1 00:00:08,160 --> 00:00:12,240 S1: The apostle Paul was born in Tarsus. That's modern day Turkey, 2 00:00:12,480 --> 00:00:14,760 S1: and a surprising amount of the Bible took place there. 3 00:00:15,080 --> 00:00:18,760 S1: But today, Turkey is largely hostile to the gospel. On 4 00:00:18,760 --> 00:00:21,479 S1: today's program, we'll share a firsthand account of a gospel 5 00:00:21,480 --> 00:00:25,680 S1: witness in Turkey. Very encouraging. Plus, we'll tackle some intriguing 6 00:00:25,680 --> 00:00:28,760 S1: listener Bible questions. And then our devotional takes us to 7 00:00:28,800 --> 00:00:32,080 S1: a home improvement project. Hey, welcome to the land and 8 00:00:32,080 --> 00:00:34,959 S1: the book with conference speaker and author Doctor Charlie Dyer, 9 00:00:35,240 --> 00:00:37,280 S1: who was also a frequent Middle East traveler. Are you 10 00:00:37,280 --> 00:00:38,480 S1: doing okay today, Charlie? 11 00:00:38,760 --> 00:00:40,640 S2: I'm doing great, John. Thanks for asking. 12 00:00:40,680 --> 00:00:42,919 S1: Well, you know, as believers, there's a great need for 13 00:00:42,920 --> 00:00:46,040 S1: us to share the gospel with the Jewish people. In fact, 14 00:00:46,040 --> 00:00:48,880 S1: many of our listeners faithfully pray and they partner with 15 00:00:48,880 --> 00:00:51,960 S1: ministries that are doing just that. But what if you 16 00:00:51,960 --> 00:00:56,000 S1: could personally take part in bringing the gospel to Jewish people? 17 00:00:56,120 --> 00:00:58,480 S2: Yeah, and our friends at Life in Messiah love the 18 00:00:58,480 --> 00:01:03,230 S2: opportunity to get believers involved in Jewish ministry. They regularly 19 00:01:03,230 --> 00:01:06,710 S2: organize outreach teams to Brooklyn, South Florida, and even to 20 00:01:06,750 --> 00:01:10,709 S2: Israel outside times of conflict. These ministry trips will equip 21 00:01:10,709 --> 00:01:13,869 S2: you to understand how to share the gospel with Jewish people, 22 00:01:14,190 --> 00:01:17,230 S2: give you the opportunity to actively share your faith, and 23 00:01:17,230 --> 00:01:20,669 S2: provide tools and resources that you can take home with you. 24 00:01:20,870 --> 00:01:23,429 S2: If you want to get hands on training and practical 25 00:01:23,430 --> 00:01:27,630 S2: experience in Jewish evangelism, you can learn more by visiting 26 00:01:28,670 --> 00:01:32,590 S2: npr.org and clicking on the Moody Radio button there. That's life. 27 00:01:35,470 --> 00:01:37,630 S1: If you're a first time listener, this is the land 28 00:01:37,630 --> 00:01:40,510 S1: and the book with four segments, each of them unique. 29 00:01:40,550 --> 00:01:43,390 S1: This opening segment looking at current events from the Middle 30 00:01:43,390 --> 00:01:47,190 S1: East region. Story number one, as front page news stories 31 00:01:47,190 --> 00:01:51,470 S1: accuse Israel of mass starvation and genocide. Political leaders around 32 00:01:51,470 --> 00:01:53,590 S1: the world are all just kind of lined up condemning 33 00:01:53,590 --> 00:01:57,670 S1: Israel for its actions in Gaza. Is that criticism justified, 34 00:01:57,670 --> 00:02:00,420 S1: or do the politicians and pundits have it wrong? 35 00:02:00,580 --> 00:02:02,900 S2: Well, one of the first casualties in any war is 36 00:02:02,900 --> 00:02:06,980 S2: the truth, and this war is no exception. Two months ago, 37 00:02:07,020 --> 00:02:10,940 S2: BBC published a report with this headline Gaza subjected to 38 00:02:10,980 --> 00:02:15,820 S2: forced starvation, top U.N. official tells BBC. The British Guardian 39 00:02:15,820 --> 00:02:20,140 S2: newspaper followed up with this headline UN says 14,000 babies 40 00:02:20,139 --> 00:02:23,139 S2: could die in Gaza in the next 48 hours under 41 00:02:23,139 --> 00:02:27,660 S2: Israeli aid blockade. But the report wasn't true. 14,000 babies 42 00:02:27,660 --> 00:02:30,620 S2: didn't die in Gaza over the next 48 hours. A 43 00:02:30,620 --> 00:02:33,820 S2: clarification was later issued saying the UN official was referring 44 00:02:33,820 --> 00:02:37,380 S2: to children at risk of malnutrition over a year, not 45 00:02:37,380 --> 00:02:40,579 S2: babies facing imminent death. But by then the headline had 46 00:02:40,580 --> 00:02:43,700 S2: gone around the world. The clarification got buried in the 47 00:02:43,700 --> 00:02:46,419 S2: next news cycle. At the end of July, the New 48 00:02:46,460 --> 00:02:49,820 S2: York Times published a front page story under the heading young, 49 00:02:49,860 --> 00:02:52,660 S2: old and Sick Starved to Death in Gaza with a 50 00:02:52,660 --> 00:02:56,420 S2: picture of an apparently starving child. That story reached tens 51 00:02:56,419 --> 00:02:59,570 S2: of millions around the world. The leaders of the UK, 52 00:02:59,610 --> 00:03:04,250 S2: France and Canada responded by condemning Israel's egregious actions and 53 00:03:04,250 --> 00:03:06,810 S2: warned of joint action on their part if it continued. 54 00:03:07,130 --> 00:03:10,090 S2: But again, the story as reported, was false. The child 55 00:03:10,090 --> 00:03:13,930 S2: wasn't starving. He suffers from a rare genetic disorder. Five 56 00:03:13,930 --> 00:03:17,650 S2: days later, the times issued a clarification. But the lie 57 00:03:17,690 --> 00:03:21,250 S2: got wide circulation, while the truth got far less, and 58 00:03:21,250 --> 00:03:24,970 S2: a German newspaper reported on staged famine photos by a 59 00:03:25,010 --> 00:03:30,210 S2: Gazan photographer that received widespread coverage. Here's what's really happening 60 00:03:30,210 --> 00:03:33,609 S2: in Gaza. Aid has been going into Gaza, though Israel 61 00:03:33,610 --> 00:03:36,370 S2: did block it for a time. And sadly, much of 62 00:03:36,410 --> 00:03:40,410 S2: that aid has been hijacked by Hamas. The Gaza Humanitarian 63 00:03:40,410 --> 00:03:43,730 S2: Foundation was set up to provide relief, with the distribution 64 00:03:43,730 --> 00:03:47,690 S2: being guarded by Israeli soldiers. Since late May, it's distributed 65 00:03:47,690 --> 00:03:52,089 S2: about 100 million meals. So why isn't that being reported? Well, 66 00:03:52,090 --> 00:03:55,490 S2: in BBC's case. A leaked internal email suggests their staff 67 00:03:55,490 --> 00:03:59,960 S2: were told to downplay the aid crossing into Gaza. So 68 00:04:00,000 --> 00:04:02,760 S2: are people in Gaza struggling with food shortage? It seems 69 00:04:02,760 --> 00:04:05,840 S2: that the answer is yes. There are people who can't 70 00:04:05,840 --> 00:04:09,160 S2: afford the aid hijacked and resold by Hamas and others 71 00:04:09,160 --> 00:04:11,320 S2: who don't live near the aid centers or who are 72 00:04:11,320 --> 00:04:14,520 S2: afraid to travel there. But as Israel guilty of mass 73 00:04:14,520 --> 00:04:18,360 S2: starvation and genocide, the answer there is no. In nearly 74 00:04:18,360 --> 00:04:21,960 S2: two years, about 60,000 people have died in Gaza, with 75 00:04:21,960 --> 00:04:25,880 S2: 20,000 or more being Hamas fighters. That's just a tick 76 00:04:25,920 --> 00:04:29,640 S2: above what normal death rates would have been. What Hamas 77 00:04:29,640 --> 00:04:33,440 S2: did on October 7th was genocide, and the recently released 78 00:04:33,440 --> 00:04:38,159 S2: video of starving hostages shows Hamas's cruel use of starvation 79 00:04:38,160 --> 00:04:42,320 S2: as a war crime. Let's remember who's committing the war crimes, 80 00:04:42,320 --> 00:04:45,120 S2: and they're doing it as a matter of official policy. 81 00:04:45,120 --> 00:04:46,840 S2: And it is not Israel. 82 00:04:47,320 --> 00:04:50,240 S1: Well, there's a growing call worldwide to push forward and 83 00:04:50,240 --> 00:04:53,440 S1: create a state of Palestine as a way to supposedly 84 00:04:53,440 --> 00:04:58,179 S1: resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict? Would this really solve the problem, though, 85 00:04:58,220 --> 00:05:00,380 S1: or would it cause even greater issues? 86 00:05:00,740 --> 00:05:03,460 S2: You know, the headlines make that sound like a reasonable solution, 87 00:05:03,460 --> 00:05:06,539 S2: but the reality is far more troubling. Here are just 88 00:05:06,540 --> 00:05:09,620 S2: some of the basic problems. First, where will this state 89 00:05:09,620 --> 00:05:12,460 S2: be located? What are its boundaries? Well, many say it 90 00:05:12,460 --> 00:05:17,739 S2: would be along the pre 1967 borders before June 1967. 91 00:05:17,779 --> 00:05:20,860 S2: That land was controlled by Egypt, Jordan and Syria. But 92 00:05:20,900 --> 00:05:23,620 S2: instead of creating the state that they say they now want, 93 00:05:23,940 --> 00:05:27,980 S2: they tried to destroy Israel in 1967. A second who 94 00:05:27,980 --> 00:05:31,860 S2: would control the state? Back in 2006, Hamas won the 95 00:05:31,860 --> 00:05:35,340 S2: last election held by the Palestinians. If Hamas or a 96 00:05:35,339 --> 00:05:38,300 S2: similar terror group wins again. It would be a repeat 97 00:05:38,300 --> 00:05:41,380 S2: of what Hamas did in Gaza. Only now all Israel 98 00:05:41,380 --> 00:05:44,460 S2: would be threatened. That leads to a third issue. Who 99 00:05:44,460 --> 00:05:47,300 S2: will guarantee that a Palestinian state would live in peace 100 00:05:47,300 --> 00:05:51,300 S2: with Israel? Now, BBC just reported that Hamas refuses to 101 00:05:51,339 --> 00:05:55,450 S2: disarm until a Palestinian state is established. The report made 102 00:05:55,450 --> 00:05:58,330 S2: it sound as if Hamas would disarm at that point. 103 00:05:58,450 --> 00:06:01,409 S2: But Hamas's own documents make it clear that what they 104 00:06:01,410 --> 00:06:05,010 S2: mean by a Palestinian state is not what most people think. 105 00:06:05,130 --> 00:06:08,850 S2: Let me quote Palestine extends from the river Jordan in 106 00:06:08,850 --> 00:06:12,210 S2: the east to the Mediterranean in the west. In other words, 107 00:06:12,210 --> 00:06:16,650 S2: they'll disarm when the State of Israel disappears. Period. They 108 00:06:16,650 --> 00:06:19,930 S2: plan to fight until Israel is wiped off the map. Now, 109 00:06:19,930 --> 00:06:23,170 S2: would you trust them if you were Israel? Finally, here's 110 00:06:23,170 --> 00:06:26,170 S2: the most basic issue of all who really does own 111 00:06:26,210 --> 00:06:29,370 S2: the land? Those of us who believe the Bible read 112 00:06:29,370 --> 00:06:32,969 S2: that God Himself gave the land to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, 113 00:06:32,970 --> 00:06:36,730 S2: and Jacob as an everlasting inheritance. And that was long 114 00:06:36,730 --> 00:06:40,530 S2: before any Palestinian Arabs took up residence there. The Jewish 115 00:06:40,529 --> 00:06:44,010 S2: people are not Western colonizers. They've been in the land 116 00:06:44,010 --> 00:06:47,330 S2: for 4000 years, and even when they were ethnically cleansed 117 00:06:47,330 --> 00:06:50,130 S2: from the land by the Babylonians and then by the Romans, 118 00:06:50,130 --> 00:06:54,480 S2: they still came back to reclaim their inheritance. Ignoring these 119 00:06:54,480 --> 00:06:58,800 S2: realities won't lead to peace. It'll just create greater problems. Now, 120 00:06:58,800 --> 00:07:01,560 S2: God does make provision in the Bible for the aliens, 121 00:07:01,560 --> 00:07:04,560 S2: that is the non-israelites who live in the land. But 122 00:07:04,560 --> 00:07:07,360 S2: he gave sovereign control of the land to Israel. 123 00:07:07,720 --> 00:07:10,840 S1: That's Doctor Charlie Dyer, Middle East expert. I'm John Gallagher. 124 00:07:10,880 --> 00:07:13,000 S1: This is the land and the book where we're working 125 00:07:13,000 --> 00:07:15,800 S1: through a list of current events. Stories from the week. 126 00:07:15,840 --> 00:07:20,080 S1: Archaeologists discovered a seal impression on the Temple Mount that 127 00:07:20,080 --> 00:07:23,320 S1: provides a link to the biblical account of King Josiah. 128 00:07:23,720 --> 00:07:26,360 S1: What's the significance of this tiny piece of clay? 129 00:07:26,680 --> 00:07:28,880 S2: Yeah, and this piece of clay is tiny. It's about 130 00:07:28,880 --> 00:07:32,240 S2: the size of a fingernail. In ancient times, documents would 131 00:07:32,240 --> 00:07:34,760 S2: be sealed by tying a piece of string around them 132 00:07:34,760 --> 00:07:37,080 S2: and then putting a lump of clay over the knot 133 00:07:37,080 --> 00:07:40,480 S2: and pressing a signet ring into that clay. The name 134 00:07:40,480 --> 00:07:43,160 S2: and impression on the signet ring would be transferred onto 135 00:07:43,160 --> 00:07:46,760 S2: the clay, authenticating the document. Now, when Jerusalem was destroyed 136 00:07:46,760 --> 00:07:49,800 S2: by the Babylonians, the documents were burned up. But those 137 00:07:49,800 --> 00:07:53,230 S2: bits of clay became small pieces of pottery. Now, this 138 00:07:53,230 --> 00:07:55,870 S2: latest seal was discovered as part of the Temple Mount 139 00:07:55,910 --> 00:07:58,989 S2: Sifting Project that for the past 20 years has been 140 00:07:58,990 --> 00:08:02,310 S2: sifting through soil that was illegally excavated on the Temple 141 00:08:02,310 --> 00:08:05,030 S2: Mount by the Muslim authorities and then dumped into the 142 00:08:05,030 --> 00:08:08,910 S2: Kidron Valley. This seal impression was just discovered, and from 143 00:08:08,910 --> 00:08:12,230 S2: the style of writing, it's dated to around 2600 B.C., 144 00:08:12,430 --> 00:08:15,390 S2: near the end of the First Temple period. The inscription 145 00:08:15,390 --> 00:08:20,429 S2: on the seal impression reads belonging to Jedaiah, son of Azdahu. 146 00:08:20,790 --> 00:08:23,350 S2: What makes the find so significant is that in second 147 00:08:23,350 --> 00:08:26,910 S2: Kings 22, in the 18th year of King Josiah, which 148 00:08:26,910 --> 00:08:30,190 S2: was 622 BC, a copy of the law was found 149 00:08:30,190 --> 00:08:32,750 S2: in the temple. When it was read to Josiah, he 150 00:08:32,790 --> 00:08:35,870 S2: sent an official delegation to inquire of the Lord what 151 00:08:35,870 --> 00:08:39,750 S2: they should do. That five man delegation included an individual 152 00:08:39,750 --> 00:08:43,790 S2: named Isaiah, who's identified as the king's servant, likely a 153 00:08:43,830 --> 00:08:48,590 S2: senior royal official, now in Hebrew Isaiah. And who are 154 00:08:48,590 --> 00:08:51,980 S2: the same name. The seal impression belongs to the son 155 00:08:51,980 --> 00:08:55,020 S2: of a Yahoo! Who very likely then followed his father 156 00:08:55,020 --> 00:08:59,340 S2: into government service. This tiny discovery gives us insight into 157 00:08:59,380 --> 00:09:02,340 S2: an individual who appears in the Bible, and who played 158 00:09:02,340 --> 00:09:05,579 S2: a key role in Judah's final spiritual revival. 159 00:09:06,140 --> 00:09:10,100 S1: Well, Israel's medical wizardry and high tech preparedness was on 160 00:09:10,100 --> 00:09:13,660 S1: full display during the recent conflict with Iran. How were 161 00:09:13,660 --> 00:09:17,020 S1: they able to keep their hospitals running during Iran's extended 162 00:09:17,020 --> 00:09:17,939 S1: missile attack? 163 00:09:18,179 --> 00:09:20,940 S2: You know, long before the war with Iran started, Israel 164 00:09:20,940 --> 00:09:24,180 S2: assumed correctly, it turned out that their enemies would deliberately 165 00:09:24,179 --> 00:09:28,179 S2: target hospitals. Just after the Hamas attack on October 7th, 166 00:09:28,340 --> 00:09:31,460 S2: Israel built an underground hospital in a parking lot under 167 00:09:31,460 --> 00:09:35,420 S2: construction at Hadassah Hospital on Mount Scopus. Over the years, 168 00:09:35,420 --> 00:09:38,860 S2: similar preparations had been made at Hadassah Hospital in Ankara, 169 00:09:38,980 --> 00:09:41,860 S2: at Soroka medical Center in Beersheba, and at all other 170 00:09:41,860 --> 00:09:45,780 S2: major hospitals around the country. Their preparations involved more than 171 00:09:45,780 --> 00:09:50,090 S2: just constructing underground operating rooms and intensive care units. They 172 00:09:50,090 --> 00:09:53,090 S2: also carefully worked out all the logistics required to quickly 173 00:09:53,090 --> 00:09:57,170 S2: transition to those facilities, should the country come under attack, 174 00:09:57,170 --> 00:10:00,370 S2: and the preparations paid off in Beersheba, when the Soroka 175 00:10:00,370 --> 00:10:03,410 S2: medical center took a direct hit from an Iranian missile 176 00:10:03,650 --> 00:10:06,930 S2: just hours before the strike, the hospital had moved patients 177 00:10:06,929 --> 00:10:10,530 S2: out of the upper floors where the missile hit. In Jerusalem, 178 00:10:10,530 --> 00:10:13,890 S2: the preparations were no less dramatic. At 3 a.m., cell 179 00:10:13,890 --> 00:10:17,689 S2: phones sounded with a message that announced an impending missile attack. 180 00:10:17,809 --> 00:10:22,370 S2: Staff immediately began transferring patients to predesignated safe areas that 181 00:10:22,370 --> 00:10:25,370 S2: included the moving of infants in the neonatal unit. Now, 182 00:10:25,370 --> 00:10:27,850 S2: each child in that unit required a team of four 183 00:10:27,890 --> 00:10:30,970 S2: individuals who knew exactly what to do. By the time 184 00:10:31,010 --> 00:10:34,689 S2: Iran actually attacked, all the patients had been safely relocated, 185 00:10:34,690 --> 00:10:39,089 S2: not early preparation and meticulous planning showed Israel's hospitals were 186 00:10:39,090 --> 00:10:42,450 S2: able to quickly transition. Medical facilities around the world could 187 00:10:42,450 --> 00:10:45,770 S2: profit from studying those emergency response plans. 188 00:10:45,929 --> 00:10:48,760 S1: Well, I had not heard that story. Thank you for that, Charlie. 189 00:10:48,800 --> 00:10:51,920 S1: And the rest of your current events presentation. Stick with 190 00:10:51,920 --> 00:10:54,800 S1: us for more, including a conversation about ministry in Turkey 191 00:10:54,840 --> 00:11:12,160 S1: on the land and the book. The Apostle Paul was 192 00:11:12,160 --> 00:11:16,240 S1: born in Tarsus, but where was Tarsus? Modern day Turkey, 193 00:11:16,240 --> 00:11:18,840 S1: that's where. And a surprising amount of the Bible took 194 00:11:18,840 --> 00:11:23,120 S1: place there. But today Turkey is largely hostile to the gospel. 195 00:11:23,320 --> 00:11:26,720 S1: Coming up, a firsthand account of a gospel witness in Turkey. 196 00:11:27,000 --> 00:11:29,640 S1: This is the land and the book. I'm John Gager. 197 00:11:29,640 --> 00:11:32,280 S1: And before flying off to the Middle East, let's set 198 00:11:32,280 --> 00:11:34,360 S1: our sights on the Muslim friends who live in our 199 00:11:34,360 --> 00:11:38,760 S1: own neighborhoods. How can we love them for Christ? Western 200 00:11:38,760 --> 00:11:42,520 S1: and Islamic values? I'm sure you've noticed they're not necessarily 201 00:11:42,520 --> 00:11:45,280 S1: the same. Let's talk about that with Samuel Johnson of 202 00:11:45,420 --> 00:11:49,420 S1: Call of Love Ministries. Well, for starters, there's honor versus respect. 203 00:11:49,420 --> 00:11:50,459 S1: How are these different? 204 00:11:50,820 --> 00:11:54,740 S3: They are very different. With the Western world, it is 205 00:11:54,940 --> 00:11:59,260 S3: a key that we feel respected because once we're respected 206 00:11:59,500 --> 00:12:03,420 S3: in the place of influence among our family, then people 207 00:12:03,420 --> 00:12:06,980 S3: will listen to us. We're accredited. But that's not the 208 00:12:06,980 --> 00:12:10,540 S3: case with the Muslim world. Honor is more important. What 209 00:12:10,540 --> 00:12:15,459 S3: does honor mean? Honor means that you do not bring 210 00:12:15,500 --> 00:12:20,940 S3: shame to your family, to your community, and to Islam itself. 211 00:12:21,100 --> 00:12:23,940 S3: So a muslim's good acts bring honor and pride to 212 00:12:23,980 --> 00:12:28,260 S3: the family and the community. What's honorable or shameful is 213 00:12:28,260 --> 00:12:32,300 S3: dictated by the Islamic practices, not by society and not 214 00:12:32,300 --> 00:12:35,500 S3: by your own values. And believe it or not, John, 215 00:12:35,540 --> 00:12:39,540 S3: death is the ultimate sacrifice a muslim might have to 216 00:12:39,580 --> 00:12:42,939 S3: pay if they bring shame to their community. 217 00:12:42,980 --> 00:12:45,770 S1: Okay, so how can I use this or springboard off 218 00:12:45,770 --> 00:12:48,490 S1: this in my conversation? My relationship with a muslim friend. 219 00:12:48,530 --> 00:12:52,689 S3: I will always tell them that I brought shame to 220 00:12:52,730 --> 00:12:56,410 S3: God because of my sin, and Jesus brought me back 221 00:12:56,450 --> 00:12:59,610 S3: my honor. If I believe in him, I will become 222 00:12:59,650 --> 00:13:01,449 S3: honorable in the sight of God. 223 00:13:01,490 --> 00:13:04,050 S1: Samuel Johnson, who's written The Guide to Loving Your Muslim 224 00:13:04,050 --> 00:13:08,490 S1: Neighbors here on the land and the book. Turkey is 225 00:13:08,490 --> 00:13:12,130 S1: an amazing country. There are flavors of Europe, Asia, and 226 00:13:12,170 --> 00:13:14,890 S1: of course the Middle East. But the markets and restaurants 227 00:13:14,890 --> 00:13:19,250 S1: and shops are absolutely exotic. Kim Kerr and Bridget Sylvester 228 00:13:19,290 --> 00:13:21,809 S1: know all about it. They were there recently. Kim is 229 00:13:21,809 --> 00:13:25,210 S1: the founder and executive director of women in the Window International. 230 00:13:25,450 --> 00:13:27,970 S1: Her passion is to display the wonder and welcome of 231 00:13:27,970 --> 00:13:31,449 S1: the gospel as she leads this life giving and capacity 232 00:13:31,450 --> 00:13:34,570 S1: building ministry. Women in the world partners with leaders serving 233 00:13:34,570 --> 00:13:38,010 S1: in more than a dozen North African and Middle Eastern nations, 234 00:13:38,010 --> 00:13:41,730 S1: and each has a compelling and life giving ministry among women. Hey, 235 00:13:41,730 --> 00:13:43,680 S1: welcome to the land and the book, Kim. 236 00:13:43,720 --> 00:13:46,040 S4: Hey. So good to be with you. John, I love 237 00:13:46,080 --> 00:13:48,319 S4: this program, and I'm just honored to tell a little 238 00:13:48,320 --> 00:13:50,640 S4: bit of our story of women in the Window International. 239 00:13:50,720 --> 00:13:53,880 S1: Well, also joining our conversation today is Brigitte Sylvestre. Brigitte 240 00:13:53,880 --> 00:13:57,160 S1: is a broadcast journalist, a media professional who has traveled 241 00:13:57,160 --> 00:13:59,280 S1: the globe. I had the honor of working with her 242 00:13:59,280 --> 00:14:02,360 S1: once in Peru. Brigitte is a world class talent with 243 00:14:02,360 --> 00:14:05,000 S1: a heart for ministry. It's always an honor to connect 244 00:14:05,000 --> 00:14:07,479 S1: with you, Brigitte, so thanks for making time in your schedule. 245 00:14:07,520 --> 00:14:10,600 S5: Oh, John, thank you so much for caring about the 246 00:14:10,640 --> 00:14:13,280 S5: women and the people really in the land, in the 247 00:14:13,280 --> 00:14:16,400 S5: Middle East. And that's really who we want to minister 248 00:14:16,400 --> 00:14:18,520 S5: to in Turkey with women in the window. So we 249 00:14:18,520 --> 00:14:21,760 S5: couldn't be happier to tell their story and our story. 250 00:14:21,920 --> 00:14:24,040 S1: Well, Kim, let's start with you. Bring some definition to 251 00:14:24,080 --> 00:14:27,240 S1: that phrase, women in the window. Some listeners might be saying, 252 00:14:27,240 --> 00:14:28,040 S1: what window? 253 00:14:28,320 --> 00:14:32,360 S4: Sure. Yes. Not everyone understands about the 1040 window. In fact, 254 00:14:32,360 --> 00:14:34,880 S4: I didn't a number of years ago until I saw 255 00:14:34,880 --> 00:14:37,280 S4: it on a map. And then I heard it explained 256 00:14:37,280 --> 00:14:41,160 S4: that in this window of opportunity, it's a geographical region 257 00:14:41,160 --> 00:14:43,790 S4: from the west coast of Africa. East coast of Asia 258 00:14:43,830 --> 00:14:46,710 S4: 10 to 40 degrees north of the equator. That there's 259 00:14:46,710 --> 00:14:49,830 S4: the most opportunity to bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ 260 00:14:49,870 --> 00:14:53,230 S4: to people that often do not have that opportunity, especially women. 261 00:14:53,550 --> 00:14:57,550 S4: And women are oppressed, often even abused, simply because they're female. 262 00:14:58,150 --> 00:15:00,670 S4: And yes, in that window we find a great deal 263 00:15:00,670 --> 00:15:03,910 S4: of the Middle East. And, you know, the land that 264 00:15:03,910 --> 00:15:05,550 S4: we're talking about today on your program. 265 00:15:05,590 --> 00:15:07,710 S1: Yeah. But, Kim, how do you make connections with believers 266 00:15:07,710 --> 00:15:10,550 S1: in places like Turkey? So you can then build rapport 267 00:15:10,550 --> 00:15:12,950 S1: and move into ministry? It's not like you can advertise. 268 00:15:12,990 --> 00:15:16,790 S4: No, no, no. You know, you were just referencing the 269 00:15:16,790 --> 00:15:20,390 S4: Apostle Paul and the Bible, the New Testament, and it 270 00:15:20,390 --> 00:15:24,110 S4: still works largely the same way, John. It's relational. You know, 271 00:15:24,150 --> 00:15:27,550 S4: I've had the opportunity of being part of this community 272 00:15:28,030 --> 00:15:31,830 S4: for about 25 years, actually. And so when we're working, 273 00:15:31,870 --> 00:15:34,630 S4: for example, with a woman from Algeria, she'll tell you 274 00:15:34,630 --> 00:15:38,470 S4: about her friend from Turkey. And so it's very relational 275 00:15:38,470 --> 00:15:44,060 S4: ministry where we we engage with local believers, Muslim background 276 00:15:44,060 --> 00:15:46,260 S4: for the most part. And then they introduce us to 277 00:15:46,300 --> 00:15:48,260 S4: another ministry and another and another. 278 00:15:48,660 --> 00:15:51,060 S1: Kim Kerr is the executive director of women in the 279 00:15:51,060 --> 00:15:55,460 S1: Window International. She's joined today by broadcast journalist Bridget Sylvester. 280 00:15:55,460 --> 00:15:58,540 S1: Both are back from a recent trip to Turkey. Not 281 00:15:58,540 --> 00:16:01,300 S1: long ago, you were there. And let me ask you, Bridget, 282 00:16:01,300 --> 00:16:03,940 S1: for someone who's never been to Turkey, what are your 283 00:16:03,940 --> 00:16:06,180 S1: impressions of the place and the people? 284 00:16:06,900 --> 00:16:09,420 S5: Well, what I took away from my time in Turkey 285 00:16:09,420 --> 00:16:13,020 S5: was there about nine days. When I think about the people, 286 00:16:13,220 --> 00:16:17,340 S5: I think about hospitality, and I think about how welcoming 287 00:16:17,340 --> 00:16:19,660 S5: they are. I mean, they just want to sit you 288 00:16:19,660 --> 00:16:22,300 S5: down and give you a cup of Turkish tea, which 289 00:16:22,300 --> 00:16:25,580 S5: I had plenty of while I was there. They just 290 00:16:25,580 --> 00:16:28,140 S5: want to sit down and hear your story and want 291 00:16:28,140 --> 00:16:32,580 S5: to tell you their story. And so really, the hospitality, 292 00:16:32,820 --> 00:16:36,940 S5: the sense of community is really big in the Middle East. 293 00:16:36,940 --> 00:16:38,820 S5: In fact, when I was talking with one of the 294 00:16:38,970 --> 00:16:41,690 S5: women who are part of our conference that we were 295 00:16:41,690 --> 00:16:44,810 S5: leading there. She's just talked about how in the Middle 296 00:16:44,810 --> 00:16:47,690 S5: East in general, you never want to eat alone. If 297 00:16:47,690 --> 00:16:49,810 S5: you're going to sit down to eat a meal. You 298 00:16:49,810 --> 00:16:51,570 S5: want to do it with a friend. You want to 299 00:16:51,570 --> 00:16:54,130 S5: do it with a family member. To eat alone would 300 00:16:54,130 --> 00:16:58,490 S5: almost be a shameful thing because we do life together. 301 00:16:58,490 --> 00:17:00,970 S5: That's how they really think about life, is that it's 302 00:17:00,970 --> 00:17:03,810 S5: meant to be lived in community, so they welcome you 303 00:17:03,810 --> 00:17:06,770 S5: right in. And I felt just a part of their 304 00:17:06,770 --> 00:17:10,330 S5: community and of their culture. And we really had that 305 00:17:10,330 --> 00:17:13,129 S5: amongst the women that were gathered with women in the window. 306 00:17:13,130 --> 00:17:14,850 S5: It truly was a community. 307 00:17:15,210 --> 00:17:17,970 S1: Kim, describe the meetings that you had, the format. Tell 308 00:17:18,010 --> 00:17:20,810 S1: us a bit more about the content you shared, the 309 00:17:20,810 --> 00:17:22,330 S1: curriculum that you've written here. 310 00:17:22,450 --> 00:17:25,609 S4: Oh, sure. Gosh, I'd love to talk about that. Of course, 311 00:17:25,609 --> 00:17:28,570 S4: every day begins with just times of praise and worship, 312 00:17:28,570 --> 00:17:31,369 S4: and we do that in multiple languages. We obviously are 313 00:17:31,369 --> 00:17:34,369 S4: always going to include Arabic, but there's other native tongues, 314 00:17:34,410 --> 00:17:38,720 S4: you know, some speak French, some speak Kabylie and some 315 00:17:38,720 --> 00:17:41,280 S4: speak English. So we begin our day and just lifting 316 00:17:41,280 --> 00:17:43,840 S4: our voices to the Lord and praise and worship. And 317 00:17:43,840 --> 00:17:47,480 S4: then we enter into a curriculum that's also called women 318 00:17:47,480 --> 00:17:49,640 S4: in the window. And the reason for that, John, is 319 00:17:49,640 --> 00:17:51,880 S4: it goes right along with your ministry here with the 320 00:17:51,880 --> 00:17:55,200 S4: book is we open the window of God's Word, and 321 00:17:55,200 --> 00:17:58,720 S4: we let women see themselves in that story. And their 322 00:17:58,720 --> 00:18:02,719 S4: story takes on new meaning and new depth and new purpose. 323 00:18:02,720 --> 00:18:05,240 S4: They find the forgiveness that they often need. You know, 324 00:18:05,280 --> 00:18:07,639 S4: some come to the foot of the cross with a 325 00:18:07,680 --> 00:18:11,360 S4: lot of baggage. Um, some come with just desperate need and, 326 00:18:11,400 --> 00:18:14,760 S4: you know, some broken relationships currently in their lives. And 327 00:18:14,760 --> 00:18:18,480 S4: so by looking at the lives of, like Lydia from Thyatira, Turkey, 328 00:18:18,680 --> 00:18:22,160 S4: they're like, oh, wow. Okay. So I could do that too. 329 00:18:22,840 --> 00:18:25,040 S1: Bridget, what kind of reactions did you observe from the 330 00:18:25,040 --> 00:18:26,560 S1: women that were in attendance? 331 00:18:27,000 --> 00:18:30,080 S5: Oh, well, we just had a wonderful time with the 332 00:18:30,080 --> 00:18:32,880 S5: ladies and many of them traveled from different nations. We 333 00:18:32,880 --> 00:18:39,670 S5: had women from Egypt, from Lebanon, from Turkey, from Algeria 334 00:18:39,950 --> 00:18:43,070 S5: and Jordan as well. And so women from different parts 335 00:18:43,070 --> 00:18:45,750 S5: of the Middle East came together. And these are women 336 00:18:45,750 --> 00:18:49,230 S5: who have met before, thanks to women in the Window International. 337 00:18:49,230 --> 00:18:52,310 S5: We've done these type of trainings in that region before. 338 00:18:52,310 --> 00:18:55,230 S5: So many of the women knew each other already. Some 339 00:18:55,230 --> 00:18:59,110 S5: were new, but again, all welcomed in. And what we 340 00:18:59,109 --> 00:19:02,149 S5: were studying was we did Bible studies and we learned 341 00:19:02,150 --> 00:19:04,750 S5: about women in the Bible, but we also had a 342 00:19:04,790 --> 00:19:08,510 S5: guest speaker, in particular, Leslie Leyland Fields, who taught us 343 00:19:08,670 --> 00:19:12,150 S5: her curriculum. Your story matters, and it's all about helping 344 00:19:12,150 --> 00:19:15,389 S5: the women decipher their own story and put it to 345 00:19:15,430 --> 00:19:18,030 S5: paper to share with others. And so one of the 346 00:19:18,030 --> 00:19:20,830 S5: things I realized is that as the women came in 347 00:19:20,830 --> 00:19:23,830 S5: the first day, many of them maybe didn't feel like 348 00:19:23,830 --> 00:19:26,590 S5: their story mattered, or that they even had a story 349 00:19:26,590 --> 00:19:29,910 S5: to share, or that they were able to articulate what 350 00:19:29,950 --> 00:19:31,950 S5: God had done in their lives. But by the end 351 00:19:31,950 --> 00:19:36,130 S5: of the week, every woman had written a powerful story 352 00:19:36,130 --> 00:19:40,490 S5: of how God had intervened in many difficult circumstances, and 353 00:19:40,490 --> 00:19:42,650 S5: there were tears. By the end of the week, as 354 00:19:42,650 --> 00:19:46,330 S5: they shared their stories, some laughter as well as we 355 00:19:46,330 --> 00:19:49,810 S5: just rejoiced at how God intervened. And it just it 356 00:19:49,810 --> 00:19:52,889 S5: was beautiful to hear each other's story. I mean, there's 357 00:19:52,890 --> 00:19:56,370 S5: power in not only recognizing our story, but in sharing 358 00:19:56,369 --> 00:19:58,810 S5: it with others. And I saw that as we sat 359 00:19:58,810 --> 00:20:03,010 S5: around and we shared our stories, thanks to the curriculum 360 00:20:03,010 --> 00:20:05,650 S5: we had been through that week of of writing our 361 00:20:05,650 --> 00:20:09,410 S5: story and considering our story and then sharing it. 362 00:20:09,570 --> 00:20:11,370 S1: You know, I'm kind of curious. Kim, what are some 363 00:20:11,369 --> 00:20:15,210 S1: biblical concepts that we take for granted? Uh, you know, 364 00:20:15,250 --> 00:20:16,929 S1: it's it's easy for us to get a hold of 365 00:20:16,970 --> 00:20:20,610 S1: here in the United States, but maybe our hurdles for 366 00:20:20,609 --> 00:20:23,889 S1: women in the Middle East. Obstacles to overcome, uh, particularly 367 00:20:23,890 --> 00:20:26,370 S1: those in the 1040 window. What are your observations along 368 00:20:26,369 --> 00:20:27,169 S1: those lines? 369 00:20:27,330 --> 00:20:30,050 S4: Yeah, well, I would say especially in the Middle East 370 00:20:30,050 --> 00:20:32,970 S4: and the Islamic world, which is obviously dominant in the 371 00:20:32,970 --> 00:20:36,080 S4: 1040 window, but to tag along with what Bridget's talking 372 00:20:36,080 --> 00:20:38,800 S4: about as they begin to tell their story, John and 373 00:20:38,800 --> 00:20:41,920 S4: understand their story more deeply than perhaps they ever have 374 00:20:41,960 --> 00:20:48,000 S4: before because of your story matters. Opportunity. The concept of forgiveness. Because, 375 00:20:48,000 --> 00:20:50,280 S4: as you know, in the Muslim world, there's so much 376 00:20:50,280 --> 00:20:54,480 S4: guilt and oppression, and especially for females. And so for 377 00:20:54,480 --> 00:20:56,199 S4: most of us here in the West, we kind of 378 00:20:56,240 --> 00:20:58,280 S4: take that for granted. We might say grace is a 379 00:20:58,280 --> 00:21:02,320 S4: little bit cheap, unfortunately, but not for them. They really 380 00:21:02,320 --> 00:21:05,680 S4: carry the weight sometimes of their sin. And so being 381 00:21:05,680 --> 00:21:10,040 S4: able to truly release that to Christ, receive his forgiveness, 382 00:21:10,080 --> 00:21:13,479 S4: the loving embrace and the joy. You know, he's a 383 00:21:13,480 --> 00:21:16,840 S4: joyful father that is just waiting for us to come home. 384 00:21:16,840 --> 00:21:20,000 S4: He's pursuing us. I think that's one of the concepts 385 00:21:20,000 --> 00:21:24,000 S4: from Scripture that we really saw, lived out and fleshed out. 386 00:21:24,040 --> 00:21:26,480 S5: And I'll just jump in on that. Kim, as you 387 00:21:26,520 --> 00:21:28,479 S5: were saying, that I was reminded of one of the 388 00:21:28,480 --> 00:21:30,840 S5: ladies who was with us. I'll just call her Anna, 389 00:21:31,000 --> 00:21:34,470 S5: and she talked about sharing Jesus in that region and 390 00:21:34,470 --> 00:21:37,470 S5: how it's difficult in some way, in the sense that 391 00:21:37,470 --> 00:21:41,190 S5: the government doesn't allow them to share their faith in Christ. 392 00:21:41,190 --> 00:21:44,550 S5: But one way that it's actually easy for her is 393 00:21:44,550 --> 00:21:47,710 S5: because in the Middle East, it's still so similar to 394 00:21:47,750 --> 00:21:50,950 S5: the first century world that Jesus lived in. So as 395 00:21:50,950 --> 00:21:54,590 S5: she is telling the story of what Jesus experienced, they 396 00:21:54,590 --> 00:21:56,990 S5: get it because it's so similar to the culture in 397 00:21:56,990 --> 00:21:59,989 S5: the world they're living in right now. And so it 398 00:21:59,990 --> 00:22:02,790 S5: was actually easier at times to share the story of 399 00:22:02,790 --> 00:22:06,510 S5: Jesus because they recognize the culture as their own. Yeah. 400 00:22:06,550 --> 00:22:08,389 S1: Today on the land in the book, we're hearing about 401 00:22:08,390 --> 00:22:11,710 S1: a gospel witness in Turkey. With us are Kim Kerr 402 00:22:11,750 --> 00:22:14,670 S1: and Bridgett Sylvester. I'm John Gieger. I want you guys 403 00:22:14,670 --> 00:22:16,709 S1: to both take a shot at this. We'll start with you, Bridgett. 404 00:22:16,710 --> 00:22:19,030 S1: Think back on your time in Turkey. Take us to 405 00:22:19,070 --> 00:22:22,109 S1: a moment, a snapshot that you're never going to forget. 406 00:22:22,869 --> 00:22:26,710 S5: I'm never going to forget meeting a woman. I'll call Noor. 407 00:22:26,990 --> 00:22:29,389 S5: And in fact, that is her name. And she's free 408 00:22:29,390 --> 00:22:33,740 S5: to share that because um, where she lives in Lebanon, um, 409 00:22:33,740 --> 00:22:38,180 S5: she is able to practice her Christianity. There are limitations 410 00:22:38,180 --> 00:22:42,260 S5: the government places. But she is free to live as 411 00:22:42,260 --> 00:22:46,540 S5: a believer. And I'll never forget just rounding the corner 412 00:22:46,540 --> 00:22:50,460 S5: of our conference room. We were on a break, and 413 00:22:50,500 --> 00:22:53,179 S5: she was sitting by a large window and kind of 414 00:22:53,220 --> 00:22:56,700 S5: looking out, actually over some water that was just outside, 415 00:22:56,940 --> 00:22:59,820 S5: and I saw her in a deep, pensive type of state. 416 00:22:59,820 --> 00:23:02,780 S5: And I just kind of broke into that moment and said, 417 00:23:02,820 --> 00:23:04,580 S5: do you mind if I sit down next to you? 418 00:23:04,780 --> 00:23:08,260 S5: And as they do in the Middle East? Absolutely. You're 419 00:23:08,260 --> 00:23:11,300 S5: more than welcome. Just have a seat. And I just 420 00:23:11,300 --> 00:23:14,500 S5: began to ask Noor more about her story, and I 421 00:23:14,500 --> 00:23:17,300 S5: got to hear how she was raised in a very 422 00:23:17,300 --> 00:23:22,380 S5: fundamentalist Muslim family, and how even some of her family 423 00:23:22,380 --> 00:23:26,820 S5: could have even been members of groups that fight for 424 00:23:26,859 --> 00:23:31,010 S5: the Islamic religion. But growing up in that way. She's 425 00:23:31,010 --> 00:23:35,010 S5: just found that I'm not able to access God. I'm 426 00:23:35,010 --> 00:23:38,450 S5: looking for God, but I'm just not finding him. And 427 00:23:38,450 --> 00:23:41,090 S5: she just began, as she grew older, to reject what 428 00:23:41,090 --> 00:23:43,210 S5: her family taught her about God. But she was on 429 00:23:43,210 --> 00:23:46,850 S5: a search, a search that eventually led her to meeting 430 00:23:47,010 --> 00:23:50,090 S5: a family member of her then husband, who gave her 431 00:23:50,090 --> 00:23:53,129 S5: a Bible and began praying for her because he saw 432 00:23:53,130 --> 00:23:56,850 S5: the search she was on. Eventually, after much prayer, she 433 00:23:56,850 --> 00:23:59,850 S5: realized Jesus is the God I've been searching for my 434 00:23:59,850 --> 00:24:03,050 S5: entire life. And as she talked about who Jesus is 435 00:24:03,050 --> 00:24:06,450 S5: to her today, her face brightened up and she talks 436 00:24:06,450 --> 00:24:09,570 S5: about him with such passion and shares her testimony with 437 00:24:09,570 --> 00:24:13,129 S5: such passion because she talks about once walking in darkness 438 00:24:13,130 --> 00:24:16,010 S5: and now being in the light. And nor is someone 439 00:24:16,010 --> 00:24:20,530 S5: I'll never forget because our backgrounds are so different. But 440 00:24:20,570 --> 00:24:25,130 S5: yet we are sisters in Christ. And she just. I'll 441 00:24:25,130 --> 00:24:28,570 S5: never forget seeing the joy and the passion as she 442 00:24:28,680 --> 00:24:30,959 S5: talked about who Jesus is for her today. 443 00:24:31,240 --> 00:24:33,760 S1: Kim, that's, uh, that's quite a story, Bridget shared. I've 444 00:24:33,760 --> 00:24:36,439 S1: got 60s left, and it's all yours for the story 445 00:24:36,440 --> 00:24:37,160 S1: of your choice. 446 00:24:37,760 --> 00:24:40,400 S4: Okay. Thanks so much. Yeah. You know, there's a lot 447 00:24:40,400 --> 00:24:43,560 S4: that goes into planning a conference like this. And so 448 00:24:43,920 --> 00:24:45,680 S4: by the time you get there, you're a little weary. 449 00:24:45,840 --> 00:24:49,760 S4: My moment came when I was sitting listening to two 450 00:24:49,800 --> 00:24:52,280 S4: women that did not know each other prior. Connect out 451 00:24:52,280 --> 00:24:55,560 S4: in the hall. One of them had, as a little girl, 452 00:24:55,560 --> 00:24:59,520 S4: wanted to go to this very restricted nation in the region, 453 00:24:59,800 --> 00:25:02,480 S4: in the Mena region. And the other one was from 454 00:25:02,480 --> 00:25:06,360 S4: that nation. And when they connected, I could hear basically 455 00:25:06,359 --> 00:25:12,200 S4: just their voices just overflowing with joy, anticipation. Could it be? 456 00:25:12,600 --> 00:25:14,600 S4: And so by the end of the conference, they had 457 00:25:14,600 --> 00:25:17,360 S4: made plans for one to come and actually begin serving 458 00:25:17,400 --> 00:25:20,800 S4: in this nation that has recently been completely closed by 459 00:25:20,800 --> 00:25:24,080 S4: the government. And just to think, you know, if all 460 00:25:24,080 --> 00:25:27,280 S4: we did for that entire conference was to bring those 461 00:25:27,280 --> 00:25:29,950 S4: two women together and the people that they will be 462 00:25:29,950 --> 00:25:33,070 S4: reaching in that closed Muslim nation. It's all worth it, John. 463 00:25:33,109 --> 00:25:36,750 S1: Wow, what a great conversation. A gospel witness in Turkey 464 00:25:36,910 --> 00:25:40,230 S1: with Kim Kerr and Bridgett Sylvester. Thank you for joining 465 00:25:40,230 --> 00:25:40,870 S1: us today. 466 00:25:41,030 --> 00:25:41,790 S5: Thank you John. 467 00:25:41,830 --> 00:25:42,550 S4: Thank you. 468 00:25:42,910 --> 00:25:44,790 S1: And a link to your website is at ours. The 469 00:25:44,790 --> 00:25:48,670 S1: land and the book, all the land and the book. 470 00:25:49,869 --> 00:25:51,909 S1: Segment three coming your way with a fresh set of 471 00:25:51,910 --> 00:25:54,670 S1: Bible questions. I hope you'll stick around on the land 472 00:25:54,670 --> 00:26:09,710 S1: and the book. Segment three Questions and Answers. That's what's 473 00:26:09,710 --> 00:26:12,869 S1: coming up here on the land and the book. Welcome back. 474 00:26:12,869 --> 00:26:15,669 S1: I'm John Gager, grateful for your company. No point in 475 00:26:15,670 --> 00:26:18,469 S1: doing what we do if nobody else is listening or connecting. 476 00:26:18,470 --> 00:26:20,590 S1: And by the way, we've got a podcast that you 477 00:26:20,590 --> 00:26:22,510 S1: can share with your friends. If you'd like to connect 478 00:26:22,510 --> 00:26:25,629 S1: them to this ministry, you'll find the podcast at our 479 00:26:25,780 --> 00:26:32,020 S1: website the Landand Thebook the land and Thebook. And right 480 00:26:32,060 --> 00:26:33,900 S1: off the bat, let me encourage you to send your 481 00:26:33,900 --> 00:26:36,179 S1: own question in so you can be part of this 482 00:26:36,180 --> 00:26:39,340 S1: segment yourself with a quick email to the land and 483 00:26:39,340 --> 00:26:43,700 S1: the book at Moody. That's the land and the book 484 00:26:43,900 --> 00:26:47,620 S1: at Moody. Well, as believers, there's a great need for 485 00:26:47,619 --> 00:26:50,379 S1: us to share the gospel with the Jewish people. In fact, 486 00:26:50,420 --> 00:26:53,700 S1: many of our listeners faithfully pray and partner with ministries 487 00:26:53,700 --> 00:26:56,740 S1: that are doing just that. But what if you could 488 00:26:56,740 --> 00:27:00,500 S1: personally take part in bringing the gospel to Jewish people? Well, 489 00:27:00,500 --> 00:27:03,300 S1: our friends at Life and Messiah love the opportunity to 490 00:27:03,340 --> 00:27:07,460 S1: get believers involved in Jewish ministry, and they regularly organize 491 00:27:07,460 --> 00:27:11,379 S1: outreach teams to places like Brooklyn, New York, South Florida, 492 00:27:11,500 --> 00:27:14,660 S1: even to Israel outside of times of conflict. And these 493 00:27:14,660 --> 00:27:17,780 S1: ministry trips will all equip you to understand how to 494 00:27:17,820 --> 00:27:20,260 S1: share the gospel with Jewish people. They'll give you the 495 00:27:20,260 --> 00:27:23,939 S1: opportunity to actively share your faith and provide tools and 496 00:27:24,050 --> 00:27:26,570 S1: And resources that you can take home with you. If 497 00:27:26,570 --> 00:27:29,290 S1: you want to get hands on training and practical experience 498 00:27:29,290 --> 00:27:32,609 S1: in Jewish evangelism. You can learn more by visiting Life 499 00:27:32,609 --> 00:27:36,490 S1: in Messiah. Org and clicking on the Moody Radio button. Again, 500 00:27:36,530 --> 00:27:41,330 S1: that's life in Messiah in the chair as he is 501 00:27:41,330 --> 00:27:44,610 S1: every week. Doctor Gerald Peterman of the Moody Bible Institute faculty. 502 00:27:44,609 --> 00:27:47,250 S1: And I have to say, here we are, the 9th 503 00:27:47,250 --> 00:27:49,690 S1: of August. You're getting ready for an all new semester. 504 00:27:50,050 --> 00:27:53,530 S6: Well, actually, I have a sabbatical coming up. Do you? 505 00:27:53,570 --> 00:27:56,490 S6: So I would typically be getting ready for another semester. 506 00:27:56,609 --> 00:27:56,850 S1: Yeah. 507 00:27:57,170 --> 00:27:59,570 S6: But I won't I won't be actually starting back to 508 00:27:59,609 --> 00:28:02,729 S6: teach classes until the middle of January. Wow. But I 509 00:28:02,730 --> 00:28:03,770 S6: do have stuff to do. 510 00:28:03,810 --> 00:28:05,209 S1: And you got stuff to do on the land in 511 00:28:05,210 --> 00:28:05,810 S1: the book as well. 512 00:28:05,970 --> 00:28:08,169 S6: Well, and there's a lot of fun, too. 513 00:28:08,210 --> 00:28:10,930 S1: All right. Well, that said, we'll dig into our stack 514 00:28:10,930 --> 00:28:14,050 S1: of questions with this one leading us off. Charles says, 515 00:28:14,369 --> 00:28:17,850 S1: I'm wrestling with both John 14 six and acts four, 516 00:28:17,890 --> 00:28:20,850 S1: verse 12, which seem to suggest that the only way 517 00:28:20,850 --> 00:28:24,469 S1: to salvation is through faith in Jesus. Let's suppose that 518 00:28:24,470 --> 00:28:26,550 S1: there are people on an island who do not know 519 00:28:26,550 --> 00:28:30,150 S1: about Jesus, but instead believe in a higher power. Are 520 00:28:30,150 --> 00:28:32,190 S1: they going to hell because they have not put their 521 00:28:32,190 --> 00:28:36,070 S1: faith in Jesus? Also, what about Jews, Muslims, and other faiths? 522 00:28:36,630 --> 00:28:39,390 S6: Well, I really appreciate that Charles has taken us here 523 00:28:39,390 --> 00:28:43,510 S6: because it's a tough question, but it's an extremely important question. 524 00:28:44,070 --> 00:28:49,310 S6: The issue is, yes. John 14 six. Acts 412 don't 525 00:28:49,310 --> 00:28:53,750 S6: just seem to suggest that Jesus is the only way. 526 00:28:53,790 --> 00:28:58,150 S6: They tell us that, in fact, Jesus is the only way, right? 527 00:28:58,190 --> 00:29:00,430 S1: So maybe we could quote them. Acts 412. I'll do 528 00:29:00,430 --> 00:29:03,630 S1: the King James. Neither is there salvation in any other, 529 00:29:03,630 --> 00:29:06,750 S1: for there is no other name under heaven given among men, 530 00:29:06,790 --> 00:29:10,950 S1: whereby we must be saved. And then John 14 six 531 00:29:10,990 --> 00:29:11,910 S1: Jesus said. 532 00:29:12,070 --> 00:29:15,670 S6: I am the way, the truth, and the life, and 533 00:29:15,670 --> 00:29:18,350 S6: no one comes to the father except through me. 534 00:29:18,390 --> 00:29:19,310 S1: That's pretty clear. 535 00:29:19,510 --> 00:29:23,420 S6: That's very clear. Now, there's a difficult additional thing in 536 00:29:23,420 --> 00:29:27,860 S6: this question what causes people to go to hell? It's 537 00:29:27,860 --> 00:29:31,860 S6: a tough question. Is it strictly they don't have faith 538 00:29:31,860 --> 00:29:36,940 S6: in Jesus? Well, that's not exactly it, because without Jesus, 539 00:29:37,340 --> 00:29:41,300 S6: we're all destined for hell because of our evil choices, 540 00:29:41,300 --> 00:29:46,459 S6: our idolatry, and our sinfulness. Jeremiah 17 nine says, the 541 00:29:46,460 --> 00:29:53,700 S6: heart is deceitful above all things. But there is hope. 542 00:29:54,220 --> 00:29:57,940 S6: There is hope because the gospel is being spread across 543 00:29:57,940 --> 00:30:02,260 S6: the whole world. Think about the early disciples. Read the 544 00:30:02,260 --> 00:30:04,380 S6: book of acts. Think about the early disciples. Why is 545 00:30:04,380 --> 00:30:08,340 S6: it that Paul, for instance, for some 20 to 25 years, 546 00:30:08,460 --> 00:30:12,340 S6: day after day after day, walks thousands of miles on foot, 547 00:30:12,580 --> 00:30:16,340 S6: all over Asia minor, all over Eastern Europe? Why does 548 00:30:16,340 --> 00:30:20,460 S6: he do this? Because he knows that Jesus is the 549 00:30:20,460 --> 00:30:24,650 S6: only way. There is no other way. When he comes, 550 00:30:24,650 --> 00:30:27,690 S6: for instance, to Athens, what does he find in Athens? 551 00:30:27,690 --> 00:30:32,210 S6: He finds many altars to various gods. In the question, 552 00:30:32,210 --> 00:30:34,690 S6: there's the question about what if someone believes in a 553 00:30:34,690 --> 00:30:39,690 S6: higher power? The people in Athens believed in many higher powers. Yes. 554 00:30:39,930 --> 00:30:43,370 S6: One of them is an unknown God. What does Paul 555 00:30:43,370 --> 00:30:46,290 S6: then do? He takes that as an opportunity to preach 556 00:30:46,410 --> 00:30:51,450 S6: Jesus to them, saying God is overlooked. Ignorance about God 557 00:30:51,450 --> 00:30:54,930 S6: for some time now. But now he commands all men 558 00:30:54,930 --> 00:30:58,130 S6: everywhere to repent, because he's fixed a day when he 559 00:30:58,130 --> 00:31:01,530 S6: will judge the world through the man he has chosen. 560 00:31:01,810 --> 00:31:06,730 S6: Giving proof of this by resurrecting that man from the dead. 561 00:31:06,970 --> 00:31:10,690 S6: That man is the only way. Lots of other places 562 00:31:10,690 --> 00:31:14,770 S6: we could go to. I just want to encourage Charles. Yes, 563 00:31:14,890 --> 00:31:19,880 S6: it's a tough thing. But yes, Jesus is the only way. 564 00:31:19,920 --> 00:31:21,200 S6: Thus we proclaim him. 565 00:31:21,720 --> 00:31:24,120 S1: All right. And he's asking, what about Jews and Muslims 566 00:31:24,120 --> 00:31:27,720 S1: and other faiths? And implicit in his question would be 567 00:31:27,720 --> 00:31:30,560 S1: the fact that these people would not place Jesus in the, 568 00:31:30,600 --> 00:31:32,160 S1: in the, in the role that we do. They don't 569 00:31:32,160 --> 00:31:34,120 S1: see him as savior, as the only way. 570 00:31:34,160 --> 00:31:38,960 S6: Yeah, I'm afraid that's true. And yet, most Muslims and 571 00:31:38,960 --> 00:31:43,720 S6: many Jews have heard about Jesus and decided to reject 572 00:31:43,720 --> 00:31:47,040 S6: the truth. They have heard the Quran, even talks about Jesus. 573 00:31:47,040 --> 00:31:50,800 S6: And the Quran says God has no son. That's an 574 00:31:50,840 --> 00:31:56,959 S6: outright rejection of biblical truth. So whatever truths we have heard, 575 00:31:56,960 --> 00:32:01,560 S6: we will be held accountable for. So I don't despise anyone, 576 00:32:01,560 --> 00:32:04,800 S6: whether they're Jews or Muslims or atheists. I despise no one, 577 00:32:05,080 --> 00:32:08,440 S6: but I think that each person must come to know Christ. 578 00:32:08,440 --> 00:32:11,280 S1: For somebody listening right now. Jerry who says, boy, this 579 00:32:11,280 --> 00:32:15,080 S1: is finally making sense. And I realize only now I 580 00:32:15,120 --> 00:32:18,590 S1: have not made Jesus the leader of my life, my Savior, 581 00:32:18,590 --> 00:32:20,510 S1: the forgiver of my sins. What do I do? 582 00:32:21,070 --> 00:32:23,350 S6: O reach out to God in prayer. 583 00:32:23,510 --> 00:32:24,830 S1: What do I say in a prayer like that? 584 00:32:24,870 --> 00:32:27,710 S6: Well, that's a great question, John. How about I lead 585 00:32:27,710 --> 00:32:28,870 S6: our listeners right now? 586 00:32:28,910 --> 00:32:29,470 S1: Would you please. 587 00:32:29,510 --> 00:32:33,670 S6: Listeners, follow along with me? Pray like this. God, our 588 00:32:33,670 --> 00:32:38,590 S6: father is starting to make sense to me. I need forgiveness, 589 00:32:38,750 --> 00:32:42,710 S6: I need to come to know you. I realize I don't. 590 00:32:43,230 --> 00:32:46,070 S6: It's beginning to make sense that Jesus is the only 591 00:32:46,070 --> 00:32:49,790 S6: way I want to confess him as Lord. I want 592 00:32:49,790 --> 00:32:54,070 S6: to receive him in my heart as Savior. Help me 593 00:32:54,070 --> 00:32:58,790 S6: to do that. Grant me to take him today. And 594 00:32:58,790 --> 00:33:00,390 S6: it's in Jesus name I pray. 595 00:33:01,030 --> 00:33:04,710 S1: Amen, Amen, Amen. If you'd like to talk with someone 596 00:33:04,710 --> 00:33:07,830 S1: right now about what we're discussing and maybe get some 597 00:33:07,830 --> 00:33:11,510 S1: questions answered, or have someone pray with you about receiving Christ, 598 00:33:11,510 --> 00:33:14,350 S1: you can do that as you call 888. Need him? 599 00:33:14,390 --> 00:33:16,670 S1: It's a volunteer who will love to speak with you 600 00:33:16,670 --> 00:33:20,700 S1: at eight, 888. This is the land and the book. 601 00:33:20,740 --> 00:33:22,580 S1: And by the way, if you've got a question, email 602 00:33:22,580 --> 00:33:26,979 S1: us at The Land and the book at. Let's go 603 00:33:26,980 --> 00:33:29,860 S1: on to another question from Charles. How is it possible 604 00:33:30,100 --> 00:33:34,220 S1: that God predestines two people to hell in revelation, and 605 00:33:34,220 --> 00:33:37,340 S1: at the same time John 316 can be true? Is 606 00:33:37,340 --> 00:33:38,100 S1: God lying? 607 00:33:38,500 --> 00:33:43,980 S6: Mhm. Short answer is thanks be to God. God never lies. 608 00:33:43,980 --> 00:33:46,900 S6: But I understand the question and it's important. When Charles 609 00:33:46,900 --> 00:33:50,380 S6: mentions two people, I take it he's referring to the 610 00:33:50,420 --> 00:33:54,420 S6: beast and the false prophet. The beast is mentioned several 611 00:33:54,420 --> 00:33:57,500 S6: times in revelation chapters 13 to 20, and the false 612 00:33:57,500 --> 00:34:02,340 S6: prophet is mentioned three times, once each in revelation 16, 19, 613 00:34:02,580 --> 00:34:06,820 S6: and 20. These two people utter blasphemy against God and 614 00:34:06,820 --> 00:34:10,940 S6: deceive other people. Revelation 20 verse ten says, the devil 615 00:34:11,380 --> 00:34:14,379 S6: who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of 616 00:34:14,380 --> 00:34:18,090 S6: fire and sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet are, 617 00:34:18,370 --> 00:34:21,210 S6: and they will be tormented night and day forever. Now 618 00:34:21,210 --> 00:34:24,410 S6: let's come to the question that Charles offers. Nowhere is 619 00:34:24,410 --> 00:34:28,050 S6: predestination language used about the beast and the false prophet. 620 00:34:28,450 --> 00:34:33,170 S6: Paul uses language about predestination in Romans eight Whom God foreknew, 621 00:34:33,210 --> 00:34:36,530 S6: he predestined to be conformed to his son. 622 00:34:36,690 --> 00:34:36,810 S1: His. 623 00:34:36,810 --> 00:34:41,170 S6: Son. Yeah. Exactly right. But no such language about the 624 00:34:41,210 --> 00:34:44,450 S6: beast and the false prophet. So I take it God 625 00:34:44,450 --> 00:34:48,169 S6: does not predestine two people to hell. Second, it's quite 626 00:34:48,170 --> 00:34:51,530 S6: clear that the beast and the false prophet are cast 627 00:34:51,530 --> 00:34:56,850 S6: into hell for the evil they have done. Lastly, John 628 00:34:56,850 --> 00:35:01,090 S6: three remains true, and God is never lying because John 629 00:35:01,090 --> 00:35:06,250 S6: 316 says, God gave his son so that each one 630 00:35:06,250 --> 00:35:10,370 S6: who believes in him would not perish but have eternal life. 631 00:35:10,450 --> 00:35:13,050 S6: And it's quite clear that the beast and the false 632 00:35:13,050 --> 00:35:15,470 S6: prophet are not believers. 633 00:35:16,150 --> 00:35:19,229 S1: And that verse there begins with the fact God so 634 00:35:19,230 --> 00:35:21,390 S1: loved the world. That's what motivated him to do that. 635 00:35:21,430 --> 00:35:22,069 S6: Absolutely. 636 00:35:22,110 --> 00:35:22,870 S1: A sense of love. 637 00:35:22,910 --> 00:35:24,990 S6: An astounding love, a shocking love. 638 00:35:25,510 --> 00:35:28,029 S1: All right. One more question here from Chris. How do 639 00:35:28,030 --> 00:35:32,109 S1: I interpret Jeremiah 49 verses 34 through 39? Is this 640 00:35:32,110 --> 00:35:36,550 S1: passage referring to today's Iran? Or verses 38 and 39 641 00:35:36,550 --> 00:35:39,029 S1: yet to happen? Who are the king and officials that 642 00:35:39,030 --> 00:35:41,030 S1: God will destroy in verse 38? 643 00:35:41,630 --> 00:35:44,030 S6: Oh, that's a great question. I think our friend Charlie 644 00:35:44,030 --> 00:35:45,989 S6: Dyer does a great job with this in his booty 645 00:35:45,989 --> 00:35:51,549 S6: Bible commentary. Elam is basically modern day Iran, and the 646 00:35:51,550 --> 00:35:56,430 S6: prophecy that's given in Jeremiah takes place around 587 BC. 647 00:35:57,230 --> 00:36:00,549 S6: Elam is mostly destroyed a couple of years later, but 648 00:36:00,550 --> 00:36:04,910 S6: not completely. So I take it that the final fulfillment 649 00:36:04,910 --> 00:36:09,110 S6: of the prophecy of Jeremiah 49 is going to be eschatological. 650 00:36:09,150 --> 00:36:13,540 S6: Notice what it says. The Lord says he will set 651 00:36:13,540 --> 00:36:19,180 S6: up his throne in Elam to supervise her destruction. So 652 00:36:19,460 --> 00:36:21,859 S6: I take it Jeremiah 49 is going to happen in 653 00:36:21,860 --> 00:36:22,780 S6: the last days. 654 00:36:22,820 --> 00:36:25,180 S1: Well, we've done some prophecy things here. We've done some 655 00:36:25,180 --> 00:36:29,180 S1: very heavy duty, uh, looking at salvation and what that means. 656 00:36:29,180 --> 00:36:32,779 S1: Predestination all over the map. Lots of good questions, but 657 00:36:32,780 --> 00:36:35,739 S1: there's still room for yours as you email us at 658 00:36:35,739 --> 00:36:40,540 S1: the land and the book. At the land and the 659 00:36:40,580 --> 00:36:43,940 S1: book at Moody's. Going to be great to connect with 660 00:36:43,940 --> 00:36:47,220 S1: Charlie Dyer again. He's back with his devotional coming right up. 661 00:37:00,380 --> 00:37:03,339 S1: I suppose there were signs early on and I was 662 00:37:03,340 --> 00:37:07,140 S1: avoiding them, an occasional drip, then a few more drips. 663 00:37:07,580 --> 00:37:10,220 S1: When I'd work out in the garage, those drips began 664 00:37:10,219 --> 00:37:14,250 S1: to increase in their frequency and their intensity. And I 665 00:37:14,290 --> 00:37:18,370 S1: finally admitted it was time for a new roof. Welcome 666 00:37:18,370 --> 00:37:21,930 S1: back to the land and the book. I'm John Geiger. Charlie, 667 00:37:21,969 --> 00:37:24,689 S1: your devotional today has something to do with a need 668 00:37:24,690 --> 00:37:25,530 S1: for a new roof. 669 00:37:25,690 --> 00:37:27,890 S2: It does. It talks about the man who needed a 670 00:37:27,890 --> 00:37:29,890 S2: new roof from Luke chapter five. 671 00:37:29,930 --> 00:37:32,250 S1: All right. And I'm looking forward to that devotional. But 672 00:37:32,250 --> 00:37:34,290 S1: let's first hear from somebody who's traveled to the Holy 673 00:37:34,290 --> 00:37:36,529 S1: Land and comes back with an impression that they'd like 674 00:37:36,530 --> 00:37:37,610 S1: to share with you and me. 675 00:37:41,850 --> 00:37:46,049 S7: Hi, my name is Pat, and I've just thoroughly enjoyed 676 00:37:46,090 --> 00:37:48,890 S7: being here in the Holy Land. And a couple of 677 00:37:48,930 --> 00:37:51,650 S7: the most special moments for me was being out in 678 00:37:51,650 --> 00:37:54,489 S7: the boat in the middle of the Sea of Galilee. 679 00:37:55,090 --> 00:37:58,890 S7: And just to think that I had the opportunity to 680 00:37:58,930 --> 00:38:02,570 S7: be in the area where Jesus walked on the water 681 00:38:02,610 --> 00:38:06,530 S7: out to his disciples, and they were afraid. And yet 682 00:38:06,530 --> 00:38:11,160 S7: he calmed their spirits. And just for me to have 683 00:38:11,160 --> 00:38:16,000 S7: that opportunity to be able to share that with Jesus today, 684 00:38:16,280 --> 00:38:19,960 S7: as the disciples did back then, was very, very touching 685 00:38:19,960 --> 00:38:23,480 S7: for me, very emotional time. And another part that touched 686 00:38:23,480 --> 00:38:26,799 S7: my heart was being on the Mount of Beatitudes and 687 00:38:26,920 --> 00:38:29,839 S7: being up there looking out toward the Sea of Galilee 688 00:38:30,400 --> 00:38:35,080 S7: and just knowing that Jesus saw these same places, he 689 00:38:35,080 --> 00:38:37,480 S7: looked out. And for me to be able to be 690 00:38:37,480 --> 00:38:40,240 S7: where Jesus was, to think about some of the things 691 00:38:40,239 --> 00:38:43,439 S7: that he was teaching to his disciples. And he's still 692 00:38:43,440 --> 00:38:46,520 S7: trying to teach me today. And it's just a wonderful, 693 00:38:46,520 --> 00:38:50,560 S7: beautiful experience. And I'd encourage anybody to be able to 694 00:38:50,719 --> 00:38:53,480 S7: take this opportunity to grow closer to the Lord in 695 00:38:53,480 --> 00:38:53,960 S7: this way. 696 00:38:56,200 --> 00:38:58,560 S1: The man who needed a new roof were headed for 697 00:38:58,560 --> 00:39:01,640 S1: Luke chapter five in Charlie's devotional. I'll let you have 698 00:39:01,640 --> 00:39:02,400 S1: at it, Charlie. 699 00:39:02,560 --> 00:39:05,320 S2: Well, thanks, John. And, you know, over the years, like you, 700 00:39:05,320 --> 00:39:07,480 S2: I've also had to replace roofs. In fact, I had 701 00:39:07,480 --> 00:39:10,350 S2: to replace two roofs in our houses and both of 702 00:39:10,350 --> 00:39:13,230 S2: my cases. The roof was damaged by a violent storm 703 00:39:13,230 --> 00:39:16,670 S2: with hail nearly the size of golf balls. The insurance 704 00:39:16,670 --> 00:39:20,110 S2: company calls such storms Acts of God events beyond human 705 00:39:20,110 --> 00:39:23,790 S2: control that can't be prevented. Thankfully, within a few weeks, 706 00:39:23,790 --> 00:39:25,990 S2: we were able to get a roofing company to come 707 00:39:25,989 --> 00:39:30,069 S2: and repair the damage, and insurance covered most of the cost. 708 00:39:30,230 --> 00:39:32,110 S2: I know of at least one instance though, in the 709 00:39:32,110 --> 00:39:35,069 S2: Bible where someone needed to have his roof repaired, but 710 00:39:35,070 --> 00:39:37,670 S2: I imagine he would have had some trouble getting insurance 711 00:39:37,670 --> 00:39:40,230 S2: to pay for his damage because in his case, the 712 00:39:40,230 --> 00:39:42,669 S2: act of God took place after the men got done 713 00:39:42,670 --> 00:39:45,110 S2: working on the roof. But I'm getting ahead of myself. 714 00:39:45,110 --> 00:39:47,710 S2: So let's slow down and look at the story of 715 00:39:47,710 --> 00:39:50,310 S2: the man who needed a new roof. The event took 716 00:39:50,310 --> 00:39:52,870 S2: place in the town of Capernaum, right on the shore 717 00:39:52,870 --> 00:39:55,989 S2: of the Sea of Galilee. Matthew, Mark and Luke all 718 00:39:55,989 --> 00:40:00,110 S2: record the basic story, though each focuses on different details 719 00:40:00,110 --> 00:40:03,870 S2: of what took place. But by putting all their accounts together, 720 00:40:03,870 --> 00:40:06,150 S2: we have a good idea of who owned the house 721 00:40:06,150 --> 00:40:09,700 S2: that needed a new roof. just before the roof was destroyed. 722 00:40:09,860 --> 00:40:12,819 S2: All three writers tell us Jesus was a guest at 723 00:40:12,820 --> 00:40:15,339 S2: the house of Simon Peter. And that leads me to 724 00:40:15,380 --> 00:40:17,739 S2: assume that the roof in question was the one on 725 00:40:17,739 --> 00:40:22,180 S2: Peter's house. This incident took place early in Jesus's ministry. 726 00:40:22,300 --> 00:40:25,500 S2: In fact, it happened just after Jesus had called his 727 00:40:25,500 --> 00:40:29,820 S2: first disciples. But right before he called Levi the tax collector, 728 00:40:29,860 --> 00:40:32,940 S2: the man later known as Matthew. If you've not figured 729 00:40:32,940 --> 00:40:35,500 S2: it out by now, the story I'm talking about is 730 00:40:35,500 --> 00:40:38,980 S2: the account of Jesus's healing of the paralytic who was 731 00:40:38,980 --> 00:40:41,979 S2: let down through the roof by his friends. They tore 732 00:40:41,980 --> 00:40:44,259 S2: through the roof to get their friend into the presence 733 00:40:44,260 --> 00:40:48,340 S2: of Jesus. Because the house, the entryway, and the street 734 00:40:48,340 --> 00:40:50,739 S2: in front were packed with people wanting to meet the 735 00:40:50,739 --> 00:40:54,140 S2: miracle worker. During his earlier visit to Capernaum just a 736 00:40:54,180 --> 00:40:57,580 S2: few days before, Jesus had healed many who were sick 737 00:40:57,580 --> 00:41:00,540 S2: and cast out demons from those who were possessed. A 738 00:41:00,580 --> 00:41:04,340 S2: short trip across the lake and back brought additional stories 739 00:41:04,340 --> 00:41:07,130 S2: of the sudden calming of a storm and a dramatic 740 00:41:07,130 --> 00:41:10,610 S2: encounter with demons and a herd of swine. And now 741 00:41:10,610 --> 00:41:13,290 S2: Jesus was back in town, and the crowds were as 742 00:41:13,290 --> 00:41:16,370 S2: frenzied as those at a modern rock concert, as they 743 00:41:16,370 --> 00:41:19,529 S2: pushed and shoved to force their way into the presence 744 00:41:19,530 --> 00:41:24,890 S2: of this suddenly popular rabbi. Unfortunately, the scene was discouraging 745 00:41:24,890 --> 00:41:27,570 S2: for a group of men arriving in Capernaum right then. 746 00:41:27,730 --> 00:41:30,650 S2: They had walked for miles, carrying a paralyzed friend on 747 00:41:30,650 --> 00:41:33,410 S2: a wooden pallet, hoping to bring him to Jesus to 748 00:41:33,450 --> 00:41:37,330 S2: be healed. But Capernaum, narrow streets and throngs of people 749 00:41:37,330 --> 00:41:40,969 S2: filling them, brought this band of brothers to a screeching halt. 750 00:41:41,330 --> 00:41:44,250 S2: The way to Jesus was blocked. And that's when one 751 00:41:44,250 --> 00:41:46,850 S2: of the friends had a brilliant idea. If we can't 752 00:41:46,850 --> 00:41:49,890 S2: get in through the door, let's try the roof. Now, 753 00:41:49,890 --> 00:41:53,970 S2: here's where our cultural background can create problems. It's easy 754 00:41:53,969 --> 00:41:57,090 S2: for us to envision a modern pitched roof house covered 755 00:41:57,090 --> 00:42:00,129 S2: with shingles, and see men with hatchets and saws up 756 00:42:00,130 --> 00:42:02,850 S2: on the roof, cutting through the rafters while trying to 757 00:42:02,890 --> 00:42:05,720 S2: keep their friend from rolling off his pallet. Palette, but 758 00:42:05,719 --> 00:42:09,160 S2: this typical first century house in Capernaum was built of 759 00:42:09,160 --> 00:42:12,600 S2: rock with wooden beams stretched across the top to support 760 00:42:12,600 --> 00:42:15,560 S2: a flat roof. Smaller pieces of wood were then spread 761 00:42:15,560 --> 00:42:19,239 S2: diagonally across the beams, and these were covered with plaster. 762 00:42:19,560 --> 00:42:22,360 S2: A small wall or parapet extended around the edge of 763 00:42:22,360 --> 00:42:25,560 S2: this flat roof to keep someone from accidentally falling off, 764 00:42:25,560 --> 00:42:30,359 S2: while an outside staircase provided access. Archaeologists have also found 765 00:42:30,360 --> 00:42:33,840 S2: that in some cases, these roofs were covered with clay tiles, 766 00:42:33,840 --> 00:42:36,880 S2: similar to some of the roofing tiles still used today. 767 00:42:37,280 --> 00:42:40,800 S2: Installing clay tile on the roof definitely made it stronger 768 00:42:40,800 --> 00:42:44,279 S2: and more durable, but it also added weight, requiring more 769 00:42:44,280 --> 00:42:48,800 S2: structural support, and it definitely increased the cost. Tiled roofs 770 00:42:48,800 --> 00:42:51,120 S2: were more rare, and a house with a tiled roof 771 00:42:51,120 --> 00:42:54,920 S2: was a more luxurious home. The three gospel accounts all 772 00:42:54,920 --> 00:42:57,439 S2: tell the story of the paralytic man who was brought 773 00:42:57,440 --> 00:43:00,520 S2: to Jesus by his friends. Mark tells us the friends 774 00:43:00,520 --> 00:43:02,759 S2: had to dig through the roof to lower the paralytic 775 00:43:02,760 --> 00:43:06,140 S2: down to the spot where Jesus was seated in the home. 776 00:43:06,140 --> 00:43:10,259 S2: But Luke adds one additional detail. He says, and not 777 00:43:10,260 --> 00:43:12,779 S2: finding any way to bring him in because of the crowd, 778 00:43:12,780 --> 00:43:14,820 S2: they went up on the roof and let him down 779 00:43:14,820 --> 00:43:18,220 S2: through the tiles with his stretcher right in the center 780 00:43:18,219 --> 00:43:21,340 S2: in front of Jesus. Luke lets us know these friends 781 00:43:21,340 --> 00:43:24,060 S2: had to pull off the heavy roof tiles first, and 782 00:43:24,060 --> 00:43:27,100 S2: then dig through the plaster and wood underneath to create 783 00:43:27,100 --> 00:43:30,500 S2: a space large enough to lower the paralytic down through 784 00:43:30,500 --> 00:43:33,779 S2: the opening. Their hard work left a gaping hole in 785 00:43:33,780 --> 00:43:36,980 S2: Peter's roof. As I said at the beginning, when we 786 00:43:36,980 --> 00:43:39,419 S2: have to repair our roof, it's often because of some 787 00:43:39,460 --> 00:43:42,819 S2: act of God like a hailstorm. But in this story, 788 00:43:42,820 --> 00:43:45,700 S2: the work on the roof precedes the act of God. 789 00:43:45,900 --> 00:43:48,339 S2: Let me explain what I mean. In response to the 790 00:43:48,340 --> 00:43:51,299 S2: faith displayed by this man and his friends, Jesus said 791 00:43:51,300 --> 00:43:55,060 S2: to him, friend, your sins are forgiven. Now, since only 792 00:43:55,100 --> 00:43:58,540 S2: God can forgive sin, I see Jesus's words as a 793 00:43:58,540 --> 00:44:01,540 S2: definite act of God. But I also want to make 794 00:44:01,580 --> 00:44:05,410 S2: sure you don't misunderstand what Jesus just said. It wasn't 795 00:44:05,410 --> 00:44:08,009 S2: their action of digging through the roof that brought forgiveness 796 00:44:08,010 --> 00:44:11,130 S2: of sin, but their faith. They dug through the roof 797 00:44:11,130 --> 00:44:13,930 S2: because they had already come to a decision about Jesus. 798 00:44:14,090 --> 00:44:16,410 S2: They believed he was who he claimed to be. They 799 00:44:16,410 --> 00:44:18,569 S2: believed he had the power to help their friend, and 800 00:44:18,570 --> 00:44:20,810 S2: it's because of their faith that they sought to reach 801 00:44:20,810 --> 00:44:24,050 S2: him no matter what the obstacles. It was their faith 802 00:44:24,050 --> 00:44:27,410 S2: that prompted their actions, not the other way around. The 803 00:44:27,410 --> 00:44:31,129 S2: religious leaders were highly offended by Jesus's words. Who can 804 00:44:31,130 --> 00:44:34,770 S2: forgive sins but God alone? Forgiveness of sin, much like 805 00:44:34,770 --> 00:44:38,090 S2: a flood, tornado, or hurricane, is an act of God. 806 00:44:38,410 --> 00:44:40,730 S2: And then to show he was God and did indeed 807 00:44:40,730 --> 00:44:43,649 S2: have the power to forgive sin, Jesus provided a more 808 00:44:43,650 --> 00:44:46,770 S2: visible demonstration of his power. But in order that you 809 00:44:46,770 --> 00:44:48,770 S2: may know that the Son of Man has authority on 810 00:44:48,770 --> 00:44:52,209 S2: earth to forgive sins, he says to the paralytic, I 811 00:44:52,210 --> 00:44:54,890 S2: say to you, rise and take up your stretcher and 812 00:44:54,890 --> 00:44:58,970 S2: go home. That's just what the man did. Leaving Peter 813 00:44:58,969 --> 00:45:02,319 S2: with the world's first skylight. I would love to have 814 00:45:02,320 --> 00:45:04,840 S2: been there to watch this man being lowered to Jesus 815 00:45:04,840 --> 00:45:07,560 S2: from the hole in the roof. But not everyone understood 816 00:45:07,560 --> 00:45:10,880 S2: the significance of what had just taken place. And that's sad. 817 00:45:11,239 --> 00:45:13,319 S2: So as we get ready to leave, what is it 818 00:45:13,320 --> 00:45:15,759 S2: that we need to learn from this encounter with this 819 00:45:15,760 --> 00:45:19,080 S2: man lowered through the roof? I think the best lesson 820 00:45:19,080 --> 00:45:21,440 S2: is the very one Jesus wanted to teach the religious 821 00:45:21,440 --> 00:45:24,120 S2: leaders of the day. He has the power to forgive 822 00:45:24,120 --> 00:45:28,319 S2: sin because he is the Son of God. So let 823 00:45:28,320 --> 00:45:32,680 S2: me ask you, are you paralyzed by sin, hopelessly trapped 824 00:45:32,680 --> 00:45:36,160 S2: in a life that seems incapable of responding to God? 825 00:45:36,520 --> 00:45:39,160 S2: Jesus wants you to know that he has the power 826 00:45:39,160 --> 00:45:43,080 S2: to forgive sin and to grant you new life. And 827 00:45:43,080 --> 00:45:46,200 S2: just like that paralytic on the roof, all you need 828 00:45:46,200 --> 00:45:48,760 S2: to do to receive it is to come to him. 829 00:45:49,239 --> 00:45:52,640 S2: So why not make that decision right now? 830 00:45:52,920 --> 00:45:55,480 S1: Charlie, somebody listening right now might say, hey, you're talking 831 00:45:55,480 --> 00:45:58,400 S1: to me, man. Uh, what do I do now? Well, 832 00:45:58,440 --> 00:46:00,549 S1: what do they do now? What kind of a prayer 833 00:46:00,590 --> 00:46:03,310 S1: would they pray to begin this life with Jesus? 834 00:46:03,510 --> 00:46:05,910 S2: It doesn't need to be fancy. It would say something like, Lord, 835 00:46:05,910 --> 00:46:08,750 S2: I'm a sinner. I know I've done wrong and I 836 00:46:08,870 --> 00:46:11,270 S2: believe you love me. I believe your son came to 837 00:46:11,270 --> 00:46:14,029 S2: earth to die for my sins on the cross. And 838 00:46:14,030 --> 00:46:16,150 S2: so I want to place my trust in him. So 839 00:46:16,270 --> 00:46:19,390 S2: please forgive me of my sins. Provide that forgiveness for me. 840 00:46:19,390 --> 00:46:21,670 S2: Because I want to put my trust in Jesus. And 841 00:46:21,670 --> 00:46:23,830 S2: something as simple as that is all it takes to 842 00:46:23,870 --> 00:46:25,270 S2: make that transaction. 843 00:46:25,310 --> 00:46:27,350 S1: If you'd like to talk with a volunteer who would 844 00:46:27,350 --> 00:46:29,989 S1: be happy to answer your questions and pray with you 845 00:46:29,989 --> 00:46:32,549 S1: right now, right at this very moment. Place a call 846 00:46:32,550 --> 00:46:37,910 S1: to eight, eight, 8888. Need him. There's no cost. Nothing 847 00:46:37,910 --> 00:46:40,990 S1: to buy. When you call eight. Eight, eight. Need him. 848 00:46:41,110 --> 00:46:42,989 S1: Thank you. Charlie. Appreciate that devotional. 849 00:46:43,350 --> 00:46:44,230 S2: You're welcome John. 850 00:46:44,230 --> 00:46:46,709 S1: And thank you to our producer, Dan Anderson. And thank 851 00:46:46,710 --> 00:46:49,470 S1: you to the management of this station for making airtime 852 00:46:49,469 --> 00:46:52,750 S1: for the land and the book, a production of Moody Radio, 853 00:46:52,790 --> 00:46:55,110 S1: a ministry of Moody Bible Institute.