0:00:04.991,0:00:08.975 Ok, well, last week I had hoped 0:00:08.975,0:00:12.683 that we would deal with [br]the unpardonable sin, 0:00:12.683,0:00:16.538 and then with sexual sin. 0:00:16.538,0:00:19.914 And we didn't get to the [br]second part last week. 0:00:19.914,0:00:22.942 And so, that's what I want [br]to deal with tonight. 0:00:22.942,0:00:26.841 And I think I want to [br]call it something like: 0:00:26.841,0:00:31.914 The Holy Spirit is your best Friend 0:00:31.914,0:00:34.917 in fighting against sexual temptation. 0:00:34.917,0:00:36.029 Something like that. 0:00:36.029,0:00:38.212 The Holy Spirit is your best Friend 0:00:38.212,0:00:45.635 when it comes to fighting [br]sexual immorality. 0:00:45.635,0:00:48.605 So, I thought the first [br]thing that I wanted to do 0:00:48.605,0:00:57.707 is develop what I want [br]to call a theology 0:00:57.707,0:01:01.100 of sexual sin. 0:01:01.100,0:01:07.516 Call it the doctrine of sexual sin. 0:01:07.516,0:01:11.915 Here's a starting point. 0:01:11.915,0:01:15.862 Nobody in this room; [br]nobody in this world 0:01:15.862,0:01:21.579 is stronger than sin. 0:01:21.579,0:01:23.588 None of us are. 0:01:23.588,0:01:26.497 And by the title, 0:01:26.497,0:01:30.578 the Holy Spirit is our best Friend 0:01:30.578,0:01:36.061 when it comes to sexual sin. 0:01:36.061,0:01:38.511 Nobody is strong enough 0:01:38.511,0:01:41.716 to overcome sexual temptation 0:01:41.716,0:01:43.078 on their own. 0:01:43.078,0:01:46.097 Nobody is strong enough 0:01:46.097,0:01:49.844 to overcome sexual immorality 0:01:49.844,0:01:51.371 on their own. 0:01:51.371,0:01:53.067 Period. 0:01:53.067,0:01:56.434 It's an impossibility. 0:01:56.434,0:01:59.348 It is stronger than us. 0:01:59.348,0:02:00.608 Lay it down. 0:02:00.608,0:02:02.144 It is stronger. 0:02:02.144,0:02:04.996 When you think about the lost man, 0:02:04.996,0:02:07.001 total inability - 0:02:07.001,0:02:10.968 absolutely total inability to do this. 0:02:10.968,0:02:14.950 And I'm including here "lost Christians." 0:02:14.950,0:02:16.436 You say what's that? 0:02:16.436,0:02:19.665 That's a paradox. 0:02:19.665,0:02:21.732 I'm talking about there's a reason why 0:02:21.732,0:02:24.562 certain people in the [br]church never get victory. 0:02:24.562,0:02:26.580 That's what I'm talking about. 0:02:26.580,0:02:31.725 And lost people cannot get victory. 0:02:31.725,0:02:35.055 Now, listen. Think with me here. 0:02:35.055,0:02:36.848 Oftentimes in Scripture, 0:02:36.848,0:02:39.952 Scripture doesn't deal necessarily 0:02:39.952,0:02:45.145 with sins particularly; 0:02:45.145,0:02:47.281 sins specifically, 0:02:47.281,0:02:50.471 like certain types of sexual sin. 0:02:50.471,0:02:52.549 There's places it does, 0:02:52.549,0:02:55.486 but oftentimes what we get in Scripture 0:02:55.486,0:03:00.271 is we get sin personified. 0:03:00.271,0:03:04.150 Where am I going with all this? 0:03:04.150,0:03:06.689 I'm going here with it. 0:03:06.689,0:03:11.087 Paul talks about sin - singular 0:03:11.087,0:03:14.956 as a force, as a power. 0:03:14.956,0:03:17.705 Remember how God spoke to Cain 0:03:17.705,0:03:20.651 way back in Genesis 4? 0:03:20.651,0:03:21.899 What did He say? 0:03:21.899,0:03:23.719 Anybody remember what He said 0:03:23.719,0:03:29.563 to Cain before Cain killed his brother? 0:03:29.563,0:03:31.767 Sin is crouching at the door. 0:03:31.767,0:03:33.411 What is that? 0:03:33.411,0:03:35.646 See what He did? He personified sin. 0:03:35.646,0:03:38.055 He made into something living. 0:03:38.055,0:03:39.572 It's crouching at the door. 0:03:39.572,0:03:41.385 Almost as though it's separate. 0:03:41.385,0:03:43.548 It's like over there at the door. 0:03:43.548,0:03:44.987 It's crouching. 0:03:44.987,0:03:48.662 That's like an animal ready to pounce. 0:03:48.662,0:03:56.523 Who else speaks that way about sin? 0:03:56.523,0:04:04.069 Personifies it like that? 0:04:04.069,0:04:05.761 How about Paul? 0:04:05.761,0:04:08.153 How about Paul in Romans? 0:04:08.153,0:04:11.610 Think about what Paul says in Romans. 0:04:11.610,0:04:15.395 He says sin - concerning Christians - 0:04:15.395,0:04:18.963 he says sin singular 0:04:18.963,0:04:21.444 is not going to have dominion over you 0:04:21.444,0:04:22.560 as a Christian. 0:04:22.560,0:04:25.120 He talks about sin singular 0:04:25.120,0:04:28.217 seeking to reign in our mortal bodies. 0:04:28.217,0:04:31.467 You are not to let sin reign. 0:04:31.467,0:04:34.577 Not sins, as in these particular things. 0:04:34.577,0:04:38.494 You are not to let sin as a force, 0:04:38.494,0:04:42.831 as a dominating power in your life 0:04:42.831,0:04:44.617 rule over you. 0:04:44.617,0:04:46.992 Here's the thing with lost people. 0:04:46.992,0:04:50.793 Lost people are dominated by sin. 0:04:50.793,0:04:52.722 Sin dominates them. 0:04:52.722,0:04:57.021 Who is not dominated by sin? 0:04:57.021,0:05:03.099 Those who are under grace, not under law. 0:05:03.099,0:05:06.122 Who are people who are under law? 0:05:06.124,0:05:10.753 What is that another expression for? 0:05:10.753,0:05:13.492 What people in the world [br]are under the law? 0:05:13.492,0:05:15.346 Lost people. 0:05:15.346,0:05:17.206 If you're under grace, 0:05:17.206,0:05:19.097 sin will not have dominion over you. 0:05:19.097,0:05:23.606 If you're under law, sin will what? 0:05:23.606,0:05:25.639 Have dominion over you. 0:05:25.639,0:05:26.908 Exactly. 0:05:26.908,0:05:30.925 Sin will reign in your mortal body. 0:05:30.925,0:05:33.372 Sin does dominate. 0:05:33.372,0:05:36.548 How about where we've [br]been looking in Ephesians 2? 0:05:36.548,0:05:40.804 A lost man is dead in trespasses and sins. 0:05:40.804,0:05:42.458 Now, there it is in the plural. 0:05:42.458,0:05:43.987 But my point is this: 0:05:43.987,0:05:50.198 The lost man is dominated [br]by sin personified. 0:05:50.198,0:05:53.836 This dark lord, this dark power 0:05:53.836,0:05:58.959 of sin reigns - that's [br]the position of a king. 0:05:58.959,0:06:03.271 Sin takes up the seat in the lost man 0:06:03.271,0:06:05.450 and it sits on the throne. 0:06:05.450,0:06:06.932 A lot of people have this idea, 0:06:06.932,0:06:09.986 you know, they talk about [br]"we" sitting on the throne, 0:06:09.986,0:06:11.964 or Christ sitting on the throne. 0:06:11.964,0:06:13.852 Don't ever believe that. 0:06:13.852,0:06:18.158 Sin is what sits on the [br]throne of the lost man. 0:06:18.158,0:06:19.566 Sin does. 0:06:19.566,0:06:21.802 And man is a slave. 0:06:21.802,0:06:24.261 And that's exactly how [br]Scripture makes him out. 0:06:24.261,0:06:25.926 Dead in sin. 0:06:25.926,0:06:27.586 He is a slave to sin. 0:06:27.586,0:06:29.559 He is dominated by sin. 0:06:29.559,0:06:32.956 Sin does reign in his mortal body. 0:06:32.956,0:06:34.628 Now, here's the thing. 0:06:34.628,0:06:37.902 You know as well as I do 0:06:37.902,0:06:43.235 that not every person in the world 0:06:43.235,0:06:50.128 is dominated by sexual immorality evenly 0:06:50.128,0:06:51.734 or the same as everybody else. 0:06:51.734,0:06:53.238 You know that's true. 0:06:53.238,0:06:56.705 Not every husband who's lost 0:06:56.705,0:06:59.253 has committed adultery on his wife. 0:06:59.253,0:07:02.107 Not everybody in the [br]world is a homosexual. 0:07:02.107,0:07:06.195 Not everybody has committed [br]fornication in their life - 0:07:06.195,0:07:08.416 the actual act of it. 0:07:08.416,0:07:13.112 Sin as a dominating force, 0:07:13.112,0:07:17.345 it manifests itself different ways 0:07:17.345,0:07:18.943 in different people. 0:07:18.943,0:07:20.358 Rules them. 0:07:20.358,0:07:21.603 Dominates them. 0:07:21.603,0:07:22.969 Reigns over them. 0:07:22.969,0:07:26.927 But it shows up differently 0:07:26.927,0:07:28.861 in different people. 0:07:28.861,0:07:31.658 But here's the thing, 0:07:31.658,0:07:36.109 when you look at Scripture, 0:07:36.109,0:07:39.789 sexual immorality is oftentimes 0:07:39.789,0:07:42.159 at the front of the list. 0:07:42.159,0:07:45.104 Not just once, and not just twice, 0:07:45.104,0:07:46.440 and not just three times - 0:07:46.440,0:07:49.992 in fact, it's the rarity, [br]it's the exception 0:07:49.992,0:07:52.071 when you have a list of sins 0:07:52.071,0:07:54.857 and it's not at the beginning. 0:07:54.857,0:07:56.567 You ever notice that? 0:07:56.567,0:07:58.934 In fact, isn't it interesting 0:07:58.934,0:08:03.206 that when God gives a people over, 0:08:03.206,0:08:05.707 what does He give them over to? 0:08:05.707,0:08:11.075 What's the progress of [br]God giving a people up? 0:08:11.075,0:08:13.449 It's that they begin to [br]do dishonorable things. 0:08:13.449,0:08:14.831 It's in Romans 1. 0:08:14.831,0:08:17.692 They consider themselves wise. 0:08:17.692,0:08:19.471 They're really fools. 0:08:19.471,0:08:22.836 They begin to fall down and [br]worship other things besides God. 0:08:22.836,0:08:26.380 They're seeking to suppress the [br]knowledge of God all the time. 0:08:26.380,0:08:28.345 And God gives them over. 0:08:28.345,0:08:30.814 And when He begins to give a people over, 0:08:30.814,0:08:33.634 you'll notice the progression there. 0:08:33.634,0:08:38.758 It's not immediately into homosexuality. 0:08:38.758,0:08:43.916 The first step is people begin to do that 0:08:43.916,0:08:46.340 which they shouldn't do. 0:08:46.340,0:08:51.371 The first step in that [br]being given over by God, 0:08:51.371,0:08:52.845 sexual perversion. 0:08:52.845,0:08:55.176 And what I mean by that 0:08:55.176,0:08:58.033 is everything outside of marriage. 0:08:58.033,0:09:00.940 It begins to rot away at that level. 0:09:00.940,0:09:02.513 Now think about the lists 0:09:02.513,0:09:05.395 where sexual sin is first. 0:09:05.395,0:09:10.082 Somebody look up 1 Corinthians 6. 0:09:10.082,0:09:12.513 1 Corinthians 6:9 0:09:12.513,0:09:13.792 And here you have a list - 0:09:13.792,0:09:18.672 don't be deceived. 0:09:18.672,0:09:20.517 People who practice unrighteousness 0:09:20.517,0:09:22.453 don't inherit the kingdom of God. 0:09:22.453,0:09:26.135 And what's right at the [br]beginning of the list? 0:09:26.135,0:09:28.454 The sexually immoral. 0:09:28.454,0:09:29.928 Tim: What's next? 0:09:29.928,0:09:31.281 Idolaters. 0:09:31.281,0:09:32.512 Tim: What's next? 0:09:32.512,0:09:33.587 Adulterers. 0:09:33.587,0:09:34.524 Tim: What's next? 0:09:34.524,0:09:36.101 Men who practice homosexuality. 0:09:36.101,0:09:39.818 Tim: I mean, isn't that interesting?[br]The very first one is sexual immorality. 0:09:39.818,0:09:41.614 Three out of the first four: 0:09:41.614,0:09:43.907 sexual immorality. 0:09:43.907,0:09:45.283 Where else can you think of? 0:09:45.283,0:09:49.834 I think of the works of the flesh. 0:09:49.834,0:09:55.352 Galatians 5. Somebody go over there. 0:09:55.352,0:10:02.682 What is it? V. 22? 23? 0:10:02.682,0:10:05.838 Those are the fruits of the Spirit. 0:10:05.838,0:10:07.510 Wait, say it again? 0:10:07.510,0:10:10.851 Sexual immorality - first, 0:10:10.851,0:10:12.682 impurity - second, 0:10:12.682,0:10:14.323 sensuality - third, 0:10:14.323,0:10:16.137 and then idolatry. 0:10:16.137,0:10:19.346 See, three out of the [br]first four right there. 0:10:19.346,0:10:24.312 Or how about in Ephesians 5, 0:10:24.312,0:10:27.557 you get because of these things, 0:10:27.557,0:10:29.415 the wrath of God is coming. 0:10:29.415,0:10:33.220 What's the "these things?" 0:10:33.220,0:10:35.904 What is it? V. 7 maybe? 0:10:35.904,0:10:40.595 "Everyone who is sexually [br]immoral or impure 0:10:40.595,0:10:44.267 or who is covetous, that is, an idolater." 0:10:44.267,0:10:47.082 Notice what the first two are. 0:10:47.082,0:10:52.015 Think about Paul speaking [br]to the Thessalonians, 0:10:52.015,0:10:53.580 and he's talking about God 0:10:53.580,0:10:55.841 desiring their sanctification. 0:10:55.841,0:10:59.496 And what's the very [br]first thing he goes into? 0:10:59.496,0:11:01.036 Chapter 4. 1 Thessalonians. 0:11:01.036,0:11:02.393 "This is the will of God, 0:11:02.393,0:11:04.681 your sanctification: that you abstain 0:11:04.681,0:11:05.971 from sexual immorality..." 0:11:05.971,0:11:06.980 Isn't it interesting. 0:11:06.980,0:11:09.541 The first thing he brings up [br]there is sanctification. 0:11:09.541,0:11:11.305 Where's the first place he goes? 0:11:11.305,0:11:14.873 Sexual purity. 0:11:14.873,0:11:18.198 And this is often at [br]the front of the list. 0:11:18.198,0:11:20.064 And here's the thing, 0:11:20.064,0:11:21.457 I think if we're honest, 0:11:21.457,0:11:24.395 we recognize different people - 0:11:24.395,0:11:27.856 lost people fall prey to sin 0:11:27.856,0:11:30.527 in all sorts of ways. 0:11:30.527,0:11:33.125 Sin rules and sin reigns them. 0:11:33.125,0:11:38.650 But one of the stark, first in line 0:11:38.650,0:11:42.278 manner in which they fall 0:11:42.278,0:11:44.265 and in which they give themselves over to 0:11:44.265,0:11:47.356 is this sensuality and sexual immorality. 0:11:47.356,0:11:49.301 And it's a big one. 0:11:49.301,0:11:51.399 You know, all you have [br]to do is look around 0:11:51.399,0:11:53.113 in our society to see 0:11:53.113,0:11:55.126 we're in a pornographic society. 0:11:55.126,0:11:57.863 You look historically at the sins 0:11:57.863,0:12:00.808 that have been struggled [br]with through history. 0:12:00.808,0:12:05.305 This was big 2,000 years ago. 0:12:05.305,0:12:08.176 It was right at the forefront. 0:12:08.176,0:12:10.508 It was a problem, 0:12:10.508,0:12:13.917 and it made it to the head of the class 0:12:13.917,0:12:16.755 in these lists of sins that were given. 0:12:16.755,0:12:20.777 And the thing is, 0:12:20.777,0:12:25.380 men who are dominated by sin - 0:12:25.380,0:12:30.869 sin may manifest itself differently 0:12:30.869,0:12:32.448 in different people. 0:12:32.448,0:12:34.588 And it may manifest itself differently 0:12:34.588,0:12:38.413 at different times in the [br]life of the same people. 0:12:38.413,0:12:41.678 You say, well, that guy was committing [br]adultery and then he quit. 0:12:41.678,0:12:42.824 Well, you know what? 0:12:42.824,0:12:45.827 People will change and they will migrate 0:12:45.827,0:12:49.636 in the way they're dominated by sin. 0:12:49.636,0:12:51.814 They will do that. 0:12:51.814,0:12:54.483 And idolatry can made a man do that. 0:12:54.483,0:12:56.254 Have a man fall into adultery, 0:12:56.254,0:12:57.882 and he's going to lose his wife. 0:12:57.882,0:13:02.468 He idolizes her and he [br]will give up that sin - 0:13:02.468,0:13:04.507 perhaps even for good. 0:13:04.507,0:13:06.220 He can do that. 0:13:06.220,0:13:08.671 Men can give up alcohol 0:13:08.671,0:13:10.790 because they idolize their own life 0:13:10.790,0:13:12.405 and the alcohol about killed them 0:13:12.405,0:13:13.783 and they'll give it up. 0:13:13.783,0:13:16.839 They'll exchange it for something else. 0:13:16.839,0:13:18.113 That's how lost man is, 0:13:18.113,0:13:20.742 but nevertheless, completely dominated. 0:13:20.742,0:13:22.698 And my point is this: 0:13:22.698,0:13:25.780 As long as sexual urge, 0:13:25.780,0:13:28.356 as long as that body is throwing urges, 0:13:28.356,0:13:30.091 that mind is throwing urges, 0:13:30.091,0:13:31.773 Satan is throwing urges, 0:13:31.773,0:13:35.731 as long as sin which seeks to rule in them 0:13:35.731,0:13:41.202 is throwing that kind of lust their way, 0:13:41.202,0:13:44.106 they're helpless. 0:13:44.106,0:13:46.732 They cannot dominate that. 0:13:46.732,0:13:49.164 They cannot have victory over that. 0:13:49.164,0:13:53.061 Now, like I say, they may get old 0:13:53.061,0:13:55.917 and the sexual urge and [br]the sexual temptation 0:13:55.917,0:13:57.665 kind of goes out of them 0:13:57.665,0:13:59.391 because they're getting old. 0:13:59.391,0:14:02.060 Or, they may idolize a wife 0:14:02.060,0:14:04.256 and they may change one thing for another 0:14:04.256,0:14:06.035 for a season perhaps. 0:14:06.035,0:14:07.834 I mean, that kind of thing happens. 0:14:07.834,0:14:09.694 But we're talking men who are 0:14:09.694,0:14:11.870 dominated and ruled by this. 0:14:11.870,0:14:14.164 But now, you come over into the category 0:14:14.164,0:14:15.164 of Christian. 0:14:15.164,0:14:16.590 And I'm going to say this, 0:14:16.590,0:14:19.181 the Christian is just as dead in the water 0:14:19.181,0:14:23.128 and just as helpless by himself 0:14:23.128,0:14:24.852 and in his own power. 0:14:24.852,0:14:28.509 Jesus said - Jesus was [br]coming at the positive end, 0:14:28.509,0:14:31.942 and He was speaking of good works, 0:14:31.942,0:14:36.421 but did He not say in John 15, 0:14:36.421,0:14:39.969 "without Me..." what? 0:14:39.969,0:14:41.601 "You can do nothing." 0:14:41.601,0:14:45.308 And obviously, Jesus works in His people 0:14:45.308,0:14:47.457 by way of the Spirit of God. 0:14:47.457,0:14:48.939 I mean, we don't want to make - 0:14:48.939,0:14:50.927 the Spirit of Christ - 0:14:50.927,0:14:52.701 it's interesting even in Romans 8 0:14:52.701,0:14:55.228 how you kind of move from the Spirit, 0:14:55.228,0:14:57.416 the Spirit of Christ, Christ... 0:14:57.416,0:14:59.916 There's this transition kind of happens. 0:14:59.916,0:15:01.368 It's one and the same. 0:15:01.368,0:15:03.996 You don't want to [br]separate these two things. 0:15:03.996,0:15:07.981 But what's the classic text [br]in our New Testament 0:15:07.981,0:15:12.117 that shows that the [br]Christian puts to death sin 0:15:12.117,0:15:14.128 only by the Spirit of God? 0:15:14.128,0:15:15.845 Romans 8:13 0:15:15.845,0:15:20.023 Somebody read that. 0:15:20.023,0:15:22.817 "For if you live according [br]to the flesh you will die, 0:15:22.817,0:15:26.425 but if by the Spirit you put to [br]death the deeds of the body, 0:15:26.425,0:15:27.449 you will live." 0:15:27.449,0:15:29.860 See, one path is death? 0:15:29.860,0:15:31.128 That's the lost man. 0:15:31.128,0:15:33.456 One path is life. That's the saved man. 0:15:33.456,0:15:37.210 The path of life is a person 0:15:37.210,0:15:41.324 putting to death deeds of the body, 0:15:41.324,0:15:45.028 not by themselves and [br]not in their own power. 0:15:45.028,0:15:49.467 They're doing that in [br]the power of the Spirit. 0:15:49.467,0:15:50.982 You see that. 0:15:50.982,0:15:55.237 And so this is where [br]I'm going in all of this. 0:15:55.237,0:15:58.559 The Holy Spirit is absolutely essential. 0:15:58.559,0:16:01.609 If we want to have a good - 0:16:01.609,0:16:03.843 I mean you want to get to the root; 0:16:03.843,0:16:07.354 you want to go deep in this issue 0:16:07.354,0:16:13.937 of doing battle, of having victory, 0:16:13.937,0:16:19.485 of overcoming, of being successful 0:16:19.485,0:16:23.399 battling urges and [br]temptations with pornography, 0:16:23.399,0:16:25.470 battling urges and temptations 0:16:25.470,0:16:29.034 in the direction of sexual immorality. 0:16:29.034,0:16:36.649 And you know, having a [br]ministry like I'll Be Honest, 0:16:36.649,0:16:43.003 and for one, being able to watch, 0:16:43.003,0:16:44.705 like I was telling you last week, 0:16:44.705,0:16:47.561 which videos get the most traffic 0:16:47.561,0:16:49.970 on YouTube and on I'll Be Honest, 0:16:49.970,0:16:52.094 being able to see that - 0:16:52.094,0:16:53.763 there's no question about it. 0:16:53.763,0:16:59.144 Two of the top most watched videos 0:16:59.144,0:17:01.069 have to do with the unpardonable sin 0:17:01.069,0:17:03.011 and have to do with sexual immorality. 0:17:03.011,0:17:06.070 That tells me that among [br]professing Christians, 0:17:06.070,0:17:09.709 it's huge, it's big, it's something 0:17:09.709,0:17:14.710 that people are struggling with. 0:17:14.710,0:17:16.159 They're looking for answers. 0:17:16.159,0:17:18.452 They're looking for help. 0:17:18.452,0:17:20.855 People are getting on the Internet 0:17:20.855,0:17:23.597 and at times instead of falling prey 0:17:23.597,0:17:24.776 to pornography, 0:17:24.776,0:17:27.655 they're actually searching in such ways 0:17:27.655,0:17:30.195 that they end up finding I'll Be Honest. 0:17:30.195,0:17:32.680 They end up finding, 0:17:32.680,0:17:37.161 even one of the first videos 0:17:37.161,0:17:39.066 after James came and we kind of 0:17:39.066,0:17:41.276 connected the two ministries together, 0:17:41.276,0:17:42.956 maybe even made it before that, 0:17:42.956,0:17:45.563 but that James made on this subject, 0:17:45.563,0:17:48.759 I mean, look at the [br]amount of traffic on it. 0:17:48.759,0:17:50.471 You look at the amount of traffic 0:17:50.471,0:17:52.775 on stuff that James has put up there 0:17:52.775,0:17:54.504 or that John Piper has done 0:17:54.504,0:17:55.931 or that Paul Washer has done 0:17:55.931,0:17:59.155 or any of the pastors that are popular 0:17:59.155,0:18:01.069 out there today, 0:18:01.069,0:18:02.933 these things are getting so much traffic. 0:18:02.933,0:18:04.754 Some of them hundreds and hundreds 0:18:04.754,0:18:06.234 of thousands of hits. 0:18:06.234,0:18:07.797 Why? What that tells me is 0:18:07.797,0:18:11.005 you have people who [br]are professing Christians - 0:18:11.005,0:18:12.541 whether they're true or not, 0:18:12.541,0:18:14.410 you know they're in both categories; 0:18:14.410,0:18:16.265 undoubtedly in both categories. 0:18:16.265,0:18:17.430 But they're searching 0:18:17.430,0:18:19.193 and they're looking for answers. 0:18:19.193,0:18:22.517 And I can give this answer right here. 0:18:22.517,0:18:25.324 You cannot have victory 0:18:25.324,0:18:28.721 unless it is victory that is had by way 0:18:28.721,0:18:30.558 of the Spirit of God. 0:18:30.558,0:18:32.751 It is by the Spirit you put to death 0:18:32.751,0:18:34.381 the deeds of the body. 0:18:34.381,0:18:35.736 In other words, this is what 0:18:35.736,0:18:37.407 we really have to key in on. 0:18:37.407,0:18:39.369 You and I don't have the power - 0:18:39.369,0:18:42.536 lost or saved - by ourselves. 0:18:42.536,0:18:44.035 We don't have the power. 0:18:44.035,0:18:46.442 You need the power of Another 0:18:46.442,0:18:49.571 to overcome in this area of your life. 0:18:49.571,0:18:52.558 You need the power of the Holy Spirit. 0:18:52.558,0:18:55.811 And what I want to do in this Bible study 0:18:55.811,0:18:57.851 is simply talk about that. 0:18:57.851,0:19:01.361 (incomplete thought) 0:19:01.361,0:19:03.591 Where is the Spirit? 0:19:03.591,0:19:05.444 And where is His power? 0:19:05.444,0:19:07.874 You say, well, as a Christian - 0:19:07.874,0:19:09.054 if you're a Christian; 0:19:09.054,0:19:11.210 if you're a genuine Christian, 0:19:11.210,0:19:14.789 doesn't Romans 8 say [br]that you have the Spirit? 0:19:14.789,0:19:18.231 Yep. And if you don't [br]have the Spirit, what? 0:19:18.231,0:19:20.539 You're none of His. [br]You don't belong to Him. 0:19:20.539,0:19:23.511 So, every single child of God 0:19:23.511,0:19:25.103 has the Spirit. 0:19:25.103,0:19:27.417 What is that? Case closed? 0:19:27.417,0:19:30.006 Does every true Christian have victory 0:19:30.006,0:19:33.109 all the time? 0:19:33.109,0:19:35.105 Is it enough to be a Christian 0:19:35.105,0:19:37.248 to win the battle? 0:19:37.248,0:19:39.741 Now, somebody might say, 0:19:39.741,0:19:41.685 well, I read in Scripture 0:19:41.685,0:19:43.040 that if you're a Christian, 0:19:43.040,0:19:45.460 you will win the battle. 0:19:45.460,0:19:46.735 If you're a Christian, 0:19:46.735,0:19:49.365 you will cut off that hand [br]and pluck out that eye, 0:19:49.365,0:19:51.079 or else you're going to go to hell. 0:19:51.079,0:19:52.860 And look, those are the indicatives, 0:19:52.860,0:19:54.669 I recognize, but we've got imperatives 0:19:54.669,0:19:55.969 in our New Testament too. 0:19:55.969,0:19:57.830 In other words, we've got commandments 0:19:57.830,0:20:00.084 to not let sin reign in our mortal bodies. 0:20:00.084,0:20:02.292 There is a place that by the Spirit 0:20:02.292,0:20:04.517 we are killing sin; 0:20:04.517,0:20:06.812 we are seeking to put that sin to death. 0:20:06.812,0:20:08.005 There is a place. 0:20:08.005,0:20:10.062 Anybody think about Colossians 3 - 0:20:10.062,0:20:11.454 what it says there 0:20:11.454,0:20:13.923 concerning sexual immorality? 0:20:13.923,0:20:17.650 Which by the way is at the [br]front of the list again. 0:20:17.650,0:20:21.435 "Put to death what is earthly in you." 0:20:21.435,0:20:22.885 What's the first in line? 0:20:22.885,0:20:24.691 I just said: sexual immorality. 0:20:24.691,0:20:26.068 First in line again. 0:20:26.068,0:20:27.692 But put it to death. 0:20:27.692,0:20:28.844 But here's the thing, 0:20:28.844,0:20:30.885 you by yourself - 0:20:30.885,0:20:32.869 just like Jesus said to His disciples: 0:20:32.869,0:20:34.857 "Without Me you can do nothing." 0:20:34.857,0:20:36.803 Without that Spirit, 0:20:36.803,0:20:40.603 you cannot do this. 0:20:40.603,0:20:43.476 Now, why does Scripture tell us 0:20:43.476,0:20:46.983 to put this to death? 0:20:46.983,0:20:48.902 Because you have to. 0:20:48.902,0:20:51.253 Why does Jesus call us 0:20:51.253,0:20:54.356 to cut off the hand and pluck out the eye? 0:20:54.356,0:20:57.101 Because you have to. 0:20:57.101,0:20:58.402 You have to strive. 0:20:58.402,0:20:59.615 There is an effort. 0:20:59.615,0:21:01.831 You have to work out your own salvation. 0:21:01.831,0:21:04.450 But brethren, the way we do this 0:21:04.450,0:21:07.299 is in the power of Another. 0:21:07.299,0:21:08.735 And that is so key. 0:21:08.735,0:21:14.678 You will do this only as you do this 0:21:14.678,0:21:17.129 by divine power. 0:21:17.129,0:21:19.662 And so I think the thing that [br]we have to talk about; 0:21:19.662,0:21:22.418 the thing that we have to wrestle with 0:21:22.418,0:21:27.386 is it's not just a given 0:21:27.386,0:21:28.916 that because you're a Christian 0:21:28.916,0:21:30.222 and you possess the Spirit, 0:21:30.222,0:21:32.183 therefore sit back, recline, 0:21:32.183,0:21:33.595 kick your feet up, 0:21:33.595,0:21:35.032 it's all going to happen. 0:21:35.032,0:21:40.775 The Spirit of God is going [br]to make it happen. 0:21:40.775,0:21:44.737 There's some keys. 0:21:44.737,0:21:50.696 There are things said in Scripture 0:21:50.696,0:21:55.732 about the Spirit and His [br]interaction with us 0:21:55.732,0:22:03.183 that I think we need to think about. 0:22:03.183,0:22:09.919 Like, as a Christian, 0:22:09.919,0:22:15.828 how do I live in the power of the Spirit? 0:22:15.828,0:22:18.677 As a Christian, how do I not live 0:22:18.677,0:22:20.983 in the power of the Spirit? 0:22:20.983,0:22:23.858 What's the difference? 0:22:23.858,0:22:25.869 I mean, here's the thing. 0:22:25.869,0:22:29.024 Some Christians are more mature 0:22:29.024,0:22:31.282 than other Christians. 0:22:31.282,0:22:34.845 Some Christians are more holy 0:22:34.845,0:22:36.486 than other Christians. 0:22:36.486,0:22:38.368 Look, there's automatic assumptions 0:22:38.368,0:22:41.330 in Scripture that when you [br]come to look at elders, 0:22:41.330,0:22:43.464 not everybody in the church is an elder. 0:22:43.464,0:22:46.192 When you come to look at teachers, 0:22:46.192,0:22:48.166 James is very specific 0:22:48.166,0:22:50.616 that not many of you should be teachers. 0:22:50.616,0:22:53.414 He is automatically [br]assuming right up front 0:22:53.414,0:22:55.371 that most people in the church 0:22:55.371,0:22:58.514 are not at a certain level. 0:22:58.514,0:23:02.888 You get people all over the place. 0:23:02.888,0:23:05.289 Why does Paul have to tell the Corinthians 0:23:05.289,0:23:09.962 not to sleep with prostitutes? 0:23:09.962,0:23:14.126 Because they were. 0:23:14.126,0:23:17.160 There are others who weren't. 0:23:17.160,0:23:21.237 They are many in our [br]church who don't do that. 0:23:21.237,0:23:24.806 Paul wasn't doing that. 0:23:24.806,0:23:28.275 Let me ask you this. 0:23:28.275,0:23:30.936 Here's the reality. 0:23:30.936,0:23:33.000 Some are having victory - 0:23:33.000,0:23:35.204 some true Christians are having victory 0:23:35.204,0:23:39.939 in the area of sexual immorality 0:23:39.939,0:23:41.651 while others are not having 0:23:41.651,0:23:44.471 the same amount of success. 0:23:44.471,0:23:46.316 And here's the thing, 0:23:46.316,0:23:48.222 the guy that's having the success - 0:23:48.222,0:23:50.377 "without Me you can do nothing." 0:23:50.377,0:23:52.383 Same truth applies there. 0:23:52.383,0:23:55.317 It's not like he's got a [br]power innate to himself. 0:23:55.317,0:23:58.446 That man is doing what he does 0:23:58.446,0:23:59.880 in reaching a higher plane 0:23:59.880,0:24:02.857 and excelling to a greater degree 0:24:02.857,0:24:06.190 by the power of the Spirit. 0:24:06.190,0:24:08.616 The one who isn't, 0:24:08.616,0:24:12.818 isn't tapping the power of the Spirit. 0:24:12.818,0:24:14.246 Or let's say it this way, 0:24:14.246,0:24:17.863 that's almost impersonal [br]to say it like that. 0:24:17.863,0:24:24.003 It's like tapping a maple tree for [br]maple syrup or something. 0:24:24.003,0:24:27.665 The Person of the Spirit - 0:24:27.665,0:24:30.200 you need to get this - 0:24:30.200,0:24:33.481 the weak person who's fumbling 0:24:33.481,0:24:38.537 and tumbling and tripping and falling - 0:24:38.537,0:24:41.484 the Spirit of God in his life - 0:24:41.484,0:24:47.310 that Spirit; that third [br]Person of the Godhead, 0:24:47.310,0:24:50.097 is the same Person in the life 0:24:50.097,0:24:55.797 of the guy who's walking a very holy life. 0:24:55.797,0:24:58.492 The Spirit in the weak man's life 0:24:58.492,0:25:03.394 is just as powerful over sexual sin 0:25:03.394,0:25:09.165 as the Spirit in the holy man's life. 0:25:09.165,0:25:14.414 Look, what's true about the weak man 0:25:14.414,0:25:18.576 is that the Spirit is not subduing 0:25:18.576,0:25:22.871 that sexual temptation in the same way 0:25:22.871,0:25:24.946 as it's happening in the strong man. 0:25:24.946,0:25:27.764 Why? That's the question on the table. 0:25:27.764,0:25:29.168 Why? 0:25:29.168,0:25:31.945 The weak Christian is indwelt 0:25:31.945,0:25:35.426 by the almighty Spirit of God. 0:25:35.426,0:25:38.743 Listen, the Spirit of God [br]is stronger than sin 0:25:38.743,0:25:40.718 every time, every day, 0:25:40.718,0:25:43.236 always, in every instance, 0:25:43.236,0:25:46.236 no exceptions. 0:25:46.236,0:25:49.763 The Spirit is more powerful than sin 0:25:49.763,0:25:51.447 all the time. 0:25:51.447,0:25:53.940 There is no sexual sin 0:25:53.940,0:25:56.664 that is stronger than the Spirit of God. 0:25:56.664,0:26:00.279 So why the difference? 0:26:00.279,0:26:01.582 The weak Christian, 0:26:01.582,0:26:04.564 if he ever puts to death [br]deeds of the flesh, 0:26:04.564,0:26:06.548 does it by the Spirit. 0:26:06.548,0:26:09.612 If the strong man puts to death 0:26:09.612,0:26:13.154 the deeds of the flesh more, 0:26:13.154,0:26:15.719 it's by the Spirit. 0:26:15.719,0:26:19.734 Same Spirit. Same power. 0:26:19.734,0:26:21.760 The Spirit is a Person. 0:26:21.760,0:26:26.295 The Spirit chooses what He will do, 0:26:26.295,0:26:27.516 how He will do it, 0:26:27.516,0:26:30.479 when He will do it. 0:26:30.479,0:26:35.729 What's happening in the weak man's life? 0:26:35.729,0:26:37.841 You see, this is what we need to get at. 0:26:37.841,0:26:42.050 The Spirit is your best Friend 0:26:42.050,0:26:45.128 in putting to death sexual sin. 0:26:45.128,0:26:46.478 That's the title. 0:26:46.478,0:26:48.663 That's the title of this. 0:26:48.663,0:26:50.914 The Spirit of God is your best Friend 0:26:50.914,0:26:54.943 in putting to death sexual sin. 0:26:54.943,0:26:59.348 So what's the difference? 0:26:59.348,0:27:02.399 I mean, from your knowledge of Scripture, 0:27:02.399,0:27:04.594 does anything jump out at you 0:27:04.594,0:27:11.634 as to why that difference might exist? 0:27:11.634,0:27:12.811 What was that? 0:27:12.811,0:27:14.529 Quenching the Spirit. 0:27:14.529,0:27:20.785 Tim: Oh, brethren... 0:27:20.785,0:27:26.774 Yeah. Let's go there. 0:27:26.774,0:27:29.619 We are told by the same author 0:27:29.619,0:27:32.628 in two different places 0:27:32.628,0:27:34.898 not to grieve the Spirit, 0:27:34.898,0:27:36.739 not to quench the Spirit. 0:27:36.739,0:27:38.193 You know what's interesting 0:27:38.193,0:27:42.140 about both of those passages? 0:27:42.140,0:27:48.497 Paul doesn't explain what he means. 0:27:48.497,0:27:52.548 What do you think is true 0:27:52.548,0:27:56.097 when an author of Scripture 0:27:56.097,0:28:00.557 doesn't explain himself? 0:28:00.557,0:28:03.343 What do you think is a typical assumption 0:28:03.343,0:28:05.741 in the mind of the author 0:28:05.741,0:28:07.705 when he says something like that? 0:28:07.705,0:28:09.927 That the hearers already [br]knew what he meant. 0:28:09.927,0:28:11.839 Tim: Yeah. Exactly. 0:28:11.839,0:28:14.719 That it would be simply understood. 0:28:14.719,0:28:16.453 He doesn't have to get into 0:28:16.453,0:28:17.970 developing this. 0:28:17.970,0:28:21.889 Look, we all know, 0:28:21.889,0:28:23.885 Paul was one to develop an idea 0:28:23.885,0:28:26.080 when it needed to be developed. 0:28:26.080,0:28:31.830 He didn't do that in [br]either of those cases. 0:28:31.830,0:28:35.399 He's really making the assumption: 0:28:35.399,0:28:41.458 we know what does it. 0:28:41.458,0:28:48.543 Let me offer a suggestion here. 0:28:48.543,0:28:55.010 When we are given instruction; 0:28:55.010,0:28:59.516 when we're told to do something, 0:28:59.516,0:29:03.984 you know that Jesus did all that He did 0:29:03.984,0:29:06.453 as a man - 0:29:06.453,0:29:10.405 He did it in the power [br]of the Spirit of God. 0:29:10.405,0:29:12.723 The Spirit of God enabled Him 0:29:12.723,0:29:15.577 to cast out demons. 0:29:15.577,0:29:18.518 The Spirit of God moved Him, 0:29:18.518,0:29:21.971 empowered Him, 0:29:21.971,0:29:23.702 drove Him out into the wilderness 0:29:23.702,0:29:25.098 to be tempted. 0:29:25.098,0:29:28.060 The Spirit of God filled Christ 0:29:28.060,0:29:32.890 without measure. 0:29:32.890,0:29:34.892 When Jesus came along and He healed, 0:29:34.892,0:29:37.421 you think about this. 0:29:37.421,0:29:43.789 Go over there, find that pool, and wash. 0:29:43.789,0:29:47.042 Or He would just say rise up. 0:29:47.042,0:29:51.937 The Spirit was working [br]through Jesus Christ 0:29:51.937,0:29:54.673 to powerfully heal these people. 0:29:54.673,0:29:56.232 But you know what's interesting? 0:29:56.232,0:30:01.207 These people by faith did what was 0:30:01.207,0:30:05.685 absolutely impossible for them [br]to do in their own power. 0:30:05.685,0:30:08.166 Get that. 0:30:08.166,0:30:10.337 It's just as impossible for you 0:30:10.337,0:30:12.685 to overcome sexual temptation 0:30:12.685,0:30:17.735 as it is for a man to go wash in a pool 0:30:17.735,0:30:19.639 and get his sight, 0:30:19.639,0:30:23.201 or to simply get up just because 0:30:23.201,0:30:27.938 Jesus told him to get up. 0:30:27.938,0:30:30.016 How does a man who's got palsy 0:30:30.016,0:30:31.498 and is lame get up? 0:30:31.498,0:30:32.989 How does a man who's been 0:30:32.989,0:30:37.921 for almost 40 years beside this pool - 0:30:37.921,0:30:40.501 how does he just get up? 0:30:40.501,0:30:43.201 Jesus told him to get up and he did. 0:30:43.201,0:30:48.365 Here's the thing.[br]Here's the thing. 0:30:48.365,0:30:53.006 One of the ways you grieve the Spirit; 0:30:53.006,0:30:56.934 one of the ways that you forsake 0:30:56.934,0:31:01.744 the power of the Spirit 0:31:01.744,0:31:04.920 is when you don't strive to do 0:31:04.920,0:31:07.180 what He tells you to do. 0:31:07.180,0:31:09.700 That is so key to living [br]the Christian life. 0:31:09.700,0:31:12.495 It doesn't mean that you [br]have the power to do it, 0:31:12.495,0:31:15.225 any more than that man on the ground 0:31:15.225,0:31:17.933 had power to get up in his own strength. 0:31:17.933,0:31:19.977 But you see, what happened when Jesus 0:31:19.977,0:31:23.991 told him to do it, 0:31:23.991,0:31:29.322 and looking up at Jesus 0:31:29.322,0:31:33.449 and believing, he got up. 0:31:33.449,0:31:34.560 He did it. 0:31:34.560,0:31:36.524 He did the impossible. 0:31:36.524,0:31:38.291 Not in his own strength. 0:31:38.291,0:31:39.875 You see, that is the secret 0:31:39.875,0:31:41.561 to living the Christian life. 0:31:41.561,0:31:43.386 Not so much a secret, 0:31:43.386,0:31:45.906 but it's amazing how often we miss it. 0:31:45.906,0:31:50.670 Brethren, when Scripture [br]says to do things, 0:31:50.670,0:31:54.496 if your first attitude is one of defeat, 0:31:54.496,0:31:57.332 if your first attitude is [br]"I can't do that," 0:31:57.332,0:31:58.887 no, no, no. 0:31:58.887,0:32:00.906 Of course, you can't do that. 0:32:00.906,0:32:03.471 The first step is 0:32:03.471,0:32:09.921 Jesus tells me to pluck out my eye. 0:32:09.921,0:32:12.212 He tells me to do that. 0:32:12.212,0:32:17.729 His representative - 0:32:17.729,0:32:21.815 he talks about putting to death sin 0:32:21.815,0:32:23.182 in the mortal body. 0:32:23.182,0:32:25.088 He talks about not letting sin reign. 0:32:25.088,0:32:27.966 He talks about putting to [br]death what's earthly in me. 0:32:27.966,0:32:32.191 I am being told in Scripture to kill it. 0:32:32.191,0:32:33.688 Now here's what you'll find. 0:32:33.688,0:32:38.184 When you say "I can't." 0:32:38.184,0:32:40.120 It rules me. 0:32:40.120,0:32:41.868 It dominates me. 0:32:41.868,0:32:45.011 I can't. 0:32:45.011,0:32:49.775 You see what's happening right there? 0:32:49.775,0:32:54.939 What you have to lay hold on is this: 0:32:54.939,0:32:57.286 The Spirit of God empowers us 0:32:57.286,0:33:00.103 in our obedience. 0:33:00.103,0:33:04.412 When you are disobedient, 0:33:04.412,0:33:06.330 He doesn't. 0:33:06.330,0:33:08.698 If you think I'm going to lay down 0:33:08.698,0:33:10.568 and not obey Christ, 0:33:10.568,0:33:12.575 and the Spirit of God is going to come in 0:33:12.575,0:33:15.321 and wonderfully saturate with His power 0:33:15.321,0:33:16.814 and I'm going to rise up 0:33:16.814,0:33:18.345 and I'm going to be so strong 0:33:18.345,0:33:20.823 and I'm going to be able to [br]resist every temptation. 0:33:20.823,0:33:23.106 That's not how it happens. 0:33:23.106,0:33:25.883 That isn't obedience. 0:33:25.883,0:33:29.510 Or how about this, 0:33:29.510,0:33:31.493 as far as the commands go with this, 0:33:31.493,0:33:34.767 you are told to flee youthful lusts. 0:33:34.767,0:33:37.370 You are told to run from them. 0:33:37.370,0:33:39.076 You're told to run 0:33:39.076,0:33:40.899 and you're told to attack. 0:33:40.899,0:33:45.025 Cut. Amputate. 0:33:45.025,0:33:48.657 You're called to do some surgery here. 0:33:48.657,0:33:51.237 You're called to eradicate things. 0:33:51.237,0:33:53.421 You're called to flee from things. 0:33:53.421,0:33:56.795 You're called to do battle. 0:33:56.795,0:33:58.794 You're called to put to death. 0:33:58.794,0:34:01.594 You're called to kill. 0:34:01.594,0:34:03.695 And look, when we look at our Lord 0:34:03.695,0:34:07.259 and we say, "Lord, I trust You. 0:34:07.259,0:34:10.123 That if You've told us [br]in Your Word to do this. 0:34:10.123,0:34:13.103 I'm going to trust that there's [br]power in this to do it." 0:34:13.103,0:34:15.556 And even if you fall on your [br]face, you know what? 0:34:15.556,0:34:19.104 You get up again.[br]"Lord, I just fell on my face." 0:34:19.104,0:34:21.012 Maybe it was because you were too proud. 0:34:21.012,0:34:23.079 Maybe it was because [br]He wants to teach you 0:34:23.079,0:34:25.126 all the more how badly you need Him. 0:34:25.126,0:34:26.815 But brethren, I'm telling you this, 0:34:26.815,0:34:28.515 the Holy Spirit is your best Friend 0:34:28.515,0:34:31.106 in putting to death sexual sin. 0:34:31.106,0:34:33.751 You've got to have the Spirit. 0:34:33.751,0:34:39.911 You've got to have Him. 0:34:39.911,0:34:46.906 Let's talk about grieving the Spirit. 0:34:46.906,0:34:49.735 Just not striving to do 0:34:49.735,0:34:51.034 what you're commanded to do 0:34:51.034,0:34:52.091 is one of the ways, 0:34:52.091,0:34:53.991 but how else? 0:34:53.991,0:35:00.199 Brethren, the man who lives 0:35:00.199,0:35:03.256 the most holy life - 0:35:03.256,0:35:05.031 what is a holy life? 0:35:05.031,0:35:08.374 Closely associated with those 0:35:08.374,0:35:13.313 sanctified word group. 0:35:13.313,0:35:17.491 We're sanctified - 0:35:17.491,0:35:19.803 is it 2 Thessalonians 2:13? 0:35:19.803,0:35:25.202 Sanctified by the Spirit. 0:35:25.202,0:35:27.491 You're sanctified by the Spirit. 0:35:27.491,0:35:30.143 The holy man is holy 0:35:30.143,0:35:34.707 by the power of the Spirit. 0:35:34.707,0:35:40.208 That man by that Spirit - 0:35:40.208,0:35:42.849 that Spirit is operating in his life. 0:35:42.849,0:35:44.355 He's putting to death. 0:35:44.355,0:35:47.113 That man is doing the things - 0:35:47.113,0:35:49.455 he's seeking to obey; 0:35:49.455,0:35:53.811 he's seeking to walk in the [br]way (incomplete thought). 0:35:53.811,0:35:55.250 He's mindful. 0:35:55.250,0:35:59.432 He's mindful to make a [br]covenant with his eyes like Job 0:35:59.432,0:36:02.105 and not look where he shouldn't look. 0:36:02.105,0:36:04.672 He's mindful to flee, to run away 0:36:04.672,0:36:11.157 from places that would [br]cause him to stumble. 0:36:11.157,0:36:13.046 He's mindful of that. 0:36:13.046,0:36:15.701 He does that. 0:36:15.701,0:36:21.425 Running. Gouging out. Amputating. 0:36:21.425,0:36:26.190 Look, every one of us, 0:36:26.190,0:36:29.829 that means you have to make 0:36:29.829,0:36:33.258 some radical steps. 0:36:33.258,0:36:36.578 If you're not willing [br]to make radical steps, 0:36:36.578,0:36:38.682 and then you go around all the time 0:36:38.682,0:36:42.058 dismally defeated - 0:36:42.058,0:36:44.301 Oh, woe is me... 0:36:44.301,0:36:45.953 I just can't overcome. 0:36:45.953,0:36:48.388 I'm just not like other people. 0:36:48.388,0:36:50.355 Woe is me. 0:36:50.355,0:36:55.787 Like what's that donkey [br]on Winnie the Pooh? 0:36:55.787,0:36:57.789 Eeyore. 0:36:57.789,0:37:01.730 Brethren, we have to take radical steps. 0:37:01.730,0:37:08.235 But what are other ways that we grieve - 0:37:08.235,0:37:09.703 and you have to put those two: 0:37:09.703,0:37:13.626 quench, quench - you just quench. 0:37:13.626,0:37:16.808 He's this burning, He's this fire. 0:37:16.808,0:37:18.546 There's this heat. 0:37:18.546,0:37:21.890 There's this passion that He encourages 0:37:21.890,0:37:23.682 in our love for God, 0:37:23.682,0:37:25.441 our love for Christ, 0:37:25.441,0:37:27.003 in living a holy life, 0:37:27.003,0:37:29.227 hungering and thirsting [br]after righteousness. 0:37:29.227,0:37:32.901 And you just throw a big [br]bucket of cold water 0:37:32.901,0:37:37.500 on His influences in your life. 0:37:37.500,0:37:39.394 How? 0:37:39.394,0:37:41.098 He doesn't explain it. 0:37:41.098,0:37:46.853 He expects that you full well know. 0:37:46.853,0:37:50.022 What? Look. 0:37:50.022,0:37:53.150 Be honest with me. 0:37:53.150,0:37:57.874 What are the things that at times 0:37:57.874,0:38:00.665 you've allowed into your life 0:38:00.665,0:38:02.315 and you know you shouldn't have? 0:38:02.315,0:38:04.809 Or things you haven't [br]allowed into your life 0:38:04.809,0:38:06.295 that you know you should have? 0:38:06.295,0:38:08.275 What are the things that you've done? 0:38:08.275,0:38:11.398 When are the times [br]your conscience told you 0:38:11.398,0:38:12.876 you've grieved the Spirit? 0:38:12.876,0:38:14.676 What are the things? 0:38:14.676,0:38:17.160 James: One thing I was thinking of 0:38:17.160,0:38:19.885 is when you don't [br]approve what is excellent, 0:38:19.885,0:38:21.759 what's amazing is in Philippians 1 0:38:21.759,0:38:23.804 when Paul says approve what is excellent, 0:38:23.804,0:38:25.652 so you may be pure. 0:38:25.652,0:38:29.156 Meaning, if I don't [br]approve what is excellent, 0:38:29.156,0:38:31.535 that deals with purity and blamelessness, 0:38:31.535,0:38:32.995 and so I know there's times 0:38:32.995,0:38:35.337 I grieve the Holy Spirit not by even 0:38:35.337,0:38:37.699 doing overt sin, but by not approving 0:38:37.699,0:38:39.745 what is most excellent; 0:38:39.745,0:38:41.469 just doing what is good, 0:38:41.469,0:38:43.493 and right there I grieve the Holy Spirit. 0:38:43.493,0:38:45.474 And I start myself on a path 0:38:45.474,0:38:49.589 where I can end up in sin or greater sin. 0:38:49.589,0:38:51.793 Tim: And here's the thing to think about. 0:38:51.793,0:38:57.147 It's like James is saying right there. 0:38:57.147,0:39:00.656 What can happen is 0:39:00.656,0:39:08.828 like I speak in a rough tone to my wife. 0:39:08.828,0:39:12.328 Two things just happened. 0:39:12.328,0:39:15.779 I made provision for the flesh. 0:39:15.779,0:39:19.980 Anybody think of a text [br]that says not to do that? 0:39:19.980,0:39:22.458 Romans 13:14 0:39:22.458,0:39:26.651 I just made provsion for the flesh. 0:39:26.651,0:39:29.811 And I just grieved the Spirit, 0:39:29.811,0:39:32.070 to whatever degree. 0:39:32.070,0:39:34.442 Not everything we do grieves the Spirit 0:39:34.442,0:39:37.709 to the same degree undoubtedly. 0:39:37.709,0:39:41.256 And undoubtedly, if we [br]deal with sin quickly, 0:39:41.256,0:39:45.331 things get healed very well. 0:39:45.331,0:39:48.969 But think about what happens. 0:39:48.969,0:39:53.554 Something in my relationship with my wife 0:39:53.554,0:39:59.019 and then all of a sudden, 0:39:59.019,0:40:02.694 bombarded by a temptation 0:40:02.694,0:40:07.724 in the sexual realm. 0:40:07.724,0:40:12.597 Can there be connections like that? 0:40:12.597,0:40:19.214 The Spirit of God spoke to me. 0:40:19.214,0:40:23.680 I should not have had a [br]second helping of that food. 0:40:23.680,0:40:26.457 I knew it not only was going to 0:40:26.457,0:40:28.854 appear to others to be gluttony around me; 0:40:28.854,0:40:31.425 I just knew I didn't need it.[br]I knew I shouldn't have done that. 0:40:31.425,0:40:33.298 You see, you make a [br]provision for the flesh. 0:40:33.298,0:40:34.436 You grieve the Spirit. 0:40:34.436,0:40:36.382 And then what happens? 0:40:36.382,0:40:40.217 Sin will now get the upper hand. 0:40:40.217,0:40:44.979 Sin as a singular, as a force. 0:40:44.979,0:40:46.373 And so what happens is 0:40:46.373,0:40:49.538 you can suddenly find yourself 0:40:49.538,0:40:53.355 very vulnerable with regards to sexual sin 0:40:53.355,0:40:55.529 when the thing that you did 0:40:55.529,0:40:58.720 wasn't even about that. 0:40:58.720,0:41:01.168 You didn't grieve the [br]Spirit through pornography. 0:41:01.168,0:41:02.529 You didn't grieve the Spirit 0:41:02.529,0:41:04.843 through anything that [br]you were doing like that. 0:41:04.843,0:41:07.686 But it's because you grieved Him 0:41:07.686,0:41:09.856 and now His power in your life 0:41:09.856,0:41:11.706 has subsided. 0:41:11.706,0:41:13.259 It's waned. 0:41:13.259,0:41:16.348 And suddenly, a wave comes over you 0:41:16.348,0:41:19.099 and you are under such temptation, 0:41:19.099,0:41:21.654 or, what's happened is, 0:41:21.654,0:41:23.324 you've tempted the devil. 0:41:23.324,0:41:25.803 And when the Spirit steps back, 0:41:25.803,0:41:27.730 He gives place to the devil 0:41:27.730,0:41:30.314 to do something or to tempt you. 0:41:30.314,0:41:33.105 Listen, the Spirit is not only 0:41:33.105,0:41:34.969 more powerful than sin; 0:41:34.969,0:41:36.780 He's more powerful than the devil. 0:41:36.780,0:41:38.805 Infinitely more! 0:41:38.805,0:41:41.548 He can stop all these things. 0:41:41.548,0:41:44.253 But there's connections. 0:41:44.253,0:41:45.832 You see, there's connections 0:41:45.832,0:41:47.184 with you feeding the flesh. 0:41:47.184,0:41:51.353 There's connections with 0:41:51.353,0:41:53.742 defiling your conscience. 0:41:53.742,0:41:56.219 That Spirit of God knows when you 0:41:56.219,0:41:58.377 defile the conscience. 0:41:58.377,0:41:59.962 You should never do it. 0:41:59.962,0:42:02.730 And it will grieve Him. 0:42:02.730,0:42:04.223 Anybody think of other things 0:42:04.223,0:42:05.944 that tend to grieve the Spirit? 0:42:05.944,0:42:06.746 (from the room) 0:42:06.746,0:42:08.394 Well, I know the verse that says 0:42:08.394,0:42:09.687 to not grieve the Spirit 0:42:09.687,0:42:11.104 Ephesians 4:30, 0:42:11.104,0:42:13.387 the next verse says let all bitterness 0:42:13.387,0:42:15.474 and wrath and anger and clamor 0:42:15.474,0:42:17.135 be put away from you. 0:42:17.135,0:42:18.700 I definitely think bitterness, 0:42:18.700,0:42:20.191 or having harsh affections 0:42:20.191,0:42:21.427 towards another brother 0:42:21.427,0:42:26.178 will grieve the Spirit really quick. 0:42:26.178,0:42:28.229 Tim: Brethren, we need to remember this, 0:42:28.229,0:42:31.194 the Spirit is always stronger 0:42:31.194,0:42:33.588 than sexual sin. 0:42:33.588,0:42:35.826 Always. 0:42:35.826,0:42:38.969 And if you're feeling [br]like you're just being 0:42:38.969,0:42:41.673 thrown around, 0:42:41.673,0:42:44.532 you have to be honest. 0:42:44.532,0:42:48.868 If you're lost, you can grit your teeth, 0:42:48.868,0:42:50.754 and you can try in your own strength 0:42:50.754,0:42:52.999 to do things, but you're [br]going to be defeated 0:42:52.999,0:42:54.336 every time. 0:42:54.336,0:42:56.103 You're just going to be defeated. 0:42:56.103,0:42:59.674 You're going to be defeated. 0:42:59.674,0:43:01.124 But if you're a Christian 0:43:01.124,0:43:04.208 and you've got the Spirit, 0:43:04.208,0:43:07.001 you're going to put that to death. 0:43:07.001,0:43:08.095 And you will do it. 0:43:08.095,0:43:09.791 You will do it. 0:43:09.791,0:43:12.199 It's a given. 0:43:12.199,0:43:15.966 Jesus says that you must do it, 0:43:15.966,0:43:17.188 or you will go to hell. 0:43:17.188,0:43:19.417 That's as much as saying you will do it. 0:43:19.417,0:43:22.129 Listen, everybody who belongs to Christ, 0:43:22.129,0:43:24.389 there is a reality. 0:43:24.389,0:43:29.763 They have crucified the passions, 0:43:29.763,0:43:33.473 the lusts. They have. 0:43:33.473,0:43:34.865 Scripture says that. 0:43:34.865,0:43:36.647 Scripture says sin will not have 0:43:36.647,0:43:38.046 dominion over you. 0:43:38.046,0:43:40.435 Scripture says the path to life - 0:43:40.435,0:43:43.023 putting to death the deeds of the body. 0:43:43.023,0:43:45.038 These are at the front of the line. 0:43:45.038,0:43:47.959 You will do this if you're [br]on the path to life. 0:43:47.959,0:43:49.036 You will. 0:43:49.036,0:43:51.227 Because you do have the Spirit. 0:43:51.227,0:43:53.264 And because the Spirit will make you holy. 0:43:53.264,0:43:54.956 And because if you spend your time 0:43:54.956,0:43:58.111 grieving the Spirit, you're [br]going to spend time 0:43:58.111,0:44:00.586 back in the woodshed too. 0:44:00.586,0:44:02.292 And He's going to see to it. 0:44:02.292,0:44:03.409 I mean, we have this. 0:44:03.409,0:44:04.738 We have this reality. 0:44:04.738,0:44:06.204 He disciplines His children; 0:44:06.204,0:44:07.468 if you're His child. 0:44:07.468,0:44:10.323 But brethren, there are those 0:44:10.323,0:44:12.703 who don't make near as much progress 0:44:12.703,0:44:13.879 in the Christian life. 0:44:13.879,0:44:15.315 There are those who flounder. 0:44:15.315,0:44:16.477 There are those who are 0:44:16.477,0:44:18.212 more Corinthian-like too many times 0:44:18.212,0:44:19.032 in their life. 0:44:19.032,0:44:21.039 There are those who don't get the victory. 0:44:21.039,0:44:22.390 There are those undoubtedly 0:44:22.390,0:44:23.720 in the Christian realm 0:44:23.720,0:44:25.890 who grieve the Spirit, quench the Spirit 0:44:25.890,0:44:28.462 more than other people. 0:44:28.462,0:44:31.354 We don't want to quench the Spirit. 0:44:31.354,0:44:34.517 We want to live in the [br]power of the Spirit. 0:44:34.517,0:44:36.808 Look, the Spirit is a Person. 0:44:36.808,0:44:40.446 He's infinitely strong. 0:44:40.446,0:44:42.391 He's with the child of God. 0:44:42.391,0:44:44.069 Every child of God in this room 0:44:44.069,0:44:47.348 has the Spirit of God indwelling. 0:44:47.348,0:44:49.494 The Spirit of God is with you. 0:44:49.494,0:44:53.504 He is with you and He will be with you 0:44:53.504,0:44:55.668 apparently forever. 0:44:55.668,0:44:57.194 You have this reality. 0:44:57.194,0:44:58.524 And He is a Holy Spirit. 0:44:58.524,0:45:02.867 And He sanctifies His people. 0:45:02.867,0:45:06.783 Well, if you're not having victory, 0:45:06.783,0:45:11.023 it's because He's not [br]giving you the victory. 0:45:11.023,0:45:14.857 So let's search for the reasons. 0:45:14.857,0:45:19.769 Why is the Spirit not giving me victory? 0:45:19.769,0:45:21.626 One thing we've looked at: 0:45:21.626,0:45:27.347 because you're not seeking to do 0:45:27.347,0:45:29.769 what He's telling you to do; 0:45:29.769,0:45:34.896 trusting in His power to do it. 0:45:34.896,0:45:39.795 Or you've got the Spirit grieved. 0:45:39.795,0:45:49.593 What are some other ways [br]we can grieve the Spirit? 0:45:49.593,0:45:54.901 Look. Sin is what grieves the Spirit. 0:45:54.901,0:45:56.791 (incomplete thought) 0:45:56.791,0:45:58.854 James talked about choosing things 0:45:58.854,0:46:04.712 that are excellent. 0:46:04.712,0:46:06.694 Does that mean that if I choose that 0:46:06.694,0:46:09.059 which isn't most excellent, 0:46:09.059,0:46:12.041 that it may grieve the Spirit? 0:46:12.041,0:46:13.567 It may. 0:46:13.567,0:46:14.861 I mean, it may. 0:46:14.861,0:46:17.666 If you're willingly making wrong choices, 0:46:17.666,0:46:20.941 even though that which you're choosing 0:46:20.941,0:46:24.829 it's just way down the line 0:46:24.829,0:46:26.629 in usefulness and profitableness 0:46:26.629,0:46:28.714 in your life... 0:46:28.714,0:46:31.850 Brethren, here's the thing. 0:46:31.850,0:46:33.946 There's undoubtedly some people 0:46:33.946,0:46:39.908 who it's like hearing [br]about Spurgeon's take 0:46:39.908,0:46:42.471 on Robert Chapman. 0:46:42.471,0:46:46.209 How does a man come to be 0:46:46.209,0:46:49.561 the holiest man? 0:46:49.561,0:46:52.508 The most Christ-like man 0:46:52.508,0:46:55.795 that somebody has ever met? 0:46:55.795,0:46:57.423 People who met Lloyd-Jones 0:46:57.423,0:46:59.382 were blown away. 0:46:59.382,0:47:01.819 How does a man get to be like that? 0:47:01.819,0:47:06.101 Same way. Without Christ, he's nothing. 0:47:06.101,0:47:09.553 It's by the Spirit. 0:47:09.553,0:47:11.516 If you want to live in the greatest 0:47:11.516,0:47:16.237 demonstrations of the Spirit of God, 0:47:16.237,0:47:18.239 the people who are going to live most 0:47:18.239,0:47:20.502 in that power, most in that joy, 0:47:20.502,0:47:23.171 most in that realm, 0:47:23.171,0:47:24.758 they're the people who are 0:47:24.758,0:47:28.401 most diligent to walk so carefully 0:47:28.401,0:47:30.970 before Him. 0:47:30.970,0:47:33.421 They don't want to grieve Him. 0:47:33.421,0:47:36.505 They don't want to make a misstep. 0:47:36.505,0:47:41.561 They don't want to [br]settle for the status quo. 0:47:41.561,0:47:44.267 They're trying to reach the excellence. 0:47:44.267,0:47:47.432 They don't want to offend Him. 0:47:47.432,0:47:51.747 They don't want to do that which 0:47:51.747,0:47:55.022 would bring a cloud. 0:47:55.022,0:47:59.941 Now think with me about the Spirit. 0:47:59.941,0:48:04.256 2 Thessalonians 2:13 talks about 0:48:04.256,0:48:06.801 being sanctified by the Spirit. 0:48:06.801,0:48:11.285 I can think of a place there in John 17:17 0:48:11.285,0:48:13.916 that says that we're sanctified 0:48:13.916,0:48:16.978 by the Word. 0:48:16.978,0:48:18.815 Now let me ask you this. 0:48:18.815,0:48:21.799 Are we sanctified by both? 0:48:21.799,0:48:23.490 On the one hand over here, 0:48:23.490,0:48:24.817 when you read Scripture, 0:48:24.817,0:48:26.384 you're sanctified by the Word; 0:48:26.384,0:48:29.249 and then, over here, you're sanctified 0:48:29.249,0:48:31.751 by the Spirit when you do something else? 0:48:31.751,0:48:36.752 Something different? 0:48:36.752,0:48:39.162 Or do you think that perhaps 0:48:39.162,0:48:41.306 the Spirit of God is the one who 0:48:41.306,0:48:43.004 puts to death sin? 0:48:43.004,0:48:44.347 Makes us pure; 0:48:44.347,0:48:48.518 makes us sanctified 0:48:48.518,0:48:51.509 by way of the Scriptures. 0:48:51.509,0:48:54.298 At least one of the ways. 0:48:54.298,0:48:58.719 Yeah. "Sanctify them by Thy truth. 0:48:58.719,0:49:00.082 Thy Word is truth." 0:49:00.082,0:49:02.026 Sanctified by the Holy Spirit. 0:49:02.026,0:49:05.880 It's the Holy Spirit who takes that Word. 0:49:05.880,0:49:09.420 So here's a reality. 0:49:09.420,0:49:11.329 You are not going to live in the power 0:49:11.329,0:49:14.021 of the Spirit - the sanctifying power 0:49:14.021,0:49:17.062 of the Spirit unless you're in the Word. 0:49:17.062,0:49:18.858 Jesus said the Word sanctifies. 0:49:18.858,0:49:20.326 "Sanctify them by Thy Word." 0:49:20.326,0:49:22.559 He's praying to His Father. 0:49:22.559,0:49:23.741 Let me ask you this. 0:49:23.741,0:49:25.635 Do you think that prayer 0:49:25.635,0:49:29.297 is still powerful till this very hour? 0:49:29.297,0:49:32.874 But I can tell you this, 0:49:32.874,0:49:34.610 it's kind of like the man who won't 0:49:34.610,0:49:36.856 try to get up when he's told to get up. 0:49:36.856,0:49:40.142 If you have this book on your shelf 0:49:40.142,0:49:41.865 and it's collecting dust, 0:49:41.865,0:49:45.856 and you're over there struggling 0:49:45.856,0:49:49.250 with sexual immorality, 0:49:49.250,0:49:51.174 if you want to know what the problem is 0:49:51.174,0:49:54.459 go look at yourself in the mirror. 0:49:54.459,0:49:58.334 Look, if you know that Jesus Himself - 0:49:58.334,0:50:00.364 what you have to understand is this: 0:50:00.364,0:50:03.569 Jesus didn't just say 0:50:03.569,0:50:07.125 that we're sanctified by the Word; 0:50:07.125,0:50:11.008 Jesus is actually praying to His Father 0:50:11.008,0:50:14.020 that we would be sanctified by the Word. 0:50:14.020,0:50:15.447 There's a difference. 0:50:15.447,0:50:17.796 The second is better because it expresses 0:50:17.796,0:50:19.297 the truth of the first, 0:50:19.297,0:50:22.076 but it also says that [br]God has been prayed to 0:50:22.076,0:50:24.194 by our Messiah who intercedes all the time 0:50:24.194,0:50:25.148 on our behalf. 0:50:25.148,0:50:27.043 And He's actually prayed that prayer 0:50:27.043,0:50:29.255 that this Word would sanctify us. 0:50:29.255,0:50:31.312 If there's no other reason for you never 0:50:31.312,0:50:33.176 to skip a day to be in this book, 0:50:33.176,0:50:34.597 then it's that. 0:50:34.597,0:50:36.499 You say, are you trying to tell me 0:50:36.499,0:50:38.072 that there's a connection between 0:50:38.072,0:50:41.404 me falling into doing [br]something with that mouse 0:50:41.404,0:50:43.793 with my computer that [br]I shouldn't have done 0:50:43.793,0:50:47.882 and the fact that I didn't read [br]the Scriptures that morning? 0:50:47.882,0:50:51.089 Well, I hope you have [br]the logical abilities 0:50:51.089,0:50:54.527 to recognize the answer to that is yes. 0:50:54.527,0:50:56.374 I hope you can put the pieces together 0:50:56.374,0:51:05.409 and recognize, oh... yeah. 0:51:05.409,0:51:07.987 He prayed that we would [br]be sanctified through it. 0:51:07.987,0:51:15.115 I'm not going to the Word of God. 0:51:15.115,0:51:17.725 Not that you go to it[br]like a magic formula. 0:51:17.725,0:51:20.174 That's not it. 0:51:20.174,0:51:22.479 It's that you go to it 0:51:22.479,0:51:24.717 and you feast on the truth 0:51:24.717,0:51:29.263 and you feast on the Christ. 0:51:29.263,0:51:31.480 Remember - beholding the Lord, 0:51:31.480,0:51:36.149 the Spirit transforms us. 0:51:36.149,0:51:38.752 You see, you go there and you find Him. 0:51:38.752,0:51:40.197 You find the Lord. 0:51:40.197,0:51:43.985 You behold His glory. 0:51:43.985,0:51:47.365 You look at Him and His sexual purity. 0:51:47.365,0:51:50.803 Go there. Hear what He said. 0:51:50.803,0:51:52.694 Trust that if He told you 0:51:52.694,0:51:55.658 to gouge out eyes, 0:51:55.658,0:51:57.889 you can do it. 0:51:57.889,0:51:59.180 You can do it. 0:51:59.180,0:52:01.407 He'll help you do it. 0:52:01.407,0:52:06.256 He sent the Spirit here to help us 0:52:06.256,0:52:08.711 to live that way. 0:52:08.711,0:52:10.442 Anybody think of anything else? 0:52:10.442,0:52:11.681 Any other connections? 0:52:11.681,0:52:13.604 Any other connections you can think of 0:52:13.604,0:52:16.867 in Scripture about the Spirit of God? 0:52:16.867,0:52:20.356 Yeah, John Piper preached a message 0:52:20.356,0:52:23.046 on Romans 8:13 - "By the Spirit, 0:52:23.046,0:52:25.048 we put to death the deeds of the body." 0:52:25.048,0:52:26.314 And he was talking about 0:52:26.314,0:52:28.263 he was looking for Scripture - 0:52:28.263,0:52:30.096 where in Scripture does it say 0:52:30.096,0:52:32.346 that we receive the Holy Spirit? 0:52:32.346,0:52:36.883 And he brought up Galatians 3:2 0:52:36.883,0:52:38.824 which says, "Let me ask only this: 0:52:38.824,0:52:40.938 did you receive the Spirit 0:52:40.938,0:52:42.777 by works of the law? 0:52:42.777,0:52:44.867 Or by hearing with faith?" 0:52:44.867,0:52:47.752 And he brought out it's by hearing 0:52:47.752,0:52:50.751 with faith that we receive the Spirit. 0:52:50.751,0:52:54.125 Tim: Why don't you read [br]the first five verses all together? 0:52:54.125,0:52:55.779 (from the room) Of Galatians 3? 0:52:55.779,0:52:56.922 Tim: Yeah. 0:52:56.922,0:52:57.857 (from the room) 0:52:57.857,0:52:59.223 "Oh foolish Galatians! 0:52:59.223,0:53:00.750 Who has bewitched you? 0:53:00.750,0:53:02.762 It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ 0:53:02.762,0:53:04.229 was publicly portrayed..." 0:53:04.229,0:53:07.219 Tim: Now, see you [br]want to stop right there. 0:53:07.219,0:53:09.931 You see, if you just dive in - 0:53:09.931,0:53:11.393 which isn't wrong - 0:53:11.393,0:53:12.988 I mean, you went to the text 0:53:12.988,0:53:14.199 that Piper dealt with.[br] 0:53:14.199,0:53:17.400 But see, if you dive in where you dove in, 0:53:17.400,0:53:19.344 you know what you get? 0:53:19.344,0:53:21.460 You get the word "faith." 0:53:21.460,0:53:23.122 It's a good word. 0:53:23.122,0:53:24.086 But you know what? 0:53:24.086,0:53:26.424 Sometimes it's a very abstract term. 0:53:26.424,0:53:28.883 You hear "faith" and you miss 0:53:28.883,0:53:30.215 the heart and soul. 0:53:30.215,0:53:35.294 (incomplete thought) 0:53:35.294,0:53:37.902 You don't want to ever miss verse 1. 0:53:37.902,0:53:40.839 Verse 1 is the heart and soul 0:53:40.839,0:53:43.398 of where this faith focuses. 0:53:43.398,0:53:48.209 It is Christ who has been publically 0:53:48.209,0:53:50.369 crucified before you. 0:53:50.369,0:53:52.924 There is power. 0:53:52.924,0:53:57.979 There is power in looking to the cross 0:53:57.979,0:53:59.970 in faith. 0:53:59.970,0:54:02.602 Because brethren, look, 0:54:02.602,0:54:07.726 what that cross does - 0:54:07.726,0:54:10.243 "Blessed are the poor in spirit..." 0:54:10.243,0:54:11.760 When you're in a place 0:54:11.760,0:54:14.947 where you come before the Lord: 0:54:14.947,0:54:22.645 Lord, I can't beat sexual immorality. 0:54:22.645,0:54:26.991 I'm not strong enough. 0:54:26.991,0:54:30.921 But Jesus died on the cross. 0:54:30.921,0:54:33.430 In that death on the cross, 0:54:33.430,0:54:36.530 He unleashed magnificent power. 0:54:36.530,0:54:38.107 Can you think of any other verse? 0:54:38.107,0:54:39.801 I'm thinking of one from Peter. 0:54:39.801,0:54:41.395 Can you think of any other verse 0:54:41.395,0:54:43.057 that talks about the cross 0:54:43.057,0:54:44.634 and righteousness? 0:54:44.634,0:54:46.595 Or the cross and power? 0:54:46.595,0:54:49.585 The cross and producing righteousness? 0:54:49.585,0:54:52.463 Anybody think of any other verses? 0:54:52.463,0:54:55.654 Titus 2:14 - "Who gave Himself for us 0:54:55.654,0:54:58.169 to redeem us from all lawlessness 0:54:58.169,0:55:00.607 and to purify for Himself a people..." 0:55:00.607,0:55:03.645 To purify for Himself a people 0:55:03.645,0:55:05.767 of His own possession. 0:55:05.767,0:55:11.177 I mean, yeah. 0:55:11.177,0:55:13.465 You want to look at the cross. 0:55:13.465,0:55:16.819 Now, keep going. That was just v. 1. 0:55:16.819,0:55:19.865 (Galatians) "Let me ask you this. 0:55:19.865,0:55:21.198 Did you receive the Spirit 0:55:21.198,0:55:23.364 by words of the law or [br]by hearing with faith? 0:55:23.364,0:55:24.950 Tim: Ok. That's in the beginning. 0:55:24.950,0:55:26.699 Did you receive? 0:55:26.699,0:55:28.712 This is when you first received. 0:55:28.712,0:55:31.568 Did that happen by faith or by works? 0:55:31.568,0:55:36.344 Hearing of faith or the works of the law? 0:55:36.344,0:55:37.921 Now, keep going. 0:55:37.921,0:55:41.218 "Are you so foolish? 0:55:41.218,0:55:43.008 Having begun by the Spirit, 0:55:43.008,0:55:45.433 are you now being perfected by the flesh?" 0:55:45.433,0:55:49.457 Tim: Oh, you better stop right there. 0:55:49.457,0:55:51.378 Perfected. 0:55:51.378,0:55:55.461 That's the word we want. 0:55:55.461,0:55:57.176 Do you want to be perfected 0:55:57.176,0:56:00.764 when it comes to sexual immorality? 0:56:00.764,0:56:04.301 You see what he's saying? 0:56:04.301,0:56:08.423 You started the right way. 0:56:08.423,0:56:11.196 Perfected is another way to say 0:56:11.196,0:56:14.119 He's transforming us, 0:56:14.119,0:56:17.356 from glory to glory. 0:56:17.356,0:56:18.449 That's being perfected. 0:56:18.449,0:56:20.384 It's being made like Christ. 0:56:20.384,0:56:26.224 He says you talk about [br]grieving the Spirit? 0:56:26.224,0:56:28.436 You see, he's been [br]talking about the Spirit 0:56:28.436,0:56:29.775 and now in the next verse, 0:56:29.775,0:56:31.961 he's going to come back [br]to the Spirit again. 0:56:31.961,0:56:32.909 Keep going. 0:56:32.909,0:56:35.821 "Did you suffer so many things in vain 0:56:35.821,0:56:38.491 if indeed it was in vain? 0:56:38.491,0:56:40.785 Does He who supplies the Spirit to you 0:56:40.785,0:56:42.746 and works miracles among you 0:56:42.746,0:56:45.194 do so by works of the law 0:56:45.194,0:56:46.682 or by hearing with faith?" 0:56:46.682,0:56:47.702 Now there it is. 0:56:47.702,0:56:52.779 Now it's not received; 0:56:52.779,0:56:56.424 now it's supplied. 0:56:56.424,0:56:58.162 And it's the ongoing working 0:56:58.162,0:57:00.322 of the supernatural in your life. 0:57:00.322,0:57:03.566 You see, he jumped from one to the other. 0:57:03.566,0:57:07.511 And right in the middle, he brought up, 0:57:07.511,0:57:09.744 what are you thinking? 0:57:09.744,0:57:13.528 See, I would say this to all of us. 0:57:13.528,0:57:16.495 If you move away from the cross, 0:57:16.495,0:57:17.892 he would say this to you: 0:57:17.892,0:57:21.323 what are you thinking? 0:57:21.323,0:57:22.314 You know what? 0:57:22.314,0:57:24.696 I don't doubt you can find lots of plans - 0:57:24.696,0:57:27.856 quick ten step plans, you know, 0:57:27.856,0:57:30.576 probably adulterers anonymous 0:57:30.576,0:57:32.117 or something is out there. 0:57:32.117,0:57:35.326 But brethren, there may be a lot 0:57:35.326,0:57:37.418 of quick fix programs 0:57:37.418,0:57:40.414 on the fast path to sexual purity. 0:57:40.414,0:57:43.271 Undoubtedly, there's all [br]sorts of books written 0:57:43.271,0:57:45.140 and there's programs out there. 0:57:45.140,0:57:47.691 People get tempted by these things. 0:57:47.691,0:57:50.411 Come spend $2,000 0:57:50.411,0:57:51.901 and come to this program 0:57:51.901,0:57:53.337 and we'll fix you; 0:57:53.337,0:57:55.278 we'll set you right. 0:57:55.278,0:57:56.770 You know, if somebody simply 0:57:56.770,0:57:58.302 took their Bibles and sat down 0:57:58.302,0:58:01.102 with the first five verses of Galatians 3, 0:58:01.102,0:58:03.196 and they just took time to study those, 0:58:03.196,0:58:05.604 meditate on them before the Lord 0:58:05.604,0:58:06.943 and get on their face, 0:58:06.943,0:58:09.306 and really seek to understand [br]the implications 0:58:09.306,0:58:10.721 of those passages, 0:58:10.721,0:58:13.427 you know where the power is? 0:58:13.427,0:58:15.556 In the Spirit. 0:58:15.556,0:58:17.702 You know how the Spirit is supplied? 0:58:17.702,0:58:19.670 By faith. 0:58:19.670,0:58:24.278 By faith in Him who was [br]held up before them 0:58:24.278,0:58:26.101 as publicly crucified. 0:58:26.101,0:58:27.841 Can I tell you something? 0:58:27.841,0:58:30.687 There is a reason why the Lord's Supper 0:58:30.687,0:58:32.537 is an ongoing ordinance 0:58:32.537,0:58:34.065 in the life of the church. 0:58:34.065,0:58:36.441 It's because God wants us to come back 0:58:36.441,0:58:37.893 to the death of His Son 0:58:37.893,0:58:40.494 over and over and over 0:58:40.494,0:58:42.589 and remember Him. Why? 0:58:42.589,0:58:44.420 Because it is there 0:58:44.420,0:58:48.273 that your very spiritual life exists. 0:58:48.273,0:58:51.930 That is where the price was paid. 0:58:51.930,0:58:54.771 That is where the sin was paid. 0:58:54.771,0:58:58.368 That is where He died on the cross 0:58:58.368,0:59:01.064 to make a people that would be 0:59:01.064,0:59:03.475 pure and righteous and holy 0:59:03.475,0:59:05.658 and people of His own possession. 0:59:05.658,0:59:08.481 That is where the power flows. 0:59:08.481,0:59:13.228 The Spirit supplied as we look. 0:59:13.228,0:59:16.305 What you have to recognize is this: 0:59:16.305,0:59:19.207 Was the Spirit not just as real 0:59:19.207,0:59:21.023 in the lives of these Galatians 0:59:21.023,0:59:23.363 as in Paul himself? 0:59:23.363,0:59:24.855 Yes. 0:59:24.855,0:59:27.235 Why was the Spirit not doing 0:59:27.235,0:59:30.084 what the Spirit could have done 0:59:30.084,0:59:32.147 to perfect the people? 0:59:32.147,0:59:34.519 Because they went about it wrong. 0:59:34.519,0:59:36.120 Undoubtedly, we come back to 0:59:36.120,0:59:37.534 grieving the Spirit. 0:59:37.534,0:59:39.755 But the thing is, 0:59:39.755,0:59:42.671 when we take our eyes off of Christ 0:59:42.671,0:59:45.114 and we seek other gimmicks 0:59:45.114,0:59:48.278 in our seeking to be prefected - 0:59:48.278,0:59:49.915 don't get hung up on that. 0:59:49.915,0:59:51.870 That's Paul's terminology. 0:59:51.870,0:59:53.555 We should be pursuing perfection. 0:59:53.555,0:59:56.260 I'm not saying that Paul is teaching 0:59:56.260,0:59:58.009 we'll find it. 0:59:58.009,1:00:00.532 But I'm saying we should [br]be shooting for it. 1:00:00.532,1:00:01.796 If you should be shooting 1:00:01.796,1:00:03.109 towards Christ-likeness, 1:00:03.109,1:00:06.303 how could it not be perfection? 1:00:06.303,1:00:08.280 That's what He is. 1:00:08.280,1:00:10.387 Should we be seeking to be perfected? 1:00:10.387,1:00:11.643 Yes. 1:00:11.643,1:00:13.457 We should. 1:00:13.457,1:00:14.921 How? 1:00:14.921,1:00:16.395 Well, you see, when you do 1:00:16.395,1:00:19.830 what the Galatians did, 1:00:19.830,1:00:21.844 you know what he has to tell them 1:00:21.844,1:00:26.489 not to do in chapter 5? 1:00:26.489,1:00:28.794 Bite and devour each other. 1:00:28.794,1:00:30.256 Why? 1:00:30.256,1:00:32.800 You see what happens when you try 1:00:32.800,1:00:36.927 to live the Christian life 1:00:36.927,1:00:39.104 and you're not tapping into 1:00:39.104,1:00:41.238 the power of the Spirit? 1:00:41.238,1:00:48.111 Suddenly, carnality, [br]fleshy-ness breaks out 1:00:48.111,1:00:51.322 in their life. 1:00:51.322,1:00:54.833 You say, could it be that I'm struggling 1:00:54.833,1:00:57.338 with sexual sin because I've purposely 1:00:57.338,1:01:02.471 missed the Lord's Supper [br]the last two times? 1:01:02.471,1:01:03.729 Yeah. 1:01:03.729,1:01:05.427 Could it be because I haven't been 1:01:05.427,1:01:07.571 reading in one of the Gospel's 1:01:07.571,1:01:10.960 and actually taking the time 1:01:10.960,1:01:13.402 to behold the Christ there? 1:01:13.402,1:01:14.989 And to see Him? 1:01:14.989,1:01:17.581 And to think on His death? 1:01:17.581,1:01:20.299 Yeah. 1:01:20.299,1:01:22.361 I mean, you see, 1:01:22.361,1:01:25.418 the Spirit is your best Friend. 1:01:25.418,1:01:28.506 But what you want is the Spirit 1:01:28.506,1:01:31.729 in such a condition as He is 1:01:31.729,1:01:34.520 eager to help you be holy. 1:01:34.520,1:01:37.875 And He is moving to make you holy. 1:01:37.875,1:01:40.654 And He is pouring grace upon you. 1:01:40.654,1:01:43.719 And He is infusing power into you. 1:01:43.719,1:01:45.566 That's what you want. 1:01:45.566,1:01:49.350 And that's how you'll be victorious. 1:01:49.350,1:01:51.118 But just because you have the Spirit, 1:01:51.118,1:01:56.371 doesn't mean He's all-out moving 1:01:56.371,1:01:58.956 for you to overcome. 1:01:58.956,1:02:01.290 There's all sorts of ways we can grieve, 1:02:01.290,1:02:03.324 we can quench, we can not use 1:02:03.324,1:02:04.895 the very means, 1:02:04.895,1:02:08.078 we can not seek to appropriate 1:02:08.078,1:02:10.374 the things that the Spirit [br](incomplete thought). 1:02:10.374,1:02:13.305 It's like, you know, 1:02:13.305,1:02:15.755 the Spirit can say to us, 1:02:15.755,1:02:17.833 you know, there's no ink in that pen. 1:02:17.833,1:02:19.906 But you get down there and right with it. 1:02:19.906,1:02:21.224 I'll cause the ink to flow 1:02:21.224,1:02:22.587 once you're writing with it. 1:02:22.587,1:02:25.079 So much of the Christian [br]life is like that, 1:02:25.079,1:02:28.777 where we are being told, 1:02:28.777,1:02:30.784 do the impossible. 1:02:30.784,1:02:32.693 And we're not supposed to look and say 1:02:32.693,1:02:35.440 it's impossible; I'm not going to do it. 1:02:35.440,1:02:38.100 No. This is a life that we walk 1:02:38.100,1:02:41.422 in faith, trusting that God's power 1:02:41.422,1:02:43.392 will flow through us. 1:02:43.392,1:02:46.735 Without Christ, I can't do anything. 1:02:46.735,1:02:49.833 But with Christ strengthening me, 1:02:49.833,1:02:51.653 we can do all things through Christ 1:02:51.653,1:02:54.057 who strengthens me. 1:02:54.057,1:02:55.871 But you see, I can do all things 1:02:55.871,1:02:57.542 through Christ who strengthens me. 1:02:57.542,1:02:59.844 It's not that He's going [br]to do them for me. 1:02:59.844,1:03:03.114 I have to actually set forth. 1:03:03.114,1:03:05.012 I need to step. 1:03:05.012,1:03:07.468 Peter didn't just float on the water. 1:03:07.468,1:03:09.474 Jesus didn't just waft him out 1:03:09.474,1:03:12.920 and he just floated out and sat down 1:03:12.920,1:03:16.932 on the water and stood on it. 1:03:16.932,1:03:19.976 Jesus said, "Come." 1:03:19.976,1:03:21.580 He needed to get up. 1:03:21.580,1:03:24.080 He needed to step out of the boat. 1:03:24.080,1:03:27.166 And then he found, it supported him. 1:03:27.166,1:03:29.504 And then when he took his eyes off Christ? 1:03:29.504,1:03:31.754 You see, Jesus is telling [br]us the same thing 1:03:31.754,1:03:35.444 with regards to sexual sin. 1:03:35.444,1:03:40.013 Here He is out walking the perfect life 1:03:40.013,1:03:42.418 when it comes to purity. 1:03:42.418,1:03:45.260 And He says, "Follow Me." 1:03:45.260,1:03:48.020 "Come on out of that boat." 1:03:48.020,1:03:49.464 And you set your eyes on Him 1:03:49.464,1:03:50.827 and you put your foot out, 1:03:50.827,1:03:52.662 and you still start walking in purity. 1:03:52.662,1:03:54.184 And guess what happens when you 1:03:54.184,1:03:56.538 take your eyes off of Him? 1:03:56.538,1:03:57.724 You sink. 1:03:57.724,1:03:59.685 And then what happens? 1:03:59.685,1:04:01.712 You put your eyes back on Him. 1:04:01.712,1:04:03.913 And He reaches out and [br]He grabs hold of you 1:04:03.913,1:04:06.295 and He takes you back up. 1:04:06.295,1:04:08.433 It's the same. 1:04:08.433,1:04:10.599 It's the same over and over 1:04:10.599,1:04:14.606 throughout the Christian life. 1:04:14.606,1:04:16.519 The Spirit of God. 1:04:16.519,1:04:18.637 Your best friend when it comes to 1:04:18.637,1:04:22.881 putting to death the deeds of the body. 1:04:22.881,1:04:26.930 Any other comments or thoughts on that? 1:04:26.930,1:04:28.598 Father, help us to live 1:04:28.598,1:04:31.529 in the light of these truths 1:04:31.529,1:04:36.530 and the power of these truths. 1:04:36.530,1:04:38.351 We pray in Christ's name, 1:04:38.351,1:04:39.253 Amen.