¤¤ ¤¤
00:00:00.80\00:00:12.04
>> It has stood
the test of time.
00:00:12.04\00:00:15.41
God's Book, the
Bible. Still relevant
00:00:15.41\00:00:20.38
in today's complex
world. "It Is Written" --
00:00:20.38\00:00:26.65
Sharing messages of
hope around the world.
00:00:26.65\00:00:30.63
¤¤ >> Welcome, and thank you
00:00:30.63\00:00:40.54
for joining us on
"It Is Written Canada."
00:00:40.54\00:00:42.54
Today, we're going to be
talking about a very important
00:00:42.54\00:00:45.11
subject -- how
to hear God's voice.
00:00:45.11\00:00:47.48
And we're visiting a school here
in beautiful British Columbia,
Fountainview Academy.
00:00:47.51\00:00:51.45
It's a Christian high
school, and we want to ask this
00:00:51.45\00:00:54.78
question. How do we hear God's
voice? You know, God is
invisible. We don't tend to hear
00:00:54.78\00:01:00.22
Him a lot. How can we hear Him?
Does God really want to speak to
00:01:00.22\00:01:03.93
us? >> But before we talk to
some Fountainview Academy
students, let's listen to Jim's
00:01:03.93\00:01:09.10
story and how God spoke to him.
00:01:09.10\00:01:11.57
¤¤ >> My wife and I
have in prayer followed God
00:01:12.90\00:01:22.38
wherever He's wanted us to go.
He's blessed me a huge amount by
00:01:22.38\00:01:26.92
taking away my addictions
and leading me onto a path that
00:01:26.92\00:01:31.15
wasn't headed for destruction. I
remember one story when we were
living in Port Hardy.
00:01:31.15\00:01:38.43
And I was coming back from
Campbell River, which is about a
00:01:38.43\00:01:41.96
3-hour drive. And there was this
young girl hitchhiking on the
00:01:41.96\00:01:45.60
side of the road, and about half
a mile up the road I get this
little voice in my head saying,
00:01:45.60\00:01:50.31
"Turn around and go get her."
I'm like, "No, no, I don't pick
00:01:50.31\00:01:54.41
up hitchhikers." So, I just kept
going down the road. I'm a new
00:01:54.41\00:01:58.05
Christian, so I'm still
struggling with when you really
are talking to me. I said, "If
00:01:58.05\00:02:02.52
this is you, Lord, make a white
truck come around the next
corner." So, as I was driving,
00:02:02.52\00:02:06.65
the next corner comes a white
truck. So, I'm like, "Oh, I
guess I'm going to get her."
00:02:06.65\00:02:11.86
So, I turn around, and I go pick
up this young lady. She gave me
00:02:11.86\00:02:15.66
her life story and all the
things that were hurting her in
her past and in her present.
00:02:15.66\00:02:19.43
And I was able to talk to her
about my past and connect with
00:02:19.43\00:02:22.10
her. And it was a really
touching moment, and in that
blessing was not only for her.
00:02:22.10\00:02:25.54
That was for me. About a year
later, I was passing that same
00:02:25.54\00:02:30.25
spot, and here's another
hitchhiker. And I kept going,
00:02:30.25\00:02:34.38
because I don't pick up
hitchhikers. But the Lord in His
unique wisdom [Laughs] had other
00:02:34.38\00:02:39.69
plans for me. Another reason I
wasn't even thinking of picking
00:02:39.69\00:02:42.99
this guy up was he was probably
6'4", wearing army fatigues,
dreadlocks, and a giant beard.
00:02:42.99\00:02:47.30
And I'm like, "Those are
the type of guys people tell you
00:02:47.30\00:02:51.20
don't pick up." But I kept
going, and the Lord spoke to me
yet again. "Turn around and go
00:02:51.20\00:02:56.37
get him." And I said, "Lord,
like last time, if you can prove
this is you talking to me,
00:02:56.37\00:02:59.84
because I'm having doubts, make
a white truck come around the
00:02:59.84\00:03:03.68
corner again." And I was, like,
struggling. "No, make it a blue
00:03:03.68\00:03:06.55
truck this time." Like, no,
white truck, blue truck. I'm
like, "White truck."
00:03:06.55\00:03:09.45
And around that next corner,
a white truck comes around the
00:03:09.45\00:03:13.02
corner with a blue truck behind
it. I guess the Lord is speaking
to me, and I turn around,
00:03:13.02\00:03:17.73
and as I picked him up, I could
hear a really strong French
00:03:17.73\00:03:22.30
accent. And the guy told me he
had just finished his engineer
degree for forestry engineering
00:03:22.30\00:03:27.37
in Three Rivers, Quebec, and
he wanted to do an in-the-wild
00:03:27.37\00:03:31.71
experience across Canada and see
Canada as a whole before he
started his career.
00:03:31.71\00:03:36.04
And here I'd put the label on
him, and he was something other
00:03:36.04\00:03:39.78
than that. It was a really
great conversation. I found out
00:03:39.78\00:03:42.42
he was a Christian, so I asked
him, "Would you like to come to
00:03:42.42\00:03:45.35
church tomorrow?" He said,
"Sure." So, I was going to bring
him home that night, but I
00:03:45.35\00:03:47.76
wasn't sure how my wife would
feel about it. So, I gave him
00:03:47.76\00:03:51.59
some money, dropped him off at
the hostel, picked him up the
next morning, and he came to
00:03:51.59\00:03:56.93
church with us, and he had a
great experience. And I brought
him to my youth group that
00:03:56.93\00:03:59.77
night. We played basketball. We
came back to my place. He stayed
00:03:59.77\00:04:04.27
with us that night, and we
washed all of his laundry for
him. And we had a fire on the
00:04:04.27\00:04:10.55
beach. He said, "This was just
wonderful meeting you and having
00:04:10.55\00:04:14.95
this experience." He said, "Most
people don't even stop to pick
you up, much less let me stay at
00:04:14.95\00:04:18.55
their home and feed me." So,
the next morning, he said, "I'm
00:04:18.55\00:04:22.92
ready to go back." So, I took
him into town, and before I left
the home, I grabbed my first
00:04:22.92\00:04:27.23
Bible that I picked up at camp
when I was baptized. It was just
00:04:27.23\00:04:30.10
a little pocket Bible. And
when I dropped him off, I said,
00:04:30.10\00:04:33.64
"I have something to give you if
you would like it." I said, "I
have a little Bible."
00:04:33.64\00:04:37.01
And he said, "Well, thanks.
Yeah, I'd love it." And so I
gave him the Bible.
00:04:37.01\00:04:40.74
He put it in his pocket. And he
looked at me, and he said, "You
00:04:40.74\00:04:42.78
know what? Nobody has ever done
that for me before. Thank you."
00:04:42.78\00:04:46.75
And we said goodbyes, and I
never heard or seen from him
00:04:46.75\00:04:50.62
again. I mean, there's many
times we all want to see, you
00:04:50.62\00:04:54.62
know, the effects of our
ministry. And sometimes we don't
00:04:54.62\00:04:58.26
need to see it. We need to see
it up there, not here on Earth.
I think God has us planting
00:04:58.26\00:05:01.73
seeds constantly that we aren't
going to see until we're in
00:05:01.73\00:05:05.77
heaven. My past gives me a
unique perspective on how I see
the Gospel, and the trauma
00:05:05.77\00:05:11.87
that I've gone through,
like I say, helps me to speak to
00:05:11.87\00:05:17.45
others. God can use that in me.
He can use that brokenness to
help others and help them
00:05:17.45\00:05:22.45
find God. Don't just sit
in the pew and wait to be fed.
00:05:22.45\00:05:28.39
Don't hide your light. Help
others to see that light and
reach out to your community.
00:05:28.39\00:05:35.63
There are so many people that
are out there hurting. They need
00:05:35.63\00:05:40.17
Jesus' love. And we can show
them that love. We can't hold it
back. >> So, there's Jim's
00:05:40.17\00:05:48.18
story. You know, white truck,
blue truck, white truck, blue
truck. Then he decides, "Ah,
00:05:48.18\00:05:51.81
it's a white truck." And then
comes round the corner a white
00:05:51.81\00:05:55.32
truck followed by a blue truck.
What's the chances? Kind of
reminds me of the story
00:05:55.32\00:05:59.92
of Gideon in the Bible, where
he's asking God to give him a
00:05:59.92\00:06:03.69
sign, you know, put out a
fleece, and that fleece is gonna
be wet, and the ground is gonna
00:06:03.69\00:06:09.76
be dry. And the next day he's
like, "Ah, no, I want the fleece
to be dry and the ground is
00:06:09.76\00:06:14.60
wet." And it's just like God is
speaking to him clearly, just as
00:06:14.60\00:06:19.84
he spoke to Jim in Jim's story.
So, Jim learned that really God
loves each one of us,
00:06:19.84\00:06:26.35
and we have that love. We can't
hold it back. We have to show
00:06:26.35\00:06:29.25
that love to others. And when we
listen to His voice, He speaks
00:06:29.25\00:06:33.89
to us. So, we have these
Fountainview Academy students
00:06:33.89\00:06:36.32
with us. We've got Darrell and
McClain and Nick. And can any of
00:06:36.32\00:06:40.06
you relate to that, to Jim's
story, like, asking for a sign?
00:06:40.06\00:06:44.77
>> So, actually, I have a
similar story. I could relate to
Jim's story. Well, during
00:06:44.77\00:06:50.07
Christmas break, I was talking
to my mom. She just came out of
the blue, asked me,
00:06:50.07\00:06:53.54
"Hey, Darrell, where are you
going to college at?" >> Yeah.
00:06:53.54\00:06:55.91
>> Well, that's an important
question, right? Because
00:06:55.91\00:06:59.35
everyone wants to know where
they're gonna go for future,
where they're gonna study in the
00:06:59.35\00:07:03.79
future. >> And if God can speak
to you or give you a sign, as He
did with Gideon and with Jim,
00:07:03.79\00:07:08.89
then you know where
you're going, and you can have
00:07:08.89\00:07:12.56
assurance. Yeah. >> Well, I told
her that I'm going to Weimar,
but I said it sarcastically.
00:07:12.56\00:07:17.30
>> Why did you say it
sarcastically? >> Yeah, I'm
00:07:17.30\00:07:21.57
going to Weimar. >> Because the
thing is about this college is
that they are not accredited.
00:07:21.57\00:07:25.87
>> Oh, okay. >> So, it's kind of
like, "I care about my future,
00:07:25.87\00:07:29.51
so I need to go to college that
is accredited." >> So, at that
00:07:29.51\00:07:33.52
time it wasn't accredited.
>> No, it wasn't. >> Okay.
00:07:33.52\00:07:36.28
>> Anyway, so I told my mom. My
mom asked me, "So, do you think
00:07:36.28\00:07:40.42
this is God's plan? You
know? Do you think this is God's
00:07:40.42\00:07:42.82
plan?" And I told her,
"If this is God's plan,
00:07:42.82\00:07:46.86
in the next six months, before
graduation, that place is gonna
00:07:46.86\00:07:52.27
get accredited." And my
mom was kind of like smirking.
00:07:52.27\00:07:55.97
She just told me like, "Okay,
let it be. If it's God's plan,
00:07:55.97\00:07:59.57
then go ahead." So,
like, later on during the year,
00:07:59.57\00:08:03.98
my friend Nathan Holt came to my
room. He's studying at Weimar.
00:08:03.98\00:08:07.72
>> Yeah. >> He's studying at
Weimar. And he came to my room,
00:08:07.72\00:08:12.42
and he got an e-mail from
his president that is saying
00:08:12.42\00:08:16.29
"Hey, Weimar is accredited." So,
he just -- look. At this point,
00:08:16.29\00:08:20.80
he doesn't know that I'm waiting
for this, okay? So, he just told
me, "Hey, guess what?
00:08:20.80\00:08:24.90
Weimar is accredited." >> [
Laughs ] >> If you dared see my
00:08:24.90\00:08:29.77
face, I was surprised. My face
was white pale. And I was like,
00:08:29.77\00:08:33.54
"Oh, no way. This is a
miracle. This is the Lord
00:08:33.54\00:08:37.38
telling me what to do." So, I
guess that's what -- >> It was
00:08:37.38\00:08:42.52
pretty great. I remember that
night because my brother Nathan,
00:08:42.52\00:08:47.46
he told me first. It was really
amazing. I was surprised because
they'd been waiting for that for
00:08:47.46\00:08:53.16
years. >> Years. >> And then it
just happened like just over a
00:08:53.16\00:08:57.03
couple months after you asked.
So, that's really amazing. >>
00:08:57.03\00:09:03.10
Because I also -- I didn't
really think that it's gonna get
accredited because the Christmas
00:09:03.10\00:09:06.78
before, when we went on our
-- remember California tour, the
00:09:06.78\00:09:11.15
one before, right? They were
also saying that it's gonna get
accredited, but the same thing
00:09:11.15\00:09:14.28
happened. It's not gonna get
accredited. >> Yeah, I think
that God, too, when He speaks,
00:09:14.28\00:09:18.99
and another thing is, you know,
what I love about hearing God's
voice is God always wants
00:09:18.99\00:09:25.39
to lead us to action. His words
are not empty, right? And they
00:09:25.39\00:09:30.00
lead us to do something. I think
that's one of the most important
00:09:30.00\00:09:32.37
things about hearing God's voice
is we have to respond to it. We
have to do something
00:09:32.37\00:09:37.31
about it. Otherwise you know,
we -- for me I wonder, "Why
00:09:37.31\00:09:40.84
am I not hearing God's voice?"
But if I'm not doing what He's
00:09:40.84\00:09:43.98
already told me, then it's
meaningless. It's kind of like
-- it reminds me of texting.
00:09:43.98\00:09:47.32
You know, if you text someone,
they text you back, and you have
00:09:47.32\00:09:51.85
a conversation. But, like, if
someone texts you and then you
don't respond, you might get a
00:09:51.85\00:09:55.49
couple more, but then it's
probably going to end. >> Yes.
>> And you might ask yourself,
00:09:55.49\00:09:59.39
"Oh, why aren't they
talking to me?" But, I mean,
00:09:59.39\00:10:02.60
you didn't respond to anything.
They're just waiting for you to
00:10:02.60\00:10:05.20
respond back. And I think it's
the same way with God. >> Yes.
00:10:05.20\00:10:07.77
I think that God's words should
lead us to action and, for me,
00:10:07.77\00:10:11.97
hearing God's voice, it's... It
always makes me want to do
something and makes me
00:10:11.97\00:10:19.08
want to hear more of Him and put
myself in situations where I can
00:10:19.08\00:10:22.68
hear Him. >> Humbleness.
>> Yeah, because I feel like,
00:10:22.68\00:10:27.06
especially with humility and
stuff like that, we get so
prideful in our world today
00:10:27.06\00:10:30.99
because we feel so
self-sufficient, and we have all
this stuff around us that makes
00:10:30.99\00:10:36.53
us feel like we can do things on
our own. >> Yes. >> And kind of
00:10:36.53\00:10:40.40
crowd out His voice. >>
Right. >> And so for me, getting
00:10:40.40\00:10:42.70
into nature is so important for
me or into situations that I'm
not comfortable with
00:10:42.70\00:10:47.34
because God can lead me there so
much more because I am totally
00:10:47.34\00:10:53.52
reliant on Him. And it really,
when I get out into a real world
00:10:53.52\00:10:57.85
and not just this fake one that
we've all built for ourselves in
modern society, but when I get
00:10:57.85\00:11:03.83
out into the real world, it
really shows me kind of my place
and how much I really need God
00:11:03.83\00:11:08.63
when I have nothing else. >> So,
you're out there in nature, and
I just think of the
00:11:08.63\00:11:14.27
verse in Psalm 46:10, where it
says, "Be still and know that I
00:11:14.27\00:11:18.84
am God." >> Mm-hmm. >> The
things that I worry about, God's
00:11:18.84\00:11:22.24
like, "I don't worry about that.
I've got it handled," right?
Like, what does really God say
00:11:22.24\00:11:28.62
to me? He says, "I
just want to talk to you.
00:11:28.62\00:11:30.59
I just want to" -- yeah. >>
Right, right. >> And He talks to
00:11:30.59\00:11:33.59
you when it's quiet like that.
>> Yeah, and I think a lot of
the times that He does that
00:11:33.59\00:11:37.23
is through, you know, kind
of we call them "wilderness
00:11:37.23\00:11:40.56
experiences," when you have
people like Moses going out into
the wilderness, or Jesus
00:11:40.56\00:11:44.23
went out into the wilderness.
But it doesn't always have to be
00:11:44.23\00:11:47.27
like that because sometimes you
just are in situations that
you're not comfortable with,
00:11:47.27\00:11:51.61
like Daniel. He went to Babylon,
and for him he still felt alone
and he had to depend on God
00:11:51.61\00:11:55.68
because it was just something
he wasn't used to. >> Right.
00:11:55.68\00:11:58.45
No, I can relate with that, what
Nick's saying. It's different
00:11:58.45\00:12:02.78
situations. I know for me this
past Christmas break I went to
Mexico on a mission trip.
00:12:02.78\00:12:07.36
And Nick actually went on it,
too, but he came later than I
00:12:07.36\00:12:10.93
did. We had just come off of a
music tour. So, I was exhausted
00:12:10.93\00:12:13.70
already from the tour and went
straight into this mission trip
00:12:13.70\00:12:16.26
unlike Nick. He went home for a
little bit. So, you got a break.
00:12:16.26\00:12:18.83
>> Awesome. >> But I was
straight into it, and getting
there I was tired. It was really
00:12:18.83\00:12:23.91
hot, and we got there late at
night, and I was just looking
around. I'm like, "What am I
00:12:23.91\00:12:27.68
doing here?" I had no
idea. I was just confused.
00:12:27.68\00:12:30.38
I'm like, "I could be at home
with my family really enjoying
00:12:30.38\00:12:33.52
Christmas." >> Because it felt
nothing like Christmas there.
Sunshine and burritos was not --
00:12:33.52\00:12:38.72
yeah. >> And so I'm there,
and I'm like, "What am I doing?"
00:12:38.72\00:12:42.19
And there's very few people I
knew there, and like I said Nick
wasn't there at that time.
00:12:42.19\00:12:46.06
And so, I was just kind of by
myself. I'm like, "I'm not even
00:12:46.06\00:12:49.86
with family. It's near
Christmas." And we were there
00:12:49.86\00:12:52.03
to build churches, right? So, I
got to know people there. I was
00:12:52.03\00:12:56.54
talking to them. And at that
point in my life, I was in a
place where it was hard.
00:12:56.54\00:13:00.28
I felt like I wasn't really
hearing God, and being around
00:13:00.28\00:13:04.48
these people is interesting
because they were all very
unique, different people.
00:13:04.48\00:13:07.12
They were from different places
all around the world and just
different backgrounds,
00:13:07.12\00:13:11.35
different cultures. But yet,
even though they all had a
different experience with
00:13:11.35\00:13:15.56
God, and you could tell, they
all got to -- like, they got
00:13:15.56\00:13:21.00
along very well, and it's
because they all had that same
goal in mind of "We are gonna
00:13:21.00\00:13:24.83
build these churches for the
people down here." And because
of that goal, they had that same
00:13:24.83\00:13:28.14
aim. Just because they heard God
differently, they still got
along because of that,
00:13:28.14\00:13:32.67
and they were able to work
together. And really seeing
00:13:32.67\00:13:34.94
that, it showed me that God
really does speak to us
uniquely, and it ended up being
00:13:34.94\00:13:40.68
an amazing mission trip. And
I learned a lot about how God
00:13:40.68\00:13:43.72
speaks to us. And I really saw
him through all the different
people there in unique,
00:13:43.72\00:13:47.96
different ways, just kind of
like in the Bible how to each
person God spoke to them really
00:13:47.96\00:13:52.39
differently. He didn't use just
one way to speak to, like, a
person exactly the same every
00:13:52.39\00:13:56.33
time, but it was in unique ways.
Like Balaam was through a donkey
and other people angels, other
00:13:56.33\00:14:00.77
people's dreams, right? And so
He really is someone that speaks
00:14:00.77\00:14:04.74
to you the way you really need
to hear it. >> Yeah, yeah, it's
00:14:04.74\00:14:08.68
amazing. You know, when you talk
to someone, you have different
00:14:08.68\00:14:12.21
conversations. So, I talk to
Darrell, and the way he talks to
me is probably quite different
00:14:12.21\00:14:15.85
than the way he talks to Nick,
than the way he talks to McClain
and the way he talks to Rene.
00:14:15.85\00:14:22.12
And so we talk to each other
differently. Why wouldn't God
00:14:22.12\00:14:25.73
talk to us differently? He
has different relationships, and
00:14:25.73\00:14:28.30
we're all unique individuals. I
think of this guy from Bermuda.
00:14:28.30\00:14:32.80
He's a famous guy. He's famous
there. He wasn't famous at the
00:14:32.80\00:14:37.67
time. His name is Johnny Barnes.
And so, Johnny Barnes was a bus
00:14:37.67\00:14:42.81
driver. He was actually trained
as an electrician, and he was a
00:14:42.81\00:14:47.55
very social guy. And so, he
liked to talk to people, and he
would share his faith.
00:14:47.55\00:14:50.69
And so, he got to the stage in
his life where he was ready to
00:14:50.69\00:14:55.06
retire. And so, he didn't really
want to sit and do nothing. And
so, he was praying, reading
00:14:55.06\00:15:01.50
his Bible one morning. And he
said, "God, what should I do?"
00:15:01.50\00:15:06.00
And he distinctly heard God say
to him, "Go to Crow Lane and
tell all the people
00:15:06.00\00:15:12.41
driving by that I love
them." So, that's what he did.
00:15:12.41\00:15:17.18
He got up 4:00 in the morning,
and he went down to Crow Lane,
and he just, "I love you.
00:15:17.18\00:15:22.12
I love you. God loves
you. God loves you." True.
00:15:22.12\00:15:25.82
And everybody on the island
knows this guy. He became so
00:15:25.82\00:15:29.96
famous that even Queen Elizabeth
gave him an honor, you know. He
00:15:29.96\00:15:34.46
was honored. They even made a
statue, which cost them $70,000.
And so this statue of him
00:15:34.46\00:15:39.90
standing there. Why?
Because he got up every morning,
00:15:39.90\00:15:44.14
and he was there on that street
corner from 4:00 in the morning
until 10:00 in the morning.
00:15:44.14\00:15:49.64
And it's the busiest roundabout
in the whole island of Bermuda.
And so, as the people
00:15:49.64\00:15:55.35
were going by, they got to
know this man. And they were so
00:15:55.35\00:15:59.89
cheered by him. So, one day he
got sick. And he was in the
hospital. And people are phoning
00:15:59.89\00:16:04.23
into the radio station. They're
like, "Where is Johnny Barnes?"
00:16:04.23\00:16:07.73
And he was in the hospital. And
so, can you imagine if something
00:16:07.73\00:16:12.33
happened to me and people are
phoning to the radio station
saying, "Where is Mike Lemon?"
00:16:12.33\00:16:16.54
And they're just like, "I
don't know. Is that important?"
00:16:16.54\00:16:20.01
Yeah, it's important because
he's always there. You know,
he's cheering us up.
00:16:20.01\00:16:23.75
And we love people who are
happy, people who are telling
us, "I love you. God loves you."
00:16:23.75\00:16:28.38
You know, some of the people,
even the ladies would say, "You
00:16:28.38\00:16:31.75
know, how come" -- they would
complain to their husbands --
"How come you never say I love
00:16:31.75\00:16:34.46
you, but Johnny Barnes tells me
every single day that he loves
me?" And so, this man,
00:16:34.46\00:16:40.20
he was an inspiration. He did
that six hours a day. And then
00:16:40.20\00:16:44.67
afterwards he would go to the
hospitals. He would go into
town. He would pray with people.
00:16:44.67\00:16:49.74
I mean, he really shared his
faith. From the time he retired
00:16:49.74\00:16:53.68
till 30 years afterwards, he
did this. Stood on that street
00:16:53.68\00:16:58.95
corner. And so, what an amazing
man that he did for 30 years
from 6 hours a day.
00:16:58.95\00:17:05.89
That's an incredible story.
>> Mm-hmm. >> So, we're going to
00:17:05.89\00:17:09.02
take a quick break right now,
and then we will come back right
after this brief message.
00:17:09.02\00:17:15.83
>> Canada. All across
this vast and diverse nation,
00:17:15.83\00:17:19.73
people are searching for
meaning, acceptance, and hope.
But in an increasingly secular
00:17:19.73\00:17:25.24
nation, where nearly one in
four Canadians have no religious
00:17:25.24\00:17:29.81
affiliation, many people simply
don't know how to find happiness
and peace for their lives.
00:17:29.81\00:17:34.85
That is why we are here. As the
premier media ministry for the
00:17:34.85\00:17:38.62
Seventh-Day Adventist church in
Canada, "It Is Written" seeks to
offer people more than this
00:17:38.62\00:17:43.73
world can offer -- the
good news of Jesus Christ.
00:17:43.73\00:17:47.50
Each week we invite
countless people to enter into
00:17:47.56\00:17:50.47
a closer relationship with Jesus
through our television program,
00:17:50.47\00:17:54.20
aired across the nation
on CTV, 3ABN, Hope Channel,
00:17:54.20\00:17:57.97
and many more.
00:17:57.97\00:17:59.34
In this way we're able to reach
into people's homes and meet
them right where they
00:17:59.37\00:18:03.31
are. Buying this much
airtime is no small thing,
00:18:03.31\00:18:06.88
but the continued commitment of
donors just like you keeps the
Gospel on the air in Canada.
00:18:06.88\00:18:13.02
Our commitment to spreading
the Gospel means that we do
00:18:13.02\00:18:17.33
everything we can to maximize
the impact of your financial
gift. A gift of $5 is enough
00:18:17.33\00:18:22.60
to get an episode of our show
into 50 households across the
00:18:22.60\00:18:26.80
nation. Ten dollars is enough to
provide a personal
heart-changing Bible lesson to
00:18:26.80\00:18:32.14
five individuals. Your
generosity amplified by the Holy
Spirit has the power to change
00:18:32.14\00:18:38.11
lives. Canadians everywhere are
searching for something more. By
00:18:38.11\00:18:42.82
partnering with "It Is Written,"
together we can help them find
00:18:42.82\00:18:47.49
it. To support this
life-changing ministry,
00:18:47.52\00:18:49.82
please send your
financial contributions to
00:18:49.82\00:18:52.13
It Is Written, Box 2010,
00:18:52.13\00:18:54.10
Oshawa, Ontario, L1H
7V4. Or you can call us at
00:18:54.10\00:18:58.17
1-888-225-5449. You
can also visit us online
00:18:58.17\00:19:03.71
at www.ItIsWrittenCanada.ca and
click on the "donate" button.
00:19:03.71\00:19:09.78
>> So, I want to pick up on
something that Nick said earlier
00:19:11.38\00:19:13.72
about hearing God's
voice, and it's very true.
00:19:13.72\00:19:15.82
It's in the Scriptures,
and Jesus talks about it
00:19:15.82\00:19:17.89
in Luke 8:18, where He
says, "Be careful how you hear,
00:19:17.89\00:19:23.12
for the one who has, more
will be given, and from the one
00:19:23.12\00:19:26.46
who has not, even what he thinks
he has will be taken away."
00:19:26.46\00:19:30.20
So Jesus is really saying to us,
"If you want more, listen to
what you've already been told."
00:19:30.23\00:19:36.81
>> Right. >> So, what's
clear to you. Don't worry
00:19:36.81\00:19:40.11
about what's unclear. So,
sometimes we want to know the
00:19:40.11\00:19:43.65
future. Who is the person we're
going to marry? Where are we
00:19:43.65\00:19:47.48
going to study? And we want to
know this some distant future.
And God is really saying,
00:19:47.48\00:19:51.22
"Don't worry about those things
in the future. Just focus on the
00:19:51.22\00:19:54.79
things that I've told you
already that are really clear."
And so sometimes people want
00:19:54.79\00:19:58.36
to know the future, and I say,
"Well, what is clear to you?
Should you read your Bible?"
00:19:58.36\00:20:01.53
And they say, "Yes, I should
read my Bible. That's clear to
00:20:01.53\00:20:03.70
me." "Are you reading your
Bible?" They're like, "Oh..."
00:20:03.70\00:20:07.84
"Are you praying? Do you know
that you should pray?" "Yes."
00:20:07.84\00:20:10.11
Okay? And so you know certain
things God wants you to do,
00:20:10.11\00:20:13.38
and you're not doing them. So,
God, why would He give you more
when you're not doing what
00:20:13.38\00:20:17.01
He's already telling you to do
and what's clear to you? So, I
00:20:17.01\00:20:20.12
want to tell you a little bit
about a lady who, she grew up in
Brazil, and when she became
00:20:20.12\00:20:25.75
a baptized Christian, she
was so on fire. She shared
00:20:25.75\00:20:28.69
her faith with everyone. And
there are many people coming to
00:20:28.69\00:20:31.93
the church. She was not a Bible
worker. She wasn't a pastor or
anything like that.
00:20:31.93\00:20:35.50
She was just sharing her faith
as a church member. And she got
00:20:35.50\00:20:40.30
older, and eventually she was
ready to retire, and she became
a hazard on the road.
00:20:40.30\00:20:44.94
They took her driver's license
away, and so they said, "Okay,
00:20:44.94\00:20:49.58
you can't drive, grandma." And
so she sat at home, and she felt
00:20:49.58\00:20:54.18
so useless. And she was praying
to God, "What can I do? I want
00:20:54.18\00:20:57.75
to help people." And then she
noticed outside of her window
they were setting up a circus
00:20:57.75\00:21:02.16
in this field outside. And so
she prayed to God, "What can I
do for those people
00:21:02.16\00:21:05.56
over there?" because she wanted
to share her faith. And God said
00:21:05.56\00:21:09.76
to her, "Make lemonade." And she
was used to hearing God's voice.
00:21:09.76\00:21:14.07
And so she's like, "Make
lemonade? Okay." So, she went to
00:21:14.07\00:21:18.44
her friends and her neighbors.
She said, "I need big
containers, and I need some
00:21:18.44\00:21:21.64
powder." Help me. I have to make
00:21:21.64\00:21:24.21
some lemonade for these people
and can you freeze some ice for
00:21:24.21\00:21:26.55
me?" And so she made gallons and
gallons of lemonade, and every
day she would go there,
00:21:26.55\00:21:29.42
and she'd give this lemonade to
these guys. And there are over
00:21:29.42\00:21:32.25
300 workers who were working in
this big circus. And so, she did
00:21:32.25\00:21:36.79
this day after day, and
eventually they said to her,
"Grandma, why are you doing this
00:21:36.79\00:21:39.93
for us?" And she said, "Well,
God told me to do this for you."
And they said, "We believe you,
00:21:39.93\00:21:45.00
because we go from town to town,
and no one has ever done this
00:21:45.00\00:21:48.57
before." And so they said, "Tell
us more about God. How can you
00:21:48.57\00:21:51.84
hear His voice?" And so she
started sharing about the Bible,
and as they learned, they
00:21:51.84\00:21:57.78
started to become very, very
interested. And some of them
became Christians, 10, 15, 20.
00:21:57.78\00:22:04.39
Eventually there was 120 of them
who became Christians, and they
decided, "Well, what can we
00:22:04.39\00:22:09.29
do? How do we share our faith?"
And they said, "Well, we're
00:22:09.29\00:22:12.16
in the circus." So, they asked
the church pastors, and they're
00:22:12.16\00:22:15.10
like, "Eh, you maybe should quit
the circus because that's kind
of not a Christian thing to do."
00:22:15.10\00:22:17.93
But others were like, "Maybe we
should use this to serve God."
00:22:17.93\00:22:22.14
And so they started praying
about it. And some of the clowns
00:22:22.14\00:22:24.97
got together, and they said,
"What we're going to do, we're
going to tell the people
00:22:24.97\00:22:29.28
about Jesus." And so, it came
time. The circus came together.
00:22:29.28\00:22:35.08
The clowns were having fun. And
the people were laughing. And
00:22:35.08\00:22:40.89
then finally one of the clowns
came out and he said, "You know,
it's fun to be at the circus,
00:22:40.89\00:22:43.89
and it's great, and we
love making fun, but life is not
00:22:43.89\00:22:49.66
always fun. And I found that
sometimes it's difficult. And
I've learned something.
00:22:49.66\00:22:54.57
There is this old lady. Let me
introduce you to her. She's a
really nice, old lady."
00:22:54.57\00:22:58.37
And so, he brought her up to the
front, and he said, "She taught
00:22:58.37\00:23:01.41
me about Jesus. She told me
about the Bible. And if you're
interested in learning about the
00:23:01.41\00:23:05.88
Bible and about how God can
speak to you, then you can come
forward and talk to us after the
00:23:05.88\00:23:12.29
show." And they continued
sharing this for months and
months, and eventually six
00:23:12.29\00:23:16.06
months later they had brought in
over 300 people just because
this one lady made lemonade,
00:23:16.06\00:23:23.77
because God had spoken to her.
And so, being still and
listening to God's voice,
00:23:23.77\00:23:28.50
and He will give you more and
more and more, as you listen to
00:23:28.50\00:23:32.27
Him, as you're obedient to what
He asks you to do. So, we can
00:23:32.27\00:23:36.71
hear God's voice. And when God
speaks to us, we are to be
obedient to what He has asked us
00:23:36.71\00:23:41.92
to do. So, I thank you all for
sharing your stories today with
00:23:41.92\00:23:47.02
us. And I know that you know
that God speaks to you through
His Word. So, guys, I just want
00:23:47.02\00:23:52.36
to thank you for allowing us to
ask you questions and thank you,
Nick and McClain and Darrell,
00:23:52.36\00:23:57.47
for coming and joining us today.
>> No problem. >> Before we
00:23:57.47\00:24:02.60
close let's listen to
"This Is My Father's World."
00:24:02.60\00:24:05.07
¤¤ ¤¤ >> ¤ This
is my Father's world
00:24:07.51\00:24:35.67
¤ And to my listening ears, all
nature sings, and round me rings
00:24:35.67\00:24:47.05
the music of the spheres ¤ ¤¤ ¤¤
00:24:47.05\00:25:05.60
¤ This is my Father's world ¤
The birds, their carols raise
the morning bright,
00:25:05.60\00:25:18.91
the lily white, declare their
Maker's praise ¤ ¤ This is my
00:25:18.91\00:25:32.03
Father's world ¤ He shines in
all that's fair ¤ In the
rustling grass, I hear Him pass
00:25:32.03\00:25:43.54
¤ ¤ He speaks to
me everywhere ¤¤ ¤¤
00:25:43.54\00:26:00.12
¤¤ ¤ This is my Father's
world ¤ Oh, let me ne'er forget
00:26:00.12\00:26:13.13
that though the wrong seems oft
so strong, God is the ruler yet
00:26:13.13\00:26:25.18
¤ ¤ This is my Father's home
¤ Why should my heart be sad? ¤
00:26:25.18\00:26:39.36
The Lord is King, let the
heavens ring ¤ ¤ God reigns ¤
Let the earth be glad
00:26:39.36\00:26:49.37
¤¤ ¤¤ ¤¤
00:26:49.37\00:27:06.92
¤¤
00:27:06.92\00:27:12.76
>> So, this is our Father's
world, and He wants to speak to
00:27:22.97\00:27:27.44
us, and He does. He speaks to us
everywhere. Let's talk to Him
now as we close off.
00:27:27.44\00:27:31.95
Let's bow our heads. Father in
heaven, we thank you that your
00:27:31.95\00:27:37.32
word tells us that you want us
to know your voice. You tell us
00:27:37.32\00:27:42.32
in 1st Thessalonians 5:16-18,
"Rejoice always, pray
continually, and give thanks
00:27:42.32\00:27:49.93
in all circumstances, for this
is God's will for you, in Christ
00:27:49.93\00:27:54.67
Jesus." That's what we want to
know, Lord. We want to know your
00:27:54.67\00:27:57.01
will, and we want to hear your
voice. And we pray that you will
speak to us, and we will listen.
00:27:57.01\00:28:02.14
In Jesus' name. Amen. >> Amen.
00:28:02.14\00:28:05.58
>> So, friends, thank you very
much for joining us. And
remember the words of Jesus
00:28:05.58\00:28:09.38
where He said, "It is written:
'Man shall not live by bread
alone but by every word that
00:28:09.38\00:28:14.56
proceeds from
the mouth of God.'"
00:28:14.56\00:28:17.99
¤¤ ¤¤
00:28:18.03\00:28:26.70
¤¤ ¤¤
00:28:26.70\00:28:47.96
¤¤ ¤¤
00:28:47.96\00:28:59.67