1 00:00:00,394 --> 00:00:02,471 I mean, what I would say to anybody. 2 00:00:02,471 --> 00:00:04,107 Look, if you look at these things, 3 00:00:04,107 --> 00:00:05,524 this list of ten things, 4 00:00:05,524 --> 00:00:07,588 and you're just like: 5 00:00:07,588 --> 00:00:09,056 I don't think I'm in there. 6 00:00:09,056 --> 00:00:11,197 I don't think I'm in that group. 7 00:00:11,197 --> 00:00:13,530 What do I do in secret? Is there real repentance? 8 00:00:13,530 --> 00:00:16,333 Do I have a love for Christ? Am I surrendered to God's will? 9 00:00:16,333 --> 00:00:17,664 Where is my mind? 10 00:00:17,664 --> 00:00:19,353 Are my idols being eradicated? 11 00:00:19,353 --> 00:00:21,637 Am I experiencing the testimony of the Spirit? 12 00:00:21,637 --> 00:00:23,647 Am I a new creation? Do others see it? 13 00:00:23,647 --> 00:00:24,959 Do I trust in Christ? 14 00:00:24,959 --> 00:00:28,619 I mean, am I making radical decisions in my life? 15 00:00:28,619 --> 00:00:30,626 Do I know Christ in a new way? 16 00:00:30,626 --> 00:00:34,433 And you go through all those things and you say, 17 00:00:34,433 --> 00:00:37,120 I don't think I'm in there. 18 00:00:37,120 --> 00:00:40,655 But, listen to Christ's words to these churches. 19 00:00:40,655 --> 00:00:42,272 It doesn't matter how much truth 20 00:00:42,272 --> 00:00:44,708 you've been exposed to, 21 00:00:44,708 --> 00:00:48,398 if you will hear what the Spirit says 22 00:00:48,398 --> 00:00:50,852 to the churches. 23 00:00:50,852 --> 00:00:53,290 Jesus is saying, "Come to Me." 24 00:00:53,290 --> 00:00:54,657 That's what repentance is. 25 00:00:54,657 --> 00:00:56,138 "Turn from your sin 26 00:00:56,138 --> 00:00:58,220 and come to Me." 27 00:01:02,692 --> 00:01:06,518 From Demi. 28 00:01:06,518 --> 00:01:09,046 "Dear Pastor Tim, 29 00:01:09,046 --> 00:01:12,995 I have recently checked myself 30 00:01:12,995 --> 00:01:16,770 and don't know if I am saved 31 00:01:16,770 --> 00:01:21,608 or if I'm a Christian that has fallen." 32 00:01:21,608 --> 00:01:24,177 Now, I dealt with this, 33 00:01:24,177 --> 00:01:27,042 because this seems like 34 00:01:27,042 --> 00:01:29,830 it's the question of the hour. 35 00:01:29,830 --> 00:01:32,838 It just seems that so many people 36 00:01:32,838 --> 00:01:35,043 are asking the same question 37 00:01:35,043 --> 00:01:36,348 over and over - 38 00:01:36,348 --> 00:01:38,733 in our church, in other churches we know, 39 00:01:38,733 --> 00:01:39,940 people that come to us, 40 00:01:39,940 --> 00:01:41,201 people that visit with us, 41 00:01:41,201 --> 00:01:43,412 people that are connected with us 42 00:01:43,412 --> 00:01:45,215 on the Internet, 43 00:01:45,215 --> 00:01:46,634 emails that we get. 44 00:01:46,634 --> 00:01:50,261 I don't doubt, James, in your Christian life 45 00:01:50,261 --> 00:01:54,289 you've probably had a thousand questions. 46 00:01:54,289 --> 00:01:55,695 Maybe not that many, 47 00:01:55,695 --> 00:02:02,304 but I mean, literally, in one form or another, 48 00:02:02,304 --> 00:02:09,808 where Demi is is where a multitude of people are. 49 00:02:09,808 --> 00:02:16,009 And I felt like, ok, let's answer this. 50 00:02:16,009 --> 00:02:18,250 Because when we have our Bibles, 51 00:02:18,250 --> 00:02:21,171 we have answers to things, right? 52 00:02:21,171 --> 00:02:22,895 I mean, here's a girl. 53 00:02:22,895 --> 00:02:24,557 She says, "I've checked myself 54 00:02:24,557 --> 00:02:26,630 and I don't know if I'm saved 55 00:02:26,630 --> 00:02:28,708 or if I'm a Christian that has fallen." 56 00:02:28,708 --> 00:02:30,602 We get a lot of people that come along: 57 00:02:30,602 --> 00:02:32,288 "I don't know if I'm a Christian." 58 00:02:32,288 --> 00:02:34,473 "I don't know if I'm saved." 59 00:02:34,473 --> 00:02:35,807 It's an assurance issue. 60 00:02:35,807 --> 00:02:37,178 And she goes on to say - 61 00:02:37,178 --> 00:02:40,004 and you'll see a bit of contradiction here 62 00:02:40,004 --> 00:02:42,652 but I think it just has to do with her confusion 63 00:02:42,652 --> 00:02:45,619 about where she actually is. 64 00:02:45,619 --> 00:02:47,191 She starts out by saying, 65 00:02:47,191 --> 00:02:48,283 "I've checked myself." 66 00:02:48,283 --> 00:02:50,089 In other words, I've examined myself, 67 00:02:50,089 --> 00:02:51,265 and I don't know. 68 00:02:51,265 --> 00:02:52,077 I don't know. 69 00:02:52,077 --> 00:02:55,785 When I look at myself, I don't know. 70 00:02:55,785 --> 00:02:58,636 "I believe that Christ died for my sins." 71 00:02:58,636 --> 00:02:59,955 She's got a head knowledge 72 00:02:59,955 --> 00:03:02,113 about the cross. 73 00:03:02,113 --> 00:03:03,986 "I believe that Christ died for my sins 74 00:03:03,986 --> 00:03:08,416 so that I may be blameless before God." 75 00:03:08,416 --> 00:03:10,157 Now, she'll say this: 76 00:03:10,157 --> 00:03:14,197 "I know that I'm no longer a slave to sin. 77 00:03:14,197 --> 00:03:16,887 I know that it is only God that can give salvation. 78 00:03:16,887 --> 00:03:19,300 I confessed my sins and asked God for salvation, 79 00:03:19,300 --> 00:03:24,482 but I fell into sexual sin. 80 00:03:24,482 --> 00:03:28,769 She says, "I know I'm no longer a slave to sin." 81 00:03:28,769 --> 00:03:31,502 But she says she fell into sexual sin. 82 00:03:31,502 --> 00:03:34,019 So I think even in her own mind, 83 00:03:34,019 --> 00:03:35,831 she can say I know I'm not a slave, 84 00:03:35,831 --> 00:03:36,878 but at the same time, 85 00:03:36,878 --> 00:03:38,420 she doesn't really know, 86 00:03:38,420 --> 00:03:40,120 because she's falling into sin, 87 00:03:40,120 --> 00:03:41,755 which is really coming back to why 88 00:03:41,755 --> 00:03:45,837 she doesn't know where she's at. 89 00:03:45,837 --> 00:03:48,792 "I have continually asked for salvation." 90 00:03:48,792 --> 00:03:51,635 Obviously, there's all sorts of doubts. 91 00:03:51,635 --> 00:03:54,008 If she's continually asking for salvation, 92 00:03:54,008 --> 00:03:56,803 it's because, again, she doesn't know. 93 00:03:56,803 --> 00:03:58,445 There's a lack of assurance. 94 00:03:58,445 --> 00:04:00,480 There's a lack of confidence here. 95 00:04:00,480 --> 00:04:04,128 "But the battle with sin is so real." 96 00:04:04,128 --> 00:04:06,496 And sometimes people talk that way 97 00:04:06,496 --> 00:04:11,034 about the battle with sin. 98 00:04:11,034 --> 00:04:13,852 They talk about it being a battle, 99 00:04:13,852 --> 00:04:16,206 but they're not getting any victory. 100 00:04:16,206 --> 00:04:19,229 They're totally a slave. 101 00:04:19,229 --> 00:04:21,464 And I dealt with that before. 102 00:04:21,464 --> 00:04:23,297 One of the APT's I've done in the past 103 00:04:23,297 --> 00:04:26,076 had to do with the difference between 104 00:04:26,076 --> 00:04:28,526 a slave to sin and struggling with sin. 105 00:04:28,526 --> 00:04:32,101 (Tim is referring to "Are You Struggling Against Sin or a Slave of Sin?") 106 00:04:32,101 --> 00:04:35,946 "This has led me to question my salvation." 107 00:04:35,946 --> 00:04:37,744 And then she has in parentheses: 108 00:04:37,744 --> 00:04:39,663 "which I know is a sin." 109 00:04:39,663 --> 00:04:41,993 In other words, her questioning her salvation 110 00:04:41,993 --> 00:04:43,590 she believes to be a sin. 111 00:04:43,590 --> 00:04:45,467 The truth is if she's not really saved 112 00:04:45,467 --> 00:04:48,159 it isn't really a sin. 113 00:04:48,159 --> 00:04:50,649 She wouldn't be doubting what is already true 114 00:04:50,649 --> 00:04:54,106 if she's actually not saved. 115 00:04:54,106 --> 00:04:56,313 She says, "I do believe I'm saved." 116 00:04:56,313 --> 00:04:58,339 You see the contradiction here. 117 00:04:58,339 --> 00:05:00,753 After she already said, "I don't know." 118 00:05:00,753 --> 00:05:02,711 She says, "I do believe I'm saved. 119 00:05:02,711 --> 00:05:04,491 I think I just need assurance." 120 00:05:04,491 --> 00:05:07,202 Which is another way of saying I don't have assurance, 121 00:05:07,202 --> 00:05:12,278 which means she's hoping she's saved. 122 00:05:12,278 --> 00:05:16,448 And she really wishes God would give her assurance. 123 00:05:16,448 --> 00:05:19,211 This is really commonplace today. 124 00:05:19,211 --> 00:05:21,782 Massively commonplace. 125 00:05:21,782 --> 00:05:24,403 Especially with the Internet. 126 00:05:24,403 --> 00:05:26,955 People are coming across the messages 127 00:05:26,955 --> 00:05:29,120 that are out there - good, Gospel messages - 128 00:05:29,120 --> 00:05:31,361 and I think people are coming under conviction. 129 00:05:31,361 --> 00:05:33,111 I think people are being awakened 130 00:05:33,111 --> 00:05:34,566 to the reality of hell. 131 00:05:34,566 --> 00:05:38,035 I think people are terrified to some degree. 132 00:05:38,035 --> 00:05:40,930 I think the thought of punishment for sin 133 00:05:40,930 --> 00:05:42,855 is really startling to people. 134 00:05:42,855 --> 00:05:44,635 It scares people. 135 00:05:44,635 --> 00:05:46,698 (Incomplete thought) 136 00:05:46,698 --> 00:05:49,840 I think what we have today 137 00:05:49,840 --> 00:05:54,271 is I think we have a lot of people 138 00:05:54,271 --> 00:05:59,556 who are coming face-to-face with the truth 139 00:05:59,556 --> 00:06:02,789 and it's shocking to them. 140 00:06:02,789 --> 00:06:06,271 It scares them. 141 00:06:06,271 --> 00:06:10,488 But they're just not wanting to let go of their sin. 142 00:06:10,488 --> 00:06:12,556 I think we're getting a lot of that. 143 00:06:12,556 --> 00:06:14,793 And I think we're getting a lot of people 144 00:06:14,793 --> 00:06:16,784 that they want assurance, 145 00:06:16,784 --> 00:06:18,628 when the truth is, 146 00:06:18,628 --> 00:06:20,530 they have not repented. 147 00:06:20,530 --> 00:06:23,762 There's not really been a deep repentance there. 148 00:06:23,762 --> 00:06:27,443 Now, I'm not saying I know what this girl's situation is. 149 00:06:27,443 --> 00:06:31,065 I mean, you start falling into sexual sin - 150 00:06:31,065 --> 00:06:32,161 David did that. 151 00:06:32,161 --> 00:06:34,203 And you can just read 152 00:06:34,203 --> 00:06:37,821 what that did in his own life. 153 00:06:37,821 --> 00:06:43,007 It created a season that darkness came on him; 154 00:06:43,007 --> 00:06:45,121 coldness, callousness. 155 00:06:45,121 --> 00:06:47,938 Something went on in the depths of his soul 156 00:06:47,938 --> 00:06:50,650 during that time. 157 00:06:50,650 --> 00:06:52,246 I don't know where she's at. 158 00:06:52,246 --> 00:06:54,253 But what do we say to somebody like that? 159 00:06:54,253 --> 00:06:56,564 I mean, we have biblical answers. 160 00:06:56,564 --> 00:06:57,918 And I just thought, 161 00:06:57,918 --> 00:07:00,693 what do we say to this girl? 162 00:07:00,693 --> 00:07:02,532 The thing about Christ, 163 00:07:02,532 --> 00:07:03,800 I think a lot of times, 164 00:07:03,800 --> 00:07:06,074 what would Christ say? 165 00:07:06,074 --> 00:07:08,428 Where would He go with this? 166 00:07:08,428 --> 00:07:09,848 But the truth is, Christ knew 167 00:07:09,848 --> 00:07:11,553 where people's hearts were. 168 00:07:11,553 --> 00:07:12,906 And I don't. 169 00:07:12,906 --> 00:07:14,680 And neither do you always. 170 00:07:14,680 --> 00:07:16,327 We can ask God for discernment, 171 00:07:16,327 --> 00:07:18,296 but a lot of times (incomplete thought). 172 00:07:18,296 --> 00:07:20,527 Jesus had an idea about the rich, young ruler. 173 00:07:20,527 --> 00:07:22,654 He had an idea about the woman at the well. 174 00:07:22,654 --> 00:07:24,784 He knew men's hearts. 175 00:07:24,784 --> 00:07:31,951 You and I have difficulty seeing what Jesus saw. 176 00:07:31,951 --> 00:07:34,418 But, I was thinking about this. 177 00:07:34,418 --> 00:07:37,706 I have ten things I want to shoot off here really quick. 178 00:07:37,706 --> 00:07:40,499 Think with me about the Sermon on the Mount. 179 00:07:40,499 --> 00:07:41,773 Sermon on the Mount - 180 00:07:41,773 --> 00:07:43,815 Jesus comes into this world. 181 00:07:43,815 --> 00:07:46,627 Jesus is maturing. 182 00:07:46,627 --> 00:07:49,701 He comes to the age of His public ministry. 183 00:07:49,701 --> 00:07:52,553 And the Sermon on the Mount, 184 00:07:52,553 --> 00:07:55,684 Jesus tells us what His Kingdom is all about. 185 00:07:55,684 --> 00:07:57,117 He tells us the kind of people 186 00:07:57,117 --> 00:07:58,722 that inherit the Kingdom of God. 187 00:07:58,722 --> 00:08:00,809 Not the kind of people the world think. 188 00:08:00,809 --> 00:08:01,882 What kind? 189 00:08:01,882 --> 00:08:03,257 Poor in spirit. 190 00:08:03,257 --> 00:08:05,698 You've got mourners who are going to be comforted. 191 00:08:05,698 --> 00:08:09,468 You've got the meek who are going to inherit the earth. 192 00:08:09,468 --> 00:08:11,308 What does the world think? 193 00:08:11,308 --> 00:08:13,077 The world thinks that the people 194 00:08:13,077 --> 00:08:15,192 who you want to be like 195 00:08:15,192 --> 00:08:17,224 are the heroes of this world. 196 00:08:17,224 --> 00:08:19,296 If you're going to inherit the world, 197 00:08:19,296 --> 00:08:20,556 you've got to be mighty. 198 00:08:20,556 --> 00:08:23,748 You've got to be like Alexander the Great. 199 00:08:23,748 --> 00:08:25,728 You've got to be like the great Caesar's. 200 00:08:25,728 --> 00:08:27,734 You've got to have muscle. 201 00:08:27,734 --> 00:08:29,427 That's how you take the world. 202 00:08:29,427 --> 00:08:30,708 Jesus is saying, 203 00:08:30,708 --> 00:08:32,654 My Kingdom is not like that at all. 204 00:08:32,654 --> 00:08:35,395 What's very interesting is 205 00:08:35,395 --> 00:08:38,254 that as this Sermon on the Mount 206 00:08:38,254 --> 00:08:41,559 is such an opening up of what His Kingdom is like, 207 00:08:41,559 --> 00:08:43,911 and when you get into the sixth chapter, 208 00:08:43,911 --> 00:08:46,287 it's like chapter 5 deals a whole lot 209 00:08:46,287 --> 00:08:49,968 with the Christian's relationship to the law. 210 00:08:49,968 --> 00:08:54,887 When you get to chapter 6, 211 00:08:54,887 --> 00:09:01,598 Jesus specifically looks at our life 212 00:09:01,598 --> 00:09:03,576 when nobody else sees. 213 00:09:03,576 --> 00:09:05,448 Have you ever noticed that? 214 00:09:05,448 --> 00:09:07,033 He moves off of: 215 00:09:07,033 --> 00:09:08,861 You have heard, but I say... 216 00:09:08,861 --> 00:09:10,722 concerning the law. 217 00:09:10,722 --> 00:09:12,734 And when He breaks into chapter 6, 218 00:09:12,734 --> 00:09:15,845 it's now what you do in secret. 219 00:09:15,845 --> 00:09:17,404 How you give in secret. 220 00:09:17,404 --> 00:09:18,569 How you pray in secret. 221 00:09:18,569 --> 00:09:19,928 How you fast in secret. 222 00:09:19,928 --> 00:09:24,035 He's very concerned that the life of His people - 223 00:09:24,035 --> 00:09:25,648 the true people of His Kingdom, 224 00:09:25,648 --> 00:09:27,609 they are people that live a certain way 225 00:09:27,609 --> 00:09:30,390 when nobody's watching. 226 00:09:30,390 --> 00:09:33,288 And that's what I would say to everybody. 227 00:09:33,288 --> 00:09:39,188 You know, it's just true. 228 00:09:39,188 --> 00:09:45,977 We tend to want to appear a certain way to others. 229 00:09:45,977 --> 00:09:48,360 Not just in our conduct, 230 00:09:48,360 --> 00:09:49,595 we do it physically. 231 00:09:49,595 --> 00:09:51,725 A lot of times, you walk around your house 232 00:09:51,725 --> 00:09:53,196 and you'll wear your pajamas 233 00:09:53,196 --> 00:09:55,003 and you won't brush your hair. 234 00:09:55,003 --> 00:09:57,142 All of a sudden, somebody will be at the door, 235 00:09:57,142 --> 00:09:59,350 and you know my wife's frantically in the bathroom, 236 00:09:59,350 --> 00:10:00,153 and doing what? 237 00:10:00,153 --> 00:10:03,178 You know, she's making herself look presentable. 238 00:10:03,178 --> 00:10:04,746 You all know that. 239 00:10:04,746 --> 00:10:08,563 But that happens in our actions too. 240 00:10:08,563 --> 00:10:12,456 And I guess there's a fear of man element in it. 241 00:10:12,456 --> 00:10:16,657 I guess we want other people to think well of us. 242 00:10:16,657 --> 00:10:19,897 But, I know that the best men 243 00:10:19,897 --> 00:10:21,110 who have ever lived, 244 00:10:21,110 --> 00:10:23,415 have undoubtedly been conscious 245 00:10:23,415 --> 00:10:27,015 of when they're in the public. 246 00:10:27,015 --> 00:10:28,263 But you know what? 247 00:10:28,263 --> 00:10:30,938 Cut through all that. 248 00:10:30,938 --> 00:10:33,190 True salvation changes the way you act 249 00:10:33,190 --> 00:10:34,567 when nobody's watching. 250 00:10:34,567 --> 00:10:36,580 Because you know God is watching. 251 00:10:36,580 --> 00:10:38,302 Your faith is that real 252 00:10:38,302 --> 00:10:39,519 and it's that powerful 253 00:10:39,519 --> 00:10:40,969 and it's that controlling. 254 00:10:40,969 --> 00:10:44,887 That when nobody is watching, 255 00:10:44,887 --> 00:10:48,466 you know God is 256 00:10:48,466 --> 00:10:50,253 and it prevents you from doing things 257 00:10:50,253 --> 00:10:52,195 on the computer you otherwise would do. 258 00:10:52,195 --> 00:10:54,374 It prevents you from doing things in private 259 00:10:54,374 --> 00:10:56,907 you would do when you were lost in private. 260 00:10:56,907 --> 00:10:58,712 It prevents those kind of things. 261 00:10:58,712 --> 00:11:01,333 Because you know God sees and you fear. 262 00:11:01,333 --> 00:11:04,524 When you give, you give privately 263 00:11:04,524 --> 00:11:08,001 as though you're in the sight 264 00:11:08,001 --> 00:11:11,208 of the all-seeing God Who sees in secret. 265 00:11:11,208 --> 00:11:14,196 When you pray, you don't just pray to be seen by men, 266 00:11:14,196 --> 00:11:16,349 you pray in a way that you know 267 00:11:16,349 --> 00:11:19,385 your heavenly Father is watching. 268 00:11:19,385 --> 00:11:21,832 Look, you look at your life when nobody's watching. 269 00:11:21,832 --> 00:11:23,200 This is what Jesus is saying 270 00:11:23,200 --> 00:11:24,498 in the Sermon on the Mount. 271 00:11:24,498 --> 00:11:25,958 Just look at your life 272 00:11:25,958 --> 00:11:29,260 when no one is watching. 273 00:11:29,260 --> 00:11:31,141 If it hasn't radically changed, 274 00:11:31,141 --> 00:11:33,022 you're not a changed person. 275 00:11:33,022 --> 00:11:36,826 That's what He's saying. 276 00:11:36,826 --> 00:11:42,023 So look, if I fall into a sin like fornication, 277 00:11:42,023 --> 00:11:43,987 this is still real. 278 00:11:43,987 --> 00:11:46,314 If I'm David and I fall into that sin, 279 00:11:46,314 --> 00:11:50,868 he's still across the majority of his lifetime, 280 00:11:50,868 --> 00:11:53,975 what characterizes him is a man after God's own heart, 281 00:11:53,975 --> 00:11:56,449 and man who walked in the fear of God 282 00:11:56,449 --> 00:12:00,273 and was conscious of an ever-watching God. 283 00:12:00,273 --> 00:12:03,221 And if, like this young lady, 284 00:12:03,221 --> 00:12:04,907 if she falls into that sin, 285 00:12:04,907 --> 00:12:08,261 she can still step back and look at her life, 286 00:12:08,261 --> 00:12:10,591 from the time she claims God has saved her, 287 00:12:10,591 --> 00:12:12,973 has it radically changed how she behaves 288 00:12:12,973 --> 00:12:16,308 when nobody's watching? 289 00:12:16,308 --> 00:12:18,628 The greatest place, brethren, 290 00:12:18,628 --> 00:12:23,417 where nobody's watching is up here. 291 00:12:23,417 --> 00:12:24,800 Has anything changed? 292 00:12:24,800 --> 00:12:27,593 Or do you harbor such things? 293 00:12:27,593 --> 00:12:28,734 Listen. 294 00:12:28,734 --> 00:12:31,317 Temptation is going to come. 295 00:12:31,317 --> 00:12:33,221 We know temptation is going to come. 296 00:12:33,221 --> 00:12:35,496 Why? There's a tempter in this world. 297 00:12:35,496 --> 00:12:37,627 Look, the man who - 298 00:12:37,627 --> 00:12:39,568 a young man; a single man, 299 00:12:39,568 --> 00:12:42,701 who comes into a service - 300 00:12:42,701 --> 00:12:46,839 I know pastors who talk about 301 00:12:46,839 --> 00:12:48,382 struggles in these areas, 302 00:12:48,382 --> 00:12:51,136 but if you're a single, young man 303 00:12:51,136 --> 00:12:53,077 and you're sitting in a church service 304 00:12:53,077 --> 00:12:55,032 and you see young ladies ahead of you, 305 00:12:55,032 --> 00:12:56,802 and suddenly your mind goes somewhere 306 00:12:56,802 --> 00:12:59,748 that it shouldn't go. 307 00:12:59,748 --> 00:13:03,292 But is there: "Lord, I'm sorry." 308 00:13:03,292 --> 00:13:05,226 "Lord, help me." 309 00:13:05,226 --> 00:13:06,842 Job's eyes. 310 00:13:06,842 --> 00:13:08,982 I do not want to have those eyes of adultery 311 00:13:08,982 --> 00:13:10,690 that I read about in the prophets. 312 00:13:10,690 --> 00:13:12,350 I want Job's eyes. 313 00:13:12,350 --> 00:13:14,800 "Lord, help me." 314 00:13:14,800 --> 00:13:16,925 Or, there's this groan. There's this sigh. 315 00:13:16,925 --> 00:13:20,414 There's this recognition: God saw that. 316 00:13:20,414 --> 00:13:22,991 Oh, I want a pure heart! 317 00:13:22,991 --> 00:13:26,328 Versus: You can sit through that whole service 318 00:13:26,328 --> 00:13:29,259 and you just feast. 319 00:13:29,259 --> 00:13:31,399 You have a pornographic mind 320 00:13:31,399 --> 00:13:33,331 and there's no check on it. 321 00:13:33,331 --> 00:13:34,895 You're in trouble. 322 00:13:34,895 --> 00:13:36,875 You're just plan downright in trouble. 323 00:13:36,875 --> 00:13:38,571 Whether or not you fall into 324 00:13:38,571 --> 00:13:40,689 one time of fornication or not 325 00:13:40,689 --> 00:13:43,008 like David - you're in trouble, 326 00:13:43,008 --> 00:13:47,510 if when no one can see, 327 00:13:47,510 --> 00:13:50,012 that's what's going on in your life. 328 00:13:50,012 --> 00:13:52,010 I mean, I'll guarantee you, 329 00:13:52,010 --> 00:13:53,635 the faith God gives us 330 00:13:53,635 --> 00:13:55,373 is a faith that knows. 331 00:13:55,373 --> 00:13:59,724 I mean, we know, God is real. 332 00:13:59,724 --> 00:14:01,665 If those who would come to Him, 333 00:14:01,665 --> 00:14:04,346 you've got to believe He is, 334 00:14:04,346 --> 00:14:07,011 and that He's a rewarder of them that seek Him. 335 00:14:07,011 --> 00:14:09,725 True faith believes He is. 336 00:14:09,725 --> 00:14:12,167 And it fears God in private. 337 00:14:12,167 --> 00:14:15,162 And that's why Jesus is saying, 338 00:14:15,162 --> 00:14:17,314 your fasting, 339 00:14:17,314 --> 00:14:19,154 your giving, 340 00:14:19,154 --> 00:14:21,154 your praying, 341 00:14:21,154 --> 00:14:23,569 it's going to look different than the hypocrite. 342 00:14:23,569 --> 00:14:25,157 Because you're not going to do it 343 00:14:25,157 --> 00:14:26,117 to be seen by men, 344 00:14:26,117 --> 00:14:27,164 you're going to do it 345 00:14:27,164 --> 00:14:29,746 because you're concerned about the God Who sees. 346 00:14:29,746 --> 00:14:31,149 So that's one thing. 347 00:14:31,149 --> 00:14:36,758 The second thing is repentance. 348 00:14:36,758 --> 00:14:39,202 Repentance. 349 00:14:39,202 --> 00:14:42,138 And I'm not just talking about in the beginning. 350 00:14:42,138 --> 00:14:44,554 When Peter denied the Lord, 351 00:14:44,554 --> 00:14:47,623 he went out and wept bitterly. 352 00:14:47,623 --> 00:14:52,109 When the Corinthians were strongly rebuked 353 00:14:52,109 --> 00:14:54,760 by the Apostle Paul in the first Corinthian letter, 354 00:14:54,760 --> 00:14:56,814 have you ever read 2 Corinthians 7 355 00:14:56,814 --> 00:14:59,433 and how they responded? 356 00:14:59,433 --> 00:15:05,743 How did they respond? 357 00:15:05,743 --> 00:15:07,871 Let me read to you 2 Corinthians 7. 358 00:15:07,871 --> 00:15:11,146 Listen to how they responded. 359 00:15:11,146 --> 00:15:17,908 He says this in v. 8, 360 00:15:17,908 --> 00:15:20,203 "Even if I made you grieve with my letter..." 361 00:15:20,203 --> 00:15:21,261 That was the first letter. 362 00:15:21,261 --> 00:15:23,427 "I do not regret it, though I did regret it, 363 00:15:23,427 --> 00:15:25,685 for I see that the letter grieved you." 364 00:15:25,685 --> 00:15:27,634 He regretted it because it grieved them. 365 00:15:27,634 --> 00:15:28,773 But look at this, 366 00:15:28,773 --> 00:15:30,481 "only for awhile. 367 00:15:30,481 --> 00:15:32,902 As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, 368 00:15:32,902 --> 00:15:37,061 but because you were grieved into repenting." 369 00:15:37,061 --> 00:15:39,949 When we sin, is there grief? 370 00:15:39,949 --> 00:15:41,538 And what's repenting? 371 00:15:41,538 --> 00:15:43,765 It's turning from that sin 372 00:15:43,765 --> 00:15:45,345 and turning to God. 373 00:15:45,345 --> 00:15:46,631 When you fall into sin, 374 00:15:46,631 --> 00:15:49,677 do you run into the arms of God? 375 00:15:49,677 --> 00:15:50,906 And then that's one thing, 376 00:15:50,906 --> 00:15:52,558 it's not just turning from sin, 377 00:15:52,558 --> 00:15:56,557 repentance is running to God. 378 00:15:56,557 --> 00:15:58,757 When you fall into sin, 379 00:15:58,757 --> 00:16:02,325 are you running to God for forgiveness? 380 00:16:02,325 --> 00:16:03,363 That's what they did. 381 00:16:03,363 --> 00:16:05,816 And watch this: they felt a godly grief. 382 00:16:05,816 --> 00:16:08,136 "So that you suffered no loss through us. 383 00:16:08,136 --> 00:16:10,978 For godly grief produces repentance 384 00:16:10,978 --> 00:16:13,061 that leads to salvation without regret 385 00:16:13,061 --> 00:16:16,744 whereas worldly grief produces death. 386 00:16:16,744 --> 00:16:18,659 See what earnestness this godly grief 387 00:16:18,659 --> 00:16:19,742 has produced in you, 388 00:16:19,742 --> 00:16:22,005 but also what eagerness to clear yourselves." 389 00:16:22,005 --> 00:16:22,780 You see that? 390 00:16:22,780 --> 00:16:24,583 They were eager to clear themselves. 391 00:16:24,583 --> 00:16:26,864 They approached the sin in their midst 392 00:16:26,864 --> 00:16:30,572 with indignation, with fear, 393 00:16:30,572 --> 00:16:33,088 longing, zeal, what punishment. 394 00:16:33,088 --> 00:16:34,959 This guy in their midst that was guilty 395 00:16:34,959 --> 00:16:37,011 of this sin for which they were all labeled 396 00:16:37,011 --> 00:16:39,234 as being proud and arrogant 397 00:16:39,234 --> 00:16:41,106 for allowing it in their midst. 398 00:16:41,106 --> 00:16:44,282 They dealt with it strongly. 399 00:16:44,282 --> 00:16:46,283 "At every point, you proved yourselves 400 00:16:46,283 --> 00:16:47,934 innocent in the matter. 401 00:16:47,934 --> 00:16:49,186 So though I wrote to you, 402 00:16:49,186 --> 00:16:51,494 it was not for the sake of the one who did the wrong..." 403 00:16:51,494 --> 00:16:52,909 Now he's talking about him. 404 00:16:52,909 --> 00:16:54,131 But they were earnest. 405 00:16:54,131 --> 00:16:55,266 They were zealous. 406 00:16:55,266 --> 00:16:58,776 Brethren, do you know something about this? 407 00:16:58,776 --> 00:17:00,661 When we fall into sin, 408 00:17:00,661 --> 00:17:03,137 is there a repentance 409 00:17:03,137 --> 00:17:04,719 where there is a grief? 410 00:17:04,719 --> 00:17:07,270 Peter went out and wept bitterly. 411 00:17:07,270 --> 00:17:10,109 Have you ever shed tears over your sin? 412 00:17:10,109 --> 00:17:12,229 Is there that sigh, that groan? 413 00:17:12,229 --> 00:17:15,451 Where you're going, yes, with your head hung low? 414 00:17:15,451 --> 00:17:18,416 Like the tax collector. 415 00:17:18,416 --> 00:17:19,911 But you go back to the Lord, 416 00:17:19,911 --> 00:17:22,114 because you don't have any other place to go. 417 00:17:22,114 --> 00:17:24,339 You're ashamed. 418 00:17:24,339 --> 00:17:26,493 But it's to Him you go. 419 00:17:26,493 --> 00:17:29,428 Why? Because it's in Him alone that there's healing. 420 00:17:29,428 --> 00:17:31,705 It's in Him alone that there's forgiveness. 421 00:17:31,705 --> 00:17:34,317 It's Him alone that came to you in the first place 422 00:17:34,317 --> 00:17:35,527 when you were yet dead 423 00:17:35,527 --> 00:17:37,335 in your trespasses and sins, 424 00:17:37,335 --> 00:17:39,935 and scooped you out of the miry clay. 425 00:17:39,935 --> 00:17:42,366 It's your only hope of healing. 426 00:17:42,366 --> 00:17:45,162 It's the only place where that blood flows 427 00:17:45,162 --> 00:17:47,271 that alone heals. 428 00:17:47,271 --> 00:17:49,561 Is there repentance? 429 00:17:49,561 --> 00:17:50,648 Ask yourselves that. 430 00:17:50,648 --> 00:17:52,037 When you fall into sin, 431 00:17:52,037 --> 00:17:54,082 are you confessing to the Lord? 432 00:17:54,082 --> 00:17:55,204 Are you going to Him 433 00:17:55,204 --> 00:17:56,634 and are you turning? 434 00:17:56,634 --> 00:17:59,397 I mean, with a vengeance? 435 00:17:59,397 --> 00:18:01,783 With zeal, with passion. 436 00:18:01,783 --> 00:18:06,314 Lord, help me! I don't want to do that again. 437 00:18:06,314 --> 00:18:09,387 That's what they did. 438 00:18:09,387 --> 00:18:10,961 Peter weeping bitterly, 439 00:18:10,961 --> 00:18:13,834 because Peter didn't just weep bitterly, 440 00:18:13,834 --> 00:18:16,258 he then expressed his love to Christ, 441 00:18:16,258 --> 00:18:19,024 and he eventually gave his life for Christ. 442 00:18:19,024 --> 00:18:21,129 You know, you can talk about hatred for sin, 443 00:18:21,129 --> 00:18:22,578 and you can talk about grief, 444 00:18:22,578 --> 00:18:25,864 and you can talk about all sorts of struggles with sin, 445 00:18:25,864 --> 00:18:27,646 and all that. 446 00:18:27,646 --> 00:18:29,548 You can feel real sorry. 447 00:18:29,548 --> 00:18:30,981 And sometimes it's no more 448 00:18:30,981 --> 00:18:32,295 than just worldly grief. 449 00:18:32,295 --> 00:18:34,503 Worldly grief can be because you got caught. 450 00:18:34,503 --> 00:18:35,401 But you know what? 451 00:18:35,401 --> 00:18:36,730 Worldly grief could just be 452 00:18:36,730 --> 00:18:38,191 because I can't have my sin 453 00:18:38,191 --> 00:18:40,059 and go to heaven too. 454 00:18:40,059 --> 00:18:42,654 It's a grief just because I recognize 455 00:18:42,654 --> 00:18:44,763 I'm going to hell. 456 00:18:44,763 --> 00:18:46,999 I'm going to hell holding on to my sin 457 00:18:46,999 --> 00:18:47,982 and I don't like it 458 00:18:47,982 --> 00:18:49,103 and I'm just grieved. 459 00:18:49,103 --> 00:18:50,832 That's a big difference between 460 00:18:50,832 --> 00:18:53,225 just feeling a pity party - 461 00:18:53,225 --> 00:18:54,331 Oh, woe is me. 462 00:18:54,331 --> 00:18:56,815 Why isn't God giving me assurance 463 00:18:56,815 --> 00:18:58,889 when I'm just living in sin? 464 00:18:58,889 --> 00:18:59,962 Oh, I feel so wronged. 465 00:18:59,962 --> 00:19:01,385 How come other people get it? 466 00:19:01,385 --> 00:19:03,017 I feel like I'm getting the shaft. 467 00:19:03,017 --> 00:19:04,729 Why is God not doing this? 468 00:19:04,729 --> 00:19:05,582 Woe is me. 469 00:19:05,582 --> 00:19:07,121 And just throwing a pity party. 470 00:19:07,121 --> 00:19:09,378 There's all sorts of ways of grief. 471 00:19:09,378 --> 00:19:11,853 But the godly grief - 472 00:19:11,853 --> 00:19:14,693 remember, repentance is not just 473 00:19:14,693 --> 00:19:16,716 turning from sin. 474 00:19:16,716 --> 00:19:18,840 It's turning towards God. 475 00:19:18,840 --> 00:19:21,045 It's running from our sin 476 00:19:21,045 --> 00:19:23,627 into the arms of God. 477 00:19:23,627 --> 00:19:26,982 Ashamed as we might be, 478 00:19:26,982 --> 00:19:28,487 just recognizing: 479 00:19:28,487 --> 00:19:30,306 where else am I going to go? 480 00:19:30,306 --> 00:19:32,808 I have an Advocate with the Father 481 00:19:32,808 --> 00:19:35,597 when I sin. 482 00:19:35,597 --> 00:19:37,588 There's no condemnation. 483 00:19:37,588 --> 00:19:39,727 That would be the second thing: repentance. 484 00:19:39,727 --> 00:19:40,984 How about a third thing? 485 00:19:40,984 --> 00:19:46,399 How about just love for Christ? 486 00:19:46,399 --> 00:19:48,099 I mean, think about that. 487 00:19:48,099 --> 00:19:49,507 Is there a love for Christ? 488 00:19:49,507 --> 00:19:51,020 Do you remember what Paul says? 489 00:19:51,020 --> 00:19:52,409 What does he say about those 490 00:19:52,409 --> 00:19:54,357 who don't have a love for Christ? 491 00:19:54,357 --> 00:19:55,868 Accursed. 492 00:19:55,868 --> 00:19:57,208 Right, he pronounces a curse 493 00:19:57,208 --> 00:19:59,841 on anybody that doesn't have a love for Christ. 494 00:19:59,841 --> 00:20:03,934 Now think with me, 495 00:20:03,934 --> 00:20:07,862 I've said this before. 496 00:20:07,862 --> 00:20:11,074 No man has to wonder 497 00:20:11,074 --> 00:20:13,995 if he's in love with a woman. 498 00:20:13,995 --> 00:20:17,493 No woman is going to scratch her head, 499 00:20:17,493 --> 00:20:19,089 squint her eyeballs, 500 00:20:19,089 --> 00:20:22,206 to figure out if she's in love with a man. 501 00:20:22,206 --> 00:20:24,946 We know love. 502 00:20:24,946 --> 00:20:29,141 We know when we love. 503 00:20:29,141 --> 00:20:31,856 We know the love of a child. 504 00:20:31,856 --> 00:20:35,624 We know the love of certain things. 505 00:20:35,624 --> 00:20:39,038 We know if we say, oh, we love that song, 506 00:20:39,038 --> 00:20:45,153 we know what it is. 507 00:20:45,153 --> 00:20:47,079 It's that which thrills the soul. 508 00:20:47,079 --> 00:20:48,429 It's that which we think on. 509 00:20:48,429 --> 00:20:50,379 It's that that our mind is consumed with. 510 00:20:50,379 --> 00:20:51,808 It's that which we think about 511 00:20:51,808 --> 00:20:53,413 when we wake up and go to bed at night. 512 00:20:53,413 --> 00:20:54,673 It's that which drives us. 513 00:20:54,673 --> 00:20:56,593 It's that which our focus is on. 514 00:20:56,593 --> 00:21:00,517 It's that which we live for. 515 00:21:00,517 --> 00:21:02,695 Don't say you love Christ 516 00:21:02,695 --> 00:21:04,390 if He's not filling your mind 517 00:21:04,390 --> 00:21:08,339 and if He's not the target of your life. 518 00:21:08,339 --> 00:21:11,168 Let's not play games. 519 00:21:11,168 --> 00:21:12,801 Let's not try to redefine love 520 00:21:12,801 --> 00:21:13,898 when it comes to Christ 521 00:21:13,898 --> 00:21:15,758 when we full well know what it is 522 00:21:15,758 --> 00:21:17,981 with regards to everything else. 523 00:21:17,981 --> 00:21:20,469 And I mean, you all know number 4. 524 00:21:20,469 --> 00:21:22,332 It's surrendering to the will. 525 00:21:22,332 --> 00:21:27,097 Jesus said that you are My disciples indeed, 526 00:21:27,097 --> 00:21:29,232 if what? 527 00:21:29,232 --> 00:21:31,357 If My Word dwells in you. 528 00:21:31,357 --> 00:21:33,798 Remember, don't be hearers of the Word 529 00:21:33,798 --> 00:21:36,139 and not doers, deceiving your own self. 530 00:21:36,139 --> 00:21:38,052 Has God done something in your life? 531 00:21:38,052 --> 00:21:40,451 Jesus said it's not everybody that says to me, "Lord, Lord," 532 00:21:40,451 --> 00:21:42,402 that's going to inherit the Kingdom of Heaven, 533 00:21:42,402 --> 00:21:44,384 it's those that do the will of the Father in Heaven. 534 00:21:44,384 --> 00:21:46,653 Look, does God's Word 535 00:21:46,653 --> 00:21:49,374 have bearing on your life? 536 00:21:49,374 --> 00:21:50,826 If you can just go live in sin 537 00:21:50,826 --> 00:21:52,462 and do whatever you want to do, 538 00:21:52,462 --> 00:21:54,437 but you're being religious and you go to church 539 00:21:54,437 --> 00:21:56,403 and you even give a little bit of your money, 540 00:21:56,403 --> 00:21:57,853 and you go to the Bible study, 541 00:21:57,853 --> 00:21:59,198 and you own a Bible... 542 00:21:59,198 --> 00:22:00,576 I'm not talking about that. 543 00:22:00,576 --> 00:22:02,578 I'm talking about when Christ 544 00:22:02,578 --> 00:22:05,803 says something in His Word, 545 00:22:05,803 --> 00:22:08,014 does it have bearing on your life? 546 00:22:08,014 --> 00:22:10,711 If God's Word can say something 547 00:22:10,711 --> 00:22:13,598 and you can just brush it off, 548 00:22:13,598 --> 00:22:17,035 you can just keep brushing it off, 549 00:22:17,035 --> 00:22:19,699 and it's nothing to you, 550 00:22:19,699 --> 00:22:22,218 you're in big trouble. 551 00:22:22,218 --> 00:22:23,387 Don't play games. 552 00:22:23,387 --> 00:22:26,129 You're in big trouble. 553 00:22:26,129 --> 00:22:27,842 I'm not saying the Christian 554 00:22:27,842 --> 00:22:30,643 keeps that Word perfectly, 555 00:22:30,643 --> 00:22:33,472 but I'm saying it has a bearing on our life, 556 00:22:33,472 --> 00:22:35,550 like it never did before. 557 00:22:35,550 --> 00:22:38,083 It's speaking to us. 558 00:22:38,083 --> 00:22:43,235 Decisions I make are being pressed upon by the Word. 559 00:22:43,235 --> 00:22:44,331 You get married. 560 00:22:44,331 --> 00:22:46,133 James, have you ever thought about 561 00:22:46,133 --> 00:22:49,264 love your wives like Christ loved the church 562 00:22:49,264 --> 00:22:51,308 since you've been married? 563 00:22:51,308 --> 00:22:52,734 The Word of God presses on us 564 00:22:52,734 --> 00:22:53,775 if we're husbands. 565 00:22:53,775 --> 00:22:55,564 The Word of God presses on us 566 00:22:55,564 --> 00:22:58,265 if we're church members. 567 00:22:58,265 --> 00:23:02,688 The Word of God presses on us as citizens. 568 00:23:02,688 --> 00:23:03,806 Right? 569 00:23:03,806 --> 00:23:05,062 I mean, in the beginning, 570 00:23:05,062 --> 00:23:07,360 I was really convicted about the speed limit. 571 00:23:07,360 --> 00:23:08,717 I've been telling somebody, 572 00:23:08,717 --> 00:23:11,729 you know, I drove through a construction zone, 573 00:23:11,729 --> 00:23:16,408 through like ten miles of I-94 freeway 574 00:23:16,408 --> 00:23:18,472 up by Chicago when I was first saved. 575 00:23:18,472 --> 00:23:20,183 And I had a car full of passengers 576 00:23:20,183 --> 00:23:22,498 and I'm driving like 30 miles an hour 577 00:23:22,498 --> 00:23:24,758 in this one lane construction on I-94. 578 00:23:24,758 --> 00:23:27,431 I have traffic backed up for probably 10 miles. 579 00:23:27,431 --> 00:23:29,266 But I was so convicted. 580 00:23:29,266 --> 00:23:31,719 And just recently, with a tight schedule 581 00:23:31,719 --> 00:23:34,493 in going to Austin and everything, 582 00:23:34,493 --> 00:23:37,726 I get hung up in rush hour traffic 583 00:23:37,726 --> 00:23:39,954 and now I'm not going to make it there, 584 00:23:39,954 --> 00:23:42,650 and so I've been trying to wrestle - 585 00:23:42,650 --> 00:23:46,663 is it right to go a little bit over 586 00:23:46,663 --> 00:23:47,985 to try to make up the time 587 00:23:47,985 --> 00:23:49,081 and get there on time? 588 00:23:49,081 --> 00:23:50,773 And when I got to Austin one time, 589 00:23:50,773 --> 00:23:52,919 I think it was Paige that said, 590 00:23:52,919 --> 00:23:55,698 "Pastor Tim! You speed?" 591 00:23:55,698 --> 00:24:03,253 And it was like Romans 13 really. 592 00:24:03,253 --> 00:24:05,563 And I just felt like, that's right. 593 00:24:05,563 --> 00:24:08,407 I've just got to leave earlier. 594 00:24:08,407 --> 00:24:09,802 No matter what it means 595 00:24:09,802 --> 00:24:10,877 as far as my schedule. 596 00:24:10,877 --> 00:24:12,492 I've just got to leave earlier 597 00:24:12,492 --> 00:24:13,589 so that doesn't happen. 598 00:24:13,589 --> 00:24:16,500 I want to please the Lord. 599 00:24:16,500 --> 00:24:18,465 Isn't that what you want, Christian? 600 00:24:18,465 --> 00:24:20,426 I want to please the Lord. 601 00:24:20,426 --> 00:24:22,546 It's not just I want to rigidly 602 00:24:22,546 --> 00:24:25,249 have to keep His law and be under the law. 603 00:24:25,249 --> 00:24:27,249 I want to please the Lord. 604 00:24:27,249 --> 00:24:31,016 And righteousness is a desire of my heart. 605 00:24:31,016 --> 00:24:32,520 I want to be like Christ. 606 00:24:32,520 --> 00:24:34,941 I do hunger and thirst after righteousness. 607 00:24:34,941 --> 00:24:37,730 I want that. 608 00:24:37,730 --> 00:24:40,062 Surrender to God's will is a huge thing. 609 00:24:40,062 --> 00:24:41,968 Number 5 and I've already mentioned it 610 00:24:41,968 --> 00:24:43,151 on a couple of these. 611 00:24:43,151 --> 00:24:45,601 But more broadly, I'll just say it. 612 00:24:45,601 --> 00:24:47,334 Where is your mind? 613 00:24:47,334 --> 00:24:48,801 I mean, Scripture says that 614 00:24:48,801 --> 00:24:51,240 the mind that is set on the things of the Spirit - 615 00:24:51,240 --> 00:24:53,529 that's life. 616 00:24:53,529 --> 00:24:56,048 The mind that's set on the things of the flesh - 617 00:24:56,048 --> 00:24:58,998 that's death. 618 00:24:58,998 --> 00:25:00,978 What are the things of the Spirit? 619 00:25:00,978 --> 00:25:02,695 Well, we've already talked about 620 00:25:02,695 --> 00:25:04,622 if you love Christ, you're going to be 621 00:25:04,622 --> 00:25:06,025 thinking a lot about Him. 622 00:25:06,025 --> 00:25:08,370 But it's thinking about the Word of God. 623 00:25:08,370 --> 00:25:12,580 It's thinking about how to show love 624 00:25:12,580 --> 00:25:14,151 to the people of God. 625 00:25:14,151 --> 00:25:15,518 It's thinking about Christ. 626 00:25:15,518 --> 00:25:17,763 It's thinking about the Father, 627 00:25:17,763 --> 00:25:19,720 and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. 628 00:25:19,720 --> 00:25:21,313 It's thinking about glory. 629 00:25:21,313 --> 00:25:22,709 Isn't that the kind of thing 630 00:25:22,709 --> 00:25:25,333 that Paul wanted the hearts 631 00:25:25,333 --> 00:25:27,464 and the minds of the Christians 632 00:25:27,464 --> 00:25:28,735 at Ephesus set on? 633 00:25:28,735 --> 00:25:31,173 The hope that was before them? 634 00:25:31,173 --> 00:25:34,606 Just the riches of this glorious inheritance. 635 00:25:34,606 --> 00:25:35,877 He wants them thinking. 636 00:25:35,877 --> 00:25:36,996 Are you thinking? 637 00:25:36,996 --> 00:25:39,071 Are you thinking of heaven? Are you thinking on Christ? 638 00:25:39,071 --> 00:25:41,687 Are you thinking of the Godhead? Are you thinking of the Father? 639 00:25:41,687 --> 00:25:43,283 Are you thinking of Scripture? 640 00:25:43,283 --> 00:25:44,787 Are you thinking of obedience? 641 00:25:44,787 --> 00:25:47,283 Are you thinking of the things 642 00:25:47,283 --> 00:25:48,617 that pertain to the Spirit? 643 00:25:48,617 --> 00:25:50,213 Because the things that pertain 644 00:25:50,213 --> 00:25:51,906 to the flesh; the thing that are according to the flesh, 645 00:25:51,906 --> 00:25:53,333 what are the things according to the flesh? 646 00:25:53,333 --> 00:25:55,133 Doing things in my own power. 647 00:25:55,133 --> 00:25:56,654 Doing things selfishly. 648 00:25:56,654 --> 00:25:58,442 Doing the things that the world does. 649 00:25:58,442 --> 00:26:00,503 Setting my mind on the things of the world. 650 00:26:00,503 --> 00:26:02,371 Just being consumed with the things 651 00:26:02,371 --> 00:26:03,918 that the world is consumed with 652 00:26:03,918 --> 00:26:06,875 and having my mind set there. 653 00:26:06,875 --> 00:26:09,018 How about this? 654 00:26:09,018 --> 00:26:11,225 Idols being eradicated? 655 00:26:11,225 --> 00:26:13,846 You know, when I read in Ezekiel 36, 656 00:26:13,846 --> 00:26:16,917 and what Ezekiel's version of the new covenant there, 657 00:26:16,917 --> 00:26:18,813 what is one of the things that we find 658 00:26:18,813 --> 00:26:20,463 that he's going to do in our life 659 00:26:20,463 --> 00:26:21,877 with regards to idols? 660 00:26:21,877 --> 00:26:24,194 He's going to wash us. He's going to cleanse us 661 00:26:24,194 --> 00:26:25,195 from all our idols. 662 00:26:25,195 --> 00:26:27,164 You just ask yourself this. 663 00:26:27,164 --> 00:26:29,743 We could deal with God's discipline, 664 00:26:29,743 --> 00:26:33,180 but I think this is a good place to put it. 665 00:26:33,180 --> 00:26:35,954 If you've been a Christian any amount of time, 666 00:26:35,954 --> 00:26:39,040 you're going to know the reality of Ezekiel 36. 667 00:26:39,040 --> 00:26:41,110 God is in the business of eradicating 668 00:26:41,110 --> 00:26:42,970 the idols from the life of His people. 669 00:26:42,970 --> 00:26:44,360 And if you don't know that, 670 00:26:44,360 --> 00:26:45,945 you're not His child. 671 00:26:45,945 --> 00:26:47,043 Because He promises. 672 00:26:47,043 --> 00:26:49,227 That's one of the tenets of the new covenant. 673 00:26:49,227 --> 00:26:51,468 Brethren, I know that. 674 00:26:51,468 --> 00:26:56,109 And you know, idols are things we love. 675 00:26:56,109 --> 00:26:59,659 And when He uproots that weed, 676 00:26:59,659 --> 00:27:01,738 those roots go deep. 677 00:27:01,738 --> 00:27:03,665 And some of the things He tears out - 678 00:27:03,665 --> 00:27:05,157 that's what makes an idol. 679 00:27:05,157 --> 00:27:06,780 It's something that we love. 680 00:27:06,780 --> 00:27:11,733 It's something that's competing for His love. 681 00:27:11,733 --> 00:27:13,530 He's jealous for our love. 682 00:27:13,530 --> 00:27:15,584 And when He pulls those things out, 683 00:27:15,584 --> 00:27:17,053 it hurts. 684 00:27:17,053 --> 00:27:19,097 And you know when He does it. 685 00:27:19,097 --> 00:27:21,295 And He's done it in my life repeatedly. 686 00:27:21,295 --> 00:27:23,534 I mean, it's just been like 25 years 687 00:27:23,534 --> 00:27:25,566 of idol eradication. 688 00:27:25,566 --> 00:27:27,322 And a lot of it's been painful. 689 00:27:27,322 --> 00:27:30,734 I want it. I pray for it. 690 00:27:30,734 --> 00:27:35,873 But when it comes, it really hurts. 691 00:27:35,873 --> 00:27:38,207 "Lord, get all the idols out of my life." 692 00:27:38,207 --> 00:27:39,586 Yeah, but you don't think 693 00:27:39,586 --> 00:27:41,850 you're talking about that. 694 00:27:41,850 --> 00:27:45,118 And then ugh! 695 00:27:45,118 --> 00:27:48,357 A lot of times He will have you 696 00:27:48,357 --> 00:27:51,765 pull it up by the roots yourself. 697 00:27:51,765 --> 00:27:53,901 Because He'll make you so miserable with it 698 00:27:53,901 --> 00:27:55,722 that you finally do it. 699 00:27:55,722 --> 00:27:57,032 But that's another thing. 700 00:27:57,032 --> 00:27:58,414 Idol eradication. 701 00:27:58,414 --> 00:28:00,025 How about number 7? 702 00:28:00,025 --> 00:28:01,589 The testimony of the Spirit. 703 00:28:01,589 --> 00:28:03,629 The Spirit of God pours the love of God 704 00:28:03,629 --> 00:28:06,069 into the hearts of the people of God. 705 00:28:06,069 --> 00:28:07,688 You have that from Romans 5:5. 706 00:28:07,688 --> 00:28:09,698 And if you look at the context there, 707 00:28:09,698 --> 00:28:11,740 it's associated with the cross of Christ. 708 00:28:11,740 --> 00:28:13,598 Now, look, the Spirit of God 709 00:28:13,598 --> 00:28:15,733 bears witness with our spirits 710 00:28:15,733 --> 00:28:17,179 that we're children of God. 711 00:28:17,179 --> 00:28:24,484 And it comes hand in hand with the cross. 712 00:28:24,484 --> 00:28:28,897 Assurance, when you look at the cross, 713 00:28:28,897 --> 00:28:31,553 that's what I find the Spirit gives. 714 00:28:31,553 --> 00:28:33,717 When your eyes are locked into 715 00:28:33,717 --> 00:28:35,245 those songs we sing; 716 00:28:35,245 --> 00:28:37,822 when you're looking at the cross, 717 00:28:37,822 --> 00:28:39,232 is that where your hope is? 718 00:28:39,232 --> 00:28:41,066 Is that where your joy is? 719 00:28:41,066 --> 00:28:45,231 Do you find the assurance of the Spirit 720 00:28:45,231 --> 00:28:47,888 being testified to you? 721 00:28:47,888 --> 00:28:50,782 Because Romans 5 and Romans 8 says 722 00:28:50,782 --> 00:28:54,593 that will happen if you're a child of God. 723 00:28:54,593 --> 00:28:56,291 How about this? 724 00:28:56,291 --> 00:28:57,987 You're a new creation in Christ. 725 00:28:57,987 --> 00:29:00,937 We have this from 2 Corinthians 5:17. 726 00:29:00,937 --> 00:29:02,441 We're new creations in Christ. 727 00:29:02,441 --> 00:29:05,027 Old things are passed away. All things are become new. 728 00:29:05,027 --> 00:29:07,931 Look, if you suddenly stop 729 00:29:07,931 --> 00:29:09,246 being who you were, 730 00:29:09,246 --> 00:29:12,039 which that means old things pass away - 731 00:29:12,039 --> 00:29:13,694 who you were passes away. 732 00:29:13,694 --> 00:29:15,270 You are now a new person. 733 00:29:15,270 --> 00:29:17,636 If you are a new person, guess what? 734 00:29:17,636 --> 00:29:19,146 Your mom and dad know it. 735 00:29:19,146 --> 00:29:20,268 If you're a new person, 736 00:29:20,268 --> 00:29:21,941 your brothers and sisters know it. 737 00:29:21,941 --> 00:29:23,035 If you're a new person, 738 00:29:23,035 --> 00:29:24,782 your husband or your wife knows it. 739 00:29:24,782 --> 00:29:25,762 Your kids know it. 740 00:29:25,762 --> 00:29:27,078 Your friends know it. 741 00:29:27,078 --> 00:29:30,305 If they don't know it, it's not true. 742 00:29:30,305 --> 00:29:32,292 You do not become a radical 743 00:29:32,292 --> 00:29:34,442 new creation in Christ - 744 00:29:34,442 --> 00:29:36,595 I understand if you're saved at 5 years old 745 00:29:36,595 --> 00:29:38,060 it may be difficult to tell. 746 00:29:38,060 --> 00:29:39,754 But I'm talking most of us are not 747 00:29:39,754 --> 00:29:41,904 saved at 5 years old. 748 00:29:41,904 --> 00:29:43,617 If other people do not know 749 00:29:43,617 --> 00:29:44,935 that you're a new creation, 750 00:29:44,935 --> 00:29:50,582 it's because you're not very likely. 751 00:29:50,582 --> 00:29:53,715 How about this? 752 00:29:53,715 --> 00:29:57,424 You trust Christ. 753 00:29:57,424 --> 00:30:01,204 Look, I'm not saying 754 00:30:01,204 --> 00:30:02,665 you can say, "Oh, I believe 755 00:30:02,665 --> 00:30:04,723 Christ died for sinners." 756 00:30:04,723 --> 00:30:07,927 I'm saying you're like Peter, 757 00:30:07,927 --> 00:30:10,576 and you'll get out of the boat 758 00:30:10,576 --> 00:30:12,922 and walk on water. 759 00:30:12,922 --> 00:30:15,833 I'm saying decisions you make in your life 760 00:30:15,833 --> 00:30:18,694 show who you trust. 761 00:30:18,694 --> 00:30:20,245 Whether you trust money; 762 00:30:20,245 --> 00:30:22,602 whether you trust in the arm of the flesh; 763 00:30:22,602 --> 00:30:24,595 or whether you trust Christ. 764 00:30:24,595 --> 00:30:26,930 I mean, you're making decisions in your life 765 00:30:26,930 --> 00:30:30,434 that show your trust goes beyond 766 00:30:30,434 --> 00:30:32,248 the nominal. 767 00:30:32,248 --> 00:30:34,575 All sorts of people say they believe in Christ. 768 00:30:34,575 --> 00:30:38,894 I'm talking about you live resting 769 00:30:38,894 --> 00:30:40,554 the weight of your soul, 770 00:30:40,554 --> 00:30:42,540 the decisions of your life 771 00:30:42,540 --> 00:30:45,566 on Who Christ is. 772 00:30:45,566 --> 00:30:47,407 You'll make decisions that will seem 773 00:30:47,407 --> 00:30:51,145 absolutely foolish to this world; 774 00:30:51,145 --> 00:30:53,515 will confound and baffle them, 775 00:30:53,515 --> 00:30:55,281 and they'll call you foolish; 776 00:30:55,281 --> 00:30:57,603 they'll say you're going overboard; 777 00:30:57,603 --> 00:30:59,414 they'll get angry, upset, 778 00:30:59,414 --> 00:31:02,754 or they'll laugh and mock. 779 00:31:02,754 --> 00:31:04,333 They will not be able to enter in 780 00:31:04,333 --> 00:31:06,049 or understand, 781 00:31:06,049 --> 00:31:08,380 because you have something they don't have. 782 00:31:08,380 --> 00:31:10,883 You will make decisions financially 783 00:31:10,883 --> 00:31:12,309 that the world doesn't make 784 00:31:12,309 --> 00:31:13,972 because you trust Christ. 785 00:31:13,972 --> 00:31:16,021 You will make decisions with your life, 786 00:31:16,021 --> 00:31:17,150 with your family, 787 00:31:17,150 --> 00:31:18,329 with your health, 788 00:31:18,329 --> 00:31:21,026 with everything, 789 00:31:21,026 --> 00:31:22,342 because you trust Christ 790 00:31:22,342 --> 00:31:24,201 in a way this world will never do 791 00:31:24,201 --> 00:31:26,414 who know not Christ. 792 00:31:26,414 --> 00:31:29,333 And the last one I would say is this. 793 00:31:29,333 --> 00:31:32,130 This comes from 2 Corinthians 5:16. 794 00:31:32,130 --> 00:31:33,081 Listen to the verse: 795 00:31:33,081 --> 00:31:34,288 "From now on therefore, 796 00:31:34,288 --> 00:31:36,998 we regard no one according to the flesh, 797 00:31:36,998 --> 00:31:39,332 even though we once regarded Christ 798 00:31:39,332 --> 00:31:40,894 according to the flesh, 799 00:31:40,894 --> 00:31:43,984 we regard Him thus no longer." 800 00:31:43,984 --> 00:31:45,771 My number 10 here is 801 00:31:45,771 --> 00:31:48,487 you know Christ in a new way. 802 00:31:48,487 --> 00:31:50,054 Did you hear what he said? 803 00:31:50,054 --> 00:31:53,980 We now know nobody after the flesh. 804 00:31:53,980 --> 00:31:56,445 How did we know people after the flesh? 805 00:31:56,445 --> 00:31:57,883 Just listen to two lost people 806 00:31:57,883 --> 00:31:59,279 when they get on an airplane. 807 00:31:59,279 --> 00:32:00,643 What do you do for a living? 808 00:32:00,643 --> 00:32:02,656 I do this. What do you do for a living? 809 00:32:02,656 --> 00:32:03,851 I do this. 810 00:32:03,851 --> 00:32:06,167 Now we view everything through a different lens. 811 00:32:06,167 --> 00:32:08,976 What's the lens we view everything through? 812 00:32:08,976 --> 00:32:12,900 Are they saved or are they lost? 813 00:32:12,900 --> 00:32:16,707 We used to view Christ a certain way. 814 00:32:16,707 --> 00:32:18,139 Do you remember that? 815 00:32:18,139 --> 00:32:19,060 When you were lost? 816 00:32:19,060 --> 00:32:20,540 How you viewed Christ? 817 00:32:20,540 --> 00:32:22,891 And he's saying for the Christian, 818 00:32:22,891 --> 00:32:24,336 we no longer view Christ 819 00:32:24,336 --> 00:32:25,450 according to the flesh. 820 00:32:25,450 --> 00:32:27,445 You view Christ according to the flesh, 821 00:32:27,445 --> 00:32:28,555 who is He? 822 00:32:28,555 --> 00:32:29,938 I think I've told you before, 823 00:32:29,938 --> 00:32:31,472 I viewed Him as the Son of God - 824 00:32:31,472 --> 00:32:32,512 not really being God. 825 00:32:32,512 --> 00:32:34,648 I viewed Him as One that I could profane His name 826 00:32:34,648 --> 00:32:36,455 as long as I didn't profane the name of God, 827 00:32:36,455 --> 00:32:38,647 I could profane His, and it was ok. 828 00:32:38,647 --> 00:32:40,982 I so trampled Christ in the mud. 829 00:32:40,982 --> 00:32:42,231 I counted Him little, 830 00:32:42,231 --> 00:32:43,560 insignificant, 831 00:32:43,560 --> 00:32:44,666 not God, 832 00:32:44,666 --> 00:32:45,900 less than God. 833 00:32:45,900 --> 00:32:47,902 I counted Him as this little thing 834 00:32:47,902 --> 00:32:50,175 to be tromped on. 835 00:32:50,175 --> 00:32:51,649 That's how I looked at Him. 836 00:32:51,649 --> 00:32:53,829 I looked at Mary as the one 837 00:32:53,829 --> 00:32:55,708 that was really desirable. 838 00:32:55,708 --> 00:32:57,144 Not Christ. 839 00:32:57,144 --> 00:32:58,928 I looked Him as a word that could 840 00:32:58,928 --> 00:33:04,201 just roll off my tongue in blasphemous fashion. 841 00:33:04,201 --> 00:33:05,460 But you know what? 842 00:33:05,460 --> 00:33:08,865 When God saved me, 843 00:33:08,865 --> 00:33:11,267 it was Christ. 844 00:33:11,267 --> 00:33:13,027 It was all Christ. 845 00:33:13,027 --> 00:33:18,292 I mean the deity of Christ amazed me. 846 00:33:18,292 --> 00:33:20,928 Christ amazed me. 847 00:33:20,928 --> 00:33:25,709 And I was so used to using His name profanely, 848 00:33:25,709 --> 00:33:27,543 that in the beginning, I had to say 849 00:33:27,543 --> 00:33:29,769 Christ Jesus, not Jesus Christ, 850 00:33:29,769 --> 00:33:32,138 because I so wanted to honor His name. 851 00:33:32,138 --> 00:33:34,550 Oh, I viewed Him as so high 852 00:33:34,550 --> 00:33:36,895 and so exalted and so lifted up 853 00:33:36,895 --> 00:33:37,972 after that; 854 00:33:37,972 --> 00:33:39,526 so to be desired. 855 00:33:39,526 --> 00:33:41,667 Oh, I'd come across texts like, 856 00:33:41,667 --> 00:33:44,280 "altogether lovely" and it's just like 857 00:33:44,280 --> 00:33:47,693 everything in me wants to scream, "yes!" 858 00:33:47,693 --> 00:33:49,372 I'd come across verses like that. 859 00:33:49,372 --> 00:33:50,978 It's like any place you find Him 860 00:33:50,978 --> 00:33:53,370 in the Old Testament, 861 00:33:53,370 --> 00:33:56,287 your heart leaps. 862 00:33:56,287 --> 00:33:57,861 Do you know that? 863 00:33:57,861 --> 00:33:59,788 I mean, do you know something about that? 864 00:33:59,788 --> 00:34:01,434 Where you knew Him according to the flesh 865 00:34:01,434 --> 00:34:02,337 at one time? 866 00:34:02,337 --> 00:34:03,980 You knew Him as a little thing, 867 00:34:03,980 --> 00:34:05,595 a lightweight thing? 868 00:34:05,595 --> 00:34:06,807 You despised Him? 869 00:34:06,807 --> 00:34:08,184 But now, you don't know Him 870 00:34:08,184 --> 00:34:09,841 according to the flesh any longer. 871 00:34:09,841 --> 00:34:11,828 You know Him according to the Spirit. 872 00:34:11,828 --> 00:34:14,714 You know Him according to one who has life. 873 00:34:14,714 --> 00:34:17,822 You know Him according to one who has seen Him. 874 00:34:17,822 --> 00:34:20,794 At least, seen much of His glory 875 00:34:20,794 --> 00:34:23,313 for what He truly is. 876 00:34:23,313 --> 00:34:24,744 See, these are ten things 877 00:34:24,744 --> 00:34:27,356 that you can find from Scripture. 878 00:34:27,356 --> 00:34:31,595 These are experiential things. 879 00:34:31,595 --> 00:34:33,216 These are real things. 880 00:34:33,216 --> 00:34:35,317 These are identifiable things. 881 00:34:35,317 --> 00:34:37,359 And you know what? 882 00:34:37,359 --> 00:34:39,421 You know one of the things 883 00:34:39,421 --> 00:34:42,083 I've just absolutely been amazed with? 884 00:34:42,083 --> 00:34:44,299 Really over the last several years, 885 00:34:44,299 --> 00:34:47,047 I've spent so much time 886 00:34:47,047 --> 00:34:50,303 contemplating those seven churches 887 00:34:50,303 --> 00:34:53,756 that are found in Revelation 2-3. 888 00:34:53,756 --> 00:34:56,263 And I'm amazed. 889 00:34:56,263 --> 00:34:58,485 I'm amazed. 890 00:34:58,485 --> 00:35:00,537 Jesus comes to the church 891 00:35:00,537 --> 00:35:01,787 that lost its first love. 892 00:35:01,787 --> 00:35:03,564 And He doesn't say I'm going to cast you away; 893 00:35:03,564 --> 00:35:04,678 I'm going to destroy you. 894 00:35:04,678 --> 00:35:06,130 Look at all the opportunities you had. 895 00:35:06,130 --> 00:35:08,259 Look at all the light you've been exposed to. 896 00:35:08,259 --> 00:35:09,579 He says to them, 897 00:35:09,579 --> 00:35:11,906 Repent. 898 00:35:11,906 --> 00:35:15,850 In other words, "come back to Me." 899 00:35:15,850 --> 00:35:17,786 He comes to a church that claims 900 00:35:17,786 --> 00:35:24,571 to be alive, and yet it's dead. 901 00:35:24,571 --> 00:35:26,577 And He says the same thing. 902 00:35:26,577 --> 00:35:28,726 "Come back to Me." 903 00:35:28,726 --> 00:35:32,669 These are religious people that are dead. 904 00:35:32,669 --> 00:35:35,415 And He's saying, 905 00:35:35,415 --> 00:35:37,515 you are not so far gone 906 00:35:37,515 --> 00:35:39,952 that I won't have mercy on you. 907 00:35:39,952 --> 00:35:41,430 "Come back to Me." 908 00:35:41,430 --> 00:35:42,817 The Laodiceans. 909 00:35:42,817 --> 00:35:45,989 Yeah, lukewarm, but He defines lukewarm 910 00:35:45,989 --> 00:35:47,994 as being wretched, miserable, poor, 911 00:35:47,994 --> 00:35:50,547 blind, naked... 912 00:35:50,547 --> 00:35:54,196 And He says I'm there at the door to knock. 913 00:35:54,196 --> 00:35:55,799 Open to Me. 914 00:35:55,799 --> 00:35:58,293 I'll come into you. 915 00:35:58,293 --> 00:36:00,064 It's just amazing to me. 916 00:36:00,064 --> 00:36:02,498 These are people that have been exposed 917 00:36:02,498 --> 00:36:04,172 to vast amounts of truth. 918 00:36:04,172 --> 00:36:05,506 And they've despised it. 919 00:36:05,506 --> 00:36:07,849 He says of Jezebel to the one church, 920 00:36:07,849 --> 00:36:10,739 I gave her an opportunity to repent. 921 00:36:10,739 --> 00:36:12,933 Even a woman that has led this church 922 00:36:12,933 --> 00:36:17,003 into all sorts of sin, heresy, 923 00:36:17,003 --> 00:36:19,867 lewd living, 924 00:36:19,867 --> 00:36:22,106 and He's saying, even her, 925 00:36:22,106 --> 00:36:25,876 I gave a season to her to repent. 926 00:36:25,876 --> 00:36:28,117 I mean, what I would say to anybody. 927 00:36:28,117 --> 00:36:29,893 Look, if you look at these things - 928 00:36:29,893 --> 00:36:31,390 this list of ten things. 929 00:36:31,390 --> 00:36:33,068 And you're just like, 930 00:36:33,068 --> 00:36:34,709 I don't think I'm in there. 931 00:36:34,709 --> 00:36:36,509 I don't think I'm in that group. 932 00:36:36,509 --> 00:36:38,078 What do I do in secret? 933 00:36:38,078 --> 00:36:39,346 Is there real repentance? 934 00:36:39,346 --> 00:36:41,661 Do I have a love for Christ? Am I surrendered to God's will? 935 00:36:41,661 --> 00:36:43,244 Where is my mind? 936 00:36:43,244 --> 00:36:44,844 Are my idols being eradicated? 937 00:36:44,844 --> 00:36:47,324 Am I experiencing the testimony of the Spirit? 938 00:36:47,324 --> 00:36:49,504 Am I a new creation? Do others see it? 939 00:36:49,504 --> 00:36:50,790 Do I trust in Christ? 940 00:36:50,790 --> 00:36:54,290 Am I making radical decisions in my life? 941 00:36:54,290 --> 00:36:56,157 Do I know Christ in a new way? 942 00:36:56,157 --> 00:36:57,906 And you go through all those things 943 00:36:57,906 --> 00:36:59,545 and you say, 944 00:36:59,545 --> 00:37:02,877 I don't think I'm in there. 945 00:37:02,877 --> 00:37:06,201 But listen to Christ's words to these churches. 946 00:37:06,201 --> 00:37:07,943 It doesn't matter how much truth 947 00:37:07,943 --> 00:37:10,678 you've been exposed to. 948 00:37:10,678 --> 00:37:14,106 If you will hear what the Spirit says 949 00:37:14,106 --> 00:37:16,317 to the churches, 950 00:37:16,317 --> 00:37:19,020 Jesus is saying, "Come to Me." 951 00:37:19,020 --> 00:37:20,348 That's what repentance is. 952 00:37:20,348 --> 00:37:21,792 "Turn from your sin 953 00:37:21,792 --> 00:37:23,824 and come to Me. 954 00:37:23,824 --> 00:37:25,481 I stand at the door. 955 00:37:25,481 --> 00:37:27,799 Come to Me. 956 00:37:27,799 --> 00:37:29,983 Open." 957 00:37:29,983 --> 00:37:31,289 You say you're alive, 958 00:37:31,289 --> 00:37:33,035 but after hearing these, 959 00:37:33,035 --> 00:37:34,967 you recognize you're dead? 960 00:37:34,967 --> 00:37:37,298 He's saying, "come to Me." 961 00:37:37,298 --> 00:37:39,182 Do you look at your life in light of these 962 00:37:39,182 --> 00:37:42,034 and say I'm wretched, I'm poor, I'm blind, I'm miserable, 963 00:37:42,034 --> 00:37:43,573 I'm just like those Laodiceans. 964 00:37:43,573 --> 00:37:46,196 He's saying, "Come to Me." 965 00:37:46,196 --> 00:37:47,485 I'm amazed. 966 00:37:47,485 --> 00:37:49,451 You'd think Christ would just get to the place 967 00:37:49,451 --> 00:37:51,430 where He'd just write people off, right? 968 00:37:51,430 --> 00:37:53,231 I mean we hear of the unpardonable sin. 969 00:37:53,231 --> 00:37:54,832 We hear of people going so far. 970 00:37:54,832 --> 00:37:56,804 We've been looking at the book of Hebrews 971 00:37:56,804 --> 00:37:57,715 and you know what? 972 00:37:57,715 --> 00:37:58,562 All that is true. 973 00:37:58,562 --> 00:38:00,201 But no matter how much it's true, 974 00:38:00,201 --> 00:38:05,517 it's still true that people can go so far 975 00:38:05,517 --> 00:38:06,589 in their sin. 976 00:38:06,589 --> 00:38:08,810 They can have so much light. 977 00:38:08,810 --> 00:38:10,803 They can have so much privilege. 978 00:38:10,803 --> 00:38:13,559 Be in churches that are true churches, 979 00:38:13,559 --> 00:38:16,521 true candlesticks. 980 00:38:16,521 --> 00:38:20,107 And Christ is still saying - 981 00:38:20,107 --> 00:38:22,190 even if after all that, you're still dead, 982 00:38:22,190 --> 00:38:23,373 you're still wretched, 983 00:38:23,373 --> 00:38:25,612 you're still poor, 984 00:38:25,612 --> 00:38:29,480 He says, "Come to Me." 985 00:38:29,480 --> 00:38:31,967 Isn't that amazing 986 00:38:31,967 --> 00:38:34,313 that we have such a Savior? 987 00:38:34,313 --> 00:38:35,790 So if you don't measure up, 988 00:38:35,790 --> 00:38:37,708 it's not like you throw up your hands. 989 00:38:37,708 --> 00:38:40,028 After all the light, after all the privilege, 990 00:38:40,028 --> 00:38:42,527 after all I've been exposed to... 991 00:38:42,527 --> 00:38:44,078 but if you have ears to hear, 992 00:38:44,078 --> 00:38:45,687 if you hear what the Spirit says 993 00:38:45,687 --> 00:38:47,980 to those churches, 994 00:38:47,980 --> 00:38:51,784 as Christ is speaking to them, 995 00:38:51,784 --> 00:38:56,856 He's saying, "Come." 996 00:38:56,856 --> 00:38:58,186 "Come. 997 00:38:58,186 --> 00:39:04,274 I'll yet accept you." 998 00:39:04,274 --> 00:39:06,775 All five of those bad churches, 999 00:39:06,775 --> 00:39:11,613 He didn't write one of them off. 1000 00:39:11,613 --> 00:39:13,471 He didn't. 1001 00:39:13,471 --> 00:39:16,003 Not one of them. 1002 00:39:16,003 --> 00:39:17,460 Now, He says you keep going 1003 00:39:17,460 --> 00:39:18,966 in the way you're going, 1004 00:39:18,966 --> 00:39:21,481 you're going to be written off. 1005 00:39:21,481 --> 00:39:24,333 But He's saying if you'll come - 1006 00:39:24,333 --> 00:39:26,765 now Jezebel, her time was over. 1007 00:39:26,765 --> 00:39:28,232 She'd been written off. 1008 00:39:28,232 --> 00:39:29,684 But the rest of them there, 1009 00:39:29,684 --> 00:39:31,849 those that were following her, 1010 00:39:31,849 --> 00:39:33,205 He's saying turn. 1011 00:39:33,205 --> 00:39:34,681 I gave her an opportunity. 1012 00:39:34,681 --> 00:39:36,259 She didn't. 1013 00:39:36,259 --> 00:39:37,930 I'm giving you an opportunity. 1014 00:39:37,930 --> 00:39:39,577 He's given us an opportunity. 1015 00:39:39,577 --> 00:39:42,090 If you don't measure up, 1016 00:39:42,090 --> 00:39:43,716 throw yourself; 1017 00:39:43,716 --> 00:39:46,306 fall down before Him. 1018 00:39:46,306 --> 00:39:47,762 He's very merciful. 1019 00:39:47,762 --> 00:39:50,322 He wouldn't be inviting us this way 1020 00:39:50,322 --> 00:39:53,381 if He wasn't. 1021 00:39:53,381 --> 00:39:55,891 Well, those are ten things to look at. 1022 00:39:55,891 --> 00:39:58,340 Those are very searching things. 1023 00:39:58,340 --> 00:40:00,366 I'm not expecting that there will be 1024 00:40:00,366 --> 00:40:02,540 perfection in that in our life, 1025 00:40:02,540 --> 00:40:03,960 but you know what? 1026 00:40:03,960 --> 00:40:06,208 I can look at these ten things 1027 00:40:06,208 --> 00:40:09,159 and I can say my life isn't perfect, 1028 00:40:09,159 --> 00:40:15,231 but I see realities - all ten of these in my life. 1029 00:40:15,231 --> 00:40:23,084 And I'm thankful; I'm grateful. 1030 00:40:23,084 --> 00:40:24,882 I hope you all do too. 1031 00:40:24,882 --> 00:40:26,369 And if you don't, 1032 00:40:26,369 --> 00:40:30,766 you'll flee to Christ at once. 1033 00:40:30,766 --> 00:40:32,657 Father, we thank You 1034 00:40:32,657 --> 00:40:33,772 that we have the Word 1035 00:40:33,772 --> 00:40:36,234 that is a lamp to our feet. 1036 00:40:36,234 --> 00:40:38,044 We can test ourselves. 1037 00:40:38,044 --> 00:40:39,703 We can examine ourselves 1038 00:40:39,703 --> 00:40:43,329 in light of Scripture. 1039 00:40:43,329 --> 00:40:44,763 We're thankful that we have 1040 00:40:44,763 --> 00:40:47,547 such a receiving Savior, 1041 00:40:47,547 --> 00:40:49,609 such a tender Savior. 1042 00:40:49,609 --> 00:40:51,738 In light of the wickedness 1043 00:40:51,738 --> 00:40:55,573 and sin of so many, 1044 00:40:55,573 --> 00:40:57,564 that our Lord would still be 1045 00:40:57,564 --> 00:40:59,521 calling them to Himself; 1046 00:40:59,521 --> 00:41:02,387 still be saying to us, 1047 00:41:02,387 --> 00:41:07,241 "Son, daughter, lay down your weapons 1048 00:41:07,241 --> 00:41:09,679 of warfare against Me, 1049 00:41:09,679 --> 00:41:12,340 and surrender, 1050 00:41:12,340 --> 00:41:14,948 and I'll have mercy upon you." 1051 00:41:14,948 --> 00:41:20,828 Oh, what a Savior! 1052 00:41:20,828 --> 00:41:23,321 We praise You, Lord Jesus Christ. 1053 00:41:23,321 --> 00:41:24,802 You are altogether worthy, 1054 00:41:24,802 --> 00:41:29,325 altogether lovely. 1055 00:41:29,325 --> 00:41:30,497 Amen.