[Theme music]
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[Theme music]
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>>John Bradshaw: This is It
Is Written. I'm John Bradshaw.
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Thanks for joining me. In 2011,
a 53-year-old man walked out
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into the waters
of San Francisco Bay.
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Bystanders became worried
the man might drown; in fact,
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it appeared as though he
was intent on harming himself.
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So they called
authorities, and before long,
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police officers and firefighters
were right there at the scene.
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But, the first responders
didn't do anything to help.
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Now, I know that
doesn't sound right,
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but that's
exactly what happened.
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And it happened
because, among other reasons,
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a policy instituted
two years before prohibited
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water rescues there.
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Budget cuts meant that water
rescue training was no longer
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being given, and the
rules were the rules, and so,
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at the end of the day,
the 53-year-old man was dead,
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and the first
responders were dry.
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And, most importantly,
the rules had been obeyed.
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Honestly, they did the wrong
thing for all the right reasons.
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You don't just stand
by and watch for an hour
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while somebody drowns.
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But you don't disobey city
rules if you're a city employee.
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And it's possible
to do the right thing
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for the wrong reasons.
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We see that today, as we
look at one of the parables
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Jesus taught as part
of our ongoing series,
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"Lessons for All Time."
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The parable that we're
going to look at together
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is found in the Bible's
book of Luke, in chapter 18.
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It's a parable that deals with
prayer and persisting in prayer.
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Now, it deals with a God who
loves to answer your prayers.
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We'll start in Luke,
chapter 18 and verse 1.
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The Bible says:
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Then He spoke a parable to them,
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that men ought always
to pray and not lose heart.
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Now, this is helpful because
here at the beginning of the
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parable we're told
what the parable is about:
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that we should pray and
not lose heart, not give up.
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And before we're done today,
I'm going to share with you
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seven secrets of
effective, difference-making,
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potentially
life-altering prayer.
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So let me ask you,
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have you ever been tempted
to quit praying about something?
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Maybe you've done just
that. My marriage is never going
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to improve, so there's
no point praying about it.
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My father will never get well,
so why should we pray for him?
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I'll never get a job, or,
or we're never going to be able
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to make this business
successful, so what's the use?
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Why pray? I'll
share something with you.
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Some years ago a young lady told
me that her parents' marriage
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had fallen apart and that they
had stopped going to church.
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Her dad had gone back to
drinking, her three brothers
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had given up following God,
and she herself was up and down,
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mostly down, in her faith.
And she told me right then
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and there, she was recommitting
her life to God, and that she
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was going to pray and work to
bring her whole family back to
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faith in God. And I thought the
chances of that ever happening
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were somewhere
between slim and none.
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But I encouraged her,
and I prayed with her,
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and I thought to
myself as I prayed,
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this is never going to happen.
I had faith in God, but I didn't
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have faith in that situation.
Which I guess really meant
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I did not have faith in
God. So how do you think that
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situation worked out?
I'll tell you a little later.
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In this parable in Luke 18,
Jesus encourages us to continue
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to pray, to not give up on God,
to continue to believe that God
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can do great things, even
when it appears he might not.
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So let's go back
to Luke, chapter 18.
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We'll pick this up in
verse 2, where Jesus said:
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"There was in a certain city,
a judge who did not fear God,
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Nor regard man.
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Now there was a
widow in that city;
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and she came to him, saying
"avenge me of my adversary"
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and he would not for a while;
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but afterward he
said within himself,
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"Though I do not
fear God nor regard man,
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yet because this widow
troubles me I will avenge her,
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lest by her
continual coming she weary me"
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Then the Lord said "hear
what the unjust judge said.
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And shall not God
avenge his own elect
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who cry day and night to him,
Though he bears long with them?"
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I tell you that he
will avenge them speedily.
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Nevertheless, when
the son of man comes,
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will He really find
faith on the Earth?"
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That's Luke 18,
verses 1 through 8.
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The judge Jesus, is
talking about was clear:
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I do not fear God and I do not
regard my fellow human being.
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This was a character who didn't
feel any great responsibility
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to anyone but himself, and, for
a while, wouldn't help the widow
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who came to him for
help. Now, keep this in mind:
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without a welfare system,
and in a patriarchal society,
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that widow needed
the help of the judge.
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But he wouldn't even help her.
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You know, there are people in
the world who live for others.
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They're helpers.
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They invest
themselves in others.
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They minister to others.
Warren Buffett has pledged
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to give away 99% of his wealth.
Bill Gates said he'd give away
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the vast majority of his
resources, because these men
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and others like them feel a
responsibility to help others.
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Now, you could say the
same and maybe a whole lot more
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for teachers and police
officers, and volunteers,
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and a thousand different causes.
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People like
Mother Teresa or Gandhi.
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People could have made a whole
lot more money than they made,
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and live far more
comfortably than they lived,
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except they felt and they
responded to a higher calling.
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But the judge in
this parable was,
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was cut from a different
cloth. The widow comes to him
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repeatedly, telling
him about the injustice
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that she's suffered.
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But over and over again,
the judge just turns her aside.
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But where another might
quit, this woman is persistent,
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and she keeps on coming back,
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determined that
she'll get justice.
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Eventually the
judge grows weary of her
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showing up in his courtroom
again and again and again.
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So eventually we hear his
words as Jesus recounts them:
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"Though I do not
fear God nor regard man,
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yet because this widow
troubles me I will avenge her,
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lest by her
continual coming she weary me"
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That's Luke 18, verses 4 and 5.
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Now, Jesus is
teaching us something here.
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But this is a really interesting
way for him to do it.
00:08:23.40\00:08:26.60
This is a classic case
of a self-serving politician
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who does the right
thing for the wrong reason.
00:08:30.47\00:08:34.28
He doesn't care about justice.
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He doesn't care
about the widow's plight.
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He doesn't care about the
wrong that she has endured.
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He just wants her to go away.
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So, in the end, he does
the right thing for the woman,
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though he does not do the right
thing for the right reasons.
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[Background music]
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So what's the lesson here?
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What's Jesus
telling us about God?
00:08:52.29\00:08:55.00
Is God like that?
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We keep praying and
pleading until finally God says,
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"All right, all right"? Is
God like, is God like that?
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We'll find out in just a moment.
00:09:03.00\00:09:04.67
[Music]
00:09:04.71\00:09:11.55
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into the
parables of Jesus Christ,
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and receive this week's
free offer, "The Unfair Judge."
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Here's how to get
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ItIsWritten.com,
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Planning for your financial
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[Music]
00:10:40.97\00:10:47.58
This is It Is
Written. I'm John Bradshaw.
00:10:47.61\00:10:49.78
I'm glad you've joined me.
We're continuing our series
00:10:49.81\00:10:52.78
on the parables of
Jesus: Lessons for All Time.
00:10:52.81\00:10:56.95
And today we're looking at
the parable of the unjust judge,
00:10:56.99\00:10:59.39
sometimes referred to as the
story of the importunate widow.
00:10:59.42\00:11:04.06
A certain judge dismisses
a woman's plea for justice,
00:11:04.09\00:11:06.56
but finally says, "Even
though I don't care about God
00:11:06.59\00:11:09.43
or my fellow man,
I'll help this woman
00:11:09.46\00:11:11.10
because I'm tired of her coming
to me and bugging me about this.
00:11:11.13\00:11:14.70
So what lesson could Jesus
be trying to teach us in a story
00:11:14.74\00:11:17.51
about an unethical
judge who has no time for God?
00:11:17.54\00:11:21.41
Let's go back to the
parable and pick it up
00:11:21.44\00:11:22.81
in Luke 18, and verse 6:
00:11:22.84\00:11:25.85
"Then the lord said, "hear
what the unjust judge said.
00:11:25.88\00:11:29.28
And shall not God
avenge his own elect which
00:11:29.32\00:11:32.29
cry day and night to Him,
though he bears long with them?"
00:11:32.32\00:11:36.83
I tell you that He
will avenge them speedily.
00:11:36.86\00:11:39.33
Nevertheless, when
the son of man comes,
00:11:39.36\00:11:41.40
will he really find
faith on the earth?"
00:11:41.43\00:11:44.47
Jesus says, "Okay,
listen to the judge.
00:11:44.50\00:11:46.47
See what he's like." Jesus
says, "God is not like that."
00:11:46.50\00:11:52.34
When God's people come
to him in prayer, God hears.
00:11:52.37\00:11:55.48
God is willing to help.
God does not turn a deaf ear.
00:11:55.51\00:11:59.25
But have you ever had an
experience where you've prayed
00:11:59.28\00:12:03.28
and prayed, and you feel
like God just hasn't answered?
00:12:03.32\00:12:06.59
You've prayed for a sick
relative who didn't get well.
00:12:06.62\00:12:09.26
Maybe you've prayed
about a financial situation
00:12:09.29\00:12:12.16
and it never seemed to resolve.
Or you've prayed to save your
00:12:12.19\00:12:14.46
marriage and [thumbs down].
So what do we make of that?
00:12:14.50\00:12:19.73
When prayers like
that are not answered,
00:12:19.77\00:12:21.77
it isn't because God
isn't willing to pour out
00:12:21.80\00:12:24.37
his blessings.
00:12:24.41\00:12:25.91
Now, it's not easy to
know always why God didn't
00:12:25.94\00:12:28.78
answer your prayer
the way you wanted Him to.
00:12:28.81\00:12:31.38
But it might simply be
because the time wasn't right.
00:12:31.41\00:12:34.15
It might be because you're
asking for the wrong thing.
00:12:34.18\00:12:36.85
It might be for
reasons we can't understand.
00:12:36.89\00:12:38.72
It might be because
there's other people involved
00:12:38.75\00:12:40.52
and they did not yield
their heart to the will of God.
00:12:40.56\00:12:44.79
Keep in mind that
God isn't Santa Claus.
00:12:44.83\00:12:47.23
He's not the tooth fairy.
00:12:47.23\00:12:49.33
We don't always
get what we want.
00:12:49.36\00:12:51.80
And that has to be okay.
It's important to trust God,
00:12:51.83\00:12:56.14
even when you think
things are not going your way.
00:12:56.17\00:12:59.77
It's really important
that we don't view God
00:12:59.81\00:13:02.18
as an unjust judge,
unwilling to help his people,
00:13:02.21\00:13:05.31
unwilling to bless.
00:13:05.35\00:13:06.88
All over the Bible
you'll read about God's mercy.
00:13:06.92\00:13:09.35
You just can't escape here.
Here's Psalm 103, verse 11.
00:13:09.38\00:13:12.42
The Bible says: For
as the Heavens are high
00:13:12.45\00:13:15.02
above the Earth, so great is his
mercy toward those who fear him;
00:13:15.06\00:13:19.66
Six times the Bible says,
00:13:19.69\00:13:22.00
"Oh, give thanks to
the Lord, for he is good,
00:13:22.03\00:13:24.70
for his mercy endures
forever." Psalm 136 says,
00:13:24.73\00:13:28.47
"For his mercy
endures forever" 26 times.
00:13:28.50\00:13:32.84
God wants us to
have a clear picture
00:13:32.87\00:13:34.78
of what he's really
like. This parable teaches us
00:13:34.81\00:13:38.38
something by contrast.
00:13:38.41\00:13:40.48
There's an unjust
judge, but that's not God.
00:13:40.52\00:13:44.42
But let's look at this further.
00:13:44.45\00:13:45.79
The woman in Jesus' parable
petitions the unjust judge to
00:13:45.82\00:13:48.99
"avenge me of my
adversary." Luke 18, verse 3.
00:13:49.02\00:13:52.89
The Bible says that God's people
have a persistent adversary
00:13:52.93\00:13:56.77
who accuses them day
and night before God.
00:13:56.80\00:14:00.20
And that's Satan, the great
adversary of God and humanity.
00:14:00.24\00:14:04.07
The Book of
Revelation speaks of Satan as:
00:14:04.11\00:14:05.91
"the accuser of our
brethren, who accused them
00:14:05.94\00:14:09.34
before our God day and night"
00:14:09.38\00:14:11.98
Revelation 12, verse 10.
00:14:12.01\00:14:13.72
A really clear example of that
is found in the book of Job.
00:14:13.75\00:14:17.32
It's one of the greatest
narratives in all the Bible
00:14:17.35\00:14:20.32
on purity,
patience and perseverance.
00:14:20.36\00:14:23.36
Let's look at what the
Bible says in Job, chapter 1.
00:14:23.39\00:14:26.56
It says this:
00:14:26.59\00:14:27.86
And the Lord said to
Satan, "From where do you come?"
00:14:27.93\00:14:32.27
So Satan answered
the Lord and said,
00:14:32.30\00:14:34.30
"From going to
and fro on the Earth,
00:14:34.34\00:14:37.11
and from walking
back and forth on it."
00:14:37.14\00:14:39.71
Then the Lord said to Satan,
00:14:39.74\00:14:42.11
have you
considered my servant Job,
00:14:42.14\00:14:45.01
that there is none
like him on the Earth,
00:14:45.05\00:14:47.82
a blameless and upright man,
00:14:47.85\00:14:50.19
one who fears
God and shuns evil?"
00:14:50.22\00:14:53.46
That's Job,
chapter 1, verses 7 and 8.
00:14:53.49\00:14:55.96
It's a great story.
00:14:55.99\00:14:57.43
Satan goes on to accuse
Job of being true to God
00:14:57.46\00:15:00.40
only because God has
so obviously blessed him
00:15:00.43\00:15:02.73
with prosperity.
00:15:02.76\00:15:04.23
God then allows
Satan to test Job.
00:15:04.27\00:15:07.17
As Job loses everything;
wealth, children, property;
00:15:07.20\00:15:13.64
everything but a nagging
wife and three individuals
00:15:13.68\00:15:16.85
who give new
meaning to the old saying,
00:15:16.88\00:15:19.18
"With friends like
that, who needs enemies?"
00:15:19.21\00:15:21.75
Yet through it all,
the Bible says that:
00:15:21.78\00:15:24.69
In all this Job did not
sin nor charge God with wrong.
00:15:24.72\00:15:29.76
Job 1 verse 22.
00:15:29.79\00:15:31.79
At one point Job even
declares speaking of God:
00:15:31.83\00:15:34.30
Though He slay me,
yet will I trust him.
00:15:34.30\00:15:37.73
Job 13:15
00:15:37.77\00:15:39.37
In the end, Job is
blessed for his faithfulness,
00:15:39.40\00:15:42.44
and God gives him a brand
new family and twice as much
00:15:42.47\00:15:44.97
material wealth
as he had before.
00:15:45.01\00:15:47.38
God avenged his
faithful servant,
00:15:47.41\00:15:50.41
and put the
accusing adversary to shame.
00:15:50.45\00:15:53.42
Now, it didn't happen overnight,
and it called for real faith
00:15:53.45\00:15:57.02
on the part of Job.
00:15:57.05\00:15:58.35
But that's the point of
the parable that we should pray
00:15:58.39\00:16:00.96
always and not faint. Not quit.
00:16:00.99\00:16:04.93
You don't want
to give up on God,
00:16:04.96\00:16:06.83
because God
never gives up on you.
00:16:06.86\00:16:10.87
Now, there's another story like
this in the book of Zechariah,
00:16:10.90\00:16:13.90
the second last book
of the Old Testament.
00:16:13.94\00:16:17.07
Joshua, the high priest of
Israel, is representing God's
00:16:17.11\00:16:19.84
people before God's
throne. The scene takes place
00:16:19.87\00:16:22.34
after the Babylonian captivity
and the restoration of Israel.
00:16:22.38\00:16:26.05
Joshua, as the representative
of God's covenant community,
00:16:26.08\00:16:29.62
is dressed in the filthy attire
that represents Israel's sin.
00:16:29.65\00:16:34.56
And as in the story of
Job, Joshua has an accuser
00:16:34.59\00:16:38.76
standing by his side.
00:16:38.79\00:16:40.90
We'll pick up the story
00:16:40.93\00:16:41.83
in Zechariah, chapter
3, starting in verse 1:
00:16:41.86\00:16:46.90
Then he showed me
Joshua the high priest
00:16:46.94\00:16:49.57
standing before
the Angel of the Lord,
00:16:49.60\00:16:52.07
and Satan standing at
his right hand to oppose him.
00:16:52.11\00:16:55.81
And the Lord said to Satan,
“The Lord rebuke you, Satan!
00:16:55.84\00:16:59.65
The Lord who has
chosen Jerusalem rebuke you!
00:16:59.68\00:17:02.88
Is this not a brand
plucked from the fire?”
00:17:02.92\00:17:05.62
Now Joshua was
clothed with filthy garments,
00:17:05.65\00:17:09.22
and was standing
before the Angel.
00:17:09.26\00:17:11.79
Then He answered
00:17:11.83\00:17:12.79
and spoke to those who
stood before Him saying,
00:17:12.83\00:17:15.33
“Take away the
filthy garments from him.”
00:17:15.36\00:17:18.53
And to him He said,
00:17:18.57\00:17:19.67
“See, I have removed
your iniquity from you,
00:17:19.70\00:17:23.57
and I will clothe
you with rich robes.”
00:17:23.61\00:17:27.24
That's Zechariah 3:1 through 4.
00:17:27.28\00:17:30.85
Again, Satan is accusing God's
people, and God comes quickly
00:17:30.88\00:17:34.98
to Joshua's defense.
And Joshua is vindicated.
00:17:35.02\00:17:39.42
These are stories that
ought to encourage you,
00:17:39.45\00:17:41.02
because everyday Christianity
isn't always neat and tidy.
00:17:41.06\00:17:44.86
There's something of
Job's experience and Zechariah's
00:17:44.89\00:17:47.96
experience in all of
us. Bad things happen.
00:17:48.00\00:17:51.67
Circumstances and
events can come crashing down
00:17:51.70\00:17:54.67
on the most sincere
and dedicated believer.
00:17:54.70\00:17:56.91
Months and years
of adversity can pass,
00:17:56.94\00:18:00.88
and it can look
like it'll never end.
00:18:00.91\00:18:03.45
You're praying, you're praying,
you wonder if there's anyone
00:18:03.48\00:18:05.75
out there
listening. And there is.
00:18:05.78\00:18:08.55
God hears you. And he's willing
00:18:08.58\00:18:10.72
to move and to
act when you call.
00:18:10.75\00:18:12.65
Jesus said in John 14:14,
"If you ask anything in my name,
00:18:12.69\00:18:17.39
I will do it."
00:18:17.43\00:18:18.83
Now, do be careful.
00:18:18.86\00:18:20.36
You want to pray
according to God's will.
00:18:20.40\00:18:22.33
You want to pray real prayers.
But that's what Christ said.
00:18:22.36\00:18:26.84
Powerful.
00:18:26.87\00:18:27.84
Now, I'm going to
share with you seven secrets
00:18:27.87\00:18:30.14
of successful prayer. I'll
have them in just a moment.
00:18:30.17\00:18:32.67
[Music]
00:18:32.71\00:18:41.38
>>Announcer: In Matthew
4:4, the Word of God says:
00:18:41.42\00:18:43.89
“It is written, ‘Man
shall not live by bread alone,
00:18:43.92\00:18:46.82
but by every word that proceeds
from the mouth of God.'”
00:18:46.86\00:18:50.99
"Every Word" is a one-minute,
Bible-based daily devotional
00:18:51.03\00:18:54.20
presented by
Pastor John Bradshaw,
00:18:54.23\00:18:55.93
and designed especially
for busy people like you.
00:18:55.96\00:18:59.07
Look for Every Word on selected
networks, or watch it online
00:18:59.10\00:19:03.30
every day on our
website, ItIsWritten.com.
00:19:03.34\00:19:06.81
Receive a daily spiritual
boost. Watch "Every Word."
00:19:06.84\00:19:10.35
You'll be glad you
did. Here's a sample.
00:19:10.38\00:19:14.28
[Theme music]
00:19:14.32\00:19:20.49
>> John Bradshaw: I've been
asked a lot about how to know
00:19:20.52\00:19:22.72
God's will in
certain situations.
00:19:22.76\00:19:25.19
That can be a difficult
question to answer at times.
00:19:25.23\00:19:27.83
But there are some
things about God's will
00:19:27.86\00:19:29.43
that are easy to
know. Listen to this.
00:19:29.46\00:19:31.53
John 6:40 says:
00:19:31.57\00:19:33.57
And this is the
will of Him who sent Me,
00:19:33.60\00:19:35.64
that everyone who sees
the Son and believes in Him
00:19:35.67\00:19:38.21
may have everlasting life;
00:19:38.24\00:19:39.97
and I will raise
him up at the last day.”
00:19:40.01\00:19:43.35
Did you catch that?
God's will is for you
00:19:43.38\00:19:45.65
to have everlasting life.
00:19:45.68\00:19:47.18
Now, what adjective are you
going to use to describe that?
00:19:47.22\00:19:50.15
Outstanding!
00:19:50.19\00:19:51.22
Remarkable!
00:19:51.25\00:19:52.02
Extraordinary!
00:19:52.05\00:19:53.05
Phenomenal!
00:19:53.09\00:19:54.59
If you believe in Jesus,
00:19:54.62\00:19:55.79
it's God's will
that you live forever.
00:19:55.82\00:19:58.23
And if you don't
believe in Jesus,
00:19:58.26\00:19:59.89
it's God's will that you do,
so you can have eternal life.
00:19:59.93\00:20:03.33
God's will for you right now is
the best it could possibly be.
00:20:03.37\00:20:07.44
Let that encourage you today.
00:20:07.47\00:20:08.94
I'm John Bradshaw
for It Is Written.
00:20:08.97\00:20:11.31
Let's live today by every word.
00:20:11.34\00:20:14.98
[Theme music]
00:20:15.01\00:20:21.65
>>John Bradshaw: In the
parable of the unjust judge,
00:20:21.68\00:20:23.95
Jesus teaches us by
contrast what God is like.
00:20:23.99\00:20:27.96
God is not like the man who only
helped the importunate widow
00:20:27.99\00:20:30.73
because he didn't want to
be bothered by her any longer.
00:20:30.76\00:20:33.56
God is willing to bless you and
help you and answer your prayers
00:20:33.60\00:20:36.53
according to
His will and wisdom.
00:20:36.56\00:20:40.47
But here's a question:
00:20:40.50\00:20:41.97
How do we get
through to God when we pray?
00:20:42.00\00:20:44.47
How can our prayers
succeed, like the perseverance
00:20:44.51\00:20:48.01
of the widow in Jesus' parable?
00:20:48.04\00:20:49.88
I want to give you seven
secrets of successful prayer.
00:20:49.91\00:20:54.05
Number one: You
have to feel a need.
00:20:54.08\00:20:57.45
God declares in his word:
00:20:57.49\00:20:58.62
For I will pour water
on him who is thirsty,
00:20:58.65\00:21:01.26
And floods on the dry ground;
00:21:01.29\00:21:03.22
Isaiah 44, verse 3.
00:21:03.26\00:21:04.63
Jesus spoke of how those
who think themselves perfectly
00:21:04.66\00:21:08.86
healthy don't need a
physician. If we come before God
00:21:08.90\00:21:12.30
feeling no particular
need, we can't expect him
00:21:12.33\00:21:15.17
to intervene in our behalf.
00:21:15.20\00:21:17.14
Okay, second of seven
secrets of successful prayer.
00:21:17.17\00:21:20.44
Number two: Don't
cherish known sin.
00:21:20.48\00:21:25.15
We read in the Psalms:
00:21:25.18\00:21:26.35
If I regard iniquity in my
heart, the Lord will not hear.
00:21:26.38\00:21:29.88
That's Psalm 66, verse 18.
00:21:29.92\00:21:31.45
That's not to say God doesn't
answer the prayers of sinners.
00:21:31.49\00:21:34.46
He does.
00:21:34.49\00:21:35.52
But when you are loving
the sin and clinging to it
00:21:35.56\00:21:39.16
when you know
better, there's a problem,
00:21:39.19\00:21:41.56
and it gets in the way of
your prayers being answered.
00:21:41.60\00:21:45.23
Number three: Have faith.
00:21:45.27\00:21:48.24
The book of Hebrews tells us:
00:21:48.27\00:21:50.14
he who comes to God
must believe that He is,
00:21:50.17\00:21:53.54
and that He is a rewarder of
those who diligently seek Him.
00:21:53.58\00:21:56.78
Hebrews 11:6
00:21:56.81\00:21:58.01
Jesus said in Matthew 21:22:
00:21:58.05\00:21:59.81
And all things, whatsoever
ye shall ask in prayer;
00:21:59.85\00:22:04.05
believing ye shall recieve.
00:22:04.09\00:22:06.86
And that's, that's a
pretty big statement.
00:22:06.89\00:22:09.36
Keep this in mind:
00:22:09.39\00:22:10.49
we don't pray simply to
convince God to do what we want.
00:22:10.53\00:22:13.63
Ultimately, prayer is about
finding out what God wants.
00:22:13.66\00:22:17.60
And when you're convinced
something is God's will,
00:22:17.63\00:22:19.50
you take hold of the
throne of God and don't let go.
00:22:19.53\00:22:23.64
And believe, have
faith, that God is able.
00:22:23.67\00:22:28.44
Number four: Be
willing to forgive others.
00:22:28.48\00:22:32.51
Now, this is where it
gets touch for a lot of people,
00:22:32.55\00:22:35.22
because it's easy to hold
a grudge and remember wrongs.
00:22:35.25\00:22:39.72
But Jesus is very clear that
unless we are willing to forgive
00:22:39.75\00:22:42.96
those who've done us
wrong, God can't forgive us.
00:22:42.99\00:22:46.80
“For if you forgive
men their trespasses,
00:22:46.83\00:22:48.36
your heavenly Father
will also forgive you.
00:22:48.40\00:22:51.23
But if you do not
forgive men their trespasses,
00:22:51.27\00:22:54.54
neither will your
Father forgive your trespasses.
00:22:54.57\00:22:57.71
That's Matthew
6, verses 14 and 15.
00:22:57.74\00:23:00.14
Forgiveness is
just a good idea anyway.
00:23:00.18\00:23:05.65
A World War II veteran who had
been brutally treated as a POW
00:23:05.68\00:23:08.32
and came home with
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
00:23:08.35\00:23:11.62
said that he saw his
nightmares stop completely
00:23:11.65\00:23:15.32
after he made the
decision to forgive his captors.
00:23:15.36\00:23:19.03
He even went back to
where he had been a prisoner
00:23:19.06\00:23:22.20
and personally forgave
the people who tortured him.
00:23:22.23\00:23:25.53
He said several of
them became Christians.
00:23:25.57\00:23:28.97
Number five of the seven
secrets of successful prayer:
00:23:29.00\00:23:33.04
Persevere.
00:23:33.07\00:23:34.54
Just like the
woman in the parable.
00:23:34.58\00:23:36.44
Remember, Jesus told us this
story to encourage us always
00:23:36.48\00:23:40.18
to pray and not to faint.
00:23:40.22\00:23:41.92
Paul told us to
pray without ceasing,
00:23:41.95\00:23:44.65
I Thessalonians 5, verse 17.
00:23:44.69\00:23:47.06
Giving up shouldn't be an
option when it comes to prayer.
00:23:47.09\00:23:50.66
What if the leaders of the Civil
Rights Movement had all decided
00:23:50.69\00:23:53.43
it wasn't worth the trouble?
What if anti-apartheid activists
00:23:53.46\00:23:56.36
gave up when it looked like they
weren't making any progress?
00:23:56.40\00:23:59.60
A man I know walked away from
God when he was 17 years old,
00:23:59.63\00:24:03.07
and his mother prayed for
him every day for decades.
00:24:03.10\00:24:09.28
And when she was 99 years
old, she witnessed that son
00:24:09.31\00:24:14.88
being baptized. She persevered.
00:24:14.92\00:24:18.59
Number six: Pray anywhere.
00:24:18.62\00:24:20.89
In the story of Nehemiah,
00:24:20.92\00:24:23.29
King Artaxerxes asks
Nehemiah what he wanted.
00:24:23.32\00:24:26.49
And before he
answered, Nehemiah prayed.
00:24:26.53\00:24:29.83
Peter prayed out on a
lake. You can pray in school,
00:24:29.86\00:24:32.77
at work, at home, while you're
doing the laundry or driving
00:24:32.80\00:24:35.44
to work or waiting for a train.
Imagine if we prayed more,
00:24:35.47\00:24:40.34
simply by praying throughout
the day as opportunities
00:24:40.38\00:24:43.48
present themselves.
And you don't have to pray
00:24:43.51\00:24:45.98
like you're some sort of orator.
A prayer doesn't have to be
00:24:46.01\00:24:49.58
the Gettysburg
Address. Just pray.
00:24:49.62\00:24:53.29
Talk to God as
you'd talk to a friend.
00:24:53.32\00:24:57.09
Number seven: Pray with praise.
00:24:57.13\00:25:01.13
Prayer can often
be a shopping list.
00:25:01.16\00:25:03.93
Okay, God, here's
what I want from you today.
00:25:03.97\00:25:06.53
And to an extent that's
okay. But it's one-sided,
00:25:06.57\00:25:10.14
and ultimately
it's self-oriented.
00:25:10.17\00:25:12.41
Spend time thanking
God and praising God.
00:25:12.44\00:25:16.81
What can you praise
God for? David said:
00:25:16.85\00:25:19.11
Oh, that men would give thanks
to the Lord for His goodness,
00:25:19.15\00:25:21.85
And for His wonderful
works to the children of men!
00:25:21.88\00:25:24.29
Psalm 107, verse 8.
00:25:24.32\00:25:26.42
And here's an eighth
secret of successful prayer.
00:25:26.45\00:25:29.99
It's a bonus. Trust God.
00:25:30.03\00:25:33.29
If you don't see your
prayers being answered,
00:25:33.33\00:25:36.26
trust him
anyway. God doesn't stop
00:25:36.30\00:25:39.13
being God just because
your prayer isn't answered.
00:25:39.17\00:25:42.14
And God can see the big picture.
He knows what we really need.
00:25:42.17\00:25:45.91
And he understands how
he can bring good things out
00:25:45.94\00:25:48.04
of what we might
think are disasters.
00:25:48.08\00:25:50.11
Remember, prayer isn't a
"get out of jail free" card.
00:25:50.15\00:25:53.01
It's not a
limitless credit with God.
00:25:53.05\00:25:55.88
Prayer is given to
draw us closer to God,
00:25:55.92\00:25:58.29
to strengthen us,
to grow our faith.
00:25:58.32\00:26:00.22
Sometimes unanswered
prayer is best for us.
00:26:00.26\00:26:04.16
So that we come to the
point that when our prayers
00:26:04.19\00:26:06.39
aren't answered the way we
want, we'll still trust God.
00:26:06.43\00:26:12.30
Jesus taught the parable of
the unjust judge so we could see
00:26:12.33\00:26:15.60
what God is not like, and that
God is good, and he is gracious.
00:26:15.64\00:26:21.28
He's a prayer-answering
God who hears us.
00:26:21.31\00:26:25.21
You don't want to see God
as being like the unjust judge.
00:26:25.25\00:26:28.98
That's like a child trying
to figure out how to steal
00:26:29.02\00:26:31.32
the neighbor's apples, not
realizing that if he just asked
00:26:31.35\00:26:33.89
the man next door,
he'd be able to take as many
00:26:33.92\00:26:35.62
apples as he wanted.
God wants to bless you.
00:26:35.66\00:26:38.26
How's your prayer
life? Do you believe that God
00:26:40.30\00:26:42.93
is good, willing to
answer your prayers?
00:26:42.96\00:26:45.23
Have you seen some
prayers go unanswered?
00:26:45.27\00:26:48.17
Maybe that bothers you.
00:26:48.20\00:26:50.21
But I want to
encourage you today.
00:26:50.24\00:26:52.11
God answers prayer.
00:26:52.14\00:26:54.08
Jesus said, "Ask,
and you shall receive."
00:26:54.11\00:26:58.95
God has made hundreds of
promises to us to assure us
00:26:58.98\00:27:01.78
that he has our
best interests at heart.
00:27:01.82\00:27:04.75
[Background music]
00:27:04.79\00:27:05.72
So pray. Pray and trust.
00:27:05.75\00:27:09.26
Pray and expect God to
do great things for you.
00:27:09.29\00:27:12.73
And he will. He really will.
00:27:12.76\00:27:16.26
[Music]
00:27:16.30\00:27:24.31
I'd like to give you
the opportunity to go deeper
00:27:24.34\00:27:26.37
into the
parables of Jesus Christ,
00:27:26.41\00:27:28.58
and receive this
week's free offer,
00:27:28.61\00:27:30.61
"The Unfair Judge."
00:27:30.65\00:27:32.85
Here's how to get
it. Visit us online at
00:27:32.88\00:27:36.25
ItIsWritten.com,
00:27:36.28\00:27:37.59
or call us, 800-253-3000.
00:27:37.62\00:27:41.92
If you'd like to
write, you can write to us
00:27:41.96\00:27:44.33
at the address on your screen.
00:27:44.36\00:27:45.93
This is a resource that
will bless you immensely.
00:27:45.96\00:27:48.63
"The Unfair
Judge." It's yours free.
00:27:48.66\00:27:52.00
Visit us online
at ItIsWritten.com.
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Thanks for
remembering that It Is Written
00:27:54.97\00:27:57.17
is a faith-based ministry, and
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00:28:10.25\00:28:12.62
Thank you for your
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00:28:12.65\00:28:15.26
Again, our toll-free
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00:28:15.29\00:28:20.50
and our web address
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00:28:20.53\00:28:25.77
Let's pray together.
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[Background music]
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Our Father in
Heaven, we thank you today
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that you are a God
who hears, who cares,
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and who will
respond when we call.
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Give us grace today that we'll
view you as you really are.
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And thank you for the great
day that's coming when we'll
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see Jesus and be
with him forever.
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Friend, if you've never
done so, will you accept Jesus
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now as your Savior, and
surrender your life to him?
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Can you do that now?
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Lord, we want a God
like you in our lives,
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and we thank you
that we can trust you.
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Give us grace to pray, to
pray in faith and to believe.
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And we will trust
you, by faith in Jesus.
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In Jesus' name we pray,
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Amen.
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Thanks so much
for joining me today.
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I'm looking forward to
seeing you again next time.
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Until then,
remember: "It is written,
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man shall not live by
bread alone but by every word
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that proceeds
from the mouth of God."
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[Music]
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