WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.780 How are you coming along with your New Year's resolutions? 00:00:03.540 --> 00:00:05.719 Can you identify with this guy on the screen? 00:00:06.560 --> 00:00:08.240 Before and after two weeks. 00:00:08.359 --> 00:00:11.140 In two weeks, Johnny has lost two weeks. 00:00:13.480 --> 00:00:18.359 Now, you may like this next lady's resolutions. 00:00:18.900 --> 00:00:19.760 New Year's resolutions. 00:00:20.219 --> 00:00:23.039 Eat more chocolate, eat more pizza, eat more cheesecake. 00:00:24.060 --> 00:00:25.879 That sounds like a winner, doesn't it? 00:00:25.879 --> 00:00:32.839 But now, if we're wise, we're going to listen to this next guy. 00:00:34.019 --> 00:00:35.659 I don't make New Year's resolutions. 00:00:36.200 --> 00:00:41.460 If I have something I want to change, I don't wait until New Year's to change it. 00:00:42.920 --> 00:00:43.879 Wise, isn't it? 00:00:45.480 --> 00:00:52.539 Many people begin every New Year by making resolutions or setting goals 00:00:52.539 --> 00:00:57.719 to achieve specific changes in their life. 00:00:58.460 --> 00:01:01.780 Last week, I pointed out that God has goals for us. 00:01:02.500 --> 00:01:05.760 But God's goals are never just for a new year. 00:01:06.560 --> 00:01:12.539 God's goals are for this hour, this day, this year, and beyond. 00:01:13.099 --> 00:01:16.519 That's the title of this new sermon series we began last Sunday. 00:01:16.519 --> 00:01:22.619 God's goals for you this hour, this day, this year. 00:01:23.259 --> 00:01:30.659 And what we're going to do is look at this as it unfolds in Colossians 3, verses 1-17. 00:01:31.799 --> 00:01:38.599 God is always at work in our lives for the ultimate purpose of this goal. 00:01:39.159 --> 00:01:41.039 Making us like Jesus. 00:01:41.699 --> 00:01:42.340 Look at it. 00:01:42.340 --> 00:01:51.359 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image or likeness of His Son. 00:01:52.700 --> 00:01:55.620 Everything that happens in our lives, good and bad. 00:01:56.939 --> 00:01:59.540 Things you choose, things you do not choose. 00:02:00.300 --> 00:02:01.300 God is sovereign. 00:02:01.800 --> 00:02:05.420 He's either brought it into your life or allowed it to come into your life. 00:02:06.040 --> 00:02:07.960 And it's always for a purpose. 00:02:07.959 --> 00:02:12.299 He actually, for many purposes, teaches us a lot of different lessons. 00:02:13.000 --> 00:02:18.599 But His ultimate goal in your life and mine as His children is to develop our character. 00:02:20.159 --> 00:02:23.060 Make us more and more like Jesus. 00:02:24.199 --> 00:02:32.539 Well, Colossians 3 is a good passage of Scripture to give us some insight as to how God accomplishes this. 00:02:33.500 --> 00:02:36.639 And we're going to look at it in terms of three goals that God has for us. 00:02:36.639 --> 00:02:38.699 We looked at the first one last week. 00:02:38.859 --> 00:02:41.639 Goal number one, be mindful of who you are in Christ. 00:02:41.979 --> 00:02:43.519 Know who you are in Christ. 00:02:44.459 --> 00:02:47.599 I'm going to remind you a little bit of that in a moment. 00:02:48.039 --> 00:02:52.299 Today we're going to look at God's second goal from verses 5-11. 00:02:53.079 --> 00:02:56.979 Don't be who you are apart from Christ. 00:02:58.019 --> 00:02:59.039 It was my plan. 00:02:59.139 --> 00:03:01.839 It was my goal to do this in three weeks, but there's no way. 00:03:01.840 --> 00:03:06.280 So this is part one of goal two this morning. 00:03:06.840 --> 00:03:08.000 I want you to look with me if you would. 00:03:08.120 --> 00:03:10.080 Colossians 3, beginning in verse 5. 00:03:10.759 --> 00:03:11.659 And let's read it together. 00:03:14.000 --> 00:03:18.439 Put to death, therefore, what is earthly in you. 00:03:18.900 --> 00:03:21.900 And He doesn't leave us in the dark of what He's talking about. 00:03:21.939 --> 00:03:23.659 And He says, what's earthly in you. 00:03:23.659 --> 00:03:31.460 Sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 00:03:32.219 --> 00:03:35.659 On account of these, the wrath of God is coming. 00:03:36.620 --> 00:03:40.939 In these you too once walked when you were living in them. 00:03:41.659 --> 00:03:44.219 But now you must put them all away. 00:03:44.639 --> 00:03:49.199 Anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 00:03:49.199 --> 00:03:55.599 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices 00:03:55.599 --> 00:04:03.619 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. 00:04:04.319 --> 00:04:05.439 We're going to stop there. 00:04:06.519 --> 00:04:11.000 I want us to begin with a reminder, a very important reminder from last week. 00:04:11.399 --> 00:04:11.879 Look at it. 00:04:12.199 --> 00:04:14.719 God calls us to understand who we are in Christ. 00:04:16.719 --> 00:04:18.579 God wants us, look at it. 00:04:18.579 --> 00:04:19.939 Colossians chapter 1. 00:04:20.539 --> 00:04:22.319 If then you have been raised with Christ. 00:04:22.379 --> 00:04:24.019 He's talking about Christians. 00:04:25.419 --> 00:04:27.699 And that word if could be translated since. 00:04:28.740 --> 00:04:31.139 He's talking to people who are believers. 00:04:32.259 --> 00:04:37.659 And one of the ways he describes how we are united to Christ is we've been raised with Him. 00:04:37.860 --> 00:04:42.479 In fact, the first four verses, he describes how we are united to Christ in three different ways. 00:04:42.599 --> 00:04:43.099 Look at it. 00:04:43.100 --> 00:04:45.180 You have been raised with Christ. 00:04:45.320 --> 00:04:46.160 You have died. 00:04:46.340 --> 00:04:48.700 And your life is hidden with Christ in God. 00:04:49.100 --> 00:04:51.740 Also in chapter 2, verse 20, with Christ you died. 00:04:52.140 --> 00:04:56.600 Then in verse 4, Christ who is your life. 00:04:57.760 --> 00:04:58.960 Here's what he's talking about. 00:04:58.959 --> 00:05:12.379 He's describing how you and me as Christians are united to Jesus Christ by faith in His death and resurrection. 00:05:12.379 --> 00:05:15.959 We have died with Christ. 00:05:16.379 --> 00:05:18.980 That means the penalty for our sin has been paid. 00:05:19.339 --> 00:05:25.959 When He died on the cross, He experienced God's wrath against our sin. 00:05:26.399 --> 00:05:29.600 When He died on the cross, He was our substitute. 00:05:30.899 --> 00:05:33.519 He took the punishment that our sin deserves. 00:05:33.519 --> 00:05:38.459 He paid in full the penalty for our sin. 00:05:39.339 --> 00:05:48.899 And so, we are forgiven by virtue of our being one with Christ because His death to sin counts as our death to sin. 00:05:49.899 --> 00:05:53.479 I want you to understand, if you are trusting Jesus as your Lord and Savior, truly, 00:05:54.839 --> 00:05:59.259 God does not hold your sins against you. 00:05:59.259 --> 00:06:04.319 They've been paid for with the blood of Christ. 00:06:05.319 --> 00:06:13.319 This also means that the power of sin has been broken in our lives by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. 00:06:13.399 --> 00:06:15.740 The Holy Spirit sometimes is called the Spirit of God in Scripture. 00:06:15.899 --> 00:06:18.639 Sometimes He is called the Spirit of Christ. 00:06:20.139 --> 00:06:22.759 The Spirit of the Lord lives in us. 00:06:23.800 --> 00:06:27.360 Therefore, we can resist any temptation. 00:06:29.259 --> 00:06:34.420 He also gives us the desire and the ability to obey God. 00:06:35.599 --> 00:06:42.339 So, before we became Christians, we were enslaved to sin, the Scripture says. 00:06:43.659 --> 00:06:48.539 But now that we have been united to Christ, the power of sin has been broken. 00:06:49.879 --> 00:06:50.680 Here's the thing. 00:06:51.279 --> 00:06:56.719 When you choose to sin and I choose to sin, it's our choice. 00:06:56.720 --> 00:07:03.220 If we're Christians, the Spirit of God would have enabled us to say no, to run away. 00:07:04.140 --> 00:07:09.440 God always provides a way of escape if we'll just look for it and take it. 00:07:10.500 --> 00:07:11.620 We've died with Christ. 00:07:11.720 --> 00:07:13.260 We've also been raised with Christ. 00:07:13.340 --> 00:07:14.680 That means we have eternal life. 00:07:16.020 --> 00:07:20.920 It's more than living forever, but living forever is a great thing, isn't it? 00:07:21.540 --> 00:07:23.720 If you're a Christian, don't fear death. 00:07:23.720 --> 00:07:35.540 If you're a Christian, however it happens, when you close your eyes in this world, you will open them again in the presence of the Lord. 00:07:36.020 --> 00:07:37.840 And every Christian has ever died before that. 00:07:38.900 --> 00:07:40.900 That should be comforting to us. 00:07:41.760 --> 00:07:43.980 But eternal life is a quality of life. 00:07:43.980 --> 00:07:51.720 We are privileged children of God right now if you're in Christ. 00:07:52.460 --> 00:07:59.480 Paul is telling us, Colossians 1, 1 through 4, 3, 1 through 4, this is how God sees us. 00:08:00.600 --> 00:08:08.939 And it is how we must look at ourselves because this is who we are now, you and me. 00:08:08.939 --> 00:08:14.480 Because we are united to Christ, one with Him in faith. 00:08:15.259 --> 00:08:21.800 Now, what Paul says next, what we just read, is based on the fact that we're already Christians. 00:08:23.139 --> 00:08:29.279 We don't become Christians by getting rid of sin in our life and adding some good things. 00:08:30.079 --> 00:08:34.120 We become Christians by the grace of God through faith in Jesus. 00:08:34.120 --> 00:08:47.259 And with Christ living in us, us being united to Him, we can live the life that we are reading about now in verses 5 through 11. 00:08:48.279 --> 00:08:49.019 Let's look at now. 00:08:49.539 --> 00:08:53.679 The way to avoid being who you are apart from Christ. 00:08:54.700 --> 00:08:59.159 The way to avoid being who you are in and of yourself. 00:08:59.159 --> 00:09:06.819 We need to understand that if God looks at us just alone, or if you're not a Christian, 00:09:08.139 --> 00:09:14.839 the way God looks at you, He sees a weak, sinful person. 00:09:16.039 --> 00:09:25.899 I want you to look at how Paul described himself really as a Christian, but in his struggle with his sinful nature. 00:09:25.899 --> 00:09:27.819 Look at it. 00:09:27.820 --> 00:09:32.320 For I know that nothing good dwells in me that is in my flesh. 00:09:32.480 --> 00:09:35.060 Some translations say, in my sinful nature. 00:09:35.960 --> 00:09:42.360 For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. 00:09:43.000 --> 00:09:49.360 For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. 00:09:50.640 --> 00:09:51.640 You get that? 00:09:52.440 --> 00:09:53.040 Been there? 00:09:53.900 --> 00:09:54.600 Feel that way? 00:09:54.600 --> 00:10:04.220 Well, Paul goes on to point out that only the Lord Jesus can deliver us from the power of our sinful nature. 00:10:04.820 --> 00:10:08.320 Look at what he says a few verses later in Romans 7 again, verses 24 and 25. 00:10:09.180 --> 00:10:11.940 Wretched man that I am because of this struggle. 00:10:13.259 --> 00:10:15.879 Who will deliver me from this body of death? 00:10:15.879 --> 00:10:22.039 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord. 00:10:22.600 --> 00:10:30.480 It's through Him that we're able to overcome and be victorious in obeying God, doing what He wants us to do. 00:10:31.220 --> 00:10:40.360 Let's look now at how Paul told them as Christians united to the Lord to deal with their former sinful habits, 00:10:40.360 --> 00:10:42.800 or just to deal with sinful temptations. 00:10:42.919 --> 00:10:43.419 Look at it. 00:10:43.840 --> 00:10:46.379 Verse 5, you must kill sin. 00:10:46.840 --> 00:10:52.500 He says, put to death, therefore, what is earthly in you. 00:10:52.500 --> 00:10:54.960 Paul makes it real clear. 00:10:55.820 --> 00:11:05.980 We've got to deal with old sinful habits or current temptations to sin as strongly as possible. 00:11:05.980 --> 00:11:08.399 We don't play around with it. 00:11:09.200 --> 00:11:10.800 We don't flirt with it. 00:11:13.120 --> 00:11:14.800 We put it to death. 00:11:15.420 --> 00:11:16.500 We kill it. 00:11:17.460 --> 00:11:18.300 Obliterate it. 00:11:18.300 --> 00:11:31.120 As Christians united to Christ, we can and we must put to death every form of sin that we're tempted to commit. 00:11:31.120 --> 00:11:37.639 In verse 5, the emphasis is on putting to death every form of sexual sin. 00:11:37.860 --> 00:11:38.600 Let's look at this. 00:11:40.139 --> 00:11:41.460 Look at these words. 00:11:42.179 --> 00:11:43.340 Sexual immorality. 00:11:44.100 --> 00:11:48.299 Comes from the Greek word pornea, where we get the word pornography today. 00:11:49.340 --> 00:11:54.679 It's the most general word to describe a sexual relationship outside of marriage. 00:11:54.679 --> 00:12:01.779 It can refer to any type of sexually impure action. 00:12:02.359 --> 00:12:02.979 Adultery. 00:12:03.379 --> 00:12:04.299 Premarital sex. 00:12:04.659 --> 00:12:05.659 Homosexuality. 00:12:06.479 --> 00:12:10.159 Any kind of sexually immoral behavior is what he's talking about. 00:12:10.620 --> 00:12:14.399 Next word, impurity, refers to all moral uncleanness. 00:12:14.399 --> 00:12:14.480 Impure thoughts. 00:12:15.360 --> 00:12:27.579 Describes all of our impure thoughts, desires, speech, in addition to any kind of impure action. 00:12:28.319 --> 00:12:35.019 The next word, the word is passion, but it's probably better translated lust for us today. 00:12:35.019 --> 00:12:40.220 Because you know the word passion, it's used in a mostly positive way nowadays. 00:12:41.220 --> 00:12:47.399 Describes someone, what a person is excited about or has a strong desire to do. 00:12:48.319 --> 00:12:53.460 We've got a lot of teachers in our church who I would say that you might say, 00:12:54.100 --> 00:12:56.659 working with children is my passion. 00:12:58.659 --> 00:13:00.159 At least when you first started. 00:13:00.159 --> 00:13:09.639 But to use the word as it's used today, what you do at your job, that could be your passion. 00:13:10.299 --> 00:13:13.139 Some sport, music, that's your passion. 00:13:15.399 --> 00:13:19.679 That is not the way Paul is using this word. 00:13:20.439 --> 00:13:23.719 He's speaking of it in a negative way, improper passions. 00:13:24.360 --> 00:13:29.179 He's talking about lustful, sexually impure desires. 00:13:30.159 --> 00:13:32.559 Then the word evil desire is similar to lust. 00:13:32.620 --> 00:13:34.159 In fact, all these words are connected. 00:13:35.879 --> 00:13:39.439 He's talking about sexual immorality in general. 00:13:39.539 --> 00:13:41.179 He just uses a lot of different words to describe it. 00:13:41.179 --> 00:13:48.079 But this word evil desire may refer to a stronger habitual kind of lust. 00:13:49.259 --> 00:13:52.959 And then he uses that word we don't use a lot today. 00:13:53.980 --> 00:13:54.539 Covetousness. 00:13:55.299 --> 00:13:57.799 Some translations translate it greed. 00:13:57.799 --> 00:14:00.759 Covetousness or greed, which is idolatry. 00:14:01.879 --> 00:14:07.919 This is more than just having a desire to have more than what you've got right now. 00:14:09.159 --> 00:14:16.559 This is talking about a strong desire to have that which you know you shouldn't have. 00:14:17.740 --> 00:14:21.000 He's talking about being discontent. 00:14:21.000 --> 00:14:30.279 Now, specifically, it describes a sinful desire to have what belongs to another person. 00:14:32.779 --> 00:14:35.039 That's how it's used in the 10th commandment. 00:14:35.500 --> 00:14:36.179 Notice this. 00:14:36.179 --> 00:15:02.559 Now, I want you to note, Paul describes such desires as idolatry. 00:15:02.559 --> 00:15:05.179 Worshiping a false god. 00:15:06.639 --> 00:15:19.759 He's talking about us having sinful desires that are stronger than our desire for God and His way and will. 00:15:19.759 --> 00:15:33.379 You know, the most basic way to describe why we sin at any given moment is because at that moment we desire it more than we desire to obey God. 00:15:35.000 --> 00:15:37.240 What's one of the things that you are tempted to do? 00:15:38.980 --> 00:15:42.919 Somebody raise your hand and tell us one of the most sorrid things you're tempted to do. 00:15:42.919 --> 00:15:43.259 Okay? 00:15:45.919 --> 00:15:51.259 Let's just say it's to spread gossip. 00:15:53.099 --> 00:15:56.519 Let's just say I hear something about Mike Sterlachini. 00:15:59.159 --> 00:16:00.620 And I don't know if it's true or not. 00:16:00.699 --> 00:16:01.419 It doesn't really matter. 00:16:02.799 --> 00:16:06.899 It makes him look bad, and I'd sort of like to make him look bad to Brian. 00:16:06.899 --> 00:16:15.980 And so I go to Brian, but as a Christian, I know I shouldn't gossip. 00:16:18.059 --> 00:16:29.819 But sometimes the desire to enlighten Brian and make Mike look bad is what I want to do more than obey God. 00:16:32.139 --> 00:16:34.679 That applies to any of our temptations. 00:16:34.679 --> 00:16:48.459 When we sin, as Christians, it's because in that moment we desire to do that more than we desire to obey God. 00:16:49.739 --> 00:16:53.059 And that means when we choose to sin, we are worshiping ourself. 00:16:54.659 --> 00:16:58.419 That means in the moment we are God. 00:16:58.519 --> 00:16:59.359 I'm God. 00:17:00.120 --> 00:17:02.000 And I do what pleases me. 00:17:04.680 --> 00:17:09.100 This word covetousness, greed, it's serious. 00:17:09.640 --> 00:17:10.779 To never be content. 00:17:11.960 --> 00:17:14.740 To always want more than you know you really need. 00:17:14.900 --> 00:17:18.640 Or to envy what other people have and just want what they've got. 00:17:19.080 --> 00:17:20.519 Sometimes because they've got it. 00:17:23.019 --> 00:17:29.080 Since sexual immorality is listed in such a prominent and detailed way in this verse, 00:17:29.079 --> 00:17:34.599 we know that such sinful attitudes and behaviors are not new. 00:17:35.720 --> 00:17:39.220 In fact, in the ancient world, in first century Rome there, as Paul was writing, 00:17:39.819 --> 00:17:44.939 by the way, he talks about this in numerous letters about sexual immorality. 00:17:45.259 --> 00:17:46.799 Warns us, cautions us. 00:17:47.759 --> 00:17:52.599 Because in the ancient world, sexual immorality, it wasn't immoral. 00:17:53.599 --> 00:17:54.619 I mean, it's always been immoral. 00:17:54.619 --> 00:17:57.119 But people, they just didn't think about that. 00:17:58.599 --> 00:18:01.819 Men in ancient Rome, they had a wife. 00:18:01.899 --> 00:18:04.359 They had a, you know, somebody on the side. 00:18:04.639 --> 00:18:07.099 And everybody did. 00:18:07.599 --> 00:18:08.779 It's just what you did. 00:18:09.599 --> 00:18:18.239 And so for the Christian church to introduce this idea of sexual purity, 00:18:18.239 --> 00:18:23.679 that got people's attention because no other religion emphasized that. 00:18:24.619 --> 00:18:27.899 Jews did, but the pagan religions were talking about. 00:18:30.859 --> 00:18:37.739 Sexual temptations have always been the strongest temptations, 00:18:38.219 --> 00:18:41.679 or among at least the strongest temptations. 00:18:42.679 --> 00:18:43.619 And they still are. 00:18:44.259 --> 00:18:44.959 Think about it. 00:18:44.960 --> 00:18:48.480 If you just live a normal life in today's culture, 00:18:49.120 --> 00:18:59.840 you're going to be subjecting yourself to various kinds of sexual stimulation, sensuality. 00:19:00.720 --> 00:19:01.460 Just think about it. 00:19:01.740 --> 00:19:02.420 We know this. 00:19:02.500 --> 00:19:03.819 We've talked about it for years. 00:19:04.299 --> 00:19:08.720 Sex sells everything imaginable today. 00:19:08.720 --> 00:19:19.559 If you take a newspaper, there's ads there trying to sell something that they're not really wanting you to look at the shoe. 00:19:19.660 --> 00:19:22.319 They're wanting you to look at the leg that the shoe's on. 00:19:24.039 --> 00:19:29.220 Whether it be in print media, whether it be on the Internet, whether it be on TV, 00:19:30.360 --> 00:19:33.720 sex sells just about everything, doesn't it? 00:19:33.720 --> 00:19:38.759 And we know that sex outside of marriage has always been a staple of Hollywood. 00:19:40.100 --> 00:19:45.440 There's just no thought in Hollywood in most movies and TV shows 00:19:45.440 --> 00:19:52.120 that sex is intended for just a man and woman in a marriage relationship. 00:19:52.119 --> 00:19:55.679 I say all this to say, to point out, 00:19:56.439 --> 00:19:59.219 this world in which we live, 00:19:59.879 --> 00:20:02.219 the way things are in these categories, 00:20:03.179 --> 00:20:10.619 all this has desensitized us to the idea that anything is sexually impure. 00:20:11.839 --> 00:20:12.919 If you doubt it, 00:20:14.000 --> 00:20:18.039 just look around the way most people dress, talk, and live today, 00:20:18.859 --> 00:20:19.739 including Christians. 00:20:19.740 --> 00:20:22.079 And if we want to be honest, 00:20:23.539 --> 00:20:32.059 haven't our own personal standards of sexual purity dropped over the years 00:20:32.059 --> 00:20:39.579 as indicated in the way that we dress or talk or live for all three? 00:20:41.720 --> 00:20:48.240 Even though our culture's standards and even our own have dropped, 00:20:48.240 --> 00:20:50.819 we need to understand that gods have not. 00:20:51.620 --> 00:20:52.960 God does not change. 00:20:53.120 --> 00:20:54.279 Never has, never will. 00:20:55.420 --> 00:20:59.200 What God has revealed in His Word that is right, 00:20:59.559 --> 00:21:02.000 it'll always be right until Jesus comes back, 00:21:02.380 --> 00:21:03.620 and even into eternity. 00:21:04.259 --> 00:21:07.200 What God has said in His Word clearly is wrong. 00:21:07.940 --> 00:21:08.980 It's always been wrong. 00:21:09.339 --> 00:21:13.000 And it's based on God's nature and God's character. 00:21:13.000 --> 00:21:15.859 You know, sometimes you might think, 00:21:15.940 --> 00:21:18.319 well, who determined what's right or wrong, 00:21:18.440 --> 00:21:19.859 that, you know, adultery is wrong, 00:21:20.019 --> 00:21:21.279 that premarital sex is wrong? 00:21:21.440 --> 00:21:22.079 Well, God did. 00:21:23.599 --> 00:21:24.700 And He's God. 00:21:25.500 --> 00:21:27.140 He gets to do that. 00:21:28.339 --> 00:21:29.400 No one else does. 00:21:29.400 --> 00:21:34.320 And so, Paul is warning us, 00:21:35.360 --> 00:21:39.000 don't flirt with this kind of stuff. 00:21:40.100 --> 00:21:41.740 Don't play around with it. 00:21:42.400 --> 00:21:42.840 Kill it. 00:21:43.300 --> 00:21:43.960 Eliminate it. 00:21:44.900 --> 00:21:46.519 Don't hurt yourself with it. 00:21:46.980 --> 00:21:47.860 But I want to pause here. 00:21:47.900 --> 00:21:49.680 I want to be clear about this matter. 00:21:51.740 --> 00:21:52.960 Sex is not sinful. 00:21:53.960 --> 00:21:58.400 God created us with sexual desires and drives, needs. 00:21:58.400 --> 00:22:04.160 But God also gave us guidelines and boundaries 00:22:04.160 --> 00:22:10.000 for fulfilling our desires and drives. 00:22:11.040 --> 00:22:14.480 God's intended place for us as human beings, 00:22:14.580 --> 00:22:15.080 men and women, 00:22:15.660 --> 00:22:17.860 to fulfill our sexual desires 00:22:17.860 --> 00:22:20.240 is the marriage relationship 00:22:20.240 --> 00:22:23.019 between one man and one woman. 00:22:23.720 --> 00:22:26.300 And this is a part of God's original creation. 00:22:26.299 --> 00:22:27.440 I want you to look. 00:22:27.779 --> 00:22:29.720 In Genesis 2, verses 24 and 25, 00:22:30.980 --> 00:22:32.339 the end of creation. 00:22:33.019 --> 00:22:35.960 God's talked about how He has created the world 00:22:35.960 --> 00:22:36.700 and everything in it. 00:22:37.019 --> 00:22:38.039 And in Genesis 2, 00:22:38.200 --> 00:22:40.460 especially man and woman, Adam and Eve, 00:22:40.720 --> 00:22:41.359 look at what He said. 00:22:42.200 --> 00:22:44.879 Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother 00:22:44.879 --> 00:22:46.500 and hold fast to his wife, 00:22:46.659 --> 00:22:48.879 and they shall become one flesh. 00:22:49.419 --> 00:22:51.919 And the man and his wife were both naked, 00:22:51.920 --> 00:22:54.019 and they were not ashamed. 00:22:56.600 --> 00:23:00.980 God created sexual desires, needs, 00:23:02.220 --> 00:23:03.279 sexual intimacy. 00:23:04.120 --> 00:23:05.080 It's His idea. 00:23:05.980 --> 00:23:06.880 It's good. 00:23:07.000 --> 00:23:10.440 It's healthy between you and your spouse. 00:23:10.960 --> 00:23:11.860 And if you're not married, 00:23:12.600 --> 00:23:14.600 between you and your future spouse 00:23:14.600 --> 00:23:15.640 when you get married. 00:23:15.640 --> 00:23:19.660 But let's go back to what He's talking about. 00:23:19.660 --> 00:23:21.980 Paul is using strong language 00:23:21.980 --> 00:23:24.900 to describe how we must deal with all forms of sin, 00:23:25.680 --> 00:23:27.320 including sexually impure thoughts, 00:23:27.460 --> 00:23:28.540 desires, and actions. 00:23:29.080 --> 00:23:30.460 We've got to put it to death. 00:23:31.680 --> 00:23:32.580 Here's what I want you to do. 00:23:32.600 --> 00:23:33.279 You've got to think. 00:23:34.860 --> 00:23:37.640 You know how you're tempted in these ways. 00:23:39.200 --> 00:23:40.860 You know what gets your attention. 00:23:41.259 --> 00:23:43.420 You know what gets your mind to thinking. 00:23:43.420 --> 00:23:46.480 You know what gets the drive going. 00:23:46.480 --> 00:23:51.640 How could you stop it before it starts? 00:23:54.099 --> 00:24:00.279 What could you do to kill those old thoughts 00:24:00.279 --> 00:24:02.559 of the way you used to live from coming back? 00:24:03.460 --> 00:24:06.819 What could you do to avoid before it even starts 00:24:06.819 --> 00:24:14.380 certain temptations to lust or to do even more? 00:24:14.380 --> 00:24:18.600 That's what you need to do to kill it. 00:24:19.500 --> 00:24:21.840 You know what you need to do 00:24:21.840 --> 00:24:24.180 because you know how you are tempted. 00:24:24.980 --> 00:24:26.360 I don't know how you're tempted. 00:24:26.660 --> 00:24:27.660 You know how I'm tempted? 00:24:27.880 --> 00:24:28.880 I'm not going to tell you. 00:24:29.980 --> 00:24:31.540 But you know how you are. 00:24:33.180 --> 00:24:33.960 Kill it. 00:24:35.140 --> 00:24:37.400 Don't entertain it for a moment. 00:24:39.200 --> 00:24:40.000 Kill it. 00:24:40.960 --> 00:24:42.860 Then he goes on to explain why we must do this. 00:24:42.859 --> 00:24:45.019 Number two, the reasons why you should avoid 00:24:45.019 --> 00:24:47.279 being who you are apart from Christ. 00:24:47.919 --> 00:24:51.619 Number one, you want to avoid God's wrath. 00:24:53.159 --> 00:24:55.899 Such sinfulness, engaging in such sinfulness 00:24:55.899 --> 00:24:57.359 provokes the wrath of God. 00:24:57.419 --> 00:24:58.279 Look at it in verse six. 00:24:58.559 --> 00:25:02.179 On account of these, the wrath of God is coming. 00:25:02.339 --> 00:25:03.459 The wrath of God is real. 00:25:05.399 --> 00:25:07.119 Just as much as the love of God. 00:25:07.119 --> 00:25:12.719 In our day, people don't want to think about God being angry, 00:25:12.879 --> 00:25:15.659 God being wrathful, God punishing sin. 00:25:17.079 --> 00:25:21.079 But just as much as God loves, as God forgives, 00:25:22.879 --> 00:25:27.279 God hates and God punishes. 00:25:27.279 --> 00:25:32.059 We're going to look at that in a lot more detail next week. 00:25:32.960 --> 00:25:35.160 But right now, there's another reason why we must kill sin 00:25:35.160 --> 00:25:38.059 and avoid being who we are apart from Christ. 00:25:40.319 --> 00:25:41.859 We're going to really go back to the beginning. 00:25:42.559 --> 00:25:44.859 You are one with Christ right now. 00:25:46.420 --> 00:25:48.500 You are, if you're a Christian, one with Christ right now. 00:25:48.839 --> 00:25:49.559 Look at this. 00:25:50.160 --> 00:25:55.619 Such sinfulness was a part of our past life, not now. 00:25:55.619 --> 00:25:56.899 Look at it in verse seven. 00:25:57.419 --> 00:26:02.139 In these, you too once walked when you were living in them. 00:26:03.019 --> 00:26:04.039 Look at verses nine and ten. 00:26:04.899 --> 00:26:07.539 You have put off the old self with its practices 00:26:07.539 --> 00:26:09.459 and have put on the new self, 00:26:09.719 --> 00:26:11.839 which is being renewed in knowledge 00:26:11.839 --> 00:26:13.879 after the image of its creator. 00:26:14.159 --> 00:26:15.279 You put off the old self. 00:26:15.399 --> 00:26:16.259 What do you look at now? 00:26:19.199 --> 00:26:20.679 The kind of things we're talking about. 00:26:21.879 --> 00:26:23.659 That's not who you are as a Christian. 00:26:23.660 --> 00:26:28.019 If you're a Christian, you have been made new. 00:26:28.300 --> 00:26:29.840 You are one with Christ. 00:26:30.920 --> 00:26:32.259 Some people in this room, 00:26:33.620 --> 00:26:36.620 you lived a sinful life before you were saved. 00:26:37.580 --> 00:26:42.640 And you know from experience how powerful sin is. 00:26:42.640 --> 00:26:45.940 If that's you, 00:26:47.040 --> 00:26:50.460 your former life calls out to you at times 00:26:50.460 --> 00:26:54.340 in the form of tempting you to come back. 00:26:55.400 --> 00:26:58.120 Do things that you used to do before you became a Christian. 00:26:59.700 --> 00:27:01.000 But what Paul is saying is, 00:27:01.180 --> 00:27:03.060 remember, you're not that person anymore. 00:27:03.860 --> 00:27:06.340 That person died with Christ. 00:27:06.920 --> 00:27:07.920 You are new. 00:27:08.320 --> 00:27:10.340 The Spirit of God lives within you now. 00:27:10.339 --> 00:27:13.000 He will enable you. 00:27:13.859 --> 00:27:15.500 He'll give you the desire and ability 00:27:15.500 --> 00:27:17.419 to say no to this temptation. 00:27:17.559 --> 00:27:18.459 He'll give you the desire and ability 00:27:18.459 --> 00:27:21.980 not to go back to that way of life. 00:27:22.740 --> 00:27:23.799 And if He will do that, 00:27:24.139 --> 00:27:26.099 you can, by God's grace, 00:27:26.980 --> 00:27:29.039 live a holy life, a pure life, 00:27:29.199 --> 00:27:31.139 a God-honoring life, 00:27:31.699 --> 00:27:34.279 all because of your union with Christ, 00:27:34.879 --> 00:27:37.199 all because He lives in you by His Spirit. 00:27:37.200 --> 00:27:40.299 Now, many people in this room 00:27:40.299 --> 00:27:42.380 never lived a wicked life before you were saved 00:27:42.380 --> 00:27:44.019 because you were saved as a child. 00:27:44.559 --> 00:27:46.100 And you need to thank God for that. 00:27:47.480 --> 00:27:49.180 Thank God that you did not 00:27:49.180 --> 00:27:52.920 grow up and get involved 00:27:52.920 --> 00:27:56.480 in all kinds of sorrid, sinful ways of life 00:27:56.480 --> 00:27:58.259 and then come to faith in Jesus. 00:27:59.000 --> 00:28:00.920 Thank God that you grew up in a Christian home, 00:28:01.819 --> 00:28:02.620 that you never were exposed 00:28:02.619 --> 00:28:04.619 to a lot of just pure garbage. 00:28:05.919 --> 00:28:08.679 You came to Christ as a young person. 00:28:11.079 --> 00:28:11.899 Be thankful. 00:28:13.899 --> 00:28:15.059 But here's the fact. 00:28:16.059 --> 00:28:18.679 Even if you became a Christian at age 10, 00:28:19.679 --> 00:28:21.519 never got involved in that stuff, 00:28:22.279 --> 00:28:24.539 you have been bombarded 00:28:24.539 --> 00:28:27.180 with enticements to sin all of your life. 00:28:28.799 --> 00:28:30.799 And your sinful nature tells you 00:28:30.799 --> 00:28:32.700 how pleasurable it would be 00:28:32.700 --> 00:28:35.899 to do some of the things you're tempted to do, 00:28:36.899 --> 00:28:38.740 to get involved in some of the things 00:28:38.740 --> 00:28:40.139 some of your friends are involved in. 00:28:41.420 --> 00:28:44.279 Some of you who became a Christian at a young age, 00:28:44.940 --> 00:28:46.720 you have given in to those temptations. 00:28:47.379 --> 00:28:48.539 And so you know from experience 00:28:48.539 --> 00:28:51.599 experience the pleasures of sin 00:28:51.599 --> 00:28:54.980 that you have experienced as a Christian. 00:28:56.980 --> 00:28:58.500 But I want you to listen close. 00:29:00.359 --> 00:29:02.399 If you are truly a Christian, 00:29:03.339 --> 00:29:05.480 the Spirit of God living in you 00:29:05.480 --> 00:29:10.879 will not allow you to enjoy sin for long. 00:29:12.180 --> 00:29:14.460 Now there's somebody who says 00:29:14.460 --> 00:29:16.240 there is no pleasure in sin is an idiot. 00:29:16.440 --> 00:29:17.159 Just stupid. 00:29:17.160 --> 00:29:20.640 It's pleasurable to do sinful things. 00:29:20.740 --> 00:29:22.259 If it wasn't, nobody would do it. 00:29:24.360 --> 00:29:25.540 The Bible even talks about 00:29:25.540 --> 00:29:27.400 there's pleasures in sin for a season. 00:29:31.160 --> 00:29:32.500 But here's what I want you to understand. 00:29:33.600 --> 00:29:36.420 If you are a Christian 00:29:36.420 --> 00:29:40.259 and you disobey God, 00:29:40.380 --> 00:29:41.420 you give in to temptation, 00:29:41.960 --> 00:29:43.720 you get involved in some kind of, 00:29:43.740 --> 00:29:46.480 let's just say, sexually impure relationship, 00:29:47.160 --> 00:29:48.140 or endeavor, 00:29:49.980 --> 00:29:50.800 sooner or later, 00:29:51.519 --> 00:29:53.259 the Spirit of God is going to convict you, 00:29:53.400 --> 00:29:54.779 inflict guilt upon you. 00:29:56.160 --> 00:29:58.680 That's God's way of disciplining you, 00:29:59.080 --> 00:30:00.160 getting your attention, 00:30:01.160 --> 00:30:02.240 and telling you, 00:30:02.300 --> 00:30:04.100 you can't live that way as my child. 00:30:04.880 --> 00:30:05.920 And if you're a Christian 00:30:05.920 --> 00:30:07.320 with the Spirit of God within you, 00:30:07.380 --> 00:30:08.680 you don't really want to live that way. 00:30:08.680 --> 00:30:10.640 And so if you're a Christian, 00:30:10.860 --> 00:30:11.539 when you sin, 00:30:11.660 --> 00:30:12.019 sooner or later, 00:30:12.060 --> 00:30:12.799 you're going to be convicted, 00:30:13.080 --> 00:30:14.039 you're going to confess it, 00:30:14.200 --> 00:30:15.560 you're going to repent of it, 00:30:15.680 --> 00:30:17.060 you're going to seek God's forgiveness, 00:30:17.220 --> 00:30:19.299 you're going to renew your faith to the Lord, 00:30:20.299 --> 00:30:24.420 and that's not going to be the way you live. 00:30:26.700 --> 00:30:27.100 Now, 00:30:27.320 --> 00:30:29.340 if I'm describing you right now, 00:30:29.480 --> 00:30:30.180 you're a Christian, 00:30:31.180 --> 00:30:34.279 you're involved in some kind of sinful behavior right now, 00:30:34.279 --> 00:30:35.639 and you're feeling guilty, 00:30:36.500 --> 00:30:37.639 you're feeling miserable, 00:30:38.319 --> 00:30:39.440 that is good. 00:30:40.639 --> 00:30:43.139 It may be that you're making people all around you 00:30:43.139 --> 00:30:44.240 feel miserable as well, 00:30:44.319 --> 00:30:45.240 that is not good. 00:30:47.180 --> 00:30:48.660 I want to encourage you, 00:30:49.619 --> 00:30:51.000 just be honest with God, 00:30:51.799 --> 00:30:53.000 quit playing around, 00:30:53.579 --> 00:30:54.839 it's not going to get any better, 00:30:55.539 --> 00:30:57.879 God's just going to put the screws down even more. 00:30:59.240 --> 00:31:00.519 So confess your sin, 00:31:00.819 --> 00:31:01.700 humble yourself, 00:31:02.920 --> 00:31:03.759 repent of it, 00:31:04.279 --> 00:31:07.220 come back to God in renewed faith, 00:31:08.160 --> 00:31:08.680 love, 00:31:09.160 --> 00:31:09.599 commitment. 00:31:10.839 --> 00:31:12.160 But here's what I want you to understand, 00:31:12.619 --> 00:31:13.399 everybody in this room, 00:31:13.460 --> 00:31:13.660 listen, 00:31:14.539 --> 00:31:16.779 if you can sin and enjoy it, 00:31:18.059 --> 00:31:21.039 you can sin with absolutely no guilt, 00:31:21.420 --> 00:31:22.299 no worries, 00:31:23.019 --> 00:31:24.299 you don't care what God thinks, 00:31:24.319 --> 00:31:25.399 you don't even think about God, 00:31:25.660 --> 00:31:28.779 I want you to know that you are not a Christian, 00:31:29.299 --> 00:31:30.899 you cannot be a Christian, 00:31:30.899 --> 00:31:32.740 there is nothing in the Bible 00:31:32.740 --> 00:31:34.240 that would say you're a Christian, 00:31:34.279 --> 00:31:35.599 if you can sin, 00:31:35.980 --> 00:31:37.319 just enjoy it, 00:31:37.579 --> 00:31:38.740 don't worry about it, 00:31:38.899 --> 00:31:39.599 no guilt, 00:31:39.859 --> 00:31:40.519 no conviction, 00:31:40.700 --> 00:31:41.539 no nothing. 00:31:43.660 --> 00:31:45.660 That means the Spirit of God's not in you 00:31:45.660 --> 00:31:48.920 because sin grieves the Spirit of God 00:31:48.920 --> 00:31:52.899 and sin will grieve you sooner or later 00:31:52.899 --> 00:31:54.920 if you truly are a Christian. 00:31:54.920 --> 00:31:59.860 saving faith is continuing faith. 00:31:59.860 --> 00:32:02.279 I want you to look back, 00:32:02.360 --> 00:32:03.980 hopefully you got your Bible open to Colossians, 00:32:04.240 --> 00:32:05.440 look back if you would, 00:32:05.519 --> 00:32:08.180 Colossians 1 verse 21 with me, 00:32:08.240 --> 00:32:09.400 this is not going to be on the screen 00:32:09.400 --> 00:32:10.740 because I just thought about it 00:32:10.740 --> 00:32:12.800 right before we started this service. 00:32:12.799 --> 00:32:14.799 And you, 00:32:15.619 --> 00:32:18.539 who once were alienated and hostile in mind, 00:32:19.000 --> 00:32:20.639 doing evil deeds, 00:32:21.119 --> 00:32:24.319 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh 00:32:24.319 --> 00:32:25.819 by his death 00:32:25.819 --> 00:32:28.919 in order to present you holy and blameless 00:32:28.919 --> 00:32:31.379 and above reproach before him. 00:32:31.759 --> 00:32:32.519 Look at verse 23. 00:32:32.519 --> 00:32:37.019 If indeed you continue in the faith, 00:32:37.480 --> 00:32:39.639 stable and steadfast, 00:32:40.079 --> 00:32:44.559 not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard. 00:32:44.799 --> 00:32:46.319 If you don't continue in the faith, 00:32:47.539 --> 00:32:49.879 if you walk away, 00:32:50.819 --> 00:32:51.720 have no hope, 00:32:52.180 --> 00:32:54.920 no confidence in that gospel you heard, 00:32:55.599 --> 00:32:56.539 you're not a Christian. 00:32:59.500 --> 00:33:00.539 And they may be on the roll, 00:33:00.539 --> 00:33:04.480 but you're not a child of God 00:33:04.480 --> 00:33:06.019 according to the truth of scripture. 00:33:08.759 --> 00:33:09.220 Now, 00:33:09.920 --> 00:33:13.859 I hope that bothers you 00:33:13.859 --> 00:33:14.839 if you're not a Christian. 00:33:16.379 --> 00:33:18.259 I hope that bothers you 00:33:18.259 --> 00:33:20.159 if that is who you really are. 00:33:20.240 --> 00:33:20.680 You know, 00:33:21.799 --> 00:33:22.819 even if you've been baptized, 00:33:22.940 --> 00:33:23.519 your name's on the roll. 00:33:24.920 --> 00:33:26.319 Because if that bothers you, 00:33:26.440 --> 00:33:29.339 that very well may be God's wake up call to you. 00:33:30.539 --> 00:33:33.799 So humble yourself. 00:33:34.799 --> 00:33:35.559 Don't argue. 00:33:37.799 --> 00:33:38.799 Admit your sin. 00:33:39.319 --> 00:33:40.339 Admit you're not a Christian. 00:33:41.839 --> 00:33:43.159 Repent of your sin, 00:33:43.399 --> 00:33:44.220 your selfishness, 00:33:44.299 --> 00:33:45.119 the way you've been living, 00:33:45.220 --> 00:33:46.359 the attitude that you have. 00:33:47.399 --> 00:33:49.639 Put your trust in Jesus truly, 00:33:50.079 --> 00:33:50.500 totally, 00:33:50.659 --> 00:33:52.099 wholeheartedly as your Savior 00:33:52.099 --> 00:33:54.139 and surrender your life to him as your Lord. 00:33:54.559 --> 00:33:56.259 Call upon him to save you now. 00:33:56.259 --> 00:34:00.240 Just wind it up. 00:34:01.240 --> 00:34:02.640 If you have a relationship with Christ 00:34:02.640 --> 00:34:03.559 in which you love him, 00:34:03.660 --> 00:34:04.059 trust him, 00:34:04.160 --> 00:34:04.640 serve him, 00:34:04.740 --> 00:34:06.240 and desire to be like him, 00:34:07.680 --> 00:34:09.980 you can resist temptation 00:34:09.980 --> 00:34:11.679 and live a holy life by God's grace. 00:34:13.059 --> 00:34:13.880 You can. 00:34:14.699 --> 00:34:16.940 That's what God will do in you and for you. 00:34:18.280 --> 00:34:20.119 That's who you are in Christ. 00:34:20.119 --> 00:34:26.000 That's how God calls every Christian to live. 00:34:27.539 --> 00:34:29.339 So the question we need to ask ourselves 00:34:29.339 --> 00:34:30.299 before we leave is this. 00:34:31.279 --> 00:34:32.480 Am I in Christ? 00:34:33.380 --> 00:34:34.880 Am I really a Christian? 00:34:36.380 --> 00:34:37.420 And if not, 00:34:38.380 --> 00:34:39.779 you just heard what to do. 00:34:39.780 --> 00:34:41.980 But if you are, 00:34:43.760 --> 00:34:45.780 you have the power, 00:34:46.640 --> 00:34:48.560 the indwelling Spirit of God 00:34:48.560 --> 00:34:52.660 to help you resist every temptation, 00:34:53.900 --> 00:34:56.420 every sinful desire. 00:34:57.540 --> 00:34:59.140 You can resist it today, 00:35:00.500 --> 00:35:01.540 tomorrow, 00:35:02.240 --> 00:35:03.120 the next day. 00:35:04.080 --> 00:35:04.980 Every day, 00:35:05.680 --> 00:35:07.500 be sensitive to the Spirit, 00:35:07.700 --> 00:35:08.680 listen to what he says, 00:35:08.679 --> 00:35:11.279 obey what he leads you to do. 00:35:12.659 --> 00:35:14.179 Kill sin. 00:35:14.919 --> 00:35:16.000 Run from temptation. 00:35:16.719 --> 00:35:18.239 Do what you can to avoid it. 00:35:18.639 --> 00:35:19.899 Where you can't avoid it, 00:35:19.980 --> 00:35:22.379 just ask the Lord to help you to be strong, 00:35:22.719 --> 00:35:23.379 to say no, 00:35:23.539 --> 00:35:24.440 to walk away, 00:35:24.799 --> 00:35:26.079 to make somebody mad, 00:35:26.980 --> 00:35:29.659 to totally change the way you've been living. 00:35:31.399 --> 00:35:33.079 We're called by the Lord 00:35:33.079 --> 00:35:36.480 to live like his children. 00:35:36.480 --> 00:35:38.780 And by God's grace, 00:35:39.219 --> 00:35:40.059 we can. 00:35:40.840 --> 00:35:43.079 He's showing us here how not to live, 00:35:43.199 --> 00:35:44.719 how we won't live if we're Christians. 00:35:46.099 --> 00:35:47.460 Make sure that 00:35:47.460 --> 00:35:50.599 you understand 00:35:50.599 --> 00:35:53.760 and that your life lines up 00:35:53.760 --> 00:35:55.800 with what the Scripture says 00:35:55.800 --> 00:35:57.440 a Christian is 00:35:57.440 --> 00:35:58.519 and how a Christian lives. 00:35:58.519 --> 00:36:00.019 Let's pray together. 00:36:00.739 --> 00:36:01.159 Dear God, 00:36:02.199 --> 00:36:04.179 help us now 00:36:04.179 --> 00:36:05.579 to know how to respond 00:36:05.579 --> 00:36:07.699 to you. 00:36:10.019 --> 00:36:11.039 Make it clear. 00:36:13.119 --> 00:36:14.320 Help that person 00:36:14.320 --> 00:36:16.420 who is yours, 00:36:17.420 --> 00:36:18.800 but who struggles. 00:36:19.340 --> 00:36:20.480 Help them to know, dear God, 00:36:20.559 --> 00:36:21.519 that they are secure 00:36:21.519 --> 00:36:26.320 in Jesus Christ. 00:36:28.440 --> 00:36:29.199 Help them to know 00:36:29.199 --> 00:36:30.480 that they are your child. 00:36:31.559 --> 00:36:32.380 The penalty for their sin 00:36:32.380 --> 00:36:32.900 has been paid. 00:36:33.000 --> 00:36:34.079 The power of sin 00:36:34.079 --> 00:36:34.820 has been broken. 00:36:36.019 --> 00:36:36.699 Help them, Father, 00:36:36.840 --> 00:36:39.219 to act on the desires 00:36:39.219 --> 00:36:40.400 of your spirit 00:36:40.400 --> 00:36:43.380 to obey you, 00:36:43.440 --> 00:36:44.119 to honor you, 00:36:44.519 --> 00:36:45.659 to resist temptation, 00:36:45.840 --> 00:36:46.519 to kill sin. 00:36:46.519 --> 00:36:47.019 sin. 00:36:50.400 --> 00:36:50.759 Father, 00:36:50.880 --> 00:36:51.860 I pray that you would call 00:36:51.860 --> 00:36:52.880 anyone who is not 00:36:52.880 --> 00:36:54.300 a true believer 00:36:54.300 --> 00:36:55.679 to faith in Jesus 00:36:55.679 --> 00:36:56.360 right now 00:36:56.360 --> 00:36:58.199 while they have 00:36:58.199 --> 00:36:58.860 the opportunity. 00:37:01.059 --> 00:37:02.259 And in attitude of prayer, 00:37:02.340 --> 00:37:03.280 let's all listen to the Lord 00:37:03.280 --> 00:37:04.280 and respond to Him. 00:37:05.860 --> 00:37:07.500 If you'd like to pray together 00:37:07.500 --> 00:37:08.380 here at the front, 00:37:08.460 --> 00:37:09.380 I'll be happy to do that 00:37:09.380 --> 00:37:10.440 in these next few minutes.