First Peter Chapter 5 verse 8.
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First Peter 5 verse 8,
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"Be sober, be
vigilant because your adversary
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the devil walks
about like a roaring lion,
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seeking whom he may devour.
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Resist him, steadfast,'
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we talked about standing
this morning, take a stand.
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'Resist him,
steadfast in the faith,
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knowing that the same sufferings
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are experienced by your
brotherhood in the world."
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Well, I would like to
talk to you a little bit
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this afternoon
about some practical tips
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in dealing with temptation.
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Now we are all tempted.
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If any one here says, well,
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I don't really
struggle with temptation,
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that would really
concern me, because, you know,
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that really says is that
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you are worst
often than you think.
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If you try to
live the holy life,
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you are swimming
against the stream.
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You are swimming
against the current,
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you are going to
feel that resistance.
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If you are just flowing
downstream with the tide
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then you say I don't, I
don't notice any problem,
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that's probably
because you are giving
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into temptation you
just don't feel anything.
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But if you resist temptation,
you are gonna notice,
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if you struggle with temptation,
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you are gonna
notice as a battle.
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It's a battle
that even Jesus faced
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and it wasn't just once or twice
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but through His life
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Christ was tempted
the Bible tells us,
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in all points as we
are yet without sin,
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and the tools that Jesus used
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are available to you and me.
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A hundred percent of
everything in the tool box
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that Christ used
to resist temptation
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is available to you and me.
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He did not gain
victory over sin,
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because He drew
upon a supernatural power
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that is non-available to us.
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You know, the Bible gives
us many samples of people,
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who have overcome,
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and you want to make
sure they are your heroes.
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And typically when
we go through the Bible
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we talk about the...
we'll say well, you know,
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we are all weaken,
after all look at David,
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and, you know, I
can talk all day long
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about people who have failed.
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We need to focus on
some of those who succeeded.
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We all know how to
fail already, right?
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We need to know
how do we succeed,
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how do we get the victory?
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Let me give you another
verse in 1st Peter chapter 1.
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It tells us about the
tools that are available to us.
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It says that
there are exceeding,
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oh! I said 1st
Peter, no wonder I mixed up.
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It's in 2nd Peter Chapter
1 verse 3 and 4 I apologize.
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"According to His divine power,
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He has given unto us
all things''. How much?
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''All things that pertain
unto living His holy life
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unto life and godliness,
through the knowledge of Him
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that has called us
to glory and to virtue."
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He has called us to virtue.
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"Whereby are given
unto us exceeding great,
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not just great
but exceeding great,
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not just great
and exceeding great
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but exceeding great and
precious promises that how?
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By these
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"you might be
partakers of the divine nature,
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having escaped the corruption
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that is in the
world through lust."
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Through the word of God
you and I have the privilege
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and the right
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to be partakers
of the divine nature
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and we can escape the corruption
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that is in the world
through lust, yes you can.
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Now what I'm
sharing with you right now
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is really whether
rubber meets the road
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and it's so
exceedingly important
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and I knew when I
looked at the clock
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that I'd be
sharing this information
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after you all have
lunch on a beautiful day,
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that there was
the very real risk
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that you could drift off
and you could go into your,
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you know, rapid eye movements.
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So if you love
your brother, every now
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and then I want you
to look to your right,
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and I want you to
give a sanctified elbow.
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And say, "Brother I need
this and you need this too."
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All right, so we're gonna
talk about some of the tips
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that are given in the Bible
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about how to resist temptation,
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how to be victorious.
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And by the way,
I'm not saying this
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because I have arrived,
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I'm sharing
these things with you
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as one of you believe me,
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I have stumbled
and fallen plenty.
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And so I'm right
in there with you,
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but I found that
these things work
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and so when you find
something that works,
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you want to share
with somebody else.
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Two nights ago, I
was with John Lomacang,
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and we did a
live program on 3ABN,
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and they get the studio so cold,
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they keep
because of all the lights
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and the camera
equipment, all generates heat.
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And I said John, you
know, the older I get,
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is my feet get so
cold during this tapings.
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And that's why I
started wearing boots.
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That adds about half
an inch or inch to me.
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But it really keeps my ankles,
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he said, Doug, you
know, I wear three socks.
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I said what? He said, yeah,
I wear three pairs of socks.
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I said three? Yes, started doing
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when playing basketball,
now even when I dress up
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I wear three
pairs of dress socks.
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I said John, I've
known you for 25 years,
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why didn't you
ever tell me that?
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So, as I was asking then,
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he probably buys his
shoes, his size is bigger too.
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But any tip that helps
a person to be successful
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is the precious thing especially
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when we are all in
this battle together Amen!
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So it's just some
things I have found
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that have helped
me and by the way
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what I'm sharing with
you, this is, you know,
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little more of the seminar.
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There is a booklet
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that you can
simply download for free.
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In other words the syllabus
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for what I am sharing with you.
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I'm giving you is kind
of the expanded version,
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it's called " Twelve
Tips to Overcoming Temptation"
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or "Twelve Tips to
Resisting Temptation"
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and you just and you
download that for free
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at Amazing Facts
under the free library.
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First thing to remember,
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from the positive perspective,
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remember the reward.
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You know, sometimes if you just
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keep your eye on the
goal, there is nothing wrong
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with wanting to go to heaven.
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There is nothing wrong
about thinking about the reward.
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Ultimately we
want to do God's will
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because we love God,
because we love our fellowmen,
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but you know even Peter said,
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Lord we forsaken
all to follow you,
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what will we have,
and it's a valid question.
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Now I believe that you
grow and mature spiritually
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when you get to the
place where you love the Lord
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so much you are willing to say,
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no matter what's in it for me,
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if I don't get anything Lord.
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If it will glorify Your name,
and if it will save others,
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even if my name is
taken out of the book of life,
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that's what Moses said,
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if it's doing your
will, Lord I will do it.
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But until we get
to that high level
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of spiritual maturity up
there with Paul and Moses,
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then sometimes we want to say,
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Lord I want to be on
those golden streets.
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I want to be in
the world we're never,
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no one ever gets
sick, or nobody ever dies,
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so there is no more
pain, Amen! No more cry.
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And just think
about the exceeding
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great and precious glory.
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That's why Paul said,
the sufferings of this world
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are not even
worthy to be compared
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with what God has
in store for those
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that love Him and
those who serve Him.
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It's a lot easier
to endure the darkness
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when you know
the dawn is coming.
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And so don't
forget where we are going.
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Don't forget that
this life is not yet,
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this is a very
short, almost no it is
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microscopic period of
time compare to eternity.
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But we become all
consumed with this life,
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and this life is not yet.
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This life is just
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the launching pad for eternity.
00:09:08.81\00:09:11.02
But what you do with this life
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determines your eternity.
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And so don't forget eternity;
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don't forget this is not yet.
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Keep your eye on the goal,
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that is sometimes you think, oh!
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Boy, it's just day
after day this temptation.
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We will think about
millennium after millennium
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in Jesus presence in heaven
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eternal pleasures
that His right hand
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with no guilt forever more,
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compare to the suffering
of this life is nothing.
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But you know, we
typically think like kids.
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You ask a kid,
would you rather have
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25 cents right now
or a dollar in a week.
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And they will say,
well I want it now,
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would you rather have
the ice cream cone right now
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or a gallon of
ice cream in a month.
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Yeah, they will
say, I want it now,
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it's almost a
sign of childishness.
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But some of us, we
haven't grown up either.
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We are thinking this is it,
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or you know what
in our minds we think,
00:10:08.30\00:10:10.02
what if I don't make it?
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What if this is my only life?
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You know that
old beer commercial.
00:10:12.95\00:10:14.09
You only go around once,
00:10:14.10\00:10:15.29
better grab all the
gusto you can right now.
00:10:15.30\00:10:18.65
And so we wanna
hedge our bets and say,
00:10:18.66\00:10:20.24
well, what if I try
so hard to be a Christian
00:10:20.25\00:10:22.37
and then I deny
myself the simple pleasures
00:10:22.38\00:10:24.56
and I still don't make it.
00:10:24.57\00:10:26.81
You still better off,
because for thing you do,
00:10:26.82\00:10:31.05
you will be rewarded.
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And if you are not,
00:10:33.38\00:10:34.42
there are
varying degrees of reward
00:10:34.43\00:10:35.93
and there are varying
degrees of punishment.
00:10:35.94\00:10:38.25
So you are always better
off doing the right thing
00:10:38.26\00:10:41.12
whether you are saved or lost.
00:10:41.13\00:10:42.54
Had you ever thought about that?
00:10:42.55\00:10:44.49
You are always better
off doing the right things,
00:10:44.50\00:10:46.53
so don't get discourage.
00:10:46.54\00:10:47.65
Keep your eye on
the eternal reward.
00:10:47.66\00:10:52.21
Believe in the badness of sin.
00:10:52.22\00:10:57.19
Not only is it
the goodness of God,
00:10:57.20\00:10:58.85
but one of the characteristics
00:10:58.86\00:11:00.32
of the overcomers in the Bible
00:11:00.33\00:11:02.27
is they recognize
the badness of sin.
00:11:02.28\00:11:06.86
Matter a fact,
why don't you turn
00:11:06.87\00:11:09.25
we've got a case study
here I mentioned earlier
00:11:09.26\00:11:11.19
I was going to talk
briefly about Joseph.
00:11:11.20\00:11:14.31
And if you turn to
the Book of Genesis,
00:11:14.32\00:11:16.58
and we all know the
story, Genesis Chapter 39.
00:11:16.59\00:11:20.38
Joseph has been
sold by his brothers
00:11:20.39\00:11:22.82
and he is out in Egypt now.
00:11:22.83\00:11:25.65
He is auctioned off
to a man name Potiphar.
00:11:25.66\00:11:31.15
Things go well, actually
for slave he begins to work
00:11:31.16\00:11:33.92
his way up from scrubbing floor,
00:11:33.93\00:11:35.41
so that he is over
everything Potiphar has.
00:11:35.42\00:11:38.35
And you got to be
careful, you know,
00:11:38.36\00:11:39.63
after a series of
victory sometimes,
00:11:39.64\00:11:41.88
that's when the devil gets you.
00:11:41.89\00:11:44.20
It was after David
has a series of victories,
00:11:44.21\00:11:47.72
that the
Bathsheba incident came.
00:11:47.73\00:11:50.82
And it's after
Joseph was being promoted
00:11:50.83\00:11:52.69
in Potiphar's
house, so pretty soon
00:11:52.70\00:11:54.44
he is in-charge of everything,
00:11:54.45\00:11:56.13
that's when the
great temptation came.
00:11:56.14\00:11:59.36
And so, you got
to be on your guard.
00:11:59.37\00:12:03.21
Someone said, well I
will save that for later.
00:12:03.22\00:12:08.63
Comeback to find
out what someone said?
00:12:08.64\00:12:12.03
This is Genesis
Chapter 39, verse 7,
00:12:12.04\00:12:14.75
"So it came to
pass after these things,
00:12:14.76\00:12:17.30
that his master's wife
cast longing eyes on Joseph;
00:12:17.31\00:12:21.39
and she said, Lie with me."
00:12:21.40\00:12:22.81
Now, we all know what that means
00:12:22.82\00:12:23.99
or do I need to break that down?
00:12:24.00\00:12:27.40
I will break it down, not now.
00:12:27.41\00:12:31.72
"But he refused, and he
said to his master's wife,
00:12:31.73\00:12:36.34
Look, my master
does not know what is he,
00:12:36.35\00:12:39.29
with me in the
house, and he has committed
00:12:39.30\00:12:41.38
all that he has to my
hand, and he trusts me".
00:12:41.39\00:12:44.82
"There is no one
greater in this house than I,
00:12:44.83\00:12:47.65
nor has he kept back
anything from me but you,
00:12:47.66\00:12:50.38
because you are his wife.
00:12:50.39\00:12:52.52
How can I do
this great wickedness,
00:12:52.53\00:12:55.76
and sin against God?"
00:12:55.77\00:12:57.02
Joseph
understood how bad it was.
00:12:57.03\00:13:00.45
Sometimes I think we forget,
00:13:00.46\00:13:02.24
it's not only appreciating
the goodness of God,
00:13:02.25\00:13:04.47
we've got to recognize
sin is exceedingly sinful.
00:13:04.48\00:13:08.33
And when we
understand how wicked it is,
00:13:08.34\00:13:12.01
it makes a big difference.
00:13:12.02\00:13:13.27
You know, I was
raised in the world.
00:13:13.28\00:13:17.37
And I try to find
delicate ways to say this,
00:13:17.38\00:13:20.65
but living immorally, you know,
00:13:20.66\00:13:25.73
I had sort of a
natural understanding
00:13:25.74\00:13:27.92
within that was wrong.
00:13:27.93\00:13:29.16
I think everybody has a
certain amount of God's law
00:13:29.17\00:13:32.10
written in their hearts.
00:13:32.11\00:13:33.47
And without meaning
to be disrespectful,
00:13:33.48\00:13:35.33
it was really no
thanks to my mother and father
00:13:35.34\00:13:37.83
because my
mother's attitude was,
00:13:37.84\00:13:40.57
just don't get anybody pregnant.
00:13:40.58\00:13:43.26
I mean from just teenage on,
00:13:43.27\00:13:45.49
it's long as I can remember
and that's kind of the way
00:13:45.50\00:13:47.93
my parents lived, both of them,
00:13:47.94\00:13:49.45
my mom was married four times,
00:13:49.46\00:13:50.78
my dad was married five times
00:13:50.79\00:13:52.20
and there were lot of
relationships in between.
00:13:52.21\00:13:55.66
And, but I can't
tell you everything,
00:13:55.67\00:13:58.60
but I leave it to your
imagination just I grew up
00:13:58.61\00:14:01.51
with no understanding
about the sanctity of marriage
00:14:01.52\00:14:05.23
and keeping your
body holy and virtuous
00:14:05.24\00:14:07.62
and the value of that
00:14:07.63\00:14:09.11
and it was after
becoming a Christian
00:14:09.12\00:14:10.90
and reading the Bible
00:14:10.91\00:14:12.14
finally the
concept dawned on me,
00:14:12.15\00:14:14.91
the sinfulness of sin.
00:14:14.92\00:14:17.97
You know, we are
surrounded by culture
00:14:17.98\00:14:20.91
that saying that,
whatever you feel good,
00:14:20.92\00:14:23.08
whatever feels good,
00:14:23.09\00:14:24.06
do it and that's
to be your criteria.
00:14:24.07\00:14:26.32
But, God's says that
maybe the standard of the world,
00:14:26.33\00:14:28.20
but that's not my standard.
00:14:28.21\00:14:29.48
There are some
things that are right
00:14:29.49\00:14:30.82
and some things that are wrong.
00:14:30.83\00:14:33.51
And the same way
that an enemy will try
00:14:33.52\00:14:35.91
and soften up its
opponent by bombardment
00:14:35.92\00:14:39.04
before it sends
in the ground troops.
00:14:39.05\00:14:41.88
The devil tries to
soften up our lovotion to sin.
00:14:41.89\00:14:47.00
So that it doesn't seem so bad.
00:14:47.01\00:14:50.60
Now I catch a
lot of heap for this,
00:14:50.61\00:14:53.72
but in California
00:14:53.73\00:14:57.02
you know they got a big battle
00:14:57.03\00:14:59.39
about gay marriage,
00:14:59.40\00:15:00.37
I guess they do in
several states now.
00:15:00.38\00:15:03.23
And even
growing up in the world,
00:15:03.24\00:15:07.11
I understood that isn't right.
00:15:07.12\00:15:10.45
That there is
something very wrong,
00:15:10.46\00:15:12.09
and perverted about that.
00:15:12.10\00:15:13.40
Now when I opened up the Bible,
00:15:13.41\00:15:15.25
it was further confirmation,
well we should all know,
00:15:15.26\00:15:19.02
is just you know what
they called a certain truths
00:15:19.03\00:15:21.60
are self evident and
it should be self evident
00:15:21.61\00:15:24.92
in most of the
world that men and women
00:15:24.93\00:15:27.15
are what you get married.
00:15:27.16\00:15:29.18
That, can I have
an amen please! Amen.
00:15:29.19\00:15:31.81
Unless you've
been softened up also,
00:15:31.82\00:15:35.22
you know, the devil has
been trying to normalize
00:15:35.23\00:15:37.07
something perverted
00:15:37.08\00:15:38.96
and it's not even safe for me
00:15:38.97\00:15:40.69
to say something
that is so basic.
00:15:40.70\00:15:44.21
But that's the way he
does, with all of our things,
00:15:44.22\00:15:46.25
we get so over
expose to these things,
00:15:46.26\00:15:48.24
pretty soon it's
like well, you know,
00:15:48.25\00:15:49.82
everybody is doing it.
00:15:49.83\00:15:51.34
And the stuff that
would have made people blush,
00:15:51.35\00:15:57.46
20 years ago barely
gets reaction these days,
00:15:57.47\00:16:01.94
because we have been
softened up by the enemy.
00:16:01.95\00:16:05.03
One of the
characteristics of the Job,
00:16:05.04\00:16:07.99
he was a
perfect and upright man,
00:16:08.00\00:16:10.00
one who feared God
and notice this he hated,
00:16:10.01\00:16:13.06
he eschewed evil, he loved God,
00:16:13.07\00:16:16.57
he hated what was bad as well.
00:16:16.58\00:16:18.85
And so, pray
that God will help you
00:16:18.86\00:16:20.82
to recognize how deadly sin is,
00:16:20.83\00:16:23.40
how contagious it is,
because we toying with it?
00:16:23.41\00:16:27.98
And it's not only what kills us,
00:16:27.99\00:16:30.68
but it's what killed Jesus.
00:16:30.69\00:16:33.87
Jesus died because of sin.
00:16:33.88\00:16:38.92
If you had a child
that was stabbed to death,
00:16:38.93\00:16:41.16
would you take a
photograph of the knife
00:16:41.17\00:16:43.83
and wear it on your t-shirt
00:16:43.84\00:16:45.82
or would you be
revolted by the sight.
00:16:45.83\00:16:48.99
And when you think about
00:16:49.00\00:16:50.44
what Jesus
experienced in His suffering,
00:16:50.45\00:16:53.10
it was because of sin, so
for us to trifle with sin,
00:16:53.11\00:16:57.03
to make light of sin,
00:16:57.04\00:16:59.84
is really applauding
what the devil has done.
00:16:59.85\00:17:03.23
So, we got to
understand the badness of sin.
00:17:03.24\00:17:07.50
Love people, not things.
00:17:07.51\00:17:11.83
The Bible says,
the love of money
00:17:11.84\00:17:13.19
is the root of all evil.
00:17:13.20\00:17:14.17
Now it's not the
paper money or money
00:17:14.18\00:17:16.83
of itself is
bad, but it's because
00:17:16.84\00:17:18.62
people often use
people to get things.
00:17:18.63\00:17:23.30
They use and
manipulate people to get money.
00:17:23.31\00:17:26.85
You should love
people and use money,
00:17:26.86\00:17:30.55
money is to be used not people.
00:17:30.56\00:17:33.04
And sometimes we
get that backwards
00:17:33.05\00:17:34.83
and we are preoccupied
00:17:34.84\00:17:36.49
with how many
things can I acquire?
00:17:36.50\00:17:39.59
Let me read something to you,
1 Timothy Chapter 6, verse 9,
00:17:39.60\00:17:44.00
"But those who desire to be rich
00:17:44.01\00:17:45.82
fall into
temptation and a snare,
00:17:45.83\00:17:48.46
and into many
foolish and harmful lusts
00:17:48.47\00:17:51.96
which drown men in
destruction and perdition.
00:17:51.97\00:17:57.06
Some people get
involved in gambling,
00:17:57.07\00:17:58.83
because they want
to get rich quick,
00:17:58.84\00:18:00.48
or crazy
multi-level marketing schemes,
00:18:00.49\00:18:03.76
because they are
trying to get rich quick
00:18:03.77\00:18:05.64
and people always
tracing this elusive dream
00:18:05.65\00:18:08.78
because they want to get things.
00:18:08.79\00:18:09.77
Our garages are full of things.
00:18:09.78\00:18:12.15
We become can't go
away on a mission trip,
00:18:12.16\00:18:14.57
because who is
going to watch our stuff?
00:18:14.58\00:18:16.66
And you can get to the place
00:18:16.67\00:18:17.64
where we become
prisoners of our things.
00:18:17.65\00:18:21.29
And I think that the
devil to a great extent
00:18:21.30\00:18:22.95
has succeeded to weigh down
the Church of God with stuff,
00:18:22.96\00:18:28.46
so that we're not
free to work for God
00:18:28.47\00:18:29.94
or love of stuff.
00:18:29.95\00:18:33.25
And so people
fall into temptation.
00:18:33.26\00:18:36.95
Well, you know, the Bible says
00:18:36.96\00:18:37.96
temptation is really
divided in three areas,
00:18:37.97\00:18:41.77
the lust of the flesh,
00:18:41.78\00:18:43.86
the lust of the eyes
and the pride of life.
00:18:43.87\00:18:47.95
And lot of people
they see something
00:18:47.96\00:18:49.31
and they think I got to have it
00:18:49.32\00:18:50.70
or they will exult their pride.
00:18:50.71\00:18:55.15
Point number four, be
prepared to quickly run,
00:18:55.16\00:19:00.52
be prepared to
flee, I want to go back
00:19:00.53\00:19:01.91
to my story of Joseph here.
00:19:01.92\00:19:04.02
Notice it says
in verse 10 he said,
00:19:04.03\00:19:06.67
this is great
wickedness, in verse 9
00:19:06.68\00:19:08.55
how can I do this
in sin against God?
00:19:08.56\00:19:11.93
And in verse 10, So it was,
00:19:11.94\00:19:14.21
as she spoke to
Joseph day by day,
00:19:14.22\00:19:18.61
that he did not need her,
00:19:18.62\00:19:20.44
to lie with her
or to be with her.
00:19:20.45\00:19:23.24
He did everything, he could
00:19:23.25\00:19:24.65
to totally avoid
being around her.
00:19:24.66\00:19:29.77
If you know that
something is a risky area,
00:19:29.78\00:19:32.52
we spoke about this earlier,
don't go anywhere near it.
00:19:32.53\00:19:37.17
Some people are
caught by temptation
00:19:37.18\00:19:40.06
because they
don't flee temptation,
00:19:40.07\00:19:42.20
they crawl away from it
00:19:42.21\00:19:43.46
and they hope it catches them.
00:19:43.47\00:19:45.53
They linger near
the edges sort of hoping
00:19:45.54\00:19:48.18
that they will be overcome.
00:19:48.19\00:19:51.56
And if you know that
an area is a weak spot
00:19:51.57\00:19:54.65
for you particularly,
you avoid that area
00:19:54.66\00:19:57.52
recognize and make
covenant with yourself.
00:19:57.53\00:19:59.71
You know, why young
people get into trouble?
00:19:59.72\00:20:03.47
They get into a situation
00:20:03.48\00:20:05.35
where you get the
young guy and the young lady
00:20:05.36\00:20:07.38
and when they are with
their friends and everything,
00:20:07.39\00:20:09.05
that's one thing, it's
when they get by themselves.
00:20:09.06\00:20:14.12
Who was it?
00:20:14.13\00:20:15.54
C.D. Brooks has said,
00:20:15.55\00:20:16.52
a banana never gets in trouble
00:20:16.53\00:20:17.63
till it leaves the bunch.
00:20:17.64\00:20:20.12
And a lot of young people
00:20:20.13\00:20:21.32
if they were just
make up their mind
00:20:21.33\00:20:22.97
and I guess it could
happen to older singles too,
00:20:22.98\00:20:25.66
that, you know, whenever
I'm with the opposite sex,
00:20:25.67\00:20:28.52
I'm gonna make
sure that, you know,
00:20:28.53\00:20:29.95
we're in some
kind of public venue.
00:20:29.96\00:20:31.89
It's when you
get all by yourself
00:20:31.90\00:20:33.43
and you start kind of just
having the friendly touching
00:20:33.44\00:20:36.13
and intimacy and start
playing with Mother Nature,
00:20:36.14\00:20:38.19
things begin to
happen that you can't stop,
00:20:38.20\00:20:41.71
and so avoid those
areas of temptation,
00:20:41.72\00:20:44.11
Joseph wouldn't even be with her
00:20:44.12\00:20:46.59
and as soon as she
put her hands on him
00:20:46.60\00:20:48.32
what did he do?
00:20:48.33\00:20:49.83
He ran, he fled,
you've just got to act
00:20:49.84\00:20:53.67
like it's the plague,
00:20:53.68\00:20:57.09
so flee
temptation how do you that?
00:20:57.10\00:21:00.95
Draw near to God,
00:21:00.96\00:21:02.66
this is James Chapter 4 Verse 7,
00:21:02.67\00:21:04.89
"Draw nigh to God
00:21:04.90\00:21:06.23
and He will draw nigh to you."
00:21:06.24\00:21:08.38
You submit yourself
to God resist the devil,
00:21:08.39\00:21:11.13
the devil will flee from
you, you draw near to God
00:21:11.14\00:21:14.36
and He will draw near to you.
00:21:14.37\00:21:17.58
So stay away from the
areas of temptation and sin.
00:21:17.59\00:21:22.59
And this is how
Joseph was able to get
00:21:22.60\00:21:24.29
the victory in this case.
00:21:24.30\00:21:26.93
Don't follow the crowd,
00:21:26.94\00:21:29.76
the idea that
everybody is doing it,
00:21:29.77\00:21:31.82
and so it must be okay,
00:21:31.83\00:21:34.08
this is common
logic that's used.
00:21:34.09\00:21:35.96
What does Jesus
say about the crowd?
00:21:35.97\00:21:38.91
Follow not a
multitude to do evil
00:21:38.92\00:21:41.63
is one
statement there in Exodus,
00:21:41.64\00:21:44.82
Matthew Chapter26 verse 35,
00:21:44.83\00:21:50.91
Peter you know they
will say, everybody is doing,
00:21:50.92\00:21:53.20
Peter said in
Matthew 26 verse 35,
00:21:53.21\00:21:56.32
"Even if I have to die with You,
00:21:56.33\00:21:58.27
I will not deny You"
00:21:58.28\00:21:59.90
When Peter was with his friends
00:21:59.91\00:22:02.62
he was somewhat
controlled by the crowd.
00:22:02.63\00:22:04.45
He said oh Lord,
I will die for you,
00:22:04.46\00:22:06.08
it's easy and when
you like this to say Amen,
00:22:06.09\00:22:08.07
Praise the Lord,
let's live for Jesus,
00:22:08.08\00:22:09.58
let's be men of faith.
00:22:09.59\00:22:11.21
But when Peter was surrounded
00:22:11.22\00:22:12.31
by a different group
00:22:12.32\00:22:13.76
that was now
making fun of Jesus.
00:22:13.77\00:22:15.87
He fell right in
line with the crowd,
00:22:15.88\00:22:17.76
and started saying I
don't know who he is.
00:22:17.77\00:22:21.06
So do you stand up
just as much for Jesus
00:22:21.07\00:22:23.58
when you are separated
from your support group?
00:22:23.59\00:22:31.16
Think of it this
way, you are always
00:22:31.17\00:22:34.47
with a crowd of believers,
00:22:34.48\00:22:38.75
our angels watching you?
00:22:38.76\00:22:42.45
We are always on video,
00:22:42.46\00:22:44.96
think about that for a minute.
00:22:44.97\00:22:46.80
Everything you do is
being recorded these days?
00:22:46.81\00:22:49.34
I know a little while ago
I got something in the mail
00:22:49.35\00:22:52.90
and it says your
traffic violation,
00:22:52.91\00:22:55.51
but before I
even read everything
00:22:55.52\00:22:56.65
in the envelope I
thought, what illegal U turn?
00:22:56.66\00:22:59.45
No, I didn't, I don't remember
00:22:59.46\00:23:00.83
ever even being in that town.
00:23:00.84\00:23:03.68
And I pull out what there
was in the rest of envelope.
00:23:03.69\00:23:05.62
It was a picture of me
doing an illegal U turn,
00:23:05.63\00:23:09.22
it's looking very intense.
00:23:09.23\00:23:10.74
They got cameras everywhere now.
00:23:14.10\00:23:16.88
I could probably teach
drivers education if had to,
00:23:16.89\00:23:21.82
but Jesus said that if you
will confess me before men.
00:23:21.83\00:23:26.83
I will confess you
before my father in heaven.
00:23:26.84\00:23:29.93
You remember when Jesus
00:23:29.94\00:23:31.81
in the book of Job
Chapter 1 and Chapter 2,
00:23:31.82\00:23:34.75
Jesus says to the devil
00:23:34.76\00:23:35.77
have you
considered my servant Job?
00:23:35.78\00:23:38.12
Was Jesus aware of Job?
00:23:38.13\00:23:41.81
With the angels watching Job,
00:23:41.82\00:23:44.09
angels are intent looking into
00:23:44.10\00:23:46.39
what's happening
here in this world.
00:23:46.40\00:23:48.02
So you are not alone,
00:23:48.03\00:23:49.90
so if you are
gonna please a crowd,
00:23:49.91\00:23:51.19
don't please the devil's crowd.
00:23:51.20\00:23:53.86
Stand up for Jesus, Christ,
00:23:53.87\00:23:55.08
even when he was
hanging on the cross,
00:23:55.09\00:23:56.29
he said don't
you know, I can pray
00:23:56.30\00:23:57.48
and my father will
send legion of angels,
00:23:57.49\00:24:00.14
They are watching me right down.
00:24:00.15\00:24:02.60
Do you believe that?
00:24:02.61\00:24:04.64
Do you believe there
are angels in this room?
00:24:04.65\00:24:07.15
Probably not just good ones,
but there are evil angels too
00:24:07.16\00:24:10.85
and they are
trying to sedate us,
00:24:10.86\00:24:13.02
so that we don't hear
what the spirit is saying.
00:24:13.03\00:24:15.68
But there are good
angels and when we're tempted
00:24:15.69\00:24:18.44
and when we resist temptation.
00:24:18.45\00:24:20.47
In your mind, just imagine
there are an army of angels,
00:24:20.48\00:24:25.44
the whole stadium of
angels that are watching
00:24:25.45\00:24:27.88
what you are doing
and they are cheering.
00:24:27.89\00:24:31.07
So you get to choose
every time you are tempted.
00:24:31.08\00:24:33.33
Who do you want cheer?
00:24:33.34\00:24:35.16
Do you want the
devil's angels to cheer,
00:24:35.17\00:24:37.22
or do you want
God's angels to cheer?
00:24:37.23\00:24:39.71
Don't follow the
crowd? Stay busy.
00:24:39.72\00:24:46.57
Somebody said, I think
it's an Italian proverb;
00:24:46.58\00:24:49.66
He that labors is
tempted by one devil;
00:24:49.67\00:24:52.21
he that is idle is
tempted by a thousand.
00:24:52.22\00:24:55.74
A lot of times, we get
in trouble with temptation
00:24:55.75\00:24:57.86
because we don't
have anything to do.
00:24:57.87\00:25:01.40
When God first made
man, how did God make man?
00:25:01.41\00:25:04.70
Part of the Sabbath
commandment is not just
00:25:04.71\00:25:06.35
rest on the seventh
day, what's the other part?
00:25:06.36\00:25:09.59
Is it a suggestion
00:25:09.60\00:25:10.73
that six days you
should work or is it a command?
00:25:10.74\00:25:13.98
The command about
working is just as real
00:25:13.99\00:25:17.11
as the command about resting.
00:25:17.12\00:25:19.60
Six days thou shall
labor and do all your work.
00:25:19.61\00:25:24.28
And anyone here all out of work
00:25:24.29\00:25:26.04
let me see your
hands, have no work left.
00:25:26.05\00:25:29.39
I'm not talking about today.
00:25:29.40\00:25:30.37
I'm talking
about when you go home.
00:25:30.38\00:25:32.02
There is always
stuff to do, right?
00:25:32.03\00:25:33.70
We're to be busy. God
made man for activity.
00:25:33.71\00:25:36.44
He wants us to use our minds.
00:25:36.45\00:25:37.86
He wants us to be creative.
00:25:37.87\00:25:38.93
Hopefully you've
got work that you enjoy.
00:25:38.94\00:25:41.57
But, when you are
engaged and when you are busy,
00:25:41.58\00:25:44.23
and when you are
active, when you got plans.
00:25:44.24\00:25:46.76
That will keep
you from a multitude
00:25:46.77\00:25:48.62
of temptations and sin.
00:25:48.63\00:25:50.86
When you think about the
sin of Sodom and Gomorrah,
00:25:50.87\00:25:52.96
what's the first thing
that comes in your mind?
00:25:52.97\00:25:56.44
Well of course that's
where they get the word
00:25:56.45\00:25:58.93
Sodomy you think about him.
00:25:58.94\00:26:00.83
The homosexuality,
what was going on with Lot,
00:26:00.84\00:26:03.99
the bad
reputation they had for that.
00:26:04.00\00:26:07.58
But, you know the Bible records
00:26:07.59\00:26:08.94
that was not the only
thing they were destroyed for.
00:26:08.95\00:26:11.63
Lot had daughters that
were married to men in the city.
00:26:11.64\00:26:16.35
Not everybody in
the city was gay.
00:26:16.36\00:26:19.54
One of their sins was pride,
00:26:19.55\00:26:21.56
fullness of bread and idleness.
00:26:21.57\00:26:25.06
Idleness you
can read about that,
00:26:25.07\00:26:27.46
Ezekiel Chapter
16 verse 49 and 50.
00:26:27.47\00:26:31.28
You've heard the expression
00:26:31.29\00:26:32.28
idlenessism is
the devil's workshop.
00:26:32.29\00:26:35.42
That verse is not actually
in the Bible, but it says,
00:26:35.43\00:26:38.85
speaking of Sodom
and Gomorrah they had,
00:26:38.86\00:26:43.59
abundance of idleness;
00:26:43.60\00:26:45.24
was in her and her daughters,
00:26:45.25\00:26:46.91
therefore I took
them away as I saw good.
00:26:46.92\00:26:51.66
Now are we in a
country that has an abundance,
00:26:51.67\00:26:54.72
you know farms
used to be operated,
00:26:54.73\00:26:57.95
about all a person
could handle was a 160 acres.
00:26:57.96\00:27:01.24
And if you ever
drive through Texas,
00:27:01.25\00:27:03.50
every ten miles
you'll see a town,
00:27:03.51\00:27:06.08
it's kind of sad now,
because you drive across Texas
00:27:06.09\00:27:08.35
and every ten miles
and in almost any direction
00:27:08.36\00:27:11.70
there is some kind
of little sprouted town
00:27:11.71\00:27:13.77
you got church of
Christ, Methodist Church,
00:27:13.78\00:27:17.23
Southern Baptist Church,
00:27:17.24\00:27:18.94
promise most of
them now are empty.
00:27:18.95\00:27:21.07
There is just a few
of those little towns
00:27:21.08\00:27:22.75
where everybody
kind of congregated
00:27:22.76\00:27:24.19
they became cities.
00:27:24.20\00:27:26.19
And lot of this
state little towns died out
00:27:26.20\00:27:28.04
you know why?
00:27:28.05\00:27:30.47
Because instead of
one farmer and his family
00:27:30.48\00:27:32.49
being able to handle 160 acres
00:27:32.50\00:27:34.26
with these great big
massive John Deere Tractors
00:27:34.27\00:27:36.50
is almost as wide as this gym.
00:27:36.51\00:27:39.45
They got stereo, and
GPS and air conditioning
00:27:39.46\00:27:42.74
and one farmer can go all
day long and he can plough
00:27:42.75\00:27:45.33
thousands and
thousands of acres.
00:27:45.34\00:27:48.13
But you know what that means is,
00:27:48.14\00:27:49.58
that there is an abundance
of bread for everybody else.
00:27:49.59\00:27:53.24
And so and that's one thing
that made this country great.
00:27:53.25\00:27:56.40
But, let's face it,
we've got a lot of comforts,
00:27:56.41\00:27:59.74
a lot of
convenience, a lot of idle time,
00:27:59.75\00:28:04.99
personally you may think
oh, I don't have any idle time.
00:28:05.00\00:28:07.78
Well, good maybe Lord is
keeping you out of trouble.
00:28:07.79\00:28:09.92
But stay busy,
now that doesn't mean,
00:28:12.63\00:28:14.58
you know sometimes we got wives
00:28:14.59\00:28:15.96
and they say you are too busy.
00:28:15.97\00:28:16.94
Anyone who
doesn't agree with that?
00:28:16.95\00:28:19.08
You work too
hard, you are workaholic
00:28:19.09\00:28:20.95
and I'm not suggesting that.
00:28:20.96\00:28:22.99
You can stay busy
00:28:23.00\00:28:24.19
she will be happy if
you do things with her.
00:28:24.20\00:28:26.75
It's just not the idea
00:28:26.76\00:28:28.36
of you are not doing anything,
00:28:28.37\00:28:29.68
she just don't
wants to be with you,
00:28:29.69\00:28:31.24
were you are doing stuff
with her, with the family.
00:28:31.25\00:28:34.08
But, God doesn't
want us to sit around
00:28:34.09\00:28:35.29
and do a lot of nothing.
00:28:35.30\00:28:36.27
He didn't create
us for an activity.
00:28:36.28\00:28:37.67
Rest is good, rest is important,
00:28:37.68\00:28:39.22
that's why God
gives us the Sabbath.
00:28:39.23\00:28:41.84
But if you are not staying busy,
00:28:41.85\00:28:44.63
chances are you are
getting tempted a lot.
00:28:44.64\00:28:47.61
And so stay busy
serving the Lord.
00:28:47.62\00:28:53.17
Have a plan.
00:28:53.18\00:28:56.06
This is point number
seven, have a plan for escape.
00:28:56.07\00:29:00.32
We often stumble into sin,
00:29:00.33\00:29:02.92
because when we
see temptation coming,
00:29:02.93\00:29:05.25
we wait to see what will happen,
00:29:05.26\00:29:06.80
when it arrives.
00:29:06.81\00:29:08.67
You want to be
prepared in advance,
00:29:08.68\00:29:11.13
Proverbs Chapter 22,
verse 3, Solomon says,
00:29:11.14\00:29:14.39
"A prudent man foresees
evil and hides himself".
00:29:14.40\00:29:21.45
Don't wait to see
what's going to happen
00:29:21.46\00:29:24.32
or how you are going to act
00:29:24.33\00:29:25.30
when there is some
pop-up message on your computer,
00:29:25.31\00:29:28.01
get a pop-up blocker as
soon as you get your computer.
00:29:28.02\00:29:32.14
Get a security program on that.
00:29:32.15\00:29:35.41
Prepare yourself in advance
00:29:35.42\00:29:37.85
to avoid those
kind of temptations.
00:29:37.86\00:29:41.37
There is a lot of areas where,
00:29:41.38\00:29:43.50
if you got a problem
with eating junk food,
00:29:43.51\00:29:49.69
don't bring the cookies home
00:29:49.70\00:29:51.03
and then hope you
can resist temptation.
00:29:51.04\00:29:54.33
If they are in the house,
00:29:54.34\00:29:55.31
you are going
to have temptation,
00:29:55.32\00:29:56.98
don't bring them
home from the store.
00:29:56.99\00:29:59.58
You want to be
able to plan ahead
00:29:59.59\00:30:01.10
and stay close to Lord.
00:30:01.11\00:30:07.01
The Bible says, that if
you got some area in your life
00:30:07.02\00:30:09.38
then you know is
going to be a weak spot.
00:30:09.39\00:30:12.63
Matthew Chapter 5 verse 29,
00:30:12.64\00:30:14.79
"If your right eye
offends you, pluck it out,
00:30:14.80\00:30:17.50
and cast it from me:
00:30:17.51\00:30:19.96
for it is more
profitable for you
00:30:19.97\00:30:21.33
that one of your
members should perish,
00:30:21.34\00:30:22.93
and not that your whole
body be cast into hell."
00:30:22.94\00:30:28.17
If you just quit smoking
00:30:28.18\00:30:31.06
and your friends still
smoke, find some new friends.
00:30:31.07\00:30:37.15
If you can't, do it you can
00:30:37.16\00:30:39.42
to avoid those areas of
temptation, but you say,
00:30:39.43\00:30:42.91
Pastor Doug they have
been friends for years.
00:30:42.92\00:30:44.41
If you have quit
drinking and you quit smoking
00:30:44.42\00:30:46.18
they are still drinking
and they are still smoking,
00:30:46.19\00:30:47.83
how can I say,
there are my friends,
00:30:47.84\00:30:49.75
I mean how I'm gonna reach him?
00:30:49.76\00:30:51.72
Pluck out your
eye, cut off your hand,
00:30:51.73\00:30:53.66
of course God is not
talking about literally there.
00:30:53.67\00:30:55.49
It's a symbol for
even if it's something
00:30:55.50\00:30:57.33
that's close to
you as a dear friend.
00:30:57.34\00:31:00.76
Sometimes, you got a
do something radical,
00:31:00.77\00:31:03.53
I know some people
they say Pastor Doug,
00:31:03.54\00:31:06.21
I've got a
problem with the internet,
00:31:06.22\00:31:09.57
but I'm at a job,
where I'm online everyday
00:31:09.58\00:31:12.69
and there is no
kinds of security
00:31:12.70\00:31:14.56
and I've got so much
availability to my problem
00:31:14.57\00:31:17.66
and you know what
I'll say to that person?
00:31:17.67\00:31:19.86
Get another job.
00:31:19.87\00:31:21.82
Some people say,
Pastor Doug, now I've got a TV
00:31:21.83\00:31:23.89
and I just can just
can't control myself
00:31:23.90\00:31:26.93
what do I do?
00:31:26.94\00:31:28.25
Get rid of your TV.
00:31:28.26\00:31:29.59
But there are some
good things on the TV,
00:31:29.60\00:31:30.93
but if you cannot control it,
00:31:30.94\00:31:31.91
cut off your hand,
get rid off your TV.
00:31:31.92\00:31:36.56
What profit is it, if you say
00:31:36.57\00:31:37.86
you know I had a TV,
when I went to hell but,
00:31:37.87\00:31:41.14
what good is that,
00:31:41.15\00:31:42.72
so if you are
struggling in these areas.
00:31:42.73\00:31:44.43
I know you
probably think Pastor Doug
00:31:44.44\00:31:45.71
you are being little radical.
00:31:45.72\00:31:47.75
Well, maybe I am,
but I think you know what
00:31:47.76\00:31:51.48
nobody is going to
stand before the Lord
00:31:51.49\00:31:53.48
in the judgment day,
and hear Jesus say to them,
00:31:53.49\00:31:56.10
you know I would like to
let you into the kingdom,
00:31:56.11\00:31:58.43
but you got rid off your
TV and you cannot watch 3ABN
00:31:58.44\00:32:00.69
and Amazing Facts
anymore, so I can't let you in.
00:32:00.70\00:32:03.99
That's not going to happen,
00:32:04.00\00:32:06.65
if you got to do
something radical
00:32:06.66\00:32:08.99
in order to get the
victory, then do it, amen!
00:32:09.00\00:32:14.13
And you will set a good
example for your families
00:32:14.14\00:32:16.52
about what your priority is?
00:32:16.53\00:32:19.01
Sometimes the devil
gets us with these things
00:32:19.02\00:32:21.13
where we just,
we're trying to ride
00:32:21.14\00:32:22.44
the middle of the
line and we can't do it,
00:32:22.45\00:32:25.30
you want to get as
far away from temptation
00:32:25.31\00:32:27.34
as possible.
00:32:27.35\00:32:29.91
So have a plan for escape,
00:32:29.92\00:32:33.24
lot of temptation
comes as little things,
00:32:33.25\00:32:35.71
it nibbles away
at our weaknesses.
00:32:35.72\00:32:40.49
Know yourself.
00:32:40.50\00:32:43.89
The things that tempt you
00:32:43.90\00:32:45.35
may not be the same
things that tempt me.
00:32:45.36\00:32:47.20
There are
probably some general areas
00:32:47.21\00:32:48.64
where we are all tempted.
00:32:48.65\00:32:50.64
But you know the
devil knows how to
00:32:50.65\00:32:54.26
tailor his
temptations and frankly
00:32:54.27\00:32:57.64
I should probably back up
00:32:57.65\00:32:58.62
and say something about this.
00:32:58.63\00:32:59.91
When we say the
devil is tempting me,
00:32:59.92\00:33:04.41
it's typically
not the devil himself.
00:33:04.42\00:33:06.45
The devil is
operating through his demons,
00:33:06.46\00:33:09.07
and in the same way that
God has the guardian angels
00:33:09.08\00:33:11.60
that know us and they guard us.
00:33:11.61\00:33:12.88
And I'm looking
forward to meeting my angel
00:33:12.89\00:33:15.33
when I get to the kingdom.
00:33:15.34\00:33:16.65
You will probably
be easy to recognize
00:33:16.66\00:33:18.32
because you will have great hair
00:33:18.33\00:33:19.31
and a street jacket on.
00:33:19.32\00:33:21.67
But, I think the devil has also,
00:33:21.68\00:33:26.29
he probably get demons
00:33:26.30\00:33:27.27
that are
appointed to bring us down.
00:33:27.28\00:33:30.22
Matter of fact, there
is a story in the Bible
00:33:30.23\00:33:31.81
in the book of Acts
where these seven young
00:33:31.82\00:33:35.31
sons of some Synagogue
ruler Sceva, he was an exorcist.
00:33:35.32\00:33:40.55
They heard that
Paul was going around
00:33:40.56\00:33:42.16
and he was casting out
devils in the name of Jesus,
00:33:42.17\00:33:44.57
and the demons would come out.
00:33:44.58\00:33:46.20
They said so
what is that Paul does
00:33:46.21\00:33:47.77
he says in the name of
Jesus, I caste you out.
00:33:47.78\00:33:49.80
He said okay, well we are
going to do what Paul does.
00:33:49.81\00:33:51.61
They knew nothing about Jesus,
00:33:51.62\00:33:52.97
they barely knew who Paul was?
00:33:52.98\00:33:55.03
So they found this man
00:33:55.04\00:33:56.01
who was possessed by the devil,
00:33:56.02\00:33:57.76
they went to cast the
devil out of this man.
00:33:57.77\00:33:59.63
And they said in
the name of Jesus
00:33:59.64\00:34:01.49
who Paul
preaches come out of Him.
00:34:01.50\00:34:04.11
You know what the demon said?
00:34:04.12\00:34:06.30
I know Paul and I know Jesus,
00:34:06.31\00:34:10.53
but I don't who you are?
00:34:10.54\00:34:13.51
And so, of course the
devil is not omniscient,
00:34:13.52\00:34:16.35
he doesn't know everything.
00:34:16.36\00:34:17.33
I think probably
Satan has designated
00:34:17.34\00:34:20.32
different demons
are somehow organized.
00:34:20.33\00:34:22.50
Satan has got his
legions, doesn't he?
00:34:22.51\00:34:24.87
And they are probably devils
00:34:24.88\00:34:25.85
that have studied your weakness.
00:34:25.86\00:34:28.32
Now I don't recommend
C.S. Lewis across the abroad.
00:34:28.33\00:34:32.41
But he wrote one
thought provoking book called
00:34:32.42\00:34:34.46
the "Screwtape Letters,"
00:34:34.47\00:34:35.44
and I read that one
I was up in the cave.
00:34:35.45\00:34:37.21
It talks about how
devil study our weaknesses
00:34:37.22\00:34:40.02
and they are trying plan things
00:34:40.03\00:34:42.39
that are tailored and a recipe
00:34:42.40\00:34:45.60
paste upon where
you typically fall.
00:34:45.61\00:34:49.43
So know yourself, know
what your weaknesses are?
00:34:49.44\00:34:53.45
Make sure as we mention to avoid
00:34:53.46\00:34:55.15
those areas of
weakness and temptation.
00:34:55.16\00:34:57.84
The devil doesn't
really worry about me
00:34:57.85\00:34:59.54
walking down some dark
alley and having someone sell me
00:34:59.55\00:35:02.10
heroin or crack
cocaine, that's not my problem.
00:35:02.11\00:35:05.32
He knows what they are
and I'm not going to tell you?
00:35:05.33\00:35:08.87
But you know what
your problems are?
00:35:08.88\00:35:11.59
And so just be aware of that
00:35:11.60\00:35:13.67
and then just pray for strength
00:35:13.68\00:35:15.28
specifically in those areas.
00:35:15.29\00:35:19.51
Know yourself, there
is a Spanish proverb,
00:35:19.52\00:35:21.32
it says don't be a baker,
00:35:21.33\00:35:22.79
if your head is made of butter.
00:35:22.80\00:35:26.79
And don't ever boast we are all,
00:35:26.80\00:35:29.19
we all have the
potential to fall.
00:35:29.20\00:35:30.60
One of the most important things
00:35:30.61\00:35:31.78
we can do to get the victory
00:35:31.79\00:35:33.28
is maintain a humble attitude
00:35:33.29\00:35:36.31
and be aware of how weak we are,
00:35:36.32\00:35:39.53
Let him that thinks he stands
00:35:39.54\00:35:41.29
take heed lest he fall.
00:35:41.30\00:35:43.62
It's only moment by
moment trusting in God,
00:35:43.63\00:35:46.35
we are able to live
the victorious life.
00:35:46.36\00:35:48.22
As soon as someone
starts going around
00:35:48.23\00:35:50.00
boasting and saying you know,
00:35:50.01\00:35:51.05
I haven't sinned all week long.
00:35:51.06\00:35:54.31
Beware take heed, let
him who thinks he stands
00:35:54.32\00:35:58.21
take heed lest he fall.
00:35:58.22\00:36:00.27
Peter did that though all
men should forsake the Lord,
00:36:00.28\00:36:02.58
I will not forsake the.
00:36:02.59\00:36:04.76
He said, you don't
know yourself Peter.
00:36:04.77\00:36:08.31
Overcome evil with good.
00:36:08.32\00:36:13.88
Now whatever you
are doing, you can find
00:36:13.89\00:36:18.56
that there is usually
a good way to overcome.
00:36:18.57\00:36:20.78
If somebody is
giving you hard time
00:36:20.79\00:36:23.51
and you are tempted to be angry
00:36:23.52\00:36:24.77
or to talk bad
about them, pray for them.
00:36:24.78\00:36:29.32
If you are
struggling with smoking,
00:36:29.33\00:36:34.78
and you throw
away your cigarettes,
00:36:34.79\00:36:37.04
get toothpicks
that's what I did.
00:36:37.05\00:36:39.30
I carried around a box
00:36:39.31\00:36:40.29
of tooth picks in my top pocket,
00:36:40.30\00:36:41.88
if at least gave me the illusion
00:36:41.89\00:36:43.84
I had a pack of Marlboro there
00:36:43.85\00:36:45.63
and whenever I was
tempted to reach down
00:36:45.64\00:36:47.28
and grab one I actually
cut a little square corner out,
00:36:47.29\00:36:50.53
so I could shake one out,
00:36:50.54\00:36:52.03
and you know what
it really helped me,
00:36:52.04\00:36:54.41
and people said well
Doug, you like a beaver,
00:36:54.42\00:36:56.38
just tune on
toothpicks all the time,
00:36:56.39\00:36:58.70
but I had rather look like
00:36:58.71\00:36:59.70
a beavers than a chimney, right?
00:36:59.71\00:37:03.12
And so you know, you could apply
00:37:03.13\00:37:05.07
this to your life a
thousand different ways.
00:37:05.08\00:37:07.83
When you find out
that you got some weakness,
00:37:07.84\00:37:10.49
figure out what it is?
00:37:10.50\00:37:11.85
Your problem is
chocolate, get some grapes,
00:37:11.86\00:37:15.18
some peanuts, or something,
00:37:15.19\00:37:17.06
but just find something good
00:37:17.07\00:37:20.54
to overcome the area of evil.
00:37:20.55\00:37:22.31
If you are
preoccupied and say you know
00:37:22.32\00:37:24.72
Pastor Doug, I got a
problem with the DVD's
00:37:24.73\00:37:28.37
and you know I just keep
wanting to go to blockbuster,
00:37:28.38\00:37:31.74
get an Amazing
Facts or 3ABN video
00:37:31.75\00:37:34.91
or something and watch it right?
00:37:34.92\00:37:36.90
Overcome evil with
good, play in a hand.
00:37:36.91\00:37:41.34
Think a head above, you know,
00:37:41.35\00:37:43.07
I always have a
real time of weakness
00:37:43.08\00:37:45.29
when I am doing this
or when I am doing that.
00:37:45.30\00:37:47.21
Think ahead, say
Lord I don't want to fall
00:37:47.22\00:37:49.13
in that area again, and
ask God to give you some wisdom
00:37:49.14\00:37:51.81
about how you can
overcome in those areas.
00:37:51.82\00:37:55.10
Do not be overcome with
evil, Romans 12 verse 1,
00:37:55.11\00:37:58.65
"Be not overcome with evil,
but overcome evil with good."
00:37:58.66\00:38:03.77
Says it's one of the ways
00:38:03.78\00:38:04.75
that we get the
victory over temptation.
00:38:04.76\00:38:11.31
Take care of your health,
00:38:11.32\00:38:13.19
now you maybe
didn't expect that.
00:38:13.20\00:38:16.11
One of the real basic
things that you can do
00:38:16.12\00:38:18.39
to get the victory
is take care of yourself
00:38:18.40\00:38:21.25
as much as you can physically
00:38:21.26\00:38:22.46
part of the health message,
00:38:22.47\00:38:24.05
not only so you don't get sick
00:38:24.06\00:38:26.00
and die prematurely,
00:38:26.01\00:38:30.38
so you can be a
more effective witness
00:38:30.39\00:38:32.09
and you have more energy
00:38:32.10\00:38:33.68
but another reason
for the health message is,
00:38:33.69\00:38:36.07
it's easier for
the devil to get us
00:38:36.08\00:38:38.44
when we're are sick and tired.
00:38:38.45\00:38:41.79
Now I'm not going to
ask for show of hands,
00:38:41.80\00:38:45.09
but I think most of
you would put up your hands
00:38:45.10\00:38:46.79
and admit that
sometimes if you had a blow up
00:38:46.80\00:38:49.33
in your family or an argument
00:38:49.34\00:38:50.69
with your spouse, or
you yelled at your kids,
00:38:50.70\00:38:53.87
you get hungry,
00:38:53.88\00:38:55.57
low blood sugar,
and more problem.
00:38:55.58\00:38:59.09
You get tired, long day work,
00:38:59.10\00:39:01.34
lot of stress, you are fatigue,
00:39:01.35\00:39:02.94
you come home, you
didn't have enough sleep
00:39:02.95\00:39:05.66
and also you snap
and you say things
00:39:05.67\00:39:07.45
that you wish didn't say.
00:39:07.46\00:39:10.20
And you fall
00:39:10.21\00:39:12.70
and one of the simple
solutions for that is,
00:39:12.71\00:39:15.69
take care of your
health, get exercise,
00:39:15.70\00:39:18.45
get rest, eat right,
eat a lot of sweet food,
00:39:18.46\00:39:24.65
drink a cup of
espresso, and you get,
00:39:24.66\00:39:26.27
oh! you know, you
hyperactive like that
00:39:26.28\00:39:28.70
and you are going to
bite anybody's head off.
00:39:28.71\00:39:30.75
There is reasons for
health message, you know,
00:39:30.76\00:39:32.93
and some of them are, it
help you avoid temptation.
00:39:32.94\00:39:37.07
I had to be really
particular as I travel a lot
00:39:37.08\00:39:40.44
and kind of a heavy schedule,
00:39:40.45\00:39:43.63
to take care of my
health, not only because,
00:39:43.64\00:39:47.54
you know, I want be
well when I get some where
00:39:47.55\00:39:49.14
so I can teach and preach,
00:39:49.15\00:39:50.76
but I find I'm a better husband,
00:39:50.77\00:39:53.22
I'm a better father,
I'm a better Christian
00:39:53.23\00:39:57.01
if I take care of myself.
00:39:57.02\00:39:59.39
I can't over
emphasize this friends
00:39:59.40\00:40:01.29
that there is a
reason we've being giving
00:40:01.30\00:40:03.71
this health message
and part of the reason
00:40:03.72\00:40:05.70
is that we can
glorify God in our bodies,
00:40:05.71\00:40:09.07
when you take care of yourself.
00:40:09.08\00:40:10.19
When did the devil
come to Jesus and tempt him?
00:40:10.20\00:40:13.03
After 40 days of
fasting, He was weak,
00:40:13.04\00:40:17.03
He was tired, He
had low blood sugar,
00:40:17.04\00:40:19.83
and that's when the devil came.
00:40:19.84\00:40:22.17
And he just open fire
with everything he had in.
00:40:22.18\00:40:24.73
But don't forget
this, even if you are tired.
00:40:24.74\00:40:27.73
Sometimes you can't
control circumstances,
00:40:27.74\00:40:30.21
even if you're
hungry, I've got on planes
00:40:30.22\00:40:33.27
before where they
ordered a veggie meal,
00:40:33.28\00:40:35.00
and all they had is
some big old leg of lamb
00:40:35.01\00:40:37.46
and I couldn't eat.
00:40:37.47\00:40:38.78
And you can always
control all these circumstances,
00:40:38.79\00:40:41.18
but is that any excuse to sin?
00:40:41.19\00:40:43.92
You can say well,
Lord you know after all
00:40:43.93\00:40:45.42
I'm tired so I'm absolved
for yelling at the spouse,
00:40:45.43\00:40:49.70
without really
having a good reason.
00:40:49.71\00:40:51.71
Is it a good reason?
You yell at your spouse.
00:40:51.72\00:40:56.19
Take care of your health.
00:40:56.20\00:40:59.56
Sometimes we understand
the spirit is willing,
00:40:59.57\00:41:02.26
but the flesh is weak,
so you got to take care
00:41:02.27\00:41:04.39
of the flesh as well as you can.
00:41:04.40\00:41:07.39
Recognize your way of escape.
00:41:07.40\00:41:11.92
Be watching and aware.
00:41:11.93\00:41:15.37
Whenever I get on an airplane,
00:41:15.38\00:41:18.26
you know how they go
through there the preflight list
00:41:18.27\00:41:21.45
and they say, you know make
note of where your exits are.
00:41:21.46\00:41:24.37
I'm a pilot and
I fly all the time,
00:41:24.38\00:41:26.75
but I still take a
moment and I say to myself
00:41:26.76\00:41:29.92
in the unlikely event
00:41:29.93\00:41:32.81
that I might need
to use a different door
00:41:32.82\00:41:34.80
to get out then
what I used to come in.
00:41:34.81\00:41:37.84
I like to know where
it is and in my mind,
00:41:37.85\00:41:40.43
and it's not because I'm afraid
00:41:40.44\00:41:42.20
I just think its part
of being a good pilot,
00:41:42.21\00:41:43.79
part of being a good passenger.
00:41:43.80\00:41:45.66
I think about, all right,
00:41:45.67\00:41:47.89
just look around be aware Doug.
00:41:47.90\00:41:50.29
How do you get out
of here, if you have to?
00:41:50.30\00:41:54.15
And, you know,
sometime you might find yourself
00:41:54.16\00:41:56.14
in the situation
00:41:56.15\00:41:57.15
where you are going
into a den of lions,
00:41:57.16\00:41:59.45
and the Lord's
placed you in there.
00:41:59.46\00:42:02.48
You might have to
extricate yourself,
00:42:02.49\00:42:05.14
because you weren't aware
00:42:05.15\00:42:06.91
that there were
going to be things going on
00:42:06.92\00:42:09.04
or temptations facing you,
00:42:09.05\00:42:11.21
but you weren't embrace for it.
00:42:11.22\00:42:12.75
Know where the exits
are? And be prepared to run.
00:42:12.76\00:42:16.13
You can be sure
that in Joseph story
00:42:16.14\00:42:17.61
that we just read.
00:42:17.62\00:42:18.87
When it says he
arose and he fled,
00:42:18.88\00:42:21.77
he knew which
way to go didn't he?
00:42:21.78\00:42:23.77
So as he was
sitting there, you notice it
00:42:23.78\00:42:24.99
with part of his wife
and not only was Joseph
00:42:25.00\00:42:30.50
a handsome young man,
00:42:30.51\00:42:32.15
she did probably
didn't look that bad herself,
00:42:32.16\00:42:35.28
because part of her
was a wealthy general
00:42:35.29\00:42:38.40
and you know when
you got a lot of money
00:42:38.41\00:42:39.44
and prestige back
then it's possible that
00:42:39.45\00:42:43.37
he may have had a
pick of fine wife,
00:42:43.38\00:42:49.13
and Joseph said he
wouldn't even be with her,
00:42:49.14\00:42:52.25
but he had to come in the house
00:42:52.26\00:42:53.81
to do some business.
00:42:53.82\00:42:54.83
So, I want to just go
back to that real quick.
00:42:54.84\00:42:56.87
It happened about this time,
00:42:56.88\00:42:58.85
I'm in verse 11 of Chapter 39,
00:42:58.86\00:43:02.17
"When Joseph went into
the house to do his work,
00:43:02.18\00:43:05.59
but none of the men
in the house was inside,"
00:43:05.60\00:43:08.35
he had to go into the house,
00:43:08.36\00:43:10.30
but there was
temptation in the house.
00:43:10.31\00:43:13.66
So when he walked
in, he made a note
00:43:13.67\00:43:16.02
where that door was
because he recognized
00:43:16.03\00:43:18.10
there was a
problem in the house.
00:43:18.11\00:43:20.36
"That she caught
him by his garment,
00:43:20.37\00:43:22.45
and said Lie with me:"
00:43:22.46\00:43:24.43
Was that subtle,
00:43:24.44\00:43:26.91
you know as Joseph
could have rationalized
00:43:26.92\00:43:29.49
and one reason we
get into temptation.
00:43:29.50\00:43:31.38
Let me just say you
some things that might
00:43:31.39\00:43:32.40
have gone through his mind.
00:43:32.41\00:43:33.38
These are some of
the same rationalizations
00:43:33.39\00:43:35.11
it happened to us.
00:43:35.12\00:43:37.09
Joseph could have rationalized.
00:43:37.10\00:43:39.04
Well, there was one
thing to resist temptation
00:43:39.05\00:43:40.82
when she was asking me,
but now this is my master.
00:43:40.83\00:43:45.79
And the Bible does say,
well slaves obey the masters
00:43:45.80\00:43:49.78
and obey the laws of the land
00:43:49.79\00:43:51.72
and you know what's
going to happen to my paycheck,
00:43:51.73\00:43:55.23
if I hurt her feelings and
then what's going to happen
00:43:55.24\00:43:58.58
and what I'm going to
do about my retirement
00:43:58.59\00:44:00.76
and you can
rationalize all kinds of things
00:44:00.77\00:44:02.86
and nobody is around
00:44:02.87\00:44:04.29
and after all
she is pretty strong.
00:44:04.30\00:44:08.13
Maybe she is going to force me,
00:44:08.14\00:44:11.12
and he could
just had all kinds of
00:44:11.13\00:44:13.15
clever
rationalizations in his mind.
00:44:13.16\00:44:16.75
But he fought
temptation, he probably knew
00:44:16.76\00:44:23.53
that she was going to retaliate.
00:44:23.54\00:44:27.82
Someone said that hell have
no fury like a woman scorned.
00:44:27.83\00:44:32.86
Like a bear
robbed of her whelps.
00:44:32.87\00:44:35.80
And he probably could
have thought, you know,
00:44:35.81\00:44:38.42
if I spurn her
advances this way,
00:44:38.43\00:44:40.22
she is going to
sense his rejection
00:44:40.23\00:44:41.73
and she will retaliate,
00:44:41.74\00:44:43.09
but who was Joseph
interested in pleasing
00:44:43.10\00:44:46.02
man or God?
00:44:46.03\00:44:49.02
And so he was
determined to resist temptation,
00:44:49.03\00:44:52.64
even if it meant he would
not only maybe be demoted,
00:44:52.65\00:44:56.73
not only what he
stall in his position.
00:44:56.74\00:45:00.14
But he might loose his life.
00:45:00.15\00:45:02.92
He had his mind
made up in advance.
00:45:02.93\00:45:06.72
He said this
was great wickedness
00:45:06.73\00:45:07.97
and I will not do it.
00:45:07.98\00:45:10.11
Joseph presents a
great example for us
00:45:10.12\00:45:11.93
someone who had
sterling integrity
00:45:11.94\00:45:14.46
that was resolved to be pure.
00:45:14.47\00:45:18.16
And all of us by the
grace of God can be pure,
00:45:18.17\00:45:21.96
so he fled and he ran outside.
00:45:21.97\00:45:25.94
Now what happened to Joseph
00:45:25.95\00:45:26.92
when he
resisted that temptation?
00:45:26.93\00:45:29.56
She concocted a
false acquisition.
00:45:29.57\00:45:32.30
He was arrested
and thrown in jail,
00:45:32.31\00:45:33.88
spent years in jail
for doing what's right.
00:45:33.89\00:45:38.92
Is it easer, sometimes
it is given to temptation
00:45:38.93\00:45:43.57
to flow downstream?
00:45:43.58\00:45:46.70
Let me word this differently?
00:45:46.71\00:45:49.60
What's easier
going with the flow
00:45:49.61\00:45:56.35
towards the
waterfall of destruction
00:45:56.36\00:46:00.51
or swimming against the current
00:46:00.52\00:46:02.85
even though it
requires more energy.
00:46:02.86\00:46:05.61
Those are really the
choices that all of us have.
00:46:05.62\00:46:08.20
You can say, you know,
swimming upstream is so hard.
00:46:08.21\00:46:10.19
I'm just going to lay
here on my rubber raft
00:46:10.20\00:46:13.93
and go with everybody else,
00:46:13.94\00:46:16.11
if the world is just so
hard to swim against the tide,
00:46:16.12\00:46:19.65
but often the distances
00:46:19.66\00:46:20.91
you can hear
ringing in your ears,
00:46:20.92\00:46:22.50
the crashing waters and,
you know, you are perishing.
00:46:22.51\00:46:25.11
Do you really enjoy the ride?
00:46:25.12\00:46:28.59
How much better and even happier
00:46:28.60\00:46:31.53
to swim against the current?
00:46:31.54\00:46:35.38
And to know that you are
going to get to other side.
00:46:35.39\00:46:38.20
Did Joseph make
it to the other side?
00:46:38.21\00:46:41.45
He suffered, he
suffered years as a slave,
00:46:41.46\00:46:43.81
he suffered years in prison,
00:46:43.82\00:46:45.35
but did he make
it to the palace,
00:46:45.36\00:46:47.72
was he exalted?
00:46:47.73\00:46:49.78
You know there
is pleasure in sin,
00:46:49.79\00:46:52.05
I have been lying to you.
00:46:52.06\00:46:54.59
Whether it's a
lust of the flesh,
00:46:54.60\00:46:55.93
or the lust of the
eyes and the pride of life,
00:46:55.94\00:46:57.85
there is at least some
temporary pleasure in sin.
00:46:57.86\00:47:02.30
But that's the
problem, it's very short lived
00:47:02.31\00:47:04.69
and there is almost,
always some form of hangover,
00:47:04.70\00:47:07.12
some form of
regret, some form of guilt,
00:47:07.13\00:47:09.19
some form of debt.
00:47:09.20\00:47:11.43
I mean you know we
could all divide up,
00:47:11.44\00:47:15.03
what our
particular challenges are
00:47:15.04\00:47:16.70
and you know what that means.
00:47:16.71\00:47:20.04
The real peace comes from
00:47:20.05\00:47:22.36
seeking for God's
kingdom and its righteousness.
00:47:22.37\00:47:24.79
There is going to be battles.
00:47:24.80\00:47:26.70
Moses turned his back
on the glories of Egypt,
00:47:26.71\00:47:30.17
that he might endure
00:47:30.18\00:47:32.12
suffering with
the people of God,
00:47:32.13\00:47:33.77
rather than to enjoy
00:47:33.78\00:47:35.52
the pleasures of
sin for a season.
00:47:35.53\00:47:38.15
And this is really what
we are all grappling with.
00:47:38.16\00:47:40.56
It's just these two choices.
00:47:40.57\00:47:44.42
Don't be
discouraged if you do fall.
00:47:44.43\00:47:49.35
Now I got to
spend a moment on that.
00:47:49.36\00:47:53.73
This is one of the
most important things.
00:47:53.74\00:47:56.94
I want to ask for
00:47:56.95\00:47:59.86
a show of hands, and
how many have fallen,
00:47:59.87\00:48:01.15
it could be everybody.
00:48:01.16\00:48:02.88
All have sinned and
fallen short of glory of God,
00:48:02.89\00:48:06.29
but I want to tell
you never need to fall.
00:48:06.30\00:48:10.88
With every temptation,
God will provide a way
00:48:10.89\00:48:13.59
of escape that you
are able to bear it.
00:48:13.60\00:48:15.71
There is no
temptation that comes to you
00:48:15.72\00:48:18.79
that God does not
first carefully measure
00:48:18.80\00:48:22.85
how long a chain he is
going to give to the devil.
00:48:22.86\00:48:25.26
You realize that even
when the devil came after Job,
00:48:25.27\00:48:28.27
God measured off how far
he would let the devil go,
00:48:28.28\00:48:32.69
is that right? Am I right?
00:48:32.70\00:48:36.47
So God is on the
throne and He loves you
00:48:36.48\00:48:38.86
and He is not going to allow
00:48:38.87\00:48:40.46
you to be tempted
above what you are able.
00:48:40.47\00:48:43.56
And with every
temptation that comes to you,
00:48:43.57\00:48:45.88
He is going to provide
00:48:45.89\00:48:47.18
a way of escape
that you can endure.
00:48:47.19\00:48:49.60
Sometimes it will
mean the way of escape
00:48:49.61\00:48:51.34
is in the form of
dropping on your knees.
00:48:51.35\00:48:53.86
First thing, you should do
00:48:53.87\00:48:55.24
as soon as you
recognize temptation is there,
00:48:55.25\00:48:57.92
submit to God
and resist the devil.
00:48:57.93\00:49:02.27
So you turn to God
in prayer immediately
00:49:02.28\00:49:04.20
and that's where
you get strength.
00:49:04.21\00:49:05.70
But he is able to
keep you from falling.
00:49:05.71\00:49:07.27
That by the way is
Jude Chapter 1 verse 24.
00:49:07.28\00:49:13.55
We want to abide in Christ.
00:49:13.56\00:49:16.77
And don't beat
yourself up if you fall.
00:49:16.78\00:49:19.59
Now this is an
area where I pray God
00:49:19.60\00:49:23.83
will give a wisdom to
try and explain this to you.
00:49:23.84\00:49:26.95
On one side of the
equation, I want to tell you,
00:49:26.96\00:49:30.44
don't beat
yourself up if you fall.
00:49:30.45\00:49:33.49
I don't want to so emphasize,
00:49:33.50\00:49:35.94
that you need
to forgive yourself
00:49:35.95\00:49:37.85
that you set yourself up to say
00:49:37.86\00:49:39.40
well I'll just
forgive myself later
00:49:39.41\00:49:41.08
and then I am going to fall.
00:49:41.09\00:49:44.01
You need to be conscious of
00:49:44.02\00:49:45.96
how dangerous it is to sin.
00:49:45.97\00:49:47.89
Let me see if I could
illustrate it this way.
00:49:47.90\00:49:51.74
You all know what
Russian Roulette is,
00:49:51.75\00:49:55.84
all right suppose
that you have a shot gun,
00:49:55.85\00:50:00.49
a single barreled shot gun,
00:50:00.50\00:50:02.91
you all know what
I am talking about,
00:50:02.92\00:50:04.92
single barrel.
00:50:04.93\00:50:06.33
And you got one
shell in the barrel.
00:50:06.34\00:50:09.09
Can you play
Russian Roulette with that?
00:50:09.10\00:50:12.06
Anyone here want to play
Russian Roulette with that?
00:50:12.07\00:50:14.95
Now if you understand math
00:50:14.96\00:50:16.63
what percentage of the time
that you are going to loose?
00:50:16.64\00:50:20.09
Hundred percent
of the time, okay.
00:50:20.10\00:50:21.96
Then let's say you have
got a double barrel shot gun,
00:50:21.97\00:50:25.69
but you only got one
shell in one of the chambers.
00:50:25.70\00:50:27.93
And you hand it
to your wife and say
00:50:27.94\00:50:28.91
pull one of the triggers.
00:50:28.92\00:50:30.08
I heard it
someone was talking about
00:50:34.18\00:50:36.68
a list of famous last words,
00:50:36.69\00:50:39.42
it's interesting to read about
00:50:39.43\00:50:40.50
people's famous last words
00:50:40.51\00:50:43.05
and one of the
famous last words was,
00:50:43.06\00:50:46.48
his husband said to his wife,
00:50:46.49\00:50:48.41
you couldn't hit the broad
side of barn with that gun.
00:50:48.42\00:50:52.97
So, you give this
00:50:52.98\00:50:54.04
double barrel
shot gun to your wife,
00:50:54.05\00:50:57.53
and you tell her to
pull one of the triggers
00:50:57.54\00:50:58.71
what are your chances now?
00:50:58.72\00:51:01.33
About 50-50 all right,
you are with me so far.
00:51:01.34\00:51:05.02
Any of you
willing to play that game?
00:51:05.03\00:51:08.76
All right, now you
got typical six-shooter
00:51:08.77\00:51:13.18
and you spin the
barrel and you cock it
00:51:13.19\00:51:17.63
and you want to
show your friends
00:51:17.64\00:51:18.61
how manly you are
and you pull the trigger.
00:51:18.62\00:51:21.95
The Russian has to get
pretty drunk to do that,
00:51:21.96\00:51:23.68
but I guess that's
where the name comes from.
00:51:23.69\00:51:26.95
I have got a
friend that at a party,
00:51:26.96\00:51:32.24
is back before I was a Christian
00:51:32.25\00:51:34.07
had a 38 revolver,
00:51:34.08\00:51:36.04
held it up to
another friend's head
00:51:36.05\00:51:37.20
and he was going
to pull the trigger,
00:51:37.21\00:51:38.31
and someone said,
don't play like that,
00:51:38.32\00:51:40.90
isn't it's not loaded
and he shot at his hand,
00:51:40.91\00:51:43.73
blew right through his hand.
00:51:43.74\00:51:47.64
And you know I
always tell my kids
00:51:47.65\00:51:51.35
don't ever point a
weapon, even a toy weapon
00:51:51.36\00:51:53.88
at somebody and play like that.
00:51:53.89\00:51:57.84
So you got the
six-shooter, you roll it.
00:51:57.85\00:52:01.12
Your chances are now what?
00:52:01.13\00:52:03.38
One out of six, any
of you want to play?
00:52:03.39\00:52:05.04
But what if I tell you
know the other six times
00:52:05.05\00:52:06.82
you are going to have pleasure.
00:52:06.83\00:52:08.86
Does that make you
to enjoy it any better?
00:52:08.87\00:52:12.34
All right, now
you got a revolver
00:52:12.35\00:52:13.95
it's got 365 chambers in it.
00:52:13.96\00:52:16.82
One for everyday of the year,
00:52:16.83\00:52:19.92
anyone want to play?
00:52:19.93\00:52:22.59
Oh yes you do,
who you are kidding?
00:52:22.60\00:52:25.41
You do want to
play, you do play.
00:52:25.42\00:52:28.09
How many times have we
gambled with temptation
00:52:28.10\00:52:31.61
and we say well I
probably won't die right away.
00:52:31.62\00:52:35.64
God so merciful
and He is so gracious,
00:52:35.65\00:52:38.68
that this, you know,
I probably have a chance
00:52:38.69\00:52:40.95
to repent and confess
before the shell goes off.
00:52:40.96\00:52:46.31
And really that's
the way a lot of men
00:52:46.32\00:52:47.79
go through their
lives, as we flirt with sin.
00:52:47.80\00:52:52.68
And we say well you
know God is so merciful,
00:52:52.69\00:52:55.16
I probably can
get away with this
00:52:55.17\00:52:57.17
and ask Him to forgive me later.
00:52:57.18\00:52:59.09
Now here is what I
want you to understand.
00:52:59.10\00:53:01.65
God is merciful,
God's longsuffering.
00:53:01.66\00:53:05.47
You never need to
doubt God's willingness
00:53:05.48\00:53:08.98
to forgive you when
you genuinely repent.
00:53:08.99\00:53:12.42
But here is what the danger is.
00:53:12.43\00:53:15.09
Men like to live on the edge.
00:53:15.10\00:53:17.52
And so we get away
with something and we say,
00:53:17.53\00:53:20.10
hey there was no
shell on that chamber.
00:53:20.11\00:53:23.30
I guess I can play
this game one more time,
00:53:23.31\00:53:26.17
one more time, one more time.
00:53:26.18\00:53:29.23
And we start
taking sin for granted.
00:53:29.24\00:53:31.86
We know we start taking
God's mercy for granted.
00:53:31.87\00:53:34.00
We start taking
His grace for granted.
00:53:34.01\00:53:36.26
He is always
willing to forgive you,
00:53:36.27\00:53:37.47
but what happens is every time
00:53:37.48\00:53:38.84
you play with
temptation and repent,
00:53:38.85\00:53:44.11
you begin to develop a
callus were you can get
00:53:44.12\00:53:46.26
to the place
where you not really
00:53:46.27\00:53:47.92
appreciating the
sinfulness of sin
00:53:47.93\00:53:50.30
and how dangerous the
game is that you are playing.
00:53:50.31\00:53:53.66
Sin kills! The
penalty for sin is what?
00:53:53.67\00:53:59.51
And if you doubt that
it's deadly, look at Jesus.
00:53:59.52\00:54:03.92
God so loved you
that He gave His son
00:54:03.93\00:54:06.03
to die in your
place for your sins.
00:54:06.04\00:54:09.60
So why would you want to keep
00:54:09.61\00:54:11.12
flirting with sin
and temptation like that.
00:54:11.13\00:54:16.13
It's so deadly,
and that by the way
00:54:16.14\00:54:18.97
is the best thing to remember.
00:54:18.98\00:54:22.83
Is that God's
mercy is always available
00:54:22.84\00:54:25.42
when we are willing
to genuinely repent.
00:54:25.43\00:54:30.32
So if you do
fall, and we all fall,
00:54:30.33\00:54:34.07
don't get discouraged.
00:54:34.08\00:54:35.05
The Bible promises in 1st John,
00:54:35.06\00:54:36.72
if any man sin we have
an advocate with the Father,
00:54:36.73\00:54:39.87
Jesus Christ the righteous.
00:54:39.88\00:54:42.83
And you may often,
Spirit of Prophecy tells us
00:54:42.84\00:54:45.86
in the book "Steps to Christ".
00:54:45.87\00:54:47.49
You may often
have to kneel and weep
00:54:47.50\00:54:49.31
at the feet of Jesus,
00:54:49.32\00:54:50.29
for your
shortcomings and your sins.
00:54:50.30\00:54:52.50
Don't get
discouraged, get back up again.
00:54:52.51\00:54:55.94
I'll tell when you need
to be a little frightened
00:54:55.95\00:54:58.87
is when after 20
years of following Christ,
00:54:58.88\00:55:01.90
you don't see any growth.
00:55:01.91\00:55:04.08
If you are still
giving into temptations
00:55:04.09\00:55:05.97
the same way now
and it's frequently now
00:55:05.98\00:55:08.12
and you are falling
now as much as you did
00:55:08.13\00:55:10.62
when you were a baby Christian
00:55:10.63\00:55:12.88
that maybe you are not growing.
00:55:12.89\00:55:15.57
If you got little babies,
and when they are learning
00:55:15.58\00:55:17.62
to walk they
stumble and they fall,
00:55:17.63\00:55:19.51
but they back up again.
00:55:19.52\00:55:21.12
You don't think
too much of the babies,
00:55:21.13\00:55:23.84
but then if they
to get to the place
00:55:23.85\00:55:24.97
where they are 11 years
old and they still can't walk.
00:55:24.98\00:55:29.98
How many of you are going
to take him to see the doctor?
00:55:29.99\00:55:32.20
You realize there
is a problem there,
00:55:32.21\00:55:34.02
Are you growing in grace?
00:55:34.03\00:55:36.19
When you look
back you He say well,
00:55:36.20\00:55:37.45
praise the Lord, He
has given me victory,
00:55:37.46\00:55:39.14
I don't have
that problem anymore.
00:55:39.15\00:55:42.18
You should be
growing in maturity,
00:55:42.19\00:55:44.12
growing in grace,
becoming more like Christ
00:55:44.13\00:55:46.23
and He can help you do that.
00:55:46.24\00:55:48.12
All things are
possible through Christ,
00:55:48.13\00:55:50.53
you believe that? Amen.
00:55:50.54\00:55:53.10
Erwin W Lutzer said
our response to temptation
00:55:53.11\00:55:57.96
is an accurate
barometer of our love for God.
00:55:57.97\00:56:02.19
The best reason
to resist temptation
00:56:02.20\00:56:05.11
is because we really love Jesus.
00:56:05.12\00:56:07.42
So what is it mean if
we are falling frequently,
00:56:07.43\00:56:14.96
if that's a barometer
of our love for the Lord?
00:56:14.97\00:56:17.93
If you loved Him better,
00:56:17.94\00:56:19.06
we'll probably serve Him better.
00:56:19.07\00:56:21.40
So what if you don't
love the Lord enough,
00:56:21.41\00:56:24.93
what do you do?
00:56:24.94\00:56:26.33
I would like to
suggest if you know Him better,
00:56:26.34\00:56:28.41
you'll love Him better.
00:56:28.42\00:56:30.35
How do you get
to know Him better?
00:56:30.36\00:56:32.12
Spent time with the
Lord in your devotions,
00:56:32.13\00:56:35.61
you know, whenever
you're aware of God's presence
00:56:35.62\00:56:37.26
it's a lot easier
to resist temptation.
00:56:37.27\00:56:40.26
When you know that the
Lord is right with you.
00:56:40.27\00:56:42.23
Spend time in His word everyday,
00:56:42.24\00:56:43.62
are you doing that?
00:56:43.63\00:56:44.63
If nothing else would
come from this conference,
00:56:44.64\00:56:46.85
if the men would have revival
in their personal devotions
00:56:46.86\00:56:49.59
I can guarantee you,
it would play itself out
00:56:49.60\00:56:52.42
into a higher
standard of Christian living.
00:56:52.43\00:56:55.17
Spending more
time with the Lord,
00:56:55.18\00:56:57.50
that's what the ammunition is,
00:56:57.51\00:56:58.48
that's what the sword
is, that's what the sprit is
00:56:58.49\00:57:00.77
through walking with Christ.
00:57:00.78\00:57:02.74
If you love Him
better, and you love Him more,
00:57:02.75\00:57:05.08
you'll serve Him better.
00:57:05.09\00:57:06.45
Is that your desire
friends? Is that your prayer?
00:57:06.46\00:57:09.34
Why don't we stand together,
we will close this session.
00:57:09.35\00:57:12.02
And don't forget there,
the tips to temptations,
00:57:12.03\00:57:15.48
you can download
this syllabus there at
00:57:15.49\00:57:17.29
the Amazing Facts website
00:57:17.30\00:57:19.09
and we put these things
into practice, let's pray.
00:57:19.10\00:57:22.68