>> IT IS
A SLIPPERY SLOPE.
AND THE MINUTE YOU OPEN
THE DOOR TO THE DEMONIC WORLD
IT IS VERY DIFFICULT
TO CLOSE IT.
Announcer: NEXT ON
LIFE TODAY!
JOIN SHEILA WALSH AND
DR. JEREMIAH JOHNSTON
AS THEY SPEND
WEDNESDAYS IN THE WORD
PROVIDING LASTING TRUTH
FOR UNANSWERED QUESTIONS.
>> I WANT TO KNOW WHAT
GOD'S WILL IS FOR MY LIFE,
NOT READ A HOROSCOPE,
BUT READ THE WORD OF GOD.
I NEED TO PRAY, I NEED
TO ALLOW GOD'S HOLY SPIRIT
TO SPEAK TO ME
AND SHOW ME WHAT HIS WILL IS.
I DON'T NEED
ANY KIND OF CHARMS
OR ANYTHING ELSE
TO TELL ME THAT.
♪
Sheila: WELCOME TO
WEDNESDAYS IN THE WORD.
I'M SHEILA WALSH.
OFTEN I'LL SIT HERE
AND I'LL TELL YOU OF
THE DIFFERENT MINISTRIES
THAT WE'RE INVOLVED WITH
AND I'LL ASK YOU TO HELP
AND YOU'RE AMAZING --
YOUR RESPONSE IS AMAZING.
BUT I WANTED TO REMIND YOU
THAT WE'RE HERE FOR YOU TOO.
IF YOU'RE GOING THROUGH
HARD TIMES, IF YOU FEEL ALONE,
IF YOU FEEL ISOLATED
AND CUT OFF,
YOU CAN CALL US HERE.
WE HAVE AN AMAZING TEAM
OF PRAYER WARRIORS WHO WILL
AGREE WITH YOU
AND STAND WITH YOU AND
REMIND YOU OF WHO YOU ARE.
ONE OF THE THINGS I'M REALLY
EXCITED ABOUT IS MY GUEST
TODAY, DR. JEREMIAH JOHNSTON
WHO HAS WRITTEN THIS BOOK
CALLED, UNANSWERED:
LASTING TRUTH FOR
TRENDING QUESTIONS.
I WANT TO WELCOME YOU BACK.
I'M SO GLAD YOU'RE ABLE
TO COME AND DO ANOTHER SHOW.
Jeremiah: THANK YOU, SHEILA.
IT IS AN HONOR TO BE BACK.
Sheila: NOW THE SIX SECTIONS
IN YOUR BOOK, WHEN I LOOKED
AT IT I WAS LIKE
THERE IS NO WAY WE'RE EVER
GOING TO GET THROUGH THIS.
SO WE'VE CHOSEN A COUPLE AND
WHAT WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT
FIRST HERE IS "BODY OF PROOF."
WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR US
TO LIVE A
RESURRECTION-CENTRIC LIFE?
Jeremiah: THE RESURRECTION
GIVES LIFE TO EVERY ASPECT
OF OUR CHRISTIAN LIFE
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT.
WHEN YOU READ
THE NEW TESTAMENT THERE ARE
OVER 300 PASSAGES
IN THE NEW TESTAMENT THAT
ALLUDE TO THE RESURRECTION.
EVERY SERMON IN THE BOOK
OF ACTS, THE CENTRAL POINT:
THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS.
THE GREATEST PROMISE THAT
WE'RE GIVEN, MORE THAN
TWO-DOZEN TIMES IS JOHN 14:19
WHEN JESUS SAID, "BECAUSE
I LIVE YOU WILL LIVE ALSO."
MORE THAN TWO-DOZEN TIMES
WE'RE PROMISED THAT
OUR EVENTUAL RESURRECTION
IN JESUS ARE LINKED.
YET, HERE'S THE ISSUE:
MOST OF US CANNOT GIVE
AN ARTICULATE, INFORMED,
INTELLIGENT REASON WHY
WE BELIEVE JESUS
PHYSICALLY, BODILY,
CAME BACK FROM THE DEAD.
NOW I HAD THE PRIVILEGE
TO STUDY IN OXFORD, TO WRITE
AN OVER 90,000-WORD THESIS
AND DAVID HUME, THE ATHEIST
SAID, "WISE MEN CHOOSE
PROBABILITIES."
NOW I WANT TO ENCOURAGE
OUR AUDIENCE WITH THIS.
THE GREATEST PROBABILITY
OF WHAT HAPPENED AT THAT
FIRST EASTER WEEKEND
WAS THAT JESUS PHYSICALLY,
BODILY ROSE FROM THE DEAD.
CHRISTIANITY IS UNIQUE,
UNLIKE ANY OTHER RELIGION
IN THE WORLD.
CHRISTIANITY ACTUALLY
INTERACTS WITH HISTORY.
IT IS BASED ON AN EVENT
AND IF THIS EVENT HAPPENED
IT IS A GAME CHANGER.
Sheila: I WANT YOU TO SET
THE SCENE CULTURALLY FOR US
BECAUSE HONESTLY, I WAS
SURPRISED WHEN I READ
WHAT IT WAS LIKE DURING
THOSE TIMES, WHAT THE LIFE
EXPECTANCY WAS,
WHAT HAPPENED TO DEAD BODIES.
TALK TO THAT.
THAT WAS FASCINATING.
Jeremiah: THANK YOU
FOR SAYING THAT, SHEILA.
ESPECIALLY COMING FROM YOU;
YOU'RE A VORACIOUS READER.
WE HAVE TO READ
THE NEW TESTAMENT WITH
FIRST CENTURY EYES.
IT IS NOT HARD TO DO.
HERESY, IT IS NOT HARD
TO SPEAK OUT OF CONTEXT;
ALL WE NEED IS JESUS
IN NO CONTEXT OR THE BIBLE
IN NO CONTEXT.
SO IT IS IMPORTANT THAT
WE UNDERSTAND JUDAISM.
JESUS, AFTER ALL, WAS A JEW.
HE CAME TO EARTH HISTORICALLY
AT A CERTAIN TIME.
PAUL SAYS IN THE FULLNESS
OF TIME HE CAME.
WELL, HE CAME AT A TIME
OF IMMENSE SUFFERING AND PAIN.
IT IS FASCINATING TO ME,
30 TIMES IN THE GOSPELS
WE HEAR THAT LARGE CROWDS
TRAVELED WITH JESUS.
WE HAVE TO ASK OURSELVES WHY?
HE WAS JUST ANOTHER RABBI;
WASN'T HE?
WELL, NOT REALLY.
WHEN YOU CONSIDER THAT
LIFE EXPECTANCY IN
THE FIRST CENTURY WORLD
OF JESUS -- 20 YEARS OF AGE.
Sheila: THAT'S MIND-BLOWING!
Jeremiah: WE READ OUR
MODERN UNDERSTANDING
THAT WE'RE LIVING LONGER
THAN EVER.
ACCORDING TO C.D.C.
AMERICANS LIVE TO AGE 79.
CANADIANS INTO THEIR 80s.
WE'RE ACTUALLY LIVING 11 YEARS
LONGER NOW THAN PEOPLE DID
IN THE '70s.
SO WE DON'T UNDERSTAND
HOW POTENT, HOW RESIDENT
JESUS' MINISTRY WAS.
SO HE DIDN'T JUST PREACH
THE KINGDOM OF GOD,
HE ACTUALLY AUTHORIZED
HIS DISCIPLES, WHO HE SENT OUT
AS APOSTLES TO PROCLAIM
THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN
TO DO MIRACLES AND
NEKROS GYRO IN GREEK:
STAND UP TO RAISE THE DEAD.
HE DIDN'T JUST PROCLAIM IT,
HE ACTUALLY PREDICTED IT.
WE SEE THAT IN MARK 8:31,
MARK 9:31, MARK 10:33-34
HE PREDICTED HIS VIOLENT DEATH
AND RESURRECTION.
THEN HE WENT A STEP FURTHER,
HE ACTUALLY DID
RESURRECTION HIMSELF.
WHEN WE READ ABOUT
JAIRUS' DAUGHTER, WHEN WE READ
ABOUT THE WIDOW OF NAIN'S SON.
THIS IS WHERE YOUR QUESTION
IS SO EXCELLENT BECAUSE
WHEN WE DON'T UNDERSTAND
JUDAISM, WHEN JESUS WALKS UP
AND TOUCHES THE BYRE
IN THE FUNERAL PROCESSIONAL,
HE IS VIOLATING JEWISH BURIAL
TRADITIONS, JEWISH LAWS,
HE WAS UNCLEAN.
JESUS TRANSCENDED ALL OF
THAT RELIGIOSITY.
AND HE SAID, "STAND UP"
AND THE BOY LITERALLY SAT UP.
CAN YOU SEE IT IN YOUR MIND?
AND THEN THE MOST PROBABLY
STUPENDOUS MIRACLE OF ALL
NEXT TO JESUS ON RESURRECTION,
OF COURSE, YOU KNOW LAZARUS.
HE'S DEAD FOUR DAYS.
IN THE JEWISH CONTEXT HE COULD
NOT HAVE BEEN MORE DEAD.
IN JEWISH BURIAL TRADITIONS,
THEY BELIEVED THE SPIRIT
OF THE DEAD HOVERED OVER
THE BODY FOR THREE DAYS,
AND THEN AFTER THREE DAYS,
EVEN THE FACE CHANGED
AND THE SPIRIT LEFT.
WHEN PEOPLE SEE THAT LAZARUS
HAS BEEN DEAD FOUR DAYS
AND JESUS SAYS "COME FORTH,"
PEOPLE ARE SHOCKED.
IS IT ANY WONDER THEY ARE?
I THINK IT IS
A GREAT QUESTION.
WE SEE A 25% OF THE ROMAN
EMPIRE SICK, DYING OR IN NEED
OF IMMEDIATE MEDICAL ATTENTION
ON ANY GIVEN DAY.
Sheila: IT IS FASCINATING.
YOU TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT
IF YOU'RE GOING TO START
A MOVEMENT, THE LEAST LIKELY
THING TO BUILD A MOVEMENT ON
AT THAT POINT IS SOMEBODY
WHO WAS DEAD AND IS ALIVE.
THAT'S JUST NOT -- THERE IS
SO MANY THINGS AGAINST,
AND THE WAY THAT THE MEN WHO
WERE AFRAID WERE TRANSFORMED
INTO THESE BOLD SPEAKERS.
BUT FOR PEOPLE WATCHING
AND A MOTHER WHO LIVES
SOMEWHERE IN IOWA,
HOW DOES A
RESURRECTION-CENTRIC FAITH
IMPACT HER LIFE TODAY?
Jeremiah: WELL, ROMANS EIGHT
SAYS THAT THE SAME POWER THAT
RAISED JESUS FROM THE DEAD
INDWELLS US.
ONLY BECAUSE OF THE
RESURRECTION PAUL COULD SAY
IN THE COLOSSIANS,
"CHRIST IN ME, THE HOPE
OF GLORY."
IT GIVES US A HOPE
AND ENERGY THAT ALLOWS US
TO TRANSCEND ALL OF LIFE'S
MOMENTARY DIFFICULTIES.
I THINK UNTIL WE UNDERSTAND
THAT, WE WILL REALLY JUST BE
ON THE SIDELINE OF OUR FAITH.
WE GET REALLY MOTIVATED
WHEN WE REALIZE WE'RE NOT
JUST LIVING FOR TODAY,
WE'RE LIVING FOR TOMORROW
AS WELL, AND ETERNITY
BECAUSE OF THE RESURRECTION.
I THINK IT IS SO IMPORTANT
IN A TIME OF HYPER SKEPTICISM,
WE'RE LIVING IN A POST
CHRISTIAN CULTURE,
CHRISTIANS HAVE TO BELIEVE
EVERY FOLLOWER OF JESUS,
NOT DELTA FORCE CHRISTIANS
LIKE SHEILA WALSH BUT
ALL OF US.
WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO GIVE
A REASON FOR THE HOPE
THAT'S IN US.
JUDE THREE SAYS THAT WE ARE
TO CONTEND FOR THE FAITH;
EPAGONIZOMAI IN GREEK.
MEANING CONTINUE TO ATTACK.
WE HAVE TOO MANY CHRISTIANS
ON THE RETREAT.
GUESS WHAT?
WHEN YOU WEIGH THE EVIDENCE,
IT IS AMAZING WHEN WE SEE
THAT THE EVIDENCE,
THE SCALES OF TRUTH
TIP IN OUR FAVOR.
BY GOLLY, JESUS DID PHYSICALLY
BODILY RAISE FROM THE DEAD.
Sheila: I LOVE THE WAY THAT
IT SPEAKS TO OUR CULTURE
RIGHT NOW, A RESURRECTION-
CENTRIC FAITH
IMPACTS HOW WE VIEW
THE HANDICAPPED, HOW WE VIEW
A CHILD WHO LIVES
FOR FIVE DAYS.
IN THOSE DAYS THEY HAD
NO RESPECT FOR --
IF YOU WERE A DEAD BODY,
YOU WERE JUST THROWN OUT.
BUT BELIEVING IN
THE RESURRECTION IMPACTS
HOW WE VIEW EVERY OTHER
HUMAN SOUL.
Jeremiah: YOU'RE
ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
IN ROME, BODY DUMPING
WAS A HUGE PROBLEM.
I MEAN 1500 BODIES A YEAR
WERE JUST LEFT.
YOU WOULD FREE YOUR SLAVE THE
DAY BEFORE YOUR SLAVE DIED.
AND LITERALLY, PEOPLE WOULD
JUST SIDESTEP DEAD BODIES.
WHAT STOPPED THIS
EVIL PRACTICE AND OTHERS?
A COUPLE OF THINGS, CHRISTIANS
CAME ALONG BELIEVING
THAT EVERYONE IS MADE
IN THE IMAGE OF GOD;
THEY HAVE INHERENT VALUE.
A TEACHER OR RABBI,
JESUS SAID, "LET THE LITTLE
CHILDREN COME TO ME."
WHAT PUSHES BACK INFANTICIDE?
WHAT PUSHES BACK RACISM?
THAT REALLY IS INTRODUCED
FROM THE CLASSICAL AUTHORS.
WHAT IS IT?
IT IS CHRISTIANITY AND
ITS THIS RESURRECTION-CENTRIC
CHRISTIANITY THAT WE CARE
ABOUT THE BODY, WE'RE GOING
TO HONOR IT IN BIRTH
ALL THE WAY INTO DEATH
AND BURIAL.
IT'S AMAZING.
IT IS FASCINATING, ACTUALLY.
WE SEE NEARLY A MILLION
CHRISTIANS BURIED TOGETHER
IN THE CITY OF ROME
REALLY BEFORE THE EDICT
OF TOLERATION IN A.D. 313.
Sheila: YOU TALK ABOUT
EVEN THE WORD FOR CEMETERY.
THAT WAS FASCINATING.
TELL US THE ROOTS FOR THAT.
Jeremiah: AGAIN, WE DON'T KNOW
THESE THINGS BUT WHEN YOU LOOK
AT THE GREEK WORD KOIMETERION,
WHICH MEANS CEMETERY,
WE DRIVE BY CEMETERIES.
WE'LL DRIVE BY CEMETERIES
ON THE WAY HOME TONIGHT
AND WE DON'T REALIZE THAT THAT
IS A CHRISTIAN-CENTRIC TERM.
THERE WERE OTHER WORDS
IN LATIN THAT WERE USED
FOR BURIAL: MAUSOLEUM,
MEMORIAM, SEPULCHRE.
THOSE WERE THE THREE
MAIN WORDS.
BUT THE CHRISTIANS ACTUALLY
WANTED TO BE BURIED TOGETHER
BECAUSE AFTER ALL IT WAS JUST
A TEMPORARY DEPARTURE.
SO THEY SAY, "WE'RE GOING TO
ACTUALLY COME UP WITH
A NEW TERM, KOIMETERION
WHICH MEANS DORMITORIES,
SLEEPING ROOMS BECAUSE
WE WILL AGAIN ARISE
WITH OUR SAVIOR.
ISN'T THAT FASCINATING?
SO EVERY TIME YOU SEE
A CEMETERY THAT HAS
THE STAMP OF RESURRECTION.
Sheila: HOW DOES A BELIEF
IN THE RESURRECTION IMPACT
SOMEBODY WHO IS STRUGGLING
RIGHT NOW?
LIKE WHERE ARE YOU, GOD?
I'M REALLY STRUGGLING.
HOW DOES A PROFOUND
UNDERSTANDING AND PLACE
OF THE RESURRECTION AT
THE CENTER OF WHO WE ARE
SPEAK TO THAT?
Jeremiah: SHEILA, WE'VE SEEN
THIS AS WE MEET PEOPLE
WHEN WE SPEAK.
WE HEAR PEOPLE WHO HAVE GONE
THROUGH PROFOUND TRAGEDIES.
I WAS RECENTLY SPEAKING
IN SANTA CRUZ AND A SWEET
COUPLE WALKED UP TO ME.
THEY HAD JUST DRIVEN HOME
FROM A LUIS PALAU BEACH FEST.
THEY WERE HIT BY
A DRUNKEN DRIVER.
THEIR TWO DAUGHTERS AGE 14,
AGE 16 WERE INSTANTLY KILLED.
THE MOM BARELY SURVIVED.
THE WOMAN, NOT ONLY DRUNK,
ALSO HIGH; HOW DO YOU SURVIVE
SOMETHING LIKE THAT?
NOT ONLY DID THEY SURVIVE,
THIS HAPPENED JUST
A FEW WEEKS AFTER 9/11.
THEY SAID, "BECAUSE OF
THE RESURRECTION, WE FOUND..."
THE WOMAN'S FIRST NAME,
"LISA, AFTER SHE SERVED
HER PRISON SENTENCE.
WE WROTE THE PAROLE OFFICER.
WE ASKED THE PAROLE OFFICER,
'CAN WE COME SEE LISA
WHEN SHE IS RELEASED?'"
THEY SAID, "WE'VE NEVER HAD
A REQUEST LIKE THIS.
AFTER ALL, SHE KILLED
YOUR ONLY CHILDREN."
THEY SAID, "WE WOULD LIKE
TO FORGIVE HER."
THEY MET HER.
THEY EMBRACED HER.
I ASKED DAN AND LYNN,
"HOW WERE YOU ABLE TO DO THAT?
I'M A FATHER OF FIVE.
HOW DID YOU EVEN..."
THEY SAID, "THE RESURRECTION
OF JESUS.
IT PROMISES THAT IT IS JUST
A TEMPORARY GOOD-BYE.
AND JESUS, BECAUSE HE'S
FORGIVEN US WE CAN FORGIVE
LISA FOR EVEN SOMETHING
THIS MUCH OF A TRAGEDY."
I THINK THAT IS EMBLEMATIC
OF WHAT I TALK ABOUT
IN THE BOOK, IS THAT IT WILL
GIVE YOU FAITH
TO TRANSCEND THE MOST
DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCE,
A RESURRECTION-CENTRIC LIFE.
Sheila: WHY DO YOU THINK
THERE IS SO FEW SERMONS
ON THE RESURRECTION?
OTHER THAN EASTER SUNDAY
AND MAYBE AT A FUNERAL,
YOU VERY RARELY HEAR ABOUT
THE RESURRECTION
FROM THE PULPIT.
Jeremiah: IT'S REALLY SAD.
I THINK THAT UNFORTUNATELY,
WE'RE LIVING IN TIMES WHERE
I'M VERY CONCERNED FOR WHAT
PASSES FOR A SERMON TODAY.
THAT'S WHY I SO APPRECIATE
YOUR BIBLE TEACHING.
WE HAVE TO PREACH
THE ENTIRE COUNSEL OF
GOD'S WORD AND WHEN WE SEE
HOW PREVALENT THE RESURRECTION
WAS, IT WAS ALWAYS ON
THE TIP OF EVERY TONGUE.
IF YOU TRY TO PULL OUT
THE RESURRECTION PASSAGES
IN REALLY ALL 27 BOOKS,
IT WOULD NOT BE COHERENT;
YOU WOULD NOT BE ABLE
TO TRULY UNDERSTAND.
THIS IS HOW UNIQUE IT WAS.
TRULY EVERY SUNDAY WAS
A RESURRECTION SUNDAY.
ACTUALLY, THAT'S WHY
THE CHURCH BEGAN WORSHIPPING
ON SUNDAY, NOT AN OFF DAY,
IN THE FIRST CENTURY.
THEY SAID, "THAT'S THE DAY
OUR LORD ROSE FROM THE DEAD,
THE LORD'S DAY, SUNDAY.
WE'RE GOING TO CELEBRATE THE
RESURRECTION EVERY SUNDAY."
SO I THINK WE NEED TO GET PAST
JUST THE FORMALITY OF EASTER
AND WHEN WE UNLOCK THAT
WE GO TO NEW HEIGHTS
IN OUR SPIRITUAL LIFE.
Sheila: I'VE GOT TO TOUCH ON
ONE MORE AREA.
AND HONESTLY, WHEN I FIRST
READ THIS I THOUGHT, WOW,
THAT'S KIND OF WEIRD:
PARANORMALCY.
YOU TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT
WE LIVE IN A CULTURE
THAT IS FASCINATED WITH
THE PARANORMAL.
WHY DO YOU THINK THAT IS SO?
Jeremiah: WELL, WHEN YOU THINK
ABOUT THE FACT THAT
THE PARANORMAL HAS BECOME
THE NEW NORMAL, AND
I'M TALKING ABOUT WHEN I SAY
PARANORMAL, THAT'S THE
TRENDY TERM; I'M TALKING
ABOUT THE SPIRIT WORLD,
THE DEMONIC; 71% OF AMERICANS
CLAIM TO HAVE PERSONALLY HAD
A PARANORMAL EXPERIENCE.
NEARLY 40% OF AMERICANS
BELIEVE IN GHOSTS.
UNFORTUNATELY, WHEN WE DON'T
HAVE A BIBLICAL CENTRISM,
WE FORGET THAT JESUS,
WHEN IT COMES TO EXORCISM,
THIS WAS NO SIDE BAR ISSUE.
WHEN JESUS PROCLAIMED
THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN
TWO THINGS HAPPENED:
THERE WERE MIRACLES
AND THERE WERE EXORCISM.
AND WHAT'S AMAZING IS
JESUS SAID IN MATTHEW 28,
"ALL AUTHORITY HAS BEEN GIVEN
TO ME, I GIVE IT TO YOU."
SO UNFORTUNATELY, SOME PEOPLE
GET FREAKED OUT WHEN
WE TALK ABOUT PARANORMAL
AND WE DON'T UNDERSTAND
THE AUTHORITY WE HAVE.
BUT THERE IS SUCH
AN ALLURE TO IT.
I BURIED AS A PASTOR,
I OFFICIATED THE FUNERAL
OF MY NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR'S
14-YEAR OLD SON.
I WILL NEVER FORGET WHEN
THIS SWEET COUPLE MET WITH ME
-- AND LIVING TO OUR LEFT.
"JEREMIAH, WE HAVE TO TALK
TO OUR SON AGAIN.
WOULD IT BE OKAY IF WE SAW
A PSYCHIC?"
SO WE RIDICULE PEOPLE
BUT THEN WE REALIZE
THAT THEY'RE GRIEVING.
I WAS ABLE TO OPEN
THE WORD OF GOD,
SECOND CORINTHIANS 5:8,
"ABSENT WITH THE BODY,
YOUR SON IS PRESENT WITH
THE LORD RIGHT NOW."
AND YET, WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND
JEWISH BURIAL TRADITIONS,
WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND
WHAT JESUS, THE GREAT EXORCIST
THAT HE WAS, AND THEN
WE ACTUALLY SEE THE AUTHORITY
THAT WE HAVE IN CHRIST.
Sheila: YOU SAID
A STATEMENT IN YOUR BOOK
THAT I THOUGHT WAS KIND OF
FUNNY BUT TRUE.
YOU SAID WE HAVE
THE MOST EDUCATED
YET THE DUMBEST CHURCH.
I RESEMBLE THAT REMARK.
YES! BUT IT'S TRUE.
WE HAVE ACCESS TO SO MUCH
THAT WE HAVE SO MUCH LEARNING
AND UNDERSTANDING.
WHY DO YOU SAY THAT IN SOME
WAYS WE'RE LEAST EDUCATED?
Jeremiah: IT'S AN EXCITING
TIME TO BE A CHRISTIAN;
70,000 PEOPLE A DAY
ARE COMING TO FAITH
IN JESUS CHRIST.
THE CHURCH IS GROWING RAPIDLY
AND EXPANDING RAPIDLY.
UNFORTUNATELY, THAT IS
HAPPENING IN NON-WESTERN
COUNTRIES.
THE CHURCH IS REGRESSING
IN THE WEST.
AND IT IS REGRESSING BECAUSE
UNFORTUNATELY, WE DON'T HAVE
A THINKING FAITH.
THE CHURCH IS SEEN
AS IRRELEVANT, PASSÉ,
NOT INTO WHAT I'M DEALING WITH
IN MY LIFE TODAY.
IT IS JUST SO IRRELEVANT.
UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVE LOST
THE SPIRIT OF THE EARLY
CHURCH FATHERS, IF YOU WILL,
WHO SIMPLY THEY OUTTHOUGHT
EVERYBODY AROUND THEM.
THEY WERE THE THINKERS.
THEY WERE THE THOUGHT
LEADERS OF THE DAY.
AGAIN, AFTER ALL, WE TALKED
ABOUT APOLOGETICS
IN OUR LAST PROGRAM.
ALL APOLOGETICS IS,
AND THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE'RE
APOLOGIZING FOR THE FAITH
BY THE WAY; IT MEANS
WE'RE GIVING A HOPE,
AN APOLOGIA, A REASON
FOR OUR FAITH.
APOLOGETICS, THE POINT OF IT,
IS TO MAKE SURE OUR FAITH
CONNECTS UP WELL WITH
THE QUESTIONS OUR CULTURE
IS ASKING TODAY.
IN THE SECOND CENTURY,
THEY QUESTIONED, THEY THOUGHT
CHRISTIANS WERE ATHEISTS.
THEY THOUGHT CHRISTIANS
WERE CANNIBALS.
ATHEISTS BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T
WORSHIP THE ROMAN EMPEROR;
CANNIBALS BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T
UNDERSTAND THE COMMUNION,
THE LORD'S SUPPER.
WELL, WE HAVE DIFFERENT
QUESTIONS TODAY LIKE
WHAT WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING
IN THESE PROGRAMS.
AS CHRISTIANS, IT IS UP
TO EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US
TO BE ABLE TO GIVE AN ANSWER
FOR THE HOPE THAT IS IN US.
WHEN WE DO THAT, THAT'S WHEN
THINGS GET REALLY EXCITING.
Sheila: IT'S INTERESTING
BECAUSE YOU TALK ABOUT
THE FACT THAT WE USED TO TALK
ABOUT SATANISM, BUT THAT WORD
HAS BEEN KIND OF PUSHED
TO THE BACKGROUND
AND PARANORMAL,
IT'S A LOT PRETTIER.
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY
TO SOMEBODY WHO SAYS,
"I'M NOT REALLY INVOLVED IN
THE SPIRIT WORLD,
I JUST READ MY HOROSCOPE.
I JUST DABBLE WITH
A FEW THINGS."
Jeremiah: THAT'S A GREAT POINT
BECAUSE THERE'S SUCH AN ALLURE
TO THE PARANORMAL WORLD.
BUT HERE'S WHAT I WOULD SAY
AND NOT JUST RESEARCH BUT
IN EXPERIENCE AND SPEAKING
AS YOU'VE MET SO MANY
DIFFERENT PEOPLE,
IT IS A SLIPPERY SLOPE.
AND THE MINUTE YOU OPEN
THE DOOR TO THE DEMONIC WORLD
IT IS VERY DIFFICULT
TO CLOSE IT.
SO WE SHOULD GET RID OF
ALL THE DEMONIC PARAPHERNALIA
IN OUR HOUSE.
I WANT TO KNOW WHAT
GOD'S WILL IS FOR MY LIFE,
NOT READ A HOROSCOPE
BUT READ THE WORD OF GOD.
I NEED TO PRAY.
I NEED TO ALLOW GOD'S
HOLY SPIRIT TO SPEAK TO ME
AND SHOW ME WHAT HIS WILL IS.
I DON'T NEED ANY KIND
OF CHARMS OR ANYTHING ELSE
TO TELL ME THAT.
GOD HAS PROMISED TO REVEAL
THAT TO US.
JAMES 1:7, "IF WE LACK WISDOM
LET US ASK OF GOD
AND HE WILL GIVE IT TO US."
Sheila: SO WHAT WOULD YOU SAY
TO SOMEBODY WATCHING
THIS PROGRAM, AND MAYBE
THEY'RE A LITTLE SHOCKED.
THEY'RE LIKE, "WOW!
I DIDN'T REALIZE THIS WAS
A BIG DEAL.
WHAT DO I DO?"
Jeremiah: THE FIRST THING
I WOULD SAY IS FIRST WE NEED
TO REALIZE THE AUTHORITY
THAT WE HAVE IN JESUS CHRIST.
THE NEW TESTAMENT ADDRESSES
THE ISSUE OF THE PARANORMAL
AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN.
SATAN HAS NO POWER OVER YOU
IF YOU'RE A FOLLOWER
OF JESUS CHRIST.
THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT
THAT WE REMEMBER THAT.
WHEN YOU REALIZE THAT
THE SONS OF SCEVA IN ACTS
CHAPTER 19, IT IS THAT
CRYPTIC PASSAGE WHERE THE
DEMON ACTUALLY SAYS TO
THE JEWISH EXORCIST,
"JESUS I KNOW, PAUL I KNOW;
WHO ARE YOU?"
THEY WENT IN THERE
AND THEY TRIED TO DO IT
IN THEIR OWN POWER.
A LOT OF US, WE TRY TO ATTACK
THE DEMONIC OR WE TRY
TO COMBAT IT RATHER
IN OUR OWN POWER.
WHAT DID JESUS DO?
JESUS EXORCISES A DEMON.
HE DOESN'T NEED
ANY PHYLACTERIES
OR INTERESTING UNIFORMS.
IT'S FASCINATING IN ACTS 19,
IT SAYS THE JEWISH EXORCISM,
GREEK IT WAS TWO OF THEM
EVEN THOUGH THERE WERE SEVEN
SONS, THEY RAN OUT NAKED.
WE READ THAT AND WE THINK
THAT'S A LITTLE ODD.
WELL, THESE WERE --
JEWISH EXORCISM WAS A BIG
BUSINESS IN THE FIRST CENTURY.
ALMOST LIKE A DALLAS COWBOY
OR HOUSTON TEXANS,
YOU WOULD WEAR UNIFORMS,
HELMETS, YOU WOULD WEAR
ALL OF THESE PHYLACTERIES,
THINGS THAT WOULD WARD OFF
EVIL SPIRITS.
YOU WOULD HAVE A MAGIC BOOK.
YOU WOULD CAST OUT DEMONS
IN THE NAME OF SOLOMON.
JESUS COMES ON THE SCENE
AND HE CASTS OUT
A DEMON EFFORTLESSLY.
HE SAYS THAT SAME AUTHORITY
HAS BEEN GIVEN TO YOU.
HE IS NOT AFRAID AND WE DON'T
NEED TO BE EITHER.
Sheila: I LOVE WHAT IT SAYS
IN 1 JOHN FOUR:
THE THING THAT YOU MENTIONED
IN YOUR WRITING THAT
IS SO TRUE IS THAT WE THINK
THE ENEMY IS GOING TO SHOW UP
IN SOME UGLY -- BUT WE FORGET
HE'S CALLED AN ANGEL OF LIGHT.
WELL, THERE IS SO MUCH
IN YOUR BOOK AND NOT JUST
THAT, IN YOUR BIBLE STUDY
IN CHRISTIAN THINKERS,
AND WE'RE GOING TO GIVE
OUR VIEWERS AN OPPORTUNITY
TO ACCESS ALL OF THIS STUFF
BECAUSE YOU'VE DONE
SO MUCH WORK AND WE'RE SO
SO GRATEFUL.
AS WE'RE STARTING TO MOVE
A LITTLE BIT --
I KNOW IT'S A LITTLE EARLY,
A LITTLE TOWARD THE SEASON
WHEN WE REMEMBER THE BIRTH
OF CHRIST, ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT MY HUSBAND BARRY
AND MY SON CHRISTIAN AND I DO
IS EVERY YEAR WE ASK THE LORD,
WHAT CAN WE DO THIS CHRISTMAS
THAT WOULD BE REACHING OUT
AS OPPOSED TO GATHERING IN?
WHO CAN WE INVITE
INTO OUR HOME?
WHO IS ON THEIR OWN
THIS CHRISTMAS?
BUT I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF,
WITH LIFE, OF TRAVELING
TO SOME OF OUR PROJECTS
AND TRAVELING TO AFRICA
AND TRAVELING TO
THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
OR SOUTHEAST ASIA AND SEEING
SOME VERY REAL PRESENT NEEDS.
I'M THINKING, WHEN THEIR NEEDS
ARE SO EASILY MET,
WHY DON'T YOU AND I MEET THEM?
WOULD YOU WATCH THIS?
Clint:
WE'RE APPROACHING
A TIME OF THE YEAR
WHEN LIFE OUTREACH
DOES ITS CHRISTMAS SHOES
& SMILES CAMPAIGN.
THE SMILES ARE FOR
CORRECTIVE SURGERY.
BUT WHAT WE'RE
DOING TODAY IS
WE'RE GETTING THESE
YOUNG BOYS AND GIRLS SHOES
FOR THE VERY
FIRST TIME.
YOU CAN ACTUALLY
SEE THE IMPORTANCE
OF WHAT WE'RE DOING.
THIS LITTLE GIRL VERONICA
HAS SORES ON HER FEET ALREADY.
SHE'S OBVIOUSLY NEVER
OWNED A PAIR OF SHOES.
SHE'S BEEN WALKING
AROUND BARE FEET.
James: BETTY, THEY JUST
TOUGH IT OUT AND PLAY.
BUT WE FOUND OUT THAT
RIGHT HERE IN THIS AREA
THAT HOOKWORMS
GET IN THE SKIN,
GET IN
THE BLOODSTREAM,
ULTIMATELY INTO
THE INTESTINES
AND CAUSE VERY
SERIOUS DISEASE
AND SOMETIMES DEATH.
WE CAN TURN IT AROUND
BY SIMPLY GIVING THEM SHOES.
Sheila:
SOMETHING AS SIMPLE
AS A PAIR OF SHOES
CAN REALLY CHANGE
A CHILD'S LIFE.
THIS IS A HAPPY
PLACE TODAY.
[Laughing]
LOOK AT
THIS FACE!
WHO WOULDN'T WANT TO GIVE HER
A GIFT AT CHRISTMAS?
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH
ON BEHALF OF HER FAMILY,
THOSE WHO
LOVE HER.
I THINK YOU'VE PUT THE
BIGGEST SMILE ON HER FACE
THAT WE'VE
SEEN ALL DAY.
SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU
FOR THE GIFT OF SHOES.
THANK YOU FOR
THE GIFT OF LIFE!
[Children yelling]
Sheila: I LOVED THAT TRIP!
I LOVED EVERY MOMENT OF BEING
ABLE TO SEE THE JOY THAT
A SIMPLE GIFT OF A PAIR
OF SHOES PUT ON TO THE FACE
OF A CHILD.
IT IS NOT JUST SHOES
SO THEY DON'T CUT THEMSELVES.
IT IS SHOES SO THAT,
AS JAMES TALKED ABOUT,
SO THAT HOOKWORM DOESN'T
GET INTO THEIR SYSTEM AND
IT DEPLETES THEM OF PROTEIN,
IMPACTS THEIR BRAIN.
IT REALLY MAKES A DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH
FOR SOME OF THESE CHILDREN.
I THINK YOU AND I HAVE
SO MUCH,
WE'RE REALLY BLESSED
AND THIS IS OUR LAST WEEK
OF CHRISTMAS SHOES.
SO WHATEVER WE GET IN THIS
WEEK IS WHAT WE WILL HAVE
TO SEND OVERSEAS.
OUR GOAL HAS BEEN
150,000 PAIRS OF SHOES.
NOW IF THAT WAS JUST ONE
CHURCH TRYING TO DO IT,
IT WOULD BE LIKE WOW!
THAT'S A LOT.
BUT IT'S NOT, IT'S US,
ONE BODY AND TOGETHER
WE CAN DO THAT.
AND IT'S REALLY --
IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU'RE
A TEENAGER OR WHETHER
YOU'VE RETIRED.
NO MATTER WHAT YOUR FINANCIAL
CIRCUMSTANCES ARE,
WE CAN ALL DO SOMETHING
BECAUSE THESE LITTLE SHOES
COST $3.60.
SO TO SEND TEN PAIRS
WOULD BE $36; $72 WOULD
SEND 20 PAIRS OF SHOES.
AND NOT ONLY THAT BUT
THE CORRECTIVE SURGERY.
WE GOT TO VISIT WITH
A LITTLE ONE WHO JUST WAS
SO BADLY -- IT WENT
RIGHT ALL THE WAY UP THE FACE.
THERE WAS NO JOY
IN THE EYES AT ALL.
THEY KNEW WHAT THEIR FUTURE
WOULD LOOK LIKE.
THEN OUR TEAM WAS ABLE
TO GO BACK AND FILM AFTER
THAT LITTLE ONE HAD HAD
THE SURGERY AND IT WAS
AS IF SOMEBODY REACHED INSIDE
AND TURNED A LIGHT ON.
REALLY, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE
DOING WHEN WE REACH OUT
IN JESUS' NAME, IT IS AS IF
WE'RE REACHING UP AND TURNING
ON THE LIGHT OF CHRIST.
NOT ONLY DO WE GET TO PUT
SHOES ON THEIR FEET BUT
WHEN YOU FEED SOMEONE
OR WHEN SOMEBODY'S THIRSTY
AND YOU GIVE THEM CLEAN WATER
FOR THE FIRST TIME, OR YOU PUT
A LITTLE PAIR OF SHOES
ON THEIR FEET, SOMEHOW
YOU'VE KIND OF WON THE RIGHT
TO SIT IN THE SAND WITH THEM
FOR AWHILE AND TALK ABOUT
THE ONE WHO HAS PUT A LIGHT ON
INSIDE OF EACH ONE OF US.
WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO SHARE
THE LIFE OF CHRIST WITH
SO MANY OF THESE FAMILIES
BECAUSE OF A SIMPLE GIFT
OF SHOES.
SO FOR ANY GIFT YOU SEND IN
AT ALL, THIS IS OUR NEW ONE
THIS YEAR, IT IS
OUR LITTLE CRYSTAL SHOE,
BUT IF YOU DO SEND IN $180
WE'RE GOING TO SEND
THE WHOLE SET OF SHOES.
I LOOK FORWARD TO PUTTING
THOSE UP ON MY TREE THIS YEAR.
BUT WE CAN ALL DO SOMETHING.
SO WOULD YOU GO
TO YOUR PHONE?
WOULD YOU MAYBE MAKE
A DECISION AS A FAMILY,
THE BEST GIFT POSSIBLE
THAT YOU CAN GIVE?
I THINK THERE IS JUST
SOMETHING PROFOUND.
JESUS SAID, "WHEN YOU GIVE
CLOTHES YOU'VE CLOTHED ME."
AND THEY WERE LIKE, "LORD,
WHEN DID WE EVER CLOTHE YOU?"
HE SAID, "WHENEVER YOU DID IT
TO THE LEAST OF THESE
YOU DID IT FOR ME."
SO PLEASE, GO TO YOUR PHONE.
GIVE THE BEST GIFT POSSIBLE
AND MAKE SOMEONE'S CHRISTMAS
THE BEGINNING OF SOMETHING
REALLY AMAZING.
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.
FAR TOO MANY CHILDREN
LIVING IN POVERTY
HAVE 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 AND DISEASE
THAT COULD LEAD
TO CRIPPLING CONSEQUENCES --
AND EVEN DEATH.
BY RESPONDING TODAY YOU CAN
HELP IMMEDIATELY SECURE
AND BEGIN SHIPPING
CHRISTMAS SHOES
TO 150,000 CHILDREN
AROUND THE WORLD
JUST IN TIME
FOR THE HOLIDAYS.
YOUR GIFT
OF $36
WILL HELP PROVIDE
TEN PAIRS OF SHOES.
A GIFT OF $72 WILL
HELP PROVIDE 20 PAIR.
AND A GIFT
OF $180
WILL HELP PROVIDE
50 PAIRS OF CHRISTMAS SHOES
FOR CHILDREN
IN NEED.
WITH YOUR GIFT OF ANY AMOUNT,
BE SURE TO REQUEST
THIS BEAUTIFULLY CRAFTED
CRYSTAL SHOE ORNAMENT,
A TREASURE TO PLACE
ON YOUR TREE
EACH HOLIDAY
SEASON.
WITH YOUR GIFT
OF $180 OR MORE
YOU MAY ALSO REQUEST
THIS KEEPSAKE BOXED SET
OF LIFE'S
CHRISTMAS SHOE ORNAMENTS.
FINALLY, PLEASE CONSIDER
A GIFT OF $1,000 OR MORE
TO HELP PROVIDE
OVER 275 PAIRS OF SHOES
OR TWO CHILDREN
WITH CORRECTIVE
CLEFT PALATE SURGERIES
AND YOU
MAY REQUEST
OUR "DETERMINED EAGLE"
BRONZE SCULPTURE.
THIS IS THE LAST WEEK!
PLEASE CALL, WRITE, OR MAKE
YOUR GIFT ONLINE TODAY.
Randy:
THERE YOU GO, BUDDY!
LOOK AT THAT --
BRAND-NEW SHOES!
NEW SHOES
ON DIRTY FEET.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?
NOT ALL OF YOU CAN COME HERE
AND HAVE THE PRIVILEGE I HAVE
OF ACTUALLY PUTTING THE SHOES
ON THE FEET OF
THESE BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN
BUT YOU CAN STILL
BE A BIG PART BECAUSE
REALLY, WE CAN'T DO IT
WITHOUT YOU.
THIS IS NOT JUST
SOMETHING FUN FOR THEM.
THEY LOVE IT, WE'RE ALSO IMPROVING THEIR HEALTH.
THIS IS
A SIGNIFICANT OUTREACH.
THESE CHILDREN
ARE ALL SMILING
BECAUSE WE'VE GIVEN THEM
NEW SHOES BUT
THERE ARE OTHERS THAT NEED
A LITTLE EXTRA SUPPORT
TO CORRECT A CLEFT PALATE
SO THEY CAN HAVE A SMILE TOO.
I HOPE YOU MAKE AN ADDITIONAL
GIFT TODAY AS WE TAKE
THE SHOES AND SMILES TO
AS MANY CHILDREN AS WE CAN.
GO TO THE PHONE, GO ONLINE,
DO THE BEST THAT YOU CAN
AND YOU CAN GIVE SHOES
AND SMILES TO CHILDREN
ALL OVER THE WORLD.
Sheila: THANK YOU SO MUCH!
IF THE PHONE'S BUSY,
WRITE THE NUMBER DOWN
AND KEEP CALLING.
JEREMIAH, THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR BEING WITH US.
YOU KNOW FOR ANY GIFT
YOU SEND AT ALL TODAY
I'D LOVE TO SEND YOU
THIS BOOK UNANSWERED.
THERE IS ALSO, AS YOU SEE
ON YOUR SCREEN A BIBLE STUDY
AND YOU'LL ALSO FIND OUT
WHERE JEREMIAH IS TAKING
HIS UNANSWERED TOUR
ON THE ROAD.
WE HOPE THAT YOU AND AUDREY
AND YOUR FIVE LITTLE GIFTS
HAVE THE BEST
CHRISTMAS POSSIBLE!
Jeremiah: THANK YOU, SHEILA!
THANKS FOR HAVING ME ON.
Sheila: I LOVED IT!
WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT TIME
ON THE WEDNESDAYS IN THE WORD.
THANKS FOR BEING WITH US.
GOD BLESS YOU.
♪
♪
♪
♪
>> WHAT WE DO
ON EARTH REVERBERATES
IN THE HALLS OF HEAVEN
FOREVER.
Announcer:
DR. ROBERT JEFFRESS DESCRIBES
A PLACE CALLED HEAVEN
TOMORROW!
>> LIFE TODAY IS MADE
POSSIBLE BY THE SUPPORTERS OF
LIFE OUTREACH INTERNATIONAL.
YOUR GIFT WILL BE USED EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE EXEMPT PURPOSES OF LIFE.
THE MINISTRY FEATURES
SPECIFIC OUTREACHES
AS EXAMPLES OF THE PROGRAMS
IT SUPPORTS AND CONDUCTS.
GIFTS ARE CONSIDERED
TO BE WITHOUT RESTRICTION
AS TO USE UNLESS EXPLICITLY
STIPULATED BY THE DONOR.
THE MINISTRY IS A MEMBER
OF THE E.C.F.A.