Gordon: A MAN'S MOST

IMPORTANT JOB.

HE IS SO MUCH BETTER THAN

BEING OUR ETERNAL BOSS.

HE IS BETTER THAN THAT

BECAUSE HE IS A FATHER.

Gordon: HOW TO KNOW

YOUR TRUE FATHER ON TODAY'S

"700 CLUB INTERACTIVE."

ON "700 CLUB INTERACTIVE,"

WE USE TECHNOLOGY TO PRAY

FOR EACH OTHER AND EXPLORE

TOPICS THAT MATTER TO YOU.

WATCH WHAT GOD IS DOING IN

THE WORLD TODAY.

WELL, WELCOME TO "700 CLUB

INTERACTIVE."

WELL, CAN YOU GUESS WHAT 85%

OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN PRISON

HAVE IN COMMON?

AND WHAT THEY, IN TURN, HAVE

IN COMMON WITH 70% OF

PREGNANT TEENAGERS AND 70%

OF HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUTS.

WELL, THE ANSWER: THEY ALL

GREW UP IN HOMES WITHOUT

THEIR FATHERS.

Terry: AND THIS IS

BECOMING INCREASINGLY MORE

COMMON.

SO WE ASKED JUB STAR,

YouTube STAR, JEFFERSON

BESKE, ABOUT THE TRUE

MEANING OF BEING A FATHER.

I WANTED TO SHARE A

LESSON I LEARNED FROM THE

STORY OF THE PRODIGAL SON

WHICH SHAPED HOW I VIEW

GOD.

THE STORY IS THE DIFFERENCE

BETWEEN COVENANT AND

CONTRACT.

IT COMES FROM ONE VERSE IN

LUKE 15, OF COURSE 19 VERSE

19, WHERE THE PRODIGAL SON

LEFT AND THEN HE CAME HOME.

HE SAYS, FATHER, I HAVE

SINNED AGAINST HEAVEN AND

AGAINST YOU.

I AM NO LONGER WORTHY TO

BECOME YOUR SON.

TREAT ME AS ONE OF YOUR

HIRED SERVANTS.

THE REASON I THINK THAT

VERSE IS SO DIFFERENT

BECAUSE IT'S LIKE SO MUCH OF

US.

A LOT OF US ARE NOT MUCH

DIFFERENT.

MANY OF US WHO HAVE SINNED

SAY, I'M NOT WORTHY TO BE

CALLED YOUR SON.

FIRST OF ALL, NO ONE IS

WORTHY TO BECOME HIS SON.

IT JUST HAPPENS.

AND SECOND OF ALL, THOSE ARE

TWO DIFFERENT

RELATIONSHIPS.

A SON OR DAUGHTER IS A

COVENANT RELATIONSHIP, BUT A

HIRED SERVANT IS A CONTRACT

RELATIONSHIP.

A CONTRACT IS ABOUT THE

BEHAVIOR, NOT THE PROMISE.

MEANING IF YOU BREAK IT, IF

YOU MESS UP, IF YOU DO

SOMETHING BAD ENOUGH TO YOUR

BOSS, WHAT HAPPENS?

YOU GET FIRED, RIGHT?

WITH A COVENANT, YOU HAVE

NEVER SEEN THAT HAPPEN.

HAVE YOU EVER SEEN A KID

SPILL CEREAL ON THE FLOOR

AND THE PARENT SAYS, YOU

STUPID IDIOT, GET OUT OF

HERE.

I NEVER WANT TO SEE YOU

AGAIN.

IT DOESN'T HAPPEN BECAUSE IT

IS A COVENANT.

A COVENANT IS STRONGER THAN

ANY BEHAVIOR THAT CAN BE IN

THAT.

THAT'S WHERE GOD PUTS US.

HE SAYS WE'RE UNDER

COVENANT, AND NOT UNDER

CONTRACT.

BUT WE THINK IF WE MESS UP,

HE IS GOING TO FIRE US.

WE HAVE THE IMAGE OF A

LIGHTNING BOLT IN THE

HEAVENS.

I LIKE TO SAY, THAT'S NOT

GOD.

SO MY DAD'S NAME IS GARY

BESKE.

AND IF YOU SAY, HEY, JEFF,

IS GARY BESKE YOUR DAD?

AND I SAY, WELL, IT'S REALLY

HARD.

I MAYBE LOOKED AT SOMETHING

I SHOULDN'T HAVE LOOKED AT.

I GUESS I'M TRYING.

YOU'D BE, LIKE, DUDE YOU'RE

AN IDIOT.

THAT MAKES NO SENSE.

BECAUSE WHEN YOU'RE IN THE

FAMILY, YOU JUST ARE.

THE TRUTH ABOUT COVENANT IS

IT IS JUST BEHIND YOU.

YOU'RE IN THE FAMILY, AND

YOU HAVE THE D.N.A., AND

THAT FUELS YOU TOWARDS

GROWTH.

THAT FUELS YOU TOWARDS A

JOURNEY.

THE CONTRACT FLIPS THAT AND

SAYS IF I'M GOOD ENOUGH, IF

I TRY HARD ENOUGH, MAYBE I

CAN GET THE RAISE.

MAYBE I CAN GET THE JOB.

MAYBE I WOULDN'T GET FIRED

IN THE FUTURE.

BUT GOD IS SO MUCH BETTER

THAN A CONTRACT.

HE IS SO MUCH BETTER THAN

BEING AN ETERNAL BOSS.

HE IS BETTER THAN THAT

BECAUSE HE IS A FATHER.

MY QUESTION IS, DO YOU KNOW

HIM AS A FATHER?

AND HAVE YOU EVER COME UNDER

THE BLESSING OF BEING UNDER

COVENANT?

Gordon: WELL, HERE IS A

COVENANT FOR YOU IF YOU'RE

FATHERLESS.

AND IT IS IN THE BIBLE.

FROM PSALM 68: "GOD IS A

FATHER OF THE FATHERLESS, A

DESCENDER OF WIDOWS.

GOD IS IN HIS HOLY

HABITATION, AND GOD SETS THE

SOLITARY IN FAMILIES."

THAT'S HIS COVENANT TO YOU.

I WANT TO TALK TO SINGLE

MOTHERS BECAUSE A LOT OF

TIMES THEY FEEL LEFT OUT.

AND THEY'RE WONDERING WHY

WAS I FORSAKEN?

WHY DID THE MAN WHO I HAD

THIS BABY WITH -- WHY DID HE

LEAVE?

AND WHERE IS GOD IN ALL OF

THIS?

WELL, GOD HAS A VERY SPECIAL

COVENANT FOR YOU.

YOU FIND IT IN THE BOOK OF

ISAIAH, IN THE 54th

CHAPTER.

AND REALIZE WHERE HIS

CHAPTER IS IN THE SEQUENCE

OF THINGS BECAUSE IT FOLLOWS

CHAPTER 53, WHICH IS THE

CHAPTER ABOUT THE SUFFERING

SERVANT.

IT IS THE CHAPTER ABOUT WHAT

JESUS DID FOR YOU ON THE

COURTHOUSE.

CROSS.

FROM 54 ON WARDS, IT'S ALL

ABOUT WHAT WONDERFUL THINGS

GOD WANTS TO DO FOR THOSE

WHO BELIEVE IN HIS SUFFERING

SERVANT.

SO FOR YOU TO HAVE ACCESS TO

THIS COVENANT, ALL IT TAKES

IS FOR YOU TO BELIEVE IN THE

SACRIFICE THAT JESUS MADE

FOR YOU.

HERE IS THE COVENANT.

IT STARTS IN VERSE 5: "FOR

YOUR PACKE MAKER IS YOUR

HUSBAND.

THE LORD OF HOSTS IS HIS

NAME.

AND YOUR REDEEMER IS THE

HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL.

HE IS CALLED THE GOD OF THE

WHOLE EARTH.

FOR THE LORD HAS CALLED YOU

LIKE A WOMAN FOl1]#Q' AND

GRIEVED IN SPIRIT.

LIKE A YOUTHFUL WIFE, WHEN

YOU WERE REFUSED, SAYS YOUR

GOD.

FOR A MERE MOMENT I HAVE

FORSAKEN YOU, BUT WITH GREAT

MERCIES I WILL GATHER YOU.

WITH A LITTLE WRATH, I HID

MY FACE FROM YOU FOR A

MOMENT.

BUT WITH EVERLASTING

KINDNESS, I WILL HAVE MERCY

ON YOU," SAYS THE LORD YOUR

REDEEMER.

"FOR THIS IS LIKE THE WATERS

OF NOAH TO ME.

FOR AS I HAVE SWORN THAT THE

WATERS OF NOAH WOULD NO

LONGER COVER THE EARTH, SO I

HAVE SWORN THAT I WOULD NOT

BE ANGRY WITH NOR REBUKE

YOU."

NOW CLAIM THAT ONE FOR YOU.

SO OFTEN WHEN YOU'RE A

SINGLE PARENT YOU THINK IT

IS SOMEHOW YOUR FAULT, THAT

GOD HAS CURSED YOU, THAT HE

IS MAD AT YOU, AND THAT

THERE IS JUST NO WAY OUT OF

THIS.

UNDERSTAND THAT COVENANT IS

FOR YOU.

A COVENANT OF EVERLASTING

KINDNESS.

A CO COVENANT HE WILL NEVER

BEEN ANGRY WITH YOU.

JUST AS THE COVENANT HE MADE

WITH ALL OF THE EARTH AFTER

THE FLOOD, THAT HE WOULD

NEVER DESTROY THE EARTH.

SEA TIME AND HARVEST WOULD

REMAIN, AND IT REMAINS FOR

YOU.

THE COVENANT GOES ON.

"THE MOUNTAINS SHALL DEPART

AND THE HITS MAY BE REMOVED,

BUT MY KINDNESS SHALL NOT

DEPART FROM YOU, NOR SHALL

MY COVENANT OF PEACE BE

REMOVED.

OH, YOU AFFLICTED ONE,

TOSSED WITH TEMPEST AND NOT

COMFORTED, BEHOLD I WILL LAY

YOUR STONES WITH COLORFUL

GEMS, LAY YOUR FOUNDATION

WITH SAPPHIRES, I WILL MAKE

YOUR PINNACLES WITH RUBIES

AND ALL OF YOUR WALLS WITH

PRECIOUS STONE.

ALL OF YOUR CHILDREN SHALL

BE TAUGHT BY THE LORD, AND

GREAT SHALL BE THE PEACE OF

YOUR CHILDREN.

IN RIGHTEOUSNESS YOU SHALL

BE ESTABLISHED.

YOU SHALL BE FAR FROM

OPPRESSION.

YOU SHALL NOT FEAR FROM

TERROR, FOR IT SHALL NOT

COME NEAR YOU."

NOW, THAT'S A COVENANT YOU

CAN HOLD ON TO.

AND THAT IS A COVENANT FOR

EVERY SINGLE PARENT.

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO ACCESS

IT?

BELIEVE.

BELIEVE IN WHAT JESUS DID

FOR YOU.

AND THAT COVENANT IN YOU

WILL BE ESTABLISHED.

TERRY?

Terry: WELL, STILL

AHEAD, WE'LL BE ANSWERING

YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT

FATHERHOOD, BUT FIRST A

HORRIBLE ACCIDENT ON A DARK

COUNTRY ROAD.

THE WINDSHIELD BLEW OUT.

THE GLASS SHOULD HAVE

DECAPITATED ME, AND IT

DIDN'T.

ABOUT 30 SECONDS LATER, I

REALIZED I WAS A

PEDESTRIAN.

IT WAS HORRIFIC.

Terry: SEE WHAT

HAPPENED WHEN WE COME BACK.

Terry: ROBERT

GUESSSESKE SEEM TO HAVE IT

ALL.

HE WAS A STAR BASKETBALL

PLAYER AND INTERNATIONAL

MODEL, BUT IT WASN'T

ENOUGH.

ROBERT WANTED SOMETHING

MORE, THE LOVE AND APPROVAL

OF HIS FATHER.

Reporter: ROBERT

ENJOYED THE MONEY AND STATUS

THAT CAME WITH BEING AN

INTERNATIONAL MODEL.

SOME WAY, SOMEHOW I'M

GOING TO BE OKAY IF I JUST

GET TO ANOTHER LEVEL.

IF I GET STARDOM, THAT NEXT

LEVEL OF NOTORIETY, THAT'S

WHEN I'M GOING TO BE

FULFILLED.

Reporter: BUT WHAT HE

LIKED MOST IS THE ATTENTION,

SOMETHING HE SAYS HE NEVER

GOT FROM HIS DAD.

I HAD THIS AMAZING MOM,

BUT I WAS ALWAYS LOOKING FOR

THE APPROVAL OF THE LOVE OF

A FATHER.

IT LED TO ME BEING VERY,

VERY INSECURE.

Reporter: ONE PLACE HE

DID FIND APPROVAL WAS O ON

THE BASKETBALL COURT.

HE WAS A STAR IN HIS SMALL

TOWN IN MASSACHUSETTS.

TO HIM IT WAS MORE THAN JUST

A SPORT.

IT WAS A WAY TO MASK THE

PAIN.

I BECAME OBSESSIVE WITH IT.

BECAUSE THE MORE I PLAYED

BASKETBALL, THE MORE I

DIDN'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE

VOID INSIDE.

Reporter: IN HIGH

SCHOOL, HIS HEAD COACH WAS A

FATHER FIGURE TO HIM.

HE SHOWED THIS

UNCONDITIONAL LOVE TOWARDS

ME.

EN MY HIGHS AND MY LOWS, HE

WAS A REAL BIG ROCK IN MY

LIFE.

Reporter:

Reporter: HE EARNED A

COLLEGE SANTA CLAUS PARADE,

SCHOLARSHIP, WHERE HE

ENJOYED HIS CAREER.

BUT AN INJURY CUT SHORT HIS

CAREER.

I JUST KNEW IT WAS OVER.

WHERE DO YOU GO FROM THERE?

IT WAS SUGGESTED TO ME TO GO

INTO FASHION.

AND TO START TO MODEL.

I'M GOING TO MAKE MY DAD

PROUD.

I'M GOING TO MAKE MY MOM

PROUD.

AND I MOVED TO NEW YORK AND

I STARTED TO MODEL.

Reporter: ROBERT GAINED

RECOGNITION IN THE U.S. AND

OVERSEAS.

HE LOVED THE ATTENTION, BUT

HE WAS ALSO DRAWN INTO THE

LIFESTYLE OF THE FASHION

INDUSTRY.

I REALLY STARTED GOING

INTO THE PARTY SCENE HARD.

I WAS REALLY INTRODUCED TO

THE CLUB DRUGS THERE IN

GREECE, THE ECSTASY AND

COCAINE AND SPECIAL "K" AND

WEED.

Reporter: AFTER FIVE

YEARS, THAT LIFESTYLE WORE

THING.

THE ACCOLADES THAT I

RECEIVED IN FASHION STILL

WAS NOT CUTTING IT.

SO I JUST WANTED TO GO HOME

WHERE I WAS REALLY LOVED.

Reporter: ROBERT LEFT

MODELING, QUIT THE DRUGS,

AND RETURNED TO SUTTON TO

COACH BASKETBALL.

WHILE DRIVING HOME AFTER A

GAME ONE NIGHT --

THE WINDSHIELD BLEW OUT.

THE GLASS SHOULD HAVE

DECAPITATED ME, AND IT

DIDN'T.

ABOUT 30 SECONDS LATER, I

REALIZED I WAS A

PEDESTRIAN.

IT WAS HORRIFIC.

THEY FOUND OUT THAT A PERSON

HAD THREE TIMES OVER THEIR

ALCOHOL LEVEL, AND

UNFORTUNATELY THE PEDESTRIAN

WAS STANDING IN THE MIDDLE

OF THE ROAD.

Reporter: THOUGH THE

ACCIDENT WAS NOT HIS FAULT,

ROBERT COULDN'T SHAKE HIS

FEELINGS OF GUILT.

HOW DOES SOMEONE DIE WHEN

IT IS NOT YOUR FAULT, AND

YET YOU FEEL RESPONSIBLE

BECAUSE YOU'RE DRIVING THE

CAR.

I WAS SO DEVASTATED, I

NEEDED TO GET AWAY.

THAT'S WHEN I WENT BACK TO

HONG KONG IN MY LAST STINT,

JUST TO GET AWAY FROM THE

AREA AND THE ENVIRONMENT.

Reporter: THE AGENCY

ASSIGNED HIM A ROOMMATE.

THE MAN WAS A CHRISTIAN AND

NOTICED ROBERT WAS HURTING.

HE SHARED ABOUT THE

SUFFERING THAT JESUS WENT

THROUGH.

AND HE HAD GONE THROUGH THE

SUFFERING FOR THE SINS OF

THE WORLD.

AND IT REALLY, REALLY GAVE

ME A LOT OF HOPE.

Reporter: BUT THAT HOPE

SOON TURNED TO ANGER.

WHEN ROBERT CAME HOME, HE

RECONNECTED WITH HIS DAD,

BUT WITHIN MONTHS, HIS

FATHER DIED.

SOON AFTER, HIS FORMER COACH

ALSO PASSED AWAY.

AND ROBERT BLAMED GOD.

I JUST WAS SO MAD.

I SAID, YOU KNOW, GOD, IF

WHAT MY ROOMMATE SAID IN

HONG KONG IS TRUE, AND YOU

ARE WHO YOU SAY YOU ARE,

YOU'VE GOT TO PROVE IT

BECAUSE I DON'T BELIEVE IT.

I'VE LOST MY FATHER, MY

COACH, AND I'M STILL DEALING

WITH THE RESIN OF THE

ACCIDENT BECAUSE ALL OF

THESE THINGS ARE ONLY

BRINGING THAT BACK UP, TOO.

AND I'VE LOST EVERYTHING.

Reporter: ONE NIGHT

WHILE WATCHING TELEVISION,

ROBERT CAME ACROSS A

PREACHER WHO WAS GIVING A

MESSAGE HE HAD HEARD

BEFORE.

GOD WANTS YOU WELL.

AND THAT GOD'S ONLY GOOD.

AND THAT THE DEVIL COMES TO

KILL, STEAL, AND DESTROY,

BUT GOD CAME TO GIVE LIFE,

AND LIFE ABUNDANTLY.

HE SAID THAT YOU HAVE TO

GIVE YOUR LIFE TO JESUS, AND

THAT YOU NEED TO BE BORN

AGAIN AND BAPTIZED IN THE

HOLY SPIRIT.

AND NO NOT ONLY DID CHRIST

TAKE MY SINS, BUT HE TOOK MY

SICKNESS.

Reporter: ROBERT

ACCEPTED JESUS CHRIST AS HIS

SAVIOR.

IT WAS INCREDIBLE.

FOR THE FIRST TIME I FELT A

REAL, REAL, REAL ENCOUNTER

OF THE LOVE OF A FATHER.

AND THAT WAS THROUGH OUR

HEAVENLY FATHER.

THAT VOID THAT I WAS ALWAYS

LOOKING FOR MY WHOLE LIFE

WAS FINALLY FILLED.

Reporter: ROBERT GREW

IN HIS FAITH AND SAYS HE

LEARNED THAT JESUS WASN'T

THE CAUSE OF HIS PROBLEMS;

HE WAS THE SOLUTION.

I CAN'T COMPARE MY

SUFFERING AT ALL -- AT ALL

COMPARED TO OUR SAVIOR.

HE DIDN'T CAUSE ANY OF THIS

PAIN.

THAT WE'RE IN A FALLEN

WORLD, AND THAT HE'S ONLY

GOOD.

Reporter: ROBERT IS NOW

MARRIED, AND HE AND HIS WIFE

ARE EXPECTING THEIR FIRST

CHILD.

SHE IS THE MOST AMAZING

WOMAN, AND LOVES GOD SO

MUCH.

AND IT IS JUST SUCH AN HONOR

AND A JOURNEY TO BE WITH HER

AND WITH OUR NEW CHILD ON

THE WAY.

THE GOODNESS OF GOD HAS JUST

CHANGED MY LIFE.

WHEN YOU COME FROM A PLACE

OF APPROVAL, WHEN YOU KNOW

YOU'RE ALREADY APPROVED,

THERE IS NO MORE PRESSURE.

YOU'RE JUST SATISFIED.

Terry: WELL, WE ARE

"700 CLUB INTERACTIVE," AND

WE HAVE RECEIVED QUESTIONS

FROM OUR VIEWERS.

YOU KNOW, SOME OF WHAT WE'RE

GOING TO TALK ABOUT TODAY

HAS TO DO WITH WHAT ROBERT

TALKED ABOUT.

YOU KNOW, WONDERING WHO WE

ARE, AND NEEDING APPROVAL

AND WANTING CONNECTION, AND

THEN WHERE DO WE FIND THAT

IF LIFE DOESN'T DEAL A CARD

TO US THAT PROVIDES IT.

Gordon: WELL, YOU FIND

IT IN YOUR HEAVEN FATHER.

Terry: YES.

Gordon: AND THAT'S

WHERE YOU SHOULD LOOK FOR

THE ANSWER.

IF YOU TRY TO FIND IT FROM

EARTHLY FATHERS, THEY'RE

ALWAYS GOING TO LET YOU

DONE.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS

ABOUT YOUNG CHILDREN -- AND

THIS TENDS TO BE

UNIVERSAL -- THEY LOOK TO

THEIR PARENTS AS SOMEHOW

ALL-POWERFUL AND ALL-KNOWING

BECAUSE THAT'S OUR

EXPERIENCE GROWING UP.

AND THEN THE REALIZATION,

WELL, THERE ARE SOME FLAWS

HERE, AND THERE ARE SOME

THINGS THAT WEREN'T RIGHT.

AND PARTICULARLY IF THEY'RE

ENTIRELY ABSENT, THEN A LOT

OF THINGS AREN'T RIGHT.

BUT WHEN YOU LOOK TO JESUS,

AND YOU LOOK TO THE ACCESS

TO THE FATHER HE HAS GIVEN

US, IT'S THE FIRST THING HE

SAID TO MARY MAGDALENE.

MY GOD AND YOUR GOD, MY

FATHER AND YOUR FATHER, AND

WE PRAY THE LORD'S PRAYER,

"OUR FATHER," AND WE PRAY IT

CASUALLY, BUT TO BE ABLE TO

SAY YOU HAVE THAT COVENANT

FAMILY RELATIONSHIP WITH THE

ALL-FATHER, THE CREATOR OF

THE UNIVERSE, WELL, THERE IS

HUGE IMPLICATIONS TO THAT.

AND IT IS A RELATIONSHIP

THAT GROWS OVER TIME.

Terry: RUBIN SAYS,

"I'VE READ IN THE BIBLE

ABOUT THE POWER OF A FATHER

SPEAKING A BLESSING OVER HIS

SON.

AND THAT GOD MADE A COVENANT

WITH US FOR BLESSINGS.

MY DAD DID NOTHING BUT CURSE

ME.

HE WISHED I HAD NEVER BEEN

BORN, AND SAID THAT I WAS

WORTHLESS.

PEOPLE TELL ME THAT THIS IS

NOT THE HEART OF GOD, BUT

I'M HAVING A HARD TIME

BELIEVING THERE ARE

BLESSINGS FOR ME.

I FEEL LIKE I'VE BEEN BORN

INTO A CURSED LIFE.

CAN YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND

WHAT'S TRUE AND HOW TO GET

RID OF THESE NEGATIVE

THOUGHTS?"

Gordon: RUBIN, YOU HAVE

TO UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENED

ON THE CROSS.

WHAT HAPPENED ON THE CROSS

IS THAT ALL CURSES WERE

LIFTED.

THE BIBLE SAYS, WHOEVER

HANGS ON A TREE IS CURSED.

THE BIBLE SAYS, JESUS TOOK

ALL OF THOSE CURSES AND HE

HUNG ON THAT TREE, AND HE

TOOK EVERY SINGLE CURSE FROM

ALL TIME.

SO THOSE CURSES THAT YOUR

FATHER SPOKE OVER YOU NO

LONGER APPLY TO YOU.

AND THEY'RE NOT REAL.

NOW, ARE YOU WORTH WHAT

JESUS PAID FOR YOU?

START THINKING THAT.

ARE YOU WORTH THAT?

WELL, IN THE EYES OF JESUS,

YOU ARE.

AND HE LEFT THE 99 TO GO

SEEK FOR THE ONE.

AND THAT'S YOU.

AND BECAUSE YOU KNOW HIM, HE

SOUGHT YOU OUT.

HE CHOSE YOU.

AND HE SAYS THAT YOU'RE

WORTHWHILE.

THAT YOU'RE WORTH THE PRICE

HE PAID FOR YOU.

NOW YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE

THAT.

AND YOU HAVE TO ACCEPT THAT

AS A REALITY.

BOTH THE REALITY THAT THERE

ARE NO MORE CURSES OVER YOU,

AND THE REALITY THAT YOUR

WORTH WAS JESUS PAID FOR

YOU.

NOW, WHY DID HE PAY THAT

PRICE?

HE PAID IT SO HE CAN HAVE A

RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU.

THAT'S THE INFINITE VALUE TO

HIM.

THAT'S BEEN HIS DREAM FROM

THE BEGINNING.

HE CREATED THE EARTH, THE

UNIVERSE, EVERYTHING IN IT,

SO THAT YOU AND I COULD HAVE

CONVERSATIONS WITH HIM IN

THE COOL OF THE EVENING IN A

GARDEN.

THAT'S WHAT HE WANTED.

AND HE STILL WANTS IT.

SO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION

WITH HIM.

START ASKING, CAN I HEAR

YOUR VOICE?

CAN I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU

HAVE FOR ME?

AND WHEN YOU DO THAT, HE'LL

RESPOND.

HE'LL ANSWER YOU.

AND HE'LL FILL YOUR MIND,

YOUR VERY BEING, WITH HIS

PRESENCE AND HIS WORD.

IF YOU'RE HAVING TROUBLE

LISTENING TO HIS VOICE,

START WITH THE BIBLE.

START FINDING THE PROMISES

THERE ARE FOR THOSE WHO

BELIEVE.

ALL THE PROMISES OF GOD ARE

YES AND AMEN FOR THOSE WHO

ARE IN CHRIST JESUS.

THAT'S YOU.

SO START FINDING THOSE

PROMISES, AND THEN START

REALIZING THOSE PROMISES AND

LIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE

PROMISE.

THEN YOU'LL HAVE ALL THESE

BLESSINGS.

AND THE CURSES WILL BECOME A

DIM MEMORY.

STILL AHEAD, WE'RE GOING TO

BE PRAYING FOR YOU AND YOUR

NEEDS.

PLUS, A FATHER WHO IS

RAISING TWO DOZEN CHILDREN

IN ONE OF THE POOREST

COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD.

FIND OUT HOW HE DOES IT.

THAT'S UP NEXT.

Gordon: THE PEOPLE OF

SIERRA LEONE ARE AMONG THE

POOREST IN THE WORLD.

AND FOR CHILDREN THERE, LIFE

IS ESPECIALLY HARD.

AGNES' LIFE WAS NO

DIFFERENT, UNTIL SHE MET

PASTOR JACOB.

Terry: HERE IN THE

SEASIDE VILLAGE OF SIERRA

LEONE, MOST FAMILIES FISH

FOR A LIVING.

WE MET A YOUNG GIRL, NAMED

AGNES, WHO'S FATHER WAS A

FISHERMAN.

BUT JUST AS SOON AS SHE WAS

BORN, AGNES HAD ALMOST NO

FAMILY AT ALL.

AGNES' MOTHER DIED WHEN SHE

WAS BORN, AND HER FATHER

COULDN'T TAKE CARE OF HER,

SO SHE WAS LEFT WITH HER

GRANDMOTHER.

IT IS ALMOST REALLY TOO

EASY FOR ME, AND THE MOST

DIFFICULT.

Reporter: PASTOR JACOB

AND HIS WIFE WANTED TO TAKE

AGNES IN, BUT THEY WERE

ALREADY RAISING TWO DOZEN

CHILDREN IN A SMALL

APARTMENT.

THEY DIDN'T HAVE ROOM FOR

AGNES TO LIVE THERE.

SO AGNES SPENT PART OF EACH

DAY PLAYING WITH THE OTHER

CHILDREN.

BUT AT THE END OF EVERY DAY,

SHE HAD TO LEAVE.

WHEN "ORPHANS' PROMISE"

HEARD ABOUT PASTOR JACOB

TAKING CARE OF SO MANY

CHILDREN IN SUCH A SMALL

SPACE, WE BUILT THEM A BRAND

NEW HOME.

THE CHILDREN HAVE BIG ROOMS

AND THEIR OWN BEDS HERE.

AND NOW AGNES CAN LIVE WITH

ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE

BECOME HER FAMILY.

THROUGH YOUR HELP AND

SUPPORT, THESE CHILDREN HAVE

A DECENT HOME, GOOD FOOD TO

EAT, AND PLACES WHERE THEY

CAN STUDY AND LOOK FORWARD

TO A GREAT FUTURE.

Gordon: YOU CAN BE A

PART OF THAT.

HOW?

BY GIVING TO "ORPHANS' PROMISE."

IF YOU WANT TO DESIGNATE

YOUR GIFT TO "ORPHANS'

PROMISE," ALL YOU HAVE TO DO

IS LOG ON TO CBN.COM.

OR YOU CAN CALL US.

THE NUMBER IS TOLL-FREE.

1-888-777-1999.

JUST SAY, I WANT TO GIVE TO

ORPHANS PROMISE.

I WANT TO HELP ORPHANS

AROUND THE WORLD, AND WE'LL

SEND YOUR GIFT OUT TO HELP

THOSE WHO ARE IN NEED.

RELIEF FOR ORPHANS AND

WIDOWS IS PURE AND UNDEFILED

RELIGION.

THAT'S WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS.

SO WHEN YOU'RE DOING IT,

YOU'RE DOING IT IN HIS

NAME.

AND IT IS A WONDERFUL

BLESSING FOR THOSE AROUND

THE WORLD.

DO IT NOW.

1-888-777-1999.

WELL, WE'RE GOING TO BE

PRAYING FOR YOU, SO LET'S GO

OVER TO JESSICA IN THE

CHATROOM.

WELL, GORDON, BRIANNA

WRITES IN, "MY GRANDFATHER

WAS ALWAYS LIKE A DAD TO

ME.

HE DIED WHEN I WAS 15, AND I

BECAME ANGRY AND ACTED OUT.

I LOST MY VIRGINITY AND GOT

PREGNANT.

WHEN I TOLD MY MOTHER, SHE

SAID I NEEDED TO HAVE AN

ABORTION.

I DID, BUT I GOT PREGNANT

AGAIN.

THIS TIME SHE WAS FURIOUS,

BUT LET ME PUT THIS CHILD UP

FOR ADOPTION.

PLEASE PRAY FOR ME.

I'M VERY ANGRY WITH MY MOM

AND HAVE A HUGE EMPTINESS

INSIDE OF ME."

BRETT WRITES IN, "PLEASE

PRAY FOR ME.

I DON'T KNOW HOW TO BE A

FATHER BECAUSE I'VE NEVER

HAD ONE.

I NEVER WANTED KIDS, BUT MY

WIFE WANTS US TO HAVE A

BABY.

I'M SCARED BECAUSE I DON'T

KNOW WHAT KIND OF FATHER I

WILL BE.

PRAY THAT THIS FEAR WILL GO

AWAY AND I WILL BE AN

AMAZING DAD."

AND FINALLY, AUDRA WRITES

IN, "I'M A SINGLE MOTHER

WITH A 14-YEAR-OLD

DAUGHTER.

SHE HAS NEVER KNOWN HER

FATHER.

WE ARE GOING TO CHURCH AND

SHE IS STARTING TO BELIEVE

THAT GOD LOVES HER.

PLEASE PRAY FOR HERMENT I

WANHER.

I WANT HER TO TRULY BELIEVE

THAT GOD IS HER FATHER."

WE'RE GOING TO GO TO PRAY.

PLEASE JOIN IN WITH US.

HEAVENLY FATHER, WE THANK

YOU SO MUCH.

WE THANK YOU THAT YOU'RE A

GOOD AND LOVING FATHER.

THAT WE CAN COME TO YOU AND

CRY OUT ABBA FATHER.

FATHER, WE LIFT UP BRIANNA,

AND, LORD, WE ASK THAT YOU

COME, AND THAT YOU HEAL HER

HEART.

HEAL HER FROM THE ABORTION.

HEAL HER FROM HER MOTHER

ENCOURAGING HER TO HAVE THE

ABORTION.

FATHER, HEAL HER BODY.

HEAL HER MIND.

WE ASK THAT SHE WOULD BE

ABLE TO FORGIVE AND RELEASE

ALL OF THE BITTERNESS AND

UNFORGIVENESS TOWARDS HER

MOM.

FATHER, WE ASK THAT SHE

WOULD HAVE AN ENCOUNTER WITH

THE LOVE OF THE HEAVENLY

FATHER.

WE ASK THAT YOUR SPIRIT OF

ADOPTION COME AND JUST BE

MANIFEST IN HER LIFE.

LORD, WE PRAY FOR BRETT, WHO

IS CONCERNED THAT BECAUSE HE

DIDN'T HAVE A FATHER, THAT

HE WON'T BE A GOOD FATHER.

LORD, AGAIN, WE ASK FOR A

REVELATION OF YOUR FATHER'S

HEART.

YOUR FATHER'S LOVE TO BE

PERMEATING THROUGHOUT HIS

WHOLE BEING.

THAT HAD WILL HAVE THE

CONFIDENCE TO KNOW THAT HE

CAN RAISE A CHILD, AND TO BE

THAT BEAUTIFUL PICTURE OF

THE HEAVENLY FATHER TO HIS

OWN CHILDREN.

AND, LORD, WE LIFT UP AUDRA

AND HER CONCERN FOR HER

14-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER.

LORD, WE KNOW THAT EVEN A

14-YEAR-OLD CAN HAVE AN

ENCOUNTER SO STRONG THAT IT

WOULD CHANGE THE COURSE OF

HER LIFE.

SO, FATHER, WE ASK THAT YOU

ENCOUNTER HER.

WE ASK THAT YOU REVEAL

YOURSELF AS FATHER.

AND, LORD, WE JUST PRAY,

AGAIN, FOR ALL OF THE FATHER

WOUNDS, FOR THE PEOPLE WHO

ARE WATCHING.

AND WE PRAY FOR THOSE WITH

MOTHER WOUNDS.

AND, LORD, WE KNOW THAT YOU

CAN SATISFY THOSE EMPTY

PLACES, THAT YOU CAN COME IN

AND HEAL IN WAYS THAT NO

SUBSTANCE CAN HEAL, NO

PERSON CAN HEAL.

THAT NOTHING ELSE IN

CREATION CAN HEAL.

BUT THAT YOU CAN FILL THAT

VOID AND TAKE AWAY THE PAIN

AND THE GRIEF.

SO COME NOW, FATHER.

WE OPEN UP OUR HEARTS AND WE

INVITE YOU IN.

IN YOUR NAME, AMEN.

Gordon: WELL, THAT'S

ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR

THIS PROGRAM.

WE LEAVE YOU WITH THESE

WORDS FROM PSALMS: "FATHER

TO THE FATHERLESS.

DEFENDER OF WIDOWS.

THIS IS GOD, WHO'S DWELLING

IS HOLY."

GOD BLESS YOU.