Announcer:
NEXT ON LIFE TODAY,
JOIN BEST-SELLING AUTHOR,
SHEILA WALSH
AS SHE EXPLAINS
THE SHELTER
OF GOD'S
PROMISES.
Sheila: SO JESUS WAS SAYING,
"LISTEN. COME ON. RUN TO GOD.
DON'T EVER
GIVE UP.
WHATEVER YOU'RE
ASKING FOR,
ASK AND ASK
AND KEEP ASKING.
WHATEVER YOU'RE
SEEKING FOR,
MAKE IT THE ABSOLUTE GOAL
OF YOUR LIFE.
AND IF YOU NEED GOD
TO ANSWER A PRAYER,
KNOCK AND KNOCK AND KNOCK
ON HEAVEN'S DOOR
BECAUSE YOUR
FATHER CARES."
♪
Sheila: HELLO!
I'M SHEILA WALSH
AND I WANT TO WELCOME YOU
TO WEDNESDAYS IN THE WORD.
I LOVE THE FACT
THAT SO MANY OF YOU
HAVE WRITTEN TO ME
OR PUT THINGS
ON MY FACEBOOK PAGE AND SAID,
"WE LOOK FORWARD TO TUNING IN
AND TO HEARING SOMETHING
FROM GOD'S WORD
THAT WILL REALLY
TOUCH OUR LIVES RIGHT NOW."
BECAUSE HONESTLY,
THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE.
THAT'S WHY WE DO THIS.
WE ALL HAVE GREAT IDEAS,
WE ALL CAN DO OUR HOMEWORK
BUT IT IS GOD'S WORD
THAT HAS THE POWER
TO TRANSFORM THE WAY WE LIVE.
WE'VE BEEN LOOKING
IN THIS SERIES AT SOME
OF THE PROMISES OF GOD.
THERE ARE OVER 3,000 PROMISES
IN THE WORD OF GOD.
SO TODAY, WE'RE GOING
TO LOOK AT A PROMISE
THAT I'M SURE
YOU'RE VERY FAMILIAR WITH.
IT IS ONE OF THE MOST
QUOTED SCRIPTURES,
FOR GOOD REASONS:
ON THE SURFACE THIS IS ONE
OF THE EASIEST PROMISES
TO UNDERSTAND;
PRETTY STRAIGHT FORWARD
BUT I ALSO THINK
IT IS ONE OF THE EASIEST
TO MISINTERPRET.
EVEN NOW I'M THINKING OF NOTES
THAT I'VE SEEN
ON MY FACEBOOK PAGE.
FOR EXAMPLE:
"I ASKED GOD FOR A HUSBAND
AND HE HASN'T GIVEN ME ONE."
OR "I'VE BEEN SEEKING
FOR A JOB
BUT I CAN'T FIND ANYTHING."
ONE OF THE MOST
HEARTBREAKING ONES,
"I'VE BEEN KNOCKING
ON HEAVEN'S DOOR
ABOUT THE HEALTH OF MY CHILD
UNTIL MY KNUCKLES BLEED
BUT NO ANSWER.
WHAT AM I DOING WRONG?"
SO MY QUESTION FOR US IS
WHAT DID JESUS MEAN
WHEN HE GAVE US THESE WORDS?
WHAT WAS ACTUALLY HAPPENING
AT THE TIME WHEN HE SPOKE?
LET ME BACK UP FOR A MINUTE
AND GIVE YOU A PERSONAL STORY.
I BROUGHT MY SON CHRISTIAN
AND HIS FRIEND CHASE WITH ME
TO FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA
WHERE I WAS SPEAKING
AT A CONFERENCE ONE WEEKEND
AND I'D BUILT IN SOME EXTRA
BEACH TIME WITH THE BOYS.
AS THEY HAD REACHED
THE GRAND OLD AGE OF TEN
THEY'D REQUESTED
A ROOM OF THEIR OWN.
WELL, AFTER CHOKING DOWN
A LITTLE LAUGH I TOLD THEM
WE'D GET ADJOINING ROOMS
AND THEY WOULD HAVE
TO LEAVE THEIR DOOR OPEN.
AFTER GETTING THEM SETTLED,
I ASKED IF THEY WANTED
TO HAVE DINNER IN THEIR ROOM
OR IN THE RESTAURANT
AND THEY AGREED THAT
ROOM SERVICE SOUNDED BETTER.
SO I GAVE THEM MENUS
TO LOOK AT
AND I WENT NEXT DOOR
TO UNPACK MY SUITCASE.
WELL, AFTER A FEW MOMENTS
CHRISTIAN POPPED HIS HEAD
AROUND THE DOOR AND HE ASKED,
"CAN I ORDER FOR CHASE AND ME?
I KNOW WHAT TO DO. PLEASE!"
THE TRUTH IS, CHRISTIAN
HAD BEEN TRAVELING WITH ME
SINCE HE WAS SIX WEEKS OLD.
I WAS FAIRLY CONFIDENT
HE COULD HANDLE THE TASK.
"OKAY," I SAID,
"BUT IF THEY ASK
TO SPEAK TO AN ADULT
I'M RIGHT HERE."
"OKAY!" HE CRIED AS HE DASHED
BACK INTO THE NEXT ROOM.
WELL, I COULD HEAR THE BOYS
CHATTING AWAY AND
I COULDN'T RESIST LISTENING.
"SO YOU'VE DONE THIS BEFORE?"
CHASE ASKED.
"HUNDREDS OF TIMES,"
CHRISTIAN SAID.
"AND WE DON'T NEED MONEY?"
CHASE PRODDED.
"NO, DUDE!
IT IS LIKE A MIRACLE!
YOU JUST CALL UP AND
YOU ORDER WHATEVER YOU WANT
AND THEY BRING IT ON A TRAY.
YOU SIGN A PIECE OF PAPER
AND THAT'S IT."
"WOW!" CHASE SAID.
"I KNOW! RIGHT! WOW!"
CHRISTIAN ECHOED.
WELL, I WAITED UNTIL I HEARD
THE KNOCK ON THEIR DOOR
AND I STOOD IN THE ENTRANCEWAY
THAT CONNECTED OUR ROOMS
TO MAKE SURE THAT WHOEVER
WAS DELIVERING THEIR FOOD
SAW THAT THEY WERE NOT ALONE
AND VULNERABLE.
CHRISTIAN DUTIFULLY
SIGNED THE CHECK
AND I SHOWED THE SERVER OUT.
WHEN I TURNED AROUND
I SAW FOR THE FIRST TIME WHAT
THEY HAD ACTUALLY ORDERED,
TWO LARGE PEPPERONI PIZZAS,
ONE FOR EACH OF THEM,
A PINT OF ICE CREAM EACH,
AND A POT OF HOT CHOCOLATE.
"LOOK AT THIS, MOM!"
CHRISTIAN ANNOUNCED.
"AND IT DIDN'T COST US
A THING!"
WELL, THAT NIGHT I EXPLAINED
THE INNER WORKINGS
OF ROOM SERVICE TO MY SON
AND HIS FASCINATED FRIEND.
I TOLD HIM THAT YES,
THERE ARE WONDERFUL THINGS
FOR THE ASKING.
HE COULD HAVE ORDERED STEAKS,
HE COULD HAVE
ORDERED CHEESECAKE
AND YES, YOU DON'T RECEIVE IT
IF YOU DON'T ASK.
BUT I ALSO
HELPED THEM UNDERSTAND
THERE REALLY IS NO SUCH THING
AS A FREE LUNCH.
AS I THINK BACK NOW
ON THAT EVENING,
IT KIND OF HORRIFIES
AND AMUSES ME TO THINK,
THEY COULD HAVE JUST
GONE DOWN THE WHOLE MENU AND
ORDERED EVERYTHING ON THERE.
INSTEAD, THEY WENT FOR WHAT
I CALLED GOOD OL' BOY FOOD.
GRANTED IT WASN'T PERHAPS
THE MOST NUTRITIOUS MEAL
AND THEY BOTH LOOKED
DISTINCTLY UNCOMFORTABLE
AS THEY LAY
ON TOP OF THEIR BEDS
LATER THAT NIGHT
LOOKING LIKE BEACHED WHALES
BUT THEY WERE HAPPY.
I BEGAN TO THINK
ABOUT THEIR ORDER.
I WONDERED IF IN MANY WAYS
WE DON'T DO THIS EXACT THING
IN OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.
HOW MANY TIMES AFTER ALL
HAVE I ASKED GOD
FOR WHAT SEEMS FAMILIAR
OR COMFORTABLE
OR SOMETHING THAT IS JUST
IMPULSIVELY APPEALING?
YET HOW MANY TIMES
HAVE I NEEDED SOMETHING
ENTIRELY DIFFERENT THAN
THE THING I'VE PRAYED FOR?
HOW MANY TIMES
HAVE I ASKED GOD FOR THINGS
I NEVER EVEN CONSIDERED
THE COST THAT CHRIST PAID
TO MAKE THAT POSSIBLE?
BUT HERE
IN THE BOOK OF MATTHEW
JESUS INVITES US TO ASK,
TO SEEK, AND TO KNOCK.
SO WHAT WAS ACTUALLY GOING ON
WHEN THIS INVITATION
WAS EXTENDED
ON THE HILLSIDE THAT DAY?
THE WHOLE OF MATTHEW'S GOSPEL
IS DIVIDED INTO FIVE
MAJOR PASSAGES OF TEACHING
AND ONE OF THE MOST
FASCINATING OF THOSE
IS WHAT WE CALL
THE "SERMON ON THE MOUNT."
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT
BEGINS WITH THE BEATITUDES
IN MATTHEW CHAPTER FIVE
AND ENDS IN CHAPTER SEVEN
WITH THIS INVITATION
TO ASK, TO SEEK,
AND TO KNOCK.
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT
IS A FOUNDATIONAL TEACHING
IN WHICH JESUS REVEALS
WHAT IS EXPECTED
IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN OF
THOSE WHO ARE HIS DISCIPLES.
AND TO THOSE LISTENING
ON THE HILL THAT DAY,
WHAT CHRIST ACTUALLY SAID
WAS REVOLUTIONARY.
WITH THIS POWERFUL SERMON,
JESUS WAS PROMISING
A RADICAL TRANSFORMATION
IN HOW WE THINK,
AND HOW WE LIVE.
I CAN SEE THE PEOPLE
LEANING IN WHEN JESUS
SAT DOWN TO TEACH,
AN INDICATION TO THE CROWD
THAT HE WAS ADOPTING
THE POSITION
OF A TEACHING RABBI.
BUT WHAT THEY WERE
ABOUT TO HEAR
WOULD SHOCK THEM
AS MUCH AS IF JESUS
HAD YELLED IN THEIR FACES
BECAUSE HIS PROMISE
WAS ABOUT MORE.
WHATEVER WE ASK,
HE HAS MORE IN STORE.
ALSO, WHATEVER WE THINK
HE WANTS FROM US,
HE REQUIRES MORE.
WHAT HE'S ABOUT TO SAY
WILL CHANGE EVERYTHING.
WELL, CERTAINLY
THE PEOPLE ON THE HILLSIDE
DIDN'T EXPECT WHAT JESUS
WAS GOING TO SAY THAT DAY.
HE WAS TEACHING
WITH AUTHORITY,
YEP, THEY GOT THAT
BUT HIS WORDS AND THIS PROMISE
WOULD BLOW THEM AWAY.
HE WOULD GIVE THEM COMFORT
AND THEN HE WOULD
CHALLENGE THEM.
HE WOULD TELL THEM
IT WAS THE HEART
THAT MATTERED
AND THEN SAY,
BECAUSE OF THE HEART
WE SHOULD LIVE HIGHER
WITH MORE ABANDON,
WITH MORE PASSION.
TO UNDERSTAND HOW STRIKING
JESUS' PROMISE TO US IS
YOU HAVE TO KIND OF PICTURE
THE SCENE
AND PUT YOURSELF
IN THE PLACE OF THE PEOPLE
WHO FIRST HEARD IT.
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT
WAS NO SIMPLE SERMON
OF NICE BLESSINGS
AND JESUS DIDN'T EASE
INTO THE TEACHING THAT DAY
OR BEGIN WITH A "HELLO"
AND A LOVELY GREETING
TO THE PEOPLE.
HE ACTUALLY BLEW THEM AWAY
BECAUSE THE FIRST WORD
OUT OF CHRIST'S MOUTH
RIVETED THE CROWD BECAUSE
IT WAS NOT A WORD EVER,
EVER ASSOCIATED
WITH ORDINARY PEOPLE: BLESSED.
THIS IS SO SIGNIFICANT
BECAUSE THE WORD BLESSED
WAS A POWERFUL WORD
TO THOSE WHO HEARD JESUS
THAT DAY.
WHAT THEY WOULD HEAR, TO THEM,
IT MEANT DIVINE JOY,
PERFECT HAPPINESS.
AND IT DESCRIBED
THE KIND OF JOY
BELIEVED TO BE EXPERIENCED
ONLY BY THE GODS OR THE DEAD.
THAT WAS WHAT WAS USED
IN PAGAN GREEK LITERATURE
OF THE DAY
TO DESCRIBE HAPPINESS
THAT ONLY THEY COULD KNOW.
BLESSED!
IT IMPLIED AN INNER SECURITY
AND A REST THAT DIDN'T DEPEND
ON OUTWARD CIRCUMSTANCES
OR AN ABILITY
TO KEEP THE RULES
FOR HAPPINESS.
FOR JESUS' AUDIENCE, THIS
WAS A REVOLUTIONARY CONCEPT.
REMEMBER THE PHARISEES
HAD TAUGHT THEM
THAT RIGHTEOUSNESS
WAS TIED TO EXTERNAL BEHAVIOR.
IT WAS A MATTER
OF OBEYING RULES
AND REGULATIONS
OF WHICH THEY HAD ABOUT 624.
YOU AND I KNOW THE BIG TEN,
THE COMMANDMENTS,
BUT A DEVOUT JEW IN THOSE DAYS
HAD 624 LAWS TO FOLLOW.
THE PHARISEES HAD TAUGHT
THAT PRAYING, GIVING, FASTING,
AND KEEPING ALL
OF THE OTHER DIETARY
AND SABBATH RULES
WOULD MEASURE
YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
NOW SOME OF THE RULES
THAT THE JEWS HAD TO LIVE BY
MAKE VERY LITTLE SENSE
TO YOU AND US LIVING TODAY.
FOR EXAMPLE,
HERE'S ONE OF THE RULES:
ON THE SABBATH,
IF YOU PUT OUT A LAMP BECAUSE
SOMEONE IN THE HOUSE WAS SICK
AND YOU WANTED HIM TO BE ABLE
TO SLEEP --
THAT WAS NOT BREAKING THE LAW.
BUT IF YOU PUT OUT THE LAMP
JUST TO SAVE OIL --
THAT WAS BREAKING THE LAW.
ANOTHER ONE:
IF A JEWISH SAILOR
WAS CAUGHT IN A STORM
AFTER SUNSET ON FRIDAY
WHEN SABBATH HAD BEGUN,
IF HE TOUCHED THE HELM,
EVEN SIMPLY TO STEER AWAY
TO SAVE HIS LIFE
OR THE LIFE OF HIS PASSENGERS,
THAT WAS BREAKING THE LAW.
THIS ONE IS EVEN MORE BIZARRE.
IN THOSE DAYS TREATMENT
TO ALLEVIATE TOOTHACHE PAIN
WAS TO PUT VINEGAR
ON THE OFFENDED TOOTH.
NOW, IF YOU DID THAT
ON THE SABBATH,
YOU WERE BREAKING THE LAW.
IF HOWEVER YOU HAPPENED
TO PUT A LOT OF VINEGAR
ON YOUR FOOD THAT DAY
AND IT HAD THE SIDE EFFECT
OF STOPPING THE TOOTHACHE,
THE RABBIS WOULD SAY,
"HMM, IF HE'S HEALED,
HE'S HEALED."
AND NO LAW WAS BROKEN.
HARD FOR US
TO WRAP OUR HEADS AROUND.
BUT IN THE BEATITUDES
JESUS DESCRIBES
HOW CHARACTER FLOWS
FROM INSIDE THE HUMAN HEART.
I CAN ONLY IMAGINE
THE PEOPLE LEANING IN AND
WHISPERING AMONG THEMSELVES,
"IS THIS REALLY POSSIBLE?
DOES GOD REALLY JUST CARE
ABOUT OUR HEARTS?"
WELL, THEY WERE JUST ABOUT
TO TAKE A BIG BREATH
WHEN JESUS' MESSAGE
GOT MORE COMPLICATED.
HE TOLD THE CROWD
THAT THEY'RE SALT AND LIGHT.
IF SALT LOSES ITS FLAVOR,
HE SAID IT'S NO USE ANYMORE.
SAME WITH THE LIGHT;
IF YOU HIDE A LAMP
UNDER A BASKET
IT DOESN'T HELP ANYONE AT ALL.
AND THEN, JESUS PRETTY WELL
DROPPED A BOMBSHELL.
LET'S LOOK AT THIS PASSAGE.
IT IS FOUND
IN MATTHEW CHAPTER FIVE
VERSES 17 THROUGH 20.
LET ME READ THIS TO YOU:
WOW!
CAN YOU IMAGINE?
CAN YOU IMAGINE
THE PEOPLE THINKING,
OKAY, LORD.
YOU HAD ME FOR A BIT THERE
BUT NOW YOU'VE LOST ME
COMPLETELY.
FIRST OF ALL YOU TELL ME
THAT WHAT MATTERS IS MY HEART
BUT THEN YOU TELL ME
THAT UNLESS MY RIGHTEOUSNESS
EXCEEDS THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN
HOLDING THOSE LAWS
OVER OUR HEADS,
I'M NOT GETTING INTO HEAVEN?
IT IS PRETTY CONFUSING.
BUT JESUS ACTUALLY
DOESN'T STOP TO EXPLAIN
AT THAT POINT.
HE GOES ON TEACHING.
HE TALKED ABOUT ANGER.
HE TALKED ABOUT LUST.
AND HE TALKED ABOUT DIVORCE.
MANY WHO HAVE STRUGGLED
WITH THE ISSUE OF DIVORCE,
EVEN TODAY, TAKE THESE VERSES
OUT OF CONTEXT
IN OUR 21ST CENTURY CULTURE
VIEWING THEM
ALMOST AS IF CHRIST
WAS TRYING TO FORCE WOMEN TO
STAY IN AN ABUSIVE MARRIAGE.
IT'S FAR FROM THAT.
JESUS SHOWED US
IN THIS SERMON THAT HIS HEART
IS ALL ABOUT PROTECTING THOSE
WHO ARE BEING LEFT
COMPLETELY UNPROTECTED
OR DISREGARDED
FOR NO REASON AT ALL.
YOU SEE, IN THOSE DAYS
THERE WERE TWO DISTINCT
RABBINICAL SCHOOLS.
ONE TAUGHT BY A MAN
CALLED RABBI HILLEL.
HE TAUGHT THAT A MAN
COULD DIVORCE HIS WIFE
FOR ANY REASON:
IF SHE BURNED HIS DINNER,
IF SHE GAINED TEN POUNDS
OR IF HE SIMPLY
GOT TIRED OF HER FACE
HE COULD PUT HER
OUT OF HIS HOUSE
WITH NO WARNING
AND NO PROVISION.
THERE WAS ANOTHER SCHOOL
OF THOUGHT
LED BY RABBI SHAMMAI,
ANOTHER MAJOR TEACHER
WHO SAID YOU COULD
ONLY DIVORCE A WIFE
FOR A SERIOUS OFFENSE.
SO WHAT JESUS SAID
TO THE CROWD THAT DAY
IS THAT GOD VALUES MARRIAGE
AND HE CARES FOR WOMEN.
YOU CAN'T JUST
DIVORCE YOUR WIFE
APART FROM ADULTERY.
WOMEN HAD SO LITTLE VALUE
IN THAT CULTURE.
THERE WAS ACTUALLY A SAYING
AMONG MANY RABBIS,
"BETTER THE TORAH BE BURNED
THAN READ BY A WOMAN."
WHAT JESUS WAS SAYING WAS
THAT IT IS WRONG
TO TREAT WOMEN THIS WAY.
THEY ARE TO BE LOVED,
THEY'RE TO BE PROTECTED
AND CARED FOR.
THEN JESUS ATTACKED OUR
BASIC INSTINCT FOR JUSTICE.
IN THE OLD LAW THE RULE WAS
AN EYE FOR AN EYE
AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH.
IT WAS CALLED
THE LEX TALIONIS
OR THE LAW OF RETALIATION.
IT WAS SUPPOSED TO PROTECT
THE INNOCENT AND MAKE SURE
THAT RETALIATION
DID NOT EXCEED
THE ORIGINAL OFFENSE.
SO IF I ACCIDENTALLY
RAN OVER YOUR DOG,
YOU COULD KILL MY DOG
BUT NOT MY CAT AND MY PIG
AND MY HAMSTER TOO.
BUT JESUS SAID NO!
CAN YOU IMAGINE THE REACTION
TO THAT IN THE CROWD THAT DAY?
JESUS WAS TELLING THE CROWD
TO SURRENDER THEIR RIGHTS.
THIS KINGDOM OF GOD
IS REVOLUTIONARY
AND HE WAS INTRODUCING
A RADICAL TRUTH THAT
AFFECTS YOU AND ME TODAY --
A WHOLE NEW WAY TO LIVE.
HE WAS SAYING TRUST GOD.
PETER TOOK THIS UP
AND HIS FIRST LETTER
REFERRING TO JESUS
IN FIRST PETER
CHAPTER 2, VERSE 23,
HE WROTE THIS:
AFTER TEACHING ABOUT
TURNING THE OTHER CHEEK,
JESUS WENT ON TO CALL
THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS
"HYPOCRITES."
NOW HYPOCRITE WAS A TERM
THAT PEOPLE KNEW.
IT TRANSLATES AS
ONE WHO PLAYS A PART.
IT WAS A NAME GIVEN TO THE
GREEK ACTORS OF THE DAY.
SO CAN YOU IMAGINE HOW ANGRY
THAT MADE THE PHARISEES?
THEY TOOK SUCH PRIDE
IN THE APPEARANCE
OF GODLINESS.
BUT JESUS WAS SAYING,
"LISTEN, IT IS JUST AN ACT.
IT IS JUST A MASK.
GOD KNOWS YOUR HEART."
PUT YOURSELF
ON THE HILLSIDE THAT DAY.
YOU'RE THERE BECAUSE
YOU'VE HEARD TALK
ABOUT THIS MAN, THIS TEACHER
AND YOU WANT TO HEAR
WHAT HE HAS TO SAY
BECAUSE YOU'RE TIRED BEING
OPPRESSED BY THE PHARISEES,
BY THE ROMANS.
YOU'RE TIRED OF
RIDICULOUS TAXES.
YOU'RE TIRED
AND YOU WANT TO HONOR GOD
BY THE WAY YOU LIVE
AND THE CHOICES YOU MAKE
BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS
IT'S REALLY HARD
TRYING TO KEEP ALL THE LAWS,
THE PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES.
HONESTLY, I WONDER, IF IT IS
THAT MUCH DIFFERENT TODAY.
I IMAGINE YOU TUNE IN
AND YOU JOIN US HERE
ON LIFE TODAY
AND IT IS YOUR HEART
THAT YOU REALLY WANT
TO HONOR GOD
AND DO THE RIGHT THING.
BUT YOU THINK, LORD, I'M NEVER
GOING TO GET IT RIGHT.
YOU KNOW
WHEN YOU ACTUALLY DIVE INTO
WHAT THAT PROMISE TO ASK,
SEEK, KNOCK REALLY MEANS,
WHAT JESUS WAS SAYING,
THE ACTUAL WORDS
IN THE GREEK ARE STRONG.
IT'S NOT A LITTLE ASK,
IT IS A PLEADING.
IT IS NOT A LITTLE SEEKING,
IT IS LIKE DOING NOTHING
OTHER THAN THAT'S MY MISSION.
AND THE KNOCKING
IS THE KIND OF WORD
THAT YOU WOULD USE
TO KNOCK DOWN A DOOR.
SO JESUS WAS SAYING,
"LISTEN. COME ON! RUN TO GOD.
DON'T EVER GIVE UP.
WHATEVER YOU'RE ASKING FOR,
ASK AND ASK AND KEEP ASKING.
WHATEVER YOU'RE SEEKING FOR,
MAKE IT THE ABSOLUTE GOAL
OF YOUR LIFE.
AND IF YOU NEED GOD
TO ANSWER A PRAYER
KNOCK AND KNOCK AND KNOCK
ON HEAVEN'S DOOR
BECAUSE YOUR FATHER CARES."
SOMETIMES I THINK BACK
TO THAT NIGHT
WITH CHRISTIAN AND CHASE
AND THEM ORDERING PIZZA
AND THINKING IT WAS A BIG DEAL
WHEN ACTUALLY THEY COULD
HAVE ORDERED SOMETHING
A LOT GREATER.
SOMETIMES I WONDER
IF IT IS TRUE OF US TOO.
THAT WE ASK FOR LITTLE THINGS
WHEN GOD HAS EVERYTHING
FOR US.
I HOPE YOU KNOW,
NOT JUST IN YOUR HEAD,
I HOPE YOU KNOW IN YOUR HEART
THAT GOD IS FOR YOU.
SO OFTEN WE THINK,
I GET UP IN THE MORNING
AND I PROMISE I'M GOING
TO DO MY BIBLE STUDY,
I'M GOING TO SPEND
SOME TIME WITH GOD
AND BY THE TIME
YOU TAKE CARE OF THE KIDS
AND DO THE LAUNDRY
AND DO THE DISHES
AND EVERYTHING ELSE,
SUDDENLY IT IS EVENING AGAIN
AND YOU THINK,
I FAILED ONE MORE TIME.
DO YOU KNOW THAT GOD NEVER
LOOKS AT YOU AND THINKS,
WHAT A FAILURE.
HE LOOKS AT YOU
AND SEES YOU'RE TIRED,
SEES YOU'RE TRYING
TO DO YOUR BEST.
SOMETIMES WE THINK,
I HAVE TO GET IT RIGHT
BEFORE I COME BACK TO GOD.
NO!
THE MORE YOU FEEL
YOU'VE MESSED UP,
THE FASTER YOU RUN HOME.
YOUR FATHER IS WAITING.
NOT WITH A LIST OF RULES
TO KEEP.
REMEMBER WHAT JESUS SAID
ON THE CROSS?
HE SAID, "IT IS FINISHED.
BILL PAID IN FULL."
IMAGINE YOU'RE GOING TO COURT
AND YOU'VE BEEN CHARGED THAT
YOU OWE A MILLION DOLLARS
AND YOU LOOK
AT YOUR BANK ACCOUNT,
YOU'VE GOT LIKE $60
AND YOU'RE HEADING TO COURT
AND YOU KNOW
THAT YOU CAN'T PAY IT
SO YOU KNOW
YOU'RE GOING TO JAIL.
YOU WALK INTO THAT COURTROOM
AND EVEN AS
YOU APPROACH THE BENCH
THE JUDGE LOOKS AT YOU SAID,
"OH, BILL PAID IN FULL.
SOMEBODY PAID FOR YOU."
THAT'S THE BEAUTIFUL TRUTH
OF THE GOSPEL.
CHRIST HAS ALREADY PAID
FOR EVERYTHING.
AS WE GET TO COME AND WE ASK
FOR WHAT'S ON OUR HEART,
WE SEEK TO KNOW HIM MORE,
AND WE KNOCK ON THE DOOR
BECAUSE YOUR FATHER
IS ALWAYS WAITING.
EVEN AS I THINK AND REFLECT
ON THAT GLORIOUS PROMISE,
I THINK OF SOME PEOPLE I MET
ON A TRIP NOT SO LONG AGO.
I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF GOING
AND WORKING WITH SOME OF OUR
PARTNERS IN ANGOLA, AFRICA
AND THERE I SAW SOME MUMS
WHO WERE DESPERATELY ASKING,
DESPERATELY SEEKING,
DESPERATELY KNOCKING,
PRAYING THAT SOMEONE
WILL LISTEN TO THEM
BECAUSE THEIR NEEDS
ARE VERY, VERY REAL.
WATCH THIS.
Announcer: IF YOU'VE EVER
MISSED A MEAL OR TWO
YOU PROBABLY KNOW
THE FEELING OF HUNGER PAINS
AND THE RELIEF THAT
YOUR NEXT MEAL BRINGS.
BUT SADLY,
THERE ARE THOSE WHO LIVE
WITH THE PAIN OF HUNGER
EVERY SINGLE DAY
OF THEIR LIFE.
AND THEN THERE ARE CHILDREN
WHO DO NOT SURVIVE
ONCE THEY MOVE BEYOND
THE PAIN OF HUNGER.
VERONICA IS REMINDED
OF HER LITTLE BROTHER
DYING FROM
A LACK OF FOOD
EVERY DAY THAT SHE HAS
TO GO WITHOUT FOOD.
>> I REMEMBER WHEN
MY BROTHER DIED.
WE WERE HUNGRY
AND HE WAS SO THIN.
MY MOM TOOK HIM TO THE CLINIC
THAT WAS VERY FAR AWAY
AND HE DIED
ON THE WAY THERE.
Announcer:
VERONICA'S STORY
IS ALL TOO COMMON
IN VILLAGES THROUGHOUT
SOUTHERN AFRICA
AND THAT'S WHAT
MAKES THIS SO URGENT
THAT WE DO
SOMETHING NOW.
Sheila:
SOME OF THESE MOMS HAVE
TO WALK 10-15 KILOMETERS
WITH A SERIOUSLY
MALNOURISHED BABY
JUST TO TRY
AND GET SOME HELP.
AND IF THEY CAN
GET HERE IN TIME,
THEN THERE
IS SOME HOPE.
BUT TIME IS EVERYTHING
HERE AS YOU CAN SEE.
BUT MY PRAYER IS
THAT WE CAN SAVE
HUNDREDS OF OTHER CHILDREN
BEFORE THEY GET
TO THIS STAGE.
NO CHILD SHOULD EVER
GET TO THIS STAGE.
NO MOM SHOULD EVER
HAVE TO WATCH THIS.
SO IF WE DO
SOMETHING NOW
WE CAN STOP THIS
FROM HAPPENING.
Sheila: HONESTLY,
NOTHING --
NOTHING PREPARES YOU
FOR WALKING INTO
A MALNUTRITION CLINIC.
OUR CREW WHO HAD BEEN BEFORE
TRIED TO KIND OF
FILL ME IN A LITTLE BIT
AS WE WERE DRIVING THERE
BUT NOTHING --
NOTHING PREPARES YOU
FOR SEEING THESE LITTLE ONES
WHO ARE LITERALLY,
THE SKIN IS PEELING OFF
OF THEIR BODY,
THEIR HAIR HAS TURNED RED
BECAUSE THERE IS NO PROTEIN
IN THEIR SYSTEM.
I THINK THE THING THAT WAS
ALMOST THE SADDEST FOR ME
WERE THE CHILDREN
WHO DIDN'T EVEN HAVE
THE ENERGY TO CRY.
I HELD ONE LITTLE ONE
WHO LITERALLY
IT WAS EVERYTHING
THIS LITTLE ONE COULD DO
TO TAKE ONE BREATH.
THE THING THAT IS
SO URGENT IN MY SPIRIT
IS THAT THIS IS SOMETHING
WE CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT.
SOMETIMES YOU HEAR
OF SITUATIONS
WHERE THERE IS NOTHING
THAT CAN BE DONE,
IT IS BEYOND HELP.
THIS IS NOT THAT SITUATION.
WHEN WE ARE ABLE
TO GET INTO THOSE VILLAGES
AND SET UP A FEEDING PROGRAM,
LITERALLY,
THE FIRST BOWL OF FOOD
PUT INTO THE HANDS
OF A CHILD BEGINS TO REVERSE
THE CYCLE FROM DEATH TO LIFE.
I'VE BEEN IN
THESE MALNUTRITION CLINICS.
I'VE WEPT WITH MOTHERS.
ONE MUM WHILE WE WERE THERE,
SHE HAD JUST LEFT IT TOO LATE
AND BY THE TIME
HER LITTLE ONE CAME
AND THEY TRIED TO WRAP
THE LITTLE ONE UP IN TIN FOIL
BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE
AN INCUBATOR,
IT WAS JUST TOO LATE
AND SHE'S ALREADY BURIED
A CHILD.
BUT I'VE ALSO
BEEN TO THE VILLAGES WHERE
WE HAVE FEEDING PROGRAMS
IN PLACE AND THERE YOU HEAR
WHAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO HEAR
-- CHILDREN LAUGHING.
HERE'S THE DEAL.
YOU AND I, WE ARE
THE BODY OF CHRIST.
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT,
HALF OF US ARE ON DIETS
BECAUSE WE EAT TOO MUCH.
AND ALL THESE CHILDREN
ARE ASKING FOR
IS ONE MEAL A DAY.
SO HERE'S WHAT WE CAN DO
AND WE CAN DO IT NOW
AND WE CAN DO IT TOGETHER:
$30 WILL FEED THREE CHILDREN.
$50 WILL FEED FIVE CHILDREN.
IF YOU CAN DO $100,
THAT'S AMAZING --
IT WILL FEED TEN CHILDREN
FOR THREE MONTHS!
$1,000 WILL FEED 100 CHILDREN
FOR THREE MONTHS.
THINK HOW EASY IT IS
TO JUST SPEND $30
IN THE MALL
AND NOT THINK ANYTHING OF IT.
BUT CAN YOU IMAGINE
WHAT IT MEANS TO THESE MOMS
AND THESE CHILDREN
TO BE ABLE TO KNOW
THAT THEIR CHILDREN
ARE GOING TO GO TO BED
WITH A FULL TUMMY,
PERHAPS FOR THE FIRST TIME
IN MONTHS?
YOU AND I CAN CHANGE THIS
IN JESUS' NAME.
PLEASE GO TO YOUR PHONES NOW.
Announcer: IN IMPOVERISHED
AND EVEN NOW FAMINE-STRICKEN AREAS OF AFRICA,
CHILDREN
ARE SUFFERING.
THE NEED IS GREAT
AND WITHOUT FOOD
THEY FACE DEATH
BY STARVATION.
LIFE'S MISSION FEEDING
PROGRAM IS READY.
WITH YOUR SUPPORT, WE'RE ABLE
TO FEED AND CARE FOR CHILDREN
IN FAMINE AREAS
OF SUDAN,
AS WELL AS ANGOLA
AND MOZAMBIQUE.
WITH ALL OF OUR
PREVIOUS RESERVES GONE
AND MISSION FEEDING
FACING THE WORST DROUGHT
AND FOOD SHORTAGE
IN YEARS,
WE URGENTLY NEED TO REPLENISH OUR FOOD SUPPLIES
TO REACH 400,000 CHILDREN
COUNTING ON US.
YOUR LIFESAVING GIFT
OF $30, $50, OR $100
WILL HELP FEED AND CARE FOR
THREE, FIVE OR TEN CHILDREN
FOR THE NEXT
THREE MONTHS.
PLEASE ALSO CONSIDER
A SPECIAL GIFT OF $1400
TO HELP SPONSOR
A SCHOOL
AND HELP FEED 140 CHILDREN
FOR THREE FULL MONTHS.
WITH YOUR GIFT
OF ANY AMOUNT
WE'LL SEND YOU
MY DAILY WORD DEVOTIONAL.
THIS BOXED SET OF
FOUR SEASONAL DEVOTIONALS
WILL HELP YOU READ,
REFLECT, AND RENEW YOURSELF
THROUGH GOD'S WORD WITH SPACE
TO JOURNAL YOUR THOUGHTS
AND REFLECT
EACH DAY.
WITH YOUR GIFT
OF $100 OR MORE,
YOU'LL ALSO RECEIVE
KARI JOBE'S NEWEST
MUSIC PROJECT, THE GARDEN,
ALONG WITH THE STORY BEHIND
THE GARDEN COMPANION DVD.
AND FINALLY, WITH YOUR GIFT
OF $1,000 OR MORE,
PLEASE BE SURE TO REQUEST
"DETERMINED EAGLE,"
OUR 2017 COMMEMORATIVE
BRONZE SCULPTURE.
THIS IS
THE LAST WEEK!
PLEASE CALL, WRITE,
OR GO ONLINE TODAY
AND MAKE YOUR
GIFT OF LIFE
TO HELP FEED AND CARE
FOR HUNGRY CHILDREN.
James: NO WAY
FOR ME TO TELL YOU
HOW GRATEFUL I AM
TO SEE THESE BAGS OF FOOD;
I'M TOLD OVER 70,000 MEALS
ON THIS ONE LOAD.
BETTY AND I
STARTED OUT
REALLY HELPING PETER
FEED 10,000 CHILDREN.
NOW WE'RE APPROACHING
NEARLY A HALF MILLION.
I JUST SAY
THANK GOD
BECAUSE I'VE SEEN
SO MANY THINGS HAPPEN.
CHILDREN THAT WERE DYING
ARE NOW BEING FED
AND GOING TO SCHOOL.
IT'S ALL BECAUSE
OF THE FOOD FACTORY.
IT'S ALL BECAUSE
OF MISSION FEEDING
AND MISSION FEEDING
IS ALL BECAUSE OF YOU.
I'M SAYING TO YOU RIGHT HERE
FROM A MIRACLE IN AFRICA,
YOU ARE THE REASON
FOR THE MIRACLE.
TO GOD BE THE GLORY
BUT IT IS GOD'S LOVE
BEING EXPRESSED
THROUGH YOU
AND YOU ARE
GLORIFYING GOD
BY YOUR ACTION
AND BY YOUR GIFTS.
THANK YOU FOR HELPING.
LET'S KEEP DOING IT.
Sheila: THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I JUST WANT TO REMIND YOU
THIS IS THE LAST WEEK
OF MISSION FEEDING.
WE NEVER WANT
THE LINE TO BE LONGER THAN
THE BOWLS OF FOOD WE HAVE.
SO PLEASE GO TO YOUR PHONE
AND MAKE
THE BEST GIFT POSSIBLE AND
WE'LL BE HAPPY TO SEND YOU
THE SHELTER OF GOD'S PROMISES.
AND FOR $1400 YOU CAN SPONSOR
AN ENTIRE SCHOOL,
PERHAPS POTENTIALLY
CHANGE THE NATION FOR JESUS.
I'M SHEILA WALSH.
GOD BLESS YOU!
SEE YOU NEXT TIME!
♪
♪
Announcer:
GETTING REAL ABOUT RACE
WITH N.F.L. TIGHT END,
BENJAMIN WATSON.
>> LET'S HAVE AN ALLEGIANCE
TO WHAT IS RIGHT AND TRUE
AND LET'S
MEET THERE,
NOT JUST STAYING
IN OUR CORNERS.
>> 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.