The weapons of our
warfare are not carnal,
00:00:12.47\00:00:15.55
but mighty in God
00:00:15.58\00:00:17.16
for the pulling
down of strongholds.
00:00:17.19\00:00:20.47
We do not wrestle
against flesh and blood
00:00:20.50\00:00:23.35
but against
principalities, against powers,
00:00:23.38\00:00:26.94
against the rulers
of darkness of this age.
00:00:26.97\00:00:31.31
Do not be
conformed to this world
00:00:31.34\00:00:33.67
but be transformed by
the renewing of your mind.
00:00:33.70\00:00:38.24
Physical
training is of some value
00:00:38.27\00:00:40.82
but Godliness has
value for all things.
00:00:40.85\00:00:45.76
The Ephesians 6 tells that
00:00:45.79\00:00:47.49
we're in the
middle of a huge war.
00:00:47.52\00:00:49.29
That enemy is
subjected to you in His name.
00:00:49.32\00:00:52.90
You will be amazed at the
power of truth in your life.
00:00:52.93\00:00:56.65
Warplans.
00:00:56.68\00:01:01.12
If any man be in
Christ, he is a new creation.
00:01:11.66\00:01:16.52
We've all heard,
they said before,
00:01:16.55\00:01:18.51
but what does it
really mean to be in Christ?
00:01:18.54\00:01:21.96
And what is this new creation,
00:01:21.99\00:01:24.06
this new
identity that we're given?
00:01:24.09\00:01:27.77
In a war, if we
don't know our identity,
00:01:27.80\00:01:30.74
what side we're on and
what our role and rank is,
00:01:30.77\00:01:34.27
we won't know what to do
or how to engage and fight.
00:01:34.30\00:01:40.25
The colors on a soldier
uniform designate his side.
00:01:40.28\00:01:44.32
The insignia on a soldier's
uniform designate his rank.
00:01:44.35\00:01:48.34
When a high
ranking officer walks
00:01:48.37\00:01:50.40
into a room full of
soldiers, guess what happens?
00:01:50.43\00:01:54.15
But we see this everyday.
00:01:54.18\00:01:56.77
Let's have a contest
between a police officer
00:01:56.80\00:01:59.51
in a uniform verses a
random dude on the street.
00:01:59.54\00:02:03.96
Both of them walk
out into the street
00:02:03.99\00:02:06.12
and raise their hand
in a stopping motion.
00:02:06.15\00:02:09.04
What happens?
00:02:09.07\00:02:10.17
People might stop
00:02:10.20\00:02:11.87
for the random
dude on the street,
00:02:11.90\00:02:13.52
but mostly it depends on
how random the random dude is.
00:02:13.55\00:02:17.93
Now wait, let's just
say that the random dude
00:02:17.96\00:02:21.84
on the street
actually is a police officer.
00:02:21.87\00:02:26.32
He could walk out on to
the street to direct traffic
00:02:26.35\00:02:29.08
and people still
might ignore him,
00:02:29.11\00:02:31.52
because he's not in uniform.
00:02:31.55\00:02:34.94
You see, he hasn't
asserted his identity
00:02:34.97\00:02:37.66
as a police officer.
00:02:37.69\00:02:40.74
Our identity as Christians
00:02:40.77\00:02:42.69
is sort of like
the officers uniform,
00:02:42.72\00:02:45.58
only what we wear is
more than just a uniform.
00:02:45.61\00:02:49.24
It's a whole new creation
00:02:49.27\00:02:51.46
and it commands
respect in a realm
00:02:51.49\00:02:54.12
that we can't see
with the human eyes.
00:02:54.15\00:02:57.45
"Put on Christ," the bible says,
00:02:57.48\00:03:00.43
"for we are all sons of God,
00:03:00.46\00:03:03.05
through faith, in Christ Jesus."
00:03:03.08\00:03:05.81
This is our identity.
00:03:05.84\00:03:09.18
But how do we put
on, or take an identity
00:03:09.21\00:03:12.81
that is a person.
00:03:12.84\00:03:14.99
Well, I can tell you
what it doesn't mean.
00:03:15.02\00:03:18.42
There's a story
in the Bible about
00:03:18.45\00:03:20.29
some not so lucky people
who tried to put on Christ,
00:03:20.32\00:03:24.82
thinking it was just a
uniform they could wear.
00:03:24.85\00:03:28.50
Unfortunately, in
the spiritual realm,
00:03:28.53\00:03:31.63
a uniform doesn't
command respect in itself.
00:03:31.66\00:03:36.34
In the book of
Acts, some dudes called
00:03:36.37\00:03:38.90
the son's Sceva,
tried to cast out demons,
00:03:38.93\00:03:42.73
saying, we exorcise you
00:03:42.76\00:03:44.96
by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.
00:03:44.99\00:03:48.18
Wait, the Jesus
whom Paul preaches?
00:03:48.21\00:03:51.63
You mean the Jesus who said that
00:03:51.66\00:03:53.60
we are a part of His body?
00:03:53.63\00:03:55.95
The Jesus who said that we
abide in Him and Him in us,
00:03:55.98\00:04:00.63
the Jesus who Paul
talked about when he said
00:04:00.66\00:04:03.65
that I know longer live
00:04:03.68\00:04:05.33
but Jesus
Christ now lives in me.
00:04:05.36\00:04:09.05
Guys, being the
friend of a four star general
00:04:09.08\00:04:13.74
isn't gonna get
you a single salute
00:04:13.77\00:04:16.58
when walk into a room
00:04:16.61\00:04:18.47
and it didn't help
these guys out either.
00:04:18.50\00:04:21.38
We're told that the
demons spoke through man
00:04:21.41\00:04:24.94
and said, Jesus, I know
00:04:24.97\00:04:27.47
and Paul, I
know, but who are you?
00:04:27.50\00:04:31.82
And then it says
that he leaped on them
00:04:31.85\00:04:34.18
and they ran out of the
house, naked and wounded.
00:04:34.21\00:04:38.36
If you're a child of God
with Christ dwelling in you,
00:04:38.39\00:04:42.70
the enemy is
subjected to you in His name.
00:04:42.73\00:04:46.69
Jesus said to
us, I give unto you,
00:04:46.72\00:04:50.13
power to tread upon
serpents and scorpions
00:04:50.16\00:04:53.82
and over all the
power of the enemy.
00:04:53.85\00:04:57.06
This is why it's
so important for us
00:04:57.09\00:05:00.05
to claim and know our identity.
00:05:00.08\00:05:04.52
Now here's the
catch, in the same way
00:05:04.55\00:05:06.52
that a soldier can't
defect to his enemies camp
00:05:06.55\00:05:10.19
and keep his
old uniform insignia
00:05:10.22\00:05:13.61
and objectives,
a soldier of Christ
00:05:13.64\00:05:16.71
can't put on his new identity
00:05:16.74\00:05:19.00
if he insist on
holding on to his old one.
00:05:19.03\00:05:25.96
So it is with us.
00:05:25.99\00:05:27.78
When we think
about our identity,
00:05:27.81\00:05:29.76
we need to consider two things.
00:05:29.79\00:05:32.77
First of all,
who and whose we are
00:05:32.80\00:05:36.34
and second of all,
who and whose we are not.
00:05:36.37\00:05:40.75
And if we are Christ,
then we are not our own
00:05:40.78\00:05:44.14
and we are
definitely not the enemies.
00:05:44.17\00:05:48.39
Paul says, "Put on
the Lord Jesus Christ
00:05:48.42\00:05:52.82
and make no provision
00:05:52.85\00:05:54.63
for the flesh to
fulfill its lusts."
00:05:54.66\00:05:58.38
The new creation, no
longer identifies itself
00:05:58.41\00:06:02.12
with the prince of
the power of the air.
00:06:02.15\00:06:05.48
This is why the creation
is no just a new uniform.
00:06:05.51\00:06:12.43
So let's make this practical,
there are three basics steps
00:06:12.46\00:06:16.01
that we need to put
on our new identity.
00:06:16.04\00:06:19.27
They are Claim,
Renounce and Live.
00:06:19.30\00:06:24.69
So first, we claim our
new identity in Christ,
00:06:24.72\00:06:29.23
search out and
believe His promises,
00:06:29.26\00:06:33.18
know that you are child of God,
00:06:33.21\00:06:36.91
justify, redeemed and forgiven.
00:06:36.94\00:06:40.95
Literally,
search and learn about
00:06:40.98\00:06:43.72
and memorize who
you are in Christ.
00:06:43.75\00:06:47.54
But don't wait until
you understand everything
00:06:47.57\00:06:50.55
or feel any different
to claim those promises.
00:06:50.58\00:06:54.12
The Bible says that
while we were God's enemies,
00:06:54.15\00:06:57.79
we were reconciled to God,
through the death of His son.
00:06:57.82\00:07:02.44
You can have your
new identity right now.
00:07:02.47\00:07:07.80
Secondly,
renounce your old identity,
00:07:07.83\00:07:11.60
don't try to do
this as the first step.
00:07:11.63\00:07:14.27
You can't genuinely
let go of your old identity
00:07:14.30\00:07:18.00
unless you first
have a new one to take on.
00:07:18.03\00:07:21.71
Ask God to show you
exactly what this means for you.
00:07:21.74\00:07:27.40
Command the enemy to release you
00:07:27.43\00:07:29.35
from your old way of life.
00:07:29.38\00:07:32.21
Let go of anything
that involves the occult
00:07:32.24\00:07:35.45
any lies that
you've lived or believed
00:07:35.48\00:07:38.36
and anything that has become
more important to you than God.
00:07:38.39\00:07:43.34
Finally, live free, everyday,
00:07:43.37\00:07:46.45
by asking Christ
to keep you in Him.
00:07:46.48\00:07:50.94
The war is not over,
the enemy will always be
00:07:50.97\00:07:55.31
at your doorstep,
to try and find a way
00:07:55.34\00:07:57.78
to entice you
back into his camp.
00:07:57.81\00:08:01.80
Everyday, remind yourself
00:08:01.83\00:08:04.24
and the enemy
that you are God's.
00:08:04.27\00:08:08.61
Literally, learn
and memorize the verses
00:08:08.64\00:08:11.99
that remind you,
who you are in Christ,
00:08:12.02\00:08:16.12
believe them, live them
and learn to submit to them.
00:08:16.15\00:08:21.80
If you're ready to
engage this tactic,
00:08:21.83\00:08:24.31
pray and read
this prayer with me.
00:08:24.34\00:08:27.37
Lord Jesus, I accept my
identity as a child of God,
00:08:27.40\00:08:34.11
and I claim the authority
over all the power of the enemy.
00:08:34.14\00:08:40.27
Bring to my mind
anything that does not honor You
00:08:40.30\00:08:45.01
and set me free from the
powers that hold me there.
00:08:45.04\00:08:49.61
I believe that he
who the Son sets free,
00:08:49.64\00:08:53.73
he is free indeed.
00:08:53.76\00:08:56.41
I ask these things
in Your name Jesus,
00:08:56.44\00:09:00.11
because You promised
that we can ask anything
00:09:00.14\00:09:04.10
in Your name and You will do it.
00:09:04.13\00:09:08.17
In Jesus name we pray, amen.
00:09:08.20\00:09:13.17
Our habits are like autopilot.
00:09:27.14\00:09:29.71
We are able to make decisions
00:09:29.74\00:09:31.34
and perform tasks without
actually thinking about them.
00:09:31.37\00:09:34.90
This can be a most
handy feature for our bodies
00:09:34.93\00:09:38.06
because it essentially
allows the brains power
00:09:38.09\00:09:40.44
to be redirected to
things that are more important.
00:09:40.47\00:09:44.16
Let me give you an example,
00:09:44.19\00:09:45.74
every morning in my senior year,
00:09:45.77\00:09:47.58
I would drive to the university.
00:09:47.61\00:09:49.40
It was about a 20 minute drive.
00:09:49.43\00:09:51.14
My mind wasn't
thinking about driving,
00:09:51.17\00:09:53.31
I was thinking
about my schedule,
00:09:53.34\00:09:55.15
my appointments,
what classes I had,
00:09:55.18\00:09:57.32
when they
started, when they ended,
00:09:57.35\00:09:59.37
what other things I might
have to do through out the day.
00:09:59.40\00:10:01.90
Meanwhile, my body is performing
00:10:01.93\00:10:03.53
pretty complex tasks,
turning left, turning right,
00:10:03.56\00:10:06.42
merging into traffic,
speeding up, slowing down.
00:10:06.45\00:10:09.43
All of these things
that are very important
00:10:09.46\00:10:11.40
but it's not requiring
any brain power of mine.
00:10:11.43\00:10:14.07
Now who does that work?
00:10:14.10\00:10:15.62
This is how habits
work. It's called autopilot.
00:10:15.65\00:10:18.75
You don't need
to think about it,
00:10:18.78\00:10:20.62
you just do it,
it's programmed in.
00:10:20.65\00:10:23.34
But how does
autopilot get programmed in?
00:10:23.37\00:10:26.49
It's actually really simple,
repeated, conscious action,
00:10:26.52\00:10:30.01
gradually becomes a habit.
00:10:30.04\00:10:31.83
Researches at MIT have
found that repeated actions
00:10:31.86\00:10:35.58
create neural
patterns in the basal ganglia.
00:10:35.61\00:10:38.20
It's the central
core of the brain.
00:10:38.23\00:10:40.14
Each action causes a
string of neurons to fire
00:10:40.17\00:10:43.13
and that data is
saved into the brain.
00:10:43.16\00:10:45.65
So that the next
time you are faced
00:10:45.68\00:10:47.39
with the same
decision or a similar one,
00:10:47.42\00:10:50.05
the data of your
past actions is retrieved
00:10:50.08\00:10:52.92
and this makes you
more likely to repeat
00:10:52.95\00:10:55.24
the last action you performed.
00:10:55.27\00:10:59.38
Imagine you're in a
big, wide, open field
00:10:59.41\00:11:01.87
and you want to get
from one side to the other.
00:11:01.90\00:11:04.00
The field is
filled with tall grass
00:11:04.03\00:11:06.31
and so you're gonna walk
alone, trampling the grass down,
00:11:06.34\00:11:09.71
avoiding the thorns
and avoiding the rocks
00:11:09.74\00:11:12.24
and get to the
other side of the field.
00:11:12.27\00:11:14.46
Now what happens the next time
you want to go to that field?
00:11:14.49\00:11:17.82
You take the same
pathway that you started,
00:11:17.85\00:11:20.21
trampling down the grass
00:11:20.24\00:11:21.82
and there's not
as much resistance.
00:11:21.85\00:11:23.62
Each time you come to the field,
00:11:23.65\00:11:24.84
you're gonna keep on
traveling that same pathway.
00:11:24.87\00:11:27.69
And eventually when
there's nothing but dirt left,
00:11:27.72\00:11:30.50
you've got a complete pathway.
00:11:30.53\00:11:33.44
You know, the
researchers have found that
00:11:33.47\00:11:34.97
not only does your brain
store the information about
00:11:35.00\00:11:38.06
the pathway that you traveled
00:11:38.09\00:11:40.10
but it also stores the
context of that action.
00:11:40.13\00:11:44.26
This means that even
if you create a new habit
00:11:44.29\00:11:46.46
of doing something, if
later on you're presented
00:11:46.49\00:11:48.95
with the same context
that triggered your old habit,
00:11:48.98\00:11:52.89
you are more likely to return
to your old course of action.
00:11:52.92\00:11:57.36
This context can be
anything from a location,
00:11:57.39\00:12:00.72
to a group of
people, a time of day,
00:12:00.75\00:12:03.45
the type of weather,
the seasons or anything else
00:12:03.48\00:12:06.89
that was stored as that scene
00:12:06.92\00:12:09.13
that triggered the
habit in your life.
00:12:09.16\00:12:12.08
You see, it's not just about
our habits as we may think,
00:12:12.11\00:12:15.65
it's also about the
contexts of those habits.
00:12:15.68\00:12:18.88
See the brain
does not store this
00:12:18.91\00:12:20.37
as two separate
piece of information,
00:12:20.40\00:12:22.81
they're stored
together as one piece of data.
00:12:22.84\00:12:26.59
So we need to
pay as much attention
00:12:26.62\00:12:28.19
to the things surrounding
our habits like environments
00:12:28.22\00:12:31.05
and choices as we pay
to the habits themselves,
00:12:31.08\00:12:34.19
if we're really
going to change them.
00:12:34.22\00:12:35.91
Because these
things are stored together.
00:12:35.94\00:12:38.91
We've just looked at
the formation of habits.
00:12:38.94\00:12:41.94
Habits are like
the terrain of the war,
00:12:41.97\00:12:44.73
in a war who ever
controls the terrain,
00:12:44.76\00:12:47.67
gain's the advantages
that that terrain has to offer.
00:12:47.70\00:12:51.06
The terrain can work for
you or it can work against you.
00:12:51.09\00:12:55.53
How can it work against you?
00:12:55.56\00:12:57.31
Well, you know your bad
habits, better than I do,
00:12:57.34\00:13:00.04
but let's just look
at a few common ones.
00:13:00.07\00:13:02.55
When the devil gains
hold of this terrain,
00:13:02.58\00:13:05.70
he sets up camp and
we get into the habit
00:13:05.73\00:13:07.98
of being angry when
things happen that we dislike.
00:13:08.01\00:13:10.98
We can fall into depression
over things we don't control,
00:13:11.01\00:13:14.08
we find ourselves struggling
with sexual temptation
00:13:14.11\00:13:17.78
and we cant' control
our appetite or desires
00:13:17.81\00:13:20.63
what ever it is we want,
00:13:20.66\00:13:21.71
movies, music,
video games or food.
00:13:21.74\00:13:24.77
We find ourselves
helpless to resist,
00:13:24.80\00:13:27.05
no matter how hard
we try to break free,
00:13:27.08\00:13:29.35
seems like that
autopilot always kicks in.
00:13:29.38\00:13:32.41
And we always end up
falling, where we want to stand.
00:13:32.44\00:13:37.20
Habits can work for us though
00:13:37.23\00:13:39.18
just as easily as
they can work against us.
00:13:39.21\00:13:41.43
Let's look at some of
the things that can happen,
00:13:41.46\00:13:43.20
when God controls the terrain.
00:13:43.23\00:13:45.59
You can get into the
habit of praying all the time,
00:13:45.62\00:13:48.42
especially when
a problem arises,
00:13:48.45\00:13:50.58
you can find yourself
driven to study the Bible.
00:13:50.61\00:13:53.93
You can find
yourself sharing with others,
00:13:53.96\00:13:56.11
without ever
having to think about it.
00:13:56.14\00:13:58.24
And you can find
yourself loving naturally,
00:13:58.27\00:14:00.72
no matter what happens.
00:14:00.75\00:14:03.13
Remember, that
whoever controls this terrain
00:14:03.16\00:14:05.99
gains the
advantages of autopilot.
00:14:06.02\00:14:09.25
Now let's make this practical,
how can we make sure that
00:14:09.28\00:14:12.73
autopilot works for
us and not against us?
00:14:12.76\00:14:15.96
How can we be sure that
00:14:15.99\00:14:17.22
God controls this
terrain in our lives?
00:14:17.25\00:14:19.96
A key to remember, is
that you won't find success
00:14:19.99\00:14:22.88
attempting to stop a habit.
00:14:22.91\00:14:25.03
Imagine with me that
there is this little village
00:14:25.06\00:14:27.99
and this village has a problem
because every time it rains,
00:14:28.02\00:14:31.29
the water washing
down off the mountains
00:14:31.32\00:14:33.54
and destroys their village.
00:14:33.57\00:14:35.32
So what should they do?
00:14:35.35\00:14:36.77
Should they direct their energy
00:14:36.80\00:14:37.95
and trying to
make it stop raining?
00:14:37.98\00:14:40.45
Oh, no, that would be
foolish, the better thing to do
00:14:40.48\00:14:43.94
is to redirect that
water somewhere else.
00:14:43.97\00:14:47.38
There are four simple steps
00:14:47.41\00:14:49.37
that you can take
to change your habits.
00:14:49.40\00:14:52.07
First, find the habit cause,
00:14:52.10\00:14:54.83
if you find yourself
habitually doing something,
00:14:54.86\00:14:57.19
ask yourself why
are you doing it?
00:14:57.22\00:14:58.95
Search through your memory
00:14:58.98\00:15:00.06
and find the
first time you did it.
00:15:00.09\00:15:01.96
And find out why you did it.
00:15:01.99\00:15:04.09
Next, find the context,
00:15:04.12\00:15:05.97
what are the
triggers of the habit?
00:15:06.00\00:15:08.11
Is it being alone?
Is it being in a crowd?
00:15:08.15\00:15:10.99
Could it be a person
or certain type of people?
00:15:11.02\00:15:13.69
Is it your location?
00:15:13.72\00:15:15.03
Is it the time of day or night?
Is it even stress related?
00:15:15.06\00:15:18.90
Find those contexts
because that data is stored
00:15:18.93\00:15:21.72
right along with
the programmed response.
00:15:21.75\00:15:24.14
Stay on the look
out because this will be
00:15:24.17\00:15:26.81
your warning
mechanism to let you know
00:15:26.84\00:15:28.84
when autopilot
is going to kick in.
00:15:28.87\00:15:31.02
And this will allow
you to strike first.
00:15:31.05\00:15:33.83
Now third, find a
replacement for your habit,
00:15:33.86\00:15:36.96
you'll have
exponentially greater success
00:15:36.99\00:15:39.61
if you don't
try to stop a habit.
00:15:39.64\00:15:42.03
Find something to do instead,
00:15:42.06\00:15:43.80
find something that
will engage that energy
00:15:43.83\00:15:46.39
that's programmed to
be spent on autopilot.
00:15:46.42\00:15:49.29
And last,
repeat the replacement.
00:15:49.32\00:15:52.21
Habits are formed by
repeated, conscience actions.
00:15:52.24\00:15:56.24
After you've found
the cause and context,
00:15:56.27\00:15:58.73
what makes you do what
you do and why you do it,
00:15:58.76\00:16:02.06
repeat the
replacement each time the habit
00:16:02.09\00:16:04.52
is about to kick in.
00:16:04.55\00:16:06.27
Now don't get
discourage when you fail,
00:16:06.30\00:16:08.54
find out why you failed,
00:16:08.57\00:16:10.13
and then redouble
your efforts to succeed.
00:16:10.16\00:16:12.79
In as little as 30 days,
00:16:12.82\00:16:14.52
you can expect your
new habits to take route.
00:16:14.55\00:16:17.99
Just remember to take
it once step at a time,
00:16:18.02\00:16:20.96
one day at a time,
one choice at a time.
00:16:20.99\00:16:24.70
When it comes to this terrain,
the battle will be intense.
00:16:24.73\00:16:29.51
The enemy knows the advantages
that he's going to lose
00:16:29.54\00:16:32.00
and he'd rather not lose
them, but God is your ally.
00:16:32.03\00:16:35.63
Turn to Him for strength,
you can't do this alone
00:16:35.66\00:16:39.07
but your ally has
far more experience
00:16:39.10\00:16:41.16
and He can ensure your victory.
00:16:41.19\00:16:43.36
So be on guard, be
alert, the war still rages on.
00:16:43.39\00:16:48.42
So plan wisely.
00:16:48.45\00:16:53.34
In the beginning,
the world was perfect.
00:17:03.18\00:17:06.71
Now it's not so perfect.
00:17:06.74\00:17:09.38
We know that there
was the fall of Satan.
00:17:09.41\00:17:12.10
But what concerns us
now is the fall of man.
00:17:12.13\00:17:16.53
How did we become fallen?
00:17:16.56\00:17:20.29
In a war, understanding our
00:17:20.32\00:17:23.05
as well as the
enemies disposition,
00:17:23.08\00:17:25.88
that is how and why we got here,
00:17:25.91\00:17:29.01
can help us to
renew our loyalties
00:17:29.04\00:17:31.72
and inspire us with purpose.
00:17:31.75\00:17:35.14
In the beginning,
Satan told three lies
00:17:35.17\00:17:39.58
but he started
within an insinuation
00:17:39.61\00:17:42.27
of the restrictiveness of God,
00:17:42.30\00:17:45.38
a gross misrepresentation
of God's character.
00:17:45.41\00:17:49.14
However, it was
only a suggestion.
00:17:49.17\00:17:52.43
Has God really said
that you shall not eat
00:17:52.46\00:17:55.30
of any of the
trees of the garden?
00:17:55.33\00:17:58.26
By stretching the
requirement of God
00:17:58.29\00:18:00.43
to something
ridiculous, he created in-roads
00:18:00.46\00:18:04.01
to engage Eve in a discussion
she was not expecting.
00:18:04.04\00:18:09.49
This was the
enemies' perfect intro.
00:18:09.52\00:18:13.87
It's like someone going
to a McDonald's employee
00:18:13.90\00:18:17.42
and saying, so I
hear you guys kill
00:18:17.45\00:18:21.18
over a million people
every year, from heart disease.
00:18:21.21\00:18:25.21
However, this
statement isn't true.
00:18:25.24\00:18:28.28
While heart disease
actually is the number
00:18:28.31\00:18:31.19
one cause of
death for Americans,
00:18:31.22\00:18:33.35
there's actually no direct link
between McDonalds and death.
00:18:33.38\00:18:38.25
But now this dude is
thinking about the relationship
00:18:38.28\00:18:43.31
between death
and McDonald's food.
00:18:43.34\00:18:46.95
There is also no direct link
00:18:46.98\00:18:48.95
between God and restrictiveness,
00:18:48.98\00:18:51.72
yet the devils
statement, whether true or not,
00:18:51.75\00:18:55.92
produces a thought
never present before.
00:18:55.95\00:19:00.60
It's called inception.
00:19:00.63\00:19:03.92
Normally you
wouldn't think about it.
00:19:03.95\00:19:06.42
Now you can stop
an incepted idea,
00:19:06.45\00:19:09.10
if you immediately trace
the idea back to the source
00:19:09.13\00:19:13.27
and recognize where it came from
00:19:13.30\00:19:15.71
but if you don't, it
becomes your very own thoughts.
00:19:15.74\00:19:21.30
Remember what the serpents said,
00:19:21.33\00:19:23.46
has God really said
that you should not eat
00:19:23.49\00:19:27.03
of any of the
trees in the garden?
00:19:27.06\00:19:30.00
If Eve gave that
comment even a second thought,
00:19:30.03\00:19:33.84
boom, inception.
00:19:33.87\00:19:37.04
There is a possibility that
God is restrictive, consider it.
00:19:37.07\00:19:43.08
But check this out.
00:19:43.11\00:19:44.53
Eve had to
engage in conversation
00:19:44.56\00:19:47.46
with the enemy for
him to plant that idea.
00:19:47.49\00:19:51.20
And here's the killer,
00:19:51.23\00:19:52.54
interaction leads to influence,
00:19:52.57\00:19:56.19
whether we recognize that
there are lies there or not.
00:19:56.22\00:19:59.57
You see, the
serpent didn't start off
00:19:59.60\00:20:01.50
with a full bred lie
right away, he planted seed.
00:20:01.53\00:20:06.97
So let's recap on
what's happening here,
00:20:07.00\00:20:09.71
there was this tree
right, this tree was called
00:20:09.74\00:20:13.13
the tree of the
knowledge of good and evil.
00:20:13.16\00:20:17.08
If you think
about it, even today,
00:20:17.11\00:20:19.52
evil is never
really a pure bred evil.
00:20:19.55\00:20:23.16
It's usually
mixed up with something
00:20:23.19\00:20:25.61
that's mostly good.
00:20:25.64\00:20:27.80
So this girl walks up to
the tree of the knowledge
00:20:27.83\00:20:30.38
of good in evil
and she stands there,
00:20:30.41\00:20:33.16
looking and listening.
00:20:33.19\00:20:35.50
And the longer she stands there,
00:20:35.53\00:20:37.71
the more she begins lusting
over the knowledge of evil.
00:20:37.74\00:20:42.90
She starts
desiring a new experience,
00:20:42.93\00:20:46.25
an experience
outside of what God gave her.
00:20:46.28\00:20:50.56
As though this
experience could somehow offer
00:20:50.59\00:20:53.51
some sort of fulfillment.
00:20:53.54\00:20:55.82
Guys, this tree is not
where the answers or at.
00:20:55.85\00:21:01.56
Being following
means we have a disposition
00:21:01.59\00:21:04.90
to lust over the
knowledge of evil.
00:21:04.93\00:21:08.20
But the knowledge of
evil can never fulfill
00:21:08.23\00:21:11.02
the desires of our heart.
00:21:11.05\00:21:13.26
God tells us,
through the prophet Jeremiah,
00:21:13.29\00:21:16.59
my people have
committed two sins.
00:21:16.62\00:21:19.61
They have forsaken me,
the spring of living water
00:21:19.64\00:21:23.26
and they have dug
their own cisterns,
00:21:23.29\00:21:25.97
broken cisterns
that cannot hold water.
00:21:26.00\00:21:29.99
So let's make this practical,
we need to choose to recognize
00:21:30.02\00:21:34.69
that sin is something
that starts in the mind,
00:21:34.72\00:21:38.40
as a thought or a feeling.
00:21:38.43\00:21:41.09
But their thoughts and feelings
00:21:41.12\00:21:42.92
that originated
with the father of lies,
00:21:42.95\00:21:46.28
these thoughts and feelings
00:21:46.31\00:21:48.11
develop into a desire
for the knowledge of evil.
00:21:48.14\00:21:52.35
The more we contemplate
them, the stronger they become.
00:21:52.38\00:21:56.79
We are already fallen
00:21:56.82\00:21:58.52
and it will seem as though
are very minds will lie to us.
00:21:58.55\00:22:03.19
We're told in Genesis 3,
00:22:03.22\00:22:05.36
that Eve is saw the
tree was good for food,
00:22:05.39\00:22:09.06
that it was pleasant to the eyes
00:22:09.09\00:22:11.48
and a tree
desirable to make one lie.
00:22:11.51\00:22:14.80
And then, she took
of its fruit and ate,
00:22:14.83\00:22:18.93
she also gave to her
husband with her and he ate.
00:22:18.96\00:22:22.30
But how many of those
things were actually true?
00:22:22.33\00:22:26.34
It may have been
pleasant to the eyes
00:22:26.37\00:22:28.84
and it may have
given her some nutrition
00:22:28.87\00:22:31.73
but did it make her any
wiser to sin against God?
00:22:31.76\00:22:37.62
You see, the devil
caused Eve to fall,
00:22:37.65\00:22:40.49
through her appetite
00:22:40.52\00:22:42.90
and he does the
same thing to us, today.
00:22:42.93\00:22:47.04
We see something
that promises joy
00:22:47.07\00:22:49.30
and in our minds we think,
dude, my lust is all over that.
00:22:49.33\00:22:55.60
But after we get it, if
we really think about it,
00:22:55.63\00:22:59.04
did that thing
make us a better person?
00:22:59.07\00:23:02.56
Did it bring us
any closer to God?
00:23:02.59\00:23:05.62
Did it benefit us in any way
00:23:05.65\00:23:07.91
that will have
eternal consequences?
00:23:07.94\00:23:11.69
Sin has not
benefited this world one bit.
00:23:11.72\00:23:17.29
Unfortunately, as the fallen,
that's exactly where our hearts
00:23:17.32\00:23:21.86
and our minds are set.
00:23:21.89\00:23:24.38
But we can stand,
00:23:24.41\00:23:26.26
we can stand by asking
God to help us to recognize
00:23:26.29\00:23:30.87
and to reject any thoughts
that contradict His character.
00:23:30.90\00:23:36.16
Don't reason
with these thoughts,
00:23:36.19\00:23:38.29
just turn away from the tree.
00:23:38.32\00:23:41.08
Set your eyes on
Christ and keep them there.
00:23:41.11\00:23:44.97
Simply trust His
word, that what He says
00:23:45.00\00:23:48.88
and what He's
already given us, is best.
00:23:48.91\00:23:52.32
No improvements or
modifications are necessary.
00:23:52.35\00:23:57.37
"May God
himself, the God of peace,
00:23:57.40\00:24:00.87
sanctify you
through and through.
00:24:00.90\00:24:03.61
May your whole
spirit, soul and body
00:24:03.64\00:24:07.65
be kept blameless at the coming
of our lord Jesus Christ."
00:24:07.68\00:24:13.75
You cannot walk
in a straight line,
00:24:28.11\00:24:31.54
it's actually been
scientifically proven.
00:24:31.57\00:24:33.49
A group of
scientist got together
00:24:33.52\00:24:34.79
and did a series of
experiments to determine
00:24:34.82\00:24:37.13
whether or not
people are capable
00:24:37.16\00:24:38.79
of walking in straight lines.
00:24:38.82\00:24:40.83
Guess what they found out?
00:24:40.86\00:24:42.26
We can't.
00:24:42.29\00:24:44.09
They took a
group of test subjects
00:24:44.12\00:24:45.90
and they blindfolded
each one of them individually
00:24:45.93\00:24:48.30
and told them all they had to do
00:24:48.33\00:24:50.05
was walking a straight
line for about an hour.
00:24:50.08\00:24:52.99
Let's see what happens.
00:24:53.02\00:24:54.83
The first guy goes
off kind of straight
00:24:54.86\00:24:56.99
and starts to deviate,
wander around in circles.
00:24:57.02\00:25:00.25
The second person does
something very similar,
00:25:00.28\00:25:03.03
they tired even a third
person from a different location
00:25:03.06\00:25:06.11
and the third person got
just as lost as the rest.
00:25:06.14\00:25:09.07
Nobody could stay
in a straight line.
00:25:09.10\00:25:13.08
So what's the problem?
00:25:13.11\00:25:15.08
Does it have something to do
00:25:15.11\00:25:16.16
with being right
handed or left handed
00:25:16.19\00:25:19.01
or may be one leg
short than the other leg?
00:25:19.04\00:25:21.29
No, none of those.
00:25:21.32\00:25:22.45
Actually the
answer is very simple,
00:25:22.48\00:25:24.40
we cannot walk straight
00:25:24.43\00:25:26.06
unless we have an
external reference point.
00:25:26.09\00:25:29.62
We need something
external to tell where we are,
00:25:29.65\00:25:32.80
we need something like sunlight
00:25:32.83\00:25:34.19
or may be the stars or
the mountain or some trees
00:25:34.22\00:25:37.24
to let us know where we are.
00:25:37.27\00:25:38.71
Without these external guides,
00:25:38.74\00:25:40.74
we're doomed to
wander around in circles.
00:25:40.77\00:25:44.07
People have been testing
this for at least 60 years
00:25:44.10\00:25:46.89
and they always come
to the same conclusion.
00:25:46.92\00:25:49.66
They've tested people walking,
they've had people swimming,
00:25:49.69\00:25:52.86
even have people
blind folded driving
00:25:52.89\00:25:55.61
and they always
go around in circles.
00:25:55.64\00:25:58.24
The conclusion remains the same,
00:25:58.27\00:26:00.22
without some kind of
light or some kind of landmark
00:26:00.25\00:26:03.27
or even some kind of compass,
00:26:03.30\00:26:05.22
we always wander
around in circles.
00:26:05.25\00:26:08.52
We need something that
doesn't move or change,
00:26:08.55\00:26:12.23
we need a truth.
00:26:12.26\00:26:15.77
And now just like we wander
around in this physical world
00:26:15.80\00:26:18.67
if we don't a guide,
00:26:18.70\00:26:20.37
the same thing is true
in the spiritual world.
00:26:20.40\00:26:23.36
Ephesian 6 tells us that
00:26:23.39\00:26:25.12
we're in the
middle of our huge war
00:26:25.15\00:26:27.02
against the powers of darkness
00:26:27.05\00:26:29.08
and it tells us the first thing
that we need to make sure that
00:26:29.11\00:26:31.50
we have is the belt of truth.
00:26:31.53\00:26:35.00
Now what is the truth?
00:26:35.03\00:26:36.79
Jesus said in John 17,
00:26:36.82\00:26:39.76
"Sanctify them
through your truth,
00:26:39.79\00:26:42.10
your word is truth."
00:26:42.13\00:26:45.82
Hebrew 4:12 says
00:26:45.85\00:26:47.75
"For the word of
God is alive and active.
00:26:47.78\00:26:50.82
Sharper than any
double-edged sword,
00:26:50.85\00:26:53.36
it penetrates even to
dividing soul and spirit,
00:26:53.39\00:26:57.27
joint and marrow.
00:26:57.30\00:26:58.82
It judges the thoughts
and attitudes of the heart."
00:26:58.85\00:27:03.01
Now the word
"judges" here is translated
00:27:03.04\00:27:05.13
from the Greek word "kritikos",
this means that the word
00:27:05.16\00:27:08.51
is able to critically evaluate
our thoughts and feelings.
00:27:08.54\00:27:13.83
The truth tells
us whether or not
00:27:13.86\00:27:16.46
what we are
feeling or whether or not
00:27:16.49\00:27:18.25
what we are
thinking is in harmony
00:27:18.28\00:27:20.10
with what God has said.
00:27:20.13\00:27:22.84
The truth of what God said
00:27:22.87\00:27:24.66
must supersede our own
ability to perceive our reality.
00:27:24.69\00:27:29.00
And you know,
there's a story that
00:27:29.03\00:27:30.06
perfectly illustrates
this, the children of Israel
00:27:30.09\00:27:32.67
are headed for the Promise Land
00:27:32.70\00:27:34.19
and they end up
down by the red sea.
00:27:34.22\00:27:36.42
Just take a look at it.
00:27:36.45\00:27:38.05
As you remember, red
sea is in front of them,
00:27:38.08\00:27:40.64
cliffs on two
sides and Pharoah's army
00:27:40.67\00:27:42.87
coming up behind
them to destroy them.
00:27:42.90\00:27:45.38
But God works a miracle
and He sends a wall of fire
00:27:45.41\00:27:49.14
between Pharoah's
army and children of Israel
00:27:49.17\00:27:51.66
and then He parts the red sea,
so that the children of Israel
00:27:51.69\00:27:55.16
can cross through on dry ground.
00:27:55.19\00:27:59.64
Now what can we
learned form this?
00:27:59.67\00:28:02.03
One major thing
that we need to realize,
00:28:02.06\00:28:04.51
is that we cannot
rely on our senses,
00:28:04.54\00:28:07.43
our feelings and our logic.
00:28:07.46\00:28:09.78
The truth is that
God's Word does not change
00:28:09.81\00:28:13.71
and so we need to
rely upon His word
00:28:13.74\00:28:16.59
rather than our
ability to perceive.
00:28:16.62\00:28:19.30
The truth is that nature
will turn out of its course
00:28:19.33\00:28:23.02
before God's word
would ever become untrue.
00:28:23.05\00:28:26.22
Now let's make this practical,
00:28:26.25\00:28:27.98
we know that the truth is
a very valuable ammunition
00:28:28.01\00:28:30.74
or weapon to have in this
war, but how useful is it?
00:28:30.77\00:28:34.06
And how do we use it?
00:28:34.09\00:28:35.92
The truth is that
it's a very special weapon
00:28:35.95\00:28:38.62
because our enemy
is not only a liar
00:28:38.65\00:28:41.20
but he's the father of lies.
00:28:41.23\00:28:43.89
Jesus said that knowing
the truth would set us free.
00:28:43.92\00:28:47.33
So when we know the truth,
we're able to see the lies
00:28:47.36\00:28:49.87
for what they are and
not be deceived by them.
00:28:49.90\00:28:52.69
But knowing the
truth is not enough,
00:28:52.72\00:28:54.83
we need to know
how to use the truth.
00:28:54.86\00:28:58.39
Let's look at four
things that we can do to use
00:28:58.42\00:29:00.63
this weapon in our next battle.
00:29:00.66\00:29:02.28
Now we know that the
Word of God is truth,
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so the first thing you
can do is start reading
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the Word of God.
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Search for passages
that relate directly
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to the struggle you face.
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For me I know, I struggled a lot
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with trusting
God supply my needs,
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so I can look in
my Bible concordance,
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or I can look on
my Bible on my phone
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or even on
appliable on a website
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to find verses
that relate directly
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to what I'm
struggling with, verses like,
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my God shall
supply all of your needs
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according to his riches
and glory by Christ Jesus.
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Next, memorize the
truth about your struggle.
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Find those verses and
start memorizing them.
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Internalize them so that
when you're facing a struggle
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you can call
them to mind easily.
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I could start memorizing
verses from Psalm 107,
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which talks about how
much we can depend on God,
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no matter how
desperate our situations may be.
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Third, immerse
yourself in the truth,
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the first two
points have looked at
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how we can know the
truth from the Word of God.
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Immerse of
yourself in the Word of God
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and also find other
reinforcements of the truth,
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listen to songs with
lyrics that remind you
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of the truth
about your struggle,
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read stories and
biographies of people
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who have struggled
with what you struggle with
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and find out how
they got their victory,
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and share with people
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who can be an
encouragement to you.
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In short, make
your environment one
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that reminds you about the truth
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regarding your struggle.
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Finally, claim the truth
when you face a struggle.
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Our first three
points are focused on
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getting the
truth into your mind,
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once it's in there, use it.
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Whenever you go into
that battle with the enemy,
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pull the truth out,
use it, depend on it
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and you will find victory.
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All of these
things are imperative,
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if you don't know the
truth, you can't use the truth
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and these things
may sound kind of simple
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but if you actually do
them, you will be amazed
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at the power of
truth in your life.
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Again, search for passages
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that directly
relate to your struggle.
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Memorize the truth
about your struggle,
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immerse yourself in the
truth and claim the truth,
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when you faced the struggle
and you will find victory.
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Whenever we are
faced with situations
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and we don't know
whether to side with our logic
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or our feeling or our senses,
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remember, the truth of God Word
is the only reliable source,
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so rely upon the
truth, the war isn't over.
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So plan wisely.
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