The following program
discusses sensitive issues.
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Parents are
cautioned that some material
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may be too candid
for younger children.
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Hello, I'm Wayne Blakely
from Coming Out Ministries.
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Welcome to Pure Choices today.
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Joining me today
are Michael Carducci,
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my ministry
colleague, and Ron Woolsey,
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also a ministry
colleague and pastor.
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You know, we want
to talk to you today,
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as a viewer who
might be wondering
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what's our walk like now,
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since we have been
redeemed from homosexuality
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and we're back and we're
living in the presence of God,
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what's our day look like
and what kind of connection
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do we keep with our
Savior Jesus Christ,
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what is, what are our
lives looking like in contrast
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to how they used to look like.
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And so, I share this you know,
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wherever I go when I
speak in churches, in schools
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about how my life has changed.
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And the only way
that change is possible
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is by a concentration
on Jesus and on His word.
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So I'm going to open up
today a little bit with regards
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to what I do to help me
stay in touch with Jesus.
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And that is that I get
up early in the morning,
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and I notice that
if I don't my days
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a whole lot
different than if I do,
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and I try to spend an
hour with God in the morning.
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And that's
through reading His word
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or sometimes I'll choose to read
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something
spiritually influenced.
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And then I'll take
time and spend in prayer,
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and not just about
things about my own life
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but about my care and
my love for others um,
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actually pray for
each of you, each day.
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Some people may not realize that
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while we are a
ministry together,
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we were divinely
intervened with by God.
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But then we
were brought together
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by divine appointment
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and we actually
reside at different places
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throughout the United States.
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So we're not always in
the presence of each other.
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And so the power of prayer
is so important in that time
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we are absent from each other.
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And then of course,
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we do get
together at times in person
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and on the phone and
we're able to pray together
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and share with each other about
what God is doing in our lives.
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And I have a
special Christian author,
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Ellen White, who has written
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so many things out of
such great inspiration.
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And today, I have not only
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a full time
ministry but I also work
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in the public
sector full time as well.
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And there are times when I
have come home from work and.
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I have been just, you know,
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really worn down
from all the things
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that I'm doing at
work and maybe in planning
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and things that are
going on in ministry as well.
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But if I let go of
that relationship that
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I'm having or
have had with Jesus,
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I know that my life is
going to do deteriorate rapidly.
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So I'm so glad
that we have things
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like the internet
and computers today
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because I turn
around and I've done this.
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I've gone to the book,
Steps To Christ by Ellen White,
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and there's a chapter, Chapter 7
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on the test of discipleship.
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And I let that
whole chapter play
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while I'm falling to sleep.
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And one of the, my
favorite references
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plays over and over and over
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and I never get
tired of hearing it.
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And so I just
wanted to share that today.
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And it says, "Those who become
new creatures in Christ Jesus
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will bring forth the fruits
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of the Spirit,
love, joy, peace."
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Oops. Long-suffering.
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Oh, is that a misprint? Right.
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You know, I like to
share that with people
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because who would ever think
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that long-suffering is
supposed to be a fruit.
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I mean, isn't,
oh, wait a minute,
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is it that the streets of gold
are in heaven and not earth,
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is that right?
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So sometimes down here
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the terrain may
be a little rocky
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but that doesn't mean that
God isn't there by our side
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or carrying us
through something.
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"Gentleness, goodness, faith,
meekness, and temperance,"
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as stated in Galatians 5:22-23.
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And she says, "They will
no longer fashion themselves
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according to their former lust,
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but by the faith
of the Son of God
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they will follow in his
steps, reflect his character
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and purify
themselves as he is pure.
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The things they
once hated they now love,
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and the things they
once loved, they now hate."
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Amen. That's powerful.
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It is so powerful
because I have found
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that my life has
done, you know, 180
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and it's so true
that the things that
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I found myself
doing in idle time,
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I used to go in search
of men to satisfy my flesh,
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and today, I'm
looking for Jesus to satisfy
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the spirit of my
life with his Holy Spirit.
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And so I want to
ask you guys today,
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you know, Mike, tell me a
little bit about what your,
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your walk is like
with God today in contrast
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to how it used to be.
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Well, I'd say
the number one thing
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that has changed for me
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is recognizing the
intimacy that I need.
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I was so broken from
intimacy in my own life,
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it was from the
rejection at the, at a time
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when I wasn't even
conscious, and I never realized
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how that not only got in the way
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of my casual relationships
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but certainly
even the relationships
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that I was in, you
know, even with men
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while I was in
the gay lifestyle.
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What I realize now is that
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until I acknowledge
the personal relationship
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that Jesus wants with me,
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it doesn't have
much of an application.
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I could read the
words and like you,
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you know, the worship
time is the fullest for me
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because when I remember that
Jesus wants to be my friend,
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when I realize that Jesus wants
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to be a part of
every aspect of my life,
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then I start to
realize that I can trust him
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because of the path
that we've been walking on.
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And it was rough at
first and pretty messy.
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But what I recognize now
is that He's my encourager.
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He's not the one
that tells me the lies
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that I'm not accepted
or that I'm not worthy,
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which are the old
tapes that I've heard.
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And so when I
realize the level of intimacy
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that He wants,
when I don't have that,
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all of this separation comes in,
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the loneliness, the despair,
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and so it helps
me to keep in check,
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am I being real,
am I being authentic.
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And that to me has been
something that has grown.
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And even as a little child,
you know, doesn't necessarily,
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you know, run
until they learn to walk.
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I'm recognizing
that I was so stunted
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in that ability
to recognize intimacy
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that He's been with me
on that journey to show me
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how much He really does care
and the level that He wants.
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You know, I wake
up in the morning
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and before I
even open up the word
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I'm already talking to Jesus.
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I'm asking Him to
help me with the things
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that are already pressing
upon my mind when I wake up,
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as well as when I
go to bed at night.
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I've actually
had the conversation
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where I said,
"Lord, if this is the best
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it's ever going
to be, I'm okay."
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Because I have satisfaction,
I have that level of intimacy
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that's enough
to take me through,
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you know, until things change.
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So if God has something
more I'm open, but I'm content.
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For the first time in my
life I'm actually content
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with where we're at as
long as I'm abiding in that love
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because it
really does satisfy me.
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I know also for
me one of the things
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I recognize is
I'd spent 16 years
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as an aerobic instructor
and totally feeding the flesh
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and wearing a
piece of Lycra like
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maybe about that big as I was--
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Teach my classes, I realized
that I didn't understand
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the value of the physical body.
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And as I started to realize
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about how
temptation for me was visual,
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the Lord started to show
me that by covering up more,
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by you know, being more modest
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with the way that I
dress and not flaunting,
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you know, the
flesh, if you would,
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I started to see my
body as something different.
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And the other tools
that I was able to gain
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were things like
cleaning up my diet,
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getting into exercise more
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because each one
of the laws of health
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actually assist
me in the strength
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that I need to
receive from the Holy Spirit.
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So the cleaner I
recognize that this body is,
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if it's the temple
of the Holy Spirit,
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the more I prepare it
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for an
opportunity to receive more.
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I've understood more
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of the Holy
Spirit's speaking to me
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and I've actually been able
to gain access to information
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that I wouldn't
have had otherwise.
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And that has proved to
be a very powerful tool
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for me as well.
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Wow. Absolutely.
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You know, one of the
things that I pray about is,
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each day is that I
ask that God will help me
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fall in love with Him
more and more each day.
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And you have been numerous times
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an inspiration to me.
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There are times
when the struggle
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can get a little rough,
our feelings can come play
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the bad tapes and
it can be painful.
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I have recently
had some experience
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where I didn't
feel God's presence
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but you have helped me remind
that God is definitely present,
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and to
acknowledge God's presence
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and His influence in my
life even when I don't feel it.
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We lift each other up. We do.
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And so that's the
kind of relationship
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that God wants to wire us with,
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with same gendered
relationships today
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rather than one being lustful
but one of being of the spirit,
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of the Holy Spirit
in lifting each other
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for healing in Jesus Christ
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and helping each other
with our daily walk with God.
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And so, I want to
point out here that
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not only is our time important
to be spent with God each day,
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but that you involve yourself
with your Christian community.
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And don't, don't maybe look at,
at churches becoming a routine
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or something that we
get into the habit of
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but that we begin to
find actual involvement in,
00:11:05.59\00:11:11.30
with other Christians.
00:11:11.33\00:11:13.10
And one of
those things that I do
00:11:13.13\00:11:15.04
is by getting involved
with a small community group.
00:11:15.07\00:11:18.34
And since I was
baptized and came back to God,
00:11:18.37\00:11:21.24
I meet with this group weekly
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and they are
members of the church
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but we get together throughout
00:11:25.21\00:11:28.08
between one
Sabbath and the next.
00:11:28.12\00:11:31.05
We get together for a
meal, we pray together,
00:11:31.09\00:11:34.06
we study together,
and we lift each other up,
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we have a
confidentiality agreement.
00:11:36.79\00:11:39.33
So I know that the things
that I'm sharing in this group,
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you know, aren't just
being spread church wide,
00:11:43.90\00:11:46.60
this is an
intimate group of believers
00:11:46.63\00:11:48.90
who have who
continually lift me up
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and I lift them up.
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And we've done this
for the last four years.
00:11:52.71\00:11:54.08
It's just an amazing experience.
00:11:54.11\00:11:56.68
So that brings completion
00:11:56.71\00:11:58.45
to the whole
picture of the relationship
00:11:58.48\00:12:01.18
with Jesus Christ in
my life and Him today.
00:12:01.22\00:12:03.89
And your Bible study is a place
where you feel safe, right.
00:12:03.92\00:12:06.72
Absolutely. Yeah, absolutely.
00:12:06.76\00:12:08.96
Now, Ron, you know you
have written some things
00:12:08.99\00:12:11.83
and you have done
this on your website
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and in a book
that you've written
00:12:14.56\00:12:16.83
and you talk about the
Rainbow of God's Promises.
00:12:16.87\00:12:21.47
Can you tell me what
that's been like for you
00:12:21.50\00:12:23.91
and could you share some
of those promises with us?
00:12:23.94\00:12:26.51
Yes, this is something
that's very important to me
00:12:26.54\00:12:28.78
and in reference to the book,
00:12:28.81\00:12:30.68
the last chapter
of that book is called
00:12:30.71\00:12:32.78
You Too Can Be Made Whole.
00:12:32.81\00:12:35.42
And that whole chapter is about
what we're talking about today,
00:12:35.45\00:12:38.62
tools for victory,
to lead us to victory
00:12:38.65\00:12:43.09
and to sustain us in victory.
00:12:43.12\00:12:45.13
And we all have a
commonality in this.
00:12:45.16\00:12:48.46
I mean, we share the same tools
00:12:48.50\00:12:51.23
I mean, in
talking to each other,
00:12:51.27\00:12:53.30
we know we have
the same methods here.
00:12:53.34\00:12:55.54
Right.
00:12:55.57\00:12:56.91
And of course,
we're each talking about
00:12:56.94\00:12:58.87
different aspects
and different wants,
00:12:58.91\00:13:01.61
this Rainbow Of Promises
for me has been so helpful
00:13:01.64\00:13:05.08
because we are told
in the Philippines 2:5,
00:13:05.11\00:13:08.45
"Let this mind be in you,
00:13:08.48\00:13:10.39
which was also in Christ Jesus."
00:13:10.42\00:13:11.99
Is that possible?
00:13:12.02\00:13:13.36
So how do we let this
mind, of course, it's possible.
00:13:13.39\00:13:16.73
If it says let it,
that means allow it.
00:13:16.76\00:13:19.19
That's right.
I've experienced that.
00:13:19.23\00:13:20.60
Right. So how do we allow it?
00:13:20.63\00:13:22.96
Well, then we
have to read His mind.
00:13:23.00\00:13:27.34
And how do we read His mind?
00:13:27.37\00:13:28.90
Well, He spelled
it out in His word.
00:13:28.94\00:13:31.37
And so what I did in
this Rainbow Of Promises,
00:13:31.41\00:13:33.54
I've collected a
whole compilation
00:13:33.58\00:13:36.78
of power packed promises
00:13:36.81\00:13:39.05
because there's
power in the word.
00:13:39.08\00:13:42.18
I believe, you know,
this power in the word
00:13:42.22\00:13:46.62
"For he spake, and it was done,
00:13:46.65\00:13:48.02
he commanded,
and it stood fast,"
00:13:48.06\00:13:49.62
you know, "By
the word of the Lord
00:13:49.66\00:13:50.99
were the heavens made."
00:13:51.03\00:13:52.83
The powerful word,
and that's revealed to us.
00:13:52.86\00:13:55.13
And so if we let
this mind be in us,
00:13:55.16\00:13:57.53
which was also in Christ Jesus,
00:13:57.57\00:13:58.90
I started reading some of
these promises and I use them.
00:13:58.93\00:14:03.41
For example,
Romans 12:1 tells us
00:14:03.44\00:14:06.24
and I think this is
very applicable to us
00:14:06.27\00:14:10.05
in our
experience where Paul says,
00:14:10.08\00:14:12.65
"Present your
bodies a living sacrifice."
00:14:12.68\00:14:16.92
So to do that, we have to have
things in proper perspective.
00:14:16.95\00:14:20.86
God is on the throne.
00:14:20.89\00:14:22.56
Love Him supremely,
00:14:22.59\00:14:23.93
that's the first
in great commandments.
00:14:23.96\00:14:25.29
Amen.
00:14:25.33\00:14:26.66
Our neighbors as ourselves,
we put ourselves last.
00:14:26.70\00:14:28.86
And so to do that we do
have to present our bodies
00:14:28.90\00:14:33.87
anything that conflicts with God
00:14:33.90\00:14:35.80
on the throne, we sacrifice it.
00:14:35.84\00:14:37.17
Yes.
00:14:37.21\00:14:38.54
Easily said, not
easy, so easily done.
00:14:38.57\00:14:41.21
Okay, all right. But
doable, none the less.
00:14:41.24\00:14:43.71
And then the
very next verse says,
00:14:43.75\00:14:45.81
"And be not
conformed to this world
00:14:45.85\00:14:47.78
but be ye transformed."
00:14:47.82\00:14:49.62
How? "By the
renewing of your mind."
00:14:49.65\00:14:51.89
And here we go right back
to let this mind be in you,
00:14:51.92\00:14:54.56
"That ye may
approve what is that good,
00:14:54.59\00:14:56.12
and acceptable, and
perfect, will of God."
00:14:56.16\00:14:58.83
So these are types of verses
and there are so many of them
00:14:58.86\00:15:01.93
that are so powerful.
00:15:01.96\00:15:04.73
Another, for example,
00:15:04.77\00:15:06.63
in studying about Jesus himself.
00:15:06.67\00:15:08.27
Hebrews 4, "He was tempted
in all points like as we are,
00:15:08.30\00:15:11.47
yet without sin."
00:15:11.51\00:15:12.87
Hebrews 2, "He
suffered being tempted."
00:15:12.91\00:15:15.94
Hebrews 12, "He resisted unto
blood striving against sin."
00:15:15.98\00:15:21.12
So that helped me understand
00:15:21.15\00:15:22.95
that even Jesus
knows our struggle
00:15:22.98\00:15:25.95
and with that, then
there's 1 Corinthians 10:13
00:15:25.99\00:15:28.62
that tells us "There
has no temptation taken you
00:15:28.66\00:15:33.13
but such as is common to man."
00:15:33.16\00:15:35.70
We tend to put this
thing about homosexuality up
00:15:35.73\00:15:38.60
as this huge mountain
that is insurmountable.
00:15:38.63\00:15:42.64
And God, the Paul says,
00:15:42.67\00:15:44.01
oh, don't be so fool
of yourself, you know.
00:15:44.04\00:15:48.08
That's just, that's right.
00:15:48.11\00:15:50.08
This is common to man
00:15:50.11\00:15:51.71
but "God is
faithful who will not suffer
00:15:51.75\00:15:54.88
you to be tempted
above that you are able
00:15:54.92\00:15:58.35
but will with the temptation
00:15:58.39\00:15:59.99
also make a way to escape
that ye may be able to bear it."
00:16:00.02\00:16:03.93
Praise God.
00:16:03.96\00:16:05.29
So in all of these
promises, Mike, and Wayne,
00:16:05.33\00:16:07.90
what we see is
God's grace is sufficient.
00:16:07.93\00:16:11.67
What ever we have to
deal with from day to day,
00:16:11.70\00:16:15.14
His strength is made perfect
in our weakness, there is,
00:16:15.17\00:16:19.54
you know, there are
plenty of tools to work with.
00:16:19.57\00:16:21.14
Yeah.
00:16:21.18\00:16:22.64
You know, I think it's
so important to remember
00:16:22.68\00:16:25.28
and you know, no
matter how many times
00:16:25.31\00:16:27.45
you get the reminder,
00:16:27.48\00:16:28.82
we tend to keep
forgetting just as many times
00:16:28.85\00:16:31.02
but it is a, making
this decision isn't something
00:16:31.05\00:16:35.99
that just comes
through feelings again.
00:16:36.02\00:16:39.46
You know, a faith experiences
often lack of feeling.
00:16:39.49\00:16:43.67
It's a "Thus saith the Lord."
He said it and so I believe it.
00:16:43.70\00:16:47.77
That pinches a little. Yeah.
00:16:47.80\00:16:50.61
And you know, I
remind myself too
00:16:50.64\00:16:52.74
that Jesus was
definitely tempted
00:16:52.77\00:16:54.98
and He had some
frustrating moments, like,
00:16:55.01\00:16:57.75
when he was in Gethsemane
00:16:57.78\00:16:59.11
and nobody would stay up
in His deep darkest hour,
00:16:59.15\00:17:03.45
they wouldn't stay
up and pray with Him.
00:17:03.49\00:17:06.22
And even on the
cross as He hung there,
00:17:06.25\00:17:09.06
you know, He was
calling upon His Father.
00:17:09.09\00:17:11.66
You know, could this cup
be passed some way, you know.
00:17:11.69\00:17:16.90
Three times, Wayne.
There was such great darkness.
00:17:16.93\00:17:19.70
But who was closest
to Him in that darkness
00:17:19.73\00:17:23.00
when He couldn't feel?
00:17:23.04\00:17:24.47
His father. Wayne, I
so identify with that.
00:17:24.51\00:17:28.71
In the in the
book Desire Of Ages,
00:17:28.74\00:17:30.75
it talks about
how God's presence
00:17:30.78\00:17:32.88
was right beside His
son in that black darkness.
00:17:32.91\00:17:35.85
The quote even says that
00:17:35.88\00:17:37.22
God makes His pavilion darkness.
00:17:37.25\00:17:39.45
So while the sun
was on the cross,
00:17:39.49\00:17:41.62
suffering and dying
because of our sins,
00:17:41.66\00:17:44.46
God couldn't let Him
know that He was there.
00:17:44.49\00:17:45.96
But I love how she
describes that moment
00:17:45.99\00:17:48.53
because the angels and
God were right beside His son
00:17:48.56\00:17:51.17
and He covered the cross,
00:17:51.20\00:17:52.60
because He
couldn't allow people to see
00:17:52.63\00:17:54.80
His shame and suffering anymore.
00:17:54.84\00:17:56.64
But while Jesus
was on the cross,
00:17:56.67\00:17:58.01
His Father was right beside Him.
00:17:58.04\00:17:59.37
And I take great
courage from that
00:17:59.41\00:18:01.14
thinking about the times
00:18:01.18\00:18:02.51
when my life is
at its darkest and,
00:18:02.54\00:18:05.18
and I can't see the way out,
00:18:05.21\00:18:06.75
and I don't know how
God's going to deliver it.
00:18:06.78\00:18:09.05
But when I think
about that moment
00:18:09.08\00:18:10.75
when He was beside the cross,
00:18:10.79\00:18:12.29
I also think about the fact
that I can claim that as well.
00:18:12.32\00:18:15.96
One of the verses
that really helped me
00:18:15.99\00:18:17.99
especially, you
know, when I fallen
00:18:18.03\00:18:20.10
is the one
Isaiah 49:25 that says,
00:18:20.13\00:18:22.60
"I will contend with
him that contends with you."
00:18:22.63\00:18:26.10
And then in
Ministry of Healing it says,
00:18:26.13\00:18:28.20
"Let these souls
in their helpless,
00:18:28.24\00:18:30.14
unworthiness cast
themselves upon the mercy
00:18:30.17\00:18:33.24
of their compassionate Savior.
00:18:33.27\00:18:34.91
Don't look at
yourself but look to Christ."
00:18:34.94\00:18:37.81
And it goes on to say,
"Then grasp His promises
00:18:37.85\00:18:40.62
as leaves from the tree of life.
00:18:40.65\00:18:42.35
He that comes to me
I will never cast out.
00:18:42.38\00:18:45.52
As you come to Him
believe that He accepts you
00:18:45.55\00:18:48.39
because He has promised.
00:18:48.42\00:18:50.63
And as you do this, you
can never perish, never."
00:18:50.66\00:18:54.56
And I love how she
puts the emphasis on never.
00:18:54.60\00:18:57.13
And if I've fallen, you know,
I catch myself at that point
00:18:57.17\00:19:01.20
where I feel like
God has rejected me
00:19:01.24\00:19:03.07
and there's no way
that He could take me back,
00:19:03.10\00:19:04.97
this quote helps
me to identify again
00:19:05.01\00:19:07.34
not to trust in the feelings
or the lies that are coming
00:19:07.38\00:19:10.35
but to recognize
by the Word of God
00:19:10.38\00:19:12.01
that I have a right to go.
00:19:12.05\00:19:13.62
Because Jesus has
already suffered in my behalf
00:19:13.65\00:19:16.55
and every sin has been
accomplished on the cross.
00:19:16.58\00:19:19.02
Yeah.
00:19:19.05\00:19:20.39
It's such a powerful inspiration
00:19:20.42\00:19:22.52
that comes from His
word and from the writings
00:19:22.56\00:19:27.86
of spiritually
inspired individuals.
00:19:27.90\00:19:31.57
Ron, you had another promise
00:19:31.60\00:19:33.87
I think that
you wanted to share.
00:19:33.90\00:19:35.30
Yes. And actually there are two.
00:19:35.34\00:19:38.04
And these are so
pertinent to people
00:19:38.07\00:19:42.84
that came from
where we came from.
00:19:42.88\00:19:45.25
Because you know, a big
part of the homosexual life
00:19:45.28\00:19:48.88
is fantasizing, imagining,
00:19:48.92\00:19:51.95
and getting all
worked up through that.
00:19:51.99\00:19:55.19
And Paul addresses
that in 2 Corinthians 10:5
00:19:55.22\00:19:59.09
when he says,
"Casting down imaginations."
00:19:59.13\00:20:01.80
In other words, we
can stop those fantasies,
00:20:01.83\00:20:05.53
we can stop
thinking in that direction.
00:20:05.57\00:20:08.10
"Casting down imaginations,
00:20:08.14\00:20:09.64
and every high thing
00:20:09.67\00:20:11.31
that exalteth itself
against the knowledge of God,
00:20:11.34\00:20:14.51
and bringing into
captivity every thought
00:20:14.54\00:20:18.35
to the obedience of Christ."
00:20:18.38\00:20:20.28
We, I mean, just
the word tells us
00:20:20.32\00:20:23.45
and we know if God
says it then it's doable.
00:20:23.49\00:20:27.26
We can bring our
thoughts into captivity,
00:20:27.29\00:20:30.43
we can train our thinking.
00:20:30.46\00:20:32.59
And we do that by supplanting
00:20:32.63\00:20:34.96
those bad
thoughts with good thoughts
00:20:35.00\00:20:38.17
and primarily
through the word of God.
00:20:38.20\00:20:40.87
And then this one other passage
00:20:40.90\00:20:42.74
that is I think
is so important to us
00:20:42.77\00:20:45.31
on a daily basis and I
know we practiced this.
00:20:45.34\00:20:47.84
We, I've heard
you talk about it,
00:20:47.88\00:20:49.84
and Mike, you talk about it.
00:20:49.88\00:20:51.38
And it's in James 4:7-8,
00:20:51.41\00:20:55.25
"Submit yourselves
therefore, to God."
00:20:55.28\00:20:58.29
Daily, "Submit
yourselves therefore to God,
00:20:58.32\00:21:01.72
resist the devil, and
he will flee from you.
00:21:01.76\00:21:06.63
Draw nigh to God, and
He will draw nigh to you."
00:21:06.66\00:21:10.37
But then he goes on to say,
00:21:10.40\00:21:12.20
"Cleanse your hands, ye sinners,
00:21:12.23\00:21:14.54
and purify your
hearts, ye double minded."
00:21:14.57\00:21:16.97
So there is a work for us to do.
00:21:17.01\00:21:18.94
As we submit to
God, we resist the devil,
00:21:18.97\00:21:22.24
and we start
practicing Holy living.
00:21:22.28\00:21:26.08
We put aside the practices
that were offensive to God,
00:21:26.11\00:21:30.22
that are offensive to God,
00:21:30.25\00:21:31.69
we cleanse our hands
and purify our hearts.
00:21:31.72\00:21:33.86
Right.
00:21:33.89\00:21:35.22
You know, again this
is it's a faith walk,
00:21:35.26\00:21:37.43
you know, there are
a lot of people today
00:21:37.46\00:21:38.79
in the world would go,
00:21:38.83\00:21:40.16
"Why are you guys
putting yourself through this?"
00:21:40.20\00:21:41.96
But you know, our hope
comes through Jesus Christ.
00:21:42.00\00:21:45.17
And if you believe in
the hope in Jesus Christ,
00:21:45.20\00:21:48.57
you know what a
life he has there for you
00:21:48.60\00:21:51.57
if you will abide in Him
00:21:51.61\00:21:52.94
and seek to do His
will instead of your own.
00:21:52.97\00:21:55.18
That's why it's
about self-denial,
00:21:55.21\00:21:57.98
it's about self-sacrifice
and giving yourself over to Him
00:21:58.01\00:22:01.52
rather than giving
yourself over to the world.
00:22:01.55\00:22:03.92
When I hear that verse I
frequently hear people go,
00:22:03.95\00:22:07.12
"Yeah, that's
right, resist the devil."
00:22:07.16\00:22:10.06
But what they
often don't remember
00:22:10.09\00:22:12.93
is the submit part
where He's asking for us
00:22:12.96\00:22:17.03
to submit ourselves to Him
00:22:17.07\00:22:19.00
because that's where
the power comes from.
00:22:19.03\00:22:21.64
And once we've
submitted ourselves to Him,
00:22:21.67\00:22:24.47
then He gives us the strength
00:22:24.51\00:22:25.84
and the power
to resist the devil
00:22:25.87\00:22:28.44
and the devil will flee from us.
00:22:28.48\00:22:30.61
You know, Wayne,
that word submit to me,
00:22:30.65\00:22:33.42
the word that I can
actually put in there
00:22:33.45\00:22:35.18
that really identifies
00:22:35.22\00:22:36.89
or I identify with
is really don't resist.
00:22:36.92\00:22:40.56
Well, liked to submit
sounds so humiliating to me
00:22:40.59\00:22:44.16
and not that it's
wrong but the word
00:22:44.19\00:22:46.26
that really makes it
viable for me is Mike,
00:22:46.29\00:22:49.36
just stop resisting
Me, and give Me permission
00:22:49.40\00:22:52.53
and then
incredible things happen.
00:22:52.57\00:22:54.90
And I have a thought on that too
00:22:54.94\00:22:56.37
because in our humanity,
00:22:56.40\00:22:58.54
for a little while, at least
we're lower than the angels.
00:22:58.57\00:23:01.51
Satan is an angel. Right.
00:23:01.54\00:23:03.58
We are no match in our
humanity for the supernatural.
00:23:03.61\00:23:07.12
That's right.
00:23:07.15\00:23:08.48
But God is divine and
Satan is no match for Him.
00:23:08.52\00:23:12.69
That's right.
00:23:12.72\00:23:14.06
So if we in our
humanity reach around
00:23:14.09\00:23:15.96
and grasp the hand of divinity,
00:23:15.99\00:23:18.79
we become
connected to that divinity
00:23:18.83\00:23:22.26
and Satan is no match,
that's why it's important.
00:23:22.30\00:23:24.80
Submit yourself
therefore to God,
00:23:24.83\00:23:27.54
grasp His hand,
then resist the devil
00:23:27.57\00:23:30.54
and he will flee, why?
00:23:30.57\00:23:32.27
Because the bully is no longer
00:23:32.31\00:23:34.31
the big guy on
the playing ground,
00:23:34.34\00:23:36.38
on the playground
00:23:36.41\00:23:37.75
when you're
holding the hand of daddy.
00:23:37.78\00:23:39.48
That's right. So that's why...
00:23:39.51\00:23:41.98
And the devil is
defeated. Yes, right.
00:23:42.02\00:23:43.39
Now as a viewer I think
that you can right about
00:23:43.42\00:23:46.65
now begin to see
how a transformation
00:23:46.69\00:23:50.19
is beginning to
take place in our lives.
00:23:50.23\00:23:52.66
See, the transformation
isn't just when Jesus comes
00:23:52.69\00:23:56.16
and takes us to heaven,
00:23:56.20\00:23:57.77
it's actually beginning to
take place right here on earth.
00:23:57.80\00:24:01.84
And one of my
favorite quotes comes out,
00:24:01.87\00:24:04.47
again, of the Desire Of Ages
00:24:04.51\00:24:06.51
written by Ellen
White on page 658,
00:24:06.54\00:24:12.01
and she says,
"All true obedience
00:24:12.05\00:24:15.02
comes from the heart.
00:24:15.05\00:24:17.65
It was heart work with Christ.
00:24:17.69\00:24:20.36
And if we consent,
00:24:20.39\00:24:22.22
He will so identify Himself
with our thoughts and aims,
00:24:22.26\00:24:26.96
so blend our hearts and minds
into conformity to His will
00:24:27.00\00:24:32.27
that when
obeying Him we shall be
00:24:32.30\00:24:34.60
but carrying out
our own impulses.
00:24:34.64\00:24:37.87
The will refined and sanctified
00:24:37.91\00:24:40.58
will find its highest
delight in doing His service.
00:24:40.61\00:24:45.21
When we know God
00:24:45.25\00:24:47.35
as it is our
privilege to know Him,
00:24:47.38\00:24:49.85
our life will be a
life of continual obedience.
00:24:49.88\00:24:54.66
Through an appreciation
of the character of Christ,
00:24:54.69\00:24:58.59
through communion with God
sin will become hateful to us."
00:24:58.63\00:25:03.37
Praise God. Amen.
00:25:03.40\00:25:05.13
So I think that that's,
00:25:05.17\00:25:07.00
again, this is this
is the transformation
00:25:07.04\00:25:08.97
that's taking place as
we spend each and every day
00:25:09.00\00:25:12.44
searching the
scriptures and reading
00:25:12.47\00:25:14.81
and being inspired by
God and by His writers.
00:25:14.84\00:25:20.85
Life looks a lot different today
00:25:20.88\00:25:22.35
than it used to, doesn't it?
00:25:22.38\00:25:23.92
Well, the tsunami of sin
that used to just overtake me,
00:25:23.95\00:25:28.32
you know, God has shown me that
that by exercising our muscles,
00:25:28.36\00:25:31.76
they become stronger.
00:25:31.79\00:25:33.23
So by exercising
the faith muscle,
00:25:33.26\00:25:35.43
when temptation comes up
instead of letting it slime me,
00:25:35.46\00:25:38.70
and those around me,
what I'm learning is that
00:25:38.73\00:25:41.74
as I exercise that faith
muscle to take the temptation
00:25:41.77\00:25:44.67
and to send it up,
00:25:44.71\00:25:46.07
and give it to the
one who can handle it,
00:25:46.11\00:25:47.81
as you were demonstrating,
00:25:47.84\00:25:49.24
then what's
happening is I'm learning
00:25:49.28\00:25:51.01
that process of giving it to God
00:25:51.05\00:25:54.12
so that it doesn't slime me.
00:25:54.15\00:25:55.48
And now what used to
be the tsunami is a net
00:25:55.52\00:25:57.65
that I can swat out of the way.
00:25:57.69\00:25:59.02
And so I had no idea that
the pressure would be lifted
00:25:59.05\00:26:03.12
and that I would
actually experience
00:26:03.16\00:26:05.13
that kind of freedom.
00:26:05.16\00:26:06.49
That's right.
00:26:06.53\00:26:07.86
So if you are viewing
00:26:07.90\00:26:09.30
and you've seen
this as a daunting sin
00:26:09.33\00:26:12.33
or attraction
that has hung over you,
00:26:12.37\00:26:15.94
hope for homosexuality, yes,
00:26:15.97\00:26:17.61
but if you're looking at other
sin temptations in our lives,
00:26:17.64\00:26:22.14
what would you say to the viewer
00:26:22.18\00:26:23.75
that would help them
engage in making the first step
00:26:23.78\00:26:29.08
with a new life
with Jesus Christ?
00:26:29.12\00:26:32.29
Well, there has to be
that recognition of a need.
00:26:32.32\00:26:36.69
That's why we only acknowledge.
00:26:36.73\00:26:38.46
See, all of my
years in the world saying,
00:26:38.49\00:26:41.66
God made me this
way, I was born this way,
00:26:41.70\00:26:44.53
my daddy did
this, that man did that,
00:26:44.57\00:26:46.77
and blame, blame,
blame, I was justifying myself.
00:26:46.80\00:26:50.14
And as long as I
was justifying myself,
00:26:50.17\00:26:52.74
God could not justify me.
00:26:52.77\00:26:55.08
I had to get to
the point where I said,
00:26:55.11\00:26:56.61
you know, I have
some responsibility here.
00:26:56.64\00:26:59.41
Yes, I was a victim but
I also made bad choices.
00:26:59.45\00:27:04.15
And so when I
started acknowledging
00:27:04.19\00:27:05.89
the role I
played in my situation,
00:27:05.92\00:27:09.42
that's when God steps in
and says, now I can heal.
00:27:09.46\00:27:12.16
If you acknowledge that
00:27:12.19\00:27:13.53
what you're dealing
with is a sin issue,
00:27:13.56\00:27:15.93
He has a remedy for sin,
00:27:15.96\00:27:17.33
but not for an acceptable,
alternative lifestyle.
00:27:17.37\00:27:20.94
That's right. He
has a remedy for sin.
00:27:20.97\00:27:22.80
So I think
probably the first step,
00:27:22.84\00:27:24.84
one of the first
steps is to acknowledge
00:27:24.87\00:27:27.14
that this is a sin issue
00:27:27.18\00:27:28.64
and turn it over to
God because He came,
00:27:28.68\00:27:31.31
gave His son to
save us from our sins.
00:27:31.35\00:27:33.85
That's right.
00:27:33.88\00:27:35.22
But I think that
you've seen prove here
00:27:35.25\00:27:37.35
today that these
are three changed lives.
00:27:37.39\00:27:40.26
And so, once again, thank you
for joining us on Pure Choices.
00:27:40.29\00:27:45.69
Thank you for tuning in today
00:27:45.73\00:27:48.60
and God bless
you wherever you are.
00:27:48.63\00:27:52.43
Realize that God
is there for you.
00:27:52.47\00:27:55.34