WEBVTT 00:00:00.320 --> 00:00:04.040 I believe we spend too much time focused on the wrong thing, 00:00:04.940 --> 00:00:07.860 getting mad at the wrong sources, 00:00:09.179 --> 00:00:10.859 fighting in the wrong way. 00:00:12.259 --> 00:00:16.059 The reality is we're in a real war. 00:00:17.900 --> 00:00:19.620 Victory's been done in that war, 00:00:19.800 --> 00:00:23.420 but there's still battles being waged, 00:00:23.460 --> 00:00:25.320 and those battles are in our lives, 00:00:25.719 --> 00:00:27.120 and they're very real. 00:00:27.120 --> 00:00:30.080 They're not seen in battles. 00:00:30.280 --> 00:00:31.820 They're more real than that. 00:00:31.940 --> 00:00:34.000 They're unseen, and the evidence of them 00:00:34.000 --> 00:00:37.140 roll over into our lives in so many different ways, 00:00:37.240 --> 00:00:39.679 and I believe we need to understand that, 00:00:40.560 --> 00:00:42.579 to learn truths of that, 00:00:42.660 --> 00:00:45.359 and then live in response to what we learn. 00:00:47.880 --> 00:00:53.000 Ephesians chapter 6, Apostle Paul talks about this war that we are in. 00:00:53.000 --> 00:00:55.460 In verse 11 he says, 00:00:55.460 --> 00:00:57.480 Put on the whole armor of God, 00:00:57.579 --> 00:01:00.340 that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 00:01:01.340 --> 00:01:03.120 For we don't wrestle against flesh and blood, 00:01:03.240 --> 00:01:05.000 but against the rulers, against the authorities, 00:01:05.140 --> 00:01:07.180 against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, 00:01:08.140 --> 00:01:12.620 against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 00:01:14.500 --> 00:01:16.599 Now we've been trying for several weeks now 00:01:16.599 --> 00:01:19.379 to get a better understanding of how the devil works, 00:01:19.379 --> 00:01:20.699 what is his approach, 00:01:20.699 --> 00:01:24.299 and what approach should we take in response. 00:01:25.739 --> 00:01:32.420 I spent some time last week talking about various names of the evil one in Scripture. 00:01:33.500 --> 00:01:36.759 It is not just different names, 00:01:36.919 --> 00:01:39.599 but each one of them are descriptive in some fashion. 00:01:40.699 --> 00:01:43.959 It shows a different part of his character or lack thereof, 00:01:43.959 --> 00:01:48.859 and they teach us who we're dealing with and how he works. 00:01:50.259 --> 00:01:52.039 He is called Satan, 00:01:52.619 --> 00:01:56.299 which means the adversary or the accuser. 00:01:56.419 --> 00:01:59.179 He runs to and fro on the earth, 00:01:59.299 --> 00:02:06.139 lurking to see how he can get involved with and mess up whatever he can in our lives. 00:02:06.659 --> 00:02:09.579 He does that by leading us down the wrong path. 00:02:09.580 --> 00:02:13.440 He does that by influencing our life decisions. 00:02:14.800 --> 00:02:17.680 Understand, we're not the first enemy to Satan. 00:02:17.880 --> 00:02:21.760 Satan opposes the agenda of God. 00:02:23.060 --> 00:02:27.200 He wants to slow the agenda of God. 00:02:28.160 --> 00:02:30.180 His work is not against us. 00:02:30.280 --> 00:02:31.820 It's against the plan of God, 00:02:31.900 --> 00:02:34.200 and he does that by affecting us. 00:02:34.960 --> 00:02:36.400 He does it in your life. 00:02:36.500 --> 00:02:37.400 He does it in mine. 00:02:37.500 --> 00:02:38.580 He does it in church. 00:02:38.580 --> 00:02:40.160 He does it in the kingdom of God. 00:02:40.900 --> 00:02:43.060 He works to hinder the work of God. 00:02:43.160 --> 00:02:43.660 He's Satan. 00:02:43.840 --> 00:02:44.700 He's the adversary. 00:02:44.880 --> 00:02:45.740 He's the accuser. 00:02:47.220 --> 00:02:49.860 Satan is a transliterated Hebrew term, 00:02:50.860 --> 00:02:54.820 and the Greek term, very similar, is devil. 00:02:56.820 --> 00:03:02.460 Very similar, except devil speaks more of the slander characteristic in Satan. 00:03:02.460 --> 00:03:16.159 1 Peter chapter 5 tells us that he seeks to devour us by ruining us, ruining our reputation, ruining our testimony, ruining our legacy. 00:03:16.920 --> 00:03:22.319 He prowls around strategizing on how to have the worst effects on the life of believers, 00:03:22.980 --> 00:03:25.939 the worst effects on the works of the church. 00:03:25.939 --> 00:03:27.759 He's the devil. 00:03:28.259 --> 00:03:31.639 The liar and the slanderer. 00:03:33.099 --> 00:03:37.020 He's also Lucifer, which literally means the shining one. 00:03:38.479 --> 00:03:41.359 He was created beautiful and of high standing in heaven. 00:03:42.199 --> 00:03:47.300 Sadly, his pride got in the way, and he tried to rise above God, and he couldn't. 00:03:47.300 --> 00:03:55.880 So now cast to the earth, he tries his best to look better, his options more attractive to us than those of God. 00:03:58.219 --> 00:04:05.640 Common, the most common names, the ones I normally refer to, Satan, devil, Lucifer. 00:04:06.720 --> 00:04:12.900 We talked about that last week, and so if you wasn't here last week, you just got to recap a whole lot quicker than they did last week. 00:04:12.900 --> 00:04:27.920 But today, I want to talk about some of the more obscure names that are still very descriptive and give us a lot more meaning to exactly what he's up to. 00:04:29.379 --> 00:04:32.379 The first one I want us to see is Beelzebub. 00:04:32.379 --> 00:04:45.879 Beelzebub is first mentioned in 2 Kings as a god of Akron that King Ahaziah wanted to get answers from. 00:04:47.480 --> 00:04:50.399 And he wanted to know if he was going to live. 00:04:52.339 --> 00:04:57.279 And Elijah the prophet was a contemporary of Ahaziah. 00:04:57.279 --> 00:05:05.959 And he came to him and said, Elijah did, is there not a king in Israel? 00:05:08.019 --> 00:05:14.859 And the Lord said, told him, the Lord said, you will not rise up, you'll die. 00:05:16.819 --> 00:05:21.739 He told the king that, and so the king sent men after Elijah. 00:05:21.740 --> 00:05:27.579 And when they came after Elijah, Elijah cast down fire from heaven, and it consumed them. 00:05:28.280 --> 00:05:29.680 And so he sent more men. 00:05:31.079 --> 00:05:32.660 And Elijah did it again. 00:05:33.680 --> 00:05:34.840 He sent more men. 00:05:34.939 --> 00:05:37.240 And reluctantly, those men went, and he did it again. 00:05:37.360 --> 00:05:39.060 And it happened again and again. 00:05:39.139 --> 00:05:44.819 And after repeated pleas, Scripture says about the king, so he died. 00:05:46.400 --> 00:05:49.660 Now, the moral of that story is, don't call on Beelzebub, okay? 00:05:50.280 --> 00:05:51.480 It don't go well. 00:05:52.579 --> 00:05:56.240 But I knew about Beelzebub before I knew about that story. 00:05:57.980 --> 00:06:01.840 I learned about Beelzebub from my eighth grade English teacher. 00:06:03.439 --> 00:06:05.759 My eighth grade English teacher was mean. 00:06:07.579 --> 00:06:08.400 She was. 00:06:09.939 --> 00:06:11.960 She was set in her ways. 00:06:12.639 --> 00:06:14.600 And I learned three things out of her class. 00:06:16.819 --> 00:06:19.040 She was the meanest teacher I had in eighth grade. 00:06:19.040 --> 00:06:23.939 But I can't say that I learned three things out of any other class in the eighth grade. 00:06:24.100 --> 00:06:24.980 But I did from her. 00:06:25.980 --> 00:06:31.620 One of them was that she didn't want us to crumble up our paper and throw it in the trash can. 00:06:31.620 --> 00:06:36.939 That instead we needed to fold it and place it in the trash can. 00:06:38.199 --> 00:06:41.680 Which took a lot of vigor and zeal out of an eighth grade boy. 00:06:42.680 --> 00:06:47.379 I mean, the whole point of making a mistake is to crumple it up and throw it across the room and see if you can make it, you know? 00:06:47.379 --> 00:06:50.339 She would not have any of that. 00:06:51.879 --> 00:07:00.719 The second thing she did was she wrote a lot is two words on the board. 00:07:00.720 --> 00:07:06.060 If you didn't know it, I know where you didn't go to school. 00:07:06.900 --> 00:07:09.160 But a lot is two words. 00:07:10.000 --> 00:07:10.920 All the time. 00:07:11.320 --> 00:07:11.480 Okay? 00:07:12.520 --> 00:07:14.500 And so she wrote on the board in real big letters. 00:07:14.700 --> 00:07:16.280 A with a space in between. 00:07:16.900 --> 00:07:17.320 Lot. 00:07:18.320 --> 00:07:20.440 And then underneath it real small is two words. 00:07:21.540 --> 00:07:25.820 And she'd erase it and have somebody come up to the board and write it. 00:07:26.000 --> 00:07:27.320 And she'd say bigger than that. 00:07:27.520 --> 00:07:29.760 And she'd write it bigger than that. 00:07:29.759 --> 00:07:33.500 And then inevitably every time they got the space too close together. 00:07:33.639 --> 00:07:35.039 So she'd call them out on that too. 00:07:35.420 --> 00:07:38.039 But I happen to know that a lot is two words. 00:07:38.319 --> 00:07:40.379 And since the eighth grade I've never wrote it as one word. 00:07:40.980 --> 00:07:41.420 Never have. 00:07:41.860 --> 00:07:43.980 The other thing she made us do is read a lot. 00:07:44.659 --> 00:07:45.519 We had to read a lot. 00:07:46.740 --> 00:07:47.439 A lot. 00:07:48.519 --> 00:07:50.319 And that's two words. 00:07:50.319 --> 00:07:57.639 And depending on what size of book you read, how many points you got. 00:07:57.659 --> 00:07:59.319 And we had to gather so many points. 00:08:00.620 --> 00:08:02.579 And I read a lot of little books. 00:08:02.759 --> 00:08:04.420 Because if you read little books, you got to read a bunch of them. 00:08:04.500 --> 00:08:05.379 So I read a lot of books. 00:08:06.719 --> 00:08:11.259 And one of those books, well, I'll tell you, that gave me a love. 00:08:11.300 --> 00:08:12.980 It was delayed by about 30 years. 00:08:13.039 --> 00:08:14.439 But it gave me a love for American literature. 00:08:15.319 --> 00:08:18.120 And I remember some of the stories that I read in eighth grade. 00:08:18.120 --> 00:08:20.420 And it kicked in a few years ago. 00:08:20.579 --> 00:08:25.100 And I read most classic American literature in a year. 00:08:25.220 --> 00:08:26.240 I mean, I just loved it. 00:08:26.420 --> 00:08:28.259 And so she gave me a zeal for that. 00:08:28.300 --> 00:08:29.720 And I contacted her back and told her that. 00:08:30.439 --> 00:08:32.100 She didn't respond because she's mean. 00:08:32.179 --> 00:08:32.519 But anyway. 00:08:32.519 --> 00:08:38.600 But one of those books we read was called Lord of the Flies. 00:08:39.559 --> 00:08:40.879 It's a horrible book. 00:08:41.779 --> 00:08:44.600 But it's a book about, and if you've got to read it for school, it's wonderful. 00:08:44.759 --> 00:08:48.860 But it's a book about boys on an island trying to govern themselves. 00:08:48.860 --> 00:08:51.199 And it's chaotic, to say the least. 00:08:51.200 --> 00:09:02.000 And in one point in that book, there's a pig's head cut off and put on a stick as an offering to the god of the forest that these boys were concerned about. 00:09:02.720 --> 00:09:04.820 And a pig's head on a stick. 00:09:04.879 --> 00:09:06.280 You don't have to try this at home if you don't want to. 00:09:06.340 --> 00:09:07.060 Take my word for it. 00:09:07.220 --> 00:09:08.480 Will draw flies. 00:09:09.700 --> 00:09:10.920 And so the flies came. 00:09:11.040 --> 00:09:16.640 So they called that Lord of the Flies, which is what Beelzebub means. 00:09:16.640 --> 00:09:20.040 And I remember those discussions around that in the eighth grade. 00:09:21.200 --> 00:09:25.720 However, more importantly than that, it's also in the New Testament as well. 00:09:25.820 --> 00:09:29.080 In Matthew 12, verse 24, the Pharisees said, 00:09:29.680 --> 00:09:35.480 Jesus cast out demons by the authority of Beelzebub, or the devil. 00:09:36.920 --> 00:09:40.020 And Jesus responded to them, why would Satan cast out Satan? 00:09:41.320 --> 00:09:41.759 Duh. 00:09:42.280 --> 00:09:43.140 I added that. 00:09:43.140 --> 00:09:44.759 But I think that's what he meant. 00:09:45.960 --> 00:09:49.820 Because the word means the god of the manure pile is what it means, literally. 00:09:51.200 --> 00:09:52.420 Which draws flies. 00:09:52.759 --> 00:09:54.780 Therefore, it's the lord of the flies. 00:09:55.440 --> 00:10:01.960 And the point of that, that I want you to get because these names that he have are descriptive. 00:10:02.580 --> 00:10:03.879 And it tells us about him. 00:10:04.460 --> 00:10:06.520 Satan is the god of filth. 00:10:08.420 --> 00:10:12.700 The nastiness of the world is from the evil one. 00:10:12.700 --> 00:10:16.540 The devil does his strongest work through filth. 00:10:17.320 --> 00:10:19.680 He'll infuse your life with filth. 00:10:19.780 --> 00:10:23.240 And he'll do it at a trickle rate so that you won't recognize it. 00:10:24.460 --> 00:10:27.240 I mean, just let me ask you a rhetorical question. 00:10:27.860 --> 00:10:28.740 But one to think about. 00:10:28.840 --> 00:10:35.220 Do you allow more filth in your home through your television or through your phone than you did at one time? 00:10:35.220 --> 00:10:41.639 Profanity is much greater than it used to be in such settings. 00:10:42.620 --> 00:10:45.300 Pornography is much greater than it used to be in such settings. 00:10:45.840 --> 00:10:47.879 Violence is much greater than it used to be. 00:10:48.740 --> 00:10:55.700 So like a frog in a kettle, and I don't encourage you to do this, but if you put a frog in a kettle, theoretically, of cold water, 00:10:55.700 --> 00:11:04.740 and turn the heat up, because the temperature rises slowly, the frog will never jump out, and it'll boil to death there. 00:11:06.120 --> 00:11:07.259 So it goes. 00:11:08.180 --> 00:11:14.860 Like a frog in the kettle, the god of filth has slowly but steadily conditioned us to filth. 00:11:15.080 --> 00:11:21.080 Like a snowball rolling downhill, the filth comes faster and more perverse constantly, 00:11:21.080 --> 00:11:25.220 and we set ourselves up to be exposed to more of it. 00:11:25.700 --> 00:11:28.500 All the while, he's eating at your life. 00:11:28.600 --> 00:11:30.340 He's eating at your marriage. 00:11:30.440 --> 00:11:31.820 He's eating at your friendships. 00:11:32.240 --> 00:11:33.840 He's eating at your self-image. 00:11:34.160 --> 00:11:35.720 He's eating at your confidence. 00:11:37.259 --> 00:11:42.720 It's because he's Beelzebub, the god of filth. 00:11:44.840 --> 00:11:53.220 And he'll try his best to use it to derail you in your walk with God. 00:11:53.220 --> 00:11:58.180 He's also Beelzebub. 00:11:58.180 --> 00:11:58.259 Beelzebub. 00:12:00.259 --> 00:12:04.060 Literally means without value or worthless. 00:12:05.100 --> 00:12:10.680 It's used in 2 Corinthians 6 verse 15 when it says this. 00:12:10.679 --> 00:12:13.959 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. 00:12:13.959 --> 00:12:17.019 For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? 00:12:17.319 --> 00:12:19.519 Or what fellowship has light with darkness? 00:12:19.799 --> 00:12:22.319 What accord has Christ with Belial? 00:12:22.739 --> 00:12:26.939 Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? 00:12:27.519 --> 00:12:31.179 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? 00:12:31.639 --> 00:12:35.819 For we are a temple of the living God. 00:12:35.820 --> 00:12:44.640 Now the point that Paul is sharing there is Christians are not to be in love relationships with unbelievers. 00:12:45.980 --> 00:12:48.440 If you are, you're unequally yoked. 00:12:49.280 --> 00:12:54.660 And it comes from the idea of yoking two oxen together to pull a plow. 00:12:54.659 --> 00:13:04.179 So if you can imagine putting an ox in one yoke and putting a dog in another, it's not going to be a very good pull. 00:13:05.319 --> 00:13:07.879 It's an unequally yoked situation. 00:13:08.899 --> 00:13:13.779 And the moral of that story is, ladies, don't date dogs. 00:13:14.559 --> 00:13:16.360 And a lot of guys are. 00:13:17.000 --> 00:13:17.759 They're dogs. 00:13:17.759 --> 00:13:30.120 A believer marrying or dating an unbeliever will most likely guide the believer off course. 00:13:30.620 --> 00:13:33.360 It's like trying to put light and darkness in the same place. 00:13:33.600 --> 00:13:34.500 It don't work. 00:13:36.299 --> 00:13:44.799 And you are walking into a den of temptation because one without Christ, I want you to hear me, lacks the conviction of a believer. 00:13:44.799 --> 00:13:49.459 One without Christ is without Christ. 00:13:50.639 --> 00:13:53.879 And one without Christ acts like they're without Christ. 00:13:54.740 --> 00:13:57.679 The lost are going to act lost. 00:13:58.439 --> 00:14:00.299 And the moral compass is different. 00:14:01.219 --> 00:14:03.819 They don't have the guiding voice of the Holy Spirit of God. 00:14:03.939 --> 00:14:09.899 In addition to that, the Christian has the empowerment of the Holy Spirit against the wiles of the devil. 00:14:10.639 --> 00:14:14.179 And those who are without Christ, that does not exist in their life. 00:14:15.779 --> 00:14:18.159 Now, I must admit, there's always victory stories. 00:14:18.259 --> 00:14:20.959 Somebody will stop me after worship and say, you know what? 00:14:21.519 --> 00:14:28.139 There's always victory stories where somebody got saved dating a believer and they get in church. 00:14:28.839 --> 00:14:30.339 And it changes their life forever. 00:14:30.719 --> 00:14:34.419 However, nine times out of ten, and I just made that statistic up. 00:14:34.500 --> 00:14:38.259 But nine times out of ten from my own experience, it does not happen that way. 00:14:38.319 --> 00:14:39.159 It does not. 00:14:39.159 --> 00:14:48.240 Much more often, the believer comes to church by himself or herself after marriage or they just stop coming altogether. 00:14:49.860 --> 00:14:54.779 Young ladies, don't date guys that love Jesus less than you. 00:14:54.779 --> 00:14:57.759 And I mean that in two different ways. 00:14:59.639 --> 00:15:02.579 Date someone stronger in the Lord than you are. 00:15:02.799 --> 00:15:09.059 Make it a challenge to find somebody that loves Jesus more than you to have a relationship with. 00:15:09.059 --> 00:15:13.939 And number two, date somebody who loves God more than they love you. 00:15:15.079 --> 00:15:19.079 Because if they love the Lord Jesus enough, he works out a lot of the kings. 00:15:20.559 --> 00:15:22.599 Now, there are a lot of witnesses in this room. 00:15:23.459 --> 00:15:24.359 Or let me say this. 00:15:24.539 --> 00:15:25.719 There's a lot of witnesses. 00:15:25.720 --> 00:15:34.240 There's probably some in this room that would amen me heartily if they didn't think it was inappropriate with that. 00:15:36.680 --> 00:15:39.019 Because I've had those conversations again and again. 00:15:40.639 --> 00:15:42.720 Plus, Scripture warns about it. 00:15:44.240 --> 00:15:48.420 Yoking with an unbeliever can be a major diversion in your walk with God. 00:15:48.779 --> 00:15:49.639 I'll just be honest with you. 00:15:49.660 --> 00:15:52.700 It can be a major diversion in your walk in all of life. 00:15:52.840 --> 00:15:54.019 It's a fork in the road. 00:15:54.019 --> 00:15:56.240 It's a crucial kind of decision. 00:15:56.659 --> 00:15:58.019 And I want you to be clear. 00:15:58.620 --> 00:16:02.519 Satan will tempt you to do it. 00:16:04.620 --> 00:16:08.139 That is what Belial does. 00:16:09.419 --> 00:16:11.579 He corrupts what is right. 00:16:12.879 --> 00:16:15.100 The word is often used in the Old Testament. 00:16:15.699 --> 00:16:20.299 And it describes a worthless, baseless person. 00:16:20.299 --> 00:16:28.120 The devil is worthless and baseless and corrupts all that he can come in contact with. 00:16:29.439 --> 00:16:32.439 A relationship that's not based on Christ is baseless. 00:16:33.359 --> 00:16:34.339 It's worthless. 00:16:35.059 --> 00:16:36.219 It's a hindrance. 00:16:37.639 --> 00:16:39.959 And that's what Paul speaks of when he speaks of Belial. 00:16:40.279 --> 00:16:43.139 But Satan will make other things worthless as well. 00:16:43.139 --> 00:16:51.899 Do you know that they now say that there are 72 additional gender identities besides male and female? 00:16:52.559 --> 00:16:53.240 72. 00:16:55.600 --> 00:16:56.779 Based on what? 00:16:58.360 --> 00:16:59.639 It's baseless. 00:17:00.779 --> 00:17:01.740 It's baseless. 00:17:01.740 --> 00:17:06.400 And it makes the gender confused feel that much more worthless. 00:17:09.259 --> 00:17:16.579 Why is this country so hungry for the opportunity to rip a human being horribly from its home before it's born? 00:17:17.460 --> 00:17:19.559 Why is that such a fascination? 00:17:19.559 --> 00:17:24.119 Because Satan convinces people that the unborn is worthless. 00:17:24.839 --> 00:17:26.079 That they're in the way. 00:17:28.259 --> 00:17:29.980 You want to know what kind of war we're in? 00:17:30.059 --> 00:17:32.299 It's baseless and it's worthless. 00:17:33.500 --> 00:17:34.200 It's Belial. 00:17:36.799 --> 00:17:38.859 But not only that, he's also called the tempter. 00:17:41.179 --> 00:17:42.919 And I want you to listen to Paul's concern. 00:17:43.000 --> 00:17:46.579 I want you to listen to his passion for the church while he was away from them. 00:17:46.579 --> 00:17:49.879 In 1 Thessalonians chapter 3 verse 5, it says, 00:17:50.039 --> 00:17:52.259 For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, 00:17:52.359 --> 00:17:58.059 I sent to learn about your faith for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you 00:17:58.059 --> 00:18:01.199 and our labor would be in vain. 00:18:02.379 --> 00:18:05.659 Paul was burdened because he could not come back and encourage them. 00:18:06.039 --> 00:18:09.599 And people in the body of Christ need the encouragement from the word of God 00:18:09.599 --> 00:18:11.199 and from the body of believers. 00:18:11.720 --> 00:18:11.919 Why? 00:18:12.059 --> 00:18:12.980 Because we're tempted. 00:18:12.980 --> 00:18:19.059 Due to the atmosphere of temptation that we live in, 00:18:19.559 --> 00:18:22.960 all of us need to be nurtured in the word of God. 00:18:23.519 --> 00:18:27.620 And the tempter will not only try to lead us into temptation, 00:18:28.120 --> 00:18:31.980 but he'll try to lead us out of the fellowship of believers. 00:18:32.180 --> 00:18:33.160 He'll try it every time. 00:18:35.140 --> 00:18:36.220 And so Paul says, 00:18:36.720 --> 00:18:38.120 I want to be with you. 00:18:38.759 --> 00:18:40.299 I want to encourage you. 00:18:40.299 --> 00:18:44.519 And I want to thank you this morning. 00:18:46.480 --> 00:18:47.879 Because it's Labor Day weekend. 00:18:49.659 --> 00:18:53.299 There's a lot of places you could be besides in the house of God. 00:18:54.419 --> 00:18:56.899 And by simply being here, it makes a statement. 00:18:57.259 --> 00:18:58.240 Because I'll be honest with you, 00:18:58.339 --> 00:18:59.720 even if you don't have plans anywhere else, 00:18:59.960 --> 00:19:01.819 people, well, they ain't going to know we don't have plans. 00:19:01.919 --> 00:19:03.159 Let's just stay at home. 00:19:04.460 --> 00:19:05.460 That's easy to do. 00:19:05.680 --> 00:19:06.440 That's easy to do. 00:19:06.440 --> 00:19:09.559 But after a football weekend like we had, 00:19:09.799 --> 00:19:11.460 my goodness, we better call on the Lord. 00:19:12.920 --> 00:19:14.860 And it really don't matter what team you're rooting for. 00:19:14.920 --> 00:19:15.900 I think they all suffered. 00:19:16.140 --> 00:19:21.259 But what in the world am I talking about? 00:19:25.320 --> 00:19:28.580 The reality is we need each other. 00:19:30.180 --> 00:19:31.080 We need each other. 00:19:31.079 --> 00:19:33.799 We need the encouragement of the word. 00:19:33.980 --> 00:19:35.500 And Paul says previously in verse 5 00:19:35.500 --> 00:19:40.139 that he wanted to live before them holy and blameless as an example 00:19:40.139 --> 00:19:42.460 and to be a constant encouragement to them along the way. 00:19:43.740 --> 00:19:46.460 I want you to listen to how he describes the previous days 00:19:46.460 --> 00:19:47.799 that he was with them. 00:19:48.259 --> 00:19:50.000 In 1 Thessalonians 2 verse 12, 00:19:50.480 --> 00:19:50.939 he says, 00:19:51.019 --> 00:19:53.480 We exhorted each one of you and encouraged you 00:19:53.480 --> 00:19:56.399 and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God 00:19:56.399 --> 00:19:58.859 who calls you into his own kingdom and glory. 00:19:58.859 --> 00:20:00.579 Paul is saying, 00:20:00.740 --> 00:20:02.839 I want to encourage you and give you a charge 00:20:02.839 --> 00:20:05.019 to go fight hell on this earth 00:20:05.019 --> 00:20:07.839 and in your life with all that you have 00:20:07.839 --> 00:20:08.959 for the glory of God. 00:20:10.240 --> 00:20:12.059 And then he tells the Corinthians 00:20:12.059 --> 00:20:15.019 in 1 Corinthians 10 verse 5, 00:20:16.099 --> 00:20:19.139 Take every thought captive 00:20:19.139 --> 00:20:21.599 to obey Christ. 00:20:22.699 --> 00:20:24.500 I want to pause there for just a moment. 00:20:24.500 --> 00:20:29.079 I want you to marinate in that a minute. 00:20:31.579 --> 00:20:34.880 Take every thought captive 00:20:34.880 --> 00:20:38.099 to obey Christ. 00:20:41.500 --> 00:20:42.319 He said, 00:20:42.500 --> 00:20:45.220 We need to be encouraged and charged 00:20:45.220 --> 00:20:48.480 to walk worthy of the high calling of salvation 00:20:48.480 --> 00:20:50.819 that God has put in our lives. 00:20:50.819 --> 00:20:54.039 Don't let one evil thought, 00:20:55.039 --> 00:20:58.939 don't let one depressing thought, 00:20:59.740 --> 00:21:03.299 don't let one nasty thought, 00:21:04.419 --> 00:21:07.299 don't let one negative thought 00:21:07.299 --> 00:21:09.899 pass through your mind 00:21:09.899 --> 00:21:11.980 without capturing it 00:21:11.980 --> 00:21:14.500 in obedience to Christ. 00:21:14.500 --> 00:21:20.880 As the great theologian Barney Fife says, 00:21:21.160 --> 00:21:22.359 nip it in the bud. 00:21:23.480 --> 00:21:24.859 When it comes, 00:21:25.859 --> 00:21:29.720 by the power of the blood of Jesus, God, 00:21:30.119 --> 00:21:32.200 remove that thought from my head 00:21:32.200 --> 00:21:33.500 and get me off of it. 00:21:38.039 --> 00:21:39.519 Every thought captive. 00:21:40.200 --> 00:21:41.460 Don't let them sneak around, 00:21:41.579 --> 00:21:42.519 don't let them hang around. 00:21:42.519 --> 00:21:44.339 Take every thought captive 00:21:44.339 --> 00:21:45.940 to obey Christ. 00:21:47.400 --> 00:21:48.559 The tempter strives 00:21:48.559 --> 00:21:50.440 to tear souls apart, 00:21:51.200 --> 00:21:53.279 to tear lives apart, 00:21:53.379 --> 00:21:54.519 to tear families apart, 00:21:54.619 --> 00:21:55.619 to tear churches apart, 00:21:55.700 --> 00:21:57.639 one temptation at a time. 00:21:58.160 --> 00:21:59.339 And we so need 00:21:59.339 --> 00:22:00.839 the encouragement of the believers. 00:22:01.839 --> 00:22:02.740 We're so tempted 00:22:02.740 --> 00:22:04.599 to let the word of God slip, 00:22:04.980 --> 00:22:06.680 to let prayer be neglected, 00:22:07.180 --> 00:22:08.440 to let the faithfulness 00:22:08.440 --> 00:22:10.039 of gathering with the body of believers 00:22:10.039 --> 00:22:10.960 go to the wayside. 00:22:10.960 --> 00:22:12.279 And Paul said, 00:22:13.279 --> 00:22:16.480 I need to get the word to you 00:22:16.480 --> 00:22:18.840 so that you don't fall into temptation. 00:22:21.360 --> 00:22:22.380 He's the tempter. 00:22:25.579 --> 00:22:27.340 He loves to mess with us. 00:22:29.279 --> 00:22:30.000 He's the tempter. 00:22:31.160 --> 00:22:32.900 One more name I want to give you this morning 00:22:32.900 --> 00:22:34.340 of the evil one. 00:22:34.819 --> 00:22:36.100 And that's the accuser. 00:22:36.099 --> 00:22:38.980 Revelation 12, verse 10, 00:22:39.039 --> 00:22:40.319 he promises us 00:22:40.319 --> 00:22:41.839 that the accuser of the brothers 00:22:41.839 --> 00:22:42.959 will be torn down, 00:22:43.399 --> 00:22:44.500 thrown down, excuse me. 00:22:45.799 --> 00:22:46.619 And I'm going to tell you, 00:22:46.679 --> 00:22:47.879 Satan knows his future. 00:22:48.000 --> 00:22:48.579 He knows it. 00:22:48.779 --> 00:22:49.919 He's hard at work now. 00:22:50.019 --> 00:22:51.619 He loves to point out your sins. 00:22:53.259 --> 00:22:54.500 He'd love for you to think 00:22:54.500 --> 00:22:55.359 that you're a loser. 00:22:55.359 --> 00:23:02.679 He wants to make you feel guilty 00:23:02.679 --> 00:23:03.479 about things 00:23:03.479 --> 00:23:05.659 that have been forgiven and gone 00:23:05.659 --> 00:23:09.599 to just dog you out 00:23:09.599 --> 00:23:11.519 and make you hopeless. 00:23:12.799 --> 00:23:14.279 Now, I want to be clear about something. 00:23:14.379 --> 00:23:15.659 Every time you feel guilt 00:23:15.659 --> 00:23:16.659 or an accusation, 00:23:16.839 --> 00:23:17.740 it does not mean 00:23:17.740 --> 00:23:18.740 it's from the evil one. 00:23:18.799 --> 00:23:20.299 For the Holy Spirit's job, 00:23:20.299 --> 00:23:23.960 one of them is to convict us of sin, 00:23:24.180 --> 00:23:25.960 to convict us of unrighteousness 00:23:25.960 --> 00:23:27.259 is the way Scripture puts it. 00:23:30.980 --> 00:23:32.659 And so if you've got sin in your life 00:23:32.659 --> 00:23:33.680 that you haven't confessed 00:23:33.680 --> 00:23:34.759 and you haven't turned from 00:23:34.759 --> 00:23:35.839 and you continue to 00:23:35.839 --> 00:23:38.220 and you're a child of God 00:23:38.220 --> 00:23:39.559 and you feel that conviction 00:23:39.559 --> 00:23:40.960 because of what you've done wrong, 00:23:41.099 --> 00:23:42.819 it's not the devil messing with you. 00:23:43.159 --> 00:23:44.440 It's you messing with the devil. 00:23:45.879 --> 00:23:46.740 And the Holy Spirit 00:23:46.740 --> 00:23:49.019 is trying to wake you up 00:23:49.019 --> 00:23:50.119 to walk you out 00:23:50.119 --> 00:23:51.059 of those circumstances 00:23:51.059 --> 00:23:52.940 by asking God to forgive you, 00:23:53.220 --> 00:23:54.379 to empower you, 00:23:54.639 --> 00:23:55.920 to walk away from that. 00:23:56.119 --> 00:23:57.039 And then you go back 00:23:57.039 --> 00:23:58.180 to what we just looked at. 00:23:58.259 --> 00:23:59.460 Take every thought captive 00:23:59.460 --> 00:24:00.039 for the Lord. 00:24:00.299 --> 00:24:02.339 You look at James 4, 7. 00:24:02.759 --> 00:24:04.279 Resist the evil one 00:24:04.279 --> 00:24:06.059 and he'll flee from you. 00:24:06.240 --> 00:24:06.960 Resist the devil 00:24:06.960 --> 00:24:07.779 and he'll flee from you. 00:24:09.299 --> 00:24:10.519 You rely upon those things. 00:24:10.599 --> 00:24:11.720 So every accusation 00:24:11.720 --> 00:24:12.359 that you feel 00:24:12.359 --> 00:24:13.359 or every bit of guilt 00:24:13.359 --> 00:24:13.759 that you feel, 00:24:13.859 --> 00:24:15.359 it don't always come from Satan. 00:24:15.359 --> 00:24:18.419 The Holy Spirit 00:24:18.419 --> 00:24:19.579 will convict you of your sin. 00:24:19.899 --> 00:24:20.859 But when you feel 00:24:20.859 --> 00:24:21.719 that conviction, 00:24:21.919 --> 00:24:23.179 you confess that sin. 00:24:23.539 --> 00:24:24.759 You turn from that sin. 00:24:25.019 --> 00:24:26.219 You walk away from that sin. 00:24:26.419 --> 00:24:27.839 And don't you look back again 00:24:27.839 --> 00:24:29.279 because the Lord's promise 00:24:29.279 --> 00:24:31.259 is that he will remove that sin 00:24:31.259 --> 00:24:33.039 as far as the east is 00:24:33.039 --> 00:24:34.319 from the west. 00:24:34.419 --> 00:24:35.259 It'll be gone 00:24:35.259 --> 00:24:36.419 and he will give you 00:24:36.419 --> 00:24:37.659 the strength and ability 00:24:37.659 --> 00:24:39.099 not to do it again. 00:24:39.240 --> 00:24:40.719 And if you do it again, 00:24:41.139 --> 00:24:42.479 you get back on your knees 00:24:42.479 --> 00:24:43.139 before God 00:24:43.139 --> 00:24:44.839 and confess it back to God. 00:24:44.839 --> 00:24:44.919 Now, 00:24:45.819 --> 00:24:47.319 by the way, 00:24:47.419 --> 00:24:47.879 you and I, 00:24:47.959 --> 00:24:49.119 we make enough mistakes 00:24:49.119 --> 00:24:49.959 each day. 00:24:50.139 --> 00:24:51.879 We commit enough sins 00:24:51.879 --> 00:24:52.439 each day 00:24:52.439 --> 00:24:53.500 that we just need 00:24:53.500 --> 00:24:54.399 to do that daily. 00:24:55.899 --> 00:24:56.720 We just need 00:24:56.720 --> 00:24:57.539 to do that daily. 00:25:00.659 --> 00:25:01.759 And I'm thankful 00:25:01.759 --> 00:25:02.939 for 1 John 1, 9 00:25:02.939 --> 00:25:03.299 that says 00:25:03.299 --> 00:25:04.799 that if we confess our sins, 00:25:04.859 --> 00:25:05.379 he's faithful 00:25:05.379 --> 00:25:06.259 and just to forgive us 00:25:06.259 --> 00:25:06.619 of our sins 00:25:06.619 --> 00:25:07.679 and to cleanse us 00:25:07.679 --> 00:25:09.079 from all unrighteousness. 00:25:09.319 --> 00:25:10.099 Man, that verse 00:25:10.099 --> 00:25:10.939 is so packed 00:25:10.939 --> 00:25:11.859 but I don't have time 00:25:11.859 --> 00:25:12.720 to deal with it this morning. 00:25:12.720 --> 00:25:15.259 But what it says 00:25:15.259 --> 00:25:16.279 is if you confess 00:25:16.279 --> 00:25:16.759 the sins 00:25:16.759 --> 00:25:17.660 that you're aware of 00:25:17.660 --> 00:25:18.759 and that you know about 00:25:18.759 --> 00:25:19.720 and I believe, folks, 00:25:19.759 --> 00:25:20.579 you need to name them. 00:25:22.500 --> 00:25:23.860 God knows what they are. 00:25:25.100 --> 00:25:25.980 You need to know 00:25:25.980 --> 00:25:26.640 what they are. 00:25:27.440 --> 00:25:28.559 And so take a moment 00:25:28.559 --> 00:25:30.579 to name them 00:25:30.579 --> 00:25:31.319 before the Lord. 00:25:33.200 --> 00:25:34.079 What's the sin 00:25:34.079 --> 00:25:34.819 in your life 00:25:34.819 --> 00:25:36.140 that you need God 00:25:36.140 --> 00:25:37.000 to forgive you for 00:25:37.000 --> 00:25:37.940 to empower you 00:25:37.940 --> 00:25:38.720 to rise above? 00:25:38.920 --> 00:25:39.839 What is that? 00:25:39.839 --> 00:25:41.519 Name that before the Lord. 00:25:43.000 --> 00:25:43.599 Face it. 00:25:44.279 --> 00:25:44.839 Deal with it. 00:25:45.000 --> 00:25:46.019 He went to the cross 00:25:46.019 --> 00:25:46.619 for that sin. 00:25:46.799 --> 00:25:47.599 The least you can do 00:25:47.599 --> 00:25:49.179 is say it to him. 00:25:50.759 --> 00:25:51.439 Apologize to him 00:25:51.439 --> 00:25:52.459 and ask for his forgiveness. 00:25:53.759 --> 00:25:54.480 And you know what? 00:25:55.439 --> 00:25:56.339 When you do that 00:25:56.339 --> 00:25:58.019 with the most sincere effort, 00:25:58.720 --> 00:25:59.699 you're still going 00:25:59.699 --> 00:26:00.319 to miss some 00:26:00.319 --> 00:26:02.599 because we've got 00:26:02.599 --> 00:26:03.319 so good at it 00:26:03.319 --> 00:26:04.079 we don't even recognize 00:26:04.079 --> 00:26:04.500 him anymore. 00:26:05.720 --> 00:26:06.359 And that's why 00:26:06.359 --> 00:26:07.220 I like the second part 00:26:07.220 --> 00:26:07.839 of that passage. 00:26:07.839 --> 00:26:09.399 that if we confess 00:26:09.399 --> 00:26:09.740 our sins, 00:26:09.819 --> 00:26:10.619 he's faithful and just 00:26:10.619 --> 00:26:11.059 to forgive us 00:26:11.059 --> 00:26:11.419 of our sins 00:26:11.419 --> 00:26:12.019 and listen to this 00:26:12.019 --> 00:26:13.099 and to cleanse us 00:26:13.099 --> 00:26:14.359 from all unrighteousness. 00:26:15.559 --> 00:26:16.139 That means 00:26:16.139 --> 00:26:16.759 if we're sincere 00:26:16.759 --> 00:26:17.399 on the front end, 00:26:17.799 --> 00:26:18.399 he'll clean up 00:26:18.399 --> 00:26:19.039 the rest of it. 00:26:19.179 --> 00:26:20.240 He'll clean the slate. 00:26:20.519 --> 00:26:21.339 And once he does, 00:26:21.419 --> 00:26:21.679 my friend, 00:26:21.799 --> 00:26:23.259 that's all under 00:26:23.259 --> 00:26:24.759 the blood of Christ. 00:26:24.939 --> 00:26:26.299 It's all gone. 00:26:26.500 --> 00:26:27.059 It's gone. 00:26:27.480 --> 00:26:28.039 Now listen, 00:26:28.159 --> 00:26:28.959 the accuser 00:26:28.959 --> 00:26:30.279 will bring it back up. 00:26:31.579 --> 00:26:32.720 It's kind of like reflux, 00:26:32.980 --> 00:26:33.279 you know. 00:26:35.379 --> 00:26:36.819 Whatever has been consumed 00:26:36.819 --> 00:26:37.759 and is now gone, 00:26:37.839 --> 00:26:38.839 he'll bring back up 00:26:38.839 --> 00:26:39.399 and it'll burn 00:26:39.399 --> 00:26:40.179 when he does. 00:26:41.000 --> 00:26:41.799 It's what he does. 00:26:41.879 --> 00:26:42.579 The accuser 00:26:42.579 --> 00:26:44.319 will whisper in your ear 00:26:44.319 --> 00:26:46.279 that God did not forgive you. 00:26:46.559 --> 00:26:47.859 He'll whisper in your ear 00:26:47.859 --> 00:26:48.519 that you're just going 00:26:48.519 --> 00:26:49.480 to go on and do it again. 00:26:49.759 --> 00:26:51.059 He'll whisper in your ear 00:26:51.059 --> 00:26:52.720 that you'll never be right again. 00:26:53.099 --> 00:26:54.319 And if you listen to that 00:26:54.319 --> 00:26:55.000 and if you don't take 00:26:55.000 --> 00:26:56.000 those thoughts captive 00:26:56.000 --> 00:26:56.980 for the Lord Jesus Christ, 00:26:57.240 --> 00:26:58.159 he'll be right. 00:26:58.339 --> 00:26:59.240 He'll be right. 00:27:00.500 --> 00:27:00.939 However, 00:27:01.059 --> 00:27:01.779 by the blood 00:27:01.779 --> 00:27:03.299 that Christ shed on Calvary, 00:27:03.500 --> 00:27:04.439 you don't have to listen 00:27:04.439 --> 00:27:05.259 to that mess. 00:27:05.259 --> 00:27:07.960 He is just the accuser. 00:27:08.440 --> 00:27:10.000 He always points blame. 00:27:10.319 --> 00:27:11.279 He whispers sweet 00:27:11.279 --> 00:27:12.259 nothings in your ear. 00:27:12.460 --> 00:27:13.059 He'll flatten 00:27:13.059 --> 00:27:14.339 your spiritual tires. 00:27:14.859 --> 00:27:15.920 He hates your joy 00:27:15.920 --> 00:27:16.460 in the Lord 00:27:16.460 --> 00:27:18.220 and he'll fight it 00:27:18.220 --> 00:27:18.920 for all it's worth. 00:27:19.980 --> 00:27:20.839 He'll accuse you 00:27:20.839 --> 00:27:21.920 and try to destroy you 00:27:21.920 --> 00:27:23.200 and then try to take down 00:27:23.200 --> 00:27:23.980 others with you. 00:27:24.200 --> 00:27:25.519 Don't fall for that junk. 00:27:26.539 --> 00:27:27.519 He's not worth it. 00:27:28.740 --> 00:27:30.740 He's the God of filth 00:27:30.740 --> 00:27:34.140 and he'll bring it around us 00:27:34.140 --> 00:27:35.500 to try to attract us to it. 00:27:37.039 --> 00:27:38.640 He is belial. 00:27:38.920 --> 00:27:39.519 He's worthless. 00:27:41.539 --> 00:27:42.680 He's the tempter. 00:27:43.779 --> 00:27:45.039 He's the accuser. 00:27:46.640 --> 00:27:47.799 And he at least wants 00:27:47.799 --> 00:27:49.500 to throw you off course. 00:27:51.240 --> 00:27:52.480 He wants to lead us 00:27:52.480 --> 00:27:54.559 to waste our life away. 00:27:54.559 --> 00:27:57.419 He wants to lead us 00:27:57.419 --> 00:27:58.899 to even ruin our lives. 00:28:02.839 --> 00:28:03.740 And if you think 00:28:03.740 --> 00:28:04.619 nobody understands 00:28:04.619 --> 00:28:05.319 what I go through, 00:28:06.059 --> 00:28:08.579 I'm the first one 00:28:08.579 --> 00:28:09.059 to experience 00:28:09.059 --> 00:28:09.960 what I've dealt with. 00:28:12.019 --> 00:28:13.519 I'm sorry to do this to you. 00:28:14.579 --> 00:28:16.179 But 1 Corinthians 10, 13 00:28:16.179 --> 00:28:16.819 says this. 00:28:16.819 --> 00:28:18.740 No temptation 00:28:18.740 --> 00:28:19.919 has overtaken you 00:28:19.919 --> 00:28:21.579 except what is common 00:28:21.579 --> 00:28:22.159 to man. 00:28:23.460 --> 00:28:24.279 God is faithful 00:28:24.279 --> 00:28:26.339 and he will not let you 00:28:26.339 --> 00:28:26.759 be tempted 00:28:26.759 --> 00:28:27.759 beyond your ability 00:28:27.759 --> 00:28:29.319 but with the temptation 00:28:29.319 --> 00:28:31.339 he will also provide 00:28:31.339 --> 00:28:32.220 a way out of escape 00:28:32.220 --> 00:28:33.379 that you may be able 00:28:33.379 --> 00:28:35.319 to endure it. 00:28:36.319 --> 00:28:36.879 Let me go back 00:28:36.879 --> 00:28:37.919 to what I referenced earlier. 00:28:38.079 --> 00:28:39.460 James 4 verse 7 00:28:39.460 --> 00:28:41.079 Resist the devil 00:28:41.079 --> 00:28:42.439 and he'll flee from you. 00:28:43.759 --> 00:28:44.539 I want to remind you 00:28:44.539 --> 00:28:45.319 what I said about that 00:28:45.319 --> 00:28:46.220 when I first said that. 00:28:46.819 --> 00:28:48.119 He might only flee 00:28:48.119 --> 00:28:48.679 for a minute. 00:28:48.799 --> 00:28:49.399 He may come back 00:28:49.399 --> 00:28:50.059 the next minute. 00:28:51.159 --> 00:28:51.720 Resist him. 00:28:52.819 --> 00:28:53.819 He might come back 00:28:53.819 --> 00:28:54.539 another three minutes. 00:28:54.659 --> 00:28:55.200 Resist him. 00:28:55.899 --> 00:28:56.700 He may come back 00:28:56.700 --> 00:28:57.299 another five minutes. 00:28:57.399 --> 00:28:58.039 Resist him. 00:28:58.919 --> 00:28:59.839 He may come back 00:28:59.839 --> 00:29:00.179 in two hours. 00:29:00.339 --> 00:29:01.039 Resist him. 00:29:02.859 --> 00:29:03.500 Resist him. 00:29:06.200 --> 00:29:07.759 He'll change his ploy. 00:29:11.079 --> 00:29:12.500 He'll try something different 00:29:12.500 --> 00:29:14.899 if it don't work on you. 00:29:14.900 --> 00:29:18.580 But you resist him. 00:29:21.580 --> 00:29:23.040 Specialist Jeff Lewis 00:29:23.040 --> 00:29:25.920 was a supply clerk 00:29:25.920 --> 00:29:27.480 in the year 2000 00:29:27.480 --> 00:29:30.640 for the elite 82nd 00:29:30.640 --> 00:29:31.840 Airborne Division 00:29:31.840 --> 00:29:34.060 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. 00:29:35.560 --> 00:29:36.940 And he was shocked 00:29:36.940 --> 00:29:38.100 when he got the command 00:29:38.100 --> 00:29:38.840 to participate 00:29:38.840 --> 00:29:40.380 in a parachute jump. 00:29:40.380 --> 00:29:42.540 He had never trained 00:29:42.540 --> 00:29:43.020 to do it. 00:29:44.300 --> 00:29:45.660 It was a clerical error. 00:29:47.060 --> 00:29:48.520 But he fell into the ranks, 00:29:49.880 --> 00:29:50.960 got his equipment, 00:29:52.500 --> 00:29:53.340 boarded the plane, 00:29:54.640 --> 00:29:55.760 jumped out of the plane, 00:29:57.060 --> 00:29:58.100 landed on the ground, 00:29:58.440 --> 00:30:00.500 shaken but unhurt. 00:30:00.500 --> 00:30:03.099 And afterwards, 00:30:03.259 --> 00:30:04.319 they realized their error. 00:30:05.960 --> 00:30:06.839 And they asked him, 00:30:06.859 --> 00:30:07.700 why'd you do that? 00:30:10.339 --> 00:30:11.259 He said he was doing 00:30:11.259 --> 00:30:11.720 what a soldier 00:30:11.720 --> 00:30:12.559 was supposed to do. 00:30:14.900 --> 00:30:16.279 He was obeying orders. 00:30:18.259 --> 00:30:19.160 This is what he said. 00:30:20.299 --> 00:30:20.859 He said, 00:30:20.920 --> 00:30:21.579 the army said 00:30:21.579 --> 00:30:22.799 I was airborne qualified. 00:30:23.460 --> 00:30:24.619 I wasn't going to question it. 00:30:24.619 --> 00:30:27.079 I had a job to do. 00:30:28.319 --> 00:30:29.339 And I had to believe 00:30:29.339 --> 00:30:30.099 in what I was doing. 00:30:32.979 --> 00:30:34.500 May his tribe increase. 00:30:36.679 --> 00:30:37.419 May we, 00:30:37.659 --> 00:30:38.539 in the same way, 00:30:39.959 --> 00:30:41.099 stand up for Christ 00:30:41.099 --> 00:30:43.799 and all the temptation 00:30:43.799 --> 00:30:45.959 that we face. 00:30:46.059 --> 00:30:46.359 Preacher, 00:30:46.559 --> 00:30:49.199 I don't know how to do that. 00:30:52.739 --> 00:30:53.679 You don't have to. 00:30:54.619 --> 00:30:57.199 You have to know the one 00:30:57.199 --> 00:30:59.079 that knows how to do it 00:30:59.079 --> 00:31:02.239 and rely upon him 00:31:02.239 --> 00:31:04.399 constantly. 00:31:05.179 --> 00:31:06.179 I'm going to say it. 00:31:06.639 --> 00:31:08.539 Be dependent upon him 00:31:08.539 --> 00:31:11.000 constantly. 00:31:12.439 --> 00:31:14.479 And he will walk you through 00:31:14.479 --> 00:31:17.199 the mess that the evil one 00:31:17.199 --> 00:31:19.419 tries to throw at you. 00:31:21.839 --> 00:31:23.439 Now you won't have the help 00:31:23.440 --> 00:31:24.700 of the Holy Spirit of God 00:31:24.700 --> 00:31:27.240 unless you know 00:31:27.240 --> 00:31:28.680 the Lord Jesus personally 00:31:28.680 --> 00:31:30.160 as your personal Lord and Savior. 00:31:31.519 --> 00:31:32.580 That does not come 00:31:32.580 --> 00:31:33.460 by church attendance. 00:31:33.640 --> 00:31:34.279 It does not come 00:31:34.279 --> 00:31:35.380 by church affiliation. 00:31:35.900 --> 00:31:37.840 It comes by a personal surrender 00:31:37.840 --> 00:31:39.120 to the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:31:39.680 --> 00:31:40.799 Lord, I know I'm a sinner. 00:31:41.519 --> 00:31:42.640 I ask you to forgive me 00:31:42.640 --> 00:31:43.200 of my sins 00:31:43.200 --> 00:31:44.059 and from this day forward 00:31:44.059 --> 00:31:45.200 I commit my life 00:31:45.200 --> 00:31:46.799 to follow you 00:31:46.799 --> 00:31:48.059 completely. 00:31:49.120 --> 00:31:50.360 Or as Jesus told 00:31:50.360 --> 00:31:51.299 those early disciples, 00:31:51.299 --> 00:31:52.299 come follow me. 00:31:52.680 --> 00:31:53.759 And they just dropped 00:31:53.759 --> 00:31:54.339 what they had 00:31:54.339 --> 00:31:55.339 and went and followed him. 00:31:57.720 --> 00:31:58.579 If you don't know 00:31:58.579 --> 00:31:59.779 the Lord today personally, 00:32:00.180 --> 00:32:01.240 you need to drop 00:32:01.240 --> 00:32:01.919 what you're doing 00:32:01.919 --> 00:32:03.720 and come follow him. 00:32:04.940 --> 00:32:06.119 Give him your life. 00:32:07.419 --> 00:32:09.680 He'll not only provide you 00:32:09.680 --> 00:32:10.799 an eternity with him, 00:32:11.180 --> 00:32:12.379 but there'll be an uptick 00:32:12.379 --> 00:32:13.200 in your life, 00:32:14.299 --> 00:32:17.259 a difference in eternal life. 00:32:17.299 --> 00:32:17.879 Because eternal life 00:32:17.879 --> 00:32:18.720 don't start when we die. 00:32:18.720 --> 00:32:19.500 It starts when we give 00:32:19.500 --> 00:32:20.319 our life to Christ. 00:32:24.079 --> 00:32:25.059 Maybe you're here this morning 00:32:25.059 --> 00:32:25.960 and you have done that, 00:32:26.019 --> 00:32:26.519 but you've never 00:32:26.519 --> 00:32:27.620 acknowledged that publicly. 00:32:29.259 --> 00:32:30.519 Jesus, by his example 00:32:30.519 --> 00:32:31.420 and by his commission, 00:32:31.559 --> 00:32:32.380 tells us that the 00:32:32.380 --> 00:32:33.400 first step of obedience 00:32:33.400 --> 00:32:34.220 is to follow that 00:32:34.220 --> 00:32:34.839 with baptism, 00:32:35.000 --> 00:32:36.720 to physically do that 00:32:36.720 --> 00:32:37.620 in front of others, 00:32:37.700 --> 00:32:38.720 to let them know spiritually 00:32:38.720 --> 00:32:39.680 what happened to you 00:32:39.680 --> 00:32:40.620 privately. 00:32:42.100 --> 00:32:43.360 And if you've never done that, 00:32:43.380 --> 00:32:43.980 I promise you 00:32:43.980 --> 00:32:44.620 it'll be a hindrance 00:32:44.620 --> 00:32:45.380 in your life 00:32:45.380 --> 00:32:47.180 because you missed 00:32:47.180 --> 00:32:47.920 a simple step 00:32:47.920 --> 00:32:48.860 to start out with. 00:32:51.140 --> 00:32:52.280 I encourage you, 00:32:52.620 --> 00:32:53.740 you've never done that, 00:32:53.820 --> 00:32:54.140 to come. 00:32:54.680 --> 00:32:55.200 Maybe you're here 00:32:55.200 --> 00:32:55.920 and God's leading you 00:32:55.920 --> 00:32:56.300 to be a part 00:32:56.300 --> 00:32:57.360 of First Baptist Church. 00:32:59.180 --> 00:33:00.020 God's moving 00:33:00.020 --> 00:33:01.140 and working in our midst 00:33:01.140 --> 00:33:02.140 and I'm thankful for that. 00:33:02.240 --> 00:33:03.240 And if you feel like 00:33:03.240 --> 00:33:03.880 God's leading you 00:33:03.880 --> 00:33:04.320 to be a part 00:33:04.320 --> 00:33:05.000 of this congregation, 00:33:05.300 --> 00:33:05.620 you come. 00:33:05.720 --> 00:33:07.060 I'd love to guide you 00:33:07.060 --> 00:33:07.820 in that process 00:33:07.820 --> 00:33:08.780 of what that means. 00:33:09.860 --> 00:33:10.600 Or maybe you're here 00:33:10.599 --> 00:33:11.059 this morning 00:33:11.059 --> 00:33:11.679 and you're just 00:33:11.679 --> 00:33:12.659 war-torn. 00:33:15.119 --> 00:33:15.919 You've got stuff 00:33:15.919 --> 00:33:16.480 in your life 00:33:16.480 --> 00:33:17.519 that you're ashamed of. 00:33:18.980 --> 00:33:19.839 You've got stuff 00:33:19.839 --> 00:33:20.359 in your life 00:33:20.359 --> 00:33:21.719 that you beat down about. 00:33:23.559 --> 00:33:24.319 You've got stuff 00:33:24.319 --> 00:33:24.839 in your life 00:33:24.839 --> 00:33:25.759 that you need God 00:33:25.759 --> 00:33:27.299 to intervene in. 00:33:28.819 --> 00:33:29.639 And I'm thankful 00:33:29.639 --> 00:33:30.299 that when you call 00:33:30.299 --> 00:33:31.059 upon His name, 00:33:31.419 --> 00:33:32.099 He'll meet you 00:33:32.099 --> 00:33:32.639 where you are. 00:33:33.740 --> 00:33:34.359 You can do that 00:33:34.359 --> 00:33:35.199 where you stand 00:33:35.199 --> 00:33:36.019 in just a moment 00:33:36.019 --> 00:33:36.639 or you can do it 00:33:36.639 --> 00:33:37.279 at this altar. 00:33:37.919 --> 00:33:38.819 If you want a pastor 00:33:38.819 --> 00:33:39.399 to pray with you, 00:33:39.400 --> 00:33:39.940 I'll be happy 00:33:39.940 --> 00:33:40.800 to pray with you. 00:33:41.680 --> 00:33:42.940 I have no idea 00:33:42.940 --> 00:33:43.900 what God's telling you 00:33:43.900 --> 00:33:44.300 to do, 00:33:44.640 --> 00:33:45.280 but I know 00:33:45.280 --> 00:33:46.100 you'll never 00:33:46.100 --> 00:33:47.220 be satisfied 00:33:47.220 --> 00:33:49.060 unless you follow 00:33:49.060 --> 00:33:49.680 Him completely. 00:33:51.400 --> 00:33:52.259 Let's pray together. 00:33:53.400 --> 00:33:54.080 Lord Jesus, 00:33:54.220 --> 00:33:55.160 I ask today 00:33:55.160 --> 00:33:56.720 that You'll work 00:33:56.720 --> 00:33:57.280 and You'll move 00:33:57.280 --> 00:33:57.920 in our lives, 00:33:57.980 --> 00:33:58.259 that Lord, 00:33:58.320 --> 00:33:59.360 You'll speak to us 00:33:59.360 --> 00:34:00.820 not audibly, 00:34:01.220 --> 00:34:02.200 louder than that, 00:34:02.460 --> 00:34:03.440 in our own heart. 00:34:04.660 --> 00:34:05.600 Compel us, Lord, 00:34:06.380 --> 00:34:07.100 to know exactly 00:34:07.100 --> 00:34:08.000 what You would have us 00:34:08.000 --> 00:34:08.880 to do and help us 00:34:08.880 --> 00:34:09.800 to not be satisfied 00:34:09.800 --> 00:34:10.280 with anything 00:34:10.280 --> 00:34:11.160 less than that, God. 00:34:11.660 --> 00:34:12.860 Help us to obey You 00:34:12.860 --> 00:34:13.900 right now, 00:34:13.980 --> 00:34:14.740 oh God, I pray 00:34:14.740 --> 00:34:16.860 in Jesus' precious name. 00:34:17.059 --> 00:34:17.320 Amen.