Welcome back. Thank you. 00:00:22.98\00:00:26.76 To the continuing study of Victory in Jesus. 00:00:26.79\00:00:33.10 And this morning Ken has graciously volunteered 00:00:33.13\00:00:36.27 to lead us in prayer. 00:00:36.30\00:00:37.48 Thank you, Ken. 00:00:37.51\00:00:41.26 Father we come and kneel in front of Your cross again 00:00:41.29\00:00:45.83 and we look up at You knowing that we are sinners 00:00:45.86\00:00:48.20 and that we are undeserving of everything 00:00:48.23\00:00:49.73 You have done for us. 00:00:49.76\00:00:52.61 But we plead Your blood on our behalf. 00:00:52.64\00:00:56.77 Knowing that You will now take our sin as we were studying 00:00:56.80\00:01:00.81 before transform our minds into Your mind. 00:01:00.84\00:01:04.07 So there are thoughts in our feelings of yours. 00:01:04.10\00:01:08.48 Lord, we are excited by this and we look forward to being 00:01:08.51\00:01:14.00 able to know what You want us to do in any given moment 00:01:14.03\00:01:16.58 because that will be Your mind in us. 00:01:16.61\00:01:19.34 Thank you Lord and we ask this in Jesus' name, amen. 00:01:19.37\00:01:21.88 Amen. 00:01:21.91\00:01:22.94 Amen Thank you, very much. 00:01:22.97\00:01:26.30 We've been speaking about putting on the mind of Jesus 00:01:26.33\00:01:31.23 in order that we may prove or know the will of God. 00:01:31.26\00:01:36.55 You never have to be in doubt about the will of God. 00:01:36.58\00:01:41.11 If you put on the mind of Jesus 00:01:41.14\00:01:42.97 and you've sought the will of God 00:01:43.00\00:01:45.19 and your mind is not clear, 00:01:45.22\00:01:47.90 God has constantly reminded me do not act, 00:01:47.93\00:01:52.29 until your mind is crystal clear. 00:01:52.32\00:01:55.75 Continue to seek my mind and when it becomes 00:01:55.78\00:01:59.98 crystal clear in your mind then you act upon it. 00:02:00.01\00:02:04.41 Amen. 00:02:04.44\00:02:05.68 So don't be like a gun that goes of half-cocked. 00:02:05.71\00:02:10.15 Your mind will be crystal clear when God's will 00:02:10.18\00:02:14.25 is being made clear in your thinking. 00:02:14.28\00:02:18.22 This is very important. 00:02:18.25\00:02:20.45 Secondly and very importantly 00:02:20.48\00:02:24.36 when God reveals His will to us, 00:02:24.39\00:02:27.95 He never gives us direction, contrary to the word of God. 00:02:27.98\00:02:34.57 Amen. 00:02:34.60\00:02:36.26 I know people who are constantly looking 00:02:36.29\00:02:39.44 to find a way around the word of God. 00:02:39.47\00:02:43.29 If you're seeking the mind of Jesus, 00:02:43.32\00:02:45.31 you are basically saying to God. 00:02:45.34\00:02:48.74 "Go ahead and convict my mind and I am confident 00:02:48.77\00:02:52.18 that it will not be contrary to Your written word." 00:02:52.21\00:02:56.79 Because God's spoken word 00:02:56.82\00:02:58.92 is always in harmony with His written word. 00:02:58.95\00:03:02.42 Amen. 00:03:02.45\00:03:03.74 Some of you know that my older son is a pastor. 00:03:03.77\00:03:08.38 I'm about to get a second pastor in my family 00:03:08.41\00:03:10.76 which is even more exciting now. 00:03:10.79\00:03:13.60 God is continuing to bless. 00:03:13.63\00:03:15.30 But my older son was an attorney 00:03:15.33\00:03:18.20 who finally responded to the call 00:03:18.23\00:03:20.27 that God had placed upon him. 00:03:20.30\00:03:22.42 I had anointed him as a baby for ministry 00:03:22.45\00:03:26.14 and he's known about it his whole life 00:03:26.17\00:03:27.75 but he had great joy in calling me up one day 00:03:27.78\00:03:31.08 and saying I am going to university to study law. 00:03:31.11\00:03:34.62 I said well enjoy the deviation. 00:03:34.65\00:03:37.95 He said, "Dad you are not hearing me, 00:03:37.98\00:03:39.39 I am goingto study law. 00:03:39.42\00:03:40.88 I am going to become attorney." 00:03:40.91\00:03:42.25 I said, "You heard me. Enjoy the deviation." 00:03:42.28\00:03:46.48 We all know where you are heading. 00:03:46.51\00:03:48.69 And if you want to do law I have no objections, 00:03:48.72\00:03:50.94 the education will be good for you. 00:03:50.97\00:03:54.29 And after 4 years of practicing law, 00:03:54.32\00:03:56.19 he called me up one day and said, 00:03:56.22\00:03:58.41 "You know, I hate what I am doing." 00:03:58.44\00:04:00.00 I said, "Don't ever call me again 00:04:00.03\00:04:02.62 and let me know that I have no wish to hear it." 00:04:02.65\00:04:06.15 He said, "Why not." 00:04:06.18\00:04:07.21 I said, "Well, I am the one who anointed you for ministry." 00:04:07.24\00:04:11.98 And so if I have raised such a wimp 00:04:12.01\00:04:15.50 that you want to spend your life doing what you hate 00:04:15.53\00:04:19.40 and getting highly overpaid for it, be my guest 00:04:19.43\00:04:24.45 but just don't tell me about it. 00:04:24.48\00:04:26.41 I don't want to hear it. 00:04:26.44\00:04:28.75 That was when he finally decided 00:04:28.78\00:04:30.41 to give God the opportunity. 00:04:30.44\00:04:33.51 He said, "What are you really suggesting." 00:04:33.54\00:04:35.07 I said, "I am suggesting of the word resignation 00:04:35.10\00:04:38.36 into your limited vocabulary. 00:04:38.39\00:04:42.55 And a month later he called me up and told me 00:04:42.58\00:04:44.62 that he put in a month's notice and two weeks later 00:04:44.65\00:04:48.45 he's picked up as a youth pastor 00:04:48.48\00:04:50.16 in the Southern California Conference. 00:04:50.19\00:04:52.24 Isn't God's gracious, huh? Amen. 00:04:52.27\00:04:55.34 And one day he called me up and he said, 00:04:55.37\00:04:57.11 "Dad, I have got a young friend of mine. 00:04:57.14\00:04:59.01 He is a fellow pastor, 00:04:59.04\00:05:00.88 single guy like myself and he needs counsel." 00:05:00.91\00:05:04.57 I said, "Well, give him my phone number." 00:05:04.60\00:05:07.61 I was living in Washington DC at the time. 00:05:07.64\00:05:09.86 I said, "When I'm out in LA next week 00:05:09.89\00:05:11.62 or couple of week's time I'll meet with him if he likes. 00:05:11.65\00:05:15.14 So this guy calls me up and he said, 00:05:15.17\00:05:17.02 "Can I take you out to dinner." 00:05:17.05\00:05:18.39 I said, "Off course as long as I get 00:05:18.42\00:05:20.89 to choose the restaurant." 00:05:20.92\00:05:23.17 And he took that seriously fortunately. 00:05:23.20\00:05:25.95 So there's a nice restaurant 00:05:25.98\00:05:27.25 out on the pier in Santa Monica. 00:05:27.28\00:05:30.08 8 o'clock on Saturday night we met up at this restaurant. 00:05:30.11\00:05:33.77 This young man, he's like 30. 00:05:33.80\00:05:37.52 I made a little bet with myself. 00:05:37.55\00:05:39.58 I said to myself, I bet he wants to talk 00:05:39.61\00:05:41.52 about a young lady. 00:05:41.55\00:05:43.44 What else is a young single 30 years old pastor 00:05:43.47\00:05:46.48 going to talk about? 00:05:46.51\00:05:48.56 So I made this little bet with my self. 00:05:48.59\00:05:52.01 Anyway we got to the restaurant, 00:05:52.04\00:05:53.63 we spend an hour just having chitchat. 00:05:53.66\00:05:56.49 And I said to him, "I hope you know 00:05:56.52\00:05:57.80 this restaurant closes at 10 o'clock, 00:05:57.83\00:05:59.70 it's now 9 o'clock." 00:05:59.73\00:06:01.82 I thought there was something to discuss 00:06:01.85\00:06:03.97 but apparently not at all, just having a great dinner. 00:06:04.00\00:06:06.39 This is fine you know. 00:06:06.42\00:06:08.62 And his head dropped a little bit 00:06:08.65\00:06:09.91 and he said well, there is. 00:06:09.94\00:06:14.42 I said, "Well, bring it up, we got one hour." 00:06:14.45\00:06:18.85 Well, he said it's hard for me to bring it up 00:06:18.88\00:06:20.88 so I said to myself, I think I am right. 00:06:20.91\00:06:24.60 He said, "I have just got engaged." 00:06:24.63\00:06:26.60 I said, "Well, congratulations." 00:06:26.63\00:06:28.11 He said, "Well, that's really the problem." 00:06:28.14\00:06:31.93 Well, I said, "Engagement 00:06:31.96\00:06:32.99 is supposed to be a very happy occasion." 00:06:33.02\00:06:36.99 He said, "Well, this not so happy for me." 00:06:37.02\00:06:40.72 I said, "Why not?" 00:06:40.75\00:06:42.87 He said well, and his head 00:06:42.90\00:06:44.40 dropped it almost hit the floor. 00:06:44.43\00:06:46.17 So I knew what was coming. 00:06:46.20\00:06:48.68 He said, "Well, 00:06:48.71\00:06:51.41 she's not the same faith as me." 00:06:51.44\00:06:58.29 I said, "Okay." 00:06:58.32\00:07:00.74 So we have a pastor of one denomination, 00:07:00.77\00:07:04.62 who has got himself engaged. 00:07:04.65\00:07:06.16 So when he said, "It's much worse than that." 00:07:06.19\00:07:08.03 He said, "She's not even a Protestant." 00:07:08.06\00:07:13.21 I said, "Okay, so if she's not a Protestant 00:07:13.24\00:07:16.17 that means she is a Catholic." 00:07:16.20\00:07:21.65 He said, "Well, yes, she is." 00:07:21.68\00:07:23.41 I said, "Okay." I said, "So." 00:07:23.44\00:07:27.76 Well, he said, "I know what to do. 00:07:27.79\00:07:29.83 I probably shouldn't even have had this dinner with you. 00:07:29.86\00:07:32.11 I'm gonna go around to her apartment tomorrow 00:07:32.14\00:07:34.02 and I'm gonna break up with her. 00:07:34.05\00:07:35.08 Is that what you want me to do?" 00:07:35.11\00:07:38.22 I said, "Listen buddy, 00:07:38.25\00:07:39.28 you are not a child, you are an adult. 00:07:39.31\00:07:42.57 I am not here to tell you what to do. 00:07:42.60\00:07:44.87 I can share the biblical principles with you. 00:07:44.90\00:07:48.98 Would you like to hear them?" 00:07:49.01\00:07:50.10 He said, "Yes." I said, "Well, okay." 00:07:50.13\00:07:54.26 First of all can two walk together, 00:07:54.29\00:07:57.14 unless they are agreed? 00:07:57.17\00:08:00.47 And I'm rattling of these principles. 00:08:00.50\00:08:03.78 And he's getting, 00:08:03.81\00:08:04.91 his head's getting lower and lower 00:08:04.94\00:08:08.44 and finally he says to me, 00:08:08.47\00:08:10.60 "Let me rephrase my question to you. 00:08:10.63\00:08:13.46 If I go around to her house tonight 00:08:13.49\00:08:17.25 and I break up with her, would you consider 00:08:17.28\00:08:19.78 that I have taken a positive step?" 00:08:19.81\00:08:21.69 I said, "Absolutely, but maybe not for the reasons 00:08:21.72\00:08:25.67 that you are thinking." 00:08:25.70\00:08:27.65 Well, he said, "The reasons are very clear to me. 00:08:27.68\00:08:29.61 I said, "Well, they are to me. I hope they are to you." 00:08:29.64\00:08:34.52 I said, "I have never met this girl. 00:08:34.55\00:08:37.83 For all I know she could be a God fearing, 00:08:37.86\00:08:41.99 practicing member of the Roman Catholic Church, 00:08:42.02\00:08:46.03 a true child of God." 00:08:46.06\00:08:49.03 Following God with every point of truth 00:08:49.06\00:08:52.38 that she understands and quiet frankly 00:08:52.41\00:08:58.02 she is in grave danger. 00:08:58.05\00:09:02.03 She is about to unite herself in marriage 00:09:02.06\00:09:04.81 with the most wimpish, 00:09:04.84\00:09:08.08 lacking in conviction pastor. 00:09:08.11\00:09:13.33 Break up with her please for her sake. 00:09:13.36\00:09:16.81 Amen. Amen. 00:09:16.84\00:09:19.35 He is stunned. 00:09:19.38\00:09:21.24 Well, I said, "By the way, 00:09:21.27\00:09:22.30 thanks for dinner it was great." 00:09:22.33\00:09:24.95 He is shaking. 00:09:24.98\00:09:26.81 He went around to her house and he broke up with her. 00:09:26.84\00:09:29.74 My son kept me informed. 00:09:29.77\00:09:35.21 A week later this girl called him up. 00:09:35.24\00:09:37.14 Just called up the young pastor 00:09:37.17\00:09:38.82 and she said, "What are these reasons? 00:09:38.85\00:09:42.14 Why we can't get married? 00:09:42.17\00:09:43.61 How come you have never shared them with me? 00:09:43.64\00:09:45.86 Never opened the Bible with her once, not once. 00:09:45.89\00:09:49.78 She said, "Get your Bible, bring it around here 00:09:49.81\00:09:52.03 and at least have the decency to explain to me, 00:09:52.06\00:09:56.39 why we can't biblically get married? 00:09:56.42\00:10:00.58 And he took his Bible around for the first time 00:10:00.61\00:10:02.97 and they had a Bible study together. 00:10:03.00\00:10:05.30 And he began to serene with her, 00:10:05.33\00:10:07.36 how important it was for them to walk together in faith, 00:10:07.39\00:10:10.87 if they gonna be unite their lives. 00:10:10.90\00:10:13.60 And they started weekly Bible studies together. 00:10:13.63\00:10:17.82 Three months later my son called me up 00:10:17.85\00:10:19.32 and he said, "Guess what?" 00:10:19.35\00:10:20.38 I said, "I can guess over there what's happened." 00:10:20.41\00:10:24.15 She's taken a beautiful stand for Christ. 00:10:24.18\00:10:28.84 She's being baptized. 00:10:28.87\00:10:31.87 I am back n Washington DC and my phone rings 00:10:31.90\00:10:34.47 and I looked around at the caller id 00:10:34.50\00:10:36.26 and I said oh, it's the wimp calling me. 00:10:36.29\00:10:40.57 Why would the wimp be calling me unless... 00:10:40.60\00:10:45.06 I know why he's calling me. 00:10:45.09\00:10:47.30 He doesn't know that I know already about her 00:10:47.33\00:10:49.82 but I pretended I didn't. 00:10:49.85\00:10:52.37 He said, "It's great news." I said, "Share it with me." 00:10:52.40\00:10:55.89 Oh, what a beautiful, he said yes, it's exciting 00:10:55.92\00:10:58.96 and I have got to special favor to ask you. 00:10:58.99\00:11:00.96 I said the answer is no. 00:11:00.99\00:11:03.86 He said, "I haven't asked you yet." 00:11:03.89\00:11:06.03 Oh, I said I have the prophetic gift. 00:11:06.06\00:11:09.87 I know exactly what you're going to ask me 00:11:09.90\00:11:11.96 and the answer is no, He said, 00:11:11.99\00:11:14.41 "I was kind of ask you to do my wedding? 00:11:14.44\00:11:16.31 I said I know. 00:11:16.34\00:11:18.74 And the answer is no. I will not do your wedding. 00:11:18.77\00:11:24.07 I said, "If you are still dating her in two years time, 00:11:24.10\00:11:26.59 call me and I'll do your wedding." 00:11:26.62\00:11:29.57 He said, "Why won't you do the wedding?" 00:11:29.60\00:11:31.30 I said, "Because I think she is still in danger." 00:11:31.33\00:11:34.57 She has done a lot of growing 00:11:34.60\00:11:36.13 in the last 3 months but what about you? 00:11:36.16\00:11:41.05 You need time to catch up with her now. 00:11:41.08\00:11:43.97 So that you can actually be united equally in marriage 00:11:44.00\00:11:50.93 because quite frankly she is ahead of you 00:11:50.96\00:11:52.88 at the moment in her convictions. 00:11:52.91\00:11:55.77 And so I said, "If you want to get married 00:11:55.80\00:11:57.33 find another pastor, there's plenty of them around. 00:11:57.36\00:11:59.58 Please don't ask my son to do the wedding. 00:11:59.61\00:12:02.49 That's all I am asking you." 00:12:02.52\00:12:04.53 Why try so hard for counseling 00:12:04.56\00:12:08.44 he actually asked me during the dinner. 00:12:08.47\00:12:10.15 He said, "Please pray with me 00:12:10.18\00:12:12.05 so that I can know the will of God. 00:12:12.08\00:12:13.72 I said, "I got bad news for you, 00:12:13.75\00:12:15.15 I can't pray with you." 00:12:15.18\00:12:18.24 Well, he said, "Your son said you would pray with me." 00:12:18.27\00:12:21.14 Oh, I said, "No, another classic example of a son 00:12:21.17\00:12:24.22 who doesn't know his own father." 00:12:24.25\00:12:28.07 But you are a pastor he says, why don't you pray with me? 00:12:28.10\00:12:32.16 I said, "Because I am not in the business of tempting God." 00:12:32.19\00:12:36.78 I know the will of God on these matters 00:12:36.81\00:12:39.06 it's in His word with absolute clarity. 00:12:39.09\00:12:42.37 I am not praying to God about something 00:12:42.40\00:12:45.23 that He has already made crystal clear." 00:12:45.26\00:12:47.70 Amen. 00:12:47.73\00:12:48.76 I could pray for the grace of God 00:12:48.79\00:12:50.65 to come upon you and you'll act upon it. 00:12:50.68\00:12:53.76 That would be a powerful prayer. 00:12:53.79\00:12:55.18 But I am not praying for the will of God to be revealed 00:12:55.21\00:12:58.00 when it's already been made crystal clear. 00:12:58.03\00:13:01.06 I hope your mind is clear on these matters. 00:13:01.09\00:13:04.37 So if you are seeking the mind of Jesus 00:13:04.40\00:13:06.22 and you are looking for the will of God. 00:13:06.25\00:13:09.25 Please don't use it as a means of trying 00:13:09.28\00:13:11.71 to get around the word of God 00:13:11.74\00:13:14.46 because God's will is in His word. 00:13:14.49\00:13:16.79 Is there a big amen to that? Amen 00:13:16.82\00:13:19.14 Any question on putting on the mind of Jesus. 00:13:19.17\00:13:21.49 This is such a serious subject. 00:13:21.52\00:13:25.25 And it's a test of fight to put on the mind of Jesus 00:13:25.28\00:13:27.91 and actually believe that you are hearing 00:13:27.94\00:13:30.59 His thoughts and His feelings are becoming a part of you. 00:13:30.62\00:13:35.15 Anyone questioning that? Such a serious subject. 00:13:35.18\00:13:39.57 All right we are moving on to step number three. 00:13:39.60\00:13:44.30 Number three. 00:13:44.33\00:13:45.88 So the three steps to victory. 00:13:54.75\00:13:56.34 Come daily to the cross 00:13:56.37\00:13:58.75 and claim the benefits of His atoning death. 00:13:58.78\00:14:02.76 Secondly and this is an automatic development. 00:14:02.79\00:14:05.49 Anyone who claims the benefits of the death of Jesus 00:14:05.52\00:14:08.72 will automatically receive the mind of Christ. 00:14:08.75\00:14:12.77 But I like to reinforce it by saying to God, 00:14:12.80\00:14:16.87 I give you permission to bring the mind of Jesus 00:14:16.90\00:14:20.87 into my mind right now, 00:14:20.90\00:14:23.24 so that for another day of my life 00:14:23.27\00:14:25.55 I can be thinking His thoughts, 00:14:25.58\00:14:27.88 I can be feeling His feelings. 00:14:27.91\00:14:29.58 By the way I am in a state of amazement myself 00:14:29.61\00:14:33.16 at how clearly Jesus thinks. 00:14:33.19\00:14:36.32 He shares that in the past I've kind of been grave with, 00:14:36.35\00:14:39.27 I've been unclear. 00:14:39.30\00:14:40.97 Now I am no longer in doubt, they are crystal clear. 00:14:41.00\00:14:44.82 Things that I have delayed 00:14:44.85\00:14:46.11 before, I now know that I can act 00:14:46.14\00:14:48.13 because it's crystal clear before me. 00:14:48.16\00:14:50.73 It's a beautiful thing to put on the mind of Jesus. 00:14:50.76\00:14:55.14 And thirdly and this is a very important step now 00:14:55.17\00:14:57.52 and I want you to read with me 00:14:57.55\00:14:59.35 in Romans Chapter 6, Romans Chapter 6. 00:14:59.38\00:15:03.57 I might need help here. 00:15:09.86\00:15:11.04 If you look at my Bible, you'll see why I might need. 00:15:11.07\00:15:13.54 This pages showing a little signs of wear here. 00:15:13.57\00:15:19.03 I think I can remember the wording 00:15:19.06\00:15:21.10 but we'll see how I do. 00:15:21.13\00:15:22.29 This happens to be one of those pages 00:15:22.32\00:15:23.88 where some verses are missing. 00:15:23.91\00:15:27.21 Romans 6:13, I want you to look at the tenses, 00:15:27.24\00:15:34.20 trying to pick out a version there 00:15:34.23\00:15:35.50 where the tenses are crystal clear. 00:15:35.53\00:15:37.41 Yeah. That was a quick yeah. 00:15:37.44\00:15:40.08 What verse have you got there? New American Standard. 00:15:40.11\00:15:42.73 Oh, hallelujah, he is such an advance thinker. 00:15:42.76\00:15:46.29 Let's have you read verse 13 for us, please. 00:15:46.32\00:15:49.82 "And do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin 00:15:49.85\00:15:54.09 as instruments of unrighteousness, 00:15:54.12\00:15:56.51 but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, 00:15:56.54\00:16:00.78 and your members as instruments of righteousness to God." 00:16:00.81\00:16:05.05 And Grapp, would you also include verse 16 for us. 00:16:05.08\00:16:08.21 Thank you. 00:16:08.24\00:16:09.40 "Do you not know that when you present 00:16:09.43\00:16:11.52 yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, 00:16:11.55\00:16:14.92 you are slaves of the one whom you obey, 00:16:14.95\00:16:18.41 either of sin resulting in death, 00:16:18.44\00:16:20.65 or of obedience resulting in righteousness?" 00:16:20.68\00:16:23.84 Thank you very much. 00:16:23.87\00:16:25.01 Now every time you read the word 00:16:25.04\00:16:27.24 present here, in the Greek 00:16:27.27\00:16:29.30 it's in what the Greeks called the continuous tense. 00:16:29.33\00:16:34.21 In other words it's an action 00:16:34.24\00:16:36.34 that is continuously taking place. 00:16:36.37\00:16:40.75 Do not continually present the members of your body to sin 00:16:40.78\00:16:47.46 as instrument of unrighteousness 00:16:47.49\00:16:49.56 that's verse 13. 00:16:49.59\00:16:51.14 But continually presents yourselves to God 00:16:51.17\00:16:56.44 as those alive from the dead. 00:16:56.47\00:16:58.87 I hope you are hearing it. 00:16:58.90\00:17:01.64 Do not continually go on presenting 00:17:01.67\00:17:05.29 the members of your body 00:17:05.32\00:17:06.75 as instruments of unrighteousness, 00:17:06.78\00:17:09.76 but go on continually presenting yourselves 00:17:09.79\00:17:13.69 as instruments of righteousness to God. 00:17:13.72\00:17:16.65 That's a powerful statement 00:17:16.68\00:17:19.14 and I'm wanting to emphasize this morning 00:17:19.17\00:17:21.92 the continuous nature of this process. 00:17:21.95\00:17:25.64 It took me quite a while to hear 00:17:25.67\00:17:27.95 what Paul was saying here and to pick up 00:17:27.98\00:17:30.66 on the continuousness of the actions 00:17:30.69\00:17:33.93 because when you perform actions 00:17:33.96\00:17:36.61 like this on a continuing bases, 00:17:36.64\00:17:39.79 what are you actually engaging in? 00:17:39.82\00:17:44.96 Character development, 00:17:44.99\00:17:46.04 there is no question about that. 00:17:46.07\00:17:48.94 Habit formation. Thank you very much, Grapp. 00:17:48.97\00:17:51.36 You are moving into what we call habit formation, 00:17:51.39\00:17:57.19 the continuous doing of actions 00:17:57.22\00:18:02.37 creates habit formation. 00:18:02.40\00:18:05.43 I wish I'd known this when I first became a Christian 00:18:05.46\00:18:09.29 at the young age of 17, having no Christian background. 00:18:09.32\00:18:14.79 I wish somebody had sat down with me 00:18:14.82\00:18:17.63 because they were excited to lead me to faith 00:18:17.66\00:18:19.87 but nobody talk to me about the importance 00:18:19.90\00:18:24.05 of establishing habits in my life 00:18:24.08\00:18:27.46 that could replace some of the old habits 00:18:27.49\00:18:31.55 that was still present in me. 00:18:31.58\00:18:33.34 I don't know about you but I discovered 00:18:33.37\00:18:35.83 when I became a Christian, I had come out of the world, 00:18:35.86\00:18:39.95 but the world had not come out of me. 00:18:39.98\00:18:43.59 I still had some of these old habits in my mind. 00:18:43.62\00:18:49.28 So the third step is the crucial step, develop. 00:18:49.31\00:18:54.70 No, that's not a good word, establish is better. 00:18:54.73\00:18:58.58 I think I'll use black here, establish. 00:18:58.61\00:19:01.69 New habits to replace old, 00:19:01.72\00:19:06.57 so that your actions will glorify God. 00:19:06.60\00:19:11.95 Those who were having breakfast with me this morning, 00:19:11.98\00:19:14.20 I put on speaker over the call 00:19:14.23\00:19:16.55 that I was receiving from the young man, 00:19:16.58\00:19:18.84 the young homosexual man 00:19:18.87\00:19:20.46 that God has given me to work with. 00:19:20.49\00:19:22.06 He called me this morning just to praise God. 00:19:22.09\00:19:25.34 And those who were sitting over breakfast were thrilled 00:19:25.37\00:19:27.57 to hear his beautiful testimony of praise. 00:19:27.60\00:19:30.77 I've even taught him recently how to set boundaries, 00:19:30.80\00:19:36.64 so that he doesn't need to be drown back into the old habits 00:19:36.67\00:19:39.89 associated with this lifestyle. 00:19:39.92\00:19:42.74 I am so proud of him because last week 00:19:42.77\00:19:44.67 he was out of twelve step program meeting 00:19:44.70\00:19:48.64 and he looked across the room 00:19:48.67\00:19:49.97 and there was a young man sitting 00:19:50.00\00:19:51.56 on the other side of the room 00:19:51.59\00:19:53.31 who apparently was a very good looking young man. 00:19:53.34\00:19:57.28 And his mind kicked into gear and he said to himself, 00:19:57.31\00:20:00.79 I think I'll just go over and introduce myself 00:20:00.82\00:20:03.14 to this young man. 00:20:03.17\00:20:05.27 And immediately he thought back on our conversation 00:20:05.30\00:20:09.18 about replacing the old habits in your life 00:20:09.21\00:20:12.66 and he said, you know, I just looked up 00:20:12.69\00:20:15.16 and I gave Jesus permission to bring his mind into me 00:20:15.19\00:20:19.10 and I immediately determined I would not even go 00:20:19.13\00:20:22.17 and introduce myself to that young man. 00:20:22.20\00:20:25.49 So I would not set in motion a series of events 00:20:25.52\00:20:29.43 that could lead me back into my old behaviors. 00:20:29.46\00:20:32.73 And I thought wow, wow. 00:20:32.76\00:20:35.41 And those of you that heard him this morning, 00:20:35.44\00:20:37.23 you know what grace God is giving to this young man. 00:20:37.26\00:20:40.99 Powerful grace. 00:20:41.02\00:20:43.13 So this is a huge thing, we're reading in Romans. 00:20:43.16\00:20:46.58 "Go on continually 00:20:46.61\00:20:49.53 presenting the members of your bodies to God 00:20:49.56\00:20:52.80 as instruments of righteousness." 00:20:52.83\00:20:55.60 Now I want to tell you something 00:20:55.63\00:20:56.67 about the human mind here this morning. 00:20:56.70\00:20:59.78 When I was at seminary, 00:21:04.48\00:21:05.65 we had a professor who used to be a pastor 00:21:05.68\00:21:10.40 but became a psychologist, a very good psychologist 00:21:10.43\00:21:15.08 and he became a specialist in habit formation. 00:21:15.11\00:21:18.87 He has passed away now but he was a brilliant teacher, 00:21:18.90\00:21:22.27 was one of the best classes I have ever took at seminary. 00:21:22.30\00:21:25.92 And one day on the blackboard he drew the human mind. 00:21:25.95\00:21:32.07 He said, you know, our minds are rather interesting, 00:21:32.10\00:21:35.69 because every time you establish a habit, 00:21:35.72\00:21:39.35 he said it creates a physical pathway in the brain. 00:21:39.38\00:21:45.21 He said it's like this, 00:21:45.24\00:21:46.28 and he drew little thing as like this. 00:21:46.31\00:21:50.12 He said these are called boutons, 00:21:50.15\00:21:52.49 the French word for button. 00:21:52.52\00:21:56.02 And he said it begins back here 00:21:56.05\00:21:59.29 and he said we call this the trigger. 00:21:59.32\00:22:02.69 This is the point of temptation where you get triggered. 00:22:02.72\00:22:07.44 You say something, you watch something, 00:22:07.47\00:22:09.58 you hear something whatever it takes, 00:22:09.61\00:22:12.34 it triggers your mind and the pathway activates, 00:22:12.37\00:22:17.98 and you are actually kind at times 00:22:18.01\00:22:19.60 find yourself doing things 00:22:19.63\00:22:21.05 that you actually don't want to do. 00:22:21.08\00:22:23.59 You didn't plan it. 00:22:23.62\00:22:25.18 It was not even a deliberate action, 00:22:25.21\00:22:27.18 you did it automatically 00:22:27.21\00:22:28.90 because you have a pathway established in your brain. 00:22:28.93\00:22:33.89 I sat up higher when he started describing this, 00:22:33.92\00:22:37.11 I thought, wow, that's me. 00:22:37.14\00:22:39.95 I'm beginning to understand 00:22:39.98\00:22:41.02 why the Apostle Paul himself said 00:22:41.05\00:22:43.57 at times I do things that I hate 00:22:43.60\00:22:47.61 and things I want to do I find myself un to do them, 00:22:47.64\00:22:52.45 because these pathways are in the human mind. 00:22:52.48\00:22:56.54 And the professor said 00:22:56.57\00:22:58.21 you cannot erase these pathways, 00:22:58.24\00:23:03.23 but you can create new pathways 00:23:03.26\00:23:09.50 to replace the old pathways. 00:23:09.53\00:23:12.41 He said you can even begin up at the same point. 00:23:12.44\00:23:15.65 You can have the same trigger, the same point of temptation 00:23:15.68\00:23:20.80 and your mind will want to go into the old pathway, 00:23:20.83\00:23:23.81 but you could begin at this point 00:23:23.84\00:23:26.14 and you could create a new pathway 00:23:26.17\00:23:29.46 by getting into the habit of responding differently 00:23:29.49\00:23:35.43 to the same trigger point. 00:23:35.46\00:23:38.81 And he said if you repeat the new pathway often enough, 00:23:38.84\00:23:42.96 it will replace the old pathway. 00:23:42.99\00:23:47.91 And it will become the habit of your life 00:23:47.94\00:23:52.89 and the old pathway will lose its impact and power upon you. 00:23:52.92\00:23:58.19 Amen. 00:23:58.22\00:23:59.33 And all of a sudden the words of Roman 6 00:23:59.36\00:24:01.89 started to make sense to me. 00:24:01.92\00:24:04.62 "Do not continually go on presenting 00:24:04.65\00:24:08.62 the instruments of your bodies to sin 00:24:08.65\00:24:12.25 as instruments of unrighteousness 00:24:12.28\00:24:14.37 but go on continually presenting 00:24:14.40\00:24:17.59 the instruments of your body to God 00:24:17.62\00:24:20.88 as instruments of righteousness." 00:24:20.91\00:24:26.16 And in our next thrilling chapter, 00:24:26.19\00:24:29.77 we are going to pick this up 00:24:29.80\00:24:31.03 and see how this works out in a practical sense. 00:24:31.06\00:24:34.56 I'm wanting to tell you as we conclude 00:24:34.59\00:24:37.04 putting on the mind of Jesus is an incredible blessing. 00:24:37.07\00:24:40.87 Amen. 00:24:40.90\00:24:41.93 Because Jesus in you has a desire to do things 00:24:41.96\00:24:47.08 that are good and pure and holy and righteous 00:24:47.11\00:24:50.66 that are not naturally within you. 00:24:50.69\00:24:54.53 Let's bow our heads together as we conclude this morning. 00:24:54.56\00:24:58.21 Mike, would you close in prayer for us this morning? 00:24:58.24\00:25:00.57 Thank you. The mike will come to you. 00:25:00.60\00:25:03.19 Father in heaven, 00:25:09.83\00:25:11.94 we thank you so much for all Your blessings on us 00:25:11.97\00:25:15.17 and we thank You that You have provided us 00:25:15.20\00:25:17.72 solution to the sin problem. 00:25:17.75\00:25:19.33 Amen. 00:25:19.36\00:25:22.00 We just ask that Your spirit will continue 00:25:22.03\00:25:25.68 to guide us in the all truth 00:25:25.71\00:25:27.64 and just make crystal clear to us 00:25:27.67\00:25:30.88 how to establish these habits 00:25:30.91\00:25:34.52 and make these victories reality in our lives. 00:25:34.55\00:25:38.67 Thank you for Your grace and we thank You 00:25:38.70\00:25:40.51 for sending Your Son to die on the cross for us 00:25:40.54\00:25:43.07 because He sends the Jesus then. 00:25:43.10\00:25:44.93 Amen. Amen. 00:25:44.96\00:25:46.42 Thank you very much. 00:25:46.45\00:25:48.16 Creative Media Ministries is a faith based ministry 00:25:48.19\00:25:51.21 dedicated to the sharing of good news 00:25:51.24\00:25:53.09 of the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:25:53.12\00:25:55.04 We need your help to take this dynamic message 00:25:55.07\00:25:57.28 to the uttermost parts of the earth. 00:25:57.31\00:25:59.55 If God has touched your heart and the word of God 00:25:59.58\00:26:01.53 has come to life like never before, 00:26:01.56\00:26:03.93 contributions can be sent to Creative Media Ministries, 00:26:03.96\00:26:07.67 PO Box 9485, Bakersfield, California, 93389. 00:26:07.70\00:26:13.79 Or you can make your donation online 00:26:13.82\00:26:16.14 by visiting our website 00:26:16.17\00:26:17.83 at www.creative mediaministries.org. 00:26:17.86\00:26:22.80 To order the complete series of Victory of Jesus 00:26:22.83\00:26:25.22 and many other seminars in DVD or CD format, 00:26:25.25\00:26:28.47 contact us at www.creative mediaministries.org. 00:26:28.50\00:26:34.08 You can also call us at 888-744-0443. 00:26:34.11\00:26:39.55 That's 888-744-0443 00:26:39.58\00:26:44.10 or write to us at Creative Media Ministries, 00:26:44.13\00:26:47.05 PO Box 9485, Bakersfield, California, 93389. 00:26:47.08\00:26:53.45