On that first Easter Sunday morning, some women went 00:00:08.23\00:00:11.53 to the tomb of Jesus to anoint His body for burial. 00:00:11.53\00:00:14.23 An angel met them and told the women Jesus was risen 00:00:14.23\00:00:16.90 from the dead, so they hurried 00:00:16.90\00:00:19.40 off to tell the eleven 00:00:19.40\00:00:20.33 remaining disciples. 00:00:20.33\00:00:21.90 Luke 24:11 reveals the disciples surprising reaction. 00:00:21.90\00:00:26.13 In their disappointment, they forgot some of the 00:00:32.60\00:00:34.50 plainest statements Jesus had made to them. 00:00:34.50\00:00:37.76 Jesus had said, "I'm going up to Jerusalem, and I'm going to 00:00:37.76\00:00:40.16 die." 00:00:40.16\00:00:43.10 He said that He would be rejected by the elders and 00:00:40.16\00:00:43.10 the chief priests and the scribes, and that He'd be 00:00:43.10\00:00:45.83 killed, and He said He would rise again - but the disciples 00:00:45.83\00:00:49.50 didn't quite get it. 00:00:49.50\00:00:51.16 And now that the women were there telling the disciples 00:00:51.16\00:00:53.46 that Jesus' prophecies had been fulfilled, they 00:00:53.46\00:00:56.10 refused to believe. 00:00:56.10\00:00:57.50 Such is the power of preconceived ideas, and such 00:00:57.50\00:01:00.80 is the power of crushing disappointment. 00:01:00.80\00:01:03.50 The disciples were foolish to refuse to believe - they had 00:01:03.50\00:01:07.03 let what they saw totally destroy their faith in what 00:01:07.03\00:01:09.96 they couldn't see Maybe we make that mistake. 00:01:09.96\00:01:12.93 Because we don't see the big picture we might jump to a 00:01:12.93\00:01:15.33 wrong conclusion that doesn't involve hope. 00:01:15.33\00:01:17.80 The cross of Jesus tell us that victory often comes out 00:01:17.80\00:01:20.53 of defeat, and it reminds us that what we see is often 00:01:20.53\00:01:23.63 not the whole picture. 00:01:23.63\00:01:25.40 Trust God today, even if it seems your hopes have been 00:01:25.40\00:01:28.10 dashed, even if something just doesn't make sense. 00:01:28.10\00:01:30.80 The resurrection had taken place and yet the disciples 00:01:30.80\00:01:33.33 were all doom and gloom. 00:01:33.33\00:01:36.03 That resurrection says there's a God who is alive - and He's 00:01:36.03\00:01:39.10 working in your life right now. 00:01:39.10\00:01:41.76 Have faith to know that God isn't simply the God of what 00:01:41.76\00:01:44.76 you can see, He's also the God of what you cannot see. 00:01:44.76\00:01:50.36 I'm John Bradshaw for It is Written. 00:01:50.36\00:01:52.13 Follow us on Facebook and Twitter and let's live 00:01:52.13\00:01:56.56 today by Every Word. 00:01:56.56\00:02:00.46 ? [Music in background - ? ? "Were you there when ? 00:02:03.06\00:02:07.53 ? they crucified my Lord?"] ? 00:02:07.53\00:02:13.33 It has stood the test of time. 00:03:04.56\00:03:09.56 God's book, the bible. 00:03:09.56\00:03:10.73 Still relevant in today's complex world. 00:03:10.73\00:03:21.76 It Is Written sharing hope around the globe. 00:03:21.76\00:03:26.63 [Music in background] Kim Philby was destined to 00:03:35.53\00:03:49.16 make his mark in the world. 00:03:49.16\00:03:50.86 The son of a rather brilliant father, he was educated at the 00:03:50.86\00:03:53.76 best schools in England, including Trinity College 00:03:53.76\00:03:56.70 in Cambridge. 00:03:56.70\00:03:57.80 For 30 years Philby worked for British intelligence, rising 00:03:57.80\00:04:01.56 to a very high rank in the British Secret Intelligence 00:04:01.56\00:04:04.60 Service, M.I.6: he ran its entire counterespionage 00:04:04.60\00:04:09.03 programme - that is, he was in charge of stopping spies 00:04:09.03\00:04:12.73 collecting information on Britain - and set up the 00:04:12.73\00:04:15.60 section that spied on the Soviet Union. 00:04:15.60\00:04:24.90 [Music in the background] But what nobody knew was that 00:04:24.90\00:04:32.76 while Kim Philby was in charge of an important part of Great 00:04:32.76\00:04:36.53 Britain's spy programme, he himself was in fact a DOUBLE 00:04:36.53\00:04:40.10 AGENT: while supposedly protecting Britain from spies, 00:04:40.10\00:04:46.33 Philby was a spy himself, working for the Soviet Union. 00:04:46.33\00:04:51.96 He provided a lot of information to the Soviets 00:04:51.96\00:04:54.50 that led to the deaths of a large number of agents, 00:04:54.50\00:04:57.13 and he inflicted real damage on both American 00:04:57.13\00:05:00.10 and British intelligence. 00:05:00.10\00:05:03.93 Kim Philby died in Moscow in 1988. 00:05:15.66\00:05:18.63 A brilliant man, a capable man, but a double agent. 00:05:18.63\00:05:23.63 Nobody really knew just whose side he was on. 00:05:23.63\00:05:30.13 I've wondered often just how many people know 00:05:30.13\00:05:34.63 whose side GOD is on. 00:05:34.63\00:05:36.26 I'm not suggesting for a second that God is a double 00:05:36.26\00:05:38.60 agent, but that many people aren't entirely sure just whose 00:05:38.60\00:05:41.83 side He is on, as life plays out here on Planet Earth. 00:05:41.83\00:05:45.56 God gets blamed for an enormous amount of bad things: 00:05:45.56\00:05:49.76 in 2005, not long after Hurricane Katrina, 00:05:49.76\00:05:52.96 Time Magazine featured an article titled, 00:05:52.96\00:05:55.53 "Where Was God?" 00:05:55.53\00:05:57.40 It investigated the myriad responses from people about 00:05:57.40\00:06:00.70 the cause of the calamity - masses felt that it was God's 00:06:00.70\00:06:04.60 judgment for jus about everything. 00:06:04.60\00:06:07.26 After the Asian tsunami, the Archbishop of Canterbury 00:06:07.26\00:06:09.83 said, "Of course, this makes us doubt 00:06:09.83\00:06:12.33 God's existence." 00:06:12.33\00:06:14.43 So very often when personal tragedy strikes, 00:06:14.43\00:06:17.56 the question asked is "Why did God allow this?" 00:06:17.56\00:06:20.73 That's not always a bad question - even Jesus cried 00:06:20.73\00:06:25.00 out, My God, My God, Why hast thou forsaken me? 00:06:25.00\00:06:28.93 But all too often present in the question is the suggestion 00:06:28.93\00:06:32.66 that God is the villain. 00:06:32.66\00:06:35.30 And the question gets murky for some when we start to 00:06:35.30\00:06:38.36 wrestle with matters of personal sin - "Does God still 00:06:38.36\00:06:41.60 care for me, does God still love me, is God still with me 00:06:41.60\00:06:45.00 after what I've done?" How far does the love and patience and 00:06:45.00\00:06:49.40 acceptance of God stretch in the case 00:06:49.40\00:06:52.63 of sinners committing sin? 00:06:52.63\00:06:54.60 Serious questions. 00:06:54.60\00:06:56.43 And the Bible provides us with serious answers. 00:06:56.43\00:07:00.33 You don't really have to go far in the Bible to 00:07:00.33\00:07:02.56 figure this thing out. 00:07:02.56\00:07:03.76 John chapter 8 describes how Jesus handled a broken life. 00:07:03.76\00:07:08.80 We find Jesus in the temple where you'd expect it to be 00:07:08.80\00:07:12.66 very reverent, very quiet, when something 00:07:12.66\00:07:17.06 strange happens. 00:07:17.06\00:07:18.56 A group of apparently upstanding men bring to Jesus 00:07:18.56\00:07:21.36 a woman who had just been caught in an act of immorality. 00:07:21.36\00:07:25.86 Angry men, a cowering, perhaps a weeping woman, there's 00:07:25.86\00:07:30.56 tension in the air as justice is being demanded. 00:07:30.56\00:07:34.76 Here's how John describes the scene. 00:07:34.76\00:07:37.46 John Chapter eight 00:07:37.46\00:07:39.43 Well, what could He say? 00:07:59.76\00:08:01.26 If she's guilty, she's guilty. 00:08:01.26\00:08:02.83 Really, that settles it. 00:08:02.83\00:08:05.43 But aren't you glad that it doesn't actually settle it in 00:08:05.43\00:08:09.03 the mind of God? 00:08:09.03\00:08:11.23 Not right away. 00:08:11.23\00:08:12.30 If guilt "settled it", our collective goose would have 00:08:12.30\00:08:15.20 been well and truly cooked a long time ago. 00:08:15.20\00:08:17.56 And according to the Bible, we're all in 00:08:17.56\00:08:19.30 the same situation. 00:08:19.30\00:08:21.03 Romans 3:23 says, 00:08:21.03\00:08:22.90 If our misdeeds settled it, if our sins settled it, 00:08:28.33\00:08:32.10 none of us would ever have the slightest hope 00:08:32.10\00:08:35.33 of going to heaven. 00:08:35.33\00:08:36.30 We'd be done! 00:08:36.30\00:08:37.60 So how did Jesus respond? 00:08:37.60\00:08:39.06 John 8, we pick it up in verse 6 00:08:39.06\00:08:42.20 Now, they were right. 00:09:02.30\00:09:04.60 She was a sinful woman, and she had done wrong. 00:09:04.60\00:09:07.70 But Jesus challenges these individuals and tells them to 00:09:07.70\00:09:13.00 go right ahead and stone this poor creature as long as they 00:09:13.00\00:09:17.53 themselves were without sin. 00:09:17.53\00:09:21.10 You know, when the woman heard Jesus say that, she no doubt 00:09:21.10\00:09:25.73 thought she was dead. 00:09:25.73\00:09:26.96 These holy, righteous men, she thought. 00:09:26.96\00:09:29.43 They come off as being so holy they'll probably all be 00:09:29.43\00:09:32.26 throwing rocks at me. 00:09:32.26\00:09:33.80 It'll be a blizzard! 00:09:33.80\00:09:35.90 But instead, they drop their rocks and walk away, leaving 00:09:35.90\00:09:40.36 Jesus, the perfect, holy, righteous Son of God - God in 00:09:40.36\00:09:45.66 the flesh - alone with this miserable, wicked, corrupt 00:09:45.66\00:09:50.86 individual, who really did deserve to have the 00:09:50.86\00:09:54.06 book thrown at her. 00:09:54.06\00:09:55.66 Now let's see how this story ends. 00:09:55.66\00:09:57.60 John 8, again we pick it up in verse 10. 00:09:57.60\00:10:00.40 Can you imagine how she felt?! 00:10:22.43\00:10:23.86 You know how good you felt when you got pulled up for 00:10:23.86\00:10:26.30 speeding and the police officer let you off with 00:10:26.30\00:10:27.76 just a warning, right? 00:10:27.76\00:10:29.83 And all you avoided was a $100 fine. 00:10:29.83\00:10:32.86 This woman escaped with her life. 00:10:32.86\00:10:35.63 Now why did Jesus do that? 00:10:35.63\00:10:38.26 Because that's whose side Jesus is on. 00:10:38.26\00:10:44.00 Do you remember the famous verse in John 3:16, but what 00:10:44.00\00:10:46.16 about John 3:17? It says this: 00:10:46.16\00:10:49.46 God is in the business of SAVING people. 00:10:59.73\00:11:02.33 In fact, God gives us an incredible illustration to 00:11:02.33\00:11:06.13 help us understand just whose side He is on today. 00:11:06.13\00:11:09.33 God had Israel build Him a dwelling place, a sanctuary. 00:11:09.33\00:11:14.43 In Exodus 25:8 it says: 00:11:14.43\00:11:19.43 God wanted to spend time with His people. 00:11:27.03\00:11:29.70 The sanctuary was mobile - it traveled with the Israelites 00:11:29.70\00:11:34.06 through the wilderness. 00:11:34.06\00:11:35.20 And it was magnificent - gold plated boards set 00:11:35.20\00:11:38.43 in sockets of silver, fine linen, beautiful curtains, 00:11:38.43\00:11:43.20 a golden candlestick with seven lamps giving light 00:11:43.20\00:11:47.26 day and night, gold-plated furniture and 00:11:47.26\00:11:49.56 items of pure gold. 00:11:49.56\00:11:54.83 And most magnificently, the Shekinah Glory was in there 00:12:00.63\00:12:05.30 the presence of God Himself. 00:12:05.30\00:12:07.16 Of course, in time the mobile sanctuary 00:12:07.16\00:12:10.96 was superseded by the temple. 00:12:10.96\00:12:13.30 Yet you'll remember that when Jesus died the veil in that 00:12:13.30\00:12:18.20 temple was torn in two by an act of God. 00:12:18.20\00:12:22.23 God was signifying that the temple services were now 00:12:22.23\00:12:25.70 obsolete - the True Lamb had come and died. 00:12:25.70\00:12:29.20 As such, it was redundant for God's people to offer animal 00:12:29.20\00:12:32.16 sacrifices anymore. 00:12:32.16\00:12:33.40 In fact, you could say it was offensive - to have faith in a 00:12:33.40\00:12:37.26 lamb sacrifice would be to fail to recognize the True 00:12:37.26\00:12:40.26 Lamb had died. 00:12:40.26\00:12:41.96 The temple had really served its purpose. 00:12:41.96\00:12:45.03 So what is the Bible talking about when it talks about 00:12:45.03\00:12:48.06 a sanctuary that is still important to us today? 00:12:48.06\00:12:51.36 In the book of Hebrews we discover a sanctuary 00:12:51.36\00:12:55.00 in heaven. 00:12:55.00\00:12:56.66 And according the book of Exodus, Moses was told to by 00:12:56.66\00:13:01.73 God to build the earthly sanctuary and pattern it after 00:13:01.73\00:13:04.96 the heavenly. 00:13:04.96\00:13:07.10 Now why is that important? 00:13:07.10\00:13:08.70 The simple existence of the building itself isn't the item 00:13:08.70\00:13:12.16 of most major importance. 00:13:12.16\00:13:15.16 What is most important is what is going on in that sanctuary. 00:13:15.16\00:13:20.76 What is going on there shows us where God's mind is towards 00:13:20.76\00:13:23.16 the sinners of this world. 00:13:23.16\00:13:26.50 I4ll tell you in a moment where Jesus is and 00:13:26.50\00:13:30.00 what he is doing. 00:13:30.00\00:13:30.56 And the answer will bless you incredibly. 00:13:30.56\00:13:34.80 Planning for your financial future is a vital aspect of 00:13:34.80\00:13:40.10 Christian Stewardship. 00:13:40.10\00:13:41.40 For this reason, It Is Written is pleased to offer free 00:13:41.40\00:13:43.73 planned giving and estate services. 00:13:43.73\00:13:46.40 For information on how we can help you, please call 00:13:46.40\00:13:48.46 1.800.992.2219. 00:13:48.46\00:13:52.06 Call today or visit our special website: 00:13:52.06\00:13:55.80 www.hislegacy.com 00:13:55.80\00:14:02.06 After Jesus died on the cross, we know where He went. 00:14:05.36\00:14:07.83 He went to the grave. 00:14:07.83\00:14:09.96 I know it says in the Apostles' Creed - "He descended 00:14:09.96\00:14:11.96 into hell, on the third day He rose again..." - 00:14:11.96\00:14:14.56 but that is true in the Biblical sense where the word 00:14:14.56\00:14:16.73 'hell' is often used to mean the grave. 00:14:16.73\00:14:19.40 Jesus descended into the grave. 00:14:19.40\00:14:21.96 When he died, he didn4t go to a hot place in the center 00:14:21.96\00:14:23.76 of the earth. 00:14:23.76\00:14:24.56 That is just fantasy with no biblical basis at all. 00:14:24.56\00:14:26.66 The wonderful news is, though, that the grave could 00:14:26.66\00:14:30.73 not hold Jesus! 00:14:30.73\00:14:32.16 He came forth triumphant. 00:14:32.16\00:14:33.06 Then where did He go? 00:14:33.06\00:14:35.46 He went to heaven. 00:14:35.46\00:14:37.20 And what did He go to heaven for? 00:14:37.20\00:14:39.33 Was it just to bide His time as He waited for 00:14:39.33\00:14:41.66 the Second Coming? 00:14:41.66\00:14:42.73 No, Jesus went to heaven to do far more than that. 00:14:42.73\00:14:46.66 According to the book of Hebrews, Jesus is performing 00:14:46.66\00:14:50.56 a specific role in heaven. 00:14:50.56\00:14:52.80 Hebrews 4:14 says, 00:14:52.80\00:14:55.76 Jesus went to heaven to be our High Priest. 00:15:05.70\00:15:08.70 Now let's look at Hebrews 8, verses 1 and 2. 00:15:08.70\00:15:14.30 Jesus has gone to heaven, to the heavenly sanctuary 00:15:30.33\00:15:32.56 that God made, so that He can be 00:15:32.56\00:15:35.23 our High Priest. 00:15:35.23\00:15:37.40 Now think about what that means for us. 00:15:37.40\00:15:40.30 The old sanctuary service was essentially the gospel in 00:15:40.30\00:15:44.13 types and shadows. 00:15:44.13\00:15:45.83 How could God help Israel understand what the plan of 00:15:45.83\00:15:48.66 salvation was really all about? 00:15:48.66\00:15:51.43 He taught them - it's like this, He said. 00:15:51.43\00:15:54.30 Sin causes death. 00:15:54.30\00:15:55.83 I want to show you how it will cause the death of my Son, 00:15:55.83\00:15:58.66 so I'll put that in the figure of 00:15:58.66\00:16:00.56 the death of a lamb. 00:16:00.56\00:16:01.73 Because of your sin the lamb dies. 00:16:01.73\00:16:05.53 Here's what they'd do. 00:16:05.53\00:16:06.70 The sinner would take a lamb to this sanctuary. 00:16:06.70\00:16:10.20 He'd confess his sins over the lamb, and his sins would 00:16:10.20\00:16:13.06 be transferred - figuratively, obviously 00:16:13.06\00:16:15.93 - to the lamb. 00:16:15.93\00:16:17.73 The Lamb would be killed, and the blood would be taken 00:16:17.73\00:16:20.86 inside the sanctuary, some of the blood. 00:16:20.86\00:16:24.50 In that way, the sin was transferred into 00:16:24.50\00:16:28.50 the sanctuary. 00:16:28.50\00:16:30.06 At the end of the year the entire sin record would 00:16:30.06\00:16:32.63 be dealt with, on the Day of Atonement. 00:16:32.63\00:16:34.96 The sanctuary would be cleansed, and the people would 00:16:34.96\00:16:38.73 rejoice that they stood before God absolutely pure and clean. 00:16:38.73\00:16:42.56 Does this relate to our salvation today? 00:16:42.56\00:16:44.60 You bet it does. 00:16:44.60\00:16:46.76 When we need cleansing from sin, we come to Jesus. 00:16:46.76\00:16:50.03 The Holy Spirit convicts us of our sin, and then prompts 00:16:50.03\00:16:53.70 us to come to God. 00:16:53.70\00:16:55.20 We come - we are drawn to Him by God Himself. 00:16:55.20\00:16:58.60 We confess our sins. 00:16:58.60\00:17:00.13 Who takes our sins? 00:17:00.13\00:17:01.90 Jesus, the Lamb. 00:17:01.90\00:17:03.43 He died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins 00:17:03.43\00:17:06.70 once and for all. 00:17:06.70\00:17:08.40 So we come to Christ, we profess faith 00:17:08.40\00:17:10.80 in the sacrifice of the Lamb when Jesus died on the cross, 00:17:10.80\00:17:14.16 and God takes our sins away. 00:17:14.16\00:17:16.13 Now, back in the OT time, when the sinner confessed, 00:17:16.13\00:17:20.53 there was a middle man - a priest, or a 00:17:20.53\00:17:23.23 high priest. 00:17:23.23\00:17:24.40 Today, there's a Middle Man - our High Priest, Jesus. 00:17:24.40\00:17:29.53 Look at what we read in 1 John 2:1 - The Bible says, 00:17:29.53\00:17:37.53 As our High Priest in heaven, Jesus intercedes for us. 00:17:51.40\00:17:54.16 We come to Him with our sins, repentant. 00:17:54.16\00:17:56.66 He takes our sins from us, appeals to God in our behalf, 00:17:56.66\00:18:01.26 and gives His own perfect righteousness in place 00:18:01.26\00:18:05.90 of our sins. 00:18:05.90\00:18:07.06 What this tells us is that in heaven there is a Saviour who 00:18:07.06\00:18:11.56 invites us to come to Him, just as we are, knowing that 00:18:11.56\00:18:15.43 He will have mercy on us. 00:18:15.43\00:18:18.26 Remember what it said back in Hebrews 4:14? 00:18:18.26\00:18:22.73 If you're a sinner who has faith in Jesus 00:18:33.96\00:18:36.60 and you've got your struggles, the answer is not to let go! 00:18:36.60\00:18:40.56 The knowledge that a holy, righteous Jesus is your High 00:18:40.56\00:18:43.76 Priest in heaven absolutely must inspire you 00:18:43.76\00:18:47.13 to hang on tight! 00:18:47.13\00:18:48.83 The Greek word that is translated into "hold fast" 00:18:48.83\00:18:52.06 means "to cling to tenaciously." That's like a 00:18:52.06\00:18:55.86 barnacle clinging to the side of a ship. 00:18:55.86\00:18:58.56 You can hardly pry those things off! 00:18:58.56\00:19:02.00 And when you know that Jesus is on your side in heaven, 00:19:02.00\00:19:04.70 that ought to give you confidence to live on in on 00:19:04.70\00:19:08.63 such a way that nothing can pry you off. 00:19:08.63\00:19:13.73 Continuing in Heb 4:16 00:19:13.73\00:19:18.93 We are to come with confidence, because Jesus is our High 00:19:30.83\00:19:32.73 Priest, and our intercessor. 00:19:32.73\00:19:35.56 I spoke to someone recently who said to me, 00:19:35.56\00:19:37.66 I hope I'm good enough to go to heaven. 00:19:37.66\00:19:40.13 And you know what I told this person? 00:19:40.13\00:19:41.53 I said, You'll never be good enough. 00:19:41.53\00:19:44.03 That's why we need Jesus! 00:19:44.03\00:19:46.03 And in fact, if you're hoping to ever be good enough for God 00:19:46.03\00:19:49.73 to save you, you need to stop hoping that right now. 00:19:49.73\00:19:53.40 Now, if what you mean is that you hope to be ready, 00:19:53.40\00:19:56.66 or you hope to see Jesus, well that's fine. 00:19:56.66\00:19:59.40 But if you're hoping to be good enough to go to heaven, 00:19:59.40\00:20:01.90 you've got another thing coming. 00:20:01.90\00:20:03.80 Now this might surprise you, but I've taught my children to 00:20:03.80\00:20:06.76 never pray that God will help them to be good. 00:20:06.76\00:20:10.96 Now why would I say that? 00:20:10.96\00:20:12.70 I'll tell you why in a moment. 00:20:12.70\00:20:16.56 It Is Written is sharing the gospel around the world. 00:20:22.96\00:20:25.50 Part of our mission is to bring the Word of God 00:20:25.50\00:20:29.76 to some of the most remote places on earth. 00:20:29.76\00:20:32.76 Right now we are providing audio Bibles to the people of 00:20:32.76\00:20:35.53 Papua New Guinea. 00:20:35.53\00:20:37.43 We call this audio Bible the Godpod. 00:20:37.43\00:20:40.40 Through this solar powered mp3 player, people can hear God's 00:20:40.40\00:20:43.50 word in their own language. 00:20:43.50\00:20:44.63 If you'd like to help It Is Written share the Word of God 00:20:44.63\00:20:51.40 by providing solar-powered Godpod Bibles, please call 00:20:51.40\00:20:54.30 our toll-free number 1 800 253 3000. 00:20:54.30\00:20:58.46 Call right now. 00:20:58.46\00:21:00.06 Just tell the operator you would like to help with the 00:21:00.06\00:21:02.76 Godpod project. 00:21:02.76\00:21:03.63 You can also participate by sending your gift to 00:21:03.63\00:21:06.43 It is Written, Box O, Thousand Oaks, 00:21:06.43\00:21:09.53 California 91359. 00:21:09.53\00:21:11.80 And for your convenience you can also make a gift on line 00:21:11.80\00:21:14.90 at itiswritten.com. 00:21:14.90\00:21:17.63 This ministry uses every reasonable effort to fund its 00:21:17.63\00:21:20.16 projects as described. 00:21:20.16\00:21:21.96 Should the project become fully funded or should the 00:21:21.96\00:21:24.76 nature of the project change due to unexpected 00:21:24.76\00:21:26.86 circumstances, funds will be directed toward similar, 00:21:26.86\00:21:29.90 worthy projects. 00:21:29.90\00:21:31.50 Our toll-free number 1 800 253 3000 00:21:31.50\00:21:36.03 and our web address is itiswritten.com 00:21:36.03\00:21:41.96 You know, I4ve taught my children to never 00:21:41.96\00:21:44.73 pray to be good. 00:21:44.73\00:21:46.03 I remember my little boy praying that - "Dear Jesus, 00:21:46.03\00:21:48.40 help me to be good." 00:21:48.40\00:21:49.53 And I said, No, we are not going to pray that way. 00:21:49.53\00:21:52.66 Not that I want my children to pray to be bad, 00:21:52.66\00:21:55.53 you understand! 00:21:55.53\00:21:57.06 But what happens if you pray to be good? 00:21:57.06\00:22:00.26 You're doomed to fail. 00:22:00.26\00:22:01.46 In Romans chapter 3, Paul is quoting the Psalms when he 00:22:01.46\00:22:04.36 writes these words: 00:22:04.36\00:22:06.20 And then verse 12 adds. 00:22:12.96\00:22:14.60 So you're going to try to be good, 00:22:18.90\00:22:21.13 or pray to be good? 00:22:21.13\00:22:22.86 All you can do is FAIL! 00:22:22.86\00:22:25.10 The person who prays to be good is sooner or later going 00:22:25.10\00:22:27.60 to figure out that such an approach cannot work, 00:22:27.60\00:22:30.26 and before long one of a couple of things 00:22:30.26\00:22:32.96 is going to happen: they're either going to give 00:22:32.96\00:22:34.86 up on God, or just as bad, they're going to stay in the 00:22:34.86\00:22:38.60 church and be miserable and feel condemned. 00:22:38.60\00:22:41.60 But God didn't ever ask us to be good. 00:22:41.60\00:22:43.90 He asked us to be HOLY! 00:22:43.90\00:22:46.90 And where are you going to get holiness from? 00:22:46.90\00:22:49.90 Not from yourself, that's for sure! 00:22:49.90\00:22:51.90 I've encouraged my children to pray instead that Christ will 00:22:51.90\00:22:55.63 live in their hearts; that God would forgive them 00:22:55.63\00:22:59.00 and give them new hearts. 00:22:59.00\00:23:00.36 See, if you are praying to be good, it'll never work. 00:23:00.36\00:23:03.63 If you pray for Jesus to live in your heart, 00:23:03.63\00:23:06.30 it'll never fail! 00:23:06.30\00:23:07.63 When Jesus comes into your life He brings His goodness, 00:23:07.63\00:23:10.26 His righteousness, and His holiness. 00:23:10.26\00:23:14.13 And that's what we need. 00:23:14.13\00:23:15.86 And we can get that - sinners like us! 00:23:15.86\00:23:19.73 We can receive Christ's holiness freely when we come 00:23:19.73\00:23:23.76 confidently to the throne of grace. 00:23:23.76\00:23:26.60 So what's the worst thing that can happen if you admit to God 00:23:26.60\00:23:28.86 that you are a sinner? 00:23:28.86\00:23:30.26 Do you think God is going to be shocked to find that out? 00:23:30.26\00:23:32.23 I don't think so! 00:23:32.23\00:23:34.73 When Jesus said in Matthew 11:28, 00:23:34.73\00:23:36.30 He wasn't referring to just the holy folks! 00:23:41.36\00:23:43.60 If you are burdened, if you are weary, if you are feeling 00:23:43.60\00:23:46.93 crushed by the weight of the mess in your life, Come to 00:23:46.93\00:23:50.63 Jesus, just as you are!!! 00:23:50.63\00:23:54.06 Hebrews 9:24 is a powerful text. 00:23:54.06\00:23:57.43 It tells us that Jesus has gone... 00:23:57.43\00:24:03.50 Now I'm not attempting to minimize the seriousness 00:24:12.86\00:24:14.73 of the spiritual mess we find ourselves in, 00:24:14.73\00:24:17.23 but I'm telling you it4s impossible to overstate 00:24:17.23\00:24:20.53 the importance of the wonderful truth that Jesus is in heaven, 00:24:20.53\00:24:25.23 as our High Priest, FOR US! 00:24:25.23\00:24:28.76 Not against us, but FOR us! 00:24:28.76\00:24:32.86 That means He will give you spiritual help. 00:24:32.86\00:24:35.76 He will provide emotional help. 00:24:35.76\00:24:38.60 He will not cast you off the moment you make a mess. 00:24:38.60\00:24:41.70 Hebrews 7:25 says this 00:24:41.70\00:24:45.36 Jesus lives "to make intercession" for us. 00:24:57.86\00:24:59.80 You can know where Jesus is - He4s in heaven. 00:24:59.80\00:25:03.46 You can know what He is doing - He4s acting as your 00:25:03.46\00:25:05.26 High Priest. 00:25:05.26\00:25:06.50 And you can know that He is for you, 00:25:06.50\00:25:09.30 and not against you. 00:25:09.30\00:25:11.16 And that's good news. 00:25:11.16\00:25:13.70 I want to thank him for that right now. 00:25:13.70\00:25:16.53 Why don't as we pray, we commit ourselves to accepting 00:25:16.53\00:25:20.93 Christ, his ministry as our High Priest, and why don't we 00:25:20.93\00:25:26.40 ask God for help to trust that Jesus, through His ministry, 00:25:26.40\00:25:29.90 will do with our lives everything He wants to do. 00:25:29.90\00:25:32.90 Let's pray together. 00:25:32.90\00:25:36.23 Our Father in heaven, we thank you today that we have a High 00:25:36.23\00:25:38.23 Priest in heaven. 00:25:38.23\00:25:39.33 Jesus isn't AWOL. 00:25:39.33\00:25:40.16 He isn't missing. 00:25:40.16\00:25:41.33 We know where He is - in heaven's temple, 00:25:41.33\00:25:44.33 heaven's sanctuary. 00:25:44.33\00:25:46.10 And we know what he is doing. 00:25:46.10\00:25:46.93 He is not sitting around on a fluffy cloud eating grapes, 00:25:46.93\00:25:49.93 hanging out with angels, just waiting to return 00:25:49.93\00:25:53.36 to this earth. No. 00:25:53.36\00:25:55.23 He is actively engaged in our salvation, interceding for us 00:25:55.23\00:25:58.50 in Your presence and so we thank you. 00:25:58.50\00:26:02.23 We thank you for his blood, shed that we might be cleansed 00:26:02.23\00:26:05.73 from all of our sins. 00:26:05.73\00:26:07.63 Lord, give us grace to have faith in you. 00:26:07.63\00:26:10.66 Give us confidence knowing Jesus is in heaven for us 00:26:10.66\00:26:15.26 and not against us! 00:26:15.26\00:26:18.70 And we pray with thanks today, in Jesus' name, amen. 00:26:18.70\00:26:30.10 Perhaps our program today has touched your heart and 00:26:49.80\00:26:52.53 impressed you with a personal need for deeper Bible study. 00:26:52.53\00:26:55.76 If you desire to listen to God and follow where he leads, 00:26:55.76\00:26:58.00 we've got a wonderful resource that can help you do that 00:26:58.00\00:27:00.46 in a systemic way, the Discover Bible Guides. 00:27:00.46\00:27:02.86 These Bible guides are easy to use and can be yours 00:27:02.86\00:27:05.96 absolutely free. 00:27:05.96\00:27:08.66 If you live in North America, we'll send you these 00:27:08.66\00:27:10.83 full-color guides. 00:27:10.83\00:27:12.50 Or you can find them on our website, itiswritten.com 00:27:12.50\00:27:14.26 Request the Discover Bible Guides by calling our toll 00:27:14.26\00:27:19.06 free number 1 800 253 3000. 00:27:19.06\00:27:22.53 You may also request today's offer by writing to 00:27:22.53\00:27:24.73 It Is Written, Box O, Thousand Oaks, 00:27:24.73\00:27:27.96 CA 91359. 00:27:27.96\00:27:28.50 Thank you for your letters and for your continued support. 00:27:28.50\00:27:33.16 Our toll free number is 1 800 253.3000 00:27:33.16\00:27:36.96 and our web address is itiswritten.com 00:27:36.96\00:27:41.83 Thanks for joining me today. 00:27:41.83\00:27:43.40 Look forward to seeing you next time. 00:27:43.40\00:27:46.16 And until then, be sure to remember: It Is Written: 00:27:46.16\00:27:50.00 man shall not live by bread alone, 00:27:50.00\00:27:53.43 but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God 00:27:53.43\00:27:59.03