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Doug Batchelor: Hello, friends.
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Welcome to our
"Sabbath School Study Hour."
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We're so glad that you
can tune in and join us today.
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We have a good
lesson ahead of us.
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We know that we've got friends
that are tuning in now from all
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different parts of the planet,
and, boy, what an interesting
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world we're living in right now.
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We're looking forward to getting
into our study in a little bit,
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dealing with the
subject of education.
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But at the beginning of our
broadcast, we always want to
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tell you about a free offer
we have that should help accent
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and enhance the
subject that we're studying,
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and it's a beautiful study
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one of our best
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It's called "A Love That
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You can call to get a
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866-788-3966.
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That's 866-Study-More.
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Or you can also, if you want,
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digitally by texting, "SH003" to
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numbers up there on the screen.
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And you can also
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to the Amazing Facts website.
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If you go to the
Amazing Facts website,
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this is one in our series,
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that teach different
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They're very powerful, been
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updated, upgraded several times,
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most of the Word of God,
and they still transform lives.
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Well, we're going to dive into
our lesson today and dealing
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with the subject of education,
in particular, in the family.
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But as always, we want to
begin asking for God's blessing
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before we do.
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Loving Father, we pray
that as we talk about this
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very important and vital subject
of education, in particular,
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the education of children in
the family, we pray for the Holy
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Spirit to be with us, pray that
we'll learn the most important
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priorities, and then, Lord,
guide us in how to put these
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into practice, and so bless now.
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We thank you, and we pray
this in Christ's name, amen.
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All right, so we're
in lesson number two.
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We're dealing with our
quarterly, fairly new in our
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study, dealing with the subject
of education, and today we're
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talking about education in
the family, and we have a memory
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verse, and our memory verse
is coming to us from Proverbs 8,
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verse 1, and it says here,
"My son, hear the instruction of
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your father, and do not
forsake the law of your mother."
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Of course, right in the middle
of the Ten Commandments, the
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first of the commandments
that deal with our relationship
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between man and man, is "Honor
your father and mother, that
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your days may be long upon the
land which the Lord your God is
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giving you."
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Remember, the Ten Commandments
are divided in two tables.
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First four commandments deal
with our relationship to God,
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and, of course, that first
commandment says, "I am the
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Lord, you shall
not have other gods."
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Then you get to the other table
dealing with our relationship
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with our fellow man.
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First thing it does, very basic
elementary level, saying, "Honor
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your father and mother," because
the father and mother will be
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the spring of knowledge for that
child as they enter the world,
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and they must be respected
because, in many ways, the
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respect and the honor that
children have for their parents
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will ultimately be transferred
to respect and honor for their
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heavenly Father.
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And so the parents have this
extraordinary responsibility in
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guiding, in rearing, in teaching
principles, in supplying data
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and information for the minds,
the growing, fertile minds of
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young children.
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The family and the parents
are to be the first school.
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This was part of
God's original design.
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Now, as human beings, our brains
are healthy--if our brains are
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healthy--we're always learning.
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In fact, life
itself is a school.
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And God did something when he
first made people, where he made
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our minds hungry and curious.
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You think about children.
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They're such a wonder when they
first begin to look out in the
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world, and they keep that wonder
for quite a while where they are
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drinking in.
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They're just vacuuming
information on a level of data
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consumption that you
and I can't comprehend.
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They're taking in so much into
their eyes and into their ears
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and into their senses, and you
watch the little babies--I know
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when they're--they
can't even roll over.
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You put them in the bassinet or
in the crib, and the parents get
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them one of these little mobiles
or something to hang above the
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crib, and they look at its
spinning, and they look at the
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colors, and they reach it, and
then they want to taste it, and
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they're trying to gather
information about how these
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things work.
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And they're examining
their fingers and their toes and
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trying to figure out what their
bodies are, and it's, just, it's
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a marvelous thing to watch
how their little minds are so
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voraciously
taking in information.
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Well, they're going to learn.
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They're going to be
taking in information from their
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environment, but it is so
important for parents to guide
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them in the principles that they
learn about what is the purpose
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of life.
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Let me read a quote to you from
the book "Child Guidance," and
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this is page 299: "Our life
work here is a preparation for
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eternal life.
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The education begun here will
not be completed in this life.
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It will be going forward through
all eternity, ever progressing,
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never completed."
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You know, I used to
love playing guitar.
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Well, I still play guitar.
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I play guitar just
about every day, actually.
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I have one.
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Got a guitar, and I've got
a flute in my office, and when
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I've had all the studying and
reading and writing that I can
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do, I just get up, and I grab my
guitar, and it's sort of a break
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for me, but I've always been
very frustrated because I never
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had, really, formal
training with a guitar.
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I think I took three
lessons before my mother became
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exasperated that I wasn't
practicing, and that was the end
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of that.
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Then I took it up again
when I lived in the cave.
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I was about 17.
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And so--but I never did learn
to do these certain complicated
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picking motions with my hands,
and I remember thinking a little
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while ago, 'Well, you
know, I'm over 60, now.
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What are my
chances to learn that?"
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And then I thought about this
quote that, "Whatever I learn in
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this life, I take with me into
the next life," and I thought my
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education isn't done just
because I'm getting older in
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this life.
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You know, if you are a Christian
and you believe you take from
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this life what you learn into
the next life--I heard about a
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lady who was in her 90s, and she
decided to go back to college,
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and she got her
bachelor's degree.
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Actually, she graduated with
one of her granddaughters or
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great-granddaughters--I forget.
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Just an amazing story.
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She says, "I never
want to stop learning."
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And so, you know, that inspires
me to know that, at any point in
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your life, whatever you choose
to learn, you will be taking
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that with you
into the next life.
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I am going to--by the way, I did
learn how to do that picking.
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I just kept at it, and I
thought, "Wow, it's not too late
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to learn."
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And it was so difficult, but I
kept at it, and now I can do it
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without thinking it.
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I thought, "I can keep learning.
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I'm going to know how to pick
my harp in heaven now because I
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trained in this life.
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I will take the
education from here to there."
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And so you don't ever want to
say, "Well, what good will it do
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me to be learning in this life?"
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Because this life is not the end
of where you use what you learn.
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And so that's just a really
important principle for us
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to remember.
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So we learned a little bit
about the family last week.
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Now, the family is the
first place where the education
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begins, and this
is part of God's plan.
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The first teacher for Adam and
Eve was God, and I'm sure that
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God gave them a lot of
instruction about their
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environment in the garden, in
nature, and just the principles
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of life, but as man was made
in the image of God, then God
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designed that, when man and
woman procreate through an act
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of love, they then
become the teachers.
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Boy, what a fantastic--what a
frightening responsibility that
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parents should be guiding the
minds of a creature that has the
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potential to have a life that
will measure with the life of
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God, that they can live
eternally, and teaching them
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rightly can give them a better
chance of having that eternal
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life, or neglecting
their teaching or teaching them
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wrongly can set them on
the course to eternal loss.
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That is a wonderful and
an awesome and a terrifying
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responsibility, but
that's part of God's design.
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Now, some things are different
from when God made Adam and Eve.
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Adam and Eve came
from the factory, you might
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say, preprogrammed.
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They came with certain
software already installed.
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You know, when you get your
computer out of the box, if you
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buy a new desktop or laptop
computer or even your phone or a
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tablet, you press the power
button, and as soon as it powers
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up, it usually comes with a lot
of pre-installed software, and
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that computer already has
usually a word processor, and
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it's made where it can read.
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It's got a camera.
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It's made where it can see.
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It's got--my computer had a
program where I can talk, and
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it types.
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It could hear.
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It's got all this
pre-installed software.
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Adam came with a lot of
pre-installed knowledge.
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Adam did not need
to learn to crawl.
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Adam did not
need to learn to eat.
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He did not--I can't picture
Adam in the Garden of Eden
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with--God's got a little bitty
spoon, trying to put applesauce
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in his mouth.
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I'm sure he came pre-installed
with great coordination,
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probably better
than any we have.
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And so he had that benefit
or advantage, you might say, but
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when human parents have a little
baby, they are looking to the
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parents to help teach them so
many of the fundamentals and the
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basics of life.
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And, yes, even Jesus had to
learn those things, but we're
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getting ahead of ourselves now.
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If you look in the book
"Education," page 33--and this
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is in your lesson,
still under the introduction--
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"The system of education
established in Eden centered in
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the family.
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Adam was 'the son of God,' Luke
3:38, and it was from the Father
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that the children of the highest
received the instruction.
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Theirs, in the truest
sense, was the family school."
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And so Adam and Eve had
this responsibility of teaching
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His children.
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I think God gave them some
information about what their
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responsibilities were going
to be because it just winging it
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can be difficult.
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Now, my father's
father died when he was seven.
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My father was the oldest.
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My father's younger brothers
grew up pretty much without
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a father.
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Grandma
Batchelor never remarried.
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And I lived with my uncle, who
was younger than my father, and
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he ended up being
a pretty good father.
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He--just, you know, I lived
with him for a few months, and I
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thought, you know,
his kids all loved him.
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They turned out pretty good.
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And I asked him one day, I said,
"Harry," I said, "how is it that
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you just knew how to be a
father, and you really had no
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father to be an example?"
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And then he said, "Well, you
know, Doug, sometimes you have
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to 'wing it,'" and they call
that "flying by the seat of your
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pants," and--or you look around.
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Maybe you've got some
good uncles that are mentoring
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for you.
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But God didn't design that
Adam and Eve should have to just
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wing it.
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I think the Lord guided them as
they sought for wisdom in how to
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guide their children.
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But they understood that it
was very important for them to
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tenderly and
patiently teach their children.
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Now, as a father of six
children, eight grandchildren,
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last count, it takes
patience to teach children.
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And, for me, who am naturally an
impatient person, it is so much
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easier for me to clean their
room than teach them how to
00:13:05.11\00:13:08.15
clean their room, but I've
learned that, if I take a little
00:13:08.18\00:13:11.35
extra time to teach them how to
clean their room, then it saves
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me a lot of time in the future.
00:13:15.22\00:13:17.66
The first few times you try
to get your kids to wash the
00:13:17.69\00:13:20.20
dishes, you kind of
have to wash them again.
00:13:20.23\00:13:23.53
There's still
food on the plates.
00:13:23.57\00:13:25.37
There is a risk they're going
to drop the porcelain dishes and
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break them, or glasses are going
to break, or you're going to end
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up with the forks in the spoon
slot in the drawer, and there's
00:13:30.34\00:13:33.17
going to be things that are
fudged up a little bit, but you
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know what?
00:13:36.38\00:13:38.21
As a parent, that is
part of the teaching process.
00:13:38.25\00:13:40.78
And so you just got to say,
"Look, I'm going to take the
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time to lovingly and patiently
go through it with them," and
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then there's repetition,
over and over, and they get it.
00:13:47.52\00:13:51.59
There's something else that
you learn in raising children.
00:13:51.63\00:13:54.73
Children love to play.
00:13:54.73\00:13:57.17
Matter of fact, if you try and
get them to do work--and, by the
00:13:57.20\00:13:59.37
way, work is something Adam and
Eve had to teach their children.
00:13:59.40\00:14:01.70
Part of God's plan.
00:14:01.74\00:14:03.71
If you don't teach your children
discipline and work, they're
00:14:03.74\00:14:05.87
going to have a
really tough life.
00:14:05.91\00:14:07.74
They've got to have
self-control, and they've got to
00:14:07.78\00:14:09.51
learn how to work.
00:14:09.54\00:14:11.41
But you've got to mix the work
with play, and if the kids know
00:14:11.45\00:14:13.52
that "After you do this little
bit of work, we're going to
00:14:13.55\00:14:17.62
reward you with some time of
play," they are so excited to
00:14:17.65\00:14:20.96
get that work done.
00:14:20.99\00:14:23.06
And if you say, "If you do
the work and you do it well, I'm
00:14:23.09\00:14:25.26
going to reward you with some
time to play," they become very
00:14:25.29\00:14:28.50
excited about it, and pretty
soon they just realize that work
00:14:28.53\00:14:31.43
is part of life so that
you get to enjoy the play.
00:14:31.47\00:14:35.87
And, of course,
there are benefits to work.
00:14:35.90\00:14:38.64
There's some satisfaction that
comes from a job that's well
00:14:38.67\00:14:41.18
done, as well as the money you
might receive that empowers you
00:14:41.21\00:14:44.31
to do other things
that might be of interest.
00:14:44.35\00:14:47.05
So teaching them those
principles of reward and
00:14:47.08\00:14:50.19
consequences, it's just so very
important, and if they don't get
00:14:50.22\00:14:53.86
their work done,
they don't get to play.
00:14:53.89\00:14:56.16
But that means that, as parents,
you work alongside with them,
00:14:56.19\00:14:59.39
and when they've done what
you think they can do--you don't
00:14:59.43\00:15:02.20
want to, you know, ask a
five-year-old to do eight hours
00:15:02.23\00:15:04.77
of work.
00:15:04.80\00:15:06.53
You just give them a little
bit of work and teach them the
00:15:06.57\00:15:08.67
principle, then stop, and
you need to play with them.
00:15:08.70\00:15:11.51
Mom needs to spend some time
playing with them, and just keep
00:15:11.54\00:15:14.74
going through that benefit
and that reward, teaching them
00:15:14.78\00:15:18.85
self-discipline, self-control,
making them apply themselves to
00:15:18.88\00:15:21.95
something they may not want to
do, but they're looking beyond
00:15:21.98\00:15:24.99
to the reward.
00:15:25.02\00:15:27.96
So there are just
some basic principles here.
00:15:27.99\00:15:30.63
I'm sure--what are the things
that God taught Adam and Eve?
00:15:30.66\00:15:33.26
Well, probably he taught them
something--how to survive in
00:15:33.29\00:15:36.87
their environments.
00:15:36.90\00:15:38.73
One of the first things children
need to learn is "What is this
00:15:38.77\00:15:41.30
environment I live in?"
00:15:41.34\00:15:43.27
They're very tactile and
touching everything and trying
00:15:43.30\00:15:45.61
to understand it.
00:15:45.64\00:15:47.51
You blow a little in
their face, and they gasp,
00:15:47.54\00:15:49.41
and they're trying to figure
out what's going on around them.
00:15:49.44\00:15:51.58
Well, Adam and Eve, God taught
them about their environment.
00:15:51.61\00:15:54.85
Let me just give you a
few little wonders someone
00:15:54.88\00:15:59.02
sent me of Creation.
00:15:59.05\00:16:01.56
"One might observe God's
accuracy and wonders in creation
00:16:01.59\00:16:05.93
just in the way that eggs hatch.
00:16:05.96\00:16:09.40
You know, the eggs of
a canary are in 14 days.
00:16:09.43\00:16:13.00
Those of the
barnyard hen hatch in 21 days.
00:16:13.03\00:16:16.54
Eggs of ducks and
geese hatch in 28 days.
00:16:16.57\00:16:20.11
Those of a mallard, 35 days.
00:16:20.14\00:16:23.58
The eggs of a parrot and
the ostrich hatch in 42 days.
00:16:23.61\00:16:27.28
Notice that, with all these
birds, they are all divisible
00:16:27.32\00:16:29.48
by seven.
00:16:29.52\00:16:31.75
Of course, that's the
number of days in a week.
00:16:31.79\00:16:34.52
God in His wisdom
made the elephant.
00:16:34.56\00:16:37.96
The four legs of this great
beast all bend forward in the
00:16:37.99\00:16:40.53
same direction.
00:16:40.56\00:16:42.60
No other
quadruped is made this way.
00:16:42.63\00:16:44.67
God planned that this animal
would have a huge body too, and
00:16:44.70\00:16:48.54
he lives on two legs.
00:16:48.57\00:16:50.87
For this reason, he gave it four
fulcrums so that it can raise
00:16:50.91\00:16:53.54
from the ground
easily, two legs at a time.
00:16:53.58\00:16:56.54
The horse rises from the
ground on its front legs first.
00:16:56.58\00:16:59.68
The cow rises from the
ground on its hind legs first.
00:16:59.71\00:17:03.99
How wise the Lord is
in all of His Creation.
00:17:04.02\00:17:07.06
Each watermelon has an even
number of stripes on the rind.
00:17:07.09\00:17:11.19
Each orange has an
even number of segments.
00:17:11.23\00:17:14.76
Each ear of corn will
have an even number of rows."
00:17:14.83\00:17:18.73
You're going to be
counting this next time.
00:17:18.77\00:17:21.67
"Each stock of wheat has
an even number of grains.
00:17:21.70\00:17:24.94
Every bunch of bananas has on
its lowest row and even number
00:17:24.97\00:17:28.81
of bananas, and each row
decreases by one so that one row
00:17:28.84\00:17:33.18
has an even number, the next
row, an odd number, the next
00:17:33.21\00:17:36.22
row, an even number."
00:17:36.25\00:17:38.82
Amazing.
00:17:38.85\00:17:41.19
"The waves of the sea roll
on shore 26 to the minute in all
00:17:41.22\00:17:43.53
kinds of weather.
00:17:43.56\00:17:46.03
All grains are found in
the even numbers of the stock.
00:17:46.06\00:17:48.96
God has caused the flowers
to blossom at a certain specific
00:17:49.00\00:17:51.67
time during the day, and
different flowers, different
00:17:51.70\00:17:55.04
times during the day."
00:17:55.07\00:17:57.07
I know, when I lived up in the
cave, they had something called
00:17:57.11\00:17:59.21
"deadly nightshade," and they
called it nightshade because the
00:17:59.24\00:18:01.71
flower would un-spiral
and open during the full moon.
00:18:01.74\00:18:05.18
I used to observe that.
00:18:05.21\00:18:07.58
"Linnaeus the great botanist,
once said that, if he had a
00:18:07.62\00:18:10.39
conservatory containing the
right kind of soil, moisture,
00:18:10.42\00:18:13.56
and temperature, he could plant
enough different plants, and he
00:18:13.59\00:18:16.59
could tell the time of
day or night by looking at the
00:18:16.62\00:18:19.13
different plants that were
open and those that were closed.
00:18:19.16\00:18:22.30
He said he could
set a clock by them."
00:18:22.33\00:18:24.47
God has made nature so precise.
00:18:24.50\00:18:26.63
And this is just the tip
of the iceberg, you might say.
00:18:26.67\00:18:30.31
And so this was God's plan that
they teach their children from
00:18:30.34\00:18:36.04
the environment, that the
children were able to work in
00:18:36.08\00:18:39.38
the soil and then
maybe play with the animals.
00:18:39.41\00:18:42.22
I'm sure that, you know, back
there, just outside the Garden
00:18:42.25\00:18:45.39
of Eden before the
flood, that the animals were
00:18:45.42\00:18:48.19
probably--still, though they had
the fear of man, that they had
00:18:48.22\00:18:51.66
many that were pets and that
many that were very cute and fun
00:18:51.69\00:18:56.40
to play with, and the children
were able to play with these
00:18:56.43\00:19:00.47
things.
00:19:00.50\00:19:02.27
They learned from the different
animals and their interesting
00:19:02.30\00:19:04.37
habits, and what a beautiful
world it must've been before the
00:19:04.41\00:19:06.27
curse of the flood.
00:19:06.31\00:19:11.28
So they received instruction
probably in botany, agriculture,
00:19:11.31\00:19:13.82
zoology, astronomy, and that God
was placing them, of course, in
00:19:13.85\00:19:20.06
charge of His garden,
and so they knew something
00:19:20.09\00:19:23.22
about botany.
00:19:23.26\00:19:25.83
In Genesis 1, they
were taught about Creation,
00:19:25.86\00:19:29.20
Genesis 1:1 and 2,
00:19:29.23\00:19:30.60
"In the beginning God created
the heavens and the earth.
00:19:30.63\00:19:32.77
And the earth was without form,
and void, and darkness was on
00:19:32.80\00:19:35.87
the deep.
00:19:35.90\00:19:37.77
And the Spirit of
God was hovering on
00:19:37.81\00:19:39.11
the face of the waters."
00:19:39.14\00:19:41.74
So they learned about God.
00:19:41.78\00:19:43.78
God's saying, "Let Us make man
in Our image," God the Father,
00:19:43.81\00:19:45.75
Son, and the Spirit,
that hovered on the face of
00:19:45.78\00:19:48.35
the waters.
00:19:48.38\00:19:50.85
They learned about
that He was the Creator.
00:19:50.89\00:19:53.49
You can read in Genesis 1:26,
"And the Lord said, 'Let Us make
00:19:53.52\00:19:56.42
man in Our image, according to
Our likeness, and let them have
00:19:56.46\00:20:00.53
dominion over the fish and over
every creeping thing that creeps
00:20:00.56\00:20:03.47
on the earth.'
00:20:03.50\00:20:05.93
So God created
man in His own image.
00:20:05.97\00:20:08.47
In the image of God created
He male and female, created
00:20:08.50\00:20:10.81
He them."
00:20:10.84\00:20:13.61
And so I think man was made with
a certain amount of curiosity.
00:20:13.64\00:20:18.65
And those of you who are
parents, you know that, when
00:20:18.68\00:20:22.05
children get to where they can
talk and they're two or three
00:20:22.08\00:20:26.29
years old, they start asking
questions that can drive you
00:20:26.32\00:20:31.09
to distraction.
00:20:31.13\00:20:33.06
"Why? Why?
00:20:33.09\00:20:35.76
Why?"
00:20:35.80\00:20:37.27
"Well, I've got to
plant this flower."
00:20:37.30\00:20:38.60
"Why?"
00:20:38.63\00:20:39.93
You know, and it could rain.
00:20:39.97\00:20:41.97
"Why?"
00:20:42.00\00:20:44.14
"Don't eat your dessert
before you eat your dinner."
00:20:44.17\00:20:46.17
"Why?"
00:20:46.21\00:20:48.28
Heh-heh, they got
some good questions.
00:20:48.31\00:20:50.41
But, boy, you've got to be
patient, answering all those
00:20:50.45\00:20:52.51
"why" questions.
00:20:52.55\00:20:54.82
And they are just--if we
could only see, their minds are
00:20:54.85\00:20:57.12
soaking up
information so quickly.
00:20:57.15\00:20:58.99
You know, it's phenomenal,
it really is phenomenal
00:20:59.02\00:21:02.96
when you think about it.
00:21:02.99\00:21:04.36
I've known people that were
25 years old, and they move from
00:21:04.39\00:21:09.60
one country where they speak one
language to another country, and
00:21:09.63\00:21:12.53
25 years later, they are
still struggling to speak the
00:21:12.57\00:21:15.84
language, but then you have
a family that moves, and that
00:21:15.87\00:21:19.94
family--and I've seen this many
times--that family's got three
00:21:19.97\00:21:23.14
kids that are under the age
of ten, and they send them to
00:21:23.18\00:21:28.32
school in a foreign country,
being taught in a language that
00:21:28.35\00:21:31.85
kids have never spoken
before, and you know what?
00:21:31.89\00:21:34.66
In one year, those kids are
fluently speaking the language.
00:21:34.69\00:21:39.03
In two years, they're
speaking it without an accent.
00:21:39.06\00:21:42.03
And 20 years later, the
parents still don't understand.
00:21:42.06\00:21:45.60
So there is a time--and
you probably--I can see you're
00:21:45.63\00:21:48.84
nodding out
there--other side of the camera.
00:21:48.87\00:21:52.07
There is a certain time in
the life when the minds are so
00:21:52.11\00:21:57.55
astute and so
sharp, and the memories.
00:21:57.58\00:22:01.12
You know, I used to
have a really good memory.
00:22:01.15\00:22:04.69
My memory is not bad now, but it
was really, really good when I
00:22:04.72\00:22:07.86
was younger.
00:22:07.89\00:22:10.19
And I'll make a confession now.
00:22:10.23\00:22:12.99
The way I got my driving test
is they had a master book--you
00:22:13.03\00:22:18.50
might get one of five different
tests when you were driving, and
00:22:18.53\00:22:23.14
you did not know which one they
were going to hand you at the
00:22:23.17\00:22:26.84
DMV here in California, but
it was one of three or five.
00:22:26.88\00:22:29.84
I forget.
00:22:29.88\00:22:32.01
But you could buy the book that
had all of the tests in it, and
00:22:32.05\00:22:34.08
I went through the book, and I
just memorized all the answers.
00:22:34.12\00:22:36.62
And when I got my flying degree,
they had something similar.
00:22:36.65\00:22:41.49
They had a book, and on
your final written exam for
00:22:41.52\00:22:44.26
flying--and there's some really
complicated questions in there
00:22:44.29\00:22:47.03
that deal with math and
wind drift and direction and
00:22:47.10\00:22:51.13
compensation and
three-dimensional calculations,
00:22:51.17\00:22:53.97
and there's just some
deep stuff for me, anyway.
00:22:54.00\00:22:57.94
I got the book, and I went
through the book, and I read
00:22:57.97\00:22:59.51
every question.
00:22:59.54\00:23:01.84
I read the multiple-choice
answers, and I noticed
00:23:01.88\00:23:03.28
which answer was right.
00:23:03.31\00:23:05.55
That's how I passed.
00:23:05.58\00:23:08.02
And I just was able
to--I'd read a Scripture.
00:23:08.05\00:23:10.45
I'd just remember it.
00:23:10.49\00:23:12.52
And now I read a Scripture, and
in 20 minutes, I've forgotten
00:23:12.55\00:23:15.02
it, and I think, "Oh, I wish
I had read more Scripture when I
00:23:15.06\00:23:19.83
was younger."
00:23:19.86\00:23:22.10
I wish that I had committed the
whole Bible to memory because
00:23:22.13\00:23:24.60
the verses I remember now, when
I'm teaching and preaching, it's
00:23:24.63\00:23:27.44
not the verses I read yesterday.
00:23:27.47\00:23:29.64
It's the verses I read 30
years ago that I remember.
00:23:29.67\00:23:32.97
So there's
something about your mind
00:23:33.01\00:23:35.24
where it's extremely supple.
00:23:35.28\00:23:37.65
Now, I can still learn things.
00:23:37.68\00:23:39.51
It just takes a lot more effort.
00:23:39.55\00:23:41.45
And I can memorize a verse,
but I've got to read it about
00:23:41.48\00:23:43.39
six times now,
where before--one time.
00:23:43.42\00:23:45.59
And so make the most
when your children are young.
00:23:45.62\00:23:48.36
Have them memorize Scripture.
00:23:48.39\00:23:52.23
And the lessons that you
implant, "Train up a child in
00:23:52.26\00:23:55.30
the way he should go when
he's young, and when he is old,
00:23:55.33\00:23:58.73
he will not depart from it."
00:23:58.77\00:24:01.00
The concrete is so much
easier to shape when it's soft,
00:24:01.04\00:24:04.64
and once it hardens, it
becomes a little more difficult.
00:24:04.67\00:24:08.54
And so teach them
while they're young.
00:24:08.58\00:24:11.15
So they were taught about
the Creator and that the Creator
00:24:11.18\00:24:15.02
should be worshiped.
00:24:15.05\00:24:17.45
Nehemiah 9:6, "You
alone are the Lord.
00:24:17.49\00:24:20.96
You have made the heaven and the
heavens, with all their hosts,
00:24:20.99\00:24:24.29
the earth and everything in it,
the sea and all that is in them,
00:24:24.33\00:24:28.13
and you preserve them all.
00:24:28.16\00:24:30.17
The host of
heaven worships You."
00:24:30.20\00:24:32.70
Now, how different that is from
what is being taught to most
00:24:32.73\00:24:35.50
children in
public education today.
00:24:35.54\00:24:38.54
The kids are not being told that
everything was made by God, and
00:24:38.57\00:24:44.11
it had just--it grieves me, and
I kind of flinch every time I
00:24:44.15\00:24:48.95
hear a teacher in a public
school--now, I know there are
00:24:48.98\00:24:53.12
some public schools that are
exceptions, but when they say,
00:24:53.15\00:24:56.32
"Millions of years ago, this
slowly evolved from this," and
00:24:56.36\00:25:00.83
what do the children learn?
00:25:00.86\00:25:03.06
Instead of the idea that they
are made in the image of God
00:25:03.10\00:25:05.73
with a great and a noble
purpose, and they someday will
00:25:05.77\00:25:10.44
live through eternity, and God
will dwell with them, this big
00:25:10.47\00:25:13.81
picture of God and divinity,
instead of that, they're
00:25:13.84\00:25:17.01
getting, "You really
have no purpose in life.
00:25:17.05\00:25:19.55
You've evolved from some
primeval sludge, and just by a
00:25:19.58\00:25:23.08
lot of accidents, you sort of
mathematically worked your way
00:25:23.12\00:25:26.82
up, and you just got lucky
enough to be born as one of
00:25:26.86\00:25:30.09
these creatures, called
'humans,' that really have no
00:25:30.13\00:25:34.73
purpose and other
than your brief existence."
00:25:34.73\00:25:38.17
To be taught that is so sad.
00:25:38.20\00:25:41.04
That's why it's so important,
when we're living in a world
00:25:41.07\00:25:43.84
where the children are going to
get mixed messages--now, back in
00:25:43.87\00:25:46.44
Adam's day and probably for
the first few generations, think
00:25:46.47\00:25:50.18
about it: When Adam and
Eve and Cain and Abel and their
00:25:50.21\00:25:53.25
posterity, when they were alive
before the flood, they could go
00:25:53.28\00:25:55.65
to the Garden of Eden.
00:25:55.68\00:25:57.82
They could go to the gates.
00:25:57.85\00:25:59.89
They couldn't go in.
00:25:59.92\00:26:01.69
They could go to the gates
of the Garden of Eden, and they
00:26:01.72\00:26:03.56
could see that flaming
cherub there with the sword.
00:26:03.59\00:26:05.53
They believed the
story of Adam and Eve.
00:26:05.56\00:26:07.36
They believed that God made
them, and I don't think they had
00:26:07.40\00:26:09.16
problems with evolution
back then, but now you've got to
00:26:09.20\00:26:12.67
train up your children so that
they have a deeply ingrained
00:26:12.70\00:26:17.47
faith that they have
been divinely created.
00:26:17.51\00:26:20.94
Whenever you show them anything,
they need to know that this was
00:26:20.98\00:26:26.55
made by God.
00:26:26.58\00:26:29.05
You know, when our kids were
young, we used to enjoy watching
00:26:29.08\00:26:31.65
good nature videos, and some of
the best nature videos were made
00:26:31.69\00:26:36.62
by BBC, and some of the
best photography and the most
00:26:36.66\00:26:40.63
amazing, wonderful things,
David Attenborough did, a lot of
00:26:40.66\00:26:44.50
beautiful nature videos, whether
it was "Planet Earth" or "Blue
00:26:44.53\00:26:49.50
Planet" or about the oceans, and
our kids used to watch that, but
00:26:49.54\00:26:53.71
I'd sit there with them, and
then every now and then, after
00:26:53.74\00:26:56.61
showing all these amazing,
wonderful, miraculous things
00:26:56.64\00:26:59.01
in nature, they would say,
"And millions of years ago,"
00:26:59.05\00:27:03.28
and I taught my kids, whenever
they heard it, they went,
00:27:03.32\00:27:06.09
"Nah, nah, nah.
00:27:06.12\00:27:08.42
Nah, nah, nah," and because, you
know, they just--I had to train
00:27:08.46\00:27:12.23
them and say, "Look at all the
miracles that we're seeing in
00:27:12.26\00:27:14.76
this program.
00:27:14.83\00:27:16.80
That all happened by accident?"
00:27:16.83\00:27:19.00
And they realized that that is
really an absurd idea that all
00:27:19.03\00:27:21.30
that symbiotic relationships
and all that design and all that
00:27:21.34\00:27:25.67
wonder could just
evolve by accident.
00:27:25.71\00:27:29.68
So you have to sit there with
them and prepare them because,
00:27:29.71\00:27:32.25
once they get out in the world,
they're going to be hearing,
00:27:32.28\00:27:34.38
"Millions of years
ago," "Millions of years ago,"
00:27:34.42\00:27:37.52
"Billions of years ago, there
was nothing, and all of this
00:27:37.55\00:27:41.62
came from nothing.
00:27:41.66\00:27:43.76
It just exploded."
00:27:43.79\00:27:45.46
That's theory of man.
00:27:45.49\00:27:47.50
And so in your training them
about the importance of God the
00:27:47.56\00:27:49.53
Creator and the Creation,
that needs to be just settled in
00:27:49.56\00:27:52.63
their minds so they never doubt
it and their noble purpose: "I
00:27:52.67\00:27:56.10
am made in the image of God, and
some day, I will answer to God
00:27:56.14\00:27:59.91
for the life that I've lived."
00:27:59.94\00:28:02.54
This life is very brief.
00:28:02.58\00:28:04.48
You can't just
live it for yourself.
00:28:04.51\00:28:06.38
You'll give an account to God
for everything you do, for all
00:28:06.41\00:28:08.68
of your works, for every
idle word that you speak.
00:28:08.72\00:28:11.25
This is what Jesus teaches.
00:28:11.29\00:28:13.46
And so they are created by God
for a great purpose, and we will
00:28:13.49\00:28:16.42
all answer to God.
00:28:16.46\00:28:18.53
We are stewards of
our time and our lives.
00:28:18.56\00:28:20.93
Once a child reaches the age of
accountability, which, you know,
00:28:20.96\00:28:24.43
biblically it could be somewhere
between 10 and 13, depending
00:28:24.47\00:28:27.57
on the child's understanding,
they need to realize,
00:28:27.60\00:28:31.31
"I'm accountable to
God for my decisions."
00:28:31.34\00:28:34.74
So they taught them this.
00:28:34.78\00:28:39.78
"Christian education is
committed to educating families
00:28:39.81\00:28:42.95
and members in
doctrine, worship, instruction,
00:28:42.98\00:28:45.62
fellowship,
evangelism, and service.
00:28:45.65\00:28:48.46
Home is where you minister
to family members about the love
00:28:48.49\00:28:51.23
and the promises of God.
00:28:51.26\00:28:53.33
It's where Jesus is introduced
to the children as their Lord
00:28:53.36\00:28:58.80
and Savior and friend,
and where the Bible is upheld
00:28:58.83\00:29:02.47
as the Word of God."
00:29:02.50\00:29:05.51
In 2 Corinthians 4:16, "For it
is the God who commanded light
00:29:05.54\00:29:08.38
to shine out of darkness, who
has shone in our hearts to give
00:29:08.41\00:29:11.75
the light of the knowledge
of the glory of God in the face
00:29:11.78\00:29:15.22
of Jesus Christ."
00:29:15.25\00:29:17.92
So not only are we teaching
them about God, they need to be
00:29:17.95\00:29:20.42
taught about the
plan of salvation.
00:29:20.46\00:29:23.09
They need to be
taught about the fall.
00:29:23.12\00:29:25.39
Why is there
suffering in the world?
00:29:25.43\00:29:27.73
And when the kids are
asking, "Why, why, why?"
00:29:27.76\00:29:29.73
you know, at some point, they're
going to see something die, and
00:29:29.76\00:29:32.30
it's at a usually very early
age, and they're going to want
00:29:32.33\00:29:34.44
to know why, and what's going to
happen to Kitty or to Fido when
00:29:34.47\00:29:39.94
they die?
00:29:39.97\00:29:41.91
Why is there death?
00:29:41.94\00:29:44.35
And just explaining to them
the rebellion of Lucifer, the
00:29:44.38\00:29:48.25
entrance of sin, that death is
not permanent for the believer,
00:29:48.28\00:29:52.25
it's so important for
them to understand that.
00:29:52.29\00:29:54.42
I remember being shocked.
00:29:54.46\00:29:56.86
When I was little, I always
thought you got hurt, and you
00:29:56.89\00:29:58.89
went to the doctor, and we used
to play doctor, and we always
00:29:58.93\00:30:02.23
put Band-Aids all over each
other, and we thought, you know,
00:30:02.26\00:30:05.03
you just put some medicine on,
take a pill, and we used to mix
00:30:05.07\00:30:08.60
up our own concoctions,
and we thought doctors fixed
00:30:08.64\00:30:11.57
everything.
00:30:11.61\00:30:13.74
And then I vividly
remember this: There was a
00:30:13.78\00:30:15.91
black-and-white TV.
00:30:15.94\00:30:18.35
I was with my
grandmother and grandfather.
00:30:18.38\00:30:20.25
My grandfather was watching some
program where a bullfighter was
00:30:20.28\00:30:23.02
out in the ring, and the
bullfighter got hit by the bull,
00:30:23.05\00:30:26.55
and he got tossed around and
gored, and they carried him off.
00:30:26.59\00:30:30.09
And I said, "Grandpa, they're
taking him to the doctor," and
00:30:30.13\00:30:32.93
my grandfather, in his abrupt
way, he said, "No, Dougie, he's
00:30:32.96\00:30:38.33
deader than a doornail."
00:30:38.37\00:30:41.40
I said, "Well, he's
going to--they'll give him some
00:30:41.44\00:30:43.00
medicine, he'll get better."
00:30:43.04\00:30:44.94
He said, "No, he's dead.
00:30:44.97\00:30:47.34
He's not ever coming back."
00:30:47.38\00:30:49.61
And I was shocked as a child
with the concept of death, that
00:30:49.64\00:30:52.05
someone's life could end.
00:30:52.08\00:30:54.05
I thought, "That
could happen to me?"
00:30:54.08\00:30:56.75
And, boy, I tell you, it kind of
puts a fear in you as a child.
00:30:56.79\00:31:01.42
They need to be taught that
there's life beyond the grave,
00:31:01.46\00:31:05.09
or, otherwise, it's a hopeless
end, but they need to be taught
00:31:05.13\00:31:08.03
that, really, they've got an
endless hope because of Jesus.
00:31:08.06\00:31:11.93
Now, looking in the section
on the childhood of Jesus, just
00:31:11.97\00:31:14.90
think about how miraculous
and amazing it was that God the
00:31:14.94\00:31:19.51
Father, He committed the
education of His beloved Son to
00:31:19.54\00:31:23.48
a flawed, human family.
00:31:23.51\00:31:28.42
Now, you realize that Joseph
and Mary, though they were
00:31:28.45\00:31:31.92
godly people--Mary was a
godly woman--they were people,
00:31:31.95\00:31:36.49
and all humans have sinned.
00:31:36.52\00:31:38.69
"All have sinned and fallen
short of the glory of God," and
00:31:38.73\00:31:40.96
the only exception to
that is Jesus Himself.
00:31:40.96\00:31:43.73
Yes, Joseph had sinned.
00:31:43.77\00:31:46.10
Mary--I know that there's
a church that teaches the
00:31:46.13\00:31:48.80
"immaculate conception,"
that Mary was born sinless.
00:31:48.84\00:31:51.11
That's not taught
anywhere in the Bible.
00:31:51.14\00:31:53.17
Mary was human.
00:31:53.21\00:31:54.84
Even during the life of
Jesus, Mary had to be, kind of,
00:31:54.88\00:31:57.65
corrected by
Jesus a couple times.
00:31:57.68\00:31:59.78
She was pushing Him to
do things before His time.
00:31:59.81\00:32:02.35
Said, "Come and
talk to your family.
00:32:02.38\00:32:04.99
We're out here waiting for you,"
and He said, "Who is my mother,
00:32:05.02\00:32:07.49
my father, my
brethren, but those that hear
00:32:07.52\00:32:10.36
the Word of God and do it."
00:32:10.39\00:32:12.39
Said, "Jesus, you need to
help them at the wedding."
00:32:12.43\00:32:14.46
He turned the water into
wine, and He said, "Woman,
00:32:14.50\00:32:16.56
My time has not yet come."
00:32:16.60\00:32:18.50
And so, you know, there were
times even in Mary's life--and
00:32:18.53\00:32:20.67
I'm sure before--where she
sinned, and, yet God took His
00:32:20.70\00:32:26.61
perfect Son and placed Him
in a human family to be taught
00:32:26.64\00:32:30.81
by humans.
00:32:30.85\00:32:33.48
And can you imagine, when
the angels appeared and spoke to
00:32:33.52\00:32:37.35
the shepherds?
00:32:37.39\00:32:39.29
And the shepherds came to Joseph
and Mary and said, "We've just
00:32:39.32\00:32:41.06
heard from angels
this is the Messiah."
00:32:41.09\00:32:42.92
When the wise men showed up
and they said, "We've seen the
00:32:42.96\00:32:44.93
star," "This is the King," and
the angel who spoke to Joseph,
00:32:44.96\00:32:47.66
and the angel who spoke to Mary,
they understood that they had
00:32:47.66\00:32:51.77
been given the commission of the
highest charge of any parents to
00:32:51.80\00:32:56.84
raise the Christ, the Messiah,
the Savior of the world.
00:32:56.87\00:33:01.58
Boy, talk about a heavy job.
00:33:01.61\00:33:04.18
How careful they
were in instructing Jesus.
00:33:04.21\00:33:08.68
And so, yeah, the angels
told them--said, "Mary, do not
00:33:08.72\00:33:16.16
be afraid.
00:33:16.19\00:33:18.33
God is," and this, by the way,
is Matthew* chapter 18, verse
00:33:18.36\00:33:20.73
25, while Joseph is thinking
about these things because the
00:33:20.76\00:33:24.13
angel had said that she would be
of child with the Holy Spirit.
00:33:24.17\00:33:27.50
He told him, "Joseph, do not
be afraid to take to you Mary,
00:33:27.54\00:33:31.47
your wife, for that
which is conceived in her is
00:33:31.51\00:33:33.64
of the Holy Spirit.
00:33:33.68\00:33:36.28
She will bring forth a Son.
00:33:36.31\00:33:38.41
You'll call His name Jesus.
00:33:38.45\00:33:40.55
He will save His
people from their sins."
00:33:40.58\00:33:43.15
And this was spoken of by the
prophet, the fulfillment that
00:33:43.18\00:33:45.39
God would be with us.
00:33:45.42\00:33:47.76
You could read in Luke 1, verse
26, "Now in the sixth month
00:33:47.79\00:33:50.13
the angel Gabriel was sent by
God to a city of Galilee named
00:33:50.16\00:33:53.83
Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed
to a man whose name was Joseph,
00:33:53.86\00:33:58.37
of the house of David.
00:33:58.40\00:34:00.90
And the virgin's name was Mary.
00:34:00.94\00:34:03.14
And having come in, the angel
said, 'Rejoice highly favored
00:34:03.17\00:34:05.44
one, the Lord is with you.
00:34:05.47\00:34:07.68
Blessed are you among
women.' But when she saw him,
00:34:07.71\00:34:09.94
she was troubled at this saying,
and considered what manner
00:34:09.98\00:34:12.58
of greeting this was.
00:34:12.61\00:34:14.68
The angel said, 'Do not be
afraid, Mary, for you've found
00:34:14.72\00:34:18.25
favor with God.
00:34:18.29\00:34:20.22
And behold, you will conceive in
your womb and bring forth a Son
00:34:20.26\00:34:22.59
and call His name Jesus.
00:34:22.62\00:34:25.19
He will be great and be called
the Son of the Highest, and the
00:34:25.23\00:34:28.06
Lord God will give Him the
throne of His father David.
00:34:28.10\00:34:31.73
He will reign over the
house of Jacob forever."
00:34:31.77\00:34:34.20
Boy, can you imagine the
pressure of knowing that you've
00:34:34.24\00:34:37.17
got this child, and can you
imagine how Joseph and Mary felt
00:34:37.21\00:34:41.84
when Jesus was 12, and they took
Him to the temple, and then they
00:34:41.88\00:34:45.88
went home with this big
procession of people that were
00:34:45.91\00:34:48.62
up from Galilee and Nazareth,
and after they traveled for a
00:34:48.65\00:34:51.35
day and a half, they said, "You
know, we can't find Jesus in the
00:34:51.39\00:34:54.16
crowd anywhere."
00:34:54.19\00:34:56.02
They thought for sure He
was a responsible young man.
00:34:56.06\00:34:57.89
He was hanging out with
some cousins or something.
00:34:57.93\00:34:59.96
And they realized
they had lost Jesus.
00:35:00.06\00:35:02.56
Can you imagine trying
to explain that to God?
00:35:02.60\00:35:05.83
"God, we know that you gave
us your Son to watch over Him.
00:35:05.87\00:35:09.04
We seem to have misplaced Him."
00:35:09.07\00:35:11.44
Well, that
would've been really tough.
00:35:11.47\00:35:14.01
And that's why she said later,
when they found Jesus, she said,
00:35:14.04\00:35:16.64
"Son, why'd You do this to us?
00:35:16.68\00:35:19.65
You nearly gave
us a heart attack."
00:35:19.68\00:35:21.52
I'm paraphrasing.
00:35:21.55\00:35:23.52
"We have sought You, sorrowing."
00:35:23.55\00:35:25.49
For three days,
they were so anxious.
00:35:25.52\00:35:27.42
"God committed to us
this important charge.
00:35:27.46\00:35:29.72
The Savior of the world.
00:35:29.76\00:35:31.53
We've misplaced Him.
00:35:31.56\00:35:33.36
We've lost the Savior."
00:35:33.40\00:35:35.70
Hah, and, now, I just said that
somewhat in jest but trying to
00:35:35.73\00:35:40.64
get us to understand, really,
every parent with every child,
00:35:40.67\00:35:46.71
you have the potential to raise
someone up that will be a son
00:35:46.74\00:35:50.85
and daughter of God.
00:35:50.88\00:35:53.55
The Bible said, "Behold what
manner of love the Father has
00:35:53.58\00:35:56.18
bestowed on us, that we should
be called the children of God."
00:35:56.22\00:35:59.69
And so, yes, Joseph and
Mary were given this charge
00:35:59.72\00:36:05.66
to raise up the
Savior of the world.
00:36:05.69\00:36:08.10
You and I are given the charge
to raise up children who will
00:36:08.13\00:36:10.27
not just be saved, but God wants
us to raise children that can
00:36:10.30\00:36:13.64
save others.
00:36:13.67\00:36:15.84
We want to teach them the plan
of salvation and give them a
00:36:15.87\00:36:19.27
missionary spirit.
00:36:19.31\00:36:21.48
Teach them through example.
00:36:21.51\00:36:23.81
You know, I don't want to finish
this lesson without saying the
00:36:23.85\00:36:26.61
most obvious thing: Sometimes,
children do not listen to their
00:36:26.65\00:36:32.29
elders, but they
never fail to imitate them.
00:36:32.32\00:36:34.89
The most important way to teach
children--three things, example,
00:36:34.92\00:36:38.46
example, example.
00:36:38.49\00:36:40.86
And if you're going to
teach them to clean, clean right
00:36:40.90\00:36:44.33
beside with them.
00:36:44.37\00:36:46.10
If you're going to teach them
to vacuum, do it with them if
00:36:46.13\00:36:47.90
you've got two vacuum cleaners,
but you know what I mean.
00:36:47.94\00:36:50.11
Work with them.
00:36:50.14\00:36:52.01
If you're going to tell them how
to plant seeds, do it with them.
00:36:52.04\00:36:53.98
You teach them by example.
00:36:54.01\00:36:56.14
If you don't want them to yell
at each other, never yell at
00:36:56.18\00:36:58.65
them, and do not
yell at your spouse.
00:36:58.68\00:37:01.12
When kids show up in
kindergarten, and they're losing
00:37:01.15\00:37:03.85
their temper, they probably
learned it at home, or they've
00:37:03.89\00:37:06.52
got a very indulgent parent that
hasn't taught them self-control.
00:37:06.55\00:37:10.09
And so it's so much by example
that they learn these things.
00:37:10.13\00:37:16.10
So, and then, of course, we need
to teach them, of course, to
00:37:16.13\00:37:22.07
read and to write so that
they can read and study the Word
00:37:22.10\00:37:24.94
of God.
00:37:24.97\00:37:27.98
You know, "Among
evangelical protestants--"
00:37:28.01\00:37:29.91
I saw this. It was
interesting, an amazing fact.
00:37:29.94\00:37:32.31
This morning I thought I'd share
with you: "Among evangelical
00:37:32.35\00:37:34.58
protestants, 66% of women read
the Scriptures at least once a
00:37:34.62\00:37:37.15
week compared to 58% of men, and
there are similar studies that
00:37:37.19\00:37:43.99
have been done both
by the Pew Research and
00:37:44.03\00:37:47.46
the Barna research groups.
00:37:47.50\00:37:49.46
"More women read
their Bibles than men."
00:37:49.50\00:37:51.70
Could Mary read?
00:37:51.73\00:37:53.67
You know, it talks about that
usually the boys were taught in
00:37:53.70\00:37:56.27
Israel to read, and they did the
public readings, but evidently
00:37:56.30\00:37:59.94
the women could also read,
and I'm quite sure that Mary
00:38:00.04\00:38:02.58
could read.
00:38:02.61\00:38:05.15
Listen to this: "Desire of
Ages," page 70, talking about
00:38:05.18\00:38:07.72
the learning and training of
Jesus: "The child Jesus did not
00:38:07.75\00:38:13.05
receive instruction
in the synagogue schools.
00:38:13.09\00:38:15.62
His mother was His
first human teacher.
00:38:15.66\00:38:18.69
From her lips and from the
scrolls of the prophets, He
00:38:18.73\00:38:22.36
learned of heavenly things.
00:38:22.40\00:38:24.77
The very words which He Himself
had spoken to Moses for Israel
00:38:24.80\00:38:27.64
He was now taught
at His mother's knee.
00:38:27.67\00:38:31.21
As He advanced from childhood
to youth, He did not seek the
00:38:31.24\00:38:34.54
schools of the rabbis.
00:38:34.58\00:38:36.78
He needed not the education to
be obtained from such sources,
00:38:36.81\00:38:42.18
for God was His instructor."
00:38:42.22\00:38:45.45
Not only was He taught of
His mother, He was taught by the
00:38:45.49\00:38:48.26
Holy Spirit.
00:38:48.29\00:38:50.76
I read an
interesting amazing fact.
00:38:50.79\00:38:53.46
You know, in 1977, some
geologists were doing some
00:38:53.50\00:38:56.43
exploration in an extremely
remote part of Siberia, off by
00:38:56.46\00:39:00.70
the border of Mongolia,
and there at 6,000 feet, they
00:39:00.74\00:39:04.61
thought they saw something that
it looked like it was man-made,
00:39:04.64\00:39:08.04
and as they came in a little
closer, they saw something that
00:39:08.08\00:39:11.18
looked like a shed in the
side of a hill and rows and rows
00:39:11.21\00:39:13.38
of gardens.
00:39:13.42\00:39:15.85
They landed and
gradually came up to the place.
00:39:15.88\00:39:17.99
They found a family that
had been living in isolation for
00:39:18.02\00:39:20.59
42 years.
00:39:20.62\00:39:23.46
The father with his wife and
three children had escaped the
00:39:23.49\00:39:26.09
Bolshevik persecution, and
they had had no interaction, or
00:39:26.13\00:39:31.90
virtually no interaction, with
any other humans for 42 years.
00:39:31.93\00:39:36.37
They'd lived off the land,
just about starving from year
00:39:36.40\00:39:39.24
to year.
00:39:39.27\00:39:41.21
Can you imagine in Siberia
surviving the winters up there?
00:39:41.24\00:39:43.65
And they had two more children
that lived up there that had
00:39:43.68\00:39:45.85
never seen anybody outside of
their own family, two daughters,
00:39:45.88\00:39:48.95
yet the mother--the only books
they had was they had a Bible
00:39:48.98\00:39:52.29
and a few prayer books.
00:39:52.32\00:39:54.62
Very devout people.
00:39:54.66\00:39:56.89
The mother taught the girls
to read, and they made their own
00:39:56.93\00:39:59.33
ink from some of
the local plants.
00:39:59.36\00:40:02.23
She taught them to read and
write the Word of God, which is
00:40:02.26\00:40:05.40
quite amazing when you think
about it, but that family, those
00:40:05.43\00:40:09.50
parents, were the teachers, the
only school for those children
00:40:09.54\00:40:12.47
from--for 42 years.
00:40:12.51\00:40:17.11
Now, that's not healthy.
00:40:17.15\00:40:19.01
We're not recommending that,
but it's just talking about an
00:40:19.05\00:40:21.48
amazing fact.
00:40:21.52\00:40:23.35
I thought you'd
find interesting.
00:40:23.39\00:40:25.25
Communication.
00:40:25.29\00:40:27.86
"The true teacher can impart to
his pupils few gifts so valuable
00:40:27.89\00:40:30.23
as the gift of
his own companionship.
00:40:30.26\00:40:33.56
It is true of men and women,
and how much more of youth and
00:40:33.60\00:40:36.67
children, that only as we come
in touch through sympathy can we
00:40:36.70\00:40:41.00
understand them, and we need
to understand in order to more
00:40:41.04\00:40:45.37
effectively benefit."
00:40:45.41\00:40:48.08
So in the process of teaching,
parents will learn every one of
00:40:48.11\00:40:51.98
your children is
unique and different.
00:40:52.01\00:40:54.88
And Karen and I stand back
sometimes, and we look at the
00:40:54.92\00:40:57.32
kids, and we go, "Wow,
they are all so different."
00:40:57.35\00:41:00.72
And even though they grew up
in fairly similar circumstances,
00:41:00.76\00:41:04.73
they've got
different temperaments.
00:41:04.76\00:41:08.60
There's different
combinations of genes and DNA.
00:41:08.63\00:41:11.37
You know when that
miracle of life happens?
00:41:11.40\00:41:14.14
It's just a--you don't know
what you're going to drop in the
00:41:14.17\00:41:17.11
blender that day, and
interesting that the different
00:41:17.14\00:41:20.54
traits and characteristics,
they'll be like the mother and
00:41:20.58\00:41:23.81
father, and I always tell Karen,
"It's amazing how the kids got
00:41:23.85\00:41:26.21
all of my good traits," and
her bad ones, but they'll end up
00:41:26.25\00:41:29.85
being
something--I'm just kidding.
00:41:29.88\00:41:32.35
They'll end up being something
like the mother and the father,
00:41:32.39\00:41:35.09
and some are trained tendencies,
some are inherited tendencies,
00:41:35.12\00:41:38.79
but that all must be guided
and molded for the glory of God.
00:41:38.83\00:41:44.83
You do that by
drawing near to them.
00:41:44.87\00:41:48.37
Study them, their temperaments,
how they respond better.
00:41:48.40\00:41:51.21
Some of our kids, I could
talk to them and tell them I was
00:41:51.24\00:41:53.61
displeased, and
they'd had a meltdown.
00:41:53.64\00:41:55.84
Their little hearts would break,
and I didn't need to ever resort
00:41:55.88\00:41:58.41
to corporal punishment.
00:41:58.45\00:42:00.65
Other kids, they'd fold their
arms and stomp their feet, and
00:42:00.68\00:42:02.68
they were just defiant
and strong-willed, and it took
00:42:02.72\00:42:05.29
somethin' different.
00:42:05.32\00:42:07.39
You just have to know, with
every child, study them, draw
00:42:07.42\00:42:10.16
closer to them.
00:42:10.19\00:42:11.89
Let them see that you love
them, and you have their best
00:42:11.93\00:42:13.80
interests in mind,
and that's so important.
00:42:13.83\00:42:15.80
Psalm 37, verse
7, "Rest in the Lord,
00:42:15.83\00:42:20.17
and wait patiently for Him.
00:42:20.20\00:42:21.97
Do not fret because of him who
prospers in his way because of
00:42:22.00\00:42:24.11
the man who brings
wicked schemes to pass.
00:42:24.14\00:42:26.71
Cease from anger, forsake wrath.
00:42:26.74\00:42:29.38
Do not fret.
00:42:29.41\00:42:31.31
It only causes harm."
00:42:31.35\00:42:33.48
So don't let your children
see you stewing and worrying and
00:42:33.52\00:42:36.35
stressing and fretting
because they'll just model
00:42:36.38\00:42:41.46
what you have.
00:42:41.49\00:42:43.39
Let them see that you have
a faith in God, that you trust
00:42:43.43\00:42:46.53
God, that your love for them
is unconditional, and they will
00:42:46.56\00:42:50.33
then begin to trust in that.
00:42:50.37\00:42:52.57
You know, especially because you
have them when they're so young,
00:42:52.60\00:42:55.77
they grow up--you
are really God to them.
00:42:55.80\00:42:59.11
You're supplying all of
their needs when they're little.
00:42:59.14\00:43:02.14
They're looking to you to hold
them to protect them, to provide
00:43:02.18\00:43:04.61
for them, to clean them.
00:43:04.65\00:43:06.61
They're utterly dependent
when they come in this world,
00:43:06.65\00:43:10.29
and if you showed them love, and
you've got their best interests,
00:43:10.32\00:43:13.09
they're not going to doubt
you when you tell them about God
00:43:13.12\00:43:15.36
and his truth.
00:43:15.39\00:43:17.39
Some parents assume the
kids are going to get it
00:43:17.43\00:43:19.29
all through osmosis.
00:43:19.33\00:43:21.26
It is important you sit down
and you teach them diligently.
00:43:21.30\00:43:24.00
Then this is one of the most
important parts of the lesson,
00:43:24.03\00:43:26.50
Deuteronomy 6, verse 6, teach
them the Word of God: "These
00:43:26.53\00:43:31.11
words that I command
you shall be in your heart.
00:43:31.14\00:43:34.34
You shall teach them
diligently," that means
00:43:34.38\00:43:36.81
repetitively, with effort--
"when you talk of them, when you
00:43:36.85\00:43:41.32
sit in your house, when you walk
by the way, on the road, in the
00:43:41.35\00:43:44.42
home, when you lie down,"
evening worship, "when you rise
00:43:44.45\00:43:48.06
up," morning worship.
00:43:48.09\00:43:50.13
"You shall bind them
as a sign on your hand.
00:43:50.16\00:43:52.53
They will be as
frontlets between your eyes."
00:43:52.56\00:43:54.56
And that's
symbolically speaking.
00:43:54.60\00:43:56.90
It says it'll be
in your heart too.
00:43:56.93\00:43:58.77
That's obviously a symbol.
00:43:58.80\00:44:00.77
That means show them the Word
of God in your work and your
00:44:00.80\00:44:02.74
actions, in your
thoughts and in your meditation.
00:44:02.77\00:44:05.31
"Write them on the doorposts of
your house and of your gates."
00:44:05.34\00:44:08.34
You surround
yourself with the Word of God.
00:44:08.38\00:44:11.15
"Thy Word I've hidden in my
heart that I might not sin."
00:44:11.18\00:44:13.95
So hide the Word of God in your
children's hearts, and it will
00:44:13.98\00:44:17.82
be a great blessing to them.
00:44:17.85\00:44:20.22
Well, I'm looking at the clock,
and I see that I'm about out
00:44:20.26\00:44:21.86
of time.
00:44:21.89\00:44:24.56
I think we got through
the heart of the lesson.
00:44:24.59\00:44:26.80
I want to remind you, if you
missed it at the beginning, we
00:44:26.83\00:44:29.06
do have a free offer I
trust will be a blessing.
00:44:29.10\00:44:31.63
It's called "A
Love That Transforms."
00:44:31.67\00:44:33.77
We will send you a copy.
00:44:33.80\00:44:35.74
If you're in North America,
866-788-3966, and I believe
00:44:35.77\00:44:39.47
that's the lower 50 states, the
contiguous U.S., 866-Study-More.
00:44:39.51\00:44:44.31
And you can download this
via text, "SH003" to 40544.
00:44:44.35\00:44:53.96
Read that.
00:44:53.99\00:44:55.46
Share it with friends, and God
willing, we'll look forward to
00:44:55.49\00:44:56.93
studying His Word
with you again next week.
00:44:56.96\00:44:59.13
male announcer: Don't forget
to request today's life-changing
00:45:02.43\00:45:04.30
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00:45:04.33\00:45:06.20
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To get your digital copy of
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00:45:18.98\00:45:22.32
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00:45:22.35\00:45:24.75
It's now easier than ever
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00:45:24.79\00:45:27.76
with Amazing Facts
wherever and whenever you want,
00:45:27.79\00:45:31.33
and most important,
to share it with others.
00:45:31.36\00:45:35.66
male announcer: The
statistics are grim.
00:45:37.13\00:45:38.87
Millions have been
infected by coronavirus.
00:45:38.90\00:45:41.50
Thousands have died.
00:45:41.54\00:45:42.94
Race riots have
broken out on streets.
00:45:42.97\00:45:45.14
Political tensions
are at an all-time high.
00:45:45.17\00:45:48.14
Does the Bible have
anything to say about the times
00:45:48.18\00:45:51.05
in which we are living?
00:45:51.08\00:45:52.41
Doug Batchelor: Hi, friends.
00:45:52.75\00:45:54.05
This is Pastor Doug Batchelor.
00:45:54.08\00:45:55.52
Many people are wondering if
the world's about to implode.
00:45:55.55\00:45:58.99
Some are fearful that global
events point to a coming crisis
00:45:59.02\00:46:02.59
unlike anything
we've ever witnessed.
00:46:02.62\00:46:05.39
Did you know the Bible book
of Revelation actually speaks
00:46:05.43\00:46:08.73
about the days in
which we're living now?
00:46:08.76\00:46:10.83
And it contains a message of
hope, if we would only listen.
00:46:10.87\00:46:15.34
That's why I'd like to
invite you to "Revelation Now:
00:46:15.37\00:46:19.24
Decoding the Bible's
Greatest Prophecies."
00:46:19.27\00:46:21.44
In this multi-part series,
I'll be sharing relevant truths
00:46:21.48\00:46:24.95
for our time from the
last book in the Bible.
00:46:24.98\00:46:27.48
male announcer:
Coming October 23.
00:46:27.88\00:46:29.95
To learn more,
visit revelationnow.com.
00:46:29.98\00:46:32.99
¤¤¤
00:46:37.33\00:46:40.56
announcer: "Amazing
Facts Changed Lives."
00:46:40.60\00:46:45.57
Brittney: I was addicted to
all different types of things.
00:46:48.50\00:46:50.87
I finally hit rock bottom when I
got pulled over one night after
00:46:50.91\00:46:55.34
a heavy night of
partying with some friends.
00:46:55.38\00:46:59.08
I was drunk, high on Ecstasy,
and I realized then that I had
00:46:59.11\00:47:03.82
to make a change.
00:47:03.85\00:47:06.32
Vince: Was in the military and
listening to very satanic music
00:47:06.35\00:47:09.16
every day and heard this whisper
to carve "666" into my knuckles.
00:47:09.19\00:47:14.73
Contemplated on it a while, and
I was sitting at my desk, and I
00:47:14.76\00:47:18.73
had my knife on me, and I
started carving the horizontal
00:47:18.77\00:47:22.87
lines for the sixes into my
index finger first with serrated
00:47:22.90\00:47:27.41
edges and started to enjoy it.
00:47:27.44\00:47:33.01
I wanted to make it known who
I wanted to follow, actually,
00:47:33.05\00:47:37.39
and not knowing I was
following Satan at the time.
00:47:37.42\00:47:40.36
Just, I thought it
was a cool thing to do.
00:47:40.39\00:47:42.99
Brittney: So I met this guy
online, and that was my husband,
00:47:43.02\00:47:45.76
Vince, and I noticed his
ears, and we started talking,
00:47:45.79\00:47:51.97
and he was just adorable.
00:47:52.00\00:47:53.84
Vince: Flew down and actually
met her here in Arizona.
00:47:53.87\00:47:56.54
Brittney: And, at that
point, I found out quickly
00:47:56.57\00:48:00.21
after we met
that I was pregnant.
00:48:00.24\00:48:02.54
Vince: So shortly after our
daughter was born, it was a very
00:48:02.58\00:48:04.65
exciting moment, but the nurses
and doctors notice something
00:48:04.68\00:48:07.72
right away that she was
extremely orange with jaundice.
00:48:07.75\00:48:10.65
Brittney: And she ended up in
the hospital, very sick, and it
00:48:10.69\00:48:14.42
was extremely hard on us.
00:48:14.46\00:48:17.56
We were teenagers.
00:48:17.59\00:48:19.56
We were scared.
00:48:19.59\00:48:21.40
Our baby was sick.
00:48:21.43\00:48:23.43
I was with someone that was
very angry, and at that point,
00:48:23.47\00:48:29.77
we were in the hospital room,
and I remember a chaplain coming
00:48:29.80\00:48:34.94
in and speaking with the people.
00:48:34.98\00:48:37.88
Since it was like a conjoined
room, we had a roommate, and the
00:48:37.91\00:48:41.55
chaplain had said, you know,
if he could pray for the other
00:48:41.58\00:48:45.29
family, and that's when I
knew that it was my chance.
00:48:45.32\00:48:47.82
I had to take that opportunity,
and I asked my husband, "Should
00:48:47.86\00:48:52.26
I go talk to him?"
00:48:52.29\00:48:54.20
Vince: I said, "No way."
00:48:54.23\00:48:55.93
I wanted nothing to do with God.
00:48:55.96\00:48:57.80
I wanted nothing to do
with talking to this chaplain.
00:48:57.83\00:49:00.14
Brittney: I decided that I was
going to get up anyway, and I
00:49:00.17\00:49:02.40
got up, and you could tell he
was very angry that I decided to
00:49:02.44\00:49:04.91
walk over, and I went to
the chaplain, and I asked him to
00:49:04.94\00:49:09.88
come over and
speak to us, and he did.
00:49:09.91\00:49:12.78
Vince: And he came in,
and we asked him questions,
00:49:12.81\00:49:15.25
and he actually came to
visit us every single day.
00:49:15.28\00:49:17.62
Brittney: The chaplain that we
met with mentioned Amazing Facts
00:49:17.65\00:49:20.49
study guides and,
just, the ministries.
00:49:20.52\00:49:23.19
Vince: He showed us
videos and study guides
00:49:23.22\00:49:26.80
from Amazing
Facts, specifically.
00:49:26.83\00:49:29.06
It was on "Final
Events" and "Cosmic Conflict."
00:49:29.10\00:49:31.00
At that point, we had
transferred hospitals to
00:49:31.03\00:49:33.64
an outpatient hospital, and we
were able to watch these videos,
00:49:33.67\00:49:37.77
and we were hooked on them.
00:49:37.81\00:49:39.27
Brittney: It
was a huge blessing.
00:49:39.31\00:49:41.81
We would watch Pastor Doug, and
we would sit up late at night,
00:49:41.84\00:49:46.72
watching sermons, and
we were just teenagers.
00:49:46.75\00:49:50.92
Most kids our age were out doing
crazy things, and here we are at
00:49:50.95\00:49:54.76
home with popcorn and chocolate
bars, watching Pastor Doug.
00:49:54.79\00:49:58.26
Ben Lundquist: This young couple
came into the Camelback Church
00:49:58.29\00:50:01.30
holding a beautiful
little baby, and this was one
00:50:01.33\00:50:04.87
of the first times that I
had ever met Vince and Brittney.
00:50:04.90\00:50:07.67
Vince: We needed somebody to
show us that they loved us, that
00:50:07.70\00:50:10.37
they supported us, and
Pastor Ben was there, giving us
00:50:10.41\00:50:12.37
Bible studies on marriage
counseling as well as baptism.
00:50:12.41\00:50:14.98
Brittney: I was still smoking
and drinking lightly, and a few
00:50:15.01\00:50:18.88
things along those lines, and
it was one day when I woke up on
00:50:18.91\00:50:23.18
February 15, 2011,
after watching many sermons on
00:50:23.22\00:50:29.42
"Amazing Facts" from Pastor
Doug, and having a really solid
00:50:29.46\00:50:33.50
church family, that I
was able to say, "No more."
00:50:33.53\00:50:37.27
And from that day on, I
stopped all of my addictions.
00:50:37.30\00:50:41.00
Charles White: And, ultimately,
their lives began to take
00:50:41.04\00:50:44.61
on just a new dimension of
congruity because Jesus was
00:50:44.64\00:50:47.31
there, and He was the one
that was bringing that sense of
00:50:47.34\00:50:50.51
belonging and hope and help.
00:50:50.55\00:50:53.28
Brittney: We decided to get
baptized and married, and we got
00:50:53.31\00:50:57.25
baptized one day and
married the next, and it was
00:50:57.29\00:50:59.52
an amazing experience.
00:50:59.55\00:51:01.76
Ben: And we found a
spot by the lake, and it was
00:51:01.79\00:51:03.29
absolutely perfect.
00:51:03.32\00:51:05.43
The evening was
coming to a close.
00:51:05.46\00:51:07.36
The sun was
about ready to go down.
00:51:07.40\00:51:09.26
Vince: And we were standing
on the water with Pastor Ben,
00:51:09.30\00:51:12.30
and the sky was such a deep red.
00:51:12.33\00:51:14.64
The reflections off the sky was
almost as if we were standing
00:51:14.67\00:51:18.04
in blood, we were
washed in the blood of Jesus.
00:51:18.07\00:51:20.94
Ben: And that was the moment
that God painted the canvas of
00:51:20.98\00:51:23.35
the sky with the most beautiful
colors signifying the journey
00:51:23.38\00:51:28.02
that he was going to be laying
out for Vince and Brittney.
00:51:28.05\00:51:31.69
Vince: Shortly after we were
baptized, about a month later,
00:51:31.72\00:51:35.19
we had realized
that my scars were gone.
00:51:35.22\00:51:38.63
I was completely healed
physically of not having
00:51:38.66\00:51:41.00
the "666" on my knuckles
anymore, and I struggled with
00:51:41.03\00:51:44.10
that for so long because of
what I did, and He forgave me.
00:51:44.13\00:51:49.10
Malcolm Douglas: Many times,
when we think of the way that
00:51:49.14\00:51:50.87
we've been led to Christ,
we think there's usually one
00:51:50.91\00:51:53.91
individual, but having been able
to work alongside Pastor Ben and
00:51:53.94\00:51:56.61
Pastor White, it's been great to
see how we've been able to work
00:51:56.64\00:52:00.25
with Brittney and Vincent
and seen them just really grow.
00:52:00.28\00:52:03.65
And this has really been
something that's been beneficial
00:52:03.69\00:52:06.55
to me.
00:52:06.59\00:52:08.26
You know, sometimes I think
about this, and the Bible says,
00:52:08.29\00:52:10.63
"More blessed is he who gives
than receives," and I feel, in
00:52:10.66\00:52:12.96
many times, more blessed, just
seeing them and seeing all the
00:52:12.99\00:52:17.10
challenges they've gone through,
all the difficulties, and seeing
00:52:17.13\00:52:21.00
them overcome these
things, it just--it amazes me.
00:52:21.04\00:52:24.67
Vince: As I reflect back on
everything I've done in my life,
00:52:24.71\00:52:27.41
completely going against God,
wanting nothing to do with Him,
00:52:27.44\00:52:33.01
He still tried so hard as if I
was the only one that was lost,
00:52:33.05\00:52:35.78
just as He promises.
00:52:35.82\00:52:38.75
He still went and found me even
though I wanted nothing to do
00:52:38.79\00:52:42.36
with Him.
00:52:42.39\00:52:44.56
Brittney: Having Amazing Facts
and the pastors in our lives
00:52:44.59\00:52:46.70
help us so much, it's really
a blessing, and I feel like now
00:52:46.73\00:52:50.73
we're happy, and we have these
two healthy, beautiful, little
00:52:50.77\00:52:55.10
girls, and God has truly blessed
us, and I just want to share it
00:52:55.14\00:53:00.54
with everyone.
00:53:00.58\00:53:02.44
I want to scream it.
00:53:02.48\00:53:04.35
I'm so excited, and I feel
really blessed to even have this
00:53:04.38\00:53:06.85
opportunity to share my story.
00:53:06.88\00:53:10.45
¤¤¤
00:53:10.49\00:53:19.16
Doug: We're here on the
beautiful coast of the island of
00:53:24.67\00:53:26.50
Puerto Rico, and if you were to
travel east about 2,000 miles,
00:53:26.53\00:53:30.41
of course, you'd be out
in the middle of the ocean.
00:53:30.44\00:53:32.94
But you'd also be in the
middle of a mystical sea called
00:53:32.97\00:53:35.74
the Sargasso Sea.
00:53:35.78\00:53:37.65
It gets its name because
of this common brown seaweed
00:53:37.68\00:53:40.95
that can be found
floating in vast mass.
00:53:40.98\00:53:43.95
The area of the Sargasso
Sea is about 700 miles wide
00:53:43.99\00:53:48.66
and 2,000 miles long.
00:53:48.69\00:53:50.83
Now, the seaweed
itself is fascinating stuff.
00:53:50.86\00:53:53.33
It was first
observed and called gulfweed
00:53:53.36\00:53:55.90
by Christopher Columbus.
00:53:55.93\00:53:58.07
It gets the name
"sargum" from the Portuguese.
00:53:58.10\00:54:00.50
Some people use it
as herbal remedies.
00:54:00.54\00:54:02.44
But out in the middle of the
Sargasso Sea the water is some
00:54:02.47\00:54:04.77
of the bluest in the world.
00:54:04.81\00:54:07.01
It's there you can see
200-feet deep in places.
00:54:07.04\00:54:10.21
It also has a great biodiversity
and ecosystem that surrounds
00:54:10.25\00:54:13.11
the Sargasso Sea.
00:54:13.15\00:54:15.72
For years, scientists
wondered where the American and
00:54:15.75\00:54:18.55
the Atlantic eels were breeding.
00:54:18.59\00:54:21.16
They knew the adult eel
swam down the rivers, out into
00:54:21.19\00:54:23.16
the Atlantic, but they
never could find the place
00:54:23.19\00:54:25.19
where they reproduced.
00:54:25.23\00:54:27.20
Finally, they discovered
it was out in the middle
00:54:27.23\00:54:28.93
of the Sargasso Sea.
00:54:28.96\00:54:30.80
So it's a fascinating place, but
if you were an ancient sailor,
00:54:30.83\00:54:33.60
you did not want
to get stuck there.
00:54:33.64\00:54:36.34
¤¤¤
00:54:36.37\00:54:38.67
Doug: Being caught in the
doldrums was extremely difficult
00:54:38.71\00:54:40.94
for the ancient sailors.
00:54:40.98\00:54:43.14
Of course, their boats were
driven by wind and sail, and
00:54:43.18\00:54:45.48
they'd be caught in the vast
mass of the seaweed that would
00:54:45.51\00:54:47.85
wrap around their rudder.
00:54:47.88\00:54:50.29
Barnacles would begin to grow.
00:54:50.32\00:54:52.62
It's an area that is notorious
for light and baffling winds,
00:54:52.65\00:54:55.59
and so they'd make no progress.
00:54:55.62\00:54:58.19
They'd get stuck.
00:54:58.23\00:55:00.46
The men would become
extremely dispirited.
00:55:00.50\00:55:02.40
Sometimes, violence and
even insanity would break out
00:55:02.43\00:55:04.47
as people were
trapped in the doldrums.
00:55:04.50\00:55:07.14
Well, friends, perhaps sometimes
you've felt that you're trapped
00:55:07.17\00:55:09.40
in the doldrums.
00:55:09.44\00:55:11.64
You've gone through
episodes of depression.
00:55:11.67\00:55:14.28
You feel like
you're going in circles.
00:55:14.31\00:55:16.34
Life seems stifling.
00:55:16.38\00:55:18.55
You know, the
Bible offers good news.
00:55:18.58\00:55:20.25
There is a way out.
00:55:20.28\00:55:22.08
The Bible talks about a famous
character that was trapped
00:55:22.12\00:55:24.02
in a cycle of depression.
00:55:24.05\00:55:25.79
He was low as you could be.
00:55:25.82\00:55:27.59
Matter of fact, he even had
seaweed wrapped around his head.
00:55:27.62\00:55:29.36
His name was Jonah.
00:55:29.39\00:55:31.13
But God gave
him a way of escape.
00:55:31.16\00:55:33.13
In Jonah chapter 2, verse 3
through 7, we read: "For You
00:55:33.16\00:55:37.07
cast me into the depths,
into the heart of the seas,
00:55:37.10\00:55:40.54
and the floods surrounded me.
00:55:40.57\00:55:42.60
All of Your billows and
Your waves passed over me.
00:55:42.64\00:55:45.44
Then I said, 'I have
been cast out of Your sight,
00:55:45.47\00:55:49.88
yet I will look again
towards Your holy temple.'
00:55:49.91\00:55:52.01
The waters
surrounded me, even to my soul.
00:55:52.05\00:55:54.22
The deep closed around me.
00:55:54.25\00:55:56.55
Weeds were
wrapped around my head.
00:55:56.58\00:55:58.82
I went down to the
moorings of the mountains.
00:55:58.85\00:56:01.22
The earth with its bars closed
behind me forever, yet You've
00:56:01.26\00:56:03.79
brought my life up from
the pit, O Lord, my God.
00:56:03.83\00:56:08.73
When my soul fainted within
me, I remembered the Lord,
00:56:08.76\00:56:12.03
and my prayer went up to
You, into Your holy temple."
00:56:12.07\00:56:15.60
You know, friends, the
way that Jonah got out of his
00:56:15.64\00:56:18.44
discouraging circumstances,
he turned to God, and he prayed.
00:56:18.47\00:56:22.41
And if God could hear Jonah's
prayer, just think about it:
00:56:22.44\00:56:24.98
He was as far away from
God as anybody could be.
00:56:25.01\00:56:27.58
He was in the belly of a
sea monster in the bottom
00:56:27.62\00:56:30.12
of the ocean in the
dark, yet he turned to God,
00:56:30.15\00:56:33.15
and God heard his prayer.
00:56:33.19\00:56:34.96
You know, these ancient sailors,
when they were trapped on the
00:56:34.99\00:56:37.09
deck of a ship for weeks, stuck
in the doldrums, discouraged,
00:56:37.13\00:56:39.93
sometimes they would have a
prayer meeting and pray that God
00:56:39.96\00:56:43.57
would send a breeze that
would set them free and get
00:56:43.60\00:56:46.40
their boats moving.
00:56:46.43\00:56:48.60
They turned to God in prayer,
and often miracles would happen,
00:56:48.64\00:56:50.87
and the wind would flutter
in the sails and bring them out
00:56:50.91\00:56:53.24
of their seaweed prison.
00:56:53.27\00:56:55.34
Friends, maybe you have
been stuck in the doldrums.
00:56:55.38\00:56:58.05
Maybe you've been caught
in a cycle of depression.
00:56:58.08\00:57:00.58
If God can do it for Jonah,
if He can do it for the ancient
00:57:00.62\00:57:02.95
sailors, He can do it for you.
00:57:02.98\00:57:04.99
Turn to the Lord in prayer.
00:57:05.02\00:57:06.82
Trust His Spirit to blow through
your soul and to set you free.
00:57:06.86\00:57:10.63
¤¤¤
00:57:10.66\00:57:18.10
male: I really started
getting involved with crime,
00:57:18.13\00:57:19.73
break and enters,
selling drugs, stealing cars.
00:57:19.77\00:57:22.27
male: All of us were
high, drugs all over the car,
00:57:22.30\00:57:24.17
paraphernalia, pipes.
00:57:24.21\00:57:25.61
female: I was suicidal.
00:57:25.64\00:57:27.01
I was developing an
eating disorder, so, like,
00:57:27.04\00:57:29.21
all these things were
just coming into play.
00:57:29.24\00:57:31.88
male: One night, I was flicking
through my channels in my dorm.
00:57:31.91\00:57:35.25
There was this
guy, this preacher.
00:57:35.28\00:57:37.25
male: By the end of the program,
I had a complete understanding
00:57:37.29\00:57:40.86
of what God's plan actually is.
00:57:40.89\00:57:43.96
male: I started going through
these Amazing Facts study
00:57:43.99\00:57:46.43
guides, and I finished those,
and I was so hungry, I couldn't
00:57:46.46\00:57:50.13
put them down.
00:57:50.17\00:57:51.57
male: These series helped me
to see how reasonable God is.
00:57:51.60\00:57:55.70
female: So after doing the
studies and learning the truths
00:57:55.74\00:57:58.27
that I had been learning, I
decided to take that next step.
00:57:58.31\00:58:02.58
male: I thank God for ministries
like Amazing Facts, to a great
00:58:02.61\00:58:05.88
extent, the reason why
I am in the church today.
00:58:05.91\00:58:09.62
male: Thank you.
00:58:09.65\00:58:10.95
male: Thank you.
00:58:10.99\00:58:12.29
female: Thank you
for changing my life.
00:58:12.32\00:58:13.82
¤¤¤
00:58:14.32\00:58:24.30