WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:08.679
 And we're going to look together, I know that you're doing a series through this book, The Christian Atheist, by someone whose surname no one seems better to pronounce.

00:00:09.400 --> 00:00:19.559
 I'm going to go with Craig Groeschel, and we're going to be looking at a chapter there, but I also particularly want to look at that passage from Romans chapter 6.

00:00:19.760 --> 00:00:26.480
 I don't know whether we can get the words up, but I particularly, if you can get them up, those last three or four verses of it would be great.

00:00:26.480 --> 00:00:38.899
 But over my 14 years of preaching in my previous parishes down in Taunton, I discovered that there was one subject that time and again would create a great deal of discomfort.

00:00:39.899 --> 00:00:50.939
 And always, and I say always, guarantee that at least a couple of emails from men would come to me in the week asking if they might meet up with me for a coffee and a chat.

00:00:52.060 --> 00:00:54.620
 I wonder if you can imagine what the subject matter was.

00:00:56.479 --> 00:00:57.919
 Clive's worked it out, I think.

00:00:59.719 --> 00:01:00.359
 Pornography.

00:01:01.799 --> 00:01:13.179
 In 2015, Premier Christianity magazine did a survey in which 50% of Christians, not just men, admitted viewing adult content online at least once a month.

00:01:13.859 --> 00:01:17.299
 And 42% saying that they had an addiction.

00:01:19.039 --> 00:01:19.439
 Christians.

00:01:19.439 --> 00:01:25.899
 It's exactly the same figure as it is for non-Christians in all the surveys.

00:01:27.099 --> 00:01:30.299
 Of course, it's not the only issue that Christians struggle with.

00:01:30.620 --> 00:01:37.319
 For some, it's overworking, verging on workaholism, if that's the right words.

00:01:38.060 --> 00:01:41.239
 For others, it will be anger, a temper that they can't control.

00:01:41.239 --> 00:01:45.179
 For others, it will be greed, not just food greed, but materialism.

00:01:45.859 --> 00:01:49.879
 Just that constant desire to have more, to have bigger, to have better, to have newer.

00:01:51.099 --> 00:01:58.979
 For others, it's simple lust, just that inability to keep looking and to entertain those unhelpful conversations in the office.

00:01:58.980 --> 00:02:02.740
 That just lead you down paths that you know are not right.

00:02:03.820 --> 00:02:11.099
 Or just the words we say, the gossip that we get into, that negativity that we get into, the way we speak about people when they're not in the room.

00:02:11.319 --> 00:02:14.200
 Patterns of behaviour in our lives that we know that are not of God.

00:02:15.640 --> 00:02:18.120
 And yet many of us feel powerless to change.

00:02:18.120 --> 00:02:22.759
 And the point that Grosjeal is making in the chapter that we're looking at of his book is,

00:02:23.120 --> 00:02:25.759
 it is a dangerous thing that can happen in a Christian.

00:02:26.800 --> 00:02:29.180
 That they stop believing that change can happen.

00:02:29.599 --> 00:02:33.140
 It is easy to surrender, in a sense to raise the white flag.

00:02:33.659 --> 00:02:36.140
 And say, yes, God is changing me in all sorts of areas.

00:02:36.360 --> 00:02:38.319
 But there are one or two things that persist.

00:02:38.500 --> 00:02:39.759
 That I seem to get nowhere.

00:02:40.860 --> 00:02:42.159
 They seem to have a grip.

00:02:42.159 --> 00:02:44.640
 And no matter what I do, nothing changes.

00:02:44.639 --> 00:02:48.739
 Therefore, I stop believing that God can change me.

00:02:49.919 --> 00:02:53.079
 Yes, you can do it in lots of areas, but just not in this area.

00:02:54.379 --> 00:03:00.279
 But I think there's an even bigger danger than even Grosjeal picks out, which I think our passage picks out.

00:03:01.099 --> 00:03:06.879
 Because it becomes easy then to swallow the lie that is based on a wonderful truth.

00:03:06.979 --> 00:03:10.079
 It is easy to swallow a lie that is based on a wonderful truth.

00:03:10.080 --> 00:03:16.460
 Because in Romans 6, the wonderful truth of Romans so far is that we are saved by grace.

00:03:16.520 --> 00:03:17.380
 I hope you know that.

00:03:17.840 --> 00:03:19.480
 I hope you understand the gospel.

00:03:19.600 --> 00:03:22.720
 That we are saved, we are put right by grace.

00:03:23.340 --> 00:03:24.560
 Not by what we do.

00:03:25.260 --> 00:03:27.820
 Not by perfect obedience to the rules.

00:03:28.620 --> 00:03:31.100
 Christianity is not about being better.

00:03:32.360 --> 00:03:33.260
 Being good.

00:03:33.480 --> 00:03:36.360
 Even though most people think that's what it's about.

00:03:36.480 --> 00:03:37.120
 It is not.

00:03:37.120 --> 00:03:44.080
 It is that by faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we are made right with God.

00:03:44.180 --> 00:03:44.819
 We are forgiven.

00:03:44.980 --> 00:03:45.840
 We are cleansed.

00:03:45.920 --> 00:03:47.000
 We are washed clean.

00:03:48.920 --> 00:03:50.420
 In chapter 5, verse 1.

00:03:50.500 --> 00:03:57.000
 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

00:03:57.099 --> 00:04:02.040
 through whom we have gained access by faith into his grace, in which we now stand.

00:04:02.039 --> 00:04:03.739
 It is all of grace.

00:04:05.000 --> 00:04:05.560
 Unmerited.

00:04:06.599 --> 00:04:07.159
 Undeserved.

00:04:07.719 --> 00:04:09.519
 Unconditional love and forgiveness.

00:04:10.959 --> 00:04:13.939
 But then there's a question at the start of chapter 6.

00:04:14.519 --> 00:04:15.299
 Which is this.

00:04:15.899 --> 00:04:20.680
 Shall we sin then, so that grace may increase?

00:04:21.000 --> 00:04:22.699
 Or in an old version I love.

00:04:23.099 --> 00:04:25.740
 Shall we sin that grace may abound?

00:04:25.740 --> 00:04:31.540
 See, what it's saying is, if forgiveness and peace with God, if grace is always available,

00:04:32.019 --> 00:04:33.879
 what does it matter then if we keep on sinning?

00:04:34.199 --> 00:04:38.660
 In fact, logic tells us, and was beginning to tell some of Paul's readers,

00:04:39.800 --> 00:04:44.180
 well, surely then, the more I sin, the more I get of God's grace.

00:04:44.439 --> 00:04:48.340
 Therefore, hey, why don't we sin more and get more grace?

00:04:48.339 --> 00:04:50.000
 That was the implication.

00:04:52.079 --> 00:04:55.560
 And you know, it's not long before we find ourselves then perhaps saying,

00:04:56.259 --> 00:04:58.039
 in the situations we face,

00:04:58.239 --> 00:05:01.839
 well, this area of my life, this addiction that's got hold of me,

00:05:01.899 --> 00:05:03.739
 this behaviour that's got a grip of me,

00:05:04.000 --> 00:05:05.620
 this sin that's taken a hold,

00:05:05.699 --> 00:05:07.259
 I start to convince myself,

00:05:08.059 --> 00:05:10.099
 well, does it really matter that much?

00:05:10.219 --> 00:05:11.359
 I mean, after all,

00:05:12.159 --> 00:05:12.959
 God is gracious.

00:05:14.599 --> 00:05:16.339
 Grace means I'll still be forgiven.

00:05:16.339 --> 00:05:20.219
 So actually, maybe I don't really need to worry about it.

00:05:20.279 --> 00:05:22.359
 Maybe I don't really need to deal with it.

00:05:23.299 --> 00:05:24.859
 Because I'm going to be forgiven anyway.

00:05:25.519 --> 00:05:28.000
 And then we don't take it seriously.

00:05:28.539 --> 00:05:30.659
 We convince ourselves it's okay.

00:05:31.079 --> 00:05:32.620
 And I love Paul's response.

00:05:32.819 --> 00:05:35.019
 And if you saw it there,

00:05:35.239 --> 00:05:37.539
 if you go to the next verse,

00:05:39.539 --> 00:05:40.799
 I love his response.

00:05:41.000 --> 00:05:43.299
 By no means, exclamation mark.

00:05:43.359 --> 00:05:44.239
 He's going, no!

00:05:44.240 --> 00:05:45.519
 No way!

00:05:45.639 --> 00:05:46.379
 You've got it wrong.

00:05:46.460 --> 00:05:48.340
 If that's the kind of thinking you've got,

00:05:48.480 --> 00:05:49.000
 no!

00:05:50.540 --> 00:05:52.680
 Disaster lies down that way of thinking.

00:05:54.439 --> 00:05:55.540
 And he goes on to say,

00:05:55.620 --> 00:05:56.199
 as Christians,

00:05:56.379 --> 00:05:57.420
 he says in verse 2,

00:05:57.800 --> 00:05:59.639
 we are those who have died to sin.

00:06:00.100 --> 00:06:01.579
 How can we live in it anymore?

00:06:02.740 --> 00:06:04.900
 Sin is no longer to have control of our lives.

00:06:05.019 --> 00:06:06.360
 Sin is part of the old life,

00:06:06.439 --> 00:06:07.400
 the banished life.

00:06:07.800 --> 00:06:08.319
 Verse 3,

00:06:08.420 --> 00:06:09.860
 he uses the symbol of baptism.

00:06:09.860 --> 00:06:12.439
 So he pictures that when we're baptised,

00:06:12.500 --> 00:06:14.280
 do you have a Baptist Paul baptistry in here?

00:06:15.080 --> 00:06:16.960
 So you kind of do the down and the up.

00:06:17.199 --> 00:06:17.520
 Great!

00:06:18.379 --> 00:06:19.480
 Well, you know the symbolism

00:06:19.480 --> 00:06:21.259
 of when people go down into the water,

00:06:21.400 --> 00:06:24.139
 it is being as if we are dying with Christ,

00:06:24.259 --> 00:06:25.060
 the old self,

00:06:25.139 --> 00:06:25.639
 the old me,

00:06:25.720 --> 00:06:27.340
 with all its behaviours

00:06:27.340 --> 00:06:28.540
 going down into the water,

00:06:28.660 --> 00:06:29.920
 and then I rise again,

00:06:30.460 --> 00:06:32.520
 like Jesus rising from the dead.

00:06:32.519 --> 00:06:34.399
 But with a new life,

00:06:34.959 --> 00:06:35.979
 with new priorities,

00:06:36.199 --> 00:06:38.079
 with a new master of my life.

00:06:39.419 --> 00:06:42.159
 Baptism symbolises that moment of coming to faith,

00:06:42.219 --> 00:06:43.120
 which is decisive.

00:06:43.719 --> 00:06:44.959
 The old ways have gone,

00:06:45.339 --> 00:06:47.839
 the old ways to have no more part of my life.

00:06:50.199 --> 00:06:51.219
 So instead of thinking,

00:06:51.979 --> 00:06:53.099
 I can't change,

00:06:53.139 --> 00:06:53.639
 or worse,

00:06:53.899 --> 00:06:55.659
 it's okay if I don't change,

00:06:55.740 --> 00:06:56.180
 Paul says,

00:06:56.339 --> 00:06:57.399
 by no means.

00:06:57.500 --> 00:06:58.079
 Verse 11,

00:06:58.259 --> 00:07:00.180
 count yourselves dead to sin

00:07:00.180 --> 00:07:03.079
 and alive to God in Jesus Christ.

00:07:05.000 --> 00:07:05.360
 You see,

00:07:05.480 --> 00:07:06.980
 Paul is really clear with us.

00:07:08.220 --> 00:07:10.019
 But also Paul is honest.

00:07:11.180 --> 00:07:12.939
 Because I think Paul was a bloke.

00:07:13.879 --> 00:07:15.060
 I know he was a bloke.

00:07:15.720 --> 00:07:17.000
 And therefore he was a bloke

00:07:17.000 --> 00:07:18.379
 who struggled with the stuff

00:07:18.379 --> 00:07:19.600
 blokes struggle with.

00:07:20.600 --> 00:07:22.399
 And if Paul had been Pauline writing,

00:07:23.399 --> 00:07:24.579
 then Pauline would have known

00:07:24.579 --> 00:07:26.660
 the stuff that women struggle with.

00:07:26.939 --> 00:07:27.280
 That is,

00:07:27.660 --> 00:07:29.160
 Paul is also realistic.

00:07:29.160 --> 00:07:32.200
 And if you go into chapter 7 of Romans,

00:07:32.300 --> 00:07:34.020
 you discover him talking about

00:07:34.020 --> 00:07:35.340
 the stuff I want to do,

00:07:35.980 --> 00:07:37.060
 that's the stuff I can't do.

00:07:37.100 --> 00:07:38.300
 The stuff I don't want to do,

00:07:38.340 --> 00:07:39.280
 I keep on doing.

00:07:40.100 --> 00:07:41.380
 I'm a complete mess,

00:07:41.480 --> 00:07:42.780
 is my kind of translation

00:07:42.780 --> 00:07:44.700
 of what he's saying in verse 7.

00:07:46.160 --> 00:07:47.480
 And so Paul then gives us

00:07:47.480 --> 00:07:50.000
 what I think is like a spiritual CT scan.

00:07:50.960 --> 00:07:52.379
 He kind of shows us

00:07:52.379 --> 00:07:54.260
 what is really going on inside of us.

00:07:54.340 --> 00:07:55.560
 And unless you understand

00:07:55.560 --> 00:07:56.760
 what's going on inside of you,

00:07:56.759 --> 00:07:58.180
 you won't be equipped

00:07:58.180 --> 00:08:00.219
 to deal with what's going on.

00:08:01.079 --> 00:08:01.980
 You will always end up

00:08:01.980 --> 00:08:03.539
 a victim to all of this stuff.

00:08:04.579 --> 00:08:06.879
 And it comes in verses 12 to 13

00:08:06.879 --> 00:08:08.539
 of Romans 6.

00:08:08.599 --> 00:08:09.920
 And he basically says this.

00:08:09.980 --> 00:08:11.319
 You've got to picture your body,

00:08:11.420 --> 00:08:12.099
 what he describes,

00:08:12.199 --> 00:08:13.159
 your mortal body,

00:08:13.699 --> 00:08:15.079
 as being like a castle

00:08:15.079 --> 00:08:17.060
 or a fortified city.

00:08:17.180 --> 00:08:17.939
 Can you imagine that?

00:08:18.620 --> 00:08:20.300
 That's the kind of imagery he's using.

00:08:20.420 --> 00:08:21.500
 Imagine that your body

00:08:21.500 --> 00:08:22.560
 is like a castle

00:08:22.560 --> 00:08:24.579
 or a fortified city.

00:08:24.939 --> 00:08:26.180
 And you need to wise up

00:08:26.180 --> 00:08:27.079
 to what's going on

00:08:27.079 --> 00:08:27.660
 right here,

00:08:27.759 --> 00:08:28.259
 right now,

00:08:28.339 --> 00:08:29.259
 on a Sunday morning

00:08:29.259 --> 00:08:30.680
 in Clevedon

00:08:30.680 --> 00:08:31.959
 inside your body.

00:08:32.799 --> 00:08:33.740
 And he tells us

00:08:33.740 --> 00:08:35.100
 three or four key things.

00:08:35.220 --> 00:08:36.159
 The first thing he says

00:08:36.159 --> 00:08:37.220
 in verse 12 is this.

00:08:37.559 --> 00:08:38.539
 There is a throne

00:08:38.539 --> 00:08:39.720
 at the heart of your life.

00:08:39.820 --> 00:08:40.679
 There is a throne

00:08:40.679 --> 00:08:42.620
 at the heart of your life.

00:08:43.759 --> 00:08:44.799
 In verse 12 he says,

00:08:44.899 --> 00:08:46.360
 don't let sin reign.

00:08:46.980 --> 00:08:47.740
 The word reign

00:08:47.740 --> 00:08:48.539
 is just a verb

00:08:48.539 --> 00:08:49.580
 that goes with king.

00:08:49.580 --> 00:08:50.139
 And the throne

00:08:50.139 --> 00:08:51.520
 is that on which

00:08:51.520 --> 00:08:52.600
 a king sits.

00:08:53.000 --> 00:08:54.100
 The question is,

00:08:54.460 --> 00:08:55.820
 who sits on the throne

00:08:55.820 --> 00:08:57.240
 in your life?

00:08:58.980 --> 00:09:00.480
 In your mortal body,

00:09:01.120 --> 00:09:02.340
 who is sitting on the throne?

00:09:03.220 --> 00:09:04.259
 Who is master?

00:09:05.100 --> 00:09:06.040
 Who or what

00:09:06.040 --> 00:09:06.840
 is actually

00:09:06.840 --> 00:09:08.120
 in control of your life?

00:09:08.180 --> 00:09:08.440
 You see,

00:09:08.720 --> 00:09:09.920
 is it Jesus Christ,

00:09:10.000 --> 00:09:11.180
 the rightful king?

00:09:11.620 --> 00:09:12.600
 Or is it actually

00:09:12.600 --> 00:09:13.520
 something else?

00:09:15.060 --> 00:09:16.020
 Groeschel, in his book,

00:09:16.140 --> 00:09:17.340
 poses some questions

00:09:17.340 --> 00:09:18.480
 that might help you

00:09:18.480 --> 00:09:19.440
 to work out

00:09:19.440 --> 00:09:21.360
 if something other

00:09:21.360 --> 00:09:22.460
 than Jesus Christ

00:09:22.460 --> 00:09:23.560
 is actually sitting

00:09:23.560 --> 00:09:24.200
 on the throne

00:09:24.200 --> 00:09:25.760
 in your mortal body?

00:09:27.500 --> 00:09:27.960
 And he asks

00:09:27.960 --> 00:09:28.740
 some of these questions.

00:09:28.880 --> 00:09:29.160
 Firstly,

00:09:29.620 --> 00:09:30.960
 do those closest to you,

00:09:31.000 --> 00:09:31.940
 your family and friends,

00:09:32.140 --> 00:09:34.020
 see that there are

00:09:34.020 --> 00:09:35.240
 some real issues

00:09:35.240 --> 00:09:36.240
 that you are struggling

00:09:36.240 --> 00:09:37.380
 with in your life?

00:09:37.460 --> 00:09:38.340
 You may not see it,

00:09:38.780 --> 00:09:40.340
 but do they spot something?

00:09:40.720 --> 00:09:41.160
 Habits?

00:09:42.060 --> 00:09:43.040
 Things that are going on?

00:09:43.160 --> 00:09:43.540
 Secondly,

00:09:44.920 --> 00:09:45.780
 do the behaviours

00:09:45.780 --> 00:09:46.720
 that you're struggling

00:09:46.720 --> 00:09:47.740
 with continue

00:09:47.740 --> 00:09:49.180
 even though

00:09:49.180 --> 00:09:50.100
 you know

00:09:50.100 --> 00:09:51.419
 they're hurting you

00:09:51.419 --> 00:09:53.060
 and maybe sometimes

00:09:53.060 --> 00:09:54.000
 hurting others?

00:09:55.080 --> 00:09:56.120
 You know the consequences,

00:09:56.340 --> 00:09:56.919
 but still

00:09:56.919 --> 00:09:58.019
 you keep

00:09:58.019 --> 00:09:59.480
 doing the same things.

00:09:59.659 --> 00:10:00.100
 Thirdly,

00:10:01.600 --> 00:10:02.100
 do you actually

00:10:02.100 --> 00:10:02.799
 find yourself

00:10:02.799 --> 00:10:04.560
 arranging your daily schedule,

00:10:04.759 --> 00:10:05.759
 your weekly schedule

00:10:05.759 --> 00:10:06.759
 around those things?

00:10:06.840 --> 00:10:07.460
 Do they start to

00:10:07.460 --> 00:10:08.240
 take control

00:10:08.240 --> 00:10:08.940
 of your diary?

00:10:11.379 --> 00:10:12.019
 Fourthly,

00:10:12.019 --> 00:10:12.960
 can you go weak

00:10:12.960 --> 00:10:14.180
 without it?

00:10:14.179 --> 00:10:15.899
 Are these patterns,

00:10:16.199 --> 00:10:16.879
 these behaviours,

00:10:16.979 --> 00:10:17.819
 things that you see

00:10:17.819 --> 00:10:18.639
 coming up week

00:10:18.639 --> 00:10:19.359
 after week

00:10:19.359 --> 00:10:20.099
 after week?

00:10:21.739 --> 00:10:22.519
 And then lastly,

00:10:22.739 --> 00:10:23.679
 are you denying

00:10:23.679 --> 00:10:25.479
 or trying to keep it secret?

00:10:26.699 --> 00:10:27.819
 Are these things

00:10:27.819 --> 00:10:28.500
 hidden away

00:10:28.500 --> 00:10:29.379
 that you don't let

00:10:29.379 --> 00:10:30.039
 anyone else

00:10:30.039 --> 00:10:31.039
 around you see?

00:10:33.519 --> 00:10:34.519
 Good questions

00:10:34.519 --> 00:10:36.079
 that you have to ask

00:10:36.079 --> 00:10:36.679
 yourself

00:10:36.679 --> 00:10:37.559
 to know

00:10:37.559 --> 00:10:38.419
 who is actually

00:10:38.419 --> 00:10:39.419
 sitting on the throne?

00:10:41.159 --> 00:10:42.199
 Because Paul then says,

00:10:42.200 --> 00:10:42.600
 secondly,

00:10:42.720 --> 00:10:43.640
 there is a challenger

00:10:43.640 --> 00:10:44.259
 to the throne.

00:10:44.360 --> 00:10:45.040
 Verse 12,

00:10:45.480 --> 00:10:47.660
 don't let sin reign.

00:10:48.379 --> 00:10:49.259
 There is a rebel

00:10:49.259 --> 00:10:51.320
 who wants to lead a coup

00:10:51.320 --> 00:10:53.379
 and gain the throne

00:10:53.379 --> 00:10:54.640
 and take control

00:10:54.640 --> 00:10:55.540
 of your life.

00:10:56.620 --> 00:10:57.800
 And that rebel is sin.

00:10:58.100 --> 00:10:59.120
 Sin wants control

00:10:59.120 --> 00:10:59.780
 of your life

00:10:59.780 --> 00:11:00.780
 and we are called

00:11:00.780 --> 00:11:02.020
 on to resist it.

00:11:02.920 --> 00:11:04.040
 But third,

00:11:04.460 --> 00:11:06.040
 there are loyal servants

00:11:06.040 --> 00:11:08.000
 who if not careful

00:11:08.000 --> 00:11:09.220
 will defect

00:11:09.220 --> 00:11:10.300
 to the other side.

00:11:11.280 --> 00:11:11.460
 See,

00:11:11.460 --> 00:11:12.660
 instead of being servants

00:11:12.660 --> 00:11:13.280
 of you

00:11:13.280 --> 00:11:14.120
 as you seek

00:11:14.120 --> 00:11:14.560
 to live under

00:11:14.560 --> 00:11:15.480
 the kingship of Jesus,

00:11:15.620 --> 00:11:16.400
 they will jump over

00:11:16.400 --> 00:11:16.879
 the wall,

00:11:17.480 --> 00:11:18.639
 team up with the enemy

00:11:18.639 --> 00:11:20.879
 and they will cause havoc.

00:11:21.620 --> 00:11:22.280
 Verse 12,

00:11:23.220 --> 00:11:24.420
 don't let sin reign

00:11:24.420 --> 00:11:25.580
 in your mortal body

00:11:25.580 --> 00:11:26.940
 so that you obey

00:11:26.940 --> 00:11:29.420
 its evil desires.

00:11:29.519 --> 00:11:30.139
 It's that word

00:11:30.139 --> 00:11:30.840
 desires.

00:11:32.340 --> 00:11:32.580
 See,

00:11:32.680 --> 00:11:33.400
 our desires

00:11:33.400 --> 00:11:34.360
 are normally

00:11:34.360 --> 00:11:35.639
 loyal servants

00:11:35.639 --> 00:11:36.240
 of ours,

00:11:36.300 --> 00:11:36.600
 aren't they?

00:11:36.639 --> 00:11:37.320
 We have lives

00:11:37.320 --> 00:11:38.160
 full of desires.

00:11:39.300 --> 00:11:40.040
 These are the things

00:11:40.039 --> 00:11:40.579
 that lead us

00:11:40.579 --> 00:11:41.659
 to do what we do.

00:11:41.919 --> 00:11:42.659
 We have lots

00:11:42.659 --> 00:11:43.559
 of good desires.

00:11:43.740 --> 00:11:44.879
 We have desires

00:11:44.879 --> 00:11:45.620
 for food,

00:11:45.879 --> 00:11:46.799
 desires for drink,

00:11:47.019 --> 00:11:47.899
 desires for love

00:11:47.899 --> 00:11:48.860
 and companionship,

00:11:49.219 --> 00:11:50.240
 desire for sex,

00:11:50.579 --> 00:11:51.599
 desire for justice,

00:11:51.860 --> 00:11:52.759
 desire for rest

00:11:52.759 --> 00:11:53.879
 and sleep,

00:11:54.519 --> 00:11:55.599
 a desire for coffee.

00:11:58.179 --> 00:11:58.879
 And they're all

00:11:58.879 --> 00:11:59.639
 good desires.

00:11:59.860 --> 00:12:01.439
 They serve us well.

00:12:03.019 --> 00:12:04.620
 They are our loyal servants.

00:12:04.620 --> 00:12:06.240
 They lead us to do

00:12:06.240 --> 00:12:07.080
 the stuff we do

00:12:07.080 --> 00:12:07.740
 day in,

00:12:07.820 --> 00:12:08.419
 day out.

00:12:09.639 --> 00:12:10.440
 But Paul is saying

00:12:10.440 --> 00:12:11.519
 if you're not careful,

00:12:12.200 --> 00:12:13.120
 your desires,

00:12:13.279 --> 00:12:14.360
 those loyal servants,

00:12:14.500 --> 00:12:15.600
 can be taken captive

00:12:15.600 --> 00:12:16.320
 by the enemy,

00:12:16.500 --> 00:12:17.100
 by sin.

00:12:17.919 --> 00:12:19.379
 And what were once

00:12:19.379 --> 00:12:20.279
 good desires

00:12:20.279 --> 00:12:21.639
 easily become

00:12:21.639 --> 00:12:22.740
 evil desires.

00:12:24.080 --> 00:12:25.679
 So the desire for food,

00:12:25.759 --> 00:12:26.860
 which has served us well,

00:12:26.960 --> 00:12:27.799
 easily becomes

00:12:27.799 --> 00:12:29.620
 a desire for greed,

00:12:30.259 --> 00:12:31.019
 for more.

00:12:31.740 --> 00:12:33.019
 Whether it's physical greed

00:12:33.019 --> 00:12:34.360
 or materialism,

00:12:34.439 --> 00:12:35.100
 wanting more,

00:12:35.220 --> 00:12:36.259
 wanting what others

00:12:36.259 --> 00:12:36.759
 have got,

00:12:36.879 --> 00:12:37.799
 covetousness.

00:12:38.240 --> 00:12:39.240
 A desire for drink

00:12:39.240 --> 00:12:40.100
 serves us well

00:12:40.100 --> 00:12:42.120
 until it takes us captive.

00:12:43.799 --> 00:12:44.399
 And we want to drink

00:12:44.399 --> 00:12:45.000
 too much.

00:12:45.059 --> 00:12:46.100
 A desire for sex

00:12:46.100 --> 00:12:46.799
 serves well

00:12:46.799 --> 00:12:47.679
 until that desire

00:12:47.679 --> 00:12:48.299
 for sex

00:12:48.299 --> 00:12:49.199
 with someone

00:12:49.199 --> 00:12:50.419
 who's not our spouse

00:12:50.419 --> 00:12:52.399
 starts to take over.

00:12:52.460 --> 00:12:53.340
 A desire for love

00:12:53.340 --> 00:12:54.399
 and companionship

00:12:54.399 --> 00:12:56.500
 is a great desire

00:12:56.500 --> 00:12:57.360
 until that desire

00:12:57.360 --> 00:12:58.860
 becomes a desire

00:12:58.860 --> 00:13:00.019
 that comes out of lust

00:13:00.019 --> 00:13:01.319
 and an addiction

00:13:01.319 --> 00:13:02.079
 to pornography.

00:13:02.080 --> 00:13:03.379
 A desire for rest

00:13:03.379 --> 00:13:04.060
 and sleep

00:13:04.060 --> 00:13:05.900
 actually becomes

00:13:05.900 --> 00:13:06.520
 slothfulness

00:13:06.520 --> 00:13:07.300
 and laziness.

00:13:07.440 --> 00:13:08.600
 A desire for justice

00:13:08.600 --> 00:13:09.560
 and fairness

00:13:09.560 --> 00:13:11.100
 easily becomes

00:13:11.100 --> 00:13:12.420
 a desire to get even

00:13:12.420 --> 00:13:14.360
 that leads to anger

00:13:14.360 --> 00:13:15.240
 and gossip

00:13:15.240 --> 00:13:16.440
 and bitterness.

00:13:18.360 --> 00:13:18.740
 Do you see,

00:13:18.860 --> 00:13:19.800
 good desires,

00:13:20.620 --> 00:13:21.720
 which were meant

00:13:21.720 --> 00:13:22.700
 to be loyal servants,

00:13:22.840 --> 00:13:23.180
 suddenly,

00:13:23.480 --> 00:13:24.740
 when taken hold of,

00:13:24.780 --> 00:13:25.840
 when they defect

00:13:25.840 --> 00:13:26.740
 to the enemy,

00:13:26.879 --> 00:13:27.259
 the devil,

00:13:28.120 --> 00:13:29.020
 when they defect

00:13:29.020 --> 00:13:29.800
 to sin,

00:13:29.799 --> 00:13:31.519
 or suddenly

00:13:31.519 --> 00:13:32.419
 they become dangerous.

00:13:32.539 --> 00:13:32.919
 And the reason

00:13:32.919 --> 00:13:33.839
 why they're so dangerous

00:13:33.839 --> 00:13:34.439
 is this,

00:13:35.740 --> 00:13:36.620
 is that they offer

00:13:36.620 --> 00:13:37.399
 a false promise.

00:13:39.779 --> 00:13:40.519
 They offer you

00:13:40.519 --> 00:13:41.240
 the false promise

00:13:41.240 --> 00:13:42.240
 that if you pursue

00:13:42.240 --> 00:13:43.000
 your longings,

00:13:43.099 --> 00:13:44.319
 life will be so much better.

00:13:44.859 --> 00:13:45.979
 If I get even,

00:13:46.500 --> 00:13:47.699
 I'll be so much better.

00:13:48.699 --> 00:13:49.500
 If I pursue

00:13:49.500 --> 00:13:50.319
 that relationship,

00:13:50.500 --> 00:13:51.199
 which is not the one

00:13:51.199 --> 00:13:52.299
 with my husband or wife,

00:13:52.620 --> 00:13:53.459
 actually that's where

00:13:53.459 --> 00:13:54.399
 I'll find fulfillment.

00:13:54.399 --> 00:13:57.419
 It is a false promise.

00:13:58.879 --> 00:14:00.179
 We need to take seriously

00:14:00.179 --> 00:14:01.139
 our desires

00:14:01.139 --> 00:14:02.299
 and our longings.

00:14:03.019 --> 00:14:04.059
 We need to monitor them

00:14:04.059 --> 00:14:04.759
 and watch them

00:14:04.759 --> 00:14:06.139
 and take account

00:14:06.139 --> 00:14:07.459
 of what's really going on.

00:14:07.600 --> 00:14:08.220
 Which then leads

00:14:08.220 --> 00:14:08.959
 to the fourth thing

00:14:08.959 --> 00:14:10.120
 that I think Paul says.

00:14:11.199 --> 00:14:12.000
 That there are also

00:14:12.000 --> 00:14:13.779
 battles in this,

00:14:13.819 --> 00:14:13.939
 sorry,

00:14:14.019 --> 00:14:15.079
 there are also weapons

00:14:15.079 --> 00:14:16.519
 in this battle.

00:14:17.039 --> 00:14:17.860
 Verse 13.

00:14:18.579 --> 00:14:19.199
 Do not offer

00:14:19.199 --> 00:14:20.620
 any part of yourself

00:14:20.620 --> 00:14:21.699
 as an instrument

00:14:21.699 --> 00:14:22.699
 of wickedness.

00:14:22.700 --> 00:14:23.800
 That word instrument

00:14:23.800 --> 00:14:24.820
 is the same word

00:14:24.820 --> 00:14:25.940
 that's used for weapon

00:14:25.940 --> 00:14:27.020
 in other parts

00:14:27.020 --> 00:14:27.800
 of the New Testament.

00:14:28.200 --> 00:14:29.000
 Same word.

00:14:30.080 --> 00:14:30.720
 And what he's saying

00:14:30.720 --> 00:14:31.020
 is this,

00:14:31.080 --> 00:14:32.420
 that the parts of your body,

00:14:32.820 --> 00:14:33.360
 your tongue,

00:14:33.960 --> 00:14:34.540
 your mouth,

00:14:34.900 --> 00:14:35.560
 your stomach,

00:14:35.940 --> 00:14:36.660
 your eyes,

00:14:36.960 --> 00:14:38.080
 your sexual organs,

00:14:38.560 --> 00:14:39.360
 when desires

00:14:39.360 --> 00:14:40.740
 are captured by sin,

00:14:41.100 --> 00:14:42.200
 they start to turn

00:14:42.200 --> 00:14:43.180
 your body parts

00:14:43.180 --> 00:14:44.780
 into weapons of sin.

00:14:46.660 --> 00:14:47.379
 If you want to know

00:14:47.379 --> 00:14:48.300
 a great example of that,

00:14:48.379 --> 00:14:49.520
 go to the book of James.

00:14:50.900 --> 00:14:51.600
 In the book of James,

00:14:51.660 --> 00:14:52.540
 it talks about this thing

00:14:52.539 --> 00:14:53.059
 in your mouth.

00:14:53.519 --> 00:14:54.139
 Turn to your neighbour

00:14:54.139 --> 00:14:55.139
 and stick your tongue out.

00:14:55.620 --> 00:14:56.459
 You're allowed to do that.

00:14:56.539 --> 00:14:57.039
 Turn to your neighbour

00:14:57.039 --> 00:14:58.139
 and stick your tongue out.

00:14:59.819 --> 00:15:00.919
 Show them your tongue.

00:15:02.599 --> 00:15:03.759
 If you know the book of James,

00:15:03.860 --> 00:15:04.539
 the book of James

00:15:04.539 --> 00:15:05.379
 will tell you

00:15:05.379 --> 00:15:07.539
 that this tiny little bit

00:15:07.539 --> 00:15:08.360
 of floppiness

00:15:08.360 --> 00:15:09.299
 in our mouth

00:15:09.299 --> 00:15:12.159
 has extraordinary power.

00:15:12.299 --> 00:15:13.079
 It has power

00:15:13.079 --> 00:15:14.379
 to build up

00:15:14.379 --> 00:15:15.659
 and to encourage

00:15:15.659 --> 00:15:17.120
 and to make

00:15:17.120 --> 00:15:18.059
 someone's day,

00:15:18.139 --> 00:15:18.639
 doesn't it?

00:15:18.639 --> 00:15:20.639
 This little thing here.

00:15:22.539 --> 00:15:25.179
 But if we have a desire

00:15:25.179 --> 00:15:26.419
 suddenly to hurt

00:15:26.419 --> 00:15:27.740
 and not heal,

00:15:27.860 --> 00:15:28.539
 our tongue

00:15:28.539 --> 00:15:29.719
 becomes the most

00:15:29.719 --> 00:15:31.079
 destructive weapon

00:15:31.079 --> 00:15:31.899
 known to mankind.

00:15:32.839 --> 00:15:34.959
 We can destroy people

00:15:34.959 --> 00:15:36.659
 with this floppy thing

00:15:36.659 --> 00:15:37.439
 in our mouth,

00:15:37.599 --> 00:15:38.059
 can't we?

00:15:39.059 --> 00:15:39.599
 Do you see

00:15:39.599 --> 00:15:41.240
 how when your desires

00:15:41.240 --> 00:15:42.139
 are taken captive

00:15:42.139 --> 00:15:42.740
 by sin,

00:15:42.879 --> 00:15:44.120
 suddenly bits of your body

00:15:44.120 --> 00:15:46.199
 become dangerous weapons?

00:15:46.200 --> 00:15:49.240
 Do you see,

00:15:49.320 --> 00:15:50.040
 suddenly it all

00:15:50.040 --> 00:15:50.680
 looks a bit different,

00:15:50.759 --> 00:15:51.040
 doesn't it?

00:15:51.100 --> 00:15:51.680
 Paul says,

00:15:52.040 --> 00:15:52.460
 wake up.

00:15:53.160 --> 00:15:54.340
 Wake up to the reality.

00:15:54.520 --> 00:15:56.340
 You are in a fierce battle.

00:15:57.040 --> 00:15:58.340
 A battle for who

00:15:58.340 --> 00:15:59.560
 will be king

00:15:59.560 --> 00:16:01.140
 of your mortal body.

00:16:02.060 --> 00:16:03.120
 Be clear, he says.

00:16:03.220 --> 00:16:04.840
 God is the true king.

00:16:05.120 --> 00:16:06.759
 He has the rightful place

00:16:06.759 --> 00:16:07.379
 on the throne.

00:16:07.840 --> 00:16:08.640
 My desires,

00:16:08.780 --> 00:16:09.640
 my body parts

00:16:09.640 --> 00:16:10.780
 are meant to be used

00:16:10.780 --> 00:16:12.200
 for his glory.

00:16:13.180 --> 00:16:14.620
 It is simply not right

00:16:14.620 --> 00:16:15.360
 for us to say,

00:16:15.520 --> 00:16:15.840
 okay,

00:16:16.180 --> 00:16:16.920
 as long as some

00:16:16.920 --> 00:16:17.740
 of my desires,

00:16:17.940 --> 00:16:19.180
 some of my body parts

00:16:19.180 --> 00:16:20.560
 are being used for God,

00:16:20.640 --> 00:16:21.320
 well, it doesn't matter

00:16:21.320 --> 00:16:21.960
 too much

00:16:21.960 --> 00:16:22.600
 if one or two

00:16:22.600 --> 00:16:23.820
 are being used for sin.

00:16:24.640 --> 00:16:25.680
 It'll be okay.

00:16:25.820 --> 00:16:26.520
 Paul says,

00:16:27.180 --> 00:16:28.660
 by no means,

00:16:28.800 --> 00:16:29.980
 exclamation mark.

00:16:30.500 --> 00:16:31.420
 No, it won't

00:16:31.420 --> 00:16:33.060
 because the key is this.

00:16:33.220 --> 00:16:34.759
 Sin wants control.

00:16:34.920 --> 00:16:35.120
 You see,

00:16:35.240 --> 00:16:36.740
 sin is not just an act.

00:16:37.160 --> 00:16:38.080
 It's a power.

00:16:38.900 --> 00:16:40.379
 It is not the thing I do.

00:16:40.640 --> 00:16:41.480
 It is a power

00:16:41.480 --> 00:16:42.580
 that takes over.

00:16:43.420 --> 00:16:44.580
 Sin wants to reign.

00:16:45.720 --> 00:16:47.120
 And sin is not satisfied

00:16:47.120 --> 00:16:48.500
 to just have control

00:16:48.500 --> 00:16:49.740
 of one bit of your life.

00:16:51.620 --> 00:16:52.180
 You see,

00:16:52.240 --> 00:16:53.240
 when you've got a castle,

00:16:53.379 --> 00:16:54.139
 the danger is,

00:16:54.200 --> 00:16:55.740
 if you leave one window open

00:16:55.740 --> 00:16:58.759
 or one ladder out at night,

00:16:59.180 --> 00:17:00.080
 it'll come in

00:17:00.080 --> 00:17:01.139
 and it won't just take over

00:17:01.139 --> 00:17:01.779
 one room.

00:17:01.980 --> 00:17:02.740
 It won't be long

00:17:02.740 --> 00:17:04.000
 before it's knocking down

00:17:04.000 --> 00:17:05.180
 and knocking down

00:17:05.180 --> 00:17:05.720
 the rooms

00:17:05.720 --> 00:17:07.039
 in the rest of the palace

00:17:07.039 --> 00:17:08.380
 because its aim

00:17:08.380 --> 00:17:09.259
 is not to have control

00:17:09.259 --> 00:17:09.880
 of one room.

00:17:10.039 --> 00:17:10.819
 It wants control

00:17:10.819 --> 00:17:11.420
 of a city.

00:17:11.480 --> 00:17:15.339
 So it's not good

00:17:15.339 --> 00:17:16.079
 to say,

00:17:16.220 --> 00:17:16.880
 well, it doesn't matter

00:17:16.880 --> 00:17:17.980
 as long as there's only

00:17:17.980 --> 00:17:19.000
 one area of my life

00:17:19.000 --> 00:17:20.039
 where sin seems

00:17:20.039 --> 00:17:20.660
 to have a grip

00:17:20.660 --> 00:17:21.839
 because it won't be long

00:17:21.839 --> 00:17:23.559
 before it's taken over others

00:17:23.559 --> 00:17:24.900
 and I've seen it time

00:17:24.900 --> 00:17:26.099
 and time again

00:17:26.099 --> 00:17:27.140
 in parish ministry.

00:17:28.779 --> 00:17:29.480
 Where people struggle

00:17:29.480 --> 00:17:30.339
 in one area

00:17:30.339 --> 00:17:32.079
 become less and less frequent

00:17:32.079 --> 00:17:32.720
 on a Sunday,

00:17:32.920 --> 00:17:33.599
 I've seen it

00:17:33.599 --> 00:17:35.400
 time and time

00:17:35.400 --> 00:17:36.240
 and time again.

00:17:37.599 --> 00:17:38.460
 So how then

00:17:38.460 --> 00:17:39.460
 do we fight the battle?

00:17:40.100 --> 00:17:40.700
 How do we begin

00:17:40.700 --> 00:17:41.819
 to see change

00:17:41.819 --> 00:17:42.759
 in these areas?

00:17:43.220 --> 00:17:43.799
 These areas

00:17:43.799 --> 00:17:44.200
 that become

00:17:44.200 --> 00:17:45.180
 very difficult for us.

00:17:45.259 --> 00:17:45.980
 Well, Grosje will just

00:17:45.980 --> 00:17:47.840
 give some very quick advice

00:17:47.840 --> 00:17:48.700
 that I'm going to give you

00:17:48.700 --> 00:17:49.440
 as I finish.

00:17:49.559 --> 00:17:50.400
 The first is this,

00:17:50.420 --> 00:17:51.759
 you need to admit it.

00:17:53.019 --> 00:17:53.319
 You see,

00:17:53.360 --> 00:17:53.940
 when in sermons

00:17:53.940 --> 00:17:54.960
 I mention the word

00:17:54.960 --> 00:17:55.460
 pornography,

00:17:55.460 --> 00:17:56.000
 I've discovered

00:17:56.000 --> 00:17:56.880
 I never have to preach

00:17:56.880 --> 00:17:57.360
 on pornography,

00:17:57.460 --> 00:17:58.059
 I just have to say

00:17:58.059 --> 00:17:58.660
 the word.

00:17:58.660 --> 00:18:01.540
 I always say

00:18:01.540 --> 00:18:02.580
 you need to bring it

00:18:02.580 --> 00:18:03.380
 out of the darkness

00:18:03.380 --> 00:18:04.160
 into the light.

00:18:04.259 --> 00:18:05.180
 It's true of all sin.

00:18:05.220 --> 00:18:05.980
 You have to bring it

00:18:05.980 --> 00:18:06.720
 out of the darkness

00:18:06.720 --> 00:18:07.540
 into the light.

00:18:07.759 --> 00:18:08.660
 That means you have to

00:18:08.660 --> 00:18:09.920
 admit it to yourself,

00:18:10.560 --> 00:18:11.279
 to God.

00:18:12.320 --> 00:18:13.019
 But the danger is

00:18:13.019 --> 00:18:13.680
 all of those things

00:18:13.680 --> 00:18:14.980
 you can fool yourself in,

00:18:15.040 --> 00:18:15.540
 I think.

00:18:16.180 --> 00:18:17.220
 Even with God.

00:18:17.759 --> 00:18:18.720
 And I always say

00:18:18.720 --> 00:18:19.660
 you need to admit it

00:18:19.660 --> 00:18:20.540
 to another person.

00:18:21.279 --> 00:18:22.800
 You need to speak out loud

00:18:22.800 --> 00:18:23.580
 to somebody

00:18:23.580 --> 00:18:25.779
 I have a problem with.

00:18:26.300 --> 00:18:27.580
 Dot, dot, dot.

00:18:27.579 --> 00:18:29.799
 I have an

00:18:29.799 --> 00:18:30.679
 accountability group,

00:18:30.839 --> 00:18:32.199
 two other vicars

00:18:32.199 --> 00:18:32.939
 that I meet with,

00:18:33.039 --> 00:18:33.899
 three times a year

00:18:33.899 --> 00:18:34.899
 for two days.

00:18:35.599 --> 00:18:36.279
 They have permission

00:18:36.279 --> 00:18:37.960
 to ask me every question

00:18:37.960 --> 00:18:39.019
 that I don't want

00:18:39.019 --> 00:18:39.699
 them to ask.

00:18:40.220 --> 00:18:40.599
 And in fact,

00:18:40.659 --> 00:18:41.119
 we have a thing

00:18:41.119 --> 00:18:41.579
 at the end

00:18:41.579 --> 00:18:43.199
 which is where

00:18:43.199 --> 00:18:44.199
 someone will ask me,

00:18:44.319 --> 00:18:44.539
 Adrian,

00:18:44.619 --> 00:18:45.399
 what question

00:18:45.399 --> 00:18:46.159
 do you not want

00:18:46.159 --> 00:18:47.159
 me to ask you today?

00:18:51.319 --> 00:18:52.199
 So I have to tell

00:18:52.199 --> 00:18:52.939
 them everything.

00:18:53.960 --> 00:18:54.720
 Sex life,

00:18:54.980 --> 00:18:55.619
 what I'm looking at

00:18:55.619 --> 00:18:56.359
 online,

00:18:56.839 --> 00:18:57.500
 about how

00:18:57.500 --> 00:18:58.059
 I'm being

00:18:58.059 --> 00:18:58.700
 a parent,

00:18:58.960 --> 00:18:59.799
 a husband,

00:18:59.960 --> 00:19:00.839
 all of those things.

00:19:01.700 --> 00:19:02.180
 And we've been

00:19:02.180 --> 00:19:03.279
 doing this for 20 years.

00:19:03.400 --> 00:19:04.500
 They know when I'm lying.

00:19:06.539 --> 00:19:07.140
 Admit it.

00:19:07.279 --> 00:19:07.640
 Secondly,

00:19:08.140 --> 00:19:09.640
 seek the power of God.

00:19:09.720 --> 00:19:10.940
 The context of this passage

00:19:10.940 --> 00:19:12.640
 is not that we are

00:19:12.640 --> 00:19:13.599
 ever on the throne.

00:19:14.779 --> 00:19:15.339
 It is not that

00:19:15.339 --> 00:19:16.140
 we're on the throne

00:19:16.140 --> 00:19:16.579
 and therefore

00:19:16.579 --> 00:19:17.359
 we have to have

00:19:17.359 --> 00:19:18.339
 the power to deal

00:19:18.339 --> 00:19:19.579
 with what's going on.

00:19:19.619 --> 00:19:20.380
 The power doesn't

00:19:20.380 --> 00:19:20.920
 lie with us.

00:19:21.019 --> 00:19:22.240
 No, God is on the throne.

00:19:22.700 --> 00:19:23.940
 Power comes from him.

00:19:24.259 --> 00:19:24.819
 Which is why

00:19:24.819 --> 00:19:25.319
 when you get to

00:19:25.319 --> 00:19:26.639
 chapter 8 of Romans,

00:19:26.879 --> 00:19:27.759
 we're told about

00:19:27.759 --> 00:19:28.700
 the Holy Spirit.

00:19:29.639 --> 00:19:30.579
 In chapter 8,

00:19:30.639 --> 00:19:31.359
 verse 13,

00:19:31.460 --> 00:19:32.279
 if you live according

00:19:32.279 --> 00:19:32.939
 to the flesh,

00:19:33.000 --> 00:19:33.599
 you'll die.

00:19:33.919 --> 00:19:35.000
 But if by the Spirit

00:19:35.000 --> 00:19:35.980
 you put to death

00:19:35.980 --> 00:19:37.200
 the misdeeds of the body,

00:19:37.299 --> 00:19:38.000
 you will live.

00:19:39.099 --> 00:19:39.759
 So the message

00:19:39.759 --> 00:19:41.039
 I want to make sure

00:19:41.039 --> 00:19:41.559
 you hear today

00:19:41.559 --> 00:19:43.500
 is not just try harder.

00:19:44.139 --> 00:19:44.960
 Because if you just

00:19:44.960 --> 00:19:45.740
 try harder,

00:19:45.839 --> 00:19:46.740
 you won't get anywhere.

00:19:46.740 --> 00:19:49.359
 So that is not my message.

00:19:49.440 --> 00:19:50.440
 If that's what you're hearing,

00:19:50.660 --> 00:19:51.740
 that is not the message

00:19:51.740 --> 00:19:52.259
 I'm bringing.

00:19:52.960 --> 00:19:54.440
 You need the Spirit of God.

00:19:54.880 --> 00:19:55.279
 Indeed,

00:19:55.480 --> 00:19:56.380
 in chapter 8,

00:19:56.440 --> 00:19:56.980
 verse 11,

00:19:57.079 --> 00:19:57.519
 we're told

00:19:57.519 --> 00:19:58.960
 that the power available

00:19:58.960 --> 00:19:59.960
 to us in the Spirit

00:19:59.960 --> 00:20:01.059
 is the same power

00:20:01.059 --> 00:20:01.900
 that raised Jesus

00:20:01.900 --> 00:20:02.599
 from the dead.

00:20:02.880 --> 00:20:04.039
 That is the kind of power

00:20:04.039 --> 00:20:04.460
 you need.

00:20:04.559 --> 00:20:05.480
 You will not overcome

00:20:05.480 --> 00:20:06.359
 these things

00:20:06.359 --> 00:20:08.259
 unless you have the power

00:20:08.259 --> 00:20:09.140
 that raised Jesus

00:20:09.140 --> 00:20:10.240
 from the dead.

00:20:11.240 --> 00:20:12.160
 But the joy is that

00:20:12.160 --> 00:20:13.039
 power is available

00:20:13.039 --> 00:20:14.380
 to each and every one of us.

00:20:14.380 --> 00:20:15.460
 Thirdly,

00:20:16.060 --> 00:20:17.160
 ditch the excuses.

00:20:18.860 --> 00:20:19.780
 I think these are the words

00:20:19.780 --> 00:20:21.080
 actually that come from Groschel.

00:20:21.180 --> 00:20:22.100
 Before you begin

00:20:22.100 --> 00:20:23.540
 your journey towards change,

00:20:23.720 --> 00:20:24.620
 brace yourself.

00:20:25.180 --> 00:20:26.460
 The excuse monster

00:20:26.460 --> 00:20:28.100
 is waiting in the shadows.

00:20:30.040 --> 00:20:31.020
 And if you've ever had to

00:20:31.020 --> 00:20:32.220
 tackle anything like this,

00:20:32.280 --> 00:20:33.120
 you will know

00:20:33.120 --> 00:20:34.620
 how easily that comes

00:20:34.620 --> 00:20:35.820
 because it is so tough.

00:20:35.900 --> 00:20:36.800
 So what you start to do

00:20:36.800 --> 00:20:37.980
 is you start to justify

00:20:37.980 --> 00:20:40.180
 or play down

00:20:40.180 --> 00:20:40.860
 how important

00:20:40.860 --> 00:20:42.240
 this area of your life is.

00:20:42.400 --> 00:20:43.440
 It doesn't really matter.

00:20:43.440 --> 00:20:45.180
 It's not such a big deal.

00:20:45.880 --> 00:20:47.320
 Or we justify it.

00:20:50.059 --> 00:20:50.519
 Sin,

00:20:51.019 --> 00:20:52.019
 I think the devil,

00:20:52.320 --> 00:20:53.000
 because the devil

00:20:53.000 --> 00:20:54.519
 is the master of lies,

00:20:54.620 --> 00:20:55.700
 is the one who whispers

00:20:55.700 --> 00:20:57.200
 to try and talk you

00:20:57.200 --> 00:20:58.259
 out of the change.

00:21:00.259 --> 00:21:00.940
 And I think you have to

00:21:00.940 --> 00:21:02.380
 capture those lies

00:21:02.380 --> 00:21:03.980
 and confront them

00:21:03.980 --> 00:21:04.240
 and say,

00:21:04.360 --> 00:21:05.580
 no, that's not true.

00:21:06.240 --> 00:21:07.180
 It does matter.

00:21:08.380 --> 00:21:09.519
 And then finally,

00:21:10.140 --> 00:21:11.160
 cut the ties.

00:21:11.160 --> 00:21:12.820
 That's what Groschel

00:21:12.820 --> 00:21:13.460
 talks about.

00:21:13.880 --> 00:21:14.680
 Paul once wrote,

00:21:14.860 --> 00:21:15.920
 do not be misled.

00:21:16.360 --> 00:21:17.340
 Bad company

00:21:17.340 --> 00:21:19.300
 cuts good ties.

00:21:21.019 --> 00:21:21.900
 Are you putting yourself

00:21:21.900 --> 00:21:22.519
 in places

00:21:22.519 --> 00:21:23.340
 and situations

00:21:23.340 --> 00:21:24.060
 and company

00:21:24.060 --> 00:21:26.279
 that feed the wrong desires

00:21:26.279 --> 00:21:27.340
 and lead you

00:21:27.340 --> 00:21:28.180
 into the things

00:21:28.180 --> 00:21:29.160
 that you're doing,

00:21:29.200 --> 00:21:29.720
 that you know

00:21:29.720 --> 00:21:30.420
 a lot of God?

00:21:30.540 --> 00:21:31.200
 If you are,

00:21:31.440 --> 00:21:33.019
 take drastic action.

00:21:33.879 --> 00:21:34.539
 Jesus said,

00:21:34.660 --> 00:21:35.879
 if your eye causes you

00:21:35.879 --> 00:21:36.460
 to sin,

00:21:36.799 --> 00:21:37.420
 pluck it out.

00:21:37.480 --> 00:21:37.720
 And we go,

00:21:37.779 --> 00:21:38.700
 oh, he didn't really mean that.

00:21:38.759 --> 00:21:39.759
 No, what he meant was

00:21:39.759 --> 00:21:41.900
 take drastic action.

00:21:42.920 --> 00:21:43.779
 So one guy

00:21:43.779 --> 00:21:44.720
 who after a sermon

00:21:44.720 --> 00:21:45.139
 like this

00:21:45.139 --> 00:21:46.059
 came and saw me

00:21:46.059 --> 00:21:46.799
 to talk about

00:21:46.799 --> 00:21:47.420
 the problem he had

00:21:47.420 --> 00:21:48.079
 with pornography,

00:21:49.160 --> 00:21:50.200
 he did two things

00:21:50.200 --> 00:21:50.680
 as a result.

00:21:50.799 --> 00:21:51.440
 The first thing was

00:21:51.440 --> 00:21:52.619
 he loaded on his computer

00:21:52.619 --> 00:21:53.639
 software that meant

00:21:53.639 --> 00:21:54.680
 a list of all the sites

00:21:54.680 --> 00:21:55.279
 he looked at

00:21:55.279 --> 00:21:55.960
 were emailed

00:21:55.960 --> 00:21:56.920
 to a friend of his

00:21:56.920 --> 00:21:58.160
 every single week.

00:21:58.879 --> 00:21:59.519
 And secondly,

00:21:59.619 --> 00:22:00.480
 he moved his computer

00:22:00.480 --> 00:22:01.380
 into the living room

00:22:01.380 --> 00:22:02.279
 so it was always

00:22:02.279 --> 00:22:03.160
 in a public place

00:22:03.160 --> 00:22:03.640
 where the rest

00:22:03.640 --> 00:22:04.380
 of the family were.

00:22:05.779 --> 00:22:06.680
 That was his

00:22:06.680 --> 00:22:07.579
 equipment of plucking

00:22:07.579 --> 00:22:08.099
 out his eye.

00:22:08.200 --> 00:22:10.039
 He made drastic change

00:22:10.039 --> 00:22:11.839
 to try and cut the ties.

00:22:13.759 --> 00:22:14.759
 So as I finish,

00:22:14.900 --> 00:22:15.779
 I want to be honest

00:22:15.779 --> 00:22:16.380
 and tell you,

00:22:16.640 --> 00:22:17.579
 my hope this week

00:22:17.579 --> 00:22:18.400
 is that Clive

00:22:18.400 --> 00:22:19.019
 is going to become

00:22:19.019 --> 00:22:20.539
 very busy indeed.

00:22:24.299 --> 00:22:25.400
 Because my hope is

00:22:25.400 --> 00:22:26.339
 that he will receive

00:22:26.339 --> 00:22:27.120
 some emails

00:22:27.120 --> 00:22:28.660
 asking for people

00:22:28.660 --> 00:22:29.559
 to come and see him

00:22:29.559 --> 00:22:29.960
 and say,

00:22:29.960 --> 00:22:30.600
 Clive,

00:22:31.120 --> 00:22:32.279
 I've got a problem

00:22:32.279 --> 00:22:34.980
 with whatever it is.

00:22:35.960 --> 00:22:36.460
 And I know

00:22:36.460 --> 00:22:37.860
 I can't go on like this.

00:22:38.640 --> 00:22:39.840
 And I need to admit it.

00:22:40.440 --> 00:22:41.100
 And I need someone

00:22:41.100 --> 00:22:42.079
 to pray with me

00:22:42.079 --> 00:22:42.759
 and then help me

00:22:42.759 --> 00:22:44.059
 to do the practical things

00:22:44.059 --> 00:22:44.799
 that you're going to need

00:22:44.799 --> 00:22:46.220
 to start to break

00:22:46.220 --> 00:22:47.140
 the chain

00:22:47.140 --> 00:22:48.600
 and start to break

00:22:48.600 --> 00:22:49.220
 the cycle.

00:22:51.680 --> 00:22:52.779
 And if you're serious

00:22:52.779 --> 00:22:53.400
 about dealing

00:22:53.400 --> 00:22:53.900
 with whatever

00:22:53.900 --> 00:22:55.160
 that issue is,

00:22:55.299 --> 00:22:56.019
 if that is you,

00:22:56.120 --> 00:22:56.840
 I want to leave you

00:22:56.840 --> 00:22:57.480
 with the words

00:22:57.480 --> 00:22:58.180
 of Groschel

00:22:58.180 --> 00:22:58.840
 that come right

00:22:58.839 --> 00:22:59.339
 at the end

00:22:59.339 --> 00:23:00.439
 of his chapter.

00:23:01.500 --> 00:23:02.779
 You can't change

00:23:02.779 --> 00:23:03.839
 in your own power.

00:23:04.720 --> 00:23:06.159
 If you feel overwhelmed

00:23:06.159 --> 00:23:07.039
 by something

00:23:07.039 --> 00:23:08.019
 bigger than you,

00:23:08.939 --> 00:23:09.579
 let the one

00:23:09.579 --> 00:23:10.279
 who is bigger

00:23:10.279 --> 00:23:11.419
 than all things

00:23:11.419 --> 00:23:12.839
 be the power

00:23:12.839 --> 00:23:13.720
 you need

00:23:13.720 --> 00:23:14.639
 in weakness.

00:23:14.640 --> 00:23:15.640
 from the other

00:23:15.640 --> 00:23:17.040
 that happens.

00:23:17.340 --> 00:23:20.140
 The way

00:23:20.140 --> 00:23:20.840
 to the other

00:23:20.840 --> 00:23:21.800
 is

00:23:22.220 --> 00:23:24.620
 in your own power