In today's troubled
world people are wondering
00:00:05.94\00:00:10.08
where we are headed?
00:00:10.11\00:00:13.25
Revelation Today
presents the answers.
00:00:13.28\00:00:17.54
Bible prophecy reveals
what the future holds in store.
00:00:17.57\00:00:23.02
Revelation Today.
00:00:23.05\00:00:24.65
Good evening again, everyone.
00:00:37.98\00:00:39.17
Tonight, we look at a
subject that affects all of us.
00:00:39.20\00:00:42.61
Life can be tough sometimes
00:00:42.64\00:00:44.94
and even believers
in Jesus get caught up
00:00:44.97\00:00:47.11
in the gritty difficulties
of being in this world.
00:00:47.14\00:00:50.71
But why is it that a person can
pray to God and still get sick?
00:00:50.74\00:00:54.73
Why is it that a person
can be a faithful believer
00:00:54.76\00:00:57.19
and still go
through terrible times?
00:00:57.22\00:00:59.40
A lot of non-Christians
will say to Christians
00:00:59.43\00:01:01.59
after disaster
where was your God then?
00:01:01.62\00:01:05.21
People think that
if God was truly good,
00:01:05.24\00:01:06.92
He wouldn't allow
bad things to happen.
00:01:06.95\00:01:09.70
Our subject tonight
"Good God Bad World, Why?"
00:01:09.73\00:01:14.86
The present a Revelation
Today is Ron Halvorsen.
00:01:14.89\00:01:18.93
Let's bow our heads
in a word of prayer.
00:01:23.61\00:01:24.83
Let's seek the presence of God
as we open His word together.
00:01:24.86\00:01:28.85
Gracious Father, I thank
You so much for Your great love
00:01:28.88\00:01:32.50
and now we pray God as we come
to this very important subject
00:01:32.53\00:01:35.84
we might come to grips with it,
a good God in a bad world, why?
00:01:35.87\00:01:41.43
In the name of Christ, amen.
00:01:41.46\00:01:45.23
Good god bad world, why?
00:01:45.26\00:01:49.67
Was a quiet night in
a theater in Colorado.
00:01:49.70\00:01:53.33
Mothers and
children and teenagers
00:01:53.36\00:01:55.51
and middle-aged couples excited,
00:01:55.54\00:01:58.22
the cult followers of
Batman they were there
00:01:58.25\00:02:00.69
and some dressed in the outfit
00:02:00.72\00:02:02.31
and they'd come for a good night
00:02:02.34\00:02:04.86
and that became the dark night.
00:02:04.89\00:02:09.40
It ended in chaos.
It ended in screams.
00:02:09.43\00:02:14.32
And it end in
crying and then death.
00:02:14.35\00:02:17.84
A mother of a girl six killed
in a movie theater that night.
00:02:17.87\00:02:21.51
A senseless
massacre 58 were injured,
00:02:21.54\00:02:26.60
shot down and 12 dead.
00:02:26.63\00:02:30.17
That wasn't the end.
00:02:30.20\00:02:32.01
Then there came
the Boston Marathon
00:02:32.04\00:02:33.74
and senseless
killings there at that place.
00:02:33.77\00:02:38.80
Why is life so hard?
00:02:38.83\00:02:40.34
Have you ever had one of those,
00:02:40.37\00:02:41.49
I don't want to get
out of bed kind of days?
00:02:41.52\00:02:43.69
Have any of you
had that, come on,
00:02:43.72\00:02:45.07
you just didn't
want to get out of bed.
00:02:45.10\00:02:47.08
I mean, why is have you
ever had those kind of days,
00:02:47.11\00:02:50.34
you can't face the
future kind of days?
00:02:50.37\00:02:55.21
I think of Chippie,
00:02:55.24\00:02:57.13
you probably heard
of Chippie the parakeet,
00:02:57.16\00:02:58.81
I mean poor Chippie
never saw it coming.
00:02:58.84\00:03:02.34
One second peacefully
sitting perched in a cage
00:03:02.37\00:03:07.94
doing what parakeets do.
00:03:07.97\00:03:10.53
Singing, I don't
know what parakeets do
00:03:10.56\00:03:13.73
but she was doing it.
00:03:13.76\00:03:17.40
And the next
second she was sucked in,
00:03:17.43\00:03:19.36
she was washed up
and she was blown away.
00:03:19.39\00:03:22.10
I mean, the problem began
00:03:22.13\00:03:24.63
when her owner
decided to clean the birdcage
00:03:24.66\00:03:29.58
but she thought we
we've got to do it in a way--
00:03:29.61\00:03:32.73
we've got to do it in such a way
00:03:32.76\00:03:34.13
that it would take little time
00:03:34.16\00:03:37.49
and so she took
the vacuum cleaner.
00:03:37.52\00:03:39.55
And so she stuck the
vacuum cleaner in there
00:03:44.12\00:03:46.03
and she was going at it
00:03:46.06\00:03:48.21
and all of the
sudden the phone rang
00:03:48.24\00:03:49.43
and she reach
for the phone and...
00:03:49.46\00:03:51.77
turned around and
poor Chippie was gone.
00:03:55.28\00:03:59.70
She did what any owner would do,
00:03:59.73\00:04:01.20
she ran over the vacuum cleaner
and open the vacuum cleaner
00:04:01.23\00:04:04.10
and there was little Chippie
standing in the dust and dirt
00:04:04.13\00:04:08.18
and so she grabbed her bird
00:04:08.21\00:04:12.16
and she ran to the faucet
00:04:12.19\00:04:17.94
turned on the water,
00:04:17.97\00:04:20.99
cold water on
poor Chippie's head
00:04:21.02\00:04:24.74
and then she took the hairdryer.
00:04:24.77\00:04:26.92
Few days later the
reporter that reported
00:04:32.64\00:04:36.24
the event called up to
find out how Chippie was.
00:04:36.27\00:04:41.11
The owner said this,
00:04:41.14\00:04:43.39
well, he just
sits there staring.
00:04:43.42\00:04:49.30
He doesn't seem much anymore,
00:04:49.33\00:04:53.57
but it's hard, it's
hard to not to see why.
00:04:53.60\00:04:57.58
I mean, sucked in,
washed up, blown away.
00:04:57.61\00:05:00.38
I mean can you relate
to Chippie, any of you?
00:05:00.41\00:05:05.82
I mean you had a day
like that, come on now?
00:05:05.85\00:05:10.38
Does life seem hard?
Does life seem unfulfilled?
00:05:10.41\00:05:14.00
Every time, everything seems
00:05:14.03\00:05:16.38
to go wrong in
your life experience.
00:05:16.41\00:05:18.50
Come on that
happens, doesn't it?
00:05:18.53\00:05:19.85
Weeks, months, try
to lose a little weight,
00:05:19.88\00:05:26.03
but it never happens.
00:05:26.06\00:05:29.08
You think you're making
a shift of in your career,
00:05:29.11\00:05:33.21
maybe even serving God
00:05:33.24\00:05:34.75
but you can never
actually get to it.
00:05:34.78\00:05:38.59
Come on, take time for your kids
00:05:38.62\00:05:44.37
but the phone rings
00:05:44.40\00:05:47.23
and you have to get
something done for the boss.
00:05:47.26\00:05:51.54
Try to recover
something in your marriage
00:05:51.57\00:05:55.24
and your spouse looks
at you with that look,
00:05:55.27\00:05:57.09
you know, I mean nice try.
00:05:57.12\00:06:02.77
Is it little late for that?
00:06:02.80\00:06:06.62
Life seems never to turn
outright in the right way
00:06:06.65\00:06:12.52
or the way you think it should.
00:06:12.55\00:06:15.51
About 90 percent of the time
00:06:15.54\00:06:17.36
we're faced with a
crisis, 90 percent of the time
00:06:17.39\00:06:20.13
life doesn't turn
the way it should.
00:06:20.16\00:06:21.74
The pink slip comes, the
bad news from the doctor,
00:06:21.77\00:06:24.00
divorce papers come,
I mean check bounces,
00:06:24.03\00:06:26.84
policemen knock at the
door, the kids are out,
00:06:26.87\00:06:29.14
you don't know where they are.
00:06:29.17\00:06:30.20
Come on, if God is so big,
why does He control things.
00:06:30.23\00:06:36.50
Why does He act more
powerfully in your life?
00:06:36.53\00:06:41.16
I'm a pretty good person,
00:06:41.19\00:06:44.08
why did He allow bad
things to happen to me?
00:06:44.11\00:06:47.73
Now this question
puts God on trial.
00:06:47.76\00:06:51.05
And by the way until
this question is answered,
00:06:51.08\00:06:53.06
all the other questions
in a Bible are irrelevant.
00:06:53.09\00:06:56.80
Until you understand the
nature and the character of God,
00:06:56.83\00:06:59.42
the God of the Bible
and the God of Revelation,
00:06:59.45\00:07:01.56
all this about any crisis
and all this about tribulation,
00:07:01.59\00:07:04.32
and all this
about all those things
00:07:04.35\00:07:06.01
that are gonna
happen on the earth,
00:07:06.04\00:07:07.37
it means little or nothing
00:07:07.40\00:07:10.57
until we get it
straight in our mind.
00:07:10.60\00:07:13.69
A good God in a bad world.
00:07:13.72\00:07:18.35
Sometimes I share
faith on university campuses
00:07:18.38\00:07:22.10
and they always have that
question, the agnostic sin.
00:07:22.13\00:07:24.64
You know, those who have
more brains than they have heart
00:07:24.67\00:07:27.16
you know well, where
is God when this happened?
00:07:27.19\00:07:29.73
And where is God when this--
00:07:29.76\00:07:31.23
like God is some kind
of celestial Santa Claus.
00:07:31.26\00:07:34.21
I didn't get
when I should have got
00:07:34.24\00:07:36.29
or like a celestial policeman,
00:07:36.32\00:07:38.76
He didn't put up his
hand and stop the traffic.
00:07:38.79\00:07:40.86
Come on, I mean where is God?
00:07:40.89\00:07:47.18
Where is God?
00:07:47.21\00:07:48.94
Now that question
puts Him on trial.
00:07:48.97\00:07:51.69
Is there any hope for my family?
00:07:51.72\00:07:53.51
Is there any hope for my nation?
00:07:53.54\00:07:55.50
And God answers
with a resounding yes.
00:07:55.53\00:07:58.41
When stars fall
from the heavens.
00:07:58.44\00:08:01.01
When mountains
collapse into the sea.
00:08:01.04\00:08:03.98
I mean when evil
triumphs over good
00:08:04.01\00:08:06.09
and when pain and
sickness prevails,
00:08:06.12\00:08:09.36
is there any hope for our world?
00:08:09.39\00:08:11.60
Is there any
hope for you and me?
00:08:11.63\00:08:14.62
Now there are no easy answers.
00:08:14.65\00:08:17.73
In fact after tonight
you'll probably go home
00:08:17.76\00:08:19.82
and say well, I
still have questions.
00:08:19.85\00:08:22.24
And by the way,
I have questions.
00:08:22.27\00:08:24.85
John the
Revelator catches a vision.
00:08:24.88\00:08:26.91
Now he sees a God
in the midst of prison.
00:08:26.94\00:08:29.58
He sees a God in the
midst of persecution.
00:08:29.61\00:08:32.30
He had been put
in oil to be boiled
00:08:32.33\00:08:34.40
because the emperor that
day want to get rid of him
00:08:34.43\00:08:37.16
but he couldn't make
a French fry of John,
00:08:37.19\00:08:39.21
so now he send them
off to a penal colony,
00:08:39.24\00:08:41.52
the Alcatraz of Asia Minor.
00:08:41.55\00:08:43.62
Sends him out to
the island of Patmos.
00:08:43.65\00:08:45.99
Now here he is
almost a hundred years old
00:08:46.02\00:08:48.21
doing hard labor on
the Island of Patmos.
00:08:48.24\00:08:51.28
God gives him a vision.
00:08:51.31\00:08:52.66
He comes to him
and in Revelation 12
00:08:52.69\00:08:55.01
He describes
"There was war in heaven,
00:08:55.04\00:08:57.31
and Michael and his angels
fought against the dragon,
00:08:57.34\00:09:00.00
and the dragon
fought and his angels,
00:09:00.03\00:09:02.08
and prevail not
neither was their place
00:09:02.11\00:09:03.96
found any more in heaven."
00:09:03.99\00:09:05.47
" And notice he goes on to say,
00:09:05.50\00:09:07.26
"And the great
dragon was cast out,
00:09:07.29\00:09:09.01
the old serpent,
called the Devil,
00:09:09.04\00:09:11.07
who deceiveth the whole world,
he was cast out to the earth,
00:09:11.10\00:09:14.64
and his angels
were cast out with him."
00:09:14.67\00:09:17.57
Bible goes on to say,
00:09:17.60\00:09:18.95
"And I heard a loud
voice saying in heaven,
00:09:18.98\00:09:21.00
now is come
salvation, and strength,
00:09:21.03\00:09:23.48
and the kingdom of our God,
and the power of his Christ,
00:09:23.51\00:09:26.46
for the accuser of our
bretheren is cast down,
00:09:26.49\00:09:29.64
which accused them
before God day and night."
00:09:29.67\00:09:33.96
Our troubles began
in heaven, amazing.
00:09:33.99\00:09:38.89
A war between
God, good and evil.
00:09:38.92\00:09:42.49
A war between Satan,
Lucifer and Jesus Christ.
00:09:42.52\00:09:47.14
A war in heaven.
00:09:47.17\00:09:48.49
In fact, Isaiah
told us about this war,
00:09:48.52\00:09:51.40
this conflict
between good and evil.
00:09:51.43\00:09:53.54
"For thou hast
said in thine heart,
00:09:53.57\00:09:54.72
I will ascend into heaven,
00:09:54.75\00:09:56.66
I will exalt my throne
above the stars of God,
00:09:56.69\00:09:59.71
I will sit also upon the
mount of the congregation...'"
00:09:59.74\00:10:02.63
And he goes on to say,
"in the side to the north
00:10:02.66\00:10:05.25
and I will ascend above
the heights of the clouds,
00:10:05.28\00:10:07.93
I will be like the most High."
00:10:07.96\00:10:10.39
You say Ron Halverson,
00:10:10.42\00:10:11.52
how could there
be war in heaven?
00:10:11.55\00:10:13.09
Heaven is a place
of peace, tranquility.
00:10:13.12\00:10:16.07
But you see God
when He created angels,
00:10:16.10\00:10:19.08
He created free will,
00:10:19.11\00:10:21.05
He created choices and
there in heaven itself,
00:10:21.08\00:10:24.48
God gave a choice,
there in heaven itself
00:10:24.51\00:10:27.88
God explains Satan goes to
war, he wants to be like God
00:10:27.91\00:10:33.00
and he is cast out of
heaven and a new battle begins.
00:10:33.03\00:10:36.59
It's amazing to me as
he is cast out of heaven,
00:10:36.62\00:10:38.89
he finds a place on earth.
00:10:38.92\00:10:40.35
It's all there in your
Bible in the Book of Isaiah,
00:10:40.38\00:10:42.79
it's all there in
the Book of Revelation.
00:10:42.82\00:10:45.00
You see God creates a garden,
Satan comes to the garden,
00:10:45.03\00:10:49.15
he turns it into a wilderness.
00:10:49.18\00:10:50.96
Christ comes to a wilderness
00:10:50.99\00:10:52.87
and He turns it
back into a garden.
00:10:52.90\00:10:54.74
Amen. Amen.
00:10:54.77\00:10:56.55
That's the
struggle of good and evil.
00:10:56.58\00:10:58.53
That's the struggle
between God and Satan.
00:10:58.56\00:11:01.32
That's the
struggle that you and I
00:11:01.35\00:11:03.02
can see God in His purpose,
00:11:03.05\00:11:05.34
God in the way He's moving
and God in the way He's acting.
00:11:05.37\00:11:08.86
Did God create a devil?
00:11:08.89\00:11:10.54
No, He created an
angel who became a devil
00:11:10.57\00:11:16.41
and there is a big
danger in creating angels
00:11:16.44\00:11:19.78
and there is a big
danger in creating human beings.
00:11:19.81\00:11:24.15
Why?
00:11:24.18\00:11:25.41
You see that
brings us to the problem.
00:11:25.44\00:11:28.06
It's a danger
because it's a problem.
00:11:28.09\00:11:31.26
Did God fly
into the Twin Towers,
00:11:31.29\00:11:35.11
that's the question?
00:11:35.14\00:11:37.22
I mean, was His
hands on the controls,
00:11:37.25\00:11:39.76
yet millions tell
us He was to blame.
00:11:39.79\00:11:43.57
Don't you see?
00:11:43.60\00:11:45.97
God could not
create humans with freedom
00:11:46.00\00:11:49.61
and still control them.
00:11:49.64\00:11:52.15
God could not make
human beings in love
00:11:52.18\00:11:57.45
and control them.
00:11:57.48\00:11:59.42
Because love demands
choices, love and God is love
00:11:59.45\00:12:06.34
and that's the very foundation
00:12:06.37\00:12:08.69
of our concept about this Jesus,
00:12:08.72\00:12:10.78
the God of
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob
00:12:10.81\00:12:13.55
that He is love, full of love
and because He is full of love,
00:12:13.58\00:12:16.69
He creates and when He creates
00:12:16.72\00:12:18.35
He gives them
freedom, freedom to choose.
00:12:18.38\00:12:21.25
He did not put them in bond?
00:12:21.28\00:12:22.73
He didn't put them
in a zoo with bars.
00:12:22.76\00:12:24.76
He put them in the garden.
00:12:24.79\00:12:28.30
The Bible tells us
00:12:28.33\00:12:30.63
that God created
humans with freedom
00:12:30.66\00:12:33.31
and He would not control them.
00:12:33.34\00:12:38.24
God stands accused tonight.
00:12:38.27\00:12:40.25
Listen to me,
hunger accuses God.
00:12:40.28\00:12:42.83
Why is the world hungry tonight?
00:12:42.86\00:12:44.72
Thirst accuses God.
00:12:44.75\00:12:46.37
Listen to me, war
accuses God and not only that
00:12:46.40\00:12:50.03
but death accuses God,
pointing fingers at God
00:12:50.06\00:12:53.32
but let's hear His side
of the story for a change.
00:12:53.35\00:12:55.93
Let's see what God says
00:12:55.96\00:12:57.13
about this thing
called free will.
00:12:57.16\00:12:59.76
Let's see what God
says about this thing,
00:12:59.79\00:13:02.18
a good God in a bad
universe in a bad world.
00:13:02.21\00:13:05.61
Let's look at the Bible
and we go back to Genesis
00:13:05.64\00:13:08.08
where it all began.
00:13:08.11\00:13:09.47
We go back to
Genesis and the Bible says,
00:13:09.50\00:13:11.73
"And God saw
every thing he had made,
00:13:11.76\00:13:14.60
and, behold, it was very good."
00:13:14.63\00:13:18.09
You'll notice as
you read Genesis,
00:13:18.12\00:13:19.50
the first chapter, at
the end of each creation
00:13:19.53\00:13:22.84
He says it's good, it's good.
00:13:22.87\00:13:24.66
When He comes to man,
He says it's very good.
00:13:24.69\00:13:29.28
It's above His creation
00:13:29.31\00:13:30.72
because man is to
rule over His creation
00:13:30.75\00:13:33.32
and so He says it is very good.
00:13:33.35\00:13:36.71
Now that was the
intention of God,
00:13:36.74\00:13:38.89
the intention of God
that man was to be very good.
00:13:38.92\00:13:41.77
The intention of God was
00:13:41.80\00:13:42.92
that man would be
there in that garden,
00:13:42.95\00:13:45.45
that they would
live happily ever after.
00:13:45.48\00:13:48.32
I mean that was
before Hollywood.
00:13:48.35\00:13:54.08
God's intention for the
first, for our first parents
00:13:54.11\00:13:56.96
was that they would
raise their children,
00:13:56.99\00:13:59.06
happily raise their
children to know God,
00:13:59.09\00:14:01.98
to experience God,
00:14:02.01\00:14:03.32
and to experience the
joy of a perfect garden
00:14:03.35\00:14:06.43
in a perfect world.
00:14:06.46\00:14:07.91
That was what God had intended
00:14:07.94\00:14:10.06
and that's what they thought
there when the big test came
00:14:10.09\00:14:13.37
and that big test
was found in Romans 5:12.
00:14:13.40\00:14:16.30
"Wherefore, as by one
man sin entered the world
00:14:16.33\00:14:18.71
and death by sin, so
death passed upon all men,"
00:14:18.74\00:14:22.70
because what?
00:14:22.73\00:14:24.69
Come on because
what? "All have sinned."
00:14:24.72\00:14:29.81
Every parent
knows that to a degree.
00:14:29.84\00:14:31.94
Come on, a child
born is innocent.
00:14:31.97\00:14:36.42
When I looked into the face
00:14:36.45\00:14:37.48
of my little
boy that first born,
00:14:37.51\00:14:40.84
I knew right away
he had a good future.
00:14:40.87\00:14:43.72
He looked like his pop
00:14:43.75\00:14:48.99
and I expected the best of him.
00:14:49.02\00:14:52.10
I desired the best of Him.
00:14:52.13\00:14:54.76
I wanted to do everything I
could do for the best of him
00:14:54.79\00:14:58.50
and my life was
dedicated to the best of him.
00:14:58.53\00:15:02.32
And then when my
Diane came along,
00:15:02.35\00:15:05.13
wow, when she came along,
00:15:05.16\00:15:10.76
I mean a parent expects the best
00:15:10.79\00:15:16.01
but sometimes it
doesn't turn out that way.
00:15:16.04\00:15:19.01
Come on now. Amen.
00:15:19.04\00:15:22.02
But you see a child
is born not a murderer,
00:15:22.05\00:15:25.57
a murderer he becomes.
00:15:25.60\00:15:27.13
A child is born,
a thief is not born.
00:15:27.16\00:15:29.92
An innocent child is
born, he becomes a thief.
00:15:29.95\00:15:34.40
And why?
00:15:34.43\00:15:36.75
Because of choices,
00:15:36.78\00:15:39.05
because of the way God works,
giving you power to choose.
00:15:39.08\00:15:43.21
You can have power
to stay home tonight
00:15:43.24\00:15:44.72
but you decided
to come, thank you.
00:15:44.75\00:15:50.05
You could walk
away and say, well,
00:15:50.08\00:15:51.76
I don't have time for religion,
00:15:51.79\00:15:53.38
I don't have time for prophecy,
00:15:53.41\00:15:54.97
I don't have time for the Bible.
00:15:55.00\00:15:57.39
You can make that
choice or you can make a choice
00:15:57.42\00:15:59.96
that could mean something to you
00:15:59.99\00:16:01.92
and your family
for all eternity.
00:16:01.95\00:16:05.24
You can make that choice.
00:16:05.27\00:16:07.23
You see that was the big test,
00:16:07.26\00:16:09.90
innocence becomes
guilty, that's the test.
00:16:09.93\00:16:13.13
God did not create robots.
00:16:13.16\00:16:15.07
Listen to me, God
doesn't create robots.
00:16:15.10\00:16:17.72
No, not at all, He
created a perfect garden.
00:16:17.75\00:16:20.53
He created a perfect person Eve.
00:16:20.56\00:16:23.02
And notice what the Bible says,
00:16:23.05\00:16:24.71
"And now the
serpent was more subtle
00:16:24.74\00:16:26.71
than the beast of the field
00:16:26.74\00:16:28.70
which the Lord God had made.
00:16:28.73\00:16:29.99
And he said unto the
woman, Yea, hath God said,
00:16:30.02\00:16:32.31
Ye shall not eat of
every tree of the garden?"
00:16:32.34\00:16:34.90
And notice what it says,
00:16:34.93\00:16:36.86
"And the woman
said unto the serpent,
00:16:36.89\00:16:39.12
We may eat of the
fruit of trees of the garden,
00:16:39.15\00:16:41.69
but the fruit of the tree
00:16:41.72\00:16:42.76
which is in the
midst of the garden,
00:16:42.79\00:16:44.52
God hath said, Ye
shall not eat of it,
00:16:44.55\00:16:49.10
neither shall you
touch it, lest ye die.
00:16:49.13\00:16:51.58
And the serpent
said to the woman,
00:16:51.61\00:16:53.22
Ye shall not surely did,
00:16:53.25\00:16:55.59
for God knows that in that day
you eat thereof, you..." What?
00:16:55.62\00:17:00.81
Yours eyes will be opened,
00:17:00.84\00:17:02.46
you should be as
gods, knowing good and evil.
00:17:02.49\00:17:06.37
And when the woman saw
the tree was good for food,
00:17:06.40\00:17:09.43
and that it was
pleasant to the eyes,"
00:17:09.46\00:17:11.56
notice "it was
pleasant to the eyes
00:17:11.59\00:17:15.30
and the tree to be
desired to make one wise,
00:17:15.33\00:17:17.45
she took the
fruit thereof, did eat,
00:17:17.48\00:17:19.28
and gave also unto
her husband with her,
00:17:19.31\00:17:21.15
and he did eat."
00:17:21.18\00:17:22.60
When God created
Adam, Adam was lonely.
00:17:22.63\00:17:25.06
Love, God is love.
00:17:25.09\00:17:26.64
God creates in the heart
of every human being to love.
00:17:26.67\00:17:29.41
And so God because God loved
00:17:29.44\00:17:31.29
and God wanted Adam
to love He creates woman.
00:17:31.32\00:17:34.05
He puts him to sleep
and takes from the rib,
00:17:34.08\00:17:36.93
prime rib woman.
00:17:36.96\00:17:42.64
Didn't you like that
women, didn't you like that one.
00:17:42.67\00:17:47.03
I won't tell you
what she did next.
00:17:47.06\00:17:54.22
Eve, one choice you
say why? Because love.
00:17:54.25\00:17:59.59
You see, I'm married
56 years, isn't wonderful?
00:17:59.62\00:18:05.00
Come on now, 56 years,
00:18:05.03\00:18:07.51
I know and I look only
57 so this is, you know,
00:18:07.54\00:18:10.25
I mean there's a
conflict in you right now,
00:18:10.28\00:18:12.58
but I met her at college
00:18:12.61\00:18:17.33
and I looked
across this crowded room
00:18:17.36\00:18:18.94
and there she was.
00:18:18.97\00:18:20.55
I could have wrote a
song across the crowded room
00:18:20.58\00:18:22.61
but I didn't I
mean, I just saw her.
00:18:22.64\00:18:24.85
And I said to my friend, I
said, wow, that's nice chick.
00:18:24.88\00:18:28.40
By the way
translation for you Christians,
00:18:28.43\00:18:30.14
a chick means she's pretty good.
00:18:30.17\00:18:35.05
And I said to my
friend, I said man,
00:18:35.08\00:18:36.80
look at that good-looking chick.
00:18:36.83\00:18:38.20
I said I think I'll ask her out.
00:18:38.23\00:18:40.03
He said, oh, no, she's engaged.
00:18:40.06\00:18:42.21
I said she's not married.
00:18:42.24\00:18:45.78
And so after class,
you know, I made the moves.
00:18:45.81\00:18:49.07
You teenagers
want to know the moves
00:18:49.10\00:18:50.61
see me after, I'm an expert.
00:18:50.64\00:18:55.58
And I said to her,
I said, hi, I'm Ron.
00:18:55.61\00:18:57.64
She says I'm Carrol.
00:18:57.67\00:18:59.01
I said that's nice, I said,
00:18:59.04\00:19:00.61
doing anything Saturday
night, would you like to go out?
00:19:00.64\00:19:04.53
Nowadays they
text about 15 hours
00:19:04.56\00:19:06.55
to try to just
find out their name.
00:19:06.58\00:19:09.57
Me, move right in. She, says no.
00:19:09.60\00:19:12.99
She says, I'm engaged.
00:19:13.02\00:19:14.05
I said well, you're not married.
00:19:14.08\00:19:17.25
And what happened?
00:19:17.28\00:19:19.25
She had a choice
between John and Ron.
00:19:19.28\00:19:26.74
I think she
made the best choice.
00:19:26.77\00:19:29.15
You see, how love
works. You see how God works.
00:19:35.36\00:19:38.95
He can't-- if she
held a gun to my head
00:19:38.98\00:19:40.96
and said, will you marry me?
00:19:40.99\00:19:44.11
That wouldn't be fun.
It's a expression of love.
00:19:44.14\00:19:49.17
You see, if God is love,
00:19:49.20\00:19:51.14
God has to create
the one to be loved
00:19:51.17\00:19:54.58
with a choice to love
back or not to love back.
00:19:54.61\00:20:00.68
I mean, that's
sensible, isn't it.
00:20:00.71\00:20:02.38
Don't you think that's sensible?
00:20:02.41\00:20:05.17
I mean there it is and
he talks about this tree
00:20:05.20\00:20:08.76
and "took the fruit
thereof, and did eat,
00:20:08.79\00:20:10.35
and gave also unto a husband
with her, and he did eat."
00:20:10.38\00:20:13.76
Now they're
both in the same mess
00:20:13.79\00:20:15.60
and you say Adam and Eve,
00:20:15.63\00:20:16.66
well, why they do such a thing?
00:20:16.69\00:20:18.12
You would have done
it if you were there too
00:20:18.15\00:20:20.07
because you're the Adam
and Eve's of this generation
00:20:20.10\00:20:22.49
and all have sinned and
come short of the glory of God.
00:20:22.52\00:20:24.86
The great
problem with us is we eat
00:20:24.89\00:20:26.13
of the tree of
knowledge of good and evil
00:20:26.16\00:20:27.91
before we eat of
the tree of life.
00:20:27.94\00:20:31.30
We eat of the tree of
knowledge of good and evil
00:20:31.33\00:20:35.24
before we eat of
the tree of life.
00:20:35.27\00:20:41.05
Wow, listen to this.
00:20:41.08\00:20:43.39
I mean he goes on,
00:20:43.42\00:20:44.46
"And they heard
the voice of the Lord
00:20:44.49\00:20:45.86
God walking in the
garden in the cool of the day,
00:20:45.89\00:20:48.14
and Adam and his
wife hid themselves
00:20:48.17\00:20:50.07
from the presence of God."
00:20:50.10\00:20:51.36
Why?
00:20:51.39\00:20:52.42
Did God come to strike him down?
00:20:52.45\00:20:54.69
No.
00:20:54.72\00:20:55.78
Was God at fault? No.
00:20:55.81\00:20:57.59
They run and hide.
00:20:57.62\00:20:58.73
Now they hide from
the presence of the Lord.
00:20:58.76\00:21:01.03
You always run and hide from God
00:21:01.06\00:21:03.09
when you're doing what
you shouldn't be doing.
00:21:03.12\00:21:06.88
But you can't run and hide.
00:21:06.91\00:21:10.20
You can run but you can't hide.
00:21:10.23\00:21:13.42
Listen, listen to this.
00:21:13.45\00:21:17.12
She's behind the tree,
he is behind a tree naked.
00:21:17.15\00:21:20.42
And God says,
where are you, Adam?
00:21:20.45\00:21:23.30
Behind this tree naked, Father.
00:21:23.33\00:21:26.38
Hey, listen to me,
00:21:26.41\00:21:27.91
the first call of God
in the garden showed love.
00:21:27.94\00:21:30.43
He said where are you
to the very last words.
00:21:30.46\00:21:32.55
I knock at the
door that's Revelation.
00:21:32.58\00:21:34.47
I knock at the
door where are you?
00:21:34.50\00:21:36.21
You're in your house,
I'm coming to your house.
00:21:36.24\00:21:38.20
You're in your garden,
I'm coming to your garden.
00:21:38.23\00:21:40.03
You are on the-- on
the thoroughfares of life.
00:21:40.06\00:21:44.08
I'll find you, I'm your God
00:21:44.11\00:21:49.16
and I choose to love you.
00:21:49.19\00:21:52.09
I choose. Crazy thing about it.
00:21:52.12\00:21:59.14
For thousands of years
00:21:59.17\00:22:00.41
we've tried to
help fix this problem,
00:22:00.44\00:22:04.53
but keeps getting worse.
00:22:04.56\00:22:07.11
We master the Adam
00:22:07.14\00:22:08.17
and nearly obliterate
ourselves with an atom bomb.
00:22:08.20\00:22:12.55
We try to fix it.
00:22:12.58\00:22:14.41
We learn the secrets of life
00:22:14.44\00:22:15.92
and only to develop techniques
to destroy the unborn.
00:22:15.95\00:22:21.33
We have knocked the genetic code
00:22:21.36\00:22:23.33
and open a
Pandora's box of ethics.
00:22:23.36\00:22:26.14
We tamed the great
plains with agriculture
00:22:26.17\00:22:29.14
and cause a dust bowl.
00:22:29.17\00:22:30.69
We try to fix it
with our technology
00:22:30.72\00:22:33.12
to fix the environment
00:22:33.15\00:22:34.34
and harvest the
rainforest and create floods.
00:22:34.37\00:22:37.34
We harness internal
combustion and melt the ice cap.
00:22:37.37\00:22:40.22
I mean, we link the world
00:22:40.25\00:22:41.72
with the
engineered only to find out
00:22:41.75\00:22:43.45
most downloading
items of pornography.
00:22:43.48\00:22:46.37
I mean every advance
introduces us to failure.
00:22:46.40\00:22:49.43
Every time we try
to clean the birdcage
00:22:49.46\00:22:51.89
we get deeper into trouble
and the poor bird suffers.
00:22:51.92\00:22:56.94
We want to control them
for there's any eternal truth.
00:23:00.35\00:23:07.15
Listen to me,
there is an eternal truth
00:23:07.18\00:23:11.00
and that truth is,
00:23:11.03\00:23:12.55
there's big
risk in creating man.
00:23:12.58\00:23:15.17
Every parent knows that.
00:23:15.20\00:23:17.21
That Mrs. Hikeman did not create
00:23:17.24\00:23:19.76
A.F. Hikeman the murderer.
00:23:19.79\00:23:23.37
It's called free will.
00:23:23.40\00:23:24.54
Now this thing free will
00:23:24.57\00:23:26.17
is often
misunderstood by Christians.
00:23:26.20\00:23:29.63
Let me try to define it for you.
00:23:29.66\00:23:31.23
It's the ability to act
at one's own discretion.
00:23:31.26\00:23:34.94
It's self-determination,
freedom of choice,
00:23:34.97\00:23:37.51
autonomy, liberty, independence,
00:23:37.54\00:23:40.23
definition for free will.
00:23:40.26\00:23:43.54
Christians often
misunderstand free will
00:23:43.57\00:23:45.74
in the context of being saved.
00:23:45.77\00:23:47.91
Some say you've free
will until you get saved
00:23:47.94\00:23:52.78
and then you have
no choice of free will
00:23:52.81\00:23:55.20
after you've been saved.
00:23:55.23\00:23:56.95
Interesting, isn't? I
mean, it's very interesting.
00:23:56.98\00:24:00.13
God gives me the
choice to choose Him
00:24:00.16\00:24:02.39
but not a choice to reject Him.
00:24:02.42\00:24:05.67
Now after I've chosen
Him, I can't reject Him.
00:24:05.70\00:24:10.42
I'm-- I must
admit it's a difficult
00:24:10.45\00:24:12.41
problem this thing free will.
00:24:12.44\00:24:14.15
John wrestled with it
and we're gonna see that
00:24:14.18\00:24:16.11
as we get
deeper into Revelation.
00:24:16.14\00:24:17.74
I mean, it's difficult to
be lost after one is saved.
00:24:17.77\00:24:21.81
No question.
00:24:21.84\00:24:23.20
You can't beat me
away from Jesus Christ.
00:24:23.23\00:24:26.69
I mean, I love Him
so much but we all agree
00:24:26.72\00:24:30.49
that God cannot
force us into faith.
00:24:30.52\00:24:35.29
And so it follows that if
God can't force us into faith,
00:24:35.32\00:24:39.07
He can't force us
from falling from faith.
00:24:39.10\00:24:43.31
Example, Judas
was chosen by God.
00:24:43.34\00:24:45.62
In fact, the Bible says,
00:24:45.65\00:24:46.69
"Have not I
chosen you the twelve,
00:24:46.72\00:24:47.99
and one of you is a devil?"
00:24:48.02\00:24:49.91
But he was chosen by Christ.
00:24:49.94\00:24:52.86
Look what happened to Judas.
00:24:52.89\00:24:54.73
I mean, there are
examples in the Bible
00:24:54.76\00:24:56.74
and I'll just let you read them
00:24:56.77\00:24:57.90
and think about
them for a moment
00:24:57.93\00:25:00.12
or for a day or a
week or a month whatever.
00:25:00.15\00:25:02.46
Demas, a
disciple of Jesus Christ.
00:25:02.49\00:25:04.72
Demas was a
disciple of the apostles.
00:25:04.75\00:25:07.91
He was a soul winning disciple,
then it almost says Demas,
00:25:07.94\00:25:11.91
then it says
Demas have forsaken us
00:25:11.94\00:25:16.17
for love of the world.
00:25:16.20\00:25:18.15
Example, free will,
00:25:18.18\00:25:19.96
He can choose to
serve or not to serve.
00:25:19.99\00:25:23.42
He can choose to say
his prayers and not to pray.
00:25:23.45\00:25:26.36
He can choose to be silent
00:25:26.39\00:25:27.97
or he can choose to
witness for the glory of God.
00:25:28.00\00:25:30.68
You see Demas and then
00:25:30.71\00:25:32.47
there's the
example of how Hymcncus.
00:25:32.50\00:25:35.44
I have bit of Brooklyn accent.
00:25:35.47\00:25:36.59
Somebody's you know words
00:25:36.62\00:25:38.46
it's difficult with
the Brooklyn accent.
00:25:38.49\00:25:41.29
Hymcncus and Alexandria.
00:25:41.32\00:25:48.52
The Bible says made a
shipwreck of their faith,
00:25:48.55\00:25:52.33
1 Timothy1:19, 20.
00:25:52.36\00:25:54.26
Free will is
nothing to be played with.
00:25:54.29\00:25:56.48
Free will love
always requires free will
00:25:56.51\00:25:58.78
and if God is love,
00:25:58.81\00:25:59.96
He must always
and everywhere allow
00:25:59.99\00:26:02.11
for two choices right or wrong.
00:26:02.14\00:26:08.21
I'm sure you've known someone
who came to know the Lord
00:26:08.24\00:26:12.73
and I mean they
were on fire for God.
00:26:12.76\00:26:15.97
I mean they were
sharing their faith
00:26:16.00\00:26:19.53
and they are making choices,
00:26:19.56\00:26:22.03
making choices
completely on fire.
00:26:22.06\00:26:25.33
Making choices but then...
00:26:25.36\00:26:30.34
you make the wrong choices.
00:26:30.37\00:26:33.43
And before you know
it you're away from God.
00:26:33.46\00:26:38.89
Another thought but
the devil seek to tempt you
00:26:38.92\00:26:42.57
if you could not fall
00:26:42.60\00:26:45.44
go with the devil
even think up tempting you
00:26:45.47\00:26:52.04
if you could not fall,
00:26:52.07\00:26:57.94
could not fall.
00:26:57.97\00:27:00.54
I call it free faith
00:27:00.57\00:27:03.02
just as I talk about free grace.
00:27:03.05\00:27:05.85
I talk about free
faith but it's not,
00:27:05.88\00:27:09.63
it's not something
you fall into a mistake,
00:27:09.66\00:27:12.87
it's deliberate, sustain,
00:27:12.90\00:27:14.67
determined
rejection of Jesus Christ.
00:27:14.70\00:27:18.51
I've a friend, he
fell in love with God
00:27:18.54\00:27:21.39
and he was
enthusiastic about faith.
00:27:21.42\00:27:23.93
He was sharing
faith everywhere he went.
00:27:23.96\00:27:25.87
He went to the
college, he went to a seminary,
00:27:25.90\00:27:28.01
wanted to be a
minister, got a beautiful church
00:27:28.04\00:27:29.83
and was a minister of the gospel
00:27:29.86\00:27:31.47
preaching and teaching
00:27:31.50\00:27:33.27
and then he started
making choices and...
00:27:33.30\00:27:36.02
he made wrong choices
until one day he decided
00:27:41.43\00:27:45.04
he wouldn't even believe in God.
00:27:45.07\00:27:49.45
And now he is
an in avid atheist.
00:27:49.48\00:27:52.46
Hope we can rationalize and say,
00:27:52.49\00:27:53.59
oh, that man wasn't
converted or-- How do we know?
00:27:53.62\00:27:58.00
How do we know that his
heart was not touched by God
00:27:58.03\00:28:01.11
but God had given him choices.
00:28:01.14\00:28:03.69
God had given him free
will as he did a perfect.
00:28:03.72\00:28:06.29
If He gave Adam and Eve
perfect beings free will,
00:28:06.32\00:28:09.26
don't you think He should give
00:28:09.29\00:28:11.03
sinner saved by grace free will?
00:28:11.06\00:28:13.50
Amen.
00:28:13.53\00:28:15.25
That's why we find
ours elf in a predicament.
00:28:15.28\00:28:19.99
There's a big risk in
creating, in creating humans.
00:28:20.02\00:28:25.82
Let me just back
up here a minute.
00:28:25.85\00:28:28.83
My boy growing up we
lived in a, in Connecticut.
00:28:28.86\00:28:32.23
We lived on the
cul-de-sac and my little Ronnie
00:28:32.26\00:28:35.67
I got a I, I got a sandbox
for him in the front yard
00:28:35.70\00:28:40.72
and Carrol said to me one day,
00:28:40.75\00:28:43.10
I've got to go shopping,
I'm gonna take the little one.
00:28:43.13\00:28:45.51
That's my girl.
00:28:45.54\00:28:46.60
Gonna take my little
one shopping with me,
00:28:46.63\00:28:48.89
you watch Ronnie.
00:28:48.92\00:28:50.95
So I said, hons,
don't worry about it.
00:28:50.98\00:28:53.26
You know me.
00:28:53.29\00:28:54.53
Then she said it
again. You watch Ronnie.
00:28:54.56\00:28:59.21
And so I put
Ronnie in the sandbox
00:28:59.24\00:29:02.26
and I piled it with toys.
00:29:02.29\00:29:03.63
I mean bulldozer,
do you know you get--
00:29:03.66\00:29:06.17
you get all the
toys you wanted as a kid
00:29:06.20\00:29:07.88
you couldn't get
you give it to the kids.
00:29:07.91\00:29:09.67
Come on, right? Right.
00:29:09.70\00:29:13.51
All right.
00:29:13.54\00:29:15.43
Anyway I said now Ronnie,
00:29:15.46\00:29:17.52
you play here daddy
got to go down and study.
00:29:17.55\00:29:21.91
But remember play right there,
00:29:21.94\00:29:23.09
I don't want you
out of the sandbox.
00:29:23.12\00:29:26.01
No, daddy.
00:29:26.04\00:29:28.79
I went down I was
studying for a while
00:29:28.82\00:29:30.34
and I was thinking about my boy.
00:29:30.37\00:29:31.72
Chip off the old block.
00:29:31.75\00:29:33.81
I was getting
nervous so I ran up,
00:29:33.84\00:29:35.54
open the door my little boy
00:29:35.57\00:29:37.05
was standing at the
road with one foot in.
00:29:37.08\00:29:42.23
I said pulled the door,
Ronnie, that's the judgment,
00:29:42.26\00:29:46.02
that's the
trumpet of the last days.
00:29:46.05\00:29:50.68
Ronnie,
00:29:50.71\00:29:53.15
and he came running
back towards I didn't have to
00:29:53.18\00:29:56.35
go into a
theological discussion with him.
00:29:56.38\00:29:59.31
I didn't have to talk
to him about free will.
00:29:59.34\00:30:02.61
He dove into the sandbox.
00:30:02.64\00:30:05.36
I said now Ronnie,
you stay in that sandbox,
00:30:05.39\00:30:07.34
I don't want none of this.
00:30:07.37\00:30:08.47
I don't want you near that road,
00:30:08.50\00:30:09.70
you don't go a
foot near that road.
00:30:09.73\00:30:11.59
You stay in that
sandbox. You hear me?
00:30:11.62\00:30:14.86
That's when you
put on your real tough
00:30:14.89\00:30:16.91
you know, I even threw
him a little Brooklyn accent.
00:30:16.94\00:30:19.84
You hear me, kid.
00:30:19.87\00:30:25.53
And I went downstairs and
I'm thinking about this kid
00:30:25.56\00:30:30.57
and I said oh, no
chip off the block.
00:30:30.60\00:30:33.54
So I rang
upstairs and sure enough
00:30:33.57\00:30:35.36
the kid had both feet up.
00:30:35.39\00:30:39.83
I open the door
and said, Ronnie,
00:30:39.86\00:30:43.40
now judgment hours there,
00:30:43.43\00:30:45.34
by the way you know
nowadays you say time out.
00:30:45.37\00:30:50.78
Give me a
break, I want time out.
00:30:50.81\00:30:52.43
What's this about? I
said, Ronnie, come here.
00:30:52.46\00:30:55.86
And he went like this
all the way to the sandbox.
00:30:55.89\00:31:01.35
Now I could solve
the problem can I?
00:31:01.38\00:31:03.18
I mean, I could
solve the problem,
00:31:03.21\00:31:04.98
I could take Ronnie
lock him in a closet.
00:31:05.01\00:31:12.43
Throw away the key oh,
no, I be a kind enough.
00:31:12.46\00:31:16.67
I cut a little slack in the door
00:31:16.70\00:31:18.82
and feed him every
now and then you know,
00:31:18.85\00:31:21.36
but I solved the
problem wouldn't I?
00:31:21.39\00:31:26.29
Or I could take him in my arms
00:31:26.32\00:31:29.34
and I can say,
Ronnie, I love you honey.
00:31:29.37\00:31:32.73
Daddy don't want
you to go by the road
00:31:32.76\00:31:34.32
because big car may come by
and hit you and if I lost you.
00:31:34.35\00:31:39.93
And then I could
teach him by example.
00:31:39.96\00:31:43.30
Don't you see how God
works in this universe?
00:31:43.33\00:31:47.90
Don't you see how God
works I mean lock them up.
00:31:47.93\00:31:52.24
No, God couldn't lock you
up but no God gave you freedom.
00:31:52.27\00:31:57.26
I mean He gave you freedom
00:31:57.29\00:31:59.26
and that's where
we find ourselves
00:31:59.29\00:32:01.17
when we talk about free will.
00:32:01.20\00:32:03.04
By the way there's
actually three of God's will.
00:32:03.07\00:32:06.51
You say I wish I was in
a context of God's will.
00:32:06.54\00:32:09.22
Well, God has three wills,
I want you to understand them.
00:32:09.25\00:32:11.57
I want you to
understand them tonight.
00:32:11.60\00:32:13.35
This first of all what
I call Intentional Will.
00:32:13.38\00:32:16.83
Intentional Will.
00:32:16.86\00:32:18.92
Notice this intentional will,
00:32:18.95\00:32:22.50
that means what
God intended for you.
00:32:22.53\00:32:24.25
In the beginning God
intended you have joy.
00:32:24.28\00:32:26.38
In the beginning God intended
you to be a happy family.
00:32:26.41\00:32:28.97
In the beginning God
wanted the best for you
00:32:29.00\00:32:31.06
even in this life God
has wanted the best for you.
00:32:31.09\00:32:33.96
Every one of you here
God has a plan for you,
00:32:33.99\00:32:36.35
it was intentional.
00:32:36.38\00:32:37.47
God said Adam,
you'll live forever.
00:32:37.50\00:32:43.42
It was His intention.
00:32:43.45\00:32:47.31
Circumstantial Will and
finally there is Ultimate Will.
00:32:47.34\00:32:52.22
Let's look at
it, Intentional Will.
00:32:52.25\00:32:54.18
Let's look here and
see what the Bible says.
00:32:54.21\00:32:56.21
Notice what this
Intentional Will is.
00:32:56.24\00:32:58.13
"And God sort every
thing that he had made,
00:32:58.16\00:32:59.66
and, behold, it was very good.
00:32:59.69\00:33:00.95
The evening and the
morning with the sixth day."
00:33:00.98\00:33:03.61
That's what God says here.
00:33:03.64\00:33:04.91
Now He made a perfect garden
00:33:04.94\00:33:06.04
for perfect people
that was intention.
00:33:06.07\00:33:07.74
He want them to be happy
00:33:07.77\00:33:08.80
He gave them
children, the children family.
00:33:08.83\00:33:11.17
By the way there's something
beautiful about family.
00:33:11.20\00:33:14.96
We've made a mess of it
00:33:14.99\00:33:16.02
but there's
something beautiful about it.
00:33:16.05\00:33:19.41
When we get
together Thanksgiving
00:33:19.44\00:33:20.87
and Christmas my boys come,
00:33:20.90\00:33:23.05
my boy comes, my girl
comes, and their children come
00:33:23.08\00:33:26.72
and my great
grand kids they come
00:33:26.75\00:33:30.59
and now my
great-great no great-great-great
00:33:30.62\00:33:34.26
I keep giving extra great
00:33:34.29\00:33:35.58
I hope I meet my great-great
00:33:35.61\00:33:37.44
but anyway great when they come
00:33:37.47\00:33:39.99
there's nothing like family.
00:33:40.02\00:33:43.13
We have wonderful time together
that was the intention of God,
00:33:43.16\00:33:47.44
but sin entered the world.
00:33:47.47\00:33:49.63
Because of sin,
00:33:49.66\00:33:52.06
because of sin
something happened to us
00:33:52.09\00:33:54.95
and that let us beyond pain,
00:33:54.98\00:33:59.29
that let us beyond pain
00:33:59.32\00:34:02.39
and it led to death
and it's not pretty.
00:34:02.42\00:34:07.56
World we know
now it's not pretty.
00:34:07.59\00:34:11.28
You see there
was circumstantial--
00:34:11.31\00:34:13.23
we go by different rules now.
00:34:13.26\00:34:15.67
You see, God has to work
now in the circumstances.
00:34:15.70\00:34:18.25
You made choices,
put yourself in a mess.
00:34:18.28\00:34:20.14
Now God is trying
to clean up the mess,
00:34:20.17\00:34:21.74
you see that's the problem.
00:34:21.77\00:34:24.36
You see the things
that God wants for you,
00:34:24.39\00:34:26.02
you don't choose
and the things that
00:34:26.05\00:34:29.17
He chooses for
you, you don't want.
00:34:29.20\00:34:32.70
And then we get
into mess, we say God,
00:34:32.73\00:34:34.09
why don't You do something.
00:34:34.12\00:34:37.52
God, how can you don't
help me out of this mess?
00:34:37.55\00:34:39.36
Why? God, I'm in debt card.
00:34:39.39\00:34:43.83
God didn't take your plastic
card down to the-- come on
00:34:43.86\00:34:49.44
but God has to
work in circumstance.
00:34:49.47\00:34:52.04
God has to help you
in your circumstance.
00:34:52.07\00:34:53.85
And by the way many
times He does, amen.
00:34:53.88\00:34:55.97
He does but then is
the ultimate will of God.
00:34:56.00\00:34:59.62
Listen the ultimate will of God
and that's found in the Bible.
00:34:59.65\00:35:06.26
"For God so loved the world,
00:35:06.29\00:35:09.53
that he gave His
only begotten Son,
00:35:09.56\00:35:12.11
that whosoever believeth
in him should not perish,
00:35:12.14\00:35:14.87
but have everlasting life."
00:35:14.90\00:35:17.36
The Bible says, "Thy
will be done on" what?
00:35:17.39\00:35:20.06
"Earth." That's
the ultimate will.
00:35:20.09\00:35:21.52
God is going to
give us back the kingdom.
00:35:21.55\00:35:23.83
God is gonna give
us back the new Eden.
00:35:23.86\00:35:25.75
God is gonna give us
back that which we lost
00:35:25.78\00:35:29.26
and that's His
ultimate will for you.
00:35:29.29\00:35:30.90
God's ultimate will for you
00:35:30.93\00:35:32.07
is that you have
eternity before you.
00:35:32.10\00:35:34.46
God's ultimate will for you
00:35:34.49\00:35:35.91
is that you spend
eternity with Him.
00:35:35.94\00:35:37.99
God's ultimate will
for you is to love Him
00:35:38.02\00:35:40.32
and to be loved by Him.
00:35:40.35\00:35:41.62
God's ultimate will for
you is that you find the joy,
00:35:41.65\00:35:44.92
a peace that
passeth all understanding,
00:35:44.95\00:35:47.67
that's the ultimate
joy of God just for you.
00:35:47.70\00:35:51.39
That's ultimate
will. He's gonna change it.
00:35:51.42\00:35:56.19
I mean, He is gonna change,
00:35:56.22\00:35:57.25
buildings collapse,
tectonic plate shift
00:35:57.28\00:36:00.74
and accidents happen,
evil people resort to violence,
00:36:00.77\00:36:03.62
none of these evil things
reflect His intentional will
00:36:03.65\00:36:06.78
forth or forth
His ultimate will.
00:36:06.81\00:36:09.17
Thy will be done on earth.
00:36:09.20\00:36:11.03
Now there are four
reasonable explanations
00:36:11.06\00:36:14.08
for suffering in pain today.
00:36:14.11\00:36:16.81
First of all,
Satan is the instigator.
00:36:16.84\00:36:19.29
He is in direct
rebellion against God.
00:36:19.32\00:36:21.21
Much of the problem
we see in the world today
00:36:21.24\00:36:23.20
is the actions of
Satan working from people.
00:36:23.23\00:36:25.72
It's Satan that puts a gun
in the person to take a life.
00:36:25.75\00:36:30.40
You don't believe in it?
00:36:30.43\00:36:32.11
Hey, you don't believe--
00:36:32.14\00:36:33.17
A person told me that recently,
00:36:33.20\00:36:34.58
I don't believe in a devil.
00:36:34.61\00:36:36.09
I said, well, go
home look in the mirror.
00:36:36.12\00:36:41.58
Satan is the instigator of evil.
00:36:41.61\00:36:43.40
I mean he's in
direct rebellion of God.
00:36:43.43\00:36:45.24
He causes many tragedies
00:36:45.27\00:36:46.87
and he instigate
rebellion against God
00:36:46.90\00:36:49.49
and he plays a
significant role in temptation.
00:36:49.52\00:36:54.50
And so there's an
evil one seeking to devour.
00:36:54.53\00:36:57.92
Listen to me friend,
00:36:57.95\00:36:59.18
beware that he's a
deceiver, he's a liar.
00:36:59.21\00:37:03.28
I mean
everything he says is a lie.
00:37:03.31\00:37:04.79
He'll tell you're
beautiful when you are ugly
00:37:04.82\00:37:06.30
and tell you're ugly
when you are beautiful.
00:37:06.33\00:37:09.57
Come on, he'll tell you're happy
00:37:09.60\00:37:10.93
when you're unhappy.
00:37:10.96\00:37:12.32
He'll tell you
really have a high
00:37:12.35\00:37:13.47
when you really have a low.
00:37:13.50\00:37:16.27
He'll tell you
solution for your life is
00:37:16.30\00:37:18.30
eat, drink, be
merry, for tomorrow you die.
00:37:18.33\00:37:20.01
No, that's the
devil and he is real
00:37:20.04\00:37:23.67
and he is real and
he's the instigator,
00:37:23.70\00:37:26.23
he's the instigator.
00:37:26.26\00:37:27.29
Secondly, innocent people suffer
00:37:27.32\00:37:28.92
for the violation of
others against the law of God.
00:37:28.95\00:37:31.97
Just think of what
happened to the Russian people
00:37:32.00\00:37:34.30
because of Stalin.
00:37:34.33\00:37:37.00
Come on, think of what happened
00:37:37.03\00:37:38.69
to the Jewish
people because of Hitler.
00:37:38.72\00:37:42.54
Hey, think of what's happened
00:37:42.57\00:37:44.71
in family after
family after family,
00:37:44.74\00:37:47.99
the heartache and the suffering
00:37:48.02\00:37:49.56
and the sadness.
00:37:49.59\00:37:50.62
Come on, every one of
you have a story, don't you?
00:37:50.65\00:37:54.89
Every one of you have a story.
00:37:54.92\00:37:59.42
Millions suffer for
the violation of law.
00:37:59.45\00:38:01.55
A man is drunk and
driving down the road,
00:38:01.58\00:38:03.42
poor family coming home
from prayer meeting at night,
00:38:03.45\00:38:06.58
he runs into them
00:38:06.61\00:38:07.64
and kills them
four dead on the road
00:38:07.67\00:38:09.73
and he walks away staggering.
00:38:09.76\00:38:11.99
We suffer, innocent people
00:38:16.17\00:38:19.12
because of the
violation of others
00:38:19.15\00:38:21.62
against the law of God.
00:38:21.65\00:38:24.62
Thirdly, God sometimes
uses suffering to soften
00:38:24.65\00:38:28.71
and perfect our characters.
00:38:28.74\00:38:29.98
Amen, come on now. Amen.
00:38:30.01\00:38:32.59
You see He
maketh me to lie down,
00:38:32.62\00:38:34.43
that's when I'm looking up.
00:38:34.46\00:38:38.37
Twelve years ago,
00:38:38.40\00:38:40.83
twelve years ago I had a dream
00:38:40.86\00:38:43.96
and in that
dream I heard a voice
00:38:43.99\00:38:46.32
and the voices
said get a colonoscopy.
00:38:46.35\00:38:48.04
I thought it was a nightmare.
00:38:48.07\00:38:53.03
I turned over and
looked around the room
00:38:53.06\00:38:56.25
and went back to sleep.
00:38:56.28\00:38:57.95
Next two nights
later the voice again,
00:38:57.98\00:39:00.88
get a colonoscopy.
00:39:00.91\00:39:02.53
So I called my
doctor up I said, doctor,
00:39:02.56\00:39:04.40
I need a colonoscopy.
00:39:04.43\00:39:05.47
He says,
colonoscopy and he gave me
00:39:05.50\00:39:07.70
all the symptoms
I'm supposed to have.
00:39:07.73\00:39:09.18
I had none of
them. I'm jumping fences.
00:39:09.21\00:39:11.40
I still jump
fences, they are smaller now
00:39:11.43\00:39:13.98
but I jump them.
00:39:14.01\00:39:17.26
And I said I need a colonoscopy.
00:39:17.29\00:39:18.32
He said, why?
00:39:18.35\00:39:19.38
I said, well, Lord told
me, I should get a colonoscopy.
00:39:19.41\00:39:21.76
He said do you
have another reason?
00:39:21.79\00:39:24.11
I said, not a better reason.
00:39:24.14\00:39:27.42
They did the colonoscopy,
00:39:27.45\00:39:28.48
found a terrible
aggressive cancer
00:39:28.51\00:39:30.36
way up on the right hand side
of my colon above the appendix.
00:39:30.39\00:39:34.55
And doctor said
99 percent people
00:39:34.58\00:39:36.18
that get colon
cancer they have died
00:39:36.21\00:39:37.61
because by the time
they get the symptoms,
00:39:37.64\00:39:40.07
it's broken through
the-- broken through
00:39:40.10\00:39:42.72
and gone to the other organs.
00:39:42.75\00:39:45.10
And they did a surgery,
then I went to the oncologist.
00:39:45.13\00:39:48.78
He come out shaking his head.
00:39:48.81\00:39:49.91
He said, Mr.
Halvorsen, I can't believe this.
00:39:49.94\00:39:52.43
I said do you
believe in miracles?
00:39:52.46\00:39:53.96
He said, yeah. I
said, well, that's one.
00:39:53.99\00:39:56.72
He said it is.
00:39:56.75\00:39:57.78
99 percent of the
people that get the cancer
00:39:57.81\00:40:00.17
where you had it usually need
00:40:00.20\00:40:02.17
heavy doses of
chemo and radiation
00:40:02.20\00:40:05.47
but you don't even need that.
00:40:05.50\00:40:07.17
And that was 12 years
ago and I'm cancer free.
00:40:07.20\00:40:09.67
Praise God.
00:40:09.70\00:40:13.42
People suffer for
the violation of the law.
00:40:13.45\00:40:16.71
You can't break the
law or not be broken.
00:40:16.74\00:40:19.53
I mean, a man smokes
like-- even reads it,
00:40:19.56\00:40:24.92
then he gets lung cancer.
00:40:24.95\00:40:26.12
God why did you do this to me?
00:40:26.15\00:40:28.73
God had nothing to
do with lighting up.
00:40:28.76\00:40:32.75
Why do we blame
God for the things
00:40:32.78\00:40:34.34
that God doesn't do.
00:40:34.37\00:40:37.69
God didn't put a gun
on your head say smoke.
00:40:37.72\00:40:40.89
Some kid probably passed the tea
00:40:40.92\00:40:42.28
on the street car, no I did.
00:40:42.31\00:40:43.69
I use this.
00:40:43.72\00:40:47.78
Hey, a man drinks,
00:40:47.81\00:40:51.71
excessive drinking all the
time and get cirrhosis of liver,
00:40:51.74\00:40:56.01
turns to God why
do you put me here?
00:40:56.04\00:40:58.06
Why did you do this
to me? Where is God?
00:40:58.09\00:41:00.41
God was there,
00:41:00.44\00:41:01.48
God was trying to
tell you, sober up.
00:41:01.51\00:41:06.89
You see people suffer
for the violations of law.
00:41:06.92\00:41:11.04
Men and women uses drugs.
00:41:11.07\00:41:13.54
Hey, listen to me, I worked,
00:41:13.57\00:41:14.98
I worked in the
streets for years in New York
00:41:15.01\00:41:17.01
for the drug addicts,
00:41:17.04\00:41:18.07
the heroin addicts
and different addicts.
00:41:18.10\00:41:19.89
Let me tell you,
don't tell me about that,
00:41:19.92\00:41:21.85
I know I've been on that side.
00:41:21.88\00:41:24.50
It's not pleasant, but
I want to share with you.
00:41:24.53\00:41:28.44
I've seen hundreds,
literally thousands of them
00:41:28.47\00:41:32.80
for the grace of God anointing
to be set free from drugs.
00:41:32.83\00:41:37.38
Let me tell
you, there's nothing,
00:41:37.41\00:41:38.56
there's nothing
that can overcome you
00:41:38.59\00:41:39.99
through the
power of Jesus Christ.
00:41:40.02\00:41:42.60
But anyway man but promiscuous
00:41:42.63\00:41:45.64
and we wonder what happens.
00:41:45.67\00:41:47.11
We burnt-- a man
burns a candle at both ends,
00:41:47.14\00:41:49.68
you know, his
business, everything is business
00:41:49.71\00:41:51.50
running to and fro
burning the candle at both ends
00:41:51.53\00:41:53.97
and then he has a heart attack
00:41:54.00\00:41:55.58
and he is laying there says
God, why did you do this to me?
00:41:55.61\00:41:57.82
No, you did this to you
00:41:57.85\00:42:01.09
and they are the four
reasonable explanations.
00:42:01.12\00:42:04.38
Pointing fingers at God
doesn't solve our problem,
00:42:04.41\00:42:08.85
and that's why the
Bible says "Be not deceived,
00:42:08.88\00:42:12.92
God is not mocked for
whatever a man soweth,
00:42:12.95\00:42:15.67
that shall he also" what?
00:42:15.70\00:42:18.30
"Reap."
00:42:18.33\00:42:21.05
In Romans it
tells us about that,
00:42:21.08\00:42:24.97
"And we know that
all things work together
00:42:25.00\00:42:26.44
for good to them that love God."
00:42:26.47\00:42:27.67
Hey that doesn't
mean cancer is good.
00:42:27.70\00:42:29.56
That doesn't mean a
man with leukemia is good.
00:42:29.59\00:42:31.72
That doesn't
mean-- no, that's not good
00:42:31.75\00:42:33.61
but he says all things
work together for good.
00:42:33.64\00:42:35.82
You see, out of my sickness,
00:42:35.85\00:42:37.18
out of my cancer
some good came from it
00:42:37.21\00:42:39.35
because I had a
stronger faith in God.
00:42:39.38\00:42:41.74
I walk from that
hospital knowing that my God
00:42:41.77\00:42:45.16
will be with me even to the end.
00:42:45.19\00:42:49.08
Even to the end.
00:42:49.11\00:42:51.75
He says, "We know
all things work together
00:42:51.78\00:42:54.29
for good to them that love God,
00:42:54.32\00:42:55.72
called
according to His purpose."
00:42:55.75\00:42:58.26
Not that cancer is
good, leukemia is not good,
00:42:58.29\00:43:00.28
death is not good
00:43:00.31\00:43:02.28
but out of it God can use good.
00:43:02.31\00:43:04.66
Out of it can
come, can come good.
00:43:04.69\00:43:07.61
The Bible teaches us that
00:43:07.64\00:43:09.23
and "Who shall separate
us from the love of Christ?
00:43:09.26\00:43:11.50
Shall tribulation, distress..."
00:43:11.53\00:43:13.04
Now here's the pilgrim.
00:43:13.07\00:43:14.37
I'm talking about you
00:43:14.40\00:43:15.44
who are serious
about the kingdom of God.
00:43:15.47\00:43:17.48
He says, "Who shall
separate us from the love God?
00:43:17.51\00:43:20.41
Shall tribulation, or distress,
00:43:20.44\00:43:23.52
or persecution, or
famine, or nakedness."
00:43:23.55\00:43:27.20
Who is that? Is
that the believer?
00:43:27.23\00:43:28.85
Come on, "Shall
nakedness, or peril, or sword?
00:43:28.88\00:43:32.39
It is written, For thy
sake we are killed all day long,
00:43:32.42\00:43:35.94
we are accounted as
sheep for the slaughter.
00:43:35.97\00:43:37.71
Nay, in all these things
00:43:37.74\00:43:38.98
we are more than
conquerors through him.
00:43:39.01\00:43:41.01
For I am
persuaded, neither death,
00:43:41.04\00:43:42.77
nor life, nor angels,
00:43:42.80\00:43:43.83
nor
principalities, nor powers, "
00:43:43.86\00:43:45.72
nor things
present, nor things to come,
00:43:45.75\00:43:47.72
nor height, nor depth,
nor any other creature,
00:43:47.75\00:43:51.84
shall be able to separate
us from the love of God,
00:43:51.87\00:43:55.13
which is in
Christ Jesus our Lord.
00:43:55.16\00:43:56.89
Can you say amen
in this place? Amen.
00:43:56.92\00:43:59.86
Can you say amen
in this place? Amen.
00:43:59.89\00:44:02.18
There's a final showdown
between Christ and Satan.
00:44:02.21\00:44:06.35
There's a great controversy
between good and evil.
00:44:06.38\00:44:08.26
It's right on
going on right now.
00:44:08.29\00:44:10.67
Don't be looking
down for the antichrist,
00:44:10.70\00:44:12.30
he is already here.
00:44:12.33\00:44:14.76
Listen to me, he's already here.
00:44:14.79\00:44:19.92
He's already here and
death is the final enemy.
00:44:19.95\00:44:25.36
The final showdown.
00:44:25.39\00:44:28.05
Brother Lawson
was a wonderful man.
00:44:28.08\00:44:30.68
I used to go visit him
00:44:30.71\00:44:31.74
when I was a pastor
at university church
00:44:31.77\00:44:33.44
and I would go over him,
00:44:33.47\00:44:34.90
he had crippling
arthritis 38 years
00:44:34.93\00:44:37.23
was in the bed, 38 years.
00:44:37.26\00:44:41.84
He was inspiration to me.
00:44:41.87\00:44:44.47
In my family I
have an inspiration
00:44:44.50\00:44:46.83
her name is Ann.
00:44:46.86\00:44:49.17
She has MS and she lost her boy
00:44:49.20\00:44:53.17
who was murdered
but whenever I call,
00:44:53.20\00:44:56.64
I hope she
answers and not my brother
00:44:56.67\00:44:58.53
because I hear her
beautiful voice always,
00:44:58.56\00:45:02.00
always positive.
00:45:02.03\00:45:04.73
She inspires when I had
cancer, she inspires me.
00:45:04.76\00:45:08.79
Brother Lawson I would go visit
00:45:08.82\00:45:10.07
and he inspire me and
Brother Lawson 38 years
00:45:10.10\00:45:12.88
finally I said to
him Brother Lawson,
00:45:12.91\00:45:15.65
I mean 38 years
you've been sick in your bed,
00:45:15.68\00:45:17.79
38 years how come you
have such a beautiful attitude.
00:45:17.82\00:45:21.62
He says, well this
isn't gonna last forever.
00:45:21.65\00:45:25.04
Thirty eight years.
00:45:25.07\00:45:30.23
This isn't gonna last forever.
00:45:30.26\00:45:32.54
I want to tell you
00:45:32.57\00:45:33.60
it's not gonna
last like this forever
00:45:33.63\00:45:37.88
because the God that
created human beings,
00:45:37.91\00:45:38.94
the God that created
those beings in His own image.
00:45:38.97\00:45:42.27
The God that fashioned them
gives them away to be restored,
00:45:42.30\00:45:48.86
and that
restoration will take place,
00:45:48.89\00:45:51.37
and the restoration
it's right around the corner.
00:45:51.40\00:45:54.61
I mean redemption.
There's new beginnings.
00:45:54.64\00:45:57.80
He's talking
about new beginnings.
00:45:57.83\00:46:00.28
He's talking
about fulfillment, joy.
00:46:00.31\00:46:04.52
In my devotions this morning
00:46:04.55\00:46:05.59
I was reading the Psalms
it said laugh, and have joy.
00:46:05.62\00:46:11.53
I like that.
00:46:11.56\00:46:13.71
I don't like these
sour push Christians.
00:46:13.74\00:46:21.40
Have joy.
00:46:21.43\00:46:22.79
Jesus Christ has an
ultimate will for you, have joy.
00:46:22.82\00:46:26.46
Jesus is creating
garden for you again have joy.
00:46:26.49\00:46:29.96
Jesus is gonna take
away your sorrow, have joy,
00:46:29.99\00:46:33.08
fulfillment in Jesus Christ.
00:46:33.11\00:46:35.35
All things are possible
through Him who believes
00:46:35.38\00:46:42.03
and I've seen
wretched lives made joyful.
00:46:42.06\00:46:47.82
I've seen the downtrodden,
00:46:47.85\00:46:50.80
I've worked in India
on the streets of India
00:46:50.83\00:46:55.06
and I've seen the
downtrodden to lift them up
00:46:55.09\00:46:58.46
and see them come to
themselves and come to joy.
00:46:58.49\00:47:03.95
I followed that woman a
beautiful nun, Sister Teresa.
00:47:03.98\00:47:10.50
I've seen her working
for the lowest of the low,
00:47:10.53\00:47:13.04
the poorest of the poor.
00:47:13.07\00:47:15.99
And I saw them in
the house of dying
00:47:16.02\00:47:18.16
and they would bring them in
00:47:18.19\00:47:19.22
and they would
bathe their wounds
00:47:19.25\00:47:20.80
and the maggots
already eating away the back.
00:47:20.83\00:47:24.56
You have no idea of the smell,
00:47:24.59\00:47:27.96
and there they are working
00:47:27.99\00:47:32.65
to fulfill joy, to bring joy.
00:47:32.68\00:47:37.81
Listen to me brother and sister,
00:47:37.84\00:47:40.65
God is working out His
plan and His plan is for you.
00:47:40.68\00:47:46.60
Wherever you are
in this auditorium
00:47:46.63\00:47:49.92
whether you are on the other
side of the world listening in,
00:47:49.95\00:47:53.42
God has a plan of
fulfillment for you.
00:47:53.45\00:47:56.28
God has come to
rescue you, to lift you out.
00:47:56.31\00:48:00.14
He says how can you escape
00:48:00.17\00:48:01.88
if you neglect so
greater salvation.
00:48:01.91\00:48:04.94
When I was young boy
00:48:04.97\00:48:06.00
I used the swim
in the East River,
00:48:06.03\00:48:08.61
not a pleasant place to
swim with the big water rats.
00:48:08.64\00:48:12.86
Well they looked like that
00:48:12.89\00:48:13.92
when you come up
face to face with them.
00:48:13.95\00:48:17.63
And I used to dive up
of the a pilings up upriver
00:48:17.66\00:48:22.09
and we used to hang a rope down
00:48:22.12\00:48:24.93
and we would swim as
fast-- soon as we hit the water
00:48:24.96\00:48:27.65
we swam as fast we
could to catch the rope.
00:48:27.68\00:48:29.95
If we missed the rope
we wound up at the Bowery.
00:48:29.98\00:48:34.94
Listen to me,
God laid down a rope,
00:48:34.97\00:48:39.65
you're caught in
a swirling river.
00:48:39.68\00:48:42.21
You say, Brother Ron,
00:48:42.24\00:48:43.37
I don't know if I
ever get out of this.
00:48:43.40\00:48:44.70
You can.
00:48:44.73\00:48:47.08
You say, Brother Ron, I
don't know if I can make it.
00:48:47.11\00:48:49.87
You can, because this God
00:48:49.90\00:48:54.15
that came to
rescue you 1,900 years ago
00:48:54.18\00:48:58.48
comes to this place right
now to rescue you, to save you
00:48:58.51\00:49:06.17
and to give you the
hope, the hope of glory.
00:49:06.20\00:49:09.83
Bible question, we are
looking at right now is this.
00:49:46.23\00:49:49.28
Where did God come from?
00:49:49.31\00:49:52.88
Normally, some of
our younger participants,
00:49:52.91\00:49:55.46
so viewers or
attendees ask that question.
00:49:55.49\00:49:59.15
Where did God come from?
00:49:59.18\00:50:01.93
I'm gonna be honest with
you and tell you the answer.
00:50:01.96\00:50:04.54
I don't know and nobody knows
00:50:04.57\00:50:07.90
except for the fact
that God is eternal.
00:50:07.93\00:50:11.78
Well, everything has to
have a beginning, right?
00:50:11.81\00:50:14.48
Yeah, except for God.
00:50:14.51\00:50:16.82
If God had a beginning
then He wouldn't be truly God
00:50:16.85\00:50:21.05
and whatever brought about
00:50:21.08\00:50:22.66
the beginning of
God would be God.
00:50:22.69\00:50:26.12
It's a mystery
00:50:26.15\00:50:27.20
and we don't need
to pretend otherwise.
00:50:27.23\00:50:29.65
It's something that a Christian
00:50:29.68\00:50:31.64
or anybody for that
matter can accept by faith.
00:50:31.67\00:50:34.63
The Bible says in Genesis 1:1. "
00:50:34.66\00:50:39.13
In the beginning God created
the heaven and the earth."
00:50:39.16\00:50:43.81
That's creation,
00:50:43.84\00:50:45.04
but we like to say
in the beginning God.
00:50:45.07\00:50:47.63
Now does that mean
that God had a beginning?
00:50:47.66\00:50:51.07
No, you can go back as
far as you like in time
00:50:51.10\00:50:53.67
and none of us
can go back very far
00:50:53.70\00:50:56.03
and we cannot say
that God began at all.
00:50:56.06\00:51:00.20
In God is life original
un-borrowed, un-derived.
00:51:00.23\00:51:07.31
God is the self existent one.
00:51:07.34\00:51:10.50
Remember Moses
asked God about himself
00:51:10.53\00:51:13.84
and God said I am that I am.
00:51:13.87\00:51:18.57
I am the self existent one.
00:51:18.60\00:51:21.13
The God of heaven is
not depended upon anything.
00:51:21.16\00:51:23.13
Nature, any kind of
force, any kind of power supply,
00:51:23.16\00:51:27.62
any individual or
entity for His being?
00:51:27.65\00:51:31.25
God simply is.
00:51:31.28\00:51:33.08
John 1:1, "In the
beginning was the Word,
00:51:33.11\00:51:35.71
and the Word was with
God, and the Word was God."
00:51:35.74\00:51:38.23
Same idea as
Genesis 1 really except here
00:51:38.26\00:51:40.39
speaking specifically of Jesus.
00:51:40.42\00:51:42.52
The Father, the
Son and the Holy Spirit
00:51:42.55\00:51:44.59
all of them are
eternal and I'm glad.
00:51:44.62\00:51:47.35
I am just glad
that I cannot explain
00:51:47.38\00:51:49.52
where God came from.
00:51:49.55\00:51:50.75
If I could this would
make God small and God is big,
00:51:50.78\00:51:53.84
God is immense, you understand.
00:51:53.87\00:51:57.01
Too big for me,
00:51:57.04\00:51:58.54
too big for my
mind to be able to say,
00:51:58.57\00:52:00.68
okay, I've got God in a box,
00:52:00.71\00:52:02.21
I've got
everything about God explain.
00:52:02.24\00:52:04.36
There are some things about
God we struggle to explain.
00:52:04.39\00:52:06.94
The decisions He make sometimes,
00:52:06.97\00:52:08.29
the providence
that He engages in.
00:52:08.32\00:52:10.80
Why He answers a
prayer one way today
00:52:10.83\00:52:12.72
and maybe
answers what seems to be
00:52:12.75\00:52:15.14
the same prayer
another way tomorrow?
00:52:15.17\00:52:18.49
Here's a thing.
00:52:18.52\00:52:20.19
Can you trust this God?
The answer is yes, you can.
00:52:20.22\00:52:24.15
Can you believe in this
God? The answer is yes, you can.
00:52:24.18\00:52:28.04
Has this God ever done anything
00:52:28.07\00:52:30.78
to give you any
reason to distrust Him,
00:52:30.81\00:52:34.37
be displeased
with Him, to doubt Him,
00:52:34.40\00:52:36.98
to turn your back on
Him, to give up on Him,
00:52:37.01\00:52:38.96
to walk away from Him?
00:52:38.99\00:52:40.51
No, no, no and no.
00:52:40.54\00:52:44.33
In the beginning God,
00:52:44.36\00:52:45.59
thank God He has always been
00:52:45.62\00:52:48.25
and above and beyond all of that
00:52:48.28\00:52:50.16
or in addition to
that you can trust Him
00:52:50.19\00:52:53.64
and you can believe in Him,
00:52:53.67\00:52:55.03
He will always do the
right thing God is good.
00:52:55.06\00:52:59.10
It Is Written, is dedicated
00:52:59.13\00:53:00.57
to sharing the
gospel around the world.
00:53:00.60\00:53:02.79
To discover more
about It Is Written,
00:53:02.82\00:53:04.64
I invite you to
visit our website,
00:53:04.67\00:53:06.46
itiswritten.com
00:53:06.49\00:53:08.11
and browse the dozens of pages
00:53:08.14\00:53:09.98
that describe what
we do and how we do it.
00:53:10.01\00:53:12.47
Let's get to know
each other better.
00:53:12.50\00:53:13.99
Visit our website,
itiswritten.com today.
00:53:14.02\00:53:17.63
In Matthew 4:4
the Word of God says
00:53:20.02\00:53:22.58
"It is written,
00:53:22.61\00:53:23.66
'Man shall not
live by bread alone,
00:53:23.69\00:53:25.80
but by every word that proceeds
from the mouth of God.'"
00:53:25.83\00:53:29.64
Every Word is a one minute
Bible based daily devotional
00:53:29.67\00:53:32.87
presented by
Pastor John Bradshaw
00:53:32.90\00:53:35.04
and designed especially
for busy people like you.
00:53:35.07\00:53:38.05
Look for Every Word
on selected networks
00:53:38.08\00:53:40.81
or watch it online every day
on our website itiswritten.com.
00:53:40.84\00:53:45.28
Receive a daily spiritual boost.
00:53:45.31\00:53:47.42
Watch Every Word,
you will be glad you did.
00:53:47.45\00:53:50.41
Here's a sample.
00:53:50.44\00:53:51.64
In 2 Thessalonians 2:10
the Apostle Paul wrote about
00:54:00.18\00:54:04.05
a certain group of
people who he said,
00:54:04.08\00:54:06.56
"Received not
the love of the truth
00:54:06.59\00:54:08.93
that they might be saved."
00:54:08.96\00:54:10.65
Based on what Paul is saying
00:54:10.68\00:54:12.67
only those who love the
truth will receive eternal life.
00:54:12.70\00:54:16.08
He didn't say
salvation is for those
00:54:16.11\00:54:17.83
who know the truth only,
00:54:17.86\00:54:19.64
but those who love the truth.
00:54:19.67\00:54:21.98
I'm sure church
is crowed with people
00:54:22.01\00:54:23.77
who know the truth
00:54:23.80\00:54:25.29
but it's only when
Jesus touches your heart
00:54:25.32\00:54:27.23
that truth starts to
make any real difference.
00:54:27.26\00:54:30.17
While you study the Bible
00:54:30.20\00:54:31.23
and do whatever else
you do for spiritual growth,
00:54:31.26\00:54:33.74
keep in mind salvation
isn't only about theory.
00:54:33.77\00:54:36.83
You can be right
and still be wrong.
00:54:36.86\00:54:40.13
It's when you love the Savior,
00:54:40.16\00:54:41.63
who you find in the midst
of the truths of God's word
00:54:41.66\00:54:44.29
that things really come alive.
00:54:44.32\00:54:47.02
I'm John Bradshaw
for It Is Written.
00:54:47.05\00:54:49.23
Let's live today by every word.
00:54:49.26\00:54:51.26
Eyes for India is
giving sight to the blind
00:55:00.39\00:55:03.63
and you can be a
part of this amazing work
00:55:03.66\00:55:05.91
that God is doing.
00:55:05.94\00:55:07.53
15 million blind
people live in India,
00:55:07.56\00:55:09.97
more than any other
country in the world.
00:55:10.00\00:55:12.30
And many of the blind
in India could see again,
00:55:12.33\00:55:15.28
if only they could have
simple cataract surgery.
00:55:15.31\00:55:18.56
It Is Written is
making that happen.
00:55:18.59\00:55:21.49
Would you
support Eyes for India?
00:55:21.52\00:55:24.42
For just $75 you'll be giving
the gift of sight to someone
00:55:24.45\00:55:28.91
who desperately wants to see.
00:55:28.94\00:55:31.41
Here's all you need to
do. Call 1-800-253-3000.
00:55:31.44\00:55:35.99
That's 1-800-253-3000 to donate
00:55:36.02\00:55:40.19
and support Eyes for India
00:55:40.22\00:55:43.35
or you can write to
It Is Written, Box O,
00:55:43.38\00:55:46.38
Thousand Oaks,
California, 91359.
00:55:46.41\00:55:50.16
You'll also find Eyes for
India online at itiswritten.com.
00:55:50.19\00:55:55.10
Every $75 you give gives someone
00:55:55.13\00:55:58.00
the precious gift of sight.
00:55:58.03\00:55:59.98
Eyes for India,
doing the work of Jesus
00:56:00.01\00:56:02.58
in opening the eyes of the blind
00:56:02.61\00:56:05.06
and opening hearts
to the love of God.
00:56:05.09\00:56:07.96
Call 1-800-253-3000
or write to Box O,
00:56:07.99\00:56:12.41
Thousand Oaks, California, 91359
00:56:12.44\00:56:15.69
or visit itiswritten.com.
00:56:15.72\00:56:18.29