[music] >: It has stood the test
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of time.
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God's book, the Bible.
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Still relevant in
today's complex world.
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It Is Written,
sharing hope around the globe.
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JB: This is It Is Written.
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I'm John Bradshaw.
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Thanks for joining me.
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One of the great problems
people wrestle with when it
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comes to faith in God is
the issue of God allowing bad
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things to happen to people.
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Why does a child get
cancer and die young?
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Why did that car
wreck take place that killed
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or severely injured somebody?
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People die in wars and there's
ethnic cleansing and modern-day
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slavery and, and where is God?
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We could take an entire
program to discuss that,
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and maybe still not
get to the very bottom
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of that question.
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The short answer is that
there's evil in the world.
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Satan rebelled, came to
this planet, and our original
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parents--Adam and
Eve--chose to ignore God and eat
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the fruit that they
shouldn't have eaten.
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And as a result, we
have sin in the world.
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And as a result of the
choices of human beings
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there's sin and evil and sadness
present in the world today.
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Is it God's fault?
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No, it isn't.
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It began with Satan and
was carried forward by--us.
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Now, is it going to
work out well in the end?
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Yes, it is.
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Jesus is going to return.
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Sin will e destroyed.
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And those who have
faith in God will live forever
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in peace.
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But here's a question:
What about the in-between stage?
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How can a person go through
hardships and trials and so on
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and still have faith in God?
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How do you do that?
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Some people feel as
though God has abandoned them.
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Does God abandon people?
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There's a story in the Bible
that deals with someone who
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was repeatedly abandoned.
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The story occupies 14
chapters of God's Word.
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It's one of the
most dramatic stories
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you'll ever read.
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It's the story of
great faith under incredibly
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trying circumstances.
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It's the story of
someone who had everything
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that was precious ripped
away, rejected by his family,
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humiliated, falsely
accused, imprisoned.
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And yet it's the story of
someone who was steadfast,
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faithful and unwavering.
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The person we're
talking about is Joseph.
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He lived at least 17 centuries
before the birth of Jesus.
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And his story is one of the
most amazing, one of the most
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inspiring of all time.
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The book of
Genesis, the very first book
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in the Bible, introduces
us to Joseph in chapter 37,
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and it describes him as
the favorite of the patriarch
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Jacob's 12 sons--which
didn't sit well with Joseph's
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brothers.
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Let's read.
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"But when his brothers saw
that their father loved him
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more than all his brothers,
they hated him and could not
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speak peaceably to him."
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That's Genesis 37, verse 4.
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Jacob's special gift to Joseph
of a tunic of many colors,
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which showed
distinction and favor, only made
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matters worse.
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And then, not long after,
Joseph related to his family
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two dreams that he had had.
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He told them about 12 sheaves
in a field and how 11 of them
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bowed to down to his sheaf.
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And his brothers said this
to him: "Shall you indeed reign
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over us?
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Or shall you indeed
have dominion over us?
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So they hated him
even more for his dreams
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and for his words."
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Genesis 37, verse 8.
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Then Joseph told his
brothers about another dream.
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In this one, the sun, the
moon and 11 stars bowed down
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to him, which to them
sounded a whole lot like his
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father, mother and 11
brothers bowing down to Joseph.
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As though Joseph expected
to rule over them one day.
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No, they weren't
impressed, not a bit.
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In fact, they were furious.
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Now sometime later, Jacob
sent Joseph to check on his
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brothers' welfare
some distance away.
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When they saw Joseph
coming their way, wearing that
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hated coat of many colors,
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they said to one another,
"Look, this dreamer is coming.
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Come, therefore, let us
now kill him and cast him into
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some pit, and we shall say
some wild beast has devoured
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him.
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We shall see what
will become of his dreams."
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Genesis 37, verses 19 and 20.
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Well, they didn't kill
him, but they ended up selling
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him as a slave when a
caravan of travelers came
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by, traders they were.
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Joseph might have felt like
he would rather have been dead.
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What a horrible thing
to have happen, and really
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through no fault of his own.
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Now, I have four brothers.
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I can't imagine this happening.
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Of course, being the
youngest, I never annoyed them.
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Not ever--not once.
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Thankfully they never
tried to sell me as a slave.
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Now, there might have been
times when they tried to give me
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away, but they
never did try to sell me.
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The ugly truth is that
long after the Emancipation
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Proclamation was signed,
slavery is alive and well
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in our world today.
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Benjamin Skinner said in
his 2008 book "A Crime So
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Monstrous" that there are
more slaves in the world now
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than at any time in history.
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He defines slavery as people
coerced by violence to work
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for no pay.
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Domestic servants,
forced laborers, and women
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exploited for the
worst reasons through human
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trafficking.
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Some estimates say there
are as many as 27 million people
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around the world being
held in bondage right now,
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against their will.
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Now, imagine how Joseph must
have felt as he rode in that
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camel train, shackled
and helpless on his way
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to Egypt.
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The once favored son,
pampered and privileged,
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now captive.
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Wouldn't he have felt as
though God had forsaken him?
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Even if he did
annoy his brothers,
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he didn't deserve this.
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How must it have felt
to have been so completely
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betrayed by one's own
family, his own brothers.
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In the United States
there have been several
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high-profile cases of
people who have been taken
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and held against their
will, sometimes for years.
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A 14-year-old girl was
taken from her home in Salt Lake
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City and held
captive for nine months.
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An 11-year-old girl
in California was taken
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and held for 18 years.
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Three females in Cleveland,
Ohio, were captured--aged
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14, 16 and 21--and
kept in a house as prisoners
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for 10 years.
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Utterly appalling.
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We probably can't
imagine what it would be like
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to have to go through that.
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Joseph, on the
other hand, could imagine.
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Although I'm not
suggesting he had to endure some
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of the indignities that these
young women were forced to go
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through.
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But here's what we know.
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God was watching over
that apparently helpless,
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hopeless young man.
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God had a plan, a purpose
for Joseph, that no one yet
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knew; that Joseph
couldn't possibly at that moment
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have imagined.
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But through the darkness
and despair that washed over
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him, Joseph remembered
God's mercy, and how God had led
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his family and his ancestors
through so much for so long.
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Then there were
those dreams of his.
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Surely they must
have meant something.
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Could it be that God
still had something of great
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importance for Joseph to do?
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We'll find that
out in just a moment.
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[music]
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JB: Here's
today's Bible question.
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I accepted Jesus into my life
over 20 years ago, but after
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a time I fell into sins
of a moral or immoral nature.
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I've asked over many years
for forgiveness, but what I
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read in the Bible about
those who do what I have
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done says that
they're not able to enter
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into God's kingdom.
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I committed these sins
after I became a Christian.
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Will God ever forgive
me for these awful sins?
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I ask God nearly
every day for these sins
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to be forgiven.
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That's a meaningful question.
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Please listen very carefully
to this very simple answer.
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Here's what the Bible says.
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I'll give you two verses.
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Write down these Bible
references if you need to,
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and never forget them.
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First John 1, verse
9, and Matthew 12:31.
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Firstly, Matthew 12:31.
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It says, "All" [and
this is Jesus speaking],
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"All manner of sin
and blasphemy shall be
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forgiven unto men."
00:09:05.16\00:09:08.13
He goes on to say that the
sin against the Holy Spirit
00:09:08.13\00:09:10.36
won't be forgiven,
but that's not what you've
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committed.
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Don't worry about that.
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But I hope you got that.
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"All manner of sin
and blasphemy shall be
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forgiven," and that would
include what you have done.
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"Shall be forgiven."
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First John 1 in verse 9
says, and I want you to mark
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this down and memorize it.
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It says this: "If we
confess our sins, he is faithful
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and just to forgive us our
sins and to cleanse us from all
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unrighteousness."
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You've sinned.
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Yes, you have.
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But you have confessed
sincerely, and based on God's
00:09:38.30\00:09:41.63
own Word, we know
that He has forgiven you.
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My advice to you is to
stop asking God to forgive these
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sins, because He
has already done so.
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Instead, thank Him that
He has forgiven you, and ask
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Him to keep you clean.
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Remember, Paul wrote
that where sin abounds, grace
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does much more abound.
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It's right to feel
bad about what you've done
00:10:01.60\00:10:03.23
--you should.
00:10:03.23\00:10:04.33
But you should also
rejoice that you are forgiven.
00:10:04.33\00:10:07.76
Don't worry about this
for even another moment.
00:10:07.76\00:10:09.53
You've been forgiven, friend.
00:10:09.53\00:10:11.03
And that is good news.
00:10:11.03\00:10:12.83
If you'd like me to
answer your Bible question
00:10:12.83\00:10:14.56
on this program,
go to ItIsWritten.com.
00:10:14.56\00:10:16.83
Send me a question,
I'll do my best to answer
00:10:16.83\00:10:18.46
it on this program.
00:10:18.46\00:10:21.33
[music]
00:10:23.23\00:10:27.26
JB: Planning for your financial
future is a vital aspect
00:10:29.86\00:10:32.06
of Christian stewardship.
00:10:32.06\00:10:33.66
For this reason, It Is
Written is pleased to offer free
00:10:33.66\00:10:36.33
Planned Giving
and Estate services.
00:10:36.33\00:10:38.70
For information on how
we can help you, please call
00:10:38.70\00:10:41.00
1-800-992-2219.
00:10:41.00\00:10:43.76
Call today, or
visit our special website,
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www.hislegacy.com.
00:10:48.23\00:10:56.46
JB: This is It Is Written.
00:10:58.13\00:10:59.33
I'm John Bradshaw.
00:10:59.33\00:11:00.06
Today, betrayal and blessing.
00:11:00.06\00:11:03.26
A young man is betrayed
by his family, separated from
00:11:03.26\00:11:06.40
his father and
sold into slavery.
00:11:06.40\00:11:09.23
That young man was Joseph.
00:11:09.23\00:11:12.26
Arriving in Egypt, Joseph
was sold to a slave to a man
00:11:12.26\00:11:15.46
named Potiphar, the
captain of Pharaoh's guard.
00:11:15.46\00:11:17.76
And Joseph's
presence in Potiphar's house
00:11:17.76\00:11:21.30
was a blessing to Potiphar.
00:11:21.30\00:11:22.66
The Bible says this:
"The Lord was with Joseph
00:11:22.66\00:11:27.93
and he was a successful man,
and he was in the house of his
00:11:27.93\00:11:31.03
master, the Egyptian.
00:11:31.03\00:11:32.70
And his master saw that the Lord
was with him, and that the Lord
00:11:32.70\00:11:36.23
made all that he did
to prosper in his hand.
00:11:36.23\00:11:40.03
So Joseph found favor in
his sight, and served him.
00:11:40.03\00:11:44.00
Then he made him overseer
of his house, and all that
00:11:44.00\00:11:46.96
he had he put
under his authority."
00:11:46.96\00:11:49.26
That's Genesis 39,
verses 2 through 4.
00:11:49.26\00:11:52.13
But then a shadow fell
over Joseph's happy days in
00:11:52.13\00:11:55.60
Potiphar's house.
00:11:55.60\00:11:56.60
The Bible tells us that
Joseph was a good-looking
00:11:56.60\00:11:59.66
young man.
00:11:59.66\00:12:00.73
And Potiphar's wife noticed
this and made inappropriate
00:12:00.73\00:12:04.80
advances toward Joseph.
00:12:04.80\00:12:06.93
What could a young man
do in the face of temptation
00:12:06.93\00:12:09.83
like this?
00:12:09.83\00:12:11.70
Now, here's what Joseph said.
00:12:11.70\00:12:14.06
Genesis 39 and verse 9.
00:12:14.06\00:12:18.23
"There is not one
greater in this house than I,
00:12:18.23\00:12:21.13
nor has he kept back
anything from me but you,
00:12:21.13\00:12:25.03
because you are his wife.
00:12:25.03\00:12:26.93
How then can I do this
great wickedness and sin
00:12:26.93\00:12:30.60
against God?"
00:12:30.60\00:12:33.10
Now, notice carefully that
God is the focus of Joseph's
00:12:33.10\00:12:36.90
allegiance.
00:12:36.90\00:12:37.90
Yes, he knew that he
would dishonor his master
00:12:37.90\00:12:39.90
by carrying on with his
wife, but most important to him
00:12:39.90\00:12:42.76
was the fact that such a
course on his part would be
00:12:42.76\00:12:45.66
a sin against God.
00:12:45.66\00:12:47.10
And this suggests
a couple of things.
00:12:47.10\00:12:50.60
One is that when temptation
comes, something you want
00:12:50.60\00:12:53.96
to consider is the honor
of God; or, how God would
00:12:53.96\00:12:58.30
be dishonored by
your poor choices.
00:12:58.30\00:13:01.13
You might not care
about what you're going to do.
00:13:01.13\00:13:03.36
Your friends might not care.
00:13:03.36\00:13:04.90
But it ought to
matter that God cares.
00:13:04.90\00:13:09.00
When you consider the
honor of God in a situation,
00:13:09.00\00:13:12.00
you've got the
right motivation to help
00:13:12.00\00:13:14.50
you make the right decision.
00:13:14.50\00:13:17.46
Which leads me to
that second point.
00:13:17.46\00:13:19.46
Do you think Joseph was
tempted by Potiphar's wife?
00:13:19.46\00:13:22.90
Oh, no doubt he was.
00:13:22.90\00:13:24.30
Do you think the temptation
might have been strong?
00:13:24.30\00:13:26.53
More than likely very strong.
00:13:26.53\00:13:29.23
Yet did Joseph cave
in to that temptation?
00:13:29.23\00:13:32.53
No, he didn't.
00:13:32.53\00:13:33.60
When he was faced with a
serious temptation, Joseph
00:13:33.60\00:13:36.36
remained faithful to God.
00:13:36.36\00:13:38.40
There are times when people
make excuses by saying, Oh,
00:13:38.40\00:13:41.76
I couldn't help it.
00:13:41.76\00:13:42.76
Oh, the devil made me do it.
00:13:42.76\00:13:44.13
Oh, what else could I do?
00:13:44.13\00:13:45.13
Well, I'm a man?
00:13:45.13\00:13:46.36
what do you expect?
00:13:46.36\00:13:47.76
Now look at two Bible verses
with me--and there are plenty
00:13:47.76\00:13:50.26
others like them.
00:13:50.26\00:13:51.26
First Corinthians
10 and verse 13, first.
00:13:51.26\00:13:54.76
That's 1 Corinthians
chapter 10 and verse 13.
00:13:54.76\00:13:57.56
And it says this: "No
temptation has overtaken you
00:13:57.56\00:14:01.83
except such as is common to man.
00:14:01.83\00:14:05.13
But God is faithful,
who will not allow you
00:14:05.13\00:14:08.36
to be tempted
beyond what you are able;
00:14:08.36\00:14:10.93
but with the temptation
will also make the way
00:14:10.93\00:14:14.60
of escape that you
may be able to bear it."
00:14:14.60\00:14:18.63
Now, did you get that?
00:14:18.63\00:14:19.66
Because if you did, it
could change your entire life.
00:14:19.66\00:14:23.36
God will provide a way of
escape for every temptation.
00:14:23.36\00:14:26.56
That means, you are not doomed
to repeat the same old mistakes
00:14:26.56\00:14:31.16
or commit the same old sins.
00:14:31.16\00:14:33.16
That's good news.
00:14:33.16\00:14:34.16
There's a way of escape.
00:14:34.16\00:14:35.80
Joseph was about to be
put in prison, but a lot
00:14:35.80\00:14:38.80
of people on the
outside are prisoners of sin.
00:14:38.80\00:14:42.36
But you don't have to be.
00:14:42.36\00:14:44.60
There's a way of escape.
00:14:44.60\00:14:46.66
If you'll think to call
on God when temptation comes,
00:14:46.66\00:14:49.96
you can be certain
that God will deliver you.
00:14:49.96\00:14:53.76
Another verse,
that is Jude verse 24.
00:14:53.76\00:14:57.86
Right before the
book of Revelation.
00:14:57.86\00:15:00.26
Jude verse 24, where the
Bible says, "Now unto him that
00:15:00.26\00:15:06.56
is able to keep you
from falling and to present
00:15:06.56\00:15:09.60
you faultless before
the presence of his glory
00:15:09.60\00:15:11.80
with exceeding joy."
00:15:11.80\00:15:13.40
God has the power to keep
you from falling into sin.
00:15:13.40\00:15:18.16
He promises that.
00:15:18.16\00:15:19.43
No matter what the sin,
there is powerful victory
00:15:19.43\00:15:22.03
available to you,
right when you need it.
00:15:22.03\00:15:24.86
Joseph learned that.
00:15:24.86\00:15:26.40
When temptation came
to him, the power of God
00:15:26.40\00:15:29.16
kept him faithful.
00:15:29.16\00:15:32.10
But the woman in
question was not happy.
00:15:32.10\00:15:34.53
You've heard that
saying, "hell hath no fury
00:15:34.53\00:15:37.00
like a woman scorned."
00:15:37.00\00:15:38.80
It was true in the
case of Potiphar's wife.
00:15:38.80\00:15:41.20
She virtually threw
herself at Joseph, and when he
00:15:41.20\00:15:43.86
refused again and again,
and ultimately fled from her,
00:15:43.86\00:15:48.63
she cried out and
accused Joseph of something
00:15:48.63\00:15:53.00
he hadn't done.
00:15:53.00\00:15:55.30
Potiphar had no choice
but to act against Joseph.
00:15:55.30\00:15:58.90
He didn't really
believe his wife's story.
00:15:58.90\00:16:01.16
If he had, he would
have had Joseph put to death.
00:16:01.16\00:16:04.46
Instead, in order to satisfy
his wife and to safeguard
00:16:04.46\00:16:06.86
his own reputation, Potiphar
had Joseph cast into prison.
00:16:06.86\00:16:11.73
Once again, Joseph found
himself a helpless captive.
00:16:11.73\00:16:17.26
The Bible tells us just
how hard it was for Joseph
00:16:17.26\00:16:19.50
during those early
days in Potiphar's prison.
00:16:19.50\00:16:22.00
You read how they
hurt his feet with fetters.
00:16:22.00\00:16:24.63
He was laid in irons.
00:16:24.63\00:16:25.80
That's Psalm 105 in verse 18.
00:16:25.80\00:16:27.93
And again, we see Joseph's
true character revealed,
00:16:27.93\00:16:31.63
even in the darkness of
a dungeon he kept his faith
00:16:31.63\00:16:35.63
and refused to abandon his
patient waiting on the Lord.
00:16:35.63\00:16:39.63
Now, you'd think he'd become
bitter, with all of those years
00:16:39.63\00:16:41.90
of faithful service being
so cruelly repaid like this.
00:16:41.90\00:16:46.33
You couldn't blame
him if he thought that God
00:16:46.33\00:16:48.33
had abandoned him.
00:16:48.33\00:16:49.36
He'd been so faithful,
and this was what he got
00:16:49.36\00:16:52.30
in return.
00:16:52.30\00:16:53.80
In a moment, the story of
Joseph takes an unexpected
00:16:53.80\00:16:56.76
turn, and we'll find out
that God knows how to bring
00:16:56.76\00:16:59.83
blessing out of betrayal.
00:16:59.83\00:17:01.50
[music] >: In Matthew 4:4,
00:17:01.50\00:17:05.90
the Word of God
says, "It is written.
00:17:05.90\00:17:08.23
Man shall not live by
bread alone, but by every word
00:17:08.23\00:17:11.70
that proceeds
from the mouth of God."
00:17:11.70\00:17:14.10
"Every Word" is a one-minute
Bible-based daily devotional
00:17:14.10\00:17:17.36
presented by Pastor
John Bradshaw and designed
00:17:17.36\00:17:20.33
especially for
busy people like you.
00:17:20.33\00:17:22.76
Look for "Every Word" on
selected networks, or watch
00:17:22.76\00:17:25.90
it online every day on
our website, ItIsWritten.com.
00:17:25.90\00:17:29.96
Receive a daily spiritual boost.
00:17:29.96\00:17:31.96
Watch "Every Word."
00:17:31.96\00:17:33.23
You'll be glad you did.
00:17:33.23\00:17:34.76
Here's a sample:
00:17:34.76\00:17:37.26
[music]
00:17:38.80\00:17:40.93
JB: Thanks for joining me.
00:17:45.96\00:17:46.93
According the Bible,
sins begins with temptation.
00:17:46.93\00:17:50.16
Logical enough.
00:17:50.16\00:17:50.90
What's key in our experience
isn't so much whether or not
00:17:50.90\00:17:53.33
we're tempted, because
temptation is everywhere.
00:17:53.33\00:17:55.43
It's what you do when
temptation comes that's
00:17:55.43\00:17:58.16
really important.
00:17:58.16\00:17:59.33
If you're tempted to
yell at your spouse or take
00:17:59.33\00:18:01.40
something that isn't yours
or say something that isn't
00:18:01.40\00:18:03.40
true, there are moments
in that process when you can
00:18:03.40\00:18:06.26
do something that will
get you out of that situation
00:18:06.26\00:18:08.43
successfully.
00:18:08.43\00:18:09.43
Listen to this.
00:18:09.43\00:18:10.43
Psalm 91:15, "He
shall call upon me
00:18:10.43\00:18:13.56
and I will answer him.
00:18:13.56\00:18:14.56
I will be with him in trouble.
00:18:14.56\00:18:16.56
I will deliver
him and honor him."
00:18:16.56\00:18:18.63
When temptation comes,
if you will call upon God,
00:18:18.63\00:18:21.60
He will deliver you.
00:18:21.60\00:18:22.60
He promises to.
00:18:22.60\00:18:23.76
Often though, we don't think
to call upon God when temptation
00:18:23.76\00:18:27.03
comes.
00:18:27.03\00:18:28.03
But if you do, you'll
be happier and if you do,
00:18:28.03\00:18:31.03
you'll be victorious every time.
00:18:31.03\00:18:33.46
I'm John Bradshaw
for It Is Written.
00:18:33.46\00:18:35.46
Let's live today by every word.
00:18:35.46\00:18:38.20
JB: If you've lived very
long at all, you've no doubt
00:18:38.20\00:18:41.20
discovered, probably through
experience, that the ball
00:18:41.20\00:18:44.96
doesn't always bounce
for you just the way you
00:18:44.96\00:18:47.10
with it would.
00:18:47.10\00:18:48.10
But a game is never
over until it's over.
00:18:48.10\00:18:51.60
The Boston Red Sox were down
three games and trailing 4-3
00:18:51.60\00:18:56.63
in the ninth inning of
game 4 during the playoffs
00:18:56.63\00:19:00.30
in 2004.
00:19:00.30\00:19:01.80
You can't win from there.
00:19:01.80\00:19:02.96
It had never been done.
00:19:02.96\00:19:04.93
Yet Boston went on
to win the World Series.
00:19:04.93\00:19:08.00
You can come back
from a difficult situation.
00:19:08.00\00:19:11.60
Languishing in
prison, things looked hopeless
00:19:11.60\00:19:14.20
for Joseph.
00:19:14.20\00:19:15.33
But it's never over
when God is involved.
00:19:15.33\00:19:19.03
Like Potiphar before,
the jailer where Joseph
00:19:19.03\00:19:21.86
was imprisoned found that
he could trust Joseph, and soon
00:19:21.86\00:19:25.23
he put all the other
prisoners under Joseph's care.
00:19:25.23\00:19:27.90
Listen to what the Bible says.
00:19:27.90\00:19:29.60
Let's read this.
00:19:29.60\00:19:32.43
"But the Lord was with
Joseph and showed him mercy.
00:19:32.43\00:19:35.13
And he gave him favor
in the sight of the keeper
00:19:35.13\00:19:38.03
of the prison.
00:19:38.03\00:19:40.46
And the keeper of the prison
committed to Joseph's hand
00:19:40.46\00:19:43.10
all the prisoners
who were in the prison.
00:19:43.10\00:19:45.56
Whatever they did
there, it was his doing.
00:19:45.56\00:19:48.50
The keeper of the prison
did not look into anything
00:19:48.50\00:19:51.00
that was under
Joseph's hand, because the Lord
00:19:51.00\00:19:54.06
was with him, and whatever he
did, the Lord made it prosper."
00:19:54.06\00:19:58.90
Genesis 39,
verses 21 through 23.
00:19:58.90\00:20:03.06
Just like in
Potiphar's house, Joseph proved
00:20:03.06\00:20:05.86
himself, even in a prison,
to be worthy of the trust
00:20:05.86\00:20:09.53
of his superior.
00:20:09.53\00:20:10.53
And so, as with his
former master's household,
00:20:10.53\00:20:13.16
he's put in
charge of everything.
00:20:13.16\00:20:15.80
Now, doesn't this tell
you that you can shine for God
00:20:15.80\00:20:18.96
wherever you are?
00:20:18.96\00:20:20.43
In prison, at work, in
school, when you're being
00:20:20.43\00:20:23.63
treated badly.
00:20:23.63\00:20:25.66
Wherever you are,
whatever you're going through,
00:20:25.66\00:20:28.26
you can be faithful to God.
00:20:28.26\00:20:29.96
And you know that that
will bring glory to God.
00:20:29.96\00:20:34.23
The Bible goes on to
tell us that in prison Joseph
00:20:34.23\00:20:36.43
interpreted the dreams
of a couple of his fellow
00:20:36.43\00:20:38.73
inmates.
00:20:38.73\00:20:39.73
He told one of the men
that his dream meant that he
00:20:39.73\00:20:41.73
would die.
00:20:41.73\00:20:42.73
Now, that had to be a
tough message to deliver.
00:20:42.73\00:20:44.73
And to the other, he
said that that man would
00:20:44.73\00:20:48.03
be released from prison.
00:20:48.03\00:20:49.26
And it happened just
as Joseph said it would.
00:20:49.26\00:20:52.40
You'd think the chief
butler would have been
00:20:52.40\00:20:54.70
so incredibly grateful
to Joseph for predicting
00:20:54.70\00:20:56.70
his restoration to favor
that one of the first things
00:20:56.70\00:20:59.06
he'd have done after getting
his old job back would have been
00:20:59.06\00:21:02.20
to put in a good word
for Joseph to Pharaoh.
00:21:02.20\00:21:04.33
But instead, the Bible
tells us something else.
00:21:04.33\00:21:07.76
The chief butler
did not remember Joseph,
00:21:07.76\00:21:11.36
but forgot him.
00:21:11.36\00:21:12.36
Genesis 40, verse 23.
00:21:12.36\00:21:13.83
That's three
strikes against Joseph now.
00:21:13.83\00:21:17.16
First, he's
betrayed by his brothers.
00:21:17.16\00:21:19.36
Then, by his master Potiphar.
00:21:19.36\00:21:21.46
And now, by
Pharaoh's chief butler.
00:21:21.46\00:21:23.96
In each case he'd done
his best to be loyal and true
00:21:23.96\00:21:27.13
to God.
00:21:27.13\00:21:28.13
And in each case, he'd
been rewarded with evil.
00:21:28.13\00:21:31.23
Would you have been
ready to quit on God by then?
00:21:31.23\00:21:34.50
Now, if you say no,
I'll say, praise the Lord!
00:21:34.50\00:21:37.70
But people do.
00:21:37.70\00:21:38.80
I've spoken to people
who've quit on church simply
00:21:38.80\00:21:42.03
because they
thought the people at church
00:21:42.03\00:21:44.03
weren't being nice to them.
00:21:44.03\00:21:45.03
That's just making the
devil's job easy for him.
00:21:45.03\00:21:48.20
If that's all it takes
to discourage somebody,
00:21:48.20\00:21:52.36
a death in the family--
people get angry with God.
00:21:52.36\00:21:54.96
And God can take it.
00:21:54.96\00:21:56.53
But really, it would be
better to act like Job did.
00:21:56.53\00:21:59.30
Remember his story?
00:21:59.30\00:22:00.93
He lost almost
all of his family,
00:22:00.93\00:22:02.96
virtually everything he
owned, and Job said simply,
00:22:02.96\00:22:07.76
"The Lord gave, and
the Lord has taken away.
00:22:07.76\00:22:11.66
Blessed be the name of the Lord.
00:22:11.66\00:22:13.66
In all this, Job did not
sin nor charge God with wrong."
00:22:13.66\00:22:17.50
Job 1, verses 21 and 22.
00:22:17.50\00:22:19.70
Now, we'd say that we'd
expect Joseph had to have
00:22:19.70\00:22:22.60
been distressed by
what he had to go through,
00:22:22.60\00:22:24.83
and I think that's right.
00:22:24.83\00:22:26.26
But the Bible doesn't
record any word of complaint.
00:22:26.26\00:22:30.30
Which means Joseph trusted God.
00:22:30.30\00:22:33.06
Even when things were
going wrong, he trusted God.
00:22:33.06\00:22:36.06
In prison, he trusted God.
00:22:36.06\00:22:38.30
Forsaken, falsely
accused, forgotten, Joseph hung
00:22:38.30\00:22:43.80
in there with God and
trusted that God would somehow
00:22:43.80\00:22:47.20
work it all out.
00:22:47.20\00:22:48.36
And remember, Joseph had
had those dreams, and he never
00:22:48.36\00:22:52.40
forgot them.
00:22:52.40\00:22:53.40
They were his
assurance that God would work
00:22:53.40\00:22:55.40
in his behalf.
00:22:55.40\00:22:56.70
Now, you might not have
had dreams of sheaves of grain
00:22:56.70\00:22:59.63
bowing down, but you've
seen God work for you along
00:22:59.63\00:23:03.00
the way.
00:23:03.00\00:23:04.16
The Bible is full of
promises that assure us that God
00:23:04.16\00:23:06.70
is there for us.
00:23:06.70\00:23:07.86
If you can believe
that, faith in God can see you
00:23:07.86\00:23:11.26
through some dark times.
00:23:11.26\00:23:12.50
And in the end, God always
works it out for the best.
00:23:12.50\00:23:16.86
Think of what it must
have been like that morning,
00:23:16.86\00:23:19.63
when Jacob sent Joseph
off to find his brothers,
00:23:19.63\00:23:22.76
to see how they were.
00:23:22.76\00:23:24.60
Neither the aged father nor
the young man could possibly
00:23:24.60\00:23:27.70
have known what would
transpire before they should
00:23:27.70\00:23:29.70
meet again.
00:23:29.70\00:23:30.63
But life often works
that way, doesn't it?
00:23:30.63\00:23:32.90
Great moments, decisive
turning points, often come
00:23:32.90\00:23:35.50
without fanfare
and without warning.
00:23:35.50\00:23:37.93
Each day, it's wise to
commit yourself to God's
00:23:37.93\00:23:40.76
leading and to God's
purposes so that whatever
00:23:40.76\00:23:42.80
happens in that day, the
vicissitudes of life will
00:23:42.80\00:23:46.20
find you prepared, because
you're hanging on to God.
00:23:46.20\00:23:49.53
Hang in there with God,
even when times look tough.
00:23:49.53\00:23:53.80
If you read the rest
of the story of Joseph,
00:23:53.80\00:23:55.80
you'll find out that
it ends well for our man.
00:23:55.80\00:23:58.30
He was miraculously released
from jail, given his freedom,
00:23:58.30\00:24:02.06
elevated to a
position of great authority
00:24:02.06\00:24:04.16
in the Egyptian government,
and reunited with his father
00:24:04.16\00:24:07.43
and his family.
00:24:07.43\00:24:08.43
About the unlikeliest
ending you could ever imagine.
00:24:08.43\00:24:12.06
But what might seem
impossible to you and me
00:24:12.06\00:24:15.46
is possible with God.
00:24:15.46\00:24:17.86
The Bible says
that the one who endures
00:24:17.86\00:24:20.00
to the end shall be saved.
00:24:20.00\00:24:21.86
The book of Revelation
refers to the patience
00:24:21.86\00:24:23.96
of the saints,
in Revelation 14:12.
00:24:23.96\00:24:26.46
God is always faithful.
00:24:26.46\00:24:29.56
If you hang on to Him,
no matter how things look,
00:24:29.56\00:24:33.10
you'll have eternity to enjoy.
00:24:33.10\00:24:35.10
And you won't give a
second thought to the hard times
00:24:35.10\00:24:38.20
you went through down
here in this old world.
00:24:38.20\00:24:43.33
"Promises of Power" is
our free offer for you today.
00:24:43.33\00:24:46.53
This little book is a collection
of some of the most powerful
00:24:46.53\00:24:50.50
promises found in the Bible.
00:24:50.50\00:24:52.50
It's handily sized and
you can take it with you
00:24:52.50\00:24:55.46
anywhere you go.
00:24:55.46\00:24:56.46
You can carry it with you
to read anyplace, and it's idea
00:24:56.46\00:25:00.50
for sharing with somebody
else who needs to be encouraged
00:25:00.50\00:25:03.96
by the great
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00:25:03.96\00:25:06.23
Now, to get your free
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00:25:06.23\00:25:10.80
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It's absolutely free.
00:25:15.46\00:25:17.06
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As you know, It Is Written
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00:26:03.16\00:26:05.70
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00:26:13.36\00:26:20.00
Let's take the
time to pray together.
00:26:22.06\00:26:24.13
Will you pray with me now?
00:26:24.13\00:26:25.13
Let's pray.
00:26:25.13\00:26:26.36
Our Father in heaven,
You show us to be faithful.
00:26:26.36\00:26:28.96
It's true, there are
times in our lives and in our
00:26:28.96\00:26:32.33
experience that
things are just difficult.
00:26:32.33\00:26:35.90
We are confronted by trying
circumstances, crushing trials
00:26:35.90\00:26:41.33
and weights.
00:26:41.33\00:26:42.33
There are times when people
are tempted to think that God
00:26:42.33\00:26:46.20
doesn't love
them or doesn't care
00:26:46.20\00:26:48.20
or has abandoned them.
00:26:48.20\00:26:49.20
I'm thankful that in
Joseph's story, and in so many
00:26:49.20\00:26:51.83
other stories, and
even in our experience,
00:26:51.83\00:26:54.46
You demonstrate to us
that You're with us always.
00:26:54.46\00:26:56.83
Please, Lord, when
we are enfolded in gloom
00:26:56.83\00:27:01.20
and darkness and despair, remind
us that through the dark clouds
00:27:01.20\00:27:05.46
the sun is shining.
00:27:05.46\00:27:06.46
Remind us that You are
God, and that You are constant,
00:27:06.46\00:27:09.56
and that You are good.
00:27:09.56\00:27:11.46
I thank You for Your
goodness, for Your love,
00:27:11.46\00:27:13.93
and for Your grace.
00:27:13.93\00:27:14.93
And I pray in Jesus' name, amen.
00:27:14.93\00:27:19.80
[music]
00:27:19.80\00:27:25.80
JB: Thanks for joining me today.
00:27:40.66\00:27:42.03
I'm looking forward to
seeing you again next time.
00:27:42.03\00:27:43.63
Until then,
remember, It Is Written:
00:27:43.63\00:27:47.43
"Man shall not live by
bread alone, but by every word
00:27:47.43\00:27:51.63
that proceeds
from the mouth of God."
00:27:51.63\00:27:55.76