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It Is Written with John Bradshaw

John Bradshaw - Good Enough

July 27, 2025 | 29:0

John Bradshaw - Good Enough
It Is Written seeks to impact lives for Christ.
#Sports #Drugs #Culture #History #Athlete #Cheating #Character #Integrity

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It Is Written with John Bradshaw | John Bradshaw - Good Enough | July 27, 2025
  • ♪[dramatic, triumphant theme music]♪
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  • ♪[music ends]♪♪
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  • >>john bradshaw: this is "it is written."
  • 00:00:20.143 --> 00:00:21.945
  • I'm john bradshaw. thanks for joining me.
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  • Every four years our planet conducts an extravaganza,
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  • A festival in which are celebrated
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  • Both sporting excellence and pharmacological ingenuity.
  • 00:00:31.621 --> 00:00:36.993
  • Every olympic games in the last few decades has been roiled
  • 00:00:36.993 --> 00:00:40.463
  • By scandals involving performance-enhancing drugs.
  • 00:00:40.463 --> 00:00:45.101
  • Weightlifters and cyclists and boxers and runners
  • 00:00:45.101 --> 00:00:47.770
  • And swimmers, and on and on, are frequently found to have
  • 00:00:47.770 --> 00:00:50.373
  • Violated the games' very strict anti-doping regulations.
  • 00:00:50.373 --> 00:00:55.411
  • This kind of cheating first reared its ugly head
  • 00:00:55.411 --> 00:00:58.515
  • During the olympic games in the mid-1970s.
  • 00:00:58.515 --> 00:01:03.086
  • In 1976, a swimmer on the u.s. olympic team
  • 00:01:03.086 --> 00:01:06.923
  • In montreal, canada, was expected to bring home
  • 00:01:06.923 --> 00:01:09.993
  • A collection of gold medals. it was her second olympics.
  • 00:01:09.993 --> 00:01:14.164
  • She'd been at munich in 1972,
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  • Where she'd won a silver in a relay.
  • 00:01:16.266 --> 00:01:19.435
  • However, she wasn't as successful in montreal
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  • As people expected.
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  • She didn't go home to a slot
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  • On the lucrative celebrity speakers' tour.
  • 00:01:25.441 --> 00:01:28.444
  • She didn't get her face on the side of a wheaties box.
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  • And she didn't get a contract
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  • With a sports clothing manufacturer.
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  • She should have, and she would have, except for one thing.
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  • Shirley babashoff came up against the buzz saw
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  • That was the east german olympic swim team.
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  • In munich, in 1972, the east german women won five medals
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  • In the pool, two relay medals and three individual medals--
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  • No golds.
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  • The united states and australia
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  • Dominated the women's swimming events in munich.
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  • Australia's shane gould won five medals herself.
  • 00:02:02.612 --> 00:02:07.217
  • Shirley babashoff was 15 at the munich olympics.
  • 00:02:07.217 --> 00:02:10.620
  • To rule the pool in montreal, she'd have to get past
  • 00:02:10.620 --> 00:02:13.523
  • The east germans, who, over the previous four years,
  • 00:02:13.523 --> 00:02:16.626
  • Had improved immensely-- unbelievably, really--
  • 00:02:16.626 --> 00:02:20.597
  • And promised to be a major factor--and they were.
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  • In 1976 the east german women won 11 of the 13 gold medals
  • 00:02:24.867 --> 00:02:30.707
  • Up for grabs, setting world records in seven events
  • 00:02:30.707 --> 00:02:35.178
  • And setting two olympic records.
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  • It was thought that kornelia ender,
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  • Who went home to east germany with four gold medals,
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  • Had achieved what she achieved by hard work,
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  • Through rigorous training, and by maintaining a good diet.
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  • Even she believed that.
  • 00:02:50.260 --> 00:02:52.128
  • But the east german women became a force like none before
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  • And none since because of something
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  • Called state plan 14.25.
  • 00:02:58.635 --> 00:03:03.373
  • State plan 14.25 was part of a desperate attempt
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  • On the part of the communist east german government
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  • To demonstrate to the world
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  • The superiority of east german communism.
  • 00:03:10.980 --> 00:03:14.384
  • One expert on east german doping called state plan 14.25
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  • "the manhattan project of sports."
  • 00:03:19.255 --> 00:03:22.292
  • Athletes were force-fed performance-enhancing drugs.
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  • It made them potent in the pool
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  • But did a tremendous amount of physical and emotional damage.
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  • Gerd bonk, the world-record-holding
  • 00:03:33.303 --> 00:03:35.772
  • Weightlifter, who won silver in montreal
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  • Behind the soviet colossus vasily alekseyev,
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  • Spent the last three decades of his life in a wheelchair
  • 00:03:41.110 --> 00:03:45.148
  • Owing to kidney failure,
  • 00:03:45.148 --> 00:03:46.449
  • Brought on by anabolic steroid use, many believe.
  • 00:03:46.449 --> 00:03:50.153
  • In fact, bonk's consumption of anabolic steroids
  • 00:03:50.153 --> 00:03:52.555
  • In just one year is the greatest consumption ever documented.
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  • One west german journalist joked that a west german farmer
  • 00:03:57.593 --> 00:04:01.030
  • Could fatten up a whole stable of cattle
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  • With the drugs bonk consumed.
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  • The drugs were distributed far and wide.
  • 00:04:06.102 --> 00:04:08.871
  • Even teenage figure skaters were plied
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  • With performance-enhancing but often body-destroying drugs.
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  • Females who took the drugs often developed male characteristics.
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  • A man who used to swim for an elite american college team
  • 00:04:19.916 --> 00:04:22.819
  • Told me personally that he had friends
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  • On the 1976 olympic swim team who told him this story.
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  • He said several u.s. women in the changing room in montreal
  • 00:04:29.892 --> 00:04:32.829
  • Were alarmed to hear a deep voice.
  • 00:04:32.829 --> 00:04:35.231
  • Going to investigate, they discovered the deep voice
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  • Belonged to an east german female swimmer.
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  • "what a deep voice you have," one of the american women said.
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  • The east german woman looked at her and said,
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  • "we didn't come here to sing."
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  • Shirley babashoff and every other non-east german
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  • Female swimmer was ripped off by east germany.
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  • She and others were deprived
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  • Not only of their chance of a lifetime,
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  • Of the just rewards of the years of discipline and training,
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  • But also of the money they would have earned
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  • By being olympic champions.
  • 00:05:08.498 --> 00:05:10.600
  • And the media didn't understand what was going on,
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  • Branding shirley babashoff "surly shirley"
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  • Because of her demeanor at the pool.
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  • She knew it was cheating that kept her
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  • From winning gold medals.
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  • It would be awhile before this scandal
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  • Became general knowledge.
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  • She did win four silver medals and a gold in the relay,
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  • But, strangely, that's not considered real success
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  • When the world is expecting you to win gold.
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  • She returned home from the olympic games
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  • And eventually took up a job delivering mail
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  • For the u.s. postal service.
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  • She essentially wasn't heard from in public
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  • For another 40 years.
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  • And it wasn't just east germany that was cheating in 1976.
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  • Although he denied it,
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  • It's believed the great finnish athlete lasse virén,
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  • Who won the 5,000 meters and 10,000 meters double
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  • On the track in 1972 and 1976,
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  • Was almost certainly blood doping at the time.
  • 00:06:05.721 --> 00:06:08.825
  • The thing is, it wasn't illegal then.
  • 00:06:08.825 --> 00:06:11.627
  • In blood doping, red blood cells are injected into an athlete
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  • Before competition, increasing the amount of red blood cells
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  • In the athlete's system, thereby increasing endurance.
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  • They are the athlete's own red blood cells,
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  • Extracted previously.
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  • Now, virén's story comes close to home for me.
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  • The runner who finished second to virén in the 5,000 meters
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  • In montreal was a new zealander, dick quax.
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  • Stories like this are everywhere in sport.
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  • The big story of the seoul olympics was ben johnson,
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  • The canadian sprinter who was disqualified
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  • After winning the 100 meters
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  • For his use of stanozolol, an anabolic steroid.
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  • Of the eight men in that race, six tested positive
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  • For performance-enhancing drugs during their careers.
  • 00:06:56.439 --> 00:06:59.575
  • We could talk about the russian team being largely disinvited
  • 00:06:59.575 --> 00:07:02.912
  • From the rio olympics in 2018
  • 00:07:02.912 --> 00:07:05.448
  • Or the russian paralympic team being completely excluded
  • 00:07:05.448 --> 00:07:09.018
  • From the rio paralympics.
  • 00:07:09.018 --> 00:07:11.020
  • And why was that? cheating.
  • 00:07:11.020 --> 00:07:13.556
  • A state-sponsored drugs cheating program.
  • 00:07:13.556 --> 00:07:17.994
  • So, why do people do it?
  • 00:07:17.994 --> 00:07:20.563
  • And what can be learned from this
  • 00:07:20.563 --> 00:07:22.698
  • From a biblical point of view?
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  • I'll tell you how this relates to you in just a moment.
  • 00:07:25.067 --> 00:07:29.305
  • ♪[upbeat music swells and ends]♪♪
  • 00:07:29.305 --> 00:07:36.345
  • >>announcer: today's free offer is
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  • "victorious: living a new life in jesus."
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  • You'll learn how to move beyond the mistakes of yesterday
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  • To experience victory today.
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  • Call 800-253-3000 right now.
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  • That's 800-253-3000,
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  • Get this free resource now
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  • And enter into the life of victory god wants for you:
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  • 00:08:03.506 --> 00:08:08.044
  • >>john bradshaw: thanks for joining me on "it is written."
  • 00:08:09.745 --> 00:08:12.014
  • Cheating in athletics
  • 00:08:12.014 --> 00:08:13.316
  • Through the use of performance-enhancing drugs
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  • Has become part of the sporting landscape.
  • 00:08:15.184 --> 00:08:17.987
  • In the early 2020s, more than 60 athletes from kenya,
  • 00:08:17.987 --> 00:08:21.724
  • Including a boston marathon winner,
  • 00:08:21.724 --> 00:08:24.594
  • Had been suspended from competition due to doping.
  • 00:08:24.594 --> 00:08:28.931
  • So, why do people do it?
  • 00:08:28.931 --> 00:08:30.933
  • In the early days of using epo, which lance armstrong used,
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  • 20 young belgian and dutch cyclists died,
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  • According to "the guardian."
  • 00:08:38.140 --> 00:08:40.209
  • Lance armstrong rode his first tour de france clean.
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  • He turned to cheating because he knew that if he didn't cheat,
  • 00:08:44.547 --> 00:08:47.416
  • He'd never win the famous race, which was awash in cheating.
  • 00:08:47.416 --> 00:08:52.254
  • He wasn't inherently dishonest;
  • 00:08:52.254 --> 00:08:54.724
  • He simply realized that if he wanted to win,
  • 00:08:54.724 --> 00:08:57.893
  • He needed to play by the same rules--
  • 00:08:57.893 --> 00:09:00.062
  • Or break the same rules-- as his opponents.
  • 00:09:00.062 --> 00:09:04.200
  • In other words, lance armstrong, marion jones, kornelia ender,
  • 00:09:04.200 --> 00:09:08.638
  • Ben johnson, and so many more had one thing in common:
  • 00:09:08.638 --> 00:09:13.342
  • Their best wasn't good enough.
  • 00:09:13.342 --> 00:09:16.679
  • Now, the reason i bring this up
  • 00:09:16.679 --> 00:09:18.114
  • Is because there's a profoundly important spiritual parallel.
  • 00:09:18.114 --> 00:09:22.118
  • When the apostle paul wrote his first letter
  • 00:09:22.118 --> 00:09:24.086
  • To the church in corinth,
  • 00:09:24.086 --> 00:09:25.254
  • He used this interesting descriptor.
  • 00:09:25.254 --> 00:09:28.290
  • This is 1 corinthians 9, verse 24:
  • 00:09:28.290 --> 00:09:30.960
  • "know ye not that they which run in a race run all,
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  • But one receiveth the prize? so run, that ye may obtain."
  • 00:09:34.664 --> 00:09:40.202
  • He's alluding to the ancient games, and he says,
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  • Although many run, there's only one winner.
  • 00:09:42.672 --> 00:09:46.075
  • So, if you're going to run in the christian race,
  • 00:09:46.075 --> 00:09:48.210
  • Run to win, he says.
  • 00:09:48.210 --> 00:09:50.212
  • It's like legendary football coach vince lombardi once said,
  • 00:09:50.212 --> 00:09:53.616
  • "winning isn't everything. it's the only thing."
  • 00:09:53.616 --> 00:09:56.285
  • Now, substitute the word "salvation" for "winning,"
  • 00:09:56.285 --> 00:09:59.889
  • And you're making a pretty good point.
  • 00:09:59.889 --> 00:10:01.991
  • Let paul's words sink in.
  • 00:10:01.991 --> 00:10:04.694
  • In christianity, if you're going to run, run to win.
  • 00:10:04.694 --> 00:10:10.232
  • Ben johnson ran, and he was afraid his best
  • 00:10:10.232 --> 00:10:12.702
  • Wouldn't be good enough to beat carl lewis.
  • 00:10:12.702 --> 00:10:14.637
  • And truth be told, it probably wasn't.
  • 00:10:14.637 --> 00:10:17.306
  • Lance armstrong wouldn't have won a tour de france
  • 00:10:17.306 --> 00:10:19.675
  • Against the drug-fueled european cyclists
  • 00:10:19.675 --> 00:10:23.112
  • Because his best wasn't good enough.
  • 00:10:23.112 --> 00:10:25.514
  • He'd have been cycling uphill.
  • 00:10:25.514 --> 00:10:27.717
  • So, if you are running in the christian race,
  • 00:10:27.717 --> 00:10:31.387
  • Is your best good enough?
  • 00:10:31.387 --> 00:10:34.190
  • Now, let me answer that for you.
  • 00:10:34.190 --> 00:10:35.858
  • The answer is, no. no, it isn't.
  • 00:10:35.858 --> 00:10:40.863
  • There are some profound statements in the bible
  • 00:10:40.863 --> 00:10:43.232
  • That help us see the depths of our brokenness.
  • 00:10:43.232 --> 00:10:46.736
  • "all have sinned, and come short of the glory of god."
  • 00:10:46.736 --> 00:10:49.405
  • And exactly three chapters later,
  • 00:10:49.405 --> 00:10:51.240
  • Paul writes that "the wages of sin is death."
  • 00:10:51.240 --> 00:10:55.511
  • We've all sinned, and therefore we all deserve death.
  • 00:10:55.511 --> 00:11:00.316
  • Our best? not so good.
  • 00:11:00.316 --> 00:11:02.885
  • Back in romans 3, verse 10, quoting from psalm 14,
  • 00:11:02.885 --> 00:11:05.988
  • Paul says, "as it is written,
  • 00:11:05.988 --> 00:11:08.290
  • 'there is none righteous, no, not one.'"
  • 00:11:08.290 --> 00:11:11.861
  • Every last human being on earth is a broken sinner.
  • 00:11:11.861 --> 00:11:17.166
  • And no matter what you think of yourself, that includes you.
  • 00:11:17.166 --> 00:11:21.504
  • We want to go to heaven, but heaven isn't for sinful people.
  • 00:11:21.504 --> 00:11:26.008
  • Who's it for?
  • 00:11:26.008 --> 00:11:27.343
  • It's for holy people. it's for righteous people.
  • 00:11:27.343 --> 00:11:32.348
  • You can't get to heaven without righteousness.
  • 00:11:32.348 --> 00:11:36.018
  • And yet the bible tells us very directly that
  • 00:11:36.018 --> 00:11:38.521
  • "all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags."
  • 00:11:38.521 --> 00:11:42.091
  • That's isaiah 64:6.
  • 00:11:42.091 --> 00:11:44.860
  • So what hope do we have?
  • 00:11:44.860 --> 00:11:46.262
  • We're not good enough to go to heaven.
  • 00:11:46.262 --> 00:11:49.565
  • Most of us realize that we're not all that we ought to be.
  • 00:11:49.565 --> 00:11:52.902
  • We see rough spots in our character.
  • 00:11:52.902 --> 00:11:55.538
  • And what's the common response to seeing things
  • 00:11:55.538 --> 00:11:57.406
  • In your life, in your heart that shouldn't be there?
  • 00:11:57.406 --> 00:12:00.910
  • What's a very common response when you realize
  • 00:12:00.910 --> 00:12:04.013
  • That your best isn't good enough for heaven?
  • 00:12:04.013 --> 00:12:07.082
  • It's really common for people to say, "i'll try harder.
  • 00:12:07.082 --> 00:12:11.420
  • "i'll do better. i'll take it more seriously.
  • 00:12:11.420 --> 00:12:15.658
  • I'll do my absolute best."
  • 00:12:15.658 --> 00:12:18.928
  • And that's an absolute disaster. and why is that?
  • 00:12:18.928 --> 00:12:25.201
  • It's because we don't have a thing
  • 00:12:25.201 --> 00:12:26.869
  • That's worth giving to god.
  • 00:12:26.869 --> 00:12:28.237
  • Our righteousnesses? filthy rags.
  • 00:12:28.237 --> 00:12:31.574
  • That's not to say we shouldn't do right. of course, we should.
  • 00:12:31.574 --> 00:12:34.376
  • But our own righteousness is not worth anything.
  • 00:12:34.376 --> 00:12:38.214
  • In fact, paul said that his righteousness was no better
  • 00:12:38.214 --> 00:12:41.350
  • Than manure, "dung" in the king james version.
  • 00:12:41.350 --> 00:12:45.187
  • That, he said, is all that his self-righteousness was worth:
  • 00:12:45.187 --> 00:12:50.359
  • Manure.
  • 00:12:50.359 --> 00:12:52.228
  • So what's the solution to this,
  • 00:12:52.228 --> 00:12:53.929
  • For people who are not good enough for heaven?
  • 00:12:53.929 --> 00:12:57.199
  • Here's what i want you to remember.
  • 00:12:57.199 --> 00:12:59.201
  • Jesus never asked you to be good.
  • 00:12:59.201 --> 00:13:02.738
  • He did tell us, however, to be holy,
  • 00:13:02.738 --> 00:13:05.841
  • But mentioning that makes it frightening for many christians,
  • 00:13:05.841 --> 00:13:08.911
  • Because who in the world would stand up and say, "i am holy"?
  • 00:13:08.911 --> 00:13:12.615
  • Well, don't worry because jesus made a promise
  • 00:13:12.615 --> 00:13:15.584
  • That has got you covered.
  • 00:13:15.584 --> 00:13:18.053
  • You'll find it in luke 11, and i'll start in luke 11, verse 11.
  • 00:13:18.053 --> 00:13:21.824
  • Jesus said, "if a son shall ask bread of any of you
  • 00:13:21.824 --> 00:13:24.860
  • "that is a father, will he give him a stone?
  • 00:13:24.860 --> 00:13:27.563
  • Or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?"
  • 00:13:27.563 --> 00:13:33.369
  • That's easy to relate to.
  • 00:13:33.369 --> 00:13:35.204
  • It isn't hard for parents to spoil their kids
  • 00:13:35.204 --> 00:13:37.706
  • Because parents want to give good things to their children.
  • 00:13:37.706 --> 00:13:41.343
  • They want to provide for their children.
  • 00:13:41.343 --> 00:13:44.580
  • Watch where jesus goes with this now.
  • 00:13:44.580 --> 00:13:47.316
  • Verse 12: "or if he shall ask an egg,
  • 00:13:47.316 --> 00:13:50.986
  • Will he offer him a scorpion?"
  • 00:13:50.986 --> 00:13:53.722
  • That's almost funny, isn't it?
  • 00:13:53.722 --> 00:13:55.124
  • Jesus was dealing in the absurd
  • 00:13:55.124 --> 00:13:57.259
  • To make a very, very, very important point,
  • 00:13:57.259 --> 00:14:01.130
  • One he does not want you to miss, because, remember,
  • 00:14:01.130 --> 00:14:05.100
  • According to the bible, your best is not good enough.
  • 00:14:05.100 --> 00:14:09.238
  • Here's verse 13:
  • 00:14:09.238 --> 00:14:10.906
  • "if ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts
  • 00:14:10.906 --> 00:14:14.109
  • "unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly father
  • 00:14:14.109 --> 00:14:18.547
  • Give the holy spirit to them that ask him?"
  • 00:14:18.547 --> 00:14:23.285
  • And there it is. god promises you the holy spirit.
  • 00:14:23.285 --> 00:14:29.925
  • He promises the holy spirit to anyone who asks.
  • 00:14:29.925 --> 00:14:34.396
  • It's that simple.
  • 00:14:34.396 --> 00:14:35.731
  • "how much more shall your heavenly father
  • 00:14:35.731 --> 00:14:39.034
  • Give the holy spirit to them that ask him?"
  • 00:14:39.034 --> 00:14:45.307
  • And what is this gift?
  • 00:14:45.307 --> 00:14:47.209
  • The holy spirit is the third person of the godhead
  • 00:14:47.209 --> 00:14:51.246
  • And brings the personal presence of jesus into your life.
  • 00:14:51.246 --> 00:14:55.684
  • First john 3, verse 24 says,
  • 00:14:55.684 --> 00:14:57.653
  • "and by this we know that he abides in us,
  • 00:14:57.653 --> 00:15:00.422
  • By the [holy] spirit whom he has given us."
  • 00:15:00.422 --> 00:15:04.593
  • Our best can never be good enough.
  • 00:15:04.593 --> 00:15:07.563
  • Humans are broken, fallen, unrighteous.
  • 00:15:07.563 --> 00:15:11.166
  • But when you accept jesus,
  • 00:15:11.166 --> 00:15:13.635
  • Something powerful happens in your life.
  • 00:15:13.635 --> 00:15:16.772
  • Jesus comes into your life through the holy spirit.
  • 00:15:16.772 --> 00:15:20.642
  • And rather than you possessing the holy spirit,
  • 00:15:20.642 --> 00:15:22.945
  • It's really more accurate to say,
  • 00:15:22.945 --> 00:15:25.214
  • The holy spirit possesses you.
  • 00:15:25.214 --> 00:15:27.649
  • When jesus enters your life,
  • 00:15:27.649 --> 00:15:29.418
  • When the holy spirit comes into your life
  • 00:15:29.418 --> 00:15:31.086
  • And brings the personal presence of jesus into your life,
  • 00:15:31.086 --> 00:15:34.456
  • Jesus comes in with--well, what?
  • 00:15:34.456 --> 00:15:37.793
  • When jesus enters your life, he brings his holiness.
  • 00:15:37.793 --> 00:15:41.764
  • He brings his obedience.
  • 00:15:41.764 --> 00:15:43.665
  • He brings his life-changing power.
  • 00:15:43.665 --> 00:15:46.602
  • He brings his righteousness.
  • 00:15:46.602 --> 00:15:48.737
  • And what kind of righteousness is that?
  • 00:15:48.737 --> 00:15:51.440
  • It is perfect righteousness.
  • 00:15:51.440 --> 00:15:54.243
  • When you request the gift of the holy spirit,
  • 00:15:54.243 --> 00:15:56.545
  • When you surrender to god,
  • 00:15:56.545 --> 00:15:58.213
  • God gives you the life-altering gift
  • 00:15:58.213 --> 00:16:01.517
  • That is the only thing that can prepare you for heaven.
  • 00:16:01.517 --> 00:16:05.354
  • God gives you jesus' own righteousness,
  • 00:16:05.354 --> 00:16:09.091
  • And with that, you are qualified for heaven.
  • 00:16:09.091 --> 00:16:13.996
  • So, how can you experience the power of the holy spirit?
  • 00:16:13.996 --> 00:16:17.966
  • I'll tell you that in just a moment.
  • 00:16:17.966 --> 00:16:20.803
  • ♪[upbeat music swells and ends]♪♪
  • 00:16:20.803 --> 00:16:27.843
  • >>john: thank you for remembering that it is written
  • 00:16:29.545 --> 00:16:31.447
  • Exists because of the kindness of people just like you.
  • 00:16:31.447 --> 00:16:34.883
  • To support this international life-changing ministry,
  • 00:16:34.883 --> 00:16:38.120
  • Please call us now at 800-253-3000.
  • 00:16:38.120 --> 00:16:42.357
  • You can send your tax-deductible gift
  • 00:16:42.357 --> 00:16:43.859
  • To the address on your screen,
  • 00:16:43.859 --> 00:16:45.327
  • Or you can visit online at itiswritten.com.
  • 00:16:45.327 --> 00:16:49.231
  • Thank you for your prayers and for your financial support.
  • 00:16:49.231 --> 00:16:52.000
  • Our number again is 800-253-3000,
  • 00:16:52.000 --> 00:16:56.071
  • Or you can visit us online at itiswritten.com.
  • 00:16:56.071 --> 00:16:59.108
  • >>john: i meet people who are worried
  • 00:17:00.075 --> 00:17:01.610
  • They'll never be good enough to go to heaven.
  • 00:17:01.610 --> 00:17:04.246
  • And they're right.
  • 00:17:04.246 --> 00:17:05.481
  • You'll never be good enough to go to heaven.
  • 00:17:05.481 --> 00:17:07.683
  • But when jesus comes into your heart, that changes everything.
  • 00:17:07.683 --> 00:17:12.921
  • And he doesn't come into your heart as a performance-enhancer.
  • 00:17:12.921 --> 00:17:16.725
  • Jesus doesn't take your best and then add to it.
  • 00:17:16.725 --> 00:17:19.761
  • He comes into your life to make you new
  • 00:17:19.761 --> 00:17:22.931
  • So that he can live his life in you.
  • 00:17:22.931 --> 00:17:25.167
  • So that he can work in you "both to will and to do
  • 00:17:25.167 --> 00:17:29.204
  • For his good pleasure," as philippians 2:13 says.
  • 00:17:29.204 --> 00:17:32.574
  • "he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it
  • 00:17:32.574 --> 00:17:35.777
  • Until the day of jesus christ."
  • 00:17:35.777 --> 00:17:37.679
  • That's philippians 1 and verse 6.
  • 00:17:37.679 --> 00:17:39.615
  • He comes into your life; he starts the work;
  • 00:17:39.615 --> 00:17:43.185
  • You surrender to him and allow him to do his will.
  • 00:17:43.185 --> 00:17:47.055
  • He continues that work; he finishes that work.
  • 00:17:47.055 --> 00:17:50.626
  • You cooperate. you surrender. he does the work.
  • 00:17:50.626 --> 00:17:54.229
  • You are not modified; you are re-created.
  • 00:17:54.229 --> 00:17:58.267
  • When you come to faith in christ, the old you dies.
  • 00:17:58.267 --> 00:18:02.271
  • Paul wrote to three churches-- the romans, the ephesians,
  • 00:18:02.271 --> 00:18:05.440
  • And the colossians--about the "old man" or the "old person."
  • 00:18:05.440 --> 00:18:10.512
  • That's who you were before jesus came into your life.
  • 00:18:10.512 --> 00:18:14.082
  • What happens when you accept jesus
  • 00:18:14.082 --> 00:18:15.851
  • Is that the old you dies and you are born again.
  • 00:18:15.851 --> 00:18:19.788
  • It's one of the reasons so many people struggle in their faith
  • 00:18:19.788 --> 00:18:23.058
  • Because they never allow the old them to be put to death.
  • 00:18:23.058 --> 00:18:27.429
  • They don't experience a death to the old life.
  • 00:18:27.429 --> 00:18:31.266
  • Faith in god wasn't given to make you a good person.
  • 00:18:31.266 --> 00:18:34.736
  • Both the world and the church are full of moralists,
  • 00:18:34.736 --> 00:18:39.441
  • People who will talk about christianity
  • 00:18:39.441 --> 00:18:41.510
  • Without ever being remade by christ.
  • 00:18:41.510 --> 00:18:44.213
  • They'll quote the bible without ever understanding
  • 00:18:44.213 --> 00:18:46.515
  • Matthew 4 in verse 4:
  • 00:18:46.515 --> 00:18:48.183
  • "it is written, 'man shall not live by bread alone,
  • 00:18:48.183 --> 00:18:52.454
  • But by every word that proceeds from the mouth of god.'"
  • 00:18:52.454 --> 00:18:56.258
  • Discussing people who "walk in the vanity [or futility]
  • 00:18:56.258 --> 00:19:00.329
  • Of their mind," paul wrote,
  • 00:19:00.329 --> 00:19:02.464
  • "that you put off, concerning your former conduct,
  • 00:19:02.464 --> 00:19:05.334
  • "the old man which grows corrupt
  • 00:19:05.334 --> 00:19:07.336
  • "according to the deceitful lusts,
  • 00:19:07.336 --> 00:19:09.338
  • "and be renewed in the spirit of your mind,
  • 00:19:09.338 --> 00:19:12.407
  • "and that you put on the new man which was created
  • 00:19:12.407 --> 00:19:15.711
  • According to god, in true righteousness and holiness."
  • 00:19:15.711 --> 00:19:20.415
  • This is what that power of the holy spirit accomplishes.
  • 00:19:20.415 --> 00:19:23.452
  • He makes you new.
  • 00:19:23.452 --> 00:19:25.454
  • This is what jesus was referring to when he spoke to nicodemus
  • 00:19:25.454 --> 00:19:28.257
  • About "being born of the spirit."
  • 00:19:28.257 --> 00:19:30.659
  • It's that heavenly power that, like the wind, you can't see,
  • 00:19:30.659 --> 00:19:34.930
  • But you can see its effects.
  • 00:19:34.930 --> 00:19:36.965
  • No one alive can be good enough for heaven.
  • 00:19:36.965 --> 00:19:40.102
  • That's why jesus died on the cross.
  • 00:19:40.102 --> 00:19:42.671
  • He bore your sins, and dying as a perfect sacrifice,
  • 00:19:42.671 --> 00:19:47.075
  • He gives you his righteousness, his goodness.
  • 00:19:47.075 --> 00:19:51.313
  • At the cross, jesus said, "i'll take care of your sin.
  • 00:19:51.313 --> 00:19:54.883
  • I'll give you a new heart. i'll make you pure."
  • 00:19:54.883 --> 00:19:57.753
  • That sin you're carrying around? jesus died for that.
  • 00:19:57.753 --> 00:20:01.356
  • Why would you carry it with you everywhere you go?
  • 00:20:01.356 --> 00:20:04.326
  • That guilt you've been feeling about mistakes made in the past?
  • 00:20:04.326 --> 00:20:08.230
  • Why carry that guilt?
  • 00:20:08.230 --> 00:20:09.765
  • At calvary, jesus died for your sin
  • 00:20:09.765 --> 00:20:13.068
  • So that you could be free from that.
  • 00:20:13.068 --> 00:20:15.570
  • You accept jesus, and there's no guilt.
  • 00:20:15.570 --> 00:20:18.006
  • He took care of that at the cross.
  • 00:20:18.006 --> 00:20:20.942
  • Your best can't ever be good enough for heaven.
  • 00:20:20.942 --> 00:20:24.413
  • So trust in jesus, who died for you.
  • 00:20:24.413 --> 00:20:27.783
  • Look away from yourself and trust in his goodness.
  • 00:20:27.783 --> 00:20:32.254
  • Trust in the sacrifice he made for you at calvary.
  • 00:20:32.254 --> 00:20:36.491
  • When you do that, he gives you his righteousness.
  • 00:20:36.491 --> 00:20:40.495
  • The holy spirit will come into your life.
  • 00:20:40.495 --> 00:20:42.931
  • This is not a performance-enhancing drug;
  • 00:20:42.931 --> 00:20:45.434
  • It's the third person of the godhead living in your life.
  • 00:20:45.434 --> 00:20:49.104
  • The presence of the holy spirit brings salvation into your life
  • 00:20:49.104 --> 00:20:53.675
  • And remakes you.
  • 00:20:53.675 --> 00:20:55.577
  • You can't ever be the same again after allowing jesus
  • 00:20:55.577 --> 00:21:01.149
  • To live his life in you.
  • 00:21:01.149 --> 00:21:03.618
  • Let's finish with another track-and-field story.
  • 00:21:03.618 --> 00:21:06.488
  • One of the greatest athletes of all time was emil zátopek,
  • 00:21:06.488 --> 00:21:10.826
  • The czechoslovakian who won gold in the 10,000 meters
  • 00:21:10.826 --> 00:21:14.763
  • And silver in the 5,000 meters at the london olympics in 1948.
  • 00:21:14.763 --> 00:21:19.801
  • Four years later in helsinki, finland,
  • 00:21:19.801 --> 00:21:22.671
  • Zátopek won the gold medal in the 5,000 meters,
  • 00:21:22.671 --> 00:21:26.174
  • The 10,000 meters, and the marathon--
  • 00:21:26.174 --> 00:21:28.977
  • The first marathon he ever ran.
  • 00:21:28.977 --> 00:21:31.613
  • It's inconceivable that anyone could ever do that again.
  • 00:21:31.613 --> 00:21:36.485
  • His running style was, was not exactly art.
  • 00:21:36.485 --> 00:21:39.788
  • One journalist described his running as looking
  • 00:21:39.788 --> 00:21:41.990
  • Like "someone wrestling with an octopus on a conveyor belt."
  • 00:21:41.990 --> 00:21:45.394
  • Another said that "it always looked like his next step
  • 00:21:45.394 --> 00:21:48.196
  • Would be his last."
  • 00:21:48.196 --> 00:21:49.731
  • He wasn't bothered by the critiquing.
  • 00:21:49.731 --> 00:21:51.266
  • He'd say, "i always thought the objective was to go fast."
  • 00:21:51.266 --> 00:21:55.003
  • And zátopek did.
  • 00:21:55.003 --> 00:21:56.805
  • He trained as though his life depended on it.
  • 00:21:56.805 --> 00:21:59.508
  • And he had a personality
  • 00:21:59.508 --> 00:22:00.976
  • That won him friends wherever he went.
  • 00:22:00.976 --> 00:22:04.379
  • In 1966, zátopek's life intersected with that
  • 00:22:04.379 --> 00:22:08.316
  • Of another great athlete, ron clarke of australia,
  • 00:22:08.316 --> 00:22:11.753
  • Who set 17 world records.
  • 00:22:11.753 --> 00:22:14.890
  • In 1965 clarke set 12 world records in 44 days,
  • 00:22:14.890 --> 00:22:21.430
  • But he never won the big one.
  • 00:22:21.430 --> 00:22:23.165
  • He might be the greatest athlete to have never won
  • 00:22:23.165 --> 00:22:26.568
  • An olympic gold medal.
  • 00:22:26.568 --> 00:22:28.537
  • In 1966, at the invitation of zátopek,
  • 00:22:28.537 --> 00:22:32.607
  • Ron clarke ran in a track meet in prague.
  • 00:22:32.607 --> 00:22:36.311
  • Zátopek drove to the airport after the event
  • 00:22:36.311 --> 00:22:39.214
  • And accompanied him all the way to the steps of the plane.
  • 00:22:39.214 --> 00:22:41.850
  • Remember, this was 1966.
  • 00:22:41.850 --> 00:22:43.952
  • When he gave the australian a small package
  • 00:22:43.952 --> 00:22:47.088
  • Wrapped in brown paper, he said,
  • 00:22:47.088 --> 00:22:49.791
  • "this is for you because you deserve it."
  • 00:22:49.791 --> 00:22:54.196
  • Clarke wondered if it was a message for the outside world
  • 00:22:54.196 --> 00:22:56.898
  • Or something his czech friend wanted smuggled
  • 00:22:56.898 --> 00:22:59.267
  • Out of czechoslovakia,
  • 00:22:59.267 --> 00:23:01.069
  • Which was behind the iron curtain back then.
  • 00:23:01.069 --> 00:23:03.538
  • When his plane landed at london's heathrow airport,
  • 00:23:03.538 --> 00:23:06.241
  • Clarke's curiosity won out, and he opened the package.
  • 00:23:06.241 --> 00:23:11.646
  • Inside was one of zátopek's own gold medals,
  • 00:23:11.646 --> 00:23:16.785
  • One of the three he won in helsinki 14 years earlier.
  • 00:23:16.785 --> 00:23:21.623
  • He gave away one of his gold medals
  • 00:23:21.623 --> 00:23:23.492
  • To a man he had only met once.
  • 00:23:23.492 --> 00:23:27.062
  • And why? because "you deserve it."
  • 00:23:27.062 --> 00:23:31.867
  • One day, jesus is going to come back.
  • 00:23:31.867 --> 00:23:35.203
  • We're going to heaven.
  • 00:23:35.203 --> 00:23:36.771
  • And when we get there, according to what paul wrote to timothy,
  • 00:23:36.771 --> 00:23:40.509
  • He'll give us, not a gold medal, but a golden crown.
  • 00:23:40.509 --> 00:23:45.013
  • And why would jesus do that? because we deserve it?
  • 00:23:45.013 --> 00:23:49.017
  • No, we don't deserve it, and we never will.
  • 00:23:49.017 --> 00:23:53.522
  • Jesus said in john 16,
  • 00:23:53.522 --> 00:23:54.956
  • "it is expedient for you that i go away: for if i go not away,
  • 00:23:54.956 --> 00:23:59.127
  • "the comforter will not come unto you;
  • 00:23:59.127 --> 00:24:01.763
  • But if i depart, i will send him unto you."
  • 00:24:01.763 --> 00:24:06.167
  • He said the holy spirit "would reprove"--or convict--
  • 00:24:06.167 --> 00:24:09.104
  • "the world of sin and of righteousness and of judgment."
  • 00:24:09.104 --> 00:24:14.543
  • How do you receive the holy spirit? remember?
  • 00:24:14.543 --> 00:24:17.145
  • "if ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts
  • 00:24:17.145 --> 00:24:19.414
  • "unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly father
  • 00:24:19.414 --> 00:24:22.651
  • Give the holy spirit to them that ask him?"
  • 00:24:22.651 --> 00:24:27.155
  • God wants you to have the gift of the holy spirit.
  • 00:24:27.155 --> 00:24:29.824
  • Ask for it now. don't wait. renew that prayer every day.
  • 00:24:29.824 --> 00:24:34.296
  • Remind god you're willing to have jesus move in
  • 00:24:34.296 --> 00:24:37.566
  • And sin and self-righteousness move out.
  • 00:24:37.566 --> 00:24:41.469
  • Tell him you're willing for god to work in you
  • 00:24:41.469 --> 00:24:45.240
  • "both to will and to do of his good pleasure."
  • 00:24:45.240 --> 00:24:50.779
  • Jesus will give us the crown that he deserves.
  • 00:24:50.779 --> 00:24:55.517
  • Not because we're good, but because he,
  • 00:24:55.517 --> 00:24:58.219
  • Through the holy spirit, has come into our lives
  • 00:24:58.219 --> 00:25:01.189
  • And transformed us by his power, through his grace,
  • 00:25:01.189 --> 00:25:07.195
  • And given us his righteousness.
  • 00:25:07.195 --> 00:25:11.032
  • And that will be good enough.
  • 00:25:11.032 --> 00:25:14.903
  • >>announcer: today's free offer is
  • 00:25:14.970 --> 00:25:16.638
  • "victorious: living a new life in jesus."
  • 00:25:16.638 --> 00:25:19.174
  • You'll learn how to move beyond the mistakes of yesterday
  • 00:25:19.174 --> 00:25:21.509
  • To experience victory today.
  • 00:25:21.509 --> 00:25:23.244
  • To receive "victorious: living a new life in jesus,"
  • 00:25:23.244 --> 00:25:25.947
  • Call 800-253-3000 right now.
  • 00:25:25.947 --> 00:25:29.117
  • That's 800-253-3000,
  • 00:25:29.117 --> 00:25:31.720
  • Or visit us online at iiwoffer.com.
  • 00:25:31.720 --> 00:25:34.889
  • Get this free resource now
  • 00:25:34.889 --> 00:25:36.758
  • And enter into the life of victory god wants for you:
  • 00:25:36.758 --> 00:25:39.494
  • 800-253-3000 or iiwoffer.com.
  • 00:25:39.494 --> 00:25:43.932
  • >>john: let's pray together now.
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  • Our father in heaven, in jesus' name we come to you,
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  • Thanking you that you have goodness to give,
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  • Righteousness to share,
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  • A holy spirit who would live his life in us.
  • 00:25:57.012 --> 00:26:02.083
  • Friend, have you been trying to be good enough?
  • 00:26:02.083 --> 00:26:05.687
  • Have you been experiencing the frustration,
  • 00:26:05.687 --> 00:26:07.822
  • The futility of doing your best,
  • 00:26:07.822 --> 00:26:09.958
  • Thinking that will change your sinful heart?
  • 00:26:09.958 --> 00:26:11.893
  • ♪[soft reflective music]♪
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  • Well, lord, we know right now that what we need
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  • Is a new heart given to us
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  • When jesus brings his life into our own.
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  • Friend, do you want that? do you want that life,
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  • The life of jesus living in your life?
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  • Would you open up your heart to jesus now?
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  • Pray with me. our father in heaven, give me jesus.
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  • Create in me a clean heart. take away my sin.
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  • I accept from you everlasting life.
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  • We thank you, dear father, for hearing our prayer,
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  • And we pray in jesus' name. amen.
  • 00:26:43.625 --> 00:26:48.496
  • Thanks so much for joining me.
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  • I'm looking forward to seeing you again next time.
  • 00:26:49.631 --> 00:26:51.533
  • Until then, remember:
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  • "it is written, 'man shall not live by bread alone,
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  • But by every word that proceeds from the mouth of god.'"
  • 00:26:57.806 --> 00:27:02.143
  • ♪[dramatic, triumphant theme music]♪
  • 00:27:02.143 --> 00:27:22.530
  • ♪[music ends]♪♪
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