1 00:00:30,339 --> 00:00:33,243 Aren't you glad your blood is under that your sins are under the 2 00:00:33,251 --> 00:00:33,803 blood of Jesus. 3 00:00:33,851 --> 00:00:34,427 Amen. 4 00:00:34,523 --> 00:00:36,923 If you put in your Bibles tonight, turn to Matthew chapter 5 00:00:36,971 --> 00:00:37,563 four. 6 00:00:37,731 --> 00:00:40,519 I'm going to go to Daniel, but y'all go to Matthew chapter four 7 00:00:40,819 --> 00:00:44,159 and I'm going to read a verse, a couple of verses in Daniel. 8 00:00:45,219 --> 00:00:46,603 I did get word today. 9 00:00:46,691 --> 00:00:51,115 Today was Antioch Baptist Church in Rome's third anniversary. 10 00:00:51,307 --> 00:00:52,891 This is a church that we've been. 11 00:00:52,995 --> 00:00:56,261 We are heavily, heavily involved in, heavily invested in 12 00:00:56,395 --> 00:00:57,201 church plant. 13 00:00:57,265 --> 00:00:58,273 Three year anniversary. 14 00:00:58,321 --> 00:00:59,185 Isn't it amazing? 15 00:00:59,297 --> 00:01:03,121 Had 110 today, a new record for them. 16 00:01:03,225 --> 00:01:07,937 And so I think I may try to remember the text, but I think three 17 00:01:07,993 --> 00:01:09,825 got saved or something like that. 18 00:01:09,977 --> 00:01:13,329 And so appreciate brother Heath Van Zant doing a great job 19 00:01:13,369 --> 00:01:16,241 there and his wife and keep them in your prayers. 20 00:01:16,305 --> 00:01:19,585 That's still just a miracle of God how they were able to purchase 21 00:01:19,617 --> 00:01:23,933 a 10,000 square foot building, a former church building, and remodel 22 00:01:23,981 --> 00:01:24,237 it. 23 00:01:24,293 --> 00:01:25,677 And we had a part in that as well. 24 00:01:25,733 --> 00:01:26,781 And so God's been so good. 25 00:01:26,805 --> 00:01:28,573 Speaking of having a part, it's good to have Brother Graff with 26 00:01:28,581 --> 00:01:29,293 us tonight. 27 00:01:29,421 --> 00:01:30,669 And they just kind of snuck in. 28 00:01:30,709 --> 00:01:32,093 I don't know if y'all thought it was the Bible conference. 29 00:01:32,141 --> 00:01:32,893 That's next week. 30 00:01:32,981 --> 00:01:34,413 Brother Stewart's preaching this week. 31 00:01:34,501 --> 00:01:35,389 It's just me. 32 00:01:35,509 --> 00:01:36,237 It's just me. 33 00:01:36,293 --> 00:01:36,889 So. 34 00:01:38,069 --> 00:01:43,357 But Brother Graff pastors the Victory Baptist Church and Sanger. 35 00:01:43,533 --> 00:01:47,089 And I just real briefly, I do want you to end in prayer tonight, 36 00:01:47,589 --> 00:01:48,333 Brother Graff. 37 00:01:48,381 --> 00:01:51,119 But we had a part in this church years ago. 38 00:01:51,239 --> 00:01:53,775 So Brother Graff took the pastorate. 39 00:01:53,887 --> 00:01:56,779 What was the name of the church that was started that? 40 00:01:57,639 --> 00:01:58,975 Gospel Light Baptist Church. 41 00:01:59,007 --> 00:02:00,207 We helped start that church. 42 00:02:00,303 --> 00:02:01,519 Some of you may remember back. 43 00:02:01,559 --> 00:02:03,215 It's been a long time ago now. 44 00:02:03,367 --> 00:02:06,223 We let them have our portable Baptistry. 45 00:02:06,271 --> 00:02:11,455 And in fact, I think Brother Graff still has one of our blue petition 46 00:02:11,567 --> 00:02:12,623 rolling petitions. 47 00:02:12,751 --> 00:02:15,179 Can I negotiate on that or. 48 00:02:15,779 --> 00:02:16,667 I'm just kidding. 49 00:02:16,763 --> 00:02:17,707 I'm messing with you now. 50 00:02:17,763 --> 00:02:20,039 So yeah, there's a price. 51 00:02:20,899 --> 00:02:23,387 And so we had a part in starting the Gospel Light Baptist 52 00:02:23,403 --> 00:02:23,547 Church. 53 00:02:23,563 --> 00:02:25,467 Well, at the same time there was another independent Baptist church 54 00:02:25,483 --> 00:02:26,011 in town. 55 00:02:26,115 --> 00:02:27,707 Was it called Tabernacle? 56 00:02:27,883 --> 00:02:29,435 Tabernacle Baptist Church. 57 00:02:29,547 --> 00:02:31,339 And so we helped start the. 58 00:02:31,459 --> 00:02:32,107 Everybody stay. 59 00:02:32,163 --> 00:02:33,083 Everybody got. 60 00:02:33,251 --> 00:02:35,243 You got to stay with the timeline here. 61 00:02:35,411 --> 00:02:37,919 We helped start Gospel Light Baptist Church. 62 00:02:38,819 --> 00:02:41,291 And then a few years later, I don't remember how many years, two 63 00:02:41,315 --> 00:02:44,429 or three years later, Tabernacle Baptist Church was having, 64 00:02:44,549 --> 00:02:46,717 was, was down to nearly nothing. 65 00:02:46,893 --> 00:02:49,037 And somehow we had a connection there. 66 00:02:49,093 --> 00:02:51,677 And so they called Us asked us if we could help. 67 00:02:51,733 --> 00:02:53,309 And so we went up. 68 00:02:53,429 --> 00:02:56,061 Some of y'all remember, maybe that Brother Clark went up. 69 00:02:56,085 --> 00:02:56,701 We, we. 70 00:02:56,805 --> 00:02:57,853 We spent some money. 71 00:02:57,941 --> 00:03:00,929 The first remodel of that building was done by our church, 72 00:03:01,669 --> 00:03:05,133 and we did some remodeling to get the building back at least presentable. 73 00:03:05,261 --> 00:03:06,701 Brother Clark did a fantastic job. 74 00:03:06,725 --> 00:03:07,731 He always does. 75 00:03:07,885 --> 00:03:14,551 And then Harry shepherd went up there and took the church and 76 00:03:14,655 --> 00:03:15,767 was there just a few months. 77 00:03:15,823 --> 00:03:19,419 But the whole intent was these two churches need to merge. 78 00:03:20,079 --> 00:03:24,055 And through Brother shepherd and through some other things, God 79 00:03:24,087 --> 00:03:24,807 really worked. 80 00:03:24,903 --> 00:03:29,047 And the two churches merged and Brother Graff became the pastor 81 00:03:29,063 --> 00:03:30,103 of the merging church. 82 00:03:30,151 --> 00:03:32,391 The church that merged together, Victory Baptist Church, 83 00:03:32,455 --> 00:03:34,347 and has done fantastic since then. 84 00:03:34,403 --> 00:03:36,119 Just God's really blessed there. 85 00:03:36,419 --> 00:03:40,011 And it's been a blessing to hear the good testimony and just 86 00:03:40,035 --> 00:03:43,435 the good report on how God's blessed that church there. 87 00:03:43,507 --> 00:03:45,035 So excited to have him here tonight. 88 00:03:45,067 --> 00:03:47,451 So I thought, you think about church planting tonight. 89 00:03:47,595 --> 00:03:51,275 We kind of sometimes forget about the investments that our church 90 00:03:51,307 --> 00:03:54,811 has made in various church plants, even here locally, and how 91 00:03:54,835 --> 00:03:57,899 that God has blessed those church plants and that the money. 92 00:03:58,019 --> 00:03:59,003 And really it is. 93 00:03:59,091 --> 00:04:00,373 I'm sorry, it is about money. 94 00:04:00,491 --> 00:04:03,281 About the money we invested and the prayer, of course we invested 95 00:04:03,425 --> 00:04:03,729 that. 96 00:04:03,769 --> 00:04:07,185 That has come back fruit for our labor. 97 00:04:07,217 --> 00:04:07,921 Amen. 98 00:04:08,065 --> 00:04:10,145 And so it's good to see, you know, success tonight. 99 00:04:10,177 --> 00:04:11,265 You know, success story. 100 00:04:11,337 --> 00:04:13,989 So, anyway, I guess I ought to preach. 101 00:04:14,969 --> 00:04:18,545 We've been in the book of Daniel on Sunday night, and I don't 102 00:04:18,577 --> 00:04:21,921 want to deviate necessarily tonight, but I did want to. 103 00:04:21,945 --> 00:04:24,641 As I got to reading and studying this week, I wanted to back 104 00:04:24,665 --> 00:04:24,849 up. 105 00:04:24,889 --> 00:04:26,109 I know we have some new. 106 00:04:26,459 --> 00:04:30,083 New members and new converts and those who may be watching online. 107 00:04:30,251 --> 00:04:34,915 And so in Daniel, when Daniel we were in Daniel, chapter one, verses 108 00:04:34,947 --> 00:04:36,643 eight and nine is where we ended. 109 00:04:36,771 --> 00:04:39,043 And so I want to read these two verses again to you. 110 00:04:39,131 --> 00:04:42,291 Verse 8 says, But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would 111 00:04:42,315 --> 00:04:45,411 not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with 112 00:04:45,435 --> 00:04:46,579 the wine which he drank. 113 00:04:46,659 --> 00:04:49,779 Therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might 114 00:04:49,819 --> 00:04:51,959 not defile himself. 115 00:04:52,559 --> 00:04:55,991 Now God had brought Daniel into favor and tender love with the 116 00:04:56,015 --> 00:04:57,575 prince of the eunuchs. 117 00:04:57,607 --> 00:05:02,231 He purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself, that 118 00:05:02,255 --> 00:05:04,343 he might not defile himself. 119 00:05:04,391 --> 00:05:08,423 There at the end, it says, and so I was thinking again about how 120 00:05:08,591 --> 00:05:11,047 we as Christians are faced with temptation. 121 00:05:11,223 --> 00:05:14,167 Daniel and his friends were faced with temptation. 122 00:05:14,343 --> 00:05:20,029 We only see four Hebrew children, Hebrew young men who stood 123 00:05:20,769 --> 00:05:25,065 and stood right in face of that temptation. 124 00:05:25,177 --> 00:05:26,389 It was a test. 125 00:05:27,009 --> 00:05:30,281 And apparently only four passed the test. 126 00:05:30,465 --> 00:05:33,129 And there would have been hundreds of them, hundreds of young 127 00:05:33,169 --> 00:05:34,681 men who were carried out of Babylon. 128 00:05:34,745 --> 00:05:37,829 And yet four only passed the test. 129 00:05:38,129 --> 00:05:39,829 So how do you pass the test? 130 00:05:40,929 --> 00:05:43,161 I don't think we really addressed this when we got to this 131 00:05:43,185 --> 00:05:43,771 point. 132 00:05:43,945 --> 00:05:47,831 And I know some of this will be elementary to some of you, but 133 00:05:47,855 --> 00:05:50,791 it is important that we be reminded every once in a while that 134 00:05:50,975 --> 00:05:54,823 God has given us an opportunity and the strength and 135 00:05:54,831 --> 00:05:59,927 the grace to pass the test, to overcome the temptations that we 136 00:05:59,983 --> 00:06:02,023 face in our everyday life. 137 00:06:02,191 --> 00:06:05,127 So I want to cover that tonight, just for a brief moment. 138 00:06:05,303 --> 00:06:09,799 And we'll be in Matthew, chapter four and verse one. 139 00:06:09,839 --> 00:06:11,339 Let's read that before we pray. 140 00:06:11,679 --> 00:06:12,279 Verse one. 141 00:06:12,319 --> 00:06:14,871 Then was Jesus led up of the spirit into the wilderness to be 142 00:06:14,895 --> 00:06:17,047 tempted the devil. 143 00:06:17,223 --> 00:06:20,311 And when he had fasted 40 days and 40 nights, he was afterward an 144 00:06:20,335 --> 00:06:21,031 hungered. 145 00:06:21,175 --> 00:06:24,295 And when the tempter came to him, he said, if thou be the Son 146 00:06:24,327 --> 00:06:27,607 of God, command that these stones be made bread. 147 00:06:27,703 --> 00:06:30,951 But he answered and said, it is written, man shall not live by 148 00:06:30,975 --> 00:06:34,135 bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth 149 00:06:34,167 --> 00:06:34,503 of God. 150 00:06:34,551 --> 00:06:38,199 I just want to point out that he's using the word of God against 151 00:06:38,319 --> 00:06:41,339 the temptation against the tempter. 152 00:06:41,689 --> 00:06:46,641 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, setteth him on 153 00:06:46,665 --> 00:06:48,449 a pinnacle of the temple, verse 6. 154 00:06:48,489 --> 00:06:51,281 And saith unto him, if thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down. 155 00:06:51,305 --> 00:06:54,305 For it is written, he shall give his angels charge concerning 156 00:06:54,337 --> 00:06:58,497 thee, and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time 157 00:06:58,633 --> 00:07:01,025 thou dash thy foot against the stone. 158 00:07:01,217 --> 00:07:03,729 And Jesus said unto him, it is not written. 159 00:07:03,809 --> 00:07:05,169 Is it not written again? 160 00:07:05,289 --> 00:07:08,939 Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God Again. 161 00:07:08,979 --> 00:07:12,267 The devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and showeth 162 00:07:12,283 --> 00:07:14,827 him all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them. 163 00:07:14,963 --> 00:07:18,395 And saith unto him, all these things will I give thee, if thou 164 00:07:18,427 --> 00:07:21,275 wilt fall down and worship me. 165 00:07:21,427 --> 00:07:24,959 And then saith Jesus unto him, get thee hence, Satan. 166 00:07:25,379 --> 00:07:27,159 In other words, get behind me. 167 00:07:28,099 --> 00:07:32,379 For it is written, thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him 168 00:07:32,419 --> 00:07:33,919 only shalt thou serve. 169 00:07:34,359 --> 00:07:36,031 Then the devil leaveth him. 170 00:07:36,215 --> 00:07:41,259 And behold, angels came and ministered unto him. 171 00:07:42,759 --> 00:07:43,375 Let's pray. 172 00:07:43,407 --> 00:07:44,255 Heavenly Father. 173 00:07:44,367 --> 00:07:50,767 Lord, as we look for a short time at this subject, may we be reminded, 174 00:07:50,943 --> 00:07:54,351 Lord, that you have allowed things into our life, that you put 175 00:07:54,375 --> 00:08:00,767 things in our life, that we might experience the grace of God 176 00:08:00,783 --> 00:08:01,659 in our life. 177 00:08:01,979 --> 00:08:05,971 Lord, help us, encourage us, strengthen us as we face tests and 178 00:08:05,995 --> 00:08:06,867 temptations. 179 00:08:07,043 --> 00:08:09,139 We thank you and love you in Jesus name. 180 00:08:09,259 --> 00:08:10,119 Amen. 181 00:08:10,779 --> 00:08:12,319 All of us every day. 182 00:08:13,019 --> 00:08:14,163 All of us every day. 183 00:08:14,251 --> 00:08:15,235 Good stuff. 184 00:08:15,427 --> 00:08:16,759 Face temptations. 185 00:08:17,419 --> 00:08:19,843 Face tests our adversary. 186 00:08:19,891 --> 00:08:23,011 The devil walketh about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may 187 00:08:23,035 --> 00:08:23,795 devour. 188 00:08:23,987 --> 00:08:25,279 Devil hates you. 189 00:08:26,059 --> 00:08:28,515 If you're born again tonight, you're a child of God. 190 00:08:28,547 --> 00:08:29,611 He hates you. 191 00:08:29,755 --> 00:08:31,019 He wants to destroy you. 192 00:08:31,059 --> 00:08:33,147 He wants to see you devoured. 193 00:08:33,243 --> 00:08:36,027 I'm going to turn over to first John, chapter two. 194 00:08:36,083 --> 00:08:38,679 Familiar passage if you've been a Christian very long. 195 00:08:39,059 --> 00:08:45,627 And here we see the tools that Satan uses when it comes to temptation. 196 00:08:45,723 --> 00:08:49,879 First John, chapter 2 and verse 16. 197 00:08:50,339 --> 00:08:51,755 Now who is our enemy? 198 00:08:51,787 --> 00:08:53,691 We know that the enemy is Satan. 199 00:08:53,835 --> 00:08:55,841 We know the enemy is ourself Satan. 200 00:08:55,875 --> 00:08:57,717 Sometimes we meet the enemy and it's us. 201 00:08:57,773 --> 00:08:59,089 And it's us. 202 00:08:59,709 --> 00:09:03,637 And then of course, the world also the world system is our enemy. 203 00:09:03,813 --> 00:09:08,965 But first John 2:16 says, for all that is in the world, the lust 204 00:09:08,997 --> 00:09:11,973 of the flesh, the lust of the eye and the pride of life is not 205 00:09:12,061 --> 00:09:13,893 of our Father, but of the world. 206 00:09:13,981 --> 00:09:15,989 And the world passeth away and the lust thereof. 207 00:09:16,069 --> 00:09:19,093 But he that doeth the will of God abideth forever. 208 00:09:19,141 --> 00:09:22,281 So the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye and the pride of 209 00:09:22,305 --> 00:09:22,489 life. 210 00:09:22,529 --> 00:09:24,265 And I've always used a simple outline. 211 00:09:24,297 --> 00:09:26,713 And the simple outline I got was actually from Dr. 212 00:09:26,761 --> 00:09:27,641 Curtis Hudson. 213 00:09:27,705 --> 00:09:29,161 Fun, fortune and fame. 214 00:09:29,305 --> 00:09:30,601 That's what the devil offers. 215 00:09:30,665 --> 00:09:33,289 Fun, fortune and fame. 216 00:09:33,449 --> 00:09:36,345 Lust of the eye, lust of the flesh and the pride of life. 217 00:09:36,497 --> 00:09:40,665 And these are used in combination with our own fleshly 218 00:09:40,697 --> 00:09:44,217 desires we speak of in James when we're cared about, carried away 219 00:09:44,273 --> 00:09:47,961 by our own lusts, also in conjunction with the world, as the 220 00:09:47,985 --> 00:09:48,993 world works on us. 221 00:09:49,121 --> 00:09:51,489 And another outline we used around here a long time is against 222 00:09:51,529 --> 00:09:55,057 the world we use right faith overcometh the world. 223 00:09:55,113 --> 00:09:58,849 Against Satan we use fight, fight the good fight of faith. 224 00:09:59,009 --> 00:10:01,269 And against our own flesh we flee. 225 00:10:01,769 --> 00:10:05,537 So flee, fight and flight, right? 226 00:10:05,593 --> 00:10:08,689 So we flee also youthful lusts. 227 00:10:08,769 --> 00:10:11,985 And so as we, as we battle temptation. 228 00:10:12,097 --> 00:10:13,137 And that's really it. 229 00:10:13,193 --> 00:10:16,751 As we face temptations, we need to be reminded over and over 230 00:10:16,775 --> 00:10:22,655 again that those temptations are there for a reason and that God 231 00:10:22,687 --> 00:10:24,459 has allowed those things in our life. 232 00:10:26,439 --> 00:10:29,375 The verse I wanted to quote a while ago, now it's here in my notes. 233 00:10:29,407 --> 00:10:29,871 Let me read it. 234 00:10:29,895 --> 00:10:33,727 James 1:14 says, but every man is tempted when he is drawn away 235 00:10:33,783 --> 00:10:35,599 of his own lust and enticed. 236 00:10:35,759 --> 00:10:40,351 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin, and sin, when 237 00:10:40,375 --> 00:10:42,579 it is finished, bringeth forth death. 238 00:10:42,879 --> 00:10:47,975 Again, temptation commences, continues, and Then consumes. 239 00:10:48,167 --> 00:10:51,063 Unless we plan and deal with it. 240 00:10:51,151 --> 00:10:52,711 We need to deal with it. 241 00:10:52,895 --> 00:10:55,095 Need to confront it again. 242 00:10:55,167 --> 00:10:57,179 God has a purpose in temptation. 243 00:10:57,759 --> 00:10:59,543 God has a purpose in temptation. 244 00:10:59,591 --> 00:11:02,231 Notice it says he was led there. 245 00:11:02,255 --> 00:11:05,655 In Matthew, it says, and Jesus was led of the Spirit in the wilderness. 246 00:11:05,687 --> 00:11:07,127 I know this is something we take for granted. 247 00:11:07,143 --> 00:11:09,237 And there's new people here tonight. 248 00:11:09,413 --> 00:11:12,853 But again, the Spirit led Jesus. 249 00:11:12,981 --> 00:11:14,245 He wasn't out of the will of God. 250 00:11:14,277 --> 00:11:18,213 I always think of the disciples after Jesus and the disciples 251 00:11:18,261 --> 00:11:22,069 had fed the 5,000 and he told the disciples to get in the boat. 252 00:11:22,149 --> 00:11:24,725 In fact, the Bible says he constrained them to get in the boat. 253 00:11:24,837 --> 00:11:26,517 Wasn't like he just said, hey, won't y'all get in the boat? 254 00:11:26,533 --> 00:11:28,089 No, no, get in the boat. 255 00:11:28,429 --> 00:11:31,749 And they got in the boat, go to the other side of the lake. 256 00:11:31,909 --> 00:11:35,289 And when they got in the middle of the lake, a storm came. 257 00:11:35,749 --> 00:11:39,181 Remember the story, But I want to remind you that it's Jesus who 258 00:11:39,205 --> 00:11:40,609 told them to get in the boat. 259 00:11:40,949 --> 00:11:43,389 Now the storm came, but they were in God's will. 260 00:11:43,429 --> 00:11:44,941 They were right where Jesus. 261 00:11:45,005 --> 00:11:46,573 Where God had put them. 262 00:11:46,741 --> 00:11:49,261 And so there's a purpose in temptation. 263 00:11:49,405 --> 00:11:51,325 God has a purpose in temptation. 264 00:11:51,517 --> 00:11:55,933 In this particular story, in this particular account, the purpose 265 00:11:55,981 --> 00:12:01,427 is to show Jesus that he was indeed God again. 266 00:12:01,483 --> 00:12:03,235 To show and prove his deity. 267 00:12:03,427 --> 00:12:06,723 Hebrews 4:15 says, for we have not a high priest which cannot be 268 00:12:06,731 --> 00:12:10,451 touched with our infirmities, but was in all points tempted or 269 00:12:10,475 --> 00:12:14,999 tested, like as we are, yet without sin. 270 00:12:15,339 --> 00:12:19,539 I remind you tonight that though Jesus is tempted here in this 271 00:12:19,579 --> 00:12:22,599 passage, he could not sin. 272 00:12:23,099 --> 00:12:24,995 It's not that he did not sin. 273 00:12:25,107 --> 00:12:26,609 He could not sin. 274 00:12:26,779 --> 00:12:27,109 Why? 275 00:12:27,149 --> 00:12:28,729 Because he was God in the flesh. 276 00:12:29,229 --> 00:12:30,809 And God can't sin. 277 00:12:31,709 --> 00:12:36,245 And we also know again that he was sinless because he had no earthly 278 00:12:36,277 --> 00:12:36,837 daddy. 279 00:12:36,933 --> 00:12:39,125 He had no sinful nature. 280 00:12:39,317 --> 00:12:41,189 He had a sinless nature. 281 00:12:41,349 --> 00:12:45,013 And so he never sinned in disposition, never sinned in desire, 282 00:12:45,141 --> 00:12:46,649 never sinned in deed. 283 00:12:47,469 --> 00:12:49,089 He was the God man. 284 00:12:51,789 --> 00:12:57,779 Then understand that God's purpose in temptation is meant to 285 00:12:57,819 --> 00:12:59,039 strengthen us. 286 00:13:00,139 --> 00:13:06,239 God's purpose in temptation is to strengthen us. 287 00:13:07,099 --> 00:13:08,639 Romans, chapter seven. 288 00:13:09,979 --> 00:13:12,319 Remember now, Romans, chapter six. 289 00:13:13,179 --> 00:13:17,811 Paul says, we do not have to yield ourselves as instruments of 290 00:13:17,835 --> 00:13:18,919 unrighteousness. 291 00:13:19,849 --> 00:13:21,025 We don't have to. 292 00:13:21,177 --> 00:13:25,265 I'm thankful that when I got saved, I was saved from the penalty 293 00:13:25,297 --> 00:13:28,949 of sin, but also saved from the power of sin. 294 00:13:29,449 --> 00:13:31,441 And one day the presence of sin. 295 00:13:31,585 --> 00:13:33,265 But I've been saved from the power of sin. 296 00:13:33,297 --> 00:13:35,029 I don't have to give into temptation. 297 00:13:35,609 --> 00:13:38,749 Animals and humans are different. 298 00:13:40,249 --> 00:13:41,617 Humans are not animals. 299 00:13:41,713 --> 00:13:44,113 And I'VE said this from the pulpit many, many times. 300 00:13:44,281 --> 00:13:44,993 What's the difference? 301 00:13:45,041 --> 00:13:49,381 Well, the difference is conscience, moral awareness, but 302 00:13:49,405 --> 00:13:52,421 also that light that God has given every man that cometh into 303 00:13:52,445 --> 00:13:53,169 the world. 304 00:13:53,709 --> 00:13:58,037 The law of God that's been stamped on every heart of every person 305 00:13:58,093 --> 00:13:59,369 who's ever been born. 306 00:14:00,029 --> 00:14:05,557 But that right of conscience, the ability to make a decision when 307 00:14:05,613 --> 00:14:09,729 tempted is human only. 308 00:14:10,909 --> 00:14:13,289 Animals only have instinct. 309 00:14:15,279 --> 00:14:18,179 They're tempted, they do it. 310 00:14:18,639 --> 00:14:25,927 There's no ability brain wise, they can't make a decision, it's 311 00:14:25,943 --> 00:14:27,379 just they're gonna do it. 312 00:14:28,079 --> 00:14:33,303 Where we as human beings, we can make a decision that separates 313 00:14:33,351 --> 00:14:34,459 us from animals. 314 00:14:35,439 --> 00:14:36,359 You decide. 315 00:14:36,439 --> 00:14:40,961 I decide whether I give in to the temptation or whether I have 316 00:14:40,985 --> 00:14:43,761 a split second many times to make that decision. 317 00:14:43,945 --> 00:14:49,249 But I have that ability because of the way God made me to 318 00:14:49,289 --> 00:14:49,985 make that decision. 319 00:14:50,057 --> 00:14:53,745 Now what's great about being a Christian is not only do I have moral 320 00:14:53,777 --> 00:14:56,033 awareness and I have a conscience that was given to me at 321 00:14:56,041 --> 00:14:58,229 birth, but now I have the Holy Spirit. 322 00:14:59,209 --> 00:15:05,909 So I'm not only able to make a decision based upon my moral awareness, 323 00:15:06,209 --> 00:15:09,469 by the way that's been warped because of sin until you get saved, 324 00:15:09,809 --> 00:15:13,753 but now I have the Holy Spirit who can enable me to overcome the 325 00:15:13,761 --> 00:15:14,669 temptation. 326 00:15:15,329 --> 00:15:17,945 In other words, God didn't just say, hey, you know, be holy 327 00:15:17,977 --> 00:15:18,761 for I am holy. 328 00:15:18,825 --> 00:15:20,309 Now there you go. 329 00:15:20,849 --> 00:15:24,793 No, he gives you the tools you need to overcome that temptation 330 00:15:24,841 --> 00:15:27,349 to be able to live a holy life. 331 00:15:28,129 --> 00:15:31,359 And that's the Holy Spirit that abides in you and lives in you 332 00:15:31,529 --> 00:15:34,611 there to comfort and strengthen you and enable you to 333 00:15:34,715 --> 00:15:39,519 conquer, to have victory over temptation, to go the higher call, 334 00:15:40,219 --> 00:15:45,603 to conquer, to step on the promises of God, Step out on the 335 00:15:45,611 --> 00:15:50,759 promises of God like Caleb did and say, Joshua, I want that mountain. 336 00:15:51,979 --> 00:15:55,283 It's amazing thought that we think about the promise of God that 337 00:15:55,291 --> 00:15:55,651 he said. 338 00:15:55,675 --> 00:15:58,719 He promised to help us and give us grace in our time of need 339 00:15:59,119 --> 00:16:02,179 every time, every time. 340 00:16:03,119 --> 00:16:08,551 So the temptation which we face, which Paul faced, I do think 341 00:16:08,575 --> 00:16:13,943 it's good to see that Romans 6 says we're not have to yield ourselves 342 00:16:13,991 --> 00:16:15,479 as instruments of unrighteousness. 343 00:16:15,559 --> 00:16:19,191 Of course we know Romans 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 all lead up to a person who 344 00:16:19,215 --> 00:16:19,927 gets saved. 345 00:16:20,023 --> 00:16:23,287 And then in verse chapter six it's like, okay, now get baptized 346 00:16:23,383 --> 00:16:25,487 and you don't have to yield yourself to temptation. 347 00:16:25,623 --> 00:16:29,391 But chapter seven, Paul says, oh, the things I want to do, those 348 00:16:29,415 --> 00:16:30,111 are things I don't do. 349 00:16:30,135 --> 00:16:33,279 And the things I do, I don't do, I shouldn't do, I do. 350 00:16:33,319 --> 00:16:37,119 And he's O wretched man that I am, Paul said. 351 00:16:37,159 --> 00:16:41,791 And Paul wrote over half the New Testament, and yet he battled 352 00:16:41,855 --> 00:16:42,739 temptation. 353 00:16:43,079 --> 00:16:44,863 He also battled this. 354 00:16:44,951 --> 00:16:47,259 He said, there's a war in my members. 355 00:16:47,799 --> 00:16:50,179 There's a war going on on the inside. 356 00:16:51,329 --> 00:16:54,229 The old man and the new man are duking it out. 357 00:16:55,489 --> 00:16:56,389 They are. 358 00:16:56,689 --> 00:16:57,785 They're fisticuffs. 359 00:16:57,817 --> 00:16:58,709 Here we go. 360 00:17:00,529 --> 00:17:03,749 But he said, I thank God, who's able. 361 00:17:04,449 --> 00:17:07,721 He came to the conclusion the only way he's able to overcome and 362 00:17:07,745 --> 00:17:09,257 have victory is through Jesus Christ. 363 00:17:09,313 --> 00:17:12,389 He said, I cannot live a holy life. 364 00:17:13,009 --> 00:17:16,589 Somebody said the other day, the Christian life is impossible. 365 00:17:17,899 --> 00:17:20,479 It's only through the grace of God we can live the Christian life. 366 00:17:23,099 --> 00:17:27,619 So this temptation is an opportunity to have victory through 367 00:17:27,659 --> 00:17:28,719 Jesus Christ. 368 00:17:29,019 --> 00:17:31,091 I know many of us have experienced that. 369 00:17:31,195 --> 00:17:34,275 You come through a testing, you come through a temptation, and 370 00:17:34,347 --> 00:17:36,771 you come through it on the other side and say, man, God's so 371 00:17:36,795 --> 00:17:37,359 good. 372 00:17:37,819 --> 00:17:39,199 God is so good. 373 00:17:39,659 --> 00:17:44,180 So not only is there a purpose in temptation, but Satan also has 374 00:17:44,204 --> 00:17:45,528 a plan in temptation. 375 00:17:45,868 --> 00:17:48,420 He absolutely wants to destroy you. 376 00:17:48,604 --> 00:17:51,928 Temptation is a solicitation to evil. 377 00:17:52,668 --> 00:17:56,328 Those forces that attack us and seek to work our ruin. 378 00:17:56,668 --> 00:18:00,772 Satan wants to ruin you again, the lust of the flesh. 379 00:18:00,820 --> 00:18:02,048 We think about that. 380 00:18:02,348 --> 00:18:05,492 Our own flesh works against us so many times. 381 00:18:05,660 --> 00:18:08,128 And Satan will wait, just like he did here. 382 00:18:08,619 --> 00:18:13,731 After Jesus had fasted 40 days and 40 nights and was hungered, he 383 00:18:13,755 --> 00:18:15,491 came to him and tempted him. 384 00:18:15,595 --> 00:18:21,315 He came to Jesus in his physically weak state to test him, 385 00:18:21,467 --> 00:18:22,719 to tempt him. 386 00:18:23,899 --> 00:18:27,399 This is an ongoing habit of the devil. 387 00:18:27,899 --> 00:18:31,443 He wants to get you when you're down, and he just wants to 388 00:18:31,451 --> 00:18:32,719 continue to kick you. 389 00:18:33,749 --> 00:18:35,609 He wants to continue to kick you. 390 00:18:36,709 --> 00:18:40,653 I began to think about various people that I've led to the Lord. 391 00:18:40,701 --> 00:18:42,449 Years ago, I led a man to the Lord. 392 00:18:43,029 --> 00:18:45,409 His name was Tinsley, Brother Tinsley. 393 00:18:45,989 --> 00:18:47,773 And this was my first pastor. 394 00:18:47,821 --> 00:18:48,589 This is man. 395 00:18:48,629 --> 00:18:49,885 I was 20 years old. 396 00:18:50,037 --> 00:18:51,489 He was an alcoholic. 397 00:18:52,309 --> 00:18:56,013 And I had opportunity to lead the Lord in his home and his wife, 398 00:18:56,061 --> 00:18:58,129 just a sweet lady, and had a son. 399 00:18:58,549 --> 00:19:02,503 And they're in the big metropolis of the city of Nocona, 400 00:19:02,631 --> 00:19:06,103 a city of 3,000 people came to church. 401 00:19:06,231 --> 00:19:09,383 He was the very first one we baptized when I became pastor. 402 00:19:09,511 --> 00:19:14,391 And we had a horse trough and I had bought a heater, you know, 403 00:19:14,415 --> 00:19:15,095 the little heaters. 404 00:19:15,127 --> 00:19:17,591 Some of, you know, on a ranch or on a farm, you have these little 405 00:19:17,615 --> 00:19:20,379 heaters you can put inside the tank itself. 406 00:19:20,719 --> 00:19:23,939 Well, I may have got the tank a little too hot. 407 00:19:24,399 --> 00:19:27,831 And man, when he got down in there, that water was hot and he 408 00:19:27,855 --> 00:19:28,199 went down. 409 00:19:28,239 --> 00:19:31,379 I baptized him and When I came up, he was red. 410 00:19:31,839 --> 00:19:33,379 Cooked him a little bit. 411 00:19:34,159 --> 00:19:35,335 I'm not exaggerating. 412 00:19:35,447 --> 00:19:39,499 It was pretty hot steam coming off the Baptistery. 413 00:19:43,119 --> 00:19:45,939 I'll never forget working with him, discipling him. 414 00:19:46,479 --> 00:19:50,599 He would have been in his early 50s, had been a drunkard all 415 00:19:50,639 --> 00:19:54,091 his life, was able to maintain a job and actually had a pretty good 416 00:19:54,115 --> 00:19:55,115 job over in Gainesville. 417 00:19:55,147 --> 00:19:58,331 He would drive that 30 minutes over to Gainesville, worked for the 418 00:19:58,355 --> 00:20:00,319 aircraft company over in Gainesville. 419 00:20:00,979 --> 00:20:03,803 The problem is he had to pass like three liquor stores on his way 420 00:20:03,811 --> 00:20:04,667 to Gainesville. 421 00:20:04,763 --> 00:20:06,203 Nocona at that time was dry. 422 00:20:06,251 --> 00:20:09,479 In fact, Monte county was a dry county in those days. 423 00:20:09,939 --> 00:20:10,875 But he had to drive. 424 00:20:10,907 --> 00:20:13,359 He had to drive by one or two liquor stores. 425 00:20:14,179 --> 00:20:15,211 He just never could get. 426 00:20:15,235 --> 00:20:17,559 He never could overcome it. 427 00:20:18,349 --> 00:20:22,325 He'd be on his way home from work and he'd stop and buy a beer 428 00:20:22,357 --> 00:20:24,369 or two and drink it on the way home. 429 00:20:25,069 --> 00:20:28,661 Destroyed his life, destroyed his family's life. 430 00:20:28,845 --> 00:20:32,689 He finally, in his early 60s, late 50s, went into a rest home. 431 00:20:34,029 --> 00:20:35,717 I believe the man was saved. 432 00:20:35,893 --> 00:20:40,325 And I believe that just constant conviction from the Holy 433 00:20:40,357 --> 00:20:44,069 Spirit continued to work on him and work on him and to the point 434 00:20:44,109 --> 00:20:45,529 he couldn't take it anymore. 435 00:20:46,819 --> 00:20:49,595 It's amazing how the devil just keep beating you and beating 436 00:20:49,627 --> 00:20:51,083 you and beating you and beating you. 437 00:20:51,171 --> 00:20:54,011 If he thinks he's got you down, he's going to stay on top of 438 00:20:54,035 --> 00:20:54,599 you. 439 00:20:55,059 --> 00:20:56,319 He's a bully. 440 00:20:57,379 --> 00:20:58,491 He's a bully. 441 00:20:58,635 --> 00:21:01,675 That's why we kind of laugh sometimes that things come in threes, 442 00:21:01,707 --> 00:21:05,579 but seems like a lot of times if you have one problem, here comes 443 00:21:05,619 --> 00:21:06,331 another one. 444 00:21:06,435 --> 00:21:07,563 Here comes another one. 445 00:21:07,651 --> 00:21:08,155 Here comes. 446 00:21:08,227 --> 00:21:09,051 It's almost. 447 00:21:09,235 --> 00:21:11,051 It is not almost a biblical principle. 448 00:21:11,115 --> 00:21:12,925 It's kind of like, hey, I didn't. 449 00:21:13,027 --> 00:21:14,649 I didn't get the victory in the first one. 450 00:21:14,769 --> 00:21:18,345 So I've gotten hit again, and the devil knows that I'm not. 451 00:21:18,497 --> 00:21:23,097 And then he just takes until I finally say, lord, I can't do this. 452 00:21:23,153 --> 00:21:23,989 Help me. 453 00:21:24,929 --> 00:21:26,629 Then the devil knows he's lost. 454 00:21:28,129 --> 00:21:29,069 Amen. 455 00:21:29,809 --> 00:21:30,749 Amen. 456 00:21:31,489 --> 00:21:31,961 Boy. 457 00:21:32,025 --> 00:21:33,433 Satan loves to question truth. 458 00:21:33,481 --> 00:21:36,217 I think verses three and six, he questions the truth of the word 459 00:21:36,233 --> 00:21:36,969 of God. 460 00:21:37,129 --> 00:21:42,017 If thou be the Son of God, appealing to pride, same way he appealed 461 00:21:42,033 --> 00:21:46,561 to Eve when he said, yea, hath God said, questioning the word of 462 00:21:46,585 --> 00:21:47,265 God. 463 00:21:47,457 --> 00:21:48,113 I mean. 464 00:21:48,201 --> 00:21:50,309 I mean, he'll get you to question your faith. 465 00:21:51,209 --> 00:21:54,961 I was just talking to somebody today about how a young man that 466 00:21:54,985 --> 00:22:00,273 I known whom was called to preach, attended Norris when I first 467 00:22:00,361 --> 00:22:05,105 got to Norris, back years ago, as a teacher, not as a student. 468 00:22:05,137 --> 00:22:08,169 But I don't know, this would have been in the year 2000 or so. 469 00:22:08,869 --> 00:22:12,557 And to watch this young man who seemingly had his act together 470 00:22:12,613 --> 00:22:16,109 and his wife as well, and they're in the college doing so good 471 00:22:16,149 --> 00:22:20,173 and then one day doesn't show up and then doesn't show up for the 472 00:22:20,181 --> 00:22:20,969 next class. 473 00:22:21,429 --> 00:22:23,569 And then I don't hear from him forever. 474 00:22:25,109 --> 00:22:27,009 But one day I met one of his kids. 475 00:22:28,149 --> 00:22:29,929 His kid was messed up. 476 00:22:30,709 --> 00:22:34,311 Daddy had not just turned his back on God, had turned his back 477 00:22:34,335 --> 00:22:37,979 on the school and on his call to preach, but he had become an atheist. 478 00:22:39,199 --> 00:22:40,711 And something had come into his life. 479 00:22:40,735 --> 00:22:43,111 And I won't go into it from the pulpit, but something had come 480 00:22:43,135 --> 00:22:43,511 to his life. 481 00:22:43,535 --> 00:22:44,819 It just destroyed him. 482 00:22:45,839 --> 00:22:52,059 He let Satan destroy him and he began to question his faith. 483 00:22:52,479 --> 00:22:54,259 Don't allow Satan to do that. 484 00:22:55,119 --> 00:22:56,535 Satan constantly fights. 485 00:22:56,567 --> 00:22:58,135 You think about Samson and Delilah. 486 00:22:58,167 --> 00:22:59,989 She just kept asking for his secret. 487 00:23:00,119 --> 00:23:01,081 What is your secret? 488 00:23:01,185 --> 00:23:02,745 Where does your strength lie? 489 00:23:02,857 --> 00:23:03,769 She didn't let up. 490 00:23:03,809 --> 00:23:06,025 She just kept after him, kept after him, kept after him. 491 00:23:06,097 --> 00:23:07,909 And that's what the devil does to us. 492 00:23:09,889 --> 00:23:11,977 Satan promises, but he can't deliver. 493 00:23:12,113 --> 00:23:12,729 Verse 9. 494 00:23:12,769 --> 00:23:17,497 I mean, he promised, he promised Jesus the world, the kingdoms 495 00:23:17,513 --> 00:23:18,229 of the world. 496 00:23:18,529 --> 00:23:19,609 That's a lie. 497 00:23:19,769 --> 00:23:20,869 Couldn't do that. 498 00:23:23,249 --> 00:23:24,829 And boy, does he lie. 499 00:23:25,819 --> 00:23:26,879 That's the. 500 00:23:27,419 --> 00:23:33,235 You know, it still amazes me that we got the cigarettes and stuff 501 00:23:33,267 --> 00:23:35,891 off of commercials, but we still got beer commercials now and 502 00:23:35,915 --> 00:23:36,479 again. 503 00:23:36,859 --> 00:23:39,999 Like beer is far worse than cigarettes have ever done. 504 00:23:40,779 --> 00:23:44,179 You say preacher, that's not right scientifically, blah blah blah. 505 00:23:44,259 --> 00:23:47,891 I'm saying beer, alcohol has destroyed way more lives. 506 00:23:47,995 --> 00:23:51,805 In fact, there's not even a comparison there than cigarettes 507 00:23:51,837 --> 00:23:52,409 have. 508 00:23:52,709 --> 00:23:54,509 And yet they still show them. 509 00:23:54,549 --> 00:23:57,453 You know, somebody, it's on a beach and they're playing volleyball 510 00:23:57,501 --> 00:24:01,693 and you know, it's nice, good looking people and well, I can just 511 00:24:01,701 --> 00:24:02,849 tell you that's a lie. 512 00:24:04,229 --> 00:24:06,809 It's a lie because the devil feeds people. 513 00:24:07,109 --> 00:24:07,821 That's what he does. 514 00:24:07,845 --> 00:24:09,009 He feeds lies. 515 00:24:10,069 --> 00:24:13,009 Satan promises no one will get hurt. 516 00:24:13,669 --> 00:24:16,605 And again, teenagers, I'm telling you, I know we use this phrase 517 00:24:16,637 --> 00:24:18,953 a lot, but Satan loves that phrase. 518 00:24:19,001 --> 00:24:22,361 If it feels good, do it, you know, But I can tell you that's a 519 00:24:22,385 --> 00:24:22,989 lie. 520 00:24:24,609 --> 00:24:29,309 Tell that kid whose mom and dad are addicts. 521 00:24:30,129 --> 00:24:31,709 It's unbelievable. 522 00:24:32,289 --> 00:24:33,081 It's a lie. 523 00:24:33,145 --> 00:24:35,429 Just because it feels good doesn't make it right to do. 524 00:24:37,889 --> 00:24:41,949 Think about the man or woman trapped in pornography. 525 00:24:44,219 --> 00:24:48,039 Oh, Satan loves to feed everybody lies when it comes to sin. 526 00:24:49,259 --> 00:24:53,411 I want to remind you that God didn't give us rules so we would 527 00:24:53,435 --> 00:24:57,315 have no fun God set down some precepts. 528 00:24:57,347 --> 00:25:03,587 He set down laws to protect us, to protect us from not only others, 529 00:25:03,643 --> 00:25:04,919 but from ourselves. 530 00:25:06,619 --> 00:25:08,933 He has our best interests in mind. 531 00:25:09,091 --> 00:25:11,585 And whether it's something we should do or something we shouldn't 532 00:25:11,617 --> 00:25:14,049 do, he always has our best interest in mind. 533 00:25:14,169 --> 00:25:16,353 And the greatest illustration of that is parents. 534 00:25:16,401 --> 00:25:18,881 We as parents lay down some boundaries for our kids. 535 00:25:18,945 --> 00:25:19,313 Why? 536 00:25:19,401 --> 00:25:20,641 So they won't have any fun? 537 00:25:20,745 --> 00:25:25,109 No, we lay down boundaries so we can keep them safe. 538 00:25:25,849 --> 00:25:27,629 That's what God does for us. 539 00:25:27,929 --> 00:25:31,297 So God's purpose in temptation is to prove us and to strengthen 540 00:25:31,313 --> 00:25:31,681 us. 541 00:25:31,785 --> 00:25:34,837 Satan's plan in temptation is to ruin us. 542 00:25:35,033 --> 00:25:38,569 And he constantly fights, he constantly lies to us. 543 00:25:39,109 --> 00:25:42,289 Again, temptation is a solicitation to do evil. 544 00:25:42,709 --> 00:25:46,253 Again, there are forces that attack us and seek to work our ruin. 545 00:25:46,301 --> 00:25:49,661 It's like encouraging us to go to a place we shouldn't go to, or 546 00:25:49,685 --> 00:25:51,821 to drink something we shouldn't drink, or to steal or to 547 00:25:51,845 --> 00:25:53,005 covet or to anger. 548 00:25:53,037 --> 00:25:54,489 And on and on and on. 549 00:25:55,429 --> 00:25:56,429 That temptation. 550 00:25:56,509 --> 00:26:00,609 Testing, on the other hand, is a trial planned or permitted by God. 551 00:26:01,139 --> 00:26:05,339 Those circumstances that test the strength of our conviction and 552 00:26:05,379 --> 00:26:06,091 character. 553 00:26:06,235 --> 00:26:07,627 Seek to listen to this. 554 00:26:07,683 --> 00:26:10,587 Improve us, Improve us. 555 00:26:10,723 --> 00:26:14,635 Again, the loss of a job, sickness or financial hardship. 556 00:26:14,747 --> 00:26:18,619 These are things that God can use in our life to help us and help 557 00:26:18,659 --> 00:26:21,159 us improve us and strengthen us. 558 00:26:21,779 --> 00:26:23,979 Again, I think that's good to kind of know the difference between 559 00:26:24,019 --> 00:26:24,679 the two. 560 00:26:25,619 --> 00:26:31,303 Again, the design of temptation is that Satan seeks to 561 00:26:31,311 --> 00:26:32,295 destroy you. 562 00:26:32,447 --> 00:26:34,423 He wants to ruin your testimony. 563 00:26:34,551 --> 00:26:37,979 He wants to ruin your effectiveness as a Christian. 564 00:26:38,879 --> 00:26:40,979 He desires to sift you. 565 00:26:42,399 --> 00:26:44,539 He desires to see us do wrong. 566 00:26:45,519 --> 00:26:48,819 On the other hand, God's testing seek to strengthen us. 567 00:26:49,439 --> 00:26:53,095 Not just strengthen us, but to strengthen our testimony to improve 568 00:26:53,167 --> 00:26:55,179 our future effectiveness as a Christian. 569 00:26:55,569 --> 00:26:59,961 Such as overcoming that test when it comes to a job loss or when 570 00:26:59,985 --> 00:27:03,049 it comes to financial problems or whatever it may be. 571 00:27:03,089 --> 00:27:06,937 And others are seeing you and seeing you overcome with the Lord. 572 00:27:07,113 --> 00:27:09,269 Overcome those things in your life. 573 00:27:10,209 --> 00:27:13,305 Again, we think about Abraham and others in the Old Testament whom 574 00:27:13,337 --> 00:27:17,193 God used and had trials come in their life and testings and temptations 575 00:27:17,241 --> 00:27:21,779 come in their life and see them, overcome them, sometimes give 576 00:27:21,819 --> 00:27:22,719 in to them. 577 00:27:23,499 --> 00:27:27,731 But to see them continue to go forward, overcoming, overcoming and 578 00:27:27,755 --> 00:27:31,719 seeing those victories step by step as they grew in their faith. 579 00:27:32,859 --> 00:27:34,787 I can give you a couple examples real quick. 580 00:27:34,843 --> 00:27:35,875 And we think about testing. 581 00:27:35,907 --> 00:27:39,571 We think about Abraham was tested in Genesis chapter 22 when 582 00:27:39,595 --> 00:27:41,799 God told him to offer up Isaac. 583 00:27:42,139 --> 00:27:44,467 Again, the Old Testament uses the word tempt. 584 00:27:44,563 --> 00:27:45,923 But Hebrews tells us. 585 00:27:46,011 --> 00:27:49,719 Hebrews 11 tells us that that word tempt there means test. 586 00:27:50,019 --> 00:27:51,999 That God tested Abraham. 587 00:27:52,899 --> 00:27:53,979 Can I tell you that? 588 00:27:54,099 --> 00:27:55,131 Absolute obedience. 589 00:27:55,195 --> 00:27:59,131 That because of absolute obedience, Abraham passed the test. 590 00:27:59,315 --> 00:28:02,443 And we ought to be obedient to God, otherwise. 591 00:28:02,491 --> 00:28:05,707 Saul was told to wipe out the Amalekites. 592 00:28:05,803 --> 00:28:06,715 Wipe them out? 593 00:28:06,787 --> 00:28:12,171 Not just wipe them out, but wipe every cattle, everything, just 594 00:28:12,195 --> 00:28:13,559 to obliterate them. 595 00:28:14,969 --> 00:28:17,009 What did Saul do, the king of Israel? 596 00:28:17,089 --> 00:28:21,589 He listened to his men who were thinking about commuting mutiny. 597 00:28:22,889 --> 00:28:24,589 He didn't destroy it all. 598 00:28:25,369 --> 00:28:29,281 Here comes the wise priest, Samuel, and he says, I hear the bleating 599 00:28:29,345 --> 00:28:30,161 of sheep. 600 00:28:30,305 --> 00:28:31,669 I hear cattle. 601 00:28:32,329 --> 00:28:34,829 Saul, you were told to destroy it all. 602 00:28:35,449 --> 00:28:36,801 What have you done? 603 00:28:36,985 --> 00:28:41,835 And because of his lack of obedience, his incomplete obedience, 604 00:28:41,867 --> 00:28:44,635 and also a little something, he tried to offer up a sacrifice 605 00:28:44,667 --> 00:28:44,859 too. 606 00:28:44,899 --> 00:28:46,279 That might have hurt him as well. 607 00:28:46,819 --> 00:28:47,959 Actually, he did. 608 00:28:48,579 --> 00:28:49,979 Saul failed the test. 609 00:28:50,099 --> 00:28:51,531 Abraham passed the test. 610 00:28:51,635 --> 00:28:54,155 Saul the king failed the test. 611 00:28:54,307 --> 00:28:56,619 We think about Joseph being tempted. 612 00:28:56,779 --> 00:28:58,919 Joseph passed the test, didn't he? 613 00:28:59,299 --> 00:29:00,667 Who failed the test? 614 00:29:00,803 --> 00:29:03,115 David with Bathsheba. 615 00:29:03,227 --> 00:29:05,519 So we see the examples in the Old Testament. 616 00:29:07,159 --> 00:29:09,103 All these things are there for us. 617 00:29:09,271 --> 00:29:11,199 All these things we face every day. 618 00:29:11,319 --> 00:29:13,551 Daniel was in Babylon. 619 00:29:13,615 --> 00:29:15,439 Daniel away from mom and dad. 620 00:29:15,519 --> 00:29:18,287 Daniel there, isolated there. 621 00:29:18,423 --> 00:29:22,703 Daniel being exposed to Babylonian and the Chaldean doctrine. 622 00:29:22,751 --> 00:29:27,039 And he was in this great university, you know, three year, 623 00:29:27,159 --> 00:29:29,967 no tuition, all the food you'd ever want. 624 00:29:30,103 --> 00:29:31,499 The best of the best. 625 00:29:32,069 --> 00:29:38,557 And yet Daniel, because of his character, because of a mom and dad 626 00:29:38,573 --> 00:29:45,529 who raised him in faith, gave him a godly name, stood the test, 627 00:29:48,069 --> 00:29:55,229 stood for right, had victory in temptation, had victory in his 628 00:29:55,269 --> 00:29:55,849 test. 629 00:29:57,919 --> 00:30:00,539 As we look at, how do we overcome? 630 00:30:01,279 --> 00:30:03,979 How do we as Christians face these tests? 631 00:30:04,639 --> 00:30:07,607 Well, by using the word of God again. 632 00:30:07,663 --> 00:30:09,399 It has so much to do with our daily walk. 633 00:30:09,439 --> 00:30:12,855 As I said this morning, I'm thankful that the inward man is renewed 634 00:30:12,887 --> 00:30:16,007 day by day again. 635 00:30:16,063 --> 00:30:20,407 Deuteronomy 8:3 says, man doth not live by bread alone, but by every 636 00:30:20,463 --> 00:30:25,787 word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God doth man live again. 637 00:30:25,843 --> 00:30:30,267 The key to having victory over Satan is God's word again. 638 00:30:30,323 --> 00:30:31,547 Psalm 119, verse 11. 639 00:30:31,603 --> 00:30:35,675 Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might what, not sin 640 00:30:35,707 --> 00:30:36,155 against God? 641 00:30:36,187 --> 00:30:37,435 You ought to have that memorized. 642 00:30:37,467 --> 00:30:40,519 If you don't, Psalm 119, verse 11. 643 00:30:41,139 --> 00:30:43,147 Think about Ephesians, chapter 6, verse 17. 644 00:30:43,203 --> 00:30:45,931 It says, and taketh the helmet of salvation and the sword of the 645 00:30:45,955 --> 00:30:47,999 Spirit, which is the word of God. 646 00:30:48,669 --> 00:30:52,517 Again, I think, and I appreciate when Brother Stone preached 647 00:30:52,533 --> 00:30:53,109 on this. 648 00:30:53,229 --> 00:30:56,805 Understand that this is the sword of the Holy Spirit, the Holy 649 00:30:56,837 --> 00:30:57,849 Spirit's weapon. 650 00:30:58,349 --> 00:31:00,809 He Used it on you when you got saved. 651 00:31:01,149 --> 00:31:04,597 He used the word of God on you to convict you, to bring you into 652 00:31:04,653 --> 00:31:07,049 a state of understanding. 653 00:31:07,709 --> 00:31:11,813 To bring you into a state of understanding concerning your sin 654 00:31:11,861 --> 00:31:13,157 and concerning who Christ is. 655 00:31:13,213 --> 00:31:14,895 And then accepting Christ as Savior. 656 00:31:15,037 --> 00:31:17,479 But now Holy Spirit lives inside of you. 657 00:31:17,939 --> 00:31:19,199 You're a Christian. 658 00:31:19,619 --> 00:31:22,599 The word of God now abides in you. 659 00:31:22,899 --> 00:31:24,459 You ought to have it memorized. 660 00:31:24,619 --> 00:31:26,459 You ought to have portions of this memorized. 661 00:31:26,539 --> 00:31:29,019 My dad's not here tonight, so I can talk about him a little more 662 00:31:29,059 --> 00:31:29,739 freely. 663 00:31:29,899 --> 00:31:33,931 Because I again tell you that if you were to open his shirt, like, 664 00:31:33,955 --> 00:31:35,451 if you were to unbutton his shirt. 665 00:31:35,595 --> 00:31:36,923 He has an S on his chest. 666 00:31:36,971 --> 00:31:38,587 I'm telling you, that's the way I. 667 00:31:38,643 --> 00:31:40,679 I still believe he's the best Christian I've ever met. 668 00:31:41,319 --> 00:31:43,055 I know he attends here every Sunday. 669 00:31:43,207 --> 00:31:46,015 I still feel my feelings for him haven't changed. 670 00:31:46,127 --> 00:31:47,823 Some of the people that have been here a long time, y'all know 671 00:31:47,831 --> 00:31:52,479 I've talked a lot about him, and I think most of you would actually 672 00:31:52,519 --> 00:31:54,619 agree who have been around him. 673 00:31:55,639 --> 00:31:56,799 He's a blessing. 674 00:31:56,959 --> 00:32:00,351 But I'm thankful for a dad who practiced what he preached at home. 675 00:32:00,535 --> 00:32:04,431 I'm thankful for a dad that early in life encouraged us to memorize 676 00:32:04,495 --> 00:32:04,815 Scripture. 677 00:32:04,847 --> 00:32:06,929 In fact, there were certain times where he made us. 678 00:32:07,039 --> 00:32:09,725 We didn't have master clubs when I was growing up. 679 00:32:09,797 --> 00:32:13,005 We didn't have some of the things that we have here at the church 680 00:32:13,037 --> 00:32:16,429 that encourages those memorization of Scripture. 681 00:32:16,589 --> 00:32:20,061 We were in a small church in the Kona, 35 people total there. 682 00:32:20,165 --> 00:32:21,805 There wasn't a lot of children's programs. 683 00:32:21,837 --> 00:32:24,049 Okay, there was no children's programs. 684 00:32:25,109 --> 00:32:27,821 But we ought to encourage. 685 00:32:27,885 --> 00:32:31,629 We ought to make our children memorize Scripture. 686 00:32:31,789 --> 00:32:35,049 Early on, I was maybe fourth or fifth grade. 687 00:32:35,209 --> 00:32:38,949 My dad made all three of us kids memorize Romans, chapter six. 688 00:32:39,329 --> 00:32:40,601 What shall we say then? 689 00:32:40,705 --> 00:32:42,425 Shall we continue in sin that grace should abound? 690 00:32:42,457 --> 00:32:42,857 God forbid. 691 00:32:42,873 --> 00:32:44,681 How shall we the dead to sin living longer therein? 692 00:32:44,745 --> 00:32:46,601 Know you not that so many of us were baptized in Jesus Christ, 693 00:32:46,625 --> 00:32:47,273 Were baptized as dead. 694 00:32:47,281 --> 00:32:48,313 Therefore we were buried with him by. 695 00:32:48,401 --> 00:32:51,545 I can't quote the whole thing, probably still, but I'm thankful 696 00:32:51,577 --> 00:32:52,309 for that. 697 00:32:52,929 --> 00:32:55,145 What shall we say then? 698 00:32:55,297 --> 00:32:57,469 Shall we continue in sin? 699 00:32:57,889 --> 00:32:59,629 That grace should abound? 700 00:33:00,309 --> 00:33:03,501 In other words, are we going to sin just so that grace has to 701 00:33:03,685 --> 00:33:05,069 take effect in our life? 702 00:33:05,189 --> 00:33:05,933 God forbid. 703 00:33:05,981 --> 00:33:11,645 Paul says, how shall we that are dead to sin live any longer therein? 704 00:33:11,837 --> 00:33:14,061 In other words, he's saying we don't have to. 705 00:33:14,245 --> 00:33:15,805 We don't have to sin. 706 00:33:15,997 --> 00:33:19,293 And again, Romans 6 talks about not yielding ourselves as instruments 707 00:33:19,341 --> 00:33:20,413 of unrighteousness. 708 00:33:20,541 --> 00:33:23,853 But I'm thankful for a dad who encouraged memorization of Scripture. 709 00:33:23,981 --> 00:33:24,989 And I want to encourage you. 710 00:33:25,029 --> 00:33:26,381 We've got a lot of young families here. 711 00:33:26,405 --> 00:33:26,937 Now. 712 00:33:27,093 --> 00:33:30,273 Encourage your kids when they do have master clubs and they do 713 00:33:30,281 --> 00:33:34,337 have Sunday school and they receive those verses that they're 714 00:33:34,353 --> 00:33:37,953 supposed to be memorizing, help them, encourage them. 715 00:33:38,121 --> 00:33:39,521 Do some of that on your own. 716 00:33:39,625 --> 00:33:42,369 You're ultimately responsible for the education of your kids. 717 00:33:42,449 --> 00:33:47,989 Both education socially or, you know, but also spiritually. 718 00:33:48,649 --> 00:33:50,305 Take that opportunity. 719 00:33:50,497 --> 00:33:53,957 And by the way, this doesn't exempt you as an adult, especially 720 00:33:54,013 --> 00:33:55,541 if you got saved later in life. 721 00:33:55,645 --> 00:33:58,933 You need to have a few verses memorized because that's what the 722 00:33:58,941 --> 00:34:02,277 Lord used against Satan, and that's what you use. 723 00:34:02,413 --> 00:34:06,085 When that temptation comes, you ought to quote scripture to yourself. 724 00:34:06,277 --> 00:34:08,421 Quote scripture, get thee behind me. 725 00:34:08,445 --> 00:34:08,901 Satan is. 726 00:34:08,925 --> 00:34:10,009 Quote scripture. 727 00:34:10,989 --> 00:34:12,277 Meditate upon the word of God. 728 00:34:12,293 --> 00:34:16,821 Get your Bible out and read it, because in it it has life, as 729 00:34:16,845 --> 00:34:18,049 we said this morning. 730 00:34:18,839 --> 00:34:19,775 Has life. 731 00:34:19,927 --> 00:34:24,751 It will strengthen you spiritually, strengthen you, help 732 00:34:24,775 --> 00:34:26,019 you to overcome. 733 00:34:27,239 --> 00:34:28,739 Take the word of God. 734 00:34:29,639 --> 00:34:32,655 And I want to remind you, 1 Corinthians 10:13 says, There hath 735 00:34:32,687 --> 00:34:35,339 no temptation taken you, but such as is common to man. 736 00:34:36,679 --> 00:34:37,663 I know. 737 00:34:37,831 --> 00:34:38,655 I'm still amazed. 738 00:34:38,687 --> 00:34:40,431 I'll have people come to my office for counsel. 739 00:34:40,495 --> 00:34:43,659 And oh, preacher, I bet you never had this one before. 740 00:34:44,528 --> 00:34:49,880 And 99% of the time I've seen it. 741 00:34:50,064 --> 00:34:55,508 Because all these temptations are common to man. 742 00:34:56,928 --> 00:34:59,144 The marital problems you're facing. 743 00:34:59,336 --> 00:35:02,388 There are people in this room facing the same problem. 744 00:35:03,088 --> 00:35:04,268 Without a doubt. 745 00:35:04,928 --> 00:35:08,424 That temptation, whatever it may be, that test that you're facing, 746 00:35:08,456 --> 00:35:09,940 maybe it is a financial issue. 747 00:35:10,064 --> 00:35:12,973 There are others in this room common to man. 748 00:35:13,061 --> 00:35:14,797 But notice the rest of the verse. 749 00:35:14,973 --> 00:35:16,621 But God is what? 750 00:35:16,725 --> 00:35:17,569 Faithful. 751 00:35:18,629 --> 00:35:21,725 God is faithful who will not suffer you to be tempted or tested 752 00:35:21,757 --> 00:35:25,229 above that you are able, but with the temptation also make a way 753 00:35:25,269 --> 00:35:28,089 of escape that ye may be able to bear it. 754 00:35:28,389 --> 00:35:31,789 Somebody has said it this way, that, yeah, you may be in the. 755 00:35:31,909 --> 00:35:34,929 You may be in the heat, but God always has his hand on the thermostat. 756 00:35:35,599 --> 00:35:41,659 He's the one directing the heat or the cool wants it hotter, 757 00:35:42,079 --> 00:35:47,419 or at least Missy Spivey does wants it hotter and I want it colder. 758 00:35:48,479 --> 00:35:50,699 God always has his hand on the thermostat. 759 00:35:52,799 --> 00:35:54,939 When tempted, use the word of God. 760 00:35:55,519 --> 00:35:58,503 I know we've heard this before, and it's certainly not nothing 761 00:35:58,551 --> 00:36:01,101 new, but understand that. 762 00:36:01,255 --> 00:36:02,469 That the devil. 763 00:36:03,929 --> 00:36:06,869 The devil is not all knowing. 764 00:36:08,009 --> 00:36:11,029 The devil is not all powerful. 765 00:36:12,569 --> 00:36:17,921 The devil sometimes we give too much credit. 766 00:36:17,985 --> 00:36:22,149 Sometimes we don't give him enough, but sometimes too much credit. 767 00:36:23,209 --> 00:36:25,029 I can't overcome the devil. 768 00:36:26,489 --> 00:36:27,633 I don't have the strength to do so. 769 00:36:27,641 --> 00:36:30,429 He's way more powerful than I am or ever be. 770 00:36:31,119 --> 00:36:32,819 But I have one who can. 771 00:36:34,159 --> 00:36:35,671 Use the word of God. 772 00:36:35,815 --> 00:36:40,167 Hide it in your heart that I'm gonna not sin against God again. 773 00:36:40,223 --> 00:36:43,719 We think about various temptations, whatever those may be, 774 00:36:43,759 --> 00:36:46,059 that they can be overcome by the word of God. 775 00:36:47,199 --> 00:36:48,699 Satan is a liar. 776 00:36:51,599 --> 00:36:52,859 He's a deceiver. 777 00:36:53,839 --> 00:36:57,517 He wants to get you to question the word of God. 778 00:36:57,533 --> 00:36:59,649 He wants to get you to question your faith. 779 00:37:00,469 --> 00:37:03,569 He certainly wants to put you in a position to damage your testimony, 780 00:37:05,909 --> 00:37:06,317 man. 781 00:37:06,373 --> 00:37:09,005 Remember what Joseph did when he was in that position. 782 00:37:09,077 --> 00:37:09,889 He fled. 783 00:37:13,509 --> 00:37:14,861 There's a children's song. 784 00:37:14,925 --> 00:37:16,221 Been a long time since I sang this one. 785 00:37:16,245 --> 00:37:17,485 I thought about this one today. 786 00:37:17,637 --> 00:37:21,373 When that old Satan knocks on thy heart's door how many all know 787 00:37:21,381 --> 00:37:24,071 that one and says, may I come in? 788 00:37:24,255 --> 00:37:25,479 I say no, no. 789 00:37:25,519 --> 00:37:30,407 For Jesus loved me so and he took away my sin so he turns around 790 00:37:30,463 --> 00:37:35,703 and he runs away I wish he'd go away to stay if that old Satan 791 00:37:35,751 --> 00:37:40,567 knocks on thy heart's door Just say no, no, no. 792 00:37:40,623 --> 00:37:42,023 We used to have the kids yell it. 793 00:37:42,111 --> 00:37:43,539 No, no. 794 00:37:47,289 --> 00:37:48,909 The B I B L E. 795 00:37:49,529 --> 00:37:51,297 Yes, that's the book for me. 796 00:37:51,433 --> 00:37:53,265 I stand alone on the word of God. 797 00:37:53,297 --> 00:37:54,749 The B I B L E. 798 00:37:56,809 --> 00:37:57,829 The Bible. 799 00:37:59,209 --> 00:38:03,989 Satan's a liar and he loves to lie. 800 00:38:05,769 --> 00:38:07,585 There's another saying. 801 00:38:07,737 --> 00:38:12,833 The Bible will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from the 802 00:38:12,841 --> 00:38:13,429 Bible. 803 00:38:14,319 --> 00:38:19,191 But maybe be reminded that our strength by way of the Holy Spirit 804 00:38:19,255 --> 00:38:21,419 is found in His Word. 805 00:38:22,319 --> 00:38:26,055 And that's why when you come to Heritage Baptist Church, you're 806 00:38:26,087 --> 00:38:29,939 going to hear every five or six weeks, or more often than that, 807 00:38:30,319 --> 00:38:36,967 read your Bible, pray every day, and you'll grow, grow, grow. 808 00:38:37,023 --> 00:38:38,619 I keep thinking of kids songs. 809 00:38:40,889 --> 00:38:42,589 God's so good, isn't he? 810 00:38:43,449 --> 00:38:47,889 Let's charge hell with a squirt gun this week and just give 811 00:38:47,929 --> 00:38:48,929 the devil the what for. 812 00:38:48,969 --> 00:38:53,509 You know, life is tough sometimes. 813 00:38:54,329 --> 00:38:59,649 But I'll remind you, God has permitted whatever has come into 814 00:38:59,689 --> 00:39:00,509 your life. 815 00:39:01,609 --> 00:39:03,149 Whatever's come into your life. 816 00:39:03,769 --> 00:39:04,561 He loves you. 817 00:39:04,585 --> 00:39:05,811 He cares for you. 818 00:39:05,985 --> 00:39:08,619 Cast all your care upon him, for he cares for you. 819 00:39:09,159 --> 00:39:12,895 And he's using whatever he's allowed in your life to strengthen 820 00:39:12,927 --> 00:39:13,167 you. 821 00:39:13,223 --> 00:39:14,459 If you'll let him. 822 00:39:14,759 --> 00:39:15,823 If you'll let him. 823 00:39:15,911 --> 00:39:16,519 Let's all stand.