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Frequently Asked Questions: Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People?

Watch Frequently Asked Questions: Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People?
September 6, 2016
27:31

Bil Cornelius

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Frequently Asked Questions: Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People?

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  • - Bil Cornelius: Some people
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  • say, "I'm going through
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  • such hell, I'm going through
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  • such difficult--God, can you
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  • just come back and take us
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  • all home?"
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  • Wouldn't that be easier?
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  • Wouldn't that be
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  • the loving thing for God to do
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  • right now in the middle
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  • of your mess, right?
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  • Actually, that would not be
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  • the loving thing to do.
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  • Let me tell you why.
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  • 'Cause the moment he does that,
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  • the person that you love
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  • that you've been trying
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  • to witness to that doesn't know
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  • Jesus yet, no longer has
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  • [music]
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  • - Bil: You are the church
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  • - Bil: Welcome.
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  • Great to have you here today!
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  • Thanks for joining us.
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  • We're continuing
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  • the series called,
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  • "Frequently Asked Questions,"
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  • you know.
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  • It's been a really fun series
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  • and we're talking
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  • about the question today.
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  • It's one of the biggest
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  • questions people have,
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  • is that why is life unfair?
  • 00:00:49.220 --> 00:00:52.060
  • Why does the jerk at work get
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  • the promotion?
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  • Why does the good guy get
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  • dumped?
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  • Why does
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  • the hell-raising party animal
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  • person never have a problem
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  • and then the nun gets hit
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  • by a bus, right?
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  • And so, it's very tough
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  • to figure out because there's
  • 00:01:08.120 --> 00:01:09.080
  • not a one-to-one correspondence
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  • of good or bad that happens
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  • in our lives
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  • based upon whether we're
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  • good or bad.
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  • And so this makes it difficult
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  • to understand.
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  • And so, why is it that life
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  • really is unfair at times?
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  • Let's look
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  • at our first key verse
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  • for today, John 16:33.
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  • It says, "I have told you
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  • all this so that you will have
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  • peace of heart and mind.
  • 00:01:26.250 --> 00:01:28.150
  • Here on earth you will have
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  • many trials and sorrows;
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  • but cheer up,
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  • for I have overcome
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  • the world."
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  • Now, the reason why I wanna
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  • start with this is
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  • because I think many of us have
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  • this unwritten contract
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  • in our mind that we think
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  • we've signed and that God
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  • has signed too but he's not.
  • 00:01:42.180 --> 00:01:44.150
  • And the unwritten contract
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  • goes like this.
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  • If I love God and if I'm
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  • a Christian, problems won't
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  • come my way.
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  • But that's
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  • just not in the Bible.
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  • In fact, actually, I would say
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  • that if you really love God
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  • and you're a Christian honoring
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  • him, problems will come
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  • your way because you love God
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  • and because you're a Christian
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  • and because you're trying
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  • to honor him.
  • 00:02:01.120 --> 00:02:02.040
  • So actually, sometimes,
  • 00:02:02.040 --> 00:02:03.020
  • that actually introduces
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  • problems into your lives
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  • because there's
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  • a spiritual enemy that wants
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  • to take you out
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  • because now you're a problem
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  • to him.
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  • Well, let's take it
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  • to the very beginning
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  • in Genesis chapter 1.
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  • Genesis chapter 1,
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  • God said this.
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  • "God saw all that he had made,
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  • and it was very good."
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  • The first thing you need to know
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  • is that everything God made
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  • is good.
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  • And so he did not create
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  • anything evil.
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  • He did not create
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  • a bad circumstance.
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  • God did not send something bad
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  • into your life that he created.
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  • But here's the tricky part.
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  • When God created us, he did not
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  • make you and I robots.
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  • We are people with choices.
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  • And so God gave us
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  • the scariest gift of all time,
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  • was one simple thing.
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  • He gave you and I the ability
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  • to choose.
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  • He gave you and I free choice.
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  • And when he gave
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  • you and I free will, that was
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  • the scariest gift of all.
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  • But the only way we can
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  • really love someone is
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  • if we can love them freely.
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  • Otherwise, it's not love.
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  • The only way we can ever choose
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  • God is to have the ability
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  • to choose not to follow God.
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  • The only way we can ever choose
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  • to worship him is be able
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  • to choose not to.
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  • The only way you know
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  • if your kids are good or bad is
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  • if they have a choice.
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  • You really don't know
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  • if your kids are good or bad
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  • until you've done what?
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  • Taken those keys
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  • to that newly turned 16-year-old
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  • and dropped them
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  • in their hands.
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  • And they can drive off
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  • and, at some point, do
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  • what they want.
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  • And you're not around to see it,
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  • good or bad, right?
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  • And so, in the same way God gave
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  • us free choice.
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  • It's a scary thing
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  • 'cause when he did that he knew
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  • some of us would choose,
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  • well, actually all of us would
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  • choose at some point to do
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  • something wrong also.
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  • And Adam and Eve
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  • did that, right?
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  • God said, "Hey, you got
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  • this whole garden.
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  • Everything's plush.
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  • It's beautiful.
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  • It's awesome.
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  • Adam, here's your beautiful
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  • naked wife, right?"
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  • And so Adam clearly was
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  • an idiot.
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  • He's got a naked woman
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  • in front of him and he goes
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  • and tries to find some fruit
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  • to eat.
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  • What are you thinking, dude?
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  • That's a whole 'nother issue,
  • 00:03:53.160 --> 00:03:54.050
  • but Adam and Eve
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  • eventually found
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  • the forbidden fruit and Eve was
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  • tempted by the devil to eat it.
  • 00:04:00.070 --> 00:04:02.070
  • She then enticed her husband
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  • to join and so they both
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  • took part in this sin
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  • and so now they brought sin
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  • into the world.
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  • Now, before you give them
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  • too hard of a time,
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  • if it would have been you or I,
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  • we'd have done the same thing.
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  • 'Cause here's the thing.
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  • Adam had the ability to do
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  • nothing but right
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  • and so did Eve.
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  • But we all know that they
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  • weren't gonna do nothing
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  • but right, right?
  • 00:04:18.130 --> 00:04:19.110
  • So they had the ability to be
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  • perfect but we know they weren't
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  • going to be.
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  • Jesus, by the way, when he was
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  • born into the world,
  • 00:04:23.090 --> 00:04:24.040
  • had the ability to sin,
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  • but we knew he wasn't going to.
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  • See how that works?
  • 00:04:27.190 --> 00:04:28.090
  • So Adam had the ability to be
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  • perfect, but he was not
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  • going to.
  • 00:04:31.120 --> 00:04:32.090
  • Jesus had the ability to be
  • 00:04:32.090 --> 00:04:32.280
  • not perfect but he was
  • 00:04:32.280 --> 00:04:34.020
  • not going to.
  • 00:04:34.020 --> 00:04:35.050
  • And so that's
  • 00:04:35.050 --> 00:04:35.200
  • kind of how that works
  • 00:04:35.200 --> 00:04:36.160
  • and so, basically, Adam and Eve
  • 00:04:36.160 --> 00:04:37.160
  • entered this world.
  • 00:04:37.160 --> 00:04:38.210
  • They sinned and when they
  • 00:04:38.210 --> 00:04:40.080
  • sinned, that created
  • 00:04:40.080 --> 00:04:41.260
  • consequence.
  • 00:04:41.260 --> 00:04:42.260
  • A consequence of the sin is not
  • 00:04:42.260 --> 00:04:44.150
  • just the fact that God is not
  • 00:04:44.150 --> 00:04:46.160
  • happy with us
  • 00:04:46.160 --> 00:04:47.110
  • but also that introduced evil
  • 00:04:47.110 --> 00:04:49.170
  • into the world.
  • 00:04:49.170 --> 00:04:51.020
  • Now, there are two kinds of evil
  • 00:04:51.020 --> 00:04:52.190
  • and here's where things get
  • 00:04:52.190 --> 00:04:53.110
  • a little bit complicated.
  • 00:04:53.110 --> 00:04:54.120
  • The first kind of evil is
  • 00:04:54.120 --> 00:04:55.220
  • moral evil.
  • 00:04:55.220 --> 00:04:57.000
  • This one's kind of easy
  • 00:04:57.000 --> 00:04:57.230
  • to figure out, right?
  • 00:04:57.230 --> 00:04:58.180
  • This is when we choose to do
  • 00:04:58.180 --> 00:04:59.160
  • the wrong thing.
  • 00:04:59.160 --> 00:05:00.090
  • This is when we lie, cheat,
  • 00:05:00.090 --> 00:05:01.170
  • steal, betray someone, right?
  • 00:05:01.170 --> 00:05:03.100
  • This is why there's groups
  • 00:05:03.100 --> 00:05:04.060
  • called ISIS, this is why there's
  • 00:05:04.060 --> 00:05:05.260
  • evil men like Adolf Hitler
  • 00:05:05.260 --> 00:05:07.140
  • or this is why there are people,
  • 00:05:07.140 --> 00:05:08.240
  • you know, like Gacy who killed
  • 00:05:08.240 --> 00:05:10.180
  • a bunch of people,
  • 00:05:10.180 --> 00:05:11.100
  • that's why there's people who do
  • 00:05:11.100 --> 00:05:12.200
  • horrible things, right?
  • 00:05:12.200 --> 00:05:14.260
  • Because of moral evil.
  • 00:05:14.260 --> 00:05:16.010
  • Because people make choices.
  • 00:05:16.010 --> 00:05:17.000
  • Romans 3:23 says,
  • 00:05:17.000 --> 00:05:18.030
  • "For all have sinned and fall
  • 00:05:18.030 --> 00:05:19.240
  • short of the glory of God."
  • 00:05:19.240 --> 00:05:22.090
  • And so, this is how evil entered
  • 00:05:22.090 --> 00:05:23.240
  • the world.
  • 00:05:23.240 --> 00:05:24.260
  • Deuteronomy 11:26 says, "Today
  • 00:05:24.260 --> 00:05:26.080
  • I am giving you the choice
  • 00:05:26.080 --> 00:05:27.100
  • between a blessing and a curse!"
  • 00:05:27.100 --> 00:05:29.270
  • This is what God says to you
  • 00:05:29.270 --> 00:05:30.230
  • and me.
  • 00:05:30.230 --> 00:05:31.140
  • He said "You will be blessed
  • 00:05:31.140 --> 00:05:32.100
  • if you obey the commands
  • 00:05:32.100 --> 00:05:33.140
  • of the Lord your God
  • 00:05:33.140 --> 00:05:34.070
  • that I am giving you today.
  • 00:05:34.070 --> 00:05:35.190
  • You will receive a curse
  • 00:05:35.190 --> 00:05:36.080
  • if you reject the commands
  • 00:05:36.080 --> 00:05:37.170
  • of the Lord your God
  • 00:05:37.170 --> 00:05:38.080
  • and turn from his way."
  • 00:05:38.080 --> 00:05:39.240
  • So he says, "Look, the choice
  • 00:05:39.240 --> 00:05:40.190
  • is yours.
  • 00:05:40.190 --> 00:05:41.170
  • You can honor me
  • 00:05:41.170 --> 00:05:42.090
  • and you'll be blessed.
  • 00:05:42.090 --> 00:05:43.220
  • You can not honor me
  • 00:05:43.220 --> 00:05:45.070
  • and you will be cursed."
  • 00:05:45.070 --> 00:05:46.080
  • This is not that different,
  • 00:05:46.080 --> 00:05:47.110
  • parents, than what we do
  • 00:05:47.110 --> 00:05:48.010
  • with our kids.
  • 00:05:48.010 --> 00:05:48.160
  • "Okay, I need
  • 00:05:48.160 --> 00:05:49.010
  • the room cleaned, right?
  • 00:05:49.010 --> 00:05:50.250
  • And so you can choose,
  • 00:05:50.250 --> 00:05:51.280
  • blessings or curses, right?
  • 00:05:51.280 --> 00:05:54.190
  • I'm gonna come back in an hour.
  • 00:05:54.190 --> 00:05:55.220
  • I need that room clean.
  • 00:05:55.220 --> 00:05:56.140
  • If it's not clean, there will be
  • 00:05:56.140 --> 00:05:58.050
  • curses coming your way, right?
  • 00:05:58.050 --> 00:06:00.120
  • If it is clean, there will be
  • 00:06:00.120 --> 00:06:01.160
  • blessings coming
  • 00:06:01.160 --> 00:06:02.030
  • your way, right?"
  • 00:06:02.030 --> 00:06:02.210
  • This is not really different
  • 00:06:02.210 --> 00:06:04.010
  • than what God has done
  • 00:06:04.010 --> 00:06:04.240
  • for you and I.
  • 00:06:04.240 --> 00:06:05.130
  • Now, here's where it gets
  • 00:06:05.130 --> 00:06:06.040
  • a little more complicated today.
  • 00:06:06.040 --> 00:06:07.050
  • So we got moral evil but there's
  • 00:06:07.050 --> 00:06:08.280
  • also natural evil.
  • 00:06:08.280 --> 00:06:11.240
  • This is where life seems unfair.
  • 00:06:11.240 --> 00:06:14.060
  • Romans 8:22 says, "For we know
  • 00:06:14.060 --> 00:06:16.110
  • that up to the present time
  • 00:06:16.110 --> 00:06:17.110
  • all of creation groans with pain
  • 00:06:17.110 --> 00:06:19.040
  • like the pain of childbirth."
  • 00:06:19.040 --> 00:06:21.120
  • Look at Genesis chapter 3,
  • 00:06:21.120 --> 00:06:22.160
  • verse 17.
  • 00:06:22.160 --> 00:06:23.040
  • Because Adam and Eve chose
  • 00:06:23.040 --> 00:06:24.060
  • to sin, right, that plush garden
  • 00:06:24.060 --> 00:06:26.050
  • was no longer gonna be
  • 00:06:26.050 --> 00:06:26.250
  • that plush anymore.
  • 00:06:26.250 --> 00:06:27.240
  • In fact, look what it says.
  • 00:06:27.240 --> 00:06:28.140
  • It says, "Cursed is the ground
  • 00:06:28.140 --> 00:06:29.230
  • because of you;
  • 00:06:29.230 --> 00:06:30.170
  • through painful toil you will
  • 00:06:30.170 --> 00:06:32.030
  • eat of it all the days
  • 00:06:32.030 --> 00:06:34.060
  • of your life.
  • 00:06:34.060 --> 00:06:34.240
  • It will produce thorns
  • 00:06:34.240 --> 00:06:35.150
  • and thistles for you,
  • 00:06:35.150 --> 00:06:37.060
  • and you will eat the plants
  • 00:06:37.060 --> 00:06:38.050
  • of the field."
  • 00:06:38.050 --> 00:06:38.250
  • Now, thorns and thistles
  • 00:06:38.250 --> 00:06:39.150
  • were not there until Adam
  • 00:06:39.150 --> 00:06:41.270
  • and Eve chose to sin.
  • 00:06:41.270 --> 00:06:42.190
  • It says, "By the sweat
  • 00:06:42.190 --> 00:06:43.150
  • of your brow you will eat
  • 00:06:43.150 --> 00:06:44.160
  • your food until you return
  • 00:06:44.160 --> 00:06:45.190
  • to the ground, since from it you
  • 00:06:45.190 --> 00:06:46.280
  • were taken; for dust you are
  • 00:06:46.280 --> 00:06:48.220
  • and to dust you will return."
  • 00:06:48.220 --> 00:06:49.250
  • So he says, "Hey, look, before,
  • 00:06:49.250 --> 00:06:51.280
  • the Garden was always perfect.
  • 00:06:51.280 --> 00:06:54.060
  • The soil was just right to plant
  • 00:06:54.060 --> 00:06:56.220
  • anything you wanted.
  • 00:06:56.220 --> 00:06:57.190
  • It grew beautiful vegetation.
  • 00:06:57.190 --> 00:06:59.170
  • It grew beautiful, you know,
  • 00:06:59.170 --> 00:07:01.010
  • fruits and flowers
  • 00:07:01.010 --> 00:07:02.080
  • and all kinds of stuff.
  • 00:07:02.080 --> 00:07:03.110
  • But now, Adam,
  • 00:07:03.110 --> 00:07:04.190
  • the ground's gonna be hard.
  • 00:07:04.190 --> 00:07:06.290
  • It's not gonna be as easy
  • 00:07:06.290 --> 00:07:08.150
  • as it once was.
  • 00:07:08.150 --> 00:07:10.060
  • Adam and Eve
  • 00:07:10.060 --> 00:07:10.220
  • in their relationship,
  • 00:07:10.220 --> 00:07:11.230
  • used to be real natural,
  • 00:07:11.230 --> 00:07:12.250
  • always good, always great
  • 00:07:12.250 --> 00:07:13.150
  • and all of a sudden
  • 00:07:13.150 --> 00:07:14.060
  • it says what?
  • 00:07:14.060 --> 00:07:14.210
  • Eve, you're gonna think
  • 00:07:14.210 --> 00:07:15.240
  • you need Adam more than you do.
  • 00:07:15.240 --> 00:07:17.150
  • He's gonna rule you.
  • 00:07:17.150 --> 00:07:18.230
  • It didn't say that
  • 00:07:18.230 --> 00:07:19.150
  • until after this, right?
  • 00:07:19.150 --> 00:07:20.230
  • Now, he was always to lead her
  • 00:07:20.230 --> 00:07:22.210
  • but not rule her, not run her,
  • 00:07:22.210 --> 00:07:24.210
  • not dominate her.
  • 00:07:24.210 --> 00:07:26.060
  • And when sin enters
  • 00:07:26.060 --> 00:07:27.200
  • a relationship,
  • 00:07:27.200 --> 00:07:28.150
  • someone tries to dominate
  • 00:07:28.150 --> 00:07:29.230
  • the other person, right?
  • 00:07:29.230 --> 00:07:31.200
  • And so this is
  • 00:07:31.200 --> 00:07:32.250
  • where--how we know sin has
  • 00:07:32.250 --> 00:07:33.240
  • entered the world.
  • 00:07:33.240 --> 00:07:34.150
  • So we understand the moral side
  • 00:07:34.150 --> 00:07:36.000
  • but the tricky part is
  • 00:07:36.000 --> 00:07:36.240
  • the natural side.
  • 00:07:36.240 --> 00:07:37.180
  • And so here's the thing that's
  • 00:07:37.180 --> 00:07:38.130
  • crazy.
  • 00:07:38.130 --> 00:07:39.000
  • Go with me here, if you will,
  • 00:07:39.000 --> 00:07:39.250
  • okay?
  • 00:07:39.250 --> 00:07:40.150
  • When they chose to sin, the seed
  • 00:07:40.280 --> 00:07:43.280
  • of their sin entered creation.
  • 00:07:44.210 --> 00:07:47.210
  • So now the ground that was soft
  • 00:07:47.210 --> 00:07:49.140
  • is now hard.
  • 00:07:49.140 --> 00:07:50.240
  • Now the ground that was perfect
  • 00:07:50.240 --> 00:07:52.080
  • now has earthquakes.
  • 00:07:52.080 --> 00:07:53.200
  • Now there's such things
  • 00:07:53.200 --> 00:07:54.160
  • as hurricanes.
  • 00:07:54.160 --> 00:07:55.160
  • Now there's--now when we have
  • 00:07:55.160 --> 00:07:57.100
  • kids, we're not
  • 00:07:57.100 --> 00:07:58.070
  • just passing down our genes
  • 00:07:58.070 --> 00:07:59.070
  • that have no sin in them,
  • 00:07:59.070 --> 00:08:00.270
  • now we're passing down our genes
  • 00:08:00.270 --> 00:08:02.100
  • that have sin in them,
  • 00:08:02.100 --> 00:08:03.280
  • which means what?
  • 00:08:03.280 --> 00:08:04.260
  • Now you've got birth defects.
  • 00:08:04.260 --> 00:08:06.120
  • Now you've got cancer.
  • 00:08:06.120 --> 00:08:07.220
  • Now you've got disease.
  • 00:08:07.220 --> 00:08:09.060
  • Now you have
  • 00:08:09.060 --> 00:08:09.210
  • debilitating problems.
  • 00:08:09.210 --> 00:08:11.040
  • Does this make sense, guys?
  • 00:08:11.040 --> 00:08:12.190
  • And so that gets passed down
  • 00:08:12.190 --> 00:08:13.240
  • from generation to generations.
  • 00:08:13.240 --> 00:08:15.140
  • And this is why someone
  • 00:08:15.140 --> 00:08:16.110
  • who seemingly is all healthy,
  • 00:08:16.110 --> 00:08:18.050
  • goes to gym every day,
  • 00:08:18.050 --> 00:08:19.080
  • eats salads every day for lunch
  • 00:08:19.080 --> 00:08:20.120
  • and they get cancer?
  • 00:08:20.120 --> 00:08:22.040
  • What?
  • 00:08:22.040 --> 00:08:22.250
  • This doesn't make sense.
  • 00:08:22.250 --> 00:08:24.090
  • This seems unfair,
  • 00:08:24.090 --> 00:08:26.220
  • but, again, if you're
  • 00:08:26.220 --> 00:08:27.250
  • just looking in that one person
  • 00:08:27.250 --> 00:08:28.260
  • and the way they live
  • 00:08:28.260 --> 00:08:29.130
  • in that one moment in a vacuum,
  • 00:08:29.130 --> 00:08:31.050
  • okay, I'll give you
  • 00:08:31.050 --> 00:08:31.210
  • the unfairness.
  • 00:08:31.210 --> 00:08:32.060
  • But if you look at it
  • 00:08:32.060 --> 00:08:32.210
  • from the world perspective
  • 00:08:32.210 --> 00:08:34.010
  • of the fact that sin enters
  • 00:08:34.010 --> 00:08:34.240
  • the world and entered
  • 00:08:34.240 --> 00:08:36.000
  • into our genes and then entered
  • 00:08:36.000 --> 00:08:37.100
  • into all of creation,
  • 00:08:37.100 --> 00:08:39.040
  • then it's a crapshoot, guys.
  • 00:08:40.050 --> 00:08:43.050
  • It really is.
  • 00:08:43.050 --> 00:08:45.010
  • And there's a lot of bad stuff
  • 00:08:45.010 --> 00:08:45.270
  • that happens in the world today
  • 00:08:45.270 --> 00:08:46.230
  • and if you're like me, I look
  • 00:08:46.230 --> 00:08:47.180
  • at all the bad and the evil
  • 00:08:47.180 --> 00:08:49.010
  • in the world, I'm, like,
  • 00:08:49.010 --> 00:08:49.220
  • "Man, Lord, this is just bad."
  • 00:08:49.220 --> 00:08:50.180
  • Now, some of the evil we
  • 00:08:50.180 --> 00:08:51.210
  • can stop.
  • 00:08:51.210 --> 00:08:52.170
  • I mean, if you're saying,
  • 00:08:52.170 --> 00:08:53.110
  • "Man, God, if you're
  • 00:08:53.110 --> 00:08:54.080
  • such a God of love
  • 00:08:54.080 --> 00:08:54.230
  • then why is ISIS there?"
  • 00:08:54.230 --> 00:08:55.270
  • I think instead of us saying
  • 00:08:55.270 --> 00:08:57.170
  • to God, "God, why is ISIS
  • 00:08:57.170 --> 00:08:59.020
  • killing people," I think God
  • 00:08:59.020 --> 00:09:00.080
  • would look back at us and say,
  • 00:09:00.080 --> 00:09:01.030
  • "Yeah, why are you letting that
  • 00:09:01.030 --> 00:09:01.290
  • happen?"
  • 00:09:01.290 --> 00:09:04.060
  • I really believe that and I'm
  • 00:09:04.060 --> 00:09:04.290
  • gonna set aside my opinions
  • 00:09:04.290 --> 00:09:05.250
  • on that for now, but the reality
  • 00:09:05.250 --> 00:09:08.130
  • is that there are some evils
  • 00:09:08.130 --> 00:09:10.010
  • we can do something about,
  • 00:09:10.010 --> 00:09:11.130
  • that we can stop, right?
  • 00:09:11.130 --> 00:09:13.070
  • But then there's also some evils
  • 00:09:13.070 --> 00:09:14.280
  • that we just--we can't stop.
  • 00:09:14.280 --> 00:09:17.050
  • And I've discovered, and you've
  • 00:09:17.050 --> 00:09:19.000
  • probably discovered this
  • 00:09:19.000 --> 00:09:19.260
  • already too that there's--
  • 00:09:19.260 --> 00:09:20.290
  • no one's immune to this.
  • 00:09:20.290 --> 00:09:22.200
  • You can't be rich
  • 00:09:22.200 --> 00:09:24.000
  • enough to avoid disease.
  • 00:09:24.000 --> 00:09:26.010
  • Life isn't fair to everybody.
  • 00:09:26.010 --> 00:09:28.060
  • None of us have it
  • 00:09:28.060 --> 00:09:29.160
  • perfectly fair all the time.
  • 00:09:29.160 --> 00:09:32.060
  • And so, moral evil is reality
  • 00:09:32.060 --> 00:09:34.020
  • and so is natural evil.
  • 00:09:34.020 --> 00:09:36.070
  • Look at 2 Corinthians 7,
  • 00:09:36.070 --> 00:09:37.110
  • verse 10, "For God sometimes
  • 00:09:37.110 --> 00:09:39.090
  • uses sorrow in our lives
  • 00:09:39.090 --> 00:09:40.150
  • to help us turn away from sin
  • 00:09:40.150 --> 00:09:41.250
  • and seek eternal life.
  • 00:09:41.250 --> 00:09:42.270
  • We should never regret
  • 00:09:42.270 --> 00:09:43.260
  • his sending it."
  • 00:09:43.260 --> 00:09:45.040
  • Now, he sends sorrow,
  • 00:09:45.040 --> 00:09:47.070
  • which means that's an emotion.
  • 00:09:47.070 --> 00:09:48.120
  • He doesn't send the evil
  • 00:09:48.120 --> 00:09:49.060
  • that may have caused it.
  • 00:09:49.060 --> 00:09:50.190
  • But he knows since we live
  • 00:09:50.190 --> 00:09:51.170
  • in an evil world,
  • 00:09:51.170 --> 00:09:52.130
  • it's going to happen.
  • 00:09:52.130 --> 00:09:53.020
  • So here's the good news
  • 00:09:53.020 --> 00:09:54.190
  • about your bad situation.
  • 00:09:54.190 --> 00:09:56.270
  • The good news
  • 00:09:56.270 --> 00:09:57.290
  • about your bad news is it leads
  • 00:09:57.290 --> 00:09:59.240
  • you to look to the good news
  • 00:09:59.240 --> 00:10:01.080
  • So the truth is, is most of us
  • 00:10:03.190 --> 00:10:04.210
  • would not be Christians today
  • 00:10:04.210 --> 00:10:05.230
  • if it was not for the fact
  • 00:10:05.230 --> 00:10:06.230
  • that things went bad
  • 00:10:06.230 --> 00:10:07.190
  • in our lives and made us
  • 00:10:07.190 --> 00:10:08.180
  • call out to God.
  • 00:10:08.180 --> 00:10:10.250
  • Most of us came to Jesus
  • 00:10:10.250 --> 00:10:11.270
  • because we were,
  • 00:10:11.270 --> 00:10:12.190
  • like, "Man, life is not working
  • 00:10:12.190 --> 00:10:14.140
  • for me very well.
  • 00:10:14.140 --> 00:10:15.240
  • Things are not going good.
  • 00:10:15.240 --> 00:10:17.030
  • My life is crumbling.
  • 00:10:17.030 --> 00:10:18.020
  • I need something else,"
  • 00:10:18.020 --> 00:10:19.170
  • and so we show up at church,
  • 00:10:19.170 --> 00:10:21.020
  • hoping there's something more
  • 00:10:21.020 --> 00:10:22.110
  • beyond us and then we discover
  • 00:10:22.110 --> 00:10:23.130
  • there is.
  • 00:10:23.130 --> 00:10:24.280
  • And that's how most of us found
  • 00:10:24.280 --> 00:10:25.200
  • Christ, is because of bad things
  • 00:10:25.200 --> 00:10:28.100
  • in our lives.
  • 00:10:28.100 --> 00:10:29.140
  • This verse helps me a lot,
  • 00:10:29.140 --> 00:10:30.220
  • Romans 8:28.
  • 00:10:30.220 --> 00:10:31.240
  • "And we know that in all things
  • 00:10:33.250 --> 00:10:34.140
  • God works for the good
  • 00:10:34.140 --> 00:10:35.150
  • of those who love him,
  • 00:10:35.150 --> 00:10:36.160
  • who have been called
  • 00:10:36.160 --> 00:10:37.120
  • according to his purpose."
  • 00:10:37.120 --> 00:10:39.010
  • So God even uses some bad things
  • 00:10:39.010 --> 00:10:40.230
  • in our lives to get
  • 00:10:40.230 --> 00:10:41.260
  • his purpose done.
  • 00:10:41.260 --> 00:10:42.200
  • For example, there's
  • 00:10:42.200 --> 00:10:43.200
  • probably someone you
  • 00:10:43.200 --> 00:10:44.180
  • really thought you were
  • 00:10:44.180 --> 00:10:45.150
  • in love with and was the person
  • 00:10:45.150 --> 00:10:46.230
  • for you and then they broke up
  • 00:10:46.230 --> 00:10:47.230
  • with you.
  • 00:10:47.230 --> 00:10:48.110
  • But if they wouldn't have,
  • 00:10:48.110 --> 00:10:48.270
  • you wouldn't be
  • 00:10:48.270 --> 00:10:49.110
  • with your spouse now.
  • 00:10:49.110 --> 00:10:51.170
  • So the reality is,
  • 00:10:51.170 --> 00:10:52.080
  • is that if they would have been
  • 00:10:52.080 --> 00:10:53.040
  • faithful or if they would have
  • 00:10:53.040 --> 00:10:54.070
  • been nice or if they wouldn't
  • 00:10:54.070 --> 00:10:55.110
  • have betrayed you,
  • 00:10:55.110 --> 00:10:56.070
  • if they wouldn't have broke up
  • 00:10:56.070 --> 00:10:56.290
  • with you, you wouldn't be with
  • 00:10:56.290 --> 00:10:57.250
  • who you are now.
  • 00:10:57.250 --> 00:10:59.190
  • Does that make sense?
  • 00:10:59.190 --> 00:11:01.220
  • Sometimes it's easy to see
  • 00:11:01.220 --> 00:11:02.150
  • God's protection if you missed
  • 00:11:02.150 --> 00:11:03.210
  • a flight and you found out later
  • 00:11:03.210 --> 00:11:05.050
  • the plane went down.
  • 00:11:05.050 --> 00:11:06.140
  • "Oh, wow, thank you,
  • 00:11:06.140 --> 00:11:07.070
  • Lord," right?
  • 00:11:07.070 --> 00:11:08.120
  • But most of us don't get to see
  • 00:11:08.120 --> 00:11:09.240
  • the other side of that.
  • 00:11:09.240 --> 00:11:11.080
  • We just see that something
  • 00:11:11.080 --> 00:11:12.060
  • didn't work out but you
  • 00:11:12.060 --> 00:11:12.260
  • don't know what God protected
  • 00:11:12.260 --> 00:11:13.140
  • you from.
  • 00:11:13.140 --> 00:11:15.040
  • I love
  • 00:11:15.040 --> 00:11:15.190
  • what Pastor Rick Warren says.
  • 00:11:15.190 --> 00:11:17.060
  • Maybe you're in the middle
  • 00:11:17.060 --> 00:11:18.010
  • of crisis.
  • 00:11:18.010 --> 00:11:18.160
  • He says, "When people ask me
  • 00:11:18.160 --> 00:11:19.260
  • in anger and frustration,
  • 00:11:19.260 --> 00:11:20.240
  • 'Where is God in all of this?'"
  • 00:11:20.240 --> 00:11:22.180
  • Whenever they're going
  • 00:11:22.180 --> 00:11:23.030
  • through something.
  • 00:11:23.030 --> 00:11:23.220
  • And he always smiles and says,
  • 00:11:23.220 --> 00:11:24.130
  • "In the Christians
  • 00:11:24.130 --> 00:11:25.100
  • all around you, helping you."
  • 00:11:25.100 --> 00:11:28.020
  • That's where God is
  • 00:11:28.020 --> 00:11:28.180
  • in all of this.
  • 00:11:28.180 --> 00:11:29.290
  • So you can trust that God
  • 00:11:29.290 --> 00:11:30.220
  • really is there,
  • 00:11:30.220 --> 00:11:31.180
  • even when things don't
  • 00:11:31.180 --> 00:11:32.290
  • seem to make sense.
  • 00:11:32.290 --> 00:11:35.160
  • Joseph in the Bible was betrayed
  • 00:11:35.160 --> 00:11:37.100
  • by his brothers
  • 00:11:37.100 --> 00:11:38.180
  • for the only reason he was
  • 00:11:38.180 --> 00:11:39.120
  • betrayed is 'cause his daddy
  • 00:11:39.120 --> 00:11:40.120
  • liked him more and that's
  • 00:11:40.120 --> 00:11:41.260
  • not really fair that his daddy
  • 00:11:41.260 --> 00:11:42.290
  • liked him more but sometimes
  • 00:11:42.290 --> 00:11:43.270
  • you think, "Oh, it must be nice
  • 00:11:43.270 --> 00:11:44.220
  • 'cause his daddy liked him
  • 00:11:44.220 --> 00:11:45.190
  • more," but actually, I think
  • 00:11:45.190 --> 00:11:46.180
  • that was probably worse
  • 00:11:46.180 --> 00:11:47.130
  • on him than better
  • 00:11:47.130 --> 00:11:48.270
  • 'cause his brothers hated him
  • 00:11:48.270 --> 00:11:49.280
  • for it, right?
  • 00:11:49.280 --> 00:11:51.050
  • And so then what happens?
  • 00:11:51.050 --> 00:11:53.000
  • His brothers betrayed him
  • 00:11:53.000 --> 00:11:54.150
  • and sold him into slavery.
  • 00:11:54.150 --> 00:11:55.280
  • I mean, you think you had
  • 00:11:55.280 --> 00:11:56.150
  • sibling rivalry.
  • 00:11:56.150 --> 00:11:57.160
  • Can you imagine your sibling
  • 00:11:57.160 --> 00:11:58.130
  • selling you to someone else?
  • 00:11:58.130 --> 00:12:01.050
  • Like, that's a problem.
  • 00:12:01.050 --> 00:12:02.280
  • So 30 years later, now he's
  • 00:12:02.280 --> 00:12:04.200
  • an adult and he's in Egypt
  • 00:12:04.200 --> 00:12:06.120
  • where he was sold into slavery
  • 00:12:06.120 --> 00:12:07.230
  • and now he's become a free man
  • 00:12:07.230 --> 00:12:09.080
  • and he's now leading
  • 00:12:09.080 --> 00:12:10.050
  • all of Egypt and he's--
  • 00:12:10.050 --> 00:12:11.030
  • literally saves all their lives
  • 00:12:11.030 --> 00:12:12.090
  • including his brothers
  • 00:12:12.090 --> 00:12:13.010
  • 'cause there was
  • 00:12:13.010 --> 00:12:13.250
  • a massive famine.
  • 00:12:13.250 --> 00:12:14.230
  • His brothers come to him
  • 00:12:14.230 --> 00:12:15.180
  • to apologize.
  • 00:12:15.180 --> 00:12:16.080
  • "Hey, we're really sorry
  • 00:12:16.080 --> 00:12:16.240
  • about selling you into slavery."
  • 00:12:16.240 --> 00:12:18.150
  • Like, what do you think he's
  • 00:12:18.150 --> 00:12:19.020
  • gonna say, like, "Oh,
  • 00:12:19.020 --> 00:12:19.190
  • no problem, we're good."
  • 00:12:19.190 --> 00:12:20.210
  • Like, that's
  • 00:12:20.210 --> 00:12:21.060
  • a pretty big thing, right?
  • 00:12:21.060 --> 00:12:23.060
  • What does Joseph say?
  • 00:12:23.060 --> 00:12:24.030
  • Look at the wisdom in this.
  • 00:12:24.030 --> 00:12:25.030
  • Genesis 50, verse 20.
  • 00:12:25.030 --> 00:12:26.060
  • He said, "You intended to harm
  • 00:12:26.060 --> 00:12:27.040
  • me, but God intended it for good
  • 00:12:27.040 --> 00:12:30.010
  • to accomplish what is now
  • 00:12:30.010 --> 00:12:31.000
  • being done, the saving
  • 00:12:31.000 --> 00:12:31.280
  • of many lives."
  • 00:12:31.280 --> 00:12:33.270
  • So the world will hurt you
  • 00:12:33.270 --> 00:12:35.220
  • and harm you and people
  • 00:12:35.220 --> 00:12:36.280
  • will hurt you and harm you,
  • 00:12:36.280 --> 00:12:38.030
  • but God will even use that harm
  • 00:12:38.030 --> 00:12:40.200
  • to get you where you're
  • 00:12:40.200 --> 00:12:41.120
  • supposed to be.
  • 00:12:41.120 --> 00:12:42.210
  • The year was 1996.
  • 00:12:42.210 --> 00:12:44.250
  • I was in seminary.
  • 00:12:44.250 --> 00:12:45.120
  • I was finishing up school.
  • 00:12:45.120 --> 00:12:47.060
  • And my wife was working
  • 00:12:47.060 --> 00:12:48.080
  • as a teacher and she,
  • 00:12:48.080 --> 00:12:49.260
  • like, had the baby bug bad.
  • 00:12:49.260 --> 00:12:52.160
  • And you guys know
  • 00:12:52.160 --> 00:12:53.010
  • what I'm talking about
  • 00:12:53.010 --> 00:12:53.160
  • if you're married.
  • 00:12:53.160 --> 00:12:54.010
  • The baby bug is,
  • 00:12:54.010 --> 00:12:54.200
  • like, a very real deal.
  • 00:12:54.200 --> 00:12:55.190
  • She wanted a kid now, right?
  • 00:12:55.190 --> 00:12:57.090
  • Which I was all for the process.
  • 00:12:57.090 --> 00:12:58.110
  • That was all great.
  • 00:12:58.110 --> 00:12:59.120
  • I was all great with that.
  • 00:12:59.120 --> 00:13:01.240
  • But eventually, we got pregnant
  • 00:13:01.240 --> 00:13:02.280
  • and one day,
  • 00:13:02.280 --> 00:13:04.060
  • there was a problem.
  • 00:13:04.060 --> 00:13:05.160
  • She called me from work.
  • 00:13:05.160 --> 00:13:06.070
  • She said, "Honey, I need you
  • 00:13:06.070 --> 00:13:06.240
  • to get home.
  • 00:13:06.240 --> 00:13:07.100
  • I'm--I don't know what's
  • 00:13:07.100 --> 00:13:08.000
  • going on."
  • 00:13:08.000 --> 00:13:08.150
  • And so she was spotting.
  • 00:13:08.150 --> 00:13:09.270
  • And some of you know
  • 00:13:09.270 --> 00:13:10.220
  • what this leads to, you know,
  • 00:13:10.220 --> 00:13:12.260
  • and we didn't understand
  • 00:13:12.260 --> 00:13:14.050
  • so we were just told to go
  • 00:13:14.050 --> 00:13:15.220
  • to the doctor, you know,
  • 00:13:15.220 --> 00:13:16.110
  • and they ran some tests
  • 00:13:16.110 --> 00:13:17.070
  • and we went in and the doctor
  • 00:13:17.070 --> 00:13:18.220
  • was unavailable
  • 00:13:18.220 --> 00:13:19.070
  • so it was just this other person
  • 00:13:19.070 --> 00:13:20.160
  • that was running the tests
  • 00:13:20.160 --> 00:13:21.060
  • and they're rubbing jelly
  • 00:13:21.060 --> 00:13:22.090
  • all over her belly and they
  • 00:13:22.090 --> 00:13:24.020
  • start to do little tests
  • 00:13:24.020 --> 00:13:25.070
  • and they're trying to find
  • 00:13:25.070 --> 00:13:26.030
  • the heartbeat and we're
  • 00:13:26.030 --> 00:13:27.250
  • in this room and this girl
  • 00:13:27.250 --> 00:13:29.230
  • just keeps looking and we said,
  • 00:13:29.230 --> 00:13:31.130
  • "Okay, did you find
  • 00:13:31.130 --> 00:13:32.030
  • the heartbeat yet?"
  • 00:13:32.030 --> 00:13:32.180
  • She's, like, "Give me a second,
  • 00:13:32.180 --> 00:13:33.070
  • give me a second."
  • 00:13:33.070 --> 00:13:33.230
  • She's looking around
  • 00:13:33.230 --> 00:13:34.140
  • and, "What's up?
  • 00:13:34.140 --> 00:13:35.180
  • Did you find it yet?"
  • 00:13:35.180 --> 00:13:36.040
  • And she starts to put
  • 00:13:36.040 --> 00:13:37.110
  • her equipment down.
  • 00:13:37.110 --> 00:13:37.260
  • We said, "Whoa, whoa, you didn't
  • 00:13:37.260 --> 00:13:38.150
  • tell us what's going on.
  • 00:13:38.150 --> 00:13:39.020
  • What's happened?"
  • 00:13:39.020 --> 00:13:39.290
  • She goes, "You need to go see
  • 00:13:39.290 --> 00:13:40.170
  • your doctor right now."
  • 00:13:40.170 --> 00:13:41.070
  • We're, like, "No, no, no, no,
  • 00:13:41.070 --> 00:13:42.030
  • no, you need to tell me what's
  • 00:13:42.030 --> 00:13:42.210
  • going on."
  • 00:13:42.210 --> 00:13:43.130
  • And she just hung her head
  • 00:13:43.130 --> 00:13:44.020
  • and said, "I'm sorry."
  • 00:13:44.020 --> 00:13:44.230
  • I said, "Check it again,
  • 00:13:44.230 --> 00:13:46.240
  • one more time."
  • 00:13:46.240 --> 00:13:48.130
  • And she did.
  • 00:13:48.130 --> 00:13:50.280
  • She said, "I'm really sorry.
  • 00:13:50.280 --> 00:13:53.040
  • There's no heartbeat."
  • 00:13:53.040 --> 00:13:55.290
  • So now my wife's crying.
  • 00:13:55.290 --> 00:13:57.240
  • And I'm mad.
  • 00:13:57.240 --> 00:13:59.100
  • I'm not crying, I'm angry.
  • 00:13:59.100 --> 00:14:01.170
  • So I'm driving home.
  • 00:14:01.200 --> 00:14:04.200
  • And we go the next day
  • 00:14:04.200 --> 00:14:05.140
  • to the doctor and then we get
  • 00:14:05.140 --> 00:14:07.120
  • to experience
  • 00:14:07.120 --> 00:14:07.290
  • this wonderful thing
  • 00:14:07.290 --> 00:14:08.170
  • where they get to take
  • 00:14:08.170 --> 00:14:09.050
  • a dead baby out of you.
  • 00:14:09.130 --> 00:14:12.130
  • And so she's bawling
  • 00:14:12.130 --> 00:14:13.250
  • her head off.
  • 00:14:13.250 --> 00:14:14.160
  • She's on this gurney and they're
  • 00:14:14.160 --> 00:14:15.140
  • dragging her in.
  • 00:14:15.140 --> 00:14:17.050
  • And I'm helpless to help her.
  • 00:14:17.050 --> 00:14:18.050
  • There's nothing I can do.
  • 00:14:18.050 --> 00:14:20.210
  • Surgery goes on, fine, and we go
  • 00:14:20.210 --> 00:14:22.270
  • back home.
  • 00:14:22.270 --> 00:14:25.030
  • And then she's crying
  • 00:14:25.030 --> 00:14:25.220
  • throughout the day.
  • 00:14:25.220 --> 00:14:26.110
  • I gather my stuff 'cause I've
  • 00:14:26.110 --> 00:14:28.060
  • gotta go back to school.
  • 00:14:28.060 --> 00:14:30.030
  • And as I'm driving to seminary,
  • 00:14:30.030 --> 00:14:30.270
  • I go to seminary, I get to hear
  • 00:14:30.270 --> 00:14:31.240
  • the professor talk
  • 00:14:31.240 --> 00:14:32.190
  • about how God's in control
  • 00:14:32.190 --> 00:14:33.170
  • and the God of love
  • 00:14:33.170 --> 00:14:34.110
  • and I'm, like, "Oh yeah,
  • 00:14:34.110 --> 00:14:35.220
  • right, sure.
  • 00:14:35.220 --> 00:14:36.180
  • Sure, God's in control."
  • 00:14:37.030 --> 00:14:40.030
  • And I had this crisis of faith,
  • 00:14:40.030 --> 00:14:41.000
  • driving home from seminary.
  • 00:14:41.000 --> 00:14:42.110
  • I remember pulled the car over.
  • 00:14:42.110 --> 00:14:45.050
  • I remember just yelling to God.
  • 00:14:45.050 --> 00:14:46.150
  • I said, "God, this is
  • 00:14:46.150 --> 00:14:47.250
  • so not right.
  • 00:14:47.250 --> 00:14:49.190
  • All my friends graduated
  • 00:14:49.190 --> 00:14:50.190
  • college.
  • 00:14:50.190 --> 00:14:51.110
  • Already making money.
  • 00:14:51.110 --> 00:14:52.130
  • I'm still broke, I'm in college.
  • 00:14:52.130 --> 00:14:54.190
  • I'm going to seminary for you
  • 00:14:54.190 --> 00:14:56.170
  • and I'm gonna go start a church
  • 00:14:56.170 --> 00:14:57.160
  • which means I'm gonna be broke
  • 00:14:57.160 --> 00:14:58.210
  • even longer and I'm trying
  • 00:14:58.210 --> 00:14:59.140
  • to honor you and I'm trying
  • 00:14:59.140 --> 00:15:00.130
  • to give my life for you
  • 00:15:00.130 --> 00:15:01.120
  • and all we want is a baby
  • 00:15:01.120 --> 00:15:02.270
  • and you let this happen to me.
  • 00:15:02.270 --> 00:15:04.080
  • How can you let this happen?
  • 00:15:05.080 --> 00:15:08.080
  • If you're such a God of love,
  • 00:15:08.080 --> 00:15:10.200
  • why is my wife crying?
  • 00:15:11.140 --> 00:15:14.140
  • Where were you when we lost
  • 00:15:14.140 --> 00:15:16.250
  • our child?
  • 00:15:16.250 --> 00:15:18.060
  • Where were you?"
  • 00:15:20.060 --> 00:15:23.060
  • And in that moment, I sensed
  • 00:15:23.060 --> 00:15:23.290
  • the Spirit of God speak to me
  • 00:15:23.290 --> 00:15:26.260
  • and say, "Well, I was
  • 00:15:26.260 --> 00:15:27.160
  • in the same place I was
  • 00:15:27.160 --> 00:15:28.250
  • when I sent my child to die
  • 00:15:28.250 --> 00:15:31.140
  • for you."
  • 00:15:32.100 --> 00:15:35.100
  • Life is unfair.
  • 00:15:35.100 --> 00:15:37.230
  • But God is still good.
  • 00:15:39.140 --> 00:15:42.140
  • You can trust him.
  • 00:15:44.190 --> 00:15:47.190
  • 2 Corinthians 1:4 really helped
  • 00:15:48.260 --> 00:15:51.260
  • me through that time.
  • 00:15:51.260 --> 00:15:54.100
  • It says, "God helps us
  • 00:15:54.100 --> 00:15:55.000
  • in our troubles, so we are able
  • 00:15:55.000 --> 00:15:57.070
  • to help others who have
  • 00:15:57.070 --> 00:15:58.200
  • all kinds of troubles, using
  • 00:15:58.200 --> 00:16:00.060
  • the same help that we ourselves
  • 00:16:00.060 --> 00:16:01.090
  • have received from God."
  • 00:16:01.090 --> 00:16:03.290
  • What I didn't know was
  • 00:16:03.290 --> 00:16:05.030
  • how many couples I would end up
  • 00:16:05.030 --> 00:16:07.000
  • ministering to over decades
  • 00:16:07.160 --> 00:16:10.160
  • who have faced,
  • 00:16:10.160 --> 00:16:11.020
  • or maybe are facing right now,
  • 00:16:11.020 --> 00:16:12.230
  • the same thing.
  • 00:16:12.230 --> 00:16:14.270
  • In the same way,
  • 00:16:14.270 --> 00:16:15.170
  • I will tell you this.
  • 00:16:15.170 --> 00:16:16.020
  • You know
  • 00:16:16.020 --> 00:16:16.180
  • the best drug counselors I know,
  • 00:16:16.180 --> 00:16:18.210
  • guess what they used to do?
  • 00:16:18.210 --> 00:16:20.210
  • Drugs.
  • 00:16:20.210 --> 00:16:23.020
  • The good news
  • 00:16:23.020 --> 00:16:24.070
  • about your current misery is it
  • 00:16:24.070 --> 00:16:26.040
  • will become your future ministry
  • 00:16:26.250 --> 00:16:29.250
  • as you'll be able to help people
  • 00:16:29.250 --> 00:16:31.230
  • because of the help you yourself
  • 00:16:31.230 --> 00:16:33.130
  • have received.
  • 00:16:33.130 --> 00:16:33.290
  • Now, the good news about that
  • 00:16:33.290 --> 00:16:34.240
  • also means that you're
  • 00:16:34.240 --> 00:16:35.150
  • gonna overcome
  • 00:16:35.150 --> 00:16:36.020
  • whatever you're dealing with.
  • 00:16:36.020 --> 00:16:38.010
  • So that you can help
  • 00:16:38.010 --> 00:16:40.030
  • someone else overcome
  • 00:16:40.030 --> 00:16:41.020
  • the very same thing.
  • 00:16:41.110 --> 00:16:44.110
  • Number two, would you
  • 00:16:44.110 --> 00:16:44.260
  • write this down?
  • 00:16:44.260 --> 00:16:46.220
  • "Bad things are still bad,
  • 00:16:46.220 --> 00:16:48.130
  • but God can use them
  • 00:16:48.130 --> 00:16:49.140
  • to accomplish
  • 00:16:49.140 --> 00:16:50.020
  • his good purposes."
  • 00:16:50.020 --> 00:16:52.170
  • Doesn't change the fact
  • 00:16:52.170 --> 00:16:53.060
  • that bad things are bad.
  • 00:16:53.060 --> 00:16:55.000
  • But God will use those
  • 00:16:55.000 --> 00:16:56.000
  • to accomplish his good
  • 00:16:56.000 --> 00:16:58.000
  • What I'm trying to tell you
  • 00:17:00.030 --> 00:17:00.200
  • is that God never wastes a hurt.
  • 00:17:00.200 --> 00:17:03.140
  • He recycles the pain you have
  • 00:17:03.140 --> 00:17:05.050
  • so you can help others with it.
  • 00:17:05.050 --> 00:17:08.020
  • And you're able to help
  • 00:17:08.020 --> 00:17:08.170
  • those who've gone through
  • 00:17:08.170 --> 00:17:10.010
  • difficulties.
  • 00:17:10.010 --> 00:17:10.210
  • You know, I've been betrayed
  • 00:17:10.210 --> 00:17:11.080
  • and that betrayal has helped me
  • 00:17:11.080 --> 00:17:12.140
  • help you through your betrayal.
  • 00:17:12.140 --> 00:17:15.100
  • I've been hurt and lied about
  • 00:17:15.100 --> 00:17:16.180
  • unfairly so that you can, what?
  • 00:17:16.180 --> 00:17:19.030
  • Receive help when you're hurt
  • 00:17:19.030 --> 00:17:20.220
  • and lied about unfairly
  • 00:17:20.220 --> 00:17:22.180
  • from a pastor who gets it.
  • 00:17:22.180 --> 00:17:25.070
  • Does that make sense?
  • 00:17:25.070 --> 00:17:26.100
  • I mean, how do you think you can
  • 00:17:26.100 --> 00:17:26.290
  • help your teenagers
  • 00:17:26.290 --> 00:17:27.230
  • through their awkward years?
  • 00:17:27.230 --> 00:17:28.170
  • 'Cause you went
  • 00:17:28.170 --> 00:17:29.030
  • through 'em, right?
  • 00:17:29.030 --> 00:17:31.150
  • That's how we can help 'em.
  • 00:17:31.150 --> 00:17:32.120
  • They don't think we can
  • 00:17:32.120 --> 00:17:33.100
  • And so the truth is, is you're
  • 00:17:36.020 --> 00:17:36.290
  • able to use that pain
  • 00:17:36.290 --> 00:17:38.190
  • and that difficulty that you
  • 00:17:38.190 --> 00:17:39.220
  • yourselves have
  • 00:17:39.220 --> 00:17:41.020
  • also gone through.
  • 00:17:41.020 --> 00:17:43.000
  • Jesus is who Jesus is
  • 00:17:43.000 --> 00:17:44.170
  • because of the cross.
  • 00:17:44.180 --> 00:17:47.180
  • In the same way, you and I
  • 00:17:47.180 --> 00:17:48.200
  • become who we are and we become
  • 00:17:48.200 --> 00:17:50.250
  • more like Christ
  • 00:17:50.250 --> 00:17:51.230
  • because of the crosses
  • 00:17:51.230 --> 00:17:53.020
  • that we bear,
  • 00:17:53.020 --> 00:17:54.290
  • because of the pain
  • 00:17:54.290 --> 00:17:55.180
  • and difficulties in our lives.
  • 00:17:56.070 --> 00:17:59.070
  • Life is hard, but God is good
  • 00:17:59.070 --> 00:18:02.060
  • and he really can be trusted.
  • 00:18:02.230 --> 00:18:05.230
  • 1 Corinthians 13:12, I think
  • 00:18:05.230 --> 00:18:08.110
  • this can really help you
  • 00:18:08.110 --> 00:18:09.030
  • 'cause it helps me to know this.
  • 00:18:09.030 --> 00:18:11.030
  • It says, "In the same way,
  • 00:18:11.030 --> 00:18:12.030
  • we can see and understand
  • 00:18:12.030 --> 00:18:13.030
  • only a little about God now,
  • 00:18:13.030 --> 00:18:14.250
  • as if we were peering
  • 00:18:14.250 --> 00:18:15.220
  • at his reflection
  • 00:18:15.220 --> 00:18:16.190
  • in a poor mirror; but someday we
  • 00:18:16.190 --> 00:18:18.280
  • are going to see him
  • 00:18:18.280 --> 00:18:20.030
  • in his completeness,
  • 00:18:20.030 --> 00:18:20.280
  • face-to-face.
  • 00:18:20.280 --> 00:18:22.120
  • Now all that I know is hazy
  • 00:18:22.120 --> 00:18:23.240
  • and blurred, but then I will see
  • 00:18:23.240 --> 00:18:25.110
  • everything clearly,
  • 00:18:25.110 --> 00:18:26.230
  • just as clearly as God sees
  • 00:18:26.230 --> 00:18:28.100
  • into my heart right now."
  • 00:18:28.100 --> 00:18:31.080
  • The truth is if you're looking
  • 00:18:31.080 --> 00:18:32.140
  • to fully understand why you're
  • 00:18:32.140 --> 00:18:34.010
  • going through what you're
  • 00:18:34.010 --> 00:18:35.030
  • going through right now,
  • 00:18:35.030 --> 00:18:36.000
  • you're probably not going
  • 00:18:36.000 --> 00:18:37.000
  • to understand it completely
  • 00:18:37.000 --> 00:18:38.090
  • on this side of eternity.
  • 00:18:38.090 --> 00:18:41.030
  • We all need to have in our minds
  • 00:18:41.030 --> 00:18:42.190
  • a file that we file
  • 00:18:42.190 --> 00:18:44.240
  • away the "why" questions
  • 00:18:44.240 --> 00:18:46.120
  • in, not because we're not gonna
  • 00:18:46.120 --> 00:18:47.170
  • get them answered but we
  • 00:18:47.170 --> 00:18:48.120
  • just may not get them
  • 00:18:48.120 --> 00:18:49.050
  • answered now.
  • 00:18:49.050 --> 00:18:51.060
  • But when we see God face
  • 00:18:51.060 --> 00:18:52.120
  • to face, not only are we gonna
  • 00:18:52.120 --> 00:18:53.130
  • see who he is in all his glory,
  • 00:18:53.130 --> 00:18:55.070
  • but we'll also immediately,
  • 00:18:55.070 --> 00:18:56.170
  • because of his completeness
  • 00:18:56.170 --> 00:18:57.260
  • and his knowledge,
  • 00:18:57.260 --> 00:18:58.190
  • we'll immediately see
  • 00:18:58.190 --> 00:18:59.150
  • and understand why the things
  • 00:18:59.150 --> 00:19:02.050
  • that have happened in our lives
  • 00:19:02.050 --> 00:19:02.280
  • have happened.
  • 00:19:02.280 --> 00:19:05.010
  • So I really can't tell you
  • 00:19:05.010 --> 00:19:06.130
  • why you lost your child.
  • 00:19:06.130 --> 00:19:09.110
  • I really can't tell you
  • 00:19:09.110 --> 00:19:09.290
  • why someone betrayed you.
  • 00:19:09.290 --> 00:19:11.060
  • I really can't tell you
  • 00:19:11.060 --> 00:19:11.240
  • why that accident happened
  • 00:19:11.240 --> 00:19:14.060
  • and took your right arm
  • 00:19:14.060 --> 00:19:15.170
  • or your left eye
  • 00:19:15.170 --> 00:19:17.040
  • or whatever had happened to you.
  • 00:19:17.170 --> 00:19:20.170
  • I really don't have
  • 00:19:20.170 --> 00:19:21.020
  • a great reason.
  • 00:19:21.020 --> 00:19:23.190
  • In fact, is there
  • 00:19:23.190 --> 00:19:24.040
  • really a good reason
  • 00:19:24.040 --> 00:19:25.060
  • for someone to be abused?
  • 00:19:25.060 --> 00:19:27.050
  • I mean, is there really gonna be
  • 00:19:27.050 --> 00:19:27.280
  • an answer, you're gonna go,
  • 00:19:27.280 --> 00:19:28.230
  • "Oh, well, that makes sense
  • 00:19:28.230 --> 00:19:29.180
  • why I was sexually abused,
  • 00:19:29.180 --> 00:19:30.170
  • yeah, sure."
  • 00:19:30.170 --> 00:19:32.140
  • I don't think
  • 00:19:32.140 --> 00:19:32.290
  • that really exists.
  • 00:19:32.290 --> 00:19:35.080
  • I don't think there's
  • 00:19:35.080 --> 00:19:35.230
  • a good reason that someone
  • 00:19:35.230 --> 00:19:38.190
  • would go through
  • 00:19:38.190 --> 00:19:40.200
  • some kind of horrible experience
  • 00:19:40.200 --> 00:19:43.120
  • but I think we can trust
  • 00:19:43.120 --> 00:19:44.040
  • that God,
  • 00:19:44.040 --> 00:19:45.280
  • in his infinite wisdom,
  • 00:19:45.280 --> 00:19:48.080
  • can show us the purpose
  • 00:19:48.080 --> 00:19:49.010
  • through it.
  • 00:19:49.010 --> 00:19:50.290
  • 2 Corinthians 4:17 says,
  • 00:19:50.290 --> 00:19:52.110
  • "For our light
  • 00:19:52.110 --> 00:19:53.010
  • and momentary troubles
  • 00:19:53.010 --> 00:19:53.290
  • are achieving for us
  • 00:19:53.290 --> 00:19:55.000
  • an eternal glory
  • 00:19:55.000 --> 00:19:55.260
  • that far outweighs them all."
  • 00:19:55.260 --> 00:19:58.110
  • Or as the Bible teacher
  • 00:19:58.110 --> 00:19:59.070
  • Beth Moore says,
  • 00:19:59.070 --> 00:20:00.220
  • "I believe that your pain
  • 00:20:00.220 --> 00:20:01.210
  • creates greater glory for God."
  • 00:20:02.100 --> 00:20:05.100
  • Whatever you're going through,
  • 00:20:05.100 --> 00:20:06.070
  • it really does create
  • 00:20:06.070 --> 00:20:07.190
  • a greater glory.
  • 00:20:07.240 --> 00:20:10.240
  • 2 Peter 3:9 says, "The Lord
  • 00:20:10.240 --> 00:20:12.290
  • is not slow
  • 00:20:12.290 --> 00:20:13.210
  • in keeping his promise,
  • 00:20:13.210 --> 00:20:14.220
  • as some understand slowness.
  • 00:20:14.220 --> 00:20:16.160
  • He is patient with you,
  • 00:20:16.160 --> 00:20:17.250
  • not wanting anyone to perish,
  • 00:20:17.250 --> 00:20:19.040
  • but everyone to come
  • 00:20:19.040 --> 00:20:20.200
  • to repentance."
  • 00:20:20.200 --> 00:20:22.200
  • Reason I wanna mention this,
  • 00:20:22.200 --> 00:20:23.090
  • 'cause some people say,
  • 00:20:23.090 --> 00:20:24.040
  • "I'm going through such hell,
  • 00:20:24.040 --> 00:20:25.190
  • I'm going through
  • 00:20:25.190 --> 00:20:26.040
  • such difficult--God, can you
  • 00:20:26.040 --> 00:20:27.030
  • just come back
  • 00:20:27.030 --> 00:20:27.260
  • and take us all home?"
  • 00:20:27.260 --> 00:20:29.160
  • Wouldn't that be easier if God
  • 00:20:29.160 --> 00:20:30.210
  • just took away all this pain
  • 00:20:30.210 --> 00:20:32.070
  • right now and just zapped us
  • 00:20:32.070 --> 00:20:33.170
  • up to heaven and we were done?
  • 00:20:33.170 --> 00:20:35.260
  • Wouldn't that be
  • 00:20:35.260 --> 00:20:36.110
  • the loving thing for God to do
  • 00:20:36.110 --> 00:20:38.010
  • right now in the middle
  • 00:20:38.010 --> 00:20:38.200
  • of your mess, right?
  • 00:20:38.200 --> 00:20:40.090
  • Actually, that would not be
  • 00:20:40.090 --> 00:20:40.270
  • the loving thing to do.
  • 00:20:40.270 --> 00:20:41.280
  • Let me tell you why.
  • 00:20:41.280 --> 00:20:43.020
  • 'Cause the moment he does that,
  • 00:20:43.020 --> 00:20:44.240
  • the person that you love
  • 00:20:44.240 --> 00:20:45.150
  • that you've been trying
  • 00:20:45.150 --> 00:20:46.080
  • to witness to that doesn't know
  • 00:20:46.080 --> 00:20:47.010
  • Jesus yet, no longer has
  • 00:20:47.010 --> 00:20:48.050
  • a chance.
  • 00:20:48.050 --> 00:20:50.110
  • So the loving thing is
  • 00:20:50.110 --> 00:20:52.210
  • to let the world continue
  • 00:20:52.210 --> 00:20:53.260
  • with ISIS and tornadoes
  • 00:20:53.260 --> 00:20:56.180
  • and floods and shooters
  • 00:20:56.180 --> 00:20:58.280
  • in malls and schools
  • 00:20:58.280 --> 00:21:00.150
  • and someone betraying you
  • 00:21:00.150 --> 00:21:01.250
  • at work and cancer
  • 00:21:01.250 --> 00:21:03.100
  • still around and pain
  • 00:21:03.100 --> 00:21:04.290
  • in your life because all of that
  • 00:21:04.290 --> 00:21:06.190
  • he is hoping and praying
  • 00:21:06.190 --> 00:21:08.130
  • that in the middle
  • 00:21:08.130 --> 00:21:09.030
  • of all the world's chaos
  • 00:21:09.030 --> 00:21:10.280
  • and crisis and difficulty
  • 00:21:10.280 --> 00:21:11.250
  • that more people will come
  • 00:21:11.250 --> 00:21:13.190
  • to Jesus.
  • 00:21:13.190 --> 00:21:16.030
  • That's why he has not
  • 00:21:16.030 --> 00:21:16.250
  • taken you out.
  • 00:21:19.170 --> 00:21:22.170
  • Last verse I wanna share
  • 00:21:22.170 --> 00:21:23.070
  • with you is Psalm 34:18.
  • 00:21:23.070 --> 00:21:24.290
  • It says, "The Lord is close
  • 00:21:24.290 --> 00:21:25.290
  • to the brokenhearted and saves
  • 00:21:25.290 --> 00:21:27.120
  • those who are crushed
  • 00:21:27.120 --> 00:21:28.070
  • in spirit."
  • 00:21:28.070 --> 00:21:30.100
  • Sometimes I think I pray,
  • 00:21:30.100 --> 00:21:30.280
  • "O God, I wanna be close
  • 00:21:30.280 --> 00:21:31.240
  • to you."
  • 00:21:31.240 --> 00:21:32.110
  • And I think God says,
  • 00:21:32.110 --> 00:21:32.290
  • "You don't know
  • 00:21:32.290 --> 00:21:33.250
  • what you're asking."
  • 00:21:33.250 --> 00:21:36.080
  • 'Cause to really be close
  • 00:21:36.080 --> 00:21:37.040
  • to Jesus is to share
  • 00:21:37.040 --> 00:21:39.020
  • in his sufferings.
  • 00:21:39.020 --> 00:21:41.160
  • Is to share in the pain
  • 00:21:41.160 --> 00:21:42.070
  • that he has undergone for you
  • 00:21:42.160 --> 00:21:45.160
  • and for me.
  • 00:21:45.160 --> 00:21:47.040
  • Number three,
  • 00:21:47.040 --> 00:21:47.190
  • would you write this down?
  • 00:21:47.190 --> 00:21:49.050
  • "Understand that you're not
  • 00:21:49.050 --> 00:21:50.160
  • going to completely understand
  • 00:21:50.160 --> 00:21:53.000
  • until the end."
  • 00:21:53.000 --> 00:21:55.060
  • You've gotta learn to understand
  • 00:21:55.060 --> 00:21:56.290
  • that you're not gonna
  • 00:21:56.290 --> 00:21:57.200
  • completely understand
  • 00:21:57.200 --> 00:21:59.240
  • until the end.
  • 00:21:59.240 --> 00:22:00.200
  • Hopefully, today has given you
  • 00:22:00.200 --> 00:22:01.220
  • a little more understanding
  • 00:22:01.220 --> 00:22:02.240
  • of the chaos and crisis
  • 00:22:02.240 --> 00:22:03.220
  • in your life but it doesn't mean
  • 00:22:03.220 --> 00:22:04.190
  • that you're necessarily leaving
  • 00:22:04.190 --> 00:22:06.020
  • here, going,
  • 00:22:06.020 --> 00:22:06.190
  • "Oh, I'm cool with it now."
  • 00:22:06.190 --> 00:22:09.120
  • I don't think we're all
  • 00:22:09.120 --> 00:22:10.070
  • just cool with pain
  • 00:22:10.070 --> 00:22:12.010
  • or great with difficulty
  • 00:22:12.010 --> 00:22:13.110
  • or betrayal
  • 00:22:13.110 --> 00:22:14.200
  • or whatever your trial
  • 00:22:14.200 --> 00:22:15.120
  • happens to be, right?
  • 00:22:15.120 --> 00:22:17.150
  • But it does help you
  • 00:22:17.150 --> 00:22:18.130
  • to know this.
  • 00:22:18.130 --> 00:22:19.210
  • Listen.
  • 00:22:19.210 --> 00:22:20.080
  • Jesus never promised you would
  • 00:22:20.080 --> 00:22:21.280
  • not have trials and pain
  • 00:22:21.280 --> 00:22:23.290
  • or tragedy.
  • 00:22:23.290 --> 00:22:24.240
  • He promised to get you
  • 00:22:24.240 --> 00:22:26.140
  • through them.
  • 00:22:26.140 --> 00:22:28.200
  • He's with you through it.
  • 00:22:28.230 --> 00:22:31.230
  • Back in 1818 in France there was
  • 00:22:31.230 --> 00:22:33.220
  • a little boy named Louis.
  • 00:22:33.220 --> 00:22:36.090
  • Louis wanted to be
  • 00:22:36.090 --> 00:22:37.020
  • just like his daddy.
  • 00:22:37.020 --> 00:22:38.090
  • He was 9 years old
  • 00:22:38.090 --> 00:22:39.030
  • and, like most little boys,
  • 00:22:39.030 --> 00:22:39.260
  • he looked up to his dad.
  • 00:22:39.260 --> 00:22:41.190
  • His dad was a craftsman
  • 00:22:41.190 --> 00:22:42.280
  • by trade.
  • 00:22:42.280 --> 00:22:43.190
  • He was very good with his hands.
  • 00:22:43.190 --> 00:22:45.060
  • He was always building things
  • 00:22:45.060 --> 00:22:46.040
  • and selling them.
  • 00:22:46.040 --> 00:22:47.150
  • One day, he was in his shop
  • 00:22:47.150 --> 00:22:48.260
  • and he was working on something
  • 00:22:48.260 --> 00:22:49.250
  • and he had heated up
  • 00:22:49.250 --> 00:22:51.010
  • some iron ore and he was
  • 00:22:51.010 --> 00:22:52.160
  • banging out some metal
  • 00:22:52.160 --> 00:22:53.290
  • and he was shaping something
  • 00:22:53.290 --> 00:22:55.020
  • and he was building
  • 00:22:55.020 --> 00:22:56.010
  • and Louis said,
  • 00:22:56.010 --> 00:22:56.290
  • "Daddy, can I help?"
  • 00:22:56.290 --> 00:22:57.250
  • He said, "Sure, of course."
  • 00:22:57.250 --> 00:22:59.170
  • He said, "Go get your hammer.
  • 00:22:59.170 --> 00:23:00.170
  • You're gonna build something
  • 00:23:00.170 --> 00:23:01.040
  • beside me."
  • 00:23:01.040 --> 00:23:01.260
  • And so he went and he got
  • 00:23:01.260 --> 00:23:02.140
  • his little hammer and he had
  • 00:23:02.140 --> 00:23:03.080
  • a little piece and he heated up
  • 00:23:03.080 --> 00:23:04.130
  • a little bit and he said,
  • 00:23:04.130 --> 00:23:05.030
  • "Okay, now, get right up, now.
  • 00:23:05.030 --> 00:23:06.070
  • Okay, now, now hit it
  • 00:23:06.070 --> 00:23:07.000
  • just right here."
  • 00:23:07.000 --> 00:23:08.030
  • And so little Louis at age 9 has
  • 00:23:08.030 --> 00:23:09.290
  • a little hammer in his hand,
  • 00:23:09.290 --> 00:23:10.270
  • he was just wanting to be
  • 00:23:10.270 --> 00:23:11.240
  • like his daddy.
  • 00:23:11.240 --> 00:23:12.270
  • And he took the hammer and he
  • 00:23:12.270 --> 00:23:14.040
  • swung it real hard and he hit
  • 00:23:14.040 --> 00:23:15.050
  • what he was supposed to hit,
  • 00:23:15.050 --> 00:23:16.180
  • but what no one was prepared for
  • 00:23:16.180 --> 00:23:17.200
  • was that there was
  • 00:23:17.200 --> 00:23:18.050
  • a little piece on the side
  • 00:23:18.050 --> 00:23:19.200
  • that was just barely attached
  • 00:23:19.200 --> 00:23:22.150
  • and when he hit it it flew up
  • 00:23:22.150 --> 00:23:23.290
  • into his eye, blinded him
  • 00:23:23.290 --> 00:23:26.140
  • immediately in that eye.
  • 00:23:26.140 --> 00:23:28.260
  • Well, 2 or 3 years later,
  • 00:23:28.260 --> 00:23:29.230
  • unbeknownst to them, Louis went
  • 00:23:29.230 --> 00:23:31.260
  • blind in his other eye
  • 00:23:31.260 --> 00:23:32.290
  • and they don't really know why.
  • 00:23:32.290 --> 00:23:35.160
  • So now, he's a teenager,
  • 00:23:35.160 --> 00:23:37.190
  • totally blind.
  • 00:23:37.190 --> 00:23:39.100
  • It's hard enough being
  • 00:23:39.100 --> 00:23:39.250
  • a teenager, but try being
  • 00:23:39.250 --> 00:23:40.270
  • a teenager blind.
  • 00:23:40.270 --> 00:23:43.100
  • And so here he is,
  • 00:23:43.100 --> 00:23:44.010
  • he has no sight.
  • 00:23:44.010 --> 00:23:46.060
  • He's wallowing in frustration
  • 00:23:46.060 --> 00:23:47.100
  • like anyone would be.
  • 00:23:47.100 --> 00:23:49.110
  • One day, a friend of his
  • 00:23:49.110 --> 00:23:49.290
  • comes by to see him.
  • 00:23:49.290 --> 00:23:51.210
  • Louis heard him
  • 00:23:51.210 --> 00:23:52.070
  • and he said, "Hey."
  • 00:23:52.070 --> 00:23:52.270
  • He knew who he was immediately
  • 00:23:52.270 --> 00:23:53.210
  • just by the sound of his walk
  • 00:23:53.210 --> 00:23:54.240
  • 'cause that's what happens
  • 00:23:54.240 --> 00:23:55.220
  • when you're blind, by the way,
  • 00:23:55.220 --> 00:23:56.160
  • is you have
  • 00:23:56.160 --> 00:23:57.010
  • a heightened sensitivity
  • 00:23:57.010 --> 00:23:58.160
  • in other areas like your hearing
  • 00:23:58.160 --> 00:23:59.160
  • and your touch.
  • 00:23:59.160 --> 00:24:01.100
  • And so he
  • 00:24:01.100 --> 00:24:01.270
  • immediately said, "Hey."
  • 00:24:01.270 --> 00:24:03.150
  • He knew who he was.
  • 00:24:03.150 --> 00:24:04.190
  • And he said, "What do you hold
  • 00:24:04.190 --> 00:24:05.080
  • in your hand?"
  • 00:24:05.080 --> 00:24:06.220
  • He said, "Oh, I got
  • 00:24:06.220 --> 00:24:07.070
  • some pine cones,"
  • 00:24:07.070 --> 00:24:07.280
  • and Louis said,
  • 00:24:07.280 --> 00:24:08.180
  • "Can I have one?"
  • 00:24:08.180 --> 00:24:09.180
  • He said, "Sure."
  • 00:24:09.180 --> 00:24:10.070
  • So he put a pine cone
  • 00:24:10.070 --> 00:24:10.270
  • in his hand.
  • 00:24:10.270 --> 00:24:11.130
  • Of course, they're prickly,
  • 00:24:11.130 --> 00:24:12.060
  • you know, they're sharp
  • 00:24:12.060 --> 00:24:13.000
  • and he put it in his hand.
  • 00:24:13.000 --> 00:24:13.160
  • He's, "Ooh, ow," 'cause he had
  • 00:24:13.160 --> 00:24:15.010
  • heightened sensitivity
  • 00:24:15.010 --> 00:24:16.100
  • in his fingers and he began
  • 00:24:16.100 --> 00:24:17.220
  • to hold the pine cone
  • 00:24:17.220 --> 00:24:18.220
  • and as he sat there for a while,
  • 00:24:18.220 --> 00:24:19.210
  • quietly, his friend said,
  • 00:24:19.210 --> 00:24:20.160
  • "Are you okay?"
  • 00:24:20.160 --> 00:24:21.220
  • He said, "I got a great idea."
  • 00:24:21.220 --> 00:24:23.220
  • He said, "What?"
  • 00:24:23.220 --> 00:24:25.100
  • He goes, "Can you get
  • 00:24:25.100 --> 00:24:25.250
  • a piece of paper?"
  • 00:24:25.250 --> 00:24:27.270
  • "Sure."
  • 00:24:27.270 --> 00:24:29.120
  • "Get a pencil."
  • 00:24:29.120 --> 00:24:30.280
  • So he got it.
  • 00:24:30.280 --> 00:24:32.130
  • And right there, a teenage boy
  • 00:24:32.200 --> 00:24:35.200
  • named Louis Braille began
  • 00:24:35.200 --> 00:24:37.130
  • to create an alphabet
  • 00:24:37.130 --> 00:24:40.010
  • from the bumps he felt
  • 00:24:40.010 --> 00:24:41.190
  • on a pine cone.
  • 00:24:41.190 --> 00:24:44.010
  • And because of his pain
  • 00:24:44.010 --> 00:24:45.290
  • and because of his difficulty,
  • 00:24:45.290 --> 00:24:48.280
  • millions of blind people get
  • 00:24:48.280 --> 00:24:50.220
  • to enter into a world of books.
  • 00:24:50.220 --> 00:24:53.180
  • And I'm a little jealous
  • 00:24:53.180 --> 00:24:54.070
  • 'cause when Mom and Dad say
  • 00:24:54.070 --> 00:24:55.070
  • to turn the lights off,
  • 00:24:55.070 --> 00:24:56.000
  • they can keep reading.
  • 00:24:59.260 --> 00:25:02.280
  • So you can wallow in your pain
  • 00:25:02.280 --> 00:25:05.130
  • or you can say,
  • 00:25:05.130 --> 00:25:06.160
  • "God, as Job did, 'Though he
  • 00:25:06.160 --> 00:25:09.110
  • slay me, I will worship him.'
  • 00:25:10.040 --> 00:25:13.040
  • I don't understand why I'm going
  • 00:25:13.040 --> 00:25:14.000
  • through this, God, but I will
  • 00:25:14.000 --> 00:25:15.240
  • worship you, I will find
  • 00:25:15.240 --> 00:25:16.230
  • my purpose in this anyways.
  • 00:25:16.230 --> 00:25:19.060
  • I will be helpful to a world
  • 00:25:19.060 --> 00:25:21.060
  • in need, even though I myself
  • 00:25:21.060 --> 00:25:22.230
  • need help, I will try to make
  • 00:25:22.230 --> 00:25:25.080
  • a difference.
  • 00:25:25.080 --> 00:25:26.260
  • I will live my purpose.
  • 00:25:26.260 --> 00:25:28.160
  • - Bil: Wow, God is awesome.
  • 00:25:36.080 --> 00:25:38.210
  • He is clearly moving today.
  • 00:25:38.210 --> 00:25:40.140
  • I got a question
  • 00:25:40.140 --> 00:25:41.080
  • I'd like to ask you.
  • 00:25:41.080 --> 00:25:42.060
  • Have you prayed a simple prayer
  • 00:25:42.060 --> 00:25:43.210
  • to receive Christ
  • 00:25:43.210 --> 00:25:44.140
  • as your Lord and Savior?
  • 00:25:44.140 --> 00:25:46.010
  • If you've never done so,
  • 00:25:46.010 --> 00:25:47.140
  • would you pray
  • 00:25:47.140 --> 00:25:48.000
  • this simple prayer with me?
  • 00:25:48.000 --> 00:25:48.290
  • This is actually how you
  • 00:25:48.290 --> 00:25:49.290
  • become a Christian.
  • 00:25:49.290 --> 00:25:51.150
  • You can pray with me right now.
  • 00:25:51.150 --> 00:25:52.270
  • You can say, "Dear Jesus,
  • 00:25:52.270 --> 00:25:54.000
  • I realize I need you in my life.
  • 00:25:54.000 --> 00:25:56.180
  • I believe you died on the cross
  • 00:25:56.180 --> 00:25:58.030
  • to the pay the price
  • 00:25:58.030 --> 00:25:58.240
  • for all my sins, and that you
  • 00:25:58.240 --> 00:26:00.150
  • rose again from the grave,
  • 00:26:00.150 --> 00:26:02.010
  • proving that you're God.
  • 00:26:02.010 --> 00:26:03.140
  • And now I ask you,
  • 00:26:03.140 --> 00:26:04.120
  • I invite you to come
  • 00:26:04.120 --> 00:26:05.130
  • into my life, change me
  • 00:26:05.130 --> 00:26:07.010
  • from within, be my Lord
  • 00:26:07.010 --> 00:26:08.120
  • and be my Savior.
  • 00:26:08.120 --> 00:26:10.120
  • Thank you, Jesus,
  • 00:26:10.120 --> 00:26:11.060
  • for saving me."
  • 00:26:11.060 --> 00:26:12.290
  • If you just prayed that prayer,
  • 00:26:12.290 --> 00:26:13.280
  • we believe that Christ has come
  • 00:26:13.280 --> 00:26:14.290
  • into your life.
  • 00:26:14.290 --> 00:26:15.260
  • And that's what it means
  • 00:26:15.260 --> 00:26:16.250
  • to become a Christian.
  • 00:26:16.250 --> 00:26:17.270
  • Thanks so much for being
  • 00:26:17.270 --> 00:26:18.240
  • a part of our program today.
  • 00:26:18.240 --> 00:26:20.030
  • We hope you have a great week.
  • 00:26:20.030 --> 00:26:22.000
  • - female announcer: Many of us
  • 00:26:25.290 --> 00:26:26.180
  • face difficulties that challenge
  • 00:26:26.180 --> 00:26:27.140
  • our resolve and keep us from
  • 00:26:27.140 --> 00:26:28.250
  • moving forward.
  • 00:26:28.250 --> 00:26:29.270
  • As a thank you for your support
  • 00:26:29.270 --> 00:26:31.030
  • of Bil Cornelius Ministries,
  • 00:26:31.030 --> 00:26:32.130
  • we would like to send you a copy
  • 00:26:32.130 --> 00:26:33.210
  • of "Winning the War Within:
  • 00:26:33.210 --> 00:26:35.070
  • When You Feel Like Giving Up."
  • 00:26:35.070 --> 00:26:36.230
  • In this incredible DVD message,
  • 00:26:36.230 --> 00:26:38.120
  • Pastor Bil teaches the steps
  • 00:26:38.120 --> 00:26:39.260
  • to take when you
  • 00:26:39.260 --> 00:26:40.160
  • - Bil: The power of God is so
  • 00:26:42.170 --> 00:26:44.000
  • much bigger and stronger than
  • 00:26:44.000 --> 00:26:46.080
  • anything you're facing today,
  • 00:26:46.080 --> 00:26:47.140
  • that I believe what God wanted
  • 00:26:47.140 --> 00:26:48.170
  • to reveal to you today is not
  • 00:26:48.170 --> 00:26:49.210
  • some crazy, weird stuff.
  • 00:26:49.210 --> 00:26:51.040
  • But he wants to reveal to you
  • 00:26:51.040 --> 00:26:52.040
  • that he is available for
  • 00:26:52.040 --> 00:26:53.250
  • whatever you need right now.
  • 00:26:53.250 --> 00:26:55.190
  • - announcer: For a gift of $30
  • 00:26:57.200 --> 00:26:58.090
  • or more, you can receive the
  • 00:26:58.090 --> 00:26:59.170
  • complete series of
  • 00:26:59.170 --> 00:27:00.210
  • "Winning the War Within," which
  • 00:27:00.210 --> 00:27:01.240
  • - Bil: The next time the devil
  • 00:27:06.240 --> 00:27:07.240
  • reminds you of your past,
  • 00:27:07.240 --> 00:27:09.130
  • remind him of his future.
  • 00:27:09.130 --> 00:27:11.130
  • - announcer: To request your
  • 00:27:11.130 --> 00:27:12.090
  • copy of
  • 00:27:12.090 --> 00:27:13.000
  • "When You Feel Like Giving Up,"
  • 00:27:13.000 --> 00:27:13.280
  • or to receive the entire
  • 00:27:13.280 --> 00:27:15.010
  • "Winning the War Within"
  • 00:27:15.010 --> 00:27:16.060
  • series, call 855-357-4422,
  • 00:27:17.030 --> 00:27:20.030
  • CC by Aberdeen Captioning 1-800-688-6621 abercap.com
  • 00:27:25.060 --> 00:27:27.060