It has stood the test of time.
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God's book.
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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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I'm John Bradshaw.
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Thanks for joining me
today on It Is Written.
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And let me say,
"Happy New Year."
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"Another year over, a new
one just begun," as John Lennon
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once sang.
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This is the time of year
when masses of people make New
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Year's resolutions, promises
about what they're determined
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to do differently or
better in the new year.
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After over-eating during
the holiday season it's not
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uncommon for people to make
resolutions about eating - or
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not eating - and
losing weight and exercising.
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Some people vow to save
more money and spend less money.
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Or they're going to be
nicer to their spouse or more
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patient with their children.
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But here's what we know: a
lot of New Year's resolutions
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just don't work
out so well, do they?
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There's something about
promises and our ability to
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keep them.
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Now today, I'm going to tell
you about some promises that
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never fail and are always kept.
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Really, promises
that are always kept.
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But first...
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let's go back in time.
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It was 1988.
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It was an election year.
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And being an election year,
politicians were saying what
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they needed to say to build
support heading towards the
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election.
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At the Republican National
Convention George Bush senior
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accepted the Republican
Party's nomination to be
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their presidential candidate.
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Peggy Noonan had written
a speech for Mr. Bush that
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reinforced one of Mr. Bush's
key themes, one of them being
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the idea that he would not
increase taxes for Americans.
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During the speech, Mr.
Bush spoke with authority and
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uttered that now famous
phrase: "Read my lips: no new
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taxes!"
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The speech went well and Mr.
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Bush became President Bush.
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But two years later with
the nation facing a serious
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budget deficit, President
Bush was under pressure from
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politicians on
both sides of the aisle.
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So as part of the 1990 budget
agreement, several taxes were
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actually raised.
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The promise wasn't kept.
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I'm not trying to
criticize former President Bush.
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The truth is - and perhaps
this is especially true in
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politics - some promises
can be very hard to keep.
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But whether it's Pete
Rose insisting he never bet on
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baseball - and then later
admitting that he did - or
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the father of "Balloon
Boy" claiming that his son was
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inside a helium-filled
balloon floating 7000 feet
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above Colorado - when the
boy in fact was safe at home,
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there's just something
about a broken promise.
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The Bible weighs in on
the subject of promises.
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The Bible stresses a person
should keep his or her word.
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The Ten Commandments say,
"Thou shalt not bear false
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witness", which of
course would mean that a person
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should keep their
promises (as far as they're able
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to do so).
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Ananias and Saphira lost
their lives because they lied
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about a broken promise.
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Whether its a politician
promising to end poverty or a
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Dad promising to bring
home ice cream, broken promises
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just don't sit well.
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In the Christian faith a
lot of people make promises that
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they just can't keep.
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It happens every day.
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It's like those New
Year's Resolutions to drink less
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coffee or eat less candy:
a person might promise God
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or promise themselves that from
now on they're going to pray
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more, stop swearing, control
their temper or quit alcohol,
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and what so often happens?
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You discover that your
promises are like ropes of
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sand.
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And you feel like a failure.
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And often, all sorts of
thoughts start flooding the
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mind when a person feels
like a failure as a Christian -
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I'll never be good enough,
God doesn't love me, why even
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bother....
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If there a way out of this?
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Are there
promises that can be kept?
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Yes there is, and yes there are.
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There ARE
promises that can be kept.
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Let's talk about
them in just a moment.
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In Matthew 4:4 the Word of
God says "It is written 'Man
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shall not live by bread
alone but by every word that
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proceeds out of
the mouth of God'."
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Every Word is a one minute
Bible-based daily devotional
00:04:43.96\00:04:47.16
presented by Pastor
John Bradshaw and designed
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especially for
busy people like you.
00:04:50.16\00:04:52.43
Look for Every Word on
selected networks or watch it
00:04:52.43\00:04:55.30
on-line everyday on our
website itiswritten.com.
00:04:55.30\00:04:59.73
Receive a daily spiritual boost.
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Watch Every Word.
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You'll be glad you did.
00:05:03.33\00:05:04.40
Here is a sample:
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Astronomers in Australia
announced a few years ago
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that they had calculated
the number of stars in the sky.
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Seventy sextillion.
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That's seventy thousand
million million million.
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70 followed by 22 zeros.
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That's more stars than
there are grains of sand in all
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the Earth's deserts and beaches.
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And the astronomers say
their number is way too low.
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In Psalms 8:3-4
we read these words.
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"When I consider thy heavens,
the works of thy fingers,
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the moon and the stars,
which thou hast ordained,
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what is man that
thou art mindful of him?"
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God has made a universe
that vast, and yet He is still
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'mindful' of the human family.
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We serve a
great, and a big, God.
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If He made all that
- and He did - you can
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be certain He can take care
of you and your burdens today.
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I'm John Bradshaw
for It Is Written.
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Let's live today by Every Word.
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Thanks for joining me
today and Happy New year
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Many people have made
New Year's resolutions that
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haven't worked out too
well as the new year progressed.
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I'm going to read more.
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I'm going to
watch less television.
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I'm going to eat better.
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And I know many people
have taken a similar approach to
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their spiritual life.
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"I'm going to
be a better person.
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I'm going to speak
more kindly to my wife.
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I'm going to
stop losing my temper.
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I'll pray more.
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I'll be more like Jesus."
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And before very long, it's
discovered it isn't as easy
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to keep those promises as a
person might once have hoped.
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It's like the situation the
apostle Paul found himself in.
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He wrote in Romans 7:15.
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For what I am
doing, I do not understand.
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For what I will to do, that
I do not practice; but what I
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hate, that I do.
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Romans 7:15 NKJV A few verses
later he said this, "For the
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good that I will to do, I
do not do; but the evil I will
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NOT to do, that I practice."
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(That's Romans 7:19, NKJV).
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His problem wasn't a lack
of intent or wanting all the
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wrong things.
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You can be the most sincere,
earnest, good-hearted person
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in the world, and still find
that your good intentions and
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your high hopes can
fall dishearteningly short.
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But a moment ago I
mentioned to you that there are
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promises that CAN be kept.
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Understanding this is crucial
to living a healthy, happy
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spiritual life.
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I'm going to share with
you a couple of Bible verses.
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We'll go to the book
of Hebrews and Chapter 8,
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Hebrews 8:6 the Bible
says this, But now hath he
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obtained a more excellent
ministry, by how much also He
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is the mediator of a
better covenant, which was
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established
upon better promises.
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Notice what it says.
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The New Covenant was
established upon "better
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promises."
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Stay with me here.
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Back at the time Moses was
going up on the mountain to
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receive the Ten Commandments,
the people told God,
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"Everything the Lord
has said, we will do!"
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Now THERE'S a resolution!
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Whatever God says, we'll do it.
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In the next chapter,
God gives Moses the Ten
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Commandments.
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But Moses was up on that
mountain for longer than the
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Israelites were expecting.
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They ended up saying, As for
Moses, we don't know what has
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become of him.
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So they made a golden
calf and worshiped that.
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One day they're
saying, Whatever God says,
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We'll do it!
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And days later they're bowing
down and worshiping an idol.
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Now, was there anything
wrong with their promise?
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No, it was a good promise.
00:08:47.83\00:08:49.06
A great promise.
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"Whatever God
says, we'll do it!"
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That's a great attitude.
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But at the same time,
it was a terrible promise.
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I'll tell you why.
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But first, let's
consider another Bible verse.
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It's 2 Peter 1:4, where the
Bible says, Whereby are given
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unto us exceeding great
and precious promises: that by
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these ye might be partakers
of the divine nature, having
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escaped the corruption that
is in the world through lust.
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2 Peter 1:4 KJV Now,
lets see something here.
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The Bible tells us that there
are some promises that work,
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and that never fail.
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And they're certainly not
your promises or my promises!
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The promises that never
fail are GOD's promises.
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They never fail.
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The Bible says this, God
is not a man, that He should
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lie.
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Numbers 23:19 KJV
What God says is TRUE.
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What God promises HAPPENS.
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And if you understand this,
you'll never have to make God
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another promise again.
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The fact of the matter is
that God doesn't even want
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you to make promises to Him.
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God simply wants you to
believe His promises to you!
00:10:06.40\00:10:09.40
And God's
promises are incredible.
00:10:09.40\00:10:13.30
I'm going to share some
life-changing promises with
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you in just a moment.
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It's time for
today's Bible question.
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I know the Bible says that
if we confess our sins we are
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forgiven, but why do I still
feel guilty about something I
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did years ago?
00:10:43.93\00:10:45.70
How do I really know
that I have been forgiven?
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Will this feeling ever go away?
00:10:48.73\00:10:52.23
I think first thing you want
to do is to figure out is if
00:10:52.23\00:10:54.60
that's actually
guilt that you feel.
00:10:54.60\00:10:56.86
If it is, then very likely
that feeling will go away.
00:10:56.86\00:11:00.66
But if you simply feel bad
about something you've done,
00:11:00.66\00:11:02.83
and that still bugs you,
maybe the feeling will never
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go away.
00:11:06.00\00:11:06.76
Maybe you don't
want it to go away.
00:11:06.76\00:11:08.96
If you have confessed
that sin, then you can believe
00:11:08.96\00:11:11.10
that God forgives you.
00:11:11.10\00:11:13.50
You know how you
can believe that?
00:11:13.50\00:11:16.80
Because God says so.
00:11:16.80\00:11:19.10
1 John 1:9 says, If
we confess our sin, He is
00:11:19.10\00:11:23.70
faithful and just to forgive
us our sin and to cleanse us
00:11:23.70\00:11:27.66
from all unrighteousness.
00:11:27.66\00:11:28.56
That's that then.
00:11:28.56\00:11:29.90
You confess, and God forgives.
00:11:29.90\00:11:31.90
God said so.
00:11:31.90\00:11:33.26
So, you still feel guilty?
00:11:33.26\00:11:34.60
If those feelings come, or
if you feel doubt about it, then
00:11:34.60\00:11:37.73
remind yourself
of the Bible verse.
00:11:37.73\00:11:39.60
Psalm 86:5 says that God is
"good, and ready to forgive."
00:11:39.60\00:11:44.03
Matthew 12:31 says that
"all manner of sin and blasphemy
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shall be forgiven unto men."
00:11:48.40\00:11:50.53
In another place the Bible
says that where sin abounds,
00:11:50.53\00:11:54.00
grace does much more abound.
00:11:54.00\00:11:56.73
In other words, if you can
sin it, God can forgive it.
00:11:56.73\00:12:00.83
He delights to and He
will if you're serious about
00:12:00.83\00:12:03.96
repentance.
00:12:03.96\00:12:05.83
You can know that you are
really forgiven because the
00:12:05.83\00:12:08.80
Bible says you
are really forgiven.
00:12:08.80\00:12:12.63
You know, to trust
your feelings is a dangerous
00:12:12.63\00:12:15.13
business.
00:12:15.13\00:12:16.43
You don't want to do that.
00:12:16.43\00:12:18.36
And keep in mind that there's
a devil the Bible calls the
00:12:18.36\00:12:21.66
"accuser" - you can know
that he doesn't want you to know
00:12:21.66\00:12:25.33
that you are
forgiven and cleansed.
00:12:25.33\00:12:28.16
If you have feelings
that you're not forgiven, take
00:12:28.16\00:12:30.73
those to God right away.
00:12:30.73\00:12:31.96
Yield them to Him, and
those feelings will dissipate.
00:12:31.96\00:12:36.96
And as I said, it could
be that those feelings are
00:12:36.96\00:12:39.80
simply feelings of uneasiness
about what you've done.
00:12:39.80\00:12:42.80
If you've done something
terrible, those feelings
00:12:42.80\00:12:45.23
aren't such bad things.
00:12:45.23\00:12:46.96
They'll help you to remember
how awful sin is, and they'll
00:12:46.96\00:12:50.43
act as strong reminders
to keep you close to Jesus.
00:12:50.43\00:12:54.26
If you have a question
you'd like answered, go to our
00:12:54.26\00:12:57.30
website - www.ItIsWritten.com
and click on the questions
00:12:57.30\00:13:00.23
tab and submit your question,
and in a future program we'll
00:13:00.23\00:13:03.30
do our very best to
answer your question.
00:13:03.30\00:13:07.63
Thanks for being with me today.
00:13:12.33\00:13:14.10
At the time of year when
people are making promises
00:13:14.10\00:13:16.06
that they're not likely
to keep - we call them New
00:13:16.06\00:13:18.83
Year's Resolutions - I'm
going to share with you how
00:13:18.83\00:13:22.06
you can experience a
New Year's REVOLUTION.
00:13:22.06\00:13:25.33
If you've ever had good
intentions to "do better" as
00:13:25.33\00:13:28.26
a Christian, only to see
those intentions fall flat, I
00:13:28.26\00:13:31.56
want you to know how
you can turn that around.
00:13:31.56\00:13:36.13
Peter wrote that it is
through GOD'S promises that
00:13:36.13\00:13:40.13
we can become "partakers
of the divine nature."
00:13:40.13\00:13:44.00
Peter was someone who
knew something about making
00:13:44.00\00:13:47.13
promises to God and then
breaking them spectacularly.
00:13:47.13\00:13:51.86
Remember, Peter was the one
who said to Jesus in Matthew
00:13:51.86\00:13:53.00
26:35, Even if I have to
die with You, I will not deny
00:13:53.00\00:13:54.53
You!
00:13:54.53\00:13:55.76
Matthew 26:35 NKJV And we
know how that worked out...
00:13:55.76\00:13:59.33
[Rooster Crows] But
Peter eventually got it
00:13:59.33\00:14:04.63
right, he figured it out,
and he understood the power of
00:14:04.63\00:14:07.43
the promises of God.
00:14:07.43\00:14:09.73
There are literally thousands
of promises in the Bible.
00:14:09.73\00:14:12.70
Let's look at a few of
them and see how they can make
00:14:12.70\00:14:14.50
a difference in your life.
00:14:14.50\00:14:16.33
It's recorded in Hebrews 13:5
that Jesus had said, "I will
00:14:16.33\00:14:19.80
never leave you,
nor forsake you."
00:14:19.80\00:14:26.63
Hebrews 13:5 NKJV So even if
you feel lonely or abandoned,
00:14:26.63\00:14:30.16
God has said that He
will never leave you.
00:14:30.16\00:14:33.03
He's with you.
00:14:33.03\00:14:33.96
You are not alone.
00:14:33.96\00:14:35.63
The One who wrapped the
rings around Saturn has told you
00:14:35.63\00:14:38.16
that He cares for you.
00:14:38.16\00:14:39.70
Now that we know that there's
no place for you wondering,
00:14:39.70\00:14:42.66
worrying or doubting.
00:14:42.66\00:14:44.90
God has said it, it has to
be true, you can believe it and
00:14:44.90\00:14:47.96
that's that.
00:14:47.96\00:14:50.76
Now let's consider the
case of someone who made a New
00:14:50.76\00:14:53.30
Year's
Resolution to, let's say...
00:14:53.30\00:14:55.76
be nicer to their spouse.
00:14:55.76\00:14:57.16
That person is talking about
changing their behavior, but
00:14:57.16\00:15:00.16
they'll soon realize they
don't have the capacity to do
00:15:00.16\00:15:02.26
that.
00:15:02.26\00:15:03.36
They'll try and
try and fail and fail.
00:15:03.36\00:15:07.90
And most people
become sick of failing.
00:15:07.90\00:15:10.63
Let's look at TWO promises
that can help with that.
00:15:10.63\00:15:14.66
In 1 Corinthians chapter
10, we read these words, this is
00:15:14.66\00:15:17.66
1 Corinthians 10:13, No
temptation has overtaken you
00:15:17.66\00:15:23.83
except such as is common to
man; but God is faithful, who
00:15:23.83\00:15:29.53
will not allow you to be
tempted beyond what you are
00:15:29.53\00:15:32.56
able, but with the temptation
will also make the way of
00:15:32.56\00:15:36.40
escape, that you
may be able to bear it.
00:15:36.40\00:15:39.93
1 Corinthians 10:13 NKJV I
don't want you to miss this,
00:15:39.93\00:15:43.26
because this is a
promise made to you by God.
00:15:43.26\00:15:45.76
"God...
00:15:45.76\00:15:47.03
will not allow you to be
tempted beyond what you are
00:15:47.03\00:15:50.56
able."
00:15:50.56\00:15:52.23
So now I know that, I know
that when I'm tempted to lose
00:15:52.23\00:15:54.60
my cool, I don't have to fall.
00:15:54.60\00:15:57.23
Based on what the Bible says,
I am able to deal with this.
00:15:57.23\00:15:59.46
Remember what we read -
God will make a way of escape.
00:15:59.46\00:16:03.93
It's there in the Bible.
00:16:03.93\00:16:05.03
It's a promise.
00:16:05.03\00:16:06.43
We can successfully endure
the temptation because we've
00:16:06.43\00:16:09.06
been promised by God that He
will give us a way of escape.
00:16:09.06\00:16:13.10
And that way of escape is....
00:16:13.10\00:16:14.90
Jesus.
00:16:14.90\00:16:16.93
When temptation comes we
can call on Christ, and He will
00:16:16.93\00:16:19.60
deliver us every time.
00:16:19.60\00:16:21.76
"But John, you just
don't know how tough it is for
00:16:21.76\00:16:23.76
me..."
00:16:23.76\00:16:25.30
I'm sure I don't, but I
know Jesus, and I know how tough
00:16:25.30\00:16:28.03
HE is.
00:16:28.03\00:16:29.30
And that's all I need to know.
00:16:29.30\00:16:31.13
Jude 24, let's read that,
Jude 24, that's one verse,
00:16:31.13\00:16:35.83
Now unto Him who is able
to keep you from falling.
00:16:35.83\00:16:37.73
Jude 1:24 NKJV So if you've
been visiting the wrong kind
00:16:37.73\00:16:42.53
of websites, or if you've
not been able to keep out of the
00:16:42.53\00:16:45.50
bars or the nightclubs,
God says that HE can keep you
00:16:45.50\00:16:49.50
from falling.
00:16:49.50\00:16:51.96
That is God's promise to you.
00:16:51.96\00:16:55.20
I spoke with a woman once who
asked me if God would forgive
00:16:55.20\00:16:58.93
her for a sin
that she had committed.
00:16:58.93\00:17:01.50
So I assured her God would.
00:17:01.50\00:17:03.20
She said, "But Pastor
John, it's a terrible sin."
00:17:03.20\00:17:06.56
I said, "That's no
problem because God is in the
00:17:06.56\00:17:08.86
business of
forgiving terrible sins."
00:17:08.86\00:17:12.26
And then I asked her, "Okay,
have you confessed your sin."
00:17:12.26\00:17:15.40
"Yes," she told
me, "many times."
00:17:15.40\00:17:18.00
She told me that this
terrible thing she had done
00:17:18.00\00:17:20.90
happened 50 years ago
and that she had confessed it
00:17:20.90\00:17:25.76
every day,
sometimes many times a day.
00:17:25.76\00:17:28.56
"Good grief," I said,
"That's over 18,000 times you've
00:17:28.56\00:17:31.76
confessed this to God!"
00:17:31.76\00:17:33.16
And she said, "Yep,
that's about right pastor."
00:17:33.16\00:17:36.86
So I asked her
if she believed God.
00:17:36.86\00:17:38.76
And she said,
"Yes, of course I do."
00:17:38.76\00:17:40.70
I said to her, "Well,
based on what you're telling me,
00:17:40.70\00:17:44.10
you don't believe God at all.
00:17:44.10\00:17:45.90
In fact, you
believe God is a liar."
00:17:45.90\00:17:48.96
So I took the Bible, I
opened the Bible to 1 John 1:9,
00:17:48.96\00:17:52.20
and read to her, the
verse begins by saying
00:17:52.20\00:17:57.13
"If we confess our sin..."
00:17:57.13\00:17:57.96
I said, "Have you done that?"
00:17:57.96\00:17:59.53
Yes, I've done that.
00:17:59.53\00:18:01.00
Alright, then.
00:18:01.00\00:18:03.36
"If we confess our sin He
is faithful and just to FORGIVE
00:18:03.36\00:18:05.66
us our sin, and to cleanse
us from ALL unrighteousness."
00:18:05.66\00:18:12.06
"I asked her: Does
God tell the truth?"
00:18:12.06\00:18:16.06
Yes."
00:18:16.06\00:18:17.10
"All the time?"
00:18:17.10\00:18:18.56
"Yes, I believe so."
00:18:18.56\00:18:20.46
"Well here, I said, God is
telling you that He forgives
00:18:20.46\00:18:23.26
you.
00:18:23.26\00:18:24.56
And if He has forgiven you,
why in the world would you go
00:18:24.56\00:18:27.76
back to Him and confess
again, as though you don't
00:18:27.76\00:18:30.50
believe the promise
that God has made to you."
00:18:30.50\00:18:33.10
I encouraged her to
believe God's simple, powerful
00:18:33.10\00:18:35.76
promise and not give
this thing another thought.
00:18:35.76\00:18:40.46
And the next time I saw her,
she told me that that night,
00:18:40.46\00:18:43.46
that night we spoke, she
told me that she had the best
00:18:43.46\00:18:47.76
night's sleep
she'd had in 50 years.
00:18:47.76\00:18:51.50
You see, when God has
promised, we can believe His
00:18:51.50\00:18:55.00
promises.
00:18:55.00\00:18:56.46
When God says He's going
to forgive your sins, you can
00:18:56.46\00:18:58.56
afford to believe that.
00:18:58.56\00:19:00.50
Instead of making promises
to God, you can simply believe
00:19:00.50\00:19:02.96
God's promises to you,
and claim them, and expect God
00:19:02.96\00:19:07.70
to work powerfully in your life.
00:19:07.70\00:19:09.70
There are thousands more
promises of God in the Bible.
00:19:09.70\00:19:13.60
Let's look at....
00:19:13.60\00:19:15.13
just a couple
more in just a moment.
00:19:15.13\00:19:18.23
Planning for your financial
future is a vital aspect
00:19:21.03\00:19:23.43
of Christian stewardship.
00:19:23.43\00:19:25.36
For this reason, It Is Written
is pleased to offer planned
00:19:25.36\00:19:27.96
giving and estate services.
00:19:27.96\00:19:30.10
For information on how
we can help you, please call
00:19:30.10\00:19:32.53
1.800.992.2219.
00:19:32.53\00:19:36.20
Call today or visit
our special website,
00:19:36.20\00:19:39.30
www.hislegacy.com.
00:19:39.30\00:19:43.90
It Is Written is
dedicated to sharing the gospel
00:19:44.80\00:19:47.23
around the world.
00:19:47.23\00:19:48.50
To discover more about
It Is Written, I invite you
00:19:48.50\00:19:51.10
to visit our website,
itiswritten.com, and browse
00:19:51.10\00:19:54.06
the dozens of pages
that describe what we do
00:19:54.06\00:19:56.70
and how we do it.
00:19:56.70\00:19:57.80
Let's get to know
each other better.
00:19:57.80\00:20:00.13
Visit our website
itiswritten.com today.
00:20:00.13\00:20:03.60
As a New Year
greets us, I want to
00:20:04.60\00:20:06.70
encourage you today
to trust God's promises.
00:20:06.70\00:20:09.86
This is a time when people
typically make resolutions
00:20:09.86\00:20:14.06
that usually don't
meet with a lot of success.
00:20:14.06\00:20:16.43
But you can have a New Year's
REVolution if you experience
00:20:16.43\00:20:20.63
the power of God's
promises in your life.
00:20:20.63\00:20:23.90
Philippians 4:19 says is
a wonderful promise of God,
00:20:23.90\00:20:27.80
Philippians 4:19, My God
shall supply all your need,
00:20:27.80\00:20:33.20
according to his riches
in glory by Christ Jesus.
00:20:33.20\00:20:37.20
Philippians 4:19 KJV
And that's a promise.
00:20:37.20\00:20:39.16
You can take this promise
to God just like you'd take
00:20:39.16\00:20:40.70
a check to the bank, and
you can expect God to provide
00:20:40.70\00:20:43.80
what He has promised to provide.
00:20:43.80\00:20:46.13
In James 4:7, the Bible
says this, Resist the devil,
00:20:46.13\00:20:53.86
and he will flee from you.
00:20:53.86\00:20:56.96
And then you will read in
the book of Malachi where God
00:20:56.96\00:20:59.43
promises us that when we
tithe and give offerings, He
00:20:59.43\00:21:03.43
will open up the windows
of heaven and pour out so much
00:21:03.43\00:21:06.90
blessing that we won't
have room enough to receive it..
00:21:06.90\00:21:12.03
God has promised!
00:21:12.03\00:21:13.16
You can expect Him
to keep His promises.
00:21:13.16\00:21:15.43
And when you base your
Christian experience on what
00:21:15.43\00:21:18.23
God has promised YOU, you're
going to meet with victory
00:21:18.23\00:21:20.46
and success and a whole
lot less frustration than you
00:21:20.46\00:21:23.70
would meet with if you
continue trying to keep
00:21:23.70\00:21:26.80
promises to God.
00:21:26.80\00:21:27.60
Now a word about those
last two promises - notice
00:21:27.60\00:21:30.56
something about them.
00:21:30.56\00:21:31.73
James said, "Submit
yourselves therefore to God."
00:21:31.73\00:21:35.43
And then he said, "Resist
the devil, and he will flee from
00:21:35.43\00:21:37.96
you."
00:21:37.96\00:21:39.23
Malachi said that when we
are faithful to God with our
00:21:39.23\00:21:41.93
finances, then He
is able to bless us.
00:21:41.93\00:21:44.86
It's like when James said,
Humble yourself in the sight
00:21:44.86\00:21:47.36
of the Lord and" THEN
"He shall lift you up."
00:21:47.36\00:21:51.53
One thing we've got
to understand is that the
00:21:51.53\00:21:54.20
promises of God come
with conditions attached.
00:21:54.20\00:21:56.93
Now I'm not saying that God
loves you based on condition
00:21:56.93\00:21:59.20
or accepts you based on
condition but w hen it comes
00:21:59.20\00:22:01.70
to God's promises, a person
wouldn't live with disregard
00:22:01.70\00:22:04.93
for God and then
claim the promises of God.
00:22:04.93\00:22:09.23
That would not be faith,
that would be presumption.
00:22:09.23\00:22:12.93
What faith does is it
claims the promises of God, the
00:22:12.93\00:22:16.43
promises God makes, and
then makes a surrender to God.
00:22:16.43\00:22:21.56
If we come to God in faith,
believing His promises, and
00:22:21.56\00:22:23.66
then let God work in our
lives in a powerful way - so
00:22:23.66\00:22:27.53
that His will can be done
- then we are going to see
00:22:27.53\00:22:31.26
miracles take place.
00:22:31.26\00:22:34.46
Now one of the best
books that I've ever read that
00:22:34.46\00:22:37.33
touches on this subject
is a book called "Steps to
00:22:37.33\00:22:40.43
Christ."
00:22:40.43\00:22:41.70
I want to share a passage
with you from that powerful
00:22:41.70\00:22:44.30
little book.
00:22:44.30\00:22:46.40
"You desire to give yourself
to Him, but you are weak in
00:22:46.40\00:22:50.03
moral power, in slavery to
doubt, and controlled by the
00:22:50.03\00:22:53.90
habits of your life of sin.
00:22:53.90\00:22:55.53
Your promises and resolutions
are like ropes of sand.
00:22:55.53\00:23:01.53
You cannot control your
thoughts, your impulses, your
00:23:01.53\00:23:05.66
affections.
00:23:05.66\00:23:07.33
The knowledge of your
broken promises and forfeited
00:23:07.33\00:23:10.63
pledges weakens your
confidence in your own
00:23:10.63\00:23:14.90
sincerity, and causes you
to feel that God cannot accept
00:23:14.90\00:23:19.16
you; but you need not despair.
00:23:19.16\00:23:22.73
What you need to understand
is the true force of the
00:23:22.73\00:23:26.10
will.
00:23:26.10\00:23:27.36
This is the governing
power in the nature of man, the
00:23:27.36\00:23:31.06
power of decision, or of choice.
00:23:31.06\00:23:34.43
Everything depends on
the right action of the will.
00:23:34.43\00:23:36.93
The power of choice God has
given to men; it is theirs to
00:23:36.93\00:23:41.63
exercise.
00:23:41.63\00:23:43.13
You cannot change your heart,
you cannot of yourself give
00:23:43.13\00:23:47.56
to God its affections; but
you can choose to serve Him.
00:23:47.56\00:23:52.60
You can give Him your will;
He will then work in you to
00:23:52.60\00:23:55.93
will and to do
according to His good pleasure.
00:23:55.93\00:23:59.23
Thus your whole nature will
be brought under the control
00:23:59.23\00:24:03.80
of the Spirit of Christ;
your affections will be centered
00:24:03.80\00:24:07.23
upon Him, your thoughts
will be in harmony with Him."
00:24:07.23\00:24:11.46
SC 47 Isn't that encouraging?
00:24:11.46\00:24:13.96
If you'll give God your will,
God will work in your life.
00:24:13.96\00:24:17.50
Today, believe His promises
to you, and let God "keep"
00:24:17.50\00:24:21.73
His promises to you.
00:24:21.73\00:24:24.30
Concentration camp survivor
Corrie Ten Boom is quoted as
00:24:24.30\00:24:26.70
having said,
"When I try, I fail.
00:24:26.70\00:24:30.76
When I trust, He succeeds."
00:24:30.76\00:24:33.36
I heard it said that
Corrie Ten Boom would go to the
00:24:33.36\00:24:36.63
Bible, find a promise, put
her finger on it, hold it up
00:24:36.63\00:24:39.60
to God and say, "Here,
you read what it says!"
00:24:39.60\00:24:45.06
That's bold.
00:24:45.06\00:24:46.00
But that's faith.
00:24:46.00\00:24:47.80
That's relying
on God's promises.
00:24:47.80\00:24:50.10
Your experience doesn't
have to be a cycle of try and
00:24:50.10\00:24:52.86
fail.
00:24:52.86\00:24:53.93
You can claim the promises
of God and ask God to keep His
00:24:53.93\00:24:56.76
promises to you in your life.
00:24:56.76\00:24:58.46
And you know what?
00:24:58.46\00:24:59.80
God will always
keep His promises.
00:24:59.80\00:25:01.96
He always does.
00:25:01.96\00:25:05.70
In today's program I
quoted from one of my favorite
00:25:05.70\00:25:07.76
books, STEPS TO CHRIST.
00:25:07.76\00:25:09.66
I'd like to give you a
free copy of this book.
00:25:09.66\00:25:12.76
It'll help you in
your daily walk with Jesus.
00:25:12.76\00:25:16.60
I can guarantee it.
00:25:16.60\00:25:17.60
Please call or write
and we'll send you STEPS TO
00:25:17.60\00:25:19.80
CHRIST.
00:25:19.80\00:25:20.53
There's no cost, no obligation.
00:25:20.53\00:25:23.10
It's our free gift to you.
00:25:23.10\00:25:24.93
Just call 1-800-253-3000,
ask for the book: STEPS TO
00:25:24.93\00:25:29.80
CHRIST.
00:25:29.80\00:25:30.76
You can call 24 hours a day.
00:25:30.76\00:25:32.93
If the line is
busy, please keep trying.
00:25:32.93\00:25:36.33
You can also request this
free book by writing to: It
00:25:36.33\00:25:39.33
Is Written, Box O, Thousand
Oaks, CA 91359, and we will
00:25:39.33\00:25:45.70
mail a copy to your
address in North America.
00:25:45.70\00:25:48.36
Now please note: This free
book is limited to the supply
00:25:48.36\00:25:52.80
on hand.
00:25:52.80\00:25:53.80
For immediate access, you
can download a FREE electronic
00:25:53.80\00:25:56.43
version of the book STEPS
TO CHRIST from our website:
00:25:56.43\00:25:59.20
itiswritten.com It Is Written
is a faith-based ministry
00:25:59.20\00:26:03.30
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00:26:03.30\00:26:06.53
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00:26:14.06\00:26:16.43
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00:26:16.43\00:26:20.63
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00:26:20.63\00:26:25.73
And our web
address is: itiswritten.com
00:26:25.73\00:26:28.63
Thanks for joining me today.
00:26:28.63\00:26:30.00
I want to encourage you.
00:26:30.00\00:26:31.40
Go to the Bible, find
the promises of God, and take
00:26:31.40\00:26:33.30
them to God and claim them.
00:26:33.30\00:26:35.20
And then you will be able
to watch God work in your life
00:26:35.20\00:26:37.43
powerfully.
00:26:37.43\00:26:38.60
He will do it if we ask
him to so let's ask him now.
00:26:38.60\00:26:41.20
Please, would you
join me as we pray?
00:26:41.20\00:26:44.60
Father in heaven,
thank you for your promises.
00:26:44.60\00:26:47.26
Thank you that they
are sure and certain.
00:26:47.26\00:26:49.90
Thank you that we can trust
you to do in our lives what
00:26:49.90\00:26:53.60
you have said you will do.
00:26:53.60\00:26:55.40
And Lord, we need
you to work powerfully.
00:26:55.40\00:26:58.96
So many people today
under the weight of burdens
00:26:58.96\00:27:02.00
and pressures and
struggles and stresses,
00:27:02.00\00:27:04.83
and feeling failure
and like they are falling
00:27:04.83\00:27:08.26
more than they are standing up.
00:27:08.26\00:27:14.56
Lord, in your Word you
have promised us that you could
00:27:14.56\00:27:16.96
straighten us out and
keep us close to your heart.
00:27:16.96\00:27:19.20
So please do that and
allow us to experience spiritual
00:27:19.20\00:27:21.60
victory in our lives based
on your Word as You keep your
00:27:21.60\00:27:24.23
promises to us.
00:27:24.23\00:27:25.43
We thank you for them and
we praise You and we pray in
00:27:25.43\00:27:28.43
Jesus' name, Amen.
00:27:28.43\00:27:31.36
Thanks for being with me today.
00:27:48.96\00:27:50.30
I look forward to
seeing you next time.
00:27:50.30\00:27:51.73
Until then, remember...
00:27:51.73\00:27:52.63
It is written, Man shall
not live by bread alone, but by
00:27:52.63\00:27:56.80
every word that
proceeds from the mouth of God.
00:27:56.80\00:28:01.43