Hello and welcome
3ABN Worship Hour.
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I'm Pastor John Lomacang.
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Thank you for
taking the time to join us.
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And if you've been
joining us from week to week,
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we thank you for
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supportively coming to the place
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where we believe God
continues to give us messages
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to strengthen and
encourage your hearts.
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Today, we're gonna
take a different path.
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I often talk
about Bible prophecy
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or end time events,
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or maybe
sometimes doctrinal topics.
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But today, I want you
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to really lean
forward and listening
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because we're talking
about a topic entitled,
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Just My Imagination.
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We're talking about the
place where we are born,
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the place where we communicate
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and how we can be
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more effective in
finding the victories
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that can come to us
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in the place of our
thoughts and our imaginations.
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Before I go any further though,
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I'd like to bow and
ask for the Lord's leading
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and guiding in this message.
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Loving Father, in heaven,
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thank You for the privilege
and responsibility of reaching
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into the hearts and minds.
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And even today, the thoughts
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and
imaginations of our audience,
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we do pray that Your Holy Spirit
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will guide and be the
act of power to speak to us
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and bring us to the place
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of new
beginnings and realizations.
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And when this message is done,
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may we find in You
the power that we need,
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not only to understand it,
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but to
implement it in our lives.
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We ask in Jesus'
name, I pray, amen.
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Just my imaginations.
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Sometimes things occur
in our hearts and minds
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that we wonder
how they got there
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and what we're going to
do because they are there.
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Today, in order to illustrate
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the power of
imaginations and thoughts.
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Come with me to my past.
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I'm gonna take you down
memory lane to the place where,
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when I was a young man,
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there was a group
called the temptations
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that wrote a song
that goes as follows.
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And I want you to pay
particularly close attention
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to the lyrics
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because as it is in
the beginning of a show
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or a documentary,
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how this sermon
begins is the mountain
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on which we're going to
built the remainder of it.
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Listen carefully.
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It talks about a man who
was in love with the woman
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of his dreams and desires.
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And these are the
lyrics to the songs.
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Each day through my window,
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I watched her as
she passed me by,
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I said to myself,
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you are such a lucky
guy to have a girl like her
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is truly a dream come true.
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Out of all the
fellows in the world,
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she belongs to me.
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And he continues as he admire
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so he said,
soon we'll be married
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and raise a family.
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Oh yeah.
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On a cozy little home,
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out in the country with
two children, maybe three.
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And then he says, I tell
you, I, I can visualize it all.
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This couldn't be a dream
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for it is too
real, it all seems.
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But the tagline says,
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but it was just my imagination
running away with me.
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It was just my imagination
running away with me.
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I want you to think about that.
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Think about that, friends,
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just my imagination,
running away with me.
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Now, apart from the
tagline and the chorus,
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you might ask yourself,
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I wonder what
kind of woman she was.
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The woman he looked forward
to being with did not exist.
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The woman he was
singing and imagining
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about was just a
figment of his imagination.
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So today, come with me
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to the most
amazing arena on the earth.
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I welcome you to the CDC,
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the character development center
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of the human mind.
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It is the place of
the greatest victories
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or the greatest defeats.
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It is the birth place
of beginnings and endings.
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The mind is where
success motivates us
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and failure pursues us.
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The mind is where
the future happens
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before it even comes to past.
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It is where mountains
come down and walls go up.
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It is where we love and
we hate at the same time,
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but we love in our thoughts
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and we hate in our thoughts
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before any one of
those actions come to pass.
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Let me go a little deeper.
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Some of us are beaten up
by thoughts and imaginations
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that don't have arms.
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Multitudes of us are
incarcerated by what we think
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and what we imagine.
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Others spend their
lives dodging the results
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of their own imaginations
and their own thoughts.
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And many, I say again,
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many waste their lives
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at the
intersection of I thought,
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and I imagined, but,
friends, think about this.
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The ability to think
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and imagine
permeates our entire existence.
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Every day our
minds are thinking,
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every day our
minds are imagining.
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And if you are
captivated by social media,
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you know that a lot of times
your thoughts and imaginations
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are stimulated
by external stimuli,
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by what you see,
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by what you
read, by what you hear.
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But our imagination
influences everything we do,
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everything we think about
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and everything we
create to be even deeper.
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The thoughts that
are going on in our mind,
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they lead to elaborate theories
and indispensable inventions.
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Our thoughts and imaginations
are the catalyst of our dreams,
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the doorway to
shaping our intellect
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and the ticket to our creativity
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or lack thereof.
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If you think about it,
we have the cell phones.
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Why?
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Because somebody thought
about it and imagined it.
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Many of the things that we
have today that surround us,
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that we rely on
were simply the product
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or the seed of someone's thought
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and someone's imagination.
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And you think about it,
how much we rely on it today.
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But I simply ask the question,
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what would we do if
people didn't think about it?
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Where would we be,
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if Steve Jobs did not
think about the Apple Computer?
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If you're a PC user,
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maybe those who
started a Dell computer.
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Where would we be today,
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if people like Bill
Gates did not start Microsoft?
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It started in the recesses
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of his thoughts
and imaginations.
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And so today
what we're going to do
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is we are going to examine
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the figments of
your imaginations
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that shape you,
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and that impact
your outlook on life.
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We're gonna also address
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the phantoms that
are chasing you that
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don't even have legs
that are not even there.
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We're going to reveal
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the sequences of gaining
the victory over thoughts
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and imaginations pursuing you
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that really don't exist.
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Where does this come from?
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When I was reading my Bible
there in the Book of Genesis,
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the Genesis of humanity,
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something struck my mind
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and really began to tap
on my center for thinking
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and say, look
at that text again,
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read that verse all over again.
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And I looked at it again
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and I found that
one of the downfalls
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of the antediluvian world
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was their
thoughts and imaginations.
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It was their
greatest asset at one point,
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and then it became
their worst liability.
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Look at Genesis 6:5
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And we're gonna to read
this in the King James Version,
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because the way that
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God describes the
liability of the world
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that has now gone by
should be a wake-up call
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to many of us today.
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It is about the
thoughts and imaginations.
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And God's word
Says in Genesis 6:5.
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"And God saw that
the wickedness of man
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was great in the earth,
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and that every
imagination of the thoughts
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of his heart was
only evil continually."
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Now, read that
again. Look at that again.
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The imaginations and
the thoughts of the heart
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were only evil continually.
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Let's look at
that and examine that.
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You see what the Bible
is saying is the downfall
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of the
antediluvian world was not
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what they did first,
but what they thought
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and what their
imaginations were focused on.
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You see before
they did anything evil,
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they thought about
it and they imagined it.
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Look at the
sequence of their downfall.
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Their thoughts
became their actions.
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Their actions
became their habits.
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Their habits
developed their characters
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and their characters
shaped their destiny.
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I'll say that one more time,
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it's very
important to understand this,
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their thoughts and imaginations
became their actions.
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Their actions
became their habits,
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their habits
developed their character
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and their character
became their destiny.
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Why did God
destroy the antediluvians
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because of what
started in their thoughts
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and their imaginations,
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and then became in the
documentary of Genesis,
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only evil continually.
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And when you read
the story of Genesis,
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the Bible says it
made God sick to His heart.
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He was upset.
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He was sorry that
He had even made man
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when He saw the depth
at which they had sunk.
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And that's our world
today, before the antediluvians
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manifested evil
actions, they thought about it.
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They imagined it,
they fed their thoughts,
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they nurtured
their imaginations.
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They exposed their thoughts
and imaginations to things
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that they could not control.
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They thought they could
00:11:01.92\00:11:03.32
until they realized
that they could not.
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There are many of you
today that are sitting
00:11:08.00\00:11:09.36
where I'm talking about
right now to get to the place
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where imaginations
are only evil continually.
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It's an amazing thing.
00:11:16.07\00:11:17.41
But if you think about it,
00:11:17.44\00:11:18.77
the only way that
they could have gotten to
00:11:18.81\00:11:20.14
where the Bible said they did,
00:11:20.18\00:11:21.94
was it required a constant
and consistent diet of thoughts
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that continued to
suggest evil continually.
00:11:28.12\00:11:33.05
They exposed themselves
to the media of their day.
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And that is why I say
to young people today,
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if you are not
developing your thoughts,
00:11:38.49\00:11:40.50
your surroundings are.
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If your thoughts are not
being developed voluntarily,
00:11:42.20\00:11:45.07
they're being
guided involuntarily.
00:11:45.10\00:11:47.50
As one doctor once said,
00:11:47.54\00:11:49.20
the best way to
have your own thoughts
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and imaginations is to
turn off all the devices
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around you that insert thoughts
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and
imaginations into your brain,
00:11:58.75\00:12:00.72
into your thinking patterns
without your permission.
00:12:00.75\00:12:03.69
Because when you're sitting
before a television or an iPad,
00:12:03.72\00:12:07.86
or you're surfing the internet,
00:12:07.89\00:12:09.26
or on your favorite
social media website,
00:12:09.29\00:12:12.59
your mind is being
developed involuntarily
00:12:12.63\00:12:15.20
because you don't have
any say in what is before you.
00:12:15.23\00:12:18.97
And before you know it,
it influences your thoughts.
00:12:19.00\00:12:22.30
It starts tapping
on your imaginations.
00:12:22.34\00:12:25.01
And then you begin to
think and imagine things
00:12:25.04\00:12:28.14
that just a few minutes ago
00:12:28.18\00:12:29.98
weren't even in the
recesses of your mind,
00:12:30.01\00:12:33.11
but what you don't
understand is thoughts
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and imaginations are not random.
00:12:35.38\00:12:38.29
They just don't pop up.
00:12:38.32\00:12:39.95
Something happens to
activate our thoughts.
00:12:39.99\00:12:43.69
Something happens to
prompt our imagination,
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but the problem is
00:12:47.66\00:12:49.00
when our
thoughts and imaginations
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begin to guide us,
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the problem is we focus
on dealing with the thought.
00:12:52.30\00:12:55.87
We focus on dealing
with the imagination.
00:12:55.90\00:12:58.61
And we often don't
focus on the precursor
00:12:58.64\00:13:01.81
to what developed that thought
00:13:01.84\00:13:03.45
or what
developed that imagination.
00:13:03.48\00:13:05.45
Case in point.
00:13:05.48\00:13:06.82
Why are we thinking that way?
00:13:06.85\00:13:08.18
Well, if I didn't
pick up my device,
00:13:08.22\00:13:09.85
I wouldn't be
thinking that thought.
00:13:09.88\00:13:11.32
If I didn't watch that show,
00:13:11.35\00:13:12.69
I wouldn't have
those imaginations.
00:13:12.72\00:13:14.29
If I did not allow that
00:13:14.32\00:13:15.66
external stimuli
to come into the way
00:13:15.69\00:13:17.63
I think and hear
and breathe and move,
00:13:17.66\00:13:19.93
then I wouldn't have these
00:13:19.96\00:13:21.30
thoughts and
imaginations and ideas.
00:13:21.33\00:13:23.16
So what do we do?
00:13:23.20\00:13:24.57
We try to deal with the thoughts
00:13:24.60\00:13:26.37
rather than the precursor.
00:13:26.40\00:13:29.34
If we didn't pick up the device,
00:13:29.37\00:13:31.37
we wouldn't have those thoughts.
00:13:31.41\00:13:32.97
So therefore, instead of dealing
00:13:33.01\00:13:34.78
with the thoughts, as
one psychologist said,
00:13:34.81\00:13:37.85
a person was facing
the battle with alcohol.
00:13:37.88\00:13:41.78
And he said, I've got
to find a way to captivate,
00:13:41.82\00:13:45.09
to be successfully
victorious over my alcoholism.
00:13:45.12\00:13:48.79
And he was beginning to be
questioned by the psychologist.
00:13:48.82\00:13:50.96
What do you do
that makes you drink?
00:13:50.99\00:13:53.36
And as he was
going down the path,
00:13:53.40\00:13:55.36
he says, I've
got to stop drinking,
00:13:55.40\00:13:57.27
but the psychologist said, no.
00:13:57.30\00:13:59.53
What you do prior
to that determines
00:13:59.57\00:14:02.70
whether or not
you want to drink,
00:14:02.74\00:14:05.01
whether or not you are prompted
00:14:05.04\00:14:06.64
to want to reach
for that alcohol,
00:14:06.68\00:14:08.54
whether or not
you begin to think
00:14:08.58\00:14:10.08
and imagine that
you need a drink to deal
00:14:10.11\00:14:12.81
with the problem that
00:14:12.85\00:14:14.28
is the
precursor to the behavior.
00:14:14.32\00:14:17.25
And so many of us
are trying to deal
00:14:17.29\00:14:18.79
with habits in our lives,
00:14:18.82\00:14:20.42
but we are ignoring the
precursor to the behavior,
00:14:20.46\00:14:24.49
failing to realize that
00:14:24.53\00:14:26.16
before the thought is there,
00:14:26.19\00:14:29.13
before the thought
becomes an imagination,
00:14:29.16\00:14:31.37
before the imagination
becomes a temptation,
00:14:31.40\00:14:34.44
we are dealing with
a precursor behavior
00:14:34.47\00:14:37.81
that we must look
at very carefully.
00:14:37.84\00:14:41.04
Let's look at
what Paul talks about
00:14:41.08\00:14:42.84
as the precursor
to that behavior.
00:14:42.88\00:14:45.08
The precursor to that behavior.
00:14:45.11\00:14:47.12
Romans 6:16.
00:14:47.15\00:14:49.22
Notice what he says.
00:14:49.25\00:14:51.05
This is amazing.
00:14:51.09\00:14:52.75
Paul says in Romans 6:16,
00:14:52.79\00:14:55.49
"Do you not know that
00:14:55.52\00:14:58.09
to whom you present
yourselves slaves to obey,
00:14:58.13\00:15:02.20
you are that one's
slave whom you obey,
00:15:02.23\00:15:05.70
whether of sin leading to death,
00:15:05.73\00:15:08.77
or obedience
leading to righteousness?"
00:15:08.80\00:15:13.17
Now, I want you to grab that.
00:15:13.21\00:15:14.84
I'm gonna say that again.
00:15:14.88\00:15:16.21
And I'll just illustrate
something as you watch.
00:15:16.24\00:15:18.98
When the presentation happens,
00:15:19.01\00:15:22.82
what follows that ends
up in one of two categories.
00:15:22.85\00:15:27.12
Somebody takes over
and lead you to obedience,
00:15:27.16\00:15:31.39
which leads to
righteousness or disobedience,
00:15:31.43\00:15:34.30
which leads to death.
00:15:34.33\00:15:36.00
But before the leading starts,
00:15:36.03\00:15:38.33
there's a word that's
used in this passage that
00:15:38.37\00:15:40.94
I want to take my
time to focus on right now.
00:15:40.97\00:15:44.34
It says, "Do you not know
00:15:44.37\00:15:45.71
to whom you present
yourselves slaves to obey?"
00:15:45.74\00:15:49.51
Let me make a point that
00:15:49.54\00:15:50.88
I think will
grab you right away.
00:15:50.91\00:15:52.28
Before Eve got
to the tree in Eden,
00:15:52.31\00:15:56.02
the tree got to
Eve in her thoughts
00:15:56.05\00:15:58.15
and in her imaginations.
00:15:58.19\00:15:59.85
Before we get to
the place of temptation,
00:15:59.89\00:16:02.39
the place of
temptation gets to us.
00:16:02.42\00:16:04.66
The building, the
club, the social gathering,
00:16:04.69\00:16:08.20
the addiction,
the habit, the drug,
00:16:08.23\00:16:11.67
the thing you
watch, the thing you read,
00:16:11.70\00:16:13.87
the thing you listen
to before we get to that.
00:16:13.90\00:16:16.30
Before we decide to pick it up,
00:16:16.34\00:16:18.47
we present ourselves
00:16:18.51\00:16:20.34
to the thought
that presents itself.
00:16:20.38\00:16:23.24
Now let me break down carefully
00:16:23.28\00:16:24.71
what Paul the apostle
in essence is saying here.
00:16:24.75\00:16:27.88
He is saying, the
temptation will come,
00:16:27.92\00:16:31.52
but no one sins
without first yielding
00:16:31.55\00:16:34.89
to the
temptation, it is virtually
00:16:34.92\00:16:38.13
and legitimately impossible
to sin until you yield.
00:16:38.16\00:16:42.66
And that word
yield means present.
00:16:42.70\00:16:44.97
So the
temptation comes and we say,
00:16:45.00\00:16:47.54
hello, temptation, I'm here,
what would you like me to do?
00:16:47.57\00:16:51.17
Well, Paul is saying,
when that moment comes,
00:16:51.21\00:16:53.68
instead of saying the temptation
00:16:53.71\00:16:55.04
is too great for you.
00:16:55.08\00:16:56.41
He said, don't even
present yourself to it.
00:16:56.44\00:16:58.41
Don't even answer
the door when it knocks.
00:16:58.45\00:17:01.35
Don't even say I can handle it,
00:17:01.38\00:17:03.79
because we are not able
00:17:03.82\00:17:05.15
to wrestle
against flesh and blood.
00:17:05.19\00:17:06.52
We are not able in
our own human strength
00:17:06.55\00:17:09.49
to have any kind of
victory over an enemy
00:17:09.52\00:17:13.33
that we cannot see.
00:17:13.36\00:17:14.70
We do not wrestle
against flesh and blood.
00:17:14.73\00:17:17.90
So what is he saying?
00:17:17.93\00:17:19.63
Don't present yourself,
00:17:19.67\00:17:21.24
because no one can sin
without first yielding.
00:17:21.27\00:17:24.54
Temptation may
present itself to us,
00:17:24.57\00:17:27.51
but nothing happens
00:17:27.54\00:17:29.38
until we
present ourselves to it.
00:17:29.41\00:17:34.08
We don't sin simply
because we yield to sin.
00:17:34.12\00:17:38.92
It happens in steps.
00:17:38.95\00:17:41.62
Let's walk through
the steps very carefully
00:17:41.66\00:17:43.43
and I've
outlined them one to four.
00:17:43.46\00:17:45.13
And I want to
be very intentional
00:17:45.16\00:17:46.49
about telling you
what these steps are.
00:17:46.53\00:17:48.50
The first thing we do is decide
00:17:48.53\00:17:51.40
to present
ourselves to the thought.
00:17:51.43\00:17:53.80
That's how it happens.
00:17:53.84\00:17:55.17
The first thing
we do is we decide
00:17:55.20\00:17:57.84
to present
ourselves to the thought.
00:17:57.87\00:18:00.21
The temptation is here.
00:18:00.24\00:18:01.58
We are deciding, should
I present myself or not?
00:18:01.61\00:18:03.45
The tree is there.
00:18:03.48\00:18:04.81
Should I present
myself on the drug,
00:18:04.85\00:18:06.45
the alcohol, the video,
the controller, the remote,
00:18:06.48\00:18:10.19
the social
media device is there.
00:18:10.22\00:18:12.55
If I don't pick it up, I
won't have to worry about
00:18:12.59\00:18:15.16
what's on the other side of it.
00:18:15.19\00:18:16.52
So the very first
thing that happens
00:18:16.56\00:18:17.89
is we decide to
present ourselves.
00:18:17.93\00:18:20.06
The second thing,
when we present ourselves,
00:18:20.10\00:18:23.20
the next thing
we decide to do is
00:18:23.23\00:18:25.47
to obey or to disobey.
00:18:25.50\00:18:28.07
That's why Paul
says, when we obey,
00:18:28.10\00:18:31.34
it is either
sin leading to death
00:18:31.37\00:18:33.07
or obedience
leading to righteousness,
00:18:33.11\00:18:34.94
meaning we decide
which one to obey,
00:18:34.98\00:18:37.15
sin or obedience.
00:18:37.18\00:18:39.45
The sin, if we obey
it, it leads to death.
00:18:39.48\00:18:41.55
The obedience, if we obey
it, it leads to righteousness.
00:18:41.58\00:18:46.15
We decide the second phase is,
00:18:46.19\00:18:48.42
we decide
whether or not to obey.
00:18:48.46\00:18:50.96
Thirdly, when we
obey the thought,
00:18:50.99\00:18:54.13
we embrace it like
Eve embraced the fruit,
00:18:54.16\00:18:58.90
we embrace it.
00:18:58.93\00:19:00.27
We begin examining the thought.
00:19:00.30\00:19:02.10
When we examine righteous things
00:19:02.14\00:19:04.31
and embrace righteous things,
00:19:04.34\00:19:06.01
the outcome will be
a righteous outcome.
00:19:06.04\00:19:08.34
But the downside
is when we imagine
00:19:08.38\00:19:11.35
and obey negative thoughts
00:19:11.38\00:19:13.01
or evil thoughts
or sinful thoughts,
00:19:13.05\00:19:14.92
and then when we embrace it,
00:19:14.95\00:19:16.89
the outcome is going to
be sin leading to death.
00:19:16.92\00:19:20.49
Something in your
mind is going to die.
00:19:20.52\00:19:23.43
Something in your
character is going to die.
00:19:23.46\00:19:25.69
Something in your
constitution to fight
00:19:25.73\00:19:27.96
against the
evil is going to die.
00:19:28.00\00:19:29.76
And when you yield, you
are no longer in control
00:19:29.80\00:19:33.67
because sin
begins to lead to death,
00:19:33.70\00:19:35.87
or obedience begins
to lead to righteousness.
00:19:35.90\00:19:39.14
As Paul said, and I
think it's Romans 7:17,
00:19:39.17\00:19:41.88
it is no longer I who do it,
00:19:41.91\00:19:43.91
but sin that dwells in me.
00:19:43.95\00:19:47.12
And the fourth thing we
do in the four-stage process
00:19:47.15\00:19:50.25
is when we embrace it,
00:19:50.29\00:19:52.09
we cross over from
imagination to manifestation.
00:19:52.12\00:19:57.79
And I want you to grab that.
00:19:57.83\00:19:59.19
We cross over
00:19:59.23\00:20:00.76
from imagination
to manifestation.
00:20:00.80\00:20:05.10
Let's think about it this way.
00:20:05.13\00:20:07.17
Imagination forms
the mental picture
00:20:07.20\00:20:10.97
or a thought in the mind.
00:20:11.01\00:20:12.81
But when we yield
to the imagination
00:20:12.84\00:20:15.71
and begin to embrace it,
00:20:15.74\00:20:17.45
begin to handle it,
begin to yield to it.
00:20:17.48\00:20:20.22
It goes from just an imagination
00:20:20.25\00:20:22.28
to a manifestation,
00:20:22.32\00:20:23.92
meaning it now
becomes dimensional.
00:20:23.95\00:20:27.66
When we yield to the precursor,
there's an activating factor.
00:20:27.69\00:20:32.19
It opens the door
00:20:32.23\00:20:33.56
to the thoughts
and imaginations,
00:20:33.60\00:20:35.10
and then it makes room.
00:20:35.13\00:20:36.46
It says, come on in.
00:20:36.50\00:20:37.83
It makes room
for the enslavement,
00:20:37.87\00:20:41.80
but if we don't yield to
it, it cannot enslave us.
00:20:41.84\00:20:44.87
If we don't embrace it,
00:20:44.91\00:20:46.71
it cannot have a
lasting impact on us.
00:20:46.74\00:20:50.01
It cannot begin to change
00:20:50.05\00:20:51.58
the way we feel,
think, or behave.
00:20:51.61\00:20:54.28
If we do not
follow the four steps
00:20:54.32\00:20:57.05
that leads to
either a good outcome
00:20:57.09\00:20:59.79
or a negative outcome.
00:20:59.82\00:21:01.62
But I want you to notice
what happens when we yield.
00:21:01.66\00:21:03.93
There is something
that's powerfully transforming
00:21:03.96\00:21:06.49
when we yield.
00:21:06.53\00:21:07.86
One of the things
that happens when we yield,
00:21:07.90\00:21:09.73
there is a
psychological disconnect
00:21:09.76\00:21:12.37
and that psychological
disconnect disconnects us
00:21:12.40\00:21:15.60
from the center for
development of character,
00:21:15.64\00:21:19.17
which is Christ for
good character development.
00:21:19.21\00:21:21.84
Notice how Paul
analyzes the antediluvian world
00:21:21.88\00:21:25.88
and what happened to them.
00:21:25.91\00:21:27.25
Look at Romans 1:21.
00:21:27.28\00:21:29.48
Romans 1:21.
00:21:29.52\00:21:31.52
The Bible says, "Because
that," this is amazing to me.
00:21:31.55\00:21:35.59
"when they knew God,
they glorified him not as God,
00:21:35.62\00:21:40.36
neither were thankful,
00:21:40.40\00:21:42.96
but became vain in
their imaginations,
00:21:43.00\00:21:47.54
and their foolish
hearts were darkened."
00:21:47.57\00:21:51.41
Watch what happened?
00:21:51.44\00:21:52.77
Look what happened?
00:21:52.81\00:21:54.14
They knew God, but they
did not glorify Him as God.
00:21:54.18\00:21:57.48
And when they did
not glorify Him as God,
00:21:57.51\00:22:00.22
they were not thankful,
and the disconnect happened.
00:22:00.25\00:22:03.75
And when the
disconnect occurred,
00:22:03.79\00:22:06.22
what happened in their minds?
00:22:06.25\00:22:08.72
They became vain
in their imaginations.
00:22:08.76\00:22:11.79
Meaning their imaginations
00:22:11.83\00:22:13.46
were now under
their carnal dark control.
00:22:13.50\00:22:17.77
No consciousness of right,
no consciousness of godliness,
00:22:17.80\00:22:22.64
no consciousness of doing good.
00:22:22.67\00:22:25.17
That's why
people, when they do evil,
00:22:25.21\00:22:27.21
when they continue to do evil,
00:22:27.24\00:22:28.84
they get to the point where evil
00:22:28.88\00:22:30.21
is a natural outcome,
00:22:30.25\00:22:31.75
they don't even blink about it.
00:22:31.78\00:22:33.31
They don't even think about it
00:22:33.35\00:22:34.68
because they've
yielded so much that
00:22:34.72\00:22:37.05
they have an
ongoing disconnect from God.
00:22:37.09\00:22:40.19
And that's why the
Bible says what happens next.
00:22:40.22\00:22:42.99
And this is amazing to me.
00:22:43.02\00:22:44.56
It says in verse 21 of Romans 1,
00:22:44.59\00:22:46.46
"Their foolish
hearts were darkened."
00:22:46.49\00:22:49.60
Now wait a minute.
00:22:49.63\00:22:51.00
Think about that.
00:22:51.03\00:22:52.53
If there's not
light in your heart,
00:22:52.57\00:22:55.04
there's only a darkness.
00:22:55.07\00:22:56.40
What does the Bible say?
00:22:56.44\00:22:57.77
That's why I
always say to people,
00:22:57.81\00:22:59.14
if you're not reading your Bible
00:22:59.17\00:23:00.51
and not studying your Bible,
00:23:00.54\00:23:01.88
there's no light in
there because the Bible says
00:23:01.91\00:23:04.01
in the Book of Psalms,
00:23:04.05\00:23:06.15
"Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet
00:23:06.18\00:23:09.65
and a light unto my path."
00:23:09.68\00:23:11.65
God's Word is a
lamp unto our feet
00:23:11.69\00:23:15.72
and a light unto our paths.
00:23:15.76\00:23:17.36
So if we're not
studying God's Word,
00:23:17.39\00:23:19.26
there's no lamp,
and there is no light.
00:23:19.29\00:23:22.06
And Jesus says
in the Book of John,
00:23:22.10\00:23:24.60
when there is darkness,
00:23:24.63\00:23:26.13
how amazingly
deep that darkness is.
00:23:26.17\00:23:29.84
He also says, walk in the light
00:23:29.87\00:23:32.04
while you have the light,
lest darkness comes upon you.
00:23:32.07\00:23:36.61
What is Paul saying?
What is Jesus saying?
00:23:36.64\00:23:39.11
If there's nothing
to guide your centers
00:23:39.15\00:23:42.28
for developing
right character traits.
00:23:42.32\00:23:45.25
If you turn off the
very light that you need,
00:23:45.29\00:23:47.82
there is no way that in
your natural inclinations,
00:23:47.86\00:23:50.09
you're gonna say,
well, I want to do right.
00:23:50.13\00:23:51.63
It's not possible. You know why?
00:23:51.66\00:23:53.80
Because your
imaginations are vain
00:23:53.83\00:23:57.37
and your heart is
foolish and darkened.
00:23:57.40\00:24:00.27
How can a
foolishly darkened heart
00:24:00.30\00:24:03.61
and a mind that
has vain imaginations
00:24:03.64\00:24:06.61
even think about God.
00:24:06.64\00:24:08.61
And that's why young folk,
00:24:08.64\00:24:09.98
let me just reach
out to you for a moment.
00:24:10.01\00:24:11.65
That's why it's
vitally important
00:24:11.68\00:24:13.15
for you to choose your
stimulus from Sunday to Friday,
00:24:13.18\00:24:17.72
because there's no
way that you're gonna come
00:24:17.75\00:24:19.09
to church on Sabbath morning
and Christians, generally,
00:24:19.12\00:24:21.76
whatever church you go to,
00:24:21.79\00:24:23.12
there's no way you're
gonna present yourself
00:24:23.16\00:24:24.56
before God if during the
week you are presenting yourself
00:24:24.59\00:24:28.33
to things that are developing
your thoughts downward.
00:24:28.36\00:24:31.33
There is no way that
you're gonna go to church
00:24:31.37\00:24:32.97
and sing songs to praise God,
00:24:33.00\00:24:34.77
or even feel like
you're in the right place.
00:24:34.80\00:24:37.84
That's why some people
come to church and sleep.
00:24:37.87\00:24:40.58
And when the
sermon is going forth,
00:24:40.61\00:24:42.11
which is affecting one life.
00:24:42.14\00:24:43.78
It's not even touching yours
00:24:43.81\00:24:45.55
because you have been tefloned
00:24:45.58\00:24:47.12
by your evil
thoughts against God,
00:24:47.15\00:24:49.38
even permeating your heart.
00:24:49.42\00:24:50.95
You see what happens?
00:24:50.99\00:24:52.59
When you know
God, that's not enough.
00:24:52.62\00:24:55.36
You have to be thankful.
00:24:55.39\00:24:57.66
You have to be
thankful or else your heart
00:24:57.69\00:24:59.89
is gonna become a vain place.
00:24:59.93\00:25:01.86
Your imaginations a vain place,
00:25:01.90\00:25:04.30
and your heart is gonna
be foolish and darkened,
00:25:04.33\00:25:07.64
but that's not
even the end of result.
00:25:07.67\00:25:10.04
That's not even the
last part of the story.
00:25:10.07\00:25:12.07
When I looked at this diagnosis
of the antediluvian world,
00:25:12.11\00:25:15.04
it shocked me into thinking,
wait a minute, Pastor John,
00:25:15.08\00:25:18.45
you've got to
really be intentional about
00:25:18.48\00:25:22.02
what you let come into your mind
00:25:22.05\00:25:24.15
and what you let
come into your heart.
00:25:24.19\00:25:26.45
And so I'm saying to you,
if you're not intentional about
00:25:26.49\00:25:28.46
what's coming into your mind
00:25:28.49\00:25:29.86
and what is
coming into your heart,
00:25:29.89\00:25:31.49
then you are allowing yourself
to be a canoe in a rapid river.
00:25:31.53\00:25:36.70
And you're on your
way to a waterfall.
00:25:36.73\00:25:39.00
There's no possible way for you
00:25:39.03\00:25:40.57
to stop the rushing
river of evil around you
00:25:40.60\00:25:43.74
if the Word of God
is not your anchor.
00:25:43.77\00:25:45.71
If the Word of
God is not your light,
00:25:45.74\00:25:47.34
if the Word of God
is not in your CDC,
00:25:47.38\00:25:50.41
your center for the
development of character,
00:25:50.45\00:25:53.82
but there is
something else the antediluvians
00:25:53.85\00:25:55.82
did that is even more shocking.
00:25:55.85\00:25:58.32
Look at Romans
1:28. Romans 1:28.
00:25:58.35\00:26:03.46
Now the Bible said,
"And even as they did not
00:26:03.49\00:26:07.80
like to retain God
in their knowledge,
00:26:07.83\00:26:12.00
God gave them
over to a debased mind,
00:26:12.03\00:26:15.80
to do those things
which are not fitting."
00:26:15.84\00:26:18.81
And then the Apostle Paul begins
00:26:18.84\00:26:20.21
to outline the dark sensual,
00:26:20.24\00:26:23.65
sadistically sexual behavior.
00:26:23.68\00:26:26.48
And that's why
today in our society,
00:26:26.51\00:26:28.08
we see this and we say,
00:26:28.12\00:26:29.75
what can be in the mind of a man
00:26:29.78\00:26:31.92
to be want to marry a man
00:26:31.95\00:26:33.29
or the mind of a woman
to want to marry a woman?
00:26:33.32\00:26:35.86
Where are their hearts?
00:26:35.89\00:26:37.23
Well, the Bible says,
00:26:37.26\00:26:38.83
when you don't like to
retain God in your knowledge,
00:26:38.86\00:26:41.80
you don't have a
God guiding system.
00:26:41.83\00:26:46.03
You don't have a
system that's guiding you.
00:26:46.07\00:26:48.24
God's program is
not in your senses,
00:26:48.27\00:26:50.81
the GPS, the God
program senses the GPS,
00:26:50.84\00:26:53.94
God is not guiding you.
00:26:53.98\00:26:55.48
So there is not
even a sense of feeling
00:26:55.51\00:26:57.61
that anything is wrong.
00:26:57.65\00:26:58.98
That's why today
people can participate
00:26:59.01\00:27:01.85
in some of the
darkest behaviors.
00:27:01.88\00:27:05.19
And they'll call it love.
00:27:05.22\00:27:07.12
Some people participate
00:27:07.16\00:27:08.86
in the most
degrading habits and practices,
00:27:08.89\00:27:11.63
and they call
it just a lifestyle
00:27:11.66\00:27:14.16
because they
have no God complex.
00:27:14.20\00:27:16.06
Why?
00:27:16.10\00:27:17.43
Because they did not like to
retain God in their knowledge.
00:27:17.47\00:27:22.00
When God tried to
get into their knowledge,
00:27:22.04\00:27:24.04
they said, I don't
want God in my knowledge,
00:27:24.07\00:27:26.51
like in Noah's
day, Noah preached.
00:27:26.54\00:27:28.48
But that
generation did not like to
00:27:28.51\00:27:30.88
retain God in its knowledge.
00:27:30.91\00:27:32.71
And today we are in the
same kind of generation.
00:27:32.75\00:27:35.65
The Bible says in the last days,
00:27:35.68\00:27:37.02
perilous times will come for men
00:27:37.05\00:27:39.49
will be lovers of themselves,
00:27:39.52\00:27:41.32
lovers of pleasure,
more than lovers of God.
00:27:41.36\00:27:44.43
So here we are in the middle
of a socially driven society,
00:27:44.46\00:27:49.16
the movies, the music,
00:27:49.20\00:27:51.17
the rap artists,
the hip hop artists.
00:27:51.20\00:27:53.34
And I even go so far as
00:27:53.37\00:27:54.70
saying some of
the Christian artists
00:27:54.74\00:27:56.30
have so diluted Christian music,
00:27:56.34\00:27:58.67
that it sounds so much
00:27:58.71\00:28:00.04
like the world that you can go
00:28:00.08\00:28:01.41
from Christian
music to worldly music
00:28:01.44\00:28:04.18
and no pun
intended, not even skip a beat
00:28:04.21\00:28:06.92
because it doesn't
even sound any different.
00:28:06.95\00:28:09.68
The only thing that
may be a little different
00:28:09.72\00:28:12.32
is they will call God
Him and they'll call God Him.
00:28:12.35\00:28:17.99
So you have to put the word Him.
00:28:18.03\00:28:19.66
You have to put
God where the word Him
00:28:19.69\00:28:21.26
is in so much
Christian music nowadays.
00:28:21.30\00:28:23.70
Jesus is not even if
they say Him, I love Him.
00:28:23.73\00:28:26.63
Well, who is Him?
00:28:26.67\00:28:28.00
It could be a
guy or could be God.
00:28:28.04\00:28:29.67
The world is
melting down the church
00:28:29.70\00:28:32.11
so that it can
control our thoughts
00:28:32.14\00:28:34.14
and our
imaginations and the heart
00:28:34.18\00:28:36.18
where God is supposed to abide
00:28:36.21\00:28:38.25
will eventually be
filled with vain imaginations.
00:28:38.28\00:28:42.38
And the heart
that's should be dedicated
00:28:42.42\00:28:44.25
only to God
00:28:44.29\00:28:45.62
will become a place
where the foolish heart
00:28:45.65\00:28:47.42
becomes darkened.
00:28:47.46\00:28:48.86
My friends, let me warn you.
00:28:48.89\00:28:50.53
The only safeguard today
00:28:50.56\00:28:52.19
is to retain God
in your knowledge.
00:28:52.23\00:28:54.56
The only hope for us in
this world today is say,
00:28:54.60\00:28:57.27
we've got to get God in there
00:28:57.30\00:28:59.00
because if God is
not living in your house
00:28:59.03\00:29:01.30
or in your mind, that's why
I believe it's in Philippians
00:29:01.34\00:29:03.71
where Paul says,
let this mind be in you,
00:29:03.74\00:29:06.57
which was also in Christ Jesus.
00:29:06.61\00:29:08.31
Let this mind be in you,
which is also in Christ Jesus.
00:29:08.34\00:29:11.81
He also says, be transformed
by the renewing of your mind.
00:29:11.85\00:29:15.98
We cannot be
renewed in our minds
00:29:16.02\00:29:19.25
if we are on a
constant diet of the world.
00:29:19.29\00:29:23.09
And we wonder why
somebody on one side
00:29:23.12\00:29:25.66
is excited about Jesus.
00:29:25.69\00:29:27.26
And on the other side,
00:29:27.30\00:29:28.63
a person is
completely turned off.
00:29:28.66\00:29:30.07
They don't want to
hear anything about God.
00:29:30.10\00:29:32.17
I guarantee
you, you can trace it
00:29:32.20\00:29:34.37
right down to
the external stimuli
00:29:34.40\00:29:36.54
and what is
coming into their minds
00:29:36.57\00:29:37.97
and their
thoughts all week long.
00:29:38.01\00:29:40.08
And that's why many people
don't like to study God's Word
00:29:40.11\00:29:44.18
because the thoughts
and imaginations God's Word
00:29:44.21\00:29:48.18
will point out
what you're thinking.
00:29:48.22\00:29:50.59
And God's Word will
uncover your imaginations.
00:29:50.62\00:29:54.56
I've often said it this way.
00:29:54.59\00:29:56.26
We're gonna go to Hebrews 4:12.
00:29:56.29\00:29:57.69
I've often said it this
way before I read the text.
00:29:57.73\00:29:59.96
When you read the Bible,
00:30:00.00\00:30:02.03
the Bible will
start reading you.
00:30:02.06\00:30:03.97
Let me say that one more time.
00:30:04.00\00:30:05.33
When you begin to read the Bible
00:30:05.37\00:30:07.97
without prejudice of any text,
00:30:08.00\00:30:10.07
don't pick what
you're gonna read
00:30:10.11\00:30:11.44
and what you're not gonna read.
00:30:11.47\00:30:12.81
Because some churches
today, the pastor says,
00:30:12.84\00:30:14.24
let's not read that.
00:30:14.28\00:30:15.61
That's the Old
Testament that's done away with.
00:30:15.64\00:30:17.01
Don't fool yourself.
00:30:17.05\00:30:18.38
If you can't
read the whole Bible,
00:30:18.41\00:30:20.15
your thoughts and imaginations
00:30:20.18\00:30:21.52
are gonna become dark.
00:30:21.55\00:30:22.88
And the truth of God's Word,
00:30:22.92\00:30:24.25
His commandments, His
Sabbath, the truth about death.
00:30:24.29\00:30:26.86
The truth about what
happens, the truth about the way
00:30:26.89\00:30:29.02
Jesus feels about
us will be distorted
00:30:29.06\00:30:32.03
if you pick and choose
what you read in God's Word.
00:30:32.06\00:30:34.80
You can't pick and choose
00:30:34.83\00:30:36.16
what tools a surgeon
uses on your operation.
00:30:36.20\00:30:38.93
Don't try to pick and choose
00:30:38.97\00:30:40.30
what texts in
the Bible you read,
00:30:40.34\00:30:41.67
because it
doesn't fit your fancy.
00:30:41.70\00:30:43.87
And I would
guarantee you that the person
00:30:43.91\00:30:46.11
that's massaging
your thoughts spiritually
00:30:46.14\00:30:49.21
can also be leading
your spiritual thoughts
00:30:49.24\00:30:52.11
to be dark and vain
without the presence of God.
00:30:52.15\00:30:54.95
So why is it important
00:30:54.98\00:30:56.89
to read God's Word for yourself?
00:30:56.92\00:30:58.39
Look at Hebrews
4:12, this is powerful.
00:30:58.42\00:31:01.52
Hebrews 4:12.
00:31:01.56\00:31:02.89
The Bible says,
"For the word of God
00:31:02.92\00:31:05.79
is living and powerful
00:31:05.83\00:31:08.90
and sharper than
any two-edged sword,
00:31:08.93\00:31:12.77
piercing even
00:31:12.80\00:31:14.14
to the division
of soul and spirit,"
00:31:14.17\00:31:17.11
meaning it gets
way down in there,
00:31:17.14\00:31:19.27
"and of joints and
marrow," and watch this,
00:31:19.31\00:31:22.34
"and is a
discerner of the thoughts
00:31:22.38\00:31:25.85
and intents of the heart."
00:31:25.88\00:31:29.28
Did you get that?
00:31:29.32\00:31:30.69
When you read the
Bible, the very place
00:31:30.72\00:31:33.36
where the antediluvians failed,
00:31:33.39\00:31:35.52
their thoughts and intentions
were only evil continually.
00:31:35.56\00:31:39.43
The Bible says, God's Word
is a discerner of the thoughts
00:31:39.46\00:31:44.07
and intents of the heart.
00:31:44.10\00:31:46.94
When you read God's Word,
God's Word begins to read you.
00:31:46.97\00:31:50.61
When you are
studying God's Word.
00:31:50.64\00:31:52.44
God's Word begins to study you.
00:31:52.47\00:31:54.71
When you are reading
about righteous material,
00:31:54.74\00:31:57.98
when you are
reading and learning
00:31:58.01\00:31:59.51
about the righteous
God and the righteous life,
00:31:59.55\00:32:02.15
it begins to examine
00:32:02.18\00:32:03.52
and uncover the
wickedness in your mind,
00:32:03.55\00:32:05.49
the wickedness, and
the evil in your thoughts
00:32:05.52\00:32:07.76
and in your imaginations.
00:32:07.79\00:32:09.42
But if you have fallen in
love with evil and wickedness,
00:32:09.46\00:32:11.96
and untruth and lies,
and scriptural deception,
00:32:11.99\00:32:15.10
then you'll
reject the Word of God
00:32:15.13\00:32:17.10
and embrace the very
lie that Satan wants to use
00:32:17.13\00:32:20.70
to guide your
thoughts and imagination.
00:32:20.74\00:32:22.97
But here's the caution.
00:32:23.00\00:32:24.64
When evil no longer seems wicked
00:32:24.67\00:32:27.48
and good is no longer desirable.
00:32:27.51\00:32:30.38
When darkness
seems more pleasing,
00:32:30.41\00:32:32.91
and the truth of God's
Word seems to be the thing
00:32:32.95\00:32:35.22
you want to reject,
00:32:35.25\00:32:36.58
because it doesn't
cross your path and exercise,
00:32:36.62\00:32:39.05
you are on dangerous ground.
00:32:39.09\00:32:40.96
When living
right loses its appeal.
00:32:40.99\00:32:43.63
There is a bewitching addiction
00:32:43.66\00:32:47.00
that turns to darkness
and that bewitching addiction
00:32:47.03\00:32:51.13
makes you feel that
00:32:51.17\00:32:52.50
somehow you can live one way
and expect a different result.
00:32:52.53\00:32:57.47
Don't fool yourself.
00:32:57.51\00:32:58.84
Let me make another point.
00:32:58.87\00:33:00.44
Some people think that, well,
you know, the Christian died,
00:33:00.48\00:33:03.04
well, God is a forgiving God.
00:33:03.08\00:33:05.01
Let me make a
very important point
00:33:05.05\00:33:06.38
right here.
00:33:06.41\00:33:08.15
The very character
that you are developing now
00:33:08.18\00:33:10.52
is the character that
00:33:10.55\00:33:11.89
you're gonna come
out of the grave with.
00:33:11.92\00:33:13.46
You're not
gonna become righteous
00:33:13.49\00:33:14.89
on the day you die.
00:33:14.92\00:33:16.26
If you are living a habit,
00:33:16.29\00:33:17.86
a life of habitual
practices that are dark,
00:33:17.89\00:33:21.30
there is no way that
00:33:21.33\00:33:22.66
somebody can lie at your funeral
00:33:22.70\00:33:24.47
and make you
righteous in the resurrection.
00:33:24.50\00:33:26.63
You've got to develop and
practice those habits now.
00:33:26.67\00:33:29.10
You've got to live a life.
00:33:29.14\00:33:30.47
That's what the
Bible talked about,
00:33:30.51\00:33:31.84
that he that has
this hope in himself,
00:33:31.87\00:33:33.61
purifies himself.
00:33:33.64\00:33:35.08
Jesus will wash away your sin,
00:33:35.11\00:33:36.81
but you've got
to make pure choices
00:33:36.85\00:33:39.15
because you're
developing thoughts
00:33:39.18\00:33:40.52
and imaginations that
00:33:40.55\00:33:41.88
will either lead
you in one direction
00:33:41.92\00:33:43.92
or lead you in another.
00:33:43.95\00:33:45.85
Look what Isaiah points out
as this bewitching addiction.
00:33:45.89\00:33:49.82
It's an amazing thing.
00:33:49.86\00:33:51.19
When you reject
light, look what happens?
00:33:51.23\00:33:53.09
Isaiah 5:20.
00:33:53.13\00:33:54.46
The Bible says,
00:33:54.50\00:33:55.83
"Woe to those
who call evil good,
00:33:55.86\00:33:57.80
and good evil, who
put darkness for light,
00:33:57.83\00:34:02.10
and light for darkness,
00:34:02.14\00:34:03.74
who put bitter for
sweet, and sweet for bitter!
00:34:03.77\00:34:08.44
Woe to those who are
wise in their own eyes,
00:34:08.48\00:34:11.91
and prudent in their own sight."
00:34:11.95\00:34:16.72
That's a cautious scripture.
00:34:16.75\00:34:18.75
Meaning you're measuring
everything by yourself.
00:34:18.79\00:34:21.69
That's why some people
look more evil than you
00:34:21.72\00:34:23.86
because you're
measuring yourself against them.
00:34:23.89\00:34:25.96
But I guarantee you,
if you measure yourself
00:34:25.99\00:34:27.93
against God's Word,
00:34:27.96\00:34:29.30
you'll see
yourself for who you are.
00:34:29.33\00:34:30.90
If you allow God's
law to be your mirror,
00:34:30.93\00:34:32.93
you will see who
you are developing.
00:34:32.97\00:34:34.94
What kind of
character you really have.
00:34:34.97\00:34:37.07
You see the point, friends,
00:34:37.11\00:34:38.44
is when our
discerning center yields
00:34:38.47\00:34:40.94
to evil
thoughts and imagination,
00:34:40.98\00:34:43.24
two things happen.
00:34:43.28\00:34:44.91
Two things happen.
00:34:44.95\00:34:46.61
I'm gonna tell you
about the first one right now.
00:34:46.65\00:34:48.05
And I want you
to listen carefully
00:34:48.08\00:34:49.42
because these are critical.
00:34:49.45\00:34:51.02
These are life and
death developments.
00:34:51.05\00:34:53.25
One, when our
discerning center yields
00:34:53.29\00:34:56.59
to evil thoughts
and imaginations,
00:34:56.62\00:34:59.09
the first thing happens
00:34:59.13\00:35:00.50
is we see sin as our enemy
and we fail to see ourselves.
00:35:00.53\00:35:06.30
Let me break that down.
00:35:06.33\00:35:07.77
If sin is my enemy,
00:35:07.80\00:35:09.17
then sin is
making me be do evil.
00:35:09.20\00:35:11.87
But sin cannot make you do evil.
00:35:11.91\00:35:13.81
Sin is our enemy,
but sin has no power
00:35:13.84\00:35:16.34
over you until you yield.
00:35:16.38\00:35:18.95
What am I saying?
00:35:18.98\00:35:20.52
We blame the
substance or the attraction,
00:35:20.55\00:35:24.69
and we stop
taking responsibility
00:35:24.72\00:35:27.29
for our choices.
00:35:27.32\00:35:28.82
You see, character is developed
when you take responsibility
00:35:28.86\00:35:32.09
for your choices.
00:35:32.13\00:35:33.56
Nobody can force you to eat.
00:35:33.60\00:35:35.53
Nobody can force you to be evil.
00:35:35.56\00:35:37.57
It's a choice you make.
00:35:37.60\00:35:39.17
It's a decision
you make every day.
00:35:39.20\00:35:40.90
And the second thing we do,
00:35:40.94\00:35:42.57
the second very important thing
00:35:42.60\00:35:43.94
we do when our
discerning center yields
00:35:43.97\00:35:46.47
to evil thoughts
and imaginations.
00:35:46.51\00:35:48.14
The second thing we do is
we see others as our enemy.
00:35:48.18\00:35:53.75
We see the devil
as our arch-enemy,
00:35:53.78\00:35:58.25
which he is, but let me take you
00:35:58.29\00:36:00.56
outside of blaming
him or blaming others.
00:36:00.59\00:36:03.43
When we see others
or Satan as the reason
00:36:03.46\00:36:05.99
why we do what we do, we
no longer examine ourselves.
00:36:06.03\00:36:10.13
We no longer
take responsibility.
00:36:10.17\00:36:12.50
We blame others
00:36:12.53\00:36:14.07
and we take no
responsibility for our behavior.
00:36:14.10\00:36:17.71
One of the problems
I have with Christian
00:36:17.74\00:36:19.54
nowadays and years ago,
00:36:19.57\00:36:20.91
there was a guy
called Flip Wilson,
00:36:20.94\00:36:22.94
excuse me, young folk,
00:36:22.98\00:36:24.31
you don't even know who that is.
00:36:24.35\00:36:25.68
But this man named Flip
Wilson years ago used to say,
00:36:25.71\00:36:28.88
the devil made me do it.
00:36:28.92\00:36:31.19
If the devil made him do it,
00:36:31.22\00:36:32.85
he was not
responsible for his behavior.
00:36:32.89\00:36:35.09
And there are many
people that go to church today
00:36:35.12\00:36:37.53
that blame the way they feel,
00:36:37.56\00:36:39.69
the way they
think on Sabbath morning
00:36:39.73\00:36:42.03
or Sunday morning,
00:36:42.06\00:36:43.40
whenever you go to
church, there are people
00:36:43.43\00:36:44.93
that blame other people
for the way they behave,
00:36:44.97\00:36:48.24
for their Christian spirit,
00:36:48.27\00:36:49.90
for the lack of the development
of the fruit of the Spirit.
00:36:49.94\00:36:52.61
Because if that
person doesn't like you,
00:36:52.64\00:36:54.61
it doesn't mean
you don't like...
00:36:54.64\00:36:55.98
Don't have to like them.
00:36:56.01\00:36:57.91
Follow the patterns of Christ.
00:36:57.95\00:36:59.78
If you are a Christian,
00:36:59.81\00:37:01.35
let the character
and the personality
00:37:01.38\00:37:04.12
and the traits of
Jesus shine through you.
00:37:04.15\00:37:06.45
Jesus didn't love
focus. They loved Him.
00:37:06.49\00:37:09.56
He loved them
because that's who He is.
00:37:09.59\00:37:12.66
And when Christ
is reigning in you,
00:37:12.69\00:37:14.73
it is impossible to
say that Jesus is in me,
00:37:14.76\00:37:18.10
but I can't stand the people
00:37:18.13\00:37:19.70
that I go to church with,
00:37:19.73\00:37:21.20
or I don't like the pastor
00:37:21.24\00:37:22.57
or I don't like the
elders, or I can't stand my mom.
00:37:22.60\00:37:25.51
I can't stand her
religious stances.
00:37:25.54\00:37:28.24
You've got to take
personal responsibility
00:37:28.28\00:37:30.28
for your behavior.
00:37:30.31\00:37:31.71
When all the
forces outside of you
00:37:31.75\00:37:34.68
are the reason why
you behave the way you do,
00:37:34.72\00:37:37.39
then you have failed to
take personal responsibility
00:37:37.42\00:37:40.99
for your actions.
00:37:41.02\00:37:42.36
That's why the Apostle Paul says
00:37:42.39\00:37:43.73
in 2 Corinthians
13:5, listen to this.
00:37:43.76\00:37:47.10
He says this so
plainly, listen to this passage.
00:37:47.13\00:37:50.30
He says, "Examine yourselves
00:37:50.33\00:37:53.57
as to whether
you are in the faith
00:37:53.60\00:37:55.80
as to whether
you are in the faith,
00:37:55.84\00:37:57.51
test yourselves."
00:37:57.54\00:37:59.14
Notice, he's not
saying anybody else,
00:37:59.17\00:38:01.61
you are your own responsibility.
00:38:01.64\00:38:04.61
He says, "Do you
not know yourselves
00:38:04.65\00:38:06.65
that Jesus Christ is in you?
00:38:06.68\00:38:09.38
Unless indeed
you are disqualified.
00:38:09.42\00:38:12.89
Examine yourself. Test yourself.
00:38:12.92\00:38:17.99
'Cause nobody is gonna be lost
00:38:18.03\00:38:20.63
because somebody
else did something wrong.
00:38:20.66\00:38:24.17
Ezekiel 18:20 makes it clear
00:38:24.20\00:38:27.54
if you're blaming
the drug or the substance
00:38:27.57\00:38:29.54
or other people that
are, you believe responsible
00:38:29.57\00:38:32.97
for your behavior,
00:38:33.01\00:38:34.34
it is impossible
for you to be saved.
00:38:34.38\00:38:36.18
If you blame everybody else
for your character development
00:38:36.21\00:38:39.25
or lack thereof.
00:38:39.28\00:38:40.95
Look at Ezekiel 18:20.
00:38:40.98\00:38:43.39
The Bible shows
00:38:43.42\00:38:44.75
where the
responsibility really is.
00:38:44.79\00:38:47.66
Ezekiel says, "The
soul who sins shall die.
00:38:47.69\00:38:51.53
The son shall not bear
the guilt of the father,
00:38:51.56\00:38:54.83
nor the father bear
the guilt of the son.
00:38:54.86\00:38:57.80
The
righteousness of the righteous
00:38:57.83\00:39:00.30
shall be upon himself,
00:39:00.34\00:39:02.70
and the wickedness of the wicked
00:39:02.74\00:39:04.37
shall be upon himself."
00:39:04.41\00:39:06.84
What does Ezekiel saying to us?
00:39:06.88\00:39:08.54
Each one of us is responsible
00:39:08.58\00:39:11.68
for his or her own destiny.
00:39:11.71\00:39:16.18
Nobody will stand
in the judgment for you
00:39:16.22\00:39:20.82
and you cannot receive
anybody's responsibility
00:39:20.86\00:39:23.96
and nobody will be
responsible for you.
00:39:23.99\00:39:26.39
Everybody is responsible
for his or her own destiny.
00:39:26.43\00:39:32.23
Now let's talk
about the flip side.
00:39:32.27\00:39:34.47
Let's talk about deliverance.
00:39:34.50\00:39:36.40
We've analyzed the problem.
00:39:36.44\00:39:38.27
We've talked about
yielding ourselves.
00:39:38.31\00:39:40.01
We've talked about
00:39:40.04\00:39:41.38
how we present
ourselves to the temptation
00:39:41.41\00:39:43.28
and how it takes us over
when we yield and embrace it?
00:39:43.31\00:39:47.05
But now let's talk about
the steps of deliverance.
00:39:47.08\00:39:50.05
The first step in deliverance
00:39:50.09\00:39:51.85
is taking
personal responsibility,
00:39:51.89\00:39:55.02
and this is where
God will help you a lot.
00:39:55.06\00:39:57.06
But you got to
ask Him to help you.
00:39:57.09\00:39:58.69
I know that if you ask
God for help, He'll help you.
00:39:58.73\00:40:00.96
Look at the prayer of
David in Psalm 139:23-24.
00:40:01.00\00:40:05.70
Psalm 139:23-24.
00:40:05.73\00:40:08.87
Look at the first two words
of what David says, here it is.
00:40:08.90\00:40:12.64
He says, "Search me, O God,
00:40:12.67\00:40:16.31
and know my thought: try me.
00:40:16.34\00:40:19.91
I mean, know my heart:
try me and know my thoughts
00:40:19.95\00:40:23.72
and see if there be
any wicked way in me,
00:40:23.75\00:40:26.96
and lead me in
the way everlasting."
00:40:26.99\00:40:29.66
Let me read that one more time.
00:40:29.69\00:40:31.66
"Search me, O God,
00:40:31.69\00:40:33.03
and know my heart: try me
00:40:33.06\00:40:35.76
and know my thoughts
00:40:35.80\00:40:37.93
and see if there be
any wicked way in me,
00:40:37.97\00:40:41.27
and lead me in
the way everlasting."
00:40:41.30\00:40:45.04
There's that word,
sin leading to death,
00:40:45.07\00:40:48.34
obedience
leading to righteousness.
00:40:48.38\00:40:50.61
When you ask God to examine you,
00:40:50.65\00:40:53.15
you say, Lord, I
want you to lead me.
00:40:53.18\00:40:56.92
How many of you want
Jesus to be your guide?
00:40:56.95\00:40:59.32
How many of you
want God to lead you?
00:40:59.35\00:41:02.06
If you allow God to lead you,
00:41:02.09\00:41:04.19
He will lead you in
the way everlasting.
00:41:04.23\00:41:07.86
But that's the
challenge nowadays.
00:41:07.90\00:41:09.86
How do you turn off the phone?
00:41:09.90\00:41:11.43
The media, the TikTok,
the Facebook, the Instagram,
00:41:11.47\00:41:14.94
the Twitter, all the stuff
00:41:14.97\00:41:16.81
that's just pouring in at,
00:41:16.84\00:41:18.67
at an infinitesimal
speeds of digital know-how
00:41:18.71\00:41:22.78
is just coming in and
you are so addicted to it.
00:41:22.81\00:41:25.25
You can't stop
it, and then you say,
00:41:25.28\00:41:26.61
God help me,
00:41:26.65\00:41:29.02
but you got to
make some choices.
00:41:29.05\00:41:31.15
You got to say, search me,
00:41:31.19\00:41:32.52
Father, where am I
standing before you?
00:41:32.55\00:41:34.62
The first thing that must happen
00:41:34.66\00:41:36.46
is we got to ask God
to search us, search me.
00:41:36.49\00:41:39.36
And I asked the question,
00:41:39.39\00:41:41.03
what would God
find if we invited
00:41:41.06\00:41:44.77
God to examine our thoughts?
00:41:44.80\00:41:47.50
Would you be comfortable?
00:41:47.54\00:41:49.10
What would God find if
He examined your thoughts?
00:41:49.14\00:41:51.77
What would
happen if we asked God
00:41:51.81\00:41:54.18
to reveal our thoughts to us?
00:41:54.21\00:41:56.28
Would you be embarrassed
if God revealed your thoughts
00:41:56.31\00:41:59.65
to you in His presence?
00:41:59.68\00:42:01.75
How different would we be
00:42:01.78\00:42:03.95
if we asked God to
expose our imaginations?
00:42:03.99\00:42:09.96
Are you brave enough
to ask God to do that?
00:42:09.99\00:42:12.43
Let me say something.
00:42:12.46\00:42:14.70
When you are
brave enough to ask God
00:42:14.73\00:42:16.33
to examine your thoughts,
00:42:16.36\00:42:17.70
expose your
thoughts, reveal your thoughts,
00:42:17.73\00:42:19.83
expose your imaginations.
00:42:19.87\00:42:22.27
Then you're saying, God,
00:42:22.30\00:42:23.64
I'm serious about
this eternity thing.
00:42:23.67\00:42:25.54
I don't want to be lost
00:42:25.57\00:42:26.91
because I took
no responsibility.
00:42:26.94\00:42:28.81
I want to be different.
00:42:28.84\00:42:30.18
You see, David
prayed that prayer
00:42:30.21\00:42:31.55
because David knew
that his sin was born
00:42:31.58\00:42:34.42
when he gave his
thoughts and imaginations
00:42:34.45\00:42:37.12
supremacy over
making the right choices.
00:42:37.15\00:42:40.66
When David fell into
the sin with Bathsheba,
00:42:40.69\00:42:43.43
David became a
blood thirsty king.
00:42:43.46\00:42:45.56
David looked back on his life
00:42:45.59\00:42:47.40
and he knew that
when he gave his thoughts
00:42:47.43\00:42:50.67
and imaginations supremacy
over making right choices,
00:42:50.70\00:42:56.04
he fell into sin.
00:42:56.07\00:42:58.04
But, friends, the
fact of the matter
00:42:58.07\00:42:59.41
is sin cannot force us.
00:42:59.44\00:43:01.08
Sin cannot take over our will.
00:43:01.11\00:43:03.04
We must surrender that.
00:43:03.08\00:43:04.58
We are not victims of our sins.
00:43:04.61\00:43:07.02
We are victims of
our wrong choices.
00:43:07.05\00:43:09.42
Watch this.
00:43:09.45\00:43:10.79
We are not victims
of the sin around us.
00:43:10.82\00:43:13.22
We are first victims
of our wrong choices.
00:43:13.25\00:43:15.62
The sin then affects us
because of our wrong choices.
00:43:15.66\00:43:18.63
Notice why I
didn't blame the sin
00:43:18.66\00:43:20.40
because I looked
at the precursor,
00:43:20.43\00:43:22.26
the sin could not
affect you unless you first
00:43:22.30\00:43:24.57
decided to choose
00:43:24.60\00:43:26.70
or to choose for
it or against it.
00:43:26.74\00:43:28.84
The precursor is the
issue, not the thing itself,
00:43:28.87\00:43:32.04
not the alcohol, the drugs,
00:43:32.07\00:43:34.28
the pornography, the cigarettes,
00:43:34.31\00:43:36.04
the theft, the
lying, the stealing.
00:43:36.08\00:43:38.25
It's the precursor of
00:43:38.28\00:43:39.61
what is happening prior to that,
00:43:39.65\00:43:41.48
that leads you to
embrace the darkness.
00:43:41.52\00:43:45.62
That's why we have to
look at the responsibility.
00:43:45.65\00:43:47.82
James 1:14-15 talks about
how we are all responsible.
00:43:47.86\00:43:51.69
We are responsible, no one else.
00:43:51.73\00:43:53.83
Notice what he
says in James 1:14.
00:43:53.86\00:43:56.63
He says, "But
each one is tempted
00:43:56.67\00:44:00.14
when he is drawn away by
his own desires and enticed.
00:44:00.17\00:44:05.57
Then, when
desire has conceived,"
00:44:05.61\00:44:09.24
look what happens,
00:44:09.28\00:44:10.61
"it gives birth to sin,
00:44:10.65\00:44:12.61
and sin when it is full-grown,
00:44:12.65\00:44:16.79
brings forth death."
00:44:16.82\00:44:20.12
Look at the progress,
James the Apostle outlined it.
00:44:20.16\00:44:23.86
He says, first of all,
it begins with our desires.
00:44:23.89\00:44:27.46
The things that entice us,
00:44:27.50\00:44:29.33
we are drawn away
by our own desires.
00:44:29.36\00:44:32.23
That's why when you
start developing bad habits,
00:44:32.27\00:44:34.70
bad thoughts,
it becomes desires.
00:44:34.74\00:44:36.50
And I'm gonna tell you,
00:44:36.54\00:44:37.87
there's nothing more
powerful in the human character
00:44:37.91\00:44:39.74
than desire and will,
the right action of the will.
00:44:39.77\00:44:42.71
And the things that you
develop in your thoughts
00:44:42.74\00:44:44.35
become your desire.
00:44:44.38\00:44:45.71
And when you desire
stuff, it becomes an addiction.
00:44:45.75\00:44:48.38
It starts calling your
voice like a drug addict,
00:44:48.42\00:44:50.62
like an alcoholic.
00:44:50.65\00:44:51.99
It starts calling you.
00:44:52.02\00:44:53.36
It haunts you in
your quiet moments
00:44:53.39\00:44:54.82
because you've yielded so much,
00:44:54.86\00:44:56.42
is become a part of your makeup,
00:44:56.46\00:44:57.99
your DNA, your desire,
00:44:58.03\00:44:59.73
and is haunting
you and you yield to it
00:44:59.76\00:45:02.96
because you allow that
thing to entice you to the point
00:45:03.00\00:45:06.03
where it's now a
very strong part of you.
00:45:06.07\00:45:08.97
What happens when
you yield to that desire,
00:45:09.00\00:45:11.71
it's conceived, it
brings forth birth,
00:45:11.74\00:45:14.21
sin full-grown, it
brings forth death.
00:45:14.24\00:45:16.91
You can prevent death
by looking at the precursor
00:45:16.95\00:45:20.45
to your temptations
and asking God to help you
00:45:20.48\00:45:22.58
at the precursor point.
00:45:22.62\00:45:23.95
You don't have to yield,
00:45:23.99\00:45:25.42
Jesus can give you the
power over the yielding aspect
00:45:25.45\00:45:28.69
and you can come out victorious.
00:45:28.72\00:45:30.93
Every one of us has
the power to choose.
00:45:30.96\00:45:33.70
Every one of us
has a choice to make,
00:45:33.73\00:45:36.70
but here's the key,
are we training ourselves?
00:45:36.73\00:45:41.67
And now, first
of all, we examine,
00:45:41.70\00:45:43.81
we take responsibility.
00:45:43.84\00:45:45.87
We look at we need help,
00:45:45.91\00:45:47.74
but then there's
something else we have to do.
00:45:47.78\00:45:49.18
We've got to train ourselves.
00:45:49.21\00:45:50.75
Look what Joshua
24:15 talks about
00:45:50.78\00:45:52.51
when he says choices.
00:45:52.55\00:45:53.88
It's a short verse,
00:45:53.92\00:45:55.25
but let me read
this portion to you.
00:45:55.28\00:45:56.85
Joshua 24:15, we are told.
00:45:56.89\00:45:59.15
"And if it seems evil
to you to serve the Lord,
00:45:59.19\00:46:03.83
choose for yourselves
this day whom you will serve."
00:46:03.86\00:46:08.26
Let's apply that right now.
00:46:08.30\00:46:10.07
You got to choose today.
00:46:10.10\00:46:12.13
You got to choose when?
00:46:12.17\00:46:13.50
Today. You got to choose when?
00:46:13.54\00:46:15.30
Choose you this day
whom you will serve.
00:46:15.34\00:46:19.04
Not two weeks from now
00:46:19.07\00:46:20.81
because when the
temptation presents itself
00:46:20.84\00:46:22.18
two weeks from now,
00:46:22.21\00:46:23.55
you got to choose
at that very moment.
00:46:23.58\00:46:25.38
But here's where we fail.
00:46:25.41\00:46:26.95
We fail to train
ourselves to make right choices.
00:46:26.98\00:46:30.05
Our thoughts and imaginations
will have supremacy over us
00:46:30.09\00:46:33.12
if we don't train ourselves.
00:46:33.15\00:46:34.72
Now, why do I
use the word train?
00:46:34.76\00:46:36.49
We train dogs, we train cats,
00:46:36.52\00:46:38.79
we train
children, we train horses,
00:46:38.83\00:46:41.13
we train circus animals.
00:46:41.16\00:46:43.13
And depending on
what kind of animal it is,
00:46:43.16\00:46:47.04
depending on the
level of difficulty
00:46:47.07\00:46:49.44
we eventually make that child
or that animal or that bird
00:46:49.47\00:46:52.91
or that horse or that
lion do what we want them to do
00:46:52.94\00:46:55.94
because we have hung in
there and we train them.
00:46:55.98\00:46:59.21
We train them, we train them.
00:46:59.25\00:47:02.82
But here's the powerful
point that I want you to grab.
00:47:02.85\00:47:05.19
If we can train an animal,
why do we allow our thoughts
00:47:05.22\00:47:10.03
and imaginations to train us?
00:47:10.06\00:47:13.09
We need to take responsibility
and start training ourselves.
00:47:13.13\00:47:17.17
That's what Jesus said to
His disciples in Luke 6: 40.
00:47:17.20\00:47:21.00
Look at that with me.
00:47:21.04\00:47:22.54
He said that very carefully in
Luke 6:40, look at this verse.
00:47:22.57\00:47:27.08
He said, "A disciple
is not above his teacher,
00:47:27.11\00:47:31.55
but everyone who
is perfectly trained
00:47:31.58\00:47:36.18
will be like his teacher."
00:47:36.22\00:47:39.65
Did you grab that?
00:47:39.69\00:47:41.12
I wanna be like Jesus,
but how does that happen?
00:47:41.16\00:47:43.86
I've got to be perfectly
trained to be like my teacher,
00:47:43.89\00:47:47.20
the disciple is
not above his teacher.
00:47:47.23\00:47:49.20
The teacher is
there to give the example.
00:47:49.23\00:47:51.53
There's, the disciple is
there to follow the example.
00:47:51.57\00:47:54.54
If we are in fact
disciples of Christ,
00:47:54.57\00:47:57.37
let Christ train us.
00:47:57.41\00:48:00.31
Don't leave your thoughts
and imaginations to the world
00:48:00.34\00:48:03.28
to let the world train you.
00:48:03.31\00:48:04.81
How ironic that is.
00:48:04.85\00:48:06.48
I'm a Christian, but
I live like the world.
00:48:06.51\00:48:09.38
I'm a disciple, but I
behave like the world.
00:48:09.42\00:48:11.82
That's ironic.
00:48:11.85\00:48:13.19
Jesus divorces Himself
from that kind of behavior.
00:48:13.22\00:48:16.06
That's not My child.
00:48:16.09\00:48:17.46
That's not My disciple.
That's not My children.
00:48:17.49\00:48:21.66
What He's in essence
saying is I love the child,
00:48:21.70\00:48:23.83
but their
behavior does not identify
00:48:23.87\00:48:26.57
with who they say
they are children of.
00:48:26.60\00:48:29.40
We've got to be
like our teacher.
00:48:29.44\00:48:31.07
We've got to be
like our heavenly Father.
00:48:31.11\00:48:32.64
We have to train ourselves.
00:48:32.67\00:48:34.01
There's a quotation
00:48:34.04\00:48:35.38
I want to share
with you right now.
00:48:35.41\00:48:36.75
One from one of
my favorite authors,
00:48:36.78\00:48:38.58
is from the book
Testimony for the Church,
00:48:38.61\00:48:40.22
volume three, page 22.
00:48:40.25\00:48:42.35
Listen to this quotation.
00:48:42.38\00:48:43.75
It is powerful.
Here's what it says.
00:48:43.79\00:48:47.29
"The mind must be
trained through daily tests
00:48:47.32\00:48:52.66
to habits of fidelity,
00:48:52.69\00:48:55.50
to a sense of
the claims of right
00:48:55.53\00:48:58.33
and duty above
inclination and pleasure.
00:48:58.37\00:49:01.74
Minds thus trained do not wander
00:49:01.77\00:49:06.04
between right and wrong,
00:49:06.07\00:49:07.74
as the reed
trembles in the wind,
00:49:07.78\00:49:10.55
but as soon as
matters come before them,
00:49:10.58\00:49:13.72
they discern at once
that principal is involved
00:49:13.75\00:49:18.59
and they
instinctively choose the right
00:49:18.62\00:49:21.56
without long
debating the matter.
00:49:21.59\00:49:24.09
They are loyal
because they have,"
00:49:24.13\00:49:26.80
look at these two words,
00:49:26.83\00:49:28.16
"trained themselves
00:49:28.20\00:49:30.20
in habits of
faithfulness and truth."
00:49:30.23\00:49:35.00
That is a powerful quotation.
00:49:35.04\00:49:37.27
Why when the temptation
comes, they don't fall?
00:49:37.31\00:49:40.11
Because they
liked the three Hebrews
00:49:40.14\00:49:42.24
on the plain of Dura in Babylon.
00:49:42.28\00:49:44.41
Why did they not bow
00:49:44.45\00:49:45.78
when
Nebuchadnezzar threatened them
00:49:45.81\00:49:47.18
with heating the
furnace seven times hotter?
00:49:47.22\00:49:49.55
Because before
they got to Babylon,
00:49:49.58\00:49:51.29
they trained
themselves in Jerusalem.
00:49:51.32\00:49:53.56
They trained
themselves in Judea.
00:49:53.59\00:49:55.59
They were raised
by their parents.
00:49:55.62\00:49:57.36
Their parents
raised them to honor God.
00:49:57.39\00:50:00.20
In spite of circumstances,
in spite of their lives,
00:50:00.23\00:50:03.26
they chose to be obedient
rather than to compromise
00:50:03.30\00:50:07.60
when their lives
were on the line.
00:50:07.64\00:50:09.87
Let me tell you
something, friend,
00:50:09.90\00:50:11.24
if you wait till the moment
to train yourself, you'll bow.
00:50:11.27\00:50:14.24
If you wait till the furnace
is heated seven times hotter
00:50:14.28\00:50:16.48
to make your decision
and start your training,
00:50:16.51\00:50:18.41
then you will fall.
00:50:18.45\00:50:19.85
You cannot make the
decision at the crisis moment.
00:50:19.88\00:50:23.15
You have to train yourself
00:50:23.18\00:50:24.52
before that like
a faithful Olympian.
00:50:24.55\00:50:26.86
You've got to take years
of painstaking development,
00:50:26.89\00:50:29.99
your muscles, train
your muscles to do right,
00:50:30.03\00:50:32.96
train your mind to think right.
00:50:32.99\00:50:34.80
Train your
thoughts to choose right.
00:50:34.83\00:50:37.70
Train your body to make
right habits and actions.
00:50:37.73\00:50:41.94
Go in the right
direction consistently
00:50:41.97\00:50:44.21
so that when the trial comes,
00:50:44.24\00:50:45.67
you will go in the
right direction instinctively.
00:50:45.71\00:50:49.44
Why? Because you
trained yourself.
00:50:49.48\00:50:52.71
How powerful is training.
00:50:52.75\00:50:54.48
Ask the doctor, how
powerful is training.
00:50:54.52\00:50:57.32
Ask the psychologist,
00:50:57.35\00:50:58.69
the teacher, ask
the baseball player,
00:50:58.72\00:51:00.32
the basketball
player like Michael Jackson,
00:51:00.36\00:51:02.82
he's on the line,
not Michael Jordan.
00:51:02.86\00:51:05.86
He's standing at the foul line.
00:51:05.89\00:51:07.56
He wanted to be at the foul line
00:51:07.60\00:51:09.46
in the critical moments.
00:51:09.50\00:51:10.83
One of the most
famous basketball players
00:51:10.87\00:51:12.60
in the NBA history,
00:51:12.63\00:51:13.97
he says, put me on the
line in the critical moments.
00:51:14.00\00:51:15.90
Why?
00:51:15.94\00:51:17.27
Because when the gym was empty
and the fans were not there,
00:51:17.31\00:51:19.37
there he was
practicing his free throws.
00:51:19.41\00:51:22.34
There he was
practicing his foul shots,
00:51:22.38\00:51:25.08
so that when the
critical testing moment,
00:51:25.11\00:51:27.18
when the crowd was
intensely against him,
00:51:27.22\00:51:29.58
he thought nothing of them
00:51:29.62\00:51:31.39
because he trained himself
for these challenging moments.
00:51:31.42\00:51:35.46
Oh I'll tell you one thing,
the reason why God brings us
00:51:35.49\00:51:38.29
to the fountains of
bitter waters is to train us
00:51:38.33\00:51:41.50
that we have made
the wrong choices.
00:51:41.53\00:51:43.43
God will bring us
to the bitter places
00:51:43.47\00:51:46.20
if we fail to
make right decisions.
00:51:46.23\00:51:48.84
Why does He take us there?
00:51:48.87\00:51:50.27
So He can lead us
back to retrain ourselves.
00:51:50.31\00:51:53.24
You see, if God
decides to chastise you,
00:51:53.27\00:51:57.08
there's a reason
for it because He knows
00:51:57.11\00:51:58.98
you're not making
the right decisions.
00:51:59.01\00:52:00.65
He'll chastise you to bring
you back to the place to say,
00:52:00.68\00:52:04.02
now don't do that again.
00:52:04.05\00:52:05.45
But the only way to prevent
that is to train yourself.
00:52:05.49\00:52:08.19
Look at Hebrews 12:11.
00:52:08.22\00:52:10.46
Look what the Lord
says about this very action
00:52:10.49\00:52:12.59
that we must partake in.
00:52:12.63\00:52:14.30
He says, no chastening.
00:52:14.33\00:52:15.96
"Now no chastening seems
to be joyful for the present,
00:52:16.00\00:52:19.97
but painful, nevertheless,
00:52:20.00\00:52:24.04
afterwards it yields
00:52:24.07\00:52:25.97
the peaceable
fruit of righteousness
00:52:26.01\00:52:30.48
to those who have
been trained by it."
00:52:30.51\00:52:33.48
You see that word trained by it.
00:52:33.52\00:52:36.75
Trials sometimes train us.
00:52:36.79\00:52:38.85
We don't like them,
00:52:38.89\00:52:40.22
but God will bring
trials to train us.
00:52:40.26\00:52:42.52
He'll say to us,
you haven't done right.
00:52:42.56\00:52:44.29
So I need to
train you to do right.
00:52:44.33\00:52:46.33
And the battle against sin.
00:52:46.36\00:52:47.70
The problem is, we
try to suppress the sin
00:52:47.73\00:52:50.10
instead of training ourselves.
00:52:50.13\00:52:52.53
We cannot suppress the sin,
00:52:52.57\00:52:55.17
if we haven't trained ourselves
and ask for divine assistance
00:52:55.20\00:52:58.47
in those very moments.
00:52:58.51\00:53:00.14
We've got to make
the right choices.
00:53:00.18\00:53:02.08
We've got to exercise our
will the way that we should.
00:53:02.11\00:53:05.28
Look at Isaiah 1:16.
00:53:05.31\00:53:06.68
The Bible tells us,
00:53:06.72\00:53:08.38
look at the
responsibility of the Christian.
00:53:08.42\00:53:10.99
We are told.
00:53:11.02\00:53:12.35
"Wash yourselves,
make yourselves clean,
00:53:12.39\00:53:15.79
put away the evil of
your doing from before My eye.
00:53:15.82\00:53:19.43
Cease to do evil,
learn to do good."
00:53:19.46\00:53:23.37
Notice, learn to do good.
00:53:23.40\00:53:26.47
The problem is many
Christians want to be right.
00:53:26.50\00:53:30.21
They want righteous lives
without training themselves
00:53:30.24\00:53:33.31
or putting forth any effort
00:53:33.34\00:53:35.38
to develop those
kinds of characters.
00:53:35.41\00:53:37.88
Don't desire a righteous
life unless you put forth effort
00:53:37.91\00:53:41.42
to begin to
develop that kind of life.
00:53:41.45\00:53:43.99
That's why, when you
look at the life of Christ,
00:53:44.02\00:53:46.65
you'll discover something
00:53:46.69\00:53:48.02
in the most crucial
moment of the life of Jesus.
00:53:48.06\00:53:50.86
When He was facing crucifixion,
00:53:50.89\00:53:52.73
when He was
facing the bitter cup,
00:53:52.76\00:53:54.70
His Father did not
remove the bitter cup
00:53:54.73\00:53:57.60
because it was at that moment,
00:53:57.63\00:53:59.43
He wanted Jesus to make
00:53:59.47\00:54:01.07
the right choice
to be our sacrifice.
00:54:01.10\00:54:03.44
He wanted the human, the
Son of man to not succumb
00:54:03.47\00:54:07.68
to the pressures
of His tormentors,
00:54:07.71\00:54:09.88
His persecutors,
the jeering crowd.
00:54:09.91\00:54:12.11
But notice what Jesus said
00:54:12.15\00:54:14.22
in order to survive that moment.
00:54:14.25\00:54:16.79
Luke 22:47, He says, "Father,
00:54:16.82\00:54:21.02
if it is Your will
take this cup away from Me,
00:54:21.06\00:54:25.53
nevertheless not My
will, but Yours be done."
00:54:25.56\00:54:31.90
Now I want you to see something.
00:54:31.93\00:54:33.64
As soon as Jesus chose to
obey in that critical moment,
00:54:33.67\00:54:37.61
what did the Father do?
00:54:37.64\00:54:39.47
The thing that He did for Jesus,
00:54:39.51\00:54:41.34
He will do for you.
00:54:41.38\00:54:42.71
Look at verse 43.
00:54:42.74\00:54:44.41
The Bible says in Luke 22:43,
00:54:44.45\00:54:46.65
"Then an angel appeared to Him
00:54:46.68\00:54:48.22
from heaven, strengthening Him."
00:54:48.25\00:54:50.62
You see when the angel
came to strengthen Jesus.
00:54:50.65\00:54:53.92
His human disability was
combined with divine ability.
00:54:53.96\00:54:58.46
He laid aside the human frailty
and divine assistance came.
00:54:58.49\00:55:02.33
Friends, the Lord
will sent to the same,
00:55:02.36\00:55:04.17
the Lord will do the
very same thing for you.
00:55:04.20\00:55:06.40
When you call on
God at that very moment,
00:55:06.43\00:55:09.20
when you choose to be obedient,
00:55:09.24\00:55:11.01
angels will come and
take your human disability
00:55:11.04\00:55:15.04
and combine it
with the divine ability.
00:55:15.08\00:55:17.31
He will do for us.
00:55:17.35\00:55:18.68
And our
thoughts and imaginations
00:55:18.71\00:55:20.52
will no longer
have power over us
00:55:20.55\00:55:22.92
because we chose to
submit to the will of God.
00:55:22.95\00:55:27.09
Now what happens?
00:55:27.12\00:55:28.46
Let's look at the
last part of the puzzle.
00:55:28.49\00:55:30.06
What kind of weapons should
00:55:30.09\00:55:31.46
we have in those
critical moments?
00:55:31.49\00:55:33.03
2 Corinthians 10:4-5.
00:55:33.06\00:55:35.16
Look at what the Bible says,
00:55:35.20\00:55:37.43
"For the weapons of
our warfare are not carnal,
00:55:37.47\00:55:40.10
but mighty through God,
00:55:40.14\00:55:41.84
to the pulling
down of strongholds,
00:55:41.87\00:55:44.11
casting down,
look, imaginations,
00:55:44.14\00:55:46.71
and every high
thing that exalteth itself
00:55:46.74\00:55:49.18
against the
knowledge of God, and bringing
00:55:49.21\00:55:51.68
into captivity every thought
to the obedience of Christ."
00:55:51.71\00:55:56.69
How does that happen?
00:55:56.72\00:55:58.05
The first thing
we do is we decide
00:55:58.09\00:55:59.85
to present
ourselves to the Lord.
00:55:59.89\00:56:01.46
The second thing we do
when we present ourselves.
00:56:01.49\00:56:04.03
The next thing we do
is we decide to obey Him,
00:56:04.06\00:56:07.20
the steps to righteousness.
00:56:07.23\00:56:08.76
The third thing
is when we obey Him,
00:56:08.80\00:56:11.17
we embrace Him like
even embrace the fruit.
00:56:11.20\00:56:14.00
And the fourth
thing, when we embrace Him,
00:56:14.04\00:56:15.90
we cross over from
imagination to manifestation.
00:56:15.94\00:56:19.37
You see, friends,
00:56:19.41\00:56:20.74
God never
intended a righteous life
00:56:20.78\00:56:22.98
to be just our imagination.
00:56:23.01\00:56:25.25
He intended to
be our experience.
00:56:25.28\00:56:27.62
Let me go to the last text.
00:56:27.65\00:56:29.38
How does that happen?
00:56:29.42\00:56:30.85
How does that happen?
00:56:30.89\00:56:32.39
Philippians 4:8.
00:56:32.42\00:56:34.16
How does that happen?
00:56:34.19\00:56:35.62
The Bible says it
carefully, Philippians 4:8.
00:56:35.66\00:56:39.43
"Finally, brethren
whatsoever things are true,
00:56:39.46\00:56:44.10
whatsoever things are honest,
whatsoever things are just,
00:56:44.13\00:56:48.30
whatsoever things are pure,
00:56:48.34\00:56:50.17
whatsoever things are lovely,
00:56:50.21\00:56:52.41
whatsoever things
are of good report,
00:56:52.44\00:56:54.81
if there be any virtue,
if there be any praise,"
00:56:54.84\00:56:58.11
notice what he says,
"think on these things."
00:56:58.15\00:57:02.12
My appeal to you is very simple.
00:57:02.15\00:57:04.35
The world is tired
of imaginary Christians.
00:57:04.39\00:57:08.16
When we surrender our
thoughts and imaginations,
00:57:08.19\00:57:10.96
the world will finally see
00:57:10.99\00:57:13.36
and get a
glimpse of God's thoughts
00:57:13.40\00:57:15.90
and imaginations.
00:57:15.93\00:57:17.27
Today, let me encourage you,
00:57:17.30\00:57:18.90
give up your
thoughts and imaginations,
00:57:18.93\00:57:21.04
yield your will to Christ.
00:57:21.07\00:57:22.84
He'll send you divine aid
00:57:22.87\00:57:24.57
and it will no longer
be just your imagination.
00:57:24.61\00:57:27.34
You will finally
be just like Christ.
00:57:27.38\00:57:30.41
God bless you.
00:57:30.45\00:57:31.78