I want to spend my life
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Mending broken people
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I want to spend my life
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Removing pain
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Lord, let my words
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Heal a heart that hurts
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I want to spend my life
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Mending broken people
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I want to spend my life
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Mending broken people
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Hello, friends, and welcome
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to another edition
of 3ABN Family Worship.
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And we just want
to say a Happy Sabbath
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because this is the
Lord's time and we are excited
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that we have
arrived at the Sabbath.
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It's a time in which
we can commune together,
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be together as
family, study together,
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and also take
time to be with again,
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other family and to be
with our Lord and Savior,
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our Creator.
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That's what the
Sabbath is all about.
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It points back to Him
and His creative power.
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And we want to
welcome you and thank you
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for joining us during this time.
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We know you could
be doing anything else,
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but you're here with us.
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And so we encourage you
to stick with us though,
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because we have a
powerful study here tonight.
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And the study is
entitled Living Above the Crowd.
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In this world that we live in,
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sometimes it can be a challenge
to live above the crowd
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or to live
separate from the world,
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but we're going to examine
the challenges, the solutions,
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and the practicalities
of how we can live
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as peculiar people, yes,
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living in the world,
but not of the world.
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And so before we
go any further though,
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I'm going to
introduce our family
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that's around the table.
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I'm excited about
who we have with us.
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I guess I'm going
to start on this side
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and I'll work my
way down to the left.
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We have Brother Eric
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and Sister
Marilyn Durant with us.
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It's a blessing to
always have the both of you.
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Very, very happy to be here.
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Anytime you guys have a worship,
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we're always blessed,
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and we're
looking forward to today.
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Amen. Praise the Lord.
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Thank you. It's a
pleasure to be here.
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Amen. Thank you guys so much.
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And then over here
across this big table
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to my left is Brother Jason
and Miss Francine Bergmann.
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It's always a blessing
to have you guys as well.
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It's good to be here. Thank you.
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Amen. Amen.
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So we're going to
get right into our topic,
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we have a lot to talk about.
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And we know this is
going to be a blessing for you.
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There may be
someone watching right now,
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perhaps maybe, you know,
a family member or a friend
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or someone who may need
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to hear this message right
now is a great time, you know,
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gather the family around,
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get your notepads and
your pencils together,
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and your writing utensils
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and get ready to take some notes
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because this is something
that I think affects all of us.
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Living in a,
what, challenging world,
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a world in which is not
following the will of God,
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but yet we are
called to be separate,
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we are called to be
God's peculiar holy people,
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a holy royal nation
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under the banner of
the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
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So before we get
right into our content,
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let's go right
ahead and have a prayer.
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I'm going to ask
you, Brother Eric,
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if you would have
our prayer for us.
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Dear Heavenly Father,
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we ask that
whatever we say and do
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is according to Your will,
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please speak through us,
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despite of us Father
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because we love You
and we want Your message
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and Your gospel to
go out to the world.
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So please bless
this time, Father.
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Allow us to bless
others through you
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so that whenever we say,
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Father, is right
and true in Your eyes.
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We thank You, Father,
for hearing this prayer.
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For we pray it in Jesus' name.
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Amen. Amen.
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Amen. Amen.
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Thank you, brother.
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You know, it
becomes overwhelmingly clear
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as you study the
Word of the Lord.
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You run into those texts,
you come up on those passages,
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where God makes it very clear.
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He says, "Look, you know what,
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this world is not the
way I intended it to be."
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When God created the
world in the beginning,
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it was according to
His perfect plan, right,
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as he placed Adam and
Eve in the Garden of Eden,
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that perfect paradise,
that garden of pleasure,
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where there was
this beautiful, perfect,
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uninterrupted
communion between God and man,
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but we know sin
came into the picture
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and sin pretty much
ruined those plans, right?
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And since then we
have been living in a world
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that is just degradating
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and just
eroding at every corner.
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And now as we are getting closer
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and closer to the
Second Coming of Jesus,
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I hear my brothers and
sisters crying out all the time
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and they're asking me saying,
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"Ryan, you know, why
hasn't Jesus come back yet?
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How much longer do
we have to endure this?"
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Because living in
this world is hard,
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trying to be a Christian
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during these times is difficult.
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And so you know,
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I just want to just take
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some time in the
beginning of this study
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and we'll just
kind of throw it out.
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This is a laid back,
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that is what I love I
love about Family Worship,
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because we could just
sit around and just have
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like a family
discussion around the table.
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And that's what
we're going to do now.
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So let's just talk about
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and go to some
of those passages,
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some of those prominent texts,
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where God shares His attitude
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about how He feels
about this connection
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between the
carnal and the spiritual,
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the world, obviously,
being separate from the world,
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living in the world,
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but being
separate from the world
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and living
according to the will of God.
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So who wants to start us out?
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And you guys got any text
that you want to share with us
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as we begin our study?
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I'll start out.
Yeah. Go ahead, brother.
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Well, really quick testimony.
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Sure.
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I guess it happens to everybody
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when you're young and
you're kind of learning
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how the world works.
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One of the first things
you want to do is be accepted.
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You know, you want to be
accepted by your friends,
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you want to be
accepted by the crowd,
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and you wear the right sneakers,
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and the right clothes
and do the right things.
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And unfortunately, in my case,
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the ones I grew up with,
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they were
setting the wrong example
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and I was trying
to impress the people
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that were setting
the wrong example.
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And then the Lord
came along and said,
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"You're supposed to be special."
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Right.
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And what impressed me
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about that was that
special means different.
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I'm not supposed to be like
everybody else, I'm special.
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Right.
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And so by telling God,
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"Well, I want to be
like everybody else,"
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I'm telling God, "I
don't want to be special."
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Right.
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And that sort of
challenged me a little bit.
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And one of the verses
that I like and it's down here,
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it says, "Do not love the world
or the things in the world."
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And this is 1 John 2:15-17.
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Right.
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"Do not love the world
or the things in the world.
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If anyone loves the world,
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the love of the
Father is not in him.
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For all that is in the
world, the lust of the flesh,
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the lust of the eyes,
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the pride of life
is not of the Father
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but is of the world.
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And if the
world is passing away,
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and the lust of it,
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but he who does
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the will of God abides forever."
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It's convicting
because what this is saying is
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all the things I
love of the world,
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I shouldn't be loving,
I should be loving Jesus.
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That's right.
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And when you focus on
Jesus, you can't go wrong.
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When you focus on the
world, as you said it's fallen,
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it's living in sin,
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you're going to
follow that same path.
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Absolutely.
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And praise the Lord
for the Bible and the Word
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because over time I grew,
and I still have a ways to go,
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but I think I'm moving
in the right direction.
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You know, it's interesting too
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in today's life
there's parallelisms,
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you know, you
have, or polarization.
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And you see a lot of that.
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And, you know, just
reading Matthew 6:24,
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it shows kind
of that parallelism
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and what you're saying too.
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And if I may
read that. Absolutely.
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It says, "No one
can serve two masters.
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Either one will hate
the one and love the other,
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or else he will be loyal
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to the one and
despise the other.
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You cannot serve God
and mammon or riches."
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Right.
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And when you look
at this world and how,
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you know, everyone's you
know, going after the buck,
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and since I'm in
finances, I see it a lot,
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and maybe I'm
just sensitive to it.
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But when you get down
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to who are we and
where are we going,
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you know,
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focusing on that instead
of the things of this world,
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which kind of it
rusts, it gets old.
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I mean, I just
turned 50 and I'm like man.
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So I'm starting
to divest my things
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because I don't need it all.
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And so this is a
great text where, you know,
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know what you're going to serve
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and think about it
and go in that direction.
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Right. Absolutely.
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I love that text you just
read because it puts it out
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there plain and simple.
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The idea is some
people say, "You know what,
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I can have Jesus
as my Lord and Savior,
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and He loves me so
much that He recognizes
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that I've got to
live in this world."
00:09:08.98\00:09:10.38
And you know what,
there's just certain things
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that you can't avoid, right?
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And some people's mentality
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is this one leg in
the church or one leg in,
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you know, in the gospel
and one leg in the world
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and they go, God
loves me either way.
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But yet, as you just specified
clearly from that verse,
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Jesus makes it clear
it's just makes logical sense.
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You can't serve two masters.
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At some point you're going
to give into one or the other.
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And in this case,
we want to make sure
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we're serving the
right master, right?
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But, Ryan, the world
is very, very seductive.
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It is.
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The social media,
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I was watching
something a few weeks ago
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on the science behind them,
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grabbing the
attention of you in social media
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and holding on to it.
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And I said to myself, "Wow,
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if I spend all my
time on social media
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instead of
spending any time with God,
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my God's going
to be social media."
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And whatever they're teaching me
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is what I'm going to cling to.
00:10:02.30\00:10:03.63
Right.
00:10:03.67\00:10:05.00
So it's very seductive world
00:10:05.03\00:10:06.40
and we almost have to
make a conscious decision
00:10:06.43\00:10:09.27
that we're going to
focus on God and not on,
00:10:09.30\00:10:12.84
I won't say the
name of the applications,
00:10:12.87\00:10:16.34
not on those
internet applications.
00:10:16.38\00:10:20.32
Yeah, absolutely.
00:10:20.35\00:10:21.68
And one of the
verses I have always liked
00:10:21.72\00:10:23.82
was 1 Psalms,
00:10:23.85\00:10:25.39
or Psalms
00:10:25.42\00:10:29.52
101:3-4.
00:10:29.56\00:10:35.00
All right. Go ahead
and read that for us.
00:10:35.03\00:10:36.60
It says, "I will
set no wicked thing
00:10:36.63\00:10:38.33
before my eyes.
00:10:38.37\00:10:40.34
I hate the works of
them that turned aside,
00:10:40.37\00:10:42.90
it shall not cleave to me.
00:10:42.94\00:10:45.44
A forward heart
shall depart from me,
00:10:45.47\00:10:48.11
I will not know
a wicked person."
00:10:48.14\00:10:51.45
And at the time,
00:10:51.48\00:10:52.81
I was hanging out with
a lot of wicked people.
00:10:52.85\00:10:54.45
So everything I've read says,
00:10:54.48\00:10:58.29
take your eyes off the
world and put it on Jesus,
00:10:58.32\00:11:00.76
and you'll be blessed.
00:11:00.79\00:11:02.12
And God's blessed me ever since.
00:11:02.16\00:11:03.53
Amen. Praise the Lord.
00:11:03.56\00:11:05.03
So you know the Ten Commandments
00:11:05.06\00:11:06.39
that talks about how
God is a jealous God.
00:11:06.43\00:11:09.76
And when I first read
it when I was younger,
00:11:09.80\00:11:12.53
I thought, you know,
that, that's kind of strange.
00:11:12.57\00:11:15.60
But then when you look at
it in a more, I would say,
00:11:15.64\00:11:19.91
mature now that I, you know,
00:11:19.94\00:11:21.38
understand a little bit more
00:11:21.41\00:11:23.78
that Jesus loves us so
much that He wants 100% of us.
00:11:23.81\00:11:29.58
He doesn't want
50, He doesn't want 70,
00:11:29.62\00:11:32.02
even He doesn't want
99, He wants 100% of us.
00:11:32.05\00:11:35.96
And He will do everything
00:11:35.99\00:11:37.89
in order for us
to get that 100%.
00:11:37.93\00:11:39.76
The other thing you said
was pretty interesting too,
00:11:39.79\00:11:42.00
that I really appreciate.
00:11:42.03\00:11:43.93
You know, I've gotten
into getting on to YouTube.
00:11:43.97\00:11:47.80
I love learning things.
00:11:47.84\00:11:49.27
However, what I find though,
00:11:49.30\00:11:51.91
even with good things
00:11:51.94\00:11:53.27
you could just suck
00:11:53.31\00:11:54.64
all your time
in the good things,
00:11:54.68\00:11:57.01
but then you
realize some of the things
00:11:57.05\00:12:00.38
that are important to you...
00:12:00.42\00:12:01.75
Like your wife.
00:12:01.78\00:12:03.12
That's right.
00:12:03.15\00:12:04.52
You know, you find out
that your wife is saying,
00:12:04.55\00:12:07.36
"Well, what about me?"
00:12:07.39\00:12:08.82
And so what I did one time,
00:12:08.86\00:12:10.46
I realized that I had a problem.
00:12:10.49\00:12:13.26
So I said, "Okay, that's it."
00:12:13.29\00:12:15.06
I turned it all the way off
for like two weeks and I said,
00:12:15.10\00:12:18.00
"Okay, reconnect."
00:12:18.03\00:12:20.60
Absolutely. It's
what is important.
00:12:20.64\00:12:21.97
Absolutely.
00:12:22.00\00:12:23.34
You know, and that brings me
00:12:23.37\00:12:24.71
a little thought
in Leviticus 20:26,
00:12:24.74\00:12:28.61
and it says, "And
you shall be holy to Me,
00:12:28.64\00:12:31.98
for I am the Lord am holy,
00:12:32.01\00:12:33.98
and I am separated
you from the peoples,
00:12:34.02\00:12:36.52
that you should be Mine."
00:12:36.55\00:12:38.79
I see God wanting us
00:12:38.82\00:12:40.99
as much as He
could possibly show us
00:12:41.02\00:12:43.99
that He wants us for Himself.
00:12:44.03\00:12:45.96
And that goes to that text.
00:12:45.99\00:12:48.53
And, you know, as a parent,
sometimes I see my daughter,
00:12:48.56\00:12:51.73
and sometimes she struggles
00:12:51.77\00:12:53.10
because all her classmates
might be doing something
00:12:53.13\00:12:56.50
that she knows and
she's struggling with.
00:12:56.54\00:12:59.77
And I can only identify
00:12:59.81\00:13:01.58
some of the conversations
00:13:01.61\00:13:02.94
that some other parents
at home might be having but,
00:13:02.98\00:13:06.25
and how she
still needs to stand up
00:13:06.28\00:13:08.58
for what is right and
be able to communicate
00:13:08.62\00:13:11.35
that either to her teacher,
00:13:11.39\00:13:12.72
to her parents somehow
to be able to be different.
00:13:12.75\00:13:15.49
And sometimes I can
only tell her stories
00:13:15.52\00:13:19.16
that I can only imagine Jesus
00:13:19.19\00:13:20.73
had to be
separated from himself.
00:13:20.76\00:13:23.06
And as a young
boy, I see Jesus...
00:13:23.10\00:13:27.67
Of course, he didn't
go to their local schools,
00:13:27.70\00:13:30.27
which were, you
know, well known there.
00:13:30.31\00:13:33.98
And yet, he wasn't playing
00:13:34.01\00:13:36.58
and going along with the teasing
00:13:36.61\00:13:38.98
that other kids were doing.
00:13:39.01\00:13:40.85
And yet, he was
already, even from a child,
00:13:40.88\00:13:43.79
I think that's a
challenge for all of us,
00:13:43.82\00:13:45.49
that we have to
live that example
00:13:45.52\00:13:46.86
because how much
00:13:46.89\00:13:48.72
more important is it for
our children to see that.
00:13:48.76\00:13:51.56
That's right.
00:13:51.59\00:13:52.93
And so for me
that's very important.
00:13:52.96\00:13:54.66
And Amanda was learning
00:13:54.70\00:13:58.00
this this week with her teacher,
00:13:58.03\00:13:59.37
who happens to be Mrs. Day.
00:13:59.40\00:14:03.34
But I know that she's learning
00:14:03.37\00:14:04.71
the Romans 12:2 and
it says, what is it?
00:14:04.74\00:14:08.61
"And do not be
conformed to this world,
00:14:08.64\00:14:12.91
but be transformed by
the renewing of your mind,
00:14:12.95\00:14:16.15
that you may prove that is good
00:14:16.18\00:14:18.99
and acceptable and
perfect will of God."
00:14:19.02\00:14:21.52
Yes, yes.
00:14:21.56\00:14:22.89
I think that, to me, is
the most important thing.
00:14:22.92\00:14:25.23
It can't necessarily be
00:14:25.26\00:14:26.66
oh, well, we have
to acknowledge that.
00:14:26.70\00:14:28.03
We want to first put God's will.
00:14:28.06\00:14:30.37
That's right. That's right.
00:14:30.40\00:14:31.73
That's a great point
that you just made there.
00:14:31.77\00:14:33.70
And I love that text
that she's read Romans
00:14:33.74\00:14:35.57
because it really gets
down to the heart of the matter.
00:14:35.60\00:14:37.84
We have to be transformed
by the renewing of our mind.
00:14:37.87\00:14:40.71
What does it say
in Philippians 2:5?
00:14:40.74\00:14:43.24
"Let this mind be in you
which is also in Christ Jesus."
00:14:43.28\00:14:46.82
And, you know,
when you think about it,
00:14:46.85\00:14:48.65
that's really the
ultimate struggle is...
00:14:48.68\00:14:51.02
I go back to that rich scripture
00:14:51.05\00:14:52.49
you read at the very beginning.
00:14:52.52\00:14:53.86
I love it from 1 John 2:5-17.
00:14:53.89\00:14:56.16
I'm going to read it again,
00:14:56.19\00:14:57.53
just to kind of
hone in on a couple
00:14:57.56\00:14:58.89
of these details.
00:14:58.93\00:15:00.26
It says, "Do not love the world
or the things of the world.
00:15:00.30\00:15:02.00
If anyone loves the world,
00:15:02.03\00:15:03.40
the love of the
Father is not in him."
00:15:03.43\00:15:04.97
Right? "For all
that is in the world..."
00:15:05.00\00:15:07.50
And then he, then obviously
the writer gives a kind of
00:15:07.54\00:15:10.04
a summation of what
all sin falls under,
00:15:10.07\00:15:12.01
which is "The lust of the flesh,
00:15:12.04\00:15:13.68
the lust of the eyes
and the pride of life."
00:15:13.71\00:15:15.54
So in the scripture
says that Jesus was tempted
00:15:15.58\00:15:17.71
in all ways like we
were yet without sin.
00:15:17.75\00:15:20.98
These are the thing...
Every sin, while it can...
00:15:21.02\00:15:24.19
Like obviously, I heard someone
say one time well, you know,
00:15:24.22\00:15:25.99
Jesus didn't have cell phones,
00:15:26.02\00:15:27.46
so He don't know what
it's like to be tempted,
00:15:27.49\00:15:29.06
you know, with cell phones
and media and all these things.
00:15:29.09\00:15:32.29
But yet, all of the sins
and all of the distractions
00:15:32.33\00:15:35.36
and the temptations
that we deal with today
00:15:35.40\00:15:37.47
falls under that banner
of the lust of the flesh,
00:15:37.50\00:15:39.63
the lust of the eyes,
and the pride of life,
00:15:39.67\00:15:41.24
the same principles
and the same concept
00:15:41.27\00:15:43.00
with Christ in His day.
00:15:43.04\00:15:44.37
May not have been cell
phones, may not have been media,
00:15:44.41\00:15:46.41
may not have been, you know,
00:15:46.44\00:15:47.78
media addiction or all
those things, you know,
00:15:47.81\00:15:50.55
drug addiction and things
like that, but nonetheless,
00:15:50.58\00:15:53.25
Christ was
tempted and always like
00:15:53.28\00:15:56.02
we were under that
banner of the lust of the flesh,
00:15:56.05\00:15:58.65
the lust of the eyes,
and the pride of life.
00:15:58.69\00:16:00.52
And then it goes on to say,
00:16:00.56\00:16:01.89
"Is not of the
Father but is of the world.
00:16:01.92\00:16:03.83
And the world is passing
away, and the lust of it,
00:16:03.86\00:16:06.63
but he who does the
will of God abides forever."
00:16:06.66\00:16:11.17
When we're trying to
allow God to transform our mind,
00:16:11.20\00:16:15.30
when we're trying to
adopt that mindset of Christ,
00:16:15.34\00:16:19.91
to have the mind of Christ,
00:16:19.94\00:16:21.34
that's a struggle.
00:16:21.38\00:16:22.71
In fact, it's a
lifelong struggle.
00:16:22.74\00:16:25.28
You know, I have been, again,
00:16:25.31\00:16:27.78
not patting myself on
the back or bragging any way,
00:16:27.82\00:16:29.98
but I've been a
devoutly Christian
00:16:30.02\00:16:31.69
now for about 13, 14 years.
00:16:31.72\00:16:33.86
And I can tell you,
00:16:33.89\00:16:35.92
here I am 14 years later
and I still wake up every day,
00:16:35.96\00:16:39.66
and I'm just pleading
and saying, Lord, you know...
00:16:39.69\00:16:41.90
There are still
things in my life as an adult
00:16:41.93\00:16:44.63
that the devil just comes
at us with every single day.
00:16:44.67\00:16:47.44
And there's times even I
have moments of weakness,
00:16:47.47\00:16:50.01
where I'm just like,
"Oh, Lord, Jesus, please come.
00:16:50.04\00:16:54.14
I can't stay in
this world any longer.
00:16:54.18\00:16:56.38
It's just killing me." Right?
00:16:56.41\00:16:58.31
But that's the fight.
00:16:58.35\00:16:59.68
You know, Paul
called it the fight.
00:16:59.71\00:17:01.05
And, you know,
there's a couple of text here
00:17:01.08\00:17:03.55
that I might read
here in a little while.
00:17:03.59\00:17:04.92
But if there's another
text you guys want to read it,
00:17:04.95\00:17:06.86
I'm just
talking about, you know,
00:17:06.89\00:17:08.22
God's attitude
towards the separation
00:17:08.26\00:17:10.63
of the
spiritual from the carnal.
00:17:10.66\00:17:12.79
It's funny that you mentioned
that because I had a discussion
00:17:12.83\00:17:14.93
with somebody just yesterday.
00:17:14.96\00:17:17.00
And one of the things I
hear a lot of Christians say
00:17:17.03\00:17:20.60
is that "I got the victory."
00:17:20.64\00:17:23.27
Right.
00:17:23.30\00:17:24.64
And that's a great
thing, you got the victory.
00:17:24.67\00:17:26.71
But just because you got
the victory over the battle
00:17:26.74\00:17:29.94
doesn't mean you got
the victory over the war.
00:17:29.98\00:17:32.61
And I know that when
the children of Israel
00:17:32.65\00:17:35.58
crossed over into
the Promised Land,
00:17:35.62\00:17:38.45
God gave them victory
after victory after victory,
00:17:38.49\00:17:42.32
but those were
victories over battles.
00:17:42.36\00:17:44.23
And sometimes they had to fight
in case of the Philistines,
00:17:44.26\00:17:46.76
sometimes they had to
fight them more than once
00:17:46.80\00:17:49.16
because even
though you got the victory
00:17:49.20\00:17:51.43
doesn't mean that
you're free and clear,
00:17:51.47\00:17:53.44
and there's no
longer any problem,
00:17:53.47\00:17:54.94
there's no longer any struggles.
00:17:54.97\00:17:56.30
It's a constant victory,
00:17:56.34\00:17:57.67
even after you cross
over into the Promised Land.
00:17:57.71\00:17:59.84
So we have that
battle that we have to fight.
00:17:59.87\00:18:01.71
And like you said,
Paul said, "I die daily,"
00:18:01.74\00:18:03.78
and I think we
all have to do that.
00:18:03.81\00:18:05.45
I think we have to
consciously make an effort
00:18:05.48\00:18:07.95
each and every day to
withstand that temptation
00:18:07.98\00:18:13.96
and stay in the Word of God.
00:18:13.99\00:18:16.02
That's the only way that
you will have that victory.
00:18:16.06\00:18:18.29
That's right. Absolutely.
00:18:18.33\00:18:19.66
And that in and of
itself is a challenge, right?
00:18:19.69\00:18:21.13
Right.
00:18:21.16\00:18:22.50
You know, when
you're in that moment
00:18:22.53\00:18:23.87
and you're being
tempted or you're,
00:18:23.90\00:18:25.23
you know, you're experiencing
a moment of weakness,
00:18:25.27\00:18:26.94
you know, how many
of us were willing,
00:18:26.97\00:18:29.14
hopefully we do,
but how many of us go,
00:18:29.17\00:18:30.81
"Oh, let me find my
Bible and pray about this."
00:18:30.84\00:18:33.58
You know, a lot of times
it doesn't happen that way.
00:18:33.61\00:18:37.91
And sometimes it's in
hindsight that you realize,
00:18:37.95\00:18:40.05
"Oh, man, I messed up."
00:18:40.08\00:18:41.42
You know, that you
realize if only I had prayed
00:18:41.45\00:18:42.78
in that moment, if
only I had meditated on,
00:18:42.82\00:18:44.29
you know, thus saith.
00:18:44.32\00:18:45.65
If only I had had the mind
of Christ to say it is written,
00:18:45.69\00:18:47.89
you know, man
shall not, you know...
00:18:47.92\00:18:50.33
Sometimes we don't do that.
00:18:50.36\00:18:51.69
In fact, when
you were just talking
00:18:51.73\00:18:53.06
about the old man
coming out, you know, I can...
00:18:53.09\00:18:55.90
I love that you said earlier.
00:18:55.93\00:18:57.27
You said, oftentimes
00:18:57.30\00:18:58.63
we can gain the
victory in the battle,
00:18:58.67\00:19:00.94
but we haven't
necessarily gained
00:19:00.97\00:19:02.30
the complete victory in the war.
00:19:02.34\00:19:04.34
I can say that with
confidence that that's true
00:19:04.37\00:19:07.71
because I think about
00:19:07.74\00:19:09.74
how I used to be
back in my heathen days.
00:19:09.78\00:19:12.95
And I was a hothead,
I was an angry person.
00:19:12.98\00:19:18.05
I had a filthy
mouth, and I was a fighter.
00:19:18.09\00:19:22.16
Anyone I couldn't stand bullies
00:19:22.19\00:19:24.36
because I was
bullied when I was younger.
00:19:24.39\00:19:25.73
So when I would see
someone bully somebody else,
00:19:25.76\00:19:27.36
I was ready to fight.
00:19:27.40\00:19:28.73
And if I hurt someone,
00:19:28.76\00:19:30.10
and it just
wasn't nothing for me,
00:19:30.13\00:19:31.47
so I got in a lot of
fights and I got in...
00:19:31.50\00:19:33.00
I mean, I was just a brawler
and I was an angry person.
00:19:33.03\00:19:36.37
But when Christ
came into my life,
00:19:36.40\00:19:38.57
He transformed me.
00:19:38.61\00:19:40.41
But does that mean
that I still don't have
00:19:40.44\00:19:42.34
those temptations
from time to time?
00:19:42.38\00:19:44.08
There's times, you know,
00:19:44.11\00:19:45.45
I get out in the
world and I see somebody
00:19:45.48\00:19:47.38
doing something
or saying something
00:19:47.42\00:19:48.88
or acting in a certain way,
00:19:48.92\00:19:50.25
and that old man
wants to just come back
00:19:50.29\00:19:51.72
and I'm just like,
"Man, if only I could just..."
00:19:51.75\00:19:54.26
You know, I have to
say, "Lord, help me.
00:19:54.29\00:19:56.59
Help me bury this old person."
00:19:56.62\00:19:57.96
It's tough.
00:19:57.99\00:19:59.33
It's not an easy, but yeah,
that's what Christ said, right?
00:19:59.36\00:20:01.66
In Matthew 7, He
was talking about
00:20:01.70\00:20:03.26
the straight and narrow path
00:20:03.30\00:20:05.40
versus the broad path
that leads to destruction.
00:20:05.43\00:20:07.64
The New King James Version says,
00:20:07.67\00:20:10.21
but straight is
the gate and difficult
00:20:10.24\00:20:13.04
is the way that leads to life.
00:20:13.07\00:20:15.01
Christ never said it was easy.
00:20:15.04\00:20:16.75
And it's not easy
because there's an enemy.
00:20:16.78\00:20:18.45
That's right.
00:20:18.48\00:20:19.81
So you look at our culture today
00:20:19.85\00:20:21.45
and everyone is
telling you, well,
00:20:21.48\00:20:23.45
in order for
you to be successful
00:20:23.49\00:20:24.95
or in order for
you to be accepted,
00:20:24.99\00:20:27.09
you have to have
this, this, this, this.
00:20:27.12\00:20:30.76
And that's where what you said,
00:20:30.79\00:20:33.70
Brother Ryan, is
our focus is critical.
00:20:33.73\00:20:37.77
And if we don't have that focus,
00:20:37.80\00:20:39.40
then we're going to go on
a left turn or a right turn,
00:20:39.43\00:20:43.37
and Jesus is
right in front of us
00:20:43.41\00:20:46.51
down the road
and right beside us,
00:20:46.54\00:20:49.94
and we need to have that focus
00:20:49.98\00:20:51.45
on what He wants
to do with our lives.
00:20:51.48\00:20:54.48
Interesting text
that I want to share.
00:20:54.52\00:20:58.12
That's okay, as Mark 8:36.
00:20:58.15\00:21:00.89
And it says, "For
what will it profit a man
00:21:00.92\00:21:05.46
if he gains the whole
world, but loses his own soul?"
00:21:05.49\00:21:09.46
Right.
00:21:09.50\00:21:10.83
I mean, you look at
that, a lot of the media,
00:21:10.87\00:21:15.20
the culture is you
need to do it now, you know.
00:21:15.24\00:21:19.51
But we as Christians,
00:21:19.54\00:21:21.18
we take the long road,
we take the narrow road,
00:21:21.21\00:21:24.41
we take the road
with the understanding
00:21:24.45\00:21:27.28
that we're going to have
to go through some hard times.
00:21:27.32\00:21:29.95
The culture is going to
tell us what we need to do
00:21:29.98\00:21:32.12
and how to do it
and why to do it,
00:21:32.15\00:21:34.22
but we need to
stay focused to Jesus
00:21:34.26\00:21:36.49
because He has
the right path for us.
00:21:36.52\00:21:39.43
So we don't get distracted
00:21:39.46\00:21:42.83
in what culturally is accepted,
00:21:42.86\00:21:46.23
but focus on where we
are and where heritage is,
00:21:46.27\00:21:51.44
and who we're going
to be with very soon.
00:21:51.47\00:21:56.08
And to tag along with that,
00:21:56.11\00:21:58.05
we have to
understand that we're not alone.
00:21:58.08\00:22:01.58
I think it's important
for us, now fortunately,
00:22:01.62\00:22:03.99
I have my spouse
that I can talk to,
00:22:04.02\00:22:05.95
and that can encourage me
when I'm down and I astray,
00:22:05.99\00:22:09.59
or vice versa.
00:22:09.62\00:22:11.36
But even those
that are at home alone,
00:22:11.39\00:22:14.76
they need to see Jesus
as a friend or have somebody
00:22:14.80\00:22:17.50
that can help
them be accountable.
00:22:17.53\00:22:19.23
I think we have
to realize that, yes,
00:22:19.27\00:22:21.34
there's Jesus as my friend
and He's my personal friend.
00:22:21.37\00:22:24.31
But there's times,
00:22:24.34\00:22:25.67
where it's sometimes
important to talk it out
00:22:25.71\00:22:27.71
with somebody else
that you look up to
00:22:27.74\00:22:29.84
and see Christ,
00:22:29.88\00:22:31.25
I mean, the life of
Jesus in their character.
00:22:31.28\00:22:34.22
And so I think that's important
because that is encouraging
00:22:34.25\00:22:37.09
to us that we can
do it too, I think.
00:22:37.12\00:22:39.59
Not that we put
somebody on a pedestal
00:22:39.62\00:22:42.09
and look at them as a hero,
00:22:42.12\00:22:43.56
but more like we
can do this together.
00:22:43.59\00:22:46.23
We can relate. Right, right.
00:22:46.26\00:22:48.16
Absolutely.
00:22:48.20\00:22:49.53
These are great points.
00:22:49.56\00:22:51.20
I'm just thinking as
we're talking through this,
00:22:51.23\00:22:53.47
you know, why do you
think it is that people
00:22:53.50\00:22:55.40
struggle with living
separate from the world?
00:22:55.44\00:22:57.84
Like, you know, what
are some of the challenges,
00:22:57.87\00:22:59.84
the scruples that
they may have to deal with
00:22:59.87\00:23:02.44
in overcoming or dealing
with that thought process
00:23:02.48\00:23:05.68
of making that transformation
from a life of self
00:23:05.71\00:23:10.15
to a life
surrender to the will of God?
00:23:10.19\00:23:12.09
What are some of the
things that come to your mind?
00:23:12.12\00:23:13.52
Maybe something you went through
00:23:13.56\00:23:15.96
growing up as God was making,
00:23:15.99\00:23:17.83
you know, as you
were transitioning
00:23:17.86\00:23:19.53
from that old
man to that new man?
00:23:19.56\00:23:21.56
What are some challenges
that people have to deal with
00:23:21.60\00:23:23.40
and why do you think
they struggle with it?
00:23:23.43\00:23:25.43
Well, I think
we're bombarded daily
00:23:25.47\00:23:28.24
with media,
work, family, friends,
00:23:28.27\00:23:32.87
just every little thing
in life can bring you down.
00:23:32.91\00:23:38.21
And I think also,
00:23:38.25\00:23:43.99
if you show a
little bit of something
00:23:44.02\00:23:46.12
like you were saying,
00:23:46.15\00:23:47.49
you were watching
YouTube and you were like,
00:23:47.52\00:23:49.16
turn it off for two weeks.
00:23:49.19\00:23:51.66
I think Satan
picks up those things
00:23:51.69\00:23:53.83
and he'll tempt you.
00:23:53.86\00:23:56.50
You know, but I think if
we stay in the will of God,
00:23:56.53\00:24:01.44
that's why He gives
us the Ten Commandments.
00:24:01.47\00:24:03.51
Right, right.
00:24:03.54\00:24:04.87
Absolutely.
00:24:04.91\00:24:06.24
I think the world...
00:24:06.27\00:24:08.14
I think it tries hard to almost
00:24:08.18\00:24:09.74
make you
insecure with who you are.
00:24:09.78\00:24:11.65
Yes.
00:24:11.68\00:24:13.01
I remember when I
grew up in high school,
00:24:13.05\00:24:14.75
there were the magazines
with people on the cover
00:24:14.78\00:24:17.29
and they were good
looking beyond belief.
00:24:17.32\00:24:20.26
And everyone wanted to live up
to that look, and no one could,
00:24:20.29\00:24:24.03
and it made them insecure.
00:24:24.06\00:24:25.39
Right.
00:24:25.43\00:24:26.76
And I think that you
grow up wanting to impress
00:24:26.80\00:24:29.86
other people to fight
against that insecurity
00:24:29.90\00:24:33.50
in a way trying
to belong saying,
00:24:33.54\00:24:35.90
I'm okay.
00:24:35.94\00:24:37.27
You know, I'm...
00:24:37.31\00:24:38.64
And they prey upon that. Right.
00:24:38.67\00:24:42.14
And I think if we
don't focus on God,
00:24:42.18\00:24:45.81
we're going to be shrouded
00:24:45.85\00:24:47.62
in something that we don't
want to be shrouded in, like,
00:24:47.65\00:24:50.29
you know, the clothing.
00:24:50.32\00:24:51.65
They say
clothing of righteousness,
00:24:51.69\00:24:53.02
you want to be clothed
in God's righteousness,
00:24:53.05\00:24:54.92
not that in the
world's righteousness.
00:24:54.96\00:24:56.69
And if you wrap
yourself up in the social media
00:24:56.73\00:24:58.83
and those other things,
it's going to overwhelm you.
00:24:58.86\00:25:01.70
Absolutely.
00:25:01.73\00:25:03.06
You know, I liked
what Sister Marilyn said
00:25:03.10\00:25:05.17
that kind of struck me,
00:25:05.20\00:25:06.94
and that is sometimes we
have to know our weaknesses.
00:25:06.97\00:25:10.01
Yes.
00:25:10.04\00:25:11.37
And I think if we understand
00:25:11.41\00:25:13.48
and know our weaknesses because,
00:25:13.51\00:25:15.38
you know, we know the unseen
00:25:15.41\00:25:17.01
knows our
weaknesses better than we do.
00:25:17.05\00:25:20.28
So what are we
going to do about it?
00:25:20.32\00:25:21.98
So if we know that that
is a very sensitive area
00:25:22.02\00:25:25.65
so we need to start working.
00:25:25.69\00:25:27.69
And that's where a
transforming of the mind
00:25:27.72\00:25:30.99
to going in that
direction that builds us
00:25:31.03\00:25:33.86
in the
direction of understanding
00:25:33.90\00:25:36.23
how to strengthen
some of these weaknesses
00:25:36.26\00:25:38.67
in putting off the weaknesses,
00:25:38.70\00:25:40.50
but focusing on those
things that will strengthen us.
00:25:40.54\00:25:43.04
Right. Right.
00:25:43.07\00:25:44.44
Absolutely. Can I read 1 Samuel?
00:25:44.47\00:25:45.81
Yeah. Absolutely, go ahead.
00:25:45.84\00:25:47.31
1 Samuel 16:7.
00:25:47.34\00:25:50.65
The Lord said to Samuel,
00:25:50.68\00:25:52.21
"Do not look at his appearance
or at his physical stature,
00:25:52.25\00:25:55.68
because I have refused him.
00:25:55.72\00:25:57.75
The Lord does
not see as man sees,
00:25:57.79\00:26:01.56
for man looks at
the outward appearance,
00:26:01.59\00:26:04.13
but the Lord
looks at the heart."
00:26:04.16\00:26:05.76
Wow, okay.
00:26:05.79\00:26:07.13
So this is getting at
the heart of the issue,
00:26:07.16\00:26:08.63
which is ultimately
00:26:08.66\00:26:10.00
all of these
that we're discussing,
00:26:10.03\00:26:11.37
it's the heart issue.
00:26:11.40\00:26:12.73
Correct.
00:26:12.77\00:26:14.10
God can see what we can't see.
00:26:14.14\00:26:15.77
And that's what we have to
be dependent on Him, right,
00:26:15.80\00:26:17.81
to be able to call
out to Him and say, "Lord,
00:26:17.84\00:26:19.81
I don't know myself
as well as You know me."
00:26:19.84\00:26:23.04
You know, sometimes we
think that we know more
00:26:23.08\00:26:24.58
about ourselves than
sometimes God does, right?
00:26:24.61\00:26:26.85
We get this idea that I know me,
00:26:26.88\00:26:28.75
I know what I can do,
00:26:28.78\00:26:30.12
and I know what my
weaknesses are, and I know...
00:26:30.15\00:26:31.65
You know, for
instance, in Jason's situation,
00:26:31.69\00:26:33.29
I'm just going
to watch one video,
00:26:33.32\00:26:34.66
that's all I'm going to do.
00:26:34.69\00:26:36.02
I'm just going to get on YouTube
00:26:36.06\00:26:37.39
and watch one video,
00:26:37.43\00:26:38.76
and that's all it's going
to be in before you know it.
00:26:38.79\00:26:40.13
One video turns into two videos,
00:26:40.16\00:26:41.50
and two into four,
and four into eight.
00:26:41.53\00:26:42.86
And then you wasted,
00:26:42.90\00:26:44.23
what we're meant to
be only four minutes
00:26:44.27\00:26:45.77
turns out to be an hour, right?
00:26:45.80\00:26:47.14
Absolutely.
00:26:47.17\00:26:48.50
And it happens so fast.
00:26:48.54\00:26:49.90
And then your wife tells you,
00:26:49.94\00:26:51.27
"Hey, Jason, you know,
00:26:51.31\00:26:52.64
you've been on
this thing for an hour."
00:26:52.67\00:26:54.71
And okay, he's
setting an example.
00:26:54.74\00:26:56.71
So, you know,
00:26:56.75\00:27:00.02
but I think that's something
00:27:00.05\00:27:01.38
that God is
constantly working toward us.
00:27:01.42\00:27:03.52
Absolutely.
00:27:03.55\00:27:04.89
And, you know, I
think it's also our time,
00:27:04.92\00:27:07.26
but it's also,
again, what our will is.
00:27:07.29\00:27:11.49
Is it our will?
00:27:11.53\00:27:12.86
I mean, do we
consciously dying daily?
00:27:12.89\00:27:16.60
Refocus our lens
to focus on Jesus
00:27:16.63\00:27:21.00
because we get sidetracked.
00:27:21.04\00:27:23.41
I mean, and we will
continually get sidetracked.
00:27:23.44\00:27:27.28
But I think the
coming back to is like,
00:27:27.31\00:27:30.15
I have to refocus
what my goal is every day
00:27:30.18\00:27:34.12
because if we
don't have that focus
00:27:34.15\00:27:35.82
to turn to Jesus each day,
00:27:35.85\00:27:38.92
we're going to get sidetracked.
00:27:38.95\00:27:40.29
And whether it's, you
know, of a prideful mind,
00:27:40.32\00:27:42.66
or climbing up a
ladder, or in the workforce,
00:27:42.69\00:27:47.56
I mean, or,
just whatever status,
00:27:47.60\00:27:49.83
so you need material
things, whatever it is,
00:27:49.86\00:27:52.00
we need to know which
direction we need to go
00:27:52.03\00:27:55.37
because we do get hung up
on these different things.
00:27:55.40\00:27:57.51
I always call that
recalibrate your faith.
00:27:57.54\00:27:59.54
Yeah.
00:27:59.57\00:28:00.91
Because as an engineer,
00:28:00.94\00:28:02.28
you have
equipment and every once
00:28:02.31\00:28:03.71
in a while you
have to recalibrate it
00:28:03.75\00:28:05.35
because it's constantly drifting
00:28:05.38\00:28:06.82
either to the
left or to the right.
00:28:06.85\00:28:08.18
That's true.
00:28:08.22\00:28:09.55
And recalibration
requires one important thing,
00:28:09.58\00:28:12.55
it requires a source
to recalibrate it against.
00:28:12.59\00:28:16.09
A reliable source.
00:28:16.12\00:28:17.53
A reliable source.
00:28:17.56\00:28:18.89
Coming from the computer man...
00:28:18.93\00:28:20.73
That's good. Yeah.
00:28:20.76\00:28:22.23
And we all know
what that source is,
00:28:22.26\00:28:23.60
it's the Word of God.
00:28:23.63\00:28:24.97
And John 15:5, it says,
00:28:25.00\00:28:27.37
"I'm the vine,
you're the branches."
00:28:27.40\00:28:28.87
That's right. That's right.
00:28:28.90\00:28:30.24
So we need to
know that it's the vine
00:28:30.27\00:28:32.71
because if the branch is cut,
00:28:32.74\00:28:34.58
what happens to the branch?
00:28:34.61\00:28:35.94
It gets withered and it dies.
00:28:35.98\00:28:37.31
That's right. Absolutely.
00:28:37.35\00:28:38.78
I think, you know,
00:28:38.81\00:28:40.78
I remember this
is an example of me.
00:28:40.82\00:28:43.12
When I was in college,
00:28:43.15\00:28:44.49
I have a friend
00:28:44.52\00:28:45.85
and her parents
were really well off.
00:28:45.89\00:28:48.46
And I was kind
of envious of that
00:28:48.49\00:28:51.19
because she had a full...
00:28:51.23\00:28:53.90
Her school was
paid for, I had to work.
00:28:53.93\00:28:56.20
You know, she had
the finer things of life,
00:28:56.23\00:28:58.47
and I had things.
00:28:58.50\00:29:00.47
So, you know, but
then as my relationship,
00:29:00.50\00:29:05.01
when I made the conscious choice
00:29:05.04\00:29:07.88
to build my
relationship with Christ
00:29:07.91\00:29:10.18
and know that He loves me,
00:29:10.21\00:29:12.48
I felt kind of sorry
because she's looking
00:29:12.51\00:29:16.58
at material things.
00:29:16.62\00:29:17.95
And that's not going
to get you into heaven,
00:29:17.99\00:29:20.96
you know, all this
stuff is not going with us.
00:29:20.99\00:29:23.79
Wow. Yeah.
00:29:23.83\00:29:25.16
And so I'm more appreciative
00:29:25.19\00:29:28.30
of where I'm at now
with my walk with Christ
00:29:28.33\00:29:30.77
than when I was young,
00:29:30.80\00:29:32.63
getting in college
and looking at everything
00:29:32.67\00:29:34.50
that other people had.
00:29:34.54\00:29:35.87
And that's not important.
00:29:35.90\00:29:38.47
Absolutely.
00:29:38.51\00:29:39.84
Yeah. Yeah.
00:29:39.87\00:29:41.21
It's kind of interesting.
00:29:41.24\00:29:43.38
I look at that
and I see, you know,
00:29:43.41\00:29:47.05
I've struggled
with trying to build.
00:29:47.08\00:29:50.42
You know, when you're younger,
00:29:50.45\00:29:51.95
you want to start building
00:29:51.99\00:29:53.32
your, I don't know, your family,
00:29:53.36\00:29:55.96
your life, the
things around you.
00:29:55.99\00:29:59.16
And you get older and
then you realize, well,
00:29:59.19\00:30:01.60
the more you
have, the more you need
00:30:01.63\00:30:03.93
and then you're
focusing on all this stuff.
00:30:03.97\00:30:06.70
You're slave to it.
00:30:06.74\00:30:08.07
Oh, yeah.
00:30:08.10\00:30:09.44
So have we ever been
a slave to our stuff?
00:30:09.47\00:30:11.84
And I have.
00:30:11.87\00:30:13.54
And I find myself saying,
"Okay, it's time to put away."
00:30:13.58\00:30:17.65
And someone talked with
me something about, you know,
00:30:17.68\00:30:21.72
I want to get this
investment or buy this stock
00:30:21.75\00:30:24.72
and it's going to go up.
00:30:24.75\00:30:26.86
But you know,
when you look at it
00:30:26.89\00:30:29.16
from a holistic perspective,
00:30:29.19\00:30:31.93
everyone dies the same.
00:30:31.96\00:30:35.43
Whether we're richer,
we're poor, we die the same.
00:30:35.46\00:30:39.70
And it doesn't
matter after that.
00:30:39.73\00:30:41.54
Oh, no. Right.
00:30:41.57\00:30:42.90
What does matter is what,
where have we put our focus.
00:30:42.94\00:30:47.54
Because the Lord will
say, "Did you know Me?"
00:30:47.58\00:30:50.35
Right.
00:30:50.38\00:30:51.71
"Did you spend time with Me?
00:30:51.75\00:30:53.08
Did you focus where
I wanted you to focus
00:30:53.11\00:30:56.82
instead of our own
motives and own desires?"
00:30:56.85\00:30:59.82
Because we get into
that rut, and I have.
00:30:59.85\00:31:03.93
I get in that rut all the time,
00:31:03.96\00:31:05.46
because I want to focus on this
00:31:05.49\00:31:06.83
and I'm
interested in doing this,
00:31:06.86\00:31:08.73
or I think this in the
market is going to go up
00:31:08.76\00:31:11.93
whether I, you know,
00:31:11.97\00:31:13.34
work at 3ABN
00:31:13.37\00:31:14.70
and look at the
finances or even personally.
00:31:14.74\00:31:18.37
But then I have
to step back and say,
00:31:18.41\00:31:20.78
what's really important here,
00:31:20.81\00:31:22.14
and where is my time spent,
00:31:22.18\00:31:25.08
because that's the
greatest commodity.
00:31:25.11\00:31:27.15
One of the things
that really shook me up.
00:31:27.18\00:31:30.72
I mean Marylin is familiar
00:31:30.75\00:31:32.49
because we kind of
went through this together
00:31:32.52\00:31:33.86
was being at the
bedside of family members
00:31:33.89\00:31:37.03
who were passing away.
00:31:37.06\00:31:38.83
And the reason
why it shook me up
00:31:38.86\00:31:40.53
was because I always said,
if I was in that situation,
00:31:40.56\00:31:44.43
what would be the
last two things on my mind?
00:31:44.47\00:31:47.17
On pretty much anyone's mind.
00:31:47.20\00:31:49.87
And it always came
down to what's next?
00:31:49.90\00:31:52.41
God, eternity, and my family.
00:31:52.44\00:31:55.58
And I said to myself, well,
I have this pretty good career,
00:31:55.61\00:31:57.71
but I'm not focusing
00:31:57.75\00:31:59.08
on the two most
important things,
00:31:59.11\00:32:00.72
which is God and family.
00:32:00.75\00:32:03.15
Yeah.
00:32:03.18\00:32:04.99
Yeah, how many people
00:32:05.02\00:32:06.39
have you ever heard
of on their deathbed,
00:32:06.42\00:32:08.22
you know, got, you know,
in their last moments of life.
00:32:08.26\00:32:11.09
And it's like, man,
00:32:11.13\00:32:12.93
if only I could
have bought that Ferrari,
00:32:12.96\00:32:14.83
you know, if
only I could have had
00:32:14.86\00:32:16.73
a few more
thousand acres of land.
00:32:16.77\00:32:18.83
It changes your perspective.
00:32:18.87\00:32:21.00
It really does and
your priorities in life.
00:32:21.04\00:32:24.47
You realize that
this life is very short.
00:32:24.51\00:32:29.88
And having the finer
things in life is not important,
00:32:29.91\00:32:33.75
and I think that's
something Eric and I learned
00:32:33.78\00:32:35.85
when our parents passed away.
00:32:35.88\00:32:39.52
How we're living,
00:32:39.55\00:32:40.89
that's not what
God wants for us.
00:32:40.92\00:32:42.72
My last thought
will never be, boy,
00:32:42.76\00:32:44.53
I wish I made
CEO of that company.
00:32:44.56\00:32:45.99
Right, right.
00:32:46.03\00:32:47.76
If only I could have added
00:32:47.80\00:32:49.13
5,000 more
square feet to my home.
00:32:49.16\00:32:51.20
I wish I invested more stock.
00:32:51.23\00:32:52.77
It's just not going to be there,
00:32:52.80\00:32:54.30
it's going to be on
Marylin, family, and God.
00:32:54.34\00:32:57.04
And those are the
priorities in life
00:32:57.07\00:32:58.41
that I think we
should all focus on.
00:32:58.44\00:32:59.77
Right. Amen.
That's a great point.
00:32:59.81\00:33:01.14
You know, I remember this sermon
00:33:01.18\00:33:03.14
that was shared with me,
and it really stuck with me.
00:33:03.18\00:33:06.28
And it was a scenario
00:33:06.31\00:33:08.42
where the pastor
was talking about
00:33:08.45\00:33:10.69
how this person was
going down the road,
00:33:10.72\00:33:13.92
and a deer came out.
00:33:13.96\00:33:15.49
And as you know,
00:33:15.52\00:33:16.86
we have a lot of deer
around Southern Illinois,
00:33:16.89\00:33:18.96
and so you really
have to watch as you're,
00:33:18.99\00:33:21.00
you know, white knuckling
at home in the evening.
00:33:21.03\00:33:23.13
And we have this great option
00:33:23.16\00:33:28.00
of the subconscious
00:33:28.04\00:33:29.54
that if we know
what we're going to do,
00:33:29.57\00:33:32.07
our subconscious takes over.
00:33:32.11\00:33:34.34
So what this
pastor was saying is,
00:33:34.38\00:33:37.25
you don't want to
veer off and hit a tree,
00:33:37.28\00:33:39.51
because that's really hard,
00:33:39.55\00:33:41.45
you're better
off hitting the deer
00:33:41.48\00:33:43.55
and not veering off.
00:33:43.59\00:33:44.92
And I think that's,
like my Christian life,
00:33:44.95\00:33:48.89
is you need to focus
00:33:48.92\00:33:51.29
and know that you've
trained your subconscious.
00:33:51.33\00:33:54.40
So when a quick
situation needs to be decided,
00:33:54.43\00:33:58.50
you know, your subconscious
takes over and says,
00:33:58.53\00:34:01.17
"I'm going to do this." Amen.
00:34:01.20\00:34:02.54
That's a good point.
00:34:02.57\00:34:03.91
In fact, there's an
even an object lesson in that
00:34:03.94\00:34:05.27
as I would turn you describe
that I'm thinking to myself,
00:34:05.31\00:34:07.68
oftentimes people try to avoid
the obstacles in their path.
00:34:07.71\00:34:11.21
You know, if you can,
00:34:11.25\00:34:12.58
that's great from a
spiritual perspective,
00:34:12.61\00:34:13.95
but sometimes we
need to take them head on.
00:34:13.98\00:34:16.58
You know, Christ didn't avoid
the temptations of the devil,
00:34:16.62\00:34:19.45
oftentimes He
had no option, right?
00:34:19.49\00:34:21.49
So He just, He took it
head on and it was always
00:34:21.52\00:34:23.53
with an it is
written, thus says the Lord.
00:34:23.56\00:34:26.46
You said
something earlier, Francine,
00:34:26.49\00:34:28.10
that really sparked me.
00:34:28.13\00:34:29.46
As he was describing
his scenario you said,
00:34:29.50\00:34:33.07
you become a slave to it.
00:34:33.10\00:34:34.90
And the text that come
to my mind was Romans 16,
00:34:34.94\00:34:37.57
excuse me, Romans 6:16.
00:34:37.61\00:34:40.78
And I love this
text because it really
00:34:40.81\00:34:42.84
is just a lot of truth here.
00:34:42.88\00:34:44.21
It says, "Do you
not know that to whom
00:34:44.25\00:34:46.11
you present
yourselves slaves to obey,
00:34:46.15\00:34:49.25
you are that one's
slaves whom you obey,
00:34:49.28\00:34:53.09
whether of sin leading to death,
00:34:53.12\00:34:55.96
or of obedience
leading to righteousness?"
00:34:55.99\00:34:59.56
And I think to myself,
00:34:59.59\00:35:00.93
it really comes down to the fact
00:35:00.96\00:35:02.50
that we're
either a slave to self
00:35:02.53\00:35:05.17
or we're a slave to God.
00:35:05.20\00:35:06.63
You know, Paul
often starts a lot of his,
00:35:06.67\00:35:08.87
most of his
letters, his epistles with,
00:35:08.90\00:35:11.71
you know, Paul, a
bond-servant of Christ.
00:35:11.74\00:35:13.51
That's right.
00:35:13.54\00:35:14.88
He recognizes
that he is a slave,
00:35:14.91\00:35:16.24
but he would rather be a slave
00:35:16.28\00:35:17.61
to the King of
the universe, right,
00:35:17.65\00:35:19.45
than to be a slave to sin,
and to be a slave to himself,
00:35:19.48\00:35:22.62
and his own pride.
00:35:22.65\00:35:23.99
I'm thinking of, you
know, these different scenarios,
00:35:24.02\00:35:26.15
where we were talking
about why do people struggle,
00:35:26.19\00:35:27.62
you know, living
separate from the world,
00:35:27.66\00:35:29.22
or, you know, what are some
of the scruples and challenges?
00:35:29.26\00:35:31.36
You know, I'm thinking of
like some people have a problem
00:35:31.39\00:35:34.33
as we're just kind of
narrowing these down here.
00:35:34.36\00:35:36.16
Some people have a problem
with pride and self-glory.
00:35:36.20\00:35:38.80
And that was one of the things
00:35:38.83\00:35:40.17
that is mentioned
in those three banner
00:35:40.20\00:35:42.50
positions that's mentioned
00:35:42.54\00:35:44.41
in 1 John there
that we read earlier.
00:35:44.44\00:35:45.81
You know, the lust of the flesh,
00:35:45.84\00:35:47.18
the lust of the eyes,
and the pride of life.
00:35:47.21\00:35:49.34
Some people have a problem
with pride and self-glory,
00:35:49.38\00:35:52.81
they can't separate
themselves from the world,
00:35:52.85\00:35:55.62
they can't separate
themselves from the old man
00:35:55.65\00:35:57.85
or the carnal man
to the spiritual man
00:35:57.89\00:36:00.49
because self wants that
glory and that gratification
00:36:00.52\00:36:04.39
because of the pride
00:36:04.43\00:36:05.76
that they've built up in
their own heart and mind.
00:36:05.79\00:36:07.90
For instance, Matthew 6:2 and 5,
00:36:07.93\00:36:10.77
I just want to read
this really quickly.
00:36:10.80\00:36:12.80
It says, "Therefore, when you do
00:36:12.83\00:36:14.24
a charitable deed..."
00:36:14.27\00:36:15.60
This is Jesus
speaking of the Pharisees,
00:36:15.64\00:36:17.44
the spiritual leaders, right?
00:36:17.47\00:36:19.37
It's like, "No, no."
00:36:19.41\00:36:20.74
You know, Jesus is
going to tell us a parable
00:36:20.78\00:36:22.48
and He's going to talk
about these sinners over here,
00:36:22.51\00:36:24.45
but, man, He goes
right to the top and says,
00:36:24.48\00:36:26.08
"No, no, I'm going to tell you
about your spiritual leaders,
00:36:26.11\00:36:28.95
you know, you look up to them,
00:36:28.98\00:36:30.32
but yet their heart
isn't right either."
00:36:30.35\00:36:31.82
And he says, "Therefore,
when you do a charitable deed,
00:36:31.85\00:36:34.39
do not sound a
trumpet before you
00:36:34.42\00:36:36.39
as the hypocrites
do in the synagogues
00:36:36.42\00:36:38.53
and in the streets,
00:36:38.56\00:36:39.89
that they may
have glory from men."
00:36:39.93\00:36:42.73
And in verse 5, again, he says,
00:36:42.76\00:36:44.30
"And when you pray, you shall
not be like the hypocrites.
00:36:44.33\00:36:47.24
For they love to pray
standing in the synagogues
00:36:47.27\00:36:49.84
and on the street corners,
that they may be seen by men.
00:36:49.87\00:36:54.14
Assuredly, I say to
you, they have their reward."
00:36:54.18\00:36:57.01
And so that's
one of those things
00:36:57.05\00:36:58.68
that often people they can't,
00:36:58.71\00:37:00.32
they struggle
with that separation
00:37:00.35\00:37:04.09
of the holy and the profane or,
00:37:04.12\00:37:06.05
you know, the
carnal from the spiritual
00:37:06.09\00:37:07.52
because they
feed that that beast
00:37:07.56\00:37:10.56
within them that says, you know,
00:37:10.59\00:37:11.93
I just got to have
more and more attention.
00:37:11.96\00:37:13.80
I want people to
think highly of me.
00:37:13.83\00:37:15.46
And there comes that
pride aspect involved there.
00:37:15.50\00:37:18.17
What about the material things?
00:37:18.20\00:37:19.83
Obviously, some people
can't break away from the world
00:37:19.87\00:37:22.90
because of
their material things.
00:37:22.94\00:37:24.31
Why don't, Francine,
00:37:24.34\00:37:26.07
why don't you read
Matthew 13:22 there?
00:37:26.11\00:37:30.88
Jesus is speaking
about the material things
00:37:30.91\00:37:33.01
of the world.
00:37:33.05\00:37:34.45
Making sure I have it,
00:37:34.48\00:37:35.82
"Now he who received
seed on the good ground
00:37:35.85\00:37:39.79
is he who hears the
word and understands it,
00:37:39.82\00:37:42.72
who indeed bears fruit
00:37:42.76\00:37:44.59
and produces some
100 fold some 60 fold
00:37:44.63\00:37:49.70
and some 30.
00:37:49.73\00:37:51.07
Was that Matthew 13:22?
00:37:51.10\00:37:52.43
I am sorry. No, that's okay.
00:37:52.47\00:37:53.87
Matthew 13:22.
00:37:53.90\00:37:55.24
You're in the
right area, though.
00:37:55.27\00:37:56.77
"Now he received
seed among the thorns,
00:37:56.81\00:37:59.01
and he who hears the
word and cares of this world,
00:37:59.04\00:38:02.74
and the deceitfulness of riches
00:38:02.78\00:38:04.65
choke the word, and
he becomes unfruitful."
00:38:04.68\00:38:07.88
No, we don't want
to become unfruitful.
00:38:07.92\00:38:09.58
Oh, my goodness. Right.
00:38:09.62\00:38:10.95
So can I tell you a scenario
00:38:10.99\00:38:12.75
that I think my
wife kind of hit on
00:38:12.79\00:38:16.19
and that made me think of it?
00:38:16.22\00:38:17.56
So we were married
for about five years
00:38:17.59\00:38:20.56
and we decided to
build another house.
00:38:20.60\00:38:22.06
Okay.
00:38:22.10\00:38:23.43
And we built this house
and it was "our dream home."
00:38:23.47\00:38:27.24
And we put all our time in it.
00:38:27.27\00:38:29.54
And for three
years all we were doing
00:38:29.57\00:38:31.61
was putting our time.
00:38:31.64\00:38:33.61
We didn't spend any time
with our friends, our family,
00:38:33.64\00:38:36.61
it was just adding to this home.
00:38:36.64\00:38:39.78
And I realized
00:38:39.81\00:38:41.45
that I was so involved in
this that nothing else mattered.
00:38:41.48\00:38:47.09
So the Lord said,
"It's time for you to go."
00:38:47.12\00:38:49.72
So we decided we had to...
00:38:49.76\00:38:52.19
We want to do the Lord's will,
00:38:52.23\00:38:53.80
that was something
00:38:53.83\00:38:55.16
that was really ingrained in us.
00:38:55.20\00:38:56.53
So we decided to
sell this house and leave.
00:38:56.56\00:38:59.47
And as I'm
driving to the new place,
00:38:59.50\00:39:01.90
and it was from,
00:39:01.94\00:39:03.27
it was from Michigan to Seattle,
00:39:03.30\00:39:04.67
so I had, you know,
two and a half days of,
00:39:04.71\00:39:08.04
you know, just that road noise
and the thinking of three years
00:39:08.08\00:39:12.11
just being a
slave to this house.
00:39:12.15\00:39:13.85
And I told my wife, I said,
00:39:13.88\00:39:16.22
"I am not going
to do this again."
00:39:16.25\00:39:18.92
I mean, the people that came
into our house and my friends,
00:39:18.95\00:39:23.22
they didn't
even want to sit down
00:39:23.26\00:39:24.99
because it was so
clean, it was so, you know...
00:39:25.03\00:39:28.03
They would say does
anybody really live here?
00:39:28.06\00:39:30.37
That's right. And it was like...
00:39:30.40\00:39:32.00
And I was thinking
of all these thoughts
00:39:32.03\00:39:35.04
and I realized that
I lost relationships,
00:39:35.07\00:39:37.54
I lost talking with my neighbor.
00:39:37.57\00:39:39.07
So then this is what I did.
00:39:39.11\00:39:41.24
I changed 180
out and I just said,
00:39:41.28\00:39:45.11
"You know what?
00:39:45.15\00:39:46.48
I'm going to talk
with my neighbors.
00:39:46.51\00:39:47.85
I'm not going to care
about my house anymore,
00:39:47.88\00:39:49.22
well, within reason."
00:39:49.25\00:39:50.59
I was gonna... Mowing the lawn.
00:39:50.62\00:39:51.95
So, and there's mountains,
and I wanted to see it all.
00:39:51.99\00:39:57.03
And I built
relationships with neighbors.
00:39:57.06\00:39:59.13
And it's amazing when
you talk with your neighbors,
00:39:59.16\00:40:01.86
how much Jesus can
come in the picture
00:40:01.90\00:40:05.17
and how you can witness.
00:40:05.20\00:40:06.74
I didn't have that. Right.
00:40:06.77\00:40:08.30
Because my focus
was on this house
00:40:08.34\00:40:09.84
instead of people,
00:40:09.87\00:40:11.24
which that's what God sees
00:40:11.27\00:40:13.51
the most valuable focus for us
00:40:13.54\00:40:17.91
is our brothers and sisters
00:40:17.95\00:40:19.51
building
relationship, not only with God,
00:40:19.55\00:40:21.45
but with our
brothers and sisters.
00:40:21.48\00:40:22.82
That's right. Amen. Amen.
00:40:22.85\00:40:24.19
And so I learned that, yeah,
00:40:24.22\00:40:25.55
material things are
important for us to live,
00:40:25.59\00:40:29.46
but I think there's a balance
00:40:29.49\00:40:30.83
that you really need to
focus on what's important.
00:40:30.86\00:40:32.93
Absolutely. That's right.
00:40:32.96\00:40:34.30
And focus on people, focus.
00:40:34.33\00:40:35.66
And I love mountains,
00:40:35.70\00:40:37.03
so I climb, you know, Whitney,
00:40:37.07\00:40:38.67
and Baker and
Adams and it was great.
00:40:38.70\00:40:42.77
But it was those
times that I was separated
00:40:42.80\00:40:45.21
from all the things of the world
00:40:45.24\00:40:46.88
that I realize
what's really important.
00:40:46.91\00:40:49.61
Wow. I like that.
00:40:49.64\00:40:50.98
That's powerful. Powerful.
00:40:51.01\00:40:53.18
What about family
00:40:53.21\00:40:54.88
and the social
pressures around us?
00:40:54.92\00:40:56.69
Could that be a
hindrance to some people?
00:40:56.72\00:40:58.42
They say, you know
what, I want to follow...
00:40:58.45\00:41:00.76
This has happened so many times,
00:41:00.79\00:41:02.12
let me just, let me
paint this picture very clear.
00:41:02.16\00:41:04.13
So, you know,
where I'm coming from.
00:41:04.16\00:41:06.33
There are so many
times and it breaks my heart,
00:41:06.36\00:41:08.40
I've went out on the road,
00:41:08.43\00:41:09.76
I've preached an
evangelistic series,
00:41:09.80\00:41:11.37
and you come down toward
the end of the series where,
00:41:11.40\00:41:13.67
you know, you've
provided opportunities
00:41:13.70\00:41:16.10
for people to make a decision.
00:41:16.14\00:41:17.47
And you get those decisions,
00:41:17.51\00:41:18.87
you get those individuals
that they see the truth,
00:41:18.91\00:41:21.54
they know what's
truth, they hear it,
00:41:21.58\00:41:23.28
and it's like, they get
excited about it, right?
00:41:23.31\00:41:25.15
And it's like, "Yes!" You know,
00:41:25.18\00:41:26.75
I want to join
God's remnant church
00:41:26.78\00:41:28.18
and I want to be
a remnant Christian
00:41:28.22\00:41:30.02
who keeps God's commandments.
00:41:30.05\00:41:31.39
And, yes, and so
they commit to that,
00:41:31.42\00:41:33.86
but then it's
just a matter of time
00:41:33.89\00:41:36.59
before family,
friends come along,
00:41:36.62\00:41:40.33
and they get in their ear,
00:41:40.36\00:41:41.70
you know, what's that
church you're going to?
00:41:41.73\00:41:43.63
What's that they taught you?
00:41:43.67\00:41:45.30
And then before you know
it, that person that was coming,
00:41:45.33\00:41:48.50
you know, consistently
they will they stop coming.
00:41:48.54\00:41:50.07
That's right.
00:41:50.11\00:41:51.44
And then you investigate
the situation and find out
00:41:51.47\00:41:53.41
oh, family got to
them, friends got to them.
00:41:53.44\00:41:57.11
Because they allowed
00:41:57.15\00:41:58.85
that social family
relationship pressure
00:41:58.88\00:42:02.22
to kind of blind
them and crowd out,
00:42:02.25\00:42:05.09
almost like the thorns,
00:42:05.12\00:42:06.45
almost like the
seed that was sown again
00:42:06.49\00:42:08.49
by the, you know,
on the stony ground.
00:42:08.52\00:42:10.73
It wasn't able to take root,
00:42:10.76\00:42:12.19
the devil swoops down
00:42:12.23\00:42:13.56
and he plucks that
right up real quick.
00:42:13.60\00:42:15.33
And so the text
that has come to my mind,
00:42:15.36\00:42:17.43
maybe, Marylin, if
you want to read this.
00:42:17.47\00:42:18.97
Luke 9:57-62.
00:42:19.00\00:42:23.30
Luke 9:57-62.
Read the text there.
00:42:23.34\00:42:26.47
Okay.
00:42:26.51\00:42:27.84
"Now it happened as
they journeyed on the road,
00:42:27.88\00:42:30.45
that someone said to Him,
00:42:30.48\00:42:32.55
'Lord, I will follow
You wherever You go.'
00:42:32.58\00:42:35.85
And Jesus said to him,
00:42:35.88\00:42:37.59
'Foxes have holes
00:42:37.62\00:42:39.35
and birds of the air have nests,
00:42:39.39\00:42:41.92
but the Son of Man has
nowhere to lay His head.'
00:42:41.96\00:42:45.56
Then He said to
another, 'Follow Me.'
00:42:45.59\00:42:48.13
But he said,
00:42:48.16\00:42:49.50
'Lord, let me first
go and bury my father.'
00:42:49.53\00:42:52.63
Jesus said to him,
00:42:52.67\00:42:54.04
'Let the dead
bury their own dead,
00:42:54.07\00:42:58.14
but you go and
preach the kingdom of God.'
00:42:58.17\00:43:00.81
And another one also said,
00:43:00.84\00:43:03.65
'Lord, I will follow You,
00:43:03.68\00:43:05.35
but let me first go
and bid them farewell
00:43:05.38\00:43:08.72
who are at my house.'
00:43:08.75\00:43:11.42
But Jesus said to him,
00:43:11.45\00:43:13.86
'No one, having put
his hand to the plow,
00:43:13.89\00:43:17.79
and looking back,
00:43:17.83\00:43:19.16
is fit for the kingdom of God.'"
00:43:19.19\00:43:20.70
Wow.
00:43:20.73\00:43:22.23
I have a friend and
Marylin knows who he is,
00:43:22.26\00:43:26.03
who is going
through this right now.
00:43:26.07\00:43:27.97
He's accepted the message.
00:43:28.00\00:43:30.01
He said,
"You've taught me things
00:43:30.04\00:43:31.97
I had a suspicion about,
00:43:32.01\00:43:33.68
but I didn't know
when we've covered
00:43:33.71\00:43:35.58
the mass of subjects."
00:43:35.61\00:43:37.78
But he said,
before he starts going,
00:43:37.81\00:43:39.51
he needs to convince his
wife and family to go with him.
00:43:39.55\00:43:45.25
And he's been going
through a battle with them
00:43:45.29\00:43:47.72
where they said, you're
trying to tear apart the family.
00:43:47.76\00:43:50.13
You know, they come
from another denomination,
00:43:50.16\00:43:52.26
historical family lineage
of this singular denomination.
00:43:52.29\00:43:57.07
And he said,
00:43:57.10\00:43:58.43
"I need to convince my wife
and so forth to go with me."
00:43:58.47\00:44:01.17
I said, "No, you
don't want to do that."
00:44:01.20\00:44:03.20
And that reminds me
of Matthew 10:37-39.
00:44:03.24\00:44:09.04
I didn't say this to him
00:44:09.08\00:44:10.41
because I didn't
want to discourage him.
00:44:10.45\00:44:11.78
It's kind of a strong verse.
00:44:11.81\00:44:13.15
Yeah, go ahead.
00:44:13.18\00:44:14.52
But it says,
00:44:14.55\00:44:15.88
"He who loves father or mother
00:44:15.92\00:44:17.25
more than Me is
not worthy of Me.
00:44:17.29\00:44:19.12
And he who loves son
or daughter more than Me
00:44:19.15\00:44:21.46
is not worthy of Me.
00:44:21.49\00:44:22.92
And he who does
not take his cross
00:44:22.96\00:44:24.76
and follow after Me
is not worthy of Me.
00:44:24.79\00:44:27.66
He who finds his
life will lose it,
00:44:27.70\00:44:30.27
and he who loses his life
for My sake will find it."
00:44:30.30\00:44:32.90
Wow.
00:44:32.93\00:44:34.27
The one thing I
told my friend was,
00:44:34.30\00:44:37.37
"You have to lead and set
00:44:37.41\00:44:40.04
the example for them to follow."
00:44:40.08\00:44:42.44
And he's a
military guy like I was,
00:44:42.48\00:44:44.91
and I compared it to a general,
00:44:44.95\00:44:46.78
the generals on the White Horse,
00:44:46.82\00:44:48.38
they would lead and inspire
the troops to follow them.
00:44:48.42\00:44:51.39
So I said, "If you
want to inspire your family
00:44:51.42\00:44:53.56
to truly follow you,
00:44:53.59\00:44:55.16
you need to
show them your heart,
00:44:55.19\00:44:57.86
and show them the
church and the gospel."
00:44:57.89\00:45:00.60
And then they'll
be impressed enough
00:45:00.63\00:45:02.26
to follow you,
00:45:02.30\00:45:03.63
but don't wait for them
00:45:03.67\00:45:05.00
because Satan's
going to make sure
00:45:05.03\00:45:06.37
that they never go.
00:45:06.40\00:45:07.90
Absolutely, absolutely.
00:45:07.94\00:45:09.80
You know, it can be tough.
00:45:09.84\00:45:11.17
It can be tough when
you have a close bond
00:45:11.21\00:45:14.04
with friends, family members,
00:45:14.08\00:45:15.71
and then God
brings you this light.
00:45:15.74\00:45:17.85
And, you know,
00:45:17.88\00:45:19.98
Jesus never said
that it was easy,
00:45:20.02\00:45:21.35
it wouldn't be easy,
00:45:21.38\00:45:22.72
but yet Jesus
knows what's best for us.
00:45:22.75\00:45:24.99
And sometimes the
toughest decision to make
00:45:25.02\00:45:26.65
is to follow Christ and His will
00:45:26.69\00:45:28.66
over even what our family is,
00:45:28.69\00:45:31.16
tells us or what
is expected of us.
00:45:31.19\00:45:33.43
I had a friend years
ago, I witnessed too.
00:45:33.46\00:45:35.20
He's my best friend.
00:45:35.23\00:45:36.56
And I'd share with him
all these powerful truths
00:45:36.60\00:45:39.20
that I was learning.
00:45:39.23\00:45:40.57
And he became so convicted
00:45:40.60\00:45:41.94
that he went back
home and he decided...
00:45:41.97\00:45:44.21
He was living with
his parents at the time.
00:45:44.24\00:45:45.97
And we were both in
our first year of college.
00:45:46.01\00:45:48.58
And I remember he
said to me, he said,
00:45:48.61\00:45:50.31
"You know, I'm
still so convicted.
00:45:50.35\00:45:51.68
I'm know my family's
not going to like this,
00:45:51.71\00:45:54.12
but I'm just
going to follow God.
00:45:54.15\00:45:55.55
I just feel
convicted that is his truth."
00:45:55.58\00:45:57.19
And so I prayed for him
00:45:57.22\00:45:58.62
because I knew his
parents and I knew his dad,
00:45:58.65\00:46:00.26
and his dad was very hardcore.
00:46:00.29\00:46:02.16
And so there came
that day when his dad
00:46:02.19\00:46:05.19
gave him this big
long list of tasks to do.
00:46:05.23\00:46:07.96
And it was on Saturday.
00:46:08.00\00:46:09.93
And my friend told him,
00:46:09.96\00:46:11.30
"Dad, you know,
I feel convicted.
00:46:11.33\00:46:13.20
You know, I've recently learned
that the biblical Sabbath
00:46:13.23\00:46:14.97
is Friday night sundown
to Saturday night sundown.
00:46:15.00\00:46:17.01
And so during
that 24-hour period,
00:46:17.04\00:46:18.57
Father, I don't
want to do anything.
00:46:18.61\00:46:20.41
So if you could just, you know,
00:46:20.44\00:46:21.78
I can do it maybe on Sunday
or do it one day this week."
00:46:21.81\00:46:23.98
And his dad got so
infuriated with him,
00:46:24.01\00:46:26.72
because this
happened week after week.
00:46:26.75\00:46:28.25
And so finally his
dad kicked him out.
00:46:28.28\00:46:29.62
His own dad, his own
dad said, "Get out of here."
00:46:29.65\00:46:32.89
And I couldn't...
00:46:32.92\00:46:34.26
It's been a while since
I've talked to this friend,
00:46:34.29\00:46:35.89
but I think even
still to this day,
00:46:35.92\00:46:37.29
his father has nothing to do
with him because of his choice.
00:46:37.33\00:46:40.30
But yeah, I have to say
00:46:40.33\00:46:41.66
the Lord has just been
working through this young man
00:46:41.70\00:46:43.97
because he loves his father,
00:46:44.00\00:46:45.83
he wants to have a
relationship with his father,
00:46:45.87\00:46:47.64
but he recognizes
that his relationship
00:46:47.67\00:46:49.97
with his Father
is more important
00:46:50.01\00:46:52.41
than his
relationship with his father.
00:46:52.44\00:46:54.54
And this is the
concept you were just reading.
00:46:54.58\00:46:56.24
You know, what Jesus
just said in Matthew 10:37-39,
00:46:56.28\00:47:00.65
he who loves his
father and mother more than Me
00:47:00.68\00:47:02.62
is not worthy to Me or
his son or his daughter.
00:47:02.65\00:47:04.32
Jesus isn't saying, you
know, don't love your father,
00:47:04.35\00:47:06.72
don't love your
mother, don't love your kids,
00:47:06.76\00:47:08.52
what He's saying is
this relationship won't work
00:47:08.56\00:47:11.99
unless this relationship works.
00:47:12.03\00:47:14.16
And oftentimes, you know,
00:47:14.20\00:47:15.53
oftentimes this relationship
00:47:15.56\00:47:17.63
will cause a
severing of relationship here.
00:47:17.67\00:47:21.27
And then there
comes the real challenge.
00:47:21.30\00:47:22.74
Can you take the heat?
00:47:22.77\00:47:24.11
And are you
willing to say, Father,
00:47:24.14\00:47:25.47
I don't know why
this is happening,
00:47:25.51\00:47:26.94
but I trust you even though
it seems this is unrepairable?
00:47:26.98\00:47:31.31
So I would say, Francine,
we actually can attest to this.
00:47:31.35\00:47:36.48
When we left
Michigan to go to Washington,
00:47:36.52\00:47:39.39
we left our family,
00:47:39.42\00:47:41.09
we left our friends,
00:47:41.12\00:47:42.56
we left everything we knew
to a place, and I grew up...
00:47:42.59\00:47:46.33
I mean, I was
born in New Jersey,
00:47:46.36\00:47:47.70
I grew up in the East Coast,
and then we went to Michigan,
00:47:47.73\00:47:50.70
and so everything was
there, everything that we loved,
00:47:50.73\00:47:54.94
everything that we knew,
00:47:54.97\00:47:56.57
but we had that calling
because we serve God first.
00:47:56.60\00:48:00.61
Amen.
00:48:00.64\00:48:01.98
And even though
we loved our family,
00:48:02.01\00:48:03.41
and we had
really good connections.
00:48:03.45\00:48:06.11
It did sever.
00:48:06.15\00:48:07.48
It did sever, and it was hard.
00:48:07.52\00:48:09.98
And still today we
talk about a little bit,
00:48:10.02\00:48:13.25
but the Lord blessed us
00:48:13.29\00:48:14.89
in other ways that we
would have never seen it
00:48:14.92\00:48:17.29
if we had stayed.
00:48:17.33\00:48:18.73
That's right. That's right.
00:48:18.76\00:48:20.10
And so, you know, you
need to take that leap.
00:48:20.13\00:48:23.37
You need to take
that step forward
00:48:23.40\00:48:26.37
and the Lord will help you
00:48:26.40\00:48:27.74
as long as you're
abiding in Christ.
00:48:27.77\00:48:29.54
Amen. Right.
00:48:29.57\00:48:30.91
And knowing what His will is.
00:48:30.94\00:48:32.81
And, you know,
there's multiple ways
00:48:32.84\00:48:34.31
to test it and understand it,
00:48:34.34\00:48:36.14
but when the Lord impresses you,
00:48:36.18\00:48:38.55
you cannot deny it.
00:48:38.58\00:48:39.91
Amen. But it's hard.
00:48:39.95\00:48:41.58
I mean, it was a struggle for us
00:48:41.62\00:48:42.95
because we loved where we were.
00:48:42.98\00:48:44.69
I told you...
00:48:44.72\00:48:46.05
Lots of tears in
between. That's right.
00:48:46.09\00:48:47.56
We built our dream home,
00:48:47.59\00:48:48.92
we didn't want to leave
it after the three years.
00:48:48.96\00:48:50.76
Right. We left it all.
00:48:50.79\00:48:52.63
And that's where the
focus came back for us
00:48:52.66\00:48:55.90
that the things of this world,
it's just, it's a big anchor.
00:48:55.93\00:48:59.93
It is. It is.
00:48:59.97\00:49:01.30
That's where you
have to trust in God.
00:49:01.34\00:49:03.10
I don't know if this is similar,
00:49:03.14\00:49:06.37
but kind of like a lot in
his wife, you know, he said,
00:49:06.41\00:49:09.31
don't look back
and she looked back.
00:49:09.34\00:49:10.95
Yes.
00:49:10.98\00:49:12.31
That's kind of like
a materialistic thing.
00:49:12.35\00:49:14.82
You know, what
am I leaving behind,
00:49:14.85\00:49:16.52
but we have to have
faith and trust in God that,
00:49:16.55\00:49:20.52
you know, He's
going to take care of us.
00:49:20.56\00:49:22.09
And those relationships
that may be broken,
00:49:22.12\00:49:24.96
may be mended later on.
00:49:24.99\00:49:26.90
Amen. You know, God wants us.
00:49:26.93\00:49:29.13
He has to know
00:49:29.16\00:49:30.50
whether or not
we're on His side or not.
00:49:30.53\00:49:31.97
And there are some
determining factors
00:49:32.00\00:49:34.10
that categorize if a
person is on His side.
00:49:34.14\00:49:37.07
And this is where
our viewers at home
00:49:37.11\00:49:39.47
definitely need to
tune in at this moment
00:49:39.51\00:49:41.34
because now I want to talk about
00:49:41.38\00:49:42.81
what are some of
the determining factors
00:49:42.84\00:49:45.45
that categorize a person
as being on God's side or not,
00:49:45.48\00:49:48.68
in other words, in the world
00:49:48.72\00:49:50.05
or being led by
the Spirit of the Lord.
00:49:50.09\00:49:52.02
So why don't somebody
read for us Matthew 7:21-23.
00:49:52.05\00:49:57.19
So it says in 21,
00:49:57.23\00:50:00.60
"Not everyone can
say to Me, 'Lord, Lord,'
00:50:00.63\00:50:03.67
shall enter the
kingdom of heaven,
00:50:03.70\00:50:05.53
but he who does the
will of My Father in heaven.
00:50:05.57\00:50:09.50
Many will say to Me in that day,
00:50:09.54\00:50:11.91
'Lord, Lord, have we
not prophesied in Your name,
00:50:11.94\00:50:16.28
cast out demons in Your name,
00:50:16.31\00:50:18.41
done many wonders in Your name?'
00:50:18.45\00:50:21.28
And then I will declare to them,
00:50:21.32\00:50:23.95
'I never knew you,
00:50:23.99\00:50:25.99
depart from Me, you
who practice lawlessness!'"
00:50:26.02\00:50:30.13
Wow, that's deep.
00:50:30.16\00:50:31.49
That's deep,
00:50:31.53\00:50:32.86
because He
essentially just said,
00:50:32.89\00:50:34.23
there's people
that call out to Me,
00:50:34.26\00:50:36.10
"Lord, Lord," you know, right?
00:50:36.13\00:50:37.47
There will be people
00:50:37.50\00:50:38.83
who will say to Him, Lord, Lord,
00:50:38.87\00:50:40.20
have we not done
this and this and this,
00:50:40.24\00:50:41.57
and they start listing
their Christian attributes.
00:50:41.60\00:50:43.10
You know, I was an
elder in the church.
00:50:43.14\00:50:45.14
Lord, I was a deacon, I
returned my tithe every week.
00:50:45.17\00:50:48.04
I helped that, you know,
soup kitchen down the road,
00:50:48.08\00:50:50.18
I helped feed the poor.
00:50:50.21\00:50:51.55
So they're listing off
00:50:51.58\00:50:52.91
their Christian
attributes, you know.
00:50:52.95\00:50:54.32
I've done this
and I've done this,
00:50:54.35\00:50:55.68
and I've done this, but
yet God knows the heart.
00:50:55.72\00:50:58.22
And so what did He give?
00:50:58.25\00:50:59.59
We got right to
the heart of the issue.
00:50:59.62\00:51:00.96
He says, I don't
know you, depart from Me,
00:51:00.99\00:51:02.96
you who practice lawlessness.
00:51:02.99\00:51:05.66
And that's the key there.
00:51:05.69\00:51:07.23
Notice at the top of
that verse there in verse 21,
00:51:07.26\00:51:11.03
it says, but he who
does the will of my Father,
00:51:11.07\00:51:14.20
which is in heaven.
00:51:14.24\00:51:15.57
But this is also interesting.
00:51:15.60\00:51:16.97
This is where a
little bit of study
00:51:17.01\00:51:18.34
and little word search comes in.
00:51:18.37\00:51:19.71
But if you simply
search, you know, will of God,
00:51:19.74\00:51:22.34
it will lead you to Psalm 40:8,
00:51:22.38\00:51:25.25
when determining
what is God's will.
00:51:25.28\00:51:26.85
This is a good
text to read here.
00:51:26.88\00:51:29.05
Psalm 40:8, the Psalmist writes,
00:51:29.08\00:51:31.45
"I delight to do
Your will, O my God,
00:51:31.49\00:51:34.29
And Your law is
within my heart."
00:51:34.32\00:51:37.99
If we're going to
be on the Lord side,
00:51:38.03\00:51:40.30
and we're going to make sure
00:51:40.33\00:51:41.66
that we're not
living in the world,
00:51:41.70\00:51:43.03
that means we need
to be a commandment,
00:51:43.06\00:51:44.43
keeping people,
honoring God's commandments.
00:51:44.47\00:51:47.44
And, you know
again, I do not know you,
00:51:47.47\00:51:50.11
just to confirm
this even more, Francine,
00:51:50.14\00:51:53.14
why don't you read 1 John 2:3-6.
00:51:53.17\00:51:57.01
So again, Christ just
said, you know, depart from Me,
00:51:57.05\00:52:00.02
you who practice
lawlessness, I do not know you.
00:52:00.05\00:52:03.15
And so the question
is, how do we know God?
00:52:03.18\00:52:05.09
And we said, the will
of God is to keep His law.
00:52:05.12\00:52:07.56
Notice what 1 John 2:3-6 says.
00:52:07.59\00:52:10.29
"Now by this we
know that we know Him,
00:52:10.33\00:52:13.03
if we keep His commandments.
00:52:13.06\00:52:14.80
He who says, 'I know Him,'
00:52:14.83\00:52:16.97
and does not
keep His commandments,
00:52:17.00\00:52:19.43
is a liar, and the
truth is not in him.
00:52:19.47\00:52:22.57
But whoever keeps His word,
00:52:22.60\00:52:24.34
truly the love of
God is perfect in him.
00:52:24.37\00:52:28.18
By this we know
that we are in Him.
00:52:28.21\00:52:30.88
He who says he
abides in Him ought himself
00:52:30.91\00:52:34.25
also to walk just as He walked."
00:52:34.28\00:52:36.38
That's pretty powerful.
00:52:36.42\00:52:38.65
You know, what you
said in the beginning,
00:52:38.69\00:52:41.12
I did this and I did that,
00:52:41.16\00:52:43.59
basically you're
just taking Jesus,
00:52:43.63\00:52:46.29
the only I am
out of the picture.
00:52:46.33\00:52:49.66
That's right. And when...
00:52:49.70\00:52:51.07
And you know what's
great about the Lord?
00:52:51.10\00:52:52.67
He'll let you.
00:52:52.70\00:52:54.04
He'll let you do it.
00:52:54.07\00:52:55.47
That's right.
00:52:55.50\00:52:56.84
Because He wants
someone to partner with Him
00:52:56.87\00:53:00.58
to be a part of Him not to be,
00:53:00.61\00:53:03.48
you know, I want
you to do this and,
00:53:03.51\00:53:06.05
and if you don't
do this, it is...
00:53:06.08\00:53:07.95
If you want to do that,
this is what's going to happen.
00:53:07.98\00:53:10.52
So it's, you know,
00:53:10.55\00:53:12.55
allowing Christ
to be the part in you
00:53:12.59\00:53:16.09
that will guide you instead of,
00:53:16.12\00:53:18.06
I've done this,
take the I out and say,
00:53:18.09\00:53:20.80
he's doing it in me.
00:53:20.83\00:53:22.46
You got it, man. You got it.
00:53:22.50\00:53:23.83
It all comes down
that He must increase
00:53:23.87\00:53:25.20
and I must decrease.
00:53:25.23\00:53:26.74
So we have...
00:53:26.77\00:53:28.10
I'm looking at the time here,
we have about four minutes.
00:53:28.14\00:53:29.47
I want to get
into this last section,
00:53:29.50\00:53:30.84
because we're talking about
being separate from the world,
00:53:30.87\00:53:33.48
but we got to get to
these last three scriptures
00:53:33.51\00:53:35.48
of our study guide here.
00:53:35.51\00:53:36.85
And the
question I'm asking here,
00:53:36.88\00:53:38.51
I think is a relevant one,
00:53:38.55\00:53:39.88
what benefits will come
as a result in living for God
00:53:39.91\00:53:44.02
separate from the world?
00:53:44.05\00:53:45.42
There's someone at
home that says right now,
00:53:45.45\00:53:46.79
"You know what, Ryan, I want
to be separate from the world,
00:53:46.82\00:53:48.22
I want to live separate.
00:53:48.26\00:53:49.59
I want to trust God,
00:53:49.62\00:53:50.96
I don't even
know what that means,
00:53:50.99\00:53:52.33
but you know
what are the benefits
00:53:52.36\00:53:53.70
that if I follow God
00:53:53.73\00:53:55.06
and I trust Him and do His will?
00:53:55.10\00:53:56.43
What are these benefits?"
00:53:56.46\00:53:57.80
So, Marilyn, why don't
you take Psalm 119:165?
00:53:57.83\00:54:01.10
And then, Eric, why
don't you take John 8:32?
00:54:01.14\00:54:04.31
And then my brother, Jason,
00:54:04.34\00:54:06.98
why don't you take 1 Peter 1:22?
00:54:07.01\00:54:08.58
So we'll start
with you, Marilyn.
00:54:08.61\00:54:09.94
Okay.
00:54:09.98\00:54:12.71
165?
00:54:12.75\00:54:14.08
Psalm 119:165. Okay.
00:54:14.12\00:54:16.55
"Great peace have
those who love Your law,
00:54:16.58\00:54:19.59
and nothing
causes them to stumble."
00:54:19.62\00:54:22.12
So if we follow the Lord,
00:54:22.16\00:54:24.69
and we are
commandment keeping people,
00:54:24.73\00:54:26.59
and we're obedient to Him,
00:54:26.63\00:54:27.96
what does He promise us?
00:54:28.00\00:54:29.33
I'll give you peace.
00:54:29.36\00:54:30.70
Isn't that what
the world is seeking?
00:54:30.73\00:54:32.07
Don't you hear more and more...
00:54:32.10\00:54:33.44
We live in a stressful world.
00:54:33.47\00:54:34.87
And I hear
people say all the time,
00:54:34.90\00:54:36.24
oh, if I can only have peace,
00:54:36.27\00:54:37.61
God can provide
that peace, right?
00:54:37.64\00:54:38.97
Amen.
00:54:39.01\00:54:40.34
All right,
Brother Eric, John 8:32.
00:54:40.38\00:54:42.34
"And you shall know the truth,
00:54:42.38\00:54:43.71
and the truth
shall make you free."
00:54:43.75\00:54:45.75
How many desire to
be free here today?
00:54:45.78\00:54:47.98
Amen. Amen.
00:54:48.02\00:54:49.38
Everybody wants freedom, right?
00:54:49.42\00:54:50.82
And sometimes we feel
like we're a slave to ourselves
00:54:50.85\00:54:53.09
into the world
around us, but Christ says,
00:54:53.12\00:54:54.62
"Follow Me, accept My truth,
and it will set you free."
00:54:54.66\00:54:58.23
All right, and then
1 Peter 1:22, brother.
00:54:58.26\00:55:00.96
"Since you have purified
your souls in obeying the truth
00:55:01.00\00:55:05.27
through the Spirit in
sincere love of your brethren,
00:55:05.30\00:55:08.97
love one another
fervently with a pure heart."
00:55:09.00\00:55:13.01
I love that.
00:55:13.04\00:55:14.38
God promises that we will have
00:55:14.41\00:55:15.74
a purified soul if
we just follow Him.
00:55:15.78\00:55:19.38
He wants to purify us,
He wants to cleanse us.
00:55:19.41\00:55:21.02
So we have about
two minutes left,
00:55:21.05\00:55:22.42
any final thoughts
00:55:22.45\00:55:23.79
as we are gathering
down to our final moments?
00:55:23.82\00:55:25.49
I think
everything comes down to...
00:55:25.52\00:55:28.39
And it took me a
long time to realize this,
00:55:28.42\00:55:30.53
sadly enough,
everything comes down to love.
00:55:30.56\00:55:34.50
How much do you
love God? That's right.
00:55:34.53\00:55:36.26
How much do you
love your neighbor?
00:55:36.30\00:55:37.70
How much do you love
your wife and your kids?
00:55:37.73\00:55:40.10
And that's really
what it comes down to
00:55:40.14\00:55:41.84
because if I choose the world,
00:55:41.87\00:55:44.01
if I choose my career
and make that my identity...
00:55:44.04\00:55:47.21
That's right.
00:55:47.24\00:55:48.58
Rather than making
Christ my identity...
00:55:48.61\00:55:50.41
That's right.
00:55:50.45\00:55:51.78
There's going to be problems.
00:55:51.81\00:55:53.15
Absolutely.
00:55:53.18\00:55:54.52
You know, in Psalms
19:7 starting there it says,
00:55:54.55\00:55:57.39
it will convert the soul,
00:55:57.42\00:55:59.09
make wise and rejoice the heart
00:55:59.12\00:56:01.36
and great is
your reward in heaven.
00:56:01.39\00:56:06.63
God just wants that
relationship with us
00:56:06.66\00:56:08.40
for eternity.
00:56:08.43\00:56:10.00
And we don't want to
separate ourselves from God.
00:56:10.03\00:56:13.30
I think to me that
is His love petition.
00:56:13.34\00:56:17.01
I mean, there's
so many benefits,
00:56:17.04\00:56:18.37
but He wants us.
00:56:18.41\00:56:19.74
I think, you know, it's
all about relationships.
00:56:19.77\00:56:21.84
It is.
00:56:21.88\00:56:23.21
And, you know, you look
at the Ten Commandments,
00:56:23.24\00:56:25.45
the first three are, you know,
00:56:25.48\00:56:27.68
you got to have a
relationship with me first.
00:56:27.72\00:56:29.15
All right.
00:56:29.18\00:56:30.52
And then our
brothers and sisters,
00:56:30.55\00:56:31.89
and the great one is
that fourth commandment
00:56:31.92\00:56:34.19
that brings us all together,
00:56:34.22\00:56:35.62
so we can
commune together in love.
00:56:35.66\00:56:37.63
I love that. I love that.
00:56:37.66\00:56:38.99
Thank you guys so
much for joining us today.
00:56:39.03\00:56:40.90
I love you guys
and appreciate all
00:56:40.93\00:56:42.66
that you've
shared with us today.
00:56:42.70\00:56:44.03
And we thank you at home,
00:56:44.07\00:56:45.40
who have taken
the time to be with us
00:56:45.43\00:56:47.24
during this Family
Worship here at 3ABN.
00:56:47.27\00:56:50.31
And you know what?
Jesus is coming soon.
00:56:50.34\00:56:52.17
And I want you to know at
home, my friends, God loves you.
00:56:52.21\00:56:54.48
Jesus loves each
and every one of us.
00:56:54.51\00:56:56.08
That's why I love the
first verse in, 1 John 3.
00:56:56.11\00:56:59.08
It says, "Behold
what manner of love
00:56:59.11\00:57:00.92
the Father has bestowed upon us,
00:57:00.95\00:57:02.95
that we should be
called children of God!"
00:57:02.98\00:57:06.19
We are His children.
00:57:06.22\00:57:07.56
And therefore He says, I
know what's best for you.
00:57:07.59\00:57:09.76
Trust Me, I will give you peace,
00:57:09.79\00:57:11.63
come to Me I will
lift your burdens.
00:57:11.66\00:57:13.83
And so be not of the
world, live in the world.
00:57:13.86\00:57:16.46
We have to for a short time,
00:57:16.50\00:57:17.90
but separate yourself
00:57:17.93\00:57:19.27
from the world to be in Christ.
00:57:19.30\00:57:21.64
Again, we thank you so much
00:57:21.67\00:57:23.00
for joining us here
at 3ABN Family Worship.
00:57:23.04\00:57:25.37
And we just
declare a blessing upon you
00:57:25.41\00:57:27.94
because we know
that Jesus loves you.
00:57:27.98\00:57:29.98
And until next
time, God bless you all.
00:57:30.01\00:57:32.21
We'll see you again.
00:57:32.25\00:57:33.62