¤¤
00:00:02.13\00:00:07.90
[ Violin plays ] ¤¤
00:00:12.14\00:00:22.55
¤¤ [ Congregation sings ] ¤¤
00:00:22.58\00:00:40.14
¤¤ ¤¤ ¤¤
00:00:40.14\00:01:01.09
¤¤ ¤¤ ¤¤
00:01:01.09\00:01:22.21
¤¤ ¤¤ ¤¤
00:01:22.21\00:01:43.60
¤¤ ¤¤ ¤¤
00:01:43.60\00:02:04.95
¤¤ ¤¤ ¤¤
00:02:04.95\00:02:25.97
¤¤ ¤¤ ¤¤
00:02:25.97\00:02:47.10
¤¤ [ Piano plays ] ¤¤
00:02:47.10\00:03:02.54
¤¤ ¤¤ ¤¤
00:03:02.54\00:03:23.97
¤¤ ¤¤ ¤¤
00:03:23.97\00:03:45.49
¤¤ ¤¤ ¤¤
00:03:45.49\00:04:06.61
¤¤ ¤¤ ¤¤
00:04:06.61\00:04:27.96
¤¤ ¤¤ ¤¤
00:04:27.96\00:04:49.18
¤¤ ¤¤ ¤¤
00:04:49.18\00:05:10.84
¤¤ ¤¤ ¤¤
00:05:10.84\00:05:32.73
¤¤ ¤¤ ¤¤
00:05:32.73\00:05:53.95
¤¤ ¤¤ ¤¤
00:05:53.95\00:06:15.50
¤¤ ¤¤ ¤¤
00:06:15.50\00:06:36.69
¤¤ ¤¤ ¤¤
00:06:36.69\00:06:57.81
¤¤ ¤¤ ¤¤
00:06:57.81\00:07:19.37
¤¤ ¤¤ ¤¤
00:07:19.37\00:07:40.62
¤¤ ¤¤ ¤¤
00:07:40.62\00:08:02.24
¤¤
00:08:02.24\00:08:05.95
>> Good morning, kids. >>
Morning. >> It is so exciting to
00:08:08.78\00:08:12.59
see all of you out here. There
was, like, a quarter of you in
00:08:12.59\00:08:17.29
the first service. My name
is Pastor Austin, and I hope you
00:08:17.33\00:08:20.06
enjoy this little
analogy that will hopefully
00:08:20.06\00:08:22.20
help you understand
Pastor Dwight's sermon
00:08:22.20\00:08:25.07
a little better.
00:08:25.07\00:08:27.00
I'm gonna read for you a really
amazing verse in the book of
00:08:27.04\00:08:35.78
Acts 1:8. It says, "But you
shall receive power when the
00:08:35.78\00:08:45.79
Holy Spirit has come upon
you." You shall receive what? >>
00:08:45.79\00:08:50.63
Power. >> Power. A little
louder. You shall receive what?
00:08:50.63\00:08:53.56
>> Power. >> Power. Now, has
anyone seen anyone -- someone be
00:08:53.56\00:08:58.50
baptized before? Has anyone
seen someone be baptized? If you
00:08:58.50\00:09:02.47
haven't, to be baptized is to
give your life to Christ and be
laid in a little pool
00:09:02.47\00:09:08.24
of water that represents you
dying to a life of selfishness
and living to a life of love
00:09:08.24\00:09:15.22
and love to Jesus. So when
you're baptized -- Tell me this.
00:09:15.22\00:09:19.89
When you're baptized, how much
of you gets wet? >> All of your
00:09:19.89\00:09:26.36
body. >> All of your body. Kind
of like this sponge. When it is
00:09:26.36\00:09:32.17
baptized in the water, it is
dripping wet. Head to toe, you
00:09:32.17\00:09:39.04
are dripping. And the Bible
describes a baptism of the Holy
Spirit. Now, the Holy Spirit is
00:09:39.04\00:09:45.68
God and our friend who helps us
to be like Jesus. And he helps
00:09:45.68\00:09:50.62
us become like Jesus. I want to
tell you a story. When I was in
00:09:50.62\00:09:55.42
eighth grade, I had a really
good friend, and we were friends
since we were babies.
00:09:55.42\00:10:00.03
We actually shared a crib
together. We went to primary
00:10:00.03\00:10:03.77
Sabbath school together. But in
eighth grade, we started arguing
00:10:03.77\00:10:07.90
a lot. Does anyone argue
with their friends? Yeah? Anyone
00:10:07.90\00:10:11.21
argue with their friends? And
when she would say something to
00:10:11.21\00:10:17.11
hurt my feelings, do you know
what I wanted to do? I wanted to
hurt her feelings. I wanted to
00:10:17.11\00:10:22.78
show how mean she was to me,
that it did not feel good. And
00:10:22.78\00:10:28.62
when I did that, it did not help
anything. It was kind of like
taking this sponge,
00:10:28.62\00:10:33.19
which represents our heart and
our mind and putting it in this
00:10:33.19\00:10:39.53
dirt, which represents sin
and ugliness. And I just rolled
00:10:39.53\00:10:46.54
around in it, and I would say
mean things to her. And so, when
00:10:46.54\00:10:52.08
I would then be with her, it
would put dirty water out -- out
00:10:52.08\00:10:58.52
of my heart, out of my words and
my actions. Would you want to
clean your dishes with this
00:10:58.52\00:11:03.56
water? >> No. >> No.
You would want clean water.
00:11:03.56\00:11:07.40
Now, I want to read for you
another verse, because you may
00:11:07.40\00:11:11.90
feel like, "Man, I have so much
hard time being angry with my
friends or being sad with my
00:11:11.90\00:11:18.64
friends. I can't change. I don't
know how to fix that." Well, let
00:11:18.64\00:11:23.21
me tell you, Jesus is the
answer. In Ezekiel, we have a
00:11:23.21\00:11:31.05
special promise. Now, this is
one of my favorite verses. I
hope you understand this.
00:11:31.05\00:11:35.62
It says, "Then I will sprinkle
clean water on you, and you
00:11:35.62\00:11:46.37
shall be clean. I will cleanse
you from all your filthiness and
from all your idols."
00:11:46.37\00:11:51.01
So who does the cleaning, kids?
>> Jesus does. >> Jesus does the
00:11:51.01\00:11:55.74
cleaning. You can't clean your
heart. You can't make your heart
00:11:55.74\00:11:59.55
be nice. You can't make your
heart be loving. You need Jesus
00:11:59.55\00:12:04.22
to give you love. And you ask
Him to baptize you with the Holy
Spirit. And he'll give you that
00:12:04.22\00:12:08.32
clean water, which is like
this. You take the dirty, nasty
00:12:08.32\00:12:17.17
sponge, and God cleans it, puts
some beautiful Dawn soap, with
00:12:17.17\00:12:23.20
four times more grease-cleaning
power. [ Laughter ] And with it
00:12:23.20\00:12:29.31
clean, when the pressures of
life come at you, when people
00:12:29.31\00:12:33.18
are mean to you, you know what's
gonna come out? Something clean.
It's clean water now.
00:12:33.18\00:12:39.02
When you're baptized with the
Spirit and someone hurts your
00:12:39.02\00:12:44.23
feelings, instead of mean things
coming out of your mouth and
your heart, the Holy Spirit
00:12:44.23\00:12:48.23
has put good things. So it's
nice and clean. You want to wash
00:12:48.23\00:12:52.77
your dishes with this water? And
that's when you can say what is
00:12:52.77\00:13:00.11
in verse 26. It says, "God says
to you" -- and you and you and
you -- "I will give you a new
00:13:00.11\00:13:09.05
heart and put a new spirit
within you. I will take out the
heart of stone out of your flesh
00:13:09.05\00:13:15.16
and give you a heart of flesh."
Who wants to have a soft heart
00:13:15.16\00:13:20.56
for Jesus? Who wants to have a
soft heart for people who are
not being nice to you?
00:13:20.56\00:13:24.50
Maybe you don't want to raise
your hand, but you can ask Jesus
00:13:24.50\00:13:28.74
to baptize you with the Holy
Spirit, and He'll give you a new
00:13:28.74\00:13:35.01
heart day by day. Now, can I
have a volunteer to pray for us?
Wow, your hand was way ready.
00:13:35.01\00:13:40.28
All right, let's bow our heads.
Let's close our eyes. And we'll
00:13:40.28\00:13:45.09
have our friend pray for us. Go
ahead. >> Dear Jesus, thank you
00:13:45.09\00:13:47.92
for this day. Thank
you that we are here today.
00:13:47.92\00:13:50.63
Help us to be good and kind and
help nobody to get hurt. Anybody
00:13:50.63\00:13:57.23
You have baptized, be good
and don't be tempted to be with
00:13:57.23\00:14:04.24
Satan. Amen. >> Amen. Thank you
so much. You can go back to your
00:14:04.24\00:14:07.61
seats now. [ "Arise,
My Soul, Arise!" begins ]
00:14:10.48\00:14:14.32
>> ¤ Arise, my soul,
arise ¤ Stretch forth to things
00:14:14.32\00:14:18.65
eternal ¤ ¤ And
hasten to the feet
00:14:18.65\00:14:22.72
of thy redeemer God ¤ ¤
Though hid from mortal eyes,
00:14:22.72\00:14:28.56
He dwells in light supernal ¤
¤ Yet worship Him in humbleness
00:14:28.56\00:14:35.04
and call Him Lord ¤
00:14:35.04\00:14:37.97
¤ His banquet of love
awaits thee above ¤ ¤ Behold the
00:14:38.01\00:14:46.01
marriage festal of the Lamb is
come ¤ ¤ Rejoice, my soul,
rejoice, to Heaven lift up thy
00:14:46.01\00:14:55.16
voice ¤ >> ¤ Hallelujah,
hallelujah >> ¤ Hallelujah,
hallelujah >> ¤ Hallelujah,
00:14:55.16\00:15:01.20
hallelujah [ Organ plays ] >>
¤ The harps of Heaven are to the
00:15:01.20\00:15:09.80
song victorious ¤ ¤ The
never-ending anthem sounding
through the sky ¤ ¤ To mortals
00:15:09.80\00:15:18.15
is not given to join in strains
so glorious ¤ ¤ Yet sing my soul
the brace of Him, who reigns on
00:15:18.15\00:15:27.86
high ¤ ¤ Who bought with His
blood the ransomed of God ¤ ¤ To
Him be everlasting power
00:15:27.86\00:15:46.24
and victory ¤ >> ¤ And let
the great amen >> ¤ And let the
00:15:46.24\00:15:56.02
great amen >> ¤ Resound
again ¤ Hallelujah, hallelujah ¤
00:15:56.02\00:16:06.70
Hallelujah [ Piano plays ] ¤¤ ¤¤
00:16:11.60\00:16:24.11
[ Congregation sings ] ¤¤ ¤¤
00:16:24.11\00:16:41.46
¤¤ ¤¤ ¤¤
00:16:41.46\00:17:02.72
¤¤ ¤¤ ¤¤
00:17:02.72\00:17:24.17
¤¤ ¤¤ ¤¤
00:17:24.17\00:17:45.29
¤¤ ¤¤ ¤¤
00:17:45.29\00:18:06.58
¤¤ ¤¤ ¤¤
00:18:06.58\00:18:28.07
¤¤ ¤¤ ¤¤
00:18:28.07\00:18:49.86
>> We have a
scripture reading now.
00:18:49.89\00:18:53.16
I'd like to invite
you to open your Bible to
00:18:53.16\00:18:55.70
1 Corinthians, chapter
10. We'll be reading verses
00:18:55.70\00:18:59.33
12 and 13 from the
new international version.
00:18:59.33\00:19:03.24
1 Corinthians 10:12-13. "So if
you think you are standing firm,
00:19:03.27\00:19:10.88
be careful that you don't fall.
No temptation has overtaken you,
except what is common
00:19:10.88\00:19:17.89
to mankind. And God is faithful.
He will not let you be tempted
00:19:17.89\00:19:23.29
beyond what you can bear. But
when you are tempted, He will
also provide a way out
00:19:23.29\00:19:30.30
so that you can endure it." Paul
spent some time in Mamertine
00:19:30.30\00:19:39.34
Prison. It was not a place
where there was hope. It was
00:19:39.34\00:19:45.31
definitely a place to lose one's
faith. But Paul did not. Paul
00:19:45.31\00:19:52.65
was able to say, "I know whom I
have believed and am persuaded
that He is able to keep that
00:19:52.65\00:19:59.56
which I've committed unto Him
until that day." He expected,
00:19:59.56\00:20:04.43
they all expected to be alive
and to be caught up in the air.
But he knew that even if he was
00:20:04.43\00:20:09.80
one that slept in the grave,
that he would be caught up in
the air and taken to Heaven.
00:20:09.80\00:20:17.28
"I know whom I have believed."
00:20:17.28\00:20:20.48
¤¤ ¤¤ [ Congregation sings ]
00:20:22.58\00:20:39.23
¤¤ ¤¤ ¤¤
00:20:39.23\00:20:59.72
¤¤ ¤¤ ¤¤
00:20:59.72\00:21:20.51
¤¤ ¤¤ ¤¤
00:21:20.51\00:21:41.36
¤¤ ¤¤ ¤¤
00:21:41.36\00:22:01.88
¤¤ ¤¤ ¤¤
00:22:01.88\00:22:22.57
¤¤ ¤¤ ¤¤
00:22:22.57\00:22:43.29
¤¤ ¤¤ ¤¤
00:22:43.29\00:23:03.91
¤¤ ¤¤ ¤¤
00:23:03.91\00:23:24.93
¤¤ ¤¤ ¤¤
00:23:24.93\00:23:45.95
¤¤ ¤¤ ¤¤
00:23:45.95\00:24:06.78
¤¤ ¤¤ ¤¤
00:24:06.78\00:24:24.83
>> Let's pray. Father, the words
of Paul we've made our own.
00:24:27.96\00:24:34.40
We've each given a testimony. We
know who we believe in. We know
00:24:34.40\00:24:44.61
You are able. Take these moments
left, impress that reality upon
our minds, our spirits,
00:24:44.61\00:24:51.19
and our hearts. We
pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
00:24:51.19\00:24:56.46
"Chasing Jesus:
Lead Me Into Temptation."
00:24:56.49\00:25:03.70
Open your Bible with me.
The words are not gonna be
00:25:03.70\00:25:06.10
on the screen. I want
you to read this dramatic
00:25:06.10\00:25:08.34
story for
yourself. Matthew, chapter 4.
00:25:08.34\00:25:11.74
Open your Bible to
Matthew, chapter 4.
00:25:11.74\00:25:13.74
We'll pick it up at
the top of the chapter.
00:25:13.74\00:25:16.71
Verse 1. Matthew 4:1.
00:25:16.71\00:25:22.05
"Then Jesus was led by
the Spirit into the wilderness
00:25:22.05\00:25:26.72
to be tempted by the devil.
00:25:26.72\00:25:30.49
After fasting 40 days and 40
nights, He was hungry. The
Tempter came to Him
00:25:30.53\00:25:36.30
and said, 'If You are the
Son of God, tell these stones
00:25:36.30\00:25:41.77
to become bread.' Jesus
answered, 'It is written man
should not live on bread
00:25:41.77\00:25:49.41
alone but on every word that
comes from the mouth of God.'
Then the devil took Him
00:25:49.41\00:25:55.48
to the Holy City and had Him
stand on the highest point of
00:25:55.48\00:25:59.82
the temple. 'If You are the Son
of God,' he said, 'throw
yourself down, for it is written
00:25:59.82\00:26:07.20
He will command His angels
concerning You, and they will
lift You up in their hands
00:26:07.20\00:26:11.27
so that You will not strike Your
foot against a stone.' Jesus
00:26:11.27\00:26:16.40
answered him, 'It is also
written do not put the Lord your
00:26:16.40\00:26:22.94
God to the test.' Again the
devil took Him to a very high
mountain and showed Him all the
00:26:22.94\00:26:28.08
kingdoms of the world and their
splendor. 'All this I will give
you,' he said, 'if You'll bow
00:26:28.08\00:26:35.76
down and worship me.' Jesus said
to him, 'Away from me, Satan,
00:26:35.76\00:26:42.73
for it is written worship
the Lord your God and serve Him
00:26:42.73\00:26:48.74
only.' Then the devil left Him,
and angels came and attended
00:26:48.74\00:26:56.01
Him." Oscar Wilde once quipped,
"I can resist everything but
00:26:56.01\00:27:03.85
temptation." [ Laughter ] The
American writer Mark Twain --
00:27:03.85\00:27:07.86
you've heard of him -- he
declared, "Giving up smoking is
the easiest thing in the world.
00:27:07.86\00:27:13.46
I know, because I've done it a
thousand times." Hey, what is it
00:27:13.46\00:27:19.07
about temptation that makes it
so hard to resist, so easy to
give in to? They did some
00:27:19.07\00:27:28.78
research on rats. Divided the
rats into two groups. One group
00:27:28.78\00:27:33.55
easily enticed, or tempted. The
other group not so easily
enticed and tempted.
00:27:33.55\00:27:37.99
They took the group easily
enticed, and they gave those
00:27:37.99\00:27:43.83
rats a food cue. They saw food.
And they noticed those rats
00:27:43.83\00:27:48.83
produced spikes of dopamine. You
know what dopamine is? It's that
00:27:48.83\00:27:54.40
neurotransmitter produced in our
brain. It's what happens when we
experience pleasure.
00:27:54.40\00:27:58.24
Dopamine just starts squirting
into that brain. Dopamine
00:27:58.24\00:28:03.38
actually helps reinforce the
pleasurable behavior, increasing
the likelihood that
00:28:03.38\00:28:07.22
we will repeat that behavior
just to get that same feeling.
And listen, the behaviors
00:28:07.22\00:28:12.39
are not all bad. You're thinking
evil? No. A beautiful piece of
00:28:12.39\00:28:20.36
music produces dopamine. You
react with pleasure. Now, some
00:28:20.36\00:28:25.77
people in -- with exercise
experience dopamine. They call
it the runner's high.
00:28:25.77\00:28:32.07
There's dopamine in eating.
Isn't that pleasurable? And you
knew I was gonna say it.
00:28:32.07\00:28:36.54
There's dopamine in sex, of
course. Now, lookit, the flip
00:28:36.54\00:28:41.88
side is there are some -- some
stimulants -- alcohol, caffeine,
00:28:41.88\00:28:47.92
painkillers, opioids, and
recreational drugs -- that also
00:28:47.92\00:28:52.43
create dopamine. Now, back to
the rat study. They took the
other group, less prone to
00:28:52.43\00:28:56.70
enticement, to temptation. They
showed the same food cue, and
that group did not produce
00:28:56.70\00:29:02.37
the dopamine. Hmm. Makes
you wonder. Did Jesus experience
00:29:02.37\00:29:08.51
dopamine spikes? Of course,
you got to believe that He did.
00:29:08.51\00:29:14.55
When He would see a beautiful
sunset, don't you suppose there
was pleasure in that?
00:29:14.55\00:29:17.75
And the more sunsets He saw, the
more He experienced that? When
00:29:17.75\00:29:22.89
He heard music set to his own
cultural tastes, same dopamine.
But did Jesus experience
00:29:22.89\00:29:29.26
a dopamine spike when He was
tempted -- when He was tempted
00:29:29.26\00:29:34.47
with pleasure? Open your Bible
with me to Matthew, chapter 4.
00:29:34.47\00:29:39.77
We were just there. Brand-new
series -- "Chasing Jesus."
00:29:39.77\00:29:43.11
We're gonna chase Jesus
straight into that barren, rocky
00:29:43.11\00:29:48.02
wilderness right after His
baptism. All right, Matthew,
chapter 4. I want to share with
00:29:48.02\00:29:52.85
you the opening salvo to
the three gospel accounts. John
00:29:52.85\00:29:57.49
doesn't say a word about it, but
Matthew, Mark and Luke do. And
00:29:57.49\00:30:01.70
so, here are the openings to
this very familiar, dramatic
story. Matthew 4:1 -- We just
00:30:01.70\00:30:07.87
read it. "Then Jesus was led by
the Spirit into the wilderness
to be tempted by the devil.
00:30:07.87\00:30:12.57
After fasting 40 days and 40
nights, He was hungry." Mark,
00:30:12.57\00:30:17.81
probably written before Matthew,
Mark puts it this way -- "At
once, the Spirit sent" --
00:30:17.81\00:30:22.15
Now, the old King James says
"drove," drove Him -- "out into
00:30:22.15\00:30:27.06
the wilderness, and He was
in the wilderness 40 days, being
00:30:27.06\00:30:31.86
tempted by Satan." Luke comes
along, not to be outdone.
"Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit,
00:30:31.86\00:30:35.86
left to Jordan and was led by
the Spirit into the wilderness,
where, for 40 days,
00:30:35.86\00:30:41.14
He was tempted by the devil. He
ate nothing during those days,
00:30:41.14\00:30:44.64
and at the end of them,
He was hungry." You see?
00:30:44.64\00:30:48.98
Do you see a common element?
Now, there are several. He was
00:30:48.98\00:30:54.12
led by the Spirit. The Spirit
drove Him out into the
wilderness. Full of the Spirit,
00:30:54.12\00:30:57.25
He was led into the wilderness.
And every one of those phrases
ends with, "And He was tempted."
00:30:57.25\00:31:02.89
Now, that's the very reverse
of the Lord's Prayer. The Lord's
00:31:02.89\00:31:07.56
Prayer -- What do we pray when
we pray the Lord's Prayer? "Lead
us not into temptation."
00:31:07.56\00:31:14.67
And yet Jesus, by the Spirit,
is led to the wilderness, where
00:31:14.67\00:31:19.61
He's tempted. So I tell you what
-- There's an automatic good
00:31:19.61\00:31:22.64
news right here. And that is, is
it a sin to be tempted? Yes or
00:31:22.64\00:31:26.88
no? No, it's not a sin. Is
sexual temptation, perhaps the
00:31:26.88\00:31:31.35
most pervasive temptation on the
planet today, is sexual
temptation a sin? It is not a
00:31:31.35\00:31:38.59
sin. Not at all. Which ought
to be good news. In fact, it's
00:31:38.59\00:31:42.10
quite interesting. I find this
intriguing, actually. The Greek
word for "tempting,"
00:31:42.10\00:31:46.63
or "temptation," is "peirazo,"
which can be translated "to be
tempted or to be tested."
00:31:46.63\00:31:55.04
It depends on who's in the
forefront of the moment. If the
devil's in the forefront,
00:31:55.04\00:31:58.65
that word becomes "tempted." If
God is in the forefront, that
word becomes "tested."
00:31:58.65\00:32:03.39
Watch this -- Deuteronomy,
fifth book of the Bible. Moses
00:32:03.39\00:32:07.49
reminding Israel after the 40
years, "Remember how the Lord
your God led you all the way
00:32:07.49\00:32:12.19
in the wilderness these 40 years
to humble and" -- what's the
00:32:12.19\00:32:15.96
next word -- and to test. He
tested you, "to know what was in
00:32:15.96\00:32:22.67
your heart, whether or not you
would keep His commands." The
00:32:22.67\00:32:27.14
Spirit of God leads Jesus into
the wilderness to be tested just
the same way He did with the
00:32:27.14\00:32:32.88
children of Israel, also into
the wilderness, to be tested.
Which means when the devil
00:32:32.88\00:32:39.79
sees a huge temptation
opportunity, guess what? God
00:32:39.79\00:32:46.49
sees a huge testing opportunity.
00:32:46.49\00:32:49.30
God does not lead you and
me into the testing hoping we'd
00:32:51.37\00:32:55.97
fall. Are you kidding? It's just
the opposite. Robby Raney just
00:32:55.97\00:32:59.57
read it a moment ago. I'm gonna
put it back on the screen
because I just love
00:32:59.57\00:33:02.64
this promise. Man, I hope
it's marked up in your Bible.
00:33:02.64\00:33:05.65
1 Corinthians 10:13. "No
temptation has overtaken you,
except what is common
00:33:05.65\00:33:11.82
to mankind." Now, here it
comes. "And God is faithful.
00:33:11.82\00:33:16.42
He will not let you be tempted
beyond what you can bear." Keep
00:33:16.42\00:33:21.53
reading. "But when you are
tempted, He will also provide a
way out so that you can endure
00:33:21.53\00:33:26.80
it." What do you think about
that? I'd put an amen to that,
00:33:26.80\00:33:31.04
wouldn't you? I mean, please. He
will not let you be tempted or
00:33:31.04\00:33:35.28
tested beyond what you can bear.
Karen, sitting with me on the
00:33:35.28\00:33:39.88
front row here, our third
granddaughter, just on Thursday,
September 1, had her first
00:33:39.88\00:33:45.39
birthday -- Lily. Now,
when Lily's mother, Chelsea,
00:33:45.39\00:33:49.79
or her father, our son Kirk, or
her two older sisters, Ella and
00:33:49.79\00:33:54.00
Izzy, come to bathe Lily, they
do this little ritual in the
00:33:54.00\00:33:59.67
plastic tub, the tiny tub.
Chelsea puts on that hot water,
but she puts her hand
00:33:59.67\00:34:05.21
in the hot water. Ooh, ooh,
ooh! Why does she put her hand
00:34:05.21\00:34:08.21
in the hot water? She
wants to know, is this too hot?
00:34:08.21\00:34:10.91
And the moment if it's too hot,
she just adjusts, little cool.
00:34:10.91\00:34:14.58
Why? Because no mother wants to
put her baby in water that will
00:34:14.58\00:34:18.72
burn the child. I mean, please.
When your Heavenly Father puts
you in the hot water
00:34:18.72\00:34:25.16
of that temptation, He's doing
the same thing. You say, "Hold a
00:34:25.16\00:34:30.57
minute. Gabriel, hold up, hold
up, hold up. Let me just check
00:34:30.57\00:34:34.57
this water. Let me just feel.
Yeah, I think she could do this.
I believe He could do it
00:34:34.57\00:34:39.61
with my help. Go ahead,
let the temptation come."
00:34:39.61\00:34:43.28
Do you know what that means?
Every time you are tempted --
hold on -- every time you are
00:34:43.28\00:34:50.05
tempted, you can know God has
already checked the temptation
out, and He says, "That girl,
00:34:50.05\00:34:56.29
she can do it. That boy,
he's with me. Never on your own.
00:34:56.29\00:35:00.93
You can't handle any temptation
on your own. But with me, hey,
00:35:00.93\00:35:06.70
let it go. Watch her now." Man,
that's good news. Not only that
00:35:06.70\00:35:12.54
the temptation is not a sin, but
that God has already checked the
temptation out in advance to
00:35:12.54\00:35:17.71
make sure that I can get through
this temptation with His power.
I was hoping for at least
00:35:17.71\00:35:22.85
a quiet amen from somebody
in this building. Come on, guys.
00:35:22.85\00:35:28.42
Pretend like you're Pentecostal.
Please. [ Light laughter ]
00:35:28.42\00:35:35.43
Wow. Desire of Ages. Oh, this is
good. "When God brings us into
00:35:35.43\00:35:40.14
trial," or test or temptation,
when He "brings us into trial,
00:35:40.14\00:35:46.27
He has a purpose to accomplish
for our good." Come on. Oh, man.
00:35:46.27\00:35:53.48
It's just like -- It's just like
the train is over here in the
00:35:53.48\00:35:57.59
Andreasen Center, you know, the
health and wellness center? You
know, we got a couple guys
00:35:57.59\00:36:01.16
on our staff. I think
there are three, maybe four.
00:36:01.16\00:36:05.03
These guys are going over there
and pressing iron every single
00:36:05.03\00:36:09.03
day of the week. Makes me sick.
You ought to see them now, just
when they stand up,
00:36:09.03\00:36:12.03
they stand up straight. [
Breathes heavily ] Can't breathe
00:36:12.03\00:36:15.37
right, but they stand up
straight. That's what trainers
do. Puts a little extra weight.
00:36:15.37\00:36:21.94
"No, no, no, no, no, no. Oh,
I can't do that. I can't do it."
00:36:21.94\00:36:25.61
"Come on, you got to do it.
Remember, the belly, the belly?
00:36:25.61\00:36:28.55
Pull the belly in. Don't stick
it out. Pull the belly in. Firm
00:36:28.55\00:36:31.19
up on the back. You can do it.
You can do it. I would not ask
you to bear this if you could
00:36:31.19\00:36:34.79
not do it. Come on, put
your weight and do it. See?"
00:36:34.79\00:36:38.69
And the trainer stays right
there the whole time. The
trainer's not off in the
00:36:38.69\00:36:41.76
room having a little snack. The
trainer's right beside you. It's
00:36:41.76\00:36:47.00
that way with God. He tests. He
knows your limit. He says, "All
right, no, no, no, no, not that
00:36:47.00\00:36:51.97
one. Not yet. Not yet." Wow.
"He will not let you be tempted.
00:36:51.97\00:36:58.05
He will not let you be tested
beyond what you can bear." So it
00:36:58.05\00:37:02.48
was with Jesus. In the
increasing intensity of these
three temptations, His grip on
00:37:02.48\00:37:07.39
His father is growing tighter
and tighter and tighter. He's
00:37:07.39\00:37:15.26
being tested. Wow. That's what
the Bible says, by the way, of
00:37:15.26\00:37:18.80
Jesus. This is Hebrews 5:8. "Son
though Jesus was, He learned
00:37:18.80\00:37:25.34
obedience" -- I love that. "He
learned obedience through what
00:37:25.34\00:37:30.71
He suffered." Jesus learned
obedience through His
temptations. And it's ditto for
00:37:30.71\00:37:37.25
you. Now, I was reading
something this last week, and I
got to share it with you.
00:37:37.25\00:37:40.29
G. Campbell Morgan, one of the
great English writers of a
previous century, title of the
00:37:40.29\00:37:44.49
book in my library -- "The
Crises of the Christ." I had not
00:37:44.49\00:37:48.56
thought of this before,
and I share it with you now. G.
00:37:48.56\00:37:52.17
Campbell Morgan -- "This is
a revelation," speaking of the
00:37:52.17\00:37:55.20
three temptations. "This is a
revelation of the perpetual
method of Satan and also of his
00:37:55.20\00:38:00.08
estimate of humanity. All
attempts to work the ruin of man
00:38:00.08\00:38:04.91
and woman by the enemy are based
upon a low conception of human
life." Who's got the low
00:38:04.91\00:38:10.45
conception? The devil has a low
conception of who you are. Watch
00:38:10.45\00:38:13.96
this. Here's what he thinks of
you. The devil appeals first to
man or woman as being animal
00:38:13.96\00:38:21.93
only. You are an animal to him.
He's an angel. You're an animal.
00:38:21.93\00:38:27.90
He appeals to us first being --
as being animal only, calling us
00:38:27.90\00:38:34.58
to satisfy our material appetite
as though that were the sum
00:38:34.58\00:38:38.28
total of life. God never so
appeals to us, even in our fall.
00:38:38.28\00:38:43.79
Now, keep reading. This is
beautiful. "The Divine plan is
ever that of recognizing the
00:38:43.79\00:38:49.16
divinity in man," and
woman, "the magnificence of His
00:38:49.16\00:38:54.60
spiritual being," and this gets
even better, "ruined
magnificence today, and yet
00:38:54.60\00:39:00.30
truly magnificent in ruin
because capable of communion
00:39:00.30\00:39:05.81
with God." My. Hallelujah is
right. We are not brute beasts
with raging passions that are
00:39:05.81\00:39:14.88
driven by our clamoring
appetites. I know Esau came in
panting and huffing.
00:39:14.88\00:39:21.49
"Jacob, boy, I am so hungry,
I could eat anything. Give me
00:39:21.49\00:39:29.13
something now." What a tragic
mistake. That boy was run by his
appetite and ruined by it.
00:39:29.13\00:39:38.91
[ Groans ] "Throw
him some raw meat.
00:39:38.94\00:39:41.28
That's the devil's
command. "Throw him raw meat
00:39:41.28\00:39:43.28
get him
addicted, then trash him."
00:39:43.28\00:39:45.51
Thus, when he goes to
Jesus, he begins the appeal
00:39:45.51\00:39:49.02
to uncontrolled appetite --
appetite -- so that the dopamine
00:39:49.02\00:39:54.62
of that addiction for food,
the dopamine of that addiction
00:39:54.62\00:39:58.63
for drink, the
dopamine of that addiction
00:39:58.63\00:40:01.43
for sex kicks in right
there. "I got to have it now.
00:40:01.43\00:40:05.53
I have to have it." [ Sighs ]
00:40:05.53\00:40:10.57
Treats us like we are beasts.
00:40:10.57\00:40:14.11
Does God do that? You kidding?
Look at God. Oh, these are
00:40:14.14\00:40:18.91
beautiful. "If anyone is in
Christ, he/she is a new creation
-- the old things of your past
00:40:18.91\00:40:25.09
life have passed away -- behold,
all things have become new."
00:40:25.09\00:40:28.32
Some of you here today are
troubled by your past life.
00:40:28.32\00:40:32.69
You're not sure what to do with
it. You're here in this series
00:40:32.69\00:40:36.36
as it unfolds. And you're
saying, "Oh, man, you don't know
my past." I got great news for
00:40:36.36\00:40:41.30
you. Jesus does. And He loves
you with that past. He says,
"Give me your past.
00:40:41.30\00:40:48.18
I'll make it brand-new. Just
give it to me. Oh, man, you're
00:40:48.18\00:40:53.15
not a brute beast." Look
at this. This is John 1:12.
00:40:53.15\00:40:57.12
"To as many as received Jesus,
to them, He gave the right, the
power, the authority
00:40:57.12\00:41:03.12
to become children of God to
those who believe in His name."
00:41:03.12\00:41:06.56
You know what? ¤ I'm a child of
the King ¤ A child of the king
00:41:06.56\00:41:13.40
¤ With Jesus, my Savior, I'm a
child of the King ¤ You're not a
00:41:13.40\00:41:26.68
brute beast. You do not have to
be driven by that appetite, not
you. You're the child.
00:41:26.68\00:41:32.49
You're a princess, you're
a prince of the King. Oh, my.
00:41:32.49\00:41:39.23
"Darwinism and evolutionary
naturalism may declare me
00:41:39.23\00:41:44.33
nothing more than a
sophisticated ape with a tinge
of conscience." But Jesus
00:41:44.33\00:41:51.41
battles the devil to the dust of
that wilderness floor to assure
00:41:51.41\00:41:57.58
us, you and me, we're children
of the King. We're children of
the King. Oh, no wonder.
00:41:57.58\00:42:04.35
"For God so loved the world that
He gave His only Son, that
whoever believes in Him
00:42:04.35\00:42:08.92
will not perish like the brute
beasts but have everlasting
00:42:08.92\00:42:14.10
life." This is the Jesus Christ
who came down to this Earth to
win us back to God.
00:42:14.10\00:42:19.03
This is the Jesus Christ, by the
way, who's coming soon to take
00:42:19.03\00:42:25.57
us back with Him. But here's the
deal. We need to shift paradigm
-- shift the paradigm
00:42:25.57\00:42:29.91
in our thinking. Here's what I'd
like to suggest you take home
00:42:29.91\00:42:33.92
as the one sentence from our
teaching this morning. "We need
to turn our temptations
00:42:33.92\00:42:39.82
into tests." Would you
just lock that in your mind?
00:42:39.82\00:42:42.82
We need to turn our temptations
into tests. And I mean of all
00:42:42.82\00:42:47.10
people on this planet, those of
us living in this university
environment, we know all about
00:42:47.10\00:42:53.00
the meaning of tests, right?
We do it for a living. You study
00:42:53.00\00:42:58.54
for a while, then your knowledge
is examined. You study some
more, then your knowledge is
00:42:58.54\00:43:03.21
retested and reexamined. Isn't
that it, test after test after
00:43:03.21\00:43:07.35
test? Nobody likes to test.
You're absolutely right. But
every teacher knows
00:43:07.35\00:43:11.69
that if you're not tested,
you'll not grow. So we live with
00:43:11.69\00:43:17.36
these tests on this campus,
examinations over and over
again. Why? You know why.
00:43:17.36\00:43:24.07
Because you're being prepared
for a phenomenal future. You've
been dreaming of this
00:43:24.07\00:43:28.37
career all your life, and
now that future is almost within
00:43:28.37\00:43:35.11
reach. But you can't step into
that future until you've been
00:43:35.11\00:43:39.38
vetted and tested. Once you're
tested, you're welcomed --
00:43:39.38\00:43:44.75
you're welcomed into that
fraternity of professionals just
00:43:44.75\00:43:50.03
like you. But you have to be
vetted. You have to be tested.
00:43:50.03\00:43:54.56
And so it is with
our Heavenly Father.
00:43:54.56\00:43:57.27
First the dream. And the
dream is clear. I don't know
00:43:59.93\00:44:06.68
if you're watching these James
Webb Space Telescope. Are you
seeing these pictures
00:44:06.68\00:44:10.08
that are coming back, these
infrared pictures? Absolutely
00:44:10.08\00:44:13.88
phenomenal. The dream is, one
day, with the creator of those
13-billion-light-years-away
00:44:13.88\00:44:19.59
galaxies, with the creator
and you and me, we walk together
00:44:19.59\00:44:25.56
with Christ, and we'll spend
eternity discovering the
universe. Oh, don't ever let go
00:44:25.56\00:44:30.47
of that dream. Never,
never, never let go of it.
00:44:30.47\00:44:33.40
But first, the test, to be
tested, to be vetted, and then
00:44:33.40\00:44:40.61
brought home. You got a problem
with that? We do it on this
planet day in and day out.
00:44:40.61\00:44:46.55
But that's the problem.
Somebody's trying to flunk us.
Somebody keeps putting the "L"
00:44:46.55\00:44:53.29
on our forehead and reminding
us we're losers, we're failures,
00:44:53.29\00:44:57.59
that somebody wants nothing more
than to toss us under the ash
heap of the human race.
00:44:57.59\00:45:03.16
But a capital "S" somebody came
down into this -- this -- this
00:45:03.16\00:45:10.77
life, and bearing our own
humanity, He takes the tests in
00:45:10.77\00:45:19.11
advance of us. He takes
the examinations, endures the
00:45:19.11\00:45:25.12
Crucible. Some of you are
saying, "Eh, I don't know, do I
-- He didn't have --
00:45:27.82\00:45:33.93
Jesus took my test? Come on. He
didn't have a laptop through
which He could surf
00:45:33.93\00:45:38.00
from porn site to porn site
like I do. He didn't get these
00:45:38.00\00:45:42.87
dopamine hits that wear off
faster and faster so that I have
to go deeper and deeper into the
00:45:42.87\00:45:46.94
dark web just to get my hits.
He doesn't know. He doesn't know
00:45:46.94\00:45:51.15
the life I live." Oh, my
friend, hold that thought.
00:45:51.15\00:45:55.62
Take a look at these two lines.
"For we do not have a high
priest" -- speaking of
00:45:55.62\00:46:00.36
Jesus -- "who is unable to
empathize with our weaknesses,
but we have one who has been
00:46:00.36\00:46:05.09
tempted in every way, just
as we are, yet He did not sin."
00:46:05.09\00:46:11.53
The end of chapter 2. "Because
Jesus Himself suffered when He
00:46:11.53\00:46:16.57
was tempted, He is able to help
those who are being tempted."
00:46:16.57\00:46:22.24
One more. Desire of Ages. "We
have nothing to bear which Jesus
00:46:22.24\00:46:29.05
has not endured." Come on. Let's
just cut to the chase. Was Jesus
a red-blooded male?
00:46:29.05\00:46:35.06
Yes or no? Of course he was. He
was a red-blooded male with
dopamine and hormones
00:46:35.06\00:46:40.23
and testosterone like you have
if you're a red-blooded male.
Yep. All of the above.
00:46:40.23\00:46:46.20
Let's not mistakenly conclude
that somehow, when Christ comes
here, He does not experience
00:46:46.20\00:46:51.67
the subtle force of sexual
temptation. He has everything --
00:46:51.67\00:46:56.11
He had everything you have. It's
true He didn't yield to the
temptation like you
00:46:56.11\00:47:02.15
and I have. But He was
thoroughly tested, thoroughly
00:47:02.15\00:47:08.09
vested -- vetted, rather -- on
the sexual front in order to
qualify at Calvary as the Savior
00:47:08.09\00:47:14.23
from every human temptation,
not just sexual. Any addiction,
00:47:14.23\00:47:19.27
every temptation. You're in the
right. And He wears a t-shirt
now in Heaven that says,
00:47:19.27\00:47:26.61
"Been there, and done that."
Somebody handed me a note
afterwards to correct that.
00:47:26.61\00:47:32.98
The note said, "You should say,
'He wears a t-shirt in Heaven
00:47:32.98\00:47:38.29
that says, 'Been there, and beat
that.'" Well, I like that, too.
But He's done the --
00:47:38.29\00:47:44.29
He's done the temptation, just
as you do the temptation. But He
00:47:44.29\00:47:52.17
said no. Wow. Battles the
devil for the power over the
00:47:52.17\00:47:58.04
temptation that is my killer and
yours. My. "Where are you going
00:47:58.04\00:48:03.78
with this, Dwight?" Well,
let's put on the line again.
00:48:03.78\00:48:07.22
Put that line in front of us.
"He learned obedience through
00:48:07.22\00:48:12.42
what He suffered." At Calvary,
it's the ultimate learning. At
00:48:12.42\00:48:18.66
Calvary, the ultimate obedience.
At Calvary, the ultimate
00:48:18.66\00:48:23.73
suffering. Which is why we must
do as He did. We have to turn
00:48:23.73\00:48:28.00
our temptations into tests, to
no longer regard them as brutal
00:48:28.00\00:48:33.07
assaults on our dignity but as
divine testings and examinations
and Heaven strategy
00:48:33.07\00:48:37.48
to save the human race from
the destruction of the devil.
00:48:37.48\00:48:42.28
That's it. To turn our
temptations into tests.
00:48:42.28\00:48:50.06
To know that every time
that temptation comes, God has
00:48:50.06\00:48:54.76
already pre-tested the water,
and He's sure that you with Him,
00:48:54.76\00:49:03.14
me with Him, we win every single
time. I got to read it one more
time before I sit down.
00:49:03.14\00:49:10.31
1 Corinthians 10:13. "No
temptation has overtaken you,
except what is common
00:49:10.31\00:49:14.78
to mankind. And God is faithful.
He will not let you be tempted
00:49:14.78\00:49:18.25
beyond what you can bear. But
when you are tempted, He will
also provide a way out
00:49:18.25\00:49:24.36
so that you can endure it."
Because when you walked into the
room of that temptation --
00:49:24.36\00:49:30.70
listen carefully -- When
you walked into the room of that
00:49:30.70\00:49:35.64
temptation, you thought you saw
everything around you. What you
00:49:35.64\00:49:40.91
missed was a door to your left.
And when that temptation moves
00:49:40.91\00:49:48.12
in for the kill, you'll hear a
voice whispering, "Get out. Get
00:49:48.12\00:49:56.76
out now." A door will open. God
promises you. If you've got the
00:49:56.76\00:50:02.16
temptation, He already knows
you win with God's power. But if
00:50:02.16\00:50:06.37
you're faltering, if you're
weakening, just look for the
door. You'll hear a voice
00:50:06.37\00:50:11.17
inside of you say, "Out
now." God will never let you
00:50:11.17\00:50:19.25
be tested above what you
are able, but will with every
00:50:19.25\00:50:27.06
temptation make a way of escape.
That's it. That's the truth.
00:50:27.06\00:50:33.80
Martin Luther, the great
reformer, had a prayer he
00:50:33.80\00:50:40.40
prayed. And I want to share that
prayer in closing. Frederick
Dale Bruner in his --
00:50:40.40\00:50:47.24
in his commentary on Matthew
records this passage. It's
00:50:47.24\00:50:52.65
describing Luther. And we'll
get to the prayer, you'll see.
00:50:52.65\00:50:55.88
"Luther preached to his
parishioners," just as we are
doing here together,
00:50:55.88\00:51:00.72
"Luther preached to his
parishioners that when the devil
00:51:00.72\00:51:05.36
tempts believers, they can be
encouraged by the fact they know
Him who conquered the devil
00:51:05.36\00:51:09.86
for them." We know
Jesus. "Thus, for example,
00:51:09.86\00:51:13.34
when believers are fighting
impurity" -- can you be a
00:51:13.34\00:51:16.87
believer and fight impurity? Are
you kidding? "Thus, for example,
00:51:16.87\00:51:20.88
when believers are fighting
impurity in themselves or the
desire for revenge or for glory
00:51:20.88\00:51:26.15
and are driven almost crazy
by these lusts, they can be
00:51:26.15\00:51:30.79
encouraged when they realize" --
now, these are Luther's words --
"'this is the devil
00:51:30.79\00:51:35.06
making me so hot,'" right now.
And the moment you realize that,
the battle, Luther says,
00:51:35.06\00:51:40.43
is half won. "Then," still
quoting Luther, "fall down,"
00:51:40.43\00:51:45.43
Luther says, "and say, 'O
Christ, who has overcome the
00:51:45.43\00:51:52.61
devil, help me.' Then the devil
must soon fall." Isn't that a
00:51:52.61\00:52:01.78
prayer? "O Christ, who has
overcome the devil, help me."
00:52:01.78\00:52:09.52
Please. Now.
00:52:09.52\00:52:11.49
And the promise is...door. Go.
00:52:11.53\00:52:17.87
Because if every
temptation is a test
00:52:17.87\00:52:22.70
and I say, "Lord Jesus,
lead me into temptation,
00:52:22.70\00:52:29.24
and when you do, I, too,
shall cry out by your grace.
00:52:29.24\00:52:34.05
O Christ, who has
overcome the devil,
00:52:34.05\00:52:38.15
help me," and He will.
00:52:38.15\00:52:43.56
He promises. He will.
00:52:43.59\00:52:48.30
Our Father, which art in Heaven,
hallowed be thy name. And lead
us not into temptation,
00:52:51.30\00:53:01.78
but deliver us from the evil and
the evil one, for thine is the
00:53:01.78\00:53:08.58
Kingdom and the power
and the glory forever. Amen.
00:53:08.58\00:53:14.46
For 40 school years now, when
we've come to the first Sabbath
00:53:14.46\00:53:20.90
of the school year, we've
concluded that worship service
00:53:20.90\00:53:27.00
with us standing together and
collectively singing that mighty
"Our Father in Heaven" prayer.
00:53:27.00\00:53:33.48
This will be the 40th time you
and I have stood. This will be
00:53:33.48\00:53:40.68
the last time we stand at the
beginning of the school year.
But I want to invite you
00:53:40.68\00:53:45.82
right now to stand. And with all
the meaning and desire of your
00:53:45.82\00:53:52.53
heart for the victory Jesus
offers, sing this prayer of
victory. Come on, let's stand
00:53:52.53\00:53:58.47
together. It's a beautiful
prayer. And, by the way, when
we're through singing this
00:53:58.47\00:54:01.74
prayer, the service concludes.
Bretton Offenbach is gonna lead
us as we sing together.
00:54:01.74\00:54:10.31
[ Organ plays ] ¤¤
[ Congregation sings ]
00:54:12.51\00:54:21.19
¤¤ ¤¤ ¤¤
00:54:21.19\00:54:41.91
¤¤ ¤¤ ¤¤
00:54:41.91\00:55:02.73
¤¤ ¤¤ ¤¤
00:55:02.73\00:55:23.52
¤¤ ¤¤ ¤¤
00:55:23.52\00:55:44.14
¤¤ ¤¤ ¤¤
00:55:44.14\00:56:05.06
¤¤ ¤¤ ¤¤
00:56:05.06\00:56:25.65
¤¤ ¤¤ ¤¤
00:56:25.65\00:56:46.47
¤¤ ¤¤ ¤¤
00:56:46.47\00:57:04.95
>> Think of the last time
someone said, "I'm praying
00:57:08.49\00:57:11.33
for you." Didn't
it give you a sense of
00:57:11.33\00:57:13.53
peace and reassurance
that somebody cares for me?
00:57:13.53\00:57:16.50
I know how I feel when I get an
e-mail from one of our viewers
saying, "Yo, Dwight.
00:57:16.53\00:57:19.73
I've been praying for you
lately." There's nothing like
00:57:19.73\00:57:22.57
knowing someone is praying for
you. So I want to offer you an
opportunity to partner -- let
00:57:22.57\00:57:26.37
me, let us partner
with you in prayer.
00:57:26.37\00:57:29.04
If you have a special
prayer request or a praise of
00:57:29.08\00:57:31.11
thanksgiving you'd like to
share with us, I'm inviting you
00:57:31.11\00:57:33.82
to contact one of
our friendly chaplains.
00:57:33.82\00:57:35.78
It's simple to do.
You can call our toll-free
00:57:35.78\00:57:37.99
number -- 877 -- the two
words "HIS WILL," 877-HIS-WILL.
00:57:37.99\00:57:42.89
That friendly voice that
answers, you tell him, you tell
00:57:42.89\00:57:46.03
her what your prayer need
is, we'll join with you in that
00:57:46.03\00:57:49.06
petition.
00:57:49.06\00:57:50.77
May the God who answers prayer
journey with you these next few
days until we're right back
00:57:50.80\00:57:54.47
here together again next time.
00:57:54.47\00:57:56.60
¤¤ ¤¤
00:58:00.31\00:58:20.00
¤¤
00:58:20.00\00:58:26.80