Participants: Chris Holland
Series Code: IIWC
Program Code: IIWC201321
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00:11 >>Announcer: It has stood the test of time.
00:14 God's book, The Bible 00:18 Still relevant in today's complex world 00:23 It Is Written 00:25 Sharing messages of hope around the world! 00:46 The year was 1940 and the Axis and Allies were embroiled in the thick of 00:50 the second world war. During the later spring months at the Battle of 00:56 France, a large number of French, Belgian and British troops became 01:01 surrounded and their supply line cut off. The troops withdrew to the 01:05 coastal city of Dunkirk. At that time the British began planning an 01:08 evacuation of the troops from Dunkirk in what would become known as Operation 01:13 Dynamo. Winston Churchill began preparing for a large loss of life. Though 01:20 the operation would save some, the thought was that many would loose their 01:26 lives. As the operation began there was chaos as were jumping the proper 01:32 order of evacuation. The uncertainty of success grew even greater. On May 01:41 26, a national day of prayer was declared across the United Kingdom and 01:47 special services were held in religious institutions across the nation. Over 01:53 the course of the next nine days over 330,000 soldiers were evacuated 02:00 successfully. While over 60,000 troops were lost, the operation was 02:07 considered an overwhelming success. Churchill described the operation as 02:13 a miracle and Operation Dynamo is better known by the name of Miracle at 02:20 Dunkirk. Great Britain took the risk to save lives. While some lives 02:27 were lost and a significant amount of equipment left behind, the 02:31 saving of the troops was the most important objective. 02:40 Almost 5000 years ago God faced a choice of epic proportions. The earth had 02:46 become an evil and wicked place. We have studied this passage over the last 02:51 three weeks, but as a refresher notice what the Bible says, in Genesis 02:57 6:1-13, 04:54 Noah and his family were surrounded by evil everywhere. God needed to 05:00 evacuate them. He needed to preserve a line of people who where faithful 05:05 to Him. God, in his mercy desired to save Noah and his family, but He also 05:12 wanted to save as many people as possible. He sent Noah to preach and 05:17 warn the people but how could He do it? He chose a most unconventional method 05:24 and had Noah build a boat. Notice what the remainder of Genesis 6 says, 07:12 Notice the specificity of God's instructions. The boat had specific 07:17 measurements; it was to be 300 cubits long, fifty cubits wide and 30 cubits 07:23 high. The cubit was a measurement at the time of Noah that was 07:29 approximately from your elbow to the tip of your longest finger. This was 07:34 roughly 53 centimeters. So this ship was to be over 150 meters long, just over 07:41 26 meters wide and almost 16 meters high. This massive boat would be the 07:50 length of one and half football fields and half of the width. In addition 07:55 the boat was to have three levels. Now often the ark is depicted as a straight 08:02 rectangular box or in children's books as a little playful boat with 08:07 animals stuffed in and pointing all out of it. By depicting the ark in such 08:12 a way, we have made a mockery and fairy tale out of a true story from the 08:16 Bible. We don't know how the boat was constructed exactly because no further 08:22 description is given. However, we do know that the technology of Noah's 08:29 day existed to build a boat that would sustain the harsh forces it was 08:37 about to face. This vessel though stood as more than just some feat of 08:42 engineering. This ark stood as a testimony to God's faithfulness to His 08:50 word. Noah was to build an ark and prepare it. 08:58 No other humans, other than Noah and his seven family members, took the 09:02 warning message seriously. Can you imagine the mocking that Noah took? 09:07 Can you imagine the things people were saying, but Noah remained faithful? 09:14 So, while none of humankind would come aboard the boat, the ark 09:21 would be used to save the animal kingdom. At least two of every kind would 09:26 enter the boat. We can't know for sure what is meant by "kind"; but no 09:32 doubt to be included on the ark was the basic structure of the animal 09:44 kingdom. Genesis 7 further instructs Noah that of the two kinds of animals, 09:48 clean and unclean - he was to actually take 7 of the clean and 2 of the unclean 09:54 - why such a distinction - later in Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14 explains 10:03 the differences between clean and unclean animals. Why more clean than 10:09 unclean? Because the clean animals could be eaten or sacrificed, the unclean 10:17 could not be. This also teaches us that such a distinction existed long 10:22 before Moses wrote them down in the law. Through all of this God instructed 10:30 Noah when it was time to get on the boat. Notice Genesis 7:1-10, 12:02 Can you imagine the scene of all the animals entering upon the ark? The 12:07 reality is that God was in control and through miraculous intervention 12:13 helped the entry to be orderly and honoring to God. I want you though to 12:20 take notice of something that is often missed. Noah entered the ark and he 12:27 waited. He waited for seven days for the rain to actually come. Picture in 12:36 your mind what was happening in that ark. Hundreds and thousands of 12:43 animals doing what animals do. The question arises will God do what He says 12:51 He will do? Noah was faithful. He obeyed God. He listened to God. What 13:00 would happen? The first day passes, no rain - the second day passes - no 13:08 rain - the third, then the fourth, the fifth, the sixth, then on the seventh 13:18 day - the tapping noise of water droplets. Then the earth and the sky unleash. 13:31 Verses 11 and 12 of chapter 7 tell us, 13:55 Water coming from above and water coming from beneath, there is probably 14:00 no event that any of us has witnessed that could be comparable. It seems 14:07 that the flood experience was like a tsunami, hurricane and tornado all 14:13 wrapped up in one. 14:17 My friends, it likely doesn't matter what building technique that 14:20 Noah used, what held that boat together was the protective hand of God. 14:27 Noah was a righteous man who walked with God and who trusted God. And God 14:32 was faithful. Let us be very clear that the only survivors of this 14:39 catastrophic event were Noah and his family and the animals on the ark. No 14:44 other human being or land dwelling animal survived. God provided ample 14:53 opportunity for men and women to make a choice. But they loved their sin 15:02 more than they loved God. God has set up ways and commandments. These are 15:10 not to be restrictive, but to provide a way of life that is optimal for our 15:16 well-being. Friends, God is setting up an ark today. The enemies of 15:22 God's people surround us on all sides. Friend the Bible says that there is 15:29 an unseen war going on around us. In Ephesians 6:12 it says, 16:04 Our only safety is in the arms of Jesus. He is calling us today into the 16:10 safety of His ark. The safety of His truth, the safety of His Word. Today, 16:18 will you trust Him? He took care of Noah and the ark - He can take care of 16:24 you. He can take care of your problems. Will you trust Him today? Friends, 16:31 God is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but 16:37 that all should come to repentance. Will you come to Jesus today? He's been 16:47 faithful. He was faithful to Noah; He'll be faithful to you. 16:56 In my moments of fear 17:02 Through every pain, every tear 17:07 There's a God who's been faithful to me 17:17 When my strength was all gone 17:22 When my heart had no song 17:27 Still in love He proved faithful to me 17:38 Every word He's promised is true 17:47 And what I thought was impossible 17:53 I've seen my God do 18:01 He's been faithful, faithful to me 18:13 Looking back, His love and mercy I see 18:23 Though in my heart, I have questioned 18:29 Even failed to believe 18:32 Still he's been faithful, faithful to me 18:50 When my heart looked away 18:55 The many times I could not pray 18:59 Still, my God, He was faithful to me 19:09 The days I spent so selfishly 19:14 Reaching out for what pleased me 19:19 Even then God was faithful to me 19:28 Every time I come back to him 19:34 He is waiting with open arms 19:41 And I see once again 19:52 He's been faithful, faithful to me 20:04 And looking back, His love and mercy I see 20:15 Though in my heart, I have questioned 20:20 Even failed to believe 20:25 Still He's been faithful, faithful, faithful, faithful 20:35 Though in my heart, I have questioned 20:39 Even failed to believe 20:44 Still he's been faithful, yes faithful 20:49 Though in my heart I have questioned 20:54 Even failed to believe 21:01 Still he's been faithful, faithful to me 21:20 Faithful to me 21:33 He's been faithful. The story of Noah is a story of God's faithfulness. In 21:41 fact, the entirety of the scriptures is a story of God's faithfulness to man. 21:46 A story of God, trying to bring man back into his presence and into his 21:54 company. He's been faithful. Will you be faithful? Let's pray. 22:01 Heavenly Father, we have seen your faithfulness. We see your faithfulness in 22:06 the story of Noah. We have seen your faithfulness throughout history. Today 22:11 we make a choice to be faithful to you. Encourage us and help us that we 22:16 would be faithful, no matter what the cost. We pray in Jesus' name, amen. 22:58 Hi, everyone! Parents, what are you packing in your child's lunch-box? 23:02 One of the hot topics in the news lately is childhood obesity. There 23:07 are many reasons why our children are getting bigger weight-wise. For 23:10 one thing, our children are driven everywhere; they're just not moving as 23:14 much as previous generations of children As well, with all the 23:18 technological advances we've embraced as a society such as 23:22 dishwashers and laundry machines, our children don't have to do the same 23:26 kinds of physically demanding chores their grandparents may have had 23:30 to do. Our sedentary lifestyle at home, school, and work is simply 23:35 creating a larger population. Plus, serving sizes of food have 23:40 increased, and our children are consuming more fast food - which 23:44 means more calories, more fat, more weight, more health problems. Most 23:49 children are not eating enough vegetables, fruits, beans, or whole grains. 23:54 So, when you're packing your child's lunch-box, here are some great tips 23:58 from Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine one of my favourite 24:02 healthy lifestyle organizations: First of all, sandwiches are always 24:07 good! Try hummus or another bean spread with sliced tomatoes, 24:11 cucumbers, and shredded carrots in pita bread. I've got here half a pita. 24:16 We'll put in some lovely hummus and then just add the tomato to that, we're 24:23 going to put in some of the cucumber and then some lettuce and then some nice 24:29 curly carrots, look at that it's so pretty. There you have it! Veggies in a 24:36 blanket! It looks and tastes for good. Or stuff in some falafel balls to 24:46 add more protein. Many stores sell vegan deli slices that look and taste 24:52 like bologna, roast beef, and turkey. Serve these on whole-grain bread with soy 24:58 cheese, condiments of your choice, lettuce, and tomato like we have here. 25:04 Peanut butter is an old standby. For variety, try other nut butters, such as 25:08 cashew, almond, or hazelnut, with sliced banana on whole-wheat 25:13 bread like I've got here. Do you know how delicious that is? Or, try an 25:18 avocado and tomato sandwich like we have here. So good for you! 25:24 How about a hot meal? Fill a wide-mouth thermos with leftover pasta and tomato 25:28 sauce, or rice and beans, or how about a nic vegetarian chili? Now soup 25:33 is so comforting! Warm your child with a hearty bean and vegetable soup or 25:39 stew. If you are short on time, try a low-sodium instant soup. Just stir 25:44 hot water into the soup mix and pour into a thermos. Add some side 25:49 dishes! Choose a couple of the following suggestions to complete your child's 25:53 meal: individual boxes of soy or rice milk, soy yogurt such as I have 25:58 here, you can add chopped vegetables and hummus like we've got here, or whole 26:03 grain breads or crackers, homemade muffins, rice cakes, pretzels, or fresh 26:08 fruit. In fact, always include a fresh fruit! For more ideas, visit the 26:14 Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine website at pcrm.org. 26:19 They've got lots of great resources including their Nutrition for Kids booklet 26:24 with delicious recipes your children will love, like Veggies in a Blanket, 26:28 Pita Pizzas, and Strawberry Smoothies. Yum I'll see you next time! 26:42 Friends, God's faithfulness is the only thing that will take us 26:46 through this great controversy between Christ and Satan. I want to give 26:50 you a special booklet today. It is a special edition of Signs of the 26:55 Times called The Great Controversy. In this booklet, you will find 27:00 inspiring studies that will help you in being faithful to God, who has 27:06 been faithful to you. Here's the information you need to receive today's 27:12 offer. 28:12 Friends, thank you so much for watching. I want to invite you to go to our 28:16 website, itiswrittencanada.ca. There you'll find an 28:19 abundance of resources to help you in your walk with Jesus. I encourage you to 28:26 watch again next week. Until then, remember, it is written, "Man shall not 28:31 live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of 28:35 God." 28:39 $$$$$$$$$ |
Revised 2015-08-13