JOE: Welcome to FJM TV. I'm Joe Jordan.
I'm here with Gina Thompson and my
wife Kris Jordan. And it's just another great day together, huh?
GINA: Great day to be alive.
JOE: It really is. Excited. And another great day for Fred
Jordan Missions and FJM TV as we always kind of try to share,
especially with new viewers, is that Fred Jordan Mission's been
around for 80 years. And how do we say it? From
GINA: 44 to 24
JOE: 44 to 24. In 1944, my father,
Fred Jordan started Fred Jordan Missions
to care for the poor, the needy, the hungry, the
homeless, the helpless and the hopeless, by sharing the hope of
Jesus. We declare and we demonstrate, that is our
mission, to declare and to demonstrate the love of Jesus
with those on Skid Row and beyond. How do we do that? We
declare by letting people know Jesus loves them. There's a God
in heaven that loves them. Jesus died on the cross for them, and
they can have eternal life, forgiveness of sins. That's the
number one. But then we also want to demonstrate it by
feeding them. When they're naked, clothing them. When
they're cold, putting a blanket around them, a hoodie on them.
When their shoes and socks are not there, we put shoes and
socks on them. We just want to make sure people aren't hungry
and homeless, here on the streets of Skid Row in LA
because in this great country we live in, it's not necessary. So
because of your partnership over the last 80 years, some maybe
eight days, maybe some of you aren't partners yet, we'd love
for you to be a partner to help us to feed and clothe the almost
half a million people we do every single year through FJM.
And you can get involved and give, you can get involved and
volunteer. There's lots of ways, right?
GINA: Yes, just go to FJM.org and
get involved. We're having a wonderful,
amazing year this year. Like you just said, the 80
year anniversary, we want you to be a part of it. And Joe, as you
were just talking about feeding and clothing and sharing Jesus,
it's always amazing to me that the one thing, too, when you ask
them, what is that you need? Just a hug. That human
connection. It's what God created us to have. That
connection with one another with him. And it's just so important.
And we want you to come down, volunteer, we've got some
amazing events coming up from Thanksgiving, Christmas to
Easter and Mother's Day, and we need volunteers for that. And we
prepare for those all year long, so we need your financial
support. And also the doors of the mission are open daily. We
have a chapel. They come in from off the streets, they find out
those moments of safety and security there in the chapel
where they're prayed for. And then we take 'em in the dining
room, feed 'em a hot meal, and we serve them and they're just
reminded that they are loved and we give out those hugs, along
with the food and water and whatever it is that they may
need. We try to meet those needs, but we need your
financial support to continue to do that. So just go to FJM.org,
see how you can either volunteer, pray, or bless us
with your financial support. It would just be a huge blessing to
those that are hurting, hungry and are in need.
JOE: Yeah, and because of your financial
support and your prayers, we've been
on television now here in Los Angeles
and beyond since 1951. Yes, 1951. 73 years of having
Fred Jordan Mission Television. Started his church in the home,
and it's a little different now, there's not a choir behind us,
and I'm not just here like my dad preaching a 45 minute
message, but we are here to share God's word, encourage you
and let you know how much God loves you. How much Jesus loves
you. And today we're talking about faith. Biblical faith.
What does faith mean? And what does the Bible tell us about
faith? So let's jump right in here. What the Bible tells us
about faith. It's a supernatural gift given by God. In Ephesians
chapter 2, verse 8, it says this, "For by grace you have
been saved, through faith - and this is not of your own doing,
it is a gift of God." So even the faith to believe in Jesus,
even the faith that we receive, is not from us mustering up
faith or gathering faith or believing on our own, but even
that faith to believe in God. It is a gift from God. And what a
great gift that is. I just wanted to know what the world
thought about faith. And so I looked in the Miriam Webster
dictionary because I was just curious and it's pretty spot on.
It says this about faith, "It's a belief and a trust in, and a
loyalty to God." Faith. So faith as a Christian and in
Christianity is key. It is so key to the Christian's life.
Biblical faith goes beyond just believing in God and
acknowledging that God exists. But biblical faith is an utter
dependence, trust in God and who he is. It involves getting rid
of all self efforts, all our own reliance on ourself, and placing
complete and total and utter control and trust in Jesus.
Dependence in God, in his character, in who he is, in his
actions and his promises that are revealed through his word.
It's so important to know that. And then in Hebrews 11:1, it
says this, "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for
and assurance about what we do not see." I know this is one of
your favorite verses, so I'm going to just share this quick
thought about that verse, but think about that. Faith is the
confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do
not see. We need faith to trust in this, and God is the one that
gives faith. So faith is an assurance that what we hope for
will become a reality. And faith is also the conviction that what
is unseen, those unseen promises of God will be fulfilled one
day. We just have to trust. Again, it's a complete trust,
complete belief in God, in who he is and what he says. Because
what God says, God does. He is faithful, and so we need to just
ask God when we need more faith, for more faith. And if you don't
have faith, you just need to ask God to give you the faith to
believe in Him and trust Him because there is a God in heaven
that created you, that created me, that created us. And then he
loved us so much, He sent His son Jesus to die for us. And all
we have to do, the Bible says, believe and receive, and God
will even give you the faith to believe. So Gina, what role does
faith play in your daily life? And also what role does faith
play in like your future and what you think about the future?
GINA: Well, as you were just saying
there though, if your faith is not strong
and you're struggling with it, let's go to the
beginning. Go to Hebrews 11, where it's just story after
story about our great heroes in the Bible of how they were
faced, as well, the things we're faced with this day. Where your
faith can be shooken and you're seeing an almost impossible
situation, but how with their faith, God came through Daniel
and the lions' den, the parting of the Red Sea, I mean just one
story after another. So if you're struggling with your
faith, you want to be encouraged, go to Hebrews 11 and
just read that for yourself. But what I've learned, personally,
is just knowing that God is with me and if a situation is
presenting itself, that it just seems impossible, I know all
things are possible with Christ, and if I see it, then I have to
follow it up with what I'm saying about that situation.
I'll speak life over it. I'll speak God's word over that
situation. And as I'm doing then my heart, my mind, God gives us
the peace that passes all understanding. I know it sounds
like it's easy, it's not, but something happens when we
believe. When then we speak it. And then you know, things start
to shift. The atmosphere starts to change, and that faith
arises, and it's just like then we're unstoppable. We know we
can do all things through Christ who strengthened us with any
situation. And I love too that the Bible says you just need a
little bit faith of a mustard seed, just a little, and then
God will, that your faith will grow and grow. And so those are
just some of the things I try to do when I'm faced with the
situation, is go to God's Word. Speak it, believe it, and then
don't follow it back up with, if I'm claiming something, I'm just
going to say, you know this situation, God, you're going to
be there. Well, I just really don't know if He's going to do
that, you know? No. Say it, believe it, and
put it in action and move forward.
JOE: Yeah, and if you need faith,
if you need wisdom, if you need understanding,
just ask God for it. He's there and He wants to
give it to you and generously give it to you, but you have to
believe and you have to trust HBim. So babe, what do you think
the difference is between just believing in God and that God
exists and then trusting God for your salvation?
KRIS: So you guys have probably already
heard this, but it's one of the greatest
analogies I've ever heard. So there was a man
named Charles Blondin, who was a famous tightrope walker. And he
would go somehow, however they did, they anchored a tightrope
over Niagara Falls. And this man would not only walk across the
tightrope, he would walk backwards. I checked it out to
make sure it was true because I'm like, there's no way. He
carried a chair table, he carried a stove, he cooked an
omelet in the middle of the tightrope. I mean, just crazy
stuff. So there was crowds of people on both sides in Canada
and the US side watching him do all of these amazing, you know,
feats. So he comes over from one side to the other and he's got a
wheelbarrow. And so the crowd's cheering as he makes it over to
the other side, and he says, "Now, who believes that I could
push somebody in the wheelbarrow across this tightrope to the
other side?" And of course, everybody's "YES, YES,YES." And
he says, "Who's ready to get in the wheelbarrow?" Crickets,
nobody volunteered. And that is such a great example of it's one
thing to believe in, using his example, believe he can do it. I
believe you can do it, but I'm not going to trust you to do it
by putting myself on the line and going with you. And I think
that's the difference between we can believe God exists, but
we're not trusting him for our salvation. The demons believe
God exists, and the Bible says, and they shudder, but demons are
not saved. They're not going to heaven. And so it's that
personal trust and faith, like you were saying earlier.
Absolute, total and utter dependence on, "Jesus I need you
to save me, and I'm trusting in that. Not myself, not my church
attendance, not my whatever. I'm trusting in you
because You are the way to salvation."
JOE: Yeah, that's so important and, you
know, I think about just different people
in my life, and I won't name names, but just
different loved ones and people that are close to me that
sometimes try to overthink it. You know, they try to, well, I
have so much education and I'm so smart - And it's not that
simple. You know, salvation and following God and having faith
and getting saved is not that simple. And I'm just here to
tell you today that those are just lies from the enemy. You
don't have to be super intellectual, you don't have to
be super educated. You don't have to have master's degrees
and doctorates and everything else to believe in Jesus. Jesus
said let the little children come to Him. And all you need -
faith of a mustard seed or a childlike faith, the Bible talks
about, to believe in Jesus. So today, all you need to do is
have a childlike faith, ask for that gift from God, where you
can just start believing in Him and then He will grow that as
you build your relationship. We'll be right back.
ANNOUNCER: Jesus once said, what you
do for the least of these, you do for me.
With your generous support, Fred Jordan Mission has been
fulfilling this calling for over 80 years by feeding hungry
people here on Skid Row. Together we made a difference.
Together, we have given hope to those less fortunate. And
together we have demonstrated the love of Jesus to those in
need. We deeply appreciate your support and we ask that you
please continue to give to this life-changing mission. Go online
to give at FJM.org. Whatever the amount, great or small,
your donation is greatly appreciated.
ANNOUNCER: Join the conversation by
connecting with us on social media. We are on Facebook,
Twitter, Instagram and more. Visit us at Social.FJM.org.
JOE: Well welcome back. We're talking
about faith and just another thought on
it that's really important is that faith in God
is our foundation. It brings stability to everything in this
crazy world. And we see that in 2 Corinthians chapter 5 verse 7,
where it says, "For we walk by faith and not by sight." I'll
tell you what, and you know this, just living in this world,
if we were to walk and believe everything we see and believe
that that's how everything's going to go in our life and in
the future and where this world's going, there would be a
lot of fear and no hope. But I know this, even though it looks
like our world's falling apart half the time, and everybody's
kind of crazy and losing it, God is still in control. Lemme tell
you, the Bible says God is still in control. He's on the throne.
Jesus is at the right hand. And this world's not going to just
implode because mankind does dumb things every day. So I just
want you to think about that. In this ever-changing world we
serve an unchanging God. Says in Hebrews, Jesus is, not might be
hopefully, Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
And so in this ever-changing world, remember we serve an
unchanging, unwavering God. He is trustworthy. He is certain.
So walk by faith and not by sight knowing that by walking in
faith and not sight, we can fix our eyes on what's eternal. That
purpose that we have being saved, knowing we're going to
heaven. That no matter what happens to us in this life or
this world, we will be in heaven with Jesus one day. And don't
find ourselves fixing ourselves and our eyes on temporary things
because that doesn't hold much hope for us. One way that we can
walk by faith, I wrote, and not by sight is knowing that the
work that Jesus did and all that he has done preparing for our
future is certain. It's certain everything that he's done is
already been done. It's certain. And no matter what we're facing
in this current situation, we can also just trust that Jesus
is not going to stop moving and working in our life. He is
there. He is our hope. He is our future. He is our security. And
no matter what happens here, we'll be with Jesus in heaven
one day. But the question that I have for you, Gina, is how can
you have faith in something that you haven't
seen, or that you don't exactly know?
GINA: Oh, I know exactly. I'm excited
about this because I've had to learn this
over many years. And it's simply going to God's word.
Place it up around your house, put up God's promises around,
speak the word out loud. I am who God says I am. I can do what
God says I can do. He is who he says he is. You know, our words
of faith, it's not positive thinking, but it's lining up our
words, our thoughts, our words, our feelings with His word. And
that's where faith starts to grow. And so anytime I'm hit
with the situation, I will just start with God's words, speaking
it out loud. I put it up around my house. If it's in the sink,
or if it's you know, wherever, just to be reminded. I mean just
like you've got your daily scripture, you give to people on
the phone, pick that up, remind yourself it's so important. Our
feelings, they can't do anything, whatever. The only
thing that can change a situation is God's word and what
he says is true. And just claiming that put
all of our faith and confidence in Him.
JOE: Yeah, we can't live by feelings
every day. I mean that would be a
mess. You know, we have to look at God, who He is and His
word, His character. And I mean, Jesus said at best, I think in
one of the gospels, he just said, I am the way, the truth
and the life. If Jesus is the way, the truth and the life,
then we should keep our eyes on Jesus and trust
what he says and who he is. And so-
KRIS: Well, I was going, if I could
piggyback on that, He knows us so well
'cause He created us, right? So He gave us His word, a
written record so that we would know the truth. We would know
what He said. We don't have to rely on our feelings because,
like you said, if we all did that, it would just be a really
sad day. But He knows what we need. He gave us His word so
that it's there as our anchor when we need it, whatever the
situation is. So anyway, I just want to throw that in.
JOE: How do you have faith in something
that you don't know or you haven't seen?
KRIS: Well, I mean, I hear from a
lot of people who don't believe in God.
They don't believe God exists. They believe the world
came into being through, I'm not going to get into that subject,
but you mentioned it earlier. The Bible talks about not just
in Ephesians, but in Romans, that God has given each one a
measure of faith. He's given us what we need to believe Him. So
that's kind of the foundation. And then the other thing is He's
given us the universe, this vast incredible universe where we can
look up in the heavens and just see the glory of God. He's also
given us His word that is divinely inspired, the only
divinely inspired religious book ever in existence. And then He's
given us the Holy Spirit, who convinces us of the truth and
convicts us of our need for a savior. God being our only
Savior. So we have what we need to believe in a God that we
can't see, but that doesn't mean that believing in Him means that
we're dumb or we are not intelligent or whatever. It's
the complete opposite. And God reveals Himself.
JOE: He gave us a conscience too. I
mean, most people can say what really right
and what really wrong things are. They could if
they're honest. And so I think we just need to keep our eyes
and our focus on what's real. Trusting in God, trusting in His
word. And that's so important. And I'll just kind of close with
this from Hebrews 11:6, "And without faith it is impossible
to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe
that He exists and then he rewards those who earnestly seek
him." From the very beginning of creation and time, failure to
trust God was at the heart of Adam Eve's first sin. They
didn't listen to Him and believe Him. And because of that and not
following His word and what He told him to do, all of us now
live under that curse of sin. But by placing our faith and
trust in God and what he did on the cross when He sent Jesus, we
now have the faith to believe the story of the gospel. That
Jesus loves us, that Jesus has victory over death, hell in the
grave, and we can have eternal life in heaven, the Bible says,
if we would place our faith in Him. Do you have faith today? If
not, trust Jesus. Put your faith in Jesus today by just praying a
simple prayer. Jesus, I'm a sinner. Come into my heart, be
my savior, and you can be saved. And then ask Jesus to give you
faith as you read his word and get to know him better every day
and it will grow. Faith is something that you can hold
onto, that will let you know what you don't see is going to
happen because God is who he says he is. We'll be right back.
JOE: Here at Fred Jordan Missions,
every day we see all types of people. I
remember as a kid, my father, Fred and my mom, Willie,
teaching me a song about Jesus loves the little children of the
world. Red and yellow, black and white, we are all precious in
God's sight. I still know that song. I taught it to my
children. And that's exactly what we see here at Fred Jordan
Mission every day. Red and yellow, black and white, every
single person that you could think of from children all the
way to seniors are here on the streets living in LA, and they
come to our doors to be loved on, to be shared with that Jesus
loves you and Jesus saves. We hand out water, we hand out
drinks, we hand out snacks. We preach the gospel. We have hot
meals, we do special events. But if you want to know who comes
through our doors, it's all of us. There's no certain person,
there's no certain look. But like I said, in that song, red
and yellow, black and white, we're all precious in God's
sight. That's who we see here every day at Fred Jordan
Mission. People from all around this country that end up on
these streets can come through our door and we will
serve them as we declare and demonstrate
the love of Jesus to those in need.
JOE: Well, thanks for being with us
today. And again, just keep your eyes
on Jesus. Keep your faith and trust in God and who He is
and you'll be all right. And we do that every day on Skid Row
too with all of our guests that come. Will you stand with us?
Will you come on if you're not a partner? And just ask God how
you can be involved in doing something eternal, feeding,
clothing, caring for, and loving those. Sometimes just a hug that
Gina said, we give to the people who come to our doors. But there
are so many hungry, homeless, and helpless people that just
need the love of Jesus, and they need to have faith too. But we
need to teach them that. Be our partner. Stand with us because
together we make eternal differences.
ANNOUNCER: Join the conversation by
connecting with us on social media. We
are on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram,
and more. Visit us at Social.FJM.org
FEMALE: (Singing) When the night comes,
and there's no one, and you feel hopeless
and abandoned, just take my hand and lift your
eyes, change is coming love has arrived, we will overcome this
sorrow, we will see the dawn tomorrow we will soldier on
down this road, as we reach for home, reach for home.
ANNOUNCER: Please will you join us
in feeding hungry children and their families
by phoning today, (844)-FJM-Food or donating
online FJM.org. That's FJM.org or mail your check to Fred
Jordan Mission PO Box 12345, Covina,
California 91722. Please, will you help?
ANNOUNCER: The proceeding program was sponsored by
generous friends and partners of Fred Jordan Missions.