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You are listening to a previously recorded broadcast for Thanksgiving is wonderful grumbling and complaining are bad. Really bad. In fact they can be downright deadly stage for the line of fire with your host activist and author, international speaker and theologian Dr. Michael Brown your voice of moral cultural and spiritual revolution Michael Brown is the director of the coalition of conscience and president of fire school of Ministry get into the line of fire now by calling 866-34-TRUTH.

That's 866-34-TRUTH here again is Dr. Michael Brown the French Michael Brown so delighted to be with you on this day after Thanksgiving with a really important teaching from the word that I pray will edify you and bless you and help you for listening to it live. The day after Thanksgiving or if you listen to it at a later time. This is a word teaching subscription. It is perennially perennially relevant. There we go perennially relevant. So listen in, get as much of this is you can. If you miss any part of it.

You can go to our website later today and listen.

It asked Dr. Brown.org and click on the line of fire. I won't be taking any calls though today grumbling and complaining. Paul wrote to the Philippians in the second chapter of that book and said do all things without grumbling and complaining, and when we look back at Scripture grumbling and complaining that when we came out of Egypt even before we came out of Egypt. When God sent Moses to deliver us, but we came out of Egypt, murmuring and complaining and grumbling and now so the drink was there only one zoning day where you know the language you gave Wednesday understand their real needs and real issues and there's a way to say Moses we need some help here or God. Would you help us retire, and there is something very different now is not going not get enough not row like this is not happy that can Exodus 1524 so the people grumbled against Moses, and one we drank Exodus chapter 16 verse two strike before the manna in the desert.

The whole community grumbled against Moses and Aron Exodus 16 seven when when Moses tells them to get to see the Lord.

Act is his way that you should grumble against domicile to gripe the problem is having with the and in the 17th chapter after God supplies the manna now there's another water issue.

Exodus 17 three but the people were thirsty for water there and they grumbled against Moses and why is a binary tomatoes and our children lives not die but is much as I say this in a way to to highlight nature of grumbling and complaining in a and I do it in a way to kill must be lighthearted with whining and complaining just to illustrate the point. The fact his friends for the children of Israel disapprove down right deadly. What happened was persistent grumbling and complaining you see it again right in Numbers the 11th chapter more grumbling and complaining numbers.

The 12th chapter, marinara, grumbling, complaining about Moses what ultimately happens is the grumbling and complaining leads to unbelief how to lead to faith.

How can it possibly lead to faith that led to unbelief and then to out right rib Valley while out right rebellion, and it caused a whole generation to die in the wilderness, they didn't die in the wilderness because of their idolatry. They didn't die in the wilderness because of their sexual immorality.

They died in the wilderness because there persistent grumbling and complaining which led to more unbelief led ultimately to rebellion so that rather than obeying God and believing God and going into take the promised land instead. What did they do they die grumbling and complaining. Trust Thanksgiving at the very friends stay to this broadcast sack truly come to the end of 2012. You are listening to a previously recorded broadcast. The line of fire with your host Dr. Michael Brown voice of moral cultural and spiritual revolution. Here again is Dr. Michael Brown friends joining us on this day after Thanksgiving an attitude of thanksgiving and attitude of praise and attitude of gratitude is life giving his life changing his life grumbling, complaining, negative, and how will I like this show like the way the dog was standing on my raters traffic on grandma's door. In light of yesterday to monitor that kind of attitude is deadly friends so want to help you see the danger of having an attitude of grumbling and complaining and help you develop an attitude of thanks giving and gratitude. Thank you so much for joining us today on the line of fire. I am not taking calls today be if you miss any part of today's broadcast, please go to the website asked Dr. Brown.org. Click on the line far and you will truly be blessed as you listen, I want to tell you seven things about grumble orders and complainers. Seven basic statements which I'll follow up with another four statements in the bunch of statements about Thanksgiving about description so got a lot to say today number one grumble orders and complainers open the door to unbelief which leads to rebellion an attitude of faith, friends, is one that says I believe God I trust God even though things look dark even though things look difficult. Even though things look hopeless even knew that even though there are obstacles to overcome, even though I don't see a way out.

Even though I have no confidence in myself that things could change. I believe God, and we focus on God's goodness, we focus on God's faithfulness. We focus on who he is and the promises he's made and that's tremendously faith building as we put our faith in God. It builds more faith, but as we grumble playing like this I would do anything right now that that leads to unbelief that yes, there's unbelief behind it, but it leads to more unbelief that doesn't get us in a position to believe God that doesn't get it get us in position to trust God together, let's say, through no fault of your own maybe terrible problem with your company, you lose your job you find yourself behind on bills and you sit together with your spouse and you want to believe God together for a way out for provision for wisdom so that your finances can get back in order. Instead, like love. You worked hard to find you from your job all well you world it takes to really get into debt obviously didn't give me to buy all the stuff you toast what well you never handle matter what I was seeing God come through for you. What attitudes can be produced from the what's ability to unbelief and then even rebellion as happened with the children of Israel the wilderness look that there's a lot to learn from the wilderness wanderings, but just look at the progression from numbers 11, 12, 13, 14, 11 and 12, marked by grumbling and complaining and negative, judgmental-ism, and then unbelief and then out right rebellion number two grumble orders and complainers never make a quality faith decision to address and overcome present problems and obstacles by the power of the Spirit and the word yes I'll say it again, grumble orders and complainers never make a quality faith decision to address and overcome present problems and obstacles by the power of the spirit and word when when you grumble when when your main comments are frequent comments or underlining comments are negative when instead of having positive things to say about other people about situations and in particular about God and his promises when instead we complain when we do that we never make a quality faith decision to address and overcome present problems and obstacles by the power of the spirit work okay we have a problem okay we have an issue okay. We have some obstacles to overcome. What are we gonna do when you lost the game.

We lose every game. RTA always looming okay. Our team is not playing well what are we going to do team to overcome the problems.

How can we isolate and address the problems and then move forward and make progress of all we do is grumble complain where friends is getting worse so you have more to grumble and complain about how does grumbling and complaining, ever advance the situation in a positive way.

How does grumbling and complaining, ever get us in an attitude of faith.

How does grumbling and complaining, ever get us to take advantage of God's help and God's promises, so that we can see what's wrong and fix it.

In Jesus name three grumble orders and complainers are unthankful and unappreciative. There were family members on Nancy's side of the family that used to treat us for dinner. Years ago they want to take us to a nice restaurant every so often and in a we we enjoyed that, especially with when we didn't have so much money and not that were filthy rich. Now anywhere near that obviously but but we can certainly go to a nice restaurant if you want to, but in those days it. It was a special treat, but at a certain point we quit. We December not it's not worth it. It is, it is not worth going out to restaurant to hear complaints about everything just to see the staff mistreated is just is not worth it, and we ended up declining invitations because of the grumbles and complainers are unthankful and unappreciative. I do this raw never get this right.

I remember with with one particular gentleman that we sometimes eat with very fast best compliment I ever heard him pay for his own wife or or or two to a server in a restaurant the very best compliment I ever heard him pay was not bad not bad, grumble as you complainers are unthankful and unappreciative, always pointing out what's wrong and and even when there is good and there is positive they they underwhelm you with their response. They're not thankful they just take it for granted.

If you're going to do good if if you gonna bless them if you going to help them. It's almost like they had it coming to them anyway. But was it matter everything is negative. Anyhow there unthankful there unappreciative.

They're not the kind of people you want to hang out with. Not the kind of people you want to work with their they're not the kind of people that that lift the spirit in the room. In fact it's the exact topics opposite and then it produces more negativity breeds so number one grumbles and complainers open the door to unbelief which leads to rebellion, number two, grumbles and complainers never make a quality faith decision to address and overcome present problems and obstacles by the power of the spirit and the word number three grumble orders and complainers are unthankful and unappreciative number four grumble orders and complainers are fault finders and tear down rather than build up constructive criticism and constructive input is wonderful when someone sits you down and says let's assess the situation here. Let's take a look at what's going on let's see what's wrong here so we can fix it. You know, I really appreciated the message that you brought.

But since you asked me for my input. I think here's were you lost people and this is were the message could've been so much better. You know I really like what you wrote.

Yes me to review that post of yours I think you made some great points but he got very confused and off-track in the middle. I constantly asked for constructive criticism, especially from Nancy for my wife that's I will always welcome immediately when I think I've just written a masterpiece and I ask you to look at and she's got all marked up in us knows think I should post the work on homework, this is a great piece on arthritis. Now I don't initially welcome that. But she just wants me to do my best and to represent the Lord the best possible way and to communicate truth in the strongest way so I know her only reason for taking the time to painstakingly look at something is to help the quality of what were doing for the glory of the Lord. We should all welcome constructive input. Whether it's from a friend or from some it's not a friend. If it's constructive and helpful. We should welcome it but but grumbles and complainers.

Their fault finders and they tear down rather than build up all they do is point out the negative. All they do is point out what's wrong. Now I know some people are so touchy that that that they can take a single word of correction but look that's not the issue here. That's a whole other issue grumbles and complainers fault finders. They tear down rather than build up II know some of them speaking with her getting really uncomfortable because that's you listen if you know Jesus he's called you higher if you know the Lord. He's called you to something different. If you really a child of God, then the faultfinding planning, negative grumbling, tearing down attitude is completely inappropriate right much more to come stay with us on this day after Thanksgiving broadcast right here on the 15. You are listening to a previously recorded broadcast on the line of fire with your host Dr. Michael Brown. Your voice is more cultural and spiritual revolution. Here again is Dr. Michael Brown.

Looking back, friends to the line of fire broadcast of special day after Thanksgiving teaching on the deadly effects of grumbling and complaining and then will land the show talking about the power beauty of Thanksgiving. Thank you for joy to see there we go Thanksgiving. Thank you for joining us being part of the program not taking calls today.

I realize that some of you are in and out of the car and catching a few minutes here and there, so make sure you go to my website later ask Dr. Brown.org and just click on the line of fire and you can listen to the show for today in its entirety grumbles and complainers open the door to unbelief which leads to rebellion.

That was my first point based on on Israel in the wilderness number two grumbles and complainers never make a quality faith decision to address and overcome present problems and obstacles by the power of the spirit word number three grumbles and complainers are unthankful and unappreciative grumbles and complainers number four are fault finders and tear down rather than build up. There is a way to point out something wrong with the goal of building up there is a way to say I really appreciate you and I appreciate what you're trying to do. Can I encourage you to consider this so that you can do what you do even better. That's very different from tearing down look that there are ways that families joke with each other. When I was in in Israel with my friend Michael rebel Mike and his wife even in one of their son, Seth. We we were joking about the the Jewish or New York Way, a certain sarcasm and and you know you can do this New Yorkers what we do with each other you, in a joking way, insult each other.

It's just a sign of affection and and and Michael was was saying yeah he is fairly could write a book or write a book about about Jewish parent figure New York Jewish parent parenting, building self-esteem through ridicule everywhere.

We were all laughing about the sunsets was laughing about it. It's just in love and just at all yet that you're doing great with your diet now clear that kind of stuff but look there is an ugly tearing down. It hurts. There is an ugly tearing down that is so destructive friends and and and may I urge you as parents. Even if you got a challenging kid don't tear that kid down all the time.don't find so much fault with that kid that some some parenting experts who said of for every negative thing you say to your kids say 10 things positive. It's amazing how in the world I get this.

Do what you can even to make a little list of positive things about your your candor about your spouse or about your boss. Make a list if you can if you need to do that and review it and say okay I'm going to say the positive and if I point out something wrong it's with the goal of helping this person grow or seeing the work get done better grumbles and complainers are fault finders and they tear down rather than build up number five grumbles and complainers are joyless, and therefore question the joy of others.

They project their own misery on others how you can I get joy when when is as rough as life can sometimes be you choose to look at the negative side, I'm ever talking to to one man and his son told me that his dad was was really a pessimist and when I was talking to his dad and say look, there is light at the end of the tunnel.

He suggests another train coming right at me. I mean, that was his attitude. Instead of saying the best is yet to come in God instead of saying there's always hope is always there is breath in and God sits on the throne there is hope know it just negative and the wrong and the bad that produces depression that produces hopelessness that produces anxiety. I mean if if we could chart this in the physical realm.

You'll meet may be you. You drop some some pill that drop in water and you see it should fizzle ideal Alka-Seltzer or something like that or these these vitamin C pills to help with their community of stuff. I'll drop them in some water in the shoe you can see the thing fizzling fizzing that's fizzling, fizzing, sizzling fizzing, whatever it isn't and then into the water changes color if we could see in the spirit in the spiritual realm how our negative attitudes affect things and just pollutes the environment changes things and and and fizzes out unbelief and negativity is gonna produce joyless this and would someone else's joyful Raven Sandman I need joy in my life is only 30 to say instead.

There is no instead, there they're going to say to you somehow you have to matter with you.

I was let's see I was at the airport O'Hare airport. It was it was Monday morning I was leaving this past Monday morning got up the hotel at 750 in the morning.

Got to my plane. I'm now got to the airport, going to security and there was a woman there is just on the way to work through security and she said how you doing today I said I am blessed and a Bible study find honest.

She was an African-American woman and I find that the generally speaking, I can much more easily assume that there positive to spiritual talk and talk about Jesus that it's much more, just just being straight with you why I get so many more positive smiles in a man's stuff, so sorry. I just tell you the truth I tell other people, and blessed.

I just get more positive responses with with with with African-American friends and here's another friend is stranger and she said how you doing I said I am blessed to say, could you give some of that blessing to me and even though I know you're not supposed to do this it'll go through security. I just touched her shoulder existed. Be blessed in Jesus name I mean there is joy in me. I want to spread that joy to others, grumbles and complainers. They deflate everything in whatever spiritual air you've got in your your sales man that just suck it right now. Life goes grumbles and complainers never content with the press this be number six the never content with the president present. Yesterday was always better today needs to change. Of course, they quickly forget their attitude to yesterday when yesterday was today grumbles and complainers qualify as fools.

According to the standards of Proverbs friends. I've got 1/2 hour more to go but I want to encourage you if you're if you're only able to catch this first half hour go to my website ask Dr. Brown.org and click on the line of fire and you can listen to the entire broadcast you the rest of it live now or later today.

You can catch it share with your friends is a link you can just click to share it on Facebook or other social media so that your friends can be blessed by this as well. And if you have not yet taken advantage of this week special offer. Today's the last day my book 60 questions Christians ask about Jewish beliefs and practices.

One of the most practical and enjoyable edifying for books ever wrote together with her thinking through TV show episode is Christianity Jewish to together saves over 50% of the $15 postage paid, go to my website ask Dr. Brown.org. Click on the online bookstore and you can order right on line last.

Be thankful you are listening to a previously recorded broadcast error on the line of fire with your host Dr. Michael Brown. Your voice is more cultural and spiritual revolution.

Here again is Dr. Michael Brown. Looking back, friends to the line of fire broadcast of special day after Thanksgiving teaching on the deadly effects of grumbling and complaining and then will end the show talking about the power and beauty of Thanksgiving. Thank you for joy to see there we go Thanksgiving.

Thank you for joining us being part of the program not taking calls today. I realize that some of you are in and out of the car and catching a few minutes here and there, so make sure you go to my website later ask Dr. Brown.org and just click on the line of fire and you can listen to the show for today in its entirety grumbles and complainers open the door to unbelief which leads to rebellion.

That was my first point based on on Israel in the wilderness number two grumbles and complainers never make a quality faith decision to address and overcome present problems and obstacles by the power of the spirit word number three grumbles and complainers are unthankful and unappreciative grumbles and complainers number for our fall fires and tear down rather than build up.

There is a way to point out something wrong with the goal of building up and there is a way to say I really appreciate you and appreciate what you're trying to do.

Can I encourage you to consider this so that you can do what you do even better. That's very different from tearing down look that there are ways that families joke with each other.

When I was in in Israel with my friend Michael Rendell, Mike and his wife even in one of their son, Seth. We we were joking about the the Jewish or New York Way, a certain sarcasm and and you know you can do this New Yorkers what we do with each other you, in a joking way, insult each other. It's just a sign of affection and and and Michael was was saying yeah he is fairly could write a book or write a book about about Jewish parent figure New York Jewish parent parenting, building self-esteem through ridicule everywhere. We were all laughing about the sunsets was laughing about it. It's just it, in love and just it all yet that you're doing great with your diet now clear that kind of stuff but look there is an ugly tearing down. It hurts. There is an ugly tearing down that is so destructive friends and and and may I urge you as parents. Even if you got a challenging kid don't tear that kid down all the time.don't find so much fault with that kid that some some parenting experts who said of for every negative thing you say to your kids say 10 things positive. It's amazing how in the world I get this. Do what you can even to make a little list of positive things about your your candor about your spouse or about your boss. Make a list if you can if you need to do that and review it and say okay I'm going to say the positive and if I point out something wrong it's with the goal of helping this person grow were seeing the work get done better grumbles and complainers. Our fall funders and they tear down rather than build up number five grumbles and complainers are joyless, and therefore question the joy of others. They project their own misery on others how you can I get joy when when is as rough as life can sometimes be you choose to look at the negative side, I'm ever talking to to one man and his son told me that his dad was was really a pessimist and when I was talking to his dad and say look, there is light at the end of the tunnel. He suggests another train coming right at me. I mean, that was his attitude. Instead of saying the best is yet to come and gone instead of saying there's always hope is always there is breath in and God sits on the throne there is hope.

No, it just negative and the wrong and the bad that produces depression that produces hopelessness that produces anxiety. I mean if if we could chart this in the physical realm. You'll meet may be you.

You drop some some pill drop in water and you see it, such as lichen or Alka-Seltzer or something like that.

Of these, these vitamin C pills to help with their community and stuff. I'll drop them in some water in the shoe you can see the thing fizzling fizzing that's fizzling, fizzing, sizzling fizzing, whatever it isn't and then into the water changes color if we could see in the spirit in the spiritual realm how our negative attitudes affect things and just pollutes the environment changes things and and and fizzes out unbelief and negativity is gonna produce joyless this and would someone else's joyful Raven Sandman I need joy in my life is only 30 to say instead that you know instead there they're going to say to you somehow you have to matter with you. I was let's see I was at the airport, a O'Hare airport.

It was it was Monday morning I was leaving this past Monday morning got up the hotel at 750 in the morning.

Got to my plane and now got to the airport, going to security and there was a woman there is just on the way to work through security and she said how you doing today said I am blessed and a Bible study find honest.

She was an African-American woman and I find that the generally speaking, I can much more easily assume that their positive spiritual talk and talk about Jesus that it's much more, just just being straight with you. I get so many more positive smiles in a man's stuff, so sorry.

I just tell you the truth I tell other people, and blessed. I just get more positive responses with with with with African-American friends and here's another friend is stranger and see said how you doing I said I am blessed, he said, could you give some of that blessing to me and even though I know you're not supposed to do this it'll go through security. I just touched her shoulder existed. Be blessed in Jesus name I mean there is joy in me. I want to spread that joy to others, grumbles and complainers.

They deflate everything in whatever spiritual air you've got in your your sales manager suck it right now. Life goes grumbles and complainers never content with the press this be number six the never content with the president present. Yesterday was always better today needs to change. Of course, they quickly forget their attitude to yesterday when yesterday was today grumbles and complainers qualify as fools. According to the standards of Proverbs friends. I've got 1/2 hour more to go but I want to encourage you if you're if you're only able to catch this first half hour go to my website ask Dr. Brown.org and click on the line of fire and you can listen to the entire broadcast either the rest of it live now or later today. You can catch it share with your friends is a link you can just click to share it on Facebook or other social media so that your friends can be blessed by this as well.

And if you have not yet taken advantage of this week special offer.

Today's the last day my book 60 questions Christians ask about Jewish beliefs and practices. One of the most practical, enjoyable, edifying for books ever wrote together with our thinking through the TV show episode is Christianity Jewish to together saves over 50% of the $15 postage paid, go to my website ask Dr. Brown.org. Click on the online bookstore and you can order right on line last thankful you are listening to a previously recorded broadcast her by the Expo line of fire with your host Dr. Michael Brown. Your voice is more cultural and spiritual revolution. Here again is Dr. Michael Brown.

We are the day after Thanksgiving and my focus on the special teaching here in the fire is on the deadly effects of grumbling and complaining in the life giving positive effects of Thanksgiving having his one brother used to put it in attitude of gratitude. I'm not taking call. Sit back and enjoy the special broadcast seven characteristics of grumbles and complainers. They open the door to unbelief which leads to rebellion that they never make a quality faith decision to address and overcome present problems and obstacles by the power of the spirit word there unthankful in their and appreciative their fault finders and they tear down rather than build up their joyless and therefore question the joy of others. There never content with the president.

Yesterday was always better today needs to change. Of course they forget their attitudes yesterday when yesterday was today. If you follow and they qualify as fools. According to the standards of Proverbs is if you go through Proverbs and you look at that speech, the speech of a fool mountain in the book of Proverbs, a fool someone was morally deficient, not someone who is lacking in intelligence, but someone who is morally deficient.

A fool's speech is negative is destructive. Tears down hurts wounds, destroys, whereas the tongue of the wise brings healing prayer. Proverbs 1218 lays it out. There's indiscriminate talk that pierces like a sword with the tongue of the wise brings healing. Proverbs 12 eight teen if you said while you just read through this quickly go to the website ask Dr. Brown.org. Click on the line of fire actually spent 1/2 hour going through most of those in depth and now this second half hour recovering some of the ground so wanted to repeat those to a few more statements about grumbles and complainers. They are faith killers faith killers friends. If you're gonna start an important mission for God, you're going to plant a church. You are believing God for for a breakthrough in something the Lord is called you to do your married and your and I do have children you believe God wants to bless you with children you're praying for for for children your your your believing God for funds to help launch a ministry of of ministry to the poor in your community you want to be surrounded by grumbles and complainers friends their faith killers there. There tell you all the reasons why God won't come through and he never has the tell you all the reasons why. Things just aren't right grumbles and complainers of faith killers. They are joy, Steelers that the atmosphere is change friends when there's Thanksgiving and praise and adoration. It lifts your spirit lifts your heart can even bring the presence of God. It renews you in the truth of God's word grumbling and complaining just puts up a wet blanket on everything, grumbles and complainers of faith, killers, joy, Steelers spirit crunchers when the Holy Spirit's beginning to move in touch and helping glads not only content maps I've seen that before. Nothing counts on real. I believe that all yellow you not touch. Sam didn't get touched Juliet. I touched how come spirit crunchers and blessing diminishes when God's blessed he was something special built. He was not so special when God's blessed he was something special built will show you why someone else didn't blast it is not fair it's not right or not you last grumbles and complainers of faith, killers, joy, Steelers spirit crunchers and blessing diminishes appraisers and worshipers. Those who have a very different attitude and approach those who say unbelief. God I worship God. Unbelief, thanks.

It's miserable. It's a rainy miserable damp tank dark day whenever the adjectives are just one of those days were supposed to have a special family picnic in yeah you focus on that or you could say it's a miserable day outwardly.

But God is good and God is faithful. Let's remember some of the amazing things the Lord is done for sake, let's recall to mind the faithfulness of God. I remember that time and it looks so hopeless and we will grumbling it and God convicted us and beat we started praise and worship him how he came through appraisers and worshipers of faith builders joy gatherers spirit movers and blessing in Croesus praise brings God's presence will meaning some mechanical formulaic way, but I mean when from the heart. You give thanks to goblin from the heart. You determined to speak well of him and and to to thank him for his goodness and his grace and to remember his promises and to remember the things he's done either for you or for others that brings the presence of God grumbling chases in a way it is. Picture this, you're the service you worshiping together and some of his back on the amazing testimony got to hear that you got here this and in you bring someone up on the platform with you and they begin to tell you this thing that God did in the Army.

It's mind-boggling how we came through and how he delivered how he answered it and there's a sense of faith and and friends. Let's pray right now for breakthroughs. I know you can sense God's presence here. Let's pray for breakthroughs. There's faith right now in our hearts. It's believe God you contrast that with the spirit, some business meetings and church business meeting Pastor units but they always do things real. I don't see an anointing on your life and help. I will know who takes care of this building, let me just tell you something. This place is dive, I would. I'm ashamed to say it is my home church year and in a 10 different people speak and everyone has something negative to say in there exaggerating the problems. Okay, let's have a time of prayer for Jo here could really get really far with with faith filled prayer and atmosphere like that praise brings God's presence grumbling chases it away. Praise lifts us up. Grumbling brings us down alive I've been in some situations. Sometimes when everything around me just seem negative wrong physical issue got a financial issue you got an issue with your surroundings. You got an issue with your staff, your team, your friends, your colleagues, your own decisions, your family, whenever it is just every look.

This is wrong.

This is wrong. This is wrong and then inhibit what you what you do, what are you doing don't pay be held tell my leg is called. The right to start the thank and praise and worship was in some situations recently and all these little things were going wrong and I was just smiling the whole way through.

I just thought this is just funny. God is faithful and smile will read through it. You know something that really blessed me and encourage me when we were in Israel. Little is from last month but everything was supposed to be set up in the hotel room was my staff had had made numerous calls checked emailed made absolutely sure that things were set up properly so I could do my radio broadcast either from our room or from a business lounge and I would plug in this cable to my portable radio unit and be able to broadcast without a hitch and every day there was a problem I had, I ended up last minute being brought over to some friends home grads for more school where they had the necessary equipment and they were right there on the spot to get it done or or having to run around the hotel find this place, that place where one night we went. I think eight different locations in the hotel before we finally found something that would work and and I had peace about it. There was tension there was pressure.

It sapped a lot of time during some of the days I did have peace in the midst of it though and I want to tell you something.

I don't know that I exuded some extraordinary attitude but II got an email from a team member that was there with the camera crew and that did different things for us every day and she just wrote to me how she and others on the team that were involved were so ministered to by by the gracious attitude.

I had during the midst of things with the joyful attitude during the midst of things friends. That's a testimony to the goodness of God. That's a testimony to the grace of God, and it blessed me to hear that in the midst of those situations rather than send men you're just negative KNOW it's a problem give people prey can stop complaining all the time but God's grace was work with an attitude of gratitude with the joy of the piece.

That's it. Everything is gonna work out and then I God's grace. Praise be thankful to God worshiping him, glorify him. Praise lifts us up grumbling brain's down. More to come stay with us in versus on Thanksgiving. You are listening to a previously recorded broadcast the line of fire with your host Dr. Michael Brown get into the line of fire now by calling 866-34-TRUTH here again is Dr. Michael Brown back once more to the line of fire broadcast friends. This is been a special program on Thanksgiving all the day after Thanksgiving, but on the subject of Thanksgiving and primarily how deadly, destructive grumbling and complaining or in how life-giving an attitude of praise and thanksgiving is if you missed any part of this broadcast we done one whole hour on this now please go to my website ask Dr. Brown double-click on the line of fire just a few hours after the show, this will be archive you be able to listen to the whole broadcast the word of God. Friends calls us to be thankful and look as God's people. We have every reason to be thankful. Don't even on the worst day we could ever imagine. Our students are still forgiven, if her in Jesus on the worst day we could ever imagine. We still have eternal life in Jesus super believers for God's children, even in the worst possible situation we find ourselves in the best is still yet to come. If we know the Lord begin to be with him forever and he is good and he is our father, lack of faithfulness actually stands out in God's sight and is noticeable in the eyes of heaven, lack of thankful stands out.

Remember when Jesus heals the 10 lepers in Luke the 17th chapter, and only one of them comes back to give praise in Jesus is where the others where the other nine where is there praise.

Where is there Thanksgiving. I wonder if it's one in 10 of us that that stops to give God praise for the good things that he does praying hi John, praying hide. One of the St. Louis men that that ever graced God's people, a man of extraordinary devotion to God in prayer.

John hi such a manner prayer that became known as praying hi what he covenanted with the Lord to lead one soul to the Lord every day when he was on the mission field is after years of seeing no one save no one save no success. They had a prayer breakthrough and he covenanted with covenants with the Lord to look for and find and lead to the Lord. One person a day that often fall on their knees right with him out on the roadside and praying repents and cry out to God for mercy then.

Then he grew in faith to where it was to a day and then three a day, not some cheap just repeat after me but on-time of people really coming to the Lord and several times over the years, he would see that the one or two or three reverent was in his commitment. They didn't get saved that day. He fell short of his faith goal and he said inevitably when he would ask the Lord what the problem was, the Lord would say to him, lack of praise, lack of praise. Listen to these verses. Ephesians 53 and four but among you there a study to be a hint of sexual immorality which it may be mentioned among of any kind of impurity of greed. Because these are improper for God's holy people, or should there be of 70 foolish talk of course joking, which are out of place, but rather Thanksgiving Thanksgiving. What a contrast with the list before Ephesians 519 and 20.

Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs saying and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus the Messiah, which means either giving thanks to God for everything he does or whatever happens, whatever comes your way. Give thanks to God because he is good. Ephesians 4, six and seven do not be anxious about anything but in everything by prayer and petition with Thanksgiving present your requests to God and the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Messiah Jesus Colossians chapter 1 verses 10 through 12 and we pray this Paul praying for the Colossians. We pray this so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord may please him in every way bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, that you may have great endurance and patience and joyfully giving thanks to the father who was qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of life and then chapter 2 verses six and seven chapter 2 verses six and seven. So then, just as you received. Messiah Jesus is Lord continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith, as you were taught and overflowing with thankfulness.

Colossians chapter 3 verses 15 to 17 with the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body were called to peace. And be thankful with the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the father through him and the Colossians chapter 4 verse to devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful Philippi of first Thessalonians chapter 5, 16 to 18. Be joyful always pray continually give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus boy on convicted in a life-giving positive way that I need to be more thankful and express more thankfulness to God. First Timothy two verse 100s in the first of all requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone. Verse two for kings and all those in authority that we move peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. Wow. Give thanks for everyone, and pray for them friends grumbling and complaining death. Giving destroying heart fall in the wilderness, grumbling and complaining, rooted in unbelief for that led to more unbelief and ultimately outright rebellion.

Let's be people of praise. Let's be people Thanksgiving. Let's be people who are grateful let's be people who honor God by speaking well of him and choose to believe him and look to him in the midst of the bleakest of circumstances. In the midst of every day little hassles when someone messes up your order McDonald's drive through. Let's choose to not be illumined by Gannett residents called the pickles on repents of let's not be those kind people. Let's step higher. Let's step higher. Let's emulate the attitude of the son of God who was overflowing with joy and thankfulness in the presence of his father in which he lived. Remember friends you listen to this entire hour of teaching by going to ask Dr. Brown.org and click on one of her hey I want to make a direct appeal to you.

I want to ask you to go to my website and soul into our ministry and help us reach more people with the line of fire broadcast. I would encourage you to go to ask Dr. Brown.org right now, and click on support become a monthly torchbearer make a one-time donation stand with us so that we can impact more and more people around the country and around the world with the message of life and transformation through Jesus on the front lines of Jewish ministry on the front lines of awakening in America. On the front lines of moral cultural revolution on the frontline submissions stand with us as we stand together and let us be thankful to call this number right now.

1-800-278-9978. My bottom line today will crumble. Don't complain being mean-spirited. Don't be a negative downer look to God and be a man or woman of praise. Thanks. You are listening to a previously recorded broadcast about to talk to one of the world's top New Testament scholars, author of an amazing new book on miracles, a man who says it is unscientific to deny the miraculous stage for the line of fire with your host activist and author, international speaker and theologian Dr. Michael Brown your voice of moral cultural and spiritual revolution Michael Brown is the director of the coalition of conscience and resident of fire school of ministry get into the line of fire now by calling 866-34-TRUTH index 866-34-TRUTH here again is Dr. Michael Brown I am a student of the word the last 40 years I've been a student of the word and as a student of the word. I'm convinced that God is continuing to work miraculously in the earth today based on Scripture believe that God continues to work in the earth, miraculously today and those miracles that he does perform, confirm what I really believe in Scripture and other words I base my beliefs on Scripture than the miracles or confirmation to that belief. Well, am I rightly interpreting the Scripture. How should we approach miracles. I did a debate this morning that'll air in the UK on one of the biggest Christian stations. Perhaps the biggest in England a debate with an atheist about messianic prophecy in the of course, questions the existence of God's supernatural power at all. I told them I found that to be very unscientific wealth. I've got a great privilege today for two hours to have one of the world's foremost New Testament scholars joining me a man blows the Lord. The manageability a man of integrity and demand is probably getting embarrassed by this introduction right now. Talk about Prof. Craig Keener holds his PhD from Duke University and is now a professor at Asbury theological seminary, and the author of many many important New Testament books. This most recent two-volume study which I'm literally holding in my hands. Here, hard to hold one had big two-volume sums 1200 pages.

Miracles the credibility of the New Testament accounts. I will be taking some calls but limited so if you have a question for Prof. Keener today number to call 866-34-TRUTH 866-34-TRUTH 784. You can post it on my Facebook page. Ask Dr. Brown SDRAM on Facebook and perhaps will get to some of those as well. I without further ado.

Craig, thanks so much for taking time of your busy schedule to join us today. My privilege to be with you and special time of the year we went. We did a debate about Christmas yesterday but what is today mean to you, happy Hanukkah has so a joint happy Hanukkah to all of our older listeners of Craig before we get into the details of this book were you always a believer in Jesus were you always a believer in the authority of Scripture.

Now I would convert it at at what age I was 15 and in what was it that made you an atheist, and what was it that brought you out of atheism is kind of a common theme is that I had never hadn't had very much first-hand exposure to Christianity may night. I thought most people were Christians but I didn't exactly know what they believed, but since at least the age of nine I have been thinking it was much more smart to be a native speaker. I thought was very smart but I thought that you could explain the universe without recourse to the hypothesis of a God will put it like I got into a debate about that somebody said welder had to be at first because I could not appeared infant time going all the way back, which of course now we know is not correct but anyway I when I was about 13 know and I was reading Plato.

I started thinking about questions of eternity things that plaintiff's answer didn't seem to be that good. His arguments took him to be a good buddy he was asking a lot of important questions, and it got me through to rethink and start asking what if I'm wrong and then a couple years later I had an encounter with Christ so so there was a desire to hold logic to the Lord course Craig is not your average 13-year-old reading Plato's will find out about Craig's during today what led him writing of this book miracles. I've never seen about how the phrase you are listening to a previously recorded plan and Expo line of fire with your host Dr. Michael Brown get into the line of fire now by calling 866-34-TRUTH here again is Dr. Michael Brown.

I asked my stations and catch the rest later.

The website is Dr. Brown.org click on one of fire, my guest Prof. Craig Keener from now, Asbury theological seminary, and many of you listening may have some of his books in your library. If not, you need to get them if you got a question for Prof. Keener 866-34-TRUTH 866-34-TRUTH 7884 a Craig list is let our listeners know some of the other major works that you have written over the years because I constantly recommend your stuff to callers that are asking for material but just give folks an overview of what you do and you're not 80 years old and are you Craig I am over 50 now over 50 serious are all right, but you still got you by the public five years or something like that. Now you're your acts commentary is on the way out. How many viruses that can be our meeting for volume and select 6000 pages from it. With 7000 manuscript pages quicker during the mall (think they will give it to maybe drift over thousand pages per volume.

So just 4000 pages of casual reading.

What may. I can't wait to see this come out okay what one of the commentaries. Have you written one of the most useful for most readers will be the Bible background commentary give cultural background information on each passage of the New Testament so it's published by University press and it fits in one volume and the purpose of it was when I was a young Christian I began it was reading like 40 chapters of the Bible or they'll begin realizing it was getting into it that there were a lot of things that the writers took for granted that the readers knew that I didn't know it was backgrounded everybody back then new patient ancient culture, but were not familiar with at the day so I spent like 10 years of research pulling together the information so that I could put it in people's fingertips. And that's the most useful and it doesn't have all the technical details that are just give like what will be helpful for interpreting pathogen is wonderfully useful, totally accessible once whenever someone calls Mrs. like to know more about Jewish background New Testament or other tell hey one volume the land out all for you. You've also written major commentaries and Matthew John the ask ones coming out and it's more commentaries. What Romans first Corinthians Revelation revelation is pretty big to did I miss anything. I think that the fear commentary right and then you recently put out a book on the on the historicity of the New Testament.

What's that one title.

The historical view of the gospel is not a little vibrant 900 pages right offering at 1500 okay just suck don't exaggerate the all right that anyone I got into all this for reason.

I want people to know about your books but I got into this reason you're famous for meticulous detail you're famous for when you write something that the sometimes the footnote is more more the page than the text itself in your constantly giving primary sources.

In other words, not second third fourth hand scholarship only, but the primary source of the original sources and and yet you write this this two-volume work called miracles the credibility of the New Testament accounts and some people would?

How can a scholar write about miracles.

Was there any kind of detachment did you, shut off your mind when you worked on this book and just, got the trance and believed all these weird stories, as is her contradiction between miracles and academic scholarship. No, not at all. In fact, it's been philosophic prejudice against miracle that is kept scholars from actually considering the evidence in their favor, and there is quite a lot of evidence in their favor, but the book before this one.

As you mentioned the historical Jesus of the gospel bear was using rigorous historical methodology and try not to make any any assumptions before looked to be evidence to me to have personal assumptions. Trying to just look at the evidence for him and follow the evidence and and what one, one thing that I I did discover inner you can.

You can work within the framework of certain kinds of assumptions but when you when you have a reliable witness. You need to take seriously what they say. Even if on some details you don't have other corroborative evidence to in the midst of working on that other book you know sometimes my wife would say something to me and I say can you give me evidence for that assertion by got a lot of trouble naturally because you can't live your life day to day on on that kind of basis so if she would say I'm not feeling good about this trip or you know I some about the conversation we had yesterday with this fellow just wasn't right. You want documented evidence you want.

Footnote or she would clamoring to wash the dishes now and I would say can you give me evidence of that assertion. It we would be. I just I just got undermined for infatuated you know we don't scholar don't live that way outside of our cubicles and so I brought that into the miracles book to some extent, but after a while I was just confronted with so much evidence that relate you know the rules by which I'm I'm the academic rules which we been approaching the evidence just it doesn't accommodate the evidence we need a paradigm shift. We need to think in new ways about how to approach this and it's is that there was a there was something that was so scientific it was no longer realistic and what it what about the influence of of David you what what is he saying how is Atlanta scholarship really until today. At the beginning of the Enlightenment. There were a lot of scholars who used miracles in the Bible to argue for the Christian faith. A number of the early Enlightenment thinkers actually believe that including early English client, but David Hume of Scottish skeptic philosopher came along and fed well know we we we can't believe those things and he made an argument against miracle which to really truncate the argument, take it very concise week.

We can believe in miracles against the ordinary course of nature we can we can at least trust witnesses the claim miracles, and the reason they give is because we have no credible eyewitnesses for miracle do it for, if not entirely circular argument and yet his argument, which had been adopted from the before and his argument has become the unspoken basis for just the assumption today where you know if I if I say well friend of mine for somebody the dead somebody who thinks there being intellectual will laugh and say well I know that's not true without even thinking about it because I didn't is what we know people are not raised from the dead, because those things don't happen we don't have credible eyewitnesses and if someone is an eyewitness to attend and I credible precisely so that it if that's the whole argument ultimately behind behind the common presupposition to David miracles don't happen so so this then reads its way into scholarship would you say even in the evangelical world, even in the Christian believing world it says Jesus died for our sins, he rose from the dead.

Messianic prophecies are true. You really perform miracles.

We believe all this is is that David you floss. We still felt even in evangelical circles to think yeah I think I may not not to the same extent, but I think that it still have influence in the back of her mind if it's so much part of our Western culture that you know it's it's all right to believe the God will heal you spiritually. You hear the cardio committee physically well I guess I could explain it like a somatically may be guarded that, but you get to something like blind eyes being opened or somebody being raised from the dead. Been a lot of us are hesitant about that. And yet there are so many eyewitness claims are these things taking place all over the world are so so again it's so important for listeners to realize that this this originates out of doing historic scholarship. The book of acts and and looking for evidence and the question of of how we get evidence and you realize that that were being unscientific because of her presupposition that certain things don't happen Craig when I was debating this atheist.

Today's very pleasant debate on Christian radio in the UK will air Christmas Eve, he just explain why certain things could happen like prophecy like a virgin birth because these things don't happen accidentally when I look at the evidence of prophecy, especially with Jewish people and things that have happened through history and with the Messiah as it takes a whole lot more faith do not believe it to believe it all right we come back there's an interesting question on the take from a caller continue to discuss book Craig Keener miracles you are listening to a previously recorded broadcast file line of fire with your host Dr. Michael Brown yet another minor fire now by calling 866-34-TRUTH here again. Michael Brown asked Prof. Craig Keener. He is Prof. of New Testament at Asbury theological seminary, the author of many crucially important New Testament books and his most recent two volume book miracles the credibility of the New Testament accounts told Craig when I saw the reviews before I got the books I I cannot remember hearing scholars praising looks like this praising a book like this with the enthusiasm and excitement that the they did. Craig, how did it take you to to write this book. I know you were involved in other projects at the same time hello are you working on this because of the overlap with other project estimates. I'm guessing maybe three years. It was worth it during material from my from my research for other other projects to but it did take a lot of concerted extra time to work on the subject and you surprised at all at the level of praise that this this book is getting from some of the most respected New Testament scholars out there. II would I was very pleased by it. I Isaiah I guess one of the things that that was well they never did this with my other book. I was thrilled to see it. I knew even the difficulty of getting it published his weave and prayed for that over the years. So we'll talk more get into more detail about if you got a question for Prof. Campbell bringing some questions here. There are over the hog. Though most of the time so we can just talk to these issues about miracles number.

Call 866-34-TRUTH 866-34-TRUTH Jack in Union City, New Jersey, which are question for Dr. Keener Dr. Brown lying questionnaire building interviewee relationship a lot of religion lately, trying to become more angel apologetic, but I will how much in coolant. I get preop but a lot of the lot. Aristotle have had on Christian thought of what free book, Inc., will there while we're out over one and I got my trying to understand that you be able to nearly 8 take payment will all you Craig, Eric, and then time of the New Testament. The dominant not not the only but the dominant form of Greek philosophy with Stoicism, and you see Paul engaging the Stoics on their own terms you doesn't compromise with what Scripture teaches pretty. He communicates the message of Scripture in terms that the Stoics would've understood but later on Platonism became the dominant approach to the philosophical approach came back in vogue. That was true in the time of many of the church fathers hand, the early Middle Ages and the later Middle Ages through the influence of Arab thinkers who were engaging with Aristotle, Thomas Aquinas and others brought an emphasis in Aristotle back into into theological thought, but in the New Testament. There's really not as much engagement with Plato and certainly not with Aristotle if there is with communicating in a way that that I know you that understood Stoicism with would be able to to comprehend it. So Craig, Jack, thank you for the question. I appreciated has there been any diluting of New Testament truth through the lens of human philosophy have we removed the reproach of the cross or is there an anti-supernaturalism in any of this philosophy either in past or present. Certainly, certainly people are influenced by the values of their culture even when they don't realize that they are often in the West.

I hear people criticize certain mixing of traditional African values with Christianity in Africa; syncretism. The figure can't do that but we fail to see how thoroughly and criticized Western Christianity has become an in the case of of what we're talking about it. The moment the subject miracles weave. We kinda made a syncretistic pact between Christianity and deism that we have a God who can do anything so long as it doesn't interact with the physical world, you end up with a with a God who in effect, sometimes to have less active in the world, less powerful in the world and human beings are and that's not the God that we see in Scripture the Lord who reigns over the universe, yet it is the point you made the we we look at other countries use the applicant or may be that though the mix ancestor worship in with Christian faith or or they'll be something here's a witch doctor in Christiania like syncretistic there mixing worldly and pagan spiritualism and ungodly beliefs with the gospel, and we think somehow because were in the West and incense were further removed Africans in many ways reading Scripture written relate to the cultural value better than than we often do here in the West, but we look at things and think all we are unaffected. We are unaffected by the philosophy of the agent. We are just reading the New Testament God's word the way it was intended and really there's quite a wake-up call to us.

It is an expression when we go overseas more than Emily look from that perspective back here at the West so we just got a minute before the break, the Craig, your wife is African how to some of the African Christians look at our Western interpretation of Scripture basic.

The failure sometimes very very polite about it, very respectful, but they walk away shaking their heads like things that are obvious in the New Testament.

Some of the missionaries brought teaching the miracles don't happen. You can expect these things to happen and the missionaries laughter or weren't there. The African Christian started praying about what they found in Scripture and in another part the will to end and seeing God work the way he worked in Scripture is selfless, once the missionaries left and they read the word for themselves and started to deal with God. God's. And of course I still do these things. Look, it's a challenge for every one of us, it's a daily challenge to me where and why have blind spots where my reading the word through through the lens of my own experience in my own culture are working to continue this conversation with Prof. Craig Keener will be taking some calls as well and up. Craig II know you liked my book on Israel's divine healer had some kind words to say so in your honor in honors the miracles book were offering that this week my book, Israel's divine healer together with a 24 hour class that I taught 16 lectures, one CD of divine healing. Is it for today.

What is the word say where is there error. What can we expect to have these things work very in depth in Scripture. I don't know what $70 of material. If you got all separately but $30 postage paid call today to order one 800-2789 97. If you got questions about the subject of healing great resources for you.

1-800-278-9978 to order and without offering Christ with miracle so go online any of the online bookstores Christian book.com, Amazon.com Christian bookstore's book miracles credibility of the New Testament counts God's work in the earth today.

You are listening to a previously recorded broadcast if the line of fire with your host activist author internationals leader and theologian Dr. Michael Brown voice of more cultural and spiritual revolution get into the light a fire now by calling 86643 here again is Dr. Michael Brown New Testament scholar from a blurring so much.

His latest book to amazing volumes, miracles, credibility of the New Testament accounts will also be taking some questions for Dr. Keener 866-34-TRUTH 866348784 online you can post your questions asked Dr. Brown.org. Click on the line of fire. Craig is in the midst of your busy schedule.

Your professor and then you're constantly researching and writing and we mention or ask commentary which was 7000 manuscript pages and will be in fairly small print 4000 pages when it comes out over the next few years you spent suit would be roughly 3 years of time writing about miracles. Why did you write why This much time at end and you know you get some flack for writing a to what wanted to do it.

It would actually began as a footnote in my ask commentary where I was dealing with the questions of historical reliability back and I in one of the questions.

One of the objections. People always raise against historical reliability of the Gospels and acts is that they recount miracle. People say well you know this this material could go back I witnessed and so I was just going to dispense with that objection and in a footnote saying well actually there are quite a lot of eyewitnesses who do say these things today and I was just going to cite or a couple book would give a massive amount of documentation would would include lots of interviews with people with initially I didn't find those books initially I found book that included something here and there so and I began to put different things in the footnote in the footnote grew and grew and after about 100 or 200 pages are a bit longer footnote at that point I approached the publisher and asked if I could just make out a separate book and that quickly grew about their not had some footnotes that going to books, but I would have to say that it was well before it got 200 200 pages that I realized it was no longer a note are right that there is someone call them at one of asked this question off the air, but it ties in with where were going so the question is can you logically explain the miracle of opening a blind man's eyes. Have you even address that question the way it's worded, how we respond to that and what you mean by logically mean and primitive. If if God can create the universe.

If God can raise the dead, and certainly not logically impossible for him to do anything else.

Paul failed when he was being tried for his conviction for fit.

Why should it be thought incredible among you are unbelievable to you that God should raise the dead, but in terms of logic like explaining how God doesn't II don't have that kind of the kind of knowledge that I could possibly explain that you know something that I think about Craig. I'm I am scientifically weak. I try to make up for that lack in my learning and life experience, but I when I was in high school but were taken serious science classes.

I was getting high when I got saved.

We had a special school.

We went on strike for right before I got saved we do have formal classes with not know the normal class schedule and I went to college at intake science classes so I I've been trying to fill in the gaps here, but I know enough to know that there are things we understand scientifically today that with almost sounded like a myth, a century ago and that we have more information.

So I think a lot of this is if we can see what happens in the spiritual realm and the interface of the spiritual and natural then will make perfect sense that what would seems to defy laws that were used to just got operating by his own laws of the larger question I want to get into a get back in and Donovan in Brooklyn payable get your call as well throw the larger question it's going to get a little bit uncomfortable. Let's let's do it. You are listening to a previously recorded broadcast her plan and by Expo light a fire with your host Dr. Michael Brown your voice and moral cultural and spiritual revolution. Here again is Dr. Michael accounts by Prof. Craig Keener. Who's with me for two entire hours was young Regent University. This is vintage Keener exhaustive research expert command of of and thoughtful interaction with both ancient and modern sources.

Impeccable analyses of all sides of the argument deft handling of the controversial issues, plus some David DaSilva Ashland theological seminary.

This monumental study combines historical inquiry into late antiquity philosophical and existential criticism of anti-supernaturalism in the legacy of David Hume's epistemological skepticism and ethnographic study of the phenomenon of the miraculous throughout the majority world Craig Evans Acadia Divinity College Craig Keener has written arguably the best book ever on the subject of miracles. These are scholars who not only talk like this 866-34-TRUTH if you got a question for Dr. Keener art Craig meet before we take another question and I know is that some of these quotes solicit study and understand the reviews but the book is very clearly written, I want to press an issue here that will were just getting an opinion. That's all. But does it strike you as contradictory that someone says that they fully believe in the miracles of the New Testament.

They don't doubt that Jesus really did these things they don't doubt that he really rose from the dead and ascended to heaven and is returning in the clouds and all they don't doubt any of that. There are hundred percent sure that it's true. They fully believe it. And yet when you tell them about a miracle happening today.

They're totally skeptical and question whether such a thing could happen with about a miracle in Jesus name does that ever strike you is inconsistent with just giving an opinion. I did not write the book to challenge those people so much of the people who don't believe it. Miracle happened back then I was going to use the eyewitness accounts from today to defend the fee recognition that people can't. Eyewitnesses can report these things in their fully we can give more credence to what happened back then but having said all that, yes, I think it we have a real problem and in it and it's not just with miracle because our entire life is to be supernatural was quick to walk in the spirit was to bear the fruit of the spirit even the even the basic essence of our Christian like when we share Christ with people that's supposed to be empowered by the spirit filled everything in our life is supposed to be infused with God's activity, and if we differ so hesitant to believe that God does the thing we might want to ask why, what, what is it that we've embraced in our culture that that makes us think we can do everything on our own without God acting like Eve, even if were not talking about physical healing. The preaching of the word should have miraculous convicting life-changing power. The ability to walk in the spirit overcome sin is supernatural, that it look if you take the supernatural out of the book of ask what you have a don't have much happening you have somebody in prison but they'll get out so they wept in Iraq. Every valid shipwreck and that's it.

That's ask, but the epistles make clear that that our life in the spirit is is of another order. It's not just earthly life trying harder. How would you respond to this I had a guest on the deer Jewish friend, my messianic Jewish leader and he talked about how he came to faith in what God was doing in his life and Jesus appeared to him when he was in Jerusalem and he may have shared that with me before, but not in this detail so I will.

I was blessed and stunned to hear his testimony on the air. This was the next day a guy called up was very upset with the idea said. So we walk by faith not by sight.

He then misquoted second Corinthians 5 that we know we don't know Christ after the flesh anymore is if it meant we can't know him in human form, he was upset with this idea that Jesus would appear to anyone today and said that would be contrary to the life of faith course. I differed with him strongly but but how would you respond to something like that. The idea that Jesus couldn't appear to someone that would somehow be contrary to the New Testament teaching or to the life of faith-effective. The apostle Paul himself with cold and converted throughout revelation of Christ on the road to Damascus. Paul talked about continuing vision revelation for Quicken 12. As part of his continuing life that's in the same epistle, or if it we work not by not not not. We walk by faith, not a fight in the context of that for Quicken 5. It is talking about. The Lord hasn't come back yet we we haven't come before the day of judgment.

Yet we don't have a resurrection body of yet, but but we still we live in this world we face the sufferings that we faith the persecution with a faulty thing because we trust God even though we haven't seen the phone for the kingdom.

Yet it is as you did research and looked into miracle accounts and things happening in which referred to as the two thirds world of the majority world did you find many accounts of people coming to faith are being changed through at the divine appearance. Yeah, I wasn't focusing on vision speaker there for a different kind of question I have an appendix on that.

But there are I I did come across the sky, summarize them and gather just countless countless accounts of this impact people will sometimes tell me their own experiences of coming to Christ that way yeah so again I said to him, so many Muslims coming to faith through Jesus appearing to the UK to this discount. All of this, but that obviously we we walk by faith, our entire license.

We leave this world and you see God face to face, but I asked this gentleman.

Have you ever experienced the Holy Spirit as he was given his whole non-experiential argument and I pressed him.

Have you ever any would not give me a yes or no answer. We had, and the conversation, or if you've experienced the spirit and you can experience a Sprint store walk by faith in the two are not antithetical at let's let's grab a couple of calls and we will continue our discussion. Donovan in Brooklyn. Thanks for calling line of fire. Will Donovan will go to learn good afternoon sir. I'm currently irrelevant about being able. I got moving God or you could go to church and bucolic Gardner Denver America you went to my bed right about Angel. And will be a good parent granite my grandma knew no and I get bedridden at times. I thought it ain't fair game to me they look good.

Crichton my grandma will get either.

I and I made a lot of time I'm coming for you so you win: radical pedagogical church and I went beer and I played I don't. I let it be a good thing in my that I don't remember getting there. When I say that I will close my head was about, while defendants worship a lot but I did not know you are coming to my heart. I love you would like. Thank you Mike Finn and enlightenment in "a magnifying God and faith. That's a sentence so that you have very real experience that was obviously not coerced, but not Donna just for time sake.

As we were close to break here and had a question for Dr. King as a thank, thanks for sharing that. I don't want to diminish the glory of what the Lord's done your life, but yet a specific question for Dr. Keener Junior Walker underground private treatment, but what about the obligor you know that they been bought technology in the art so so what some what's being spoken of their Craig and John three first. Maybe you can explain born-again born. The new born from above what that means, and then one of one or born of spirit.

What is it mean John 33 for being born from above, which was a good Jewish way of speaking of being born from God and then in 35 course there are many different interpretations when giving you with a can't take time to give you all the reasons for why I think the strongest one, but I think water and of the spirit.

There probably what it means is being born of the water of the spirit is in chapter 7, verse 37 to 39 waters assembled with spirit filled when when Gentiles converted to Judaism they would be they would be immersed in water and then they would be considered to be like if it is a new creation, a new person but Nicodemus would say well you can't treat me like a Gentile converting to Judaism, but Jesus is saying to him, Nicodemus, you have to be born a lot of the water of various videos you have virtually transformed by God's spirit. I got a thank you, Craig thanks Donna for your question back with a question about healing is today. You are listening to a previously recorded broadcast the line of fire with your host Dr. Michael Brown get into the line of fire now by calling 866-34-TRUTH here again is Dr. Michael Brown, the name of Craig's Bible background commentary.

The New Testament is just that Bible background commentary. The IVP diversity press Bible background commentary on the New Testament. 866-34-TRUTH if you have a question for my guest. A professor Craig Keener who will be with me, amazingly enough, in the midst of a crazy busy schedule for the next hour as well as you can catch that our website asked Dr. Brown.org. Click on the line of fire.

Craig, I want to take another call just that raises the question about miracles happening any kind of guaranteed way. Also Denver from Spring Valley, New York. Welcome to the line of fire. Dr. Brown today.

Craig, I believe that Jesus is the same date and forever. And because of that I believe that you feel the day and I also believe that back in the New Testament, Jesus, you, because duct authenticates that he was God side. Now do you balance that with you people, you know, particular the movement people will say that all Christians should be based on the misinterpretation of Isaiah 53 which is it where where the prophet said he was going to court. Question and he was crushed for and upon this chart that I was brought and with his stripes we are healed of violence that did that that did the Scriptures say that all you are yet in Denver.

I think that word should is important, as if it were not healed something wrong with us so that New Testament testimony very clear about who Jesus is, what he did, and in some dimensions why he did it promises remaining throughout the New Testament that are for today it Craig, what about this idea that we can either disclaim our healing or that everyone should be heal of having Patty balance these things very important question and one that I think when we talk about miracles we always need to we need to bring up especially the history of the past century and more than a century of some people saying that everybody should always get healed and we have so many accounts of miracles today.

We also have perhaps well-known craft.

We have even more accounts of times when people didn't experience miracles and I think we see in Jesus preaching in Jesus ministry.

He is inaugurating the kingdom of God is proclaiming the good news of God's kingdom and is demonstrating that with signs and wonders showing God's heart showing God's compassion, showing that God wants to heal and deliver people at the same time that we have with signs and wonders they don't clear away all the world just as they don't clear away all the world suffering we still need to do everything we can in terms of healthcare and alleviating poverty and in all those things. These are just signs of the kingdom therefore takes to sample to to when her appetite for time that one will be no more crying and a wipe away every tear from her eye. When death will be no more Soviet defiance in the present. Don't don't result every every issue, we can look at them and be assured that God loves us and be assured that there is coming a day when all of us to trust in him will be healed but it won't happen to all of this necessarily in this life and that's pretty obvious just from the fact that you are the first century apostles are all dead and coming week, we all do die we we don't keep getting healed to the point of physical mortality. Once we acknowledge that we have to understand that these are samples of God's love not. It's not something that results every every struggle Denver. Thank you for the important question in an Craig.

I appreciate the wise and pastoral response. What if someone said yeah but Jesus was moved by compassion to heal.

Does that same compassion to heal now because he can be in every place at the same time by his spirit and this James Jacob five say that the person face to make the sick person well isn't that something universal that we can just bank on that all of us should be healed at least to the point of death would respond to that I have to do so in Christ. Compassion showed when we pray we can appeal to that, but I think sometimes God has something more urgent that he is doing and some people life's we should pray with faith. We should pray with expectation. But I don't think that there's any ministry no matter what the theology of healing. If they don't think that there's any ministry where everybody gets healed by this. That's not happening anywhere did happen in the ministry of Jesus with those that were there in certain period of time that we have to raise questions about what we can expect from here on in. But let's� Take a minute and we got yet another hour you probe more into that the contents of of the book the Craig as as you wrote this two-volume work miracles, the credibility of the New Testament accounts what to do for your own faith in your own expectation in God.

It brought me face to face with my own unbelief while holding all the skeptic might invite them and I think miracles before, but but somehow in the back of my mind I found other ways to say well you could maybe explain it this way or but it interest was too much think it's some point the evidence became overwhelming. God is doing miracles. God is God and I have I have shortchanged my view of God is so much bigger and it it encouraged me to trust God so much more deeply and so many other areas of my life. Yet I think you speak to all of us when you say that friends if you've got someone in your family that loves the word of God loves the nature of God.

The reality of God. You got time to get him a Christmas gift given these two vibes, miracles, the credibility of the New Testament accounts and you will be disappointed.

It will be reading the Craig three years to write it.

Probably take a few years to read through and digest all the amazing stuff. There also encourage you to get hold of my series on divine healing 24 hours of teaching on divine healing scimitar class plus about Israel's divine healer, so lots of detailed biblical information. What is Scripture say that's what the whole course is about to work these things out with the wrong beliefs right beliefs reduce the price way down and repaying the postage is $30 postage-paid for the entire class and the book so call today to order 1-800-278-9978. That's 1-800-278-9978 for the class on healing on one CD for computer MP3 player along with the book, Israel's divine healer, 1-800-278-9978 by bottom line today is that the God of the Bible is the God of today that the God of the Bible who worked miracles who perform signs and wonders. He stretched out his hand delivered Israel distress at his hand and raise the son from the dead is the same God living and working in the earth today, believe him.

Let's adore him. Let's not sell them short