Participants: Pr. Doug Batchelor
Series Code: AFP
Program Code: AFP100004
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00:01 >>THIS PRESENTATION IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE FRIENDS OF THE
00:03 AMAZING FACTS MINISISTRY. 00:11 >>HOW DO YOU THINK OUR HEAVENLY FATHER FEELS WHEN, AFTER HE HAS 00:15 PAID SO MUCH THAT YOU MIGHT LIVE IN A MANSION SOME DAY, 00:19 THAT WE GO TO THE GARBAGE OF THE DEVIL'S DUMPSTER FOR HAPPINESS? 00:26 >>FOR OVER 40 YEARS AMAZING FACTS HAS BEEN 00:28 DEDICATED TO SHARING GOD'S WORD THROUGH MEDIA. 00:31 THIS PROGRAM FEATURES HIGHLIGHTS FROM SOME OF OUR BEST 00:34 TELEVISION BROADCASTS. WE INVITE YOU TO SIT BACK AND 00:37 ENJOY THIS EDITION OF AMAZING FACTS PRESENTS. 00:48 >>I GREW UP IN A CHURCH-GOING FAMILY. I MEAN, 00:51 WE WERE AT EVERY MEETING. I SANG IN FOUR OF THE CHOIRS 00:54 THERE - I DIRECTED THREE. VERY INVOLVED - VERY ACTIVE. 01:00 IT ALMOST SEEMED LIKE BUSY WORK SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW? 01:03 I WENT TO SUNDAY SCHOOL, I KNEW ABOUT GOD, I KNEW ABOUT JESUS, 01:09 BUT I DIDN'T HAVE A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST. 01:13 MY SENIOR YEAR IN HIGH SCHOOL I GOT THE NEWS MY FATHER 01:19 HAD BEEN MURDERED. I PLAYED IT OFF WELL. 01:24 NO ONE REALLY SAW THAT I WAS STRUGGLING WITH IT. 01:30 IT JUST REALLY FELT LIKE THERE WAS A HOLE THAT NEEDED TO BE 01:33 FILLED AND I TRIED TO FILL IT WITH DRUGS, WITH ALCOHOL, 01:37 WITH PARTYING. AFTER COLLEGE I JUST STOPPED 01:42 GOING TO CHURCH ALTOGETHER. ONE DAY, ON A SUNDAY, BECAUSE I 01:48 DIDN'T FEEL LIKE GOING TO CHURCH WITH MY MOM, I THOUGHT, 01:52 YOU KNOW, I SHOULD GET A LITTLE BIT OF THE WORD. 01:56 AND THERE I AM, HIGH OFF COCAINE, WITH MY BIBLE IN HAND, 02:01 TRYING TO DO A BIBLE STUDY AND I HEARD AN AUDIBLE VOICE, 02:07 'JUST LOOK AT YOURSELF.' AND I DID. 02:12 AND I WAS LIKE, 'WHAT AM I DOING?' 02:19 AND I GOT ON MY KNEES - I SAID, 'LORD, IF YOU DO NOT TAKE THIS 02:22 AWAY FROM ME NOW, I'M GOING TO KILL MYSELF.' 02:31 I WAS GOING TO CONTINUE THIS LIFESTYLE AND I WAS GOING TO END 02:33 UP OVERDOSING, HAVING A HEART ATTACK - WHATEVER IT WAS. 02:38 'YOU HAVE TO TAKE THIS AWAY - ALL OF IT.' AND THAT DAY HE 02:47 LIFTED ALL OF IT AWAY FROM ME - IT WAS ALL GONE. 02:52 WHEN GOD DOES SOMETHING IN YOUR LIFE, HE DOES IT COMPLETE. 03:00 MY NAME IS EDMOND GIBBS AND I RECLAIMED MY FAITH. 03:06 >>AMEN. ONCE AGAIN, FRIENDS, WE ARE VERY THANKFUL THAT YOU ARE 03:09 HERE FOR THE 'RECLAIM YOUR FAITH' PROGRAM. 03:12 AND I HOPE THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE HERE, PART OF THE LIVE AUDIENCE, 03:15 WILL BE PRAYING IN YOUR HEARTS. 03:17 AS I SAID, I REALIZE THAT, IN SOME RESPECT, I MIGHT BE TALKING 03:20 HERE TO THE CHOIR, BUT WE KNOW STATISTICALLY THERE ARE A 03:24 LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO CHURCH THAT ARE JUST HANGING BY 03:27 THEIR FINGERNAILS AND WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU WHO ARE IN THE 03:31 CHURCH TO HOLD ONTO THAT PLOW AND NOT LOOK BACK. 03:35 AND THEN THERE ARE SOME OF YOU THAT HAVE MAYBE DRIFTED AWAY - 03:39 WE'RE THANKFUL THAT YOU'RE HERE, WE'RE THANKFUL THAT YOU'RE 03:40 WATCHING - AND THE LORD IS CALLING YOU. 03:43 YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE STORIES IN THE BIBLE THAT ALWAYS AMAZED ME 03:47 IS THE STORY OF JONAH. HOW A PROPHET OF GOD - I MEAN, 03:53 YOU'VE GOT TO BE A CHURCH MEMBER TO BE A PROPHET OF GOD - COULD 03:56 THINK YOU COULD RUN FROM GOD. JONAH CHAPTER 1, VERSE 1, "NOW 04:03 THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME TO JONAH SON OF AMITTAI SAYING, 04:08 "ARISE AND GO TO NINEVEH, THAT GREAT CITY, AND CRY OUT 04:12 AGAINST IT FOR THEIR WICKEDNESS HAS COME UP BEFORE ME. BUT JONAH 04:16 AROSE TO FLEE TO TARSHISH FROM THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD. 04:21 AND HE WENT DOWN TO JOPPA AND HE FOUND A SHIP GOING TO TARSHISH, 04:24 SO HE PAID THE FARE AND WENT DOWN INTO IT TO GO WITH THEM TO 04:26 TARSHISH FROM THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD." 04:30 JONAH WAS RUNNING FROM THE FATHER. 04:33 GOD SAID FOR HIM TO GO EAST AND HE WENT WEST. 04:37 HOW CAN YOU RUN FROM THE PRESENCE OF GOD? 04:40 'WHERE CAN I FLEE FROM YOUR SPIRIT?' 04:44 THERE MIGHT BE SOME OF YOU HERE OR WATCHING AND YOU THINK THAT 04:48 GOD DOESN'T SEE YOU? 'THE EYES OF THE LORD RUN TO AND 04:51 FRO THROUGH THE WHOLE EARTH.' GOD SEES US WHEREVER WE GO. 04:54 JESUS SAID, 'I'M WITH YOU WHEREVER YOU GO.' 04:57 YOU CAN'T HIDE FROM GOD. AND I HOPE YOU REALIZE THAT THE 05:00 LORD, HE CHASES AFTER THE ONES HE LOVES AND HE WILL MAKE YOU 05:04 RESTLESS UNTIL YOU FIND YOUR REST IN HIM. 05:08 YOU WILL NEVER BE HAPPY UNTIL YOU SURRENDER TO THE LORD AND 05:11 TO HIS WILL BECAUSE YOU ARE DESIGNED FOR 05:14 A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. AND SO, ESPECIALLY THOSE MAYBE 05:18 WHO HAVE GROWN UP IN THE CHURCH AND NEVER REALLY HAD A 05:20 PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP, THEY'RE STILL LOOKING FOR THAT MEANING. 05:24 AND SO, THEY TRY TO FIND IT OUT IN THE WORLD. 05:26 AND THEY RUN FROM THEIR FATHER'S HOUSE. 05:30 YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT SOME STORIES IN LUKE CHAPTER 15 05:33 - WE TALKED LAST NIGHT ABOUT THE LOST SHEEP. 05:38 AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S THE STORY THAT YOU FIND HERE ABOUT - 05:42 IN VERSE 8 - "WHAT WOMAN, HAVING TEN SILVER COINS, IF SHE LOSES 05:45 ONE DOES NOT LIGHT A CANDLE AND SWEEP THE HOUSE AND SEEK 05:48 DILIGENTLY UNTIL SHE FINDS IT. AND WHEN SHE FINDS IT SHE CALLS 05:52 HER FRIENDS AND HER NEIGHBORS 05:54 TOGETHER SAYING, 'REJOICE WITH ME. 05:56 I'VE FOUND THE PIECE WHICH I LOST.' 05:59 LIKEWISE, I SAY TO YOU, THERE IS JOY IN THE PRESENCE OF THE 06:01 ANGELS OF GOD OVER ONE SINNER WHO REPENTS." 06:04 NOW THE COIN DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS LOST. 06:07 A WOMAN IN BIBLE SYMBOLOGY - YOU KNOW WHAT IT REPRESENTS? 06:10 TYPICALLY A CHURCH. SOMETIMES IN OUR CHURCHES WE'VE 06:13 GOT A PRECIOUS LOST COIN AND WE MUST MAKE AN EFFORT TO LIGHT THE 06:17 LAMP OF GOD'S WORD AND TO SWEEP WITH THAT DILIGENCE AND LOOK 06:21 THROUGH THE COMMUNITY AND FIND THOSE PRECIOUS COINS. 06:24 THEY MAY NOT EVEN KNOW THEY'RE LOST - THEY USED TO BE IN THE 06:28 WOMAN'S HOUSE, BUT THEY'VE BEEN MISPLACED SOMEHOW. 06:31 I WONDER HOW MANY CHURCHES HAVE SOME PRECIOUS SILVER THAT'S 06:33 BEEN MISPLACED. AND THEN WE GO TO ANOTHER - 06:36 THE SHEEP, HE WANDERS - HE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON. 06:39 HE JUST GETS LOST. A COIN CERTAINLY DOESN'T KNOW, 06:41 BUT WHEN YOU GET TO THE LAST STORY, IT'S NOT AN ACCIDENT, 06:45 IT'S DELIBERATE DESERTION - THE PRODIGAL SON. 06:50 LUKE 15, VERSE 11, AND THEN JESUS GOES ON AND HE SAYS, 06:55 "A CERTAIN MAN HAD TWO SONS AND THE YOUNGER OF THEM SAYS 06:58 TO HIS FATHER, 'FATHER, GIVE ME THE PORTION OF GOODS THAT 07:02 FALLS TO ME.' SO HE DIVIDED TO THEM HIS LIVELIHOOD. 07:06 AND NOT MANY DAYS AFTER, THE YOUNGER SON GATHERED ALL 07:09 TOGETHER AND HE JOURNEYED TO A FAR COUNTRY AND THERE HE WASTED 07:14 HIS POSSESSIONS WITH PRODIGAL" - OR WILD, WASTEFUL - LIVING. 07:21 YOU KNOW, I USED TO THINK WHAT THIS MEANT WAS THE BOY SAID TO 07:25 HIS FATHER, 'YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR YOU TO DIE SO I CAN 07:27 GET MY INHERITANCE BUT YOU'RE TAKING TOO LONG AND YOUR HEALTH 07:30 LOOKS REALLY GOOD, SO CAN YOU JUST, YOU KNOW, PAY UP NOW?' 07:34 BUT IT WASN'T UNCOMMON IN BIBLE TIMES FOR THE YOUNGER SON, 07:38 MAYBE, ESPECIALLY IF HE WAS ENGAGED, TO GET HIS INHERITANCE 07:41 TO START HIS FAMILY - OR AT LEAST PART OF IT - BUT THE BOY, 07:45 EVIDENTLY, DIDN'T HAVE ANY MARITAL PROSPECTS AND HE 07:48 DIDN'T WANT TO LIVE UNDER THE FATHER'S THUMB. 07:51 HE EVIDENTLY DIDN'T GET ALONG VERY WELL WITH HIS BROTHER AND 07:54 HE SAID, 'LOOK, I JUST WANT TO GET OUT FROM UNDER DAD'S 07:57 RULES AND REGULATIONS.' THERE WAS SOME TENSION - 'DAD'S 08:01 TOO STRICT AND OLD-FASHIONED.' YOU EVER HEARD THAT? 08:05 NOW SOMETIMES, WHEN WE RUN AWAY FROM HOME, THERE IS A PERIOD OF 08:11 ENJOYMENT AND PLEASURE - YOU'LL HAVE AT LEAST THE 08:13 ILLUSION OF FREEDOM FOR AWHILE. THE BIBLE TALKS ABOUT THE 08:16 PLEASURES OF SIN FOR A SEASON - AND HE DID HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF 08:20 A PARTY WITH HIS FRIENDS - AND AS LONG AS HE WAS WILLING TO BUY 08:23 THE DRINKS HE HAD FRIENDS. THE BIBLE TELLS US THAT WHEN 08:29 YOU'VE GOT MONEY YOU'LL AT LEAST SEEM LIKE YOU'VE 08:31 GOT FRIENDS FOR AWHILE. BUT THEN IT WAS ALL GONE. 08:36 HE WENT TO SWIPE HIS CARD AND THE CASHIER SAID, 08:41 'SORRY, THERE'S NOTHING LEFT.' HE SAID, 'I DON'T UNDERSTAND - 08:45 I STILL HAVE CHECKS IN MY BOOK, I SHOULD STILL HAVE MONEY.' 08:53 AND THEN THERE - SIMULTANEOUS WITH RUNNING OUT OF MONEY - 08:57 THERE CAME A FAMINE IN THE LAND AND HE BEGAN TO BE IN WANT. 09:00 NOW, WHILE THAT BOY IS IN THE FAR COUNTRY, WHAT IS 09:02 THE FATHER DOING? HIS HEART IS YEARNING AFTER 09:07 HIS SON IN THIS FAR COUNTRY. HE IS PRAYING FOR HIS SON. 09:11 I WONDER HOW HE'S PRAYING. HOW DO YOU PRAY FOR YOUR KIDS? 09:15 'LORD, KEEP THEM SAFE. KEEP THEM WELL. WATCH OVER THEM. 09:18 BLESS THEM.' SOMETIMES YOU MIGHT SAY, 'LORD, BRING INTO THEIR 09:23 LIVES WHATEVER THEY NEED TO BE SAVED FOR ETERNITY.' 09:28 AND SO, MAYBE THAT DAD WAS PRAYING AND A FAMINE CAME TO 09:30 THAT COUNTRY AND HE HAD NOTHING TO EAT. 09:36 MAYBE ONE OF HIS FORMER BAR BUDDIES IS THE ONE WHO 09:38 HAD THE PIG FARM. AND IT SAYS IN VERSE 15, 09:41 "HE WENT AND HE JOINED HIMSELF TO A CITIZEN OF THAT COUNTRY AND 09:45 HE SENT HIM INTO THE FIELDS TO FEED SWINE." 09:49 NOW, KEEP IN MIND, YOU'VE GOT JESUS, A JEWISH RABBI, HE'S 09:53 TALKING TO JEWISH LISTENERS ABOUT THIS JEWISH BOY THAT GOES 09:56 INTO A FAR COUNTRY AND HE ENDS UP TENDING SOMEONE ELSE'S 10:00 PORK CHOPS. THAT WAS AS LOW AS YOU COULD GET. 10:05 IN THE BIBLE, IF YOU WANTED TO TALK ABOUT REACHING THE BOTTOM - 10:09 JESUS SAID, 'YOU DON'T GIVE THAT WHICH IS HOLY TO THE DOGS AND 10:12 DON'T CAST YOUR PEARLS BEFORE SWINE.' 10:16 YOU KNOW, IT'S AMAZING THAT YOU STAY AWAY FROM THE FATHER'S 10:21 HOUSE VERY LONG, YOU CAN FORGET EVERYTHING YOU LEARNED AND 10:24 END UP IN THE DUMPSTER. HOW DO YOU THINK OUR HEAVENLY 10:29 FATHER FEELS, WHEN AFTER HE HAS PAID SO MUCH THAT YOU MIGHT LIVE 10:33 IN A MANSION SOME DAY, THAT WE GO TO THE GARBAGE OF THE 10:37 DEVIL'S DUMPSTER FOR HAPPINESS? IT BREAKS HIS HEART. 10:43 SO HE WAS OUT THERE FEEDING THE PIGS AND HE WAS SO HUNGRY THAT 10:48 HE WANTED TO EAT THE HUSKS THAT THE PIGS WERE REJECTING. 10:53 YOU'VE GOT TO BE PRETTY HUNGRY AT A TIME LIKE THAT. 10:57 AND EVEN THOUGH HE WAS BECOMING EMACIATED, IT SAYS 10:59 'NO ONE GAVE HIM ANYTHING.' THE WORLD CANNOT SATISFY WHAT 11:05 YOU REALLY NEED - THE WORLD WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SATISFY THAT REAL 11:08 HUNGER - THAT HUNGER FOR THE BREAD OF LIFE IS ONLY GOING TO 11:11 COME FROM THE FATHER'S HOUSE. 11:14 AND THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT ARE GOING FROM ONE THING TO 11:16 THE NEXT, OR THEY'RE GETTING DEEPER AND DEEPER IN ADDICTIONS, 11:19 AND THEY KEEP HAVING TO UP THEIR PRESCRIPTION BECAUSE THEY'RE 11:22 LOOKING FOR SOME KIND OF PEACE AND SATISFACTION. YOU'RE NEVER 11:26 GOING TO BE SATISFIED, IN THIS LIFE, WITHOUT JESUS. 11:31 AND YOU'RE GOING TO FIND HIM AT CHURCH - IN SPITE 11:34 OF THE PEOPLE THAT MAY BE THERE, OR THE PROBLEMS, IN SPITE 11:36 OF ALL THE FLAWS AND THE WRINKLES AND THE DIFFICULTIES, 11:39 THE CHURCH IS THE OBJECT ON EARTH UPON WHICH GOD BESTOWS HIS 11:44 SUPREME REGARD - IT IS THE APPLE OF HIS EYE - IT IS THE PEOPLE 11:49 FOR WHOM HE DIED. AND HE WANTS YOU IN THAT GROUP. 11:54 IT IS THE CRUCIBLE WHERE WE LEARN TO BE LIKE CHRIST. 12:00 SO, WHILE HE WAS OUT THERE WITH THE PIGS, HE STARTED TO THINK 12:04 ABOUT WHEN THEY USED TO GET THE FRESH BREAD OUT OF THE OVEN AT 12:08 HOME AND ALL OF THE THINGS HE HAD TAKEN FOR GRANTED IN HIS 12:12 FATHER'S HOUSE. HE CAME TO HIMSELF - IT'S LIKE 12:17 HE WOKE UP ONE DAY AND SAID, 'WHAT IN THE WORLD AM I DOING?' 12:21 HE HAD AN EPIPHANY. HE SAID, 'HERE MY FATHER'S 12:24 GOT SERVANTS. HE'S GOT SILOS FULL OF FOOD. 12:29 'THERE IS BREAD IN MY FATHER'S HOUSE. 12:31 WHAT AM I DOING HERE?' AND HE CAME TO HIS SENSES. 12:36 IT'S KIND OF LIKE - SIN WILL MAKE YOU CRAZY. REALLY. 12:41 LIKE NEBUCHADNEZZAR - HE WAS SO FULL OF PRIDE, NEXT THING 12:43 YOU KNEW, HE WAS OUT OF HIS MIND. 12:46 AND IT TOOK SEVEN YEARS FOR HIM TO WAKE UP AND COME TO HIMSELF 12:49 AND THE FIRST THING THAT CAME OUT OF HIS MOUTH WHEN HE 12:50 CAME TO HIMSELF WAS, 'I PRAISE THE GOD IN HEAVEN.' 12:54 BECAUSE, UNLESS GOD IS YOUR PRIORITY, YOU'RE NOT 12:57 THINKING STRAIGHT. REALLY. I MEAN, IT'S LIKE MOSES BEFORE 13:02 THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL ENTERED THE PROMISED LAND. 13:04 IN HIS CLOSING SERMON HE SAID, 'LET ME MAKE IT PLAIN' 13:07 - NO, I PUT THAT IN, BUT THIS IS ESSENTIALLY WHAT HE SAID, HE 13:10 SAID, 'I AM SETTING BEFORE YOU THIS DAY LIFE AND GOOD AND 13:13 BLESSING OR DEATH AND EVIL AND CURSING. 13:16 WHICH ONE DO YOU WANT? NOW, WHEN YOU PUT IT THAT WAY, 13:20 WHAT WOULD YOU SAY YOU WANT? DO YOU WANT THE LIFE AND GOOD 13:22 AND BLESSING OF BEING A CHRISTIAN AND IN THE CHURCH - 13:26 IN SPITE OF THE PROBLEMS, IT'S A LOT BETTER THAN BEING OUT HERE 13:29 WHERE THERE'S THE DEATH AND THE EVIL AND THE CURSING. 13:33 AND THAT'S WHY JESUS IS WANTING TO BLESS YOU. 13:36 HE BEGINS HIS SERMON WITH BEATITUDES BECAUSE HE WANTS 13:39 TO BLESS HIS PEOPLE. THERE IS NO HAPPINESS OUTSIDE OF 13:42 THE FATHER'S HOUSE. NO ONE GAVE HIM ANYTHING. 13:47 FINALLY HE CAME TO HIS SENSES AND HE SAID, 'YOU KNOW, HOW MANY 13:51 OF MY FATHER'S HIRED SERVANTS HAVE BREAD ENOUGH AND TO SPARE? 13:55 THEY'VE GOT EXTRA. 13:56 THEY EAT TO THE FULL.' YOU KNOW, WHENEVER JESUS 13:59 FED PEOPLE IT SAYS THEY HAD LEFTOVERS. 14:01 HE'D MULTIPLY THE BREAD AND THERE WERE LEFTOVERS. 14:06 ELISHA BLESSED THE VESSEL OF OIL, THERE IN 2 KINGS CHAPTER 4, 14:11 AND THE WOMAN POURED IT AND IT JUST WAS OVERFLOWING. 14:17 GOD BLESSES WITH AN ABUNDANCE - AND HERE HE WAS WANTING TO EAT 14:21 THE HUSKS - THE SEED PODS - THAT THE PIGS WERE SNORTING THROUGH. 14:25 'THEY'VE GOT FOOD TO SPARE.' JESUS IS WANTING TO GIVE YOU 14:30 THAT BREAD OF LIFE. 'AND I PERISH WITH HUNGER.' 14:36 YOU KNOW, JESUS CAME INTO THE WORLD VERY SIMPLY - JOHN 3:16 - 14:39 HE CAME INTO THE WORLD THAT YOU MIGHT NOT PERISH. 14:42 AND IF YOU'RE NOT EATING THE BREAD OF LIFE - AT LEAST EVERY 14:46 WEEK - YOU SHOULD BE EVERY DAY - YOU WILL SURELY PERISH. 14:51 YOU'RE GOING TO BE STARVING. YOU KNOW, IN THE LAST DAYS THE 14:54 BIBLE FORETELLS THERE'S GOING TO BE A FAMINE IN THE LAND AND IT'S 14:57 NOT A FAMINE FOR BREAD OR A THIRST FOR WATER, THIS IS AMOS 15:02 CHAPTER 8, BUT FOR HEARING THE WORD OF GOD. 15:05 AND I THINK YOU MIGHT EVEN FIND A FAMINE, SOMETIMES, AMONG 15:09 RELIGIOUS PEOPLE BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY COUNTERFEIT VERSIONS 15:13 OF THE WORD OF GOD. PEOPLE READ ONE LITTLE VERSE AND 15:15 THEN THEY'LL TALK ABOUT THE LATEST MAGAZINE ARTICLES. 15:18 PEOPLE NEED TO REALLY GET INTO THE GRIST OF GOD'S WORD. 15:23 'THERE IS AN ABUNDANCE OF TRUTH IN THE FATHER'S HOUSE AND 15:25 I PERISH WITH HUNGER.' YOU KNOW, IT'S INTERESTING, WHEN 15:29 THEY WOKE UP JONAH WHEN HE WAS RUNNING FROM GOD - OH, BY THE 15:34 WAY, GOING BACK TO JONAH - MY MIND BOUNCES AROUND LIKE THAT - 15:38 IT'S BECAUSE I USED DRUGS WHEN I WAS YOUNG, SO YOU JUST 15:39 HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT. 15:42 GOING BACK TO JONAH, YOU KNOW, WHEN HE WAS ASLEEP IN THE BOAT 15:45 ON THE WAY TO DESTRUCTION, GOD SENT A STORM TO SAVE HIM. 15:51 AND THE LORD SENT A FAMINE TO SAVE THAT BOY. 15:55 AND MAYBE SOME OF YOU WHO HAVE BEEN OUT OF THE CHURCH, 15:57 YOU'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH SOME TRIALS AND WONDERING 15:59 'WHY IS THIS HAPPENING?' IT COULD BE BECAUSE GOD LOVES 16:01 YOU AND HE'S TRYING TO GET YOUR ATTENTION. 16:06 SOMETIMES IT TAKES A CRISIS. IT MIGHT BE A CRISIS IN YOUR 16:08 MARRIAGE, IT COULD BE A CRISIS WITH YOUR HEALTH, OR AT WORK. 16:13 AND GOD IS SAYING, 'HELLO, CAN I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE?' 16:19 AND WHEN THE CAPTAIN WOKE UP JONAH, YOU KNOW WHAT HE SAID? 16:22 'ARISE O SLEEPER. CAREST NOT THAT WE PERISH?' 16:28 JESUS WAS ONCE ASLEEP IN A BOAT DURING A STORM AND THEY WOKE HIM 16:31 UP AND THEY ASKED JESUS THE DUMBEST QUESTION IN THE WORLD. 16:35 THEY SAID, 'MASTER, CAREST NOT THAT WE PERISH?' 16:39 DOES JESUS CARE WHETHER OR NOT WE PERISH? 16:43 WHY DID HE COME INTO THIS WORLD? 16:45 'THAT WE MIGHT NOT PERISH.' AND IF YOU'VE GOT JESUS IN YOUR 16:50 BOAT, YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE IT FRIENDS. 16:54 HE SAID, 'AND I PERISH WITH HUNGER. 16:55 I WILL ARISE.' GOD TOLD JONAH, 'ARISE AND GO.' 17:00 FINALLY HE SAID, 'I WILL ARISE AND GO TO MY FATHER AND I'LL SAY 17:05 TO HIM, 'FATHER.'' - HE'S GOT A SPEECH PREPARED - 17:07 'HOW CAN I WALK BACK AND TALK TO DAD AFTER WHAT I'VE DONE? 17:10 HERE I BASICALLY WAS SO RUDE, DISRESPECTFUL, DIDN'T HONOR HIM, 17:14 ASKED FOR MY INHERITANCE EARLY? THEN I TOOK IT AND I'M COMING 17:17 BACK WITH NOTHING TO SHOW FOR IT. HE WORKED FOR YEARS 17:20 TO GET ALL THAT.' YOU NOTICE THE BOY, EARLIER, HE 17:24 WANTED HIS FATHER BUT HE DIDN'T WANT A RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS 17:26 FATHER - I'M SORRY, HE WANTED HIS FATHER'S BLESSINGS, HE 17:29 WANTED HIS FATHER'S RESOURCES, BUT HE DIDN'T WANT THE FATHER. 17:34 NOW I THINK EVERYBODY HERE WANTS GOD'S BLESSINGS. 17:39 THERE ARE WHOLE CHURCHES THAT ARE BUILT AROUND THE REASON 17:41 THAT GOD EXISTS IS JUST TO BE A FUNNEL OF BLESSINGS FOR YOU. 17:47 REALLY, WE EXIST FOR THE GLORY OF GOD AND THE SECRET OF LIFE IS 17:52 NOT, ULTIMATELY, YOUR HAPPINESS, IT'S YOUR HOLINESS. 17:55 BUT YOUR HOLINESS WILL LEAD TO HAPPINESS. 17:58 AND, BY THE WAY, JESUS SAID, 'IT'S MORE BLESSED TO GIVE 18:01 THAN RECEIVE.' AND THE MOST IMPORTANT WAY FOR 18:03 YOU TO BE BLESSED IS TO GIVE - YOUR HEART - THEN YOU RECEIVE 18:07 THE GREATEST BLESSING. THAT'S THE ONLY WAY YOU'RE GOING 18:10 TO EVER BE HAPPY, IS BY GIVING YOUR LIFE TO JESUS. 18:14 'I'M GOING TO ARISE AND GO TO MY FATHER'S HOUSE.' HE'S THINKING 18:16 ABOUT, 'HOW DO I EVER FACE HIM AGAIN AFTER WHAT I'VE DONE. 18:20 I'LL GO AND HERE'S WHAT I'LL SAY - I HAVE TO CONFESS - 18:24 'FATHER, I HAVE SINNED.'' - BY THE WAY, YOU MUST CONFESS 18:28 WHEN YOU COME TO GOD. DON'T BE AFRAID - DOES HE KNOW ANYWAY? 18:32 YOU'LL FEEL BETTER IF YOU CONFESS. 18:33 HE ALREADY KNOWS, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO SHOCK HIM. 18:38 ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS YOU DO IS YOU REPENT. 18:40 TELL GOD YOU'RE SORRY AND YOU CONFESS YOUR SINS. 18:43 AND AS SOON AS YOU DO THAT, YOU GIVE HIM PERMISSION TO RELEASE 18:46 THE POWER OF HIS SPIRIT IN YOUR LIFE. 'AND I'LL SAY, 18:50 'FATHER, I'VE SINNED AGAINST HEAVEN AND BEFORE YOU. 18:52 I'M NO LONGER WORTHY TO BE CALLED YOUR SON.'' 18:55 WHO'S WORTHY TO BE A SON OF GOD? 18:58 THAT'S WHY JOHN TELLS US IN 1 JOHN CHAPTER 3, 'BEHOLD WHAT 19:03 MANNER OF LOVE THE FATHER'S BESTOWED ON US' - HE CAN'T EVEN 19:06 EXPLAIN IT, HE SAYS, 'JUST BEHOLD IT. 19:08 THAT WE SHOULD BE CALLED SONS OF GOD.' 19:11 HE'S WILLING TO GIVE US A NEW NAME AND BRING US BACK INTO THE 19:13 FAMILY WITH THE FULL STATURE OF BEING SONS. 19:18 'I'M NOT WORTHY.' WHAT IS IT THAT MAKES US WORTHY? 19:22 IT'S ONLY GOD'S GRACE AND HIS SON JESUS CHRIST. 19:26 'I'M NOT WORTHY TO BE CALLED YOUR SON. 19:28 MAKE ME LIKE ONE OF YOUR HIRED SERVANTS.' 19:30 NOW, THAT IS THE ATTITUDE THAT WE ALL NEED WHEN WE COME BACK 19:33 TO THE FATHER. 'LORD, I'M WILLING TO COME AND SERVE YOU. 19:38 I DON'T DESERVE TO BE YOUR SON, I'LL BE HAPPY AS YOUR SERVANT.' 19:42 AND SO, HE BEGINS HIS JOURNEY HOME. 19:47 HE AROSE AND HE CAME TO HIS FATHER AND IT TOOK A LONG WAY 19:50 FOR HIM TO PLOD. HE PROBABLY DIDN'T HAVE ANY 19:53 SPARE FOOD IN HIS BACKPACK - HAD TO BEG ALONG THE WAY, BUT HE WAS 19:58 SHOCKED AS HE STARTED GETTING NEAR THE FAMILY FARM. 20:03 WHILE HE WAS STILL A GREAT WAY OFF - COMING OVER THE HILL AND 20:07 THE SILHOUETTE OF HIS FORM IS SEEN THERE HOBBLING ALONG - 20:11 AS SOON AS THE FATHER SPIES HIM, HE RUNS TO MEET HIM. 20:18 HE DOESN'T MAKE HIM WAIT - YOU KNOW, SOME OF US, I THINK, WE'D 20:22 SAY, 'WELL, I TOLD YOU YOU'D BE - COME DRAGGING BACK.' 20:25 ARMS FOLDED ON THE FRONT PORCH, TAPPING OUR FOOT, 20:27 LOOKING THE OTHER WAY. WE'D SAY, 'ALL RIGHT, WAS 20:31 I RIGHT OR WAS I RIGHT?' THAT'S WHAT I'D PROBABLY DO. 20:37 WE'VE GOT THAT SPEECH, 'I TOLD YOU SO.' 20:41 OR WE'D MAKE THAT STATEMENT IN FRONT OF THE SPOUSE AND SAY, 20:45 'DIDN'T I TELL YOU THAT HE'D' - BUT NOT THIS FATHER, HE CAN'T 20:50 EVEN WAIT FOR HIM TO COME HOME. SO THAT HE WON'T BE LEFT WITH 20:53 ANY DOUBT OF HIS ACCEPTANCE, HE ARISES AND HE RUNS TO MEET HIM. 20:58 YOU KNOW, THERE'S A PROMISE IN THE BIBLE THAT SAYS, 21:00 'YOU DRAW NEAR TO GOD AND HE WILL DRAW NEAR TO YOU.' 21:05 OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN IS SO ANXIOUS FOR US TO BE SAVED - 21:08 THAT MEANS THAT AS SOON AS WE TAKE SOME STEPS AND WE BEGIN TO 21:12 MOVE TOWARDS GOD, AND HE SEES US MAKING AN EFFORT TO COME TO HIM, 21:17 WHAT DOES HE DO? HE WILL RUN TO MEET US. 21:22 NOW, HOW COME THAT FATHER DIDN'T SEND OUT BOUNTY HUNTERS 21:28 TO FIND THE SON WHEN HE FIRST WENT AWAY FROM HOME? 21:32 CAN YOU FORCE SOMEONE TO LOVE YOU? AND, YOU KNOW, 21:36 OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN CAN'T FORCE YOU TO COME HOME. 21:38 HE'S NOT GOING TO FORCE YOU TO COME BACK TO CHURCH. 21:40 YOU'VE GOT TO COME TO YOUR SENSES AND TAKE THOSE FIRST 21:42 STEPS AND SAY, 'YOU KNOW, I BELIEVE THIS IS WHERE I'M 21:46 SUPPOSED TO BE. THERE'S BREAD IN MY FATHER'S HOUSE.' 21:49 AND AS YOU COME - AS SOON AS YOU MAKE THAT FIRST STEP - YOU DRAW 21:54 NEAR TO GOD, HE WILL DRAW NEAR TO YOU. YOU KNOW, 21:57 THERE ARE A NUMBER OF SCRIPTURES THAT ARE ON THAT LINE. 22:05 FIRST YOU COME AND YOU COME CONFESSING. 22:09 JEREMIAH CHAPTER 3, VERSE 14, "'ONLY ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR INIQUITY 22:13 THAT YOU'VE TRANSGRESSED AGAINST THE LORD YOUR GOD, THAT YOU'VE 22:16 NOT OBEYED MY VOICE' SAYS THE LORD." 22:18 HE'S PLEADING WITH ISRAEL HERE, HE SAYS, "'RETURN O BACKSLIDING 22:21 CHILDREN' SAYS THE LORD 'FOR I AM MARRIED TO YOU.'" 22:25 YOU KNOW, NOT ONLY HERE IN JEREMIAH BUT IN THE BOOK OF 22:28 HOSEA, GOD, NOT ONLY COMPARES IT TO A FATHER AND A SON, 22:31 BUT HE COMPARES IT TO A HUSBAND AND A WIFE. 22:34 AND HE SAYS, 'YOU KNOW, EVEN THOUGH YOU'VE BEEN UNFAITHFUL, 22:37 EVEN THOUGH YOU'VE GONE AFTER OTHER GODS, I LOVE YOU SO MUCH 22:42 THAT I'LL STILL TAKE YOU BACK.' THAT TAKES A LOT OF LOVE 22:46 BECAUSE, I'LL TELL YOU, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT 22:50 THINGS TO DEAL WITH IS WHEN THERE'S BEEN INFIDELITY 22:52 IN A MARRIAGE. 22:53 SOME PEOPLE FOLD THEIR ARMS AND STOMP THEIR FOOT AND SAY, 22:57 'THAT'S THE END.' BUT GOD'S LOVE IS SO INCREDIBLE 23:01 THAT HE SAYS TO HIS PEOPLE, 'EVEN AFTER YOU HAVE SPURNED BY 23:05 LOVE WITH SOMEONE ELSE, RETURN TO ME. 23:08 HE SAYS TO HIS PEOPLE, 'RETURN O BACKSLIDING CHILDREN' SAYS THE 23:12 LORD 'FOR I AM MARRIED TO YOU.' AND AGAIN IN VERSE 22, "RETURN 23:15 YOU BACKSLIDING CHILDREN AND I WILL HEAL YOUR BACKSLIDING." 23:20 HOW ANXIOUS IS GOD TO BE REUNITED WITH YOU? 23:24 YOU THINK THAT GOD'S MAD AT YOU? SIN WILL DESTROY YOU - IT'S NOT 23:28 BECAUSE GOD DOESN'T LOVE YOU - IT'S THE NATURE OF SIN. 23:31 GOD DOESN'T NEED TO BE MAD AT YOU. SIN IS - 23:33 IT JUST SELF-DESTRUCTS. 23:36 AND THAT'S WHY TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE. 23:39 THE LONGER THAT WE WAIT TO COME BACK TO THE FATHER'S HOUSE, 23:43 WE'RE LIVING A VERY RISKY LIFE THAT WE'RE GOING TO STARVE OR 23:48 END UP LIKE THE PIGS THAT WE LIVE WITH. 23:52 YOU KNOW YOU CAN COME TO YOUR SENSES AND WAKE UP AND HAVE AN 23:54 EPIPHANY AND SAY, 'I NEED TO ARISE AND GO TO MY FATHER.' 23:57 WHEN YOU REALIZE THAT YOU NEED TO ACT ON IT. 24:01 IT IS DANGEROUS FOR YOU TO THINK THAT YOU CAN PLAY WITH THE GIFT 24:03 OF REPENTANCE AND THAT IT WILL COME LATER AT YOUR CALL. 24:08 GOD TELLS US IN ACTS CHAPTER 2, REPENTANCE IS EVEN A GIFT. 24:11 AND SO THE IMPRESSION THAT YOU'VE GOT - THAT YOU NEED TO 24:13 COME BACK TO CHURCH - YOU NEED TO ACT ON THAT WHEN YOU GET IT 24:17 BECAUSE THAT'S A GIFT OF GOD. GOD IS CALLING YOU. 24:19 AND THE LONGER THAT WE SAY NO TO THE FATHER'S SPEAKING TO US AND 24:23 THROUGH HIS SPIRIT WOOING US, THE VOLUME CAN GET LOWER AND 24:27 LOWER - IT CAN BE DROWNED OUT BY ALL THE OTHER BACKGROUND NOISE 24:31 SO THAT YOU CAN GET TO THE PLACE WHERE YOU DON'T HEAR IT ANYMORE. 24:35 AND SO IF YOU HEAR THE FATHER CALLING YOU - IF YOU KNOW THAT 24:39 IT'S TIME FOR YOU TO COME BACK, DON'T WAIT FOR A BETTER 24:42 OPPORTUNITY. NOW IS THE TIME. 24:45 YOU KNOW I TOLD YOU THIS STORY IS ABOUT REJOICING. 24:48 THIS WHOLE CHAPTER - REJOICING WHEN THAT LOST SHEEP IS FOUND, 24:53 REJOICING WHEN THE MISSING COIN IS RECOVERED, REJOICING IN 24:58 HEAVEN WHEN THE PRODIGAL - WHO HAS BEEN, MAYBE OUT OF THE 25:01 CHURCH AND THE FATHER'S HOUSE FOR YEARS - COMES HOME. 25:07 THERE'S LIKEWISE REJOICING WITH GOD WHEN WE COME BACK TO HIM. 25:11 HE IS INFINITELY MORE WILLING TO RECEIVE US THAN SOMETIMES 25:15 WE ARE TO COME. HE'S PAID SO MUCH THAT WE MIGHT 25:19 BE FORGIVEN - THAT WE MIGHT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE. 25:21 WHY DO WE WANT TO GO TO THAT FAR COUNTRY AND DIG IN THE 25:24 DEVIL'S DUMPSTER? IT'S NEVER GOING TO SATISFY YOU. 25:28 THE ONLY THING THAT'S GOING TO BRING SATISFACTION IS JESUS. 25:37 >>PAUL AND JESUS BOTH PREDICT THAT THE CHURCH OF GOD BECOMES A 25:41 FORCE AGAINST GOD. >>THE RADICAL FAITH THAT JESUS 25:46 TAUGHT HAD BECOME THE OFFICIAL RELIGION OF THE EMPIRE THAT 25:49 MURDERED HIM. >>THE SPEED WITH WHICH THE EARLY 25:55 CHURCH TOBOGGANED INTO APOSTASY WILL TAKE YOUR BREATH AWAY. 26:01 (MUSIC) 26:33 >>AMAZING FACTS, THROUGH YOUR FAITHFUL SUPPORT, HAS HAD A 26:37 MAJOR IMPACT ON SOME OF THE LARGEST NON-CHRISTIAN LOCATIONS 26:40 IN THE WORLD. BEYOND THE GREAT WALL THE PRINTING AND 26:44 TRANSLATION OF OUR BOOKS AND VIDEO MATERIALS ARE IN CONSTANT 26:47 MOTION. (CHINESE SPEECH) THE AMAZING FACTS CHINESE LANGUAGE 26:55 WEBSITE IS NOW ONE OF OUR MOST VISITED WEBSITES. WE ALSO 27:00 TRANSLATED THOUSANDS OF PIECES OF LITERATURE FOR THESE NATIONS. 27:03 WHAT STARTED OUT AS HUNDREDS OF FOLLOWERS IS NOW IN THE HUNDREDS 27:07 OF THOUSANDS. THE IMPACT OF YOUR FUNDS INVESTED IN SHARING THE 27:11 EVERLASTING GOSPEL IN THESE FOREIGN LANDS WILL BE FELT FOR 27:14 YEARS TO COME. >>YOU KNOW, EVERY WEEK WE HEAR 27:18 THE MOST INCREDIBLE STORIES FROM ALL OVER THE GLOBE OF LIVES THAT 27:21 ARE BEING CHANGED AND HEARTS THAT ARE BEING TRANSFORMED BY 27:24 THE POWER OF THE WORD AND NONE OF IT COULD HAPPEN WITHOUT YOUR 27:27 TEAMWORK WITH THIS MINISTRY. GOD BLESS YOU. 27:33 >>IN SIX DAYS GOD CREATED THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH. FOR 27:38 THOUSANDS OF YEARS MAN HAS WORSHIPED GOD ON THE SEVENTH DAY 27:41 OF THE WEEK. NOW, EACH WEEK, MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WORSHIP ON 27:45 THE FIRST DAY. WHAT HAPPENED? WHY DID GOD CREATE A DAY OF 27:49 REST? DOES IT REALLY MATTER WHAT DAY WE WORSHIP? WHO WAS BEHIND 27:54 THIS GREAT SHIFT? DISCOVER THE TRUTH BEHIND GOD'S LAW AND HOW 27:57 IT WAS CHANGED. VISIT SABBATHTRUTH.COM. 28:05 >>THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS WEEK'S 28:08 SPECIAL FREE OFFER. THERE IS NO COST OR OBLIGATION. 28:11 JUST CALL THE TOLL-FREE NUMBER ON YOUR SCREEN AND BE SURE TO 28:14 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 2015-07-16