Participants:
Series Code: IIW
Program Code: IIW001404A
01:30 ♪[Theme music]♪
01:40 ♪[Theme music]♪ 01:48 >>John Bradshaw: This is It Is Written. I'm John Bradshaw. 01:51 Thanks for joining me. 01:52 In his book “Blink: The Power of Thinking without Thinking,” 01:58 author Malcolm Gladwell shares a fascinating story. 02:00 In 1985, the J. Paul Getty Museum 02:04 in Los Angeles spent $10 million buying a kouros, 02:08 a Greek statue of a young man. 02:09 Of course, before you spend $10 million on a piece of art, 02:13 you want to make sure you're not buying a fake. 02:14 And so the Getty had a team of scientists 02:17 and lawyers check out the statue. 02:19 They said they believed the statue was real. 02:22 It was an original. 02:24 After buying it, the Getty then showed it to art experts 02:28 and historians, and one of them immediately said, 02:30 “It's a fake.” 02:33 One group of experts were so convinced, 02:35 they okayed the museum to spend $10 million. 02:36 In 2018, that's the equivalent of almost $25 million. 02:42 And it turned out to be a phoney. 02:47 How does a museum and its team of experts get taken by a fake? 02:52 Well, it's not always easy to tell something fake 02:56 from something genuine. 02:58 It's one thing to misread a work of art, 03:00 but there are times that people turned out to be 03:03 other than what they claimed. 03:04 Hannah Snell was an English woman in the 18th century who 03:07 faked that she was a man so that she could become a soldier. 03:12 She served three years in the military without anyone ever 03:14 discovering that she was a woman and not a man. 03:18 Women faked being men on occasion 03:20 to fight in the American Civil War. 03:24 In the late 1980s, a German music producer 03:27 named Frank Farian put together a new pop band. 03:31 He hired two dancers named Rob Pilatus and Fabrice Morvan 03:35 to front the band. 03:37 Rob and Fab looked like pop stars, 03:40 and the band, Milli Vanilli, sold millions of records. 03:45 In 1980 they won the Grammy award for Best New Artist. 03:48 Rob and Fab, however, 03:50 didn't sing on any of the band's recordings. 03:52 They didn't even sing at the Grammy awards. 03:54 They mimed everything, 03:57 while other musicians did the real work in the studio. 04:01 Milli Vanilli was not Milli Vanilli. 04:04 It was one of the most notorious cases 04:07 of lip-syncing in pop music history. 04:10 So why is it that nobody noticed? 04:12 Simple answer: 04:14 it's just not that easy. 04:16 Sometimes it's hard to know who's fake and who's genuine, 04:20 or what's fake and what's genuine. 04:24 Jesus spoke to this 04:25 in the parable of the wheat and the tares. 04:26 We look at this today as part of our ongoing series, 04:30 “Lessons for All Time.” 04:31 Let's take our Bibles, let's look at the parable. 04:34 It's found in Matthew, chapter 13, 04:36 and the parable begins in verse 24: 04:40 "Another parable He put forth to them, saying: 04:44 'The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed 04:47 good seed in his field; 04:49 but while men slept, 04:50 his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat 04:53 and went his way. 04:55 But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, 04:59 then the tares also appeared. 05:02 So the servants of the owner came and said to him, 05:04 "Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? 05:09 How then does it have tares?" 05:11 He said to them, "An enemy has done this." 05:15 The servants said to him, 05:16 "Do you want us to go and gather them up?" 05:19 But he said, "No, lest while you gather up the tares 05:23 you also uproot the wheat with them. 05:26 Let both grow together until the harvest, 05:30 and at the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, 05:32 'First gather together the tares 05:34 and bind them in bundles to burn them, 05:37 but gather the wheat into my barn.'"'" 05:41 Now, this is something that used to happen in Jesus' day. 05:44 Someone would have a field of wheat growing, 05:46 and an enemy, wanting to cause problems, 05:48 might sneak in a spread the seed of weeds. 05:52 The weeds would grow and choke the good seed 05:54 and cause all kinds of problems for the landowner. 05:56 It's thought that the tare, or the weed, 06:00 mentioned in this parable is darnel, lolium temulentum, 06:04 sometimes referred to as "false wheat," 06:07 which can be fatal if it's eaten. 06:10 So let's take a look at the story, this parable. 06:12 And remember what a parable is: 06:14 it's a short story used to teach a moral or religious lesson. 06:19 Not everything in a parable has a parallel or a meaning. 06:23 But many of the details of a parable are shared so that they 06:26 might convey some important spiritual truth. 06:29 Now, what are the spiritual truths 06:31 that Jesus is teaching in this parable? 06:34 Now, keep in mind, earlier in Matthew, chapter 13, 06:37 there's another parable dealing with seed. 06:40 It's the parable of the sower who went forth to sow. 06:43 Here, the kingdom of God, now, 06:45 that's the kingdom of divine grace on earth; 06:47 you could call it God's work of salvation on behalf of humanity. 06:51 The kingdom of God is compared to a man who sowed seed. 06:56 In that parable, 06:57 the seed fell on four different types of ground: 06:59 first the wayside, then on stony ground, 07:02 then there was some seed that was choked by thorns, 07:04 and then there was the good ground, 07:06 where the seed flourished. 07:09 Now, in the parable of the wheat and the tares, 07:11 the seed is compromised by weeds 07:14 that threaten it in a variety of ways. 07:17 Let's look at it now. 07:18 We read that a man sowed good seed in his field. 07:22 So do we know who that is? 07:24 Well, we do know who that is, because this is one of those 07:26 very helpful parables where Jesus explains 07:29 what the various things mean. 07:31 His disciples come to Him in verse 36 and they say, 07:34 “...explain to us the parable of the tares of the field.” 07:38 And so He told them that He is the sower. 07:41 He went on to say, “The field is the world, 07:44 the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, 07:47 but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. 07:50 The enemy who sowed them is the devil, 07:53 the harvest is the end of the age, 07:55 and the reapers are the angels.” That's Matthew 13:38 and 39. 08:00 Now, this is a lesson in which Jesus talks about 08:02 an attack by an enemy, where Satan introduces into 08:06 the church people who are not converted. 08:10 Then Jesus points to the end of the age 08:12 when angels will separate the true followers of God from, 08:16 from the pretenders, 08:17 from the Milli Vanilli Christians. 08:20 So Jesus says this: here's the reality. 08:23 I sow good seed, 08:25 but the enemy comes and sows weeds in my field. 08:28 And the challenge is, when the wheat appears, 08:32 and then the tares grow among the wheat, 08:34 you can't necessarily tell the two apart very easily. 08:38 Now, this is a commentary on what we experience in church. 08:40 Have you ever noticed that? 08:41 In the church you get the good Christians, 08:45 and then the hypocrites, 08:47 those who aren't really genuine believers. 08:50 Here's what's interesting; let me ask you a question. 08:53 Which one are you? 08:55 Now, must of us are going to say, 08:57 “I'm the real thing.” 08:57 We might humbly suggest that, well, 08:59 we do have our faults, and well, 09:01 we could do better, but we like to think that we are wheat, 09:04 while the other ones, some of them at least, are tares. 09:09 Natural enough, I guess. 09:11 And what does Jesus say here? 09:13 Someone says, “Let us pull up the tares 09:15 so they don't damage the wheat,” 09:16 which seems like a good idea. 09:18 If there are phonies there, 09:21 why not uproot them and get rid of them? 09:24 But there's more to the story, much more. 09:27 I'll be right back. 09:28 ♪[Music]♪ 09:36 >>Announcer: The greatest event in all of history. 09:39 The Second Coming of Jesus Christ. 09:41 What does the Bible say that will be like? 09:44 Find out by getting today's free offer, 09:46 “The Second Coming of Jesus.” 09:47 To receive this free DVD, 09:49 call 800-253-3000, 09:52 or visit us online at iiwoffer.com. 09:56 Find out what the Bible says 09:57 about the Seconed Coming of Jesus. 09:59 Get the free DVD. 10:01 800-253-3000. 10:03 iiwoffer.com. 10:07 >>John: Thanks for joining me on It Is Written. 10:09 In the parable of the wheat and the tares, 10:12 the servants of a wheat farmer tell him that there are weeds 10:16 growing in his wheat field. 10:18 They suggest pulling them up. 10:20 He says, “No, don't do that, because if you attempt to pull 10:23 up the tares you'll likely pull up wheat with it.” 10:25 And that's a real thing. 10:28 This man knew that just as it isn't easy 10:30 to tell the difference between wheat and weeds, 10:33 especially darnel, 10:34 which is indistinguishable from wheat when it's young, 10:37 it isn't always easy to tell the difference between a 10:40 genuine believer in God and someone who is not genuine. 10:44 And it's true that there's plenty that goes on 10:47 in Christianity that doesn't represent 10:49 the principles of Christ. 10:50 A number of media outlets reported that a church meeting 10:53 in Macon, Georgia, being held to discuss the pastor's future, 10:57 got way out of control. 11:00 As people were preparing to vote at the meeting, 11:02 voices were raised; people were pushed; 11:04 chairs were toppled; punches were thrown. 11:07 It was pandemonium, 11:09 even though there were sheriff's deputies there at the meeting. 11:12 Bad behavior in church? 11:14 Yes, unfortunately, it happens. 11:18 A church treasurer stole $415,000 from a church 11:23 in Knoxville, Tennessee. 11:24 A pastor and his wife in Alexandria, Virginia, 11:27 were convicted of operating a $2 million fraud scheme 11:31 which allegedly bilked business investors and church members. 11:35 And we're not surprised when those who profess Christ 11:38 act as though they don't possess Christ. 11:41 For one thing, people are faulty. 11:43 Now, it ought to be remembered that God isn't faulty. 11:46 Jude, verse 24, says that God 11:48 “is able to keep you from falling.” 11:50 But if we allow ourselves to drift, 11:53 if we fail to maintain a real connection with God, 11:56 in a moment of weakness or temptation, 11:58 if we don't turn to God, or if we run from God, 12:02 we're going to get people, even church members, 12:05 people who know better, making poor choices. 12:10 In the Bible, you've got Ananias and Sapphira 12:12 lying about a pledge they made to God, 12:14 stealing from God. 12:15 Malachi wrote about people who robbed God 12:18 by failing to return tithes and offerings. 12:20 Simon Magus tried to buy the gift of the Holy Spirit 12:23 in Acts, chapter 8. 12:24 Judas was a disciple of Jesus who ultimately betrayed Jesus, 12:28 while even Peter denied his Lord and Savior. 12:33 So there's no shortage of faulty believers. 12:36 So why is Jesus saying, “Don't try to pull up the tares, 12:39 because you'll likely pull up 12:40 some of the wheat along with it”? 12:42 Well, for one thing, 12:44 it is biblical to take a stand against sin, 12:47 where there's open sin, 12:49 open rebellion against God in the church, 12:51 it's sometimes appropriate, in fact, 12:54 you could say often appropriate, 12:55 to take action against the sinner. 12:56 That's true. 12:57 But here, Jesus is saying that in many cases 13:01 you can't really tell who's who, who's genuine and who's not. 13:04 And the danger is that if you try to play God, 13:08 try to decide who the real Christians are, 13:11 you could end up doing some real lasting damage. 13:15 Often happens. 13:17 Often what people need is to be helped up, 13:19 rather than helped out. 13:21 A person has a problem with pride, 13:23 or has some type of substance issue, 13:25 or maybe just doesn't appear to be as Christian 13:28 as some other people wish. 13:29 You know, the person on the fringes, 13:31 maybe one who's inconsistent in coming to church. 13:35 Too often there's somebody 13:36 looking down their nose at that person, 13:37 ready to declare that that person isn't as good a Christian 13:41 as he or she should be. 13:43 A little like the parable of the two men praying in the temple. 13:46 One recites his virtues as he sees them, 13:50 and he thanks God that he's not like the other guy. 13:52 The other one, a publican, a tax collector, 13:55 simply prays and says, 13:57 “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.” 14:00 That's Luke 18:13. 14:01 And then Jesus says, in the next verse, 14:04 “I tell you, this man went down to his house justified 14:08 rather than the other.” 14:10 It seems sometimes that there's no shortage 14:12 of judgmental people in the church, 14:15 and that's not what you characterize the church. 14:18 It should be that people feel safe in the church. 14:20 Church should be a place where people can, can grow. 14:24 If Jesus came into the world to save sinners, 14:26 sinners ought to be welcome in church. 14:30 You know, the Bible talks about a woman out of whom Jesus 14:32 had cast seven demons. 14:34 Imagine if Jesus gave up on her to begin with. 14:38 One woman was taken in adultery and brought to Jesus, 14:40 and there were men there ready to stone her. 14:43 But Jesus says in John 8 and verse 11, 14:47 “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” 14:52 You know, one of the wonderful things about God 14:54 is that God is not in a hurry to condemn. 14:58 I think that's the complete opposite of the picture 15:00 that many people have of God. 15:02 That's what God is really like. 15:04 Psalm 103, verse 8, says, 15:07 “The Lord is merciful and gracious, 15:09 slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.” 15:12 In one psalm alone, 15:14 Psalm 136, it says, “His mercy endures forever,” 15:20 twenty-six times. 15:23 And that ought to tell us something. 15:26 Now, that's not to say that God is all mercy and no judgment. 15:28 The parable ends with some serious judgment. 15:32 But God is saying, 15:33 “You humans can't always tell who is genuine and who isn't. 15:37 So don't try to. 15:39 Leave the judging with Me.” 15:40 And that is really good advice. 15:43 A friend of mine tells the story of going to a revival meeting 15:46 when he was young, looking rough, 15:48 and people thought, as he found out later, 15:51 there was no way in the world somebody like him 15:54 could ever become a Christian. 15:56 And, of course, he did. 15:57 He became a minister of the gospel, 15:59 showing again that people only know so much about 16:01 what's really going on inside somebody's heart. 16:05 The time I showed up in church for the first time, 16:08 you would not have thought I was going to stay. 16:10 I looked like somebody who was lost 16:12 and had only stepped inside the church to shelter from the cold. 16:15 But you know what happened? 16:17 No one judged me. 16:18 No one quizzed me. 16:20 There was no 20 questions. 16:22 No one made me feel unwelcome. 16:23 Instead, I was loved into the church, 16:26 and loved into the arms of God. 16:29 Remember that kouros that Getty purchased in the 1980s? 16:32 Ten million dollars at the time, 16:35 and the best judgment of a group of experts 16:37 was that it was original. 16:38 Genuine. 16:39 When in actuality it was a fake. 16:43 Jesus says, "let both grow together until the harvest." 16:47 Don't waste your time trying to determine 16:49 what's going in someone's heart. 16:52 And keep this in mind: 16:53 there are probably a lot of people in the church 16:56 that you and I think are model Christians, 16:58 but, perhaps underneath, that's not the case. 17:01 My expectation is that you had met the pastor 17:03 of that little church in Irvington, Indiana, 17:06 you'd have thought he was a fine man. 17:07 And even if you didn't, 17:09 I doubt that you'd have suspected him of being 17:10 the kingpin of a multi-million-dollar 17:13 synthetic drug ring that manufactured ten tons of drugs. 17:17 We can't tell. 17:19 In trying to do so, we do a lot of damage. 17:22 Now, again, there are times that the church 17:24 has to take a stand about various things. 17:25 Your treasurer embezzles $415,000, 17:29 that's one thing. 17:31 But trying to figure out who's genuine and who's not, 17:33 who belongs, who should be cast out? 17:35 I'll tell you this: 17:37 if the congregation is doing the work that God 17:39 has given them to do, ministering in the community, 17:42 making a difference in people's lives, 17:44 sharing Jesus with others, sharing the gospel, 17:47 if the congregation is doing those things, 17:49 there won't be time for judging. 17:52 People who are doing God's work 17:53 typically don't waste their time being small-minded. 17:57 So does that mean there'll be less than perfect 17:59 people in the church? 18:01 Well, if you're in the church, 18:02 you already know that there are less-than-perfect 18:03 people in the church, 18:04 because you are in it. 18:06 But what the parable tells us is that beyond the imperfect, 18:10 “growing slowly but surely” people in church, 18:13 Satan loves to crowd unconverted people into the church, 18:16 because it makes the church look bad. 18:18 It reflects negatively on Christ, 18:20 causes people to say, “If that's what Christians are like, 18:23 then I don't want to be one.” 18:25 That's too bad. 18:26 Of course, there's some weakness in that thinking. 18:28 In fact, there's considerable weakness in that thinking. 18:32 I'll share more in just a moment. 18:34 ♪[Music]♪ 18:42 ♪[Theme music]♪ 18:44 >>Announcer: In Matthew 4:4, the Word of God says, 18:46 “It is Written, 18:47 ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, 18:49 but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'” 18:53 “Every Word” 18:54 is a one -minute, Bible-based daily devotional 18:56 presented by Pastor John Bradshaw, 18:58 and designed especially for busy people like you. 19:01 Look for Every Word on selected networks, 19:04 or watch it online every day on our website, 19:07 itiswritten.com. 19:09 Receive a daily spiritual boost. 19:11 Watch “Every Word.” 19:12 You'll be glad you did. 19:18 >>Girl: My mom woke up at 11:45, and she smelled smoke. 19:24 >>Man: About maybe 1:30 in the morning, 19:26 the, uh, my wife got a phone call, 19:30 and I could hear the voice on the other end of the line, 19:32 and she was basically screaming, 19:35 “There's a fire. It's massive. 19:36 It's headed your way. 19:38 You need to get out and get out now.” 19:40 >>Woman: After I hear fire, 19:41 I hear in the background, 19:43 the fire is two to four blocks away from your house. 19:46 And I panicked. 19:47 We started praying. 19:48 Our prayers didn't last long. 19:50 They were desperate, they were, they were rushed. 19:54 There was a need; it was urgent; 19:56 it was very, very urgent. 19:57 I said, please save my children. 20:03 >>John: Where was God when the fires burned? 20:04 Where was God as people suffered? 20:06 Where was God while people were dying? 20:09 Where was God in the midst of the devastation? 20:19 >>John: Thanks for joining me today on It Is Written. 20:20 I'm John Bradshaw. 20:22 In the parable of the wheat and the tares, 20:24 an enemy plants weeds in a man's wheat field. 20:28 And because you can't tell the difference 20:30 between wheat and darnel, 20:31 the field owner can't weed out the tares 20:34 without jeopardizing the actual wheat. 20:37 There's a danger that in pulling up the weeds, 20:39 you'll pull up a good amount of the wheat. 20:41 And I think it's important we notice something here. 20:44 Jesus isn't saying that the weeds can't be dealt with. 20:47 He's simply saying there's a wrong time and a right time. 20:51 He says He will leave it to angels to finally separate 20:54 the genuine from the phony. 20:55 But I'll tell you this: 20:57 it's important to notice that Jesus is very clear 21:01 when He says the wheat and the tares 21:03 will definitely be separated. 21:06 Now, notice what Jesus said. 21:08 Jesus said this in Matthew, chapter 13. 21:11 He said, “Let both grow together until the harvest, 21:15 and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, 21:18 ‘First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles 21:22 to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.'” 21:26 That's Matthew 13, verse 30. 21:28 This is where it gets serious. 21:31 Notice this: while Jesus says we shouldn't judge, 21:33 while we shouldn't try to do the work of the Holy Spirit 21:36 and decide who's a true Christian and who's not, 21:39 He tells us just as plainly that there's coming a time 21:41 of separation, a time of gathering as well. 21:45 There's coming a time when there will be no more 21:47 opportunity to repent. 21:49 The tares will be tares, and that's that. 21:53 You know, the gospel's so wonderful. 21:54 You can be the worst sinner, 21:56 and God is willing to forgive you. 21:58 More than willing. 21:58 God really wants to forgive you. 22:02 God wants to see you come to Him in faith. 22:04 Jesus said in Luke 19 and verse 10, 22:07 “For the Son of Man is come to seek 22:09 and to save that which was lost.” 22:11 Isn't that outstanding? 22:13 And so what does God do? 22:14 He calls you; He reveals His love to you; 22:18 He blesses you. 22:19 He says, “If you're carrying guilt, 22:21 shame, sin, if you're carrying condemnation, 22:25 give it to Me.” 22:26 God says, “Jesus died for you.” 22:29 God tells you that He wants you to be saved. 22:33 But that separation-it's final. 22:36 Today we can repent. 22:38 Tomorrow might well be too late. 22:41 One of those tomorrows, one soon tomorrow, 22:44 I believe, it's going to be too late for everyone. 22:48 In Revelation chapter 22, verses 11 and 12, 22:51 Jesus put it this way: 22:53 “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: 22:57 and he which is filthy, 22:58 let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, 23:02 let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, 23:05 let him be holy still. 23:07 And, behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with Me, 23:12 to give every man according as his work shall be.” 23:16 Now, that's not a fear thing. 23:19 That's just reality. 23:22 One day there's going to be a harvest, 23:24 spiritually speaking. 23:26 Today, the lost have the opportunity to repent. 23:29 On that day, they won't. 23:31 So let me ask you, how is it with you? 23:36 You know what the devil does. 23:37 You know, there are tons of people in the world today who 23:39 are living entirely without reference to God. 23:43 Not necessarily bad people; they're just not saved people. 23:47 They're just busy with life, with work, 23:50 with sport, with doing their own thing. 23:53 Culturally they were never Christians, 23:55 and they just never found a reason to be. 23:58 But then there's another group of people 23:59 who know something about God. 24:01 They're not willing to let God into their heart. 24:04 They might pray occasionally; they might agree that the Bible, 24:09 might even tell you the Bible is a good book. 24:10 They might even say God's book. 24:13 They might go to church. 24:15 And then, or even often, they might go to church 24:18 but they've not surrendered their lives to Jesus. 24:21 Is that you? 24:23 If you haven't, when will you do so? 24:28 Friend, God loves you. 24:29 More than anything, God wants you to be saved, 24:31 to be with Him forever. 24:33 There'll be a harvest one day. 24:35 The lost, lost forever. 24:38 What's going to happen is this: 24:39 between now and the return of Jesus, 24:42 the world is going to plunge deeper and deeper 24:44 and deeper into dysfunction. 24:45 And that separation between right and wrong 24:47 is going to become more pronounced. 24:49 There'll be a shifting. 24:53 Where are you being shifting? 24:55 The good news is that the wheat is going to be gathered 24:58 into His barn, Jesus said. 25:02 One day soon, we'll be safe from sin. 25:04 One day soon we'll be out of the reach of temptation. 25:07 One day soon we'll be in a place with no rejection 25:10 or marginalization or mistreatment 25:12 or injustice or indignity. 25:15 One day soon, the wheat will be with Jesus. 25:18 The saved will be with Jesus. 25:20 One day soon. 25:23 You choose Jesus today, 25:25 and you can believe that you'll be with Him then. 25:28 Be with Him now, and you'll be with Him forever. 25:32 What does Jesus tell us in this parable? 25:35 Don't do His work of judging. 25:36 Don't worry about that. 25:39 God will take care of that. 25:41 But He will take care of that. 25:43 One day, finally, sinners and saints will be separated. 25:47 You'll be either on one side or the other. 25:49 What side are you on? 25:50 Can we settle it? 25:52 Jesus is on the side of the saved. 25:56 Jesus is with the redeemed. 25:57 Jesus is on the side of eternity. 25:59 And Jesus is on your side. 26:01 That's why He came from heaven to earth. 26:03 He came for you, to call you, to reach out to you, 26:06 to show you in His life what God was like to convince you that 26:10 He'd taken care of your sins, and to invite you to choose Him, 26:15 to team up with Him, 26:16 to welcome Him into your heart. 26:18 Can you do that now? 26:20 One day this world ends. 26:22 One day Jesus comes back. 26:23 One day there's no tomorrow. 26:25 On that day, you can be safe with Jesus, 26:30 by being safe with Jesus now. 26:34 ♪[Music]♪ 26:44 >>John: The greatest event in all of history. 26:46 The Second Coming of Jesus Christ. 26:48 What does the Bible say that will be like? 26:51 Find out by getting today's free offer, 26:53 “The Second Coming of Jesus.” 26:55 To receive this free DVD, 26:57 call 800-253-3000, 27:00 or visit us online at iiwoffer.com. 27:04 Find out what the Bible says 27:05 about the Second Coming of Jesus. 27:07 Get the free DVD. 27:08 800-253-3000, 27:10 iiwoffer.com. 27:14 >>John: Thank you for remembering that It Is Written 27:16 exists because of the kindness of people just like you. 27:19 To support this international life-changing ministry, 27:23 please call us now at 800-253-3000. 27:27 You can send your tax-deductible gift 27:28 to the address on your screen, 27:30 or you can visit us online at itiswritten.com. 27:34 Thank you for your prayers and for your financial support. 27:36 Our number again is 800-253-3000. 27:41 Or you can visit us online at itiswritten.com. 27:45 >>John: Let me pray with you now. 27:46 Our Father in Heaven, 27:48 we thank You that one day 27:50 You're going to gather all those that are Yours, 27:52 and nevermore will they be touched by sin 27:54 or temptation or trial or discouragement. 27:57 And so we want to choose Jesus today, 28:01 so we can know now that we are Yours, 28:03 You are ours, and we can know that throughout eternity 28:06 we'll be with You where You are. 28:08 For now we are in this world, this world tainted by sin. 28:12 In the parable, Jesus taught us an enemy has done this. 28:17 The reason for sin in the world is the enemy has done it. 28:21 The reason for people who are separated from You, 28:23 an enemy has done it. 28:24 The reason for sin and death and sickness and sadness, 28:27 an enemy has done it. 28:31 You present us with a choice between the enemy and You, 28:36 the one who loves this world immeasurably. 28:39 Friend, could you choose Jesus now? 28:40 Would you do that? 28:42 Will you say in your heart, or even out loud, 28:44 wherever you are, 28:45 Jesus, I choose You as my Lord and Savior. 28:48 I want You in my heart. 28:49 Live Your life in me. 28:53 That's our prayer, friend, and as we pray it, 28:55 know that you are a child of God. 28:57 God wants you to grow with Him forever and ever. 29:02 We thank You, Father. 29:03 We trust in You, we believe in You, 29:05 and we give our lives to You again. 29:07 In Jesus' name, 29:09 Amen. 29:11 Thanks for joining me today. 29:12 I'm looking forward to seeing you again next time. 29:15 Until then, remember: 29:15 "It is written: 29:17 'Man shall not live by bread alone, 29:20 but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'" 29:24 ♪[Theme music]♪ |
Revised 2018-02-23