Hello, friends.
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And welcome to
another Wednesday night study
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here at 3ABN in
the Thompsonville
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Seventh-day Adventist Church
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also, the 3ABN worship center
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here for another
broadcast of "A Sharper Focus."
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Welcome wherever
you are joining us from
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we'd like to welcome you tonight
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and encourage you
to get your Bibles,
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sit down for the next hour
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and walk through the Word of God
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together with us as we learn
how to live a spiritual life.
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Everyone else,
what's the rest of it?
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In a natural body. Natural body.
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That's our focus.
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Everyone of us wants to know
how to live that spiritual life
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but we have a natural
body that's the challenge.
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But the Lord is able
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when we submit ourselves to Him
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to be able to
accomplish far above
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what we can ever imagine.
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So get your
Bibles, get your pens,
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if you would like a copy
of the lesson for tonight,
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go to our website ASF.3abn.org.
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Don't put www
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it will take you
right to the website
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where the lessons are
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and you will
download lesson number six,
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006 which is "How to
be Willing and Obedient"
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that's the topic that
we are covering tonight.
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Once again
ASF.3abn.org is our website.
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And invite your
friends to join you
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and we are gonna turn to
the Lord in prayer tonight
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before we do anything else
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because this is the time
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that the Lord will
speak to our hearts.
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Let's pray together.
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Our gracious Father in
heaven, we thank You, Lord,
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for the
opportunity to open Your word
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also to open our hearts.
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We invite Your Holy Spirit
to come and to be our teacher,
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to be our guide, to be
the one that opens our minds
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and help us to understand
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what it really
means to be victorious.
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Oh, how important it is
to find victory in Jesus.
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So strengthen us,
Father, and bring Your word
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alive in us.
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In Jesus' name
we pray, amen. Amen.
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Now before we go
to our song tonight
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which is "Victory in Jesus"
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I have a letter I
want to share with you.
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Often times we hear
from people around the world
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but this one was
particularly exciting
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because I got a letter
from somebody in Greece.
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Can you say amen to that? Amen.
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And that's watching the program
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and evidently until we made
some changes on our network,
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they were not able
to follow the program.
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But it is from a lady
that it reads as follows.
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I got this on May 6th.
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But it says, "Attention,
Pastor John Lomacang.
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Dear, Pastor John, today
is a day of Thanksgiving,
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today is a day for
Thanksgiving and jubilation.
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Firstly, thank you to 3ABN
for changing the ASF schedule
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which now allows us in Europe
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to study with you
on Thursday evening.
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Amen.
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Tomorrow night well, they
are gonna get that program
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together as they study.
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"Thank you, Pastor John,
for making us feel at home
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and so much part
of your study group.
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Foremost, thank you for teaching
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how to live the Christian life
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and showing us
that Christians do have
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an excellent sense of humor."
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Praise the Lord for that.
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And then she ends with a
prayer, wonderful prayer.
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"Thank you, Holy Spirit,
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for keeping your
hand over this program.
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Strengthen Pastor John
and may more and more people
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study with us while we
wait for Your return, Jesus."
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And this comes
from Isabel Stidandis
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from Rhodes, Greece.
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So praise the Lord.
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Let's say welcome. Welcome.
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And if you are in Greece
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and you got that
on Thursday night,
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thank the Lord
whenever you get that
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but thank you so much
for those encouraging words.
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And because we are
looking for victory in Christ,
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tonight join us,
if you know this song
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it's gonna appear on our screen.
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The song, "There
is Victory in Jesus."
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Listen to it tonight.
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Ready?
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I heard an old, old story
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How the Savior came from glory
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How He gave His life on Calvary
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To save a wretch like me
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I heard about His groaning
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Of His precious blood's atoning
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Then I repented of my sins
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And won the victory Together.
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O victory in Jesus
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My Savior, forever
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He sought me and bought me
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With His redeeming blood
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He loved me ere I knew Him
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And all my love is due Him
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He plunged me to victory
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Beneath the cleansing flood
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I heard about a mansion
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He has built for me in glory
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And I heard about
the streets of gold
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Beyond the crystal sea
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About the angels singing
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And the old redemption story
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And some sweet
day I'll sing up there
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The song of victory Key change.
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O victory in Jesus
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My Savior, forever
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He sought me and bought me
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With His redeeming blood
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He loved me ere I knew Him
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And all my love is due Him
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He plunged me to victory
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Beneath the cleansing flood
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He plunged me to victory
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Beneath the cleansing flood
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Amen. Amen.
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What do we all want?
We want victory. Where?
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In Jesus. In Jesus.
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That's what our topic is tonight
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and if you have your Bibles,
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I'd like to encourage
you to follow along tonight.
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Now I'm going to
begin with a picture.
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By the way, the
title of our topic tonight
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is "How to be
Willing and Obedient"
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that's our title
for tonight's study.
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Now we all want to be willing,
we all want to be obedient
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and we learned the last week
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that if there is
first a willing heart
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God accepts us
according to what we have
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and not according
to what we do not have.
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Tonight, this very first picture
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illustrates the
daily Christian battle.
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Look at it and try your
best not to laugh, okay.
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And now you see how
important this picture is
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because you
notice that this baby
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has every intention mentally
of lifting those weights
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but there is
nothing available physically
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that's gonna ever
make that possible.
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Am I right? Right.
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And so tonight
when you think about
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the daily Christian
battle in your life,
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I mean, we have so many ways.
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Sin is like a weight
that we try to lift every day.
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We try to carry or
move out of our way.
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"The spirit indeed is willing
but the flesh is," "Weak."
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"Weak."
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That's the
Christian battle every day.
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And so when we begin tonight
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I like to go to our
first question by the way
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the title "How to be
Willing and Obedient"
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but look with me to
question number one.
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Look with me to
question number one.
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"How does the Bible describe
the daily Christian battle?"
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How does it describe
the daily Christian battle?
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That is Matthew 26:41,
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Matthew 26:41, okay.
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Now, if you have your Bibles
I know you are turning there
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but if not the
answers are on the screen
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and the scripture is as follows.
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Here it is.
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I like us to read
the first one together
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because we saw the illustration
that brought this to life.
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Are you ready? Here we go.
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"Watch and" what else?
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"Pray, lest you
enter into" what?
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"Temptation.
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The spirit indeed is
willing, but the flesh is weak."
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Now, unless you have
entered into perfection
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you know what I mean,
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you know what the
Bible means when it says
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the flesh is weak.
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Every day there are going
to be a mountain of temptations
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that are going to
be waiting for you.
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Now for those of
us who live out here
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in the quietude of Thompsonville
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and West Frankfurt,
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there may be less temptations
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but there are
temptations none the less.
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Temptations
come in various ways.
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Somebody last
week told me, they said
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that whey they
moved from Dallas, Texas
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a lot of the
temptation that they had left
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because part of their temptation
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was going to the mall.
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And for those of you
who life in Thompsonville,
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there is no mall.
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Am I right? So
that's not our temptation.
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We are not
tempted to go to the mall.
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You got to drive a long way
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to get that temptation out here.
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But there are other temptations.
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There are temptations of temper.
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There are
temptations of appetite.
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There are temptations
of personality conflicts.
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Temptations are all around us.
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I mean, that's the very
atmosphere that we breathe.
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And there are two things
that we need to do every day
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that will help us in
the area of temptation.
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What are those two
things that were pointed out
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in the beginning of this text?
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Watch. Watch and what?
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Pray. Now why should we watch?
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Paul-- I mean, Peter says
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"Be sober, be vigilant,
because your adversary,
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the devil walks
around like a roaring lion,
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seeking whom he" what?
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"May devour."
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If you had a
neighbor with an angry dog
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that always
roamed the neighborhood
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and we some of them out here.
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Sometimes I'm riding
my bike up New Lake Road
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and it's always a
smallest dog leading the pack.
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Have you noticed that? Yeah.
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The smallest dog is
always the loudest one.
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Always nibbling at our feet.
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By the way we were in
a van one time driving
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and about five or six dogs
just ran in front of the van
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refused to move.
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So we, and then beep the horn
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and all the dogs ran
except one, the smallest one.
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And you couldn't even
see it but it was out there
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trying to nibble at the
tires and I'm thinking to myself
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if you knew that
you had a neighbor
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with an angry dog
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that wanted to bite
you every chance you got
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what would do you?
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The first words say
it with me. You do what?
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You would
watch. You would watch.
00:10:41.57\00:10:42.94
But you wouldn't just pray,
00:10:42.97\00:10:44.31
you probably carry
a switch or something,
00:10:44.34\00:10:45.81
you know, to keep that dog away.
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Every day we've got to
watch, we've got to pray.
00:10:47.54\00:10:50.25
We've got to watch
for our natural tendencies
00:10:50.28\00:10:52.71
because they come to the surface
00:10:52.75\00:10:54.08
without our permission.
00:10:54.12\00:10:55.58
We've got to watch our tongues.
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We've got to watch the
things that cause us to stumble.
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We've got to watch.
We've got to be on guard.
00:11:01.99\00:11:04.59
When you think about watch,
the scriptural text here is
00:11:04.63\00:11:07.06
talking about the watchman.
00:11:07.10\00:11:09.23
The person that
stood on the walls
00:11:09.26\00:11:11.43
outside of the cities.
00:11:11.47\00:11:12.87
He watched to see if
temptations were coming.
00:11:12.90\00:11:15.47
He watched to see if
the enemy was approaching.
00:11:15.50\00:11:17.97
So he watched and he made sure
00:11:18.01\00:11:20.11
that those on the
inside were aware.
00:11:20.14\00:11:22.18
So every day each of us
has to be like a watchman
00:11:22.21\00:11:24.75
watching for those
things that cause us to stumble.
00:11:24.78\00:11:28.35
Now your temptation, Yannick,
and your temptation, Glen,
00:11:28.38\00:11:32.05
maybe different but
each day you have to watch
00:11:32.09\00:11:34.72
not for his temptation,
00:11:34.76\00:11:36.09
you don't watch
for his temptation
00:11:36.12\00:11:37.46
you watch for your temptation.
00:11:37.49\00:11:39.29
Every day we
have to watch and pray
00:11:39.33\00:11:41.40
and that helps us because
the spirit indeed is willing.
00:11:41.43\00:11:45.20
We want to do right.
00:11:45.23\00:11:46.57
Paul the apostle talked about
00:11:46.60\00:11:47.94
that battle in Romans Chapter 7.
00:11:47.97\00:11:49.34
He says, "What I
want to do I can't do.
00:11:49.37\00:11:53.71
What I don't want to do
I find myself doing that."
00:11:53.74\00:11:58.08
"O wretched man that I am!
00:11:58.11\00:11:59.45
Who is gonna deliver me
from this body of death?"
00:11:59.48\00:12:01.52
He had this daily battle.
00:12:01.55\00:12:02.88
And every one of us
has the daily battle.
00:12:02.92\00:12:04.92
But now here's the key.
00:12:04.95\00:12:06.32
As you continue
watching and praying,
00:12:06.35\00:12:08.72
you begin to build up
00:12:08.76\00:12:10.09
by the work of
Christ in your life,
00:12:10.13\00:12:11.86
the ability to resist
more and more successfully,
00:12:11.89\00:12:16.53
to resist more
and more victoriously.
00:12:16.56\00:12:19.57
And I'm hoping that the
things that you struggle with
00:12:19.60\00:12:21.97
15 years ago you are not still
struggling with that, right.
00:12:22.00\00:12:25.07
Because the
babe at the beginning
00:12:25.11\00:12:26.84
should become grown and stronger
00:12:26.88\00:12:28.81
as they continue
walking in Christ.
00:12:28.84\00:12:30.85
But now the reason why
we have to watch and pray
00:12:30.88\00:12:33.08
is because the
"spirit indeed is willing,
00:12:33.11\00:12:34.68
the flesh is weak."
00:12:34.72\00:12:36.05
So therefore, who is the one
00:12:36.08\00:12:38.12
that will give us the
victory over the flesh?
00:12:38.15\00:12:39.92
Tell me his name.
00:12:39.95\00:12:41.29
Jesus. His name is Jesus.
00:12:41.32\00:12:42.92
Now go with me to
Jude, the Book of Jude.
00:12:42.96\00:12:46.23
It's not gonna be on the screen.
00:12:46.26\00:12:47.60
I'm gonna walk you
through a couple of things here
00:12:47.63\00:12:49.13
because we are talking
about victory in Jesus.
00:12:49.16\00:12:51.70
How to be willing and obedient?
00:12:51.73\00:12:54.14
And often times
some individual say,
00:12:54.17\00:12:57.24
"Okay, I'm not gonna do
it, I'm not gonna do it,
00:12:57.27\00:12:59.14
I'm not gonna do it,
I'm not gonna do it."
00:12:59.17\00:13:00.84
They try to psych
themselves into being obedient.
00:13:00.88\00:13:03.31
But the Bible says, oh
there is a lot more to it
00:13:03.35\00:13:06.15
than
psychological brain washing.
00:13:06.18\00:13:09.98
We can't brainwash
ourselves into being obedient,
00:13:10.02\00:13:12.62
it has to be character change.
00:13:12.65\00:13:14.69
It has to be Christ
in you the hope of glory.
00:13:14.72\00:13:17.69
Now look at Jude,
there's only one chapter in Jude
00:13:17.73\00:13:19.73
but look at verse 24.
00:13:19.76\00:13:21.86
Jude verse 24
and I'd say chapter 1
00:13:21.90\00:13:25.13
but there is only one chapter.
00:13:25.17\00:13:26.50
It's not on the
screen. It's in your Bibles.
00:13:26.53\00:13:28.04
And notice how it begins.
00:13:28.07\00:13:29.40
It says, "Now to Him
00:13:29.44\00:13:31.01
who is able to
keep you from" what?
00:13:31.04\00:13:33.14
"Falling" or "stumbling."
00:13:33.17\00:13:34.91
Falling, King James Version.
00:13:34.94\00:13:36.71
Stumbling, New
King James Version.
00:13:36.75\00:13:38.78
"And to present you"
what is the next word?
00:13:38.81\00:13:41.62
"Faultless before
the presence of His glory
00:13:41.65\00:13:44.82
with exceeding joy."
00:13:44.85\00:13:46.25
You know what that means?
00:13:46.29\00:13:47.62
That means the
Lord takes pleasure
00:13:47.66\00:13:49.29
in keeping us from stumbling.
00:13:49.32\00:13:50.76
Amen. Amen.
00:13:50.79\00:13:52.13
Oh, that wasn't really good.
00:13:52.16\00:13:53.50
I'd like to drink the water
and just try that over again.
00:13:53.53\00:13:55.13
The Lord takes pleasure
in keeping us from stumbling.
00:13:55.16\00:13:57.43
Amen. Amen.
00:13:57.47\00:13:58.80
I mean, think about this.
00:13:58.83\00:14:00.17
You have to get
the picture of it.
00:14:00.20\00:14:01.54
I remember a young
man that I grew up with,
00:14:01.57\00:14:04.81
if by any means you
are watching this program
00:14:04.84\00:14:06.47
I lost sight of him,
don't even know where he is.
00:14:06.51\00:14:09.41
Little family member, well,
I'm sure he's grown man now
00:14:09.44\00:14:12.11
but his name is Hayden
and he is from Trinidad.
00:14:12.15\00:14:15.58
And when he came over,
00:14:15.62\00:14:16.95
his parents came over to America
00:14:16.99\00:14:18.32
he was little, little boy.
00:14:18.35\00:14:19.69
I mean, very
small and I remember
00:14:19.72\00:14:21.82
walking on the
streets of Brooklyn, New York,
00:14:21.86\00:14:24.16
there on Fulton Street,
00:14:24.19\00:14:25.53
as we are coming
form the supermarket
00:14:25.56\00:14:27.30
and he had the gift
of running into things.
00:14:27.33\00:14:31.27
Poles, either
light pole or sign pole,
00:14:31.30\00:14:35.50
one of the most,
one of the funniest days
00:14:35.54\00:14:37.51
was when he ran square
head straight into a light pole
00:14:37.54\00:14:40.61
here we had the little ting.
00:14:40.64\00:14:43.18
You know that little bell
00:14:43.21\00:14:44.55
that the head meeting
a metal pole sounds like.
00:14:44.58\00:14:47.58
I mean, and then
finally he got the hint
00:14:47.62\00:14:50.19
because his
father would always say,
00:14:50.22\00:14:51.55
"hold my hand" and he
would pull his hand away, "no."
00:14:51.59\00:14:53.96
So what was the natural result
00:14:53.99\00:14:56.99
of pulling away from the father?
00:14:57.03\00:14:58.69
He fell himself. He
hit the pole himself.
00:14:58.73\00:15:01.26
He stumbled himself.
00:15:01.30\00:15:02.63
What really
taught him the lesson
00:15:02.66\00:15:04.00
is, that particular day
after he ran into a pole,
00:15:04.03\00:15:05.93
all of a sudden a
terrible heavy rain
00:15:05.97\00:15:08.57
hit Brooklyn, New
York with a lot of wind
00:15:08.60\00:15:10.61
and it almost picked
him up off the ground.
00:15:10.64\00:15:13.07
Well, coupled
with hitting the pole
00:15:13.11\00:15:14.91
and this wind coming through,
00:15:14.94\00:15:16.44
he realized the best thing to do
00:15:16.48\00:15:17.95
is hold his father's hand.
00:15:17.98\00:15:19.95
And brethren and
sisters, the winds of life
00:15:19.98\00:15:22.52
and the obstacles
of life are out there.
00:15:22.55\00:15:24.75
If we hold the Father's hand
00:15:24.79\00:15:26.12
He is able to keep us
from stumbling, all right.
00:15:26.15\00:15:27.59
Amen.
00:15:27.62\00:15:28.96
But here's another
one, 2 Timothy 1:12.
00:15:28.99\00:15:31.39
2 Timothy 1:12.
00:15:31.43\00:15:34.36
In order for us to experience
this victorious life in Christ,
00:15:34.40\00:15:37.70
and we will get back to
the questions a moment ago,
00:15:37.73\00:15:39.87
a moment from now
but I want to show you
00:15:39.90\00:15:42.14
that what we are
talking about here
00:15:42.17\00:15:43.71
is there is,
there is this victory
00:15:43.74\00:15:46.54
that we find only in Christ
00:15:46.57\00:15:48.31
that we can't find in ourselves.
00:15:48.34\00:15:50.81
There is a
victory we find in Christ
00:15:50.85\00:15:52.81
that we cannot
find in ourselves.
00:15:52.85\00:15:55.28
2 Timothy 1:12, 2 Timothy 1:12,
00:15:55.32\00:15:59.39
Paul talks about something
that we must do, all right.
00:15:59.42\00:16:03.32
He says, "For this reason
I also suffer these things,
00:16:03.36\00:16:07.06
nevertheless I am not" what?
00:16:07.10\00:16:09.13
Ashamed.
00:16:09.16\00:16:10.50
I'm not "Ashamed, for I
know whom I have believed
00:16:10.53\00:16:13.40
and persuaded that
He is able to" do what?
00:16:13.44\00:16:17.51
"Keep what I have committed
to Him until that Day."
00:16:17.54\00:16:20.64
So here's the key.
00:16:20.68\00:16:22.01
If you commit
yourself, remember Ellen White
00:16:22.04\00:16:23.51
says the first work we
should do in the morning
00:16:23.55\00:16:25.05
is do what?
00:16:25.08\00:16:26.41
The first thing we
should do in the morning
00:16:26.45\00:16:27.78
is commit ourselves to the Lord.
00:16:27.82\00:16:30.89
It should be our first work.
00:16:30.92\00:16:32.99
Say, Father take my
life for I cannot give it.
00:16:33.02\00:16:36.06
Take my heart
for I cannot give it.
00:16:36.09\00:16:37.99
Take my mind for
I cannot give it.
00:16:38.03\00:16:40.20
Control my hands for
I can't control them.
00:16:40.23\00:16:42.83
Control my lips for
I can't control them.
00:16:42.86\00:16:45.13
If you commit your
mind, your heart, your life
00:16:45.17\00:16:46.97
and all those things
that are weak in you to Christ
00:16:47.00\00:16:50.47
is He able to
keep what you commit?
00:16:50.51\00:16:52.31
Amen. Is He able to keep it?
00:16:52.34\00:16:54.14
Yes, He is.
00:16:54.18\00:16:55.94
He is able to keep
00:16:55.98\00:16:57.31
what we have
committed to Him until that day.
00:16:57.35\00:17:00.08
That means until
the day He comes.
00:17:00.12\00:17:02.05
Now why until that day?
00:17:02.08\00:17:03.42
Because when He comes,
00:17:03.45\00:17:06.39
we will be perfectly
reproduced in His righteousness.
00:17:06.42\00:17:08.96
And He wouldn't
have to keep us anymore
00:17:08.99\00:17:10.93
because we will
be just like Him.
00:17:10.96\00:17:13.06
Here's another text.
00:17:13.09\00:17:14.86
How well is He able to keep us?
00:17:14.90\00:17:16.43
Ephesians 3:20.
00:17:16.46\00:17:18.63
Ephesians 3:20, go
over there with me.
00:17:18.67\00:17:23.00
Another one of how
He is able to keep us.
00:17:23.04\00:17:25.64
What chapter?
Ephesians 3:20 look at it.
00:17:28.64\00:17:33.05
I'm pointing, you know,
00:17:33.08\00:17:34.42
the reason I'm
putting these texts together
00:17:34.45\00:17:36.15
I want to point us away from us.
00:17:36.18\00:17:39.15
I want to point
you away from you
00:17:39.19\00:17:40.56
because there are
some great Christians,
00:17:40.59\00:17:42.26
there are some good Christians
00:17:42.29\00:17:43.89
but there are no
Christians able to be victorious
00:17:43.93\00:17:47.30
in and of themselves
00:17:47.33\00:17:49.40
because the spirit is
willing but the flesh is what?
00:17:49.43\00:17:51.90
The flesh is weak.
00:17:51.93\00:17:53.40
So now let's
look at another one.
00:17:53.44\00:17:55.04
How well is
Christ able to keep you?
00:17:55.07\00:17:57.21
Ephesians 3:20, it says,
00:17:57.24\00:17:59.07
"Now to Him who is able to do"
00:17:59.11\00:18:02.21
what are the two next words?
00:18:02.24\00:18:03.58
"Exceedingly"
what is the next one?
00:18:03.61\00:18:05.88
"Abundantly above all
00:18:05.91\00:18:09.65
that we ask or think,
00:18:09.68\00:18:11.05
according to the
power that works" where?
00:18:11.09\00:18:14.62
"In us, to Him be glory
in the church by Christ Jesus
00:18:14.66\00:18:18.29
to all
generations, forever and ever.
00:18:18.33\00:18:20.53
Amen."
00:18:20.56\00:18:21.90
So notice why is He
able to do exceedingly,
00:18:21.93\00:18:24.60
abundantly above all we
ask or think, here's the point.
00:18:24.63\00:18:27.67
You say, Lord, keep me today.
00:18:27.70\00:18:30.64
And He goes farther
than you ever imagined.
00:18:30.67\00:18:34.18
But you never know that.
00:18:34.21\00:18:35.74
Because you can be sure
that when the day begins
00:18:35.78\00:18:37.95
somebody is
going to try you out.
00:18:37.98\00:18:40.55
Some situation
is gonna test you.
00:18:40.58\00:18:42.18
Am I telling the truth? Amen.
00:18:42.22\00:18:43.79
There is something
gonna come your way
00:18:43.82\00:18:45.15
that's gonna test you
see, all right, well, glad--
00:18:45.19\00:18:47.19
all right, well, you
know, but I just got baptized.
00:18:47.22\00:18:50.06
The devil is not gonna say,
well, but I just got baptized
00:18:50.09\00:18:51.93
Just leave but alone.
00:18:51.96\00:18:53.29
He is gonna say,
but I just got baptized
00:18:53.33\00:18:54.76
let's see how baptized he is.
00:18:54.80\00:18:56.97
...let a few words after that.
00:18:57.00\00:18:59.13
Exactly.
00:18:59.17\00:19:00.94
See, and so what
happens is you know
00:19:00.97\00:19:03.37
that this
challenge is going to come
00:19:03.41\00:19:05.27
but the Lord is saying here,
00:19:05.31\00:19:06.88
there is a power
that is at work in us.
00:19:06.91\00:19:09.61
Who is that
power? Somebody tell me.
00:19:09.64\00:19:11.51
The Holy
Spirit. The Holy Spirit.
00:19:11.55\00:19:15.12
Yes, Christ we know that
but through the Holy Spirit.
00:19:15.15\00:19:17.95
"Christ in you,
the hope of glory."
00:19:17.99\00:19:19.39
The Holy Spirit moves
in and begins that work.
00:19:19.42\00:19:22.16
And we don't know
how powerful that work is
00:19:22.19\00:19:24.39
until we read texts like this.
00:19:24.43\00:19:26.16
"He is able to do
exceedingly, abundantly above
00:19:26.19\00:19:30.30
all that you can ask or" what?
00:19:30.33\00:19:31.93
"Think."
00:19:31.97\00:19:33.30
In other words here's the point.
00:19:33.34\00:19:34.67
You say, I ask
Him for strength today
00:19:34.70\00:19:37.61
but, man,
00:19:37.64\00:19:40.91
He delivered me from
the greatest temptation
00:19:40.94\00:19:42.88
I often have.
00:19:42.91\00:19:44.25
You know why?
00:19:44.28\00:19:45.61
Because He is able to do farther
00:19:45.65\00:19:47.88
than you can ever imagine.
00:19:47.92\00:19:49.32
But, you know, the
reason why sometimes we fall
00:19:49.35\00:19:51.42
is because we don't
ask Him to deliver us.
00:19:51.45\00:19:54.12
We think okay, here it comes
00:19:54.16\00:19:55.96
and we go through
this psychological,
00:19:55.99\00:19:57.63
okay, prepare yourself.
00:19:57.66\00:20:03.60
There is no amount of meditation
00:20:03.63\00:20:05.03
that can save you from sin
00:20:05.07\00:20:06.87
except you meditate on Christ.
00:20:06.90\00:20:09.40
Except you invite Him
00:20:09.44\00:20:10.77
and the only One
that is able to do
00:20:10.81\00:20:12.61
farther abundantly above
all that you ask or think.
00:20:12.64\00:20:16.08
Here's another reason why.
00:20:16.11\00:20:17.78
I remember
according to the power
00:20:17.81\00:20:19.71
that works in
us, Philippians 2:13,
00:20:19.75\00:20:22.58
you know this one.
00:20:22.62\00:20:24.29
Philippians 2:13, I want to
point you away from yourself.
00:20:24.32\00:20:28.52
But before we go
to the next question,
00:20:28.56\00:20:30.03
I'm gonna point you to something
00:20:30.06\00:20:31.39
that you've got to do.
00:20:31.43\00:20:32.83
Point away from you
00:20:32.86\00:20:34.20
but then back to
something that you have do
00:20:34.23\00:20:36.36
because these things
00:20:36.40\00:20:37.73
are not going
to happen naturally
00:20:37.77\00:20:39.10
unless you say,
"Lord," unless you say, "Lord,
00:20:39.13\00:20:42.60
I'm giving You
permission to work in my life."
00:20:42.64\00:20:45.11
All right.
00:20:45.14\00:20:46.81
Philippians
2:13. What does it say?
00:20:46.84\00:20:49.81
It says, "For it is" who? God.
00:20:49.84\00:20:52.68
"God who works"
where? "In you" get this.
00:20:52.71\00:20:57.29
You've read this before.
00:20:57.32\00:20:58.65
"Both to will and to
do of His good pleasure."
00:20:58.69\00:21:04.13
In other words here's the point.
00:21:04.16\00:21:05.49
He is able if you
acknowledge the Christ in you,
00:21:05.53\00:21:08.23
if you acknowledge
00:21:08.26\00:21:09.60
the presence of
God in your life,
00:21:09.63\00:21:10.97
He is able to not only will,
00:21:11.00\00:21:13.97
that is, direct your will
00:21:14.00\00:21:17.87
but He is able to
accomplish through that will
00:21:17.91\00:21:22.24
His good pleasure.
00:21:22.28\00:21:24.25
It's not the winter now
00:21:27.95\00:21:29.28
but sometimes we wear
gloves in the winter time
00:21:29.32\00:21:32.42
and they are pretty expensive.
00:21:32.45\00:21:33.79
Some people pay a
lot of money for gloves
00:21:33.82\00:21:35.52
but, you know,
gloves can't do anything.
00:21:35.56\00:21:38.63
They can't do anything for you
00:21:38.66\00:21:40.00
unless you put
your hand in them.
00:21:40.03\00:21:42.40
Right? Amen.
00:21:42.43\00:21:44.47
The glove does not receive
any power, any effectiveness
00:21:44.50\00:21:48.37
until your hands are in it.
00:21:48.40\00:21:50.21
In the very same way
you are like that glove,
00:21:50.24\00:21:52.77
unless Christ is in you
00:21:52.81\00:21:54.34
there is no power
in and of yourself
00:21:54.38\00:21:56.95
to overcome those temptations.
00:21:56.98\00:21:58.88
I mean, this is
Christianity one on one.
00:21:58.91\00:22:01.62
This is where we live.
00:22:01.65\00:22:03.08
This is not any of our 20
fundamentals and specifics.
00:22:03.12\00:22:06.42
Part of our fundamentals
is righteousness by faith.
00:22:06.45\00:22:08.92
But this in fact, is
where we take and live
00:22:08.96\00:22:11.36
and breathe every day.
00:22:11.39\00:22:12.73
So if we know that God is able
to do exceedingly abundantly
00:22:12.76\00:22:15.46
of all that we ask or think
00:22:15.50\00:22:16.97
and it's Christ
that's working in us
00:22:17.00\00:22:18.37
what do we have to do?
00:22:18.40\00:22:20.34
Go with me now to 1
John 3:3, 1 John 3:3
00:22:20.37\00:22:24.54
and then we will jump
to question number two.
00:22:24.57\00:22:27.14
All right, I
haven't forgotten that one.
00:22:27.18\00:22:30.28
1 John 3:3,
something we have to do.
00:22:30.31\00:22:34.15
This is amazing.
00:22:38.85\00:22:42.09
Okay, 1 John 3:3
instructs us as follows.
00:22:42.12\00:22:48.43
"And everyone
who has this" what?
00:22:48.46\00:22:51.87
"Hope in Him" what
are the next two words?
00:22:51.90\00:22:54.70
"Purifies himself,
just as He is pure."
00:22:54.74\00:22:59.51
I want you to get that now.
00:22:59.54\00:23:00.88
A good friend of mine,
we were singing with her
00:23:00.91\00:23:03.31
in the Heritage
Singers years ago
00:23:03.35\00:23:05.31
a young lady by the
name Becki Trueblood.
00:23:05.35\00:23:07.05
She was Miss. Teenage Idaho.
00:23:07.08\00:23:08.65
It was really funny.
00:23:08.68\00:23:10.02
She told us a story one day
00:23:10.05\00:23:11.39
where she was being interviewed
for Miss. Teenage Idaho.
00:23:11.42\00:23:14.96
She was sitting down in
front of her interviewers
00:23:14.99\00:23:16.73
and had on this beautiful gown.
00:23:16.76\00:23:19.49
Well, just before
she went into the room
00:23:19.53\00:23:22.86
she was eating
something that had chocolate
00:23:22.90\00:23:26.84
and she spilled
chocolate on her gown
00:23:26.87\00:23:29.97
before she went into the room
00:23:30.01\00:23:31.41
to be interviewed
for Miss. Teenage Idaho.
00:23:31.44\00:23:36.61
They said, she sat
there with such composure
00:23:36.64\00:23:40.02
as she tried her best to ignore
00:23:40.05\00:23:41.38
this big old
chocolate stain on her outfit,
00:23:41.42\00:23:45.19
that she not only qualified
for Miss. Teenage Idaho,
00:23:45.22\00:23:48.32
but she won.
00:23:48.36\00:23:51.13
But she realized that
she couldn't get it off
00:23:51.16\00:23:54.86
of her good gown fast enough,
00:23:54.90\00:23:57.40
so she went on in there with it.
00:23:57.43\00:23:59.57
Now what this is saying
to us is Christ makes us pure
00:23:59.60\00:24:04.07
even as He is pure.
00:24:04.11\00:24:05.67
We are pure in Christ, right.
00:24:05.71\00:24:08.04
"If we confess our
sins He is faithful
00:24:08.08\00:24:10.15
and just to forgive us
of our sins and to," what?
00:24:10.18\00:24:12.88
Cleanse us from all
unrighteousness." We are pure.
00:24:12.91\00:24:15.48
But then he says, since
I've cleaned up the house
00:24:15.52\00:24:17.92
as a father or mother
would say to the child.
00:24:17.95\00:24:19.82
Since I've cleaned it
up you keep it cleaned up.
00:24:19.85\00:24:23.53
So the Lord has
cleaned us up, has He not?
00:24:23.56\00:24:26.16
But now what is it
mean by purify yourself?
00:24:26.19\00:24:28.16
The very things
that He's taken from you
00:24:28.20\00:24:30.07
in your life that,
you know are temptations,
00:24:30.10\00:24:32.03
He is saying, stay
clear of those things
00:24:32.07\00:24:34.40
that are gonna spot you up.
00:24:34.44\00:24:36.00
Remember that text in Jeremiah,
00:24:36.04\00:24:37.51
"Can the
Ethiopian change his skin,
00:24:37.54\00:24:39.41
or the leopard his" what?
00:24:39.44\00:24:40.84
"Spots."
00:24:40.88\00:24:42.21
So there are sin spots
00:24:42.24\00:24:45.21
that we have to make sure
00:24:45.25\00:24:46.58
that we not
expose ourselves to lest
00:24:46.61\00:24:48.38
we spill that
sin on our character.
00:24:48.42\00:24:51.62
So who in essence
saying those things
00:24:51.65\00:24:53.09
that you know are
gonna stain your character,
00:24:53.12\00:24:54.82
stay clear of those things.
00:24:54.86\00:24:57.46
"He that has this
hope purifies himself."
00:24:57.49\00:25:00.36
It's not that you
make yourself righteous,
00:25:00.40\00:25:02.70
but the Lord makes you righteous
00:25:02.73\00:25:04.17
and you carefully
consider your journey
00:25:04.20\00:25:06.63
to stay away from those things
00:25:06.67\00:25:08.00
that are gonna get you
spotty and soil your character.
00:25:08.04\00:25:11.07
Now let's go to
question number two.
00:25:11.11\00:25:12.84
So, you see, who is
the one that works in us?
00:25:12.87\00:25:15.91
Who is the one that works in us?
00:25:15.94\00:25:18.05
Come on talk to me, who
is the one that works in us?
00:25:18.08\00:25:19.78
The Holy Spirit. Okay, right.
00:25:19.81\00:25:21.48
The Holy Spirit,
right. To do what?
00:25:21.52\00:25:22.98
To keep us pure
00:25:23.02\00:25:24.79
but we have to make the decision
00:25:24.82\00:25:26.25
that we want to remain
pure as Christ has made us pure.
00:25:26.29\00:25:30.66
Question number two,
here it is on the screen.
00:25:30.69\00:25:33.29
"How does the Bible show
00:25:33.33\00:25:35.36
that choosing to walk in
Christ is our only hope?"
00:25:35.40\00:25:40.70
Romans 8:3, "How
does the Bible show
00:25:40.74\00:25:43.77
that choosing to walk in
Christ is our only hope?"
00:25:43.81\00:25:49.48
All right? Here's the answer.
00:25:49.51\00:25:52.58
This is a very powerful text
00:25:52.61\00:25:53.95
and I will break it
down in just a moment
00:25:53.98\00:25:55.32
but here's the answer.
00:25:55.35\00:25:56.69
Romans 8:3, "For
what the law could not do
00:25:56.72\00:26:00.96
in that it was
weak through the" what?
00:26:00.99\00:26:04.43
"Flesh, God did by
sending His own Son
00:26:04.46\00:26:08.50
in the likeness of sinful flesh,
00:26:08.53\00:26:11.10
on account of sin,
He condemned" what?
00:26:11.13\00:26:15.10
"Sin in the flesh."
So here's the answer.
00:26:15.14\00:26:17.41
"How does the Bible show
00:26:17.44\00:26:19.21
that choosing to walk in
Christ is our only hope?"
00:26:19.24\00:26:22.54
If you go back to
that, where is the weakness,
00:26:22.58\00:26:26.35
according to this
passage where is the weakness?
00:26:26.38\00:26:28.65
Flesh. In the flesh.
00:26:28.68\00:26:30.62
So the answer is,
if you put the answer
00:26:30.65\00:26:33.56
"How does the Bible show
00:26:33.59\00:26:34.92
that choosing to walk in
Christ is our only hope?"
00:26:34.96\00:26:36.69
Our flesh is
weak. Our flesh is weak.
00:26:36.73\00:26:40.70
But I want to get this part now
00:26:40.73\00:26:42.26
when the Lord, when Jesus came
00:26:42.30\00:26:45.07
He came on account of sin
00:26:45.10\00:26:47.04
and He condemned
sin in the flesh.
00:26:47.07\00:26:50.11
Let's break that down.
00:26:50.14\00:26:51.87
He became like Jerry.
00:26:51.91\00:26:53.91
He became like Glen.
00:26:53.94\00:26:55.61
He became like Angela.
00:26:55.64\00:26:57.41
He became like all of us.
00:26:57.45\00:27:00.05
He came to face
sin in the same flesh
00:27:00.08\00:27:02.45
that everyone of us face sin in
00:27:02.48\00:27:04.19
and He showed us by
relying on His heavenly Father
00:27:04.22\00:27:06.69
that it is
possible to be victorious
00:27:06.72\00:27:09.09
over the temptations of sin.
00:27:09.12\00:27:10.96
Right?
00:27:10.99\00:27:12.36
Right? Amen. Yes.
00:27:17.23\00:27:20.54
I mean, praise the Lord.
00:27:20.57\00:27:22.57
He shows us it is possible.
00:27:22.60\00:27:24.97
Because there is no
temptation that overtakes you
00:27:25.01\00:27:29.14
but such as is common to man.
00:27:29.18\00:27:31.31
But God is faithful
00:27:31.35\00:27:33.62
who will not
allow you to be tempted
00:27:33.65\00:27:36.25
beyond what you are able.
00:27:36.28\00:27:37.69
Go with me to 1
Corinthians 10:31,
00:27:37.72\00:27:39.92
here's the reason
why some of us say,
00:27:39.95\00:27:41.96
I remember years ago,
and I said this before
00:27:41.99\00:27:43.96
and some of you guys are
too young to remember this
00:27:43.99\00:27:45.63
and that's okay, but
I'm gonna say it anyway.
00:27:45.66\00:27:47.26
So people say,
well, I couldn't resist.
00:27:47.30\00:27:50.47
Well, that's not true.
00:27:50.50\00:27:53.27
Thank you, Honey.
00:27:53.30\00:27:54.64
Some people say the
devil made me do it.
00:27:54.67\00:27:56.30
Like that old
character Flip Wilson
00:27:56.34\00:27:58.01
but then again no
running about Flip Wilson
00:27:58.04\00:27:59.47
because some of you are
too young to know who that is.
00:27:59.51\00:28:01.58
Okay.
00:28:01.61\00:28:05.15
Is there a temptation
that we cannot resist?
00:28:05.18\00:28:08.05
Yes or no?
00:28:08.08\00:28:09.42
You guys think this
is the trick question.
00:28:13.25\00:28:16.12
Is there a temptation
that cannot be overcome?
00:28:16.16\00:28:22.03
Let's read the
passage since you guys think
00:28:22.06\00:28:24.50
I'm trying to set you up.
00:28:24.53\00:28:27.54
1 Corinthians 10:13,
what are the first two words?
00:28:27.57\00:28:32.34
1 Corinthians 10:13,
what are the first two words?
00:28:32.37\00:28:36.28
No temptation. Say it again.
00:28:36.31\00:28:37.68
No temptation.
00:28:37.71\00:28:39.05
Let me ask you the question,
is there any temptation
00:28:39.08\00:28:40.72
that we cannot
overcome through Christ?
00:28:40.75\00:28:42.58
No.
00:28:42.62\00:28:43.95
So what's the
answer? No temptation.
00:28:43.99\00:28:45.92
So can we overcome
temptations through Christ?
00:28:45.95\00:28:48.46
Yes. Let's read that again.
00:28:48.49\00:28:50.43
"No temptation has overtaken you
00:28:50.46\00:28:53.06
except such as
is common to man,"
00:28:53.09\00:28:56.36
which means everybody
is going through that.
00:28:56.40\00:28:58.20
Somebody is going
through the same thing
00:28:58.23\00:28:59.70
you've gone through.
00:28:59.73\00:29:01.87
But now look at the transition.
00:29:01.90\00:29:03.24
"But God is faithful,
who will not allow you
00:29:03.27\00:29:07.74
to be tempted
beyond what you are able."
00:29:07.78\00:29:11.51
Isn't that fair?
00:29:11.55\00:29:13.28
"But with the temptation
00:29:13.31\00:29:15.78
will also make
the way" to do what?
00:29:15.82\00:29:18.45
"Escape, that you
may be able to" what?
00:29:18.49\00:29:21.82
"To bear it."
00:29:21.86\00:29:23.29
he is a faithful
Lord, what do you say?
00:29:23.32\00:29:25.53
Amen.
00:29:25.56\00:29:26.90
So when
temptation comes your way,
00:29:26.93\00:29:28.50
now here's where
the problem comes in.
00:29:28.53\00:29:31.63
some people have pet sins,
some people have darling sin.
00:29:31.67\00:29:35.77
Some people wink at their sin.
00:29:35.80\00:29:39.37
Some people glare at it.
00:29:39.41\00:29:42.58
Some people oh, oh,
that smells so good.
00:29:42.61\00:29:46.92
Right now I'm getting weak.
00:29:46.95\00:29:50.02
You know, you have
those, really, I mean,
00:29:50.05\00:29:52.25
if the
temptation is food, really.
00:29:52.29\00:29:54.06
You think about a person
who is trying to be victorious
00:29:54.09\00:29:56.52
in that area if
the temptation is food,
00:29:56.56\00:29:58.39
sometimes the
very aroma of a food
00:29:58.43\00:30:00.40
can really get the best of them.
00:30:00.43\00:30:02.43
Somebody-- somebody
could smell a cigarette,
00:30:02.46\00:30:05.60
oh, that's the, that's
the brand I used to smoke.
00:30:05.63\00:30:11.54
You know, really, I
mean, the temptations come
00:30:11.57\00:30:14.04
in all forms and all sizes.
00:30:14.08\00:30:15.84
Sometimes it's something you see
00:30:15.88\00:30:18.15
and you look too long, right.
00:30:18.18\00:30:21.15
You need to learn
to look away. See.
00:30:21.18\00:30:24.72
Look away. Right, look away.
00:30:24.75\00:30:27.06
David's temptation
was he looked too long.
00:30:27.09\00:30:30.09
Look away.
00:30:30.13\00:30:31.59
The temptation is packaged,
well, let me put it this way.
00:30:31.63\00:30:35.83
Have you noticed
that all the temptations
00:30:35.86\00:30:37.53
that come your way is
packaged just for you?
00:30:37.57\00:30:41.10
Am I right?
00:30:41.14\00:30:43.24
Sometimes you're
walking down the street
00:30:43.27\00:30:44.97
it's like 89 degrees
00:30:45.01\00:30:47.68
and you see somebody pull
out of a big old ice cooler
00:30:47.71\00:30:52.25
out of a pack of ice,
an old can of beer dripping
00:30:52.28\00:30:55.82
and you know that he said,
00:30:55.85\00:30:57.62
and he puts that all
himself to cool himself down
00:30:57.65\00:30:59.92
and he pops it and you
think, right about now.
00:30:59.95\00:31:05.26
You think of your
former habit of drinking beer
00:31:05.29\00:31:07.30
and you think, right now
that old nature is crying out.
00:31:07.33\00:31:11.57
Go get one. Just one.
00:31:11.60\00:31:15.17
You know, that's
what sin is all about.
00:31:15.20\00:31:17.71
However, the Lord is saying,
00:31:17.74\00:31:19.31
"Wait a minute.
There is no excuse, Jessy.
00:31:19.34\00:31:21.48
Jerry, because I'm not
gonna allow any temptation
00:31:21.51\00:31:23.95
to come your way
00:31:23.98\00:31:26.18
that is greater than
your ability to resist it."
00:31:26.21\00:31:31.42
Because God is
faithful. Praise God for that.
00:31:31.45\00:31:35.46
So when you say that, "Ah, man."
00:31:35.49\00:31:37.46
But weren't there.
00:31:37.49\00:31:38.83
I mean, you don't know
how this temptation was.
00:31:38.86\00:31:40.70
Somebody mentioned a moment ago
00:31:40.73\00:31:42.06
sometimes you just got to run.
00:31:42.10\00:31:44.07
You can't even--
00:31:44.10\00:31:45.43
I like that Elijah ran
00:31:45.47\00:31:48.34
but he ran for the wrong reason.
00:31:48.37\00:31:50.01
He ran because he
was afraid of Jezebel.
00:31:50.04\00:31:52.57
But he ran. I
mean, at least he ran.
00:31:52.61\00:31:57.11
He said I'm not gonna face that.
00:31:57.15\00:31:58.95
I mean, I'm not, I
can't face that woman
00:31:58.98\00:32:01.78
so I'm gonna run.
00:32:01.82\00:32:03.15
Sometimes if you don't
know what to do, brethren,
00:32:03.18\00:32:05.65
it's best to run.
00:32:05.69\00:32:07.09
Run away.
00:32:07.12\00:32:08.46
Don't stand and say, okay,
now should I or should I not
00:32:08.49\00:32:10.63
because your mind is
gonna get the best of you
00:32:10.66\00:32:12.46
and before you know it,
you are gonna be a lot closer
00:32:12.49\00:32:14.40
to falling into that temptation
00:32:14.43\00:32:16.43
than you would be
to overcoming that.
00:32:16.46\00:32:18.77
Look at Romans 8:1,
00:32:18.80\00:32:20.14
question number
three, Romans 8:1.
00:32:20.17\00:32:24.11
Thank the Lord
for His faithfulness.
00:32:24.14\00:32:26.01
Here's the question.
00:32:26.04\00:32:27.38
"Through what
action do we experience
00:32:27.41\00:32:30.41
living above defeat?"
00:32:30.45\00:32:34.02
Okay, defeat.
00:32:34.05\00:32:35.72
"The thrill of victory
but the agony of," what?
00:32:41.46\00:32:43.53
"Defeat."
00:32:43.56\00:32:45.43
"The thrill of victory
but the agony of defeat."
00:32:45.46\00:32:48.13
Okay, through what action?
00:32:48.16\00:32:52.23
Romans 8:1 here it is.
00:32:52.27\00:32:55.47
"There is therefore"
what's the next word?
00:32:55.50\00:32:59.41
"now no condemnation to those
00:32:59.44\00:33:03.65
who are in Christ Jesus,
00:33:03.68\00:33:06.85
who do not walk
according to the flesh,
00:33:06.88\00:33:09.68
but according to the" what?
00:33:09.72\00:33:11.05
"Spirit."
00:33:11.09\00:33:12.42
Now how do you learn
00:33:12.45\00:33:13.79
how to walk
according to the spirit?
00:33:13.82\00:33:15.16
You know, how do you
learn? By reading your Bible.
00:33:15.19\00:33:17.46
Do you know that?
00:33:17.49\00:33:18.83
The Spirit inspired
men of holy character
00:33:18.86\00:33:22.80
to write this Bible.
00:33:22.83\00:33:24.40
If you want to
learn how to walk,
00:33:24.43\00:33:26.00
it's just like asking a
pilot how do you want to learn,
00:33:26.03\00:33:29.00
how would you learn how
to get your destination.
00:33:29.04\00:33:31.54
They will open their maps.
00:33:31.57\00:33:33.17
It's like
asking a trailer driver
00:33:33.21\00:33:34.78
or truck driver or
person on the road,
00:33:34.81\00:33:36.54
you need something to navigate?
00:33:36.58\00:33:38.41
Every one of us need
direction in our lives.
00:33:38.45\00:33:40.82
We get our daily direction,
00:33:40.85\00:33:42.18
our daily food
from the Word of God.
00:33:42.22\00:33:43.75
Do we not?
00:33:43.79\00:33:45.12
And that's a
source of our strength.
00:33:45.15\00:33:46.49
If we don't get
our daily strength
00:33:46.52\00:33:47.92
from the Word of God then
we are trying to navigate,
00:33:47.96\00:33:50.63
we are trying to navigate
the temptations of this world
00:33:50.66\00:33:53.29
with our own mindset.
00:33:53.33\00:33:56.10
And, brethren,
if the flesh is weak
00:33:56.13\00:33:58.60
is the mind also weak?
00:33:58.63\00:34:00.30
Yes.
00:34:00.34\00:34:01.84
Because the mind and
the flesh are inseparable.
00:34:01.87\00:34:04.94
The flesh is weak,
the flesh cannot do
00:34:04.97\00:34:07.78
what the mind is not
able to direct it to do.
00:34:07.81\00:34:10.45
But now how do
you break that cycle?
00:34:10.48\00:34:12.71
How does that mind
of Christ get into you?
00:34:12.75\00:34:16.48
How do you
strengthen your faith?
00:34:16.52\00:34:18.35
"Faith comes by hearing,
hearing by the Word of God."
00:34:18.39\00:34:22.19
Romans 10:17.
00:34:22.22\00:34:23.56
So let's gets to
the basic aspects of it.
00:34:23.59\00:34:25.49
Do you ready
your Bible every day?
00:34:25.53\00:34:26.86
Yeah.
00:34:26.90\00:34:28.23
Ask-- don't ask-- I
mean, think about it.
00:34:28.26\00:34:32.00
You got to read
the Bible, the more--
00:34:32.03\00:34:33.40
Sixty times. Praise the Lord.
00:34:33.44\00:34:35.54
You read it.
00:34:35.57\00:34:36.91
The more you stay
in the Word of God
00:34:36.94\00:34:38.27
the more spiritual
food you are going to get.
00:34:38.31\00:34:40.14
Now here's the key.
00:34:40.18\00:34:41.51
If you are getting
more spiritual food
00:34:41.54\00:34:42.88
then there is less
space for carnal food
00:34:42.91\00:34:46.35
or natural food or worldly food
00:34:46.38\00:34:50.15
because you got to put
something in your cabin.
00:34:50.19\00:34:52.02
Let's think about that,
you go home in your kitchen
00:34:52.05\00:34:53.79
and you open up your cabinets.
00:34:53.82\00:34:55.59
Just as you put
stuff in your cabinets
00:34:55.62\00:34:57.39
in your kitchen,
00:34:57.43\00:34:58.76
you put things in the
cabinets of your mind.
00:34:58.79\00:35:01.33
You put them there.
00:35:01.36\00:35:02.70
Now sometimes,
00:35:02.73\00:35:05.37
sometimes I go in the kitchen
00:35:05.40\00:35:06.74
I put things where my
wife doesn't normally put them
00:35:06.77\00:35:10.17
and she said, "Now
how did that get there?
00:35:10.21\00:35:12.47
I didn't put it there."
00:35:12.51\00:35:13.84
I said, "Honey,
somebody broke in
00:35:13.88\00:35:15.51
and put it there."
00:35:15.54\00:35:17.91
Now she knows I'm joking.
00:35:17.95\00:35:21.15
She said, she looks at
me, when she is got me,
00:35:21.18\00:35:23.79
when she got me.
00:35:23.82\00:35:25.62
"Now I didn't put it
there how did it get there?"
00:35:25.65\00:35:29.22
Pardon me.
00:35:29.26\00:35:31.89
There's only one other answer.
00:35:31.93\00:35:33.40
Here's my point,
00:35:33.43\00:35:34.76
nothing is
gonna get in your mind
00:35:34.80\00:35:36.13
unless you put it there.
00:35:36.16\00:35:41.07
Everything that you decide
00:35:41.10\00:35:43.20
to allow in, you
decide to allow in.
00:35:43.24\00:35:47.94
Everything that you
load up in your brain,
00:35:47.98\00:35:50.78
you load up in your brain.
00:35:50.81\00:35:52.58
Everything you expose yourself
to, you expose yourself too.
00:35:52.61\00:35:57.69
Temptation doesn't run
after us and jump on our backs.
00:35:57.72\00:36:01.76
It's just that, it's temptation.
00:36:01.79\00:36:03.63
But it's not sin.
00:36:03.66\00:36:04.99
We decide whether or not
it's gonna have access to us.
00:36:05.03\00:36:07.50
But if you at the
text here it says,
00:36:07.53\00:36:10.07
"There is no
condemnation to those
00:36:10.10\00:36:12.70
who are in Christ Jesus,
because they make a decision
00:36:12.73\00:36:15.60
not to walk
according to the flesh,
00:36:15.64\00:36:17.41
but according to the Spirit."
00:36:17.44\00:36:18.77
And you know what,
00:36:18.81\00:36:20.24
there is no time in your life
00:36:20.28\00:36:21.61
that's more realistic than after
00:36:21.64\00:36:22.98
you first give
your life to Christ.
00:36:23.01\00:36:24.35
Have you noticed that?
00:36:24.38\00:36:25.71
When you first
give your life to Christ
00:36:25.75\00:36:27.55
your sensibilities against sin
00:36:27.58\00:36:29.65
is heightened more
than than ever before.
00:36:29.68\00:36:32.12
Because you say,
"I just got baptized."
00:36:32.15\00:36:35.22
and you are
geared up and ready to go
00:36:35.26\00:36:38.33
and to live
that victorious life.
00:36:38.36\00:36:40.10
But here's the danger.
00:36:40.13\00:36:41.46
As times goes on
00:36:41.50\00:36:42.83
one of the dangers
of being a Christian
00:36:42.86\00:36:44.30
for long period of time
00:36:44.33\00:36:46.17
is that if you don't allow
yourself to continue to grow
00:36:46.20\00:36:49.00
and you begin to
rely on experience
00:36:49.04\00:36:50.64
of five years
ago or ten years ago
00:36:50.67\00:36:52.14
or fifteen
years ago and you say,
00:36:52.17\00:36:54.84
"Man, I used to be
so excited about church
00:36:54.88\00:36:58.11
but right now I
could take it or leave it.
00:36:58.15\00:37:00.68
I used to be-- I
mean, every place I went
00:37:00.72\00:37:02.35
I went I used to carry my Bible
00:37:02.38\00:37:03.75
but right now I
could take it or leave it."
00:37:03.79\00:37:06.35
And what even gets
me is when people say,
00:37:06.39\00:37:08.02
"Have you seen my Bible?"
00:37:08.06\00:37:10.39
Do you know that
we have in our lost
00:37:10.43\00:37:11.76
and found room
in our church Bibles
00:37:11.79\00:37:14.16
that nobody has
come back to claim?
00:37:14.20\00:37:16.73
Do you know that every Sabbath
we find a Bible in this church
00:37:16.77\00:37:19.87
and people don't
come back and say,
00:37:19.90\00:37:21.24
"Have you found my Bible?"
00:37:21.27\00:37:23.00
You know that means
there is somebody out there
00:37:23.04\00:37:25.11
without a Bible
and nothing going,
00:37:25.14\00:37:27.28
and that is the Word of
God is not going in their head
00:37:27.31\00:37:29.54
because their Bible is here
and they are somewhere else.
00:37:29.58\00:37:32.68
But when people first
give their lives to Christ
00:37:32.71\00:37:34.45
there's nothing that could get
between them and their Bible.
00:37:34.48\00:37:37.39
They get the new
Bible with their name on it.
00:37:37.42\00:37:38.92
Got to get your
Bible with the name on it.
00:37:38.95\00:37:41.72
Nothing gets between
them and that new Bible.
00:37:41.76\00:37:43.49
They are so happy
they turn those pages
00:37:43.53\00:37:45.53
and they make that dedication.
00:37:45.56\00:37:46.90
"Lord Jesus, I'm gonna spend
time in the Word every day."
00:37:46.93\00:37:51.37
And will power
allows them to carry that on
00:37:51.40\00:37:54.34
and even dedication
and commitment to Christ
00:37:54.37\00:37:56.14
allows that commitment
to go on and on and on.
00:37:56.17\00:37:59.37
Something comes along
00:37:59.41\00:38:00.74
and begins to
freeze out your time.
00:38:00.78\00:38:02.11
And by the way, it
doesn't have to be something bad
00:38:02.14\00:38:04.05
that freezes Christ out.
00:38:04.08\00:38:05.95
Because I know there
are people here work at 3ABN
00:38:05.98\00:38:08.75
and sometimes they
say, "I'm so worn out.
00:38:08.78\00:38:12.75
I mean, when I leave home
I'm still doing work for 3ABN.
00:38:12.79\00:38:15.36
I'm still working on,
I'm reading a project.
00:38:15.39\00:38:17.03
I'm doing this."
00:38:17.06\00:38:20.33
And they realize, man,
I'm so exhausted. I'm weak.
00:38:20.36\00:38:23.53
And I said, what happened?
00:38:23.57\00:38:26.00
This whole week has gone
and I read my Bible once.
00:38:26.03\00:38:29.07
And you know what, they
are doing the Lord's work
00:38:29.10\00:38:31.87
but they are not allowing
Christ to work in them, right.
00:38:31.91\00:38:36.54
So the condemnation is removed
00:38:36.58\00:38:39.68
when we are
walking in Christ Jesus.
00:38:39.71\00:38:42.62
When we are
living in Christ Jesus
00:38:42.65\00:38:44.75
when the flesh
is not in control.
00:38:44.79\00:38:46.65
So here's the answer.
00:38:46.69\00:38:48.02
Through what
action do we experience
00:38:48.06\00:38:49.72
living above defeat?"
00:38:49.76\00:38:51.26
What is the action?
What is the answer to that?
00:38:51.29\00:38:54.70
When we walk
according to the spirit,
00:38:54.73\00:38:58.07
when we walk
according to the spirit.
00:38:58.10\00:39:01.04
How do you do
that? You read the Bible.
00:39:01.07\00:39:04.84
That's how you do
it. You read the Bible.
00:39:04.87\00:39:07.41
Go with me to Colossians
I want you to see this one.
00:39:07.44\00:39:10.35
You read the Bible,
after you put the answer
00:39:10.38\00:39:11.71
go with me to
Colossians 3, Colossians 3.
00:39:11.75\00:39:15.08
Let me get there.
00:39:15.12\00:39:18.92
And we are gonna
read verses 5 to verse 8.
00:39:18.95\00:39:22.56
This is an action verse.
00:39:22.59\00:39:24.69
What's it
called? What's it called?
00:39:24.73\00:39:27.90
Action verse.
00:39:27.93\00:39:29.26
You are quiet bunch tonight.
00:39:29.30\00:39:30.63
What's it called? Action verse.
00:39:30.67\00:39:32.00
Action verse, which
means this is the action
00:39:32.03\00:39:35.37
that you've got to take, okay.
00:39:35.40\00:39:37.77
Colossians 3:5-8.
00:39:37.81\00:39:40.31
And you will notice
the wording in there
00:39:40.34\00:39:42.74
is actions you have to take.
00:39:42.78\00:39:45.15
All right.
00:39:45.18\00:39:48.65
"Therefore"
what's the first action?
00:39:48.68\00:39:51.95
Put to death.
00:39:51.99\00:39:53.32
"Put to death your members"
not your church members.
00:39:53.36\00:39:59.63
But your fingers, your hands,
00:39:59.66\00:40:01.20
you eyes, your
mind, your tongue,
00:40:01.23\00:40:03.60
all those members that
are like instruments of sin.
00:40:03.63\00:40:07.24
Some people have fast tongues
00:40:07.27\00:40:09.54
and they will tell
you off in a heartbeat.
00:40:09.57\00:40:11.74
You could see
their tongues forming.
00:40:11.77\00:40:13.84
Before you even finish
your sentence, they go.
00:40:13.88\00:40:17.15
They are waiting like
fire breathing dragons.
00:40:17.18\00:40:19.51
Am I telling the truth?
00:40:19.55\00:40:21.12
And there are some
people you could see their
00:40:21.15\00:40:22.48
body languages all
huffed up and ready to go.
00:40:22.52\00:40:25.02
So Lord is saying to you,
00:40:25.05\00:40:26.45
for those of you who
are always ready to fight
00:40:26.49\00:40:28.82
"Put to death your
members which are on the earth."
00:40:28.86\00:40:33.23
Look at these members.
00:40:33.26\00:40:34.60
Look at these things that war
against our spiritual growth.
00:40:34.63\00:40:38.60
"Fornication,
uncleanness, passion,"
00:40:38.63\00:40:43.44
and that's a huge
issue of passions.
00:40:43.47\00:40:46.17
Sexual passions,
financial passions,
00:40:46.21\00:40:48.64
passions for power.
00:40:48.68\00:40:50.25
Here's the next one
"Evil desire, and covetousness,
00:40:50.28\00:40:54.78
which is" what?
00:40:54.82\00:40:56.15
"Idolatry.
00:40:56.18\00:40:57.62
Because of these things
00:40:57.65\00:40:59.45
the wrath of God is
coming upon the sons of" what?
00:40:59.49\00:41:03.46
"Disobedience."
00:41:03.49\00:41:06.33
Well, verse 7,
00:41:06.36\00:41:08.36
"In which you
yourselves once walked
00:41:08.40\00:41:11.90
when you lived in them."
00:41:11.93\00:41:13.84
That's how you used to walk,
00:41:13.87\00:41:15.20
when you live in
them, that's how you walk.
00:41:15.24\00:41:17.01
But here's the action, verse 8.
00:41:17.04\00:41:19.31
"But now you
yourselves are to" do what?
00:41:19.34\00:41:22.84
"Put off all these,
anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy,
00:41:22.88\00:41:29.78
and filthy
language out of your mouth."
00:41:29.82\00:41:32.25
Action words. So get
rid of all that stuff.
00:41:32.29\00:41:36.39
Those are the things.
00:41:36.42\00:41:37.76
So when you want to say,
00:41:37.79\00:41:39.13
"Now, okay, Lord,
what do You want me to do?"
00:41:39.16\00:41:41.00
Read the Bible and the
instructions are there.
00:41:41.03\00:41:42.80
Am I right? Amen.
00:41:42.83\00:41:44.17
The Bible will tell
you what you need to do.
00:41:44.20\00:41:47.10
But you will know that
when you are living in Christ,
00:41:47.14\00:41:50.04
there is nothing
that's gonna condemn you
00:41:50.07\00:41:51.64
because you are not walking
according to these things,
00:41:51.67\00:41:53.71
you are walking according
00:41:53.74\00:41:55.08
to the leading of
the Spirit of God, right.
00:41:55.11\00:41:57.08
Look at question number four.
00:41:57.11\00:41:58.85
Is it question number four?
00:41:58.88\00:42:00.92
Yes, it is,
question number four.
00:42:00.95\00:42:02.82
Okay, here it is.
00:42:02.85\00:42:05.99
"How does the Holy Spirit
aid in our daily victories?"
00:42:06.02\00:42:11.33
"How does the Holy Spirit
aid in our daily victories?"
00:42:11.36\00:42:17.13
Galatians 5:16.
00:42:17.17\00:42:20.64
"How does the Holy Spirit
aid in our daily victories?"
00:42:20.67\00:42:23.61
I'll say,
confidence and happiness.
00:42:23.64\00:42:27.34
Okay, confidence and happiness.
00:42:27.38\00:42:29.01
Yes, those are
the things that we get
00:42:29.04\00:42:31.65
by allowing the Spirit
of God to work in our lives
00:42:31.68\00:42:34.45
but notice what happens.
00:42:34.48\00:42:36.28
How does He aid,
here's the answer.
00:42:36.32\00:42:39.05
Galatians 5:16, "I say
then" read that with me
00:42:39.09\00:42:44.13
"Walk in the Spirit,
00:42:44.16\00:42:45.96
and you shall not
fulfill the lust of the flesh."
00:42:45.99\00:42:50.67
Now let me break
here for a brief moment
00:42:50.70\00:42:52.20
because you've heard that phrase
00:42:52.23\00:42:53.57
walk in the spirit so
much you're probably thinking,
00:42:53.60\00:42:55.87
okay, I got it.
00:42:55.90\00:42:57.77
Let me make sure
you got it, all right.
00:42:57.81\00:43:00.68
Let me make sure you got it.
00:43:00.71\00:43:03.68
If you're walking in a
mall would you know it?
00:43:03.71\00:43:07.35
Come on somebody answer me.
00:43:07.38\00:43:08.72
If you are walking in
the mall would you know it?
00:43:08.75\00:43:10.09
Yes. How would you know it?
00:43:10.12\00:43:12.29
Come on talk to me.
Ho would you know it?
00:43:12.32\00:43:14.69
The store is all
around you, right.
00:43:14.72\00:43:16.99
Store is calling
in every direction,
00:43:17.03\00:43:19.19
buy this, buy
that, buy this, buy that.
00:43:19.23\00:43:22.56
Do you need
that? Do you need this?
00:43:22.60\00:43:24.07
"Could I have a
survey with you sir."
00:43:24.10\00:43:25.47
"Ma'am, let me tell you
about this new product."
00:43:25.50\00:43:27.10
It's all around you.
00:43:27.14\00:43:28.47
The voices are
calling all around you.
00:43:28.50\00:43:29.90
You know you are
walking in the mall.
00:43:29.94\00:43:32.11
If you're walking in a farm
with cows, would you know it?
00:43:32.14\00:43:36.44
Come on talk, would you know it?
00:43:36.48\00:43:37.81
Yes. Why?
00:43:37.85\00:43:39.18
Because there is scent.
00:43:39.21\00:43:40.85
The scent is everywhere.
00:43:40.88\00:43:42.42
Every now and
then in Thompsonville
00:43:42.45\00:43:43.82
the east wind blows and we say
00:43:43.85\00:43:46.92
there is a farm
not too far away.
00:43:46.96\00:43:49.96
Don't you know that? Yes.
00:43:49.99\00:43:51.36
So you know you
are walking in the area
00:43:51.39\00:43:52.83
where there is a farm
because the scent tells you.
00:43:52.86\00:43:57.07
Your very-- the very atmosphere
00:43:57.10\00:43:59.73
that is
surrounding you will tell you
00:43:59.77\00:44:02.30
how are you walking.
00:44:02.34\00:44:04.17
If you are walking and
you have a spiritual mindset
00:44:04.21\00:44:07.41
and you are living,
feeling like praise God--
00:44:07.44\00:44:10.91
you know, I meet
some people some days
00:44:10.95\00:44:12.51
and they would
say, they walk out to me
00:44:12.55\00:44:13.88
and other people that
are in the natural will say
00:44:13.92\00:44:16.72
"What are they talking about?"
00:44:16.75\00:44:18.79
They say, "You
know, I had such a time,
00:44:18.82\00:44:21.06
just me and Jesus today."
00:44:21.09\00:44:23.69
It was ah,
00:44:23.73\00:44:25.36
"I can't even
express what it was like."
00:44:25.39\00:44:27.86
"I opened my Bible this morning
00:44:27.90\00:44:29.63
and I intended
to read one chapter
00:44:29.66\00:44:31.10
and before you know
it, three hours passed by
00:44:31.13\00:44:33.94
and what a day I had in Jesus."
00:44:33.97\00:44:36.97
"It felt so good."
00:44:37.01\00:44:39.51
And you look at
people like that sometimes,
00:44:39.54\00:44:43.04
so what did you feel?
00:44:43.08\00:44:44.45
You know, brethren,
00:44:44.48\00:44:45.81
when you are
walking in Christ-- Joy.
00:44:45.85\00:44:48.82
Joy, this sense
of being on earth
00:44:48.85\00:44:51.89
but at the same
time being in heaven.
00:44:51.92\00:44:54.79
This sense of, this spiritual
fulfillment that is so rich
00:44:54.82\00:45:00.56
that if you could
cut it up and slice it up
00:45:00.60\00:45:02.40
and give a person
around you a slice of that
00:45:02.43\00:45:05.00
there will be enough of that
to go around the entire room.
00:45:05.03\00:45:07.84
What that means in essence,
00:45:07.87\00:45:09.20
you've got to
create for yourself
00:45:09.24\00:45:10.64
a spiritual atmosphere.
00:45:10.67\00:45:12.84
You've got to create,
my cousin down in Atlanta,
00:45:12.87\00:45:19.68
she's an evolving Christian
and I'm using that phrase.
00:45:19.71\00:45:21.38
Everyone of us an
evolving Christian.
00:45:21.42\00:45:22.95
We grow in our relationship.
00:45:22.98\00:45:25.05
But she wants to do her best.
00:45:25.09\00:45:26.42
So she, the moment
people walk into her house
00:45:26.45\00:45:29.52
right at the front door
there's a picture of Christ.
00:45:29.56\00:45:32.63
She covered off all
her worldly pictures
00:45:32.66\00:45:34.43
and now on wall
there is pictures of Jesus.
00:45:34.46\00:45:36.63
In the bathroom there
is a picture of Christ.
00:45:36.67\00:45:38.93
There is a Bible memory
verse over the kitchen table.
00:45:38.97\00:45:42.44
When you go up
the steps on the wall
00:45:42.47\00:45:43.81
there are Bible memory verses.
00:45:43.84\00:45:45.17
She says, I want people to know
that Jesus lives in my house.
00:45:45.21\00:45:48.64
Says it with attitude.
00:45:48.68\00:45:50.01
"I want people to know that
when they are coming in here,
00:45:50.05\00:45:51.45
there is a
Christian living in here.
00:45:51.48\00:45:52.81
You know, what
I'm saying, child."
00:45:52.85\00:45:54.18
I mean, she's getting
all into her attitude.
00:45:54.22\00:45:55.85
She is in that spirit.
00:45:55.88\00:45:57.22
She wants people to
know, she is unashamed.
00:45:57.25\00:45:59.09
That's why Paul
says in Romans 1,
00:45:59.12\00:46:01.69
He says, "I am not
ashamed of the gospel
00:46:01.72\00:46:04.13
for it is the power
of Christ unto salvation
00:46:04.16\00:46:07.36
for all those who believe."
00:46:07.40\00:46:09.50
So, brethren, if you are
ashamed of the Christianity,
00:46:09.53\00:46:11.30
one of the
things about the world
00:46:11.33\00:46:12.67
is the world is not
ashamed of its worldliness.
00:46:12.70\00:46:14.64
Right, have you noticed that?
00:46:14.67\00:46:16.44
You go to the
mall, you hear songs
00:46:16.47\00:46:17.81
that you don't agree with.
00:46:17.84\00:46:19.17
You think about
lifestyles in the world
00:46:19.21\00:46:21.11
you don't agree with that
but there is a clarion call,
00:46:21.14\00:46:23.78
there is almost
a cacophony of evil
00:46:23.81\00:46:25.28
that's being
heard all around us.
00:46:25.31\00:46:27.22
Yet, in the midst
of all this corruption
00:46:27.25\00:46:29.25
God, is an essence,
saying to the Christian.
00:46:29.28\00:46:30.85
You know what, you ought
to walk like a Christian.
00:46:30.89\00:46:33.15
You ought to
live like a Christian.
00:46:33.19\00:46:34.89
And live godly,
soberly and righteously
00:46:34.92\00:46:38.36
in this present age and
don't apologize about it.
00:46:38.39\00:46:41.56
Amen.
00:46:41.60\00:46:45.37
People that are
blowing smoke on your face
00:46:45.40\00:46:47.90
don't apologize about it.
00:46:47.94\00:46:49.60
People that try
to destroy your car
00:46:49.64\00:46:51.94
with all the base
in their car behind you
00:46:51.97\00:46:54.11
they are not ashamed about it.
00:46:54.14\00:46:57.05
So we got to live,
walk in the spirit.
00:46:57.08\00:46:58.98
You've got to create
for yourself an atmosphere.
00:46:59.01\00:47:01.02
You got to, you have to
strategically plan your day
00:47:01.05\00:47:05.15
so that when you
wake up in the morning
00:47:05.19\00:47:08.62
you can get that first
spiritual shot on the arm.
00:47:08.66\00:47:12.09
So that you can fill yourself
00:47:12.13\00:47:13.46
and make sure that
your mind is filled.
00:47:13.50\00:47:14.86
I have a devotional
that I have in my iPad.
00:47:14.90\00:47:18.13
And it's nice
it's "Our High Calling"
00:47:18.17\00:47:20.50
it's one that Ellen White wrote.
00:47:20.54\00:47:22.20
And I've read that
two or three times before
00:47:22.24\00:47:24.87
but now I'm reading it slowly.
00:47:24.91\00:47:27.11
You know, you go back
to a book the third time
00:47:27.14\00:47:29.04
and you read it slowly.
00:47:29.08\00:47:30.61
It's like going
through a bag of mixed peanuts
00:47:30.65\00:47:33.31
and this time you are
looking just for the cashews.
00:47:33.35\00:47:35.55
Have you noticed that?
00:47:35.58\00:47:36.92
Oh, there is one.
00:47:36.95\00:47:39.15
My mother always used to say,
"Take a handful, don't dig in."
00:47:39.19\00:47:42.79
Sometimes you got to open
that bag of spiritual mixed nuts
00:47:42.82\00:47:46.36
and pull out the
good things and say,
00:47:46.39\00:47:48.16
"Ah, I never tasted
it that way before."
00:47:48.20\00:47:51.70
When you have that kind
of daily walk with Christ
00:47:51.73\00:47:53.90
you are gonna
walk out on the world
00:47:53.94\00:47:55.27
and you can go
out there so fortified
00:47:55.30\00:47:57.61
that sin is just
ricocheting off of you.
00:47:57.64\00:48:00.94
Nothing's bothering you.
00:48:00.98\00:48:02.98
But, brethren,
you will never know
00:48:03.01\00:48:04.35
unless you begin to live
your Christian life on purpose
00:48:04.38\00:48:07.88
because there is a
saying that is very, very true.
00:48:07.92\00:48:10.29
If you don't, "If you
fail to plan you plan to fail."
00:48:10.32\00:48:15.89
Right. Okay.
00:48:15.92\00:48:18.26
Now where were we?
00:48:18.29\00:48:21.00
"Resist the devil and
he will flee from you."
00:48:21.03\00:48:23.37
But he won't even
want to come around you.
00:48:23.40\00:48:27.20
Remember now before
you resist the devil
00:48:27.24\00:48:28.70
there is a text
that Peter talks about.
00:48:28.74\00:48:30.11
He says, "Draw near to God
and God will draw near to you."
00:48:30.14\00:48:34.08
That's the first part.
00:48:34.11\00:48:35.44
Then "resist the devil
and he will flee from you."
00:48:35.48\00:48:37.38
You got to make a decision
to draw near to God, right.
00:48:37.41\00:48:39.38
Amen.
00:48:39.41\00:48:40.75
If you are living in
the presence of your Father
00:48:40.78\00:48:42.12
the devil don't
want to go there.
00:48:42.15\00:48:43.99
And the other
thing about it, brethren,
00:48:44.02\00:48:45.35
sometimes even the music
00:48:45.39\00:48:46.72
you listen to in
your home, the Bible says
00:48:46.76\00:48:48.46
the "Lord inhabits the
praises of His people."
00:48:48.49\00:48:50.86
If you're feeling down
turn on some Christian music
00:48:50.89\00:48:53.73
and turn the volume up.
00:48:53.76\00:48:57.47
That's if you like it loud.
00:48:57.50\00:49:00.14
Some people like it
low. I like it loud.
00:49:00.17\00:49:03.44
I'm a New Yorker.
00:49:03.47\00:49:06.47
The devil knocks on the door
00:49:06.51\00:49:07.84
and he hears the
music, I'm leaving.
00:49:07.88\00:49:10.95
Don't even open the
door, I'm not coming in.
00:49:10.98\00:49:13.11
That's the way.
You got to create that.
00:49:13.15\00:49:14.55
I mean, you got to
make the devil fearful
00:49:14.58\00:49:15.98
of coming around you.
00:49:16.02\00:49:18.35
Praise God for that.
00:49:18.39\00:49:19.72
You could do that but
Christ will do that in you.
00:49:19.75\00:49:22.06
When Christ is in you
00:49:22.09\00:49:23.43
He not only awakens that desire.
00:49:23.46\00:49:24.83
He says, "Don't you want
to spend the day with Me?"
00:49:24.86\00:49:27.20
Yes, I do, Lord.
00:49:27.23\00:49:28.56
"Okay, well, let's
work this thing out.
00:49:28.60\00:49:30.53
You read my
letter, I'll talk to you.
00:49:30.57\00:49:33.27
Get some of my music,
00:49:33.30\00:49:34.64
these are My spiritual food
00:49:34.67\00:49:36.00
and we will spend
the day together."
00:49:36.04\00:49:37.37
Is that all right. That's great.
00:49:37.41\00:49:38.74
You know, if you
do that every day,
00:49:38.77\00:49:40.11
you come to church on Sabbath.
00:49:40.14\00:49:41.48
You come to church on Sabbath
not to receive but to give.
00:49:41.51\00:49:45.11
And what does that Bible say,
"It is more blessed to" what?
00:49:45.15\00:49:47.72
"Give than to" what? "Receive."
00:49:47.75\00:49:49.85
I'm able when
I'm preaching to tell
00:49:49.88\00:49:51.72
who is spending time
with Christ and who is not.
00:49:51.75\00:49:54.16
Those who are not spending time
00:49:54.19\00:49:55.52
with the Christ are like...
00:49:55.56\00:49:56.89
And when I say, okay,
00:50:04.93\00:50:06.27
I'm getting my last
point I hear those Bibles go...
00:50:06.30\00:50:10.54
They are like-- finally.
00:50:10.57\00:50:13.11
And I'm thinking, you know,
00:50:13.14\00:50:14.48
how you're gonna
make it in the kingdom?
00:50:14.51\00:50:15.84
You want to rush out of here.
00:50:15.88\00:50:17.28
It's like enough of
that spirituals, I got it.
00:50:17.31\00:50:18.81
I got it.
00:50:18.85\00:50:20.18
I understand the
point of the sermon,
00:50:20.22\00:50:21.55
I got it when you started.
00:50:21.58\00:50:22.92
I'm ready to leave.
00:50:22.95\00:50:24.29
Brethren, we got this--
00:50:24.32\00:50:25.65
I mean it.
00:50:25.69\00:50:29.42
I won't fear what my grace.
00:50:29.46\00:50:31.43
Okay, whatever the case maybe
00:50:31.46\00:50:33.36
you got to spend time in
the presence of the Lord.
00:50:33.40\00:50:35.03
You have to be
willing to spend time
00:50:35.06\00:50:36.40
where you are gonna
get that nourishment.
00:50:36.43\00:50:37.77
Praise the Lord for that, right.
00:50:37.80\00:50:39.13
So let the spiritual
things that God puts before you
00:50:39.17\00:50:41.64
thrill your soul
and you will understand
00:50:41.67\00:50:44.07
what it means to
be walking in Christ.
00:50:44.11\00:50:45.97
You will not fulfill
the lust of the flesh
00:50:46.01\00:50:47.84
when you are so in
the spirit that the,
00:50:47.88\00:50:49.91
that the devil does-- you know,
00:50:49.94\00:50:51.28
let's not even
mess with Cynthia today.
00:50:51.31\00:50:53.01
It's just a waste.
00:50:53.05\00:50:54.55
Just not even--
don't bother her today
00:50:54.58\00:50:56.28
because this is not gonna work.
00:50:56.32\00:50:57.65
Angels, try somebody else
00:50:57.69\00:50:59.02
because she is
just like right now,
00:50:59.05\00:51:00.92
don't go near her
00:51:00.96\00:51:02.39
because she is so in Christ
today it's not gonna work.
00:51:02.42\00:51:04.89
That's how you have to
make the devil resist you.
00:51:04.93\00:51:07.86
Resist the devil and
he will flee from you.
00:51:07.90\00:51:09.76
Question number
five, here's another one.
00:51:09.80\00:51:12.57
"Why is it useless to think
00:51:12.60\00:51:14.10
that we can obtain
victory on our own?"
00:51:14.14\00:51:16.60
"Why is it useless to think
00:51:16.64\00:51:18.77
that we can obtain
victory on our own?"
00:51:18.81\00:51:22.64
We cannot.
00:51:22.68\00:51:24.55
Oh, man.
00:51:24.58\00:51:26.55
You know what, I enjoy
this lesson like three times
00:51:26.58\00:51:29.18
before I get it to you
00:51:29.22\00:51:32.02
but here it is Galatians 5:17.
00:51:32.05\00:51:35.56
I want to break
those verses down.
00:51:35.59\00:51:37.09
We read verse 16
00:51:37.13\00:51:38.46
now we are going
to look at verse 17.
00:51:38.49\00:51:39.83
Here's the answer.
00:51:39.86\00:51:41.93
Why is it useless? Here it is.
00:51:41.96\00:51:44.63
"For the flesh
lusts against the" what?
00:51:44.67\00:51:47.70
"Spirit, and the
Spirit against the" what?
00:51:47.74\00:51:50.07
"Flesh, and these are
contrary to one another,
00:51:50.11\00:51:53.38
so that you do not do
the things that you wish."
00:51:53.41\00:51:56.61
So why is it useless to think
00:51:56.64\00:51:59.48
that we can obtain
victory on our own?
00:51:59.51\00:52:02.38
Our sinfulness. Our sinfulness.
00:52:02.42\00:52:05.12
Right. We've got this
nature, it's called mortality.
00:52:05.15\00:52:09.22
You see when Jesus
came forth from the tomb,
00:52:09.26\00:52:11.23
He was clothed in the glory of
immortality never to die again.
00:52:11.26\00:52:18.23
We will one day be
clothed in immortality.
00:52:18.27\00:52:21.80
We will one day be
clothed in incorruptibility
00:52:21.84\00:52:25.14
but until then,
00:52:25.17\00:52:26.51
right now there is this battle,
00:52:26.54\00:52:28.04
flesh against the spirit,
the spirit against the flesh.
00:52:28.08\00:52:33.05
I've told you the story
before but it fits right here
00:52:33.08\00:52:35.75
about the
gentleman who had dogs.
00:52:35.78\00:52:38.39
He would fight
dogs against each other.
00:52:38.42\00:52:40.42
And every
weekend when he took his
00:52:40.46\00:52:41.79
two German Shepherds to
fight against each other,
00:52:41.82\00:52:43.99
you know, this dog rings
sometimes they use pit bulls
00:52:44.03\00:52:46.80
and sometimes they use chickens
and hens and crazy thing.
00:52:46.83\00:52:50.27
We don't partake in that
00:52:50.30\00:52:51.63
but every time he
takes his dogs to fight
00:52:51.67\00:52:53.74
he would always bet
on the dog that won.
00:52:53.77\00:52:56.77
And people,
00:52:56.81\00:52:58.14
after a while they say,
wait a minute, wait a minute.
00:52:58.17\00:52:59.51
Joe, this is kind of ridiculous.
00:52:59.54\00:53:00.88
How do you know
who is gonna win?
00:53:00.91\00:53:03.41
He said, the dog that I
feed all week long is gonna win.
00:53:03.45\00:53:07.62
Did you know that?
00:53:07.65\00:53:08.98
The nature that you feed
all week long is going to win.
00:53:09.02\00:53:11.52
So let's go back down
to the basic aspects of it.
00:53:11.55\00:53:14.22
If you spend your time
watching movies all week long
00:53:14.26\00:53:20.43
what's gonna win,
the spirit or the flesh?
00:53:20.46\00:53:23.06
Flesh.
00:53:23.10\00:53:25.03
You know what, because
you conditioned your mind
00:53:25.07\00:53:26.47
to think a certain way.
00:53:26.50\00:53:29.54
You, matter of fact,
00:53:29.57\00:53:32.91
when I was a little
boy I was a fake cowboy.
00:53:32.94\00:53:35.98
Got to tell you the
story. Anybody what I mean?
00:53:36.01\00:53:38.11
You know, little boys
that two gun holsters.
00:53:38.15\00:53:40.62
I was raised in the
Marshal Dillon days,
00:53:40.65\00:53:43.49
Gunsmoke days,
Big Valley, Bonanza.
00:53:43.52\00:53:47.52
You know, anybody know
what I'm talking about?
00:53:47.56\00:53:50.99
So I used to, I
had my two six shooters
00:53:51.03\00:53:54.80
filled with paper caps
00:53:54.83\00:53:57.17
and I was excited when
they finally made plastic caps
00:53:57.20\00:54:00.47
because they were
louder and lasted longer.
00:54:00.50\00:54:02.47
But when I came
home from school,
00:54:02.50\00:54:06.41
I would strap all
my two six shooters,
00:54:06.44\00:54:08.54
tie them to my
legs and go outside,
00:54:08.58\00:54:10.91
shooting up the neighborhood.
00:54:10.95\00:54:13.11
I thought I was a cowboy.
00:54:13.15\00:54:14.48
You know, why, because
that's all I used to watch.
00:54:14.52\00:54:16.32
Gunsmoke, Big Valley, Bonanza.
00:54:16.35\00:54:21.29
You know, I
want to be Cartwright
00:54:21.32\00:54:22.82
then I want to be Little Joe
00:54:22.86\00:54:24.93
because I filled
my mind with that.
00:54:24.96\00:54:26.70
And then when
Superman began to be the thing
00:54:26.73\00:54:28.76
that all little boys want to be,
00:54:28.80\00:54:30.37
I heard about little
kids jumping off, you know,
00:54:30.40\00:54:32.60
out of third storey
windows with their bed sheet.
00:54:32.63\00:54:36.54
I never did that
but I had my own sheet
00:54:36.57\00:54:39.07
tied around my shoulder.
00:54:39.11\00:54:40.44
Yes, I did.
00:54:40.48\00:54:41.81
And then in my
mind I was Superman.
00:54:41.84\00:54:43.24
You see my, Friend, my point is
00:54:43.28\00:54:45.01
by beholding you become changed.
00:54:45.05\00:54:48.72
The things that you see the most
00:54:48.75\00:54:50.09
will condition
the way you think.
00:54:50.12\00:54:53.09
And let me make
it very, very clear.
00:54:53.12\00:54:55.39
You can't have the
world on right up to sunset
00:54:55.42\00:54:57.79
and then turn on Jesus.
00:54:57.83\00:55:01.93
The Jews in their economy
00:55:01.96\00:55:03.67
they got ready for
the Sabbath on Wednesday.
00:55:03.70\00:55:05.50
We think about the
preparation day on Friday.
00:55:05.53\00:55:07.20
The preparation day for
them, they were ready by Friday.
00:55:07.24\00:55:09.97
They didn't wait till
Friday to get ready. You see.
00:55:10.01\00:55:13.17
But the reason why is
because there is a battle
00:55:13.21\00:55:15.44
that continues to go on
in the human nature every day
00:55:15.48\00:55:18.35
and unless you feed one of them,
00:55:18.38\00:55:20.98
the other one is going to win.
00:55:21.02\00:55:22.48
The one that you
feed is gonna win,
00:55:22.52\00:55:24.62
the one that you
starve is going to lose.
00:55:24.65\00:55:27.16
You heard that phrase,
"feed a cold, starve a fever."
00:55:27.19\00:55:31.49
The one you
feed is going to win.
00:55:31.53\00:55:33.50
So what do you feed,
you feed the spiritual life.
00:55:33.53\00:55:36.36
That's the life that
you want to sustain you.
00:55:36.40\00:55:38.53
That's the walk that
you want to sustain you.
00:55:38.57\00:55:40.50
That spiritual life
that you have in Christ
00:55:40.54\00:55:42.40
is where we're
gonna find our strength.
00:55:42.44\00:55:44.14
Look at number six.
Is that where we are?
00:55:44.17\00:55:45.94
Yeah.
00:55:45.97\00:55:47.31
Number six, okay, here it is.
00:55:47.34\00:55:49.34
Number six.
00:55:49.38\00:55:50.71
"What vital contribution
does the Holy Spirit make
00:55:50.75\00:55:54.28
that sustains our walk?"
00:55:54.32\00:55:57.89
"What vital contribution
does the Holy Spirit make
00:55:57.92\00:56:00.92
that sustains our walk?"
00:56:00.96\00:56:03.02
And we are going to
look there at Romans 8:26.
00:56:03.06\00:56:08.56
Okay, here it is.
00:56:08.60\00:56:11.53
Here it is.
00:56:11.57\00:56:13.30
The Bible says,
00:56:13.34\00:56:14.67
"Likewise the Spirit
also helps in our" what?
00:56:14.70\00:56:20.41
"Weaknesses."
00:56:20.44\00:56:21.78
Get this.
That's the spirit life.
00:56:21.81\00:56:23.81
Spirit helps in our
weaknesses "For we do not know
00:56:23.85\00:56:28.08
what we should pray
for" even that's weak.
00:56:28.12\00:56:30.32
How many of you have a hard time
00:56:30.35\00:56:31.69
in your prayer life?
00:56:31.72\00:56:33.05
Don't even know.
00:56:33.09\00:56:34.42
How many of you have a challenge
00:56:34.46\00:56:35.79
in your prayer life?
00:56:35.82\00:56:37.16
Sometimes you are on your knees
00:56:37.19\00:56:38.53
you don't know what to
pray for but let's continue.
00:56:38.56\00:56:39.89
"For we do not know
what we should pray for
00:56:39.93\00:56:41.26
as we ought, but the
Spirit Himself" what?
00:56:41.30\00:56:45.10
"Makes intercession
for us with groanings
00:56:45.13\00:56:48.04
which cannot be" what?
00:56:48.07\00:56:49.57
"Cannot be uttered."
00:56:49.60\00:56:51.97
So get this my, brethren,
00:56:52.01\00:56:55.01
even sometimes when
you are on your knees
00:56:55.04\00:56:57.61
praying the battle is going on.
00:56:57.65\00:57:00.38
Have you ever
had that experience?
00:57:00.42\00:57:02.25
I mean, you are down
on your knees praying say,
00:57:02.28\00:57:04.39
"Father" and you're
putting before the Lord
00:57:04.42\00:57:05.92
all your prayer request
00:57:05.95\00:57:07.29
and you hear the guns
00:57:07.32\00:57:08.66
and the bombs
going off in your head
00:57:08.69\00:57:10.93
and you think it'd go
and thoughts are coming.
00:57:10.96\00:57:12.56
And say, I'm not thinking that.
00:57:12.59\00:57:13.93
Leave me alone
and you are praying,
00:57:13.96\00:57:15.30
you're struggling.
00:57:15.33\00:57:16.90
And the Lord says,
00:57:16.93\00:57:18.27
here how I end on
an encouraging note.
00:57:18.30\00:57:20.50
The Spirit of God says,
00:57:20.54\00:57:23.04
"Johnny, Linda, I know
what you are praying for.
00:57:23.07\00:57:25.67
You are on your knees battling
but I'm gonna take that prayer.
00:57:25.71\00:57:29.68
I'm gonna fix it up to make
00:57:29.71\00:57:31.05
what you want to
say what God hears."
00:57:31.08\00:57:35.52
And I'm gonna bring
that before the Father.
00:57:35.55\00:57:37.45
I'm gonna help that prayer
00:57:37.49\00:57:39.05
and God is gonna answer
that prayer and you say,
00:57:39.09\00:57:40.56
"Lord, He actually
answered that prayer
00:57:40.59\00:57:42.42
and I didn't even know,
00:57:42.46\00:57:43.79
I didn't even know if
my thoughts would clear."
00:57:43.83\00:57:45.16
Well, brothers and
sisters, here's the point.
00:57:45.19\00:57:48.06
The nature that
every one of us has is weak
00:57:48.10\00:57:50.83
but when we turn
that nature over to Christ
00:57:50.87\00:57:53.13
we find in Him the
strength that we need."
00:57:53.17\00:57:55.47
Let me encourage you,
turn your life over to Christ
00:57:55.50\00:57:58.31
and His righteousness
will come into sharper focus.
00:57:58.34\00:58:02.64
God bless you.
00:58:02.68\00:58:04.01