WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.100 Chapter 7, verse 14. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:34.240 For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. 00:00:34.740 --> 00:00:39.799 Now, if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 00:00:40.420 --> 00:00:44.219 So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. 00:00:44.679 --> 00:00:49.120 For I delight in the law of God in my inner being, but I see in my members another law, 00:00:49.240 --> 00:00:54.659 waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. 00:00:55.579 --> 00:00:59.219 Wretched man that I am, who will deliver me from this body of death? 00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:02.880 Thanks be to God, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. 00:01:03.719 --> 00:01:09.519 So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin. 00:01:10.439 --> 00:01:19.460 Now, last week I established for you some varying opinions about the perspective from which Paul is writing. 00:01:20.280 --> 00:01:26.819 There are those who believe that Paul is referring to a pre-conversion experience of his life. 00:01:26.819 --> 00:01:32.079 And they take that from the little phrase that nothing good dwells within me. 00:01:32.739 --> 00:01:35.500 He clarified that for us later, what he means by that. 00:01:35.579 --> 00:01:38.759 He means nothing in my members is good. 00:01:38.760 --> 00:01:47.840 The fear, and I believe why some commentators want this to be a pre-conversion explanation of his life, 00:01:48.500 --> 00:01:51.820 is that we live then as Christians as defeatists. 00:01:51.880 --> 00:01:58.219 If we believe that Paul is writing this from his current state as the writer of Romans, 00:01:58.320 --> 00:02:00.060 as he's sitting down to pen this letter, 00:02:00.520 --> 00:02:03.580 then there's a fear of these commentators that we live as defeatists. 00:02:03.579 --> 00:02:07.959 But I don't believe we can understand the text in that way. 00:02:08.079 --> 00:02:12.359 The use of personal pronouns, the content where we are. 00:02:12.500 --> 00:02:15.139 I proved it a little bit more extensively last week. 00:02:16.039 --> 00:02:20.919 Paul is writing of the Christian experience, the experience that he is having. 00:02:21.539 --> 00:02:22.560 J.I. Packer said, 00:02:22.939 --> 00:02:26.639 Paul's not saying that the Christian is as bad as he could be, 00:02:26.860 --> 00:02:29.819 just that he's not as good as he should be. 00:02:29.819 --> 00:02:36.079 So we're on this journey toward perfection, 00:02:36.219 --> 00:02:41.060 this process of sanctification that is fueled by faith. 00:02:41.120 --> 00:02:46.560 And that's where we've been in Romans that Paul has laid out and established for us in many ways 00:02:46.560 --> 00:02:51.699 that we're justified by faith, by grace, through faith in Christ. 00:02:51.759 --> 00:02:55.219 And that is the only way that our relationship with God will be repaired. 00:02:55.219 --> 00:02:59.859 Third, we see then that we are also sanctified by faith. 00:02:59.960 --> 00:03:04.180 We don't begin by faith and are perfected then by our works. 00:03:04.280 --> 00:03:09.840 We're both justified by faith and sanctified by faith. 00:03:10.879 --> 00:03:15.860 However, the faith for justification is a resting faith. 00:03:16.879 --> 00:03:21.539 We place our faith in Jesus Christ and we lean on him and on his righteousness 00:03:21.539 --> 00:03:24.400 to make us right before God. 00:03:25.500 --> 00:03:29.259 But the faith for sanctification is not a resting faith. 00:03:29.259 --> 00:03:33.299 The faith for sanctification is a working faith. 00:03:34.239 --> 00:03:36.000 It has action. 00:03:36.379 --> 00:03:37.639 There is movement. 00:03:38.039 --> 00:03:38.719 Active. 00:03:40.599 --> 00:03:47.280 We see in this text that there is a war that we will wage in our Christian living. 00:03:47.280 --> 00:03:50.759 Do you not feel his anguish? 00:03:51.460 --> 00:03:53.400 I don't do what I want, but this is what I want. 00:03:53.460 --> 00:03:53.939 I don't do it. 00:03:53.979 --> 00:03:54.300 I can't. 00:03:54.860 --> 00:03:57.300 Who will deliver me from this body of death? 00:03:58.180 --> 00:04:00.120 Thanks be to Jesus Christ, our Lord. 00:04:00.219 --> 00:04:04.080 This is our experience as Christians. 00:04:05.439 --> 00:04:08.900 Paul uses in verse 23 two phrases. 00:04:09.060 --> 00:04:13.560 The law of the mind versus the law of sin. 00:04:13.560 --> 00:04:20.360 So we all then possess these laws within our members, within us. 00:04:20.720 --> 00:04:25.939 We have the law of sin and the law of the mind, and they are battling, not in a dualistic way. 00:04:26.079 --> 00:04:29.060 We will have victory in the war. 00:04:29.840 --> 00:04:34.879 But in the battles, they're waging a war for what? 00:04:36.340 --> 00:04:39.180 For the allegiance of our hearts. 00:04:39.180 --> 00:04:46.040 Your heart, as scripture refers to it, is not the muscle that pumps blood throughout your body. 00:04:46.519 --> 00:04:48.920 Your heart is the seat of your desires. 00:04:49.980 --> 00:04:52.040 It's what you want. 00:04:53.360 --> 00:04:56.000 And this may not be consistent with your experience, 00:04:57.079 --> 00:05:02.360 but you always do what you most desire to do. 00:05:03.379 --> 00:05:03.860 Always. 00:05:03.860 --> 00:05:08.379 You have never done anything in your life that you didn't want to do. 00:05:09.600 --> 00:05:14.720 You have also never not done anything that you did not want to do. 00:05:17.379 --> 00:05:18.819 Let me give you an example of that. 00:05:19.800 --> 00:05:24.439 When I was in college, every morning I had class, I rolled out of bed and said, 00:05:25.000 --> 00:05:26.060 don't want to go to class today. 00:05:28.620 --> 00:05:31.520 All evidence to the contrary, I went to class. 00:05:31.519 --> 00:05:32.539 Why? 00:05:33.799 --> 00:05:37.959 Because I didn't want to deal with the consequences of not being a class. 00:05:38.319 --> 00:05:39.539 I didn't want to miss the notes. 00:05:39.879 --> 00:05:42.159 And if I missed the notes, I wouldn't do well in the test. 00:05:42.339 --> 00:05:43.379 And I wouldn't do well in the class. 00:05:43.779 --> 00:05:44.459 I would fail. 00:05:44.959 --> 00:05:45.719 I didn't want to fail. 00:05:47.039 --> 00:05:51.060 So I chose to do the thing that I most desired to do, which is go to class. 00:05:52.099 --> 00:05:53.500 Even though I did so reluctantly. 00:05:54.500 --> 00:05:58.279 You always do what you most desire. 00:05:58.279 --> 00:06:03.639 And that's the battle going on within us, within all of us. 00:06:06.119 --> 00:06:09.699 We are called to holiness. 00:06:10.679 --> 00:06:11.839 There's no doubt about that. 00:06:11.919 --> 00:06:19.179 A careful reader of the scriptures will see that as Christians, it is a requirement of us to be holy. 00:06:19.180 --> 00:06:23.019 Now, praise be to God through Jesus Christ. 00:06:23.360 --> 00:06:27.759 His righteousness has been imputed, has been given to us. 00:06:27.900 --> 00:06:30.699 So as God sees us, we are holy. 00:06:30.980 --> 00:06:36.500 Now, all of you who have placed your faith in Jesus Christ are before God holy. 00:06:37.259 --> 00:06:39.560 Which is what allows us access to him. 00:06:39.840 --> 00:06:41.519 Which is what justifies us. 00:06:41.519 --> 00:06:43.819 That was our term means in his sight. 00:06:43.819 --> 00:06:48.860 But we are also called to live holy lives. 00:06:48.980 --> 00:06:50.019 So we've been justified. 00:06:50.759 --> 00:06:53.199 Now we're being sanctified. 00:06:54.079 --> 00:06:55.480 Leviticus 11.44 00:06:55.480 --> 00:06:59.159 God says, be holy, for I am holy. 00:07:00.240 --> 00:07:02.079 Paul says in 2 Corinthians 2.15 00:07:02.079 --> 00:07:05.500 For we are the aroma of Christ to God. 00:07:05.560 --> 00:07:07.939 Among those who are being saved. 00:07:08.259 --> 00:07:10.240 And among those who are perishing. 00:07:10.240 --> 00:07:15.060 We are the essence of Christ in this world. 00:07:16.180 --> 00:07:21.199 The term Christian was first used in Antioch as a derogatory term. 00:07:22.100 --> 00:07:23.040 Little Christ. 00:07:23.840 --> 00:07:28.759 People were making fun of the Christians for being like Christ. 00:07:30.660 --> 00:07:34.400 Our lives should be characterized by holiness. 00:07:34.740 --> 00:07:36.100 It doesn't mean that we're perfect. 00:07:36.960 --> 00:07:40.139 Will any of us be perfect this side of death? 00:07:40.819 --> 00:07:41.639 Absolutely not. 00:07:42.519 --> 00:07:46.180 But our lives should be characterized by holiness. 00:07:47.439 --> 00:07:50.540 Listen to what J.C. Ryle wrote in his book Holiness. 00:07:51.040 --> 00:07:55.560 The subject of personal godliness has fallen sadly into the background. 00:07:56.420 --> 00:07:59.860 The immense importance of adorning the doctrine of God our Savior. 00:08:00.480 --> 00:08:04.500 And making it lovely and beautiful by our daily habits and tempers. 00:08:04.879 --> 00:08:06.900 Has been far too much overlooked. 00:08:06.899 --> 00:08:19.979 Worldly people sometimes complain with reason that religious persons, so-called, are not so amiable and unselfish and good natures as others who make no profession of religion. 00:08:19.980 --> 00:08:26.400 Yet sanctification in its place and proportion is quite as important as justification. 00:08:27.400 --> 00:08:32.800 Sound Protestant and evangelical doctrine is useless if it is not accompanied by a holy life. 00:08:32.799 --> 00:08:34.479 It is worse than useless. 00:08:34.479 --> 00:08:36.240 It does positive harm. 00:08:36.799 --> 00:08:45.679 It is despised by keen-sided and shrewd men of the world as an unreal and hollow thing and brings religion into contempt. 00:08:45.679 --> 00:08:48.879 Isn't that where we find American Christianity? 00:08:51.159 --> 00:08:53.539 We say one thing and we do the opposite. 00:08:54.419 --> 00:09:02.199 There are those who don't claim to know Christ at all that really are much more amiable and generous than those who claim to be Christians. 00:09:02.200 --> 00:09:09.540 A great example of this is Saturday night at any of the local restaurants versus Sunday afternoon. 00:09:10.360 --> 00:09:14.180 You ask any server what their least favorite shift is Sunday afternoon. 00:09:15.759 --> 00:09:19.040 Christians, that should be the best shift of work. 00:09:19.360 --> 00:09:24.600 The most generous and lovely people to deal with who give in their tipping. 00:09:25.360 --> 00:09:27.660 The opposite seems to be true. 00:09:27.659 --> 00:09:33.620 He refers to Titus 2.10 in that little quote I just read you, which reads, 00:09:33.719 --> 00:09:38.240 So that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior. 00:09:39.899 --> 00:09:46.539 That means, I believe, what he's trying to say to Titus, what Paul is writing to Titus, 00:09:46.600 --> 00:09:52.620 is that we ought to, with our actions, highlight the attractiveness of the gospel. 00:09:53.079 --> 00:09:57.319 Draw attention to how beautiful the gospel is. 00:09:57.659 --> 00:09:58.879 With our holy living. 00:09:59.699 --> 00:10:03.399 We come up so short in this area. 00:10:03.719 --> 00:10:06.740 And I believe that's because we stopped fighting. 00:10:08.279 --> 00:10:12.399 We've forgotten that this is the experience of the Christian. 00:10:12.980 --> 00:10:15.259 And that we must fight. 00:10:16.759 --> 00:10:18.399 So what is it that we fight against? 00:10:18.399 --> 00:10:24.019 In this text, Paul clearly shows us the indwelling nature of sin. 00:10:25.059 --> 00:10:26.120 Our flesh. 00:10:26.120 --> 00:10:29.919 We must, number one, fight against our flesh. 00:10:30.460 --> 00:10:35.259 1 Corinthians 9.27, Paul says that he disciplines his body to keep it under control. 00:10:35.740 --> 00:10:41.279 And then in Colossians 3.5, he says we should put to death, therefore, what is earthly in us. 00:10:42.399 --> 00:10:45.500 Number two, we must fight the world. 00:10:45.500 --> 00:10:52.460 The world to our flesh, to who we once were, is so attractive. 00:10:52.960 --> 00:10:57.639 The temporal blessings of this world will lead us astray. 00:10:58.259 --> 00:10:59.779 And we must fight against it. 00:11:00.240 --> 00:11:01.720 James 4.4, James writes, 00:11:01.720 --> 00:11:07.180 1 John 2.15, do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? 00:11:07.980 --> 00:11:13.160 Therefore, whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 00:11:14.259 --> 00:11:16.379 1 John 2.15, John writes, 00:11:16.460 --> 00:11:19.019 Do not love the world or the things in the world. 00:11:19.120 --> 00:11:23.820 If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 00:11:23.820 --> 00:11:29.720 We must fight our flesh, we must fight the world, and we must fight the devil. 00:11:30.780 --> 00:11:33.220 1 Peter 5.8, he writes, 00:11:33.300 --> 00:11:35.400 Be sober-minded, be watchful. 00:11:35.900 --> 00:11:41.660 Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 00:11:41.659 --> 00:11:44.100 The devil's not messing around. 00:11:45.219 --> 00:11:49.759 He's won, so to speak, those who don't know Christ. 00:11:50.259 --> 00:11:54.079 Those of us who do, he is out to get us. 00:11:55.240 --> 00:12:02.279 Our victory is sure in our war against him, but he wants to win battles. 00:12:03.319 --> 00:12:04.219 Ephesians 6.11, 00:12:04.220 --> 00:12:11.700 We're instructed to put on the whole armor of God that we may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 00:12:12.759 --> 00:12:18.000 There's a battle being waged against Christians at all times. 00:12:18.620 --> 00:12:22.560 Even now, in this moment, you might be feeling distracted. 00:12:24.019 --> 00:12:25.000 Fight it, Christian. 00:12:26.540 --> 00:12:31.420 And the goal of that is to get us to be ineffective and non-victorious. 00:12:31.419 --> 00:12:34.339 So how is it then? 00:12:34.599 --> 00:12:36.740 I promised you last week we'd be practical today. 00:12:37.099 --> 00:12:41.159 How is it that we're to have victory in these battles against sin? 00:12:42.059 --> 00:12:44.620 We get into Romans chapter 8, verse 4, 00:12:44.919 --> 00:12:50.439 and we see that as Christians, we're to walk not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 00:12:50.559 --> 00:12:53.479 And we get to talk about that at length in coming weeks. 00:12:53.480 --> 00:13:04.440 But we have been given some munitions, some weapons to walk by the Spirit, to feed the law of our mind, 00:13:04.519 --> 00:13:07.460 that our desires will be right desires. 00:13:08.500 --> 00:13:10.500 And I want to give you three of them this morning. 00:13:11.000 --> 00:13:15.080 So these are the three munitions for fighting the war on sin. 00:13:15.960 --> 00:13:18.899 Number one, meditating on Scripture. 00:13:18.899 --> 00:13:27.559 Now, meditation on Scripture requires intimate knowledge of it. 00:13:28.279 --> 00:13:31.279 You cannot meditate on the Scriptures if you don't know them. 00:13:32.639 --> 00:13:37.539 In that beautiful chapter in Ephesians chapter 6 about the armor of God, verse 17, 00:13:38.279 --> 00:13:42.659 we're told to take the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. 00:13:42.659 --> 00:13:51.519 Now, the Scriptures are a great grace to us in battling against sin. 00:13:52.379 --> 00:13:54.019 Look at the promises of Scripture. 00:13:54.959 --> 00:13:57.659 In Matthew chapter 4, we see the temptation of Jesus. 00:13:57.799 --> 00:14:00.240 We see that He was led by the Spirit. 00:14:00.559 --> 00:14:04.219 In verse 1 of chapter 4, He was led by the Spirit for what reason into the wilderness? 00:14:05.279 --> 00:14:06.179 To be tempted. 00:14:06.179 --> 00:14:14.019 God allows His people to be tempted for our good. 00:14:14.719 --> 00:14:16.159 It's a process of discipline. 00:14:16.620 --> 00:14:20.239 He is teaching us what we ought to do. 00:14:20.319 --> 00:14:24.299 He's teaching us our desperate need of Him. 00:14:25.179 --> 00:14:27.559 We see the picture of this in Job. 00:14:29.559 --> 00:14:31.240 Job goes to God and asks... 00:14:31.240 --> 00:14:37.700 I mean, excuse me, Satan goes to God and asks for permission to torment Job. 00:14:38.899 --> 00:14:40.159 And it's granted to him. 00:14:41.840 --> 00:14:43.720 God is not the author of sin. 00:14:43.799 --> 00:14:44.980 He's not the creator of it. 00:14:44.980 --> 00:14:48.100 But He does allow it to happen. 00:14:49.419 --> 00:14:50.779 There's comfort in that. 00:14:51.139 --> 00:14:55.060 The temptations that you're experiencing are not unique to you. 00:14:55.860 --> 00:14:58.480 They're given to you for a reason. 00:14:58.480 --> 00:15:06.019 We also see in Matthew chapter 4, the use of Scripture to battle the temptations of the devil. 00:15:07.639 --> 00:15:09.980 We know Romans 8.28. 00:15:10.220 --> 00:15:11.720 I hope you know Romans 8.28. 00:15:12.519 --> 00:15:17.639 For we know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love Him, 00:15:17.700 --> 00:15:20.159 who have been called according to His purpose. 00:15:20.920 --> 00:15:23.100 Your temptations are for your good. 00:15:24.779 --> 00:15:26.279 1 Corinthians 10.13. 00:15:26.279 --> 00:15:27.220 Paul writes, 00:15:27.319 --> 00:15:30.620 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. 00:15:32.179 --> 00:15:34.980 I read in the tone, stop whining. 00:15:35.779 --> 00:15:38.220 What you're experiencing is not unique to you. 00:15:38.679 --> 00:15:42.220 Someone in this world has already dealt with the very same thing. 00:15:43.039 --> 00:15:44.480 You're not alone in this. 00:15:46.459 --> 00:15:47.299 The next sentence. 00:15:47.919 --> 00:15:49.519 God is faithful. 00:15:49.519 --> 00:15:52.519 And He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability. 00:15:52.659 --> 00:15:58.079 But with the temptation, He will also provide the way of escape that you may be able to endure it. 00:15:59.699 --> 00:16:03.299 We have to know these things to battle against sin. 00:16:03.299 --> 00:16:09.559 So how do we read this book, the Bible, that's been given to us? 00:16:11.120 --> 00:16:13.779 First, I'd like to say to you, start now. 00:16:14.579 --> 00:16:18.139 Many of you might be saying, but I don't really know much of the Bible. 00:16:18.559 --> 00:16:21.359 How can I gain the knowledge I need to fight sin? 00:16:21.439 --> 00:16:24.259 And you feel overwhelmed by that. 00:16:24.259 --> 00:16:29.559 A house never gets built if the ground doesn't get broken. 00:16:30.539 --> 00:16:34.840 There's a first step to be taken in the work that has to be done. 00:16:35.799 --> 00:16:36.759 Don't be lazy. 00:16:36.980 --> 00:16:38.100 Start now. 00:16:39.120 --> 00:16:40.840 You have great opportunity. 00:16:41.500 --> 00:16:44.220 None of you are as busy as I am. 00:16:44.460 --> 00:16:45.840 I can with confidence say that. 00:16:46.240 --> 00:16:49.720 You have time in your day to read your scriptures. 00:16:49.720 --> 00:16:53.100 You ought to devote yourself to it now. 00:16:54.379 --> 00:16:55.620 Read diligently. 00:16:56.879 --> 00:16:59.899 We don't always feel like reading our Bible. 00:17:01.040 --> 00:17:04.259 We often get distracted by the temporal things of this world. 00:17:04.700 --> 00:17:08.759 Sometimes TV is more attractive than reading our scriptures. 00:17:11.600 --> 00:17:12.839 Read your Bible. 00:17:13.200 --> 00:17:15.440 Do it as often as you possibly can. 00:17:15.440 --> 00:17:21.400 If you even think in a moment, it might be a good thing to read my Bible. 00:17:22.580 --> 00:17:24.420 Notice that your desires are shifting. 00:17:25.340 --> 00:17:27.539 God is granting you grace to do it. 00:17:28.160 --> 00:17:28.740 Do it. 00:17:31.039 --> 00:17:32.180 And read your Bible. 00:17:32.940 --> 00:17:34.559 What was the habit of George Mueller? 00:17:34.700 --> 00:17:36.400 And I've made a habit of my own. 00:17:37.539 --> 00:17:41.080 Until your affections are turned toward Christ. 00:17:41.079 --> 00:17:46.379 If you want to know how I get up in the morning and what I do with the scriptures, 00:17:46.559 --> 00:17:50.099 I read until my affections are turned towards Christ. 00:17:50.599 --> 00:17:52.439 Which is sometimes chapters. 00:17:54.079 --> 00:17:57.139 Sometimes I wake up in the morning and I do not feel like being up. 00:17:57.619 --> 00:17:59.259 I'm in a foul mood. 00:17:59.960 --> 00:18:05.379 And so I read until I am blown away by the goodness of God to me in Jesus Christ. 00:18:06.740 --> 00:18:10.220 Sometimes I read a verse and the same thing happens. 00:18:10.220 --> 00:18:12.799 Let me give you an example of that. 00:18:13.380 --> 00:18:14.720 Psalm 85.10. 00:18:16.140 --> 00:18:22.860 A couple of weeks ago, I was reading Psalm 85 in the morning. 00:18:23.279 --> 00:18:27.740 And my attention was arrested on Psalm 85.10. 00:18:27.819 --> 00:18:29.660 And I didn't even really know why at first. 00:18:30.079 --> 00:18:31.600 But it simply reads this. 00:18:31.680 --> 00:18:32.019 It says, 00:18:32.680 --> 00:18:35.559 Steadfast love and faithfulness meet. 00:18:36.519 --> 00:18:39.620 Righteousness and peace kiss each other. 00:18:40.220 --> 00:18:44.079 And just the beauty of the language stopped my attention. 00:18:44.079 --> 00:18:47.039 And I began to meditate on that. 00:18:47.299 --> 00:18:51.980 And it took me most of the day to really get what I believe the psalmist was saying here. 00:18:51.980 --> 00:19:00.680 In that God is unchanging and is committed to us in his love and desire for us. 00:19:01.039 --> 00:19:03.420 So he's made a promise to be good to his people. 00:19:03.940 --> 00:19:05.680 But he loves to do it. 00:19:05.680 --> 00:19:15.840 And that in the work of Christ, the righteousness that he's given to me, I have been granted peace with God when I was an enemy. 00:19:16.539 --> 00:19:18.640 And my affections were turned toward Christ. 00:19:18.640 --> 00:19:25.540 I'm so glad Wes sang that last song, which I'm not sure he was planning on doing. 00:19:27.400 --> 00:19:28.840 Turn your eyes upon Jesus. 00:19:28.980 --> 00:19:30.560 Look full in his wonderful face. 00:19:30.620 --> 00:19:31.480 I think I'm getting the words right. 00:19:31.520 --> 00:19:32.040 I may not be. 00:19:33.100 --> 00:19:38.000 And things of earth will grow strangely dim in a light of glory and grace. 00:19:39.400 --> 00:19:40.960 So true. 00:19:41.320 --> 00:19:43.520 Turn your affections on Christ. 00:19:43.519 --> 00:19:45.960 That was number one. 00:19:47.200 --> 00:19:48.400 Meditating on the scriptures. 00:19:49.379 --> 00:19:50.420 Number one, munition. 00:19:51.519 --> 00:19:52.359 I'll start with M. 00:19:52.700 --> 00:19:53.960 Wes and I went on a trip this week. 00:19:54.279 --> 00:19:56.420 And he helped me take notes in the car while we were driving. 00:19:57.339 --> 00:19:59.359 And he sent the notes to me. 00:19:59.440 --> 00:20:01.779 And he had made these M alliterations, which I appreciate. 00:20:01.960 --> 00:20:02.839 So thank you, Wes, for that. 00:20:03.700 --> 00:20:04.359 Number two. 00:20:06.440 --> 00:20:08.400 Making prayer a regular practice. 00:20:09.839 --> 00:20:11.339 Making prayer a regular practice. 00:20:11.339 --> 00:20:15.879 In Matthew chapter 6, Jesus gives us a model for prayer. 00:20:16.299 --> 00:20:17.179 A short prayer. 00:20:19.159 --> 00:20:21.240 And an important phrase in that is, 00:20:21.659 --> 00:20:25.779 Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. 00:20:26.059 --> 00:20:32.819 Christ set an example for us to pray that we might avoid evil in our lives. 00:20:33.959 --> 00:20:35.199 Ephesians 6.18, Paul says, 00:20:35.399 --> 00:20:37.220 We should be praying at all times. 00:20:37.220 --> 00:20:39.439 This is the conclusion of that armor of God passage. 00:20:39.440 --> 00:20:45.039 We should be praying at all times of the Spirit with all prayer and supplication. 00:20:45.980 --> 00:20:47.400 Let me ask you a question. 00:20:48.039 --> 00:20:51.420 What if God answered all of your prayers? 00:20:53.820 --> 00:20:57.279 Would your life look any different than it does now? 00:20:57.279 --> 00:21:04.960 Do you believe that God can and does, in fact, answer prayer? 00:21:05.700 --> 00:21:11.779 And if we pray things in His will, that He actually does what we've asked Him to do? 00:21:11.779 --> 00:21:16.819 Does our prayer life evidence that we believe that? 00:21:17.000 --> 00:21:18.819 Most of you probably went, yeah, of course. 00:21:19.039 --> 00:21:19.160 Yeah. 00:21:19.599 --> 00:21:19.980 Sure. 00:21:20.859 --> 00:21:22.920 But does our prayer life evidence that? 00:21:23.259 --> 00:21:27.740 Do we actually believe that God has given to us as a grace prayer? 00:21:28.000 --> 00:21:31.180 That He uses the prayers of His people to accomplish His will? 00:21:31.180 --> 00:21:35.640 He's given that to us as a gift that we might go to Him and plead. 00:21:36.720 --> 00:21:40.140 That we might have victory in the battles of sin. 00:21:40.580 --> 00:21:43.100 Do we actually believe that we answer those prayers? 00:21:43.160 --> 00:21:47.940 I can say to you, He can and He does do so. 00:21:47.940 --> 00:21:59.160 A constant sin that I deal with, I think I will my entire life, is the sin of pride to seek the approval of men. 00:21:59.620 --> 00:22:03.980 I believe anybody in any type of leadership position is going to do that. 00:22:03.980 --> 00:22:08.539 I get up here and I preach with the purest of motivations. 00:22:08.840 --> 00:22:13.420 And it seems that every week this pride creeps in from underneath. 00:22:14.000 --> 00:22:16.600 I really want you guys to like me and I want to be smart. 00:22:16.599 --> 00:22:19.119 And I want you to really respect my preaching. 00:22:19.559 --> 00:22:20.259 And it's sinful. 00:22:20.659 --> 00:22:21.519 It's utterly sinful. 00:22:22.939 --> 00:22:27.519 So, I take this pattern that we're given to in Romans. 00:22:28.500 --> 00:22:31.899 Paul says, I love the law of God in verse 22. 00:22:32.439 --> 00:22:34.459 Verse 15, I hate what I just did. 00:22:34.559 --> 00:22:36.959 This emotion, this desire I have in me. 00:22:37.439 --> 00:22:40.519 Wretched man that I am who will set me free from this body of death. 00:22:40.980 --> 00:22:41.879 In verse 24. 00:22:41.880 --> 00:22:45.820 And thanks be to God that victory will come through Jesus Christ. 00:22:45.940 --> 00:22:46.800 In verse 25. 00:22:47.240 --> 00:22:50.900 And I pray without ceasing. 00:22:51.400 --> 00:22:53.880 I think that's what Paul was meaning in 1 Thessalonians. 00:22:53.960 --> 00:22:56.920 It's not something that I conquer and I move on in my life. 00:22:56.980 --> 00:22:59.600 And I just have this victory over this desire to be liked. 00:23:00.100 --> 00:23:02.040 But I do it constantly. 00:23:02.220 --> 00:23:04.040 I do it even sometimes as I'm talking. 00:23:04.220 --> 00:23:07.780 I'm saying, God, please, please don't let me still glory from you. 00:23:07.779 --> 00:23:14.779 And so, I pray, Father, I know that nothing good is in me apart from Christ. 00:23:15.119 --> 00:23:18.940 I know that apart from Him, I can do no good thing. 00:23:19.200 --> 00:23:23.879 And as such, that means all glory and honor and praise belongs to Christ. 00:23:24.359 --> 00:23:26.299 How dare I get in the way? 00:23:26.500 --> 00:23:30.960 Wretched man that I am who will deliver me from this body of death. 00:23:31.819 --> 00:23:32.599 Jesus Christ. 00:23:32.799 --> 00:23:34.319 Praise Him. 00:23:34.319 --> 00:23:38.279 I turn my affections back towards Christ. 00:23:38.480 --> 00:23:39.679 I get out of the way. 00:23:41.200 --> 00:23:42.919 That is this process. 00:23:43.619 --> 00:23:45.079 Without ceasing, guys. 00:23:46.019 --> 00:23:46.919 It's a battle. 00:23:47.039 --> 00:23:49.279 We must wage war. 00:23:52.939 --> 00:23:53.679 Number three. 00:23:54.639 --> 00:23:55.179 We've got it. 00:23:56.039 --> 00:23:56.879 Number three, munition. 00:23:57.039 --> 00:23:58.159 We've got meditating on Scripture. 00:23:59.500 --> 00:24:01.500 Making prayer a regular practice. 00:24:02.099 --> 00:24:02.619 Number three. 00:24:02.619 --> 00:24:06.079 Membership in a local church. 00:24:09.279 --> 00:24:11.500 Guys, we need one another. 00:24:12.319 --> 00:24:19.519 If we are going to win the battles of sin, we need one another. 00:24:19.619 --> 00:24:24.799 We need to open ourselves up to the criticism of other believers who we trust, 00:24:25.879 --> 00:24:28.539 which you can't have unless you're in a relationship, in a church, 00:24:28.539 --> 00:24:36.500 so that they can root out all of the sin that we're trying our hardest to hide, ignore, and forget. 00:24:37.240 --> 00:24:42.559 The picture in my mind of rooting sin out of our lives are those pigs that look for truffles. 00:24:42.619 --> 00:24:43.399 Have you ever seen that? 00:24:43.799 --> 00:24:44.720 Truffles are just amazing. 00:24:44.799 --> 00:24:48.980 A little fungus that are supposed to be very, very good and expensive, and they grow underground. 00:24:48.980 --> 00:24:53.240 And they take pigs out, and pigs can smell them, and they root them out. 00:24:53.319 --> 00:25:00.720 They're hidden, but these pigs can root them out and find them and expose them so that the collector can sell them. 00:25:01.259 --> 00:25:01.660 I'm at market. 00:25:01.740 --> 00:25:03.180 That's the picture that comes to my mind. 00:25:03.240 --> 00:25:05.000 I need that in my life. 00:25:05.819 --> 00:25:09.460 I need people who are around me who I'm being open and honest with, 00:25:09.460 --> 00:25:17.579 who can look at me under a magnifying glass and expose the things in my life that do not belong. 00:25:19.079 --> 00:25:24.200 We're growing up in a Christian culture, and we're all really good at playing the part. 00:25:25.720 --> 00:25:27.460 We've been rehearsing our whole lives. 00:25:27.539 --> 00:25:30.539 We know exactly what church people do. 00:25:31.000 --> 00:25:32.840 We know how to put it on. 00:25:32.920 --> 00:25:34.980 We know what to say, what clothes to wear. 00:25:35.759 --> 00:25:37.200 We've got it all down. 00:25:37.200 --> 00:25:37.680 We've got it all down. 00:25:37.680 --> 00:25:38.080 We've got it all down. 00:25:38.080 --> 00:25:42.059 Dress rehearsal for the first 20 years or how old you are of your life. 00:25:44.519 --> 00:25:46.259 You've got to let people into the backstage. 00:25:47.240 --> 00:25:50.259 People have to know who you really are. 00:25:51.680 --> 00:25:57.700 We have a fiercely radical, individualistic mindset in America. 00:25:59.080 --> 00:26:00.920 It's kind of ingrained in us. 00:26:01.600 --> 00:26:02.519 And it's not all bad. 00:26:02.620 --> 00:26:05.340 Many great things have been accomplished because of our individualism. 00:26:05.339 --> 00:26:09.599 But it has no place in the Christian life. 00:26:10.799 --> 00:26:16.919 True Christian living does not happen apart from the context of a local congregation. 00:26:21.779 --> 00:26:27.439 We often only think of sin as the things we're told not to do. 00:26:28.000 --> 00:26:28.659 Do you do that? 00:26:28.720 --> 00:26:29.220 I tend to. 00:26:29.220 --> 00:26:31.839 We often only think of sin as the things we're told not to do. 00:26:32.100 --> 00:26:36.740 But it is also sinful to neglect those things that we are told to do. 00:26:37.900 --> 00:26:39.400 There's two different types of sin. 00:26:39.680 --> 00:26:44.940 There's the sin of commission, doing something that you're told you shouldn't do. 00:26:45.259 --> 00:26:50.259 And there's the sin of omission, not doing something that you are told to do. 00:26:50.259 --> 00:27:00.180 A careful reader of the Bible knows that we're commanded to do many things with and for and to one another. 00:27:01.319 --> 00:27:04.220 How can you do that if you're not committed to a group of people? 00:27:04.220 --> 00:27:10.640 1 John, five times, love one another. 00:27:11.519 --> 00:27:12.319 Love one another. 00:27:12.720 --> 00:27:13.440 Love one another. 00:27:14.200 --> 00:27:22.799 And 1 John is written for the Christian to hold up their life to as a lens to see if they're even really saved. 00:27:22.799 --> 00:27:27.879 How can you love people that you're not committed to? 00:27:28.419 --> 00:27:29.879 That you don't even know? 00:27:31.599 --> 00:27:39.259 Going to church does not mean walking in, sitting down, singing and listening and leaving. 00:27:40.259 --> 00:27:42.639 Church is so much more than that. 00:27:43.279 --> 00:27:45.180 Everything I just said is important. 00:27:45.619 --> 00:27:46.599 It should take place. 00:27:46.859 --> 00:27:47.779 We need to do it. 00:27:48.259 --> 00:27:49.680 But it's not it. 00:27:49.680 --> 00:27:49.740 It's not it. 00:27:52.799 --> 00:27:56.139 So, what should you look for in a church? 00:27:57.519 --> 00:27:59.039 I don't care if you come here. 00:28:00.180 --> 00:28:00.659 Honestly. 00:28:02.139 --> 00:28:03.740 I don't know a lot of you in the room. 00:28:04.700 --> 00:28:07.759 I'm sure I would love you and love to have a relationship with you. 00:28:08.299 --> 00:28:09.299 I want you to come. 00:28:10.039 --> 00:28:16.659 But my goal is not in this, this point, is not to say to you, please help me build Christ Family Church. 00:28:16.740 --> 00:28:18.359 That's not the point of what I'm saying. 00:28:18.359 --> 00:28:28.959 The point of what I'm saying is, for you to have a victorious life, to honor Christ, you need to get involved and committed to a church because you're sinning if you don't. 00:28:29.479 --> 00:28:33.079 It would be unloving of me to sugarcoat this for you in any way. 00:28:33.279 --> 00:28:36.679 You can't wiggle out from what I'm trying to say to you. 00:28:36.680 --> 00:28:41.620 So, as you're looking for a church, what should you be looking for in a church? 00:28:42.680 --> 00:28:44.120 I've got six of them for you. 00:28:46.759 --> 00:28:47.600 Number one. 00:28:51.400 --> 00:28:54.640 Substantive, verse by verse, expositional preaching. 00:28:56.519 --> 00:28:59.100 Substantive, verse by verse, expositional preaching. 00:28:59.099 --> 00:29:03.679 Look for a church that preaches the whole counsel of God. 00:29:04.759 --> 00:29:08.179 Not a church that jumps around to the pastor's favorite topics. 00:29:09.059 --> 00:29:12.159 But that preaches the whole counsel of God. 00:29:12.319 --> 00:29:15.779 We're committed here to verse by verse, expositional preaching for that reason. 00:29:15.919 --> 00:29:19.359 There are some texts that I would so gladly skip. 00:29:20.299 --> 00:29:23.359 There are some Sundays that I pray that I'll get to. 00:29:23.779 --> 00:29:27.179 God, major accident, broken leg in the hospital. 00:29:27.180 --> 00:29:28.900 Any chance someone else can pick this one up? 00:29:29.259 --> 00:29:30.180 It's painful. 00:29:30.539 --> 00:29:32.200 It's painful for me to preach some things. 00:29:32.360 --> 00:29:33.740 It's exposing to my life. 00:29:33.920 --> 00:29:35.600 There's some things that I don't understand. 00:29:35.720 --> 00:29:37.400 I'm not all that intelligent. 00:29:37.519 --> 00:29:41.299 And I have to study and study and study to get what the writers are saying. 00:29:42.480 --> 00:29:45.400 If I wasn't committed to preaching this way, I would skip texts. 00:29:46.840 --> 00:29:48.259 But our preaching should also be substantive. 00:29:48.420 --> 00:29:49.420 It should say something. 00:29:49.539 --> 00:29:52.519 Not a couple of little points to make your life a better life. 00:29:53.400 --> 00:29:56.120 Our preaching should be gospel-centered. 00:29:56.119 --> 00:29:58.199 It should draw your attention to Christ. 00:29:58.759 --> 00:30:01.039 It should call you into holier living. 00:30:02.539 --> 00:30:07.000 So look for substantive, substantive, verse by verse, I suppose you're preaching. 00:30:07.719 --> 00:30:10.119 Number two, look for a church that is missional. 00:30:12.679 --> 00:30:19.739 Many churches, everything they do, and I think even those that aren't intending to do this, struggle with it. 00:30:19.839 --> 00:30:23.019 Everything they do is about bringing people to a building. 00:30:23.019 --> 00:30:25.920 New splash. 00:30:26.039 --> 00:30:27.099 This is not the church. 00:30:27.940 --> 00:30:28.039 Right? 00:30:28.500 --> 00:30:30.119 This building burns to the ground. 00:30:30.420 --> 00:30:33.119 This property gets swallowed up into a sinkhole. 00:30:34.319 --> 00:30:37.119 And Christ Family Church no longer owns property meet-on. 00:30:37.440 --> 00:30:38.599 Are we still Christ Family Church? 00:30:39.359 --> 00:30:39.839 Absolutely. 00:30:40.180 --> 00:30:41.460 There's no question in my mind. 00:30:41.859 --> 00:30:44.420 We just don't have a place to meet any longer. 00:30:44.599 --> 00:30:45.539 We'll have to find a new one. 00:30:45.539 --> 00:30:53.279 A missional church is a church that recognizes that it's here for a purpose. 00:30:53.440 --> 00:30:55.659 And that is to take church to the world. 00:30:55.960 --> 00:30:57.559 To carry Jesus Christ. 00:30:57.759 --> 00:31:02.200 To be that aroma for those who are being saved to the world. 00:31:02.839 --> 00:31:07.819 So look for a church that understands that we're called on a mission. 00:31:07.819 --> 00:31:09.439 Number three. 00:31:10.319 --> 00:31:13.720 Look for a church that has covenant membership and biblical discipline. 00:31:15.700 --> 00:31:20.799 Covenant membership is just our way of saying a deeper commitment than you show up on a Sunday morning. 00:31:21.599 --> 00:31:23.119 And I give an invitation. 00:31:23.779 --> 00:31:25.339 And you say, hey, that was a pretty good experience. 00:31:25.599 --> 00:31:26.539 I'd like to join up. 00:31:26.919 --> 00:31:28.899 And we write your name on a card and put you on a roster. 00:31:29.460 --> 00:31:31.019 And then expect giving of you. 00:31:31.019 --> 00:31:31.700 Right? 00:31:34.240 --> 00:31:38.160 Sad, sad membership goes on in many of our churches. 00:31:38.720 --> 00:31:43.660 The statistics, which I didn't take the time to research in any of them, of Georgia Baptist churches. 00:31:44.139 --> 00:31:51.460 How many names are on rosters and how many people actually are going to church is shocking. 00:31:52.359 --> 00:31:59.740 I would love to get all of that data and compare and see how many people are on rosters at multiple churches. 00:31:59.740 --> 00:32:02.220 I bet that would be a stagnant statistic. 00:32:02.539 --> 00:32:04.920 I've signed up and then off they go. 00:32:05.019 --> 00:32:06.660 And then signed up and then off they go. 00:32:06.779 --> 00:32:08.819 And then signed up and then off they go. 00:32:10.640 --> 00:32:12.720 Church is not fast food, people. 00:32:14.140 --> 00:32:16.740 You should go to every fast food restaurant out there. 00:32:16.900 --> 00:32:17.880 You definitely should do that. 00:32:17.960 --> 00:32:21.279 Please don't be a person that goes to one fast food restaurant and gets one meal all the time. 00:32:21.759 --> 00:32:22.819 What a boring existence. 00:32:24.599 --> 00:32:27.120 But a lot of you treat church like fast food. 00:32:28.079 --> 00:32:29.279 What am I in the mood for? 00:32:29.279 --> 00:32:30.099 This morning. 00:32:30.500 --> 00:32:31.539 I'm going to go to that church. 00:32:31.619 --> 00:32:32.599 They're a little more charismatic. 00:32:32.920 --> 00:32:33.680 I'm going to go to this church. 00:32:33.759 --> 00:32:34.759 They're a little more somber. 00:32:35.200 --> 00:32:36.220 I like the preaching here. 00:32:36.279 --> 00:32:37.740 I prefer the music over here. 00:32:38.160 --> 00:32:41.940 And you bop around for the flavor of the week. 00:32:43.099 --> 00:32:43.940 It's sin. 00:32:45.379 --> 00:32:50.339 And don't go to a church that will let you become a member with that kind of premise. 00:32:52.220 --> 00:32:57.500 Also need a church that understands biblical discipline. 00:32:57.500 --> 00:32:59.259 You want that in your life. 00:32:59.759 --> 00:33:01.380 You want that kind of exposure. 00:33:01.539 --> 00:33:09.440 And if you're going to persist in sin, you want the kind of church that's willing to kick you out because they so love the work of Christ. 00:33:09.579 --> 00:33:11.839 They're not willing to let you shame them. 00:33:11.839 --> 00:33:13.959 And Christ. 00:33:14.099 --> 00:33:17.839 With a habitual sin in your life that you're not willing to work on. 00:33:18.919 --> 00:33:19.959 Look for that. 00:33:22.659 --> 00:33:23.179 Number. 00:33:23.399 --> 00:33:24.740 These are lettered. 00:33:24.919 --> 00:33:26.199 So I'm happy to do the numbers in my head. 00:33:26.799 --> 00:33:27.279 Number four. 00:33:27.279 --> 00:33:30.000 It's really bad. 00:33:31.039 --> 00:33:32.279 Biblically qualified leadership. 00:33:34.240 --> 00:33:38.539 I would suggest to you that you look for a church that has a plurality leadership. 00:33:38.539 --> 00:33:44.639 I don't care the titles that those men have, but a group of men that share the responsibilities of the church. 00:33:45.500 --> 00:33:47.220 And who are biblically qualified. 00:33:47.399 --> 00:33:51.359 Get to know the men who are leading a congregation before you join. 00:33:51.359 --> 00:33:53.939 Number five. 00:33:55.159 --> 00:33:56.899 Content driven music. 00:33:58.699 --> 00:34:00.119 Content driven music. 00:34:01.599 --> 00:34:02.539 Young people. 00:34:03.919 --> 00:34:10.619 Your generation tends to look for experience when you go to church. 00:34:12.179 --> 00:34:12.699 Experience. 00:34:13.219 --> 00:34:16.880 You want to show up and be moved by music. 00:34:18.639 --> 00:34:20.460 It's good for us to be moved. 00:34:21.360 --> 00:34:22.280 When we sing songs. 00:34:23.220 --> 00:34:26.120 But we ought to be moved by the truth of the gospel. 00:34:26.780 --> 00:34:30.599 Not by a particular crescendo in the music. 00:34:31.920 --> 00:34:33.340 I go to lots of conferences. 00:34:33.599 --> 00:34:36.740 I see lots of music sets being put on. 00:34:36.740 --> 00:34:40.500 And the practice for these sets makes me want to vomit. 00:34:40.740 --> 00:34:44.320 Because every little bit of it is rehearsed perfectly. 00:34:45.260 --> 00:34:46.620 The capo being moved. 00:34:47.320 --> 00:34:48.860 That careful capo movement. 00:34:49.000 --> 00:34:50.440 And the prayer that accompanies it. 00:34:50.440 --> 00:34:53.539 Is a cover up for the capo movement. 00:34:53.820 --> 00:34:56.079 So we can move smoothly from one song to the next. 00:34:56.200 --> 00:34:57.300 And keep people moving along. 00:34:57.500 --> 00:34:58.880 And the experience. 00:34:59.860 --> 00:35:00.159 Worship. 00:35:02.420 --> 00:35:03.420 Congregational singing. 00:35:04.079 --> 00:35:07.659 Is about encouraging one another in the truth. 00:35:08.599 --> 00:35:08.880 Right? 00:35:08.880 --> 00:35:12.800 If we ever come in here and all the lights are off. 00:35:13.099 --> 00:35:16.180 So that you can have your own little personal little worship bubble. 00:35:16.400 --> 00:35:17.920 You should go someplace else. 00:35:17.920 --> 00:35:21.559 I love the acoustics in this room. 00:35:21.559 --> 00:35:23.699 Because I can stand at the back of this room. 00:35:24.019 --> 00:35:25.420 And even though the speakers are loud. 00:35:25.579 --> 00:35:28.920 I can hear your voices reverberate out of this corner. 00:35:29.400 --> 00:35:30.119 It's awesome. 00:35:30.519 --> 00:35:31.299 It's really cool. 00:35:31.400 --> 00:35:32.719 If you're a front row person here. 00:35:32.880 --> 00:35:33.460 I love you. 00:35:33.539 --> 00:35:34.440 Thank you for sitting in the front. 00:35:34.659 --> 00:35:35.059 Someday. 00:35:35.279 --> 00:35:35.940 Sit in the back. 00:35:36.039 --> 00:35:38.059 Just to experience that noise. 00:35:38.199 --> 00:35:39.900 That comes out of the room. 00:35:40.279 --> 00:35:42.860 It is such an encouragement to my soul. 00:35:42.860 --> 00:35:44.500 To press on. 00:35:44.840 --> 00:35:46.500 In these battles of sin. 00:35:46.860 --> 00:35:50.460 When I hear people joyfully singing the truth of God. 00:35:52.079 --> 00:35:54.420 Content driven music. 00:35:55.660 --> 00:35:57.140 On the flip side. 00:35:58.680 --> 00:36:01.420 Some of the older folks amongst us. 00:36:02.039 --> 00:36:04.340 Can tend toward tradition. 00:36:05.840 --> 00:36:11.160 I recently went to an old people meeting. 00:36:11.159 --> 00:36:13.879 I'm just going to leave it at that. 00:36:14.139 --> 00:36:15.460 For some travel we had to do. 00:36:16.059 --> 00:36:19.659 And they sang a song that I just abhor. 00:36:20.440 --> 00:36:22.539 Give me that old time religion. 00:36:23.159 --> 00:36:24.839 Give me that old time religion. 00:36:25.000 --> 00:36:26.539 Give me that old time religion. 00:36:27.019 --> 00:36:28.339 That's good enough for me. 00:36:31.119 --> 00:36:32.559 What does that song even mean? 00:36:32.839 --> 00:36:35.319 What does that mean? 00:36:36.379 --> 00:36:37.619 That's idolatry. 00:36:38.359 --> 00:36:40.279 Do it the way I used to always do it. 00:36:40.280 --> 00:36:41.600 Because I don't want any of this new. 00:36:42.600 --> 00:36:43.420 New song. 00:36:43.540 --> 00:36:44.860 Get these new songs out of here. 00:36:45.500 --> 00:36:45.640 Right? 00:36:46.660 --> 00:36:50.940 The war between old songs and contemporary songs. 00:36:51.100 --> 00:36:52.320 So stupid. 00:36:52.400 --> 00:36:55.560 Because every song was a contemporary song at some point. 00:36:56.740 --> 00:36:57.000 Right? 00:36:59.740 --> 00:37:00.860 Except for maybe the songs. 00:37:01.100 --> 00:37:01.920 But anyway. 00:37:02.780 --> 00:37:03.600 I digress. 00:37:03.599 --> 00:37:04.400 All right. 00:37:05.299 --> 00:37:05.920 Number six. 00:37:07.920 --> 00:37:12.360 Look for a church that is about the work of building healthy families. 00:37:13.000 --> 00:37:16.440 Of charging fathers to be the pastors of their homes. 00:37:16.920 --> 00:37:20.440 And not subliminally undermining the family. 00:37:21.440 --> 00:37:22.659 Many churches are doing this. 00:37:22.739 --> 00:37:24.099 And they're not doing it on purpose. 00:37:24.259 --> 00:37:27.179 I don't think that there's any church in America who says, 00:37:27.319 --> 00:37:28.420 We don't like the family. 00:37:28.420 --> 00:37:32.840 So therefore we're going to separate them to all separate parts of our campus on a Sunday morning. 00:37:32.960 --> 00:37:34.760 And we're not going to allow them to interact. 00:37:34.920 --> 00:37:37.079 And we're going to destroy the family as a result. 00:37:37.900 --> 00:37:39.059 None of their goal is that. 00:37:39.579 --> 00:37:43.619 But they're overtly doing that very thing. 00:37:44.159 --> 00:37:46.880 I'm not saying that you have to go to a church that is family integrated. 00:37:46.880 --> 00:37:51.059 I'm not saying that you have to be family integrated to be a godly church. 00:37:51.760 --> 00:37:51.880 Right? 00:37:52.200 --> 00:37:57.180 But the leadership, the men of a church ought to be encouraging the other men of the church. 00:37:57.900 --> 00:38:00.720 Edifying one another towards being the pastors of their homes. 00:38:01.579 --> 00:38:06.200 That is a responsibility and a charge given to fathers. 00:38:07.599 --> 00:38:09.320 It's not given to anybody else in the scripture. 00:38:09.440 --> 00:38:10.559 It's given to fathers. 00:38:10.559 --> 00:38:13.440 It's not given to a children's pastor. 00:38:13.440 --> 00:38:17.320 Or we'll call them a children's minister if they're a girl just so we can skate around. 00:38:17.760 --> 00:38:18.599 That whole issue. 00:38:19.240 --> 00:38:21.639 It's not given to a youth pastor. 00:38:22.920 --> 00:38:24.579 It's not their responsibility. 00:38:24.940 --> 00:38:27.240 It's the father's responsibility. 00:38:28.000 --> 00:38:34.960 And a lot of churches are castrating the men in the way they operate. 00:38:36.820 --> 00:38:41.059 So look for these six things and become a member. 00:38:41.480 --> 00:38:43.220 Commit the church. 00:38:43.219 --> 00:38:51.139 College students, I know that your life is weird right now because you live three quarters of a year in one place and another quarter of the year in another place. 00:38:52.079 --> 00:38:55.759 I would encourage you to be a member of a church in the place you live most. 00:38:57.480 --> 00:38:59.719 You have moved out of the house. 00:39:00.219 --> 00:39:01.059 And that's a good thing. 00:39:01.119 --> 00:39:01.879 You're adults now. 00:39:02.039 --> 00:39:03.559 It's good to not be in the house. 00:39:03.559 --> 00:39:07.959 It might be a good thing for you to never go back to live in your parents' house. 00:39:08.559 --> 00:39:08.899 I did. 00:39:11.639 --> 00:39:12.359 Plant yourself. 00:39:12.360 --> 00:39:16.800 My parents are here. 00:39:20.220 --> 00:39:20.660 Yeah. 00:39:21.160 --> 00:39:21.800 I know. 00:39:22.220 --> 00:39:22.620 I know. 00:39:22.619 --> 00:39:35.339 As God instructed his people when they're in Babylonian captivity, he instructed them to build homes and plant gardens and make a life where they were. 00:39:35.340 --> 00:39:43.120 You're going to squander a rape four years of your life because you don't feel like you're in the place you're going to be. 00:39:43.200 --> 00:39:43.640 Right? 00:39:43.639 --> 00:39:44.639 Right? 00:39:44.639 --> 00:39:44.799 You are. 00:39:45.179 --> 00:39:46.619 God puts you in a place. 00:39:47.579 --> 00:39:49.079 Put down some roots. 00:39:49.079 --> 00:39:50.599 Although temporary, I understand. 00:39:50.779 --> 00:39:51.539 Put down some roots. 00:39:52.099 --> 00:39:54.619 Be involved in a church in the place that you live most. 00:39:54.619 --> 00:39:59.699 Again, I'm not saying Christ family church needs to be your church. 00:40:00.699 --> 00:40:02.319 Although I think that we do these things. 00:40:02.320 --> 00:40:06.559 And we're trying to do them to the very best of our ability. 00:40:06.559 --> 00:40:18.900 So, we see in our text, back in Romans 14 through 25, that this is our common experience, that we battle with sin. 00:40:19.400 --> 00:40:21.659 There's a war going on within us. 00:40:22.019 --> 00:40:26.679 Let me say to you again, we are not dualistic. 00:40:26.679 --> 00:40:33.119 The picture of dualism is that on one shoulder, you have the little angel version of Nathan. 00:40:33.239 --> 00:40:35.139 On the other shoulder, you have the little devil version of Nathan. 00:40:35.519 --> 00:40:38.419 And we just don't know who's going to win out in my life. 00:40:40.079 --> 00:40:41.319 Jesus Christ wins. 00:40:41.839 --> 00:40:43.199 There's no doubt about that. 00:40:43.259 --> 00:40:45.079 The war is sure. 00:40:45.279 --> 00:40:49.239 If you are a Christian, you are being moved towards perfection. 00:40:49.919 --> 00:40:53.859 And one day, you will be finally perfected. 00:40:54.919 --> 00:40:55.119 Okay? 00:40:55.119 --> 00:40:59.579 However, there are many battles to fight. 00:40:59.679 --> 00:41:03.519 And I pray that we're a people that are having victory in those battles. 00:41:03.699 --> 00:41:07.239 And that our lives are characterized by holiness. 00:41:07.900 --> 00:41:08.599 Let's pray together.