1 00:00:44,259 --> 00:00:52,539 Open your Bibles to First Corinthians. First Corinthians, chapter 2 00:00:52,539 --> 00:01:05,389 two. It's good to see you all night. Happy hump day. All right, 3 00:01:06,749 --> 00:01:12,909 almost there. I say, almost there. I can't believe it's almost 4 00:01:12,909 --> 00:01:17,309 Christmas, man. This year we say that all the time, don't we? 5 00:01:17,789 --> 00:01:22,789 I can't believe it's already, but I never would have believed it 6 00:01:22,789 --> 00:01:27,649 when I was Noah's age. But now that I'm my age, I'm like these. 7 00:01:28,289 --> 00:01:36,929 The time just flies. Oh, my soul. So if you're younger, take 8 00:01:36,929 --> 00:01:42,089 advantage of it. Amen. Live. First Corinthians, chapter two. Are 9 00:01:42,089 --> 00:01:45,809 you there? All right, I'm going to read verse one through five. 10 00:01:45,809 --> 00:01:48,929 The Bible says, and I, brethren, when I came to you, came 11 00:01:48,929 --> 00:01:53,149 not with excellency of speech or. Or of wisdom, declaring unto 12 00:01:53,149 --> 00:01:56,909 you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything 13 00:01:56,909 --> 00:02:00,989 among you save Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with 14 00:02:00,989 --> 00:02:04,949 you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling. And my speech 15 00:02:04,949 --> 00:02:08,429 and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but 16 00:02:08,429 --> 00:02:12,869 in demonstration of the Spirit and of power that your faith should 17 00:02:12,869 --> 00:02:17,919 not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. Paul's 18 00:02:17,919 --> 00:02:22,319 desire for these believers was that their faith should not stand 19 00:02:22,719 --> 00:02:26,799 in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God that was his desire. 20 00:02:27,439 --> 00:02:31,599 If you're familiar with the letters to the Corinthian church, 21 00:02:31,599 --> 00:02:36,279 you know that they were a very carnal, a very worldly church. The 22 00:02:36,279 --> 00:02:42,079 letter consisted mostly of correction and rebuke. In short, 23 00:02:42,959 --> 00:02:46,279 this church was full of Christians. There was a high percentage 24 00:02:46,279 --> 00:02:50,199 of Christians in this church who stood, walked, and served in 25 00:02:50,199 --> 00:02:55,639 the power of the flesh rather than in the power of God. The demonstration 26 00:02:55,639 --> 00:03:00,919 of the Spirit was not present in their lives. Now, the Corinthian 27 00:03:00,919 --> 00:03:05,119 church was full of problems. And we read that over and over. But 28 00:03:05,119 --> 00:03:08,879 before we throw them completely under the bus, we have 29 00:03:08,879 --> 00:03:13,799 to remember that God allowed these things to be recorded in an 30 00:03:13,799 --> 00:03:17,999 eternal book, not because he wanted us just to have a little story 31 00:03:17,999 --> 00:03:21,159 that we could read and compare ourselves. Oh, man, I'm glad we're 32 00:03:21,159 --> 00:03:26,279 not like them. But the fact of the matter is, God allowed that story, 33 00:03:26,679 --> 00:03:31,639 that letter to be recorded because he knew that in 2025, there 34 00:03:31,639 --> 00:03:37,319 would be churches in America, churches in Texas, churches in Tarrant 35 00:03:37,319 --> 00:03:45,799 county, maybe even churches in Haslett, Texas, comprised of at least 36 00:03:45,799 --> 00:03:51,039 a percentage of the churches comprised of Christians who never 37 00:03:51,439 --> 00:03:55,879 look at their Bibles outside of the church service, who only pray 38 00:03:55,879 --> 00:04:01,049 at mealtime, who do not censor what they watch on television or 39 00:04:01,049 --> 00:04:05,569 the Internet and who can't seem to overcome even the most fundamental 40 00:04:05,569 --> 00:04:10,809 sins of the flesh. There are those people in churches today. And 41 00:04:10,809 --> 00:04:16,409 God allowed this letter to be penned in an eternal book for our 42 00:04:16,409 --> 00:04:23,129 benefit in 2025. God knew that in 2025, there would be churches 43 00:04:23,129 --> 00:04:27,689 not unlike the church at Corinth, whose members live, serve, 44 00:04:27,689 --> 00:04:30,769 and walk in the power of the flesh rather than the power of the 45 00:04:30,769 --> 00:04:37,129 spirit. So I want to preach this evening on faith that stands 46 00:04:37,129 --> 00:04:44,929 in the power of God. Now, some might be saying, well, pastor, I'm 47 00:04:44,929 --> 00:04:48,689 fine. I'm fine. I mean, my life is good. I'm in church tonight. 48 00:04:48,689 --> 00:04:53,219 And I mean, I, you know, I. I'm a Christian. I've been saved 49 00:04:53,219 --> 00:04:58,579 since I was a kid, and I don't really see the need to change anything. 50 00:05:00,499 --> 00:05:06,659 Well, here's the thing. What's the alternative to a life that stands, 51 00:05:07,219 --> 00:05:10,179 a faith that stands in the power of God? What's the alternative? 52 00:05:11,699 --> 00:05:15,139 And so before we look at faith that stands in the power of God, 53 00:05:15,779 --> 00:05:19,579 I like to look at the alternative. I want to take a superficial 54 00:05:19,579 --> 00:05:26,119 look, just a reminder, and if you will, of six dangers to living 55 00:05:26,119 --> 00:05:28,759 in the flesh. And I mean, I'm going to go through these quickly 56 00:05:28,999 --> 00:05:32,359 because the message I want to preach is about living in the power 57 00:05:32,359 --> 00:05:36,199 of the spirit. But I want you to look at the contrast first of 58 00:05:36,199 --> 00:05:38,839 all, before we get to that. So I'm just going to run through these 59 00:05:38,839 --> 00:05:41,559 quickly. So six dangers of living in the flesh. Now, first of 60 00:05:41,559 --> 00:05:44,559 all, the biblical meaning of the flesh. A lot of times, I think 61 00:05:44,559 --> 00:05:48,449 that we preachers will say things, you know, churchy things, 62 00:05:48,689 --> 00:05:51,929 Pastor y things, preachy things. And sometimes people out 63 00:05:51,929 --> 00:05:53,689 there have no idea. What do you mean, the flesh? How else am 64 00:05:53,689 --> 00:05:56,769 I going to live? Of course I'm living in the flesh. Of course I'm 65 00:05:56,769 --> 00:05:59,329 walking in the flesh. How else am I going to do this? So let me 66 00:05:59,329 --> 00:06:02,529 just explain then, what the Bible means when it talks about the 67 00:06:02,529 --> 00:06:07,729 flesh. The flesh often refers to human nature corrupted by sin. 68 00:06:08,689 --> 00:06:13,289 It's the part of us that resists God and desires to please 69 00:06:13,289 --> 00:06:16,249 self. So when the Bible says we're walking in the flesh, do not 70 00:06:16,249 --> 00:06:21,119 walk in the flesh, that's what it's talking about. Don't allow that 71 00:06:21,119 --> 00:06:26,679 part of you that wants to reject God and please yourself. Don't 72 00:06:26,679 --> 00:06:29,679 let that part of you have its way. That's what he means when he 73 00:06:29,679 --> 00:06:32,639 says, don't walk in the flesh, because that's what the flesh means. 74 00:06:32,959 --> 00:06:35,879 So let me give you Six things. Number one. The flesh opposes the 75 00:06:35,879 --> 00:06:40,319 Spirit. The flesh opposes the spirit. Galatians 5, 16, 17 says 76 00:06:40,319 --> 00:06:43,639 this, this I say, then walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill 77 00:06:43,639 --> 00:06:47,339 the lusts of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit 78 00:06:47,339 --> 00:06:50,419 and the Spirit against the flesh. And these are contrary the 79 00:06:50,419 --> 00:06:53,179 one to the other. So that you cannot do the things that you would 80 00:06:53,899 --> 00:06:57,859 always. Every day the Spirit of God that dwells within us is trying 81 00:06:57,859 --> 00:07:02,939 to keep us from giving in to the things that displease God. And 82 00:07:02,939 --> 00:07:06,219 the fact of the matter is just so many Christians, so many. I don't 83 00:07:06,219 --> 00:07:10,539 know about how many in this room. Maybe none, but statistically 84 00:07:10,619 --> 00:07:14,329 there are a lot of Christians who give in to that all the time. 85 00:07:14,329 --> 00:07:18,409 They don't really stop to consider what God wants throughout 86 00:07:18,409 --> 00:07:22,249 the day. Just lives according to the flesh. So living after the 87 00:07:22,249 --> 00:07:26,249 flesh creates conflict with the Spirit of God, hindering spiritual 88 00:07:26,249 --> 00:07:30,889 growth and obedience. So the flesh opposes the Spirit. Six dangers 89 00:07:30,889 --> 00:07:35,209 of living in the flesh. Number two. The flesh leads to sinful behavior. 90 00:07:35,529 --> 00:07:39,649 The flesh leads to sinful behavior. Galatians 5:19 says, now 91 00:07:39,649 --> 00:07:42,909 the works of the flesh are manifest. Which are these? I mean, 92 00:07:42,909 --> 00:07:47,509 this is all of us. If we just spend one day and say, God, I'm not 93 00:07:47,509 --> 00:07:49,549 going to listen to you. I don't want anything to do with you. 94 00:07:49,549 --> 00:07:53,109 And we won't say that out loud, but our lives will say it. 95 00:07:53,349 --> 00:07:56,309 The works of the flesh are manifest. Which are these? Adultery, 96 00:07:56,469 --> 00:08:01,669 fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, 97 00:08:01,749 --> 00:08:07,589 hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 98 00:08:07,829 --> 00:08:12,239 envyings, murders, drunkenness, Ra revelings and such 99 00:08:12,239 --> 00:08:15,039 like. I like that. He just covered the bases, doesn't he? And 100 00:08:15,039 --> 00:08:18,599 such like of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you 101 00:08:18,599 --> 00:08:21,399 in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit 102 00:08:21,399 --> 00:08:23,919 the kingdom of God. Does that mean we're not saved? Does that mean 103 00:08:23,919 --> 00:08:26,999 we're going to go to hell? Certainly not. The works of the flesh 104 00:08:27,319 --> 00:08:30,639 lead to moral corruption and separation from God's kingdom. The 105 00:08:30,639 --> 00:08:34,159 Word of God tells us in Romans 14:17, the kingdom of God is not 106 00:08:34,159 --> 00:08:37,159 meat and drink, but righteousness and peace and joy in 107 00:08:37,159 --> 00:08:40,059 the Holy Ghost. So if we're going to walk in the flesh, if we're 108 00:08:40,059 --> 00:08:42,979 going to deny the Spirit of God to have a place in us and to 109 00:08:42,979 --> 00:08:47,539 rule over us, we won't have the joy that comes from pleasing 110 00:08:47,539 --> 00:08:51,739 God. We won't have the peace that passes. Understanding that you 111 00:08:51,739 --> 00:08:55,499 only get through walking in the Spirit, and you will not have 112 00:08:55,499 --> 00:08:59,059 a Life of righteousness. But what's the alternative? A life of 113 00:08:59,059 --> 00:09:03,219 unrighteousness. And that's what the word of God says. Number 114 00:09:03,219 --> 00:09:05,979 two. The flesh leads to sinful behavior. Number three. The flesh 115 00:09:05,979 --> 00:09:09,999 cannot please God. Talking about the alternative to walking 116 00:09:09,999 --> 00:09:13,839 in the Spirit, the flesh cannot please God. Romans 8, verse 117 00:09:13,839 --> 00:09:17,599 7 and 8. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God. For it 118 00:09:17,599 --> 00:09:21,359 is not subject to the law of God. Neither indeed can be so. Then 119 00:09:21,359 --> 00:09:24,559 they that are in the flesh cannot please God. That's about as 120 00:09:24,559 --> 00:09:28,759 plain as it gets. They that are in the flesh cannot please God. 121 00:09:29,639 --> 00:09:34,039 So a person controlled by fleshly desires is at odds with God 122 00:09:34,039 --> 00:09:39,299 and cannot live in a way pleases him. Cannot. Cannot. Number 123 00:09:39,299 --> 00:09:44,339 four. The flesh leads to death. Romans 8:13. For if you live 124 00:09:44,339 --> 00:09:51,538 after the flesh, ye shall die. I mean, you know, I'm just throwing 125 00:09:51,538 --> 00:09:55,939 a paper in the yard. I'm not writing what's in the paper. Amen. 126 00:09:56,339 --> 00:10:01,059 I'm just tossing it in the yard. But if you, through the spirit, 127 00:10:01,059 --> 00:10:04,539 do mortify the deeds of the body, you shall live. Now, life according 128 00:10:04,539 --> 00:10:08,219 to the flesh brings spiritual death. Obviously, God's not going 129 00:10:08,219 --> 00:10:10,659 to kill you. The fact of the matter is, sometimes it would have 130 00:10:10,659 --> 00:10:14,099 been a better thing for us if God had just taken us home. Because 131 00:10:14,099 --> 00:10:16,539 the problem is, when we do something, when we live according 132 00:10:16,539 --> 00:10:19,819 to the flesh, and we say, well, God didn't kill me, it's easier 133 00:10:19,819 --> 00:10:23,619 the second time. Then when he doesn't kill us the second time, 134 00:10:23,619 --> 00:10:26,659 it's even easier the third time. And the fourth time. Can I 135 00:10:26,659 --> 00:10:32,389 get an amen? It's easier. It's easier. The flesh leads to death. 136 00:10:32,389 --> 00:10:36,029 Number five. The flesh prevents spiritual discernment. The 137 00:10:36,029 --> 00:10:39,549 flesh prevents spiritual discernment when we live according 138 00:10:39,549 --> 00:10:43,949 to the flesh. Romans 12:2 says, Be not conformed to this world, 139 00:10:43,949 --> 00:10:47,109 but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. That you may 140 00:10:47,109 --> 00:10:52,629 prove or discern what is that good and acceptable and perfect will 141 00:10:52,629 --> 00:10:57,839 of God. So the opposite of that is, if we. If we are conformed 142 00:10:57,839 --> 00:11:02,639 to the world, then we cannot discern the will of God. And then 143 00:11:02,639 --> 00:11:08,279 number six. The flesh is weak. Matthew 26:41. Watch and pray. We 144 00:11:08,279 --> 00:11:11,199 think we're strong, but if we're not walking in the spirit, 145 00:11:11,199 --> 00:11:20,399 we truly are weak. Paul said, in my flesh dwelleth what no good 146 00:11:20,559 --> 00:11:25,719 thing. Jesus said, watch and pray that you enter not into temptation. 147 00:11:25,719 --> 00:11:30,439 The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. Human strength 148 00:11:30,439 --> 00:11:34,759 alone is insufficient. The weakness of the flesh leaves us vulnerable 149 00:11:34,759 --> 00:11:41,079 to sin and temptation. As a child of God, we have this. We have 150 00:11:41,079 --> 00:11:48,999 this amazing. We have access to this amazing ability called walking 151 00:11:48,999 --> 00:11:52,969 in the Spirit. We have access to it, and every day. I've said it 152 00:11:52,969 --> 00:11:56,689 before. This is our theme verse in the Bridge to recovery, 153 00:11:57,569 --> 00:12:00,929 Galatians 5:16. Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill 154 00:12:00,929 --> 00:12:04,209 the lust of the flesh. And I say this every time. Easy to say, 155 00:12:05,089 --> 00:12:11,649 easy to read, hard to do, but not impossible. If God didn't expect 156 00:12:11,649 --> 00:12:14,409 us or enable us to do it, he wouldn't have put it in there. We 157 00:12:14,409 --> 00:12:18,119 can do it. We can do it. We can walk in the flesh now, if we 158 00:12:18,119 --> 00:12:22,119 tr. I mean, we can walk in the spirit if we truly desire to have 159 00:12:22,119 --> 00:12:24,439 our faith stand in the power. Now, I don't believe that anybody 160 00:12:24,439 --> 00:12:27,879 in here really. I don't think anybody in here says, well, you know 161 00:12:27,879 --> 00:12:32,239 what, Brother Stone? I kind of like living opposed to the Spirit. 162 00:12:33,439 --> 00:12:38,159 I actually like, you know, living a sinful behavior. I actually 163 00:12:38,159 --> 00:12:41,719 kind of like living in a way that doesn't please God. I kind of 164 00:12:41,719 --> 00:12:44,249 like that living that, you know, having that. That flesh take 165 00:12:44,249 --> 00:12:47,929 over so that I can, you know, die spiritually. I. I'm kind of like 166 00:12:47,929 --> 00:12:51,969 that. I. I don't really want spiritual discernment. I like being 167 00:12:51,969 --> 00:12:53,969 weak. I don't think there's anybody in here that would stand 168 00:12:53,969 --> 00:12:56,089 up and say, yeah, I like all those. You wouldn't raise your hand 169 00:12:56,089 --> 00:13:00,329 to that. I believe that everybody in here, I truly do, everybody 170 00:13:00,329 --> 00:13:03,929 in here that's saved wants to do right. And I believe that everybody 171 00:13:03,929 --> 00:13:08,249 really wants to walk in the spirit of God. Everybody wants the 172 00:13:08,249 --> 00:13:11,889 power of God in their life. I. I truly do believe that. I don't 173 00:13:11,889 --> 00:13:13,889 believe there's anybody in here that wants to live according 174 00:13:13,889 --> 00:13:17,649 to the flesh and live the consequences that come as a result 175 00:13:17,649 --> 00:13:21,889 of living in the flesh. So if we truly desire to have our faith 176 00:13:21,889 --> 00:13:24,969 stand in the power of God rather than in the power of the flesh. 177 00:13:24,969 --> 00:13:28,689 Listen to this. Now, we need to attempt to live in such a way 178 00:13:28,769 --> 00:13:33,289 that would render our own efforts useless or vain. So, in other 179 00:13:33,289 --> 00:13:37,209 words, you got to do something that requires God working through 180 00:13:37,209 --> 00:13:43,879 you. We have to live in such a way that it can only be explained 181 00:13:44,599 --> 00:13:49,799 by the power of God or by the Spirit of God. So I want to give 182 00:13:49,799 --> 00:13:53,718 you five things to do in the course of your daily life that can 183 00:13:53,718 --> 00:13:56,879 only be done through the power of the Spirit. Five things that can. 184 00:13:56,879 --> 00:14:00,199 They can only be done through the power of the Spirit, and you 185 00:14:00,199 --> 00:14:04,519 can do them. And so if we want God. Now, I can't exhaust this subject, 186 00:14:04,519 --> 00:14:07,479 but I want to give you five Things that we're supposed to do 187 00:14:07,479 --> 00:14:11,529 anyway. But I want to give you five things that can only be done 188 00:14:12,089 --> 00:14:15,849 through the power of God. All right, here we go. Number one. Reach 189 00:14:16,569 --> 00:14:22,849 souls. You can't do that. You cannot do that. I don't care how 190 00:14:22,849 --> 00:14:26,969 much Bible you read. I don't care how much you pray. I don't. 191 00:14:27,209 --> 00:14:31,049 You can't do it. It doesn't matter how much Bible you memorize. 192 00:14:31,369 --> 00:14:36,129 You cannot reach a soul. Only God can save a soul. Only God can 193 00:14:36,129 --> 00:14:42,969 do that. Acts 18 says, Ye shall receive power after that. The 194 00:14:42,969 --> 00:14:47,049 what? After the Holy Ghost has come upon you. And you shall be witnesses 195 00:14:47,049 --> 00:14:50,369 unto me both in Jerusalem and in Judea and Samaria, and the uttermost 196 00:14:50,369 --> 00:14:55,729 part of the earth. Acts 4:33 says, with great power gave the apostles 197 00:14:55,729 --> 00:14:59,529 witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was 198 00:14:59,529 --> 00:15:03,249 upon them all. Romans 1:16. Paul said, I am not ashamed of the 199 00:15:03,249 --> 00:15:08,219 gospel of Christ. It is the power of God unto salvation to everyone 200 00:15:08,219 --> 00:15:11,779 that believeth. To the Jew first and also to the Greek, 1st 201 00:15:11,779 --> 00:15:15,219 Corinthians 1:18. For the preaching of the cross is to them 202 00:15:15,219 --> 00:15:19,899 that perish foolishness, but unto us which are saved, it is the 203 00:15:20,059 --> 00:15:24,979 power of God. Brother, I know that. David. David, the guy who led 204 00:15:24,979 --> 00:15:29,739 me to Christ, David Lofty, he was really kind of an unassuming, 205 00:15:30,319 --> 00:15:34,279 really kind of a timid guy. He was a good Christian. We. Everybody 206 00:15:34,279 --> 00:15:36,919 knew he was a Christian. He was basically the only one who actually 207 00:15:36,919 --> 00:15:39,999 walked the walk and talked the talk on the job site. He was the 208 00:15:39,999 --> 00:15:43,039 only one. And when they told me that David was going to work with 209 00:15:43,039 --> 00:15:49,119 me that day, I was like, oh. Oh, man. I really didn't want David 210 00:15:49,119 --> 00:15:53,399 working with me that day. And it was only through the power of 211 00:15:53,399 --> 00:15:59,369 God that David even turned himself loose and allowed God to 212 00:15:59,369 --> 00:16:02,409 use him. And he looked over at me and he said, man, we had a good 213 00:16:02,409 --> 00:16:05,769 time in church on Sunday. This was on Wednesday night. I mean, Wednesday 214 00:16:05,769 --> 00:16:09,849 morning. And I just, you know, kicked those doors open. What kind 215 00:16:09,849 --> 00:16:12,529 of church you go to? Oh, we go to a Baptist church. Well, what does 216 00:16:12,529 --> 00:16:14,969 a Baptist believe? We believe a man's got to get saved to go to 217 00:16:14,969 --> 00:16:17,969 heaven. Saved? What in the world does that mean? And he just 218 00:16:17,969 --> 00:16:21,659 took. And he just. He just poured his heart out. And it was 219 00:16:21,659 --> 00:16:26,819 the power of God that turned my heart. And at that moment, I said, 220 00:16:26,819 --> 00:16:31,539 I want that. I need that. And I got saved right then, that very 221 00:16:31,619 --> 00:16:37,178 second when I heard the gospel in its truest form. And I wanted 222 00:16:37,178 --> 00:16:39,819 it and I needed it, and I believed it. I Believe God saved 223 00:16:39,819 --> 00:16:42,979 me at that moment. I didn't have. Now, he said he didn't think 224 00:16:42,979 --> 00:16:46,099 that I had. You know, he thought that I had to go to the same 225 00:16:46,099 --> 00:16:50,029 barn he went to and get kicked by the same mule. And so he said, 226 00:16:50,029 --> 00:16:52,949 you got to go to church. You got to come to church, and you got 227 00:16:52,949 --> 00:16:55,789 to come down to the altar and you got to pray a prayer. But you 228 00:16:55,789 --> 00:17:00,349 know what? I didn't have to do that, but I did it because I thought 229 00:17:00,349 --> 00:17:03,949 he knew what I was supposed to do. It wasn't until later that I 230 00:17:03,949 --> 00:17:07,749 realized I got saved in that van. But it was God that saved me. 231 00:17:07,909 --> 00:17:11,109 It was God that saved me. It wasn't that prayer that took that. 232 00:17:11,189 --> 00:17:14,109 When they took me in that other room. It wasn't that prayer 233 00:17:14,109 --> 00:17:16,869 that saved me. It was. It wasn't walking that aisle. It was 234 00:17:16,869 --> 00:17:22,669 God. The power of God saved my soul in that van that day. And David. 235 00:17:22,669 --> 00:17:26,229 God used David. And I don't reckon David ever led anybody else 236 00:17:26,229 --> 00:17:29,309 to the Lord that I know of. When I started going to the church, 237 00:17:29,309 --> 00:17:33,629 I started going to what they called, we call it Soul Winning Outreach 238 00:17:33,789 --> 00:17:38,509 Visitation. Back then it was called calling. How many of y' all 239 00:17:38,509 --> 00:17:42,919 have heard that term in church? Going to go calling, calling. 240 00:17:43,159 --> 00:17:47,439 And so I went calling. But you know what? David never went. I started 241 00:17:47,439 --> 00:17:51,159 going calling with the church, with the pastor, with the guys. David 242 00:17:51,159 --> 00:17:57,839 never went. So there was nothing about David that saved my 243 00:17:57,839 --> 00:18:02,879 soul. It was God used David because David had a burden for me, 244 00:18:02,879 --> 00:18:08,089 I suppose, that day. Reaching souls. If we want to live in such 245 00:18:08,089 --> 00:18:12,929 a way that the power of God uses us, then try to reach souls. 246 00:18:12,929 --> 00:18:14,809 Because that's the only way it's going to happen, is through 247 00:18:14,809 --> 00:18:19,569 the power of God. It's the only way. Number two. Resist Satan. 248 00:18:20,369 --> 00:18:28,889 Resist Satan. Submit. This is the order of the verse. Submit yourselves, 249 00:18:28,889 --> 00:18:34,609 therefore, to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 250 00:18:35,329 --> 00:18:38,689 It didn't say, resist the devil and the power of God will come 251 00:18:38,689 --> 00:18:43,129 on you. It said, submit yourselves to God and the devil will 252 00:18:43,129 --> 00:18:46,729 flee. Submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil and he will 253 00:18:46,729 --> 00:18:50,689 flee from you. Resist Satan. You are not strong enough. I am not 254 00:18:50,689 --> 00:18:54,929 strong enough in my flesh to resist Satan. I have the Holy Spirit 255 00:18:54,929 --> 00:18:57,689 dwelling in me, and most of the time I am not strong enough to 256 00:18:57,689 --> 00:19:00,649 resist him, even with the Holy Spirit dwelling in me. Why? Because 257 00:19:00,649 --> 00:19:06,259 I don't submit myself to the power of God to make it happen. Submit 258 00:19:06,259 --> 00:19:09,579 yourselves, therefore, to God. If I want to resist, and we have 259 00:19:09,579 --> 00:19:13,779 to. I don't want. I don't want to Live the alternative to. To walking 260 00:19:13,779 --> 00:19:16,379 in the spirit. I don't want to walk in the flesh. I don't want to 261 00:19:16,379 --> 00:19:20,219 live my days in the flesh. I find myself doing that as we all 262 00:19:20,219 --> 00:19:23,299 do, and immediately I'm like, oh, Lord, I'm sorry. Oh, my goodness. 263 00:19:23,299 --> 00:19:25,619 I can't believe I just did that. I can't believe I saw that. 264 00:19:25,619 --> 00:19:30,029 I can't believe I said that. I can't believe I remember that song 265 00:19:30,029 --> 00:19:36,429 and sang it all the way through, right? I was walking in 266 00:19:36,429 --> 00:19:46,069 the flesh. I didn't even try to resist Satan. But sometimes, and 267 00:19:46,069 --> 00:19:50,349 hopefully most times when I recognize it, I have to just give 268 00:19:50,349 --> 00:19:56,209 myself over to God. Lord, help me. Lord, help me. I can't do this. 269 00:19:57,249 --> 00:20:00,929 Submit yourselves, therefore, to God. The only way you want to 270 00:20:00,929 --> 00:20:06,409 walk in the power of God. Submit yourself to God. Resist the 271 00:20:06,409 --> 00:20:10,009 devil and he will flee from you. Ephesians 6 says, finally, my 272 00:20:10,009 --> 00:20:14,449 brethren, watch this. We know chapter six. Ephesians, chapter six 273 00:20:14,449 --> 00:20:16,929 talks about the armor of God. I love to read about the armor of 274 00:20:16,929 --> 00:20:19,769 God. I love a good sermon on the armor of God. I love a good series 275 00:20:19,769 --> 00:20:22,759 on the armor of God. I love to hear it. And, boy, it strengthens 276 00:20:22,759 --> 00:20:26,119 me and it encourages me. It inspires me to want to pick up those 277 00:20:26,119 --> 00:20:30,599 weapons and put them on and walk out and just, you know, punch 278 00:20:30,599 --> 00:20:32,919 the devil right in the eye, kick him in the shin, just fight 279 00:20:32,919 --> 00:20:38,679 him. Amen. But what comes before that? He says, finally, my 280 00:20:38,679 --> 00:20:44,439 brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the what power of his 281 00:20:44,519 --> 00:20:47,759 might. And then after that, he says, put on the whole armor of God. 282 00:20:47,759 --> 00:20:52,069 But you can't put on the whole armor of God until first you are 283 00:20:52,069 --> 00:20:55,029 strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. Only in the power 284 00:20:55,029 --> 00:21:00,309 of the God can you actually put on that armor and go fight the 285 00:21:00,309 --> 00:21:05,469 devil. Only in the power of God. We can't do it in our own strength. 286 00:21:05,709 --> 00:21:11,749 Resist Satan. Reach souls. Number three. You want to stand in 287 00:21:11,749 --> 00:21:14,709 the power of God? You want your faith to stand in the power 288 00:21:14,709 --> 00:21:23,009 of God? Repudiate sin. Reach souls. Resist Satan. Repudiate sin. 289 00:21:25,169 --> 00:21:28,929 Wait a minute now, Brother Stone. I. I kind of like this little 290 00:21:28,929 --> 00:21:35,369 one here that I've reserved for me. Mmm, I kind of like that 291 00:21:35,369 --> 00:21:39,729 one. I mean, God can have all of it, but this one here. I just. 292 00:21:41,409 --> 00:21:45,529 I don't really want him to have this one. We talked about our 293 00:21:45,529 --> 00:21:50,249 house the other day, the house of our body, about being hoarders. 294 00:21:50,649 --> 00:21:53,249 Now, Lord, you can go ahead and have, you know, clean out that 295 00:21:53,249 --> 00:21:55,329 room. Clean out that room. Clean out that room. But this one 296 00:21:55,329 --> 00:21:59,128 here, just, you know, just stay away. This one's. This one's 297 00:21:59,128 --> 00:22:05,649 mine. It's mine. Do we truly, if we want to stand in the power 298 00:22:05,649 --> 00:22:08,089 of God, we got to repudiate sin. Not just a little bit of it. 299 00:22:08,089 --> 00:22:11,529 All of it. All of it. The word of God tells in Romans 12, 9, abhor 300 00:22:11,529 --> 00:22:15,269 that which is evil. Abhor that which is evil. Cling to that which 301 00:22:15,269 --> 00:22:21,429 is good. 2nd Peter 1:3, according as his divine power hath 302 00:22:21,429 --> 00:22:25,269 given us. Hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life 303 00:22:26,309 --> 00:22:30,789 and godliness through the knowledge of him that hath called 304 00:22:30,789 --> 00:22:34,669 us to glory and virtue. According as his divine power hath 305 00:22:34,669 --> 00:22:38,309 given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness. 306 00:22:38,309 --> 00:22:42,329 I can abhor evil because God has given me the power to do it. 307 00:22:43,369 --> 00:22:48,809 He's given me that power. But when I choose not to access that 308 00:22:48,809 --> 00:22:55,649 power, I don't repudiate sin. I mean, after all, feels good. Feels 309 00:22:55,649 --> 00:22:59,409 good. Feels good. For a little while, anyway. There is pleasure 310 00:22:59,409 --> 00:23:03,169 in sin for a season. Repudiate sin. If we want to walk in the power 311 00:23:03,169 --> 00:23:06,609 of God, if we want our faith to stand in the power of God and 312 00:23:06,609 --> 00:23:09,329 the power of the Spirit, if we want to have the demonstration of 313 00:23:09,329 --> 00:23:13,149 the power of the Spirit upon us. Repudiate sin, man. Just that 314 00:23:13,149 --> 00:23:18,909 word. Be holy from holy. That's still in the Bible. A holy 315 00:23:18,909 --> 00:23:21,349 life. Come out from among them. Be separate, saith the Lord. 316 00:23:21,349 --> 00:23:26,868 Touch not the unclean thing, Christians. That's still in the Bible. 317 00:23:26,868 --> 00:23:29,589 Amen. We ought to repudiate sin. Live. We were just talking. 318 00:23:29,589 --> 00:23:32,429 Who was I just talking to? Brother Vines. He said he grew up 319 00:23:32,429 --> 00:23:36,999 Pentecostal. How many of you grew up Pentecostal? There's probably 320 00:23:36,999 --> 00:23:39,879 more than one. There's two. Anybody else? You know what I called 321 00:23:39,879 --> 00:23:42,039 when I first got saved and I started going to that Independent 322 00:23:42,039 --> 00:23:44,799 Baptist church? We were driving down the road to go to the 323 00:23:44,799 --> 00:23:48,239 pizza place the first Sunday, my first Sunday that I went to that 324 00:23:48,239 --> 00:23:51,359 church. And service was over. And we were going to the pizza place, 325 00:23:51,999 --> 00:23:54,679 and I was sitting in the front seat, and I saw a bunch of ladies 326 00:23:54,679 --> 00:23:59,839 get out of a van with dresses plumbed down to their ankles, sleeves 327 00:23:59,839 --> 00:24:05,629 all the way down to their wrists, hairs up in buns. Couple 328 00:24:05,629 --> 00:24:11,669 of them had long. I said, what in the world? And David, the guy 329 00:24:11,669 --> 00:24:17,869 who led me to the Lord, he said, oh, them's holy rollers. Y' 330 00:24:17,869 --> 00:24:21,109 all heard them called holy rollers, haven't you? Holy rollers. 331 00:24:21,109 --> 00:24:25,349 That's what he called them. Holy rollers. Would of God, People 332 00:24:25,349 --> 00:24:28,909 would call me a Holy Roller, not because of the way I dress, but 333 00:24:28,909 --> 00:24:33,159 because of the way I live. Amen. Holy. Holy. But the only way 334 00:24:33,159 --> 00:24:37,319 that's going to happen is if we repudiate sin. It's not your embroidered 335 00:24:37,319 --> 00:24:40,639 hair. It's not putting up in the bun. It's not the way you dress. 336 00:24:40,639 --> 00:24:43,079 But I can tell you what people will say, boy, they're not holy by 337 00:24:43,079 --> 00:24:49,679 the way you dress. Repudiate sin. Resist Satan. Reach souls. And 338 00:24:49,679 --> 00:24:55,759 then number four, rejoice in sorrow. Rejoice in sorrow. Can you 339 00:24:55,759 --> 00:24:59,219 do that in the flesh? I mean, if we leave God out of the equation, 340 00:24:59,779 --> 00:25:04,139 none of us in here are going to rejoice in our sorrow. None of 341 00:25:04,139 --> 00:25:07,219 us will. We'll get angry at God, mad at God, mad at the world. 342 00:25:09,699 --> 00:25:12,219 You know, it's a sad thing, and I've seen it, and I hope. I don't. 343 00:25:12,219 --> 00:25:16,779 I don't. I don't mean to bring open up any wounds. I really don't 344 00:25:16,779 --> 00:25:19,299 mean to do this, but I'm going to say it, because it's been my experience 345 00:25:20,899 --> 00:25:27,559 that husbands and wives, typically in their younger years, 346 00:25:28,599 --> 00:25:33,879 if they lose a child, they don't know how to reconnect with 347 00:25:33,879 --> 00:25:38,639 each other outside of the Lord, if they don't have the Lord, 348 00:25:38,639 --> 00:25:43,679 if they don't have a strong relationship with God. That I've 349 00:25:43,679 --> 00:25:50,359 seen husbands and wives not make it, marriages fall apart because 350 00:25:50,359 --> 00:25:55,319 of sorrow that they couldn't get past. It's a sad thing. And then, 351 00:25:55,319 --> 00:26:00,519 on the other hand, I have seen couples go through the deepest valleys 352 00:26:00,519 --> 00:26:06,279 together and come out on top because they did have a strong relationship 353 00:26:06,279 --> 00:26:10,759 with God, because they did trust in God. They asked for the 354 00:26:10,759 --> 00:26:14,519 power of God to keep them through those sorrows, and they even 355 00:26:14,519 --> 00:26:18,069 rejoiced in them because they realized that God was going to use 356 00:26:18,069 --> 00:26:22,989 it for their good and his glory. Second Corinthians 12 says, 357 00:26:22,989 --> 00:26:26,789 he said unto me, my grace is sufficient for thee, for my strength 358 00:26:26,789 --> 00:26:31,109 is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly, therefore, will I rather 359 00:26:31,109 --> 00:26:37,149 glory in my infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon 360 00:26:37,149 --> 00:26:43,529 me. Rejoicing in sorrows. It can only be done by the power of 361 00:26:43,529 --> 00:26:48,289 God. It can only be done when your faith is standing in the power 362 00:26:48,289 --> 00:26:55,769 of God. Rejoicing in sorrows. Many of you in here have faced some 363 00:26:55,769 --> 00:26:59,729 tremendous sorrows, and you're still here. I praise God for you. 364 00:27:00,449 --> 00:27:06,529 There are some of you that may yet face some sorrows, and you're 365 00:27:06,529 --> 00:27:10,049 not going to see any way through it. You're going to wonder 366 00:27:10,049 --> 00:27:12,769 how in the world. Could this be of God? How can God allow this 367 00:27:12,769 --> 00:27:18,249 to happen? I don't have an answer for that. The only thing that 368 00:27:18,249 --> 00:27:23,329 I can say is God is always good. Even when we don't see it or 369 00:27:23,329 --> 00:27:30,649 feel it, he's always good. And when you do go through that dark, 370 00:27:30,649 --> 00:27:38,079 dark time, please trust God. Just trust him. Continue to love 371 00:27:38,079 --> 00:27:44,559 him and call out on Him. Rejoice in sorrows, repudiate sin, 372 00:27:44,719 --> 00:27:48,879 resist Satan, reach souls. And then finally, you can only do this 373 00:27:48,879 --> 00:27:54,359 in the power of God as well. Every time you feel like throwing 374 00:27:54,359 --> 00:27:59,999 in the towel, anytime you feel like just giving up. Reenlist for 375 00:27:59,999 --> 00:28:04,769 service. Reenlist for service. What in the world are you doing? 376 00:28:06,129 --> 00:28:09,089 What are you doing? Listen to what? Second Timothy. Listen what 377 00:28:09,089 --> 00:28:11,529 Paul said to Timothy. He said, for God hath not given us a spirit 378 00:28:11,529 --> 00:28:14,849 of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. Be not 379 00:28:14,849 --> 00:28:17,769 thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me 380 00:28:17,769 --> 00:28:21,449 as prisoner, but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the 381 00:28:21,449 --> 00:28:28,149 gospel according to the power of God. Sign up for affliction. Sign 382 00:28:28,149 --> 00:28:32,789 up for persecution. Reenlist for persecution. Reenlist to be hated 383 00:28:32,789 --> 00:28:39,349 by the world. Reenlist to go on for the crucified one. Amen. It 384 00:28:39,349 --> 00:28:42,908 takes the power of God to continue on when the rest of the 385 00:28:42,908 --> 00:28:47,349 world can't stand you. And brother, we are living in a day where 386 00:28:47,349 --> 00:28:51,669 you are less and less liked by the world. If you stand on this book 387 00:28:51,909 --> 00:28:54,759 and. And if you raise the banner of Jesus Christ, you are less 388 00:28:54,759 --> 00:28:57,479 and less liked by the world. But you know what? When they cuss 389 00:28:57,479 --> 00:28:59,919 you out at work, when they call you deacon, when they call you 390 00:28:59,919 --> 00:29:05,559 preacher, when they call you, whatever, reenlist. Just reenlist 391 00:29:05,559 --> 00:29:09,039 for service. Just keep on going for the Lord. Amen. First Corinthians 392 00:29:09,039 --> 00:29:11,319 15. What does he say? This is one of my. In fact, when I sign, 393 00:29:11,319 --> 00:29:13,759 if anyone asks me to sign a Bible or if I'm signing something, 394 00:29:13,999 --> 00:29:16,679 I always put this verse underneath it. Therefore, my beloved 395 00:29:16,679 --> 00:29:20,239 brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the 396 00:29:20,239 --> 00:29:23,479 work of the Lord. For as much as you know that your labor is not 397 00:29:23,479 --> 00:29:29,159 in vain in the Lord. 1st Peter 1:5. We are kept by the power of 398 00:29:29,159 --> 00:29:33,039 God through faith unto salvation, ready to be revealed in 399 00:29:33,039 --> 00:29:40,119 the last time. Continue. Continue. Just reenlist for service. 400 00:29:41,159 --> 00:29:44,319 We are kept, all of us are kept by the what? By the power of 401 00:29:44,319 --> 00:29:49,499 God. By the power of God. Live your life in such a way that it can 402 00:29:49,499 --> 00:29:54,819 only be explained as being done, done by or through the power 403 00:29:54,819 --> 00:29:57,939 of God and the only way. Listen, these are the things you 404 00:29:57,939 --> 00:30:01,219 reach souls. No one's going to brag on you. Boy, you should have 405 00:30:01,219 --> 00:30:04,019 seen that Mark Vines. You should have seen him. Boy, he was 406 00:30:04,019 --> 00:30:06,579 really at work out there, witnessing to that guy. He waxed 407 00:30:06,579 --> 00:30:09,179 eloquent. Boy, I tell you, you should have heard his presentation. 408 00:30:09,739 --> 00:30:13,759 Don't let anybody ever say that of us. Don't let anybody ever 409 00:30:13,759 --> 00:30:20,359 brag on. Boy, he is a soul winner. I mean, that's fine if you 410 00:30:20,359 --> 00:30:24,399 want to say, you know, he's zealous, but it's God who saves souls. 411 00:30:24,399 --> 00:30:28,319 It's the power of God that saves souls. Live your way in such 412 00:30:28,319 --> 00:30:32,639 a way. Live your life in such a way. Reach souls. Resist Satan. 413 00:30:33,359 --> 00:30:37,119 Every one of us has to do that every day. Every day you're going 414 00:30:37,119 --> 00:30:38,959 to get up in the morning and have to resist him. You may have 415 00:30:38,959 --> 00:30:45,509 to resist him before you get home. Repudiate sin. I mean, just 416 00:30:45,509 --> 00:30:51,749 hate it. Just hate it. You know, I got saved when I was 20, 417 00:30:52,069 --> 00:30:55,469 and there was a whole lot of. There was a. There's a truckload 418 00:30:55,469 --> 00:30:59,909 of baggage and there were a lot of habits. And I'm not talking 419 00:30:59,909 --> 00:31:04,549 about just. I'm not talking about just the other, you know, the 420 00:31:04,549 --> 00:31:06,974 bad stuff, the drugs. Now, I'm not talking about just that. I'm 421 00:31:06,974 --> 00:31:10,349 about talking. Talking about just daily habits that went with 422 00:31:10,349 --> 00:31:16,429 living as a lost person. And I can tell you this, that while I didn't 423 00:31:16,429 --> 00:31:19,869 give all of them up immediately, I tried. And especially 424 00:31:20,509 --> 00:31:23,149 cussing was probably one of the hardest ones for me to give up. 425 00:31:24,269 --> 00:31:28,629 And every time I did, I just have to slap my mouth. But there 426 00:31:28,629 --> 00:31:33,269 were other things, and I can't understand it. I honestly, I cannot 427 00:31:33,269 --> 00:31:35,589 understand. I can't explain it to you. All I know is that when I 428 00:31:35,589 --> 00:31:41,649 got saved, the Holy Spirit of God gave me just a hatred, a hatred 429 00:31:41,889 --> 00:31:45,609 for the things I used to do, for the things I used to really like 430 00:31:45,609 --> 00:31:50,369 and love and enjoy doing. The Holy Spirit of God just changed it. 431 00:31:50,769 --> 00:31:53,369 Repudiates. And I didn't fight against that. There was a couple 432 00:31:53,369 --> 00:31:57,929 of things I fought against, but most of it. And eventually. Eventually, 433 00:31:57,929 --> 00:32:02,849 right. Repudiate sin, rejoice in sorrows. That's the hard one. 434 00:32:03,359 --> 00:32:06,599 But I'm begging you to do it. When hard times come, rejoice in 435 00:32:06,599 --> 00:32:13,599 sorrows. And then reenlist for service. Five ways that your faith 436 00:32:13,599 --> 00:32:18,039 can stand in the power of God. Amen. The alternative is walking 437 00:32:18,039 --> 00:32:21,479 in the flesh. And nobody in here is going to raise their hand 438 00:32:21,479 --> 00:32:26,479 said, let that be me. I don't believe that. Let's all stand together. 439 00:32:27,439 --> 00:32:31,599 We'll have an invitation. If the spirit of God spoke to your heart 440 00:32:31,599 --> 00:32:33,959 tonight. Now, I know I'm preaching to Christians. I know Wednesday 441 00:32:33,959 --> 00:32:37,239 night is typically that, but I certainly don't want to take that 442 00:32:37,239 --> 00:32:40,439 for granted. You may be in here tonight and you're not 100% 443 00:32:40,439 --> 00:32:43,599 sure that Jesus is your savior and that if you died, you'd go to 444 00:32:43,599 --> 00:32:47,839 heaven. You're not 100% sure if that's you. If you're not 100% 445 00:32:47,839 --> 00:32:51,439 certain that you're going to heaven when you die. We've got folks 446 00:32:51,439 --> 00:32:54,399 down here who want to take the Bible and show you how you can know, 447 00:32:55,139 --> 00:32:57,939 if you're interested in knowing. If you're concerned about 448 00:32:57,939 --> 00:33:01,299 your eternal state, we can show you tonight if you're willing 449 00:33:01,299 --> 00:33:04,259 to come. For the rest of us who know that we're going to heaven, 450 00:33:04,659 --> 00:33:08,059 why don't we determine tonight that we're going to live a life that 451 00:33:08,059 --> 00:33:11,459 is demonstrated by the power of the Spirit, the power of God. 452 00:33:11,619 --> 00:33:14,219 Father, tonight I pray that you would help us to take this message 453 00:33:14,219 --> 00:33:17,179 and apply it to our own hearts, to our lives, and for our 454 00:33:17,179 --> 00:33:19,419 good and for your glory. Please have your way in our heart 455 00:33:19,419 --> 00:33:22,339 and in this invitation. In Jesus name I pray.