WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:12.800 Heavenly Father, we thank you for the power of the resurrection that you have brought into our lives through the death and resurrection of Jesus. 00:00:13.000 --> 00:00:16.580 We thank you that we stand on you, the solid rock. 00:00:17.519 --> 00:00:28.679 And Lord, as today we move into hearing a message from your word that in so many ways is a difficult and heavy, another heavy message from your word. 00:00:28.679 --> 00:00:34.219 Lord, we pray that you would truly help us to receive your words. 00:00:35.200 --> 00:00:43.600 That if there's anything in what I say this morning that is not of you, that you would help us to discern that and discard that. 00:00:43.679 --> 00:00:45.859 But Lord, what is from you? Help us embrace. 00:00:46.539 --> 00:00:49.739 Help us to treasure and to live according to your words. 00:00:50.739 --> 00:00:53.039 We thank you and we love you for who you are. 00:00:53.439 --> 00:00:55.019 In Jesus' name, amen. 00:00:56.019 --> 00:00:56.899 Would you please be seated? 00:00:58.679 --> 00:00:59.679 Amen. 00:01:03.679 --> 00:01:16.920 There's a true story documented for us of a young woman in first century Israel, Judea, who was a married woman. 00:01:17.719 --> 00:01:20.359 And she was caught in the act of adultery. 00:01:20.359 --> 00:01:29.019 And she was brought in front of a crowd of people to a rabbi, one of the many rabbis in first century Israel. 00:01:30.359 --> 00:01:35.719 In front of all those people, they called for justice, for the law to be administered. 00:01:36.299 --> 00:01:38.200 And they looked to the rabbi for his response. 00:01:38.200 --> 00:01:49.200 As this young married woman who was caught in the act of cheating on her husband stood before the rabbi, so many things would have gone through her head as she awaited death. 00:01:49.200 --> 00:02:05.480 And it is fair to say that of all the things going through her head, one of the passages from the Bible that most likely was in her head as she awaited death was a passage we're looking at today. 00:02:05.560 --> 00:02:06.920 It is a graphic passage. 00:02:06.920 --> 00:02:09.039 It is a heavy passage. 00:02:09.599 --> 00:02:10.640 And it's from Proverbs. 00:02:10.759 --> 00:02:15.199 This summer, we're looking through various themes that the book of Proverbs addresses. 00:02:15.860 --> 00:02:19.580 The series is titled Ancient Wisdom for a Postmodern World. 00:02:20.140 --> 00:02:26.400 It's not simply that it's ancient wisdom or old wisdom, but it's wisdom from the ancient of days, from God himself. 00:02:26.759 --> 00:02:27.740 These are his words. 00:02:27.939 --> 00:02:28.680 This is his word. 00:02:28.680 --> 00:02:40.020 And this is one of the most graphic depictions or graphic passages speaking into the issue of adultery, which is what we're looking at this morning. 00:02:40.920 --> 00:02:48.400 I read it a few minutes ago, and it's graphic even to us about 2,000, maybe 3,000 years after it was written. 00:02:48.400 --> 00:03:06.599 But it would have been even more graphic to those who were there when it was first written for some of the innuendo and some of the things it refers to are things that would have been seen as so vivid to the people for whom it was written. 00:03:07.740 --> 00:03:09.480 There's so much we can learn from these words. 00:03:09.479 --> 00:03:21.560 And the first thing we learn, the passage taken as a whole, speaks to us that adultery, that sexual impurity of any form leads to death. 00:03:21.899 --> 00:03:32.159 It is very clear as it speaks of this young man so vividly, this young man walking down a street, being careless, not going out to seek sexual impurity, but sexual impurity, finding him. 00:03:32.560 --> 00:03:35.639 That as the passage wraps up, we see it says, 00:03:35.639 --> 00:03:38.559 All at once he follows her. 00:03:39.039 --> 00:03:48.339 As an ox goes to the slaughter, or as a stag is caught fast, till an arrow pierces its liver, as a bird rushes into a snare, as he does not know that it will cost him his life. 00:03:48.819 --> 00:03:55.899 And it continues as it speaks of sexual impurity's many victims, that they're all, that they're a throng of many. 00:03:56.019 --> 00:04:01.119 It's a mighty throng, and that they are in Sheol, the place of death. 00:04:01.120 --> 00:04:12.960 But we see very clearly and vividly, graphically through this passage, that sexual impurity in any of its forms, whether it's adultery, or pornography, or just sexual fantasy, that it leads to death. 00:04:13.740 --> 00:04:15.539 And yet, there's such hope in these words. 00:04:15.640 --> 00:04:22.879 As Solomon writes these words, he's writing them, not so that we'll simply be aware that all of us are doomed to death, but he's writing them to us saying, 00:04:23.199 --> 00:04:24.220 Avoid that way. 00:04:24.819 --> 00:04:26.819 It's not inevitable that we'll commit sexual sin. 00:04:26.840 --> 00:04:27.540 It's not inevitable. 00:04:27.540 --> 00:04:34.700 When we're in the midst of feeling temptation, we often feel like, this is inevitable, this is what I need, this is what I'm made for, and there's no way out. 00:04:35.020 --> 00:04:42.160 But he writes these words, offering such hope, that if we take them seriously, there is a way to defeat and overcome sexual impurity. 00:04:42.900 --> 00:04:49.379 So the first point we have today is that sexual impurity is not inevitable, but it inevitably leads to death. 00:04:50.040 --> 00:04:51.439 That sexual impurity is not inevitable. 00:04:51.580 --> 00:04:52.840 We can overcome it. 00:04:52.839 --> 00:04:56.159 But if we give in, it inevitably leads to death. 00:04:56.479 --> 00:05:00.060 This is a heavy word, and it's a word from God himself. 00:05:00.060 --> 00:05:09.680 Now, if we're going to be able to overcome sexual impurity, we need to look at what is sexual impurity's game plan. 00:05:10.660 --> 00:05:15.579 And we see in verses 11 and the few following, she, sexual impurity, is loud and wayward. 00:05:15.639 --> 00:05:17.040 Her feet do not stay at home. 00:05:17.319 --> 00:05:20.439 Now in the street, now in the market, at every corner she lies in wait. 00:05:20.920 --> 00:05:22.420 She seizes him and kisses him. 00:05:22.600 --> 00:05:25.040 And with bold face she says to him, and it continues on. 00:05:25.040 --> 00:05:31.540 What we see is that sexual impurity here is looking actively, proactively for a victim. 00:05:32.300 --> 00:05:34.660 She will not stay in her place of home. 00:05:34.740 --> 00:05:36.300 Instead, she's on the street. 00:05:36.360 --> 00:05:36.860 She's in the corner. 00:05:36.939 --> 00:05:37.400 She's looking. 00:05:37.460 --> 00:05:37.900 She's looking. 00:05:38.200 --> 00:05:39.100 She's looking for a victim. 00:05:39.260 --> 00:05:43.879 And she has words to say and physical components and all of this stuff. 00:05:43.939 --> 00:05:49.680 What we see is that sexual impurity is proactive and strategic in its desire to consume us. 00:05:49.680 --> 00:05:58.079 In 1 Peter 5, verse 8, in the New Testament, Peter writes and says that our enemy, our enemy is like a roaring lion looking for whom he can devour. 00:05:58.540 --> 00:06:01.079 He's actively looking for whom he can devour. 00:06:02.400 --> 00:06:03.840 I work with an organization. 00:06:04.199 --> 00:06:06.780 I work mostly with the church, our church. 00:06:07.040 --> 00:06:12.460 But I work very part-time with an organization called Strength to Fight that works in universities and schools and churches. 00:06:12.899 --> 00:06:14.800 We go and give talks about pornography. 00:06:15.139 --> 00:06:17.360 And it's a ministry to help people get free of pornography. 00:06:17.360 --> 00:06:28.280 And one of the things that we found in our academic research is that 12%, 12% of websites are porn sites. 00:06:28.699 --> 00:06:31.360 That's about 4.2 million websites today. 00:06:32.259 --> 00:06:35.240 And growing every day are websites dedicated to porn. 00:06:36.259 --> 00:06:40.600 Not only that, but there are a lot of pornographic videos. 00:06:40.600 --> 00:06:50.939 People use Disney character names specifically so that when kids are Googling stuff and kids are looking up their favorite Disney stuff, they'll come across it. 00:06:51.660 --> 00:07:02.220 The pornographic industry is a multi-billion dollar industry that is proactively and strategically targeting us and our children, the children in our lives. 00:07:02.220 --> 00:07:14.420 It's a multi-billion dollar industry that is looking for people to enslave and to indict, to bring into sexual sin for their own profit and gain. 00:07:14.420 --> 00:07:21.980 And so our second point is that sexual temptation proactively and strategically seeks out its victims. 00:07:22.420 --> 00:07:25.920 And we therefore must proactively and strategically fight against it. 00:07:26.439 --> 00:07:37.920 If they are looking strategically at how to enslave us, how to catch our attention and lure us in, then we need to be proactive and strategic in fighting against it. 00:07:37.920 --> 00:07:49.480 And so this passage offers much hope and strategy about how we can be proactive in fighting against it. 00:07:49.680 --> 00:07:53.259 So let's look at how sexual purity does its thing. 00:07:53.640 --> 00:07:54.780 Well, verse 15 it says, 00:07:55.480 --> 00:07:58.900 So now I come, we'll start in verse 14. 00:07:58.899 --> 00:08:02.939 I had to offer sacrifices and today I've paid my vows. 00:08:03.019 --> 00:08:07.339 So now I have come out to meet you, to seek you eagerly, and I found you. 00:08:08.179 --> 00:08:17.359 The crescendo of sexual impurities temptation on this man and in all of our lives, whether guy or girl, is that it focuses us on ourselves. 00:08:17.919 --> 00:08:24.659 It appeals to our desire for significance, for our desire for validation, our desire to be someone. 00:08:25.219 --> 00:08:27.239 It appeals to us and it speaks to our ego. 00:08:27.240 --> 00:08:28.439 I want you. 00:08:28.900 --> 00:08:30.019 You are awesome. 00:08:30.259 --> 00:08:31.960 You're an amazing romancer. 00:08:32.100 --> 00:08:33.700 You're what I long for. 00:08:34.659 --> 00:08:38.620 And yet as we turn toward the end of the passage, we see that she has so many victims. 00:08:39.539 --> 00:08:40.399 So many victims. 00:08:40.600 --> 00:08:41.639 It's such a deception. 00:08:41.779 --> 00:08:42.399 It's such a lie. 00:08:43.200 --> 00:08:48.399 Sexual impurity will make us want to, whatever form it is, whether it's the prostitute, 00:08:48.940 --> 00:08:52.080 whether it is a friend who is seeking out an affair, 00:08:52.560 --> 00:08:55.220 or whether it is the online website. 00:08:55.220 --> 00:09:02.200 Just a few weeks ago, I was on Skype because my sister lives in Haiti and it's one of the only ways we can be in touch. 00:09:02.720 --> 00:09:05.779 And all of a sudden, I was added by someone that was posing as a friend. 00:09:06.320 --> 00:09:07.379 So they're like, hey, whatever. 00:09:07.560 --> 00:09:09.399 And so I'm like, oh, hey, how do I know you again? 00:09:09.779 --> 00:09:13.920 And just instantly, they started messaging me about just you, you, you. 00:09:13.980 --> 00:09:15.180 You are everything I need. 00:09:15.279 --> 00:09:16.160 You, this, and you. 00:09:16.420 --> 00:09:19.460 And I just deleted right away because I knew that it's a lie. 00:09:19.879 --> 00:09:20.320 It's a lie. 00:09:20.379 --> 00:09:21.200 It's not about us. 00:09:21.600 --> 00:09:22.800 It's not about us being awesome. 00:09:22.799 --> 00:09:24.259 It's not about us being there for them. 00:09:24.419 --> 00:09:28.139 No, they are speaking words as if they actually care about us. 00:09:29.240 --> 00:09:32.559 What our form sexual impurity is trying to get at us, it appeals to our ego. 00:09:33.859 --> 00:09:40.679 And so the third point is that sexual impurity speaks to our desire for significance, for belonging, and validation. 00:09:41.339 --> 00:09:43.679 But in all of this, it is a deception. 00:09:44.099 --> 00:09:45.139 Indifferent to who we are. 00:09:45.139 --> 00:09:51.019 She comes out to this man in this passage and is saying, I want you, but he is one of so many victims. 00:09:51.759 --> 00:09:54.779 The only thing it really desires of him is his death. 00:09:57.799 --> 00:10:02.519 Armed with that knowledge, when that temptation comes, we're able to say no. 00:10:03.259 --> 00:10:05.439 I know you're making me feel like I'm a somebody. 00:10:05.860 --> 00:10:08.960 I know you're making me feel like you really desire me. 00:10:08.960 --> 00:10:12.980 But all you long for is to use me and destroy me. 00:10:13.200 --> 00:10:14.759 I will not give in. 00:10:15.900 --> 00:10:21.120 So that is one component to defeating sexual sin. 00:10:22.000 --> 00:10:27.040 In verse 16, sexual impurity says, I've spread my couch with coverings called lirons from Egyptian linen. 00:10:27.800 --> 00:10:30.400 I've perfumed my bed with myrrh and aloes and cinnamon. 00:10:30.840 --> 00:10:33.580 Come, let us take our fill of love till morning. 00:10:34.440 --> 00:10:35.800 These words can also be translated. 00:10:35.940 --> 00:10:41.139 Other translations of the ancient Hebrew say, come, let us drink our fill of love till morning. 00:10:42.160 --> 00:10:48.920 We see that part of the game plan, part of the strategy of sexual temptation in any of its forms is that it's a promise of fulfillment. 00:10:49.720 --> 00:10:53.400 It's this image of drinking this thing, of fulfillment. 00:10:53.400 --> 00:10:59.400 And it's promising love, something that is more than lust, but something that is truly life-giving. 00:10:59.399 --> 00:11:07.959 One of the game plans of sexual temptation is that sexual impurity promises release, fulfillment, and love. 00:11:08.559 --> 00:11:13.439 But it's a momentary pleasure that brings emptiness, anxiety, and anguish. 00:11:14.120 --> 00:11:19.879 As I speak these words, I know I'm not alone in having listened to the lie of sexual temptation. 00:11:20.419 --> 00:11:26.600 I know that I'm not alone in this place of having given in in various forms to sexual temptation. 00:11:26.600 --> 00:11:30.639 You know what I'm saying is true, if this is also you. 00:11:31.740 --> 00:11:40.139 That though the promises of fulfillment, gratification, and all of that, that's a momentary pleasure that leads to anxiety. 00:11:40.659 --> 00:11:43.560 A fear of being found out. 00:11:43.860 --> 00:11:46.360 It's like an anxiety seeps into your very bone marrow. 00:11:46.920 --> 00:11:48.500 And you're left not fulfilled. 00:11:49.100 --> 00:11:51.340 You're left not with pleasure. 00:11:51.879 --> 00:11:53.540 You're left with anxiety and emptiness. 00:11:53.539 --> 00:12:01.259 Truly, sexual impurity is like being stranded at sea, and you have a true need for water. 00:12:02.179 --> 00:12:11.120 And sexual impurity is like salt water, which the uninformed, the foolish, will begin to drink the salt water, believing it's going to fulfill them. 00:12:11.120 --> 00:12:15.759 But all the water does is dehydrate them because it's salt water, and it makes them thirst for more. 00:12:15.960 --> 00:12:23.120 And so they take more, and they take more, and they take more, and they continue to pursue it, never ever receiving the hydration they need. 00:12:23.279 --> 00:12:24.700 And it destroys them. 00:12:25.159 --> 00:12:33.340 Those who give in to the promise, the allure of salt water when they're stranded at sea are those who will not overcome it, and they will die. 00:12:33.919 --> 00:12:35.600 And the same is true for sexual impurity. 00:12:36.000 --> 00:12:39.279 It offers a promise of fulfillment and love. 00:12:39.279 --> 00:12:47.459 It's no mistake that in the Gospel of John, chapter 4, Jesus famously is at a well in Samaria, and he speaks with a Samaritan woman. 00:12:47.600 --> 00:12:49.699 You and I, you know the story, probably. 00:12:49.959 --> 00:12:54.579 And she, this woman has had not one, not two, but many husbands. 00:12:54.720 --> 00:12:58.519 And the man she's with right now, she's cheating on her current husband with. 00:12:58.579 --> 00:13:01.139 She's committing adultery, just as this passage describes. 00:13:01.139 --> 00:13:07.039 And it's no mistake that Jesus chooses to have similar words to this idea of drinking deeply of love. 00:13:07.080 --> 00:13:09.419 And he says, no, drink of me, the living water. 00:13:10.319 --> 00:13:13.240 Jesus is saying, drink of me, the living water, and you'll thirst no more. 00:13:13.720 --> 00:13:21.759 He knows that this woman has had this reckless pursuit of fulfillment, of trying to drink deeply of satisfaction and of love. 00:13:22.220 --> 00:13:24.279 And yet she's been going to all the wrong places. 00:13:24.279 --> 00:13:30.839 And she won't find that in adultery and excitement and the allure of this type of sin, or of any sin. 00:13:31.980 --> 00:13:36.559 She'll only find it as she turns to Jesus and drinks deeply of him. 00:13:37.939 --> 00:13:39.480 That is what Jesus calls her to. 00:13:42.439 --> 00:13:45.259 Now, how do we defeat sexual impurity? 00:13:46.079 --> 00:13:48.240 Armed with the knowledge that it is a deception. 00:13:48.720 --> 00:13:49.720 That is part of it. 00:13:49.720 --> 00:13:53.340 But earlier on in the passage, we see such strategy. 00:13:53.800 --> 00:13:54.840 How we can be proactive. 00:13:55.500 --> 00:13:56.899 And this we need to take seriously. 00:13:58.720 --> 00:14:01.259 It defines this young man as being a simple man. 00:14:02.480 --> 00:14:05.440 And it says that he doesn't go out seeking impurity. 00:14:05.519 --> 00:14:07.259 He doesn't go out seeking destruction and death. 00:14:07.920 --> 00:14:12.540 But he's just passing along the street near her corner, near the corner of sexual impurity. 00:14:12.899 --> 00:14:16.620 Taking the road to her house in the twilight in the evening. 00:14:16.620 --> 00:14:20.560 It tells us that it's not that this is a man that desires his own destruction. 00:14:20.960 --> 00:14:22.360 He's probably a very nice chap. 00:14:22.919 --> 00:14:26.080 But he's walking close to where sexual impurity does her thing. 00:14:26.539 --> 00:14:30.740 And it's at a time of day during the twilight when he'd be most susceptible to giving in. 00:14:31.179 --> 00:14:34.740 He's being reckless and simple-minded in his going near it. 00:14:36.320 --> 00:14:40.080 And so what we see is that this man could have avoided this entire situation. 00:14:40.419 --> 00:14:41.060 This young man. 00:14:41.059 --> 00:14:46.739 Wisdom would have called for him to stay far from the street where sexual impurity is. 00:14:47.119 --> 00:14:50.839 And to be especially on his guard during that time of day. 00:14:50.919 --> 00:14:51.779 During the context. 00:14:52.179 --> 00:14:52.839 During the twilight. 00:14:53.099 --> 00:14:54.099 When he'd be most susceptible. 00:14:54.819 --> 00:14:57.059 How you and I can defeat sexual sin. 00:14:57.899 --> 00:14:59.439 Is by being aware. 00:15:00.359 --> 00:15:00.799 Understanding. 00:15:01.219 --> 00:15:02.059 Where we're weak. 00:15:02.339 --> 00:15:03.199 Where we're most susceptible. 00:15:03.319 --> 00:15:04.479 What is the context. 00:15:04.579 --> 00:15:05.339 Whether it's geographic. 00:15:05.819 --> 00:15:07.119 Whether it is a time of day. 00:15:07.219 --> 00:15:09.019 Whether it's something in our lives. 00:15:09.019 --> 00:15:11.340 For me I know for every type of sin. 00:15:11.860 --> 00:15:12.559 You name it. 00:15:12.620 --> 00:15:13.579 Being rude to people. 00:15:14.399 --> 00:15:16.220 Or inappropriate thoughts. 00:15:16.439 --> 00:15:16.799 Anything. 00:15:17.159 --> 00:15:17.699 Any type of sin. 00:15:17.740 --> 00:15:20.779 I know that I'm susceptible when I'm feeling super stressed. 00:15:21.179 --> 00:15:22.059 Super exhausted. 00:15:22.620 --> 00:15:24.360 And when I'm pretty alone. 00:15:25.159 --> 00:15:26.079 And so as a result. 00:15:26.460 --> 00:15:28.139 When I find myself in a situation. 00:15:28.299 --> 00:15:32.220 If I'm one of the weeks where I'm doing a ton of extra speaking outside the church. 00:15:32.279 --> 00:15:33.179 At different locations. 00:15:33.299 --> 00:15:33.779 And church on Wednesday. 00:15:33.879 --> 00:15:34.419 And all this stuff. 00:15:34.860 --> 00:15:36.079 And so I'm alone a lot. 00:15:36.120 --> 00:15:37.000 Because I'm doing a lot of study. 00:15:37.000 --> 00:15:38.220 And there's a lot of pressure. 00:15:38.360 --> 00:15:39.299 And I haven't gotten enough sleep. 00:15:39.559 --> 00:15:41.000 When I see myself in that situation. 00:15:41.259 --> 00:15:42.000 Warning sign. 00:15:42.460 --> 00:15:44.860 And so I'll call up accountability brother. 00:15:45.240 --> 00:15:46.539 And I'll call him up and say. 00:15:46.659 --> 00:15:48.200 Hey I'm in a situation right now. 00:15:48.220 --> 00:15:49.679 Where I know I'm more susceptible to sin. 00:15:50.059 --> 00:15:51.659 And we're able to be alert. 00:15:52.019 --> 00:15:52.559 Pray together. 00:15:52.919 --> 00:15:56.600 And then I focus on getting out of that context. 00:15:57.139 --> 00:15:58.000 We need to be alert. 00:15:58.000 --> 00:16:01.820 And so I want to challenge you. 00:16:02.220 --> 00:16:03.120 To take this seriously. 00:16:03.779 --> 00:16:05.500 For life and death is on the line. 00:16:06.620 --> 00:16:08.360 The health and well-being of our souls. 00:16:08.659 --> 00:16:09.539 Of our relationships. 00:16:10.220 --> 00:16:11.940 Of those we love is on the line. 00:16:12.259 --> 00:16:16.759 As we take seriously the need to stay far from sexual impurity. 00:16:17.519 --> 00:16:18.519 A lot of people. 00:16:18.600 --> 00:16:21.740 A lot of people think that to be mature in Christ. 00:16:22.120 --> 00:16:24.899 Is to be able to look sin in the eye and say no. 00:16:24.899 --> 00:16:28.139 But the Bible is clear in the Old Testament. 00:16:28.559 --> 00:16:29.279 In the New Testament. 00:16:29.659 --> 00:16:30.299 Throughout the Bible. 00:16:30.379 --> 00:16:31.139 The Bible is clear. 00:16:31.600 --> 00:16:33.240 We defeat sexual sin. 00:16:33.879 --> 00:16:35.899 Mature Christians defeat sexual sin. 00:16:36.079 --> 00:16:37.179 And all types of sin. 00:16:37.480 --> 00:16:40.579 Not by looking it in the eye and saying no. 00:16:41.179 --> 00:16:42.620 But rather by fleeing it. 00:16:43.000 --> 00:16:45.159 It's over and over and over in the New Testament letters. 00:16:45.279 --> 00:16:46.679 It's right here in Proverbs multiple times. 00:16:47.079 --> 00:16:47.980 Flee temptation. 00:16:48.340 --> 00:16:49.299 Stay far from it. 00:16:50.019 --> 00:16:52.159 Maturity is to stay far from it. 00:16:52.159 --> 00:16:56.879 And so some proactive strategic steps through which we can take. 00:16:57.219 --> 00:17:02.899 Is that if you find that your smartphone is an avenue toward sexual sin. 00:17:03.259 --> 00:17:07.220 And you've promised yourself over and over that you won't look at porn on your smartphone. 00:17:07.859 --> 00:17:10.059 What you may need to seriously consider. 00:17:10.859 --> 00:17:13.539 I want to challenge you to seriously consider getting rid of your smartphone. 00:17:13.819 --> 00:17:14.460 Get a flip phone. 00:17:15.420 --> 00:17:18.000 Many young men that I've walked with have had to do that. 00:17:18.259 --> 00:17:19.119 They get rid of their phone. 00:17:19.119 --> 00:17:22.279 If you find yourself working a job. 00:17:22.899 --> 00:17:25.159 Where there is a guy or a girl. 00:17:25.519 --> 00:17:28.859 That is trouble for you regarding sexual sin. 00:17:29.379 --> 00:17:30.479 You may need to consider. 00:17:30.579 --> 00:17:33.000 In fact I challenge you to consider quitting your job. 00:17:33.259 --> 00:17:34.079 And finding a new one. 00:17:35.399 --> 00:17:39.179 I have had friends who are housemates with someone. 00:17:39.419 --> 00:17:43.399 And the person has pornographic material in the house. 00:17:43.959 --> 00:17:46.419 And they've tried to get the person to get rid of it. 00:17:46.500 --> 00:17:47.199 And it hasn't happened. 00:17:47.200 --> 00:17:50.759 And because of that housemate they themselves are struggling with sexual sin. 00:17:51.660 --> 00:17:53.000 Taking these words seriously. 00:17:53.940 --> 00:17:55.100 That is serious stuff. 00:17:55.440 --> 00:17:56.680 They have to find a new housemate. 00:17:56.740 --> 00:17:57.319 They have to leave. 00:17:58.299 --> 00:18:00.160 In my house I live with eight young men. 00:18:00.640 --> 00:18:02.299 And we have decided to get rid of Wi-Fi. 00:18:02.360 --> 00:18:03.620 We did that more than a year ago now. 00:18:03.880 --> 00:18:05.019 We don't have internet at my house. 00:18:05.580 --> 00:18:07.640 It's like we're living in a century past. 00:18:07.700 --> 00:18:08.620 A time gone by. 00:18:08.619 --> 00:18:12.079 But we've made this decision. 00:18:12.519 --> 00:18:16.119 Because a number of people in the home just said. 00:18:16.359 --> 00:18:16.779 You know what? 00:18:17.159 --> 00:18:20.759 We want to do whatever it takes to be free of temptation. 00:18:21.539 --> 00:18:22.559 So I want to encourage you. 00:18:22.639 --> 00:18:23.599 No matter how hard. 00:18:24.000 --> 00:18:24.859 No matter how difficult. 00:18:25.459 --> 00:18:27.559 No matter how radical your friends think you are. 00:18:27.559 --> 00:18:29.919 To do what it takes to stay far from it. 00:18:30.240 --> 00:18:32.059 I want to challenge you to take time to journal. 00:18:32.179 --> 00:18:32.519 Write down. 00:18:32.619 --> 00:18:33.119 I've done this. 00:18:33.440 --> 00:18:34.139 Write down. 00:18:34.579 --> 00:18:36.419 Prayerfully write down the context. 00:18:36.519 --> 00:18:37.159 The situation. 00:18:37.319 --> 00:18:39.299 The things that it triggers for you. 00:18:39.419 --> 00:18:40.700 That are temptation for you. 00:18:40.839 --> 00:18:42.419 Take these words seriously. 00:18:42.420 --> 00:18:47.900 We defeat sin by staying far away from temptation. 00:18:48.380 --> 00:18:51.460 In terms of location, access, time, and opportunity. 00:18:52.100 --> 00:18:54.820 One of the things that we find that often allows us to. 00:18:55.039 --> 00:18:56.480 That kind of brings us into sin. 00:18:57.060 --> 00:18:59.300 Is that where we're most susceptible. 00:18:59.440 --> 00:19:01.360 Isn't simply these very dark places. 00:19:01.360 --> 00:19:04.039 But it's actually when you can justify it because of something good. 00:19:04.680 --> 00:19:07.320 When I was working as a speech writer for an MP. 00:19:07.519 --> 00:19:10.220 Whose whole reason for politics was fighting human trafficking. 00:19:10.380 --> 00:19:11.539 And sexual abuse and all this stuff. 00:19:12.420 --> 00:19:14.759 It would have been very easy for me to justify. 00:19:14.940 --> 00:19:16.799 In fact, it would have been helpful for my research. 00:19:17.159 --> 00:19:22.680 If I would have in my research to come across some inappropriate stuff. 00:19:22.720 --> 00:19:24.279 Even some good academic research. 00:19:24.359 --> 00:19:25.180 It's just very graphic. 00:19:25.819 --> 00:19:29.559 And knowing the depravity of every single heart. 00:19:29.680 --> 00:19:30.539 Which includes my own. 00:19:30.539 --> 00:19:31.559 I don't know every heart. 00:19:31.759 --> 00:19:33.420 But the darkness in every heart. 00:19:33.819 --> 00:19:36.220 I refuse to do certain types of research. 00:19:36.599 --> 00:19:38.599 Because I need to stay far from it. 00:19:39.019 --> 00:19:41.139 For even though my justification. 00:19:41.539 --> 00:19:42.519 It was good. 00:19:42.799 --> 00:19:44.119 If I had read that stuff. 00:19:44.200 --> 00:19:45.779 It would have put those images in my mind. 00:19:46.000 --> 00:19:47.299 I had to stay far from it. 00:19:47.819 --> 00:19:52.440 I have friends who were sharing the gospel with someone of the opposite gender. 00:19:52.960 --> 00:19:56.740 And this person seemed very eager to hear about the gospel. 00:19:57.200 --> 00:20:00.440 And he had also wanted to be sexually immoral with them. 00:20:00.759 --> 00:20:01.599 And I challenged them. 00:20:01.639 --> 00:20:02.480 I pleaded with them. 00:20:02.519 --> 00:20:03.519 I got in their space. 00:20:03.859 --> 00:20:06.299 And I said, get out of this right now. 00:20:06.299 --> 00:20:08.460 Do not meet up with them to share the gospel. 00:20:08.819 --> 00:20:10.159 How can you say that to someone? 00:20:10.460 --> 00:20:12.480 I said, you need to trust God. 00:20:12.639 --> 00:20:14.419 That God will be faithful to his word. 00:20:14.659 --> 00:20:17.599 And that God will bring someone else into their life to share the gospel. 00:20:17.759 --> 00:20:18.779 It is not for you. 00:20:19.279 --> 00:20:24.359 It is not for you to compromise your own purity for the sake of the gospel. 00:20:24.500 --> 00:20:25.680 God doesn't call us to do that. 00:20:25.680 --> 00:20:31.680 So I want to challenge you, even if it's a situation that you think it would break your heart to get out of. 00:20:32.080 --> 00:20:33.140 If you need to get out of it. 00:20:33.180 --> 00:20:37.100 If it is tempting you for sexual sin, get out and flee. 00:20:38.279 --> 00:20:42.500 For sexual impurity, sin itself leads to death. 00:20:44.080 --> 00:20:50.120 Now we defeat temptation, it shows us in Proverbs 7, by staying far from that way. 00:20:50.180 --> 00:20:51.740 But it's not simply running from something. 00:20:52.259 --> 00:20:55.799 Those who focus simply on running and fleeing from sin, which is part of what we need to do, 00:20:56.120 --> 00:20:59.960 will usually end up being caught by it if they're not running towards something greater. 00:21:00.519 --> 00:21:02.579 I've heard it said, what you run from catches you. 00:21:02.819 --> 00:21:04.259 What you run toward, you will find. 00:21:04.640 --> 00:21:08.559 Running away from sexual sin, fleeing it, is biblical, but it's not the end of the story. 00:21:08.920 --> 00:21:10.799 At the start of the passage, it begins with, 00:21:11.480 --> 00:21:12.880 My son, keep my words. 00:21:13.160 --> 00:21:13.480 Treasure. 00:21:13.980 --> 00:21:15.440 Treasure up my commandments with you. 00:21:15.819 --> 00:21:16.819 Keep my commandments and live. 00:21:16.920 --> 00:21:18.460 Keep my teaching as the apple of your eyes. 00:21:18.500 --> 00:21:19.240 Something so precious. 00:21:19.359 --> 00:21:20.120 Something so tender. 00:21:20.119 --> 00:21:21.479 Or bind them on your fingers. 00:21:21.559 --> 00:21:22.439 Keep them close to you. 00:21:22.539 --> 00:21:24.099 Write them on the tablet of your heart. 00:21:24.599 --> 00:21:25.739 Say to wisdom, you are my sister. 00:21:25.859 --> 00:21:26.379 And call insight. 00:21:26.419 --> 00:21:26.879 Listen to this. 00:21:27.159 --> 00:21:31.859 Call insight your intimate friend to keep you from the forbidden woman. 00:21:31.979 --> 00:21:33.299 From sexual impurity. 00:21:33.519 --> 00:21:34.059 From temptation. 00:21:34.879 --> 00:21:41.439 The way that we defeat sexual temptation and sin of all kinds is both by staying far from it, 00:21:41.440 --> 00:21:47.140 but even more so, but even more so, by treasuring God's word, by being intimate with it. 00:21:47.559 --> 00:21:54.320 The images of intimacy speaks to this idea of how there being two different types of knowing. 00:21:54.460 --> 00:21:56.820 Head knowledge and then experiential knowledge. 00:21:57.680 --> 00:22:03.779 The second form of knowing is the words that the ancient Hebrew uses to describe a husband and a wife sleeping together. 00:22:03.860 --> 00:22:04.279 Adam and Eve. 00:22:04.360 --> 00:22:06.400 It says Adam knew his wife Eve. 00:22:06.779 --> 00:22:07.420 They had a child. 00:22:07.420 --> 00:22:12.120 It's not that Adam had a lot of knowledge about his wife and that made a child. 00:22:12.940 --> 00:22:13.940 That's not how it works. 00:22:15.779 --> 00:22:17.300 It's that intimacy. 00:22:18.180 --> 00:22:21.680 And so we're called to be intimate with truth, to treasure it, to value it. 00:22:22.100 --> 00:22:23.400 And that requires head knowledge. 00:22:23.480 --> 00:22:24.600 It requires that we know the Bible. 00:22:24.599 --> 00:22:29.259 Not just our favorite person, but we read the Bible, that we treasure the Bible, that we chew on it, that we think of it, 00:22:29.319 --> 00:22:31.899 that we store it up within our heart and our mind. 00:22:32.779 --> 00:22:35.819 One of the things that I do, for I find often I can read the words of the Bible, 00:22:36.139 --> 00:22:38.859 even if I'm doing my morning devotions day after day, I can read it, 00:22:39.159 --> 00:22:42.619 and it's just going into my head, making me better at Bible quizzes, 00:22:43.019 --> 00:22:45.039 but it's not actually something that my heart is embracing, 00:22:45.559 --> 00:22:46.959 that my heart is experiencing, 00:22:47.399 --> 00:22:48.859 that it's really being written on my heart. 00:22:48.859 --> 00:22:50.819 And so before I read the Bible in the morning, I pray, 00:22:50.899 --> 00:22:55.179 God, would you help me to love and understand and to truly know your word? 00:22:55.759 --> 00:22:57.419 I want to challenge you, if you're not praying that, pray that. 00:22:57.500 --> 00:23:02.639 We get to chew and treasure on God's word by reading it, by praying it, 00:23:02.779 --> 00:23:06.959 by looking to God for his help, that we love his word and his ways. 00:23:10.059 --> 00:23:15.119 But what do we do when we find ourselves having broken this? 00:23:15.119 --> 00:23:18.159 What do we do when we find ourselves like this woman, 00:23:18.539 --> 00:23:21.819 who's standing before the rabbi in first century Israel? 00:23:24.000 --> 00:23:26.839 And it wasn't simply that the laws of the land called for her death, 00:23:27.259 --> 00:23:30.679 it's that the Bible itself called for her to be stoned. 00:23:33.339 --> 00:23:35.979 The story is found in John chapter 8, it's a true story, 00:23:36.500 --> 00:23:38.479 of this woman standing there before Jesus, 00:23:38.859 --> 00:23:42.199 and the throngs of God's people, and they've called for her death. 00:23:42.200 --> 00:23:45.519 She'll be standing there with her head down, 00:23:45.740 --> 00:23:47.240 knowing that God's ways are death. 00:23:47.880 --> 00:23:50.799 People are holding stones in their hand, ready to kill her. 00:23:51.660 --> 00:23:54.840 And the words of the rabbi, of Jesus, the rabbi, 00:23:55.799 --> 00:23:56.180 was, 00:23:56.500 --> 00:23:58.640 He who is without sin, throw the first stone. 00:23:59.660 --> 00:24:02.700 Imagine you're the woman, you hear the rabbi has just called for your death. 00:24:03.279 --> 00:24:06.660 You're standing there, waiting, waiting for the stone to hit you. 00:24:07.180 --> 00:24:10.440 That's a miserable, painful, excruciating way to go. 00:24:10.440 --> 00:24:12.799 And it's the way that God has prescribed in His Word. 00:24:13.660 --> 00:24:14.880 You're standing there, waiting. 00:24:16.039 --> 00:24:17.700 Perhaps Proverbs 7 is in your mind, 00:24:17.960 --> 00:24:19.400 that this is the way that leads to death, 00:24:19.799 --> 00:24:21.320 to Sheol, the place of the dead. 00:24:21.660 --> 00:24:23.920 Standing there, waiting, waiting. 00:24:24.460 --> 00:24:25.279 And then you hear, 00:24:26.400 --> 00:24:29.019 as one rock hits the ground. 00:24:29.700 --> 00:24:31.039 And then you hear that sound again. 00:24:31.680 --> 00:24:32.820 And then you hear it again. 00:24:33.140 --> 00:24:34.140 And you hear it again. 00:24:34.720 --> 00:24:36.900 Your eyes are closed, you look up, wondering what's happening. 00:24:36.900 --> 00:24:40.019 And you see that person after person is dropping their stones, 00:24:40.120 --> 00:24:41.019 as John 8 tells us, 00:24:41.300 --> 00:24:42.080 and walking away. 00:24:42.540 --> 00:24:44.580 And now it's just you and Jesus. 00:24:45.980 --> 00:24:48.080 Now as a child, when I came across that passage, 00:24:48.180 --> 00:24:49.360 I thought Jesus was saying, 00:24:49.700 --> 00:24:51.060 Hey, I'm super kind. 00:24:51.320 --> 00:24:52.540 I'm letting you off the hook. 00:24:53.000 --> 00:24:54.080 Now don't do that again. 00:24:54.900 --> 00:24:56.280 But Jesus is able to say, 00:24:57.120 --> 00:24:58.259 Jesus is able to say, 00:24:58.320 --> 00:24:59.560 We're not going to have you murdered, 00:25:00.100 --> 00:25:00.820 or killed rather, 00:25:01.180 --> 00:25:03.360 because He takes the punishment. 00:25:03.359 --> 00:25:06.019 You see, there's one person that could have thrown the first stone. 00:25:06.819 --> 00:25:07.439 Jesus only said, 00:25:07.579 --> 00:25:08.479 He who's without sin, 00:25:08.579 --> 00:25:09.459 throw the first stone. 00:25:10.439 --> 00:25:11.759 And Jesus is without sin. 00:25:12.439 --> 00:25:14.099 Jesus could have thrown the first stone. 00:25:14.759 --> 00:25:15.740 And after that, 00:25:15.799 --> 00:25:17.119 all the other stones could have flown. 00:25:18.619 --> 00:25:19.979 But Jesus looks up, 00:25:20.119 --> 00:25:21.219 and with love in His eyes, 00:25:21.759 --> 00:25:22.159 He says, 00:25:22.240 --> 00:25:23.000 He's without sin, 00:25:23.039 --> 00:25:23.559 throw the first stone. 00:25:23.619 --> 00:25:25.719 And then He refuses to throw a stone. 00:25:26.759 --> 00:25:28.079 And as not only the lady, 00:25:28.139 --> 00:25:28.719 but as Jesus, 00:25:28.839 --> 00:25:30.519 not as only the young woman who committed adultery, 00:25:30.519 --> 00:25:31.680 but as Jesus hears, 00:25:32.879 --> 00:25:35.220 then He hears it again, 00:25:35.539 --> 00:25:36.420 and then He hears it again. 00:25:37.099 --> 00:25:38.099 The woman is hearing, 00:25:38.299 --> 00:25:39.279 I'm going to live. 00:25:39.879 --> 00:25:41.059 But Jesus is hearing, 00:25:41.500 --> 00:25:42.859 I'm going to die. 00:25:43.639 --> 00:25:46.319 Because it wasn't that Jesus was just going to violate God's ways. 00:25:46.420 --> 00:25:46.579 No. 00:25:46.980 --> 00:25:47.519 God's ways, 00:25:47.619 --> 00:25:48.059 God's law, 00:25:48.160 --> 00:25:49.519 God's word called for her death. 00:25:50.599 --> 00:25:51.160 And Jesus, 00:25:51.500 --> 00:25:52.180 as you know, 00:25:52.879 --> 00:25:53.160 says, 00:25:53.599 --> 00:25:54.579 You can go free, 00:25:55.039 --> 00:25:56.519 because I'm going to take the death. 00:25:56.519 --> 00:26:00.359 And just as being stoned with stones 00:26:00.359 --> 00:26:01.819 is a painful way to go. 00:26:02.440 --> 00:26:04.460 So crucifixion is excruciating, 00:26:04.819 --> 00:26:05.339 painful, 00:26:06.139 --> 00:26:06.980 horrific way to go. 00:26:07.920 --> 00:26:08.779 And Jesus took it. 00:26:09.059 --> 00:26:10.359 Not only for this one woman, 00:26:10.720 --> 00:26:12.059 but for every single one of us. 00:26:12.680 --> 00:26:13.980 And so these words are true, 00:26:14.019 --> 00:26:15.139 and we take them seriously. 00:26:15.720 --> 00:26:18.220 That sexual impurity leads to our destruction, 00:26:18.759 --> 00:26:19.319 to harm. 00:26:19.559 --> 00:26:20.859 It breaks relationships. 00:26:21.319 --> 00:26:22.299 It does not fulfill. 00:26:22.359 --> 00:26:23.079 It hurts us. 00:26:23.480 --> 00:26:24.879 And it's something to take seriously, 00:26:24.880 --> 00:26:27.180 and to proactively and strategically look to avoid. 00:26:27.860 --> 00:26:29.780 The words of God call us to be proactive 00:26:29.780 --> 00:26:31.320 in staying far from it. 00:26:31.600 --> 00:26:32.820 It calls us to be aware 00:26:32.820 --> 00:26:34.760 of the deceptions. 00:26:35.360 --> 00:26:35.980 It's saying, 00:26:36.080 --> 00:26:36.620 I want you, 00:26:36.700 --> 00:26:38.520 but really what it wants is your destruction. 00:26:39.780 --> 00:26:41.560 The word of God is something for us to treasure in. 00:26:41.840 --> 00:26:43.800 And we find such life and freedom 00:26:43.800 --> 00:26:46.000 as we stay far from evil, 00:26:46.100 --> 00:26:47.520 as we go God's way. 00:26:47.600 --> 00:26:49.080 And we'll find such strength in it. 00:26:49.640 --> 00:26:51.800 But where we find ourselves breaking God's ways, 00:26:52.380 --> 00:26:54.060 if you yourself has found yourself, 00:26:54.880 --> 00:26:57.020 as many of God's followers have, 00:26:57.660 --> 00:26:59.000 having broken God's ways, 00:26:59.640 --> 00:27:00.380 and you know, 00:27:00.800 --> 00:27:02.340 you know it's caused harm in your life. 00:27:03.240 --> 00:27:04.660 And you know it leads to death. 00:27:05.840 --> 00:27:07.660 This passage is not the end of the story. 00:27:07.780 --> 00:27:09.300 It's not all that the scriptures have to say. 00:27:09.940 --> 00:27:11.240 But John 8 shows us, 00:27:11.800 --> 00:27:13.040 as we see in every gospel, 00:27:13.180 --> 00:27:14.600 with the death and resurrection of Jesus, 00:27:15.300 --> 00:27:17.540 that sexual impurity leads to death. 00:27:17.539 --> 00:27:19.700 But Jesus defeats death 00:27:19.700 --> 00:27:20.720 and brings restoration, 00:27:21.460 --> 00:27:21.879 purity, 00:27:22.460 --> 00:27:23.680 and life itself. 00:27:25.000 --> 00:27:26.019 That sexual impurity 00:27:26.019 --> 00:27:27.299 in every type of sin, 00:27:27.659 --> 00:27:28.639 whether it's a sophisticated, 00:27:28.879 --> 00:27:29.299 nice sin, 00:27:29.639 --> 00:27:31.440 or it's the most violent criminal act, 00:27:31.480 --> 00:27:33.539 it leads to our own destruction 00:27:33.539 --> 00:27:35.059 and the harm of others. 00:27:35.480 --> 00:27:36.799 But through the death 00:27:36.799 --> 00:27:38.420 and resurrection of Jesus, 00:27:38.839 --> 00:27:39.539 knows that death 00:27:39.539 --> 00:27:41.259 never has the final word 00:27:41.259 --> 00:27:42.680 if we turn to Jesus, 00:27:43.079 --> 00:27:44.000 if we cry out to him 00:27:44.000 --> 00:27:44.640 for forgiveness 00:27:44.640 --> 00:27:45.859 and for salvation 00:27:45.859 --> 00:27:47.359 and for rescue and restoration. 00:27:47.759 --> 00:27:49.319 We find life in him. 00:27:49.660 --> 00:27:50.779 He is a faithful God 00:27:50.779 --> 00:27:51.599 as we sung today. 00:27:51.799 --> 00:27:52.480 He is faithful. 00:27:53.380 --> 00:27:54.900 He is faithful to his word. 00:27:55.539 --> 00:27:56.920 He is faithful to us as people. 00:27:57.420 --> 00:27:57.880 Let's pray. 00:27:59.160 --> 00:28:00.119 Heavenly Father, 00:28:01.240 --> 00:28:03.660 as much as we wish 00:28:03.660 --> 00:28:04.640 it was not the case, 00:28:05.579 --> 00:28:06.579 for so many of us, 00:28:06.660 --> 00:28:07.420 including myself, 00:28:07.539 --> 00:28:08.779 we know that these words 00:28:08.779 --> 00:28:09.680 are true. 00:28:10.480 --> 00:28:11.960 That when we break your ways, 00:28:12.420 --> 00:28:13.460 it harms us, 00:28:14.000 --> 00:28:15.640 or harms those around us. 00:28:16.359 --> 00:28:17.299 It brings death, 00:28:17.839 --> 00:28:18.160 emptiness, 00:28:18.460 --> 00:28:18.940 anxiety, 00:28:19.099 --> 00:28:19.700 and destruction. 00:28:20.180 --> 00:28:21.200 But we thank you 00:28:21.200 --> 00:28:23.359 that you bring restoration. 00:28:24.500 --> 00:28:26.180 You restore what was lost, 00:28:26.259 --> 00:28:27.119 what was taken from us, 00:28:27.160 --> 00:28:28.039 what we have given away. 00:28:28.720 --> 00:28:30.059 Lord, you restore life. 00:28:31.019 --> 00:28:32.000 You restore health 00:28:32.000 --> 00:28:33.619 to these broken bones. 00:28:34.880 --> 00:28:36.000 Lord, you remove the anxiety 00:28:36.519 --> 00:28:38.240 as we come into the light. 00:28:38.680 --> 00:28:39.779 You remove the anguish 00:28:39.779 --> 00:28:41.140 as we come to you 00:28:41.140 --> 00:28:42.320 and find life 00:28:42.320 --> 00:28:43.340 and peace 00:28:43.340 --> 00:28:44.160 and restoration. 00:28:44.560 --> 00:28:45.380 So, Father God, 00:28:45.440 --> 00:28:45.860 I pray 00:28:45.860 --> 00:28:46.960 that for anybody 00:28:46.960 --> 00:28:47.780 that's in a situation 00:28:47.780 --> 00:28:48.400 right now 00:28:48.400 --> 00:28:49.320 where it's ongoing 00:28:49.320 --> 00:28:50.600 sexual impurity, 00:28:50.680 --> 00:28:51.500 whether through porn 00:28:51.500 --> 00:28:52.720 or through adultery 00:28:52.720 --> 00:28:54.620 or just lustful stuff 00:28:54.620 --> 00:28:55.660 or whatever it is, 00:28:55.920 --> 00:28:56.960 that you would help them 00:28:56.960 --> 00:28:58.060 to flee from it, 00:28:58.220 --> 00:28:58.840 to repent 00:28:58.840 --> 00:28:59.860 and turn to you 00:28:59.860 --> 00:29:01.120 and find freedom 00:29:01.120 --> 00:29:02.060 and life 00:29:02.060 --> 00:29:03.000 and victory 00:29:03.000 --> 00:29:03.800 and purity 00:29:03.800 --> 00:29:04.540 in you. 00:29:05.000 --> 00:29:06.100 For those who aren't 00:29:06.100 --> 00:29:07.040 in a situation right now, 00:29:07.080 --> 00:29:07.660 but they were, 00:29:07.660 --> 00:29:10.100 and the effects of that 00:29:10.100 --> 00:29:11.240 are still on in their life. 00:29:11.300 --> 00:29:11.779 We pray 00:29:11.779 --> 00:29:12.720 that you would help them 00:29:12.720 --> 00:29:13.580 to turn to you 00:29:13.580 --> 00:29:14.759 and come into the light 00:29:14.759 --> 00:29:15.400 through confession, 00:29:15.540 --> 00:29:16.200 finding light 00:29:16.200 --> 00:29:17.000 and life 00:29:17.000 --> 00:29:17.759 and hope 00:29:17.759 --> 00:29:18.380 in you. 00:29:18.960 --> 00:29:19.400 And we pray 00:29:19.400 --> 00:29:20.200 for each one of us 00:29:20.200 --> 00:29:21.019 that you would help us 00:29:21.019 --> 00:29:22.960 to learn from this simple man 00:29:22.960 --> 00:29:23.720 in Proverbs 7, 00:29:24.279 --> 00:29:25.620 that we would not go near 00:29:25.620 --> 00:29:26.880 and walk near temptation, 00:29:27.460 --> 00:29:28.560 that we would be able 00:29:28.560 --> 00:29:30.060 to eliminate that 00:29:30.060 --> 00:29:31.640 through taking your word seriously 00:29:31.640 --> 00:29:32.720 and treasuring it 00:29:32.720 --> 00:29:33.920 and knowing it 00:29:33.920 --> 00:29:35.000 and loving it 00:29:35.000 --> 00:29:36.420 and living according to it 00:29:36.420 --> 00:29:37.880 through the power, 00:29:38.500 --> 00:29:39.300 through the strength 00:29:39.300 --> 00:29:40.340 of your death 00:29:40.340 --> 00:29:41.000 and resurrection 00:29:41.000 --> 00:29:42.240 and for the life 00:29:42.240 --> 00:29:43.300 we receive in you. 00:29:43.620 --> 00:29:44.519 In Jesus' name, 00:29:44.940 --> 00:29:45.180 Amen.