WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.780 Please take your Bibles and open them up this morning to Genesis chapter 20. 00:00:05.200 --> 00:00:06.480 ! 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:40.799 But we encourage everybody to have a copy of God's Word open in front of you so that we can see and hear from the pages of Scripture as we walk through this text together. 00:00:41.519 --> 00:00:46.140 So Genesis chapter 20, and when you found it, let's stand in honor of the reading of God's Word this morning. 00:00:46.140 --> 00:01:16.120 Genesis chapter 20, and when you found it, let's stand in the reading of God's Word. 00:01:16.140 --> 00:01:20.840 Behold, you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is a man's wife. 00:01:21.879 --> 00:01:26.620 Now Abimelech had not approached her, so he said, Lord, will you kill an innocent people? 00:01:27.140 --> 00:01:29.620 Did he not himself say to me, She is my sister? 00:01:30.140 --> 00:01:32.099 And she herself said, He is my brother? 00:01:32.780 --> 00:01:36.400 In the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands I have done this. 00:01:37.180 --> 00:01:45.120 Then God said to him in a dream, Yes, I know that you have done this in the integrity of your heart, and it was I who kept you from sinning against me. 00:01:45.120 --> 00:01:47.700 Therefore, I did not let you touch her. 00:01:48.380 --> 00:01:54.120 Now then, return the man's wife, for he is a prophet, so that he will pray for you and you shall live. 00:01:54.680 --> 00:01:59.840 But if you do not return her, know that you shall surely die, you and all who are yours. 00:02:00.859 --> 00:02:05.400 So Abimelech rose early in the morning and called all his servants and told them all these things. 00:02:05.920 --> 00:02:07.460 And the men were very much afraid. 00:02:07.459 --> 00:02:12.239 Then Abimelech called Abraham and said to him, What have you done to us? 00:02:12.719 --> 00:02:16.659 And how have I sinned against you that you have brought on me and my kingdom a great sin? 00:02:17.199 --> 00:02:19.479 You have done to me things that ought not to be done. 00:02:20.340 --> 00:02:24.240 And Abimelech said to Abraham, What did you see that you did this thing? 00:02:25.180 --> 00:02:31.699 Abraham said, I did it because I thought there is no fear of God at all in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife. 00:02:31.699 --> 00:02:38.319 Besides, she is indeed my sister, the daughter of my father, though not the daughter of my mother, and she became my wife. 00:02:39.019 --> 00:02:44.839 And when God caused me to wander from my father's house, I said to her, This is the kindness you must do to me. 00:02:45.359 --> 00:02:49.359 At every place to which we come, say of me, He is my brother. 00:02:49.360 --> 00:02:58.720 Then Abimelech took sheep and oxen and male servants and female servants and gave them to Abraham and returned Sarah, his wife, to him. 00:02:59.360 --> 00:03:02.560 And Abimelech said, Behold, my land is before you. 00:03:02.960 --> 00:03:04.120 Dwell where it pleases you. 00:03:04.820 --> 00:03:10.360 To Sarah he said, Behold, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver. 00:03:10.960 --> 00:03:15.980 It is a sign of your innocence in the eyes of all who are with you, and before everyone you are vindicated. 00:03:15.979 --> 00:03:24.599 Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech and also healed his wife and female slaves, so that they bore children. 00:03:25.239 --> 00:03:31.239 For the Lord had closed all the wombs of the house of Abimelech because of Sarah, Abraham's wife. 00:03:32.620 --> 00:03:38.379 The grass withers and flower fades, but the word of the Lord endures forever. 00:03:38.379 --> 00:03:48.439 Father God, we praise you for your word, and we praise you for this story of obvious sin in Abraham's life. 00:03:48.519 --> 00:03:51.680 We pray that we would take many lessons from it to apply to our own life. 00:03:52.199 --> 00:03:55.120 And we praise you for Christ, who is the Savior of sinners. 00:03:55.859 --> 00:03:57.879 We pray this in Jesus' name. Amen. 00:03:58.519 --> 00:03:59.439 You may be seated. 00:03:59.439 --> 00:04:04.719 I wonder if you've ever experienced deja vu. 00:04:06.159 --> 00:04:10.379 Weird feeling that you've been here before, had that same conversation before. 00:04:10.859 --> 00:04:16.420 It's a strange sensation of things are happening again exactly like they've happened before. 00:04:16.579 --> 00:04:18.899 You all know I was at the Pillar Conference this week. 00:04:19.000 --> 00:04:21.659 I've lost count now of how many of those I've been to. 00:04:22.180 --> 00:04:24.019 Six, seven, maybe eight. 00:04:24.019 --> 00:04:34.279 And each year, I can almost guarantee that many of the experiences there are similar, if not exactly the same, year after year after year after year. 00:04:34.919 --> 00:04:36.379 It's always at the same location. 00:04:36.560 --> 00:04:39.459 It's at Southeastern Seminary there in Wake Forest. 00:04:40.219 --> 00:04:43.379 The schedule, the order of events is usually roughly the same. 00:04:43.479 --> 00:04:47.500 I know when to expect the breakouts and when to expect the main sessions. 00:04:47.659 --> 00:04:50.759 Even the food is almost exactly the same year after year. 00:04:50.759 --> 00:04:54.039 I told the guys as we walked in, I said, listen, we're going to have a sandwich. 00:04:54.300 --> 00:04:55.680 We're going to have Chick-fil-A. 00:04:55.779 --> 00:04:56.779 We're going to have some barbecue. 00:04:57.060 --> 00:05:00.539 And lo and behold, that was what the menu held. 00:05:01.139 --> 00:05:04.899 Some of the details around the periphery shift here and there. 00:05:05.060 --> 00:05:08.459 The topic of the conference rotates year after year. 00:05:09.120 --> 00:05:13.879 It was honey-baked ham sandwiches instead of which-which sandwiches this year. 00:05:14.439 --> 00:05:16.300 My company was different this year. 00:05:16.399 --> 00:05:18.560 Bill and Treg joined me this time. 00:05:18.560 --> 00:05:25.240 But for all intents and purposes, many of the same things happen year after year. 00:05:25.339 --> 00:05:29.780 I found myself in a familiar place feeling a sense of deja vu. 00:05:31.360 --> 00:05:37.319 You might have felt a little bit like that this morning as we read this story here in Genesis chapter 20. 00:05:37.939 --> 00:05:40.840 And if you did, I want you to know that you are not crazy. 00:05:41.759 --> 00:05:43.779 We have been here before. 00:05:43.939 --> 00:05:45.500 We are in familiar territory. 00:05:45.500 --> 00:05:48.300 Some of the details around this story have shifted. 00:05:48.480 --> 00:05:50.079 The location has changed. 00:05:50.620 --> 00:05:52.639 Some of the characters have changed. 00:05:53.240 --> 00:05:56.680 But you should notice we have been here before. 00:05:57.000 --> 00:06:00.360 I want to kind of jog your memory all the way back to Genesis chapter 12. 00:06:00.560 --> 00:06:03.860 I realize it's been a while since we've been there, Genesis chapter 12. 00:06:04.540 --> 00:06:07.220 But see if this story sounds familiar to you at all. 00:06:07.220 --> 00:06:12.500 Genesis chapter 12 tells the story of Abram and Sarai. 00:06:12.700 --> 00:06:13.600 Little different names. 00:06:13.740 --> 00:06:14.520 Abram and Sarai. 00:06:14.640 --> 00:06:16.340 There's famine in the land. 00:06:16.480 --> 00:06:19.360 And so Abram and Sarai go down to Egypt. 00:06:20.320 --> 00:06:25.180 Abram is afraid that the Egyptians will see how beautiful Sarai, his wife, is. 00:06:25.300 --> 00:06:26.720 And they'll kill Abram. 00:06:26.780 --> 00:06:29.280 And so Abram comes up with this brilliant plan. 00:06:29.380 --> 00:06:30.920 You're going to tell them that you're my sister. 00:06:31.780 --> 00:06:32.320 Sound familiar? 00:06:32.319 --> 00:06:34.579 She goes along with it. 00:06:34.680 --> 00:06:35.980 They take her. 00:06:36.120 --> 00:06:38.459 And then they bless Abram with all sorts of goods. 00:06:38.579 --> 00:06:40.680 But we see the Lord sovereignly. 00:06:41.019 --> 00:06:42.779 He sees all this happening. 00:06:42.920 --> 00:06:44.120 He afflicts Pharaoh. 00:06:44.759 --> 00:06:46.959 And so he sends Sarai back to her husband. 00:06:47.519 --> 00:06:50.819 And Sarai and Abram leave wealthier and better off than before. 00:06:50.939 --> 00:06:52.000 Does that sound familiar to you? 00:06:54.079 --> 00:06:59.199 Here in Genesis chapter 20, this is essentially the same story. 00:06:59.199 --> 00:07:03.439 Details have changed, but we are on familiar ground. 00:07:03.560 --> 00:07:05.599 And we're right to ask, well, what in the world is going on here? 00:07:07.279 --> 00:07:11.519 Why are we circling back to this again? 00:07:11.740 --> 00:07:16.819 You know, there's a proverb that I think helps sum up this story well. 00:07:17.159 --> 00:07:18.899 Proverbs 26, 11. 00:07:19.000 --> 00:07:19.620 Anybody know it? 00:07:21.099 --> 00:07:24.180 Proverbs 26, 11 says this. 00:07:24.180 --> 00:07:32.259 Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his folly. 00:07:34.540 --> 00:07:43.560 Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his folly. 00:07:43.560 --> 00:07:54.660 What we're seeing here in this repeat story in the life of Abraham is a cycling pattern of sin in Abraham's life. 00:07:55.579 --> 00:07:59.600 Some of the details have changed, but like a dog returning to his vomit, 00:08:00.639 --> 00:08:05.300 here Abraham is foolishly repeating his folly. 00:08:05.300 --> 00:08:14.720 And as we look at this story of repeat sin, I hope that we can admit and be honest that each one of us is prone to do the exact same thing, aren't we? 00:08:16.100 --> 00:08:26.519 Sometimes we find ourselves feeling a sense of deja vu as we wander back to familiar places and familiar patterns of sin in our lives. 00:08:26.519 --> 00:08:29.359 So let's take a look here. 00:08:29.479 --> 00:08:33.379 And what we'll see this morning is three lessons about our sin. 00:08:33.860 --> 00:08:36.139 This will be our outline this morning if you're taking notes. 00:08:36.319 --> 00:08:38.819 Three lessons about our sin. 00:08:40.699 --> 00:08:43.659 First, we see our sin is self-seeking. 00:08:45.220 --> 00:08:48.500 Our sin is self-seeking. 00:08:49.579 --> 00:08:51.759 We see this here in verses 1 through 7 of the passage. 00:08:51.879 --> 00:08:53.399 Look there with me starting in verse 1. 00:08:53.399 --> 00:08:58.120 And we see in the aftermath of Sodom, we saw that last week in chapter 19, 00:08:58.740 --> 00:09:02.720 that we're told that Abraham, he journeyed down toward the territory of the Negev, 00:09:02.759 --> 00:09:07.000 and he lived there between Kadesh and Shur, and he sojourned in Gerar. 00:09:07.319 --> 00:09:12.279 And once again, just as he did in Egypt, he executes this same brilliant plan, doesn't he? 00:09:13.139 --> 00:09:18.039 Abraham says to Sarai, his wife, says of his wife, she is my sister. 00:09:18.879 --> 00:09:22.539 And Abimelech, the king of Gerar, sent and he takes Sarah. 00:09:22.539 --> 00:09:23.599 Here we go again. 00:09:24.879 --> 00:09:28.199 But God came to Abimelech in a dream and said to him, 00:09:28.279 --> 00:09:30.259 Behold, you are a dead man. 00:09:30.319 --> 00:09:32.000 That sounds more like a nightmare to me, right? 00:09:33.159 --> 00:09:36.379 God speaks and says, you are a dead man. 00:09:36.459 --> 00:09:36.759 Why? 00:09:37.399 --> 00:09:39.459 Because you've taken another man's wife. 00:09:39.559 --> 00:09:40.620 She's married. 00:09:40.759 --> 00:09:42.079 She belongs to somebody else. 00:09:42.179 --> 00:09:44.319 And you know, this isn't the main point of the passage, 00:09:44.319 --> 00:09:46.000 but I think it's worth mentioning here. 00:09:46.000 --> 00:09:49.960 We see very clearly, God takes a high view of marriage, doesn't he? 00:09:51.700 --> 00:09:53.840 God protects the boundaries of marriage. 00:09:54.779 --> 00:09:56.539 God created marriage. 00:09:57.100 --> 00:09:58.779 God instituted it. 00:09:58.879 --> 00:10:00.120 It's his design. 00:10:00.440 --> 00:10:04.419 One man and one woman in covenant relationship for a lifetime. 00:10:05.340 --> 00:10:07.519 The seventh commandment, the men studied this this week. 00:10:07.620 --> 00:10:08.960 The seventh commandment says what? 00:10:09.240 --> 00:10:11.679 Thou shalt not commit adultery. 00:10:11.679 --> 00:10:17.279 Now God is protecting the boundaries here of the covenant of marriage. 00:10:17.419 --> 00:10:18.719 But it's interesting. 00:10:18.879 --> 00:10:23.299 Verse 4 says that Abimelech had not yet approached her. 00:10:23.459 --> 00:10:26.079 He was to this point innocent. 00:10:26.779 --> 00:10:28.739 He had not yet committed adultery. 00:10:29.759 --> 00:10:33.459 And so he says to the Lord, Lord, will you indeed kill an innocent people? 00:10:34.319 --> 00:10:36.219 I've been tricked, God. 00:10:37.099 --> 00:10:39.279 Did he not say she's my sister? 00:10:39.279 --> 00:10:42.980 And she herself, does she not say, well, he's my brother? 00:10:43.879 --> 00:10:47.759 I've done all this in the integrity of my heart, in the innocence of my hands. 00:10:47.860 --> 00:10:49.100 I have done this. 00:10:49.139 --> 00:10:53.439 So the Lord responds, yes, I know that you've done this in the integrity of your heart. 00:10:53.519 --> 00:10:56.199 Because it was I who kept you from sinning against me. 00:10:57.639 --> 00:11:01.480 The Lord says that I have not let you touch her. 00:11:02.199 --> 00:11:08.019 Now you better return her or there's going to be consequences for you and for your household. 00:11:08.019 --> 00:11:13.059 Now, I want you to think with me here about the selfishness of Abraham's sin. 00:11:14.720 --> 00:11:18.679 How self-seeking Abraham's sin is. 00:11:18.759 --> 00:11:19.740 It's clear, isn't it? 00:11:19.740 --> 00:11:24.199 He is not thinking about anybody else in this situation besides himself. 00:11:24.319 --> 00:11:26.319 His sin is self-seeking. 00:11:26.500 --> 00:11:30.559 In fact, his sin is putting everyone else around him in danger. 00:11:30.799 --> 00:11:31.419 Did you notice that? 00:11:32.639 --> 00:11:36.399 For one thing, Abraham's sin is putting his wife in danger, isn't he? 00:11:36.399 --> 00:11:41.360 Abraham's sin is putting his wife Sarah in danger. 00:11:41.459 --> 00:11:42.939 Just think about this little plan of his. 00:11:44.319 --> 00:11:49.039 His sin is putting her in harm's way, but he doesn't seem to really care about that, does he? 00:11:49.980 --> 00:11:53.019 He's just protecting himself two times now. 00:11:53.659 --> 00:11:55.340 Sarah's a lot more patient than I would be. 00:11:56.019 --> 00:12:00.879 Two times now, she has been traded away for his own protection. 00:12:00.879 --> 00:12:06.159 Two times, she's been given away into another man's hands to be his wife. 00:12:06.879 --> 00:12:10.279 This is completely self-seeking behavior, isn't it? 00:12:11.139 --> 00:12:16.460 And you notice that it harms the person who is closest to him. 00:12:16.460 --> 00:12:25.900 Do we realize that our sin harms those who are closest to us? 00:12:27.160 --> 00:12:31.820 We may think that our sin only hurts us. 00:12:31.879 --> 00:12:34.240 If anybody, it's only impacting us. 00:12:34.320 --> 00:12:40.680 But we ought to realize our sin, it also hurts those who are closest to us. 00:12:40.679 --> 00:12:47.259 Even so-called secret sins, they harm those who are closest to us. 00:12:48.519 --> 00:12:54.559 For a married man or a married woman to have a secret affair, that hurts your family. 00:12:55.939 --> 00:13:00.699 Even a secret pornography addiction, it will impact your relationships. 00:13:00.700 --> 00:13:08.360 Even internal, invisible sins like selfishness or pride or laziness. 00:13:08.540 --> 00:13:15.360 Those often wind up manifesting themselves in external ways that hurt others around us. 00:13:15.660 --> 00:13:19.200 We need to know our sin impacts those closest to us. 00:13:19.259 --> 00:13:25.340 Not only this, but Abraham's sin also puts Abimelech in danger. 00:13:26.840 --> 00:13:29.480 Abraham doesn't know Abimelech as far as we can tell. 00:13:29.480 --> 00:13:30.960 This is their first interaction. 00:13:31.080 --> 00:13:33.360 They don't have any sort of relationship. 00:13:33.759 --> 00:13:34.800 This guy is a stranger. 00:13:35.259 --> 00:13:37.500 But does Abraham's sin impact Abimelech? 00:13:38.800 --> 00:13:40.940 You better believe so. Absolutely. 00:13:42.200 --> 00:13:44.800 He is put at risk of death. 00:13:44.920 --> 00:13:46.420 It puts his life at risk. 00:13:46.480 --> 00:13:52.879 And not just him, but also his whole family is at risk because of Abraham's sin. 00:13:52.879 --> 00:13:58.980 Do we realize that our sin also hurts those around us? 00:13:59.480 --> 00:14:04.399 A few weeks ago, the northbound lanes on the Ravenel Bridge were shut down. 00:14:04.460 --> 00:14:05.320 I don't know what happened. 00:14:05.960 --> 00:14:09.860 I can only assume a cell phone was involved or a northerner maybe. 00:14:10.060 --> 00:14:10.560 I'm not sure. 00:14:10.559 --> 00:14:19.879 One slip up from one driver caused another car or two to crash, which caused the whole side to be shut down, 00:14:19.979 --> 00:14:24.519 which caused hundreds of other vehicles to be stuck in standstill traffic, 00:14:24.619 --> 00:14:28.639 including some of you who couldn't make it to where you were attempting to be, 00:14:28.759 --> 00:14:32.399 which I am certain caused a lot of anger and a lot of hearts, 00:14:32.479 --> 00:14:36.259 which I am certain overflowed in a lot of words that ought not to be said. 00:14:36.259 --> 00:14:42.899 But our sin is often like this. 00:14:43.019 --> 00:14:44.500 It reverberates. 00:14:44.659 --> 00:14:45.500 It echoes. 00:14:45.700 --> 00:14:47.120 You see the chain reaction here. 00:14:47.279 --> 00:14:51.720 One little decision now has put one man and his whole family at risk. 00:14:51.720 --> 00:14:58.480 The impact of our sin is often much wider than we can possibly imagine, 00:14:58.639 --> 00:15:03.519 which is why we need to understand that sin, first, is a failure to love God, 00:15:04.080 --> 00:15:07.899 but second is a failure to love neighbor. 00:15:09.360 --> 00:15:11.940 How does Jesus sum up the commandments? 00:15:12.960 --> 00:15:14.540 What's the first greatest commandment, Jesus? 00:15:14.779 --> 00:15:19.540 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your mind and all your soul and all your strength. 00:15:19.539 --> 00:15:20.699 And the second is like it. 00:15:20.740 --> 00:15:21.159 What is it? 00:15:21.599 --> 00:15:24.299 Love your neighbor as yourself. 00:15:26.699 --> 00:15:33.899 Not only this, Abraham here also puts the promise in danger. 00:15:35.120 --> 00:15:37.339 Puts the promise in danger. 00:15:37.399 --> 00:15:39.019 Let's zoom out here just for a minute. 00:15:39.179 --> 00:15:43.539 You remember the big picture context of what's going on here in the book of Genesis? 00:15:44.379 --> 00:15:47.199 Do you remember the promise that God has made to Abraham? 00:15:47.200 --> 00:15:55.400 God promised Abraham that Isaac would be born to Abraham within the year, 00:15:55.780 --> 00:15:58.420 specifically from Sarah's womb. 00:15:59.420 --> 00:16:01.759 I don't think I have to explain this to you, 00:16:02.460 --> 00:16:05.680 but if Sarah had gotten pregnant by Abimelech, 00:16:06.320 --> 00:16:08.960 that promise could not come to pass, could it? 00:16:10.240 --> 00:16:13.500 Abraham selfishly and protecting himself, 00:16:13.500 --> 00:16:16.840 he has completely lost sight of the big picture, hasn't he? 00:16:17.840 --> 00:16:21.800 In this moment, he acts like he's forgotten God's promises. 00:16:23.180 --> 00:16:29.660 He's only thinking about himself, not Sarah, not Abimelech, not God. 00:16:31.160 --> 00:16:32.140 Praise God. 00:16:32.259 --> 00:16:39.280 What we see here, he does not let our foolishness nullify his faithfulness, does he? 00:16:39.279 --> 00:16:42.819 Look how God steps in and intervenes. 00:16:42.919 --> 00:16:46.379 God makes certain that even despite Abraham's foolishness, 00:16:46.579 --> 00:16:51.439 his plan, his promises will come to pass. 00:16:51.500 --> 00:16:52.579 What does he say to Abimelech? 00:16:53.000 --> 00:16:55.839 Yes, I know you're innocent, but think about why. 00:16:56.899 --> 00:16:59.259 I kept you from sinning against her. 00:17:00.539 --> 00:17:02.299 I know you didn't touch her, Abimelech. 00:17:02.339 --> 00:17:02.659 Why? 00:17:02.659 --> 00:17:05.420 I did not let you touch her. 00:17:05.619 --> 00:17:05.960 Why? 00:17:07.139 --> 00:17:12.500 God's promises, God's plan to bring about the promised offspring, 00:17:13.059 --> 00:17:19.000 through Abraham, through Sarah, will come to pass. 00:17:19.000 --> 00:17:23.279 You realize our sin is exactly the same. 00:17:25.220 --> 00:17:28.359 Our sin, it harms those who are close to us. 00:17:28.519 --> 00:17:30.940 Our sin, it harms our neighbor. 00:17:31.380 --> 00:17:33.140 And our sin, ultimately, you know what? 00:17:33.200 --> 00:17:37.160 It shows a real lack of trust in God and his promises. 00:17:37.160 --> 00:17:41.080 So we see sin is self-seeking. 00:17:41.259 --> 00:17:46.640 Not only this, second, second, we see our sin is shameful. 00:17:48.040 --> 00:17:49.860 Our sin is shameful. 00:17:50.240 --> 00:17:51.519 And we see this starting in verse 8. 00:17:52.400 --> 00:17:54.380 There's an irony here in the passage. 00:17:54.480 --> 00:17:55.080 Did you notice it? 00:17:56.500 --> 00:18:01.660 This pagan king, Abimelech, who does not know the Lord, 00:18:02.759 --> 00:18:06.480 he is more righteous than Abraham, the man of faith. 00:18:08.080 --> 00:18:11.140 His hands are innocent here, but Abraham is guilty. 00:18:12.220 --> 00:18:13.700 Do you see the irony here? 00:18:14.700 --> 00:18:19.300 This pagan king rebukes Abraham, the great father of the Jewish people. 00:18:19.400 --> 00:18:23.019 He comes out looking like the bigger, better man in the whole ordeal, 00:18:23.100 --> 00:18:26.200 while Abraham comes off looking pretty bad, doesn't he? 00:18:26.940 --> 00:18:27.820 Look there to verse 8. 00:18:29.000 --> 00:18:32.400 Verse 8 says that Abimelech rose early in the morning. 00:18:32.560 --> 00:18:34.400 He responds immediately to the word of God. 00:18:34.400 --> 00:18:39.140 He called all his servants and told them all these things that the Lord had said. 00:18:39.240 --> 00:18:41.019 The men were very much afraid. 00:18:41.480 --> 00:18:43.440 And then Abimelech calls Abraham. 00:18:44.920 --> 00:18:45.720 And he says, 00:18:46.120 --> 00:18:48.000 What have you done to us? 00:18:49.320 --> 00:18:52.360 How have I sinned against you? 00:18:52.620 --> 00:18:53.420 Why have you done this? 00:18:53.420 --> 00:18:55.820 What have you seen here that you're doing this? 00:18:56.120 --> 00:18:58.259 You've done these things that ought not to be done. 00:18:58.539 --> 00:19:00.500 Why in the world have you done this? 00:19:00.560 --> 00:19:01.940 What do you have to say for yourself? 00:19:03.580 --> 00:19:05.440 Abraham's caught in his lie, isn't he? 00:19:06.340 --> 00:19:10.019 This pagan king exposes this great father of the faith. 00:19:10.019 --> 00:19:14.940 And right here is the opportunity, right? 00:19:16.039 --> 00:19:17.940 Right here is the chance to say, 00:19:18.099 --> 00:19:19.019 You're right. 00:19:20.119 --> 00:19:20.960 I've sinned. 00:19:21.940 --> 00:19:22.879 You caught me. 00:19:22.960 --> 00:19:24.160 I put you in harm's way. 00:19:24.220 --> 00:19:25.740 I put my wife in harm's way. 00:19:26.420 --> 00:19:28.639 I've not loved my neighbor as I ought. 00:19:29.500 --> 00:19:32.440 I've failed to trust in the promises of God. 00:19:32.660 --> 00:19:33.460 Forgive me, God. 00:19:33.460 --> 00:19:33.519 God. 00:19:34.579 --> 00:19:36.299 That would be the right response, right? 00:19:37.759 --> 00:19:38.720 But what does he do? 00:19:40.019 --> 00:19:44.139 Abraham does what you and I so often do. 00:19:44.339 --> 00:19:49.259 Abraham begins making all sorts of excuses for his sin, doesn't he? 00:19:49.980 --> 00:19:51.139 Three of them here. 00:19:52.440 --> 00:19:55.519 Excuse number one, it's your fault. 00:19:57.299 --> 00:19:59.139 You don't fear God. 00:20:01.139 --> 00:20:05.059 I did this because I thought there's no fear of God in this place, 00:20:05.139 --> 00:20:06.559 and so I better come up with a plan. 00:20:06.720 --> 00:20:08.259 I thought you were going to kill me. 00:20:08.259 --> 00:20:10.440 It's ultimately your fault. 00:20:12.119 --> 00:20:15.359 If you were more godly, I wouldn't have to sin so much. 00:20:17.879 --> 00:20:20.559 Excuse number two, here in verse 12. 00:20:21.640 --> 00:20:23.119 Boy, you know, I didn't really lie. 00:20:25.480 --> 00:20:28.819 Technically, she is my sister. 00:20:29.000 --> 00:20:31.960 Listen to how he just twists himself up in a knot, trying to explain this away. 00:20:31.960 --> 00:20:35.360 Well, she's the daughter of my father, though not the daughter of my mother, 00:20:35.460 --> 00:20:36.740 and then she became my wife. 00:20:36.819 --> 00:20:40.200 So technically, technically I'm not lying, right? 00:20:41.140 --> 00:20:42.059 I mean, who's he fooling? 00:20:43.579 --> 00:20:45.660 Third excuse here in verse 13. 00:20:45.779 --> 00:20:46.480 Who does he blame? 00:20:46.579 --> 00:20:46.980 Ultimately. 00:20:47.920 --> 00:20:49.279 Ultimately, he says, you know what? 00:20:49.340 --> 00:20:50.279 It's God's fault. 00:20:51.779 --> 00:20:54.340 He puts the blame on God. 00:20:54.339 --> 00:20:55.839 God made me do it. 00:20:56.059 --> 00:20:59.639 When God caused me to wander from my father's house, 00:21:01.119 --> 00:21:05.099 I said to her, this is the kindness you must do for me at every place to which we come. 00:21:05.220 --> 00:21:05.740 Save me. 00:21:06.220 --> 00:21:08.199 He is my brother. 00:21:08.399 --> 00:21:09.379 God made me do it. 00:21:10.839 --> 00:21:12.779 God put me in this impossible situation. 00:21:12.959 --> 00:21:14.500 What was I supposed to do? 00:21:14.539 --> 00:21:15.879 I was happy where I was. 00:21:16.259 --> 00:21:18.399 God called me out into this dangerous place. 00:21:18.519 --> 00:21:19.939 He made me a sojourner. 00:21:19.940 --> 00:21:21.940 So really, if you think about it, 00:21:22.160 --> 00:21:24.620 you trace it all back up to the top of the food chain, 00:21:24.700 --> 00:21:25.759 it's God's fault. 00:21:31.299 --> 00:21:37.000 Friend, when we wander back into places and patterns of sin, 00:21:37.799 --> 00:21:38.920 God is not to blame. 00:21:41.980 --> 00:21:43.799 When we fall into sin, 00:21:45.080 --> 00:21:46.680 it is not God's fault. 00:21:46.680 --> 00:21:53.539 Yes, we believe in a totally sovereign God. 00:21:53.660 --> 00:21:56.900 We believe that nothing happens apart from the counsel of his will. 00:21:57.019 --> 00:21:57.220 Amen. 00:21:57.539 --> 00:21:58.799 Yes, we believe this. 00:21:59.340 --> 00:22:05.259 And we believe that we are fully responsible for our sin. 00:22:06.420 --> 00:22:09.120 God is not to blame for our sin. 00:22:10.960 --> 00:22:12.759 We should learn from Abraham here. 00:22:12.759 --> 00:22:16.580 We ought not make excuses for our sin. 00:22:16.680 --> 00:22:21.519 When God brings our sin into the light, 00:22:21.620 --> 00:22:22.860 that's a grace, by the way. 00:22:23.560 --> 00:22:27.160 That is a kindness for him to expose our sin, 00:22:27.259 --> 00:22:30.480 to bring it out into the light so that we can see it as it is. 00:22:30.720 --> 00:22:32.140 When he does that, 00:22:32.420 --> 00:22:33.380 please, Christian, 00:22:33.700 --> 00:22:35.539 don't make excuses for your sin. 00:22:37.220 --> 00:22:38.320 Don't blame others. 00:22:40.080 --> 00:22:43.100 Don't try to explain it away on some technicality. 00:22:43.100 --> 00:22:46.320 And certainly do not blame God for your sin. 00:22:47.019 --> 00:22:51.119 Acknowledge your sin and bring it to the feet of Jesus. 00:22:53.419 --> 00:22:56.119 The word tells us if we confess our sin, 00:22:57.379 --> 00:23:01.299 he is faithful and just to forgive us our sin 00:23:01.299 --> 00:23:04.439 and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 00:23:04.440 --> 00:23:08.860 I don't know how Abimelech responded to all of this. 00:23:08.920 --> 00:23:11.200 I can just imagine he's just standing there nodding like, 00:23:11.400 --> 00:23:13.019 okay, yeah, buddy, really? 00:23:13.720 --> 00:23:15.019 That's how you're going to handle this? 00:23:16.080 --> 00:23:17.360 Well, he doesn't say a word. 00:23:17.660 --> 00:23:20.160 Abimelech here, he takes the high road. 00:23:20.360 --> 00:23:20.980 You see what he does? 00:23:22.160 --> 00:23:23.920 Abimelech blesses Abraham. 00:23:24.279 --> 00:23:26.380 He gives these gifts to Sarah, 00:23:26.380 --> 00:23:28.960 1,000 pieces of silver. 00:23:29.080 --> 00:23:33.140 You realize that would be about 150 years worth of labor in that day. 00:23:33.760 --> 00:23:34.900 More than a lifetime. 00:23:36.220 --> 00:23:37.320 He opens up the land. 00:23:37.420 --> 00:23:39.220 He gives them full access to the land. 00:23:39.320 --> 00:23:41.860 He clears his name in every way. 00:23:42.020 --> 00:23:43.100 Abraham prays. 00:23:43.420 --> 00:23:44.600 God heals Abimelech. 00:23:44.760 --> 00:23:46.660 And he blesses him. 00:23:46.860 --> 00:23:49.460 Do you see how backwards all of this is? 00:23:49.460 --> 00:23:53.860 Abimelech comes out looking better than Abraham. 00:23:55.019 --> 00:23:58.559 He looks more righteous than Abraham. 00:23:58.819 --> 00:24:00.140 Do you see the issue here? 00:24:02.720 --> 00:24:05.340 Church, it is a shameful thing 00:24:05.340 --> 00:24:11.440 for pagans to appear more righteous than the people of God. 00:24:13.500 --> 00:24:14.019 Amen? 00:24:15.600 --> 00:24:16.840 Do you understand? 00:24:16.839 --> 00:24:20.059 It is a shameful thing 00:24:20.059 --> 00:24:21.859 for non-believers 00:24:21.859 --> 00:24:24.879 to live a more visibly moral life 00:24:24.879 --> 00:24:25.959 than the people of God. 00:24:27.720 --> 00:24:29.199 And of course we all sin, church. 00:24:29.279 --> 00:24:30.379 We all mess up. 00:24:31.439 --> 00:24:33.579 I'm not saying that we are perfect. 00:24:33.699 --> 00:24:36.079 We are not perfect, myself especially. 00:24:36.799 --> 00:24:37.279 But, 00:24:37.799 --> 00:24:40.439 we are meant to be light 00:24:40.439 --> 00:24:42.220 in the midst of darkness, aren't we? 00:24:43.299 --> 00:24:46.199 We are called to be holy. 00:24:46.839 --> 00:24:48.079 As God is holy. 00:24:49.319 --> 00:24:51.480 We are meant to be distinct. 00:24:52.679 --> 00:24:54.259 There is meant to be a difference 00:24:54.259 --> 00:24:57.480 between us and the non-believing world around us. 00:24:57.579 --> 00:24:59.299 And when there isn't any difference, 00:24:59.379 --> 00:25:01.279 we should recognize something is not right here. 00:25:01.379 --> 00:25:02.519 This is off. 00:25:02.619 --> 00:25:03.439 This is shameful. 00:25:05.519 --> 00:25:07.139 Isn't this what Paul does 00:25:07.139 --> 00:25:09.119 when he admonishes the Corinthian church? 00:25:09.119 --> 00:25:10.419 He says, 00:25:10.479 --> 00:25:11.519 it's actually reported 00:25:11.519 --> 00:25:13.619 that there's sexual immorality 00:25:13.619 --> 00:25:14.359 among you 00:25:14.359 --> 00:25:15.279 and of a kind 00:25:15.279 --> 00:25:16.899 that's not even tolerated 00:25:16.899 --> 00:25:18.139 amongst pagans. 00:25:18.519 --> 00:25:19.559 How can this be? 00:25:22.559 --> 00:25:24.259 Church, my desire for us 00:25:24.259 --> 00:25:28.299 is that we would be a holy people. 00:25:30.599 --> 00:25:32.259 My desire for this church 00:25:32.259 --> 00:25:34.119 is that we would be distinct. 00:25:34.839 --> 00:25:36.319 I don't want our neighbors to say, 00:25:36.319 --> 00:25:37.619 man, they're just like us 00:25:37.619 --> 00:25:38.559 over there at Seaweed Bay. 00:25:39.559 --> 00:25:41.039 They talk like us. 00:25:41.179 --> 00:25:43.099 They think like us. 00:25:43.159 --> 00:25:43.619 They cheat. 00:25:43.720 --> 00:25:44.179 They steal. 00:25:44.299 --> 00:25:44.700 They lie. 00:25:44.779 --> 00:25:45.579 They sleep around. 00:25:45.779 --> 00:25:47.859 They do all the same things that we do. 00:25:47.939 --> 00:25:49.960 They value all the same things that we do. 00:25:50.220 --> 00:25:52.500 No, I want our neighbors to say, 00:25:52.720 --> 00:25:54.399 man, they are different from us. 00:25:54.559 --> 00:25:56.599 Something's different over there. 00:25:58.000 --> 00:26:00.439 What is that about those people at Seaweed Bay? 00:26:00.440 --> 00:26:03.200 Oh, they're not prideful 00:26:03.200 --> 00:26:04.600 or holier than thou. 00:26:04.700 --> 00:26:05.740 They're not condemning. 00:26:05.820 --> 00:26:06.480 They're not rude, 00:26:06.580 --> 00:26:07.100 but there's just, 00:26:07.279 --> 00:26:09.120 there's a difference there. 00:26:09.220 --> 00:26:10.279 They're joyful. 00:26:11.620 --> 00:26:13.539 They don't seem to need this drink 00:26:13.539 --> 00:26:14.840 when the clock hits five. 00:26:15.700 --> 00:26:17.080 They don't have the same apps 00:26:17.080 --> 00:26:18.220 downloaded on their phones 00:26:18.220 --> 00:26:19.320 as I do on mine. 00:26:20.480 --> 00:26:21.620 Sure, they like football, 00:26:21.720 --> 00:26:23.600 but they don't worship it like I do. 00:26:23.740 --> 00:26:25.920 If South Carolina happens to lose to LSU, 00:26:26.100 --> 00:26:26.700 they're mad, 00:26:26.880 --> 00:26:28.779 but their life goes on. 00:26:28.779 --> 00:26:31.339 And something's different 00:26:31.339 --> 00:26:33.240 about these people. 00:26:33.399 --> 00:26:34.379 And then guess what, church? 00:26:35.420 --> 00:26:36.819 We get to answer. 00:26:37.180 --> 00:26:38.119 It's Jesus. 00:26:40.279 --> 00:26:42.559 Jesus is alive in me. 00:26:43.859 --> 00:26:46.619 Christ Jesus has rescued me 00:26:46.619 --> 00:26:48.180 from slavery to sin. 00:26:48.259 --> 00:26:49.440 I'm not better than you. 00:26:50.740 --> 00:26:52.379 By the grace of God, 00:26:52.460 --> 00:26:53.519 I've been redeemed. 00:26:53.740 --> 00:26:55.259 Jesus died and rose again 00:26:55.259 --> 00:26:56.180 to set me free. 00:26:56.619 --> 00:26:57.279 Now let me tell you 00:26:57.279 --> 00:26:58.500 how you can get in on this. 00:26:58.779 --> 00:27:03.960 Christ came to bear our sin 00:27:03.960 --> 00:27:05.680 and our shame, church. 00:27:06.960 --> 00:27:09.539 He came and he removed the penalty 00:27:09.539 --> 00:27:12.379 and the guilt and the shame of sin 00:27:12.379 --> 00:27:13.839 off of us, praise God. 00:27:15.339 --> 00:27:16.920 But not only this, 00:27:17.899 --> 00:27:19.500 Christ also came, 00:27:19.619 --> 00:27:21.019 Ephesians 5 tells us, 00:27:21.240 --> 00:27:24.160 Christ also came to present you 00:27:24.160 --> 00:27:27.340 holy and blameless and above reproach. 00:27:27.340 --> 00:27:28.940 And above reproach before him. 00:27:29.040 --> 00:27:32.500 He came to make his people holy. 00:27:33.340 --> 00:27:34.540 As he is holy. 00:27:35.080 --> 00:27:38.100 To the praise of his glorious grace. 00:27:38.099 --> 00:27:41.639 And the good news for us, church, 00:27:41.719 --> 00:27:43.079 is that one day, 00:27:43.219 --> 00:27:46.779 he will finally complete this work in us. 00:27:47.099 --> 00:27:47.759 Do you believe that? 00:27:49.319 --> 00:27:50.240 One day, 00:27:50.519 --> 00:27:54.539 we will be fully and finally holy. 00:27:55.399 --> 00:27:56.779 We can hardly imagine it. 00:27:58.059 --> 00:28:01.279 We will be totally free from sin. 00:28:01.279 --> 00:28:03.660 Totally clean. 00:28:05.200 --> 00:28:08.019 Christ purchased the sinless future for us 00:28:08.019 --> 00:28:08.700 at the cross. 00:28:08.799 --> 00:28:10.399 We look backwards and see 00:28:10.399 --> 00:28:12.240 the atonement and what he's done 00:28:12.240 --> 00:28:14.059 so we can look forwards with confidence 00:28:14.059 --> 00:28:15.500 at what will come when he returns. 00:28:16.160 --> 00:28:17.639 We will be holy. 00:28:17.640 --> 00:28:22.180 But it's not here yet. 00:28:24.920 --> 00:28:26.740 You and I still wrestle 00:28:26.740 --> 00:28:28.640 in the flesh 00:28:28.640 --> 00:28:31.640 and wrestle with all sorts of patterns of sin. 00:28:31.740 --> 00:28:33.500 We're still prone to wonder. 00:28:33.660 --> 00:28:35.400 We're still prone to walk in ways 00:28:35.400 --> 00:28:36.720 that dishonor the Lord 00:28:36.720 --> 00:28:38.660 and harm those around us. 00:28:38.920 --> 00:28:42.340 We're prone to return back again to our vomit. 00:28:45.180 --> 00:28:46.840 So in our third point, church, 00:28:46.900 --> 00:28:47.600 I want to ask, 00:28:48.400 --> 00:28:50.060 what in the world do we do 00:28:50.060 --> 00:28:51.940 with this habitual, 00:28:52.759 --> 00:28:53.460 persistent, 00:28:54.580 --> 00:28:56.259 stubborn sin in our lives? 00:28:57.540 --> 00:28:59.840 How do we handle it? 00:28:59.900 --> 00:29:00.840 How can we fight it? 00:29:00.900 --> 00:29:01.560 Because third, 00:29:02.640 --> 00:29:03.280 we see here, 00:29:03.440 --> 00:29:06.040 sin is often cyclical. 00:29:07.780 --> 00:29:08.820 And we could add, 00:29:08.940 --> 00:29:11.340 sanctification is often slow. 00:29:12.180 --> 00:29:12.380 Amen? 00:29:14.200 --> 00:29:15.600 Now what is sanctification? 00:29:16.259 --> 00:29:16.900 Sanctification 00:29:16.900 --> 00:29:18.320 is this process 00:29:18.320 --> 00:29:18.320 00:29:18.320 --> 00:29:22.240 of being made righteous. 00:29:22.519 --> 00:29:25.560 We are becoming more like Christ. 00:29:26.780 --> 00:29:29.519 Abraham was declared righteous 00:29:29.519 --> 00:29:30.880 by faith. 00:29:31.000 --> 00:29:32.000 That's justification. 00:29:32.960 --> 00:29:34.220 And so are we, church. 00:29:34.360 --> 00:29:36.680 The moment you put your faith in Christ, 00:29:37.000 --> 00:29:38.360 you are legally, 00:29:39.060 --> 00:29:39.840 objectively, 00:29:39.839 --> 00:29:41.539 formally, 00:29:41.539 --> 00:29:42.259 officially, 00:29:42.259 --> 00:29:45.519 truly righteous in the sight of God. 00:29:45.619 --> 00:29:46.779 No one can take that away. 00:29:47.859 --> 00:29:52.220 Jesus' righteousness is credited to you by faith. 00:29:52.459 --> 00:29:53.039 Praise God. 00:29:53.039 --> 00:29:54.039 sanctification. 00:29:54.039 --> 00:29:56.740 But sanctification, 00:29:57.460 --> 00:30:00.639 being made righteous, 00:30:01.299 --> 00:30:01.539 whoo, 00:30:01.579 --> 00:30:02.500 that takes some time. 00:30:02.500 --> 00:30:06.460 it is painfully slow. 00:30:06.460 --> 00:30:08.039 A lifetime, 00:30:08.259 --> 00:30:08.660 in fact. 00:30:10.420 --> 00:30:12.460 John Owen compares it to a tree. 00:30:12.799 --> 00:30:13.240 He says, 00:30:13.339 --> 00:30:14.700 the growth of trees and plants 00:30:14.700 --> 00:30:16.440 take place so slowly 00:30:16.440 --> 00:30:17.759 that it's not easily seen. 00:30:17.920 --> 00:30:18.140 Daily, 00:30:18.299 --> 00:30:19.380 we notice little changes. 00:30:20.079 --> 00:30:22.180 But in the course of time, 00:30:22.279 --> 00:30:23.660 we see that a great change 00:30:23.660 --> 00:30:24.619 has taken place. 00:30:25.539 --> 00:30:27.539 So it is with grace. 00:30:28.259 --> 00:30:28.699 Sanctification 00:30:28.699 --> 00:30:30.639 is a progressive, 00:30:31.299 --> 00:30:32.939 lifelong work. 00:30:35.139 --> 00:30:36.419 And we see it here with Abraham. 00:30:38.119 --> 00:30:39.439 And you realize the first time 00:30:39.439 --> 00:30:40.019 that this happened 00:30:40.019 --> 00:30:41.139 was 25 years ago. 00:30:43.019 --> 00:30:44.159 Here Abraham is, 00:30:44.319 --> 00:30:45.879 back to the same thing. 00:30:45.959 --> 00:30:46.919 Back to the same thing. 00:30:46.979 --> 00:30:47.839 They were young back then. 00:30:47.859 --> 00:30:48.719 They were in their 70s. 00:30:50.259 --> 00:30:52.119 And now he's in his 90s. 00:30:52.239 --> 00:30:53.000 He's almost 100. 00:30:54.619 --> 00:30:55.339 And it seems like 00:30:55.339 --> 00:30:55.979 that righteousness 00:30:55.979 --> 00:30:57.559 hasn't quite taken root. 00:30:59.699 --> 00:31:01.639 Sometimes we can find ourselves 00:31:01.639 --> 00:31:04.559 right back in familiar places, 00:31:04.779 --> 00:31:05.819 familiar patterns, 00:31:06.019 --> 00:31:07.519 familiar temptations. 00:31:07.659 --> 00:31:08.599 So what do we do 00:31:08.599 --> 00:31:09.679 about this habitual, 00:31:09.959 --> 00:31:10.899 persistent sin? 00:31:10.959 --> 00:31:11.799 I want to finish here 00:31:11.799 --> 00:31:12.839 by giving you a strategy. 00:31:13.179 --> 00:31:13.319 Okay? 00:31:14.759 --> 00:31:15.379 Ten parts. 00:31:16.500 --> 00:31:17.079 Ten points. 00:31:17.159 --> 00:31:17.519 I promise. 00:31:17.839 --> 00:31:18.479 I'll move quickly. 00:31:19.059 --> 00:31:19.559 Ten of them. 00:31:20.319 --> 00:31:20.839 First, 00:31:21.859 --> 00:31:23.659 you must make certain 00:31:23.660 --> 00:31:25.440 that your sins are forgiven. 00:31:28.320 --> 00:31:29.680 This is a starting point. 00:31:30.680 --> 00:31:32.580 If you are not in Christ, 00:31:32.720 --> 00:31:34.480 no strategy for fighting sin 00:31:34.480 --> 00:31:36.240 will help you at all. 00:31:37.320 --> 00:31:38.360 Do not pass go. 00:31:38.440 --> 00:31:39.480 Do not collect $200. 00:31:40.860 --> 00:31:43.000 Do not put a strategy in place. 00:31:44.000 --> 00:31:46.180 Unless your sins have been forgiven 00:31:46.180 --> 00:31:47.660 by faith in Christ, 00:31:47.660 --> 00:31:50.160 no strategy for fighting sin 00:31:50.160 --> 00:31:51.420 will be of any help to you. 00:31:51.420 --> 00:31:53.960 You must repent of your sin 00:31:53.960 --> 00:31:55.580 and come to Christ by faith. 00:31:55.900 --> 00:31:56.519 That's number one. 00:31:56.680 --> 00:31:57.840 Make certain your sins 00:31:57.840 --> 00:31:59.240 are forgiven. 00:31:59.539 --> 00:31:59.940 Then, 00:32:00.039 --> 00:32:01.420 and only then, 00:32:02.140 --> 00:32:03.120 from this position 00:32:03.120 --> 00:32:04.680 of full forgiveness, 00:32:05.000 --> 00:32:05.900 full acceptance, 00:32:06.360 --> 00:32:08.180 how do we grow in holiness? 00:32:08.460 --> 00:32:08.759 Second, 00:32:09.320 --> 00:32:11.460 see yourself as dead to sin 00:32:11.460 --> 00:32:12.740 and alive to God in Christ. 00:32:12.740 --> 00:32:16.660 See yourself as dead to sin 00:32:16.660 --> 00:32:20.660 and alive to God in Christ. 00:32:20.779 --> 00:32:22.400 Who are you, Christian? 00:32:24.099 --> 00:32:26.180 This is Paul's command in Romans 6. 00:32:27.559 --> 00:32:28.620 We must recognize 00:32:28.620 --> 00:32:31.620 that we are united to Christ 00:32:31.620 --> 00:32:32.640 by faith, 00:32:32.859 --> 00:32:34.079 so much so 00:32:34.079 --> 00:32:36.539 that Jesus' death 00:32:36.539 --> 00:32:37.920 is our death, 00:32:37.920 --> 00:32:41.300 and Jesus' resurrection life 00:32:41.300 --> 00:32:44.019 is our resurrection life. 00:32:44.880 --> 00:32:47.500 That Jesus' victory over sin 00:32:47.500 --> 00:32:50.420 is our victory over sin. 00:32:54.300 --> 00:32:56.340 So you also must consider yourselves 00:32:56.340 --> 00:32:56.980 dead to sin 00:32:56.980 --> 00:32:58.759 and alive to God in Christ. 00:32:58.880 --> 00:32:59.380 Number three, 00:33:00.360 --> 00:33:00.759 speak. 00:33:02.820 --> 00:33:03.900 And that might sound strange, 00:33:05.320 --> 00:33:05.580 but you know, 00:33:05.579 --> 00:33:07.439 you can actually speak out loud 00:33:07.439 --> 00:33:08.439 when temptation comes. 00:33:10.679 --> 00:33:13.259 You can speak and say no. 00:33:14.679 --> 00:33:15.740 Say no to yourself 00:33:15.740 --> 00:33:16.899 and your desires. 00:33:18.059 --> 00:33:19.139 You can speak and say no 00:33:19.139 --> 00:33:20.240 to the enemy. 00:33:20.359 --> 00:33:21.199 Tell him no, not today. 00:33:21.919 --> 00:33:23.399 I'm not going there again. 00:33:23.659 --> 00:33:25.119 You can speak to your Savior. 00:33:26.199 --> 00:33:27.319 Lord, would you help me? 00:33:27.399 --> 00:33:28.419 Would you strengthen me? 00:33:28.559 --> 00:33:30.119 Would you keep me from evil? 00:33:30.199 --> 00:33:30.659 God, help me. 00:33:30.659 --> 00:33:31.699 I'm tempted right now 00:33:31.699 --> 00:33:32.259 and I'm weak. 00:33:32.259 --> 00:33:35.199 Would you speak out loud? 00:33:35.200 --> 00:33:35.799 But of course, 00:33:35.880 --> 00:33:37.840 in order to speak the truth 00:33:37.840 --> 00:33:38.559 to yourself 00:33:38.559 --> 00:33:40.259 and remind yourself of truth, 00:33:40.340 --> 00:33:41.039 what do you need to do? 00:33:41.120 --> 00:33:41.640 Number four, 00:33:42.059 --> 00:33:44.420 you must saturate your mind 00:33:44.420 --> 00:33:45.160 with the truth. 00:33:47.420 --> 00:33:48.440 Saturate your mind 00:33:48.440 --> 00:33:50.120 with the Word of God. 00:33:51.920 --> 00:33:53.660 If you just treat God's Word 00:33:53.660 --> 00:33:55.039 like a reference book, 00:33:55.080 --> 00:33:56.220 if you just crack it open 00:33:56.220 --> 00:33:57.440 once or twice a week, 00:33:57.580 --> 00:33:58.880 if the pages of your Bible 00:33:58.880 --> 00:33:59.860 still stick together, 00:34:03.019 --> 00:34:04.180 I'm not sure what to say 00:34:04.180 --> 00:34:06.019 other than you are neglecting 00:34:06.019 --> 00:34:07.539 the very means 00:34:07.539 --> 00:34:09.119 that God has given you 00:34:09.119 --> 00:34:10.760 to fight sin in your life. 00:34:12.820 --> 00:34:14.240 How did Jesus resist 00:34:14.240 --> 00:34:15.460 the temptation of the devil? 00:34:15.559 --> 00:34:16.079 What did He do? 00:34:17.099 --> 00:34:17.940 Three times, 00:34:18.000 --> 00:34:19.940 He quoted the Word of the Lord. 00:34:21.460 --> 00:34:22.960 What does the psalmist say? 00:34:23.039 --> 00:34:23.900 How can a young man 00:34:23.900 --> 00:34:25.099 keep his way pure? 00:34:25.099 --> 00:34:26.460 By guarding it 00:34:26.460 --> 00:34:29.119 according to your Word. 00:34:29.119 --> 00:34:31.319 I have hidden your Word 00:34:31.319 --> 00:34:31.940 in my heart 00:34:31.940 --> 00:34:34.460 that I might not sin 00:34:34.460 --> 00:34:35.339 against you. 00:34:35.440 --> 00:34:37.000 You must saturate your mind 00:34:37.000 --> 00:34:37.679 with the truth. 00:34:37.779 --> 00:34:38.400 Number five, 00:34:39.420 --> 00:34:41.099 cultivate spiritual dependence. 00:34:43.179 --> 00:34:45.299 Spiritual dependence. 00:34:47.179 --> 00:34:48.099 Walk by the Spirit 00:34:48.099 --> 00:34:50.480 and you will not gratify 00:34:50.480 --> 00:34:52.259 the desires of the flesh, 00:34:52.659 --> 00:34:54.199 Paul says in Galatians 5. 00:34:54.279 --> 00:34:55.099 Or again, Romans 8, 00:34:55.099 --> 00:34:56.339 if you live according 00:34:56.339 --> 00:34:56.960 to the flesh, 00:34:57.000 --> 00:34:57.819 you will die. 00:34:58.139 --> 00:34:59.480 But if by the Spirit 00:34:59.480 --> 00:35:01.299 you put to death 00:35:01.299 --> 00:35:02.299 the deeds of the body, 00:35:02.420 --> 00:35:03.420 you will live. 00:35:03.480 --> 00:35:04.559 We have to cultivate 00:35:04.559 --> 00:35:07.039 a posture of spiritual dependence. 00:35:07.259 --> 00:35:07.420 You know, 00:35:07.420 --> 00:35:08.819 Christians are needy people. 00:35:08.900 --> 00:35:09.380 That's okay. 00:35:10.860 --> 00:35:12.920 We don't just grit through it 00:35:12.920 --> 00:35:14.960 and try to be better. 00:35:16.039 --> 00:35:17.380 We need the Lord. 00:35:19.619 --> 00:35:20.679 We need His help. 00:35:20.679 --> 00:35:22.839 We need the Spirit. 00:35:23.079 --> 00:35:23.679 Number six, 00:35:24.719 --> 00:35:25.799 study yourself 00:35:25.799 --> 00:35:27.259 and strategize. 00:35:28.679 --> 00:35:29.759 Study yourself 00:35:29.759 --> 00:35:31.679 and strategize. 00:35:31.759 --> 00:35:31.859 You know, 00:35:31.899 --> 00:35:32.500 if you can memorize 00:35:32.500 --> 00:35:33.239 the stats 00:35:33.239 --> 00:35:34.940 on your fantasy football team, 00:35:36.339 --> 00:35:37.159 you can study 00:35:37.159 --> 00:35:38.059 your own patterns 00:35:38.059 --> 00:35:38.960 of your own sin. 00:35:40.419 --> 00:35:41.500 Pay attention 00:35:41.500 --> 00:35:42.799 to yourself. 00:35:42.980 --> 00:35:43.799 Paul tells Timothy, 00:35:43.919 --> 00:35:44.639 keep a close watch 00:35:44.639 --> 00:35:45.480 on yourself 00:35:45.480 --> 00:35:48.359 and on your hearers. 00:35:48.480 --> 00:35:49.039 Zoom out 00:35:49.039 --> 00:35:50.219 and try hard to notice. 00:35:50.219 --> 00:35:51.579 When do I tend to let 00:35:51.579 --> 00:35:52.939 my anger get the best of me? 00:35:53.739 --> 00:35:54.899 What are the circumstances? 00:35:55.299 --> 00:35:56.659 What are the factors? 00:35:56.980 --> 00:35:57.879 What's going on 00:35:57.879 --> 00:35:58.859 when I'm most vulnerable 00:35:58.859 --> 00:36:00.239 and fall into lust? 00:36:01.159 --> 00:36:02.119 What am I feeling 00:36:02.119 --> 00:36:02.939 when I feel like 00:36:02.939 --> 00:36:04.139 I need that drink? 00:36:05.019 --> 00:36:06.339 What circumstances 00:36:06.339 --> 00:36:07.500 are leading up to me 00:36:07.500 --> 00:36:08.299 bursting out 00:36:08.299 --> 00:36:09.719 in rage and anger? 00:36:09.819 --> 00:36:10.980 What inside of me 00:36:10.980 --> 00:36:12.480 compels me to boast 00:36:12.480 --> 00:36:13.759 or to stretch the truth? 00:36:13.839 --> 00:36:14.859 What are the patterns here? 00:36:15.159 --> 00:36:15.899 Am I lonely? 00:36:16.159 --> 00:36:17.439 Am I isolated? 00:36:17.739 --> 00:36:18.480 Am I afraid? 00:36:18.699 --> 00:36:19.679 Am I stressed? 00:36:19.679 --> 00:36:20.619 Maybe I shouldn't 00:36:20.619 --> 00:36:22.039 drive past the liquor store 00:36:22.039 --> 00:36:22.980 every day on the way 00:36:22.980 --> 00:36:23.659 home from work. 00:36:23.759 --> 00:36:25.359 Maybe I set some rules 00:36:25.359 --> 00:36:26.119 and some boundaries 00:36:26.119 --> 00:36:26.980 around my phone 00:36:26.980 --> 00:36:28.019 and around my computer. 00:36:28.799 --> 00:36:29.879 Study yourself. 00:36:31.719 --> 00:36:32.199 Strategize. 00:36:33.279 --> 00:36:33.960 Or you can be certain 00:36:33.960 --> 00:36:34.899 the enemy is studying 00:36:34.899 --> 00:36:35.739 you. 00:36:37.960 --> 00:36:38.279 But you know, 00:36:38.759 --> 00:36:39.699 as good as that sort 00:36:39.699 --> 00:36:40.859 of strategizing is, 00:36:40.940 --> 00:36:43.139 at the root of all sin 00:36:43.139 --> 00:36:43.819 is something 00:36:43.819 --> 00:36:45.699 infinitely bigger, 00:36:45.819 --> 00:36:46.179 which is why, 00:36:46.179 --> 00:36:46.739 number seven, 00:36:47.739 --> 00:36:49.399 you must seek 00:36:49.399 --> 00:36:51.379 real satisfaction 00:36:51.379 --> 00:36:52.399 in Christ. 00:36:54.339 --> 00:36:54.940 Seek 00:36:54.940 --> 00:36:57.199 to satisfy 00:36:57.199 --> 00:36:59.079 your heart 00:36:59.079 --> 00:37:01.059 in the glory 00:37:01.059 --> 00:37:01.919 of God, 00:37:02.179 --> 00:37:03.179 in the gospel 00:37:03.179 --> 00:37:04.000 of Christ. 00:37:05.500 --> 00:37:07.219 This is the key. 00:37:07.719 --> 00:37:08.859 If you hear nothing else, 00:37:08.919 --> 00:37:09.379 this is it. 00:37:09.480 --> 00:37:09.699 Listen. 00:37:09.699 --> 00:37:12.319 this is the key 00:37:12.319 --> 00:37:14.179 to conquering 00:37:14.179 --> 00:37:14.939 repeat sin 00:37:14.939 --> 00:37:15.419 in your life. 00:37:15.539 --> 00:37:16.679 You do it. 00:37:16.719 --> 00:37:17.719 You go back there 00:37:17.719 --> 00:37:18.699 because you think 00:37:18.699 --> 00:37:19.559 it's satisfying. 00:37:19.939 --> 00:37:20.439 You do it 00:37:20.439 --> 00:37:21.299 because you enjoy it. 00:37:21.359 --> 00:37:21.839 Be honest. 00:37:23.439 --> 00:37:24.219 The only way 00:37:24.219 --> 00:37:25.779 to really change this 00:37:25.779 --> 00:37:27.359 is to truly begin 00:37:27.359 --> 00:37:28.239 to develop 00:37:28.239 --> 00:37:29.319 in your heart 00:37:29.319 --> 00:37:30.379 a deeper 00:37:30.379 --> 00:37:31.359 and greater 00:37:31.359 --> 00:37:32.919 love for Christ. 00:37:32.920 --> 00:37:36.059 John Piper 00:37:36.059 --> 00:37:37.280 says, 00:37:37.440 --> 00:37:38.680 I know of no other way 00:37:38.680 --> 00:37:39.280 to triumph 00:37:39.280 --> 00:37:40.119 over sin 00:37:40.119 --> 00:37:41.059 long term 00:37:41.059 --> 00:37:41.920 than to gain 00:37:41.920 --> 00:37:42.800 a distaste 00:37:42.800 --> 00:37:43.360 for it 00:37:43.360 --> 00:37:44.340 because of a 00:37:44.340 --> 00:37:44.940 superior 00:37:44.940 --> 00:37:46.059 satisfaction 00:37:46.059 --> 00:37:46.840 in God. 00:37:49.000 --> 00:37:50.059 Thomas Chalmers, 00:37:50.860 --> 00:37:51.639 he calls this 00:37:51.639 --> 00:37:52.840 the expulsive 00:37:52.840 --> 00:37:54.000 power 00:37:54.000 --> 00:37:55.159 of a new 00:37:55.159 --> 00:37:55.900 affection. 00:37:56.960 --> 00:37:57.420 You get that image 00:37:57.420 --> 00:37:57.940 in your mind? 00:37:58.619 --> 00:37:59.380 That new 00:37:59.380 --> 00:38:00.079 love, 00:38:00.260 --> 00:38:01.240 that superior 00:38:01.240 --> 00:38:02.139 satisfaction 00:38:02.139 --> 00:38:03.079 in God. 00:38:03.179 --> 00:38:04.319 It launches 00:38:04.319 --> 00:38:05.000 the old 00:38:05.000 --> 00:38:06.119 satisfaction out. 00:38:07.000 --> 00:38:07.960 It's expelled 00:38:07.960 --> 00:38:08.839 from your heart. 00:38:11.219 --> 00:38:12.219 Cultivate a love 00:38:12.219 --> 00:38:13.000 for the glory 00:38:13.000 --> 00:38:13.559 of God. 00:38:13.659 --> 00:38:13.839 Church, 00:38:13.879 --> 00:38:14.460 I go back 00:38:14.460 --> 00:38:15.279 to the Pillar Conference 00:38:15.279 --> 00:38:16.480 every year 00:38:16.480 --> 00:38:17.500 because I love it. 00:38:19.299 --> 00:38:20.299 And we go back 00:38:20.299 --> 00:38:21.119 to our vomit 00:38:21.119 --> 00:38:23.579 because we 00:38:23.579 --> 00:38:24.739 love it. 00:38:26.159 --> 00:38:27.119 Do you actually 00:38:27.119 --> 00:38:27.719 believe 00:38:27.719 --> 00:38:28.299 that the glory 00:38:28.299 --> 00:38:28.779 of God 00:38:28.779 --> 00:38:29.779 is better 00:38:29.779 --> 00:38:30.799 and more 00:38:30.799 --> 00:38:31.539 satisfying 00:38:31.539 --> 00:38:32.599 for your soul 00:38:32.599 --> 00:38:33.759 than all 00:38:33.759 --> 00:38:34.500 the pleasures 00:38:34.500 --> 00:38:35.779 of the world? 00:38:37.619 --> 00:38:38.659 Psalm 1611 00:38:38.659 --> 00:38:39.559 would be 00:38:39.559 --> 00:38:40.599 a good verse 00:38:40.599 --> 00:38:41.199 for you to memorize. 00:38:42.400 --> 00:38:42.900 You make known 00:38:42.900 --> 00:38:43.239 to me 00:38:43.239 --> 00:38:43.800 the path 00:38:43.800 --> 00:38:44.440 of life 00:38:44.440 --> 00:38:45.699 in your presence. 00:38:45.960 --> 00:38:46.659 There is fullness 00:38:46.659 --> 00:38:47.559 of joy. 00:38:48.079 --> 00:38:49.139 At your right hand 00:38:49.139 --> 00:38:49.840 are pleasures 00:38:49.840 --> 00:38:50.639 forevermore. 00:38:52.340 --> 00:38:53.239 Satisfy your heart 00:38:53.239 --> 00:38:53.820 in Christ. 00:38:53.960 --> 00:38:54.440 Number eight, 00:38:55.300 --> 00:38:56.179 surround yourself 00:38:56.179 --> 00:38:56.899 with others. 00:38:58.319 --> 00:38:58.819 Now this is why 00:38:58.819 --> 00:38:59.379 we need a church 00:38:59.379 --> 00:38:59.759 family. 00:39:01.739 --> 00:39:02.619 You are not 00:39:02.619 --> 00:39:03.480 meant to be 00:39:03.480 --> 00:39:04.259 isolated. 00:39:04.500 --> 00:39:05.019 There are no 00:39:05.019 --> 00:39:06.139 lone ranger 00:39:06.139 --> 00:39:07.480 cowboy 00:39:07.480 --> 00:39:08.119 Christians. 00:39:09.679 --> 00:39:10.759 If you are 00:39:10.759 --> 00:39:11.579 isolated, 00:39:12.139 --> 00:39:12.579 guess what? 00:39:12.619 --> 00:39:13.599 You become easy prey 00:39:13.599 --> 00:39:14.639 for the enemy 00:39:14.639 --> 00:39:15.579 who prowls around 00:39:15.579 --> 00:39:16.739 like a roaring lion 00:39:16.739 --> 00:39:17.759 seeking someone 00:39:17.759 --> 00:39:18.579 to devour. 00:39:18.719 --> 00:39:19.059 Who's he going 00:39:19.059 --> 00:39:19.679 to go after? 00:39:20.119 --> 00:39:21.179 The one with the herd 00:39:21.179 --> 00:39:22.940 or the straggler 00:39:22.940 --> 00:39:23.799 off on his own? 00:39:25.799 --> 00:39:26.539 You need others 00:39:26.539 --> 00:39:27.699 in your life 00:39:27.699 --> 00:39:28.519 in such a way 00:39:28.519 --> 00:39:29.579 that they can help you 00:39:29.579 --> 00:39:31.339 and pray for you 00:39:31.339 --> 00:39:33.039 and walk with you 00:39:33.039 --> 00:39:34.699 and encourage you. 00:39:34.879 --> 00:39:35.779 God's mechanism 00:39:35.779 --> 00:39:36.559 for this 00:39:36.559 --> 00:39:37.699 is the local church. 00:39:39.980 --> 00:39:40.980 Number nine, 00:39:43.019 --> 00:39:43.779 strap up. 00:39:45.819 --> 00:39:46.859 Get ready 00:39:46.859 --> 00:39:47.879 for a fight. 00:39:48.099 --> 00:39:49.059 Two things are true 00:39:49.059 --> 00:39:50.239 at this very same time 00:39:50.239 --> 00:39:50.460 here. 00:39:50.460 --> 00:39:51.380 Sanctification 00:39:51.380 --> 00:39:52.440 ultimately 00:39:52.440 --> 00:39:53.840 is God's work. 00:39:54.820 --> 00:39:55.880 He is the one 00:39:55.880 --> 00:39:57.260 who brings victory 00:39:57.260 --> 00:39:57.980 over sin. 00:39:58.220 --> 00:39:58.980 It's his work. 00:39:59.900 --> 00:40:00.699 He's the one 00:40:00.699 --> 00:40:01.960 who brings his people 00:40:01.960 --> 00:40:02.559 to holiness. 00:40:02.900 --> 00:40:04.599 Only he can give you 00:40:04.599 --> 00:40:05.800 a love for him 00:40:05.800 --> 00:40:07.059 and for his word 00:40:07.059 --> 00:40:07.940 in such a way 00:40:07.940 --> 00:40:08.880 that it overpowers 00:40:08.880 --> 00:40:10.119 your natural love 00:40:10.119 --> 00:40:10.579 for sin. 00:40:10.639 --> 00:40:11.579 That is God's work. 00:40:12.860 --> 00:40:13.579 It is God 00:40:13.579 --> 00:40:14.619 who works in you 00:40:14.619 --> 00:40:16.220 to will 00:40:16.220 --> 00:40:17.019 and to work 00:40:17.019 --> 00:40:18.380 for his good pleasure. 00:40:18.500 --> 00:40:19.119 That's true. 00:40:19.119 --> 00:40:20.559 And it's true. 00:40:21.699 --> 00:40:24.119 You must pursue holiness. 00:40:26.279 --> 00:40:27.500 Some seem to think 00:40:27.500 --> 00:40:28.199 that holiness 00:40:28.199 --> 00:40:28.980 doesn't require 00:40:28.980 --> 00:40:29.619 any effort. 00:40:31.039 --> 00:40:32.179 Well, then why in the world 00:40:32.179 --> 00:40:32.619 does the Bible 00:40:32.619 --> 00:40:33.259 command us 00:40:33.259 --> 00:40:34.679 over and over 00:40:34.679 --> 00:40:36.079 and over again? 00:40:36.539 --> 00:40:37.460 Put to death, 00:40:37.699 --> 00:40:37.920 therefore, 00:40:38.099 --> 00:40:39.259 what is earthly in you, 00:40:39.420 --> 00:40:40.699 Paul says in Colossians 3. 00:40:40.699 --> 00:40:43.379 Do not let sin, 00:40:43.500 --> 00:40:43.759 therefore, 00:40:43.980 --> 00:40:45.319 reign in your mortal bodies, 00:40:45.419 --> 00:40:46.539 he says in Romans 6. 00:40:46.679 --> 00:40:47.399 Don't let it. 00:40:47.480 --> 00:40:48.559 You fight it. 00:40:49.679 --> 00:40:50.659 Do not present 00:40:50.659 --> 00:40:51.419 your members 00:40:51.419 --> 00:40:52.599 to sin 00:40:52.599 --> 00:40:53.199 as instruments 00:40:53.199 --> 00:40:54.460 for unrighteousness, 00:40:54.939 --> 00:40:56.539 but present yourself 00:40:56.539 --> 00:40:57.219 to God 00:40:57.219 --> 00:40:58.799 as those who have been 00:40:58.799 --> 00:40:59.659 brought from death 00:40:59.659 --> 00:41:00.239 to life 00:41:00.239 --> 00:41:01.339 and present your members 00:41:01.339 --> 00:41:01.819 to God 00:41:01.819 --> 00:41:02.619 as instruments 00:41:02.619 --> 00:41:03.379 for righteousness. 00:41:03.599 --> 00:41:04.000 The Bible 00:41:04.000 --> 00:41:05.019 seems to think 00:41:05.019 --> 00:41:05.599 that we ought to do 00:41:05.599 --> 00:41:06.460 something about this. 00:41:06.460 --> 00:41:09.860 put on the whole armor 00:41:09.860 --> 00:41:10.559 of God 00:41:10.559 --> 00:41:12.599 that you may be able 00:41:12.599 --> 00:41:13.260 to stand 00:41:13.260 --> 00:41:14.019 against the schemes 00:41:14.019 --> 00:41:14.599 of the devil. 00:41:14.940 --> 00:41:17.659 You will not just 00:41:17.659 --> 00:41:19.000 happen to stumble 00:41:19.000 --> 00:41:19.780 into holiness 00:41:19.780 --> 00:41:20.460 by accident. 00:41:21.900 --> 00:41:23.880 It must be pursued 00:41:23.880 --> 00:41:25.760 by the grace of God 00:41:25.760 --> 00:41:26.840 and in the power 00:41:26.840 --> 00:41:27.980 of God. 00:41:28.840 --> 00:41:29.360 J.C. Ryle 00:41:29.360 --> 00:41:30.099 says it like this. 00:41:30.159 --> 00:41:30.400 He says, 00:41:30.500 --> 00:41:31.159 In justification, 00:41:31.579 --> 00:41:32.940 the word to be addressed 00:41:32.940 --> 00:41:33.500 to man 00:41:33.500 --> 00:41:34.579 is belief. 00:41:34.579 --> 00:41:36.940 Only believe 00:41:36.940 --> 00:41:39.480 in sanctification. 00:41:40.460 --> 00:41:41.559 The word must be 00:41:41.559 --> 00:41:42.239 watch, 00:41:42.799 --> 00:41:43.159 pray, 00:41:43.519 --> 00:41:44.279 and fight. 00:41:45.360 --> 00:41:46.099 Strap up, 00:41:46.219 --> 00:41:46.639 finally. 00:41:47.840 --> 00:41:48.440 Number ten. 00:41:49.079 --> 00:41:49.880 Here's where we close, 00:41:50.000 --> 00:41:50.259 church. 00:41:51.559 --> 00:41:52.940 Set your hope 00:41:52.940 --> 00:41:54.480 fully on 00:41:54.480 --> 00:41:55.639 Christ Jesus, 00:41:55.779 --> 00:41:56.279 our Lord. 00:41:58.139 --> 00:41:59.539 Set your hope 00:41:59.539 --> 00:42:00.259 fully 00:42:00.259 --> 00:42:01.619 on Jesus. 00:42:01.619 --> 00:42:01.779 Jesus. 00:42:03.679 --> 00:42:04.679 The fact is, 00:42:04.799 --> 00:42:05.139 Christian, 00:42:05.259 --> 00:42:06.119 this may or may not 00:42:06.119 --> 00:42:07.079 be encouraging to you, 00:42:07.119 --> 00:42:07.500 I don't know. 00:42:07.599 --> 00:42:08.259 The fact is, 00:42:08.599 --> 00:42:09.819 you will wrestle with sin 00:42:09.819 --> 00:42:10.739 until the day you die. 00:42:12.519 --> 00:42:13.559 We will not 00:42:13.559 --> 00:42:14.759 fully be freed 00:42:14.759 --> 00:42:15.599 from the presence 00:42:15.599 --> 00:42:16.239 of sin 00:42:16.239 --> 00:42:17.460 until glory, 00:42:17.579 --> 00:42:18.139 until the Lord 00:42:18.139 --> 00:42:18.639 returns, 00:42:18.699 --> 00:42:19.880 or we go to be with Him. 00:42:20.099 --> 00:42:21.000 I know that may not 00:42:21.000 --> 00:42:21.779 sound too encouraging, 00:42:21.920 --> 00:42:22.339 but it's true. 00:42:24.500 --> 00:42:25.500 You will wrestle, 00:42:26.099 --> 00:42:26.880 you will struggle, 00:42:27.359 --> 00:42:28.199 you will fight, 00:42:28.299 --> 00:42:29.079 and you will grow. 00:42:29.079 --> 00:42:31.759 You will have some victories, 00:42:31.940 --> 00:42:32.360 and you will 00:42:32.360 --> 00:42:34.139 have some defeats. 00:42:35.319 --> 00:42:36.340 You might find yourself 00:42:36.340 --> 00:42:37.920 back in that same 00:42:37.920 --> 00:42:39.299 familiar place, 00:42:39.360 --> 00:42:40.159 maybe some details 00:42:40.159 --> 00:42:41.039 are different here 00:42:41.039 --> 00:42:41.900 and there, 00:42:41.960 --> 00:42:42.639 but right back 00:42:42.639 --> 00:42:43.360 in that same 00:42:43.360 --> 00:42:44.739 old cycle. 00:42:44.880 --> 00:42:45.119 Church, 00:42:45.559 --> 00:42:46.279 remember Paul 00:42:46.279 --> 00:42:47.319 in Romans chapter seven? 00:42:49.000 --> 00:42:49.880 I'm so glad 00:42:49.880 --> 00:42:50.360 this chapter 00:42:50.360 --> 00:42:50.980 is in my Bible. 00:42:52.400 --> 00:42:53.539 Romans chapter seven, 00:42:53.940 --> 00:42:54.460 don't you love 00:42:54.460 --> 00:42:55.299 this chapter? 00:42:56.639 --> 00:42:57.059 Paul, 00:42:57.159 --> 00:42:57.799 the apostle, 00:42:57.800 --> 00:43:00.560 champion missionary, 00:43:00.780 --> 00:43:02.300 hero of the early church, 00:43:03.220 --> 00:43:04.100 he says, 00:43:04.240 --> 00:43:05.660 I don't understand 00:43:05.660 --> 00:43:06.680 my own actions. 00:43:08.900 --> 00:43:10.060 I don't do 00:43:10.060 --> 00:43:10.840 what I want, 00:43:10.940 --> 00:43:12.539 I do what I hate. 00:43:12.660 --> 00:43:13.440 Can you relate to that? 00:43:14.880 --> 00:43:15.740 He goes on, 00:43:15.780 --> 00:43:15.980 he says, 00:43:16.039 --> 00:43:17.120 I know nothing good 00:43:17.120 --> 00:43:18.039 dwells in me 00:43:18.039 --> 00:43:19.180 that is in my flesh. 00:43:19.460 --> 00:43:20.780 I have this desire 00:43:20.780 --> 00:43:21.920 to do what is right, 00:43:22.220 --> 00:43:23.400 but not the ability 00:43:23.400 --> 00:43:24.440 to carry it out. 00:43:24.440 --> 00:43:26.880 I do not do 00:43:26.880 --> 00:43:28.159 the good that I want. 00:43:29.039 --> 00:43:29.500 Instead, 00:43:29.700 --> 00:43:30.559 I do the evil 00:43:30.559 --> 00:43:31.679 that I do not want. 00:43:31.740 --> 00:43:32.300 That's what I keep 00:43:32.300 --> 00:43:32.820 on doing. 00:43:33.480 --> 00:43:34.320 Wretched man 00:43:34.320 --> 00:43:35.139 that I am, 00:43:35.380 --> 00:43:36.500 who will deliver me 00:43:36.500 --> 00:43:37.679 from this body of death? 00:43:38.700 --> 00:43:40.240 Who will save us 00:43:40.240 --> 00:43:40.960 from our patterns 00:43:40.960 --> 00:43:41.500 of sin? 00:43:42.740 --> 00:43:43.720 Who will finally 00:43:43.720 --> 00:43:44.780 rescue us 00:43:44.780 --> 00:43:45.480 and put an end 00:43:45.480 --> 00:43:46.579 to this lifelong 00:43:46.579 --> 00:43:47.579 battle 00:43:47.579 --> 00:43:48.519 and wrestling 00:43:48.519 --> 00:43:49.280 with sin 00:43:49.280 --> 00:43:49.960 and darkness 00:43:49.960 --> 00:43:51.019 and the weakness 00:43:51.019 --> 00:43:51.920 of our own flesh? 00:43:51.920 --> 00:43:53.440 Who can do it? 00:43:55.400 --> 00:43:56.800 Thanks be to God 00:43:56.800 --> 00:43:59.320 through Jesus Christ, 00:43:59.420 --> 00:44:00.099 our Lord. 00:44:02.099 --> 00:44:03.720 Christ alone 00:44:03.720 --> 00:44:05.180 has done it. 00:44:06.980 --> 00:44:08.159 Christ alone 00:44:08.159 --> 00:44:09.980 is the hope 00:44:09.980 --> 00:44:10.579 for sinners. 00:44:12.579 --> 00:44:13.360 There is therefore 00:44:13.360 --> 00:44:15.159 now no condemnation 00:44:15.159 --> 00:44:16.039 for those 00:44:16.039 --> 00:44:17.019 who are in 00:44:17.019 --> 00:44:18.019 Christ 00:44:18.019 --> 00:44:19.220 Jesus. 00:44:19.539 --> 00:44:20.579 Jesus has come 00:44:20.579 --> 00:44:21.639 to defeat 00:44:21.639 --> 00:44:22.279 the powers 00:44:22.279 --> 00:44:22.639 of sin 00:44:22.639 --> 00:44:23.179 and darkness 00:44:23.179 --> 00:44:23.840 for all 00:44:23.840 --> 00:44:24.199 who know 00:44:24.199 --> 00:44:24.980 Him by faith. 00:44:25.340 --> 00:44:25.799 And though we 00:44:25.799 --> 00:44:26.460 wrestle with 00:44:26.460 --> 00:44:26.920 the presence 00:44:26.920 --> 00:44:27.480 of sin 00:44:27.480 --> 00:44:28.139 in our life, 00:44:29.380 --> 00:44:29.920 yet we look 00:44:29.920 --> 00:44:30.360 to Him. 00:44:31.400 --> 00:44:31.840 We look 00:44:31.840 --> 00:44:32.440 to the power 00:44:32.440 --> 00:44:33.179 of the cross. 00:44:33.940 --> 00:44:34.380 We look 00:44:34.380 --> 00:44:35.239 to His return 00:44:35.239 --> 00:44:36.360 to the day 00:44:36.360 --> 00:44:36.779 when He will 00:44:36.779 --> 00:44:38.000 finally put an end 00:44:38.000 --> 00:44:38.599 to sin, 00:44:38.779 --> 00:44:39.039 death, 00:44:39.079 --> 00:44:39.559 and the devil 00:44:39.559 --> 00:44:40.519 and we will 00:44:40.519 --> 00:44:41.519 be holy 00:44:41.519 --> 00:44:42.819 as He 00:44:42.819 --> 00:44:44.000 is holy. 00:44:44.179 --> 00:44:44.400 Church, 00:44:44.519 --> 00:44:45.960 put your hope 00:44:45.960 --> 00:44:47.480 fully in 00:44:47.480 --> 00:44:48.019 Christ 00:44:48.019 --> 00:44:50.300 and know 00:44:50.300 --> 00:44:50.880 that God's 00:44:50.880 --> 00:44:51.480 grace towards 00:44:51.480 --> 00:44:52.159 you in Him 00:44:52.159 --> 00:44:53.980 is greater 00:44:53.980 --> 00:44:54.380 than all 00:44:54.380 --> 00:44:54.920 your sin. 00:44:56.780 --> 00:44:57.539 Father God, 00:44:57.619 --> 00:44:59.720 we confess, 00:45:00.019 --> 00:45:00.159 Lord, 00:45:00.220 --> 00:45:00.860 each one of us 00:45:00.860 --> 00:45:01.420 is so prone 00:45:01.420 --> 00:45:01.900 to wonder. 00:45:02.059 --> 00:45:02.720 We are prone 00:45:02.720 --> 00:45:04.920 to pursue 00:45:04.920 --> 00:45:05.380 the sins 00:45:05.380 --> 00:45:06.039 of the flesh 00:45:06.039 --> 00:45:06.780 and the desires 00:45:06.780 --> 00:45:07.539 of the flesh 00:45:07.539 --> 00:45:09.119 and to wind 00:45:09.119 --> 00:45:10.960 back up again 00:45:10.960 --> 00:45:11.460 in familiar 00:45:11.460 --> 00:45:12.059 places, 00:45:12.240 --> 00:45:12.960 familiar patterns 00:45:12.960 --> 00:45:13.539 of sin. 00:45:14.920 --> 00:45:15.179 Lord, 00:45:15.240 --> 00:45:15.980 we ask with Paul 00:45:15.980 --> 00:45:16.720 who will rescue 00:45:16.720 --> 00:45:17.360 us from this 00:45:17.360 --> 00:45:18.260 body of death 00:45:18.260 --> 00:45:19.019 and we praise 00:45:19.019 --> 00:45:19.699 you with him. 00:45:19.880 --> 00:45:20.780 Thanks be to God 00:45:20.780 --> 00:45:21.760 through Jesus Christ 00:45:21.760 --> 00:45:22.320 our Lord. 00:45:22.920 --> 00:45:23.920 Christ gives us 00:45:23.920 --> 00:45:24.440 the victory. 00:45:25.659 --> 00:45:26.360 We praise you 00:45:26.360 --> 00:45:27.119 for the good news 00:45:27.119 --> 00:45:27.720 of the gospel, 00:45:27.880 --> 00:45:28.440 for freedom 00:45:28.440 --> 00:45:29.880 from sin, 00:45:30.019 --> 00:45:30.440 for the hope 00:45:30.440 --> 00:45:30.940 of holiness 00:45:30.940 --> 00:45:32.079 in the age to come. 00:45:32.260 --> 00:45:32.760 We love you. 00:45:33.199 --> 00:45:33.480 We pray this 00:45:33.480 --> 00:45:34.139 in Jesus' name. 00:45:35.039 --> 00:45:35.280 Amen.