Good afternoon, gentlemen.
00:01:00.91\00:01:02.30
We've got an important
topic to talk about this day.
00:01:03.36\00:01:06.39
We're going to be talking
about the problem of lust
00:01:06.51\00:01:09.13
and its' fruits.
00:01:09.68\00:01:11.27
Specifically fornication,
pornography and masturbation.
00:01:12.00\00:01:17.51
So we have kind of a
heavy thing to talk about.
00:01:18.26\00:01:20.78
It's sort of not the thing that
you know, when you're asked:
00:01:20.91\00:01:25.08
"What's your top ten
favorite topics to preach on?"
00:01:25.57\00:01:28.08
This is like
number 99 down the list.
00:01:28.82\00:01:32.16
So we have an important
topic to preach about, something
00:01:32.75\00:01:35.99
that's not really that
enjoyable to talk about.
00:01:36.45\00:01:38.02
So what I would like to do
is begin with prayer and solicit
00:01:38.65\00:01:43.32
God's spirit to be here, to
ask God to be here to guide us
00:01:43.44\00:01:46.56
as we talk about
these important issues.
00:01:46.97\00:01:48.74
And I believe God will
answer that prayer and lead us.
00:01:49.30\00:01:52.60
So let's pray together.
00:01:53.02\00:01:53.99
Our Father in Heaven we come
before you humbly asking that
00:01:55.46\00:02:00.34
Your spirit will be here, that
You will speak to our hearts
00:02:00.56\00:02:05.47
and our minds and You
will give us understanding
00:02:05.89\00:02:08.61
and bless us and teach us.
Father this is a serious problem
00:02:09.41\00:02:15.11
the problem of lust.
Father I pray that Your spirit
00:02:15.91\00:02:18.50
will minister to our
hearts. Jesus name, Amen!
00:02:19.06\00:02:25.30
As I've introduced it, we've
said we're gonna talk about the
00:02:29.40\00:02:31.91
problem of lust and its'
fruit, namely fornication and
00:02:32.37\00:02:36.08
pornography and masturbation.
And to begin this talk I'd like
00:02:37.91\00:02:42.13
to just give you some statistics
that sort of lay the issues out.
00:02:42.48\00:02:46.04
And I've just dug these
statistics up and there's a lot
00:02:46.88\00:02:49.67
of statistics out
there about these.
00:02:50.37\00:02:51.59
The first: porn revenue
is larger than all combined
00:02:52.15\00:02:55.69
revenues of all professional
football, baseball and
00:02:56.01\00:02:59.59
basketball franchises.
00:02:59.64\00:03:01.24
The US porn revenue exceeds the
combined revenues of ABC, CBS
00:03:04.20\00:03:08.57
and NBC.
00:03:09.13\00:03:10.10
And of course we can
understand that that's true
00:03:11.22\00:03:13.07
because Hollywood
puts out 400 movies a year.
00:03:13.33\00:03:16.68
The porn industry
puts out 700 films a month.
00:03:17.79\00:03:20.86
20% of men admit to
using pornography at work.
00:03:26.80\00:03:32.98
The website address sex. com is
valued at 65 million US dollars.
00:03:36.15\00:03:43.51
Forty million US adults
regularly visit internet
00:03:45.81\00:03:48.37
pornography websites.
00:03:49.02\00:03:51.05
And when you look at
the statistics for pastors,
00:03:52.87\00:03:55.62
for Christians, for believers,
it is staggering that this
00:03:56.43\00:04:02.51
is not just a problem for
"those people over there", if
00:04:03.14\00:04:07.47
you understand
what I mean by that.
00:04:07.50\00:04:09.61
This is not a problem that
has not attacked the church.
00:04:09.67\00:04:13.06
In fact I read one statistic
that said 53% of men who have
00:04:13.85\00:04:17.79
attended promise
keepers have used pornography
00:04:18.31\00:04:20.66
in the last week.
00:04:21.32\00:04:22.29
So we see that this is a
plague in our land, that has
00:04:25.43\00:04:30.07
overtaken not just the "secular
people" over there or the
00:04:30.70\00:04:34.75
"Godless people" over there,
but it has infected even to some
00:04:35.19\00:04:39.02
degree or another God's people.
And so we wanna deal first with
00:04:39.88\00:04:43.85
just outlining the problem.
And then from the problem we
00:04:44.68\00:04:48.01
wanna move to
God's solution, Amen?
00:04:48.36\00:04:51.48
And we don't need to
dwell too much on the problem of
00:04:52.25\00:04:55.01
masturbation or pornography
or those kinds of things,
00:04:55.30\00:04:59.63
because those
things are a fruit.
00:04:59.85\00:05:01.78
They're a what? A
fruit, that's exactly right.
00:05:02.87\00:05:05.66
The roots is the carnality of
the human heart, the lust of the
00:05:06.40\00:05:11.05
human heart. Can you say Amen?
00:05:11.91\00:05:13.09
So here's the illustration
that I'd give there.
00:05:13.64\00:05:16.08
If you pick, if you get rid of
the pornography fruit you still
00:05:16.94\00:05:24.84
have a major problem
to contend with. Amen?
00:05:24.87\00:05:27.08
And that is the problem of lust.
00:05:28.63\00:05:30.01
The problem of lust is
kindled by pornography, but the
00:05:32.04\00:05:36.10
pornography is the fruit, it's
not the root and so today we're
00:05:36.43\00:05:39.87
gonna deal with how to lay
the axe to the root of the tree.
00:05:40.09\00:05:43.78
If you understand. We're
gonna deal, we don't have
00:05:44.46\00:05:47.28
to deal with all that stuff.
We're gonna go right to the
00:05:47.72\00:05:50.84
root and deal with it
on a scriptural basis.
00:05:51.53\00:05:53.01
So, if you have your Bible,
I'd like to have you go to
00:05:54.10\00:05:57.77
Ephesians chapter 5, verse
3. The Ephesians 5, verse 3.
00:05:58.12\00:06:02.58
We live in a society
that is absolutely, completely
00:06:05.75\00:06:08.97
sex-charged.
00:06:09.97\00:06:10.99
You can't even go to the
grocery store without feeling
00:06:12.72\00:06:14.67
like you have been assaulted.
00:06:15.05\00:06:17.11
And as I have shared the
statistics, we see that they
00:06:25.86\00:06:27.97
have... essentially
that pornography has become
00:06:28.39\00:06:32.21
ubiquitous in our
culture. It's everywhere.
00:06:32.72\00:06:36.32
Now, Ephesians 5, verse
3 states and I'll read this
00:06:39.40\00:06:42.84
at least this one text from the
NIV. It says: "but among you",
00:06:43.29\00:06:46.31
that is among God's people,
"there must not even be a hint,
00:06:46.82\00:06:51.48
not even a hint of sexual
immorality, or of any kind of
00:06:53.58\00:06:58.75
impurity or of greed, because
these are not proper for God's
00:06:59.30\00:07:03.79
holy people". Now
notice, in the context of
00:07:04.68\00:07:09.99
I've set this up, in the
context of our sex-charged
00:07:10.89\00:07:12.98
culture, the scripture comes
directly across the grain of our
00:07:13.43\00:07:17.75
culture. Our culture says if it
feels good, do it, if she looks
00:07:18.16\00:07:21.14
good, look at her etc.
And scripture comes and
00:07:21.52\00:07:25.71
it says for God's holy people,
there shouldn't even be a hint,
00:07:26.13\00:07:32.44
not even a hint of sexual
immorality, not even a hint of
00:07:33.16\00:07:38.82
impurity, this stuff is not
proper for God's holy people.
00:07:39.26\00:07:43.17
So, our question this afternoon
is: "Ok, here's the reality
00:07:45.46\00:07:50.19
that 53% of Christian men that
attended promise keepers have
00:07:50.74\00:07:54.68
used pornography in the last
week. Here's the reality that
00:07:54.92\00:07:57.22
20% of men in America
use pornography at work.
00:07:57.94\00:08:00.34
Here's the reality that they're
selling 700 new porno movies
00:08:00.93\00:08:04.63
every single month.
Here's the reality that even the
00:08:04.91\00:08:07.89
magazine covers of the so-called
"good magazines" are essentially
00:08:08.31\00:08:13.11
pornographic. How can
we, in our sex-charged
00:08:13.52\00:08:17.19
culture live that amazing ideal
of God, of purity, without even
00:08:17.70\00:08:25.04
a hint of sexual
immorality? How can we do that?"
00:08:25.39\00:08:30.16
We're gonna look at
three steps in the process.
00:08:31.12\00:08:33.49
All right. Step
number one, we're gonna
00:08:34.52\00:08:36.31
begin with what we
believe about God and salvation.
00:08:36.69\00:08:39.84
We're going to begin there
because chances are there's
00:08:40.43\00:08:42.96
somebody in this group, or
there's somebody watching on
00:08:43.34\00:08:45.38
television who has not
been living God's ideal.
00:08:45.69\00:08:48.81
So we wanna explore what the
Bible says about the good news
00:08:53.20\00:08:55.43
of the cross of Jesus
Christ and it's forgiveness
00:08:56.01\00:08:58.07
for even you, for even me, for
people like you and me, who are
00:08:59.10\00:09:03.46
weak and frail and simple.
What does the good news of the
00:09:03.84\00:09:06.82
gospel say to
sinners? That's the first step.
00:09:07.31\00:09:10.46
We have to look at
that. That is the bottom line
00:09:10.82\00:09:13.70
foundation of what
we're gonna talk about.
00:09:14.08\00:09:16.07
From there,
that's step number one.
00:09:16.87\00:09:18.82
From there we're gonna look
at, we're gonna deal with the
00:09:19.30\00:09:22.66
process of the renewal of the
mind, as outlined in scripture.
00:09:23.08\00:09:25.82
We're gonna talk about how
the scripture says our minds
00:09:26.68\00:09:28.50
should be renewed, so that
we can develop thinking that is
00:09:28.77\00:09:32.92
consistent to the word of God.
00:09:33.47\00:09:34.98
And then the third step in our
process is going to be practical
00:09:36.01\00:09:38.62
tips for gaining the
victory. Practical tips.
00:09:39.07\00:09:42.53
You know every man that wants
to stop drinking alcohol has to
00:09:43.59\00:09:45.89
learn that probably the bar
isn't the place to hang out.
00:09:46.13\00:09:48.43
Amen?
00:09:49.23\00:09:50.29
So, we're gonna look at not
only those things that God does
00:09:50.64\00:09:53.43
in forgiving us and then
transforming us, but also
00:09:53.70\00:09:56.52
practical tips to help
us to live lives of purity.
00:09:57.37\00:10:02.14
So, if you have your Bible, I'd
like to invite you to turn to
00:10:02.76\00:10:04.89
collations chapter 3.
And in collations chapter 3,
00:10:05.38\00:10:08.30
Paul deals at length with the
issues of purity, that is issues
00:10:09.16\00:10:13.72
of sexual purity. But
before he gets to the issues
00:10:14.24\00:10:17.77
of sexual purity, in collations
chapter 3 he deals with
00:10:18.34\00:10:22.69
important issues of conversion,
of life transformation and
00:10:23.51\00:10:30.78
of forgiveness. So if
you have your Bible, we'll
00:10:31.19\00:10:33.80
go to collations chapter 3.
We're going to begin in verse 1.
00:10:34.52\00:10:37.88
Collations chapter
3, beginning in verse 1.
00:10:38.43\00:10:41.08
Now, as I have said, I
just wanna set this picture up.
00:10:42.48\00:10:44.68
Paul gets in verse, I believe
it's verse 5, Paul begins to
00:10:45.23\00:10:48.32
deal with issues of
purity and sexual immorality.
00:10:48.63\00:10:52.06
But before Paul gets to verse
5, he has to go through 1, 2, 3,
00:10:52.75\00:10:56.52
and 4. You
follow that, yes or no?
00:10:56.94\00:10:58.96
In other words verse 5, where
he's talking about issues of
00:10:59.51\00:11:01.91
purity is, it is preceded by
other issues, things that lay
00:11:02.19\00:11:08.09
the groundwork for a
discussion about purity.
00:11:08.40\00:11:11.01
And that's really what I want
you to understand gentlemen,
00:11:11.63\00:11:13.21
is that a discussion about
purity is actually not the first
00:11:13.82\00:11:18.87
step in this issue.
How many of us want purity?
00:11:19.66\00:11:22.24
I think all of us would raise
our hands and say: Yes, we want
00:11:22.29\00:11:24.45
purity". But if we
want purity, that's
00:11:24.97\00:11:27.44
not step number 1
in Paul's thinking.
00:11:27.81\00:11:29.80
So we're gonna begin at step 1,
we're gonna go through what Paul
00:11:31.14\00:11:34.33
says, to get to where he
deals with the issue of purity.
00:11:34.82\00:11:38.15
So, collations chapter3,
verse 1: "If then you have been
00:11:38.52\00:11:43.08
raised with Christ, seek those
things that are above, where
00:11:43.49\00:11:47.23
Christ is seated at
the right hand of God.
00:11:47.58\00:11:49.32
Set your minds on the things
that are above, not on the
00:11:50.16\00:11:53.69
things that are of the earth".
Now, Paul says in verse 2, "set
00:11:54.07\00:11:57.74
your minds on the things that
are above, not on the things
00:11:58.29\00:12:00.14
that are of the earth".
Now my question to Paul would
00:12:00.45\00:12:02.68
be: "Paul, why would I do this?"
And he gives an answer in the
00:12:02.99\00:12:08.27
next verse, verse 3.
Paul, why would I set my mind
00:12:08.65\00:12:11.64
on the things that are above,
not on the things of the earth?
00:12:12.12\00:12:14.48
Why would I do that, Paul?
Verse 3: "For you have died".
00:12:15.03\00:12:23.81
Now it's important to know Paul
doesn't say you wish you were
00:12:30.23\00:12:32.70
dead, you want to be dead,
you hope you're dead, right?
00:12:33.32\00:12:37.85
He says what? "You have died!"
00:12:38.43\00:12:41.59
Now I wanna make an
especially important point:
00:12:43.85\00:12:46.87
Paul is not trying to tell you
to try to die, he's not trying
00:12:47.66\00:12:53.19
to tell you to hope to die,
he's not trying to tell you to
00:12:53.57\00:12:57.54
will to die, he says not any of
those things, he says you have
00:12:58.05\00:13:03.61
died.
00:13:04.64\00:13:06.56
Now, frequently we hear the
00:13:08.92\00:13:10.71
illustration you know and
you've probably heard it before.
00:13:11.22\00:13:13.38
You have a man who's an
alcoholic, he dies as a result
00:13:16.03\00:13:18.40
of his
alcoholism, he's laying in
00:13:18.78\00:13:20.18
his coffin and you go to
his coffin and you open a can of
00:13:20.73\00:13:23.34
Schlitz beer and you ask the
man in the coffin if he wants
00:13:23.68\00:13:26.33
to take one for the
road, what's his response?
00:13:26.71\00:13:29.00
Of course it's nothing, right?
00:13:31.61\00:13:32.61
And so we give that illustration
and I've given that illustration
00:13:34.70\00:13:37.89
and we tell people then, that
the way to have victory is to
00:13:38.64\00:13:41.90
be dead, to try to be dead.
How many of you have tried that
00:13:42.59\00:13:45.89
method of victory?
00:13:46.25\00:13:47.58
Ever tried that
method of victory?
00:13:48.27\00:13:49.51
You ever find yourself to
be more and more alive the more
00:13:50.54\00:13:52.94
you try to be dead?
00:13:53.38\00:13:54.38
Now Paul here is
not talking about that.
00:13:56.57\00:13:59.15
Paul says not try to be
dead, hope to be dead, will to
00:13:59.49\00:14:02.72
be dead. Paul says you are dead.
00:14:03.06\00:14:05.70
End of story, you're dead.
00:14:06.25\00:14:07.66
What in the
world does that mean?
00:14:08.72\00:14:10.38
If you have a Bible, I want
you to turn to Romans chapter 6.
00:14:14.60\00:14:17.01
Roman 6, verse 23, famous Bible
text. Roman 6, verse 23, very
00:14:22.43\00:14:29.01
famous Bible text. It
says for the wages of sin
00:14:29.53\00:14:33.85
is what? Death.
00:14:34.47\00:14:37.17
By your sin, you've earned
death, by my sin I've earned
00:14:40.19\00:14:43.01
death, by our sin corporately
all of humanity, we have earned
00:14:43.32\00:14:47.27
death. By my
lust, by my sin, we have
00:14:47.68\00:14:50.94
all, every one of us, we
have earned for ourselves death.
00:14:51.32\00:14:56.53
We deserve to die. Not
one of us is deserving of
00:14:58.11\00:15:03.36
life, we all deserve to
die. The wages of sin is death.
00:15:03.84\00:15:08.06
We have earned death for
ourselves. That's what the
00:15:08.54\00:15:12.18
scripture teaches. That's the
bad news of the Bible, we have
00:15:12.56\00:15:16.95
earned death. Now,
here's the good news.
00:15:17.53\00:15:20.92
When Paul says in collations
chapter 3 that you have died,
00:15:22.05\00:15:25.52
he is simply saying that that
death, that you deserve to die
00:15:27.17\00:15:32.35
because of your sin? If
you're a believer that death
00:15:32.69\00:15:36.22
has already taken place.
Can somebody say Amen to that?
00:15:36.57\00:15:40.96
You're dead! In fact,
go back to collations 2
00:15:42.33\00:15:45.66
and we'll look in verse 12 when
Paul unpacks this even more.
00:15:46.45\00:15:49.33
Collations 2, verse 12:
00:15:49.91\00:15:52.11
"Having been buried with him in
baptism, in which you are also
00:15:58.99\00:16:05.00
raised with him through faith
in the powerful working of God
00:16:05.28\00:16:08.29
who raised Jesus from the dead.
Now notice, baptism is our what?
00:16:08.64\00:16:13.75
It's our death
and burial, right?
00:16:14.67\00:16:16.18
So now here's the point.
When the Bible says you are dead
00:16:17.08\00:16:19.31
it is simply saying that that
trip to hell that you deserve to
00:16:19.62\00:16:23.63
make at the end of the
millennium that destruction that
00:16:23.87\00:16:27.58
you deserve to have, happened
to you in the lake of fire.
00:16:27.85\00:16:30.56
That reward that you deserve
for all of your sin has already
00:16:31.11\00:16:34.51
taken place in the death,
burial and resurrection of
00:16:34.78\00:16:37.29
Jesus Christ. When
Jesus Christ wan on the
00:16:37.53\00:16:39.86
cross, he was
going to hell for you.
00:16:40.17\00:16:43.12
That's what the
Bible is teaching.
00:16:43.74\00:16:45.15
And when the scripture says you
have died, it's simply saying
00:16:45.49\00:16:49.75
that that person that you are,
and I'm speaking specifically
00:16:49.95\00:16:55.68
on the topic of lust today, that
man who has a serious problem
00:16:55.92\00:17:00.11
with lust, a problem that he
has vowed to stop, he said to
00:17:00.36\00:17:04.40
himself a thousand times
"I'm going to stop, I'm going to
00:17:04.68\00:17:08.07
stop" and you
only pick it up again.
00:17:08.28\00:17:11.47
You feel like you're at a place
in your life where you hate
00:17:16.03\00:17:17.88
yourself, that there is
absolutely no hope for you, the
00:17:18.19\00:17:23.13
Bible says that person is "dead"
he has already been killed on
00:17:23.48\00:17:27.49
the cross with Jesus Christ.
That's some good news, amen?
00:17:27.80\00:17:32.91
'Cause that person
that you are, that you hate.
00:17:34.67\00:17:36.66
That person that you are,
that is full of lust and full of
00:17:37.17\00:17:39.98
guilt and full of condemnation,
that person has already gone to
00:17:40.26\00:17:44.00
hell in the person of Jesus
Christ and my friends, I have
00:17:44.41\00:17:47.67
some good news for you today,
this is the foundation, this is
00:17:47.91\00:17:51.73
the bottom line, this is
bedrock, this is where we're
00:17:52.07\00:17:54.92
gonna build from. The bottom
line is this my friend: if
00:17:55.88\00:17:58.21
you've been struggling with
sin and you are frustrated with
00:17:58.52\00:18:02.53
yourself and you look at
yourself in the mirror and you
00:18:02.85\00:18:05.04
see nothing but a lost man,
I have some good news for you
00:18:05.32\00:18:07.92
today. Jesus has already sent
that man to hell when He went to
00:18:08.37\00:18:11.32
the cross.
00:18:11.63\00:18:13.00
That is good news!
00:18:15.54\00:18:17.12
That burden of guilt and sin
and shame that you carry, Jesus
00:18:18.73\00:18:21.96
has already born. That man that
you are is dead if you trust
00:18:22.44\00:18:26.80
Jesus Christ and give your life
to Him in baptism and a life of
00:18:27.16\00:18:30.87
service to Him.
That man is dead.
00:18:31.31\00:18:34.14
In fact look what the text
goes on to say, collations 3-3:
00:18:35.89\00:18:38.63
"For you have died". You're
done, that sinner, he is killed.
00:18:39.35\00:18:43.60
He has been
annihilated on the cross.
00:18:44.39\00:18:46.72
When a person believes and
is baptized, that person who is
00:18:50.01\00:18:51.90
under the condemnation of
God, no longer exists, amen?
00:18:52.42\00:18:55.37
That's what the Bible teaches.
When you die, what happens?
00:18:56.74\00:18:59.38
When a person goes to hell
and suffers in the lake of fire,
00:18:59.90\00:19:01.68
what happens? That
person is annihilated.
00:19:01.99\00:19:04.53
They cease to exist. When
you trust Jesus Christ for
00:19:04.98\00:19:08.17
the forgiveness of your sins
that says essentially that the
00:19:08.52\00:19:11.84
death Jesus died is the
death you deserve to die.
00:19:12.12\00:19:14.48
That annihilation that you
deserve to take place in the
00:19:15.14\00:19:17.78
lake of fire, that annihilation
has already taken place, that
00:19:18.05\00:19:20.97
sinner, that guilty person has
been evaporated with the cross
00:19:21.25\00:19:25.50
of Jesus Christ.
00:19:26.05\00:19:27.35
There is now therefore no
condemnation for those that are
00:19:28.66\00:19:30.79
in Christ, 'cause their
condemnation has already taken
00:19:31.34\00:19:34.42
place in Jesus Christ.
00:19:34.83\00:19:36.20
Notice what Colossians
3:3 then goes on to say:
00:19:37.71\00:19:40.53
"For you have died and
your present life, your life is
00:19:42.45\00:19:47.25
hidden with Christ in God".
00:19:47.69\00:19:49.45
Now my friend
you might be a saint,
00:19:51.64\00:19:52.81
you might be a great man, but I
can guarantee you no matter how
00:19:55.63\00:20:01.32
good you are, no matter how
saintly you are, I bet that you
00:20:01.73\00:20:07.22
have some things that you wanna
be hidden in Christ with God,
00:20:07.63\00:20:10.24
amen?
00:20:10.69\00:20:11.96
And that's what the text says:
alright, that sinner, he has
00:20:12.20\00:20:14.74
been annihilated, he has died
with Christ on the cross and
00:20:15.05\00:20:18.20
that person that you are right
now, that person is hidden, with
00:20:18.62\00:20:23.27
Christ in God.
00:20:23.75\00:20:25.05
You know what that means?
00:20:27.25\00:20:28.38
That means when the
Father looks at you,
00:20:29.31\00:20:31.13
when the Father looks at
you, you are hidden and He sees
00:20:33.07\00:20:39.10
Christ.
00:20:39.37\00:20:40.78
Awesome!
00:20:45.13\00:20:46.57
And they say: "What in the
world does this have to...?
00:20:47.53\00:20:49.52
I thought I was coming to a
seminar on lust and pornography
00:20:49.70\00:20:52.93
and all of the assorted
things that go along with it".
00:20:53.45\00:20:55.13
My friends this is the first
step. If you are struggling with
00:20:55.57\00:20:59.64
any of those things, I have some
good news for you my friend.
00:21:00.13\00:21:02.67
That you do no have to
feel like God will reject you
00:21:03.12\00:21:08.36
forever.
00:21:08.98\00:21:10.15
There is a God who is
passionate about saving you.
00:21:11.25\00:21:13.82
A God who is willing to be
annihilated on the cross so that
00:21:14.27\00:21:18.69
you don't have to be
there, in the fires of hell.
00:21:19.31\00:21:21.19
On the cross Jesus Christ said:
"My God, my God why have you
00:21:25.24\00:21:29.15
rejected me, or forsaken me?"
00:21:31.25\00:21:32.66
My friends sinners, people like
you, people like me, we can look
00:21:35.68\00:21:39.94
at that cross and we can look
at Jesus Christ and we can cry
00:21:40.22\00:21:43.44
out to God: "My God, my
God, why have you accepted me?"
00:21:44.03\00:21:49.04
Jesus can look at you and
can say: "Because the Father
00:21:53.42\00:21:56.13
rejected me on the cross".
00:21:56.51\00:21:59.94
He did that so that I could
accept you, every one of you
00:22:02.69\00:22:06.80
whether you have problems with
lust or not, God sent His son
00:22:08.14\00:22:12.36
to be rejected on the cross,
so that you could be accepted
00:22:12.80\00:22:15.62
at the same cross.
00:22:16.20\00:22:17.75
My friend, if you're having
struggles, struggles with this
00:22:19.71\00:22:22.59
issue we're talking about today,
if you're struggling with lust
00:22:23.07\00:22:25.64
and any of its' fruit, I want
you to know there is a God who
00:22:25.85\00:22:29.21
has sent His son to die for
your sins, to die the death that
00:22:29.55\00:22:33.15
you deserve, to take all of
that shame, all of the guilt, to
00:22:33.43\00:22:37.10
pour on you unlimited grace.
And that is the square one.
00:22:37.38\00:22:42.25
That is square one. That
is the foundation that we
00:22:43.90\00:22:46.61
must build on and my friends
let's move then to look at the
00:22:46.85\00:22:50.52
next verse, verse 4.
I'll read verse 3, so we can
00:22:50.87\00:22:55.42
follow the thought: "For
you have died and your life
00:22:55.76\00:22:57.82
is hidden with Christ in God.
When Christ to ease your life
00:22:58.20\00:23:03.38
appears, then you will
also appear with Him in glory".
00:23:03.62\00:23:08.25
What does it mean when it says:
"When Christ to ease your life
00:23:11.55\00:23:13.40
appears"? What's
that a reference to?
00:23:13.74\00:23:15.19
That's a reference to
the second coming, isn't it?
00:23:17.28\00:23:18.96
Now what does it mean when
it says: "Then you will appear
00:23:20.54\00:23:25.17
with Him in glory"?
What does that mean?
00:23:25.69\00:23:26.92
That means that when Jesus
Christ comes again, you don't
00:23:28.30\00:23:31.42
have to worried that
you're gonna be lost.
00:23:31.83\00:23:33.34
That you will
appear with Him in glory.
00:23:34.51\00:23:36.22
Can somebody say amen to that?
00:23:36.43\00:23:37.63
That is good news,
amen? That is awesome news.
00:23:38.28\00:23:41.82
That is news for sinners.
That is good news for sinners.
00:23:42.64\00:23:46.35
That person that you are
that deserves to die, he has
00:23:46.84\00:23:49.24
already died. Now
that person that you are
00:23:49.72\00:23:52.26
right now, he is
hidden. God sees Christ not you.
00:23:52.64\00:23:58.00
And when Jesus comes again,
you can have absolute confidence
00:23:58.96\00:24:02.57
that you will
appear with Jesus in glory.
00:24:03.18\00:24:06.27
That's the bottom line
foundation, upon which we build.
00:24:07.85\00:24:11.57
In the context of that
incredible hope, in the context
00:24:13.97\00:24:17.19
of that incredible acceptance,
Paul then moves in verse 5:
00:24:17.81\00:24:24.77
"Put to death", I love
this translation, "put to death
00:24:26.63\00:24:29.82
therefore what is
earthly in you. " I love that!
00:24:30.23\00:24:35.51
Why would I put to
death what's earthly in me?
00:24:36.50\00:24:38.56
Because He has just given me
the assurance that this place
00:24:38.84\00:24:42.14
is not my home.
Somebody say amen to that!
00:24:42.73\00:24:45.67
Paul is saying, the motivation
to put this stuff to death is
00:24:46.91\00:24:50.85
the fact that Heaven
is now you home, amen?
00:24:51.34\00:24:54.42
Now listen. Guys, as long as you
are struggling with whether or
00:24:55.21\00:24:58.50
not Heaven is you home, you're
not gonna have enough motivation
00:24:58.85\00:25:00.87
to put the
earthly stuff to death.
00:25:01.18\00:25:02.66
Did you catch that? You
follow Paul's logic, yes or no?
00:25:05.13\00:25:08.90
His logic is clear: Heaven is
you home. Because Heaven is your
00:25:09.59\00:25:14.42
home, because when Jesus comes
you will go with Him to glory.
00:25:14.77\00:25:18.88
Because that is true, put to
death this earthly stuff in you.
00:25:19.19\00:25:22.69
Get rid of it.
00:25:24.40\00:25:25.50
And then he gets specific
as to what kinds of things he's
00:25:26.19\00:25:28.93
talking about: "sexual
immorality, impurity, passion,
00:25:29.21\00:25:36.58
evil desire and
covetousness which is idolatry".
00:25:37.37\00:25:40.63
All of those things in verse
5 centre around our sexuality,
00:25:41.14\00:25:45.98
are misguided,
fallen, lust filled sexuality.
00:25:46.91\00:25:52.99
"Put to death therefore
what is earthly in you: sexual
00:25:54.47\00:25:56.77
immorality, impurity, passion,
evil desire and covetousness
00:25:57.08\00:26:01.30
which is idolatry".
00:26:01.92\00:26:03.23
Verse 9: "Do not lie to one
another seeing that you have
00:26:06.24\00:26:11.90
put off the old man with his
practices and have put on the
00:26:12.28\00:26:16.22
new man, which is being renewed
in... " what: "knowledge".
00:26:16.50\00:26:21.27
This leads us to our
second point my friends.
00:26:22.06\00:26:24.29
Paul says very clearly: alright,
you've died, you're life is
00:26:24.63\00:26:27.44
hidden with Christ and God,
Heaven is your home, now put to
00:26:27.75\00:26:29.92
death this earthy
stuff. How do I do that Paul?
00:26:30.16\00:26:32.66
How do I get rid of this
passion, this evil desire,
00:26:33.07\00:26:35.84
this covetousness?
How do I get rid of this?
00:26:36.28\00:26:38.75
Paul says put off
the old man, alright?
00:26:39.23\00:26:42.59
That's when you're converted.
You believe in Jesus Christ, the
00:26:43.07\00:26:44.93
old man is crucified.
00:26:45.17\00:26:46.27
You put on the new man.
That's when you're resurrected
00:26:46.78\00:26:48.57
by faith, that's when
the gift of the Holy Spirit.
00:26:48.85\00:26:51.08
And this new man is going to
be renewed in... what does the
00:26:52.42\00:26:57.80
Bible say? He's
gonna be renewed in
00:26:58.04\00:26:59.59
knowledge.
00:27:00.51\00:27:02.30
Now if I say this man is being
renewed in knowledge, is that
00:27:03.54\00:27:06.49
something that's instantaneous,
or is that something that takes
00:27:06.83\00:27:09.82
time?
00:27:10.09\00:27:11.06
That is a
process. That is a process.
00:27:12.12\00:27:16.16
How does that take place?
We already read it in verse 1.
00:27:16.51\00:27:20.42
"If you've been raised with
Christ", that is if you put the
00:27:22.00\00:27:24.16
new man on, "seek the things
that are above, where Christ is
00:27:24.54\00:27:28.72
seated at the right hand of God.
Set your minds on the things
00:27:29.11\00:27:32.30
that are above, not on the
things that are of the earth".
00:27:32.57\00:27:35.01
My friends, if you wanna have
a mind that is full of purity,
00:27:35.62\00:27:39.16
set your minds on the
things that are above.
00:27:40.71\00:27:44.41
My friends, I believe that one
of the leading causes of lack
00:27:54.90\00:28:00.28
of purity in God's church, among
God's people is a lack of a
00:28:00.90\00:28:05.60
renewed mind. That
renewed mind comes from
00:28:05.95\00:28:09.68
focusing in on the
cross of Jesus Christ.
00:28:09.96\00:28:12.30
That renewed mind comes
from focusing in as Paul says in
00:28:12.85\00:28:15.90
Colossians 3, verse 1 on
the things that are above.
00:28:16.11\00:28:18.99
The Bible says in Romans 8,
"then Christ ever liveth, Christ
00:28:19.23\00:28:22.93
is at the right hand of the
Father, making intersession for
00:28:23.21\00:28:25.61
us. " We're
focusing in on His death
00:28:25.89\00:28:29.56
on the cross, as intersession
in the heavenly sanctuary.
00:28:29.80\00:28:32.17
We're focusing in on who Jesus
Christ is and what He's doing.
00:28:32.68\00:28:36.66
We're spending time daily,
moment by moment dwelling on who
00:28:37.04\00:28:42.01
Jesus Christ is and what He's
doing. That my friends is the
00:28:42.29\00:28:46.88
key to a renewed mind. And
that is the second brick in
00:28:47.13\00:28:51.21
the wall.
00:28:51.55\00:28:53.51
The foundational brick is an
understanding of the acceptance
00:28:53.89\00:28:56.66
of Christ. The
acceptance of God, of Christ
00:28:56.91\00:28:59.96
sacrificing on your behalf.
From that we move to the simple
00:29:00.27\00:29:04.35
fact that God is not going
to leave you where you're at.
00:29:04.63\00:29:07.75
He sends His spirit into your
life to renew your mind as you
00:29:08.00\00:29:12.56
focus in on who Jesus Christ
is, what He's done for you.
00:29:12.94\00:29:17.80
You know what
that means my friends?
00:29:17.83\00:29:19.69
A day without prayer and a
day without Bible study is a day
00:29:20.80\00:29:24.60
that is destined for difficulty.
00:29:25.12\00:29:27.42
It's best to just go back to bed
and wait till the next morning.
00:29:36.52\00:29:42.57
I say that a little bit
tongue- in-cheek, but it's true.
00:29:43.36\00:29:46.42
If you come with me to
second Corinthians 3-18:
00:29:50.88\00:29:54.38
Second Corinthians 3-18.
Paul here is contrasting the
00:30:12.59\00:30:16.46
old covenant with the new
covenant. And Paul discusses the
00:30:16.53\00:30:20.33
glory of the new covenant as the
power of the Holy Spirit in the
00:30:20.50\00:30:23.77
person's life.
00:30:23.94\00:30:24.96
The old covenant could
not transform the way the new
00:30:25.81\00:30:28.64
covenant can.
00:30:29.01\00:30:29.98
So he says then we all
with unveiled face beholding the
00:30:30.60\00:30:34.48
glory of the Lord are
being transformed into the same
00:30:34.64\00:30:38.55
image.
00:30:38.59\00:30:39.56
From degree of glory to another
for this comes from the Lord who
00:30:39.57\00:30:44.52
is the Spirit.
00:30:44.56\00:30:45.53
If you wanted to
cook that verse down,
00:30:45.54\00:30:47.46
if you wanted to make that
verse into grape juice plus,
00:30:47.79\00:30:50.70
grape juice concentrate, you
wanted to cook that thing down
00:30:51.27\00:30:54.01
to its' core
value. It is simple.
00:30:54.76\00:30:58.20
By beholding we
are changed, amen?
00:30:58.57\00:31:03.31
By beholding we are changed.
00:31:04.09\00:31:07.98
Now, how many of you have
ever tried this methodology
00:31:09.11\00:31:12.47
of victory?
00:31:12.82\00:31:13.79
You've tried this one.
00:31:13.93\00:31:15.12
Let me give it to you.
00:31:15.83\00:31:16.80
"Don't think about that!
00:31:18.45\00:31:19.64
Oh, don't think about that!
00:31:21.27\00:31:23.38
Oh, why am I
thinking about that?"
00:31:25.92\00:31:27.80
Ok, let me illustrate
how come that doesn't work.
00:31:31.08\00:31:32.66
Right now gentlemen, do
not think about a clown.
00:31:33.15\00:31:38.63
You know, the clown with the
curly red hair and the big nose
00:31:40.21\00:31:42.02
and the painted face?
00:31:42.27\00:31:43.24
You know the clown with the big
shoes that does magic tricks?
00:31:44.60\00:31:47.43
You know those clowns that
when they squeeze their nose it
00:31:48.58\00:31:52.12
honks? The ones that pile
into the cars at the circus?
00:31:52.77\00:31:54.86
Whatever you do, men
don't think about those clowns!
00:31:55.43\00:31:58.16
What's in every
one of your minds?
00:32:02.27\00:32:04.56
Clown.
00:32:06.84\00:32:07.81
When we approach gaining the
victory over anything with that
00:32:11.14\00:32:14.04
sort of mentality, we
set ourselves up for failure.
00:32:14.37\00:32:17.82
We must approach gaining a
victory the way the scripture
00:32:20.95\00:32:23.65
teaches. The scripture says
there is one way to victory,
00:32:24.33\00:32:27.83
that's second Corinthians
3-18, by beholding the glory
00:32:27.90\00:32:32.37
of the Lord.
00:32:32.81\00:32:33.78
My friends I wish, I wish that I
could come with an inoculation.
00:32:33.79\00:32:37.83
I wish I could jump off this
platform right now and stick
00:32:38.34\00:32:40.63
you all in the arm with a needle
that would forever cure you of
00:32:40.79\00:32:45.48
any issues with sinful desire.
00:32:45.89\00:32:48.51
I wish I could do that.
Or I wish, as they talk about
00:32:48.79\00:32:54.01
in a movie that I saw
long before I was converted,
00:32:54.89\00:32:57.53
called "The clockwork orange",
where they pin the guy's eyes
00:32:57.57\00:33:00.19
open and they
reprogram his brain.
00:33:00.60\00:33:02.48
I wish I could do
all of that for you.
00:33:02.72\00:33:04.88
But I can't. I
have no magic bullet.
00:33:04.94\00:33:07.68
This is spiritual work.
00:33:08.04\00:33:09.83
It is spiritual work.
00:33:11.18\00:33:12.40
It begins with an understanding
of the awesome forgiveness
00:33:12.94\00:33:15.37
of God then it moves to
the simple transformation
00:33:15.70\00:33:19.94
of the mind.
00:33:20.17\00:33:21.14
By beholding Jesus Christ.
00:33:21.15\00:33:23.20
The text says, by
beholding we are what? Changed.
00:33:23.43\00:33:28.02
If we behold consistently, "well
I shouldn't think about such
00:33:28.47\00:33:32.48
and such", that's what
you'll be thinking about.
00:33:32.79\00:33:34.34
But if we behold consistently
Jesus Christ, we will be
00:33:34.75\00:33:37.99
thinking about Him.
Notice again verse 18:
00:33:38.25\00:33:40.60
"We all with unveiled face
beholding the glory of the Lord
00:33:40.84\00:33:45.08
are being transformed into the
same image from one degree of
00:33:45.84\00:33:49.95
glory to another" and then
the closing line, we love this,
00:33:50.27\00:33:54.27
it is so important, "for
this comes from the Lord who is
00:33:54.72\00:34:00.53
the Spirit".
00:34:01.14\00:34:02.16
My friends there is only
one solution to this problem,
00:34:06.63\00:34:09.79
it begins with an understanding
of the forgiveness of God
00:34:10.63\00:34:13.19
and it moves to an understanding
of the transforming power of the
00:34:13.61\00:34:17.06
spirit of God. And
that power is only available
00:34:17.28\00:34:22.05
in our lives as we look
at Jesus Christ who He is.
00:34:22.09\00:34:28.03
The cure for this problem
involves spending time day
00:34:31.55\00:34:38.43
by day, regularly on your knees
in His word with Jesus Christ.
00:34:38.90\00:34:45.83
From there I move now
to some practical tips.
00:34:47.59\00:34:50.04
And this first practical tip is
a nice segway from the previous
00:34:52.67\00:34:56.36
discussion and that practical
tip is: don't stay up too late
00:34:56.54\00:34:59.65
or work too much.
00:34:59.81\00:35:01.52
Two reasons: if you stay up late
and you work too much you don't
00:35:04.68\00:35:09.35
have sufficient time for thought
and reflection on the word
00:35:09.54\00:35:12.66
of God and for prayer.
00:35:12.87\00:35:14.62
In addition to that there's
another even more practical
00:35:15.95\00:35:18.31
component and that is
simply this: how many of you
00:35:18.50\00:35:20.96
have found that it's easier to
get involved in sin when you're
00:35:21.31\00:35:23.97
staying up late?
00:35:24.16\00:35:25.45
Go ahead and raise
your hands if you dare.
00:35:26.44\00:35:28.41
We have some brave souls
here. It is so true isn't it?
00:35:30.42\00:35:33.36
I can tell there have been
so many people that have told me
00:35:35.48\00:35:38.55
that everything was fine until
about midnight and then they
00:35:38.97\00:35:42.06
start clicking,
clicking, clicking, clicking
00:35:42.26\00:35:44.30
on the computer and all of
a sudden they're down a path
00:35:44.49\00:35:46.59
they never wish they would go.
00:35:47.05\00:35:48.39
My friends, does your mind
like to look at beautiful women?
00:35:51.08\00:35:55.04
Of course it does.
00:35:56.85\00:35:57.82
Of course it does.
00:35:59.49\00:36:01.07
But you know that God created
you only to enjoy that thing
00:36:01.59\00:36:05.01
that He created you to enjoy
within a certain context, amen?
00:36:05.20\00:36:08.81
That's a context of marriage.
00:36:09.57\00:36:11.21
So, God's created you, you enjoy
something but God created you
00:36:12.78\00:36:16.34
to enjoy that within a certain
framework, a certain context,
00:36:16.64\00:36:19.48
the context of marriage, right?
00:36:19.82\00:36:21.87
But then we have fallen and so
our carnal mind wants to enjoy
00:36:23.08\00:36:28.45
that in ways God never
intended us to enjoy it, right?
00:36:28.72\00:36:32.93
And a lack of sleep lowers down
those barriers that the spirit
00:36:34.00\00:36:37.91
of God has created.
00:36:38.10\00:36:39.73
You follow that, yes or no?
00:36:40.45\00:36:42.05
So I urge you, gentlemen
you need to study your Bibles,
00:36:43.15\00:36:47.31
you need to spend more time in
prayer, that means we all need
00:36:47.50\00:36:49.74
to go to bed earlier and
maybe it means we need to work
00:36:49.90\00:36:53.11
a little less,
depending on who we are.
00:36:53.30\00:36:55.85
But in addition to that, we also
know that when we are tired,
00:36:56.58\00:37:00.07
we've been working too much,
our barriers are down and that
00:37:00.14\00:37:04.52
is a special time
for Satan's attacks.
00:37:04.71\00:37:07.72
So I urge you, particularly
for this issue, make sure not
00:37:10.11\00:37:14.59
to meddle in those dark hours.
00:37:14.79\00:37:17.67
Practical tip number 2: get
some accountability software
00:37:22.26\00:37:27.28
for your computer.
00:37:27.47\00:37:29.17
There's software available that
you can get that you put onto
00:37:30.59\00:37:37.64
your computer and once a
day it sends an e-mail to your
00:37:37.68\00:37:42.78
friend, whoever you chose, that
gives a list of every website
00:37:42.97\00:37:46.29
you've been to.
00:37:46.47\00:37:47.85
That's pretty smart, isn't it?
00:37:50.51\00:37:52.18
Now, you think "well alright
that sounds good, but then
00:37:52.79\00:37:56.16
I could turn it off". Well, it
e- mails your friend that you've
00:37:56.32\00:37:59.26
turned it off.
00:37:59.42\00:38:00.39
That's pretty smart, isn't it?
00:38:05.44\00:38:07.00
Particularly if you're
struggling with issues with
00:38:11.77\00:38:13.23
a computer my friend, I
urge you to get some of that.
00:38:13.38\00:38:15.57
It's available for free.
I know it's available at a
00:38:15.99\00:38:19.08
website for free, it's
probably available at lots.
00:38:19.19\00:38:21.17
The best program I've been
able to find out there for this
00:38:21.78\00:38:24.49
particular issue is available
at a website that is kind of a
00:38:24.72\00:38:27.95
mixed bag, ok?
00:38:28.14\00:38:30.60
So, I even sort of hesitate
to recommend going to get the
00:38:31.14\00:38:34.97
free software there, because
the whole website is a real
00:38:35.00\00:38:37.25
mixed bag.
00:38:37.44\00:38:38.77
So anyway, if you want some
accountability software there's
00:38:40.89\00:38:43.92
plenty of it
available and it's important.
00:38:44.34\00:38:48.26
If you have issues with this,
particularly with pornography
00:38:48.50\00:38:52.09
you need help.
00:38:52.67\00:38:54.27
You need somebody to
hold you accountable, amen?
00:38:55.69\00:38:58.38
You know, you might go to
your best friend, you might be
00:39:00.15\00:39:01.78
embarrassed to go to your
best friend and say to your best
00:39:01.97\00:39:03.66
friend: "You know I've got
this real struggle and I need
00:39:03.81\00:39:06.00
an accountability partner,
can you do that for me?"
00:39:06.42\00:39:08.50
You might be embarrassed
to do that, but you know what?
00:39:09.00\00:39:11.24
You best friend might say to you
"You know what? I've never had
00:39:11.81\00:39:13.56
the guts to tell you that I have
the same problem, can you help
00:39:13.72\00:39:15.66
me to?"
00:39:15.87\00:39:17.45
Amen?
00:39:18.18\00:39:19.22
That might just happen.
00:39:19.79\00:39:20.78
It might just happen.
00:39:23.51\00:39:24.61
So I urge you to get some
accountability, I urge you
00:39:26.43\00:39:30.03
to stop staying up so late,
letting those barriers down.
00:39:30.22\00:39:33.87
That way you can wake up and
build barriers up by the power
00:39:34.33\00:39:37.18
of the spirit of God,
as you study His word.
00:39:37.33\00:39:39.53
If you have your Bible, I'd
like to invite you to Romans 13.
00:39:48.23\00:39:50.73
We'll begin in verse 11. I
found it pretty fitting that
00:40:03.36\00:40:06.57
Verse 11: "Besides this you know
the time, that the hour had come
00:40:17.12\00:40:22.17
for you to wake from sleep,
for salvation is near to us now
00:40:22.40\00:40:28.00
than when we first believed. "
00:40:28.19\00:40:30.17
You know every day you
live, you're a day closer to
00:40:31.20\00:40:33.11
the second
coming of Jesus, amen?
00:40:33.23\00:40:35.30
That's what he's saying.
Verse 12: "The night is far
00:40:36.28\00:40:39.21
gone, the day is at hand, so
then let us cast of the works
00:40:39.40\00:40:43.54
of darkness and put on the
armor of light, let us walk
00:40:43.70\00:40:49.72
properly as in the daytime,
not in orgies, in drunkenness,
00:40:49.90\00:40:56.02
not in sexual immorality or
sensuality, not in quarreling
00:40:56.44\00:41:01.14
and jealousy, but put on the
Lord Jesus Christ and make no
00:41:01.33\00:41:07.07
provision for the flesh
to gratify its' desires. "
00:41:07.26\00:41:12.25
What does Paul mean
"make no provision"?
00:41:13.32\00:41:16.04
What are provisions?
00:41:16.92\00:41:18.38
If you're going on a long trip
and there's not going to be any
00:41:18.84\00:41:21.60
Mayer's grocery
store, what do you do?
00:41:21.79\00:41:24.86
You pack provisions, right?
00:41:25.47\00:41:28.35
'Cause you know that after a
day with no Mayer, you're gonna
00:41:28.38\00:41:31.75
need to eat, so you bring
supplies to meet your needs.
00:41:31.93\00:41:36.60
Right? So Paul says make
no provisions for your lusts,
00:41:37.49\00:41:42.98
to gratify them.
00:41:45.20\00:41:46.53
How can I say this? I
guess there's only one way:
00:41:48.67\00:41:52.85
smash your TV.
00:41:56.51\00:41:58.00
You can't even watch the
commercials 9 times out of 10.
00:42:02.56\00:42:06.93
Now I guess if you only have
one channel coming in, I'm gonna
00:42:07.66\00:42:09.75
make a plug for 3ABN, right?
Since they're recording this.
00:42:09.79\00:42:13.19
If you got 3ABN coming in
and you can keep the rest of the
00:42:14.11\00:42:16.66
stuff off, then
maybe you keep your TV.
00:42:16.86\00:42:19.17
Now I don't wanna sound
like a wild-eyed fanatic here.
00:42:21.48\00:42:23.72
But here's the thing: across
those airwaves, every single day
00:42:23.76\00:42:30.69
are images, thoughts and
words coming into your mind,
00:42:31.43\00:42:37.66
from people who are not
planning to go to Heaven.
00:42:38.23\00:42:40.90
They are not
planning to go to Heaven.
00:42:47.60\00:42:51.11
As near as I can remember,
and I've not watched a sitcom
00:43:06.19\00:43:08.55
since I was
converted, that was in 1996,
00:43:08.71\00:43:12.77
but as near as I can remember,
sitcoms are basically one thing:
00:43:15.02\00:43:23.58
they're jokes about
sex for half an hour.
00:43:24.23\00:43:29.90
I remember when I was first
converted, I was at my best
00:43:32.14\00:43:34.18
friend's house and we had this
little thing we would do: every
00:43:34.39\00:43:37.11
week we'd watch
Seinfeld together and then I was
00:43:37.28\00:43:39.55
converted, I went over there and
they were watching Seinfeld and
00:43:39.70\00:43:41.65
I was sort of standing in
the side room and they were just
00:43:41.82\00:43:44.46
laughing and my best friend
looked at me, he looked at me
00:43:44.59\00:43:48.07
and he said "What, now that
you're a Christian you can't
00:43:48.23\00:43:51.69
laugh?" And I looked my buddy in
the eye and I said "No, friend,
00:43:54.09\00:43:56.42
now that I'm a Christian,
that's just not funny. "
00:43:56.55\00:44:00.69
The point is this my friends:
when Jesus Christ has changed
00:44:05.33\00:44:08.32
your mind, the Devil is
looking to change it again.
00:44:08.52\00:44:13.88
And if we're making provisions
for that former way of thinking
00:44:14.76\00:44:19.69
you can be guaranteed that
those things are gonna get the
00:44:20.54\00:44:23.06
best of you.
00:44:23.19\00:44:24.69
If you can't control the TV,
that means it's controlling you.
00:44:26.94\00:44:30.74
And I wouldn't wanna
be in that situation.
00:44:32.02\00:44:34.90
So we have issues with
television, movies, internet.
00:44:37.58\00:44:43.10
You know this is kind of a cute
one and maybe you guys won't
00:44:44.26\00:44:47.49
think it's so cute, but when you
get the Sunday paper and you're
00:44:47.69\00:44:50.72
going through the paper and
then there's this year's catalog
00:44:50.85\00:44:53.66
and you think to yourself: You
know, I might just need a new
00:44:53.86\00:44:57.00
lawn mower and then
you're looking through you know
00:44:58.47\00:45:00.56
and next to the lawn mower
happens to be the underwear
00:45:01.55\00:45:05.95
display. And you're thinking to
yourself: "Well I'll just get a
00:45:08.65\00:45:10.85
quick glance, not enough for my
wife or anybody else to notice,
00:45:11.15\00:45:15.02
just enough to give
me a little glance. "
00:45:15.19\00:45:18.62
Am I right, gentlemen?
00:45:25.35\00:45:26.89
Not enough that
God would notice.
00:45:29.15\00:45:31.39
Just a little glance.
00:45:35.42\00:45:36.90
And of course we mentioned
the internet, magazines and even
00:45:39.87\00:45:44.01
your wife's... I have a
good friend, he's a surfer.
00:45:44.18\00:45:45.92
Used to be a professional
surfer, was converted now he's
00:45:46.16\00:45:48.51
doing a little cooking for
us at a rise. Nicest guy in the
00:45:48.71\00:45:51.88
world, he's a really good
surfer. When he gets a surfing
00:45:52.09\00:45:55.79
magazine, it comes to his house
in the mail, before he even
00:45:55.94\00:45:59.05
opens it up, he gives it to
his wife and her job is to go
00:45:59.25\00:46:02.17
through it with a black marker.
00:46:02.30\00:46:04.18
And all the girls in thongs and
all the other things that surfer
00:46:05.55\00:46:09.30
chicks wear, you know I'm
putting those words in quotes,
00:46:09.46\00:46:11.62
she just blacks it out for him.
00:46:12.13\00:46:15.31
That way he can enjoy the
surfing magazine without having
00:46:15.94\00:46:17.68
to enjoy the sin that
sometimes goes along with it.
00:46:17.82\00:46:21.20
Make no provision for the lust
of the flesh and a great book
00:46:24.34\00:46:26.36
called every men's battle, he
deal with a concept of "bouncing
00:46:26.50\00:46:29.71
the eyes".
00:46:29.85\00:46:31.49
Do you know that the fashion
designers, design the womens'
00:46:32.69\00:46:34.82
shirt so that you'll
look down their shirt?
00:46:34.92\00:46:37.04
You knew that, right?
00:46:38.12\00:46:39.68
That's the way the
shirts are designed gentlemen.
00:46:42.17\00:46:45.17
That's part of the reason
it's so hard to not look, right?
00:46:46.04\00:46:48.60
Calvin Kline and the rest of his
ilk have figured out that you
00:46:50.60\00:46:55.63
cut things a certain way,
your eye goes a certain place.
00:46:55.94\00:46:58.09
So they design it that way.
00:46:58.23\00:46:59.99
So we as Christians, who cannot
have even a hint of sexual
00:47:00.43\00:47:03.67
immorality, have to work
on bouncing our eyes, right?
00:47:03.81\00:47:07.20
So when our eyes go where
the fashions designers tell them
00:47:07.48\00:47:10.07
we have to take them off
and put them where God tells us
00:47:10.25\00:47:12.27
to put them.
00:47:12.40\00:47:13.54
You follow?
00:47:13.69\00:47:14.66
Don't make provision
for the lust of the flesh.
00:47:14.67\00:47:17.22
Bounce those eyes.
00:47:19.19\00:47:21.07
Direct them where God
would have you to direct them.
00:47:23.30\00:47:25.82
By the way, in addition to that,
you know something that I found
00:47:26.11\00:47:28.33
living where I live, I live in
a nice place, it's a wonderful
00:47:28.81\00:47:33.02
place to live and there's
lots of wonderful people there,
00:47:33.16\00:47:37.20
but you know when a thought
comes into your mind, something
00:47:37.37\00:47:39.67
that I found particularly
helpful is to think to myself
00:47:39.80\00:47:43.79
how can I
evangelize this person?
00:47:44.99\00:47:47.15
Did you catch
that one, gentlemen?
00:47:51.90\00:47:53.38
Now, you should probably take
your wife with you when you go
00:47:54.51\00:47:58.32
to evangelize her.
00:47:58.49\00:47:59.89
But the thought in your mind
is not to gratify some sinful
00:48:01.85\00:48:05.65
desire, but it should
immediately be turned over to
00:48:05.76\00:48:08.02
how can I make an impact in this
person's life with the kingdom
00:48:08.51\00:48:11.21
of God and you'll find that it's
very easy to get rid of those
00:48:11.38\00:48:13.22
thoughts that way, amen?
00:48:13.39\00:48:17.14
The foundation of victory
is first understanding the God
00:48:23.19\00:48:28.72
of the Bible and His plan
of salvation. Can you say amen?
00:48:28.88\00:48:32.53
It's understanding that even
though you have failed, even
00:48:32.76\00:48:35.84
though your life has been filled
with sin, that even though there
00:48:36.00\00:48:39.07
are vile things, there is a God
who loves you, who came to this
00:48:39.20\00:48:42.85
earth and He died your death
penalty. That is step number 1.
00:48:42.98\00:48:47.30
You gotta nail that down.
>From there you build on top of
00:48:47.61\00:48:51.34
that a foundation, a foundation
of life transformation.
00:48:51.56\00:48:56.19
By beholding we
are what? Changed.
00:48:56.55\00:48:59.53
By beholding we are what?
Changed by the power of the
00:48:59.84\00:49:02.94
spirit of God.
00:49:03.08\00:49:04.39
Practical tip number 1: go
to bed at a decent hour, amen?
00:49:04.83\00:49:08.93
That way you're not tired
and those barriers aren't being
00:49:10.98\00:49:14.56
broken down.
00:49:14.71\00:49:15.84
That way you can wake up early.
00:49:20.81\00:49:23.11
And study the word of God.
00:49:23.14\00:49:25.30
Get some accountability software
if you've got an issue there,
00:49:31.13\00:49:33.23
get an accountability partner or
a friend that you can say: I've
00:49:33.40\00:49:36.27
got this struggle", somebody
that can say to you "hey brother
00:49:36.44\00:49:40.07
how is this issue
in your life going?"
00:49:40.24\00:49:42.34
Practical tip number 3: make
absolutely no provision what
00:49:45.94\00:49:49.22
so ever for the lust of the
flesh. If you got that problem
00:49:49.36\00:49:51.72
I was talking about with this
year's catalog, just don't even
00:49:51.85\00:49:54.56
open it, just... done, gone.
00:49:54.73\00:49:58.40
Finally, Job 31.
00:50:02.97\00:50:06.51
Job 31, verse 1.
00:50:11.14\00:50:13.28
"I made a covenant with my eyes
not to look lustfully at a girl"
00:50:37.60\00:50:44.89
Notice Job, by the way isn't
nice to know that this is not
00:50:47.74\00:50:50.42
an exclusively modern problem?
00:50:50.83\00:50:53.60
Isn't nice to know that somebody
has been there with you, even
00:50:54.88\00:50:58.11
holy Job, even Job who is
referred to as perfect, he had
00:50:58.69\00:51:02.07
to come to the place in his life
where he said: you know what
00:51:02.24\00:51:04.24
God, I'm making a covenant with
my eyes not to look at a woman
00:51:04.28\00:51:08.46
lustfully.
00:51:08.63\00:51:10.05
Amen?
00:51:10.85\00:51:12.03
There is this final element in
the practical tips of a matter
00:51:14.31\00:51:17.89
of commitment and this is
probably where many people fail.
00:51:18.04\00:51:21.94
They wish to do better, they
hope to do better, they want to
00:51:22.29\00:51:25.45
do better, they want to do what
they need to do, yet they fail
00:51:25.59\00:51:29.81
to commit.
00:51:30.23\00:51:31.88
They fail to make the
commitment, they fail to go home
00:51:35.33\00:51:38.44
and say: "All right, God, I've
got the problem, I'm calling my
00:51:38.67\00:51:41.85
best friend and I'm gonna
have my... whatever my internet
00:51:41.98\00:51:46.33
activity e-mailed to
him on a daily basis.
00:51:46.47\00:51:48.94
They neglect to do that.
00:51:49.45\00:51:51.33
They neglect to go home and say:
"You know what I'm gonna save
00:51:51.75\00:51:54.63
myself 50 bucks a month and have
my cable canceled because it's
00:51:54.77\00:51:57.44
leading me to sin anyway.
00:51:57.58\00:51:59.16
You see, this is the issue
my friends and this is where the
00:51:59.85\00:52:02.86
rubber really meets the
road and that is on the issue of
00:52:02.99\00:52:06.22
commitment. We all know, listen
we've all had those feelings of
00:52:06.35\00:52:09.79
guilt, we've all had those
things, but have we come to the
00:52:09.96\00:52:12.84
place where we're saying: I'm
gonna make this commitment, all
00:52:12.95\00:52:16.80
of the provisions that I have
stored up, all my hours that
00:52:17.04\00:52:21.10
I've logged in front of the
television, all of the hours
00:52:21.23\00:52:24.13
I've spent combing the beach,
not looking at God's beautiful
00:52:24.26\00:52:27.69
beach, but looking at
whatever. You understand.
00:52:27.86\00:52:32.34
They've failed, many fail on
this point, they fail to come
00:52:33.42\00:52:37.51
to the place where they're
willing to make the full,
00:52:37.82\00:52:40.24
complete commitment.
00:52:40.37\00:52:42.62
This afternoon, I
wanna make an appeal.
00:52:51.64\00:52:57.88
And I'm gonna invite you to
bow your heads and close your
00:53:01.20\00:53:03.33
eyes at this time.
00:53:03.57\00:53:05.60
It's easy to feel defeated,
frustrated, broken, humbled.
00:53:18.68\00:53:31.39
A thought comes into your mind
that it's impossible for the God
00:53:38.23\00:53:43.79
of Heaven to ever have
mercy on a person like you.
00:53:43.92\00:53:48.24
Because you just cannot
seem to get control of your life
00:53:52.31\00:53:55.47
in this area.
00:53:55.78\00:53:57.20
The Devil is
screaming in your head,
00:54:03.05\00:54:05.52
saying that there's essentially
no hope for somebody like you.
00:54:10.17\00:54:14.14
My friends I've got
some good news for you:
00:54:19.90\00:54:22.10
Jesus Christ became you
when He went to the cross.
00:54:24.83\00:54:28.21
The death that you deserve,
Jesus Christ took that death
00:54:32.75\00:54:36.63
on the cross.
00:54:36.76\00:54:38.71
The forgiveness that you need,
Jesus Christ earned that for you
00:54:41.33\00:54:45.52
on the cross, when Jesus cried:
"My God, my God why have you
00:54:45.69\00:54:49.33
forsaken me?". He cried
that so that we cry: My God,
00:54:49.46\00:54:53.36
my God why have
you accepted me?"
00:54:53.52\00:54:56.42
Today you're frustrated,
crushed out an humbled.
00:55:02.25\00:55:09.50
And the words are ringing
in your ear: My God, my God why
00:55:14.55\00:55:17.60
have You accepted me?" Me,
Father I have committed and
00:55:17.73\00:55:20.88
failed, committed and
failed infinitely on this issue.
00:55:21.01\00:55:25.70
My God, why would You accept me?
00:55:25.83\00:55:29.37
Yet He does
because of the cross.
00:55:34.05\00:55:38.45
Is there a broken man here today
00:55:46.91\00:55:49.05
that wants to lay a hold on
the cross say: Jesus, in spite
00:55:49.71\00:55:53.58
of my failings, I know that
you love me and that You will
00:55:53.62\00:55:57.43
receive me, today I'm going to
lay hold by faith on Your grace
00:55:57.57\00:56:03.12
and believe that You have
received and accepted me, not
00:56:03.43\00:56:06.86
because of who I am, but
because of Jesus Christ. "
00:56:07.03\00:56:09.33
Is there somebody that wants
to raise their hands and grab
00:56:09.46\00:56:11.64
a hold of Jesus Christ today
and say: God, I'm believing
00:56:11.80\00:56:15.60
that You have accepted me in
spite of me, not because of me,
00:56:15.70\00:56:19.54
but in spite of me.
00:56:19.67\00:56:21.16
God bless you men, I wanna
speak to your hearts, I believe
00:56:22.04\00:56:25.61
with all of my heart as you
reach out in faith, that there
00:56:25.85\00:56:28.71
is a God in Heaven who will
pour out His grace on your life.
00:56:28.83\00:56:34.47
My friends, but
that doesn't end there.
00:56:38.14\00:56:40.01
We must have our
minds transformed.
00:56:41.59\00:56:43.90
Today I wonder if
there's somebody else that wants
00:56:44.17\00:56:46.12
to say: You know what Lord,
I'm gonna do my best to get up
00:56:46.28\00:56:48.62
early, wake up early,
study Your word and follow Your
00:56:48.75\00:56:52.84
principles. I'm gonna behold
Your character that I might be
00:56:52.95\00:56:56.04
transformed. " Is there
somebody else that wants to say:
00:56:56.17\00:56:58.01
"All right Lord, yes I've
got that forgiveness thing down,
00:56:58.15\00:57:00.35
but I wanna make the next step."
Go ahead and raise those hands
00:57:00.52\00:57:02.74
and say you're gonna commit
to putting your time in with
00:57:02.87\00:57:05.71
the Lord, so that
you can be changed.
00:57:05.74\00:57:07.99
Put those practical things into
work, put those practical things
00:57:08.31\00:57:12.33
into work.
00:57:12.40\00:57:13.37
Let's pray. Father I pray your
rich blessing on every one of
00:57:13.38\00:57:16.98
these men. In Jesus' name, Amen.
00:57:17.08\00:57:19.67
Captions and subtitles
by Christian Media Services
00:57:49.65\00:57:54.05