1 00:00:08,119 --> 00:00:11,360 S1: When life's troubles and tragedies overwhelm us, it's easy to 2 00:00:11,400 --> 00:00:16,200 S1: become fearful, despondent, and even paralyzed by anxiety. We can 3 00:00:16,239 --> 00:00:19,280 S1: even start questioning whether God cares about us. But what 4 00:00:19,280 --> 00:00:22,119 S1: if we could draw insights for our fears? Looking at 5 00:00:22,120 --> 00:00:25,239 S1: the story of the Exodus just ahead, you'll encounter the 6 00:00:25,280 --> 00:00:28,160 S1: God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who is still there 7 00:00:28,320 --> 00:00:30,680 S1: to meet you and your fearful times. You're going to 8 00:00:30,680 --> 00:00:33,120 S1: love the encouragement you hear from our friend Wes Tabor 9 00:00:33,120 --> 00:00:36,080 S1: of life in Messiah. Welcome to the land and the book. 10 00:00:36,080 --> 00:00:39,280 S1: I'm John Gieger, our host, Doctor Charlie Dyer, just back 11 00:00:39,280 --> 00:00:42,760 S1: from Israel. And Charlie, we certainly live in uncertain days. 12 00:00:42,760 --> 00:00:44,959 S1: And in times like these, many people ask the big 13 00:00:44,960 --> 00:00:48,239 S1: question Where is God? And there are times when we 14 00:00:48,240 --> 00:00:51,240 S1: as believers might even start to wonder where God is 15 00:00:51,280 --> 00:00:52,360 S1: and what he's doing. 16 00:00:52,520 --> 00:00:54,640 S2: Yeah, you're exactly right, John. And that's why our friends 17 00:00:54,640 --> 00:00:58,040 S2: at Life in Messiah have recently published a book addressing 18 00:00:58,040 --> 00:01:01,710 S2: this issue. It's titled Where is God in Fearful Times? 19 00:01:01,710 --> 00:01:05,190 S2: Encouragement from Exodus. The book is a study on Israel's 20 00:01:05,190 --> 00:01:07,509 S2: ordeal in Egypt, and what we can learn from this 21 00:01:07,510 --> 00:01:10,590 S2: to apply to our circumstances. In fact, you'll hear a 22 00:01:10,590 --> 00:01:13,390 S2: little bit about that in our program today. The lessons 23 00:01:13,430 --> 00:01:17,270 S2: learned by the Jewish people in Egypt are extremely relevant today. 24 00:01:17,310 --> 00:01:20,550 S2: God hears your cry, cares for you, and is working 25 00:01:20,550 --> 00:01:23,470 S2: for your good and his glory. Now life in Messiah 26 00:01:23,470 --> 00:01:26,030 S2: is now making this book available for a limited time 27 00:01:26,030 --> 00:01:29,430 S2: to the land and the book listeners with a special deal. 28 00:01:29,630 --> 00:01:31,470 S2: To find out how you can get a copy of 29 00:01:31,470 --> 00:01:34,590 S2: this encouraging book for yourself, or as a gift to 30 00:01:34,590 --> 00:01:38,069 S2: share with others who are struggling, visit Life in Messiah 31 00:01:38,069 --> 00:01:42,709 S2: org and click on the radio button. That's life in Messiah. 32 00:01:43,950 --> 00:01:46,270 S1: If you're new to the program, this first segment is 33 00:01:46,270 --> 00:01:48,550 S1: a look at current events, stories from the Middle East 34 00:01:48,550 --> 00:01:51,590 S1: that have all taken place this past week. The UN 35 00:01:51,590 --> 00:01:55,590 S1: Security Council has adopted President Trump's peace plan for Gaza. 36 00:01:55,830 --> 00:01:59,500 S1: And yet, key elements of the conflict still seemed to remain. 37 00:01:59,900 --> 00:02:02,460 S1: What exactly is included in the plan and how will 38 00:02:02,460 --> 00:02:03,460 S1: it be implemented? 39 00:02:03,780 --> 00:02:06,340 S2: Well, the plan begins with the goal of making Gaza 40 00:02:06,380 --> 00:02:09,940 S2: a deradicalized terror free zone that will no longer be 41 00:02:09,940 --> 00:02:12,740 S2: a threat to Israel. The area is to be redeveloped 42 00:02:12,740 --> 00:02:16,380 S2: to benefit the people of Gaza. All fighting is to stop, 43 00:02:16,540 --> 00:02:20,380 S2: and all Israeli hostages were to be released within 72 hours. 44 00:02:20,419 --> 00:02:22,940 S2: And let me pause to say, this initial step was 45 00:02:22,940 --> 00:02:25,380 S2: to have been completed more than a month ago and 46 00:02:25,380 --> 00:02:28,700 S2: still hasn't been fulfilled by Hamas. Hamas is to be 47 00:02:28,700 --> 00:02:31,980 S2: disarmed and have no role, directly or indirectly, in the 48 00:02:31,980 --> 00:02:35,859 S2: governance of Gaza. There are other steps and milestones connected 49 00:02:35,860 --> 00:02:39,019 S2: with setting up a government, allowing in aid, and working 50 00:02:39,020 --> 00:02:41,900 S2: through a transition period that would eventually lead to a 51 00:02:41,900 --> 00:02:46,419 S2: political agreement between the Palestinians and Israel. The proposal stops 52 00:02:46,419 --> 00:02:49,940 S2: short of demanding the establishment of a Palestinian state, though 53 00:02:49,940 --> 00:02:53,260 S2: that's what many outside Israel assume the goal is. Getting 54 00:02:53,260 --> 00:02:56,660 S2: the UN Security Council to approve the plan was significant 55 00:02:56,660 --> 00:03:00,250 S2: because it gives the plan the force of international law. However, 56 00:03:00,250 --> 00:03:02,609 S2: there are several stumbling blocks that could still lead to 57 00:03:02,650 --> 00:03:05,690 S2: the collapse of the plan. The main one is Hamas's 58 00:03:05,690 --> 00:03:09,850 S2: continuing refusal to lay down their weapons. The second major 59 00:03:09,850 --> 00:03:13,609 S2: obstacle is Hamas's refusal to stop seeking to control Gaza. 60 00:03:13,930 --> 00:03:17,970 S2: They continue trying to re-establish military control over key areas. 61 00:03:18,650 --> 00:03:21,810 S2: A third obstacle is the establishment of an outside force 62 00:03:21,810 --> 00:03:24,490 S2: willing to step in and take control of Gaza. A 63 00:03:24,490 --> 00:03:27,570 S2: number of Muslim countries have refused to take part, and 64 00:03:27,570 --> 00:03:31,250 S2: the final obstacle is, at least so far, the inability 65 00:03:31,250 --> 00:03:35,170 S2: to establish a technocratic government to run Gaza and oversee 66 00:03:35,210 --> 00:03:38,970 S2: its rebuilding. Now, Israel still controls just over half of Gaza, 67 00:03:39,170 --> 00:03:42,930 S2: and they're unwilling to withdraw until the clearly established benchmarks 68 00:03:42,930 --> 00:03:46,730 S2: for removing Hamas and rehabilitating the area are met. They 69 00:03:46,770 --> 00:03:50,090 S2: simply won't allow another October 7th to take place. Now 70 00:03:50,090 --> 00:03:53,370 S2: we're seeing something similar with Hezbollah in Lebanon in the 71 00:03:53,370 --> 00:03:56,800 S2: cease fire reached there last year. Hezbollah was to disarm 72 00:03:56,800 --> 00:04:00,000 S2: and Israel was to withdraw from Lebanon, but Hezbollah has 73 00:04:00,000 --> 00:04:03,000 S2: refused to disarm, and as a result, Israel has remained 74 00:04:03,000 --> 00:04:06,440 S2: in key positions along the border. They're continuing to attack 75 00:04:06,440 --> 00:04:11,000 S2: and dismantle Hezbollah's military positions. Just this last week, Israel 76 00:04:11,000 --> 00:04:15,320 S2: eliminated Hezbollah's military chief in an airstrike. And by the way, 77 00:04:15,360 --> 00:04:19,660 S2: back in 2018, our Department of State posted a $5 78 00:04:19,660 --> 00:04:24,080 S2: million reward for information to help bring that individual to justice. 79 00:04:24,080 --> 00:04:27,159 S2: Because we saw him then as a major terrorist threat. 80 00:04:27,320 --> 00:04:29,880 S2: And Israel has now taken care of that problem. 81 00:04:30,200 --> 00:04:32,679 S1: From Moody Radio. This is the land and the book, 82 00:04:32,680 --> 00:04:35,479 S1: a look at current events in this opening segment. As 83 00:04:35,480 --> 00:04:38,719 S1: Gaza fades from the headlines, it's being replaced with news 84 00:04:38,720 --> 00:04:43,000 S1: reports of violence between Jews and Palestinians in the West Bank. 85 00:04:43,040 --> 00:04:45,560 S1: You see these stories all the time. What exactly is 86 00:04:45,560 --> 00:04:48,800 S1: going on? Who's at fault? And most importantly, what can 87 00:04:48,800 --> 00:04:50,240 S1: be done to stop it? 88 00:04:50,680 --> 00:04:53,320 S2: Well, in terms of who's at fault, there's enough blame 89 00:04:53,320 --> 00:04:55,940 S2: to go around on all sides. But let me start 90 00:04:55,940 --> 00:04:58,500 S2: with Israel. A group of settlers in the West Bank 91 00:04:58,540 --> 00:05:03,500 S2: have been attacking and vandalizing fields, homes, vehicles, mosques, and 92 00:05:03,540 --> 00:05:09,060 S2: individual Arabs. U.S. Ambassador Huckabee denounced the violence, calling it terrorism. 93 00:05:09,180 --> 00:05:11,580 S2: And that's what it is. But he also noted that 94 00:05:11,580 --> 00:05:14,659 S2: it doesn't represent the majority of Israelis living in that area. 95 00:05:14,660 --> 00:05:18,339 S2: It's really a small minority still, that doesn't make it acceptable, 96 00:05:18,339 --> 00:05:21,260 S2: and it does need to be stopped. The attacks have 97 00:05:21,260 --> 00:05:25,180 S2: been condemned by Israel's prime minister and by Israel's military leaders. 98 00:05:25,460 --> 00:05:28,740 S2: There have also been several arrests and indictments against Israelis 99 00:05:28,740 --> 00:05:31,620 S2: who've been caught. The government needs to push harder, though, 100 00:05:31,660 --> 00:05:35,500 S2: to identify, arrest and imprison those who are committing these 101 00:05:35,540 --> 00:05:38,740 S2: acts of domestic terrorism. Now, at the same time, the 102 00:05:38,740 --> 00:05:42,220 S2: media hasn't always reported the attacks being committed against Jews 103 00:05:42,220 --> 00:05:45,660 S2: by Arab terrorists in the same area. In 2024, there 104 00:05:45,660 --> 00:05:48,780 S2: were over 6000 attacks against Jews in the West Bank, 105 00:05:48,900 --> 00:05:53,220 S2: including 27 murders and nearly 200 shootings. Most of these 106 00:05:53,330 --> 00:05:57,050 S2: just don't make the international news. Just this past Monday, 107 00:05:57,089 --> 00:06:00,570 S2: a Jewish shepherd was attacked by dozens of Arab rioters. 108 00:06:00,730 --> 00:06:03,690 S2: Such attacks also need to be stopped to help stem 109 00:06:03,690 --> 00:06:06,530 S2: the violence. The government needs to clamp down on those 110 00:06:06,529 --> 00:06:10,770 S2: from both sides committing these acts to clearly label them terrorism, 111 00:06:10,770 --> 00:06:13,570 S2: whether being committed by Jews or Arabs, and to enforce 112 00:06:13,570 --> 00:06:16,170 S2: punishment equally on anyone who's caught. 113 00:06:16,690 --> 00:06:21,170 S1: Archaeologists have uncovered the first ever written Assyrian inscription found 114 00:06:21,170 --> 00:06:24,970 S1: in Jerusalem. What insight have they gained from this discovery? 115 00:06:25,490 --> 00:06:28,770 S2: The fragments, just an inch square, evidently, was part of 116 00:06:28,810 --> 00:06:32,570 S2: correspondence between the Assyrians and the Kingdom of Judah. It 117 00:06:32,610 --> 00:06:35,370 S2: dates to the period around the time of King Hezekiah. 118 00:06:35,770 --> 00:06:39,090 S2: Archaeologists believe it's part of a royal seal impression used 119 00:06:39,089 --> 00:06:42,450 S2: to convey a message about a tax payment. It specifies 120 00:06:42,450 --> 00:06:46,210 S2: the deadline and it mentions a chariot officer. The fragment 121 00:06:46,210 --> 00:06:50,370 S2: suggests Judah had delayed paying its tribute to Assyria, and 122 00:06:50,370 --> 00:06:53,600 S2: it could be connected with the account in Second Kings 18, 123 00:06:53,640 --> 00:06:57,520 S2: where Hezekiah apparently rebelled against Assyria and stopped paying the 124 00:06:57,560 --> 00:07:01,400 S2: annual tribute. When Assyria began attacking the cities of Judah, 125 00:07:01,440 --> 00:07:04,360 S2: Hezekiah then sent a message saying I've done wrong. Withdraw 126 00:07:04,360 --> 00:07:06,800 S2: from me and I'll pay whatever you demand of me. 127 00:07:07,160 --> 00:07:10,320 S2: Hezekiah paid, but the king of Assyria still pushed forward 128 00:07:10,320 --> 00:07:14,640 S2: with his attack, demanding the complete surrender of Jerusalem. It's 129 00:07:14,640 --> 00:07:18,120 S2: possible this tiny fragment was part of the initial demand 130 00:07:18,120 --> 00:07:21,760 S2: for payment or a warning, because the tribute hadn't been paid. 131 00:07:22,080 --> 00:07:25,760 S2: It's definitely a tangible reminder of the threat from Assyria 132 00:07:25,760 --> 00:07:28,920 S2: that Hezekiah was facing. And speaking of that, when I 133 00:07:28,920 --> 00:07:31,560 S2: was in Jerusalem, I was able to see the dam 134 00:07:31,600 --> 00:07:35,000 S2: uncovered at the southern end of the city. While archaeologists 135 00:07:35,000 --> 00:07:37,880 S2: are suggesting it dates to before the time of Hezekiah, 136 00:07:38,280 --> 00:07:41,920 S2: second Kings 2020 connects the pool created by the dam, 137 00:07:41,920 --> 00:07:44,160 S2: along with the tunnel that channeled the water into the 138 00:07:44,160 --> 00:07:47,360 S2: pool to the time of King Hezekiah. You know, this 139 00:07:47,360 --> 00:07:51,790 S2: tiny inscription helps us understand why Hezekiah was so focused 140 00:07:51,790 --> 00:07:55,590 S2: on securing a dependable water supply to protect his city 141 00:07:55,630 --> 00:07:57,070 S2: from attack, for sure. 142 00:07:57,510 --> 00:08:02,270 S1: Scientists from the Weizmann Institute have created immune activating molecules 143 00:08:02,430 --> 00:08:05,750 S1: to help the body fight cancer, and they accomplish this 144 00:08:05,790 --> 00:08:08,510 S1: in spite of having their lab blown up by an 145 00:08:08,510 --> 00:08:12,030 S1: Iranian missile just five months ago. What are the details 146 00:08:12,030 --> 00:08:14,830 S1: behind this remarkable story out of Amazing Israel? 147 00:08:14,990 --> 00:08:19,309 S2: Yeah. The institute's immunotherapy research center took a direct hit 148 00:08:19,310 --> 00:08:22,910 S2: from that Iranian missile, which destroyed the lab and most 149 00:08:22,910 --> 00:08:26,510 S2: of their equipment and materials. But the missile didn't destroy 150 00:08:26,510 --> 00:08:30,230 S2: their collective knowledge or their drive or their determination. They 151 00:08:30,230 --> 00:08:33,510 S2: found new space on campus and in a nearby research 152 00:08:33,510 --> 00:08:38,630 S2: park and resumed their work. Their study focused on macrophages, 153 00:08:38,630 --> 00:08:42,750 S2: special white blood cells that normally are able to digest bacteria, 154 00:08:42,750 --> 00:08:47,709 S2: viruses and cancer cells. However, inside certain tumors, instead of 155 00:08:47,710 --> 00:08:51,699 S2: eating the cancer cells, the macrophages actually help them grow. 156 00:08:52,179 --> 00:08:56,420 S2: The lab research focused on designing biological molecules to block 157 00:08:56,420 --> 00:09:00,740 S2: these dangerous macrophages, while energizing other immune cells to attack 158 00:09:00,780 --> 00:09:04,620 S2: the cancer. Now, the discovery could have broad applications for 159 00:09:04,620 --> 00:09:08,979 S2: treating pancreatic cancer and lung cancer, which are less responsive 160 00:09:08,980 --> 00:09:14,179 S2: to current immunotherapies. The complex process they developed used advanced 161 00:09:14,179 --> 00:09:19,500 S2: genomic AI, big data and synthetic immunology technologies, as well 162 00:09:19,500 --> 00:09:23,260 S2: as techniques to examine where genes were located inside each 163 00:09:23,260 --> 00:09:27,100 S2: one and which ones were active. The preliminary results are 164 00:09:27,100 --> 00:09:30,579 S2: very encouraging, and they're now assessing the long term safety 165 00:09:30,580 --> 00:09:34,380 S2: of the approach before beginning clinical trials. The team stayed 166 00:09:34,380 --> 00:09:37,340 S2: together throughout the war with Hamas and then doubled down 167 00:09:37,340 --> 00:09:39,780 S2: on their research in spite of the damage caused by 168 00:09:39,780 --> 00:09:43,780 S2: the Iranian rocket. As the lead researcher said, the team 169 00:09:43,780 --> 00:09:47,420 S2: remained fully committed to drive the science upward and forward 170 00:09:47,809 --> 00:09:51,210 S2: And hopefully very soon. The results of their passion will 171 00:09:51,210 --> 00:09:55,050 S2: make a lasting impact in the battle against certain cancers. 172 00:09:55,050 --> 00:09:56,930 S2: And that's the kind of thing we've come to expect 173 00:09:56,929 --> 00:09:59,770 S2: from those researchers in amazing Israel. 174 00:09:59,809 --> 00:10:02,530 S1: Well, that's a very hope filled story. Thank you. Charlie. 175 00:10:02,570 --> 00:10:05,250 S1: I want to circle back to our first issue with 176 00:10:05,290 --> 00:10:09,290 S1: Hamas so far, not giving up their weapons. What leverage, 177 00:10:09,290 --> 00:10:12,970 S1: if any, does Israel and or the UN have to 178 00:10:13,010 --> 00:10:14,850 S1: force this part of the peace plan? 179 00:10:15,450 --> 00:10:18,290 S2: The UN passes resolutions and really doesn't have a lot 180 00:10:18,290 --> 00:10:21,689 S2: of impact. Israel is still controlling over half of the 181 00:10:21,690 --> 00:10:25,410 S2: area of Gaza, and they're attacking Hamas whenever they raise 182 00:10:25,410 --> 00:10:28,410 S2: their head or violate the agreement. So Israel is trying 183 00:10:28,410 --> 00:10:31,010 S2: to force them to abide by the agreement. 184 00:10:31,090 --> 00:10:33,130 S1: Do you think they'll be somewhat successful? 185 00:10:33,450 --> 00:10:35,490 S2: It depends on how much we allow Israel to do, 186 00:10:35,490 --> 00:10:38,210 S2: because Israel's going to push hard to get rid of 187 00:10:38,210 --> 00:10:40,050 S2: Hamas one way or another. 188 00:10:40,050 --> 00:10:42,090 S1: And that's Doctor Charlie Dyer with a look at current 189 00:10:42,090 --> 00:10:44,370 S1: events from the Middle East. Well, you and I can 190 00:10:44,370 --> 00:10:47,800 S1: start questioning whether God cares about us when things go bad. 191 00:10:47,800 --> 00:10:50,559 S1: But what if we could draw insights for our fears? 192 00:10:50,800 --> 00:10:54,160 S1: Looking at the story of the Exodus just ahead. Encouragement 193 00:10:54,160 --> 00:10:57,040 S1: from our friend Wes Tabor at Life in Messiah right 194 00:10:57,040 --> 00:10:59,840 S1: here on the land. And the book stick around, won't you? 195 00:11:13,600 --> 00:11:16,640 S1: When life's troubles and tragedies overwhelm us, it is so 196 00:11:16,640 --> 00:11:21,600 S1: easy to become fearful, despondent, even paralyzed by anxiety. We 197 00:11:21,600 --> 00:11:24,560 S1: can even start questioning whether God cares about our needs. 198 00:11:24,559 --> 00:11:27,360 S1: And we ask ourselves things like, Where is God in 199 00:11:27,360 --> 00:11:30,199 S1: these fearful times of life? What if we could draw 200 00:11:30,200 --> 00:11:33,280 S1: insights for our fears by looking at the story of 201 00:11:33,280 --> 00:11:36,600 S1: the Exodus? Well, we can. In fact, you're about to 202 00:11:36,640 --> 00:11:39,640 S1: encounter the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, who is 203 00:11:39,640 --> 00:11:43,160 S1: still there to meet your needs in whatever fearful times 204 00:11:43,160 --> 00:11:46,260 S1: of life that you face today. Welcome back to the 205 00:11:46,260 --> 00:11:49,420 S1: land and the book. I'm John Yeager. Before we journey 206 00:11:49,420 --> 00:11:51,300 S1: back to Egypt, what do you say we pause for 207 00:11:51,300 --> 00:11:55,140 S1: this creative idea on sharing Christ with a Jewish friend? 208 00:11:56,300 --> 00:11:58,500 S1: You say you'd like to be an effective witness to 209 00:11:58,540 --> 00:12:02,020 S1: your Jewish friend, but where do you start? Here's Justin Krohn, 210 00:12:02,059 --> 00:12:04,540 S1: and sometimes, Justin, I think a story says it best. 211 00:12:04,940 --> 00:12:07,340 S3: Well, uh, not that long ago, my wife and I 212 00:12:07,340 --> 00:12:09,780 S3: were visiting a church in South Florida that we loved 213 00:12:09,780 --> 00:12:13,860 S3: to visit when we're down there. And, uh, we were 214 00:12:13,860 --> 00:12:16,900 S3: at the service and the pastor asked everyone in the room. 215 00:12:16,900 --> 00:12:20,220 S3: He said, there's about 3800 of you here. Okay. So 216 00:12:20,220 --> 00:12:22,300 S3: it's a pretty big church, right? He said, now, I 217 00:12:22,300 --> 00:12:25,060 S3: want to know how many of you came to faith 218 00:12:25,059 --> 00:12:29,500 S3: through a gospel tract. And I was very interested in knowing, like, 219 00:12:29,500 --> 00:12:31,300 S3: how many hands are going to go up here because 220 00:12:31,300 --> 00:12:33,620 S3: the ministry that I'm involved in, we do a bit 221 00:12:33,620 --> 00:12:37,980 S3: of gospel tract distribution. Well, one hand went up and 222 00:12:37,980 --> 00:12:40,620 S3: then he asked, well, how many of you have come 223 00:12:40,620 --> 00:12:44,930 S3: to faith through the loving and faithful witness of a 224 00:12:44,929 --> 00:12:49,730 S3: friend or family member. And guess what? Almost every hand 225 00:12:49,730 --> 00:12:52,850 S3: in the room went up. And that was a real reminder. 226 00:12:52,890 --> 00:12:57,410 S3: A real challenge to me that the key to effective 227 00:12:57,410 --> 00:13:01,010 S3: witness to the Jewish people, to to anyone who's far 228 00:13:01,010 --> 00:13:04,930 S3: from God, is to be actively engaged in their lives 229 00:13:04,970 --> 00:13:08,410 S3: and to love them and care about them, no matter 230 00:13:08,410 --> 00:13:10,730 S3: where it is that they're at and their lives, and 231 00:13:10,730 --> 00:13:13,610 S3: to really just trust God with that fruit. 232 00:13:13,770 --> 00:13:18,890 S1: Great story and great encouragement from Justin Crone. West Tabor 233 00:13:18,890 --> 00:13:22,450 S1: serves as Global ambassador for Life in Messiah, a ministry 234 00:13:22,450 --> 00:13:25,530 S1: that he led for many years. West continues to seek 235 00:13:25,530 --> 00:13:28,850 S1: to bring God glory by teaching in churches and schools. 236 00:13:29,050 --> 00:13:32,250 S1: He also advocates for life in Messiah and cheers on 237 00:13:32,250 --> 00:13:35,929 S1: their staff around the globe. When he's not traveling, speaking, 238 00:13:35,929 --> 00:13:38,850 S1: or in the office, West likes to ride his motorcycle, 239 00:13:38,890 --> 00:13:41,650 S1: watch the bears in the Cubs, and play with his 240 00:13:41,650 --> 00:13:45,920 S1: nine Grandchildren. He's also written the book Where Is God 241 00:13:45,920 --> 00:13:48,240 S1: in Fearful Times? Hey, welcome back to the land and 242 00:13:48,240 --> 00:13:48,960 S1: the book, Wes. 243 00:13:49,240 --> 00:13:51,080 S4: Hey, John, it's great to be back. 244 00:13:51,080 --> 00:13:54,480 S1: So why this book now? Wes, where is God in 245 00:13:54,520 --> 00:13:55,600 S1: fearful times? 246 00:13:55,600 --> 00:13:58,480 S4: Well, the United States has probably never been more divided 247 00:13:58,480 --> 00:14:02,920 S4: than any time in my 70 plus years of of living. Um, 248 00:14:02,920 --> 00:14:06,000 S4: and on the global scale, you know, we have hope 249 00:14:06,000 --> 00:14:09,360 S4: for peace in the Middle East. Our president certainly is 250 00:14:09,360 --> 00:14:13,000 S4: doing everything he can to bend his efforts that way. Um, 251 00:14:13,000 --> 00:14:15,200 S4: but in reading the scriptures, it's hard to be overly 252 00:14:15,200 --> 00:14:17,880 S4: optimistic about a lasting peace there. 253 00:14:17,880 --> 00:14:21,239 S1: Well, chapter one of Where Is God in Fearful Times 254 00:14:21,240 --> 00:14:23,840 S1: starts out with a bang. It's called a reversal of 255 00:14:23,840 --> 00:14:26,840 S1: fortune by an awful lot of us have experienced that 256 00:14:26,840 --> 00:14:29,000 S1: at some level. Take us to the Book of Exodus 257 00:14:29,000 --> 00:14:32,520 S1: for some insights here. A reversal of fortune. What's going on? 258 00:14:32,680 --> 00:14:35,840 S4: Well, when the pages of Genesis close, we have the 259 00:14:35,840 --> 00:14:39,400 S4: Jewish people in a pretty good place. Um, Joseph had 260 00:14:39,400 --> 00:14:42,430 S4: been sold by his brothers into Egypt, but God elevated 261 00:14:42,430 --> 00:14:45,230 S4: him to second in command, and the Jewish people were 262 00:14:45,230 --> 00:14:48,990 S4: in a privileged position in Goshen when the pages of 263 00:14:48,990 --> 00:14:52,430 S4: Genesis closed. So when we open the pages of Genesis, 264 00:14:52,470 --> 00:14:55,670 S4: our Exodus, rather, there is a real reversal of fortune 265 00:14:55,670 --> 00:14:58,350 S4: because the Jewish people are still in Goshen. They're not 266 00:14:58,350 --> 00:15:02,350 S4: back in Canaan, the Promised Land, but now they're slaves. 267 00:15:02,470 --> 00:15:05,110 S1: And so they certainly don't feel like they're in great times. 268 00:15:05,110 --> 00:15:08,390 S1: They're living in fearful times, and there are insights for them. 269 00:15:08,390 --> 00:15:10,190 S1: Anything come to mind? That would be a lesson for 270 00:15:10,190 --> 00:15:13,910 S1: anybody listening now who's experienced a reversal of fortune. 271 00:15:13,950 --> 00:15:17,830 S4: Well, it's interesting. In the very first chapter of Exodus, 272 00:15:17,870 --> 00:15:22,150 S4: we have Shiphrah and Puah, who are the midwives who 273 00:15:22,150 --> 00:15:25,230 S4: honor the Lord at a time when Pharaoh arises, who 274 00:15:25,230 --> 00:15:27,950 S4: doesn't remember how the Jewish people had been a blessing 275 00:15:27,990 --> 00:15:32,470 S4: to Egypt. Right. And so he sees the burgeoning Jewish 276 00:15:32,470 --> 00:15:36,310 S4: population as a threat and wants to kill the baby 277 00:15:36,310 --> 00:15:40,660 S4: boys to eliminate that threat or potential threat. It, and 278 00:15:40,660 --> 00:15:44,020 S4: it says that Shiphrah and Puah honored the Lord. They 279 00:15:44,020 --> 00:15:48,380 S4: feared the Lord, and so they actually defied the sovereign 280 00:15:48,420 --> 00:15:51,660 S4: of a very powerful kingdom in order to do what 281 00:15:51,660 --> 00:15:54,660 S4: was pleasing to the Lord. And I think right from 282 00:15:54,660 --> 00:15:57,260 S4: the very beginning of the book of Exodus, we have 283 00:15:57,300 --> 00:16:01,900 S4: two examples of godly women who chose to honor the Lord, 284 00:16:01,900 --> 00:16:04,140 S4: even at the risk of their own lives. 285 00:16:04,140 --> 00:16:07,180 S1: Well, without spelling it out in too big of capital letters. 286 00:16:07,180 --> 00:16:09,060 S1: It seems to me that is the lesson for us 287 00:16:09,060 --> 00:16:11,620 S1: to honor the Lord first, as we're in the middle 288 00:16:11,620 --> 00:16:13,500 S1: of that reversal of fortune, right? 289 00:16:13,820 --> 00:16:16,980 S4: Well, that's right. And actually, we don't even have God's 290 00:16:16,980 --> 00:16:21,140 S4: name mentioned until the burning bush when God shows up 291 00:16:21,140 --> 00:16:24,420 S4: talking to Moses, except for in Exodus one when it 292 00:16:24,420 --> 00:16:27,620 S4: talks about the women who feared the Lord. And it says, 293 00:16:27,660 --> 00:16:31,780 S4: And God bless them for it. But there's no dialogue. 294 00:16:31,780 --> 00:16:35,220 S4: There's no sense of a relationship where God is speaking 295 00:16:35,260 --> 00:16:38,300 S4: to the the women. And I think that's one of 296 00:16:38,340 --> 00:16:42,610 S4: the great lessons from the early chapters of Exodus is 297 00:16:42,610 --> 00:16:45,370 S4: that God is present even when he's not speaking. 298 00:16:45,690 --> 00:16:49,010 S1: Where is God in fearful times? That's the question we're 299 00:16:49,010 --> 00:16:52,650 S1: exploring today with Wes Tabor, who serves as global ambassador 300 00:16:52,650 --> 00:16:55,530 S1: for Life in Messiah. I love how you quote Scripture 301 00:16:55,530 --> 00:16:58,010 S1: in every single chapter. You're working us through the story 302 00:16:58,010 --> 00:17:00,850 S1: of Exodus, and these verses really are at the heart 303 00:17:00,850 --> 00:17:03,770 S1: of some very difficult questions. I have to ask, did 304 00:17:03,770 --> 00:17:06,530 S1: you ever encounter a passage and say, boy, I am 305 00:17:06,570 --> 00:17:08,050 S1: not sure how to address that. 306 00:17:08,330 --> 00:17:13,250 S4: Well, there are some real difficulties in the scriptures. One 307 00:17:13,250 --> 00:17:16,330 S4: of the ones is about the hardening of Pharaoh's heart. 308 00:17:17,170 --> 00:17:20,449 S4: If you remember when God told Moses at the burning 309 00:17:20,450 --> 00:17:22,890 S4: bush that he was sending him back to Pharaoh's court, 310 00:17:22,890 --> 00:17:26,610 S4: and Moses certainly knew what that would be like, because 311 00:17:26,650 --> 00:17:28,610 S4: for the first 40 years of his life, that's where 312 00:17:28,609 --> 00:17:31,210 S4: he lived. Yeah, but now he's 80 years old. And 313 00:17:31,210 --> 00:17:35,649 S4: to go back into that setting, how fearful would that 314 00:17:35,650 --> 00:17:39,639 S4: be for him Before he goes. God tells him that 315 00:17:39,640 --> 00:17:43,520 S4: he is going to harden Pharaoh's heart and that there's 316 00:17:43,520 --> 00:17:47,600 S4: going to be opposition. So even before it starts, we 317 00:17:47,600 --> 00:17:51,040 S4: know that Pharaoh is not going to be compliant. Yeah. 318 00:17:51,200 --> 00:17:56,080 S4: The text says that Pharaoh's heart was hardened. Also, that 319 00:17:56,080 --> 00:17:59,360 S4: Pharaoh hardened his heart, his own heart, and that God 320 00:17:59,400 --> 00:18:00,960 S4: hardens Pharaoh's heart. 321 00:18:00,960 --> 00:18:04,280 S1: So he was somewhat complicit in this heart hardening business, then? 322 00:18:04,320 --> 00:18:06,320 S4: Well, so this gets us to that whole, you know, 323 00:18:06,359 --> 00:18:09,960 S4: God's sovereignty, man's free will. What's our responsibility if God 324 00:18:09,960 --> 00:18:13,800 S4: is sovereign? And I don't think there's a clearer illustration 325 00:18:13,800 --> 00:18:16,000 S4: of that than Pharaoh. And Paul uses that in the 326 00:18:16,000 --> 00:18:18,600 S4: book of Romans when he talks about God's sovereignty. 327 00:18:19,080 --> 00:18:21,280 S1: I love how every chapter in the book includes a 328 00:18:21,280 --> 00:18:25,320 S1: Fear factor misery index. I mean, that's taking it home. 329 00:18:25,320 --> 00:18:26,760 S1: Describe what you're doing here. 330 00:18:26,960 --> 00:18:30,840 S4: Okay, so one of the things that I don't want 331 00:18:30,880 --> 00:18:33,040 S4: is for people to think that there's some kind of 332 00:18:33,080 --> 00:18:36,630 S4: spiritual panacea, right? That we just need to put on 333 00:18:36,630 --> 00:18:40,870 S4: rose colored glasses and pretend that evil doesn't exist. That's 334 00:18:40,869 --> 00:18:43,070 S4: why I love the story of Habakkuk so much. He 335 00:18:43,070 --> 00:18:48,030 S4: takes an accurate inventory of what he doesn't have, and 336 00:18:48,030 --> 00:18:50,590 S4: I think as we go through the chapters of Exodus, 337 00:18:50,630 --> 00:18:53,550 S4: it's easy for us to read this as a historical narrative, 338 00:18:53,590 --> 00:18:57,030 S4: because that's what it is. It's somebody else's story. But 339 00:18:57,030 --> 00:19:00,070 S4: to actually empathize with what it must have been like 340 00:19:00,070 --> 00:19:03,270 S4: to be in that situation. That's why I put the 341 00:19:03,270 --> 00:19:06,910 S4: misery index in there, is because it's because you see 342 00:19:06,950 --> 00:19:11,990 S4: it increasingly miserable for the Jewish people as Pharaoh gets 343 00:19:11,990 --> 00:19:12,910 S4: tougher and tougher. 344 00:19:12,950 --> 00:19:14,990 S1: It's a reality check. And not just for them, for 345 00:19:14,990 --> 00:19:17,750 S1: us as well, in our our own challenges. This is 346 00:19:17,750 --> 00:19:21,110 S1: the land and the book I'm John Gager. Our conversation 347 00:19:21,109 --> 00:19:24,149 S1: today is with Wes Tabor of Life in Messiah. He's written, 348 00:19:24,150 --> 00:19:28,030 S1: Where is God in fearful Times? You've done a really 349 00:19:28,030 --> 00:19:32,750 S1: great job of including super helpful footnotes that explain Hebrew 350 00:19:32,790 --> 00:19:36,410 S1: words or or Bible passages, or offer little factoids that 351 00:19:36,410 --> 00:19:39,010 S1: make the whole thing come alive. And I like that 352 00:19:39,010 --> 00:19:40,770 S1: it's right there on the page. I don't have to 353 00:19:40,770 --> 00:19:43,210 S1: go hunting for it. But that had to have taken 354 00:19:43,210 --> 00:19:45,090 S1: a whole lot of work to put that together. 355 00:19:45,450 --> 00:19:48,129 S4: Well, I love studying God's Word and I am a 356 00:19:48,130 --> 00:19:51,290 S4: detail person. You can ask my wife. And the joy 357 00:19:51,290 --> 00:19:54,209 S4: of it for me is when you see something in 358 00:19:54,210 --> 00:19:57,649 S4: the Hebrew Scriptures that you didn't see just from the 359 00:19:57,650 --> 00:20:00,770 S4: regular text, I'd love to share those insights with folks. 360 00:20:00,810 --> 00:20:03,290 S1: Well, thank you for doing that. All right. How do 361 00:20:03,290 --> 00:20:05,450 S1: you think our lives would be different, Wes, if we 362 00:20:05,450 --> 00:20:09,770 S1: had a stronger grip on this question? Where is God 363 00:20:09,770 --> 00:20:11,170 S1: in fearful times? 364 00:20:11,850 --> 00:20:14,850 S4: Well, we remember that Jesus told us that in this 365 00:20:14,850 --> 00:20:18,690 S4: world we will have tribulation. Scriptures are clear. All who 366 00:20:19,090 --> 00:20:22,570 S4: live for Jesus are going to suffer persecution. It's human 367 00:20:22,570 --> 00:20:27,129 S4: nature to want to have comfort and pleasure and success. 368 00:20:27,330 --> 00:20:31,649 S4: But it's in those tough times that God forges our character. 369 00:20:31,770 --> 00:20:34,440 S4: It's when we learn to depend upon him. It's when 370 00:20:34,440 --> 00:20:37,480 S4: he teaches us the essential lessons of life. 371 00:20:37,520 --> 00:20:41,720 S1: Yeah, a favorite chapter of mine is when elation turns 372 00:20:41,720 --> 00:20:44,840 S1: to fright. You write. For many people, life is a 373 00:20:44,840 --> 00:20:49,520 S1: roller coaster. Our emotions, including fear, rise and fall. As 374 00:20:49,520 --> 00:20:52,800 S1: our circumstances change. We cry out to God for rescue 375 00:20:52,800 --> 00:20:56,520 S1: and relief. Then despair when suffering is prolonged. Put this 376 00:20:56,520 --> 00:20:59,639 S1: in the context of the Israelites now with their backs 377 00:20:59,640 --> 00:21:02,080 S1: to the Red sea, and maybe some lessons for us 378 00:21:02,080 --> 00:21:02,639 S1: as well. 379 00:21:03,160 --> 00:21:06,320 S4: Sure, you've had ten plagues. The Jewish people have seen 380 00:21:06,320 --> 00:21:10,040 S4: God demonstrate his power. Finally, Pharaoh says, get out of here. 381 00:21:10,320 --> 00:21:14,400 S4: They leave. There's got to be jubilation, celebration. And then 382 00:21:14,400 --> 00:21:16,399 S4: they look in the rear view mirror. And here comes 383 00:21:16,440 --> 00:21:20,800 S4: Pharaoh's army. And immediately their joy turns to despair. And 384 00:21:20,800 --> 00:21:23,520 S4: I think this is how the devil works. You know, 385 00:21:23,560 --> 00:21:26,160 S4: we get an early victory and we think, okay, now 386 00:21:26,160 --> 00:21:28,960 S4: it's smooth sailing from here. We need to keep our 387 00:21:28,960 --> 00:21:32,790 S4: armor on all the time. The devil loves to come 388 00:21:32,790 --> 00:21:36,990 S4: and attack after a victory. The Prophet Elijah at Mount 389 00:21:36,990 --> 00:21:38,830 S4: Carmel is a great example. 390 00:21:38,869 --> 00:21:42,310 S1: Keep your arm around. Great insight. West Tabor serves as 391 00:21:42,310 --> 00:21:45,669 S1: global ambassador for life in Messiah. He joins us today 392 00:21:45,910 --> 00:21:48,629 S1: on the land and the book. I have to assume 393 00:21:48,630 --> 00:21:52,790 S1: that you're really hoping readers will be encouraged here. Maybe 394 00:21:52,830 --> 00:21:55,390 S1: even as you wrote this thing, stuff was spilling out 395 00:21:55,390 --> 00:21:58,869 S1: in conversations with your wife, your family, others. Uh, what's 396 00:21:58,869 --> 00:22:01,070 S1: your vibe on that part of the book? 397 00:22:01,630 --> 00:22:04,270 S4: Well, see, it's when God is silent or appears to 398 00:22:04,270 --> 00:22:06,670 S4: be silent. He has spoken through his son and through 399 00:22:06,710 --> 00:22:09,670 S4: His word and through creation. So he's never silent. But 400 00:22:09,670 --> 00:22:13,270 S4: in my circumstance, God is silent. Those are the times 401 00:22:13,270 --> 00:22:15,910 S4: when the devil creeps in to say, God doesn't know. 402 00:22:15,910 --> 00:22:19,790 S4: God doesn't care. God isn't able. And so I think 403 00:22:19,910 --> 00:22:24,310 S4: seeing how God was silent in those years of suffering 404 00:22:24,350 --> 00:22:27,030 S4: of the Jewish people and then seeing the text that says, 405 00:22:27,030 --> 00:22:31,190 S4: God saw, he heard, he cared, he acted. That's a 406 00:22:31,260 --> 00:22:34,540 S4: good reminder to us. You know, we say sometimes that 407 00:22:34,660 --> 00:22:37,740 S4: we go with a with a stopwatch, but God uses 408 00:22:37,780 --> 00:22:42,060 S4: a calendar. He has the long view. And because he's purposeful, 409 00:22:42,100 --> 00:22:44,939 S4: he told Abraham way back in Genesis 15 that there 410 00:22:44,940 --> 00:22:48,100 S4: was going to be 400 years of oppression and slavery. 411 00:22:48,100 --> 00:22:50,620 S4: And he said, I will bring you out, and that 412 00:22:50,619 --> 00:22:53,540 S4: there would be riches with it. So I think that's 413 00:22:53,540 --> 00:22:56,500 S4: one of the important things for me, is to remember 414 00:22:56,500 --> 00:22:58,660 S4: that the end of the story is not yet. 415 00:22:59,020 --> 00:23:01,260 S1: And with that, we're going to leave West Tabor in 416 00:23:01,260 --> 00:23:03,179 S1: the studio, and we're going to move him into a pulpit. 417 00:23:03,220 --> 00:23:05,140 S1: He's in a church now. You get to preach, Wes. 418 00:23:05,300 --> 00:23:05,980 S4: Okay. 419 00:23:06,020 --> 00:23:09,419 S1: This is your sermon for anybody listening now and says, man, 420 00:23:09,740 --> 00:23:12,540 S1: I am living in fearful times. I don't see a 421 00:23:12,540 --> 00:23:16,140 S1: way out. What's your message to them right now? Anybody 422 00:23:16,140 --> 00:23:17,620 S1: listening who's in a fearful time? 423 00:23:17,940 --> 00:23:21,300 S4: This is the time to look up. Satan wants us 424 00:23:21,300 --> 00:23:25,219 S4: to focus on our circumstances. I don't have enough resources. 425 00:23:25,220 --> 00:23:28,540 S4: I don't have enough wisdom. I can't solve this problem. 426 00:23:28,740 --> 00:23:31,770 S4: And the center of attention. The focus there is on 427 00:23:31,770 --> 00:23:36,370 S4: both the challenge and my inadequacy. The way through this 428 00:23:36,369 --> 00:23:39,050 S4: is to look up and to depend upon the Lord, 429 00:23:39,290 --> 00:23:44,770 S4: his sovereign goodness, his care, his ability, his timing, his purpose, 430 00:23:44,770 --> 00:23:49,810 S4: his glory. When God's glory is my highest goal, every 431 00:23:49,810 --> 00:23:54,290 S4: resource of heaven is available for me to accomplish his purpose. 432 00:23:54,609 --> 00:23:56,650 S4: And his purpose includes suffering. 433 00:23:56,770 --> 00:23:59,890 S1: Great advice from West Tabor, who's written, Where is God 434 00:23:59,890 --> 00:24:03,369 S1: in fearful times? Couldn't it also be true, though, Wes, 435 00:24:03,369 --> 00:24:06,290 S1: that God is using fearful times in the life of 436 00:24:06,290 --> 00:24:10,090 S1: somebody who doesn't really know Jesus as Savior to get 437 00:24:10,090 --> 00:24:13,650 S1: their attention, to bring them to him, not just for 438 00:24:13,650 --> 00:24:17,050 S1: the relief from their immediate fear, but the ultimate fear. 439 00:24:17,090 --> 00:24:18,609 S1: Eternity apart from Christ. 440 00:24:18,970 --> 00:24:22,090 S4: Well, that's a wonderful insight. I've been in ministry for 441 00:24:22,090 --> 00:24:26,129 S4: 50 years, John. I've never seen as much openness among 442 00:24:26,130 --> 00:24:30,200 S4: the Jewish people, and especially among Israelis, as we're seeing now, 443 00:24:30,560 --> 00:24:35,240 S4: two years of horror from Gaza in Israel have left 444 00:24:35,240 --> 00:24:39,080 S4: the people traumatized. Everybody in Israel has some form of PTSD, 445 00:24:39,840 --> 00:24:43,200 S4: and many people from the ultra religious to the very, 446 00:24:43,200 --> 00:24:46,080 S4: very secular who don't even believe that there is a God. 447 00:24:46,320 --> 00:24:50,240 S4: Many of them are engaging our staff in conversation about 448 00:24:50,240 --> 00:24:53,160 S4: the person of Yeshua, Messiah Jesus. 449 00:24:53,600 --> 00:24:55,159 S1: If you're in the middle of one of those fearful 450 00:24:55,160 --> 00:24:58,679 S1: times and you don't know Jesus as Savior. Today's the day. 451 00:24:59,119 --> 00:25:01,240 S1: The Bible says, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and 452 00:25:01,240 --> 00:25:02,360 S1: you will be saved. 453 00:25:02,400 --> 00:25:02,800 S4: Amen. 454 00:25:02,840 --> 00:25:04,840 S1: Not through your own effort. The Bible says it's by 455 00:25:04,840 --> 00:25:07,119 S1: grace that we're saved through faith, so that not of 456 00:25:07,119 --> 00:25:09,880 S1: yourselves it's the gift of God, not of works. So 457 00:25:09,880 --> 00:25:12,479 S1: no one can boast or brag. If you'd like to 458 00:25:12,480 --> 00:25:14,960 S1: have a conversation with a volunteer who can explain this 459 00:25:14,960 --> 00:25:18,160 S1: to you, pray with you, help you receive forgiveness and 460 00:25:18,160 --> 00:25:20,640 S1: and wholeness in God, why not pick up your phone 461 00:25:20,640 --> 00:25:25,639 S1: and call 888 need him eight need him. So you've 462 00:25:25,640 --> 00:25:28,310 S1: been listening to this great conversation about Wes's book Where 463 00:25:28,310 --> 00:25:30,790 S1: Is God and Fearful Times? And you say, how do 464 00:25:30,790 --> 00:25:33,310 S1: I get my own copy of Where Is God in 465 00:25:33,350 --> 00:25:35,470 S1: Fearful Times? Wes, what's the answer? 466 00:25:35,750 --> 00:25:38,550 S4: Just go to life in Messiah org. Click on the 467 00:25:38,950 --> 00:25:42,390 S4: radio button and request Where is God in fearful times? 468 00:25:42,910 --> 00:25:44,910 S1: West Haven it's always a delight to have you in 469 00:25:44,910 --> 00:25:46,630 S1: the studio. I hope you'll come back again. 470 00:25:46,630 --> 00:25:49,470 S4: Thanks, John. I'm happy to be here. Happy to come back. 471 00:25:49,510 --> 00:25:50,150 S4: All right. 472 00:25:50,190 --> 00:25:52,910 S1: Our friend Gerald Peterman is here with more Bible questions 473 00:25:52,950 --> 00:25:55,510 S1: going to join us next on the land and the book. 474 00:26:06,950 --> 00:26:12,350 S1: Are the satisfaction of a great weekend. Thanksgiving weekend. Nothing 475 00:26:12,350 --> 00:26:17,590 S1: better than, I think, leftovers from Thanksgiving, right. My goodness. 476 00:26:17,590 --> 00:26:20,510 S1: You can make yourself a turkey sandwich. Make some turkey soup. 477 00:26:20,550 --> 00:26:20,909 S5: Mhm. 478 00:26:21,510 --> 00:26:23,510 S1: There's just no end to it. And the pumpkin pie 479 00:26:23,910 --> 00:26:26,300 S1: who served cold with whipped cream I like it. 480 00:26:26,300 --> 00:26:27,020 S6: Oh, yeah. 481 00:26:27,780 --> 00:26:30,699 S1: There are no leftovers in the questions we're about to 482 00:26:30,740 --> 00:26:33,140 S1: answer today on the land and the book. This is 483 00:26:33,140 --> 00:26:35,300 S1: the land in the book, by the way, John Gager I, 484 00:26:35,420 --> 00:26:38,020 S1: I got to get out of my Thanksgiving mode here, 485 00:26:38,020 --> 00:26:40,060 S1: I guess, at least food wise, get my head in 486 00:26:40,060 --> 00:26:43,659 S1: the game. Gerald Peterman is just just chuckling because he 487 00:26:43,660 --> 00:26:44,619 S1: knows it's true right. 488 00:26:44,660 --> 00:26:47,060 S6: Yeah I'm hoping I'm in the game too. But yeah 489 00:26:48,340 --> 00:26:51,380 S6: I don't know that pumpkin pies distracted me. Please go on. 490 00:26:51,380 --> 00:26:55,100 S1: All right I will I get to those first questions. 491 00:26:55,100 --> 00:26:58,820 S1: But first no question that we all face fearful times 492 00:26:58,820 --> 00:27:01,060 S1: from time to time. The question is what do we 493 00:27:01,060 --> 00:27:03,820 S1: do with those fears? Wes Tabor of Life in Messiah 494 00:27:03,820 --> 00:27:07,380 S1: has written the book Where Is God in Fearful Times, 495 00:27:07,580 --> 00:27:10,940 S1: a biblical Account of the Exodus journey, piece by piece. Wes, 496 00:27:10,940 --> 00:27:12,700 S1: how do you think our lives would be different if 497 00:27:12,700 --> 00:27:15,740 S1: we today had a stronger grip on this question? Where 498 00:27:15,780 --> 00:27:17,340 S1: is God and fearful times? 499 00:27:17,580 --> 00:27:21,140 S4: That's a great question. God is sovereign. God designs what 500 00:27:21,140 --> 00:27:24,340 S4: we go through. We decide how we will go through it. 501 00:27:24,460 --> 00:27:28,330 S4: Our circumstances are ordained of the Lord. They're there to 502 00:27:28,369 --> 00:27:30,970 S4: humble us, to test us, to prove what's in our hearts. 503 00:27:31,010 --> 00:27:32,689 S1: You've done such a beautiful job in this book of 504 00:27:32,690 --> 00:27:36,330 S1: bringing these scriptures alive, bits and pieces of passages that 505 00:27:36,330 --> 00:27:39,010 S1: come alive even as you discuss things like the Fear 506 00:27:39,010 --> 00:27:42,210 S1: Factor and Misery Index. It's all in the book. Where 507 00:27:42,210 --> 00:27:45,090 S1: is God in fearful times? How do you get a copy? 508 00:27:45,130 --> 00:27:47,050 S1: We've got one for you with your name on it. 509 00:27:47,090 --> 00:27:50,130 S1: If you'll visit us at Life in Messiah org. Click 510 00:27:50,130 --> 00:27:53,810 S1: on the Moody Radio button there. Life in Messiah. The 511 00:27:53,850 --> 00:27:58,570 S1: book is where is God in fearful times? Alright, let's 512 00:27:58,570 --> 00:28:02,330 S1: get started on this Thanksgiving weekend with question one from Brooke. 513 00:28:02,369 --> 00:28:04,890 S1: And before I get to Brooke's question, a reminder you 514 00:28:04,890 --> 00:28:07,970 S1: can email your Bible question to us at The Land 515 00:28:07,970 --> 00:28:13,050 S1: and the book at the land and the book at 516 00:28:14,810 --> 00:28:17,449 S1: Brooke says. I've heard many talk about Paul's teaching in 517 00:28:17,490 --> 00:28:21,570 S1: First Timothy about women remaining silent in the church. They 518 00:28:21,570 --> 00:28:25,390 S1: seem to generalize the instruction, but don't really clarify its meaning, 519 00:28:25,670 --> 00:28:28,070 S1: which in my personal experience, has led people to believe 520 00:28:28,070 --> 00:28:31,870 S1: that women teaching Bible studies or women writing Bible studies 521 00:28:31,869 --> 00:28:34,750 S1: is not biblical. I was wondering if you could possibly 522 00:28:34,750 --> 00:28:38,270 S1: clarify the proper role of women in church ministry between 523 00:28:38,270 --> 00:28:40,030 S1: preaching and teaching. 524 00:28:40,550 --> 00:28:42,950 S6: Well, I appreciate the question very much. I think both 525 00:28:43,390 --> 00:28:46,110 S6: men and women can have the gift of teaching, and 526 00:28:46,110 --> 00:28:48,430 S6: if they have the gift, they ought to be using it. Now, 527 00:28:48,470 --> 00:28:52,150 S6: I think we know that because Titus two Paul says 528 00:28:52,150 --> 00:28:55,470 S6: older women should teach the younger women how to love 529 00:28:55,470 --> 00:28:59,070 S6: their husbands, how to love their children. It's not always 530 00:28:59,070 --> 00:29:00,990 S6: easy to know how to do these things. And then 531 00:29:01,030 --> 00:29:05,510 S6: first Timothy three Paul talks about the qualifications for overseers 532 00:29:05,510 --> 00:29:09,390 S6: or elders and the qualifications talk about being a men 533 00:29:09,390 --> 00:29:12,630 S6: of good character who can teach. Now, I take it 534 00:29:13,110 --> 00:29:16,230 S6: that the pastor of a church should be an elder, 535 00:29:16,270 --> 00:29:18,830 S6: sort of a man, an elder quality sort of a man. 536 00:29:18,870 --> 00:29:22,620 S6: So in other words, pastors are men because Paul says 537 00:29:22,620 --> 00:29:26,140 S6: the elders are husbands of one wife, so they must 538 00:29:26,140 --> 00:29:28,700 S6: be men. And of course, they will be using this 539 00:29:28,700 --> 00:29:32,900 S6: gift of teaching in that office of elder. Let me 540 00:29:32,900 --> 00:29:36,100 S6: mention one more thing from first Timothy two. Paul says 541 00:29:36,100 --> 00:29:40,500 S6: earlier in first Timothy. First of all, I urge that supplications, prayers, 542 00:29:40,500 --> 00:29:43,660 S6: thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings, for all 543 00:29:43,660 --> 00:29:47,219 S6: those in high position, that we may lead a peaceful 544 00:29:47,220 --> 00:29:51,300 S6: and quiet life. Okay, now what does quiet life mean? 545 00:29:51,500 --> 00:29:55,060 S6: This word in our New Testament hardly ever means total silence. 546 00:29:55,500 --> 00:29:58,260 S6: What would quiet life mean? Would a quiet life mean 547 00:29:58,260 --> 00:30:01,820 S6: you can't be a singer as a Christian? What a 548 00:30:01,820 --> 00:30:05,380 S6: ridiculous idea. Or you can't be a carpenter as a Christian? No, 549 00:30:05,420 --> 00:30:09,740 S6: the quiet life is a properly ordered life. A properly 550 00:30:09,780 --> 00:30:12,820 S6: submissive life. A life where you know what your task 551 00:30:12,820 --> 00:30:15,380 S6: is and you accomplish it the way God wants you 552 00:30:15,380 --> 00:30:17,420 S6: to accomplish it. So this is what we mean by 553 00:30:17,420 --> 00:30:19,140 S6: quiet in our New Testament. 554 00:30:19,180 --> 00:30:21,969 S1: All right. Great answer. Thank you. Hope that's helpful. Brooke 555 00:30:22,250 --> 00:30:25,250 S1: John says on a recent program, you commented that Satan 556 00:30:25,250 --> 00:30:29,090 S1: could not read our minds, but there are some passages 557 00:30:29,090 --> 00:30:31,290 S1: which seem to indicate that Satan can do more than 558 00:30:31,290 --> 00:30:35,010 S1: just guess our thoughts. He can put thoughts into our minds, 559 00:30:35,010 --> 00:30:38,610 S1: such as prompting Ananias to lie in acts five, and 560 00:30:38,610 --> 00:30:41,570 S1: if he can put thoughts in, why couldn't he read them? 561 00:30:41,810 --> 00:30:45,650 S1: Satan is said to blind people's minds in Second Corinthians four, 562 00:30:45,690 --> 00:30:49,010 S1: verse four. This implies greater access to a person's mind 563 00:30:49,010 --> 00:30:52,330 S1: than just putting thoughts in. How can he not see 564 00:30:52,330 --> 00:30:54,890 S1: what we are thinking if he can keep us from 565 00:30:54,890 --> 00:30:56,010 S1: seeing certain things? 566 00:30:56,090 --> 00:30:59,410 S6: Well, I appreciate John following up on this. Obviously we 567 00:30:59,410 --> 00:31:02,090 S6: have a difference of opinion and I'm fine to have 568 00:31:02,090 --> 00:31:05,010 S6: that difference of opinion as long as it's remaining, uh, 569 00:31:05,010 --> 00:31:08,130 S6: loving like it is. So I still don't think that 570 00:31:08,130 --> 00:31:12,330 S6: Satan can read our minds any more than our spouse. 571 00:31:12,570 --> 00:31:14,730 S6: Or a good counselor can read our minds. 572 00:31:14,770 --> 00:31:14,930 S1: Right? 573 00:31:14,970 --> 00:31:17,130 S6: Right. Right. Some of you know what I'm talking about. 574 00:31:17,130 --> 00:31:19,530 S6: Where your husband, your wife might say. Honey, why are 575 00:31:19,640 --> 00:31:22,959 S6: you feeling? Yeah. And you never mentioned that in words. 576 00:31:22,960 --> 00:31:26,000 S6: So I think Satan is very observant. He can do 577 00:31:26,000 --> 00:31:28,280 S6: that kind of thing. Let's go to the example of 578 00:31:28,720 --> 00:31:33,400 S6: Ananias and Sapphira. They opened themselves up to the devil's 579 00:31:33,400 --> 00:31:38,760 S6: influence by planning to sell property, give the money, but 580 00:31:38,760 --> 00:31:41,560 S6: claim they gave it all and they held back some 581 00:31:41,600 --> 00:31:45,440 S6: of it. Peter knows that this is their plan. The 582 00:31:45,440 --> 00:31:47,600 S6: devil doesn't have to read their mind. All he has 583 00:31:47,600 --> 00:31:51,400 S6: to do is overhear their conversation and then push them 584 00:31:51,400 --> 00:31:53,920 S6: more in that direction. And since the devil is the 585 00:31:53,920 --> 00:31:58,360 S6: father of lies when Peter comes to confront. Why has 586 00:31:58,360 --> 00:32:01,400 S6: Satan filled your heart to lie? Let me let me 587 00:32:01,400 --> 00:32:05,960 S6: mention one more passage here that is in John 13 two. 588 00:32:05,960 --> 00:32:09,360 S6: We have something that's only in John in all the Gospels. 589 00:32:09,720 --> 00:32:12,719 S6: During the supper, when the devil had already put it 590 00:32:12,720 --> 00:32:18,000 S6: into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray Jesus. Okay, stop. 591 00:32:18,870 --> 00:32:22,630 S6: What does this mean? Does this mean that Judas was 592 00:32:22,630 --> 00:32:26,430 S6: just as devoted to Jesus as Peter, or James or John, 593 00:32:26,430 --> 00:32:29,350 S6: with no doubt whatsoever? And does all of a sudden, 594 00:32:29,350 --> 00:32:31,630 S6: one night the devil put something into his mind that 595 00:32:31,630 --> 00:32:34,430 S6: he never thought about before? Ah, I think not. 596 00:32:34,470 --> 00:32:35,070 S1: I don't think so. 597 00:32:35,110 --> 00:32:40,750 S6: I think that for weeks, maybe even months, maybe even years, 598 00:32:41,150 --> 00:32:45,790 S6: Judas had been harboring disappointment, misunderstanding. And you could have 599 00:32:45,790 --> 00:32:47,830 S6: seen it in his face if you were very observant. 600 00:32:48,190 --> 00:32:52,910 S6: And then that fateful night, sadly, the devil confirms him 601 00:32:52,910 --> 00:32:56,670 S6: in that disappointment with Jesus and tempts him to betrayal. 602 00:32:57,190 --> 00:33:01,030 S1: Doctor Gerald Peterman has years of classroom experience. Decades. I 603 00:33:01,030 --> 00:33:02,790 S1: would say I'm not going to shove him against the 604 00:33:02,790 --> 00:33:05,590 S1: wall and make him reveal the total number of years, 605 00:33:05,590 --> 00:33:07,910 S1: but enough to just say he knows what he's talking 606 00:33:07,910 --> 00:33:10,310 S1: about as he answers questions week after week here on 607 00:33:10,310 --> 00:33:12,590 S1: the land and the book, you can get yours to 608 00:33:12,630 --> 00:33:17,140 S1: him with an email to the land and the book at. Edu, 609 00:33:17,820 --> 00:33:21,900 S1: Myra writes. My late father was named Elihu, who passed 610 00:33:21,900 --> 00:33:24,979 S1: away in 2017 at the age of 84, and I 611 00:33:24,980 --> 00:33:27,580 S1: didn't know until later in my life that his name 612 00:33:27,580 --> 00:33:30,340 S1: was in the Bible. And I know this Elihu was 613 00:33:30,340 --> 00:33:33,340 S1: Job's friend. Can you please help me understand the meaning 614 00:33:33,340 --> 00:33:34,100 S1: of this name? 615 00:33:34,140 --> 00:33:37,500 S6: Oh, yes. I really appreciate this question. The name Elihu 616 00:33:37,740 --> 00:33:41,740 S6: actually also appears in First Samuel chapter one. You know 617 00:33:41,740 --> 00:33:47,300 S6: the man Elkanah married to Hannah, right? His grandfather Elihu. Well, okay. 618 00:33:47,340 --> 00:33:50,300 S6: So Elihu is a Hebrew word. It's got three parts 619 00:33:50,300 --> 00:33:52,700 S6: to it. El. What does el mean? This is a 620 00:33:52,700 --> 00:33:56,380 S6: word for God. Eli. What does that mean? That means 621 00:33:56,380 --> 00:34:00,940 S6: my God. Hmm? Have you heard a song, Adonai? Sure. Adonai. 622 00:34:01,220 --> 00:34:05,140 S6: What is this word? Adonai? Adonai means Lord, and Adonai 623 00:34:05,180 --> 00:34:09,739 S6: means my lord. So, Eli, my God. And then what 624 00:34:09,739 --> 00:34:14,220 S6: is this word? Who? That's the word for he. Elihu. 625 00:34:14,580 --> 00:34:18,090 S6: My God, is he that is this God of the 626 00:34:18,090 --> 00:34:21,570 S6: Old Testament, this God of creation. He is my God. 627 00:34:23,050 --> 00:34:26,969 S1: Wants to know why do some Bibles omit acts 837, 628 00:34:26,969 --> 00:34:28,770 S1: when the whole point of the meeting between Philip and 629 00:34:28,770 --> 00:34:32,010 S1: the Ethiopian eunuch was the invitation to salvation. 630 00:34:32,010 --> 00:34:34,370 S6: Oh, I really appreciate this question. I know this can 631 00:34:34,370 --> 00:34:37,210 S6: confuse people if they're reading along in acts chapter eight. 632 00:34:37,530 --> 00:34:41,650 S6: There's no verse 37, in acts eight, in many recent 633 00:34:41,650 --> 00:34:47,010 S6: Bible translations like the NIV New Revised Standard English Standard Version, 634 00:34:47,330 --> 00:34:50,410 S6: Common English Bible and The New Living, there is no 635 00:34:50,410 --> 00:34:54,529 S6: verse 37 because these recent versions based their translation on 636 00:34:54,530 --> 00:34:59,410 S6: the very oldest Greek manuscripts, and the oldest Greek manuscripts 637 00:34:59,410 --> 00:35:03,250 S6: do not contain verse 37. We're talking about manuscripts from 638 00:35:03,250 --> 00:35:08,210 S6: the third century AD, what manuscripts might contain verse 37? 639 00:35:08,530 --> 00:35:11,450 S6: They are manuscripts that are much younger, so to speak, 640 00:35:11,730 --> 00:35:15,430 S6: that are 3 to 400 years later, so sixth to 641 00:35:15,469 --> 00:35:18,109 S6: seventh century AD, they are manuscripts from the sixth to 642 00:35:18,150 --> 00:35:21,910 S6: seventh century AD that explains why many versions don't have 643 00:35:21,910 --> 00:35:22,550 S6: this verse. 644 00:35:22,630 --> 00:35:25,310 S1: Going to squeeze in. One more question, this one from Sylvia. 645 00:35:25,550 --> 00:35:29,510 S1: Is there a biblical reference to Hamas attacking and taking 646 00:35:29,510 --> 00:35:32,070 S1: over the United States for a short period of time? 647 00:35:32,110 --> 00:35:35,270 S6: I know why Sylvia would ask such a question. I 648 00:35:35,310 --> 00:35:37,589 S6: don't know of any reference in the Bible that talks 649 00:35:37,590 --> 00:35:40,030 S6: about this, so I'm not going to go there. But 650 00:35:40,030 --> 00:35:43,790 S6: here's what I will do. Let's talk about this word Hamas. 651 00:35:44,270 --> 00:35:48,630 S6: Hamas is a Hebrew word, and the word Hamas means violence. 652 00:35:49,030 --> 00:35:52,190 S6: Where do we encounter it? First, in our Bible, we 653 00:35:52,190 --> 00:35:56,150 S6: encounter it in Genesis 611. Now the earth was corrupt 654 00:35:56,150 --> 00:35:59,910 S6: in God's sight, and the whole earth was filled with 655 00:36:00,469 --> 00:36:05,109 S6: Hamas violence. Wow. Why would they name themselves this? I 656 00:36:05,110 --> 00:36:05,990 S6: do not know. 657 00:36:06,270 --> 00:36:09,710 S1: Interesting. Well, again, your email address to connect with Doctor 658 00:36:09,710 --> 00:36:11,790 S1: Peterman and get an answer to that question that's been 659 00:36:11,790 --> 00:36:14,340 S1: rolling around in your head for weeks, months, years, maybe. 660 00:36:14,620 --> 00:36:19,700 S1: Is the land and the book at Moody's? The land 661 00:36:19,700 --> 00:36:23,779 S1: and the book at Moody's. Have you taken advantage of 662 00:36:23,780 --> 00:36:26,740 S1: our podcast yet? It's there at the website, The land 663 00:36:26,739 --> 00:36:29,100 S1: and the book. Org love for you to check that 664 00:36:29,100 --> 00:36:31,540 S1: out and to share us with a friend. No point 665 00:36:31,540 --> 00:36:34,260 S1: in keeping this good stuff to yourself. Thanks for sharing 666 00:36:34,260 --> 00:36:37,180 S1: us with your friends at the Land and the book 667 00:36:37,340 --> 00:36:41,060 S1: at Moody. Edu, we are not done. There's still one 668 00:36:41,060 --> 00:36:44,060 S1: more segment, and for listener after listener who emails us, 669 00:36:44,060 --> 00:36:48,020 S1: it's their favorite. It's Charlie Dyer's devotional. You'll enjoy it too. 670 00:36:48,060 --> 00:36:49,900 S1: Hope you stick around for that. It's coming up next 671 00:36:49,900 --> 00:37:05,580 S1: here on the land and the book. When it comes 672 00:37:05,580 --> 00:37:08,779 S1: to islands, you and I know no end to our fascination. 673 00:37:08,780 --> 00:37:11,500 S1: There's something about an island that just intrigues us. This 674 00:37:11,500 --> 00:37:14,250 S1: is the land and the book. I'm John Gieger and Charlie. 675 00:37:14,250 --> 00:37:17,330 S1: Your devotional today is based on something that was confessed 676 00:37:17,330 --> 00:37:20,570 S1: by John on the island of Patmos. Where was Patmos? 677 00:37:20,570 --> 00:37:21,410 S1: How big is it? 678 00:37:21,690 --> 00:37:23,730 S2: Ah, it's just off the coast of Turkey, and it's 679 00:37:23,730 --> 00:37:27,050 S2: a quite small island with a little narrow isthmus connecting 680 00:37:27,050 --> 00:37:29,330 S2: the two parts. It's a fascinating place, and I think 681 00:37:29,330 --> 00:37:30,370 S2: you'll enjoy visiting. 682 00:37:30,370 --> 00:37:32,489 S1: And that's where one of the great confessions of the 683 00:37:32,489 --> 00:37:35,210 S1: Bible took place, as we'll hear in a moment. Right now, though, 684 00:37:35,250 --> 00:37:37,930 S1: this Holy Land experience. Listen to this testimony. 685 00:37:42,010 --> 00:37:45,170 S7: Hi. Yes, I've just had an outstanding time visiting the 686 00:37:45,170 --> 00:37:49,890 S7: Holy Land. Um, and I think something really special that has, um, 687 00:37:49,969 --> 00:37:52,450 S7: just really been on my heart and mind is just 688 00:37:52,489 --> 00:37:55,810 S7: verses in Scripture about how the righteous will live by faith. 689 00:37:56,010 --> 00:37:59,210 S7: It's like we're visiting these sites and areas in Israel 690 00:37:59,210 --> 00:38:04,169 S7: where people made these decisions to follow God, to believe him, 691 00:38:04,170 --> 00:38:09,530 S7: to trust him. Um, Gideon, David, um, so many more examples. 692 00:38:09,530 --> 00:38:12,600 S7: And it's just it's just been an incredible experience to 693 00:38:12,640 --> 00:38:16,840 S7: be in this area and sense, um, what happened here. And, 694 00:38:16,840 --> 00:38:19,680 S7: and I think that has just been an incredible encouragement. 695 00:38:19,960 --> 00:38:23,880 S7: And there's more to come. Headed to Jerusalem. And so 696 00:38:23,880 --> 00:38:26,800 S7: I'm really looking forward to what's ahead as well. 697 00:38:28,719 --> 00:38:32,080 S1: Charlie, I've been enjoying this series, great confessions of the Bible, 698 00:38:32,080 --> 00:38:35,240 S1: and I understand today's is our last in that series. 699 00:38:35,239 --> 00:38:37,200 S2: It is John. Yeah. We've reached the end of our 700 00:38:37,200 --> 00:38:40,120 S2: eight part series on great confessions of the Bible. And 701 00:38:40,160 --> 00:38:43,240 S2: today's great confession does find us on the sun soaked 702 00:38:43,280 --> 00:38:46,120 S2: island of Patmos in the Aegean Sea. And as I 703 00:38:46,120 --> 00:38:48,880 S2: said before, just off the western coast of modern Turkey. 704 00:38:49,280 --> 00:38:52,200 S2: Now our hike from the dock toward the imposing fortress 705 00:38:52,239 --> 00:38:55,040 S2: like monastery near the top of the island takes us 706 00:38:55,040 --> 00:38:58,200 S2: past a colorful shops filled with tourists. But when we 707 00:38:58,200 --> 00:39:01,319 S2: finally reach the monastery and gaze out over the island, 708 00:39:01,320 --> 00:39:05,239 S2: we realize how small and rugged it really is. 2000 709 00:39:05,280 --> 00:39:08,560 S2: years ago, Patmos wasn't a tourist destination. It was a 710 00:39:08,560 --> 00:39:11,790 S2: place of exile, one of several islands where the Romans 711 00:39:11,790 --> 00:39:15,549 S2: banished prisoners and the most famous prisoner on Patmos had 712 00:39:15,550 --> 00:39:18,230 S2: to be the Apostle John, sent here by the Roman 713 00:39:18,230 --> 00:39:23,230 S2: emperor Domitian. John doesn't dwell on the circumstances surrounding his banishment. 714 00:39:23,270 --> 00:39:26,750 S2: He simply says, I, John, your brother and fellow partaker 715 00:39:26,750 --> 00:39:30,790 S2: in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance which are in Jesus, 716 00:39:30,790 --> 00:39:33,350 S2: was on the island called Patmos because of the word 717 00:39:33,350 --> 00:39:36,750 S2: of God and the testimony of Jesus. John had been 718 00:39:36,750 --> 00:39:39,469 S2: living in the city of Ephesus. His ministry there must 719 00:39:39,510 --> 00:39:43,270 S2: have created political problems for the Roman government. Rome wanted 720 00:39:43,270 --> 00:39:46,310 S2: to stamp out Christianity, but the church in Ephesus was 721 00:39:46,310 --> 00:39:49,950 S2: too strong and John was too popular to execute. The 722 00:39:49,950 --> 00:39:53,870 S2: aging apostle could have resulted in a public outcry. So instead, 723 00:39:53,910 --> 00:39:57,190 S2: Rome sent him into exile. And that's how John ended 724 00:39:57,190 --> 00:40:01,430 S2: up on this barren, windswept island. But today's confession doesn't 725 00:40:01,430 --> 00:40:04,110 S2: center on the island. It centers instead on the final 726 00:40:04,110 --> 00:40:07,550 S2: words of Jesus in the Bible and on John's response 727 00:40:07,550 --> 00:40:11,020 S2: to those words. The Book of Revelation provides a prophetic 728 00:40:11,020 --> 00:40:14,459 S2: sweep of history from John's day, through the future and 729 00:40:14,500 --> 00:40:17,580 S2: on into eternity. It's the one book in the entire 730 00:40:17,580 --> 00:40:20,620 S2: Bible that actually begins with a special blessing for the 731 00:40:20,620 --> 00:40:23,260 S2: person who reads it, and for the one who listens 732 00:40:23,260 --> 00:40:26,299 S2: and takes to heart what's written in it. Many are 733 00:40:26,300 --> 00:40:28,660 S2: afraid to read and study the book of Revelation, and 734 00:40:28,660 --> 00:40:31,940 S2: that's a shame. The ultimate author of the book is Jesus, 735 00:40:32,100 --> 00:40:34,340 S2: and his purpose in writing was to give his followers 736 00:40:34,340 --> 00:40:37,580 S2: an understanding of the future, to provide stability in a 737 00:40:37,580 --> 00:40:40,739 S2: very unstable world. One of the key themes in the 738 00:40:40,739 --> 00:40:44,060 S2: book is the reality that Jesus is coming back. His 739 00:40:44,060 --> 00:40:47,140 S2: promise to the faithful church in Philadelphia was that I 740 00:40:47,180 --> 00:40:50,899 S2: am coming quickly. Hold fast what you have. The word 741 00:40:50,900 --> 00:40:54,820 S2: quickly there is the word taku. It's sometimes translated soon, 742 00:40:54,820 --> 00:40:58,420 S2: but that's not the best translation. A better translation would 743 00:40:58,420 --> 00:41:01,779 S2: be quickly or swiftly. It's not that the action is 744 00:41:01,780 --> 00:41:04,819 S2: necessarily near, but that when the action takes place, it 745 00:41:04,820 --> 00:41:08,730 S2: will happen rapidly following the resurrection of Jesus. When the 746 00:41:08,730 --> 00:41:11,650 S2: women appeared at the empty tomb, an angel told them 747 00:41:11,650 --> 00:41:14,810 S2: Jesus had risen. He then told them to go quickly 748 00:41:14,810 --> 00:41:17,650 S2: and tell the disciples. The next verse says, the women 749 00:41:17,650 --> 00:41:21,050 S2: hurried away from the tomb. The command to go quickly 750 00:41:21,050 --> 00:41:24,330 S2: and their response to hurry away are both that same 751 00:41:24,330 --> 00:41:27,930 S2: Greek word, literally. The angel told them to go rapidly 752 00:41:27,930 --> 00:41:30,690 S2: to tell the disciples, so they went out rapidly to 753 00:41:30,730 --> 00:41:34,570 S2: do just that. Jesus told his faithful church in Philadelphia 754 00:41:34,570 --> 00:41:37,370 S2: that he would come quickly for them. That's why they 755 00:41:37,370 --> 00:41:40,569 S2: were to keep holding on and staying faithful. It's like 756 00:41:40,570 --> 00:41:42,930 S2: an action movie where the hero shouts out to the 757 00:41:42,930 --> 00:41:46,410 S2: person in distress, hang on, I'm coming! The person in 758 00:41:46,410 --> 00:41:49,129 S2: distress doesn't know the exact moment when the hero is 759 00:41:49,130 --> 00:41:52,010 S2: going to arrive, but they do know the hero isn't 760 00:41:52,010 --> 00:41:56,009 S2: going to just mosey on in in some lackadaisical sort 761 00:41:56,010 --> 00:41:59,450 S2: of way. The arrival will be sudden and swift. The 762 00:41:59,450 --> 00:42:02,089 S2: person in distress can count on it. And that's what 763 00:42:02,130 --> 00:42:06,080 S2: Jesus said to this church. Jesus also ended the Book 764 00:42:06,080 --> 00:42:09,840 S2: of Revelation with the same message three times. In chapter 22, 765 00:42:09,880 --> 00:42:13,359 S2: he repeats that promise. Verse seven and behold, I am 766 00:42:13,360 --> 00:42:17,799 S2: coming quickly. Verse 12, behold, I am coming quickly. And 767 00:42:17,800 --> 00:42:22,000 S2: verse 20. Yes, I am coming quickly. But wait, I 768 00:42:22,000 --> 00:42:24,480 S2: thought this series was the great confessions of the Bible. 769 00:42:24,480 --> 00:42:28,200 S2: So where's the memorable line for today? It comes right 770 00:42:28,200 --> 00:42:33,000 S2: after Jesus's final reminder of his imminent arrival. John responds 771 00:42:33,000 --> 00:42:37,000 S2: with one of the great affirmations of the Bible. Amen. Come, 772 00:42:37,040 --> 00:42:40,439 S2: Lord Jesus. The word Amen comes from the Hebrew word 773 00:42:40,480 --> 00:42:43,880 S2: amen and is actually an affirmation. So let it be. 774 00:42:44,280 --> 00:42:47,800 S2: Jesus's final message to his church is that he's coming 775 00:42:47,800 --> 00:42:51,319 S2: back someday for them. And the final great confession of 776 00:42:51,320 --> 00:42:54,520 S2: the faith spoken by the last surviving apostle of the 777 00:42:54,520 --> 00:42:59,160 S2: early church was his heartfelt response. So let it be come, 778 00:42:59,200 --> 00:43:02,439 S2: Lord Jesus. But as we stand here on Patmos, we're 779 00:43:02,440 --> 00:43:08,540 S2: reminded that Jesus's promise and John's response still represent unfinished business. 780 00:43:08,780 --> 00:43:11,819 S2: Jesus hasn't yet returned for his church, but he said 781 00:43:11,820 --> 00:43:14,100 S2: that he would someday, and that it would be a 782 00:43:14,100 --> 00:43:17,500 S2: very sudden event. And the church's response for the past 783 00:43:17,500 --> 00:43:21,259 S2: 2000 years has been the same as the Apostle John's. 784 00:43:21,460 --> 00:43:24,940 S2: So let it be. Come, Lord Jesus. This is a 785 00:43:24,940 --> 00:43:30,140 S2: confession of hope. My favorite hymn was penned by Horatio Spafford. 786 00:43:30,300 --> 00:43:32,420 S2: He wrote a poem in a time of great personal 787 00:43:32,420 --> 00:43:35,379 S2: tragedy and sorrow that followed the death of his four 788 00:43:35,380 --> 00:43:38,900 S2: daughters in a terrible shipwreck. Most know the first stanza 789 00:43:38,900 --> 00:43:41,620 S2: of the poem he wrote, when peace like a river 790 00:43:41,620 --> 00:43:46,140 S2: attendeth my way. When sorrows like sea billows roll. Whatever 791 00:43:46,140 --> 00:43:48,780 S2: my lot thou hast taught me to say. It is well, 792 00:43:48,780 --> 00:43:51,740 S2: it is well with my soul. But how could Spafford 793 00:43:51,739 --> 00:43:54,580 S2: write such words of comfort in such a time of 794 00:43:54,580 --> 00:43:58,820 S2: personal sorrow and tragedy? His secrets found in the last verse, 795 00:43:59,020 --> 00:44:03,130 S2: where he alludes to John's great confession of faith. And Lord, 796 00:44:03,170 --> 00:44:05,810 S2: haste the day when the faith shall be sight. The 797 00:44:05,810 --> 00:44:08,729 S2: clouds be rolled back as a scroll, the trump shall 798 00:44:08,730 --> 00:44:13,129 S2: resound and the Lord shall descend. Even so, it is 799 00:44:13,130 --> 00:44:17,050 S2: well with my soul. In that very last line, Spafford 800 00:44:17,050 --> 00:44:20,290 S2: quotes the first part of John's response as it's found 801 00:44:20,290 --> 00:44:23,410 S2: in the King James Version of the Bible, and he 802 00:44:23,410 --> 00:44:25,810 S2: follows it with a dash he expects us to know 803 00:44:25,810 --> 00:44:31,610 S2: and finish the verse. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. 804 00:44:32,170 --> 00:44:35,730 S2: What kept Spafford on track? The same thing that provided 805 00:44:35,730 --> 00:44:39,489 S2: hope to the Apostle John. God is in control and 806 00:44:39,489 --> 00:44:42,930 S2: someday Jesus will return. We don't have all the answers 807 00:44:42,930 --> 00:44:46,170 S2: to life, but God does. And someday this walk of 808 00:44:46,170 --> 00:44:50,090 S2: faith will be eclipsed by the blazing light of God's Son. 809 00:44:50,450 --> 00:44:53,330 S2: And it's that sure hope for the future that provides 810 00:44:53,330 --> 00:44:57,529 S2: the stability we need to live today. My prayer is 811 00:44:57,530 --> 00:45:02,440 S2: that John's great confession is your confession as well. Jesus 812 00:45:02,440 --> 00:45:06,240 S2: promised he could return at any time. And to that 813 00:45:06,280 --> 00:45:10,560 S2: we say Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. 814 00:45:10,920 --> 00:45:13,720 S1: You know, Charlie, as I'm listening, I'm hearing phrases like sure, 815 00:45:13,719 --> 00:45:16,799 S1: hope and stability. And I can't help but think that 816 00:45:16,800 --> 00:45:19,840 S1: there's somebody listening right now who doesn't have that sure hope, 817 00:45:19,840 --> 00:45:23,360 S1: who doesn't have that stability. Here's the thing. You can 818 00:45:23,360 --> 00:45:26,440 S1: have it. Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, 819 00:45:26,440 --> 00:45:29,200 S1: and the life. No one comes to the father but 820 00:45:29,200 --> 00:45:31,719 S1: by me. Have you come to Jesus that way, or 821 00:45:31,719 --> 00:45:35,040 S1: is Jesus just sort of a a religious icon for you? 822 00:45:35,239 --> 00:45:38,080 S1: A sort of an interesting thing, an interesting person that 823 00:45:38,080 --> 00:45:41,000 S1: you talk about? He can be your personal friend, your 824 00:45:41,000 --> 00:45:44,120 S1: personal savior. It's a Bible word. It means Jesus is 825 00:45:44,120 --> 00:45:47,400 S1: in charge, not you. The Bible says believe on the 826 00:45:47,400 --> 00:45:51,200 S1: Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved. Believe what 827 00:45:51,200 --> 00:45:54,440 S1: in religiosity and good karma know the Bible says, if 828 00:45:54,480 --> 00:45:57,160 S1: you will confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and 829 00:45:57,160 --> 00:45:59,040 S1: believe in your heart that God has raised him from 830 00:45:59,040 --> 00:46:03,310 S1: the dead. You will be saved. If you'd like to 831 00:46:03,350 --> 00:46:05,910 S1: continue this conversation with a friend who's glad to talk 832 00:46:05,910 --> 00:46:08,510 S1: with you. A volunteer is happy to do that. Now, 833 00:46:08,550 --> 00:46:14,390 S1: as you call 888. Need him. 888 need him. Well, 834 00:46:14,390 --> 00:46:16,670 S1: thanks so much for your time today. Always a pleasure 835 00:46:16,670 --> 00:46:19,030 S1: to have you on board. A reminder our email address 836 00:46:19,030 --> 00:46:23,069 S1: is the land and the book at Moody's. Love to 837 00:46:23,070 --> 00:46:25,830 S1: hear from you about your comments about the program. Maybe 838 00:46:25,830 --> 00:46:28,910 S1: you've got a question for Gerald Peterman. Again, use that 839 00:46:28,910 --> 00:46:34,270 S1: email address, the land and the book at Moody's. And 840 00:46:34,270 --> 00:46:36,509 S1: be sure to stop by our website, the land and 841 00:46:36,550 --> 00:46:39,350 S1: the book. Love to have you check out what's waiting 842 00:46:39,350 --> 00:46:43,350 S1: for you there, including and especially our podcast at The 843 00:46:43,350 --> 00:46:47,750 S1: Land and the book for our producer, Dan Anderson, our host, 844 00:46:47,750 --> 00:46:50,870 S1: Charlie Dyer. I'm John Gager the land and the book 845 00:46:50,870 --> 00:46:53,790 S1: is a production of Moody Radio, a ministry of Moody 846 00:46:53,790 --> 00:46:54,830 S1: Bible Institute.