Chapter 8:
Growing Up Into Christ.
00:00:33.51\00:00:35.72
Hello and welcome to
Steps to Christ in Song.
00:00:38.39\00:00:40.02
Today we're going to be
looking the topic of Growing
00:00:40.85\00:00:42.54
up into Christ. When
I think of that topic of
00:00:42.57\00:00:45.23
Growing Up Into Christ
I always think of Clayton,
00:00:45.26\00:00:47.57
Clayton came to
our church, young man,
00:00:48.54\00:00:50.32
19 years old, very
strong and very talented,
00:00:50.35\00:00:54.40
blonde hair, blue eyes
and big smile on his face.
00:00:55.40\00:00:58.95
I remember the first
time I met him, he was sitting
00:00:58.98\00:01:01.96
in the
congregation, came after church,
00:01:01.99\00:01:03.99
shook my hand and he
said I'd like to be baptized.
00:01:04.02\00:01:06.78
And so we had a
number of Bible studies and
00:01:07.77\00:01:10.43
eventually Clayton was baptized.
00:01:10.46\00:01:13.17
I could see from
the moment I met him,
00:01:13.20\00:01:14.84
that his whole
focus was on Jesus Christ.
00:01:14.87\00:01:17.55
He told me his story of
how he grew up with epilepsy
00:01:18.71\00:01:22.94
and this was a problem
for him and how his mother
00:01:23.76\00:01:26.54
and father had been
killed in a motor bike accident,
00:01:26.57\00:01:30.19
and so he had gone
from one foster home to the
00:01:30.69\00:01:33.30
next foster home, but in
one school that he was at,
00:01:33.33\00:01:36.40
he meet this young
man who was a very strong
00:01:36.83\00:01:39.46
Christian and because of
this young man's influence
00:01:39.49\00:01:43.40
on his life, Clayton
said that's what I want,
00:01:43.43\00:01:46.53
and by seeing the example
of Christ in this other man,
00:01:47.83\00:01:52.58
he said you know this is
really what's gonna give me
00:01:53.40\00:01:55.81
meaning to my life and so
his whole focus was on Christ,
00:01:56.48\00:01:59.16
he would read his
Bible, he would pray.
00:01:59.19\00:02:00.85
Clayton decided he would
go to university and he would
00:02:02.39\00:02:05.71
study anything that
would enable him to live a life
00:02:05.74\00:02:10.09
in service for Jesus
Christ. He ended up studying
00:02:10.12\00:02:12.96
marketing and
management. He got his degree
00:02:12.99\00:02:15.86
and he was working, but
unfortunately a few years
00:02:15.89\00:02:19.16
after he qualified and
he was working, he died of
00:02:19.19\00:02:23.31
epilepsy. It sounds
like a very sad story,
00:02:23.34\00:02:27.59
but really if I think
about it, his whole focus
00:02:27.62\00:02:30.61
was on Jesus and he
knows that even though he died,
00:02:30.64\00:02:34.77
he knew, he wasn't afraid
of death, he knew it could be
00:02:35.41\00:02:37.80
possible he could die of
epilepsy, but he knew that
00:02:37.83\00:02:40.40
he would be resurrected
by Jesus. His whole focus
00:02:40.43\00:02:43.18
was on him. And so
that's our thought today,
00:02:43.21\00:02:46.93
we're gonna think
about Growing up into Christ.
00:02:46.96\00:02:49.02
I'm gonna ask Melissa to
lead us in a word of prayer.
00:02:49.50\00:02:51.79
Dear Father, you are the
vine and we are the branches
00:02:54.56\00:02:58.73
and you know we
must be connected to you
00:03:00.50\00:03:02.12
in order to grow and Lord,
that's why we're here today.
00:03:03.29\00:03:07.12
We want to grow, in
our relationship with you
00:03:08.01\00:03:10.72
and so we ask you to be
with us and just be here
00:03:12.76\00:03:17.36
with us as we talk
about growing closer to you,
00:03:17.39\00:03:20.31
in Jesus name Amen. Amen.
00:03:20.34\00:03:22.80
If you've committed
yourself to Christ and are born
00:03:26.80\00:03:29.03
again, you might be
asking, how can I grow up
00:03:29.06\00:03:32.29
to become a mature
Christian. Well nature teaches
00:03:32.32\00:03:35.17
us lessons that can help
us understand this process.
00:03:35.20\00:03:37.85
As a plant grows and
bears fruit by receiving
00:03:39.25\00:03:41.43
air and sunshine
and rain from God.
00:03:41.46\00:03:43.33
So, we grow and
become more like Jesus,
00:03:44.27\00:03:46.27
by receiving from God
those things that feed our new
00:03:47.28\00:03:49.57
spiritual nature. I
don't completely understand it,
00:03:50.19\00:03:53.88
but it seems that the more
I study the life and example
00:03:54.54\00:03:57.03
of Christ in the Bible,
the more I want to be like him.
00:03:57.06\00:03:59.50
The Bible puts it this
way. In Second Corinthians 3:18,
00:04:00.71\00:04:03.96
it says, but we all
with unveiled face beholding
00:04:03.99\00:04:07.69
as in a mirror
the glory of the Lord,
00:04:07.72\00:04:09.58
are being transformed
into the same image from glory
00:04:09.61\00:04:12.68
to glory, just as by
the Spirit of the Lord.
00:04:12.71\00:04:15.50
So, spending time,
getting to know Jesus has a same
00:04:16.60\00:04:19.09
effect on us as the
sunshine, the showers
00:04:19.12\00:04:22.06
and the soil have
on a growing plant.
00:04:22.09\00:04:23.85
Sitting at the feet of Jesus,
00:04:27.54\00:04:33.29
Oh, what words I hear Him say!
00:04:33.32\00:04:39.84
Happy place! So
near, so precious!
00:04:40.87\00:04:47.11
May I find it there each day;
00:04:47.88\00:04:54.04
Sitting at the feet of Jesus,
I would look upon the past;
00:04:54.85\00:05:07.61
For His love has
been so gracious,
00:05:08.41\00:05:14.33
He has won my heart at last.
00:05:15.19\00:05:21.59
Sitting at the feet of Jesus,
00:05:22.31\00:05:28.54
Where can mortal be more blest?
00:05:29.29\00:05:34.97
There I lay my sins and sorrows,
00:05:35.92\00:05:42.07
And, when
weary, find sweet rest;
00:05:42.82\00:05:48.73
Sitting at the feet of Jesus,
00:05:49.40\00:05:55.40
There I love to reap and pray;
00:05:56.02\00:06:01.68
While I from His fullness gather
00:06:02.71\00:06:08.45
Grace and comfort every day.
00:06:09.27\00:06:15.75
Bless me, O my Savior, bless me,
00:06:16.65\00:06:23.67
As I'm waiting at Thy feet;
00:06:24.09\00:06:30.42
Oh, look down in love upon me,
00:06:31.14\00:06:37.26
Let me see Thy face so sweet;
00:06:37.86\00:06:44.09
Give me, Lord,
the mind of Jesus,
00:06:44.70\00:06:50.92
Keep me holy as He is;
00:06:51.47\00:06:57.70
May I prove
I've been with Jesus,
00:06:58.22\00:07:04.30
Who is all my righteousness.
00:07:05.04\00:07:13.85
David, I want to ask
you a question about seeds
00:07:16.83\00:07:20.32
you know and compare that
as Jesus does to the Christian
00:07:20.35\00:07:23.05
walk. If I took say some
cherry seeds and I planted
00:07:23.08\00:07:25.59
them in different
types of soil, are they gonna
00:07:25.62\00:07:27.92
produce the same kind of
trees. And I'm talking really
00:07:27.95\00:07:31.25
about the Christian
life, you know being planted in
00:07:31.28\00:07:35.25
different types of soil
will produce different results.
00:07:35.28\00:07:37.44
Well, for me growing up I
always grew up a Christian
00:07:38.94\00:07:42.35
and I knew about
Christ, but I didn't really
00:07:42.38\00:07:45.23
have a personal relationship
with him and I just saw
00:07:45.26\00:07:50.41
him as someone out
there who created the world,
00:07:50.44\00:07:52.24
who is up there
someone, but who didn't really
00:07:52.27\00:07:54.57
care about me. And then when
I came here to Fountain view,
00:07:54.60\00:07:58.77
my, the influences
around me changed and I started
00:07:58.80\00:08:02.19
realizing his love for me
through the influence of my
00:08:02.22\00:08:05.20
friends, like how
much happiness they had and
00:08:05.23\00:08:07.84
how kind they were and
so yeah it doesn't really
00:08:07.87\00:08:12.21
matter where you grow
up or necessarily that
00:08:12.24\00:08:16.67
your parents are
Christians or whatever,
00:08:16.70\00:08:18.07
but can grow up you
know it's all inside you,
00:08:18.10\00:08:20.56
like what your
relationship with Christ is.
00:08:20.59\00:08:22.67
So, instead of him
being a distant God,
00:08:22.70\00:08:24.26
now he was closer to you.
00:08:24.29\00:08:25.51
Yeah, he was really
lot more real to me because
00:08:25.54\00:08:28.73
I realized that he
actually loved me and I wanted
00:08:28.76\00:08:31.96
to have a relationship
with him, because you know
00:08:31.99\00:08:35.59
if you don't think
someone loves you or you don't
00:08:35.62\00:08:38.93
think they care about
you, it doesn't really matter,
00:08:38.96\00:08:40.84
you don't care about
having relationship with them.
00:08:40.87\00:08:42.82
Right, once you've realized
their true love for you,
00:08:42.85\00:08:45.34
be like wow, I was like.
I realized that he really
00:08:45.37\00:08:48.84
loved me and that's what
I wanted in a relationship
00:08:48.87\00:08:52.21
with him. I detected in
what you said though that there
00:08:52.24\00:08:54.41
was an influence from
friends that encouraged
00:08:54.44\00:08:56.93
that close walk with Jesus.
00:08:56.96\00:08:58.95
Yeah, it was really after
I came here with some friends
00:08:59.65\00:09:02.76
and some staff
members who just to how loving
00:09:02.79\00:09:05.31
they were to me all the
time, it didn't matter if I
00:09:05.34\00:09:07.68
was hard to get along
with that day or whenever
00:09:07.71\00:09:10.47
you know, they were
just always loving and kind
00:09:10.50\00:09:12.95
and encouraging me to
you know read my Bible,
00:09:12.98\00:09:15.79
so I could you
know get closer to God.
00:09:15.82\00:09:18.43
Would you've called
yourself a lukewarm Christian,
00:09:19.36\00:09:21.68
before you wanted
to draw close to him?
00:09:21.71\00:09:25.84
Well, I thought I was a
Christian because my parents
00:09:26.72\00:09:29.37
were and because I
knew about God and believed
00:09:29.40\00:09:32.79
that there was a
God out there. But,
00:09:32.82\00:09:34.51
I don't think that I was
a really a Christian because
00:09:34.54\00:09:38.23
I didn't have a
relationship with God and
00:09:38.26\00:09:40.05
I didn't care about you
know God or anything of that
00:09:40.08\00:09:43.87
sort so. I don't think
I would really call myself
00:09:43.90\00:09:48.23
a Christian back then.
Right and but now you feel
00:09:48.26\00:09:50.65
like you're closer to
him, does the Bible mean more
00:09:50.68\00:09:54.37
to you, do you read
devotional books that help you
00:09:54.40\00:09:56.83
in your walk now.
Oh! Yeah definitely,
00:09:56.86\00:09:58.67
see when I first came here,
I didn't read the Bible really
00:09:58.70\00:10:01.51
at all or anything
in the mornings but now,
00:10:01.54\00:10:04.47
I just really
enjoy reading the Bible,
00:10:04.50\00:10:06.52
especially the gospels
because they just show Jesus
00:10:06.55\00:10:08.97
as this clear picture to
me and instead of you know;
00:10:09.00\00:10:13.05
instead of only you
know praying to God whatever,
00:10:13.92\00:10:16.67
we can also read his
word to us, that's what he
00:10:16.70\00:10:18.56
send it to us, that we
can learn more about him.
00:10:18.59\00:10:20.59
And now that you're a
Christian all your problems
00:10:21.43\00:10:23.20
have gone away. And
you're living a perfect life
00:10:23.23\00:10:26.43
without any
problems, no difficulties. No,
00:10:26.46\00:10:28.86
not really, I still fall
to temptations and I still
00:10:29.83\00:10:34.61
make mistakes, but the
difference now is that instead
00:10:34.64\00:10:37.23
of not caring about
the mistakes I make.
00:10:37.26\00:10:39.20
I really want to be
more Christ and want him
00:10:39.23\00:10:42.39
to help me overcome those
difficulties, those failures
00:10:42.42\00:10:46.24
and to always you know be
growing closer to him. Amen.
00:10:46.27\00:10:50.65
There is a real benefit in
having a personal relationship
00:10:54.64\00:10:57.31
with the God of the universe.
Just think of it not only
00:10:58.20\00:11:02.14
do we have the
promise to live eternally,
00:11:02.94\00:11:04.85
but we can also live lives
of peaceful rest right now,
00:11:05.76\00:11:09.47
because he has the ability
to meet our everyday needs.
00:11:10.66\00:11:14.23
Jesus says in
Matthew chapter 11 verse 28,
00:11:15.26\00:11:19.08
Come to Me, all you who
labor and are heavy laden,
00:11:20.62\00:11:24.15
and I will give you
rest. Take my yoke upon you
00:11:25.21\00:11:28.70
and learn from me, for I
am gentle and lowly in heart,
00:11:29.45\00:11:32.68
and you will find
rest for your souls.
00:11:33.72\00:11:36.56
This peace that God has
promised as result of trusting
00:11:38.18\00:11:41.38
in a power outside of
ourselves for our salvation.
00:11:42.07\00:11:45.15
But, there is a strong
temptation for many to focus
00:11:46.62\00:11:49.48
their attention on themselves
instead of on the savior.
00:11:49.51\00:11:53.28
This distraction leads
them to separate from Christ and
00:11:54.60\00:11:57.87
in the darkness that
follows many lose the assurance
00:11:58.96\00:12:02.89
of salvation. It says in
Isaiah chapter 26 verse 3,
00:12:02.92\00:12:09.70
You will keep
him in perfect peace,
00:12:10.96\00:12:12.58
whose mind is stayed on
You, because he trusts in You.
00:12:13.31\00:12:17.39
God will keep you in
perfect peace when you fix
00:12:19.42\00:12:23.21
your thoughts on
him and not on yourself.
00:12:23.76\00:12:27.01
O soul are you
weary and troubled?
00:12:38.06\00:12:46.39
No light in the
darkness you see?
00:12:47.32\00:12:53.68
There's light for
a look at the Savior,
00:12:54.93\00:13:02.33
And life more abundant and free:
00:13:03.32\00:13:11.20
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
00:13:12.67\00:13:19.50
Look full in His wonderful face;
00:13:20.60\00:13:28.56
And the things of
earth will grow strangely dim
00:13:29.23\00:13:36.71
In the light of
His glory and grace.
00:13:37.65\00:13:45.99
Through death
into life everlasting
00:13:49.57\00:13:56.61
He passed, and
we follow Him there;
00:13:57.55\00:14:04.66
Over us sin no
more hath dominion
00:14:05.57\00:14:13.12
For more than conquerors we are!
00:14:14.04\00:14:21.99
Turn you eyes upon Jesus,
00:14:23.24\00:14:30.31
Look full in His wonderful face;
00:14:31.18\00:14:39.12
And the things of
earth will grow strangely dim
00:14:39.83\00:14:47.83
In the light of
His glory and grace.
00:14:48.60\00:14:57.06
His word shall not
fail you He promised;
00:15:00.59\00:15:08.31
Believe Him and
all will be well.
00:15:09.28\00:15:15.82
Then go to a
world that is dying,
00:15:17.18\00:15:24.77
His perfect salvation to tell!
00:15:25.72\00:15:33.07
Turn you eyes upon Jesus,
00:15:34.92\00:15:42.07
Look full in His wonderful face;
00:15:42.74\00:15:50.72
And the things of
earth will grow strangely dim
00:15:51.34\00:15:58.95
In the light of
His glory and grace.
00:15:59.86\00:16:08.98
You know I really like
that song, and it reminds me of
00:16:16.67\00:16:19.44
something I was reading
the other day in the book,
00:16:19.47\00:16:21.15
Steps to Christ, it says,
as the flower turns to the sun,
00:16:21.18\00:16:25.96
that the bright beams
may aid in perfecting its
00:16:26.84\00:16:28.91
beauty and symmetry, so
should we turn to the Son
00:16:28.94\00:16:32.06
Righteousness, that heaven's
light may shine upon us,
00:16:32.09\00:16:35.47
that our character may be
developed into the likeness
00:16:35.50\00:16:38.80
of Christ. So,
turning our eyes upon Jesus,
00:16:38.83\00:16:41.83
keeping your eyes
fixed on him. You know David
00:16:41.86\00:16:45.38
was talking about how
he learned that experience
00:16:45.41\00:16:49.49
being in an
atmosphere where he had support,
00:16:49.52\00:16:51.98
could you relate
to what David said?
00:16:52.01\00:16:54.25
I can, you know it's
almost the same story I grew
00:16:55.35\00:16:59.34
in a Adventist home as
well and I just, my relationship
00:16:59.37\00:17:06.11
with Christ wasn't real until
I came here to Fountain view.
00:17:06.14\00:17:08.72
You know I knew
that he was there,
00:17:08.75\00:17:10.90
I knew I loved him and I
knew that I needed to have a
00:17:10.93\00:17:14.43
relationship with him,
but it wasn't most important
00:17:14.46\00:17:17.43
to my life. It was
like on the back burner and.
00:17:17.46\00:17:20.19
Did you feel the
assurance that you were saved?
00:17:22.76\00:17:24.89
No, no, I always wondered
like if I was really saved or
00:17:26.26\00:17:30.09
not, I thought I
probably was because my parents
00:17:31.08\00:17:32.78
were Adventists and I
knew I wanted to go to heaven,
00:17:34.12\00:17:37.31
I really did, and I
though that that was enough,
00:17:37.84\00:17:39.82
maybe just wanting go
to heaven would you know
00:17:40.40\00:17:43.77
help me get there or
something but I didn't totally
00:17:43.80\00:17:47.76
understand that
until I came here.
00:17:47.79\00:17:49.59
What produced
that change for you?
00:17:49.62\00:17:51.08
Well, I think it was a lot
different things like friends
00:17:52.75\00:17:56.50
and staff members and
they encouraged me to read
00:17:56.53\00:17:59.70
the Bible and the book
Steps to Christ and I read
00:17:59.73\00:18:03.04
through both of those this year.
00:18:03.07\00:18:04.64
And that's been a
real blessing to me.
00:18:05.66\00:18:06.88
So you read through
the Bible, the entire Bible
00:18:06.91\00:18:08.51
and the book, Steps to
Christ. I saw your copy
00:18:08.54\00:18:11.07
it's all underlined,
yeah so it made a big impact
00:18:11.10\00:18:14.55
on you. Yeah, it really did.
00:18:14.58\00:18:16.18
Douglas, when we walk
with Christ sometimes we have
00:18:17.09\00:18:21.11
things that hold us back
in our relationship feelings
00:18:21.14\00:18:25.18
that we're not
adequate or not good enough.
00:18:25.21\00:18:27.59
Can you relate to
those kind of feelings.
00:18:28.88\00:18:30.18
Yeah, from a very young
age, I had been diagnosed
00:18:31.24\00:18:34.43
with ADHD and it made
my life a big struggle,
00:18:35.04\00:18:37.61
my parents worked with
me and it was hard for them.
00:18:37.64\00:18:40.39
But, when I went to
school I became labeled the
00:18:41.26\00:18:44.69
class dummy. I was,
I was always told that
00:18:44.72\00:18:47.49
I wouldn't amount to anything.
00:18:47.52\00:18:48.83
That's been hard. It
was and I would just,
00:18:48.86\00:18:53.69
I was always told I
would be a failure in life.
00:18:53.72\00:18:57.16
And so what made you;
was there any turning point
00:18:58.70\00:19:02.69
for you when you kind
of had some hope you know
00:19:03.28\00:19:05.05
maybe God was looking
over you or maybe he just
00:19:05.57\00:19:07.53
abandoned you, maybe he
just created you as a reject
00:19:07.56\00:19:10.01
or something, you
know, what was it that made
00:19:10.04\00:19:12.20
you have some hope?
Well, when I was about 15,
00:19:12.23\00:19:15.93
I was in a car accident on
my way home from a friend's
00:19:15.96\00:19:19.39
house. And my mother
happened to see the car
00:19:19.42\00:19:22.91
in time and swerved and
it, had that not happened
00:19:22.94\00:19:26.79
the car would have most
likely hit my door directly
00:19:26.82\00:19:29.19
head on and I probably
would not be here today
00:19:29.22\00:19:31.31
and that gave me a lot
of hope knowing that God
00:19:31.34\00:19:33.25
really did care for
me. So, he protected you?
00:19:33.28\00:19:35.22
Yeah he protected me in that.
00:19:35.25\00:19:36.70
You had that assurance,
that confidence that he was
00:19:36.73\00:19:39.67
with you. Yeah, yeah and
your walk with Christ now.
00:19:39.70\00:19:43.31
It's still a big
struggle for me, it's not easy
00:19:45.61\00:19:48.37
but I realized
that with his hope,
00:19:49.39\00:19:51.23
I can do anything and
that's what keeps me going
00:19:51.26\00:19:55.16
from day to day. Praise
the Lord. Thanks Douglas.
00:19:55.19\00:19:58.06
As you focus your
attention on Jesus,
00:20:01.09\00:20:03.24
you receive peace because
you realize that God not only
00:20:04.24\00:20:06.73
cares about you, but
he also takes care of you.
00:20:06.76\00:20:09.57
God wants to become a
big part of your life.
00:20:10.54\00:20:12.70
In fact he wants to come
so close to you that the two
00:20:13.60\00:20:16.38
of you become one,
similar to a marriage.
00:20:16.41\00:20:18.55
He realizes that unless
he can come into your heart
00:20:19.37\00:20:21.87
and give you some
serious help, your case will be
00:20:21.90\00:20:25.18
hopeless and you'll be lost.
But, Jesus says in Revelation
00:20:25.21\00:20:29.58
3:20 Behold, I stand
at the door and knock.
00:20:29.61\00:20:32.99
If anyone hears my
voice and opens the door,
00:20:33.02\00:20:36.46
I will come in to him and
dine with him, and he with me,
00:20:37.21\00:20:40.45
will you
consider letting him in?
00:20:40.48\00:20:43.77
The Savior is
waiting to enter your heart
00:20:47.00\00:20:56.31
Why don't you let Him come in?
00:20:57.03\00:21:04.17
There's nothing in
this world to keep you apart
00:21:05.11\00:21:14.27
What is your answer
to Him? Time after time
00:21:14.93\00:21:27.29
He has waited before
And now He is waiting again
00:21:27.32\00:21:40.46
To see if you're
willing To open the door
00:21:41.09\00:21:50.44
Oh, how He wants to come in.
00:21:51.21\00:21:58.35
If you'll take one
step Toward the Savior,
00:23:11.60\00:23:17.35
my friend, You'll find
His arms are open wide.
00:23:17.38\00:23:28.37
Receive Him, and all
of your darkness will end
00:23:28.94\00:23:38.14
Within your heart
He'll abide. Time after time
00:23:38.89\00:23:51.33
He has waited before
And now He is waiting again
00:23:51.36\00:24:04.14
To see if you're
willing To open the door
00:24:04.96\00:24:14.05
Oh, how He wants to come in.
00:24:14.80\00:24:26.02
You know the song
the savior is waiting.
00:24:27.97\00:24:29.39
It just shows us how
much Jesus is longing for us
00:24:29.42\00:24:32.03
to let him come into our hearts,
00:24:32.75\00:24:33.82
so that he can changer
our sinful stony heart into
00:24:33.85\00:24:37.33
a Christ like
heart of flesh you know.
00:24:37.58\00:24:40.18
That again connects with
the story of Mary and Martha
00:24:41.00\00:24:44.27
sitting at Jesus feet.
You had talked to me about
00:24:44.30\00:24:48.04
that one day, how
do you see that story?
00:24:48.07\00:24:51.01
Well, in the story Martha
was caught up doing all these
00:24:52.09\00:24:55.71
different things like she
was so distracted from the real,
00:24:55.74\00:24:58.52
from spending time
with Jesus like Mary was
00:24:59.99\00:25:01.28
and it wasn't; she
wasn't doing bad things but
00:25:01.31\00:25:03.58
they are just things I
think that were distracting her
00:25:04.08\00:25:05.96
from the real goal and
Mary was there sitting,
00:25:05.99\00:25:09.23
spending time in Jesus and
getting something that will
00:25:09.26\00:25:11.34
never be taken away from her.
00:25:11.37\00:25:12.53
What kind of distractions
do you find that distract
00:25:12.56\00:25:16.09
you from the real goal?
Well, I think for a lot of us
00:25:16.12\00:25:19.52
we don't necessarily
get extracted by bad things,
00:25:20.08\00:25:21.58
there's little things like
spending time too much time
00:25:21.61\00:25:26.31
with friends when you
can be spending time with God
00:25:26.34\00:25:28.20
or even like simple
things like cleaning your room
00:25:28.23\00:25:30.89
when you know you
haven't spent time with God
00:25:30.92\00:25:32.89
for the day or something
and, yeah I think that's what
00:25:32.92\00:25:34.96
those these little
like seemingly insignificant
00:25:34.99\00:25:37.67
distractions in our
lives to keep us from spending
00:25:37.70\00:25:42.19
time with God and because
he know that's very important
00:25:42.22\00:25:44.02
And God doesn't want us
just sit and do nothing,
00:25:44.62\00:25:46.28
but when we're doing
things to keep mindful that
00:25:46.92\00:25:49.60
he is with us
through out the time.
00:25:49.63\00:25:51.61
One of the biggest
distractions I think is just
00:25:52.20\00:25:54.44
focusing on
self, our own problems,
00:25:54.47\00:25:56.91
our own weaknesses
like Douglas was saying that
00:25:56.94\00:26:00.76
you know for himself he
felt you know rejected by
00:26:00.79\00:26:04.47
the people. And so
you know for me I can very
00:26:04.50\00:26:10.33
much relate to Douglas' story.
00:26:10.36\00:26:11.76
Because I had a
problem with dyslexia,
00:26:11.79\00:26:14.27
I couldn't read properly
and so when I got out of school
00:26:14.30\00:26:16.90
I felt like ooh! You now I'm
never going back their again.
00:26:16.93\00:26:20.40
But, that was not God's
plan for me and as I read
00:26:21.51\00:26:23.68
the Bible every day I
realized that God had a plan
00:26:23.71\00:26:27.34
for my life and so I kept
text before me like Psalms 16
00:26:27.37\00:26:33.37
verse 8 were it says I
will set the Lord always before
00:26:33.40\00:26:36.08
me and because he has
at my right hand I will
00:26:36.11\00:26:39.08
not be moved. And so
he lead me and he lead me
00:26:39.11\00:26:42.50
to university. And I said
well if you've lead me there
00:26:42.53\00:26:45.36
then you must get me
through and the Lord gave
00:26:45.39\00:26:47.99
me grades that were
you know in the 4.0 region,
00:26:48.02\00:26:52.45
you know most of my
grades were As in university
00:26:52.48\00:26:56.13
and I was able to
finish that way and,
00:26:56.16\00:26:58.89
so God has a plan for our
lives and if we set the Lord
00:26:58.92\00:27:02.54
always before us. Then we
will grow in him which ever
00:27:02.57\00:27:05.85
way he is leading us.
Then we can be confident
00:27:05.88\00:27:08.89
that we're
doing the right thing.
00:27:08.92\00:27:11.08
Let's close together
with a word of prayer and ask
00:27:13.14\00:27:15.56
God to be always before
us. So, that he'll give us
00:27:15.59\00:27:19.01
to desire to set him
before us so that we will not
00:27:19.04\00:27:21.49
be moved, lets
pray. Heavenly Father,
00:27:21.52\00:27:25.21
I thank you Lord that
you have a desire for us
00:27:25.24\00:27:30.09
to be with you,
eternally in heaven.
00:27:30.12\00:27:32.45
But, right now we look
around the trees and we
00:27:33.21\00:27:36.61
realize they don't worry.
The birds are not fretting
00:27:36.64\00:27:39.16
and we should be at
peace with you and your plan
00:27:40.45\00:27:42.94
for your lives and we pray
Father that you will bless us
00:27:42.97\00:27:47.16
to have a heart for
you, to set you always
00:27:47.19\00:27:49.56
before us, so that we
will be not moved from
00:27:49.59\00:27:52.32
the purpose that you
have for us and that we will
00:27:52.35\00:27:55.03
always be growing
up into Jesus your Son.
00:27:55.06\00:27:58.03
We pray in
Jesus name Amen, Amen.
00:27:59.22\00:28:01.79
Steps to Christ in
Song is a 13 part series
00:28:05.94\00:28:08.41
from Fountain View Productions
00:28:08.45\00:28:09.99
designed to be an easy
non- threatening way to share
00:28:10.03\00:28:13.15
the good news about Jesus Christ
00:28:13.18\00:28:15.00
with friends,
relatives, and co-workers.
00:28:15.04\00:28:17.63
Order your copies now by calling
00:28:17.67\00:28:22.04
1-877-490-4141 or
visit us online at
00:28:22.08\00:28:26.42
www.fountainviewproductions.com.
00:28:26.45\00:28:30.16
Steps to Christ in Song is
also available at your local
00:28:30.20\00:28:34.64
ABC Christian Bookstore.
00:28:34.67\00:28:36.33