, but I
S1: was tired. We left right after school, so we left
S1: in the late afternoon and it's a long trip. It
S1: was about 16 hours. And so I took a nap.
S1: Someone else was driving, and then I woke up and
S1: I said, have we passed Stroudsburg yet? That's a town
S1: in Pennsylvania. And they said, oh, yeah, we're long past it.
S1: And Stroudsburg was where I was supposed to get up
S1: and drive again, but I'd I'd slept through it and
S1: they let me do it. Well, I think that's how
S1: sometimes people come into the kingdom of God that, you know,
S1: if Stroudsburg is where they were supposed to enter, they
S1: may be unaware and pass through it, and they've entered
S1: the kingdom of God without realizing it. And I think it's.
S1: And then they say, well, how come they're all things
S1: have become new? Well, it takes time. Things. The capability
S1: for transformation happens immediately, but people don't come out mature instantaneously.
S1: It's really hard to tell the difference between an immature
S1: believer and a brand new baby believer. Right. It takes
S1: time to grow in the faith. And so I think
S1: that's that's why people may not always be aware of
S1: when they put their trust in Jesus. Okay.
S11: Okay. Thank you. No, that's what I thought. And I
S11: believe that. But I just wanted to make sure, um,
S11: that I'm hoping other people are listening because a lot
S11: of people were really discouraged, and I found that that sad.
S1: So, you know, I always tell people, uh, it doesn't
S1: matter if you could write down the date and time.
S1: I'll tell you what matters. Who are you trusting right
S1: now to to be forgiven of your sins. Are you
S1: trusting that Jesus died for your sins and rose again? Uh,
S1: and you're following him? And if if that's the case,
S1: then you're you're related to him. You've become God's child.
S1: And and it doesn't matter if you can't specify the
S1: time or moment. Rather, uh, it's important that right now,
S1: you know who you're trusting. And if you're listening and
S1: you think, I don't know if I've ever made that
S1: decision to put my trust in Jesus. Hey. Don't wait.
S1: Now's the time to do it. Respond to that call
S1: of the Lord Jesus when he says, put my. Put
S1: your trust in me. Follow me. Uh. And and then
S1: he'll transform our lives. Well, thank you for your call, Donna.
S12: Thank you.
S1: Thanks for everyone who listened. That's the program for the week.
S1: I can't believe it's gone by so quickly. Thanks for
S1: everyone who called or wrote. Uh. Appreciate it. And thank
S1: you so much for our team, Tricia McMillan, Omar Mendoza
S1: and our our call screeners. Really appreciate them. Keep in
S1: touch with us during the week by going to our
S1: website Openline radio.org. That page is everything you're looking for,
S1: whether you want to give a gift or become a
S1: kitchen table partner, get our current resource. All those things
S1: are right there. Also has a link to our trip
S1: to Israel that's coming up. Uh, things like that are
S1: all there. And you can even find how to get
S1: that resource from Chosen People Ministries. Keep reading the Bible
S1: and we're going to talk about it next week. Just
S1: remember this. Keep reading the Bible. That's where the questions
S1: come from. Open line with Doctor Michael Melnick is a
S1: production of Moody Radio, a ministry of Moody Bible Institute.
S1: See you next week.