WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.640 I mean, we cover up our cynicism with jokes, and we cover up our despair with smiles and 00:00:06.640 --> 00:00:07.960 maybe singing a praise song. 00:00:08.339 --> 00:00:14.040 But, you know, there's many, many, many people who say to themselves as they think about 00:00:14.040 --> 00:00:18.780 texts like this, because it's a text that many Christians have memorized, and they'll 00:00:18.780 --> 00:00:25.699 say things like, you know, George, I struggle time and time and time again with pornography, 00:00:25.699 --> 00:00:33.780 and I cry out to God, I ask him to help me, I ask him to deliver me from looking at it, 00:00:33.780 --> 00:00:39.899 and I know it's wrong, and I can't seem to get any victory over it whatsoever. 00:00:41.259 --> 00:00:42.519 Just absolutely none. 00:00:44.420 --> 00:00:50.579 Or maybe you say, you know, George, I know that in my office I keep getting into trouble because 00:00:50.579 --> 00:00:52.200 I have a really sharp tongue. 00:00:52.200 --> 00:01:00.460 I can't seem to help making sarcastic, put-down comments that just insults people. 00:01:01.460 --> 00:01:06.400 And I know it's wrong, and I, you know, I try to, you know, ask for God's help, and I pray 00:01:06.400 --> 00:01:10.240 about it, and then I, but I get into the office, I know I shouldn't do it, and before I know 00:01:10.240 --> 00:01:11.020 it, there you go. 00:01:11.359 --> 00:01:13.280 I just can't, it seems like I can't help myself. 00:01:13.400 --> 00:01:16.859 The zingers just keep coming, and I keep hurting people all around. 00:01:16.859 --> 00:01:22.819 Or maybe some of you say, you know, George, I'm in a relationship, and I know that I shouldn't 00:01:22.819 --> 00:01:27.980 harbor resentment, and I, you know, I know I shouldn't harbor resentment, and I know I 00:01:27.980 --> 00:01:32.700 shouldn't be bitter, and it seems to be going fine, and all of a sudden I can start to feel 00:01:32.700 --> 00:01:36.659 it building up, and I, there's so many times, George, I prayed about this that I wouldn't 00:01:36.659 --> 00:01:40.219 experience this resentment and bitterness, and it just doesn't go away. 00:01:40.219 --> 00:01:42.539 Like, it just does not go away. 00:01:43.599 --> 00:01:50.680 I just succumb to it, and get deeply enmeshed in this resentment and bitterness, and I just 00:01:50.680 --> 00:01:53.719 don't seem to have any victory over it, you know, whatsoever. 00:01:55.500 --> 00:02:00.759 Or you say, you know, George, I know I shouldn't be as angry as I am. 00:02:00.960 --> 00:02:07.939 I, you know, I get talking to my, you know, at work with my wife, and I don't know, it gets 00:02:07.939 --> 00:02:13.900 onto a topic of politics or something, like, it's always stupid, George, but I just, I know 00:02:13.900 --> 00:02:18.300 I shouldn't have these angry outbursts and all, but I get into it, and before you know 00:02:18.300 --> 00:02:22.879 it, I'm just, I'm just angry, and I'm just venting, and I've prayed about it for years. 00:02:23.379 --> 00:02:28.400 I've taken this text, I've talked about, to God about this text, and it just seems to never 00:02:28.400 --> 00:02:30.599 have any help whatsoever. 00:02:30.599 --> 00:02:36.919 However, I just, you know, and so for many of us, when we see a text like this, it just, 00:02:37.180 --> 00:02:44.240 it profoundly discourages us because of the lack of change over certain besetting sins 00:02:44.240 --> 00:02:44.919 in our lives. 00:02:45.659 --> 00:02:49.799 And not only does it discourage many of us, many of us just don't get discouraged. 00:02:49.900 --> 00:02:56.039 We get a little bit cynical just about it, that it's, I don't know, that it's just religious 00:02:56.039 --> 00:03:00.780 talk, it's just all blah, blah, blah, yada, yada, yada, it doesn't really mean anything. 00:03:02.359 --> 00:03:04.159 It's just something to put us down. 00:03:04.620 --> 00:03:07.459 And, or others of us just even wonder if we're real Christians. 00:03:08.459 --> 00:03:11.280 Like, why is it that other people seem to have the victory? 00:03:11.459 --> 00:03:15.299 Why is it I listen to radio shows or look at books, and they talk about these things, 00:03:15.519 --> 00:03:19.840 and they seem to have some type of victory over it, and it just, it doesn't happen to 00:03:19.840 --> 00:03:20.439 me whatsoever. 00:03:20.819 --> 00:03:23.459 So, I don't know, George, like, maybe I'm not even a real Christian. 00:03:23.460 --> 00:03:26.300 Or I'm just a real terrible one. 00:03:28.420 --> 00:03:32.659 So, on one hand, a text of the Bible, which should be giving us a lot of comfort and a 00:03:32.659 --> 00:03:40.080 lot of help and a lot of direction, for many of us, it just becomes a big boulder that we're 00:03:40.080 --> 00:03:45.659 carrying around, or a big cloud of darkness and rain over our heads. 00:03:47.240 --> 00:03:51.060 And so, many of us will often just try to deal with it by forgetting about the text. 00:03:51.060 --> 00:03:55.099 In fact, I don't know, maybe some of you, your heart sank when you saw this was the 00:03:55.099 --> 00:03:59.680 text I was going to sit, talk about, because you're thinking to yourself, okay, this has 00:03:59.680 --> 00:04:00.659 never worked for me. 00:04:00.740 --> 00:04:04.439 Now, after the service, I'm going to have to go out and smile over coffee as if everything's 00:04:04.439 --> 00:04:04.840 fine. 00:04:06.120 --> 00:04:07.300 But it's not fine. 00:04:08.699 --> 00:04:11.759 I had those problems this morning, even before I came to church. 00:04:13.699 --> 00:04:15.319 So, we're going to look at that and talk about it. 00:04:15.439 --> 00:04:16.600 So, let's just read the text. 00:04:16.680 --> 00:04:17.800 Could you put the text up again? 00:04:17.800 --> 00:04:22.079 You want to read it with me again, because it's just really important that we have the 00:04:22.079 --> 00:04:26.620 text in our scripture and we sort of see what's not there and what is there and what it says 00:04:26.620 --> 00:04:31.439 and what it doesn't say and why it says what it says and how it actually, in fact, is both 00:04:31.439 --> 00:04:39.960 a profound analysis of the human heart and rather than being cynical or despairing or a burden, 00:04:39.959 --> 00:04:49.479 it is a profound promise of help that's worth us to memorize and to launch into a journey to try to 00:04:49.479 --> 00:04:52.519 have a conversation with God and to live it. 00:04:52.759 --> 00:04:54.659 So, if you could read it with me again, that would be great. 00:04:54.740 --> 00:04:56.839 It's verses 12 and 13 of 1 Corinthians. 00:04:57.319 --> 00:04:58.079 Read it out loud. 00:04:58.079 --> 00:05:22.579 So, here's the first thing. 00:05:22.579 --> 00:05:25.240 In light of all those different things which I just, you know, said. 00:05:25.639 --> 00:05:26.579 So, here's the first thing. 00:05:27.539 --> 00:05:29.399 Just ask yourself a bit of a question. 00:05:29.539 --> 00:05:32.539 What are you going to be like when God's finished with you? 00:05:33.939 --> 00:05:36.139 I mean, what are you going to be like when God's finished with you? 00:05:37.919 --> 00:05:42.299 You know, the way the Christian faith works is we live in the already not yet. 00:05:42.599 --> 00:05:47.699 Like, we come to trust that God is the one who's provided everything that needs to be done 00:05:47.699 --> 00:05:51.800 to make us right with him, that God has done it all through the person of his son. 00:05:52.539 --> 00:05:57.560 That it's, that Jesus is the one who deals with all the wrong things that we've ever done 00:05:57.560 --> 00:06:00.819 and any type of penalty or judgment that that deserves, 00:06:01.259 --> 00:06:04.180 any type of doom that comes from all the bad things that we've done 00:06:04.180 --> 00:06:05.599 and all the bad things that we will do, 00:06:05.939 --> 00:06:08.180 we believe that Jesus has dealt with that. 00:06:08.539 --> 00:06:10.060 That's what he dies on the cross for. 00:06:10.060 --> 00:06:13.980 And we also believe that, you know, our inability to live a perfect life 00:06:13.980 --> 00:06:16.339 and to sort of have a right standing with God, 00:06:16.339 --> 00:06:18.419 that that actually comes to us as well. 00:06:18.500 --> 00:06:20.560 That comes to us as a gift of faith through Jesus. 00:06:21.239 --> 00:06:24.519 And that when we come to faith in Jesus, 00:06:24.679 --> 00:06:29.339 when we call out to God to save us and we put our trust in Jesus, 00:06:29.539 --> 00:06:31.239 that he really does save us. 00:06:31.299 --> 00:06:34.159 And the Holy Spirit comes and indwells us. 00:06:34.339 --> 00:06:35.659 And we're born again. 00:06:36.019 --> 00:06:37.179 We're given a new life. 00:06:37.179 --> 00:06:39.979 We become God's adopted children by grace. 00:06:40.479 --> 00:06:44.039 We become citizens of a new kingdom, of the kingdom of heaven, 00:06:44.040 --> 00:06:49.120 with God as our king and God as our father and Jesus as our elder brother 00:06:49.120 --> 00:06:54.939 and our savior and our Lord and the Holy Spirit as that powerful person working within us. 00:06:55.020 --> 00:06:56.500 And that's what actually happens. 00:06:56.660 --> 00:07:00.259 But, you know, God isn't finished with us yet. 00:07:01.040 --> 00:07:05.100 We have all of those faithful promises, but, you know, we still sin. 00:07:05.100 --> 00:07:08.200 We do different things, but there will come an end. 00:07:08.340 --> 00:07:10.420 Like, what is it going to look like when it's all finished? 00:07:10.420 --> 00:07:16.560 Well, I know that often, you know, they talk about it as if we're all going to be like little plump, 00:07:16.699 --> 00:07:24.819 plump little angels with tiny little wings, plucking harps, boring or just weird. 00:07:25.280 --> 00:07:28.200 Like if that's sort of what your desire is for the end of days, 00:07:28.200 --> 00:07:32.400 to look like that with a little harp fluttering around, like that's just weird. 00:07:33.660 --> 00:07:36.100 I used to know a Roman Catholic priest. 00:07:36.100 --> 00:07:39.220 He's now gone to be with the Lord. 00:07:39.320 --> 00:07:42.620 He was in a place called Wilno, which is this top of a mountain. 00:07:42.780 --> 00:07:43.660 It's very, very Polish. 00:07:43.900 --> 00:07:46.400 Ottawa's, Canada's first Polish community. 00:07:46.980 --> 00:07:50.080 And he used to say, his name was Archie Afelski. 00:07:50.340 --> 00:07:51.420 And he could get away with it. 00:07:51.460 --> 00:07:53.100 He was a big, jovial man. 00:07:53.160 --> 00:07:55.020 And he used to say to the women in his church, 00:07:55.480 --> 00:07:58.560 who were always, you know, pestering him about his weight and about this. 00:07:58.600 --> 00:08:00.100 He was a big, big, jovial guy. 00:08:00.100 --> 00:08:04.360 And he used to say to the women, she'd say, you women are all like angels. 00:08:04.939 --> 00:08:07.200 Harpen around a man all day long. 00:08:07.320 --> 00:08:08.900 Just harpen at him all day long. 00:08:09.920 --> 00:08:13.780 And anyway, he could get away with it somehow or another. 00:08:14.180 --> 00:08:15.200 I couldn't, I'm sure. 00:08:15.600 --> 00:08:17.120 But anyway, so what's the end of all things? 00:08:17.300 --> 00:08:21.640 You know, if you go back to Genesis chapter 2 and the first part of Genesis 3, 00:08:21.740 --> 00:08:26.500 it gives you a very, very simple picture of what it would be like when Jesus has come back. 00:08:26.580 --> 00:08:29.439 There's a new heaven and there's a new earth and we have resurrection bodies. 00:08:29.439 --> 00:08:32.840 And in Genesis 2 and Genesis 3, we see what it would be like, 00:08:32.899 --> 00:08:34.960 what it's going to be like when God is finished with us. 00:08:35.279 --> 00:08:36.759 And when God is finished with us, 00:08:36.779 --> 00:08:41.340 we will be able to stand before God in the company of other redeemed human beings 00:08:41.340 --> 00:08:43.100 and we will be naked and unashamed. 00:08:44.639 --> 00:08:47.759 And we will walk with God in the cool of the garden, 00:08:47.840 --> 00:08:50.480 in the cool of the evening, with the cool of the breeze. 00:08:50.960 --> 00:08:53.639 And we will be naked and we will be unashamed. 00:08:54.659 --> 00:08:57.120 And we will be naked and unashamed before each other 00:08:57.120 --> 00:08:59.179 and we will be naked and unashamed before God. 00:08:59.179 --> 00:09:01.159 and we will know his pleasure. 00:09:02.179 --> 00:09:03.539 And we will have spent the day 00:09:03.539 --> 00:09:04.859 not just walking all day, 00:09:04.939 --> 00:09:06.019 but we will have spent the day 00:09:06.019 --> 00:09:07.939 making music, dancing dances, 00:09:08.179 --> 00:09:08.859 tending the garden, 00:09:09.379 --> 00:09:10.519 building buildings, 00:09:11.779 --> 00:09:12.919 tending and caring 00:09:12.919 --> 00:09:15.739 and creating on the earth 00:09:15.739 --> 00:09:17.599 and the creation that God has made for us. 00:09:17.939 --> 00:09:19.719 And we will do that all together 00:09:19.719 --> 00:09:22.099 and by ourselves in wonderful harmony, 00:09:22.299 --> 00:09:23.439 naked and unashamed, 00:09:24.120 --> 00:09:25.759 and always end the day 00:09:25.759 --> 00:09:28.240 walking with God in the cool of the evening 00:09:28.240 --> 00:09:29.259 in the cool of the breeze, 00:09:29.379 --> 00:09:30.360 naked and unashamed, 00:09:30.879 --> 00:09:31.700 knowing his favor. 00:09:33.200 --> 00:09:34.299 That's what it will be like 00:09:34.299 --> 00:09:35.200 when God is finished 00:09:35.200 --> 00:09:36.960 with those who have put their faith 00:09:36.960 --> 00:09:37.860 and trust in Jesus. 00:09:39.740 --> 00:09:41.639 So if we know what it's like, 00:09:41.720 --> 00:09:43.399 if we just remember for a little bit 00:09:43.399 --> 00:09:45.659 that God is faithful 00:09:45.659 --> 00:09:49.100 and that's what we will end up as. 00:09:50.200 --> 00:09:51.700 And he is faithful. 00:09:52.279 --> 00:09:53.879 That's what we will end up as. 00:09:54.659 --> 00:09:56.320 Then it helps us to understand 00:09:56.320 --> 00:09:58.940 part of our big problem with this verse. 00:10:00.200 --> 00:10:00.960 Because you see, 00:10:01.040 --> 00:10:02.980 part of our big problem with this verse 00:10:02.980 --> 00:10:05.260 is we sort of read the verse 00:10:05.260 --> 00:10:06.040 and we say, 00:10:06.240 --> 00:10:07.200 yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. 00:10:07.900 --> 00:10:09.280 But what we don't want 00:10:09.280 --> 00:10:10.780 is what the verse talks about. 00:10:10.879 --> 00:10:12.560 What we want is, 00:10:12.920 --> 00:10:14.520 let's use the example of the fact 00:10:14.520 --> 00:10:15.660 that we go to work 00:10:15.660 --> 00:10:17.080 and we know that we shouldn't be 00:10:17.080 --> 00:10:20.480 making snarky, put-down insults, 00:10:20.900 --> 00:10:21.300 zingers, 00:10:21.299 --> 00:10:21.899 zingers, 00:10:21.899 --> 00:10:22.419 constantly. 00:10:23.179 --> 00:10:24.539 That's our superpower. 00:10:25.719 --> 00:10:25.959 You know, 00:10:26.139 --> 00:10:28.039 insulting zingers 00:10:28.039 --> 00:10:29.719 that get beneath the skin 00:10:29.719 --> 00:10:30.839 and the armor of people 00:10:30.839 --> 00:10:32.099 to really get them. 00:10:33.299 --> 00:10:34.599 And you know what we want? 00:10:34.839 --> 00:10:35.839 Is we want 00:10:35.839 --> 00:10:36.899 that we pray 00:10:36.899 --> 00:10:38.120 as we're going to work 00:10:38.120 --> 00:10:39.379 and what we're hoping 00:10:39.379 --> 00:10:40.979 is that God will screw in 00:10:40.979 --> 00:10:43.419 little islets 00:10:43.419 --> 00:10:45.359 in different parts of our body, 00:10:45.459 --> 00:10:46.500 especially in our jaw, 00:10:46.719 --> 00:10:48.179 and we become like a puppet, 00:10:49.179 --> 00:10:50.000 a marionette. 00:10:50.000 --> 00:10:51.480 And as soon as we walk 00:10:51.480 --> 00:10:52.200 into the work, 00:10:52.379 --> 00:10:53.740 we just sort of float around 00:10:53.740 --> 00:10:54.460 and God's doing 00:10:54.460 --> 00:10:55.340 all of the controls 00:10:55.340 --> 00:10:56.820 and he's controlling our mouth. 00:10:58.039 --> 00:10:59.100 And we just, 00:10:59.240 --> 00:10:59.659 all of a sudden, 00:10:59.679 --> 00:11:00.460 he takes complete 00:11:00.460 --> 00:11:01.519 and utter control 00:11:01.519 --> 00:11:03.500 because he's done that 00:11:03.500 --> 00:11:04.299 and all of a sudden 00:11:04.299 --> 00:11:05.600 we just say perfect things, 00:11:05.659 --> 00:11:06.860 we don't say bad things. 00:11:07.240 --> 00:11:07.980 And then because 00:11:07.980 --> 00:11:08.740 we're at the end of the day 00:11:08.740 --> 00:11:09.379 we're human beings 00:11:09.379 --> 00:11:10.100 who don't want that, 00:11:10.139 --> 00:11:11.120 as soon as we leave work, 00:11:11.159 --> 00:11:12.600 we want God to snip all the wires 00:11:12.600 --> 00:11:13.080 so we can go, 00:11:13.179 --> 00:11:14.960 okay, back to normal life. 00:11:16.820 --> 00:11:18.620 And we want to alternate 00:11:18.620 --> 00:11:19.440 back and forth 00:11:19.440 --> 00:11:20.840 between being like a puppet 00:11:20.840 --> 00:11:21.580 where God takes 00:11:21.580 --> 00:11:23.140 complete and utter control of us 00:11:23.140 --> 00:11:25.320 and going back 00:11:25.320 --> 00:11:25.960 to where we have 00:11:25.960 --> 00:11:27.080 complete and utter control. 00:11:28.000 --> 00:11:28.740 But remember, 00:11:28.940 --> 00:11:29.840 what is it that God 00:11:29.840 --> 00:11:30.640 is going to do with us 00:11:30.640 --> 00:11:31.780 when he finishes with us? 00:11:31.980 --> 00:11:32.360 He's not, 00:11:32.440 --> 00:11:33.040 we're not going to be 00:11:33.040 --> 00:11:34.220 marionettes or puppets. 00:11:35.380 --> 00:11:36.120 One of the things 00:11:36.120 --> 00:11:36.900 I have a hard time, 00:11:37.020 --> 00:11:37.900 if I'm actually able 00:11:37.900 --> 00:11:38.980 to have a conversation 00:11:38.980 --> 00:11:40.540 with a non-Christian friend 00:11:40.540 --> 00:11:41.380 about the gospel 00:11:41.380 --> 00:11:42.280 and the Christian faith 00:11:42.280 --> 00:11:43.280 that gets deep enough, 00:11:43.780 --> 00:11:44.620 one of the things 00:11:44.620 --> 00:11:45.360 I have a hard time 00:11:45.360 --> 00:11:46.340 explaining to them, 00:11:46.340 --> 00:11:47.440 and this is, 00:11:47.540 --> 00:11:47.740 by the way, 00:11:47.800 --> 00:11:48.379 one of the reasons, 00:11:48.879 --> 00:11:49.780 those of you who are guests, 00:11:49.879 --> 00:11:51.060 one of my lines lately 00:11:51.060 --> 00:11:51.740 is I don't believe 00:11:51.740 --> 00:11:52.180 in the God 00:11:52.180 --> 00:11:53.620 that Canadians believe in. 00:11:54.060 --> 00:11:55.200 I believe in the God 00:11:55.200 --> 00:11:56.480 that's revealed by Jesus. 00:11:57.500 --> 00:11:58.220 Because you see, 00:11:58.379 --> 00:11:59.720 the thing about Canadians 00:11:59.720 --> 00:12:01.240 is we tend to worry 00:12:01.240 --> 00:12:01.899 that the God 00:12:01.899 --> 00:12:02.800 that exists 00:12:02.800 --> 00:12:04.120 that we don't like 00:12:04.120 --> 00:12:04.600 and we don't want 00:12:04.600 --> 00:12:05.500 to have anything to do with 00:12:05.500 --> 00:12:07.280 will just take control of us. 00:12:07.960 --> 00:12:09.080 But what I try to tell 00:12:09.080 --> 00:12:09.759 to my friends 00:12:09.759 --> 00:12:10.560 is that the God 00:12:10.560 --> 00:12:11.320 they're afraid of 00:12:11.320 --> 00:12:12.040 is what the Bible 00:12:12.039 --> 00:12:13.079 calls the devil 00:12:13.079 --> 00:12:15.419 because that's what 00:12:15.419 --> 00:12:16.799 the devil does. 00:12:17.480 --> 00:12:18.939 He takes control of us 00:12:18.939 --> 00:12:20.199 and overwhelms us. 00:12:21.339 --> 00:12:22.120 And the God 00:12:22.120 --> 00:12:22.639 that's revealed 00:12:22.639 --> 00:12:23.379 in the Bible 00:12:23.379 --> 00:12:24.459 by Jesus 00:12:24.459 --> 00:12:26.219 is the God 00:12:26.219 --> 00:12:27.259 who's preparing us 00:12:27.259 --> 00:12:28.039 and fitting us 00:12:28.039 --> 00:12:28.839 and has done everything 00:12:28.839 --> 00:12:30.240 required to fit us 00:12:30.240 --> 00:12:32.500 to walk with God 00:12:32.500 --> 00:12:33.439 in the cool of the day, 00:12:33.559 --> 00:12:34.439 having spent the day 00:12:34.439 --> 00:12:35.480 with our creativity, 00:12:36.059 --> 00:12:36.839 making music, 00:12:37.019 --> 00:12:37.799 dancing dances, 00:12:38.000 --> 00:12:39.059 building buildings, 00:12:40.480 --> 00:12:41.559 playing with kids, 00:12:41.559 --> 00:12:42.579 playing with others, 00:12:43.459 --> 00:12:44.439 making things grow, 00:12:44.979 --> 00:12:45.919 and then standing naked 00:12:45.919 --> 00:12:46.619 and unashamed 00:12:46.619 --> 00:12:48.959 and feeling his pleasure. 00:12:50.359 --> 00:12:51.000 And because that's 00:12:51.000 --> 00:12:51.659 what God's doing, 00:12:51.739 --> 00:12:52.259 he's never going to 00:12:52.259 --> 00:12:53.119 make you into a puppet, 00:12:53.219 --> 00:12:53.699 never will. 00:12:54.959 --> 00:12:56.039 You're praying for it 00:12:56.039 --> 00:12:57.039 and secretly hoping 00:12:57.039 --> 00:12:57.659 that that's what 00:12:57.659 --> 00:12:58.399 will fix you? 00:12:58.859 --> 00:12:59.799 Forget about it. 00:12:59.899 --> 00:13:00.779 He's not going to do it. 00:13:02.299 --> 00:13:03.319 It goes against 00:13:03.319 --> 00:13:03.919 what he's trying 00:13:03.919 --> 00:13:05.159 to make you and me into, 00:13:05.239 --> 00:13:05.959 not trying to, 00:13:06.019 --> 00:13:06.519 will make, 00:13:07.159 --> 00:13:08.199 because God is faithful. 00:13:09.759 --> 00:13:10.699 Let's read the text 00:13:10.699 --> 00:13:11.379 together again. 00:13:11.559 --> 00:13:14.379 Therefore, 00:13:14.979 --> 00:13:15.639 let anyone 00:13:15.639 --> 00:13:17.059 who thinks that he stands 00:13:17.059 --> 00:13:18.599 take heed lest he fall. 00:13:19.299 --> 00:13:20.259 No temptation 00:13:20.259 --> 00:13:21.459 has overtaken you 00:13:21.459 --> 00:13:22.500 that is not common 00:13:22.500 --> 00:13:23.079 to man. 00:13:23.739 --> 00:13:24.639 God is faithful 00:13:24.639 --> 00:13:25.699 and he will not 00:13:25.699 --> 00:13:26.699 let you be tempted 00:13:26.699 --> 00:13:27.859 beyond your ability. 00:13:28.339 --> 00:13:29.519 But with the temptation, 00:13:29.959 --> 00:13:31.079 he will also provide 00:13:31.079 --> 00:13:32.039 the way of escape 00:13:32.039 --> 00:13:33.419 that you may be able 00:13:33.419 --> 00:13:34.219 to endure it. 00:13:34.959 --> 00:13:35.379 Now, 00:13:35.579 --> 00:13:37.199 here's the other problem 00:13:37.199 --> 00:13:37.519 with it, 00:13:37.559 --> 00:13:38.279 is that when we read 00:13:38.279 --> 00:13:38.799 this text, 00:13:38.799 --> 00:13:40.219 we add different things 00:13:40.219 --> 00:13:42.579 because we expect, 00:13:43.139 --> 00:13:43.979 because of our flesh, 00:13:44.099 --> 00:13:44.959 because of our culture, 00:13:45.059 --> 00:13:45.879 we expect God 00:13:45.879 --> 00:13:46.779 to answer this prayer 00:13:46.779 --> 00:13:47.759 in particular ways. 00:13:47.839 --> 00:13:48.559 If you think about it, 00:13:48.559 --> 00:13:49.620 this is what we expect. 00:13:50.019 --> 00:13:51.579 We expect that all of a sudden 00:13:51.579 --> 00:13:52.279 he will give us 00:13:52.279 --> 00:13:53.419 enough willpower 00:13:53.419 --> 00:13:55.059 to not sin. 00:13:56.199 --> 00:13:56.740 It's as if, 00:13:56.799 --> 00:13:56.919 you know, 00:13:56.939 --> 00:13:58.079 if we do the right prayer 00:13:58.079 --> 00:13:59.259 and all of a sudden 00:13:59.259 --> 00:14:00.159 in our prayer, 00:14:00.299 --> 00:14:01.179 God sends down 00:14:01.179 --> 00:14:02.279 a hypodermic needle 00:14:02.279 --> 00:14:03.379 and zaps us 00:14:03.379 --> 00:14:04.099 with extra 00:14:04.099 --> 00:14:05.979 superhuman willpower 00:14:05.980 --> 00:14:07.060 so that we will 00:14:07.060 --> 00:14:08.460 no longer succumb 00:14:08.460 --> 00:14:09.139 to temptation 00:14:09.139 --> 00:14:09.800 to do evil. 00:14:10.300 --> 00:14:11.200 Or the other thing 00:14:11.200 --> 00:14:12.879 that we sort of expect 00:14:12.879 --> 00:14:14.300 that when we pray 00:14:14.300 --> 00:14:15.139 something like that 00:14:15.139 --> 00:14:16.240 is that God 00:14:16.240 --> 00:14:16.820 will give us 00:14:16.820 --> 00:14:18.340 this extra knowledge 00:14:18.340 --> 00:14:19.600 that all of a sudden 00:14:19.600 --> 00:14:20.340 we will learn 00:14:20.340 --> 00:14:21.620 the right things 00:14:21.620 --> 00:14:22.500 that we need to know 00:14:22.500 --> 00:14:23.300 so that when we know 00:14:23.300 --> 00:14:23.800 all the things 00:14:23.800 --> 00:14:24.860 that we need to know 00:14:24.860 --> 00:14:26.259 because we know it, 00:14:26.620 --> 00:14:27.539 then we're not going 00:14:27.539 --> 00:14:28.779 to succumb to temptation. 00:14:29.200 --> 00:14:29.920 Or the other thing 00:14:29.920 --> 00:14:30.460 that we're sort of 00:14:30.460 --> 00:14:31.039 hoping to do 00:14:31.039 --> 00:14:31.680 is sort of like 00:14:31.680 --> 00:14:32.860 what megachurch pastors 00:14:32.860 --> 00:14:33.920 are sort of famous for, 00:14:33.980 --> 00:14:34.539 not all of them, 00:14:34.600 --> 00:14:35.200 but some of them, 00:14:35.200 --> 00:14:36.440 where we'll find 00:14:36.440 --> 00:14:37.879 the four simple steps 00:14:37.879 --> 00:14:38.440 to follow 00:14:38.440 --> 00:14:39.100 so that we have 00:14:39.100 --> 00:14:40.240 victory over temptation. 00:14:40.740 --> 00:14:42.120 Or the five simple steps 00:14:42.120 --> 00:14:43.300 or the three simple steps, 00:14:43.400 --> 00:14:44.320 hopefully steps 00:14:44.320 --> 00:14:45.580 where the first letter 00:14:45.580 --> 00:14:46.700 will spell a word. 00:14:47.900 --> 00:14:48.680 Maybe it'll be three, 00:14:48.840 --> 00:14:50.060 whatever, 00:14:50.320 --> 00:14:50.759 six steps 00:14:50.759 --> 00:14:51.400 spelled winner. 00:14:52.360 --> 00:14:52.620 You know, 00:14:52.640 --> 00:14:53.460 you just got to be a winner. 00:14:53.620 --> 00:14:54.259 Come to our church 00:14:54.259 --> 00:14:55.220 and learn to be a winner. 00:14:55.640 --> 00:14:55.800 You know, 00:14:55.820 --> 00:14:57.820 W-I-N-N-E-R 00:14:57.820 --> 00:14:58.240 or whatever. 00:14:58.520 --> 00:14:58.960 And that's what 00:14:58.960 --> 00:14:59.560 we're sort of hoping 00:14:59.560 --> 00:15:01.879 that God will just reveal 00:15:01.879 --> 00:15:03.320 to us the five or six steps 00:15:03.320 --> 00:15:03.940 or he'll give us 00:15:03.940 --> 00:15:04.640 the willpower 00:15:04.639 --> 00:15:05.539 or the knowledge 00:15:05.539 --> 00:15:06.899 or some combination of it. 00:15:07.159 --> 00:15:08.779 And that as a result of that, 00:15:08.840 --> 00:15:10.039 we'll be able to win over temptation. 00:15:10.179 --> 00:15:10.279 Now, 00:15:10.299 --> 00:15:11.019 why is it that God 00:15:11.019 --> 00:15:11.819 doesn't do that? 00:15:12.899 --> 00:15:14.740 Why is it that we human beings 00:15:14.740 --> 00:15:15.539 keep reading, 00:15:15.620 --> 00:15:16.340 we Christians 00:15:16.340 --> 00:15:17.379 keep reading the Bible 00:15:17.379 --> 00:15:18.580 and trying to hope 00:15:18.580 --> 00:15:19.659 that when we read the Bible, 00:15:19.659 --> 00:15:20.559 we'll be able to get 00:15:20.559 --> 00:15:21.340 those things out? 00:15:21.439 --> 00:15:22.460 Look at the text again. 00:15:23.100 --> 00:15:23.759 It doesn't say, 00:15:23.879 --> 00:15:24.539 look at verse 13, 00:15:24.580 --> 00:15:25.819 no temptations overtaken you 00:15:25.819 --> 00:15:26.740 that is not common to man. 00:15:26.819 --> 00:15:27.439 God is faithful. 00:15:28.019 --> 00:15:28.840 And then what does it say? 00:15:28.960 --> 00:15:29.799 We hope it says, 00:15:30.519 --> 00:15:31.860 what goes on in our mind 00:15:31.860 --> 00:15:32.899 is we hear yada, 00:15:33.000 --> 00:15:33.179 yada, 00:15:33.279 --> 00:15:33.460 yada, 00:15:33.580 --> 00:15:33.740 yada, 00:15:33.740 --> 00:15:34.000 yada, 00:15:34.000 --> 00:15:34.560 but we're hoping, 00:15:34.639 --> 00:15:34.899 he says, 00:15:34.960 --> 00:15:35.680 God is faithful. 00:15:35.840 --> 00:15:37.240 He will give you the willpower. 00:15:37.759 --> 00:15:39.200 He will give you the knowledge. 00:15:39.379 --> 00:15:40.500 He will give you the recipe 00:15:40.500 --> 00:15:41.399 and techniques 00:15:41.399 --> 00:15:43.080 so that you will be able 00:15:43.080 --> 00:15:43.560 to enjoy it. 00:15:43.560 --> 00:15:43.659 No, 00:15:43.680 --> 00:15:44.620 he doesn't say any of those things, 00:15:44.659 --> 00:15:44.960 does it? 00:15:44.960 --> 00:15:46.159 But we want it to say that. 00:15:46.220 --> 00:15:46.980 That's what we want. 00:15:47.480 --> 00:15:48.419 That's what we want. 00:15:48.860 --> 00:15:49.759 We have a lust 00:15:49.759 --> 00:15:51.259 for it. 00:15:52.759 --> 00:15:53.539 Just be honest, 00:15:53.680 --> 00:15:53.960 folks. 00:15:54.799 --> 00:15:55.060 Now, 00:15:55.080 --> 00:15:55.840 here's the problem. 00:15:55.840 --> 00:15:59.580 how could God give us that willpower 00:15:59.580 --> 00:16:01.080 or that knowledge 00:16:01.080 --> 00:16:02.200 or those recipe 00:16:02.200 --> 00:16:04.200 and the end result not being 00:16:04.200 --> 00:16:05.420 that we would be proud, 00:16:05.960 --> 00:16:06.860 self-righteous, 00:16:07.220 --> 00:16:10.980 self-justifying individuals? 00:16:10.980 --> 00:16:15.639 How could God actually give us that willpower 00:16:15.639 --> 00:16:19.500 or give us those five steps 00:16:19.500 --> 00:16:21.200 and not turn us 00:16:21.200 --> 00:16:23.220 and not have us become proud 00:16:23.220 --> 00:16:27.259 and self-righteous, 00:16:27.800 --> 00:16:29.399 self-justifying, 00:16:29.580 --> 00:16:31.240 and you can add the other nouns 00:16:31.240 --> 00:16:32.639 or adjectives after that 00:16:32.639 --> 00:16:33.800 to your pleasure. 00:16:33.799 --> 00:16:35.740 because don't we hate that 00:16:35.740 --> 00:16:36.419 when we meet people? 00:16:36.479 --> 00:16:37.419 But here's what would happen. 00:16:38.559 --> 00:16:39.500 Who will I pick? 00:16:40.059 --> 00:16:40.419 Dick. 00:16:40.559 --> 00:16:41.500 Is it all right if I use you? 00:16:42.599 --> 00:16:42.879 You know, 00:16:42.899 --> 00:16:43.719 it's even bad here. 00:16:43.719 --> 00:16:44.899 I'm going to move down. 00:16:45.679 --> 00:16:45.859 No, 00:16:45.899 --> 00:16:46.719 I'm going to stay up here 00:16:46.719 --> 00:16:48.939 because I'm the mega church pastor 00:16:48.939 --> 00:16:51.620 and I have learned 00:16:51.620 --> 00:16:52.799 the five recipes, 00:16:53.219 --> 00:16:53.899 the five steps, 00:16:54.039 --> 00:16:55.179 and I have the willpower 00:16:55.179 --> 00:16:56.079 and I have the knowledge. 00:16:56.199 --> 00:16:56.699 Poor Dick. 00:16:57.240 --> 00:16:58.059 He's a schmuck. 00:17:01.099 --> 00:17:02.679 He doesn't have the willpower. 00:17:03.799 --> 00:17:05.319 He is so hopeless. 00:17:05.460 --> 00:17:06.839 He can't follow the recipe 00:17:06.839 --> 00:17:08.079 like me. 00:17:08.839 --> 00:17:10.039 This is where my teeth 00:17:10.039 --> 00:17:11.359 would be nicely bleached, 00:17:11.659 --> 00:17:12.819 a little bit of a gleam. 00:17:14.839 --> 00:17:16.980 As I become very, very proud, 00:17:17.559 --> 00:17:18.440 self-righteous, 00:17:18.599 --> 00:17:19.659 self-justifying, 00:17:19.799 --> 00:17:22.220 my willpower has beat the temptation. 00:17:22.919 --> 00:17:24.500 My following the steps 00:17:24.500 --> 00:17:25.539 has beat the temptation. 00:17:25.859 --> 00:17:27.539 My knowledge has beat the thing. 00:17:28.200 --> 00:17:29.379 So how can God help us 00:17:29.379 --> 00:17:30.819 without turning us into proud, 00:17:31.000 --> 00:17:31.619 self-righteous, 00:17:31.619 --> 00:17:33.619 self-justifying people 00:17:33.799 --> 00:17:35.779 that basically nobody likes? 00:17:36.680 --> 00:17:37.559 And it's just wrong. 00:17:38.720 --> 00:17:39.899 There's a wonderful 00:17:39.899 --> 00:17:41.559 Roman Catholic author 00:17:41.559 --> 00:17:43.059 by the name of Peter Kreeft. 00:17:43.319 --> 00:17:44.519 He has a wonderful analogy. 00:17:44.700 --> 00:17:45.839 Some of you have heard me say it before. 00:17:45.899 --> 00:17:46.980 I got it from Peter Kreeft. 00:17:48.759 --> 00:17:49.220 Like, you know, 00:17:49.240 --> 00:17:49.879 if you think about it, 00:17:49.879 --> 00:17:50.599 what's going to be like 00:17:50.599 --> 00:17:51.480 at the end of the days 00:17:51.480 --> 00:17:52.480 when we're with God? 00:17:52.680 --> 00:17:54.819 Like when we're with God 00:17:54.819 --> 00:17:55.619 at the end of the day 00:17:55.619 --> 00:17:57.079 and we're naked and unashamed, 00:17:57.159 --> 00:17:58.519 we will look up to God, right? 00:17:59.259 --> 00:18:00.680 But here's what Peter Kreeft says. 00:18:00.680 --> 00:18:02.660 It's impossible to look up to God 00:18:02.660 --> 00:18:04.360 when you're looking down your nose 00:18:04.360 --> 00:18:04.900 at others. 00:18:06.400 --> 00:18:07.240 Isn't that true? 00:18:07.560 --> 00:18:09.019 If you're looking down your nose 00:18:09.019 --> 00:18:09.420 at others, 00:18:09.519 --> 00:18:10.100 poor dick, 00:18:10.560 --> 00:18:11.299 what a schmuck. 00:18:12.680 --> 00:18:14.500 How can you look up to God 00:18:14.500 --> 00:18:15.440 who's wonderful? 00:18:15.440 --> 00:18:20.900 So the Bible text 00:18:20.900 --> 00:18:22.400 doesn't give us what we want. 00:18:22.519 --> 00:18:23.820 It gives us what we need. 00:18:27.920 --> 00:18:29.140 And what it does 00:18:29.140 --> 00:18:30.120 is if we just, 00:18:30.240 --> 00:18:31.240 in the last few minutes 00:18:31.240 --> 00:18:32.320 it's remaining to us, 00:18:32.580 --> 00:18:33.160 look again. 00:18:33.240 --> 00:18:34.259 Let's read the text 00:18:34.259 --> 00:18:35.820 again out loud 00:18:35.820 --> 00:18:36.799 and then we'll sort of 00:18:36.799 --> 00:18:38.039 just pause and camp 00:18:38.039 --> 00:18:38.700 with it a little bit. 00:18:38.720 --> 00:18:39.600 If you'd read it with me. 00:18:40.140 --> 00:18:40.740 And part of the reason 00:18:40.740 --> 00:18:41.460 I want us to read it 00:18:41.460 --> 00:18:42.240 over and over again 00:18:42.240 --> 00:18:43.220 is because I hope 00:18:43.220 --> 00:18:44.160 at the end of the sermon, 00:18:44.160 --> 00:18:45.840 before the sermon's even over, 00:18:45.980 --> 00:18:46.680 you're going to want 00:18:46.680 --> 00:18:48.240 to memorize the scripture 00:18:48.240 --> 00:18:49.320 and meditate upon it 00:18:49.320 --> 00:18:51.279 and learn how to pray it. 00:18:53.940 --> 00:18:55.440 So read it together with me. 00:18:56.100 --> 00:18:57.340 Therefore let anyone 00:18:57.340 --> 00:18:59.140 who thinks that he stands 00:18:59.140 --> 00:19:01.060 take heed lest he fall. 00:19:01.720 --> 00:19:04.120 No temptation has overtaken you 00:19:04.120 --> 00:19:05.920 that is not common to man. 00:19:06.660 --> 00:19:07.560 God is faithful 00:19:07.560 --> 00:19:09.100 and he will not let you 00:19:09.100 --> 00:19:10.840 be tempted beyond your ability. 00:19:11.380 --> 00:19:12.519 But with the temptation 00:19:12.519 --> 00:19:13.920 he will also provide 00:19:13.920 --> 00:19:14.960 the way of escape 00:19:14.960 --> 00:19:16.440 that you may be able 00:19:16.440 --> 00:19:17.259 to endure it. 00:19:17.819 --> 00:19:18.539 So here's like, 00:19:18.639 --> 00:19:19.379 here's one of the things 00:19:19.379 --> 00:19:20.180 which is so wonderful 00:19:20.180 --> 00:19:21.240 about this text. 00:19:22.559 --> 00:19:23.240 One of the things 00:19:23.240 --> 00:19:24.220 which is so wonderful 00:19:24.220 --> 00:19:25.079 about this text 00:19:25.079 --> 00:19:26.539 is it begins by humbliness. 00:19:28.920 --> 00:19:29.539 You see, 00:19:29.639 --> 00:19:30.279 what we want 00:19:30.279 --> 00:19:31.740 is we want the high ground. 00:19:32.740 --> 00:19:33.059 You know, 00:19:33.180 --> 00:19:34.279 like wouldn't it be wonderful 00:19:34.279 --> 00:19:36.279 if I had the magic technique 00:19:36.279 --> 00:19:36.940 that would mean 00:19:36.940 --> 00:19:38.160 that not a single man 00:19:38.160 --> 00:19:38.819 or woman here 00:19:38.819 --> 00:19:40.119 would ever watch 00:19:40.119 --> 00:19:41.439 pornography again 00:19:41.439 --> 00:19:43.059 and I could write it 00:19:43.059 --> 00:19:43.819 in my webpage 00:19:43.819 --> 00:19:45.339 and not just write it 00:19:45.339 --> 00:19:45.879 in my webpage 00:19:45.879 --> 00:19:47.019 but find some other way 00:19:47.019 --> 00:19:48.019 to turn it into money. 00:19:50.319 --> 00:19:50.539 And like, 00:19:50.719 --> 00:19:52.500 and then it would just be 00:19:52.500 --> 00:19:52.799 as if, 00:19:52.879 --> 00:19:53.159 but even, 00:19:53.339 --> 00:19:53.519 you know, 00:19:53.579 --> 00:19:54.579 what really happens 00:19:54.579 --> 00:19:55.459 is that people write 00:19:55.459 --> 00:19:57.059 web pages like that often 00:19:57.059 --> 00:19:59.079 as if they have this 00:19:59.079 --> 00:20:00.279 complete and utter freedom 00:20:00.279 --> 00:20:00.739 from it. 00:20:00.799 --> 00:20:01.219 They have freedom 00:20:01.219 --> 00:20:01.699 from anger. 00:20:01.799 --> 00:20:02.279 They have freedom 00:20:02.279 --> 00:20:03.079 from bitterness. 00:20:03.319 --> 00:20:03.500 They have, 00:20:03.579 --> 00:20:05.019 just take your pick, 00:20:05.239 --> 00:20:05.519 whatever. 00:20:05.519 --> 00:20:09.639 But often what it really 00:20:09.639 --> 00:20:10.680 probably just is 00:20:10.680 --> 00:20:12.000 is claiming 00:20:12.000 --> 00:20:13.259 a type of high ground. 00:20:14.200 --> 00:20:15.180 And you look at this text, 00:20:15.259 --> 00:20:16.259 it's a profoundly 00:20:16.259 --> 00:20:18.000 humbling text 00:20:18.000 --> 00:20:19.599 that means that 00:20:19.599 --> 00:20:20.240 when we deal 00:20:20.240 --> 00:20:20.920 with each other, 00:20:21.019 --> 00:20:22.319 we deal with each other 00:20:22.319 --> 00:20:24.619 as one fallen human being 00:20:24.619 --> 00:20:25.200 to another. 00:20:25.759 --> 00:20:26.619 Because the text 00:20:26.619 --> 00:20:27.740 begins by saying, 00:20:28.579 --> 00:20:29.579 therefore let anyone 00:20:29.579 --> 00:20:30.920 who thinks that he stands 00:20:30.920 --> 00:20:32.160 take heed lest he fall. 00:20:33.460 --> 00:20:34.299 If you think 00:20:34.299 --> 00:20:35.460 you're in a moral high ground, 00:20:35.519 --> 00:20:36.240 if I think I'm 00:20:36.240 --> 00:20:37.160 the moral high ground, 00:20:37.779 --> 00:20:38.480 whoa, George, 00:20:39.559 --> 00:20:40.519 pay attention. 00:20:42.259 --> 00:20:43.039 And then it says, 00:20:44.079 --> 00:20:46.299 no temptation 00:20:46.299 --> 00:20:47.539 is overtaking you 00:20:47.539 --> 00:20:48.619 that is not common 00:20:48.619 --> 00:20:50.299 to human beings. 00:20:50.519 --> 00:20:51.319 That's what it says. 00:20:51.440 --> 00:20:51.839 George, 00:20:53.500 --> 00:20:53.920 your human, 00:20:54.119 --> 00:20:55.099 your temptations, 00:20:55.559 --> 00:20:57.319 they're the same type 00:20:57.319 --> 00:20:58.019 of temptations 00:20:58.019 --> 00:20:58.779 that are befalling 00:20:58.779 --> 00:20:59.440 all of the people 00:20:59.440 --> 00:20:59.960 around you, 00:21:00.160 --> 00:21:00.799 around this room. 00:21:00.839 --> 00:21:02.019 Maybe not the exact one, 00:21:02.359 --> 00:21:03.160 but there's not 00:21:03.160 --> 00:21:04.779 a single human being here 00:21:04.779 --> 00:21:06.480 that does not have 00:21:06.480 --> 00:21:08.359 temptations overtake them. 00:21:08.619 --> 00:21:09.240 Not one. 00:21:10.039 --> 00:21:10.779 Not one. 00:21:12.460 --> 00:21:13.759 If you think 00:21:13.759 --> 00:21:15.399 that you don't 00:21:15.399 --> 00:21:16.839 actually face temptations 00:21:16.839 --> 00:21:18.920 on a regular basis, 00:21:19.039 --> 00:21:20.460 what that actually means, 00:21:21.259 --> 00:21:22.639 I don't mean to insult you. 00:21:23.099 --> 00:21:23.879 I say this, 00:21:24.220 --> 00:21:26.559 I say this 00:21:26.559 --> 00:21:27.960 because I need to say it. 00:21:28.160 --> 00:21:29.200 The Bible is saying to you, 00:21:29.240 --> 00:21:29.839 if you think 00:21:29.839 --> 00:21:30.920 that actually you've reached 00:21:30.920 --> 00:21:31.500 a point where you 00:21:31.500 --> 00:21:32.460 no longer get tempted, 00:21:32.960 --> 00:21:34.900 it means you're morally blind. 00:21:37.059 --> 00:21:38.779 It means you no longer 00:21:38.779 --> 00:21:40.539 recognize any temptation 00:21:40.539 --> 00:21:41.119 whatsoever 00:21:41.119 --> 00:21:41.920 because you just 00:21:41.920 --> 00:21:42.779 surrender to them. 00:21:44.980 --> 00:21:45.920 Like it's actually 00:21:45.920 --> 00:21:46.640 a very deadly 00:21:46.640 --> 00:21:47.900 spiritual state. 00:21:49.720 --> 00:21:50.819 So this text 00:21:50.819 --> 00:21:52.660 is a profound equalizer. 00:21:54.019 --> 00:21:54.940 It just says, 00:21:55.019 --> 00:21:55.400 you know what, 00:21:55.680 --> 00:21:56.720 this is not, 00:21:56.779 --> 00:21:58.079 if you come to Church of the Messiah 00:21:58.079 --> 00:21:59.180 and make it your church home, 00:21:59.180 --> 00:22:00.360 this is not the place 00:22:00.360 --> 00:22:01.519 of the exalted ones 00:22:01.519 --> 00:22:02.720 and the anointed ones. 00:22:03.620 --> 00:22:05.240 This is a field hospital 00:22:05.240 --> 00:22:06.100 for sinners. 00:22:08.080 --> 00:22:09.420 And it's a field hospital 00:22:09.420 --> 00:22:10.900 because we're on the front lines. 00:22:12.480 --> 00:22:14.000 We're right in the midst of life. 00:22:15.920 --> 00:22:16.720 And it's a very, 00:22:16.860 --> 00:22:17.620 very powerful thing. 00:22:17.680 --> 00:22:18.380 And one of the things 00:22:18.380 --> 00:22:19.240 which is so powerful 00:22:19.240 --> 00:22:20.840 about this text as well, 00:22:21.279 --> 00:22:22.539 and I can tell you this, 00:22:22.799 --> 00:22:24.039 when I've had sins 00:22:24.039 --> 00:22:24.820 in my life, 00:22:25.100 --> 00:22:26.720 that one of the things 00:22:26.720 --> 00:22:27.980 that the devil does to you 00:22:27.980 --> 00:22:28.620 when you're struggling 00:22:28.620 --> 00:22:29.460 with sin, 00:22:29.980 --> 00:22:31.779 is he'll try to get you 00:22:31.779 --> 00:22:33.299 to think you're the only one 00:22:33.299 --> 00:22:34.519 who struggles with it 00:22:34.519 --> 00:22:36.039 or the only one 00:22:36.039 --> 00:22:37.500 who surrenders to it 00:22:37.500 --> 00:22:39.120 because he wants 00:22:39.120 --> 00:22:40.140 to isolate you. 00:22:41.200 --> 00:22:42.339 He doesn't want you 00:22:42.339 --> 00:22:43.299 to bring it to the light 00:22:43.299 --> 00:22:44.700 by telling a brother 00:22:44.700 --> 00:22:45.920 or sister about it. 00:22:47.380 --> 00:22:49.180 But for whatever things 00:22:49.180 --> 00:22:49.980 you're struggling with 00:22:49.980 --> 00:22:50.559 right now, 00:22:51.079 --> 00:22:52.420 it's a common 00:22:52.420 --> 00:22:53.440 human temptation. 00:22:53.440 --> 00:22:57.160 And every single one of us 00:22:57.160 --> 00:22:58.720 is struggling with them. 00:23:00.100 --> 00:23:02.700 And the key part here 00:23:02.700 --> 00:23:03.680 of this whole text 00:23:03.680 --> 00:23:04.600 is look at what 00:23:04.600 --> 00:23:05.460 the key part is. 00:23:05.519 --> 00:23:06.559 Look at verse 13 again. 00:23:06.640 --> 00:23:08.120 No temptation has overtaken you 00:23:08.120 --> 00:23:09.440 that is not common to man. 00:23:10.240 --> 00:23:13.080 God is faithful. 00:23:15.100 --> 00:23:16.779 The text points you to God. 00:23:18.340 --> 00:23:20.200 And it says that God is faithful. 00:23:20.840 --> 00:23:21.920 He is the faithful one. 00:23:21.920 --> 00:23:24.240 Why is God faithful? 00:23:24.360 --> 00:23:24.500 Well, 00:23:24.800 --> 00:23:26.560 he's faithful for several reasons. 00:23:27.140 --> 00:23:27.880 One of the reasons 00:23:27.880 --> 00:23:28.640 he's faithful 00:23:28.640 --> 00:23:29.500 is because 00:23:29.500 --> 00:23:30.600 the entire way 00:23:30.600 --> 00:23:31.600 we become a Christian 00:23:31.600 --> 00:23:32.480 is because God 00:23:32.480 --> 00:23:33.840 makes a promise to us. 00:23:34.300 --> 00:23:35.980 He announces something to us. 00:23:36.460 --> 00:23:37.519 And what he announces, 00:23:38.160 --> 00:23:40.200 he is sincere about it 00:23:40.200 --> 00:23:41.279 and he's going to do it. 00:23:41.880 --> 00:23:44.060 And he always will do it. 00:23:44.600 --> 00:23:46.200 And he makes this offer 00:23:46.200 --> 00:23:47.019 to every human being. 00:23:47.120 --> 00:23:48.000 He makes this offer 00:23:48.000 --> 00:23:49.560 to the richest people 00:23:49.560 --> 00:23:50.220 on the planet 00:23:50.220 --> 00:23:51.519 and the poorest people 00:23:51.519 --> 00:23:52.059 on the planet. 00:23:52.180 --> 00:23:52.740 He makes it, 00:23:52.819 --> 00:23:53.420 this comment, 00:23:53.779 --> 00:23:54.720 to people who 00:23:54.720 --> 00:23:56.860 are same-sex attracted 00:23:56.860 --> 00:23:57.700 and those who aren't 00:23:57.700 --> 00:23:58.720 same-sex attracted. 00:23:58.860 --> 00:24:00.600 He makes it to the well-educated 00:24:00.600 --> 00:24:01.140 and the people 00:24:01.140 --> 00:24:02.519 who aren't very well-educated. 00:24:02.920 --> 00:24:03.860 He makes it to the most 00:24:03.860 --> 00:24:05.140 spectacular athletes 00:24:05.140 --> 00:24:05.700 and the most 00:24:05.700 --> 00:24:07.079 spectacularly disabled. 00:24:07.759 --> 00:24:08.819 And the promise is 00:24:08.819 --> 00:24:09.740 that he says, 00:24:09.819 --> 00:24:10.480 you human beings, 00:24:10.559 --> 00:24:11.680 you cannot make yourself 00:24:11.680 --> 00:24:12.539 right with me. 00:24:12.920 --> 00:24:13.819 You cannot do it 00:24:13.819 --> 00:24:14.579 by your own effort. 00:24:15.120 --> 00:24:15.940 And I don't say that 00:24:15.940 --> 00:24:16.660 to depress you. 00:24:16.660 --> 00:24:17.700 I say that 00:24:17.700 --> 00:24:18.320 because I have 00:24:18.320 --> 00:24:19.320 this wonderful news 00:24:19.320 --> 00:24:19.860 for you 00:24:19.860 --> 00:24:21.680 that I recognize 00:24:21.680 --> 00:24:23.440 that you cannot do 00:24:23.440 --> 00:24:24.660 what you need to do 00:24:24.660 --> 00:24:25.720 to be right with me. 00:24:25.820 --> 00:24:26.700 And I have done 00:24:26.700 --> 00:24:27.820 everything that needs 00:24:27.820 --> 00:24:28.300 to be done 00:24:28.300 --> 00:24:29.420 to make you right with me. 00:24:30.680 --> 00:24:31.620 And I've done it 00:24:31.620 --> 00:24:32.779 by sending my son. 00:24:33.680 --> 00:24:34.840 And my son has done 00:24:34.840 --> 00:24:36.400 everything that has 00:24:36.400 --> 00:24:36.820 to be done 00:24:36.820 --> 00:24:38.200 to make a human being 00:24:38.200 --> 00:24:39.700 right with myself. 00:24:40.560 --> 00:24:41.800 Every wrong thing 00:24:41.800 --> 00:24:42.600 that you have ever done 00:24:42.600 --> 00:24:43.560 or will do, 00:24:44.180 --> 00:24:45.380 my son has paid 00:24:45.380 --> 00:24:46.300 the price for that 00:24:46.300 --> 00:24:46.740 when he died 00:24:46.740 --> 00:24:47.500 upon the cross. 00:24:49.040 --> 00:24:50.180 That the doom 00:24:50.180 --> 00:24:51.100 that you deserve 00:24:51.100 --> 00:24:52.020 fell on him 00:24:52.020 --> 00:24:52.700 and the destiny 00:24:52.700 --> 00:24:54.100 that he deserves 00:24:54.100 --> 00:24:55.440 is offered to you. 00:24:56.180 --> 00:24:57.200 And your inability 00:24:57.200 --> 00:24:58.600 to actually have 00:24:58.600 --> 00:25:00.120 accomplished anything right, 00:25:01.160 --> 00:25:02.720 Jesus is the one 00:25:02.720 --> 00:25:04.640 who's done everything right. 00:25:04.780 --> 00:25:06.120 He never broke fellowship 00:25:06.120 --> 00:25:06.840 with me. 00:25:06.960 --> 00:25:08.080 He never sinned. 00:25:08.700 --> 00:25:09.740 He was tempted 00:25:09.740 --> 00:25:10.420 in every way 00:25:10.420 --> 00:25:11.240 like you and me, 00:25:11.340 --> 00:25:12.360 but he never gave 00:25:12.360 --> 00:25:13.240 in to temptations 00:25:13.240 --> 00:25:14.220 because to be tempted 00:25:14.220 --> 00:25:14.920 isn't a sin. 00:25:14.920 --> 00:25:16.200 The sin is doing 00:25:16.200 --> 00:25:16.900 what you're tempted 00:25:16.900 --> 00:25:17.340 to do. 00:25:18.720 --> 00:25:19.680 And Jesus has been 00:25:19.680 --> 00:25:20.740 tempted in every way 00:25:20.740 --> 00:25:22.800 and he never surrendered 00:25:22.800 --> 00:25:23.779 to that temptation 00:25:23.779 --> 00:25:24.220 ever. 00:25:25.340 --> 00:25:26.720 And I offer you 00:25:26.720 --> 00:25:29.080 his perfect record 00:25:29.080 --> 00:25:29.920 as yours. 00:25:30.880 --> 00:25:31.600 I was sharing 00:25:31.600 --> 00:25:32.320 with the 8 o'clock 00:25:32.320 --> 00:25:32.980 congregation, 00:25:33.660 --> 00:25:34.680 if you come to 00:25:34.680 --> 00:25:35.140 the 8 o'clock 00:25:35.140 --> 00:25:35.940 service, 00:25:36.460 --> 00:25:38.259 I wear traditional robes 00:25:38.259 --> 00:25:40.120 and sort of a modern 00:25:40.120 --> 00:25:41.180 version of a traditional 00:25:41.180 --> 00:25:41.519 robe. 00:25:42.279 --> 00:25:42.880 And I, 00:25:43.120 --> 00:25:44.080 for a variety of reasons, 00:25:44.079 --> 00:25:45.339 I always wear black 00:25:45.339 --> 00:25:46.119 and if you come, 00:25:46.519 --> 00:25:46.960 you'll see, 00:25:47.079 --> 00:25:47.759 and if I was wearing 00:25:47.759 --> 00:25:48.779 a long-sleeved 00:25:48.779 --> 00:25:49.419 black shirt, 00:25:49.539 --> 00:25:50.119 if you come, 00:25:50.199 --> 00:25:50.960 you'll see that there's 00:25:50.960 --> 00:25:51.720 this white robe 00:25:51.720 --> 00:25:52.699 that covers me. 00:25:53.179 --> 00:25:54.259 But if I was wearing 00:25:54.259 --> 00:25:54.839 a long-sleeved 00:25:54.839 --> 00:25:55.359 black shirt, 00:25:55.439 --> 00:25:56.019 you would see that 00:25:56.019 --> 00:25:56.439 at the end, 00:25:56.500 --> 00:25:56.939 you would see that 00:25:56.939 --> 00:25:57.599 I'm wearing black 00:25:57.599 --> 00:25:58.059 on my arms 00:25:58.059 --> 00:25:58.939 and if you look down, 00:25:59.000 --> 00:25:59.319 you'd see that 00:25:59.319 --> 00:25:59.879 I'm wearing black 00:25:59.879 --> 00:26:00.399 on my feet. 00:26:00.460 --> 00:26:01.599 And it's actually 00:26:01.599 --> 00:26:02.559 to be a walking 00:26:02.559 --> 00:26:03.659 object lesson 00:26:03.659 --> 00:26:06.079 that as a human being, 00:26:06.179 --> 00:26:06.899 I am fallen, 00:26:07.559 --> 00:26:08.859 but I am clothed 00:26:08.859 --> 00:26:10.799 with the righteousness 00:26:10.799 --> 00:26:11.519 of Christ. 00:26:13.579 --> 00:26:14.439 And the reason 00:26:14.439 --> 00:26:15.079 it, 00:26:16.319 --> 00:26:17.579 normally these robes 00:26:17.579 --> 00:26:18.359 wouldn't cover 00:26:18.359 --> 00:26:19.119 everything, 00:26:19.219 --> 00:26:19.839 traditionally in 00:26:19.839 --> 00:26:20.779 Anglican theology, 00:26:20.879 --> 00:26:21.500 it wouldn't cover 00:26:21.500 --> 00:26:21.939 everything, 00:26:22.019 --> 00:26:22.579 you'd always be able 00:26:22.579 --> 00:26:23.279 to see the black, 00:26:24.000 --> 00:26:24.879 isn't because 00:26:24.879 --> 00:26:26.559 Christ isn't able, 00:26:26.679 --> 00:26:27.299 his righteousness 00:26:27.299 --> 00:26:28.259 isn't able to cover 00:26:28.259 --> 00:26:29.619 all of who I am, 00:26:30.119 --> 00:26:31.240 but it's just to help 00:26:31.240 --> 00:26:32.500 protect us from pride 00:26:32.500 --> 00:26:33.179 or to make me, 00:26:33.379 --> 00:26:34.259 make the congregation 00:26:34.259 --> 00:26:35.199 think that somehow 00:26:35.199 --> 00:26:36.119 the minister is more 00:26:36.119 --> 00:26:37.019 special than others. 00:26:37.019 --> 00:26:37.720 And so the black 00:26:37.720 --> 00:26:38.759 always has to show, 00:26:39.619 --> 00:26:40.379 so you always are 00:26:40.379 --> 00:26:41.220 reminded that the 00:26:41.220 --> 00:26:42.119 minister is a sinner, 00:26:42.720 --> 00:26:45.200 but he's clothed 00:26:45.200 --> 00:26:46.359 with the righteousness 00:26:46.359 --> 00:26:47.059 of Christ. 00:26:48.039 --> 00:26:49.000 And God is faithful, 00:26:49.119 --> 00:26:50.079 he makes this offer, 00:26:50.200 --> 00:26:51.379 I have done everything, 00:26:52.200 --> 00:26:53.059 rock star, 00:26:53.980 --> 00:26:54.779 football star, 00:26:54.960 --> 00:26:55.779 hockey star, 00:26:55.960 --> 00:26:57.019 disabled person, 00:26:57.200 --> 00:26:58.000 street person, 00:26:58.259 --> 00:26:58.639 billionaire, 00:26:59.579 --> 00:27:01.220 person with a low IQ, 00:27:01.319 --> 00:27:02.279 I have done everything 00:27:02.279 --> 00:27:03.420 to make you right 00:27:03.420 --> 00:27:03.900 with me, 00:27:04.019 --> 00:27:05.220 and I offer this 00:27:05.220 --> 00:27:05.579 to you, 00:27:05.579 --> 00:27:06.720 all you need to do 00:27:06.720 --> 00:27:08.440 is turn from your 00:27:08.440 --> 00:27:09.440 attempts to justify 00:27:09.440 --> 00:27:10.380 yourself and make 00:27:10.380 --> 00:27:11.240 yourself righteous, 00:27:11.839 --> 00:27:12.960 acknowledge that 00:27:12.960 --> 00:27:13.759 will never work, 00:27:13.839 --> 00:27:14.480 and turn to me 00:27:14.480 --> 00:27:16.960 and ask in humility 00:27:16.960 --> 00:27:20.000 that I would do 00:27:20.000 --> 00:27:21.480 what only I could do 00:27:21.480 --> 00:27:22.579 and you can never do. 00:27:23.100 --> 00:27:24.140 And the Christian life 00:27:24.140 --> 00:27:25.180 really begins 00:27:25.180 --> 00:27:27.759 when we ask God 00:27:27.759 --> 00:27:28.400 to do that, 00:27:28.799 --> 00:27:30.279 turn to Jesus in faith. 00:27:31.339 --> 00:27:32.660 And God is faithful. 00:27:32.660 --> 00:27:35.540 If you ask, 00:27:35.720 --> 00:27:36.380 he does it. 00:27:37.500 --> 00:27:38.360 And the other thing 00:27:38.360 --> 00:27:39.240 which is why 00:27:39.240 --> 00:27:40.660 the heart of this text 00:27:40.660 --> 00:27:41.920 is that God is faithful 00:27:41.920 --> 00:27:43.600 is that that means 00:27:43.600 --> 00:27:45.000 that Jesus 00:27:45.000 --> 00:27:47.180 will never leave you 00:27:47.180 --> 00:27:48.320 or abandon you. 00:27:50.700 --> 00:27:51.779 That in my walk 00:27:51.779 --> 00:27:52.279 with him, 00:27:52.660 --> 00:27:53.940 I fall again. 00:27:54.900 --> 00:27:55.700 I sort of, 00:27:55.779 --> 00:27:56.500 I tempted, 00:27:56.660 --> 00:27:57.720 and I succumbed 00:27:57.720 --> 00:27:58.380 to the temptation 00:27:58.380 --> 00:27:59.380 so quickly, 00:27:59.380 --> 00:28:00.380 I don't even struggle 00:28:00.380 --> 00:28:00.700 with it. 00:28:00.760 --> 00:28:01.560 It's only afterwards 00:28:01.560 --> 00:28:02.300 that I realize 00:28:02.300 --> 00:28:02.940 I've done wrong. 00:28:03.020 --> 00:28:03.820 I didn't even struggle 00:28:03.820 --> 00:28:04.580 with the temptation. 00:28:05.040 --> 00:28:06.400 It came to before me 00:28:06.400 --> 00:28:07.380 and I surrendered 00:28:07.380 --> 00:28:08.640 like that 00:28:08.640 --> 00:28:09.660 or other times 00:28:09.660 --> 00:28:10.180 where I struggle 00:28:10.180 --> 00:28:10.660 and I fall. 00:28:10.900 --> 00:28:12.300 And here's the wonderful, 00:28:12.480 --> 00:28:12.940 wonderful, 00:28:13.100 --> 00:28:13.840 wonderful thing. 00:28:13.920 --> 00:28:14.940 The heart of what 00:28:14.940 --> 00:28:16.060 this text is asking 00:28:16.060 --> 00:28:16.920 to do is to remember 00:28:16.920 --> 00:28:18.420 that Jesus is faithful. 00:28:21.380 --> 00:28:22.840 Doesn't mean he says, 00:28:23.300 --> 00:28:23.500 I mean, 00:28:23.540 --> 00:28:24.020 in a sense, 00:28:24.420 --> 00:28:24.640 you know, 00:28:24.640 --> 00:28:25.140 part of, 00:28:25.140 --> 00:28:27.560 I remember, 00:28:27.820 --> 00:28:28.060 you know, 00:28:28.340 --> 00:28:29.180 it might be that 00:28:29.180 --> 00:28:30.280 part of looking at Jesus 00:28:30.280 --> 00:28:30.900 and remembering 00:28:30.900 --> 00:28:31.759 his faithfulness 00:28:31.759 --> 00:28:32.340 is that you see 00:28:32.340 --> 00:28:33.040 the scars 00:28:33.040 --> 00:28:34.060 that he bears 00:28:34.060 --> 00:28:35.880 because of those sins. 00:28:37.780 --> 00:28:38.960 But he's faithful, 00:28:39.140 --> 00:28:40.400 nothing that you just did, 00:28:41.060 --> 00:28:41.320 I mean, 00:28:41.360 --> 00:28:42.400 that was paid for too. 00:28:43.700 --> 00:28:44.780 He will not leave you, 00:28:44.860 --> 00:28:45.960 he will not abandon you, 00:28:46.020 --> 00:28:47.020 he will not shame you, 00:28:47.080 --> 00:28:48.460 he will not despise you. 00:28:49.720 --> 00:28:51.380 He is always faithful. 00:28:51.380 --> 00:28:51.460 He is faithful. 00:28:56.140 --> 00:28:57.320 Until you see him 00:28:57.320 --> 00:28:58.580 face to face in glory 00:28:58.580 --> 00:28:59.600 and then beyond, 00:29:00.180 --> 00:29:00.880 he's always, 00:29:01.140 --> 00:29:02.640 always faithful. 00:29:04.640 --> 00:29:05.540 And one of the things 00:29:05.540 --> 00:29:07.000 it says in the New Testament 00:29:07.000 --> 00:29:08.740 is that Jesus has been tempted 00:29:08.740 --> 00:29:09.540 as every way 00:29:09.540 --> 00:29:10.259 as we have, 00:29:10.340 --> 00:29:11.140 only without sin. 00:29:11.200 --> 00:29:11.840 And that's why we have 00:29:11.840 --> 00:29:13.120 such a faithful high priest, 00:29:13.200 --> 00:29:14.240 such a wonderful one 00:29:14.240 --> 00:29:15.100 that we can go to. 00:29:15.520 --> 00:29:16.620 And we can say to Jesus, 00:29:17.120 --> 00:29:17.360 Jesus, 00:29:17.520 --> 00:29:18.300 thank you so much 00:29:18.300 --> 00:29:18.980 that you are faithful. 00:29:19.100 --> 00:29:20.060 I have fallen again. 00:29:20.180 --> 00:29:21.000 I know that you know 00:29:21.000 --> 00:29:21.920 what it's like to be tempted. 00:29:22.020 --> 00:29:23.340 I know that you are faithful. 00:29:24.540 --> 00:29:24.940 Jesus, 00:29:25.140 --> 00:29:26.540 I'm struggling with this. 00:29:26.620 --> 00:29:28.360 I can't seem to win against it. 00:29:28.420 --> 00:29:29.040 I don't even know 00:29:29.040 --> 00:29:30.480 if I'm making small changes. 00:29:30.600 --> 00:29:31.900 I know that you are faithful. 00:29:33.080 --> 00:29:33.440 Lord, 00:29:33.600 --> 00:29:34.360 show me 00:29:34.360 --> 00:29:36.200 your way 00:29:36.200 --> 00:29:37.060 to escape 00:29:37.060 --> 00:29:38.440 that I may endure. 00:29:39.740 --> 00:29:40.360 Because you see, 00:29:40.440 --> 00:29:41.100 that's what goes on 00:29:41.100 --> 00:29:41.880 next in the text. 00:29:42.220 --> 00:29:42.700 First of all, 00:29:42.720 --> 00:29:43.300 it says that 00:29:43.300 --> 00:29:45.580 the thing that we're struggling with, 00:29:45.920 --> 00:29:47.520 that whether we feel it or not, 00:29:47.580 --> 00:29:49.040 is that God actually has, 00:29:49.300 --> 00:29:49.680 in a sense, 00:29:49.800 --> 00:29:51.080 shortened the temptation 00:29:51.080 --> 00:29:53.620 to a manageable distance 00:29:53.620 --> 00:29:54.660 within your ability. 00:29:55.160 --> 00:29:55.519 Oregon, 00:29:55.720 --> 00:29:57.060 who wrote in the second century, 00:29:57.120 --> 00:29:58.180 has a wonderful analogy. 00:29:58.340 --> 00:30:00.000 He uses an analogy of, 00:30:00.320 --> 00:30:01.380 in a wrestling contest, 00:30:01.880 --> 00:30:02.480 you don't put 00:30:02.480 --> 00:30:03.060 really, 00:30:03.140 --> 00:30:03.640 really big, 00:30:03.800 --> 00:30:04.519 strong people 00:30:04.519 --> 00:30:05.400 against small, 00:30:05.660 --> 00:30:06.279 skinny people. 00:30:06.380 --> 00:30:07.500 In a wrestling contest, 00:30:07.640 --> 00:30:08.440 the skinny people 00:30:08.440 --> 00:30:09.500 fight the skinny people, 00:30:09.580 --> 00:30:10.300 and the big people 00:30:10.300 --> 00:30:11.140 fight the big people 00:30:11.140 --> 00:30:12.279 because it's matched by weight. 00:30:12.640 --> 00:30:14.040 And that's what God does with us 00:30:14.040 --> 00:30:14.640 in our temptation. 00:30:14.779 --> 00:30:15.860 He isn't actually absent. 00:30:16.000 --> 00:30:16.920 He's actually present. 00:30:16.920 --> 00:30:18.039 And he's present in a way 00:30:18.039 --> 00:30:19.740 that the temptation 00:30:19.740 --> 00:30:21.440 is actually something, 00:30:21.720 --> 00:30:21.940 I mean, 00:30:21.980 --> 00:30:23.039 we still succumb to it. 00:30:23.080 --> 00:30:24.100 We still lose to it. 00:30:24.140 --> 00:30:24.940 But it's not something 00:30:24.940 --> 00:30:26.320 that requires superhuman things. 00:30:26.420 --> 00:30:28.160 God is actually already present, 00:30:28.740 --> 00:30:29.840 limiting the temptation. 00:30:32.660 --> 00:30:33.880 And he's faithful. 00:30:34.980 --> 00:30:35.820 He's faithful. 00:30:38.039 --> 00:30:39.120 And so what it says is, 00:30:39.200 --> 00:30:39.840 God is faithful. 00:30:39.980 --> 00:30:41.160 He will not let you be tempted 00:30:41.160 --> 00:30:42.240 beyond your ability. 00:30:43.240 --> 00:30:44.539 But with the temptation, 00:30:44.680 --> 00:30:45.579 he will also provide 00:30:45.579 --> 00:30:46.420 the way of escape. 00:30:46.660 --> 00:30:46.819 You see, 00:30:46.940 --> 00:30:48.700 and that's where 00:30:48.700 --> 00:30:49.759 we want him to say 00:30:49.759 --> 00:30:51.079 he'll provide the willpower, 00:30:51.240 --> 00:30:52.200 he'll provide the technique, 00:30:52.319 --> 00:30:53.220 he'll provide the recipe. 00:30:53.720 --> 00:30:54.940 But it doesn't say that. 00:30:55.019 --> 00:30:56.079 He says he will provide 00:30:56.079 --> 00:30:56.839 the way of escape. 00:30:56.940 --> 00:30:57.819 But he provides the way 00:30:57.819 --> 00:30:58.339 of escape 00:30:58.339 --> 00:30:59.519 that we may endure it. 00:30:59.839 --> 00:31:00.859 Why does it say endure? 00:31:02.059 --> 00:31:03.680 Two reasons. 00:31:04.720 --> 00:31:05.720 Probably more than two, 00:31:05.759 --> 00:31:06.640 but two that I'll share. 00:31:07.579 --> 00:31:08.819 The first one is, 00:31:09.259 --> 00:31:09.799 is that 00:31:09.799 --> 00:31:12.779 if it's just always escaping, 00:31:14.960 --> 00:31:15.319 well, 00:31:15.559 --> 00:31:16.619 it actually sort of always, 00:31:16.680 --> 00:31:17.379 it's taking us away 00:31:17.379 --> 00:31:18.200 from being human. 00:31:19.180 --> 00:31:19.480 You see, 00:31:19.539 --> 00:31:20.139 here's the thing. 00:31:20.799 --> 00:31:22.079 If part of the thing that I, 00:31:22.319 --> 00:31:23.159 not part of, 00:31:23.200 --> 00:31:23.980 every marriage, 00:31:24.079 --> 00:31:25.119 there's always going to be things 00:31:25.119 --> 00:31:26.299 I'm tempted to do 00:31:26.299 --> 00:31:27.559 against Louise that are wrong. 00:31:27.639 --> 00:31:28.659 And there's always going to be things 00:31:28.659 --> 00:31:30.359 Louise will be tempted to do 00:31:30.359 --> 00:31:31.399 against me that are wrong. 00:31:31.539 --> 00:31:33.519 That's just marriage. 00:31:35.099 --> 00:31:35.579 You know, 00:31:35.599 --> 00:31:36.200 we're in friendship. 00:31:36.200 --> 00:31:37.799 But if, 00:31:37.940 --> 00:31:38.920 if I pray 00:31:38.920 --> 00:31:40.259 and the way of escape 00:31:40.259 --> 00:31:42.319 is to take me out of marriage, 00:31:42.360 --> 00:31:43.559 then that's not any good, 00:31:43.600 --> 00:31:44.039 is it? 00:31:45.960 --> 00:31:47.360 And so because 00:31:47.360 --> 00:31:48.799 my prayer should be 00:31:48.799 --> 00:31:50.240 and Louise's prayer should be 00:31:50.240 --> 00:31:50.519 that 00:31:50.519 --> 00:31:52.759 if the Lord tarries 00:31:52.759 --> 00:31:53.819 and 00:31:53.819 --> 00:31:55.340 the Lord will grant us 00:31:55.340 --> 00:31:57.360 30 more years of life 00:31:57.360 --> 00:31:57.640 and 00:31:57.640 --> 00:31:59.460 maybe if things go 00:31:59.460 --> 00:31:59.740 really, 00:31:59.860 --> 00:32:00.900 really wonderful well 00:32:00.900 --> 00:32:01.279 that 00:32:01.279 --> 00:32:03.240 we'll both have tea together 00:32:03.240 --> 00:32:04.080 or coffee together 00:32:04.080 --> 00:32:04.920 on some morning 00:32:04.920 --> 00:32:06.320 and then quietly pass away 00:32:06.320 --> 00:32:07.500 a few minutes from each other 00:32:07.500 --> 00:32:09.140 in our 90s. 00:32:11.720 --> 00:32:12.640 And if that, 00:32:12.759 --> 00:32:13.759 if we tarry that, 00:32:14.039 --> 00:32:15.580 whatever type of temptations 00:32:15.580 --> 00:32:16.240 that we have 00:32:16.240 --> 00:32:17.420 to do the other wrong, 00:32:18.240 --> 00:32:19.500 we have to endure them 00:32:19.500 --> 00:32:21.160 because God has called us 00:32:21.160 --> 00:32:21.720 to marriage. 00:32:24.800 --> 00:32:25.279 You know, 00:32:25.320 --> 00:32:26.300 God has called some of you 00:32:26.300 --> 00:32:27.200 to work on parliament. 00:32:27.360 --> 00:32:27.740 There's going to be 00:32:27.740 --> 00:32:28.900 all sorts of temptations 00:32:28.900 --> 00:32:29.600 and you have to learn 00:32:29.600 --> 00:32:31.000 how to endure the temptations 00:32:31.000 --> 00:32:32.100 because God has called you 00:32:32.100 --> 00:32:32.920 to work in parliament 00:32:32.920 --> 00:32:33.700 or he's called you 00:32:33.700 --> 00:32:35.240 to work in civil service 00:32:35.240 --> 00:32:36.460 or in business 00:32:36.460 --> 00:32:37.800 or in the arts 00:32:37.800 --> 00:32:38.759 or as an entrepreneur 00:32:38.759 --> 00:32:40.080 and you have to endure them. 00:32:40.200 --> 00:32:41.360 You can't just keep escaping. 00:32:43.900 --> 00:32:44.840 And the other reason 00:32:44.840 --> 00:32:45.539 it says endure 00:32:45.539 --> 00:32:46.920 is because every temptation 00:32:46.920 --> 00:32:48.080 has a shelf life. 00:32:49.340 --> 00:32:50.000 That's the thing 00:32:50.000 --> 00:32:50.860 which makes Jesus 00:32:50.860 --> 00:32:52.500 so spectacular 00:32:52.500 --> 00:32:53.800 and only Jesus 00:32:53.800 --> 00:32:54.680 knows the depth 00:32:54.680 --> 00:32:55.279 of what it means 00:32:55.279 --> 00:32:55.900 to be human. 00:32:56.440 --> 00:32:56.980 Nobody else 00:32:56.980 --> 00:32:57.980 comes close to him. 00:32:58.420 --> 00:32:58.759 You see, 00:32:58.920 --> 00:33:00.200 if I am tempted, 00:33:00.380 --> 00:33:01.019 I have somebody 00:33:01.019 --> 00:33:01.800 that I don't like 00:33:01.799 --> 00:33:02.839 because they've hurt me 00:33:02.839 --> 00:33:03.639 or they've wronged me 00:33:03.639 --> 00:33:04.960 and I hear something 00:33:04.960 --> 00:33:05.740 that they've done 00:33:05.740 --> 00:33:06.599 which is naughty 00:33:06.599 --> 00:33:07.839 and I suspect 00:33:07.839 --> 00:33:08.579 that the person 00:33:08.579 --> 00:33:09.139 who told me 00:33:09.139 --> 00:33:10.500 that this naughtiness 00:33:10.500 --> 00:33:11.119 that they did, 00:33:11.200 --> 00:33:12.659 that they've exaggerated it 00:33:12.659 --> 00:33:14.559 and I quickly calculate 00:33:14.559 --> 00:33:15.180 in my mind 00:33:15.180 --> 00:33:16.460 how I can exaggerate it 00:33:16.460 --> 00:33:17.159 even more 00:33:17.159 --> 00:33:18.519 and I calculate 00:33:18.519 --> 00:33:19.680 the three or four people 00:33:19.680 --> 00:33:20.440 I can tell 00:33:20.440 --> 00:33:21.119 and I will get 00:33:21.119 --> 00:33:21.839 great pleasure 00:33:21.839 --> 00:33:22.440 from telling 00:33:22.440 --> 00:33:23.480 an exaggerated, 00:33:23.980 --> 00:33:24.899 doubly exaggerated 00:33:24.899 --> 00:33:26.039 type of naughtiness 00:33:26.039 --> 00:33:27.180 about this other person. 00:33:27.259 --> 00:33:27.819 It will put them 00:33:27.819 --> 00:33:28.539 in a bad light. 00:33:28.960 --> 00:33:29.819 People will laugh. 00:33:30.079 --> 00:33:31.099 We'll have this bonding 00:33:31.099 --> 00:33:32.059 but what I've done 00:33:32.059 --> 00:33:33.059 is I've slandered them, 00:33:33.139 --> 00:33:33.980 I've gossiped, 00:33:34.119 --> 00:33:34.980 I've exaggerated, 00:33:35.179 --> 00:33:36.079 I've attacked their thing 00:33:36.079 --> 00:33:37.059 and it's all wrong 00:33:37.059 --> 00:33:39.219 and because I'm struggling 00:33:39.219 --> 00:33:41.339 to try to follow Jesus, 00:33:41.559 --> 00:33:42.659 I hear about this 00:33:42.659 --> 00:33:44.319 and I start to be tempted by it 00:33:44.319 --> 00:33:46.639 and maybe I give in 00:33:46.639 --> 00:33:47.619 after five seconds 00:33:47.619 --> 00:33:48.019 and say, 00:33:48.079 --> 00:33:49.319 did you hear about Bob? 00:33:50.379 --> 00:33:50.819 Whoa. 00:33:52.179 --> 00:33:52.599 Of course, 00:33:52.639 --> 00:33:53.559 let me put on a pious face. 00:33:53.659 --> 00:33:54.779 Oh, did you hear about Bob? 00:33:56.359 --> 00:33:56.759 Inwardly, 00:33:56.819 --> 00:33:57.359 you're going like, 00:33:57.419 --> 00:33:57.839 outwardly, 00:33:57.879 --> 00:33:58.419 you're going like this. 00:33:58.519 --> 00:33:58.859 Inwardly, 00:33:58.899 --> 00:33:59.879 you have this big grin. 00:34:00.240 --> 00:34:01.039 I'm going to get Bob. 00:34:01.779 --> 00:34:02.740 So maybe you resist 00:34:02.740 --> 00:34:03.559 for five seconds, 00:34:03.699 --> 00:34:04.259 maybe you resist 00:34:04.259 --> 00:34:04.839 for a minute, 00:34:05.019 --> 00:34:05.619 maybe you resist 00:34:05.619 --> 00:34:06.299 for ten minutes, 00:34:06.439 --> 00:34:06.899 maybe you resist 00:34:06.899 --> 00:34:07.339 for an hour 00:34:07.339 --> 00:34:08.239 but at some point in time 00:34:08.239 --> 00:34:08.819 you give in. 00:34:09.519 --> 00:34:10.739 But you have no idea 00:34:10.739 --> 00:34:11.519 what it would be like 00:34:11.519 --> 00:34:12.819 to resist that temptation 00:34:12.819 --> 00:34:14.000 until it was no longer 00:34:14.000 --> 00:34:14.759 a temptation 00:34:14.759 --> 00:34:16.239 unless you don't 00:34:16.239 --> 00:34:17.000 give in to it. 00:34:17.420 --> 00:34:17.980 And it might be 00:34:17.980 --> 00:34:18.679 that you have to fight 00:34:18.679 --> 00:34:19.420 that temptation 00:34:19.420 --> 00:34:20.460 for fifteen minutes, 00:34:20.559 --> 00:34:21.099 maybe an hour, 00:34:21.219 --> 00:34:22.039 maybe three hours, 00:34:22.219 --> 00:34:22.960 maybe a week, 00:34:23.079 --> 00:34:23.699 maybe a month, 00:34:23.819 --> 00:34:24.480 maybe a year. 00:34:26.519 --> 00:34:27.860 But at some point in time 00:34:27.860 --> 00:34:28.659 that temptation 00:34:28.659 --> 00:34:29.759 will lose its power 00:34:29.760 --> 00:34:30.380 and go away 00:34:30.380 --> 00:34:31.240 and another temptation 00:34:31.240 --> 00:34:31.760 will come. 00:34:33.160 --> 00:34:34.080 Only Jesus 00:34:34.080 --> 00:34:35.900 knew the depth 00:34:35.900 --> 00:34:37.020 of human experience 00:34:37.020 --> 00:34:37.860 to experience 00:34:37.860 --> 00:34:39.140 every temptation 00:34:39.140 --> 00:34:39.920 that we do 00:34:39.920 --> 00:34:41.000 only without sin. 00:34:41.140 --> 00:34:42.440 Only he knows 00:34:42.440 --> 00:34:44.120 the full length 00:34:44.120 --> 00:34:45.640 and the power 00:34:45.640 --> 00:34:46.980 of that temptation. 00:34:47.480 --> 00:34:49.320 And he is the faithful one 00:34:49.320 --> 00:34:50.000 that we go to. 00:34:51.720 --> 00:34:52.860 He is the one 00:34:52.860 --> 00:34:54.420 who died for us. 00:34:54.420 --> 00:34:56.579 Who better than Jesus? 00:34:57.340 --> 00:34:59.300 Who knows human experience 00:34:59.300 --> 00:35:00.220 better than Jesus? 00:35:00.380 --> 00:35:02.019 Who could possibly be 00:35:02.019 --> 00:35:03.119 a better one 00:35:03.119 --> 00:35:04.180 to take our place 00:35:04.180 --> 00:35:05.960 and offer his 00:35:05.960 --> 00:35:07.500 perfect life for ours? 00:35:09.900 --> 00:35:10.820 So at the heart 00:35:10.820 --> 00:35:11.559 of this text, 00:35:12.380 --> 00:35:13.760 sorry I'm not leaving you 00:35:13.760 --> 00:35:14.860 with the five steps 00:35:14.860 --> 00:35:15.840 to perfect life 00:35:15.840 --> 00:35:17.340 or the knowledge 00:35:17.340 --> 00:35:18.420 for a perfect life. 00:35:18.840 --> 00:35:19.900 What does this text say? 00:35:20.440 --> 00:35:21.139 It says, 00:35:21.139 --> 00:35:22.019 as you struggle 00:35:22.019 --> 00:35:22.879 with temptation, 00:35:23.879 --> 00:35:25.219 turn to the Lord 00:35:25.219 --> 00:35:26.219 and say, 00:35:26.299 --> 00:35:27.059 you are faithful. 00:35:27.920 --> 00:35:28.259 Lord, 00:35:28.400 --> 00:35:29.299 you are faithful. 00:35:29.519 --> 00:35:30.839 You are faithful. 00:35:32.279 --> 00:35:32.679 Lord, 00:35:32.759 --> 00:35:33.440 show me your way 00:35:33.440 --> 00:35:34.000 of escape 00:35:34.000 --> 00:35:35.619 that I may endure 00:35:35.619 --> 00:35:36.460 this temptation 00:35:36.460 --> 00:35:38.400 and live for your glory. 00:35:39.679 --> 00:35:40.440 And maybe the Lord 00:35:40.440 --> 00:35:41.339 will put in your mind 00:35:41.339 --> 00:35:42.299 that you should call somebody. 00:35:42.379 --> 00:35:43.119 I don't know what's going to do. 00:35:43.440 --> 00:35:44.739 It's very open-ended. 00:35:46.159 --> 00:35:47.119 But I encourage you 00:35:47.119 --> 00:35:48.319 to memorize this text 00:35:48.320 --> 00:35:49.900 and I encourage you 00:35:49.900 --> 00:35:50.500 to pray it. 00:35:51.920 --> 00:35:52.940 I encourage you 00:35:52.940 --> 00:35:54.260 to have it start to form 00:35:54.260 --> 00:35:55.760 how you live 00:35:55.760 --> 00:35:57.900 as a disciple of Jesus 00:35:57.900 --> 00:35:59.660 for God's great glory. 00:35:59.940 --> 00:36:00.480 Please stand. 00:36:07.039 --> 00:36:07.720 Could you, 00:36:07.820 --> 00:36:09.280 let's say this text, 00:36:09.360 --> 00:36:10.240 if you could read the text again, 00:36:10.280 --> 00:36:11.059 could you say this text 00:36:11.059 --> 00:36:12.200 with me one more time? 00:36:13.019 --> 00:36:14.100 And then we'll pray. 00:36:14.099 --> 00:36:17.000 Therefore, 00:36:17.599 --> 00:36:18.460 let anyone 00:36:18.460 --> 00:36:20.159 who thinks that he stands 00:36:20.159 --> 00:36:21.940 take heed lest he fall. 00:36:22.599 --> 00:36:23.619 No temptation 00:36:23.619 --> 00:36:25.019 has overtaken you 00:36:25.019 --> 00:36:26.759 that is not common to man. 00:36:27.440 --> 00:36:28.380 God is faithful 00:36:28.380 --> 00:36:29.980 and he will not let you 00:36:29.980 --> 00:36:30.599 be tempted 00:36:30.599 --> 00:36:31.799 beyond your ability. 00:36:32.319 --> 00:36:33.519 But with the temptation, 00:36:33.940 --> 00:36:35.079 he will also provide 00:36:35.079 --> 00:36:36.139 the way of escape 00:36:36.139 --> 00:36:37.679 that you may be able 00:36:37.679 --> 00:36:38.539 to endure it. 00:36:39.659 --> 00:36:40.219 Father, 00:36:41.279 --> 00:36:42.619 we confess before you 00:36:42.619 --> 00:36:43.799 that we want some, 00:36:43.940 --> 00:36:44.900 many times we want you 00:36:44.900 --> 00:36:45.859 just to be like a, 00:36:46.759 --> 00:36:48.480 like make us into puppets 00:36:48.480 --> 00:36:50.299 and just overwhelm 00:36:50.299 --> 00:36:50.980 who we are 00:36:50.980 --> 00:36:52.039 and you don't do it. 00:36:52.699 --> 00:36:53.219 And Father, 00:36:53.299 --> 00:36:54.259 there's lots of times 00:36:54.259 --> 00:36:55.259 we want you 00:36:55.259 --> 00:36:55.900 just to give us 00:36:55.900 --> 00:36:57.119 this unbelievable 00:36:57.119 --> 00:36:58.259 extra willpower 00:36:58.259 --> 00:36:59.359 so we can conquer 00:36:59.359 --> 00:37:00.460 and you don't do it. 00:37:01.199 --> 00:37:01.440 Father, 00:37:01.519 --> 00:37:02.179 we thank you 00:37:02.179 --> 00:37:02.500 that, 00:37:02.579 --> 00:37:02.940 Father, 00:37:03.059 --> 00:37:03.739 we thank you 00:37:03.739 --> 00:37:05.000 that you are faithful, 00:37:05.239 --> 00:37:05.539 that you, 00:37:05.659 --> 00:37:07.139 you're faithful 00:37:07.139 --> 00:37:08.699 in providing a way 00:37:08.699 --> 00:37:09.639 for us to be made right 00:37:09.639 --> 00:37:09.960 with you, 00:37:10.039 --> 00:37:10.839 that you are faithful 00:37:10.839 --> 00:37:11.980 in walking with us, 00:37:11.980 --> 00:37:13.059 that you will never 00:37:13.059 --> 00:37:13.960 despise us, 00:37:14.019 --> 00:37:14.659 that you are never 00:37:14.659 --> 00:37:15.780 discouraged with us, 00:37:15.820 --> 00:37:16.500 that you will never 00:37:16.500 --> 00:37:18.119 hate us or abandon us 00:37:18.119 --> 00:37:20.159 or shame us, 00:37:20.179 --> 00:37:21.380 that you are faithful. 00:37:22.199 --> 00:37:22.880 And we give you 00:37:22.880 --> 00:37:23.679 thanks and praise, 00:37:23.840 --> 00:37:24.059 Father, 00:37:24.159 --> 00:37:25.380 that through Jesus 00:37:25.380 --> 00:37:26.699 you know our temptations 00:37:26.699 --> 00:37:28.360 and you know our limits, 00:37:28.719 --> 00:37:29.380 that you limit 00:37:29.380 --> 00:37:30.360 our temptations 00:37:30.360 --> 00:37:32.519 and that you, 00:37:33.139 --> 00:37:33.320 Father, 00:37:33.380 --> 00:37:33.960 we thank you 00:37:33.960 --> 00:37:34.599 for your word. 00:37:34.719 --> 00:37:35.300 We thank you 00:37:35.300 --> 00:37:36.420 that you have invited us 00:37:36.420 --> 00:37:37.320 to call out to you 00:37:37.320 --> 00:37:37.719 to remember 00:37:37.719 --> 00:37:38.099 that you are 00:37:38.099 --> 00:37:39.000 the faithful God, 00:37:39.079 --> 00:37:39.740 that Jesus is 00:37:39.740 --> 00:37:40.800 the faithful Savior, 00:37:40.800 --> 00:37:42.400 the faithful high priest. 00:37:43.080 --> 00:37:43.280 Lord, 00:37:43.519 --> 00:37:45.120 help us to turn to you 00:37:45.120 --> 00:37:45.740 to remember 00:37:45.740 --> 00:37:46.800 that you are faithful, 00:37:47.280 --> 00:37:48.580 to call out to you 00:37:48.580 --> 00:37:49.560 that you might show us 00:37:49.560 --> 00:37:50.740 your way of escape, 00:37:51.060 --> 00:37:52.480 that we might endure 00:37:52.480 --> 00:37:53.940 this temptation 00:37:53.940 --> 00:37:55.440 only without succumbing 00:37:55.440 --> 00:37:56.060 to it 00:37:56.060 --> 00:37:57.940 so that we 00:37:57.940 --> 00:38:00.600 are made more free 00:38:00.600 --> 00:38:04.780 and live in such a way 00:38:04.780 --> 00:38:05.760 that all the glory 00:38:05.760 --> 00:38:06.560 goes to you 00:38:06.560 --> 00:38:07.700 and none of it 00:38:07.699 --> 00:38:08.319 goes to us. 00:38:09.079 --> 00:38:11.000 And we ask this 00:38:11.000 --> 00:38:11.980 and we thank this 00:38:11.980 --> 00:38:13.119 in the name of Jesus, 00:38:13.279 --> 00:38:14.259 your Son and our Savior. 00:38:14.759 --> 00:38:15.099 Amen.