Welcome to Anchors Of Truth live
from the 3ABN Worship Center.
00:00:12.82\00:00:17.76
Good evening,
friends, and welcome to the
00:00:22.47\00:00:24.30
3ABN Worship Center
here in southern Illinois.
00:00:24.33\00:00:27.87
Some people get confused
as to where it's located.
00:00:28.15\00:00:30.56
3ABN is in West Frankfort,
but also in Thompsonville.
00:00:30.81\00:00:34.28
And if you come to the mid-west,
which is one of the largest
00:00:34.53\00:00:37.08
small cities in the world...
00:00:37.33\00:00:38.92
I say that because many
people thought that Reno was.
00:00:39.12\00:00:41.70
Well, there's more
that's happening here
00:00:41.73\00:00:43.71
to affect the gospel of
God than is happening in Reno.
00:00:43.91\00:00:47.38
Can you say amen to that?
00:00:47.41\00:00:48.67
So we are here at
the 3ABN Worship Center
00:00:49.05\00:00:51.16
right across the
West Frankfort line.
00:00:51.19\00:00:53.15
If you go to the west,
you go to West Frankfort.
00:00:53.35\00:00:55.66
You go to the east,
you're in Thompsonville.
00:00:55.69\00:00:57.11
But thank the Lord you don't
have to worry about directions,
00:00:57.14\00:00:59.46
because you have already
chosen the channel that God has
00:00:59.49\00:01:02.42
called you to tune into tonight.
00:01:02.45\00:01:04.64
We have been
enjoying a series entitled,
00:01:05.20\00:01:07.52
Seven Words of Hope.
00:01:07.55\00:01:09.83
And Pastor Frank
Gonzalez has been our presenter
00:01:10.11\00:01:13.27
from night to night.
00:01:13.30\00:01:14.33
And if you are in
the West Frankfort area,
00:01:14.51\00:01:16.57
in the southern Illinois area,
and you are not too far away,
00:01:16.60\00:01:19.56
we'd like to invite you
to come and worship with us.
00:01:19.59\00:01:22.00
Tomorrow morning, we're
going to have another meeting
00:01:22.03\00:01:24.04
at 11:00 am.
00:01:24.07\00:01:25.71
And then our final
meeting tomorrow afternoon,
00:01:25.91\00:01:28.17
that is, Saturday afternoon,
we call the Sabbath, at 3 pm.
00:01:28.20\00:01:32.78
So there are two
more meetings remaining.
00:01:32.81\00:01:34.78
And one of the challenges
Pastor Gonzalez mentioned
00:01:34.88\00:01:37.24
at the very beginning
is, how do you present
00:01:37.27\00:01:39.92
the seven words of
hope in five meetings.
00:01:39.95\00:01:42.88
But we're going to pray that
the Lord will give him a very
00:01:43.09\00:01:45.56
inventive and keen way of
communicating those words.
00:01:45.59\00:01:50.12
Tonight's message
is entitled, Sheltered.
00:01:50.34\00:01:53.22
But let me give you just a
little bit, if you're tuning in
00:01:53.45\00:01:55.95
for the first time,
about Pastor Frank Gonzalez.
00:01:55.98\00:01:59.83
He's quite an
educated individual.
00:02:00.47\00:02:02.31
He attended Andrews
University Theological Seminary
00:02:02.64\00:02:05.78
and graduated Summa Cum Laude.
00:02:06.13\00:02:09.16
That is, at the
top of his class.
00:02:09.51\00:02:11.53
Meaning, you've got to
really be a person of prayer
00:02:11.56\00:02:14.13
and a person of
determined educational ability
00:02:14.40\00:02:17.06
to accomplish that.
00:02:17.09\00:02:19.09
Also received Outstanding
Performance in Pulpit Oratory
00:02:19.12\00:02:22.31
from Southern College.
00:02:22.34\00:02:23.72
And he has been also,
for 17 years, if you've
00:02:23.75\00:02:28.15
heard of the ministry
called, La Voz de la Esperanza,
00:02:28.18\00:02:31.87
The Voice of Hope, he
was the speaker and director.
00:02:32.13\00:02:35.53
That is similar to 3ABN Latino.
00:02:35.56\00:02:39.32
And he has been able to preach
in all parts of the globe,
00:02:39.64\00:02:44.55
travelled extensively.
00:02:44.58\00:02:46.14
But he is a born
native of the country of Cuba.
00:02:46.17\00:02:50.41
Some people say Cuba.
00:02:50.69\00:02:51.80
I had the distinct privilege
of going to Cuba a few years ago
00:02:51.83\00:02:55.35
and seeing the work of
God being carried on there.
00:02:55.72\00:03:00.25
God has His message
on every country in every
00:03:00.28\00:03:05.24
part of this world.
00:03:05.27\00:03:06.31
Because the Bible says,
"The gospel of the kingdom
00:03:06.34\00:03:09.00
will be preached in
all the world as a witness
00:03:09.03\00:03:11.33
to all nations, and
then shall the end come."
00:03:11.36\00:03:15.80
So tonight, we are fulfilling by
the power of God's Holy Spirit
00:03:16.01\00:03:19.75
the proclamation of the
gospel into all the world.
00:03:19.85\00:03:23.07
Now even though Pastor
Frank Gonzalez's native tongue
00:03:23.50\00:03:28.41
is Spanish, he has
pastored in English and Spanish
00:03:28.44\00:03:33.05
speaking churches.
00:03:33.08\00:03:34.39
He's the pastor of the Avon Park
Seventh-day Adventist Church,
00:03:34.42\00:03:40.95
about a 900 plus member church,
located there in Avon Park
00:03:40.98\00:03:44.98
central Florida.
00:03:45.01\00:03:46.28
I'd like to say,
"Welcome," those of you who are
00:03:46.31\00:03:47.90
tuning in for
support of your pastor.
00:03:47.93\00:03:50.17
Thank you for allowing
him to come and to bless us
00:03:50.20\00:03:52.85
these meetings that are
behind us and the two more.
00:03:52.88\00:03:55.54
We promise, by God's grace, to
return him to you in one piece.
00:03:55.57\00:03:59.15
Amen, church?
00:03:59.18\00:04:00.36
We have been blessed.
00:04:00.61\00:04:02.06
He has written
more than ten books.
00:04:02.09\00:04:03.49
And he told us last night
in the afterglow that the next
00:04:03.52\00:04:06.99
book he's writing is
going to be in English.
00:04:07.02\00:04:09.30
Amen for that?
00:04:09.33\00:04:10.36
Because these messages can't be
just locked down into Spanish.
00:04:10.55\00:04:13.94
But he also talked
about maybe translating
00:04:13.97\00:04:16.07
one of those, one of
his favorite books about
00:04:16.10\00:04:18.56
righteousness by faith,
translating that into English.
00:04:18.59\00:04:22.13
So we have a lot of
things to look forward to
00:04:22.16\00:04:24.07
as Pastor Gonzalez
continues to allow the Lord to
00:04:24.45\00:04:27.05
work through his life.
00:04:27.08\00:04:28.91
He has a wife named, Evelyn.
00:04:29.12\00:04:30.50
Evelyn, if you're tuning
in, welcome to you from 3ABN.
00:04:30.53\00:04:33.22
Three adult children;
Sergio, Benjamin, and Bianca.
00:04:33.48\00:04:37.50
And we're thankful that
God has called him tonight
00:04:37.73\00:04:40.35
for such a time as this.
00:04:40.38\00:04:42.38
You know, if ever there
was a time that the world
00:04:42.58\00:04:44.61
needs hope, it is now.
00:04:44.64\00:04:46.06
What do you think about that?
00:04:46.09\00:04:47.28
Right now we are
wondering about so many things.
00:04:47.69\00:04:50.41
There's crime on one hand,
there's the mystery of this
00:04:50.63\00:04:53.53
flight that has disappeared.
00:04:53.56\00:04:54.79
People have not been able
to find out where it is yet.
00:04:55.43\00:04:57.80
We want to keep the
families and the people that are
00:04:57.83\00:05:00.85
part of the search
party in intense prayer.
00:05:00.88\00:05:04.49
Praying that God
will be able to guide them
00:05:04.69\00:05:07.56
to locate those
missing families.
00:05:07.59\00:05:09.81
And we do pray that
they will be found safely.
00:05:09.84\00:05:12.99
Amen for that?
00:05:13.02\00:05:14.06
But tonight, we're
going to turn our hearts
00:05:14.40\00:05:16.65
towards the hope that
the Lord has in store for us
00:05:16.68\00:05:19.57
through the message
entitled, Sheltered.
00:05:19.83\00:05:21.97
But just before
Pastor Frank Gonzalez comes
00:05:22.00\00:05:24.98
to preach the message tonight,
it brings me joy to invite
00:05:25.19\00:05:29.88
to the stage tonight
Mike and Celestine Berry.
00:05:29.91\00:05:35.09
Celestine is going to be singing
the song entitled, Follow.
00:05:35.29\00:05:38.02
She's my church secretary.
00:05:38.05\00:05:39.59
We work closely together,
and they are a wonderful couple.
00:05:39.79\00:05:42.81
Just a little bit of good
news; they're celebrating,
00:05:43.01\00:05:45.70
coming up really
shortly, their 15th anniversary
00:05:45.73\00:05:48.42
as husband and wife.
00:05:48.63\00:05:49.70
So tonight, let's welcome
both of them with a hearty amen
00:05:49.73\00:05:52.71
as our hearts are blessed
with this song entitled, Follow.
00:05:52.74\00:05:56.62
Follow, follow wherever
00:06:16.26\00:06:23.97
He leads you;
00:06:24.00\00:06:27.88
you'll find that
His ways will please you
00:06:28.34\00:06:35.27
more than if you make your own.
00:06:35.75\00:06:42.53
Follow, even though
00:06:46.33\00:06:51.97
friends may forsake you;
00:06:52.00\00:06:57.00
you'll find that
Jesus will make you
00:06:57.45\00:07:04.23
the best Friend
that you'll ever know.
00:07:04.46\00:07:10.84
And one day as
you're travelling along,
00:07:15.31\00:07:21.16
something will happen to you.
00:07:21.44\00:07:28.05
You'll find that His
way is much better by far;
00:07:28.25\00:07:34.78
you'll find that
it's your way too.
00:07:35.09\00:07:43.80
So follow,
00:07:51.72\00:07:56.26
even though
friends may forsake you;
00:07:56.69\00:08:03.51
you'll find that
Jesus will make you
00:08:03.78\00:08:10.30
the best Friend
that you'll ever know.
00:08:10.50\00:08:17.26
Follow.
00:08:20.90\00:08:26.24
Follow.
00:08:28.28\00:08:32.92
Yeah, follow.
00:08:34.25\00:08:41.12
And one day as
you're travelling along,
00:08:48.83\00:08:54.55
something will happen to you.
00:08:54.58\00:09:00.90
You'll find that His
way is much better by far;
00:09:00.95\00:09:06.73
you'll find that
it's your way too.
00:09:07.03\00:09:15.11
So follow,
00:09:22.57\00:09:27.39
even though
friends may forsake you;
00:09:27.59\00:09:34.88
you'll find that
Jesus will make you
00:09:35.08\00:09:41.80
the best Friend
that you'll ever know.
00:09:42.00\00:09:52.00
Good evening.
00:10:05.47\00:10:06.92
Thank you for coming.
00:10:07.44\00:10:08.72
And thank you for tuning in.
00:10:08.75\00:10:11.56
You know, we have
been discussing seven words
00:10:12.15\00:10:17.11
of hope.
00:10:17.14\00:10:18.63
Seven words that are
infused with life and spirit,
00:10:18.66\00:10:23.81
because, thankfully,
they don't come from me.
00:10:24.11\00:10:28.15
They come from Jesus Himself.
00:10:28.18\00:10:32.24
And tonight's word is specially
directed, not exclusively,
00:10:32.54\00:10:39.38
but specially directed
to every mother out there.
00:10:39.41\00:10:44.68
So make sure mom is watching.
00:10:44.71\00:10:47.32
Because there is a very
special blessing for mom today.
00:10:47.35\00:10:52.65
But I need God's help.
00:10:53.08\00:10:55.22
And with your permission,
I'm going to ask God for it.
00:10:55.25\00:11:00.16
Heavenly Father, may
the meditation of Your
00:11:00.67\00:11:05.62
servant's heart and
the words of his mouth
00:11:05.65\00:11:10.45
be acceptable unto You
and of help to someone.
00:11:10.48\00:11:16.71
And we'll give You the honor
and the glory and the praise.
00:11:17.09\00:11:21.05
And we'll do it in
Jesus' name, amen and amen.
00:11:21.08\00:11:27.01
You know, while
Jesus was on His cross
00:11:27.94\00:11:32.56
He preached, so to
speak, seven short sermons.
00:11:32.59\00:11:40.40
And there's special
power in those seven sayings
00:11:40.43\00:11:45.16
of Jesus from the cross.
00:11:45.19\00:11:47.12
And we have come to
the third of these saying.
00:11:47.15\00:11:53.15
I can't think of any
other woman that is in history
00:11:56.85\00:12:04.73
so highly honored
as the virgin Mary.
00:12:04.76\00:12:08.46
Can you?
00:12:08.76\00:12:09.85
Think about it, people.
00:12:11.83\00:12:13.66
For nine months she
carried in her womb, wow,
00:12:13.98\00:12:19.96
the One whose name is Emmanuel.
00:12:20.38\00:12:24.52
Which is translated how?
00:12:24.73\00:12:26.76
God with us.
00:12:27.21\00:12:29.16
Matthew 1:23
00:12:29.19\00:12:31.92
God in her womb.
00:12:32.29\00:12:35.20
That means that her Son,
Jesus, was not only truly
00:12:36.50\00:12:41.56
a human being, for
He became one of us,
00:12:41.59\00:12:44.94
but He was also
the divine Son of God.
00:12:45.40\00:12:50.25
That's why He, and only
He, is the bridge that unites,
00:12:51.09\00:12:58.48
that joins humanity with God.
00:12:58.51\00:13:02.50
Being one of us He
knows all about us.
00:13:03.55\00:13:08.69
The Bible says that in His
humanity He was in all points
00:13:09.06\00:13:13.72
tempted as we
are, yet without sin.
00:13:13.75\00:13:18.50
He came from heaven
with a sinless nature.
00:13:18.96\00:13:22.72
It's not correct to say
that He had a sinful nature.
00:13:23.40\00:13:27.42
Yet He took upon His
sinless nature, which He brought
00:13:27.70\00:13:30.65
from heaven, our sinful
nature so that He could know
00:13:30.68\00:13:37.86
and understand our temptations.
00:13:38.13\00:13:40.75
That's why the Bible says that,
"He is touched with the feelings
00:13:41.32\00:13:46.81
of our infirmities."
00:13:47.02\00:13:49.88
In other words, He
knows how weak we are.
00:13:51.04\00:13:53.90
He knows how much we need Him.
00:13:55.17\00:13:57.05
Yes.
00:13:58.35\00:13:59.56
Mary gave Him His humanity.
00:14:00.57\00:14:02.77
His DNA, if you will.
00:14:03.85\00:14:06.13
Which goes back to David,
goes further back to Abraham.
00:14:06.48\00:14:11.81
And then back to
the fallen Adam himself.
00:14:12.11\00:14:15.61
Jesus was made
like unto His brethren.
00:14:16.83\00:14:21.57
Hebrews 2:17
00:14:21.60\00:14:23.56
Now in our case,
it's sort of the reverse.
00:14:24.37\00:14:26.94
We have a sinful nature.
00:14:27.28\00:14:29.58
But through the miracle of the
new birth by the Holy Spirit,
00:14:30.55\00:14:33.63
we can take upon our sinful
nature His sinless nature.
00:14:33.66\00:14:40.12
What a miracle.
00:14:41.01\00:14:42.82
How close is He to us?
00:14:44.79\00:14:47.00
You know, He took all of
us, He took all of our humanity.
00:14:47.93\00:14:50.79
You know what, I
forgot my second brain.
00:14:52.47\00:14:54.55
You know how I am.
00:14:55.56\00:14:56.75
Carry it around.
00:14:56.78\00:14:58.13
It turns out that in that same
area I explained to you, that
00:15:02.50\00:15:05.69
hypothalamic region...
00:15:05.72\00:15:07.56
Remember that?
00:15:07.59\00:15:08.71
...there is something
called the pineal gland.
00:15:10.90\00:15:13.95
I may be saying
it wrong in English.
00:15:14.81\00:15:16.54
But it's either the pineal
gland or the pineal gland,
00:15:17.11\00:15:20.24
I don't know.
00:15:20.27\00:15:21.87
I think it's...
00:15:21.90\00:15:22.93
Pineal?
00:15:25.14\00:15:26.17
Pineal?
00:15:27.06\00:15:28.09
Okay, anyway. You know.
00:15:29.13\00:15:30.55
You know what I'm talking about.
00:15:30.93\00:15:32.20
That gland, it turns out,
you know, studies that have
00:15:33.06\00:15:37.63
been done in
London and other places,
00:15:37.66\00:15:40.56
it works like a satellite dish.
00:15:41.39\00:15:43.85
Now I'm in the right
place to talk about that here.
00:15:44.85\00:15:47.56
3ABN.
00:15:48.08\00:15:49.41
I went the other
day to the old 3ABN.
00:15:49.93\00:15:54.31
You know, they have
the radio there now.
00:15:54.61\00:15:56.16
And there's that huge
satellite dish, you know.
00:15:56.19\00:16:00.17
I mean, that thing is humongous.
00:16:00.20\00:16:03.55
Yeah, can't put
that out of your window.
00:16:04.16\00:16:07.22
But it turns out that this gland
works like a satellite dish.
00:16:08.78\00:16:16.92
And it helps to communicate,
00:16:19.52\00:16:27.21
especially with
people of your common DNA.
00:16:28.26\00:16:33.47
I mean, the closest
the person is to you,
00:16:33.50\00:16:36.37
there is some
kind of communication
00:16:36.87\00:16:39.32
that can take place.
00:16:39.35\00:16:40.51
Look people, if man
can do these things,
00:16:40.54\00:16:43.64
don't you think
God can do better?
00:16:43.67\00:16:45.49
He just needs a little
pineal gland like that.
00:16:46.79\00:16:49.54
There was a woman in my church,
one of my first churches,
00:16:51.19\00:16:55.63
I worried about her,
because I didn't know about this
00:16:58.39\00:17:00.55
pineal gland business back then.
00:17:00.58\00:17:02.20
And I thought she
was a little strange.
00:17:02.88\00:17:06.34
Then again, you know, ladies,
we men find you different.
00:17:07.72\00:17:13.63
But we marvel at you, we do.
00:17:17.84\00:17:20.34
We're very simple.
00:17:20.37\00:17:21.92
We're so simple,
we're simpletons.
00:17:22.51\00:17:25.19
You know, and you
are sophisticated.
00:17:25.86\00:17:28.01
You are
marvelous. I mean, you...
00:17:28.97\00:17:31.28
God put some extra work on
you and made you very special.
00:17:31.53\00:17:36.21
And you have
powers of intuition.
00:17:36.24\00:17:38.25
And some of it has to do with
this pineal gland, it turns out.
00:17:38.58\00:17:42.18
And this lady, anyway,
this mother, she could know
00:17:42.21\00:17:47.37
if something had
happened to her boy.
00:17:48.53\00:17:51.20
She just knew.
00:17:52.13\00:17:53.50
Two in the morning
there was an accident,
00:17:55.42\00:17:57.05
and she'd wake up and she
knew something had happened.
00:17:57.08\00:18:00.43
Was she crazy or strange?
00:18:01.49\00:18:04.25
No.
00:18:04.28\00:18:05.41
Have you heard about
these identical twins?
00:18:05.83\00:18:10.77
You know, how one of them
might, say, smash their thumb
00:18:12.39\00:18:18.13
with a hammer.
00:18:18.16\00:18:19.54
And the other twin in
another city says, "Ouch."
00:18:19.57\00:18:26.57
It turns out that it's true.
00:18:30.59\00:18:33.02
It turns out that
this neurotransmission
00:18:33.59\00:18:36.92
takes place, and the
pineal gland can catch it.
00:18:36.95\00:18:40.30
I'm saying all that because
Jesus took all of our DNA.
00:18:40.65\00:18:47.83
You know where I'm heading.
00:18:48.24\00:18:49.46
And I'm not saying that
He needs the pineal gland.
00:18:49.88\00:18:52.39
No, no. I'm not saying that.
00:18:52.42\00:18:53.66
But what I'm saying
is that He entered into
00:18:53.90\00:18:57.91
our common humanity.
00:18:58.15\00:19:00.36
He knows what it's about.
00:19:00.39\00:19:02.85
Not just intellectually,
not just because He's God.
00:19:02.88\00:19:06.71
But now because He tested
it, because He entered into it.
00:19:06.74\00:19:11.18
It's a little different.
00:19:11.21\00:19:12.50
The Bible even says
in Luke that He learned,
00:19:15.37\00:19:17.87
He learned these things.
00:19:19.05\00:19:21.11
Well, how close is He to us?
00:19:22.03\00:19:25.61
He couldn't come
any closer, dear.
00:19:26.52\00:19:29.08
You could not possibly
have a Savior that knows you
00:19:29.57\00:19:35.12
as well as He does.
00:19:35.15\00:19:37.11
Isn't that wonderful?
00:19:37.14\00:19:38.47
I thank God for that.
00:19:38.97\00:19:40.90
Did He know family
love as we know it?
00:19:42.03\00:19:46.37
Although He Himself was the
giver of the Ten Commandments,
00:19:47.99\00:19:52.39
did He humble
Himself to obey them?
00:19:52.42\00:19:55.13
Did He?
00:19:55.54\00:19:56.57
Yes He did.
00:19:56.74\00:19:57.80
He sure did.
00:19:58.10\00:19:59.55
How did He relate
to His earthly mother?
00:20:00.25\00:20:02.77
You know, think about it,
this is God in human flesh.
00:20:06.95\00:20:10.53
The divine Commander
of the heavenly angels.
00:20:11.05\00:20:14.16
And yet, He humbled
Himself as a child to be subject
00:20:14.40\00:20:19.51
unto His mother Mary even though
she could not understand Him
00:20:19.54\00:20:23.79
most of the time.
00:20:23.82\00:20:25.32
And sometimes, truth be
told, made life a little
00:20:25.35\00:20:29.31
difficult for Him.
00:20:29.34\00:20:30.66
You know, I'm not blaming Mary.
00:20:31.70\00:20:33.76
I mean, can you
blame her? I mean.
00:20:33.79\00:20:36.57
Has there ever
been a child like Jesus?
00:20:37.42\00:20:40.24
On one occasion when He was
12, I'll give you an example,
00:20:41.98\00:20:45.90
she scolded Him for something
that was not His fault...
00:20:46.80\00:20:51.62
...but hers.
00:20:53.87\00:20:55.32
I'm not picking
on Mary. I love Mary.
00:20:56.16\00:20:58.73
I'm just telling you the truth.
00:20:59.13\00:21:00.73
They had gone up to
Jerusalem to attend Passover.
00:21:01.68\00:21:04.57
The story is in
the Bible, you know.
00:21:05.84\00:21:07.55
The full truth is that
when they had started home,
00:21:08.03\00:21:10.60
Mary simply forgot about Him.
00:21:10.63\00:21:13.56
That happened to me as a boy.
00:21:15.13\00:21:16.87
When my mother and I
left my native country,
00:21:18.97\00:21:22.69
had to leave, for a few
months we were in Madrid, Spain.
00:21:24.72\00:21:30.53
And she went into this store
and she was just, you know,
00:21:31.84\00:21:35.33
oh there was
nothing like this in Cuba.
00:21:35.89\00:21:39.57
And so she just got caught up
with all of the wonderful things
00:21:39.60\00:21:44.40
about the store.
00:21:44.43\00:21:46.06
And you know,
ladies, you can get caught up
00:21:46.16\00:21:48.53
with the shopping thing.
00:21:48.56\00:21:49.94
God bless you.
00:21:51.24\00:21:52.75
Do you know, do you know that
it's a proven scientific fact
00:21:54.84\00:22:00.16
now, a medical fact, proven,
that us men, our blood pressure
00:22:00.19\00:22:06.49
goes up when we
have to go to a mall?
00:22:06.52\00:22:09.30
Will you be merciful upon us?
00:22:13.16\00:22:15.97
Anyway, she was caught
up with all this stuff,
00:22:18.51\00:22:21.89
and she forgot about her boy.
00:22:21.99\00:22:25.06
And all of a sudden, I found
myself alone and forgotten.
00:22:25.47\00:22:30.49
And, oh boy, I can't
tell you how horrible it was.
00:22:30.52\00:22:35.75
Now Mary had assumed that
He was with a group, you know,
00:22:37.18\00:22:40.31
that they were travelling with.
00:22:41.34\00:22:42.56
But when nightfall
came, she couldn't find Him.
00:22:42.59\00:22:46.92
And now she started
remembering how King Herod
00:22:48.14\00:22:50.63
had tried to kill Him.
00:22:50.66\00:22:52.21
She panicked and rushed
back to Jerusalem with Joseph,
00:22:52.42\00:22:55.89
"Joseph, come with me,"
looking for Him everywhere.
00:22:55.92\00:22:59.54
She finally found Him in
the temple theological seminary
00:22:59.57\00:23:03.44
talking and reasoning with
the great teachers of Israel
00:23:04.70\00:23:08.56
at the age of 12.
00:23:08.59\00:23:11.07
Wow.
00:23:12.26\00:23:13.29
And all who heard Him were
astonished at His understanding
00:23:13.88\00:23:19.05
and answers.
00:23:19.08\00:23:21.09
Now don't get this wrong.
00:23:21.19\00:23:22.82
Don't get this wrong.
00:23:22.85\00:23:24.07
This wasn't a hard drive
that He brought from heaven.
00:23:24.97\00:23:29.10
No, no, no.
00:23:29.13\00:23:30.64
Jesus had to
discover who He was.
00:23:30.86\00:23:35.17
You know how He had to
discover it, the same thing?
00:23:35.20\00:23:38.37
How we discover Him.
00:23:38.84\00:23:40.76
Through studying the Scriptures.
00:23:40.79\00:23:43.31
Don't think that baby
Jesus would sit on Mary's lap
00:23:43.34\00:23:48.41
and regale her with
stories about His heroics
00:23:48.44\00:23:54.85
in heaven with the angels.
00:23:54.88\00:23:56.78
He did not do that.
00:23:56.81\00:23:58.41
He had to learn from Mary.
00:23:58.92\00:24:00.98
He had to learn
from the Scriptures.
00:24:01.01\00:24:03.11
He had to study, He
had to come to know.
00:24:03.14\00:24:06.24
He had to pray.
00:24:06.27\00:24:07.53
He had to become and
know who He was, yes.
00:24:07.56\00:24:15.62
Now Mary was not
amused by this whole incident.
00:24:20.75\00:24:25.15
She was a little
annoyed, to tell the truth.
00:24:25.49\00:24:28.18
And when she got to be
with Him, she said this,
00:24:29.13\00:24:31.87
this is the way
the King James puts it,
00:24:31.90\00:24:33.81
"Son, why hast
thou thus dealt us?
00:24:34.81\00:24:39.21
Behold, thy father and I
hath sought thee sorrowing."
00:24:39.74\00:24:45.11
Let me translate this for you.
00:24:45.73\00:24:47.38
She said, "Why have
You been so naughty?"
00:24:47.85\00:24:50.44
That's why she would say.
00:24:51.38\00:24:52.65
But Jesus had not been naughty.
00:24:54.18\00:24:57.93
Kindly and courteously, He
responded to her ill temper,
00:24:58.78\00:25:03.79
"'How is it that ye sought me?
00:25:04.41\00:25:06.49
Wist ye not that I must be
about my Father's business?'
00:25:07.02\00:25:11.55
And they understood not the
saying that he spake unto them."
00:25:11.82\00:25:16.10
This is in Luke 2
verses 46 through 50,
00:25:16.13\00:25:19.52
if you want to write it up.
00:25:19.55\00:25:21.62
The statement of
their 12 year old Son
00:25:22.40\00:25:25.93
went right over their heads.
00:25:25.96\00:25:28.26
And this was a
regular occurrence.
00:25:29.62\00:25:31.74
Often, His mother Mary had
misunderstood Him like that.
00:25:33.49\00:25:36.96
Oh by the way, did you
notice that by the time He was
00:25:38.97\00:25:42.83
12 years old, He already
knew who His real Father was?
00:25:42.86\00:25:47.26
Did you get it?
00:25:47.72\00:25:49.15
"I am in my Father's business."
00:25:49.58\00:25:52.68
He didn't mean Joseph.
00:25:52.71\00:25:54.20
He meant His heavenly Father.
00:25:55.03\00:25:56.70
Now we would be
tempted to react and respond
00:25:57.74\00:26:02.53
and a little
resentful toward the parent
00:26:03.25\00:26:06.34
who often misunderstood us.
00:26:06.37\00:26:08.42
But you know, Jesus' love
for His mother never wavered.
00:26:09.18\00:26:13.82
He obeyed the fifth
of the Ten Commandments,
00:26:14.79\00:26:17.10
"Honor thy
father and thy mother,"
00:26:17.13\00:26:19.60
Exodus 20 verse 12.
00:26:19.63\00:26:22.03
You know, it tells
us to do that ourselves.
00:26:23.34\00:26:26.48
Even when we think our
parents don't deserve honor.
00:26:27.21\00:26:33.02
Jesus forgave Mary all her
fretting and all her scolding
00:26:34.76\00:26:40.66
even though sometimes she
made life difficult for Him.
00:26:40.69\00:26:44.00
Even as a
scolding fretful parent can
00:26:44.03\00:26:47.65
make life difficult for us.
00:26:47.68\00:26:50.10
And yes, dear one, Jesus
forgives the overworked mothers
00:26:51.17\00:26:57.90
and overworked fathers
of today who fret and scold.
00:26:58.13\00:27:04.03
And He seeks to lead them
to find peace and rest in Him.
00:27:04.45\00:27:10.46
Now at last, He has been
arrested by the temple police,
00:27:12.46\00:27:17.89
and condemned, and
nailed to His cross to die.
00:27:18.87\00:27:23.80
The pain of the nails
in His wrists and ankles
00:27:24.31\00:27:27.80
is unspeakable.
00:27:27.83\00:27:29.85
But on top of all the physical
pain and shame He must endure,
00:27:31.01\00:27:35.87
the sins of the world
are rolling upon His heart.
00:27:35.90\00:27:41.25
He hears the jeering of the
temple priests and of the mob.
00:27:42.26\00:27:47.75
His mind is distraught.
00:27:47.95\00:27:50.68
But even so, He
remembers that God is love,
00:27:51.61\00:27:57.58
and He is the Son of God.
00:27:58.06\00:28:00.10
That love in His
heart must find expression
00:28:00.76\00:28:04.32
even though
He's being crucified.
00:28:04.73\00:28:06.90
And thus He prays for
His enemies, you remember,
00:28:07.36\00:28:10.19
and then ministers
to the penitent thief
00:28:10.30\00:28:12.87
being crucified with Him.
00:28:13.26\00:28:15.22
Now we listen to the
third word from the cross.
00:28:15.56\00:28:20.31
Racked with pain
as He is, He remembers
00:28:21.27\00:28:25.06
His broken hearted
mother standing by the cross
00:28:25.09\00:28:30.26
with the disciple, John.
00:28:30.29\00:28:32.10
Bewildered as they were
by all that was happening,
00:28:33.64\00:28:37.96
they can't begin
to fathom at all.
00:28:38.45\00:28:41.99
"What is going on?"
they were wondering.
00:28:42.02\00:28:46.75
"Why did Jesus let them
crucify Him when He knows
00:28:47.07\00:28:51.61
He's the
Messiah," Mary was thinking.
00:28:51.64\00:28:55.06
Mary is devastated.
00:28:56.69\00:28:58.13
Can this be her Son
that she bore in her womb
00:28:58.81\00:29:03.04
who is dying so
disgracefully like a criminal?
00:29:03.07\00:29:07.43
Didn't the angel Gabriel
tell her that His Father is God?
00:29:08.30\00:29:12.86
She remembered that
John the Baptist called Him
00:29:14.30\00:29:16.36
the Lamb of God.
00:29:16.66\00:29:18.23
She remembered that
the Samaritan's called Him
00:29:19.15\00:29:21.34
the Savior of the world.
00:29:21.37\00:29:23.34
And she remembered that the
angel Gabriel had assured her
00:29:23.90\00:29:27.89
before His birth, He shall
save the people from their sins.
00:29:27.92\00:29:34.58
Matthews 1:21
00:29:34.61\00:29:36.10
He is the only hope for
salvation for the whole world;
00:29:36.98\00:29:41.86
what's going on here?
00:29:41.89\00:29:44.14
No other mother in
history knows that same pain.
00:29:45.40\00:29:50.26
But Jesus has not
lost His regal bearing.
00:29:52.55\00:29:55.69
He speaks as what He is;
00:29:56.52\00:29:59.11
the Commander of
the hosts of heaven.
00:29:59.14\00:30:02.72
Looking at His mother with
tender pity, and nodding with
00:30:03.60\00:30:09.21
His head towards John,
He says this third saying.
00:30:09.24\00:30:14.67
It's found in The
Gospel According to John
00:30:14.70\00:30:18.34
chapter 19 verses 26 and 27.
00:30:18.91\00:30:25.43
John 19 verses 26 and 27.
00:30:25.46\00:30:30.77
He says,
"'Woman, behold thy son.'
00:30:30.80\00:30:37.70
And then saith he to the
disciple, 'Behold thy mother.'"
00:30:38.28\00:30:44.25
Here was Jesus
giving full obedience
00:30:45.34\00:30:48.17
to the fifth commandment.
00:30:48.20\00:30:49.84
He's honoring His
mother before the world.
00:30:50.82\00:30:53.99
He forgives her all
her faults and failures.
00:30:54.44\00:30:58.08
He appreciates her
loving care, her motherhood.
00:30:58.30\00:31:02.64
And in honoring her,
Jesus is honoring every mother
00:31:02.67\00:31:07.79
in the whole world.
00:31:07.82\00:31:10.51
Including you,
dear, who are watching.
00:31:10.54\00:31:13.63
He's saying in effect, "I
appreciate your motherhood,
00:31:15.15\00:31:19.10
your devotion to your children,
how you have sacrificed
00:31:19.45\00:31:23.47
yourself for their betterment,
00:31:23.50\00:31:25.53
how your love
for them never ends."
00:31:25.56\00:31:28.59
Jesus is telling every mother,
"Please receive this benediction
00:31:28.62\00:31:32.88
I give to her as
being for you too."
00:31:33.18\00:31:36.87
Jesus is a loving friend
to every mother in the world.
00:31:37.65\00:31:43.62
You know, when mother is
burdened with too much work...
00:31:44.76\00:31:48.87
You know, going back to this
00:31:49.53\00:31:54.49
hypothalamic
region of the brain.
00:31:56.66\00:31:59.28
Let me put it this way.
00:32:01.92\00:32:03.39
You ladies, moms in particular,
but you know, every lady
00:32:04.96\00:32:11.39
is hard wired to be
a mother; is prepared.
00:32:11.42\00:32:16.75
God has fashioned
you, God has prepared you,
00:32:17.07\00:32:20.82
biologically and atomically,
emotionally, intellectually,
00:32:20.85\00:32:25.75
spiritually, for you to
be a mother, to be a wife.
00:32:25.78\00:32:30.77
And to be many
things in the kingdom, now.
00:32:31.34\00:32:33.96
But you have
these special abilities.
00:32:33.99\00:32:37.96
I sometimes, using a
little humor, compare it to...
00:32:39.12\00:32:43.96
Especially when in the days
that you had those big satellite
00:32:43.99\00:32:46.99
dishes and you had
the small ones, you see.
00:32:47.02\00:32:49.16
You know, we men, we're
so clueless about things.
00:32:49.19\00:32:52.28
That's why we don't
suffer as much, it's true.
00:32:53.98\00:32:56.42
We don't...
00:32:56.45\00:32:57.54
You know, we're so simple
that we only see one thing
00:32:57.89\00:33:02.00
when you see like a
hundred or a thousand.
00:33:02.03\00:33:05.12
And so you worry about
the hundred and the thousand.
00:33:05.71\00:33:08.09
We just worry
about the one thing.
00:33:08.12\00:33:10.14
But you are always queued in.
00:33:11.53\00:33:15.41
You always know what's going on.
00:33:15.91\00:33:18.07
Your sensitivity.
00:33:18.30\00:33:19.97
But what happens with
that is, the bad side of that,
00:33:20.00\00:33:24.23
is that you ladies, you
moms, are often more burdened
00:33:24.26\00:33:29.42
than we are.
00:33:29.45\00:33:30.48
You're more
burdened emotionally.
00:33:30.51\00:33:32.50
You're more burdened,
you're carrying more weight,
00:33:32.53\00:33:35.45
than we are.
00:33:36.46\00:33:37.61
That's the way I feel about it.
00:33:38.89\00:33:40.14
So when you have to
deal with that much work;
00:33:40.69\00:33:43.16
maybe unruly children,
00:33:44.04\00:33:45.89
maybe worrying about
providing for the children,
00:33:46.82\00:33:49.82
maybe the stress with
the heartaches and problems
00:33:50.18\00:33:53.07
of the children,
00:33:53.10\00:33:54.17
you need to remember
how the dying Son of God
00:33:55.34\00:33:59.60
provided for His mother.
00:33:59.63\00:34:01.97
And that He will provide for
every mother that turns to Him.
00:34:02.15\00:34:08.25
Aren't you happy...
00:34:08.28\00:34:09.82
Think of this, people.
00:34:09.85\00:34:10.91
This isn't just a cliché.
00:34:10.94\00:34:12.87
Jesus knows what
being a mother is.
00:34:12.90\00:34:18.14
Because He was a son.
00:34:19.48\00:34:21.10
You understand?
00:34:21.33\00:34:22.42
He lived with mom.
00:34:22.72\00:34:24.08
There's probably not
a mother in the world
00:34:29.42\00:34:33.74
who has not at some time
been tempted to get cross
00:34:34.68\00:34:39.96
with unruly and
disobedient children.
00:34:40.28\00:34:43.51
Yeah, yeah we understand.
00:34:44.26\00:34:47.35
You know, when you
work, work, work, work, work;
00:34:47.38\00:34:49.89
you do the laundry, and
you do the house keeping,
00:34:50.67\00:34:53.00
and you do the dishes,
00:34:53.03\00:34:54.30
and when often is the case
nowadays, mother must also work
00:34:54.73\00:34:58.56
outside to earn the money
to keep the family together,
00:34:59.05\00:35:03.47
and when as it is often
true mother is a single mom...
00:35:04.64\00:35:09.89
That's happening more and more.
00:35:10.06\00:35:11.69
...oh how heavy
the burdens become.
00:35:12.51\00:35:17.59
Then it is that the nerves
get taut and your spirit chafes,
00:35:18.46\00:35:24.95
and deep in your heart
you wonder how it could be
00:35:24.98\00:35:27.81
that God loves you if He
permits all of this stuff
00:35:27.84\00:35:31.56
to happen to you.
00:35:31.87\00:35:33.37
And the good news
that Jesus gave His mother
00:35:34.52\00:35:37.10
during the last hour of His
life as He's hung on His cross
00:35:37.13\00:35:41.41
comes to you as it came to Mary.
00:35:41.44\00:35:45.31
Watching her Son
die, she wondered,
00:35:46.12\00:35:49.97
I mean on a practical level,
"What will happen to me now?"
00:35:50.00\00:35:53.44
There's no one
to take care of her.
00:35:54.46\00:35:58.17
And don't get this wrong either.
00:35:58.20\00:36:00.18
She didn't have other children.
00:36:01.43\00:36:03.50
Oh, but doesn't the
Bible say that Jesus
00:36:04.59\00:36:06.67
had brothers and sisters?
00:36:06.70\00:36:09.47
Yeah, but they were
not Mary's children.
00:36:10.76\00:36:14.68
No, no.
00:36:14.88\00:36:16.30
If you read more carefully,
and if you look at what
00:36:17.64\00:36:22.92
history has to say, there's
a very faithful tradition
00:36:22.95\00:36:27.46
about this,
Joseph was an older man.
00:36:27.49\00:36:30.79
And Joseph was a widow.
00:36:31.98\00:36:36.58
And Joseph had other children.
00:36:36.97\00:36:39.24
So in other words, even
though Mary took care of
00:36:40.38\00:36:44.30
the other children, but her
boy, her real boy, was Jesus.
00:36:44.33\00:36:53.59
"What's going to
happen to me now?"
00:36:54.95\00:36:56.97
You know.
00:36:57.70\00:36:58.73
And by the way, this proves it.
00:36:58.76\00:37:00.76
Right?
00:37:00.79\00:37:01.85
This proves it.
00:37:01.88\00:37:03.07
Because if she had
all these other children,
00:37:03.58\00:37:07.10
well this wouldn't be a concern.
00:37:07.78\00:37:09.53
But this was a concern.
00:37:09.65\00:37:11.21
It was a concern for
Jesus on the cross for Mary.
00:37:11.32\00:37:14.33
"What going to
happen to Mary now?"
00:37:14.36\00:37:16.33
If she had other children, they
would have taken care of her.
00:37:17.18\00:37:19.79
Right, doesn't that make sense?
00:37:20.22\00:37:21.72
It makes perfect sense.
00:37:22.98\00:37:24.33
But in giving her into
the care of the disciple whom
00:37:25.66\00:37:28.46
Jesus loved, the Son
of God provided for her
00:37:28.49\00:37:32.19
a future better than if He
had given her a bank account
00:37:32.22\00:37:36.27
of a million dollars.
00:37:36.30\00:37:37.75
Oh, the Savior's
greatest delight, people,
00:37:39.65\00:37:42.92
is telling mothers like you that
He will provide for your future.
00:37:42.95\00:37:47.27
He will help you
tremendously if you believe it.
00:37:48.37\00:37:52.03
You know, it's not in my
notes, but I have a sense
00:37:54.67\00:37:57.67
there's somebody watching,
00:37:59.12\00:38:00.59
you have been told
that you're with child.
00:38:02.92\00:38:05.61
And even good
people, otherwise good people
00:38:06.92\00:38:10.39
who otherwise
give you good counsel,
00:38:10.86\00:38:13.29
are telling you,
"Get rid of that child.
00:38:14.00\00:38:17.55
It's going to get in your way.
00:38:17.58\00:38:19.23
It's going to get in
the way of your education.
00:38:20.67\00:38:22.68
It's going to get in
the way of your future.
00:38:22.71\00:38:24.37
It's going to saddle you."
00:38:24.40\00:38:26.15
I want to tell you, that
child that's in your womb,
00:38:28.16\00:38:35.00
the Bible says that God
knows us before we're born.
00:38:35.03\00:38:40.27
The Bible says through
Jeremiah that He has loved us
00:38:41.00\00:38:48.40
with an eternal love.
00:38:48.43\00:38:51.34
There's a plan for
that child of yours.
00:38:52.59\00:38:55.70
There's a precious life
within you for whom Jesus died
00:38:56.14\00:39:01.82
so that that child could
have a hope and a future.
00:39:01.85\00:39:06.17
So turn to Jesus.
00:39:07.66\00:39:10.90
He's your provider.
00:39:11.62\00:39:13.23
You have a better
future with Jesus than one just
00:39:14.06\00:39:19.79
trying to do it your way.
00:39:20.36\00:39:22.20
And that child is special.
00:39:23.27\00:39:25.08
We're all special.
00:39:25.11\00:39:26.55
And there's a plan for it.
00:39:26.94\00:39:27.98
So today if you're in
that situation, dear one,
00:39:28.01\00:39:32.40
turn to Jesus.
00:39:32.93\00:39:34.42
Dedicate your child
already in your womb to Him.
00:39:35.52\00:39:39.40
And God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit,
will do something wonderful
00:39:41.03\00:39:49.21
with that child.
00:39:49.52\00:39:51.17
Now think of how
great was the blessing that
00:39:52.90\00:39:56.90
John and his family
received by taking care of Mary
00:39:56.93\00:40:02.25
all of her life.
00:40:02.28\00:40:03.59
Can you imagine?
00:40:03.62\00:40:06.76
All the stories
she could tell him.
00:40:09.08\00:40:12.02
No wonder he could write that
gospel and have so much insight.
00:40:13.55\00:40:19.86
A lot of it he got from Mary.
00:40:20.81\00:40:23.85
She would tell him all
about the life of Jesus.
00:40:26.45\00:40:29.67
The radio alarm
clock sounded off
00:40:36.21\00:40:40.05
and stopped the mother,
this mother, cold in her tracks
00:40:41.57\00:40:46.40
at the very moment when she
was about to do something she,
00:40:46.43\00:40:51.61
oh, never imagined in a million
years she would be doing.
00:40:52.25\00:40:57.72
She was about to pull the
trigger on her only daughter.
00:40:59.71\00:41:06.78
Now here's the crazy thing.
00:41:07.91\00:41:09.57
She was actually a good mother.
00:41:11.04\00:41:12.86
I mean, that's not
what good mothers do.
00:41:13.66\00:41:15.47
Don't get me wrong.
00:41:15.50\00:41:16.82
You know, life is complicated.
00:41:17.95\00:41:21.50
Do you find that?
00:41:22.54\00:41:23.73
Life is complicated.
00:41:24.57\00:41:26.64
That the mother had a
gun and knew how to use it
00:41:29.17\00:41:33.13
is easily explained.
00:41:33.16\00:41:34.27
So I have to tell you
the rest of the story.
00:41:34.30\00:41:36.42
I have to show you what I
mean by the fact that she was
00:41:37.08\00:41:40.41
a good mother that
had become distraught,
00:41:41.26\00:41:44.47
lost her way.
00:41:44.91\00:41:46.30
She was a member of
the military of Nicaragua.
00:41:47.49\00:41:50.25
She had joined the armed forces
because somebody told her,
00:41:52.03\00:41:56.95
"That's how you'll get tough.
00:41:56.98\00:41:58.65
That's how you'll survive."
00:41:59.02\00:42:00.75
She was a single mom.
00:42:00.78\00:42:02.72
And she wanted a way to
provide for her daughter
00:42:03.37\00:42:08.73
and also to get strong.
00:42:08.93\00:42:10.96
So she did.
00:42:13.22\00:42:15.41
As things would have it, it
turned out that the military
00:42:16.60\00:42:21.71
was something that she
was particularly suited for.
00:42:21.74\00:42:27.25
Her meticulous temperament
00:42:27.28\00:42:33.50
was one that just accommodated
well to the military life.
00:42:34.58\00:42:41.95
So she climbed
quickly through the ranks.
00:42:42.80\00:42:45.20
Life was good.
00:42:46.07\00:42:47.44
And she was able to provide
for her daughter's upbringing
00:42:47.97\00:42:51.10
and her private schooling.
00:42:51.13\00:42:52.77
But the fairy tale was
about to go terribly wrong.
00:42:54.76\00:42:59.07
More like a horror
story from Hollywood hell.
00:42:59.10\00:43:02.81
As her daughter
entered her late teens,
00:43:03.94\00:43:06.77
she developed a
taste for partying
00:43:07.48\00:43:10.04
with the wrong crowd.
00:43:11.26\00:43:13.03
I don't know that
there's a right crowd
00:43:14.38\00:43:16.14
when there's
partying, you know what I mean?
00:43:16.17\00:43:17.99
I don't know about that.
00:43:18.86\00:43:20.37
Nothing her mother
said or did to correct her
00:43:20.80\00:43:24.30
even put a dent in her
daughter's unbridled merriment.
00:43:24.33\00:43:30.45
Of course, all this led to
drinking, which led to drugs.
00:43:31.91\00:43:36.87
Which, horror of horrors,
had led to prostitution.
00:43:37.49\00:43:42.78
Because she had to feed a
run amuck heroin addiction.
00:43:43.60\00:43:51.50
You know, when you
get into the wrong path,
00:43:53.62\00:43:55.79
I'm telling you, it
gets worse and worse.
00:43:55.89\00:43:59.98
You get deeper and
deeper in the mire of sin.
00:44:00.18\00:44:04.03
The mother of our
story was devastated.
00:44:05.57\00:44:08.79
She had worked
so hard for so long
00:44:09.52\00:44:13.99
only to find that all
of her work was for naught.
00:44:14.19\00:44:18.53
All the long hours of study,
all the rigors of military life,
00:44:19.61\00:44:23.66
had been motivated by
the thought of providing
00:44:23.69\00:44:26.07
for her daughter.
00:44:26.10\00:44:27.29
That's the only thing she
cared about; her little girl.
00:44:27.32\00:44:30.02
She was her only reason to live.
00:44:30.84\00:44:33.46
And now her daughter was a what?
00:44:34.88\00:44:37.37
I'll tell you, she thought about
killing herself all the time.
00:44:39.95\00:44:43.77
However, the hope,
albeit remote, of her daughter
00:44:45.48\00:44:50.30
coming to her senses
and returning home was
00:44:50.33\00:44:53.89
what kept her going.
00:44:53.92\00:44:57.01
When it finally happened, it was
not at all what she expected.
00:44:59.84\00:45:05.84
Her daughter appeared at her
door looking like a mere shadow
00:45:06.96\00:45:10.23
of her former self.
00:45:10.26\00:45:11.91
She had full blown aids.
00:45:12.19\00:45:16.32
At a time and a place where
there was very little you could
00:45:18.36\00:45:22.30
do, if anything, for them.
00:45:22.33\00:45:25.01
She was dying,
to put it plainly.
00:45:25.90\00:45:28.11
Her face and body but a
sack of nerves and bones
00:45:28.88\00:45:34.00
with the life
sapped right out of them.
00:45:34.03\00:45:37.15
But this was the moment
she had long prayed for.
00:45:38.69\00:45:41.70
And so she did her
best to hide from her face
00:45:44.13\00:45:48.38
that look of horror.
00:45:48.41\00:45:50.14
She didn't want her daughter
to see that look, you know.
00:45:51.53\00:45:54.26
And so she just received her.
00:45:55.45\00:45:58.79
She received her daughter.
00:45:59.86\00:46:01.60
By the way, people,
if your wayward child
00:46:02.78\00:46:10.97
comes home, receive them.
00:46:11.85\00:46:14.62
Receive her.
00:46:15.37\00:46:16.77
If you don't, who is?
00:46:18.85\00:46:20.73
When the prodigal comes home,
00:46:23.88\00:46:25.67
what is the
father suppose to do?
00:46:25.87\00:46:28.24
What does the story say?
00:46:28.69\00:46:30.18
Well you know, days,
weeks, and months passed.
00:46:31.64\00:46:38.08
And her daughter
plunged into the horror, sort of
00:46:38.85\00:46:41.94
slow killer
disease that is aids.
00:46:42.24\00:46:46.71
Especially at the time.
00:46:46.74\00:46:48.31
The nights were soon
filled with the curdling screams
00:46:49.08\00:46:54.97
coming from
this daughter's room.
00:46:55.17\00:47:01.48
Every night.
00:47:03.11\00:47:04.14
Again and again.
00:47:06.07\00:47:07.29
The same cry for
help could be heard
00:47:07.68\00:47:11.00
in what seemed like endless
nights of endless horrors,
00:47:11.03\00:47:14.78
"Mom, the pain. The pain.
00:47:15.65\00:47:19.37
Do something, please.
00:47:19.40\00:47:21.58
Do something."
00:47:21.61\00:47:23.37
Every night that refrain.
00:47:24.30\00:47:26.93
Every night, every
night, every night.
00:47:27.13\00:47:29.88
And one night,
the mother had enough.
00:47:30.28\00:47:32.98
She told herself
that her daughter
00:47:33.92\00:47:36.33
had suffered long enough.
00:47:36.36\00:47:38.25
That's when she armed herself
with both gun and courage
00:47:40.14\00:47:45.32
to commit the unthinkable act.
00:47:45.93\00:47:49.19
She would grab her gun, put
an end to her daughter's misery,
00:47:51.16\00:47:54.99
and turn the gun on herself.
00:47:55.20\00:47:57.75
That was the plan.
00:47:58.79\00:48:00.36
Which brings us full circle
to the beginning of our story
00:48:02.35\00:48:05.66
and the radio clock
going off at the precise moment
00:48:06.62\00:48:11.96
when the mother was
bringing herself to perpetrate
00:48:12.45\00:48:16.20
this macabre act.
00:48:16.23\00:48:18.73
God would use the radio to
subject this military mother
00:48:20.56\00:48:25.59
to a friendly invasion of hope.
00:48:25.62\00:48:28.86
To be specific,
The Voice of Hope;
00:48:30.71\00:48:33.33
La Voz de la Esperanza.
00:48:35.22\00:48:36.93
The name of the radio program
that I had the privilege of
00:48:38.67\00:48:42.23
serving for the
better part of two decades.
00:48:42.26\00:48:45.74
You know, we started
as the Voice of Prophecy.
00:48:46.60\00:48:48.93
But within two years, our
founding speaker got permission
00:48:51.09\00:48:56.36
from H.M.S. Richards, Sr., who
was a very understanding man.
00:48:56.99\00:49:03.72
He's kind of my hero.
00:49:04.59\00:49:05.62
I love that man.
00:49:05.65\00:49:08.73
I read
everything that he writes.
00:49:09.26\00:49:12.14
People in Avon Park
know that I just, you know.
00:49:12.17\00:49:15.55
So our founding
speaker had said...
00:49:19.80\00:49:22.72
You know, prophecy at
that time in the 40's...
00:49:22.75\00:49:26.74
This was 1942.
00:49:26.94\00:49:29.20
It's a term that a lot of people
out there in Latin America
00:49:30.63\00:49:34.52
don't even know.
00:49:34.55\00:49:35.94
And frankly, they're
a little scared of it.
00:49:36.39\00:49:38.32
"'Prophecy,' we
don't know what that is.
00:49:38.97\00:49:41.13
But we don't think it's good."
00:49:41.16\00:49:42.57
So he, even though he
would talk about prophecy,
00:49:44.42\00:49:47.80
you know, all of that
like Richard Sr. would, at the
00:49:47.83\00:49:51.86
beginning for the
first few years...
00:49:51.89\00:49:53.93
It was really the sermons
of H.M.S. being translated
00:49:53.96\00:49:57.53
by him and he was delivering
those sermons until he finally
00:49:57.56\00:50:01.14
got the green light
to do his own stuff.
00:50:01.62\00:50:04.60
But he got permission to change
the name to, The Voice of Hope.
00:50:04.99\00:50:11.86
So our program has, from I
think 1946 or 1947, been called,
00:50:12.10\00:50:19.52
The Voice of Hope.
00:50:19.85\00:50:22.63
Now everybody relates to hope.
00:50:22.66\00:50:26.15
I don't care what
your background is,
00:50:27.44\00:50:29.66
I don't care what
country you come from,
00:50:30.24\00:50:32.09
I don't care what
religion you have or don't have,
00:50:32.31\00:50:35.46
you relate to hope.
00:50:36.05\00:50:37.51
So The Voice of Hope was a very
user friendly name, even today.
00:50:37.78\00:50:43.35
Sometimes we have
people, John, just writing to us
00:50:43.45\00:50:46.48
to congratulate us on our name.
00:50:46.51\00:50:49.15
"I love your name."
00:50:50.38\00:50:51.81
The Voice of Hope.
00:50:51.84\00:50:53.47
Well, God used the program.
00:50:54.61\00:50:59.09
People, this
isn't a made up story.
00:51:01.18\00:51:05.74
This is real.
00:51:06.33\00:51:07.54
She was pulling on the trigger.
00:51:09.67\00:51:12.89
She had begun to
pull on the trigger.
00:51:12.92\00:51:16.08
Her hand trembling, you know.
00:51:16.28\00:51:18.31
And she was trying to find
the courage to do it, you know.
00:51:18.61\00:51:21.76
I'm sure crying,
bawling her eyes out.
00:51:22.04\00:51:25.68
All of a sudden,
the program came on.
00:51:27.76\00:51:31.30
The radio came on,
the radio alarm clock.
00:51:31.61\00:51:36.07
She hadn't put in on that time.
00:51:36.10\00:51:37.82
Now who do you think
turned that radio on?
00:51:39.44\00:51:42.06
At the precise moment.
00:51:44.91\00:51:47.49
And she started
hearing a hopeful message.
00:51:49.05\00:51:53.56
A hopeful message.
00:51:54.01\00:51:55.75
The message led this desperate
mother and her dying daughter
00:51:57.51\00:52:02.47
to the cross of Christ.
00:52:02.50\00:52:04.55
And eventually to Bible studies.
00:52:05.83\00:52:07.84
And then to the baptismal tank,
00:52:08.65\00:52:10.52
where they both
made a public confession
00:52:11.66\00:52:14.68
of their faith in the Savior
of the world, Jesus Christ.
00:52:14.71\00:52:18.57
Some of you
watching need to do the same.
00:52:18.60\00:52:22.77
You know, some of you, I
bet there are some of you,
00:52:23.49\00:52:26.09
I've known some of you,
who are watching this station
00:52:26.12\00:52:29.99
for years now
and you're convicted.
00:52:30.89\00:52:35.18
But you haven't made a decision.
00:52:36.12\00:52:39.02
I'll tell you, in Latin
America the last crusade
00:52:39.65\00:52:43.51
I gave in Mexico, I
was able to take my wife.
00:52:43.54\00:52:48.93
Oh, what a delight
when you can take your wife.
00:52:48.96\00:52:53.28
Oh people, you
don't know how many years
00:52:53.80\00:52:58.26
in bad motels and
hotels, in la cucaracha inn.
00:52:58.46\00:53:04.48
You know.
00:53:04.97\00:53:06.04
I mean, how many
nights alone, oh.
00:53:06.35\00:53:13.95
And so, what a delight.
00:53:14.42\00:53:16.37
You know, now that my
children are grown up...
00:53:16.40\00:53:19.56
My oldest boy works
in the Hope Channel.
00:53:20.07\00:53:22.07
You know, he's got that
show, Cross Connections.
00:53:22.10\00:53:24.56
And the others are
graduated from college
00:53:25.05\00:53:31.08
and they're working.
00:53:31.11\00:53:32.14
And so, anyway.
00:53:32.54\00:53:34.98
Now when I get the
occasional invitation,
00:53:35.34\00:53:37.83
I turn about 9
out of 10 of them.
00:53:37.86\00:53:40.33
Because I'm a
pastor now, you know.
00:53:40.36\00:53:42.16
But if I go
somewhere, she comes with me.
00:53:42.44\00:53:46.13
And last year, I had to
fulfill a commitment that I had
00:53:47.73\00:53:52.52
made before I
accepted the call to Avon Park.
00:53:52.55\00:53:56.48
It was a national
satellite crusade in Chile.
00:53:56.51\00:54:01.61
It's wonderful.
00:54:01.98\00:54:03.17
And my wife is from Chile.
00:54:04.28\00:54:06.11
And she hadn't
been back in 32 years.
00:54:06.58\00:54:09.45
And she's like fourth or
fifth generation Adventist,
00:54:10.39\00:54:15.32
on both sides.
00:54:15.91\00:54:17.30
Her father was an evangelist.
00:54:18.41\00:54:20.21
I worked for her
father as a Bible worker
00:54:20.74\00:54:23.84
before I met her.
00:54:24.13\00:54:25.50
You see.
00:54:26.30\00:54:27.35
And so I got his okay, see.
00:54:27.55\00:54:30.12
I got his stamp of
approval before I...
00:54:30.54\00:54:32.80
And we did a crusade, and
it wasn't very successful.
00:54:34.78\00:54:37.91
But it was highly
successful for me, that crusade.
00:54:37.94\00:54:41.61
But anyway, it's a pleasure
to be with my wife when I can.
00:54:41.64\00:54:48.84
But you know, I
travel places now.
00:54:49.31\00:54:52.54
There was this young man,
we were in this restaurant
00:54:52.94\00:54:56.00
together, and this young man,
you know, that puckish hair,
00:54:56.03\00:55:00.06
you know, tattoos everywhere.
00:55:00.09\00:55:02.11
Chains, and all of this stuff.
00:55:02.14\00:55:04.30
And he came to me and
patted me on the back.
00:55:04.33\00:55:09.99
You know, I was about to
pay, you know, there in line.
00:55:10.98\00:55:14.29
And he started talking
to me and couldn't talk,
00:55:14.32\00:55:18.06
started crying.
00:55:18.09\00:55:19.52
I said, "What's going on here?"
00:55:20.05\00:55:21.64
And he said, "Oh," he said, "I
watch you on 3ABN all the time."
00:55:21.67\00:55:28.23
He said, "You have no idea,"
he said, "you have no idea
00:55:29.40\00:55:33.16
how your
messages have helped me."
00:55:33.19\00:55:35.67
And so he is coming to Christ.
00:55:36.21\00:55:39.51
He's coming to Christ.
00:55:39.88\00:55:41.69
And I encourage him to do so.
00:55:41.72\00:55:43.74
He said, "I'm going
to get baptized soon."
00:55:44.28\00:55:47.18
Well you know, this
story is a real story.
00:55:48.43\00:55:52.02
And I got a
letter from this lady...
00:55:52.65\00:55:55.53
...telling me about the story...
00:55:58.82\00:56:00.69
...and how the Lord
gave her daughter a reprieve.
00:56:01.97\00:56:07.55
The pain went away, you know,
for about a year and a half.
00:56:07.58\00:56:11.31
You know, they had a
beautiful time together.
00:56:11.69\00:56:14.59
Now the daughter passed away.
00:56:15.38\00:56:16.93
But she said,
"Pastor, yeah I miss her.
00:56:17.63\00:56:22.45
But I'm happy.
00:56:22.81\00:56:24.20
I'm happy.
00:56:25.04\00:56:26.42
Because I'm
going to see her again.
00:56:26.85\00:56:28.72
And Jesus is coming soon."
00:56:29.70\00:56:31.53
So, you know, in
Nicaragua and everywhere else,
00:56:33.09\00:56:39.98
Jesus is still the
Savior of the world.
00:56:40.18\00:56:44.80
And He loves every one of us.
00:56:45.34\00:56:47.53
He loves every mother out there.
00:56:47.56\00:56:49.93
Mom, if you're
listening, that benediction,
00:56:50.53\00:56:54.78
that blessing is for you.
00:56:54.81\00:56:56.60
Jesus loves you.
00:56:57.10\00:56:58.55
He says He's going
to take care of you.
00:56:58.58\00:57:00.78
At this moment
right now, turn to Him.
00:57:01.06\00:57:04.72
Open your heart to Him.
00:57:05.16\00:57:07.02
Dedicate your children to Him.
00:57:07.39\00:57:09.84
Find a congregation,
a church, and join it.
00:57:10.48\00:57:15.03
And dedicate
your life to the Lord.
00:57:15.40\00:57:19.02
And you will
hear those same words,
00:57:19.05\00:57:21.62
"I will take care of you."
00:57:21.65\00:57:23.05
Like He took care
of His earthly mother,
00:57:23.08\00:57:25.91
He will take
care of every mother.
00:57:25.94\00:57:28.26
That's you.
00:57:28.29\00:57:30.08