What is the solution
to combat Satan's strategy
00:00:01.36\00:00:04.30
of using media in
the battle for your mind?
00:00:04.33\00:00:08.04
Stay tuned to
Issues & Answers to learn.
00:00:08.07\00:00:11.54
Hello, I'm Shelley Quinn
and we welcome you once again
00:00:43.51\00:00:46.01
to Issues & Answers.
00:00:46.04\00:00:47.68
Today we have returning
with us Pastor Octavian Poenaru,
00:00:47.71\00:00:53.31
he's also has a doctorate
of ministry in family life.
00:00:53.35\00:00:58.05
He is the pastor
for the Colville,
00:00:58.09\00:01:00.26
Washington Seventh-day
Adventist Church and...
00:01:00.29\00:01:03.93
Ione. Ione.
00:01:03.96\00:01:05.29
I don't know why I
can't remember Ione.
00:01:05.33\00:01:06.66
Yeah.
00:01:06.70\00:01:08.03
Thank you so much
for returning, Octavian.
00:01:08.06\00:01:10.50
Thank you for inviting me.
00:01:10.53\00:01:11.87
It has been wonderful.
00:01:11.90\00:01:13.23
We've been
talking about the battle
00:01:13.27\00:01:15.00
for our minds in the house.
00:01:15.04\00:01:16.37
Yeah.
00:01:16.40\00:01:17.74
Media affects us
spiritually, how it affects us,
00:01:17.77\00:01:21.31
our marriage, our family life,
00:01:21.34\00:01:25.28
how it affects
our mental health,
00:01:25.31\00:01:27.98
but today we're going to
be talking about solutions
00:01:28.02\00:01:31.85
for these problems.
00:01:31.89\00:01:33.25
Yeah.
00:01:33.29\00:01:34.62
Hopefully, there
is a solution. Okay.
00:01:34.66\00:01:37.29
You're the man.
00:01:37.33\00:01:38.66
Well, I'd like to begin reading
00:01:38.69\00:01:40.60
a well-known
passage in the Bible,
00:01:40.63\00:01:42.06
it's in the book
of Philippians 4:13.
00:01:42.10\00:01:46.47
It's a short passage,
00:01:46.50\00:01:47.84
"I can do all things
00:01:47.87\00:01:50.07
through Christ
which strengthens me."
00:01:50.11\00:01:52.84
Amen. This would be enough.
00:01:52.87\00:01:54.28
That should be enough
00:01:54.31\00:01:55.64
and we can close
the discussion here
00:01:55.68\00:01:57.01
but maybe we need
to expand on this,
00:01:57.05\00:01:59.81
but keep in mind this
passage, Philippians 4:13.
00:01:59.85\00:02:06.49
Probably we can begin
by asking the questions
00:02:06.52\00:02:08.76
how do we know, how do I know?
00:02:08.79\00:02:11.66
You know, there
are these aspects
00:02:11.69\00:02:14.23
of practical Christianity.
00:02:14.26\00:02:17.47
In the end
Christianity if not...
00:02:17.50\00:02:19.23
If Christianity
is not practical,
00:02:19.27\00:02:21.50
I would question the
value of Christianity at all.
00:02:21.54\00:02:26.17
Then, the
question is how do I know?
00:02:26.21\00:02:29.84
You know, how do I
know right and wrong
00:02:29.88\00:02:32.11
and there are so
many areas of life
00:02:32.15\00:02:33.62
where we ask these
questions, how do I know?
00:02:33.65\00:02:36.58
And when it comes
to media experience,
00:02:36.62\00:02:40.59
definitely we can
ask the same question.
00:02:40.62\00:02:42.42
Can I see this?
Can I watch this?
00:02:42.46\00:02:44.13
Can I listen to
this? Can I play this?
00:02:44.16\00:02:45.83
Can I do this or not?
00:02:45.86\00:02:47.60
And then the first
question is how do I know.
00:02:47.63\00:02:49.90
And now I will
suggest for this morning,
00:02:49.93\00:02:52.63
one fundamental
criteria or maybe two.
00:02:52.67\00:02:56.64
The second one is
going to be a Bible passage
00:02:56.67\00:02:58.47
but it's a very simple question,
00:02:58.51\00:03:00.58
and let me
illustrate that with a story
00:03:00.61\00:03:03.01
because I love stories.
00:03:03.04\00:03:04.95
I remember
being in the military,
00:03:04.98\00:03:07.42
in back home in
Romania, it's in 1979.
00:03:07.45\00:03:13.29
I was 18 years old,
taken to the military.
00:03:13.32\00:03:16.29
I was, I would
say, I was a young man
00:03:16.32\00:03:20.20
who wanted to do God's
will and be faithful to God
00:03:20.23\00:03:23.60
and the main
question was in communism,
00:03:23.63\00:03:26.17
would I be able
to be faithful to God
00:03:26.20\00:03:28.50
and keep the Sabbath
and keep myself clean
00:03:28.54\00:03:30.87
for the unclean foods
and the moral pollution
00:03:30.91\00:03:35.11
that existed in
that environment.
00:03:35.14\00:03:37.25
And you were
conscripted if you were...
00:03:37.28\00:03:40.28
Yeah. Drafted.
00:03:40.32\00:03:41.82
Drafted, okay. Yeah.
00:03:41.85\00:03:43.18
And I was 18, again.
00:03:43.22\00:03:45.75
Years before,
00:03:45.79\00:03:47.76
I already made my
decision not to watch movies.
00:03:47.79\00:03:52.26
It was, it was at
one point in my life,
00:03:52.29\00:03:55.03
I mean, watching
movie is a big thing for me,
00:03:55.06\00:03:59.17
along with a few other issues.
00:03:59.20\00:04:01.20
And but here it's
already past a few years
00:04:01.24\00:04:04.77
I'm a very committed Christian.
00:04:04.81\00:04:07.31
The life is very hard
in the military system.
00:04:07.34\00:04:10.51
Persecution, but I'm
just at the beginning.
00:04:10.55\00:04:13.21
Probably the second
month in the service,
00:04:13.25\00:04:16.28
a lot of stress, a lot
of stress of all kinds.
00:04:16.32\00:04:20.16
Once in a while, they will
show a movie to the soldiers.
00:04:20.19\00:04:23.12
And I remember it
was a Saturday night.
00:04:23.16\00:04:25.36
And they told us,
"Well, there's a movie,
00:04:25.39\00:04:27.73
it's going to be
in the clubhouse,
00:04:27.76\00:04:29.10
everybody is welcome."
00:04:29.13\00:04:30.97
It was a movie
tonight, it was the Sabbath,
00:04:31.00\00:04:36.71
usually Sabbaths were hard days
00:04:36.74\00:04:38.51
because, because
of all the pressure
00:04:38.54\00:04:41.74
of trying to keep the Sabbath
00:04:41.78\00:04:43.41
and saying no to a lot of things
00:04:43.45\00:04:46.51
and getting in
trouble for that anyway.
00:04:46.55\00:04:49.58
That Saturday night
00:04:49.62\00:04:51.69
a soft voice in my mind told me,
00:04:51.72\00:04:55.16
"Octavian, you better
stay in the dorm, let them go."
00:04:55.19\00:05:00.40
But, you know,
curiosity, the old curiosity
00:05:00.43\00:05:03.30
and the desire to
experience something new
00:05:03.33\00:05:07.74
made me decide to go.
00:05:07.77\00:05:10.07
And this is the
movie, I remember the movie,
00:05:10.11\00:05:11.84
the movie it's
called Black Bird's Ghost,
00:05:11.87\00:05:16.44
that is the title of a
movie, that's a comedy,
00:05:16.48\00:05:19.81
and I decided to go.
00:05:19.85\00:05:24.22
I remember the day,
it was November 1st.
00:05:24.25\00:05:27.72
And I went there and I
enjoy watching this movies,
00:05:27.76\00:05:33.50
I mean, immersed myself
00:05:33.53\00:05:35.06
in what was
happening in the movie.
00:05:35.10\00:05:36.70
Suddenly and this is a clubhouse
00:05:36.73\00:05:38.83
of about 300, 400 soldiers
00:05:38.87\00:05:41.24
and suddenly in the
middle of that thing,
00:05:41.27\00:05:44.37
I hear my name
called, Octavian and my,
00:05:44.41\00:05:48.21
calling me by family name.
00:05:48.24\00:05:50.48
"Soldier Poenaru,
come out, come out."
00:05:50.51\00:05:56.05
Like woke up from a dream,
00:05:56.08\00:05:57.92
I real, someone
is calling my name,
00:05:57.95\00:06:00.92
and I got out
and I went to the guy
00:06:00.96\00:06:04.09
who was calling my name
00:06:04.13\00:06:05.49
in the middle of the whole thing
00:06:05.53\00:06:06.86
and says, "Well,
someone is waiting for you.
00:06:06.90\00:06:11.50
Someone is waiting for you."
00:06:11.53\00:06:12.87
Usually or from time to time,
00:06:12.90\00:06:14.60
you were allowed
to receive visits
00:06:14.64\00:06:16.44
from the family members.
00:06:16.47\00:06:18.57
And I did my military
service in my home town.
00:06:18.61\00:06:20.64
What happened, I got
out of that room again,
00:06:20.68\00:06:24.91
like being woke up
from a dream, got out,
00:06:24.95\00:06:27.52
everything was
white, in that short hour,
00:06:27.55\00:06:30.39
the weather
changed and it snowed.
00:06:30.42\00:06:33.69
And got out from this thing,
00:06:33.72\00:06:35.06
got out, it was
white, snowing peacefully.
00:06:35.09\00:06:39.76
It was like in another
world and got to the...
00:06:39.79\00:06:43.03
Basically they met us,
00:06:43.06\00:06:44.83
there was a small
office at the gate,
00:06:44.87\00:06:46.23
at the entrance in
this military unit.
00:06:46.27\00:06:50.87
My family and
friends from church,
00:06:50.91\00:06:52.87
they came to visit me,
00:06:52.91\00:06:54.24
and they were
waiting there for me.
00:06:54.28\00:06:55.61
That, is this
during Sabbath hours?
00:06:55.64\00:06:56.98
It was...
00:06:57.01\00:06:58.35
After the Sabbath.
00:06:58.38\00:06:59.71
After the Sabbath hours, it
was probably in the evening,
00:06:59.75\00:07:01.08
but maybe 6 or 7pm.
00:07:01.12\00:07:02.45
After the
Sabbath, okay, okay, okay.
00:07:02.48\00:07:03.82
Winter time, it
was already dark.
00:07:03.85\00:07:05.95
Well, to me, it was like
00:07:05.99\00:07:08.79
the second coming
of Christ in a sense
00:07:08.82\00:07:10.83
because I was completely
unprepared for this experience.
00:07:10.86\00:07:16.36
And what I'm saying with this is
00:07:16.40\00:07:19.73
there's a Bible passage
in 2 Peter 3:14, and it says,
00:07:19.77\00:07:23.74
"Therefore, beloved,
00:07:23.77\00:07:25.11
looking forward to these things,
00:07:25.14\00:07:27.38
be diligent to be
found by him in peace,
00:07:27.41\00:07:31.18
without spot and blameless."
00:07:31.21\00:07:34.88
What I'm saying is
the principle is think of,
00:07:34.92\00:07:39.89
if Jesus Christ will come
00:07:39.92\00:07:42.32
while I'm, while
I'm watching, listening,
00:07:42.36\00:07:45.43
playing this
whatever thing it is,
00:07:45.46\00:07:48.96
if my answer is I'm happy
00:07:49.00\00:07:50.90
if Jesus Christ
comes and finds me there,
00:07:50.93\00:07:53.57
you keep doing it, it's okay.
00:07:53.60\00:07:56.67
But if the answer is
no, probably you better...
00:07:56.71\00:08:00.34
If you would feel
guilty for Christ to come...
00:08:00.38\00:08:02.11
Right.
00:08:02.14\00:08:03.48
And you know
this, may I add this?
00:08:03.51\00:08:04.88
Sure.
00:08:04.91\00:08:06.25
It's not, we think
that as in the second coming
00:08:06.28\00:08:09.32
but what we have to
remember as Christians,
00:08:09.35\00:08:11.19
is that, He is
with us at all times.
00:08:11.22\00:08:13.25
Yes.
00:08:13.29\00:08:14.62
So, it's not if,
just if He was coming
00:08:14.66\00:08:16.59
but He's there
with you right then
00:08:16.62\00:08:19.06
and so if you don't think,
00:08:19.09\00:08:21.20
if you recognize His
presence in your life
00:08:21.23\00:08:23.97
and you're watching something
that's displeasing to him,
00:08:24.00\00:08:26.47
you're not going
to have any peace.
00:08:26.50\00:08:29.70
Again, as we
begin this discussion,
00:08:29.74\00:08:31.41
sometimes we say
well, how do I know?
00:08:31.44\00:08:32.87
Is this good or this is bad.
00:08:32.91\00:08:35.44
If we, if I don't know, I
can ask myself the question.
00:08:35.48\00:08:40.08
If Christ will come now
and find me watching this,
00:08:40.12\00:08:44.15
doing this, playing this,
00:08:44.19\00:08:46.76
if I think that I
will be found in peace,
00:08:46.79\00:08:51.89
I can continue
with whatever I'm doing.
00:08:51.93\00:08:55.36
But if there is
a question on that
00:08:55.40\00:08:57.07
and I probably shouldn't do it.
00:08:57.10\00:08:58.43
That's good.
00:08:58.47\00:08:59.80
Also sometime
traveling by plane.
00:08:59.83\00:09:03.10
What do people do when they,
00:09:03.14\00:09:04.47
when, what do we do
when we're in a plane?
00:09:04.51\00:09:07.61
Well, some people sleep,
some people read something,
00:09:07.64\00:09:09.54
and a lot of
people watch a movie
00:09:09.58\00:09:12.18
or you watch something.
00:09:12.21\00:09:14.02
And I thought of,
one time I thought,
00:09:14.05\00:09:16.42
what if this
plane crashes right now?
00:09:16.45\00:09:19.19
It happened, a
few planes crashed,
00:09:19.22\00:09:21.16
we know that.
00:09:21.19\00:09:24.03
How would I be found or
how someone would be found
00:09:24.06\00:09:29.03
watching a movie,
if the plane crashes?
00:09:29.06\00:09:31.63
You know, obviously
this, you may say, "Well,
00:09:31.67\00:09:33.23
these are theoretical questions,
00:09:33.27\00:09:34.60
almost impossible."
00:09:34.64\00:09:36.54
Well, that's true
but the question remains.
00:09:36.57\00:09:38.21
If Christ will come and find
me there in front of the screen,
00:09:38.24\00:09:43.35
would I be happy?
00:09:43.38\00:09:44.71
If the answer is yes,
keep watching, keep doing it.
00:09:44.75\00:09:47.62
If the answer is no, we
should probably think twice.
00:09:47.65\00:09:51.49
The second principle
it's in Philippians 4:8,
00:09:51.52\00:09:55.12
it's a known Bible passage.
00:09:55.16\00:09:57.36
"Finally, Brethren,
whatever things are true,
00:09:57.39\00:10:00.50
whatever things are
noble, whatever things are just,
00:10:00.53\00:10:03.53
whatever things are pure,
whatever things are lovely,
00:10:03.57\00:10:08.00
whatever things
are of good report,
00:10:08.04\00:10:10.27
if there is any virtue,
00:10:10.31\00:10:11.84
if there is
anything praiseworthy,
00:10:11.87\00:10:14.24
meditate on these things."
00:10:14.28\00:10:15.61
Yes.
00:10:15.64\00:10:16.98
If we take this
passage and apply it to media,
00:10:17.01\00:10:22.08
I think it will help
us to come to a very close
00:10:22.12\00:10:24.79
to an answer in
helping me discern and say,
00:10:24.82\00:10:28.09
"Well, if this is good and
true and beautiful and worthy,
00:10:28.12\00:10:33.60
I'm going to do it."
00:10:33.63\00:10:34.96
If the answer, well, it is not.
00:10:35.00\00:10:37.67
And this leads me
to the second section
00:10:37.70\00:10:41.50
of our discussion,
00:10:41.54\00:10:43.77
what can I do
because I'm struggling
00:10:43.81\00:10:46.37
and honestly, we
have to say, some of us,
00:10:46.41\00:10:48.04
for one reason or another,
00:10:48.08\00:10:49.58
we're struggling with media.
00:10:49.61\00:10:51.45
And again remember,
music, movies, computer games,
00:10:51.48\00:10:55.68
gambling, pornography,
sports, entertainment,
00:10:55.72\00:10:57.92
and then some of
us are struggling,
00:10:57.95\00:11:00.36
some of us are
struggling with one aspect,
00:11:00.39\00:11:02.42
others more with
others, what am I,
00:11:02.46\00:11:05.66
how am I going to solve this?
00:11:05.69\00:11:07.30
Is there a solution?
00:11:07.33\00:11:08.66
And the first step I
would say is, we have to be,
00:11:08.70\00:11:14.00
to be honest,
00:11:14.04\00:11:15.37
and ask God to help me
honestly recognize my own...
00:11:15.40\00:11:21.78
Yeah.
00:11:21.81\00:11:23.14
Where I am in this.
00:11:23.18\00:11:24.81
Some people live in denial,
00:11:24.85\00:11:26.18
and they say, "Well,
this is not an issue for me.
00:11:26.21\00:11:28.02
Oh, well, I can.
00:11:28.05\00:11:29.45
Well, I'm fine. It
doesn't affect me."
00:11:29.48\00:11:31.99
I remember talking to
someone and he would say,
00:11:32.02\00:11:34.59
"Well, I can watch any movie
00:11:34.62\00:11:35.96
and those don't
affect me at all."
00:11:35.99\00:11:38.36
I would say, "Well, if
they don't affect you at all,
00:11:38.39\00:11:39.96
why do you
watch them after all?"
00:11:40.00\00:11:43.80
I don't believe, I mean,
not only that I don't believe,
00:11:43.83\00:11:47.87
there are again
plenty of scientific research
00:11:47.90\00:11:50.77
that proves that
every life experience
00:11:50.81\00:11:54.38
has an effect on our
brain and changes us.
00:11:54.41\00:11:58.15
Then the first, the
first thing they need to do
00:11:58.18\00:12:01.45
is to take an honest
look at ourselves and say,
00:12:01.48\00:12:03.69
"Well, I think I have a problem.
00:12:03.72\00:12:06.52
Honestly, to say God,
00:12:06.55\00:12:07.89
do I have a problem
with this or I don't?"
00:12:07.92\00:12:10.86
And be very honest,
00:12:10.89\00:12:12.23
do an honest
assessment of where we are,
00:12:12.26\00:12:14.23
in the relationship
with this aspect of our lives
00:12:14.26\00:12:17.47
which is media.
00:12:17.50\00:12:18.83
If we realize
that we have a problem,
00:12:18.87\00:12:20.47
the next step is
to confess and repent.
00:12:20.50\00:12:22.27
Mm-hm.
00:12:22.30\00:12:23.64
And be very
practical in confessing,
00:12:23.67\00:12:25.01
and I have to say,
00:12:25.04\00:12:26.37
"God, I'm so sorry
I watched this movie."
00:12:26.41\00:12:28.28
Or "I'm so sorry
I play this game."
00:12:28.31\00:12:29.81
Or "I'm so sorry
I spend so much time
00:12:29.84\00:12:31.58
in watching this
baseball game or basketball
00:12:31.61\00:12:34.65
or soccer or whatever it is."
00:12:34.68\00:12:36.69
I have to be honest and make
the confession very pointedly
00:12:36.72\00:12:40.49
and say, "I'm sorry
for this, please help me,
00:12:40.52\00:12:43.02
I don't want to
do it in the future.
00:12:43.06\00:12:45.29
Repentance is,
00:12:45.33\00:12:47.56
one of the definitions
of repentance would be,
00:12:47.60\00:12:50.50
"If I'll be there
again, I'm not going to do it."
00:12:50.53\00:12:52.37
Right.
00:12:52.40\00:12:53.74
"If the circumstances bring
me to the same point, next time,
00:12:53.77\00:12:57.57
I'm not going to do it again."
00:12:57.61\00:12:59.34
That means I believe repentance.
00:12:59.37\00:13:01.18
Amen.
00:13:01.21\00:13:02.54
But that takes
an honest assessment
00:13:02.58\00:13:04.41
of who we are and in
our relationship with God.
00:13:04.45\00:13:06.65
And it takes the power
of God, I mean, the Bible...
00:13:06.68\00:13:08.92
Absolutely.
00:13:08.95\00:13:10.29
Speaks to, refers to
repentance as a gift from God,
00:13:10.32\00:13:12.85
so one thing that I
really believe is that
00:13:12.89\00:13:16.12
when you are
praying and asking God
00:13:16.16\00:13:18.79
to forgive us of our sins,
00:13:18.83\00:13:20.16
cleanse us of
all unrighteousness,
00:13:20.20\00:13:22.06
that's the part
where you're saying,
00:13:22.10\00:13:23.43
"Lord, grant me repentance,
help me to turn away,
00:13:23.47\00:13:25.93
to change my heart,
00:13:25.97\00:13:27.30
work in me to will and
to do your good pleasure."
00:13:27.34\00:13:29.77
Another story, I was
15, I was just baptized,
00:13:29.80\00:13:34.41
probably a few
months before that
00:13:34.44\00:13:36.44
and my life was taking a
very serious change, turn.
00:13:36.48\00:13:40.88
I was deciding that I'm
not going to watch movies,
00:13:40.92\00:13:43.89
not going to
listen to bad music,
00:13:43.92\00:13:45.72
and change my way
of relating to girls
00:13:45.75\00:13:48.26
and stop telling
all kinds of jokes.
00:13:48.29\00:13:50.53
Those were four years of my life
00:13:50.56\00:13:51.96
where, which I, there
were weak points in my life,
00:13:51.99\00:13:54.70
and I was very
seriously committed.
00:13:54.73\00:13:57.03
Again, 15 and I remember,
I remember this, my friends,
00:13:57.07\00:14:01.57
I still had my friends,
friends was another issue,
00:14:01.60\00:14:06.64
but I was trying
to live a godly life
00:14:06.68\00:14:09.44
with my un-Godly friends.
00:14:09.48\00:14:11.75
And one, I remember finishing
the high school classes,
00:14:11.78\00:14:15.95
I think it was 1 o'clock,
and my friends said, "Octavian,
00:14:15.98\00:14:18.92
there is a movie, you
need to see that movie.
00:14:18.95\00:14:21.16
It's at 3 o'clock."
00:14:21.19\00:14:22.52
And I said "No, I'm not
going, I'm not interested."
00:14:22.56\00:14:23.89
And he said, "No Octavian,
00:14:23.93\00:14:25.26
you need to come
and see the movie."
00:14:25.29\00:14:26.86
So I said, "No,
no, I'm not interested,
00:14:26.90\00:14:28.23
I'm not coming."
00:14:28.26\00:14:29.60
"Octavian, see
you at 3 o'clock."
00:14:29.63\00:14:31.20
I say "I'm not coming."
00:14:31.23\00:14:32.60
They waved to me and
said, "We'll see you at 3:00."
00:14:32.63\00:14:35.94
See, the Devil
is very persistent.
00:14:35.97\00:14:37.91
Mm-hm. Very persistent.
00:14:37.94\00:14:41.31
And I told them that
"No, I'm not coming."
00:14:41.34\00:14:43.01
I went home, my mother was home,
00:14:43.04\00:14:46.08
and I remember telling
my mother, I said, "Mum,
00:14:46.11\00:14:48.45
my colleagues invited me
to a watch a movie with them.
00:14:48.48\00:14:51.19
Should I go or should I not?"
00:14:51.22\00:14:53.82
Even though we
watch movies at home,
00:14:53.86\00:14:55.19
but my mother didn't agree
00:14:55.22\00:14:56.62
that I should go and
watch movie at the cinema.
00:14:56.66\00:14:58.99
She says "No, you
don't have to go."
00:14:59.03\00:15:02.80
Guess what? I said,
"I think I'm going."
00:15:02.83\00:15:06.87
She says "No, I
think you don't have to go,
00:15:06.90\00:15:09.37
it's not a good thing to go,
plus you have homework to do."
00:15:09.40\00:15:12.64
I said, "But I'd like to go."
00:15:12.67\00:15:14.08
Now it's kind of like
a forbidden fruit, right?
00:15:14.11\00:15:15.61
Yes, yes, yes, it's this
interesting change of mind,
00:15:15.64\00:15:19.55
you just wonder what
happens with our minds.
00:15:19.58\00:15:23.65
And my mother said, "If
you go, you'll be sorry."
00:15:23.69\00:15:26.25
And I said, "I
don't know about that.
00:15:26.29\00:15:27.62
I'd like to go."
00:15:27.66\00:15:28.99
And my mother says
"Well, if you like to go, okay.
00:15:29.02\00:15:31.79
Go. But you will
be sorry, said I go."
00:15:31.83\00:15:34.80
But I went to this movie.
00:15:34.83\00:15:36.97
These friends of mine, the
Bible says "Evil company...
00:15:37.00\00:15:41.30
Corrupts.
00:15:41.34\00:15:42.67
... Good habits."
00:15:42.70\00:15:44.57
These friends of mine,
00:15:44.61\00:15:45.94
actually they saw this
movies three times in a row,
00:15:45.97\00:15:48.48
the same movie, three times.
00:15:48.51\00:15:50.21
They went to watch that movie
00:15:50.25\00:15:52.05
for one single
scene in that movie.
00:15:52.08\00:15:55.62
It was a sexy scene,
00:15:55.65\00:15:57.59
not as explicit as so
many are today but still.
00:15:57.62\00:16:02.06
And the friends
wanted to get me there
00:16:02.09\00:16:04.56
to watch that single scene.
00:16:04.59\00:16:08.03
To see your
reaction to that, yeah.
00:16:08.06\00:16:09.40
Two minutes.
00:16:09.43\00:16:10.77
I don't know what
was in their minds
00:16:10.80\00:16:12.13
but they wanted to go
with them and watch that.
00:16:12.17\00:16:14.07
And I went and I
was truly, I was sorry.
00:16:14.10\00:16:18.14
And I decided
in my mind, I said,
00:16:18.17\00:16:19.64
"This is not
going to happen again."
00:16:19.67\00:16:22.41
Then true repentance means,
00:16:22.44\00:16:23.78
if we are brought back
to the same circumstances,
00:16:23.81\00:16:27.35
we have to be committed
that we won't do it again.
00:16:27.38\00:16:28.72
Yeah.
00:16:28.75\00:16:30.09
We will react
in a different way.
00:16:30.12\00:16:31.62
Number three is to
look to a wonderful promise
00:16:31.65\00:16:35.32
in the Bible, it's in
1 John 1:9, which says,
00:16:35.36\00:16:39.59
"If we confess our sins,
00:16:39.63\00:16:41.36
he is faithful and
just to forgive us our sins
00:16:41.40\00:16:45.33
and to cleanse us
from all unrighteousness."
00:16:45.37\00:16:49.37
Then, I think this
is a very precious,
00:16:49.40\00:16:51.14
very, very precious
promise in the Bible
00:16:51.17\00:16:52.97
that it doesn't
matter what we have done,
00:16:53.01\00:16:55.04
it doesn't matter
what we have seen, watched,
00:16:55.08\00:16:57.95
God is willing to
clean, to erase everything.
00:16:57.98\00:17:02.65
He says, "Well, you did it,
00:17:02.68\00:17:05.09
as I see you're
honestly coming back.
00:17:05.12\00:17:06.99
I'm willing to
forgive everything,
00:17:07.02\00:17:08.89
and I'm also
willing to give you power
00:17:08.92\00:17:10.59
to overcome in the future."
00:17:10.63\00:17:14.36
Step number four, I read a book,
00:17:14.40\00:17:17.20
the wonderful, wonderful book
00:17:17.23\00:17:18.97
which I would
recommend to everybody,
00:17:19.00\00:17:20.37
it's called Steps to
Christ, Steps to Christ.
00:17:20.40\00:17:26.07
It's a wonderful book.
00:17:26.11\00:17:28.48
In the book, there is a passage
00:17:28.51\00:17:30.91
which speaks about
ourselves and I think,
00:17:30.95\00:17:35.05
I would like to read,
00:17:35.08\00:17:36.69
actually there are two passages.
00:17:36.72\00:17:38.05
Certainly.
00:17:38.09\00:17:39.49
Because, I think, it describes
very well what happens with us.
00:17:39.52\00:17:43.53
It says, "You desire
to give yourself to God
00:17:43.56\00:17:46.70
but you are weak in moral power,
00:17:46.73\00:17:49.16
in slavery to
doubt and controlled
00:17:49.20\00:17:52.57
by habits of your life of sin.
00:17:52.60\00:17:55.60
Your promises and resolutions
are like ropes of sand.
00:17:55.64\00:17:59.01
You cannot
control your thoughts,
00:17:59.04\00:18:01.18
your impulses, your affections.
00:18:01.21\00:18:03.61
The knowledge of
your broken promises
00:18:03.65\00:18:05.75
and forfeited pledges
weakens your confidence
00:18:05.78\00:18:08.95
in your own sincerity
and causes you to feel
00:18:08.98\00:18:11.92
that God cannot accept you
but you need not to despair.
00:18:11.95\00:18:18.09
What you need to understand
is the true force of the will.
00:18:18.13\00:18:23.37
This is the governing
power in the nature of men,
00:18:23.40\00:18:27.60
the power of
decision or of choice.
00:18:27.64\00:18:30.74
Everything depends on
the right action of the will,
00:18:30.77\00:18:34.18
the power of choice
God has given to men,
00:18:34.21\00:18:39.08
it is theirs to exercise.
00:18:39.11\00:18:41.98
You cannot change your heart,
00:18:42.02\00:18:44.09
you cannot of yourself
give to God its affections,
00:18:44.12\00:18:48.06
but you can choose to serve him.
00:18:48.09\00:18:50.89
You can give him your will."
00:18:50.93\00:18:55.43
I found this, this steps
00:18:55.46\00:18:57.33
described in this wonderful book
00:18:57.37\00:18:59.47
is being very real
00:18:59.50\00:19:00.94
because sometime we
found ourselves weak
00:19:00.97\00:19:03.41
and we promised ourselves,
"I'm not going to do it again."
00:19:03.44\00:19:06.17
And then we do it again.
00:19:06.21\00:19:07.98
And you feel
guilty and you feel weak
00:19:08.01\00:19:11.61
and you think, I'm
not going to manage,
00:19:11.65\00:19:13.21
it's a waste of
time, I just can't.
00:19:13.25\00:19:19.95
But in this beautiful passage,
a very profound concept,
00:19:19.99\00:19:25.99
it acknowledges the
fact that we human beings
00:19:26.03\00:19:27.90
in ourselves we cannot,
00:19:27.93\00:19:30.03
but we can do one thing,
00:19:30.07\00:19:31.40
we can ask God for help
and say, "God, I know who I am,
00:19:31.43\00:19:34.14
I know that I am weak but
I want to give you my will.
00:19:34.17\00:19:37.24
You help me to do this."
00:19:37.27\00:19:39.77
It's one of those things
00:19:39.81\00:19:41.14
Lord even I
can't always be willing
00:19:41.18\00:19:45.21
but I just tell the Lord,
I'm willing to be made willing,
00:19:45.25\00:19:48.18
and then He works in you to will
00:19:48.22\00:19:50.15
and to do His good pleasure.
00:19:50.19\00:19:52.32
I think it's the
Holy Spirit that,
00:19:52.35\00:19:55.09
how can you
explain that a young boy,
00:19:55.12\00:19:58.53
as I was, 14, 15, I
came up, you may say,
00:19:58.56\00:20:03.06
by myself to the realization
00:20:03.10\00:20:05.47
that all these media
exposure that I have,
00:20:05.50\00:20:08.44
which is in a sense,
innocent compared with today.
00:20:08.47\00:20:11.21
But I understood that,
00:20:11.24\00:20:12.57
that was taking
me away from God.
00:20:12.61\00:20:14.61
It was not my parents
00:20:14.64\00:20:15.98
because my parents at that time,
00:20:16.01\00:20:17.35
they were still watching movies.
00:20:17.38\00:20:19.05
Somehow I think,
00:20:19.08\00:20:21.12
the Holy Spirit
can speak to anybody,
00:20:21.15\00:20:23.49
to anybody that's willing.
00:20:23.52\00:20:25.85
If honestly and
sincerely we say, "Well, Lord,
00:20:25.89\00:20:29.69
I'm struggling with this,
00:20:29.72\00:20:31.09
I know that I have this problem,
00:20:31.13\00:20:32.46
please help me.
00:20:32.49\00:20:33.83
I am willing, I
give you my will,
00:20:33.86\00:20:36.20
I'm willing to
change, please help me."
00:20:36.23\00:20:38.13
I think God will honor that,
00:20:38.17\00:20:39.67
He has promised
that He will honor that.
00:20:39.70\00:20:42.07
Step number five
comes to a commitment.
00:20:42.10\00:20:47.48
There is a wonderful
passage in the Book of Job
00:20:47.51\00:20:49.38
in 31:1 which says,
00:20:49.41\00:20:53.45
"I've made a
covenant with my eyes."
00:20:53.48\00:20:58.02
In the end, 80%
of any information
00:20:58.05\00:21:00.46
we receive in our
brains is through the eyes.
00:21:00.49\00:21:03.66
80%? 80%.
00:21:03.69\00:21:05.19
That's my understanding.
00:21:05.23\00:21:06.56
80% of the information
comes through the visual.
00:21:06.59\00:21:09.76
And it's, we have to in the end,
00:21:09.80\00:21:15.94
we have to come to a point
00:21:15.97\00:21:17.31
where we make a
covenant with our eyes
00:21:17.34\00:21:19.81
and to say to ourselves,
00:21:19.84\00:21:21.84
"I'm going to
keep my eyes clean,
00:21:21.88\00:21:23.48
I'm going to keep my
eyes focused on Jesus, on God,
00:21:23.51\00:21:28.22
on what's true, pure, and Godly.
00:21:28.25\00:21:31.82
If there is something
of a different nature,
00:21:31.85\00:21:33.39
I'm going to turn
my eyes from that."
00:21:33.42\00:21:35.72
And Octavian, don't
you think that, this is,
00:21:35.76\00:21:38.59
that's an incredible percentage
00:21:38.63\00:21:40.50
because I'm
thinking how deceitful,
00:21:40.53\00:21:43.26
now there's things
in what we see visually
00:21:43.30\00:21:46.53
is not always true.
00:21:46.57\00:21:48.50
Things can be doctored,
pictures can be doctored,
00:21:48.54\00:21:51.24
I mean, you can see a movie
00:21:51.27\00:21:53.07
where somebody has no
legs and they actually do,
00:21:53.11\00:21:55.31
because it's computer generated
00:21:55.34\00:21:57.21
and we know Satan's gonna
come back and do some things,
00:21:57.25\00:22:00.35
masquerading as
the Angel of Light
00:22:00.38\00:22:02.38
as they do.
00:22:02.42\00:22:03.75
But the point
that I'm making is,
00:22:03.79\00:22:06.05
our eyes need a filter
00:22:06.09\00:22:07.52
if we need to have
the Word of God to even,
00:22:07.56\00:22:11.73
if we're making a covenant
with our eyes, to do what?
00:22:11.76\00:22:15.40
To do the things that
God is asking us to do here,
00:22:15.43\00:22:19.03
not to look upon certain things
and to understand what's good,
00:22:19.07\00:22:22.70
what's noble.
00:22:22.74\00:22:25.07
You see, this doesn't happen
as an isolated experience.
00:22:25.11\00:22:29.74
In the end is the
whole life that changes.
00:22:29.78\00:22:31.38
Yes, yes.
00:22:31.41\00:22:32.75
And I think God,
00:22:32.78\00:22:34.12
when God begins
the restoration process
00:22:34.15\00:22:36.52
in someone's life,
00:22:36.55\00:22:37.95
the restoration process
00:22:37.99\00:22:39.32
actually
affects the whole being.
00:22:39.35\00:22:42.29
But it begins with our minds.
00:22:42.32\00:22:44.29
Yes.
00:22:44.33\00:22:45.66
Maybe the third
question for today
00:22:45.69\00:22:47.43
is what can I do
to prevent relapsing.
00:22:47.46\00:22:52.30
Number one, to
stay close to God,
00:22:52.33\00:22:54.60
have a devotional life,
have a regular devotional life.
00:22:54.64\00:22:58.24
I don't know about other people,
00:22:58.27\00:23:00.44
as far as I'm
concerned about my life,
00:23:00.48\00:23:03.04
I know that when
I'm not intentional
00:23:03.08\00:23:06.72
about my commitment,
my relationship with God,
00:23:06.75\00:23:10.49
I need to spend
time with God everyday.
00:23:10.52\00:23:14.62
In the morning, in the evening,
00:23:14.66\00:23:16.73
I know that when
that doesn't happen
00:23:16.76\00:23:20.06
or, is like Samson, I
become like every other man.
00:23:20.10\00:23:23.83
Yes.
00:23:23.87\00:23:25.20
We are just
exposed, we are just weak.
00:23:25.23\00:23:27.34
Without God's,
00:23:27.37\00:23:28.70
without God's presence
and strength in our life,
00:23:28.74\00:23:30.97
we just become like
exposed to Devil's influences.
00:23:31.01\00:23:35.68
Then the commitment of
having a devotional life.
00:23:35.71\00:23:37.91
Number two.
00:23:37.95\00:23:39.28
What I call the
proximity factor.
00:23:39.31\00:23:41.95
If you know people that
have been addicted to tobacco,
00:23:41.98\00:23:45.45
then in my
experience in public health,
00:23:45.49\00:23:47.69
when at one point I had to do
00:23:47.72\00:23:51.73
an evaluation of a
stop smoking program.
00:23:51.76\00:23:55.73
And my role in that experience
was to call these people
00:23:55.76\00:24:00.74
that have attended
a stop smoking clinic
00:24:00.77\00:24:03.84
and program and to evaluate
the success of the program
00:24:03.87\00:24:07.31
because you look, there
are certain progression,
00:24:07.34\00:24:09.44
you see people quitting
00:24:09.48\00:24:11.41
and they stay quit for one month
00:24:11.45\00:24:14.32
and they relapse or
you see people quitting
00:24:14.35\00:24:16.22
and stay quit for three months
and they relapse, and so on.
00:24:16.25\00:24:19.29
Then I call these people
00:24:19.32\00:24:20.66
and this happened
maybe a year or so or more.
00:24:20.69\00:24:23.02
And I call this, I
don't remember exactly
00:24:23.06\00:24:24.43
how many people, about 50 people
00:24:24.46\00:24:25.79
and I asked them,
00:24:25.83\00:24:28.03
"Have you been successful
and you quit during the clinic,
00:24:28.06\00:24:31.97
have you been successful?"
00:24:32.00\00:24:33.47
Some would say
yes, some would say no,
00:24:33.50\00:24:34.84
and then I explore that,
00:24:34.87\00:24:36.30
I have an interview with them
and see what are the factors
00:24:36.34\00:24:38.27
that led you to success,
00:24:38.31\00:24:39.64
what are the factors
that led you to fall,
00:24:39.67\00:24:41.04
to relapse.
00:24:41.08\00:24:42.58
The one factor, just one of them
00:24:42.61\00:24:44.11
is the availability of
the tobacco in this case.
00:24:44.15\00:24:51.09
Make no provision for
the flesh policy, yeah.
00:24:51.12\00:24:52.75
Yes.
00:24:52.79\00:24:54.16
Then if we know
that we struggled
00:24:54.19\00:24:56.26
with media and addiction,
00:24:56.29\00:24:57.63
then I have to basically
avoid as much as I can.
00:24:57.66\00:25:01.26
I know people
that are professionals,
00:25:01.30\00:25:02.86
they have to work
everyday with computers
00:25:02.90\00:25:05.20
and have access to internet.
00:25:05.23\00:25:06.97
Well, there are
ways of controlling
00:25:07.00\00:25:08.50
that area of life.
00:25:08.54\00:25:10.37
The point is the
proximity factor,
00:25:10.41\00:25:14.44
then if I know that I
have a problem with it,
00:25:14.48\00:25:16.81
I have to stay
away as much as I can.
00:25:16.85\00:25:18.65
You know this is, I'm going
to put it in a little plug.
00:25:18.68\00:25:21.42
Moses Primo, our
director of engineering here
00:25:21.45\00:25:24.49
has created
something called "My SDA Box",
00:25:24.52\00:25:27.99
and it's similar to
the Roku but it only has
00:25:28.02\00:25:31.93
Seventh-day
Adventist channels on it,
00:25:31.96\00:25:33.90
and for $99 or from $69 to $99.
00:25:33.93\00:25:36.90
Someone can buy one of those
and just eliminate, you know,
00:25:36.93\00:25:41.77
we always tell people
this is what you ought
00:25:41.80\00:25:43.81
to be giving as a
gift rather than a Roku,
00:25:43.84\00:25:46.01
where they can be tempted
with hundreds of channels
00:25:46.04\00:25:49.48
that are not Christian,
give them something that,
00:25:49.51\00:25:51.95
it only has Christian viewing.
00:25:51.98\00:25:54.28
Yeah, then again
the proximity factor
00:25:54.32\00:25:55.95
and the accessibility,
00:25:55.98\00:25:57.32
it's a huge thing
in the addiction world.
00:25:57.35\00:25:59.82
Than how
addictive the drug of abuse,
00:25:59.85\00:26:02.56
how available
the drug of abuse is,
00:26:02.59\00:26:05.09
and we know it's
just a click away.
00:26:05.13\00:26:07.36
It's just a click away. Mm-hm.
00:26:07.40\00:26:08.73
Then you have all
kinds of advertisement
00:26:08.76\00:26:11.40
and sites and everything,
and it's just a click away.
00:26:11.43\00:26:13.84
Then staying away knowing that
00:26:13.87\00:26:16.34
also having an
accountability partner.
00:26:16.37\00:26:18.87
Having someone that is with you,
00:26:18.91\00:26:21.11
someone that you can trust,
someone that you can talk to,
00:26:21.14\00:26:24.61
someone that you give
full control of your life.
00:26:24.65\00:26:28.72
It can be your spouse,
00:26:28.75\00:26:30.19
it can be your very good friend,
00:26:30.22\00:26:31.55
it can be your pastor, it can,
00:26:31.59\00:26:32.92
someone that you
can at anytime he can,
00:26:32.95\00:26:35.89
you can talk honestly
00:26:35.92\00:26:37.26
and he can ask
you, "Well, how is it?
00:26:37.29\00:26:40.06
Have you been relapsing or not?"
00:26:40.10\00:26:42.50
Being accountable to
someone else it's, it helps.
00:26:42.53\00:26:45.73
Amen. Also,
decide ahead of time.
00:26:45.77\00:26:48.40
The temptation and the
battle over the temptation
00:26:48.44\00:26:52.64
is not won in the
moment of their patience.
00:26:52.67\00:26:56.61
Amen. It's won ahead of time.
00:26:56.64\00:26:59.78
Then prepare yourself,
00:26:59.81\00:27:01.18
if I know that I have
to travel, in my case,
00:27:01.22\00:27:04.49
I know that I have
to travel, sometime,
00:27:04.52\00:27:05.85
you have to be in a hotel.
00:27:05.89\00:27:07.22
What's in a hotel room?
00:27:07.26\00:27:08.59
Television and
much more. Television.
00:27:08.62\00:27:10.13
Yeah, television is there
with all kinds of whatever.
00:27:10.16\00:27:13.60
We know our past experiences,
00:27:13.63\00:27:16.26
learn from the past experiences,
00:27:16.30\00:27:19.57
because with every
addiction you can see a pattern.
00:27:19.60\00:27:23.04
Then you learn
from those patterns
00:27:23.07\00:27:25.21
and decide ahead of time.
00:27:25.24\00:27:28.11
And in the end, I would
say, if tempted, resist.
00:27:28.14\00:27:31.38
The Bible says...
00:27:31.41\00:27:32.75
Yeah.
00:27:32.78\00:27:34.12
Therefore submit to
God, resist the Devil,
00:27:34.15\00:27:36.02
and he would flee from you.
00:27:36.05\00:27:37.45
That's a
wonderful promise. Amen.
00:27:37.49\00:27:38.95
Thank you so much Octavian
for giving us these principles.
00:27:38.99\00:27:42.52
They are a wonderful solution
in the battle for our mind,
00:27:42.56\00:27:45.79
and that is to recognize
and that you have a problem,
00:27:45.83\00:27:50.43
and what's the difference
between right and wrong,
00:27:50.47\00:27:53.17
if you're
comfortable before the Lord
00:27:53.20\00:27:55.10
to make certain
that this is something
00:27:55.14\00:27:58.04
that you are giving it to God
00:27:58.07\00:28:00.58
and that you can
know that God said,
00:28:00.61\00:28:04.21
"That my grace is
sufficient for you
00:28:04.25\00:28:06.85
for my power is made
perfect in your weakness."
00:28:06.88\00:28:10.39
So if you are
struggling, just call on God
00:28:10.42\00:28:12.99
because Christ,
with Christ's strength,
00:28:13.02\00:28:15.82
you can do all things.
00:28:15.86\00:28:17.59
Thank you so
much for joining us,
00:28:17.63\00:28:19.39
we'll see you next time.
00:28:19.43\00:28:20.76
Thank you.
00:28:20.80\00:28:22.13