Participants: Jim Ayer
Series Code: MW
Program Code: MW000037
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00:01 Couldn't help think with all this salt all around me.
00:03 When Maria first turned on the radio dial 00:05 and she heard AWR. 00:07 The message was "ye are the salt of the Earth." 00:09 It changed her life. 00:11 Stay tuned and find out how. 00:50 As we zigzag through Israel, 00:52 we begin to discover that much of the land 00:54 is little more than barren desert. 00:57 The question arises, what happened to Canaan? 01:00 The land flowing with milk and honey. 01:03 One of the great clusters so big 01:05 that it took two men to carry them. 01:07 Where were the lion like the one Samson killed 01:09 find food enough to survive today 01:11 or how about the bear David killed, 01:14 this seems to suggest a land almost tropical in nature. 01:18 This is not that land. 01:20 I asked this very question of biblical scholars 01:23 and their answers were interesting 01:24 but there was no solid consensus to my questioning. 01:28 One fact is sure. 01:30 We found no lions, bears, or gigantic grapes. 01:37 The Dead Sea, as it is known today, 01:40 has had several names throughout history. 01:42 The Salt Sea, The Sea of Sodom, the Sea of Lot, 01:46 the Sea of Asphalt, and the Stinking Sea. 01:49 Some of the crusaders called it the "Devil's Sea." 01:53 I'm here at the Dead Sea, 1,350 feet below sea level. 01:58 If you don't count everything under the ocean, 01:59 this is the lowest place on planet Earth. 02:02 It's actually dead, completely dead. 02:04 They used to call it 02:05 the Numbers Chapter 34, the Salt Sea. 02:09 Maria and Ludmila, thank you for joining us today. 02:12 So both of you ladies grew up in communism, 02:15 is that correct? Yes, Yes. 02:19 Can you share a little bit with me 02:20 of what living in communism 02:22 or living under communism was like? 02:26 Of course, it was a good life. 02:29 We were atheists and we didn't know or hear about any God. 02:34 Foreign language 02:36 I didn't believe in Christ, but my whole life, 02:39 I did wish I could purchase a Bible, 02:42 but there was nowhere to get one. 02:44 How many years did you live before you found Jesus Christ? 02:47 Foreign language 02:56 Not very long of course, my neighbor Ludmila 02:59 asked me to attend church with her. 03:01 After a few days, I ended up going to church with her. 03:05 Foreign language 03:16 My son was an alcoholic at the time. 03:19 So she offered to pray and we did. 03:22 And now my son doesn't even notice alcohol 03:26 and now I praise God, the one and only God. 03:30 Foreign language 03:40 Just through the power of prayer, he quit alcohol. 03:43 Foreign language 03:47 Only God could have done this. 03:50 I took him to so many meetings 03:52 nothing worked for him, but Christ changed his life. 03:58 Maria, why did you go to her home 04:00 and tell her that God could help her son? 04:03 Foreign language 04:11 I was attending church for a while, 04:14 I finished my Bible courses in 1991. 04:19 Foreign language 04:25 Later, I heard about Voice of Hope 04:27 and that they offered Bible courses. 04:30 So I decided to write to them. 04:33 Foreign language 04:43 Later, they sent me a book about the Bible, 04:47 and they asked for a small fee, 04:49 of course I sent the money right away. 04:51 Foreign language 04:57 Later that same year, I received my assignment, 05:01 and I was extremely happy to have received them. 05:05 Foreign language 05:15 In 1992, I finished them and was offered 05:18 to attend a meeting for the graduates. 05:21 Foreign language 05:27 Why did you ever think that Jesus could heal an alcoholic? 05:31 Foreign language 05:37 You know, I always believed that not only 05:40 alcoholic problems but many more problems. 05:43 Foreign language 05:51 He didn't only have drinking problems, 05:53 he had problems with the neighbors, 05:55 lawsuit and other problems. 05:57 And I told her to pray and ten days later, 06:01 things have calmed down. 06:03 Foreign language 06:11 It was crazy because they were being charged, 06:15 but in the end they received the money. 06:17 Foreign language 06:25 Because the shore, the Dead Sea 06:27 is the lowest point on earth, 06:28 there is no place for the water to flow. 06:32 Here it sits and evaporates at a rate of about 06:34 7 million tons of water a day, 06:37 causing the salt content to increase. 06:39 The salinity of the water ranges from 26% to 35%. 06:45 There isn't even much water flowing in now 06:46 because the Jordanian government 06:48 is taking all the water to irrigate above. 06:51 Matter of fact many of these areas are drying up 06:54 and would already be dry have been not channeled 06:56 some areas to continually feed water to the area. 07:01 Apparently, Sodom and Gomorrah 07:02 are located somewhere here in the area 07:04 below the water line at this point. 07:07 It's interesting to know that during that time, 07:10 Sodom and Gomorrah when Abraham's nephew 07:13 was called by the angels out of Sodom. 07:16 The wife came and instructions of the angels 07:18 were do not look back, do not look back. 07:22 But he couldn't help at her heart was still in Sodom, 07:24 she turned and she became a pillar of salt, 07:27 rather fitting for the Dead Sea because it is so full of salt. 07:33 The Dead Sea is not a prominent part of biblical times 07:36 like the Sea of Galilee to the north. 07:39 Its most important role was as a barrier, 07:41 blocking traffic to Judah from the east. 07:46 As you can see AWR is frontline mission radio. 07:50 Our first priority is to travel where missionaries cannot go. 07:54 We broadcast thousands of hours each day 07:57 in 70 major languages of the world. 08:00 AWR has the capability and capacity of blanketing 08:03 almost 80% of the world's population. 08:06 Not only do we broadcast via shortwave radio, 08:09 but our signal is on over 1,000 FM and AM stations 08:13 around the world as well. 08:15 Our podcast subscribers, Internet users, 08:18 satellite downlinks are growing rapidly. 08:21 Evidenced by the hundred thousand plus emails, letters, 08:24 and phone calls we receive each and every year. 08:27 Yes, AWR is your mission radio. 08:31 No walls and no borders, for AWR that means 08:34 changed lives and changed hearts around the world 08:36 because God is using the airwaves of AWR 08:40 to reach people everywhere. 08:46 Here is another story of hope from Adventist World Radio. 08:50 Kaluram was a poor field laborer near Gujarat in India. 08:54 Finding his work tedious, Kalu purchased 08:57 a small radio to relieve the boredom. 08:59 One day, he came across a program talking about Jesus. 09:02 It was from Adventist World Radio. 09:05 After listening for a few days, 09:06 Kalu looked for a pastor 09:08 who could tell him more about Christ. 09:10 Soon convinced of the Christian truth, 09:13 Kalu was baptized and became an outreach leader 09:16 in his hometown and the surrounding area. 09:19 Witnessing in predominantly Hindu towns 09:21 is not always safe, and Kalu was once attacked 09:24 when approaching a town to preach. 09:26 However, through the efforts of Kalu and the volunteers 09:29 he has trained, nearly 1,000 people have accepted Christ. 09:35 Adventist World Radio shares the hope of Christ 09:38 with millions of people every day. 09:41 For more information, visit awr.org. 09:47 Just a little away from the Dead Sea here, 09:49 on the northwestern shore, right behind me is Qumran. 09:52 The area where two young men have their sheep in 1947, 09:56 as they're watching them, they're throwing rocks 09:58 here and there and all of a suddenly they throw them 10:00 in a little cave and they hear a sound. 10:02 They discovered pottery jars and in those pottery jars 10:06 were scrolls, the greatest discovery was they found 10:09 most of the Book of Isaiah. 10:11 What a phenomenal discovery right here in the caves. 10:17 Between 66 and 70 A.D., Judah was in revolt. 10:22 Rome had occupied Israel since 63 B.C., 10:25 and throughout years, the Roman procurators collected taxes 10:28 for the Roman Empire and kept any tax gathered 10:31 above the quota set by Rome. 10:36 Around the time of the birth of Jesus 10:38 a new group arose among the Jews called the Essenes. 10:41 All indications are that they were a very 10:43 jealous group of political extremist. 10:46 It is thought that they were a branch of the Pharisees 10:48 who conformed to the most rigid rules of Levitical purity. 10:53 Eventually a group of the Essenes gathered in Qumran, 10:55 where they lived a very strict and pious life. 10:58 Some in the group prescribes making copies of scriptures. 11:03 Why do you believe in the power of prayer? 11:05 Many people go to church but they don't really 11:07 believe in the power of prayer that much, 11:10 why do you believe? 11:12 Foreign language 11:18 You know, God has answered to so much in my life. 11:22 I trust Him. 11:23 Foreign language 11:34 A lot of people were saying that this isn't 11:36 the right religion and they told me, 11:38 I believe in the wrong God. 11:40 Foreign language 11:54 You know, I was sitting and debating on this subject, 11:57 I pray and ask God to guide me in the right direction 12:02 and to provide me with the Bible. 12:03 Foreign language 12:20 I heard His voice, He said, "you believe is true 12:25 and the Bible shall be yours." 12:27 I believed that voice, I knew I believe in the right God, 12:31 and I knew I would tell the word of God's Son. 12:35 Foreign language 12:49 We've had a game kind of like a lottery, 12:52 where we wrote our name in a piece of paper 12:55 about 20 minutes after I prayed. 12:58 Foreign language 13:24 They picked my name and said, here is a Bible, 13:27 keep this Bible and let it stand 13:30 out from the rest of your books. 13:32 Foreign language 13:53 And when I hold the Bible, I start to cry. 13:57 I'm not sure what people thought, 14:00 but I cried very hard. 14:01 Foreign language 14:13 Jesus would walk through an entire village 14:15 and He would heal everyone in the village. 14:17 You took that story, you took those statements, 14:20 and you brought them to your neighbor, 14:21 that's what so exciting. 14:23 Yes, You know, before I got baptized, 14:29 my husband was against it. 14:31 So I decided to explain the miracle 14:34 that had just happened. 14:36 And he then later said, 14:38 this is your business, do as you wish. 14:41 Get baptized and go to your church, 14:44 I have enough miracles to write a book. 14:49 During the revolt of 66 to 70 A.D., 14:52 the Essenes hid many of the scrolls 14:54 in the caves of Qumran, 14:56 in an attempt to preserve them from the Romans. 15:00 The views from this cave here in Qumran 15:02 are absolutely spectacular, I can look 15:04 all the way out over the Dead Sea. 15:07 Well, basically located here on the northwestern shore, 15:10 this is the sight of the area, one of the most exciting 15:13 biblical discoveries of all times. 15:16 In 1947, the story goes here in Israel, 15:19 listen young boys were playing in the area 15:22 as they tended their sheep, they started climbing up 15:24 the hills here into the caves, 15:26 but they noticed that one of the sheep was missing. 15:30 So they began their search for this one lost sheep, 15:33 they continued the search cave after cave, 15:36 and finally they thought they heard something in one area, 15:40 throw a rock down into that area and they listen. 15:43 Soon they could hear the little sheep 15:44 as they went to retrieve him. 15:46 They discovered pottery jars and in those jars 15:49 were some scrolls, they took out the scrolls, 15:52 they headed to Jerusalem, 15:53 they found an antiquities dealer, 15:55 there they traded in the scroll for a few Shekels, 15:58 but the antiquity dealers thinking that they weren't 16:03 anything special that they were just 16:05 another forgery threw it aside. 16:09 Sometime later, there was a archeologist 16:11 that came through and he found 16:12 this old dust covered area in the corner, the scroll, 16:15 one of the Isaiah scrolls, he began looking at it. 16:19 It was indeed a discovery of all time, 16:22 because most of the Book of Isaiah was there 16:25 they came and they discovered so many more scrolls 16:27 that validated God's word from thousands of years ago. 16:32 There is some evidence that some of the Essenes 16:34 may have been among the Zealots 16:36 who took refuge at Masada. 16:40 Right about here, the highest point of Masada, Herod's palace. 16:45 He built this palace in about B.C. 37, 16:48 he lived here on and off until B.C. 4. 16:57 Check out these views, I mean, it's all desert, 16:59 but it's beautiful, and these were the views 17:01 from Herod's palace. 17:15 Through the radio waves of AWR, 17:17 God is reaching people around the world. 17:21 We would like to offer you an edition of Making Waves. 17:24 It's four of our episodes 17:25 brought to you from around the world. 17:28 God speaking to hearts, the hearts of the listeners 17:30 of AWR, exciting stories. 17:32 We hope that you'll share those with friends 17:34 and neighbors, acquaintances, 17:35 anyone you come in contact with. 17:37 Join us to Make Waves, it's completely free. 17:40 Right now the information is on your screen. 17:44 For your free, no obligation DVD, 17:46 write to Adventist World Radio, 12501 Old Columbia Pike, 17:52 Silver Spring, Maryland 20904 17:55 or call 1-866-503-3531 18:00 or log on to www.awr.org/MWDVD. 18:08 Be sure to request offer number 10. 18:10 That number again is 1-866-503-3531. 18:18 Here is another story of hope from Adventist World Radio. 18:22 Juang lay wide awake in his dark jail cell. 18:27 A Chinese man imprisoned in Thailand. 18:29 He had no family or friends to visit him. 18:32 Recently, Juang had begun 18:34 listening to the programs of Adventist World Radio. 18:37 The message of God's love and forgiveness 18:39 had so much appealed to him 18:41 because he had plenty to be forgiven of. 18:44 Forced to become a child soldier in Burma when just 13, 18:48 Juang had committed many terrible sins. 18:50 He escaped into Thailand, but quickly wound up in jail. 18:55 Now alone in his cell, Juang had ample time to wonder, 19:00 "Would God really forgive him?" 19:05 Adventist World Radio shares the hope of Christ 19:09 with millions of people every day in their own languages. 19:13 For more information, visit awr.org. 19:19 After Rome destroyed Jerusalem 19:20 and the Second Temple in 70 A.D., 19:23 the great revolt ended, except for the surviving zealots 19:26 who fled Jerusalem to the fortress of Masada. 19:30 Masada has found its way into the history books 19:33 as perhaps one of the greatest struggles 19:35 in all of human times over freedom or slavery. 19:40 Elazar ben Yair and his band of 960 men, 19:43 women and children came up to this fortress. 19:46 This area that had been established by Herod 19:48 many years before, and withstood 19:51 the Roman legions, then onslaught for so long a time. 19:55 But finally, when it looked like defeat 19:58 was right at the doors, they took each other's life 20:01 because they would rather go in death 20:03 by each other's hands than slavery to the Romans. 20:07 What a time? What a people? 20:12 You told me your first time Jesus Christ, 20:14 you were tuning to the radio dial to AWR, 20:17 I guess and you found the gospel message. 20:20 Foreign language 20:27 It was early and I was cooking in the kitchen, 20:30 heard the radio and over the radio it mentioned 20:33 that I was eligible to receive a free book 20:36 that contains Bible stories. 20:39 So I wrote them a letter and I received their book. 20:43 And later, they offered Bible studies, 20:46 so that's when I start the Bible courses. 20:50 Foreign language 20:59 I remember what they said on that day, they said 21:02 that salt preserve things and likewise Christians should act 21:07 like salt and preserve this world 21:10 from rotting away because of sin. 21:14 So hearing Jesus say, "Ye are the salt of the Earth." 21:17 That changed your life. 21:20 Foreign language 21:23 I always listen to sermons, but this just kept me going 21:27 and I always wanted to learn more about Christ, 21:31 the sermons touched my heart and I decided 21:34 that I wanted to be a part of this church. 21:37 Foreign language 21:39 At AWR, we'd like to say we are making waves, 21:42 radio waves that travel out and touch hearts 21:44 like your heart, your life and then you in turn 21:46 continue to make waves as you share 21:48 with your neighbors and friends, 21:49 bringing them too to Jesus Christ. 21:51 Foreign language 22:01 And I went around talking to everyone about Voice of Hope. 22:06 Foreign language 22:11 I tried to pass and over 30 people 22:14 passed this class for sure. 22:16 I am now leading a Bible class 22:18 and 72 people passed my class. Thank the Lord. 22:22 Foreign language 22:25 Praise the Lord, So if we had time, 22:27 we'd have all kinds of stories, Wouldn't we? 22:30 I have a lot of experiences. 22:32 So you witness to Ludmila, 22:34 and Ludmila, you're right here with us today. 22:36 You saw the power of Jesus Christ, 22:38 change your son from an alcoholic. 22:41 And then he stopped a neighbor 22:42 who had a lawsuit against you, please tell me more. 22:45 Foreign language 22:51 I really trust him and now I can wait for Saturday. 22:55 I finished the Bible classes in two weeks 22:58 and right away decided to get baptized. 23:01 Foreign language 23:06 God helped me with everything and I mean everything. 23:11 I was always in debt and then they told me 23:15 to donate to the church and I was shocked 23:18 because I didn't have enough for myself. 23:21 But as soon as I started giving, 23:23 I started having extra money. 23:25 Foreign language 23:27 So you continued experiencing the blessings of God. 23:31 Yes, I believe in Christ, 23:33 and He helps me out a lot, a lot. 23:40 These 960 Zealots held out against 23:42 Rome's Tenth Legion for three years. 23:45 The actual number of the Romans who joined 23:47 in the battle varies greatly among historical sources 23:50 but regardless of the final count, 23:52 the Zealots withstood the might of Rome. 23:58 The Zealots had been fighting a guerrilla war 24:00 against Rome since the year 6 A.D. 24:02 And Rome was determined 24:04 to break the small group of defiant Jews. 24:08 Here in the mountain top of Masada. 24:11 The Jewish people thought it was an impregnable fortress, 24:14 they were actually zealots, because they wanted to fight 24:16 against the Roman government, the tyranny, 24:18 the slavery of the Roman government. 24:21 Down right behind me, you can see 24:23 some of the roman encampments. 24:25 Could have been 20,000 Roman soldiers 24:27 surrounding this area. 24:29 They began building this ramp with all of the slaves 24:32 that they'd brought alone. 24:34 The Zealots began casting down 24:36 stones with fire, boiling oil. 24:38 I would imagine today that they excavated this area, 24:42 they may find a lot of bones. 24:44 Who knows what else. 24:46 In the foreground over there 24:48 you see a theater amphitheater. 24:50 That area is used by the Israeli soldiers today, 24:52 they come here to swear their allegiance to Israel. 24:56 They come here because this is meaningful to them. 24:58 To fight for what they believe in, 25:00 to fight for their country, to fight for honor, 25:02 as the people of Masada did. 25:07 Maria and Ludmila in our story today were neighbors. 25:11 The power of answered prayer was an important 25:14 factor in their coming to God in both of their situations. 25:19 Maria became a Christian first. 25:21 She heard the Voice of Hope radio broadcast 25:24 and she studied the Bible course. 25:26 But then she attended an evangelistic series, 25:30 and at that meeting the pastor had two Bibles to give away. 25:34 Her big concern in attending those meetings was to find 25:38 the church that was true to the Bible. 25:41 Well, you heard the story. 25:43 Her name was drawn, she received the Bible 25:46 and what a confirmation that was for her heart. 25:50 Ludmila, also experienced answered prayer. 25:54 She prayed earnestly with Maria for her son 25:57 who was caught in the trap of alcoholism. 26:00 And after praying earnestly for some time, 26:03 he was delivered. 26:05 Then she had a problem with her neighbor, 26:07 and that also was solved as a result of answered prayer. 26:11 The thing that I like about their stories, 26:14 Maria told us at the very first AWR program 26:17 that she heard back in 1991, was on the subject of salt. 26:23 You are the salt of the Earth, the pastor preached. 26:26 And from her thinking, she began to focus 26:30 on the preservation, qualities of salt. 26:33 I'm standing here by the Dead Sea, 26:35 you can see all the salt that is here. 26:39 Yes, we need to be the salt of the Earth 26:41 but not all concentrated together like this. 26:44 In order for a salt to be effective, 26:46 it needs to be spread out and used and mixed. 26:50 And in this case, we need to mix 26:52 among the people of the world. 26:55 That's what AWR is doing through its ministry. 26:58 You can help AWR sprinkle the salt 27:01 of God's word around the world. 27:04 From Russia to the Dead Sea, 27:06 no matter where you are the waves of AWR can reach. 27:09 I hope you'll partner with us 27:10 in reaching people for Jesus Christ. 27:12 Give us a call right now, 27:13 1-866-503-3531 or you can write us 27:18 at 12501 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, Maryland 20904. 27:24 Or you can log on to our website at www.awr.org. 27:30 Thank you for watching. 27:31 And please join us again for another exciting 27:33 gospel adventure because around the world, 27:35 AWR is Making Waves. |
Revised 2014-12-17