Participants: Bill Santos
Series Code: IIWC
Program Code: IIWC201310
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00:01 from It Is Written International. It Is
00:04 Written International and It Is Written Canada go back together a great many 00:09 years, all the way back to George Vandeman and the incomparable Henry 00:14 Feyerabend. Well, It Is Written Canada now has a new speaker/director and 00:21 he's a friend of mine. Pastor Chris Holland will be joining you in your 00:25 living room or on your device, wherever you watch It Is Written Canada each 00:28 week. And I know that you are going to appreciate Chris' clear, simple, 00:33 direct, and powerful teaching style. Chris has been an avid student and 00:39 teacher of the Bible for a great many years, and you'll appreciate the 00:43 insights that he brings to you from the Word of God into your home as he joins 00:48 you week after week. Transitions can be challenging. I want to ask 00:53 that you would pray for Pastor Chris Holland, and prepare to be blessed 00:58 again through his ministry with It Is Written Canada. 01:16 ANNOUNCER: It has stood the test of time. God's book: the Bible, still 01:23 relevant in today's complex world. It Is Written, sharing the 01:31 messages of hope around the world. 01:44 >>Chris: Ernest Shackleton was born in Ireland, the son of a doctor. Ernest 01:49 was an avid reader and as a result of that reading developed a strong sense 01:53 of adventure. While his father had high aspirations of his son 01:56 becoming a doctor, Ernest had other ideas. The desire to explore led him 02:01 to join the merchant navy and by the young age of 24 became a master mariner. 02:09 Shackleton had a desire to explore the poles of the earth, especially the 02:13 South Pole. In 1902, Shackelton, along with fellow explorer Robert 02:19 Falcon Scott set a record for going the furthest south and coming closest 02:24 to the south pole. Shackleton had several other explorations to the 02:30 south, but the one most famous is the Trans-Antarctic expedition 02:35 of 1914. The goal was to transverse the Antarctic The adventure required two 02:41 crews, one to make the journey, the other to place the supplies for a 02:46 successful journey. Shackleton set out on that fantastic journey in the 02:51 boat, Endurance. As the Endurance drew nearer and nearer to the Antarctic, 02:56 the boat was surrounded and eventually totally blocked in by ice. They 03:01 hoped to weather the danger and wait it out until spring thaw to 03:06 continue their journey. However, the ice pressed in harder and harder on 03:12 the Endurance until it eventually breached the hull. Shackleton and his 03:17 crew were forced to abandon ship. The Endurance sank. For two 03:22 months the party camped on ice floes hoping that they would be directed toward 03:26 Paulet Island. Paulet Island would provide refuge and safety along a 03:31 commonly used shipping route. However those plans were dashed. The ice floe 03:36 they were on began to break up and the party was forced into their life 03:40 boats and they eventually found themselves on Elephant Island. Because 03:45 it was remote and away from any shipping routes, Shackleton knew that if 03:50 his crew stayed on Elephant Island, there would be no rescue and 03:55 certain death. He knew that he needed to take a risk, do something out of 03:59 the ordinary to save his men. He decided he would take five men with him and 04:05 set sail for South Georgia island in a 6 meter boat hoping to get the help 04:10 they needed. Leaving 22 men behind, he left them with a promise. He 04:16 promised that he would return to take them home. In a circumstance of 04:21 complete hopelessness, Shackleton promised that he would return. 04:29 Hopelessness. We live in a world that seems to offer very little in the way of 04:34 hope. We look around the world today and see that it seems to be falling 04:39 apart. Wars and uprisings all over this globe.Hunger and famines around the 04:44 world still going unsolved.An economy that seems to be teetering on 04:49 total implosion.The general polarization of society. What is a person 04:55 to do? This hopelessness and despair reminds me of an event in the Bible. In 05:01 the book of John, the apostle John shares the experience of the 05:07 disciples just before Jesus was arrested and eventually killed. The 05:11 disciples had just spent their last meal with Jesus. He was trying to 05:15 prepare them for all that was soon to take place. In John 13:31-35 it is 05:23 recorded, 06:10 This teaching left his disciples confused, where was their master going? 06:16 Why was He going to leave? Why couldn't they go with him? Then Peter, in his 06:21 very aggressive style engaged Jesus further in verses 36-38, 07:01 Can you imagine what a crushing blow this was for Peter to hear? Jesus was 07:07 Peter's teacher, he had spent 3 ½ years with Him. He desired to be as close 07:13 to Jesus as possible. He was a part of Jesus' inner circle and now Jesus told 07:20 him that he would betray his beloved teacher. On that night when Jesus was 07:27 trying to prepare them for the coming events, they were confused and didn't 07:31 understand. What could Jesus do? He shared words of comfort that they could 07:37 look back to and understand the events that had unfolded. Words that 07:42 would bring security in the midst of uncertainty.Listen to 07:47 Jesus' words: 08:24 Can you hear the loving voice of Jesus trying to bring comfort to Peter and 08:27 the rest of the disciples? The disciples were distraught over Jesus 08:32 predicting His death and Peter troubled by his predicted denial are given 08:39 hope. What is the hope that Jesus provides? Hope in the second coming. Hope 08:46 that even though Jesus was going to leave them, He would come back for them. 08:51 The second coming of Jesus is the hope of every person on this earth. The 08:57 second coming of Jesus can be your hope today. Through all types of 09:01 turmoil and through every challenge faced in life, the hope for the helpless 09:07 planet is the return of Jesus Christ. The apostle Paul had these words to 09:12 say in Titus 2:11-14, 09:56 Notice that Paul refers to the second coming as the blessed hope. Why does the 10:00 second coming give us hope? Well, let's first ask, what is hope? 10:05 According to the Random House dictionary, hope is defined as 10:09 the feeling that what is w anted can be had or that e vents will turn out for th 10:15 e best. Jesus wants to assure us that things will turn out for the best? How 10:22 so? John 3:16 contains that answer, a verse that is well known, 10:40 But reading the next verse brings even mor hope and comfort -- Verse 17 of John 3 10:59 Notice that Jesus was sent to save the world not condemn it. Too often 11:05 Christianity presents the idea that God is out there somewhere with a watchful 11:10 eye, waiting for you to make just the wrong move and then zap! He's got 11:13 you. But no, Jesus hasn't come with the intention of condemning people, He did 11:19 not come to destroy people; Jesus came to save you and He is coming again 11:24 to take you home with Him. 11:29 Do you remember those words that Jesus spoke in John 14?.Let not your 11:33 hearts be troubled. There may be great disappointment in your 11:38 life, you may be facing challenges very unexpected challenges. Maybe you're 11:43 fighting through cancer, maybe you're going through a divorce or maybe, maybe 11:48 life seems to be overwhelming you from all sides. Jesus draws near 11:53 and says, "Don't let your heart be troubled." Why? Because Jesus says you 11:59 believe in God, believe also in Him. Then Jesus promises that in heaven 12:06 there are many mansions or some of the modern versions of the Bible 12:11 translate it rooms. The promise here is not based on materialistic riches 12:16 but on proximity. Proximity to Jesus. Jesus promises that He has gone 12:24 to heaven to prepare a place for you. Not just a general you, but for you 12:29 personally. In fact, when you repeat the verse, why not use the word.me. Jesus 12:35 has gone to prepare a place for me and for you. That is where He lives, 12:41 you may also live there. This was the whole purpose of Jesus' first coming. 12:46 That He would pave the way for us to be reunited with Him forever. But we all 12:53 face a huge problem. Romans 6:23 states, 13:02 "For the wages of sin is death" and then Romans 3:23 further emphasizes 13:13 that problem, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." 13:21 This does not give us good prospects for the future. The wages of sin is death 13:25 and all have sinned. Our destiny seems bleak. But you know, I didn't read 13:31 the latter part of Romans 6:23, it goes on to say, 13:48 This is why Jesus is coming again, to give us the full fulfillment of 13:53 that promise of eternal life. This is why Jesus can say in John 14, "and 13:59 if I go and prepare a place, I will come again. Do you hear those words? 14:05 I will come again. 14:10 Now, let me share with you some insight on those words that bring an even 14:14 greater depth of hope. As we read, "I will come again," we know that in 14:18 the English language that phrase is in the future tense. However, in the 14:23 original language it was not. As you may already know, the New Testament of 14:27 the Bible was originally written in Greek. And in Greek, it is actually 14:32 written in the present tense. You see, when John wrote these words he 14:37 employed a grammatical technique - now I know, grammar may not have been 14:42 your favorite subject, but just stick with me - he employed a grammatical 14:46 technique called the futuristic present. What does that mean? An author 14:52 would write something in the present tense but have a future meaning to convey 14:57 that the event was so sure, was so definite that it was to be written as if 15:03 it was already happening or had happened. John lays out the assurance that 15:09 Jesus is coming again. And remember He is coming for you, He is coming for me - 15:15 in fact He's prepared a place for you, He's prepared a place for me. 15:19 What does this all mean? Well friend, Jesus loves you so much that He wants 15:25 to spend eternity with us, but the question is, do you want to spend eternity 15:30 with Him? It's a choice He freely gives to you. But what will you decide? 15:35 Jesus wants you there. 15:39 But, today many people have discounted the words of the Bible. Some poke 15:45 fun of this Book. And numerous people have discounted the promises of 15:50 His second coming. But this shouldn't surprise us. Peter warned us almost 15:55 two thousand years ago, in his second letter, in chapter three and verses 16:00 three and four, 16:24 A scoffer is someone who ridicules things and doesn't believe. Peter 16:30 warns that there will be people who will ridicule those who believe in the 16:33 second coming of Jesus. They will say that the earth has always existed 16:37 and it will continue to exist without any interruption. They will 16:41 say, Jesus isn't coming, you're silly to believe in such fairy tales. 16:48 But friends by just reading or listening to the news, we realize the 16:52 turmoil of this earth. Paul wrote these words in Romans eight verses twenty 17:00 to twenty-two, 17:36 The whole earth itself was subject to the curse of sin and all the upheaval 17:41 in the world we see is the very earth itself groaning to be freed by the coming 17:47 of Jesus. Everything happening around us points to Jesus' soon return. But 17:53 wait, don't those scoffers have a point - it has been 2000 years from the time 17:57 when Jesus gave that promise. But notice again what Peter says in that 18:04 second letter in chapter three and verses eight and nine, 18:34 For God, time is irrelevant. He is not confined by our rendering 18:39 of time. But more importantly, the Bible says that Jesus isn't 18:44 slack or relaxed concerning the promise of His return. But He is 18:49 longsuffering. A very special word that conveys an extraordinary patience. 18:55 Why is He so patient and hasn't returned? Because He doesn't want any to 19:02 perish, Jesus came to this earth so that no one had to die eternally but that 19:09 all would come to repentance and be saved. 19:14 Ernest Shackleton and his five men left Elephant Island for South Georgia. 19:18 Aware of the great difficulties they would face on their 1800 19:22 nautical mile journey, Shackleton packed only 4 weeks of supplies. He knew 19:28 the crew wouldn't survive any longer that that. Through treacherous seas 19:33 and a storm that produced winds strong enough to sink a five hundred ton 19:38 boat, that crew finally made it to South Georgia Island. Once arriving on 19:44 the shores of the island, Shackleton and part of his crew still had to hike 19:49 over 50 kilometers to get to the whaling station. He knew that many lives 19:55 depended upon him and the whaling station was the only part of the island 19:59 that was inhabited. After finally arriving at the whaling station, 20:03 Shackleton gathered another crew for the rescue mission. Now, came 20:08 the most daunting task of returning to Elephant Island for that promised 20:13 rescue. Four months after leaving Elephant island,Shackleton returned 20:19 to save his men. At times, some of those men may have wondered if he was really 20:23 returning. They may have wondered if he would keep his promise. However, not 20:30 one of Shackleton's crew was lost, each one was saved. While they lost the 20:37 ship Endurance, each one of them endured to the end.Shackleton delivered 20:43 on his promise. Shackleton was proclaimed a hero. 20:50 Jesus has made a promise. He has promised that He is coming again. He is coming 20:57 to take His children home. That home, which is pictured in the book of 21:01 Revelation chapter twenty one verses one through five, 22:10 No more suffering, no more pain - all things new. Everything working the way 22:17 that it was originally intended to be. Perfect. Perfect harmony. Perfect 22:24 peace. This is what Jesus wants for you and He wants for me. It is what He 22:31 promised. Today, do you want to ask Jesus into your heart and make a 22:36 decision to follow Him fully. Jesus desires to take you home. He says 22:43 these words as recorded in Revelation three and verse twenty, 22:59 Jesus knocks today, will you let him in? 23:03 The apostle Paul also gives us comfort and hope in describing the day 23:08 Jesus returns in his first letter to the Thessalonians in chapter 23:13 four and verses fifteen through eighteen, 23:59 We shall always be with the Lord. No wonder that we are to comfort one 24:04 another with these words. Whatever your situation may be today, Jesus wants 24:09 to encourage you - He wants to give you hope. Are you facing an illness, 24:13 Jesus says do let your heart be troubled? Are you facing marital challenges, 24:19 Jesus wants to give you assurance? Are you facing a problem in the work 24:23 place, Jesus reaches out to encourage you? Whatever you face today, in this 24:29 hopeless and helpless planet Jesus gives you hope. Today, I invite you 24:36 to cling to that hope of Jesus' soon return. Today is your opportunity 24:41 toinvite Him into your heart and commit yourself to Him. Jesus invites you 24:48 today, in His words of Matthew 11:28-29, 25:12 Let's Pray. Oh father in heaven, we live in a hopeless and helpless 25:17 planet. Things are happening all around in the world and we wonder, 25:23 what are we to do? In our own lives, we are struggling, facing great 25:29 issues. But today you've given us a message of hope. And so let us live 25:36 with that hope in our heart. Let us be encouraged to follow you 25:40 because there is a day soon coming where you will bring all things to an end 25:45 and we will live forever with you. Keep us strong to follow you, that we 25:51 would be ready for that day. We pray in Jesus' name, amen. 26:12 Maybe the subject material we covered today is new to you or maybe you're simply 26:16 looking for additional study on the subject of the hope of Jesus' soon 26:20 coming. I want to offer you today the Discover Bible guide. The Discover 26:25 Bible guide is a wonderful resource that will help you in your spiritual 26:30 growth. Here's the information you need to get that guide. 27:18 >>Chris: The second coming of Jesus Christ provides great hope. Maybe you'd 27:23 like to see this program again or maybe you'd like to show it to one of your 27:26 friends. I'd invite you to go to our website, itiswrittencanada.ca, or 27:31 to our youtube channel, youtube.com/iiwcanada. There you can watch 27:37 archived broadcasts over and over again. I thank you so much for watching 27:43 this week and I invite you to come back again next week to watch the program. 27:47 Until then, it is written, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every 27:54 word that proceeds from the mouth of God." 28:29 $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ |
Revised 2015-02-05