¤[music ends]¤¤
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>>John Bradshaw:
This is It Is Written.
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I'm John Bradshaw.
Thanks for joioining me.
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Carlo was born in March h
of 1883 in the town of Lugo
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in the north oItaly.
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was 21 years old when he
arrived in the United d States,
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and after tryi his hand at
various jobs and enterprises,
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he fally hit upon an idea
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that he was sure
would make him a f fortune.
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Investors poured millionss
of dollars into his company.
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Some m mortgaged their homes
and invested their lifsavings
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with Carlo.
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Within mths he was bringing
in a million dollars a day
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in revenue--in 10.
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But  was soon
discovered that Carlo's company
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wasn't generating
any profits at all.
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Carlo had been using the
money from n new investors
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to provide dividends to
longer-term investorors.
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When greer numbers of
his clients began demanding
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thr money, Carlo, or
Charles Ponzi's scheme,
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was realed to
be a massive fraud.
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And many people lost everything.
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And it wouldt be the last time.
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In 200the late
Bernie Madoff was charged
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with securities fraud for
running a massive e Ponzi scheme
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that resulted in
actual losses to invevestors
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ofof about $18 billion.
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It was thought to
be the ggest fraud
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in the history of Wall Street.
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Even though h 14 and 1/2
billion was returned to investor
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Madoff was sentenced
to 150 yearsn prison.
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People trusted Madoff, and
Charles PoPonzi decades before,
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to do the right thing
with moneyey they invested.
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But that trust was misplaced.
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We live inin a world
that is based on trust.
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You mail a a letter, and
you trust that if you put it
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in that bobox or through
that slot, it's going to maket
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to where it's meant to go.
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e mechanic tells you that
your car needs ththis done,
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and you ust the mechanic.
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Your doctor tells you that
you need thicertain medication
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or maybe surgery.
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Most of the time
you have no idea,
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but you ust the
physician, and things work out.
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You trust the
person who cuts your ha.
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Mostly it goes to
plan. Sometimeit does not.
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I got my hair cut once at the
airport in Torononto, Canada.
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Oh man, it was so bad I
remember it all tse years later.
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The person who I went to
to have the mess fixed up
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said that the woman who cut
mymy hair in the first place
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committed mamalpractice.
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I calaugh about it now.
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Truth is, we l
laughed about it then.
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Of course, not
eveveryone can be trusted.
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In fact, there are times
you'd be unwise to trust.
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That phone call
when someone tells you
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they're gonna send
you a large sum of money,
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but first you need
to send money toto them?
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No, don't trust
that. Those are e scams.
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But someone who ca
always be trusted is God.
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And we see that today.
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We're continuing our serieies
and as we look at "Great
Characters of the Bible," the
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life of Isaac,c, we see a a
life demonstrating trust in God.
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Isaac was born
because of t trust.
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HeHe was the child of
promise born to Abraham d Sarah.
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Abraham was 100 years old when
Isaac c was born. Sarah was 90.
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Wh she heard she was
going to have a child
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so late in her l
life, Sarah laughed.
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In fact, shehe and Abraham
did not trust God to begin wit
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In Genesis 12, God saido Abram,
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will make you a great nation;
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"I will bless you
and make your name gre;
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and you shall be a blessing."
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But time passed by,
and nohild was born.
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When Abraham brought this
up to God in Genesisis 15,
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GoGod "brought him outside
and said, 'Look now ward heaven,
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"and count the stars if
you are able to nunumber them.'
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And He said to him, 'So
shall your desceants be.'"
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The Bible says
Abraham "belved in the Lord,
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and He accounted it to
him for r righteousness."
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But that belief
went only so far.
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Sarah was getting older,
and she wasn getting pregnant.
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"So Sarai said to Abram, 'See
now,w, the Lord has restrained
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me from bearing children.
Please, go in to my maid;;
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"perhaps I I shall
obtain children by her.'
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And Abram heeded
the voice of Sarai."
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Which wasn't a great mov
for any number of reasons.
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The lack of faith in
God crcreated friction,
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which is still
being experienced toy.
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Now, let's say this.
They're an elderly couple,
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and they doubted that t
Sarah would become pregnant.
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That's fair enough, isn't it??
00:05:01.83\00:05:03.70
I mean, who would have
thought that Sarahould conceive
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at that very advanced age?
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But that's where
faith comes into it.
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ItIt was God who
promised a child would be born,
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d so therefore it's up
to God to work that out,
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even if itit seems unlikely
from a human standpoint.
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Our faith in God
needs to stretchay further
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than the limits of
our hun understanding.
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If yr faith in God only
goes as far as your faith
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inin yourself--"I could
never do a job like th";
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"I just don't know how we
could ever afffford to support
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that missionary y family";
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"I can't see howrandma
could possibly recover"--
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then that'evidence that God is
the God of you don't have faith
in God. the impossible.
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It's not easy to explain exactly
how God created the world.
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But Hebrews 11 tells us
that "by ith we understand
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"that the worlds were
framed by the worord of God,
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"so that the
things which are seen
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were not made of
things which are e visible."
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We understand by
faith. HeHebrews 11, verse 3.
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me on, friend, how's your faith?
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Is God big or small?
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Is God able, or is He not able
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A God inhich you can
have faith can raise the dead.
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He can turn water into wine.
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He can feed the five
thousand, open up the Red Sea,
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bring water out of
a rock, and see tot
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that a 90-ar-old
woman can have a baby.
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Speaking of
Abraham, Paul w wrote,
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"And being not weak in faith,,
he considered not his own body
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"n"now dead, when he was
about an hundred yearsld,
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"neither yet the
ddness of Sara's womb:
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"he staggered not at the
promise of Godhrough unbelief;
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"but was strong in
faith, givinglory to God;
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"and being fully persuaded
thatwhat He had promised,
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He was able also tperform."
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That's Romans 4,
verses 19 through 21.
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Now,w, did you see that?
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Abraham simply
believed that God cld do
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what God said He could do.
00:07:08.16\00:07:10.13
And that's
faith; that's trustst.
00:07:10.16\00:07:13.63
So that't's how
Isaac came into the world:
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faith, trust in God,
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belief that God could do
what God said He couldld do.
00:07:18.37\00:07:21.94
And bebefore long,
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young Isaac was going to
have to exercisfaith of his own.
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I'llll be right back.
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¤[music swells and ends]¤¤
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>>Announcer: He was the
first humabeing ever created,
00:07:39.19\00:07:41.66
the father of thhuman family.
00:07:41.69\00:07:43.43
And in Adam's storory we find
some of the highest and lowest
00:07:43.46\00:07:47.13
poin of thehe human experience.
00:07:47.13\00:07:48.46
Our free offer today is "Great
Characrs of the Bible: Adam,"
00:07:48.50\00:07:52.20
part o of the ongoing "Great
Characters of the Bible"eries.
00:07:52.23\00:07:55.67
To receive this free DVD,
00:07:55.70\00:07:57.27
call 800-253-3000
00:07:57.31\00:08:00.21
or visit us
online at iiwoffer.com.
00:08:00.24\00:08:03.55
That's's 800-253-3000,
00:08:03.58\00:08:06.31
or visisit iiwoffer.com.
00:08:06.35\00:08:08.88
>>John Bradshaw:
Thanks for joininme today
00:08:10.02\00:08:11.32
on It Is Writteten.
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Before I go any further in
talking ababout faith and trust,
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let me say thihis.
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There arare
scams everywhere today.
00:08:18.16\00:08:21.36
In the 1920s, a man
named ViVictor Lustig
00:08:21.40\00:08:24.10
sold the Eiffel Tower--twice.
00:08:24.13\00:08:27.84
He fooled
people, deceived people,
00:08:27.87\00:08:30.27
and he made a lot of money.
00:08:30.31\00:08:31.77
AnAnd you wonder
how someone could fall
00:08:31.81\00:08:33.27
for such a crarazy scheme.
00:08:33.31\00:08:34.81
Well, people do.
00:08:34.84\00:08:36.34
There's no shortage
of unscscrupulous people
00:08:36.38\00:08:38.75
who will stop at
nothing to separate yoyou
00:08:38.78\00:08:41.42
from your hard-earned money.
00:08:41.45\00:08:43.08
Watch out for phishing
scams--that't's phishing,
00:08:43.12\00:08:45.72
P-H-I-S-H-I-N-G.
00:08:45.75\00:08:48.02
If you get an email
maki an unbelievable offer
00:08:48.06\00:08:50.46
or asking for personal
information, b be very careful.
00:08:50.53\00:08:54.40
Don't reveal
any financial deils.
00:08:54.46\00:08:56.80
No guine organization
is going to ask for those
00:08:56.83\00:09:00.27
in an emaiail.
00:09:00.30\00:09:01.80
Don't t open
attachments or click on links--
00:09:01.84\00:09:04.31
unless you're e 100
percent sure they're genuine--
00:09:04.34\00:09:07.01
as they mit then infect
your computer with a virus.
00:09:07.04\00:09:09.78
IfIf something looks too
good to be true, it pbably is.
00:09:09.81\00:09:13.01
And if you're really
unsure aboutut something
00:09:13.01\00:09:14.65
ask someone that you trust that
arrives in your inbox, to look
00:09:16.55\00:09:20.52
into it fofor you.
Now,w, back to Isaac.
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Isaac came into the world
because hiparents trusted God.
00:09:21.76\00:09:25.86
They had faith i in God.
And as a result, Isaac was born.
00:09:25.89\00:09:31.13
But when Isaac was a younman,
00:09:31.17\00:09:32.87
trt in God took on a
whole new dimension for him.
00:09:32.90\00:09:37.24
The story is usually told
from Abrahaham's perspective,
00:09:37.27\00:09:41.01
but let's see if we can
consider ather angle here.
00:09:41.04\00:09:44.61
Genesis 22egins like this:
00:09:44.65\00:09:47.52
"Now it came to
pass after these things
00:09:47.55\00:09:49.32
"that God tested Abram,
and said to him, 'Abraham!'
00:09:49.35\00:09:53.09
"And he said, ere I am.' Then
He said, 'Take now your son,
00:09:53.12\00:09:57.93
"'your only son
Isaac, wh you love,
00:09:57.96\00:10:01.33
"'and go to the land of
Moriah, and offer him ththere
00:10:01.33\00:10:03.80
"'as a burnt offering
on one of the mountaiains
00:10:03.83\00:10:06.20
of which I shall tell you.'"
00:10:06.23\00:10:07.87
agine how
Abraham must have felt.
00:10:08.84\00:10:11.04
There'd have been a
progression of etions.
00:10:11.07\00:10:13.21
"Take yo son."
00:10:13.24\00:10:14.54
"Ah, my son!" How
proud hehe must have been.
00:10:14.58\00:10:17.38
our only son"--God was saying,
00:10:17.41\00:10:20.12
"Take your legitimate
heir;take the child of faith."
00:10:20.15\00:10:23.92
"Hmm, my son, ththe one
God promised me and gave me.
00:10:23.95\00:10:26.82
Yes, my son."
00:10:26.86\00:10:29.69
"Take now yourur
son, your only son...
00:10:29.72\00:10:31.53
"and go to the land of
Moriah, and offer r him there
00:10:31.56\00:10:35.93
as a burnt offering."
00:10:35.96\00:10:38.00
Well, now Abram's
pride turned to horror.
00:10:38.00\00:10:41.17
Now, what's remarkable
is that the Bible saysys,
00:10:41.20\00:10:43.77
braham rose early in the morning
and saddled his dodonkey,
00:10:43.81\00:10:47.84
"and took two of his young
men with himand Isaac his son;
00:10:47.88\00:10:52.31
"and he split the wood
fofor the burnt offering,
00:10:52.35\00:10:54.18
and arose and went to the place
of which God had told him."
00:10:54.22\00:10:57.12
Genesis 22, verse 3.
00:10:57.15\00:10:59.19
It was a three-day journey,
and it had thave been brutal,
00:10:59.22\00:11:03.63
walking th his son, who
now is about 20 years of age,
00:11:03.66\00:11:06.93
and God was s asking him
to offer that young man as a
00:11:06.96\00:11:12.17
sacrice. I wonder if
there were l long pauses.
00:11:12.20\00:11:14.27
I wonder if Isaac ever said,
00:11:14.30\00:11:16.24
"Dad, you're not
yr normal happy self."
00:11:16.27\00:11:19.21
ose had to be three
dark days for Abraham
00:11:19.24\00:11:22.21
as they journeyed to
wt today is Jerusalem.
00:11:22.24\00:11:25.68
"And Abraham
said to his young men,
00:11:25.71\00:11:27.62
"'Stay here with the
donkey; thlad [or young man]
00:11:27.65\00:11:31.55
"'and I wi go
yonder and worship,
00:11:31.59\00:11:34.49
and we will come back to you.'"
00:11:34.52\00:11:36.19
Now, nice that: "We
will come back to you."
00:11:36.22\00:11:40.16
It ss in the book of
Hebrews that Abraham concluded
00:11:40.20\00:11:43.57
"that God was ablele to
raise him"--or Isaac--"up,
00:11:43.60\00:11:47.37
even from the dead."
00:11:47.40\00:11:48.50
That's Hebrews 11:19.
00:11:48.54\00:11:50.87
But that didn't chchange
the fact that he was being asked
00:11:50.91\00:11:53.51
to do something
exuciatingly difficult.
00:11:53.54\00:11:57.51
"So Abraham tookok the
wood of the burnt offering
00:11:57.55\00:11:59.68
"and laid it on Isaac hison;
00:11:59.71\00:12:03.08
"and he took the fire
in his hand, and a knife,e,
00:12:03.12\00:12:06.49
"and the two of
them went together.
00:12:06.49\00:12:08.56
"But Isaac spoke to
Abraham his father a and said,
00:12:08.59\00:12:11.69
"'My father! ... L
Look, the fire and the wood,
00:12:11.73\00:12:15.53
"but where is the lamb
for r a burnt offering?'
00:12:15.56\00:12:18.13
"And Abraham said, 'My
son, God will prode...Himself
00:12:18.17\00:12:23.14
"the lamb for burnt offering.'
00:12:23.14\00:12:25.51
So the two of
them went together."
00:12:25.54\00:12:27.88
That beautiful verse points
forward to theeath of Jesus
00:12:27.91\00:12:31.31
for thsins of the world.
00:12:31.35\00:12:32.68
d notice how Isaac
was a type of Christ
00:12:32.71\00:12:35.35
in that he
carriedthe wood himself
00:12:35.38\00:12:38.15
just like JeJesus
carried His cross.
00:12:38.19\00:12:40.92
God would
provide Himself a Lamb.
00:12:40.96\00:12:43.32
Divinity itself
would be the Lamb slain
00:12:43.36\00:12:45.63
for the sins of the
world. Jesusus would die.
00:12:45.66\00:12:48.63
But here at Mount
Moriah, Isaac was gog to die.
00:12:48.66\00:12:51.97
Genesis 22:9:9 says,
00:12:52.00\00:12:53.50
"Then they c came to the
place of which God had told him.
00:12:53.54\00:12:56.50
"And Abraham built a an
altar there and placed the wood
00:12:56.54\00:12:59.71
"in order; and he bound
Isaac his son n and laid him
00:12:59.74\00:13:03.11
on the altar, upon the wood."
00:13:03.14\00:13:05.61
We talk about
the faith of Abraham,
00:13:05.65\00:13:07.78
but what about
the faith of Isaac?
00:13:07.82\00:13:09.85
You know, I had a good dad, He
could easily ve overpowered his
father. I loved my dad,,
00:13:12.19\00:13:16.69
but if my father had said,
00:13:16.73\00:13:18.93
"Son, I'm going to
sacrifice yoyou to God,"
00:13:18.96\00:13:22.43
I don't think
I'd have hung around.
00:13:22.46\00:13:24.43
But this young
man's faith was stng.
00:13:24.47\00:13:27.07
He laid down on e altar.
00:13:27.10\00:13:28.57
In fact, i it's hard to
imagine a 120-year-old man
00:13:28.60\00:13:31.81
picking up his grownwn son
and placing him on the altar.
00:13:31.84\00:13:34.91
You'd have to
think IsIsaac climbed up
00:13:34.94\00:13:37.78
onto the altar himself.
00:13:37.81\00:13:39.65
He might have sa,
"Dad, do you want me here?
00:13:39.68\00:13:41.55
Or,  should I move
over here a little bit?"
00:13:41.55\00:13:44.55
Additionally, this
story suggests that Abraraham
00:13:44.59\00:13:47.16
was the ki of man in
whom Isaac could have faith.
00:13:47.19\00:13:52.19
Now, l let me challenge you If
you want someone to have faith
in God---- a little bit.
00:13:55.16\00:13:57.43
a friend, a
child, a cocolleague--
00:13:57.47\00:14:01.34
then live in such a wa
00:14:01.37\00:14:03.04
that if ey were basing
their opinion of God on you,
00:14:03.07\00:14:06.98
they'd be attracted to God.
00:14:07.01\00:14:09.28
Isaac knew that
Abrahaham his father loved God.
00:14:09.31\00:14:13.58
Isaac waconvinced
that Abraham loved him.
00:14:13.62\00:14:16.75
And so then he could
trurust Abraham. This was faith.
00:14:16.79\00:14:20.99
His own father was going to
tatake his life, and Isaac said,
00:14:21.02\00:14:25.06
"Go right ahead. I
trustGod, and I trust you."
00:14:25.09\00:14:29.40
He could trust his fatherr
because he knew his father;
00:14:29.43\00:14:31.90
he was acquainted th his father.
00:14:31.93\00:14:34.64
This story is in the Bibible to
prompt you to emulate the faith
00:14:34.67\00:14:39.31
of both Abraham and Isaac.
00:14:39.34\00:14:41.44
And while God definitely
doe not want anyone sacrificing
00:14:41.48\00:14:45.08
eir children, He does want
us to be obedient to H Him.
00:14:45.11\00:14:49.68
Sometimes lifefe challenges
you. Sometimes life is difficul
00:14:49.72\00:14:53.15
Sometimeyour faith is shaken.
Sometimes you want to give u up.
00:14:53.19\00:14:57.36
But faith
enables you toto hang in,
00:14:57.39\00:14:59.79
remembering that life, and
a life of fait isn't a sprint,
00:14:59.83\00:15:04.97
In 2021, golfer Bryson but 's
a marathon. DeChambeau got backk
00:15:06.63\00:15:10.04
to the clubhouse after the
second round of a a tournament
00:15:10.07\00:15:12.67
in Charlotte, North Carolina,
and dedecided he would go home.
00:15:12.71\00:15:16.91
He was sure that
hwasn't going to make the cut.
00:15:16.95\00:15:19.65
He was in 90th place,
00:15:19.68\00:15:21.98
and only 65 goers would go
on to play in the third round.
00:15:22.02\00:15:26.19
He was on his way y home
to Texas when he found out
00:15:26.22\00:15:28.69
that a number of
oth players had dropped
00:15:28.72\00:15:30.73
down the leaderboard, , and
he actually had made the cut.
00:15:30.76\00:15:35.90
So he got back on a plane in the
early hoururs of the morning,
00:15:35.93\00:15:38.50
made his way
back to the golf cose,
00:15:38.53\00:15:40.17
and on just a
couple of hours' ' sleep,
00:15:40.20\00:15:42.27
played in the third round.
00:15:42.30\00:15:44.37
He endnded up
finishing the tournament
00:15:44.41\00:15:46.64
tied for ninth and earningaround
$228,000. Not a bad weekend's
00:15:52.28\00:15:54.25
work.. You see?e? It wasn't over
even when it looked like it w
00:15:54.28\00:15:58.82
over. And th's how it is
in your walk with God: faith.
00:15:58.85\00:16:03.96
Hang in there with God.
00:16:03.99\00:16:05.86
Let God dodo His
work in your life.
00:16:05.89\00:16:09.43
Believe that God is
able because He is ab.
00:16:09.46\00:16:15.27
Abraham was out to
take his son's life
00:16:15.30\00:16:17.07
when an Angel intervened.
00:16:17.11\00:16:18.87
"Abraham!" the Angel
excxclaimed. Abraham responded.
00:16:18.91\00:16:22.14
The Angel thenen said, "Do
not lay your hand on the lad,
00:16:22.18\00:16:25.45
"or do anything toto him; for
now I know that you fear God,
00:16:25.48\00:16:29.25
"since you have
nott withheld your son,
00:16:29.32\00:16:31.52
your only son, from me."
00:16:31.55\00:16:34.16
And day that story stands
as one of the great storieies
00:16:34.19\00:16:37.03
of faith in the Bible,
00:16:37.06\00:16:38.53
the faith of Abraham--
and d the faith of Isaac.
00:16:38.56\00:16:42.93
HeHe trusted his
dad. He trusted God.
00:16:42.96\00:16:47.20
And you can trust God, too.
00:16:47.24\00:16:50.11
I'll be right t back.
00:16:50.14\00:16:51.31
¤[music swells and ends]¤¤
00:16:51.34\00:16:58.38
>>John: Thank you for
remembering that It IsIs Written
00:17:00.35\00:17:02.22
exists because of the kindness
of people just like you.
00:17:02.25\00:17:05.65
To support this ininternational
life-changing ministry,
00:17:05.69\00:17:08.92
please call l us
now at 800-253-3000.
00:17:08.96\00:17:13.19
You can send your
tax-deductible gift
00:17:13.23\00:17:14.63
to the addss on your screen,
00:17:14.66\00:17:16.13
or you can visit us
line at itiswritten.com.
00:17:16.16\00:17:19.93
Thank you for your prayers
andfor your financial support.
00:17:19.97\00:17:22.80
Ounumber again is 800-253-3000,
00:17:22.84\00:17:26.91
or you can visit us
onli at itiswritten.com.
00:17:26.94\00:17:29.98
>>Jo Bradshaw:
So how is faith seen
00:17:30.95\00:17:32.58
later in Isaac's experience?
00:17:32.61\00:17:34.98
One of the biggest
decisions of Isaac'sife
00:17:35.02\00:17:37.22
s guided by faith in God.
00:17:37.25\00:17:40.06
Where would Isaac c find a wife?
00:17:40.09\00:17:43.09
Now, that's a big decision.
00:17:43.12\00:17:44.56
And we see
herethat it's a decision
00:17:44.59\00:17:46.16
that should be guided by G.
00:17:46.19\00:17:48.03
You know, if more people
brout God into that decision,
00:17:48.06\00:17:52.57
there'd be a whole lot
less heartache inin the world.
00:17:52.60\00:17:55.60
Is God able to find the right
someone, t right life partner?
00:17:55.64\00:18:01.14
Abraham didn't want
his s son to fall in love
00:18:01.18\00:18:03.24
with a woman who
didn't serve the ly true God.
00:18:03.28\00:18:06.11
RememberAbraham was
promised that the Son of God,
00:18:06.15\00:18:09.58
the Messiah, would be
born throughis lineage,
00:18:09.62\00:18:12.55
through Isaac. It was
essentia Isaac marry a believer.
00:18:12.59\00:18:17.23
Abraham woulsend a
servant to his home country,
00:18:17.26\00:18:20.26
and he commissioned
thatat servant to bring back
00:18:20.30\00:18:22.46
a suitable wife for Isaac.
00:18:22.50\00:18:24.67
And IsIsaac,
about 40 years old now,
00:18:24.70\00:18:28.44
went along with his ther's plan.
00:18:28.47\00:18:31.14
Back in Bible times,
parents usually had a sayy
00:18:31.17\00:18:34.58
in whom their children married.
00:18:34.61\00:18:37.11
Looking at how
marriages roinely fail today,
00:18:37.15\00:18:39.38
it's hard to say that that
wouldn't be a good idea now.
00:18:39.45\00:18:43.05
And we remember
God's counsel is fou
00:18:43.08\00:18:45.75
in 2 Corinthians 6 in
rse 14, where it is written,
00:18:45.79\00:18:49.49
"Do not bebe unequally
yoked together with unbelievers.
00:18:49.52\00:18:53.03
"For what fellowship has
righteouess with lawlessness?
00:18:53.06\00:18:56.53
And what communion
haslight with darkness?"
00:18:56.56\00:18:59.70
Abraham kn that an ungodly woman
00:18:59.73\00:19:02.10
could totally
changethe family tree.
00:19:02.14\00:19:05.14
It was imperative that
Isaac marrrry a believer.
00:19:05.17\00:19:07.98
He also knew that if Isaac
traveled far away toto marry,
00:19:08.01\00:19:11.01
the family of the
bride wod try to persuade him
00:19:11.05\00:19:13.65
to remain there,
00:19:13.68\00:19:15.18
and God had specifically
told Abraham thahat Canaan
00:19:15.22\00:19:17.99
was the land that he and
his descendants would d inherit.
00:19:18.02\00:19:21.06
Abraham would send his
mosttrusted servant, Eliezer,
00:19:21.09\00:19:23.79
to search for a wife
for Isaac. And Eliez prayed.
00:19:23.83\00:19:28.00
He prarayed a
very specific prayer,
00:19:28.03\00:19:30.60
and God answered
Eliezes prayer exactly.
00:19:30.63\00:19:34.40
When h he met Rebekah,
00:19:34.44\00:19:36.20
he had no doubt she
was the answer to s prayer.
00:19:36.24\00:19:40.04
He gave her gifts
and found ouwho she was.
00:19:40.08\00:19:43.11
The Bie says, "The
man bowed down his head
00:19:43.14\00:19:46.61
and worshiped the Lord
00:19:46.65\00:19:48.92
And then Eezer
gave God the glory.
00:19:48.95\00:19:50.92
He said, "Blessed be thehe
Lord God of my master Abraham,
00:19:50.95\00:19:55.32
"who has not
forsaken Himercy and His truth
00:19:55.36\00:19:58.29
toward my master."
00:19:58.33\00:19:59.66
This was aajor answer to prayer.
00:19:59.69\00:20:02.83
This had consequences
for e kingdom of heaven.
00:20:02.86\00:20:05.80
And notice: Abraham and
Isaac tookhis seriously.
00:20:05.83\00:20:09.84
Where would they find the woman
00:20:09.87\00:20:10.91
who would become o
of Jesus' own ancestors?
00:20:10.94\00:20:14.31
She e was a prayer away.
00:20:14.34\00:20:16.68
They chose to do
things God's way,
00:20:16.71\00:20:19.61
to praand ask God to
lead the entire process,
00:20:19.65\00:20:24.02
and God swered their
prayers in a dramatic way.
00:20:24.05\00:20:28.06
And God hasn't changed.
00:20:29.02\00:20:31.56
What are the big
dececisions you are facing?
00:20:31.59\00:20:34.30
What school too to?
00:20:34.36\00:20:35.96
WhWhether to
buy or sell a house?
00:20:36.00\00:20:37.70
What career to
pursue? Who to marry?
00:20:37.73\00:20:40.77
Life is a constant
stream of decisions.
00:20:40.80\00:20:43.81
And which
huhuman being is capable
00:20:43.84\00:20:45.21
So when you're facing a of
always making major decision,
turnrn to God. the right
00:20:47.54\00:20:51.55
dedecisions? Consulult God
and allow God to lead the way.
00:20:51.58\00:20:54.75
God will answeyour
prayers in the same way
00:20:54.78\00:20:56.48
He answered the prayerof
Abraham and Isaac and Eliezer.
00:20:56.52\00:20:59.32
We have been promid as much.
00:20:59.35\00:21:02.66
In the Sermon on the Mount,
00:21:02.69\00:21:03.69
Jesus s said, "Ask, and
it will be given to you;
00:21:03.73\00:21:07.76
seek, and you will find; knock,
and it w will be opened to you."
00:21:07.76\00:21:12.30
Matthew 7, verse 7.
00:21:12.33\00:21:13.80
This is trust in God.
00:21:13.84\00:21:16.50
Isaac's life came to be
as the resesult of faith.
00:21:16.54\00:21:20.34
His later life was
aracterized by faith.
00:21:20.34\00:21:23.65
"I am the God of your Later, God
visited Isaac and said, father
00:21:27.12\00:21:30.05
Abraham; "do not
fear, for I am with you.
00:21:30.09\00:21:31.72
"I will ess you and
multiply your descendants
00:21:31.75\00:21:35.59
for my servant Abraham's sake."
00:21:35.62\00:21:38.46
And Isaac did exactly what
his father would have done.
00:21:38.49\00:21:42.23
"He ilt an altar there
and called on the name of the
00:21:42.26\00:21:46.60
LoLord." You'll notice
that i in earth's last days, the
00:21:46.63\00:21:49.20
experience of God's people 
characterized by trust or faith.
00:21:49.24\00:21:54.98
Revevelation 14:12
speaks about God's people
00:21:55.01\00:21:57.58
saved in thend of
time, and it says,
00:21:57.61\00:21:59.78
"Here isis the
patience of the saints:
00:21:59.81\00:22:02.22
"here are they that
keep e commandments of God,
00:22:02.25\00:22:05.42
and the faith of Jesus."
00:22:05.45\00:22:07.29
Which shows us,
among other things,
00:22:07.32\00:22:10.09
that obedience to God is
prpredicated upon faith in God.
00:22:10.13\00:22:15.80
Faith ads to
submission to the will of God.
00:22:15.83\00:22:20.27
Yes ago, I got
myself in a tangle
00:22:21.24\00:22:24.24
that taught me
something about faith.
00:22:24.27\00:22:27.24
I was inviteted to
participate in a circus act.
00:22:27.28\00:22:30.65
When a circus came to town,
00:22:30.68\00:22:31.95
they advertised on the
radioio station where I worked,
00:22:31.98\00:22:35.08
and they wanted one of the
radio station personalalities
00:22:35.12\00:22:38.55
to particite in a
circus act--for publicity.
00:22:38.59\00:22:42.22
I s volunteered by the rest
of the radio station s staff.
00:22:42.26\00:22:45.06
I thought I'd have a great time.
00:22:45.09\00:22:46.83
Maybe I'd drs up as a clown;
00:22:46.86\00:22:48.50
maybe d put my
head in a lion's mouth.
00:22:48.53\00:22:51.33
I goa shock when I arrived
at the circus on the big n night
00:22:51.37\00:22:55.60
and was introduced to
00:22:55.64\00:22:57.47
"The Great Luigi," I
think k his name was.
00:22:57.51\00:23:00.41
He was a knife throwower.
00:23:00.44\00:23:03.61
I was going to have to
stand in front of a boarard
00:23:03.65\00:23:06.38
whe the Great Luigi threw
knives near me, past me-e--
00:23:06.41\00:23:11.69
hopefully not at me.
00:23:11.72\00:23:13.56
It's one of those,ne
of those "wow" events,
00:23:13.59\00:23:15.82
kind odangerous, kind
of a daredevil thing to do,
00:23:15.86\00:23:18.09
and I, I was
terrified.. What if he missed?
00:23:18.13\00:23:22.83
He stood much
further back than I I wished,
00:23:22.86\00:23:25.43
whwhich I thought may well My
heart was pounding jeopardize my
existenc in my chest.
00:23:28.57\00:23:31.44
I thout of how I wasn't
gonna be able to say goodbye
00:23:31.47\00:23:33.41
to my mother.
00:23:33.44\00:23:34.94
Luigi saw that Ias terrified,
00:23:34.98\00:23:36.75
so he came up to
me and he said to me,
00:23:36.78\00:23:39.18
"You'll be okaif
you do two things."
00:23:39.21\00:23:42.05
I said, "What are thosose
two things? I'll do them."
00:23:42.08\00:23:43.89
He said, "Listen to what I tell
you, and do anytything I say."
00:23:43.92\00:23:49.16
No doubthat helped.
[fanfare and drumroll]
00:23:49.19\00:23:51.93
There was a
drumroll,, a cymbal clash,
00:23:51.96\00:23:55.40
a kne was thrown, and it hit...
00:23:55.43\00:23:58.17
the board behind
me. [knife strikes wood]
00:23:58.20\00:24:00.24
That was good,
but I look at Luigi,
00:24:00.27\00:24:01.90
and he h five knives
left. ¤[dramatic music]¤
00:24:01.94\00:24:04.31
And theyll came,
one after another
00:24:04.34\00:24:05.94
after another afafter another,
00:24:05.97\00:24:07.11
one of them so
closese to my head
00:24:07.14\00:24:10.11
that I felt the
breeze as it flew by.
00:24:10.15\00:24:13.18
But you know what did?
00:24:13.21\00:24:14.92
I did exactly what he told me,
anI listened to what he said.
00:24:14.95\00:24:20.49
Faith in God is ju like that.
00:24:20.52\00:24:22.66
Faith is listening
to God and trusting God
00:24:22.69\00:24:26.70
to do ththe right
thing in your life.
00:24:26.73\00:24:28.56
Faith is believing Godnd
expecting God's Word to do
00:24:28.60\00:24:33.34
what it says it will do.
00:24:33.37\00:24:35.44
Isaac's life was a lifef faith.
00:24:35.47\00:24:39.51
Let your life be
a life of faiaith.
00:24:39.54\00:24:42.21
You u can trust
God, and as you do,
00:24:42.21\00:24:45.75
expect Him to do
great things in you.
00:24:45.78\00:24:49.28
>>Announcer: He was s the
first human being ever created,
00:24:50.62\00:24:53.19
the father of the human family.
00:24:53.22\00:24:55.12
And in Adam's story we find some
the highest and lowest points
00:24:55.16\00:24:58.63
of the human expernce.
00:24:58.66\00:24:59.96
Our freeffer today is
"Great Characters of the Bible:
00:25:00.06\00:25:03.70
Adam,m," part of the ongoing
"GreatCharacters of the Bible"
00:25:03.73\00:25:07.14
series. To reive this free DVD,
00:25:07.17\00:25:08.84
call 800-253-3000
00:25:08.87\00:25:11.67
or visit us
online at iiwoffer.com.
00:25:11.71\00:25:14.94
That's 800-253-3000,
00:25:14.98\00:25:17.68
or visit iiwoffer.com.
00:25:17.71\00:25:20.38
¤[sofmusic]¤
00:25:21.02\00:25:22.02
>>John Bradshaw:
There are some things
00:25:22.05\00:25:23.12
you dot want to forget,
and there are some things
00:25:23.18\00:25:25.95
God specifically
tells us to rememr.
00:25:25.99\00:25:29.09
At the dawn of time,
thehe Creator of the universe
00:25:29.12\00:25:32.16
gifted to the human
family a didivine prescription
00:25:32.19\00:25:35.76
r combating stress, busyness,
and the pressures ofof daily
00:25:35.80\00:25:40.47
life, a regular blessing of
time spent in the hea of God.
00:25:40.50\00:25:44.67
Don't miss "A
Day to R Remember."
00:25:44.71\00:25:47.24
We'll travel to the largest in
the world and rediscover
heaven's purposese for your
00:25:49.34\00:25:53.75
life. Ten
Commandmts "A Day to Remeer,"
00:25:53.78\00:25:54.68
a peonal God seeking
a meaningful connection
00:25:54.72\00:25:57.69
with His children, a way
forward for spitual renewal.
00:25:57.72\00:26:01.82
We'll open the Bible together
00:26:01.86\00:26:03.46
and learn that God
hasblessings for His children
00:26:03.49\00:26:06.80
that are being
overlooke and neglected.
00:26:06.83\00:26:09.46
Get more from God.
Go dper in your faith.
00:26:09.50\00:26:12.80
"A Day to Rememember,"
00:26:12.83\00:26:14.47
watch now on I It Is Written TV.
00:26:14.50\00:26:17.34
¤[music ends]¤¤
00:26:17.37\00:26:19.21
>>John: Let's pray together now.
00:26:21.51\00:26:23.41
Our Father in
heaven, we thank You tay
00:26:23.45\00:26:25.48
for the example given
us both Abraham and Isaac.
00:26:25.51\00:26:29.62
thank You for Isaac's
life brought about by faitith
00:26:29.65\00:26:33.09
and thenen lived by faith.
00:26:33.12\00:26:35.82
He demonstrated
faith as he turned to Yo
00:26:35.86\00:26:37.93
in life's big decisions.
00:26:37.96\00:26:39.36
Would You u give us
grace to do that same thing?
00:26:39.39\00:26:41.90
Right now there's somemebody
struggling with an illness,
00:26:41.93\00:26:44.63
with financial cllenges,
with interpersonal issues.
00:26:44.67\00:26:48.50
And d I pray for that
person at this moment,
00:26:48.54\00:26:51.34
asking You to move
int her life, his life,
00:26:51.37\00:26:53.61
anand bring Your
peace and Your presence.
00:26:53.64\00:26:56.71
And right now
ere's somebody struggling
00:26:56.75\00:26:58.25
with an even bigger decision
00:26:58.28\00:27:00.32
Should I trust God with my life?
00:27:00.35\00:27:03.42
Should I surrend my life to Him?
00:27:03.45\00:27:05.99
Friend, if that's you, would
youlift up your heart to God?
00:27:06.02\00:27:09.76
If you're able to, lift up
your hand to God right now.
00:27:09.79\00:27:13.06
ReReach out to God and say,
00:27:13.09\00:27:14.36
"Lorord, I
believe. I want to believe.
00:27:14.40\00:27:17.73
"Let Jesus live
His lifefe in me.
00:27:17.77\00:27:20.00
I accept Him as my
L Lord and Savior."
00:27:20.04\00:27:23.04
We thank You, Father in
heaven, foforgiveness of sin.
00:27:23.07\00:27:25.81
We t thank You for a new life.
00:27:25.84\00:27:27.21
We thank You for the privilege
of beingng able to call
00:27:27.24\00:27:31.11
ourselves the
children of God Most High.
00:27:31.15\00:27:34.25
And, Father, keep us i
in the hollow of Your hand,
00:27:34.28\00:27:36.15
not just now but forever.
00:27:36.18\00:27:38.22
In Jesus' name we prpray.
00:27:38.25\00:27:40.79
Amen.
00:27:40.82\00:27:42.29
Thank you so
much for joining me.
00:27:42.32\00:27:43.63
m looking forward to
seeing you again next time..
00:27:43.66\00:27:46.19
Until then, rememb:
00:27:46.23\00:27:48.66
"It is written, , 'Man
shall not live by bread alone,
00:27:48.70\00:27:52.97
but byvery word that proceeds
from the mouth of God.'"'"
00:27:53.00\00:27:56.44
¤[dramatitic theme music]¤
00:27:56.47\00:28:03.51
[music ends]¤¤
00:28:25.83\00:28:27.84