(MUSIC) 00:00:00.50\00:00:01.20 >>THE FOLLOWING IS A PAID PRESENTATION BROUGHT TO YOU 00:00:01.20\00:00:03.36 BY AMAZING FACTS, INCORPORATED. 00:00:03.36\00:00:11.93 >>HOW DO YOU THINK OUR HEAVENLY FATHER FEELS WHEN, AFTER HE HAS 00:00:11.93\00:00:15.93 PAID SO MUCH THAT YOU MIGHT LIVE IN A MANSION SOME DAY, 00:00:15.93\00:00:19.30 THAT WE GO TO THE GARBAGE OF THE DEVIL'S DUMPSTER FOR HAPPINESS? 00:00:19.30\00:00:26.63 >>FOR OVER 40 YEARS AMAZING FACTS HAS BEEN 00:00:26.63\00:00:28.80 DEDICATED TO SHARING GOD'S WORD THROUGH MEDIA. 00:00:28.80\00:00:32.50 THIS PROGRAM FEATURES HIGHLIGHTS FROM SOME OF OUR BEST 00:00:32.50\00:00:35.30 TELEVISION BROADCASTS. 00:00:35.30\00:00:37.26 WE INVITE YOU TO SIT BACK AND ENJOY THIS EDITION OF 00:00:37.26\00:00:40.13 AMAZING FACTS PRESENTS. 00:00:40.13\00:00:47.20 >>HELLO FRIENDS, WELCOME TODAY TO AMAZING FACTS PRESENTS. 00:00:47.20\00:00:50.70 AND I'M VERY THANKFUL THAT YOU COULD JOIN US FOR THIS FINAL 00:00:50.70\00:00:52.60 PRESENTATION IN A FOUR-PART SERIES WE'RE DOING - TALKING TO 00:00:52.60\00:00:56.46 CHRISTIANS WHO MAYBE HAVE BECOME DISTRACTED IN THEIR RELATIONSHIP 00:00:56.46\00:00:59.73 WITH THE LORD. 00:00:59.73\00:01:01.16 MAYBE THEY'VE DRIFTED FROM THEIR REGULAR COMMITMENT 00:01:01.16\00:01:03.13 TO CHURCH AND CHURCH ATTENDANCE. 00:01:03.13\00:01:05.66 A LOT OF PEOPLE GET SO INVOLVED WITH THE THINGS OF THE WORLD 00:01:05.66\00:01:08.23 THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO COME BACK. 00:01:08.23\00:01:10.30 TODAY WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT HOW WE CAN GET A NEW BEGINNING 00:01:10.30\00:01:13.00 AND RETURN TO JESUS, AND FIND OUR WAY BACK HOME. 00:01:13.00\00:01:17.86 >>I GREW UP IN A CHURCH-GOING FAMILY. I MEAN, WE WERE AT 00:01:17.86\00:01:21.70 EVERY MEETING. 00:01:21.70\00:01:22.83 I SANG IN FOUR OF THE CHOIRS THERE - I DIRECTED THREE. 00:01:22.83\00:01:27.03 VERY INVOLVED - VERY ACTIVE. 00:01:27.03\00:01:30.40 IT ALMOST SEEMED LIKE BUSY WORK SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW? 00:01:30.40\00:01:33.43 I WENT TO SUNDAY SCHOOL, I KNEW ABOUT GOD, I KNEW ABOUT JESUS, 00:01:33.43\00:01:38.16 BUT I DIDN'T HAVE A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST. 00:01:38.16\00:01:44.03 MY SENIOR YEAR IN HIGH SCHOOL I GOT THE NEWS MY FATHER 00:01:44.03\00:01:49.43 HAD BEEN MURDERED. 00:01:49.43\00:01:53.03 I PLAYED IT OFF WELL. 00:01:53.03\00:01:54.13 NO ONE REALLY SAW THAT I WAS STRUGGLING WITH IT. 00:01:54.13\00:02:00.30 IT JUST REALLY FELT LIKE THERE WAS A HOLE THAT NEEDED TO BE 00:02:00.30\00:02:02.80 FILLED AND I TRIED TO FILL IT WITH DRUGS, WITH ALCOHOL, 00:02:02.80\00:02:07.30 WITH PARTYING. 00:02:07.30\00:02:10.30 AFTER COLLEGE I JUST STOPPED GOING TO CHURCH ALTOGETHER. 00:02:10.30\00:02:16.56 ONE DAY, ON A SUNDAY, BECAUSE I DIDN'T FEEL LIKE GOING TO CHURCH 00:02:16.56\00:02:20.20 WITH MY MOM, I THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, I SHOULD GET 00:02:20.20\00:02:24.23 A LITTLE BIT OF THE WORD. 00:02:24.23\00:02:25.83 AND THERE I AM, HIGH OFF COCAINE, WITH MY BIBLE IN HAND, 00:02:25.83\00:02:30.90 TRYING TO DO A BIBLE STUDY AND I HEARD AN AUDIBLE VOICE, 00:02:30.90\00:02:37.00 'JUST LOOK AT YOURSELF.' AND I DID. 00:02:37.00\00:02:41.83 AND I WAS LIKE, 'WHAT AM I DOING?' 00:02:41.83\00:02:49.06 AND I GOT ON MY KNEES - I SAID, 'LORD, IF YOU DO NOT TAKE THIS 00:02:49.06\00:02:52.40 AWAY FROM ME NOW, I'M GOING TO KILL MYSELF.' 00:02:52.40\00:03:01.13 I WAS GOING TO CONTINUE THIS LIFESTYLE AND I WAS GOING TO END 00:03:01.13\00:03:03.40 UP OVERDOSING, HAVING A HEART ATTACK - WHATEVER IT WAS. 00:03:03.40\00:03:08.90 'YOU HAVE TO TAKE THIS AWAY - ALL OF IT.' 00:03:08.90\00:03:14.96 AND THAT DAY HE LIFTED ALL OF IT AWAY FROM ME - 00:03:14.96\00:03:19.53 IT WAS ALL GONE. 00:03:19.53\00:03:22.13 WHEN GOD DOES SOMETHING IN YOUR LIFE, HE DOES IT COMPLETE. 00:03:22.13\00:03:29.96 MY NAME IS EDMOND GIBBS AND I RECLAIMED MY FAITH. 00:03:29.96\00:03:35.86 >>AMEN. 00:03:35.86\00:03:37.10 ONCE AGAIN, FRIENDS, WE ARE VERY THANKFUL THAT YOU ARE HERE FOR 00:03:37.10\00:03:39.30 THE 'RECLAIM YOUR FAITH' PROGRAM. 00:03:39.30\00:03:41.86 AND I HOPE THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE HERE, PART OF THE LIVE AUDIENCE, 00:03:41.86\00:03:44.83 WILL BE PRAYING IN YOUR HEARTS. 00:03:44.83\00:03:47.00 AS I SAID, I REALIZE THAT, IN SOME RESPECT, I MIGHT BE TALKING 00:03:47.00\00:03:50.00 HERE TO THE CHOIR, BUT WE KNOW STATISTICALLY THERE ARE A 00:03:50.00\00:03:53.83 LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO CHURCH THAT ARE JUST HANGING BY 00:03:53.83\00:03:56.23 THEIR FINGERNAILS AND WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU WHO ARE IN THE 00:03:56.23\00:04:00.76 CHURCH TO HOLD ONTO THAT PLOW AND NOT LOOK BACK. 00:04:00.76\00:04:05.93 AND THEN THERE ARE SOME OF YOU THAT HAVE MAYBE DRIFTED AWAY - 00:04:05.93\00:04:08.86 WE'RE THANKFUL THAT YOU'RE HERE, WE'RE THANKFUL THAT YOU'RE 00:04:08.86\00:04:10.63 WATCHING - AND THE LORD IS CALLING YOU. 00:04:10.63\00:04:13.63 YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE STORIES IN THE BIBLE THAT ALWAYS AMAZED ME 00:04:13.63\00:04:17.86 IS THE STORY OF JONAH. 00:04:17.86\00:04:21.03 HOW A PROPHET OF GOD - I MEAN, YOU'VE GOT TO BE A CHURCH MEMBER 00:04:21.03\00:04:24.50 TO BE A PROPHET OF GOD - COULD THINK YOU COULD RUN FROM GOD. 00:04:24.50\00:04:30.63 JONAH CHAPTER 1, VERSE 1, "NOW THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME TO 00:04:30.63\00:04:34.96 JONAH SON OF AMITTAI SAYING, "ARISE AND GO TO NINEVEH, THAT 00:04:34.96\00:04:40.56 GREAT CITY, AND CRY OUT AGAINST IT FOR THEIR WICKEDNESS 00:04:40.56\00:04:43.63 HAS COME UP BEFORE ME. 00:04:43.63\00:04:45.93 BUT JONAH AROSE TO FLEE TO TARSHISH FROM THE PRESENCE 00:04:45.93\00:04:49.20 OF THE LORD. 00:04:49.20\00:04:50.86 AND HE WENT DOWN TO JOPPA AND HE FOUND A SHIP GOING TO TARSHISH, 00:04:50.86\00:04:53.83 SO HE PAID THE FARE AND WENT DOWN INTO IT TO GO WITH THEM TO 00:04:53.83\00:04:56.50 TARSHISH FROM THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD." 00:04:56.50\00:05:00.26 JONAH WAS RUNNING FROM THE FATHER. 00:05:00.26\00:05:03.20 GOD SAID FOR HIM TO GO EAST AND HE WENT WEST. 00:05:03.20\00:05:07.63 HOW CAN YOU RUN FROM THE PRESENCE OF GOD? 00:05:07.63\00:05:10.33 'WHERE CAN I FLEE FROM YOUR SPIRIT?' 00:05:10.33\00:05:13.26 THERE MIGHT BE SOME OF YOU HERE OR WATCHING AND YOU THINK THAT 00:05:13.26\00:05:17.80 GOD DOESN'T SEE YOU? 00:05:17.80\00:05:19.93 'THE EYES OF THE LORD RUN TO AND FRO THROUGH THE WHOLE EARTH.' 00:05:19.93\00:05:22.73 GOD SEES US WHEREVER WE GO. 00:05:22.73\00:05:24.66 JESUS SAID, 'I'M WITH YOU WHEREVER YOU GO.' 00:05:24.66\00:05:26.86 YOU CAN'T HIDE FROM GOD. 00:05:26.86\00:05:28.96 AND I HOPE YOU REALIZE THAT THE LORD, HE CHASES AFTER THE ONES 00:05:28.96\00:05:31.86 HE LOVES AND HE WILL MAKE YOU RESTLESS UNTIL YOU 00:05:31.86\00:05:35.83 FIND YOUR REST IN HIM. 00:05:35.83\00:05:38.06 YOU WILL NEVER BE HAPPY UNTIL YOU SURRENDER TO THE LORD AND 00:05:38.06\00:05:41.20 TO HIS WILL BECAUSE YOU ARE DESIGNED FOR 00:05:41.20\00:05:43.70 A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. 00:05:43.70\00:05:45.96 AND SO, ESPECIALLY THOSE MAYBE WHO HAVE GROWN UP IN THE 00:05:45.96\00:05:49.10 CHURCH AND NEVER REALLY HAD A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP, THEY'RE 00:05:49.10\00:05:52.56 STILL LOOKING FOR THAT MEANING. 00:05:52.56\00:05:54.00 AND SO, THEY TRY TO FIND IT OUT IN THE WORLD. 00:05:54.00\00:05:56.33 AND THEY RUN FROM THEIR FATHER'S HOUSE. 00:05:56.33\00:05:59.66 YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT SOME STORIES IN LUKE CHAPTER 15 00:05:59.66\00:06:03.36 - WE TALKED LAST NIGHT ABOUT THE LOST SHEEP. 00:06:03.36\00:06:09.06 AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S THE STORY THAT YOU FIND HERE ABOUT - 00:06:09.06\00:06:11.56 IN VERSE 8 - "WHAT WOMAN, HAVING TEN SILVER COINS, IF SHE LOSES 00:06:11.56\00:06:14.90 ONE DOES NOT LIGHT A CANDLE AND SWEEP THE HOUSE AND SEEK 00:06:14.90\00:06:18.46 DILIGENTLY UNTIL SHE FINDS IT. 00:06:18.46\00:06:21.26 AND WHEN SHE FINDS IT SHE CALLS HER FRIENDS AND HER NEIGHBORS 00:06:21.26\00:06:23.73 TOGETHER SAYING, 'REJOICE WITH ME. 00:06:23.73\00:06:26.50 I'VE FOUND THE PIECE WHICH I LOST.' 00:06:26.50\00:06:29.00 LIKEWISE, I SAY TO YOU, THERE IS JOY IN THE PRESENCE OF THE 00:06:29.00\00:06:31.36 ANGELS OF GOD OVER ONE SINNER WHO REPENTS." 00:06:31.36\00:06:34.66 NOW THE COIN DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS LOST. 00:06:34.66\00:06:36.56 A WOMAN IN BIBLE SYMBOLOGY - YOU KNOW WHAT IT REPRESENTS? 00:06:36.56\00:06:40.43 TYPICALLY A CHURCH. 00:06:40.43\00:06:42.16 SOMETIMES IN OUR CHURCHES WE'VE GOT A PRECIOUS LOST COIN AND WE 00:06:42.16\00:06:45.33 MUST MAKE AN EFFORT TO LIGHT THE LAMP OF GOD'S WORD AND TO SWEEP 00:06:45.33\00:06:48.76 WITH THAT DILIGENCE AND LOOK THROUGH THE COMMUNITY AND FIND 00:06:48.76\00:06:52.03 THOSE PRECIOUS COINS. 00:06:52.03\00:06:54.56 THEY MAY NOT EVEN KNOW THEY'RE LOST - THEY USED TO BE IN THE 00:06:54.56\00:06:56.83 WOMAN'S HOUSE, BUT THEY'VE BEEN MISPLACED SOMEHOW. 00:06:56.83\00:07:01.30 I WONDER HOW MANY CHURCHES HAVE SOME PRECIOUS SILVER THAT'S 00:07:01.30\00:07:03.23 BEEN MISPLACED. 00:07:03.23\00:07:05.36 AND THEN WE GO TO ANOTHER - THE SHEEP, HE WANDERS - 00:07:05.36\00:07:07.70 HE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON. 00:07:07.70\00:07:09.00 HE JUST GETS LOST. 00:07:09.00\00:07:09.83 A COIN CERTAINLY DOESN'T KNOW, BUT WHEN YOU GET TO THE LAST 00:07:09.83\00:07:11.86 STORY, IT'S NOT AN ACCIDENT, IT'S DELIBERATE DESERTION - 00:07:11.86\00:07:18.33 THE PRODIGAL SON. 00:07:18.33\00:07:20.26 LUKE 15, VERSE 11, AND THEN JESUS GOES ON AND HE SAYS, 00:07:20.26\00:07:24.73 "A CERTAIN MAN HAD TWO SONS AND THE YOUNGER OF THEM SAYS 00:07:24.73\00:07:28.56 TO HIS FATHER, 'FATHER, GIVE ME THE PORTION OF GOODS THAT 00:07:28.56\00:07:31.40 FALLS TO ME.' SO HE DIVIDED TO THEM 00:07:31.40\00:07:34.20 HIS LIVELIHOOD. 00:07:34.20\00:07:36.40 AND NOT MANY DAYS AFTER, THE YOUNGER SON GATHERED ALL 00:07:36.40\00:07:38.96 TOGETHER AND HE JOURNEYED TO A FAR COUNTRY AND THERE HE WASTED 00:07:38.96\00:07:44.60 HIS POSSESSIONS WITH PRODIGAL - OR WILD, WASTEFUL - LIVING. 00:07:44.60\00:07:50.66 YOU KNOW, I USED TO THINK WHAT THIS MEANT WAS THE BOY SAID TO 00:07:50.66\00:07:55.06 HIS FATHER, 'YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR YOU TO DIE SO I CAN 00:07:55.06\00:07:57.03 GET MY INHERITANCE BUT YOU'RE TAKING TOO LONG AND YOUR HEALTH 00:07:57.03\00:07:59.96 LOOKS REALLY GOOD, SO CAN YOU JUST, YOU KNOW, PAY UP NOW?' 00:07:59.96\00:08:04.43 BUT IT WASN'T UNCOMMON IN BIBLE TIMES FOR THE YOUNGER SON, 00:08:04.43\00:08:07.86 MAYBE, ESPECIALLY IF HE WAS ENGAGED, TO GET HIS INHERITANCE 00:08:07.86\00:08:11.56 TO START HIS FAMILY - OR AT LEAST PART OF IT - BUT THE BOY, 00:08:11.56\00:08:15.16 EVIDENTLY, DIDN'T HAVE ANY MARITAL PROSPECTS AND HE 00:08:15.16\00:08:18.30 DIDN'T WANT TO LIVE UNDER THE FATHER'S THUMB. 00:08:18.30\00:08:21.30 HE EVIDENTLY DIDN'T GET ALONG VERY WELL WITH HIS BROTHER AND 00:08:21.30\00:08:24.30 HE SAID, 'LOOK, I JUST WANT TO GET OUT FROM UNDER DAD'S 00:08:24.30\00:08:26.66 RULES AND REGULATIONS.' THERE WAS SOME TENSION - 'DAD'S 00:08:26.66\00:08:30.73 TOO STRICT AND OLD-FASHIONED.' YOU EVER HEARD THAT? 00:08:30.73\00:08:35.26 NOW SOMETIMES, WHEN WE RUN AWAY FROM HOME, THERE IS A PERIOD OF 00:08:35.26\00:08:40.73 ENJOYMENT AND PLEASURE - YOU'LL HAVE AT LEAST THE 00:08:40.73\00:08:43.23 ILLUSION OF FREEDOM FOR AWHILE. 00:08:43.23\00:08:45.50 THE BIBLE TALKS ABOUT THE PLEASURES OF SIN FOR A SEASON - 00:08:45.50\00:08:48.50 AND HE DID HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A PARTY WITH HIS FRIENDS - AND 00:08:48.50\00:08:50.86 AS LONG AS HE WAS WILLING TO BUY THE DRINKS HE HAD FRIENDS. 00:08:50.86\00:08:56.26 THE BIBLE TELLS US THAT WHEN YOU'VE GOT MONEY YOU'LL 00:08:56.26\00:09:00.13 AT LEAST SEEM LIKE YOU'VE GOT FRIENDS FOR AWHILE. 00:09:00.13\00:09:03.96 BUT THEN IT WAS ALL GONE. 00:09:03.96\00:09:06.60 HE WENT TO SWIPE HIS CARD AND THE CASHIER SAID, 00:09:06.60\00:09:11.23 'SORRY, THERE'S NOTHING LEFT.' HE SAID, 'I DON'T UNDERSTAND - 00:09:11.23\00:09:15.80 I STILL HAVE CHECKS IN MY BOOK, I SHOULD STILL HAVE MONEY.' 00:09:15.80\00:09:22.63 AND THEN THERE - SIMULTANEOUS WITH RUNNING OUT OF MONEY - 00:09:22.63\00:09:26.73 THERE CAME A FAMINE IN THE LAND AND HE BEGAN TO BE IN WANT. 00:09:26.73\00:09:29.80 NOW, WHILE THAT BOY IS IN THE FAR COUNTRY, WHAT IS 00:09:29.80\00:09:32.53 THE FATHER DOING? 00:09:32.53\00:09:35.23 HIS HEART IS YEARNING AFTER HIS SON IN THIS FAR COUNTRY. 00:09:35.23\00:09:39.50 HE IS PRAYING FOR HIS SON. 00:09:39.50\00:09:41.36 I WONDER HOW HE'S PRAYING. 00:09:41.36\00:09:43.73 HOW DO YOU PRAY FOR YOUR KIDS? 00:09:43.73\00:09:45.50 'LORD, KEEP THEM SAFE. 00:09:45.50\00:09:46.90 KEEP THEM WELL. 00:09:46.90\00:09:47.63 WATCH OVER THEM. 00:09:47.63\00:09:48.33 BLESS THEM.' SOMETIMES YOU MIGHT SAY, 00:09:48.33\00:09:51.93 'LORD, BRING INTO THEIR LIVES WHATEVER THEY NEED TO BE 00:09:51.93\00:09:55.33 SAVED FOR ETERNITY.' AND SO, MAYBE THAT DAD WAS 00:09:55.33\00:09:58.50 PRAYING AND A FAMINE CAME TO THAT COUNTRY AND HE HAD 00:09:58.50\00:10:04.13 NOTHING TO EAT. 00:10:04.13\00:10:05.86 MAYBE ONE OF HIS FORMER BAR BUDDIES IS THE ONE WHO 00:10:05.86\00:10:08.10 HAD THE PIG FARM. 00:10:08.10\00:10:09.86 AND IT SAYS IN VERSE 15, "HE WENT AND HE JOINED HIMSELF 00:10:09.86\00:10:12.60 TO A CITIZEN OF THAT COUNTRY AND HE SENT HIM INTO THE FIELDS 00:10:12.60\00:10:16.70 TO FEED SWINE." 00:10:16.70\00:10:19.26 NOW, KEEP IN MIND, YOU'VE GOT JESUS, A JEWISH RABBI, HE'S 00:10:19.26\00:10:22.76 TALKING TO JEWISH LISTENERS ABOUT THIS JEWISH BOY THAT GOES 00:10:22.76\00:10:26.40 INTO A FAR COUNTRY AND HE ENDS UP TENDING SOMEONE ELSE'S 00:10:26.40\00:10:30.36 PORK CHOPS. 00:10:30.36\00:10:32.60 THAT WAS AS LOW AS YOU COULD GET. 00:10:32.60\00:10:35.36 IN THE BIBLE, IF YOU WANTED TO TALK ABOUT REACHING THE BOTTOM - 00:10:35.36\00:10:38.70 JESUS SAID, 'YOU DON'T GIVE THAT WHICH IS HOLY TO THE DOGS AND 00:10:38.70\00:10:41.73 DON'T CAST YOUR PEARLS BEFORE SWINE.' 00:10:41.73\00:10:46.40 YOU KNOW, IT'S AMAZING THAT YOU STAY AWAY FROM THE FATHER'S 00:10:46.40\00:10:51.33 HOUSE VERY LONG, YOU CAN FORGET EVERYTHING YOU LEARNED AND 00:10:51.33\00:10:53.83 END UP IN THE DUMPSTER. 00:10:53.83\00:10:58.10 HOW DO YOU THINK OUR HEAVENLY FATHER FEELS, WHEN AFTER HE HAS 00:10:58.10\00:11:02.10 PAID SO MUCH THAT YOU MIGHT LIVE IN A MANSION SOME DAY, 00:11:02.10\00:11:05.90 THAT WE GO TO THE GARBAGE OF THE DEVIL'S DUMPSTER FOR HAPPINESS? 00:11:05.90\00:11:10.23 IT BREAKS HIS HEART. 00:11:10.23\00:11:13.20 SO HE WAS OUT THERE FEEDING THE PIGS AND HE WAS SO HUNGRY THAT 00:11:13.20\00:11:18.06 HE WANTED TO EAT THE HUSKS THAT THE PIGS WERE REJECTING. 00:11:18.06\00:11:23.93 YOU'VE GOT TO BE PRETTY HUNGRY AT A TIME LIKE THAT. 00:11:23.93\00:11:26.73 AND EVEN THOUGH HE WAS BECOMING EMACIATED, IT SAYS 00:11:26.73\00:11:29.03 'NO ONE GAVE HIM ANYTHING.' THE WORLD CANNOT SATISFY WHAT 00:11:29.03\00:11:35.10 YOU REALLY NEED - THE WORLD WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SATISFY THAT REAL 00:11:35.10\00:11:38.60 HUNGER - THAT HUNGER FOR THE BREAD OF LIFE IS ONLY GOING TO 00:11:38.60\00:11:41.46 COME FROM THE FATHER'S HOUSE. 00:11:41.46\00:11:43.76 AND THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT ARE GOING FROM ONE THING TO 00:11:43.76\00:11:45.73 THE NEXT, OR THEY'RE GETTING DEEPER AND DEEPER IN ADDICTIONS, 00:11:45.73\00:11:49.20 AND THEY KEEP HAVING TO UP THEIR PRESCRIPTION BECAUSE THEY'RE 00:11:49.20\00:11:52.13 LOOKING FOR SOME KIND OF PEACE AND SATISFACTION. 00:11:52.13\00:11:55.73 YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO BE SATISFIED, IN THIS LIFE, 00:11:55.73\00:11:59.13 WITHOUT JESUS. 00:11:59.13\00:12:01.13 AND YOU'RE GOING TO FIND HIM AT CHURCH - IN SPITE 00:12:01.13\00:12:03.90 OF THE PEOPLE THAT MAY BE THERE, OR THE PROBLEMS, IN SPITE 00:12:03.90\00:12:06.23 OF ALL THE FLAWS AND THE WRINKLES AND THE DIFFICULTIES, 00:12:06.23\00:12:09.76 THE CHURCH IS THE OBJECT ON EARTH UPON WHICH GOD BESTOWS HIS 00:12:09.76\00:12:14.43 SUPREME REGARD - IT IS THE APPLE OF HIS EYE - IT IS THE PEOPLE 00:12:14.43\00:12:18.73 FOR WHOM HE DIED. 00:12:18.73\00:12:21.23 AND HE WANTS YOU IN THAT GROUP. 00:12:21.23\00:12:24.23 IT IS THE CRUCIBLE WHERE WE LEARN TO BE LIKE CHRIST. 00:12:24.23\00:12:29.96 SO, WHILE HE WAS OUT THERE WITH THE PIGS, HE STARTED TO THINK 00:12:29.96\00:12:34.23 ABOUT WHEN THEY USED TO GET THE FRESH BREAD OUT OF THE OVEN AT 00:12:34.23\00:12:38.43 HOME AND ALL OF THE THINGS HE HAD TAKEN FOR GRANTED IN HIS 00:12:38.43\00:12:42.20 FATHER'S HOUSE. 00:12:42.20\00:12:44.30 HE CAME TO HIMSELF - IT'S LIKE HE WOKE UP ONE DAY AND SAID, 00:12:44.30\00:12:48.76 'WHAT IN THE WORLD AM I DOING?' HE WENT TO WORK AND HE SMELLED 00:12:48.76\00:12:52.53 THE PIGS AGAIN FOR THE FIRST TIME AND - I DON'T KNOW IF 00:12:52.53\00:12:56.30 YOU'VE EVER TAKEN CARE OF PIGS - I HAVE. 00:12:56.30\00:13:00.50 I HAD SOME NEIGHBORS THAT THEY HAD A LITTLE FARM. 00:13:00.50\00:13:02.33 THEY'D GO ON VACATION AND ASK US TO MILK THE COWS AND 00:13:02.33\00:13:04.46 FEED THE PIGS. 00:13:04.46\00:13:05.26 I DIDN'T MIND MILKING THE COWS SO MUCH, BUT THE ONLY WORD I CAN 00:13:05.26\00:13:08.40 THINK OF TO DESCRIBE PIGS IS TO TELL YOU THAT THEY'RE PIGS AND 00:13:08.40\00:13:13.33 THEY SMELL AWFUL - AND THEY HAVE REALLY BAD HABITS. 00:13:13.33\00:13:19.13 AND HE, ONE DAY, WENT BACK TO WORK AND HE THOUGHT, 'WHAT IN 00:13:19.13\00:13:21.50 THE WORLD AM I DOING HERE? 00:13:21.50\00:13:23.26 I AM A JEWISH BOY FEEDING PIGS!' HE HAD AN EPIPHANY. 00:13:23.26\00:13:30.56 HE SAID, 'HERE MY FATHER'S GOT SERVANTS. 00:13:30.56\00:13:33.66 HE'S GOT SILOS FULL OF FOOD. 00:13:33.66\00:13:36.46 'THERE IS BREAD IN MY FATHER'S HOUSE. 00:13:36.46\00:13:37.96 WHAT AM I DOING HERE?' AND HE CAME TO HIS SENSES. 00:13:37.96\00:13:43.50 IT'S KIND OF LIKE - SIN WILL MAKE YOU CRAZY. 00:13:43.50\00:13:45.63 REALLY. 00:13:45.63\00:13:48.10 LIKE NEBUCHADNEZZAR - HE WAS SO FULL OF PRIDE, NEXT THING YOU 00:13:48.10\00:13:50.20 KNEW, HE WAS OUT OF HIS MIND. 00:13:50.20\00:13:53.00 AND IT TOOK SEVEN YEARS FOR HIM TO WAKE UP AND COME TO HIMSELF 00:13:53.00\00:13:55.66 AND THE FIRST THING THAT CAME OUT OF HIS MOUTH WHEN HE 00:13:55.66\00:13:57.43 CAME TO HIMSELF WAS, 'I PRAISE THE GOD IN HEAVEN.' 00:13:57.43\00:14:01.66 BECAUSE, UNLESS GOD IS YOUR PRIORITY, YOU'RE NOT 00:14:01.66\00:14:04.30 THINKING STRAIGHT. 00:14:04.30\00:14:06.70 REALLY. 00:14:06.70\00:14:07.66 I MEAN, IT'S LIKE MOSES BEFORE THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL 00:14:07.66\00:14:10.00 ENTERED THE PROMISED LAND. 00:14:10.00\00:14:11.43 IN HIS CLOSING SERMON HE SAID, 'LET ME MAKE IT PLAIN' 00:14:11.43\00:14:14.20 - NO, I PUT THAT IN, BUT THIS IS ESSENTIALLY WHAT HE SAID, HE 00:14:14.20\00:14:17.20 SAID, 'I AM SETTING BEFORE YOU THIS DAY LIFE AND GOOD AND 00:14:17.20\00:14:20.16 BLESSING OR DEATH AND EVIL AND CURSING. 00:14:20.16\00:14:23.66 WHICH ONE DO YOU WANT? 00:14:23.66\00:14:26.10 NOW, WHEN YOU PUT IT THAT WAY, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY YOU WANT? 00:14:26.10\00:14:28.26 DO YOU WANT THE LIFE AND GOOD AND BLESSING OF BEING A 00:14:28.26\00:14:30.46 CHRISTIAN AND IN THE CHURCH - IN SPITE OF THE PROBLEMS, IT'S 00:14:30.46\00:14:33.70 A LOT BETTER THAN BEING OUT HERE WHERE THERE'S THE DEATH AND 00:14:33.70\00:14:37.40 THE EVIL AND THE CURSING. 00:14:37.40\00:14:40.33 AND THAT'S WHY JESUS IS WANTING TO BLESS YOU. 00:14:40.33\00:14:43.20 HE BEGINS HIS SERMON WITH BEATITUDES BECAUSE HE WANTS 00:14:43.20\00:14:45.70 TO BLESS HIS PEOPLE. 00:14:45.70\00:14:47.66 THERE IS NO HAPPINESS OUTSIDE OF THE FATHER'S HOUSE. 00:14:47.66\00:14:51.80 NO ONE GAVE HIM ANYTHING. 00:14:51.80\00:14:54.00 FINALLY HE CAME TO HIS SENSES AND HE SAID, 'YOU KNOW, HOW MANY 00:14:54.00\00:14:57.93 OF MY FATHER'S HIRED SERVANTS HAVE BREAD ENOUGH AND TO SPARE? 00:14:57.93\00:15:02.23 THEY'VE GOT EXTRA. 00:15:02.23\00:15:02.90 THEY EAT TO THE FULL.' YOU KNOW, WHENEVER JESUS 00:15:02.90\00:15:06.10 FED PEOPLE IT SAYS THEY HAD LEFTOVERS. 00:15:06.10\00:15:09.00 HE'D MULTIPLY THE BREAD AND THERE WERE LEFTOVERS. 00:15:09.00\00:15:12.76 ELISHA BLESSED THE VESSEL OF OIL, THERE IN 2 KINGS CHAPTER 4, 00:15:12.76\00:15:18.06 AND THE WOMAN POURED IT AND IT JUST WAS OVERFLOWING. 00:15:18.06\00:15:23.06 GOD BLESSES WITH AN ABUNDANCE - AND HERE HE WAS WANTING TO EAT 00:15:23.06\00:15:28.40 THE HUSKS - THE SEED PODS - THAT THE PIGS WERE SNORTING THROUGH. 00:15:28.40\00:15:32.33 'THEY'VE GOT FOOD TO SPARE.' JESUS IS WANTING TO GIVE YOU 00:15:32.33\00:15:36.90 THAT BREAD OF LIFE. 00:15:36.90\00:15:39.13 'AND I PERISH WITH HUNGER.' YOU KNOW, JESUS CAME INTO THE 00:15:39.13\00:15:43.96 WORLD VERY SIMPLY - JOHN 3:16 - HE CAME INTO THE WORLD THAT YOU 00:15:43.96\00:15:46.83 MIGHT NOT PERISH. 00:15:46.83\00:15:49.63 AND IF YOU'RE NOT EATING THE BREAD OF LIFE - AT LEAST EVERY 00:15:49.63\00:15:53.33 WEEK - YOU SHOULD BE EVERY DAY - YOU WILL SURELY PERISH. 00:15:53.33\00:15:58.53 YOU'RE GOING TO BE STARVING. 00:15:58.53\00:16:00.70 YOU KNOW, IN THE LAST DAYS THE BIBLE FORETELLS THERE'S GOING TO 00:16:00.70\00:16:02.96 BE A FAMINE IN THE LAND AND IT'S NOT A FAMINE FOR BREAD OR A 00:16:02.96\00:16:07.06 THIRST FOR WATER, THIS IS AMOS CHAPTER 8, BUT FOR HEARING 00:16:07.06\00:16:10.33 THE WORD OF GOD. 00:16:10.33\00:16:13.16 AND I THINK YOU MIGHT EVEN FIND A FAMINE, SOMETIMES, AMONG 00:16:13.16\00:16:16.16 RELIGIOUS PEOPLE BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY COUNTERFEIT VERSIONS 00:16:16.16\00:16:19.80 OF THE WORD OF GOD. 00:16:19.80\00:16:20.76 PEOPLE READ ONE LITTLE VERSE AND THEN THEY'LL TALK ABOUT THE 00:16:20.76\00:16:23.00 LATEST MAGAZINE ARTICLES. 00:16:23.00\00:16:25.33 PEOPLE NEED TO REALLY GET INTO THE GRIST OF GOD'S WORD. 00:16:25.33\00:16:30.10 'THERE IS AN ABUNDANCE OF TRUTH IN THE FATHER'S HOUSE AND 00:16:30.10\00:16:32.36 I PERISH WITH HUNGER.' YOU KNOW, IT'S INTERESTING, WHEN 00:16:32.36\00:16:36.23 THEY WOKE UP JONAH WHEN HE WAS RUNNING FROM GOD - OH, BY THE 00:16:36.23\00:16:40.86 WAY, GOING BACK TO JONAH - MY MIND BOUNCES AROUND LIKE THAT - 00:16:40.86\00:16:45.16 IT'S BECAUSE I USED DRUGS WHEN I WAS YOUNG, SO YOU JUST 00:16:45.16\00:16:46.73 HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT. 00:16:46.73\00:16:49.73 GOING BACK TO JONAH, YOU KNOW, WHEN HE WAS ASLEEP IN THE BOAT 00:16:49.73\00:16:51.73 ON THE WAY TO DESTRUCTION, GOD SENT A STORM TO SAVE HIM. 00:16:51.73\00:16:57.73 AND THE LORD SENT A FAMINE TO SAVE THAT BOY. 00:16:57.73\00:17:02.46 AND MAYBE SOME OF YOU WHO HAVE BEEN OUT OF THE CHURCH, 00:17:02.46\00:17:04.46 YOU'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH SOME TRIALS AND WONDERING 00:17:04.46\00:17:06.40 'WHY IS THIS HAPPENING?' IT COULD BE BECAUSE GOD LOVES 00:17:06.40\00:17:08.36 YOU AND HE'S TRYING TO GET YOUR ATTENTION. 00:17:08.36\00:17:12.90 SOMETIMES IT TAKES A CRISIS. 00:17:12.90\00:17:14.53 IT MIGHT BE A CRISIS IN YOUR MARRIAGE, IT COULD BE A CRISIS 00:17:14.53\00:17:16.83 WITH YOUR HEALTH, OR AT WORK. 00:17:16.83\00:17:20.73 AND GOD IS SAYING, 'HELLO, CAN I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE?' 00:17:20.73\00:17:27.13 AND WHEN THE CAPTAIN WOKE UP JONAH, YOU KNOW WHAT HE SAID? 00:17:27.13\00:17:29.36 'ARISE O SLEEPER. 00:17:29.36\00:17:30.93 CAREST NOT THAT WE PERISH?' JESUS WAS ONCE ASLEEP IN A BOAT 00:17:30.93\00:17:36.73 DURING A STORM AND THEY WOKE HIM UP AND THEY ASKED JESUS THE 00:17:36.73\00:17:39.36 DUMBEST QUESTION IN THE WORLD. 00:17:39.36\00:17:41.86 THEY SAID, 'MASTER, CAREST NOT THAT WE PERISH?' 00:17:41.86\00:17:47.06 DOES JESUS CARE WHETHER OR NOT WE PERISH? 00:17:47.06\00:17:50.33 WHY DID HE COME INTO THIS WORLD? 00:17:50.33\00:17:52.70 'THAT WE MIGHT NOT PERISH.' AND IF YOU'VE GOT JESUS IN YOUR 00:17:52.70\00:17:57.13 BOAT, YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE IT FRIENDS. 00:17:57.13\00:18:00.80 HE SAID, 'AND I PERISH WITH HUNGER. 00:18:00.80\00:18:02.40 I WILL ARISE.' GOD TOLD JONAH, 'ARISE AND GO.' 00:18:02.40\00:18:07.66 FINALLY HE SAID, 'I WILL ARISE AND GO TO MY FATHER AND I'LL SAY 00:18:07.66\00:18:11.83 TO HIM, 'FATHER.'' - HE'S GOT A SPEECH PREPARED - 00:18:11.83\00:18:14.60 'HOW CAN I WALK BACK AND TALK TO DAD AFTER WHAT I'VE DONE? 00:18:14.60\00:18:17.43 HERE I BASICALLY WAS SO RUDE, DISRESPECTFUL, DIDN'T HONOR HIM, 00:18:17.43\00:18:21.20 ASKED FOR MY INHERITANCE EARLY? 00:18:21.20\00:18:23.50 THEN I TOOK IT AND I'M COMING BACK WITH NOTHING 00:18:23.50\00:18:25.20 TO SHOW FOR IT. 00:18:25.20\00:18:26.06 HE WORKED FOR YEARS TO GET ALL THAT.' 00:18:26.06\00:18:29.70 YOU NOTICE THE BOY, EARLIER, HE WANTED HIS FATHER BUT HE DIDN'T 00:18:29.70\00:18:32.23 WANT A RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS FATHER - I'M SORRY, HE WANTED 00:18:32.23\00:18:34.26 HIS FATHER'S BLESSINGS, HE WANTED HIS FATHER'S RESOURCES, 00:18:34.26\00:18:38.83 BUT HE DIDN'T WANT THE FATHER. 00:18:38.83\00:18:41.73 NOW I THINK EVERYBODY HERE WANTS GOD'S BLESSINGS. 00:18:41.73\00:18:45.96 THERE ARE WHOLE CHURCHES THAT ARE BUILT AROUND THE REASON 00:18:45.96\00:18:48.30 THAT GOD EXISTS IS JUST TO BE A FUNNEL OF BLESSINGS FOR YOU. 00:18:48.30\00:18:53.86 REALLY, WE EXIST FOR THE GLORY OF GOD AND THE SECRET OF LIFE IS 00:18:53.86\00:18:58.76 NOT, ULTIMATELY, YOUR HAPPINESS, IT'S YOUR HOLINESS. 00:18:58.76\00:19:02.56 BUT YOUR HOLINESS WILL LEAD TO HAPPINESS. 00:19:02.56\00:19:05.73 AND, BY THE WAY, JESUS SAID, 'IT'S MORE BLESSED TO GIVE 00:19:05.73\00:19:07.83 THAN RECEIVE.' AND THE MOST IMPORTANT WAY FOR 00:19:07.83\00:19:09.70 YOU TO BE BLESSED IS TO GIVE - YOUR HEART - THEN YOU RECEIVE 00:19:09.70\00:19:14.26 THE GREATEST BLESSING. 00:19:14.26\00:19:16.16 THAT'S THE ONLY WAY YOU'RE GOING TO EVER BE HAPPY, IS BY GIVING 00:19:16.16\00:19:18.76 YOUR LIFE TO JESUS. 00:19:18.76\00:19:21.20 'I'M GOING TO ARISE AND GO TO MY FATHER'S HOUSE.' 00:19:21.20\00:19:23.00 HE'S THINKING ABOUT, 'HOW DO I EVER FACE HIM AGAIN 00:19:23.00\00:19:24.83 AFTER WHAT I'VE DONE. 00:19:24.83\00:19:27.46 I'LL GO AND HERE'S WHAT I'LL SAY - I HAVE TO CONFESS - 00:19:27.46\00:19:30.66 'FATHER, I HAVE SINNED.'' - BY THE WAY, YOU MUST CONFESS 00:19:30.66\00:19:35.03 WHEN YOU COME TO GOD. 00:19:35.03\00:19:36.13 DON'T BE AFRAID - DOES HE KNOW ANYWAY? 00:19:36.13\00:19:39.30 YOU'LL FEEL BETTER IF YOU CONFESS. 00:19:39.30\00:19:40.63 HE ALREADY KNOWS, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO SHOCK HIM. 00:19:40.63\00:19:44.96 ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS YOU DO IS YOU REPENT. 00:19:44.96\00:19:47.13 TELL GOD YOU'RE SORRY AND YOU CONFESS YOUR SINS. 00:19:47.13\00:19:49.76 AND AS SOON AS YOU DO THAT, YOU GIVE HIM PERMISSION TO RELEASE 00:19:49.76\00:19:52.53 THE POWER OF HIS SPIRIT IN YOUR LIFE. 00:19:52.53\00:19:55.76 'AND I'LL SAY, 'FATHER, I'VE SINNED AGAINST HEAVEN 00:19:55.76\00:19:58.10 AND BEFORE YOU. 00:19:58.10\00:19:59.53 I'M NO LONGER WORTHY TO BE CALLED YOUR SON.'' 00:19:59.53\00:20:01.73 WHO'S WORTHY TO BE A SON OF GOD? 00:20:01.73\00:20:05.10 THAT'S WHY JOHN TELLS US IN 1 JOHN CHAPTER 3, 'BEHOLD WHAT 00:20:05.10\00:20:09.60 MANNER OF LOVE THE FATHER'S BESTOWED ON US' - HE CAN'T EVEN 00:20:09.60\00:20:12.60 EXPLAIN IT, HE SAYS, 'JUST BEHOLD IT. 00:20:12.60\00:20:15.73 THAT WE SHOULD BE CALLED SONS OF GOD.' 00:20:15.73\00:20:18.10 HE'S WILLING TO GIVE US A NEW NAME AND BRING US BACK INTO THE 00:20:18.10\00:20:20.36 FAMILY WITH THE FULL STATURE OF BEING SONS. 00:20:20.36\00:20:25.36 'I'M NOT WORTHY.' WHAT IS IT THAT MAKES US WORTHY? 00:20:25.36\00:20:29.70 IT'S ONLY GOD'S GRACE AND HIS SON JESUS CHRIST. 00:20:29.70\00:20:32.86 'I'M NOT WORTHY TO BE CALLED YOUR SON. 00:20:32.86\00:20:34.60 MAKE ME LIKE ONE OF YOUR HIRED SERVANTS.' 00:20:34.60\00:20:37.56 NOW, THAT IS THE ATTITUDE THAT WE ALL NEED WHEN WE COME BACK 00:20:37.56\00:20:40.00 TO THE FATHER. 00:20:40.00\00:20:41.23 'LORD, I'M WILLING TO COME AND SERVE YOU. 00:20:41.23\00:20:45.13 I DON'T DESERVE TO BE YOUR SON, I'LL BE HAPPY AS YOUR SERVANT.' 00:20:45.13\00:20:49.83 AND SO, HE BEGINS HIS JOURNEY HOME. 00:20:49.83\00:20:53.86 HE AROSE AND HE CAME TO HIS FATHER AND IT TOOK A LONG WAY 00:20:53.86\00:20:56.80 FOR HIM TO PLOD. 00:20:56.80\00:20:58.76 HE PROBABLY DIDN'T HAVE ANY SPARE FOOD IN HIS BACKPACK - HAD 00:20:58.76\00:21:01.23 TO BEG ALONG THE WAY, BUT HE WAS SHOCKED AS HE STARTED GETTING 00:21:01.23\00:21:05.86 NEAR THE FAMILY FARM. 00:21:05.86\00:21:10.23 WHILE HE WAS STILL A GREAT WAY OFF - COMING OVER THE HILL AND 00:21:10.23\00:21:13.73 THE SILHOUETTE OF HIS FORM IS SEEN THERE HOBBLING ALONG - 00:21:13.73\00:21:17.80 AS SOON AS THE FATHER SPIES HIM, HE RUNS TO MEET HIM. 00:21:17.80\00:21:25.43 HE DOESN'T MAKE HIM WAIT - YOU KNOW, SOME OF US, I THINK, WE'D 00:21:25.43\00:21:28.76 SAY, 'WELL, I TOLD YOU YOU'D BE - COME DRAGGING BACK.' 00:21:28.76\00:21:32.20 ARMS FOLDED ON THE FRONT PORCH, TAPPING OUR FOOT, 00:21:32.20\00:21:34.13 LOOKING THE OTHER WAY. 00:21:34.13\00:21:36.23 WE'D SAY, 'ALL RIGHT, WAS I RIGHT OR WAS I RIGHT?' 00:21:36.23\00:21:41.83 THAT'S WHAT I'D PROBABLY DO. 00:21:41.83\00:21:44.50 WE'VE GOT THAT SPEECH, 'I TOLD YOU SO.' 00:21:44.50\00:21:48.73 OR WE'D MAKE THAT STATEMENT IN FRONT OF THE SPOUSE AND SAY, 00:21:48.73\00:21:51.96 'DIDN'T I TELL YOU THAT HE'D' - BUT NOT THIS FATHER, HE CAN'T 00:21:51.96\00:21:57.16 EVEN WAIT FOR HIM TO COME HOME. 00:21:57.16\00:21:59.70 SO THAT HE WON'T BE LEFT WITH ANY DOUBT OF HIS ACCEPTANCE, HE 00:21:59.70\00:22:02.20 ARISES AND HE RUNS TO MEET HIM. 00:22:02.20\00:22:05.46 YOU KNOW, THERE'S A PROMISE IN THE BIBLE THAT SAYS, 00:22:05.46\00:22:07.63 'YOU DRAW NEAR TO GOD AND HE WILL DRAW NEAR TO YOU.' 00:22:07.63\00:22:12.43 OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN IS SO ANXIOUS FOR US TO BE SAVED - 00:22:12.43\00:22:15.53 THAT MEANS THAT AS SOON AS WE TAKE SOME STEPS AND WE BEGIN TO 00:22:15.53\00:22:19.40 MOVE TOWARDS GOD, AND HE SEES US MAKING AN EFFORT TO COME TO HIM, 00:22:19.40\00:22:24.50 WHAT DOES HE DO? 00:22:24.50\00:22:26.33 HE WILL RUN TO MEET US. 00:22:26.33\00:22:29.50 NOW, HOW COME THAT FATHER DIDN'T SEND OUT BOUNTY HUNTERS 00:22:29.50\00:22:34.90 TO FIND THE SON WHEN HE FIRST WENT AWAY FROM HOME? 00:22:34.90\00:22:38.93 CAN YOU FORCE SOMEONE TO LOVE YOU? 00:22:38.93\00:22:42.36 AND, YOU KNOW, OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN CAN'T FORCE YOU 00:22:42.36\00:22:43.93 TO COME HOME. 00:22:43.93\00:22:45.16 HE'S NOT GOING TO FORCE YOU TO COME BACK TO CHURCH. 00:22:45.16\00:22:47.66 YOU'VE GOT TO COME TO YOUR SENSES AND TAKE THOSE FIRST 00:22:47.66\00:22:49.53 STEPS AND SAY, 'YOU KNOW, I BELIEVE THIS IS WHERE I'M 00:22:49.53\00:22:53.20 SUPPOSED TO BE. 00:22:53.20\00:22:54.40 THERE'S BREAD IN MY FATHER'S HOUSE.' 00:22:54.40\00:22:56.60 AND AS YOU COME - AS SOON AS YOU MAKE THAT FIRST STEP - YOU DRAW 00:22:56.60\00:23:01.16 NEAR TO GOD, HE WILL DRAW NEAR TO YOU. 00:23:01.16\00:23:03.86 YOU KNOW, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF SCRIPTURES THAT ARE 00:23:03.86\00:23:06.23 ON THAT LINE. 00:23:06.23\00:23:12.63 FIRST YOU COME AND YOU COME CONFESSING. 00:23:12.63\00:23:15.70 JEREMIAH CHAPTER 3, VERSE 14, "'ONLY ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR INIQUITY 00:23:15.70\00:23:20.10 THAT YOU'VE TRANSGRESSED AGAINST THE LORD YOUR GOD, THAT YOU'VE 00:23:20.10\00:23:22.73 NOT OBEYED MY VOICE' SAYS THE LORD." 00:23:22.73\00:23:25.06 HE'S PLEADING WITH ISRAEL HERE, HE SAYS, "'RETURN O BACKSLIDING 00:23:25.06\00:23:27.63 CHILDREN' SAYS THE LORD 'FOR I AM MARRIED TO YOU.'" 00:23:27.63\00:23:32.53 YOU KNOW, NOT ONLY HERE IN JEREMIAH BUT IN THE BOOK OF 00:23:32.53\00:23:34.80 HOSEA, GOD, NOT ONLY COMPARES IT TO A FATHER AND A SON, 00:23:34.80\00:23:38.33 BUT HE COMPARES IT TO A HUSBAND AND A WIFE. 00:23:38.33\00:23:41.30 AND HE SAYS, 'YOU KNOW, EVEN THOUGH YOU'VE BEEN UNFAITHFUL, 00:23:41.30\00:23:44.36 EVEN THOUGH YOU'VE GONE AFTER OTHER GODS, I LOVE YOU SO MUCH 00:23:44.36\00:23:48.06 THAT I'LL STILL TAKE YOU BACK.' THAT TAKES A LOT OF LOVE 00:23:48.06\00:23:53.20 BECAUSE, I'LL TELL YOU, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT 00:23:53.20\00:23:56.90 THINGS TO DEAL WITH IS WHEN THERE'S BEEN INFIDELITY 00:23:56.90\00:23:59.43 IN A MARRIAGE. 00:23:59.43\00:24:00.90 SOME PEOPLE FOLD THEIR ARMS AND STOMP THEIR FOOT AND SAY, 00:24:00.90\00:24:03.63 'THAT'S THE END.' BUT GOD'S LOVE IS SO INCREDIBLE 00:24:03.63\00:24:09.03 THAT HE SAYS TO HIS PEOPLE, 'EVEN AFTER YOU HAVE SPURNED BY 00:24:09.03\00:24:12.00 LOVE WITH SOMEONE ELSE, RETURN TO ME. 00:24:12.00\00:24:15.93 HE SAYS TO HIS PEOPLE, 'RETURN O BACKSLIDING CHILDREN' SAYS THE 00:24:15.93\00:24:18.80 LORD 'FOR I AM MARRIED TO YOU.' AND AGAIN IN VERSE 22, "RETURN 00:24:18.80\00:24:22.50 YOU BACKSLIDING CHILDREN AND I WILL HEAL YOUR BACKSLIDING." 00:24:22.50\00:24:27.33 HOW ANXIOUS IS GOD TO BE REUNITED WITH YOU? 00:24:27.33\00:24:30.73 YOU THINK THAT GOD'S MAD AT YOU? 00:24:30.73\00:24:33.66 SIN WILL DESTROY YOU - IT'S NOT BECAUSE GOD DOESN'T LOVE YOU - 00:24:33.66\00:24:35.86 IT'S THE NATURE OF SIN. 00:24:35.86\00:24:37.86 GOD DOESN'T NEED TO BE MAD AT YOU. 00:24:37.86\00:24:39.50 SIN IS - IT JUST SELF-DESTRUCTS. 00:24:39.50\00:24:43.13 AND THAT'S WHY TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE. 00:24:43.13\00:24:45.30 THE LONGER THAT WE WAIT TO COME BACK TO THE FATHER'S HOUSE, 00:24:45.30\00:24:50.40 WE'RE LIVING A VERY RISKY LIFE THAT WE'RE GOING TO STARVE OR 00:24:50.40\00:24:55.43 END UP LIKE THE PIGS THAT WE LIVE WITH. 00:24:55.43\00:24:59.00 YOU KNOW YOU CAN COME TO YOUR SENSES AND WAKE UP AND HAVE AN 00:24:59.00\00:25:01.46 EPIPHANY AND SAY, 'I NEED TO ARISE AND GO TO MY FATHER.' 00:25:01.46\00:25:04.33 WHEN YOU REALIZE THAT YOU NEED TO ACT ON IT. 00:25:04.33\00:25:07.66 IT IS DANGEROUS FOR YOU TO THINK THAT YOU CAN PLAY WITH THE GIFT 00:25:07.66\00:25:10.50 OF REPENTANCE AND THAT IT WILL COME LATER AT YOUR CALL. 00:25:10.50\00:25:15.16 GOD TELLS US IN ACTS CHAPTER 2, REPENTANCE IS EVEN A GIFT. 00:25:15.16\00:25:18.33 AND SO THE IMPRESSION THAT YOU'VE GOT - THAT YOU NEED TO 00:25:18.33\00:25:20.43 COME BACK TO CHURCH - YOU NEED TO ACT ON THAT WHEN YOU GET IT 00:25:20.43\00:25:24.30 BECAUSE THAT'S A GIFT OF GOD. 00:25:24.30\00:25:25.10 GOD IS CALLING YOU. 00:25:25.10\00:25:26.40 AND THE LONGER THAT WE SAY NO TO THE FATHER'S SPEAKING TO US AND 00:25:26.40\00:25:29.96 THROUGH HIS SPIRIT WOOING US, THE VOLUME CAN GET LOWER AND 00:25:29.96\00:25:33.86 LOWER - IT CAN BE DROWNED OUT BY ALL THE OTHER BACKGROUND NOISE 00:25:33.86\00:25:37.70 SO THAT YOU CAN GET TO THE PLACE WHERE YOU DON'T HEAR IT ANYMORE. 00:25:37.70\00:25:41.90 AND SO IF YOU HEAR THE FATHER CALLING YOU - IF YOU KNOW THAT 00:25:41.90\00:25:46.43 IT'S TIME FOR YOU TO COME BACK, DON'T WAIT FOR A BETTER 00:25:46.43\00:25:49.20 OPPORTUNITY. NOW IS THE TIME. 00:25:49.20\00:25:52.83 YOU KNOW I TOLD YOU THIS STORY IS ABOUT REJOICING. 00:25:52.83\00:25:55.46 THIS WHOLE CHAPTER - REJOICING WHEN THAT LOST SHEEP IS FOUND, 00:25:55.46\00:25:59.93 REJOICING WHEN THE MISSING COIN IS RECOVERED, REJOICING IN 00:25:59.93\00:26:05.00 HEAVEN WHEN THE PRODIGAL - WHO HAS BEEN, MAYBE OUT OF THE 00:26:05.00\00:26:08.26 CHURCH AND THE FATHER'S HOUSE FOR YEARS - COMES HOME. 00:26:08.26\00:26:12.86 THERE'S LIKEWISE REJOICING WITH GOD WHEN WE COME BACK TO HIM. 00:26:12.86\00:26:18.40 HE IS INFINITELY MORE WILLING TO RECEIVE US THAN SOMETIMES 00:26:18.40\00:26:22.10 WE ARE TO COME. 00:26:22.10\00:26:24.50 HE'S PAID SO MUCH THAT WE MIGHT BE FORGIVEN - THAT WE MIGHT HAVE 00:26:24.50\00:26:27.13 EVERLASTING LIFE. 00:26:27.13\00:26:28.46 WHY DO WE WANT TO GO TO THAT FAR COUNTRY AND DIG IN THE 00:26:28.46\00:26:30.96 DEVIL'S DUMPSTER? 00:26:30.96\00:26:33.00 IT'S NEVER GOING TO SATISFY YOU. 00:26:33.00\00:26:35.03 THE ONLY THING THAT'S GOING TO BRING SATISFACTION IS JESUS. 00:26:35.03\00:26:40.20 >>STAY TUNED. 00:26:40.20\00:26:41.00 WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK WITH THIS WEEK'S SPECIAL OFFER. 00:26:41.00\00:26:51.56 >>YOU DON'T READ ABOUT ANY REAL MIRACLES OF JESUS 00:26:51.56\00:26:54.90 UNTIL HE WAS BAPTIZED. 00:26:54.90\00:26:56.90 AT HIS BAPTISM HE WAS FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT - HE BEGAN 00:26:56.90\00:26:59.03 PREACHING AND TEACHING. 00:26:59.03\00:27:00.43 HE BEGAN A LIFE OF SERVICE. 00:27:00.43\00:27:04.13 AND SO, WHEN A PERSON COMES OUT OF THE WATER IT REPRESENTS A NEW 00:27:04.13\00:27:06.43 BREATH, A NEW BIRTH. 00:27:06.43\00:27:11.50 EVERYTHING IN HEAVEN WILL BE MADE NEW AND THAT MEANS THAT 00:27:11.50\00:27:14.86 WE NEED TO BE MADE NEW TOO. 00:27:14.86\00:27:21.76 >>EVERY DAY PEOPLE SPEND ABOUT 7 HOURS AND 45 MINUTES SLEEPING, 00:27:21.76\00:27:25.83 17 SECONDS BRUSHING THEIR TEETH, 1 HOUR AND 15 MINUTES EATING, 00:27:25.83\00:27:29.53 4 HOURS AND 50 MINUTES WATCHING TV, AND 33 MINUTES ON THE PHONE. 00:27:29.53\00:27:33.70 WITH ONLY 24 HOURS IN THE DAY, WHERE DOES GOD FIT IN? 00:27:33.70\00:27:36.96 MOVING MOUNTAINS. 00:27:36.96\00:27:38.20 A NEW DAILY DEVOTIONAL. 00:27:38.20\00:27:39.76 IT'S ABOUT UNDERSTANDING GOD AND BUILDING YOUR FAITH. 00:27:39.76\00:27:42.50 WITH 366 SHORT STORIES TO INSPIRE AND ENCOURAGE, 00:27:42.50\00:27:45.73 YOUR DAY WILL NEVER BE THE SAME. 00:27:45.73\00:27:47.66 AFBOOKSTORE.COM. 00:27:47.66\00:27:49.63 LIFE-CHANGING CHRISTIAN RESOURCES. 00:27:49.63\00:27:56.56 >>THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS WEEK'S 00:27:56.56\00:27:58.70 SPECIAL FREE OFFER. 00:27:58.70\00:28:00.26 THERE IS NO COST OR OBLIGATION. 00:28:00.26\00:28:02.46 JUST CALL THE TOLL-FREE NUMBER ON YOUR SCREEN AND BE SURE TO 00:28:02.46\00:28:05.40 NOTE THE OFFER NUMBER WHEN YOU MAKE YOUR REQUEST. 00:28:05.40\00:28:23.90 >>THE PRECEDING WAS A PAID PRESENTATION BROUGHT TO YOU 00:28:23.90\00:28:25.86