1 00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:05,040 Speaker 1: Let us pray. Finally, my brethren, be strong in the 2 00:00:05,080 --> 00:00:08,440 Speaker 1: Lord and in the power of His might. Put on 3 00:00:08,520 --> 00:00:11,600 Speaker 1: the whole armor of God, that ye may be able 4 00:00:11,640 --> 00:00:15,440 Speaker 1: to stand against the wiles of the devil. Ephesian six 5 00:00:16,000 --> 00:00:20,439 Speaker 1: ten and eleven. Thank you Father, that the weapons of 6 00:00:20,440 --> 00:00:24,280 Speaker 1: our warfare are not carnal, but spiritual to the pulling 7 00:00:24,320 --> 00:00:28,480 Speaker 1: down of strongholds. It is not my righteousness that gives 8 00:00:28,520 --> 00:00:31,720 Speaker 1: me authority to stand against the enemy, but the breastplate 9 00:00:31,840 --> 00:00:35,880 Speaker 1: of the righteousness of Christ. The helmet of salvation, brings 10 00:00:35,920 --> 00:00:39,320 Speaker 1: every thought into alignment with your word and guards my 11 00:00:39,479 --> 00:00:43,200 Speaker 1: thoughts from the lying assaults of the enemy. I lift 12 00:00:43,280 --> 00:00:46,000 Speaker 1: up the shield of faith to quench the fiery darts 13 00:00:46,000 --> 00:00:48,760 Speaker 1: of the enemy, and wield the sword of the Spirit, 14 00:00:49,040 --> 00:00:52,120 Speaker 1: which is the Word of God. I have the belt 15 00:00:52,159 --> 00:00:56,320 Speaker 1: of truth and the shoes of peace. I stand in 16 00:00:56,360 --> 00:00:59,120 Speaker 1: the strength of the Lord, ready to defeat the devil. 17 00:01:00,080 --> 00:01:00,440 Speaker 2: Amen. 18 00:01:03,000 --> 00:01:06,280 Speaker 1: Thank you for listening to today's daily prayer. For more 19 00:01:06,319 --> 00:01:10,440 Speaker 1: inspiration and an incredible message from our feature pastor, stay 20 00:01:10,480 --> 00:01:12,679 Speaker 1: tuned to pray dot COM's Sunday service. 21 00:01:13,880 --> 00:01:17,679 Speaker 3: Welcome to pray dot COM's Sunday service sponsored by Altrue Health. 22 00:01:17,760 --> 00:01:21,319 Speaker 3: Share follow this podcast and listen weekly to receive godly 23 00:01:21,360 --> 00:01:24,960 Speaker 3: wisdom and practical advice for daily living. Stay tuned for 24 00:01:25,120 --> 00:01:28,440 Speaker 3: Sunday service coming up. After a quick word from our sponsors, 25 00:01:30,400 --> 00:01:33,560 Speaker 3: there's an innovative, better way to find healthcare. We're our 26 00:01:33,640 --> 00:01:36,480 Speaker 3: True a Health Share, an affordable and flexible way to 27 00:01:36,520 --> 00:01:39,479 Speaker 3: take care of your family. 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That's my 33 00:01:55,360 --> 00:01:58,680 Speaker 3: share dot org Altru a health share where we care 34 00:01:58,760 --> 00:01:59,440 Speaker 3: for one another. 35 00:02:06,120 --> 00:02:06,280 Speaker 2: Hi. 36 00:02:06,680 --> 00:02:09,960 Speaker 4: I'm Matt Reaster, the executive director of CC Podcasts, and 37 00:02:10,000 --> 00:02:11,760 Speaker 4: I want to thank you for joining us on pray 38 00:02:11,800 --> 00:02:15,240 Speaker 4: dot com for today's Sunday service. Our ministry has been 39 00:02:15,280 --> 00:02:18,640 Speaker 4: around for eighty seven years as a radio preaching ministry, 40 00:02:18,680 --> 00:02:22,240 Speaker 4: and more recently we've added a couple podcasts to our 41 00:02:22,360 --> 00:02:25,440 Speaker 4: weekly radio broadcast, and I'll tell you more about that 42 00:02:25,520 --> 00:02:26,200 Speaker 4: at the end. 43 00:02:26,120 --> 00:02:27,080 Speaker 2: Of today's service. 44 00:02:27,520 --> 00:02:30,079 Speaker 4: More importantly, I want to tell you that we're here 45 00:02:30,160 --> 00:02:33,480 Speaker 4: to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to promote the 46 00:02:33,600 --> 00:02:37,080 Speaker 4: truth of God's Word. Toward that end, I'm excited for 47 00:02:37,160 --> 00:02:39,560 Speaker 4: you to hear a sermon by one of our radio preachers, 48 00:02:39,600 --> 00:02:42,520 Speaker 4: Pastor Tim Bucker, which he gave at the one hundred 49 00:02:42,520 --> 00:02:46,040 Speaker 4: and second Cedar Falls Bible Conference earlier this year. It's 50 00:02:46,040 --> 00:02:49,079 Speaker 4: our prayer that you'll be inspired, shaped and challenged by 51 00:02:49,080 --> 00:02:52,520 Speaker 4: God's Word as communicated by Tim. And while you're here, 52 00:02:52,760 --> 00:02:55,520 Speaker 4: I hope you'll take the opportunity to follow our profile 53 00:02:55,800 --> 00:03:01,120 Speaker 4: so you can more easily access ccpodcast content going forward. Also, 54 00:03:01,520 --> 00:03:04,040 Speaker 4: if this message is meaningful to you in any way, 55 00:03:04,120 --> 00:03:06,520 Speaker 4: I hope you'll consider sharing it with a family member 56 00:03:06,800 --> 00:03:07,320 Speaker 4: or a friend. 57 00:03:07,840 --> 00:03:10,040 Speaker 2: Again, thank you for joining CC. 58 00:03:10,000 --> 00:03:13,799 Speaker 4: Podcasts on pray dot com for today's Sunday service. I'll 59 00:03:13,800 --> 00:03:15,360 Speaker 4: talk to you one more time at the end of 60 00:03:15,360 --> 00:03:18,120 Speaker 4: this sermon, and God bless you as you listen to 61 00:03:18,160 --> 00:03:19,600 Speaker 4: the preaching of His word. 62 00:03:20,680 --> 00:03:20,760 Speaker 5: Right. 63 00:03:20,800 --> 00:03:23,280 Speaker 2: I want to talk to you about being shaped by 64 00:03:23,320 --> 00:03:26,760 Speaker 2: God's Word. It's the mission of the Bible Conference Matt 65 00:03:26,880 --> 00:03:29,680 Speaker 2: mentioned it. Actually, the original mission of the Cedar Falls 66 00:03:29,720 --> 00:03:33,240 Speaker 2: Bible Conference and the mission today are similar. The original 67 00:03:33,320 --> 00:03:39,120 Speaker 2: mission was to provide biblical instruction to build up believers 68 00:03:39,160 --> 00:03:43,120 Speaker 2: in the Lord Jesus Christ and expand his kingdom, to 69 00:03:43,160 --> 00:03:46,120 Speaker 2: provide biblical instruction and build up believers in the Lord 70 00:03:46,240 --> 00:03:50,280 Speaker 2: Jesus Christ and expand his kingdom. We've shortened it down 71 00:03:50,360 --> 00:03:54,160 Speaker 2: now it's a little broader target audience. It doesn't just 72 00:03:54,520 --> 00:04:00,400 Speaker 2: target to believers. It is for people to be inspired, challenged, 73 00:04:00,560 --> 00:04:07,640 Speaker 2: and shaped by God's Word. I've underlined God's Word because 74 00:04:07,680 --> 00:04:11,200 Speaker 2: what we're talking about today is being shaped by it, 75 00:04:12,000 --> 00:04:15,520 Speaker 2: and then of course inspired by it and being shaped 76 00:04:15,520 --> 00:04:17,640 Speaker 2: by it, were challenged by it. I want to begin 77 00:04:17,720 --> 00:04:20,719 Speaker 2: with a picture of my son and my grandson. I 78 00:04:20,760 --> 00:04:23,200 Speaker 2: believe that on the screen here, can you see that? 79 00:04:25,160 --> 00:04:28,760 Speaker 2: Is that up there? No, it's not there, it is. 80 00:04:28,800 --> 00:04:32,760 Speaker 2: You have it, okay. My son is twenty eight years old. 81 00:04:33,720 --> 00:04:37,440 Speaker 2: He weighs in at three hundred and twenty pounds. He's 82 00:04:37,480 --> 00:04:41,880 Speaker 2: substantially bigger than his son, who is three years old 83 00:04:41,920 --> 00:04:45,760 Speaker 2: and weighs in somewhere between forty and forty five pounds. 84 00:04:46,560 --> 00:04:49,599 Speaker 2: They are fun to watch interact with each other. The 85 00:04:49,680 --> 00:04:52,080 Speaker 2: little one there calls the big one there the mountain, 86 00:04:53,080 --> 00:04:56,960 Speaker 2: and he likes to climb the mountain. They have a 87 00:04:56,960 --> 00:05:00,479 Speaker 2: lot of fun together and sometimes they break into a 88 00:05:00,480 --> 00:05:04,160 Speaker 2: little squabble with each other. It's a squabble that can 89 00:05:04,200 --> 00:05:07,279 Speaker 2: break out almost any time of the day. I've seen 90 00:05:07,320 --> 00:05:10,400 Speaker 2: it happen many times right in our own home. The 91 00:05:10,440 --> 00:05:14,240 Speaker 2: squabble goes something like this. Clay decides he wants to 92 00:05:14,279 --> 00:05:16,240 Speaker 2: do something that he wants to do, but it's not 93 00:05:16,320 --> 00:05:18,279 Speaker 2: appropriate for him to do it right now. So my 94 00:05:18,360 --> 00:05:21,760 Speaker 2: son tells him no, and that he fights against my 95 00:05:21,920 --> 00:05:27,039 Speaker 2: son's dad authority, and my son picks him up and 96 00:05:27,200 --> 00:05:29,920 Speaker 2: sort of reminds him face to face. Clay, remember we've 97 00:05:29,960 --> 00:05:34,719 Speaker 2: talked about in their words, who's the boss, who's the boss, 98 00:05:36,360 --> 00:05:42,000 Speaker 2: and they have this squabble over who's the boss. See, Clay, 99 00:05:42,040 --> 00:05:44,200 Speaker 2: he just wants to do whatever he wants to do 100 00:05:44,279 --> 00:05:47,400 Speaker 2: whenever he wants to do it by his own authority, 101 00:05:47,480 --> 00:05:51,480 Speaker 2: his own decision making. And my son knows that's not 102 00:05:51,560 --> 00:05:53,680 Speaker 2: always the best thing for him. My son knows that 103 00:05:53,960 --> 00:05:55,839 Speaker 2: a lot of times he wants to do things that 104 00:05:55,880 --> 00:05:57,839 Speaker 2: aren't good for him. He wants to eat things that 105 00:05:57,839 --> 00:06:00,720 Speaker 2: aren't good for him. He wants to stay up when 106 00:06:00,720 --> 00:06:03,320 Speaker 2: he shouldn't stay up, and he wants to not take 107 00:06:03,440 --> 00:06:06,040 Speaker 2: naps when he should take naps, and all of these 108 00:06:06,120 --> 00:06:09,080 Speaker 2: kind of things, and they'll get to squabbling and there'll 109 00:06:09,120 --> 00:06:12,440 Speaker 2: be a conflict of wills between them. My son knows 110 00:06:12,440 --> 00:06:15,200 Speaker 2: he even sometimes chooses to do things that are dangerous 111 00:06:15,240 --> 00:06:19,800 Speaker 2: for himself and even dangerous for others. Not long ago, 112 00:06:19,920 --> 00:06:22,320 Speaker 2: I was standing with his mother on our deck at 113 00:06:22,320 --> 00:06:25,360 Speaker 2: our home, and I was standing there holding his little sister. 114 00:06:25,400 --> 00:06:28,359 Speaker 2: Her name's Kylie. And our deck sits up about this 115 00:06:28,520 --> 00:06:31,600 Speaker 2: far same as this stage off the ground, and we 116 00:06:31,600 --> 00:06:35,000 Speaker 2: were chatting when Clay slipped down the steps and got 117 00:06:35,000 --> 00:06:38,799 Speaker 2: onto our driveway. And where our houses sits on a highway, 118 00:06:38,839 --> 00:06:41,320 Speaker 2: the University Avenue outside of town, and the cars go 119 00:06:41,360 --> 00:06:43,720 Speaker 2: by there about sixty to seventy miles an hour, speed 120 00:06:43,720 --> 00:06:47,640 Speaker 2: limits fifty five, but they go there sixty to seventy 121 00:06:47,640 --> 00:06:50,880 Speaker 2: miles an hour, and Clay decided to slip down, and 122 00:06:50,920 --> 00:06:53,400 Speaker 2: we didn't see it at first, but he saw that 123 00:06:53,600 --> 00:06:56,440 Speaker 2: road down to the highway. He just started sprinting right 124 00:06:56,480 --> 00:07:00,600 Speaker 2: towards the highway. And I sat there and saw him, 125 00:07:00,600 --> 00:07:02,560 Speaker 2: and his mother saw him. That's what he wanted to 126 00:07:02,560 --> 00:07:08,400 Speaker 2: do right then, and he was sprinting, and I looked 127 00:07:08,400 --> 00:07:10,600 Speaker 2: at his mom and we both just froze for a 128 00:07:10,600 --> 00:07:13,040 Speaker 2: minute and I'm holding his little sister, and I look 129 00:07:13,080 --> 00:07:14,840 Speaker 2: at the railing on the deck, and on the other 130 00:07:14,880 --> 00:07:17,360 Speaker 2: side of the railing there's some bushes down there, and 131 00:07:17,400 --> 00:07:20,520 Speaker 2: I'm calculating whether I could actually make a leap over 132 00:07:20,600 --> 00:07:24,120 Speaker 2: the railing into the bushes and actually make it to 133 00:07:24,200 --> 00:07:27,240 Speaker 2: my grandson before he got to the highway. And it 134 00:07:27,360 --> 00:07:29,960 Speaker 2: was doubtful. I was in shorts, and these bushes are 135 00:07:30,120 --> 00:07:33,760 Speaker 2: very prickly, and I knew it would be a bloody proposition, 136 00:07:34,400 --> 00:07:37,040 Speaker 2: but I was debating whether I could get the job done. 137 00:07:37,520 --> 00:07:41,040 Speaker 2: His mother was standing there beside me. She's in flip flops, 138 00:07:41,720 --> 00:07:44,920 Speaker 2: and she's calculating whether she could run fast enough in 139 00:07:45,000 --> 00:07:48,160 Speaker 2: flip flops without tripping to get to him before he 140 00:07:48,200 --> 00:07:51,960 Speaker 2: gets to the highway. I'm telling you, it was a 141 00:07:52,040 --> 00:07:55,360 Speaker 2: situation where your heart skips the beat. It really was. 142 00:07:56,600 --> 00:08:00,600 Speaker 2: And I watched Catherine, his mother, go down there and 143 00:08:00,720 --> 00:08:03,080 Speaker 2: run as fast as she could in her flip flops 144 00:08:03,120 --> 00:08:07,000 Speaker 2: and catch him about five to seven yards before the highway, 145 00:08:07,880 --> 00:08:09,880 Speaker 2: and you just don't forget it because of the emotion 146 00:08:10,000 --> 00:08:12,720 Speaker 2: around it. That's him doing what he wants to do 147 00:08:12,960 --> 00:08:15,280 Speaker 2: when he wants to do it, by his own decision 148 00:08:15,320 --> 00:08:22,160 Speaker 2: making process. They're arguing over the issue of authority. This 149 00:08:22,360 --> 00:08:27,960 Speaker 2: argument comes up between them frequently. They're questioning who's in 150 00:08:28,080 --> 00:08:31,480 Speaker 2: charge and Clay's questioning who's in charge. When we're talking 151 00:08:31,520 --> 00:08:34,280 Speaker 2: about the Bible, we have to first dress the issue 152 00:08:34,280 --> 00:08:37,520 Speaker 2: of the validity of the Bible. Matt mentioned the ineritsy 153 00:08:37,520 --> 00:08:40,679 Speaker 2: of the Bible. The Bible has been proven time and 154 00:08:40,720 --> 00:08:44,120 Speaker 2: time again just as a historical record to be valid. 155 00:08:44,160 --> 00:08:46,880 Speaker 2: We've had many speakers here at the Bible Conference talk 156 00:08:46,920 --> 00:08:51,679 Speaker 2: about that. And once we assess and discern the validity 157 00:08:51,679 --> 00:08:54,840 Speaker 2: of the Bible, then the question comes of what authority 158 00:08:54,840 --> 00:08:58,760 Speaker 2: should we let it have in our lives? What kind 159 00:08:58,800 --> 00:09:03,200 Speaker 2: of power should we get it over us. Authority is 160 00:09:03,280 --> 00:09:07,480 Speaker 2: the power of right to make decisions, set standards, give orders, 161 00:09:07,800 --> 00:09:13,400 Speaker 2: call for obedience, make judgments, orchestrate consequences. God doesn't trust 162 00:09:13,520 --> 00:09:17,040 Speaker 2: human beings with certain amounts of authority in our lives. 163 00:09:18,200 --> 00:09:21,640 Speaker 2: But the question is what authorities should we give this 164 00:09:21,760 --> 00:09:26,200 Speaker 2: book in our lives? Should we let it shape our lives? 165 00:09:26,920 --> 00:09:30,200 Speaker 2: Should we let it mold our lives? And the question 166 00:09:30,320 --> 00:09:33,240 Speaker 2: I'm asking today of you is whom or what are 167 00:09:33,240 --> 00:09:39,240 Speaker 2: you letting have the most influential shaping authority? In your life. 168 00:09:39,840 --> 00:09:43,720 Speaker 2: Whom or what are you letting have the most influential 169 00:09:43,920 --> 00:09:49,439 Speaker 2: shaping authority in your life? Not just physically with what 170 00:09:49,640 --> 00:09:53,439 Speaker 2: food you're allowing in your body, but mentally and emotionally 171 00:09:53,640 --> 00:09:58,080 Speaker 2: and spiritually. Whom are you letting have the most influential 172 00:09:58,120 --> 00:09:59,800 Speaker 2: shaping authority in your life? I want to make a 173 00:09:59,800 --> 00:10:03,640 Speaker 2: cup observations about authority. It's a hard word to talk 174 00:10:03,640 --> 00:10:07,840 Speaker 2: about because so many people have such pain regarding authority 175 00:10:07,880 --> 00:10:11,320 Speaker 2: in their lives. There's no question that in a world 176 00:10:11,440 --> 00:10:15,240 Speaker 2: like ours, a fallen world that's filled with sinful and 177 00:10:15,280 --> 00:10:21,400 Speaker 2: selfish human beings, authority is abused, it has been abused, 178 00:10:22,320 --> 00:10:26,280 Speaker 2: it is being abused, and many people suffer from abuse 179 00:10:26,400 --> 00:10:29,920 Speaker 2: under authority. Dare I say all of us, at one 180 00:10:30,040 --> 00:10:34,080 Speaker 2: level of another, have experienced abuse of authority in our lives. 181 00:10:34,160 --> 00:10:38,640 Speaker 2: Because there's no perfect human authority this side of heaven. 182 00:10:40,320 --> 00:10:45,040 Speaker 2: Some governments have been terribly abusive in the history of mankind, 183 00:10:45,760 --> 00:10:48,200 Speaker 2: and not just at a national level, but then you 184 00:10:48,200 --> 00:10:49,920 Speaker 2: can bring it down to a state level and a 185 00:10:49,960 --> 00:10:53,200 Speaker 2: local level, and then even the authority that's provided in 186 00:10:53,240 --> 00:10:56,959 Speaker 2: a home can be abused. So we acknowledge there's much 187 00:10:57,040 --> 00:11:00,960 Speaker 2: hurt and pain around authority in our world. We also 188 00:11:01,080 --> 00:11:07,320 Speaker 2: acknowledge that, just like Clayton, we all have a propensity 189 00:11:08,120 --> 00:11:14,120 Speaker 2: to want to be our own highest authority. It's like 190 00:11:14,960 --> 00:11:19,560 Speaker 2: a mass chaos in the world of people wanting to 191 00:11:19,679 --> 00:11:23,120 Speaker 2: be in charge of their own lives, doing what they 192 00:11:23,160 --> 00:11:25,959 Speaker 2: want to do whenever they want to do it by 193 00:11:26,000 --> 00:11:31,240 Speaker 2: their own fruition. This is the root of human nature. 194 00:11:32,160 --> 00:11:35,280 Speaker 2: It's not just two year olds and three year olds. 195 00:11:36,400 --> 00:11:38,640 Speaker 2: We all have a great propensity to want to be 196 00:11:39,360 --> 00:11:44,320 Speaker 2: our own authority. We see this from the beginning. In 197 00:11:44,360 --> 00:11:47,000 Speaker 2: Genesis chapter two, we see the Lord God took the man. 198 00:11:47,120 --> 00:11:50,320 Speaker 2: He created the man. Now you just notice when you 199 00:11:50,360 --> 00:11:52,560 Speaker 2: read the scriptures and just you think about the world, 200 00:11:54,679 --> 00:11:59,040 Speaker 2: who's in charge here. The Lord God took the man, 201 00:11:59,480 --> 00:12:02,199 Speaker 2: and he put the man in the world that he created, 202 00:12:02,280 --> 00:12:05,839 Speaker 2: in the garden that he created, and he gave him 203 00:12:05,840 --> 00:12:09,320 Speaker 2: some direction there. He said, you're free to eat. You 204 00:12:09,360 --> 00:12:11,680 Speaker 2: have a certain amount of authority that I've put you 205 00:12:11,720 --> 00:12:14,199 Speaker 2: here on this earth with in this garden that I've 206 00:12:14,240 --> 00:12:16,320 Speaker 2: put you in, You're free to eat. It's the first 207 00:12:16,400 --> 00:12:19,400 Speaker 2: mention of freedom in the scriptures. You're free to eat 208 00:12:19,400 --> 00:12:21,920 Speaker 2: from any tree in the garden. Now, God had produced 209 00:12:21,960 --> 00:12:24,959 Speaker 2: all kinds of vegetation in the garden from the springs 210 00:12:25,000 --> 00:12:27,040 Speaker 2: of the earth that burst forth there, and there was 211 00:12:27,120 --> 00:12:29,800 Speaker 2: lots with fruit bearing trees. But he put in the 212 00:12:29,880 --> 00:12:32,240 Speaker 2: very center of the garden. I find this interesting. In 213 00:12:32,280 --> 00:12:34,600 Speaker 2: the very center of the garden, he put the tree 214 00:12:34,600 --> 00:12:36,800 Speaker 2: of life the Bible tells us, and the tree of 215 00:12:36,800 --> 00:12:41,120 Speaker 2: the knowledge of good and evil. And then he restricted Adam, 216 00:12:41,480 --> 00:12:43,280 Speaker 2: and he told him you're free to eat from any 217 00:12:43,320 --> 00:12:46,240 Speaker 2: of these trees, but not this one in the center. 218 00:12:46,280 --> 00:12:48,080 Speaker 2: That's the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. 219 00:12:48,120 --> 00:12:51,600 Speaker 2: I don't know if anyone has ever put something near, 220 00:12:51,800 --> 00:12:54,600 Speaker 2: you know, a focal point in your life that's tempting. 221 00:12:55,559 --> 00:13:00,760 Speaker 2: But my wife does it frequently. The store where they 222 00:13:00,840 --> 00:13:04,319 Speaker 2: serve a lot of desserts in this store, and at 223 00:13:04,320 --> 00:13:06,160 Speaker 2: the end of the week, she'll bring some of these 224 00:13:06,200 --> 00:13:08,760 Speaker 2: desserts into the home and she'll she'll set some on 225 00:13:08,800 --> 00:13:12,079 Speaker 2: the kitchen counter or right there on our kitchen island, 226 00:13:12,320 --> 00:13:16,199 Speaker 2: in the center of all the traffic. And what happens 227 00:13:16,200 --> 00:13:19,520 Speaker 2: when you mill around this this dessert and it starts 228 00:13:19,640 --> 00:13:21,920 Speaker 2: you start to smell and stuff is all of a sudden, 229 00:13:21,920 --> 00:13:26,319 Speaker 2: your flesh starts to speak to you. See We're created 230 00:13:26,360 --> 00:13:30,040 Speaker 2: with longings in there, desires in our flesh, and the 231 00:13:30,080 --> 00:13:32,200 Speaker 2: flesh starts to speak to you, and all of a sudden, 232 00:13:32,440 --> 00:13:35,600 Speaker 2: your eyes. You know that you're trying to avoid, so 233 00:13:35,679 --> 00:13:37,760 Speaker 2: you don't eat too much of stuff that's not good 234 00:13:37,800 --> 00:13:41,560 Speaker 2: for you. But you smell it. Your flesh is creating 235 00:13:41,559 --> 00:13:44,360 Speaker 2: a want. Your eyes see it, and you have the 236 00:13:44,440 --> 00:13:50,080 Speaker 2: lust of the eyes. And then you take some and 237 00:13:50,120 --> 00:13:55,360 Speaker 2: you eat it. This is what God did. Put a 238 00:13:55,440 --> 00:13:58,640 Speaker 2: tree right in the center of the garden. That was 239 00:13:58,679 --> 00:14:01,640 Speaker 2: the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. And 240 00:14:01,679 --> 00:14:04,560 Speaker 2: he said to the first man, he said, now, don't 241 00:14:04,600 --> 00:14:08,400 Speaker 2: eat of this tree. You can do anything else. You 242 00:14:08,400 --> 00:14:12,079 Speaker 2: can eat from any other tree, but don't eat from 243 00:14:12,120 --> 00:14:17,640 Speaker 2: this tree. But there's something in us, you see. We 244 00:14:17,720 --> 00:14:20,760 Speaker 2: don't like being told what to do. We don't like 245 00:14:20,880 --> 00:14:26,680 Speaker 2: having rules drawn for us. Even this is before the fall. 246 00:14:28,080 --> 00:14:31,800 Speaker 2: This is even be And something happens with this temptation 247 00:14:32,000 --> 00:14:37,720 Speaker 2: in there. And the scripture says the woman. Now God 248 00:14:37,800 --> 00:14:41,160 Speaker 2: created a woman. We'll get to that here in a minute. 249 00:14:41,400 --> 00:14:47,760 Speaker 2: But she saw with her eyes the fruit of the tree. 250 00:14:48,640 --> 00:14:54,360 Speaker 2: She saw it was good for food her flesh, and 251 00:14:54,440 --> 00:14:58,640 Speaker 2: also desirable. Here now what we have the scriptures call 252 00:14:59,040 --> 00:15:03,920 Speaker 2: the pride of life, life for gaining wisdom and building 253 00:15:03,920 --> 00:15:14,320 Speaker 2: ourselves up wisdom and knowledge. So in direct violation to 254 00:15:14,400 --> 00:15:20,480 Speaker 2: the authority of the Creator, she took some and she 255 00:15:20,680 --> 00:15:33,360 Speaker 2: ate it, but she wasn't blamed. God blamed Adam. I'm 256 00:15:33,400 --> 00:15:37,120 Speaker 2: not going to dive into that, but you can. You 257 00:15:37,160 --> 00:15:41,040 Speaker 2: can discern some things about creation and the order of 258 00:15:41,120 --> 00:15:45,640 Speaker 2: creation and who was responsible and who has that authority 259 00:15:45,640 --> 00:15:52,520 Speaker 2: to be responsible. She gave some to her husband who 260 00:15:52,640 --> 00:15:58,240 Speaker 2: was with her, and he ate it. And the Bible 261 00:15:58,280 --> 00:16:02,160 Speaker 2: says Sin entered the world through one man, one man, 262 00:16:03,640 --> 00:16:07,760 Speaker 2: the first atom, and then all of hell broke loose. 263 00:16:09,600 --> 00:16:13,160 Speaker 2: And that's the world we're living in today. We see 264 00:16:13,240 --> 00:16:16,120 Speaker 2: right from the start human beings have a propensity to 265 00:16:16,200 --> 00:16:19,480 Speaker 2: want to be their own highest authority, do what they 266 00:16:19,520 --> 00:16:21,360 Speaker 2: want to do when they want to do it by 267 00:16:21,400 --> 00:16:26,120 Speaker 2: their own fruition, by their own will. The knowledge we 268 00:16:26,240 --> 00:16:29,320 Speaker 2: have sets itself up, so much of it against the 269 00:16:29,400 --> 00:16:34,720 Speaker 2: knowledge of God. The Bible makes it this crystal clear, 270 00:16:35,280 --> 00:16:39,760 Speaker 2: this is what we want. I want to just talk 271 00:16:39,760 --> 00:16:45,360 Speaker 2: about how absurd this is. It's just absurd when you 272 00:16:45,400 --> 00:16:51,280 Speaker 2: think about reality. The scriptures tell us that before there 273 00:16:51,360 --> 00:16:53,720 Speaker 2: was anything, there was God. He was hovering over the 274 00:16:53,760 --> 00:16:56,600 Speaker 2: surface of the deep by his spirit, and the earth 275 00:16:56,720 --> 00:17:00,560 Speaker 2: was formless and void and without shape. And he order 276 00:17:00,560 --> 00:17:03,840 Speaker 2: out of this chaos, and he fashioned together land and sea, 277 00:17:03,920 --> 00:17:06,280 Speaker 2: and separated the land from the sea. And then on 278 00:17:06,320 --> 00:17:08,359 Speaker 2: the land he caused springs to birth forth, and he 279 00:17:08,400 --> 00:17:11,040 Speaker 2: planted seed, and the gardens started to grow. And he 280 00:17:11,080 --> 00:17:13,040 Speaker 2: did all this, and none of us were present, no 281 00:17:13,400 --> 00:17:18,359 Speaker 2: human being was present. And then he fashioned together the animals, 282 00:17:18,400 --> 00:17:20,480 Speaker 2: the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, 283 00:17:20,600 --> 00:17:22,800 Speaker 2: the animals on the land. And he saw it was 284 00:17:22,960 --> 00:17:26,040 Speaker 2: very good. And then he fashioned together. He went and says, 285 00:17:26,080 --> 00:17:27,880 Speaker 2: to the dust of the ground, you see it here. 286 00:17:29,000 --> 00:17:30,720 Speaker 2: He went to the dust of the ground, and he 287 00:17:31,040 --> 00:17:33,560 Speaker 2: took some of the dust of the ground that he'd created. 288 00:17:33,600 --> 00:17:35,640 Speaker 2: I don't know if you've ever tried this, but it's 289 00:17:35,680 --> 00:17:39,960 Speaker 2: hard to get dust to stick together. And he took 290 00:17:40,000 --> 00:17:43,400 Speaker 2: the dust and he fashioned it. He created someone made 291 00:17:43,480 --> 00:17:46,840 Speaker 2: in his image. And then he breathed into the nostrils 292 00:17:46,880 --> 00:17:49,280 Speaker 2: of that being, the breath of life, and man became 293 00:17:49,320 --> 00:17:53,640 Speaker 2: a living being. Guess who was in charge of all 294 00:17:53,720 --> 00:18:03,359 Speaker 2: of that? Not man, man even vote didn't even have 295 00:18:03,400 --> 00:18:14,879 Speaker 2: an opinion. It was him. It was the Great. I am, 296 00:18:15,160 --> 00:18:19,040 Speaker 2: the one who was, and is and is to come. 297 00:18:20,760 --> 00:18:27,000 Speaker 2: He did it, and then he caused that first man 298 00:18:27,160 --> 00:18:29,880 Speaker 2: to fall into a deep sleep. You say his image 299 00:18:29,920 --> 00:18:31,880 Speaker 2: was put into one man. But he said it wasn't 300 00:18:31,880 --> 00:18:33,399 Speaker 2: good for the man to be alone. And so he 301 00:18:33,600 --> 00:18:35,480 Speaker 2: pulled some of the flesh from the side of that 302 00:18:35,520 --> 00:18:38,440 Speaker 2: first man, and he fashioned together another being. And that 303 00:18:38,560 --> 00:18:41,120 Speaker 2: he brought that being to the man, and the man said, 304 00:18:41,160 --> 00:18:44,520 Speaker 2: Now the man had some authority entrusted to him, naming 305 00:18:44,600 --> 00:18:47,320 Speaker 2: rights of all that was, and the working and caring 306 00:18:47,359 --> 00:18:50,120 Speaker 2: for a small part of creation. And he said about 307 00:18:50,160 --> 00:18:53,080 Speaker 2: this new being, he said, this is now bone of 308 00:18:53,160 --> 00:18:55,720 Speaker 2: my bones, flesh of my flesh. She shall be called woman, 309 00:18:55,760 --> 00:19:00,600 Speaker 2: for she was taken out of man. God did this 310 00:19:01,520 --> 00:19:07,080 Speaker 2: the mystery of men and women, God separating his image 311 00:19:07,280 --> 00:19:14,399 Speaker 2: into two genders. None of us got to vote. This 312 00:19:14,600 --> 00:19:20,280 Speaker 2: was his design. None of us had an opinion. Our 313 00:19:20,320 --> 00:19:31,639 Speaker 2: opinion didn't matter. And then he designed a covenant, a 314 00:19:31,760 --> 00:19:39,480 Speaker 2: covenant between God and man that we call marriage. When 315 00:19:39,480 --> 00:19:41,800 Speaker 2: he said a man shall leave his father and mother 316 00:19:42,240 --> 00:19:50,240 Speaker 2: cleave to his wife, and they will become one flesh. 317 00:19:50,280 --> 00:19:56,840 Speaker 2: He set those rules. He was the authority making the standards. 318 00:19:59,480 --> 00:20:03,920 Speaker 2: And then in his marvelous, intelligent design, he made the 319 00:20:03,920 --> 00:20:07,520 Speaker 2: man and the woman so mysteriously they were drawn to 320 00:20:07,640 --> 00:20:10,800 Speaker 2: each other in natural attraction because they came from each other, 321 00:20:11,000 --> 00:20:13,959 Speaker 2: and being drawn to each other, they could mirac us. 322 00:20:13,960 --> 00:20:16,159 Speaker 2: I mean, my wife and I lay in bed and 323 00:20:16,200 --> 00:20:23,320 Speaker 2: we just laugh about this. Who thought this up? Who 324 00:20:23,359 --> 00:20:27,840 Speaker 2: in the world would design the mystery of oneness that 325 00:20:27,960 --> 00:20:34,120 Speaker 2: could also plant seeds and pro create? I mean, seriously, 326 00:20:37,280 --> 00:20:43,240 Speaker 2: just think about it. We didn't have any part of this, 327 00:20:48,119 --> 00:20:53,040 Speaker 2: but that's how we're here. You and I sit here 328 00:20:53,080 --> 00:20:59,160 Speaker 2: today because of God's design. See, those first two were 329 00:20:59,160 --> 00:21:01,719 Speaker 2: created by him. But then then it was different. The 330 00:21:01,760 --> 00:21:06,760 Speaker 2: third one came from the from the womb of the woman. See, 331 00:21:06,800 --> 00:21:09,200 Speaker 2: and God was involved with that. He said, he said, 332 00:21:09,520 --> 00:21:15,159 Speaker 2: I knew this first one before I formed them. I 333 00:21:15,240 --> 00:21:17,520 Speaker 2: knew him. I had an idea of in my eyes, 334 00:21:17,560 --> 00:21:22,240 Speaker 2: saw their unformed body before I created them. Who's in 335 00:21:22,359 --> 00:21:27,080 Speaker 2: charge here? Friends? He said, in the secret place. I 336 00:21:27,160 --> 00:21:29,600 Speaker 2: wove them together in the secret place, and then I 337 00:21:29,640 --> 00:21:32,719 Speaker 2: started to knit them together in their mother's womb. Friends, 338 00:21:32,920 --> 00:21:37,680 Speaker 2: do you understand how intricately and marvelously and wonderfully each 339 00:21:37,760 --> 00:21:41,200 Speaker 2: of you, each of us, is made by the Creator, 340 00:21:42,400 --> 00:21:45,600 Speaker 2: and again we have we have no opinion in the process. 341 00:21:46,560 --> 00:21:48,800 Speaker 2: All the days ordained for us were written in his 342 00:21:48,880 --> 00:21:51,000 Speaker 2: book before one of them came to be. And here's 343 00:21:51,040 --> 00:21:54,320 Speaker 2: what's gonna happen. He's gonna knit us together in the 344 00:21:54,400 --> 00:21:56,480 Speaker 2: secret place in our mother's womb. And then all of 345 00:21:56,480 --> 00:22:02,080 Speaker 2: a sudden, when he decides he's gonna catapult us out 346 00:22:03,160 --> 00:22:07,120 Speaker 2: into what we know of as the world. And we're 347 00:22:07,160 --> 00:22:14,800 Speaker 2: still not voting, we still have zero opinion, we still 348 00:22:14,840 --> 00:22:18,040 Speaker 2: have nothing to do with it. I had no choice 349 00:22:18,280 --> 00:22:29,560 Speaker 2: in the matter. Yet here I am. You had no choice. 350 00:22:29,880 --> 00:22:32,800 Speaker 2: I'm just painting this picture. Because we think we want 351 00:22:32,800 --> 00:22:37,879 Speaker 2: to be in charge. We think we want to write 352 00:22:37,920 --> 00:22:47,679 Speaker 2: the rules, set the standards, bring the consequences. It's just ridiculous. Friends. 353 00:22:49,640 --> 00:22:57,719 Speaker 2: So here we are. Here, we are made in the 354 00:22:57,720 --> 00:23:05,040 Speaker 2: imago day, the crown of his creation, made by Him 355 00:23:05,080 --> 00:23:07,879 Speaker 2: to represent him to This is what kings in the 356 00:23:07,880 --> 00:23:10,919 Speaker 2: Old Testament did. They put images of themselves around to 357 00:23:11,000 --> 00:23:14,600 Speaker 2: display who they are. That's what God has done. Be fruitful, 358 00:23:14,680 --> 00:23:20,560 Speaker 2: multiply fill the earth. He knows exactly what's happening on 359 00:23:20,600 --> 00:23:23,960 Speaker 2: our planet. As long as the earth remains, there will 360 00:23:23,960 --> 00:23:27,600 Speaker 2: be springtime in harvest. It's not going to stop. Friends. 361 00:23:28,240 --> 00:23:31,240 Speaker 2: God has set it in motion. We can't stop it. 362 00:23:33,200 --> 00:23:35,960 Speaker 2: He has a plan from beginning to end. And here 363 00:23:36,000 --> 00:23:38,720 Speaker 2: we are in this period in history, in our little garden, 364 00:23:39,600 --> 00:23:44,720 Speaker 2: and we do now get a vote. We do now 365 00:23:44,760 --> 00:23:47,520 Speaker 2: have an opinion. You see as we grow, we get 366 00:23:47,560 --> 00:23:50,840 Speaker 2: more and more of opinion. You see it in Clayton, 367 00:23:52,320 --> 00:23:56,520 Speaker 2: little three year old, and you see it all around 368 00:23:57,880 --> 00:24:02,480 Speaker 2: on the Internet and the news. And God makes it 369 00:24:02,520 --> 00:24:06,600 Speaker 2: clear not only did he form us, but he still 370 00:24:06,640 --> 00:24:09,560 Speaker 2: wants to be in his love force. I mean, no 371 00:24:09,600 --> 00:24:11,640 Speaker 2: one loves us more. In his love for us, he 372 00:24:11,720 --> 00:24:17,400 Speaker 2: wants to be the most authoritative, influential, forming and shaping 373 00:24:17,640 --> 00:24:22,479 Speaker 2: force in our lives, by the power of His Holy 374 00:24:22,680 --> 00:24:26,680 Speaker 2: Spirit poured out upon us and by the instruction given 375 00:24:26,800 --> 00:24:33,639 Speaker 2: us in his word. He wants to be the most authoritative, 376 00:24:34,280 --> 00:24:38,880 Speaker 2: forming and shaping influence in our lives. But he tells 377 00:24:38,960 --> 00:24:43,640 Speaker 2: us he's not the only one in this world now 378 00:24:43,680 --> 00:24:47,400 Speaker 2: that has fallen away from its original design. There's all 379 00:24:47,480 --> 00:24:50,920 Speaker 2: kinds of forces and pressures working to shape us. The scripture, 380 00:24:51,280 --> 00:24:54,920 Speaker 2: the scripture mentions the spiritual forces of evil in this 381 00:24:55,040 --> 00:24:59,440 Speaker 2: dark world. A third of the created beings in heaven 382 00:24:59,480 --> 00:25:02,200 Speaker 2: have been fallen and been cast to the earth here, 383 00:25:02,480 --> 00:25:05,399 Speaker 2: and they're the principalities and the powers of this dark world, 384 00:25:05,520 --> 00:25:07,359 Speaker 2: and there's only so many of them. They try to 385 00:25:07,400 --> 00:25:13,600 Speaker 2: consolidate power in places so they can control us. It's 386 00:25:13,640 --> 00:25:16,359 Speaker 2: happened from the beginning, and it continues to happen today. 387 00:25:17,240 --> 00:25:20,479 Speaker 2: Spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms wanting to 388 00:25:20,480 --> 00:25:23,640 Speaker 2: manipulate and control us. And they came, Jesus said, they 389 00:25:23,680 --> 00:25:26,520 Speaker 2: came to steal from us, to kill us, and to 390 00:25:26,640 --> 00:25:34,320 Speaker 2: destroy us. And there at work, and then there is 391 00:25:34,359 --> 00:25:38,400 Speaker 2: in this world now great suffering and pain and hurt 392 00:25:38,440 --> 00:25:41,960 Speaker 2: and heartache. It's part of the curse. It's a part 393 00:25:41,960 --> 00:25:44,520 Speaker 2: of the consequence. He said to man, by the sweat 394 00:25:44,520 --> 00:25:47,680 Speaker 2: of your brow, you'll carve out a living with thorns 395 00:25:47,680 --> 00:25:51,240 Speaker 2: and thistles. You'll groan through it. You seeing God did that, 396 00:25:51,280 --> 00:25:54,119 Speaker 2: He allowed that suffering to help shape and mold us 397 00:25:54,160 --> 00:25:56,000 Speaker 2: and draw us back to him. The Great Author c 398 00:25:56,160 --> 00:25:59,920 Speaker 2: s Lewis, and God whispers at us by his spirit. 399 00:26:00,320 --> 00:26:03,280 Speaker 2: He talks to us in our conscience, but he screams 400 00:26:03,320 --> 00:26:06,800 Speaker 2: at us in our pain, and through James, to the 401 00:26:06,840 --> 00:26:10,520 Speaker 2: pen of James. He said in suffering, considerate joy so 402 00:26:10,560 --> 00:26:13,479 Speaker 2: that you can build character and perseverance and hope, and 403 00:26:13,520 --> 00:26:18,480 Speaker 2: hope doesn't disappoint friend. There's spiritual forces of evil, there's 404 00:26:18,520 --> 00:26:20,880 Speaker 2: suffering that we have to react to and navigate through. 405 00:26:21,080 --> 00:26:23,720 Speaker 2: That's shaping and molding us. And then there's all of 406 00:26:23,760 --> 00:26:28,119 Speaker 2: each other. We all have influential power, influential authority in 407 00:26:28,200 --> 00:26:31,160 Speaker 2: each other's life. As iron sharpens iron, so one man 408 00:26:31,240 --> 00:26:34,560 Speaker 2: one woman sharpens another. It's been said that the four 409 00:26:34,640 --> 00:26:36,719 Speaker 2: or five people we hang around with the most are 410 00:26:36,760 --> 00:26:39,960 Speaker 2: the people will become like Paul said, God said through 411 00:26:39,960 --> 00:26:43,040 Speaker 2: Paul's pen and Corinthians, he said, a bad company. If 412 00:26:43,080 --> 00:26:46,400 Speaker 2: you hang around with the wrong people, you'll develop bad character. 413 00:26:46,760 --> 00:26:49,159 Speaker 2: My dad simply said it this way. It's hard to 414 00:26:49,200 --> 00:26:52,560 Speaker 2: fly with the eagles if you peck around with the turkeys. 415 00:26:54,160 --> 00:26:57,159 Speaker 2: And I'm not saying that facetiously. Every human being is 416 00:26:57,200 --> 00:26:59,280 Speaker 2: made in the image of God. But God speaks of 417 00:26:59,320 --> 00:27:05,240 Speaker 2: foolishness and people being foolish, and who we hang around 418 00:27:05,280 --> 00:27:08,480 Speaker 2: with and we let them rub up against us, we're 419 00:27:08,480 --> 00:27:13,919 Speaker 2: going to be conformed some by them. Spiritual forces of evil, sufferings, 420 00:27:13,920 --> 00:27:17,680 Speaker 2: and pain, all these forces are upon us, and then 421 00:27:17,720 --> 00:27:20,159 Speaker 2: out of the people and the spiritual forces of evil 422 00:27:20,840 --> 00:27:28,120 Speaker 2: come what we call myths, ideologies, narratives, messages, music, songs, 423 00:27:28,160 --> 00:27:31,280 Speaker 2: and all of this stuff the Bible refers to. There 424 00:27:31,280 --> 00:27:41,960 Speaker 2: can be outright lies in old wives tales, and God 425 00:27:42,040 --> 00:27:49,280 Speaker 2: is there wanting to be the primary influencer and shaper 426 00:27:49,320 --> 00:27:54,480 Speaker 2: of our lives by his spirit and by his word. 427 00:27:56,560 --> 00:28:02,560 Speaker 2: Let's see, we don't want it. The time will come, 428 00:28:02,640 --> 00:28:05,520 Speaker 2: Paul wrote to young Timothy, under the inspiration of God, 429 00:28:07,560 --> 00:28:09,560 Speaker 2: and I would say, the time has come when people 430 00:28:09,600 --> 00:28:13,840 Speaker 2: will not put up with this. They won't put up 431 00:28:13,840 --> 00:28:20,040 Speaker 2: with it. They didn't in Jesus' time. They won't put 432 00:28:20,080 --> 00:28:24,760 Speaker 2: up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own flesh 433 00:28:25,240 --> 00:28:31,240 Speaker 2: internal desires, they will gather around themselves a great number 434 00:28:31,280 --> 00:28:37,560 Speaker 2: of teachers. They'll bring teachers who have ideologies and old 435 00:28:37,600 --> 00:28:42,760 Speaker 2: wives tales and narratives to say what their itching ears 436 00:28:43,000 --> 00:28:48,480 Speaker 2: want to hear. And they will turn their ears away 437 00:28:49,280 --> 00:28:53,600 Speaker 2: from the Creator, and they'll turn to created beings who 438 00:28:53,640 --> 00:29:12,080 Speaker 2: make stuff up. They'll turn aside to these myths. The 439 00:29:12,120 --> 00:29:16,400 Speaker 2: spirit of God came upon the apostle Paul, and he 440 00:29:16,480 --> 00:29:19,520 Speaker 2: penned a letter to those in Rome who were being 441 00:29:19,520 --> 00:29:27,640 Speaker 2: affected by the ideologies, the narratives, and he said this, 442 00:29:27,800 --> 00:29:32,120 Speaker 2: do not be conformed or shaped by the pattern of 443 00:29:32,160 --> 00:29:35,600 Speaker 2: this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. 444 00:29:35,640 --> 00:29:38,520 Speaker 2: Then you'll be able to test and approve what God's 445 00:29:38,960 --> 00:29:45,480 Speaker 2: good and pleasing and perfect will is. Two things out 446 00:29:45,480 --> 00:29:47,800 Speaker 2: of these texts. I mean, it's just happening. You need 447 00:29:47,840 --> 00:29:50,640 Speaker 2: to unfriends, understand friends, It's happening all around us all 448 00:29:50,640 --> 00:29:56,040 Speaker 2: the time. People are making stuff up about our world. 449 00:29:57,680 --> 00:30:01,120 Speaker 2: They're making stuff up about how politics should operate to 450 00:30:01,240 --> 00:30:04,560 Speaker 2: their own ideas and their own opinions. They're making stuff 451 00:30:04,640 --> 00:30:07,040 Speaker 2: up about where money should be in our lives and 452 00:30:07,080 --> 00:30:09,800 Speaker 2: what purpose money should serve. They're making stuff up about 453 00:30:10,040 --> 00:30:12,800 Speaker 2: what a marriage is and how a family should operate there. 454 00:30:12,880 --> 00:30:16,480 Speaker 2: They're making stuff up about our identity and human identity 455 00:30:16,520 --> 00:30:20,200 Speaker 2: and human sexuality. They're making stuff up about eternity, where 456 00:30:20,200 --> 00:30:22,880 Speaker 2: we came from, where we're going. There's just all kinds 457 00:30:22,920 --> 00:30:26,280 Speaker 2: of old wives tales and myths out there. Friends, They're 458 00:30:26,280 --> 00:30:28,640 Speaker 2: making stuff up about our origins and the meaning and 459 00:30:28,720 --> 00:30:36,240 Speaker 2: purpose of life. Let's see all these questions about these 460 00:30:36,280 --> 00:30:44,360 Speaker 2: things have been told us in his word. It's a 461 00:30:44,360 --> 00:30:48,440 Speaker 2: measuring stick, a plumb line, a yard stick for helping 462 00:30:48,520 --> 00:30:52,680 Speaker 2: us determine what is real and true and God. God 463 00:30:52,720 --> 00:30:56,720 Speaker 2: wants to shape our ambitions and our goals and our dreams, 464 00:30:56,760 --> 00:30:59,320 Speaker 2: our view of money and time and resources and what 465 00:30:59,440 --> 00:31:01,920 Speaker 2: honors him, our view of what is seen and what 466 00:31:02,120 --> 00:31:05,040 Speaker 2: is unseen, our view where we came from and where 467 00:31:05,040 --> 00:31:09,680 Speaker 2: we're going. He wants to shape them. And if we 468 00:31:09,800 --> 00:31:11,320 Speaker 2: let him shape them. 469 00:31:12,360 --> 00:31:17,040 Speaker 6: He says, as he shapes us, will become little g gods, 470 00:31:17,680 --> 00:31:21,680 Speaker 6: will become the very human beings in the image. 471 00:31:21,320 --> 00:31:23,840 Speaker 2: Of God that he created us to be, not wallowing 472 00:31:23,880 --> 00:31:26,840 Speaker 2: around in the cesspool of lies and myths and that, 473 00:31:26,960 --> 00:31:30,440 Speaker 2: but living freely with the spirit of the Lord, glorifying 474 00:31:30,520 --> 00:31:34,400 Speaker 2: him and who we are with sound mind and courage 475 00:31:34,440 --> 00:31:39,280 Speaker 2: and discipline and faith. And oh, it's something glorious to see. 476 00:31:39,400 --> 00:31:42,200 Speaker 2: The more a person gets set free by the spirit 477 00:31:42,280 --> 00:31:47,360 Speaker 2: and word of God, the less tamable they are, the 478 00:31:47,520 --> 00:31:52,240 Speaker 2: less controllable they are. You see it in the scriptures. 479 00:31:52,360 --> 00:31:55,280 Speaker 2: Those that knew their God they did, they were strong, 480 00:31:55,360 --> 00:32:00,520 Speaker 2: and they did exploits. People couldn't control them. The governments 481 00:32:00,600 --> 00:32:03,800 Speaker 2: came to and said, no longer speak what's written in 482 00:32:03,840 --> 00:32:06,640 Speaker 2: here about the resurrection, don't do it, and they just 483 00:32:06,760 --> 00:32:18,560 Speaker 2: kept doing it. God wants to shape our entire view 484 00:32:18,720 --> 00:32:24,840 Speaker 2: of our existence here. If we don't let him do it, 485 00:32:28,320 --> 00:32:32,480 Speaker 2: we'll come up with creative ideas and fun sounding stories 486 00:32:32,520 --> 00:32:37,800 Speaker 2: and things about reincarnation, and we all go to the 487 00:32:37,880 --> 00:32:55,560 Speaker 2: same place. But even worse, we'll miss what He has 488 00:32:55,560 --> 00:32:59,880 Speaker 2: for us, and we'll come to the end. This is 489 00:33:00,000 --> 00:33:03,160 Speaker 2: this life is simply just a test, friends, It's a 490 00:33:03,200 --> 00:33:09,560 Speaker 2: trust we've been entrusted to and it's a test, and 491 00:33:09,600 --> 00:33:12,240 Speaker 2: we will be judged at the end of how well 492 00:33:12,280 --> 00:33:18,600 Speaker 2: we did on the test, how well we did with 493 00:33:18,640 --> 00:33:23,800 Speaker 2: what He's entrusted to us. And if we don't listen 494 00:33:23,840 --> 00:33:31,360 Speaker 2: to it, we'll miss out on his good, pleasing and 495 00:33:31,480 --> 00:33:38,120 Speaker 2: perfect will uniquely designed for each of us. Many of 496 00:33:38,160 --> 00:33:40,520 Speaker 2: you have been serving the Lord for so many years 497 00:33:40,560 --> 00:33:43,480 Speaker 2: and I just want to encourage you in the culture today. 498 00:33:43,520 --> 00:33:53,920 Speaker 2: Please don't quit. Don't quit now. We need this whole conference. 499 00:33:54,760 --> 00:34:00,360 Speaker 2: This whole conference Cedar False Bible conference was arranged and 500 00:34:00,400 --> 00:34:04,080 Speaker 2: paid for initially some hundred years ago by some people 501 00:34:04,080 --> 00:34:09,520 Speaker 2: who were stewarding their money for the eternal Kingdom of 502 00:34:09,560 --> 00:34:12,759 Speaker 2: God because they were listening to what He's told us 503 00:34:12,760 --> 00:34:20,400 Speaker 2: in here about heaven and Hell and the gift of 504 00:34:20,440 --> 00:34:24,120 Speaker 2: God being eternal life in Christ Jesus. And they were 505 00:34:24,160 --> 00:34:28,440 Speaker 2: concerned about the ideologies and the lack of sound doctrine 506 00:34:28,440 --> 00:34:30,640 Speaker 2: that was being taught in churches, and so they said, 507 00:34:30,840 --> 00:34:32,840 Speaker 2: we need a place where we can gather and we 508 00:34:32,880 --> 00:34:35,920 Speaker 2: can come listen to the teaching of the Word of 509 00:34:35,960 --> 00:34:38,160 Speaker 2: God and let it soak in on our hearts and 510 00:34:38,200 --> 00:34:42,000 Speaker 2: minds and come into us and transform us. This word 511 00:34:42,040 --> 00:34:44,920 Speaker 2: that we're supposed to meditate on day and night, This 512 00:34:45,000 --> 00:34:47,759 Speaker 2: word that we're supposed to let be our life, This 513 00:34:47,840 --> 00:34:51,120 Speaker 2: word that is more important than bread alone, but leads 514 00:34:51,200 --> 00:34:53,759 Speaker 2: us into eternity. This is the one. And they gave 515 00:34:53,800 --> 00:34:56,399 Speaker 2: their money to start a conference one hundred years ago 516 00:34:56,520 --> 00:34:59,480 Speaker 2: because of where the culture was at Friends, and we 517 00:34:59,560 --> 00:35:03,400 Speaker 2: needed just as much, if not more, right now. And 518 00:35:03,480 --> 00:35:06,759 Speaker 2: so we invite Bible teachers from all different parts of 519 00:35:06,800 --> 00:35:10,759 Speaker 2: the country. And we invite them in because Paul said 520 00:35:10,800 --> 00:35:13,320 Speaker 2: to Timothy, who is a Bible teacher, he said, study 521 00:35:13,320 --> 00:35:20,520 Speaker 2: to show yourself approved. Study, be a disciple. It's my responsibility, 522 00:35:20,680 --> 00:35:27,239 Speaker 2: it's your responsibility. The biblical illiteracy in America today is 523 00:35:29,320 --> 00:35:38,800 Speaker 2: it's so sad. It is so sad. People wandering around 524 00:35:38,880 --> 00:35:44,080 Speaker 2: like sheep without a shepherd, following after their own desires 525 00:35:44,080 --> 00:35:50,640 Speaker 2: and their own opinion, because people aren't bringing them in 526 00:35:50,800 --> 00:35:58,440 Speaker 2: love the word of God. Study to show yourself approved 527 00:35:58,960 --> 00:36:02,719 Speaker 2: a workman who needed not to be ashamed. Rightly dividing 528 00:36:02,800 --> 00:36:06,200 Speaker 2: the word of truth. Jesus pray for us that we 529 00:36:06,239 --> 00:36:10,759 Speaker 2: would be sanctified by the truth, set apart from the 530 00:36:10,800 --> 00:36:15,960 Speaker 2: world by this his word. Your word is truth. I 531 00:36:16,000 --> 00:36:18,680 Speaker 2: want to ask you, does your heart hunger and thirst 532 00:36:19,440 --> 00:36:22,200 Speaker 2: for the living God? In the beginning with the word, 533 00:36:22,680 --> 00:36:25,359 Speaker 2: the word became flesh and made us dwelling among us? 534 00:36:25,520 --> 00:36:27,640 Speaker 2: We hunger for this. Where can I go and meet 535 00:36:27,840 --> 00:36:34,680 Speaker 2: with God? We need to be like the Brians, even 536 00:36:34,719 --> 00:36:39,400 Speaker 2: with myself. You need to be like the Bareans. With 537 00:36:39,800 --> 00:36:42,879 Speaker 2: the speakers we come in, you know, bring in this 538 00:36:42,920 --> 00:36:47,680 Speaker 2: week and Bible teachers you listen to, and anyone you 539 00:36:47,719 --> 00:36:54,640 Speaker 2: listen to, they listened, They paid attention, and then they 540 00:36:54,760 --> 00:37:02,239 Speaker 2: evaluated it with the presence of the Holy Spirit, and 541 00:37:02,320 --> 00:37:21,719 Speaker 2: God called them noble. Who has the most authority in 542 00:37:21,760 --> 00:37:30,799 Speaker 2: your life? Friend, who has the most authority in your life? 543 00:37:30,840 --> 00:37:30,920 Speaker 7: You? 544 00:37:36,200 --> 00:37:40,400 Speaker 2: I have people all the time tell me things that 545 00:37:40,440 --> 00:37:49,279 Speaker 2: are in the Bible that aren't in There are you 546 00:37:49,440 --> 00:37:54,160 Speaker 2: studying to show yourself approved. The body of Christ needs 547 00:37:54,280 --> 00:38:06,320 Speaker 2: called up and out and in to God. The next 548 00:38:06,360 --> 00:38:21,719 Speaker 2: generation is coming. What is the church's job? Do you 549 00:38:21,800 --> 00:38:41,239 Speaker 2: know it? Study to show yourselves approved? Let this could 550 00:38:41,239 --> 00:38:47,200 Speaker 2: I just appeal to you, Paul said in one of 551 00:38:47,239 --> 00:38:50,680 Speaker 2: his letters, he said, in the power of Christ, I 552 00:38:50,719 --> 00:38:57,440 Speaker 2: could command you. Nobody likes to be told what to do. 553 00:39:00,800 --> 00:39:03,560 Speaker 2: But he said instead of commanding, he said, I appeal 554 00:39:03,880 --> 00:39:04,319 Speaker 2: to you. 555 00:39:07,360 --> 00:39:17,920 Speaker 7: Make this your life. Make this your life. 556 00:39:19,000 --> 00:39:25,719 Speaker 2: Man does not live on bread alone. This week, I mean, 557 00:39:25,719 --> 00:39:27,840 Speaker 2: we're just praying that God would give his people a 558 00:39:27,960 --> 00:39:38,440 Speaker 2: hunger and study to be approved. And if we do this, 559 00:39:39,440 --> 00:39:45,440 Speaker 2: discipline brings confidence in the church. The world needs a 560 00:39:45,520 --> 00:39:57,880 Speaker 2: confident church. Discipline brings confidence, which brings enthusiasm entost God 561 00:39:58,360 --> 00:40:16,279 Speaker 2: with it. Let's pray together, Heavenly Father, we pause for 562 00:40:16,320 --> 00:40:19,000 Speaker 2: a moment before you, in this time that we've set 563 00:40:19,040 --> 00:40:33,160 Speaker 2: aside to open your word. We ask for your forgiveness 564 00:40:37,440 --> 00:40:49,439 Speaker 2: for treating your word disrespectfully, in dishonoring ways and even 565 00:40:49,480 --> 00:41:00,399 Speaker 2: in disbelief. Please forgive us. Father. We ask that even 566 00:41:00,440 --> 00:41:02,840 Speaker 2: in this week, as we have set aside this time, 567 00:41:04,719 --> 00:41:07,319 Speaker 2: that you would renew a right spirit within us and 568 00:41:07,440 --> 00:41:14,160 Speaker 2: stir in us that deep and passionate hunger that comes 569 00:41:14,200 --> 00:41:20,399 Speaker 2: only from you, a supernatural working in us to want 570 00:41:20,440 --> 00:41:26,440 Speaker 2: to know you and to want to please you with 571 00:41:26,600 --> 00:41:32,920 Speaker 2: our whole lives. Oh God, please do this in us 572 00:41:34,480 --> 00:41:40,920 Speaker 2: and in your church in the world. Strengthen your church. Father, 573 00:41:42,520 --> 00:41:51,319 Speaker 2: Prepare your bride, Call her out from the lies, from 574 00:41:51,320 --> 00:42:02,640 Speaker 2: the deceptions. Give her discernment on myths, Purify her, Prepare 575 00:42:02,680 --> 00:42:15,680 Speaker 2: her father for that great wedding. Father, thank you for 576 00:42:15,760 --> 00:42:19,759 Speaker 2: this chance. Continue to minister to us now in the 577 00:42:19,800 --> 00:42:22,799 Speaker 2: way that only you can by your spirit. We pray 578 00:42:22,880 --> 00:42:25,320 Speaker 2: this in Jesus name. Amen. 579 00:42:32,120 --> 00:42:35,520 Speaker 4: Thanks again for joining Ccpodcasts on pray dot com for 580 00:42:35,560 --> 00:42:36,840 Speaker 4: today's Sunday service. 581 00:42:37,239 --> 00:42:38,160 Speaker 2: Before I sign off, I. 582 00:42:38,200 --> 00:42:40,480 Speaker 4: Want to give you a brief overview of the content 583 00:42:40,520 --> 00:42:44,400 Speaker 4: that is available to you for free at ccpodcast dot 584 00:42:44,400 --> 00:42:49,640 Speaker 4: com or at the Christian Crusaders Free mobile app. First, 585 00:42:49,880 --> 00:42:52,520 Speaker 4: we have the CC Broadcast, which has been airing for 586 00:42:52,560 --> 00:42:56,080 Speaker 4: eighty seven years, and Tim Buker, the preacher you just heard, 587 00:42:56,320 --> 00:42:59,640 Speaker 4: is the main preacher on that broadcast. Second, we have 588 00:42:59,680 --> 00:43:03,200 Speaker 4: the Day Devotional Podcast, which consists of over eight hundred 589 00:43:03,239 --> 00:43:07,000 Speaker 4: and fifty episodes of devotions covering an overview of the 590 00:43:07,120 --> 00:43:09,319 Speaker 4: entire Bible. You can join us in the Book of 591 00:43:09,400 --> 00:43:12,240 Speaker 4: John right now, where you can go back into our archive, 592 00:43:12,520 --> 00:43:14,839 Speaker 4: the Old Testament or the New Testament and pick up 593 00:43:15,120 --> 00:43:19,040 Speaker 4: wherever you'd like. And finally, we have the Ccpodcast Conversations, 594 00:43:19,120 --> 00:43:23,400 Speaker 4: where I interview inspiring Christians with interesting stories. Right now, 595 00:43:23,480 --> 00:43:26,960 Speaker 4: we've got over eighty episodes of long form interview with 596 00:43:27,040 --> 00:43:29,759 Speaker 4: all kinds of Christians, from a former gangster who is 597 00:43:29,800 --> 00:43:33,160 Speaker 4: convicted of murder, to an NFL player, to a former 598 00:43:33,280 --> 00:43:38,040 Speaker 4: porn star, a plane crash survivor, a funeral director, and 599 00:43:38,160 --> 00:43:41,359 Speaker 4: many many more. I hope you'll follow our profile here 600 00:43:41,400 --> 00:43:45,359 Speaker 4: at prey dot com, or visit our website ccpodcast dot com, 601 00:43:45,480 --> 00:43:49,800 Speaker 4: or download our freemobile app, the Christian Crusaders App. Until 602 00:43:49,840 --> 00:43:52,720 Speaker 4: next time, thanks for joining us, and may God richly 603 00:43:52,760 --> 00:43:53,200 Speaker 4: bless you. 604 00:43:54,520 --> 00:43:57,400 Speaker 5: The podcast The Bible in a Year with Jack Graham 605 00:43:57,600 --> 00:44:00,920 Speaker 5: is a moving and inspiring Biblical audio experience that will 606 00:44:00,960 --> 00:44:04,040 Speaker 5: help you master wisdom from the world's greatest book. In 607 00:44:04,080 --> 00:44:08,160 Speaker 5: each episode, you'll learn to apply Biblical principles to everyday life. 608 00:44:08,719 --> 00:44:11,759 Speaker 2: Each cinematic episode is a journey through the Bible's most 609 00:44:11,800 --> 00:44:15,239 Speaker 2: profound stories that will strengthen your appreciation of the word 610 00:44:15,520 --> 00:44:18,200 Speaker 2: and inspire you to keep learning. 611 00:44:18,800 --> 00:44:21,040 Speaker 5: Listen to the Bible in a Year with Jack Graham 612 00:44:21,120 --> 00:44:24,840 Speaker 5: on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts.