[Music]
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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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Thanks for joining me today.
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I4m John Bradshaw and
this is It Is Written.
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You know, every four
years the whole world forgets
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momentarily about
its quarrels and problems
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and focuses for two weeks
on something that seems to be
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a fascination for
just about everybody---
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the Olympic Games.
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You can't get away from it.
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Around the world warnings
were given to people about
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the problems of coming in
to work in the morning tired
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and the effect that this
might have on their health.
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But of course record numbers
of people watched the games
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in spite of the warnings
of the health professionals.
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Before the London Olympics
in 2012 there were reports
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about some of the
issues that were plaguing
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the games: there were structures
--buildings--that may not be
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ready on time; it was
thought there might not
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be enough security people
to make sure the organization
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ran smoothly
throughout the actual games.
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Once the games
started all those concerns
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were forgotten.
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The minds of people
were turned to their nation's
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competitors and the question
of whether or not they would
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win medals - with gold being
metal of the preferred kind.
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One country that
entered the London Olympic Games
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with stellar
expectations was Australia.
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Over the years the Aussies
have always punched well above
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their weight in the
Olympic Games and at London
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they were expecting to do
the same thing - especially
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in the swimming pool.
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[Triumphant Music under]
They had assembled a strong
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team of swimmers, many of
whom had been successful at
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the Beijing Olympics four
years earlier, as well as at
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the world championships.
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So when the Australian
swimmers took to the pool
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there was an expectation
in Australia that they'd do
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well and to bring back a
significant number of medals
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back to Australia.
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And one of their mostly
highly favored swimmers was
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a man named James Magnussen.
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Now James Magnusson was
the reigning world champion in
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the 100 meters freestyle
-- that4s one of swimming's
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glamour events.
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At the 2011 world
championships in Shanghai,
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China, Magnussen became
the first Australian to win
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the gold medal in that event.
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He was a national
hero in Australia.
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Aussies nicknamed
him "the missile".
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Understandably he
placed great expectations on
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himself.
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In fact, he said he
thought he would win in London.
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He was now the best in
the world and he had swum the
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fastest time in history
over 100 meters for any swimmer
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wearing a conventional swimsuit.
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Now, that4s in contrast
to those high tech swimsuits
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that were worn a few
years ago but then banned from
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competition.
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No one was able to
match James Magnussen in his
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favored event.
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So when the London Olympics
arrived James Magnussen was
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expected to win
gold for Australia.
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Before the men's 100 meters
was the men's 4 x 100m relay
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and Australia was expected
to dominate that race as
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well.
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They won their
heat comfortably and all
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the country thought
that they would win the final
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in a canter.
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Magnusson swam first in
the final and went out hard.
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In his second lap
Australia waited for the missile
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to fire, but it didn't happen.
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When Magnussen finished
his leg of the relay Australia
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was placed third --and
they ended winning bronze.
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In many countries Third
in the world would be cause
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for celebration.
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But for Australia there
was real disappointment.
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Magnussen himself was dejected.
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The weight of a
nation was on him.
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He felt like he had
let his country down.
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At the post race interview
he couldn't find words to
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speak and he faded
into the background.
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There was no real explanation.
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The game plan
simply hadn't worked.
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Now the whole of Australia
began to worry about how
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James would do in the
100 metre race itself.
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After some soul searching
and time with his coach
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Magnussen lined up
in the 100 meter heat.
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He swam well and came second.
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He won his
semi-final quite convincingly.
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It seemed like
the missile was back.
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The whole of Australia
was there with him, it seemed.
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In his home town of
Port Macquarie - a beautiful
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seaside city on the coast
of New South Wales -- almost
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the whole town got up in
the early hours of the morning
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to watch the final.
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There was a big
screen in the town centre.
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Many people went
down there to watch.
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[Sports Music] The
big screen event started
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at 4:30 am.
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James' race would start at 5:15.
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All sorts of of people
from Port Macquarie showed up to
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watch their home town hero.
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The result of the final
is now in the history books.
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James Magnussen competed.
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He swam incredibly well.
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When the race ended many
Australians thought their
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man had carried the day.
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But the cruel truth for
Australia was that James
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Magnussen had been
beaten by Nathan Adrian from
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Bremerton, Washington by
the smallest measurable margin
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in swimming: 1
100th of a second.
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This much.
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Magnussen was gracious in
defeat, but the smiles were
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forced and everyone in
Australia was feeling what
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he felt.
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The disappointment of
being so near and yet so far.
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And then Australia
began the post mortem.
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For the first time
since Montreal 1976 Australia
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hadn't won an
individual swimming medal.
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Instead, they had "only"
won a single gold (in a relay),
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six silvers and three bronze.
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Only five countries won
more swimming medals than
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Australia.
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Yet one Olympic champion
swimmer from Australia said
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that the swimmers
didn't try hard enough.
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Coaches were blamed for
not adequately preparing
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the athletes, and the coaches
themselves said that they
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didn't have enough resources
which were being diverted to
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other programs...
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and on it went.
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Now contrast that with
another Australian Olympian.
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Jessica fox raced in
the final of the K1 canoe
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slalom.
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She wasn't expected to do
very well but Jessica made
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the final.
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Now her mother had won
a bronze in the same event
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at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996.
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After her final run Jessica
found herself with the fastest
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time of all of the competitors
and she held on to that
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top spot until
until a French paddler
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paddled her final run.
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Jessica was ultimately
beaten by just six tenths
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of a second.
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The Eighteen years
old and a silver medalist.
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So how did Jessica react?
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She was ecstatic and when
being interviewed she said
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that she was
still 'in the clouds'.
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What a contrast between
Jessica and James Magnusson.
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They both competed.
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They both came second.
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Neither of them won.
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They both walked
away with a silver medal.
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They both felt very
differently about it.
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But let4s shift
this just a little bit.
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What is it do you think
that God most wants from our
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lives?
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Is God sitting on the
edge of His throne during
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the Olympics - waiting
to see who will win gold?
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Is he cheering competitors on?
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The truth is God wants
every one of us to win something
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golden - but His sights
are set on far more than simply
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a gold medal.
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I'll have more in just a moment.
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In Matthew 4:4 the word
of God says, "It is written,
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'Man shall not live
bread alone but by every word
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that proceeds from the mouth
of God.'" Every Word is a one
00:07:18.03\00:07:21.70
minute Bible-based
daily devotional presented
00:07:21.70\00:07:24.56
by pastor John Bradshaw and
designed especially for busy
00:07:24.56\00:07:27.66
people like you.
00:07:27.66\00:07:29.10
Look for Every Word on
selected networks or watch
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it on-line everyday on
our website, itiswritten.com.
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Receive a daily spiritual boost.
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Watch Every Word.
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You'll be glad you did.
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Here's a sample.
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I get asked every
now and then about this.
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We're saved by
grace through faith.
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Right.
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But then Revelation 22:12
says, "And, behold, I come
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quickly; and my reward is
with me, to give every man
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according as his work shall be."
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It sounds to some people
as though this is saying we're
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not saved by God's
grace, but by our works.
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Now lets look at this carefully.
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John writes that we
are JUDGED by our works,
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not SAVED by our works.
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The point is that our
works - how we live our lives -
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demonstrates or
gives evidence regarding
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the reality of our profession.
00:08:21.60\00:08:24.10
Anyone at all can claim
to be a follower of Jesus,
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but it isn't what you
say that really matters.
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It's how you live.
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That's where the
evidence really is.
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In the judgment, it
isn't just a profession
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God is looking
for, he's looking for
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the real thing.
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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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Planning for your financial
future is a vital aspect
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of Christian stewardship.
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For this reason, It Is
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planned giving
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For information on how
we can help you, please call
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1.800.992.2219.
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To receive additional
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of life-income plans,
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annuity which can
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and income for life, call
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00:09:32.90\00:09:40.00
This is It Is Written.
00:09:41.66\00:09:42.40
Thanks for joining me today.
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You know in the book of
Mark chapter 10 and verse 45,
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the Bible says this, "For
the Son of man also has not
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come to be served, but to
serve, and to give his life as
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redemption for many".
00:09:55.36\00:09:57.40
When I look closely at
the words of Jesus I find
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it hard to think that
Jesus is going crazy over
00:10:00.56\00:10:02.73
the Olympics, that he is setting
his clock so that he does
00:10:02.73\00:10:05.30
not miss any of the events.
00:10:05.30\00:10:07.10
That Jesus entered into
the sorrow that James Magnusson
00:10:07.10\00:10:10.06
experienced at his loss.
00:10:10.06\00:10:11.83
I don't think that
Jesus is going to be spending
00:10:11.83\00:10:14.16
his days planning for that great
Olympics in the sky when he
00:10:14.16\00:10:17.43
will assemble the greatest
athletes ever to fight for
00:10:17.43\00:10:19.43
the title of
swimmer of the galaxy.
00:10:19.43\00:10:22.33
I don't think it's
going to happen that way.
00:10:22.33\00:10:23.93
I don't think that when
Jesus is taking his people
00:10:23.93\00:10:25.83
into his kingdom he will
be lining them up according to
00:10:25.83\00:10:28.23
the amount of Olympic
gold medals they have won.
00:10:28.23\00:10:30.13
Or even by our professions
so that the brightest
00:10:30.13\00:10:32.63
scholars all line up first.
00:10:32.63\00:10:35.30
No - God will be
lining us up according to our
00:10:35.30\00:10:37.03
characters.
00:10:37.03\00:10:38.83
Now am I saying that God
is not interested in what you
00:10:38.83\00:10:40.80
or I are doing or
what athletes are doing?
00:10:40.80\00:10:43.00
Oh, no I don't mean that.
00:10:43.00\00:10:44.30
In fact the apostle Paul
speaks at some length about
00:10:44.30\00:10:48.20
the athletes of his day.
00:10:48.20\00:10:50.53
The beginning of organized
games began with Alexander
00:10:50.53\00:10:52.40
the Great after he
had conquered the world.
00:10:52.40\00:10:55.26
He had organized games for
Greece and for his soldiers.
00:10:55.26\00:10:58.26
Sports were introduced
into Palestine and a gymnasium
00:10:58.26\00:11:00.83
was erected in Jerusalem.
00:11:00.83\00:11:01.86
During the time of the
apostle Paul the games were well
00:11:01.86\00:11:04.63
established and by then
everyone had heard of the Greek
00:11:04.63\00:11:07.63
Olympic Games.
00:11:07.63\00:11:08.63
The Gentiles loved the
games but they were repugnant to
00:11:08.63\00:11:12.46
the pious Jews because
they were of a demoralizing
00:11:12.46\00:11:15.86
character.
00:11:15.86\00:11:16.86
And there was good reason
for the Jews to be put off.
00:11:16.86\00:11:20.16
Those who took part in
the contests competed naked.
00:11:20.16\00:11:24.53
The Olympic games were
held every four years in Olympia
00:11:24.53\00:11:26.96
in honor of the god Zeus.
00:11:26.96\00:11:29.10
They had a variety of
games including leaping,
00:11:29.10\00:11:31.13
and racing, and quoits,
spear throwing, and wrestling.
00:11:31.13\00:11:34.36
They had chariot racing,
boxing, running in armor.
00:11:34.36\00:11:38.46
Now you just didn't turn
up on the day and compete.
00:11:38.46\00:11:40.66
The competitors
usually went on a special diet
00:11:40.66\00:11:42.96
and preparation, they
stayed under supervision at one
00:11:42.96\00:11:45.26
place, they exercised
their bodies regularly and when
00:11:45.26\00:11:48.83
they competed, they
had to obey all the rules.
00:11:48.83\00:11:51.16
Very much like today.
00:11:51.16\00:11:52.16
Paul was aware of this when
he wrote to the Corinthians.
00:11:52.16\00:11:55.30
He wrote to the Corinthians
and said these words,
00:11:55.30\00:11:59.00
"And every man that striveth
for the mastery is temperate
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in all things.
00:12:01.60\00:12:02.83
Now they do it to
obtain a corruptible crown;
00:12:02.83\00:12:04.90
but we an incorruptible"
(That's I Corinthians 9:25).
00:12:04.90\00:12:10.13
And to his young
friend Timothy he wrote
00:12:10.13\00:12:12.86
these words, he said,
"And if a man also strive for
00:12:12.86\00:12:17.03
masteries, yet is he not
crowned, except he strive
00:12:17.03\00:12:21.23
lawfully" (II Timothy 2:5).
00:12:21.23\00:12:24.73
When an athletic event
was completed, a herald
00:12:24.73\00:12:27.63
proclaimed aloud the name
of the victor and the city from
00:12:27.63\00:12:30.60
which he came.
00:12:30.60\00:12:31.66
He was presented with a
palm branch by the judges,
00:12:31.66\00:12:34.00
and the prizes were given out
on the last day of the games.
00:12:34.00\00:12:36.33
There was only one winner
per event, crowned with an
00:12:36.33\00:12:39.83
olive wreath made of
wild-olive leaves from
00:12:39.83\00:12:42.20
a sacred tree near the
temple of Zeus at Olympia.
00:12:42.20\00:12:45.26
This was a matter of
honor for the competitors.
00:12:45.26\00:12:48.16
But nevertheless Paul
says that their reward was
00:12:48.16\00:12:50.56
something that they strove
after even though there was
00:12:50.56\00:12:54.40
only one reward per event.
00:12:54.40\00:12:57.20
But then Paul contrasts
the reward that the athlete
00:12:57.20\00:13:00.20
received with the reward
that the Christian receives.
00:13:00.20\00:13:03.83
He said these
words, "so run to win!
00:13:03.83\00:13:08.66
They do it to win a prize
that will fade away, but we
00:13:08.66\00:13:11.86
do it for an eternal prize.
00:13:11.86\00:13:14.06
(1 Cor 9 24-25).
00:13:14.06\00:13:16.80
So we are called
on to "run to win".
00:13:16.80\00:13:21.76
Peter had the same thought
in mind when he wrote this
00:13:21.76\00:13:24.13
in 1 Peter 5:4, the Bible
says this, "you will receive
00:13:24.13\00:13:31.73
the crown of glory
that does not fade away"
00:13:31.73\00:13:35.70
(1 Peter 5:4).
00:13:35.70\00:13:36.36
James Magnusson was clearly
disappointed when he lost
00:13:36.36\00:13:38.36
and yet he was only reaching
for something that WOULD
00:13:38.36\00:13:40.30
fade away.
00:13:40.30\00:13:41.40
According to he Bible
it's a whole lot better to be
00:13:41.40\00:13:43.63
a nobody and yet be striving
for the crown that God will
00:13:43.63\00:13:46.50
give to those that love Him.
00:13:46.50\00:13:48.40
God wants to give us
something that we can have
00:13:48.40\00:13:50.40
for all eternity --
not simply a prize we have
00:13:50.40\00:13:52.83
for just a short time
before the memory of it becomes
00:13:52.83\00:13:55.10
consigned to the history books.
00:13:55.10\00:13:57.56
Do you remember the
name Johnny Weissmuller?
00:13:57.56\00:13:59.90
Johnny Weissmuller won
two gold medals for swimming
00:13:59.90\00:14:02.33
during the 1920s.
00:14:02.33\00:14:03.33
You might remember
that he went on to become
00:14:03.33\00:14:06.36
the "Tarzan" of his era.
00:14:06.36\00:14:07.73
But I can't think of any
other Olympian from that time.
00:14:07.73\00:14:11.30
They have faded from
the mind of mankind and now
00:14:11.30\00:14:13.53
the only memory of them is
held online or in the library.
00:14:13.53\00:14:16.93
And even it I read about
them I doubt if I would have
00:14:16.93\00:14:19.33
heard of any of them.
00:14:19.33\00:14:20.93
Paul said "They do it to
obtain a corruptible crown;
00:14:20.93\00:14:24.40
but we an incorruptible"
(1 Corinthians 9:25).
00:14:24.40\00:14:27.50
This will be placed on
our heads by Jesus' own hand.
00:14:27.50\00:14:31.23
What a day that will be!
00:14:31.23\00:14:32.26
For each of God's
children there'll be a crown of
00:14:32.26\00:14:34.83
victory.
00:14:34.83\00:14:35.83
Each of us will
receive the victor's palm
00:14:35.83\00:14:37.93
and the shining harp.
00:14:37.93\00:14:39.36
Then we will live
with God for all eternity.
00:14:39.36\00:14:42.23
In a moment - the apostle
Paul compares himself to an
00:14:42.23\00:14:45.46
Olympic athlete.
00:14:45.46\00:14:47.36
I'll be right back.
00:14:47.36\00:14:49.30
[Music]
00:14:50.10\00:14:58.60
Time For today's bible question
and thanks for submitting
00:15:06.80\00:15:09.46
bible questions to
us here at It Is Written
00:15:09.46\00:15:11.70
How can a person
really believe the Bible
00:15:11.70\00:15:14.83
is true?
00:15:14.83\00:15:16.33
It was written years ago,
it has been copied so many
00:15:16.33\00:15:19.03
times, it was written by
a lot of different people
00:15:19.03\00:15:21.20
and those people wrote
different parts of the Bible
00:15:21.20\00:15:23.83
at different times.
00:15:23.83\00:15:25.96
Help me believe the
Bible is believable.
00:15:25.96\00:15:28.43
Great question.
00:15:28.43\00:15:30.50
Thank you.
00:15:30.50\00:15:31.13
I'll do my best.
00:15:31.13\00:15:32.23
You know what's funny?
00:15:32.23\00:15:34.16
There are historical
books that not many people
00:15:34.16\00:15:37.53
question when it
comes to authenticity.
00:15:37.53\00:15:40.53
An historian named
Tacitus wrote The Annals
00:15:40.53\00:15:44.83
of Imperial Rome.
00:15:44.83\00:15:46.03
Few people question its
accuracy or its veracity,
00:15:46.03\00:15:48.90
even though what is
available today comes from
00:15:48.90\00:15:50.96
a copy and doesn't NEARLY
date back to the original.
00:15:50.96\00:15:55.86
Now I'm not knocking
Tacitus and the Annals
00:15:55.86\00:15:58.66
of Imperial Rome.
00:15:58.66\00:15:59.96
I'm just pointing out
that there's a bit of a double
00:15:59.96\00:16:01.86
standard when it comes
to considering the accuracy
00:16:01.86\00:16:04.43
of the Bible.
00:16:04.43\00:16:05.70
Now there are
several reasons you can trust
00:16:05.70\00:16:07.70
the Bible.
00:16:07.70\00:16:08.46
I'll name just a few.
00:16:08.46\00:16:09.53
Historically it stands up.
00:16:09.53\00:16:11.20
Luke, who wrote Luke and
the Book of Acts, is a very
00:16:11.20\00:16:13.96
accurate historian, and
the historical details found
00:16:13.96\00:16:17.50
in what he wrote stand
the test of thorough scrutiny.
00:16:17.50\00:16:21.96
Archaeology has validated
the Bible again and again.
00:16:21.96\00:16:25.33
On numerous occasions it
has been said that portions
00:16:25.33\00:16:27.63
of the Bible couldn't
be trusted because they
00:16:27.63\00:16:29.90
couldn't be validated by
the archaeological record.
00:16:29.90\00:16:33.33
But again and again
archaeologists have found
00:16:33.33\00:16:36.86
records of cities or
other evidences that show
00:16:36.86\00:16:41.46
the Bible record
was accurate after all.
00:16:41.46\00:16:44.46
It's happened many, many times.
00:16:44.46\00:16:47.16
Then there are the manuscripts.
00:16:47.16\00:16:48.46
There are hundreds of
old manuscripts or portions
00:16:48.46\00:16:51.03
of manuscripts that show
us that what has come down
00:16:51.03\00:16:54.03
to us today is consistent
with what was written hundreds
00:16:54.03\00:16:57.16
and hundreds of years ago.
00:16:57.16\00:16:59.16
The Dead Sea Scrolls,
discovered in the late 1940s
00:16:59.16\00:17:02.83
and early 1950s are compelling
evidence that the Bible
00:17:02.83\00:17:06.16
is legitimate.
00:17:06.16\00:17:08.33
They date back as far as
before the time of Christ,
00:17:08.33\00:17:10.90
and they show us that
the Bible we read today
00:17:10.90\00:17:13.66
is fundamentally the
same as what was written
00:17:13.66\00:17:17.00
way back then.
00:17:17.00\00:17:18.03
Now the 'differences'
that exist in manuscripts
00:17:18.03\00:17:20.06
are generally so small
that they're just irrelevant.
00:17:20.06\00:17:23.83
You don't find a manuscript
where Jesus says He is not
00:17:23.83\00:17:26.16
the Son of God, or where
the Christ is teaching something
00:17:26.16\00:17:29.16
bizarre.
00:17:29.16\00:17:31.10
And consider prophecy.
00:17:31.10\00:17:32.76
Many prophecies of the
Bible that have been fulfilled
00:17:32.76\00:17:36.20
and this demonstrates, I think,
conclusively that the Bible
00:17:36.20\00:17:38.60
can be trusted.
00:17:38.60\00:17:39.70
When you've got predictions
made that name a king before
00:17:39.70\00:17:43.33
he is born or that name an
certain invader or conquerer
00:17:43.33\00:17:47.76
before he is born and then
these things come to pass...
00:17:47.76\00:17:51.76
When you have got all
those prophecies about Jesus
00:17:51.76\00:17:53.50
coming to the world,
one saying He would be
00:17:53.50\00:17:56.86
crucified, another saying
not a bone would be broken,
00:17:56.86\00:17:58.76
another saying He would
be born in Bethlehem, another
00:17:58.76\00:18:01.23
saying He would die in dishonor,
another saying He would
00:18:01.23\00:18:03.16
be rejected by the ones He
came to save, and on and on...
00:18:03.16\00:18:07.80
You've got a real problem
if you want to argue against
00:18:07.80\00:18:10.83
the inspiration of the Bible.
00:18:10.83\00:18:12.63
What are you going to
do with all that evidence?
00:18:12.63\00:18:16.03
But you know what?
00:18:16.03\00:18:17.36
At the end of the day we
accept the Bible by faith.
00:18:17.36\00:18:21.00
The Bible's critics do
raise fair questions at times -
00:18:21.00\00:18:23.90
sometimes questions
that aren't easy to answer,
00:18:23.90\00:18:26.40
especially to
everyone's satisfaction.
00:18:26.40\00:18:29.10
But there is enough
clear - what I would call -
00:18:29.10\00:18:32.10
"evidence" for us to know
the Bible really is the word
00:18:32.10\00:18:35.93
of God.
00:18:35.93\00:18:36.93
You can accept it by faith.
00:18:36.93\00:18:38.20
Not blind faith, but
reasonable, studied faith.
00:18:38.20\00:18:42.50
There are many, many good
reasons to trust the Bible.
00:18:42.50\00:18:45.13
So many that I'm not
sure how somebody can really
00:18:45.13\00:18:49.13
be confident in
rejecting the Bible.
00:18:49.13\00:18:52.83
If there's a question
you'd like answered, please send
00:18:52.83\00:18:54.90
it to me at itiswritten.com.
00:18:54.90\00:18:56.70
I'll do my very best
to get your Bible question
00:18:56.70\00:18:59.83
answered.
00:18:59.83\00:19:00.90
[Music]
00:19:00.90\00:19:06.80
Eyes for India is giving
sight to the blind and you
00:19:09.53\00:19:13.10
can be a part of this
amazing work that God is doing.
00:19:13.10\00:19:16.73
Fifteen million blind people
live in India, more than any
00:19:16.73\00:19:19.86
other country in the world.
00:19:19.86\00:19:21.53
And many of the blind
in India could see again,
00:19:21.53\00:19:24.50
if only they could have
simple cataract surgery.
00:19:24.50\00:19:27.80
It Is Written is
making that happen.
00:19:27.80\00:19:30.63
Would you
support Eyes for India?
00:19:30.63\00:19:33.70
For just $75 you'll be
giving the gift of sight
00:19:33.70\00:19:37.56
to someone who
desperately wants to see.
00:19:37.56\00:19:40.53
Here's all you need to do.
00:19:40.53\00:19:41.53
Call 1.800.253.3000.
00:19:41.53\00:19:44.46
That's 1.800.253.3000
to donate an support
00:19:44.46\00:19:50.86
Eyes for India.
00:19:50.86\00:19:52.53
Or, you can write
to: It Is Written, Box O,
00:19:52.53\00:19:55.43
Thousand Oaks,
California, 91359.
00:19:55.43\00:19:59.80
You'll also find
Eyes for India on-line
00:19:59.80\00:20:02.60
at itiswritten.com.
00:20:02.60\00:20:04.56
Every $75 you give gives
someone the precious gift
00:20:04.56\00:20:08.06
of sight.
00:20:08.06\00:20:09.10
Eyes for India, doing
the work of Jesus in opening
00:20:09.10\00:20:12.46
the eyes of the blind.
00:20:12.46\00:20:14.53
And opening hearts
to the love of God.
00:20:14.53\00:20:17.40
Call 1.800.253.3000 or
write to Box O, Thousand Oaks,
00:20:17.40\00:20:23.06
California, 91359 or
visit itiswritten.com.
00:20:23.06\00:20:28.70
Thanks for joining me
today on It Is Written
00:20:31.40\00:20:33.63
The Apostle Paul compared
himself to an Olympic racer
00:20:33.63\00:20:36.46
when he wrote these words:
I press toward the mark for
00:20:36.46\00:20:39.13
the prize of the high
calling of God in Christ Jesus"
00:20:39.13\00:20:43.03
(Philippians 3:14).
00:20:43.03\00:20:45.03
And he says in 2 Timothy 4:7:
00:20:45.03\00:20:47.80
"I have finished my course".
00:20:47.80\00:20:49.76
kThe writer to the Hebrews
sees the Christian's race
00:20:49.76\00:20:52.06
as being run with
endurance before a great crowd
00:20:52.06\00:20:55.36
of spectators.
00:20:55.36\00:20:56.73
We read this in Hebrews 12:1.
00:20:56.73\00:21:00.60
"Therefore we also, since
we are surrounded by so great
00:21:00.60\00:21:03.40
a cloud of witnesses, let
us lay aside every weight, and
00:21:03.40\00:21:07.53
the sin which so easily
ensnares us, and let us run
00:21:07.53\00:21:10.63
with endurance the race
that is set before us" And that
00:21:10.63\00:21:15.80
advice belongs to us today.
00:21:15.80\00:21:17.76
Paul refers to this when
he talks about wrestling,
00:21:17.76\00:21:20.96
a modern day sport for sure.
00:21:20.96\00:21:22.93
The contest with Satan he
likens to a wrestling match.
00:21:22.93\00:21:26.36
In those wrestling bounds
in the ancient olympic games,
00:21:26.36\00:21:29.90
the winner was the
wrestler who succeeded in first
00:21:29.90\00:21:31.96
throwing down, and then
holding down his opponent
00:21:31.96\00:21:34.13
with his hand upon his neck.
00:21:34.13\00:21:35.26
When Paul wrote to the
Romans: "Strive together
00:21:35.26\00:21:38.70
with me in your
prayers" (Romans 15:30), he was
00:21:38.70\00:21:41.83
wanting them to put the same
energy into their prayers as
00:21:41.83\00:21:44.93
a wrestler would put
into his efforts to win his
00:21:44.93\00:21:47.26
contest.
00:21:47.26\00:21:48.50
In writing to the Corinthians
Paul also refers to boxing.
00:21:48.50\00:21:51.43
Here is what he says, he
writes: "Thus I fight: not
00:21:51.43\00:21:57.53
as one who beats the air.
00:21:57.53\00:21:59.36
But I discipline my body
and bring it into subjection" (I
00:21:59.36\00:22:02.03
Corinthians 9:26-27).
00:22:02.03\00:22:03.93
He is thinking of keeping
his body under control lest
00:22:03.93\00:22:08.66
if he fails to do so he be
disqualified as an effective
00:22:08.66\00:22:11.56
Christian worker.
00:22:11.56\00:22:13.46
And what applies to Paul
in that situation certainly
00:22:13.46\00:22:16.40
applies to us.
00:22:16.40\00:22:17.70
As we can see the Apostle
Paul was fond of making use
00:22:17.70\00:22:20.03
of popular sporting
events to illustrate truth.
00:22:20.03\00:22:22.86
To the Philippians he
spoke of "striving together for
00:22:22.86\00:22:26.46
the faith of the
gospel" (Philippians 1:27).
00:22:26.46\00:22:29.26
The words "striving
together" actually mean
00:22:29.26\00:22:32.06
"acting as athletes in concert."
00:22:32.06\00:22:35.00
In the language of modern
athletics, he was thinking
00:22:35.00\00:22:36.73
of the importance of what
we call "team spirit" in the
00:22:36.73\00:22:39.73
church.
00:22:39.73\00:22:41.00
When Jude urged his readers
to "earnestly contend for
00:22:41.00\00:22:44.26
the faith which was once
delivered unto the saints"
00:22:44.26\00:22:46.93
(you read that in Jude
3), he was using another
00:22:46.93\00:22:49.16
athletic word.
00:22:49.16\00:22:50.46
One of the chief forms of
amusement among the Romans
00:22:50.46\00:22:53.46
-- the early Christian era
-- was to condemn criminals,
00:22:53.46\00:22:56.36
and especially Christians,
to fight with lions, bears,
00:22:56.36\00:22:58.90
elephants, or tigers in
the amphitheatres of the empire
00:22:58.90\00:23:01.76
before huge
crowds of spectators.
00:23:01.76\00:23:05.23
The crowds would urge on
the beast by throwing darts or
00:23:05.23\00:23:07.90
by shouting in sort
of a maddening spirit.
00:23:07.90\00:23:11.06
Then they'd watch the poor
victim be torn to pieces by
00:23:11.06\00:23:14.60
the animal.
00:23:14.60\00:23:15.86
Paul referred to this
practice when he said,
00:23:15.86\00:23:18.86
"If after the manner of
men I have fought with beasts
00:23:18.86\00:23:21.76
at Ephesus" (I
Corinthians 15:32).
00:23:21.76\00:23:25.26
So what is God's
counsel us to do today?
00:23:25.26\00:23:27.36
Most of us will never
have to prepare for an Olympic
00:23:27.36\00:23:29.50
games.
00:23:29.50\00:23:30.36
But we do have a far
greater prize to reach for.
00:23:30.36\00:23:33.30
Not a medal that will
eventually be forgotten
00:23:33.30\00:23:35.53
about but a life that
we will live for all of
00:23:35.53\00:23:38.56
eternity with Jesus.
00:23:38.56\00:23:40.16
That is a wonderful
thing to strive for.
00:23:40.16\00:23:42.26
We can explore the universe
with Jesus as our guide.
00:23:42.26\00:23:45.30
There are some simple things
that Jesus advises us to do.
00:23:45.30\00:23:47.86
In the book of Joshua
(24:15) Joshua said 'choose
00:23:47.86\00:23:52.03
you this day
whom you will serve...
00:23:52.03\00:23:55.26
but as for me and my
house we will serve the Lord".
00:23:55.26\00:24:00.30
What good advice.
00:24:00.30\00:24:01.86
You can wake up each morning
and put the day into God's
00:24:01.86\00:24:04.50
hand.
00:24:04.50\00:24:05.86
The first thing we can do
every day is to reach out to
00:24:05.86\00:24:09.46
God and say "Lord I dedicate
this day to you, please use
00:24:09.46\00:24:12.13
me in your service that
I might serve you and give
00:24:12.13\00:24:14.90
honour to you during this day.
00:24:14.90\00:24:17.80
In Luke 13:24 Jesus tells
us to "strive to enter through
00:24:17.80\00:24:22.76
the narrow gate" Like an
athlete that is striving for
00:24:22.76\00:24:26.83
a gold medal, God
wants us to strive.
00:24:26.83\00:24:29.96
In the days of Paul
there was only one winner.
00:24:29.96\00:24:32.56
Everyone else was a loser.
00:24:32.56\00:24:33.43
With God we can all winners.
00:24:33.43\00:24:35.16
He doesn't line us up
according to what we have
00:24:35.16\00:24:38.23
won or achieved in this life.
00:24:38.23\00:24:40.63
If that were the case only
the fortunate, or well off,
00:24:40.63\00:24:42.90
or well educated
would reach his kingdom.
00:24:42.90\00:24:45.00
God looks upon us according
to our characters - and the
00:24:45.00\00:24:48.30
good news is that He
will give us His righteousness
00:24:48.30\00:24:51.50
and live His life in us.
00:24:51.50\00:24:53.36
You can't be a loser - and
you'll always be a winner -
00:24:53.36\00:24:58.43
when you choose
Jesus as your own.
00:24:58.43\00:25:01.30
Today I want to offer you
this special, free book on
00:25:03.33\00:25:06.06
the subject of God's
promises, including some of
00:25:06.06\00:25:08.56
the very promises God
makes to use to reassure us that
00:25:08.56\00:25:12.96
he is there for
us even when we fall.
00:25:12.96\00:25:15.23
You will find it
very encouraging.
00:25:15.23\00:25:17.16
It is called God's promises.
00:25:17.16\00:25:17.73
Dozens of promises
from the Word of God with
00:25:17.73\00:25:20.70
encouragement for you
to know God and grow in his
00:25:20.70\00:25:23.10
grace.
00:25:23.10\00:25:24.56
This is going to help you
in your daily walk with Jesus.
00:25:24.56\00:25:26.86
Just call or write
and I will send you God's
00:25:26.86\00:25:30.10
promises.
00:25:30.10\00:25:31.23
There is no cost or obligation.
00:25:31.23\00:25:33.43
It is absolutely free.
00:25:33.43\00:25:35.20
Just all this number:
1.800.253.3000 and ask for
00:25:35.20\00:25:38.73
God's Promises.
00:25:38.73\00:25:39.73
You can call 24 hours a day.
00:25:39.73\00:25:41.93
If the lines are busy,
please just keep on trying.
00:25:41.93\00:25:44.63
You can also request your
free copy of God's promises
00:25:44.63\00:25:48.13
by writing to It Is
Written, Box O, Thousand Oaks,
00:25:48.13\00:25:51.76
California 91359 and we
will mail a copy to your address
00:25:51.76\00:25:56.83
in North America.
00:25:56.83\00:25:58.40
Please note, this free
book is limited to the supply on
00:25:58.40\00:26:01.53
hand.
00:26:01.53\00:26:02.90
For immediate access,
you can download a free,
00:26:02.90\00:26:05.46
electronic version of
this book, God's Promises, from
00:26:05.46\00:26:08.36
our website itiswritten.com.
00:26:08.36\00:26:09.60
It Is Written is a
faith-based ministry made
00:26:09.60\00:26:12.50
possible by viewers like you.
00:26:12.50\00:26:15.03
I want to say Thank you
to you for your support of It
00:26:15.03\00:26:17.30
Is Written.
00:26:17.30\00:26:18.30
To support the world-wide
outreach of It Is Written,
00:26:18.30\00:26:20.80
to make it possible for
people to continue receiving
00:26:20.80\00:26:22.76
this broadcast, your tax
deductible gift may be sent
00:26:22.76\00:26:25.56
to the same address or
you can give on-line at It Is
00:26:25.56\00:26:28.36
Written.com.
00:26:28.36\00:26:30.20
Thank you for
your continued support.
00:26:30.20\00:26:32.13
Our toll-free number is
1.800.253.3000 and our web
00:26:32.13\00:26:35.76
address is itiswritten.com.
00:26:35.76\00:26:39.50
Let's pray together.
00:26:41.53\00:26:43.03
Our Father in heaven,
we thank you today for the
00:26:43.03\00:26:46.26
certainty that we can win
through Jesus and salvation
00:26:46.26\00:26:50.56
never has to be for us
a loss or even a matter of
00:26:50.56\00:26:53.13
coming in second.
00:26:53.13\00:26:54.86
I thank you that you
encourage us to strive, that
00:26:54.86\00:26:56.96
is, to strive to yield, to
strive to surrender, to put
00:26:56.96\00:27:00.23
the important things
first, and to press towards
00:27:00.23\00:27:05.13
the mark.
00:27:05.13\00:27:05.93
Bless us this day because
soon we know Jesus is coming
00:27:05.93\00:27:08.83
back.
00:27:08.83\00:27:10.43
On that wonderful day we
will receive as Paul said,
00:27:10.43\00:27:12.83
not a gold metal, but a
golden crown, a crown of gold
00:27:12.83\00:27:17.23
that will never fade away.
00:27:17.23\00:27:20.13
I ask that that
day will come soon.
00:27:20.13\00:27:23.06
In Jesus' name, amen.
00:27:23.06\00:27:28.60
Thanks for joining me today.
00:27:48.90\00:27:50.30
I look forward to
seeing you next time.
00:27:50.30\00:27:52.76
Until then, remember it
Is Written: man shall not
00:27:52.76\00:27:55.63
live by bread alone, but
by every word that proceeds
00:27:55.63\00:27:58.23
from the mouth of God.
00:27:58.23\00:28:02.30