WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.740 So winning the battle within. 00:00:03.220 --> 00:00:03.660 Let's pray. 00:00:03.740 --> 00:00:04.620 Father, we do love you. 00:00:05.120 --> 00:00:08.620 I thank you for this time that you allow us to come into your house and to open your word. 00:00:09.080 --> 00:00:13.599 Father, I pray that you just be with me tonight, Lord, as I present your gospel, Lord, that you 00:00:13.599 --> 00:00:18.100 give me power and clarity to speak, Lord, that if there be someone in here tonight that doesn't 00:00:18.100 --> 00:00:24.039 know you, Lord, all jokes aside from the opening, Lord, but if there's someone here that has 00:00:24.039 --> 00:00:28.019 never accepted you as the Lord and personal Savior, that tonight be that night, that they 00:00:28.019 --> 00:00:32.259 would come down to this old-fashioned altar and allow us to show them from the word how 00:00:32.259 --> 00:00:33.019 they can get saved. 00:00:33.640 --> 00:00:37.240 Lord, I just pray that once again you be with us tonight, open our hearts and ears to what 00:00:37.240 --> 00:00:38.060 you have to tell us. 00:00:38.240 --> 00:00:39.579 It's in your precious name. 00:00:39.899 --> 00:00:40.140 Amen. 00:00:40.939 --> 00:00:41.379 Thank you. 00:00:41.420 --> 00:00:42.019 You may be seated. 00:00:43.859 --> 00:00:46.280 Winning the battle within. 00:00:46.280 --> 00:00:53.179 You know, every battle is won or lost somewhere long before the outcome is ever seen. 00:00:54.439 --> 00:00:56.340 I mean, just take a look at any kind of battle. 00:00:56.340 --> 00:01:02.680 Now, where does it, and really what it comes down to is you look at it and Brother Garrett 00:01:02.680 --> 00:01:07.439 and I being sports fanatics, I get, I understand there's not a whole lot of sports people here, 00:01:07.500 --> 00:01:13.040 but a championship team doesn't become champions because they happen to play well one night. 00:01:13.859 --> 00:01:14.320 No. 00:01:14.960 --> 00:01:18.800 They become champions because thousands of unseen hours of practice. 00:01:18.799 --> 00:01:24.099 or back in, well, long, long time ago. 00:01:24.640 --> 00:01:28.000 Many of you probably know when the Cowboys were winning. 00:01:29.259 --> 00:01:30.319 You know what happened there. 00:01:32.200 --> 00:01:33.060 I was not. 00:01:33.060 --> 00:01:36.480 So I've never seen a Cowboys championship. 00:01:37.320 --> 00:01:38.540 I don't even know if they're true. 00:01:39.299 --> 00:01:39.939 I'm just kidding. 00:01:40.359 --> 00:01:40.820 Kidding. 00:01:40.920 --> 00:01:41.180 I'm kidding. 00:01:42.219 --> 00:01:47.460 But a soldier doesn't survive because he learns during the battlefield or during the battle. 00:01:48.060 --> 00:01:51.760 He survives because he prepared long before the battle ever begun. 00:01:52.400 --> 00:01:56.180 A farmer doesn't reap a harvest because he wishes for one. 00:01:56.180 --> 00:01:59.080 Just look outside. 00:01:59.560 --> 00:02:00.260 It's hot. 00:02:00.640 --> 00:02:02.900 He probably is wishing for a great harvest right now. 00:02:03.540 --> 00:02:07.720 But he doesn't just go outside and just hope and pray that there's going to be a harvest. 00:02:07.960 --> 00:02:08.840 No, he plants. 00:02:09.280 --> 00:02:09.900 He waters. 00:02:10.280 --> 00:02:11.480 And he patiently waits. 00:02:12.760 --> 00:02:14.460 But the same is true spiritually. 00:02:14.460 --> 00:02:20.700 You see, the victories that we see on the outside are first one on the inside. 00:02:22.439 --> 00:02:26.340 Every sinful action begins with a sinful thought. 00:02:27.480 --> 00:02:32.439 Every act of obedience begins with a surrendered thought. 00:02:33.260 --> 00:02:37.439 Every addiction begins with entertaining a thought. 00:02:38.159 --> 00:02:43.319 Every step of faith begins with believing a thought. 00:02:44.460 --> 00:02:47.960 You see, that is why Satan always attacks the mind. 00:02:49.219 --> 00:02:55.159 He knows that if he can control what you believe, he can eventually control how you behave. 00:02:56.379 --> 00:03:00.219 Many Christians think the greatest spiritual battle is with the devil. 00:03:01.520 --> 00:03:03.300 Others think it's with temptation. 00:03:04.219 --> 00:03:06.439 Some think it's with the culture that we're around. 00:03:07.620 --> 00:03:11.680 But scripture repeatedly points us to a different battlefield. 00:03:11.680 --> 00:03:17.680 The greatest battlefield in all of battlefields. 00:03:18.860 --> 00:03:19.680 And that is our mind. 00:03:20.760 --> 00:03:24.400 Paul spent 11 chapters in Romans explaining the gospel. 00:03:24.780 --> 00:03:26.360 He explained, one, that we're sinners. 00:03:27.520 --> 00:03:31.140 He explained, secondly, that Christ died for us. 00:03:31.680 --> 00:03:35.680 He then later on explained that salvation is by grace through faith. 00:03:35.680 --> 00:03:39.120 Then he said, we're justified by that. 00:03:39.860 --> 00:03:43.520 And lastly, he states that we have peace with God. 00:03:44.140 --> 00:03:48.219 Then we jump into chapter 12 and it begins with one word. 00:03:49.439 --> 00:03:51.360 I beseech you therefore. 00:03:52.680 --> 00:03:53.760 That word therefore. 00:03:54.920 --> 00:03:59.159 You see, that word therefore is there because of everything God has done. 00:04:00.040 --> 00:04:01.060 Here's how we should live. 00:04:01.060 --> 00:04:05.580 Verse 1 says, to present your bodies a living sacrifice. 00:04:06.460 --> 00:04:09.939 Verse 2 tells us how that sacrifice begins. 00:04:11.360 --> 00:04:14.259 It begins with a renewed mind. 00:04:16.280 --> 00:04:23.259 You cannot consistently live differently until you begin thinking differently. 00:04:23.259 --> 00:04:27.279 You don't get anything out of this message. 00:04:27.860 --> 00:04:29.139 Here's the truth behind it all. 00:04:30.259 --> 00:04:35.099 Transformation occurs when God's word changes the way we think. 00:04:36.639 --> 00:04:37.839 That's the whole point. 00:04:39.180 --> 00:04:47.079 Transformation in our lives begins when we allow God's word to change the way that we think. 00:04:47.899 --> 00:04:50.459 So that jumps us into our first point tonight. 00:04:50.459 --> 00:04:56.359 The world is constantly trying to shape your thinking. 00:04:57.060 --> 00:05:02.500 The world is constantly trying to shape your thinking. 00:05:03.659 --> 00:05:08.079 Verse 2 begins, be not conformed to this world. 00:05:09.299 --> 00:05:10.959 That word conformed. 00:05:10.959 --> 00:05:16.899 When you think about it, there's a lot of very different things that could pop into our mind. 00:05:16.979 --> 00:05:20.399 But the main idea behind it is to be squeezed into a mold. 00:05:21.359 --> 00:05:22.879 Have you ever played with clay before? 00:05:23.459 --> 00:05:24.060 Or Play-Doh? 00:05:25.259 --> 00:05:28.919 I know a lot of you are probably like, no, Brother Colin, I'm an adult now. 00:05:29.359 --> 00:05:31.399 Well, I still play with Play-Doh sometimes. 00:05:31.679 --> 00:05:32.560 I have a five-year-old. 00:05:32.859 --> 00:05:35.719 But, or just take anything. 00:05:37.060 --> 00:05:38.620 Squeezing something into a mold. 00:05:38.620 --> 00:05:41.139 Picture a lump of soft clay. 00:05:42.220 --> 00:05:42.360 Right? 00:05:42.439 --> 00:05:43.860 By itself it has no shape. 00:05:43.959 --> 00:05:45.899 It's just a lump. 00:05:46.939 --> 00:05:49.019 Of, I don't even know. 00:05:50.220 --> 00:05:50.500 Right? 00:05:51.340 --> 00:05:56.660 But whatever mold it's placed into determines that appearance. 00:05:57.340 --> 00:05:57.819 Right? 00:05:57.899 --> 00:05:59.120 By the way that you press it. 00:05:59.180 --> 00:06:00.459 Or by the way that you shape it. 00:06:00.600 --> 00:06:02.800 By how much pressure that you put around it. 00:06:02.800 --> 00:06:06.220 And that's exactly what the world attempts to do. 00:06:07.020 --> 00:06:10.379 Every day the world says, you don't need God. 00:06:11.100 --> 00:06:12.600 Just follow your feelings. 00:06:13.220 --> 00:06:14.939 Hey, live your truth. 00:06:15.920 --> 00:06:17.860 Or, you deserve happiness. 00:06:18.800 --> 00:06:22.759 Or the world will tell us, well, if it feels right, just do it. 00:06:23.720 --> 00:06:24.639 Not the Nike slogan. 00:06:24.639 --> 00:06:31.839 The world will also tell us, hey, if they do something wrong to you, hey, won't you get even with them? 00:06:35.099 --> 00:06:39.319 The world will also tell us, hey, take care of yourself first. 00:06:40.639 --> 00:06:41.800 You're the most important. 00:06:41.800 --> 00:06:51.520 But if you read this book, turn to any page, and God says something completely different. 00:06:52.340 --> 00:06:57.060 Because Jesus says that if any man will come after me, let him deny himself. 00:06:59.040 --> 00:07:01.259 You see, the world says happiness comes first. 00:07:02.139 --> 00:07:05.360 But God says holiness comes first. 00:07:05.360 --> 00:07:10.720 The world says you only find success in how much money you obtain. 00:07:10.939 --> 00:07:12.500 Or how much money that you have. 00:07:13.600 --> 00:07:17.100 God says success is found in faithfulness. 00:07:19.160 --> 00:07:23.040 How many souls were you able to help lead to the cross? 00:07:24.420 --> 00:07:26.319 Not by how many doors you knocked. 00:07:26.960 --> 00:07:28.500 Or how many flyers you passed out. 00:07:28.560 --> 00:07:30.379 No, how many people were you talking to? 00:07:30.900 --> 00:07:31.980 Sharing the gospel with them. 00:07:32.620 --> 00:07:34.080 Sharing your testimonies with. 00:07:34.079 --> 00:07:39.800 How many people were you trying to impact their life by the way that you lived your life? 00:07:40.560 --> 00:07:41.439 That's the key. 00:07:42.839 --> 00:07:47.000 You see, the world says that your identity comes from how you're feeling. 00:07:47.099 --> 00:07:48.800 Or just your feelings in general. 00:07:49.939 --> 00:07:53.039 But God says your identity comes from Christ alone. 00:07:54.439 --> 00:07:56.479 You see, the pressure is constant. 00:07:57.419 --> 00:08:01.719 Many people think worldly influence only comes through obvious sins. 00:08:01.720 --> 00:08:04.560 But the pressure is much more subtle. 00:08:05.120 --> 00:08:06.620 Because it comes through entertainment. 00:08:07.740 --> 00:08:09.900 By what we like to do with our friends. 00:08:10.540 --> 00:08:11.600 With our families. 00:08:12.200 --> 00:08:13.580 Where we like to go. 00:08:14.640 --> 00:08:17.020 What entertains our minds. 00:08:17.680 --> 00:08:19.420 But not only that, what entertains our kids. 00:08:21.060 --> 00:08:22.700 It comes through advertising. 00:08:22.699 --> 00:08:26.379 You see billboards all the time lined up along the highway. 00:08:28.060 --> 00:08:30.639 How many times do you have to turn an eye? 00:08:30.699 --> 00:08:31.420 Because you're like, whoa. 00:08:32.919 --> 00:08:34.080 That's not what I want to look at. 00:08:35.379 --> 00:08:37.159 Or you try to get your kids' attention. 00:08:39.159 --> 00:08:40.899 Kids' attentions are like squirrels already. 00:08:41.620 --> 00:08:43.439 How many times have you been driving down the highway? 00:08:43.600 --> 00:08:44.679 And you've said, hey, look over here. 00:08:44.759 --> 00:08:45.580 This is really cool. 00:08:46.179 --> 00:08:47.759 And it's just some random building. 00:08:49.159 --> 00:08:49.480 Right? 00:08:49.480 --> 00:08:50.960 But advertisement. 00:08:51.580 --> 00:08:53.300 They try to gain your attention. 00:08:53.460 --> 00:08:56.680 They try to get you to look at and see what is most appealing. 00:08:57.159 --> 00:09:01.000 I mean, you see, man, the McDonald's billboards. 00:09:01.440 --> 00:09:03.560 They make those burgers look the best. 00:09:03.639 --> 00:09:06.240 Or in pastor's instance, the Taco Bell billboards. 00:09:06.960 --> 00:09:08.180 And those commercials. 00:09:09.220 --> 00:09:10.620 No punch thrown at our pastor. 00:09:11.320 --> 00:09:13.580 But Taco Bell always looks good until it's not. 00:09:14.180 --> 00:09:15.100 Right, pastor? 00:09:15.100 --> 00:09:23.680 I mean, they always get you to get up off the sofa and go get that burger because it looks amazing. 00:09:23.820 --> 00:09:27.379 And then you get it and you open the box and you're like, I really don't want to eat this right now. 00:09:28.180 --> 00:09:30.399 Why did I pay $12 for it? 00:09:32.440 --> 00:09:33.500 But what other pressures? 00:09:34.040 --> 00:09:34.680 What about music? 00:09:35.920 --> 00:09:37.139 What kind of music do we listen to? 00:09:38.500 --> 00:09:40.060 And look, I understand. 00:09:40.660 --> 00:09:43.000 The setting plays a part, right? 00:09:43.000 --> 00:09:43.899 I'm a coach. 00:09:43.960 --> 00:09:44.740 I'm a football coach. 00:09:44.820 --> 00:09:48.860 So I sit there and during games we'll play instrumental band music. 00:09:49.000 --> 00:09:51.379 And there will be some songs that people know. 00:09:51.480 --> 00:09:54.159 And there's some songs that other people are like. 00:09:54.279 --> 00:09:55.399 Whatever the case is. 00:09:55.460 --> 00:09:57.860 But what kind of music influences our life? 00:09:57.860 --> 00:10:07.720 Because if we allow some music to come into our ears or to be played on our radio that has certain words to it, eventually it'll just become a lifestyle. 00:10:12.060 --> 00:10:14.340 And eventually it's the way we'll talk. 00:10:15.680 --> 00:10:16.899 What about social media? 00:10:16.899 --> 00:10:24.860 For those of you who are techno savvy and have Instagrams and Snapchats and TikToks. 00:10:25.579 --> 00:10:26.679 Mainly the young people. 00:10:28.720 --> 00:10:29.860 What about social media? 00:10:29.959 --> 00:10:33.159 What kind of pressures do we allow social media to play on our life? 00:10:33.720 --> 00:10:40.179 We look at all these actors and actresses and all these sports people and see how the way they live. 00:10:40.240 --> 00:10:43.319 And these influencers on how they live their life. 00:10:43.320 --> 00:10:45.120 And we're like, man, I want to be just like them. 00:10:46.400 --> 00:10:49.920 And we have no idea what kind of lifestyle they're actually living beyond the camera. 00:10:51.120 --> 00:10:52.500 We only see the highlights. 00:10:56.540 --> 00:10:57.420 This next one. 00:10:58.240 --> 00:10:58.960 What about friends? 00:11:00.440 --> 00:11:01.520 Who are the friends in your life? 00:11:03.220 --> 00:11:04.780 Now this obviously pertains to everybody. 00:11:04.940 --> 00:11:07.280 Because, well, I hope we all have friends. 00:11:07.279 --> 00:11:13.679 But I've had to get rid of some really close friends in my life at times. 00:11:14.759 --> 00:11:19.879 Because of the way that they were acting, the way that they were talking, the way that they were presenting themselves. 00:11:20.279 --> 00:11:22.159 Wasn't drawing me closer to Christ. 00:11:23.039 --> 00:11:23.819 So I had to cut them out. 00:11:24.480 --> 00:11:25.019 Was it hard? 00:11:25.179 --> 00:11:25.500 Oh yeah. 00:11:26.240 --> 00:11:27.600 Because at the time we were like this. 00:11:28.759 --> 00:11:29.720 We couldn't separate us. 00:11:30.579 --> 00:11:31.939 We were basketball teammates. 00:11:32.379 --> 00:11:32.879 We were this. 00:11:32.959 --> 00:11:33.279 We were that. 00:11:33.319 --> 00:11:35.740 We'd go hang out at each other's houses all the time. 00:11:35.740 --> 00:11:37.620 But think about your friends. 00:11:38.360 --> 00:11:45.419 What kind of pressures do your friends or just people that you're acquainted with, what kind of pressures do they bring on to your life? 00:11:47.799 --> 00:11:48.860 What about the news? 00:11:50.080 --> 00:11:52.399 I try to turn off the news as much as I can. 00:11:52.860 --> 00:11:53.960 Because it's just depressing. 00:11:55.259 --> 00:11:56.799 But what about the news around us? 00:11:57.600 --> 00:11:59.360 How much pressure does that put on our life? 00:12:00.100 --> 00:12:04.100 It definitely puts a lot of pressure, well, financial wise, right? 00:12:04.100 --> 00:12:07.120 With gas prices jumping up to close to $4. 00:12:09.920 --> 00:12:11.000 What about podcasts? 00:12:11.600 --> 00:12:13.399 How many of you are podcast listeners in here? 00:12:14.060 --> 00:12:14.519 A few of y'all. 00:12:14.620 --> 00:12:15.519 I love podcasts. 00:12:16.480 --> 00:12:18.740 What kind of pressures do those put on your life? 00:12:19.360 --> 00:12:20.659 We listen to them quite often. 00:12:21.720 --> 00:12:22.700 Put a headphone in. 00:12:23.340 --> 00:12:24.100 Go do whatever. 00:12:24.340 --> 00:12:24.779 Go work. 00:12:24.860 --> 00:12:25.460 Go on a walk. 00:12:25.560 --> 00:12:26.560 Whatever the case is. 00:12:27.580 --> 00:12:28.360 What about schools? 00:12:28.360 --> 00:12:32.860 For the longest schools, you weren't allowed to even pray in school. 00:12:33.039 --> 00:12:34.740 Let alone bring a Bible to school. 00:12:35.100 --> 00:12:42.840 And now, by the good graces of the Lord above, they have now made it required that all schools have the Ten Commandments in classrooms. 00:12:43.680 --> 00:12:44.360 I think that's a win. 00:12:45.399 --> 00:12:47.279 But for the longest, you couldn't even bring a Bible. 00:12:47.379 --> 00:12:49.139 You couldn't even pray in a school. 00:12:49.759 --> 00:12:51.779 You couldn't even talk about God in a school. 00:12:51.779 --> 00:12:57.379 So, let alone, what kind of pressures do those bring on to kids in today's time? 00:12:57.860 --> 00:12:59.079 When they can't even do that. 00:12:59.139 --> 00:13:04.519 They can't even stand up for what they believe in because they're afraid they might be sent to the principal's office or expelled. 00:13:06.959 --> 00:13:08.039 What about your workplace? 00:13:10.199 --> 00:13:12.899 How much pressure does your workplace put on your life? 00:13:12.899 --> 00:13:22.519 I know when I was in college and I had my jobs to help pay off school and different stuff like that, they always wanted me to come in on Sundays. 00:13:23.379 --> 00:13:24.480 And they always wanted me to work. 00:13:24.539 --> 00:13:26.120 And that was a pressure that was put on my life. 00:13:26.240 --> 00:13:26.439 Why? 00:13:26.740 --> 00:13:28.000 Because, well, I wanted money. 00:13:28.740 --> 00:13:29.319 I needed money. 00:13:29.379 --> 00:13:30.240 I needed to pay off school. 00:13:30.819 --> 00:13:31.679 I wanted food. 00:13:33.879 --> 00:13:34.600 I just did. 00:13:36.079 --> 00:13:39.699 And so, in order to get food, you have to have, well, money. 00:13:40.379 --> 00:13:42.019 And so, they're like, hey, why don't you come in? 00:13:42.019 --> 00:13:44.980 And I said, no, I have to work on, or I have to, I'm going to church. 00:13:45.919 --> 00:13:47.199 Well, it'll be just for a few hours. 00:13:47.299 --> 00:13:48.600 No, I'm going to church. 00:13:50.059 --> 00:13:55.120 Well, Colin, if you don't do this, well, then we're going to have to write you up and blah, blah, blah, and this and that. 00:13:55.139 --> 00:13:56.019 And I said, okay, fine, here. 00:13:56.579 --> 00:14:00.100 I'll come in from this time to this time, and I'm leaving here because I'm going to church. 00:14:01.559 --> 00:14:04.740 Long story short, well, let's just say I didn't last long there. 00:14:07.139 --> 00:14:11.159 But none of those things are automatically evil just because we bring them up. 00:14:12.019 --> 00:14:14.460 But every one of them is teaching you something. 00:14:15.439 --> 00:14:18.000 You see, the question isn't, am I being influenced? 00:14:18.659 --> 00:14:20.000 That's not the question here tonight. 00:14:20.539 --> 00:14:23.659 Because regardless of whether you want to admit it or not, you are. 00:14:24.000 --> 00:14:26.500 You are already being influenced by one of these things. 00:14:26.740 --> 00:14:29.379 No, the real question is, is who is influencing me? 00:14:30.000 --> 00:14:35.439 Because Proverbs 23, 7 says, for as he thinketh in his heart, so is he. 00:14:35.440 --> 00:14:40.840 Whatever goes on in here, that's what you're going to become. 00:14:41.780 --> 00:14:44.560 What you allow in here is what's going to come out. 00:14:45.680 --> 00:14:48.200 You don't simply become what you do. 00:14:48.780 --> 00:14:51.780 No, you become what you repeatedly believe. 00:14:53.320 --> 00:14:56.980 Eventually, your beliefs shape your behavior. 00:14:58.100 --> 00:14:58.620 They just do. 00:15:00.080 --> 00:15:04.120 You see, imagine filling a glass or a clear glass with muddy water. 00:15:04.120 --> 00:15:06.279 You're like, why would you do that? 00:15:06.980 --> 00:15:07.639 Here's the point. 00:15:08.360 --> 00:15:10.139 At first, the clean water is still visible. 00:15:11.419 --> 00:15:12.600 But you keep pouring. 00:15:13.360 --> 00:15:17.279 And eventually, every single drop of water in that glass becomes dirty. 00:15:18.580 --> 00:15:21.659 You see, many Christians wonder why they struggle spiritually. 00:15:21.659 --> 00:15:29.959 It's because then they spend six hours every day consuming worldly thinking and five minutes reading a scripture. 00:15:30.799 --> 00:15:31.939 Or reading their Bibles. 00:15:33.480 --> 00:15:37.299 You see, whatever you continually pour into your life, eventually will fill it. 00:15:38.679 --> 00:15:40.120 Like Brother Garrett said this morning. 00:15:41.199 --> 00:15:43.000 How many of you, he asked the question. 00:15:43.399 --> 00:15:47.759 How many times have you sat, you've gone throughout your day and you get to, you get at home and you're like, 00:15:47.759 --> 00:15:50.799 I really, I forgot to read my Bible, I'll do it tomorrow. 00:15:52.639 --> 00:15:54.939 Those things eventually start adding up. 00:15:55.419 --> 00:15:56.240 Tomorrow comes. 00:15:56.519 --> 00:15:57.799 The days still go on. 00:15:57.879 --> 00:15:59.319 Your life is still filled up. 00:15:59.439 --> 00:16:01.159 And then you're like, oh, well, I'll get to it later. 00:16:02.200 --> 00:16:05.059 And then later comes and life still fills up and you're like, 00:16:05.980 --> 00:16:08.279 okay, yes, I'll get to it later. 00:16:08.939 --> 00:16:10.840 And then so on and so forth goes on. 00:16:10.840 --> 00:16:14.040 And then this book finds itself on a shelf just catching dust. 00:16:15.280 --> 00:16:16.180 Never to be open. 00:16:17.420 --> 00:16:21.680 Then you go to church on Sunday expecting the pastor just to change your life like that. 00:16:23.019 --> 00:16:27.100 You expect a recharge on a Wednesday night because, well, that might be your only free night. 00:16:27.259 --> 00:16:29.940 To just be like, all right, well, I'm ready to get my life back on track. 00:16:30.200 --> 00:16:31.420 Well, then what happens Thursday? 00:16:32.180 --> 00:16:35.160 Well, you go back to your lifestyle and you're like, I've got my recharge. 00:16:35.440 --> 00:16:37.019 I may go strong for a few hours. 00:16:37.100 --> 00:16:38.519 Well, then this finds the shelf again. 00:16:38.519 --> 00:16:43.519 And we allow our lives to be filled that way on a constant schedule like that. 00:16:44.120 --> 00:16:47.340 We allow the world to tell us how we should live our life. 00:16:48.279 --> 00:16:52.559 You see, if the world is constantly shaping our thinking, how do we fight back? 00:16:53.379 --> 00:16:54.840 Well, Paul answers that next. 00:16:56.240 --> 00:16:56.659 How? 00:16:56.860 --> 00:16:59.059 Because he points us in this second point. 00:16:59.500 --> 00:17:02.360 God's word renews our minds. 00:17:03.240 --> 00:17:05.599 God's word renews our minds. 00:17:06.859 --> 00:17:07.680 How is that? 00:17:07.680 --> 00:17:09.259 Well, it says it right here in Scripture. 00:17:10.480 --> 00:17:14.840 Be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed. 00:17:15.900 --> 00:17:16.620 By what? 00:17:16.940 --> 00:17:20.539 By the renewing of your mind. 00:17:21.799 --> 00:17:25.880 You see, that word transformed is where we get the English word metamorphosis. 00:17:26.640 --> 00:17:27.539 Think about a caterpillar. 00:17:29.279 --> 00:17:30.259 See, it crawls everywhere. 00:17:30.259 --> 00:17:34.519 Or sometimes I crawl on your door and it freaks you out at night because you have no idea what it is. 00:17:35.720 --> 00:17:36.000 Right? 00:17:36.559 --> 00:17:38.559 Then something incredible happens, right? 00:17:38.879 --> 00:17:40.220 It enters a cocoon. 00:17:40.720 --> 00:17:44.480 And when it emerges, it becomes something completely different. 00:17:44.480 --> 00:17:48.240 See, it doesn't simply have a new behavior. 00:17:48.380 --> 00:17:49.440 No, it has a new nature. 00:17:50.240 --> 00:17:51.640 It becomes something new. 00:17:52.140 --> 00:17:54.640 And that's what God wants to do in us. 00:17:55.440 --> 00:17:58.960 You see, Christianity is not a behavior modification. 00:17:58.960 --> 00:18:03.900 It's not you slap on the word Christianity or you say, well, I do go to church. 00:18:04.600 --> 00:18:06.759 And your whole attitude changes or this and that. 00:18:06.880 --> 00:18:07.240 No. 00:18:07.940 --> 00:18:10.340 Christianity isn't a behavior modification. 00:18:10.759 --> 00:18:12.420 It's a heart transformation. 00:18:12.420 --> 00:18:16.620 Notice something important here. 00:18:17.420 --> 00:18:21.420 Paul doesn't say, be transformed by trying harder. 00:18:22.340 --> 00:18:26.680 No, he says, by the renewing of your mind. 00:18:27.380 --> 00:18:28.600 What is Paul saying here? 00:18:29.019 --> 00:18:32.420 He's saying salvation changes lives. 00:18:33.160 --> 00:18:37.240 When we are saved, God gives us a new heart. 00:18:38.380 --> 00:18:40.480 He doesn't let us keep the old one. 00:18:40.480 --> 00:18:43.339 No, when we repent of our sins, when we've asked God to forgive us, 00:18:43.579 --> 00:18:46.440 he throws our sins as far as the east is from the west. 00:18:48.160 --> 00:18:51.380 You see, the Holy Spirit then comes to live within us. 00:18:52.220 --> 00:18:56.920 But our thinking has been shaped by years of sinful habits. 00:18:58.680 --> 00:18:59.120 Years. 00:19:01.039 --> 00:19:04.500 Think about how broken you were before you asked Christ to come into your life. 00:19:05.599 --> 00:19:07.319 Think about how sadden you were. 00:19:08.279 --> 00:19:10.339 I remember the day like it was yesterday. 00:19:11.259 --> 00:19:13.240 April the 19th of 2015. 00:19:14.339 --> 00:19:19.960 I was at Grace and Bible Baptist Church and I walked down front to talk to Greg Ross and I, 00:19:20.200 --> 00:19:22.940 my, at the time, basketball coach. 00:19:23.940 --> 00:19:25.920 And now he's my boss. 00:19:26.799 --> 00:19:30.380 And I walked down front and I knew it wasn't even a salvation message. 00:19:31.120 --> 00:19:33.599 But God, I could just feel, was tugging at my heart. 00:19:33.599 --> 00:19:39.919 And from that day forward, I allowed God to change my life and I would not be the same. 00:19:41.119 --> 00:19:42.419 I wouldn't want to go back. 00:19:43.079 --> 00:19:45.019 Because I look at my life when it was then. 00:19:45.379 --> 00:19:51.819 And the messed up, and the messed up mistakes that I made time and time and time again to what I'm doing now. 00:19:51.819 --> 00:19:54.559 And I'm like, God, this is because of you. 00:19:55.859 --> 00:20:02.259 I get to come here and serve at Central Baptist Church and get to preach behind this pulpit because of you. 00:20:02.259 --> 00:20:10.019 I get to be a godly influence to not only the people that are around me, but to my very own kids because of you. 00:20:11.720 --> 00:20:13.400 And I couldn't thank you anymore. 00:20:13.400 --> 00:20:26.680 But you see, our thinking, even though it's been shaped by years of sinful habits and many people think, well, that's just it. 00:20:28.080 --> 00:20:30.060 Well, I can't, God can't use me now. 00:20:31.140 --> 00:20:31.400 No. 00:20:32.940 --> 00:20:34.480 That thinking must now be renewed. 00:20:35.400 --> 00:20:38.000 Because it's a lifelong process. 00:20:39.180 --> 00:20:43.080 It's not something that we're just going to wake up and change just like that. 00:20:44.019 --> 00:20:51.680 I know 98-year-old people that are still learning about God's word. 00:20:53.780 --> 00:20:58.300 That still, I could talk to and be like, man, I got this something out of the message. 00:20:58.420 --> 00:20:59.360 It's the same text. 00:21:00.040 --> 00:21:00.780 Same verse. 00:21:01.759 --> 00:21:03.920 I really wish he was still alive today. 00:21:04.940 --> 00:21:08.820 Brother Tyler knows exactly who this young, well, I say young man. 00:21:09.220 --> 00:21:09.980 He felt young. 00:21:09.980 --> 00:21:12.019 Brother Tremel. 00:21:12.759 --> 00:21:13.940 A very dear man. 00:21:14.000 --> 00:21:15.920 When I first came into Brother Tyler's youth group. 00:21:17.240 --> 00:21:19.099 A man that was always, he couldn't see. 00:21:19.319 --> 00:21:20.539 He couldn't hear that well. 00:21:20.680 --> 00:21:22.400 But he was always there in his spot. 00:21:22.400 --> 00:21:23.880 At the back of the room. 00:21:24.519 --> 00:21:25.040 Serving. 00:21:25.540 --> 00:21:26.540 Helping kids grow. 00:21:26.860 --> 00:21:28.540 Helping people come to know Christ. 00:21:29.480 --> 00:21:32.380 And even Brother Tremel would tell us, keep going. 00:21:33.140 --> 00:21:34.220 You're still not done. 00:21:35.040 --> 00:21:36.420 You still haven't learned anything. 00:21:36.580 --> 00:21:38.940 He said, I am 90 plus years old. 00:21:39.040 --> 00:21:40.480 And I'm still learning the Bible. 00:21:41.560 --> 00:21:42.680 And I can't even see it. 00:21:42.680 --> 00:21:47.539 I think about that. 00:21:48.700 --> 00:21:59.560 I sit back and I take a step back and I'm like, you know, out of all the mistakes, out of everything that I can stand back and say and look in a mirror and be like, why are you, like, why? 00:22:00.460 --> 00:22:01.660 How am I worthy? 00:22:02.820 --> 00:22:04.060 The answer is, we're not. 00:22:04.059 --> 00:22:10.720 But God loved us so much that he sent his only begotten son to come and to die on a cross for our sins. 00:22:10.960 --> 00:22:11.079 Why? 00:22:11.179 --> 00:22:12.299 Because he loved us. 00:22:13.079 --> 00:22:15.419 He wants to see us have a renewed life. 00:22:16.779 --> 00:22:21.319 John 17, verse 17, Jesus prayed, sanctify them through thy truth. 00:22:21.519 --> 00:22:21.720 Why? 00:22:22.079 --> 00:22:23.659 Thy word is truth. 00:22:26.000 --> 00:22:30.700 God's primary tool for changing our thinking is his word. 00:22:31.500 --> 00:22:32.099 Are you in it? 00:22:34.059 --> 00:22:36.639 You're probably sitting there thinking, well, I don't really understand. 00:22:36.980 --> 00:22:40.539 Before I even said that, I don't even know how to renew my thinking. 00:22:40.599 --> 00:22:42.119 I don't even know what the first step is. 00:22:43.559 --> 00:22:47.079 Just open this and allow it to transform your life. 00:22:48.599 --> 00:22:53.539 You see, if we neglect scripture, our thinking will slowly drift toward the world. 00:22:56.859 --> 00:22:58.319 You know, you hear it all the time. 00:22:58.740 --> 00:22:59.779 Read your Bible every day. 00:23:00.899 --> 00:23:01.779 Are you reading your Bible? 00:23:01.779 --> 00:23:03.559 You hear a pastor say it. 00:23:03.639 --> 00:23:05.440 You hear Brother Garrett say it. 00:23:05.480 --> 00:23:08.200 You hear all these, you hear all people around you say it. 00:23:08.279 --> 00:23:09.099 Read your Bible every day. 00:23:09.579 --> 00:23:11.680 Well, why does daily Bible reading really matter? 00:23:12.700 --> 00:23:15.440 Well, suppose someone only ate one meal every week. 00:23:17.160 --> 00:23:19.399 Eventually, they would become weak. 00:23:19.400 --> 00:23:23.680 Spiritually, many Christians are starving. 00:23:25.259 --> 00:23:26.080 Think about that. 00:23:27.660 --> 00:23:29.540 We wonder why we're discouraged. 00:23:30.500 --> 00:23:32.660 Why temptation seems stronger. 00:23:33.519 --> 00:23:36.600 We wonder why anxiety overwhelms us. 00:23:37.400 --> 00:23:40.800 We wonder why joy is often missing. 00:23:40.799 --> 00:23:47.419 Well, yet we rarely feed our souls. 00:23:50.019 --> 00:23:51.139 Church is essential. 00:23:52.099 --> 00:23:55.859 But Sunday cannot sustain you all week long. 00:23:55.859 --> 00:23:59.559 Why? 00:23:59.559 --> 00:24:03.359 Well, the Bible tells us, it's simple. 00:24:04.439 --> 00:24:06.479 In this, well, reminder prayer. 00:24:06.659 --> 00:24:10.019 In the prayer that Jesus tells us. 00:24:10.079 --> 00:24:13.740 In the example prayer, give us this day our daily bread. 00:24:14.500 --> 00:24:15.459 Not a weekly. 00:24:16.139 --> 00:24:17.139 Not a bi-weekly. 00:24:17.599 --> 00:24:19.519 Not a monthly or annually bread. 00:24:19.639 --> 00:24:21.299 No, our daily bread. 00:24:21.759 --> 00:24:23.339 It's a daily process. 00:24:24.399 --> 00:24:25.859 Jesus didn't teach us to pray. 00:24:26.559 --> 00:24:30.259 No, he said, give us this day our daily bread. 00:24:31.200 --> 00:24:32.299 Each day is different. 00:24:33.480 --> 00:24:37.159 Each day may seem harder than the other, but it's going to be different. 00:24:38.099 --> 00:24:39.319 How are you preparing for it? 00:24:42.799 --> 00:24:45.079 The book of Philippians, chapter 4, verse 8. 00:24:45.099 --> 00:24:45.940 You don't have to turn there. 00:24:46.700 --> 00:24:47.399 You probably know the passage. 00:24:47.399 --> 00:24:49.200 You know the passage like it's the back of your hand. 00:24:50.220 --> 00:24:51.200 I know who I'm speaking. 00:24:51.299 --> 00:24:55.720 Philippians, chapter 4, verse 8. 00:24:55.899 --> 00:24:58.659 Paul says, finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true. 00:24:59.159 --> 00:25:00.359 Whatsoever things are honest. 00:25:00.980 --> 00:25:02.240 Whatsoever things are just. 00:25:02.899 --> 00:25:04.019 Whatsoever things are pure. 00:25:04.659 --> 00:25:05.839 Whatsoever things are lovely. 00:25:06.619 --> 00:25:07.960 Whatsoever things are good report. 00:25:08.500 --> 00:25:09.599 If there be any virtue. 00:25:10.240 --> 00:25:11.599 If there be any praise. 00:25:12.359 --> 00:25:15.099 Think on these things. 00:25:16.200 --> 00:25:18.399 See, Paul gives believers a checklist here. 00:25:18.400 --> 00:25:20.540 Ask yourself. 00:25:21.400 --> 00:25:22.540 Is your life true? 00:25:24.360 --> 00:25:25.360 Is it honest? 00:25:26.080 --> 00:25:27.160 Is it just? 00:25:27.960 --> 00:25:28.780 Is it pure? 00:25:29.259 --> 00:25:30.100 Is it lovely? 00:25:30.900 --> 00:25:32.000 Is it a good report? 00:25:32.880 --> 00:25:33.940 Is there virtue? 00:25:33.940 --> 00:25:36.980 Is it worthy of praise? 00:25:37.700 --> 00:25:38.580 Because if not. 00:25:39.220 --> 00:25:40.920 Why are we feeding our minds with it? 00:25:45.920 --> 00:25:49.779 If the things that we see on a daily basis aren't any of these things on this checklist. 00:25:50.420 --> 00:25:52.720 Why are we even allowing our minds to be fed with it? 00:25:52.720 --> 00:25:54.720 Why are we feeding our minds to be fed with it? 00:25:54.720 --> 00:25:55.720 Why are we feeding our minds to be fed with it? 00:25:55.720 --> 00:25:56.200 Why are we feeding our minds to be fed with it? 00:25:56.200 --> 00:25:56.759 Why are we feeding our minds to be fed with it? 00:25:56.759 --> 00:25:58.500 See, imagine your computer has a virus. 00:25:59.640 --> 00:26:01.839 You don't fix it by buying a nicer keyboard. 00:26:03.400 --> 00:26:04.279 Be nice. 00:26:05.720 --> 00:26:08.819 Maybe less cost, right? 00:26:10.420 --> 00:26:12.360 But you remove the corrupted software. 00:26:12.359 --> 00:26:18.099 You see, many people try to fix sinful living by just changing their appearance. 00:26:19.079 --> 00:26:23.579 Changing the way that they look or the way that their house is or whatever the case is. 00:26:23.719 --> 00:26:26.719 But God changes the operating system. 00:26:28.279 --> 00:26:33.299 A lot of people think, well, if I just change my hairstyle, if I just change the way that I dress, 00:26:33.359 --> 00:26:37.459 if I just wear a suit and tie every once in a while at the church, well, then I'll be fine. 00:26:37.919 --> 00:26:39.199 Then that'll fix my issues. 00:26:39.299 --> 00:26:40.000 No, no, no, no, no, no. 00:26:40.639 --> 00:26:41.459 We missed the point. 00:26:42.359 --> 00:26:45.339 Because man looketh on the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart. 00:26:46.519 --> 00:26:48.000 That's what God worries about. 00:26:48.979 --> 00:26:51.099 God says, hey, you can look all fine. 00:26:51.579 --> 00:26:52.879 You can put makeup on. 00:26:52.979 --> 00:26:54.759 You can fix your hair. 00:26:54.899 --> 00:26:56.779 You can style it a certain way. 00:26:56.879 --> 00:26:58.240 You can wear the nicest shoes. 00:26:58.359 --> 00:27:01.399 You can wear the newest Jordans or whatever the case is. 00:27:01.679 --> 00:27:02.899 But where's your heart? 00:27:04.439 --> 00:27:06.699 Is it with me or is it against me? 00:27:06.700 --> 00:27:14.460 You see, when God changes the way that we think, everything else begins changing too. 00:27:14.460 --> 00:27:18.259 And that leads us into our third point tonight. 00:27:19.200 --> 00:27:24.019 Whatever fills your mind will eventually direct your life. 00:27:24.980 --> 00:27:29.799 Whatever fills your mind will eventually direct your life. 00:27:30.799 --> 00:27:32.240 Luke 6.45 says, 00:27:32.240 --> 00:27:35.339 Out of the abundance of the heart, his mouth speaketh. 00:27:35.339 --> 00:27:40.140 You see, whatever fills the heart eventually comes out. 00:27:40.900 --> 00:27:42.319 Thoughts become words. 00:27:43.279 --> 00:27:44.480 Words become actions. 00:27:44.960 --> 00:27:46.420 Actions become habits. 00:27:47.220 --> 00:27:48.480 Habits become character. 00:27:48.480 --> 00:27:52.759 And character shapes the course of your life. 00:27:54.299 --> 00:27:58.819 Nobody wakes up planning to destroy their family. 00:28:00.000 --> 00:28:03.099 Nobody suddenly just falls away overnight. 00:28:04.259 --> 00:28:04.880 No. 00:28:06.200 --> 00:28:07.920 Begins with the little compromises. 00:28:09.099 --> 00:28:10.660 The little thoughts. 00:28:11.480 --> 00:28:14.960 The little lies that we allowed ourselves to believe. 00:28:16.319 --> 00:28:16.960 Likewise. 00:28:16.960 --> 00:28:24.039 Great faithfulness begins with little daily choices. 00:28:26.480 --> 00:28:33.279 Great faithfulness begins with little daily choices. 00:28:34.759 --> 00:28:36.160 Proverbs 4.23 says, 00:28:36.400 --> 00:28:41.579 Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life. 00:28:42.120 --> 00:28:43.400 What is that verse telling us? 00:28:43.960 --> 00:28:45.160 It's telling us to guard our hearts. 00:28:45.940 --> 00:28:46.660 Guard our minds. 00:28:47.700 --> 00:28:52.579 Not everything deserves access to your thoughts. 00:28:54.880 --> 00:29:02.380 Because if you are guarded, if you guarded your home, the way many Christians guard their minds, your front door will never close. 00:29:02.380 --> 00:29:03.000 If you guarded your home. 00:29:03.000 --> 00:29:13.220 If you guarded your home, the way many Christians guard their minds, your front door will never close. 00:29:13.220 --> 00:29:16.839 So how do we win the battle? 00:29:16.839 --> 00:29:17.459 Well, first, evaluate your media. 00:29:17.459 --> 00:29:20.980 Well, first, evaluate your media. 00:29:21.899 --> 00:29:24.279 And no, I'm not just talking about the social part. 00:29:24.279 --> 00:29:29.899 We live in a society where we stream everything. 00:29:29.899 --> 00:29:31.660 What are you watching? 00:29:31.660 --> 00:29:35.119 What are you listening to? 00:29:35.119 --> 00:29:36.160 Evaluate your media. 00:29:36.160 --> 00:29:41.099 Ask yourself, is this helping me love Christ more? 00:29:41.099 --> 00:29:41.719 Does it stir gratitude? 00:29:41.719 --> 00:29:43.719 Does it stir gratitude? 00:29:43.719 --> 00:29:45.719 Or does it stir jealousy? 00:29:45.719 --> 00:29:50.679 Does it promote purity or impurity? 00:29:50.679 --> 00:29:54.039 Does it produce peace? 00:29:54.039 --> 00:29:57.019 Or does it promote anxiety? 00:29:57.019 --> 00:30:01.099 You see, social media is not evil. 00:30:01.099 --> 00:30:02.900 But it sure is powerful. 00:30:02.900 --> 00:30:08.060 Don't just monitor the screen time. 00:30:09.060 --> 00:30:10.660 Monitor your soul time. 00:30:13.180 --> 00:30:14.960 Don't just monitor the screen time. 00:30:15.620 --> 00:30:16.700 Monitor your soul time. 00:30:17.740 --> 00:30:22.860 We can pull up on our cell phones or our iPads all the time about how much you spend on a certain app. 00:30:24.900 --> 00:30:26.759 Ask yourself, how much have you spent in this? 00:30:26.759 --> 00:30:34.379 Secondly, evaluate your entertainment. 00:30:36.079 --> 00:30:38.920 You see, every song teaches theology. 00:30:39.140 --> 00:30:41.339 Every movie communicates values. 00:30:41.599 --> 00:30:43.879 Every show normalizes something. 00:30:45.619 --> 00:30:47.420 I was watching a show the other day. 00:30:48.879 --> 00:30:50.359 I'm big into crime shows. 00:30:50.420 --> 00:30:51.980 Anybody else like crime shows in here? 00:30:52.460 --> 00:30:53.680 I love crime shows. 00:30:53.680 --> 00:30:59.380 I was watching this crime show the other day, and I only got a few episodes into it. 00:30:59.440 --> 00:31:01.000 The first one was really good. 00:31:01.120 --> 00:31:04.820 They usually always call it the pilot episode because it's the takeoff, right? 00:31:05.440 --> 00:31:06.140 And I'm sitting there. 00:31:06.180 --> 00:31:07.299 I'm like, man, this is good. 00:31:08.039 --> 00:31:08.779 And there's my wife. 00:31:09.140 --> 00:31:09.620 Go to bed. 00:31:10.740 --> 00:31:11.580 I'm about to. 00:31:12.039 --> 00:31:12.940 It's getting good. 00:31:14.279 --> 00:31:14.720 Right? 00:31:15.420 --> 00:31:19.180 And I'm sitting there, and I'm like, she's asleep. 00:31:19.759 --> 00:31:22.700 Next episode, we watch the next one. 00:31:22.700 --> 00:31:23.840 Well, then what happens? 00:31:24.000 --> 00:31:24.860 It's really good. 00:31:24.920 --> 00:31:25.620 It's picking up. 00:31:25.720 --> 00:31:27.380 You're like, we're going to watch the third one. 00:31:27.880 --> 00:31:32.019 Well, then the third episode comes in, and then that's when they start pouring in some stuff. 00:31:35.259 --> 00:31:36.220 Catches you off guard. 00:31:37.360 --> 00:31:41.700 I was watching this crime show, and I was sitting there, and I'm like, man, this is really, really good. 00:31:41.980 --> 00:31:46.759 And then all of a sudden, two homosexual people come on the screen. 00:31:46.759 --> 00:31:51.539 And I'm like, what? 00:31:53.740 --> 00:31:55.799 I like almost jumped out of bed. 00:31:56.680 --> 00:31:58.039 I was like, you've got to be kidding me. 00:31:58.940 --> 00:32:01.019 This is a really good show so far. 00:32:01.579 --> 00:32:04.500 First two episodes were intriguing. 00:32:04.500 --> 00:32:08.200 And then I get to that third one, and I'm like, why? 00:32:10.460 --> 00:32:16.079 But, you know, some people can just skip through it a couple of times and be like, I just don't pause. 00:32:16.119 --> 00:32:17.299 I don't just watch that. 00:32:17.740 --> 00:32:24.420 And they skip through the 10-second fast forward or 30-second fast forward and just move on and be like, I never really watched it. 00:32:24.420 --> 00:32:27.779 Or they can turn it off. 00:32:29.160 --> 00:32:31.460 And they can just be like, I'm going to find a different show to watch. 00:32:32.940 --> 00:32:36.740 How many times do we allow ourselves to be okay with what's being presented? 00:32:37.039 --> 00:32:38.220 That's not my lifestyle. 00:32:38.700 --> 00:32:39.860 I don't follow that. 00:32:39.960 --> 00:32:41.120 I don't support that. 00:32:41.279 --> 00:32:42.340 It's going to be okay. 00:32:43.820 --> 00:32:45.080 And then we allow it to appear. 00:32:46.100 --> 00:32:49.180 And we allow it to appear again and appear again. 00:32:49.180 --> 00:32:57.259 And eventually, we allow it to happen so much that when it comes out in public, we may still sit there and be like, oh, I'll never allow that to happen. 00:32:57.980 --> 00:32:58.740 Until it does. 00:33:00.200 --> 00:33:04.019 I'm not just saying what I witness, but what about what you see? 00:33:04.740 --> 00:33:12.220 The things you see on your TV shows or on your advertisements on YouTube or whatever the case is. 00:33:12.900 --> 00:33:15.539 Some of you probably are sitting there and be like, but I just don't watch TV. 00:33:15.720 --> 00:33:16.220 Hey, amen. 00:33:17.220 --> 00:33:18.120 I can't do that. 00:33:19.180 --> 00:33:21.759 I wish I could be like you. 00:33:24.060 --> 00:33:29.060 But ask yourself, would Jesus enjoy sitting beside me while I watch this? 00:33:32.560 --> 00:33:34.860 I'd ask myself quite a bit that sometimes. 00:33:36.740 --> 00:33:38.200 Not that I'm looking for it. 00:33:39.160 --> 00:33:41.480 But because I'm sitting there, I'm like, oh, it's not that bad. 00:33:42.500 --> 00:33:43.799 One cuss word isn't bad. 00:33:45.200 --> 00:33:46.799 I fast forward it or whatever. 00:33:47.980 --> 00:33:49.060 It's not that bad. 00:33:50.080 --> 00:33:51.299 Well, then it happens again. 00:33:52.019 --> 00:33:52.860 Do you turn it off? 00:33:53.799 --> 00:33:54.900 I just fast forward it again. 00:33:56.620 --> 00:34:00.700 And I ask myself, would Christ enjoy sitting beside me watching this? 00:34:02.100 --> 00:34:03.360 You know, but that's not just that. 00:34:03.440 --> 00:34:04.539 It's young people. 00:34:04.640 --> 00:34:06.060 It's video games we play. 00:34:06.059 --> 00:34:09.559 How often do we hear maybe words that pop up? 00:34:09.900 --> 00:34:12.299 Or maybe people that we play online with? 00:34:13.139 --> 00:34:14.980 Some of you are like, oh, my parents never let me do that. 00:34:15.039 --> 00:34:15.679 There's a reason. 00:34:17.960 --> 00:34:19.039 Be grateful for it. 00:34:19.039 --> 00:34:26.860 How often are we allowing things to come into our mind and to shape the way that we think about certain things? 00:34:26.860 --> 00:34:32.680 Not because Christ is absent there, but because he's already there. 00:34:33.240 --> 00:34:34.800 Would Jesus enjoy sitting there? 00:34:35.559 --> 00:34:36.480 He's already there. 00:34:36.480 --> 00:34:41.440 But thirdly, evaluate your friendships. 00:34:42.440 --> 00:34:45.280 1 Corinthians 15.33 says, be not deceived. 00:34:45.460 --> 00:34:48.639 Evil communications corrupt good manners. 00:34:48.639 --> 00:34:52.799 You become like those you consistently spend time with. 00:34:55.099 --> 00:34:57.619 Teenagers, your friends matter. 00:34:58.859 --> 00:35:03.759 Adults, your closest influences matter too. 00:35:03.760 --> 00:35:07.440 How many of you are really close with your boss? 00:35:08.360 --> 00:35:09.360 Their influence matters. 00:35:10.720 --> 00:35:11.900 Shapes the way that you think. 00:35:13.480 --> 00:35:18.020 Choose relationships that strengthen your walk with Christ. 00:35:20.040 --> 00:35:27.580 Sometimes you have to cut out those friends that seem good, but that aren't leading you closer to Christ. 00:35:29.240 --> 00:35:31.660 Fourthly, build holy habits. 00:35:31.659 --> 00:35:34.239 Build holy habits. 00:35:34.839 --> 00:35:38.059 Spiritual maturity rarely comes through dramatic moments. 00:35:38.139 --> 00:35:40.980 No, it comes through ordinary faithfulness. 00:35:41.739 --> 00:35:42.440 Open your Bible. 00:35:42.960 --> 00:35:43.199 Pray. 00:35:43.940 --> 00:35:45.219 Attend church faithfully. 00:35:45.759 --> 00:35:46.159 Serve. 00:35:47.000 --> 00:35:47.159 Ooh. 00:35:48.539 --> 00:35:49.079 Hold on now. 00:35:52.599 --> 00:35:53.699 My Saturdays are important. 00:35:54.759 --> 00:35:55.779 So is everybody else's. 00:35:58.980 --> 00:35:59.879 What about this? 00:36:00.420 --> 00:36:01.219 Share the gospel. 00:36:02.659 --> 00:36:03.739 Memorize scripture. 00:36:04.799 --> 00:36:10.019 You see, those small habits become a lifetime of faithfulness. 00:36:11.579 --> 00:36:14.440 No, they're not just something you do at VBS. 00:36:16.239 --> 00:36:17.899 So that you can earn points. 00:36:17.900 --> 00:36:23.200 And I say that because many of us went through VBS together. 00:36:24.780 --> 00:36:28.920 They weren't just times where we got to memorize verses to earn points. 00:36:29.019 --> 00:36:34.420 No, it's a habit to create that's going to last a lifetime of faithfulness. 00:36:34.420 --> 00:36:35.720 Why? 00:36:35.720 --> 00:36:39.579 Because our adversary, the devil, is always seeking out whom he may devour. 00:36:40.700 --> 00:36:43.099 He's always trying to throw those fiery darts at him. 00:36:43.220 --> 00:36:44.940 And how are you going to combat him? 00:36:46.200 --> 00:36:48.059 Just sit there and let it happen? 00:36:48.059 --> 00:36:55.019 Are you going to throw scripture back at it and say, no, I'm not going to allow you to do this? 00:36:55.019 --> 00:37:01.159 See, imagine two gardens. 00:37:01.880 --> 00:37:03.380 One is cared for daily. 00:37:03.460 --> 00:37:04.360 The other is ignored. 00:37:04.900 --> 00:37:06.259 But neither stays empty. 00:37:07.340 --> 00:37:08.639 One flower grows. 00:37:09.639 --> 00:37:10.719 Or one grows flowers. 00:37:11.159 --> 00:37:12.420 The other grows weeds. 00:37:12.420 --> 00:37:15.880 Your mind works the same way. 00:37:16.880 --> 00:37:22.880 If you don't intentionally plant truth, the weeds of the world will grow naturally. 00:37:25.559 --> 00:37:26.559 Why is that? 00:37:27.400 --> 00:37:28.920 Well, because the battle never ends. 00:37:30.920 --> 00:37:33.880 Winning isn't a one-time decision. 00:37:34.720 --> 00:37:35.539 It's a daily surrender. 00:37:37.200 --> 00:37:39.280 Every morning you answer one question. 00:37:39.680 --> 00:37:41.920 Who will shape my thinking today? 00:37:42.420 --> 00:37:43.500 The world? 00:37:44.220 --> 00:37:45.360 Or Christ? 00:37:47.019 --> 00:37:51.599 Joshua said, choose you this day whom ye will serve. 00:37:54.380 --> 00:37:56.320 I feel like we just heard that this morning. 00:37:59.180 --> 00:38:04.639 See, that decision starts before your feet ever touch the floor. 00:38:06.079 --> 00:38:07.980 Whom this day will you serve? 00:38:12.420 --> 00:38:17.539 See, an old illustration tells of two wolves fighting inside a man. 00:38:18.480 --> 00:38:23.860 One wolf represents anger, pride, lust, bitterness, envy, selfishness. 00:38:23.860 --> 00:38:30.240 The other represents joy, peace, love, purity, humility, and faith. 00:38:31.079 --> 00:38:33.099 Someone asked, which wolf wins? 00:38:34.079 --> 00:38:34.840 The answer? 00:38:35.460 --> 00:38:36.180 The one you feed. 00:38:36.179 --> 00:38:42.480 While this story isn't found in scripture, it illustrates a biblical principle. 00:38:43.399 --> 00:38:47.440 What we constantly nourish grows stronger in our lives. 00:38:47.440 --> 00:38:54.760 If we continually feed our minds on God's truth, the fruit of the spirit has room to flourish. 00:38:55.500 --> 00:38:59.599 See, many people spend their lives trying to fix the outward behavior. 00:38:59.599 --> 00:39:02.920 God begins somewhere deeper. 00:39:03.519 --> 00:39:04.799 He begins with the mind. 00:39:06.159 --> 00:39:09.539 When your mind changes, your speech changes. 00:39:10.079 --> 00:39:12.039 Your attitude changes. 00:39:12.839 --> 00:39:15.039 Your marriages change. 00:39:16.199 --> 00:39:18.619 Your parenting changes. 00:39:19.619 --> 00:39:22.319 Your friendships change. 00:39:22.320 --> 00:39:26.420 Your priorities, they change. 00:39:27.420 --> 00:39:31.120 And lastly, your future changes. 00:39:33.120 --> 00:39:34.740 Transformation is not instant. 00:39:35.380 --> 00:39:36.240 It's daily. 00:39:37.360 --> 00:39:39.660 It's daily by one prayer. 00:39:40.559 --> 00:39:41.500 One chapter. 00:39:42.260 --> 00:39:43.780 One surrendered thought. 00:39:44.420 --> 00:39:47.400 One act of obedience at a time. 00:39:48.340 --> 00:39:50.980 You see, God isn't asking you to become perfect overnight. 00:39:50.980 --> 00:39:56.460 No, he's asking you to let him renew your mind today. 00:39:57.119 --> 00:39:59.219 Would you stand with every head bowed and every eye closed?