[Music]
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[Music]
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John Bradshaw:
This is It Is Written.
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I'm John Bradshaw. Thanks for
joining me in Zimbabwe, Africa.
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[Music]
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[Music]
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They are powerful,
mighty. They're called the
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king of beasts. Just
the sound they make can
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fill you with awe
and fear. [Lion snarling]
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If you've seen a lion,
you were most likely in a zoo
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at the time, and you
were grateful for the fence
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between you and the
great Simba, as they're
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known in much of Africa, or
the Shuba, as they're called
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in the Shona language here in
Zimbabwe. This is lion country.
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[African music] It
wasn't far from here that
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an enormous controversy erupted
after an American hunter shot
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and killed a well-known,
iconic lion named Cecil,
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outside Hwange National
Park, just 250 miles from where
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I'm standing right now. [Drums]
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Cecil's death ignited
controversy all around
00:03:02.64\00:03:05.98
the world-controversy that's
ultimately going to affect
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hunting and tourism and
conservation, and maybe even
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politics. You see, the lion
is one of Africa's big five.
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The big five is the lion,
the elephant, the leopard, the
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Cape buffalo, and the
rhinoceros. And I've come here
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to Antelope Park, not far
from Gweru, to get up close
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and personal with the lion. Now,
those fences you were happy for
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when you went to the
zoo-no fences here for me today.
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And honestly, I'm not
sure just how at ease I am
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with the situation.
I've never done this before;
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it's a first for me. But it's
not a first for It Is Written.
00:03:44.42\00:03:49.32
During the 60 years of It
Is Written, we've featured
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animals from time to
time, including a beautiful,
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full-grown lion, and a
tiger that got a little closer
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to George Vandeman than we
were expecting. So I'm hoping
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everything works out okay.
Now, I have been assured by
00:04:02.14\00:04:05.07
the people here that it is not
very likely that I'll be eaten
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alive by a lion. Although,
in just a few minutes, I'm going
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to introduce you to a man
who had a close encounter with a
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lion and came off second best.
It's impossible, I think, to see
00:04:16.15\00:04:22.46
the magnificent animals in
Africa and not think about the
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God of creation. In Africa,
well, this is a continent that
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we associate with exotic,
majestic, powerful, wonderful
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animals-animals which
all of them were designed
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and created by a loving
Creator thousands of years ago,
00:04:38.31\00:04:42.51
as He prepared a perfect planet
for our original grandparents.
00:04:42.54\00:04:47.28
As Adam named the
animals, they were all
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at peace with each other. The
wolves didn't attack the sheep,
00:04:49.45\00:04:53.22
the cats didn't hiss at the
dogs. But then came the fall,
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and sin entered the
world. [Dramatic Piano Music]
00:04:58.79\00:05:01.53
With sin came a dramatic change
in nature. Leaves died and fell
00:05:01.56\00:05:06.47
from the trees. Petals dropped
from the roses. Other flowers
00:05:06.50\00:05:11.27
wilted and died. The
animal kingdom changed as well.
00:05:11.31\00:05:16.08
Things were no longer
peaceful among the animals.
00:05:16.11\00:05:19.11
It became a matter of
survival of the fittest.
00:05:19.15\00:05:22.05
And imagine how that played
out from Adam's point of view.
00:05:22.08\00:05:25.65
Now, this was Adam who saw
leaves fall from trees where
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once they did not, who
saw the color of leaves
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turn because leaves were
dying when before they didn't.
00:05:31.36\00:05:34.00
And then, worse than seeing
leaves die, Adam must have seen
00:05:34.03\00:05:39.30
the animals die. Perhaps a lion
that had once been a trusted
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companion killed a little lamb,
and Adam happened upon that
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and realized the consequences
of sin. This just wasn't good.
00:05:47.24\00:05:54.12
Things had changed. The nature
of even the animals had changed.
00:05:54.15\00:05:59.59
Which is why today we see what
we see in the animal kingdom.
00:05:59.62\00:06:04.23
Which leads us to lions.
Back then, before the fall,
00:06:04.26\00:06:08.00
if you saw a lion, you
said, “Ah, a good thing.” Today,
00:06:08.03\00:06:11.00
if you see a lion while you're
walking along a trail, you had
00:06:11.03\00:06:14.54
better do something fast,
because that would not be good
00:06:14.57\00:06:18.34
news. Now, about those lions.
We're going to meet some lions
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in just a few moments. Don't
go away. I'll be right back.
00:06:21.91\00:06:24.28
JB: Temptation is a very real
part of every believer's daily
00:06:24.31\00:06:29.05
experience. But it
doesn't have to defeat you.
00:06:29.08\00:06:31.52
You can have victory over
temptation, and I'll tell how
00:06:31.55\00:06:35.16
in this week's free
offer, “When the Lion Roars:
00:06:35.19\00:06:38.26
How to Overcome Temptation.”
To get your free copy of this
00:06:38.29\00:06:41.96
important, life-changing
book, call us at 1-800-253-3000.
00:06:42.00\00:06:47.00
That's 1-800-253-3000.
Or visit us online
00:06:47.04\00:06:51.61
at ItIsWritten.com. You
can write to us at P.O. Box 6,
00:06:51.64\00:06:56.24
Chattanooga, TN 37401. Make sure
you ask for this week's free
00:06:56.28\00:07:01.62
offer, “When the Lion Roars:
How to Overcome Temptation,” and
00:07:01.65\00:07:05.72
experience victory instead
of defeat. Now, supplies are
00:07:05.75\00:07:09.62
limited, so please call soon.
That's 800-253-3000. Or visit us
00:07:09.66\00:07:15.13
online at ItIsWritten.com
to get your free copy of
00:07:15.16\00:07:18.93
“When the Lion Roars:
How to Overcome Temptation.”
00:07:18.97\00:07:24.37
Remember, It Is Written
is a faith-based ministry,
00:07:24.41\00:07:28.04
and your support makes it
possible for us to share God's
00:07:28.08\00:07:31.08
good news with the world. Your
tax-deductible gift can be sent
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to the address on your screen,
or through our website at
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ItIsWritten.com. Thank you
for your continued prayerful
00:07:38.29\00:07:41.96
support. Again, our toll-free
number is 800-253-3000,
00:07:41.99\00:07:46.56
and our web address
is www.ItIsWritten.com.
00:07:46.59\00:07:52.70
[Music] Planning
for your financial
00:07:52.73\00:07:55.67
future is a vital aspect
of Christian stewardship.
00:07:55.70\00:07:59.41
For this reason, It Is
Written is pleased to offer
00:07:59.44\00:08:01.64
free planned giving
and estate services.
00:08:01.68\00:08:04.68
For information on how
we can help you, please call
00:08:04.71\00:08:07.35
(800) 992-2219. Call today,
or visit our special website,
00:08:07.38\00:08:13.72
www.HisLegacy.com.
00:08:13.76\00:08:18.83
[African music]
This is It Is Written.
00:08:20.83\00:08:24.90
I'm John Bradshaw. Thanks for
joining me today in Zimbabwe.
00:08:24.93\00:08:28.70
Here in Africa, there's an
abundance of wildlife. There are
00:08:28.74\00:08:32.27
giraffes and elephants
and cheetahs and hippopotami
00:08:32.31\00:08:35.71
and rhinos, and so many other
fantastic creatures that speak
00:08:35.74\00:08:39.65
of a genius maker, a
creative God who loves to show
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His children just how gracious
He really is. Chief among
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the animals is the lion.
It's referred to as the king
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of beasts. It's the largest and
most powerful member of the cat
00:08:53.26\00:08:57.23
family. It's also one of the
largest carnivorous animals in
00:08:57.27\00:09:00.60
the world. A team of lions
working together can take down
00:09:00.64\00:09:04.07
an elephant. Lions don't seem
to fear anything at all. A male
00:09:04.11\00:09:09.34
lion can grow to be 10 feet
long and weigh up to 550 pounds,
00:09:09.38\00:09:15.52
with the biggest lion ever
recorded being 688 pounds-not
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much less than a Harley
Davidson. Lions are social
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creatures and live in groups
called a pride, and typically
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live about 10 to 14
years. They can run as fast as
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50 miles an hour. They sleep
20 hours a day, and the roar
00:09:32.67\00:09:38.17
of a lion can be
heard five miles away.
00:09:38.21\00:09:40.64
[Snarl of lion] A lion
can eat nearly 80 pounds
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of meat in a single meal. And
seeing as I'm visiting the lions
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today, I'm not so sure how good
I feel about that. So this is
00:09:48.98\00:09:53.89
our rendezvous point. They're
bringing the lions to us.
00:09:53.92\00:09:58.63
You didn't think we were just
going to walk out into the wild
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and rustle up some lions.
Hyaw! Get around back. Bring my
00:10:01.90\00:10:06.20
sheepdog, who also happens to be
good with lions. Whistle him up,
00:10:06.23\00:10:10.04
and he'll run this way and
that. Doesn't work like that;
00:10:10.07\00:10:13.27
not here. They are bringing
the lions to us. If I seem
00:10:13.31\00:10:18.08
a little bit nervous, I wasn't,
until I saw them. And you know
00:10:18.11\00:10:25.69
what I just saw walking by them?
Cats. They're not on leashes.
00:10:25.72\00:10:31.63
I would have expected they're
on leashes, and that you put
00:10:31.66\00:10:33.80
one of them things over their,
over their head like you do over
00:10:33.83\00:10:35.80
dogs so the dog can't bite you.
People put those things on dogs.
00:10:35.83\00:10:40.94
And here's a couple of lions
walking towards me, no muzzle
00:10:40.97\00:10:43.77
on, no nothing. But we soon
got acquainted, and before long,
00:10:43.81\00:10:48.04
we were getting on like old
friends. You've seen them in
00:10:48.08\00:10:51.31
zoos, I know. But when you
get up close, you see lions have
00:10:51.35\00:10:54.95
got really big feet. They're
breathtaking creatures. And,
00:10:54.98\00:11:00.26
of course, I couldn't let the
photo opportunity pass me by.
00:11:00.29\00:11:04.36
You know, there's something kind
of odd or ironic or interesting
00:11:04.39\00:11:07.76
about this. I'm walking with
a couple of magnificent lions,
00:11:07.83\00:11:11.67
and what I'm worried about most
of all is getting a really good
00:11:11.70\00:11:16.94
selfie. That's kind of weird,
isn't it? What was weird was
00:11:16.97\00:11:21.48
how entirely at ease I'd
become with a couple of the most
00:11:21.51\00:11:24.68
powerful animals on the planet,
which really got me thinking.
00:11:24.71\00:11:28.82
I'll tell you one thing
that I've learned while spending
00:11:28.85\00:11:33.25
a little time with these lions,
and that's this: when you first
00:11:33.29\00:11:37.56
see a lion, you say, “Oh
my goodness, that's a lion.”
00:11:37.59\00:11:42.36
And you can be rather casual
about it. I didn't even ask
00:11:42.40\00:11:46.47
permission, and I reached out
and, and, and patted this guy
00:11:46.50\00:11:49.17
on the, on the back. And, uh, to
begin with, it's really rather
00:11:49.20\00:11:57.68
nerve-wracking. It's a lion,
after all. But after a while,
00:11:57.71\00:12:01.65
it's kind of like no big deal.
You just get remarkably used
00:12:01.68\00:12:07.42
to them. Now, don't get me
wrong; I maintain a healthy
00:12:07.46\00:12:11.49
respect for these guys. But
I'm standing within 18 inches
00:12:11.53\00:12:14.50
of a lion and not really
thinking twice. That's how
00:12:14.56\00:12:17.37
temptation can be. You
know, you know the Devil
00:12:17.40\00:12:20.14
is dangerous. But at the same
time, after a while you can just
00:12:20.17\00:12:24.07
get really close to him and
not worry about it. And get very
00:12:24.11\00:12:26.57
casual about it, and sort of
blasé. And, uh, it's probably
00:12:26.61\00:12:32.95
not a very healthy
way to be. Too many of us
00:12:32.98\00:12:45.33
take the Devil by the tail-think
it's kind of fun. But you do
00:12:45.36\00:12:50.70
that too long, and it won't
be long before that lion turns
00:12:50.73\00:12:54.44
around and bites you. Now,
the owner of Antelope Park here,
00:12:54.47\00:12:58.07
just outside of Gweru in
Zimbabwe, is a character named
00:12:58.11\00:13:01.91
Andrew Connolly. Mr. Connolly
had his own close encounter with
00:13:01.94\00:13:06.72
a lion and, thankfully,
did live to tell the story.
00:13:06.75\00:13:10.69
[Music, bird chirping]
JB: Andrew, tell me where
00:13:10.72\00:13:16.26
we are, what this place is.
AC: Antelope Park is a, is a
00:13:16.29\00:13:19.53
tourism facility. In fact, we've
won many awards as being the
00:13:19.56\00:13:23.73
best private game reserve
in the country of Zimbabwe.
00:13:23.77\00:13:26.67
JB: We're on
about 3,000 acres here.
00:13:26.70\00:13:28.84
AC: We are on about 3,000 acres,
but it's a tourism facility that
00:13:28.87\00:13:31.87
supports and funds many
conservation and education and
00:13:31.91\00:13:35.61
community programs around us.
JB: Now, people come here for
00:13:35.64\00:13:38.55
a number of reasons,
one of which is, you have
00:13:38.58\00:13:40.58
some interesting residents
here, roaming around here.
00:13:40.62\00:13:43.28
What have you got?
AC: Well, there's, there's
00:13:43.32\00:13:45.95
elephants. Um, elephants
here are not wild elephants.
00:13:45.99\00:13:48.56
The elephants were
saved from a horrific drought
00:13:48.59\00:13:51.09
we had in 1992 in Zimbabwe. Then
we've got about 19 different
00:13:51.13\00:13:54.46
species of small antelope and
antelope and giraffe and kudu
00:13:54.50\00:13:57.47
and zebra and wildebeest,
and waterbuck and jackal and
00:13:57.50\00:14:02.20
warthog and gessibee,
and many other species.
00:14:02.24\00:14:03.77
And then we've got over
200 bird species as well. A lot
00:14:03.81\00:14:07.71
of water fowl on the
like around here too.
00:14:07.74\00:14:09.44
JB: A few lions as
well. AC: Yeah, there are a
00:14:09.48\00:14:11.28
few lions, which is
part of our whole program.
00:14:11.31\00:14:13.78
JB: Now, this is
lion country, isn't it?
00:14:13.82\00:14:15.72
AC: Correct. And our whole focus
is really-and the focus of my
00:14:15.75\00:14:20.56
life is on the African
lion. JB: So tell me some things
00:14:20.59\00:14:23.32
about lions. I mean, I don't
know much about them. You do.
00:14:23.36\00:14:26.83
What are, what are some of the
things that in all your years of
00:14:26.86\00:14:30.00
working with lions, you can say,
“I've learned this about lions”?
00:14:30.03\00:14:33.64
You may not read it in the
textbook, but there are some
00:14:33.67\00:14:36.40
insights that you have
into lions-or some of the other
00:14:36.44\00:14:38.67
interesting
animals you've got here.
00:14:38.71\00:14:40.01
AC: You know, I, I think
the thing about a lion is,
00:14:40.04\00:14:45.35
what I love about lions is that
they are the most courageous
00:14:45.38\00:14:48.65
animals, and they're just
supremely confident. They just
00:14:48.68\00:14:52.49
ooze confidence. They don't
care if it's an elephant or
00:14:52.52\00:14:55.12
a crocodile that's double its
size. And I think there's lots
00:14:55.16\00:14:58.59
of other things, obviously,
but I think, you know, to put it
00:14:58.63\00:15:01.73
mildly, it's the supreme
confidence, bravery, courage
00:15:01.76\00:15:05.00
of a lion. They are absolutely
fearless. They'll take on
00:15:05.03\00:15:07.34
something five times bigger than
them, without batting an eyelid.
00:15:07.37\00:15:11.21
And I think that that's the key
thing about them. It is, without
00:15:11.24\00:15:14.04
a doubt, the king of beasts.
I mean, there's nothing, there's
00:15:14.08\00:15:17.65
nothing on this earth, as far as
superiority, supreme confidence
00:15:17.68\00:15:23.12
and courage and bravery, to
match the lion. There's just no
00:15:23.15\00:15:26.02
other animal on earth to come
near it. And I think that's how
00:15:26.05\00:15:28.16
God created it. He
is the king of beasts.
00:15:28.19\00:15:31.03
JB: A lion is the symbol of
power. Nations have identified
00:15:31.06\00:15:36.03
with the lion as their mascot.
You'll have seen lions depicted
00:15:36.06\00:15:39.50
on flags and coats-of-arms.
A lion can look terrifying and
00:15:39.53\00:15:44.44
scary, or majestic and regal.
Lions appear in many places
00:15:44.47\00:15:50.41
throughout the Bible, and in
a number of fascinating ways-
00:15:50.45\00:15:53.48
some of them ways you might
not expect. I'll be back with
00:15:53.52\00:15:57.82
more in just a moment. [Music]
00:15:57.85\00:15:59.89
Announcer: In Matthew
4:4, the Word of God says,
00:15:59.92\00:16:03.49
"It is Written, "man shall
not live by bread alone, but by
00:16:03.53\00:16:06.93
every word that proceeds
from the mouth of God.'"
00:16:06.96\00:16:10.53
Every word, is a one minute
bible based daily devotional
00:16:10.57\00:16:13.77
presented by Pastor John
Bradshaw and designed especially
00:16:13.80\00:16:16.67
for busy people like you. Look
for "Every Word" on selected
00:16:16.71\00:16:20.98
networks or watch it
online every day on our website
00:16:21.01\00:16:23.85
itiswritten.com. Recieve a
daily spiritual boost, watch
00:16:23.88\00:16:28.68
"Every Word" You'll be
glad you did. Here's a sample.
00:16:28.72\00:16:33.66
[Theme music] A
five-year-old boy was playing
00:16:34.39\00:16:41.90
at home, outside with his
brother, near Aspen, Colorado,
00:16:41.93\00:16:45.63
when he was attacked by
a mountain lion. His mother
00:16:45.67\00:16:48.77
ran to save him and, according
to the police statement,
00:16:48.80\00:16:51.17
physically removed her
son from the mountain lion.
00:16:51.21\00:16:53.88
The boy was injured but is doing
okay. And his mother, she was
00:16:53.91\00:16:56.71
hurt as well. But what else
would a mother do? It reminds me
00:16:56.75\00:16:59.91
of two things. Proverbs 31:28
says "Her children rise up and
00:16:59.95\00:17:05.69
call her blessed." And
it reminds me also of Jesus.
00:17:05.72\00:17:08.32
You know, the Bible
refers to the devil as a lion.
00:17:08.36\00:17:12.06
When he has you in his grip, who
is it that comes to your rescue?
00:17:12.09\00:17:15.40
That's Jesus, who was more than
injured saving you from sin.
00:17:15.43\00:17:20.37
That boy has an awful lot
to thank his mother for. And we
00:17:20.40\00:17:24.31
have everything to thank
Jesus for. I'm John Bradshaw for
00:17:24.34\00:17:28.41
It Is Written. Let's live today
by every word. [Theme music]
00:17:28.44\00:17:35.92
[Music]
00:17:35.95\00:17:40.69
JB: Thanks for joining
me today on It Is Written.
00:17:40.72\00:17:42.76
You know, lions feature
prominently in the Bible.
00:17:42.79\00:17:45.89
David told King Saul that he
killed a lion that had attacked
00:17:45.93\00:17:50.17
his father's sheep. A little
earlier in the Bible, in the
00:17:50.20\00:17:52.87
book of Judges, there's a
remarkable account of a man who
00:17:52.90\00:17:56.37
killed a lion with his bare
hands. And when you see what
00:17:56.40\00:18:00.34
you can see here at Antelope
Park in Zimbabwe, that story
00:18:00.38\00:18:04.81
takes on a whole new meaning.
"So Samson went down to Timnah
00:18:04.85\00:18:06.82
with his father and mother, and
came to the vineyards of Timnah.
00:18:06.85\00:18:13.15
Now, to his surprise, a young
lion came roaring against him.
00:18:13.19\00:18:17.83
And the Spirit of the Lord came
mightily upon him, and he tore
00:18:17.86\00:18:21.26
the lion apart as one would
have torn apart a young goat,
00:18:21.30\00:18:24.50
though he had nothing
in his hand. Judges 14:5-6
00:18:24.53\00:18:30.07
And then there's that
magnificent story in the Bible
00:18:30.11\00:18:32.64
of Daniel in the lion's den.
00:18:32.67\00:18:34.04
By now, Babylon had given way
to Medo-Persia. And Daniel was
00:18:34.08\00:18:39.18
a government official in
the government of that empire.
00:18:39.21\00:18:42.78
He was faithful to God, and
there were evil men who just
00:18:42.82\00:18:45.85
didn't like Daniel. And so, they
maneuvered to get Daniel into
00:18:45.89\00:18:49.89
deep trouble with the king. You
will either obey what the king
00:18:49.92\00:18:53.66
says and worship how the king
has decreed, or else you'll die.
00:18:53.70\00:18:57.93
Daniel obeyed God, shunning the
law that had been put in place
00:18:57.97\00:19:03.17
by these evil, manipulative men.
So, he was sentenced to death-
00:19:03.20\00:19:08.04
death by going into the lion's
den. The king didn't like it
00:19:08.08\00:19:12.41
at all. That night, the night
Daniel had been cast into the
00:19:12.45\00:19:15.38
lion's den, the king couldn't
sleep, and he tossed and turned,
00:19:15.42\00:19:19.39
wondering how Daniel was faring.
The next morning? The next
00:19:19.42\00:19:23.73
morning the king goes down
to the lion's den. Here's what
00:19:23.76\00:19:26.83
happens. Then the king arose
very early in the morning and
00:19:26.86\00:19:30.57
went in haste to the den
of lions. And when he came
00:19:30.60\00:19:34.17
to the den, he cried out with
a lamenting voice to Daniel.
00:19:34.20\00:19:38.47
The king spoke, saying
to Daniel, "Daniel, servant
00:19:38.51\00:19:42.24
of the living God, has your
God, whom you serve continually,
00:19:42.28\00:19:46.75
been able to
deliver you from the lions?"
00:19:46.78\00:19:49.95
Then Daniel said to the king,
"O king live forever! My God
00:19:49.98\00:19:54.89
sent his angel and
shut the lions' mouths,
00:19:54.92\00:19:58.96
so that they have not hurt
me, because I was found innocent
00:19:58.99\00:20:02.46
before him; and also, O king, I
have done no wrong before you."
00:20:02.50\00:20:08.70
Then the king was exceedingly
glad for him, and commanded
00:20:08.74\00:20:11.94
that they should take Daniel
up out of the den. So Daniel
00:20:11.97\00:20:15.74
was taken up out of the den,
and no injury whatever was found
00:20:15.78\00:20:19.61
on him, because he believed
in His God. Daniel 6:19-23
00:20:19.65\00:20:26.76
Now, not all who have
been thrown to the lions like
00:20:26.79\00:20:29.19
Daniel have had the same
outcome. It's said that many
00:20:29.22\00:20:33.06
early Christians died in
the arena after being attacked
00:20:33.09\00:20:37.20
by lions. The word lion is
mentioned more than 80 times
00:20:37.23\00:20:41.34
in the Bible. Daniel's encounter
with the lions occurs in Daniel
00:20:41.37\00:20:44.84
6. In the very next chapter, we
see another picture of a lion.
00:20:44.87\00:20:50.68
There's a prophecy in the book
of Daniel, in chapter 7, where
00:20:50.71\00:20:54.75
a series of kingdoms
is represented by animals.
00:20:54.78\00:20:59.72
The first kingdom is Babylon.
Daniel wrote: I saw in my vision
00:20:59.75\00:21:04.96
by night, and behold, the four
winds of heaven were stirring
00:21:04.99\00:21:08.93
up the Great Sea. And four great
beasts came up from the sea
00:21:08.96\00:21:14.60
each different from the other.
The first was like a lion,
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and had eagle's wings. I watched
till its wings were plucked off;
00:21:19.07\00:21:24.08
and it was lifted up from the
earth and made to stand on two
00:21:24.11\00:21:26.18
feet like a man, and a
man's heart was given to it.
00:21:26.21\00:21:30.45
Daniel 7:1-4 It
seems that a kingdom
00:21:30.49\00:21:34.16
as powerful as Babylon
could only be represented by
00:21:34.19\00:21:37.36
an animal as powerful as the
lion. We think of a dog as man's
00:21:37.39\00:21:42.03
best friend. But when it comes
to the lion, we don't usually
00:21:42.06\00:21:46.37
see them as friendly. They're
fierce and ferocious. And while
00:21:46.40\00:21:52.54
people in parts of rural Africa
have to be vigilant about lions,
00:21:52.57\00:21:57.31
you and I both need to be
vigilant about a lion spoken
00:21:57.35\00:22:00.95
of in scripture. It's
interesting, isn't it? Satan is
00:22:00.98\00:22:05.95
spoken of as a lion. And
that's probably easy enough
00:22:05.99\00:22:09.26
to understand. Fierce. Bent on
destruction. Able to do immense
00:22:09.29\00:22:15.83
damage, in the blink of an eye.
00:22:15.86\00:22:18.80
It's interesting
that in the Bible the lion
00:22:18.83\00:22:21.90
is applied as a figure in two
different ways. First Peter 5
00:22:21.94\00:22:27.51
and verse 8 says: Be sober, be
vigilant; because your adversary
00:22:27.54\00:22:31.45
the devil as a
roaring lion walks about
00:22:31.48\00:22:35.55
seeking whom he may devour.
00:22:35.58\00:22:37.52
And when you
get close to a lion,
00:22:37.55\00:22:39.95
and you observe their behavior-
in fact, you don't even have to
00:22:39.99\00:22:42.72
get close. But you know that
lions are devourers. Lions are
00:22:42.76\00:22:47.40
killers. That's not to paint
them in a bad light. They are
00:22:47.46\00:22:50.53
just mighty and strong, and
you don't want to get on the
00:22:50.57\00:22:53.77
wrong side of them. As a matter
of fact, I remember having
00:22:53.80\00:22:55.70
my son at a lion park once when
he was very little. We walked
00:22:55.74\00:22:59.14
past the lion's cage, and a lion
got-it was a cage-the lion got
00:22:59.17\00:23:03.61
down with its head on its
paws and started to track us,
00:23:03.65\00:23:06.41
as though he was hunting
his prey. And I thought of
00:23:06.45\00:23:08.78
that verse right then and
there, and I realized that,
00:23:08.82\00:23:10.85
if not for that fence, my son or
myself, well, both of us would
00:23:10.89\00:23:14.96
now be history. The devil
walks about seeking whom he may
00:23:14.99\00:23:20.20
devour-like a hunting lion.
And that's the enemy of souls.
00:23:20.23\00:23:22.56
He hunts. Sin isn't
happenstance. It doesn't just
00:23:22.60\00:23:26.90
occur. It's the result of
the enemy of souls planning and
00:23:26.94\00:23:31.41
plotting and picking you
off. And when you are without
00:23:31.44\00:23:34.04
defense, and when you stray
into his territory, that mighty
00:23:34.08\00:23:38.65
lion is going to take
you down, just like a lion in
00:23:38.68\00:23:43.39
a place like this would
take down an impala or a zebra
00:23:43.42\00:23:47.89
or something similar. But then
on the other side of the coin,
00:23:47.92\00:23:52.39
the lion is also a symbol
for Jesus. Revelation, chapter 5
00:23:52.43\00:23:57.60
and verse 1, describes Jesus as
the lion of the tribe of Judah.
00:23:57.63\00:24:03.61
Why then would it be, how
can it be, that this dreadful
00:24:03.64\00:24:08.31
symbol--the killer, the stalker,
the devourer--is also a symbol
00:24:08.34\00:24:14.22
for Jesus? Now, remember,
before sin, back in the Garden
00:24:14.25\00:24:18.92
of Eden, lions were not
feared. Lions would have been
00:24:18.95\00:24:22.32
admired. You would have
loved to have been with a lion
00:24:22.36\00:24:25.63
then. Imagine Jesus and
compare Jesus to the might
00:24:25.66\00:24:30.27
of a lion without sin being
in the picture. Now you have
00:24:30.30\00:24:35.10
someone who is courageous,
someone who knows no fear,
00:24:35.14\00:24:38.24
someone who will do whatever
he needs or she needs to do to
00:24:38.27\00:24:42.74
defend those he or she loves.
This is Jesus, the lion of the
00:24:42.78\00:24:47.68
tribe of Judah, the pure one
who is mighty. And when you get
00:24:47.72\00:24:51.69
close to the lions, and they're
docile and they're friendly, and
00:24:51.72\00:24:55.79
when you take them by the tail,
and when you rub them on the
00:24:55.82\00:24:58.66
side, and you look into those
big, beautiful eyes, and you
00:24:58.69\00:25:02.10
interact with the lion cubs, you
say, “Yeah, that's what lions
00:25:02.13\00:25:05.70
ought to be like.” That's
what the world ought to be like.
00:25:05.73\00:25:08.47
You know something? That's what
the world is going to be like.
00:25:08.50\00:25:12.34
The Bible says one day soon the
lion is going to lie down with
00:25:12.37\00:25:16.08
the lamb. How fantastic will
that be? If you can never walk
00:25:16.11\00:25:19.31
with lions in a game park,
if you can never go to some
00:25:19.35\00:25:21.82
beautiful place in Africa and
see them in the wild, remember
00:25:21.85\00:25:24.95
this: you'll be in that place,
through faith in God, where
00:25:24.99\00:25:28.42
the lion will lie down
with the lamb. You'll be in that
00:25:28.46\00:25:31.33
place with Jesus, the
great lion, the mighty one,
00:25:31.36\00:25:35.53
the lion of the tribe of Judah.
The earth will be made new.
00:25:35.56\00:25:39.40
There will be no more sin, and
it'll be us and Him, Jesus the
00:25:39.43\00:25:44.44
lion, forever. And
that's going to be fantastic.
00:25:44.47\00:25:48.71
[Music]
00:25:49.48\00:25:54.78
Eyes for India is giving sight
00:25:54.82\00:25:56.35
to the blind, and you can be
part of this amazing work God
00:25:56.38\00:25:59.75
is doing. Fifteen million blind
people live in India--more than
00:25:59.79\00:26:03.46
any other country in the world.
And many of the blind in India
00:26:03.49\00:26:06.80
could see again if only
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surgery. It Is Written is making
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Eyes for India and the worldwide
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00:26:14.54\00:26:17.97
You'll be giving the gift of
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00:26:18.01\00:26:20.41
wants to see. Here's all you
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00:26:20.44\00:26:23.81
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00:26:29.95\00:26:35.12
You'll also find additional
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Call 800-253-3000, or write to
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00:26:45.00\00:26:50.44
Temptation is a very real
part of every believer's daily
00:26:50.47\00:26:54.24
experience. But it doesn't
have to defeat you. You can have
00:26:54.28\00:26:57.75
victory over temptation,
and I'll tell how in this
00:26:57.78\00:27:00.92
week's free offer, “When
the Lion Roars: How to Overcome
00:27:00.95\00:27:04.82
Temptation.” To get your
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00:27:04.85\00:27:07.86
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00:27:07.89\00:27:12.46
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00:27:12.49\00:27:19.17
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00:27:19.20\00:27:25.04
Make sure you ask for
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00:27:25.07\00:27:27.41
“When the Lion Roars:
How to Overcome Temptation,”
00:27:27.44\00:27:30.75
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00:27:30.78\00:27:34.82
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00:27:34.85\00:27:40.36
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00:27:40.39\00:27:44.96
Lion Roars: How to
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00:27:44.99\00:27:49.93
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00:28:00.94\00:28:05.95
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00:28:05.98\00:28:09.05
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00:28:09.08\00:28:13.89
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00:28:13.92\00:28:18.46
Let's pray together. Our
Father in Heaven, I thank you
00:28:19.23\00:28:22.00
that in this beautiful place
we have seen a revelation both
00:28:22.03\00:28:26.74
of Jesus Christ, the Savior
of the world, and the enemy
00:28:26.77\00:28:30.31
of souls, who is powerful
and is seeking to devour those
00:28:30.34\00:28:34.64
who wander or stray or lose hold
of their connection with you.
00:28:34.68\00:28:39.51
We thank you today for
Jesus, the lion of the tribe
00:28:39.55\00:28:43.35
of Judah, that he is mighty and
that he defends and he saves.
00:28:43.39\00:28:48.36
We thank you for the beauty of
nature that reminds us that you
00:28:48.39\00:28:50.66
are a great, glorious, creative,
wonderful God. Keep us, we
00:28:50.69\00:28:55.93
pray. And friend, if you've
not chosen to stand with Jesus,
00:28:55.96\00:29:00.94
the mighty lion of the tribe of
Judah, would you choose to do so
00:29:00.97\00:29:03.57
now? Simply open up your heart
to God and say, “Yes, I choose
00:29:03.61\00:29:06.91
Christ. I wish to be defended by
the lion of the tribe of Judah.
00:29:06.94\00:29:11.11
I choose Jesus as my Lord and
Savior.” Now, Father, thank you
00:29:11.15\00:29:15.12
for hearing our prayer.
In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.
00:29:15.15\00:29:20.72
Thanks for joining me in Gweru,
Zimbabwe. I'm looking forward to
00:29:20.76\00:29:24.13
seeing you again next
time. Until then, remember:
00:29:24.16\00:29:26.93
“It is written, man shall
not live by bread alone but
00:29:26.96\00:29:31.47
by every word that
proceeds from the mouth of God.”
00:29:31.50\00:29:34.84
[Music]
00:29:34.87\00:29:50.85