WEBVTT

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 When you hear the word commitment, what comes to your mind?

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 It may depend upon the situation.

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 Some of you athletes in here, we have athletes of various kinds in this room right now.

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 You might describe your commitment to your sport or your team by saying things like,

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 you've got to go to practice every day.

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 You've got to give 100% effort every time you step on the field.

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 You've got to stay positive.

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 And especially in today's sports world, you might say or should say, don't get into trouble off the field.

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 We've got a lot of married men in this room.

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 If I ask you to describe commitment, you might say something like,

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 I try to tell her and show her that I love her every day.

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 You might describe commitment in terms of,

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 I am committed to always being faithful in thought as well as action.

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 You might even say that your commitment involves,

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 I will only speak nice things about her parents.

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 Or you might even tell her that you like her casseroles.

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 Now strike that last one.

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 That's just going too far.

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 Let's just don't put that one in there.

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 Now as a Christian,

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 how would you describe what it means to be committed to God?

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 How would you describe, how would you summarize what it means for you to be committed to Jesus Christ

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 as the Savior and Lord of your life?

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 Well, I'm going to help you here.

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 I think one of the best descriptions of what it means to be committed to our Lord

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 is found in Romans chapter 12, verses 1 and 2.

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 I want to put it on the screen now, but I hope you'll open your Bibles to this

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 because we're going to be looking at both 1 and 2 today, really for the entire time.

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 We're going to look at only maybe a couple of other Scripture verses.

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 So turn in your Bible to Romans chapter 12, verses 1 and 2.

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 But here, look at it now on the screen.

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 One of the best explanations of what it means to be committed to God.

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 I appeal to you, therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God,

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 to present your bodies as a living sacrifice,

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 holy and acceptable to God,

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 which is your spiritual worship.

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 Do not be conformed to this world,

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 but be transformed by the renewal of your mind,

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 that by testing you may discern what is the will of God,

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 what is good and acceptable and perfect.

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 We looked at these verses last week

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 as we started a new series of studies from Romans chapter 12.

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 The goal is we're going to go through the book of Romans chapter 12 only now

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 under the heading, Living Like a Christian.

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 Last week and today, we're talking about living like a Christian

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 in our relationship with God.

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 Next week, we're going to talk about living or thinking like a Christian

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 in our understanding of ourselves.

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 And then we'll move on throughout the rest of the chapter

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 and think about what it means to live like a Christian

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 as we relate to other people.

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 Now, in that message last week,

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 we began looking at what it means to live like a Christian

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 in relationship with God

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 and found that the first requirement

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 is to make a wholehearted commitment to God.

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 Not just a wholehearted commitment to doing good

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 or to going to church or doing something like that,

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 but the focus was commitment to God himself,

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 which includes commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ as well.

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 I want us to go back to these verses

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 and look more closely now

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 at how God wants us to live in a relationship with him

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 as his children.

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 Number one is a review from last week.

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 We start by making a wholehearted commitment to God.

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 If you are serious about wanting to live

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 like a Christian in this world,

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 I mean, if you're serious about who you are as a child of God

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 and you really want to live

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 and let everybody see,

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 I'm a true believer,

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 I'm a true follower of Jesus,

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 then you must, as it says there,

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 make a wholehearted commitment to God.

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 You'll never live that kind of life

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 without a total wholehearted commitment.

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 Look at verse one, the first phrase.

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 You can see what he's talking about.

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 He says,

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 I appeal to you therefore, brothers,

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 by the mercies of God.

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 The word therefore recalls

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 what he's been talking about up to this point.

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 He summarizes all that he's been talking about

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 as God's merciful actions toward us

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 in sending his son into this world

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 to die on a cross and pay the penalty for our sins,

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 something we did not deserve.

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 See, when God shows us mercy,

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 he's showing us, granting to us

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 that which we do not deserve.

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 And that is salvation, forgiveness of sin,

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 being made right with him through his son, Jesus.

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 Now, we also saw last week

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 that wholehearted commitment

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 requires a total life commitment.

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 Notice the next phrase.

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 Present your bodies as a living sacrifice,

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 holy and acceptable to God.

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 God calls us to give ourselves

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 completely and exclusively to him,

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 who we are.

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 I mean, our mouth, the way we speak,

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 our hands, what we do,

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 our feet, where we go.

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 You can't compartmentalize your Christian faith

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 if you're a Christian.

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 You can't be a Christian on Sunday

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 or around certain people

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 and then act a different way when you go to work,

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 the way you do your job,

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 or around your friends.

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 Real heartfelt commitment

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 is whole life commitment.

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 He tells us it is a holy sacrifice.

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 It means we're set apart.

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 We're consciously making this commitment,

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 setting ourselves apart.

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 And this kind of commitment

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 is acceptable or pleasing to God.

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 You know, we talked about last week,

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 and for the benefit of those

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 who were not here last week,

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 sometimes when you think about

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 making a commitment,

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 or at least some people,

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 they don't like that word.

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 Because to them,

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 commitment means I've got to do something

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 I don't really want to do

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 to achieve the results

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 that I really want,

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 like maybe losing weight,

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 especially for health reasons.

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 Well, we're not talking about

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 a grit your teeth and bear it

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 kind of commitment here.

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 We're talking about a commitment

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 that is based on

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 having a real, loving relationship with God.

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 He has shown us His mercy.

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 We're talking about a commitment.

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 Because of that,

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 we just give Him our lives.

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 We don't hold anything back.

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 That kind of commitment

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 pleases God.

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 And so again,

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 the motivation for making

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 this kind of commitment,

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 this wholehearted commitment,

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 it's all positive.

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 Do it because of what God's done for you.

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 But do it,

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 or when you do it,

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 that will please God.

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 He will be pleased

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 with that kind of commitment in you.

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 One other thing is found in verse 1

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 about wholehearted commitment.

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 It makes sense.

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 It just makes sense.

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 Look at the last phrase,

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 which is your spiritual worship,

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 or some translations will say

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 it's your rational service.

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 Or some translations say

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 it's your reasonable service of worship.

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 It makes sense

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 to serve God this way.

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 It makes sense to worship God

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 as a way of life this way.

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 This last phrase drives home

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 the point of the entire verse.

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 Look at it.

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 Summarize it one more time.

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 In light of God's mercy,

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 in light of God's grace and love as well,

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 it is clearly reasonable and rational

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 for us to make a wholehearted,

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 total life commitment

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 to serve and worship

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 our Heavenly Father.

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 Now,

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 living like a Christian

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 in our relationship with God,

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 that's how it begins.

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 But if it's going to really grow

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 and mature and develop,

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 if it's going to make progress,

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 we've got certain things we've got to do.

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 Number two,

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 we make progress

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 by consistently choosing

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 to adopt the worldview of God

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 and reject all others.

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 That's what he's talking about

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 in verse 2,

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 especially the first part.

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 Look at it with me.

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 Paul is contrasting two ways to live.

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 Verse 2 says,

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 Do not be conformed to this world,

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 but be transformed

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 by the renewal of your mind.

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 Two ways

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 you can conform to the pattern of the world.

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 You can be like the world.

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 You can adopt the world's mindset,

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 philosophy,

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 values.

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 Or,

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 you can look to God

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 and cooperate with Him

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 as He transforms you,

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 as He renews your mind,

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 makes you different

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 from the way you think

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 all the way out

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 into the way that you live.

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 Paul is pointing out here

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 to make progress

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 in living like a Christian.

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 We've got two choices

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 to make every day.

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 We've got two things

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 we need to do.

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 One is negative.

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 Do not be conformed to the world.

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 But the other one is positive.

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 Be transformed

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 by the renewal of your mind.

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 Let's look now

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 at what each involves.

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 First,

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 the negative one.

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 We must make a consistent effort

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 to not allow the world

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 to shape us.

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 We must make a consistent effort

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 to not allow the world

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 to shape us.

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 He says it.

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 Do not be conformed

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 to this world.

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 Or,

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 probably the most well-known

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 paraphrase of this phrase

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 comes from the Phillips

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 translation of the New Testament.

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 It says,

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 Do not be conformed

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 to this world.

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 It says,

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 Don't let the world

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 squeeze you into its mold.

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 Don't let the world

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 squeeze you

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 into its mold.

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 Another way to say that.

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 Don't let the world

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 pressure you

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 into adopting

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 its worldview.

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 Everybody has a worldview.

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 It's the way

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 that you look at life.

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 Your worldview

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 is the lens

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 or the filter

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 through which you look at life.

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 I'm looking at life

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 right now

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 through these glasses

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 that make some of you

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 look clearer.

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 Could be good.

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 Could not be.

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 It certainly makes

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 what I'm trying to read

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 look clearer.

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 If you,

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 some of you,

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 when you walk out the door,

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 you're going to put on sunglasses.

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 That's going to,

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 it's got a certain tint to it.

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 That's going to affect

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 how you look at life

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 literally.

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 Our worldview

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 is the lens

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 or the filter

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 through which we

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 look at life.

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 It affects what we believe.

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 And what we believe

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 determines

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 how we live.

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 When Paul says

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 do not be conformed

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 to this world,

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 he's saying

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 don't look at life

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 from the perspective

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 of people

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 who don't care about God.

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 You know,

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 the word world

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 is used in different ways

00:11:54.759 --> 00:11:55.399
 in the New Testament.

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 The word world

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 sometimes talks about

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 this big old world

00:11:58.539 --> 00:11:59.079
 we live in.

00:11:59.259 --> 00:12:00.620
 The world revolves around

00:12:00.620 --> 00:12:01.659
 the sun.

00:12:03.100 --> 00:12:04.139
 Sometimes the scripture

00:12:04.139 --> 00:12:05.179
 uses the world

00:12:05.179 --> 00:12:06.839
 in a negative way.

00:12:07.939 --> 00:12:09.239
 He uses it in terms of

00:12:09.239 --> 00:12:10.879
 this age

00:12:10.879 --> 00:12:11.539
 as opposed

00:12:11.539 --> 00:12:13.079
 to the age to come.

00:12:14.759 --> 00:12:15.759
 Temporal things.

00:12:16.799 --> 00:12:17.779
 Just a temporary way

00:12:17.779 --> 00:12:18.399
 of looking at life

00:12:18.399 --> 00:12:19.359
 versus an eternal way

00:12:19.359 --> 00:12:19.899
 of looking at life.

00:12:20.339 --> 00:12:21.120
 But the world also,

00:12:21.620 --> 00:12:22.099
 here's what we need

00:12:22.099 --> 00:12:22.699
 to think about now.

00:12:23.519 --> 00:12:24.500
 When Paul uses the world

00:12:24.500 --> 00:12:25.500
 like he's using it here,

00:12:26.479 --> 00:12:27.599
 he's describing

00:12:27.599 --> 00:12:29.240
 a way of looking at life

00:12:29.240 --> 00:12:30.359
 that leaves God out.

00:12:30.360 --> 00:12:32.980
 He's talking about

00:12:32.980 --> 00:12:34.100
 a way of life

00:12:34.100 --> 00:12:36.860
 that either hates God

00:12:36.860 --> 00:12:41.019
 or doesn't care about God.

00:12:42.019 --> 00:12:43.860
 And both come out

00:12:43.860 --> 00:12:44.700
 to the same thing.

00:12:45.240 --> 00:12:46.539
 They're ignoring God.

00:12:46.740 --> 00:12:47.879
 They're leaving Him out.

00:12:47.960 --> 00:12:49.159
 They're leaving His ways,

00:12:49.259 --> 00:12:49.820
 His will,

00:12:50.039 --> 00:12:50.779
 His truth

00:12:50.779 --> 00:12:52.320
 out of their thinking

00:12:52.320 --> 00:12:53.580
 and as a result

00:12:53.580 --> 00:12:54.860
 out of their living.

00:12:56.420 --> 00:12:57.180
 Paul tells us

00:12:57.180 --> 00:12:58.360
 to not be conformed.

00:12:58.360 --> 00:13:01.080
 Don't let the world

00:13:01.080 --> 00:13:02.659
 teach you

00:13:02.659 --> 00:13:03.620
 to look at life this way.

00:13:03.720 --> 00:13:04.779
 Let me give you an example.

00:13:06.460 --> 00:13:07.120
 Go home

00:13:07.120 --> 00:13:08.240
 and turn on the TV today.

00:13:09.860 --> 00:13:10.440
 Go home

00:13:10.440 --> 00:13:11.100
 and turn on the TV

00:13:11.100 --> 00:13:12.259
 to any of your favorite shows,

00:13:12.300 --> 00:13:13.700
 any of my favorite shows.

00:13:15.000 --> 00:13:16.320
 And nine times out of ten,

00:13:17.500 --> 00:13:20.139
 God will never be mentioned.

00:13:22.060 --> 00:13:23.019
 No individual,

00:13:23.720 --> 00:13:24.580
 no family,

00:13:24.899 --> 00:13:25.779
 no group

00:13:25.779 --> 00:13:27.360
 will ever mention

00:13:27.360 --> 00:13:28.560
 mention God

00:13:28.560 --> 00:13:29.840
 in any kind of real,

00:13:30.039 --> 00:13:30.620
 personal,

00:13:31.240 --> 00:13:32.879
 believing kind of way.

00:13:34.120 --> 00:13:34.919
 See, that's what the world

00:13:34.919 --> 00:13:35.539
 has done.

00:13:36.139 --> 00:13:37.720
 Some of the good shows,

00:13:37.840 --> 00:13:38.740
 your favorite shows,

00:13:39.000 --> 00:13:39.860
 nothing immoral,

00:13:39.980 --> 00:13:41.039
 no trashy language.

00:13:41.700 --> 00:13:43.240
 It's just all about life

00:13:43.240 --> 00:13:44.519
 as we see it

00:13:44.519 --> 00:13:45.279
 and feel it

00:13:45.279 --> 00:13:46.060
 and taste it.

00:13:46.460 --> 00:13:47.220
 And it's as if

00:13:47.220 --> 00:13:49.000
 God does not exist

00:13:49.000 --> 00:13:50.320
 in that world

00:13:50.320 --> 00:13:51.159
 of your show.

00:13:52.360 --> 00:13:52.940
 And that's the way

00:13:52.940 --> 00:13:54.539
 many people live life today.

00:13:54.539 --> 00:13:55.639
 It's as if

00:13:55.639 --> 00:13:57.219
 there was no God.

00:13:58.599 --> 00:13:59.319
 A lot of people

00:13:59.319 --> 00:13:59.659
 live today

00:13:59.659 --> 00:14:01.719
 as practical atheists.

00:14:02.879 --> 00:14:03.059
 Now,

00:14:03.459 --> 00:14:05.059
 this world mindset,

00:14:05.959 --> 00:14:07.399
 this world view

00:14:07.399 --> 00:14:08.559
 that leaves God out

00:14:08.559 --> 00:14:10.639
 says that we can choose

00:14:10.639 --> 00:14:13.000
 what we want to believe

00:14:13.000 --> 00:14:14.659
 and how we want to live

00:14:14.659 --> 00:14:16.579
 just like you can choose

00:14:16.579 --> 00:14:17.339
 the food

00:14:17.339 --> 00:14:18.500
 that you want

00:14:18.500 --> 00:14:19.740
 as you go through

00:14:19.740 --> 00:14:20.600
 the cafeteria line.

00:14:21.560 --> 00:14:22.259
 This world says

00:14:22.259 --> 00:14:23.340
 you pick and choose

00:14:23.340 --> 00:14:26.240
 because there's no real

00:14:26.240 --> 00:14:28.000
 ultimate value.

00:14:28.740 --> 00:14:30.039
 There's no absolute truth.

00:14:31.120 --> 00:14:32.039
 The world tells us today

00:14:32.039 --> 00:14:32.779
 there's no such thing

00:14:32.779 --> 00:14:33.539
 as something being

00:14:33.539 --> 00:14:34.960
 always right

00:14:34.960 --> 00:14:36.519
 or always wrong.

00:14:36.700 --> 00:14:38.159
 It's all relative.

00:14:39.919 --> 00:14:40.980
 The world gives you

00:14:40.980 --> 00:14:41.580
 the freedom.

00:14:42.860 --> 00:14:44.039
 This world view,

00:14:44.200 --> 00:14:45.120
 this mindset

00:14:45.120 --> 00:14:46.279
 that we're talking about

00:14:46.279 --> 00:14:48.560
 says you have the freedom

00:14:48.559 --> 00:14:49.179
 to decide

00:14:49.179 --> 00:14:50.299
 what you want to believe

00:14:50.299 --> 00:14:51.019
 about God,

00:14:51.939 --> 00:14:52.719
 about Jesus,

00:14:53.879 --> 00:14:54.879
 about heaven and hell,

00:14:55.039 --> 00:14:56.959
 about ethical issues

00:14:56.959 --> 00:14:58.179
 like abortion,

00:14:58.899 --> 00:14:59.879
 homosexuality,

00:15:00.379 --> 00:15:01.539
 about marriage,

00:15:02.219 --> 00:15:03.159
 about parenting.

00:15:03.159 --> 00:15:03.239
 See,

00:15:05.419 --> 00:15:06.739
 the world's mindset,

00:15:07.439 --> 00:15:08.479
 this world system,

00:15:08.599 --> 00:15:10.039
 this way of looking at life

00:15:10.039 --> 00:15:11.919
 says that you

00:15:11.919 --> 00:15:13.239
 are to be the final judge

00:15:13.239 --> 00:15:14.059
 for what you believe

00:15:14.059 --> 00:15:14.779
 and how you live.

00:15:15.519 --> 00:15:16.839
 It's up to you

00:15:16.840 --> 00:15:19.080
 because God is not,

00:15:19.560 --> 00:15:20.620
 He's either not in the picture

00:15:20.620 --> 00:15:21.240
 at all according

00:15:21.240 --> 00:15:21.980
 to the way they think

00:15:21.980 --> 00:15:23.820
 or God's got it all wrong.

00:15:25.379 --> 00:15:27.420
 We've got to be hostile.

00:15:27.700 --> 00:15:28.700
 We've got to reject

00:15:28.700 --> 00:15:30.600
 the teachings of His Word.

00:15:31.340 --> 00:15:32.639
 Now this world view

00:15:32.639 --> 00:15:33.500
 that I'm talking about

00:15:33.500 --> 00:15:35.800
 is how most people

00:15:35.800 --> 00:15:37.540
 in our country today think.

00:15:38.700 --> 00:15:39.200
 And unfortunately,

00:15:39.379 --> 00:15:40.620
 that means there's a lot

00:15:40.620 --> 00:15:41.519
 of church members

00:15:41.519 --> 00:15:42.519
 think that same way.

00:15:42.519 --> 00:15:45.360
 World Magazine

00:15:45.360 --> 00:15:46.699
 pointed this out

00:15:46.699 --> 00:15:48.340
 with a quote

00:15:48.340 --> 00:15:49.919
 that they said

00:15:49.919 --> 00:15:50.620
 was typical

00:15:50.620 --> 00:15:52.620
 of how most people

00:15:52.620 --> 00:15:53.879
 think today

00:15:53.879 --> 00:15:54.740
 just in general

00:15:54.740 --> 00:15:55.460
 in our country.

00:15:55.720 --> 00:15:56.259
 Look at the quote.

00:15:56.939 --> 00:15:59.139
 Sometimes my personal beliefs

00:15:59.139 --> 00:16:00.819
 contradict those

00:16:00.819 --> 00:16:02.159
 taught by the church.

00:16:02.899 --> 00:16:04.259
 I make my decisions

00:16:04.259 --> 00:16:05.879
 based on what I feel

00:16:05.879 --> 00:16:06.720
 is right.

00:16:06.720 --> 00:16:10.639
 A lot of people

00:16:10.639 --> 00:16:11.320
 in this world today,

00:16:11.500 --> 00:16:12.540
 in this country today,

00:16:13.660 --> 00:16:16.720
 my personal beliefs

00:16:17.360 --> 00:16:18.899
 contradict those

00:16:18.899 --> 00:16:19.580
 taught by the church

00:16:19.580 --> 00:16:20.340
 and hopefully

00:16:20.340 --> 00:16:21.779
 those taught by the church

00:16:21.779 --> 00:16:23.320
 are found in Scripture.

00:16:25.080 --> 00:16:25.720
 We're going to hope

00:16:26.440 --> 00:16:27.300
 that's what it is.

00:16:28.220 --> 00:16:29.980
 But I make my decisions

00:16:29.980 --> 00:16:32.300
 based on what I feel

00:16:32.300 --> 00:16:33.540
 is right.

00:16:33.779 --> 00:16:34.480
 What about you?

00:16:34.480 --> 00:16:37.360
 Could that be something

00:16:37.360 --> 00:16:38.580
 you think

00:16:38.580 --> 00:16:40.500
 never would say

00:16:40.500 --> 00:16:42.779
 but as you actually

00:16:42.779 --> 00:16:43.759
 live your life

00:16:43.759 --> 00:16:44.560
 in your home

00:16:44.560 --> 00:16:46.180
 with your family members

00:16:46.180 --> 00:16:48.000
 as you carry out

00:16:48.000 --> 00:16:48.600
 the role

00:16:48.600 --> 00:16:49.420
 that you have

00:16:49.420 --> 00:16:50.019
 as a husband

00:16:50.019 --> 00:16:50.620
 or wife

00:16:50.620 --> 00:16:51.320
 or child

00:16:51.320 --> 00:16:52.200
 or parent

00:16:52.200 --> 00:16:55.620
 when it comes

00:16:55.620 --> 00:16:56.560
 to making hard

00:16:56.560 --> 00:16:57.240
 decisions

00:16:57.240 --> 00:16:59.759
 in relationships

00:16:59.759 --> 00:17:00.539
 with people

00:17:00.539 --> 00:17:02.500
 when it comes

00:17:02.500 --> 00:17:04.680
 to making hard choices?

00:17:06.339 --> 00:17:08.359
 What prevails?

00:17:09.859 --> 00:17:11.000
 What you've been taught

00:17:11.000 --> 00:17:13.200
 as being the actual

00:17:13.200 --> 00:17:14.039
 Word of God

00:17:14.039 --> 00:17:14.920
 because it's clear

00:17:14.920 --> 00:17:15.779
 black and white

00:17:15.779 --> 00:17:19.420
 or what you prefer?

00:17:20.500 --> 00:17:22.559
 Your personal opinion?

00:17:22.559 --> 00:17:24.940
 You know,

00:17:25.000 --> 00:17:26.039
 what this guy says,

00:17:27.000 --> 00:17:27.740
 that's an example

00:17:27.740 --> 00:17:28.180
 of someone

00:17:28.180 --> 00:17:28.839
 who has adopted

00:17:28.839 --> 00:17:29.500
 the worldview

00:17:29.500 --> 00:17:32.480
 of the world.

00:17:34.319 --> 00:17:35.119
 That's an example

00:17:35.119 --> 00:17:35.419
 of someone

00:17:35.419 --> 00:17:35.859
 who's become

00:17:35.859 --> 00:17:36.599
 a friend

00:17:36.599 --> 00:17:38.500
 of the world

00:17:38.500 --> 00:17:40.799
 and the book

00:17:40.799 --> 00:17:41.480
 of James

00:17:41.480 --> 00:17:42.240
 in the New Testament.

00:17:43.519 --> 00:17:44.679
 It warns us

00:17:44.679 --> 00:17:45.720
 that's a scary,

00:17:45.939 --> 00:17:46.939
 dangerous place to be.

00:17:47.099 --> 00:17:47.459
 I want you to look

00:17:47.459 --> 00:17:48.000
 at what it says.

00:17:49.059 --> 00:17:49.859
 James is writing

00:17:49.859 --> 00:17:51.139
 to church members.

00:17:51.899 --> 00:17:52.480
 James is writing

00:17:52.480 --> 00:17:53.500
 to professing Christians.

00:17:54.539 --> 00:17:55.199
 And evidently

00:17:55.199 --> 00:17:55.919
 he has heard

00:17:55.919 --> 00:17:56.720
 that some of them

00:17:56.720 --> 00:17:57.699
 are living more like

00:17:57.700 --> 00:17:58.480
 people of the world,

00:17:58.720 --> 00:17:59.940
 people who don't know God,

00:18:00.380 --> 00:18:01.240
 than they are people

00:18:01.240 --> 00:18:02.440
 who are followers

00:18:02.440 --> 00:18:02.920
 of Jesus.

00:18:03.580 --> 00:18:04.299
 And here's what

00:18:04.299 --> 00:18:04.880
 he says to them.

00:18:05.120 --> 00:18:06.440
 You adulterous people.

00:18:06.559 --> 00:18:07.220
 He considers

00:18:07.220 --> 00:18:08.240
 their being unfaithful

00:18:08.240 --> 00:18:08.819
 to God

00:18:08.819 --> 00:18:10.799
 as spiritual adultery.

00:18:11.200 --> 00:18:12.200
 You adulterous people.

00:18:12.460 --> 00:18:13.340
 Do you not know

00:18:13.340 --> 00:18:14.019
 that friendship

00:18:14.019 --> 00:18:15.059
 with the world

00:18:15.059 --> 00:18:16.039
 is enmity?

00:18:16.539 --> 00:18:17.779
 It's hostility

00:18:17.779 --> 00:18:19.299
 with God.

00:18:19.799 --> 00:18:20.140
 Therefore,

00:18:20.259 --> 00:18:20.860
 whoever wishes

00:18:20.860 --> 00:18:21.480
 to be a friend

00:18:21.480 --> 00:18:21.940
 of the world

00:18:21.940 --> 00:18:22.900
 makes himself

00:18:22.900 --> 00:18:24.779
 an enemy of God.

00:18:26.220 --> 00:18:27.240
 It can't be any clearer

00:18:27.240 --> 00:18:27.640
 than that,

00:18:27.680 --> 00:18:27.900
 can it?

00:18:28.440 --> 00:18:29.200
 We cannot,

00:18:29.359 --> 00:18:30.160
 you cannot be

00:18:30.160 --> 00:18:31.279
 a friend of the world,

00:18:31.359 --> 00:18:32.099
 a man of the world,

00:18:32.180 --> 00:18:33.059
 a woman of the world,

00:18:33.400 --> 00:18:35.400
 and be a friend

00:18:35.400 --> 00:18:36.859
 or woman

00:18:36.859 --> 00:18:37.759
 or man of God.

00:18:39.099 --> 00:18:40.880
 They are polar opposites.

00:18:40.880 --> 00:18:43.359
 You may want to be both,

00:18:44.240 --> 00:18:45.500
 but you can't be both.

00:18:46.019 --> 00:18:46.620
 James says,

00:18:46.700 --> 00:18:47.380
 Jesus talked about

00:18:47.380 --> 00:18:48.240
 the same thing.

00:18:49.440 --> 00:18:50.000
 We can only be

00:18:50.000 --> 00:18:50.960
 a friend of God

00:18:50.960 --> 00:18:53.559
 if we reject

00:18:53.559 --> 00:18:54.600
 the influence

00:18:54.600 --> 00:18:56.140
 of the world

00:18:56.140 --> 00:18:57.400
 that opposes God.

00:18:58.600 --> 00:18:59.980
 So this is the first choice

00:18:59.980 --> 00:19:00.440
 that we're called

00:19:00.440 --> 00:19:01.220
 to make every day

00:19:01.220 --> 00:19:02.600
 if we're serious

00:19:02.600 --> 00:19:02.920
 about living

00:19:02.920 --> 00:19:03.559
 the Christian life.

00:19:04.160 --> 00:19:04.819
 Now I'm talking to you,

00:19:04.880 --> 00:19:05.460
 if you're serious

00:19:05.460 --> 00:19:05.759
 about living

00:19:05.759 --> 00:19:06.279
 the Christian life,

00:19:06.460 --> 00:19:07.579
 if you're in elementary school,

00:19:07.700 --> 00:19:08.100
 middle school,

00:19:08.200 --> 00:19:08.640
 high school,

00:19:08.740 --> 00:19:09.180
 college,

00:19:09.400 --> 00:19:10.700
 if you're a young adult,

00:19:10.799 --> 00:19:11.400
 middle adult,

00:19:11.460 --> 00:19:12.400
 or an old adult

00:19:12.400 --> 00:19:13.539
 like Grace out there,

00:19:13.980 --> 00:19:14.900
 you've got to make

00:19:14.900 --> 00:19:15.660
 this choice

00:19:15.660 --> 00:19:17.460
 every day.

00:19:17.460 --> 00:19:19.680
 I am not,

00:19:20.220 --> 00:19:20.940
 with the help

00:19:20.940 --> 00:19:21.900
 that God gives me,

00:19:22.600 --> 00:19:23.539
 I am not

00:19:23.539 --> 00:19:25.680
 going to allow

00:19:25.680 --> 00:19:26.240
 the world

00:19:26.240 --> 00:19:27.259
 to squeeze me

00:19:27.259 --> 00:19:28.299
 into its mold.

00:19:29.180 --> 00:19:30.160
 But there's another choice.

00:19:31.039 --> 00:19:31.559
 Equally,

00:19:32.120 --> 00:19:32.840
 we've got to choose

00:19:32.840 --> 00:19:33.400
 every day,

00:19:33.880 --> 00:19:34.319
 and that is

00:19:34.319 --> 00:19:34.880
 we must make

00:19:34.880 --> 00:19:36.100
 a consistent effort

00:19:36.100 --> 00:19:37.640
 to allow God

00:19:37.640 --> 00:19:38.940
 to shape us.

00:19:39.700 --> 00:19:40.460
 Look at the phrase.

00:19:40.880 --> 00:19:41.600
 Next phrase,

00:19:41.740 --> 00:19:42.539
 be transformed

00:19:42.539 --> 00:19:43.700
 by the renewal

00:19:43.700 --> 00:19:44.279
 of your mind.

00:19:45.480 --> 00:19:46.240
 Transform means

00:19:46.240 --> 00:19:47.019
 to be changed

00:19:47.019 --> 00:19:47.960
 into another form.

00:19:49.279 --> 00:19:49.660
 How many people

00:19:49.660 --> 00:19:49.940
 in here

00:19:49.940 --> 00:19:50.279
 have played

00:19:50.279 --> 00:19:51.240
 with transformers

00:19:51.240 --> 00:19:51.680
 at some point

00:19:51.680 --> 00:19:52.220
 in your life?

00:19:53.900 --> 00:19:54.660
 Lots of people.

00:19:55.980 --> 00:19:57.000
 You know what it's like

00:19:57.000 --> 00:19:58.099
 to be transformed

00:19:58.099 --> 00:19:59.220
 from maybe a car

00:19:59.220 --> 00:20:00.379
 to an action figure.

00:20:01.299 --> 00:20:02.480
 You know what it's like.

00:20:02.539 --> 00:20:02.980
 You've studied

00:20:02.980 --> 00:20:04.119
 about how a caterpillar

00:20:04.119 --> 00:20:05.700
 turns into a butterfly.

00:20:07.299 --> 00:20:07.700
 Transformation.

00:20:09.740 --> 00:20:11.379
 Notice that it says

00:20:11.379 --> 00:20:13.980
 be transformed.

00:20:14.839 --> 00:20:15.559
 That means

00:20:15.559 --> 00:20:16.799
 that this transformation

00:20:16.799 --> 00:20:17.279
 is something

00:20:17.279 --> 00:20:18.440
 that's got to be done

00:20:18.440 --> 00:20:19.639
 to us.

00:20:20.440 --> 00:20:21.139
 What it's doing

00:20:21.139 --> 00:20:21.619
 is referring

00:20:21.619 --> 00:20:22.079
 to the way

00:20:22.079 --> 00:20:22.859
 God works

00:20:22.859 --> 00:20:23.879
 in the life

00:20:23.879 --> 00:20:24.819
 of every person

00:20:24.819 --> 00:20:25.899
 who is His child.

00:20:27.200 --> 00:20:27.740
 God works

00:20:27.740 --> 00:20:28.659
 through His Spirit

00:20:28.659 --> 00:20:31.240
 to change us

00:20:31.240 --> 00:20:32.319
 gradually

00:20:32.319 --> 00:20:33.819
 throughout our life

00:20:33.819 --> 00:20:34.319
 here on earth

00:20:34.319 --> 00:20:34.899
 once we become

00:20:34.899 --> 00:20:35.259
 a Christian.

00:20:35.259 --> 00:20:37.319
 I mean,

00:20:37.379 --> 00:20:38.440
 God puts His Spirit

00:20:38.440 --> 00:20:39.399
 in us.

00:20:40.139 --> 00:20:41.159
 He works

00:20:41.159 --> 00:20:42.059
 to shape

00:20:42.059 --> 00:20:42.659
 and mold

00:20:42.659 --> 00:20:43.559
 our character

00:20:43.559 --> 00:20:45.679
 to be that

00:20:45.679 --> 00:20:47.200
 like Jesus's.

00:20:48.759 --> 00:20:49.599
 What we've got

00:20:49.599 --> 00:20:50.099
 to do

00:20:50.099 --> 00:20:50.980
 to be transformed

00:20:50.980 --> 00:20:51.700
 like this,

00:20:52.480 --> 00:20:53.119
 we've got to learn

00:20:53.119 --> 00:20:53.899
 to be sensitive

00:20:53.899 --> 00:20:54.879
 to the Holy Spirit's

00:20:54.879 --> 00:20:55.359
 presence.

00:20:57.119 --> 00:20:58.639
 He lives within us.

00:20:59.639 --> 00:21:00.519
 The Spirit of Christ,

00:21:00.619 --> 00:21:01.460
 the Spirit of God.

00:21:02.019 --> 00:21:02.899
 We need to be sensitive

00:21:02.899 --> 00:21:04.279
 to His presence

00:21:04.279 --> 00:21:05.980
 and we need to learn

00:21:05.980 --> 00:21:06.639
 to be

00:21:06.639 --> 00:21:08.440
 obedient

00:21:08.440 --> 00:21:09.639
 to His leadership.

00:21:10.839 --> 00:21:11.759
 For an example,

00:21:12.899 --> 00:21:13.559
 you're a Christian.

00:21:13.680 --> 00:21:14.000
 You're serious

00:21:14.000 --> 00:21:14.299
 about living

00:21:14.299 --> 00:21:15.119
 the Christian life.

00:21:16.379 --> 00:21:17.279
 The Spirit of God

00:21:17.279 --> 00:21:19.139
 prompts you

00:21:19.139 --> 00:21:21.039
 to say

00:21:21.039 --> 00:21:22.279
 an encouraging

00:21:22.279 --> 00:21:22.839
 word

00:21:22.839 --> 00:21:23.740
 to somebody

00:21:23.740 --> 00:21:24.759
 that you're in class

00:21:24.759 --> 00:21:25.079
 with

00:21:25.079 --> 00:21:25.940
 or that you work

00:21:25.940 --> 00:21:26.279
 with.

00:21:26.440 --> 00:21:26.819
 You don't know

00:21:26.819 --> 00:21:27.299
 what's going on

00:21:27.299 --> 00:21:27.879
 in their life,

00:21:27.980 --> 00:21:28.700
 but you know

00:21:28.700 --> 00:21:30.220
 God is prompting

00:21:30.220 --> 00:21:31.039
 you to do that.

00:21:32.319 --> 00:21:32.700
 Well,

00:21:32.819 --> 00:21:33.400
 to be obedient

00:21:33.400 --> 00:21:33.819
 to Him,

00:21:33.920 --> 00:21:34.640
 you need to do that.

00:21:34.799 --> 00:21:35.319
 You need to offer

00:21:35.319 --> 00:21:35.740
 that word

00:21:35.740 --> 00:21:36.340
 of encouragement.

00:21:36.519 --> 00:21:37.360
 You need to be seen

00:21:37.360 --> 00:21:38.299
 as that encouraging

00:21:38.299 --> 00:21:39.680
 Christian who's there

00:21:39.680 --> 00:21:40.680
 to make a difference,

00:21:40.819 --> 00:21:41.640
 a positive difference

00:21:41.640 --> 00:21:42.220
 in someone's life

00:21:42.220 --> 00:21:42.680
 like that.

00:21:43.680 --> 00:21:44.220
 The Holy Spirit

00:21:44.220 --> 00:21:45.840
 will convict us

00:21:45.840 --> 00:21:47.220
 along the same line

00:21:47.220 --> 00:21:47.740
 of talking.

00:21:49.220 --> 00:21:49.759
 Haven't you

00:21:49.759 --> 00:21:50.380
 as a Christian

00:21:50.380 --> 00:21:52.779
 felt you wanted

00:21:52.779 --> 00:21:53.279
 to say something

00:21:53.279 --> 00:21:54.380
 negative about somebody?

00:21:55.039 --> 00:21:55.559
 You just wanted

00:21:55.559 --> 00:21:56.440
 to blast them.

00:21:56.660 --> 00:21:57.100
 You just wanted

00:21:57.100 --> 00:21:58.480
 to make fun of them.

00:21:58.700 --> 00:21:59.680
 Not to their face.

00:22:00.200 --> 00:22:00.500
 You just wanted

00:22:00.500 --> 00:22:01.019
 to talk about them

00:22:01.019 --> 00:22:01.500
 at home

00:22:01.500 --> 00:22:02.420
 or to your friend.

00:22:03.120 --> 00:22:03.819
 But before you

00:22:03.819 --> 00:22:04.660
 got it out of your mouth,

00:22:05.799 --> 00:22:06.660
 the Holy Spirit

00:22:06.660 --> 00:22:07.840
 convicted you

00:22:07.840 --> 00:22:08.440
 and sort of like

00:22:08.440 --> 00:22:08.759
 saying,

00:22:09.019 --> 00:22:10.120
 don't say it.

00:22:11.120 --> 00:22:12.500
 Don't let it come out.

00:22:12.860 --> 00:22:13.259
 And you've got

00:22:13.259 --> 00:22:14.000
 to make a choice.

00:22:14.299 --> 00:22:14.580
 Are you going

00:22:14.580 --> 00:22:15.019
 to be obedient

00:22:15.019 --> 00:22:15.680
 to His leadership?

00:22:16.240 --> 00:22:16.799
 Because gossip

00:22:16.799 --> 00:22:17.279
 and slander,

00:22:17.480 --> 00:22:18.000
 that's contrary

00:22:18.000 --> 00:22:18.580
 to God's word,

00:22:18.660 --> 00:22:18.960
 isn't it?

00:22:19.980 --> 00:22:20.819
 We've got to be

00:22:20.819 --> 00:22:22.160
 sensitive to His presence

00:22:22.160 --> 00:22:22.680
 and obedient

00:22:22.680 --> 00:22:23.660
 to His leadership,

00:22:23.840 --> 00:22:25.140
 submissive to His power.

00:22:25.940 --> 00:22:26.680
 We're dependent

00:22:26.680 --> 00:22:27.400
 upon Him.

00:22:27.920 --> 00:22:28.519
 We can't do this

00:22:28.519 --> 00:22:28.900
 on our own.

00:22:28.980 --> 00:22:30.680
 We can't change ourselves.

00:22:31.220 --> 00:22:32.019
 He can change us.

00:22:32.319 --> 00:22:33.099
 But we've got to

00:22:33.099 --> 00:22:34.240
 cooperate with Him

00:22:34.240 --> 00:22:35.200
 and it'll be

00:22:35.200 --> 00:22:36.220
 a lifelong process.

00:22:37.119 --> 00:22:37.799
 The next phrase

00:22:37.799 --> 00:22:38.299
 in verse 2

00:22:38.299 --> 00:22:39.240
 tells us how

00:22:39.240 --> 00:22:40.220
 this transformation

00:22:40.220 --> 00:22:41.099
 takes place.

00:22:41.639 --> 00:22:42.339
 By the renewal

00:22:42.339 --> 00:22:43.400
 of your mind.

00:22:44.440 --> 00:22:45.720
 The primary battleground

00:22:45.720 --> 00:22:47.440
 in what all

00:22:47.440 --> 00:22:48.119
 we're talking about.

00:22:48.579 --> 00:22:49.660
 The primary battleground

00:22:49.660 --> 00:22:50.680
 in spiritual warfare,

00:22:50.819 --> 00:22:51.259
 we'll call it,

00:22:51.799 --> 00:22:53.420
 is in our minds.

00:22:53.420 --> 00:22:56.880
 We need to be careful

00:22:56.880 --> 00:22:57.759
 of what we allow

00:22:57.759 --> 00:22:59.160
 to enter into our minds.

00:22:59.279 --> 00:22:59.380
 Now,

00:22:59.940 --> 00:23:01.000
 what we're talking about here

00:23:01.000 --> 00:23:02.660
 is what we dwell on.

00:23:03.800 --> 00:23:04.500
 We're supposed

00:23:04.500 --> 00:23:05.440
 to live in the world.

00:23:06.279 --> 00:23:07.340
 We're supposed to,

00:23:07.460 --> 00:23:07.900
 as Christians,

00:23:08.080 --> 00:23:09.560
 be in this world,

00:23:09.779 --> 00:23:10.920
 this world system

00:23:10.920 --> 00:23:12.140
 that leaves God out,

00:23:12.259 --> 00:23:13.000
 that hates God.

00:23:13.340 --> 00:23:13.920
 We're supposed

00:23:13.920 --> 00:23:14.660
 to be out here

00:23:14.660 --> 00:23:16.480
 not allowing the world

00:23:16.480 --> 00:23:18.100
 to influence us.

00:23:18.420 --> 00:23:18.900
 We're supposed

00:23:18.900 --> 00:23:19.860
 to be influencers,

00:23:20.440 --> 00:23:21.279
 influencing the world,

00:23:21.420 --> 00:23:22.120
 influencing people.

00:23:22.119 --> 00:23:23.059
 Jesus said we're

00:23:23.059 --> 00:23:24.479
 to be salt and light.

00:23:25.659 --> 00:23:26.519
 And as we're out

00:23:26.519 --> 00:23:27.119
 in the world,

00:23:27.879 --> 00:23:28.979
 as we interact

00:23:28.979 --> 00:23:29.439
 with people,

00:23:29.519 --> 00:23:30.259
 as we do a lot

00:23:30.259 --> 00:23:31.399
 of different things,

00:23:32.659 --> 00:23:34.319
 all kinds of thoughts

00:23:34.319 --> 00:23:36.079
 come into our mind.

00:23:37.159 --> 00:23:38.199
 As we read,

00:23:38.299 --> 00:23:38.979
 as we observe,

00:23:39.279 --> 00:23:39.979
 as we study,

00:23:40.079 --> 00:23:40.879
 as we do what all,

00:23:41.459 --> 00:23:42.399
 all kinds of thoughts

00:23:42.399 --> 00:23:42.939
 come into our mind

00:23:42.939 --> 00:23:43.819
 and you can't help that.

00:23:46.639 --> 00:23:47.899
 If in the course

00:23:47.899 --> 00:23:49.199
 of doing what you need

00:23:49.199 --> 00:23:50.379
 to do to live your life

00:23:50.379 --> 00:23:51.259
 as a faithful Christian,

00:23:51.259 --> 00:23:53.279
 things come into your mind,

00:23:53.400 --> 00:23:54.180
 don't worry about that.

00:23:54.259 --> 00:23:54.940
 We're talking about

00:23:54.940 --> 00:23:56.640
 what you dwell on,

00:23:57.640 --> 00:23:59.599
 what you sort of

00:23:59.599 --> 00:24:01.720
 mull over in your mind,

00:24:02.160 --> 00:24:03.299
 what you think about.

00:24:03.940 --> 00:24:05.480
 Because what we think

00:24:05.480 --> 00:24:07.660
 is what determines

00:24:07.660 --> 00:24:09.259
 what we do.

00:24:09.900 --> 00:24:11.099
 That's why we've got

00:24:11.099 --> 00:24:12.900
 to guard against

00:24:12.900 --> 00:24:14.279
 what comes to our minds.

00:24:14.279 --> 00:24:16.440
 we've got to learn

00:24:16.440 --> 00:24:17.740
 to think like a Christian.

00:24:18.319 --> 00:24:18.980
 We've got to learn

00:24:18.980 --> 00:24:19.819
 to think

00:24:19.819 --> 00:24:23.339
 like God wants us

00:24:23.339 --> 00:24:23.839
 to think

00:24:23.839 --> 00:24:24.559
 as revealed

00:24:24.559 --> 00:24:25.539
 in His Word.

00:24:27.799 --> 00:24:28.960
 How discerning

00:24:28.960 --> 00:24:30.200
 are you about what

00:24:30.200 --> 00:24:31.700
 you are allowing

00:24:31.700 --> 00:24:32.680
 to enter your mind

00:24:32.680 --> 00:24:34.079
 that you dwell on,

00:24:34.139 --> 00:24:35.019
 that you think about,

00:24:35.379 --> 00:24:36.480
 that really is having

00:24:36.480 --> 00:24:37.359
 an effect on

00:24:37.359 --> 00:24:38.440
 what you think

00:24:38.440 --> 00:24:38.980
 and how you live?

00:24:39.819 --> 00:24:41.220
 How discerning are you

00:24:41.220 --> 00:24:42.160
 if you have children

00:24:42.160 --> 00:24:42.620
 at home?

00:24:43.300 --> 00:24:44.800
 How discerning are you

00:24:44.800 --> 00:24:46.480
 of what you allow

00:24:46.480 --> 00:24:47.480
 your children

00:24:47.480 --> 00:24:48.920
 to be exposed to?

00:24:50.180 --> 00:24:51.460
 TV, movies,

00:24:51.700 --> 00:24:51.980
 internet,

00:24:53.180 --> 00:24:53.779
 music,

00:24:54.100 --> 00:24:54.620
 whatever.

00:24:54.620 --> 00:24:56.920
 What are you doing

00:24:56.920 --> 00:24:58.740
 to try to filter out

00:24:58.740 --> 00:24:59.980
 as best you can

00:24:59.980 --> 00:25:02.160
 the garbage from this world

00:25:02.160 --> 00:25:03.519
 from your mind

00:25:03.519 --> 00:25:06.019
 and from the minds

00:25:06.019 --> 00:25:07.080
 of your children?

00:25:07.079 --> 00:25:08.799
 This is part of

00:25:08.799 --> 00:25:10.359
 our commitment to God.

00:25:10.919 --> 00:25:11.699
 Don't be conformed

00:25:11.699 --> 00:25:12.079
 to the world.

00:25:12.259 --> 00:25:13.000
 This is one way.

00:25:13.419 --> 00:25:14.139
 Be transformed

00:25:14.139 --> 00:25:14.919
 by the renewing

00:25:14.919 --> 00:25:15.539
 of our mind.

00:25:17.099 --> 00:25:17.779
 If we're going

00:25:17.779 --> 00:25:18.419
 to be able to resist

00:25:18.419 --> 00:25:19.099
 the pressure

00:25:19.099 --> 00:25:20.599
 to conform,

00:25:22.079 --> 00:25:22.460
 if we're going

00:25:22.460 --> 00:25:22.839
 to resist

00:25:22.839 --> 00:25:23.740
 the influences

00:25:23.740 --> 00:25:24.599
 of this world,

00:25:25.460 --> 00:25:26.099
 we've got to go

00:25:26.099 --> 00:25:26.980
 on the offensive.

00:25:28.000 --> 00:25:28.839
 We've got to

00:25:28.839 --> 00:25:29.759
 fill our minds

00:25:29.759 --> 00:25:30.220
 with the kinds

00:25:30.220 --> 00:25:30.599
 of things

00:25:30.599 --> 00:25:31.179
 the Holy Spirit

00:25:31.179 --> 00:25:31.980
 can use

00:25:31.980 --> 00:25:34.319
 to renew us,

00:25:34.319 --> 00:25:35.720
 to transform

00:25:35.720 --> 00:25:36.860
 our thinking.

00:25:37.500 --> 00:25:37.819
 And the place

00:25:37.819 --> 00:25:38.319
 begins with

00:25:38.319 --> 00:25:38.579
 the truth

00:25:38.579 --> 00:25:39.120
 of God's Word.

00:25:39.200 --> 00:25:39.720
 You know that.

00:25:40.819 --> 00:25:41.600
 We cannot,

00:25:42.140 --> 00:25:42.799
 no matter what

00:25:42.799 --> 00:25:43.660
 passage of Scripture

00:25:43.660 --> 00:25:44.299
 you come to,

00:25:45.019 --> 00:25:45.400
 when it comes

00:25:45.400 --> 00:25:46.039
 to application,

00:25:46.539 --> 00:25:47.600
 the final word is

00:25:47.600 --> 00:25:49.059
 if we're serious

00:25:49.059 --> 00:25:49.400
 about living

00:25:49.400 --> 00:25:49.900
 the Christian life

00:25:49.900 --> 00:25:50.299
 in this world,

00:25:50.559 --> 00:25:51.400
 we have got to be

00:25:51.400 --> 00:25:52.700
 people who know

00:25:52.700 --> 00:25:55.000
 the Word of God.

00:25:55.440 --> 00:25:56.100
 We've got to know

00:25:56.100 --> 00:25:57.299
 how God thinks,

00:25:57.500 --> 00:25:58.640
 how God feels,

00:25:59.160 --> 00:26:00.440
 how God has acted

00:26:00.440 --> 00:26:01.720
 and promises to act.

00:26:02.660 --> 00:26:03.500
 We've got to know

00:26:03.500 --> 00:26:04.299
 how we can live

00:26:04.299 --> 00:26:04.799
 our lives

00:26:04.799 --> 00:26:05.100
 in a way

00:26:05.099 --> 00:26:06.159
 that pleases Him

00:26:06.159 --> 00:26:07.299
 and the way

00:26:07.299 --> 00:26:08.099
 that will serve

00:26:08.099 --> 00:26:08.839
 His purpose

00:26:08.839 --> 00:26:09.679
 for why we are

00:26:09.679 --> 00:26:10.459
 here in this world.

00:26:12.279 --> 00:26:13.139
 We need to learn

00:26:13.139 --> 00:26:14.799
 to read the Bible

00:26:14.799 --> 00:26:17.099
 just so we understand

00:26:17.099 --> 00:26:18.439
 God's mind,

00:26:18.779 --> 00:26:19.359
 God's heart,

00:26:19.599 --> 00:26:20.480
 God's ways

00:26:20.480 --> 00:26:21.240
 so that that can

00:26:21.240 --> 00:26:22.299
 become our mind

00:26:22.299 --> 00:26:22.759
 and our heart

00:26:22.759 --> 00:26:23.539
 and our ways.

00:26:24.480 --> 00:26:25.299
 And then as we

00:26:25.299 --> 00:26:26.279
 come to know

00:26:26.279 --> 00:26:26.939
 God's Word,

00:26:27.659 --> 00:26:28.399
 we need to filter

00:26:28.399 --> 00:26:29.240
 everything that comes

00:26:29.240 --> 00:26:30.079
 into our minds

00:26:30.079 --> 00:26:31.079
 with that truth.

00:26:32.699 --> 00:26:33.399
 Everything that comes

00:26:33.399 --> 00:26:33.919
 into our minds,

00:26:33.920 --> 00:26:35.019
 is, you know,

00:26:35.900 --> 00:26:37.120
 how should I go

00:26:37.120 --> 00:26:38.800
 about being

00:26:38.800 --> 00:26:40.320
 a committed

00:26:40.320 --> 00:26:40.840
 husband,

00:26:41.960 --> 00:26:42.940
 a committed wife?

00:26:43.620 --> 00:26:44.140
 What does the

00:26:44.140 --> 00:26:44.640
 Scripture say?

00:26:44.820 --> 00:26:45.200
 Well, it has

00:26:45.200 --> 00:26:46.680
 very specific things

00:26:46.680 --> 00:26:47.800
 in Ephesians 5

00:26:47.800 --> 00:26:48.820
 and Colossians 3,

00:26:48.920 --> 00:26:49.620
 1 Peter 3.

00:26:51.000 --> 00:26:51.740
 There's a lot of

00:26:51.740 --> 00:26:52.380
 just general

00:26:52.380 --> 00:26:53.080
 characteristics

00:26:53.080 --> 00:26:53.759
 of what it means

00:26:53.759 --> 00:26:54.400
 to be a Christian

00:26:54.400 --> 00:26:55.860
 and live and interact

00:26:55.860 --> 00:26:56.259
 with people

00:26:56.259 --> 00:26:57.080
 in the right kind of way.

00:26:57.480 --> 00:26:58.620
 Look just for an example,

00:26:58.980 --> 00:26:59.980
 verse 9,

00:27:00.120 --> 00:27:00.560
 and we're here

00:27:00.560 --> 00:27:01.519
 in Romans chapter 12,

00:27:01.519 --> 00:27:03.079
 let love be genuine.

00:27:06.200 --> 00:27:08.079
 Our love for people

00:27:08.079 --> 00:27:08.980
 needs to be genuine.

00:27:09.119 --> 00:27:09.720
 We don't need to be

00:27:09.720 --> 00:27:10.799
 phony and fake,

00:27:11.579 --> 00:27:12.500
 put up fronts.

00:27:15.720 --> 00:27:16.460
 We need to learn

00:27:16.460 --> 00:27:18.180
 to filter everything

00:27:18.180 --> 00:27:19.319
 that comes into our mind

00:27:19.319 --> 00:27:19.779
 with the truth

00:27:19.779 --> 00:27:20.259
 of God's Word,

00:27:20.339 --> 00:27:21.099
 every temptation,

00:27:21.259 --> 00:27:22.819
 every idle thought.

00:27:23.359 --> 00:27:24.259
 That's how we develop

00:27:24.259 --> 00:27:25.539
 a Christian worldview.

00:27:25.539 --> 00:27:27.200
 Now,

00:27:27.899 --> 00:27:28.259
 let's look at

00:27:28.259 --> 00:27:29.559
 one more thing,

00:27:29.779 --> 00:27:30.559
 the benefits

00:27:30.559 --> 00:27:31.779
 of living

00:27:31.779 --> 00:27:32.879
 like a committed

00:27:32.879 --> 00:27:33.299
 Christian

00:27:33.299 --> 00:27:34.279
 in our relationship

00:27:34.279 --> 00:27:34.740
 with God.

00:27:34.899 --> 00:27:35.539
 That's the last part

00:27:35.539 --> 00:27:36.000
 of verse 2.

00:27:36.399 --> 00:27:37.200
 We are rewarded

00:27:37.200 --> 00:27:38.759
 with a positive experience

00:27:38.759 --> 00:27:40.500
 and desirable benefits

00:27:40.500 --> 00:27:41.879
 of doing God's will.

00:27:43.599 --> 00:27:45.319
 If we are faithful

00:27:45.319 --> 00:27:45.759
 to the Lord,

00:27:46.019 --> 00:27:46.720
 committed to Him

00:27:46.720 --> 00:27:47.180
 like we've been

00:27:47.180 --> 00:27:47.740
 talking about,

00:27:48.200 --> 00:27:49.039
 we're going to be rewarded

00:27:49.039 --> 00:27:51.420
 with positive experiences

00:27:51.420 --> 00:27:52.779
 and desirable benefits

00:27:52.779 --> 00:27:55.180
 of doing God's will.

00:27:55.180 --> 00:27:56.019
 Look at verse 2,

00:27:56.060 --> 00:27:56.620
 the last part.

00:27:56.940 --> 00:27:57.799
 That by testing,

00:27:58.440 --> 00:27:59.519
 you may discern

00:27:59.519 --> 00:28:00.900
 what is the will of God,

00:28:01.080 --> 00:28:01.880
 what is good

00:28:01.880 --> 00:28:02.620
 and acceptable

00:28:02.620 --> 00:28:03.539
 and perfect.

00:28:04.519 --> 00:28:05.920
 As we obey God's call

00:28:05.920 --> 00:28:07.539
 to be totally committed,

00:28:09.060 --> 00:28:11.680
 as we cooperate

00:28:11.680 --> 00:28:12.360
 with the Spirit of God

00:28:12.360 --> 00:28:13.279
 who works in us,

00:28:14.220 --> 00:28:15.259
 we're going to find

00:28:15.259 --> 00:28:17.019
 that we get a lot of joy

00:28:17.019 --> 00:28:18.240
 and pleasure

00:28:18.240 --> 00:28:20.440
 from doing God's will.

00:28:21.740 --> 00:28:22.779
 It's going to mean

00:28:22.779 --> 00:28:23.840
 something to us.

00:28:23.839 --> 00:28:25.459
 We're going to find

00:28:25.459 --> 00:28:26.759
 satisfaction in living

00:28:26.759 --> 00:28:27.759
 God's way

00:28:27.759 --> 00:28:29.099
 as God's people

00:28:29.099 --> 00:28:31.119
 if we do the kind

00:28:31.119 --> 00:28:31.699
 of things Paul

00:28:31.699 --> 00:28:32.519
 is talking about here,

00:28:32.899 --> 00:28:34.240
 cooperating with the Holy Spirit

00:28:34.240 --> 00:28:35.539
 who lives within us.

00:28:37.139 --> 00:28:38.379
 Paul is talking about,

00:28:38.559 --> 00:28:39.379
 not talking about

00:28:39.379 --> 00:28:40.519
 finding God's will

00:28:40.519 --> 00:28:41.399
 about such things as,

00:28:41.599 --> 00:28:42.259
 such things as,

00:28:42.459 --> 00:28:43.099
 who should I marry?

00:28:43.179 --> 00:28:43.839
 Where should I work?

00:28:43.899 --> 00:28:44.459
 That's not what he's

00:28:44.459 --> 00:28:44.839
 talking about.

00:28:45.240 --> 00:28:45.899
 He's talking about

00:28:45.899 --> 00:28:47.119
 God's desired will

00:28:47.119 --> 00:28:48.299
 which He reveals to us

00:28:48.299 --> 00:28:49.099
 in His Word.

00:28:49.099 --> 00:28:50.139
 The Bible reveals

00:28:50.139 --> 00:28:50.879
 God's will

00:28:50.879 --> 00:28:52.019
 in a general way

00:28:52.019 --> 00:28:53.179
 in terms of

00:28:53.179 --> 00:28:55.359
 what we should believe

00:28:55.359 --> 00:28:57.439
 and how we should live.

00:28:59.299 --> 00:29:01.079
 We test God's will.

00:29:01.179 --> 00:29:01.939
 That's what it says there

00:29:01.939 --> 00:29:02.419
 in the latter part

00:29:02.419 --> 00:29:02.919
 of verse 2.

00:29:04.579 --> 00:29:05.699
 That by testing,

00:29:06.699 --> 00:29:07.399
 you may discern

00:29:07.399 --> 00:29:08.339
 what is the will of God.

00:29:09.019 --> 00:29:10.139
 We test God's will

00:29:10.139 --> 00:29:10.699
 by doing it.

00:29:11.259 --> 00:29:12.240
 If you bought a car,

00:29:12.439 --> 00:29:13.480
 new or used,

00:29:13.619 --> 00:29:14.279
 what did you do?

00:29:14.639 --> 00:29:16.059
 Did you do a test drive

00:29:16.059 --> 00:29:17.740
 to see if it was

00:29:17.740 --> 00:29:18.399
 what you thought

00:29:18.399 --> 00:29:19.200
 it was going to be?

00:29:19.399 --> 00:29:20.019
 Going to prove

00:29:20.019 --> 00:29:20.559
 this is really

00:29:20.559 --> 00:29:22.659
 what I want to have,

00:29:22.720 --> 00:29:23.220
 to drive?

00:29:24.179 --> 00:29:25.119
 That's how we discover

00:29:25.119 --> 00:29:25.940
 a lot of things.

00:29:26.940 --> 00:29:27.759
 Some of you are

00:29:27.759 --> 00:29:29.539
 into one sport

00:29:29.539 --> 00:29:30.419
 in particular

00:29:30.419 --> 00:29:31.419
 where you probably

00:29:31.419 --> 00:29:34.720
 tested various sports

00:29:34.720 --> 00:29:36.319
 before you decided

00:29:36.319 --> 00:29:37.379
 that's the one

00:29:37.379 --> 00:29:38.039
 that I'm going

00:29:38.039 --> 00:29:38.879
 to really focus on.

00:29:39.759 --> 00:29:41.200
 If we'll seek to know

00:29:41.200 --> 00:29:42.399
 and do God's will

00:29:42.399 --> 00:29:44.859
 from experience,

00:29:44.859 --> 00:29:46.659
 we'll find

00:29:46.659 --> 00:29:47.519
 that's the best way

00:29:47.519 --> 00:29:48.079
 to live.

00:29:49.159 --> 00:29:50.019
 Our experience

00:29:50.019 --> 00:29:50.759
 will say,

00:29:51.119 --> 00:29:52.039
 will prove

00:29:52.039 --> 00:29:52.919
 to ourselves

00:29:52.919 --> 00:29:54.279
 that God's will

00:29:54.279 --> 00:29:54.779
 is good,

00:29:54.839 --> 00:29:55.219
 it says.

00:29:56.279 --> 00:29:56.879
 God's will

00:29:56.879 --> 00:29:57.399
 is just good.

00:29:57.479 --> 00:29:58.099
 It's the right thing

00:29:58.099 --> 00:29:58.819
 and it leads

00:29:58.819 --> 00:30:00.379
 to good in our lives.

00:30:00.679 --> 00:30:01.159
 God's will

00:30:01.159 --> 00:30:01.959
 is acceptable

00:30:01.959 --> 00:30:03.319
 or some translations

00:30:03.319 --> 00:30:04.379
 will say pleasing.

00:30:06.419 --> 00:30:07.299
 Think about it.

00:30:08.019 --> 00:30:08.879
 Knowing that you're

00:30:08.879 --> 00:30:09.679
 pleasing God,

00:30:09.779 --> 00:30:10.319
 isn't that one

00:30:10.319 --> 00:30:11.579
 of the greatest feelings

00:30:11.579 --> 00:30:12.659
 that you can possibly

00:30:12.659 --> 00:30:12.979
 have?

00:30:13.059 --> 00:30:13.679
 Knowing that I'm

00:30:13.679 --> 00:30:14.699
 not just right with God,

00:30:14.700 --> 00:30:15.640
 I'm pleasing to him.

00:30:15.779 --> 00:30:16.539
 I'm bringing a smile

00:30:16.539 --> 00:30:17.120
 to his face

00:30:17.120 --> 00:30:17.700
 by the way

00:30:17.700 --> 00:30:18.400
 that I am living.

00:30:19.559 --> 00:30:20.240
 Honoring him,

00:30:20.400 --> 00:30:21.000
 loving him,

00:30:21.180 --> 00:30:21.920
 serving him.

00:30:23.019 --> 00:30:23.700
 And then God's will

00:30:23.700 --> 00:30:24.100
 is perfect.

00:30:24.240 --> 00:30:25.259
 You can't improve on it.

00:30:26.160 --> 00:30:26.840
 We'll find

00:30:26.840 --> 00:30:27.759
 from experience

00:30:27.759 --> 00:30:28.740
 by living it

00:30:28.740 --> 00:30:30.500
 that it's the best life

00:30:30.500 --> 00:30:32.180
 we can possibly live.

00:30:33.240 --> 00:30:34.200
 Now one way to know

00:30:34.200 --> 00:30:34.680
 if you totally,

00:30:34.840 --> 00:30:35.580
 if you,

00:30:36.120 --> 00:30:36.440
 we,

00:30:36.640 --> 00:30:37.539
 if we're totally

00:30:37.539 --> 00:30:38.340
 committed to God

00:30:38.340 --> 00:30:38.799
 this morning,

00:30:39.799 --> 00:30:40.480
 I want you to ask

00:30:40.480 --> 00:30:41.039
 yourself,

00:30:41.039 --> 00:30:42.859
 do I desire

00:30:42.859 --> 00:30:43.700
 to know

00:30:43.700 --> 00:30:44.579
 and do

00:30:44.579 --> 00:30:46.119
 the will of God

00:30:46.119 --> 00:30:47.319
 as revealed

00:30:47.319 --> 00:30:47.799
 in Scripture

00:30:47.799 --> 00:30:49.379
 in the details

00:30:49.379 --> 00:30:50.059
 of my life?

00:30:51.480 --> 00:30:51.759
 I mean,

00:30:51.799 --> 00:30:52.659
 just as you do

00:30:52.659 --> 00:30:53.539
 what you do

00:30:53.539 --> 00:30:55.480
 Monday through Saturday,

00:30:56.200 --> 00:30:58.359
 are you conscious of,

00:30:58.659 --> 00:30:59.899
 do you pray about,

00:31:00.619 --> 00:31:01.319
 do you seek

00:31:01.319 --> 00:31:02.339
 to know

00:31:02.339 --> 00:31:03.279
 and do God's will

00:31:03.279 --> 00:31:04.700
 because you want

00:31:04.700 --> 00:31:05.579
 to please him,

00:31:05.680 --> 00:31:06.539
 you want to live life

00:31:06.539 --> 00:31:07.099
 the way that he

00:31:07.099 --> 00:31:07.960
 designed?

00:31:07.960 --> 00:31:10.460
 Or are you more

00:31:10.460 --> 00:31:10.940
 concerned about

00:31:10.940 --> 00:31:11.380
 just doing what

00:31:11.380 --> 00:31:12.039
 you want to do,

00:31:12.680 --> 00:31:13.299
 the way you want

00:31:13.299 --> 00:31:13.700
 to do it?

00:31:15.460 --> 00:31:16.500
 Or are you really

00:31:16.500 --> 00:31:17.220
 and truly just,

00:31:18.120 --> 00:31:19.120
 you don't care.

00:31:20.279 --> 00:31:21.160
 You're just sort of

00:31:21.160 --> 00:31:21.720
 out there,

00:31:21.819 --> 00:31:22.720
 just doing what

00:31:22.720 --> 00:31:23.660
 comes naturally

00:31:23.660 --> 00:31:25.279
 with not much

00:31:25.279 --> 00:31:25.940
 thought about

00:31:25.940 --> 00:31:27.880
 who gets pleased.

00:31:30.440 --> 00:31:31.200
 A missionary

00:31:31.200 --> 00:31:31.880
 by the name

00:31:31.880 --> 00:31:32.700
 of Jim Elliott

00:31:32.700 --> 00:31:34.480
 was killed

00:31:34.480 --> 00:31:35.539
 by the very

00:31:35.539 --> 00:31:36.880
 Indian tribe

00:31:36.880 --> 00:31:37.700
 in South America.

00:31:37.700 --> 00:31:38.640
 he was trying

00:31:38.640 --> 00:31:39.700
 to build

00:31:39.700 --> 00:31:40.279
 a relationship

00:31:40.279 --> 00:31:40.779
 with

00:31:40.779 --> 00:31:42.039
 and be able

00:31:42.039 --> 00:31:42.279
 to share

00:31:42.279 --> 00:31:43.059
 the gospel with.

00:31:43.860 --> 00:31:44.759
 But he made

00:31:44.759 --> 00:31:46.259
 a memorable statement

00:31:46.259 --> 00:31:47.100
 about Christian

00:31:47.100 --> 00:31:47.880
 commitment

00:31:47.880 --> 00:31:48.819
 that you've probably

00:31:48.819 --> 00:31:49.460
 seen

00:31:49.460 --> 00:31:52.120
 that is so powerful.

00:31:53.299 --> 00:31:53.799
 He says,

00:31:54.380 --> 00:31:55.860
 he is no fool

00:31:55.860 --> 00:31:57.460
 who gives up

00:31:57.460 --> 00:31:58.019
 that which

00:31:58.019 --> 00:31:58.620
 he cannot

00:31:58.620 --> 00:31:59.519
 keep

00:31:59.519 --> 00:32:01.220
 to gain

00:32:01.220 --> 00:32:01.799
 that which

00:32:01.799 --> 00:32:02.279
 he cannot

00:32:02.279 --> 00:32:02.860
 lose.

00:32:03.539 --> 00:32:04.740
 He is no fool

00:32:04.740 --> 00:32:05.960
 who gives up

00:32:05.960 --> 00:32:06.360
 that which

00:32:06.359 --> 00:32:06.959
 he cannot

00:32:06.959 --> 00:32:07.699
 keep

00:32:07.699 --> 00:32:09.079
 to gain

00:32:09.079 --> 00:32:09.519
 that which

00:32:09.519 --> 00:32:10.059
 he cannot

00:32:10.059 --> 00:32:10.939
 lose.

00:32:11.519 --> 00:32:12.500
 You are

00:32:12.500 --> 00:32:13.240
 no fool

00:32:13.240 --> 00:32:13.839
 by turning

00:32:13.839 --> 00:32:14.779
 your back

00:32:14.779 --> 00:32:17.419
 on this world

00:32:17.419 --> 00:32:19.099
 and the things

00:32:19.099 --> 00:32:20.019
 that this world

00:32:20.019 --> 00:32:20.759
 offers

00:32:20.759 --> 00:32:22.259
 in place

00:32:22.259 --> 00:32:22.979
 of God

00:32:22.979 --> 00:32:25.199
 and his will

00:32:25.199 --> 00:32:26.079
 and his ways.

00:32:27.079 --> 00:32:28.539
 You are wise

00:32:28.539 --> 00:32:29.000
 to commit

00:32:29.000 --> 00:32:29.479
 yourself

00:32:29.479 --> 00:32:30.199
 wholeheartedly

00:32:30.199 --> 00:32:30.939
 to living

00:32:30.940 --> 00:32:31.620
 like a child

00:32:31.620 --> 00:32:32.100
 of God

00:32:32.100 --> 00:32:33.860
 who loves

00:32:33.860 --> 00:32:34.160
 you,

00:32:35.019 --> 00:32:35.539
 who is your

00:32:35.539 --> 00:32:36.380
 heavenly father,

00:32:36.920 --> 00:32:38.000
 who enjoys

00:32:38.000 --> 00:32:38.680
 the pleasure

00:32:38.680 --> 00:32:39.100
 of having

00:32:39.100 --> 00:32:39.519
 a close

00:32:39.519 --> 00:32:40.080
 relationship

00:32:40.080 --> 00:32:41.539
 with you.

00:32:42.920 --> 00:32:44.059
 That's wisdom.

00:32:45.420 --> 00:32:46.019
 But the choice

00:32:46.019 --> 00:32:46.620
 is yours.

00:32:47.880 --> 00:32:48.720
 The choice

00:32:48.720 --> 00:32:49.220
 is yours.

00:32:50.120 --> 00:32:50.700
 You can

00:32:50.700 --> 00:32:51.400
 conform

00:32:51.400 --> 00:32:52.320
 to this world

00:32:52.320 --> 00:32:53.779
 or you can

00:32:53.779 --> 00:32:54.500
 be transformed

00:32:54.500 --> 00:32:55.299
 by the renewing

00:32:55.299 --> 00:32:56.000
 of your mind.

00:32:56.600 --> 00:32:57.440
 But understand,

00:32:57.440 --> 00:32:58.779
 the choices

00:32:58.779 --> 00:32:59.539
 that we make

00:32:59.539 --> 00:33:00.640
 every day

00:33:00.640 --> 00:33:01.900
 result in

00:33:01.900 --> 00:33:02.720
 consequences

00:33:02.720 --> 00:33:04.960
 that we have

00:33:04.960 --> 00:33:05.500
 to live

00:33:05.500 --> 00:33:05.940
 with

00:33:05.940 --> 00:33:07.519
 and one

00:33:07.519 --> 00:33:07.840
 day

00:33:07.840 --> 00:33:08.779
 die

00:33:08.779 --> 00:33:09.279
 with.

00:33:09.279 --> 00:33:12.319
 Are you

00:33:12.319 --> 00:33:12.819
 prepared

00:33:12.819 --> 00:33:13.879
 to continue

00:33:13.879 --> 00:33:14.339
 living

00:33:14.339 --> 00:33:16.000
 and then

00:33:16.000 --> 00:33:16.500
 die

00:33:16.500 --> 00:33:18.119
 with the choices

00:33:18.119 --> 00:33:18.639
 you've made

00:33:18.639 --> 00:33:19.059
 up to this

00:33:19.059 --> 00:33:19.399
 point?

00:33:20.839 --> 00:33:21.500
 If you're

00:33:21.500 --> 00:33:21.940
 not,

00:33:22.399 --> 00:33:23.099
 if God's

00:33:23.099 --> 00:33:24.279
 spoken to you

00:33:24.279 --> 00:33:24.619
 this morning,

00:33:24.759 --> 00:33:25.599
 convicted you

00:33:25.599 --> 00:33:26.980
 that you are

00:33:26.980 --> 00:33:27.940
 separated from

00:33:27.940 --> 00:33:29.119
 him because

00:33:29.119 --> 00:33:29.519
 you're more

00:33:29.519 --> 00:33:29.960
 of a person

00:33:29.960 --> 00:33:30.660
 of the world,

00:33:31.399 --> 00:33:31.940
 you're more

00:33:31.940 --> 00:33:32.460
 concerned about

00:33:32.460 --> 00:33:32.980
 your way

00:33:32.980 --> 00:33:33.660
 than his way,

00:33:34.539 --> 00:33:34.899
 if God's

00:33:34.899 --> 00:33:35.359
 convicted you

00:33:35.359 --> 00:33:35.660
 this morning

00:33:35.660 --> 00:33:36.420
 of your sin

00:33:36.420 --> 00:33:39.000
 and it's

00:33:39.000 --> 00:33:39.660
 humbled you,

00:33:40.039 --> 00:33:40.820
 it's broken

00:33:40.820 --> 00:33:41.039
 you,

00:33:41.100 --> 00:33:41.539
 it bothers

00:33:41.539 --> 00:33:41.820
 you,

00:33:41.880 --> 00:33:42.300
 you're willing

00:33:42.300 --> 00:33:43.240
 to turn

00:33:43.240 --> 00:33:43.700
 from that,

00:33:43.779 --> 00:33:44.180
 to let God

00:33:44.180 --> 00:33:45.039
 change you,

00:33:46.039 --> 00:33:46.320
 I want to

00:33:46.320 --> 00:33:47.240
 encourage you

00:33:47.240 --> 00:33:47.660
 to do that

00:33:47.660 --> 00:33:48.080
 and put your

00:33:48.080 --> 00:33:48.759
 trust in Jesus

00:33:48.759 --> 00:33:49.220
 Christ,

00:33:49.640 --> 00:33:49.960
 that when he

00:33:49.960 --> 00:33:50.420
 died on the

00:33:50.420 --> 00:33:50.640
 cross,

00:33:50.700 --> 00:33:51.039
 he actually

00:33:51.039 --> 00:33:51.920
 died for

00:33:51.920 --> 00:33:52.620
 you to take

00:33:52.620 --> 00:33:53.500
 your punishment

00:33:53.500 --> 00:33:54.019
 for your

00:33:54.019 --> 00:33:54.400
 sins.

00:33:55.340 --> 00:33:56.019
 He arose

00:33:56.019 --> 00:33:56.460
 from the grave

00:33:56.460 --> 00:33:57.800
 because God

00:33:57.800 --> 00:33:58.539
 accepted his

00:33:58.539 --> 00:33:59.259
 sacrifice.

00:34:00.120 --> 00:34:00.240
 Well,

00:34:00.259 --> 00:34:00.720
 the last thing

00:34:00.720 --> 00:34:01.460
 Jesus said was,

00:34:01.560 --> 00:34:02.060
 it is finished.

00:34:02.140 --> 00:34:02.700
 He paid the

00:34:02.700 --> 00:34:03.360
 penalty for our

00:34:03.360 --> 00:34:03.840
 sins.

00:34:05.380 --> 00:34:06.200
 He arose

00:34:06.200 --> 00:34:06.860
 victoriously

00:34:06.860 --> 00:34:07.440
 proving he

00:34:07.440 --> 00:34:07.900
 has conquered

00:34:07.900 --> 00:34:08.840
 sin and death

00:34:08.840 --> 00:34:09.300
 and defeated

00:34:09.300 --> 00:34:09.780
 the devil.

00:34:11.000 --> 00:34:11.320
 And the

00:34:11.320 --> 00:34:11.579
 scripture,

00:34:12.059 --> 00:34:12.599
 the good news,

00:34:12.679 --> 00:34:13.300
 the gospel is,

00:34:13.360 --> 00:34:13.740
 whoever will

00:34:13.740 --> 00:34:14.199
 call upon the

00:34:14.199 --> 00:34:14.480
 name of the

00:34:14.480 --> 00:34:15.179
 Lord will be

00:34:15.179 --> 00:34:15.679
 saved.

00:34:15.780 --> 00:34:16.199
 That means

00:34:16.199 --> 00:34:16.519
 you.

00:34:17.960 --> 00:34:18.500
 Listen to

00:34:18.500 --> 00:34:18.820
 the Lord.

00:34:19.639 --> 00:34:20.099
 Respond to

00:34:20.099 --> 00:34:20.440
 him as he

00:34:20.440 --> 00:34:21.019
 speaks right

00:34:21.019 --> 00:34:21.280
 now.

00:34:21.420 --> 00:34:21.579
 Would you

00:34:21.579 --> 00:34:22.119
 pray with me?

00:34:23.699 --> 00:34:24.099
 Dear God,

00:34:24.159 --> 00:34:24.599
 help us to

00:34:24.599 --> 00:34:25.079
 see right now

00:34:25.079 --> 00:34:25.639
 how we should

00:34:25.639 --> 00:34:26.280
 respond to

00:34:26.280 --> 00:34:26.920
 you, to

00:34:26.920 --> 00:34:27.260
 what you've

00:34:27.260 --> 00:34:27.659
 been saying

00:34:27.659 --> 00:34:28.260
 to us about

00:34:28.260 --> 00:34:28.820
 commitment.

00:34:29.460 --> 00:34:29.900
 Committing our

00:34:29.900 --> 00:34:30.400
 lives to

00:34:30.400 --> 00:34:31.000
 Christ as

00:34:31.000 --> 00:34:31.340
 Lord and

00:34:31.340 --> 00:34:31.599
 Savior.

00:34:32.480 --> 00:34:33.059
 Or committing

00:34:33.059 --> 00:34:33.800
 ourselves and

00:34:33.800 --> 00:34:34.079
 you in

00:34:34.079 --> 00:34:36.159
 afresh to

00:34:36.159 --> 00:34:36.519
 really and

00:34:36.519 --> 00:34:37.139
 truly living

00:34:37.139 --> 00:34:37.719
 like your

00:34:37.719 --> 00:34:39.059
 people, like

00:34:39.059 --> 00:34:41.079
 your child in

00:34:41.079 --> 00:34:42.059
 every realm of

00:34:42.059 --> 00:34:42.679
 life.

00:34:43.539 --> 00:34:44.279
 Show us how we

00:34:44.279 --> 00:34:44.980
 should respond.

00:34:46.119 --> 00:34:46.859
 Help us to do

00:34:46.859 --> 00:34:47.319
 it now,

00:34:47.699 --> 00:34:48.500
 obediently.

00:34:49.279 --> 00:34:49.579
 And then in

00:34:49.579 --> 00:34:50.000
 an attitude of

00:34:50.000 --> 00:34:50.739
 prayer, let's just

00:34:50.739 --> 00:34:52.039
 listen to the

00:34:52.039 --> 00:34:52.879
 Lord and respond to

00:34:52.879 --> 00:34:53.000
 him.

00:34:53.079 --> 00:34:53.559
 I'd be happy to

00:34:53.559 --> 00:34:54.099
 pray with you here

00:34:54.099 --> 00:34:55.359
 at the front if

00:34:55.359 --> 00:34:56.000
 you want to step

00:34:56.000 --> 00:34:56.539
 out during this

00:34:56.539 --> 00:34:56.759
 time.

00:34:56.759 --> 00:34:56.819
 Amen.

00:34:56.819 --> 00:34:56.859
 Amen.

00:34:56.859 --> 00:34:56.899
 Amen.

00:34:56.899 --> 00:34:56.920
 Amen.

00:34:56.920 --> 00:34:56.980
 Amen.

00:34:56.980 --> 00:34:57.420
 Amen.

00:34:57.420 --> 00:34:57.519
 Amen.

00:34:57.519 --> 00:34:57.699
 Amen.

00:34:57.699 --> 00:34:57.779
 Amen.

00:34:57.779 --> 00:34:57.819
 Amen.

00:34:57.819 --> 00:34:58.819
 Amen.

00:34:58.819 --> 00:34:58.879
 Amen.

00:34:58.879 --> 00:34:58.920
 Amen.

00:34:58.920 --> 00:34:58.940
 Amen.

00:34:58.940 --> 00:34:59.339
 Amen.

00:34:59.339 --> 00:34:59.420
 Amen.

00:34:59.420 --> 00:34:59.819
 Amen.

00:34:59.819 --> 00:35:00.920
 Amen.

00:35:00.920 --> 00:35:00.940
 Amen.

00:35:00.940 --> 00:35:01.420
 Amen.

00:35:01.420 --> 00:35:01.500
 Amen.

00:35:01.500 --> 00:35:01.899
 Amen.

00:35:01.899 --> 00:35:02.839
 Amen.

00:35:02.839 --> 00:35:02.980
 Amen.