WEBVTT 00:00:00.080 --> 00:00:04.559 Welcome to the It's Life Podcast where conversations about faith meet real life. 00:00:04.719 --> 00:00:11.439 We are a ministry of Liberty Live Church in Hampton Roads, Virginia, and all over the world through our online services. 00:00:11.599 --> 00:00:22.879 We invite you to join us if you don't have a church home and share with a friend who may need some encouragement or need a word from God today because we have a special guest in the studio, our senior pastor, Pastor Grant. 00:00:23.039 --> 00:00:23.280 Welcome. 00:00:23.600 --> 00:00:24.320 Thank you, Jenny. 00:00:24.480 --> 00:00:25.120 Always good to be here. 00:00:25.440 --> 00:00:26.559 It's good to have you here. 00:00:26.640 --> 00:00:30.320 And today, they have submitted questions for you. 00:00:30.559 --> 00:00:31.120 I've read them. 00:00:31.280 --> 00:00:31.839 You've read them. 00:00:32.000 --> 00:00:34.079 Are you prepared for this conversation? 00:00:34.399 --> 00:00:38.159 Oh, I've tried my best to uh find the biblical answer for every question. 00:00:39.200 --> 00:00:40.560 We appreciate you doing the hard work. 00:00:40.719 --> 00:00:40.960 Hey. 00:00:41.119 --> 00:00:41.920 I know it's a lot of things. 00:00:42.079 --> 00:00:45.679 Seriously, it really didn't matter what I think or what somebody else thinks. 00:00:45.759 --> 00:00:46.880 It matters what God has said. 00:00:47.200 --> 00:00:47.520 Amen. 00:00:47.679 --> 00:00:47.920 Amen. 00:00:48.079 --> 00:00:50.399 So are y'all ready to jump into this conversation today? 00:00:50.560 --> 00:00:52.560 I know you are because you've sent your questions in. 00:00:52.719 --> 00:00:53.920 We thank you for doing that. 00:00:54.079 --> 00:00:55.280 We'll start with an easy one. 00:00:55.439 --> 00:00:55.600 Okay. 00:00:55.759 --> 00:00:56.159 You ready? 00:00:56.240 --> 00:00:56.479 Uh-huh. 00:00:56.719 --> 00:00:58.960 What version of the Bible do you preach from? 00:00:59.520 --> 00:01:02.640 Well, uh the answer is different versions. 00:01:02.799 --> 00:01:04.640 Uh, I don't preach from just one. 00:01:04.799 --> 00:01:08.400 Of course, when I started, uh, I preached from King James. 00:01:08.640 --> 00:01:09.280 Oh, wow. 00:01:09.519 --> 00:01:12.640 And uh because I started, you know, 1984. 00:01:13.359 --> 00:01:18.159 So uh pretty much everybody was still preaching from the King James. 00:01:18.319 --> 00:01:18.480 Right. 00:01:18.640 --> 00:01:22.799 Um, and then uh I later moved to a new King James. 00:01:23.120 --> 00:01:36.640 Um, but now I honestly read a lot of different versions and I try to find exactly uh what the original text is saying and who best says it today in our language. 00:01:36.879 --> 00:01:42.799 And so uh when you look at the different translations, uh it's either literal or dynamic. 00:01:42.959 --> 00:01:45.280 So some are word for word, they call that literal. 00:01:45.760 --> 00:01:48.640 But sometimes word for word can be awkward. 00:01:49.680 --> 00:01:53.840 And uh, and then there are those uh that are thought for thought. 00:01:54.159 --> 00:01:59.359 And sometimes they may leave out something that word for word gets better. 00:01:59.599 --> 00:02:07.200 So um the the blessing is we have a lot of different translations, and uh I like what one person said. 00:02:07.280 --> 00:02:10.479 Uh they said, listen, the one you need to buy is the one you're gonna read. 00:02:10.719 --> 00:02:11.520 That's a good word. 00:02:11.759 --> 00:02:25.280 You know, if if you're gonna buy something that may be considered one of the best word-for-word translations, but you can't read it, uh, then, or or you don't want to read it, you're you're not comfortable reading it. 00:02:25.520 --> 00:02:28.719 It's awkward, then then that's not the one for you. 00:02:29.039 --> 00:02:41.120 So today uh when I preach, you know, I may use the uh ESV, which is word for word, or I may use uh CSB, which is going to be thought for thought. 00:02:41.360 --> 00:02:46.000 Uh when I read my daily devotions, I'm reading the NIV because it's just easy to read. 00:02:46.240 --> 00:02:46.879 Right, right. 00:02:47.199 --> 00:02:52.800 Uh and I would say uh we don't talk much about it, but but there are some that are a paraphrase. 00:02:53.039 --> 00:03:00.960 So it's not a committee that really looked at the original text, but it's just an individual who is, in their own words, paraphrasing, you know, the Bible. 00:03:01.120 --> 00:03:01.360 Right. 00:03:01.520 --> 00:03:08.240 I I think that uh those can be good tools, they can be inspirational, but they're not on the same level as a translation. 00:03:08.560 --> 00:03:08.719 Okay. 00:03:08.879 --> 00:03:13.840 Are there any, like you would say, maybe avoid that one then, like a specific one, or it's all stuff? 00:03:14.159 --> 00:03:20.319 I'm not gonna get into any specific one, but I just I think we need to clarify between a paraphrase and a translation of a version. 00:03:20.639 --> 00:03:21.680 That's a good that's a good word. 00:03:21.840 --> 00:03:25.120 I think it's neat too on the Bible app, you can change what version. 00:03:25.199 --> 00:03:32.400 So you can, you know, as you're doing your quiet time, if you're following along with a devotional, you can see, oh, I do like reading this one or this one or this one and find which one. 00:03:32.800 --> 00:03:33.360 That's what I do. 00:03:33.439 --> 00:03:43.919 If I'm preaching a text, I'm gonna read it and change it and look at a lot of different um translations and different versions of the Bible, really, and then zero in on which one. 00:03:44.159 --> 00:03:45.840 That's why I can't say I just preach from one. 00:03:46.080 --> 00:03:46.560 Right. 00:03:46.960 --> 00:03:52.319 Uh you know, CSB, if I if I said if there's just one, CSB is probably it. 00:03:52.400 --> 00:03:55.280 But sometimes we use NIV, sometimes ESV. 00:03:55.680 --> 00:04:01.360 Um, so I I would say use them all, but get the one that you're gonna read. 00:04:01.680 --> 00:04:02.319 Good deal. 00:04:02.479 --> 00:04:03.039 All right. 00:04:03.280 --> 00:04:08.719 Well, what can a new believer do when their faith is challenged and they don't know how to respond? 00:04:09.039 --> 00:04:09.599 Yeah. 00:04:09.919 --> 00:04:24.720 Well, um I I think that certainly all of us have been there, uh whether it's in a uh classroom setting, you know, at high school or in college, or at the workplace, or at the dinner table with uh family members. 00:04:24.879 --> 00:04:36.319 I I remember as a young pastor, uh Tammy and I had just married, and um we went and had dinner with a family member uh who was married to uh someone from India. 00:04:36.560 --> 00:04:40.399 And uh as a Hindu, they wanted to debate the childhood of Jesus. 00:04:40.560 --> 00:04:47.360 Well, as you well know, uh the Bible is pretty silent on the childhood of Jesus, except for one or two stories. 00:04:47.680 --> 00:04:52.000 And so um they wanted to talk about something the Bible didn't address. 00:04:52.160 --> 00:04:58.480 And I remember the panic or or just intimidation of that moment that I felt like I had to have an answer. 00:04:58.720 --> 00:05:03.759 And I would just say, uh be honest and tell people, I don't know. 00:05:04.000 --> 00:05:07.199 Or be honest and say, the Bible really doesn't speak to this. 00:05:07.439 --> 00:05:11.839 Um uh what I would do after that is say, but let me tell you what I do know. 00:05:12.319 --> 00:05:14.480 And then I would go to your story. 00:05:14.720 --> 00:05:14.879 Right. 00:05:15.199 --> 00:05:30.879 And and I often say that a good testimony is 25% what your life was like before you met Jesus, 25% how you met Jesus, and then 50% the difference he's made in your life, uh, purpose, direction, meaning, how your life has changed. 00:05:31.040 --> 00:05:33.199 And that's something they just can't argue with. 00:05:33.360 --> 00:05:35.519 And that's why Paul kept telling his story. 00:05:36.000 --> 00:05:42.800 And and so I think you just admit what what you don't know, and then you tell what you do know. 00:05:43.120 --> 00:05:43.279 Right. 00:05:43.439 --> 00:05:43.920 That's good. 00:05:44.079 --> 00:05:44.879 That's good. 00:05:45.120 --> 00:05:48.720 Um, speaking in tongues, does that happen today? 00:05:48.879 --> 00:05:49.759 Is that for today? 00:05:49.920 --> 00:05:54.879 What does the Bible teach about the purpose of tongues and when and where it's appropriate? 00:05:55.680 --> 00:05:56.720 Great question. 00:05:56.879 --> 00:06:06.240 And uh and one that I think is very pertinent for the church today, and certainly in our local church, um, because we come from all different backgrounds. 00:06:06.480 --> 00:06:20.160 Um you know, I would say that uh, first of all, godly theologians uh and pastors have disagreed over secondary, tertiary issues, and this is one of them. 00:06:20.399 --> 00:06:23.839 So I respect people who may not agree with what I'm about to say. 00:06:24.319 --> 00:06:27.040 Um so don't make it a test of fellowship. 00:06:27.360 --> 00:06:27.839 All right. 00:06:28.000 --> 00:06:28.959 That's that's number one. 00:06:29.279 --> 00:06:33.279 There are two views that I personally um avoid. 00:06:33.600 --> 00:06:41.920 One is that tongues or sign gifts, miracle gifts ceased with the death of the apostles. 00:06:42.160 --> 00:06:47.759 I really don't find that in the Bible, even though a lot of uh theologians have held to that position. 00:06:48.319 --> 00:06:56.480 The other uh view that that I really avoid is that you have to speak in tongues to be filled with the spirit. 00:06:56.639 --> 00:06:56.800 Right. 00:06:57.199 --> 00:06:58.560 The Bible doesn't teach that either. 00:06:58.879 --> 00:07:05.600 So I think to me, those are kind of two different ends of the spectrum that you you kind of avoid and stay away from. 00:07:05.920 --> 00:07:12.079 Um uh let's just take the the one here about you have to speak in tongues to be filled with the spirit. 00:07:12.319 --> 00:07:23.199 Paul plainly said here in 1 Corinthians 12 29, are all apostles, are all prophets, are all teachers, are all workers of miracles, do all have gifts of healing? 00:07:23.439 --> 00:07:25.279 Do all speak with tongues? 00:07:25.519 --> 00:07:26.560 Do all interpret? 00:07:26.720 --> 00:07:29.759 And the answer is no to all the above. 00:07:30.000 --> 00:07:39.199 And so when you read the book of Acts, the word tongues is plural, it's always plural in the book of Acts, and it refers to a language. 00:07:39.360 --> 00:07:41.120 Go to the day of Pentecost. 00:07:41.279 --> 00:07:46.240 And Peter preached, and people heard in their own language. 00:07:46.399 --> 00:07:46.639 Right. 00:07:46.879 --> 00:07:52.720 All right, so it is a language, and and I'm not gonna say that ceased with the apostles. 00:07:52.959 --> 00:07:56.000 Uh, we hear of it on the mission field today. 00:07:56.319 --> 00:07:58.319 I've seen it with my mentors. 00:07:59.120 --> 00:08:07.199 Um, um, one of my mentors, he he was preaching in Florida, and there was a lady there from uh Germany, and and she couldn't speak English. 00:08:07.360 --> 00:08:09.439 And so afterwards she's very distraught. 00:08:09.519 --> 00:08:17.600 He goes over and talks to her, and all he knows to do is just share the gospel, and and he's just sharing the gospel with her in the middle of it. 00:08:17.680 --> 00:08:21.279 I mean, she just broke down crying and she was just so overwhelmed. 00:08:21.360 --> 00:08:29.920 And finally, they get an interpreter from one of the local uh universities who came and um he said, Ask, you know, the preacher said, Ask her what happened. 00:08:30.079 --> 00:08:32.960 And she responded, Does the preacher not know? 00:08:33.600 --> 00:08:39.440 She said, He was speaking, and I couldn't understand anything, and all of a sudden he began to speak in perfect German. 00:08:39.679 --> 00:08:40.080 Wow. 00:08:40.240 --> 00:08:43.200 And she heard the gospel, she understood, and she was saved. 00:08:43.360 --> 00:08:43.759 Uh-huh. 00:08:44.320 --> 00:08:48.080 Now, it just it it happens, and how can you say that ceased? 00:08:48.320 --> 00:08:48.639 Right. 00:08:48.799 --> 00:08:50.399 Uh, we've seen it right here in our old church. 00:08:50.639 --> 00:08:53.200 I was gonna say, I feel like you've shared a story like that from here. 00:08:53.440 --> 00:08:57.279 Um a lady came from South America, she was visiting family here in the church. 00:08:57.440 --> 00:08:59.679 She did not speak or understand English. 00:08:59.840 --> 00:09:05.759 Uh, she always would speak uh through her son or her daughter-in-law uh to me or to Tammy. 00:09:06.240 --> 00:09:07.600 She was here for several weeks. 00:09:07.759 --> 00:09:20.559 She came through the line on Sunday morning, and uh she is telling uh Tammy through her daughter-in-law, she said, I I don't speak English, I don't understand English, but when your husband preaches, I understand him. 00:09:20.799 --> 00:09:21.440 Wow. 00:09:21.679 --> 00:09:22.720 And she was saved. 00:09:22.879 --> 00:09:26.480 Well, you know, Miss Tammy, she won't, she's like, Does she really understand? 00:09:26.720 --> 00:09:27.360 Is she really saved? 00:09:27.519 --> 00:09:30.720 So Tammy goes through the gospel again and makes sure she understands. 00:09:31.120 --> 00:09:33.679 And then uh before she went home, she was baptized here. 00:09:33.840 --> 00:09:34.240 Wow. 00:09:34.480 --> 00:09:40.240 And um, you know, she it was just it was the book of Acts, it was the day of Pentecost, right here in our own congregation. 00:09:40.480 --> 00:09:40.799 That's cool. 00:09:40.960 --> 00:09:42.480 So I'm never gonna say that ceased. 00:09:42.639 --> 00:09:42.879 Right. 00:09:43.039 --> 00:09:43.360 Okay. 00:09:43.519 --> 00:09:46.000 Now go to um 1 Corinthians. 00:09:46.080 --> 00:09:48.559 In 1 Corinthians, it talks about an unknown tongue. 00:09:48.799 --> 00:09:51.360 And in that case, it's not plural, it's singular. 00:09:51.600 --> 00:09:57.519 And some would say that is the language of angels or the prayer language or the language of heaven. 00:09:58.159 --> 00:10:07.840 And um, I would just say that Paul gives warning with that, that um uh it's not misused in a public worship service. 00:10:08.000 --> 00:10:10.159 And again, I don't want you to take my opinion for it. 00:10:10.240 --> 00:10:11.279 I want I want to read it to you. 00:10:11.360 --> 00:10:11.519 Okay. 00:10:11.759 --> 00:10:23.759 In 1 Corinthians 14, uh, he says here, uh verse 2, for the person who speaks in a tongue is not speaking to people, but to God, since no one understands him. 00:10:24.159 --> 00:10:27.840 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. 00:10:28.000 --> 00:10:29.279 This is Paul speaking. 00:10:29.519 --> 00:10:43.679 Yet in the church, I would rather speak five words with my understanding, in order to teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue, singular, unknown. 00:10:43.919 --> 00:10:57.120 If therefore the whole church assembles together and all are speaking in tongues, and people who are outsiders, they're unbelievers, come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind? 00:10:57.600 --> 00:10:58.799 I think it's funny. 00:10:59.039 --> 00:11:04.320 Um, so uh you have to understand uh kind of my my background. 00:11:04.480 --> 00:11:15.679 I grew up Baptist, but I grew up in a singing family, and all of the all-day singings and dinner on the ground, they were always held in Pentecostal churches. 00:11:15.840 --> 00:11:20.639 So I grew up in both of those atmospheres, and I'm very much at home in both. 00:11:20.799 --> 00:11:27.919 Um, and even my Pentecostal friends, I I first went to college at Emmanuel College, Franklin Springs, Georgia. 00:11:28.000 --> 00:11:28.080 Wow. 00:11:28.320 --> 00:11:31.039 That is home of the Pentecostal Holiness Church. 00:11:31.120 --> 00:11:36.559 And, you know, I'm the only boy there in the Baptist boy there in the religion department. 00:11:36.720 --> 00:11:48.480 So anyway, um, my Pentecostal friends will will tell you that in some of the churches they grew up in, it was sing until something happens. 00:11:49.360 --> 00:11:53.360 And so they would just sing and sing and sing until some experience happened. 00:11:53.600 --> 00:12:02.480 And it you never knew what was going to happen, so they would never invite a lost friend to come because, you know, it would just be uncomfortable and they wouldn't even know what's going on. 00:12:02.720 --> 00:12:08.159 And so I would just say that uh we're not a sing until something happens, church. 00:12:08.799 --> 00:12:11.519 At the same time, uh, we believe the Bible. 00:12:11.840 --> 00:12:19.279 So forget Baptist doctrine, forget Pentecostal doctrine, forget Presbyterian doctrine and Methodist doctrine, and let's get back to the Bible. 00:12:19.440 --> 00:12:24.720 And here's what the Bible says: same chapter, 1 Corinthians 14, verse 39 and 40. 00:12:24.960 --> 00:12:30.799 Do not forbid tongues, but all things should be done decently and in order. 00:12:31.200 --> 00:12:41.759 So when uh people tell me I have this uh private prayer language, you know, and in their prayer closet or in their daily devotion, they speak in tongues, I say, praise God, pray for me. 00:12:43.039 --> 00:12:57.919 And at the same time, I don't want everybody doing that in the middle of a public worship service because we don't want uh, because we're an invite culture church, we want lost people to come, and I don't want them coming saying, You're out of your mind. 00:12:58.240 --> 00:13:00.960 And and so I think the Bible is very clear on it. 00:13:01.519 --> 00:13:09.200 Um, but traditions uh kind of cause people uh to be polarized on the issue and we shouldn't be. 00:13:09.600 --> 00:13:10.240 That's good. 00:13:10.320 --> 00:13:10.799 Thank you. 00:13:10.960 --> 00:13:11.919 Thank you for that. 00:13:12.240 --> 00:13:16.399 All right, we're gonna move over into a little bit of culture questions. 00:13:16.559 --> 00:13:19.279 I feel like some of these are really hot topics right now. 00:13:19.519 --> 00:13:24.720 So, should Christians view Islam as a threat to Western civilization? 00:13:26.000 --> 00:13:32.639 Well, uh, let me preface it by saying that that Tammy and I have Muslim friends, we have Muslim doctors. 00:13:32.799 --> 00:13:33.200 Right. 00:13:33.440 --> 00:13:40.559 Um if if you look right here at Hampton, uh the Islamic Community Center is right here beside the Hampton campus. 00:13:40.960 --> 00:13:43.279 And and and Jesus said, Love your neighbor. 00:13:43.840 --> 00:13:45.759 And so we want to be a good neighbor. 00:13:45.919 --> 00:13:55.679 And uh and we have a good relationship with those um who are uh of the Muslim faith or or practice Islam. 00:13:56.240 --> 00:14:17.600 Um with that said, um you have to acknowledge that Islam is a competing world view, and if you look at it um in Africa and Asia, as a political military movement, it is all it has always taken over by force. 00:14:17.919 --> 00:14:25.840 So uh Sharia law is not compatible with the US Constitution or the American way of life. 00:14:26.960 --> 00:14:31.679 So uh but the answer to your question is yes, but I'm telling you why. 00:14:32.399 --> 00:14:58.960 So uh whether you're a Christian or whether you're just an American and not even of the Christian faith, if you care about freedom of religion, uh freedom of speech, equal rights for women, then you would have to view Sharia law as a threat to our country or any country where uh it takes over. 00:15:00.000 --> 00:15:05.120 And I mean, along with that, to view Sharia law as a threat. 00:15:05.200 --> 00:15:08.240 That would be like if they're in positions of political power. 00:15:08.799 --> 00:15:21.360 I mean, you when you look at states around the country right now, they're whole communities that now um uh the whole city council, you know, it's made up of Muslims who w want to enact Sharia law. 00:15:21.519 --> 00:15:28.559 And um it it is going to be a major issue, um, not only in our lifetime, but especially for our children. 00:15:28.960 --> 00:15:31.840 And and I hope that people will wake up. 00:15:32.000 --> 00:15:41.360 Um that that doesn't mean that you should uh uh in any way um um say all Muslims are are to be feared, they're not. 00:15:42.000 --> 00:15:46.320 But Sharia law should be feared and uh and should be opposed. 00:15:47.039 --> 00:15:55.759 And and I think you can just look at history and see where all those countries were either secular or Christian countries, and by force they took over. 00:15:55.919 --> 00:16:00.879 And they did it the same way that you see it taking place in this country, and so it should be a wake-up call. 00:16:01.360 --> 00:16:02.480 That's a good answer. 00:16:03.279 --> 00:16:07.039 Uh how should Christians think about the modern state of Israel? 00:16:08.240 --> 00:16:10.080 Well, you know I love to go to Israel. 00:16:10.879 --> 00:16:13.519 I've been many times, and there's no place like it. 00:16:14.080 --> 00:16:14.559 That's true. 00:16:14.879 --> 00:16:21.039 So um uh the modern state of Israel is like any other country. 00:16:21.120 --> 00:16:26.320 Uh its leaders, um uh they're they're human and they're flawed. 00:16:26.480 --> 00:16:29.279 Uh, our leaders were human and flawed and are. 00:16:29.440 --> 00:16:34.480 And and so it it's true about Israel that they're not any different than any other country. 00:16:34.720 --> 00:16:39.759 I mean, just look at the um biblical context of Ahab and Jezebel, you know. 00:16:39.840 --> 00:16:45.360 So even though they were God's people, they had evil l leaders at times to be in power. 00:16:45.519 --> 00:16:50.720 So I think that you you have to view it uh just like you would view any other country. 00:16:50.879 --> 00:17:02.080 Um at the same time I say that, uh I I would say that it's the only democracy in the Middle East that um uh Muslims and Christians are protected. 00:17:02.480 --> 00:17:15.599 I mean, I've been there, so I I can tell you by first hand experience, they protect the holy sites of Christianity, of Islam, as well as uh uh Judaism. 00:17:16.160 --> 00:17:25.759 And so uh somehow they they understand that Jerusalem is a city that means a lot to a lot of different groups, and that and they protect it. 00:17:25.920 --> 00:17:36.160 Go to the Islamic countries and see what they have done to Christian sites, um, you know, or or just historical sites that they destroyed. 00:17:36.720 --> 00:17:42.720 Um I so I I've just I do have a love and appreciation for uh the Jewish people. 00:17:42.880 --> 00:17:45.759 I think there's connection with Christianity you can't get around. 00:17:46.400 --> 00:17:56.319 Um uh that yes, as Gentiles, we've been grafted in, you know, the Bible says um that we're children of Abraham uh by faith. 00:17:56.960 --> 00:18:02.400 Um and and so I I think that you know there's this connection, in fact, even in our country. 00:18:02.720 --> 00:18:06.000 Our country was founded on Judeo-Christian principles. 00:18:06.160 --> 00:18:06.319 Right. 00:18:06.559 --> 00:18:08.880 And and so the two worlds are connected. 00:18:08.960 --> 00:18:12.559 So I'm grateful that our country has been a big supporter of Israel. 00:18:12.720 --> 00:18:17.200 Now, does that mean that everything our country does is right or everything their country does is right? 00:18:17.519 --> 00:18:17.839 No. 00:18:18.400 --> 00:18:29.200 And so I I think that just like we have the freedom in this country to disagree with our political leaders when we think they're wrong, uh, you certainly have the right to do that with uh Israeli leaders. 00:18:29.440 --> 00:18:33.200 Um uh, you know, the prime minister, Netanyahu. 00:18:33.519 --> 00:18:38.799 He, you know, some people love him, some people hate him, just like they do with our president or whoever's in office. 00:18:38.960 --> 00:18:44.400 And I would just say, um, you know, he's got a tough job. 00:18:44.880 --> 00:18:46.880 Uh he is surrounded by enemies. 00:18:46.960 --> 00:18:48.400 He's trying to protect his people. 00:18:48.559 --> 00:18:50.319 That doesn't mean everything they do is right. 00:18:50.480 --> 00:18:50.640 Right. 00:18:51.039 --> 00:18:52.960 But he has a very difficult job. 00:18:53.119 --> 00:18:59.119 And their um their goals as a country may not be the same goals as the U.S. 00:18:59.920 --> 00:19:08.720 And and so our leaders have to do what's right for our country, just like their leaders need to do what's right for their country, but all should be protected in the process. 00:19:09.119 --> 00:19:19.599 And um the thing I I would leave you with is um while Netanyahu is not sitting on David's throne, okay, he has no connection to David. 00:19:19.759 --> 00:19:22.480 Jesus is the rightful heir to David's throne. 00:19:22.720 --> 00:19:25.200 Um it is the land of the Bible. 00:19:26.000 --> 00:19:43.759 Uh you you just look at it and and see uh the prophecies uh in Zechariah 12 and 14 describe a future when all the nations of the world will come against Israel and in particular Jerusalem, and God will defend the city he loves. 00:19:44.079 --> 00:19:46.000 You read about it in Revelation 29. 00:19:46.160 --> 00:19:57.279 So Jesus was born in Bethlehem, he was raised in Nazareth, uh, he preached and performed miracles in Galilee, he was crucified in Jerusalem, he rose from the dead, and the Bible says he's coming back. 00:19:58.160 --> 00:20:01.039 His feet will touch the Mount of Olives. 00:20:01.359 --> 00:20:14.160 And so um, you know, I love that uh really the Christmas scripture uh that he will be great and that he will rule on his father David's throne. 00:20:14.400 --> 00:20:18.400 And so I really believe that Jesus will rule and reign in Jerusalem. 00:20:18.480 --> 00:20:21.920 I I do believe that there's a time period that that will happen. 00:20:22.079 --> 00:20:26.160 Uh, and then ultimately a new Jerusalem and a new heaven and a new earth. 00:20:26.559 --> 00:20:34.160 And so uh there's no way that uh you can look at that geographical biblical area and say it's not significant. 00:20:34.400 --> 00:20:34.880 It is. 00:20:35.440 --> 00:20:39.119 Um that said, do you have to agree with everything their human government does now? 00:20:39.279 --> 00:20:39.599 No. 00:20:39.759 --> 00:20:40.319 Right. 00:20:40.480 --> 00:20:44.000 Um, so we should support what is right. 00:20:44.079 --> 00:20:46.240 And and and I would I would leave you with this. 00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:50.319 Just remember the same enemies that say death to Israel say death to America. 00:20:50.720 --> 00:20:59.599 So uh militarily, there is a great alliance and partnership uh standing against uh our enemies around the world. 00:21:00.240 --> 00:21:01.279 That's good. 00:21:02.559 --> 00:21:14.240 Uh, how can the church genuinely love people in the LGBTQ plus community while maintaining biblical convictions about sexuality, marriage, and God's design for the family? 00:21:14.559 --> 00:21:16.319 If you got any easy questions. 00:21:18.240 --> 00:21:20.559 Our people really wanted to challenge you today. 00:21:20.880 --> 00:21:23.359 Um I thought you loved your pastor. 00:21:23.599 --> 00:21:37.359 I mean, no, seriously, the the the the fact of the matter is that there's hardly a family that is not touched with or dealing with this issue, it if not immediate family with extended family. 00:21:37.519 --> 00:21:40.240 And so I understand the question and and welcome it. 00:21:40.480 --> 00:21:46.480 Um, you know, I think that first of all, you gotta look at what the Bible says about sexuality, that it is a gift from God. 00:21:46.720 --> 00:21:48.240 He made us male and female. 00:21:48.400 --> 00:21:51.920 So there's what I I like to call the beauty of sexuality. 00:21:52.160 --> 00:21:54.640 He made everything and he said it is good. 00:21:54.960 --> 00:21:56.960 And yet we look around and see everything's not good. 00:21:57.119 --> 00:21:57.359 Right. 00:21:57.680 --> 00:21:59.839 And so there's there's the brokenness of sexuality. 00:22:01.680 --> 00:22:08.640 Even the competitiveness between husbands and wives, all of that goes back to Adam and Eve and the curse. 00:22:09.839 --> 00:22:12.720 And so, you know, we we live in a broken world. 00:22:13.440 --> 00:22:19.119 And just like Adam and Eve believed the lie, that if I eat of this fruit, it's really gonna make me happy. 00:22:19.599 --> 00:22:21.039 People still believe the lie. 00:22:21.200 --> 00:22:29.599 You know, if I live this lifestyle, if I if I if I lean into and give into my desires or my feelings, that it's gonna make me happy. 00:22:29.759 --> 00:22:30.880 You know, and it's not. 00:22:31.200 --> 00:22:33.039 It's still the lie of the enemy. 00:22:33.200 --> 00:22:42.079 Um, you know, that's why Jesus came, and and that's the beauty of sexuality, that he came to redeem um uh what has been broken. 00:22:42.240 --> 00:22:43.680 He came to restore. 00:22:43.839 --> 00:22:48.160 Uh he's the second Adam, and he restores what the first Adam lost. 00:22:48.480 --> 00:22:52.000 And so I think that um uh it's nothing new. 00:22:52.160 --> 00:23:02.000 Uh, if you go back to Deuteronomy 22, 5, it tells us that there were in Moses' day men who wanted to dress like women and women who wanted to dress like men. 00:23:02.400 --> 00:23:05.599 And so uh you read it in the book of Daniel. 00:23:05.759 --> 00:23:15.759 They took those Jewish boys and uh took them out of their homeland, took them uh to Babylon, and there they indoctrinated them. 00:23:16.480 --> 00:23:23.839 They had to learn a new language, you know, they had to learn uh it's a new school, um, a whole new way of thinking. 00:23:23.920 --> 00:23:25.200 It was a culture war. 00:23:25.359 --> 00:23:27.519 They even changed their names. 00:23:28.079 --> 00:23:32.559 And many of them uh were given um uh feminine names. 00:23:32.720 --> 00:23:35.519 Uh it was uh is an attack on their identity. 00:23:36.000 --> 00:23:40.400 And so ultimately that is the attack of the enemy today, is on our identity. 00:23:40.480 --> 00:23:44.720 We're made in the image of God, and he knew us from our mother's womb. 00:23:44.960 --> 00:23:50.640 And yet um, you know, uh the enemy says, hey, you're really not that person. 00:23:51.200 --> 00:24:08.079 And uh and and the pressure that's on families today, um a lot of straight uh students are claiming to be um lesbian or gay or claiming to be bisexual because of the pressure that it's so accepted. 00:24:08.160 --> 00:24:09.279 It's the end thing. 00:24:09.440 --> 00:24:09.839 Right. 00:24:10.079 --> 00:24:17.599 And um, I I just think that we were talking about the issue of Islam and in particular Sharia law being the issue of our day. 00:24:17.759 --> 00:24:32.480 I think right there with it is um uh transgenderism and and uh biological males, you know, playing women's sports, um, you know, boys' and girls' locker rooms. 00:24:32.640 --> 00:24:35.759 I think that's the real issue we're facing today. 00:24:35.920 --> 00:24:37.359 And and it is spiritual warfare. 00:24:37.440 --> 00:24:37.920 Yeah. 00:24:38.160 --> 00:24:43.440 It's an all-out attack on on uh the family and on God's design. 00:24:44.079 --> 00:24:48.160 Um so there's a lot that I could say and need to say about it. 00:24:48.400 --> 00:24:54.000 Um, you know, uh can do we have time for you know just a little humor? 00:24:54.240 --> 00:24:54.480 Yes. 00:24:54.799 --> 00:24:54.960 Okay. 00:24:55.359 --> 00:24:56.160 We always have time for humor. 00:24:56.559 --> 00:24:57.279 Okay, good, good. 00:24:57.519 --> 00:25:01.200 Because you know your pastor, I'm gonna have a good time anywhere I am or what I'm doing. 00:25:01.279 --> 00:25:06.240 But you know, we talked about transgenderism and we talked about uh Sharia law and and Islam. 00:25:06.400 --> 00:25:11.359 And and so you see LGBTQ out there marching for Palestine, marching for Hamas. 00:25:11.759 --> 00:25:14.319 That's like chickens marching for KFC. 00:25:14.480 --> 00:25:18.559 It doesn't make sense because of the way those countries treat people. 00:25:18.960 --> 00:25:19.599 Right, right. 00:25:20.079 --> 00:25:25.599 And um, you know, so I it's serious, even though, you know, I'm I'm trying to lighten it up here. 00:25:25.759 --> 00:25:27.039 Uh it is very serious. 00:25:27.119 --> 00:25:33.599 Some people see it just as a social or political issue, but but LGBTQ has become the state religion. 00:25:33.759 --> 00:25:39.839 And if you don't bow down to it, right, you know, you you you pay the price as far as the cancel culture. 00:25:39.920 --> 00:25:57.279 And and so I I would just say, even in our state, and I hope our members are listening, in our state this November, even more important than midterm elections is the constitutional amendments that we're gonna be voting on, and very few people even know about it. 00:25:57.599 --> 00:25:59.359 And we need to get the word out. 00:25:59.599 --> 00:26:06.319 But they're trying to codify LGBTQ ideology in the state constitution. 00:26:06.480 --> 00:26:06.880 Wow. 00:26:07.200 --> 00:26:13.039 So uh the historical biblical definition of marriage is being replaced with these words. 00:26:13.119 --> 00:26:14.079 I'll read it to you. 00:26:14.319 --> 00:26:19.920 Any two adults, regardless of sex, gender, or race. 00:26:20.240 --> 00:26:21.519 Now think about that. 00:26:22.079 --> 00:26:29.519 We're we're not talking about just male and male or female and female, because you can do that right now. 00:26:30.000 --> 00:26:34.960 You know, no nobody's telling uh same-sex unions that they can't be married. 00:26:35.599 --> 00:26:38.799 Um, but it says here, not just sex, but gender. 00:26:39.039 --> 00:26:41.440 So that's where you get into the transgender issue. 00:26:41.599 --> 00:26:41.759 Right. 00:26:42.240 --> 00:26:45.039 And then it's put on the same level as race. 00:26:45.200 --> 00:26:58.640 So the same protections that are given um uh to race, now they're trying to apply to some male who wants to uh uh you know claim he's transgender and wants to be treated like a female. 00:26:59.200 --> 00:27:05.039 And so I I I don't see it as a Republican issue or Democrat issue or an independent issue. 00:27:05.519 --> 00:27:08.000 For Christians, it's a moral biblical issue. 00:27:08.079 --> 00:27:21.759 And I would hope and pray, here's what I'm praying, that Republicans, Democrats, and independents in our state will come together and take a stand and vote no. 00:27:22.640 --> 00:27:28.720 Because once this goes into the Constitution, it is hard to change. 00:27:29.359 --> 00:27:35.759 And it's really going to be left for our children and our children's children to deal with. 00:27:36.160 --> 00:27:43.039 And so um uh the other one is abortion, it's it's unrestricted, it's just like Massachusetts the other day. 00:27:43.119 --> 00:27:43.359 Yes. 00:27:43.680 --> 00:27:47.279 Um, even what our governor said a few years ago, and I've got his picture in my office. 00:27:47.440 --> 00:28:03.119 I prayed for him when he was governor, uh, he's been here in our church, and so it's not a personal thing, but I mean he said that a woman could give birth to a baby, and then the doctor and the mother could decide whether or not that child lives. 00:28:03.440 --> 00:28:06.720 And so that's the kind of unrestricted abortion we're talking about. 00:28:06.799 --> 00:28:23.920 And I would hope that Christians across political lines, regardless of political affiliation, would come together and and and and take at least a balanced, rational approach and say uh uh we we don't want that in our state. 00:28:25.039 --> 00:28:26.640 Pastor Grant for president. 00:28:26.960 --> 00:28:27.279 No. 00:28:28.640 --> 00:28:30.160 No, that would be a step down. 00:28:30.960 --> 00:28:32.799 But that is a very good point. 00:28:33.119 --> 00:28:36.559 All jokes aside, you know, I was a political science major when I started college. 00:28:36.880 --> 00:28:38.160 You've told us that before. 00:28:38.480 --> 00:28:41.759 I was running from God, and God saved me from myself. 00:28:42.240 --> 00:28:45.440 And um, I went back to my original calling. 00:28:45.519 --> 00:28:48.240 I knew God called me to preach on the call of God's without repentance. 00:28:48.640 --> 00:28:51.680 And so I'm glad that he would not let me do that. 00:28:51.920 --> 00:29:01.119 Um and and so, you know, I do believe that God calls people uh to be pastors, to be business leaders. 00:29:01.279 --> 00:29:05.920 I believe that he calls people to be politicians and to be government uh civic leaders. 00:29:06.000 --> 00:29:06.160 Yes. 00:29:06.480 --> 00:29:13.359 And we need good people to run for office, and so um we need to pray for them, whether you voted for them or not. 00:29:13.519 --> 00:29:17.119 You pray for them according to Romans 13. 00:29:17.519 --> 00:29:23.519 You know, uh government is there to promote good and restrain evil. 00:29:23.839 --> 00:29:27.200 And that's what we want to do by voting no in November. 00:29:27.599 --> 00:29:29.279 Thank you for that reminder, for that word. 00:29:29.440 --> 00:29:33.599 And we're glad that God sent you the Liberty Life Church and you're our pastor. 00:29:33.839 --> 00:29:34.319 Thank you. 00:29:34.480 --> 00:29:36.000 Um, final question. 00:29:36.160 --> 00:29:42.720 Well, actually, I have one bonus question, but final question from our folks besides the Bible, what Christian books and authors would you recommend? 00:29:42.880 --> 00:29:54.640 We kind of you shared some when we talked about marriage, but are there any other books or authors that stick out in your mind that have maybe been transformative in your life that you'd recommend other believers read? 00:29:55.039 --> 00:29:57.759 Um yeah, too many, too many to mention right here. 00:29:58.000 --> 00:30:03.519 Um, I think that you know, there have been a lot of books that have uh meant a lot to us. 00:30:03.680 --> 00:30:10.240 The classics, the devotionals, uh Springs in the Valley, Streams in the Desert, they meant a lot to us over the years. 00:30:10.400 --> 00:30:17.200 We don't read them now all the time, but uh there was a a season when God really used those devotional books. 00:30:17.440 --> 00:30:20.480 Um, you know, I talked about marriage up close and personal. 00:30:20.559 --> 00:30:24.880 We did parenting up close and personal, and again, we read a lot of books about parenting. 00:30:25.119 --> 00:30:29.680 And um, you know, I I think um we raised our kids. 00:30:29.839 --> 00:30:32.880 Um yeah, I think it was called Dare to Discipline, you know. 00:30:33.200 --> 00:30:34.079 Yeah, I've heard of that one. 00:30:34.319 --> 00:30:41.279 Yeah, and um, you know, parenting uh is not for cowards, and you know, it was James Dobson and it meant a lot to us. 00:30:41.359 --> 00:30:44.559 Uh that gave us a lot of practical uh helps. 00:30:44.720 --> 00:30:56.720 But I think maybe one of the best ones I ever read was called uh Successful Christian Parenting, uh that really talked about um ultimately it's not about behavior modification, it's about the heart. 00:30:57.119 --> 00:31:00.559 So if you're not careful, you're just raising little hypocrites and Pharisees. 00:31:00.640 --> 00:31:00.880 Right. 00:31:01.119 --> 00:31:03.519 That ultimately God's got to do something in their heart. 00:31:03.599 --> 00:31:05.039 It's internal, not external. 00:31:05.200 --> 00:31:09.440 So there's so you know, I would say those books, you know, um, were good. 00:31:10.000 --> 00:31:11.680 I'm trying to think of another one. 00:31:11.920 --> 00:31:15.119 Um oh my goodness, where is it? 00:31:17.279 --> 00:31:22.960 Uh, because I I wanted to give you, yes, making children mine without losing yours. 00:31:23.119 --> 00:31:23.759 That was a good book. 00:31:24.160 --> 00:31:25.440 I need to read that one. 00:31:25.839 --> 00:31:26.559 100%. 00:31:27.039 --> 00:31:28.880 I'm buying that off Amazon today. 00:31:29.359 --> 00:31:30.319 Let me give you another one. 00:31:30.480 --> 00:31:31.680 Leave the light on. 00:31:31.920 --> 00:31:32.960 Leave the light on. 00:31:33.839 --> 00:31:35.359