Christian in a Broken World
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and I want to
begin with the text
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and it's found in Galatians 2:20
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and happens be another
one of those favorite texts,
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at least for me as one
of those favorite texts.
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And just some
texts have a ring to them
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and this certainly has it.
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Where it says, "I am
crucified with Christ
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and it is no longer I who
live, but Christ lives in me,
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and the life which I
now live in the flesh
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I live by faith
in the Son of God,
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who loved me
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and delivered
Himself up for me."
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Wouldn't agree that
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its just one little
texts that has a ring?
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And yet begins with this idea
"I am crucified with Christ."
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What does that mean, I
am crucified with Christ?
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Well, we remember
when we're baptized
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we enter as Romans 6
says "we enter in the death,
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the burial and the
resurrection of Jesus."
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We enter by faith
into the death of Jesus.
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There is the
renunciation of self,
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our turning away from
self because self has been
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deeply affected by
this knowledge of evil
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that come straight
out of the Garden of Eden.
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And so there is
this renunciation of self
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but there is in the renunciation
of self and embracement
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of the life of Jesus
so that it is no longer
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I who live but
what, Christ lives in me.
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That's what it means
fundamentally to be a Christian,
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to be a Seventh-day Adventist
Christian, very specifically.
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And I want to
specifically this morning
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focus in on that part of
the text that says the life
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which I now live,
which clearly is a contrast
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to the life which I
once lived apart from Christ,
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a life that was
dominated by self
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that was centered in self.
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Would you not agree?
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And I just I pray I
believe that this is the desire
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the prayer of each
one of us this morning,
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that desire that hunger
to know Jesus more that Jesus
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to be yielded more
fully and completely to Jesus
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so that Jesus can live out
His life through us, by faith.
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And it's all a faith.
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Now I'm gonna be very practical
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in what I am gonna be
sharing with you this morning
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and it is apart with the
flow of what we've been studying
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in the area of
righteousness by faith.
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Every subject
that we've looked at
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in the context of the revival
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has had that
beautiful truth of righteousness
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by faith as a foundation to it.
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Take your Bibles and turn
with me to 1 John Chapter 2
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the New Testament page 185,
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185, 1 John 2:15-17.
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Again our
experience our profession
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must be much more than
just allusive teaching,
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allusive
doctrines that we believe.
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The teachings and the
doctrines are relevant
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only in the context
of our relationship.
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And our purpose, our purpose is
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not to
intellectualize us, primarily.
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Certainly, we are not to deny
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how important an
intellectual understanding is
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because that's why the Word
of God has been given to us.
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So it's not a denial
of the intellectual aspect
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that is a part of faith
but it must not be just simply
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an intellectual experience.
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It must be a relationship
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and the
intellectual aspect of it
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is to give us the
content to our relationship
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and
understanding of who Jesus is,
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what He stands for?
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The principles, the counsels
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and the teachings
that we have from His word
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and we believe
it's the Spirit of Jesus
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that has spoken to us
through His word, right.
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But here we are 1
John 2:15-17 were John says
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"Do not love the world
or the things in the world.
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If anyone loves the world,
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the love of the
Father is not in him.
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For all that is in the
world, the lust of the flesh
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and the lust of the eyes,
and the boastful pride of life
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is not from the
Father but is from the world.
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The world is passing
away and also its lust,
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but the one does the
will of God lives forever."
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And we've already taken note
in the context of our meetings
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and it's a, its essential to
our understanding of the gospel
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and the who Jesus is and when
He came to accomplish for us
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to understand this is
not the world that God
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intended for us to
live our lives out on.
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A world full of all of
the problems and difficulties
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I call it the mess
that sin has made of life.
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It has just corrupted
God's original intention for us.
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Life was never meant be
what we are experiencing
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at here in this old world.
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And knowing that
and in understanding
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that we can appreciate something
what John is talking about here.
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How can we love something
that is a marked departure
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from Gods will for us, right?
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And it is, it's
a marked departure
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from Gods original plan for us.
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Just God just has a better way.
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He has a better way, doesn't He?
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He has a better way,
he has a better intent
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for your life and my life.
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And He has a plan for us.
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By denials we look at this text.
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I know that it may be
possibly in this ebb and flow
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that's been taking
place in the church
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over this whole area
of righteousness by faith,
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that pendulum swing,
the perception that--
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you know and
then the reality of it
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as many of us have
experienced in the past
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how legalistic some people
were when it came to this matter
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of the practice
of Christian life,
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the Christian
life, the practice of it.
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And because some
were so legalistic
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the pendulum has in some
way swung the other direction
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and the result
has come down to this.
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For too many there is develop,
it has developed a disconnection
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between what we profess
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and what we're living.
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Because this
whole area of living
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that also deals with
lifestyle issues has in the past
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for some of us
smacked up legalism
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and so we do not talk
about the life that we live,
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now live in the
words of Galatians 2:20
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because of these situation
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that many of us
have had from the past.
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And there is
undoubtedly and you know
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I experience some of this.
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I know what some maybe
some of you have gone through
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very personally and
they respired legalism.
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So we've got to clear the air,
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we got to get the
legalism out of it
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and when we get,
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the only way to get the
legalism out of it my friend
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is to get Jesus centered in it.
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And when Jesus
is centered in it,
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it is foundational in it
then the legalism will be gone.
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So I am
interested in my own life
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and let me bear my testimony
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and I believe you are
too, I want my life to be a--
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I want my life to be a
practical life as a Christian.
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I want my faith to be
integrated into my life.
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I want my faith in
Jesus to be integrated
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in what I do and in what I say.
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I pray for that. I
pray for that daily.
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And I can't stand up here
and say that I've arrived.
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I still fall short but
the righteousness of Jesus
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covers me at every point, amen.
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And I am accepted
as fully and completely
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as if I've never failed.
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So we need to
remember that too as we,
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we get into our
subject a little bit
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more practically this morning.
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One need not to be a Christian
to understand that in the world
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we have good and we have evil.
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One doesn't have to be
a Christian to know that.
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And to know that there it
just has to be a better way
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one does not need
to be a Christian.
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And let me take you to 1 Peter 2
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the New Testament
page 180, 180, 1 Peter 2:9.
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So we've got good,
we've got evil in the world.
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We have it around
us, we have it within us
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because again we've been
tainted by evil, haven't we.
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We've tainted by sin.
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We each have had our own
individual experience in sin.
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Again what temptations,
what sins what may be sin to you
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may not be a
temptation to me and vise versa
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but we all have our
individual experience in it.
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In 1 Peter 2:9
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it declares "But
you are a chosen race,
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a royal
priesthood, a holy nation,
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a people for
God's own possession."
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I looked out among
you today we profess,
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we profess to be
the people of God
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and we've been set
aside to be possessed by God,
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to be possessed
by the Spirit of God,
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the Spirit of Jesus right.
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Boy, what a holy calling
is ours has Jesus said it
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"I've chosen you, you're mine."
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And we're his
again by our profession
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our response to
the claims of Jesus.
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So we are holy nation and
people for God's own possession
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so that-- there is a
purpose of all of this.
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"So that you may
proclaim the excellencies of him
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who is called
you out of darkness
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into his marvelous
light," that's powerful.
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And so my friend, it is
not simply the preaching
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in the proclamation of
the word that is needed
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but it is a living
demonstration of the law
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then the joy and
the power of the gospel
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in God's people, in our lives.
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A living testimony
individually and collectively
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of what the Gospel is
like in the hearts of people
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just like you and me
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who were struggling
along, living demonstration.
00:11:04.02\00:11:07.59
And so this
morning as we look at
00:11:07.62\00:11:09.93
again 1 John 2:15-17
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as we talk about some
of the practices about this
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they are three things
that John speaks of here
00:11:15.97\00:11:19.41
that we're
gonna-- its the basis of
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what I'm gonna be preaching
on its the outline effect.
00:11:21.29\00:11:24.16
He talks about first of
all the "Lust of the Flesh.
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We're gonna broaden this up
beyond what we usually think of.
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Number two, the
"Lust of the Eyes"
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which is a fascinating term,
isn't it the lust of the eyes.
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And then finally
the pride of life.
00:11:36.73\00:11:40.65
The Pride of Life.
00:11:40.68\00:11:45.36
My friend, it is
through our senses,
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it is through our senses
that we are deeply affected.
00:11:50.34\00:11:55.30
Just put a whole-- sorry
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the whole thing of
the spiritual life.
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Everything is
depended upon our senses.
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Just think of what life
would be without the senses.
00:12:01.93\00:12:04.26
You know the five at least that
00:12:04.29\00:12:05.57
I was taught
when I was growing up.
00:12:05.60\00:12:07.03
I mean you know being
able to see, being able to hear
00:12:07.06\00:12:11.23
in a few moments to
enjoy the senses of smell
00:12:11.26\00:12:14.88
and taste and touch.
00:12:14.91\00:12:19.42
You tell me what would
a hug be without touch,
00:12:19.45\00:12:23.13
it's a marvelous thing
that God did when He create us
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the way that He
did with these senses,
00:12:25.60\00:12:28.48
we taken for granted.
00:12:28.51\00:12:30.24
I mean the marvel of
just sight being able see,
00:12:30.27\00:12:34.38
to take light and for
the brain to interpret this,
00:12:34.41\00:12:36.99
the, the colors as
I look at the windows,
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the blues and the
oranges and the reds
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and whatever else
those colors are, you know,
00:12:42.45\00:12:44.79
to look out in
you and see the forms.
00:12:44.82\00:12:48.15
Oh, you know how
wonderful sight is.
00:12:48.18\00:12:50.64
And think of the
marvelous thing that God gave us
00:12:50.67\00:12:53.35
when He gave us
ears to be able to take,
00:12:53.38\00:12:56.75
pick up those
beautiful vibrations
00:12:56.78\00:12:59.13
and the music that we were
hearing just few moments ago.
00:12:59.16\00:13:02.59
I'll tell you there
won't be any pretty singers,
00:13:02.62\00:13:04.26
there wouldn't
be any instruments
00:13:04.29\00:13:05.69
if it wasn't for
this marvelous mechanism
00:13:05.72\00:13:07.81
that God gave us right here.
00:13:07.84\00:13:10.31
And it is through the senses
that we are affected deeply,
00:13:10.34\00:13:17.34
we're affected deeply for good
00:13:17.37\00:13:19.34
and it's also through
those same senses that
00:13:19.37\00:13:21.96
we can be deeply
affected for evil.
00:13:21.99\00:13:25.25
Again as we're
looking at 1 Peter 2:9
00:13:25.28\00:13:27.33
in the context of the
fact that "we're chosen race,
00:13:27.36\00:13:30.82
we're a holy nation and people
for God's own possession,"
00:13:30.85\00:13:33.64
set aside to what He say here
00:13:33.67\00:13:36.00
"to proclaim the
Excellencies of Him
00:13:36.03\00:13:38.19
who's called us out of darkness
into his marvelous light."
00:13:38.22\00:13:43.46
You see we through
Jesus Christ are to be a light
00:13:43.49\00:13:47.46
in the darkness
of this old world.
00:13:47.49\00:13:50.32
The Corvallis
Church has been set aside
00:13:50.35\00:13:54.45
by God Himself to be the light.
00:13:54.48\00:13:59.60
It is nonexclusively us
the light that is to shine
00:13:59.63\00:14:03.86
through us is the
light of the life of Jesus.
00:14:03.89\00:14:09.31
That is the light
that is to be shining
00:14:09.34\00:14:11.80
and each one of us are to
be reflectors of thee light.
00:14:11.83\00:14:17.49
It is behind what Jesus said
when He said to His followers
00:14:17.52\00:14:20.85
"you are the
light of the world."
00:14:20.88\00:14:23.77
Think of what it means in
a darker world to be lights,
00:14:23.80\00:14:28.15
lights for God.
00:14:28.18\00:14:29.68
I am gonna share little bit
Greek with you this morning.
00:14:29.71\00:14:32.04
Let me take you
to this word ecclesia
00:14:32.07\00:14:34.15
that we translate church,
00:14:34.18\00:14:36.66
translate church
in the New Testament,
00:14:36.69\00:14:38.54
ecclesia is really
based upon two words
00:14:38.57\00:14:42.97
the first word is
ak is the word out,
00:14:43.00\00:14:46.73
that's how you
literally translate it.
00:14:46.76\00:14:48.98
And the other part ecclesia
comes from the Greek word
00:14:49.01\00:14:51.81
kaleo that translates, I call.
00:14:51.84\00:14:55.45
Now think of the
meaning of the word church.
00:14:55.48\00:14:58.06
It means the ones whom Jesus has
called literally, I called out.
00:14:58.09\00:15:03.84
Called out of what?
00:15:03.87\00:15:05.93
Out of darkness, out
of the darkness of sin,
00:15:05.96\00:15:09.11
is what we've been
called out of right.
00:15:09.14\00:15:11.50
And so to put it in other way,
00:15:11.53\00:15:13.45
when we talk about
being a part of the church
00:15:13.48\00:15:15.74
it is collectively
the called out ones.
00:15:15.77\00:15:18.89
We are the called out ones.
00:15:18.92\00:15:22.61
We have heard the call of Jesus
00:15:22.64\00:15:24.91
and we've responded to
the call of Jesus, haven't we.
00:15:24.94\00:15:29.24
But my friend, this gives
00:15:29.27\00:15:31.52
a holy purpose to all
of us, a holy purpose.
00:15:31.55\00:15:36.12
Take a look at Romans 8
the New Testament page 123,
00:15:36.15\00:15:39.33
123, Romans 8 and verses 5-7.
00:15:39.36\00:15:43.17
Okay,
00:15:46.79\00:15:48.01
going to be talking
about the Lust of the Flesh
00:15:51.18\00:15:53.88
here in just a moment.
00:15:53.91\00:15:56.21
I know you can
hardly wait, can you?
00:15:56.24\00:15:58.61
What is he
gonna be talking about
00:15:58.64\00:16:00.11
when he gets to
the lust of the flesh.
00:16:00.14\00:16:01.65
But I'm still laying down
a foundation for God's word.
00:16:01.68\00:16:05.42
Here it is Romans 8
and beginning with verse 5,
00:16:05.45\00:16:07.46
where it says "For those
who are according to the flesh
00:16:07.49\00:16:10.79
set their minds on
the things of the flesh,
00:16:10.82\00:16:14.27
but those who are
according to the Spirit,
00:16:14.30\00:16:17.56
the things of the Spirit.
00:16:17.59\00:16:19.68
For the mind set
on the flesh is death,
00:16:19.71\00:16:22.31
but the mind set on the
Spirit is life and peace,
00:16:22.34\00:16:26.21
because the mind set on
the flesh is hostile toward God
00:16:26.24\00:16:29.33
for it does not subject
itself to the law of God,
00:16:29.36\00:16:32.07
for it is not
even able to do so."
00:16:32.10\00:16:37.03
Those whose minds are set
on the things of the flesh
00:16:37.06\00:16:41.00
and as I've talked about
how important senses are,
00:16:41.03\00:16:44.14
my friend, the senses
have a direct connection
00:16:44.17\00:16:48.31
on the brain on the mind.
00:16:48.34\00:16:51.17
It has a direct
bearing on our mindset
00:16:51.20\00:16:56.32
and there is a mindset,
00:16:56.35\00:16:59.32
a mindset for those
who have in darkness,
00:16:59.35\00:17:02.49
a mindset for those
who are out in the world
00:17:02.52\00:17:06.25
and in contrast for those of
us who have called to proclaim
00:17:06.28\00:17:09.97
His marvelous
light there is a mindset
00:17:10.00\00:17:13.73
that sets us apart, right.
00:17:13.76\00:17:18.30
It sets us apart.
00:17:18.33\00:17:22.03
A mind that is set on
the things of the flesh,
00:17:22.06\00:17:26.84
things of the flesh,
a mindset that is set
00:17:26.87\00:17:29.31
on the things of
the spirit represents
00:17:29.34\00:17:31.55
two orientations to life.
00:17:31.58\00:17:35.18
And the two orientations
of life is on one hand
00:17:35.21\00:17:38.27
the spiritual
that is the mindset,
00:17:38.30\00:17:40.35
the mind that is set on
the things of the spirit.
00:17:40.38\00:17:42.67
We would call this
the spiritual mindset
00:17:42.70\00:17:45.65
in contrast to
those who have their
00:17:45.68\00:17:47.25
mindset on the things the
flesh which is the sensual.
00:17:47.28\00:17:51.16
It's the
spiritual versus the sensual
00:17:51.19\00:17:54.48
that Paul is talking about here.
00:17:54.51\00:17:57.09
And my friend,
we have been called
00:17:57.12\00:17:59.10
to be a spiritual
people, right, Amen.
00:17:59.13\00:18:03.42
And we're spiritual
because of the relationship.
00:18:03.45\00:18:06.16
We're spiritual because
it is Jesus that inhabits us,
00:18:06.19\00:18:09.67
it is Jesus that is
living out His life in us.
00:18:09.70\00:18:13.95
But my friend, it's a process
it is a process of becoming,
00:18:13.98\00:18:19.44
becoming like the
one that we truly love.
00:18:19.47\00:18:24.55
Another
fascinating text Hebrews5:14.
00:18:24.58\00:18:27.48
Hebrews 5:14 says, "But
solid food is for the mature,
00:18:27.51\00:18:31.21
who because of
practice have their senses."
00:18:31.24\00:18:33.99
Here it is senses again.
"Have their senses trained"
00:18:34.02\00:18:38.09
trained, disciplined or
that "to discern good and evil."
00:18:38.12\00:18:46.04
We have been tainted
by this knowledge of evil
00:18:46.07\00:18:48.90
this is not something
that we come naturally by,
00:18:48.93\00:18:52.90
the natural
heart is in contrast.
00:18:52.93\00:18:56.13
The natural heart is at
enmity with the spiritual
00:18:56.16\00:19:00.90
and that is where
the battle is fought out
00:19:00.93\00:19:03.31
in each one our lives, isn't it.
00:19:03.34\00:19:05.46
Those natural tendencies
because of sin on the other hand
00:19:05.49\00:19:11.30
you know the call of
Jesus to a better life
00:19:11.33\00:19:15.44
and it is a better life
isn't it, it's a better life.
00:19:15.47\00:19:18.88
It's a spiritual life.
00:19:18.91\00:19:21.82
It's a spiritual life
that we're talking about.
00:19:21.85\00:19:25.28
And then let me add into
the whole of it, 2 Timothy 3:1.
00:19:25.31\00:19:30.30
Now I am and it's not clear yet
00:19:30.33\00:19:32.75
I am gonna get down
into some specifics.
00:19:32.78\00:19:35.46
I'm gonna get down into
00:19:35.49\00:19:36.52
the principles
and the applications
00:19:36.55\00:19:39.33
and what it means
to live as a Christian
00:19:39.36\00:19:41.43
in the kind of
world that we live in,
00:19:41.46\00:19:43.33
living in the
western civilization
00:19:43.36\00:19:44.89
that we're living
and particularly living
00:19:44.92\00:19:46.46
in the good old American
culture that we're living in.
00:19:46.49\00:19:49.97
And how when we talking
about letting our light shine
00:19:50.00\00:19:52.95
what does that practically
mean? In 2 Timothy 3:1.
00:19:52.98\00:19:58.79
Paul says, "But realize this,
00:19:58.82\00:20:00.61
that in the last days
difficult times will come."
00:20:00.64\00:20:05.72
Who knows how this whole
thing is going to play out?
00:20:05.75\00:20:08.18
I'm thinking of the
whole financial thing.
00:20:08.21\00:20:10.91
"For men will be lovers of self,
00:20:10.94\00:20:12.53
and lovers of money,
boastful, arrogant, revilers."
00:20:12.56\00:20:15.84
There a long list
describing the end times
00:20:15.87\00:20:19.00
and the list
ends with these words
00:20:19.03\00:20:20.70
"lovers of pleasure
rather than lovers of God."
00:20:20.73\00:20:24.77
"Lovers of pleasure
rather than lovers of God."
00:20:24.80\00:20:28.43
And my friend, it is
the pleasure principle,
00:20:28.46\00:20:30.85
it is the hedonistic society.
00:20:30.88\00:20:33.00
I didn't say hedonistic,
00:20:33.03\00:20:34.31
hedonistic
society that we live in.
00:20:34.34\00:20:37.46
It is that pleasure principle.
00:20:37.49\00:20:39.78
It is living for the
pleasures and satisfying
00:20:39.81\00:20:42.23
all of the hearts
of desires but again
00:20:42.26\00:20:45.20
recognizing that the
heart has been tainted by evil
00:20:45.23\00:20:48.62
which has and effect on
those pleasures, doesn't it.
00:20:48.65\00:20:52.78
Now let me say from the outset,
00:20:52.81\00:20:55.50
I'm not into this
idea that as Christians.
00:20:55.53\00:20:59.19
We must some how
be kind of doughier,
00:20:59.22\00:21:01.98
we must be kind of sober I mean
00:21:02.01\00:21:04.35
yes there's a sober
side of faith, isn't it.
00:21:04.38\00:21:07.43
There is some sobering things
00:21:07.46\00:21:09.38
about our
commitment to Jesus Christ.
00:21:09.41\00:21:11.55
But my friend, we
are to be people of joy.
00:21:11.58\00:21:15.87
We're be to be a
people that are happy.
00:21:15.90\00:21:18.85
Yes there gonna be trails.
00:21:18.88\00:21:20.01
Yes, there
gonna be difficulties.
00:21:20.04\00:21:21.43
Yes, there're gonna be tears
00:21:21.46\00:21:23.99
but I am not into
the kind of Christianity
00:21:24.02\00:21:26.07
and I don't
think you are either.
00:21:26.10\00:21:28.07
You better not crack a
smile because if you do
00:21:28.10\00:21:31.60
you've sin until
you get on your knees
00:21:31.63\00:21:33.52
until you make
it right with God.
00:21:33.55\00:21:36.40
I mean when Jesus said it
00:21:36.43\00:21:37.95
"I am come that
they might have life,
00:21:37.98\00:21:39.50
and have it more abundantly."
I believed what He said.
00:21:39.53\00:21:45.30
We're to enjoy life.
00:21:45.33\00:21:49.13
And my friend, who
better to enjoy life
00:21:49.16\00:21:51.73
than we who are in a personal
relationship with Jesus Christ?
00:21:51.76\00:21:56.45
It is not a sin, young people
it is not a sin to have fun
00:21:59.96\00:22:04.61
within framework
00:22:04.64\00:22:05.97
of our commitment
to Jesus Christ, right.
00:22:06.00\00:22:09.15
And our relationship does
create a framework for a life.
00:22:09.18\00:22:15.07
So have fun,
enjoy life, be happy
00:22:15.10\00:22:20.54
but again remember
we have been called
00:22:20.57\00:22:23.37
to be a light in
the world, we are light.
00:22:23.40\00:22:27.16
I didn't always understand
these things as a young person,
00:22:27.19\00:22:30.71
it was my junior year
in academy, Auburn Academy
00:22:30.74\00:22:34.39
and one Saturday night a really
close friend of mine Jimmy Downs
00:22:34.42\00:22:37.53
and I decided
that we will go down
00:22:37.56\00:22:39.67
and we came down the hill.
00:22:39.70\00:22:40.75
At the bottom of
the hill this is where
00:22:40.78\00:22:42.20
were going was a skating rink,
00:22:42.23\00:22:43.68
and next to it
was a bowling alley.
00:22:43.71\00:22:46.12
And as we came down the hill
00:22:46.15\00:22:47.40
we saw that the--
they shared a parking lot.
00:22:47.43\00:22:50.66
We saw that it was packed
00:22:50.69\00:22:53.10
and we thought to ourselves man,
00:22:53.13\00:22:54.38
everybody in town
looks like they're out.
00:22:54.41\00:22:56.97
You know and we were
kind of bemoaning the fact.
00:22:57.00\00:22:59.25
You know it's-- you
know when you're out skating
00:22:59.28\00:23:02.08
and the skating they still
have them around don't they.
00:23:02.11\00:23:06.19
Do you still have them here in
Corvallis it's A skating rink?
00:23:06.22\00:23:09.54
Corvallis has
none. Oh my, oh my.
00:23:09.57\00:23:13.89
So you've not a clue
what I'm talking about
00:23:13.92\00:23:16.23
some of you who are younger.
00:23:16.26\00:23:17.70
But anyway, so
you know when you--
00:23:17.73\00:23:20.47
and if there is a
crowd at the skating rink
00:23:20.50\00:23:22.99
particularly if you're
like a little bit of speed
00:23:23.02\00:23:25.27
within certain
you know restrictions,
00:23:25.30\00:23:28.66
you know it's kind of hard
00:23:28.69\00:23:29.72
when you have to be
weaving in out of people.
00:23:29.75\00:23:32.59
Actually we didn't know
until we got up to the door
00:23:32.62\00:23:35.26
having parked way out
00:23:35.29\00:23:36.82
that there was a teen
dance that was going on.
00:23:36.85\00:23:40.48
And when we opened the
door light bland and the music,
00:23:40.51\00:23:45.39
I have to admit we've been
listening to that kind of music.
00:23:45.42\00:23:48.08
And intended to be there
but the music is self chosen
00:23:48.11\00:23:51.63
and there were all these young,
00:23:51.66\00:23:53.78
young people
teenagers that were there.
00:23:53.81\00:23:56.51
And they were out on the floor.
00:23:56.54\00:23:57.91
Again I'm not gonna date myself
00:23:57.94\00:23:59.47
because they
were doing the twist.
00:23:59.50\00:24:02.76
Young people they don't know
what the twist is just Google it
00:24:02.79\00:24:06.17
and you'll find
out what the twist is.
00:24:06.20\00:24:08.47
So they were out
there on the dance floor
00:24:08.50\00:24:10.37
and didn't look
like they were really
00:24:10.40\00:24:11.90
paired up as such
and had never done it.
00:24:11.93\00:24:14.76
I was not
intending to be at a dance,
00:24:14.79\00:24:16.70
I've never been to dance before
I've been never to a dance since
00:24:16.73\00:24:20.75
but we found ourselves
out there twisting around.
00:24:20.78\00:24:23.97
It was not a
difficult thing to do
00:24:24.00\00:24:27.09
with a kind of
music that we're playing.
00:24:27.12\00:24:29.15
And on the surface of it
seemed very innocent to me
00:24:29.18\00:24:33.39
until a little bit
later into the program
00:24:33.42\00:24:35.72
they came to a
number and it was slow.
00:24:35.75\00:24:37.73
And right on queue
the lights came way down
00:24:37.76\00:24:41.50
and as my eyes
adjusting to the light
00:24:41.53\00:24:43.70
I saw that there were
pairings that were taking place.
00:24:43.73\00:24:47.39
That was not
taking place initially
00:24:47.42\00:24:50.06
and I began to see
things happening out
00:24:50.09\00:24:52.68
on that dance floor
that as a young Christian,
00:24:52.71\00:24:55.87
and I am about 17 years
of age that embraced me.
00:24:55.90\00:24:59.68
And I did may be probably
what I shouldn't done the very
00:24:59.71\00:25:02.34
at the very
beginning I got out of there.
00:25:02.37\00:25:05.66
I knew instinctively
as a young Christian
00:25:05.69\00:25:07.88
that was not a
place for me to be.
00:25:07.91\00:25:11.58
Now this came even closer to me
because my dad loved to dance.
00:25:11.61\00:25:15.78
My dad was not a Christian,
00:25:15.81\00:25:18.20
he was a good man but
he was not a Christian.
00:25:18.23\00:25:20.23
He want to be outs
club and found this woman
00:25:20.26\00:25:25.02
he was still married
to my mother had a dance
00:25:25.05\00:25:29.60
and the relationship
developed with this woman,
00:25:29.63\00:25:34.90
this woman who happened to
be a Seventh-day Adventist.
00:25:34.93\00:25:39.19
There some places
if you think about this
00:25:39.22\00:25:41.47
in a commonsense
way, there are some places
00:25:41.50\00:25:45.06
that as
Christians that are conducive
00:25:45.09\00:25:48.42
to our spiritual commitments.
00:25:48.45\00:25:51.80
And as the well-- and
our spiritual wellbeing
00:25:51.83\00:25:54.78
it is commonsense
of you think about it.
00:25:54.81\00:25:57.24
Well, I am interested in
00:25:57.27\00:25:59.38
is a growing
spiritual experience.
00:25:59.41\00:26:03.11
And I know just
like any good recipe
00:26:03.14\00:26:06.32
there're certain ingredients
if you're baking a cake.
00:26:06.35\00:26:09.95
Ladies, you know
there're certain ingredients
00:26:09.98\00:26:11.75
that are essential.
00:26:11.78\00:26:12.81
If you're gonna end up
with a good product at the end
00:26:12.84\00:26:15.93
and in the spiritual light
there're certain ingredients
00:26:15.96\00:26:19.20
if you want to end up
with the kind of product
00:26:19.23\00:26:21.96
that you and I have
invested ourselves in,
00:26:21.99\00:26:25.26
in entering into this personal
relationship with Jesus.
00:26:25.29\00:26:29.09
And I would
just speak for myself
00:26:29.12\00:26:30.90
this is not one
of those ingredients.
00:26:30.93\00:26:35.68
It's not one of
those ingredients.
00:26:35.71\00:26:37.44
Now I'm not just here
to talk about dancing.
00:26:37.47\00:26:39.98
There're some places I
choose not to go as a Christian
00:26:40.01\00:26:44.36
for much the same reasons.
00:26:44.39\00:26:46.71
I don't feel as a Christian
that going to the clubs
00:26:46.74\00:26:49.85
and to the bars are
consistent with the values
00:26:49.88\00:26:54.99
that I have as a
Christian, right.
00:26:55.02\00:26:59.65
And again one
need not be legalistic
00:26:59.68\00:27:03.82
to say that
there're just some places.
00:27:03.85\00:27:06.94
Even with music,
music which is so powerful
00:27:06.97\00:27:10.96
it's such a beautiful thing.
00:27:10.99\00:27:12.37
Did you enjoy the
music this morning?
00:27:12.40\00:27:14.89
Oh man you know
they've been here practicing.
00:27:14.92\00:27:18.60
And I don't know I assume
that all of you love music
00:27:18.63\00:27:22.02
some of us really love music.
00:27:22.05\00:27:24.43
I have to confess
publicly that you know
00:27:24.46\00:27:27.34
I have had this love affair with
00:27:27.37\00:27:28.56
music for a
very, very long time.
00:27:28.59\00:27:30.92
And I do recognize
that it could almost become
00:27:30.95\00:27:33.72
idolatress for me
because I love music.
00:27:33.75\00:27:39.23
You know, I don't have all
of the equipment that some have
00:27:39.26\00:27:42.61
and you know vocally or
otherwise but I just love music.
00:27:42.64\00:27:47.73
It has been such
a powerful thing.
00:27:47.76\00:27:49.04
I've had three Gospel
singing groups, you know,
00:27:49.07\00:27:52.53
Maranatha
Singers, Voices of Praise
00:27:52.56\00:27:54.78
and then my last group
the Abundant Life Singers.
00:27:54.81\00:27:58.03
We produced albums
and I just and I love,
00:27:58.06\00:28:01.73
I love Christian music
that really has content to it.
00:28:01.76\00:28:05.22
The music that has real message
that's been communicated--
00:28:05.25\00:28:08.42
it's been communicated in it.
00:28:08.45\00:28:10.95
And also miss
though something that is
00:28:10.98\00:28:12.67
so powerful as music is
that there is a dark side
00:28:12.70\00:28:16.07
to this whole
thing about music too.
00:28:16.10\00:28:18.15
In general when we
talk about secular music
00:28:18.18\00:28:20.10
you know, don't you? You know.
00:28:20.13\00:28:23.06
First of all the
words, the lyrics ought to--
00:28:23.09\00:28:25.31
you know, they
ought to be wholesome.
00:28:25.34\00:28:27.88
Won't you agree they
ought to be wholesome?
00:28:27.91\00:28:30.54
But you know there is,
00:28:30.57\00:28:32.62
you know there're
some interesting variations
00:28:32.65\00:28:34.94
that develop out of the whole
rock scene through the years.
00:28:34.97\00:28:38.19
You know, we're into
rap and you know stuff that
00:28:38.22\00:28:41.18
you know I've really don't
know very well because I just--
00:28:41.21\00:28:45.17
I am not attracted to
it, I don't listen to it.
00:28:45.20\00:28:48.80
They tell me
the words, you know,
00:28:48.83\00:28:50.44
some of the words they actually
have to label the CD's now right
00:28:50.47\00:28:55.25
for content which
tells us something
00:28:55.28\00:28:58.90
but they are music fronts.
00:28:58.93\00:29:00.05
You know music
is kinetic, kinetic.
00:29:00.08\00:29:03.27
Music is not only heard,
music is something that is felt
00:29:03.30\00:29:07.84
those deep bass tones, you know,
00:29:07.87\00:29:10.72
that's why we
love bass, don't we.
00:29:10.75\00:29:13.38
Music is
something that has felt but
00:29:13.41\00:29:16.52
powerfully it can be
powerful for good and evil.
00:29:16.55\00:29:18.98
My friend, as Christians
as standing for something
00:29:19.01\00:29:22.55
with our value system
being a light of world
00:29:22.58\00:29:24.82
as we are called
to be, my friend,
00:29:24.85\00:29:26.90
again there some
things that are consistent
00:29:26.93\00:29:29.35
with our profession of
Jesus and something things
00:29:29.38\00:29:31.63
that I chose as a
Christian to not be a part of.
00:29:31.66\00:29:35.84
It's making the choices.
00:29:35.87\00:29:38.16
And my friend, most of us,
00:29:38.19\00:29:40.49
I know we have some
young people here but
00:29:40.52\00:29:42.72
most of us are at an age where
00:29:42.75\00:29:45.86
we're making our
own choices, right.
00:29:45.89\00:29:49.69
And nobody is
going to stand up there
00:29:49.72\00:29:51.35
to tell me what
choices I ought to make.
00:29:51.38\00:29:53.56
Though should anybody
stand up to try to tell you
00:29:53.59\00:29:55.95
what choices you should make?
00:29:55.98\00:29:57.99
But we can try to
stimulate some thought
00:29:58.02\00:30:02.00
and some consideration of
what it really means to be
00:30:02.03\00:30:06.30
a Christian in the kind
of world that we live in
00:30:06.33\00:30:10.13
with the kind of
choices that we are faced with.
00:30:10.16\00:30:13.57
And remember the
choices all go back
00:30:13.60\00:30:15.34
to the tree of the
knowledge of good and evil
00:30:15.37\00:30:17.09
and fundamentally
at the heart of it,
00:30:17.12\00:30:19.17
it is a choice between God's
way or the alternative way.
00:30:19.20\00:30:24.06
And my friend,
look at the culture,
00:30:24.09\00:30:26.50
the Word of God is--
00:30:26.53\00:30:28.03
and the principles of
the Word of God is the filter
00:30:28.06\00:30:30.69
by which we filter out
our culture to determine that
00:30:30.72\00:30:34.62
which is consistent
with our faith in God
00:30:34.65\00:30:37.33
and that which
represents the alternative way
00:30:37.36\00:30:40.46
that's playing out for
millennia down to our own time.
00:30:40.49\00:30:44.61
It can be very sophisticated
at least you can see that way
00:30:44.64\00:30:48.06
and it can be
seem to be very subtle.
00:30:48.09\00:30:51.10
And yet we need to
have this sermon don't we?
00:30:51.13\00:30:54.94
So let's talk about the Lust.
00:30:54.97\00:30:57.13
We've talked about
the Lust of the Flesh.
00:30:57.16\00:30:58.53
I mean you can spend
the whole time on that.
00:30:58.56\00:31:00.41
The lust of the eyes is
a fascinating phrase to me,
00:31:00.44\00:31:03.24
the lust of the eyes.
00:31:03.27\00:31:04.94
I think of Psalm
101:3 where it says
00:31:04.97\00:31:07.21
"I will set no
worthless thing before my eyes,
00:31:07.24\00:31:10.10
I hate the work of
those who fall away,
00:31:10.13\00:31:12.68
it shall not
fasten its grip on me."
00:31:12.71\00:31:15.44
And there is this principle
there is this principle
00:31:15.47\00:31:18.09
by beholding we are changed.
00:31:18.12\00:31:20.74
By beholding Jesus,
00:31:20.77\00:31:22.32
when Jesus becomes the
focal point of our lives
00:31:22.35\00:31:25.48
we are by means
of the Holy Spirit
00:31:25.51\00:31:28.22
and through the power of
His love we're being changed.
00:31:28.25\00:31:34.12
The relationship
is transformational,
00:31:34.15\00:31:37.34
we're being changed.
00:31:37.37\00:31:39.34
By beholding by focus
in on that which is evil
00:31:39.37\00:31:43.92
we are being changed,
00:31:43.95\00:31:47.76
we have the modern term
garbage in and garbage out.
00:31:47.79\00:31:52.31
And its true
garbage in and garbage out
00:31:52.34\00:31:55.89
that's the way it works.
00:31:55.92\00:31:57.40
There are certain
things I do not want to see.
00:31:57.43\00:32:00.26
There're certain
things I do not want to hear.
00:32:00.29\00:32:04.41
Because the Bible says
"As a man thinketh so is he."
00:32:04.44\00:32:08.64
And we are to a
great extent what we think
00:32:08.67\00:32:13.31
and we think is sum
total of what these receptors
00:32:13.34\00:32:17.52
have been
picking up and absorbing.
00:32:17.55\00:32:20.51
Receptors, the senses
the things we've been seeing
00:32:20.54\00:32:23.03
and the things
that we're hearing.
00:32:23.06\00:32:24.57
Which means-- of course I
got to go to Philippians 4:8,
00:32:24.60\00:32:28.03
the New Testimony page
156, 156 Philippians 4:8.
00:32:28.06\00:32:34.54
And I know for some of us
in the context of the past
00:32:34.57\00:32:37.35
and the context of those
who are so doughier and sober
00:32:37.38\00:32:41.62
and so much into
the dos and don'ts.
00:32:41.65\00:32:44.70
For some of us its going to
be a little bit of challenge
00:32:44.73\00:32:47.71
to look at this text in a
little different perspective
00:32:47.74\00:32:50.37
that may be its been
presented to us before.
00:32:50.40\00:32:53.80
Philippians 4:8 "Finally,
brethren, whatever is true,
00:32:53.83\00:32:57.60
whatever is
honorable, whatever is right,
00:32:57.63\00:33:01.21
whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely,
00:33:01.24\00:33:03.89
whatever is a good repute,
if there is any excellence
00:33:03.92\00:33:08.40
and if anything
worthy of praise,
00:33:08.43\00:33:10.54
dwell on these things."
00:33:10.57\00:33:12.24
Then King James says "let your
mind dwell on these things."
00:33:12.27\00:33:16.68
Now that's a pretty high
standard you would have to admit
00:33:16.71\00:33:19.12
because we really
talking about Christian values
00:33:19.15\00:33:22.74
and we have
values as Christians.
00:33:22.77\00:33:24.47
One way or the
other we have them
00:33:24.50\00:33:25.72
and they're demonstrated
by the things that we value.
00:33:25.75\00:33:29.32
So think on these things I mean,
00:33:29.35\00:33:31.62
I mean that's pretty
high, it's just got to be true,
00:33:31.65\00:33:33.98
it's got to be
right, pure, lovely.
00:33:34.01\00:33:36.04
It's got be of good
repute all of those things.
00:33:36.07\00:33:38.79
And so I
discovered that long ago
00:33:38.82\00:33:41.10
in my teenage
years as I was in academy
00:33:41.13\00:33:43.83
I found myself of
that part of the library,
00:33:43.86\00:33:45.91
I finally realized I was
becoming obsessed with it
00:33:45.94\00:33:49.26
and that was science fiction.
00:33:49.29\00:33:51.25
And I made a
decision again about
00:33:51.28\00:33:52.80
my junior year in academy that
00:33:52.83\00:33:56.45
because I just
couldn't keep my hands of it.
00:33:56.48\00:33:59.16
It was just
fascinating reading stuff
00:33:59.19\00:34:01.27
but it wasn't true
and I knew it wasn't true
00:34:01.30\00:34:03.99
and indulge things about
it that as a young Christian
00:34:04.02\00:34:06.36
that really did
bother me as fascinating
00:34:06.39\00:34:08.84
as I founded to be.
00:34:08.87\00:34:10.69
And so I discovered
there were plenty of other
00:34:10.72\00:34:13.82
parts of the
library that I really enjoy.
00:34:13.85\00:34:18.05
And I just picked
up-- I was at the library
00:34:18.08\00:34:20.81
last this last Thursday
and I picked up autobiography
00:34:20.84\00:34:25.55
written by Tony Blair's wife.
00:34:25.58\00:34:28.02
I know Tony Blair's
somebody I, you know,
00:34:28.05\00:34:30.42
I find to be a
fascinating person
00:34:30.45\00:34:32.10
and so I love
biographies and I love history
00:34:32.13\00:34:35.10
and you know what,
there is so much of it.
00:34:35.13\00:34:37.29
I know, I don't feel the pain
00:34:37.32\00:34:39.36
of not being able to visit
certain parts of the library.
00:34:39.39\00:34:42.73
You know I've just,
I just decided novels
00:34:42.76\00:34:45.14
and that's sort of thing
for me as a Christian personally
00:34:45.17\00:34:47.89
for me when there
are so much out there
00:34:47.92\00:34:50.57
that's true and
that's good and wholesome
00:34:50.60\00:34:53.10
why do I-- it's not like
00:34:53.13\00:34:54.59
I'm gonna miss good
reading, entertaining reading,
00:34:54.62\00:34:58.36
you know, they're
just better choices.
00:34:58.39\00:35:02.70
"I will set no
worthless thing before my eyes."
00:35:02.73\00:35:05.38
Let's talk about
pornography this morning.
00:35:05.41\00:35:07.49
And when we're talking
about a media dominated culture
00:35:07.52\00:35:11.46
my friend, with
all the choices we have
00:35:11.49\00:35:13.81
on the internet and
we've cable and satellite
00:35:13.84\00:35:16.80
and I mean it
goes on and on and on.
00:35:16.83\00:35:20.03
We have choices to make
and our values as Christians
00:35:20.06\00:35:25.02
will be reflected
in the kind of choices
00:35:25.05\00:35:28.01
that we make, won't it.
00:35:28.04\00:35:32.42
If my profession Jesus
does not reflect in choices
00:35:32.45\00:35:36.00
I make then
what is that's saying
00:35:36.03\00:35:39.15
or to say that it
doesn't matter as a Christian
00:35:39.18\00:35:42.40
in regards to
the choices I make.
00:35:42.43\00:35:44.32
What is that really is saying?
00:35:44.35\00:35:46.96
It's saying that
faith is just simply
00:35:46.99\00:35:50.55
a one fuzzy feeling
that you have in your heart
00:35:50.58\00:35:54.99
but really doesn't
have a lot of meaning
00:35:55.02\00:35:57.98
in the
nitty-gritty of life out there.
00:35:58.01\00:36:03.11
This idea, you know,
00:36:03.14\00:36:04.89
you can do just
whatever you want to do.
00:36:04.92\00:36:08.94
Well, you know what,
00:36:08.97\00:36:10.26
we are free to do
whatever we want to do
00:36:10.29\00:36:13.29
but whatever we want to do
always carries some consequences
00:36:13.32\00:36:17.11
as the tree of the knowledge
of good and evil clearly showed.
00:36:17.14\00:36:20.45
They were free to choose
00:36:20.48\00:36:23.41
but it certainly its
consequences, didn't it.
00:36:23.44\00:36:26.59
So we're free to choose.
00:36:26.62\00:36:28.68
God does not compel us to
but it's their correlation
00:36:28.71\00:36:32.12
between what I
believe and what I choose.
00:36:32.15\00:36:36.14
Well, let's give
you some statistics
00:36:36.17\00:36:37.64
when it comes to the
pornographic and videos,
00:36:37.67\00:36:39.40
internet, cable, paper
view, $13.3 billion a year.
00:36:39.43\00:36:44.75
People are making tons of money
out of the lust of the eyes.
00:36:44.78\00:36:50.05
As you look up
pornographic titles
00:36:50.08\00:36:51.90
released in United
States going back to 1988
00:36:51.93\00:36:54.76
that little bit bar way
up there compare to 2005
00:36:54.79\00:36:58.30
the latest statistics
I have notice, we have,
00:36:58.33\00:37:03.95
we have a growing problem
00:37:03.98\00:37:07.07
in the area of
pornography from 1988 to 2005.
00:37:07.10\00:37:11.93
And my friend, this
is not been produced
00:37:11.96\00:37:14.43
without there
being a market for it
00:37:14.46\00:37:17.32
and there is a huge market
00:37:17.35\00:37:18.62
evidently within
United States for it, right.
00:37:18.65\00:37:23.58
And then when you look
at pornographic websites
00:37:23.61\00:37:25.91
compared to other
countries this bar graph notice,
00:37:25.94\00:37:31.46
pornographic websites
the US, that good old USA
00:37:31.49\00:37:36.90
represents 89% of
the pornographic websites
00:37:36.93\00:37:40.86
that are been produced
and in that you can find
00:37:40.89\00:37:44.17
Russia's somewhere and
that which just surprises me.
00:37:44.20\00:37:46.56
And Poland and
Netherlands and U.K and Germany,
00:37:46.59\00:37:49.64
Australia et cetera
they're just little tiny slices.
00:37:49.67\00:37:54.17
Of course may be they
don't need to be produce a lot
00:37:54.20\00:37:55.97
because the US is
producing so much of it.
00:37:56.00\00:37:59.95
2006 statistics
reveal that on any given day,
00:38:06.04\00:38:08.99
40 million
adults in this country
00:38:09.02\00:38:11.72
visit a pornographic website.
00:38:11.75\00:38:13.61
Forty million a
day statistically.
00:38:13.64\00:38:16.79
It is a serious
problem within the church.
00:38:16.82\00:38:19.64
We are not untainted by this.
00:38:19.67\00:38:22.12
Some of us because
of the lust of the flesh
00:38:22.15\00:38:25.83
or and the lust of the eyes
are been drawn into pornography.
00:38:25.86\00:38:31.63
We are.
00:38:31.66\00:38:32.69
I'm not gonna ask
you to hold your hand up
00:38:32.72\00:38:35.35
but some of us are
being drawn into it.
00:38:35.38\00:38:36.90
Surprisingly, a
significant number of pastors
00:38:36.93\00:38:39.07
were found to be
entangled with pornography.
00:38:39.10\00:38:41.93
That's troubling
when you look at that.
00:38:41.96\00:38:44.56
Ninety percent of
all 8 to 16 year olds
00:38:44.59\00:38:46.87
have viewed
internet pornography.
00:38:46.90\00:38:50.75
My friend, it
represents abject slavery,
00:38:50.78\00:38:56.08
it does abject slavery
00:38:56.11\00:39:00.52
and we usually take it
but primarily for men but men
00:39:00.55\00:39:04.94
when we get
involved with pornography
00:39:04.97\00:39:07.49
our view of women is at stake.
00:39:07.52\00:39:11.58
How do we look upon
women? How do we view them?
00:39:11.61\00:39:15.61
Are they objects of passion
00:39:15.64\00:39:20.42
or are they what
God designed them to be?
00:39:20.45\00:39:27.05
So we have some
choices in all of this.
00:39:27.08\00:39:29.70
We do but it is an
addiction, it is a addictive
00:39:29.73\00:39:33.56
and those of us who
may be into pornography
00:39:33.59\00:39:37.66
knows something of the
grip this has upon our lives.
00:39:37.69\00:39:42.35
And I want to tell
you it is only going to be
00:39:42.38\00:39:45.38
by the saving
power of Jesus Christ
00:39:45.41\00:39:48.02
that that kind of the
addiction will be broken.
00:39:48.05\00:39:52.91
My friend, there is better way.
00:39:52.94\00:39:54.03
Sex is a wonderful
thing in the context
00:39:54.06\00:39:56.06
for which God created it.
00:39:56.09\00:39:59.50
Within the context of marriage,
00:39:59.53\00:40:01.74
in the context of a
committed married relationship,
00:40:01.77\00:40:04.43
it's a wonderful thing.
00:40:04.46\00:40:06.76
And the sex is not of itself
00:40:06.79\00:40:09.10
as God created it
dirty or inappropriate.
00:40:09.13\00:40:13.48
You didn't know
you're gonna get a little bit
00:40:13.51\00:40:14.89
of a lesson
course here about sex.
00:40:14.92\00:40:18.87
But from a Christian prospective
let's be clear about it
00:40:18.90\00:40:23.08
because you know
it's such a problem.
00:40:23.11\00:40:25.91
Sex is not all itself
wrong, inappropriate or dirty
00:40:25.94\00:40:31.25
in the context for
which God created it.
00:40:31.28\00:40:33.80
And it was not created
just simply for reproduction
00:40:33.83\00:40:37.61
and for the fact
that we can have children.
00:40:37.64\00:40:39.45
That's a significant part of it.
00:40:39.48\00:40:43.11
But we need to have a healthy
and it holds some view of sex.
00:40:43.14\00:40:48.43
We must not be
enslave to sex, must not be
00:40:48.46\00:40:54.28
because we by
profession have another master
00:40:54.31\00:40:58.41
that's why I
have-- I have these filter
00:40:58.44\00:41:00.20
since in 1990s Integrity Online
00:41:00.23\00:41:02.88
that filters all
of the pornography
00:41:02.91\00:41:04.71
out at the service site.
00:41:04.74\00:41:07.15
It's not perfect
but it does a great job
00:41:07.18\00:41:09.90
and you turn back in the
90s particularly with young boys
00:41:09.93\00:41:13.68
in my house I was not
going to have that temptation.
00:41:13.71\00:41:17.40
I am going to
filter it out at the site
00:41:17.43\00:41:19.54
and its great
and I recommend it.
00:41:19.57\00:41:22.73
You will find it on my
website, find out more about it.
00:41:22.76\00:41:25.14
But we must move
on to the last one
00:41:25.17\00:41:26.55
the Pride of Life.
00:41:26.58\00:41:27.64
Oh, yes I know this
one, this is the touchy one,
00:41:27.67\00:41:30.85
this is the one
that seems so legalistic.
00:41:30.88\00:41:34.29
This thing on
adornment and jewelry
00:41:34.32\00:41:36.44
but let's take an honest look,
00:41:36.47\00:41:38.43
an open look at
what the Bible teaches.
00:41:38.46\00:41:41.48
Is there a principle in all
of this and what might it be?
00:41:41.51\00:41:45.35
In 1 Peter 3:3 it says,
00:41:45.38\00:41:47.65
and this is the principle
of it as I understand it.
00:41:47.68\00:41:49.78
"Your adornment
must not be external."
00:41:49.81\00:41:53.29
Now some translations
put in the word merely
00:41:53.32\00:41:55.96
it's always that tell us
which means it's an addition
00:41:55.99\00:41:59.53
because in the
Greek it is a clear cut.
00:41:59.56\00:42:02.22
Your adornment
must not be external.
00:42:02.25\00:42:04.83
It talks about braiding of
hair and wearing of gold jewelry
00:42:04.86\00:42:07.70
this is a great culture
00:42:07.73\00:42:08.76
so this not time of
simple brace and something.
00:42:08.79\00:42:11.36
You know, they take-- we
take gold and silver strands
00:42:11.39\00:42:14.08
and they would
intertwine them in their hairs
00:42:14.11\00:42:15.48
which is very costly
stuff but it does talk about
00:42:15.51\00:42:17.98
wearing gold jewelry
or putting on dresses.
00:42:18.01\00:42:21.31
But I want to get to
the positive side of this.
00:42:21.34\00:42:23.90
Don't get lost in
the first part, will you.
00:42:23.93\00:42:26.98
But let it be, let what be?
00:42:27.01\00:42:31.42
Your adornment.
00:42:31.45\00:42:32.71
There is a new adornment
00:42:32.74\00:42:33.77
that is appropriate
for us as Christians.
00:42:33.80\00:42:35.82
"But let it be the
hidden person of the heart."
00:42:35.85\00:42:41.22
That's what it's supposed to be.
00:42:41.25\00:42:43.93
So first of all we must
not have an external adornment
00:42:43.96\00:42:49.12
but we are to have
an internal adornment,
00:42:49.15\00:42:51.44
the hidden person of the heart.
00:42:51.47\00:42:54.60
And who is it that is
to be with in our hearts?
00:42:54.63\00:42:59.00
Whose beauty is it
that has attracted us?
00:42:59.03\00:43:02.05
Whose beauty is it
that is shinning through us?
00:43:02.08\00:43:06.69
It's Jesus, the
beauty of His life.
00:43:06.72\00:43:11.63
And it says with the
"imperishable quality."
00:43:11.66\00:43:14.21
I mean this is good stuff.
00:43:14.24\00:43:16.70
The "imperishable quality
of a gentle and quiet spirit,
00:43:16.73\00:43:21.23
which is precious
in the sight of God."
00:43:21.26\00:43:26.26
And where is that
gentle quite spirit comes from?
00:43:26.29\00:43:29.47
Again it comes from
Jesus out of the relationship.
00:43:29.50\00:43:33.99
The one that's
promised to abide in us
00:43:34.02\00:43:36.93
and we in Him.
00:43:36.96\00:43:39.02
We're just precious
in the sight of God.
00:43:41.17\00:43:42.76
So what does that tell
you God's looking upon?
00:43:42.79\00:43:44.71
What's God looking at?
00:43:44.74\00:43:46.68
God is looking at
the heart, isn't he?
00:43:46.71\00:43:49.43
But in our culture in
the world that we live in
00:43:49.46\00:43:53.53
what do we tend
to be looking at?
00:43:53.56\00:43:57.41
We're looking at
the exterior, aren't we?
00:43:57.44\00:44:00.10
Remember the, you know,
the prophet Samuel came to
00:44:00.13\00:44:02.98
Jesse's sons they were
being lined up before him.
00:44:03.01\00:44:06.46
The next king was
going to be anointed
00:44:06.49\00:44:08.66
from one of Jesse's sons.
00:44:08.69\00:44:10.18
And far assigned with
the oldest to the youngest
00:44:10.21\00:44:12.36
they were
presented and each time
00:44:12.39\00:44:14.18
Samuel said, "oh, man
he would make a great king,
00:44:14.21\00:44:17.20
what a noble bearing he had."
00:44:17.23\00:44:19.25
Until they came to last one
and God said it's none of these
00:44:19.28\00:44:23.93
and Samuels said he was puzzled
Jesse, it's none of them.
00:44:23.96\00:44:29.10
It was almost like
after thought when Jesse said,
00:44:29.13\00:44:31.06
well, I have one other son he is
a shepherd boy, he is out there.
00:44:31.09\00:44:34.92
They had to go
searching for him.
00:44:34.95\00:44:36.84
And when Samuels saw him
God said "that's the one."
00:44:36.87\00:44:42.59
And then it says, "man
looks on the outward appearance
00:44:42.62\00:44:46.02
but God looks upon the heart."
00:44:46.05\00:44:48.74
This is a part of our
value system as Christians.
00:44:48.77\00:44:51.34
We're into this worldly idea
00:44:51.37\00:44:53.76
that we value
people for how they dress,
00:44:53.79\00:44:56.48
how pretty there
are, how handsome or not
00:44:56.51\00:44:59.64
besides of their pocket book,
the kind of cars they drive,
00:44:59.67\00:45:02.45
what kind of homes they
live in or their status in life,
00:45:02.48\00:45:06.59
we as Christians that is
so artificial, is it not.
00:45:06.62\00:45:11.34
We as Christians do not
value people for those things,
00:45:11.37\00:45:14.66
we have a different value system
it is fundamentally different.
00:45:14.69\00:45:18.23
We value people for
what they are at heart.
00:45:18.26\00:45:22.84
Oh, yes, they may not be pretty.
00:45:22.87\00:45:25.00
Oh, yes, they may
not be very good looking
00:45:25.03\00:45:28.60
but we value them for
what they are at heart.
00:45:28.63\00:45:32.89
Its superficial what the world
00:45:32.92\00:45:34.23
is been doing to us
it's so superficial.
00:45:34.26\00:45:36.72
My friend, we got
a see these things
00:45:36.75\00:45:38.95
for what they are
and stand apart from it.
00:45:38.98\00:45:41.45
You know 1 Timothy 2
goes on to say "Likewise,
00:45:41.48\00:45:44.00
I want women to adorn
themselves with proper clothing,
00:45:44.03\00:45:46.70
modestly and
discreetly, not with braided."
00:45:46.73\00:45:49.43
Again this is a Greek culture.
00:45:49.46\00:45:51.35
"And gold or
pearls or costly garments,
00:45:51.38\00:45:55.11
but rather by
means of good works,
00:45:55.14\00:45:57.36
as is proper for women
making a claim of godliness."
00:45:57.39\00:46:00.20
It's not that we
shouldn't wear proper clothing
00:46:00.23\00:46:02.87
and I have learned long ago I
rather spend a few extra bucks
00:46:02.90\00:46:05.87
to get a good quality suit
or running shoes in my case
00:46:05.90\00:46:11.25
I found this
pair of running shoes.
00:46:11.28\00:46:12.98
I spend $80-90 for them
but the last may oh, hey you.
00:46:13.01\00:46:17.35
Whereas my old new balance
shoes I used to use for running
00:46:17.38\00:46:20.78
would last me
five or six months.
00:46:20.81\00:46:23.03
So you tell me
which is more economical.
00:46:23.06\00:46:26.14
You know good piece of
clothing that's gonna last you
00:46:26.17\00:46:28.71
and you know so I
think we understand
00:46:28.74\00:46:31.12
the quality
that's what you think.
00:46:31.15\00:46:33.08
But some will say
yeah, this is all cultural.
00:46:33.11\00:46:35.40
My friend, it is multicultural
00:46:35.43\00:46:37.57
because you
follow this from Jacob
00:46:37.60\00:46:42.08
who was instructed to have
to have to remove the guards
00:46:42.11\00:46:44.52
from their ears
and from their fingers
00:46:44.55\00:46:48.22
to the children of Israel
00:46:48.25\00:46:51.26
as it came out of
the Egyptian culture.
00:46:51.29\00:46:53.68
Jacob by way that was
more than Mesopotamian culture.
00:46:53.71\00:46:56.87
The Israelites as
they came out of the Egypt
00:46:56.90\00:46:58.95
and God removed
these things from them.
00:46:58.98\00:47:01.67
We can say that
was an Egyptian culture
00:47:01.70\00:47:03.43
because they were
deeply influenced it.
00:47:03.46\00:47:05.80
You find the same
counsel in an Israeli culture,
00:47:05.83\00:47:09.66
you'll find this
in Greek culture.
00:47:09.69\00:47:11.74
When you look at all
the text and you see that
00:47:11.77\00:47:14.25
it represents different cultures
it actually is multicultural.
00:47:14.28\00:47:20.23
Because the kind
of the new thinking is
00:47:20.26\00:47:22.40
it came out of the
Greek culture and therefore
00:47:22.43\00:47:26.57
it really isn't relevant
to the American culture.
00:47:26.60\00:47:30.42
My friend, it's multicultural
00:47:30.45\00:47:31.96
and the American
culture is not aside from
00:47:31.99\00:47:34.30
that phenomenon
of multicultural.
00:47:34.33\00:47:37.41
And so we see it.
Don't look I'm talking about.
00:47:37.44\00:47:42.13
We see it on the
screen, we'd see in the,
00:47:42.16\00:47:43.80
it's like magazines the
look that's been promoted.
00:47:43.83\00:47:48.58
You got to have the look
and if you don't have the look
00:47:48.61\00:47:53.92
and to a
greater or lesser extent
00:47:53.95\00:47:55.58
many people are
bought into the look.
00:47:55.61\00:47:58.66
You know what I'm talking about.
00:47:58.69\00:47:59.88
The look the way you
dress just the right way.
00:47:59.91\00:48:05.04
Again how does that fit
into my relationship with Jesus?
00:48:05.07\00:48:09.31
Oh, I got to do with
piercing. Oh, since I'm into it
00:48:09.34\00:48:11.59
I may as well just
laid out there, right.
00:48:11.62\00:48:15.19
Isaiah 3
"Moreover the Lord said,
00:48:15.22\00:48:17.55
'Because the
daughters of Zion are proud,'"
00:48:17.58\00:48:19.84
and notice the
correlation between
00:48:19.87\00:48:21.53
the attitude of the
heart and how they dress.
00:48:21.56\00:48:24.95
"And walk with heads
held high and seductive eyes
00:48:24.98\00:48:28.75
and go along
with mincing steps."
00:48:28.78\00:48:31.10
Can you see this ear minds high
00:48:31.13\00:48:32.66
"and tinkle the
bangles on their feet
00:48:32.69\00:48:34.68
therefore the Lord will afflict
00:48:34.71\00:48:36.28
the scalp of the
daughters of Zion with scabs."
00:48:36.31\00:48:39.17
There is just a way
of saying figuratively
00:48:39.20\00:48:41.47
He is going to humble them.
00:48:41.50\00:48:43.82
And my friend, by the way
00:48:43.85\00:48:45.21
humility is a
wonderful thing for us
00:48:45.24\00:48:48.13
to nurture in our love for Jesus
00:48:48.16\00:48:50.17
and in our relationship with
one another, don't you think.
00:48:50.20\00:48:54.14
Anyway "In that day
the Lord will take away
00:48:54.17\00:48:55.85
the beauty of their anklets,
headbands, crescent ornaments,
00:48:55.88\00:48:59.57
dangling earrings,
bracelets, veils, headdresses,
00:48:59.60\00:49:02.78
ankle chains, amulets,
finger rings, nose rings."
00:49:02.81\00:49:08.98
Oh, that would be
piercing, wouldn't it nose rings
00:49:09.01\00:49:12.46
I mean how else
would you wear one.
00:49:12.49\00:49:15.70
Piercing oh, yes and piercing.
00:49:15.73\00:49:19.83
Talking about piercings,
is there a human being there.
00:49:19.86\00:49:24.00
I think there is
behind of all it.
00:49:24.03\00:49:26.43
Piercing and yet the body says
00:49:26.46\00:49:28.97
our bodies are the
temples of the Holy Spirit.
00:49:29.00\00:49:33.14
Piercings and I'm sorry
you can't see that really well,
00:49:33.17\00:49:36.60
tattooing, you know
00:49:36.63\00:49:42.82
it's just real
what some people do.
00:49:42.85\00:49:45.06
It's an extreme of this stuff
00:49:45.09\00:49:46.56
that really
become apparent isn't it.
00:49:46.59\00:49:48.99
It's an extreme of it.
00:49:49.02\00:49:50.66
But our bodies are the
temples of the Holy Spirit.
00:49:50.69\00:49:54.21
We're to care for
them, you know, all of this.
00:49:54.24\00:49:59.61
Oh, I got to tell you
the story real quickly.
00:49:59.64\00:50:02.37
I was in New Haven, Connecticut
just over a year ago.
00:50:02.40\00:50:05.41
We started on the
campus of Yale University.
00:50:05.44\00:50:08.53
In that series it was
wonderful to have a decision
00:50:08.56\00:50:11.77
of one of the
professors of Yale who was--
00:50:11.80\00:50:18.01
want to say he was an as
anesthesiologist teaching,
00:50:18.04\00:50:21.21
teaching in their
school of medicine.
00:50:21.24\00:50:24.11
We also had some
Chinese professors
00:50:24.14\00:50:27.69
who were there
for their as training.
00:50:27.72\00:50:29.65
Among them we called her Maggie.
00:50:29.68\00:50:31.65
She was from
Beijing her husband was
00:50:31.68\00:50:34.58
in the military in the Red Army,
00:50:34.61\00:50:36.24
an officer in the
Red Army back in Beijing.
00:50:36.27\00:50:39.16
And she was now in
this free environment.
00:50:39.19\00:50:42.49
This was like this
end of October, November
00:50:42.52\00:50:45.51
stepping into early
December, I had that series.
00:50:45.54\00:50:47.98
She did not miss a night
because I think you'll realize
00:50:48.01\00:50:51.59
that openly they could not
do this kind of thing in China.
00:50:51.62\00:50:55.70
And she was
taking advantage of it.
00:50:55.73\00:50:58.19
And she made her
decision, she was returning--
00:50:58.22\00:51:02.11
last February she
returned to Beijing
00:51:02.14\00:51:04.27
where she taught at
the University of Beijing.
00:51:04.30\00:51:07.33
And she determined I
am gonna get baptized.
00:51:07.36\00:51:10.18
I'm going to
accept Jesus as my Savior
00:51:10.21\00:51:12.80
and she was a
part of our baptism
00:51:12.83\00:51:14.56
at the end of that series.
00:51:14.59\00:51:15.73
It was wonderful to see--
00:51:15.76\00:51:17.80
right now we have
two churches in Beijing.
00:51:17.83\00:51:19.69
Made sure she knew the addresses
00:51:19.72\00:51:21.22
so that she could connect
with the fellowship there
00:51:21.25\00:51:23.93
and I hope that
she has done that.
00:51:23.96\00:51:26.35
And so I'm
preparing her for her baptism.
00:51:26.38\00:51:30.02
We're going through
the teaching and stuff
00:51:30.05\00:51:31.54
I happened to come to this one.
00:51:31.57\00:51:33.67
I've never have a
reaction when it came to this
00:51:33.70\00:51:35.76
matter of adornment
like I had for Maggie
00:51:35.79\00:51:38.63
because
immediately she began to glow.
00:51:38.66\00:51:41.56
She got animated she
says I love this one.
00:51:41.59\00:51:44.46
I have never-- I don't
see one of you jumping up
00:51:44.49\00:51:48.09
when I tell
about this one either.
00:51:48.12\00:51:49.97
You know but she
was glowing about it,
00:51:50.00\00:51:52.44
she immediately
connected with it.
00:51:52.47\00:51:55.80
And here she is
coming out of China
00:51:55.83\00:51:59.05
and that just
kind of blew me away
00:51:59.08\00:52:01.06
that this really appealed to
her and she got it immediately.
00:52:01.09\00:52:04.06
I didn't have to
go any explanations.
00:52:04.09\00:52:05.76
I just read 1
Peters 3 and she got it.
00:52:05.79\00:52:08.51
She told me this
story. She said you know what?
00:52:08.54\00:52:10.50
This reminds me
of my best friend.
00:52:10.53\00:52:13.40
When I first met
her at the university
00:52:13.43\00:52:15.66
there was something
just different about her.
00:52:15.69\00:52:19.44
One thing she was smiling
a lot and she seemed happy
00:52:19.47\00:52:24.41
and she says I
was attracted to her.
00:52:24.44\00:52:27.25
And we developed a
friendship when we came
00:52:27.28\00:52:30.18
she is my best friend.
00:52:30.21\00:52:32.85
And she said I found out
as I got acquainted with her
00:52:32.88\00:52:35.87
that she loved Jesus.
00:52:35.90\00:52:37.52
She was a
Christian and that was what
00:52:37.55\00:52:39.60
was behind the smiles
and the joy that she had.
00:52:39.63\00:52:44.40
And she saw that that really was
what this was all talking about,
00:52:44.43\00:52:48.68
and it is what
it's all talking about.
00:52:48.71\00:52:51.22
Hebrews 11 tells
us "We are strangers
00:52:51.25\00:52:54.94
and we are
exiles on this earth."
00:52:54.97\00:52:56.54
We're just passing through.
00:52:56.57\00:52:58.58
We're looking for a city
whose builder maker is God.
00:52:58.61\00:53:03.17
And my friend, we do.
We have different values.
00:53:03.20\00:53:06.96
We are His people.
00:53:06.99\00:53:09.19
And I want you to just
as we end with this song,
00:53:09.22\00:53:12.09
I just want to close our
eyes meditate what it means,
00:53:12.12\00:53:15.10
a privilege that
is ours to know Jesus,
00:53:15.13\00:53:18.86
to be His people, to
know His love and His grace.
00:53:18.89\00:53:23.87
And the call that is
ours to let our light shine,
00:53:23.90\00:53:27.30
listen to the song.
00:53:27.33\00:53:28.87
Be ye holy,
00:53:49.57\00:53:55.71
holy
00:53:55.74\00:53:59.42
For the Lord God Almighty
00:53:59.45\00:54:04.00
is holy
00:54:04.03\00:54:07.84
Be ye holy,
00:54:07.87\00:54:13.96
holy For holy,
00:54:13.99\00:54:20.99
holy is the Lord
00:54:21.02\00:54:26.16
Be ye holy,
00:54:26.19\00:54:32.25
holy
00:54:32.28\00:54:36.00
For the Lord God Almighty
00:54:36.03\00:54:40.59
is holy
00:54:40.62\00:54:44.44
Be ye holy,
00:54:44.47\00:54:50.38
holy For holy,
00:54:50.41\00:54:57.13
holy is the Lord
00:54:57.16\00:55:03.96
We are His people
00:55:03.99\00:55:08.11
His holy nation
00:55:08.14\00:55:12.76
Called out of darkness
00:55:12.79\00:55:17.31
to light
00:55:17.34\00:55:21.91
We are His building,
00:55:21.94\00:55:26.08
His holy nation
00:55:26.11\00:55:30.48
We're living by faith,
00:55:30.51\00:55:34.60
not by sight
00:55:34.63\00:55:38.05
So be ye holy,
00:55:38.08\00:55:44.63
holy
00:55:44.66\00:55:48.23
For the Lord God Almighty
00:55:48.26\00:55:52.78
is holy
00:55:52.81\00:55:56.26
Be ye holy,
00:55:56.29\00:56:02.26
holy For holy,
00:56:02.29\00:56:09.04
holy is the Lord
00:56:09.07\00:56:16.12
For holy,
00:56:16.15\00:56:19.28
holy is the Lord
00:56:19.31\00:56:23.70