>>John Bradshaw:
This is It Is Written.
00:00:19.98\00:00:21.62
I'm John Bradshaw.
Thanks for joining me.
00:00:21.65\00:00:24.22
Now, I never did see
the television program,
00:00:24.25\00:00:26.55
but I was told about it.
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A race of some kind, I
think, around the world,
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people in pairs, so
two people at a time,
00:00:30.99\00:00:34.36
combining to progress
through various stages.
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Now, at this
stage in the TV program,
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the pairs were in
the Bahamas at a resort,
00:00:41.07\00:00:44.84
and what they had to do there
was slide down a waterslide,
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one of those steep ones,
00:00:48.58\00:00:49.84
the ones sort of
thrill-seekers like.
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Now, you know, they're over
[snaps fingers] in a moment.
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It doesn't take long.
It's not all that steep.
00:00:54.72\00:00:56.75
You get
butterflies in your stomach.
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But people do it all day
long. No one ever comes to harm.
00:00:57.99\00:01:01.12
Except...the guy and his
girlfriend were at the top
00:01:01.16\00:01:04.29
of the waterslide,
and she wouldn't slide.
00:01:04.33\00:01:08.30
Even though it meant that
they would not be in the running
00:01:08.33\00:01:12.13
to win a million
dollars, she wouldn't slide.
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He pleaded with her.
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He cajoled her. He coaxed her.
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But she just wouldn't do it.
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If she slid down the slide,
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they'd still be in the
running for a million dollars.
00:01:25.31\00:01:27.35
If she didn't,
they'd be out of the race.
00:01:27.38\00:01:30.15
They were out of the
race, on their way home,
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no longer contending
for the million dollars.
00:01:34.32\00:01:37.23
[whoosh of wind]
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Now, I know there are times
you come up against your fears,
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whatever they may be.
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But there are times when,
in order to get something done,
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you need to
take a leap of faith,
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and that's what
I'm going to do today.
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No, I'm not going to
go down a waterslide.
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In fact, I've
ridden that same waterslide
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I told you about a moment ago.
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I've yet to meet a
waterslide that I wouldn't ride.
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This? Tougher. [laughs]
00:02:01.35\00:02:04.02
I mean, much tougher.
00:02:04.05\00:02:06.12
This is going to require
me to make a leap of faith.
00:02:06.15\00:02:10.39
An actual leap of faith.
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[wind noise and
snapping fabric sound]
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¤[dramatic music]¤
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When you come to the Bible,
00:02:21.64\00:02:22.90
you see example
after example of faith.
00:02:22.94\00:02:26.34
In fact, the Bible says that
salvation comes "by grace...
00:02:26.37\00:02:30.08
through faith."
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So faith is a prerequisite
for everlasting life.
00:02:31.91\00:02:35.65
The book of Hebrews says that
00:02:35.68\00:02:37.19
"without faith it is
impossible to please [God]."
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Hebrews 11, verse 6.
00:02:40.12\00:02:41.86
So faith is utterly essential.
00:02:41.89\00:02:45.29
So we're going to
find out what faith is,
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and maybe what it isn't.
00:02:47.96\00:02:50.63
Forty-five minutes
from the It Is Written
00:02:50.67\00:02:52.53
ministry headquarters, just
outside Chattanooga, Tennessee,
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there's a place called the
Lookout Mountain Flight Park.
00:02:57.34\00:03:01.34
Now, first, let's consider some
of the great stories of faith
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before we take a leap of faith.
00:03:05.25\00:03:08.62
If you wanted to
read about faith,
00:03:10.05\00:03:12.32
you'd go to Hebrews 11, where we
read about the heroes of faith.
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Hebrews 11 is like the Hall
of Fame for people of faith.
00:03:17.33\00:03:20.36
We could call it
"the Hall of Faith."
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The chapter
starts with these words:
00:03:23.16\00:03:24.87
"Now faith is the
substance of things hoped for,
00:03:24.90\00:03:28.07
the evidence of
things not seen."
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Which tells us something.
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Faith is what allows
you to have something
00:03:31.84\00:03:34.04
you might
currently only hope for.
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It's what
provides evidence for you
00:03:36.71\00:03:39.05
of things that you cannot see.
00:03:39.08\00:03:40.95
Let me say that again.
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Faith allows you to
say, "I'm only hoping for it,
00:03:42.48\00:03:45.39
but I believe I have it,"
00:03:45.42\00:03:46.92
and, "I don't see it,
but I believe I have it."
00:03:46.96\00:03:51.13
In Hebrews 11,
verse 2, we read that
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by faith "the elders
obtained a good testimony."
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The men of old were
attested to by faith.
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I'll give you
an example of that.
00:04:01.00\00:04:02.64
You can have great faith,
saving faith, strong faith.
00:04:02.67\00:04:07.58
It's easier
than you might think.
00:04:07.61\00:04:10.21
Remember the story of
Moses sending the 12 spies
00:04:10.25\00:04:13.48
to see what the
Promised Land was like?
00:04:13.52\00:04:15.48
They were told to bring
back a report of what they saw,
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which they did--and didn't.
00:04:18.45\00:04:21.36
Moses said to them,
"See what the land is like:
00:04:21.39\00:04:24.09
"[see] whether the
people... are strong or weak,
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"[whether they are] few or many;
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"[see if] the land... is
good or bad..." and so on.
00:04:28.26\00:04:31.20
And he told them to bring back
"some of the fruit of the land."
00:04:31.23\00:04:34.94
Numbers 13:27 says,
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"Then they told him, and said:
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"'We went to the
land where you sent us.
00:04:39.04\00:04:41.54
"'It truly flows
with milk and honey,
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and this is [the] fruit.'"
00:04:44.05\00:04:45.78
Now, that was, so far, faith.
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"Go and look," Moses said,
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"and come back and
tell me what you saw."
00:04:51.29\00:04:53.82
Up until this point,
that's what they had done.
00:04:53.86\00:04:57.69
But then, then they say,
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"Nevertheless the people who
dwell in the land are strong;
00:05:00.50\00:05:04.43
"the cities are
fortified and very large;
00:05:04.47\00:05:07.94
"moreover we saw the
descendants of Anak there.
00:05:07.97\00:05:11.44
"The Amalekites dwell
in the land of the South;
00:05:11.47\00:05:14.31
"the Hittites, the Jebusites,
and the Amorites dwell
00:05:14.34\00:05:17.81
"in the mountains; and the
Canaanites dwell by the sea
00:05:17.85\00:05:21.82
and along the
banks of the Jordan."
00:05:21.85\00:05:24.02
In other words, we've gone from
informing you of what we saw
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to interpreting what we saw.
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They already had God's
promise that He would drive
00:05:30.69\00:05:32.93
the inhabitants of
the land out of there.
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They didn't need
to worry themselves
00:05:35.70\00:05:37.13
with what seemed possible
or what seemed impossible
00:05:37.17\00:05:41.07
from a human viewpoint.
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They just needed
to tell the facts.
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Faith would have
said, "This is what we saw,
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and God is
going to work it out,"
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for the simple fact
that God had promised
00:05:50.71\00:05:53.98
to work it out for them.
00:05:54.02\00:05:55.98
Now Numbers 13, verse 30 and on:
00:05:56.02\00:05:58.72
"Then Caleb quieted the
people before Moses, and said,
00:05:58.75\00:06:02.62
"'Let us go up at
once and take possession,
00:06:02.66\00:06:05.29
"for we are well
able to overcome it.'
00:06:05.33\00:06:07.86
"But the men who had
gone up with him said,
00:06:07.93\00:06:10.03
"'We are not able to
go up against the people,
00:06:10.07\00:06:12.87
"for they are stronger than we.'
00:06:12.90\00:06:15.27
"And they gave the children of
Israel a bad report of the land
00:06:15.30\00:06:19.57
which they had spied out."
00:06:19.61\00:06:21.38
And so continued the downward
spiral that ultimately saw
00:06:21.41\00:06:25.51
the children of Israel spend
40 years in the wilderness,
00:06:25.55\00:06:29.95
a year for every
day the spies were gone.
00:06:29.98\00:06:34.29
So where do we see
faith in this story?
00:06:34.32\00:06:36.99
Joshua and Caleb
believed God against the odds,
00:06:37.03\00:06:40.96
against all appearances.
00:06:41.00\00:06:42.73
Contrary to how things seemed,
they simply believed God.
00:06:42.76\00:06:46.70
They believed that God
could deliver the Promised Land
00:06:46.74\00:06:49.57
into their hands.
00:06:49.60\00:06:51.44
Here they were on
the borders of Canaan,
00:06:51.47\00:06:54.31
and Joshua and Caleb simply
believed that God could do
00:06:54.34\00:06:58.58
what He said He would
do, and that was faith,
00:06:58.61\00:07:02.72
believing that God would
do what He said He would do,
00:07:02.75\00:07:06.45
simply because He said it.
00:07:06.49\00:07:08.46
In other words,
taking God at His word
00:07:08.49\00:07:11.43
and expecting God
to do what He says.
00:07:11.46\00:07:14.20
Faith. That's faith.
00:07:14.23\00:07:17.30
Now, I said I was going to
take a leap of faith today.
00:07:17.33\00:07:19.77
And this is no joke.
00:07:19.80\00:07:21.67
It's not something I
ever thought I would do,
00:07:21.70\00:07:23.91
but I'm going to do it.
00:07:23.94\00:07:25.97
Wish me well.
00:07:26.01\00:07:27.41
I'll be back in just a moment.
00:07:27.44\00:07:28.94
¤[music swells and ends]¤
00:07:28.98\00:07:35.98
>>John: Jesus said
He came into the world
00:07:38.22\00:07:39.79
to give us a more abundant life.
00:07:39.82\00:07:42.09
And you can have that
by making simple changes
00:07:42.12\00:07:44.23
that bring profound results.
00:07:44.26\00:07:46.16
And with that in mind, I'd like
to offer you a special book.
00:07:46.19\00:07:48.53
It's called
"Confidence in Chaos."
00:07:48.56\00:07:50.83
If you want to get
your heart right with God,
00:07:50.87\00:07:52.47
this is the book that's
going to set you on the path
00:07:52.50\00:07:54.27
to that place.
00:07:54.30\00:07:55.34
In order to get this
book, call right now.
00:07:55.37\00:07:57.37
The number is 1-800-253-3000,
00:07:57.41\00:08:01.01
and simply ask for
"Confidence in Chaos,"
00:08:01.04\00:08:03.81
or visit us
online at iiwoffer.com.
00:08:03.85\00:08:07.32
>>John: You know
that at It Is Written
00:08:08.32\00:08:10.12
we are serious about the
study of the Word of God,
00:08:10.15\00:08:13.29
and we encourage you to be
serious about God's Word also.
00:08:13.32\00:08:17.56
Well, I want to
share with you another way
00:08:17.59\00:08:19.73
that you can dig deeper into
the Word of God, and here it is:
00:08:19.76\00:08:24.17
itiswritten.study.
00:08:24.20\00:08:27.57
Go online to itiswritten.study,
00:08:27.60\00:08:30.14
and you can
access the It Is Written
00:08:30.17\00:08:33.07
Bible Study Guides,
25 in-depth Bible studies
00:08:33.11\00:08:37.15
that will walk
you through the Bible.
00:08:37.18\00:08:39.78
It's going to be good for
you, and it's the sort of thing
00:08:39.81\00:08:42.68
that you will want to
tell somebody else about
00:08:42.72\00:08:46.02
so that they can dig
deeper into the Word of God
00:08:46.05\00:08:48.86
and come to know the
things of the Bible intimately.
00:08:48.89\00:08:52.66
As you get into
the It Is Written
00:08:52.69\00:08:54.00
online Bible study guides,
00:08:54.00\00:08:55.76
you'll understand the
prophecies of the Bible,
00:08:55.80\00:08:57.83
the plan of salvation, and more.
00:08:57.87\00:09:00.17
So don't forget:
itiswritten.study,
00:09:00.20\00:09:03.34
itiswritten.study.
00:09:03.37\00:09:05.97
>>John Bradshaw:
Thanks for joining me today
00:09:07.98\00:09:09.28
on It Is Written.
00:09:09.31\00:09:10.58
So, faith is
taking God at His word,
00:09:10.61\00:09:14.22
expecting God to do
what He says He can do,
00:09:14.25\00:09:16.75
simply because He said it.
00:09:16.79\00:09:19.52
And I want to give you an
idea of what faith looks like.
00:09:19.55\00:09:22.89
When I wore a
younger man's clothes,
00:09:22.92\00:09:24.39
I promised myself that I
would do a parachute jump.
00:09:24.43\00:09:27.76
I never did, and I
don't know if I ever would.
00:09:27.83\00:09:30.77
But one thing I never
promised myself I would do
00:09:30.80\00:09:33.40
was to hang glide.
00:09:33.44\00:09:35.67
Now, it looks like a ton of fun.
00:09:35.70\00:09:38.01
You've seen people way up
there soaring like a bird,
00:09:38.04\00:09:41.14
flying high
above the countryside.
00:09:41.18\00:09:43.68
The view has to be spectacular.
00:09:43.71\00:09:46.48
Well, just outside
Chattanooga is Lookout Mountain,
00:09:46.51\00:09:49.92
and up on Lookout Mountain
00:09:49.95\00:09:51.69
you'll find Lookout
Mountain Flight Park,
00:09:51.72\00:09:54.76
where people hang glide.
00:09:54.79\00:09:57.26
And someone suggested to me,
00:09:57.29\00:09:58.86
"Maybe you'd like
to go hang gliding."
00:09:58.89\00:10:00.40
And I said, "No."
00:10:00.43\00:10:01.46
And they said, "Why not?"
00:10:01.50\00:10:02.33
And I said,
"Because... [laughs] no."
00:10:02.36\00:10:05.77
But then I thought about
it. People do it all the time.
00:10:05.80\00:10:09.47
It's relatively safe.
00:10:09.50\00:10:11.61
It'd have to be incredible.
00:10:11.64\00:10:14.44
Now, it's hard to ignore
the danger aspect, that's true.
00:10:16.38\00:10:22.42
But think about this with me.
00:10:22.45\00:10:23.95
In the United States about
40 people die every year skiing.
00:10:23.99\00:10:29.26
About 100 people die
every year in hunting accidents.
00:10:29.29\00:10:32.69
And then, think
about cycling and swimming,
00:10:32.73\00:10:35.76
very significant
fatalities every year,
00:10:35.80\00:10:38.17
and yet people do
them all the time.
00:10:38.20\00:10:40.54
¤[contemplative music]¤
00:10:40.57\00:10:46.11
Now, I'm not doing this
because I think it's dangerous.
00:10:46.14\00:10:49.14
I'm doing it
because it'll be awesome,
00:10:49.18\00:10:52.11
it'll be exhilarating,
00:10:52.15\00:10:53.75
and because I genuinely
believe I'm going to be okay.
00:10:53.78\00:10:57.92
And why do I believe
I'm going to be okay?
00:10:57.95\00:11:00.96
So, how long have
you been doing this?
00:11:00.99\00:11:02.62
>>Adrian Sanchez:
Been flying for 11 years.
00:11:02.66\00:11:04.93
>>John: How many
times have you flown?
00:11:04.96\00:11:07.20
I mean, guess for me.
00:11:07.23\00:11:08.30
How many, how many
flights does that equate to?
00:11:08.33\00:11:10.40
>>Adrian: Been doing three
to five hundred times per year.
00:11:10.43\00:11:14.34
>>John: That's
thousands of times.
00:11:14.37\00:11:16.57
So, to a greater
or lesser extent,
00:11:16.60\00:11:18.34
you're going to
teach me to hang glide?
00:11:18.37\00:11:20.01
>>Adrian: Absolutely. Yes.
00:11:20.04\00:11:21.18
>>John: Okay.
I'm not going to die?
00:11:21.21\00:11:22.51
>>Adrian: No,
you're not going to die.
00:11:22.54\00:11:23.71
>>John: Why should I, [laughs]
why should I believe you?
00:11:23.75\00:11:25.95
>>Adrian: Because I want
to keep my reputation clean.
00:11:25.98\00:11:30.19
>>John: All right, that's good.
That's a good reason, yeah.
00:11:30.22\00:11:32.29
>>Adrian: So, I want
to make sure I always say,
00:11:32.32\00:11:34.52
"You will be safe."
00:11:34.56\00:11:35.79
>>John: So, what is it that's
going to ensure that I'm safe?
00:11:35.82\00:11:39.76
>>Adrian: I'm not going
to let you go unless I know
00:11:39.79\00:11:42.40
it's safe for you to, to go.
00:11:42.43\00:11:44.80
And I explained you
the basics of the flight.
00:11:44.83\00:11:48.70
>>John: So, if I
do what you tell me,
00:11:48.74\00:11:52.21
listen to you,
follow instructions--
00:11:52.24\00:11:54.61
>>Adrian: Follow
instructions, yes.
00:11:54.64\00:11:55.71
>>John: ...I should be okay?
00:11:55.74\00:11:56.41
>>Adrian: You should be fine.
00:11:56.44\00:11:57.45
Absolutely. Yes.
00:11:57.48\00:11:59.71
>>John: Which sounds
a whole lot like faith.
00:11:59.75\00:12:03.62
When it comes to faith,
we listen to what God says
00:12:03.65\00:12:07.22
and trust that He'll
do what He says He can do.
00:12:07.26\00:12:11.46
Now, I'm fully
aware that my friends
00:12:11.49\00:12:12.96
at Lookout Mountain
Flight Park aren't God,
00:12:12.99\00:12:15.33
but the
principle remains the same.
00:12:15.36\00:12:18.50
I'm going to do
what they say, and trust.
00:12:18.53\00:12:22.84
¤[music intensifies]¤
00:12:22.87\00:12:27.28
Trust that it's
all going to be okay.
00:12:27.31\00:12:29.24
¤[music increases]¤
00:12:29.28\00:12:36.48
So, is this blind faith?
00:12:36.52\00:12:40.99
No, because there's
this track record they have
00:12:41.02\00:12:43.09
of proven success.
00:12:43.12\00:12:47.50
This is what they do.
00:12:47.50\00:12:48.90
This works.
00:12:48.93\00:12:50.23
They do this all the time.
00:12:50.27\00:12:52.13
¤[music]¤
00:12:52.17\00:12:55.70
There are lots and lots of
people who can say, "I did it.
00:12:55.74\00:12:59.74
"I followed the instructions.
00:12:59.77\00:13:01.41
"I followed the
procedures and the protocols.
00:13:01.44\00:13:03.68
I did all those
things, and it worked out."
00:13:03.71\00:13:06.31
¤[music ends]¤
00:13:06.35\00:13:07.55
Well, that was cool.
00:13:07.58\00:13:08.32
You know something,
00:13:08.35\00:13:10.22
it's interesting how
little you actually think
00:13:10.25\00:13:11.89
when you're up there.
00:13:11.92\00:13:12.55
¤[music]¤
00:13:12.59\00:13:13.46
Uh, and maybe from
another perspective,
00:13:13.49\00:13:15.02
how much you think.
00:13:15.06\00:13:16.46
Um, it's easy to get
into the air and then forget
00:13:16.49\00:13:20.43
some of the most important
things that you were told.
00:13:20.46\00:13:22.36
And what I discovered is this:
00:13:22.40\00:13:24.17
The more I remember what I
was told and think about that
00:13:24.20\00:13:27.24
and do just what I was told,
00:13:27.27\00:13:30.01
the better things work out.
00:13:30.04\00:13:32.24
It's a little bit like faith.
00:13:32.27\00:13:33.64
And we'll talk
about that a little more.
00:13:33.68\00:13:35.08
What a great experience.
00:13:35.11\00:13:36.28
You're up there in the air
soaring and think to yourself,
00:13:36.31\00:13:38.35
"Wow, I'm actually flying."
00:13:38.38\00:13:39.51
Not that I was flying flying.
00:13:39.55\00:13:40.95
It's when you get up
there that you're flying,
00:13:40.98\00:13:42.72
but you get up off the ground,
00:13:42.75\00:13:44.55
there's a little wind beneath
the wing, and it was great.
00:13:44.59\00:13:49.22
You listen to the
teacher; things go really well.
00:13:49.26\00:13:53.13
Kind of think you
know how to do it yourself
00:13:53.16\00:13:54.66
and do your own thing?
00:13:54.73\00:13:56.60
Not so well.
00:13:56.63\00:13:58.97
>>Megan Friesen: Yeah, the first
time running off the hillside
00:13:59.00\00:14:01.87
to hang glide, it
was far more frightening
00:14:01.90\00:14:05.57
than I actually
thought it was going to be,
00:14:05.61\00:14:07.41
and, I, um, I didn't put
my trust in the equipment,
00:14:07.44\00:14:11.68
and, um, clung
just way too tight,
00:14:11.71\00:14:15.08
and I felt it was an
unsuccessful takeoff,
00:14:15.12\00:14:19.22
but it was because I
was, yeah, I got nervous,
00:14:19.25\00:14:22.29
and I didn't trust
my equipment or myself.
00:14:22.32\00:14:24.36
I think it says that, uh, it's
important to put your trust,
00:14:24.39\00:14:27.96
you know, where your
trust needs to be in,
00:14:28.00\00:14:29.36
and to believe in
what's carrying you forward.
00:14:29.40\00:14:32.57
>>John: Well, is
this a reckless faith?
00:14:33.44\00:14:35.97
No, it isn't that, but
it's important to remember
00:14:36.00\00:14:38.91
that there are plenty
of people in the Bible
00:14:38.94\00:14:40.98
who stepped out in faith
00:14:41.01\00:14:42.41
and walked right
into the eye of a storm.
00:14:42.44\00:14:46.55
So, I'm going hang gliding.
00:14:46.58\00:14:48.42
Back to Hebrews, chapter 11:
00:14:48.45\00:14:49.92
"By faith Abel offered to
God a more excellent sacrifice
00:14:49.95\00:14:54.49
than Cain."
00:14:54.52\00:14:55.36
That's verse 4.
00:14:55.39\00:14:56.79
Abel had faith.
00:14:56.83\00:14:59.33
And we know how that turned out.
00:14:59.36\00:15:01.53
Verse 7 mentions Noah.
00:15:01.56\00:15:02.96
Faith in God led Noah to
go on the ride of his life.
00:15:03.00\00:15:07.34
There had to have been
moments when Noah wondered
00:15:07.37\00:15:09.97
if he would get
off that ark alive,
00:15:10.01\00:15:12.47
moments when his
family came to him and said,
00:15:12.51\00:15:14.98
"What were you thinking?"
00:15:15.01\00:15:17.85
You see, faith can
be a messy business.
00:15:17.88\00:15:20.52
Don't make the mistake of
thinking that because faith
00:15:20.55\00:15:22.85
in God led you into
some difficult situations
00:15:22.88\00:15:25.42
that faith was the wrong option.
00:15:25.45\00:15:28.19
Faith doesn't equal Easy Street.
00:15:28.22\00:15:31.56
Hebrews 11 talks
about Abraham who,
00:15:31.59\00:15:33.83
when he was called to go out
00:15:33.86\00:15:35.16
"to the place which he would
receive "as an inheritance,
00:15:35.20\00:15:38.07
and he went out not
knowing where he was going."
00:15:38.10\00:15:41.74
Hebrews 11, verse 8.
00:15:41.77\00:15:43.57
Which wasn't
pleasant and wasn't easy.
00:15:43.61\00:15:46.74
Later, Abraham was asked
to sacrifice his own son.
00:15:46.78\00:15:52.38
"By faith Moses chose to suffer
affliction with the people
00:15:52.41\00:15:56.22
of God, rather than to enjoy
the passing pleasures of sin."
00:15:56.25\00:16:00.39
Faith led him to
suffer affliction.
00:16:00.42\00:16:04.06
You get the picture.
00:16:04.09\00:16:05.36
Faith can be challenging.
00:16:05.39\00:16:07.03
Faith doesn't
take away the heat.
00:16:07.10\00:16:09.46
It doesn't remove the stress.
00:16:09.50\00:16:12.07
Faith doesn't
cancel uncertainty.
00:16:12.10\00:16:15.24
What it does, though, is it
states that you're trusting God
00:16:15.27\00:16:18.11
to be true to His word,
regardless of the circumstances.
00:16:18.14\00:16:22.24
And what is faith?
00:16:22.28\00:16:23.75
Trusting that the Word of God
will do what it says it will do
00:16:23.78\00:16:27.68
because it says so.
00:16:27.72\00:16:30.35
Now, about that leap of faith.
00:16:30.39\00:16:32.85
I'm ready to go.
00:16:32.89\00:16:34.02
You don't want to miss this.
00:16:34.06\00:16:35.59
I'll be right back.
00:16:35.62\00:16:36.26
¤[music swells and ends]¤
00:16:36.29\00:16:45.17
>>John: Jesus said
He came into the world
00:16:46.60\00:16:48.14
to give us a more abundant life.
00:16:48.17\00:16:50.47
And you can have that
by making simple changes
00:16:50.51\00:16:52.61
that bring profound results.
00:16:52.64\00:16:54.54
And with that in mind, I'd like
to offer you a special book.
00:16:54.58\00:16:56.95
It's called
"Confidence in Chaos."
00:16:56.98\00:16:59.21
If you want to get
your heart right with God,
00:16:59.25\00:17:00.85
this is the book that's
going to set you on the path
00:17:00.88\00:17:02.68
to that place.
00:17:02.72\00:17:03.72
In order to get this
book, call right now.
00:17:03.75\00:17:05.42
The number is 1-800-253-3000,
00:17:05.45\00:17:09.39
and simply ask for
"Confidence in Chaos,"
00:17:09.42\00:17:12.23
or visit us
online at iiwoffer.com.
00:17:12.26\00:17:14.63
¤[gentle piano music]¤
00:17:14.66\00:17:16.33
[mug clinks on table]
00:17:16.36\00:17:17.60
>>Man 1: What does the
Bible say about astrology?
00:17:20.64\00:17:22.84
>>Man 2: Why do bad
things happen to good people?
00:17:27.51\00:17:30.45
[crayons rattle together]
00:17:32.48\00:17:35.98
>>Girl: What color is Jesus?
00:17:36.02\00:17:38.45
>>John Bradshaw: If
you have a question,
00:17:38.49\00:17:39.55
we'd love to find an
answer for you from the Bible.
00:17:39.59\00:17:42.29
Line Upon Line
00:17:42.32\00:17:43.22
from It Is Written TV.
00:17:43.26\00:17:45.36
>>John Bradshaw:
Ghosts, ghouls, goblins,
00:17:45.93\00:17:49.96
things that go
bump in the night.
00:17:50.00\00:17:52.37
People believe in them.
00:17:52.40\00:17:53.77
People fear them.
00:17:53.80\00:17:55.70
But are ghosts real?
00:17:55.74\00:17:59.61
Ghosts have become a significant
part of contemporary culture,
00:17:59.64\00:18:03.65
even for Christians.
00:18:03.68\00:18:05.45
But what does the Bible
say about their existence?
00:18:05.48\00:18:09.88
Join me for "Are Ghosts Real?"
00:18:09.92\00:18:12.72
We'll go to a
couple of creepy locations,
00:18:12.75\00:18:15.89
and we'll investigate whether or
not these things actually exist.
00:18:15.92\00:18:21.06
And, more importantly,
00:18:21.10\00:18:22.76
we'll look at what the
Bible says about ghosts.
00:18:22.80\00:18:27.10
Are ghosts real?
00:18:27.14\00:18:29.27
We'll wrestle with
this important subject
00:18:29.30\00:18:31.84
and find that the Bible is
very clear in what it says.
00:18:31.87\00:18:36.54
"Are Ghosts Real?"
00:18:36.58\00:18:38.05
Watch now on It Is Written TV.
00:18:38.08\00:18:41.58
¤[music ends]¤
00:18:41.62\00:18:45.45
>>John Bradshaw:
Thanks for joining me today
00:18:46.42\00:18:47.52
on It Is Written.
00:18:47.56\00:18:48.89
So, here I am getting
ready to go hang gliding.
00:18:48.92\00:18:52.23
And it seems to
me that this exercise
00:18:52.26\00:18:54.00
would be a very good
object lesson of what faith is.
00:18:54.03\00:18:57.87
¤[music]¤
00:18:57.90\00:18:59.07
In life, a believer learns
to listen to the voice of God
00:18:59.10\00:19:01.67
and follow what God
says, because God is God.
00:19:01.70\00:19:05.04
God knows best.
00:19:05.07\00:19:06.44
God is full of wisdom.
00:19:06.47\00:19:08.51
God has your best
interests in mind.
00:19:08.54\00:19:12.18
Faith is hearing the word
of God and following that,
00:19:12.21\00:19:16.42
rather than following
doubt or fear or the crowd.
00:19:16.45\00:19:19.99
I'll give you a for-instance,
a simple one and an obvious one.
00:19:20.02\00:19:23.63
The Bible says that "in
the beginning God created."
00:19:23.66\00:19:26.70
The prophets
referenced Creation.
00:19:26.73\00:19:29.40
Jesus talked about Creation.
00:19:29.43\00:19:31.43
The book of Revelation,
the last book in the Bible,
00:19:31.47\00:19:34.80
like the first book in the
Bible, talks about Creation.
00:19:34.84\00:19:38.47
According to the
Bible it's a done deal:
00:19:38.51\00:19:41.08
God created the world.
00:19:41.11\00:19:44.61
But some people say humans
evolved and that the world
00:19:44.65\00:19:48.32
came into existence as
the result of the Big Bang.
00:19:48.35\00:19:51.45
[explosion]
00:19:51.49\00:19:52.69
And then you'll have people who
ask the very logical question,
00:19:52.72\00:19:55.59
"How could God create
the world out of nothing?"
00:19:55.62\00:19:59.39
Now, is my faith in the
Creation account of the Bible
00:19:59.43\00:20:03.33
just blind faith?
00:20:03.37\00:20:04.63
No, it's not.
00:20:04.67\00:20:05.97
Because the Bible demonstrates
to me again and again
00:20:06.00\00:20:08.84
that I can trust it.
00:20:08.87\00:20:11.41
Prophecy suggests I can.
00:20:11.44\00:20:13.48
The biblical
record suggests I can,
00:20:13.51\00:20:16.44
as do history and archaeology.
00:20:16.48\00:20:18.98
They all make it clear
that my faith in the Bible
00:20:19.01\00:20:22.15
is well-founded.
00:20:22.18\00:20:23.95
For me to believe something
that isn't in the Bible?
00:20:23.99\00:20:27.09
Now, that would
be a lack of faith,
00:20:27.12\00:20:28.52
because in order to do that,
00:20:28.56\00:20:30.19
I would have to reject what
God says and believe something
00:20:30.23\00:20:33.86
that is outside the Bible,
over that which is in the Bible.
00:20:33.90\00:20:39.10
And that's not faith.
00:20:39.13\00:20:41.07
So you can believe evolution.
00:20:41.10\00:20:42.70
You can believe the
Flood never happened,
00:20:42.74\00:20:44.27
you can believe
there was no virgin birth,
00:20:44.31\00:20:46.17
you can believe Jesus
did not die on the cross,
00:20:46.21\00:20:49.68
but you cannot then
claim to have faith.
00:20:49.71\00:20:53.72
Faith is believing the
Word of God and acting on it.
00:20:53.75\00:20:58.49
¤[new music]¤
00:20:59.52\00:21:10.90
Now, before you say, "Well,
he, he's not hang gliding.
00:21:10.93\00:21:14.34
"He's going with somebody else.
00:21:14.37\00:21:16.07
I thought he was
going to fly on his own."
00:21:16.10\00:21:17.67
Now, hold on a minute.
00:21:17.71\00:21:19.04
Here's what I'm doing.
00:21:19.07\00:21:20.41
I'm connecting
myself to someone else
00:21:20.44\00:21:23.75
and I'm trusting someone
else to get me through this
00:21:23.78\00:21:27.02
in one piece and
get me down safely.
00:21:27.05\00:21:29.48
And that is what faith is.
00:21:29.52\00:21:32.99
It's connecting
yourself to somebody else
00:21:33.02\00:21:35.49
and trusting that somebody
else to get you through.
00:21:35.52\00:21:39.69
That's how it works.
00:21:39.73\00:21:40.63
¤[music]¤
00:21:40.66\00:21:44.40
>>Adrian: How do you feel?
00:21:44.43\00:21:45.40
>>John: Okay.
00:21:45.43\00:21:46.57
>>Adrian: Are you ready?
00:21:46.60\00:21:47.24
>>John: Yeah, I'm ready.
00:21:47.27\00:21:48.30
>>Adrian: Okay. We going
to count, one, two, three.
00:21:48.34\00:21:49.84
Is that okay?
00:21:49.87\00:21:50.67
>>John: Yup.
00:21:50.71\00:21:51.71
>>Adrian: All right, uh. Check.
00:21:51.74\00:21:57.81
One, two, three! [Click sound]
00:21:57.85\00:21:58.95
Go, go, go, go, go, go!
00:21:58.98\00:22:00.72
[Whoosh]
00:22:00.75\00:22:03.12
>>Adrian: Woo-hoo!
00:22:03.15\00:22:04.99
>>John: Wow! [John laughing]
00:22:05.02\00:22:07.22
>>Adrian: [Unintelligible]
00:22:07.26\00:22:09.56
>>John: Oh yeah, man!
00:22:09.59\00:22:11.59
And off we went.
00:22:11.63\00:22:13.83
It was exhilarating.
00:22:13.86\00:22:16.67
There was this moment of,
00:22:16.70\00:22:17.97
man, are we actually
going to stay up here?
00:22:18.00\00:22:20.87
And then you realize that, yes,
00:22:20.90\00:22:22.94
you're actually
going to stay up here.
00:22:22.97\00:22:24.64
And you settle in
and enjoy the scenery.
00:22:24.67\00:22:29.54
Oh, man. Awesome.
00:22:29.58\00:22:33.11
And that's what faith is like.
00:22:33.15\00:22:36.18
I heard someone once say
00:22:36.22\00:22:37.22
that faith grows by
conflict with doubt.
00:22:37.25\00:22:41.69
Doubt would
suggest you pull back.
00:22:41.72\00:22:47.36
But faith sees that
doubt, recognizes that doubt,
00:22:47.40\00:22:52.07
and forges on because there's
something greater than doubt.
00:22:52.10\00:22:56.97
[Whoosh]
00:22:57.01\00:23:01.58
That's the Word of God.
00:23:01.61\00:23:05.65
[Wind noises]
00:23:05.68\00:23:13.56
So what are you wrestling with?
00:23:16.26\00:23:18.33
Where is God asking you
to take a leap of faith?
00:23:18.36\00:23:23.23
Now, it might be that God
is calling you to, let's say,
00:23:23.26\00:23:26.57
serve as a missionary
in some far-flung country
00:23:26.60\00:23:31.24
and you think about that,
you say, "I'd kind of love to,
00:23:31.27\00:23:34.01
"except that, I don't know
where my support is coming from.
00:23:34.04\00:23:39.91
"How could I bear to
be away from home so long?
00:23:39.95\00:23:43.18
There are so many details that
I don't know how to figure out."
00:23:43.22\00:23:46.12
But then you remember that
it's God who is calling you,
00:23:46.15\00:23:51.89
and you realize that
if God is calling you,
00:23:51.93\00:23:54.46
then He's able to
work it out for you.
00:23:54.50\00:23:59.17
Now, not too many people are
being called to be missionaries
00:23:59.20\00:24:02.57
in a foreign country,
but it makes my point.
00:24:02.60\00:24:05.71
So maybe it's different for you.
00:24:05.74\00:24:07.04
Maybe God is speaking
to you about your finances.
00:24:07.08\00:24:09.28
Maybe God is asking you
to tithe, and you're saying,
00:24:09.31\00:24:13.28
"I don't know if I
can afford to do that."
00:24:13.31\00:24:15.38
But you read in the
Bible where God says
00:24:15.42\00:24:17.22
that if you're faithful
to Him with your finances,
00:24:17.25\00:24:20.16
He will "open up
the windows of heaven
00:24:20.19\00:24:22.36
"and pour out [so much] blessing
00:24:22.39\00:24:24.79
that you won't have room
enough to receive it [all]."
00:24:24.83\00:24:27.30
Faith says, "I don't
see, but I'll trust God."
00:24:27.36\00:24:31.37
And you'll see that
God is true to His word.
00:24:31.40\00:24:34.77
Faith is the
evidence of things not seen.
00:24:34.80\00:24:37.77
Or, it might be
that God is asking you
00:24:37.81\00:24:41.21
to give Him your heart.
00:24:41.24\00:24:43.35
And you're wondering what
your family or friends will say.
00:24:43.38\00:24:45.48
Or what life will look like if
you give your life over to God.
00:24:45.51\00:24:50.05
And then you read the Bible,
and you see that God promises
00:24:50.09\00:24:52.92
to bless you and
guide you and uphold you
00:24:52.95\00:24:55.19
and fill your
life with His presence.
00:24:55.22\00:24:57.19
And faith says, faith
says, "I'll trust God.
00:24:57.23\00:25:02.56
I'll follow His leading.
I'll stand on His Word."
00:25:02.60\00:25:07.04
And that's faith.
00:25:07.07\00:25:08.40
And your life changes, and you
won't ever be the same again.
00:25:08.44\00:25:11.81
You'll be
redeemed, saved, transformed,
00:25:11.84\00:25:15.91
on a new path,
living a new life,
00:25:15.94\00:25:19.88
a life with an eternal future.
00:25:19.91\00:25:23.89
God offers you so much.
00:25:23.92\00:25:25.99
He offers you
forgiveness of your sins.
00:25:26.02\00:25:28.26
He offers you the
righteousness of Jesus,
00:25:28.29\00:25:31.23
adoption into heaven's family.
00:25:31.26\00:25:33.29
God offers you so
much, and you can have it.
00:25:33.33\00:25:38.17
You can have it all by faith.
00:25:38.20\00:25:42.40
Take that leap of faith.
00:25:42.44\00:25:45.47
It's the most reasonable
thing that you could ever do.
00:25:45.51\00:25:50.01
>>John: Thank you for
remembering that It Is Written
00:25:50.75\00:25:52.58
exists because of the kindness
of people just like you.
00:25:52.61\00:25:56.08
To support this international
life-changing ministry,
00:25:56.12\00:25:58.95
please call us
now at 800-253-3000.
00:25:58.99\00:26:03.39
You can send your
tax-deductible gift
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to the address on your screen,
00:26:05.06\00:26:06.49
or you can visit us
online at itiswritten.com.
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Thank you for your prayers
and for your financial support.
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Our number
again is 800-253-3000,
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or you can visit us
online at itiswritten.com.
00:26:17.24\00:26:20.48
>>John Bradshaw:
Let me pray for you now.
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Our Father in heaven,
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we are thankful today
for the gift of faith.
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I pray You'll grow our faith.
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And right now there's
someone who needs to make
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a leap of faith.
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Perhaps they're
wrestling with relocating,
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something to do with health
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or finance or service,
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a career change,
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a relationship.
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Whatever it is, dear
Lord, I'm encouraging You
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to place within us that
faithfulness to follow You
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and trust in You.
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Someone right now is teetering
on the brink of trusting You.
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Or there's someone teetering
on the brink of walking away
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from You because they're
wondering how they can be
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a person of faith right now.
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Father in
heaven, direct us to You.
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Remind us again that
faith is trusting You
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and believing that You
will do what only You can do,
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even for me.
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Thank You for faith,
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and thank You, Lord,
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for being so faithful.
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In Jesus' name we pray,
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Amen.
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Thanks so much for joining me.
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I'm looking forward to
seeing you again next time.
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Until then, remember:
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"It is written, 'Man
shall not live by bread alone,
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but by every word that proceeds
from the mouth of God.'"
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¤[dramatic theme music swells]¤
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¤[dramatic theme music swells]¤
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