WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.060 Proverbs chapter 14 this morning. 00:00:03.399 --> 00:00:05.360 You know, as you read through the Proverbs, 00:00:05.459 --> 00:00:07.160 ! the Proverbs cover a lot of territory. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:32.820 Because the reality is, if you're not going forward, 00:00:33.020 --> 00:00:34.000 you're sliding backwards. 00:00:35.980 --> 00:00:38.480 You know, oftentimes we think we're being static 00:00:38.480 --> 00:00:40.519 or just staying stable. 00:00:41.079 --> 00:00:43.340 But, you know, the reality of life spiritually, 00:00:43.340 --> 00:00:45.740 if you're not moving forward with the Lord, 00:00:45.859 --> 00:00:46.879 you're sliding backwards. 00:00:48.019 --> 00:00:52.240 Because it has to do with our attitude and our spirit 00:00:52.240 --> 00:00:54.299 about the things of God. 00:00:54.679 --> 00:00:57.079 And we understand, we're going to look at this this morning, 00:00:57.179 --> 00:00:59.700 it's something that you ought to be concerned with as a believer. 00:01:00.719 --> 00:01:04.420 In your life, because we're going to look here this morning 00:01:04.420 --> 00:01:09.140 about what it is when the Bible talks about being a backslider. 00:01:10.260 --> 00:01:13.120 You know, you might have something that comes into mind 00:01:13.120 --> 00:01:16.500 when you hear that or that term is used. 00:01:16.579 --> 00:01:19.420 I know it's not something we use very often anymore. 00:01:19.579 --> 00:01:21.859 I remember growing up, it was a term used all the time. 00:01:23.019 --> 00:01:24.519 I mean, it's a good biblical term 00:01:24.519 --> 00:01:28.840 because it's a biblical description of what's taking place. 00:01:30.000 --> 00:01:33.239 And so if you found Proverbs chapter 14 this morning, 00:01:33.319 --> 00:01:36.359 let's stand together as we'll read verse 14. 00:01:36.739 --> 00:01:40.140 And then we'll get into the message here this morning. 00:01:40.460 --> 00:01:43.799 And this is what we want to look at here today in verse 14. 00:01:43.799 --> 00:01:44.239 It says, 00:01:44.239 --> 00:01:56.659 Let's pray. 00:01:56.759 --> 00:01:59.179 Heavenly Fathers, we come before you this morning. 00:01:59.259 --> 00:02:00.079 Lord, we're thankful. 00:02:00.739 --> 00:02:02.979 Lord, we're thankful that you love us enough. 00:02:03.120 --> 00:02:05.420 Lord, even when we do backslide, 00:02:05.539 --> 00:02:08.919 Lord, that you will restore. 00:02:09.819 --> 00:02:10.879 Lord, you'll forgive. 00:02:11.939 --> 00:02:14.619 Lord, we pray that you just would be with each one here today. 00:02:14.719 --> 00:02:17.759 Lord, as we look and consider this term, 00:02:17.879 --> 00:02:20.939 this direction that you've given here 00:02:20.939 --> 00:02:23.619 about the backslider in heart. 00:02:23.739 --> 00:02:26.319 Lord, we pray that you would just guide the message, 00:02:26.459 --> 00:02:27.599 give the words to say. 00:02:28.119 --> 00:02:29.879 Lord, help to stir our hearts. 00:02:30.019 --> 00:02:32.859 Lord, we might not just look at others, 00:02:32.979 --> 00:02:36.639 but Lord, that this message might be introspective to ourselves. 00:02:36.639 --> 00:02:40.199 Lord, that we might think about the areas of our life, 00:02:40.500 --> 00:02:43.859 Lord, that need what we're going to speak about here today. 00:02:44.399 --> 00:02:46.119 And Lord, we pray that you just would bless, 00:02:46.639 --> 00:02:49.779 and that, Lord, your spirit would do its work here today in a mighty way. 00:02:50.079 --> 00:02:52.000 And Lord, we ask it all in your precious name. 00:02:52.719 --> 00:02:53.079 Amen. 00:02:53.439 --> 00:02:53.979 May we be seated. 00:02:54.879 --> 00:02:58.399 You know, we understand that term backslider, you know. 00:02:58.400 --> 00:03:04.840 And we find that a backslider is going to be described in this verse very clearly 00:03:04.840 --> 00:03:08.840 because this verse sets two very different men in contrast. 00:03:09.800 --> 00:03:14.379 Because it talks about a backslider, and it also talks about a good man. 00:03:14.900 --> 00:03:17.400 And we're going to talk about what it's referencing there 00:03:17.400 --> 00:03:20.640 and what makes the difference in that 00:03:20.640 --> 00:03:22.900 because that's important to understand. 00:03:22.900 --> 00:03:27.240 Again, because it shows that the same law holds for both 00:03:27.240 --> 00:03:29.580 because it talks about something very particular, 00:03:29.700 --> 00:03:30.719 and that's what's in the heart. 00:03:31.900 --> 00:03:33.080 You know, your heart 00:03:33.080 --> 00:03:37.780 is where everything takes place. 00:03:39.060 --> 00:03:40.540 You know, we talk about the heart. 00:03:40.620 --> 00:03:43.319 I'm not talking about your physical little ticker that keeps you alive. 00:03:43.319 --> 00:03:47.159 When the Bible's speaking about here in heart, 00:03:47.299 --> 00:03:49.500 it's talking about the core of who you are. 00:03:50.859 --> 00:03:54.680 It's speaking about why are you, you? 00:03:55.479 --> 00:03:58.159 You know, and we understand that a backslider 00:03:58.159 --> 00:04:01.659 and what he's been feeding on makes a difference, 00:04:01.659 --> 00:04:04.079 and what a good man is filled with 00:04:04.079 --> 00:04:06.539 is what the Lord puts within him. 00:04:07.240 --> 00:04:08.799 You know, I want you to understand 00:04:08.799 --> 00:04:11.099 that oftentimes we think we mention backslider. 00:04:11.099 --> 00:04:13.560 Here, you think of all sorts of people. 00:04:14.460 --> 00:04:15.819 You know, how many can think of somebody 00:04:15.819 --> 00:04:17.920 who used to serve the Lord who doesn't anymore? 00:04:19.279 --> 00:04:21.899 Who was faithful and then is not faithful? 00:04:22.899 --> 00:04:25.100 You know, we can always think about those, 00:04:25.199 --> 00:04:26.899 but I want you to consider today 00:04:26.899 --> 00:04:28.699 as we go through this 00:04:28.699 --> 00:04:30.500 and talk about what the Bible has to say 00:04:30.500 --> 00:04:31.899 about being a backslider. 00:04:32.600 --> 00:04:33.980 You know, you can be a backslider 00:04:33.980 --> 00:04:35.019 that's faithful to church. 00:04:35.459 --> 00:04:36.659 You can be a backslider 00:04:36.659 --> 00:04:38.139 that might read your Bible every day. 00:04:38.139 --> 00:04:41.939 Because we're going to look and see what he means 00:04:41.939 --> 00:04:43.139 because it's greater 00:04:43.139 --> 00:04:47.240 than some of the things that we try to contrast it to. 00:04:48.079 --> 00:04:50.379 We try to elevate ourselves 00:04:50.379 --> 00:04:53.459 because I'm not like such and such, 00:04:54.860 --> 00:04:57.339 that therefore I'm not a backslider, 00:04:57.439 --> 00:04:57.939 I'm not this. 00:04:58.000 --> 00:04:59.039 I want you to understand 00:04:59.039 --> 00:05:01.699 that even every believer 00:05:01.699 --> 00:05:04.800 can backslide in their life. 00:05:04.800 --> 00:05:07.520 because if you're not moving forward, 00:05:07.660 --> 00:05:08.420 you're going backwards. 00:05:09.840 --> 00:05:12.439 And we're going to consider that here this morning 00:05:12.439 --> 00:05:14.920 because we understand something 00:05:14.920 --> 00:05:17.300 because a backslider suggests 00:05:17.300 --> 00:05:19.180 that there had been a time in the past 00:05:19.180 --> 00:05:23.199 when something had caused forward progress 00:05:23.199 --> 00:05:24.360 to take place. 00:05:24.960 --> 00:05:26.960 You know, that's the only way you can slide backwards 00:05:26.960 --> 00:05:29.240 if you're moving away from where you once were. 00:05:30.400 --> 00:05:32.699 So you've had to arrive someplace 00:05:32.699 --> 00:05:33.860 in order to go backwards. 00:05:33.860 --> 00:05:36.060 to move away from. 00:05:36.180 --> 00:05:37.259 That's what it's talking about there, 00:05:37.319 --> 00:05:38.540 to withdraw from. 00:05:39.400 --> 00:05:41.620 And so we know and understand, 00:05:41.740 --> 00:05:42.300 I want you to, 00:05:42.480 --> 00:05:43.439 I'm going to make something clear 00:05:43.439 --> 00:05:44.220 at the beginning here 00:05:44.220 --> 00:05:46.080 because when we talk about a backslider, 00:05:47.160 --> 00:05:50.740 we know that the starting point 00:05:50.740 --> 00:05:54.720 is the moment somebody calls upon Jesus for salvation. 00:05:54.720 --> 00:05:58.540 because you cannot backslide from God 00:05:58.540 --> 00:06:00.320 if you're first not God's child. 00:06:02.040 --> 00:06:03.560 You know, I want you to understand, 00:06:03.680 --> 00:06:06.720 we're not talking about the wicked of the world, 00:06:06.780 --> 00:06:07.800 we're talking about those 00:06:07.800 --> 00:06:09.860 who have been washed and redeemed 00:06:09.860 --> 00:06:11.940 by the precious blood of Jesus Christ. 00:06:12.940 --> 00:06:14.680 Because that's two different people. 00:06:15.760 --> 00:06:17.880 When he's talking about a backslider here, 00:06:17.920 --> 00:06:20.480 I want you to understand what he's looking at 00:06:20.480 --> 00:06:22.240 and what he's comparing to 00:06:22.240 --> 00:06:25.500 because that forward progress of salvation 00:06:25.500 --> 00:06:28.020 happens every time somebody comes 00:06:28.020 --> 00:06:30.259 to know the Lord as their personal Savior. 00:06:30.360 --> 00:06:32.080 At that moment, you have made progress, 00:06:32.220 --> 00:06:33.900 you've been made a new creature in Christ, 00:06:34.160 --> 00:06:35.080 you've been changed, 00:06:35.180 --> 00:06:36.200 you've been transformed. 00:06:36.759 --> 00:06:38.700 Backsliding is moving from that. 00:06:39.840 --> 00:06:42.040 And we're not talking about losing your salvation. 00:06:42.040 --> 00:06:47.319 We're talking about things that keep or hinder 00:06:47.319 --> 00:06:49.580 your relationship with God. 00:06:51.420 --> 00:06:53.360 That fire and that zeal 00:06:53.360 --> 00:06:56.680 that you might have once had in your life. 00:06:57.240 --> 00:06:58.680 You know, that forward progress 00:06:58.680 --> 00:07:00.700 as a new creature in Christ, 00:07:01.140 --> 00:07:02.500 and as we walk with him, 00:07:02.540 --> 00:07:05.020 a walk that's designed to move forward 00:07:05.020 --> 00:07:07.580 and to be conformed to his image. 00:07:08.700 --> 00:07:11.280 You know, you think about this for a moment. 00:07:11.279 --> 00:07:12.559 Go back in the Old Testament 00:07:12.559 --> 00:07:14.419 to Jeremiah chapter 8 for a moment. 00:07:15.199 --> 00:07:18.359 Because here, Judah is seen as an example of this. 00:07:18.899 --> 00:07:20.839 They've been established by the Lord, 00:07:21.819 --> 00:07:23.739 his people that were to be obedient 00:07:23.739 --> 00:07:24.899 to the word of the Lord, 00:07:25.019 --> 00:07:26.719 and yet they started out that way. 00:07:27.359 --> 00:07:29.339 Yet we see them slide back, 00:07:29.739 --> 00:07:32.219 and in the days of Jeremiah the prophet, 00:07:32.639 --> 00:07:33.939 he makes this declaration. 00:07:34.299 --> 00:07:36.679 He says, why then is this people of Jerusalem 00:07:36.679 --> 00:07:41.039 slidden back by a perpetual backsliding? 00:07:41.279 --> 00:07:43.619 They hold fast deceit. 00:07:43.899 --> 00:07:47.019 They refuse to return. 00:07:48.419 --> 00:07:49.259 You know what? 00:07:49.559 --> 00:07:51.739 God's talking about a heart problem 00:07:51.739 --> 00:07:52.819 that's taking place. 00:07:54.299 --> 00:07:57.559 A heart problem within that's causing a problem. 00:07:58.119 --> 00:08:00.179 They move from following the Lord 00:08:00.179 --> 00:08:01.819 to holding to deceit. 00:08:02.439 --> 00:08:04.359 You know, they were deceiving themselves. 00:08:04.559 --> 00:08:07.039 You know, we see that a lot. 00:08:07.660 --> 00:08:09.600 You know, people are good at deceiving themselves. 00:08:11.379 --> 00:08:13.939 That deception that there's something that they're not. 00:08:15.400 --> 00:08:16.319 You know, matter of fact, 00:08:16.340 --> 00:08:17.760 we have people that even promote it. 00:08:17.980 --> 00:08:20.200 You just tell yourself you're that, 00:08:20.260 --> 00:08:21.180 and it'll come to fruition. 00:08:21.320 --> 00:08:21.820 You know what you're doing? 00:08:21.879 --> 00:08:22.920 You're deceiving yourself. 00:08:22.920 --> 00:08:27.220 Because who you are is what Christ has made you. 00:08:28.680 --> 00:08:30.160 Christ transforms you. 00:08:30.220 --> 00:08:31.259 He changes you. 00:08:31.600 --> 00:08:34.700 He makes you a new creature in Christ. 00:08:34.840 --> 00:08:38.019 And we understand that people can deceive themselves, though, 00:08:38.139 --> 00:08:40.279 and even a believer can be deceived. 00:08:40.279 --> 00:08:44.360 You know, because we understand 00:08:44.360 --> 00:08:47.939 that our decisions always have impact. 00:08:49.600 --> 00:08:52.860 Every decision, everything you hold to priority 00:08:52.860 --> 00:08:55.480 and deprioritize in your life 00:08:55.480 --> 00:08:57.399 makes an impact. 00:08:59.659 --> 00:09:02.539 Those things will alter the course of life. 00:09:02.699 --> 00:09:05.839 Proverbs chapter 1 tells us this in verse 31, 00:09:05.840 --> 00:09:13.840 You know, I want you to understand, 00:09:13.940 --> 00:09:14.759 even as a believer, 00:09:14.879 --> 00:09:17.180 the decisions you make will impact your life. 00:09:18.680 --> 00:09:21.280 Being a believer doesn't insulate you 00:09:21.280 --> 00:09:23.860 from the result of sin. 00:09:25.180 --> 00:09:26.820 You know, just because you're a believer, 00:09:26.980 --> 00:09:28.320 if you break the law, guess what? 00:09:28.360 --> 00:09:29.300 You're going to pay the penalty. 00:09:31.060 --> 00:09:32.120 Here on this earth, 00:09:32.160 --> 00:09:33.220 you're going to have consequences. 00:09:33.720 --> 00:09:35.259 As a believer, we ought not. 00:09:35.259 --> 00:09:39.399 But, you know, sadly, that's not always the case 00:09:39.399 --> 00:09:41.860 because of exactly what we're going to look at here today, 00:09:42.059 --> 00:09:44.759 this dynamic of being a backslider. 00:09:45.659 --> 00:09:47.100 So I want you to understand, 00:09:47.200 --> 00:09:48.620 we're going to look at here today, 00:09:48.939 --> 00:09:52.100 what causes a believer to slide 00:09:52.100 --> 00:09:53.399 and what is the fix? 00:09:54.879 --> 00:09:55.200 You know? 00:09:55.879 --> 00:09:57.899 It's one thing to identify a problem. 00:09:58.159 --> 00:09:59.039 You know, the other thing is, 00:09:59.059 --> 00:09:59.919 is how do you fix it? 00:10:01.799 --> 00:10:02.120 You know? 00:10:02.120 --> 00:10:06.340 A complainer is somebody who comes with a problem. 00:10:08.179 --> 00:10:08.740 You know? 00:10:09.039 --> 00:10:10.259 Anybody can complain. 00:10:10.820 --> 00:10:12.039 But if you come with a problem, 00:10:12.159 --> 00:10:12.820 you ought to come with, 00:10:12.919 --> 00:10:14.879 hey, I've been thinking about this 00:10:14.879 --> 00:10:17.700 and here's a few suggestions or ideas 00:10:17.700 --> 00:10:18.539 on how to fix it. 00:10:20.639 --> 00:10:21.259 You know what? 00:10:21.259 --> 00:10:23.700 God tells us what happens when we're a backslider, 00:10:23.779 --> 00:10:25.460 but he also tells us how to get it fixed. 00:10:27.220 --> 00:10:28.819 How to resolve the issue. 00:10:29.399 --> 00:10:32.200 Because let's look at the cause here this morning. 00:10:32.319 --> 00:10:34.080 Notice what the text tells us here, 00:10:34.139 --> 00:10:36.919 the backslider in heart. 00:10:37.399 --> 00:10:40.379 It begins by simply having less faith, 00:10:40.580 --> 00:10:41.139 less love, 00:10:41.559 --> 00:10:42.779 less zeal. 00:10:43.519 --> 00:10:43.720 You know? 00:10:44.340 --> 00:10:45.480 I want you to understand, 00:10:45.600 --> 00:10:47.540 this message isn't about somebody else, 00:10:47.580 --> 00:10:49.200 it's about me and about you. 00:10:50.300 --> 00:10:51.300 Because I want you to understand, 00:10:51.379 --> 00:10:52.460 the preacher isn't exempt 00:10:52.460 --> 00:10:53.840 from what I'm talking about this morning. 00:10:54.960 --> 00:10:57.160 Because it's easy for our heart 00:10:57.160 --> 00:10:58.440 to grab a hold of things 00:10:58.440 --> 00:11:00.160 and be distracted by many things. 00:11:01.279 --> 00:11:03.279 And we have to guard our heart. 00:11:03.720 --> 00:11:04.779 I want you to understand, 00:11:04.940 --> 00:11:07.300 most of us will never walk away 00:11:07.300 --> 00:11:08.560 from the Lord altogether. 00:11:08.560 --> 00:11:10.080 But if we're honest, 00:11:10.180 --> 00:11:12.600 every one of us has drifted at some point 00:11:12.600 --> 00:11:14.200 since we were saved 00:11:14.200 --> 00:11:15.560 and needed to be restored. 00:11:16.159 --> 00:11:17.139 Because you know why? 00:11:17.220 --> 00:11:18.259 Each of us have a tendency 00:11:18.259 --> 00:11:19.920 to be filled with our own ways. 00:11:20.820 --> 00:11:22.159 Our own desires, 00:11:22.360 --> 00:11:23.259 our own thinking. 00:11:23.920 --> 00:11:26.519 It begins when a believer declines 00:11:26.519 --> 00:11:27.700 in any degree. 00:11:28.240 --> 00:11:29.620 You know, by having less faith. 00:11:29.700 --> 00:11:30.879 Don't trust the Lord 00:11:30.879 --> 00:11:32.500 in exactly what He said. 00:11:34.440 --> 00:11:36.080 You know, this is a big issue 00:11:36.080 --> 00:11:38.200 in our life as a believer. 00:11:39.040 --> 00:11:40.300 Because you can know 00:11:40.300 --> 00:11:41.680 what God's Word says, 00:11:41.679 --> 00:11:44.279 and you know what you ought to do, 00:11:44.379 --> 00:11:45.819 but you consciously say, 00:11:46.500 --> 00:11:48.099 fill in the blank, 00:11:48.459 --> 00:11:49.459 I can't because. 00:11:51.779 --> 00:11:52.819 Or worse yet, 00:11:52.899 --> 00:11:54.179 I won't because. 00:11:54.559 --> 00:11:55.199 You know what happens? 00:11:55.279 --> 00:11:57.620 You begin to slide back. 00:11:58.679 --> 00:11:59.899 You begin to slide, 00:12:00.019 --> 00:12:01.879 to withdraw from the Lord. 00:12:01.959 --> 00:12:03.120 It creates a barrier. 00:12:03.559 --> 00:12:05.919 When we understand that dynamic, 00:12:05.919 --> 00:12:07.479 it begins when we decline 00:12:07.480 --> 00:12:09.000 with less faith, 00:12:09.139 --> 00:12:10.560 less love for the Lord, 00:12:10.960 --> 00:12:13.220 less zeal in our walk for the Lord. 00:12:14.159 --> 00:12:15.920 You know, think about Hebrews chapter 3 00:12:15.920 --> 00:12:16.480 for a moment. 00:12:16.580 --> 00:12:17.860 Look at Hebrews chapter 3. 00:12:18.300 --> 00:12:19.840 It tells us in verse 12, 00:12:20.120 --> 00:12:20.779 it tells us, 00:12:20.899 --> 00:12:20.960 it says, 00:12:21.019 --> 00:12:21.920 take heed, brethren, 00:12:22.019 --> 00:12:23.920 lest there be any of you 00:12:23.920 --> 00:12:25.899 an evil heart of unbelief 00:12:25.899 --> 00:12:28.180 in departing from the living God. 00:12:28.620 --> 00:12:30.820 But exhort one another daily 00:12:30.820 --> 00:12:32.440 while it is called day, 00:12:32.440 --> 00:12:34.100 lest any of you be hardened 00:12:34.100 --> 00:12:36.340 through the deceitfulness of sin. 00:12:38.100 --> 00:12:38.899 You know what? 00:12:38.940 --> 00:12:40.180 None of us are exempt. 00:12:40.740 --> 00:12:42.920 The devil wants to get you distracted 00:12:42.920 --> 00:12:46.039 from the Lord. 00:12:47.539 --> 00:12:49.340 He wants to create a barrier. 00:12:49.539 --> 00:12:51.019 He wants to create a separation. 00:12:52.539 --> 00:12:53.720 Now I'm not talking about 00:12:53.720 --> 00:12:55.139 losing your salvation. 00:12:55.379 --> 00:12:56.500 I just want to make that clear. 00:12:56.759 --> 00:12:58.519 I'm talking about a hindrance 00:12:58.519 --> 00:12:59.399 in relationship. 00:13:01.399 --> 00:13:02.920 Because we understand this 00:13:02.920 --> 00:13:04.720 on a practical level all the time. 00:13:05.060 --> 00:13:06.720 We all understand the reality 00:13:06.720 --> 00:13:08.980 of conflict in the family. 00:13:10.779 --> 00:13:12.300 Things that are unresolved 00:13:12.300 --> 00:13:13.879 cause a conflict in the family 00:13:13.879 --> 00:13:16.200 that cause a separation 00:13:16.200 --> 00:13:17.259 of fellowship. 00:13:17.779 --> 00:13:19.080 Until that's resolved, 00:13:19.279 --> 00:13:20.480 it cannot be in the fellowship 00:13:20.480 --> 00:13:22.160 designed the way it was intended. 00:13:22.700 --> 00:13:24.779 It doesn't change the relationship, 00:13:25.440 --> 00:13:27.220 but it definitely changes 00:13:27.220 --> 00:13:27.860 the fellowship. 00:13:28.879 --> 00:13:30.160 That's the dynamic 00:13:30.160 --> 00:13:31.940 when we have with salvation, 00:13:31.940 --> 00:13:32.759 with God, 00:13:32.759 --> 00:13:35.200 to understand the deceitfulness 00:13:35.200 --> 00:13:36.600 of sin. 00:13:37.100 --> 00:13:37.240 You know, 00:13:37.299 --> 00:13:37.939 Galatians, 00:13:38.059 --> 00:13:38.779 Paul tells him, 00:13:38.840 --> 00:13:39.659 you did run well 00:13:39.659 --> 00:13:40.519 who did hinder you 00:13:40.519 --> 00:13:42.360 that you should not obey 00:13:42.360 --> 00:13:43.179 the truth. 00:13:44.379 --> 00:13:45.840 Because I want you to see here, 00:13:45.899 --> 00:13:47.480 notice his name here, 00:13:47.580 --> 00:13:48.500 the backslider. 00:13:49.600 --> 00:13:50.899 It means he stopped 00:13:50.899 --> 00:13:52.100 pressing forward. 00:13:53.980 --> 00:13:54.759 Have you ever considered 00:13:54.759 --> 00:13:55.919 nobody slides up? 00:13:55.919 --> 00:13:56.479 You know, 00:13:56.519 --> 00:13:57.120 we never hear this, 00:13:57.219 --> 00:13:58.199 he's an upslider. 00:13:59.079 --> 00:14:00.299 That just don't happen, 00:14:00.360 --> 00:14:00.740 does it? 00:14:02.419 --> 00:14:04.179 We slide down. 00:14:05.979 --> 00:14:07.620 We slide down, 00:14:07.919 --> 00:14:08.779 going away. 00:14:09.219 --> 00:14:09.459 You know, 00:14:09.539 --> 00:14:10.699 I want you to understand, 00:14:11.059 --> 00:14:13.039 it results in going backwards. 00:14:13.199 --> 00:14:13.819 You'll notice something. 00:14:13.839 --> 00:14:15.219 Look at Philippians chapter 3 00:14:15.219 --> 00:14:15.819 for a moment. 00:14:16.219 --> 00:14:17.099 Because here we find 00:14:17.099 --> 00:14:18.199 the Apostle Paul. 00:14:19.299 --> 00:14:20.839 And he tells him here, 00:14:21.219 --> 00:14:22.980 at the church at Philippi, 00:14:22.980 --> 00:14:23.980 and he says this, 00:14:24.600 --> 00:14:25.159 and he says, 00:14:25.259 --> 00:14:25.539 brethren, 00:14:25.659 --> 00:14:26.980 I count not myself 00:14:26.980 --> 00:14:27.920 to have apprehended. 00:14:28.659 --> 00:14:29.220 Now notice, 00:14:29.320 --> 00:14:31.399 but this one thing I do, 00:14:32.420 --> 00:14:33.620 forgetting the things 00:14:33.620 --> 00:14:34.800 which are behind 00:14:34.800 --> 00:14:36.580 and reaching forth 00:14:36.580 --> 00:14:37.399 unto those things 00:14:37.399 --> 00:14:38.159 which are what? 00:14:39.000 --> 00:14:39.480 Before, 00:14:39.600 --> 00:14:40.600 now notice verse 14, 00:14:40.700 --> 00:14:41.399 this is a key. 00:14:42.420 --> 00:14:43.100 What's he say? 00:14:43.200 --> 00:14:43.899 I do what? 00:14:45.320 --> 00:14:48.060 I press towards the mark 00:14:48.060 --> 00:14:49.180 for the prize 00:14:49.180 --> 00:14:50.759 of the high calling of God 00:14:50.759 --> 00:14:51.860 in Christ Jesus. 00:14:51.860 --> 00:14:53.019 Think about this 00:14:53.019 --> 00:14:54.240 in contrast for a moment. 00:14:54.800 --> 00:14:55.940 What's Paul saying 00:14:55.940 --> 00:14:56.700 in his life? 00:14:56.759 --> 00:14:57.080 He says, 00:14:57.200 --> 00:14:58.740 I must continually do what? 00:14:59.560 --> 00:15:01.180 Press forward. 00:15:02.120 --> 00:15:03.399 Because if you're not 00:15:03.399 --> 00:15:04.519 pressing forward, 00:15:04.680 --> 00:15:05.200 guess what? 00:15:05.240 --> 00:15:07.480 You're sliding backwards. 00:15:09.860 --> 00:15:10.279 That's the reason 00:15:10.279 --> 00:15:11.659 we have to understand 00:15:11.659 --> 00:15:12.759 the picture here. 00:15:13.100 --> 00:15:14.720 He had to keep moving forward 00:15:14.720 --> 00:15:15.860 for if he did not, 00:15:16.139 --> 00:15:16.759 he would begin 00:15:16.759 --> 00:15:17.920 to slide backwards. 00:15:18.200 --> 00:15:19.259 The same as with 00:15:19.259 --> 00:15:20.960 my life and yours 00:15:20.960 --> 00:15:22.000 when we stop 00:15:22.000 --> 00:15:22.900 pressing forward 00:15:22.900 --> 00:15:23.900 to the high calling 00:15:23.900 --> 00:15:25.040 of Jesus Christ, 00:15:25.540 --> 00:15:26.800 and we can stop 00:15:26.800 --> 00:15:28.080 for all sorts of reasons. 00:15:29.900 --> 00:15:30.220 You know, 00:15:30.280 --> 00:15:31.580 sometimes we get complacent. 00:15:31.980 --> 00:15:33.040 Some very simple things. 00:15:33.540 --> 00:15:34.019 Complacency, 00:15:34.820 --> 00:15:36.840 I'm happy where I'm at. 00:15:37.160 --> 00:15:37.980 Let me put it another way. 00:15:38.040 --> 00:15:38.160 Well, 00:15:38.200 --> 00:15:38.800 I'm comfortable 00:15:38.800 --> 00:15:39.680 where I'm at. 00:15:40.019 --> 00:15:41.139 The Christian life 00:15:41.139 --> 00:15:42.220 ought to always be 00:15:42.220 --> 00:15:43.379 I'm never comfortable 00:15:43.379 --> 00:15:44.820 with where I am with God. 00:15:44.900 --> 00:15:45.879 There's always things 00:15:45.879 --> 00:15:46.740 God's working on 00:15:46.740 --> 00:15:47.300 in my life. 00:15:47.299 --> 00:15:50.339 that God's developing. 00:15:50.639 --> 00:15:51.839 The Bible tells us 00:15:51.839 --> 00:15:52.319 that we're to be 00:15:52.319 --> 00:15:53.859 conformed to His image. 00:15:56.059 --> 00:15:56.879 You know what? 00:15:59.019 --> 00:16:00.219 That takes a lot 00:16:00.219 --> 00:16:00.859 in our life, 00:16:00.959 --> 00:16:01.939 that sanctification 00:16:01.939 --> 00:16:03.219 that takes place. 00:16:04.899 --> 00:16:06.459 It's moving forward 00:16:06.459 --> 00:16:07.439 in that 00:16:07.439 --> 00:16:08.379 to allow God 00:16:08.379 --> 00:16:09.620 to continue to work 00:16:09.620 --> 00:16:10.359 and to guide. 00:16:11.359 --> 00:16:11.799 Complacency, 00:16:11.959 --> 00:16:12.079 you know, 00:16:12.139 --> 00:16:13.199 that less zeal. 00:16:13.500 --> 00:16:14.759 Or to look at ourselves 00:16:14.759 --> 00:16:15.579 first, you know. 00:16:15.580 --> 00:16:17.160 When you look at yourself, 00:16:17.280 --> 00:16:17.920 you know what you're doing? 00:16:18.000 --> 00:16:19.060 You're loving God less. 00:16:19.400 --> 00:16:19.879 Because you know, 00:16:19.900 --> 00:16:20.440 one of the problems 00:16:20.440 --> 00:16:21.620 we find in our world today 00:16:21.620 --> 00:16:22.220 is people say, 00:16:22.460 --> 00:16:22.940 love yourself. 00:16:25.120 --> 00:16:26.100 Fill yourself 00:16:26.100 --> 00:16:26.920 with yourself. 00:16:27.360 --> 00:16:28.280 You know what God tells us? 00:16:28.300 --> 00:16:29.040 We need to be filled 00:16:29.040 --> 00:16:29.960 with His Spirit. 00:16:30.420 --> 00:16:31.100 Because that's what 00:16:31.100 --> 00:16:32.379 enables us to walk. 00:16:32.480 --> 00:16:33.360 That's what enables us 00:16:33.360 --> 00:16:34.160 to press forward. 00:16:34.280 --> 00:16:35.280 That's what enables us 00:16:35.280 --> 00:16:36.020 to live 00:16:36.020 --> 00:16:37.660 as God desires 00:16:37.660 --> 00:16:38.700 for us to live. 00:16:39.520 --> 00:16:39.740 Now, 00:16:39.780 --> 00:16:40.780 I want you to see here 00:16:40.780 --> 00:16:42.040 as we understand 00:16:42.040 --> 00:16:42.720 that, you know, 00:16:42.780 --> 00:16:43.259 sometimes 00:16:43.259 --> 00:16:44.259 it might be 00:16:44.259 --> 00:16:45.740 just not trusting 00:16:45.740 --> 00:16:46.639 or obeying 00:16:46.639 --> 00:16:47.100 the Lord 00:16:47.100 --> 00:16:47.720 in an area 00:16:47.720 --> 00:16:48.319 of your life. 00:16:48.399 --> 00:16:48.779 That's called 00:16:48.779 --> 00:16:49.519 less faith. 00:16:49.899 --> 00:16:50.659 When you know 00:16:50.659 --> 00:16:51.580 what God wants 00:16:51.580 --> 00:16:52.500 for you to do 00:16:52.500 --> 00:16:54.100 and what you ought to do 00:16:54.100 --> 00:16:55.000 but you're more concerned 00:16:55.000 --> 00:16:56.500 about what everybody else thinks 00:16:56.500 --> 00:16:57.980 or what you have thought 00:16:57.980 --> 00:16:58.399 about it 00:16:58.399 --> 00:16:59.200 instead of what God 00:16:59.200 --> 00:16:59.980 thinks about it. 00:17:00.379 --> 00:17:00.639 Like I said, 00:17:00.720 --> 00:17:01.439 this is going to get 00:17:01.439 --> 00:17:02.279 personal this morning. 00:17:04.519 --> 00:17:05.299 Because I want you 00:17:05.299 --> 00:17:05.720 to understand 00:17:05.720 --> 00:17:06.460 I'm not preaching 00:17:06.460 --> 00:17:06.900 at you, 00:17:06.940 --> 00:17:07.279 I'm preaching 00:17:07.279 --> 00:17:07.900 with you. 00:17:09.940 --> 00:17:10.759 Because you know what? 00:17:10.819 --> 00:17:11.339 This is just 00:17:11.339 --> 00:17:11.900 as big a problem 00:17:11.900 --> 00:17:12.500 in my life 00:17:12.500 --> 00:17:13.220 as it is yours. 00:17:13.220 --> 00:17:14.620 We need to understand 00:17:14.620 --> 00:17:15.279 the picture 00:17:15.279 --> 00:17:16.120 and the importance 00:17:16.120 --> 00:17:17.400 of this 00:17:17.400 --> 00:17:18.460 because sometimes 00:17:18.460 --> 00:17:19.500 we're held back 00:17:19.500 --> 00:17:20.620 when the truth 00:17:20.620 --> 00:17:21.160 of scripture 00:17:21.160 --> 00:17:21.920 doesn't fit 00:17:21.920 --> 00:17:22.860 what we have thought 00:17:22.860 --> 00:17:23.660 or considered 00:17:23.660 --> 00:17:25.319 and we resist it 00:17:25.319 --> 00:17:26.400 rather than submit to it. 00:17:26.420 --> 00:17:27.039 You know what you're doing? 00:17:27.120 --> 00:17:28.160 You're sliding backwards 00:17:28.160 --> 00:17:30.039 because you created 00:17:30.039 --> 00:17:31.579 something that's in conflict 00:17:31.579 --> 00:17:32.220 between you 00:17:32.220 --> 00:17:32.819 and your Savior. 00:17:33.500 --> 00:17:34.000 And notice 00:17:34.000 --> 00:17:34.980 where it starts. 00:17:35.339 --> 00:17:36.039 It starts, 00:17:36.180 --> 00:17:36.620 notice it, 00:17:36.680 --> 00:17:37.600 look back at our text, 00:17:37.680 --> 00:17:38.799 he said the backslider 00:17:38.799 --> 00:17:40.339 in what? 00:17:41.640 --> 00:17:42.120 Heart. 00:17:42.119 --> 00:17:43.500 I want you to understand 00:17:43.500 --> 00:17:45.339 backsliding begins 00:17:45.339 --> 00:17:46.119 in the heart. 00:17:47.519 --> 00:17:49.559 It begins within you 00:17:49.559 --> 00:17:50.599 and what you think 00:17:50.599 --> 00:17:51.219 and consider 00:17:51.219 --> 00:17:52.559 and how you trust God. 00:17:53.899 --> 00:17:55.419 Backsliding doesn't begin 00:17:55.419 --> 00:17:56.699 by an action 00:17:56.699 --> 00:17:57.779 that takes place. 00:17:58.019 --> 00:17:59.119 It takes place 00:17:59.119 --> 00:17:59.979 within the heart. 00:18:00.539 --> 00:18:00.719 You know, 00:18:00.799 --> 00:18:02.019 Proverbs chapter 4 00:18:02.019 --> 00:18:02.859 and verse 23 00:18:02.859 --> 00:18:03.859 tells us this, 00:18:04.259 --> 00:18:05.079 keep thy heart 00:18:05.079 --> 00:18:06.039 with all diligence 00:18:06.039 --> 00:18:06.879 for out of it 00:18:06.879 --> 00:18:07.579 are the what? 00:18:09.079 --> 00:18:10.359 Issues of life. 00:18:10.359 --> 00:18:10.919 You know, 00:18:11.059 --> 00:18:12.719 as a believer, 00:18:12.919 --> 00:18:13.419 you don't have 00:18:13.419 --> 00:18:14.319 an action problem 00:18:14.319 --> 00:18:14.939 as much as you have 00:18:14.939 --> 00:18:15.500 a heart problem. 00:18:15.979 --> 00:18:16.679 Because the one thing 00:18:16.679 --> 00:18:17.579 I've learned in life, 00:18:17.799 --> 00:18:18.779 what people love 00:18:18.779 --> 00:18:19.339 and desire, 00:18:19.459 --> 00:18:20.319 they find a way to do. 00:18:20.779 --> 00:18:21.919 They will change, 00:18:22.019 --> 00:18:23.219 they will put away things, 00:18:23.319 --> 00:18:25.000 they'll put things off, 00:18:25.059 --> 00:18:26.240 they'll do all sorts of things 00:18:26.240 --> 00:18:26.699 for something 00:18:26.699 --> 00:18:27.939 that they desire to do, 00:18:28.019 --> 00:18:28.639 what their heart 00:18:28.639 --> 00:18:29.899 is pushing them, 00:18:29.959 --> 00:18:30.539 where their heart 00:18:30.539 --> 00:18:31.139 is placed. 00:18:33.000 --> 00:18:34.019 They will put that 00:18:34.019 --> 00:18:35.059 as a priority. 00:18:35.619 --> 00:18:37.119 It starts in the heart 00:18:37.119 --> 00:18:37.839 of an individual. 00:18:37.839 --> 00:18:37.959 individual. 00:18:38.539 --> 00:18:39.220 We know, 00:18:39.819 --> 00:18:40.099 you know, 00:18:40.159 --> 00:18:41.019 when we understand 00:18:41.019 --> 00:18:41.679 this picture 00:18:41.679 --> 00:18:42.819 of a physical heart, 00:18:43.799 --> 00:18:44.039 you know, 00:18:44.079 --> 00:18:45.220 we know that heart trouble 00:18:45.220 --> 00:18:47.079 is always serious 00:18:47.079 --> 00:18:48.699 whether it's your physical heart 00:18:48.699 --> 00:18:49.899 or the heart 00:18:49.899 --> 00:18:50.859 that the Bible talks 00:18:50.859 --> 00:18:51.779 about within you. 00:18:52.500 --> 00:18:52.720 You know, 00:18:52.740 --> 00:18:53.359 that's the reason 00:18:53.359 --> 00:18:54.399 the psalmist 00:18:54.399 --> 00:18:55.359 tells us this 00:18:55.359 --> 00:18:56.599 in Psalm 139. 00:18:56.679 --> 00:18:56.980 He says, 00:18:57.359 --> 00:18:57.599 search me, 00:18:57.659 --> 00:18:58.119 O God, 00:18:58.179 --> 00:18:59.139 and know my what? 00:19:00.220 --> 00:19:00.599 Heart. 00:19:01.619 --> 00:19:02.439 Try me 00:19:02.439 --> 00:19:03.659 and know my thoughts 00:19:03.659 --> 00:19:05.000 and see if there be what? 00:19:05.000 --> 00:19:07.599 any wicked way 00:19:07.599 --> 00:19:08.180 in me 00:19:08.180 --> 00:19:09.180 and lead me 00:19:09.180 --> 00:19:10.200 in thy way 00:19:10.200 --> 00:19:10.980 everlasting. 00:19:11.619 --> 00:19:12.539 You know what David's asking 00:19:12.539 --> 00:19:12.779 here? 00:19:12.859 --> 00:19:13.799 A very simple question. 00:19:13.900 --> 00:19:14.119 Lord, 00:19:14.980 --> 00:19:15.880 is there anything 00:19:15.880 --> 00:19:16.900 that's causing me 00:19:16.900 --> 00:19:17.619 to withhold 00:19:17.619 --> 00:19:18.720 or to draw back 00:19:18.720 --> 00:19:19.259 from you 00:19:19.259 --> 00:19:20.400 that needs to be dealt with? 00:19:20.779 --> 00:19:21.460 Let's give you a clue. 00:19:21.539 --> 00:19:22.700 That's a dangerous question 00:19:22.700 --> 00:19:24.240 because if you pray 00:19:24.240 --> 00:19:25.160 and ask God that, 00:19:25.240 --> 00:19:25.920 he's going to show you 00:19:25.920 --> 00:19:26.279 some things. 00:19:26.339 --> 00:19:26.559 You're going to have 00:19:26.559 --> 00:19:27.220 to make a decision. 00:19:27.799 --> 00:19:28.140 What are you going 00:19:28.140 --> 00:19:28.660 to do with it? 00:19:29.200 --> 00:19:29.740 Are you going to stay 00:19:29.740 --> 00:19:30.359 where you are, 00:19:30.720 --> 00:19:31.940 sliding back away, 00:19:32.240 --> 00:19:33.279 or are you going to 00:19:33.279 --> 00:19:34.220 press towards the mark? 00:19:35.000 --> 00:19:36.640 To press forward 00:19:36.640 --> 00:19:38.140 into what God would have. 00:19:40.059 --> 00:19:40.319 You know, 00:19:41.759 --> 00:19:43.220 high blood pressure 00:19:43.220 --> 00:19:44.579 is called the silent killer 00:19:44.579 --> 00:19:45.460 because it often 00:19:45.460 --> 00:19:46.579 has no symptoms. 00:19:47.960 --> 00:19:48.160 You know, 00:19:48.220 --> 00:19:49.039 for many people, 00:19:49.119 --> 00:19:49.859 the first sign 00:19:49.859 --> 00:19:50.839 is a heart attack. 00:19:52.500 --> 00:19:52.839 You know, 00:19:53.559 --> 00:19:55.200 I want you to understand 00:19:55.200 --> 00:19:56.579 a heart that's cooled 00:19:56.579 --> 00:19:57.980 from the things of God 00:19:57.980 --> 00:19:59.759 is going to slip away 00:19:59.759 --> 00:20:00.619 from Christ. 00:20:00.960 --> 00:20:02.079 And I want you to understand 00:20:02.079 --> 00:20:04.400 this idea of backsliding 00:20:04.400 --> 00:20:06.019 it's all good 00:20:06.019 --> 00:20:06.700 until it isn't. 00:20:07.759 --> 00:20:08.440 It's kind of like 00:20:08.440 --> 00:20:09.019 a heart attack. 00:20:09.120 --> 00:20:09.800 It was all good 00:20:09.800 --> 00:20:10.540 until it wasn't. 00:20:12.660 --> 00:20:13.920 You see people today, 00:20:14.019 --> 00:20:14.120 well, 00:20:14.160 --> 00:20:15.180 they were such a follower 00:20:15.180 --> 00:20:15.820 of Christ 00:20:15.820 --> 00:20:16.440 and all of a sudden 00:20:16.440 --> 00:20:18.140 this devastating thing 00:20:18.140 --> 00:20:18.980 comes out about them. 00:20:19.340 --> 00:20:19.840 You know what? 00:20:19.920 --> 00:20:21.080 That slide to that 00:20:21.080 --> 00:20:22.060 happened a long time 00:20:22.060 --> 00:20:22.700 before that. 00:20:23.380 --> 00:20:24.460 They didn't wake up 00:20:24.460 --> 00:20:25.059 one day. 00:20:25.640 --> 00:20:25.880 You know, 00:20:25.920 --> 00:20:26.600 in my lifetime, 00:20:26.700 --> 00:20:27.579 I've seen guys 00:20:27.579 --> 00:20:28.319 and preachers, 00:20:28.420 --> 00:20:29.840 once I went to school with, 00:20:29.880 --> 00:20:30.920 I had personal friends 00:20:30.920 --> 00:20:32.440 who left their wives. 00:20:34.380 --> 00:20:35.660 If you would talk to them, 00:20:35.700 --> 00:20:36.140 you would think 00:20:36.140 --> 00:20:36.860 they were godly. 00:20:36.940 --> 00:20:37.799 Everything was on track. 00:20:37.880 --> 00:20:38.860 Things were going good. 00:20:40.380 --> 00:20:41.380 But you know what? 00:20:41.440 --> 00:20:42.140 That decision 00:20:42.140 --> 00:20:42.960 to what happened 00:20:42.960 --> 00:20:44.160 didn't happen in a day. 00:20:45.259 --> 00:20:46.059 It happened 00:20:46.059 --> 00:20:46.700 when their heart 00:20:46.700 --> 00:20:48.059 began to backslide 00:20:48.059 --> 00:20:49.640 away from the thing 00:20:49.640 --> 00:20:50.160 slowly, 00:20:50.360 --> 00:20:50.620 slowly, 00:20:50.740 --> 00:20:50.920 slowly, 00:20:50.920 --> 00:20:52.200 and then it's manifest. 00:20:54.220 --> 00:20:55.759 Just like our physical heart, 00:20:55.840 --> 00:20:56.759 you can have a lot of things 00:20:56.759 --> 00:20:57.519 going inside 00:20:57.519 --> 00:20:58.620 that everything looks good 00:20:58.620 --> 00:21:00.440 until it isn't. 00:21:00.500 --> 00:21:00.700 You know, 00:21:00.800 --> 00:21:01.300 spiritually, 00:21:01.800 --> 00:21:03.060 in the life of a believer, 00:21:03.140 --> 00:21:04.640 that's exactly what happens too. 00:21:05.220 --> 00:21:05.820 Looks good, 00:21:05.900 --> 00:21:06.320 looks good, 00:21:06.380 --> 00:21:06.800 looks good. 00:21:06.900 --> 00:21:08.100 I want you to see here 00:21:08.100 --> 00:21:09.820 the course of what causes it 00:21:09.820 --> 00:21:10.940 because this is important 00:21:10.940 --> 00:21:12.519 because notice here 00:21:12.519 --> 00:21:13.240 what it says. 00:21:13.340 --> 00:21:15.460 We find these dynamics. 00:21:15.620 --> 00:21:16.220 It also says 00:21:16.220 --> 00:21:18.720 the backslider in heart 00:21:18.720 --> 00:21:20.400 shall be filled with what? 00:21:21.920 --> 00:21:24.779 His own ways. 00:21:25.200 --> 00:21:26.420 It's not hard to find people 00:21:26.420 --> 00:21:27.380 to say this is the way 00:21:27.380 --> 00:21:28.620 I think it ought to be. 00:21:30.700 --> 00:21:31.480 This is the way 00:21:31.480 --> 00:21:32.920 I think it ought to be done. 00:21:34.960 --> 00:21:38.400 I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I. 00:21:38.620 --> 00:21:39.380 Instead of saying, 00:21:39.440 --> 00:21:40.820 Lord, how do you want it done? 00:21:42.800 --> 00:21:44.200 How does it need to be done? 00:21:44.840 --> 00:21:46.600 What's your response to this? 00:21:47.220 --> 00:21:49.000 Because those things 00:21:49.000 --> 00:21:50.039 begin to happen 00:21:50.039 --> 00:21:51.019 in a, 00:21:51.099 --> 00:21:51.839 when we fill it up 00:21:51.839 --> 00:21:53.160 with our own ways. 00:21:53.279 --> 00:21:53.799 You know, 00:21:53.819 --> 00:21:55.059 oftentimes that might just be 00:21:55.059 --> 00:21:56.240 a preoccupation 00:21:56.240 --> 00:21:57.440 of something. 00:21:57.539 --> 00:21:57.720 You know, 00:21:57.779 --> 00:21:58.759 maybe it's business 00:21:58.759 --> 00:21:59.960 or social life 00:21:59.960 --> 00:22:00.799 or entertainment. 00:22:01.059 --> 00:22:02.019 And what it is, 00:22:02.079 --> 00:22:03.180 it begins to move in 00:22:03.180 --> 00:22:04.420 and to crowd out 00:22:04.420 --> 00:22:05.500 the things of God. 00:22:06.960 --> 00:22:08.140 To move away 00:22:08.140 --> 00:22:09.400 from the things of God. 00:22:09.920 --> 00:22:10.140 You know, 00:22:10.160 --> 00:22:10.700 that's the reason 00:22:10.700 --> 00:22:11.700 Jesus warned 00:22:11.700 --> 00:22:12.940 in Mark chapter 4 00:22:12.940 --> 00:22:14.140 talking about, 00:22:14.140 --> 00:22:15.040 you know, 00:22:15.300 --> 00:22:15.840 sowing. 00:22:16.220 --> 00:22:16.920 And he talks here 00:22:16.920 --> 00:22:17.520 about sowing 00:22:17.520 --> 00:22:18.520 among the thorns 00:22:18.520 --> 00:22:20.700 such as hear the word. 00:22:21.640 --> 00:22:23.040 And the cares of this world 00:22:23.040 --> 00:22:23.940 and the deceitfulness 00:22:23.940 --> 00:22:24.580 of riches 00:22:24.580 --> 00:22:25.200 and the lust 00:22:25.200 --> 00:22:25.860 of other things 00:22:25.860 --> 00:22:26.440 entering in, 00:22:26.880 --> 00:22:27.680 choke the word 00:22:27.680 --> 00:22:29.000 and it becometh unfruitful. 00:22:29.300 --> 00:22:29.520 You know, 00:22:29.560 --> 00:22:30.759 he's describing somebody 00:22:30.759 --> 00:22:32.120 looking after their own way. 00:22:32.640 --> 00:22:33.820 You can know the truth 00:22:33.820 --> 00:22:35.040 and still look to your own way. 00:22:37.100 --> 00:22:37.720 To say, 00:22:37.860 --> 00:22:38.800 what do I want to do? 00:22:38.860 --> 00:22:39.900 How do I want to do it? 00:22:39.920 --> 00:22:40.880 What do I expect? 00:22:41.720 --> 00:22:42.160 You know what? 00:22:42.160 --> 00:22:44.060 The heart gives an accurate report. 00:22:44.960 --> 00:22:45.120 You know, 00:22:45.180 --> 00:22:46.100 how many of you ever looked 00:22:46.100 --> 00:22:47.100 at the little report 00:22:47.100 --> 00:22:47.680 on your phone 00:22:47.680 --> 00:22:48.220 that tells you 00:22:48.220 --> 00:22:49.540 how much you used it each day? 00:22:50.100 --> 00:22:50.800 How many hours 00:22:50.800 --> 00:22:52.040 you looked at it last week? 00:22:54.180 --> 00:22:55.060 How many didn't know 00:22:55.060 --> 00:22:56.040 your phone tracks that? 00:22:56.680 --> 00:22:57.800 Your phone tracks it. 00:22:58.860 --> 00:22:59.779 It can tell you 00:22:59.779 --> 00:23:00.519 how much time 00:23:00.519 --> 00:23:01.600 you spent looking at it. 00:23:02.240 --> 00:23:02.740 I encourage you 00:23:02.740 --> 00:23:03.300 to look at that 00:23:03.300 --> 00:23:03.840 for a moment 00:23:03.840 --> 00:23:05.200 and then consider 00:23:05.200 --> 00:23:05.960 something else 00:23:05.960 --> 00:23:06.460 when you say, 00:23:06.600 --> 00:23:07.540 I don't have time 00:23:07.540 --> 00:23:09.460 to pray 00:23:09.460 --> 00:23:11.600 or to read the Bible. 00:23:12.160 --> 00:23:13.240 Half what you look at 00:23:13.240 --> 00:23:13.840 on your phone, 00:23:13.940 --> 00:23:14.580 if not more, 00:23:14.680 --> 00:23:15.660 is probably not worth 00:23:15.660 --> 00:23:16.480 really looking at. 00:23:17.180 --> 00:23:18.480 Call it doom scrolling. 00:23:19.360 --> 00:23:19.720 Really, 00:23:19.900 --> 00:23:20.900 it's wasting time 00:23:20.900 --> 00:23:21.920 assuming 00:23:21.920 --> 00:23:24.800 those things. 00:23:25.519 --> 00:23:26.200 Look at this slide 00:23:26.200 --> 00:23:26.680 for a moment. 00:23:27.740 --> 00:23:28.880 Who knows what this is? 00:23:29.540 --> 00:23:29.779 Hey, 00:23:30.120 --> 00:23:30.960 it's in the back. 00:23:33.279 --> 00:23:34.440 It's a cuckoo bird. 00:23:36.300 --> 00:23:37.440 There's an interesting thing 00:23:37.440 --> 00:23:38.240 about a cuckoo bird 00:23:38.240 --> 00:23:40.019 because they're one 00:23:40.019 --> 00:23:40.840 of the few birds 00:23:40.839 --> 00:23:41.559 that don't nest. 00:23:42.099 --> 00:23:42.959 What they do 00:23:42.959 --> 00:23:44.099 is they find a nest 00:23:44.099 --> 00:23:44.919 of another bird, 00:23:46.519 --> 00:23:48.299 kick one of the eggs out 00:23:48.299 --> 00:23:49.339 and put their egg in. 00:23:49.759 --> 00:23:50.619 Then they allow 00:23:50.619 --> 00:23:52.359 the other bird 00:23:52.359 --> 00:23:53.000 to hatch 00:23:53.000 --> 00:23:54.799 their young'un. 00:23:56.099 --> 00:23:56.399 And you know 00:23:56.399 --> 00:23:57.419 what the young'un does 00:23:57.419 --> 00:23:58.359 as soon as the young'un 00:23:58.359 --> 00:23:59.139 gets hatched? 00:24:00.419 --> 00:24:01.579 He turns around 00:24:01.579 --> 00:24:02.959 and boots the other chicks 00:24:02.959 --> 00:24:03.659 out of the nest 00:24:03.659 --> 00:24:07.500 that he might consume everything. 00:24:07.500 --> 00:24:08.259 You know what? 00:24:08.279 --> 00:24:08.599 Today, 00:24:08.779 --> 00:24:09.440 I think we have 00:24:09.440 --> 00:24:10.599 a lot of cuckoo birds 00:24:10.599 --> 00:24:12.119 in our life 00:24:12.119 --> 00:24:13.519 that have put things 00:24:13.519 --> 00:24:14.339 in our life 00:24:14.339 --> 00:24:15.039 that begin 00:24:15.039 --> 00:24:15.900 to consume 00:24:15.900 --> 00:24:17.519 our life 00:24:17.519 --> 00:24:20.180 that kicks out 00:24:20.180 --> 00:24:21.180 the things of God. 00:24:21.599 --> 00:24:22.559 We need to be careful 00:24:22.559 --> 00:24:24.519 because remember, 00:24:24.680 --> 00:24:25.460 where does it begin? 00:24:25.559 --> 00:24:26.279 In the heart 00:24:26.279 --> 00:24:28.079 of an individual. 00:24:28.839 --> 00:24:29.180 Secondly, 00:24:29.359 --> 00:24:29.859 we find 00:24:29.859 --> 00:24:31.380 self-justification. 00:24:32.759 --> 00:24:32.900 You know, 00:24:32.940 --> 00:24:33.579 one of the things 00:24:33.579 --> 00:24:34.439 of backsliding 00:24:34.439 --> 00:24:35.500 is when you start 00:24:35.500 --> 00:24:37.579 to defend sin 00:24:37.579 --> 00:24:39.399 and start calling it 00:24:39.399 --> 00:24:40.119 by kinder 00:24:40.119 --> 00:24:41.059 and gentler names. 00:24:42.439 --> 00:24:42.679 You know, 00:24:42.759 --> 00:24:44.539 we understand this 00:24:44.539 --> 00:24:45.399 in today's society. 00:24:45.500 --> 00:24:46.480 Society loves 00:24:46.480 --> 00:24:48.059 renaming things, 00:24:48.099 --> 00:24:48.399 you know. 00:24:48.799 --> 00:24:50.599 It's an alternative lifestyle. 00:24:51.159 --> 00:24:51.379 You know, 00:24:51.399 --> 00:24:52.099 we understand 00:24:52.099 --> 00:24:53.059 the big things. 00:24:55.460 --> 00:24:55.679 You know, 00:24:55.679 --> 00:24:56.199 think about what 00:24:56.199 --> 00:24:57.480 Isaiah chapter 5 00:24:57.480 --> 00:24:58.000 tells us. 00:24:58.079 --> 00:24:58.439 He says, 00:24:58.519 --> 00:24:59.199 Woe unto them 00:24:59.199 --> 00:25:00.799 that call evil good 00:25:00.799 --> 00:25:01.500 and good evil 00:25:01.500 --> 00:25:02.339 that put darkness 00:25:02.339 --> 00:25:02.879 for light 00:25:02.879 --> 00:25:03.259 and light 00:25:03.259 --> 00:25:03.899 for darkness 00:25:03.899 --> 00:25:05.240 but that put bitter 00:25:05.240 --> 00:25:05.899 for sweet 00:25:05.899 --> 00:25:06.419 and sweet 00:25:06.419 --> 00:25:06.939 for bitter. 00:25:08.679 --> 00:25:08.879 You know, 00:25:08.959 --> 00:25:10.319 Proverbs 28 00:25:10.319 --> 00:25:10.899 tells us, 00:25:10.980 --> 00:25:11.659 He that covereth 00:25:11.659 --> 00:25:12.199 his sin 00:25:12.199 --> 00:25:13.639 shall not prosper 00:25:13.639 --> 00:25:14.299 and whosoever 00:25:14.299 --> 00:25:14.919 confesses 00:25:14.919 --> 00:25:15.659 and forsaketh 00:25:15.659 --> 00:25:15.919 them 00:25:15.919 --> 00:25:17.139 shall have mercy. 00:25:17.559 --> 00:25:18.220 Let's go back 00:25:18.220 --> 00:25:18.819 to our modern 00:25:18.819 --> 00:25:19.459 euphemisms 00:25:19.459 --> 00:25:20.119 that we use. 00:25:20.619 --> 00:25:20.779 You know, 00:25:20.819 --> 00:25:21.659 oftentimes people 00:25:21.659 --> 00:25:22.439 will start talking, 00:25:22.539 --> 00:25:23.559 I'm just processing. 00:25:24.939 --> 00:25:25.839 It's a good name 00:25:25.839 --> 00:25:26.379 for gossip. 00:25:28.159 --> 00:25:29.240 I'm just telling you 00:25:29.240 --> 00:25:29.899 about what somebody 00:25:29.899 --> 00:25:30.539 else did to me 00:25:30.539 --> 00:25:31.819 so I can process this. 00:25:31.819 --> 00:25:32.419 No, 00:25:32.500 --> 00:25:33.240 you're gossiping 00:25:33.240 --> 00:25:33.919 about something. 00:25:34.419 --> 00:25:34.619 You know, 00:25:34.659 --> 00:25:36.159 greed gets re-masked 00:25:36.159 --> 00:25:36.700 in business, 00:25:36.799 --> 00:25:37.539 I'm just building 00:25:37.539 --> 00:25:38.319 my brand. 00:25:38.720 --> 00:25:39.079 I mean, 00:25:39.139 --> 00:25:39.859 we're masters 00:25:39.859 --> 00:25:41.279 at moving things 00:25:41.279 --> 00:25:41.779 to where it 00:25:41.779 --> 00:25:42.879 some way 00:25:42.879 --> 00:25:43.720 becomes 00:25:43.720 --> 00:25:44.939 acceptable. 00:25:46.619 --> 00:25:46.839 You know, 00:25:46.859 --> 00:25:47.419 you think about 00:25:47.419 --> 00:25:47.839 today, 00:25:47.980 --> 00:25:48.460 there's people, 00:25:48.559 --> 00:25:49.439 we have a generation 00:25:49.439 --> 00:25:50.279 who's seeking 00:25:50.279 --> 00:25:51.039 and looking 00:25:51.039 --> 00:25:52.539 for answers 00:25:52.539 --> 00:25:52.879 and you know 00:25:52.879 --> 00:25:53.299 what the world 00:25:53.299 --> 00:25:53.839 tells them? 00:25:54.559 --> 00:25:55.759 Don't turn to God, 00:25:55.899 --> 00:25:56.579 turn to self. 00:25:58.779 --> 00:25:58.960 You know, 00:25:59.000 --> 00:25:59.559 you have people 00:25:59.559 --> 00:25:59.919 that say, 00:26:00.019 --> 00:26:00.099 well, 00:26:00.139 --> 00:26:00.639 I didn't come 00:26:00.640 --> 00:26:01.280 to church today 00:26:01.280 --> 00:26:02.420 because I need 00:26:02.420 --> 00:26:03.640 some little self-care. 00:26:03.980 --> 00:26:04.100 You know, 00:26:04.100 --> 00:26:04.500 I want to do 00:26:04.500 --> 00:26:05.460 what I want to do. 00:26:06.900 --> 00:26:08.100 That's my time. 00:26:08.420 --> 00:26:08.600 You know, 00:26:08.620 --> 00:26:09.520 they may be a believer 00:26:09.520 --> 00:26:09.960 but you know 00:26:09.960 --> 00:26:10.320 what it is? 00:26:10.380 --> 00:26:10.759 They're starting 00:26:10.759 --> 00:26:11.240 to slide. 00:26:13.120 --> 00:26:14.220 It may be subtle, 00:26:14.320 --> 00:26:15.300 it may be small, 00:26:17.160 --> 00:26:18.500 but it's definitely 00:26:18.500 --> 00:26:19.900 something that takes place. 00:26:20.400 --> 00:26:20.600 You know, 00:26:20.840 --> 00:26:21.640 indulgence. 00:26:22.680 --> 00:26:23.860 Where little matters 00:26:23.860 --> 00:26:24.520 give way 00:26:24.520 --> 00:26:25.580 to known sin 00:26:25.579 --> 00:26:26.439 and one sin 00:26:26.439 --> 00:26:27.419 leads to another. 00:26:28.720 --> 00:26:29.079 You know, 00:26:29.099 --> 00:26:30.119 we have a great example 00:26:30.119 --> 00:26:31.099 of this in the Bible. 00:26:31.599 --> 00:26:32.039 David. 00:26:32.480 --> 00:26:33.500 David was a man 00:26:33.500 --> 00:26:34.919 after God's own heart 00:26:34.919 --> 00:26:36.359 but when he began 00:26:36.359 --> 00:26:37.519 to slide back 00:26:37.519 --> 00:26:38.639 from the things of God, 00:26:38.699 --> 00:26:39.399 not doing what 00:26:39.399 --> 00:26:40.399 he was supposed to do, 00:26:40.740 --> 00:26:41.720 doing what God 00:26:41.720 --> 00:26:42.619 had instructed him 00:26:42.619 --> 00:26:42.899 to do, 00:26:43.000 --> 00:26:43.859 taking care of the things 00:26:43.859 --> 00:26:44.699 God had told him 00:26:44.699 --> 00:26:45.779 to take care of, 00:26:45.879 --> 00:26:46.720 he gets caught up 00:26:46.720 --> 00:26:47.519 in adultery. 00:26:49.619 --> 00:26:50.859 I want you to understand 00:26:50.859 --> 00:26:52.819 the David and Bathsheba 00:26:52.819 --> 00:26:53.599 thing wasn't 00:26:53.599 --> 00:26:54.500 a moment decision. 00:26:54.500 --> 00:26:55.700 It began 00:26:55.700 --> 00:26:56.640 in David's heart 00:26:56.640 --> 00:26:57.779 a long time before that. 00:26:58.359 --> 00:26:59.460 And then the ramifications 00:26:59.460 --> 00:27:00.680 always take you farther. 00:27:00.819 --> 00:27:01.400 He ended up 00:27:01.400 --> 00:27:03.559 having 00:27:03.559 --> 00:27:05.579 a faithful man 00:27:05.579 --> 00:27:06.019 killed. 00:27:06.599 --> 00:27:07.240 And when Nathan 00:27:07.240 --> 00:27:07.839 the prophet 00:27:07.839 --> 00:27:08.980 came and pointed out 00:27:08.980 --> 00:27:09.500 to David, 00:27:09.640 --> 00:27:10.720 David was mad 00:27:10.720 --> 00:27:11.640 and then Nathan 00:27:11.640 --> 00:27:12.240 looked at him 00:27:12.240 --> 00:27:12.539 and said, 00:27:12.619 --> 00:27:12.740 well, 00:27:12.799 --> 00:27:13.140 it's you. 00:27:13.539 --> 00:27:13.700 You know, 00:27:13.720 --> 00:27:14.579 David had a decision 00:27:14.579 --> 00:27:15.400 to make right there. 00:27:15.859 --> 00:27:16.480 He knew he had 00:27:16.480 --> 00:27:17.779 slid away from God 00:27:17.779 --> 00:27:18.720 but yet we find 00:27:18.720 --> 00:27:19.519 David said, 00:27:20.079 --> 00:27:21.480 Lord, 00:27:21.579 --> 00:27:22.079 I've sinned 00:27:22.079 --> 00:27:22.720 against you. 00:27:23.140 --> 00:27:24.299 When we understand 00:27:24.299 --> 00:27:25.619 the ramifications, 00:27:26.039 --> 00:27:26.960 the indulgence 00:27:26.960 --> 00:27:28.819 that brought that away. 00:27:30.759 --> 00:27:30.899 You know, 00:27:30.940 --> 00:27:31.779 in Psalm 32 00:27:31.779 --> 00:27:32.799 it tells us this, 00:27:32.859 --> 00:27:33.899 when I kept silence, 00:27:34.000 --> 00:27:35.240 my bones waxed old 00:27:35.240 --> 00:27:36.079 through all the roaring 00:27:36.079 --> 00:27:37.139 all my day long. 00:27:37.500 --> 00:27:38.460 For day and night 00:27:38.460 --> 00:27:39.200 my hand 00:27:39.200 --> 00:27:41.440 was heavy upon me 00:27:41.440 --> 00:27:42.220 and my moisture 00:27:42.220 --> 00:27:42.879 has turned into 00:27:42.879 --> 00:27:43.919 the drought of summer. 00:27:44.359 --> 00:27:44.559 Say, 00:27:44.619 --> 00:27:45.500 you know what happens? 00:27:45.579 --> 00:27:46.839 When sin of indulgence 00:27:46.839 --> 00:27:47.240 happens, 00:27:47.339 --> 00:27:48.460 it begins to dry up 00:27:48.460 --> 00:27:49.079 your life. 00:27:49.899 --> 00:27:51.099 You slid into a desert. 00:27:51.099 --> 00:27:54.919 And we see this happening 00:27:54.919 --> 00:27:55.899 but I want you 00:27:55.899 --> 00:27:56.559 to understand 00:27:56.559 --> 00:27:58.099 that this is the slope 00:27:58.099 --> 00:27:59.159 that we go down. 00:27:59.539 --> 00:28:01.480 We begin to indulge 00:28:01.480 --> 00:28:02.159 but you know what? 00:28:02.619 --> 00:28:04.000 If you're a child of God 00:28:04.000 --> 00:28:04.759 there's another thing 00:28:04.759 --> 00:28:05.259 going to happen 00:28:05.259 --> 00:28:05.759 and that's called 00:28:05.759 --> 00:28:06.480 chastisement. 00:28:07.899 --> 00:28:08.339 Correction. 00:28:09.159 --> 00:28:10.480 God's going to correct you. 00:28:10.559 --> 00:28:10.679 You know, 00:28:10.740 --> 00:28:11.359 one of the things 00:28:11.359 --> 00:28:11.959 I've learned 00:28:11.959 --> 00:28:13.439 that if you don't see 00:28:13.439 --> 00:28:15.799 God correcting somebody, 00:28:16.119 --> 00:28:17.399 you might begin to wonder 00:28:17.399 --> 00:28:18.179 are they really 00:28:18.179 --> 00:28:18.980 a child of God? 00:28:18.980 --> 00:28:19.700 Because you know what God 00:28:19.700 --> 00:28:20.539 does to His children? 00:28:20.660 --> 00:28:21.319 He corrects them. 00:28:21.740 --> 00:28:22.640 They get correction 00:28:22.640 --> 00:28:23.660 in their life. 00:28:24.940 --> 00:28:26.539 The Lord will chastise 00:28:26.539 --> 00:28:27.180 His own. 00:28:27.720 --> 00:28:27.960 You know, 00:28:28.319 --> 00:28:29.559 Hebrews chapter 12 00:28:29.559 --> 00:28:30.500 makes it clear. 00:28:31.000 --> 00:28:31.860 It's often when 00:28:31.860 --> 00:28:32.740 our backsliding 00:28:32.740 --> 00:28:33.599 we begin to eat 00:28:33.599 --> 00:28:34.099 of the bread 00:28:34.099 --> 00:28:35.039 of our own making, 00:28:35.460 --> 00:28:37.620 we begin to think 00:28:37.620 --> 00:28:38.839 that the things of God 00:28:38.839 --> 00:28:39.539 are dead 00:28:39.539 --> 00:28:41.099 or are not what we think 00:28:41.099 --> 00:28:42.019 because we don't have 00:28:42.019 --> 00:28:43.640 a relationship with Him 00:28:43.640 --> 00:28:44.960 and we understand 00:28:44.960 --> 00:28:46.000 the consequences 00:28:46.000 --> 00:28:47.799 become both personal 00:28:47.799 --> 00:28:49.139 and relational 00:28:49.139 --> 00:28:50.279 to everybody else 00:28:50.279 --> 00:28:51.039 around us. 00:28:52.559 --> 00:28:52.759 You know, 00:28:52.799 --> 00:28:53.960 Hebrews chapter 12 00:28:53.960 --> 00:28:54.720 tells us this, 00:28:54.799 --> 00:28:55.500 For ye have forgotten 00:28:55.500 --> 00:28:56.339 the exhortation 00:28:56.339 --> 00:28:57.299 which speaketh unto you 00:28:57.299 --> 00:28:58.680 as unto children. 00:28:58.799 --> 00:28:59.259 My son, 00:28:59.339 --> 00:29:00.319 despise not thou 00:29:00.319 --> 00:29:01.399 the chastening of the Lord, 00:29:01.779 --> 00:29:02.680 nor faint when 00:29:02.680 --> 00:29:03.819 thou art rebuked of him 00:29:03.819 --> 00:29:04.500 for whom the Lord 00:29:04.500 --> 00:29:05.019 loveth, 00:29:05.079 --> 00:29:05.639 he chastens 00:29:05.639 --> 00:29:06.259 and discourages 00:29:06.259 --> 00:29:06.839 every son 00:29:06.839 --> 00:29:08.539 whom he receiveth. 00:29:09.019 --> 00:29:09.299 You know, 00:29:09.339 --> 00:29:10.619 oftentimes this is the point 00:29:10.619 --> 00:29:11.399 the backslider 00:29:11.399 --> 00:29:12.359 begins to look 00:29:12.359 --> 00:29:13.379 elsewhere. 00:29:13.940 --> 00:29:14.079 You know, 00:29:14.119 --> 00:29:15.139 oftentimes today 00:29:15.140 --> 00:29:15.960 I think we have 00:29:15.960 --> 00:29:16.580 a lot of people 00:29:16.580 --> 00:29:17.380 that are upset. 00:29:18.100 --> 00:29:18.259 You know, 00:29:18.280 --> 00:29:18.980 one of the terms 00:29:18.980 --> 00:29:20.360 that I just, 00:29:20.500 --> 00:29:21.620 I'm not quite sure 00:29:21.620 --> 00:29:23.180 settled on how to deal with 00:29:23.180 --> 00:29:24.420 is this whole thing 00:29:24.420 --> 00:29:25.620 today of church hurt. 00:29:27.460 --> 00:29:28.740 I've been church hurt. 00:29:30.880 --> 00:29:31.680 I think it's another 00:29:31.680 --> 00:29:32.300 one of them steps 00:29:32.300 --> 00:29:33.540 of victim mentality 00:29:33.540 --> 00:29:35.620 because if your relationship 00:29:35.620 --> 00:29:36.520 to God 00:29:36.520 --> 00:29:38.200 is based on a preacher, 00:29:38.380 --> 00:29:39.100 you've got a problem. 00:29:39.620 --> 00:29:40.360 Or some church 00:29:40.360 --> 00:29:40.820 didn't do 00:29:40.820 --> 00:29:42.320 what I expected it to do. 00:29:42.700 --> 00:29:42.960 You know, 00:29:43.040 --> 00:29:43.440 I want you, 00:29:43.500 --> 00:29:44.160 I'm just going to put it 00:29:44.160 --> 00:29:45.220 this way and put it out there. 00:29:45.779 --> 00:29:46.180 To me, 00:29:46.279 --> 00:29:47.680 oftentimes it becomes 00:29:47.680 --> 00:29:48.400 selfishness 00:29:48.400 --> 00:29:49.080 when it affects 00:29:49.080 --> 00:29:50.500 our relationship 00:29:50.500 --> 00:29:51.160 to God. 00:29:51.660 --> 00:29:52.420 I'm not saying 00:29:52.420 --> 00:29:53.640 those things don't happen, 00:29:54.680 --> 00:29:55.600 but I want you 00:29:55.600 --> 00:29:56.200 to understand 00:29:56.200 --> 00:29:56.700 that that's 00:29:56.700 --> 00:29:57.680 that person's sin. 00:30:00.140 --> 00:30:01.360 God gives us things 00:30:01.360 --> 00:30:02.120 that we ought to do 00:30:02.120 --> 00:30:02.800 in those moments 00:30:02.800 --> 00:30:03.500 and how to walk 00:30:03.500 --> 00:30:04.120 through that. 00:30:05.740 --> 00:30:06.400 And we need 00:30:06.400 --> 00:30:07.600 to be obedient to it. 00:30:07.620 --> 00:30:08.180 We don't have time 00:30:08.180 --> 00:30:09.000 to get into all that 00:30:09.000 --> 00:30:09.540 this morning. 00:30:10.380 --> 00:30:10.600 You know, 00:30:11.060 --> 00:30:12.040 you can start over 00:30:12.040 --> 00:30:13.500 in Matthew chapter 18. 00:30:13.500 --> 00:30:13.920 That'll give you 00:30:13.920 --> 00:30:14.779 a good starting point. 00:30:15.400 --> 00:30:16.039 But I want you 00:30:16.039 --> 00:30:16.900 to understand 00:30:16.900 --> 00:30:17.900 that often 00:30:17.900 --> 00:30:18.940 when the backslider 00:30:18.940 --> 00:30:20.279 begins to look elsewhere, 00:30:20.440 --> 00:30:21.819 they consume things, 00:30:22.160 --> 00:30:23.799 then try to compare 00:30:23.799 --> 00:30:25.140 and they try to contrast 00:30:25.140 --> 00:30:25.819 and they try to 00:30:25.819 --> 00:30:27.000 self-justify. 00:30:27.279 --> 00:30:27.400 You know, 00:30:27.400 --> 00:30:28.099 it's like being 00:30:28.099 --> 00:30:30.559 a restaurant critiquer 00:30:30.559 --> 00:30:32.160 and all you ever do 00:30:32.160 --> 00:30:33.299 is just taste, 00:30:33.420 --> 00:30:34.779 never feed on things. 00:30:36.140 --> 00:30:36.660 You know, 00:30:36.700 --> 00:30:37.660 we live in a generation 00:30:37.660 --> 00:30:37.960 today, 00:30:38.019 --> 00:30:38.640 there's a lot of people 00:30:38.640 --> 00:30:39.839 tasting on the things 00:30:39.839 --> 00:30:40.259 of God, 00:30:40.319 --> 00:30:40.960 but never feeding 00:30:40.960 --> 00:30:41.839 on the Word of God. 00:30:41.839 --> 00:30:42.519 You know, 00:30:42.519 --> 00:30:43.480 a backslider, 00:30:43.659 --> 00:30:44.639 when all these things 00:30:44.639 --> 00:30:45.980 are left unchecked, 00:30:46.019 --> 00:30:46.819 where does it end? 00:30:48.480 --> 00:30:48.980 You know, 00:30:49.000 --> 00:30:49.799 oftentimes we think 00:30:49.799 --> 00:30:50.319 of backsliders, 00:30:50.399 --> 00:30:52.339 we think of apostates, 00:30:52.399 --> 00:30:52.679 you know. 00:30:52.980 --> 00:30:54.000 Let's use Judas 00:30:54.000 --> 00:30:54.839 for an example. 00:30:56.559 --> 00:30:56.799 You know, 00:30:56.859 --> 00:30:59.139 Judas walked with Jesus 00:30:59.139 --> 00:31:00.259 for three and a half years. 00:31:00.859 --> 00:31:02.919 Nobody had a clue 00:31:02.919 --> 00:31:04.019 what was going on 00:31:04.019 --> 00:31:04.539 in his heart. 00:31:05.079 --> 00:31:05.699 He looked right, 00:31:05.759 --> 00:31:06.399 he smelled right, 00:31:06.439 --> 00:31:07.059 he talked right, 00:31:07.119 --> 00:31:07.819 he dressed right, 00:31:07.879 --> 00:31:08.619 he... 00:31:08.619 --> 00:31:09.319 Ever thought about something? 00:31:09.319 --> 00:31:10.220 Judas went out 00:31:10.220 --> 00:31:11.339 and preached the gospel 00:31:11.339 --> 00:31:11.799 to people. 00:31:12.379 --> 00:31:13.159 He helped Jesus 00:31:13.159 --> 00:31:14.799 feed people. 00:31:16.599 --> 00:31:17.980 It's very likely 00:31:17.980 --> 00:31:19.000 when you read 00:31:19.000 --> 00:31:19.679 through the gospel 00:31:19.679 --> 00:31:20.559 that the disciples 00:31:20.559 --> 00:31:21.240 were sent out 00:31:21.240 --> 00:31:21.919 with the ability 00:31:21.919 --> 00:31:22.659 to heal people, 00:31:22.740 --> 00:31:23.319 it's very likely 00:31:23.319 --> 00:31:24.159 that Judas might have 00:31:24.159 --> 00:31:24.960 even healed somebody. 00:31:27.159 --> 00:31:27.659 You know, 00:31:27.679 --> 00:31:28.240 the Bible doesn't 00:31:28.240 --> 00:31:28.939 tell us that, 00:31:29.000 --> 00:31:29.960 but being as the disciples 00:31:29.960 --> 00:31:30.960 were given that, 00:31:31.500 --> 00:31:33.039 when Jesus sent them out 00:31:33.039 --> 00:31:34.220 to cast out devils 00:31:34.220 --> 00:31:35.599 and to heal 00:31:35.599 --> 00:31:36.559 and to take care 00:31:36.559 --> 00:31:37.039 of things, 00:31:37.099 --> 00:31:37.279 you know, 00:31:37.279 --> 00:31:38.740 that Jesus enabled them 00:31:38.740 --> 00:31:39.220 to do, 00:31:41.259 --> 00:31:42.299 Judas had all 00:31:42.299 --> 00:31:43.319 the right attributes. 00:31:43.920 --> 00:31:44.680 Then he openly 00:31:44.680 --> 00:31:45.859 forsakes the Lord. 00:31:45.980 --> 00:31:47.139 His forward progress 00:31:47.139 --> 00:31:49.440 was in profession only, 00:31:49.559 --> 00:31:50.440 never in the heart. 00:31:50.899 --> 00:31:51.119 You know, 00:31:51.299 --> 00:31:52.339 when we understand 00:31:52.339 --> 00:31:54.500 that people will sometimes 00:31:54.500 --> 00:31:55.819 put on a good show 00:31:55.819 --> 00:31:57.500 and depart from, 00:31:57.579 --> 00:31:57.720 you know, 00:31:57.759 --> 00:31:58.920 John tells us this, 00:31:58.980 --> 00:31:59.200 it says, 00:31:59.279 --> 00:32:00.200 they went out from us 00:32:00.200 --> 00:32:01.619 because they were not of us. 00:32:01.940 --> 00:32:03.160 For if they'd been of us, 00:32:03.180 --> 00:32:03.960 they would have no doubt 00:32:03.960 --> 00:32:05.359 continued with us. 00:32:05.680 --> 00:32:06.639 But they went out 00:32:06.640 --> 00:32:07.980 that they might be made manifest 00:32:07.980 --> 00:32:09.660 that they were not all of us. 00:32:10.140 --> 00:32:11.340 When it comes to church, 00:32:11.840 --> 00:32:13.080 remember one of the things 00:32:13.080 --> 00:32:14.240 that Brother Ammon, 00:32:14.320 --> 00:32:14.860 most of you here 00:32:14.860 --> 00:32:15.460 might not remember 00:32:15.460 --> 00:32:16.000 Brother Ammon, 00:32:16.100 --> 00:32:17.120 the preacher before me, 00:32:18.560 --> 00:32:19.940 but he always had 00:32:19.940 --> 00:32:21.300 on his back of his door 00:32:21.300 --> 00:32:21.920 of his office, 00:32:22.980 --> 00:32:23.920 he said, 00:32:24.160 --> 00:32:24.780 through these doors, 00:32:24.940 --> 00:32:25.620 some are going, 00:32:26.840 --> 00:32:27.840 be thankful for both. 00:32:28.500 --> 00:32:29.200 And we sometimes had, 00:32:29.280 --> 00:32:30.240 some people had a hard time 00:32:30.240 --> 00:32:31.060 understanding that, 00:32:31.120 --> 00:32:31.620 but you know what? 00:32:31.820 --> 00:32:34.220 Sometimes there's people 00:32:34.220 --> 00:32:35.480 who are putting on a show, 00:32:36.600 --> 00:32:37.720 they're going to do nothing 00:32:37.720 --> 00:32:38.839 but cause you a problem. 00:32:38.980 --> 00:32:40.059 Sometimes you're just as thankful 00:32:40.059 --> 00:32:41.180 to see them walk away 00:32:41.180 --> 00:32:42.079 and not cause a problem 00:32:42.079 --> 00:32:43.140 than they are to stick around 00:32:43.140 --> 00:32:43.839 and cause a problem. 00:32:47.120 --> 00:32:48.600 And if you hold to the truth, 00:32:48.680 --> 00:32:49.299 you know what happens? 00:32:49.400 --> 00:32:50.980 Oftentimes those people self-weed. 00:32:51.559 --> 00:32:52.700 Take care of themselves. 00:32:52.860 --> 00:32:55.160 You need to be thankful for it. 00:32:56.559 --> 00:32:58.519 But I want you to understand the cure. 00:32:59.319 --> 00:33:00.700 The cure is very simple. 00:33:00.700 --> 00:33:02.559 The only way to regain ground 00:33:02.559 --> 00:33:04.680 that's been lost in a slide 00:33:04.680 --> 00:33:06.720 is to return to the Lord. 00:33:07.600 --> 00:33:08.160 You know, think about 00:33:08.160 --> 00:33:09.900 what John tells us very simply. 00:33:10.259 --> 00:33:12.559 Here in 1 John 1 and verse 9, 00:33:12.640 --> 00:33:12.920 he says, 00:33:13.019 --> 00:33:14.340 if you confess our sins, 00:33:14.700 --> 00:33:16.200 he is faithful and just 00:33:16.200 --> 00:33:17.420 to forgive us our sins 00:33:17.420 --> 00:33:18.220 and to cleanse us 00:33:18.220 --> 00:33:19.420 from all unrighteousness. 00:33:20.299 --> 00:33:21.080 Now let me give you 00:33:21.080 --> 00:33:22.259 a little biblical context. 00:33:22.500 --> 00:33:23.980 This is not a salvation verse. 00:33:24.680 --> 00:33:25.920 1 John is not talking 00:33:25.920 --> 00:33:26.819 about salvation. 00:33:26.819 --> 00:33:30.139 The book of 1 John 00:33:30.139 --> 00:33:30.839 is talking about 00:33:30.839 --> 00:33:32.339 our fellowship with God. 00:33:32.939 --> 00:33:33.619 If you doubt what I say, 00:33:33.659 --> 00:33:34.339 you can go ahead and read it. 00:33:35.159 --> 00:33:36.279 The theme is fellowship. 00:33:37.039 --> 00:33:38.019 Fellowship is different 00:33:38.019 --> 00:33:38.799 than relationship. 00:33:39.559 --> 00:33:40.899 You can be related to somebody 00:33:40.899 --> 00:33:41.759 and have no fellowship. 00:33:42.480 --> 00:33:43.000 The thing is, 00:33:43.019 --> 00:33:43.720 you can have fellowship 00:33:43.720 --> 00:33:44.619 and not be related. 00:33:45.399 --> 00:33:46.379 Sometimes people have fellowship 00:33:46.379 --> 00:33:48.379 with evil that ought not. 00:33:49.059 --> 00:33:49.879 I want you to understand 00:33:49.879 --> 00:33:51.299 that if we come to God, 00:33:51.379 --> 00:33:52.919 He is always faithful 00:33:52.919 --> 00:33:55.179 and just to forgive us our sins. 00:33:55.279 --> 00:33:55.500 Why? 00:33:55.500 --> 00:33:57.500 Because what Christ did 00:33:57.500 --> 00:33:58.599 on the cross of Calvary 00:33:58.599 --> 00:34:00.279 covered everything. 00:34:00.859 --> 00:34:02.339 It's just and right 00:34:02.339 --> 00:34:03.839 to forgive us our sins 00:34:03.839 --> 00:34:07.440 because of what He has done. 00:34:08.699 --> 00:34:10.320 Not by what we do 00:34:10.320 --> 00:34:11.380 or what we've accomplished, 00:34:11.500 --> 00:34:12.659 by what He's accomplished. 00:34:13.500 --> 00:34:14.280 Confess it. 00:34:14.360 --> 00:34:15.320 Don't cover it up. 00:34:15.900 --> 00:34:16.440 Come to Him. 00:34:16.559 --> 00:34:17.579 You know, press forward. 00:34:18.039 --> 00:34:19.179 Come towards Him. 00:34:20.139 --> 00:34:20.460 You know, 00:34:20.719 --> 00:34:21.599 I want you to understand, 00:34:21.760 --> 00:34:23.679 Jesus is waiting for you. 00:34:24.199 --> 00:34:25.380 He hasn't moved. 00:34:25.920 --> 00:34:26.980 If your relationship 00:34:26.980 --> 00:34:28.280 has changed with the Lord, 00:34:28.380 --> 00:34:28.840 you know what? 00:34:28.880 --> 00:34:29.820 He didn't go anyplace. 00:34:30.559 --> 00:34:31.300 He bled backwards. 00:34:32.099 --> 00:34:33.559 Press towards the Lord 00:34:33.559 --> 00:34:35.940 and acknowledge those things 00:34:35.940 --> 00:34:37.179 that you've done 00:34:37.179 --> 00:34:38.139 that hindered you 00:34:38.139 --> 00:34:39.820 in your walk with the Lord. 00:34:42.019 --> 00:34:42.300 You know, 00:34:42.300 --> 00:34:42.780 you think about 00:34:42.780 --> 00:34:43.820 the prodigal son, 00:34:43.900 --> 00:34:44.639 that picture. 00:34:45.119 --> 00:34:45.659 You know what? 00:34:45.719 --> 00:34:47.179 He had to come to Himself. 00:34:48.000 --> 00:34:49.460 He had to come to the place 00:34:49.460 --> 00:34:50.500 that He realized 00:34:50.500 --> 00:34:52.260 and knew that He had sinned 00:34:52.260 --> 00:34:53.460 and that He had sinned 00:34:53.460 --> 00:34:54.200 against God. 00:34:54.280 --> 00:34:54.820 He had sinned 00:34:54.820 --> 00:34:55.820 against His Father. 00:34:58.220 --> 00:34:58.520 You know, 00:34:58.560 --> 00:34:58.940 David, 00:34:59.060 --> 00:35:00.600 when he's confessing to God 00:35:00.600 --> 00:35:01.780 in Psalm 51, 00:35:02.160 --> 00:35:02.940 you'll find 00:35:02.940 --> 00:35:03.560 he didn't have 00:35:03.560 --> 00:35:04.600 an easy road. 00:35:04.940 --> 00:35:05.120 You know, 00:35:05.160 --> 00:35:06.040 he asked God 00:35:06.040 --> 00:35:07.480 and he longed 00:35:07.480 --> 00:35:08.140 for the restoration 00:35:08.140 --> 00:35:09.040 of the joy 00:35:09.040 --> 00:35:10.260 of His salvation. 00:35:10.260 --> 00:35:13.100 God's Spirit within him 00:35:13.100 --> 00:35:14.160 to fill him, 00:35:14.220 --> 00:35:15.200 to control him, 00:35:15.420 --> 00:35:17.580 to impact his life. 00:35:18.100 --> 00:35:19.400 Think about the story 00:35:19.400 --> 00:35:20.360 of the prodigal son. 00:35:20.480 --> 00:35:20.800 You know what? 00:35:20.820 --> 00:35:21.240 The Father, 00:35:21.380 --> 00:35:22.740 there's a great picture of God 00:35:22.740 --> 00:35:24.520 because when you return, 00:35:24.660 --> 00:35:25.080 you know what? 00:35:25.100 --> 00:35:26.240 He's ready to meet you. 00:35:28.340 --> 00:35:29.700 Not to beat you up, 00:35:29.780 --> 00:35:30.800 not to beat you down, 00:35:30.900 --> 00:35:31.460 not to tell you 00:35:31.460 --> 00:35:32.700 all the things you did wrong, 00:35:33.460 --> 00:35:33.900 but to tell you, 00:35:34.180 --> 00:35:34.960 welcome home. 00:35:35.700 --> 00:35:36.400 God wants you 00:35:36.400 --> 00:35:37.520 to return to Him 00:35:37.519 --> 00:35:39.980 because I want you 00:35:39.980 --> 00:35:40.539 to understand 00:35:40.539 --> 00:35:41.139 He's willing 00:35:41.139 --> 00:35:42.500 to give the supply. 00:35:43.500 --> 00:35:44.659 Look back at our text 00:35:44.659 --> 00:35:45.300 here this morning. 00:35:45.420 --> 00:35:45.960 Notice this. 00:35:46.059 --> 00:35:46.360 It says, 00:35:46.519 --> 00:35:47.559 and a good man 00:35:47.559 --> 00:35:49.320 shall be satisfied 00:35:49.320 --> 00:35:51.599 from himself. 00:35:53.460 --> 00:35:54.679 Notice this man. 00:35:54.759 --> 00:35:55.420 He's good. 00:35:55.679 --> 00:35:57.019 I want you to understand here 00:35:57.019 --> 00:35:57.820 the implication 00:35:57.820 --> 00:35:58.780 from this verse 00:35:58.780 --> 00:36:00.079 is he's not good 00:36:00.079 --> 00:36:00.559 of himself. 00:36:01.059 --> 00:36:01.900 He's good 00:36:01.900 --> 00:36:03.420 by the grace of God 00:36:03.420 --> 00:36:04.559 that God, 00:36:05.039 --> 00:36:06.619 the one who is good, 00:36:06.619 --> 00:36:08.779 is lives within him. 00:36:09.619 --> 00:36:10.719 He is not good 00:36:10.719 --> 00:36:11.539 of his own merit, 00:36:11.639 --> 00:36:12.599 but he's good 00:36:12.599 --> 00:36:13.519 in the sense 00:36:13.519 --> 00:36:14.420 that he has the one 00:36:14.420 --> 00:36:15.039 that's good 00:36:15.039 --> 00:36:16.279 that dwells within him 00:36:16.279 --> 00:36:18.000 because he's satisfied 00:36:18.000 --> 00:36:19.279 from himself, 00:36:19.440 --> 00:36:20.500 not with himself. 00:36:21.179 --> 00:36:22.380 Jesus made it clear 00:36:22.380 --> 00:36:23.259 when he was talking 00:36:23.259 --> 00:36:24.019 in Mark 10 00:36:24.019 --> 00:36:24.519 where he says, 00:36:24.880 --> 00:36:26.259 why callest thou me good? 00:36:26.319 --> 00:36:27.179 There is none good 00:36:27.179 --> 00:36:28.219 but one, 00:36:28.359 --> 00:36:29.900 that is God. 00:36:30.839 --> 00:36:31.920 He's satisfied 00:36:31.920 --> 00:36:33.179 from himself, 00:36:33.359 --> 00:36:34.759 not with himself. 00:36:34.760 --> 00:36:35.740 He's good 00:36:35.740 --> 00:36:36.720 because God 00:36:36.720 --> 00:36:37.720 has made him new 00:36:37.720 --> 00:36:38.320 and he's filled 00:36:38.320 --> 00:36:39.480 with the Holy Spirit, 00:36:39.880 --> 00:36:41.180 the one that is good. 00:36:43.420 --> 00:36:43.620 You know, 00:36:43.640 --> 00:36:44.580 I want you to understand 00:36:44.580 --> 00:36:46.000 at the moment of salvation, 00:36:46.300 --> 00:36:47.920 you become God's workmanship. 00:36:49.180 --> 00:36:50.560 Ephesians chapter 2 00:36:50.560 --> 00:36:51.360 tells us this, 00:36:51.420 --> 00:36:52.800 for we are his workmanship 00:36:52.800 --> 00:36:54.660 created in Christ Jesus 00:36:54.660 --> 00:36:55.600 under good works 00:36:55.600 --> 00:36:57.120 with God hath before ordained 00:36:57.120 --> 00:36:58.660 that we should walk 00:36:58.660 --> 00:36:59.640 in them. 00:37:01.040 --> 00:37:02.260 Let me ask you a question. 00:37:02.260 --> 00:37:03.040 How many have ever gone 00:37:03.040 --> 00:37:03.940 to a car show 00:37:03.940 --> 00:37:06.100 with old antique cars restored? 00:37:06.920 --> 00:37:07.720 It's like going. 00:37:09.020 --> 00:37:10.480 You like looking at the cars 00:37:10.480 --> 00:37:11.180 and you appreciate 00:37:11.180 --> 00:37:12.000 but you know what? 00:37:13.260 --> 00:37:14.220 The true appreciation 00:37:14.220 --> 00:37:16.040 isn't the car itself. 00:37:18.000 --> 00:37:19.240 The true appreciation 00:37:19.240 --> 00:37:20.160 you'll find 00:37:20.160 --> 00:37:21.420 when you're looking at those 00:37:21.420 --> 00:37:22.900 is the appreciation 00:37:22.900 --> 00:37:24.360 of the craftsman 00:37:24.360 --> 00:37:25.240 who rebuilt it. 00:37:27.280 --> 00:37:28.680 In our life, 00:37:28.820 --> 00:37:30.500 I want you to understand something, 00:37:30.500 --> 00:37:31.639 it's the craftsman 00:37:31.639 --> 00:37:32.760 that's rebuilding you 00:37:32.760 --> 00:37:33.760 that makes the difference 00:37:33.760 --> 00:37:34.820 and deserves the honor. 00:37:36.739 --> 00:37:39.059 We are his workmanship. 00:37:40.860 --> 00:37:42.840 He took that which is broken, 00:37:43.659 --> 00:37:44.800 distant from him 00:37:44.800 --> 00:37:46.780 and brought it in, 00:37:47.519 --> 00:37:48.360 cleaned it up 00:37:48.360 --> 00:37:51.340 and is restoring it. 00:37:52.000 --> 00:37:53.219 Back in place 00:37:53.219 --> 00:37:53.980 what he intended. 00:37:56.179 --> 00:37:56.760 You know, 00:37:56.760 --> 00:37:57.519 the interesting thing, 00:37:57.559 --> 00:37:58.260 I'll just add this 00:37:58.260 --> 00:37:59.199 about car shows 00:37:59.199 --> 00:37:59.599 and things. 00:37:59.679 --> 00:38:00.000 Oftentimes, 00:38:00.279 --> 00:38:01.219 the cars you see there 00:38:01.219 --> 00:38:02.219 look better than they did 00:38:02.219 --> 00:38:02.779 when they were new 00:38:02.779 --> 00:38:04.519 because the craftsman 00:38:04.519 --> 00:38:05.939 had better intention 00:38:05.939 --> 00:38:06.699 to detail 00:38:06.699 --> 00:38:08.679 on it 00:38:08.679 --> 00:38:10.339 than even the original maker. 00:38:10.460 --> 00:38:10.839 You know what? 00:38:10.919 --> 00:38:11.199 God, 00:38:11.299 --> 00:38:12.359 when Jesus comes in, 00:38:12.439 --> 00:38:13.159 he pays attention 00:38:13.159 --> 00:38:14.199 to every detail. 00:38:16.579 --> 00:38:17.699 He's going to 00:38:17.699 --> 00:38:19.399 work through 00:38:19.399 --> 00:38:20.919 every little nuance. 00:38:21.759 --> 00:38:22.579 Is this individual 00:38:22.579 --> 00:38:24.079 satisfied from himself? 00:38:24.179 --> 00:38:25.159 His joy is not 00:38:25.159 --> 00:38:26.019 in the circumstances 00:38:26.019 --> 00:38:26.920 of life, 00:38:27.280 --> 00:38:27.980 but in the one 00:38:27.980 --> 00:38:28.820 that saved 00:38:28.820 --> 00:38:30.000 and restored him. 00:38:30.340 --> 00:38:31.519 It's not dependence 00:38:31.519 --> 00:38:32.539 upon the praise 00:38:32.539 --> 00:38:33.059 of others. 00:38:33.380 --> 00:38:34.139 He is secure 00:38:34.139 --> 00:38:35.320 as a child of God. 00:38:35.400 --> 00:38:36.039 He is filled 00:38:36.039 --> 00:38:37.739 instead with faith 00:38:37.739 --> 00:38:38.280 and hope 00:38:38.280 --> 00:38:38.719 and love, 00:38:38.840 --> 00:38:40.440 rejoicing in a good conscience 00:38:40.440 --> 00:38:41.920 and a great testimony. 00:38:42.920 --> 00:38:43.239 This morning, 00:38:43.340 --> 00:38:44.199 I want you to consider 00:38:44.199 --> 00:38:45.059 where you are 00:38:45.059 --> 00:38:46.539 in your life 00:38:46.539 --> 00:38:47.059 and your walk 00:38:47.059 --> 00:38:47.619 with Christ. 00:38:47.619 --> 00:38:50.739 One, 00:38:51.739 --> 00:38:52.480 do you know 00:38:52.480 --> 00:38:53.019 him as Savior? 00:38:54.460 --> 00:38:55.380 Because if you never 00:38:55.380 --> 00:38:56.279 began a walk 00:38:56.279 --> 00:38:57.039 with Christ, 00:38:57.779 --> 00:38:58.380 all the things 00:38:58.380 --> 00:38:59.539 we talked about today 00:38:59.539 --> 00:39:01.259 don't make a difference. 00:39:01.319 --> 00:39:02.799 You can't backslide 00:39:02.799 --> 00:39:03.480 in sin 00:39:03.480 --> 00:39:03.980 if you were never 00:39:03.980 --> 00:39:04.539 his child. 00:39:05.699 --> 00:39:06.500 You're already 00:39:06.500 --> 00:39:07.599 a slave to sin. 00:39:08.359 --> 00:39:08.699 You're already 00:39:08.699 --> 00:39:09.739 in your trespasses 00:39:09.739 --> 00:39:10.400 and sins. 00:39:11.980 --> 00:39:12.839 If you don't know 00:39:12.839 --> 00:39:13.940 Christ as your Savior, 00:39:14.079 --> 00:39:14.779 I'd encourage you 00:39:14.779 --> 00:39:15.099 to say, 00:39:15.199 --> 00:39:15.440 Lord, 00:39:15.440 --> 00:39:17.679 today I recognize 00:39:17.679 --> 00:39:18.820 who you are, 00:39:19.079 --> 00:39:20.280 who I am, 00:39:20.420 --> 00:39:21.300 and what you've done 00:39:21.300 --> 00:39:21.840 for me. 00:39:22.860 --> 00:39:23.880 And the Bible says, 00:39:24.019 --> 00:39:24.980 whosoever shall call 00:39:24.980 --> 00:39:25.539 upon the name 00:39:25.539 --> 00:39:25.960 of the Lord 00:39:25.960 --> 00:39:26.780 shall be saved. 00:39:28.139 --> 00:39:29.340 That's the starting point. 00:39:31.300 --> 00:39:32.119 But if you know 00:39:32.119 --> 00:39:32.960 beyond a shadow 00:39:32.960 --> 00:39:33.380 of a doubt 00:39:33.380 --> 00:39:34.079 there was a time 00:39:34.079 --> 00:39:34.599 that you could draw 00:39:34.599 --> 00:39:35.200 a circle around 00:39:35.200 --> 00:39:35.340 and say, 00:39:35.380 --> 00:39:36.420 I know this is when 00:39:36.420 --> 00:39:37.400 I called upon Christ 00:39:37.400 --> 00:39:37.940 to save me, 00:39:38.059 --> 00:39:39.179 recognizing I was a sinner. 00:39:40.720 --> 00:39:41.500 The question is, 00:39:41.559 --> 00:39:42.480 what are you doing forward? 00:39:44.559 --> 00:39:45.420 What are you pressing 00:39:45.420 --> 00:39:45.659 for? 00:39:45.720 --> 00:39:47.000 Are you being obedient 00:39:47.000 --> 00:39:48.180 to the things of God? 00:39:48.720 --> 00:39:48.940 You know, 00:39:48.960 --> 00:39:50.059 the first step of faith 00:39:50.059 --> 00:39:51.380 is to be properly baptized. 00:39:51.680 --> 00:39:51.780 You know, 00:39:51.820 --> 00:39:53.019 you can be improperly 00:39:53.019 --> 00:39:53.700 get wet. 00:39:54.599 --> 00:39:55.599 We won't get in deep 00:39:55.599 --> 00:39:56.320 on that one today. 00:39:57.220 --> 00:39:58.559 To understand that 00:39:58.559 --> 00:40:00.480 God has a means 00:40:00.480 --> 00:40:01.000 and a way 00:40:01.000 --> 00:40:01.639 and a purpose 00:40:01.639 --> 00:40:02.320 for baptism. 00:40:02.460 --> 00:40:03.019 It has to be done 00:40:03.019 --> 00:40:04.400 under His authority 00:40:04.400 --> 00:40:05.200 and His picture, 00:40:05.300 --> 00:40:05.880 His image. 00:40:06.400 --> 00:40:07.500 There's a lot of elements 00:40:07.500 --> 00:40:08.420 of it that needs to be done. 00:40:08.740 --> 00:40:09.480 And sometimes people 00:40:09.480 --> 00:40:10.300 stumble at that. 00:40:11.159 --> 00:40:11.539 The first step 00:40:11.539 --> 00:40:12.280 of obedience. 00:40:12.280 --> 00:40:15.460 That's just the beginning 00:40:15.460 --> 00:40:16.200 of pressing 00:40:16.200 --> 00:40:17.180 towards the mark. 00:40:19.019 --> 00:40:20.800 To press towards the mark 00:40:20.800 --> 00:40:21.280 is to say, 00:40:21.360 --> 00:40:21.580 Lord, 00:40:21.720 --> 00:40:23.120 I want to allow You 00:40:23.120 --> 00:40:23.760 to transform 00:40:23.760 --> 00:40:25.019 and change my life 00:40:25.019 --> 00:40:25.980 and when I slip away 00:40:25.980 --> 00:40:26.740 I need to come 00:40:26.740 --> 00:40:27.200 and confess 00:40:27.200 --> 00:40:28.580 and forsake those things 00:40:28.580 --> 00:40:29.180 and say, 00:40:29.300 --> 00:40:29.580 Lord, 00:40:29.800 --> 00:40:30.660 I seek 00:40:30.660 --> 00:40:31.540 and desire 00:40:31.540 --> 00:40:32.019 for You 00:40:32.019 --> 00:40:32.940 to restore me 00:40:32.940 --> 00:40:33.700 once again. 00:40:34.460 --> 00:40:35.519 Turn You away. 00:40:36.880 --> 00:40:37.720 This morning 00:40:37.720 --> 00:40:38.620 are you pressing 00:40:38.620 --> 00:40:39.660 towards the mark? 00:40:39.659 --> 00:40:39.699 Mark. 00:40:40.519 --> 00:40:41.039 You're not 00:40:41.039 --> 00:40:42.179 the big backslider. 00:40:42.379 --> 00:40:42.659 You're not 00:40:42.659 --> 00:40:43.779 the David 00:40:43.779 --> 00:40:45.179 at this point. 00:40:45.279 --> 00:40:45.579 You're not 00:40:45.579 --> 00:40:46.199 the Judas. 00:40:47.859 --> 00:40:48.239 But you know 00:40:48.239 --> 00:40:48.739 the majority 00:40:48.739 --> 00:40:49.239 of people 00:40:49.239 --> 00:40:49.759 fall into 00:40:49.759 --> 00:40:50.659 the third category 00:40:50.659 --> 00:40:52.440 of being 00:40:52.440 --> 00:40:53.339 a backslider 00:40:53.339 --> 00:40:54.639 in heart. 00:40:55.579 --> 00:40:56.199 This morning. 00:40:57.139 --> 00:40:57.839 Pressing towards 00:40:57.839 --> 00:40:58.420 the mark? 00:40:58.960 --> 00:40:59.839 Being filled 00:40:59.839 --> 00:41:00.460 with the Spirit 00:41:00.460 --> 00:41:01.019 of God? 00:41:02.480 --> 00:41:03.420 Or is your heart 00:41:03.420 --> 00:41:04.219 being filled 00:41:04.219 --> 00:41:05.739 with yourself? 00:41:07.579 --> 00:41:08.599 What about you 00:41:08.599 --> 00:41:08.879 today? 00:41:08.880 --> 00:41:09.619 His heads are bowed 00:41:09.619 --> 00:41:10.480 and eyes are closed? 00:41:11.460 --> 00:41:12.300 I spoke to you 00:41:12.300 --> 00:41:13.099 about some things 00:41:13.099 --> 00:41:13.800 in your life. 00:41:13.960 --> 00:41:14.920 There's a lack 00:41:14.920 --> 00:41:15.519 of faith. 00:41:15.640 --> 00:41:16.240 There's a lack 00:41:16.240 --> 00:41:17.940 of just moving 00:41:17.940 --> 00:41:18.539 forward 00:41:18.539 --> 00:41:19.900 in the things 00:41:19.900 --> 00:41:20.619 of God. 00:41:22.720 --> 00:41:23.000 You know, 00:41:23.019 --> 00:41:23.500 maybe you say, 00:41:23.559 --> 00:41:23.619 well, 00:41:23.640 --> 00:41:24.380 my relationship 00:41:24.380 --> 00:41:24.900 to God 00:41:24.900 --> 00:41:25.280 has kind of 00:41:25.280 --> 00:41:25.940 plateaued. 00:41:25.980 --> 00:41:26.220 You know what 00:41:26.220 --> 00:41:26.700 you need to ask, 00:41:26.800 --> 00:41:26.920 Lord? 00:41:27.099 --> 00:41:28.019 What do I need 00:41:28.019 --> 00:41:28.640 to deal with? 00:41:30.440 --> 00:41:31.320 What's hindering 00:41:31.320 --> 00:41:32.360 this going forward? 00:41:32.440 --> 00:41:33.099 What's causing 00:41:33.099 --> 00:41:33.740 me to slide 00:41:33.740 --> 00:41:34.079 backwards? 00:41:34.240 --> 00:41:34.720 What place 00:41:34.720 --> 00:41:35.619 of faith 00:41:35.619 --> 00:41:36.099 do I need 00:41:36.099 --> 00:41:36.559 to take? 00:41:36.840 --> 00:41:37.460 What step 00:41:37.460 --> 00:41:38.220 of obedience 00:41:38.220 --> 00:41:39.019 do I need 00:41:39.019 --> 00:41:39.320 to put 00:41:39.320 --> 00:41:40.019 into action? 00:41:40.559 --> 00:41:40.699 Lord, 00:41:40.880 --> 00:41:41.519 what thing 00:41:41.519 --> 00:41:42.019 do I need 00:41:42.019 --> 00:41:42.720 to do away 00:41:42.720 --> 00:41:43.639 with that's 00:41:43.639 --> 00:41:44.539 distracting and 00:41:44.539 --> 00:41:44.960 filling me 00:41:44.960 --> 00:41:45.380 with things 00:41:45.380 --> 00:41:46.059 that shouldn't 00:41:46.059 --> 00:41:47.440 do today? 00:41:49.480 --> 00:41:49.960 Heavenly 00:41:49.960 --> 00:41:50.340 Fathers, 00:41:50.420 --> 00:41:50.980 we just give 00:41:50.980 --> 00:41:51.440 a commitment 00:41:51.440 --> 00:41:52.159 time here, 00:41:52.240 --> 00:41:52.440 Lord, 00:41:52.500 --> 00:41:52.900 to think 00:41:52.900 --> 00:41:53.480 and consider 00:41:53.480 --> 00:41:54.980 on this 00:41:54.980 --> 00:41:55.579 reality 00:41:55.579 --> 00:41:56.119 of the 00:41:56.119 --> 00:41:56.780 backslider. 00:41:57.500 --> 00:41:58.480 Be restored 00:41:58.480 --> 00:41:58.940 to you 00:41:58.940 --> 00:41:59.539 as we come 00:41:59.539 --> 00:42:00.099 and we confess 00:42:00.099 --> 00:42:00.960 and forsake 00:42:00.960 --> 00:42:01.559 those things 00:42:01.559 --> 00:42:02.099 to you. 00:42:03.099 --> 00:42:03.579 Lord, 00:42:03.619 --> 00:42:04.360 that the joy 00:42:04.360 --> 00:42:05.440 of our salvation 00:42:05.440 --> 00:42:06.480 may be restored. 00:42:08.120 --> 00:42:08.840 A zeal, 00:42:08.940 --> 00:42:09.920 a drive for you, 00:42:10.059 --> 00:42:10.940 trusting you 00:42:10.940 --> 00:42:12.400 day to day, 00:42:12.579 --> 00:42:13.360 hour by hour, 00:42:13.539 --> 00:42:14.380 minute by minute. 00:42:15.340 --> 00:42:16.280 Each heart today, 00:42:16.380 --> 00:42:16.559 Lord, 00:42:16.660 --> 00:42:17.220 I pray that your 00:42:17.220 --> 00:42:17.780 spirit would just 00:42:17.780 --> 00:42:18.160 work. 00:42:20.180 --> 00:42:20.400 Lord, 00:42:20.500 --> 00:42:21.180 I pray that they 00:42:21.180 --> 00:42:21.940 would be obedient 00:42:21.940 --> 00:42:23.440 to what the spirit 00:42:23.440 --> 00:42:24.280 tells them today. 00:42:25.340 --> 00:42:25.880 And Lord, 00:42:25.940 --> 00:42:26.680 we ask it all 00:42:26.680 --> 00:42:27.840 in your precious name. 00:42:29.200 --> 00:42:29.559 Amen. 00:42:29.880 --> 00:42:30.599 As heads are bowed,