So I want
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to invite you to go
two places in your Bible.
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Put your finger in Genesis.
00:00:24.05\00:00:25.55
Chapter three, but go
over to James Chapter one,
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and we're going to begin
together, verse 13, Genesis
00:00:30.36\00:00:33.29
chapter three.
00:00:33.76\00:00:34.86
But I want you
to come over quickly
00:00:34.86\00:00:36.43
to James chapter one
00:00:36.43\00:00:37.97
that's over there toward
the end of the New Testament.
00:00:37.97\00:00:40.30
James chapter one in verse
00:00:40.30\00:00:41.37
13, when you get
there, say, Pastor, I'm there.
00:00:41.37\00:00:43.44
Now, let me just say this.
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Every now and then
when I'm on a flight,
00:00:47.04\00:00:49.34
you know, the pilot will say,
man, we're going to start out
00:00:49.34\00:00:52.91
with good weather.
00:00:52.91\00:00:54.35
But once we get to
about such and such city,
00:00:54.35\00:00:57.09
we're going to have
a little turbulence.
00:00:57.09\00:01:00.76
I need to let you know
that we've had good weather
00:01:00.76\00:01:02.99
there going to be some parts
00:01:04.76\00:01:05.66
in this summer where it's
going to be a little turbulent
00:01:05.93\00:01:07.66
because having of us know
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that Jesus doesn't just
want you to be forgiving,
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he wants you to be free.
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See, there are a lot of us
that have been forgiven by God,
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but we've never
been set free by God.
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And I just believe that
if the sun sets you free,
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then you shall be free.
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Indeed.
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And I'm going to talk
to you to that end today.
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James chapter one,
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verse 13, when you get
there, see past them there.
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All right.
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This is the counsel
from the Apostle James.
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Let no one say when he is.
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What?
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Tempted that I am
tempted by God for God
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cannot be tempted by evil, nor
does he himself tempt anyone.
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But each way one is
tempted when he is drawn away
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by his own desires and
enticed the young gets that.
00:02:06.22\00:02:11.43
So I need you to know
that every outward temptation
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is simply going to mirror
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whatever desire is
at work within you.
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So quickly,
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go over with me to Genesis
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Chapter three, and we will look
at a very familiar text today,
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Genesis three and verse one.
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When you get there,
say, Pastor, I'm here.
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Genesis chapter three.
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For those who don't know, it's
the first book of the Bible.
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Genesis three and verse one.
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Genesis three In verse one,
the Bible says Now the serpent
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was more cunning
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than any beast of the feel,
which the Lord God had made.
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And He said to the
woman, Has God indeed
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said, You shall not eat
of every tree of the garden.
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And the woman
said to the serpent,
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we may eat the fruit of
the trees of the garden,
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but of the fruit of the
tree, which is in the midst of
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the garden, God has
said, you shall not eat it,
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nor shall you touch it.
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And the serpent
said to the woman,
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You will not surely
die for God knows that
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in the day you eat of
it, your eyes will be opened
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and you will be like
God knowing good and evil.
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So when the woman saw that
the tree was good for food,
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that it was pleasant to
the eyes and a tree desirable
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to make one wise she
took of its fruit and ate,
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and she also gave to her
husband with her and he ate.
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The Bible says in the
eyes of them both were open
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and they knew
that they were naked
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and they sued
fig leaves together
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and made for
themselves a covering.
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Today, friends, for
just a little while,
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I'm going to talk to
you under the subject
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tailor made temptations.
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I need you
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to know that your temptations,
they are not off the rack.
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They've been
tailored just for you.
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Father,
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would you pull back the curtain
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on all of the wiles
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and the objectives of our enemy?
00:04:24.39\00:04:26.83
Father, I pray that you
would illuminate our thinking
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through the world that
we might have the capacity
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to overcome every snare
that is in our path this week.
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So, Father, I ask today
that you would give us as much
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of your spirit as our
vessels are willing to contain.
00:04:43.65\00:04:47.18
Hide me in the shadows of
the cross that Jesus alone
00:04:48.02\00:04:51.12
might be seeing, that
Christ alone would be heard.
00:04:51.12\00:04:53.15
And at the end of our time
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together, may
Jesus alone be praised.
00:04:54.36\00:04:56.62
Bless us.
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To this end,
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we pray in the
wonderful name of Jesus
00:04:58.46\00:04:59.66
that those who believe
say together a man and a man,
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you may be seated in
the house of the Lord
00:05:03.60\00:05:05.27
again,
00:05:07.87\00:05:08.54
talking today in
the subject, tailor made
00:05:08.84\00:05:10.94
temptations.
00:05:12.24\00:05:15.64
You know, friends,
technology provides us
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with some wonderful
comforts and conveniences,
00:05:19.18\00:05:23.05
but sometimes my technology
makes me a little bit anxious
00:05:24.09\00:05:28.12
because every now and
then I get the feeling
00:05:28.86\00:05:31.39
that my devices are watching me.
00:05:31.39\00:05:36.36
I mean, I might be
a little bit paranoid,
00:05:36.36\00:05:39.90
but I swear
00:05:40.64\00:05:41.37
there have been times
where I have said, brr, Billy,
00:05:41.74\00:05:45.31
that I want such
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and such a thing to eat, or
I want such and such a thing,
00:05:47.48\00:05:51.45
and then somehow
randomly adds for that thing
00:05:51.71\00:05:55.52
are all in my
timeline on social media.
00:05:55.75\00:05:59.09
Have you ever noticed that
if you click on a certain type
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of real online
before you know it, similar
00:06:03.43\00:06:07.60
types of reels are
going to fill your scroll.
00:06:07.60\00:06:11.57
Or if you ever watch a
certain type of movie on Netflix
00:06:12.10\00:06:16.34
before you know
it, they'll create a
00:06:16.77\00:06:18.61
whole list of movies
they think you will like
00:06:18.61\00:06:21.84
based upon the one
that you've already seen.
00:06:22.44\00:06:24.98
And it's amazing how advertisers
have developed algorithms
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that note what you scroll, that
take note of what you spend.
00:06:29.82\00:06:34.49
They notice what you click on,
00:06:34.49\00:06:36.96
and they create a genre
of things that are designed
00:06:37.13\00:06:40.93
to keep you bingeing
and spending and scrolling
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and returning to the
source of what they offer.
00:06:45.10\00:06:48.47
And the macro
idea today, Church,
00:06:48.94\00:06:51.47
is that if advertisers know
how to leverage your desires
00:06:51.61\00:06:56.34
to get what they want,
then the enemy is able to tailor
00:06:56.34\00:07:00.75
temptations that
mirror the desires within you.
00:07:00.75\00:07:04.62
You see, James says
that when one is tempted
00:07:05.15\00:07:08.09
that he is always drawn away
and enticed by his own lust.
00:07:08.26\00:07:13.40
So that every
temptation that is without
00:07:13.63\00:07:16.90
is simply a mirror of
what's already at work within.
00:07:17.10\00:07:21.64
And so the way the
enemy appeals to you
00:07:21.90\00:07:24.87
is not going to be the
same way he appeals to me.
00:07:25.01\00:07:28.54
In other words, he
knows your weakness
00:07:28.81\00:07:31.28
for chocolate,
food and chocolate men.
00:07:31.28\00:07:34.02
You're not here with me today.
00:07:34.05\00:07:36.32
In other words,
brothers, he knows your type
00:07:36.32\00:07:39.22
so that the woman that appears
on your screen for some, she's
00:07:39.42\00:07:42.96
going to be big
up top and for others
00:07:42.96\00:07:45.23
she's going to
be big down below.
00:07:45.23\00:07:47.66
He knows your weakness
for things that are on sale.
00:07:47.66\00:07:51.30
He knows your
fondness for things
00:07:51.53\00:07:54.44
that connote success or
status and need you to know
00:07:54.44\00:07:59.11
that he creates a
queue of temptations
00:07:59.11\00:08:02.11
that are designed to work
against God's purposes for you.
00:08:02.31\00:08:06.41
And the thing I need to target
00:08:06.78\00:08:08.88
is that there is nothing
that happens in your life
00:08:08.88\00:08:12.52
by accident, so that
everything that appears
00:08:12.52\00:08:16.32
on your screen has purpose.
00:08:16.32\00:08:18.53
Every message in
your music has purpose.
00:08:18.83\00:08:22.20
The people that enter
into your space has purpose.
00:08:22.43\00:08:26.20
They are there to
either plant or reinforce
00:08:26.43\00:08:30.21
a fault that was
against your soul.
00:08:30.21\00:08:33.21
But the good news for somebody
today is that the God who is for
00:08:33.48\00:08:38.18
you is greater than the
enemy that is against you.
00:08:38.18\00:08:42.12
In other words,
I need you to know
00:08:42.48\00:08:44.29
that even though the
enemy is paying great attention,
00:08:44.29\00:08:47.99
I need you to know
00:08:48.12\00:08:49.26
that Jesus pays greater
attention than the Devil.
00:08:49.26\00:08:53.13
And other words,
that God is so attentive
00:08:53.13\00:08:56.13
that He knows the
number of hairs on your head.
00:08:56.30\00:08:59.73
He's so attentive
that he's recorded
00:09:00.14\00:09:02.84
every tear that's the
fallen from your face.
00:09:02.84\00:09:05.71
Jesus pays so much
attention that before you pray,
00:09:06.01\00:09:09.91
he says, the father knows
what things you have need of.
00:09:10.05\00:09:13.62
And the good news is
that the Bible says that
00:09:13.88\00:09:16.92
God manages your temptations
so that your temptations
00:09:16.92\00:09:21.92
are never above your
ability to handle them.
00:09:21.92\00:09:25.43
And God says in his word
that with the temptation,
00:09:25.86\00:09:29.80
he'll also
create a way of escape.
00:09:30.00\00:09:33.74
In other words,
00:09:34.10\00:09:35.04
you don't just serve a God
that picks you up when you fall.
00:09:35.30\00:09:38.91
But anybody thankful
00:09:39.04\00:09:40.41
that we serve a God that's
able to keep you from falling?
00:09:40.41\00:09:44.38
In other words,
friends, I need you to know
00:09:44.85\00:09:47.18
that God doesn't just forgive,
but God is able to help you
00:09:47.32\00:09:51.45
stand strong and
give a way of escape
00:09:51.45\00:09:54.76
from whatever snare the
enemy is put in front of you.
00:09:54.92\00:09:57.89
You are with me today.
00:09:58.03\00:09:59.36
Okay, let me say it this way.
00:09:59.36\00:10:00.90
I don't know if any of you guys
00:10:00.90\00:10:02.26
have ever gone to what
they call an escape room.
00:10:02.26\00:10:05.53
And it's amazing when you go
to an escape room, what they do
00:10:06.57\00:10:09.30
is they locked
00:10:09.44\00:10:10.31
you inside of a room and
they take away your cell phone.
00:10:10.61\00:10:14.71
And even though you're locked
00:10:14.91\00:10:16.71
in, how many of us
know that there are clues
00:10:16.71\00:10:20.15
that give you evidence on
how you can escape the room?
00:10:20.28\00:10:24.75
In other words,
you're not really trapped.
00:10:24.95\00:10:27.26
You've just got to
know what clues to look for.
00:10:27.42\00:10:30.46
And I need you to
know friends of mine,
00:10:30.69\00:10:32.69
that in the word God
gives you clues as to how
00:10:32.69\00:10:36.60
you can escape the temptations
the enemy puts in your path.
00:10:36.60\00:10:41.37
But the amazing thing
00:10:41.57\00:10:42.94
about an escape room is
that if you cannot get out,
00:10:42.94\00:10:46.88
if you can't
figure it out on your own,
00:10:47.24\00:10:49.98
when you first go in,
they give you an emergency key.
00:10:50.18\00:10:53.78
And when you
can't figure it out,
00:10:54.52\00:10:56.62
if you can't find your way out,
00:10:56.79\00:10:58.85
you've just got to
use the emergency key
00:10:59.02\00:11:01.89
and you can find
your way to freedom.
00:11:02.09\00:11:04.46
And how many of us know that
when you can't figure it out,
00:11:04.73\00:11:07.73
if you hadn't found the clues,
Jesus is your emergency key
00:11:07.93\00:11:13.13
that allows you to find
the path to deliverance.
00:11:13.57\00:11:17.67
I know with me today, friends.
00:11:17.71\00:11:19.97
And so today, as we
go back to the word,
00:11:19.97\00:11:22.04
there are some things
I need you to see today.
00:11:22.04\00:11:24.55
And as we unpack
this, I want you to know
00:11:24.88\00:11:27.88
that the story of original sin
00:11:28.28\00:11:31.55
has deep
implications for those of us
00:11:32.25\00:11:35.72
that have inherited sin.
00:11:35.72\00:11:38.06
And and and the story
00:11:38.99\00:11:41.00
of our four parents fall
teaches us a number of lessons.
00:11:41.03\00:11:45.20
But the first
thing it teaches us
00:11:45.43\00:11:47.47
is that there is no environment
that Satan cannot breach.
00:11:47.47\00:11:52.14
No, no, let me say it again.
00:11:52.97\00:11:54.24
I need you to get that.
00:11:54.24\00:11:55.28
There is no environment
that Satan cannot breach.
00:11:55.28\00:11:59.55
There is no human
that he cannot compromise.
00:11:59.78\00:12:03.65
There is no space
where God's people can rest
00:12:03.89\00:12:07.62
from the wilds of
the enemy and friends.
00:12:07.62\00:12:10.69
I don't believe and
exulting in the power of Satan,
00:12:10.69\00:12:15.26
except for us to know
who we are up against.
00:12:15.46\00:12:19.10
We're up against
a being so deceptive
00:12:19.47\00:12:23.10
that one out of
every three angels sided
00:12:23.34\00:12:27.38
with him in
rebellion of being so powerful
00:12:27.38\00:12:31.31
that Jesus says that
lying was his native tongue
00:12:31.48\00:12:35.62
and a deceiver so
strong that he convinced
00:12:36.25\00:12:39.52
the perfect couple
with the perfect life
00:12:39.52\00:12:42.76
that somehow they got
sorted or left behind by God.
00:12:42.92\00:12:47.50
And so I guess my point is this,
00:12:48.26\00:12:50.73
is that if he was
able to influence heaven,
00:12:50.93\00:12:54.07
if he was able
to compromise, eat,
00:12:54.34\00:12:56.87
and don't think that
temptation won't follow
00:12:56.87\00:12:59.91
you here to open it are
you are hearing me today?
00:12:59.91\00:13:02.48
In other words,
I need you to know
00:13:02.98\00:13:04.51
that Satan doesn't do
his best work in the club
00:13:04.51\00:13:07.92
or in the streets.
00:13:07.98\00:13:09.58
He does his best work
00:13:09.58\00:13:11.09
in upsetting
spiritual environments.
00:13:11.09\00:13:14.19
You see how many of us
know that his greatest work
00:13:14.56\00:13:17.49
is not just in
managing the laws.
00:13:17.69\00:13:20.46
His greatest work is
in flipping the redeemed
00:13:20.66\00:13:23.87
almighty quiet today
00:13:23.97\00:13:25.73
and see there would be nothing
that would bring him greater joy
00:13:25.73\00:13:29.64
than for you students
00:13:29.80\00:13:30.97
to come all the way
00:13:30.97\00:13:32.07
from Los Angeles and
come all the way from Detroit,
00:13:32.07\00:13:35.84
and they'll come all the way
00:13:36.04\00:13:37.35
from Chicago and come
all the way from Miami
00:13:37.35\00:13:41.22
and lose your soul right
here in Huntsville, Alabama.
00:13:41.38\00:13:45.15
And I need you
to not be deceived.
00:13:46.19\00:13:48.42
You need to know this.
00:13:48.56\00:13:49.72
Even though your parents
don't want to believe it,
00:13:49.72\00:13:52.06
that there is just
as much sin at Oakwood
00:13:52.23\00:13:55.66
as there is in any
other part of the world.
00:13:56.36\00:13:59.13
Are you hearing me today?
00:13:59.13\00:14:00.90
In other words, you can find up.
00:14:00.90\00:14:02.57
You'll find turn
up opportunities here.
00:14:02.57\00:14:05.31
You will find ladies,
00:14:05.57\00:14:06.84
some grimy dudes
right here at this church.
00:14:06.84\00:14:10.08
Brothers, you'll
00:14:10.41\00:14:11.08
find some chicken heads
right here on this campus.
00:14:11.48\00:14:14.48
You'll find some same
sex opportunities here.
00:14:14.88\00:14:18.59
You'll find winter
cuffing opportunities here.
00:14:18.59\00:14:21.99
I was in Blake Center
the other day and got a week
00:14:22.26\00:14:25.33
contact high right
here on the campus.
00:14:25.33\00:14:29.36
Are y'all hear what I'm saying?
00:14:29.36\00:14:31.60
And I want to be clear
that you've got a better chance
00:14:31.60\00:14:34.40
to succeed here
than anywhere else.
00:14:34.40\00:14:36.71
But be forewarned that if
he could compromise heaven,
00:14:36.87\00:14:40.98
that if he could
upset Eden, then guess what?
00:14:41.14\00:14:44.28
You can lose your way
right here in Huntsville.
00:14:44.28\00:14:47.52
Y'all hear me today?
00:14:47.52\00:14:48.52
And there is a larger idea.
00:14:49.75\00:14:51.05
I need you to get that.
00:14:51.05\00:14:52.42
Because every
environment can be compromise,
00:14:52.42\00:14:55.96
because every
person can be breached.
00:14:57.46\00:15:00.90
It shows the importance
of never putting people
00:15:01.50\00:15:04.93
on a pedestal.
00:15:04.93\00:15:09.64
In other words, never.
00:15:09.64\00:15:11.04
Young people allow
yourself to be jaded
00:15:11.04\00:15:14.21
because of older
people's hypocrisy
00:15:14.38\00:15:17.55
and see, there is this
interesting phenomenon happening
00:15:18.18\00:15:21.35
in our time where people
are turning away from God
00:15:21.35\00:15:25.55
because they are seeing the
hypocrisies and flaws in people.
00:15:25.72\00:15:29.72
But I need somebody
00:15:29.96\00:15:31.26
to understand that if you
walk with God long enough,
00:15:31.26\00:15:35.20
how many of us know
00:15:35.36\00:15:36.26
you're going to see
some pastors do some dirt?
00:15:36.36\00:15:38.80
You go see some
church folk do some dirt.
00:15:39.20\00:15:41.97
You going to see some
administrators do some dirt.
00:15:42.20\00:15:45.17
But I need you to know
that the flaws of people
00:15:45.41\00:15:48.54
only offend you when you
don't know God for yourself.
00:15:48.71\00:15:52.31
Oh, it's going to
get turbulent in here.
00:15:52.91\00:15:56.35
You see, when God
is not real for you,
00:15:56.35\00:15:59.49
you need our human
being in order to believe Him.
00:15:59.65\00:16:03.53
And when you believe in people,
the problem is that when you
00:16:03.86\00:16:07.86
see their flaws, the
whole thing begins to seem fake.
00:16:07.86\00:16:11.83
But the truth is
that I don't get messed up
00:16:12.07\00:16:14.64
when I see the flaws of
people because I believe in him.
00:16:14.74\00:16:19.24
I am not sustained by them.
00:16:19.41\00:16:21.61
Are you hearing me today
00:16:21.61\00:16:23.41
and see friends of mine when
you put people on a pedestal,
00:16:23.41\00:16:26.72
it doesn't set them up to fall.
00:16:26.88\00:16:29.22
It causes you to be offended.
00:16:29.38\00:16:31.55
So here's what the Bible says.
00:16:32.62\00:16:34.59
Put your trust in princes
or in the son of man in whom
00:16:34.59\00:16:38.49
there is no help
00:16:38.49\00:16:39.83
but happy is he who
puts his trust in the Lord?
00:16:39.83\00:16:44.03
Are you all with me today?
00:16:44.03\00:16:44.93
Friends.
00:16:44.93\00:16:45.83
And see,
00:16:45.83\00:16:46.13
I need you to know
that one of my objectives
00:16:46.84\00:16:48.34
as a pastor is to
make sure you don't put me
00:16:48.50\00:16:51.91
or any spiritual
leader on a pedestal.
00:16:52.07\00:16:54.41
Are you all with me today?
00:16:54.41\00:16:55.78
In other words, there are
times where folks will say,
00:16:55.78\00:16:57.75
Man, Pastor, I
can tell it's real.
00:16:57.75\00:17:00.22
Man, I believe in you.
00:17:00.38\00:17:02.28
And I'll say
without any equivocation,
00:17:02.28\00:17:04.85
I invite you to follow
me only as I follow Christ,
00:17:04.99\00:17:09.09
but make sure you
keep your good eye on Jesus
00:17:09.36\00:17:13.06
so that if I stray,
you don't lose your path.
00:17:13.43\00:17:16.70
You are hearing
what I'm saying today.
00:17:16.80\00:17:18.63
And see,
00:17:18.63\00:17:18.97
I want to say to somebody today,
be weary of folks around here
00:17:19.90\00:17:23.10
that spend more time
talking about the hypocrisies
00:17:23.30\00:17:26.74
of people more than they
talk about the goodness of God.
00:17:26.74\00:17:30.05
In other words, when
the whole conversation
00:17:31.48\00:17:34.52
is about what the church
00:17:34.65\00:17:36.08
ain't do and instead
of what God is doing, it's
00:17:36.08\00:17:39.99
an announcement that their
focus is in the wrong place.
00:17:39.99\00:17:45.99
In other words, friends of mine,
00:17:45.99\00:17:47.30
you don't leave church
because of flawed people.
00:17:47.30\00:17:52.27
You know what it is
00:17:52.27\00:17:53.00
that's the equivalent of
canceling your gym membership
00:17:53.40\00:17:56.64
because out of shape
people are at the gym.
00:17:56.84\00:18:01.94
In other words,
folks, I don't want a gym.
00:18:01.94\00:18:04.41
Are y'all hear me?
00:18:04.41\00:18:05.91
Where everybody
is in perfect shape.
00:18:05.91\00:18:08.25
Y'all are hearing me today.
00:18:08.45\00:18:09.98
In other words,
00:18:09.98\00:18:10.55
I want to see some brothers
with love handles like mine.
00:18:11.19\00:18:13.25
I want to see somebody
that's struggling like me.
00:18:13.89\00:18:16.56
Because guess what?
00:18:16.76\00:18:17.79
If the gym was only for
perfect people, guess what?
00:18:17.86\00:18:21.10
Very few can't get it.
00:18:21.10\00:18:23.10
In other words, it is
not for perfect people.
00:18:23.10\00:18:25.87
It's for striving people.
00:18:26.07\00:18:28.27
And how many of us know
God's church is not for perfect
00:18:28.27\00:18:32.24
people, it's
for striving people.
00:18:32.24\00:18:35.14
And even though we
are the body, guess what?
00:18:35.41\00:18:38.25
The body may be out of
shape, but at least is striving.
00:18:38.25\00:18:41.65
Are you are hearing
what I'm saying today
00:18:41.65\00:18:43.65
instead of talking about
what they ain't doing right,
00:18:43.65\00:18:46.62
you ought to just celebrate
the fact that they still hear.
00:18:46.82\00:18:50.46
In other words,
instead of complaining
00:18:50.46\00:18:52.53
about how short her scarcity,
00:18:52.66\00:18:54.73
just go ahead and
rejoice that she's still coming.
00:18:54.73\00:18:57.27
Instead of complaining
about how mean the usher
00:18:57.77\00:19:00.50
is, just rejoice that
they're still answering.
00:19:00.50\00:19:03.34
Instead of complaining
about what they ain't doing,
00:19:03.67\00:19:06.41
start
celebrating what God is doing
00:19:06.54\00:19:09.48
and move
00:19:10.88\00:19:11.48
yourself in the same direction.
00:19:11.58\00:19:13.72
The second thing that this story
teaches us, friends of mine,
00:19:14.68\00:19:17.62
is the power of a first step.
00:19:17.99\00:19:24.89
Let me share with you
a quick statement here
00:19:24.89\00:19:26.66
from the book
Patriarchs and Prophets.
00:19:26.66\00:19:28.50
There's a principle I need
you to really be able to digest.
00:19:28.50\00:19:30.90
Patriarchs and Prophets.
00:19:31.13\00:19:32.07
Page 53 one of the things my
my favorite to say is, is that
00:19:32.33\00:19:35.94
Satan was not to follow
them with continual what
00:19:35.94\00:19:39.37
he could have access to them
00:19:41.01\00:19:43.38
only at what
00:19:43.58\00:19:46.51
should they attempt to
investigate his nature.
00:19:46.58\00:19:48.88
They would be
exposed to his wiles,
00:19:49.12\00:19:51.12
and they were
admonished to give careful
00:19:51.32\00:19:53.19
heed to the warning which
God sent them, and be content
00:19:53.19\00:19:56.96
with the instruction
which He had seen fit to impart.
00:19:56.96\00:20:01.60
Now, friends of mine,
00:20:01.80\00:20:02.73
I'm not sure if you thoroughly
digested what was just read.
00:20:03.00\00:20:06.74
You say one of the
things that God did was
00:20:07.74\00:20:10.11
He actually put some
limitations upon Satan's
00:20:10.11\00:20:13.14
power and reach.
00:20:13.14\00:20:16.61
In other words, Satan
couldn't walk around the garden
00:20:16.91\00:20:19.91
harassing them, saying,
eat the fruit, eat the fruit.
00:20:20.12\00:20:23.18
He could only
have access to them
00:20:24.05\00:20:27.02
if they start moving in
the direction of the tree.
00:20:27.29\00:20:31.33
So I need you to get this
00:20:32.63\00:20:34.46
that Satan does rejoice
00:20:34.46\00:20:37.43
when he she puts
her teeth in the fruit.
00:20:38.37\00:20:41.10
Satan knows he has them
00:20:42.14\00:20:44.87
when they make the first step
in the direction of the tree,
00:20:45.44\00:20:48.91
he doesn't celebrate.
00:20:50.08\00:20:51.25
Once they both
partake, he begins to celebrate.
00:20:51.25\00:20:54.95
When he notice is that there are
00:20:55.05\00:20:57.99
curiosity is
overriding their principle.
00:20:57.99\00:21:01.16
He notices that they're giving
due attention to the tree.
00:21:01.29\00:21:04.86
He begins to rejoice when
they get ten and five feet away.
00:21:05.06\00:21:09.16
He doesn't wait to celebrate
until they have partaken.
00:21:09.33\00:21:13.23
He knows that
they How they're done
00:21:13.44\00:21:16.10
simply because
they've given him an audience
00:21:16.37\00:21:20.18
and say, I need
00:21:21.48\00:21:22.31
somebody to understand
that Eve and Adam are in trouble
00:21:22.58\00:21:26.31
as soon as they open their minds
00:21:26.58\00:21:30.25
to the conversation
00:21:33.42\00:21:36.16
and say, I need
somebody to understand
00:21:36.16\00:21:37.99
this about temptation.
00:21:37.99\00:21:39.29
Friends of mine, one
of the reasons we are
00:21:39.29\00:21:41.50
so morally weak is
because we're too open minded
00:21:41.50\00:21:44.63
to see.
00:21:49.10\00:21:50.21
You got to operate with
some convictions in your life
00:21:50.21\00:21:53.91
that are so concrete that
you ain't even open to certain
00:21:54.34\00:21:58.25
things, are you?
Hear what I'm saying?
00:21:58.25\00:22:00.45
In other words, you've got to
be so rooted in the Scriptures
00:22:00.45\00:22:03.42
that there are
just certain things
00:22:03.59\00:22:04.85
you're not going
to even entertain.
00:22:04.85\00:22:06.72
There are some conversations
you're not going to even have.
00:22:06.72\00:22:09.66
There are some parts
you're not going to even travel
00:22:09.86\00:22:12.33
simply because you
know where God has spoken.
00:22:12.53\00:22:16.60
In other words, you've
got to have some conviction.
00:22:16.60\00:22:18.73
In other words, you ought
not even be open to evolution.
00:22:18.73\00:22:23.67
You ought not even be open
to bringing a third person in
00:22:23.67\00:22:26.81
your marital bedroom.
00:22:26.81\00:22:28.04
You shouldn't even be
00:22:29.04\00:22:29.91
open to living a
chemically induced life.
00:22:29.91\00:22:34.02
You ought not even be open
to working on the Lord's Day.
00:22:34.02\00:22:36.92
It's going to
get quiet up in here.
00:22:36.92\00:22:38.49
You are not even be open
00:22:38.49\00:22:40.62
to doing certain things
that are outside of God's will.
00:22:40.62\00:22:44.06
And the reason we struggle
so much is because we're
00:22:44.16\00:22:47.10
too open to things
where God has spoken.
00:22:47.10\00:22:49.43
Now, it's funny
because some of us
00:22:50.57\00:22:51.73
are hearing this and
saying, Oh man, Pastor,
00:22:51.73\00:22:53.23
you too, conservative
man. We got to be open minded.
00:22:53.23\00:22:55.37
Well, well, your man
ought to be like a screen door,
00:22:55.37\00:22:59.81
not an open door.
00:23:00.04\00:23:03.18
Anybody remember the
old school screen doors?
00:23:03.18\00:23:05.41
Where?
00:23:05.85\00:23:06.51
Guess what, man? You
can see through them.
00:23:06.82\00:23:08.65
They'll let the wind
in, but they keep the bugs
00:23:09.38\00:23:12.75
and the critters out,
00:23:12.75\00:23:14.39
and your mind has to have a
screen to it where it receives
00:23:14.39\00:23:18.36
the wind of the Holy
Ghost, but it rejects the birds
00:23:18.36\00:23:22.46
and the
critters that compromise.
00:23:22.46\00:23:27.44
See? See, I need somebody
to understand this principle.
00:23:27.44\00:23:29.67
Do you realize
that their first step
00:23:29.90\00:23:32.94
made the final step inevitable?
00:23:33.54\00:23:38.18
See? See, I remember when.
00:23:38.18\00:23:40.58
When they would teach
certain things in the Bible.
00:23:40.72\00:23:42.38
The Bible saying
stuff like flee temptation.
00:23:42.38\00:23:46.52
The Bible says, avoid
the very appearance of evil.
00:23:46.52\00:23:50.56
And I remember Malcolm,
00:23:51.09\00:23:51.96
I was growing up thinking
that was an image text, meaning
00:23:52.29\00:23:54.36
you just want to
make it look like
00:23:54.50\00:23:56.10
you're doing something wrong.
00:23:56.10\00:23:57.40
But actually what
the Bible is teaching us
00:23:57.40\00:23:59.53
is that we are so morally flawed
00:23:59.70\00:24:01.80
that you can't get
nowhere close to temptation.
00:24:01.80\00:24:04.27
And fat man, I used to
think that spiritual strength
00:24:04.44\00:24:07.21
was being able to get right
up on the temptation and say no.
00:24:07.34\00:24:10.65
But spiritual strength
is recognizing that I'm
00:24:10.81\00:24:13.45
so jacked up that I can't
even get in since presence
00:24:13.45\00:24:18.65
and still stand.
00:24:19.92\00:24:23.69
It's kind of like this.
00:24:23.69\00:24:25.29
In other words,
brother, if you married,
00:24:25.33\00:24:27.66
it's not that last step.
00:24:28.76\00:24:31.50
It's the first step.
00:24:31.50\00:24:33.60
In other words,
you ain't going to say
00:24:33.60\00:24:35.00
no when you're in the hotel
and she's taken off her clothes.
00:24:35.00\00:24:37.67
Now, you should have been saying
no when she first sent them
00:24:38.87\00:24:41.38
text messages
outside of work hours.
00:24:41.38\00:24:43.65
Oh, you ain't going to say no.
00:24:44.55\00:24:46.58
When they requiring
you to work on Sabbath,
00:24:46.58\00:24:48.68
you should have said no
when you first got the job
00:24:48.88\00:24:51.52
and let them know from
sunset Friday Almighty.
00:24:51.69\00:24:54.16
Quiet from Sunset Sabbath.
00:24:54.16\00:24:56.36
No, you're not going to
say no. At the house party.
00:24:56.36\00:24:58.76
When booze and weed
is being passed around,
00:24:58.86\00:25:01.46
you're going to say,
00:25:01.60\00:25:02.33
no. When they first invite
you, they're getting inside
00:25:02.70\00:25:04.57
of the car.
00:25:04.57\00:25:05.67
You're not going to say no.
00:25:05.67\00:25:07.34
After five years of
dating an unbeliever,
00:25:07.34\00:25:10.07
you got to say
no on the front end.
00:25:10.21\00:25:14.24
Are yall hearing what I'm saying
00:25:14.24\00:25:15.94
And you've got to have firm
00:25:15.94\00:25:17.28
enough, concrete
enough convictions
00:25:17.28\00:25:19.71
to not even
entertain certain things
00:25:20.25\00:25:22.15
because how many of us know
00:25:22.15\00:25:23.69
that anything will start
making sense if you listen to it
00:25:23.69\00:25:27.29
long enough?
00:25:27.29\00:25:31.26
Thank you so much for joining
us for The Breath of Life
00:25:31.26\00:25:34.60
Television Ministry broadcast
with Pastor Debleaire Snell.
00:25:34.60\00:25:38.93
Now we hope and pray
that you have been blessed
00:25:38.93\00:25:41.94
by his powerful message.
00:25:42.50\00:25:44.67
Join us next week for part
two of “Tailor-Made Temptation.”
00:25:44.67\00:25:49.51
You don't want to miss it
00:25:49.94\00:25:51.15
What's good family.
00:25:52.11\00:25:53.58
Listen, life can always be hard.
00:25:53.58\00:25:56.08
Troubles always abound
and difficulty never RSVP.
00:25:56.55\00:26:01.59
I want to encourage
you to take one night
00:26:02.09\00:26:03.89
and get away from it all.
00:26:03.89\00:26:05.79
Join me on Sunday,
October the 22nd at 7 p.m.
00:26:05.79\00:26:10.20
for a celebration of hope.
00:26:10.40\00:26:12.27
It is where
we're going to lift up
00:26:12.27\00:26:13.64
Jesus and song through
testimony and the Word of God.
00:26:13.64\00:26:17.24
We're going to be joined
00:26:17.41\00:26:18.81
that evening by gospel
recording artist Smokey Norful.
00:26:18.81\00:26:22.64
Gospel recording group
Stephen Manders and Decree
00:26:23.04\00:26:26.38
and the inspirational
choir of First Church.
00:26:26.82\00:26:29.52
I need you to know
it's going to be a night
00:26:29.95\00:26:31.82
where we're going to
celebrate God's goodness
00:26:31.82\00:26:33.82
in the midst of
life's difficulties.
00:26:33.82\00:26:35.89
Again, that's
going to be Sunday,
00:26:36.19\00:26:37.93
October the 22nd, at 7:00 PM,
00:26:37.93\00:26:41.03
right here in the Oakwood
University Church Sanctuary.
00:26:41.23\00:26:44.07
For more
information, go to our website
00:26:44.40\00:26:46.43
at www.breathoflife.tv I
look forward to seeing you
00:26:46.43\00:26:50.91
as we celebrate our hope.
00:26:51.17\00:27:04.52