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It Is Written with John Bradshaw

John Bradshaw - How To Have Faith

August 3, 2025 | 29:0

John Bradshaw - How To Have Faith
It Is Written seeks to impact lives for Christ.
#WordofGod #Peace #Justification #Faithfulness #Provision #Worship #Healing #ServantofGod #Anointing

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It Is Written with John Bradshaw | John Bradshaw - How To Have Faith | August 3, 2025
  • ♪[dramatic, triumphant theme music]♪
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  • ♪[music ends]♪♪
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  • >>john bradshaw: thanks for joining me on "it is written."
  • 00:00:20.009 --> 00:00:22.612
  • The bible says that people
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  • Are saved "by grace... through faith,"
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  • Underscoring that faith is really important.
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  • According to the bible, you can't be saved without it.
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  • So, what is faith, and how can you have it?
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  • And how can your faith grow?
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  • We're going to find that out together.
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  • I heard recently from a woman
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  • Who shared the experience of her friend.
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  • She said, "she doesn't understand faith,
  • 00:00:44.334 --> 00:00:47.036
  • "and she doesn't know how to get it. she's let me know
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  • That she doesn't trust god with her life."
  • 00:00:49.739 --> 00:00:52.909
  • There are people who aren't sure how to exercise faith
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  • Or want to have more faith.
  • 00:00:55.612 --> 00:00:57.580
  • And what if you weren't raised to accept the bible
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  • As the word of god? and then you hear about a man being swallowed
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  • By a great fish--maybe a whale--
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  • Who then spent three days and nights
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  • On the most incredible submarine voyage in history.
  • 00:01:06.823 --> 00:01:09.926
  • Or of a time where there'd never been rain,
  • 00:01:09.926 --> 00:01:12.228
  • And noah builds an ark because god tells him
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  • The world is going to be flooded,
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  • And only eight people get on the boat and are saved.
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  • Or the idea that our earliest ancestors lived
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  • For almost 1,000 years.
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  • Now, i believe that 100%.
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  • But you can understand why someone would find that
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  • Hard to believe. you need faith to believe that.
  • 00:01:29.946 --> 00:01:33.650
  • And there are people who believe creation and the flood
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  • And the virgin birth and the story of jonah
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  • And water from a rock and manna on the ground,
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  • And they struggle with having faith.
  • 00:01:41.824 --> 00:01:44.160
  • And that can be for a variety of reasons.
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  • You go through a difficult experience.
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  • You feel god didn't protect you.
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  • You might have a hard time with that.
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  • Your friends challenge your beliefs, or a science teacher
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  • Tells you you're unwise for believing creation.
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  • Your faith can flag.
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  • But you don't want it to.
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  • Remember, we're saved by faith, by grace through faith.
  • 00:02:01.010 --> 00:02:06.015
  • Jesus once asked this searching question:
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  • "when the son of man comes,
  • 00:02:09.352 --> 00:02:10.753
  • Will he really find faith on the earth?"
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  • That's luke 18, verse 8.
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  • He knew that in our secular world, faith might be
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  • A challenge due to people being bombarded or overwhelmed
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  • By opposing secular ideas.
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  • Romans says that we are "justified"--
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  • Made right with god--"by faith."
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  • Having faith is important.
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  • So, we want to know what faith is,
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  • And we want to know how to have faith.
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  • In fact, the book of romans says,
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  • "whatsoever is not of faith is sin."
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  • I want you to know that you can have faith
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  • And that your faith can grow, that you can have strong faith.
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  • God wants that for you. so do i.
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  • So, here's a bible definition of faith.
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  • The bible says, "faith is the substance of things hoped for,
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  • The evidence of things not seen."
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  • That's hebrews 11, verse 1.
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  • Let's try to understand that.
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  • Faith is believing you have what you hope for.
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  • It's having evidence for something that you can't see.
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  • Christianity is built on faith.
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  • We talk about god, but we've never seen him.
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  • I can tell you god exists, but i can't claim
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  • To have spoken with him face to face.
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  • I couldn't tell you what his voice sounds like.
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  • Now, i will tell you that god makes impressions on my mind
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  • Through a variety of means.
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  • But someone might think that i'm just imagining things.
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  • And how could i prove otherwise?
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  • So, is faith simply an excuse for being able to believe
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  • In a god that we cannot see?
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  • That's a fair question.
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  • Is faith a convenient excuse for believing in a god
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  • We don't have any evidence for?
  • 00:03:46.983 --> 00:03:49.218
  • The bible writers were so confident that they said
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  • Faith is believing you have it,
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  • Even when you don't see that you have it.
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  • Is that rational?
  • 00:03:56.392 --> 00:03:57.393
  • Well, yes. absolutely.
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  • Especially when you consider that some bible writers
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  • Communicated directly with god.
  • 00:04:02.498 --> 00:04:04.500
  • Moses, who most likely wrote six books of the bible,
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  • Spoke with god, spent time with god on mount sinai.
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  • Matthew and john knew jesus personally.
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  • Paul encountered god directly.
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  • The prophets were moved by the holy spirit.
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  • They had reasons to believe.
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  • If that's the case, if the bible writers interacted
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  • Personally with god, then faith in god doesn't sound irrational.
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  • So, let's look at some examples of faith.
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  • First, romans, chapter 4,
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  • Paul is discussing a story that took place
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  • Back in the book of genesis.
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  • Here is what he says.
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  • Romans 4, starting in verse 13:
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  • "for the promise, that he should be the heir of the world,
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  • "was not to abraham, or to his seed, through the law,
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  • But through the righteousness of faith."
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  • We're talking about the man known as "the father of faith."
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  • Paul is in the midst of explaining that salvation
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  • Comes by faith and not by the works of the law.
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  • He's already said the law is good, and he'll say so again,
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  • But his point here is that salvation is obtained by faith.
  • 00:05:04.360 --> 00:05:09.165
  • Speaking of abraham, we read,
  • 00:05:09.165 --> 00:05:11.300
  • "who against hope believed in hope,
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  • "that he might become the father of many nations,
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  • "according to that which was spoken,
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  • 'so shall thy seed be.'"
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  • Now, what's going on here?
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  • Abraham, who is not a young man,
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  • Was told that he would be a father,
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  • Even though his wife sarah was close to 90 years old.
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  • That would be...unusual.
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  • If i told abraham his wife was going to have a baby at 90,
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  • He should not have believed me
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  • Because i cannot guarantee something like that.
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  • But it was god who told abraham this, and what was his reaction?
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  • "he staggered not at the promise of god through unbelief;
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  • "but was strong in faith, giving glory to god;
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  • "and being fully persuaded that, what he had promised,
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  • He was able also to perform."
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  • That was faith.
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  • God said it, and abraham believed it.
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  • As huge as this was, abraham was fully persuaded
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  • That god could do what he promised.
  • 00:06:09.792 --> 00:06:12.395
  • And verse 22 says,
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  • "and therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness."
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  • Why is this such a stirring example of faith?
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  • Because humanly speaking, this was impossible.
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  • Yet, in spite of appearances, abraham believed god.
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  • Even though he believed against hope, he believed.
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  • He had faith.
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  • Abraham expected the word of god to do
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  • What it said it would simply because it said so.
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  • So, how does that work for you?
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  • Well, when god says, "i will provide for your needs,"
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  • Faith says, "i believe you will."
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  • I know folks who are missionaries,
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  • And they never, ever ask anyone for money.
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  • They're in the mission field, and they've chosen to say,
  • 00:06:58.074 --> 00:07:00.710
  • "god, you have promised to provide for us,
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  • And so we believe you will."
  • 00:07:03.946 --> 00:07:05.214
  • Just like george müller did in england in the 1800s.
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  • That's faith. oh, i'm not saying everybody should do that,
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  • But they choose to, and god is providing for them.
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  • Now, could that be presumption?
  • 00:07:14.557 --> 00:07:16.292
  • Well, it, it could, i guess,
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  • And we'll talk about that in a moment.
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  • But in abraham's case, god pledged that abraham and sarah
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  • Would have a baby.
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  • Abraham had a choice: believe god or not believe god.
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  • He chose to believe.
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  • In other words, abraham chose to have faith.
  • 00:07:32.241 --> 00:07:36.312
  • Now, another story about real faith:
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  • This example of faith was so powerful
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  • That jesus said he'd never seen anything like it.
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  • We go to matthew, chapter 8.
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  • And because we're in matthew 8,
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  • Well, let's look at another faith story,
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  • Right at the beginning of the chapter:
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  • "when he had come down from the mountain,
  • 00:07:49.725 --> 00:07:51.460
  • "great multitudes followed him.
  • 00:07:51.460 --> 00:07:52.862
  • "and behold, a leper came and worshiped him, saying,
  • 00:07:52.862 --> 00:07:55.831
  • 'lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.'"
  • 00:07:55.831 --> 00:07:59.168
  • Now, that's faith.
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  • This man believed jesus was able to cleanse him
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  • Of a deadly disease.
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  • You know, leprosy still exists today,
  • 00:08:05.641 --> 00:08:07.543
  • Although it's known as hansen's disease now.
  • 00:08:07.543 --> 00:08:10.846
  • There are about 200,000 new cases a year,
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  • Two-thirds of them in india,
  • 00:08:13.749 --> 00:08:15.585
  • Although brazil has the most cases of leprosy per capita.
  • 00:08:15.585 --> 00:08:19.555
  • The leprosy mission says leprosy can be transmitted
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  • Through droplets of moisture.
  • 00:08:22.358 --> 00:08:24.760
  • Nine-banded armadillos can carry leprosy,
  • 00:08:24.760 --> 00:08:27.530
  • Although transmission from armadillos to humans
  • 00:08:27.530 --> 00:08:30.299
  • Is exceedingly rare.
  • 00:08:30.299 --> 00:08:32.301
  • And leprosy can be transmitted through open wounds.
  • 00:08:32.301 --> 00:08:35.137
  • However, if you were to get it, you'd have little to fear,
  • 00:08:35.137 --> 00:08:37.673
  • Especially if it was detected early.
  • 00:08:37.673 --> 00:08:39.675
  • Leprosy is very treatable today.
  • 00:08:39.675 --> 00:08:42.979
  • But back then, leprosy was a death sentence.
  • 00:08:42.979 --> 00:08:46.616
  • And a man with leprosy said to jesus, "you can heal me.
  • 00:08:46.616 --> 00:08:51.020
  • I believe you can do this."
  • 00:08:51.020 --> 00:08:53.189
  • And "jesus put out his hand and touched him, saying,
  • 00:08:53.189 --> 00:08:57.059
  • "'i am willing; be cleansed.'
  • 00:08:57.059 --> 00:09:00.229
  • Immediately his leprosy was cleansed."
  • 00:09:00.229 --> 00:09:03.699
  • He believed jesus could heal him of a deadly disease.
  • 00:09:03.699 --> 00:09:08.137
  • He had faith in jesus.
  • 00:09:08.137 --> 00:09:10.506
  • Which leads us to another story of true faith.
  • 00:09:10.506 --> 00:09:14.543
  • You want to grow in faith in god,
  • 00:09:15.978 --> 00:09:18.581
  • And you want to know what god says to you.
  • 00:09:18.581 --> 00:09:20.883
  • You want to experience the love of god.
  • 00:09:20.883 --> 00:09:24.220
  • But what about the children close to you?
  • 00:09:24.220 --> 00:09:25.721
  • And what about the children in your community?
  • 00:09:25.721 --> 00:09:28.024
  • Vacation bible school is an excellent way to reach
  • 00:09:28.024 --> 00:09:30.793
  • Your community for jesus and share the love of god
  • 00:09:30.793 --> 00:09:33.496
  • With young minds and young hearts.
  • 00:09:33.496 --> 00:09:35.398
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  • Now, watch this:
  • 00:10:13.202 --> 00:10:14.537
  • "now when jesus had entered capernaum,
  • 00:10:14.537 --> 00:10:16.372
  • "a centurion came to him, pleading with him, saying,
  • 00:10:16.372 --> 00:10:19.675
  • "'lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed,
  • 00:10:19.675 --> 00:10:24.180
  • "dreadfully tormented.' and jesus said to him,
  • 00:10:24.180 --> 00:10:27.383
  • 'i will come and heal him.'"
  • 00:10:27.383 --> 00:10:28.884
  • The man's reaction was not what you'd expect.
  • 00:10:28.884 --> 00:10:32.221
  • I'm sure if jesus said he was coming to your home
  • 00:10:32.221 --> 00:10:34.557
  • To heal your servant or your family member,
  • 00:10:34.557 --> 00:10:36.392
  • You'd be overjoyed.
  • 00:10:36.392 --> 00:10:37.893
  • But the centurion said, "no." imagine that.
  • 00:10:37.893 --> 00:10:41.864
  • "i'll come to your home and heal your servant"--and "no."
  • 00:10:41.864 --> 00:10:46.535
  • But there's a reason for that:
  • 00:10:46.535 --> 00:10:48.738
  • "the centurion answered and said, 'lord,
  • 00:10:48.738 --> 00:10:51.874
  • "'i am not worthy that you should come under my roof.
  • 00:10:51.874 --> 00:10:55.077
  • But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed.'"
  • 00:10:55.077 --> 00:10:58.914
  • See that? "just speak a word."
  • 00:10:58.914 --> 00:11:02.351
  • "i believe there is power in your word."
  • 00:11:02.351 --> 00:11:05.921
  • And he explained why he felt that way:
  • 00:11:05.921 --> 00:11:07.757
  • "for i also am a man under authority,
  • 00:11:07.757 --> 00:11:10.159
  • "having soldiers under me.
  • 00:11:10.159 --> 00:11:12.194
  • "and i say to this one, 'go,' and he goes;
  • 00:11:12.194 --> 00:11:14.530
  • "and to another, 'come,' and he comes; and to my servant,
  • 00:11:14.530 --> 00:11:16.599
  • 'do this,' and he does it."
  • 00:11:16.599 --> 00:11:18.968
  • He said, "as a centurion, when i give an order,
  • 00:11:18.968 --> 00:11:22.338
  • "that order is followed.
  • 00:11:22.338 --> 00:11:24.406
  • "so i believe that if you say something,
  • 00:11:24.406 --> 00:11:27.109
  • "what you say will happen.
  • 00:11:27.109 --> 00:11:29.445
  • "i don't need you to come to my house.
  • 00:11:29.445 --> 00:11:31.413
  • "i only need you to say the word.
  • 00:11:31.413 --> 00:11:34.016
  • If you give the word, then what you say will be done."
  • 00:11:34.016 --> 00:11:38.821
  • Jesus was blown away.
  • 00:11:38.821 --> 00:11:41.824
  • "when jesus heard it, he marveled,
  • 00:11:41.824 --> 00:11:44.059
  • "and said to those who followed, 'assuredly, i say to you,
  • 00:11:44.059 --> 00:11:47.830
  • I have not found such great faith, not even in israel!'"
  • 00:11:47.830 --> 00:11:53.102
  • That's faith.
  • 00:11:53.102 --> 00:11:54.370
  • He believed that there was power enough in jesus' word
  • 00:11:54.370 --> 00:11:56.539
  • To heal a man.
  • 00:11:56.539 --> 00:11:57.873
  • In his mind, jesus didn't even need to see the servant.
  • 00:11:57.873 --> 00:12:03.112
  • "just speak a word, and my servant will be healed."
  • 00:12:03.112 --> 00:12:06.849
  • What's really interesting about this is that the man
  • 00:12:06.849 --> 00:12:09.685
  • Was a centurion, a leader of as many as 100 soldiers
  • 00:12:09.685 --> 00:12:14.623
  • In the roman military.
  • 00:12:14.623 --> 00:12:16.625
  • He was a gentile.
  • 00:12:16.625 --> 00:12:17.927
  • He wasn't raised to believe in god.
  • 00:12:17.927 --> 00:12:21.130
  • In luke's account of the story, the man's servant--
  • 00:12:21.130 --> 00:12:23.833
  • Or slave, actually--"was sick and ready to die."
  • 00:12:23.833 --> 00:12:28.604
  • And the man who had never studied the bible in his life
  • 00:12:28.604 --> 00:12:32.341
  • Believed jesus could heal... with a word!
  • 00:12:32.341 --> 00:12:37.012
  • Which jesus did. he healed him.
  • 00:12:37.012 --> 00:12:39.849
  • Luke writes that "those who were sent,
  • 00:12:39.849 --> 00:12:42.451
  • "returning to the house, found the servant well
  • 00:12:42.451 --> 00:12:45.688
  • Who had been sick."
  • 00:12:45.688 --> 00:12:47.323
  • Matthew said, "his servant was healed that same hour."
  • 00:12:47.323 --> 00:12:51.427
  • He believed. that's faith.
  • 00:12:51.427 --> 00:12:53.762
  • He believed the word of god would do
  • 00:12:53.762 --> 00:12:55.431
  • What it said it would do.
  • 00:12:55.431 --> 00:12:57.333
  • And that's how you can have faith:
  • 00:12:57.333 --> 00:12:59.768
  • By believing god's word will do what it says it will do.
  • 00:12:59.768 --> 00:13:04.406
  • Here's what you do. you read a statement in the bible,
  • 00:13:06.008 --> 00:13:08.878
  • Perhaps one of the 3,573 promises in the bible--
  • 00:13:08.878 --> 00:13:13.315
  • At least by one count.
  • 00:13:13.315 --> 00:13:15.117
  • For example, you're not sure what to do:
  • 00:13:15.117 --> 00:13:18.354
  • Do you go to this college or that college?
  • 00:13:18.354 --> 00:13:20.422
  • Do you accept this job or that job?
  • 00:13:20.422 --> 00:13:23.359
  • Do you date the guy or not? whatever it might be.
  • 00:13:23.359 --> 00:13:26.662
  • And you look at proverbs 3:5-6, which says,
  • 00:13:26.662 --> 00:13:29.865
  • "trust in the lord with all your heart,
  • 00:13:29.865 --> 00:13:31.734
  • "and lean not on your own understanding;
  • 00:13:31.734 --> 00:13:34.303
  • "in all your ways acknowledge him,
  • 00:13:34.303 --> 00:13:36.772
  • And he shall direct your paths."
  • 00:13:36.772 --> 00:13:39.008
  • That's a promise to you.
  • 00:13:39.008 --> 00:13:41.677
  • God promises that he will direct your paths,
  • 00:13:41.677 --> 00:13:43.846
  • And so you pray and you say, "lord,
  • 00:13:43.846 --> 00:13:46.782
  • "i'm in a bind here because i'm not sure which option to take,
  • 00:13:46.782 --> 00:13:49.451
  • "which direction to go, what to do about something.
  • 00:13:49.451 --> 00:13:51.854
  • "but you have promised to direct my paths,
  • 00:13:51.854 --> 00:13:54.857
  • So i'm believing that you will. i'm claiming this promise."
  • 00:13:54.857 --> 00:13:58.861
  • Then you have a right to believe that god will do so.
  • 00:13:58.861 --> 00:14:01.864
  • That's faith.
  • 00:14:01.864 --> 00:14:03.999
  • Give you another example. you realize you're a sinner.
  • 00:14:03.999 --> 00:14:06.502
  • You feel terrible about it, and you want to have the assurance
  • 00:14:06.502 --> 00:14:09.705
  • That your sins are forgiven.
  • 00:14:09.705 --> 00:14:11.473
  • And you read 1 john 1, verse 9, which says,
  • 00:14:11.473 --> 00:14:15.744
  • "if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us
  • 00:14:15.744 --> 00:14:19.848
  • Our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
  • 00:14:19.848 --> 00:14:24.520
  • And so you confess your sins, and based on the word of god,
  • 00:14:24.520 --> 00:14:28.891
  • Based on what the bible says, you believe that god
  • 00:14:28.891 --> 00:14:32.361
  • Will forgive you and cleanse you of all unrighteousness.
  • 00:14:32.361 --> 00:14:37.566
  • The reason this is faith is that you have zero reason
  • 00:14:37.566 --> 00:14:40.703
  • To believe god will forgive you
  • 00:14:40.703 --> 00:14:42.538
  • Other than that the bible says so.
  • 00:14:42.538 --> 00:14:45.674
  • The bible says it, and you believe it.
  • 00:14:45.674 --> 00:14:48.577
  • And you know that you're forgiven.
  • 00:14:48.577 --> 00:14:51.046
  • Abraham became a father at 100; his wife was 90.
  • 00:14:51.046 --> 00:14:55.584
  • Abraham could have said, "i just don't believe that."
  • 00:14:55.584 --> 00:14:59.355
  • No one would have faulted him.
  • 00:14:59.355 --> 00:15:01.390
  • But because it was god who said they'd have a child,
  • 00:15:01.390 --> 00:15:04.760
  • Abraham believed--faith.
  • 00:15:04.760 --> 00:15:07.463
  • Here's another biblical example.
  • 00:15:08.464 --> 00:15:10.165
  • A canaanite woman approaches jesus.
  • 00:15:10.165 --> 00:15:12.868
  • His disciples want nothing to do with her,
  • 00:15:12.868 --> 00:15:14.770
  • Which is terrible, of course.
  • 00:15:14.770 --> 00:15:16.205
  • "have mercy on me, o lord, son of david!
  • 00:15:16.205 --> 00:15:18.607
  • My daughter is severely demon-possessed."
  • 00:15:18.607 --> 00:15:20.509
  • Matthew 15:22.
  • 00:15:20.509 --> 00:15:22.111
  • So jesus challenges her and lets the disciples see
  • 00:15:22.111 --> 00:15:26.181
  • Just how bad their own attitudes were.
  • 00:15:26.181 --> 00:15:28.183
  • First jesus says, "i was not sent
  • 00:15:28.183 --> 00:15:30.853
  • Except to the lost sheep of the house of israel."
  • 00:15:30.853 --> 00:15:33.522
  • The disciples would have been shocked by jesus' reaction
  • 00:15:33.522 --> 00:15:36.592
  • And might even have felt smug
  • 00:15:36.592 --> 00:15:38.260
  • About their own hard-heartedness.
  • 00:15:38.260 --> 00:15:40.496
  • But the woman, who was not a jew,
  • 00:15:40.496 --> 00:15:43.032
  • Was not from capernaum or jerusalem and, therefore,
  • 00:15:43.032 --> 00:15:45.501
  • Didn't have the benefit of associating with jesus,
  • 00:15:45.501 --> 00:15:48.504
  • Wouldn't take "no" for an answer.
  • 00:15:48.504 --> 00:15:50.706
  • She said, "yes, lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs
  • 00:15:50.706 --> 00:15:55.444
  • Which fall from their masters' table."
  • 00:15:55.444 --> 00:15:58.313
  • And jesus is amazed by this and says,
  • 00:15:58.313 --> 00:16:01.450
  • "'o woman, great is your faith! let it be to you as you desire.'
  • 00:16:01.450 --> 00:16:06.321
  • And her daughter was healed from that very hour."
  • 00:16:06.321 --> 00:16:09.625
  • What was so great about her faith?
  • 00:16:09.625 --> 00:16:11.960
  • She was a foreigner. she believed.
  • 00:16:11.960 --> 00:16:15.998
  • And even when it seemed she wasn't getting anywhere
  • 00:16:15.998 --> 00:16:18.500
  • With jesus, she wouldn't quit.
  • 00:16:18.500 --> 00:16:21.070
  • She clung to him in faith.
  • 00:16:21.070 --> 00:16:24.440
  • That's what you want to do.
  • 00:16:24.440 --> 00:16:26.442
  • When you can't find a spouse,
  • 00:16:26.442 --> 00:16:28.777
  • Don't think god will never provide for you.
  • 00:16:28.777 --> 00:16:31.313
  • When you're looking for a home to buy or an apartment to rent,
  • 00:16:31.313 --> 00:16:34.116
  • Sometimes those things take a while.
  • 00:16:34.116 --> 00:16:36.618
  • Don't think your faith won't be rewarded.
  • 00:16:36.618 --> 00:16:40.222
  • One woman i know of prayed to the lord that her teenage son
  • 00:16:40.289 --> 00:16:44.259
  • Would return to faith in god.
  • 00:16:44.259 --> 00:16:46.495
  • And he did--when she was 99 years old.
  • 00:16:46.495 --> 00:16:51.967
  • She didn't quit.
  • 00:16:51.967 --> 00:16:53.435
  • You want prevailing faith, faith that doesn't let go
  • 00:16:53.435 --> 00:16:56.772
  • When the answer doesn't come right away.
  • 00:16:56.772 --> 00:16:59.141
  • Philippians 4:19 says, "my god shall supply all your need
  • 00:16:59.141 --> 00:17:02.578
  • According to his riches in glory by christ jesus."
  • 00:17:02.578 --> 00:17:05.481
  • And so you believe that and expect god to provide for you.
  • 00:17:05.481 --> 00:17:09.751
  • And that's faith.
  • 00:17:09.751 --> 00:17:11.086
  • And if you want your faith to grow, use the faith you have.
  • 00:17:11.086 --> 00:17:14.423
  • Strength grows by exercise.
  • 00:17:14.423 --> 00:17:16.391
  • Exercise your faith, and you'll see your faith grow.
  • 00:17:16.391 --> 00:17:19.928
  • Take opportunities to believe god and to claim
  • 00:17:19.928 --> 00:17:23.165
  • The promises of god, and you'll see god come through for you,
  • 00:17:23.165 --> 00:17:26.802
  • And your faith will grow.
  • 00:17:26.802 --> 00:17:28.470
  • No, faith doesn't guarantee you'll get everything
  • 00:17:28.470 --> 00:17:31.607
  • Or that there will be no rainy days.
  • 00:17:31.607 --> 00:17:33.909
  • But when you have faith in god,
  • 00:17:33.909 --> 00:17:35.177
  • You'll see that even when you don't get what you ask for,
  • 00:17:35.177 --> 00:17:37.913
  • Even when the ball doesn't bounce your way,
  • 00:17:37.913 --> 00:17:40.716
  • You'll still love and trust and believe god.
  • 00:17:40.716 --> 00:17:43.919
  • And that might be the greatest example of faith:
  • 00:17:43.919 --> 00:17:47.089
  • Believing in god even when it seems
  • 00:17:47.089 --> 00:17:49.458
  • Things aren't going your way.
  • 00:17:49.458 --> 00:17:52.060
  • Two things--
  • 00:17:52.060 --> 00:17:53.195
  • One, you don't want to confuse faith and presumption.
  • 00:17:53.195 --> 00:17:57.199
  • That promise in proverbs 3,
  • 00:17:57.199 --> 00:17:58.534
  • "trust in the lord with all your heart,
  • 00:17:58.534 --> 00:18:01.436
  • "and lean not on your own understanding;
  • 00:18:01.436 --> 00:18:03.805
  • "in all your ways acknowledge him,
  • 00:18:03.805 --> 00:18:06.308
  • And he shall direct your paths"--
  • 00:18:06.308 --> 00:18:09.077
  • There's something in there you don't want to miss.
  • 00:18:09.077 --> 00:18:11.813
  • God says, "trust in the lord with all your heart,"
  • 00:18:11.813 --> 00:18:15.117
  • As far as you can, given your experience with jesus.
  • 00:18:15.117 --> 00:18:18.687
  • This promise is for people, who in a given situation,
  • 00:18:18.687 --> 00:18:21.490
  • Do not lean on their own understanding.
  • 00:18:21.490 --> 00:18:25.027
  • If you find a promise like this and live carelessly
  • 00:18:25.027 --> 00:18:27.663
  • And don't turn to god and you claim this promise,
  • 00:18:27.663 --> 00:18:30.532
  • Now, that's presumption.
  • 00:18:30.532 --> 00:18:32.034
  • Faith cooperates with the conditions of god's word.
  • 00:18:32.034 --> 00:18:34.803
  • Presumption does not.
  • 00:18:34.803 --> 00:18:36.405
  • Presumption is you living in sin, living selfishly,
  • 00:18:36.405 --> 00:18:40.776
  • And believing that god will forgive your sins.
  • 00:18:40.776 --> 00:18:44.046
  • "god so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son,
  • 00:18:44.046 --> 00:18:49.017
  • "that whosoever believeth in him should not perish,
  • 00:18:49.017 --> 00:18:52.254
  • But have everlasting life."
  • 00:18:52.254 --> 00:18:54.790
  • When you say, "i believe in jesus,
  • 00:18:54.790 --> 00:18:57.559
  • So therefore i must have eternal life,"
  • 00:18:57.559 --> 00:19:00.862
  • But you haven't surrendered your life to jesus,
  • 00:19:00.862 --> 00:19:03.565
  • That's presumption.
  • 00:19:03.565 --> 00:19:04.733
  • To believe, biblically speaking,
  • 00:19:04.733 --> 00:19:07.769
  • Isn't just to assent mentally
  • 00:19:07.769 --> 00:19:10.205
  • That jesus is the savior of the world.
  • 00:19:10.205 --> 00:19:13.075
  • To believe is to surrender your life to him and grow in grace.
  • 00:19:13.075 --> 00:19:18.680
  • There are a lot of people, even in church,
  • 00:19:18.680 --> 00:19:21.783
  • Who wouldn't know surrender to jesus if it bit them,
  • 00:19:21.783 --> 00:19:25.721
  • And yet they're busy thinking that they have faith
  • 00:19:25.721 --> 00:19:27.389
  • And so they'll be saved.
  • 00:19:27.389 --> 00:19:29.024
  • No. faith doesn't cling to sin.
  • 00:19:29.024 --> 00:19:32.561
  • Faith clings to jesus.
  • 00:19:32.561 --> 00:19:36.498
  • And there's another aspect of this, and that is...
  • 00:19:36.565 --> 00:19:38.834
  • Why you have faith.
  • 00:19:38.834 --> 00:19:40.502
  • I'm not advocating blind faith.
  • 00:19:40.502 --> 00:19:42.871
  • Why trust god? why believe his promises?
  • 00:19:42.871 --> 00:19:45.173
  • Why believe he loves you or cares for you
  • 00:19:45.173 --> 00:19:47.542
  • Or has a future for you?
  • 00:19:47.542 --> 00:19:49.177
  • Or that there's a heaven at all?
  • 00:19:49.177 --> 00:19:51.446
  • The truth is you can have faith in god
  • 00:19:51.446 --> 00:19:53.415
  • Because you'd be reckless not to.
  • 00:19:53.415 --> 00:19:57.419
  • Here are some reasons you can have faith in the bible
  • 00:19:57.419 --> 00:20:00.088
  • And faith in god.
  • 00:20:00.088 --> 00:20:01.456
  • Paul wrote that "the invisible things of him
  • 00:20:01.456 --> 00:20:04.226
  • "from the creation of the world are clearly seen,
  • 00:20:04.226 --> 00:20:07.496
  • "being understood by the things that are made,
  • 00:20:07.496 --> 00:20:09.831
  • "even his eternal power and godhead;
  • 00:20:09.831 --> 00:20:12.401
  • So that they are without excuse."
  • 00:20:12.401 --> 00:20:13.802
  • Romans 1, verse 20.
  • 00:20:13.802 --> 00:20:15.470
  • He's saying you can know there is a god and therefore
  • 00:20:15.470 --> 00:20:18.473
  • Have faith in god simply by looking at the created world.
  • 00:20:18.473 --> 00:20:22.544
  • His point is it didn't get there on its own.
  • 00:20:22.544 --> 00:20:26.548
  • Of course, that's the exact opposite
  • 00:20:26.548 --> 00:20:29.084
  • Of what evolution teaches.
  • 00:20:29.084 --> 00:20:30.752
  • Evolution teaches that creation got there on its own--
  • 00:20:30.752 --> 00:20:34.723
  • Which is absurd.
  • 00:20:34.723 --> 00:20:36.792
  • So, why believe god?
  • 00:20:36.792 --> 00:20:39.194
  • The natural world says there is a god.
  • 00:20:39.194 --> 00:20:43.065
  • But there's more.
  • 00:20:43.065 --> 00:20:44.399
  • The prophecy of daniel, chapter 2 speaks
  • 00:20:44.399 --> 00:20:46.468
  • Of the rise and fall of nations.
  • 00:20:46.468 --> 00:20:47.869
  • Daniel interpreted king nebuchadnezzar's dream to mean
  • 00:20:47.869 --> 00:20:50.806
  • That four great kingdoms would rule in succession.
  • 00:20:50.806 --> 00:20:55.243
  • And the fourth would be divided into 10 nations.
  • 00:20:55.243 --> 00:20:58.413
  • He said the first would be conquered
  • 00:20:58.413 --> 00:21:00.615
  • By an inferior kingdom, which was startlingly specific.
  • 00:21:00.615 --> 00:21:05.687
  • A great nation, then an inferior kingdom,
  • 00:21:05.687 --> 00:21:09.191
  • Then two more kingdoms.
  • 00:21:09.191 --> 00:21:11.193
  • But why not another? why not a fifth kingdom?
  • 00:21:11.193 --> 00:21:13.695
  • Because the fourth would be divided, not conquered.
  • 00:21:13.695 --> 00:21:17.566
  • And that's precisely how future history played out.
  • 00:21:17.566 --> 00:21:21.303
  • Babylon, medo-persia, greece, rome,
  • 00:21:21.303 --> 00:21:24.406
  • Then rome divided into numerous nations.
  • 00:21:24.406 --> 00:21:27.209
  • The bible is true. that's evidence right there.
  • 00:21:27.209 --> 00:21:31.780
  • You can have faith in what it says.
  • 00:21:31.780 --> 00:21:34.316
  • Daniel made this prediction around 600 b.c.
  • 00:21:34.316 --> 00:21:37.986
  • And outlined the next 2,500 years of history.
  • 00:21:37.986 --> 00:21:42.624
  • The military leader who led the medo-persian conquest
  • 00:21:42.624 --> 00:21:45.127
  • Of babylon was a man named cyrus, who was predicted by name
  • 00:21:45.127 --> 00:21:50.699
  • By the prophet isaiah more than 100 years before cyrus was born.
  • 00:21:50.699 --> 00:21:55.704
  • Isaiah 45, verse 1: "thus says the lord to his anointed,
  • 00:21:55.704 --> 00:21:59.541
  • To cyrus, whose right hand i have held."
  • 00:21:59.541 --> 00:22:03.612
  • Predicted 100 years before the man entered the world--
  • 00:22:03.612 --> 00:22:07.516
  • That's got to strengthen your faith.
  • 00:22:07.516 --> 00:22:11.453
  • But cyrus isn't the only one god spoke of ahead of time.
  • 00:22:11.453 --> 00:22:15.590
  • King josiah was predicted by name in the book of 1 kings
  • 00:22:15.590 --> 00:22:20.295
  • Even before he was born.
  • 00:22:20.295 --> 00:22:22.297
  • As isaiah wrote, god declares "the end from the beginning,"
  • 00:22:22.297 --> 00:22:27.135
  • Meaning you can have faith in him.
  • 00:22:27.135 --> 00:22:29.971
  • Add to that, the prophet micah said where jesus would be born.
  • 00:22:29.971 --> 00:22:33.708
  • The prophet daniel said when jesus would die.
  • 00:22:33.708 --> 00:22:37.078
  • Zechariah predicted jesus would be sold for 30 pieces of silver.
  • 00:22:37.078 --> 00:22:41.349
  • Isaiah said jesus would die for our sins and die with criminals.
  • 00:22:41.349 --> 00:22:46.288
  • David wrote that not one of jesus' bones would be broken.
  • 00:22:46.288 --> 00:22:49.624
  • It was predicted that babylon would not be inhabited again,
  • 00:22:49.624 --> 00:22:53.462
  • And so on.
  • 00:22:53.462 --> 00:22:55.797
  • So how can you have faith?
  • 00:22:55.797 --> 00:22:57.399
  • The bible says, "faith comes by hearing,
  • 00:22:57.399 --> 00:23:01.269
  • And hearing by the word of god."
  • 00:23:01.269 --> 00:23:04.573
  • You read the bible, and you'll get to know god.
  • 00:23:04.573 --> 00:23:07.876
  • You'll read of god's love for you.
  • 00:23:07.876 --> 00:23:10.412
  • You'll read of the sacrifice of jesus.
  • 00:23:10.412 --> 00:23:12.981
  • You'll read of god's great providence,
  • 00:23:12.981 --> 00:23:15.984
  • And you won't doubt.
  • 00:23:15.984 --> 00:23:17.853
  • Read the word of god and read about god's goodness,
  • 00:23:17.853 --> 00:23:21.389
  • And you'll have faith in god,
  • 00:23:21.389 --> 00:23:23.725
  • And your faith will continue to grow.
  • 00:23:23.725 --> 00:23:27.762
  • That question jesus asked, "when the son of man comes,
  • 00:23:27.762 --> 00:23:31.700
  • Will he really find faith on the earth?"--
  • 00:23:31.700 --> 00:23:35.136
  • The answer, of course, is...yes.
  • 00:23:35.136 --> 00:23:38.440
  • Revelation 14:12 says of the saved when jesus returns,
  • 00:23:38.440 --> 00:23:43.044
  • "here is the patience of the saints:
  • 00:23:43.044 --> 00:23:45.480
  • "here are they that keep the commandments of god,
  • 00:23:45.480 --> 00:23:48.884
  • And the faith of jesus."
  • 00:23:48.884 --> 00:23:51.753
  • So, yes, jesus will find faith on the earth.
  • 00:23:51.753 --> 00:23:55.957
  • And as you choose to believe in him and trust his word,
  • 00:23:55.957 --> 00:23:59.995
  • He'll find faith in you.
  • 00:23:59.995 --> 00:24:01.963
  • Can you believe today?
  • 00:24:03.565 --> 00:24:05.166
  • Believe that jesus is the son of god?
  • 00:24:05.166 --> 00:24:07.802
  • Believe in a good and loving god?
  • 00:24:07.802 --> 00:24:10.272
  • Believe your sins will be forgiven?
  • 00:24:10.272 --> 00:24:12.507
  • Believe that jesus is going to return to this earth
  • 00:24:12.507 --> 00:24:14.709
  • And take you to heaven?
  • 00:24:14.709 --> 00:24:16.611
  • You can believe it all.
  • 00:24:16.611 --> 00:24:18.580
  • Choose to have faith based on the bible,
  • 00:24:18.580 --> 00:24:22.183
  • And you'll have saving faith,
  • 00:24:22.183 --> 00:24:24.553
  • And eternal life will be yours.
  • 00:24:24.553 --> 00:24:27.756
  • >>john: the book of revelation describes
  • 00:24:29.190 --> 00:24:30.959
  • God's last-day people as people of faith.
  • 00:24:30.959 --> 00:24:34.162
  • Find out how you can have faith to stand in earth's last days.
  • 00:24:34.162 --> 00:24:37.566
  • Call now and ask for today's free offer,
  • 00:24:37.566 --> 00:24:40.502
  • "faith when it matters."
  • 00:24:40.502 --> 00:24:42.203
  • To receive "faith when it matters,"
  • 00:24:42.203 --> 00:24:43.705
  • Call 800-253-3000.
  • 00:24:43.705 --> 00:24:46.575
  • You can also visit us online,
  • 00:24:46.575 --> 00:24:48.009
  • Write to the address on your screen,
  • 00:24:48.009 --> 00:24:50.045
  • Or text "freefaith" to 71392.
  • 00:24:50.045 --> 00:24:54.049
  • "faith when it matters,"
  • 00:24:54.049 --> 00:24:55.550
  • Request your free copy now.
  • 00:24:55.550 --> 00:24:57.919
  • >>john: thank you for remembering that it is written
  • 00:24:59.321 --> 00:25:01.423
  • Exists because of the kindness of people just like you.
  • 00:25:01.423 --> 00:25:05.193
  • To support this international life-changing ministry,
  • 00:25:05.193 --> 00:25:07.762
  • Please call us now at 800-253-3000.
  • 00:25:07.762 --> 00:25:12.167
  • You can send your tax-deductible gift
  • 00:25:12.167 --> 00:25:13.835
  • To the address on your screen,
  • 00:25:13.835 --> 00:25:15.303
  • Or you can visit us online at itiswritten.com.
  • 00:25:15.303 --> 00:25:19.374
  • Thank you for your prayers and your financial support.
  • 00:25:19.374 --> 00:25:21.576
  • Our number again is 800-253-3000,
  • 00:25:21.576 --> 00:25:25.313
  • Or you can visit us online at itiswritten.com.
  • 00:25:25.313 --> 00:25:28.917
  • >>john: let me pray with you now.
  • 00:25:30.018 --> 00:25:31.519
  • Our father in heaven, in jesus' name we come to you,
  • 00:25:31.519 --> 00:25:35.123
  • So grateful that you can be believed and trusted,
  • 00:25:35.123 --> 00:25:39.227
  • So thankful that the bible is sure and certain and reliable.
  • 00:25:39.227 --> 00:25:43.765
  • We thank you today that the god of heaven is good,
  • 00:25:43.765 --> 00:25:46.334
  • That the god of heaven loves us,
  • 00:25:46.334 --> 00:25:47.702
  • That jesus will one day soon come back to this earth
  • 00:25:47.702 --> 00:25:50.639
  • And gather the redeemed and take them home.
  • 00:25:50.639 --> 00:25:53.041
  • And, lord, we believe now by faith
  • 00:25:53.041 --> 00:25:54.809
  • That we'll be among those redeemed.
  • 00:25:54.809 --> 00:25:56.478
  • Because we believe in jesus, we have everlasting life.
  • 00:25:56.478 --> 00:25:59.047
  • Because we believe, we choose to believe in jesus.
  • 00:25:59.047 --> 00:26:01.750
  • We trust our sins are forgiven because we choose to believe
  • 00:26:01.750 --> 00:26:04.786
  • In jesus as our salvation, as our surety, as our substitute.
  • 00:26:04.786 --> 00:26:09.791
  • We know the promises are made to us.
  • 00:26:09.791 --> 00:26:12.861
  • We know that he is right now preparing mansions for us.
  • 00:26:12.861 --> 00:26:16.364
  • Friend, can you believe that?
  • 00:26:16.364 --> 00:26:18.433
  • How's your faith right now, friend?
  • 00:26:18.433 --> 00:26:20.402
  • Do you believe in jesus by faith?
  • 00:26:20.402 --> 00:26:22.170
  • Can you accept him as your savior?
  • 00:26:22.170 --> 00:26:24.305
  • Can you believe and trust in the bible
  • 00:26:24.305 --> 00:26:26.541
  • As the guide for your life?
  • 00:26:26.541 --> 00:26:28.643
  • Lord, we do.
  • 00:26:28.643 --> 00:26:30.011
  • As imperfectly as we might do it, we choose now.
  • 00:26:30.011 --> 00:26:32.781
  • Are you choosing now, friend?
  • 00:26:32.781 --> 00:26:34.315
  • Lord, take our hearts; make them yours.
  • 00:26:34.315 --> 00:26:35.884
  • We believe. we have faith. grow our faith now.
  • 00:26:35.884 --> 00:26:38.420
  • And we look forward to seeing you again soon
  • 00:26:38.420 --> 00:26:40.922
  • And seeing jesus when he comes back to take us home.
  • 00:26:40.922 --> 00:26:43.491
  • Keep us, we pray, in jesus' name, amen.
  • 00:26:43.491 --> 00:26:47.729
  • Thank you so much for joining me.
  • 00:26:47.729 --> 00:26:49.230
  • I'm looking forward to seeing you again next time.
  • 00:26:49.230 --> 00:26:51.266
  • Until then, remember:
  • 00:26:51.266 --> 00:26:52.934
  • "it is written, 'man shall not live by bread alone,
  • 00:26:52.934 --> 00:26:57.038
  • But by every word that proceeds from the mouth of god.'"
  • 00:26:57.038 --> 00:27:01.643
  • ♪[dramatic, triumphant theme music]♪
  • 00:27:01.643 --> 00:27:22.530
  • ♪[music ends]♪♪
  • 00:27:26.000 --> 00:27:26.000