[narrator] It has stood the test
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of time.
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God's book, the Bible.
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Still relevant in
today's complex world.
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It Is Written,
sharing hope around the globe.
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JB: This is It Is
Written. I'm John Bradshaw.
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Thanks for joining me.
One of the great problems
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people wrestle with
when it comes to faith in God
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is the issue of God allowing
bad things to happen to people.
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Why does a child get
cancer and die young?
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Why did that car
wreck take place that killed
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or severely injured somebody?
People die in wars and there's
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ethnic cleansing and modern-day
slavery and, and where is God?
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We could take an entire
program to discuss that,
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and maybe still not
get to the very bottom
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of that question. The
short answer is that there's
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evil in the world.
Satan rebelled, came
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to this planet, and our original
parents--Adam and Eve--chose
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to ignore God and eat
the fruit that they shouldn't
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have eaten. And as
a result, we have sin
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in the world. And as
a result of the choices
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of human beings there's
sin and evil and sadness
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present in the world
today. Is it God's fault?
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No, it isn't.
It began with Satan
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and was carried forward by--us.
Now, is it going to work out
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well in the end? Yes, it is.
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Jesus is going to
return. Sin will be destroyed.
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And those who have
faith in God will live forever
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in peace. But here's a question:
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What about the in-between stage?
How can a person go through
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hardships and trials and so
on and still have faith in God?
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How do you do that?
Some people feel as though
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God has abandoned them.
Does God abandon people?
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There's a story in the Bible
that deals with someone who
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was repeatedly abandoned.
The story occupies 14 chapters
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of God's Word.
It's one of the most
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dramatic stories
you'll ever read.
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It's the story of
great faith under incredibly
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trying circumstances.
It's the story of someone
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who had everything that
was precious ripped away,
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rejected by his family,
humiliated, falsely accused,
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imprisoned. And
yet it's the story
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of someone who was steadfast,
faithful and unwavering.
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The person we're
talking about is Joseph.
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He lived at least 17 centuries
before the birth of Jesus.
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And his story is one of the
most amazing, one of the most
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inspiring of all
time. The book of Genesis,
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the very first book in
the Bible, introduces us
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to Joseph in chapter 37,
and it describes him as the
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favorite of the
patriarch Jacob's 12 sons--which
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didn't sit well
with Joseph's brothers.
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Let's read. "But
when his brothers saw
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that their father loved
him more than all his brothers,
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they hated him and could
not speak peaceably to him."
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That's Genesis 37, verse 4.
Jacob's special gift to Joseph
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of a tunic of many
colors, which showed distinction
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and favor, only
made matters worse.
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And then, not long after,
Joseph related to his family
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two dreams that he had had.
He told them about 12 sheaves
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in a field and how 11 of
them bowed to down to his sheaf.
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And his brothers said this
to him: "Shall you indeed reign
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over us? Or
shall you indeed have
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dominion over us? So
they hated him even more
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for his dreams
and for his words."
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Genesis 37, verse 8.
Then Joseph told his brothers
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about another dream. In
this one, the sun, the moon
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and 11 stars bowed
down to him, which to them
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sounded a whole lot like his
father, mother and 11 brothers
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bowing down to Joseph.
As though Joseph expected
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to rule over them one day.
No, they weren't impressed,
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not a bit. In
fact, they were furious.
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Now sometime later, Jacob
sent Joseph to check on his
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brothers' welfare
some distance away.
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When they saw Joseph
coming their way, wearing that
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hated coat of many colors,
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they said to one another,
"Look, this dreamer is coming.
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Come, therefore, let us
now kill him and cast him into
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some pit, and we shall say
some wild beast has devoured
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him. We shall see what will
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become of his
dreams." Genesis 37, verses 19
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and 20. Well,
they didn't kill him,
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but they ended up
selling him as a slave when
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a caravan of travelers
came by, traders they were.
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Joseph might have felt like
he would rather have been dead.
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What a horrible thing
to have happen, and really
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through no fault of his
own. Now, I have four brothers.
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I can't imagine this happening.
Of course, being the youngest,
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I never annoyed
them. Not ever--not once.
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Thankfully they never
tried to sell me as a slave.
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Now, there might have been
times when they tried to give me
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away, but they
never did try to sell me.
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The ugly truth is that
long after the Emancipation
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Proclamation was signed,
slavery is alive and well
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in our world today.
Benjamin Skinner said in his
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2008 book "A Crime So
Monstrous" that there are
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more slaves in the world
now than at any time in history.
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He defines slavery as people
coerced by violence to work
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for no pay.
Domestic servants, forced
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laborers, and women
exploited for the worst
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reasons through
human trafficking.
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Some estimates say there
are as many as 27 million people
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around the world being
held in bondage right now,
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against their will.
Now, imagine how Joseph must
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have felt as he rode in
that camel train, shackled
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and helpless on
his way to Egypt.
00:06:06.80\00:06:09.56
The once favored son,
pampered and privileged,
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now captive. Wouldn't
he have felt as though
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God had forsaken
him? Even if he did annoy
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his brothers, he
didn't deserve this.
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How must it have felt
to have been so completely
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betrayed by one's own
family, his own brothers.
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In the United States
there have been several
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high-profile cases of
people who have been taken
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and held against their
will, sometimes for years.
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A 14-year-old girl was
taken from her home in Salt Lake
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City and held
captive for nine months.
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An 11-year-old girl
in California was taken
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and held for 18 years.
Three females in Cleveland,
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Ohio, were captured--aged
14, 16 and 21--and kept
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in a house as
prisoners for 10 years.
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Utterly appalling. We
probably can't imagine
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what it would be like
to have to go through that.
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Joseph, on the
other hand, could imagine.
00:07:04.49\00:07:07.49
Although I'm not
suggesting he had to endure some
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of the indignities that these
young women were forced to go
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through. But
here's what we know.
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God was watching over
that apparently helpless,
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hopeless young man.
God had a plan, a purpose
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for Joseph, that no one
yet knew; that Joseph couldn't
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possibly at that
moment have imagined.
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But through the darkness
and despair that washed over
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him, Joseph remembered
God's mercy, and how God had led
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his family and his ancestors
through so much for so long.
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Then there were
those dreams of his.
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Surely they must
have meant something.
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Could it be that God
still had something of great
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importance for Joseph to
do? We'll find that out in just
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a moment. [vibrant anthem]
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JB: Here's
today's Bible question.
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I accepted Jesus into my life
over 20 years ago, but after
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a time I fell into sins
of a moral or immoral nature.
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I've asked over many years
for forgiveness, but what I
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read in the Bible about
those who do what I have
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done says that
they're not able to enter
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into God's kingdom.
I committed these sins
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after I became a
Christian. Will God ever forgive
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me for these awful
sins? I ask God nearly every
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day for these
sins to be forgiven.
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That's a meaningful question.
Please listen very carefully
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to this very simple answer.
Here's what the Bible says.
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I'll give you two
verses. Write down these Bible
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references if you need
to, and never forget them.
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First John 1, verse
9, and Matthew 12:31.
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Firstly, Matthew
12:31. It says, "All"
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[and this is Jesus
speaking], "All manner of sin
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and blasphemy shall
be forgiven unto men."
00:09:01.84\00:09:07.14
He goes on to say that the
sin against the Holy Spirit
00:09:07.14\00:09:09.38
won't be forgiven,
but that's not what you've
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committed. Don't
worry about that.
00:09:11.48\00:09:13.48
But I hope you got
that. "All manner of sin
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and blasphemy shall be
forgiven," and that would
00:09:15.48\00:09:17.49
include what you have
done. "Shall be forgiven."
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First John 1 in verse 9
says, and I want you to mark
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this down and memorize it.
It says this: "If we confess
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our sins, he is faithful
and just to forgive us our sins
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and to cleanse us
from all unrighteousness."
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You've sinned. Yes, you have.
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But you have confessed
sincerely, and based on God's
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own Word, we know
that He has forgiven you.
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My advice to you is to
stop asking God to forgive these
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sins, because He
has already done so.
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Instead, thank Him that
He has forgiven you, and ask
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Him to keep you clean.
Remember, Paul wrote that
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where sin abounds,
grace does much more abound.
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It's right to feel
bad about what you've done
00:10:00.63\00:10:02.23
--you should. But
you should also rejoice
00:10:02.23\00:10:05.37
that you are
forgiven. Don't worry about this
00:10:05.37\00:10:07.24
for even another moment.
You've been forgiven, friend.
00:10:07.24\00:10:10.04
And that is good news.
If you'd like me to answer
00:10:10.04\00:10:12.54
your Bible
question on this program,
00:10:12.54\00:10:14.14
go to ItIsWritten.com.
Send me a question,
00:10:14.14\00:10:16.85
I'll do my best to
answer it on this program.
00:10:16.85\00:10:20.28
[music]
00:10:22.25\00:10:26.22
JB: Planning for your financial
future is a vital aspect
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of Christian stewardship.
For this reason, It Is Written
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is pleased to offer free
Planned Giving and Estate
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services. For
information on how we
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can help you,
please call 1-800-992-2219.
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Call today, or
visit our special website,
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www.hislegacy.com.
00:10:47.24\00:10:55.42
JB: This is It Is
Written. I'm John Bradshaw.
00:10:57.15\00:10:59.02
Today, betrayal and blessing.
00:10:59.02\00:11:02.29
A young man is betrayed
by his family, separated from
00:11:02.29\00:11:05.43
his father and
sold into slavery.
00:11:05.43\00:11:08.23
That young man was Joseph.
Arriving in Egypt, Joseph
00:11:08.23\00:11:12.80
was sold to a slave to a
man named Potiphar, the captain
00:11:12.80\00:11:15.77
of Pharaoh's guard.
And Joseph's presence
00:11:15.77\00:11:18.57
in Potiphar's house
was a blessing to Potiphar.
00:11:18.57\00:11:21.68
The Bible says this:
"The Lord was with Joseph
00:11:21.68\00:11:26.95
and he was a successful man,
and he was in the house of his
00:11:26.95\00:11:30.05
master, the Egyptian. And
his master saw that the Lord
00:11:30.05\00:11:33.72
was with him, and that
the Lord made all that he did
00:11:33.72\00:11:36.79
to prosper in his
hand. So Joseph found favor
00:11:36.79\00:11:40.60
in his sight, and served
him. Then he made him overseer
00:11:40.60\00:11:44.37
of his house, and all
that he had he put under
00:11:44.37\00:11:47.27
his authority."
That's Genesis 39,
00:11:47.27\00:11:49.80
verses 2 through 4.
But then a shadow fell over
00:11:49.80\00:11:53.27
Joseph's happy days
in Potiphar's house.
00:11:53.27\00:11:55.61
The Bible tells us that
Joseph was a good-looking
00:11:55.61\00:11:58.68
young man. And
Potiphar's wife noticed
00:11:58.68\00:12:01.45
this and made inappropriate
advances toward Joseph.
00:12:01.45\00:12:05.95
What could a young man
do in the face of temptation
00:12:05.95\00:12:08.86
like this? Now, here's what
00:12:08.86\00:12:11.73
Joseph said.
Genesis 39 and verse 9.
00:12:11.73\00:12:17.23
"There is not one
greater in this house than I,
00:12:17.23\00:12:20.14
nor has he kept back
anything from me but you,
00:12:20.14\00:12:24.04
because you are his wife.
How then can I do this great
00:12:24.04\00:12:27.74
wickedness and sin against God?"
00:12:27.74\00:12:32.11
Now, notice carefully that
God is the focus of Joseph's
00:12:32.11\00:12:35.92
allegiance. Yes,
he knew that he would
00:12:35.92\00:12:37.92
dishonor his master by
carrying on with his wife,
00:12:37.92\00:12:40.69
but most important to
him was the fact that such
00:12:40.69\00:12:42.79
a course on his part
would be a sin against God.
00:12:42.79\00:12:46.13
And this suggests
a couple of things.
00:12:46.13\00:12:49.60
One is that when temptation
comes, something you want
00:12:49.60\00:12:52.97
to consider is the honor
of God; or, how God would
00:12:52.97\00:12:57.31
be dishonored by
your poor choices.
00:12:57.31\00:13:00.14
You might not care
about what you're going to do.
00:13:00.14\00:13:02.38
Your friends might not
care. But it ought to matter
00:13:02.38\00:13:06.31
that God cares.
When you consider
00:13:06.31\00:13:09.02
the honor of God in a
situation, you've got the right
00:13:09.02\00:13:12.09
motivation to help you
make the right decision.
00:13:12.09\00:13:16.49
Which leads me to
that second point.
00:13:16.49\00:13:18.49
Do you think Joseph was
tempted by Potiphar's wife?
00:13:18.49\00:13:21.90
Oh, no doubt he was. Do
you think the temptation
00:13:21.90\00:13:24.53
might have been strong?
More than likely very strong.
00:13:24.53\00:13:28.24
Yet did Joseph cave
in to that temptation?
00:13:28.24\00:13:31.54
No, he didn't.
When he was faced with
00:13:31.54\00:13:33.61
a serious temptation,
Joseph remained faithful to God.
00:13:33.61\00:13:37.41
There are times when people
make excuses by saying, Oh,
00:13:37.41\00:13:40.78
I couldn't help it. Oh,
the devil made me do it.
00:13:40.78\00:13:43.15
Oh, what else could
I do? Well, I'm a man?
00:13:43.15\00:13:45.39
what do you expect? Now
look at two Bible verses
00:13:45.39\00:13:47.89
with me--and there are
plenty others like them.
00:13:47.89\00:13:50.29
First Corinthians
10 and verse 13, first.
00:13:50.29\00:13:53.80
That's 1 Corinthians
chapter 10 and verse 13.
00:13:53.80\00:13:56.56
And it says this: "No
temptation has overtaken you
00:13:56.56\00:14:00.84
except such as is common to man.
00:14:00.84\00:14:04.14
But God is faithful,
who will not allow you
00:14:04.14\00:14:07.38
to be tempted
beyond what you are able;
00:14:07.38\00:14:09.94
but with the temptation
will also make the way
00:14:09.94\00:14:13.62
of escape that you
may be able to bear it."
00:14:13.62\00:14:17.65
Now, did you get that?
Because if you did, it could
00:14:17.65\00:14:20.82
change your entire
life. God will provide a way
00:14:20.82\00:14:23.39
of escape for every temptation.
That means, you are not doomed
00:14:23.39\00:14:28.46
to repeat the same old
mistakes or commit the same
00:14:28.46\00:14:31.17
old sins. That's good news.
00:14:31.17\00:14:33.17
There's a way of escape.
Joseph was about to be put
00:14:33.17\00:14:36.00
in prison, but a lot
of people on the outside
00:14:36.00\00:14:39.77
are prisoners of sin.
But you don't have to be.
00:14:39.77\00:14:43.61
There's a way of escape.
If you'll think to call on
00:14:43.61\00:14:46.75
God when temptation
comes, you can be certain
00:14:46.75\00:14:50.62
that God will deliver you.
Another verse, that is Jude
00:14:50.62\00:14:55.89
verse 24. Right before the book
00:14:55.89\00:14:58.03
of Revelation. Jude
verse 24, where the Bible
00:14:58.03\00:15:02.16
says, "Now unto him
that is able to keep you
00:15:02.16\00:15:06.80
from falling and to
present you faultless before
00:15:06.80\00:15:09.60
the presence of his
glory with exceeding joy."
00:15:09.60\00:15:12.41
God has the power to keep
you from falling into sin.
00:15:12.41\00:15:17.18
He promises that.
No matter what the sin,
00:15:17.18\00:15:19.71
there is powerful
victory available to you,
00:15:19.71\00:15:22.22
right when you need
it. Joseph learned that.
00:15:22.22\00:15:25.42
When temptation came
to him, the power of God
00:15:25.42\00:15:28.19
kept him faithful.
But the woman in question
00:15:28.19\00:15:32.13
was not happy.
You've heard that saying,
00:15:32.13\00:15:34.76
"hell hath no fury
like a woman scorned."
00:15:34.76\00:15:37.80
It was true in the
case of Potiphar's wife.
00:15:37.80\00:15:40.20
She virtually threw
herself at Joseph, and when he
00:15:40.20\00:15:42.87
refused again and again,
and ultimately fled from her,
00:15:42.87\00:15:47.64
she cried out and
accused Joseph of something
00:15:47.64\00:15:52.01
he hadn't done.
Potiphar had no choice
00:15:52.01\00:15:55.85
but to act against
Joseph. He didn't really believe
00:15:55.85\00:15:59.12
his wife's story. If
he had, he would have
00:15:59.12\00:16:01.66
had Joseph put to death.
Instead, in order to satisfy
00:16:01.66\00:16:04.86
his wife and to safeguard
his own reputation, Potiphar
00:16:04.86\00:16:07.86
had Joseph cast into
prison. Once again, Joseph found
00:16:07.86\00:16:12.40
himself a helpless captive.
The Bible tells us just how
00:16:12.40\00:16:17.44
hard it was for Joseph
during those early days
00:16:17.44\00:16:19.54
in Potiphar's prison.
You read how they hurt
00:16:19.54\00:16:22.34
his feet with
fetters. He was laid in irons.
00:16:22.34\00:16:24.81
That's Psalm 105 in verse
18. And again, we see Joseph's
00:16:24.81\00:16:29.55
true character
revealed, even in the darkness
00:16:29.55\00:16:32.52
of a dungeon he kept his
faith and refused to abandon
00:16:32.52\00:16:36.16
his patient waiting on the Lord.
Now, you'd think he'd become
00:16:36.16\00:16:39.66
bitter, with all of those
years of faithful service being
00:16:39.66\00:16:41.96
so cruelly repaid like
this. You couldn't blame him
00:16:41.96\00:16:46.33
if he thought that
God had abandoned him.
00:16:46.33\00:16:48.37
He'd been so faithful,
and this was what he got
00:16:48.37\00:16:51.31
in return. In a
moment, the story
00:16:51.31\00:16:54.14
of Joseph takes an unexpected
turn, and we'll find out that
00:16:54.14\00:16:57.58
God knows how to bring
blessing out of betrayal.
00:16:57.58\00:17:00.52
[music] >: In Matthew 4:4,
00:17:00.52\00:17:04.92
the Word of God
says, "It is written.
00:17:04.92\00:17:07.26
Man shall not live by
bread alone, but by every word
00:17:07.26\00:17:10.73
that proceeds
from the mouth of God."
00:17:10.73\00:17:13.13
"Every Word" is a one-minute
Bible-based daily devotional
00:17:13.13\00:17:16.36
presented by Pastor
John Bradshaw and designed
00:17:16.36\00:17:19.33
especially for
busy people like you.
00:17:19.33\00:17:21.77
Look for "Every Word" on
selected networks, or watch
00:17:21.77\00:17:24.91
it online every day on
our website, ItIsWritten.com.
00:17:24.91\00:17:28.98
Receive a daily spiritual boost.
00:17:28.98\00:17:30.98
Watch "Every Word."
You'll be glad you did.
00:17:30.98\00:17:33.78
Here's a sample:
00:17:33.78\00:17:36.22
[music]
00:17:37.82\00:17:39.89
If you're familiar
with Handel's Messiah then
00:17:44.59\00:17:47.03
you'll recognize Malachi
3:3. "And He shall purify
00:17:47.03\00:17:50.10
the sons of
Levi... that they may offer
00:17:50.10\00:17:52.43
unto the Lord an
offering in righteousness."
00:17:52.43\00:17:54.97
Now notice the connection:
God purifies us, so that
00:17:54.97\00:17:58.31
we can offer Him an
offering in righteousness.
00:17:58.31\00:18:00.94
He allows difficulties
to buffet us so that we can
00:18:00.94\00:18:03.14
learn to be more like Jesus.
There are days you wish God had
00:18:03.14\00:18:07.48
another way of working this out,
but He knows that if you've got
00:18:07.48\00:18:10.82
an anger problem then
the only way you're going
00:18:10.82\00:18:13.22
to get over it is by learning
to call on God for help when
00:18:13.22\00:18:15.36
that temptation comes.
Same thing if you're impatient,
00:18:15.36\00:18:18.26
for example. God
is doing all He can
00:18:18.26\00:18:20.46
to prepare us for eternity
and trials come to purify us.
00:18:20.46\00:18:23.90
As bad as the medicine might
sometimes taste, it's really
00:18:23.90\00:18:27.54
a blessing in
disguise. I'm John Bradshaw
00:18:27.54\00:18:30.94
for It Is
Written. Let's live today
00:18:30.94\00:18:33.04
by every word.
00:18:33.04\00:18:34.98
If you've lived very
long at all, you've no doubt
00:18:37.21\00:18:40.22
discovered, probably through
experience, that the ball
00:18:40.22\00:18:43.99
doesn't always bounce
for you just the way you
00:18:43.99\00:18:46.12
with it would.
But a game is never
00:18:46.12\00:18:49.12
over until it's over.
The Boston Red Sox were down
00:18:49.12\00:18:53.23
three games and trailing
4-3 in the ninth inning of game
00:18:53.23\00:18:57.47
4 during the playoffs in 2004.
00:18:57.47\00:19:00.80
You can't win from
there. It had never been done.
00:19:00.80\00:19:03.94
Yet Boston went on
to win the World Series.
00:19:03.94\00:19:07.01
You can come back
from a difficult situation.
00:19:07.01\00:19:10.61
Languishing in
prison, things looked hopeless
00:19:10.61\00:19:13.21
for Joseph. But
it's never over when God
00:19:13.21\00:19:16.75
is involved.
Like Potiphar before,
00:19:16.75\00:19:19.39
the jailer where Joseph
was imprisoned found that he
00:19:19.39\00:19:22.09
could trust Joseph, and soon
he put all the other prisoners
00:19:22.09\00:19:25.56
under Joseph's care.
Listen to what the Bible says.
00:19:25.56\00:19:28.60
Let's read this.
"But the Lord was with
00:19:28.60\00:19:32.43
Joseph and showed him
mercy. And he gave him favor
00:19:32.43\00:19:35.94
in the sight of the
keeper of the prison.
00:19:35.94\00:19:39.47
And the keeper of the prison
committed to Joseph's hand
00:19:39.47\00:19:42.11
all the prisoners
who were in the prison.
00:19:42.11\00:19:44.58
Whatever they did
there, it was his doing.
00:19:44.58\00:19:47.52
The keeper of the prison
did not look into anything
00:19:47.52\00:19:50.02
that was under
Joseph's hand, because the Lord
00:19:50.02\00:19:53.09
was with him, and whatever he
did, the Lord made it prosper."
00:19:53.09\00:19:57.93
Genesis 39,
verses 21 through 23.
00:19:57.93\00:20:02.06
Just like in
Potiphar's house, Joseph proved
00:20:02.06\00:20:04.87
himself, even in a prison,
to be worthy of the trust
00:20:04.87\00:20:08.54
of his superior. And
so, as with his former
00:20:08.54\00:20:10.91
master's
household, he's put in charge
00:20:10.91\00:20:13.41
of everything. Now,
doesn't this tell you
00:20:13.41\00:20:16.44
that you can shine
for God wherever you are?
00:20:16.44\00:20:19.45
In prison, at work, in
school, when you're being
00:20:19.45\00:20:22.65
treated badly.
Wherever you are, whatever
00:20:22.65\00:20:26.12
you're going through,
you can be faithful to God.
00:20:26.12\00:20:28.99
And you know that that
will bring glory to God.
00:20:28.99\00:20:33.26
The Bible goes on to
tell us that in prison Joseph
00:20:33.26\00:20:35.43
interpreted the dreams
of a couple of his fellow
00:20:35.43\00:20:37.73
inmates. He told one of the men
00:20:37.73\00:20:39.73
that his dream
meant that he would die.
00:20:39.73\00:20:41.74
Now, that had to be a
tough message to deliver.
00:20:41.74\00:20:43.74
And to the other, he
said that that man would
00:20:43.74\00:20:47.04
be released from
prison. And it happened just
00:20:47.04\00:20:49.91
as Joseph said it would.
You'd think the chief butler
00:20:49.91\00:20:52.71
would have been so
incredibly grateful
00:20:52.71\00:20:54.72
to Joseph for predicting
his restoration to favor
00:20:54.72\00:20:56.92
that one of the first things
he'd have done after getting
00:20:56.92\00:20:59.09
his old job back would
have been to put in a good word
00:20:59.09\00:21:02.22
for Joseph to Pharaoh.
But instead, the Bible tells
00:21:02.22\00:21:05.76
us something else.
The chief butler did not
00:21:05.76\00:21:09.06
remember Joseph, but forgot him.
00:21:09.06\00:21:11.37
Genesis 40, verse
23. That's three strikes
00:21:11.37\00:21:14.70
against Joseph now.
First, he's betrayed
00:21:14.70\00:21:17.37
by his brothers.
Then, by his master
00:21:17.37\00:21:19.47
Potiphar. And now, by Pharaoh's
00:21:19.47\00:21:21.98
chief butler. In
each case he'd done
00:21:21.98\00:21:24.21
his best to be
loyal and true to God.
00:21:24.21\00:21:27.15
And in each case, he'd
been rewarded with evil.
00:21:27.15\00:21:30.25
Would you have been
ready to quit on God by then?
00:21:30.25\00:21:33.52
Now, if you say no,
I'll say, praise the Lord!
00:21:33.52\00:21:36.73
But people do. I've
spoken to people who've
00:21:36.73\00:21:39.36
quit on church
simply because they thought
00:21:39.36\00:21:42.03
the people at church
weren't being nice to them.
00:21:42.03\00:21:44.03
That's just making the
devil's job easy for him.
00:21:44.03\00:21:47.20
If that's all it takes
to discourage somebody,
00:21:47.20\00:21:51.37
a death in the family--
people get angry with God.
00:21:51.37\00:21:53.98
And God can take it. But
really, it would be better
00:21:53.98\00:21:56.54
to act like Job
did. Remember his story?
00:21:56.54\00:21:59.88
He lost almost
all of his family,
00:21:59.88\00:22:01.98
virtually everything he
owned, and Job said simply,
00:22:01.98\00:22:06.79
"The Lord gave, and
the Lord has taken away.
00:22:06.79\00:22:10.69
Blessed be the name of the Lord.
00:22:10.69\00:22:12.69
In all this, Job did not
sin nor charge God with wrong."
00:22:12.69\00:22:16.50
Job 1, verses 21 and
22. Now, we'd say that we'd
00:22:16.50\00:22:20.04
expect Joseph had to have
been distressed by what he
00:22:20.04\00:22:22.84
had to go through,
and I think that's right.
00:22:22.84\00:22:25.27
But the Bible doesn't
record any word of complaint.
00:22:25.27\00:22:29.31
Which means Joseph trusted God.
00:22:29.31\00:22:32.08
Even when things were
going wrong, he trusted God.
00:22:32.08\00:22:35.08
In prison, he trusted
God. Forsaken, falsely accused,
00:22:35.08\00:22:40.39
forgotten, Joseph hung in
there with God and trusted
00:22:40.39\00:22:44.83
that God would
somehow work it all out.
00:22:44.83\00:22:47.40
And remember, Joseph had
had those dreams, and he never
00:22:47.40\00:22:51.40
forgot them. They
were his assurance
00:22:51.40\00:22:53.40
that God would
work in his behalf.
00:22:53.40\00:22:55.70
Now, you might not have
had dreams of sheaves of grain
00:22:55.70\00:22:58.64
bowing down, but you've
seen God work for you along
00:22:58.64\00:23:02.01
the way. The Bible
is full of promises
00:23:02.01\00:23:04.71
that assure us that
God is there for us.
00:23:04.71\00:23:06.88
If you can believe
that, faith in God can see you
00:23:06.88\00:23:10.29
through some dark times.
And in the end, God always
00:23:10.29\00:23:14.42
works it out for the
best. Think of what it must have
00:23:14.42\00:23:17.33
been like that morning,
when Jacob sent Joseph off
00:23:17.33\00:23:20.73
to find his
brothers, to see how they were.
00:23:20.73\00:23:23.60
Neither the aged father nor
the young man could possibly
00:23:23.60\00:23:26.70
have known what would
transpire before they should
00:23:26.70\00:23:28.70
meet again. But
life often works that
00:23:28.70\00:23:30.64
way, doesn't it?
Great moments, decisive
00:23:30.64\00:23:33.31
turning points, often come
without fanfare and without
00:23:33.31\00:23:35.91
warning. Each day,
it's wise to commit
00:23:35.91\00:23:38.78
yourself to God's
leading and to God's
00:23:38.78\00:23:40.78
purposes so that
whatever happens in that day,
00:23:40.78\00:23:43.59
the vicissitudes of life
will find you prepared, because
00:23:43.59\00:23:46.92
you're hanging on to
God. Hang in there with God,
00:23:46.92\00:23:50.56
even when times look
tough. If you read the rest
00:23:50.56\00:23:53.83
of the story of Joseph,
you'll find out that it ends
00:23:53.83\00:23:55.80
well for our man. He
was miraculously released
00:23:55.80\00:23:58.87
from jail, given his
freedom, elevated to a position
00:23:58.87\00:24:02.17
of great authority in
the Egyptian government,
00:24:02.17\00:24:04.67
and reunited with his
father and his family.
00:24:04.67\00:24:07.44
About the unlikeliest
ending you could ever imagine.
00:24:07.44\00:24:11.08
But what might seem
impossible to you and me
00:24:11.08\00:24:14.48
is possible with God.
The Bible says that the one
00:24:14.48\00:24:18.02
who endures to the
end shall be saved.
00:24:18.02\00:24:20.89
The book of Revelation
refers to the patience
00:24:20.89\00:24:22.99
of the saints,
in Revelation 14:12.
00:24:22.99\00:24:25.49
God is always
faithful. If you hang on to Him,
00:24:25.49\00:24:29.60
no matter how things
look, you'll have eternity
00:24:29.60\00:24:33.10
to enjoy. And you
won't give a second
00:24:33.10\00:24:35.74
thought to the hard
times you went through down
00:24:35.74\00:24:39.07
here in this old world.
"Promises of Power" is our
00:24:39.07\00:24:44.41
free offer for you today.
This little book is a collection
00:24:44.41\00:24:47.55
of some of the most
powerful promises found
00:24:47.55\00:24:50.52
in the Bible. It's handily sized
00:24:50.52\00:24:52.52
and you can take it
with you anywhere you go.
00:24:52.52\00:24:55.49
You can carry it with you
to read anyplace, and it's idea
00:24:55.49\00:24:59.46
for sharing with somebody
else who needs to be encouraged
00:24:59.46\00:25:02.96
by the great
promises in the Bible.
00:25:02.96\00:25:05.23
Now, to get your free
copy just call 1-800-253-3000
00:25:05.23\00:25:09.80
and ask for "Promises
of Power." There's no cost,
00:25:09.80\00:25:13.34
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00:25:13.34\00:25:16.08
You can call 24 hours a
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00:25:16.08\00:25:20.08
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00:25:20.08\00:25:23.12
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00:25:23.12\00:25:25.75
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00:25:25.75\00:25:28.86
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00:25:28.86\00:25:32.99
in North America. Now,
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00:25:32.99\00:25:35.96
is limited to
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00:25:35.96\00:25:37.97
For immediate access,
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00:25:37.97\00:25:40.07
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00:25:40.07\00:25:42.47
from our
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00:25:42.47\00:25:46.41
As you know, It Is Written
is a faith-based ministry
00:25:46.41\00:25:48.54
made possible only
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00:25:48.54\00:25:51.71
If you would care to
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00:25:51.71\00:25:55.08
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00:25:55.08\00:25:58.09
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00:25:58.09\00:26:01.19
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Thank you for your prayers.
00:26:01.19\00:26:04.73
Thank you for your gracious,
continued financial support.
00:26:04.73\00:26:09.86
Our toll-free
number is 1-800-253-3000,
00:26:09.86\00:26:12.37
and you'll find us
online at ItIsWritten.com.
00:26:12.37\00:26:18.94
Let's take the
time to pray together.
00:26:21.08\00:26:23.14
Will you pray with
me now? Let's pray.
00:26:23.14\00:26:25.38
Our Father in heaven,
You show us to be faithful.
00:26:25.38\00:26:27.98
It's true, there are
times in our lives and in our
00:26:27.98\00:26:31.35
experience that
things are just difficult.
00:26:31.35\00:26:34.92
We are confronted by trying
circumstances, crushing trials
00:26:34.92\00:26:40.36
and weights. There
are times when people
00:26:40.36\00:26:43.03
are tempted to think
that God doesn't love them
00:26:43.03\00:26:46.20
or doesn't care or
has abandoned them.
00:26:46.20\00:26:48.20
I'm thankful that in
Joseph's story, and in so many
00:26:48.20\00:26:50.84
other stories, and
even in our experience,
00:26:50.84\00:26:53.48
You demonstrate to us
that You're with us always.
00:26:53.48\00:26:55.84
Please, Lord, when
we are enfolded in gloom
00:26:55.84\00:27:00.22
and darkness and despair, remind
us that through the dark clouds
00:27:00.22\00:27:04.49
the sun is shining.
Remind us that You are God,
00:27:04.49\00:27:07.32
and that You are
constant, and that You are good.
00:27:07.32\00:27:10.49
I thank You for Your
goodness, for Your love,
00:27:10.49\00:27:12.96
and for Your grace.
And I pray in Jesus' name,
00:27:12.96\00:27:17.80
amen. [music]
00:27:17.80\00:27:24.74
JB: Thanks for joining me today.
00:27:39.69\00:27:41.06
I'm looking forward to
seeing you again next time.
00:27:41.06\00:27:42.66
Until then,
remember, It Is Written:
00:27:42.66\00:27:46.46
"Man shall not live by
bread alone, but by every word
00:27:46.46\00:27:50.63
that proceeds
from the mouth of God."
00:27:50.63\00:27:54.70