Announcer: COMING UP, PRACTICAL GUIDANCE TO NAVIGATE

THE CHOICES WE FACE EVERY DAY.

Beth: BECAUSE WE LIVE IN THE AGE OF DECEPTION

AND WE'VE GOT TO KNOW WHAT IS TRUE,

WHAT IS AUTHENTIC AND WHAT IS NOT.

WE'VE GOT TO OPERATE PAST THE THINGS WE CAN SEE

WITH OUR HUMAN EYES AND WHAT WE CALL OUR SPIRITUAL GUT.

WHAT IS HE SAYING TO YOU?

Announcer: DEVELOPING SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT --

NEXT ON LIFE TODAY!

§

Betty: WELCOME TO LIFE TODAY!

THANK YOU SO MUCH

FOR JOINING US.

IT IS "WEDNESDAYS WITH BETH"

AND WE ALWAYS LOOK FORWARD

TO THIS DAY.

James: I'M JAMES ROBISON

AND BETTY AND I ARE THRILLED

TO PRESENT ONE OF

THE MOST GIFTED COMMUNICATORS.

AS BETTY SAID, "WEDNESDAYS

WITH BETH" IS A FAVORITE DAY

FOR MANY OF YOU.

I DO HOPE THAT YOU ARE WATCHING

THE OTHER DAYS, LIFE TODAY.

I KNOW MANY OF YOU LOVE BETH.

LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING

THAT BETH WOULD WANT YOU

TO KNOW IS VERY IMPORTANT.

DURING THE PROGRAM,

TOWARD THE LATTER PART,

WHICH AFTER YOU'VE HEARD BETH

YOU COULD SAY, OKAY,

I'LL MOVE ONTO SOMETHING ELSE.

DON'T! BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING

TO SEE WHERE BETH'S HEART IS

AND THAT IS REALLY SHARING

THE LOVE OF GOD.

YOU'RE GOING TO SEE

A REAL PICTURE OF THE POWER

OF PRAYER AND THE OPPORTUNITY

TO DEMONSTRATE LOVE.

BETH IS TALKING ABOUT

SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT

AND I THINK FAR TOO FEW

EVEN AMONG THOSE

WHO PROFESS CHRIST AND CLAIM

TO KNOW HIM PERSONALLY

SEEM TO DISCERN VERY WELL.

WE NEED TO DISCERN THE TIMES.

WE NEED TO DISCERN PEOPLE.

SHE'S GOING TO GET INTO

SOME VERY SPECIFIC ASPECTS

OF DISCERNMENT.

HERE IS BETH MOORE.

Beth: AND I JUST WONDER,

HOW MANY OF YOU

HAVE BEEN PUNKED?

ANYBODY?

BETRAYED?

MISLED?

TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF?

TAKEN FOR A FOOL?

DUPED? FLAT OUT LIED TO?

LOOKED BACK ON SOMETHING

YOU SWALLOWED WHOLE

AND THINK, WHAT AN IDIOT!

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME

YOU BELIEVED SOMETHING

YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE?

OR YOU ACCEPTED SOMETHING

OR WELCOMED SOMETHING

THAT YOU TERRIBLY REGRETTED

THAT BIT YOU

ON THE BACK OF THE NECK SO HARD

YOU STILL FEEL SHAMED BY IT?

WHAT WAS IT?

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME

YOU HAD THAT FEELING INSIDE

YOU COULD NOT SHAKE

BUT YOU COULD NOT

QUITE DEFINE IT?

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME?

A WHOLE LOT OF LIFE

WE'VE ALREADY ESTABLISHED

IS BLACK AND WHITE

BUT THEN WE GET INTO

THAT GRAY ZONE

AND IT IS IN THAT GRAY ZONE

WHERE YOU AND I HAVE

THE BIGGEST CAPACITY

TO GET SIDESWIPED.

IN PAUL'S WORDS TO TIMOTHY,

WE'VE COME INTO

AN AGE OF SEDUCTION --

"SEDUCING SPIRITS," HE SAID.

WHAT THAT MEANS IS

WE'VE GOT OUR REGULAR WARFARE.

WE'VE GOT OPPOSITION,

WHICH IS A NORMAL PART

OF THE EXPERIENCE

IN THE REALM FOR BELIEVERS

BUT THEN WE'VE GOT OPPRESSION;

THAT'S WHEN THE ENEMY

SOMEHOW IS IN IT NOW.

WHERE WE CAN SENSE SOMETHING.

WE CAN HAVE WARFARE

BUT WE CAN KNOW IT.

BUT EVERY NOW AND THEN,

THERE COMES A TIME OF SEDUCTION

WHEN WE DID NOT SEE IT COMING.

IT WAS NOT BLACK AND WHITE.

IT WAS NOT CLEAR TO US.

NOW SOMEBODY

IS GOING TO BE THINKING

RIGHT ABOUT NOW

ON THE OTHER SIDE

OF THAT SCREEN,

YOU KNOW I CAN SEE, BETH,

WHERE YOU WOULD NEED IT

BUT I REALLY CAN'T SEE

WHERE SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT

COMES INTO PLAY IN MY OWN LIFE.

LIKE YOU DEFINITELY

SHOULDN'T BELIEVE THINGS

THAT PEOPLE TELL YOU LIKE THAT

AND THEN GO BROADCAST THEM

ONLY TO FIND THAT IT IS A LIE.

I CAN SEE IT WITH YOUR LIFE

BUT I'M NOT SURE

I GET IT WITH MINE

AND I WOULD BEG TO DIFFER.

CAN YOU IMAGINE

HOW MUCH IT COULD BE

THE SALVATION OF MARRIAGES?

MY MAN ALWAYS COMES WITH ME

ON THESE TAPINGS.

IT'S JUST BEEN SOMETHING AGAIN,

WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT

HOW DID WE KNOW?

IT IS NOT SOMETHING HE DOES

THE REST OF THE TIME.

BUT WE KNEW THAT FOR

THIS PLACE, FOR THESE TAPINGS

HE WAS SUPPOSED TO COME AND

PROVIDE A PHYSICAL COVERING.

HE ALWAYS PRAYS FOR ME

OVER THE PHONE

FOR THE REST OF THE EVENTS

ON THE CALENDAR,

BUT GOD TOLD US EARLY ON.

YOU SAY HOW DID WE KNOW?

WE SOMEHOW KNEW IT --

IN OUR SPIRITUAL GUT,

THIS IS WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.

SO HE ALWAYS COMES WITH ME.

HE WOULD BE ABLE TO ATTEST

TO THE FACT THAT SOME YEARS AGO

IN THE BUSINESS THAT HE WAS IN

FOR SO LONG,

I GOT A STRANGE FEELING

ABOUT A WOMAN --

A STRANGE FEELING.

AND I SAID, "LISTEN,

I REALLY FEEL LIKE --."

HE KNOWS I'M NOT JUST

THE BIG JEALOUS TYPE.

I SAID, "I REALLY

WANT YOU TO BE AWARE.

I THINK THAT

YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE

A VERY SUBTLE ADVANCE

COME TO YOU."

AND HE KNEW

IT DID NOT MEAN MONEY.

[Laughter]

"I WANT YOU TO BE

ON THE LOOKOUT!"

HE COMES BACK THE NEXT DAY

AND SAYS TO ME,

"IT HAPPENED EXACTLY THAT WAY!"

HE SAYS,

"I WANT YOU TO KNOW, BETH."

HE SAID, "I HAD NO IDEA

SHE EVEN FELT THAT WAY.

NO IDEA!"

CAME AND TOLD HIM SHE WAS GOING

TO BE LEAVING THE WORKPLACE

BECAUSE OF HER FEELINGS.

HE SAID, "I ACTED LIKE

I HAD NO IDEA WHAT

SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT."

HE SAID, "I JUST TOLD HER,

'HAVE A GOOD LIFE.

WE'RE GLAD YOU STOPPED BY!'"

[Laughter]

YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING?

LIKE, "GLAD YOU CAME --

GLAD YOU'RE GOING!"

HE SAID SHE WALKED OUT THE DOOR

AND HE SHUT IT AND WENT,

"OH, THAT WAS IT! THAT WAS IT!"

HOW DID I KNOW?

I DON'T KNOW HOW TO EXPLAIN IT!

LISTEN, WE COULD GET

ALL WIGGY HERE AND

MANIPULATE EVERYBODY WE KNOW

BUT IT WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN

THE SPIRIT HAD IT NOT COME OUT

EXACTLY THAT WAY.

THEN IT WOULD HAVE

JUST BEEN IMAGINATION --

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN JEALOUSY,

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN SUSPICION!

BUT IT WASN'T, IT WAS GOD!

IT WAS GOD!

AND HE PLACED A WARNING ON US.

THE SALVATION OF OUR MARRIAGES

-- CERTAINLY IT COULD BE

THE SALVATION OF OUR CHURCHES!

IF WE BEGAN IN OUR CHURCHES

TO OPERATE

WITH SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT,

CAN YOU IMAGINE THE DIFFERENCE?

PROTECTION IN ALL SORTS

OF RELATIONAL ENTANGLEMENTS.

IT COULD KEEP US

FROM TAKING UP EMPLOYMENT

WHERE EVEN IF WE WENT --

I'M NOT TRYING TO MAKE

SOMETHING MYSTICAL OUT OF IT,

BUT IF WE WENT TO AN INTERVIEW

AND WE THOUGHT, UH-HUH.

SOMETHING IS CREEPY HERE.

SOMETHING JUST FEELS

CREEPY HERE.

YOU KNOW WHAT?

DON'T GO TO WORK THERE!

DON'T GO TO WORK THERE!

[Laughter]

THE WORD OF GOD TELLS US

THAT IN THE LATTER DAYS

THERE WILL BE

GREATER DECEPTION.

I WANT TO TELL YOU SOMETHING,

ALL OF US WOULD SAY, ALL OF US

HAVE HEARD THIS PHRASE THAT

THIS IS THE INFORMATION AGE.

WE LIVE IN THE LAPTOP AGE.

I CAN GET ALL OF MY INFORMATION

THAT I NEED OFF OF MY PHONE.

I CAN CHECK MY E-MAILS.

I CAN GET ON THE INTERNET.

I CAN FIND WHERE

THE NEAREST STARBUCKS IS.

I CAN DO ALL OF THESE THINGS

STRAIGHT FROM THE APPS

ON MY TELEPHONE.

WE LIVE IN THE INFORMATION AGE.

THE INFORMATION AGE

PRESUMES A DECEPTION AGE;

THE MORE INFORMATION

THE MORE DECEPTION

BECAUSE THERE IS JUST

MORE POTENTIAL TO DO IT!

IN EVERY REALM

OF SOCIAL NETWORKING

YOU'VE GOT OPPORTUNITY,

YOU'VE GOT BLOGS,

YOU'VE GOT PEOPLE

TAKING UP ENTIRE IDENTITIES

THAT ARE NOT TRUE

BECAUSE THEY CAN POSE IT,

THEY CAN BECOME SOMEONE ONLINE

THAT THEY NEVER DREAMED

OF BEING OTHERWISE.

I'M NOT SAYING

EVERYBODY DOES IT,

I'M SAYING IT'S HAPPENING.

AND EVERYONE I TALK TO

HAS A STORY ABOUT SOMEHOW

BEING DUPED ON A BLOG,

ON A FACEBOOK ACCOUNT,

ON SOMETHING THAT TURNED OUT

TO BE SO DIFFERENT

THAN IT SEEMED.

I WANT YOU TO TURN WITH ME

TO SECOND TIMOTHY CHAPTER THREE

AND WE'LL BEGIN TO CLOSE UP

THIS FIRST HALF

OF OUR TWO-PART SERIES

IN SECOND TIMOTHY THREE.

ANYBODY THINK THEY CAN USE

ANY OF THESE KINDS OF LESSONS?

I NEED TO KNOW

WHAT I CANNOT

WITH MY HUMAN THINKING

BEGIN TO KNOW.

SECOND TIMOTHY CHAPTER THREE.

SEE HERE'S THE THING,

WE DON'T WANT IT TO GET WHERE

ALL THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH

IS REMOVED

OR WE LOSE OUR FREEDOM TOO.

WE CAN'T HAVE IT ALL POLICED

BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE WE'LL LOSE

OUR ABILITY TO SPEAK THE TRUTH

OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST

ON SALVATION.

THERE'S GOT TO BE ANOTHER WAY

TO GET AROUND IT AND THAT WAY

IS TO BE DISCERNING --

TO BE DISCERNING.

SECOND TIMOTHY, CHAPTER THREE.

LET ME SHOW YOU SOMETHING

ABOUT IT.

THIS IS THE WILDEST CHAPTER.

IT BEGINS TO TELL US

ABOUT PERILOUS TIMES

IN THE LAST DAYS

-- IN THE LATTER DAYS

THERE WILL BE PERILOUS TIMES.

BUT UNLIKE MATTHEW CHAPTER 24,

THAT TELLS US ABOUT

THE ECOLOGICAL DISASTERS

AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTERS

AND CIRCUMSTANTIAL DISASTERS,

EARTHQUAKES, FAMINES,

ALL SORTS OF THINGS THAT

WILL ERUPT IN THE LAST OF DAYS,

THE WITNESS OF CHRIST

GOING INTO EVERY NATION

AND PEOPLE GROUP,

THIS PARTICULAR CHAPTER

TELLS IT FROM

A SOCIOLOGICAL POINT OF VIEW.

WHAT WILL BE PERILOUS

ABOUT THE LATTER DAYS ACCORDING

TO SECOND TIMOTHY CHAPTER THREE

IS PEOPLE.

PEOPLE WILL BE

THIS... THIS... THIS... THIS...

IT STARTS BY SAYING:

SOUND FAMILIAR TO ANYBODY?

SOUND LIKE THE DAYS WE LIVE IN?

WELL, DROP DOWN NOW

AND I WANT YOU TO LOOK

AT VERSES 12 AND 13

OF THE SAME CHAPTER.

I WANT YOU TO GET

YOUR DARLING LITTLE PEN OUT

IF YOU HAVE ONE.

YOU CAN GET OUT A PEN

THAT IS NOT DARLING

IF YOU CAN FIND ONE.

I WANT YOU

TO UNDERLINE THAT VERSE

IF YOU MARK IN YOUR BIBLES

BECAUSE IT TELLS US EXACTLY

WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE.

HOW TO COMBAT

WHAT WE'RE UP AGAINST

BECAUSE IT SAYS YOU WILL SEE:

IF WE HAVE EVER IN OUR LIVES

NEEDED DISCERNMENT OF

THE SPIRIT WE NEED IT NOW

BECAUSE WE LIVE

IN THE AGE OF DECEPTION.

WE ARE LIVING

IN THE AGE OF THE POSER AND

WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT'S TRUE,

WHAT'S AUTHENTIC,

AND WHAT'S NOT.

WE'VE GOT TO OPERATE PAST

THE THINGS THAT WE CAN SEE

WITH OUR HUMAN EYES

INTO WHAT THE HOLY SPIRIT

IS TELLING US

AND WHAT WE'RE GOING TO CALL

OUR SPIRITUAL GUT.

WHAT IS HE SAYING TO YOU?

IS HE WARNING YOU

OR IS HE SAYING, "MOVE --

WITHOUT HESITATION

GO WITH THESE PEOPLE."

OR IS HE SAYING,

"YOU BACK OFF AND RUN

FOR YOUR EVER-LOVING LIFE!"

WHAT IS THE HOLY SPIRIT

TELLING YOU?

I WANT YOU TO READ ON

BEFORE WE CONCLUDE THIS PART.

I WANT YOU TO SEE

WHAT IT SAYS NEXT.

MANY OF YOU KNOW THE VERSES

COMING UP BUT I WANT YOU

TO SEE THEM IN THIS CONTEXT.

WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT

SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT,

IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO

UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE TALKING

ABOUT SOMETHING WE'RE GOING

TO OPERATE IN MOST ACCURATELY.

REMEMBER WE'RE IN

THE GRAY ZONE NOW.

WHERE IT IS BLACK AND WHITE,

GO WITH BLACK AND WHITE.

SOMETIMES HE SAYS FLAT OUT,

"YOU DON'T NEED

TO PRAY ABOUT THIS,

FLEE FROM SEXUAL IMMORALITY!"

I MEAN IT GOES,

"FLEE FROM IT!"

YOU DON'T HAVE TO THINK LIKE,

OKAY, NOW THIS IS GRAY.

OH, NO IT IS NOT GRAY.

IT REALLY IS NOT GRAY.

AM I SUPPOSED TO WORK --

AM I SUPPOSED TO BE

AN EXOTIC DANCER?

NO! NO!

THAT IS NOT GRAY.

I'M PRAYING THIS THROUGH.

NO! I'M NOT MAKING FUN.

LISTEN, WE ALL HAVE

ALL SORTS OF TEMPTATIONS,

ALL SORTS OF PASTS

AND ALL SORTS OF HISTORIES

BUT I'M JUST TELLING YOU,

SOME THINGS WE CAN JUST GO,

"THAT IS BLACK OR WHITE."

DO I NEED A CHURCH

THAT TEACHES THE SCRIPTURES?

I DON'T HAVE TO PRAY THROUGH...

"NOW THEY NEVER DO

OPEN THEIR BIBLE

BUT I'M TRYING TO THINK,

GOD MAY HAVE US HERE FOR --."

NO! GOD DOES NOT HAVE YOU THERE

FOR A REASON.

MOVE! MOVE!

UNLESS YOU'RE THE PASTOR;

IF YOU ARE,

START TEACHING THE SCRIPTURES.

SOME THINGS YOU DON'T HAVE

TO PRAY ABOUT THEM;

THEY'RE EITHER GO OR STAY.

"I DON'T KNOW,

I JUST DON'T REALLY FEEL

THE SAME WAY ABOUT MY HUSBAND

AS I USED TO. I WONDER..."

NO, YOU'RE STAYING.

SOME THINGS ARE

BLACK AND WHITE.

BUT THIS ONE,

THIS IS IN THE GRAY ZONE HERE.

WHAT WE'RE GOING TO FIND OUT

IS WE WILL MOST ACCURATELY

DISCERN THE HOLY SPIRIT

WHEN WE HAVE AN OPERATING

KNOWLEDGE OF GOD'S WORD.

I'M NOT SAYING WE HAVE TO KNOW

THE BASIC FOUNDATION

OF EVERY BOOK, ALL 66 BOOKS

OF THE ENTIRE BIBLE

FROM GENESIS TO REVELATION.

I'M SAYING THE MORE

WE GET TO KNOW GOD

THROUGH HIS WORD

THE MORE

WE'RE GOING TO BE ACCURATE

WHEN IT COMES TO MATTERS

OF SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT. WHY?

BECAUSE THE HOLY SPIRIT

WILL NEVER WORK CONTRARY

TO GOD'S WORD;

IT WAS GOD-BREATHED.

HE WILL ALWAYS BE CONGRUENT.

ALWAYS --

IT WILL ALWAYS LINE UP.

SO WE'VE GOT TO KNOW GOD'S WORD

BECAUSE SOMETIMES

WE'RE GOING TO GO,

"I'M FEELING THAT BECAUSE

THIS IS WHAT THE SCRIPTURE SAYS

AND THAT'S NOT

WHAT WE WERE DOING."

THAT'S THE BEST WAY TO DO IT.

BUT HERE'S WHAT I WANT TO SAY

AND THE FIRST TIME I EVER

TAUGHT THIS, I LEFT THIS OUT.

AND I'M SO GLAD --

THIS HAS BEEN SOMETHING

GOD HAS BEEN WORKING

IN MY HEART --

I'M SO GLAD HE BROUGHT IT BACK

TO MY REMEMBRANCE THIS TIME.

IF YOU HAVE

NO BACKGROUND IN GOD'S WORD

BUT YOU STILL HAVE

A FEELING IN YOUR SPIRIT,

IF YOU RECEIVED CHRIST

SOME TIME AGO

BUT YOU'VE JUST NEVER

GROWN UP IN HIM

AND THE WORD OF GOD

AND YOU'RE THINKING,

THEN I CAN FORGET IT

WHERE SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT

IS CONCERNED.

YOU MAY STILL --

BECAUSE HIS HOLY SPIRIT

IS IN YOU, HE MAY STILL

CHECK YOU ON SOMETHING.

YOU MIGHT STILL GET A FEELING.

SO I'M NOT SAYING

THAT IT NEVER APPLIES TO YOU.

I AM SAYING THIS,

GO TO SOMEONE YOU KNOW WHO DOES

HAVE A WORKING KNOWLEDGE

OF THE SCRIPTURES

AND ASK THEM,

"THIS IS WHAT I'M FEELING.

THIS IS WHAT I THINK

THAT GOD IS TELLING ME

THROUGH THE INDWELLING SPIRIT.

DO YOU THINK

THAT I'M RIGHT HERE?"

AND BEGIN TO KNOW GOD

THROUGH HIS WORD.

BUT EVEN UNTIL THEN,

IS HE TELLING YOU SOMETHING

YOU NEED TO RESPOND TO?

CAN YOU FIND OUT FROM SOMEONE

IS IT CONGRUENT

WITH THE WORD OF GOD?

WHAT IS IT HE IS TELLING US?

I NEED TO BE SMARTER THAN I AM.

I NEED TO BE WISE ABOUT MATTERS

IN THIS AGE OF THE POSER.

IF YOU HAVE A TEENAGER

IN YOUR HOME,

YOU NEED SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT!

Audience: AMEN!

Beth: IF YOU'RE A TEACHER...

A FRIEND... A RELATIVE...

A NEIGHBOR...

THERE IS SO MUCH GOING ON

THAT WE CANNOT SEE.

THE HOLY SPIRIT

CAN MAKE KNOWN TO US,

CAN REVEAL TO US,

DISCLOSE TO US

WHAT OUR HUMAN EYES

WOULD NEVER SEE.

IF HE CAN DO IT,

I WANT IT! I WANT IT!

THAT'S WHAT THIS SERIES

IS ABOUT.

LET'S PRAY TOGETHER.

FATHER, WE ASK YOU

IN THE MIGHTY NAME OF JESUS

TO WORK THIS WORK

EVEN AS WE STUDY IT TOGETHER.

THAT EVEN TODAY, FATHER,

IN SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE DOING,

WOULD YOU JUST SHOW US, GOD,

THAT WE REALLY CAN HEAR YOU.

THAT WHEN YOU HAVE A MIND

TO SPEAK, LORD,

YOU ARE PERFECTLY CAPABLE

OF LETTING US KNOW

IN MATTERS, FATHER,

WHERE IT'S GOT TO BE RIGHT

OR IT'S GOT TO BE LEFT.

IT'S GOT TO BE THIS WAY

OR IT'S GOT TO BE THAT WAY.

YOU REALLY DO HAVE

SPECIFIC WILL IN MIND FOR US.

TELL US, GOD, SHOW US

WHAT WE NEED TO SEE.

GIVE US EARS TO HEAR

WHAT WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND.

OPEN OUR SPIRITUAL EYES

AND ENLIGHTEN US.

IN THE MIGHTY AND MIRACULOUS

NAME OF JESUS. AMEN.

James: VERY, VERY IMPORTANT.

WHAT I HAVE FOUND OFTENTIMES

AND THIS IS A WAY TO DISCERN

WHAT IS GOING ON INSIDE

OUR OWN HEART,

WHEN YOU SEE SOMEBODY

OR YOU SEE SOMETHING

SOMEONE DOES THAT IS

DISTASTEFUL, DESPICABLE, GROSS,

JUST SOMETHING YOU CAN'T STAND,

IT'S REALLY EASY TO PIGEON HOLE

THAT PERSON RIGHT OVER

IN THE CATEGORY OF DESPISED.

ONE OF THE THINGS I FOUND

IS THAT WHEN THE LOVE OF GOD

RISES UP IN ME, SO THAT

IT IS HIS LOVE THAT IS

ACTUALLY CONTROLLING ME,

FLOWING THROUGH ME,

I'M GOING TO LOVE THAT PERSON

AND I'M GOING TO DISCERN

IN MYSELF THE SPIRIT

THAT IS WORKING, WHETHER

IT IS THE SPIRIT OF GOD

AND THE SPIRIT OF LOVE.

SO NOT ONLY DISCERN WHAT

IS GOING ON WITH OTHERS,

ASK GOD TO GIVE YOU DISCERNMENT

ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON

INSIDE OF YOU.

ONE OF THE THINGS I'VE ALWAYS

RECOGNIZED ABOUT THE SPIRIT

AT WORK IN US,

IF IT IS THE HOLY SPIRIT

IT WILL ALWAYS BE REDEMPTIVE.

THE ENEMY'S SPIRIT, THE REALM

OF DARKNESS AND DECEPTION

AND DESTRUCTION, IT IS A SPIRIT

OF DESTRUCTION, IT MAY USE

DECEPTION OR MANIPULATION

TO DESTROY BUT IT WILL NOT

BE A REDEMPTIVE SPIRIT.

GOD'S SPIRIT IS REDEMPTIVE.

BETTY, I WANT US TO LOOK BACK

AT A SCENE THAT

SOMETHING HAPPENED THAT WAS

KIND OF PRAYED INTO PLACE,

IT WAS SOMETHING GOD DID...

REAL, REAL SPECIAL.

I PRAYED ABOUT A CHILD

I SAW WALKING AND ENDED UP

BEING ABLE TO EXPRESS

THE LOVE OF GOD FOR

THESE BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN.

I WANT YOU TO WATCH.

James: HERE'S JUST AN OLD WORN OUT SHOE.

BUT HERE'S TWO PRETTY LITTLE FEET

THAT THIS WOULDN'T WORK FOR.

MAYBE IT WOULD WORK FOR SOMEBODY FOR A WHILE

BUT THIS LITTLE GIRL NEEDS SHOES.

Betty: JAMES, I LOOK AROUND

AND I SEE ALL THESE BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN

AND I THINK IT IS NOT THINGS WE'RE TRYING TO GIVE THEM,

IT IS LIFE! AND SHOES TO PUT ON THEIR FEET

BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY DISEASES

THAT COMES FROM WALKING AROUND IN THEIR BARE FEET.

THEY PICK UP SO MANY THINGS

THAT GET IN THEIR SYSTEM, IN THEIR BLOODSTREAM

AND JUST SLOWLY DESTROYS THEIR LITTLE BODIES.

SO IT'S A NEED THAT WE'RE ASKING FOR.

IT IS NOT JUST A LUXURY. THEY NEED OUR HELP.

James: IT IS NOT EVEN COMFORT.

IT IS A CHANCE.

AND THIS IS SOMETHING I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT.

IT IS SOMETHING WE CAN DO TOGETHER.

WE'RE GOING TO GET HER SOME SHOES.

GET HER SOME NICE SHOES.

THESE PRETTY FEET -- GET ALL THE DIRT OFF OF THEM.

MAN, THOSE DIRTY FEET.

CLEAN THEM UP. ARE THEY TICKLISH?

THEY'RE NOT TICKLISH? [Laughing]

ARE THEY TOO TOUGH TO BE TICKLISH? HUH?

THEY ARE; AREN'T THEY?

I JUST HOPE YOU WILL DO ALL YOU CAN TO HELP US

SHARE LIFE AND OPPORTUNITIES

AND BETTER FUTURE FOR CHILDREN LIKE THIS.

IT IS SO EASY TO TALK ABOUT THE LOVE OF GOD

AND ABOUT HOW MUCH GOD LOVES PEOPLE

BUT IT IS A WHOLE DIFFERENT THING

TO SHOW THEM HOW MUCH GOD LOVES THEM.

A LITTLE GIRL LIKE THIS JUST OUT HERE

IN THE MIDDLE OF A REMOTE VILLAGE IN CENTRAL AMERICA,

FEELS VERY COMFORTABLE IN THE ARMS OF LOVE.

THANKS FOR HELPING DO ALL YOU CAN.

IN THE NAME OF LOVE, FOR THE GLORY OF GOD.

James: I JUST --

I DON'T EVEN KNOW

HOW THAT MOVES YOU

BUT I KNOW HOW I PRAYED

FOR THAT LITTLE GIRL

WHEN SHE LITERALLY DISAPPEARED

INTO THE DISTANCE.

I SAID, "GOD,

I WANTED SO MUCH TO TELL HER

HOW MUCH YOU LOVE HER."

AND A FEW MINUTES LATER

SHE WALKED IN MY DIRECTION AND

I JUST SAT DOWN IN THE ROAD.

THIS IS BEFORE I HAD BETTY

COME OVER AND SIT BY ME.

I JUST SAT DOWN IN THE ROAD

AND A TOTAL STRANGER,

NEVER BEEN IN HER AREA BEFORE,

SHE JUST WALKS OVER

AND GETS IN MY LAP.

SHE CRAWLED INTO THE LAP

OF LOVE -- THAT'S WHAT SHE DID!

AND WHEN I TOLD HER

WE WANTED TO PUT SOME SHOES

ON SOME LITTLE FEET,

JUST A LITTLE BIT LARGER

THAN THESE TINY LITTLE SHOES,

I KNEW I COULD DO IT

FOR ONE REASON, BECAUSE YOU

WHO VIEW LIFE TODAY

WHEREVER YOU ARE,

YOU WOULD HELP US

PUT GOD'S ARMS OF LOVE

AROUND THOSE CHILDREN

AND PUT SHOES ON THEIR FEET.

I'M ASKING YOU TO HELP US

REALLY GET THE RESOURCES

IN TIME TO DELIVER THESE GIFTS,

WHICH IS FOR THE CHILDREN,

IT IS A SURPRISE.

I MEAN FOOD IS A SURPRISE,

FRESH WATER IS JUST

OVERWHELMING TO THEM

BUT THEY NEVER EVER DREAM

THAT SOMEBODY WOULD GIVE THEM

SOMETHING LIKE A PAIR OF SHOES.

IT KEEPS THEM FROM GETTING

DISEASES FROM HOOKWORMS

AND OTHER PROBLEMS.

WE WANT TO GIVE THEM

TO THE CHILDREN.

WE WANT TO PUT IN THE HANDS

OF THE MISSIONARIES SOMETHING

THEY CAN PUT ON THEIR FEET.

SO RIGHT NOW WE'RE GIVING SHOES

AND SMILES.

BETTY, THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY

IS SO SIMPLE: $36,

TEN PAIRS OF SHOES;

$72, 20 PAIRS OF SHOES

FOR 20 CHILDREN;

$144, 40 CHILDREN.

TO DO CLEFT PALATE SURGERY

OR WHERE THEY HAVE

FACIAL DEFORMITY,

IT AVERAGES $500;

$1,000, TWO SMILES!

SO WE CALL IT SHOES AND SMILES

FOR CHRISTMAS.

Betty: WHAT AN OPPORTUNITY!

THIS IS AN AREA OF NEED WE CAN

REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

THESE CHILDREN

CAN USE THESE SHOES.

WHY? TO PROTECT THEIR FEET.

THEY HAVE ENOUGH CHALLENGES

IN THEIR LIFE

WITH OTHER AREAS AND NEEDS

BUT THIS CAN HELP

PROTECT THEIR LITTLE FEET

FROM DISEASE THAT THEY GET

FROM THE CUTS AND THE BRUISES

AND THE SCRATCHES

AND ALL THE THINGS

THAT ARE OUT THERE

THAT THEY MIGHT STEP ON, JAMES,

TO HURT THEIR FEET.

AND THEN IF YOU CAN GIVE THEM

A SMILE, OH, MY GOODNESS!

YOU HEARD THE LAUGHTER

OF THAT LITTLE GIRL.

WHAT A JOY TO FILL A NEED

OF A CHILD.

WON'T YOU JOIN WITH US

AND LET'S MAKE THE DIFFERENCE

IN THEIR LIVES?

James: WE NEED THE RESOURCES

NOW SO WE CAN HAVE

THE SHOES AND SMILES

AS A GIFT BY CHRISTMAS.

WOULD YOU SIMPLY DIAL

THE NUMBER?

TAKE YOUR BANKCARD;

USE IT LIKE A CHECK, PLEASE.

WOULD YOU DO IT NOW?

I KNOW SOME OF YOU ARE PRAYING,

GOD, MEET THE NEED.

BUT CAN YOU HELP MEET THE NEED?

CAN YOU BE THE ANSWER

TO SOMEONE'S PRAYER?

CAN YOU BE THE ANSWER

TO THAT NEED?

IF YOU WANT TO WRITE A CHECK,

MAKE IT TO LIFE.

IF YOU WANT TO GO ONLINE,

LIFETODAY.ORG, YOU DO IT.

WE HAVE SOME GIFTS

WE WANT TO SEND YOU;

WE WANT TO BLESS YOU

AS YOU BLESS OTHERS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH

FOR MAKING THAT CALL.

IF YOU GET A BUSY NOW,

YOU BE PERSISTENT AND CALL

UNTIL YOU GET THROUGH.

Announcer: POVERTY IS A KILLER

AND BECAUSE OF IT CHILDREN NEEDLESSLY SUFFER,

NOT ONLY FROM A LACK OF FOOD AND CLEAN WATER,

BUT ALSO FROM A LACK OF THINGS WE TAKE FOR GRANTED

SUCH AS A HEALTHY SMILE OR A SIMPLE PAIR OF SHOES.

FOR MOST OF THESE CHILDREN,

THEY'VE NEVER OWNED A NEW PAIR OF SHOES

AND WHILE THAT MAY SEEM MINOR IN LIGHT OF ALL THEIR NEEDS,

WALKING WITH BARE FEET PUTS THEM AT RISK

OF LIFE-THREATENING INFECTIONS THAT COULD LEAD

TO CRIPPLING CONSEQUENCES, DISEASE, AND EVEN DEATH.

BY RESPONDING TODAY, YOU CAN HELP <I>LIFE</I> IMMEDIATELY SECURE

AND BEGIN SHIPPING CHRISTMAS SHOES TO 200,000 CHILDREN

AROUND THE WORLD JUST IN TIME FOR THE HOLIDAYS.

YOUR GIFT OF $36 WILL PROVIDE TEN PAIRS OF SHOES.

A GIFT OF $72 WILL PROVIDE 20 PAIR

AND A GIFT OF $144 WILL HELP PROVIDE 40 PAIRS

OF CHRISTMAS SHOES FOR CHILDREN IN NEED.

IN APPRECIATION OF YOUR GIFT, BE SURE TO REQUEST

THE INSPIRATIONAL NEW BOOK, <I>GOD WANTS YOU TO BE HAPPY</I>

BY JAMES AND BETTY'S SON, RANDY ROBISON.

WITH YOUR GIFT OF $100 TO HELP PROVIDE 28 PAIRS OF SHOES,

YOU MAY REQUEST THE BEAUTIFULLY CRAFTED SHOE ORNAMENT

TO PLACE ON YOUR TREE EACH CHRISTMAS.

FINALLY, PLEASE CONSIDER A GIFT OF $1,000 OR MORE

TO HELP PROVIDE TWO CHILDREN WITH CORRECTIVE CLEFT PALATE SURGERIES

AND YOU MAY REQUEST "THE LION AND THE LAMB" BRONZE SCULPTURE.

PLEASE CALL, WRITE, OR MAKE YOUR GIFT ONLINE TODAY.

James: DO THE BEST YOU CAN

TO HELP US GIVE THE SHOES

AND SMILES FOR CHRISTMAS.

THANK YOU

AND THANK ALL OF YOU

FOR JOINING US.

I APPRECIATE YOU WATCHING.

THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

ENCOURAGE YOUR FRIENDS

TO WATCH THE PROGRAM.

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>> THEY'RE NOT CLOSED TO GOD, THEY'RE JUST FINDING THEMSELVES

INCOMPATIBLE WITH CHURCH. WHY IS THAT?