1 00:00:08,119 --> 00:00:11,039 S1: What do we know about the wives of the 12 disciples? 2 00:00:11,080 --> 00:00:13,760 S1: What does Scripture say? And what does it not say? 3 00:00:14,120 --> 00:00:17,080 S1: Coming up, an intriguing conversation with doctor Bob Mohler as 4 00:00:17,079 --> 00:00:20,840 S1: we discuss wives of the disciples. And because there's never 5 00:00:20,840 --> 00:00:22,959 S1: a shortage of news from the Middle East, we'll bring 6 00:00:22,960 --> 00:00:26,320 S1: you all the major headlines, Bible questions. We'll answer plenty 7 00:00:26,320 --> 00:00:28,400 S1: of those, and we'll wrap it all up with an 8 00:00:28,400 --> 00:00:32,560 S1: unforgettable devotional on the land. And the book. Welcome. I'm 9 00:00:32,560 --> 00:00:35,440 S1: John Gager. Our host, Doctor Charlie Dyer. Good to have 10 00:00:35,440 --> 00:00:37,680 S1: you with us today. And before we get into today's 11 00:00:37,720 --> 00:00:39,919 S1: news segment, let's acknowledge the fact that we live in 12 00:00:39,920 --> 00:00:43,320 S1: uncertain days. And in times like these, many people ask 13 00:00:43,320 --> 00:00:46,479 S1: the big question Where is God? There are times when 14 00:00:46,479 --> 00:00:49,320 S1: we as believers might just start to wonder where God 15 00:00:49,320 --> 00:00:51,040 S1: is and what he's doing. Right, Charlie? 16 00:00:51,520 --> 00:00:54,000 S2: Well, you know. Absolutely, John. That's why our friends at 17 00:00:54,000 --> 00:00:57,880 S2: Life in Messiah have recently published a book addressing this issue. 18 00:00:57,920 --> 00:01:02,750 S2: It's titled Where Is God in fearful times? Encouragement from Exodus. 19 00:01:03,110 --> 00:01:06,110 S2: This book is a study on Israel's ordeal in Egypt, 20 00:01:06,110 --> 00:01:08,590 S2: and what we can learn from this to apply to 21 00:01:08,630 --> 00:01:12,069 S2: our circumstances. The lessons learned by the Jewish people in 22 00:01:12,069 --> 00:01:16,790 S2: Egypt are extremely relevant today. God hears your cry, cares 23 00:01:16,790 --> 00:01:20,110 S2: for you, and is working for your good and his glory. 24 00:01:20,550 --> 00:01:22,990 S2: A life in Messiah is now making this book available 25 00:01:22,990 --> 00:01:24,910 S2: for a limited time to the land. In the book, 26 00:01:24,950 --> 00:01:27,910 S2: listeners with a special deal to find out how you 27 00:01:27,910 --> 00:01:30,670 S2: can get a copy of this encouraging book for yourself, 28 00:01:30,790 --> 00:01:33,150 S2: or as a gift to share with others who are struggling. 29 00:01:33,430 --> 00:01:36,470 S2: Visit Life in Messiah org and click on the Moody 30 00:01:36,470 --> 00:01:39,350 S2: Radio logo. That's life in Messiah. 31 00:01:40,870 --> 00:01:43,910 S1: Thank you Charlie, and your recent trip to Israel, of course, 32 00:01:43,950 --> 00:01:46,709 S1: is now in the rear view mirror. What are your 33 00:01:46,709 --> 00:01:50,350 S1: impressions of tourism there? Following a nearly two year shutdown 34 00:01:50,350 --> 00:01:53,790 S1: because of the conflict with Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and 35 00:01:53,830 --> 00:01:55,150 S1: then Iran itself? 36 00:01:55,510 --> 00:01:57,630 S2: Well, you know, the good news is that tourism is 37 00:01:57,630 --> 00:02:00,059 S2: starting to come back, and in spite of a few 38 00:02:00,100 --> 00:02:03,580 S2: logistical cobwebs that still need to be cleaned up, it's 39 00:02:03,620 --> 00:02:06,420 S2: on its way up. In many cases, we found the 40 00:02:06,420 --> 00:02:09,620 S2: sites to be uncrowded, much like they were at the 41 00:02:09,620 --> 00:02:13,580 S2: end of Covid before tourism came roaring back. The vast 42 00:02:13,580 --> 00:02:16,980 S2: majority of places were open and we didn't experience any 43 00:02:16,980 --> 00:02:21,700 S2: difficulties with services like hotels or finding restaurants, though we 44 00:02:21,740 --> 00:02:24,940 S2: did have a few interesting experiences, like the last hotel 45 00:02:25,540 --> 00:02:28,340 S2: still has Israeli guests coming in and as well as 46 00:02:28,380 --> 00:02:31,180 S2: new tourists. But the weather was getting warm for the weekend, 47 00:02:31,180 --> 00:02:33,820 S2: so they didn't turn the heat on, uh, which made 48 00:02:33,820 --> 00:02:36,300 S2: it a little bit of a frigid experience there. But, uh, 49 00:02:36,300 --> 00:02:38,859 S2: those kind of things happen. Uh, the same thing is true, 50 00:02:38,900 --> 00:02:41,660 S2: you know, of, of of bus drivers and guides, they're 51 00:02:41,700 --> 00:02:44,260 S2: they're still all learning to come back. And some of 52 00:02:44,260 --> 00:02:46,580 S2: the roads were different, even for the driver. You know, 53 00:02:46,620 --> 00:02:50,020 S2: some people retired to find other employment in the meantime, 54 00:02:50,060 --> 00:02:52,820 S2: you know, roads did change and so did some of 55 00:02:52,820 --> 00:02:55,180 S2: the sites in a few places. Uh, we were in 56 00:02:55,180 --> 00:02:58,410 S2: a learning mode as we searched out all the differences 57 00:02:58,410 --> 00:03:01,210 S2: and those changes on the fly. We had no issues 58 00:03:01,210 --> 00:03:05,410 S2: with Hamas or Hezbollah. We visited Lachish, which is 15 59 00:03:05,410 --> 00:03:07,810 S2: miles from Gaza. And that's really all the closer we 60 00:03:07,850 --> 00:03:11,010 S2: got to that border in the north. We visited Tel 61 00:03:11,010 --> 00:03:14,489 S2: Dan and looked across the border into Lebanon. Then later 62 00:03:14,490 --> 00:03:17,010 S2: we went to just below Har Bental and looked over 63 00:03:17,050 --> 00:03:20,690 S2: into Syria. You know, both sites were incredibly quiet. And 64 00:03:20,690 --> 00:03:24,570 S2: those overviews helped the group understand what had taken place. 65 00:03:24,970 --> 00:03:27,730 S2: The biggest downside to me in this whole trip was 66 00:03:27,730 --> 00:03:31,810 S2: the traffic, especially down near Tel Aviv and in the 67 00:03:31,810 --> 00:03:34,490 S2: Jerusalem area. I know from the trip you and I 68 00:03:34,490 --> 00:03:38,050 S2: did last year, traffic was increasing and I was reminded 69 00:03:38,050 --> 00:03:41,450 S2: again of the logistical problems of trying to squeeze a 70 00:03:41,450 --> 00:03:46,090 S2: bus full of tourists through crowded streets and highways, travel time, 71 00:03:46,170 --> 00:03:50,530 S2: insights between Jerusalem and just took longer. And what added 72 00:03:50,530 --> 00:03:53,650 S2: to the traffic problems were some of the other restrictions 73 00:03:53,650 --> 00:03:56,960 S2: in Jerusalem. You know, more sites are requiring appointments and 74 00:03:56,960 --> 00:03:59,400 S2: you have to set those up in advance. The problem 75 00:03:59,400 --> 00:04:02,520 S2: is that the times don't always fit into a logical sequence. 76 00:04:02,880 --> 00:04:05,320 S2: If you're forced to drive across town from one side 77 00:04:05,320 --> 00:04:07,720 S2: and then back for another, you can add a lot 78 00:04:07,720 --> 00:04:09,560 S2: of time to the course of a day just being 79 00:04:09,560 --> 00:04:12,400 S2: stuck in traffic. Now, I ended up dropping off a 80 00:04:12,400 --> 00:04:15,520 S2: few less significant sites to make sure our group had 81 00:04:15,560 --> 00:04:18,719 S2: time to really be at the key sites, and we 82 00:04:18,720 --> 00:04:21,560 S2: still ended up starting each day earlier than normal and 83 00:04:21,600 --> 00:04:23,560 S2: staying a little bit longer each day. In fact, the 84 00:04:23,560 --> 00:04:25,960 S2: sun was setting as we would pull into the hotel 85 00:04:25,960 --> 00:04:28,240 S2: at the end of the day. Now, the days are 86 00:04:28,240 --> 00:04:31,920 S2: shorter in November, and that also impacted the logistics, but 87 00:04:31,960 --> 00:04:34,520 S2: in a few instances, I felt like we were trying 88 00:04:34,520 --> 00:04:37,520 S2: to hit a moving target to align sites and entry 89 00:04:37,520 --> 00:04:41,400 S2: times with the ever increasing traffic. For anyone planning a 90 00:04:41,400 --> 00:04:44,600 S2: trip during the next year, here's my advice. Be prepared 91 00:04:44,600 --> 00:04:48,480 S2: to see some amazing places and experience some new discoveries. 92 00:04:48,680 --> 00:04:51,279 S2: Just don't get stressed out over the hotels and meals 93 00:04:51,279 --> 00:04:54,900 S2: and traffic and crowds, you know. That just means that 94 00:04:54,940 --> 00:04:58,340 S2: Israel's getting back to normal. Let the bus driver worry 95 00:04:58,339 --> 00:05:00,740 S2: about the traffic and let the guide handle the crowds. 96 00:05:00,779 --> 00:05:04,500 S2: And just remember the ninth beatitude. Blessed are the flexible, 97 00:05:04,500 --> 00:05:06,580 S2: for they will not get bent out of shape. 98 00:05:07,500 --> 00:05:09,380 S1: Well, that's as good as it gets, folks. An update 99 00:05:09,380 --> 00:05:12,420 S1: on tourism in Israel from Charlie, who has just returned. 100 00:05:12,420 --> 00:05:14,820 S1: You're listening to The Land and the book with our host, 101 00:05:14,860 --> 00:05:17,660 S1: Doctor Charlie Dyer. I'm John Geiger, helping us work through 102 00:05:17,660 --> 00:05:20,100 S1: a list of stories that are based in the Middle East. 103 00:05:20,100 --> 00:05:22,659 S1: And of course, this coming week is Thanksgiving, and I 104 00:05:22,660 --> 00:05:26,780 S1: can already almost smell the roast turkey, the dressing, the gravy, 105 00:05:26,820 --> 00:05:30,500 S1: the pumpkin pie, of course. But researchers at the Weizmann 106 00:05:30,500 --> 00:05:33,620 S1: Institute of Science have developed a device that can recognize 107 00:05:33,620 --> 00:05:38,580 S1: people by their unique respiration. That doesn't sound nearly as appetizing. 108 00:05:38,580 --> 00:05:41,500 S1: So what exactly is the purpose behind this study, Charlie? 109 00:05:42,380 --> 00:05:45,260 S2: As Jimmy Durante, the big Schnozzola would have said, the 110 00:05:45,300 --> 00:05:50,660 S2: nose knows. The device these, uh, researchers have developed can 111 00:05:50,660 --> 00:05:54,729 S2: identify individuals solely on the basis of their nasal breathing 112 00:05:54,730 --> 00:05:58,930 S2: patterns with 96.8% accuracy. You know, that's as accurate as 113 00:05:58,930 --> 00:06:03,730 S2: voice recognition programs. They also found a close relationship between 114 00:06:03,730 --> 00:06:07,529 S2: the brain and breath, allowing scientists to determine physical and 115 00:06:07,529 --> 00:06:11,410 S2: mental health. Users put on a wearable device that tracks 116 00:06:11,410 --> 00:06:15,330 S2: nasal airflow continuously for 24 hours, no matter what the 117 00:06:15,330 --> 00:06:19,890 S2: individuals were doing, from physical exercise to studying to resting 118 00:06:19,930 --> 00:06:25,089 S2: to sleeping, breathing patterns were remarkably distinct. They also discovered 119 00:06:25,089 --> 00:06:28,529 S2: that individual patterns of breathing correlated with the person's state 120 00:06:28,529 --> 00:06:31,330 S2: of mind. For example, those who scored higher on a 121 00:06:31,330 --> 00:06:36,730 S2: questionnaire measuring anxiety had shorter inhales with more variable pauses 122 00:06:36,730 --> 00:06:40,049 S2: between breaths while sleeping. They also were able to accurately 123 00:06:40,050 --> 00:06:43,290 S2: determine those who had Parkinson's disease and the level of 124 00:06:43,290 --> 00:06:46,570 S2: severity based on the breathing. Now, I'm not sure I 125 00:06:46,570 --> 00:06:48,890 S2: would want to wear a small device on my back 126 00:06:48,930 --> 00:06:53,120 S2: attached to a nasal cannula, especially at Thanksgiving. But the 127 00:06:53,120 --> 00:06:55,960 S2: idea that such a study can help diagnose physical and 128 00:06:55,960 --> 00:06:59,880 S2: mental issues to provide for earlier treatment, that might just 129 00:06:59,880 --> 00:07:02,200 S2: sound like something we could someday be thankful for. 130 00:07:02,800 --> 00:07:05,440 S1: Well, you, of course, are back from visiting sites in Israel, 131 00:07:05,440 --> 00:07:08,760 S1: but it looks like possible sites for future tours might 132 00:07:08,760 --> 00:07:13,600 S1: someday take people to. Drum roll please. Iraq of all places. 133 00:07:13,640 --> 00:07:17,000 S1: What's the latest archaeological news from Nineveh and Babylon? 134 00:07:17,400 --> 00:07:21,160 S2: Well, Nineveh is recovering from three years that it spent 135 00:07:21,160 --> 00:07:27,080 S2: being dominated and decimated by ISIS. From 2014 to 2017, 136 00:07:27,280 --> 00:07:30,880 S2: ISIS did all it could to destroy the historical and 137 00:07:30,880 --> 00:07:35,040 S2: cultural heritage of that amazing site. Many Assyrian monuments and 138 00:07:35,040 --> 00:07:38,720 S2: discoveries were smashed. They were looted. They were sold to 139 00:07:38,760 --> 00:07:41,880 S2: generate cash. And that's why the discovery of a massive 140 00:07:41,880 --> 00:07:44,640 S2: sculpture of a winged bull has been hailed as a 141 00:07:44,640 --> 00:07:48,360 S2: major find. The sculpture stands over 12ft high and weighs 142 00:07:48,360 --> 00:07:51,910 S2: 20 tons. Wow. Even more remarkable. It was found in 143 00:07:51,910 --> 00:07:55,590 S2: an area that was scarred by anti-tank trenches and bunkers, 144 00:07:55,590 --> 00:07:59,350 S2: and pockmarked with evidence of heavy bombing and intense fighting. 145 00:07:59,590 --> 00:08:01,990 S2: It was found at a place called Khorsabad. It's a 146 00:08:01,990 --> 00:08:05,350 S2: city built by Sargon the Second, about ten miles outside 147 00:08:05,350 --> 00:08:09,430 S2: ancient Nineveh. Archaeologists have also been working to restore several 148 00:08:09,470 --> 00:08:13,230 S2: of Nineveh gates that were destroyed by ISIS. Now the 149 00:08:13,230 --> 00:08:16,510 S2: restoration work at Babylon, which is about 50 miles south 150 00:08:16,510 --> 00:08:19,910 S2: of Baghdad, is also continuing. Work is underway on the 151 00:08:19,910 --> 00:08:23,350 S2: Temple of Ninmah and the walls of the original Ishtar Gate. 152 00:08:23,470 --> 00:08:26,150 S2: I actually had the privilege of visiting Babylon back in 153 00:08:26,150 --> 00:08:30,390 S2: 1987 and 1988, and the site was fascinating. One part 154 00:08:30,390 --> 00:08:34,790 S2: of the current restoration involves mitigating groundwater damage in the area. 155 00:08:34,870 --> 00:08:37,710 S2: What I didn't realize is that much of the restoration 156 00:08:37,710 --> 00:08:40,390 S2: work being done was funded by the US, as part 157 00:08:40,390 --> 00:08:43,870 S2: of the Future of Babylon project, begun 15 years ago. 158 00:08:44,230 --> 00:08:47,430 S2: The completion of several projects has coincided with a mini 159 00:08:47,429 --> 00:08:50,460 S2: boom in tourism. Right now, though, the tourists are coming 160 00:08:50,460 --> 00:08:54,180 S2: in from Romania, Russia and Iran as well as from Iraq. 161 00:08:54,460 --> 00:08:56,380 S2: I think I'll wait just a little bit longer, though, 162 00:08:56,420 --> 00:08:58,740 S2: before heading back to see some of those things and 163 00:08:58,740 --> 00:09:02,540 S2: see how they're progressing. Geographically, Iraq is still just a 164 00:09:02,540 --> 00:09:04,740 S2: little too close to Iran right now. 165 00:09:05,220 --> 00:09:09,260 S1: For sure. Well, calling doctor AI, that might be an 166 00:09:09,260 --> 00:09:12,540 S1: apt description of the latest innovation in cancer detection and 167 00:09:12,540 --> 00:09:16,020 S1: treatment coming out of Hadassah Hospital in Israel. Tell us 168 00:09:16,020 --> 00:09:18,740 S1: about these latest discoveries from amazing Israel, Charlie. 169 00:09:19,059 --> 00:09:22,859 S2: Yeah, the first innovation is a cutting edge digital mole 170 00:09:22,860 --> 00:09:28,020 S2: mapping system at Hadassah Hospital. The machine utilizes 92 synchronized 171 00:09:28,020 --> 00:09:30,980 S2: cameras to photograph the entire body in under a minute, 172 00:09:31,260 --> 00:09:34,380 S2: and then tracks the moles it discovers over time. The 173 00:09:34,380 --> 00:09:38,579 S2: software creates a full body map. Flag suspicious lesions and 174 00:09:38,580 --> 00:09:43,020 S2: helps predict which moles could become cancerous. The second innovation 175 00:09:43,020 --> 00:09:47,100 S2: is a new vertical proton therapy system developed in partnership 176 00:09:47,380 --> 00:09:52,050 S2: with an Israeli startup called Peacure. Unlike traditional radiation, which 177 00:09:52,050 --> 00:09:56,210 S2: can damage surrounding tissue, the new approach minimizes toxicity by 178 00:09:56,250 --> 00:10:01,330 S2: targeting tumors more precisely from either a seated or supine position. 179 00:10:01,570 --> 00:10:04,850 S2: Instead of rotating the radiation beam around the patient, it 180 00:10:04,890 --> 00:10:08,410 S2: rotates the patient around the beam using the most compact 181 00:10:08,410 --> 00:10:12,490 S2: proton therapy equipment available now. All of this works because 182 00:10:12,490 --> 00:10:16,130 S2: of the close personal partnership that medical centers like Hadassah 183 00:10:16,130 --> 00:10:19,370 S2: are forging with Israeli startups like Peacure. 184 00:10:19,890 --> 00:10:21,969 S1: And that's a look at current events from the Middle East. 185 00:10:21,970 --> 00:10:24,569 S1: Thank you, Charlie, for that update. What do we know 186 00:10:24,570 --> 00:10:27,850 S1: about the wives of the 12 disciples? What does Scripture say? 187 00:10:28,210 --> 00:10:30,890 S1: A short answer, not much. However, there are things it 188 00:10:30,890 --> 00:10:33,330 S1: does not say, and that culture does say. That might 189 00:10:33,330 --> 00:10:35,570 S1: give us just a few more clues. Coming up, an 190 00:10:35,570 --> 00:10:39,329 S1: intriguing conversation with doctor Bob Mohler as we discuss wives 191 00:10:39,330 --> 00:10:42,050 S1: of the disciples. Our website is The Land and the 192 00:10:42,050 --> 00:10:45,250 S1: book a good place to check in for updates on 193 00:10:45,250 --> 00:10:49,000 S1: the program, information about every guest and programs past, present 194 00:10:49,000 --> 00:10:52,400 S1: and future. The land and the book. Thanks for staying 195 00:10:52,400 --> 00:11:09,160 S1: with us. What do we know about the wives of 196 00:11:09,160 --> 00:11:12,640 S1: the 12 apostles? What does Scripture say and what does 197 00:11:12,640 --> 00:11:16,520 S1: it not say? Stick around for an intriguing conversation with 198 00:11:16,520 --> 00:11:20,080 S1: doctor Bob Mohler. Next. This is the land and the book. 199 00:11:20,080 --> 00:11:24,000 S1: I'm John Gager welcoming you to our second segment. Right now, though, 200 00:11:24,320 --> 00:11:27,600 S1: let's pause for a brief conversation about a creative way 201 00:11:27,600 --> 00:11:30,360 S1: to love our Jewish neighbor or friend for Christ. Listen 202 00:11:30,360 --> 00:11:33,319 S1: to this. So you've been reaching out to a Jewish 203 00:11:33,320 --> 00:11:36,240 S1: friend for some time, praying for them, hanging out with them, 204 00:11:36,640 --> 00:11:40,440 S1: talking things over and everything's going well. And you say 205 00:11:40,440 --> 00:11:42,800 S1: to yourself, man, this seems to be taken forever. Why 206 00:11:42,800 --> 00:11:45,980 S1: don't they just, you know, they're asking questions about Yeshua. 207 00:11:46,020 --> 00:11:49,620 S1: Why not just receive Jesus? Beth is on the administrative 208 00:11:49,620 --> 00:11:53,220 S1: staff at Olive Tree Congregation in suburban Chicago, reminding us 209 00:11:53,220 --> 00:11:55,260 S1: this isn't an instant process. 210 00:11:55,300 --> 00:11:58,500 S3: No, it's not an instant process. And it does take 211 00:11:58,540 --> 00:12:02,900 S3: time to develop a relationship with a Jewish person and 212 00:12:02,940 --> 00:12:07,620 S3: to help them come alongside and believe in the Messiah, 213 00:12:07,780 --> 00:12:11,060 S3: because many of them have been taught you can be anything. 214 00:12:11,100 --> 00:12:12,580 S3: Just don't believe in Jesus. 215 00:12:12,580 --> 00:12:13,180 S1: Because. 216 00:12:13,220 --> 00:12:16,620 S3: Because much like you read in the New Testament, in 217 00:12:16,620 --> 00:12:21,580 S3: the Gospels, the Jewish people typically don't embrace Jesus right away. 218 00:12:22,179 --> 00:12:26,620 S3: They are taught that the law is what saves them, 219 00:12:26,700 --> 00:12:29,900 S3: and for Messiah to come in and do away with 220 00:12:29,900 --> 00:12:35,339 S3: the law is in many cases very difficult to embrace. 221 00:12:35,660 --> 00:12:37,540 S1: So I think what you're really saying is we need 222 00:12:37,540 --> 00:12:39,780 S1: to give these people time and space and not have 223 00:12:39,780 --> 00:12:41,340 S1: unrealistic expectations. 224 00:12:41,420 --> 00:12:45,530 S3: Correct. But don't give up either, Because you never know 225 00:12:45,530 --> 00:12:48,610 S3: what's going on in a person's heart, and they are 226 00:12:48,650 --> 00:12:52,050 S3: thinking and pondering and considering as long as they remain 227 00:12:52,050 --> 00:12:54,850 S3: in relationship with you and have not cut you off. 228 00:12:55,130 --> 00:12:59,450 S3: They're listening and they're learning, and they're beginning to understand. 229 00:12:59,450 --> 00:13:01,250 S3: And it does take a long time. 230 00:13:01,290 --> 00:13:05,610 S1: Encouragement from Beth Tamblyn with Olive Tree Congregation in suburban Chicago. 231 00:13:05,610 --> 00:13:09,650 S1: Here on the land and the book, doctor Bob Mueller 232 00:13:09,650 --> 00:13:12,090 S1: is a favorite guest on the land and the book 233 00:13:12,090 --> 00:13:14,770 S1: he and his wife, Cheryl, are the founders of For 234 00:13:14,770 --> 00:13:18,370 S1: Keeps Ministries. For years, Bob has hosted a marriage based 235 00:13:18,370 --> 00:13:21,810 S1: television show. He's been on the radio. His many books 236 00:13:21,809 --> 00:13:26,290 S1: have been incredibly helpful. Bob is a lifelong mentor and friend, 237 00:13:26,490 --> 00:13:30,130 S1: and the thing is, he's usually either traveling to or 238 00:13:30,130 --> 00:13:33,890 S1: returning from a marriage conference somewhere. So we're blessed to 239 00:13:33,890 --> 00:13:36,090 S1: have him in our studio today. Welcome back to the 240 00:13:36,090 --> 00:13:37,089 S1: land and the book, Bob. 241 00:13:37,130 --> 00:13:38,650 S4: Thank you John. My privilege. 242 00:13:39,170 --> 00:13:42,170 S1: Bob, let's start with what we know from Scripture about 243 00:13:42,170 --> 00:13:45,840 S1: the disciples wives. The Bible is quite clear about one 244 00:13:45,840 --> 00:13:48,720 S1: of the apostles. What does Scripture tell us about Peter? 245 00:13:48,960 --> 00:13:52,880 S4: Well, we know that Peter was married because the scriptures 246 00:13:52,880 --> 00:13:56,760 S4: tell us that when Jesus entered his house, his mother 247 00:13:56,760 --> 00:14:01,400 S4: in law was sick, had a fever, apparently. And Jesus 248 00:14:01,400 --> 00:14:05,439 S4: went in and ministered and healed her. And then she 249 00:14:05,440 --> 00:14:10,160 S4: got up and served lunch or dinner or whatever was needed. 250 00:14:10,200 --> 00:14:14,400 S4: In fact, it says in Matthew 814 and 15, when 251 00:14:14,400 --> 00:14:17,120 S4: Jesus came into Peter's house, he saw Peter's mother in 252 00:14:17,120 --> 00:14:19,760 S4: law lying in bed with a fever. He touched her 253 00:14:19,760 --> 00:14:23,000 S4: hand and the fever left her, and she got up 254 00:14:23,000 --> 00:14:26,320 S4: to wait on him. So that's one reference. We know 255 00:14:26,320 --> 00:14:30,760 S4: that Peter was married. We have another reference, but it's 256 00:14:30,760 --> 00:14:33,760 S4: made by Paul in the book of First Corinthians, where 257 00:14:33,760 --> 00:14:38,480 S4: he refers to Peter. He says this, that, um, don't 258 00:14:38,480 --> 00:14:40,800 S4: we have the right first Corinthians nine five by the way, 259 00:14:40,800 --> 00:14:44,590 S4: don't we have the right to take a believing wife 260 00:14:44,590 --> 00:14:48,590 S4: along with us, as do the other apostles and the 261 00:14:48,590 --> 00:14:52,470 S4: Lord's brothers? That would include James and others in Cephas. 262 00:14:52,470 --> 00:14:57,430 S4: Who is Peter? So there's two references to Peter having 263 00:14:57,430 --> 00:15:00,470 S4: a wife, and in this case, taking her along with him. 264 00:15:01,070 --> 00:15:03,510 S1: Well, first Peter three and first Corinthians seven hint at 265 00:15:03,510 --> 00:15:07,750 S1: Peter's extensive discussion of husbands and wives in first Peter three. 266 00:15:07,790 --> 00:15:10,270 S1: He sounds as if he had personal knowledge of the 267 00:15:10,270 --> 00:15:13,830 S1: challenges of marriage, as does Paul's teaching on the marital 268 00:15:13,830 --> 00:15:17,270 S1: relationship in First Corinthians chapter seven. What should we know here? 269 00:15:17,270 --> 00:15:18,030 S1: Bottom line? 270 00:15:18,510 --> 00:15:22,390 S4: Well, whether Paul was married or not, we're not certain. 271 00:15:22,390 --> 00:15:25,950 S4: We know he was single when he wrote First Corinthians 272 00:15:25,990 --> 00:15:29,990 S4: seven about marriage. That doesn't mean he was never married. 273 00:15:30,190 --> 00:15:33,190 S4: It's possible he could have been widowed. You know, he said, 274 00:15:33,190 --> 00:15:36,150 S4: I wish everybody would be as I am. I'm single. 275 00:15:36,430 --> 00:15:39,990 S4: But he doesn't say I've never been married. Never was. 276 00:15:40,260 --> 00:15:44,340 S4: So it's speculation. But he was single certainly at the 277 00:15:44,340 --> 00:15:49,300 S4: time of his ministry. So we know that Peter, in 278 00:15:49,340 --> 00:15:54,420 S4: first Peter three, uh, gives instructions for husbands and wives 279 00:15:54,420 --> 00:15:56,940 S4: and how to live with each other. He says, for example, 280 00:15:56,940 --> 00:16:00,780 S4: in first Peter three one through two and then verse seven, 281 00:16:00,780 --> 00:16:03,740 S4: wives in the same way, submit yourself to your own husbands, 282 00:16:03,740 --> 00:16:06,220 S4: so that if any of them do not believe the word, 283 00:16:06,220 --> 00:16:10,460 S4: they may be won over without words by the behavior 284 00:16:10,460 --> 00:16:13,860 S4: of their wives. By the way, John, that's fascinating that 285 00:16:13,860 --> 00:16:19,260 S4: you could win your husband to Christ without words to men. Well, 286 00:16:19,260 --> 00:16:22,180 S4: let's start with women. Words are everything to women, right? 287 00:16:22,220 --> 00:16:25,380 S4: I often say they're little pieces of their soul. Um, 288 00:16:25,380 --> 00:16:27,900 S4: they mean so much. Why? We must be very careful 289 00:16:27,900 --> 00:16:32,540 S4: what we say to our wives. They remember everything. Um, men, 290 00:16:32,540 --> 00:16:36,780 S4: on the other hand, are more impressed by behavior and 291 00:16:36,780 --> 00:16:42,690 S4: character or attitude, if you will. And so Peter, obviously 292 00:16:43,050 --> 00:16:46,050 S4: seasoned husband, says, you know, wives, if you want to 293 00:16:46,090 --> 00:16:49,370 S4: influence your husbands, it will be your behavior and your 294 00:16:49,370 --> 00:16:53,250 S4: attitude rather than your words. Then he goes on to say, husbands, 295 00:16:53,250 --> 00:16:56,250 S4: in the same way, be considerate as you live with 296 00:16:56,250 --> 00:16:58,610 S4: your wives. The old King James says, live with them 297 00:16:58,610 --> 00:17:03,370 S4: according to knowledge. Take consideration of them in all that 298 00:17:03,370 --> 00:17:07,770 S4: you do. So Peter obviously has some deep insight. Yes, 299 00:17:07,810 --> 00:17:10,410 S4: of course, the Holy Spirit could have given him inspiration, 300 00:17:10,410 --> 00:17:12,810 S4: but I think he's drawing on his own experience. 301 00:17:13,250 --> 00:17:15,810 S1: Today on the land. And the book is doctor Bob 302 00:17:15,810 --> 00:17:19,730 S1: Moller of For Keeps Ministries. It's interesting. Jesus first miracle 303 00:17:19,730 --> 00:17:23,850 S1: changing water into wine at a wedding might shed some 304 00:17:23,850 --> 00:17:26,050 S1: further light. Bob, what do we need to know about 305 00:17:26,050 --> 00:17:28,970 S1: this story from John chapter two and the connection that 306 00:17:28,970 --> 00:17:30,210 S1: some have suggested? 307 00:17:30,330 --> 00:17:33,810 S4: Well, John, here we do admittedly go into the area 308 00:17:33,810 --> 00:17:38,600 S4: of speculation because it's not confirmed clearly. But there are 309 00:17:38,600 --> 00:17:41,960 S4: those who study the Scripture and the way in which 310 00:17:41,960 --> 00:17:47,520 S4: the Gospel of John he references himself without identifying himself, 311 00:17:47,640 --> 00:17:51,720 S4: the disciple that Jesus loved, for example, or the disciple 312 00:17:51,720 --> 00:17:54,840 S4: that knew the high priest and was allowed in when 313 00:17:54,840 --> 00:18:00,400 S4: Jesus was arrested. That's obviously a reference to John. Many 314 00:18:00,400 --> 00:18:03,680 S4: people look at the wedding in Cana and realize this 315 00:18:03,680 --> 00:18:07,879 S4: is next door to Nazareth. This isn't halfway across the country, 316 00:18:08,320 --> 00:18:14,400 S4: and Mary has a very intimate, knowledgeable role of the wedding. 317 00:18:14,400 --> 00:18:19,280 S4: What's going on? Including the wine running out, suggesting close friendship, 318 00:18:19,480 --> 00:18:23,600 S4: perhaps with this family and Jesus and some of his 319 00:18:23,600 --> 00:18:27,520 S4: followers were there. There is some possibility that this is 320 00:18:27,520 --> 00:18:31,960 S4: a description of John's own wedding that he's actually explaining 321 00:18:31,960 --> 00:18:35,950 S4: when he got married, what Jesus did for him, Am 322 00:18:36,270 --> 00:18:41,110 S4: not clearly stated, but given the way he writes his gospel, 323 00:18:41,109 --> 00:18:42,310 S4: entirely possible. 324 00:18:42,350 --> 00:18:45,230 S1: Yeah. Not impossible. And we're not stating this as flat 325 00:18:45,230 --> 00:18:49,110 S1: out fact. So don't write us and charge us with 326 00:18:49,109 --> 00:18:52,229 S1: blasphemy here. We're just suggesting it could be right. 327 00:18:52,310 --> 00:18:56,550 S4: It could be right. It appears that Jesus knew some 328 00:18:56,550 --> 00:19:00,590 S4: of these early disciples, some he met, like Peter at 329 00:19:00,590 --> 00:19:03,350 S4: the shore and called him. But maybe John and his 330 00:19:03,350 --> 00:19:07,870 S4: family were known as neighbors and friends and whatever in 331 00:19:07,869 --> 00:19:10,790 S4: the region of Nazareth in Cana. 332 00:19:11,590 --> 00:19:13,750 S1: You point out that there appears to be a biblical 333 00:19:13,750 --> 00:19:17,710 S1: detail that might suggest Judas himself was married. Where do 334 00:19:17,710 --> 00:19:18,430 S1: we find that? 335 00:19:18,710 --> 00:19:22,150 S4: Well, John, I think there's stronger evidence, much stronger evidence 336 00:19:22,150 --> 00:19:25,869 S4: that Judas was married than John's wedding is recorded for us. 337 00:19:26,190 --> 00:19:31,070 S4: And in Psalm 109, verses two through 20, there is 338 00:19:31,070 --> 00:19:36,409 S4: a prophecy regarding betrayal. And it reads this way may 339 00:19:36,450 --> 00:19:41,570 S4: his days be few may another take his place of leadership. 340 00:19:41,970 --> 00:19:47,169 S4: May his children be fatherless and his wife a widow. Okay, 341 00:19:47,210 --> 00:19:50,930 S4: so here's a prediction that whoever this betraying figure is, 342 00:19:51,050 --> 00:19:54,290 S4: he has a wife and he has children. Okay. Then 343 00:19:54,290 --> 00:19:57,369 S4: it goes on in acts one, verses 15 to 20. 344 00:19:57,410 --> 00:20:00,290 S4: In those days, Peter stood up among the believers, a 345 00:20:00,290 --> 00:20:04,250 S4: group numbering about 120, and said, brothers and sisters, the 346 00:20:04,250 --> 00:20:08,090 S4: scripture had to be fulfilled in which the Holy Spirit 347 00:20:08,090 --> 00:20:12,730 S4: spoke long ago through David concerning Judas. So Peter is 348 00:20:12,730 --> 00:20:17,450 S4: saying he's identifying Judas as the man in Psalm 109, 349 00:20:17,450 --> 00:20:20,370 S4: who served as a guide for those who arrested Jesus. 350 00:20:20,530 --> 00:20:22,970 S4: He was a one of our number and shared in 351 00:20:22,970 --> 00:20:26,730 S4: our ministry. And so he Peter goes on to quote that. 352 00:20:26,730 --> 00:20:30,330 S4: So here I think scholars I've read several places are 353 00:20:30,330 --> 00:20:32,010 S4: pretty certain Judas was married. 354 00:20:32,050 --> 00:20:35,520 S1: Very interesting detail. But Bob, let's be honest. Scripture is 355 00:20:35,520 --> 00:20:38,720 S1: relatively silent about most of the personal details of the 356 00:20:38,720 --> 00:20:42,600 S1: disciples lives. What's one reason why that might be so? 357 00:20:43,000 --> 00:20:46,600 S4: I think the primary reason, again, that many who study 358 00:20:46,600 --> 00:20:50,359 S4: this agree on is that the Gospels, and particularly the 359 00:20:50,359 --> 00:20:54,800 S4: book of acts, was about the message of the gospel 360 00:20:54,800 --> 00:20:57,400 S4: in the person of Christ. It was not about their 361 00:20:57,400 --> 00:21:02,560 S4: personal lives. Their personal lives were secondary, if you will. 362 00:21:02,600 --> 00:21:05,160 S4: In this case, there was not a great deal of 363 00:21:05,160 --> 00:21:07,520 S4: focus on the details of where they married, how many 364 00:21:07,520 --> 00:21:11,160 S4: children they had, whatever it was on the person of Jesus, 365 00:21:11,160 --> 00:21:14,800 S4: and what he did in his atoning death, the gospel. 366 00:21:15,040 --> 00:21:18,200 S4: And then the message in the book of acts receives 367 00:21:18,200 --> 00:21:21,160 S4: front and center. So it's not that this is evidence 368 00:21:21,160 --> 00:21:24,320 S4: they weren't married. It's just that that's not the focus 369 00:21:24,320 --> 00:21:28,000 S4: of the writing. There's a second consideration in this as well. 370 00:21:28,000 --> 00:21:31,800 S4: And that's that. In that culture, it was assumed that 371 00:21:31,800 --> 00:21:34,429 S4: most people would marry, and if they married that they 372 00:21:34,430 --> 00:21:38,470 S4: had children. That was just a given of that time. Well, 373 00:21:38,869 --> 00:21:42,950 S4: the only reason it might be referenced would be if 374 00:21:42,950 --> 00:21:47,110 S4: they something happened where they would lose their wife or 375 00:21:47,430 --> 00:21:51,469 S4: they had no children. For example, Zechariah and Elizabeth being childless, 376 00:21:51,510 --> 00:21:54,989 S4: as noted otherwise, it may not have been, but it 377 00:21:55,030 --> 00:21:58,629 S4: refers to John the Baptist. So the silence does not 378 00:21:58,630 --> 00:22:02,390 S4: mean nah, they weren't married. It just means. Mm. Yeah. 379 00:22:02,430 --> 00:22:04,590 S4: Nothing out of the ordinary to see here when it 380 00:22:04,590 --> 00:22:06,070 S4: comes to a personal life. 381 00:22:06,109 --> 00:22:09,030 S1: Yeah. In point of fact, that detail that you're pointing out, 382 00:22:09,030 --> 00:22:12,310 S1: the normalcy of being married and having children, in fact, 383 00:22:12,310 --> 00:22:15,389 S1: argues for the likelihood that the disciples were married. 384 00:22:15,550 --> 00:22:19,109 S4: Absolutely. And again, Paul writes, and he said, don't I 385 00:22:19,109 --> 00:22:21,590 S4: have a right to take a believing right? A wife 386 00:22:21,590 --> 00:22:25,030 S4: along with me, as do the other apostles or disciples. 387 00:22:25,030 --> 00:22:28,149 S4: And then he names a couple, including Jesus's brothers. 388 00:22:28,590 --> 00:22:31,500 S1: That's doctor Bob Mohler, I'm John Gager. This is the 389 00:22:31,500 --> 00:22:34,580 S1: land and the book. How should this affect the way 390 00:22:34,580 --> 00:22:36,660 S1: we see the 12 apostles, Bob? 391 00:22:37,060 --> 00:22:40,780 S4: Well, I think there is a lesson, several lessons in this. 392 00:22:41,100 --> 00:22:45,700 S4: One is that ministry and marriage are not mutually exclusive. 393 00:22:46,100 --> 00:22:51,460 S4: And that's very important because those involved in ministry, you know, 394 00:22:51,500 --> 00:22:55,780 S4: such as the early disciples and apostles, though, Jesus said, 395 00:22:55,780 --> 00:22:59,180 S4: you have to leave everyone to follow me. He did 396 00:22:59,180 --> 00:23:01,540 S4: not say you have to abandon them. What he was 397 00:23:01,540 --> 00:23:05,340 S4: saying was in order of priority, you know, you almost 398 00:23:05,340 --> 00:23:07,940 S4: hyperbole here where he said, you almost have to hate 399 00:23:07,940 --> 00:23:10,659 S4: your family in comparison to how much you love me. 400 00:23:10,859 --> 00:23:13,540 S4: But then, on the other hand, as we go further 401 00:23:13,540 --> 00:23:16,700 S4: Scripture interpreting Scripture. Paul says, don't I have a right, 402 00:23:16,700 --> 00:23:20,180 S4: like every other apostle to do this? In John here, 403 00:23:20,180 --> 00:23:23,820 S4: I think this is critical because often in the church, 404 00:23:24,260 --> 00:23:28,100 S4: I'm afraid at times we divide more than we unite 405 00:23:28,100 --> 00:23:30,010 S4: when it comes to a husband and wife in and 406 00:23:30,010 --> 00:23:33,649 S4: their ministries. They call one person over here, another over there, 407 00:23:33,650 --> 00:23:37,010 S4: maybe around their giftedness. Now, this is I, Bob, not 408 00:23:37,010 --> 00:23:40,330 S4: the Lord speaking. Okay. This is my opinion. So those 409 00:23:40,330 --> 00:23:43,970 S4: who might not agree with me, that's fine, I understand. 410 00:23:44,210 --> 00:23:46,850 S4: But John, I always felt that God called Cheryl and 411 00:23:46,850 --> 00:23:51,770 S4: I together not to be apart in ministry. Not so 412 00:23:51,770 --> 00:23:55,090 S4: that we could go essentially separate ways. He called us 413 00:23:55,090 --> 00:23:58,210 S4: together so we could minister together. And here we find 414 00:23:58,210 --> 00:24:00,129 S4: in the early church. That's what was happening. 415 00:24:00,450 --> 00:24:03,090 S1: Bob, you're a marriage counselor at heart. How should this 416 00:24:03,090 --> 00:24:05,690 S1: conversation affect the way we treat our spouse? 417 00:24:06,170 --> 00:24:09,570 S4: Well, I think we need to treat them with great respect. 418 00:24:09,890 --> 00:24:13,450 S4: We need to be considerate. We need to honor them. 419 00:24:13,730 --> 00:24:17,409 S4: We need to understand they're co-heirs of the precious gift 420 00:24:17,450 --> 00:24:21,410 S4: of eternal life, and therefore realize in the eyes of God, 421 00:24:21,410 --> 00:24:24,050 S4: there is important as I am. I'm not more important 422 00:24:24,050 --> 00:24:27,129 S4: than Cheryl to God and vice versa. And I think 423 00:24:27,130 --> 00:24:31,359 S4: in the New Testament we see evidence of the role 424 00:24:31,359 --> 00:24:35,840 S4: that women played. For example, Aquila and Priscilla, they had 425 00:24:35,840 --> 00:24:38,560 S4: a house church. And when Apollos was a young believer 426 00:24:38,560 --> 00:24:42,720 S4: and didn't understand the gospel, together, they went and instructed them. 427 00:24:42,880 --> 00:24:47,520 S4: And then Peter commends Phoebe and he commends others throughout 428 00:24:47,520 --> 00:24:51,760 S4: the Scripture. They had a very prominent place. Philip's daughters 429 00:24:51,760 --> 00:24:56,560 S4: had four prophetesses. So I think as we look at 430 00:24:56,560 --> 00:24:59,680 S4: our own lives in ministry in the church, we need 431 00:24:59,680 --> 00:25:02,920 S4: to ask, what could we as a married couple, indeed, 432 00:25:02,920 --> 00:25:06,000 S4: even as a family, do to minister together? When I 433 00:25:06,000 --> 00:25:09,880 S4: was a pastor, John, I took my children to the hospital, 434 00:25:09,920 --> 00:25:13,840 S4: to the nursing homes, to visit the sick. I wanted 435 00:25:13,880 --> 00:25:16,960 S4: them to see that these people have value and that 436 00:25:16,960 --> 00:25:22,240 S4: ministering to them matters. And, uh, when my son eventually 437 00:25:22,240 --> 00:25:25,280 S4: became an Army officer, uh, one of the things I 438 00:25:25,280 --> 00:25:27,360 S4: learned that when his men were in trouble, he was 439 00:25:27,510 --> 00:25:30,629 S4: the first person to the hospital before the chaplain got there. 440 00:25:31,270 --> 00:25:35,189 S4: And I would hope to believe that somehow he learned 441 00:25:35,190 --> 00:25:39,350 S4: that and our children doing ministry with us. Very, very important. 442 00:25:39,510 --> 00:25:43,790 S1: Fascinating conversation today with doctor Bob Mohler. Wives of the apostles. 443 00:25:44,030 --> 00:25:45,950 S1: You can hear it all again in our podcast, which 444 00:25:45,950 --> 00:25:50,030 S1: you'll find at The Land and the book. Our friend, 445 00:25:50,030 --> 00:25:52,470 S1: Doctor Gerald Peterman, is looking forward to answer your questions 446 00:25:52,470 --> 00:25:55,550 S1: on our next segment here on the land and the book. 447 00:26:06,910 --> 00:26:10,270 S1: Prepare to be amazed. That's right. Prepare to be amazed 448 00:26:10,270 --> 00:26:12,270 S1: as you stay with us here on the land and 449 00:26:12,270 --> 00:26:15,109 S1: the book by John Gager. And if that sounds like hyperbole, 450 00:26:15,109 --> 00:26:17,270 S1: I don't think it is. You'll be amazed at the 451 00:26:17,270 --> 00:26:19,270 S1: way the Word of God comes alive for you. You'll 452 00:26:19,270 --> 00:26:22,350 S1: be amazed at you're finally getting answers to questions that 453 00:26:22,350 --> 00:26:25,030 S1: maybe you have puzzled over. Yeah, that's what we're all 454 00:26:25,030 --> 00:26:28,020 S1: about here. before we get to our first question, and 455 00:26:28,020 --> 00:26:29,620 S1: we're going to the book of acts today, I should 456 00:26:29,619 --> 00:26:32,219 S1: let you know in advance. Very exciting set of questions. 457 00:26:32,540 --> 00:26:34,020 S1: I want to point out the fact that we live 458 00:26:34,020 --> 00:26:37,740 S1: in uncertain days, right? In times like these, many people 459 00:26:37,740 --> 00:26:41,300 S1: ask the big question Where is God? And there are 460 00:26:41,300 --> 00:26:44,419 S1: times when we as believers might start to wonder where 461 00:26:44,460 --> 00:26:47,179 S1: God is and what he's doing. Well, our friends at 462 00:26:47,220 --> 00:26:50,140 S1: Life in Messiah have recently published a book addressing this 463 00:26:50,140 --> 00:26:55,700 S1: issue titled Where is God in Fearful Times Encouragement from Exodus. 464 00:26:55,859 --> 00:26:57,900 S1: I tell you, this book is a study on Israel's 465 00:26:57,940 --> 00:27:00,540 S1: ordeal in Egypt and what we can learn from this 466 00:27:00,540 --> 00:27:04,060 S1: to apply to our circumstances. The lessons learned by the 467 00:27:04,060 --> 00:27:08,380 S1: Jewish people in Egypt are extremely relevant today. God hears 468 00:27:08,380 --> 00:27:11,500 S1: your cry. God cares for you and is working for 469 00:27:11,500 --> 00:27:14,660 S1: your good and his glory. Well, life in Messiah is 470 00:27:14,660 --> 00:27:17,379 S1: making this book available for a limited time to the 471 00:27:17,380 --> 00:27:20,459 S1: land and the book listeners with a special deal to 472 00:27:20,500 --> 00:27:22,140 S1: find out how you can get a copy of this 473 00:27:22,180 --> 00:27:24,740 S1: encouraging book for yourself, or as a gift to share 474 00:27:24,850 --> 00:27:28,090 S1: with others who are struggling. Visit Life in Messiah. Org 475 00:27:28,810 --> 00:27:32,650 S1: and click on the moody radio icon. That's life in Messiah. 476 00:27:33,690 --> 00:27:36,050 S1: And you want to look for the moody radio icon there. 477 00:27:36,290 --> 00:27:39,050 S1: All right, doctor Gerald Peterman is here. He's with our 478 00:27:39,050 --> 00:27:41,969 S1: Moody Bible Institute faculty. How are classes going for you 479 00:27:41,970 --> 00:27:42,530 S1: this year? 480 00:27:42,730 --> 00:27:45,330 S5: Oh, wonderful. Always great to be in the classroom with 481 00:27:45,369 --> 00:27:46,210 S5: moody students. 482 00:27:46,250 --> 00:27:48,370 S1: All right. And we're in the classroom with you now 483 00:27:48,609 --> 00:27:51,530 S1: because this special set of questions is all focused in 484 00:27:51,530 --> 00:27:53,929 S1: the book of acts. Our pastor is leading us in 485 00:27:53,930 --> 00:27:56,490 S1: a study of acts. So I'm guessing I'm going to 486 00:27:56,490 --> 00:27:59,010 S1: bump into some questions that maybe I've wondered. But let's 487 00:27:59,010 --> 00:27:59,649 S1: find out, shall we? 488 00:27:59,690 --> 00:28:00,250 S5: Oh, good. 489 00:28:00,290 --> 00:28:03,450 S1: Here we go. Starting with question number one. Do we 490 00:28:03,490 --> 00:28:06,610 S1: know anything about Theophilus? Who is he and where does 491 00:28:06,609 --> 00:28:07,850 S1: he fit into the book of acts? 492 00:28:07,890 --> 00:28:10,570 S5: Well, that's a great question. We only know a tiny 493 00:28:10,570 --> 00:28:13,570 S5: little bit. He gets mentioned once at the beginning of 494 00:28:13,570 --> 00:28:16,290 S5: Luke and then once at the beginning of acts. His 495 00:28:16,290 --> 00:28:19,810 S5: name means something like lover of God or maybe loved 496 00:28:19,810 --> 00:28:22,449 S5: by God. It's hard to know exactly. From the beginning 497 00:28:22,450 --> 00:28:27,869 S5: of Luke we hear Luke address him as most excellent Theophilus. Now, 498 00:28:27,910 --> 00:28:31,430 S5: why do that? Well, this term most excellent gets used 499 00:28:31,430 --> 00:28:33,590 S5: twice other times in the book of acts about the 500 00:28:33,590 --> 00:28:37,830 S5: two governors. So you say most excellent. So and so 501 00:28:37,869 --> 00:28:40,950 S5: when you're dealing with someone who has power or social 502 00:28:40,950 --> 00:28:45,709 S5: prestige or maybe money. And so Luke has this man 503 00:28:45,710 --> 00:28:48,190 S5: as the one to whom he's kind of like dedicating 504 00:28:48,190 --> 00:28:52,190 S5: his book. And maybe, maybe we don't know for sure, 505 00:28:52,190 --> 00:28:57,910 S5: but maybe Theophilus is helping Luke economically, because if Theophilus 506 00:28:57,910 --> 00:29:01,470 S5: has some resources and is Luke doing research, he most 507 00:29:01,470 --> 00:29:04,590 S5: certainly is. Is he traveling? Yes he is. He needs 508 00:29:04,590 --> 00:29:09,670 S5: some support. One last thing about Theophilus. Luke says about 509 00:29:09,670 --> 00:29:12,830 S5: him in his gospel. I'm writing this book so that 510 00:29:12,830 --> 00:29:17,190 S5: you might know the certainty of the things you've been taught. So, 511 00:29:17,190 --> 00:29:19,550 S5: in other words, Theophilus has been taught. And that word 512 00:29:19,550 --> 00:29:22,940 S5: for taught is our typical word for Catechized. In other words, 513 00:29:22,940 --> 00:29:26,500 S5: he's been under Christian instruction for some time, and now 514 00:29:26,500 --> 00:29:30,740 S5: he's getting this book to even more solidify this for him. 515 00:29:30,740 --> 00:29:31,740 S5: So I hope that helps. 516 00:29:31,780 --> 00:29:35,700 S1: Shoring up what he's been shown. Yeah, yeah. Further evidence. 517 00:29:36,020 --> 00:29:39,500 S5: Exactly. And Luke has a specialty with bringing evidence, bringing 518 00:29:39,500 --> 00:29:41,100 S5: lots of specifics. 519 00:29:41,100 --> 00:29:45,260 S1: One last thought on Theophilus. He, like so many other references, 520 00:29:45,420 --> 00:29:48,620 S1: so many other names in Scripture, you know, just appear 521 00:29:48,620 --> 00:29:53,380 S1: so briefly. And yet his life is significant. His life matters. 522 00:29:53,380 --> 00:29:55,780 S1: His is a story among the many thousands of others 523 00:29:55,780 --> 00:29:58,420 S1: that will will encounter as we're in heaven. 524 00:29:58,820 --> 00:30:02,260 S5: Oh, yes. Absolutely right. John, to digress on this, I 525 00:30:02,260 --> 00:30:08,180 S5: think about 19 names. In Romans 16, Paul says, greet so-and-so, 526 00:30:08,180 --> 00:30:10,180 S5: greet so-and-so, greet. So and we never hear these about 527 00:30:10,180 --> 00:30:12,820 S5: these people any other place. Well, not many of them, right? 528 00:30:12,860 --> 00:30:16,620 S5: But there are brothers and sisters in Christ working for 529 00:30:16,620 --> 00:30:19,780 S5: the advance of the gospel. It's a glorious household, I think. 530 00:30:19,820 --> 00:30:24,050 S1: Yeah. Okay. Question number two. I've often why, even after 531 00:30:24,050 --> 00:30:27,770 S1: the resurrection, the apostles appear to be still clueless. I mean, 532 00:30:27,770 --> 00:30:30,650 S1: they're asking Jesus, Lord, will you at this time restore 533 00:30:30,650 --> 00:30:33,410 S1: the kingdom to Israel? What is with that? 534 00:30:34,410 --> 00:30:38,650 S5: I really appreciate that term. Clueless. Just like. Just like 535 00:30:38,650 --> 00:30:42,850 S5: me and you. Many times the apostles, wonderful people that 536 00:30:42,850 --> 00:30:47,010 S5: they were, many times they were just extremely slow to learn. 537 00:30:47,130 --> 00:30:49,850 S5: If we go back to the Gospel of Luke right 538 00:30:49,850 --> 00:30:55,010 S5: after Luke nine, Jesus predicts his death. There's a debate 539 00:30:55,410 --> 00:30:58,770 S5: amongst the apostles who's the greatest? I mean, they're very 540 00:30:58,770 --> 00:31:02,370 S5: slow to catch on sometimes. So here we are. After 541 00:31:02,570 --> 00:31:05,490 S5: our Lord's been raised from the dead, the apostles know 542 00:31:05,490 --> 00:31:08,410 S5: this is terribly significant. So what's Jesus going to do next? 543 00:31:08,450 --> 00:31:10,810 S5: Is he going to is he going to bring the 544 00:31:10,810 --> 00:31:15,850 S5: kingdom to Israel? Well, Israel is extremely important. Paul says 545 00:31:15,850 --> 00:31:18,330 S5: in Romans, All Israel will be saved. But wait, that's 546 00:31:18,330 --> 00:31:22,240 S5: not next. What's next is the Holy Spirit comes. And 547 00:31:22,240 --> 00:31:26,160 S5: then they will be witnesses to all the nations. And 548 00:31:26,160 --> 00:31:29,560 S5: they will see people come in from every tribe and tongue. 549 00:31:30,080 --> 00:31:32,440 S5: So yeah, they're a little bit slow to pick up. Now, 550 00:31:32,440 --> 00:31:35,120 S5: you read the rest of acts and you see the 551 00:31:35,120 --> 00:31:38,360 S5: church learn and grow and change and correct itself and 552 00:31:38,360 --> 00:31:42,880 S5: then repeat. Continuing to kind of absorb what God is 553 00:31:42,880 --> 00:31:44,400 S5: doing in them and through them. 554 00:31:44,440 --> 00:31:46,760 S1: You know, I think there is in that encouragement for 555 00:31:46,760 --> 00:31:49,280 S1: the rest of us. I, I ask a lot of questions, 556 00:31:49,280 --> 00:31:51,800 S1: and I'm sure some of them are pretty dumb, pretty basic, 557 00:31:51,800 --> 00:31:54,440 S1: and I often feel like I should already know that. 558 00:31:54,600 --> 00:31:57,120 S1: But these folks, they had their issues too, and God 559 00:31:57,160 --> 00:31:59,160 S1: brought them along as he will us to. Right? 560 00:31:59,200 --> 00:32:02,560 S5: And indeed, they had their issues and he brought them along. 561 00:32:02,800 --> 00:32:05,480 S5: Maybe later we'll come to a question about Peter finally 562 00:32:05,480 --> 00:32:08,200 S5: realizing the gospel is for Gentiles. Okay, Peter, you should 563 00:32:08,240 --> 00:32:10,440 S5: have figured that out from Matthew 28. Yeah. 564 00:32:10,480 --> 00:32:13,520 S1: So this is the land and the book. I'm John Geiger, 565 00:32:13,520 --> 00:32:16,719 S1: back and forth here with Doctor Gerald Peterman, our Bible expert. 566 00:32:16,760 --> 00:32:19,830 S1: He's on the Moody Bible Institute faculty. And wouldn't you 567 00:32:19,830 --> 00:32:23,110 S1: love to have your son, your daughter, your grandchild in 568 00:32:23,110 --> 00:32:26,550 S1: the class with Doctor Peterman? Wow. Uh, for anybody who says, 569 00:32:26,550 --> 00:32:28,830 S1: I'd like to learn a little bit more about Moody 570 00:32:28,830 --> 00:32:32,150 S1: and how my child might pursue that education. Where do 571 00:32:32,150 --> 00:32:33,230 S1: they go? Doctor Peterman? 572 00:32:33,550 --> 00:32:37,350 S5: Uh, you can go to, uh, go on our web page, 573 00:32:37,750 --> 00:32:40,550 S5: click on the admissions office, or you can just send 574 00:32:40,550 --> 00:32:42,830 S5: me an email. Okay. Uh, and I can direct it 575 00:32:42,830 --> 00:32:45,230 S5: to whomever Gerald Peterman at. 576 00:32:46,550 --> 00:32:49,870 S1: Okay. And if you've got a question, uh, another email 577 00:32:49,870 --> 00:32:52,950 S1: will throw your way is the land and the book 578 00:32:53,190 --> 00:32:56,990 S1: at Moody Edu, we're focused today in the book of acts. 579 00:32:57,030 --> 00:32:59,390 S1: What Bible book are you reading? Uh, I'm finishing up 580 00:32:59,390 --> 00:33:02,590 S1: the book of Romans myself. And plenty of questions there. 581 00:33:02,630 --> 00:33:05,270 S1: Why don't you get your question to us regarding whatever 582 00:33:05,270 --> 00:33:08,030 S1: Bible book you're studying as you email us at The 583 00:33:08,030 --> 00:33:12,150 S1: Land and the Book at Moody. All right. Next question 584 00:33:12,150 --> 00:33:15,830 S1: from acts. Luke already told us about Jesus ascending to 585 00:33:15,870 --> 00:33:19,180 S1: heaven at the end of his Gospel in Luke 24. 586 00:33:19,500 --> 00:33:21,900 S1: Why repeat it at the beginning of acts? 587 00:33:22,340 --> 00:33:26,660 S5: Well, actually, I think Luke is intentionally connecting his two 588 00:33:26,700 --> 00:33:30,260 S5: books by repeating some things from the first book into 589 00:33:30,260 --> 00:33:32,540 S5: the second book, so that we see that they're just, 590 00:33:32,580 --> 00:33:35,700 S5: you know, intimately connected together. But let's come back to 591 00:33:35,740 --> 00:33:39,219 S5: this very specific thing. Okay. What about the Ascension? Yes. 592 00:33:39,220 --> 00:33:43,820 S5: That's true. Christ Ascends Luke 24. Ah, but when Christ 593 00:33:43,820 --> 00:33:47,260 S5: ascends in Luke 24, nothing is said about the return. 594 00:33:47,300 --> 00:33:49,580 S5: Of course we know he's returning, but nothing is said 595 00:33:49,580 --> 00:33:52,260 S5: about it at the time. Then the Ascension is talked 596 00:33:52,260 --> 00:33:56,219 S5: about again in acts one. And Jesus ascends. You know 597 00:33:56,220 --> 00:33:59,460 S5: what happens next? The apostles keep watching, and then two 598 00:33:59,460 --> 00:34:01,740 S5: angels show up and they say, why you guys keep 599 00:34:01,740 --> 00:34:05,940 S5: looking up there, right? Because the Lord will come back 600 00:34:05,940 --> 00:34:08,940 S5: in the same way you've seen him go up. So 601 00:34:08,940 --> 00:34:10,980 S5: the connection is being made. Let me tell you what's 602 00:34:10,980 --> 00:34:13,700 S5: going to happen. It happens in the gospel. Let me 603 00:34:13,739 --> 00:34:16,330 S5: add a little something else. It happens in the book 604 00:34:16,330 --> 00:34:20,290 S5: of acts. So that's why the repetition, the connection, further development. 605 00:34:21,210 --> 00:34:25,090 S1: Another friend suggests there must be something significant about mentioning 606 00:34:25,090 --> 00:34:28,529 S1: Jesus family in acts 114. Is that true? It says 607 00:34:28,530 --> 00:34:31,489 S1: the church is gathered together with Mary, the mother of 608 00:34:31,489 --> 00:34:33,570 S1: Jesus and his brothers. What do you think? 609 00:34:33,850 --> 00:34:38,610 S5: Oh, yes, that is a great question. Love that. What 610 00:34:38,610 --> 00:34:42,890 S5: does Jesus tell us in Luke 12? This is Luke 611 00:34:42,930 --> 00:34:47,610 S5: 1251 and 52. He says, do not think that I 612 00:34:47,610 --> 00:34:50,969 S5: have come to bring peace on earth. No, I tell you, 613 00:34:50,969 --> 00:34:54,290 S5: but Division, from now on, in one house there will 614 00:34:54,290 --> 00:34:58,610 S5: be five divided, three against two and two against three. Oh. 615 00:34:59,170 --> 00:35:05,250 S5: Now the question becomes, was Jesus's household divided? Well, the 616 00:35:05,250 --> 00:35:08,210 S5: answer is yes. Now, on the one hand. On the 617 00:35:08,210 --> 00:35:12,250 S5: one hand, it's really clear that Mary was always committed 618 00:35:12,250 --> 00:35:15,470 S5: to her son as her Messiah. That's very, very clear. 619 00:35:15,469 --> 00:35:17,669 S5: But if you go to John chapter seven, you get 620 00:35:17,670 --> 00:35:21,989 S5: something that you only learned from John. In John chapter seven, 621 00:35:22,030 --> 00:35:27,470 S5: it says even Jesus's brothers weren't believing in him. Yeah. 622 00:35:27,830 --> 00:35:30,109 S5: So this is before the death and burial and resurrection. 623 00:35:30,110 --> 00:35:33,790 S5: But now, after the resurrection, thanks be to God. He 624 00:35:33,790 --> 00:35:36,350 S5: has worked and those brothers have come to trust, and 625 00:35:36,350 --> 00:35:38,790 S5: they're part of the Christian family. So that's why that 626 00:35:38,790 --> 00:35:42,350 S5: tiny little phrase and his brothers is there. It's really huge. 627 00:35:42,430 --> 00:35:44,989 S5: I mean, when you read this in John seven, why 628 00:35:44,989 --> 00:35:46,910 S5: wouldn't you trust him? Why wouldn't you believe in him? 629 00:35:46,950 --> 00:35:50,070 S5: You know how family dynamics can sometimes be. But now, 630 00:35:50,070 --> 00:35:51,190 S5: now they've come to Christ. 631 00:35:51,710 --> 00:35:55,870 S1: Next question why does Judas get replaced in acts chapter one? 632 00:35:56,070 --> 00:35:58,589 S5: That's great. If we go to acts chapter 12 for 633 00:35:58,590 --> 00:36:01,590 S5: just a minute, we find James, not the James brother 634 00:36:01,590 --> 00:36:03,950 S5: of Jesus, James the brother of John. He's an apostle. 635 00:36:03,989 --> 00:36:08,710 S5: He gets martyred. Does he get replaced? No. Mm. Why 636 00:36:08,710 --> 00:36:15,779 S5: does Judas get replaced? Because Judas abandons the apostleship deserts Jesus, 637 00:36:16,180 --> 00:36:19,900 S5: and you have to have 12 apostles. What does Jesus say? 638 00:36:19,940 --> 00:36:22,700 S5: You the 12. When I come into my kingdom, you 639 00:36:22,700 --> 00:36:26,620 S5: will sit on 12 thrones judging Israel. So Judas must 640 00:36:26,620 --> 00:36:33,819 S5: be replaced. He abandons the apostleship. And Peter, when talking 641 00:36:33,820 --> 00:36:39,379 S5: about replacing Judas, quotes Psalm 69. Let someone else take 642 00:36:39,380 --> 00:36:43,380 S5: his office and then applies to Judas. And so Judas 643 00:36:43,420 --> 00:36:47,940 S5: gets replaced with Matthias, who becomes then the 12th apostle. 644 00:36:48,540 --> 00:36:50,500 S1: Got a question? Email it to us, will you? At 645 00:36:50,540 --> 00:36:55,779 S1: the land and the book at. Charlie Dyer's devotional is 646 00:36:55,780 --> 00:37:12,610 S1: next right here. The old saying goes, all roads lead 647 00:37:12,610 --> 00:37:15,489 S1: to Rome. Well, in the Apostle Paul's day, that was 648 00:37:15,489 --> 00:37:19,250 S1: certainly true. And I understand that Rome is our destination. 649 00:37:19,250 --> 00:37:22,890 S1: Next in the devotional series Great Confessions of the Bible. 650 00:37:22,930 --> 00:37:23,850 S1: Is that fair, Charlie? 651 00:37:24,050 --> 00:37:26,529 S2: That's exactly right, John. But we're not heading to a 652 00:37:26,530 --> 00:37:27,730 S2: tourist spot for sure. 653 00:37:27,770 --> 00:37:30,810 S1: Okay. Hey, by the way, would Paul recognize anything at 654 00:37:30,810 --> 00:37:33,050 S1: all in today's Rome? What's your best guess? 655 00:37:33,330 --> 00:37:35,489 S2: Uh, I think he would recognize some places, but many 656 00:37:35,489 --> 00:37:37,529 S2: of the spots we think of, like the Colosseum, were 657 00:37:37,530 --> 00:37:40,609 S2: built following the Jewish revolt against Rome. And Paul would 658 00:37:40,650 --> 00:37:42,970 S2: have been gone before that. So some of the places 659 00:37:42,969 --> 00:37:45,370 S2: we tend to think of as iconic were not there 660 00:37:45,370 --> 00:37:45,890 S2: at the time. 661 00:37:45,930 --> 00:37:48,609 S1: All right. Great confessions of the Bible. It's Paul in 662 00:37:48,610 --> 00:37:51,489 S1: Rome after this testimony from somebody who's traveled to the 663 00:37:51,489 --> 00:37:54,690 S1: Holy Land and brings this snapshot to our attention. 664 00:37:58,810 --> 00:38:03,210 S6: My name is Kelly Worrell, and in June of 2008, 665 00:38:03,370 --> 00:38:05,569 S6: my husband and I had the privilege of leading one 666 00:38:05,570 --> 00:38:08,489 S6: of the buses on the Moody Israel trip. And I 667 00:38:08,530 --> 00:38:12,560 S6: suppose I would describe the trip as being a wonderful 668 00:38:12,560 --> 00:38:15,200 S6: combination of both. What I guess we would call the 669 00:38:15,200 --> 00:38:22,000 S6: spiritual highs, those moments when God's presence was particularly tangible. 670 00:38:22,440 --> 00:38:25,120 S6: And those were the moments where we were having a 671 00:38:25,120 --> 00:38:28,759 S6: worship service on the Sea of Galilee, or I got 672 00:38:28,760 --> 00:38:31,840 S6: to watch my husband baptize several members of our bus 673 00:38:31,840 --> 00:38:35,360 S6: in the Jordan River. Or we were having a communion 674 00:38:35,360 --> 00:38:38,319 S6: service in the Garden Tomb. And those moments just will 675 00:38:38,320 --> 00:38:41,440 S6: never leave you. Um, but there was also this sense 676 00:38:41,440 --> 00:38:46,040 S6: in which the trip was very grounding, sort of brought 677 00:38:46,040 --> 00:38:48,719 S6: your faith down to earth in a way that it 678 00:38:48,719 --> 00:38:52,720 S6: had not been before. And you can kind of appreciate, 679 00:38:52,719 --> 00:38:58,640 S6: I guess, the geographic and historic significance of God's Word. 680 00:39:00,440 --> 00:39:04,160 S1: This is a continuing devotional series, Great Confessions of the Bible, 681 00:39:04,160 --> 00:39:07,440 S1: Paul in Rome today, and Charlie, it's all yours. 682 00:39:07,920 --> 00:39:10,390 S2: Well, we've reached week seven In our eight week series, 683 00:39:10,390 --> 00:39:13,670 S2: I'm calling Great Confessions of the Bible. The focus is 684 00:39:13,670 --> 00:39:16,870 S2: on memorable lines spoken at key points in Bible history 685 00:39:17,150 --> 00:39:19,870 S2: by some of the great heroes of the faith. Today's 686 00:39:19,870 --> 00:39:23,630 S2: great confession takes us to a dark, damp prison cell 687 00:39:23,790 --> 00:39:28,430 S2: holding a condemned criminal awaiting execution. The prisoner is the 688 00:39:28,430 --> 00:39:33,310 S2: Apostle Paul. His crime. Being a follower of Jesus, Nero 689 00:39:33,350 --> 00:39:36,549 S2: unjustly blamed the Christians for the recent fire in Rome 690 00:39:36,550 --> 00:39:40,830 S2: and declared Christianity and illegal religion. Throughout the Roman Empire, 691 00:39:40,830 --> 00:39:44,990 S2: Christians were rounded up and executed. Paul was arrested, perhaps 692 00:39:44,989 --> 00:39:49,350 S2: in Macedonia, and shipped off to Rome in chains. Right now, 693 00:39:49,350 --> 00:39:51,910 S2: the prospects for the church seem as dark as the 694 00:39:51,910 --> 00:39:55,790 S2: walls in Paul's prison cell. As a Roman citizen, Paul 695 00:39:55,790 --> 00:39:58,630 S2: had the legal right to appeal to Caesar, and apparently 696 00:39:58,630 --> 00:40:01,870 S2: he already had. But the trial had not gone well. 697 00:40:02,190 --> 00:40:05,070 S2: None of the Christians in Rome were willing to testify 698 00:40:05,190 --> 00:40:09,739 S2: on Paul's behalf. Sadly, Paul writes, at my first defense, 699 00:40:09,780 --> 00:40:13,299 S2: no one supported me, but all deserted me. Yet he 700 00:40:13,300 --> 00:40:16,460 S2: quickly adds, but the Lord stood with me and strengthened me. 701 00:40:17,060 --> 00:40:19,900 S2: As Paul wrote what would become his final letter, he 702 00:40:19,900 --> 00:40:23,339 S2: knew death was near. The next time he stood before Caesar, 703 00:40:23,580 --> 00:40:27,580 S2: he would be declared guilty, taken out and executed. His 704 00:40:27,580 --> 00:40:30,219 S2: only advantage as a Roman citizen would be in the 705 00:40:30,219 --> 00:40:36,140 S2: method of execution, beheading rather than crucifixion. From a human perspective, 706 00:40:36,140 --> 00:40:40,100 S2: Christianity stood in the balance. Its leaders were being arrested, 707 00:40:40,100 --> 00:40:44,140 S2: imprisoned and executed. Others had fled or were in hiding, 708 00:40:44,380 --> 00:40:47,580 S2: and some who had claimed to follow Jesus now denied 709 00:40:47,580 --> 00:40:50,700 S2: they ever knew him. Young Timothy, the man Paul had 710 00:40:50,700 --> 00:40:53,460 S2: placed in charge of the church in Ephesus, must have 711 00:40:53,460 --> 00:40:56,620 S2: wondered if his own end might be near. In his letter, 712 00:40:56,620 --> 00:40:59,460 S2: Paul does his best to help his young disciple make 713 00:40:59,460 --> 00:41:02,980 S2: sense of all the turmoil. He reminds Timothy that in 714 00:41:02,980 --> 00:41:06,700 S2: the last days, difficult times will come, and that all 715 00:41:06,770 --> 00:41:10,010 S2: who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. 716 00:41:10,450 --> 00:41:13,090 S2: It's as if Paul wants to give Timothy a brutally 717 00:41:13,090 --> 00:41:17,050 S2: honest perspective on what he'll be facing. But after painting 718 00:41:17,050 --> 00:41:19,810 S2: a dark portrait of where the world was heading, Paul 719 00:41:19,810 --> 00:41:22,969 S2: reminds Timothy of the one light that can still penetrate 720 00:41:22,969 --> 00:41:27,609 S2: such darkness. All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable 721 00:41:27,610 --> 00:41:32,210 S2: for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, 722 00:41:32,210 --> 00:41:35,089 S2: that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for 723 00:41:35,090 --> 00:41:39,730 S2: every good work. The world was descending into darkness and chaos, 724 00:41:39,930 --> 00:41:44,010 S2: and God's Word was its one remaining hope. That's why, 725 00:41:44,050 --> 00:41:46,770 S2: rather than giving up and throwing in the towel, Paul 726 00:41:46,770 --> 00:41:50,370 S2: now encourages Timothy to preach the word. Be ready in 727 00:41:50,410 --> 00:41:53,730 S2: season and out of season. It's as if Paul is 728 00:41:53,730 --> 00:41:57,089 S2: rounding the final turn in a relay race. His lap 729 00:41:57,090 --> 00:42:00,049 S2: was almost over, but he's focused on handing off the 730 00:42:00,050 --> 00:42:02,930 S2: baton to the next runner. Paul wasn't the key to 731 00:42:02,969 --> 00:42:06,720 S2: the future of the church. God's word was it held 732 00:42:06,719 --> 00:42:11,200 S2: the answer for Timothy and for the world. Wow. Some 733 00:42:11,200 --> 00:42:14,319 S2: of the greatest reminders of the power of God's Word 734 00:42:14,320 --> 00:42:18,279 S2: are found in Paul's final letter to young Timothy. But 735 00:42:18,280 --> 00:42:21,399 S2: we've still not reached Paul's great confession. It's found in 736 00:42:21,400 --> 00:42:24,640 S2: the final chapter of his letter, just after his focus 737 00:42:24,640 --> 00:42:28,080 S2: on the significance of God's Word. Paul now returns to 738 00:42:28,120 --> 00:42:30,799 S2: look at his own life. For I am already being 739 00:42:30,800 --> 00:42:33,239 S2: poured out as a drink offering, and the time of 740 00:42:33,239 --> 00:42:38,320 S2: my departure has come. Paul Minces no words. He knows 741 00:42:38,320 --> 00:42:42,359 S2: his death is imminent. Nero's decision might not yet have 742 00:42:42,360 --> 00:42:46,040 S2: been rendered, but the final verdict was just a formality. 743 00:42:46,400 --> 00:42:50,160 S2: Nero wanted to stamp out Christianity, and killing the church's 744 00:42:50,160 --> 00:42:54,000 S2: leaders was an obvious step in that direction. The matter 745 00:42:54,000 --> 00:42:58,319 S2: of Paul's execution was not a question of if, just when. 746 00:42:58,920 --> 00:43:02,040 S2: But as he faced his impending death, Paul wanted Timothy 747 00:43:02,040 --> 00:43:06,140 S2: to know he had no remorse or regret. He planned 748 00:43:06,140 --> 00:43:09,020 S2: to cross the finish line with his hands held high. 749 00:43:09,620 --> 00:43:13,140 S2: I have fought the good fight. I have finished the course. 750 00:43:13,300 --> 00:43:15,979 S2: I have kept the faith in the future. There is 751 00:43:15,980 --> 00:43:19,340 S2: laid up for me the crown of righteousness which the Lord, 752 00:43:19,340 --> 00:43:21,980 S2: the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, 753 00:43:22,300 --> 00:43:24,819 S2: and not only to me, but also to all who 754 00:43:24,820 --> 00:43:28,100 S2: have loved his appearing. Paul's physical life on earth was 755 00:43:28,100 --> 00:43:31,740 S2: drawing to a close, but in this great confession, Paul 756 00:43:31,739 --> 00:43:35,540 S2: wants Timothy to know and remember that this life isn't 757 00:43:35,540 --> 00:43:38,580 S2: all there is to life. In finishing well here, Paul 758 00:43:38,580 --> 00:43:41,900 S2: was confident that he would be rewarded for his faithfulness 759 00:43:41,900 --> 00:43:44,859 S2: by the righteous judge of all the earth. The key 760 00:43:44,860 --> 00:43:48,899 S2: concept for Paul was endurance. He could endure everything that 761 00:43:48,900 --> 00:43:51,979 S2: would come his way, even death, because he had his 762 00:43:51,980 --> 00:43:54,859 S2: eyes fixed on the finish line and the prize that 763 00:43:54,860 --> 00:43:59,540 S2: awaited him there. John Stephen Akhwari from Tanzania, ran the 764 00:43:59,540 --> 00:44:04,489 S2: marathon for his country in the 1968 68 Mexico City Olympics. 765 00:44:04,850 --> 00:44:07,730 S2: Running at such a high altitude was hard and he 766 00:44:07,730 --> 00:44:11,529 S2: struggled to breathe. Then, just before the halfway point, he 767 00:44:11,530 --> 00:44:16,930 S2: was pushed as several runners jockeyed for position. John fell hard, 768 00:44:16,930 --> 00:44:21,210 S2: dislocating his knee and severely bruising his shoulder. But he 769 00:44:21,250 --> 00:44:24,850 S2: struggled to his feet and kept running, limping to a 770 00:44:24,850 --> 00:44:29,049 S2: last place finish over an hour behind the winner. As 771 00:44:29,050 --> 00:44:31,330 S2: he crossed the finish line, a cheer rose from the 772 00:44:31,330 --> 00:44:34,969 S2: small crowd that had remained behind in the stadium. A 773 00:44:34,969 --> 00:44:38,410 S2: television crew interviewed him and asked why he kept running 774 00:44:38,410 --> 00:44:42,930 S2: after the accident. His answer was the stuff of Olympic legend. 775 00:44:43,410 --> 00:44:46,490 S2: My country did not send me 5000 miles to start 776 00:44:46,489 --> 00:44:50,730 S2: the race. They sent me 5000 miles to finish the race. 777 00:44:51,250 --> 00:44:55,570 S2: And that's Paul's great confession to us today. Whatever problems 778 00:44:55,570 --> 00:45:01,009 S2: you're facing, whatever hardships you're experiencing, whatever struggles you're enduring 779 00:45:01,010 --> 00:45:06,360 S2: right now. Don't give up. Finish the race. God didn't 780 00:45:06,360 --> 00:45:09,200 S2: put you here on earth to start it. He put 781 00:45:09,200 --> 00:45:14,560 S2: you here to finish it, and he will reward your faithfulness. 782 00:45:15,200 --> 00:45:18,000 S1: Boy, that's a great story, Charlie. And what a perspective 783 00:45:18,000 --> 00:45:20,440 S1: on Paul in Rome. Thank you. Maybe you'd like to 784 00:45:20,480 --> 00:45:23,640 S1: hear that devotional again. You can hear the entire program 785 00:45:23,640 --> 00:45:26,600 S1: again if you check out our podcast. Now, Charlie, a 786 00:45:26,600 --> 00:45:29,240 S1: lot of people say podcast. I didn't even know Moody 787 00:45:29,239 --> 00:45:31,400 S1: had that. Uh, where do I get it? And so on. 788 00:45:31,680 --> 00:45:33,879 S2: Well, you can find the podcast at The Land and 789 00:45:33,880 --> 00:45:37,120 S2: the book. And the great thing about the podcast is 790 00:45:37,120 --> 00:45:39,000 S2: that you can then listen to it anytime. You can 791 00:45:39,000 --> 00:45:42,160 S2: listen to the message again the second time, or you 792 00:45:42,160 --> 00:45:44,759 S2: can listen to it when it fits your schedule. Uh, 793 00:45:44,760 --> 00:45:46,600 S2: whether you're in a car or somewhere else. But it's 794 00:45:46,600 --> 00:45:49,359 S2: a great opportunity for you to hear not only the 795 00:45:49,360 --> 00:45:52,560 S2: most recent program, but also past programs. So, uh, it 796 00:45:52,560 --> 00:45:55,399 S2: gives you that opportunity to hear the program again and 797 00:45:55,400 --> 00:45:57,000 S2: to share it with your friends in that way. 798 00:45:57,080 --> 00:46:00,710 S1: Thank you Charlie. Good perspective Charlie, quick reminder that it's 799 00:46:00,710 --> 00:46:03,270 S1: important that every listener speak up and say, hey, I 800 00:46:03,270 --> 00:46:05,990 S1: value the land and the book. Why is that so? 801 00:46:06,790 --> 00:46:08,629 S2: Well, like those runners in that race I was just 802 00:46:08,630 --> 00:46:11,950 S2: talking about, there's people jockeying for position, and there's a 803 00:46:11,950 --> 00:46:13,750 S2: lot of people who want to be on the radio program. 804 00:46:13,750 --> 00:46:15,950 S2: We're privileged to be able to be on this particular 805 00:46:15,950 --> 00:46:19,469 S2: radio station, but others want to be there, and it 806 00:46:19,469 --> 00:46:22,150 S2: helps the radio station make decisions when they hear somebody 807 00:46:22,150 --> 00:46:24,190 S2: writing in saying, by the way, this program makes a 808 00:46:24,190 --> 00:46:26,830 S2: difference in my life, thank you for having it on. 809 00:46:26,950 --> 00:46:29,390 S2: That little kind word can make a huge difference when 810 00:46:29,390 --> 00:46:32,270 S2: it comes time to decide what they should be broadcasting 811 00:46:32,270 --> 00:46:33,910 S2: and what might need to be set aside. 812 00:46:33,950 --> 00:46:35,870 S1: And you can offer that encouragement in the form of 813 00:46:35,870 --> 00:46:37,989 S1: an email. Maybe it's a text, maybe it's a phone 814 00:46:37,989 --> 00:46:41,630 S1: call to the station or an old fashioned postcard or letter. 815 00:46:41,750 --> 00:46:45,470 S1: Thanks for connecting on our behalf. Well, our time is gone, 816 00:46:45,469 --> 00:46:47,790 S1: but thank you to Charlie Dyer, our host, our producer, 817 00:46:47,790 --> 00:46:50,989 S1: Dan Anderson. I'm John Gieger the land and the book 818 00:46:50,989 --> 00:46:53,750 S1: is a production of Moody Radio, a ministry of Moody 819 00:46:53,750 --> 00:46:54,950 S1: Bible Institute.