It has stood the test of time.
00:00:07.93\00:00:12.20
God's book.
00:00:12.20\00:00:14.36
The Bible.
00:00:14.36\00:00:17.10
Still relevant in
today's complex world.
00:00:17.10\00:00:22.10
It Is Written. . .
00:00:22.10\00:00:25.46
sharing hope around the globe.
00:00:25.46\00:00:30.00
Hudson Taylor was a missionary
to China in the 19th Century.
00:00:36.86\00:00:40.76
He spent 51 years there,
and his medical missionary work
00:00:40.76\00:00:44.10
drew huge numbers of people
to make decisions for Christ.
00:00:44.10\00:00:47.73
Hudson Taylor was a real
man of faith, and he believed in
00:00:47.73\00:00:51.03
the power of prayer.
00:00:51.03\00:00:53.56
Now the story goes that there
was a time when the boat in
00:00:53.56\00:00:56.66
which he was
sailing became becalmed -
00:00:56.66\00:00:59.80
drifting because there
was no wind to fill its sails.
00:00:59.80\00:01:03.16
As a result, the vessel
drifted dangerously close to
00:01:03.16\00:01:06.63
an island inhabited by
cannibals, who were apparently
00:01:06.63\00:01:10.53
waiting excitedly to have
these sailors over for dinner.
00:01:10.53\00:01:14.33
The captain came to
Taylor and asked him to pray
00:01:14.33\00:01:17.66
for the winds to come up.
00:01:17.66\00:01:19.36
Now, Missionary Taylor
agreed to pray but only
00:01:19.36\00:01:22.16
if the captain
raised the sails first.
00:01:22.16\00:01:26.30
The captain refused because
he said he didn't want to make
00:01:26.30\00:01:30.00
a laughingstock of himself.
00:01:30.00\00:01:31.46
When the captain
later repeated his request,
00:01:31.46\00:01:34.00
Taylor replied again,
I'll not pray unless you
00:01:34.00\00:01:36.90
first put up the sails.
00:01:36.90\00:01:39.53
This time the captain
agreed to do so, and Taylor went
00:01:39.53\00:01:41.76
to his room to pray.
00:01:41.76\00:01:43.46
It wasn't long and
there was a knock at his door.
00:01:43.46\00:01:47.06
"Have you begun to pray?"
00:01:47.06\00:01:48.63
"Yes, I have", was the reply.
00:01:48.63\00:01:51.83
"Well would you please stop.
00:01:51.83\00:01:53.40
We've got more wind now
that we can safely handle!"
00:01:53.40\00:01:57.16
[speaking as if he
were yelling outloud).
00:01:57.16\00:01:59.20
Great story.
00:01:59.20\00:02:00.16
True story.
00:02:00.16\00:02:01.23
But let me ask a question:
Does it always happen that way?
00:02:01.23\00:02:06.36
What happens when you
pray, and it seems as though God
00:02:06.36\00:02:09.66
didn't answer your prayers?
00:02:09.66\00:02:12.20
Today, Prayer in the Real World.
00:02:12.20\00:02:16.33
What happens when you
pray and it doesn't work
00:02:16.33\00:02:17.80
out perfectly.
00:02:17.80\00:02:20.96
Now our story illustrates
something very important: God
00:02:20.96\00:02:24.20
is in the business of
doing great things in answer
00:02:24.20\00:02:26.90
to our prayers.
00:02:26.90\00:02:27.93
There is power in prayer.
00:02:27.93\00:02:30.33
The Bible encourages us
to pray without ceasing.
00:02:30.33\00:02:34.23
Prayer has been described
as being "the breath of the
00:02:34.23\00:02:37.50
soul." Through prayer
we communicate with God.
00:02:37.50\00:02:41.13
There can't be a real
relationship with God without
00:02:41.13\00:02:43.53
communication with God, and
a person who communicates with
00:02:43.53\00:02:46.86
God in prayer opens himself
or herself up to the blessing
00:02:46.86\00:02:51.50
of God's presence.
00:02:51.50\00:02:52.83
Prayer lifts a person up to
God and opens us up to God's
00:02:52.83\00:02:57.73
mind and God's purposes.
00:02:57.73\00:03:01.46
In that famous passage in the
Bible where Paul writes about
00:03:01.46\00:03:04.23
the armour of God, he writes
that we should be "praying
00:03:04.23\00:03:07.86
always with all prayer and
supplication in the Spirit,
00:03:07.86\00:03:11.43
and watching
thereunto with all perseverance
00:03:11.43\00:03:13.10
and
supplication for all saints."
00:03:13.10\00:03:16.60
Now, let's
analyze this a little bit.
00:03:16.60\00:03:18.86
You will see that the Bible
writer Paul urges us to pray
00:03:18.86\00:03:21.83
always; also, to bring
our requests, our petitions to
00:03:21.83\00:03:27.26
God, and to persevere in
prayer - to pray and pray
00:03:27.26\00:03:32.66
and not give up.
00:03:32.66\00:03:35.33
And Jesus taught us
exactly the same thing.
00:03:35.33\00:03:38.83
I'm going to look at a passage
in the gospel of Luke 18,
00:03:38.83\00:03:42.86
in Luke chapter 18.
00:03:42.86\00:03:43.43
We start off in verse 1.
00:03:43.43\00:03:44.76
Here's what Jesus did:
00:03:44.76\00:03:46.03
It is very evident that
God wants to hear from us,
00:03:55.10\00:03:57.30
and he cares about
what we think and feel.
00:03:57.30\00:04:00.73
And that line that says God
wants us not only to pray, but
00:04:00.73\00:04:03.86
to persevere in prayer --
God is serious about that.
00:04:03.86\00:04:07.23
He wants us to
pray and not to quit.
00:04:07.23\00:04:10.46
Now, that passage
goes on to say this: Hang
00:04:10.46\00:04:14.33
in there with me.
00:04:14.33\00:04:16.26
We are going to read
several verses together.
00:04:16.26\00:04:17.43
Still in Luke 18:
00:04:17.43\00:04:19.10
This passage
suggests several things to us.
00:05:09.76\00:05:16.16
To begin with, it teaches
us about the character of God,
00:05:16.16\00:05:19.83
not by example but by contrast.
00:05:19.83\00:05:22.76
Unlike the unjust judge,
God is willing to come to
00:05:22.76\00:05:24.96
the aid of His people.
00:05:24.96\00:05:26.43
And He is willing to do so
'speedily', the Bible says.
00:05:26.43\00:05:29.20
God wants to bless us.
00:05:29.20\00:05:32.60
He wants us to thrive.
00:05:32.60\00:05:35.03
Now that's not to say God
wants to make us all rich, or
00:05:35.03\00:05:38.10
that He wants to make us all
architects or brain surgeons,
00:05:38.10\00:05:40.93
or school teachers or
physicists or anything else.
00:05:40.93\00:05:43.33
It is to say that God wants to
bless us - that is, to prosper
00:05:43.33\00:05:49.33
us, to encourage us, maybe
to challenge us, or whatever us
00:05:49.33\00:05:53.63
in the way that God
sees is best for us.
00:05:53.63\00:05:56.13
the Bible says.
00:05:59.50\00:06:02.26
We know that for sure.
00:06:02.26\00:06:03.06
God is willing to give us
good gifts more readily than
00:06:03.06\00:06:04.76
earthly parents are willing
to give good things to their
00:06:04.76\00:06:07.83
children, according to
what it says in the Bible.
00:06:07.83\00:06:10.06
When you come to God in
prayer, you can afford to
00:06:10.06\00:06:12.90
believe that God is wanting
to give to you the very best
00:06:12.90\00:06:16.16
of blessings.
00:06:16.16\00:06:18.30
Now, think about what the
Bible says to us about prayer.
00:06:18.30\00:06:22.23
Jesus said,
00:06:22.23\00:06:24.46
That's a bit like
being given a blank cheque!
00:06:36.86\00:06:40.03
Now of course there are some
conditions that apply to this.
00:06:40.03\00:06:42.90
David wrote that if we regard
iniquity in our hearts the
00:06:42.90\00:06:45.83
Lord will not hear us.
00:06:45.83\00:06:47.50
And if we're serious about
having our prayers answered,
00:06:47.50\00:06:50.20
we've got to hunger and thirst
after righteousness - those
00:06:50.20\00:06:53.53
are the ones who will be filled.
00:06:53.53\00:06:55.86
God said that He would
pour water upon dry ground.
00:06:55.86\00:06:58.50
And one of the most remarkable
verses in the entire Bible
00:06:58.50\00:07:01.80
says this,
00:07:01.80\00:07:03.13
That is God saying, "If
I've given you Jesus, then what
00:07:18.36\00:07:21.53
would I not give you?"
00:07:21.53\00:07:23.56
And all that is good.
00:07:23.56\00:07:25.36
It's great!
00:07:25.36\00:07:27.53
It's incredible.
00:07:27.53\00:07:29.06
It's indispensable.
00:07:29.06\00:07:31.56
But as we go back to our Bible
story, we notice something.
00:07:31.56\00:07:36.16
This woman who was appealing
to the judge finally wore him
00:07:36.16\00:07:41.16
down by her "continual
coming." She's known as the
00:07:41.16\00:07:45.10
'importunate
widow' - importunate means
00:07:45.10\00:07:48.53
"troublesomely urgent",
or "persistent in request or
00:07:48.53\00:07:51.93
demand." Which indicates
that this woman did not get what
00:07:51.93\00:07:55.06
she was seeking on
the first go round.
00:07:55.06\00:07:58.16
She had to ask, and ask again.
00:07:58.16\00:08:00.63
And that sometimes
raises questions in our minds.
00:08:00.63\00:08:04.53
Let's be honest here.
00:08:04.53\00:08:07.13
If we were doing a
reality show about prayer, we'd
00:08:07.13\00:08:10.00
probably have a dozen people
living in a big house sharing
00:08:10.00\00:08:12.56
their experiences about prayer
and you know for sure there'd
00:08:12.56\00:08:16.16
be at least one person driving
a new car and enjoying great
00:08:16.16\00:08:19.53
health, tons of money, just
got a promotion at work, and
00:08:19.53\00:08:23.30
this person would be
praising the Lord because God is
00:08:23.30\00:08:26.50
answering her or his prayers.
00:08:26.50\00:08:28.30
But then there would be
someone else, who prayed
00:08:28.30\00:08:32.83
for their child to get
well and their child died.
00:08:32.83\00:08:35.86
Even though they prayed and
fasted and prayed and fasted.
00:08:35.86\00:08:41.13
[Music] [Soft crying]
00:08:41.13\00:09:02.83
There would be someone
in that house, maybe a wife
00:09:02.83\00:09:04.66
who had been praying for the
salvation of her husband, and
00:09:04.66\00:09:07.03
he never becomes a Christian.
00:09:07.03\00:09:09.36
A man prays for safe travel,
winds up being cut out of his
00:09:09.36\00:09:13.26
car by the jaws of life and he
can never walk normally again.
00:09:13.26\00:09:18.56
[Music] [sound of cane on table]
00:09:18.56\00:09:26.60
Most people can relate
to that on some level -
00:09:26.60\00:09:28.50
because many people, maybe
most people, have prayed for
00:09:28.50\00:09:32.46
sunshine and got rain instead.
00:09:32.46\00:09:34.86
And you wonder -
did God hear my prayer?
00:09:34.86\00:09:40.46
In a moment, in a moment
I am going to expose prayer
00:09:40.46\00:09:45.26
for what it REALLY is...
00:09:45.26\00:09:48.40
In Matthew 4:4
the Word of God says
00:09:48.40\00:09:53.03
Every Word is a one minute
Bible-based daily devotional
00:10:00.23\00:10:02.53
presented by Pastor
John Bradshaw and designed
00:10:02.53\00:10:05.60
especially for
busy people like you.
00:10:05.60\00:10:07.76
Look for Every Word on
selected networks or watch it
00:10:07.76\00:10:11.56
on-line everyday on our
website itiswritten.com.
00:10:11.56\00:10:15.73
Receive a daily spiritual boost.
00:10:15.73\00:10:17.90
Watch Every Word.
00:10:17.90\00:10:18.80
You'll be glad you did.
00:10:18.80\00:10:20.50
here is a sample
00:10:20.50\00:10:23.50
It isn't always a bad
thing when God doesn't
00:10:31.06\00:10:33.56
answer your prayer.
00:10:33.56\00:10:34.93
In his autobiography, "My
Dream" It Is Written founder,
00:10:34.93\00:10:38.46
George Vandeman, tells of a
time when as a young man under
00:10:38.46\00:10:41.30
heavy conviction he cried
out and said, "Holy Spirit,
00:10:41.30\00:10:44.70
leave me!
00:10:44.70\00:10:45.66
And don't ever come back!"
00:10:45.66\00:10:47.46
Thankfully, that
prayer was never answered.
00:10:47.46\00:10:49.10
In fact, that prayer
actually helped George recognize
00:10:49.10\00:10:51.86
his great need of God's grace,
and it led him on the road
00:10:51.86\00:10:55.13
to repentance.
00:10:55.13\00:10:56.56
We make mistakes.
00:10:56.56\00:10:57.63
We say things we shouldn't.
00:10:57.63\00:10:59.30
We sometimes even insult God.
00:10:59.30\00:11:01.10
And you know what?
00:11:01.10\00:11:02.23
We don't need to
think that closes the door
00:11:02.23\00:11:04.60
of mercy to us.
00:11:04.60\00:11:05.46
Psalms 103:14 says,
00:11:05.46\00:11:07.33
God knows what you're made
of, and He loves you and puts up
00:11:11.40\00:11:14.10
with you and is
patient with you anyway.
00:11:14.10\00:11:17.20
You can be glad
about that today.
00:11:17.20\00:11:18.66
I'm John Bradshaw
for It Is Written.
00:11:18.66\00:11:20.33
Let's live today by Every Word.
00:11:20.33\00:11:24.66
If you are a regular viewer
of It is Written, there's a good
00:11:24.66\00:11:27.16
chance you are curious
about who we are and what we do.
00:11:27.16\00:11:30.03
This ministry is
dedicated to sharing the gospel
00:11:30.03\00:11:33.00
around the world.
00:11:33.00\00:11:35.03
There are many ways we
try to accomplish that.
00:11:35.03\00:11:37.20
To get an inside view through
written and visual reports,
00:11:37.20\00:11:40.26
photos and videos, visit
our website: itiswritten.com and
00:11:40.26\00:11:45.26
while you are there, you
will also discover the many
00:11:45.26\00:11:48.36
inspirational resources
that are available to help you
00:11:48.36\00:11:50.56
in your Christian walk.
00:11:50.56\00:11:52.00
I invite you to
visit itiswritten.com.
00:11:52.00\00:11:55.33
You'll be glad you did.
00:11:55.33\00:11:58.33
Today, we are looking at
prayer in the real world.
00:11:59.33\00:12:02.50
You know, it's a
wonder that people don't pray
00:12:02.50\00:12:04.96
more than they do.
00:12:04.96\00:12:06.23
I read where someone wrote
that the darkness of the evil
00:12:06.23\00:12:08.96
one encloses those
who neglect to pray.
00:12:08.96\00:12:12.13
I think that's right.
00:12:12.13\00:12:13.73
And prayer doesn't have to
be drudgery: In prayer, you're
00:12:13.73\00:12:17.80
opening up your heart as to
a friend, you're talking about
00:12:17.80\00:12:21.26
things that clearly
interest you and things that are
00:12:21.26\00:12:23.40
important to you, and you're
inviting the presence of God
00:12:23.40\00:12:26.00
more and more into your life.
00:12:26.00\00:12:28.63
And don't think for a
moment that your prayers
00:12:28.63\00:12:30.73
have to be flowery,
eloquent masterpieces.
00:12:30.73\00:12:32.76
They just don't need to be.
00:12:32.76\00:12:34.03
Prayer is about honest
communication with God.
00:12:34.03\00:12:37.16
But if we're being honest ..
00:12:37.16\00:12:38.80
IF we're being honest, we'd
have to admit that sometimes
00:12:38.80\00:12:42.40
God doesn't give us
what we want when we pray.
00:12:42.40\00:12:45.63
And that's not only when
we pray the 'selfish' prayers.
00:12:45.63\00:12:48.30
You pray for a million dollars
and you don't get it, it isn't
00:12:48.30\00:12:51.13
always very hard to
figure out why that might be.
00:12:51.13\00:12:53.33
You pray for fine weather for
your daughter's wedding and it
00:12:53.33\00:12:55.73
rains, well, you know, that's
just the way it goes sometimes.
00:12:55.73\00:13:00.40
But if I can go way
deeper than that for a moment,
00:13:00.40\00:13:02.43
think about this.
00:13:02.43\00:13:04.10
You pray and pray for a
pregnancy, and finally the
00:13:04.10\00:13:06.33
pregnancy test is
positive - two red lines!
00:13:06.33\00:13:09.66
- and you look forward to this
prayed-for baby, and the big
00:13:09.66\00:13:12.46
day arrives, and the
child is born severely disabled.
00:13:12.46\00:13:18.46
That can be not
only difficult, it can be
00:13:18.46\00:13:21.36
faith-shaking.
00:13:21.36\00:13:23.86
You pray for God's blessing on
your day, and you find out two
00:13:23.86\00:13:26.13
hours later that the company
you work for is downsizing,
00:13:26.13\00:13:29.36
and, 'Well, sorry, Joe, we
appreciate all you've done for
00:13:29.36\00:13:32.30
us, but....' And now
you're facing serious
00:13:32.30\00:13:34.96
financial difficulty.
00:13:34.96\00:13:37.26
So what happened to "Ask and
you shall receive?" Now, here
00:13:37.26\00:13:40.10
is where prayer is
exposed for what it really is.
00:13:40.10\00:13:43.63
You see kids in the department
stores at Christmas time.
00:13:43.63\00:13:45.70
They sit on Santa's knee
and they tell him what they
00:13:45.70\00:13:48.03
want for Christmas.
00:13:48.03\00:13:48.86
No, that's not what prayer is.
00:13:48.86\00:13:52.26
A child with his or her
grandparent on a hot summers
00:13:52.26\00:13:54.60
day equals ice cream.
00:13:54.60\00:13:56.70
If a kid can't get ice cream
out of Grandpa on a hot day,
00:13:56.70\00:13:59.20
Grandpa has to
have a heart of granite.
00:13:59.20\00:14:03.30
But that's not what prayer is.
00:14:03.30\00:14:05.43
What prayer really is is this.
00:14:05.43\00:14:07.73
Prayer is an exercise
in learning to trust in the
00:14:07.73\00:14:10.73
sovereignty of God.
00:14:10.73\00:14:12.76
Let me explain.
00:14:12.76\00:14:13.83
Question: Who knows best?
00:14:13.83\00:14:16.46
God does.
00:14:16.46\00:14:18.63
That's right.
00:14:18.63\00:14:19.36
Does God want for our
lives what is best for us?
00:14:19.36\00:14:22.53
Oh yes He does.
00:14:22.53\00:14:24.26
Is it always easy to understand?
00:14:24.26\00:14:26.43
No, no it isn't.
00:14:26.43\00:14:28.36
A woman set out for work and
a maniac driver runs her off the
00:14:28.36\00:14:31.23
road and she totals her car.
00:14:31.23\00:14:32.26
She gets into a squabble with
insurance, her broken shoulder
00:14:32.26\00:14:36.06
never heals, it never
works the same again . . .
00:14:36.06\00:14:39.26
[Actress: Yes, please!
00:14:39.26\00:14:40.36
Somebody needs to
call me back on this claim.
00:14:40.36\00:14:42.43
I have not received any money
and I am going to be losing my
00:14:42.43\00:14:44.73
apartment. . .
00:14:44.73\00:14:47.23
[ music] . . . Yes, thank you.]
00:14:47.23\00:14:49.13
She loses time off
work and she loses money and
00:14:49.13\00:14:51.43
she finally has to move into
another apartment because she
00:14:51.43\00:14:53.33
gets behind on the rent in the
one she's in. . . Can you easily
00:14:53.33\00:14:55.80
call that "God's will?"
00:14:55.80\00:14:57.20
Not easily.
00:14:57.20\00:15:00.46
It's possible, but you
wouldn't easily entertain the
00:15:00.46\00:15:04.83
idea that God thought it
was a good idea for this woman's
00:15:04.83\00:15:07.56
life to become miserable.
00:15:07.56\00:15:09.53
Yet, is it possible that God
can bring something beautiful
00:15:09.53\00:15:15.13
out of the brokenness
of this woman's situation?
00:15:15.13\00:15:18.60
Sure it is.
00:15:18.60\00:15:19.56
Maybe not right away,
but maybe sooner or later.
00:15:19.56\00:15:23.46
I heard about a man who
worked in a Christian school,
00:15:23.46\00:15:26.16
but lost his job in
shaky circumstances.
00:15:26.16\00:15:29.26
No income, no insurance, no
explanation - just discarded
00:15:29.26\00:15:33.80
like he didn't even matter.
00:15:33.80\00:15:35.90
Was it God's will for him
to be treated so badly and meet
00:15:35.90\00:15:39.73
with so much misfortune,
in a place where he expected
00:15:39.73\00:15:42.56
to always be treated
with dignity and respect?
00:15:42.56\00:15:46.70
You'd find it hard to say
that God was wanting this man's
00:15:46.70\00:15:49.90
life to take a
turn for the worse.
00:15:49.90\00:15:52.43
But is it possible that God
could bring something good out
00:15:52.43\00:15:56.13
of this man's situation?
00:15:56.13\00:15:58.10
There's a Bible verse
that suggests that this is so.
00:15:58.10\00:16:01.10
It's in Romans 8:28,
00:16:01.10\00:16:04.03
You know what?
00:16:12.06\00:16:13.26
I had a lady tell me one time
that she believed the terrible
00:16:13.26\00:16:16.26
illness that claimed her
mother's life were the best
00:16:16.26\00:16:20.76
thing that ever
happened to her mother.
00:16:20.76\00:16:22.60
No, she wasn't
bitter or ugly either.
00:16:22.60\00:16:24.56
She was meaning that
in a kind, Christian way.
00:16:24.56\00:16:26.56
A young wife told me that
her husband's VERY serious,
00:16:26.56\00:16:31.83
life-threatening illness
was the best thing that ever
00:16:31.83\00:16:35.16
happened to their family.
00:16:35.16\00:16:36.70
The husband agreed.
00:16:36.70\00:16:39.40
Sometimes life doesn't
make a whole lot of sense.
00:16:39.40\00:16:41.66
[Music . . .] An illness.
00:16:41.66\00:16:43.26
An injury.
00:16:43.26\00:16:43.83
A job loss.
00:16:43.83\00:16:44.90
A death.
00:16:44.90\00:16:46.66
And we pray that God will
change things, and so very
00:16:46.66\00:16:48.46
often He doesn't.
00:16:48.46\00:16:52.03
You know what we're called
upon to do in times like that?
00:16:52.03\00:16:54.00
We're called upon to
trust God, to say, "I might not
00:16:54.00\00:17:00.46
understand this, but I'm
willing to trust God anyway."
00:17:00.46\00:17:05.23
A dear friend, an elderly man,
told me several times that his
00:17:05.23\00:17:08.76
grief was at times so
overwhelming having lost his
00:17:08.76\00:17:12.26
wife and his only child, that
he'd pull up a chair, he'd ask
00:17:12.26\00:17:16.56
Jesus to sit down in it,
and then talk to Jesus and say
00:17:16.56\00:17:21.70
this, he'd say, "Do you
not like me very much, to allow
00:17:21.70\00:17:26.16
these things to happen to me?"
00:17:26.16\00:17:28.86
That's honest, isn't it?
00:17:28.86\00:17:30.66
See, there's a
struggle sometimes.
00:17:30.66\00:17:32.63
Think about Joseph.
00:17:32.63\00:17:34.13
Joseph was horribly treated.
00:17:34.13\00:17:36.30
He was sold by his brothers to
be a slave in another country.
00:17:36.30\00:17:40.43
What else happened?
00:17:40.43\00:17:41.70
Falsely accused when he
got there, thrown into prison,
00:17:41.70\00:17:43.90
forgotten in a prison cell. . .
00:17:43.90\00:17:46.50
but in all of
that, what did Joseph do?
00:17:46.50\00:17:50.56
He trusted God and then . ..then
it worked out okay for him.
00:17:50.56\00:17:55.56
[Music . . .]
Now, what about the
00:17:55.56\00:17:57.96
martyrs of yesterday.
00:17:57.96\00:17:59.13
They trusted God . .
.they still lost their lives.
00:17:59.13\00:18:04.50
Let me suggest something to
you: Before we pray, it would
00:18:04.50\00:18:07.76
be good for us to understand
something about who God is.
00:18:07.76\00:18:12.60
God is the
Majesty of the universe.
00:18:12.60\00:18:16.70
He is the
Sovereign of the heavens.
00:18:16.70\00:18:19.00
And even though we might
sometimes have a hard time
00:18:19.00\00:18:21.00
understanding the vagaries
of life, we can afford to trust
00:18:21.00\00:18:25.20
God no matter what
our experiences bring us.
00:18:25.20\00:18:30.10
God has never given
you a reason to doubt him
00:18:30.10\00:18:32.90
or mistrust Him.
00:18:32.90\00:18:34.60
What he asks is this: Trust me.
00:18:34.60\00:18:40.40
Remember, way back in the
book of Genesis, the Word of God
00:18:40.40\00:18:42.00
says this: "Shall not the
God of all the earth do right?"
00:18:42.00\00:18:46.70
And we ought to be able to
say: "Yes, he will." Now, did
00:18:46.70\00:18:51.00
you ever hear the story of Job?
00:18:51.00\00:18:55.10
A good man - described by
God as 'perfect' - a man who . .
00:18:55.10\00:19:00.36
yes, prayed.
00:19:00.36\00:19:03.80
Yet Job was a man who
experienced real hardship.
00:19:03.80\00:19:07.70
Hardship didn't understand
that for a long time, couldn't
00:19:07.70\00:19:10.10
make sense of it.
00:19:10.10\00:19:12.26
We'll make sense of Job's
experience straight ahead.
00:19:12.26\00:19:16.33
[Music] Planning for your
00:19:16.33\00:19:19.86
financial future is a
vital aspect of Christian
00:19:19.86\00:19:21.53
stewardship.
00:19:21.53\00:19:22.63
For this reason, It Is Written
offers free planned giving and
00:19:22.63\00:19:25.73
estate services to our viewers.
00:19:25.73\00:19:27.56
For more information on how
we can help you, please call
00:19:27.56\00:19:30.83
1.800.922.2219.
00:19:30.83\00:19:33.53
To receive additional
material on the advantages of
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life-income plans such as a
Charitable Gift Annuity which
00:19:36.30\00:19:40.50
can provide you with tax
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00:19:40.50\00:19:43.80
Call today or visit
our planned giving website
00:19:43.80\00:19:46.96
www.hislegacy.com.
00:19:46.96\00:19:50.90
You may also
write to It Is Written
00:19:50.90\00:19:53.30
Planned Giving and
Trust Services, Box O,
00:19:53.30\00:19:56.53
Thousand Oaks, California 91359.
00:19:56.53\00:19:59.53
Our toll-free number
again 1.800.922.2219 and the web
00:19:59.53\00:20:04.96
address
hislegacy.com The book of Job
00:20:04.96\00:20:12.43
tells the story of a
man who struggled to come to
00:20:12.43\00:20:15.50
grips with the
Sovereignty of God.
00:20:15.50\00:20:18.23
Now Job was a man of prayer!
00:20:18.23\00:20:20.50
Yet, in spite of his prayers,
he suffered and he struggled,
00:20:20.50\00:20:24.50
and cried out to God
and complained in anguish.
00:20:24.50\00:20:28.06
It was as though Job was
trying to get God's attention.
00:20:28.06\00:20:32.13
But ultimately God
got Job's attention.
00:20:32.13\00:20:37.43
In Job 38 we read what I
believe is one of the most
00:20:37.43\00:20:41.20
potent passages of
Scripture in the Bible.
00:20:41.20\00:20:44.63
God speaks to Job and says
in Job 38, starting in verse 4,
00:20:44.63\00:20:49.23
That's all from Job 38.
00:21:29.10\00:21:31.70
God was saying, "Job,
just how big are you anyway?"
00:21:31.70\00:21:35.96
What Job had to
realize was this: he was just
00:21:41.73\00:21:45.33
a little man, and God is
transcendent, God is a great,
00:21:45.33\00:21:51.56
God is a perfect,
God is a mighty God.
00:21:51.56\00:21:56.33
Earlier in the book
of Job, Job had said,
00:21:56.33\00:21:58.63
You know something?
00:22:01.60\00:22:04.50
God wants us to
pray like we mean it.
00:22:04.50\00:22:07.43
One thing I know that every
person needs is the presence
00:22:07.43\00:22:10.60
of God, and God's presence
is manifest most powerfully in
00:22:10.60\00:22:15.33
answer to our prayers.
00:22:15.33\00:22:16.30
God said this,
00:22:16.30\00:22:18.00
God promises to do great
things in answer to our prayers.
00:22:32.66\00:22:36.03
But he doesn't promise to
always do things that make
00:22:36.03\00:22:40.33
a lot of sense to
us, at least at the time.
00:22:40.33\00:22:43.43
And in those moments
we're called to trust.
00:22:43.43\00:22:46.06
That's prayer in the real
world and we can trust the
00:22:46.06\00:22:49.03
heart of God.
00:22:49.03\00:22:50.43
You know, it's my conviction
that we're living on the
00:22:50.43\00:22:53.20
edge of eternity.
00:22:53.20\00:22:54.26
No, I'm not setting a date,
I simply believe that on God's
00:22:54.26\00:22:57.76
time clock there's not a lot
of time left for Planet Earth.
00:22:57.76\00:23:01.30
And if you read the Bible,
it indicates that there are some
00:23:01.30\00:23:05.66
times ahead for people of
faith that will really try
00:23:05.66\00:23:08.33
their faith.
00:23:08.33\00:23:10.33
What then?
00:23:10.33\00:23:12.73
God would have you and me
possess a faith so real, that
00:23:12.73\00:23:16.70
regardless of our experiences,
no matter what we are called
00:23:16.70\00:23:20.36
to go through, we
can still trust Him.
00:23:20.36\00:23:23.83
The reality is this: The Bible
says we have a High Priest in
00:23:23.83\00:23:28.13
heaven - his name is
Jesus - interceding for us.
00:23:28.13\00:23:31.93
You know, Satan knows that,
and he wants to keep us from
00:23:31.93\00:23:35.53
being connected to Jesus.
00:23:35.53\00:23:37.10
Jesus said that we are to come
boldly to the throne of grace
00:23:37.10\00:23:40.36
so that we could obtain
mercy, and grace to help
00:23:40.36\00:23:43.13
in time of need.
00:23:43.13\00:23:44.40
If we get mercy, and if we
get grace to help us in our time
00:23:44.40\00:23:46.93
of need, via the practice of
prayer, you can be sure Satan
00:23:46.93\00:23:52.03
will do all he can to
KEEP you from praying.
00:23:52.03\00:23:58.33
Now keep in mind: Prayer
doesn't work any change in
00:23:58.33\00:24:03.33
God; prayer it is to
bring us into harmony with Him.
00:24:03.33\00:24:10.36
The greatest example of
what I'm talking about was given
00:24:10.36\00:24:15.56
to us by Jesus Himself.
00:24:15.56\00:24:17.73
The spotless Lamb of
God, guilty of nothing except
00:24:17.73\00:24:20.60
faithfulness and love and
mercy and kindness, well now
00:24:20.60\00:24:23.83
he finds Himself being
propelled towards the cross on
00:24:23.83\00:24:27.93
which He would die.
00:24:27.93\00:24:29.60
As Jesus looked ahead to
the cross He did not deserve to
00:24:29.60\00:24:32.13
die on, He actually
shrank back from that experience
00:24:32.13\00:24:35.90
in His humanity.
00:24:35.90\00:24:37.43
He prayed to His
Father saying, "Lord, if it is
00:24:37.43\00:24:39.96
possible, let
this cup pass from me.
00:24:39.96\00:24:42.90
If we can avoid this,
I'd be happy to do so.
00:24:42.90\00:24:45.50
I don't really want to die
on a cross." But Jesus prayed,
00:24:45.50\00:24:50.43
"Nevertheless, not my
will, but thine be done.
00:24:50.43\00:24:56.73
I don't want this, but if it
is your will, I'm all for it.
00:24:56.73\00:25:01.10
If you think this is the
way to go, I'll go trusting
00:25:01.10\00:25:04.76
You..." That's real trust.
00:25:04.76\00:25:06.30
And you can trust
God in just the same way.
00:25:06.30\00:25:11.10
That's prayer in the real world.
00:25:11.10\00:25:14.13
It doesn't always work out
the way we wish but it does work
00:25:14.13\00:25:17.66
out if we trust
God and let God be God.
00:25:17.66\00:25:22.10
Let's pray together.
00:25:22.10\00:25:23.46
÷Music . . .] Our Father in
00:25:23.46\00:25:26.50
heaven, we have had many
experiences where we have
00:25:26.50\00:25:28.70
prayed for something
great, maybe for somebody to be
00:25:28.70\00:25:31.13
healed and it
didn't work out our way.
00:25:31.13\00:25:34.66
We prayed for experiences
in our own lives and we have
00:25:34.66\00:25:37.00
ended up going
through difficult experiences.
00:25:37.00\00:25:41.23
I pray that you will
help us to trust you.
00:25:41.23\00:25:44.86
Remind us that prayer in the
real world isn't all about us
00:25:44.86\00:25:47.76
taking a shopping list to you
and having you fill that out.
00:25:47.76\00:25:51.43
It's about communication
and wrestling and trusting,
00:25:51.43\00:25:54.60
and having faith.
00:25:54.60\00:25:57.10
Let us be people of
prayer and people of faith as we
00:25:57.10\00:26:02.06
experience prayer in the
real world, I pray, in Jesus'
00:26:02.06\00:26:06.60
name...Amen.
00:26:06.60\00:26:14.96
Perhaps our program today
has touched your heart and
00:26:30.33\00:26:32.60
impressed you with a personal
need for deeper Bible study.
00:26:32.60\00:26:35.80
If you desire to listen to
God and follow where He leads,
00:26:35.80\00:26:39.00
we've got a wonderful resource
that can help you do that
00:26:39.00\00:26:41.90
in a systemic way...
00:26:41.90\00:26:42.93
the Discover Bible Guides.
00:26:42.93\00:26:44.90
These study guides will
take you through the essential
00:26:44.90\00:26:47.60
truths taught in Scripture.
00:26:47.60\00:26:49.16
They give you the big
picture showing how it
00:26:49.16\00:26:51.43
all fits together.
00:26:51.43\00:26:52.83
The Discover Bible Guides
are a wonderful way for you to
00:26:52.83\00:26:55.53
become grounded in the
Word of God and to see how Jesus
00:26:55.53\00:26:58.83
Christ relates to all
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00:26:58.83\00:27:01.90
Please call or write us and
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00:27:01.90\00:27:05.36
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00:27:05.36\00:27:06.66
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00:27:14.03\00:27:16.46
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00:27:16.46\00:27:19.26
[Music ..]
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00:27:23.06\00:27:24.90
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00:27:28.06\00:27:31.60
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00:27:31.60\00:27:33.56
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00:27:36.93\00:27:39.16
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00:27:39.16\00:27:42.43
Thank you for your letters
and for your continued support.
00:27:42.43\00:27:44.60
Thanks for joining me today.
00:27:44.60\00:27:48.06
I look forward to
seeing you next time.
00:27:48.06\00:27:51.10
Until then, remember...
00:27:51.10\00:27:52.30
It is written, Man shall
not live by bread alone but by
00:27:52.30\00:27:56.16
every word that
proceeds from the mouth of God.
00:27:56.16\00:27:59.96
[Music . . .]
00:27:59.96\00:28:02.10