Christine Caine travels the world teaching the Gospel and inspiring her audience to reach their God-given purpose and potential.
#Religion
#Personal Story
#Identity in Christ
#Purpose
#Calling
#Set apart
#Complete in Christ
#Christine Caine
#1 Peter 2:9-12
#Deuteronomy 7:6
#Deuteronomy 26:19
Closed captions
Show Timecode
Christine Caine | Bride of Christ Part 1 | May 11, 2022
- - WE NEED TO KNOW OUR IDENTITY AS CHRISTIANS,
- 00:00:00.290 --> 00:00:04.360
- SO WE CAN KNOW HOW TO ACT AND HOW TO LIVE
- 00:00:04.360 --> 00:00:07.831
- IN THIS FALLEN AND IN THIS BROKEN WORLD.
- 00:00:07.831 --> 00:00:10.266
- I WANT TO REMIND EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US TODAY
- 00:00:10.266 --> 00:00:13.536
- THAT THE GREATEST THREAT TO THE CHURCH
- 00:00:13.536 --> 00:00:16.406
- AND TO ALL OF US INDIVIDUALLY
- 00:00:16.406 --> 00:00:18.341
- DOES NOT ACTUALLY COME FROM EXTERNAL CIRCUMSTANCES,
- 00:00:18.341 --> 00:00:22.045
- BUT IT COMES WHEN WE FORGET WHO WE ARE.
- 00:00:22.045 --> 00:00:25.715
- IT COMES WHEN WE FORGET WHY WE ARE HERE.
- 00:00:25.715 --> 00:00:28.318
- [UPBEAT MUSIC]
- 00:00:28.318 --> 00:00:29.986
- I AM SO EXCITED THAT YOU'VE JOINED ME
- 00:00:29.986 --> 00:00:31.588
- FOR TODAY'S EPISODE OF "EQUIP & EMPOWER."
- 00:00:31.588 --> 00:00:33.823
- NOW I BELIEVE THAT GOD HAS A TIMELY WORD FOR YOU,
- 00:00:33.823 --> 00:00:36.593
- A WORD THAT'S NOT GOING TO CONDEMN YOU OR SHAME YOU,
- 00:00:36.593 --> 00:00:39.429
- BUT GIVE YOU HOPE, RESURRECT WHAT MAYBE HAS FELT DEAD
- 00:00:39.429 --> 00:00:42.799
- ON THE INSIDE, AND EMPOWER YOU TO LIVE A FLOURISHING
- 00:00:42.799 --> 00:00:45.935
- AND OVERCOMING LIFE.
- 00:00:45.935 --> 00:00:47.036
- SO I DON'T WANT TO WAIT ANOTHER MOMENT.
- 00:00:47.036 --> 00:00:48.671
- LET'S DIVE INTO TODAY'S MESSAGE RIGHT NOW.
- 00:00:48.671 --> 00:00:51.641
- [UPBEAT MUSIC]
- 00:00:51.641 --> 00:01:06.456
- HEY, EVERYONE.
- 00:01:06.456 --> 00:01:07.624
- I AM SO GRATEFUL THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO JOIN ME TODAY.
- 00:01:07.624 --> 00:01:10.326
- I KNOW THAT GOD HAS A WORD FOR YOU.
- 00:01:10.326 --> 00:01:13.329
- I'VE GOT TO TELL YOU THAT TWO WEEKS BEFORE MY 33RD BIRTHDAY,
- 00:01:13.329 --> 00:01:16.966
- I GOT A PHONE CALL FROM MY BROTHER, GEORGE.
- 00:01:16.966 --> 00:01:18.668
- NOW, GEORGE IS TWO YEARS OLDER THAN ME
- 00:01:18.668 --> 00:01:21.237
- AND I HAVE A YOUNGER BROTHER, ANDREW,
- 00:01:21.237 --> 00:01:23.339
- THAT IS THREE YEARS YOUNGER THAN ME.
- 00:01:23.339 --> 00:01:25.775
- BUT WHEN GEORGE CALLED ME,
- 00:01:25.775 --> 00:01:26.976
- HE CALLED ME AND TOLD ME THAT HE HAD GOTTEN
- 00:01:26.976 --> 00:01:29.979
- THESE LETTERS FROM THE GOVERNMENT.
- 00:01:29.979 --> 00:01:32.348
- WELL, IT WAS ACTUALLY A SERIES OF DOCUMENTS.
- 00:01:32.348 --> 00:01:33.917
- AND IN THOSE DOCUMENTS, THEY SAID THAT HE HAD BEEN ADOPTED.
- 00:01:33.917 --> 00:01:37.987
- SO HE'S LIKE, "CHRIS,
- 00:01:37.987 --> 00:01:39.389
- I'VE GOT THIS LETTER FROM THE GOVERNMENT
- 00:01:39.389 --> 00:01:40.557
- AND I'VE BEEN ADOPTED."
- 00:01:40.557 --> 00:01:41.724
- NOW, I THOUGHT HE WAS JOKING WHEN HE SAID THAT TO ME.
- 00:01:41.724 --> 00:01:44.460
- WHEN YOU'RE GROWING UP, YOU ALWAYS SAY TO YOUR SIBLINGS,
- 00:01:44.460 --> 00:01:46.262
- LIKE WE'RE NOT RELATED, YOU'RE ADOPTED.
- 00:01:46.262 --> 00:01:48.731
- BUT HE WAS LIKE REALLY KIND OF DISTURBED,
- 00:01:48.731 --> 00:01:51.734
- OBVIOUSLY, AS YOU WOULD BE.
- 00:01:51.734 --> 00:01:52.702
- AND I SAID TO HIM, "GEORGE,
- 00:01:52.702 --> 00:01:53.970
- I THINK THEY'VE SENT THESE DOCUMENTS TO THE WRONG PERSON.
- 00:01:53.970 --> 00:01:56.773
- YOU BETTER CALL THE GOVERNMENT.
- 00:01:56.773 --> 00:01:57.774
- GET THEM TO SOMEHOW TAKE BACK THIS ERROR
- 00:01:57.774 --> 00:02:01.978
- AND TELL THEM THEY'VE MADE A MISTAKE."
- 00:02:01.978 --> 00:02:03.980
- I SAID, "CALL ME BACK
- 00:02:03.980 --> 00:02:05.081
- WHEN YOU'VE SORTED IT OUT WITH THE GOVERNMENT."
- 00:02:05.081 --> 00:02:07.050
- WELL, ANYWAY, HE CALLS ME BACK,
- 00:02:07.050 --> 00:02:08.918
- AND THIS TIME, HE IS SOBBING
- 00:02:08.918 --> 00:02:11.120
- AND HE SAYS, "CHRIS, IT'S TRUE.
- 00:02:11.120 --> 00:02:12.655
- THEY TOLD ME THE NAME OF MY BIOLOGICAL MOTHER,
- 00:02:12.655 --> 00:02:14.357
- MY BIOLOGICAL FATHER.
- 00:02:14.357 --> 00:02:15.758
- THEY TOLD ME WHEN I WAS IMMUNIZED.
- 00:02:15.758 --> 00:02:17.160
- THEY HAVE A WHOLE FILE ON MY LIFE."
- 00:02:17.160 --> 00:02:19.629
- NOW, I FREAKED OUT WHEN HE SAID THIS TO ME
- 00:02:19.629 --> 00:02:22.031
- BECAUSE I'M THINKING, "OH, MY WORD, LIKE THIS IS TRUE."
- 00:02:22.031 --> 00:02:25.001
- HE SAID, "I'M GOING TO GO AND CONFRONT MUM."
- 00:02:25.001 --> 00:02:27.103
- AND AT THE TIME, MY DAD HAD DIED WHEN I WAS 19,
- 00:02:27.103 --> 00:02:29.739
- SO MY MUM WAS HOME ALONE.
- 00:02:29.739 --> 00:02:31.207
- AT THAT TIME, SHE WAS 61 YEARS OLD.
- 00:02:31.207 --> 00:02:35.378
- I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT GREEKS,
- 00:02:35.378 --> 00:02:36.579
- BUT GREEKS ARE VERY VOLATILE.
- 00:02:36.579 --> 00:02:37.847
- LIKE, WE KIND OF ACT FIRST OR THINK LATER,
- 00:02:37.847 --> 00:02:40.049
- AND I'M THINKING THIS COULD BE A BIG DEAL,
- 00:02:40.049 --> 00:02:42.986
- IF MY BROTHER GOES TO CONFRONT MUM
- 00:02:42.986 --> 00:02:44.687
- AND THIS 35-YEAR-OLD FAMILY SECRET,
- 00:02:44.687 --> 00:02:47.290
- NOBODY KNOWS ABOUT IT.
- 00:02:47.290 --> 00:02:48.191
- SO I JUMP IN MY CAR.
- 00:02:48.191 --> 00:02:49.559
- I GO TO MY MOTHER'S HOUSE.
- 00:02:49.559 --> 00:02:50.727
- I WALK IN RIGHT AT THE MOMENT THAT MY BROTHER
- 00:02:50.727 --> 00:02:54.330
- IS GIVING MY MOTHER THIS PIECE OF PAPER FROM THE GOVERNMENT.
- 00:02:54.330 --> 00:02:58.201
- I SEE MY MUM'S WHOLE FACE CHANGE.
- 00:02:58.201 --> 00:02:59.969
- AND I'M LIKE, "OH, MY WORD, THIS IS TRUE.
- 00:02:59.969 --> 00:03:02.071
- MY MUM STARTS CRYING."
- 00:03:02.071 --> 00:03:03.206
- SHE SAID, "GEORGE, I'M SO SORRY.
- 00:03:03.206 --> 00:03:04.841
- ALL OF THE ADOPTION LAWS IN AUSTRALIA 35 YEARS AGO,
- 00:03:04.841 --> 00:03:07.477
- THEY WERE ALL CLOSED ADOPTIONS.
- 00:03:07.477 --> 00:03:09.379
- WE NEVER THOUGHT YOU WOULD FIND OUT.
- 00:03:09.379 --> 00:03:11.948
- AND BEFORE YOUR FATHER DIED,
- 00:03:11.948 --> 00:03:13.449
- ONE OF THE LAST THINGS I PROMISED HIM
- 00:03:13.449 --> 00:03:14.751
- WAS THAT I WOULD NEVER TELL YOU,
- 00:03:14.751 --> 00:03:16.052
- SO I TORE UP ALL OF THE PAPERWORK.
- 00:03:16.052 --> 00:03:18.121
- WELL, AS YOU COULD IMAGINE,
- 00:03:18.121 --> 00:03:20.123
- MY BROTHER IS CRYING AND SOBBING,
- 00:03:20.123 --> 00:03:23.726
- JUST BEING TOLD THIS SHOCKING NEWS
- 00:03:23.726 --> 00:03:25.695
- AND MY MUM'S CRYING AND MY DOG'S CRYING
- 00:03:25.695 --> 00:03:29.198
- AND I'M KIND OF SITTING THERE AND I'M LIKE WATCHING
- 00:03:29.198 --> 00:03:31.601
- WHAT I THOUGHT WAS LIKE A MOVIE.
- 00:03:31.601 --> 00:03:33.670
- AND BEING THE GOOD GREEK DAUGHTER THAT I AM,
- 00:03:33.670 --> 00:03:36.139
- WHAT DO YOU DO IN THIS SORT OF CIRCUMSTANCE?
- 00:03:36.139 --> 00:03:38.141
- I'M LIKE, I'M GOING TO GO TO THE KITCHEN AND MAKE SOME FOOD,
- 00:03:38.141 --> 00:03:40.877
- MOUSSAKA, BAKLAVA, SOMETHING IS GOING TO SOLVE ALL OF THIS.
- 00:03:40.877 --> 00:03:44.013
- FOOD IS THE ANSWER TO LIFE, THE UNIVERSE, AND EVERYTHING.
- 00:03:44.013 --> 00:03:46.316
- SO I GO IN TO MAKE SOME FOOD
- 00:03:46.316 --> 00:03:47.750
- AND MY MOTHER COMES IN A FEW MINUTES LATER
- 00:03:47.750 --> 00:03:51.587
- AND SHE SAID TO ME THESE WORDS.
- 00:03:51.587 --> 00:03:52.622
- SHE SAID, "CHRISTINE,
- 00:03:52.622 --> 00:03:54.190
- SINCE WE'RE TELLING THE TRUTH TODAY,
- 00:03:54.190 --> 00:03:56.225
- DO YOU WANT TO KNOW THE WHOLE TRUTH?"
- 00:03:56.225 --> 00:03:59.095
- AND I DON'T EVEN KNOW.
- 00:03:59.095 --> 00:04:00.763
- INITIALLY I TURNED AROUND
- 00:04:00.763 --> 00:04:03.199
- AND I SAID TO MY MUM, "I'VE BEEN ADOPTED TOO."
- 00:04:03.199 --> 00:04:07.570
- AND MY MUM, HER HEAD WAS JUST NODDING.
- 00:04:07.570 --> 00:04:10.206
- TEARS WERE STREAMING DOWN HER FACE
- 00:04:10.206 --> 00:04:12.375
- AND THAT WAS THE DAY,
- 00:04:12.375 --> 00:04:14.777
- TWO WEEKS BEFORE MY 33RD BIRTHDAY,
- 00:04:14.777 --> 00:04:16.312
- THAT I FOUND OUT THAT I WAS NOT WHO I THOUGHT I WAS.
- 00:04:16.312 --> 00:04:20.883
- AND YOU KNOW, I'VE GOT TO TELL YOU,
- 00:04:20.883 --> 00:04:22.318
- IT'S A SHOCKING THING TO HAVE YOUR IDENTITY ROCKED
- 00:04:22.318 --> 00:04:25.722
- AT SUCH A DEEP VISCERAL LEVEL
- 00:04:25.722 --> 00:04:28.658
- WHEN YOU'RE KIND OF IN YOUR 30S
- 00:04:28.658 --> 00:04:30.493
- TO FIND OUT THAT YOUR PARENTS
- 00:04:30.493 --> 00:04:32.962
- ARE NOT YOUR BIOLOGICAL PARENTS,
- 00:04:32.962 --> 00:04:34.263
- THAT YOUR SIBLINGS ARE NOT YOUR ACTUAL BIOLOGICAL SIBLINGS.
- 00:04:34.263 --> 00:04:38.000
- AND THAT WOULD BE OKAY, IF YOU GREW UP KNOWING THAT,
- 00:04:38.000 --> 00:04:40.803
- BUT TO FIND IT OUT IS SHOCKING, TO REALIZE THAT, IN ESSENCE,
- 00:04:40.803 --> 00:04:45.408
- YOU'D BEEN LIED TO ABOUT YOUR IDENTITY
- 00:04:45.408 --> 00:04:47.677
- YOUR ENTIRE LIFE, IS SHOCKING.
- 00:04:47.677 --> 00:04:50.947
- AND OBVIOUSLY, THIS CAN
- 00:04:50.947 --> 00:04:52.949
- AND DOES HAVE A DEVASTATING IMPACT ON PEOPLE.
- 00:04:52.949 --> 00:04:57.820
- IT'S QUITE TRAUMATIC TO FIND OUT AT THAT STAGE OF LIFE
- 00:04:57.820 --> 00:05:00.723
- THAT YOU'RE NOT WHO YOU THOUGHT YOU WERE.
- 00:05:00.723 --> 00:05:02.592
- AND, THE TRUTH IS THOUGH, IN MY OWN LIFE,
- 00:05:02.592 --> 00:05:05.328
- IT COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE THAN IT WAS,
- 00:05:05.328 --> 00:05:08.865
- IF I DID NOT HAVE AT THE TIME
- 00:05:08.865 --> 00:05:11.200
- A STRONG RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST
- 00:05:11.200 --> 00:05:13.269
- AND WITH THE WORD OF GOD.
- 00:05:13.269 --> 00:05:15.505
- IF I DID NOT KNOW IN THAT MOMENT
- 00:05:15.505 --> 00:05:18.174
- THAT WHO GOD HAD SAID THAT I WAS,
- 00:05:18.174 --> 00:05:21.477
- THEN I THINK I WOULD'VE BEEN DERAILED
- 00:05:21.477 --> 00:05:24.514
- BY FINDING OUT WHO I WAS NOT.
- 00:05:24.514 --> 00:05:27.917
- I REMEMBER EVEN IN THE KITCHEN WITH MY MUM,
- 00:05:27.917 --> 00:05:30.219
- IN THAT MOMENT, I SAID TO HER, "MUM, IT'S OKAY."
- 00:05:30.219 --> 00:05:32.221
- 'CAUSE MY MUM OBVIOUSLY WAS JUST SO,
- 00:05:32.221 --> 00:05:34.557
- IT WAS SUCH A TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE.
- 00:05:34.557 --> 00:05:36.092
- IN THE MIDST OF THAT, I'M SAYING, "MUM, IT'S OKAY.
- 00:05:36.092 --> 00:05:39.128
- BEFORE I WAS FORMED IN MY MOTHER'S WOMB."
- 00:05:39.128 --> 00:05:41.330
- I REMEMBER SAYING THIS TO HER OUT LOUD
- 00:05:41.330 --> 00:05:42.899
- RIGHT THERE IN THE KITCHEN.
- 00:05:42.899 --> 00:05:44.066
- I SAID, "BEFORE I WAS FORMED IN MY MOTHER'S WOMB,
- 00:05:44.066 --> 00:05:45.401
- WHOSOEVER WOMB THAT WAS, HE KNEW ME.
- 00:05:45.401 --> 00:05:47.937
- HE KNITTED TOGETHER MY INNERMOST PARTS.
- 00:05:47.937 --> 00:05:49.639
- HE FASHIONED ALL OF MY DAYS BEFORE
- 00:05:49.639 --> 00:05:51.007
- AS YET THERE WAS ONE OF THEM."
- 00:05:51.007 --> 00:05:52.508
- I KNEW, BECAUSE OF MY RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS
- 00:05:52.508 --> 00:05:56.746
- AND MY FOUNDATION IN THE WORD OF GOD,
- 00:05:56.746 --> 00:05:59.248
- I KNEW THAT BEFORE I WAS FORMED IN MY MOTHER'S WOMB,
- 00:05:59.248 --> 00:06:02.218
- GOD DID KNOW ME AND I KNEW RIGHT NOW, EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE,
- 00:06:02.218 --> 00:06:06.189
- EVERY FACT THAT I THOUGHT TO BE TRUE ABOUT MY LIFE CHANGED.
- 00:06:06.189 --> 00:06:08.791
- BUT THE TRUTH NEVER CHANGED.
- 00:06:08.791 --> 00:06:10.159
- THE TRUTH DID NOT CHANGE
- 00:06:10.159 --> 00:06:11.461
- THAT BEFORE I WAS FORMED IN MY MOTHER'S WOMB, GOD KNEW ME,
- 00:06:11.461 --> 00:06:13.496
- GOD KNITTED TOGETHER MY INNERMOST PARTS,
- 00:06:13.496 --> 00:06:15.097
- HE FASHIONED ALL OF MY DAYS BEFORE
- 00:06:15.097 --> 00:06:16.999
- AS YET THERE WAS ONE OF THEM.
- 00:06:16.999 --> 00:06:19.302
- AND FINDING OUT THAT I WASN'T WHO I THOUGHT I WAS
- 00:06:19.302 --> 00:06:23.773
- DIDN'T CHANGE WHO I ACTUALLY WAS IN CHRIST.
- 00:06:23.773 --> 00:06:28.377
- AND SO WHEN YOU KNOW WHO YOU ACTUALLY ARE,
- 00:06:28.377 --> 00:06:31.781
- WHEN YOU KNOW WHY YOU'RE HERE ON THE PLANET
- 00:06:31.781 --> 00:06:34.217
- AND WHAT GOD HAS CALLED YOU TO DO,
- 00:06:34.217 --> 00:06:36.953
- CAN I JUST SAY YOU CAN MORE EFFECTIVELY NAVIGATE
- 00:06:36.953 --> 00:06:39.489
- THE INEVITABLE CHALLENGES AND HURDLES
- 00:06:39.489 --> 00:06:42.058
- AND SUFFERING AND STORM AND SHOCKING NEWS
- 00:06:42.058 --> 00:06:45.595
- AND DISAPPOINTMENTS THAT LIFE THROWS AT YOU.
- 00:06:45.595 --> 00:06:48.764
- IT IS JUST PART OF LIVING.
- 00:06:48.764 --> 00:06:50.466
- IN A LOST AND A BROKEN AND A FALLEN WORLD,
- 00:06:50.466 --> 00:06:53.202
- WE WILL HAVE ADVERSITY.
- 00:06:53.202 --> 00:06:54.770
- WE WILL HAVE CHAOS.
- 00:06:54.770 --> 00:06:56.105
- OUR WORLD IS IN THE MIDST OF AN EXISTENTIAL IDENTITY CRISIS.
- 00:06:56.105 --> 00:07:00.276
- I THINK SO MUCH OF THE CHAOS AND THE CONFUSION AND THE ANGER
- 00:07:00.276 --> 00:07:04.847
- AND THE DIVISIVENESS AND MALICE AND THE GOSSIP AND THE GREED
- 00:07:04.847 --> 00:07:08.851
- AND THE ENVY AND THE STRIFE
- 00:07:08.851 --> 00:07:10.453
- IS BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE HAVING AN IDENTITY CRISIS.
- 00:07:10.453 --> 00:07:14.824
- SO MUCH OF PEOPLE'S IDENTITIES HAVE BEEN WRAPPED UP
- 00:07:14.824 --> 00:07:19.428
- IN THINGS THAT THEY'VE ACHIEVED, OR THINGS THAT WE OWN,
- 00:07:19.428 --> 00:07:23.799
- OR WHO WE KNOW, OR WHERE WE ARE ON THE SOCIAL LADDER,
- 00:07:23.799 --> 00:07:28.004
- OR WHAT WE DO, OR WHAT THE SOCIAL OR POLITICAL,
- 00:07:28.004 --> 00:07:32.441
- OR LEISURE AFFILIATIONS ARE IN LIFE.
- 00:07:32.441 --> 00:07:34.844
- OR WHAT SCHOOL DID YOU GO TO
- 00:07:34.844 --> 00:07:37.113
- AND WHAT CREDENTIALS DO YOU HAVE?
- 00:07:37.113 --> 00:07:38.681
- WHAT CLUB DID YOU FOUND?
- 00:07:38.681 --> 00:07:40.783
- AND THEN ALMOST OVERNIGHT,
- 00:07:40.783 --> 00:07:43.819
- OUR WORLD SHUT DOWN WITH THIS GLOBAL PANDEMIC.
- 00:07:43.819 --> 00:07:45.888
- IT JUST SHUT DOWN.
- 00:07:45.888 --> 00:07:47.490
- AND SO THE RULES CHANGED OVERNIGHT
- 00:07:47.490 --> 00:07:50.693
- AND NO ONE REALLY KNOWS WHAT THE FUTURE LOOKS LIKE ANYMORE.
- 00:07:50.693 --> 00:07:55.464
- AND WE CAN NO LONGER LOOK BACK AT THE THINGS
- 00:07:55.464 --> 00:07:59.402
- WE ONCE CLUNG TO FOR OUR IDENTITY AND
- 00:07:59.402 --> 00:08:03.072
- AND FOR OUR SECURITY, BECAUSE GUESS WHAT?
- 00:08:03.072 --> 00:08:05.374
- NOT ALL OF THOSE THINGS EXIST ANYMORE.
- 00:08:05.374 --> 00:08:07.410
- THIS IS A STRANGE NEW WORLD.
- 00:08:07.410 --> 00:08:09.145
- WE'RE NOT GOING BACK.
- 00:08:09.145 --> 00:08:10.613
- AND SO MANY OF US ARE WONDERING IN THIS MOMENT, "WHO AM I?
- 00:08:10.613 --> 00:08:14.884
- WHAT AM I HERE FOR?" IN THESE DAYS.
- 00:08:14.884 --> 00:08:17.653
- AND THIS IS WHY THE PASSAGE THAT WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT
- 00:08:17.653 --> 00:08:20.389
- IN THIS SERIES IS SO CRUCIAL.
- 00:08:20.389 --> 00:08:23.593
- 1 PETER, IN THESE DAYS, SPEAKS TO US PARTICULARLY STRONGLY.
- 00:08:23.593 --> 00:08:29.198
- I'VE BEEN STUCK IN 1 PETER,
- 00:08:29.198 --> 00:08:31.767
- WELL, REALLY 1 AND 2 PETER, DURING THIS SEASON,
- 00:08:31.767 --> 00:08:34.737
- BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE WE ARE BOTH LIKE EXILES.
- 00:08:34.737 --> 00:08:38.474
- IT'S A NEW WORLD.
- 00:08:38.474 --> 00:08:40.176
- LIFE IS SO DIFFERENT.
- 00:08:40.176 --> 00:08:41.944
- AND YET, THIS IS WHERE WE GO TO FIND OUT WHO WE TRULY ARE.
- 00:08:41.944 --> 00:08:46.949
- SO WE READ IN 1 PETER 9:12, I LOVE THIS.
- 00:08:46.949 --> 00:08:52.388
- THE SCRIPTURE SAYS TO US
- 00:08:52.388 --> 00:08:55.524
- IN 1 PETER 2, I KNEW I WOULD GET THERE, VERSES 9 TO 12.
- 00:08:55.524 --> 00:09:01.964
- HE SAYS: "BUT YOU ARE A CHOSEN RACE, A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD,
- 00:09:01.964 --> 00:09:06.602
- A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR HIS OWN POSSESSION,
- 00:09:06.602 --> 00:09:10.506
- THAT YOU MAY PROCLAIM THE EXCELLENCIES
- 00:09:10.506 --> 00:09:13.309
- OF HIM WHO CALLED YOU OUT OF DARKNESS
- 00:09:13.309 --> 00:09:15.277
- INTO HIS MARVELOUS LIGHT.
- 00:09:15.277 --> 00:09:16.879
- ONCE YOU WERE NOT A PEOPLE, BUT NOW YOU ARE GOD'S PEOPLE;
- 00:09:16.879 --> 00:09:19.815
- ONCE YOU HAD NOT RECEIVED MERCY,
- 00:09:19.815 --> 00:09:21.384
- BUT NOW YOU HAVE RECEIVED MERCY.
- 00:09:21.384 --> 00:09:23.486
- BELOVED, I URGE YOU AS SOJOURNERS AND EXILES
- 00:09:23.486 --> 00:09:26.889
- TO ABSTAIN FROM THE PASSIONS OF THE FLESH,
- 00:09:26.889 --> 00:09:28.924
- WHICH WAGE WAR AGAINST YOUR SOUL.
- 00:09:28.924 --> 00:09:31.060
- KEEP YOUR CONDUCT AMONG THE GENTILES HONORABLE
- 00:09:31.060 --> 00:09:33.796
- SO THAT WHEN THEY SPEAK AGAINST YOU AS EVILDOERS,
- 00:09:33.796 --> 00:09:36.832
- THEY MAY SEE YOUR GOOD DEEDS AND GLORIFY GOD
- 00:09:36.832 --> 00:09:41.070
- ON THE DAY OF VISITATION."
- 00:09:41.070 --> 00:09:43.773
- SO PETER IS WRITING IN THIS EPISTLE
- 00:09:43.773 --> 00:09:46.509
- TO SCATTERED, MARGINALIZED, AND PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS,
- 00:09:46.509 --> 00:09:51.247
- AND PREDOMINANTLY THESE WERE GENTILE CHRISTIANS
- 00:09:51.247 --> 00:09:54.016
- IN ASIA MINOR.
- 00:09:54.016 --> 00:09:56.352
- THESE BELIEVERS DURING THESE DAYS,
- 00:09:56.352 --> 00:09:58.087
- THEY WERE SUFFERING GREATLY,
- 00:09:58.087 --> 00:09:59.422
- AND THE PURPOSE OF THIS LETTER TO PETER
- 00:09:59.422 --> 00:10:03.125
- IS TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO STAND FAST
- 00:10:03.125 --> 00:10:06.062
- BY REMEMBERING THAT THEY'RE GOD'S PEOPLE
- 00:10:06.062 --> 00:10:08.397
- ON GOD'S MISSION FOR GOD'S GLORY,
- 00:10:08.397 --> 00:10:11.000
- EVEN IN THE MIDST OF PRESSURE AND DISTRESS.
- 00:10:11.000 --> 00:10:14.070
- AND TODAY I WANT TO REMIND YOU, WE ARE GOD'S PEOPLE,
- 00:10:14.070 --> 00:10:17.606
- WE ARE ON GOD'S MISSION,
- 00:10:17.606 --> 00:10:19.408
- AND WE'RE HERE FOR THE GLORY OF GOD.
- 00:10:19.408 --> 00:10:21.977
- YES, WE'RE IN CHAOTIC TIMES.
- 00:10:21.977 --> 00:10:23.946
- YES, WE'RE IN DISRUPTIVE TIMES.
- 00:10:23.946 --> 00:10:25.915
- YES, THESE ARE CHALLENGING TIMES.
- 00:10:25.915 --> 00:10:27.783
- YES, WE FEEL HARD PRESSED ON ALL SIDES.
- 00:10:27.783 --> 00:10:30.386
- YES, THERE ARE STORMS.
- 00:10:30.386 --> 00:10:31.654
- BUT LISTEN, REMEMBER, WE'RE GOD'S PEOPLE,
- 00:10:31.654 --> 00:10:34.190
- WE'RE ON GOD'S MISSION, WE'RE HERE FOR GOD'S PURPOSE,
- 00:10:34.190 --> 00:10:36.625
- AND THIS LETTER IS AN ENCOURAGEMENT
- 00:10:36.625 --> 00:10:38.761
- FOR EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US TODAY.
- 00:10:38.761 --> 00:10:42.631
- [UPTEMPO MUSIC]
- 00:10:42.631 --> 00:10:43.699
- -[ANNOUNCER] HAVE YOU COME FACE TO FACE
- 00:10:43.699 --> 00:10:45.067
- WITH CIRCUMSTANCES THAT CAUSE YOU TO QUESTION WHO YOU ARE
- 00:10:45.067 --> 00:10:49.171
- AND WHAT GOD HAS CALLED YOU TO DO?
- 00:10:49.171 --> 00:10:51.006
- HAVE YOU EVER PRAYED,
- 00:10:51.006 --> 00:10:52.608
- "GOD, WHAT EXACTLY DO YOU WANT FROM ME?"
- 00:10:52.608 --> 00:10:55.778
- FINDING THE RIGHT ANSWER AMONG ALL THE MESSAGES
- 00:10:55.778 --> 00:10:58.314
- AND COMMENTARIES AT OUR DISPOSAL
- 00:10:58.314 --> 00:11:00.216
- CAN BE OVERWHELMING TO SAY THE LEAST.
- 00:11:00.216 --> 00:11:03.085
- THE GOOD NEWS IS GOD HAS PROVIDED US
- 00:11:03.085 --> 00:11:05.621
- WITH CLARITY IN HIS WORD.
- 00:11:05.621 --> 00:11:08.324
- IN THESE INSPIRING MESSAGES,
- 00:11:08.324 --> 00:11:10.226
- CHRIS WILL REMIND YOU OF YOUR IDENTITY AS JESUS' BRIDE
- 00:11:10.226 --> 00:11:14.096
- AND OF HIS DEEP ADMIRATION FOR YOU.
- 00:11:14.096 --> 00:11:16.932
- THROUGH CHRISTINE CAINE'S INSPIRING SERIES,
- 00:11:16.932 --> 00:11:19.602
- "BRIDE OF CHRIST," AND HER COMPANION SERIES
- 00:11:19.602 --> 00:11:22.371
- ENTITLED, "SIMPLE, NOT EASY," YOU WILL BE ENCOURAGED
- 00:11:22.371 --> 00:11:26.041
- TO LIVE FAITHFULLY, LOVE BOLDLY,
- 00:11:26.041 --> 00:11:29.111
- AND BE ALL THAT YOU ARE CREATED TO BE FOR THE GLORY OF GOD.
- 00:11:29.111 --> 00:11:33.349
- - NOTHING OR NO ONE SHOULD COME BETWEEN US
- 00:11:33.349 --> 00:11:36.252
- AND OUR FAITHFULNESS TO GOD.
- 00:11:36.252 --> 00:11:39.088
- AS CHRIST'S BRIDE, WE ARE WHOLLY IN THAT WE'RE SET APART
- 00:11:39.088 --> 00:11:42.992
- TO BE FAITHFUL, LOYAL, AND COMMITTED TO JESUS
- 00:11:42.992 --> 00:11:46.762
- ABOVE ALL OTHERS.
- 00:11:46.762 --> 00:11:48.931
- -[ANNOUNCER] FRIENDS, YOUR GENEROSITY REACHES PEOPLE
- 00:11:48.931 --> 00:11:51.967
- WITH THE HOPE AND GRACE OF JESUS CHRIST
- 00:11:51.967 --> 00:11:54.236
- THROUGH THE MEDIA AND MINISTRY OUTREACHES OF TBN.
- 00:11:54.236 --> 00:11:57.706
- SO TO SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROUS GIFT
- 00:11:57.706 --> 00:12:00.376
- IN ANY AMOUNT TO TBN TODAY,
- 00:12:00.376 --> 00:12:02.645
- WE'LL SEND YOU YOUR VERY OWN COPIES
- 00:12:02.645 --> 00:12:04.647
- OF CHRISTINE'S "BRIDE OF CHRIST"
- 00:12:04.647 --> 00:12:06.782
- AND HER POWERFUL COMPANION SERIES, "SIMPLE, NOT EASY."
- 00:12:06.782 --> 00:12:10.953
- PLEASE, TAKE A MOMENT RIGHT NOW TO CALL 800-350-5170
- 00:12:10.953 --> 00:12:16.859
- OR GO SECURELY ONLINE TO TBN.ORG/BRIDEOFCHRIST
- 00:12:16.859 --> 00:12:23.032
- TO SHARE YOUR GIFT AND REQUEST THESE LIFE-GIVING RESOURCES.
- 00:12:23.032 --> 00:12:27.636
- REMEMBER, WE ARE THE BRIDE OF CHRIST.
- 00:12:27.636 --> 00:12:30.906
- THE SIMPLE TRUTH IS THAT HE LOVES US DEEPLY
- 00:12:30.906 --> 00:12:33.976
- AND HIS WORD WILL LEAD US INTO BECOMING EVERYTHING
- 00:12:33.976 --> 00:12:36.912
- THAT HE CREATED US TO BE.
- 00:12:36.912 --> 00:12:39.215
- CALL, CLICK, OR WRITE TODAY.
- 00:12:39.215 --> 00:12:41.717
- [UPTEMPO MUSIC]
- 00:12:41.717 --> 00:12:46.288
- [UPLIFTING MUSIC]
- 00:12:46.288 --> 00:12:48.490
- - NOW, IN LEVITICUS 20:26,
- 00:12:48.490 --> 00:12:52.862
- THIS IS WHAT THE LORD TELLS THE NATION OF ISRAEL.
- 00:12:52.862 --> 00:12:55.331
- HE SAYS, "YOU ARE TO BE A HOLY NATION TO ME
- 00:12:55.331 --> 00:13:00.436
- BECAUSE I, THE LORD, AM HOLY AND I HAVE SET YOU APART
- 00:13:00.436 --> 00:13:06.041
- FROM THE NATIONS TO BE MINE."
- 00:13:06.041 --> 00:13:08.811
- THAT'S WHAT THE LORD SAID.
- 00:13:08.811 --> 00:13:10.379
- IN DEUTERONOMY 7:5, VERSE 6, I'M SORRY,
- 00:13:10.379 --> 00:13:15.584
- SCRIPTURE SAYS, "FOR YOU ARE A HOLY PEOPLE
- 00:13:15.584 --> 00:13:19.889
- BELONGING TO THE LORD YOUR GOD.
- 00:13:19.889 --> 00:13:22.791
- THE LORD YOUR GOD HAS CHOSEN YOU TO BE HIS OWN POSSESSION
- 00:13:22.791 --> 00:13:27.830
- OUT OF ALL OF THE PEOPLES ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH."
- 00:13:27.830 --> 00:13:31.567
- AND THEN IN DEUTERONOMY 26:18-19,
- 00:13:31.567 --> 00:13:37.539
- HE GOES ON AND SAYS, "AND TODAY THE LORD HAS AFFIRMED
- 00:13:37.539 --> 00:13:40.175
- THAT YOU ARE HIS OWN POSSESSION AS HE PROMISED YOU,
- 00:13:40.175 --> 00:13:43.279
- THAT YOU ARE TO KEEP ALL HIS COMMANDS,
- 00:13:43.279 --> 00:13:45.414
- THAT HE WILL ELEVATE YOU TO PRAISE FAME AND GLORY
- 00:13:45.414 --> 00:13:49.652
- ABOVE ALL THE NATIONS HE HAS MADE,
- 00:13:49.652 --> 00:13:53.389
- AND THAT YOU WILL BE A HOLY PEOPLE
- 00:13:53.389 --> 00:13:56.825
- TO THE LORD YOUR GOD AS HE PROMISED."
- 00:13:56.825 --> 00:13:59.828
- SO WE SEE FROM THESE VERSES
- 00:13:59.828 --> 00:14:02.231
- THAT GOD SET THE NATION OF ISRAEL APART AS HIS HOLY PEOPLE.
- 00:14:02.231 --> 00:14:06.702
- AND HE PROMISED TO BE FAITHFUL TO THEM
- 00:14:06.702 --> 00:14:09.939
- AND HIS PEOPLE WERE COMMANDED TO CONSECRATE THEMSELVES,
- 00:14:09.939 --> 00:14:13.042
- TO SET THEMSELVES APART TO THE LORD
- 00:14:13.042 --> 00:14:15.044
- AND TO SERVE HIM AND HIM ALONE.
- 00:14:15.044 --> 00:14:17.513
- NOW, UNFORTUNATELY,
- 00:14:17.513 --> 00:14:18.847
- THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL FREQUENTLY BROKE THEIR VOWS.
- 00:14:18.847 --> 00:14:22.251
- MAN.
- 00:14:22.251 --> 00:14:23.218
- AND THEY WERE SO UNFAITHFUL TO GOD,
- 00:14:23.218 --> 00:14:25.454
- JUST LIKE WE ARE SO OFTEN.
- 00:14:25.454 --> 00:14:27.423
- THEY WERE SERVING OTHER GODS
- 00:14:27.423 --> 00:14:29.425
- AND PURSUING THEIR OWN PLEASURES.
- 00:14:29.425 --> 00:14:31.360
- BUT GOD ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS REMAINED FAITHFUL
- 00:14:31.360 --> 00:14:34.930
- AND GOD NEVER, EVER BROKE HIS PROMISES TO ISRAEL.
- 00:14:34.930 --> 00:14:38.667
- IN FACT, THROUGHOUT THE BIBLICAL NARRATIVE,
- 00:14:38.667 --> 00:14:40.836
- WE SEE THAT GOD HAS PURSUED HIS PEOPLE
- 00:14:40.836 --> 00:14:44.206
- WITH A RELENTLESS PASSION.
- 00:14:44.206 --> 00:14:45.941
- HIS FAITHFULNESS TO US NEVER, EVER, EVER ENDS.
- 00:14:45.941 --> 00:14:49.445
- I MEAN, IT IS AFTER THREE AND A HALF DECADES
- 00:14:49.445 --> 00:14:52.514
- OF FOLLOWING JESUS, IT STILL BLOWS ME AWAY
- 00:14:52.514 --> 00:14:55.884
- HOW FAITHFUL GOD IS, HOW RELENTLESS GOD IS
- 00:14:55.884 --> 00:14:58.854
- IN HIS PURSUIT OF US, HOW MUCH GOD ADORES US,
- 00:14:58.854 --> 00:15:02.091
- AND HOW GOD LOVES US.
- 00:15:02.091 --> 00:15:03.125
- PERHAPS YOU CAME FROM A BACKGROUND LIKE MINE
- 00:15:03.125 --> 00:15:05.594
- WHERE YOU WERE TAUGHT THAT GOD IS ANGRY WITH YOU
- 00:15:05.594 --> 00:15:07.629
- AND THAT GOD IS JUST A GOD OF JUDGMENT
- 00:15:07.629 --> 00:15:09.832
- AND ROUGH AND ANGER AND THAT HE'S UNKIND
- 00:15:09.832 --> 00:15:13.369
- AND JUST KIND OF WAITING FOR YOU TO DO SOMETHING WRONG
- 00:15:13.369 --> 00:15:15.604
- AND JUST BEAT YOU OVER THE HEAD EVERY TIME.
- 00:15:15.604 --> 00:15:17.639
- BUT I'M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT WE SERVE OF GOD THAT LOVES US,
- 00:15:17.639 --> 00:15:20.676
- A GOD THAT IS FOR US, A GOD THAT RELENTLESSLY PURSUES US,
- 00:15:20.676 --> 00:15:24.480
- A GOD THAT REMAINS FAITHFUL WHEN WE ARE FAITHLESS,
- 00:15:24.480 --> 00:15:27.516
- A GOD THAT WILL LEAVE THE 99 TO COME AND RUN AFTER THE ONE.
- 00:15:27.516 --> 00:15:31.487
- I MEAN, OUR GOD IS LOVE, AND HE LOVES YOU.
- 00:15:31.487 --> 00:15:35.924
- IN FACT, IN THE BOOK OF HOSEA, WE READ A POWERFUL STORY
- 00:15:35.924 --> 00:15:39.461
- OF HOW THE PROPHET HOSEA WAS BETRAYED
- 00:15:39.461 --> 00:15:42.831
- BY HIS ONE WIFE, GOMER,
- 00:15:42.831 --> 00:15:44.800
- AND SHE WAS UNFAITHFUL TO HIM
- 00:15:44.800 --> 00:15:47.202
- AND SHE WENT BACK TO A LIFE OF PROSTITUTION.
- 00:15:47.202 --> 00:15:51.673
- ALTHOUGH HOSEA FELT SO BETRAYED,
- 00:15:51.673 --> 00:15:55.010
- THE FACT IS HE CONTINUED TO LOVE AND TO PURSUE GOMER.
- 00:15:55.010 --> 00:15:58.580
- AND GOD USES THIS METAPHOR OF A BRIDE AND A BRIDEGROOM
- 00:15:58.580 --> 00:16:03.619
- TO EXPLAIN EXACTLY HOW IT IS THAT HE FELT BETRAYED
- 00:16:03.619 --> 00:16:07.923
- BY ISRAEL'S INFIDELITY TO HIM AT THE TIME.
- 00:16:07.923 --> 00:16:11.460
- LIKE A BRIDEGROOM IS SCORNED BY HIS BRIDE, HIS HEART ACHED,
- 00:16:11.460 --> 00:16:15.998
- AND YET HE WAS ALWAYS WILLING TO FORGIVE
- 00:16:15.998 --> 00:16:19.468
- AND WELCOME HIS PEOPLE BACK TO HIM.
- 00:16:19.468 --> 00:16:22.838
- AND THIS METAPHOR OF A BRIDE AND A BRIDEGROOM
- 00:16:22.838 --> 00:16:26.575
- WAS ALSO USED BY THE PROPHET ISAIAH.
- 00:16:26.575 --> 00:16:29.445
- AND IN ISAIAH 61:10,
- 00:16:29.445 --> 00:16:32.614
- HE SAYS, "I REJOICE GREATLY IN THE LORD.
- 00:16:32.614 --> 00:16:36.318
- I EXALT IN MY GOD, FOR HE HAS CLOTHED ME WITH THE GARMENTS
- 00:16:36.318 --> 00:16:42.224
- OF SALVATION AND WRAPPED ME IN A ROBE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
- 00:16:42.224 --> 00:16:47.629
- AS A GROOM WEARS A TURBAN AND AS A BRIDE ADORNS HERSELF
- 00:16:47.629 --> 00:16:52.000
- WITH HER JEWELS."
- 00:16:52.000 --> 00:16:54.069
- WE SEE RIGHT THERE FROM THIS VERSE
- 00:16:54.069 --> 00:16:56.638
- THAT NOT ONLY DOES GOD CLOTHE US IN FRESH GARMENTS
- 00:16:56.638 --> 00:17:00.976
- OF SALVATION AND ROBES OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.
- 00:17:00.976 --> 00:17:05.314
- HE CALLS US HIS BRIDE AND HE, GOD, IS OUR BRIDEGROOM.
- 00:17:05.314 --> 00:17:10.819
- AND THE FACT IS THAT I KNOW WHEN I'M USING
- 00:17:10.819 --> 00:17:13.755
- THIS BRIDEGROOM TALK, SOME OF YOU GUYS
- 00:17:13.755 --> 00:17:16.058
- ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE SCREEN
- 00:17:16.058 --> 00:17:17.326
- YOU ARE KIND OF LIKE, "REALLY?
- 00:17:17.326 --> 00:17:19.194
- CHRIS, I'M FEELING A LITTLE BIT UNCOMFORTABLE RIGHT NOW."
- 00:17:19.194 --> 00:17:23.465
- AND THE FACT IS THAT SOME WOMEN ALSO,
- 00:17:23.465 --> 00:17:25.901
- I TALK ABOUT GOD BEING OUR BRIDEGROOM
- 00:17:25.901 --> 00:17:29.471
- AND IT TRIGGERS YOU IN SOME WAYS,
- 00:17:29.471 --> 00:17:30.939
- BECAUSE YOU HAD CERTAIN HOPES WHEN YOU BECAME A BRIDE.
- 00:17:30.939 --> 00:17:35.911
- THOSE HOPES GOT SHATTERED, MAN.
- 00:17:35.911 --> 00:17:37.446
- IT WAS NOTHING LIKE WHAT YOU THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE.
- 00:17:37.446 --> 00:17:41.783
- SINGLE PEOPLE THAT MAYBE WOULD LOVE TO BE MARRIED
- 00:17:41.783 --> 00:17:44.586
- AND HAVE A BRIDEGROOM AND EVEN ME TALKING ABOUT BRIDES
- 00:17:44.586 --> 00:17:48.290
- AND BRIDEGROOMS AND WEDDINGS,
- 00:17:48.290 --> 00:17:50.058
- MAKES YOU WANT TO STOP LISTENING TO THIS BROADCAST.
- 00:17:50.058 --> 00:17:52.761
- BUT CAN I ASK YOU TO BEAR WITH ME, TO STAY WITH ME?
- 00:17:52.761 --> 00:17:55.864
- BECAUSE WHETHER YOU'RE SINGLE, WHETHER YOU'RE MARRIED,
- 00:17:55.864 --> 00:17:58.200
- WHETHER YOU'RE SINGLE AGAIN,
- 00:17:58.200 --> 00:18:00.302
- WHETHER YOU'RE WIDOWED OR DIVORCED, WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE,
- 00:18:00.302 --> 00:18:03.405
- ALL OF US AS CHILDREN OF GOD ARE CALLED THE BRIDE OF CHRIST.
- 00:18:03.405 --> 00:18:08.544
- AND I THINK THAT ALL OF US ARE GOING TO BENEFIT
- 00:18:08.544 --> 00:18:11.079
- FROM KNOWING WHAT IT MEANS TO BE THE BRIDE OF CHRIST
- 00:18:11.079 --> 00:18:13.415
- AND TO DISCOVER HOW ADORED WE ARE BY GOD.
- 00:18:13.415 --> 00:18:18.887
- WHEN WE DISCOVER THAT OUR IDENTITY IS ACTUALLY,
- 00:18:18.887 --> 00:18:23.025
- IT'S ACTUALLY IN OUR CHOSENNESS.
- 00:18:23.025 --> 00:18:25.394
- OUR IDENTITY LIES IN OUR BELOVEDNESS.
- 00:18:25.394 --> 00:18:28.730
- IT LIES IN THE WAY THAT WE ARE CHERISHED BY GOD,
- 00:18:28.730 --> 00:18:32.367
- LIKE A GROOM WHO ONLY HAS EYES FOR HIS BRIDE.
- 00:18:32.367 --> 00:18:36.471
- IT CHANGES EVERYTHING, I KNOW THAT,
- 00:18:36.471 --> 00:18:38.640
- BECAUSE SOME OF YOU ARE WONDERING
- 00:18:38.640 --> 00:18:39.808
- ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE SCREEN, "DOES ANYONE SEE ME?
- 00:18:39.808 --> 00:18:43.412
- DOES ANYONE KNOW ME?
- 00:18:43.412 --> 00:18:45.414
- DOES GOD REALLY CARE ABOUT ME?"
- 00:18:45.414 --> 00:18:47.883
- AND I'M HERE TO SAY TO YOU,
- 00:18:47.883 --> 00:18:49.451
- GOD IS SO BESOTTED WITH YOU.
- 00:18:49.451 --> 00:18:54.623
- WE ARE HIS BRIDE AND HE IS OUR BRIDEGROOM.
- 00:18:52.487 --> 00:18:59.194
- ON MARCH THE 30TH, 1996, NICK AND I WERE MARRIED
- 00:18:59.194 --> 00:19:05.100
- IN SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA.
- 00:19:05.100 --> 00:19:06.902
- AND YOU KNOW, IT WAS A SPECIAL DAY FOR US,
- 00:19:06.902 --> 00:19:09.671
- JUST LIKE IT'S A SPECIAL DAY FOR ALL MARRIED COUPLES.
- 00:19:09.671 --> 00:19:13.008
- AND THE FACT IS WE HAD LOTS OF GREEK FOOD
- 00:19:13.008 --> 00:19:15.077
- AND LOTS OF GREEK DANCING
- 00:19:15.077 --> 00:19:16.845
- AND WE WERE SURROUNDED BY FRIENDS AND FAMILY.
- 00:19:16.845 --> 00:19:19.982
- AND ALTHOUGH OUR ACTUAL WEDDING DAY WAS FUN,
- 00:19:19.982 --> 00:19:23.986
- WE DEFINITELY HAD A ROCKY ROAD GETTING TO THAT WEDDING DAY,
- 00:19:23.986 --> 00:19:28.957
- MOSTLY BECAUSE OF MY BROKENNESS AND MY DYSFUNCTION.
- 00:19:28.957 --> 00:19:34.563
- I WAS STILL SO DAMAGED ON THE INSIDE WHEN NICK AND I MET
- 00:19:34.563 --> 00:19:39.434
- AND IT WAS SO HARD FOR ME TO TRUST ANY MAN,
- 00:19:39.434 --> 00:19:42.304
- AND COMING FROM A BACKGROUND OF ABUSE AND ABANDONMENT.
- 00:19:42.304 --> 00:19:48.377
- I REALLY MADE NICK WORK HARDER
- 00:19:48.377 --> 00:19:51.213
- THAN HE SHOULD HAVE HAD TO WORK TO EARN MY TRUST.
- 00:19:51.213 --> 00:19:55.984
- AND YOU KNOW, I'M NOT REALLY SURE, AFTER 26 YEARS,
- 00:19:55.984 --> 00:19:57.986
- THAT ANY OTHER GUY WOULD HAVE PERSEVERED LIKE NICK DID.
- 00:19:57.986 --> 00:20:01.757
- AND WHILE WE WERE STILL DATING,
- 00:20:01.757 --> 00:20:05.127
- THERE CAME A TIME WHEN IT WAS OBVIOUS
- 00:20:05.127 --> 00:20:07.396
- THAT OUR RELATIONSHIP WAS GETTING A LITTLE
- 00:20:07.396 --> 00:20:10.532
- AND IF WE WERE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD,
- 00:20:10.532 --> 00:20:12.968
- I WAS GOING TO HAVE TO BE TOTALLY TRANSPARENT WITH NICK,
- 00:20:12.968 --> 00:20:17.673
- TOTALLY VULNERABLE, AND TELL HIM ABOUT
- 00:20:17.673 --> 00:20:20.709
- ALL OF THE BROKENNESS OF MY PAST
- 00:20:20.709 --> 00:20:23.312
- AND THE DESTRUCTIVE RELATIONSHIPS AND
- 00:20:23.312 --> 00:20:28.283
- AND THE FACT IS THAT
- 00:20:28.283 --> 00:20:29.718
- I WAS GOING TO HAVE TO TELL HIM
- 00:20:29.718 --> 00:20:34.523
- NOT ONLY THE TRAUMATIC THINGS THAT HAD HAPPENED TO ME,
- 00:20:34.523 --> 00:20:36.892
- BUT POOR CHOICES THAT I HAD MADE MYSELF,
- 00:20:36.892 --> 00:20:40.762
- THE THINGS THAT I WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR MYSELF.
- 00:20:40.762 --> 00:20:44.199
- AND I WAS REALLY WORRIED
- 00:20:44.199 --> 00:20:45.934
- THAT IF I LET HIM INTO THOSE PARTS OF MY PAST,
- 00:20:45.934 --> 00:20:49.104
- HE WOULD JUST WALK AWAY AND HE WOULD JUST LEAVE ME.
- 00:20:49.104 --> 00:20:53.108
- I WOULDN'T HAVE BLAMED HIM, ACTUALLY.
- 00:20:53.108 --> 00:20:54.509
- I WAS SO BROKEN.
- 00:20:54.509 --> 00:20:55.977
- AND I REMEMBER ONE DAY, FINALLY,
- 00:20:55.977 --> 00:20:57.679
- I GOT THE COURAGE TO TELL HIM.
- 00:20:57.679 --> 00:20:58.947
- AND WE WERE WALKING ALONG SYDNEY'S ICONIC BONDI BEACH
- 00:20:58.947 --> 00:21:01.817
- AND IT WAS A SATURDAY AFTERNOON,
- 00:21:01.817 --> 00:21:03.618
- AND WHEN I TURNED TO LOOK AT HIM
- 00:21:03.618 --> 00:21:06.188
- AFTER I HAD TOLD HIM ALL OF THIS,
- 00:21:06.188 --> 00:21:09.391
- THINKING, "THIS DUDE'S NOT GOING TO STAY,"
- 00:21:09.391 --> 00:21:13.395
- HE HAD TEARS STREAMING ALL THE WAY DOWN HIS CHEEKS.
- 00:21:13.395 --> 00:21:16.798
- AND I REMEMBER HIM TENDERLY JUST KIND OF SAYING WORDS TO ME
- 00:21:16.798 --> 00:21:20.135
- OF THE EFFECT THAT "CHRIS, I'M JUST SO SORRY
- 00:21:20.135 --> 00:21:22.971
- THAT ALL OF THOSE HURTFUL THINGS HAPPENED TO YOU.
- 00:21:22.971 --> 00:21:25.474
- I'M SO SORRY YOU HAD TO GO THROUGH ALL OF THAT.
- 00:21:25.474 --> 00:21:28.043
- I'M SO SORRY ABOUT THE PAIN OF YOUR CHILDHOOD
- 00:21:28.043 --> 00:21:31.780
- AND THAT CAUSED YOU TO MAKE SO MANY POOR CHOICES.
- 00:21:31.780 --> 00:21:33.682
- AND I'M JUST SORRY FOR ALL THAT YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH.
- 00:21:33.682 --> 00:21:36.518
- I ONLY WISH THAT I'D BEEN THERE FOR YOU
- 00:21:36.518 --> 00:21:38.687
- TO PROTECT YOU FROM ALL OF THAT SUFFERING."
- 00:21:38.687 --> 00:21:42.057
- AND HE SAID, "KNOWING ALL OF THIS ABOUT YOU
- 00:21:42.057 --> 00:21:45.093
- JUST SIMPLY MAKES ME LOVE YOU MORE
- 00:21:45.093 --> 00:21:47.529
- AND IT MAKES ME WANT TO BE THE BEST HUSBAND TO YOU.
- 00:21:47.529 --> 00:21:50.866
- I WANT TO LOVE AND I WANT TO PROTECT AND I WANT TO HONOR
- 00:21:50.866 --> 00:21:53.001
- AND I WANT TO CHERISH YOU FOREVER."
- 00:21:53.001 --> 00:21:55.237
- AND I REMEMBER HE THANKED ME FOR TRUSTING HIM
- 00:21:55.237 --> 00:21:57.706
- WITH THE DEEPEST PARTS OF MY SHAME
- 00:21:57.706 --> 00:22:00.041
- AND MY BROKENNESS AND MY MESS.
- 00:22:00.041 --> 00:22:02.444
- AND I'VE GOT TO TELL YOU, I EXPERIENCED MORE HEALING
- 00:22:02.444 --> 00:22:06.181
- IN THAT MOMENT WITH NICK UNCONDITIONALLY LOVING ME
- 00:22:06.181 --> 00:22:10.285
- AND SHOWING ME GRACE THAN I HAD HAD
- 00:22:10.285 --> 00:22:13.121
- IN ALL OF THE YEARS LEADING UP TO THAT.
- 00:22:13.121 --> 00:22:15.490
- IT WAS NICK'S LOVE AND NICK'S GRACE AND MERCY AND KINDNESS
- 00:22:15.490 --> 00:22:18.860
- THAT HELPED TO HEAL A DEEPLY WOUNDED PART OF MY SOUL.
- 00:22:18.860 --> 00:22:23.698
- AND GOD WAS WORKING THROUGH HIM TO HEAL SOMETHING IN ME.
- 00:22:23.698 --> 00:22:28.570
- AND I'M TELLING YOU THIS STORY TODAY
- 00:22:28.570 --> 00:22:30.472
- BECAUSE I WANT TO GIVE YOU A VERY, VERY IMPERFECT PICTURE
- 00:22:30.472 --> 00:22:35.811
- OF HOW GOD FEELS ABOUT YOU.
- 00:22:35.811 --> 00:22:38.447
- SO OFTEN WE THINK
- 00:22:38.447 --> 00:22:39.981
- THAT OUR UNHOLINESS SOMEHOW DISQUALIFIES US
- 00:22:39.981 --> 00:22:44.820
- FROM BEING INCLUDED IN THIS HOLY NATION
- 00:22:44.820 --> 00:22:48.557
- AND THAT WE COULDN'T POSSIBLY BE ADORED BY GOD
- 00:22:48.557 --> 00:22:50.959
- AFTER ALL THAT WE'VE SAID AND ALL THAT WE'VE DONE.
- 00:22:50.959 --> 00:22:53.829
- BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW TODAY
- 00:22:53.829 --> 00:22:55.497
- THAT THE HOLINESS WE HAVE IS ACTUALLY NOT FROM OURSELVES.
- 00:22:55.497 --> 00:22:59.000
- WE HAVE BEEN CLOTHED WITH THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF JESUS CHRIST.
- 00:22:59.000 --> 00:23:03.772
- [UPLIFTING MUSIC]
- 00:23:03.772 --> 00:23:08.143
- IT'S MY PRAYER YOU'VE NOT ONLY RECEIVED
- 00:23:08.143 --> 00:23:10.078
- AFRESH YOUR IDENTITY IN CHRIST,
- 00:23:10.078 --> 00:23:12.514
- BUT ALSO THE CALLING ON YOUR LIFE TO LIVE FAITHFULLY,
- 00:23:12.514 --> 00:23:15.917
- TO LOVE BOLDLY, AND TO BE ALL THAT YOU WERE CREATED TO BE
- 00:23:15.917 --> 00:23:19.087
- FOR THE GLORY OF GOD.
- 00:23:19.087 --> 00:23:20.522
- HE LOVES YOU SO MUCH, HE CHERISHES YOU AS HIS BRIDE,
- 00:23:20.522 --> 00:23:24.159
- AND HE WANTS TO SEE YOU THRIVE.
- 00:23:24.159 --> 00:23:26.228
- I WANT THAT FOR YOU AND SO DOES TBN,
- 00:23:26.228 --> 00:23:28.430
- WHICH IS WHY, WITH YOUR GIFT OF SUPPORT
- 00:23:28.430 --> 00:23:30.565
- TO EXPAND THE MEDIA MINISTRY OF TBN
- 00:23:30.565 --> 00:23:33.001
- TO GET THIS KIND OF TEACHING
- 00:23:33.001 --> 00:23:34.536
- INTO MORE HOMES AROUND THE WORLD,
- 00:23:34.536 --> 00:23:36.404
- YOU CAN REQUEST THE ENTIRE TEACHING AS OUR GIFT OF THANKS.
- 00:23:36.404 --> 00:23:40.375
- SIMPLY CALL THE NUMBER ON THE SCREEN
- 00:23:40.375 --> 00:23:41.943
- OR GO SECURELY ONLINE RIGHT NOW.
- 00:23:41.943 --> 00:23:44.346
- WE'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU, AND I'M SO EXPECTANT
- 00:23:44.346 --> 00:23:47.082
- FOR WHAT GOD IS GOING TO DO IN YOUR LIFE
- 00:23:47.082 --> 00:23:49.584
- IN THE DAYS TO COME.
- 00:23:49.584 --> 00:23:52.153
- [UPTEMPO MUSIC]
- 00:23:52.153 --> 00:23:53.488
- -[ANNOUNCER] HAVE YOU COME FACE TO FACE WITH CIRCUMSTANCES
- 00:23:53.488 --> 00:23:55.624
- THAT CAUSE YOU QUESTION WHO YOU ARE
- 00:23:55.624 --> 00:23:57.893
- AND WHAT GOD HAS CALLED YOU TO DO?
- 00:23:57.893 --> 00:24:00.462
- HAVE YOU EVER PRAYED,
- 00:24:00.462 --> 00:24:02.063
- "GOD, WHAT EXACTLY DO YOU WANT FROM ME?"
- 00:24:02.063 --> 00:24:05.200
- FINDING THE RIGHT ANSWER AMONG ALL THE MESSAGES
- 00:24:05.200 --> 00:24:07.736
- AND COMMENTARIES AT OUR DISPOSAL
- 00:24:07.736 --> 00:24:09.638
- CAN BE OVERWHELMING TO SAY THE LEAST.
- 00:24:09.638 --> 00:24:12.541
- THE GOOD NEWS IS GOD HAS PROVIDED US
- 00:24:12.541 --> 00:24:15.076
- WITH CLARITY IN HIS WORD.
- 00:24:15.076 --> 00:24:17.746
- IN THESE INSPIRING MESSAGES,
- 00:24:17.746 --> 00:24:19.681
- CHRIS WILL REMIND YOU OF YOUR IDENTITY AS JESUS' BRIDE
- 00:24:19.681 --> 00:24:23.618
- AND OF HIS DEEP ADMIRATION FOR YOU.
- 00:24:23.618 --> 00:24:26.354
- THROUGH CHRISTINE CAINE'S INSPIRING SERIES,
- 00:24:26.354 --> 00:24:29.024
- "BRIDE OF CHRIST," AND HER COMPANION SERIES
- 00:24:29.024 --> 00:24:31.760
- ENTITLED "SIMPLE, NOT EASY,"
- 00:24:31.760 --> 00:24:34.095
- YOU WILL BE ENCOURAGED TO LIVE FAITHFULLY, LOVE BOLDLY,
- 00:24:34.095 --> 00:24:38.466
- AND BE ALL THAT YOU ARE CREATED TO BE FOR THE GLORY OF GOD.
- 00:24:38.466 --> 00:24:42.804
- - NOTHING OR NO ONE SHOULD COME BETWEEN US
- 00:24:42.804 --> 00:24:45.707
- AND OUR FAITHFULNESS TO GOD.
- 00:24:45.707 --> 00:24:48.510
- AS CHRIST'S BRIDE, WE ARE HOLY
- 00:24:48.510 --> 00:24:50.845
- IN THAT WE'RE SET APART TO BE FAITHFUL, LOYAL,
- 00:24:50.845 --> 00:24:54.115
- AND COMMITTED TO JESUS ABOVE ALL OTHERS.
- 00:24:54.115 --> 00:24:58.386
- -[ANNOUNCER] FRIENDS, YOUR GENEROSITY REACHES PEOPLE
- 00:24:58.386 --> 00:25:01.423
- WITH THE HOPE AND GRACE OF JESUS CHRIST
- 00:25:01.423 --> 00:25:03.692
- THROUGH THE MEDIA AND MINISTRY OUTREACHES OF TBN.
- 00:25:03.692 --> 00:25:07.162
- SO TO SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROUS GIFT IN ANY AMOUNT
- 00:25:07.162 --> 00:25:10.765
- TO TBN TODAY, WE'LL SEND YOU YOUR VERY OWN COPIES
- 00:25:10.765 --> 00:25:14.102
- OF CHRISTINE'S "BRIDE OF CHRIST"
- 00:25:14.102 --> 00:25:16.204
- AND HER POWERFUL COMPANION SERIES, "SIMPLE, NOT EASY.
- 00:25:16.204 --> 00:25:20.375
- PLEASE, TAKE A MOMENT RIGHT NOW TO CALL 800-350-5170
- 00:25:20.375 --> 00:25:26.314
- OR GO SECURELY ONLINE TO TBN.ORG/BRIDEOFCHRIST
- 00:25:26.314 --> 00:25:32.420
- TO SHARE YOUR GIFT AND REQUEST THESE LIFE-GIVING RESOURCES.
- 00:25:32.420 --> 00:25:36.992
- REMEMBER, WE ARE THE BRIDE OF CHRIST.
- 00:25:36.992 --> 00:25:40.328
- THE SIMPLE TRUTH IS THAT HE LOVES US DEEPLY
- 00:25:40.328 --> 00:25:43.431
- AND HIS WORD WILL LEAD US INTO BECOMING EVERYTHING
- 00:25:43.431 --> 00:25:46.368
- THAT HE CREATED US TO BE.
- 00:25:46.368 --> 00:25:48.670
- CALL, CLICK, OR WRITE TODAY.
- 00:25:48.670 --> 00:25:51.706
- [UPTEMPO MUSIC]
- 00:25:51.706 --> 00:25:56.111
- [UPLIFTING MUSIC]
- 00:25:56.111 --> 00:25:56.111