Participants:
Series Code: IIWC
Program Code: IIWC202326S
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00:38 [gentle piano music playing] 00:41 ♪♪ 00:44 >> Welcome to 00:45 It Is Written Canada. 00:46 Thank you for joining us. 00:47 When Don MacLafferty's skeleton 00:49 key, after multiple repeated 00:52 attempts, finally opened that 00:54 locked door in Zimbabwe, it led 00:57 him on a mission that he could 00:59 never have imagined. 01:00 [RENÉ] Don MacLafferty is a 01:02 missionary, a revivalist and a 01:04 disciple-maker for Jesus, who 01:07 travels around the world 01:09 introducing people 01:10 to his best friend. 01:12 >> Don is here today to tell us 01:14 what happened that night and why 01:16 that skeleton key refused to 01:18 open that door and how opening 01:20 that door led him on an 01:22 assignment to destroy 01:24 the Devil's domain. 01:26 [RENÉ] Don, thank you for 01:27 joining us again on It Is 01:29 Written Canada. 01:30 [DON] It's a joy to be here. 01:31 [MIKE] Don, tell us about that 01:33 skeleton key. 01:34 [DON] Oh, the skeleton key. 01:36 I'll never forget it. 01:38 I thought I was finished 01:41 with my work in Zimbabwe 01:44 and I got a last minute 01:45 opportunity to go and speak to a 01:47 high school campus about Jesus. 01:49 And I was tired, so, so tired. 01:52 I said, "Where am I sleeping 01:53 tonight?" 01:54 They said, "Well, because you 01:55 came here last minute, we don't 01:57 really have that planned, but 01:58 we'll figure it out. 01:59 Follow us." 02:00 They took me to a 02:03 long, big building, a dormitory 02:05 that's right up against a high, 02:07 high fence that's supposed to 02:09 keep the leopards out 02:11 of the university campus 02:13 where I was. 02:14 Supposed to. 02:15 So they gave me a long skeleton 02:17 key, you know those old timey 02:18 keys, and they said, "Here's 02:20 your key for your room." 02:21 So I popped it in the door and 02:23 turned it, and it did exactly 02:25 what I thought, it just popped 02:26 open and I walked into a tiny 02:28 little bedroom, which is fine 02:30 with me, it's all I needed. 02:32 I was so exhausted, I said, 02:33 "Goodnight, everyone, 02:34 I'm going to sleep." 02:36 I got ready for bed 02:37 and knelt down. 02:38 I said, "God, is there anything 02:40 else on Your heart 02:42 for me to do here in Zimbabwe 02:44 before I go home 02:46 in about the next day, 02:48 day and a half?” 02:49 And that was my prayer. 02:50 And that's still, small voice of 02:52 God said to my mind, said to my 02:53 heart, "Come outside under the 02:56 stars, and I'll tell you." 02:58 Whoa, I was now very, very 02:59 awake, because, you know, God 03:01 still speaks. 03:02 He still speaks to His people. 03:04 He doesn't speak audibly to me 03:06 like, "Hey, Don," but He speaks 03:08 to my mind, He speaks to my 03:09 heart and I test these things 03:11 with the written Word of God. 03:13 That's very, very important. 03:15 So I put on my warm clothes 03:18 because it actually was a cold 03:20 time in Africa and I went out 03:21 under the stars. 03:22 The stars were just like I could 03:23 just pick them right out of the 03:25 sky because artificial light was 03:27 so far away. 03:29 Rarely do I see that on the 03:31 planet today. 03:32 And I went right out into the 03:35 tall grasses where the cobra are 03:37 during the hot part of the day, 03:39 but this is a cold part and so I 03:42 trusted that they were all in 03:43 their dens, their holes. 03:45 So I knelt down in those tall 03:46 grasses and I said, "God," I 03:48 lifted my hands up, "God, what's 03:49 on Your heart?" 03:51 And there's still, small voice 03:54 said, "Ask Me to do much, much 03:55 more for Africa." 03:57 And I thought that was a 03:58 little strange. 03:58 Why would God ask me to ask Him? 04:00 But, you know, this is the 04:01 amazing quality of our 04:04 amazing God. 04:05 He does want us to ask of Him. 04:08 So I lifted my hands up 04:09 in the darkness. 04:10 "God," I said, 04:12 "I am asking you to do much, 04:14 much more for Africa." 04:16 And as soon as I asked Him, 04:19 my heart became peaceful 04:21 and I could hear the birds 04:23 and I could hear the wind 04:25 through the tall grasses. 04:26 And I knew I could now go back 04:28 to my room and go to sleep. 04:29 So I got up and went through the 04:32 grass and came up to the 04:33 dormitory, took out my key, 04:35 popped it in the door, turned it 04:37 and it wouldn't open. 04:38 I thought, "That's crazy. 04:39 I must be doing something wrong. 04:40 I'm too sleepy." 04:41 I rub my eyes. 04:42 I did it again, second time, 04:44 third time, fourth, fifth, 04:45 sixth, 10th time, 04:47 15th time. 04:48 Now, I was getting upset, maybe 04:50 even a little upset with God. 04:51 "Why are You not allowing 04:52 me to sleep? 04:53 I've been here preaching and 04:54 teaching for Jesus, and I just 04:56 simply need to sleep." 04:58 And I couldn't get in the door. 04:59 And the still, small voice of 05:01 God said, "Don, you're not 05:03 getting into your room yet 05:04 because there's someone for 05:05 you to meet." 05:06 "But I don't know anybody in 05:08 this whole dormitory. 05:09 They don't even know that I came 05:10 here tonight. 05:12 It's unplanned." 05:14 And He said, "Oh, there's 05:15 somebody for you to meet." 05:17 So I thought, "Oh, great, this 05:19 is gonna be embarrassing." 05:20 I've gotta walk through a dark 05:22 dormitory. 05:23 So I am padding my way through a 05:25 long hallway, unlit... 05:28 ...and I thought, "Which door 05:30 am I gonna knock on?" 05:32 And God said, "Do you trust Me?" 05:34 "Well, yes, I trust-- 05:36 Yes, I trust You." 05:37 And so I'm walking along and 05:39 I'm thinking, "This is gonna be 05:40 so embarrassing. 05:41 I'm gonna knock on one of these 05:42 doors and they're gonna see my 05:44 white face in the darkness, I'm 05:45 gonna scare them to death." 05:47 And so I thought, "I don't know 05:49 which one to go to." 05:50 And there was beautiful 05:52 music and light 05:54 pouring out of one door. 05:56 The whole hallway is dark, 05:58 everybody is sound asleep. 06:00 Somebody's still awake. 06:01 I thought, "Okay, I'm gonna make 06:03 this really, really easy so I 06:04 can get out of here fast. 06:06 God told me to knock on the 06:07 door, so I'm gonna do it, 06:08 but I'm gonna knock very, very 06:10 softly and if no one answers, 06:12 I'll say, "God, I did my part." 06:14 So I just barely tap on the door 06:16 and the door swings open like 06:17 this, like they're waiting for 06:19 me all the time. 06:20 And this face comes out in the 06:22 darkness and sees my white face 06:24 and he says, [gasps] 06:25 "Who are you?" 06:26 And I said, "I'm not a robber, 06:27 I promise I'm not a robber." 06:28 I said, "I'm Pastor Don and I'm 06:31 just teaching here in your 06:32 country, but I," and I held up 06:34 my skeleton key, "I'm 06:36 embarrassed to say 06:37 I cannot get 06:38 my door open." 06:40 And he said, "Oh," he said, 06:42 "My friend. 06:43 Come with me. 06:44 I've been coming here for a 06:45 long, long time. 06:46 I can help you get in 06:48 to your door. 06:49 I've been studying here 06:50 for some time. 06:52 So I followed him over to the 06:54 room and I handed him the key, 06:57 he took the key and turned it 06:58 just once and guess what 06:59 happened? 07:01 [MIKE] It opened. 07:02 [RENÉ] You got in? 07:03 [DON] No! 07:03 It wouldn't open. 07:05 And he tried again and again and 07:06 again and again. 07:07 He said, "Ack! What's wrong with 07:08 this key? 07:09 I have use every key probably in 07:11 this whole building and they've 07:12 always opened the first time." 07:14 And I was like, "Oh no, I can't 07:15 believe this is happening." 07:16 He said, "Hey, wait, wait. 07:17 Wait right here." 07:18 And he got a big strapping young 07:20 man and he said, "This man, 07:22 this young man is a student, 07:24 he can get in anything." 07:25 He took my key and he just went 07:27 like this and his muscles were 07:29 just there, you know, he's like 07:30 a wrestler. 07:31 And he worked and worked until 07:33 he started sweating in the 07:34 cold night. 07:35 And he said, "Ah, Pastor," he 07:36 said, "I can't open this 07:37 either." 07:39 And then he said, "But wait 07:40 right here." 07:41 And he goes all the way to the 07:42 other side of the campus, 07:43 brings back a big bushel 07:46 basket full of keys, 07:49 many duplicate keys of my door. 07:51 And the dean of the school 07:54 is trying each one. 07:56 And it doesn't-- each one 07:57 doesn't open. 07:58 I'm getting more and more 07:59 frustrated. 08:00 Pastor Willard is across the 08:02 hallway from me and he's 08:03 watching this with much 08:04 interest. 08:05 And the still, small voice of 08:07 God says, "Ask Pastor Willard... 08:10 ...what can I do for you? 08:11 How can I help you?" 08:13 I said, "God, April and I 08:15 agreed, I only have $100 08:18 in my pocket for emergencies. 08:19 I'm happy to give this man $100 08:21 if it'd help him, but what if he 08:23 asks me for something bigger 08:24 than what I have in my pocket? 08:26 And then I'd have to say, 'I'm 08:27 sorry, I don't-- 08:29 I can't help you.'" 08:30 And stronger that the still, 08:32 small voice of God said, 08:34 "Ask him." 08:35 And I gave Him another excuse. 08:37 "But $100 can only go so far. 08:39 What if he wants me to put his 08:40 children through school?" 08:42 Third time He says with urgency, 08:44 "Don, ask him, 08:46 what do you need? 08:47 How can I help you?" 08:48 So I said, "Pastor Willard," 08:49 I said, "God is moving my heart 08:51 to ask you what do you need? 08:53 How can I help you?" 08:55 He got a big smile on his face. 08:56 Too big. 08:57 And I thought, "Oh, no, 08:59 he's gonna ask me for something 09:00 bigger than what I had 09:02 to help him." 09:03 And he said 09:05 to the dean, "Please give me 09:07 Pastor Don's key." 09:08 I thought, "Why does he want 09:09 the key? 09:10 I already know it doesn't work." 09:11 And so he took it and he went 09:13 and he put it right in the door. 09:15 He turned it once 09:16 and the door opened. 09:18 [MIKE] Wow. 09:18 >> The door only opened after I 09:20 obeyed that still, small voice 09:22 of God that says, "Ask him, how 09:24 can I help you and what do 09:26 you need?" 09:27 Interesting, isn't it? 09:28 That's never happened to me 09:29 ever again, before this story or 09:31 after this story. 09:32 So we said goodnight to 09:34 everybody, except I said, 09:35 "Pastor Willard, let's get on 09:36 our knees." 09:37 We got on our knees and prayed. 09:38 And I said, "What do you need 09:41 and how can I help you?" 09:42 And he said, "What do you do?" 09:43 And I said, "I do training all 09:45 around the world, training 09:46 people on how to call children, 09:48 youth, and adults all together 09:51 to revival with Jesus. 09:52 And then I train them on how to 09:53 live as disciples and 09:55 disciple-makers, especially the 09:56 new generations." 09:57 "Oh, why don't you come to 10:00 Northern Zambia? 10:00 We need such training." 10:02 And I sat back in my chair and I 10:04 felt comfortable because it was 10:05 something I already knew 10:06 how to do. 10:07 And as soon as I sat back and 10:09 felt comfortable, that still, 10:10 small voice said, "Yes, that's 10:13 good, but there's something 10:15 most urgent 10:16 and he hasn't told you yet." 10:18 "Pastor Willard," I said, 10:20 "I'm sorry to disturb you, 10:22 but have you really told me 10:23 what's urgent 10:24 for you to tell me?" 10:26 And he hung his head like this, 10:28 and he looked up with tears in 10:29 his eyes and he said, "We do not 10:32 have Christian schools 10:33 for our children. 10:34 We desperately need Christian 10:36 schools, Bible schools for our 10:38 children." 10:39 I said, "Oh, you mean like you 10:40 want a little, like a little 10:42 one-room schoolhouse?" 10:43 I was trying to take a need 10:46 and put it down as small as I 10:47 could so I could get my mind 10:49 around how I could help him. 10:51 Do you follow me? 10:52 And he said, 10:53 "No, not exactly. 10:55 We need a whole 10:57 secondary campus 10:58 carved right out of the bush 11:00 country where there's nothing 11:02 and we need a dormitory for the 11:04 girls, a dormitory for the 11:05 boys," and on and on he went and 11:07 my heart just sank. 11:10 And I was just thinking, "Oh, 11:11 this is so out of my league," 11:13 when he said, "Excuse me, that's 11:15 only part of it. 11:16 We need actually two of those 11:18 kinds of schools. 11:19 We have nothing for our 11:20 children." 11:22 And I said very quietly, I said, 11:24 "Thank you," I gave him a weak 11:26 handshake, "Thank you for 11:27 sharing these needs with me. 11:29 I know God arranged this, but I 11:31 have no idea what to say. 11:32 God bless you. 11:33 Have a good night." 11:34 And so he walked out. 11:35 I got on my knees and I said, 11:37 "God, what was that?" 11:38 And He said, "Don, 11:40 you asked me under the stars 11:42 to do much more for Africa 11:44 and I have had you meet Pastor 11:47 Sichilima so that you could hear 11:49 this need in northern Zambia. 11:51 These schools are what I'm 11:53 asking you to build." 11:56 >> Wow! 11:58 And so that key only worked 12:00 after you met that pastor and 12:03 asked him the right question. 12:04 [DON] Yes, exactly. 12:06 [RENÉ] Okay, so, Don, can you 12:07 tell us about these two 12:10 secondary schools in Zambia? 12:13 >> You know, I'm not a builder, 12:14 I'm not independently wealthy. 12:16 I thought to myself, "Who am I 12:18 to build two secondary school 12:20 campuses out of the bush, 12:22 you know, out of the raw bush?" 12:25 But, you know, God still lives. 12:27 He's powerful 12:28 and He has all the cattle on a 12:30 thousand hills, Scripture says. 12:32 And so I went to my congregation 12:34 that wasn't a super wealthy 12:36 congregation and at the time I 12:38 was pastoring, the church in 12:40 California, in Clovis, 12:42 California, and we prayed, 12:44 earnestly prayed, and we came 12:47 under conviction as a 12:48 congregation that God wanted 12:49 us to do something much bigger 12:51 than ourselves. 12:52 And we started all sacrificing 12:54 our little bits and selling off 12:56 things that we didn't really 12:58 need in our homes. 12:59 And it wasn't that there was any 13:01 great big contributions, there 13:03 were many, many, many small ones 13:05 and God multiplied those again 13:07 and again and again. 13:09 And then God gave many divine 13:10 appointments on my travels where 13:12 people heard about the sacrifice 13:15 of the many, and they multiplied 13:17 again and again that until soon 13:20 we had enough to build that 13:22 first campus in the northern 13:24 province of Zambia, right out of 13:26 the bush. 13:27 And then several years later, 13:28 the second campus. 13:30 And this is only because God 13:33 is able. 13:34 Whatever He asks you to do, 13:37 He always will supply the need 13:38 for you to do. 13:39 It's only when we are trying to 13:41 attempt things that He's not 13:42 asking us to do. 13:43 [MIKE] Exactly. 13:44 [DON] So that's what happened. 13:45 So those are two disciple-making 13:46 schools today and they're 13:48 sending their students out into 13:50 the public and actually are 13:51 being used of God to disciple 13:54 public school teachers, not just 13:55 students, but public school 13:57 teachers to Christ. 13:59 [MIKE] So when we're talking 14:00 about destroying the Devil's 14:02 domain, just so no one gets the 14:04 wrong idea here, we're not 14:05 talking about Zambia is the 14:07 Devil's domain or Africa is the 14:08 Devil's domain or even Canada, 14:10 anywhere in the world, because 14:12 actually this world belongs to 14:13 the Creator, right? 14:15 And so when we talk about the 14:17 Devil's domain, we're actually 14:18 talking about an illusion, 14:19 right, because the Devil 14:20 is a liar. 14:21 So when he captivates people's 14:23 thoughts and they believe that 14:25 lie that he is in control, then 14:28 they kind of get his thoughts 14:30 into their mind and they think 14:31 by having control, by possessing 14:34 things, that they 14:35 themselves are... 14:36 And so by getting Jesus's 14:38 message and the truth 14:40 into people's hearts, 14:42 then we destroy that lie... 14:44 [DON] Amen. 14:45 [MIKE] ...and we we capture 14:47 people for Jesus. 14:49 And so now this message is being 14:51 sent out by these two schools, 14:53 and that message is starting to 14:55 go throughout Zambia and the 14:57 Ministry of Education learns 14:58 about this. 14:59 And now they want you to train 15:02 200 early childhood school 15:05 developers. 15:06 How did you do that? 15:07 [DON] Well, and they wanted, 15:08 like, 20 from each of their ten 15:10 provinces, all to come to their 15:12 capital in Lusaka. 15:14 And I'm thinking, yes, 15:15 how do I do that? 15:16 And because training is 15:19 different than just speaking, 15:21 I could speak to 200 educators, 15:23 but that's not training. 15:24 I wanted them to have hands on 15:26 training. 15:27 So I prayed and 15:28 cried out to God. 15:29 God always has solutions, even 15:31 when we don't. 15:32 And so He impressed me to go 15:35 about several weeks early before 15:37 this training and to actually 15:39 gather godly people across 15:43 Zambia, nationals who walk with 15:45 God, talk with God, who I could 15:47 give training to in advance so 15:50 that they could be small group 15:52 leaders over all these teachers. 15:55 And if it wasn't for taking a 15:57 wrong bus, I wouldn't have found 15:59 some of the most precious ones. 16:01 I never should have taken it, 16:02 except that God had a divine 16:03 appointment in it. 16:05 And this is the way it happened. 16:07 So I went there several weeks 16:09 early and, again, I had almost 16:11 no money on me. 16:13 This was something that there 16:14 was no budget for. 16:15 I just-- God told me to go. 16:17 So I went to the nation of 16:19 Zambia with almost no cash 16:22 and nothing for hotels, food or 16:24 anything, but God said go. 16:27 I hopped on to a bus 16:29 only after a believer there 16:32 said, "Now, Pastor Don, 16:33 whatever you do, 16:35 don't get separated from this 16:36 bus way out in the middle of 16:37 nowhere in Zambia, or else 16:40 you could have trouble. 16:42 So stay on this bus." 16:43 I said, "No problem. 16:44 I'll stay on this bus." 16:46 I said, "Do they ever stop 16:47 for a restroom?" 16:48 "Oh, maybe in five hours or so 16:50 or six hours." 16:51 I thought, "Well, okay, I'll 16:53 pray about that." 16:54 Well, finally we did stop 16:56 and I said, "Now you're gonna 16:57 stay here for a little bit, 16:59 right, because I'm gonna go find 17:01 a restroom." 17:02 Restroom is not what we think of 17:03 here, but anyway, a restroom. 17:05 And so he said, "Yes, we're 17:06 right here." 17:07 So I went off and found a little 17:10 outhouse and there were many 17:11 people selling papayas and 17:13 everything and I was trying to 17:15 wade through all the sellers. 17:16 And I got back and 17:18 the bus hadn't left. 17:19 Oh, I was so relieved. 17:20 I jumped up on the bus and the 17:22 driver looked at me and he said, 17:23 "What are you doing here?" 17:24 I said, "I got back on my bus." 17:27 He said, "No, you haven't gotten 17:28 back on your bus." 17:30 I said, "Yes, this is right 17:32 where I left the bus." 17:34 "Maybe so, sir, but you've never 17:36 been on this bus before." 17:38 And I said, "What's going on?" 17:40 He said, "Your bus already left 17:42 and you are now going on 17:45 another bus." 17:47 And I said, "Oh no. 17:48 What do I do?" 17:49 And I said, "Where are you 17:50 headed?" 17:51 He said, "I'm going to the same 17:53 city you are." 17:54 And I said, "But all my luggage 17:56 is on the another bus!" 17:57 And he said, "Well, look, you 17:59 just go ahead and find a seat on 18:01 this 'wrong bus' and we'll see 18:03 if we can catch up with your 18:04 luggage, but I can't 18:05 promise it." 18:06 So I said, "Okay..." 18:09 And I was thinking, "Maybe God 18:11 has a divine appointment 18:12 for me." 18:13 And I'm walking down the aisle 18:15 and I sit down right behind two 18:18 well-dressed men. 18:20 And I asked the well-dressed 18:22 men, I said... 18:24 ...I said, 18:25 "Where are you going?" 18:26 And they said, "Kasama." 18:27 I said, "Well, that's where 18:28 I'm going." 18:29 And God impressed me to be bold. 18:31 I said, "You know, I am here for 18:33 a week or two praying 18:35 for God to help me meet 18:37 men and women across Zambia who 18:39 love Jesus and who love children 18:41 and who I can train to be 18:43 disciple-makers to help me 18:45 disciple 200 plus educators. 18:48 They said, "That's very nice," 18:50 and then went back 18:51 to their meeting. 18:52 We kept on bumping along the 18:53 road and then pretty soon 18:55 they turned back to me and they 18:56 said, "You know what? 18:58 In Kasama, the city where you're 18:59 going, there is a bishop 19:02 who has... 19:04 ...who has a great love 19:05 for children and would love to 19:07 help you disciple... 19:09 ...disciple teachers from across 19:11 this nation to disciple 19:12 the kids. 19:13 I said, "Fantastic, 19:15 that's great!" 19:16 And he has others, too, make a 19:18 long story short, because I went 19:20 on the wrong bus, God helped me 19:22 recruit people from many 19:24 different Christian backgrounds 19:27 who shared a passion in 19:29 discipling children for Jesus. 19:31 >> So, Don, can you tell us, so 19:33 now you've got enough people, 19:34 you've recruited enough people, 19:36 and you're gonna train these 200 19:38 early education teachers, right? 19:41 What happened at the training? 19:44 >> The government made an 19:46 official welcome 19:48 to this teachers convention 19:50 unlike any teachers convention 19:52 the teachers of Zambia 19:53 were used to. 19:54 They were used to being gathered 19:56 together to talk about grades 19:58 and discipline and, you know, 19:59 all the things that we do here, 20:01 too, and achievement scores and 20:02 all kinds of things like that. 20:04 And... 20:06 ...they were in a shock when I 20:07 stood up in front of them, 200 20:09 plus educators, the finest of 20:11 the fine across Zambia, 20:12 precious people. 20:14 And I said something like this, 20:15 I said, "Welcome." 20:16 I said, "I have been invited by 20:19 your government 20:20 to teach you 20:23 about what it means to be a 20:24 disciple of Jesus 20:26 and a disciple-maker of our 20:28 children in your government 20:29 schools." 20:31 There was no smiles, there was 20:33 no happy reaction. 20:34 And I said, "But first, how can 20:36 we disciple the children 20:38 of Zambia 20:39 without having a revival?" 20:41 So every morning we'll have a 20:42 revival first. 20:44 No smiles, no amens, 20:47 there were many arms folded. 20:49 In fairness, what would happen 20:52 in Canada or the U.S. 20:54 if government school teachers 20:56 thinking that they were gonna 20:57 come and have a normal teachers 20:58 convention, were invited to a 21:00 revival and discipling session. 21:02 In fairness. 21:03 [MIKE] A similar reaction. 21:04 Yes. 21:05 [DON] Yes! 21:06 And so 21:07 I remember standing up and 21:09 inviting them to open their 21:10 Bibles if they had one to 21:12 Revelation 3 and sharing a 21:15 powerful message about how Jesus 21:17 is standing at the door and 21:19 knocking and how He wants to do 21:21 an in-time, work in our hearts 21:23 to call us to Christ. 21:25 And again, no amens. 21:27 Sombre faces. 21:29 But you know what? 21:30 Many, many people were praying 21:32 for every one of those teachers. 21:34 I was praying for all those 21:35 teachers. 21:35 My team that had been recruited 21:37 from across Zambia, they were 21:39 praying. 21:40 And when God's people pray, 21:42 God does big things. 21:44 Well, maybe a day later 21:46 I got this report. 21:48 This is what happened 21:50 behind the closed door 21:52 of one of the classrooms 21:53 where 20 educators 21:55 from one province 21:57 were being trained. 21:59 All of a sudden, one of their 22:01 finest educators stood up 22:03 and she held up her hands and 22:04 she said, "I'm under conviction. 22:07 I've heard their written Word of 22:08 God preached," talking about the 22:11 revival time, and she said, 22:13 "My heart is not right." 22:15 She said, "Some time ago, 22:17 one of my dearest friends 22:19 stole my husband 22:21 and I have hated her 22:22 with a passion 22:24 and I've wanted to beat her up, 22:26 I've wanted to destroy her in 22:27 every way. 22:28 Not just her reputation, 22:29 I wanted to destroy her. 22:31 And I am under conviction 22:33 that I need to forgive her. 22:35 Who will pray for me?" 22:36 And everyone was stunned 22:39 looking at her like, 22:40 "What is she talking about?" 22:43 They weren't used to hearing 22:44 people say, "Who will pray for 22:45 me?" in a teachers convention. 22:47 And she said, "I am serious!" 22:49 And she started having tears in 22:50 her eyes, she said, "I need to 22:52 know who will pray for me. 22:54 I'm desperate to be free 22:56 of this terrible 22:58 relationship I've had 23:00 with my old friend 23:01 and I want to make things 23:02 right with her." 23:04 And no one moved. 23:05 Finally, someone came up 23:07 and prayed very, 23:09 in a very uncomfortable way. 23:11 And then another one came up and 23:12 another one came up and pretty 23:13 soon the woman was sobbing. 23:16 She desperately wanted to be 23:17 supported in doing what she 23:19 didn't want to do, but what she 23:21 was called by the Word of God 23:23 to do. 23:24 And finally 23:26 the teacher said, "Okay, I think 23:27 we've prayed enough." 23:29 And so the educator, 23:32 she lept up to her feet and she 23:33 said, "I know what I 23:35 need to do." 23:36 She said, "I am leaving right 23:37 now and I'm going to call up my 23:39 friend that I haven't talked to 23:40 except for screaming at her for 23:42 a couple years, and I'm going to 23:44 tell her, 'I am sorry for how 23:45 I've treated you.'" 23:46 And everybody said, "Wait, wait, 23:47 wait, wait, wait, wait, 23:47 wait, wait. 23:48 Shouldn't you slow down a little 23:49 bit and think about it? 23:51 Because, you know, if you've had 23:51 such a terrible relationship 23:53 with your old friend that 23:55 stole your husband, maybe you 23:56 should just slow down." 23:58 She said, "I'm under conviction 23:59 by God, I need to move on this 24:01 right now." 24:02 And bless her heart, she did. 24:03 She called up her old friend 24:05 and her old friend was scared to 24:06 death to hear from her because 24:08 she had been threatened, 24:10 you know, against her life. 24:11 And to make a long story short, 24:14 she said, "I know that you stole 24:16 my husband, but I have 24:18 hated you. 24:19 Will you forgive me for 24:20 hating you?" 24:22 And the other woman started 24:24 sobbing, the one that stole her 24:25 husband started sobbing. 24:27 And some days later, 24:30 that woman who had stolen her 24:31 husband came to their house 24:33 knocking at the door. 24:35 And the educator's little girl 24:37 said, "Mommy, Mommy, that woman 24:39 that stole Daddy is coming to 24:41 our house." 24:41 And the little girl dove under 24:43 the bed and closed her door 24:44 because she just knew that 24:45 something terrible was 24:46 gonna happen. 24:48 And after a little while, 24:49 she heard laughter 24:51 and happy voices. 24:52 And she came out, she said, 24:53 "Mommy, how can you 24:55 receive this friend of yours 24:57 who stole Daddy?" 24:59 And she said, "Because of Jesus, 25:01 because of Jesus." 25:03 That's what made the difference. 25:05 And in the same week, 25:08 a mighty man 25:09 stood up in another province 25:11 and he said, "You know, during 25:13 this revival, God is challenging 25:15 me about how I am treating my 25:17 grown son. 25:18 Years ago, he wronged me and I 25:21 have basically disowned him 25:22 and I told them I never want to 25:23 see his face again, I'll never 25:25 talk to him again. 25:26 And now my grown son and his 25:28 wife have their child and I've 25:29 never seen my grandchild 25:31 and I realize 25:33 that my bitter heart 25:35 has pushed him away 25:37 and I need to ask him 25:38 for forgiveness. 25:39 Who will pray for me?" 25:40 And again, no one wanted to pray 25:42 because they were so shocked 25:43 that this very renowned educator 25:45 would publicly say, "I have 25:47 wronged my son." 25:49 And finally they prayed for him 25:52 like the first story, 25:53 and they prayed over him. 25:56 He came under conviction 25:57 to call his son. 25:58 He called his son right up 26:00 and his son was shocked. 26:01 "Father, you're not supposed to 26:03 call me, I am the one that 26:05 wronged you and the family." 26:07 "Son," he said and started 26:09 crying on the phone. 26:10 He said, "But I have wronged you 26:11 by pushing you away. 26:13 No matter what you have done, 26:14 I should have never pushed 26:15 you away. 26:15 I forgive you." 26:16 And his son started sobbing. 26:18 And that same night, 26:20 three generations came together 26:23 because of Jesus. 26:25 >> You know, we've come to the 26:26 end of our time, but I wonder if 26:27 I could ask you to pray, Don. 26:29 There are probably many people 26:31 who are listening to this, who 26:32 are viewing this that are 26:33 saying, "I need that kind of 26:35 prayer, I need that kind of 26:37 prayer for my heart to forgive." 26:40 And so let's do that right now. 26:41 >> Okay. 26:42 Let's pray. 26:43 Dear Father in heaven, 26:45 You have the power and the 26:47 ability to bring any one of us, 26:50 if we're willing, 26:51 to a revival with Jesus 26:54 and to help us forgive 26:56 people that are almost 26:58 impossible to forgive. 27:01 Please bless us, each one of us 27:03 right now, to have the heart of 27:05 Jesus, to forgive 27:08 even the most unforgivable 27:09 person. 27:10 In Jesus' name, amen. 27:11 [MIKE & RENÉ] Amen. 27:15 >> Friends, our gift for you 27:18 today is Don MacLafferty's book, 27:20 God Still Lives Even When You 27:22 Wonder. 27:23 >> Don's true stories and 27:25 testimonies will encourage you 27:26 to trust God more fully and 27:29 completely. 27:31 >> We trust that our gift, 27:33 Don's book, 27:34 God Still Lives 27:36 Even When You Wonder, 27:37 will inspire you to 27:39 live by faith and not 27:41 by sight alone. 27:43 [gentle piano music playing] 27:46 >> Before you go, we would like 27:48 to thank all of you who have 27:50 supported the ministry of It Is 27:51 Written Canada with your prayers 27:53 and financial contributions. 27:55 Without your support, this 27:57 television ministry could not 27:59 have reached so many people for 28:02 so many decades. 28:04 >> Yes, thank you. 28:06 And we would also like to invite 28:08 you to follow us on Instagram 28:10 and Facebook and subscribe to 28:13 our YouTube channel and also 28:16 listen to our podcasts. 28:18 And if you go to our website, 28:20 you can see our latest programs. 28:23 >> You, too, can experience the 28:24 fullness of life that is found 28:26 in the words of Jesus 28:27 when He said... 28:37 [gentle piano music continues] 28:40 ♪♪ |
Revised 2024-03-20