A Conversation with Chris Bernard

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Apologetics worldview and answers to the questions that you need to know from Alex McFarland evangelistic ministries welcome to truth for a new generation radio and now the man who preached in states in 50 days speaker, writer, and advocate for Christian apologetics Dr. Alex McFarland word of God has a lot to say about the management how we handle financial resources Bible has a lot to say really about stewardship in general and being responsible. Hi Alex McFarland, you're welcome to another edition of truth for a new generation with a very exciting show today because I have got a guess that I want you to hear from in my opinion, is an expert not only in business and financial management.

But really, as a Christian.

Chris Bernard has a lot of insight just about the direction of our country and we are faculty members at cares Bible college in unit one of the blessings of coming out here to teach over the last six years I meet so many interesting people and Kristi when I met the other day we reach coming out of teaching and we were talking and I just felt led that you had some wisdom that are listers would benefit from. As we talk about money, stewardship, and how God wants every individual believer to the be following his plans for handling the resources in their lives, but welcome to transfer new generation.

Chris, thank you for having me Alex. I did enjoy meeting you and I do feel like I have a few things to say have been her cares Bible College for over five and half years before I moved on.

Well, you know I have to smile at you and I were talking about a movie that we both appreciate about the founding of McDonald's.

It really is an interesting movie called the founder Ray croc very driven guy and I'm not saying anything about him not. I'm not endorsing his ethics or whatever I'm but I'm saying why is it that the world sometimes has a drive and a wisdom and an industry that very often unsafe. People seem to know more about success in handling money than even God's people do sometimes, while in the case of Ray croc he's implemented a lot of biblical principles, you know, think and grow Rich is a worldly principle, but in the Bible says as you think in your heart. So are you. And so he was driven he had a passion he had a vision to another godly principle is vision God gives is vision and we move towards the vision. But, you know, back in the beginning God said that he created us and he gave us the power to get wealth. Why to establish his kingdom. A lot of times Christians don't realize God has empowered them to create wealth, not for themselves but for others. I completely agree. I really do.

And by the way for Justinian. This is true for new generation were talking with Chris Bernard of merit advisors in Gainesville Texas but we are friends we teach up here it cares Bible college and are warm up ministries. I want to talk about this because Chris I think for a lot of people. Certainly Lotta believers. The idea that you actually can succeed in the God wants you to succeed in a God wants to prosper you and elevate you a high think that's revelatory for a lot of people it really is. I don't believe that because that it seems like the church of the leaders in the church have taught that that you know money is bad and what is the Bible say the Bible does say the love of money is bad, but money is needed for everything we do. The Bible college that you and I teach at, takes millions and millions of dollars to just operate. We can't share the gospel. What were doing right now recording you spent money on this money is having to be paid to get it aired, so money is a just a necessary tool look at the various people in the Bible who came integrate well. Joseph. Joseph was put in charge of an entire nation and became very wealthy, why to preserve God's people. So it's a godly thing to create wealth, but it's not a godly thing to love wealth beyond loving God and I'm just gonna say this, you correct me if I'm wrong for every born-again believer. I just believe every Christian needs to be a tighter and it's got a start unit bounces honor the Lord with thy substance and isn't that what tithing unit giving 10% of your income and then offering above that is not a financial issue that's a hard issue is it's absolutely a hard issue because tithing is not like God. Here I'm paying you back. Tithing is God. I recognize your my total source. If I can't make it on 90%. I can't make it on 150% and so here is what you've given me.

I'm giving it back to you. And so that you can take it and multiply it back to me as your word promises me and and beginning to tie than you know. Krista, I just marvel at how the Lord has has brought me along. I give God the praise. But when I got saved at age 21. I mean I was making $800 a month.

I thought it was a Rockefeller. I did know it was legal to make that much money you $9600 a year. I did and I will tell you the idea of tithing I had to really think about it and I took these baby steps you know and the Lord was so patient with me, but I'm telling you folks in. I want your response. This I heard the saying, if you give to God with a spoon. He'll give back to you with a shovel. MRI you are exactly right that though the one event in my life that really shows me that as I was getting ready to have my fifth child, I was in a lawsuit over a failed business and I went to church and I'm sitting there and going God. What do I do not have these five kids to feed. I don't have the money I owe all of this. He said give that lady $1000 and I jumped in her, looked around, the God who you talking to and I leaned over to my wife and she said do I gave the lady the thousand dollars that I did not have and two stories on that one was the lady she'd been coming daily same God.

Your I have nothing.

And here's my last $10 and gotten I'm been a major knee and she told me later she got two checks that they one for gas in mind in mind met her need and more. But then my thousand dollars. She told me later she prayed, God give them a hundredfold almost a year to the day from that I sold some property to men and I was not selling real estate at the time I was only appraising real estate. I sold the property to a man in my commission check was $98,900.

Almost 100 fold. Is it your God.

This is quite a hundredfold. He said, but you get to manage the property and from that time until I let the property go. I ended up earning over half $1 million on just that management so you got about five, six, seven hundredfold that we gotta take a brief break.

Folks are choosing new generation is going to come back. You don't want to miss this.

Chris Bernard is going to give us some wisdom about navigating these times financially and doing it with God's favor and blessing stating back after this wanted to raise your hand during the sermon will here's your chance. Hi Alex McFarland here from the nationally syndicated radio program exploring for more than 10 years Micah spurred Harper and I have taught Scripture and answered hundreds of vital questions. We've compiled a brand-new book of the top 100 Bible questions from listeners of all ages from questions about supposing Bible contradictions to apologetics facts that prove the truths of Scripture. This new book features practical content that will be make the Bible come alive for you. Can we really be sure that Exists there contradictions in the Bible that will help me understand the Bible better. There's so much good content in this book Bible questions and answers published by Broad Street publishers and available at your local bookstores and also through resources.AFA.net America today is like a patient struggling to live yet is being forcibly euthanized by her quote doctors.

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The assault on America how to defend our nation before it's too late. Available now at Amazon and Barnes & Noble, and local Christian bookstores, timeless truths in a soundbite culture for a new generation radio. Welcome back to truth for new generation Alex McFarland here were talking with Chris Bernard of merit advisors talk about money and stewardship and help if we follow God's principles. I am 1000% convinced you can navigate the unstable economic waters that likely lie before us, but Chris before we go any further, just introduce yourself to listeners what you do and any advice you might care to give about their finances at this time. While I'm a lifelong real estate person live.

My family started our real estate company of the year I was born and I have a brother, two brothers, my mom, nephew, all of the real estate business and so I grew up in real estate been an appraiser at the top level and then I came out here to Bible college and following what God told me to do and ended up becoming an instructor and then ran the business school here and now I'm back in Texas. I initially went back to develop senior housing that had some challenges which we all get into and so I ended up at merit advisors as a real estate appraiser and so right now that's what I'm doing but I do a lot of teaching and a lot of the presenting at things like wealth builders hillbilly up her heart and and we talk about wealth and wealth building in an what you said is exactly right.

If they apply God's principles. If you really look at all the principles of every successful business successful person and you dig back into what they're really applying there really applying godly principles, you know, many listeners know our story. We were in the egg business for 68 years and I jokingly tell people if you need to lose a lot of money and you need to lose it fast go into chicken business because you can lose copious amounts of money. This was back in the 70s and 80s. Aetna had a very godly mom and dad and they they were devout followers of the Lord and they did believe in tithing and more.

But at same time my mom and dad rest there.

So they had a number of financial reversals informing and they I will love them but they were convinced that there was no way out and that they were doomed really to poverty. So here's my question Chris Corti said to the person who maybe has struggled for years and they say and I know I'm a Christian but she never really struggling is just my lot in life can has God was in into reality principles by which anybody with Jesus and his word can succeed absolutely and that's the principle of seed time and harvest. God has always he's always about multiplication and you take one seed I live on a little ranch. Now we've done a little bit of of gardening and we we grew some tomatoes over the summer. One little seed.

We ate all summer tomatoes out of that one seed. That's what God says when he says, plant a seed and you will reap a harvest. Give him something to multiply and I was reading one of the parables recently and knowing that I guess is a matter that the sermon on the Mount and their ways get rated to feed everybody.

The feeding of the 5000, and he's going like what do we have and I saw him. Not in that you look at what we got. But looking around but what we have that I can multiply is gotta be something physical that I can multiply. That's what God is asking for something physical that you're giving that he can multiply if you give him nothing he can't multiply ill zero time zero is always zero. Gotta give him something to multiply and that's the principle. What little you have. He can multiply into much and and you know what and by the way folks if you just tuning in this district for new generation Alex hear him with Chris Bernard I were talking about looking at life and finances God's way, Chris. That goes not only with money but even things like with relationship. The Bible says if a man would have friends, he must show himself friendly. So, my friend.

Here's one of the principles of life and this is this will revolutionize your world and here we are at Christmas. It's a wonderful time to talk about this, but what you need he said well I'm lonely. I wish I had a friend I'm struggling. I wish I had money I my my spiritual life is is dead or in the doldrums.

Here's the thing, give away that thing that you need and you'll get it back. If you want friends begin to be kind to people if you want to be loved, then show love Chris MRI in God's reality give way that thing that you need and you'll get it back many times over. That's exactly right that because again God needs something to multiply and he said whatever you so that's what you gonna write so like my wife and I we we planted a 9 x 10 square area of your plants and that's what we reap back is in that area. Whatever that that area could produce. We reap back wall wasn't enough to feed the whole town was enough to feed us and we could give away a little.

But if God asked me to feed the whole town.

I'm going to have to sell more seed in a bigger area is going to be a little hard work for me.

But guess what, I still get to eat as much as I one of the tomatoes and I might have plenty left for the rest of the town and that's the way God works that he wants you to. You need something to multiply here in the earth. He does not have money in heaven to drop down to you so he needs you to give them something to work with to multiply that you can then turn into whatever it is you need. But again, like you said if you do need friendship be a friend. How many times do you walk past a person with a scowl on their face that you're looking to talk to them because they don't look friendly.

What are you that person with the scowl on your face that doesn't look friendly and smile give oil little smile and you'll get some smiles back. I would encourage everybody listening to read Proverbs 6 and Proverbs 23 it's in the old testament. Proverbs 6 Proverbs 23 Chris there's some famous lines in there. I'll keep this up and will come back after the break. You and I both have to go teach a class, but says look at the ants. I love how the old King James renders it go to the ant valve sluggard, he doesn't have a captain but they go forth like soldiers in an army and and then there's this morning it says a little sleep, a little folding of the hands and poverty will come on you like a thief. Proverbs has a lot to say about being proactive and industrious and wisdom, and increase doesn't absolutely idea if you look at all the principles of every hero successful person successful business. They've probably drawn a lot of their principles out of the word of God and they don't realize and most of it but most of but a lot of it comes out of Robert very great place to go for wisdom on what stating were back after this brief break more with Chris Bernard of merit advisors coming to you from the campus of Karis Bible college Merry Christmas would be right back after this radio.

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For new generation is back and oh I want to say how much I appreciate everyone of you listening in at 2020 and 2021 have been banner years for this ministry.

I know it sounds kind of counterintuitive. With that pandemic said you know what I want to say how I thank God for each and every one of you are supporters and people praying for us and people donating in the last year just in 2021.

We did our big conference in Myrtle Beach. We had people from 14 states we had 20 people come to Christ on the first night and I've been in Illinois and I've been in Michigan.

I've been in Texas twice. I've been about four times to Mississippi once to the West Coast and I want to say thank you. Your prayers and support have enabled us to lead about 5000 people to Christ. This year we shipped out many thousands of copies of books and we have staff that helps me with email because so many people are Bible questions so people are spiritually hungry and you my friend you are helping us tell them about Jesus, salvation, and how to thrive as a Christian I do want to remind you of a couple of things coming up on July 8-10 I'm going to be at the Cove, the Billy Graham training center in western North Carolina, will you be doing first Peter the book of first Peter, then next year will do.

Second Peter but this would be a wonderful gift to give somebody I would encourage you to go to the website de Cove.org and we will learn from first Peter how to defend the Christian faith. The other thing I want to say is our youth camp is coming up July 17-22, 20, 22, that this is for middle school, high schoolers they're gonna love it. The theme for our 2022. Camp is called unashamed building your biblical worldview and we need to help young people love God and country. This could make the difference between the entire future of a young person so the website for our youth camp are biblical worldview camp is NC refuge.org as a North Carolina refuge were about an hour east of Raleigh. Carolyn people come from all of the country NC refuge.org and I'd love to see your youth group or your teens at our camp and I'll be there staff from American family radio working to teach them how to walk with Jesus and defend the faith.

Well, I'm so honored to be speaking with Chris Bernard. I don't want to take any more time because we've only got a few more minutes but Chris, as I was prepping for the interview and I was reading. I read that inflation might reach 39%. I don't know all the numbers but there are some rather dire prognostications about the future of the US economy.

The debt ceiling being raised over and over and over trillions of dollars of indebtedness.

What sure what your take the next one to three years of our national economy. What what you think is going to happen. This is good push new leadership. Those of us who have been in the background and not been politically active because we think of separation of church and state. We are finding out that when we are not active, then we've abdicated our will and and what God has told us to do to the world and were seeing the effect of that now what that also does is you can go right back to God and say God in this time in this season it's dark out there. There's a lot of people lose a lot of money and and we can't just do business as usual.

Like we used to do and and just kind of bump along but God will have very specific instructions for you on how to prosper during this time your ministry in the last two years should not be prospering absolutely should not but it is because that's what God is doing in your you're listening to what God is telling you to do and your following his plan. What is his plan. I do a lot of teaching and with wealth builders.

Billy Eberhardt is the CEO of this ministry of Terrace Bible college, but he has wealth builders. I encourage you to look@wealthbuilders.org and they speak to the economy. They speak to what's going on investing in real estate and all that kind of thing and I just attended his real estate conference and one of the things he talked about is yes it is dire. But when things are dire. That means there's opportunity. There is opportunity and there's going to become more as inflation rises people are going to unfortunately lose their homes.

They're gonna lose jobs they're going to lose businesses on the other side. Somebody needs to come in and capture those for the future and that's that is a wealth transfer and you can be on God's side of the wealth transfer, or you can be on the world side of the wealth transfer and it's up to you but you gotta hear what God is telling you to do and I can't tell you exactly what to do because God's got you position somewhere with a certain realm of influence that he's needing you to step up and use and step into, you know, we've got have a conversation again. I need to have you back on, but folks I want to tell you something someone talks about the, the righteous man is like a tree planted by the rivers of water and produces fruit in due season and blossoms even in the time of drought and let me say this as we talk about the rocky road that I personally think because in our nations problems Chris are there not just political or economic.

Their spiritual, our nation needs to turn to Christ, but you don't have to be paranoid now alert informed but not frightened and paranoid Christians can walk into a storm with confidence. Can't that absolutely the word says that your gay, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death. That's not a good place to be. But what is he say you can walk through your likes can it lead me through it and you know what I I'd somebody just told me this year the deck your light somebody is in that valley of the shadow of death, looking for some light so as you walk through that shadow of death, that valley, your light is going to draw others that have been looking for the light in your gonna leave them out on the shadow of death, that valley folks as we enter towards Christmas unit.

We talk about giving and receiving in the Bible says God gave the greatest gift ever. He gave his son Jesus. I want you to know Jesus loves you. Jesus wants to be your Lord, your master the friend that sticks closer than a brother. If you've not done it.

Give your heart to Jesus. Christ is disclosed buys a prayer and right now, if you call on the name of Jesus. He will forgive you. He will restore you. The Lord Jesus will save your soul and bless your life and if you need help in understanding what it means to come to Christ on the website Alex McFarlane.com there's a little tab.

What does God say about my relationship with him go there and if we can help you in any way reach out to us. The final thing I want to say we appreciate you throughout this year and will listen the next two years.

We are in it to win it where boldly going forth with the gospel. Thank you for your prayers and support. I wish you God's blessing in all things, and I look forward to the next time we visit country for new generation TMG radio is made possible by the friend of Alex McFarlane evangelistic ministry, PO Box 10231, Greensboro, NC 27404. That's PO Box 10231, Greensboro, NC 27404 call us at 877 yes God one that's 877 yes, God, and the number one. Forgive online@alexmcfarlane.com while you're there, listen to program archives. Read Alex's blog invite Alex to speak at your event or contact Alex with a question or comment, Alex McFarlane.com. Thanks for listening today and join us again next time. For more truth for a new generation on TMG radio