Participants: Pr. Doug Batchelor
Series Code: AFP
Program Code: AFP100003
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00:01 >>THIS PRESENTATION IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE FRIENDS OF
00:03 THE AMAZING FACTS MINISTRY. 00:11 >>GOD DOES NOT WANT TO LOSE ONE. 00:14 GOD IS NOT WILLING THAT ANY SHOULD BE LOST - AND THAT WOULD 00:19 INCLUDE SOME OF YOU WHO THINK THAT YOU'VE WANDERED TOO FAR. 00:24 >>FOR OVER 40 YEARS AMAZING FACTS HAS BEEN DEDICATED 00:27 TO SHARING GOD'S WORD THROUGH MEDIA. 00:30 THIS PROGRAM FEATURES HIGHLIGHTS FROM SOME OF OUR BEST 00:33 TELEVISION BROADCASTS. 00:35 WE INVITE YOU TO SIT BACK AND ENJOY THIS EDITION 00:38 OF AMAZING FACTS PRESENTS. 00:47 >>WE WERE GOING TO CHURCH EVERY OTHER WEEK. 00:49 ABOUT 19 YEARS OLD THINGS REALLY START TO MAKE SENSE FOR ME. 00:53 I START TO GO TO CHURCH FOR MYSELF AND THE PASTOR WANTED 00:57 TO STUDY WITH ME. 00:58 WE CAME TO THE STUDY ABOUT BAPTISM AND I KIND OF JUST 01:02 SHRUGGED, PUT MY HEAD DOWN AND I SAID, 'I'M NOT READY.' 01:05 HE LOOKED ME IN THE EYE AND SAID, 'JASON, YOU'LL 01:08 NEVER MAKE YOURSELF READY. 01:12 YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST SOMETHING YOU HAVE TO DO.' 01:15 I PUT A LOT OF THINGS BEHIND ME. 01:16 THE DRINKING AND SMOKING, YOU KNOW, ALL THAT STUFF STOPPED. 01:18 ALL THROUGHOUT THE TIME WHEN I WAS LEARNING ABOUT GOD 01:21 IT WAS JUST ME AND GOD. 01:23 IT COMES AROUND UP TO ABOUT AUGUST AND I MEET THIS GIRL. 01:28 ABOUT TWO YEARS INTO THE RELATIONSHIP WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 01:31 MARRIAGE AND EVERYTHING BUT WE DIDN'T PRAY - WE DIDN'T 01:34 STUDY TOGETHER. 01:36 WE WERE ARGUING A LOT BUT WE WERE ENGAGED. 01:41 I STARTED DRINKING AGAIN AND THEN IT WAS A SLOW DOWNWARD 01:44 SPIRAL INTO DIFFERENT THINGS AND THEN MY DEVOTIONAL LIFE STARTED 01:47 REALLY WEASELING AWAY. 01:49 WHEN WE BROKE UP IN 2008 IT WAS HEAVY FOR ME BECAUSE, AGAIN, 01:53 BEING WITH SOMEBODY FOR THAT LONG - IT'S ALMOST 01:55 LIKE A DIVORCE. 01:59 I STARTED TO FALL BACK AWAY EVEN MORE. 02:02 I REMEMBER LOOKING IN THE MIRROR - JUST LOOKING AT MYSELF AND 02:04 SAYING, 'WHAT ARE YOU DOING? 02:06 HOW CAN YOU DO THIS TO GOD? 02:08 HE'S BROUGHT YOU SO FAR.' AND YOU KNOW, GOD REALLY 02:12 HEARD MY CRY. 02:15 THERE WAS A TESTIMONY TELLING AT MY CHURCH AND THERE WAS A CALL 02:21 AND KIDS STARTED GETTING UP - A BUNCH OF HIGH SCHOOL KIDS 02:23 STARTED GETTING UP FOR CALLS OF BAPTISM. 02:26 I'M BACK DOING THE P.A. 02:27 SYSTEM AT THIS TIME AND I FEEL LIKE THIS - JUST URGE - LIKE MY 02:30 HEART JUST STARTED RIPPING OUT OF MY CHEST AND I JUST HAD THIS 02:33 FEELING JUST TO GO UP. 02:35 I GET UP TO THE FRONT AND I MEET THE PASTOR WITH OPEN ARMS. 02:41 I REALIZED THAT THERE'S SO MUCH MORE TO LIFE THAN JUST LIVING 02:44 LIFE FOR MYSELF AND, YOU KNOW, FALLING AWAY - IT'S NOT A 02:49 NECESSITY BUT GOD CAN WORK THROUGH ANYTHING IN THE BAD 02:54 TO MAKE IT THE GOOD. 02:55 THAT'S A PROMISE HE MAKES. 02:59 MY NAME IS JASON AND I'VE RECLAIMED MY FAITH. 03:04 >>AMEN. 03:06 THERE ARE TWO GREAT STATEMENTS OF JESUS THAT HE MAKES IN THE 03:10 BIBLE THAT REALLY HELP US TO CALIBRATE WHAT THE PURPOSE 03:13 OF LIFE IS. 03:15 IN MATTHEW CHAPTER 11 JESUS SAYS, 'COME UNTO ME.' 03:21 AND THEN IN MATTHEW 28 HE SAYS, 'GO AND TELL THE WORLD.' 03:26 THE TWO GREAT PRIORITIES OF LIFE ARE COMING TO JESUS AND THEN 03:31 GOING FOR JESUS. 03:32 IT'S REALLY COMING TO HIM - THIS LOVE RELATIONSHIP - 03:36 AND THEN GOING FOR HIM - THIS LOVE RELATIONSHIP. 03:40 AND EVERYTHING ELSE IS SECONDARY TO SEEKING FIRST GOD'S KINGDOM 03:44 AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS. 03:45 BUT THE DEVIL HAS A THOUSAND DISTRACTIONS TO KEEP US FROM 03:50 MAKING IT TO GOD'S KINGDOM - TO KEEP US FROM MAKING IT TO 03:53 THAT HOME HE'S PREPARED FOR EVERYBODY HERE. 03:56 THE LORD HAS PREPARED A PLACE FOR YOU AND THE DEVIL WANTS TO 04:00 GET YOU SIDELINED - DISTRACTED - WHERE YOU LOSE YOUR BEARINGS AND 04:04 YOU START BECOMING PREOCCUPIED WITH THE CARES OF LIFE. 04:08 WELL YOU KNOW, FRIENDS, IF YOU'VE WANDERED FROM JESUS 04:10 THERE IS SOMEONE WHO IS SEEKING FOR YOU. 04:13 GOD WANTS US TO FIND OUR WAY BACK HOME. 04:16 LET ME READ THIS PARABLE TO YOU, WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT 04:18 TONIGHT, DEALING WITH DEADLY DISTRACTIONS. 04:21 LUKE 15 AND I'LL START WITH VERSE 4. 04:24 LUKE 15, VERSE 4, JESUS ASKS, "WHAT MAN OF YOU, HAVING A 04:29 HUNDRED SHEEP, IF HE LOSES ONE OF THEM, DOES NOT LEAVE THE 04:35 NINETY-NINE IN THE WILDERNESS, AND GO AFTER THAT ONE WHICH IS 04:38 LOST UNTIL HE FINDS IT? 04:41 AND WHEN HE HAS FOUND IT, HE LAYS IT ON HIS SHOULDERS, 04:44 REJOICING. 04:46 AND WHEN HE COMES HOME HE CALLS HIS FRIENDS TOGETHER AND HIS 04:49 NEIGHBORS, SAYING TO THEM, 'REJOICE WITH ME, FOR I HAVE 04:52 FOUND MY SHEEP WHICH WAS LOST!' I SAY TO YOU THAT LIKEWISE THERE 04:57 WILL BE MORE JOY IN HEAVEN OVER ONE SINNER WHO REPENTS THAN OVER 05:01 NINETY-NINE JUST PERSONS WHO NEED NO REPENTANCE." 05:05 JESUS TELLS A SIMILAR PARABLE IN MATTHEW CHAPTER 18, IF YOU WANT 05:10 TO TURN THERE QUICKLY, WHERE HE TALKS ABOUT THAT LOST SHEEP. 05:15 "FOR THE SON OF MAN" - AND THIS IS VERSE 11, MATTHEW 18 - 05:19 "FOR THE SON OF MAN HAS COME TO SAVE THAT WHICH WAS LOST. 05:22 WHAT DO YOU THINK? 05:23 IF A MAN HAS A HUNDRED SHEEP, AND ONE OF THEM GOES ASTRAY, 05:26 DOES HE NOT LEAVE THE NINETY-NINE AND GO TO THE 05:28 MOUNTAINS TO SEEK THE ONE THAT IS STRAYING? 05:31 AND IF HE SHOULD FIND IT, ASSUREDLY, I SAY TO YOU, HE 05:33 REJOICES MORE OVER THAT SHEEP THAN OVER THE NINETY-NINE THAT 05:37 DID NOT GO ASTRAY. 05:38 EVEN SO, IT IS NOT THE WILL'" - THIS IS WHAT MATTHEW SAYS THAT'S 05:42 UNIQUE FROM LUKE - "'EVEN SO IT IS NOT THE WILL OF YOUR FATHER 05:46 WHO IS IN HEAVEN THAT ONE OF THESE LITTLE ONES SHOULD 05:50 PERISH.'" GOD DOES NOT WANT TO LOSE ONE. 05:54 GOD IS NOT WILLING THAT ANY SHOULD BE LOST - AND THAT WOULD 05:59 INCLUDE SOME OF YOU WHO THINK THAT YOU'VE WANDERED TOO FAR. 06:02 NOW, IN THE THREE PARABLES THAT YOU FIND THERE IN LUKE - 06:06 YOU'VE GOT THE LOST COIN - IT DOESN'T EVEN KNOW IT'S LOST. 06:09 THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE LIKE THAT - THEY THINK THEY'RE OKAY AND 06:13 THEY DON'T REALIZE THAT THEY NEED TO BE SOUGHT. 06:16 AND THEN YOU'VE GOT THE LOST SHEEP THAT IT REALIZES IT'S BEEN 06:19 MISPLACED BUT IT DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO GET HOME. 06:22 IT NEEDS SOMEONE TO GO AFTER IT. 06:24 IT NEEDS SOME DIRECTION. 06:25 HOW DOES A SHEEP GET LOST? 06:29 DOES THAT SHEEP CONSPIRE? 06:33 IT LOOKS AROUND ONE DAY - IT PACKS ITS BAGS - IT WAITS 06:35 UNTIL THE SHEPHERD'S NOT WATCHING AND SAYS, 'I'M 06:37 GOING TO MAKE A RUN FOR IT. 06:40 SEE IF I CAN ESCAPE.' SHEEP, TYPICALLY, 06:44 AREN'T THINKING THAT WAY. 06:46 WHAT HAPPENS IS THEY'RE OUT NIBBLING AND, YOU KNOW, THEY - 06:51 SHEEP KIND OF KEEP THEIR HEADS DOWN AND THEY JUST SORT OF GO 06:54 FROM ONE TUFT OF GRASS TO ANOTHER TUFT OF GRASS AND WHILE 06:56 THEY'RE EATING THIS GRASS THEY'RE EYEING WHERE THEY'RE 06:58 GOING TO GO NEXT. 06:59 THEY SAY, 'AH, THAT ONE LOOKS PRETTY GOOD.' 07:00 AND THEY GO OVER TO THIS PIECE OF GRASS 'MMM, THAT WAS 07:01 REALLY GOOD. 07:02 HEY, THAT OVER THE FENCE LOOKS BETTER.' 07:05 BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW THE GRASS IS ALWAYS GREENER ON THE OTHER SIDE 07:07 OF THE FENCE, RIGHT? 07:09 AND HE STICKS HIS HEAD AND ONE FOOT THROUGH THE FENCE AND 07:11 NIBBLES ON THAT AND NIBBLES AND NIBBLES AND NIBBLES - AND JUST 07:13 LIKE A DOT-TO-DOT DRAWING IT NIBBLES ITS WAY INTO BEING LOST. 07:20 YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE WANDERING FROM JESUS AND IT 07:23 STARTS BY MAKING SMALL COMPROMISES. 07:27 'WELL, YEAH, I KNOW I'M NOT SUPPOSED TO BE DRINKING ANYMORE. 07:30 I GAVE THAT UP BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S A SPECIAL OCCASION AND MY 07:34 FRIENDS ARE JUST GOING TO PASS AROUND ONE LITTLE GLASS OF 07:36 CHAMPAGNE AND WE'RE JUST GOING TO TOAST THIS ONE PERSON THEN 07:39 IT'S OVER WITH. 07:40 I MEAN - I MEAN WHAT'S WRONG WITH THAT?' 07:43 AND THEN THEY TRY TO FIND THAT VERSE THERE IN JOHN CHAPTER 2 07:45 AND SAY, 'AFTER ALL, JESUS TURNED THE WATER INTO WINE. 07:49 AND IT'S NOT WHAT GOES IN YOUR MOUTH THAT DEFILES YOU BUT IT'S 07:51 WHAT COMES OUT.' AND THEY FIND SOME - AND THEY 07:54 DRINK A LITTLE BIT. 07:56 WELL THAT MAKES IT A LOT EASIER WHEN THEY GET TOGETHER WITH 07:58 THEIR FRIENDS, WHO MAY NOT BE CHURCHGOING FRIENDS, AT THE 08:00 FOOTBALL GAME AND THEY START PASSING AROUND THE BEER AND THEN 08:03 IT BECOMES TWO AND THEN IT BECOMES ONCE EVERY WEEKEND AND 08:07 THEN IT BECOMES ONCE EVERY DAY AND THEY NIBBLE THEIR WAY INTO 08:12 BEING LOST. 08:14 AND IT'S NOT ALWAYS DRUGS AS WE'VE HEARD IN SOME TESTIMONIES, 08:18 SOMETIMES PEOPLE CAN ACTUALLY GET DISTRACTED WITH EDUCATION. 08:23 THEY SAY, 'WELL, YOU KNOW, THE LORD UNDERSTANDS. 08:26 I'VE GOT TO GET MY CAREER SET AND I KNOW I'M GOING TO BE ON 08:30 THIS SECULAR CAMPUS AND THERE'LL BE SOME THINGS HAPPENING BUT, 08:32 YOU KNOW, I'M JUST GOING TO REALLY PUT MY EDUCATION FIRST 08:34 DURING THESE YEARS.' AND SOME PEOPLE MAKE THOSE 08:36 LITTLE NIBBLES WHILE THEY'RE AT SCHOOL AND THEY NIBBLE THEIR WAY 08:40 RIGHT OUT OF THE FOLD AND ONE DAY THEY WAKE UP AND SAY, 08:42 'I HAVE NO IDEA WHERE THE OTHER SHEEP ARE. 08:45 I HAVE NO IDEA WHERE THE SHEPHERD IS. 08:46 HOW DID I GET HERE?' THERE'S A LOT OF DISTRACTIONS 08:51 THAT THE DEVIL'S GOT OUT THERE. 08:53 HE'S GOT A THOUSAND THINGS TO TAKE AWAY OUR ATTENTION - 08:57 ESPECIALLY IN THIS MEDIA-CRAZED WORLD THAT WE'RE LIVING IN. 09:00 YOU CAN'T LOOK ANYWHERE - JUST DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THERE ARE 09:03 MESSAGES BLARING, FLASHING - YOU'RE BEING ASSAULTED 09:06 CONTINUALLY WITH A BLIZZARD OF INFORMATION AND THE DEVIL HAS SO 09:10 MANY OTHER THINGS TO OCCUPY YOUR MIND THAT IT'S EASY FOR US TO 09:15 FORGET WHAT THE REALLY IMPORTANT THING IS - SEEKING FIRST THE 09:19 KINGDOM OF GOD AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS. 09:22 WHAT DESERVES MORE OF YOUR ATTENTION THAN JESUS 09:26 AND ETERNAL LIFE? 09:28 WHAT IN THIS WORLD IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THAT? 09:31 LUKE 21:34 - JESUS TELLS US THERE AGAIN - SPEAKING OF THE 09:34 LAST DAYS, "BUT TAKE HEED TO YOURSELVES, LEST YOUR HEARTS 09:39 BE WEIGHED DOWN WITH CAROUSING, DRUNKENNESS, AND CARES 09:44 OF THIS LIFE." 09:46 NOW, WE KNOW ABOUT CAROUSING AND DRUNKENNESS - THAT'S BAD 09:49 BEHAVIOR - BUT THE CARES OF THIS LIFE - ANYONE HAVE 09:51 CARES OF THIS LIFE? 09:53 THAT SORT OF ENCOMPASSES EVERYBODY. 09:55 WE CAN BECOME SO DISTRACTED WITH EVEN GOOD THINGS THAT WE FORGET 09:59 THE MOST IMPORTANT CRUCIAL THING - "LEST THAT DAY COME UPON YOU 10:03 UNEXPECTEDLY. 10:04 FOR IT WILL COME AS A SNARE FOR ALL THOSE WHO DWELL ON THE FACE 10:08 OF THE EARTH." 10:09 NOW I READ HERE, A MOMENT AGO, IN THE BIBLE 'THE LORD IS NOT 10:11 WILLING THAT EVEN ONE SHOULD PERISH.' 10:14 WILL THE MAJORITY BE SAVED OR LOST? 10:17 YOU KNOW IT JUST BREAKS MY HEART TO SAY IT, BUT JESUS SAID, 10:20 'STRAIGHT IS THE GATE AND NARROW IS THE WAY THAT LEADS TO LIFE 10:23 AND FEW THERE BE THAT FIND IT. 10:26 BROAD IS THE WAY THAT LEADS TO DESTRUCTION.' 10:28 BUT GOD IS NOT WILLING THAT EVEN ONE SHOULD BE LOST. 10:31 SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? 10:32 IT MEANS THAT THE PEOPLE CHOOSE TO DO OTHER THINGS. 10:36 HOW SAD! 10:38 THE LORD IS DESPERATE FOR EVERYBODY TO BE SAVED. 10:40 HE PAID A GREAT PRICE FOR YOU TO BE SAVED - SPECIFICALLY - NOT 10:44 JUST THE WHOLE WORLD. 10:45 HE WOULD HAVE DONE IT JUST FOR YOU. 10:47 TO WASTE THAT INVESTMENT OF GOD'S OWN LIFE IS SUCH A TRAGEDY 10:54 - ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU CONSIDER NOBODY NEEDS TO BE LOST AND IT 10:58 IS TRUE YOU ARE HAPPIER IN CHRIST - EVEN IN THIS LIFE - 11:03 NOT TO MENTION ETERNITY. 11:05 IT'S SO MUCH BETTER FOR THE CHRISTIAN - EVEN IN THIS LIFE. 11:09 I'M A LOT HAPPIER NOW, AS A CHRISTIAN, THAN I WAS WHEN I WAS 11:11 OUT THERE IN THE WORLD. 11:13 YOU DON'T - YOU STILL HAVE PROBLEMS BUT YOU DON'T GO TO 11:15 SLEEP HUNG OVER AND WAKE UP GUILTY. 11:17 NO, WAKE UP HUNG OVER - GO TO SLEEP GUILTY. 11:21 I'VE PROBABLY DONE BOTH. 11:23 MARK 4 - YOU KNOW THE PARABLE OF THE DIFFERENT SOILS 11:28 JESUS SHARES. 11:30 AND THE GOSPEL SEED IS SPREAD ON ALL THE DIFFERENT GROUND. 11:34 THERE'S ONLY ONE KIND OF GROUND THAT REALLY BRINGS FORTH FRUIT 11:37 BUT, IN PARTICULAR, HE TALKS ABOUT IN VERSE 18, "NOW THESE 11:42 ARE THE ONES SOWN AMONG THORNS; THEY ARE THE ONES WHO HEAR THE 11:45 WORD," - AND THEY SPRING UP - "BUT THE CARES OF THIS WORLD, 11:50 THE DECEITFULNESS OF RICHES, AND THE LUST OF OTHER THINGS." 11:55 IT CAN EVEN BE MATERIALISM THAT CAN BECOME A DISTRACTION - 11:59 THIS OWNING A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING. 12:01 WE CAN BECOME SO BURDENED WITH POSSESSIONS THAT YOU CAN BECOME 12:04 A SLAVE TO CREDIT CARD DEBT. 12:07 AND THE DEVIL'S CAPTURING A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH THOSE KIND 12:09 OF DISTRACTIONS. 12:11 THE LUST OF OTHER THINGS ENTERS IN AND IT CHOKES THE WORD AND IT 12:14 BECOMES UNFRUITFUL. 12:16 NOW, YOU MIGHT BE THINKING, 'PASTOR DOUG, THAT'S ME. 12:18 I GUESS I'M JUST BAD SOIL. 12:20 I'M THE THORNY GROUND. 12:22 WHAT AM I TO DO?' WELL, YOU KNOW, IT TELLS US 12:24 IN THE WORD THAT SOIL CAN BE CHANGED. 12:27 YOU READ IN JEREMIAH 4:3, "THUS SAYS THE LORD, 'BREAK UP 12:30 YOUR FALLOW GROUND.'" - PRAY AND THE HOLY SPIRIT 12:33 WILL BRING HIS ROTOTILLER ACROSS YOUR LIFE AND FERTILIZE YOUR 12:37 HEART AND YOU CAN HAVE GOOD SOIL. 12:41 WE NEED TO PRAY THAT GOD WILL GIVE US THAT NEW BEGINNING. 12:45 NOW, HERE'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK NEEDED TO BE SAID. 12:47 ONE REASON THAT PEOPLE STOPPED GOING TO CHURCH THEY'RE 12:50 DISTRACTED BY BLESSINGS. 12:56 THINGS ARE TOO GOOD. 12:58 WE ALWAYS THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THE DEVIL ALWAYS SENDS 13:01 THE HARD TIMES. 13:02 SOMETIMES THE DEVIL SENDS THE GOOD TIMES. 13:06 I THINK IT WAS BENJAMIN FRANKLIN WHO SAID, 'MORE PEOPLE ARE 13:09 DESTROYED BY ABUNDANCE THAN WANT.' 13:13 LET ME READ YOU A VERSE. 13:14 DEUTERONOMY 6, VERSE 10. 13:15 HERE'S THE CONTEXT: DEUTERONOMY IS MOSES' LAST SERMON BEFORE THE 13:19 CHILDREN OF ISRAEL CROSS OVER INTO THE PROMISED LAND AND HE IS 13:24 GOING TO GIVE THEM VICTORY OVER THEIR ENEMIES BUT THE PROMISED 13:26 LAND IS POSSESSED BY SEVEN OTHER NATIONS AND HE SAYS, 'YOU KNOW, 13:30 YOU'RE GOING TO MOVE INTO THESE NATIONS WHERE THEY'VE ALREADY 13:32 GOT THINGS BUILT AND ESTABLISHED, AND I WANT TO GIVE 13:34 YOU A WARNING.' DEUTERONOMY 6, VERSE 10, "SO IT 13:37 SHALL BE, WHEN THE LORD YOUR GOD BRINGS YOU INTO THE LAND OF 13:41 WHICH HE SWORE TO YOUR FATHERS, TO ABRAHAM, ISAAC, AND JACOB, TO 13:44 GIVE YOU LARGE AND BEAUTIFUL CITIES WHICH YOU DID NOT BUILD, 13:48 HOUSES FULL OF ALL GOOD THINGS, WHICH YOU DID NOT FILL, HEWN OUT 13:54 WELLS THAT YOU DID NOT DIG, VINEYARDS AND OLIVE TREES THAT 13:57 YOU DID NOT PLANT.' - BRINGS THEM INTO A LAND 13:59 FLOWING WITH MILK AND HONEY - "AND WHEN YOU HAVE EATEN AND YOU 14:03 ARE FULL, THEN BEWARE LEST YOU FORGET THE LORD WHO BROUGHT YOU 14:10 OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT FROM THE HOUSE OF BONDAGE." 14:12 TRANSLATION: IF GOD BLESSES YOU - YOU GET THE GOOD EDUCATION, 14:16 YOU GET THE GOOD JOB, YOU GET THE NICE CAR, YOU GET THE NICE 14:18 HOUSE, YOU'RE HEALTHY AND WEALTHY AND WISE AND YOU'VE GOT 14:22 FRIENDS, YOU TAKE VACATIONS AND YOU CAN AUTOMATICALLY ASSUME 14:27 THAT YOU'RE ON THE ROAD TO HEAVEN BECAUSE YOU'RE BLESSED 14:31 AND YOU CAN BE SELF-DECEIVED. 14:32 YOU CAN BE LOST AND NOT EVEN KNOW IT, IF YOU DON'T HAVE 14:34 CHRIST AT THE CENTER OF YOUR LIFE. 14:36 HE SAYS, 'BEWARE THAT YOU FORGET THE LORD WHO BROUGHT YOU 14:40 OUT OF EGYPT.' THAT MEANS 'WHO SAVED YOU FROM 14:42 YOUR SLAVERY TO SIN.' SO, WE NEED TO ASK GOD TO ALSO 14:47 HELP US KNOW WHAT OUR STATE IS BECAUSE IT'S NOT ALWAYS GOVERNED 14:50 BY GOOD TIMES AND BAD TIMES. 14:54 YOU KNOW ONE OF THE THINGS A PERSON CAN DO TO KEEP FROM 14:56 NIBBLING THEIR WAY OUT OF THE CHURCH? 14:59 GET INVOLVED. 15:02 ONE OF THE GREATEST THINGS IS FOR PEOPLE TO GO TO CHURCH 15:04 AND JUST SIT. 15:06 IF THEY GO WEEK AFTER WEEK AND JUST SIT AND SORT OF TAKE IT IN, 15:08 WE ARE - LET'S FACE IT - LIVING IN A GENERATION THAT IS BEING 15:10 PROGRAMMED LIKE WE'RE SPECTATORS ALL THE TIME. 15:15 THE APOSTLES WERE NOT SPECTATORS OF CHRISTIANITY. 15:18 THE EARLY DISCIPLES ALL FELT OWNERSHIP OF GETTING THIS 15:22 MESSAGE OUT. 15:23 THEY ALL HAD A PASSION THAT THEY WERE INVOLVED - THEY NEEDED TO 15:26 DO SOMETHING GREAT. 15:28 ABRAHAM LINCOLN, ONE TIME, WAS RIDING HOME AFTER A SERMON IN 15:31 HIS CARRIAGE AND HE WAS WITH HIS SECRETARY AND HIS SECRETARY 15:36 SAID, 'MR. PRESIDENT, HOW DID YOU ENJOY THE MESSAGE TODAY?' 15:39 AND LINCOLN, IN HIS VERY STRAIGHT WAY SAID, 15:41 'DIDN'T CARE FOR IT.' THE SECRETARY SAID, 'WELL, I 15:44 THOUGHT HE WAS VERY ELOQUENT.' HE SAID, 'WELL HE WAS ELOQUENT, 15:47 BUT HE DIDN'T ASK ME TO DO ANYTHING GREAT.' 15:52 PEOPLE WANT TO BE CHALLENGED WITH A PURPOSE THAT IS BIGGER 15:55 THAN THEIR OWN LIVES - SOMETHING THAT'S WORTH NOT ONLY LIVING FOR 15:59 BUT SOMETHING WORTH DYING FOR. 16:03 I REMEMBER READING AN AD THAT WAS IN THE LONDON PAPER - I 16:07 DIDN'T READ IT, IT WAS YEARS AGO I READ ABOUT IT. 16:10 THIS IS WHAT 16:11 IT SAID, 'MEN WANTED FOR HAZARDOUS JOURNEY. 16:14 SMALL WAGES, BITTER COLD, LONG MONTHS OF DARKNESS, CONSTANT 16:19 DANGER, SAFE RETURN DOUBTFUL. 16:23 HONOR AND RECOGNITION IN CASE OF SUCCESS.' 16:26 THE AD WAS SIGNED BY THE ARCTIC EXPLORER SIR ERNEST SHACKLETON. 16:30 RIGHT AFTER THE AD RAN, THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE INSTANTLY 16:33 RESPONDED - PEOPLE THAT WANTED TO DO SOMETHING GREAT. 16:38 THEY WANTED TO HAVE A PURPOSE. 16:39 JESUS HAS CALLED YOU WITH THE GREATEST MESSAGE AND THE 16:43 GREATEST MISSION IN THE WORLD - TO SAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE PERISHING 16:48 AND HELP THEM LIVE. 16:49 WHAT'S GREATER THAN THAT? 16:51 AND TO GO AS FAR AS YOU CAN GO - THE WHOLE WORLD. 16:54 AND TO LIVE A LIFE THAT IS A CONTRADICTION OF THE ACCUSATIONS 16:57 OF THE DEVIL. 16:58 TO LIVE A NEW LIFE AS A NEW CREATURE - TO BE HOLY. 17:02 THAT'S A CHALLENGE. 17:03 THAT'S AN ADVENTURE. 17:04 TALK ABOUT AN ADVENTURE - LIVE LIKE CHRIST. 17:07 WE'VE GOT TO GET INVOLVED. 17:10 PEOPLE SELDOM LOSE THEIR RELIGION BY BLOWOUT, THEY 17:13 USUALLY LOSE IT BY A SLOW LEAK. 17:17 LITTLE BY LITTLE. 17:19 AND THEN SOMETIMES IT'S BEING FAITHFUL RIGHT WHERE YOU'RE AT 17:22 AT THE MOMENT - STAYING INVOLVED. 17:25 I THINK IT WAS C.S. 17:26 LEWIS WHO SAID, 'A GLIMPSE OF THE NEXT THREE FEET OF ROAD IS 17:30 MORE IMPORTANT AND USEFUL THAN A VIEW OF THE HORIZON.' 17:33 ARE YOU BEING FAITHFUL WHERE YOU ARE RIGHT NOW? 17:35 DO SOMETHING. 17:37 DON'T JUST WAIT FOR SOMETHING LATER DOWN THE ROAD, BUT WHAT 17:39 CAN YOU DO NOW? 17:41 'YOU ASK 'WHAT IS THE WILL OF GOD?' 17:44 WELL HERE'S THE ANSWER TRUE. 17:46 THE NEAREST THING THAT SHOULD BE DONE THAT HE CAN DO 17:48 THROUGH YOU.' ALL OF US HAVE BEEN CALLED 17:51 BY THE LORD. 17:53 SOME GET DISTRACTED BY MONEY - THE MAKING OF MONEY. 17:59 NOW, MONEY IS NOT EVIL, IT'S THE LOVE OF MONEY THAT'S THE ROOT OF 18:02 ALL EVIL, BUT JESUS WAS PRETTY CLEAR. 18:05 HE SAID, 'A MAN'S LIFE DOES NOT CONSIST IN THE ABUNDANCE OF 18:07 THINGS THAT HE POSSESSES AND IT IS HARDER FOR A RICH MAN TO 18:10 ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD THAN A CAMEL TO GO THROUGH THE EYE 18:12 OF A NEEDLE.' THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS IN THE 18:15 BIBLE, BUT WHAT WORRIES ME IS EVERYBODY I MEET WANTS TO BE 18:18 THE EXCEPTION. 18:20 YEAH, THERE ARE SOME HOLY GODLY RICH PEOPLE, BUT THEY WERE 18:24 THE EXCEPTIONS. 18:26 ABUNDANCE - AS I SAID, IT CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS. 18:28 YOU KNOW, FOR OTHER PEOPLE IT'S NOT JUST EDUCATION OR THEIR 18:31 CAREER OR THEIR WORK, SOMETIMES IT'S ENTERTAINMENT BECOMES A 18:34 DISTRACTION - OR SPORTS. 18:39 PEOPLE CAN ACTUALLY MAKE A RELIGION OUT OF SPORTS. 18:41 I'VE TRAVELED TO SOME PARTS OF THE WORLD THAT THEY OUGHT TO 18:43 HAVE ALTARS TO SOCCER - OR WHAT THEY CALL FOOTBALL. 18:47 IT'S LIKE A RELIGION AND IF THEIR TEAM WINS THEY STORM THE 18:50 FIELD AND RIOT. 18:51 IF THEIR TEAM LOSES THEY STORM THE FIELD AND RIOT. 18:55 AND IT'S JUST - HOW MANY OF YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT? 18:58 NOW WE'RE A LITTLE MORE SELF-POSSESSED MAYBE HERE IN 19:01 NORTH AMERICA BUT IT'S A RELIGION NONETHELESS FOR OTHERS. 19:04 DO YOU KNOW THAT THE BIBLE BEGINS AND ENDS WITH SHEEP? 19:09 YOU CAN READ IN GENESIS 'ABEL WAS A KEEPER OF SHEEP.' 19:13 IT GOES ALL THE WAY BACK. 19:14 YOU GO TO THE LAST CHAPTER OF THE BIBLE AND YOU ARE INVITED TO 19:16 THE MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE LAMB. 19:20 THE BIBLE TALKS ABOUT JESUS AS THE LAMB THAT WAS SLAIN FROM THE 19:24 FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD. 19:25 AND ALL THE WAY FROM GENESIS TO REVELATION IT'S TALKING ABOUT 19:28 SHEPHERDS. 19:29 SO IT'S PROBABLY GOOD FOR US TO CONSIDER THIS FOR JUST A MOMENT 19:32 BECAUSE JESUS COMPARES US, SOMETIMES, TO WANDERING SHEEP. 19:36 AND HE IS THE GREAT SHEPHERD. 19:40 WHY WOULD A SHEPHERD NOTICE THAT ONE SHEEP IS MISSING IF HE HAD 19:43 A HUNDRED? 19:45 YOU KNOW, IF YOU'VE GOT A HUNDRED SHEEP UP ON A GREEN 19:48 HILL, COULD YOU JUST LOOK UP THERE AND LOOK DOWN AND SAY, 19:51 'OH, I SPOT ONE'S MISSING'? 19:53 THEY ALL KIND OF LOOK A DINGY WHITE COLOR AND THEY KIND OF 19:58 MELD TOGETHER AND IF ONE SHEEP'S IN FRONT OF ANOTHER IT 20:01 PRETTY HARD TO NOTICE THAT ONE IS MISSING UNLESS YOU COUNTED. 20:06 YOU KNOW HOW A LOT OF PEOPLE END UP MISSING FROM OUR CHURCHES? 20:09 BECAUSE WE DON'T EVER COUNT. 20:12 WE THINK, 'OH, THAT'S PROUD TO COUNT.' 20:14 A GOOD SHEPHERD COUNTS HIS SHEEP. 20:16 HOW ELSE YOU GOING TO KNOW ONE IS MISSING? 20:18 IT'S WHEN YOU RUN THEM THROUGH THAT SHEEP GATE AND YOU SAY 20:20 'ONE, TWO, THREE' - BRINGING THEM BACK INTO THE FOLD AT THE 20:22 END OF THE DAY THE SHEPHERD COUNTS THEM AND SAYS, 'WAIT A 20:24 SECOND, LET'S COUNT AGAIN. 20:26 ONE IS MISSING.' AND SO THE SHEPHERD SAYS, 'WELL, 20:28 NINETY-NINE OUT OF A HUNDRED, THAT'S NOT BAD. 20:33 AND, YOU KNOW, I CAN REPORT TO THE CEOS THAT WE'VE GOT 20:36 99% ACCURACY. 20:39 ANY OF YOU EVER GO TO WALMART WITH FIVE KIDS AND COME OUT WITH 20:41 FOUR AND SAY, 'WELL, YOU KNOW, FOUR OUT OF FIVE ISN'T BAD.' 20:49 WOULD WE THINK THAT WAY? 20:51 DO YOU LOVE YOUR CHILDREN MORE THAN THE LORD LOVES HIS SHEEP? 20:56 DOES THE LORD LOVE HIS CHILDREN LESS THAN WE LOVE OURS? 21:01 HOW ANXIOUS IS HE THAT HIS SHEEP COME HOME? 21:04 HOW ANXIOUS IS HE THAT YOU COME HOME? 21:07 HOW MUCH DID HE PAY TO REDEEM AND TO RECLAIM US? 21:12 WELL, SO ONE SHEEP IS IMPORTANT - YOU NOTICE HE'S GOT 21:17 NINETY-NINE BUT ONE IS MISSING. 21:19 NOTICE THE VALUE OF EVEN ONE. 21:23 HOW MUCH WOULD HE PAY FOR YOU? 21:24 DOES THE SHEPHERD CARE? 21:26 AND YOU KNOW IT'S A BEAUTIFUL STORY THEN. 21:29 THE BIBLE TELLS US HE PROBABLY GOES OUT AT NIGHT AND HE'S 21:33 ROAMING BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY - YOU PASTURE THE SHEEP 21:35 DURING THE DAY - THEY'RE NOT NOCTURNAL ANIMALS. 21:38 AT THE END OF THE DAY YOU BRING THEM BACK, THE SUN'S GOING DOWN, 21:40 BRINGING IN THE FOLD - YOU COUNT - YOU'VE GOT NINETY-NINE. 21:42 COUNT AGAIN - NINETY-NINE. 21:45 FLUFFY'S MISSING. 21:49 AND THE SHEPHERD LEAVES THE FOLD PROBABLY WITH AN ATTENDANT - 21:52 IT TOOK MORE THAN ONE MAN TO TAKE CARE OF A HUNDRED SHEEP 21:53 IN BIBLE TIMES. 21:55 MAYBE THEY HAD SOME SHEEP DOGS TO HELP WATCH THEM. 21:57 HE SAYS, 'I BETTER GO FIND FLUFFY.' 22:00 AND HE TAKES OFF IN THIS RUGGED ROCKY TERRAIN THAT THEY HAD 22:04 THERE IN THE LAND OF ISRAEL - WHERE THEY HAD RAVINES AND THEY 22:06 HAD WILD JACKALS AND WOLVES AND - YOU READ ABOUT WOLVES 22:09 IN THE BIBLE. 22:10 THEY HAD BEARS AND THEY HAD LIONS BACK THEN. 22:12 AND HE GOES TO DANGER ALL THAT IN THE DARK FOR ONE. 22:19 AND HE SEARCHES AND HE SEARCHES AND IT'S COLD AND IT'S 22:24 INCONVENIENT AND HE'S STUMBLING AROUND, BUT FINALLY HE FINDS IT 22:29 AND HE REJOICES. 22:31 AND YOU KNOW WHAT IT SAYS? 22:32 HE SCOLDS THE SHEEP AND SAYS, 'YOU DUMB SHEEP!' 22:35 IS THAT WHAT HE DOES? 22:37 OR IS HE HAPPY? 22:38 SOME PEOPLE ARE AFRAID TO COME BACK BECAUSE THEY THINK, 'YOU 22:41 KNOW, EVERYONE'S GOING TO REMIND ME OF WHAT I DID WRONG.' 22:44 AND, BY THE WAY, IF YOU SEE SOMEONE SHOW UP IN THE CHURCH 22:46 AND THEY HAVEN'T BEEN THERE IN AWHILE, PLEASE DON'T SAY TO 22:48 THEM, 'WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN? 22:51 YOU KNOW WHAT I HEARD ABOUT YOU? 22:53 IS IT TRUE THAT YOU'VE BEEN AT THE BAR?' 22:57 BE LOVING AND COMPASSIONATE AND REJOICE WHEN THEY COME BACK. 23:01 WHEN THAT MISSING SON IS FOUND - WHEN THAT MISSING SHEEP IS FOUND 23:04 - WHEN THAT MISSING COIN IS FOUND THERE IS REJOICING. 23:09 AMEN? 23:12 HE COMES BACK - REJOICING SO MUCH HE CALLS ALL HIS NEIGHBORS 23:15 TOGETHER. 23:16 YOU KNOW, IF I FOUND A MISSING GOAT I WOULDN'T BRING ALL MY 23:18 NEIGHBORS TOGETHER AND HAVE A FEAST - BUT THAT WAS HOW THEY 23:20 FELT BACK THEN ABOUT ONE SHEEP. 23:23 AND HOW DOES HEAVEN FEEL ABOUT ONE OF GOD'S WANDERING CHILDREN 23:27 THAT COMES BACK TO THE FOLD OF THE CHURCH? 23:30 2005 THERE WERE SOME BOY SCOUTS CAMPING IN THE WILDERNESS OF 23:35 UTAH - SOME PRETTY RUGGED COUNTRY OUT THERE - AND ONE BOY, 23:39 BRENNAN HAWKINS, GOT SEPARATED FROM HIS BUDDY. 23:43 HE HAD A BUDDY AND HE'S GETTING OUT OF HIS CLIMBING GEAR AND AS 23:45 HE'S GOING BACK TO THE CAMP HE TOOK A WRONG TURN - YOU KNOW YOU 23:49 CAN GET DISORIENTED IN THE WOODS - AND BACKTRACKED THE WRONG WAY 23:54 AND JUST WENT FROM BAD TO WORSE UNTIL HE WAS PLAIN LOST. 23:59 CALLED - TRIED TO FIND HIS WAY BACK TO CAMP - HE COULDN'T. 24:03 EVENTUALLY THEY NOTICED THAT HE WAS MISSING AND THEY STARTED 24:06 LOOKING FOR HIM. 24:07 AND WHEN THEY REALIZED THEY COULDN'T FIND HIM THEY CONTACTED 24:09 THE AUTHORITIES AND THEY CONTACTED THE PARENTS AND A 24:12 DESPERATE SEARCH ENSUED FOR BRENNAN WHO WAS 11 YEARS OLD. 24:16 THE TEMPERATURES GOT COLD - MOUNTAIN LIONS IN THE AREA - 24:19 COLD CREEKS, DANGEROUS WATERFALLS - LOT OF PEOPLE 24:22 HAVE BEEN LOST AND DIED IN THIS WILDERNESS. 24:26 AND THEY GOT 1400 PEOPLE SEARCHING THE HILLSIDE 24:29 FOR THAT BOY. 24:31 THE SUN WENT DOWN - ALL NIGHT LONG THEY COULDN'T FIND HIM. 24:35 CALLED - NEXT DAY - ANOTHER WHOLE DAY OF SEARCHING - 24:39 COULDN'T FIND HIM. 24:40 THE PARENTS WERE ABSOLUTELY DESPERATE WONDERING HOW IT WAS 24:44 GOING TO END. 24:46 THREE DAYS GO BY THEY COULDN'T FIND HIM - SEARCHING, CALLING, 24:52 1400 PEOPLE COMBING THE HILLS - AND NOW THEY'RE STARTING TO LOSE 24:54 HOPE JUST BASED ON PAST RECORDS OF WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO OTHERS 24:57 THAT GOT LOST. 25:00 AFTER FOUR DAYS, ONE OF THE SEARCHERS GOING DOWN A TRAIL 25:04 WITH AN ATV SPOTTED A VERY HAGGARD LOOKING 11-YEAR-OLD WHO 25:08 CAME OUT FROM BEHIND SOME BUSHES AND IT WAS BRENNAN. 25:13 AND HE MANAGED TO SURVIVE - HE HAD CURLED UP DURING THE NIGHT 25:15 UNDER HIS SWEATSHIRT, LEANED AGAINST A TREE AND CRIED HIMSELF 25:17 TO SLEEP LOOKING AT THE MOON, DRANK OUT OF THE CREEKS AND ATE 25:22 SOME LEAVES AND OTHER THAN BEING A LITTLE DEHYDRATED AND COLD HE 25:28 WAS FINE. 25:30 WHEN HE CAME RIDING INTO CAMP WITH THIS MISSING BOY, 25:33 HOW DO YOU THINK THE SEARCH PARTY BEHAVED? 25:35 HOW DO YOU THINK HIS PARENTS REJOICED? 25:37 HOW DO YOU THINK THE LORD FEELS WHEN HIS WANDERING SHEEP 25:40 COME BACK? 25:43 >>STAY TUNED, WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK WITH THIS WEEK'S 25:45 SPECIAL OFFER. 25:54 >>GOING BACK TO JONAH, YOU KNOW, WHEN HE WAS ASLEEP IN THE BOAT 25:56 ON THE WAY TO DESTRUCTION, GOD SENT A STORM TO SAVE HIM. 26:03 AND MAYBE SOME OF YOU WHO HAVE BEEN OUT OF THE CHURCH - YOU'VE 26:05 BEEN GOING THROUGH SOME TRIALS AND WONDERING 'WHY 26:07 IS THIS HAPPENING?' AND IT COULD BE BECAUSE GOD 26:08 LOVES YOU AND HE'S TRYING TO GET YOUR ATTENTION. 26:15 AND HE WILL MAKE YOU RESTLESS UNTIL YOU FIND YOUR REST IN HIM. 26:21 >>"LET HIM WHO THIRSTS COME. 26:23 WHOEVER DESIRES LET HIM TAKE THE WATER OF LIFE FREELY." 26:26 REVELATION 22:17. 26:28 IMAGINE, YOU ARE IN A REMOTE VILLAGE IN GUATEMALA AND THERE 26:31 IS NO WATER AVAILABLE FOR COOKING, WASHING, OR DRINKING. 26:35 YOU MUST WALK TWO OR MORE HOURS ONE WAY JUST TO GET WATER FOR 26:38 YOUR FAMILY OR BE FORCED TO DRINK THE STAGNANT WATER IN 26:41 PONDS OR POLLUTED STREAMS - PLACES WE WOULDN'T EVEN LET OUR 26:44 DOGS DRINK. 26:45 IN THESE VILLAGES SMALL CHILDREN SUFFER THE MOST FROM WATER-BORNE 26:47 DISEASES AND MANY INFANTS DIE FROM DYSENTERY. 26:50 AMAZING FACTS AND WATER FOR LIFE HAVE TEAMED UP TO MAKE A MAJOR 26:53 IMPACT IN THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE OF GUATEMALA. 26:56 USING CHRIST'S METHOD OF REACHING THE HEART, AMAZING 26:58 FACTS WILL WORK CLOSELY TOGETHER WITH WATER FOR LIFE TO DRILL 27:01 WELLS IN VILLAGES, THUS MEETING THEIR DESPERATE NEED FOR FRESH, 27:05 CLEAN DRINKING WATER AND THEN POINTING THEM TO JESUS AS THE 27:08 ULTIMATE FRIEND FOR THEIR THIRSTY SOUL. 27:10 AFTER THE NEW WELL IS FLOWING IN A VILLAGE, AMAZING FACTS WILL 27:13 SEND MEDICAL VOLUNTEERS TO TEACH THEM SIMPLE WAYS THEY CAN CARE 27:16 FOR THEIR BODIES AND LIVE HEALTHIER LIVES. 27:18 THEN WE WILL SEND OUR TRAINED BIBLE WORKERS TO SHARE 27:21 LITERATURE, GIVE BIBLE STUDIES, AND CONDUCT EVANGELISTIC 27:24 MEETINGS. 27:25 AS PEOPLE ARE INTRODUCED TO THE GOSPEL MESSAGE IN BOTH WORD AND 27:27 DEED, AMAZING FACTS WILL BUILD A PLACE OF WORSHIP WHERE THIRSTING 27:31 PEOPLE CAN BE FILLED FOREVER. 27:33 WILL YOU JOIN AMAZING FACTS TO HELP REACH PEOPLE FOR CHRIST 27:36 IN GUATEMALA? 27:37 YOUR GIFT OF ANY SIZE WILL MAKE AN ETERNAL DIFFERENCE. 27:40 THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. 27:41 SEND YOUR DONATION TO AMAZING FACTS, P.O. BOX 1058, 27:44 ROSEVILLE CA 95678 OR CALL 877-232-2871. 27:50 YOU CAN VISIT US ONLINE AT 'AMAZINGFACTS.ORG/WATER'. 27:58 >>THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS WEEK'S 28:00 SPECIAL FREE OFFER. 28:02 THERE IS NO COST OR OBLIGATION. 28:04 JUST CALL THE TOLL-FREE NUMBER ON YOUR SCREEN AND BE SURE TO 28:07 NOTE THE OFFER NUMBER WHEN YOU MAKE YOUR REQUEST. 28:23 >>THIS PRESENTATION IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE FRIENDS OF 28:26 THE AMAZING FACTS MINISTRY. |
Revised 2015-02-06