With his respected prosition in Potiphar's house Joseph could have given in to temptation, but because he stayed true to his convictions and loyal to God, he was able to achieve victory over temptation.
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Turning Point with Dr. David Jeremiah | David Jeremiah - Temptation | July 13, 2025
- ...
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- Male announcer: you've heard dr. david jeremiah
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- Teach bible prophecy.
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- Now experience those truths in his first ever novel,
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- But nothing could prepare him for what's coming.
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- The end is near, and he's running out of time.
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- [wind instrumental]
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- ♪♪♪
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- Narrator: he had a dream, a dream that shook kingdoms.
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- Favored above his brothers,
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- But favor cast a dangerous shadow.
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- Betrayal had a price, but so did survival.
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- From a father's embrace to a slave master's house,
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- From the depths of a forgotten prison to the heights of power.
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- From the pit, to the prison, to the palace,
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- His suffering would save nations;
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- And his broken life, the very instrument of deliverance.
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- Because while others meant it for evil,
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- God meant it for good.
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- ♪♪♪
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- ♪ almighty fortress, you go before us ♪
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- ♪ nothing can stand against the power of our god ♪
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- ♪ you shine in the shadow ♪
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- ♪ you win every battle ♪
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- ♪ nothing can stand against the power of our god ♪
- 00:02:00.436 --> 00:02:05.575
- ♪ almighty fortress, you go before us ♪
- 00:02:05.575 --> 00:02:11.614
- ♪ nothing can stand against the power of our god ♪
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- ♪ you shine in the shadow ♪
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- ♪ you win every battle ♪
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- ♪ nothing can stand against the power of our god ♪
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- ♪ ohhh ohhh ohh ♪
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- ♪ so, when i fight, i'll fight on my knees ♪
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- ♪ with my hands lifted high ♪
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- ♪ oh, god, the battle belongs to you ♪
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- ♪ and every fear i lay at your feet ♪
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- ♪ i'll sing through the night ♪
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- ♪ oh, god, the battle belongs to you ♪
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- ♪ so, when i fight, i'll fight on my knees ♪
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- ♪ with my hands lifted high ♪
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- ♪ oh, god, the battle belongs to you ♪
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- ♪ and every fear i lay at your feet ♪
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- ♪ i'll sing through the night ♪
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- ♪ oh, god, the battle belongs to you ♪
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- ♪♪♪
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- [congregation applauding]
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- Announcer: coming up on "turning point."
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- Dr. david jeremiah: you beat temptation
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- By building the character of your heart,
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- Falling in love with god anew, making sure that you treasure
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- Your relationship with jesus christ,
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- And committing yourself to the fact
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- That you'll never do anything
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- To violate your relationship with him.
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- ♪♪♪
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- Announcer: prayer, keep it simple,
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- Keep it specific.
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- "everything to god in prayer: guided prayers for your deepest
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- Needs and biggest dreams," by dr. david jeremiah,
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- Provides you with 100 carefully crafted prayers
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- To guide you through
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- Life's challenges and celebrations.
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- When words fail you during times of grief,
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- When your heart is filled with gratitude,
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- But you can't express it, when you're facing decisions
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- That seem impossible, dr. jeremiah helps you
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- Bring everything to god.
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- The bible tells us to go to god in prayer for all things.
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- But sometimes we need guidance on how to pray effectively
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- And specifically.
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- Reading and praying these guided prayers
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- From "turning point" today.
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- Announcer: thank you for watching "turning point."
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- Here is dr. jeremiah with his message, "temptation."
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- Dr. jeremiah: oscar wilde, the irish wit of the past century,
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- Was often quoted as saying,
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- "i can resist anything but temptation."
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- I know a lot of people like that, don't you?
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- And yet, the fact is, every one of us will face temptation.
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- You know what the bible says about temptation?
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- It says, "it is common to man."
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- What does that mean?
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- It means everybody has it.
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- It's not something--you think god is picking on you,
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- He's not picking on you.
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- The bible says, "there is no temptation taken
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- But such is as common to man;
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- But god is faithful, who will not suffer you
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- To be tempted above that you are able,
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- But will with the temptation also make a way of escape,
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- That you may be able to bear it."
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- Underline in 1 corinthians 10:13,
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- These words, "it is common to man."
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- We all need to know how to deal with temptation.
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- Even the saints of the scripture had problems with temptation.
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- For instance, there's noah's drunkenness,
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- And abraham's deception, and moses's temper,
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- And elijah's murmuring, and david's sexual sin,
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- And jonah's rebellious spirit.
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- And then you come to the new testament,
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- And you see people defecting, like john mark.
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- You see peter denying.
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- You see judas betraying.
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- A lot of temptation.
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- Every single person who has ever walked the face of the earth
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- Has been tempted.
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- Even jesus, did you know that?
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- Here's what it says in hebrews 4:15,
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- "we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize
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- With our weaknesses,
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- But was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin."
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- Did you ever read that?
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- You say, "well, i was tempted."
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- That's--temptation's not sin.
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- If it were, jesus would be disqualified
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- Because the bible says jesus was tempted.
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- And if you go to matthew chapter 4,
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- You can watch him being tempted by the enemy.
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- Temptation is not sin.
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- Yielding to temptation is sin.
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- So the bible does not give us hope that we will ever be free
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- Of temptation.
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- There's not one verse in the bible that says,
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- "when you get to this point in your spiritual walk,
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- Temptation will go away."
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- In fact, the very opposite is true.
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- We all need to hear what god has to say to us
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- On this important issue.
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- When we were last together,
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- We discussed the issues of betrayal in joseph's life.
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- We followed his story as he tried to be faithful
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- To his father's instructions,
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- Only to be taken by his brothers and sold
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- To a group of midianite traders who took him to egypt.
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- As we open our bibles today, to the 39th chapter of genesis,
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- Almost 10 years have passed since that fateful event.
- 00:08:10.706 --> 00:08:15.311
- The best estimate, based on scripture,
- 00:08:15.311 --> 00:08:17.280
- Is that joseph is now about 27 years old.
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- In egypt, joseph was brought to the center of town
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- Where he was auctioned off.
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- At this auction, potiphar, a well-connected figure
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- In the egyptian government, sees joseph
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- And recognizes his potential as a good servant.
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- Potiphar acquires joseph, and suddenly joseph transitions
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- From being his father's favorite son
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- To being a slave in a foreign land.
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- But the unexpected turn of events sets the stage
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- For joseph's remarkable rise to success.
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- Potiphar appoints joseph as his personal attendant.
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- He entrusts him with the management
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- Of his entire household and all of his possessions.
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- And from the moment that joseph assumes this role,
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- Every aspect of potiphar's house
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- Just explodes into prosperity and success.
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- His crops, his livestock thrive under joseph's stewardship.
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- Another noteworthy aspect of joseph's life was his looks,
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- His appearance.
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- Genesis 39:6 describes him
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- As "handsome in form and appearance."
- 00:09:33.856 --> 00:09:38.961
- Now, this trait seems to have been inherited from his mother,
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- Which is what most people say about anybody.
- 00:09:42.231 --> 00:09:48.137
- And in the bible, there's actually a verse to prove that.
- 00:09:48.137 --> 00:09:51.207
- It says, in genesis 29:17, that rachel, joseph's mother,
- 00:09:51.207 --> 00:09:57.613
- "was beautiful in form and appearance,"
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- Almost the exact same phrase.
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- It is this last characteristic that we read about joseph
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- That puts him into harm's way.
- 00:10:06.689 --> 00:10:09.592
- He is about to be in serious trouble.
- 00:10:09.592 --> 00:10:13.262
- What follows in this record sounds like
- 00:10:13.262 --> 00:10:16.499
- A modern-day soap opera that you would watch
- 00:10:16.499 --> 00:10:18.968
- Some afternoon when you thought nobody was looking,
- 00:10:18.968 --> 00:10:22.772
- But it is in the bible.
- 00:10:22.772 --> 00:10:25.274
- We begin with the power of temptation;
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- Here is the record,
- 00:10:27.943 --> 00:10:30.046
- "and it came to pass after these things
- 00:10:30.046 --> 00:10:33.015
- That joseph's master's wife cast longing eyes on joseph,
- 00:10:33.015 --> 00:10:37.420
- And said, 'lie with me.'
- 00:10:37.420 --> 00:10:40.589
- But he refused and said to his master's wife,
- 00:10:40.589 --> 00:10:43.225
- 'look, my master does not know what is with me
- 00:10:43.225 --> 00:10:46.195
- In the house, and he has committed
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- All that he has to my hand.
- 00:10:47.797 --> 00:10:50.366
- There is no one greater in this house than i,
- 00:10:50.366 --> 00:10:53.169
- Nor has he kept back anything from me but you,
- 00:10:53.169 --> 00:10:56.138
- Because you are his wife.
- 00:10:56.138 --> 00:10:59.175
- How can i do this great wickedness,
- 00:10:59.175 --> 00:11:01.744
- And sin against god?'
- 00:11:01.744 --> 00:11:04.780
- So it was, as she spoke to joseph day by day,
- 00:11:04.780 --> 00:11:07.950
- That he did not heed her, to lie with her, to be with her.
- 00:11:07.950 --> 00:11:12.722
- But it happened about this time, when joseph went in the house
- 00:11:12.722 --> 00:11:15.825
- To do his work, and none of the men of the house
- 00:11:15.825 --> 00:11:19.028
- Was inside, that she caught him by his garment,
- 00:11:19.028 --> 00:11:22.364
- Saying, 'lie with me.'
- 00:11:22.364 --> 00:11:24.667
- And he left his garment in her hand, and fled and ran outside."
- 00:11:24.667 --> 00:11:30.873
- That's in the bible.
- 00:11:30.873 --> 00:11:35.077
- I want you to notice some very specific things about the power
- 00:11:35.077 --> 00:11:39.415
- Of this temptation over joseph.
- 00:11:39.415 --> 00:11:42.251
- First of all, it was a surprise temptation.
- 00:11:42.251 --> 00:11:46.455
- The bible just says that joseph experienced this temptation
- 00:11:46.455 --> 00:11:51.761
- After these things.
- 00:11:51.761 --> 00:11:53.696
- In other words, it was sudden.
- 00:11:53.696 --> 00:11:56.265
- The temptation was unexpected,
- 00:11:56.265 --> 00:11:59.535
- Striking when everything seemed to be going well for joseph.
- 00:11:59.535 --> 00:12:03.506
- He had just been elevated to a position of respect
- 00:12:03.506 --> 00:12:06.609
- And prominence, and out of nowhere, this temptation came.
- 00:12:06.609 --> 00:12:11.680
- This was a surprise temptation.
- 00:12:11.680 --> 00:12:13.716
- It was a sustained temptation.
- 00:12:13.716 --> 00:12:15.785
- This is so accurately described.
- 00:12:15.785 --> 00:12:18.788
- And "so it was, as she spoke to joseph day by day."
- 00:12:18.788 --> 00:12:24.593
- Oh, my, it's one thing to be tempted once,
- 00:12:24.593 --> 00:12:27.730
- But to be tempted day by day?
- 00:12:27.730 --> 00:12:30.633
- I mean, just think about this for a moment.
- 00:12:30.699 --> 00:12:32.535
- Every time joseph showed up in the master's house and he saw
- 00:12:32.535 --> 00:12:35.304
- Her, she was coming on to him, she was flirting with him,
- 00:12:35.304 --> 00:12:39.708
- She was reminding him that she was available.
- 00:12:39.708 --> 00:12:43.145
- She kept her temptation before joseph day after day after day,
- 00:12:43.145 --> 00:12:48.417
- And no matter where she was, when she touched joseph's life,
- 00:12:48.417 --> 00:12:53.055
- She tried to get him to fulfill her tempted offers.
- 00:12:53.055 --> 00:12:58.828
- I need to say to you that temptation once and temptation
- 00:12:58.828 --> 00:13:02.598
- Daily are two very different experiences, are they not?
- 00:13:02.598 --> 00:13:07.603
- The first temptation could have come as a great shock.
- 00:13:07.603 --> 00:13:10.806
- What happens when you're tempted over and over and over again
- 00:13:10.806 --> 00:13:14.977
- Is the impact of your ability
- 00:13:14.977 --> 00:13:17.713
- To withstand the temptation is weakened.
- 00:13:17.713 --> 00:13:20.382
- You become accustomed to it, you become used to it,
- 00:13:20.382 --> 00:13:22.852
- It becomes a normal kind of thing,
- 00:13:22.852 --> 00:13:25.721
- And you are setting yourself up for failure.
- 00:13:25.721 --> 00:13:29.592
- And number three, it was a secret temptation.
- 00:13:29.592 --> 00:13:32.695
- Watch this, "it happened about this time,
- 00:13:32.695 --> 00:13:35.364
- When joseph went into the house to do his work,
- 00:13:35.364 --> 00:13:38.634
- And none of the men of the house was inside."
- 00:13:38.634 --> 00:13:42.905
- This story tells us that, on that particular day,
- 00:13:42.905 --> 00:13:46.375
- When joseph went to work in potiphar's house,
- 00:13:46.375 --> 00:13:49.612
- All of the other male servants were gone.
- 00:13:49.612 --> 00:13:52.214
- It sounds like it was joseph and potiphar's wife
- 00:13:52.214 --> 00:13:55.651
- In the house by themselves.
- 00:13:55.651 --> 00:13:59.221
- And potiphar's wife made her move.
- 00:13:59.221 --> 00:14:02.091
- She thought privacy would ensure her success.
- 00:14:02.091 --> 00:14:05.327
- She'd get him today, if never before.
- 00:14:05.327 --> 00:14:08.764
- And let me just tell you something that you need
- 00:14:08.764 --> 00:14:10.299
- To write down in your notes, if you don't get anything else.
- 00:14:10.299 --> 00:14:13.402
- The test of a person's character is what they would do
- 00:14:13.402 --> 00:14:17.139
- If they were absolutely certain nobody would find out.
- 00:14:17.139 --> 00:14:22.611
- What you are is what you would do
- 00:14:22.611 --> 00:14:24.546
- If you're absolutely certain nobody would ever know.
- 00:14:24.546 --> 00:14:28.817
- I often think that some righteousness--in fact,
- 00:14:28.817 --> 00:14:31.420
- A lot more righteousness than we would like to admit to--
- 00:14:31.420 --> 00:14:34.657
- Is not due to our love for god,
- 00:14:34.657 --> 00:14:36.992
- But it's born out of our fear of getting caught.
- 00:14:36.992 --> 00:14:40.362
- We are not righteous because we want to be righteous for god;
- 00:14:40.362 --> 00:14:43.365
- We just don't wanna get in trouble.
- 00:14:43.365 --> 00:14:46.602
- But joseph knew there was little chance of him getting caught,
- 00:14:46.602 --> 00:14:49.939
- And so it was a secret temptation.
- 00:14:49.939 --> 00:14:52.608
- That made it even more powerful in his life.
- 00:14:52.608 --> 00:14:55.911
- Are you building the case for joseph?
- 00:14:55.911 --> 00:14:58.480
- Watch this: a surprise temptation,
- 00:14:58.480 --> 00:15:01.617
- A sustained temptation, a secret temptation.
- 00:15:01.617 --> 00:15:05.287
- Here's the fourth one, it was a sensible temptation.
- 00:15:05.287 --> 00:15:08.590
- You say, "how can temptation ever be sensible?"
- 00:15:08.590 --> 00:15:12.027
- Well, if it didn't make a little bit of sense,
- 00:15:12.027 --> 00:15:13.762
- You'd never do it at all.
- 00:15:13.762 --> 00:15:15.831
- This was a sensible temptation.
- 00:15:15.831 --> 00:15:17.766
- Listen, from a worldly perspective,
- 00:15:17.766 --> 00:15:20.569
- Giving in to the temptation might have seemed advantageous
- 00:15:20.569 --> 00:15:23.439
- For joseph.
- 00:15:23.439 --> 00:15:24.940
- He wouldn't have been the first, certainly not the last,
- 00:15:24.940 --> 00:15:27.276
- To sleep his way to the top.
- 00:15:27.276 --> 00:15:30.980
- He could have gained a powerful ally in potiphar's wife,
- 00:15:30.980 --> 00:15:35.084
- And it could have been a means of coping with his past trauma.
- 00:15:35.084 --> 00:15:39.388
- Joseph had been through a lot.
- 00:15:39.388 --> 00:15:41.824
- He came from a dysfunctional family.
- 00:15:41.824 --> 00:15:45.861
- His brothers turned on him and sold him into slavery.
- 00:15:45.861 --> 00:15:50.432
- He obviously had some things going on in his heart.
- 00:15:50.432 --> 00:15:53.669
- Maybe he thought this was a way for him to enjoy some pleasure
- 00:15:53.669 --> 00:15:58.574
- At the expense of his own situation.
- 00:15:58.574 --> 00:16:03.746
- And then, finally,
- 00:16:03.746 --> 00:16:05.514
- His temptation was a subtle temptation.
- 00:16:05.514 --> 00:16:10.052
- It played on emotional and psychological aspects,
- 00:16:10.052 --> 00:16:13.255
- Like the need for recognition and admiration.
- 00:16:13.255 --> 00:16:17.259
- Over the years, i've had the unfortunate experience
- 00:16:17.259 --> 00:16:21.296
- Of talking to numerous people who have gone through affairs
- 00:16:21.296 --> 00:16:25.300
- And have committed adultery and ruined their lives
- 00:16:25.300 --> 00:16:28.637
- And their homes.
- 00:16:28.637 --> 00:16:31.006
- At the beginning, they have said,
- 00:16:31.006 --> 00:16:33.475
- "it really was nothing to do with the physical.
- 00:16:33.475 --> 00:16:36.412
- She just listened to me.
- 00:16:36.412 --> 00:16:39.515
- She seemed to respect me.
- 00:16:39.515 --> 00:16:41.884
- She had time for me.
- 00:16:41.884 --> 00:16:43.852
- She showed me honor, and all of a sudden,
- 00:16:43.852 --> 00:16:46.221
- We were spending more and more time together,
- 00:16:46.221 --> 00:16:48.123
- And then, before we knew it, we were involved."
- 00:16:48.123 --> 00:16:51.260
- Charles swindoll said, "marital infidelity is not a blowout,
- 00:16:52.861 --> 00:16:58.367
- It's a slow leak."
- 00:16:58.367 --> 00:17:02.704
- He's right about that.
- 00:17:02.704 --> 00:17:05.507
- It happens over a period of time as we let down our guard,
- 00:17:05.507 --> 00:17:09.378
- As we begin to think about the fact that,
- 00:17:09.378 --> 00:17:10.813
- Maybe at home, we don't get an audience
- 00:17:10.813 --> 00:17:13.048
- Like we're getting from this person.
- 00:17:13.048 --> 00:17:15.784
- And so what happened is joseph was exposed to all of this.
- 00:17:15.784 --> 00:17:19.188
- He knew what the temptation was, but he didn't yield.
- 00:17:19.188 --> 00:17:24.493
- And now i want to give you the positive part of this story.
- 00:17:24.493 --> 00:17:27.463
- How did joseph win over this temptation?
- 00:17:27.463 --> 00:17:31.366
- Number one, he had convictions before the crisis.
- 00:17:31.366 --> 00:17:36.939
- The bible says that, when she made this pitch to joseph,
- 00:17:36.939 --> 00:17:42.277
- Genesis 39, verse 8, it just says this, "but he refused."
- 00:17:42.277 --> 00:17:47.783
- Notice, the bible says that joseph refused.
- 00:17:47.783 --> 00:17:51.620
- It doesn't say he prayed over it.
- 00:17:51.620 --> 00:17:54.857
- It doesn't say he called his small group leader
- 00:17:54.857 --> 00:17:57.960
- To see what he thought he should do.
- 00:17:57.960 --> 00:18:00.496
- And i promise you he didn't call his pastor.
- 00:18:00.496 --> 00:18:04.299
- It just says, "he refused."
- 00:18:04.299 --> 00:18:06.735
- Why would it say that?
- 00:18:06.735 --> 00:18:08.403
- Here's the reason.
- 00:18:08.403 --> 00:18:09.738
- Because he had already determined,
- 00:18:09.738 --> 00:18:12.040
- Long before this event ever happened,
- 00:18:12.040 --> 00:18:14.309
- What he would do if such a thing ever happened to him.
- 00:18:14.309 --> 00:18:17.479
- The conviction was in his heart
- 00:18:17.479 --> 00:18:20.149
- Before the crisis was in his life.
- 00:18:20.149 --> 00:18:24.486
- But, you understand joseph succeeded
- 00:18:24.486 --> 00:18:27.256
- Because he already knew what he was gonna do
- 00:18:27.256 --> 00:18:29.958
- When the temptation came.
- 00:18:29.958 --> 00:18:31.793
- My friend, if you don't know that,
- 00:18:31.793 --> 00:18:33.295
- You better make sure you figure it out,
- 00:18:33.295 --> 00:18:35.230
- And make a covenant with god and with your partner
- 00:18:35.230 --> 00:18:39.635
- About your own sexual purity.
- 00:18:39.635 --> 00:18:42.704
- Number two, joseph succeeded
- 00:18:42.704 --> 00:18:45.174
- Because he knew that love involved loyalty.
- 00:18:45.174 --> 00:18:50.112
- Verse 8, "but he refused and said to his master's wife,
- 00:18:50.112 --> 00:18:54.449
- 'look, my master does not know what is with me in the house,
- 00:18:54.449 --> 00:18:58.921
- And he has committed all that he has to my hand.
- 00:18:58.921 --> 00:19:01.757
- There's no one greater in this house than i,
- 00:19:01.757 --> 00:19:04.326
- Nor has he kept back anything from me but you,
- 00:19:04.326 --> 00:19:07.729
- Because you are his wife.
- 00:19:07.729 --> 00:19:10.365
- How then can i do this great wickedness,
- 00:19:10.365 --> 00:19:12.267
- And sin against god'?"
- 00:19:12.267 --> 00:19:15.437
- Sin with potiphar's wife would not only be a sin
- 00:19:15.437 --> 00:19:18.607
- Against potiphar, but joseph said it was a sin against god.
- 00:19:18.607 --> 00:19:23.679
- He reminds us that the best way to overcome a negative habit is
- 00:19:23.679 --> 00:19:27.683
- Not through sheer willpower, but by replacing it with a stronger,
- 00:19:27.683 --> 00:19:31.687
- More positive passion.
- 00:19:31.687 --> 00:19:34.456
- And if we're loved by god,
- 00:19:34.456 --> 00:19:35.924
- And we know what jesus has done for us,
- 00:19:35.924 --> 00:19:38.160
- In our heart is the passion never to do anything
- 00:19:38.160 --> 00:19:40.762
- To grieve his heart, or to break his rules,
- 00:19:40.762 --> 00:19:44.833
- Or to do what he has told us not to do.
- 00:19:44.833 --> 00:19:48.170
- So joseph had convictions before his crisis.
- 00:19:48.170 --> 00:19:52.241
- He knew love involved loyalty.
- 00:19:52.241 --> 00:19:55.410
- He was still shocked by sin, number three.
- 00:19:55.410 --> 00:20:00.649
- He said to her, "how can i do this great wickedness,
- 00:20:00.649 --> 00:20:06.888
- And sin against god?"
- 00:20:06.888 --> 00:20:09.691
- Joseph was still shocked by sin.
- 00:20:09.691 --> 00:20:12.160
- He labeled it as great wickedness.
- 00:20:12.160 --> 00:20:14.529
- He maintained a clear understanding
- 00:20:14.529 --> 00:20:16.999
- Of the grievous nature of the sin
- 00:20:16.999 --> 00:20:19.101
- He was being tempted to commit.
- 00:20:19.101 --> 00:20:22.904
- If you want to stay pure, you need to concentrate
- 00:20:22.904 --> 00:20:26.074
- On the holiness of god and remember who he is
- 00:20:26.074 --> 00:20:30.112
- And stay under the umbrella of that holiness.
- 00:20:30.112 --> 00:20:35.117
- And then joseph had enough sense to avoid the source;
- 00:20:35.117 --> 00:20:38.353
- This is number four.
- 00:20:38.353 --> 00:20:40.656
- And "so it was, as she spoke to joseph day by day,
- 00:20:40.656 --> 00:20:44.893
- That he did not heed her, to lie with her or to be with her."
- 00:20:44.893 --> 00:20:50.666
- That's the thing i've underlined in my bible,
- 00:20:50.666 --> 00:20:52.701
- "or to be with her."
- 00:20:52.701 --> 00:20:54.303
- Joseph avoided potiphar's wife entirely.
- 00:20:54.303 --> 00:20:56.872
- When he saw her coming in his direction,
- 00:20:56.872 --> 00:20:58.740
- He got out of the way.
- 00:20:58.740 --> 00:21:00.575
- He knew that the best thing he could do
- 00:21:00.575 --> 00:21:03.011
- Was to stay away from that temptation.
- 00:21:03.011 --> 00:21:06.615
- The book of proverbs says this, "do not enter the path
- 00:21:06.615 --> 00:21:10.218
- Of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of evil.
- 00:21:10.218 --> 00:21:14.022
- Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn away from it, and pass on."
- 00:21:14.022 --> 00:21:19.227
- And romans 13:14 says, "but put on the lord jesus christ,
- 00:21:19.227 --> 00:21:23.965
- And make no provision for the flesh,
- 00:21:23.965 --> 00:21:26.268
- To fulfill its lusts."
- 00:21:26.268 --> 00:21:28.303
- Instead of setting ourselves up for failure,
- 00:21:28.303 --> 00:21:31.440
- We should get rid of the things in our lives
- 00:21:31.440 --> 00:21:33.475
- That cause us to be defeated.
- 00:21:33.475 --> 00:21:36.144
- When you remove sin far from you,
- 00:21:36.144 --> 00:21:38.547
- You will be amazed at how much greater will be your victory.
- 00:21:38.547 --> 00:21:42.551
- It's so interesting to me how rational, straight-thinking,
- 00:21:42.551 --> 00:21:46.888
- Objective people find themselves being irrational
- 00:21:46.888 --> 00:21:51.226
- And non-objective when it comes to things like this.
- 00:21:51.226 --> 00:21:55.230
- Use your head, that's the reason god gave you a brain.
- 00:21:55.230 --> 00:22:01.136
- Finally, here's the last point.
- 00:22:01.136 --> 00:22:04.606
- He had convictions before a crisis.
- 00:22:04.606 --> 00:22:07.642
- He knew love involved loyalty.
- 00:22:07.642 --> 00:22:10.112
- He was still shocked by sin.
- 00:22:10.112 --> 00:22:12.414
- He had sense to avoid the source.
- 00:22:12.414 --> 00:22:15.350
- And number five, he knew that retreat was better than defeat.
- 00:22:15.350 --> 00:22:21.556
- I love this one, "and it happened about this time,
- 00:22:21.556 --> 00:22:25.560
- When joseph went into the house to do his work,
- 00:22:25.560 --> 00:22:28.697
- And none of the men of the house was inside,
- 00:22:28.697 --> 00:22:31.433
- That she caught him by his garment,
- 00:22:31.433 --> 00:22:33.235
- Saying, 'lie with me.'
- 00:22:33.235 --> 00:22:35.337
- But he left his garment in her hand and fled and ran outside."
- 00:22:35.337 --> 00:22:42.644
- When potiphar's wife grabbed joseph's garment, he fled,
- 00:22:42.644 --> 00:22:46.882
- It says, leaving his garment behind,
- 00:22:46.882 --> 00:22:49.317
- To maintain his character and integrity.
- 00:22:49.317 --> 00:22:51.920
- And as you know, it was the garment in her hand
- 00:22:51.920 --> 00:22:56.124
- That allowed her to get him thrown into prison
- 00:22:56.124 --> 00:22:59.027
- For something he never did.
- 00:22:59.027 --> 00:23:00.896
- But joseph knew something we ought to know:
- 00:23:00.896 --> 00:23:03.165
- You're better without your garment than your character.
- 00:23:03.165 --> 00:23:06.568
- And he left his garment in her hand.
- 00:23:06.568 --> 00:23:09.771
- Mark twain once said, "there's several good protections
- 00:23:09.771 --> 00:23:12.274
- Against temptation, but the best one is cowardice."
- 00:23:12.274 --> 00:23:16.978
- And he was right.
- 00:23:16.978 --> 00:23:18.346
- We're told in the word of god to stand for many things,
- 00:23:18.346 --> 00:23:20.916
- But not against sexual temptation.
- 00:23:20.916 --> 00:23:24.686
- The bible tells us we're to run away from it.
- 00:23:24.686 --> 00:23:27.956
- Did you know that?
- 00:23:27.956 --> 00:23:29.658
- 1 corinthians 6:18, "flee sexual immorality."
- 00:23:29.658 --> 00:23:35.964
- 2 timothy 2:22, "flee also youthful lusts;
- 00:23:35.964 --> 00:23:40.268
- But pursue righteousness and faith and love and peace
- 00:23:40.268 --> 00:23:43.572
- With those who call on the lord out of a pure heart."
- 00:23:43.572 --> 00:23:47.342
- I used to tell my young people, the best piece of equipment
- 00:23:47.342 --> 00:23:50.212
- You can have for avoiding temptation
- 00:23:50.212 --> 00:23:52.881
- Is the fastest pair of adidas money can buy.
- 00:23:52.881 --> 00:23:57.853
- In his book, "unhappy secrets of the christian life,"
- 00:23:57.853 --> 00:24:01.490
- Tim stafford tells how the nuclear submarine thresher
- 00:24:01.490 --> 00:24:06.394
- Went too deep into the sea and collapsed
- 00:24:06.394 --> 00:24:09.030
- Under the weight of the water.
- 00:24:09.030 --> 00:24:11.600
- The sub was crushed into such tiny bits
- 00:24:11.600 --> 00:24:15.036
- That almost nothing could be later identified.
- 00:24:15.036 --> 00:24:19.508
- You see, a sub needs thick steel bulkheads
- 00:24:19.508 --> 00:24:22.611
- To withstand the pressure of the water as it dives.
- 00:24:22.611 --> 00:24:26.381
- But there are few walls we can build to withstand
- 00:24:26.381 --> 00:24:29.518
- The pressure of the deepest oceans.
- 00:24:29.518 --> 00:24:32.220
- Even steel gives way,
- 00:24:32.220 --> 00:24:33.855
- As the crew of the thresher found out, tragically.
- 00:24:33.855 --> 00:24:37.425
- And yet, here's an interesting fact.
- 00:24:37.425 --> 00:24:41.363
- In those same deep waters, where that steel submarine
- 00:24:41.363 --> 00:24:44.900
- Had been crushed, little fish swim
- 00:24:44.900 --> 00:24:49.638
- Without a care in the world.
- 00:24:49.638 --> 00:24:52.674
- What is their secret?
- 00:24:52.674 --> 00:24:54.776
- Why aren't they crushed?
- 00:24:54.776 --> 00:24:57.012
- Are they made of some new indestructible iron?
- 00:24:57.012 --> 00:25:00.482
- Of course not.
- 00:25:00.482 --> 00:25:02.250
- They possess only the thinnest layer of skin
- 00:25:02.250 --> 00:25:05.487
- Measured in micrometers.
- 00:25:05.487 --> 00:25:08.857
- The little fish have an internal pressure that perfectly
- 00:25:08.857 --> 00:25:12.861
- Corresponds to the pressure from the outside.
- 00:25:12.861 --> 00:25:16.064
- God gave them what they need to swim in deep places.
- 00:25:16.064 --> 00:25:20.535
- And you and i can spend our lives building walls
- 00:25:20.535 --> 00:25:23.171
- To block out the temptation.
- 00:25:23.171 --> 00:25:25.307
- We can make walls of steel, but they'll never be strong enough.
- 00:25:25.307 --> 00:25:29.010
- The pressure comes from inside.
- 00:25:29.010 --> 00:25:31.012
- Listen carefully, what happens when we have a power
- 00:25:31.012 --> 00:25:34.416
- Inside of us that corresponds to the pressure outside of us?
- 00:25:34.416 --> 00:25:39.621
- The inner man, paul tells us to renew that inner man every day.
- 00:25:39.621 --> 00:25:44.893
- When we give ourselves wholly to god,
- 00:25:44.893 --> 00:25:47.395
- We have the inner answer to the outer pressure.
- 00:25:47.395 --> 00:25:51.533
- So, build the inner man, build the inner woman.
- 00:25:51.533 --> 00:25:55.170
- Let christ renew your heart; let him renew your mind.
- 00:25:55.170 --> 00:25:59.240
- Cultivate the ministry of the holy spirit every day.
- 00:25:59.240 --> 00:26:02.510
- Read the word of god.
- 00:26:02.510 --> 00:26:03.912
- Be strong in the lord so that the pressure within you
- 00:26:03.912 --> 00:26:07.882
- Will be able to combat the pressure outside of you.
- 00:26:07.882 --> 00:26:12.153
- You will never beat temptation by saying,
- 00:26:12.153 --> 00:26:14.856
- "i will not, i will not, i will not,"
- 00:26:14.856 --> 00:26:17.025
- Because, on the fourth will not, you will.
- 00:26:17.025 --> 00:26:21.529
- But you beat temptation by building the character
- 00:26:21.529 --> 00:26:25.667
- Of your heart, falling in love with god anew,
- 00:26:25.667 --> 00:26:29.471
- Making sure that you treasure your relationship
- 00:26:29.471 --> 00:26:31.673
- With jesus christ, and committing yourself
- 00:26:31.673 --> 00:26:34.676
- To the fact that you'll never do anything
- 00:26:34.676 --> 00:26:37.312
- To violate your relationship with him.
- 00:26:37.312 --> 00:26:40.482
- Work on the inner man, and you will do the greatest thing
- 00:26:40.482 --> 00:26:44.619
- Possible to find victory over temptation.
- 00:26:44.619 --> 00:26:48.657
- ♪♪♪
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- Visit turningpointplus.org to get started today.
- 00:28:42.971 --> 00:28:46.007
- Announcer: coming up on "turning point."
- 00:28:48.476 --> 00:28:51.412
- Dr. jeremiah: we know a lot about god in our heads,
- 00:28:51.412 --> 00:28:53.648
- But sometimes it doesn't get from our head to our heart,
- 00:28:53.648 --> 00:28:56.651
- And affliction causes that to happen.
- 00:28:56.651 --> 00:28:59.387
- Affliction causes you to realize that the bible says,
- 00:28:59.387 --> 00:29:02.690
- "god is with you," then you go through affliction,
- 00:29:02.690 --> 00:29:05.326
- And you feel god with you, and you go,
- 00:29:05.326 --> 00:29:06.961
- "oh, so that's what that means."
- 00:29:06.961 --> 00:29:08.596
- Announcer: stay tuned for another message
- 00:29:09.764 --> 00:29:11.466
- From dr. jeremiah's series,
- 00:29:11.466 --> 00:29:13.168
- "god meant it for good: the story of joseph,"
- 00:29:13.168 --> 00:29:15.837
- Coming up next here on "turning point."
- 00:29:15.837 --> 00:29:18.640
- ♪♪♪
- 00:29:21.109 --> 00:29:31.152
- Narrator: he had a dream,
- 00:29:31.853 --> 00:29:34.189
- A dream that shook kingdoms.
- 00:29:34.189 --> 00:29:36.791
- Favored above his brothers,
- 00:29:39.460 --> 00:29:42.630
- But favor cast a dangerous shadow.
- 00:29:42.630 --> 00:29:46.935
- Betrayal had a price, but so did survival.
- 00:29:46.935 --> 00:29:53.341
- From a father's embrace, to a slave master's house,
- 00:29:53.341 --> 00:29:59.013
- From the depths of a forgotten prison to the heights of power.
- 00:29:59.013 --> 00:30:04.752
- From the pit, to the prison, to the palace,
- 00:30:04.752 --> 00:30:09.858
- His suffering would save nations; and his broken life,
- 00:30:09.858 --> 00:30:15.196
- The very instrument of deliverance.
- 00:30:15.196 --> 00:30:18.833
- Because while others meant it for evil, god meant it for good.
- 00:30:18.833 --> 00:30:24.339
- ♪♪♪
- 00:30:24.339 --> 00:30:30.111
- Announcer: here is dr. jeremiah with his message,
- 00:30:30.111 --> 00:30:32.780
- "the possibilities of problems."
- 00:30:32.780 --> 00:30:35.383
- Dr. jeremiah: todd's one of the best trainers in the world,
- 00:30:35.450 --> 00:30:37.218
- In my estimation,
- 00:30:37.218 --> 00:30:39.254
- And one of the best things that's happened to me,
- 00:30:39.254 --> 00:30:41.256
- In recent years, is meeting him and learning the importance
- 00:30:41.256 --> 00:30:45.593
- Of your body and how you have to keep your body strong
- 00:30:45.593 --> 00:30:49.030
- If you're gonna have anything that you can do for the lord.
- 00:30:49.030 --> 00:30:52.500
- His name is todd durkin.
- 00:30:52.500 --> 00:30:54.702
- Todd and i have many commentaries
- 00:30:54.702 --> 00:30:57.705
- Between the two of us.
- 00:30:57.705 --> 00:30:59.607
- We talk about the similarities of physical training
- 00:30:59.607 --> 00:31:01.910
- And spiritual training.
- 00:31:01.910 --> 00:31:04.112
- Recently, we were talking about weightlifting,
- 00:31:04.112 --> 00:31:06.281
- And he reminded me that weightlifting
- 00:31:06.281 --> 00:31:08.683
- Has two different approaches.
- 00:31:08.683 --> 00:31:11.085
- Here's what i learned.
- 00:31:11.085 --> 00:31:12.453
- Heavy weights,
- 00:31:12.453 --> 00:31:13.888
- Lifted fewer times in succession,
- 00:31:13.888 --> 00:31:16.324
- Produce greater strength.
- 00:31:16.324 --> 00:31:18.893
- Lighter weights, lifted with more repetition,
- 00:31:18.893 --> 00:31:22.263
- Produce endurance.
- 00:31:22.263 --> 00:31:25.033
- And when it comes to life,
- 00:31:25.033 --> 00:31:26.367
- That's a pretty great illustration.
- 00:31:26.367 --> 00:31:28.836
- Most of us can carry a heavy weight
- 00:31:28.836 --> 00:31:30.972
- If we only have to do it once or twice.
- 00:31:30.972 --> 00:31:33.441
- We get through the big stuff; we get through the major challenge.
- 00:31:33.441 --> 00:31:36.878
- It's over, we accomplished whatever.
- 00:31:36.878 --> 00:31:39.647
- We either win or we lose, but it's over.
- 00:31:39.647 --> 00:31:42.383
- But the things that are hard are the things that linger,
- 00:31:42.383 --> 00:31:46.554
- The things that go on.
- 00:31:46.554 --> 00:31:48.856
- For me, the problems that are the toughest to overcome
- 00:31:48.856 --> 00:31:51.960
- Are the problems that don't seem to get solved
- 00:31:51.960 --> 00:31:54.696
- And the ones that keep coming back
- 00:31:54.696 --> 00:31:56.531
- When you think they were solved.
- 00:31:56.531 --> 00:31:58.900
- God wants us to be strong men and women of faith,
- 00:31:58.900 --> 00:32:01.536
- So, to achieve that, i believe he puts us
- 00:32:01.536 --> 00:32:04.238
- Through his own school, which is really interesting.
- 00:32:04.238 --> 00:32:08.443
- And if i cannot stand strong
- 00:32:08.443 --> 00:32:10.078
- Under the adversity of unrelenting pressure,
- 00:32:10.078 --> 00:32:12.714
- Then i lose the joy of my journey
- 00:32:12.714 --> 00:32:15.016
- And forfeit the opportunity to lead other people.
- 00:32:15.016 --> 00:32:18.519
- There's a verse in the bible
- 00:32:18.519 --> 00:32:19.887
- That never ceases to challenge me,
- 00:32:19.887 --> 00:32:21.990
- Hebrews 10:36; here's what it says,
- 00:32:21.990 --> 00:32:24.993
- "you have need of endurance."
- 00:32:24.993 --> 00:32:28.396
- And do i ever resonate with that verse, don't you?
- 00:32:28.396 --> 00:32:31.632
- You have need of endurance, of determination, of staying at it.
- 00:32:31.632 --> 00:32:36.804
- Peter told the people of his day,
- 00:32:36.804 --> 00:32:39.307
- "don't be surprised at the trials you're going through,
- 00:32:39.307 --> 00:32:42.877
- As if something strange was happening to you."
- 00:32:42.877 --> 00:32:46.347
- Adversity is a great teacher; prosperity is not.
- 00:32:46.347 --> 00:32:50.651
- Prosperity doesn't teach you anything.
- 00:32:50.651 --> 00:32:52.820
- It has a tendency to make you proud and arrogant,
- 00:32:52.820 --> 00:32:55.156
- Unless you really discipline yourself.
- 00:32:55.156 --> 00:32:57.392
- But adversity--i'll tell you, almost all the major lessons
- 00:32:57.392 --> 00:33:00.595
- I've learned in my life, i've learned through hard times.
- 00:33:00.595 --> 00:33:04.799
- Trials and sufferings aren't unique to you and me;
- 00:33:04.799 --> 00:33:07.935
- They're the common lot of all humanity.
- 00:33:07.935 --> 00:33:10.271
- But the problem is we don't take the time to learn
- 00:33:10.271 --> 00:33:14.108
- How to use them in our lives,
- 00:33:14.108 --> 00:33:16.044
- And then they often overwhelm us.
- 00:33:16.044 --> 00:33:18.546
- Today i want to talk to you about the advantages
- 00:33:18.546 --> 00:33:21.549
- Of adversity, the possibilities of your problems.
- 00:33:21.549 --> 00:33:25.753
- And genesis chapter 39 tells the story of joseph
- 00:33:25.753 --> 00:33:29.891
- Being thrown into prison.
- 00:33:29.891 --> 00:33:32.293
- Potiphar's wife tried to seduce joseph,
- 00:33:32.293 --> 00:33:35.763
- And in spite of his faithfulness to potiphar
- 00:33:35.763 --> 00:33:37.832
- And to god, she falsely accused joseph,
- 00:33:37.832 --> 00:33:41.035
- And he was thrown into royal prison by potiphar himself.
- 00:33:41.035 --> 00:33:45.106
- Now, the scripture says that,
- 00:33:45.106 --> 00:33:46.707
- Shortly after joseph was incarcerated,
- 00:33:46.707 --> 00:33:49.577
- Two additional prisoners joined him.
- 00:33:49.577 --> 00:33:52.013
- Pharaoh became angry with his chief butler and baker
- 00:33:52.013 --> 00:33:56.484
- And assigned them to jail.
- 00:33:56.484 --> 00:33:58.486
- We aren't given a lot of detail about that.
- 00:33:58.486 --> 00:34:00.855
- What they did, we're not told,
- 00:34:00.855 --> 00:34:02.190
- But we do know that the role of the chief butler
- 00:34:02.190 --> 00:34:04.859
- Was to taste all of the food and wine that was served
- 00:34:04.859 --> 00:34:08.196
- To the king, so that, if it was poisoned,
- 00:34:08.196 --> 00:34:11.232
- The butler would die and the king would live.
- 00:34:11.232 --> 00:34:14.102
- I don't think anyone ever campaigned for that job,
- 00:34:14.102 --> 00:34:16.404
- From what i can understand.
- 00:34:16.404 --> 00:34:18.773
- Must have been an assignment.
- 00:34:18.773 --> 00:34:21.042
- The baker made all the food that was eaten in the kingdom,
- 00:34:21.042 --> 00:34:23.778
- And so we have to assume
- 00:34:23.778 --> 00:34:25.813
- That since both of them were put in prison,
- 00:34:25.813 --> 00:34:28.583
- That, on a particular night, the two of them had served up
- 00:34:28.583 --> 00:34:31.152
- Some pretty bad grub to the king,
- 00:34:31.152 --> 00:34:33.187
- And he was upset about it.
- 00:34:33.187 --> 00:34:35.423
- Now they're in prison, and the scripture says
- 00:34:35.423 --> 00:34:38.192
- That shortly after their sentence has begun,
- 00:34:38.192 --> 00:34:40.995
- Joseph notices on their faces early one morning
- 00:34:40.995 --> 00:34:44.165
- A troubled look, and he asks them,
- 00:34:44.165 --> 00:34:46.434
- "'why are you so troubled today?'
- 00:34:46.434 --> 00:34:48.936
- And they say, in concert, 'we have had a dream,
- 00:34:48.936 --> 00:34:51.305
- And there is no interpretation of it.'
- 00:34:51.305 --> 00:34:53.641
- And joseph said, 'do not interpretations belong to god?
- 00:34:53.641 --> 00:34:57.678
- Tell them to me, and i will help you with them.'"
- 00:34:57.678 --> 00:35:00.815
- Now, in the butler's dream, which is recorded
- 00:35:00.815 --> 00:35:02.683
- In verses 9 through 13 of the 40th chapter,
- 00:35:02.683 --> 00:35:06.787
- He sees three branches of a vine blossom and produce grapes.
- 00:35:06.787 --> 00:35:12.026
- He presses the grapes into pharaoh's cup
- 00:35:12.026 --> 00:35:14.595
- And serves the wine to him.
- 00:35:14.595 --> 00:35:16.964
- Joseph explains that dream to mean that, in three days,
- 00:35:16.964 --> 00:35:20.935
- The three branches,
- 00:35:20.935 --> 00:35:22.303
- The butler would be restored by pharaoh
- 00:35:22.303 --> 00:35:24.338
- To his original position as chief butler in the kingdom.
- 00:35:24.338 --> 00:35:29.043
- After hearing the interpretation of the butler's dream,
- 00:35:29.043 --> 00:35:32.547
- The baker can't wait to describe his--but he should have waited;
- 00:35:32.547 --> 00:35:37.852
- He was to be disappointed.
- 00:35:37.852 --> 00:35:39.854
- The baker said that, in his dream,
- 00:35:39.854 --> 00:35:41.389
- He saw three white baskets on his head,
- 00:35:41.389 --> 00:35:43.958
- Each filled with baked goods, but the birds of the air came
- 00:35:43.958 --> 00:35:46.994
- And snatched the baked goods away.
- 00:35:46.994 --> 00:35:49.931
- Joseph explained to the baker
- 00:35:49.931 --> 00:35:51.532
- That the three baskets were three days,
- 00:35:51.532 --> 00:35:53.868
- And at the end of the three days,
- 00:35:53.868 --> 00:35:55.436
- The baker would be hung by pharaoh,
- 00:35:55.436 --> 00:35:57.572
- And the birds would pluck away his flesh.
- 00:35:57.572 --> 00:36:00.841
- Not exactly what he was hoping to hear.
- 00:36:00.841 --> 00:36:03.544
- Three days later, to be sure, it was pharaoh's birthday,
- 00:36:03.544 --> 00:36:07.582
- And he had a royal party.
- 00:36:07.582 --> 00:36:10.251
- And he celebrated his birthday by hiring the butler back
- 00:36:10.251 --> 00:36:13.454
- And hanging the baker, just like joseph said it would be.
- 00:36:13.454 --> 00:36:17.258
- Now, this is all very interesting,
- 00:36:17.258 --> 00:36:18.726
- But we might ask ourselves,
- 00:36:18.726 --> 00:36:20.528
- What does that have to do with joseph?
- 00:36:20.528 --> 00:36:22.663
- Look down in your bibles, in verses 14 and 15
- 00:36:22.663 --> 00:36:25.733
- Of the 40th chapter,
- 00:36:25.733 --> 00:36:27.101
- Or follow it on the screen, and you will have the words
- 00:36:27.101 --> 00:36:29.737
- Of joseph to the butler just before he was going to go
- 00:36:29.737 --> 00:36:33.040
- Back and serve pharaoh again,
- 00:36:33.040 --> 00:36:37.278
- "'but remember me when it is well with you,'
- 00:36:37.278 --> 00:36:39.347
- Said joseph, 'and please show the kindness to me;
- 00:36:39.347 --> 00:36:42.049
- Make mention of me to pharaoh,
- 00:36:42.049 --> 00:36:44.218
- Get me out of this house.
- 00:36:44.218 --> 00:36:45.953
- For indeed i was stolen away from the land of the hebrews;
- 00:36:45.953 --> 00:36:49.090
- And also i have done nothing here that they should put me
- 00:36:49.090 --> 00:36:51.626
- In the dungeon.'"
- 00:36:51.626 --> 00:36:53.427
- The scripture tells us the butler heard joseph's request
- 00:36:53.427 --> 00:36:58.132
- But when he got back to his place of responsibility,
- 00:36:58.132 --> 00:37:01.469
- Genesis 40:23, "the chief butler did not remember joseph,
- 00:37:01.469 --> 00:37:06.507
- But forgot him."
- 00:37:06.507 --> 00:37:09.243
- Why the butler forgot, we aren't told.
- 00:37:09.243 --> 00:37:12.313
- We can kind of guess that he probably didn't want
- 00:37:12.313 --> 00:37:14.448
- To remind his boss about the bad situation
- 00:37:14.448 --> 00:37:18.185
- That he had been in,
- 00:37:18.185 --> 00:37:19.620
- So he probably decided to just write it all off
- 00:37:19.620 --> 00:37:21.989
- And whatever happened to joseph would happen.
- 00:37:21.989 --> 00:37:25.459
- And so the scripture says, "then it came to pass,
- 00:37:25.459 --> 00:37:28.129
- At the end of two full years,"
- 00:37:28.129 --> 00:37:30.298
- Joseph 41:1, "that pharaoh had a dream;
- 00:37:30.298 --> 00:37:33.434
- And behold, he stood by the river."
- 00:37:33.434 --> 00:37:35.336
- What that means is that, from the time joseph went into prison
- 00:37:35.336 --> 00:37:39.940
- And was promised by the butler that he would be remembered,
- 00:37:39.940 --> 00:37:43.110
- Two whole years passed by, two years,
- 00:37:43.110 --> 00:37:47.181
- Joseph is going to be in this prison,
- 00:37:47.181 --> 00:37:49.550
- For no reason, he's not done anything wrong.
- 00:37:49.550 --> 00:37:52.687
- He wonders why he's there.
- 00:37:52.687 --> 00:37:54.422
- He's probably every day scratching his head,
- 00:37:54.422 --> 00:37:58.025
- Trusting god, but still wondering,
- 00:37:58.025 --> 00:38:00.328
- "how did i get in this place, and is there ever gonna be
- 00:38:00.328 --> 00:38:02.330
- A chance for me to get out?"
- 00:38:02.330 --> 00:38:04.598
- As we watch him walk through this situation,
- 00:38:04.598 --> 00:38:07.301
- We learn from him that god has a purpose for each one of us,
- 00:38:07.301 --> 00:38:11.972
- Even when we're going through experiences
- 00:38:11.972 --> 00:38:14.975
- Like the one we read about in the book of genesis.
- 00:38:14.975 --> 00:38:18.245
- From this story of joseph, i want to suggest to you
- 00:38:18.245 --> 00:38:20.915
- Quickly five reasons why we have so many problems in our lives,
- 00:38:20.915 --> 00:38:26.554
- Five reasons why we go through seasons
- 00:38:26.554 --> 00:38:29.890
- Like the lord has entrusted me with during this time.
- 00:38:29.890 --> 00:38:33.627
- First of all, problems provide greater opportunities.
- 00:38:33.627 --> 00:38:38.999
- Joseph will soon learn, in his prison experience,
- 00:38:38.999 --> 00:38:42.103
- That he has not been forgotten by god, and that god,
- 00:38:42.103 --> 00:38:45.139
- In his mercy, sees him.
- 00:38:45.139 --> 00:38:47.274
- And it is while he is in prison that god brings him
- 00:38:47.274 --> 00:38:49.643
- Into a relationship with the only man
- 00:38:49.643 --> 00:38:52.380
- Who could ultimately be the link to get joseph
- 00:38:52.380 --> 00:38:55.750
- To the realization of his boyhood dreams.
- 00:38:55.750 --> 00:38:58.819
- So, problems oftentimes give you greater opportunities.
- 00:38:58.819 --> 00:39:03.090
- I've met people i would never have met.
- 00:39:03.090 --> 00:39:05.259
- I've witnessed to people i could never have witnessed to.
- 00:39:05.259 --> 00:39:08.295
- And i think joseph would say the same thing.
- 00:39:08.295 --> 00:39:11.899
- Secondly, problems promote spiritual maturity.
- 00:39:11.899 --> 00:39:15.035
- Problems grow you up, whether you like it or not.
- 00:39:15.035 --> 00:39:18.539
- Apart from the lord himself, there's nobody i know
- 00:39:18.539 --> 00:39:21.675
- That was treated more unfairly than joseph.
- 00:39:21.675 --> 00:39:25.880
- He stands out as a classic example of somebody
- 00:39:25.880 --> 00:39:28.549
- Who was repeatedly mistreated, and he didn't do anything
- 00:39:28.549 --> 00:39:31.819
- To cause that.
- 00:39:31.819 --> 00:39:33.988
- As you rewind joseph's life, it's not hard to realize
- 00:39:33.988 --> 00:39:37.458
- That he probably had a very soft life.
- 00:39:37.458 --> 00:39:40.795
- He grew up with all these brothers, he was the youngest.
- 00:39:40.795 --> 00:39:43.898
- You see the story, they're out taking care of the sheep,
- 00:39:43.898 --> 00:39:46.133
- Joseph's home with his dad.
- 00:39:46.133 --> 00:39:48.369
- And so maybe god thinks, if joseph is gonna be useful,
- 00:39:48.369 --> 00:39:52.306
- He's gotta toughen him up.
- 00:39:52.306 --> 00:39:54.942
- He would have to make him ready to be prime minister of egypt
- 00:39:54.942 --> 00:39:57.611
- During a worldwide famine.
- 00:39:57.611 --> 00:39:59.580
- He surely wasn't ready as a young boy.
- 00:39:59.580 --> 00:40:02.049
- And the psalmist alludes to this hardening process.
- 00:40:02.049 --> 00:40:04.752
- In psalm 105, we read this about joseph,
- 00:40:04.752 --> 00:40:08.622
- "he sent a man before them-- joseph--
- 00:40:08.622 --> 00:40:11.258
- Who was sold as a slave.
- 00:40:11.258 --> 00:40:13.327
- They hurt his feet with fetters, and he was laid in irons."
- 00:40:13.327 --> 00:40:17.898
- The marginal reading translates that last phrase like this,
- 00:40:17.898 --> 00:40:21.669
- "his soul came into iron," or, "iron came into his soul."
- 00:40:21.669 --> 00:40:28.175
- Joseph went into prison a timid, providential child who had been
- 00:40:28.175 --> 00:40:34.448
- Given all of the benefits of life.
- 00:40:34.448 --> 00:40:36.817
- And the bible says, when he came out,
- 00:40:36.817 --> 00:40:38.719
- He came out an iron-souled man.
- 00:40:38.719 --> 00:40:41.989
- He had iron in his soul.
- 00:40:41.989 --> 00:40:44.158
- Let me ask you a question.
- 00:40:44.158 --> 00:40:45.726
- Do you have iron in your soul?
- 00:40:45.726 --> 00:40:48.496
- I have this prediction for you.
- 00:40:48.496 --> 00:40:50.531
- If you're going to make it through the next decade,
- 00:40:50.531 --> 00:40:52.266
- You better get some iron in your soul.
- 00:40:52.266 --> 00:40:55.369
- That's what god did for joseph.
- 00:40:55.369 --> 00:40:56.837
- How did he do it?
- 00:40:56.837 --> 00:40:58.339
- He trusted him with some testing and some problems.
- 00:40:58.339 --> 00:41:02.042
- And in the process of testing and problems,
- 00:41:02.042 --> 00:41:05.713
- He became a man of great wisdom and courage and determination.
- 00:41:05.713 --> 00:41:10.518
- God wants iron-souled people.
- 00:41:10.518 --> 00:41:13.354
- I know he's strengthening my resolve during this time.
- 00:41:13.354 --> 00:41:18.292
- When we hurt and endure problems,
- 00:41:18.292 --> 00:41:21.362
- Something changes in our hearts,
- 00:41:21.362 --> 00:41:23.964
- And we become more spiritually mature.
- 00:41:23.964 --> 00:41:27.601
- You know, the bible is filled with this truth
- 00:41:27.601 --> 00:41:29.870
- But i've chosen four verses to give you that teach this.
- 00:41:29.870 --> 00:41:33.908
- And after what i've said to you,
- 00:41:33.908 --> 00:41:36.143
- Listen to these verses through the ears of what i have said.
- 00:41:36.143 --> 00:41:41.115
- Romans 5:3 through 5, "we also glory in tribulations,
- 00:41:41.115 --> 00:41:46.153
- Knowing that tribulation produces perseverance;
- 00:41:46.153 --> 00:41:50.758
- And perseverance, character; and character, hope.
- 00:41:50.758 --> 00:41:54.061
- Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of god has been
- 00:41:54.061 --> 00:41:57.264
- Poured out in our hearts by the holy spirit who has given me."
- 00:41:57.264 --> 00:42:01.635
- Let me just remind you that it is dangerous
- 00:42:01.635 --> 00:42:04.238
- To pray for patience.
- 00:42:04.238 --> 00:42:08.175
- If you pray for patience, god will send you tribulation,
- 00:42:08.175 --> 00:42:12.279
- Because that's the only way he can develop it in your life.
- 00:42:12.279 --> 00:42:16.050
- You know, maybe you say, "well, i'm just such an
- 00:42:16.050 --> 00:42:17.885
- Impatient person.
- 00:42:17.885 --> 00:42:19.320
- I'm gonna ask god to help me."
- 00:42:19.320 --> 00:42:20.654
- He will, but you may not like the course he gives you to take.
- 00:42:20.654 --> 00:42:23.591
- He will teach you to be patient, and the way he does that,
- 00:42:23.591 --> 00:42:26.727
- According to this verse, is through tribulation.
- 00:42:26.727 --> 00:42:30.965
- Here's hebrews 12:11.
- 00:42:30.965 --> 00:42:32.933
- "now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present,
- 00:42:32.933 --> 00:42:36.003
- But painful; nevertheless, afterward,
- 00:42:36.003 --> 00:42:38.939
- It yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness
- 00:42:38.939 --> 00:42:42.376
- To those who have been trained by it."
- 00:42:42.376 --> 00:42:44.111
- Here the writer of hebrews says, "when you're going through stuff
- 00:42:44.111 --> 00:42:46.447
- Like i'm going through, or some of you are going through,
- 00:42:46.447 --> 00:42:49.416
- It's not fun."
- 00:42:49.416 --> 00:42:51.118
- The bible says, "when you go through things like that,
- 00:42:51.118 --> 00:42:53.654
- God is up to something in your life."
- 00:42:53.654 --> 00:42:56.490
- James says it this way, "my brethren,
- 00:42:56.490 --> 00:42:58.659
- Count it all joy when you fall into various trials,
- 00:42:58.659 --> 00:43:02.563
- Knowing that the testing of your faith produces--"
- 00:43:02.563 --> 00:43:05.766
- What, class?
- 00:43:05.766 --> 00:43:07.301
- Patience, endurance, unwilling to quit.
- 00:43:07.301 --> 00:43:11.005
- Here's 1 peter 1:6 and 7, "in this you greatly rejoice,
- 00:43:11.005 --> 00:43:15.476
- Though now for a little while, if need be,
- 00:43:15.476 --> 00:43:17.478
- You have been grieved by various trials," why?
- 00:43:17.478 --> 00:43:21.215
- So, "that the genuineness of your faith,
- 00:43:21.215 --> 00:43:23.217
- Being much more precious than gold that perishes
- 00:43:23.217 --> 00:43:25.853
- Though it is tested by fire,
- 00:43:25.853 --> 00:43:27.788
- May be found to praise, honor, and glory
- 00:43:27.788 --> 00:43:29.757
- At the revelation of jesus christ."
- 00:43:29.757 --> 00:43:32.026
- When you are a christian and you're not being punished
- 00:43:32.026 --> 00:43:34.161
- For sin and you're going through trials,
- 00:43:34.161 --> 00:43:36.563
- It's because god loves you so much,
- 00:43:36.563 --> 00:43:38.499
- He wants to make you the best you could ever be.
- 00:43:38.499 --> 00:43:41.268
- And the bible says, "if we have not been tested,
- 00:43:41.268 --> 00:43:44.071
- If we've never suffered, we are incomplete."
- 00:43:44.071 --> 00:43:47.608
- It's exactly what the bible says,
- 00:43:47.608 --> 00:43:49.243
- "you can't be complete if you don't go through some stuff."
- 00:43:49.243 --> 00:43:52.279
- We try to help people during their difficulty
- 00:43:52.279 --> 00:43:54.982
- And if we're not careful,
- 00:43:54.982 --> 00:43:56.684
- We're actually aborting god's process in their life.
- 00:43:56.684 --> 00:44:00.320
- Sometimes we need to let people experience
- 00:44:00.320 --> 00:44:03.023
- What they're experiencing
- 00:44:03.023 --> 00:44:04.425
- Because we have a sense in our spirit
- 00:44:04.425 --> 00:44:06.326
- That god is working in their life.
- 00:44:06.326 --> 00:44:09.329
- Just think about this.
- 00:44:09.329 --> 00:44:10.664
- Remember when joseph was thrown into the pit?
- 00:44:10.664 --> 00:44:12.866
- Reuben was going to rescue him.
- 00:44:12.866 --> 00:44:15.369
- If reuben had rescued him,
- 00:44:15.369 --> 00:44:16.904
- The story of joseph would never have been in the bible.
- 00:44:16.904 --> 00:44:20.441
- Problems provide greater opportunities,
- 00:44:20.441 --> 00:44:22.509
- They promote spiritual maturity, and they prove your integrity.
- 00:44:22.509 --> 00:44:27.381
- Let me just tell you what i know about that.
- 00:44:27.381 --> 00:44:29.616
- Sometimes i hear people say, "you know what, dr. jeremiah,
- 00:44:29.616 --> 00:44:32.920
- I was doing just fine, but then this thing happened,
- 00:44:32.920 --> 00:44:35.155
- And this is what this did to me, and this is what it made me.
- 00:44:35.155 --> 00:44:38.992
- I was okay until i married that woman,
- 00:44:38.992 --> 00:44:41.361
- And she made me like this."
- 00:44:41.361 --> 00:44:45.599
- Well, let me just tell you what i know.
- 00:44:45.599 --> 00:44:48.235
- When problems come and you think they make you a certain way,
- 00:44:48.235 --> 00:44:52.272
- They don't make you a certain way.
- 00:44:52.272 --> 00:44:53.774
- They just reveal the way you've always been.
- 00:44:53.774 --> 00:44:57.344
- Problems don't make your character,
- 00:44:57.344 --> 00:44:59.780
- Problems reveal your character.
- 00:44:59.780 --> 00:45:02.549
- You are not the way you are
- 00:45:02.549 --> 00:45:03.984
- Because somebody else did something.
- 00:45:03.984 --> 00:45:05.819
- You are the way you are because somebody else did something
- 00:45:05.819 --> 00:45:07.988
- And brought out of you what you already are.
- 00:45:07.988 --> 00:45:10.891
- If you're an angry person, somebody can tick you off,
- 00:45:10.891 --> 00:45:15.195
- But they can't tick you off if there's no anger present
- 00:45:15.195 --> 00:45:17.865
- For them to work with.
- 00:45:17.865 --> 00:45:19.967
- So i think it's important to understand
- 00:45:19.967 --> 00:45:23.403
- The difference between character and reputation.
- 00:45:23.403 --> 00:45:27.040
- Character is often confused for reputation,
- 00:45:27.040 --> 00:45:30.911
- But there's a vast difference.
- 00:45:30.911 --> 00:45:33.113
- Reputation is what other people suppose we are.
- 00:45:33.113 --> 00:45:37.918
- Character is what we really are.
- 00:45:37.918 --> 00:45:41.755
- Reputation is what men think you are.
- 00:45:41.755 --> 00:45:43.791
- Character is what god knows you are.
- 00:45:43.791 --> 00:45:47.327
- Reputation is what is chiseled on your tombstone.
- 00:45:47.327 --> 00:45:50.397
- Character is what the angels say about you
- 00:45:50.397 --> 00:45:52.566
- Before the throne of god.
- 00:45:52.566 --> 00:45:55.169
- And character never changes, even when circumstances change,
- 00:45:55.169 --> 00:46:01.108
- Because problems prove our integrity,
- 00:46:01.108 --> 00:46:04.678
- They don't make our integrity.
- 00:46:04.678 --> 00:46:07.214
- So i just took one of the excuses you've been using off
- 00:46:07.214 --> 00:46:11.218
- Your list, and you can't use that one anymore.
- 00:46:11.218 --> 00:46:14.855
- If you are upset about something, just remember,
- 00:46:14.855 --> 00:46:19.993
- It's not somebody else's issue, it's your issue.
- 00:46:19.993 --> 00:46:23.063
- It's my issue when we do that.
- 00:46:23.063 --> 00:46:25.265
- Number four, problems produce a sense of dependency.
- 00:46:25.265 --> 00:46:29.236
- God loves us to be in positions of dependence,
- 00:46:29.236 --> 00:46:32.773
- Especially when we're depending on him.
- 00:46:32.773 --> 00:46:36.376
- Now, listen to this.
- 00:46:36.376 --> 00:46:38.445
- Joseph was in prison, but i want to read a passage
- 00:46:38.445 --> 00:46:42.015
- From chapter 39 that puts it all in perspective,
- 00:46:42.015 --> 00:46:46.653
- "then joseph's master took him and put him into the prison,
- 00:46:46.653 --> 00:46:50.390
- A place where the king's prisoners were confined.
- 00:46:50.390 --> 00:46:53.493
- And he was there in prison.
- 00:46:53.493 --> 00:46:55.662
- But the lord was with joseph."
- 00:46:55.662 --> 00:46:59.633
- Whoa, the lord goes to prison.
- 00:46:59.633 --> 00:47:02.302
- The secret of joseph's power was his awareness
- 00:47:03.337 --> 00:47:06.940
- Of god's presence in his life.
- 00:47:06.940 --> 00:47:09.209
- God had not forgotten him, and though it seemed to him
- 00:47:09.209 --> 00:47:12.079
- That that was the case, every time he turned around,
- 00:47:12.079 --> 00:47:15.349
- He realized god was there.
- 00:47:15.349 --> 00:47:17.684
- God went with joseph to the pit when he was thrown in the pit.
- 00:47:17.684 --> 00:47:21.655
- God went with joseph to the palace when he ruled in egypt.
- 00:47:21.655 --> 00:47:25.425
- And god was with joseph in prison.
- 00:47:25.425 --> 00:47:28.595
- Our prison ministry is a testimony to the fact
- 00:47:28.595 --> 00:47:32.165
- That god does some of his best work in prison.
- 00:47:32.165 --> 00:47:35.969
- Guys go there filled with themselves and ugliness.
- 00:47:35.969 --> 00:47:41.508
- God gets a hold of their life, they get in a prison fellowship
- 00:47:41.508 --> 00:47:44.678
- Bible study, and they come out changed people.
- 00:47:44.678 --> 00:47:48.448
- Only prisons could do that for some of these men and women.
- 00:47:48.448 --> 00:47:52.653
- And so, you know what joseph found out when he was in prison?
- 00:47:52.653 --> 00:47:55.522
- He found out how much god loved him.
- 00:47:55.522 --> 00:47:58.692
- And i can't count how many times you have told me,
- 00:47:58.692 --> 00:48:02.396
- When you've gone through family problems
- 00:48:02.396 --> 00:48:04.464
- Or marital problems or financial problems
- 00:48:04.464 --> 00:48:07.234
- Or physical problems, here's your testimony,
- 00:48:07.234 --> 00:48:10.003
- "pastor, i knew that god loved me,
- 00:48:10.003 --> 00:48:12.472
- And i've always felt close to him,
- 00:48:12.472 --> 00:48:14.441
- But never in all my days have i felt the love
- 00:48:14.441 --> 00:48:17.644
- That i've experienced
- 00:48:17.644 --> 00:48:19.346
- While i've been going through this problem."
- 00:48:19.346 --> 00:48:21.815
- God draws near to us when we're suffering, when we're hurting.
- 00:48:21.815 --> 00:48:26.653
- We know a lot about god in our heads,
- 00:48:26.653 --> 00:48:28.789
- But sometimes it doesn't get from our head to our heart,
- 00:48:28.789 --> 00:48:31.825
- And affliction causes that to happen.
- 00:48:31.825 --> 00:48:34.661
- Affliction causes you to realize that the bible says,
- 00:48:34.661 --> 00:48:37.931
- "god is with you,"
- 00:48:37.931 --> 00:48:39.399
- Then you go through affliction, and you feel god with you,
- 00:48:39.399 --> 00:48:41.802
- And you go, "oh, so that's what that means,
- 00:48:41.802 --> 00:48:44.171
- He really is with me."
- 00:48:44.171 --> 00:48:46.873
- And sometimes you get through these problems, and it looks
- 00:48:46.873 --> 00:48:49.276
- Like everything that's important to you has gone away,
- 00:48:49.276 --> 00:48:52.412
- But there's jesus.
- 00:48:52.412 --> 00:48:54.748
- And you never know how jesus is all you need
- 00:48:54.748 --> 00:48:58.819
- 'til jesus is all you have.
- 00:48:58.819 --> 00:49:02.189
- So, problems provide greater opportunities.
- 00:49:02.189 --> 00:49:05.726
- They promote spiritual maturity.
- 00:49:05.726 --> 00:49:08.362
- They prove your integrity.
- 00:49:08.362 --> 00:49:09.997
- They produce a sense of dependency.
- 00:49:09.997 --> 00:49:12.099
- And they prepare your heart for ministry.
- 00:49:12.099 --> 00:49:15.302
- Joseph is in prison; he's been through a lot.
- 00:49:15.302 --> 00:49:20.107
- He wakes up one morning, and he goes to wherever they gather
- 00:49:20.107 --> 00:49:22.976
- For meals, and he looks out,
- 00:49:22.976 --> 00:49:26.179
- And he sees these two other guys,
- 00:49:26.179 --> 00:49:28.048
- These two servants, the butler and the baker.
- 00:49:28.048 --> 00:49:31.418
- And he sees they were sad.
- 00:49:31.418 --> 00:49:34.054
- And so he asked pharaoh's officers,
- 00:49:34.054 --> 00:49:35.956
- Who were with him in the custody
- 00:49:35.956 --> 00:49:37.524
- Of the lord's house, saying, "why do you look so sad today?"
- 00:49:37.524 --> 00:49:41.428
- Do you know it's possible, if you've never suffered at all,
- 00:49:41.428 --> 00:49:45.165
- That you never see suffering in anybody else?
- 00:49:45.165 --> 00:49:47.968
- Isn't that interesting?
- 00:49:47.968 --> 00:49:49.803
- When i had cancer years ago, i have to admit
- 00:49:49.803 --> 00:49:52.439
- I was the classic type a,
- 00:49:52.439 --> 00:49:56.610
- Building the church every day, going to work,
- 00:49:56.610 --> 00:49:58.645
- And i'm sure i walked by many people who were hurting
- 00:49:58.645 --> 00:50:01.815
- And never noticed them.
- 00:50:01.815 --> 00:50:03.583
- But, when i got cancer, god broke my heart.
- 00:50:03.583 --> 00:50:07.621
- I don't know if you all remember this, but, when i came back,
- 00:50:07.621 --> 00:50:10.357
- I couldn't pray for six months without crying.
- 00:50:10.357 --> 00:50:13.360
- I used to ask god every week, "now, lord, if you want to do
- 00:50:13.360 --> 00:50:16.463
- Something for me, whatever you do,
- 00:50:16.463 --> 00:50:18.498
- Don't let me cry when i pray today."
- 00:50:18.498 --> 00:50:21.201
- It embarrassed me, but god broke my heart.
- 00:50:21.201 --> 00:50:24.171
- That's what happens when you go through suffering,
- 00:50:24.171 --> 00:50:26.473
- Your heart is melted,
- 00:50:26.473 --> 00:50:27.841
- And all of a sudden, you begin to notice the pain
- 00:50:27.841 --> 00:50:31.645
- In other people's lives.
- 00:50:31.645 --> 00:50:33.346
- Joseph went down to eat, and he looked out and he saw
- 00:50:33.346 --> 00:50:36.283
- These two men, and he said, "why are you so sad today?"
- 00:50:36.283 --> 00:50:41.755
- Isn't it paul who wrote to the corinthians
- 00:50:41.755 --> 00:50:44.324
- That "we comfort others with the comfort
- 00:50:44.324 --> 00:50:46.927
- With which we ourselves have also been comforted?"
- 00:50:46.927 --> 00:50:50.864
- When we are put into the difficulties
- 00:50:50.864 --> 00:50:52.833
- Of life and problems come to us,
- 00:50:52.833 --> 00:50:55.435
- Usually what happens as a result of that
- 00:50:55.435 --> 00:50:57.637
- Is we are made especially sensitive to other people
- 00:50:57.637 --> 00:51:02.075
- Who have had similar difficulties.
- 00:51:02.075 --> 00:51:04.544
- You don't have to falsely say, "i know what you're going
- 00:51:04.544 --> 00:51:07.380
- Through" because you know what they're going through
- 00:51:07.380 --> 00:51:09.449
- Because you've been through it yourself, and they know it.
- 00:51:09.449 --> 00:51:12.252
- Listen to me, people listen to you differently
- 00:51:12.252 --> 00:51:15.989
- When you go through stuff.
- 00:51:15.989 --> 00:51:18.058
- I had an illustration of that years ago,
- 00:51:18.058 --> 00:51:20.861
- In kind of a strange way.
- 00:51:20.861 --> 00:51:23.463
- Do you remember the day of cassettes?
- 00:51:23.463 --> 00:51:26.566
- When we started turning point, that's how we produced messages
- 00:51:26.566 --> 00:51:30.103
- For people to listen to.
- 00:51:30.103 --> 00:51:32.405
- When i came back from cancer, i had a woman say to me,
- 00:51:32.405 --> 00:51:36.843
- "pastor jeremiah, you're preaching
- 00:51:36.843 --> 00:51:40.313
- So much better now than you used to."
- 00:51:40.313 --> 00:51:44.518
- Now, that is a really hard thing to absorb as a pastor.
- 00:51:44.518 --> 00:51:49.356
- It makes you wonder how bad you really were
- 00:51:49.356 --> 00:51:51.391
- Before you went through--
- 00:51:51.391 --> 00:51:54.594
- And i thought that was a strange thing for her to say.
- 00:51:54.594 --> 00:51:57.397
- And she told me that she knew that
- 00:51:57.397 --> 00:51:58.832
- Because she was listening to me on the radio.
- 00:51:58.832 --> 00:52:01.768
- One day i was thinking about it, and i realized that there had
- 00:52:01.768 --> 00:52:05.539
- Not been anything on the radio that had been recorded
- 00:52:05.539 --> 00:52:09.943
- Since i came back from being sick.
- 00:52:09.943 --> 00:52:12.279
- It was all messages i had preached
- 00:52:12.279 --> 00:52:13.813
- Before i'd gone to the hospital.
- 00:52:13.813 --> 00:52:15.949
- So she couldn't have noticed that i was preaching better
- 00:52:15.949 --> 00:52:19.352
- Because these were the messages i had preached
- 00:52:19.352 --> 00:52:21.321
- Before i even went to the hospital.
- 00:52:21.321 --> 00:52:23.790
- And then it dawned on me because she came back later and said,
- 00:52:23.790 --> 00:52:27.794
- "you know what, i was kind of wrong about that.
- 00:52:27.794 --> 00:52:30.430
- You weren't preaching better.
- 00:52:30.430 --> 00:52:32.365
- I was listening better."
- 00:52:32.365 --> 00:52:35.302
- People listen to you when you've been through something.
- 00:52:35.302 --> 00:52:38.471
- I tell people all the time, if you're a pastor,
- 00:52:38.471 --> 00:52:41.007
- People listen to you when things are going well.
- 00:52:41.007 --> 00:52:43.810
- When things are going bad, they watch you.
- 00:52:43.810 --> 00:52:46.846
- They want to see if what you've been saying works in your life.
- 00:52:46.846 --> 00:52:51.418
- Is jesus all you need, or are you just saying that
- 00:52:51.418 --> 00:52:54.588
- Because you're paid to say it?
- 00:52:54.588 --> 00:52:57.891
- Interesting enough, even jesus had to experience suffering
- 00:52:57.891 --> 00:53:03.997
- In order that he could identify with our suffering.
- 00:53:03.997 --> 00:53:07.467
- That sounds strange, but i can prove it to you.
- 00:53:07.467 --> 00:53:10.403
- Hebrews 2, "therefore, in all things
- 00:53:10.403 --> 00:53:13.940
- Jesus had to be made like his brethren.
- 00:53:13.940 --> 00:53:17.310
- For in that he himself has suffered, being tempted,
- 00:53:17.310 --> 00:53:20.981
- He is able to aid those who are tempted."
- 00:53:20.981 --> 00:53:24.317
- In other words, the bible says that for jesus
- 00:53:24.317 --> 00:53:26.786
- To be able to help us, he had to suffer what we suffer.
- 00:53:26.786 --> 00:53:31.424
- So, now the bible goes on to say,
- 00:53:31.424 --> 00:53:33.493
- "we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize
- 00:53:33.493 --> 00:53:36.396
- With our weaknesses.
- 00:53:36.396 --> 00:53:37.998
- He was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin."
- 00:53:37.998 --> 00:53:43.303
- So, looking back over the life of joseph, here's a man
- 00:53:43.303 --> 00:53:47.941
- Who teaches us how to live our lives when trouble comes.
- 00:53:47.941 --> 00:53:54.514
- If we're honest, most of us don't want the cross,
- 00:53:54.514 --> 00:53:58.852
- We want the crown.
- 00:53:58.852 --> 00:54:01.888
- We don't want good friday, we want easter.
- 00:54:01.888 --> 00:54:07.927
- We want the gain without the pain,
- 00:54:07.927 --> 00:54:10.497
- And god will not have it so.
- 00:54:10.497 --> 00:54:13.300
- So, if he's trusted you with some difficulty in your life,
- 00:54:13.300 --> 00:54:16.903
- Maybe it's time for you to quit asking him why and ask him what.
- 00:54:16.903 --> 00:54:21.708
- What are you trying to teach me during this time?
- 00:54:21.708 --> 00:54:25.011
- And then, with all of your heart and soul and mind,
- 00:54:25.011 --> 00:54:27.981
- With the bible in one hand and your willingness
- 00:54:27.981 --> 00:54:30.583
- To be faithful to him, learn the important lesson.
- 00:54:30.583 --> 00:54:34.654
- And when you come out of it on the other side,
- 00:54:34.654 --> 00:54:37.057
- You will be so much better,
- 00:54:37.057 --> 00:54:38.725
- You won't even recognize yourself
- 00:54:38.725 --> 00:54:41.528
- Because god is building you up and strengthening you
- 00:54:41.528 --> 00:54:45.899
- And using the difficulties you're facing
- 00:54:45.899 --> 00:54:49.202
- To make you a better person.
- 00:54:49.202 --> 00:54:51.271
- And if you don't get bitter, you will get better.
- 00:54:51.271 --> 00:54:54.307
- ♪♪♪
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- Announcer: thank you for watching "turning point."
- 00:55:01.981 --> 00:55:04.117
- Dr. jeremiah would like to offer you his new book,
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- "everything to god in prayer:
- 00:55:06.653 --> 00:55:08.521
- Guided prayers for your deepest needs and biggest dreams,"
- 00:55:08.521 --> 00:55:11.524
- Containing 100 carefully crafted prayers
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- For life's challenges and celebrations.
- 00:55:14.060 --> 00:55:16.796
- These guided prayers will help you pray with confidence
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- And renewed purpose as dr. jeremiah helps you
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- Bring everything to god.
- 00:55:21.968 --> 00:55:24.137
- Request "everything to god in prayer," new from dr. jeremiah,
- 00:55:24.137 --> 00:55:27.507
- With your gift of any amount to "turning point."
- 00:55:27.507 --> 00:55:29.976
- Or receive 2 copies for a gift of $60 or more,
- 00:55:29.976 --> 00:55:33.313
- Perfect for your prayer life
- 00:55:33.313 --> 00:55:34.814
- And a thoughtful gift for loved ones.
- 00:55:34.814 --> 00:55:37.016
- Your deepest needs and biggest dreams deserve the right words.
- 00:55:37.016 --> 00:55:41.121
- Request "everything to god in prayer"
- 00:55:41.121 --> 00:55:43.256
- By dr. jeremiah from "turning point" today.
- 00:55:43.256 --> 00:55:47.293
- Announcer: if you have never taken the step to believe in
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- Jesus christ as your lord and savior, you can do that today.
- 00:55:53.566 --> 00:55:58.138
- If you will allow us, dr. jeremiah
- 00:55:58.138 --> 00:56:00.173
- Would like to send you two resources that will help you.
- 00:56:00.173 --> 00:56:03.476
- The first is a booklet called, "your greatest turning point,"
- 00:56:03.476 --> 00:56:06.579
- Which will help you as you begin your relationship with christ.
- 00:56:06.579 --> 00:56:09.983
- And the second is our monthly devotional magazine,
- 00:56:09.983 --> 00:56:12.385
- "turning points," to give you encouragement and inspiration
- 00:56:12.385 --> 00:56:15.388
- Throughout the year.
- 00:56:15.388 --> 00:56:17.123
- These resources are yours, completely free,
- 00:56:17.123 --> 00:56:19.359
- When you contact "turning point" today.
- 00:56:19.359 --> 00:56:21.528
- Announcer: if you enjoyed today's message,
- 00:56:25.532 --> 00:56:27.167
- Watch the entire "god meant it for good" series
- 00:56:27.167 --> 00:56:29.702
- On turning point plus+.
- 00:56:29.702 --> 00:56:31.638
- Start streaming this series today,
- 00:56:31.638 --> 00:56:33.573
- Along with more than 1200 messages
- 00:56:33.573 --> 00:56:35.241
- From dr. jeremiah's four decades of broadcast ministry.
- 00:56:35.241 --> 00:56:38.812
- On turning point plus+ you'll find dr. jeremiah's bible-strong
- 00:56:38.812 --> 00:56:41.948
- Teaching, original programming, plus special collections
- 00:56:41.948 --> 00:56:45.318
- And playlists, all on demand and on any screen.
- 00:56:45.318 --> 00:56:48.888
- Visit turningpointplus.org to get started today.
- 00:56:48.888 --> 00:56:51.858
- Announcer: next time on "turning point."
- 00:56:54.194 --> 00:56:57.096
- Dr. jeremiah: what you don't understand
- 00:56:57.163 --> 00:56:58.565
- This little happening, that little happening,
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- That circumstance is, why am i here?
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- Why am i here now?
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- God has got it under control.
- 00:57:04.737 --> 00:57:06.639
- He's working all things together,
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- And it's like he's stirring the pot,
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- And when it's all done,
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- It will be the perfect will of god.
- 00:57:13.813 --> 00:57:16.249
- Announcer: thank you for being with us today.
- 00:57:17.550 --> 00:57:19.452
- Join dr. jeremiah next time for his message:
- 00:57:19.452 --> 00:57:22.222
- From prison to palace, here on "turning point."
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