WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.360 What kind of decision maker are you? 00:00:07.060 --> 00:00:09.000 Do you go with your heart? 00:00:09.779 --> 00:00:11.640 Are you a thinker and go with your head? 00:00:12.099 --> 00:00:15.280 Or are you controlled by a strong willpower? 00:00:16.460 --> 00:00:20.059 The way decisions are made are influenced by all three, 00:00:20.140 --> 00:00:21.580 the head, the heart and the will. 00:00:22.320 --> 00:00:25.160 For me, it depends on the time of day. 00:00:25.160 --> 00:00:29.660 First thing in the morning is when I make the best decisions. 00:00:30.420 --> 00:00:33.759 My willpower is always strongest when the sun is going up. 00:00:34.920 --> 00:00:38.740 I might have made the decision to eat healthy 00:00:38.740 --> 00:00:40.659 and try and be a fit type person. 00:00:41.299 --> 00:00:43.939 And so in the morning, it'll be a protein shake. 00:00:45.000 --> 00:00:47.000 And I'll make sure I get to the gym. 00:00:47.799 --> 00:00:52.579 But by the end of the day, I'll start making poor decisions. 00:00:52.579 --> 00:00:54.939 You know, the end of the day, 3 o'clock in the afternoon, 00:00:55.579 --> 00:00:59.539 when my heart desires chocolate and sugar, 00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:02.439 and so my mind justifies what I want. 00:01:03.259 --> 00:01:04.620 It says things like, 00:01:05.159 --> 00:01:06.260 you've been good all day. 00:01:07.000 --> 00:01:08.480 You've worked hard. 00:01:08.840 --> 00:01:10.900 You deserve that pile of donuts. 00:01:12.599 --> 00:01:13.460 You agree, right? 00:01:13.519 --> 00:01:14.280 I do. 00:01:15.859 --> 00:01:16.379 Fine. 00:01:16.819 --> 00:01:20.439 Which of these three influences the decisions that you make? 00:01:20.439 --> 00:01:22.659 The head, the heart or the will? 00:01:22.659 --> 00:01:27.319 Our head, our mind is the logical decision maker. 00:01:28.200 --> 00:01:34.899 Its electrical synapses allow thoughts at our senses to coordinate who we are. 00:01:35.560 --> 00:01:41.359 Our hearts are our emotion and passion center behind what we do and who we are. 00:01:41.359 --> 00:01:45.280 It's the basis of the actions that we choose and our will. 00:01:46.140 --> 00:01:51.159 Well, we speak of willpower, the amount of strength to make a decision to, 00:01:51.760 --> 00:01:54.799 that is important to who we are at any given moment. 00:01:54.799 --> 00:01:58.060 Choices about food and exercise, 00:01:58.480 --> 00:02:00.140 these might not seem that important, 00:02:00.599 --> 00:02:05.979 but the choices that we make impact our relationships with the people around us. 00:02:06.340 --> 00:02:09.960 I can make good choices to care for my marriage, 00:02:10.579 --> 00:02:12.539 and for my friends, and for my kids. 00:02:12.539 --> 00:02:20.479 I can make choices that are made of sin and hurt me and hurt others. 00:02:20.799 --> 00:02:25.979 I can choose impatience and anger over love and gentleness. 00:02:26.819 --> 00:02:29.500 And it's the same with our relationship with God. 00:02:30.639 --> 00:02:33.199 Our choices impact our relationship with Him. 00:02:33.739 --> 00:02:38.019 Are we aware of the things that are influencing our decisions? 00:02:38.019 --> 00:02:42.359 Do we know why we choose what we choose? 00:02:43.340 --> 00:02:47.179 We are in the middle of our series on the disciplines of grace. 00:02:47.639 --> 00:02:50.899 And God, in His love and mercy, has shown us His grace. 00:02:51.500 --> 00:02:53.239 He has brought us into His family. 00:02:54.000 --> 00:02:56.739 And we pursue holiness in His power. 00:02:57.459 --> 00:02:58.620 And over the last couple of weeks, 00:02:58.639 --> 00:03:01.579 we've seen that pursuing holiness can only be done 00:03:01.579 --> 00:03:05.680 because of God's unearned and undeserved grace. 00:03:06.459 --> 00:03:10.759 And last week, with John, we saw that without depending on God's strength, 00:03:10.759 --> 00:03:13.699 it's like trying to row a boat with one oar. 00:03:13.699 --> 00:03:17.120 We just end up going around in circles. 00:03:18.219 --> 00:03:20.439 And today, we come to a bit of a pointy end. 00:03:21.299 --> 00:03:24.379 How do we make good choices in life? 00:03:24.979 --> 00:03:29.359 How do we actually make worthwhile God-honoring decisions? 00:03:29.859 --> 00:03:34.500 Choosing the right things so that we are moving towards God in obedience 00:03:34.500 --> 00:03:36.979 instead of moving away from Him? 00:03:37.939 --> 00:03:42.539 What would we look like if our choices were disciplined by God's grace? 00:03:42.719 --> 00:03:45.680 So as we have a look at what God has to say to us today, 00:03:45.860 --> 00:03:48.979 let me pray for us before we jump into Ephesians. 00:03:49.379 --> 00:03:50.280 Heavenly Father, 00:03:51.280 --> 00:03:54.039 I thank You that You have given us Your Word 00:03:54.039 --> 00:03:58.000 and that You offer us salvation and love. 00:03:58.000 --> 00:04:02.080 Father, help us to understand who we are as people 00:04:02.080 --> 00:04:04.340 and why we make certain choices 00:04:04.340 --> 00:04:09.259 so that we can make choices to obey You 00:04:09.259 --> 00:04:11.360 because You have loved us, Lord. 00:04:11.639 --> 00:04:12.080 Amen. 00:04:13.460 --> 00:04:17.279 In the book of Ephesians, from the author Paul, 00:04:17.379 --> 00:04:21.560 he tells us what making good choices looks like. 00:04:22.120 --> 00:04:24.800 So please have your Bibles open with me at Ephesians 4. 00:04:24.800 --> 00:04:27.600 We're going to start in verse 25. 00:04:54.800 --> 00:04:56.160 Share with those in need. 00:04:56.620 --> 00:04:59.420 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, 00:04:59.600 --> 00:05:02.079 but only what is helpful for building others up 00:05:02.079 --> 00:05:03.500 according to their needs, 00:05:04.020 --> 00:05:05.860 that it may benefit those who listen. 00:05:06.780 --> 00:05:08.660 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God 00:05:08.660 --> 00:05:10.540 with whom you are sealed for the day of redemption. 00:05:11.500 --> 00:05:13.620 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, 00:05:13.759 --> 00:05:16.199 brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 00:05:16.480 --> 00:05:18.720 Be kind and compassionate to one another, 00:05:19.240 --> 00:05:20.180 forgiving each other, 00:05:20.580 --> 00:05:23.540 just as in Christ God forgave you. 00:05:23.540 --> 00:05:26.860 So in the first half of the book of Ephesians, 00:05:26.939 --> 00:05:27.800 the first three chapters, 00:05:28.240 --> 00:05:30.780 Paul spends his time outlining 00:05:30.780 --> 00:05:33.860 all that God has done in His grace 00:05:33.860 --> 00:05:35.720 in salvation for us. 00:05:36.340 --> 00:05:41.100 And now Paul speaks about how a Christian is to live. 00:05:41.700 --> 00:05:46.240 What it looks like to live in the world as a Christian. 00:05:46.939 --> 00:05:49.540 And Paul is saying that the Christian life 00:05:49.540 --> 00:05:53.280 involves a long series of choices. 00:05:54.439 --> 00:05:57.660 You can make this choice or this choice. 00:05:57.819 --> 00:05:58.540 You can... 00:05:58.540 --> 00:05:59.580 I think there's a slide for it. 00:05:59.600 --> 00:05:59.860 Let me see. 00:06:00.000 --> 00:06:00.280 Here we go. 00:06:00.480 --> 00:06:03.520 You can choose truth or you can lie. 00:06:03.660 --> 00:06:05.640 You can deal with your anger 00:06:05.640 --> 00:06:09.200 or you can let it smolder and burn. 00:06:09.420 --> 00:06:11.160 You can work or you can steal. 00:06:11.420 --> 00:06:13.759 You can share or you can spend it on yourself. 00:06:13.879 --> 00:06:15.539 You can speak helpful words. 00:06:15.599 --> 00:06:16.759 You can speak damaging words. 00:06:17.039 --> 00:06:19.319 You can be kind or full of rage. 00:06:19.579 --> 00:06:23.039 You can be compassionate or full of malice. 00:06:24.480 --> 00:06:26.659 Because God in His love and grace 00:06:26.659 --> 00:06:28.980 has chosen to love us 00:06:28.980 --> 00:06:30.480 and make us right before Him. 00:06:30.680 --> 00:06:35.360 So now we get the choice to obey Him. 00:06:35.360 --> 00:06:38.860 That is an every step, every decision, 00:06:39.180 --> 00:06:41.980 every moment of the day type thing. 00:06:42.699 --> 00:06:44.160 Speech that builds up. 00:06:44.540 --> 00:06:45.920 Sexuality that honors God. 00:06:46.199 --> 00:06:47.879 Hands that work to God's glory. 00:06:48.920 --> 00:06:50.600 And Paul says in the book of Romans 00:06:50.600 --> 00:06:53.379 that we choose to obey God. 00:06:53.500 --> 00:06:55.520 When we choose to obey God, 00:06:56.180 --> 00:06:57.720 it leads to holiness. 00:06:58.840 --> 00:07:01.540 When we choose to obey God, 00:07:01.600 --> 00:07:02.600 it leads to holiness. 00:07:02.600 --> 00:07:05.320 We put on Christ-like behavior, 00:07:06.280 --> 00:07:07.540 Christ-like character, 00:07:08.300 --> 00:07:10.520 one choice at a time. 00:07:11.320 --> 00:07:13.160 One choice at a time 00:07:13.160 --> 00:07:15.580 in each and every situation 00:07:15.580 --> 00:07:17.379 we are faced with throughout the day. 00:07:18.200 --> 00:07:20.700 You all had to make a choice this afternoon. 00:07:21.560 --> 00:07:23.580 Am I going to go to church? 00:07:24.480 --> 00:07:25.860 Am I going to stay home 00:07:25.860 --> 00:07:27.480 and have that pile of donuts 00:07:27.480 --> 00:07:29.080 James has suggested already? 00:07:29.079 --> 00:07:33.180 We don't become more holy 00:07:33.180 --> 00:07:35.959 just by depending upon God. 00:07:36.099 --> 00:07:37.479 We don't become more holy 00:07:37.479 --> 00:07:38.279 and Christ-like 00:07:38.279 --> 00:07:40.819 through praying a prayer of commitment 00:07:40.819 --> 00:07:42.240 to commit our lives to God. 00:07:42.399 --> 00:07:44.199 We don't even become holy 00:07:44.199 --> 00:07:46.939 just by reading God's Word. 00:07:48.399 --> 00:07:50.000 Paul in Romans 6 encourages us 00:07:50.000 --> 00:07:51.079 that we become holy 00:07:51.779 --> 00:07:54.519 by choosing to obey God. 00:07:54.519 --> 00:07:55.759 We become like Christ 00:07:55.759 --> 00:07:57.560 when we make that choice 00:07:57.560 --> 00:07:59.639 to obey Jesus. 00:08:00.359 --> 00:08:01.759 By obedience to His Word. 00:08:02.079 --> 00:08:04.060 By choosing to obey God's will 00:08:04.060 --> 00:08:06.139 that He has outlined in the Scriptures. 00:08:07.120 --> 00:08:08.599 Even Jesus Himself, 00:08:08.799 --> 00:08:09.639 who was perfect, 00:08:10.639 --> 00:08:13.099 had to put on holiness. 00:08:14.519 --> 00:08:16.959 He had to choose God's way. 00:08:17.799 --> 00:08:19.000 Hebrews 5 tells us 00:08:19.000 --> 00:08:20.939 that He had to learn holiness 00:08:20.939 --> 00:08:21.740 through obedience. 00:08:21.740 --> 00:08:22.860 And you see this 00:08:22.860 --> 00:08:24.480 when Jesus is tempted 00:08:24.480 --> 00:08:27.360 both by Satan 00:08:27.360 --> 00:08:28.960 and in the Garden of Gethsemane. 00:08:29.100 --> 00:08:30.240 There is that moment 00:08:30.240 --> 00:08:31.400 where there's that moment 00:08:31.400 --> 00:08:32.159 before Satan 00:08:32.159 --> 00:08:33.200 when Satan's like, 00:08:33.419 --> 00:08:33.960 come on, 00:08:34.360 --> 00:08:35.500 choose this way. 00:08:36.259 --> 00:08:38.600 Turn this stone into bread 00:08:38.600 --> 00:08:40.840 or a pile of donuts. 00:08:41.019 --> 00:08:41.139 You know, 00:08:41.299 --> 00:08:42.980 Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane 00:08:42.980 --> 00:08:44.720 faced with that choice, 00:08:44.840 --> 00:08:46.180 am I going to obey God 00:08:46.180 --> 00:08:47.100 to my death 00:08:47.100 --> 00:08:49.560 or am I going to choose my life? 00:08:49.559 --> 00:08:52.719 He chooses to obey God. 00:08:54.319 --> 00:08:55.899 And He does that fully 00:08:55.899 --> 00:08:58.939 by obeying when He dies on the cross. 00:08:59.899 --> 00:09:01.079 Paul has given us 00:09:01.079 --> 00:09:03.899 this big list of choices to make. 00:09:04.439 --> 00:09:06.000 It seems pretty straightforward 00:09:06.000 --> 00:09:08.839 when you put it in black and white like that. 00:09:09.599 --> 00:09:11.559 Holiness comes from choosing obedience. 00:09:11.559 --> 00:09:12.159 Obedience. 00:09:13.319 --> 00:09:14.979 But the reality is 00:09:14.979 --> 00:09:16.759 obeying God, 00:09:16.839 --> 00:09:17.979 making good choices 00:09:17.979 --> 00:09:19.699 is hard. 00:09:21.279 --> 00:09:22.919 Good choices are hard. 00:09:23.659 --> 00:09:24.639 It's not just as simple 00:09:24.639 --> 00:09:25.459 as making a decision, 00:09:25.619 --> 00:09:26.699 I'm going to obey God 00:09:26.699 --> 00:09:28.279 and then it's exactly 00:09:28.279 --> 00:09:29.239 what you do forever. 00:09:29.919 --> 00:09:31.719 At least that's my experience. 00:09:32.239 --> 00:09:33.639 I wonder if that's yours. 00:09:33.639 --> 00:09:36.740 There is a very real struggle 00:09:36.740 --> 00:09:39.299 that goes on in each of us. 00:09:39.600 --> 00:09:40.199 A struggle 00:09:40.199 --> 00:09:42.419 to be a good person. 00:09:42.539 --> 00:09:43.399 A struggle to 00:09:43.399 --> 00:09:45.199 obey God. 00:09:45.360 --> 00:09:46.539 A struggle to 00:09:46.539 --> 00:09:49.279 not be someone who sins. 00:09:50.480 --> 00:09:52.340 Good choices are hard. 00:09:52.799 --> 00:09:54.019 Fighting against sin 00:09:54.019 --> 00:09:55.100 and obeying God 00:09:55.100 --> 00:09:56.799 is a real struggle. 00:09:57.179 --> 00:09:58.179 I see it in me. 00:09:58.860 --> 00:09:59.939 I see it in my sin. 00:10:00.379 --> 00:10:01.879 I see it in my kids. 00:10:01.879 --> 00:10:04.679 I see it in all of you. 00:10:04.879 --> 00:10:06.559 I've had plenty of conversations 00:10:06.559 --> 00:10:07.419 with people here 00:10:07.419 --> 00:10:08.500 at previous churches 00:10:08.500 --> 00:10:10.419 about people who are just 00:10:10.419 --> 00:10:11.860 struggling with their sin, 00:10:12.179 --> 00:10:13.220 who hate it. 00:10:14.580 --> 00:10:16.720 They want to see their sin dead, 00:10:17.360 --> 00:10:18.740 but they struggle 00:10:18.740 --> 00:10:20.519 with the desire and pull. 00:10:22.100 --> 00:10:22.980 So for us today, 00:10:23.059 --> 00:10:24.259 we're going to have a look at 00:10:24.259 --> 00:10:25.840 two reasons 00:10:25.840 --> 00:10:27.779 why obeying God is hard 00:10:27.779 --> 00:10:29.720 and then three reasons, 00:10:30.200 --> 00:10:31.860 three ways that God helps us. 00:10:31.879 --> 00:10:34.100 Two ways that making good choices 00:10:34.100 --> 00:10:34.679 is hard 00:10:34.679 --> 00:10:36.360 and three ways that God helps us. 00:10:37.139 --> 00:10:38.299 So the first reason 00:10:38.299 --> 00:10:40.620 making good choices is hard 00:10:40.620 --> 00:10:42.399 is our hearts. 00:10:43.559 --> 00:10:44.840 Paul in Romans 7 00:10:44.840 --> 00:10:47.519 goes into this internal struggle. 00:10:48.299 --> 00:10:48.899 He says, 00:10:49.039 --> 00:10:50.419 For I have the desire 00:10:50.419 --> 00:10:51.519 to do what is good, 00:10:52.059 --> 00:10:53.759 but I cannot carry it out. 00:10:53.899 --> 00:10:55.539 For I do not do the good I want, 00:10:55.679 --> 00:10:57.519 but the evil I do not want to do. 00:10:57.679 --> 00:10:59.600 This I keep on doing. 00:10:59.600 --> 00:11:00.659 This is Paul. 00:11:00.740 --> 00:11:03.620 He was the best of the best Pharisees 00:11:03.620 --> 00:11:04.279 of the time. 00:11:04.360 --> 00:11:05.399 He knew the Old Testament 00:11:05.399 --> 00:11:06.420 back to front. 00:11:07.300 --> 00:11:07.779 He wrote, 00:11:07.960 --> 00:11:09.399 and then he was converted 00:11:09.399 --> 00:11:11.480 by Jesus when he met Jesus. 00:11:11.759 --> 00:11:13.720 And he goes on to plant churches 00:11:13.720 --> 00:11:17.440 all across the region of Turkey 00:11:17.440 --> 00:11:19.440 and Asia at the time. 00:11:19.720 --> 00:11:20.759 And then he ends up writing 00:11:20.759 --> 00:11:21.779 half the New Testament, 00:11:21.940 --> 00:11:22.580 which we have. 00:11:22.580 --> 00:11:24.780 And he's saying 00:11:24.780 --> 00:11:26.160 that he struggled 00:11:26.160 --> 00:11:27.420 to do good, 00:11:28.000 --> 00:11:30.060 but he did evil instead. 00:11:31.560 --> 00:11:32.600 Thomas Cranmer, 00:11:32.700 --> 00:11:34.120 he was the head, 00:11:34.280 --> 00:11:35.560 the archbishop of the church 00:11:35.560 --> 00:11:37.360 in England about 500 odd years ago. 00:11:37.759 --> 00:11:38.960 And he thought a lot 00:11:38.960 --> 00:11:40.080 about this difficulty 00:11:40.080 --> 00:11:41.320 to obey God. 00:11:41.800 --> 00:11:42.960 And one person summarized 00:11:42.960 --> 00:11:43.520 his thoughts 00:11:43.520 --> 00:11:45.180 and said, 00:11:45.580 --> 00:11:47.400 What the heart loves, 00:11:48.200 --> 00:11:49.280 the will chooses, 00:11:49.279 --> 00:11:51.679 and the mind justifies. 00:11:52.699 --> 00:11:53.639 The first reason 00:11:53.639 --> 00:11:54.720 making good choices 00:11:54.720 --> 00:11:55.319 is hard 00:11:55.319 --> 00:11:56.659 is because of our hearts. 00:11:57.240 --> 00:11:58.039 There is this 00:11:58.039 --> 00:11:59.860 trifold battle 00:11:59.860 --> 00:12:01.399 between heart 00:12:01.399 --> 00:12:02.500 and will 00:12:02.500 --> 00:12:03.519 and mind 00:12:03.519 --> 00:12:04.699 and the heart 00:12:04.699 --> 00:12:05.539 is the one 00:12:05.539 --> 00:12:06.480 that wins. 00:12:07.360 --> 00:12:08.699 What we desire 00:12:08.699 --> 00:12:09.860 in our hearts 00:12:09.860 --> 00:12:11.600 is always going 00:12:11.600 --> 00:12:12.199 to win out. 00:12:12.459 --> 00:12:13.839 And our mind 00:12:13.839 --> 00:12:14.319 is just going 00:12:14.319 --> 00:12:15.259 to justify it. 00:12:15.720 --> 00:12:16.919 We say things like, 00:12:16.919 --> 00:12:19.279 I know 00:12:19.279 --> 00:12:21.339 I shouldn't do this. 00:12:22.439 --> 00:12:23.079 I know 00:12:23.079 --> 00:12:24.039 I shouldn't eat this food. 00:12:24.059 --> 00:12:24.379 I know 00:12:24.379 --> 00:12:25.059 I shouldn't speak. 00:12:25.159 --> 00:12:26.099 I know I shouldn't. 00:12:26.740 --> 00:12:27.379 And then 00:12:27.379 --> 00:12:28.539 there's always 00:12:28.539 --> 00:12:29.699 a but. 00:12:30.899 --> 00:12:32.219 But I want to. 00:12:32.979 --> 00:12:33.740 I know 00:12:33.740 --> 00:12:34.279 I shouldn't, 00:12:34.339 --> 00:12:34.679 but I'm going 00:12:34.679 --> 00:12:35.519 to make an exception. 00:12:36.360 --> 00:12:36.979 For me, 00:12:37.099 --> 00:12:37.639 I know 00:12:37.639 --> 00:12:38.500 I should be patient 00:12:38.500 --> 00:12:39.439 with my kids, 00:12:40.439 --> 00:12:41.659 but 00:12:41.659 --> 00:12:43.740 I am so frustrated 00:12:43.740 --> 00:12:44.240 with them. 00:12:45.439 --> 00:12:45.860 Maybe it's, 00:12:45.939 --> 00:12:46.240 I know 00:12:46.240 --> 00:12:47.360 I shouldn't say this 00:12:47.360 --> 00:12:48.659 to her behind her back. 00:12:49.820 --> 00:12:50.460 I should say this 00:12:50.460 --> 00:12:51.639 about her behind her back. 00:12:52.080 --> 00:12:52.539 But 00:12:52.539 --> 00:12:54.480 I get to share 00:12:54.480 --> 00:12:55.019 this gossip. 00:12:55.299 --> 00:12:55.799 I know 00:12:55.799 --> 00:12:57.480 I should declare this 00:12:57.480 --> 00:12:58.620 on my tax return, 00:12:59.379 --> 00:13:00.440 but what the tax office 00:13:00.440 --> 00:13:01.060 doesn't know. 00:13:01.440 --> 00:13:02.159 I know 00:13:02.159 --> 00:13:03.139 I shouldn't look 00:13:03.139 --> 00:13:04.500 at this 00:13:04.500 --> 00:13:05.440 inappropriate material 00:13:05.440 --> 00:13:06.100 on my phone. 00:13:06.220 --> 00:13:06.659 I know 00:13:06.659 --> 00:13:07.539 it's not good for me, 00:13:08.180 --> 00:13:08.500 but 00:13:08.500 --> 00:13:10.480 I want to. 00:13:12.000 --> 00:13:12.419 When our 00:13:12.419 --> 00:13:13.299 willpower 00:13:13.299 --> 00:13:14.200 is weak, 00:13:14.200 --> 00:13:15.900 our hearts 00:13:15.900 --> 00:13:16.420 desires 00:13:16.420 --> 00:13:17.060 are revealed. 00:13:18.080 --> 00:13:18.759 We can usually 00:13:18.759 --> 00:13:19.480 pretend that 00:13:19.480 --> 00:13:20.160 we're pretty good 00:13:20.160 --> 00:13:20.520 people, 00:13:21.220 --> 00:13:22.220 but sometimes 00:13:22.220 --> 00:13:23.280 things come along 00:13:23.280 --> 00:13:24.259 and knock down 00:13:24.259 --> 00:13:24.580 that 00:13:24.580 --> 00:13:25.500 and reveal 00:13:25.500 --> 00:13:26.259 who we really 00:13:26.259 --> 00:13:26.680 are. 00:13:28.060 --> 00:13:28.500 It's been 00:13:28.500 --> 00:13:29.060 interesting talking 00:13:29.060 --> 00:13:29.440 to people 00:13:29.440 --> 00:13:30.160 about this year's 00:13:30.160 --> 00:13:30.720 tax returns. 00:13:30.840 --> 00:13:31.460 I don't know 00:13:31.460 --> 00:13:32.220 if you're a 00:13:32.220 --> 00:13:32.700 person who 00:13:32.700 --> 00:13:33.379 pays tax, 00:13:33.580 --> 00:13:34.000 has a tax 00:13:34.000 --> 00:13:34.280 return. 00:13:34.860 --> 00:13:35.640 It reminded me 00:13:35.640 --> 00:13:36.120 of what happened 00:13:36.120 --> 00:13:36.720 years ago 00:13:36.720 --> 00:13:37.860 when the government 00:13:37.860 --> 00:13:38.660 first started 00:13:38.660 --> 00:13:39.280 handing out this 00:13:39.280 --> 00:13:39.580 thing called 00:13:39.580 --> 00:13:40.360 the baby bonus. 00:13:40.680 --> 00:13:41.060 Did anybody 00:13:41.060 --> 00:13:41.940 get the baby bonus? 00:13:41.940 --> 00:13:43.440 Are any 00:13:43.440 --> 00:13:43.740 of you 00:13:43.740 --> 00:13:44.040 children 00:13:44.040 --> 00:13:45.400 a baby 00:13:45.400 --> 00:13:45.920 of the baby 00:13:45.920 --> 00:13:46.260 bonus? 00:13:47.140 --> 00:13:47.600 That might 00:13:47.600 --> 00:13:47.960 be a more 00:13:47.960 --> 00:13:48.340 accurate. 00:13:49.280 --> 00:13:49.740 John is. 00:13:49.820 --> 00:13:50.280 John's a baby 00:13:50.280 --> 00:13:50.660 of the baby 00:13:50.660 --> 00:13:50.920 bonus. 00:13:50.980 --> 00:13:51.380 That's good. 00:13:51.960 --> 00:13:52.600 It was a 00:13:52.600 --> 00:13:53.380 financial boost 00:13:53.380 --> 00:13:53.680 that the 00:13:53.680 --> 00:13:54.000 government 00:13:54.000 --> 00:13:55.220 gave to 00:13:55.220 --> 00:13:55.780 people who 00:13:55.780 --> 00:13:56.360 had kids 00:13:56.360 --> 00:13:56.740 to pay 00:13:56.740 --> 00:13:57.000 for the 00:13:57.000 --> 00:13:57.440 associated 00:13:57.440 --> 00:13:57.860 costs 00:13:57.860 --> 00:13:58.260 of having 00:13:58.260 --> 00:13:58.740 a child. 00:13:59.220 --> 00:13:59.600 You know, 00:14:00.340 --> 00:14:00.840 nappies 00:14:00.840 --> 00:14:01.140 and all 00:14:01.140 --> 00:14:01.720 those wonderful 00:14:01.720 --> 00:14:02.120 things. 00:14:03.260 --> 00:14:03.740 But I had 00:14:03.740 --> 00:14:04.300 so many 00:14:04.300 --> 00:14:04.900 conversations 00:14:04.900 --> 00:14:05.540 with people 00:14:05.540 --> 00:14:06.440 about what 00:14:06.440 --> 00:14:06.700 they were 00:14:06.700 --> 00:14:07.440 actually spending 00:14:07.440 --> 00:14:07.820 their money 00:14:07.820 --> 00:14:08.160 on. 00:14:08.720 --> 00:14:09.240 Holidays, 00:14:10.020 --> 00:14:10.500 TVs, 00:14:10.500 --> 00:14:11.759 things for 00:14:11.759 --> 00:14:12.580 them and 00:14:12.580 --> 00:14:13.100 not what 00:14:13.100 --> 00:14:13.299 it was 00:14:13.299 --> 00:14:13.759 actually 00:14:13.759 --> 00:14:14.279 intended 00:14:14.279 --> 00:14:14.659 to. 00:14:15.700 --> 00:14:16.100 A big 00:14:16.100 --> 00:14:16.820 chunk of 00:14:16.820 --> 00:14:18.059 cash revealed 00:14:18.059 --> 00:14:19.120 where their 00:14:19.120 --> 00:14:19.580 hearts were 00:14:19.580 --> 00:14:19.879 at. 00:14:21.340 --> 00:14:22.200 I wonder 00:14:22.200 --> 00:14:22.679 what would 00:14:22.679 --> 00:14:23.340 you do 00:14:23.340 --> 00:14:24.059 if I gave 00:14:24.059 --> 00:14:24.460 you a 00:14:24.460 --> 00:14:24.919 sizable 00:14:24.919 --> 00:14:25.440 chunk of 00:14:25.440 --> 00:14:25.759 cash 00:14:25.759 --> 00:14:26.460 right now? 00:14:27.399 --> 00:14:28.220 Would it 00:14:28.220 --> 00:14:28.759 reveal 00:14:28.759 --> 00:14:30.299 where your 00:14:30.299 --> 00:14:31.159 heart is? 00:14:31.240 --> 00:14:31.500 Would it 00:14:31.500 --> 00:14:32.720 reveal how 00:14:32.720 --> 00:14:33.100 you were 00:14:33.100 --> 00:14:33.500 treasuring 00:14:33.500 --> 00:14:33.879 Jesus? 00:14:35.299 --> 00:14:35.940 There are 00:14:35.940 --> 00:14:36.539 times when 00:14:36.539 --> 00:14:37.179 our choices 00:14:37.179 --> 00:14:38.480 reveal the 00:14:38.480 --> 00:14:39.059 state of 00:14:39.059 --> 00:14:39.679 our hearts. 00:14:39.679 --> 00:14:40.539 If we 00:14:40.539 --> 00:14:41.000 were to 00:14:41.000 --> 00:14:41.839 just think 00:14:41.839 --> 00:14:42.459 that we 00:14:42.459 --> 00:14:43.979 as humans 00:14:43.979 --> 00:14:44.620 and people 00:14:44.620 --> 00:14:45.899 made decisions 00:14:45.899 --> 00:14:46.419 in our 00:14:46.419 --> 00:14:47.319 minds that 00:14:47.319 --> 00:14:47.759 weren't 00:14:47.759 --> 00:14:48.539 influenced by 00:14:48.539 --> 00:14:49.679 our hidden 00:14:49.679 --> 00:14:50.699 desires and 00:14:50.699 --> 00:14:51.179 motives in 00:14:51.179 --> 00:14:51.639 our heart, 00:14:51.959 --> 00:14:52.679 we would 00:14:52.679 --> 00:14:53.519 understand how 00:14:53.519 --> 00:14:54.439 we work and 00:14:54.439 --> 00:14:54.879 how other 00:14:54.879 --> 00:14:55.599 people work. 00:14:56.419 --> 00:14:57.120 We are far 00:14:57.120 --> 00:14:57.939 more complicated 00:14:57.939 --> 00:14:58.439 than that. 00:14:58.959 --> 00:14:59.479 And what is 00:14:59.479 --> 00:15:00.120 going in our 00:15:00.120 --> 00:15:01.120 hearts when it 00:15:01.120 --> 00:15:01.679 comes to what's 00:15:01.679 --> 00:15:02.399 really important 00:15:02.399 --> 00:15:03.939 is what 00:15:03.939 --> 00:15:04.979 wins. 00:15:05.919 --> 00:15:06.559 Even when 00:15:06.559 --> 00:15:07.199 our mind 00:15:07.199 --> 00:15:07.839 says something 00:15:07.839 --> 00:15:08.199 else. 00:15:08.500 --> 00:15:09.479 Because what 00:15:09.480 --> 00:15:09.940 the heart 00:15:09.940 --> 00:15:10.340 wants, 00:15:10.379 --> 00:15:10.580 what the 00:15:10.580 --> 00:15:10.779 heart 00:15:10.779 --> 00:15:11.480 desires, 00:15:11.840 --> 00:15:12.539 our will 00:15:12.539 --> 00:15:12.960 chooses, 00:15:13.139 --> 00:15:13.379 and the 00:15:13.379 --> 00:15:13.759 mind is 00:15:13.759 --> 00:15:14.039 just going 00:15:14.039 --> 00:15:14.600 to justify 00:15:14.600 --> 00:15:15.000 it. 00:15:15.519 --> 00:15:15.879 So that's 00:15:15.879 --> 00:15:16.460 the first 00:15:16.460 --> 00:15:17.519 reason that 00:15:17.519 --> 00:15:18.180 making good 00:15:18.180 --> 00:15:18.759 choices is 00:15:18.759 --> 00:15:19.180 hard, 00:15:19.259 --> 00:15:20.019 because of 00:15:20.019 --> 00:15:20.620 our hearts. 00:15:21.460 --> 00:15:21.920 The second 00:15:21.920 --> 00:15:22.800 reason making 00:15:22.800 --> 00:15:23.379 good choices 00:15:23.379 --> 00:15:24.720 is hard is 00:15:24.720 --> 00:15:25.460 because we 00:15:25.460 --> 00:15:26.420 get decision 00:15:26.420 --> 00:15:27.100 fatigue. 00:15:28.200 --> 00:15:28.659 Have you 00:15:28.659 --> 00:15:28.940 heard of 00:15:28.940 --> 00:15:29.220 decision 00:15:29.220 --> 00:15:29.519 fatigue? 00:15:29.700 --> 00:15:29.920 Have you 00:15:29.920 --> 00:15:30.639 felt decision 00:15:30.639 --> 00:15:31.019 fatigue? 00:15:31.659 --> 00:15:32.139 Paul is 00:15:32.139 --> 00:15:32.600 nodding with 00:15:32.600 --> 00:15:32.759 me. 00:15:33.340 --> 00:15:34.060 I remember 00:15:34.060 --> 00:15:34.500 when we were 00:15:34.500 --> 00:15:35.100 planning our 00:15:35.100 --> 00:15:35.379 wedding, 00:15:35.539 --> 00:15:36.100 not Paul and 00:15:36.100 --> 00:15:36.200 I, 00:15:36.340 --> 00:15:36.800 I'll listen 00:15:36.800 --> 00:15:37.039 to my 00:15:37.039 --> 00:15:37.240 wedding, 00:15:37.659 --> 00:15:38.159 when we were 00:15:38.159 --> 00:15:38.579 planning our 00:15:38.579 --> 00:15:38.799 wedding, 00:15:39.100 --> 00:15:39.419 there were 00:15:39.419 --> 00:15:39.939 just so 00:15:39.939 --> 00:15:40.799 many decisions 00:15:40.799 --> 00:15:41.319 that needed 00:15:41.319 --> 00:15:41.899 to be made. 00:15:42.259 --> 00:15:42.639 There was 00:15:42.639 --> 00:15:43.059 the wedding 00:15:43.059 --> 00:15:43.539 cake. 00:15:44.360 --> 00:15:45.219 What flavor 00:15:45.219 --> 00:15:45.779 was going to 00:15:45.779 --> 00:15:47.139 be of the 00:15:47.139 --> 00:15:47.339 cake? 00:15:47.379 --> 00:15:47.639 How many 00:15:47.639 --> 00:15:48.159 layers were 00:15:48.159 --> 00:15:48.419 going to be 00:15:48.419 --> 00:15:48.620 in the 00:15:48.620 --> 00:15:48.740 cake? 00:15:48.779 --> 00:15:49.000 What was 00:15:49.000 --> 00:15:49.179 going to 00:15:49.179 --> 00:15:49.579 be on 00:15:49.579 --> 00:15:50.000 the cake? 00:15:50.360 --> 00:15:50.799 What kind 00:15:50.799 --> 00:15:51.279 of knife 00:15:51.279 --> 00:15:51.500 were we 00:15:51.500 --> 00:15:51.719 going to 00:15:51.719 --> 00:15:52.139 use to 00:15:52.139 --> 00:15:52.419 cut the 00:15:52.419 --> 00:15:52.719 cake? 00:15:53.120 --> 00:15:53.539 Which we 00:15:53.539 --> 00:15:54.079 broke when 00:15:54.079 --> 00:15:54.259 we were 00:15:54.259 --> 00:15:54.639 cutting our 00:15:54.639 --> 00:15:54.879 cake? 00:15:56.439 --> 00:15:57.019 How many 00:15:57.019 --> 00:15:57.519 people are 00:15:57.519 --> 00:15:57.839 we going 00:15:57.839 --> 00:15:58.459 to invite? 00:15:59.000 --> 00:15:59.480 Where are 00:15:59.480 --> 00:15:59.899 they going 00:15:59.899 --> 00:16:00.439 to sit? 00:16:00.539 --> 00:16:00.919 In what 00:16:00.919 --> 00:16:01.659 order are 00:16:01.659 --> 00:16:02.339 they going 00:16:02.339 --> 00:16:02.919 to sit? 00:16:03.519 --> 00:16:03.980 There is 00:16:03.980 --> 00:16:04.439 the wedding 00:16:04.439 --> 00:16:04.839 dress. 00:16:04.939 --> 00:16:05.419 Maybe not 00:16:05.419 --> 00:16:06.000 that dress, 00:16:06.079 --> 00:16:06.539 maybe that 00:16:06.539 --> 00:16:06.860 dress, 00:16:08.159 --> 00:16:08.459 let's try 00:16:08.459 --> 00:16:09.000 another 15 00:16:09.000 --> 00:16:09.199 wedding 00:16:09.199 --> 00:16:09.559 dresses. 00:16:09.899 --> 00:16:10.279 Now, 00:16:10.379 --> 00:16:11.159 the bridesmaids 00:16:11.159 --> 00:16:11.519 dresses, 00:16:11.679 --> 00:16:12.039 I don't 00:16:12.039 --> 00:16:12.360 like that, 00:16:12.419 --> 00:16:12.639 I don't 00:16:12.639 --> 00:16:12.980 like you 00:16:12.980 --> 00:16:13.319 in that, 00:16:13.459 --> 00:16:13.759 and the 00:16:13.759 --> 00:16:14.120 man wears 00:16:14.120 --> 00:16:14.579 a suit. 00:16:16.559 --> 00:16:17.399 My wife 00:16:17.399 --> 00:16:17.919 helpfully 00:16:17.919 --> 00:16:18.740 pointed out 00:16:18.740 --> 00:16:19.699 to me that 00:16:19.699 --> 00:16:20.179 I didn't 00:16:20.179 --> 00:16:20.579 have to 00:16:20.579 --> 00:16:21.259 make all 00:16:21.259 --> 00:16:21.759 those decisions, 00:16:21.879 --> 00:16:22.079 it was 00:16:22.079 --> 00:16:22.539 mainly her 00:16:22.539 --> 00:16:23.019 making those 00:16:23.019 --> 00:16:23.339 decisions, 00:16:23.500 --> 00:16:23.980 but I was 00:16:23.980 --> 00:16:24.519 involved with 00:16:24.519 --> 00:16:24.959 enough of 00:16:24.959 --> 00:16:25.100 them. 00:16:25.579 --> 00:16:25.980 Making 00:16:25.980 --> 00:16:26.659 decisions 00:16:26.659 --> 00:16:27.959 is 00:16:27.959 --> 00:16:28.879 exhausting. 00:16:31.120 --> 00:16:31.620 And we 00:16:31.620 --> 00:16:31.839 have to 00:16:31.839 --> 00:16:32.379 make choices 00:16:32.379 --> 00:16:32.879 all day 00:16:32.879 --> 00:16:33.240 long. 00:16:34.059 --> 00:16:34.759 What am 00:16:34.759 --> 00:16:34.919 I going 00:16:34.919 --> 00:16:35.279 to wear? 00:16:35.379 --> 00:16:35.539 What am 00:16:35.539 --> 00:16:35.720 I going 00:16:35.720 --> 00:16:36.019 to eat? 00:16:36.079 --> 00:16:36.279 How am 00:16:36.279 --> 00:16:36.399 I going 00:16:36.399 --> 00:16:36.720 to get to 00:16:36.720 --> 00:16:37.100 work? 00:16:37.659 --> 00:16:37.899 Am I 00:16:37.899 --> 00:16:38.059 going to 00:16:38.059 --> 00:16:38.360 buy a 00:16:38.360 --> 00:16:38.679 coffee 00:16:38.679 --> 00:16:39.000 before 00:16:39.000 --> 00:16:39.379 work, 00:16:39.399 --> 00:16:39.579 or do 00:16:39.579 --> 00:16:39.799 I have 00:16:39.799 --> 00:16:40.179 a coffee 00:16:40.179 --> 00:16:40.799 at work? 00:16:41.799 --> 00:16:42.259 What 00:16:42.259 --> 00:16:43.019 flavour is 00:16:43.019 --> 00:16:43.279 it going 00:16:43.279 --> 00:16:43.720 to be? 00:16:44.179 --> 00:16:44.519 What am 00:16:44.519 --> 00:16:44.860 I going 00:16:44.860 --> 00:16:45.500 to do? 00:16:45.919 --> 00:16:46.279 Am I 00:16:46.279 --> 00:16:46.720 going to 00:16:46.720 --> 00:16:47.000 go to 00:16:47.000 --> 00:16:47.139 that 00:16:47.139 --> 00:16:47.600 tutorial 00:16:47.600 --> 00:16:48.139 today, 00:16:48.379 --> 00:16:49.220 or will 00:16:49.220 --> 00:16:49.579 I just 00:16:49.579 --> 00:16:50.000 do it 00:16:50.000 --> 00:16:50.459 at home? 00:16:51.179 --> 00:16:51.819 Will I 00:16:51.819 --> 00:16:52.399 get sushi 00:16:52.399 --> 00:16:52.899 or dumplings 00:16:52.899 --> 00:16:53.459 for lunch? 00:16:54.039 --> 00:16:54.419 And it 00:16:54.419 --> 00:16:55.240 leaves our 00:16:55.240 --> 00:16:55.919 brains 00:16:55.919 --> 00:16:57.559 exhausted, 00:16:58.659 --> 00:16:59.439 unable to 00:16:59.439 --> 00:17:00.480 make good 00:17:00.480 --> 00:17:00.980 decisions. 00:17:01.819 --> 00:17:02.319 This is 00:17:02.319 --> 00:17:02.799 why people 00:17:02.799 --> 00:17:04.180 like Steve 00:17:04.180 --> 00:17:04.519 Jobs, 00:17:05.319 --> 00:17:06.359 the founder 00:17:06.359 --> 00:17:06.719 and head 00:17:06.719 --> 00:17:07.159 of Apple 00:17:07.159 --> 00:17:07.500 until he 00:17:07.500 --> 00:17:07.740 passed 00:17:07.740 --> 00:17:07.979 away. 00:17:08.939 --> 00:17:09.379 He wore 00:17:09.379 --> 00:17:09.799 the same 00:17:09.799 --> 00:17:10.319 thing 00:17:10.319 --> 00:17:11.159 every day 00:17:11.159 --> 00:17:12.000 so he 00:17:12.000 --> 00:17:12.500 just didn't 00:17:12.500 --> 00:17:13.099 have to 00:17:13.099 --> 00:17:13.939 make that 00:17:13.939 --> 00:17:14.339 decision. 00:17:14.979 --> 00:17:15.500 So he 00:17:15.500 --> 00:17:15.879 could use 00:17:15.879 --> 00:17:16.339 his brain 00:17:16.339 --> 00:17:16.799 for other 00:17:16.799 --> 00:17:17.279 things. 00:17:19.000 --> 00:17:19.759 And how 00:17:19.759 --> 00:17:20.039 do we 00:17:20.039 --> 00:17:20.479 go then 00:17:20.479 --> 00:17:20.759 when it 00:17:20.759 --> 00:17:21.559 comes to 00:17:21.559 --> 00:17:21.799 making 00:17:21.799 --> 00:17:22.599 choices 00:17:22.599 --> 00:17:23.319 to obey 00:17:23.319 --> 00:17:23.859 God? 00:17:25.439 --> 00:17:25.879 Making 00:17:25.879 --> 00:17:26.859 good choices 00:17:26.859 --> 00:17:27.399 to obey 00:17:27.399 --> 00:17:28.079 God is 00:17:28.079 --> 00:17:28.959 influenced by 00:17:28.959 --> 00:17:29.639 how fatigued 00:17:29.639 --> 00:17:30.019 we get. 00:17:30.899 --> 00:17:31.459 As I 00:17:31.459 --> 00:17:31.699 mentioned 00:17:31.699 --> 00:17:32.079 earlier, 00:17:32.199 --> 00:17:32.719 I'm a 00:17:32.719 --> 00:17:33.199 morning 00:17:33.199 --> 00:17:33.619 person, 00:17:33.619 --> 00:17:34.779 so I 00:17:34.779 --> 00:17:35.159 make better 00:17:35.159 --> 00:17:35.659 choices in 00:17:35.659 --> 00:17:36.099 the mornings. 00:17:37.359 --> 00:17:37.619 Making 00:17:37.619 --> 00:17:38.279 the God 00:17:38.279 --> 00:17:38.719 honoring 00:17:38.719 --> 00:17:39.319 choice to 00:17:39.319 --> 00:17:39.959 be patient 00:17:39.959 --> 00:17:40.739 is much 00:17:40.739 --> 00:17:41.879 harder when 00:17:41.879 --> 00:17:42.599 I'm tired 00:17:42.599 --> 00:17:43.139 at the 00:17:43.139 --> 00:17:43.579 end of 00:17:43.579 --> 00:17:44.139 the day. 00:17:45.059 --> 00:17:45.479 Making 00:17:45.479 --> 00:17:46.219 the choice 00:17:46.219 --> 00:17:47.939 to be 00:17:47.939 --> 00:17:48.839 gentle and 00:17:48.839 --> 00:17:49.339 loving with 00:17:49.339 --> 00:17:49.819 my words 00:17:49.819 --> 00:17:50.259 at the 00:17:50.259 --> 00:17:50.579 end of 00:17:50.579 --> 00:17:50.939 the day 00:17:50.939 --> 00:17:51.519 for me 00:17:51.519 --> 00:17:51.939 is a 00:17:51.939 --> 00:17:52.139 lot 00:17:52.139 --> 00:17:52.519 harder. 00:17:53.899 --> 00:17:54.439 Recently 00:17:54.439 --> 00:17:54.879 I read 00:17:54.879 --> 00:17:55.599 a study 00:17:55.599 --> 00:17:56.279 about the 00:17:56.279 --> 00:17:56.959 impact 00:17:56.959 --> 00:17:58.719 decision 00:17:58.719 --> 00:17:59.459 making has 00:17:59.459 --> 00:17:59.839 on our 00:17:59.839 --> 00:18:00.479 willpower. 00:18:01.479 --> 00:18:01.699 In a 00:18:01.699 --> 00:18:02.219 research study 00:18:02.220 --> 00:18:02.640 by the 00:18:02.640 --> 00:18:03.360 National 00:18:03.360 --> 00:18:03.920 Academy 00:18:03.920 --> 00:18:04.519 of Sciences 00:18:04.519 --> 00:18:04.900 from the 00:18:04.900 --> 00:18:05.259 US, 00:18:05.720 --> 00:18:06.640 they examined 00:18:06.640 --> 00:18:07.880 the factors 00:18:07.880 --> 00:18:09.200 that impacted 00:18:09.200 --> 00:18:10.759 judges when 00:18:10.759 --> 00:18:11.000 they were 00:18:11.000 --> 00:18:11.799 making decisions 00:18:11.799 --> 00:18:12.539 whether criminals 00:18:12.539 --> 00:18:13.059 should go out 00:18:13.059 --> 00:18:13.519 on parole. 00:18:13.819 --> 00:18:14.279 They looked 00:18:14.279 --> 00:18:14.940 at all the 00:18:14.940 --> 00:18:16.559 factors and 00:18:16.559 --> 00:18:17.079 the biggest 00:18:17.079 --> 00:18:17.839 factor was 00:18:17.839 --> 00:18:18.559 not the 00:18:18.559 --> 00:18:19.000 type of 00:18:19.000 --> 00:18:19.360 crime, 00:18:19.720 --> 00:18:20.220 the severity 00:18:20.220 --> 00:18:20.600 of the 00:18:20.600 --> 00:18:20.839 crime, 00:18:20.920 --> 00:18:21.240 how long 00:18:21.240 --> 00:18:21.579 they've been 00:18:21.579 --> 00:18:22.160 incarcerated. 00:18:22.680 --> 00:18:23.380 The biggest 00:18:23.380 --> 00:18:25.539 factor that 00:18:25.539 --> 00:18:26.400 impacted whether 00:18:26.400 --> 00:18:27.000 a criminal 00:18:27.000 --> 00:18:27.880 got parole 00:18:27.880 --> 00:18:29.240 was the 00:18:29.240 --> 00:18:30.079 time of 00:18:30.079 --> 00:18:30.519 day. 00:18:30.519 --> 00:18:32.000 It was 00:18:32.000 --> 00:18:32.339 the time 00:18:32.339 --> 00:18:32.720 of day. 00:18:33.359 --> 00:18:33.879 So first 00:18:33.879 --> 00:18:34.119 thing in 00:18:34.119 --> 00:18:34.480 the morning 00:18:34.480 --> 00:18:35.740 the percentage 00:18:35.740 --> 00:18:36.460 of decisions 00:18:36.460 --> 00:18:37.200 made by a 00:18:37.200 --> 00:18:38.680 judge was 00:18:38.680 --> 00:18:39.960 65%. 00:18:39.960 --> 00:18:41.279 So 65% 00:18:41.279 --> 00:18:41.539 of their 00:18:41.539 --> 00:18:42.039 decisions 00:18:42.039 --> 00:18:42.940 of criminals 00:18:42.940 --> 00:18:43.539 they went 00:18:43.539 --> 00:18:43.819 out on 00:18:43.819 --> 00:18:44.099 parole. 00:18:45.220 --> 00:18:46.019 As the 00:18:46.019 --> 00:18:46.500 day went 00:18:46.500 --> 00:18:47.400 on that 00:18:47.400 --> 00:18:48.220 plummeted 00:18:48.220 --> 00:18:48.859 to zero. 00:18:50.500 --> 00:18:50.900 And so 00:18:50.900 --> 00:18:52.940 by and 00:18:52.940 --> 00:18:53.579 then the 00:18:53.579 --> 00:18:54.000 judge would 00:18:54.000 --> 00:18:54.200 have a 00:18:54.200 --> 00:18:54.660 lunch break, 00:18:55.319 --> 00:18:55.779 have some 00:18:55.779 --> 00:18:56.180 food, 00:18:57.299 --> 00:18:58.059 the brain 00:18:58.059 --> 00:18:58.619 would have 00:18:58.619 --> 00:18:59.139 some sugar 00:18:59.140 --> 00:18:59.580 in it so 00:18:59.580 --> 00:18:59.780 it could 00:18:59.780 --> 00:19:00.160 function 00:19:00.160 --> 00:19:00.640 properly, 00:19:00.920 --> 00:19:01.380 and they'd 00:19:01.380 --> 00:19:01.880 come back 00:19:01.880 --> 00:19:02.700 and their 00:19:02.700 --> 00:19:03.759 percentage of 00:19:03.759 --> 00:19:04.320 criminals out 00:19:04.320 --> 00:19:04.700 on parole 00:19:04.700 --> 00:19:05.080 would go 00:19:05.080 --> 00:19:05.460 back up to 00:19:05.460 --> 00:19:05.980 65. 00:19:06.259 --> 00:19:06.660 Very 00:19:06.660 --> 00:19:07.020 generous. 00:19:07.259 --> 00:19:07.520 It would 00:19:07.520 --> 00:19:08.240 drop again 00:19:08.240 --> 00:19:09.240 after that. 00:19:10.720 --> 00:19:11.160 Our 00:19:11.160 --> 00:19:12.900 willpower is 00:19:12.900 --> 00:19:13.360 like a 00:19:13.360 --> 00:19:13.940 muscle that 00:19:13.940 --> 00:19:14.800 gets fatigued. 00:19:15.440 --> 00:19:16.240 And so if 00:19:16.240 --> 00:19:16.800 you're going 00:19:16.800 --> 00:19:17.460 to go and 00:19:17.460 --> 00:19:17.920 commit a crime 00:19:17.920 --> 00:19:18.580 anytime soon, 00:19:18.620 --> 00:19:18.920 you want to 00:19:18.920 --> 00:19:19.220 see that 00:19:19.220 --> 00:19:20.720 judge early 00:19:20.720 --> 00:19:20.920 in the 00:19:20.920 --> 00:19:21.120 morning, 00:19:21.340 --> 00:19:21.800 not at 00:19:21.800 --> 00:19:22.440 11.30 00:19:22.440 --> 00:19:22.820 when he's 00:19:22.820 --> 00:19:23.220 hangry. 00:19:25.020 --> 00:19:25.860 Every time 00:19:25.860 --> 00:19:26.360 we make a 00:19:26.360 --> 00:19:26.800 decision, 00:19:26.980 --> 00:19:27.340 it gets 00:19:27.340 --> 00:19:27.960 harder to 00:19:27.960 --> 00:19:28.280 make the 00:19:28.279 --> 00:19:28.899 next one 00:19:28.899 --> 00:19:29.680 a good 00:19:29.680 --> 00:19:29.960 one. 00:19:31.160 --> 00:19:31.500 We get 00:19:31.500 --> 00:19:32.039 home from 00:19:32.039 --> 00:19:32.579 work or 00:19:32.579 --> 00:19:33.220 from school 00:19:33.220 --> 00:19:33.839 and we 00:19:33.839 --> 00:19:34.099 want to 00:19:34.099 --> 00:19:34.480 make good 00:19:34.480 --> 00:19:34.859 decisions. 00:19:35.180 --> 00:19:35.440 We want 00:19:35.440 --> 00:19:36.420 to love 00:19:36.420 --> 00:19:36.799 and honour 00:19:36.799 --> 00:19:37.379 our parents 00:19:37.379 --> 00:19:37.720 as we 00:19:37.720 --> 00:19:38.279 honour God, 00:19:38.500 --> 00:19:39.000 but we've 00:19:39.000 --> 00:19:39.960 run out of 00:19:39.960 --> 00:19:40.379 willpower. 00:19:41.139 --> 00:19:41.639 We want 00:19:41.639 --> 00:19:42.839 to eat a 00:19:42.839 --> 00:19:43.519 healthy meal, 00:19:43.799 --> 00:19:44.160 we want to 00:19:44.160 --> 00:19:44.779 cook good 00:19:44.779 --> 00:19:45.359 food, 00:19:45.839 --> 00:19:46.420 but we've 00:19:46.420 --> 00:19:46.799 run out of 00:19:46.799 --> 00:19:47.420 willpower and 00:19:47.420 --> 00:19:47.960 so we order 00:19:47.960 --> 00:19:48.480 Uber Eats 00:19:48.480 --> 00:19:48.940 instead. 00:19:50.339 --> 00:19:50.819 You know, 00:19:50.899 --> 00:19:51.819 you want to 00:19:51.819 --> 00:19:52.440 go out and 00:19:52.440 --> 00:19:52.859 exercise, 00:19:53.180 --> 00:19:53.440 you want to 00:19:53.440 --> 00:19:53.839 make good 00:19:53.839 --> 00:19:54.279 decisions, 00:19:54.460 --> 00:19:54.740 but it's 00:19:54.740 --> 00:19:55.599 cold and 00:19:55.599 --> 00:19:56.359 the TV is 00:19:56.359 --> 00:19:57.000 not going to 00:19:57.000 --> 00:19:57.680 watch itself. 00:19:58.279 --> 00:20:00.200 Why is 00:20:00.200 --> 00:20:00.879 this important? 00:20:01.480 --> 00:20:02.079 Why is 00:20:02.079 --> 00:20:02.700 this important 00:20:02.700 --> 00:20:03.519 for us as 00:20:03.519 --> 00:20:03.940 Christians? 00:20:05.139 --> 00:20:05.460 Well, 00:20:05.539 --> 00:20:06.139 we need to 00:20:06.139 --> 00:20:07.279 understand who 00:20:07.279 --> 00:20:08.500 we are as 00:20:08.500 --> 00:20:09.519 people with 00:20:09.519 --> 00:20:10.399 bodies. 00:20:11.399 --> 00:20:12.279 God has 00:20:12.279 --> 00:20:13.139 made us 00:20:13.139 --> 00:20:13.819 embodied 00:20:13.819 --> 00:20:14.539 creatures. 00:20:14.960 --> 00:20:15.460 We are not 00:20:15.460 --> 00:20:17.180 just spirits. 00:20:17.639 --> 00:20:18.779 We have a 00:20:18.779 --> 00:20:19.399 spiritual aspect, 00:20:19.579 --> 00:20:20.119 but we also 00:20:20.119 --> 00:20:21.299 have bodies 00:20:21.299 --> 00:20:21.940 who are 00:20:21.940 --> 00:20:22.759 reliant on 00:20:22.759 --> 00:20:23.279 food. 00:20:23.899 --> 00:20:24.720 We use 00:20:24.720 --> 00:20:25.399 energy that 00:20:25.399 --> 00:20:25.899 is not 00:20:25.899 --> 00:20:26.579 unlimited. 00:20:26.579 --> 00:20:28.419 do you 00:20:28.419 --> 00:20:29.220 know when 00:20:29.220 --> 00:20:30.139 you are 00:20:30.139 --> 00:20:30.819 tempted to 00:20:30.819 --> 00:20:31.179 sin? 00:20:31.919 --> 00:20:32.419 Do you 00:20:32.419 --> 00:20:33.460 know what 00:20:33.460 --> 00:20:34.139 is going to 00:20:34.139 --> 00:20:34.939 have a 00:20:34.939 --> 00:20:36.039 negative impact 00:20:36.039 --> 00:20:36.599 on you? 00:20:36.799 --> 00:20:37.099 Do you 00:20:37.099 --> 00:20:37.419 know the 00:20:37.419 --> 00:20:37.980 time of 00:20:37.980 --> 00:20:39.599 day that 00:20:39.599 --> 00:20:39.899 you are 00:20:39.899 --> 00:20:40.659 more likely 00:20:40.659 --> 00:20:41.379 to struggle? 00:20:42.379 --> 00:20:43.319 So when we 00:20:43.319 --> 00:20:43.859 are confronted 00:20:43.859 --> 00:20:44.579 by sin, 00:20:44.779 --> 00:20:45.359 maybe we 00:20:45.359 --> 00:20:45.879 need to be 00:20:45.879 --> 00:20:46.279 like the 00:20:46.279 --> 00:20:47.019 judge and 00:20:47.019 --> 00:20:47.419 go and 00:20:47.419 --> 00:20:47.799 eat some 00:20:47.799 --> 00:20:49.220 food so 00:20:49.220 --> 00:20:49.579 that our 00:20:49.579 --> 00:20:50.899 brains have 00:20:50.899 --> 00:20:51.439 some sugar 00:20:51.439 --> 00:20:51.839 and it 00:20:51.839 --> 00:20:53.799 functions so 00:20:53.799 --> 00:20:54.379 we can make 00:20:54.380 --> 00:20:55.500 good choices? 00:20:57.220 --> 00:20:58.020 Do you 00:20:58.020 --> 00:20:59.120 know what 00:20:59.120 --> 00:20:59.500 you are 00:20:59.500 --> 00:21:00.380 like as 00:21:00.380 --> 00:21:01.120 a person 00:21:01.120 --> 00:21:01.500 with a 00:21:01.500 --> 00:21:01.840 body 00:21:01.840 --> 00:21:02.500 following 00:21:02.500 --> 00:21:02.880 God? 00:21:03.980 --> 00:21:04.760 This all 00:21:04.760 --> 00:21:05.400 seems stacked 00:21:05.400 --> 00:21:06.140 against us. 00:21:07.340 --> 00:21:08.200 Our hearts 00:21:08.200 --> 00:21:08.520 are going to 00:21:08.520 --> 00:21:08.900 do whatever 00:21:08.900 --> 00:21:09.260 they want 00:21:09.260 --> 00:21:09.760 to do. 00:21:10.620 --> 00:21:11.220 Making 00:21:11.220 --> 00:21:12.260 decisions is 00:21:12.260 --> 00:21:13.200 exhausting for 00:21:13.200 --> 00:21:15.000 us, but 00:21:15.000 --> 00:21:16.460 good choices 00:21:16.460 --> 00:21:17.940 are possible. 00:21:19.080 --> 00:21:19.740 And there 00:21:19.740 --> 00:21:20.080 are three 00:21:20.080 --> 00:21:20.500 things, 00:21:21.080 --> 00:21:22.000 three ways 00:21:22.000 --> 00:21:22.480 to help 00:21:22.480 --> 00:21:24.140 us with 00:21:24.140 --> 00:21:24.920 making good 00:21:24.920 --> 00:21:25.339 choices. 00:21:25.880 --> 00:21:26.539 The first, 00:21:26.660 --> 00:21:27.000 let's have a 00:21:27.000 --> 00:21:27.319 look at that 00:21:27.319 --> 00:21:27.940 quote again. 00:21:28.680 --> 00:21:28.940 What the 00:21:28.940 --> 00:21:29.740 heart loves, 00:21:30.119 --> 00:21:30.519 the will 00:21:30.519 --> 00:21:31.400 chooses and 00:21:31.400 --> 00:21:31.980 the mind 00:21:31.980 --> 00:21:32.799 justifies. 00:21:33.259 --> 00:21:34.359 We don't 00:21:34.359 --> 00:21:35.559 need more 00:21:35.559 --> 00:21:36.480 willpower. 00:21:37.299 --> 00:21:38.140 Willpower is 00:21:38.140 --> 00:21:38.480 not going to 00:21:38.480 --> 00:21:39.000 help us. 00:21:39.759 --> 00:21:40.500 We don't 00:21:40.500 --> 00:21:41.480 need a 00:21:41.480 --> 00:21:42.160 more disciplined 00:21:42.160 --> 00:21:42.839 mind. 00:21:43.660 --> 00:21:44.220 We definitely 00:21:44.220 --> 00:21:44.859 don't need more 00:21:44.859 --> 00:21:45.579 guilt when we 00:21:45.579 --> 00:21:45.819 sin. 00:21:46.640 --> 00:21:47.519 What we need 00:21:47.519 --> 00:21:48.359 is the first 00:21:48.359 --> 00:21:48.640 one. 00:21:49.599 --> 00:21:50.619 We need a 00:21:50.619 --> 00:21:51.619 new heart. 00:21:52.519 --> 00:21:52.859 And this 00:21:52.859 --> 00:21:53.299 is what God 00:21:53.299 --> 00:21:54.140 promised in 00:21:54.140 --> 00:21:55.019 Ezekiel 11, 00:21:55.460 --> 00:21:55.920 that he would 00:21:55.920 --> 00:21:56.619 give us a 00:21:56.619 --> 00:21:57.259 new heart 00:21:57.259 --> 00:21:57.880 and a new 00:21:57.880 --> 00:21:58.299 spirit. 00:21:59.119 --> 00:21:59.539 And this is 00:21:59.539 --> 00:21:59.940 what happens 00:21:59.940 --> 00:22:00.400 when God 00:22:00.400 --> 00:22:01.279 reveals himself 00:22:01.279 --> 00:22:01.980 to us. 00:22:03.019 --> 00:22:03.519 And we can 00:22:03.519 --> 00:22:04.339 see Jesus 00:22:04.339 --> 00:22:04.940 for who he 00:22:04.940 --> 00:22:05.160 is. 00:22:05.220 --> 00:22:05.900 He is God's 00:22:05.900 --> 00:22:06.160 son. 00:22:06.559 --> 00:22:07.200 No longer 00:22:07.200 --> 00:22:07.619 are we 00:22:07.619 --> 00:22:08.339 slaves to 00:22:08.339 --> 00:22:08.779 sin. 00:22:09.799 --> 00:22:10.279 God has 00:22:10.279 --> 00:22:11.240 rescued us 00:22:11.240 --> 00:22:11.920 and he has 00:22:11.920 --> 00:22:12.900 given us a 00:22:12.900 --> 00:22:13.519 way to 00:22:13.519 --> 00:22:14.220 choose to 00:22:14.220 --> 00:22:14.920 obey him. 00:22:16.299 --> 00:22:17.059 And as 00:22:17.059 --> 00:22:18.380 we grow 00:22:18.380 --> 00:22:18.980 in Christ 00:22:18.980 --> 00:22:19.579 likeness and 00:22:19.579 --> 00:22:20.079 follow him, 00:22:20.160 --> 00:22:20.480 he is 00:22:20.480 --> 00:22:21.779 changing our 00:22:21.779 --> 00:22:22.380 hearts. 00:22:22.759 --> 00:22:23.039 He has 00:22:23.039 --> 00:22:23.579 taken out 00:22:23.579 --> 00:22:24.000 our heart 00:22:24.000 --> 00:22:24.539 of stone 00:22:24.539 --> 00:22:25.180 and put 00:22:25.180 --> 00:22:25.420 in a 00:22:25.420 --> 00:22:25.779 heart of 00:22:25.779 --> 00:22:26.599 flesh and 00:22:26.599 --> 00:22:27.019 he is 00:22:27.019 --> 00:22:28.140 changing our 00:22:28.140 --> 00:22:29.420 desires so 00:22:29.420 --> 00:22:29.860 that we can 00:22:29.860 --> 00:22:30.180 be more 00:22:30.180 --> 00:22:30.839 Christ-like, 00:22:31.380 --> 00:22:32.000 so that we 00:22:32.000 --> 00:22:32.860 can make 00:22:32.860 --> 00:22:34.259 decisions to 00:22:34.259 --> 00:22:34.779 honor him. 00:22:35.559 --> 00:22:35.940 He is 00:22:35.940 --> 00:22:36.500 changing us 00:22:36.500 --> 00:22:37.140 from just 00:22:37.140 --> 00:22:38.460 pursuing wealth 00:22:38.460 --> 00:22:39.420 and greed 00:22:39.420 --> 00:22:40.539 and power 00:22:40.539 --> 00:22:41.940 and immorality 00:22:41.940 --> 00:22:43.279 to choosing 00:22:43.279 --> 00:22:44.880 to love 00:22:44.880 --> 00:22:45.319 and be 00:22:45.319 --> 00:22:46.160 generous and 00:22:46.160 --> 00:22:46.559 gentle, 00:22:46.559 --> 00:22:47.519 to love and 00:22:47.519 --> 00:22:48.180 honor God. 00:22:48.180 --> 00:22:50.140 God offers 00:22:50.140 --> 00:22:50.759 a gracious 00:22:50.759 --> 00:22:51.299 gift of 00:22:51.299 --> 00:22:51.600 a new 00:22:51.600 --> 00:22:52.920 heart so 00:22:52.920 --> 00:22:53.320 that we 00:22:53.320 --> 00:22:53.900 can choose 00:22:53.900 --> 00:22:55.000 him, so 00:22:55.000 --> 00:22:55.560 we can 00:22:55.560 --> 00:22:56.320 obey him. 00:22:57.580 --> 00:22:58.100 When I've 00:22:58.100 --> 00:22:58.799 gotten really 00:22:58.799 --> 00:22:59.740 frustrated at 00:22:59.740 --> 00:23:00.500 bad choices, 00:23:00.900 --> 00:23:01.620 I'll usually 00:23:01.620 --> 00:23:02.200 respond, 00:23:02.380 --> 00:23:03.440 James, don't 00:23:03.440 --> 00:23:03.820 do that 00:23:03.820 --> 00:23:05.500 again, don't 00:23:05.500 --> 00:23:06.019 be an 00:23:06.019 --> 00:23:07.519 idiot, you're 00:23:07.519 --> 00:23:08.000 better than 00:23:08.000 --> 00:23:08.600 that, God 00:23:08.600 --> 00:23:09.100 loves you, 00:23:09.279 --> 00:23:10.140 you need to 00:23:10.140 --> 00:23:10.799 be stronger, 00:23:12.539 --> 00:23:13.120 you need to 00:23:13.120 --> 00:23:13.600 have more 00:23:13.600 --> 00:23:14.759 willpower and 00:23:14.759 --> 00:23:16.380 that is not 00:23:16.380 --> 00:23:17.019 always helpful. 00:23:18.180 --> 00:23:19.420 It is far 00:23:19.420 --> 00:23:19.960 better to 00:23:19.960 --> 00:23:21.680 remember and 00:23:21.680 --> 00:23:22.980 pray, God, 00:23:23.860 --> 00:23:24.620 change my 00:23:24.620 --> 00:23:26.160 heart, change 00:23:26.160 --> 00:23:27.680 my desires, 00:23:28.519 --> 00:23:29.460 give me new 00:23:29.460 --> 00:23:30.240 desires so 00:23:30.240 --> 00:23:31.519 that I am not 00:23:31.519 --> 00:23:32.500 seeking to 00:23:32.500 --> 00:23:33.920 please myself, 00:23:34.060 --> 00:23:34.779 but so that I 00:23:34.779 --> 00:23:35.259 want to honor 00:23:35.259 --> 00:23:36.080 you and love 00:23:36.080 --> 00:23:36.320 you. 00:23:37.560 --> 00:23:38.080 And so the 00:23:38.080 --> 00:23:38.660 first thing that 00:23:38.660 --> 00:23:39.259 helps us to 00:23:39.259 --> 00:23:40.380 obey God is 00:23:40.380 --> 00:23:41.220 that he offers 00:23:41.220 --> 00:23:42.640 and gives us 00:23:42.640 --> 00:23:43.820 a new heart, 00:23:44.220 --> 00:23:45.060 a new heart 00:23:45.060 --> 00:23:45.440 with new 00:23:45.440 --> 00:23:45.980 desires. 00:23:45.980 --> 00:23:48.460 Secondly, God 00:23:48.460 --> 00:23:49.220 has made us 00:23:49.220 --> 00:23:50.039 creatures of 00:23:50.039 --> 00:23:50.400 habit. 00:23:51.519 --> 00:23:52.000 You might 00:23:52.000 --> 00:23:52.740 even be 00:23:52.740 --> 00:23:53.620 sitting in the 00:23:53.620 --> 00:23:54.299 same seat 00:23:54.299 --> 00:23:55.099 thereabouts that 00:23:55.099 --> 00:23:55.920 you usually sit 00:23:55.920 --> 00:23:56.960 in, I don't 00:23:56.960 --> 00:23:57.400 know, I 00:23:57.400 --> 00:23:57.819 wonder if I 00:23:57.819 --> 00:23:58.440 could take a 00:23:58.440 --> 00:23:58.640 couple of 00:23:58.640 --> 00:23:59.279 panographs over 00:23:59.279 --> 00:23:59.660 the next couple 00:23:59.660 --> 00:24:00.160 of weeks and 00:24:00.160 --> 00:24:00.880 check that out 00:24:00.880 --> 00:24:01.259 if you like, 00:24:01.440 --> 00:24:01.860 but we are 00:24:01.860 --> 00:24:02.920 creatures of 00:24:02.920 --> 00:24:03.599 habit and 00:24:03.599 --> 00:24:04.120 this is one 00:24:04.120 --> 00:24:04.700 of the ways 00:24:04.700 --> 00:24:05.180 that God 00:24:05.180 --> 00:24:05.640 has given 00:24:05.640 --> 00:24:06.720 us to get 00:24:06.720 --> 00:24:07.599 over decision 00:24:07.599 --> 00:24:08.240 fatigue. 00:24:09.240 --> 00:24:10.140 If we make 00:24:10.140 --> 00:24:10.779 a decision 00:24:10.779 --> 00:24:12.240 enough times, 00:24:12.420 --> 00:24:13.400 it will become 00:24:13.400 --> 00:24:14.660 a habit so we 00:24:14.660 --> 00:24:15.600 don't have to 00:24:15.600 --> 00:24:16.000 make that 00:24:16.000 --> 00:24:16.380 decision. 00:24:17.000 --> 00:24:17.660 We'll just 00:24:17.660 --> 00:24:18.420 do it without 00:24:18.420 --> 00:24:19.120 thinking about 00:24:19.120 --> 00:24:19.360 it. 00:24:20.060 --> 00:24:20.580 And at the 00:24:20.580 --> 00:24:21.019 heart of 00:24:21.019 --> 00:24:22.440 habits is the 00:24:22.440 --> 00:24:23.300 brilliance of 00:24:23.300 --> 00:24:24.140 our Creator 00:24:24.140 --> 00:24:24.560 God. 00:24:25.259 --> 00:24:25.940 Because making 00:24:25.940 --> 00:24:26.779 decisions takes 00:24:26.779 --> 00:24:27.759 time and 00:24:27.759 --> 00:24:29.580 energy, but 00:24:29.580 --> 00:24:30.940 habits keep 00:24:30.940 --> 00:24:31.779 us from having 00:24:31.779 --> 00:24:32.240 to make that 00:24:32.240 --> 00:24:33.019 decision over 00:24:33.019 --> 00:24:33.960 and over and 00:24:33.960 --> 00:24:34.779 over again. 00:24:36.019 --> 00:24:37.240 We are really 00:24:37.240 --> 00:24:38.240 good at making 00:24:38.240 --> 00:24:39.200 habits because 00:24:39.200 --> 00:24:39.880 our brain is 00:24:39.880 --> 00:24:40.600 very lazy. 00:24:40.960 --> 00:24:42.140 Our brain doesn't 00:24:42.140 --> 00:24:42.620 want to use 00:24:42.620 --> 00:24:43.220 energy, it wants 00:24:43.220 --> 00:24:44.180 to conserve energy. 00:24:44.180 --> 00:24:45.480 It wants to 00:24:45.480 --> 00:24:46.299 take something 00:24:46.299 --> 00:24:46.759 that we do 00:24:46.759 --> 00:24:47.500 regularly and 00:24:47.500 --> 00:24:48.160 just make it a 00:24:48.160 --> 00:24:48.380 habit. 00:24:49.019 --> 00:24:49.519 It will turn 00:24:49.519 --> 00:24:50.160 almost any 00:24:50.160 --> 00:24:51.420 routine into a 00:24:51.420 --> 00:24:51.640 habit. 00:24:52.380 --> 00:24:53.000 This is why 00:24:53.000 --> 00:24:54.140 when I've hurt 00:24:54.140 --> 00:24:54.960 my right hand 00:24:54.960 --> 00:24:55.380 and have to 00:24:55.380 --> 00:24:56.019 brush my teeth 00:24:56.019 --> 00:24:56.460 with my left 00:24:56.460 --> 00:24:57.680 hand, it just 00:24:57.680 --> 00:24:58.160 doesn't know 00:24:58.160 --> 00:24:58.860 what to do. 00:24:59.460 --> 00:25:00.240 And I have a 00:25:00.240 --> 00:25:00.880 certain habit 00:25:00.880 --> 00:25:01.480 with my right 00:25:01.480 --> 00:25:03.039 So our brain 00:25:03.039 --> 00:25:03.779 is really good 00:25:03.779 --> 00:25:04.100 at making 00:25:04.100 --> 00:25:04.519 habits. 00:25:05.560 --> 00:25:06.120 And when we 00:25:06.120 --> 00:25:06.860 are trained to 00:25:06.860 --> 00:25:07.680 have good 00:25:07.680 --> 00:25:09.519 habits, our 00:25:09.519 --> 00:25:10.480 brain is then 00:25:10.480 --> 00:25:12.200 freed up to 00:25:12.200 --> 00:25:13.200 use that energy 00:25:13.200 --> 00:25:14.380 to make good 00:25:14.380 --> 00:25:15.759 choices to 00:25:15.759 --> 00:25:16.500 obey God. 00:25:17.140 --> 00:25:18.019 It's not going 00:25:18.019 --> 00:25:18.519 to get as 00:25:18.519 --> 00:25:19.559 fatigued as 00:25:19.559 --> 00:25:19.860 easily. 00:25:20.500 --> 00:25:21.420 It's freed up 00:25:21.420 --> 00:25:22.100 to use that 00:25:22.100 --> 00:25:23.380 energy to 00:25:23.380 --> 00:25:24.259 make good 00:25:24.259 --> 00:25:25.440 God-honoring 00:25:25.440 --> 00:25:26.000 choices. 00:25:27.279 --> 00:25:28.200 Imagine if 00:25:28.200 --> 00:25:30.080 we put some 00:25:30.080 --> 00:25:31.220 hard work and 00:25:31.220 --> 00:25:31.759 some energy 00:25:31.759 --> 00:25:32.740 into taking 00:25:32.740 --> 00:25:33.700 off some bad 00:25:33.700 --> 00:25:35.000 habits and 00:25:35.000 --> 00:25:35.779 putting on 00:25:35.779 --> 00:25:36.600 good ones. 00:25:37.500 --> 00:25:38.360 Imagine if we 00:25:38.360 --> 00:25:39.299 put on the 00:25:39.299 --> 00:25:39.980 habit of getting 00:25:39.980 --> 00:25:40.680 up first thing 00:25:40.680 --> 00:25:41.160 in the morning 00:25:41.160 --> 00:25:43.799 spending time 00:25:43.799 --> 00:25:44.240 with God, 00:25:44.360 --> 00:25:45.259 hearing from 00:25:45.259 --> 00:25:46.180 God's voice 00:25:46.180 --> 00:25:47.100 before anybody 00:25:47.100 --> 00:25:47.940 else's voice. 00:25:48.500 --> 00:25:49.299 Spending time 00:25:49.299 --> 00:25:49.840 in prayer. 00:25:50.779 --> 00:25:51.460 Imagine if we 00:25:51.460 --> 00:25:51.880 put on the 00:25:51.880 --> 00:25:52.560 habit of 00:25:52.560 --> 00:25:53.320 community group 00:25:53.320 --> 00:25:54.480 and gathering 00:25:54.480 --> 00:25:55.140 together to 00:25:55.140 --> 00:25:55.980 treasure Jesus 00:25:55.980 --> 00:25:56.799 and so that's 00:25:56.799 --> 00:25:57.480 just an automatic 00:25:57.480 --> 00:25:58.140 part of the 00:25:58.140 --> 00:25:58.400 week. 00:25:58.620 --> 00:25:59.180 Don't even have 00:25:59.180 --> 00:25:59.779 to think about 00:25:59.779 --> 00:25:59.940 it. 00:26:00.200 --> 00:26:01.060 I just go to 00:26:01.060 --> 00:26:01.700 church, I go to 00:26:01.700 --> 00:26:02.299 community group, 00:26:02.640 --> 00:26:03.120 they're just my 00:26:03.120 --> 00:26:03.460 habits. 00:26:04.620 --> 00:26:05.320 Because it's 00:26:05.320 --> 00:26:06.340 dangerous to have 00:26:06.340 --> 00:26:07.019 to make these 00:26:07.019 --> 00:26:08.420 decisions over and 00:26:08.420 --> 00:26:09.080 over again. 00:26:10.019 --> 00:26:10.680 Our hearts 00:26:10.680 --> 00:26:12.220 easily wander, we 00:26:12.220 --> 00:26:13.460 don't want to 00:26:13.460 --> 00:26:15.039 obey God and 00:26:15.039 --> 00:26:15.759 so if we make 00:26:15.759 --> 00:26:16.840 these habits it's 00:26:16.840 --> 00:26:17.539 going to protect 00:26:17.539 --> 00:26:18.019 us. 00:26:18.860 --> 00:26:19.900 I heard about a 00:26:19.900 --> 00:26:20.539 Christian recently 00:26:20.539 --> 00:26:22.279 who wasn't very 00:26:22.279 --> 00:26:23.000 encouraging. 00:26:24.480 --> 00:26:25.840 He put in his 00:26:25.840 --> 00:26:27.220 calendar to 00:26:27.220 --> 00:26:28.140 encourage someone 00:26:28.140 --> 00:26:29.380 every three days. 00:26:29.920 --> 00:26:30.800 I think if I was 00:26:30.800 --> 00:26:31.360 going to do that 00:26:31.360 --> 00:26:31.860 it would have to 00:26:31.860 --> 00:26:32.460 be every couple 00:26:32.460 --> 00:26:33.420 of hours but 00:26:33.420 --> 00:26:34.019 that's just me. 00:26:34.300 --> 00:26:35.080 But he made a 00:26:35.080 --> 00:26:36.120 habit out of it and 00:26:36.120 --> 00:26:37.400 so through that 00:26:37.400 --> 00:26:38.300 habit he has now 00:26:38.299 --> 00:26:38.940 become someone 00:26:38.940 --> 00:26:40.700 who habitually 00:26:40.700 --> 00:26:42.039 encourages and 00:26:42.039 --> 00:26:42.899 builds up other 00:26:42.899 --> 00:26:43.519 people with his 00:26:43.519 --> 00:26:43.980 words. 00:26:44.940 --> 00:26:46.119 That habit helped 00:26:46.119 --> 00:26:48.539 him to choose to 00:26:48.539 --> 00:26:49.200 become more 00:26:49.200 --> 00:26:51.099 Christ-like but it 00:26:51.099 --> 00:26:52.480 also took some 00:26:52.480 --> 00:26:52.960 effort. 00:26:54.139 --> 00:26:56.359 If Jesus truly is 00:26:56.359 --> 00:26:57.159 our Lord and 00:26:57.159 --> 00:26:58.059 Saviour and our 00:26:58.059 --> 00:26:59.180 greatest treasure in 00:26:59.180 --> 00:27:01.480 our lives, do our 00:27:01.480 --> 00:27:03.259 habits reflect that? 00:27:04.659 --> 00:27:06.879 It is worth it to 00:27:06.879 --> 00:27:07.960 make the effort and 00:27:07.960 --> 00:27:09.380 use our energy to 00:27:09.380 --> 00:27:10.880 cultivate a new 00:27:10.880 --> 00:27:12.360 habit, maybe even 00:27:12.360 --> 00:27:14.380 two new habits, to 00:27:14.380 --> 00:27:16.200 pursue God and 00:27:16.200 --> 00:27:17.180 being like him, to 00:27:17.180 --> 00:27:17.960 make him our 00:27:17.960 --> 00:27:18.880 greatest joy. 00:27:19.759 --> 00:27:20.420 But I want to give a 00:27:20.420 --> 00:27:21.180 brief warning on 00:27:21.180 --> 00:27:21.539 habits. 00:27:22.279 --> 00:27:23.140 Habits can be very 00:27:23.140 --> 00:27:24.740 good but they 00:27:24.740 --> 00:27:25.480 don't make us 00:27:25.480 --> 00:27:26.740 holy on their own. 00:27:27.579 --> 00:27:28.720 Some of us are 00:27:28.720 --> 00:27:29.819 incredibly disciplined. 00:27:30.420 --> 00:27:31.299 Some of us might be 00:27:31.299 --> 00:27:31.980 getting up really 00:27:31.980 --> 00:27:33.160 early, memorising 00:27:33.160 --> 00:27:34.059 large chunks of the 00:27:34.059 --> 00:27:34.259 Bible. 00:27:34.259 --> 00:27:35.279 Maybe we get out of 00:27:35.279 --> 00:27:36.640 bed and we spend 00:27:36.640 --> 00:27:38.319 exactly 16 minutes 00:27:38.319 --> 00:27:39.379 reading God's Word and 00:27:39.379 --> 00:27:40.960 then four and a half 00:27:40.960 --> 00:27:42.279 minutes praying every 00:27:42.279 --> 00:27:42.660 day. 00:27:44.259 --> 00:27:45.960 And it's easy to think 00:27:45.960 --> 00:27:47.059 that being disciplined 00:27:47.059 --> 00:27:48.559 and doing that kind of 00:27:48.559 --> 00:27:50.059 thing every day brings 00:27:50.059 --> 00:27:51.359 us closer to God. 00:27:52.279 --> 00:27:54.420 But it's not habits that 00:27:54.420 --> 00:27:55.599 bring us closer to God, 00:27:55.619 --> 00:27:57.039 it's choosing to obey 00:27:57.039 --> 00:27:57.359 him. 00:27:57.900 --> 00:27:59.220 And so habits are a 00:27:59.220 --> 00:28:00.400 wonderful blessing for 00:28:00.400 --> 00:28:02.140 us because they free up 00:28:02.140 --> 00:28:04.140 our brains to have the 00:28:04.140 --> 00:28:05.040 energy to make good 00:28:05.040 --> 00:28:05.440 choices. 00:28:06.580 --> 00:28:08.259 So firstly, God gives 00:28:08.259 --> 00:28:09.680 us new hearts with new 00:28:09.680 --> 00:28:10.180 desires. 00:28:11.080 --> 00:28:12.400 And secondly, God has 00:28:12.400 --> 00:28:14.780 made us people who can 00:28:14.780 --> 00:28:15.980 get over decision 00:28:15.980 --> 00:28:17.960 fatigue with good 00:28:17.960 --> 00:28:18.340 habits. 00:28:18.880 --> 00:28:21.120 And thirdly then, it's 00:28:21.120 --> 00:28:22.180 the importance of 00:28:22.180 --> 00:28:22.680 training. 00:28:23.460 --> 00:28:24.860 In 1 Timothy 4, Paul 00:28:24.860 --> 00:28:26.640 tells us that physical 00:28:26.640 --> 00:28:28.100 training is of some 00:28:28.100 --> 00:28:30.840 value, which is a 00:28:30.840 --> 00:28:31.259 little bit of 00:28:31.259 --> 00:28:32.200 justification for me 00:28:32.200 --> 00:28:32.859 spending some time at 00:28:32.859 --> 00:28:33.119 the gym. 00:28:33.819 --> 00:28:35.839 But spiritual 00:28:35.839 --> 00:28:38.220 training is of 00:28:38.220 --> 00:28:39.119 utmost value. 00:28:40.519 --> 00:28:41.819 We must train 00:28:41.819 --> 00:28:42.920 ourselves to be 00:28:42.920 --> 00:28:43.640 godly. 00:28:44.720 --> 00:28:45.900 Choosing godliness 00:28:45.900 --> 00:28:48.059 takes practice. 00:28:48.980 --> 00:28:49.799 We've seen that 00:28:49.799 --> 00:28:50.819 decision making is 00:28:50.819 --> 00:28:51.680 exhausting like 00:28:51.680 --> 00:28:52.740 exercising a muscle, 00:28:52.980 --> 00:28:54.359 but what happens when 00:28:54.359 --> 00:28:55.500 you exercise a muscle? 00:28:56.420 --> 00:28:56.879 Anybody? 00:28:57.119 --> 00:28:57.740 What happens when you 00:28:57.740 --> 00:28:58.480 exercise a muscle? 00:29:00.019 --> 00:29:00.619 Noeline, what was 00:29:00.619 --> 00:29:00.799 that? 00:29:00.799 --> 00:29:02.339 It builds. 00:29:02.819 --> 00:29:04.819 Hopefully, it might 00:29:04.819 --> 00:29:06.720 even get bigger and 00:29:06.720 --> 00:29:07.500 more defined. 00:29:08.500 --> 00:29:09.559 I don't know. 00:29:10.000 --> 00:29:11.200 But more importantly, 00:29:11.440 --> 00:29:13.180 it becomes more able to 00:29:13.180 --> 00:29:14.859 withstand pressure and 00:29:14.859 --> 00:29:15.339 weight. 00:29:16.639 --> 00:29:18.379 God wants us to train 00:29:18.379 --> 00:29:20.119 ourselves to obey him 00:29:20.119 --> 00:29:23.559 so that we can 00:29:23.559 --> 00:29:24.720 understand more 00:29:24.720 --> 00:29:26.819 pressure and more 00:29:26.819 --> 00:29:27.180 weight. 00:29:27.180 --> 00:29:28.720 God's love for you. 00:29:28.720 --> 00:29:29.620 He has saved us 00:29:29.620 --> 00:29:30.360 through his son. 00:29:30.640 --> 00:29:31.500 He gives us a new 00:29:31.500 --> 00:29:32.340 heart with new 00:29:32.340 --> 00:29:33.779 desires and we can 00:29:33.779 --> 00:29:34.799 now make good 00:29:34.799 --> 00:29:35.240 choices. 00:29:35.759 --> 00:29:36.720 But this is where the 00:29:36.720 --> 00:29:37.400 rubber hits the road. 00:29:37.500 --> 00:29:38.840 This is where things get 00:29:38.840 --> 00:29:39.180 real. 00:29:40.160 --> 00:29:41.279 Because we need to train 00:29:41.279 --> 00:29:43.279 ourselves to obey every 00:29:43.279 --> 00:29:44.580 single day. 00:29:45.259 --> 00:29:46.440 The temptation to sin 00:29:46.440 --> 00:29:46.940 comes. 00:29:47.640 --> 00:29:49.000 Imagine any of your 00:29:49.000 --> 00:29:49.320 sins. 00:29:49.380 --> 00:29:50.160 Just take one of them. 00:29:50.380 --> 00:29:51.539 That temptation to sin 00:29:51.539 --> 00:29:53.900 comes and you're tired. 00:29:53.900 --> 00:29:55.900 And you've been praying 00:29:55.900 --> 00:29:58.019 to God about this sin 00:29:58.019 --> 00:30:00.340 every day for the last 00:30:00.340 --> 00:30:01.960 five years. 00:30:01.960 --> 00:30:04.560 And you hate this sin. 00:30:04.640 --> 00:30:05.680 You want to put it off. 00:30:05.680 --> 00:30:11.380 Are you willing to say no 00:30:11.380 --> 00:30:12.420 in that moment? 00:30:13.779 --> 00:30:14.940 That's what it comes down 00:30:14.940 --> 00:30:15.180 to. 00:30:16.519 --> 00:30:18.480 Will we put off sin and 00:30:18.480 --> 00:30:20.799 put on choosing to 00:30:20.799 --> 00:30:21.940 obey God? 00:30:23.180 --> 00:30:24.799 Remember that list from 00:30:24.799 --> 00:30:26.180 Paul in Ephesians 4. 00:30:26.740 --> 00:30:28.259 Every day we are 00:30:28.259 --> 00:30:29.860 training ourselves to be 00:30:29.860 --> 00:30:31.860 people characterized by 00:30:31.860 --> 00:30:33.799 either godliness or 00:30:33.799 --> 00:30:35.899 ungodliness by by lies or 00:30:35.899 --> 00:30:37.799 by truth by selfishness 00:30:37.799 --> 00:30:39.960 or unselfishness by anger 00:30:39.960 --> 00:30:41.799 or forgiveness by impurity 00:30:41.799 --> 00:30:43.759 or purity pride or 00:30:43.759 --> 00:30:44.680 humility. 00:30:45.599 --> 00:30:47.339 Every day we are making 00:30:47.339 --> 00:30:48.220 us more like one of 00:30:48.220 --> 00:30:48.460 these. 00:30:48.799 --> 00:30:49.440 We are people. 00:30:51.759 --> 00:30:53.259 More used to are we 00:30:53.259 --> 00:30:54.460 people more used to 00:30:54.460 --> 00:30:55.480 lifting the weight of 00:30:55.480 --> 00:30:56.019 truth. 00:30:56.819 --> 00:30:58.539 Able to deal with truth 00:30:58.539 --> 00:31:00.099 or are we training 00:31:00.099 --> 00:31:01.599 ourselves to lie? 00:31:01.599 --> 00:31:03.339 Are we training 00:31:03.339 --> 00:31:05.359 ourselves to let go of 00:31:05.359 --> 00:31:08.159 our pride and to put on 00:31:08.159 --> 00:31:09.539 humility or are we 00:31:09.539 --> 00:31:11.419 training ourselves to be 00:31:11.419 --> 00:31:12.079 angry? 00:31:13.959 --> 00:31:15.419 Jess Backich in the 00:31:15.419 --> 00:31:16.759 office recently made a 00:31:16.759 --> 00:31:20.199 decision that she as part 00:31:20.199 --> 00:31:21.240 of a mental health 00:31:21.240 --> 00:31:22.879 awareness campaign she 00:31:22.879 --> 00:31:23.519 was going to do 00:31:23.519 --> 00:31:25.119 something like it's 00:31:25.119 --> 00:31:27.079 it's 6,000 push-ups. 00:31:27.279 --> 00:31:28.459 It's a ridiculous amount 00:31:28.459 --> 00:31:29.939 of push-ups over a month 00:31:29.940 --> 00:31:31.180 and she has to do 00:31:31.180 --> 00:31:32.340 something like 150 00:31:32.340 --> 00:31:33.279 every day. 00:31:33.799 --> 00:31:34.700 She's going to have the 00:31:34.700 --> 00:31:36.000 biggest shoulders here 00:31:36.000 --> 00:31:37.700 even bigger than Darcy 00:31:37.700 --> 00:31:39.160 by the end of the 00:31:39.160 --> 00:31:39.420 month. 00:31:40.880 --> 00:31:42.320 The reality is though 00:31:42.320 --> 00:31:43.960 she it's it's really 00:31:43.960 --> 00:31:44.840 easy to make that 00:31:44.840 --> 00:31:45.779 decision at the start 00:31:45.779 --> 00:31:46.240 of the month. 00:31:46.820 --> 00:31:48.480 But every day she's 00:31:48.480 --> 00:31:49.559 faced with a choice. 00:31:50.559 --> 00:31:51.539 Is she going to get 00:31:51.539 --> 00:31:52.200 down and do those 00:31:52.200 --> 00:31:52.680 push-ups? 00:31:52.680 --> 00:31:55.440 Now you may have 00:31:55.440 --> 00:31:56.640 chosen to follow the 00:31:56.640 --> 00:32:00.259 Lord and every day we 00:32:00.259 --> 00:32:01.560 are faced with a choice. 00:32:02.460 --> 00:32:03.740 How am I going to obey 00:32:03.740 --> 00:32:04.240 him today? 00:32:05.940 --> 00:32:07.660 Don't excuse sin in your 00:32:07.660 --> 00:32:08.080 life. 00:32:08.500 --> 00:32:09.340 Don't be too happy to 00:32:09.340 --> 00:32:10.220 say oh that's sin. 00:32:10.480 --> 00:32:11.519 That's just part of who 00:32:11.519 --> 00:32:11.960 I am. 00:32:12.320 --> 00:32:13.740 I'm a bit impatient. 00:32:14.240 --> 00:32:15.100 Particularly in the 00:32:15.100 --> 00:32:15.720 morning when I haven't 00:32:15.720 --> 00:32:16.360 had my coffee. 00:32:16.580 --> 00:32:17.640 I'm a bit fiery. 00:32:17.880 --> 00:32:18.740 I've just I've just got a 00:32:18.740 --> 00:32:19.259 hot temper. 00:32:19.259 --> 00:32:22.240 However bad habits 00:32:22.240 --> 00:32:24.039 come from a series of 00:32:24.039 --> 00:32:24.839 bad choices. 00:32:25.980 --> 00:32:27.879 We are all tempted to 00:32:27.879 --> 00:32:29.660 sin in many ways. 00:32:30.740 --> 00:32:32.160 And God enables us to 00:32:32.160 --> 00:32:33.579 make a choice to obey. 00:32:34.400 --> 00:32:35.740 He offers salvation to 00:32:35.740 --> 00:32:37.259 all people to give a 00:32:37.259 --> 00:32:38.539 new heart so that we 00:32:38.539 --> 00:32:40.079 are not stuck making 00:32:40.079 --> 00:32:41.480 bad choices but he 00:32:41.480 --> 00:32:44.339 offers a new heart with 00:32:44.339 --> 00:32:45.200 new desires. 00:32:46.299 --> 00:32:47.740 Have you taken God up 00:32:47.740 --> 00:32:48.480 on this offer? 00:32:49.259 --> 00:32:51.240 Are you frustrated with 00:32:51.240 --> 00:32:52.720 where your life is and 00:32:52.720 --> 00:32:53.759 where your life is going? 00:32:54.240 --> 00:32:55.720 Maybe you fall into bad 00:32:55.720 --> 00:32:57.599 habits and can't seem to 00:32:57.599 --> 00:32:58.480 make good ones. 00:32:59.640 --> 00:33:01.240 God offers a new heart 00:33:01.240 --> 00:33:02.859 that is filled with new 00:33:02.859 --> 00:33:03.980 desires to love. 00:33:04.740 --> 00:33:06.940 Ask him to have godly 00:33:06.940 --> 00:33:07.859 desires today. 00:33:08.940 --> 00:33:09.819 Brothers and sisters do 00:33:09.819 --> 00:33:11.879 you understand who you 00:33:11.879 --> 00:33:12.839 are as people? 00:33:13.839 --> 00:33:15.599 Do you know what and 00:33:15.599 --> 00:33:17.140 when it is hard for you 00:33:17.140 --> 00:33:17.740 to obey? 00:33:17.740 --> 00:33:20.819 What do you need to 00:33:20.819 --> 00:33:22.420 change so that you 00:33:22.420 --> 00:33:23.359 can obey God? 00:33:24.900 --> 00:33:27.559 It is possible to 00:33:27.559 --> 00:33:28.799 make good choices and 00:33:28.799 --> 00:33:29.839 it is possible to 00:33:29.839 --> 00:33:30.440 obey God. 00:33:30.839 --> 00:33:32.079 Because God has given 00:33:32.079 --> 00:33:32.960 us a new heart. 00:33:34.019 --> 00:33:35.819 He gives us habits to 00:33:35.819 --> 00:33:37.019 draw us closer to him 00:33:37.019 --> 00:33:39.079 to help us choose to 00:33:39.079 --> 00:33:39.460 obey. 00:33:40.599 --> 00:33:41.900 But will we choose to? 00:33:41.900 --> 00:33:44.700 Will you train yourself 00:33:44.700 --> 00:33:45.920 in the love of God 00:33:45.920 --> 00:33:47.900 to choose his will 00:33:47.900 --> 00:33:49.740 as long as it is today? 00:33:49.740 --> 00:33:50.480 Thank you. 00:33:50.480 --> 00:33:59.559 Thank you. 00:33:59.559 --> 00:33:59.799 Thank you, Jane.