June 9, 2025 • 28 mins
What does it mean to be truly unashamed of the gospel in today's culture? Drawing inspiration from the bold legacy of Duck Dynasty's Phil Robertson, Frank and Darcie Montgomery dive deep into the crisis of Christian courage facing believers today.
We're living in a peculiar moment for American Christians – technically free to practice our faith, yet increasingly self-censoring out of fear. While believers in places like Australia, China, and the Middle East face genuine persecution including imprisonment and death for their faith, many of us remain silent about our beliefs at work, school, or in casual conversations. Why? Because we're afraid of being labeled, rejected, or misunderstood.
The episode explores a powerful truth shared by Australian pastor Andrew Sedra: "Our job is to speak truth. God's job is to protect." Through an extraordinary testimony of divine protection from would-be kidnappers in Egypt, we witness how God supernaturally shields those who boldly proclaim His word – even turning potential murderers into devoted followers of Christ.
Frank and Darcie challenge listeners to examine whether their tolerance of cultural shifts is rooted in love or fear. Has the church become too comfortable with sin in the name of acceptance? Have we allowed the enemy to reshape our understanding of family, gender, and human dignity without speaking biblical truth in response?
Being salt and light isn't just for Sunday mornings. It means carrying our faith to coffee shops, workplaces, grocery stores – wherever we go. You might be the only person who will ever show someone Jesus. Will you remain silent or speak truth in love?
Join the Restored Nation in recommitting to boldness without fear. Connect with us on Facebook at The Restored Podcast or email therestoredcast@gmail.com. Share your stories of stepping out in faith – we'd love to hear how God is using you as salt and light in your world.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
you are listening to the restored podcast with frank
and darcy montgomery.
Hey, everybody, we're back withanother episode of the restored
podcast.
My name listening to theRestored Podcast with Frank and
Darcy Montgomery.
Hey, everybody, we're back withanother episode of the Restored
Podcast.
My name is Frank and I'm herewith my beautiful wife, darcy.
Hey, before we get started today, I just wanted to remind
everybody that's listening.
If you have any subjects ortopic matters you would like us
(00:41):
to discuss or praise reports,prayer requests, whatever that
might be, we are on Facebook.
You can find our Facebook pageat the Restored Podcast and our
email address is therestoredcastat gmailcom.
We would also appreciate if yougo onto Apple iTunes and leave
a review, and that would help usget our message out to more
(01:03):
people.
So today, darcy, I wanted tojust talk about for the past few
weeks, god's really beenputting something on my heart
pretty heavy and I want to sayit almost started a couple years
ago.
But for the past few weeks I'vebeen following along a lot on
(01:25):
the Robertson family and forthose that don't know, the
Robertson family are the guys onDuck Dynasty and their dad,
phil Robertson, passed away acouple weeks ago.
He was the founder of thecompany Duck Commander.
That led to Duck Dynasty andeverything else and they made a
movie called the Blind and wesaw the Blind.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
We did and it kind of hit home because it was similar
to some of the stuff we've beenthrough.
Speaker 1 (01:53):
Kind of hit home.
I mean they didn't put a lot ofdetail into what happened, in
just a few scenes but itreminded me quite a bit of our
tumultuous relationship.
But the thing that got me sincePhil's passing they all have
(02:15):
podcasts and I would listen tothem regularly.
But after his passing I madesure I wanted just hearing the
stories and I really admiredPhil because he wasn't ashamed
of Jesus.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
Right, I mean he told everybody everywhere he went.
Speaker 1 (02:37):
On national TV.
It didn't matter Wherever hewent, he took the gospel.
Wherever he went, he took thegospel.
And just hearing those storiesof his family talk about you
(02:58):
know him in the duck blind orwherever it might be that he
took the gospel with him and hewasn't ashamed of Jesus, he
wasn't ashamed of being aChristian and he wasn't ashamed
of the truth.
But today and I find myselfstruggling with this as well but
today I think we struggle a lotwith being ashamed, and in this
country, in the United States,we're not even really persecuted
(03:21):
.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
No.
Speaker 1 (03:23):
I mean some people say, oh, I'm so persecuted for
this or that, but you're, you'renot when you look at what the
disciples in the bible facedpeople in other countries today
when you look at what I meanchina, australia, all the middle
eastern countries where you canbe killed for being a Christian
(03:45):
or the laws are so strict towhere you can't preach the truth
.
And it really along with Phil'spassing and hearing all those
stories and God just showing mehow Phil used every opportunity
he had, no matter where he was,who he was, with what was going
on around him.
He used every opportunity hehad to tell others about Jesus's
(04:08):
love and Jesus's forgivenessand how they can get to heaven.
And last week we went to aFlashpoint episode and Andrew
Sedra was there and for thosethat may not know who Andrew Sed
cedra is, him and his wife,along with his brother and
(04:28):
sister-in-law, they pastor achurch in australia called echo
church, but they are veryoutspoken outspoken on the truth
right.
Which is kind of dangerous forthem to be that outspoken,
because Australia is a godlesscountry is how they put it, the
(04:48):
stories that he was telling, theline that they have to walk
being a pastor and leading acongregation.
From what I understood from thepulpit, they can preach certain
things but they can't counsel,they can't.
Speaker 2 (05:10):
You know any of that, because that's five years in
prison, if you know yeah, theycan preach it from the pulpit.
Speaker 1 (05:16):
but yet if somebody from their congregation comes to
them and I mean, look at me andyou and say Hayden was
struggling with sexual identityand we lived in Australia and we
went to Echo Church and wesought our pastor's advice, they
(05:38):
can't do it.
Speaker 2 (05:38):
They can't.
Speaker 1 (05:40):
They can face up to five years in prison.
The church can be fined tens ofthousands of dollars.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
Right.
That being said, that doesn'tstop them.
Speaker 1 (05:48):
No, it doesn't.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
It does not stop them at all and you know the
problems we were having duringCOVID with churches closing here
.
That was the same problem thatthey had there and they kept
their doors open.
They refused to close theirdoors they refused to close
their doors.
Speaker 1 (06:07):
Well, even our church .
Whenever we first started goingto true grace, it was right
after covid, during the heightof it, lockdowns, everything,
and pastor troy started parkinglot church parking lot church, I
think he called it.
I think he called it a drive-inchurch and he set the stage up
outside the church but theability to use a radio frequency
(06:31):
.
So everybody stayed in theircar, the worship team was on the
stage and pastor preached fromthe stage, but everybody else
stayed in their car and eitherrode down their windows if it
was cool enough or if it was toohot which a lot of the time it
was too hot leave the windows upwith the AC on and turn the
(06:53):
radio on to whatever radiofrequency.
But looking back, that tooksome boldness.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
Yeah, I mean, our pastor is bold and I appreciate
that.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
Yeah, I mean our pastor is bold and I appreciate
that, but I've been strugglingand I think so much of the
church struggles with being bold.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
Right, and you know, another thing that we do is
not—we tolerate and we just usethat as we love.
We're Christian, we love, so wetolerate sin that as we love.
Speaker 1 (07:28):
We're Christian, we love, so we tolerate sin, and we
, and I think that tolerationComes from a fear and a lack of
boldness.
Speaker 2 (07:34):
Right.
Speaker 1 (07:35):
We tolerate because we fear somebody not liking us.
Speaker 2 (07:38):
Are we fear?
You know we're going to belabeled something.
Speaker 1 (07:42):
Yeah, we're going to be labeled something.
Yeah, we're going to be labeledbigots.
We're going to be labeledchristian nationalists if we
step into the political arenaand start voicing what the truth
is.
Speaker 2 (07:53):
Um bigots if we speak out against homosexuality, the
trans community, anything likethat and not just them, any kind
of sexual immoral, you know,know, impurity or whatever.
It's not just that particulargroup, you know.
Speaker 1 (08:08):
But that's what's leading culture is that group?
Speaker 2 (08:11):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (08:12):
And that is what is leading the push.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
And the attack on children.
You can't say anything aboutthat either.
You know we're scared to.
Speaker 1 (08:23):
But it's time for the church to be bold.
It's time for the church tostand up and speak the truth,
just as the Sedras and I knowthere are many preachers out
there that do speak the truth.
But we, as Christians, if youdon't hold an office in your
(08:44):
church, ie, and we believe inthe fivefold ministry, if you're
not a pastor, evangelist any ofthat, you still have a calling
on your life and you still havea call to stand up.
Absolutely.
And the Great Commission beforeJesus.
After he walked on the earth,he was crucified.
(09:05):
He walked on the earth for alittle over a month before he
ascended into heaven.
And right before he ascendedinto heaven, his disciples were
there with him and he gave thegreat commission saying go into
all the world preaching the goodnews.
And that's where I think we lookat that scripture and we think
(09:29):
that that means oh, we'resupposed to send missionaries,
we're supposed to send people tothese foreign countries, to
Africa, to China, to Vietnam, toAustralia, to wherever.
And absolutely that's what thatscripture is.
It's a missional statement, butit's not just foreign missions
(09:50):
that it's talking about.
If you're not a pastor, ifyou're not an evangelist, if
you're not somebody who holds aposition in a church, you still
can answer the great commissionthat Jesus gave, just like Phil
Robertson did that greatcommission for me and you.
We take the gospel into thelocal coffee shop, we take the
(10:15):
gospel into our workplace, wetake the gospel into the grocery
store, to the gas station.
Wherever we are, we take thatgospel.
And I just keep turning andlooking at Phil Robertson,
because that's what he did.
Speaker 2 (10:31):
And I mean, I think part of his boldness came he
always remembered where God tookhim from.
That's why testimonies are soimportant.
That's why I feel we werecalled to do this podcast to
begin with.
It's because we look back andwe are so grateful to God and we
want others to experience that.
Speaker 1 (10:51):
But I even struggle with the boldness you know on my
personal social medias.
Yeah, I do this podcast but Idon't promote this podcast the
way I should, and part of thatis a lack of boldness.
What are people going to thinkof me when they hear it?
(11:12):
What if they don't like whatthey hear?
That sort of thing, that fear.
But I think it's rooted in alack of boldness.
I think deep down, I kind ofworry about what people will
think oh, he's one of thoseJesus freaks.
Speaker 2 (11:28):
Yeah, well, I'm the opposite.
I post about it, I talk about.
I post stuff all the time andI've gotten pushback and I used
to get offended and hurt and youknow when I got that pushback.
But this was a calling and anopportunity and an act of
obedience for us.
So I just trust that God isgoing to reach the people that
(11:54):
need to be reached.
Speaker 1 (11:55):
You know, when I look at boldness, I think of Peter,
and I preached a message on thisa few years ago at church.
It's shortly after Pentecostand peter's up preaching and he
(12:19):
gets taken before the sanhedrin,before the court, because he's
preaching and healing in jesusname.
And in the court they they tellhim do do not heal, do not
preach in Jesus' name.
And Peter left the Sanhedrinand he went out and preached in
(12:44):
Jesus' name.
He wasn't afraid of what wasgoing to happen, of what was
going to happen.
The other night Andrew saidsomething that rang true with me
, or it hit me down deep and itmade me really think.
He said Our job is to speak thetruth.
Speaker 2 (13:01):
Right.
Speaker 1 (13:06):
God's job is to protect, and I'm going to share
a little testimony that he gave,because I think it will build
people's Faith and being able to, no matter where they're at,
being able to proclaim thegospel and preach the truth.
Speaker 2 (13:38):
Right and remember you left something out.
They were in Egypt.
Speaker 1 (13:47):
They were in Egypt at the time and Egypt is very
Muslim, very Islamic, and whathappened was is a lady had come
to their church or maybe noteven in the church, maybe
outside of the church, butAndrew's dad led her to Christ
(14:08):
and she became a Christian.
She converted from Islam toChristianity and her husband was
pretty high up in the Islamicfaith in that organization.
He was pretty high up.
When Andrew's dad convertedthat man's wife to Christianity
(14:44):
from Islam, he made a vow thathe was going to hurt Andrew's
dad and the way that he wasgoing to hurt Andrew's dad was.
He was going to take Andrew andhis younger brother John, take
Andrew and his younger brotherJohn and he was going to kidnap
them, murder them, behead themand send the body parts back to
Andrew's dad to let him knowwhat he had done by basically
taking his wife from him.
Long story short, the Islamicguy sends a couple henchmen, so
(15:13):
to speak, because Andrew and hisyounger brother.
Every day 7 am, they left thehouse, walked to the bus stop,
got on the bus and rode toschool.
Well, the first day that thehenchmen came out, andrew and
his brother came out of thehouse and then the henchmen were
(15:33):
like frozen, they couldn't moveand, of course, andrew had no
idea at the time of anything.
His dad had no idea at thattime of anything.
But the henchmen couldn't moveand Andrew and John went and got
on the bus and the bus driverclosed the door, the bus left,
and whenever the bus and busdriver closed the door, the bus
left, and whenever the bus wasout of sight of that area, then
(15:59):
the people can move again.
Speaker 2 (16:01):
Right.
Speaker 1 (16:03):
Well, it happened again.
The guy got mad.
He's like you guys couldn't doit.
I'm going to send somebody else.
Speaker 2 (16:10):
Right.
Speaker 1 (16:12):
So he sent somebody else.
A few days later, same thinghappens again, but this time, if
I'm remembering correctly, themain guy was there too.
Speaker 2 (16:25):
I think so.
Speaker 1 (16:26):
Because the other people couldn't get it taken
care of, so he was going to makesure he got the job done.
Andrew and his little brothercome out the house.
Speaker 2 (16:37):
Get on the bus.
Speaker 1 (16:38):
Same thing happens.
The henchman, that main Islamicguy, they get frozen.
They can't move, they can't doanything.
They sit there and they watchAndrew and his little brother
walk from the house to the busstop, get on the bus, the doors
close on the bus, the bus leaves, and then, once the bus is out
(16:59):
of sight, the guys can moveagain.
Speaker 2 (17:01):
Right.
Speaker 1 (17:03):
That is God's protection on that family.
Speaker 2 (17:09):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (17:10):
And the Bible tells us we battle against evil
spirits.
We don't battle against fleshand blood, and so many people
don't remember that and they seethat and they're like you're
battling flesh and blood rightnow, right there.
No, they weren't battling fleshand blood.
They were battling evil,demonic spirits that were using
(17:31):
that flesh and blood to causeharm.
Speaker 2 (17:34):
Right.
Speaker 1 (17:34):
Well, that main Islamic guy.
After that happened, he gotsaved as well.
Right, he went up to Andrew'sdad and told him said hey, I was
going to do this.
I was going to kill your twosons, I was going to behead them
and I was going to mail theirbody parts back to you to show
you the pain that you caused mecan you imagine having to pray
(18:00):
and lead that guy to christafter he just told you all that
about your kids?
Speaker 2 (18:05):
that's, that's some faith.
That's some faith, that's somestrength, that's some love.
Speaker 1 (18:10):
I think the overwhelming joy by that point
is look what God can do.
Yeah, and the Islamic guy toldAndrew's dad said I was going to
do all this, but he said yourGod saved them.
Speaker 2 (18:31):
Amen.
Speaker 1 (18:32):
And he became a Christian from that.
But Andrew, that night atFlashpoint he said this several
times and he kept saying our jobis to speak the truth, and let
God protect us.
Speaker 2 (18:45):
Right.
Speaker 1 (18:47):
We believe all the miracles in the Bible, we
believe that God did all that,but for some, some reason, we
think that he can't do it now.
Just like the healing, justlike everything.
We don't think that God can doit now.
Look at Daniel in the lion'sden.
A lot of the pictures you seeshow Daniel sitting in the
(19:09):
lion's den and the lions justlaying and lounging around them.
But that's not the way ithappened.
No, those lions were hungry.
Those lions were ready toattack.
If you had a truerepresentation of what Daniel
looked like in the lion's den,you would probably see Daniel
(19:29):
hunched down, probably in thecenter of it, and the lion
circling him Right.
But they weren't able to attackhim because God was protecting
him and God can do that.
Then he doesn't know.
And he can do that now.
We have to have a boldness anda lack of fear to speak the
(19:51):
truth against the lies of theenemy.
We, as a church, we have tostand up in the political world.
Speaker 2 (20:02):
Right, and that's what a lot of people will tell
you.
Leave politics out of thechurch.
They're one in the same.
I mean like they have to betogether.
Speaker 1 (20:11):
Well, hey, god founded politics of the church,
they're one in the same.
I mean like they have to betogether.
Well, a god founded politicsexactly god founded civic duties
and responsibilities.
And it all starts there and ourmoral compass, not only in the
united states but everywhere, isbased on biblical truth and the
(20:32):
Old Testament law.
But yet the church today isafraid to speak the truth in the
political sphere, againsteverything that's happening.
And what's running thepolitical sphere right now is
the enemy the LGBTQ community.
(20:53):
I'm sorry, I love each andevery person that's in that
community, but it is being ledby demonic spirits to tear the
family apart, to tear God'sdesign Spirits to tear the
family apart, to tear God'sdesign of what a family, of what
the human race is, to look like.
(21:14):
Abortion, you name it.
Speaker 2 (21:21):
The attack on children I mean all of it stems
back to the attack on familiesand children, because the enemy
hates those things.
Speaker 1 (21:29):
Well, the enemy hates those things because those
things are a representation ofour relationship with Christ.
We are the bride of Christ, weare the children of God, we are
all of those things, and if hecan attack those things, then he
can destroy Christianity.
(21:51):
That's his goal is to destroyChristianity and we as a church.
It's time to stand up.
Speaker 2 (21:58):
And speak truth and love.
Speaker 1 (22:00):
It's time to be bold.
Speaker 2 (22:01):
Right.
Speaker 1 (22:11):
And speak the truth without fear of what people
would think of me If I lose afew friends because I say
marriage is between a man and awoman, not a man and a man or a
woman and a woman, if I say thatthere are only two genders,
male and female and, trust me,I've read Genesis.
Two genders, male and femaleand, trust me, I've read Genesis
.
Yeah, I've read Genesismultiple times and I've only
found where he created man andwoman.
(22:33):
I haven't found where hecreated anything else.
Speaker 2 (22:45):
Right, so we need to have that boldness and speak it
and you know, know that if we'respeaking in truth and love,
that God will, you know, honorthat.
Speaker 1 (23:01):
God will protect us.
It doesn't mean, you won't facetrials.
Speaker 2 (23:06):
Oh, you will.
Speaker 1 (23:06):
Satan's going to come after you if you speak the
truth.
Speaker 2 (23:09):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (23:10):
You look at different ones that are doing that now
and I guarantee you they'rebeing attacked.
Speaker 2 (23:17):
Well, I mean all the guys on Flashpoint the other
night talked about how they'veall been attacked.
It hasn't made them back down,you know.
Speaker 1 (23:26):
it's just giving them more fuel for their fire, but
you know so that's really whatgod's been dealing with my heart
, especially the past few days.
But he planted the seed twoyears ago a couple years ago and
and it just reignited over thepast couple weeks of being bold
(23:48):
and carrying our faith with uswherever we go.
We are to be the light of theworld and the salt of the earth,
and if we're not carrying thegospel, if we're not carrying
the good news everywhere we gothe gas station, the golf course
, school, wherever it may be Ifwe're not carrying that gospel
(24:09):
with us, how are we being thelight of the world, how are we
being the salt of the earth?
We're not.
Speaker 2 (24:17):
Right.
Speaker 1 (24:20):
So I just want to encourage everybody.
I am going to try to be moredisciplined and try harder
little things.
When god opens up the door witha waitress or a waiter at a
restaurant, somebody at awalmart, and you bring that up
and it reminds me of mammy, thiswoman.
Speaker 2 (24:41):
I used to make fun of her, honestly, because it's not
my personality, but she couldmake friends and would make
friends with whoever.
She would share Jesus with them.
They would tell their wholelife story to her.
She'd go home and write in herprayer journal and I have those
prayer journals full of prayersfor strangers and you know, it's
(25:04):
beautiful now that I understandit, but I used to get really
embarrassed honestly and, um,that's kind of started happening
with me and in her own way.
Speaker 1 (25:18):
I would like to think that she shared the gospel and
I'm pretty sure maybe not to thefull extent of sharing the
gospel, but I'm pretty sure shelet them know that Jesus loved
them.
Speaker 2 (25:31):
No, you know, she did .
Speaker 1 (25:34):
And again, that's what it's about.
It's about taking that whereveryou go, and so I just want to
encourage all of the listenersalong with you and encouraging
me to encourage all of thelisteners along with you and
encouraging me be moreintentional about speaking truth
and not being afraid to sharewith whoever, because you don't
know you might be the onlyperson that comes across that
(25:58):
other's path, that is going tospeak the truth, that is going
to show them the way right, thatis going to show them jesus
Right.
That is going to show them Jesus.
And if you do it right, even ifyou call out their sin, even if
you do that and it looks harshif you do it in love, you'd be
(26:21):
amazed at what God can do.
Speaker 2 (26:23):
Right.
Speaker 1 (26:24):
And don't fear rejection, don't fear
persecution.
Speaker 2 (26:30):
Right.
Speaker 1 (26:34):
If we're persecuted, so be it.
Speaker 2 (26:38):
I think blessings come from persecution, though
sometimes I think God blessesthose who speak in truth and
take that persecution 100%.
Speaker 1 (26:53):
So everybody that's part of the restored nation.
I guess, Be more intentional.
Share the love of Christ, sharewhat he's done in your life and
share what he can do in theirlives.
And be bold without fear.
(27:15):
Be the church, not just onSunday mornings in the church
building, but be the churchwherever you go.
Be the salt of the earth.
Give the earth some flavor.
Be the salt of the earth.
Give the earth some flavor.
Be the light of the world.
Shine in darkness.
And until next time.
You've been listening to theRestored Podcast with Frank and
(27:38):
Darcy Montgomery.
You
you are listening to the restored podcast with frank
and darcy montgomery.
Hey, everybody, we're back withanother episode of the restored
podcast.
My name listening to theRestored Podcast with Frank and
Darcy Montgomery.
Hey, everybody, we're back withanother episode of the Restored
Podcast.
My name is Frank and I'm herewith my beautiful wife, darcy.
Hey, before we get started today, I just wanted to remind
everybody that's listening.
If you have any subjects ortopic matters you would like us
(00:41):
to discuss or praise reports,prayer requests, whatever that
might be, we are on Facebook.
You can find our Facebook pageat the Restored Podcast and our
email address is therestoredcastat gmailcom.
We would also appreciate if yougo onto Apple iTunes and leave
a review, and that would help usget our message out to more
(01:03):
people.
So today, darcy, I wanted tojust talk about for the past few
weeks, god's really beenputting something on my heart
pretty heavy and I want to sayit almost started a couple years
ago.
But for the past few weeks I'vebeen following along a lot on
(01:25):
the Robertson family and forthose that don't know, the
Robertson family are the guys onDuck Dynasty and their dad,
phil Robertson, passed away acouple weeks ago.
He was the founder of thecompany Duck Commander.
That led to Duck Dynasty andeverything else and they made a
movie called the Blind and wesaw the Blind.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
We did and it kind of hit home because it was similar
to some of the stuff we've beenthrough.
Speaker 1 (01:53):
Kind of hit home.
I mean they didn't put a lot ofdetail into what happened, in
just a few scenes but itreminded me quite a bit of our
tumultuous relationship.
But the thing that got me sincePhil's passing they all have
(02:15):
podcasts and I would listen tothem regularly.
But after his passing I madesure I wanted just hearing the
stories and I really admiredPhil because he wasn't ashamed
of Jesus.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
Right, I mean he told everybody everywhere he went.
Speaker 1 (02:37):
On national TV.
It didn't matter Wherever hewent, he took the gospel.
Wherever he went, he took thegospel.
And just hearing those storiesof his family talk about you
(02:58):
know him in the duck blind orwherever it might be that he
took the gospel with him and hewasn't ashamed of Jesus, he
wasn't ashamed of being aChristian and he wasn't ashamed
of the truth.
But today and I find myselfstruggling with this as well but
today I think we struggle a lotwith being ashamed, and in this
country, in the United States,we're not even really persecuted
(03:21):
.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
No.
Speaker 1 (03:23):
I mean some people say, oh, I'm so persecuted for
this or that, but you're, you'renot when you look at what the
disciples in the bible facedpeople in other countries today
when you look at what I meanchina, australia, all the middle
eastern countries where you canbe killed for being a Christian
(03:45):
or the laws are so strict towhere you can't preach the truth
.
And it really along with Phil'spassing and hearing all those
stories and God just showing mehow Phil used every opportunity
he had, no matter where he was,who he was, with what was going
on around him.
He used every opportunity hehad to tell others about Jesus's
(04:08):
love and Jesus's forgivenessand how they can get to heaven.
And last week we went to aFlashpoint episode and Andrew
Sedra was there and for thosethat may not know who Andrew Sed
cedra is, him and his wife,along with his brother and
(04:28):
sister-in-law, they pastor achurch in australia called echo
church, but they are veryoutspoken outspoken on the truth
right.
Which is kind of dangerous forthem to be that outspoken,
because Australia is a godlesscountry is how they put it, the
(04:48):
stories that he was telling, theline that they have to walk
being a pastor and leading acongregation.
From what I understood from thepulpit, they can preach certain
things but they can't counsel,they can't.
Speaker 2 (05:10):
You know any of that, because that's five years in
prison, if you know yeah, theycan preach it from the pulpit.
Speaker 1 (05:16):
but yet if somebody from their congregation comes to
them and I mean, look at me andyou and say Hayden was
struggling with sexual identityand we lived in Australia and we
went to Echo Church and wesought our pastor's advice, they
(05:38):
can't do it.
Speaker 2 (05:38):
They can't.
Speaker 1 (05:40):
They can face up to five years in prison.
The church can be fined tens ofthousands of dollars.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
Right.
That being said, that doesn'tstop them.
Speaker 1 (05:48):
No, it doesn't.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
It does not stop them at all and you know the
problems we were having duringCOVID with churches closing here
.
That was the same problem thatthey had there and they kept
their doors open.
They refused to close theirdoors they refused to close
their doors.
Speaker 1 (06:07):
Well, even our church .
Whenever we first started goingto true grace, it was right
after covid, during the heightof it, lockdowns, everything,
and pastor troy started parkinglot church parking lot church, I
think he called it.
I think he called it a drive-inchurch and he set the stage up
outside the church but theability to use a radio frequency
(06:31):
.
So everybody stayed in theircar, the worship team was on the
stage and pastor preached fromthe stage, but everybody else
stayed in their car and eitherrode down their windows if it
was cool enough or if it was toohot which a lot of the time it
was too hot leave the windows upwith the AC on and turn the
(06:53):
radio on to whatever radiofrequency.
But looking back, that tooksome boldness.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
Yeah, I mean, our pastor is bold and I appreciate
that.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
Yeah, I mean our pastor is bold and I appreciate
that, but I've been strugglingand I think so much of the
church struggles with being bold.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
Right, and you know, another thing that we do is
not—we tolerate and we just usethat as we love.
We're Christian, we love, so wetolerate sin that as we love.
Speaker 1 (07:28):
We're Christian, we love, so we tolerate sin, and we
, and I think that tolerationComes from a fear and a lack of
boldness.
Speaker 2 (07:34):
Right.
Speaker 1 (07:35):
We tolerate because we fear somebody not liking us.
Speaker 2 (07:38):
Are we fear?
You know we're going to belabeled something.
Speaker 1 (07:42):
Yeah, we're going to be labeled something.
Yeah, we're going to be labeledbigots.
We're going to be labeledchristian nationalists if we
step into the political arenaand start voicing what the truth
is.
Speaker 2 (07:53):
Um bigots if we speak out against homosexuality, the
trans community, anything likethat and not just them, any kind
of sexual immoral, you know,know, impurity or whatever.
It's not just that particulargroup, you know.
Speaker 1 (08:08):
But that's what's leading culture is that group?
Speaker 2 (08:11):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (08:12):
And that is what is leading the push.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
And the attack on children.
You can't say anything aboutthat either.
You know we're scared to.
Speaker 1 (08:23):
But it's time for the church to be bold.
It's time for the church tostand up and speak the truth,
just as the Sedras and I knowthere are many preachers out
there that do speak the truth.
But we, as Christians, if youdon't hold an office in your
(08:44):
church, ie, and we believe inthe fivefold ministry, if you're
not a pastor, evangelist any ofthat, you still have a calling
on your life and you still havea call to stand up.
Absolutely.
And the Great Commission beforeJesus.
After he walked on the earth,he was crucified.
(09:05):
He walked on the earth for alittle over a month before he
ascended into heaven.
And right before he ascendedinto heaven, his disciples were
there with him and he gave thegreat commission saying go into
all the world preaching the goodnews.
And that's where I think we lookat that scripture and we think
(09:29):
that that means oh, we'resupposed to send missionaries,
we're supposed to send people tothese foreign countries, to
Africa, to China, to Vietnam, toAustralia, to wherever.
And absolutely that's what thatscripture is.
It's a missional statement, butit's not just foreign missions
(09:50):
that it's talking about.
If you're not a pastor, ifyou're not an evangelist, if
you're not somebody who holds aposition in a church, you still
can answer the great commissionthat Jesus gave, just like Phil
Robertson did that greatcommission for me and you.
We take the gospel into thelocal coffee shop, we take the
(10:15):
gospel into our workplace, wetake the gospel into the grocery
store, to the gas station.
Wherever we are, we take thatgospel.
And I just keep turning andlooking at Phil Robertson,
because that's what he did.
Speaker 2 (10:31):
And I mean, I think part of his boldness came he
always remembered where God tookhim from.
That's why testimonies are soimportant.
That's why I feel we werecalled to do this podcast to
begin with.
It's because we look back andwe are so grateful to God and we
want others to experience that.
Speaker 1 (10:51):
But I even struggle with the boldness you know on my
personal social medias.
Yeah, I do this podcast but Idon't promote this podcast the
way I should, and part of thatis a lack of boldness.
What are people going to thinkof me when they hear it?
(11:12):
What if they don't like whatthey hear?
That sort of thing, that fear.
But I think it's rooted in alack of boldness.
I think deep down, I kind ofworry about what people will
think oh, he's one of thoseJesus freaks.
Speaker 2 (11:28):
Yeah, well, I'm the opposite.
I post about it, I talk about.
I post stuff all the time andI've gotten pushback and I used
to get offended and hurt and youknow when I got that pushback.
But this was a calling and anopportunity and an act of
obedience for us.
So I just trust that God isgoing to reach the people that
(11:54):
need to be reached.
Speaker 1 (11:55):
You know, when I look at boldness, I think of Peter,
and I preached a message on thisa few years ago at church.
It's shortly after Pentecostand peter's up preaching and he
(12:19):
gets taken before the sanhedrin,before the court, because he's
preaching and healing in jesusname.
And in the court they they tellhim do do not heal, do not
preach in Jesus' name.
And Peter left the Sanhedrinand he went out and preached in
(12:44):
Jesus' name.
He wasn't afraid of what wasgoing to happen, of what was
going to happen.
The other night Andrew saidsomething that rang true with me
, or it hit me down deep and itmade me really think.
He said Our job is to speak thetruth.
Speaker 2 (13:01):
Right.
Speaker 1 (13:06):
God's job is to protect, and I'm going to share
a little testimony that he gave,because I think it will build
people's Faith and being able to, no matter where they're at,
being able to proclaim thegospel and preach the truth.
Speaker 2 (13:38):
Right and remember you left something out.
They were in Egypt.
Speaker 1 (13:47):
They were in Egypt at the time and Egypt is very
Muslim, very Islamic, and whathappened was is a lady had come
to their church or maybe noteven in the church, maybe
outside of the church, butAndrew's dad led her to Christ
(14:08):
and she became a Christian.
She converted from Islam toChristianity and her husband was
pretty high up in the Islamicfaith in that organization.
He was pretty high up.
When Andrew's dad convertedthat man's wife to Christianity
(14:44):
from Islam, he made a vow thathe was going to hurt Andrew's
dad and the way that he wasgoing to hurt Andrew's dad was.
He was going to take Andrew andhis younger brother John, take
Andrew and his younger brotherJohn and he was going to kidnap
them, murder them, behead themand send the body parts back to
Andrew's dad to let him knowwhat he had done by basically
taking his wife from him.
Long story short, the Islamicguy sends a couple henchmen, so
(15:13):
to speak, because Andrew and hisyounger brother.
Every day 7 am, they left thehouse, walked to the bus stop,
got on the bus and rode toschool.
Well, the first day that thehenchmen came out, andrew and
his brother came out of thehouse and then the henchmen were
(15:33):
like frozen, they couldn't moveand, of course, andrew had no
idea at the time of anything.
His dad had no idea at thattime of anything.
But the henchmen couldn't moveand Andrew and John went and got
on the bus and the bus driverclosed the door, the bus left,
and whenever the bus and busdriver closed the door, the bus
left, and whenever the bus wasout of sight of that area, then
(15:59):
the people can move again.
Speaker 2 (16:01):
Right.
Speaker 1 (16:03):
Well, it happened again.
The guy got mad.
He's like you guys couldn't doit.
I'm going to send somebody else.
Speaker 2 (16:10):
Right.
Speaker 1 (16:12):
So he sent somebody else.
A few days later, same thinghappens again, but this time, if
I'm remembering correctly, themain guy was there too.
Speaker 2 (16:25):
I think so.
Speaker 1 (16:26):
Because the other people couldn't get it taken
care of, so he was going to makesure he got the job done.
Andrew and his little brothercome out the house.
Speaker 2 (16:37):
Get on the bus.
Speaker 1 (16:38):
Same thing happens.
The henchman, that main Islamicguy, they get frozen.
They can't move, they can't doanything.
They sit there and they watchAndrew and his little brother
walk from the house to the busstop, get on the bus, the doors
close on the bus, the bus leaves, and then, once the bus is out
(16:59):
of sight, the guys can moveagain.
Speaker 2 (17:01):
Right.
Speaker 1 (17:03):
That is God's protection on that family.
Speaker 2 (17:09):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (17:10):
And the Bible tells us we battle against evil
spirits.
We don't battle against fleshand blood, and so many people
don't remember that and they seethat and they're like you're
battling flesh and blood rightnow, right there.
No, they weren't battling fleshand blood.
They were battling evil,demonic spirits that were using
(17:31):
that flesh and blood to causeharm.
Speaker 2 (17:34):
Right.
Speaker 1 (17:34):
Well, that main Islamic guy.
After that happened, he gotsaved as well.
Right, he went up to Andrew'sdad and told him said hey, I was
going to do this.
I was going to kill your twosons, I was going to behead them
and I was going to mail theirbody parts back to you to show
you the pain that you caused mecan you imagine having to pray
(18:00):
and lead that guy to christafter he just told you all that
about your kids?
Speaker 2 (18:05):
that's, that's some faith.
That's some faith, that's somestrength, that's some love.
Speaker 1 (18:10):
I think the overwhelming joy by that point
is look what God can do.
Yeah, and the Islamic guy toldAndrew's dad said I was going to
do all this, but he said yourGod saved them.
Speaker 2 (18:31):
Amen.
Speaker 1 (18:32):
And he became a Christian from that.
But Andrew, that night atFlashpoint he said this several
times and he kept saying our jobis to speak the truth, and let
God protect us.
Speaker 2 (18:45):
Right.
Speaker 1 (18:47):
We believe all the miracles in the Bible, we
believe that God did all that,but for some, some reason, we
think that he can't do it now.
Just like the healing, justlike everything.
We don't think that God can doit now.
Look at Daniel in the lion'sden.
A lot of the pictures you seeshow Daniel sitting in the
(19:09):
lion's den and the lions justlaying and lounging around them.
But that's not the way ithappened.
No, those lions were hungry.
Those lions were ready toattack.
If you had a truerepresentation of what Daniel
looked like in the lion's den,you would probably see Daniel
(19:29):
hunched down, probably in thecenter of it, and the lion
circling him Right.
But they weren't able to attackhim because God was protecting
him and God can do that.
Then he doesn't know.
And he can do that now.
We have to have a boldness anda lack of fear to speak the
(19:51):
truth against the lies of theenemy.
We, as a church, we have tostand up in the political world.
Speaker 2 (20:02):
Right, and that's what a lot of people will tell
you.
Leave politics out of thechurch.
They're one in the same.
I mean like they have to betogether.
Speaker 1 (20:11):
Well, hey, god founded politics of the church,
they're one in the same.
I mean like they have to betogether.
Well, a god founded politicsexactly god founded civic duties
and responsibilities.
And it all starts there and ourmoral compass, not only in the
united states but everywhere, isbased on biblical truth and the
(20:32):
Old Testament law.
But yet the church today isafraid to speak the truth in the
political sphere, againsteverything that's happening.
And what's running thepolitical sphere right now is
the enemy the LGBTQ community.
(20:53):
I'm sorry, I love each andevery person that's in that
community, but it is being ledby demonic spirits to tear the
family apart, to tear God'sdesign Spirits to tear the
family apart, to tear God'sdesign of what a family, of what
the human race is, to look like.
(21:14):
Abortion, you name it.
Speaker 2 (21:21):
The attack on children I mean all of it stems
back to the attack on familiesand children, because the enemy
hates those things.
Speaker 1 (21:29):
Well, the enemy hates those things because those
things are a representation ofour relationship with Christ.
We are the bride of Christ, weare the children of God, we are
all of those things, and if hecan attack those things, then he
can destroy Christianity.
(21:51):
That's his goal is to destroyChristianity and we as a church.
It's time to stand up.
Speaker 2 (21:58):
And speak truth and love.
Speaker 1 (22:00):
It's time to be bold.
Speaker 2 (22:01):
Right.
Speaker 1 (22:11):
And speak the truth without fear of what people
would think of me If I lose afew friends because I say
marriage is between a man and awoman, not a man and a man or a
woman and a woman, if I say thatthere are only two genders,
male and female and, trust me,I've read Genesis.
Two genders, male and femaleand, trust me, I've read Genesis
.
Yeah, I've read Genesismultiple times and I've only
found where he created man andwoman.
(22:33):
I haven't found where hecreated anything else.
Speaker 2 (22:45):
Right, so we need to have that boldness and speak it
and you know, know that if we'respeaking in truth and love,
that God will, you know, honorthat.
Speaker 1 (23:01):
God will protect us.
It doesn't mean, you won't facetrials.
Speaker 2 (23:06):
Oh, you will.
Speaker 1 (23:06):
Satan's going to come after you if you speak the
truth.
Speaker 2 (23:09):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (23:10):
You look at different ones that are doing that now
and I guarantee you they'rebeing attacked.
Speaker 2 (23:17):
Well, I mean all the guys on Flashpoint the other
night talked about how they'veall been attacked.
It hasn't made them back down,you know.
Speaker 1 (23:26):
it's just giving them more fuel for their fire, but
you know so that's really whatgod's been dealing with my heart
, especially the past few days.
But he planted the seed twoyears ago a couple years ago and
and it just reignited over thepast couple weeks of being bold
(23:48):
and carrying our faith with uswherever we go.
We are to be the light of theworld and the salt of the earth,
and if we're not carrying thegospel, if we're not carrying
the good news everywhere we gothe gas station, the golf course
, school, wherever it may be Ifwe're not carrying that gospel
(24:09):
with us, how are we being thelight of the world, how are we
being the salt of the earth?
We're not.
Speaker 2 (24:17):
Right.
Speaker 1 (24:20):
So I just want to encourage everybody.
I am going to try to be moredisciplined and try harder
little things.
When god opens up the door witha waitress or a waiter at a
restaurant, somebody at awalmart, and you bring that up
and it reminds me of mammy, thiswoman.
Speaker 2 (24:41):
I used to make fun of her, honestly, because it's not
my personality, but she couldmake friends and would make
friends with whoever.
She would share Jesus with them.
They would tell their wholelife story to her.
She'd go home and write in herprayer journal and I have those
prayer journals full of prayersfor strangers and you know, it's
(25:04):
beautiful now that I understandit, but I used to get really
embarrassed honestly and, um,that's kind of started happening
with me and in her own way.
Speaker 1 (25:18):
I would like to think that she shared the gospel and
I'm pretty sure maybe not to thefull extent of sharing the
gospel, but I'm pretty sure shelet them know that Jesus loved
them.
Speaker 2 (25:31):
No, you know, she did .
Speaker 1 (25:34):
And again, that's what it's about.
It's about taking that whereveryou go, and so I just want to
encourage all of the listenersalong with you and encouraging
me to encourage all of thelisteners along with you and
encouraging me be moreintentional about speaking truth
and not being afraid to sharewith whoever, because you don't
know you might be the onlyperson that comes across that
(25:58):
other's path, that is going tospeak the truth, that is going
to show them the way right, thatis going to show them jesus
Right.
That is going to show them Jesus.
And if you do it right, even ifyou call out their sin, even if
you do that and it looks harshif you do it in love, you'd be
(26:21):
amazed at what God can do.
Speaker 2 (26:23):
Right.
Speaker 1 (26:24):
And don't fear rejection, don't fear
persecution.
Speaker 2 (26:30):
Right.
Speaker 1 (26:34):
If we're persecuted, so be it.
Speaker 2 (26:38):
I think blessings come from persecution, though
sometimes I think God blessesthose who speak in truth and
take that persecution 100%.
Speaker 1 (26:53):
So everybody that's part of the restored nation.
I guess, Be more intentional.
Share the love of Christ, sharewhat he's done in your life and
share what he can do in theirlives.
And be bold without fear.
(27:15):
Be the church, not just onSunday mornings in the church
building, but be the churchwherever you go.
Be the salt of the earth.
Give the earth some flavor.
Be the salt of the earth.
Give the earth some flavor.
Be the light of the world.
Shine in darkness.
And until next time.
You've been listening to theRestored Podcast with Frank and
(27:38):
Darcy Montgomery.
You
Popular Podcasts
Cold Case Files: Miami
Joyce Sapp, 76; Bryan Herrera, 16; and Laurance Webb, 32—three Miami residents whose lives were stolen in brutal, unsolved homicides. Cold Case Files: Miami follows award‑winning radio host and City of Miami Police reserve officer Enrique Santos as he partners with the department’s Cold Case Homicide Unit, determined family members, and the advocates who spend their lives fighting for justice for the victims who can no longer fight for themselves.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.