1 00:00:04,845 --> 00:00:07,618 "I was reading through John 4, 2 00:00:07,618 --> 00:00:09,757 and during Jesus' discourse 3 00:00:09,757 --> 00:00:11,596 with the Samaritan woman 4 00:00:11,596 --> 00:00:13,658 where He says, "he who drinks of this water 5 00:00:13,658 --> 00:00:15,516 will thirst again, but whoever drinks 6 00:00:15,516 --> 00:00:19,533 of the water I will give him will never thirst." 7 00:00:19,533 --> 00:00:21,827 I can read that and believe it 8 00:00:21,827 --> 00:00:24,510 and so clearly affirm it. 9 00:00:24,510 --> 00:00:26,045 I can have a conversation 10 00:00:26,045 --> 00:00:29,062 with another believer about it and its implications 11 00:00:29,062 --> 00:00:32,015 and be stirred up full of desire 12 00:00:32,015 --> 00:00:34,579 to live in such a way where we aren't 13 00:00:34,579 --> 00:00:36,974 drinking from the broken cisterns of the world 14 00:00:36,974 --> 00:00:39,325 and are satisfied in Christ 15 00:00:39,325 --> 00:00:41,917 and the living waters that come only from Him. 16 00:00:41,917 --> 00:00:45,590 But then, I can go home and in a moment 17 00:00:45,590 --> 00:00:48,568 I find myself struggling with temptation 18 00:00:48,568 --> 00:00:52,750 and sin and feeling overwhelmed 19 00:00:52,750 --> 00:00:55,807 even in things that can be so trivial. 20 00:00:55,807 --> 00:00:58,272 My question is about how can a Christian 21 00:00:58,272 --> 00:01:01,913 draw out this transforming power 22 00:01:01,913 --> 00:01:06,154 and strength from the Scriptures?" 23 00:01:06,154 --> 00:01:09,146 He says, "It's one thing to read your Bible, 24 00:01:09,146 --> 00:01:11,465 but it's another thing entirely to lay hold 25 00:01:11,465 --> 00:01:13,416 of a text like that in John 4 26 00:01:13,416 --> 00:01:16,280 and wield it powerfully and draw out strength 27 00:01:16,280 --> 00:01:19,516 in the time of trial and apply it to your life 28 00:01:19,516 --> 00:01:32,893 in such a transforming way." 29 00:01:32,893 --> 00:01:35,203 Tim: What do you say? 30 00:01:35,203 --> 00:01:37,994 I mean, here's the thing, 31 00:01:37,994 --> 00:01:40,753 you get in a conversation with somebody. 32 00:01:40,753 --> 00:01:41,978 You get all excited. 33 00:01:41,978 --> 00:01:44,074 You're talking. 34 00:01:44,074 --> 00:01:46,059 These doctrines - they excite you. 35 00:01:46,059 --> 00:01:48,729 Why do they excite you? 36 00:01:48,729 --> 00:01:50,407 That might be worth asking - 37 00:01:50,407 --> 00:01:52,031 why you get excited. 38 00:01:52,031 --> 00:01:55,009 Is it an intellectual exercise? 39 00:01:55,009 --> 00:02:04,848 Is it that you've learned some new thing? 40 00:02:04,848 --> 00:02:06,923 Then you go home 41 00:02:06,923 --> 00:02:10,075 and you fall into all sorts of temptations. 42 00:02:10,075 --> 00:02:11,975 Now, I might read between the lines, 43 00:02:11,975 --> 00:02:14,007 but I suspect they're sexual temptations 44 00:02:14,007 --> 00:02:18,710 and probably computer-related temptations. 45 00:02:18,710 --> 00:02:21,138 There's failure and there's falls, 46 00:02:21,138 --> 00:02:25,953 and it's like how can this be? 47 00:02:25,953 --> 00:02:28,380 Now you know, I heard a guy one time say - 48 00:02:28,380 --> 00:02:30,501 preacher, old preacher - 49 00:02:30,501 --> 00:02:31,926 what was his name? 50 00:02:31,926 --> 00:02:35,294 He's that guy that preached in Corpus Christi for years. 51 00:02:35,294 --> 00:02:37,679 He was on the radio. 52 00:02:37,679 --> 00:02:39,526 Arminian. 53 00:02:39,526 --> 00:02:41,052 But I heard him say one time - 54 00:02:41,052 --> 00:02:42,727 he'd be on the radio at lunch 55 00:02:42,727 --> 00:02:44,208 when I worked as an engineer. 56 00:02:44,208 --> 00:02:45,904 I heard him say one time, 57 00:02:45,904 --> 00:02:48,846 if a man goes out and he prays 58 00:02:48,846 --> 00:02:51,506 and he comes in and he barks at his wife, 59 00:02:51,506 --> 00:02:59,046 what does it say about his praying? 60 00:02:59,046 --> 00:03:03,187 I guess the same kind of thing. 61 00:03:03,187 --> 00:03:07,752 What do you say if you have a conversation 62 00:03:07,752 --> 00:03:10,765 and you're talking about John 4 63 00:03:10,765 --> 00:03:14,681 and the water - the living water - 64 00:03:14,681 --> 00:03:16,875 and you get all stirred up and you go home 65 00:03:16,875 --> 00:03:19,438 and you watch Internet pornography? 66 00:03:19,438 --> 00:03:20,798 It's kind of the same thing. 67 00:03:20,798 --> 00:03:21,533 (from the room) 68 00:03:21,533 --> 00:03:23,686 It seems like it's selfish. 69 00:03:23,686 --> 00:03:27,997 (unintelligible) 70 00:03:27,997 --> 00:03:30,710 Tim: Like the previous guy said, 71 00:03:30,710 --> 00:03:34,343 there's a disconnect somewhere. 72 00:03:34,343 --> 00:03:41,333 So, what's the magic formula? 73 00:03:41,333 --> 00:03:42,420 Is there one? 74 00:03:42,420 --> 00:03:43,223 (from the room) 75 00:03:43,223 --> 00:03:45,309 Is he praying for power, 76 00:03:45,309 --> 00:03:46,760 for strength from the Lord? 77 00:03:46,760 --> 00:03:48,296 Is he praying for deliverance 78 00:03:48,296 --> 00:03:53,722 and protection from temptation? 79 00:03:53,722 --> 00:03:57,682 Tim: I don't know. 80 00:03:57,682 --> 00:03:59,367 But here's the thing, 81 00:03:59,367 --> 00:04:01,161 let's not complicate this too much. 82 00:04:01,161 --> 00:04:02,781 Were you going to say something? 83 00:04:02,781 --> 00:04:03,567 (from the room) 84 00:04:03,567 --> 00:04:05,307 I was going to say the first thing 85 00:04:05,307 --> 00:04:06,576 that popped in my mind - 86 00:04:06,576 --> 00:04:08,323 the most exciting aspect of his walk 87 00:04:08,323 --> 00:04:10,955 should not be happening outside the doors 88 00:04:10,955 --> 00:04:13,489 with somebody else in a conversation. 89 00:04:13,489 --> 00:04:15,854 But it should be happening in his home 90 00:04:15,854 --> 00:04:18,890 personally with Christ Himself. 91 00:04:18,890 --> 00:04:22,220 And that's what struck me. 92 00:04:22,220 --> 00:04:25,144 Because for me, it's going out of the house. 93 00:04:25,144 --> 00:04:27,510 That's where I encounter the world. 94 00:04:27,510 --> 00:04:30,749 And in the home is where the strength 95 00:04:30,749 --> 00:04:32,537 and the life and the truth 96 00:04:32,537 --> 00:04:37,596 and the foundation should be. 97 00:04:37,596 --> 00:04:42,660 Tim: (incomplete thought) 98 00:04:42,660 --> 00:04:44,849 What is it that gets us stirred up 99 00:04:44,849 --> 00:04:46,288 when we talk to somebody else? 100 00:04:46,288 --> 00:04:48,412 Maybe you're talking to somebody exciting? 101 00:04:48,412 --> 00:04:50,595 Somebody's very exciting to talk to. 102 00:04:50,595 --> 00:04:56,101 They can make it exciting. 103 00:04:56,101 --> 00:04:57,876 But I would just say this, 104 00:04:57,876 --> 00:05:01,293 I don't think we want to make this overly complicated. 105 00:05:01,293 --> 00:05:04,433 You say, what do you mean? 106 00:05:04,433 --> 00:05:11,816 Well, think with me about Scripture. 107 00:05:11,816 --> 00:05:14,337 The psalmist says, 108 00:05:14,337 --> 00:05:18,389 "Thy Word have I hid in my heart, 109 00:05:18,389 --> 00:05:22,029 that I might not sin against You." 110 00:05:22,029 --> 00:05:25,160 What is that assuming? 111 00:05:25,160 --> 00:05:30,739 It's assuming that I have read God's Word 112 00:05:30,739 --> 00:05:34,171 and I have sufficiently meditated on that Word 113 00:05:34,171 --> 00:05:36,362 or memorized that Word 114 00:05:36,362 --> 00:05:45,695 so that I can recall it when its needed. 115 00:05:45,695 --> 00:05:47,752 You know what that's saying? 116 00:05:47,752 --> 00:05:52,186 That's saying that when I'm tempted 117 00:05:52,186 --> 00:05:54,435 to sin against Him, 118 00:05:54,435 --> 00:05:56,082 I have His Word in my heart. 119 00:05:56,082 --> 00:05:58,082 I access it. 120 00:05:58,082 --> 00:06:00,760 And there's something in the truth of that Word 121 00:06:00,760 --> 00:06:04,434 that I have hid in my heart 122 00:06:04,434 --> 00:06:07,273 that when I think on it, 123 00:06:07,273 --> 00:06:10,446 there's such thought processes happening 124 00:06:10,446 --> 00:06:14,957 that I make a conscious decision not to sin 125 00:06:14,957 --> 00:06:18,992 based on that reality from God's Word. 126 00:06:18,992 --> 00:06:20,907 And you see, there's a disconnect here. 127 00:06:20,907 --> 00:06:23,650 Because if I go and talk and get excited 128 00:06:23,650 --> 00:06:26,205 about John 4, 129 00:06:26,205 --> 00:06:29,484 but here I've got the mouse in my hand 130 00:06:29,484 --> 00:06:30,933 or whatever it is, 131 00:06:30,933 --> 00:06:33,078 and now I'm tempted - 132 00:06:33,078 --> 00:06:34,906 do you see where the breakdown is? 133 00:06:34,906 --> 00:06:38,311 If I'm not able to produce the very Word 134 00:06:38,311 --> 00:06:42,324 right at that moment, what's it saying? 135 00:06:42,324 --> 00:06:44,616 What's happening? Where's the disconnect? 136 00:06:44,616 --> 00:06:47,567 Well, I don't sufficiently have that Word 137 00:06:47,567 --> 00:06:51,120 at my disposal. 138 00:06:51,120 --> 00:06:54,057 Or, I don't sufficiently believe that Word 139 00:06:54,057 --> 00:06:57,360 that I have at my disposal. 140 00:06:57,360 --> 00:06:59,177 You see, the truths of God's Word - 141 00:06:59,177 --> 00:07:04,925 they're falling at that point. 142 00:07:04,925 --> 00:07:08,973 You know, I often think - 143 00:07:08,973 --> 00:07:14,026 we're going to get to this - Ephesians 4. 144 00:07:14,026 --> 00:07:16,710 Have you ever thought about just how simplistic it is 145 00:07:16,710 --> 00:07:18,936 for Paul to say, 146 00:07:18,936 --> 00:07:22,424 any of you thieves? 147 00:07:22,424 --> 00:07:24,982 Quit it. 148 00:07:24,982 --> 00:07:29,452 Don't steal anymore. 149 00:07:29,452 --> 00:07:31,966 And he encourages the opposite. 150 00:07:31,966 --> 00:07:33,682 Work with your hands. 151 00:07:33,682 --> 00:07:35,763 Be productive. 152 00:07:35,763 --> 00:07:38,477 Not just so that you can be greedy, 153 00:07:38,477 --> 00:07:41,701 but so that you have something to give 154 00:07:41,701 --> 00:07:44,029 to those who are in need. 155 00:07:44,029 --> 00:07:45,319 But isn't that amazing? 156 00:07:45,319 --> 00:07:50,656 Just stop. 157 00:07:50,656 --> 00:07:54,676 Not: Oh, there's this deep, 158 00:07:54,676 --> 00:07:58,712 mystical formula. 159 00:07:58,712 --> 00:08:02,612 Listen, if you are regularly falling into sin, 160 00:08:02,612 --> 00:08:04,176 the reality is this, 161 00:08:04,176 --> 00:08:06,468 you're not applying God's Word. 162 00:08:06,468 --> 00:08:08,117 You either don't know it, 163 00:08:08,117 --> 00:08:14,200 you know it and don't believe it, 164 00:08:14,200 --> 00:08:18,089 or you know it and you believe it, 165 00:08:18,089 --> 00:08:22,053 but you willfully are choosing sin over that. 166 00:08:22,053 --> 00:08:26,165 I mean, that's what's happening. 167 00:08:26,165 --> 00:08:31,975 It's not a super-complicated formula. 168 00:08:31,975 --> 00:08:35,149 Think about this. 169 00:08:35,149 --> 00:08:40,245 I did a series on self-cleansing 170 00:08:40,245 --> 00:08:41,823 several years back. 171 00:08:41,823 --> 00:08:43,401 It primarily came from this text 172 00:08:43,401 --> 00:08:46,987 out of 2 Corinthians 7:1. 173 00:08:46,987 --> 00:08:50,921 It's interesting at the end of 1 Corinthians 6, 174 00:08:50,921 --> 00:08:54,434 Paul is giving these promises. 175 00:08:54,434 --> 00:08:56,691 Just promises about God being our Father; 176 00:08:56,691 --> 00:08:58,123 we belong to Him. 177 00:08:58,123 --> 00:08:59,778 And he says this, 178 00:08:59,778 --> 00:09:02,735 "Since we have these promises, 179 00:09:02,735 --> 00:09:04,462 let us cleanse ourselves 180 00:09:04,462 --> 00:09:06,778 from every defilement of body and spirit, 181 00:09:06,778 --> 00:09:09,551 bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God." 182 00:09:09,551 --> 00:09:10,701 Now think with me there. 183 00:09:10,701 --> 00:09:12,393 What's Paul saying? 184 00:09:12,393 --> 00:09:15,358 You ought to be able to think 185 00:09:15,358 --> 00:09:21,461 on the promises of Scripture, 186 00:09:21,461 --> 00:09:27,977 and not fall into defiling activities. 187 00:09:27,977 --> 00:09:30,834 What does Scripture say? 188 00:09:30,834 --> 00:09:35,738 We are to be renewing our minds. 189 00:09:35,738 --> 00:09:38,414 And what are we doing as we're renewing our minds? 190 00:09:38,414 --> 00:09:40,419 We're figuring out what God's will is. 191 00:09:40,419 --> 00:09:44,390 You know, you come to Scripture. 192 00:09:44,390 --> 00:09:47,566 You find out what God's will is 193 00:09:47,566 --> 00:09:50,658 and you do it. 194 00:09:50,658 --> 00:09:54,292 And the thing is, as a Christian, 195 00:09:54,292 --> 00:09:57,031 we hunger and thirst after righteousness. 196 00:09:57,031 --> 00:09:58,614 There is a hunger. 197 00:09:58,614 --> 00:10:00,275 There is a hunger to do His will. 198 00:10:00,275 --> 00:10:01,808 There's a hunger to please Him. 199 00:10:01,808 --> 00:10:05,426 There's a hunger after what's good and righteous. 200 00:10:05,426 --> 00:10:10,570 And so, there's a huge disconnect 201 00:10:10,570 --> 00:10:16,964 if we find that in the moment of temptation, 202 00:10:16,964 --> 00:10:20,147 God's Word just isn't there. 203 00:10:20,147 --> 00:10:23,506 My mind doesn't go to it. 204 00:10:23,506 --> 00:10:25,982 You know, if you get there in front of the computer, 205 00:10:25,982 --> 00:10:26,978 and it's just like: 206 00:10:26,978 --> 00:10:30,801 Nope, I don't even want to think about it. I don't want to think about this. 207 00:10:30,801 --> 00:10:33,255 I don't want to think about what God says. 208 00:10:33,255 --> 00:10:35,810 See, that's not how I live my life. 209 00:10:35,810 --> 00:10:37,150 I'm studying the Word 210 00:10:37,150 --> 00:10:38,742 not just so I can get lathered up 211 00:10:38,742 --> 00:10:42,302 and all excited when I'm talking to you about it. 212 00:10:42,302 --> 00:10:45,933 I'm reading it and I'm trying to hide it away 213 00:10:45,933 --> 00:10:48,197 in my mind, in my conscience, 214 00:10:48,197 --> 00:10:50,370 so that as I'm going through life 215 00:10:50,370 --> 00:10:51,471 and there's something, 216 00:10:51,471 --> 00:10:53,110 I'm trying to evaluate everything 217 00:10:53,110 --> 00:10:55,553 through the filter of God's Word. 218 00:10:55,553 --> 00:10:57,723 And it's like: God doesn't like this. 219 00:10:57,723 --> 00:10:59,104 And this will not go well. 220 00:10:59,104 --> 00:11:00,704 And this will grieve the Spirit. 221 00:11:00,704 --> 00:11:02,030 And I will suffer for it. 222 00:11:02,030 --> 00:11:06,674 This is not good. 223 00:11:06,674 --> 00:11:08,588 You know, you convince yourself of that, 224 00:11:08,588 --> 00:11:11,344 that this is not good. 225 00:11:11,344 --> 00:11:13,346 I was just talking to a brother 226 00:11:13,346 --> 00:11:15,264 right before our study tonight, 227 00:11:15,264 --> 00:11:16,572 and he was telling me, 228 00:11:16,572 --> 00:11:18,834 you know I've been in some hard places. 229 00:11:18,834 --> 00:11:20,815 And he said there was a point in his life 230 00:11:20,815 --> 00:11:22,182 when he fell and he said 231 00:11:22,182 --> 00:11:24,466 there was just such darkness. 232 00:11:24,466 --> 00:11:27,162 And he said it was a battle. 233 00:11:27,162 --> 00:11:29,932 He talked about scratching and clawing 234 00:11:29,932 --> 00:11:32,546 to get his way out of that darkness. 235 00:11:32,546 --> 00:11:35,752 And he said he's in the light now. 236 00:11:35,752 --> 00:11:37,940 And he said he feels closer to God 237 00:11:37,940 --> 00:11:39,286 than he's ever felt, 238 00:11:39,286 --> 00:11:41,215 and the last thing he would want to do 239 00:11:41,215 --> 00:11:42,909 is go down that road into sin 240 00:11:42,909 --> 00:11:44,673 that would in any way harm that 241 00:11:44,673 --> 00:11:45,764 or take it away. 242 00:11:45,764 --> 00:11:52,571 And see, if these realities of Scripture: 243 00:11:52,571 --> 00:11:56,964 don't grieve the Spirit. 244 00:11:56,964 --> 00:11:58,476 You've been sealed by Him. 245 00:11:58,476 --> 00:12:00,040 Don't grieve Him. 246 00:12:00,040 --> 00:12:01,469 If you recognize, 247 00:12:01,469 --> 00:12:03,177 my sin is going to grieve the Lord. 248 00:12:03,177 --> 00:12:06,062 My sin is going to take me out of fellowship with the Lord. 249 00:12:06,062 --> 00:12:08,517 My sin is going to impact my prayer life. 250 00:12:08,517 --> 00:12:11,173 My sin - it's going to hold me back. 251 00:12:11,173 --> 00:12:12,957 It's going to weigh me down. 252 00:12:12,957 --> 00:12:15,364 It's going to make me less productive. 253 00:12:15,364 --> 00:12:17,142 I'm not going to be the vessel 254 00:12:17,142 --> 00:12:19,505 fit for the Master's use. 255 00:12:19,505 --> 00:12:21,419 It's going to pollute me. 256 00:12:21,419 --> 00:12:23,293 It's a defilement. 257 00:12:23,293 --> 00:12:25,468 Sin never does good. 258 00:12:25,468 --> 00:12:27,817 It never helps you. It never makes you better. 259 00:12:27,817 --> 00:12:29,401 It doesn't. 260 00:12:29,401 --> 00:12:30,862 It doesn't make you stronger. 261 00:12:30,862 --> 00:12:32,357 It doesn't make you run better. 262 00:12:32,357 --> 00:12:34,179 It doesn't make you more Christlike. 263 00:12:34,179 --> 00:12:36,749 It isn't. It's bad all the time. 264 00:12:36,749 --> 00:12:38,910 And if you've got enough Scripture 265 00:12:38,910 --> 00:12:40,520 packed away in your heart 266 00:12:40,520 --> 00:12:41,978 that you know that's true 267 00:12:41,978 --> 00:12:43,723 and you're confronted by that 268 00:12:43,723 --> 00:12:46,321 when you're making decisions - 269 00:12:46,321 --> 00:12:49,092 I recognize sometimes we're grabbed immediately 270 00:12:49,092 --> 00:12:50,502 by temptations, 271 00:12:50,502 --> 00:12:53,479 and we get swept away. 272 00:12:53,479 --> 00:12:57,577 I recognize those kind of things happen. 273 00:12:57,577 --> 00:13:00,236 Scripture says in Psalm 37, 274 00:13:00,236 --> 00:13:03,276 "The law of his God is in his heart. 275 00:13:03,276 --> 00:13:06,624 His steps do not slip." 276 00:13:06,624 --> 00:13:09,008 Why? Because the law's in his heart. 277 00:13:09,008 --> 00:13:23,030 It gives firmness to your step. 278 00:13:23,030 --> 00:13:26,339 I guess before I move on to the last one 279 00:13:26,339 --> 00:13:28,884 if I even get there, I would just say this. 280 00:13:28,884 --> 00:13:31,211 One of the thoughts that just came 281 00:13:31,211 --> 00:13:32,429 when I was thinking: 282 00:13:32,429 --> 00:13:35,976 what do you say to somebody like this? 283 00:13:35,976 --> 00:13:39,800 I got to thinking about the devil. 284 00:13:39,800 --> 00:13:45,908 We know that the devil snatches the seed. 285 00:13:45,908 --> 00:13:54,374 And look, the devil is a seed-snatcher. 286 00:13:54,374 --> 00:13:57,061 And he will seek to snatch it from the true Christian 287 00:13:57,061 --> 00:14:00,984 just as well as from the lost person. 288 00:14:00,984 --> 00:14:02,680 And I would say this, 289 00:14:02,680 --> 00:14:08,382 don't lose the Word of God. 290 00:14:08,382 --> 00:14:11,967 Don't go sit and read 291 00:14:11,967 --> 00:14:15,331 three chapters out of your Bible 292 00:14:15,331 --> 00:14:17,593 and then listen to garbage music, 293 00:14:17,593 --> 00:14:19,539 garbage TV, 294 00:14:19,539 --> 00:14:22,539 garbage Internet use, 295 00:14:22,539 --> 00:14:26,055 and social media - 296 00:14:26,055 --> 00:14:30,039 don't do that. 297 00:14:30,039 --> 00:14:32,452 It's like taking a bunch of seed 298 00:14:32,452 --> 00:14:35,084 and you've just thrown it there, 299 00:14:35,084 --> 00:14:37,861 and you want to see fruit come from it, 300 00:14:37,861 --> 00:14:39,616 and you purposely walk out 301 00:14:39,616 --> 00:14:41,587 to where all the ravens are. 302 00:14:41,587 --> 00:14:44,642 Just like daring them to take it all away. 303 00:14:44,642 --> 00:14:46,994 Don't do that. 304 00:14:46,994 --> 00:14:49,702 I mean, you hear the Word of God preached, 305 00:14:49,702 --> 00:14:51,284 I know - our church breaks out 306 00:14:51,284 --> 00:14:53,246 into immediate fellowship, 307 00:14:53,246 --> 00:14:55,823 but there can be a place to get out, 308 00:14:55,823 --> 00:14:57,935 get away. 309 00:14:57,935 --> 00:15:00,087 I mean, I felt that at the conference 310 00:15:00,087 --> 00:15:01,842 when Geoffrey Thomas preached. 311 00:15:01,842 --> 00:15:04,763 I just wanted to run away 312 00:15:04,763 --> 00:15:06,582 and just go be alone. 313 00:15:06,582 --> 00:15:09,880 Why? You just want it to soak in. 314 00:15:09,880 --> 00:15:15,196 I mean, don't throw away the Word of God. 315 00:15:15,196 --> 00:15:16,811 We're trying to cleanse. 316 00:15:16,811 --> 00:15:19,453 It's kind of like taking soap and water, 317 00:15:19,453 --> 00:15:22,243 and you're trying to clean something, 318 00:15:22,243 --> 00:15:27,615 and then throw a bunch of mud on it. 319 00:15:27,615 --> 00:15:30,278 It's counterproductive. 320 00:15:30,278 --> 00:15:31,933 Don't do that. 321 00:15:31,933 --> 00:15:36,734 If you're going to hide Scripture, 322 00:15:36,734 --> 00:15:38,453 do it effectually. 323 00:15:38,453 --> 00:15:43,996 Do it in such a way that it's readily retained 324 00:15:43,996 --> 00:15:47,816 and readily accessible. 325 00:15:47,816 --> 00:15:52,352 (Incomplete thought) 326 00:15:52,352 --> 00:15:56,654 Don't compartmentalize your life. 327 00:15:56,654 --> 00:15:59,065 What do I mean by that? 328 00:15:59,065 --> 00:16:04,788 Well, I've got to read my Bible. 329 00:16:04,788 --> 00:16:07,055 But now, okay, I'm done with that. 330 00:16:07,055 --> 00:16:08,669 It's kind of like the person 331 00:16:08,669 --> 00:16:10,645 that just splits up their week. 332 00:16:10,645 --> 00:16:14,957 Sunday mornings - religious. 333 00:16:14,957 --> 00:16:17,077 The rest of the week, I'm a pagan. 334 00:16:17,077 --> 00:16:19,727 But see, we can divide our days up like that too. 335 00:16:19,727 --> 00:16:22,120 We've got our little segment of prayer there, 336 00:16:22,120 --> 00:16:23,670 and we've got our Bible reading. 337 00:16:23,670 --> 00:16:25,020 We've got that done. 338 00:16:25,020 --> 00:16:28,277 Now I can go gossip with the people at work. 339 00:16:28,277 --> 00:16:31,569 Don't do that. 340 00:16:31,569 --> 00:16:35,166 Listen, we're Christians. 341 00:16:35,166 --> 00:16:38,752 Live Christian lives 24/7. 342 00:16:38,752 --> 00:16:42,168 Let Scripture permeate 24/7. 343 00:16:42,168 --> 00:16:43,811 Don't shut down. 344 00:16:43,811 --> 00:16:46,605 If you're using your Christian liberty 345 00:16:46,605 --> 00:16:50,989 and it's like yeah, I feel like 346 00:16:50,989 --> 00:16:54,438 I can take rest and I can camp out 347 00:16:54,438 --> 00:16:56,013 with my family, and I can watch 348 00:16:56,013 --> 00:16:58,210 Little House on the Prairie - 349 00:16:58,210 --> 00:17:00,000 I only say that because my daughters 350 00:17:00,000 --> 00:17:02,177 had that on last night. 351 00:17:02,177 --> 00:17:06,066 I mean, look, assess it. 352 00:17:06,066 --> 00:17:10,024 After you watch three shows 353 00:17:10,024 --> 00:17:13,324 of Little House on the Prairie, 354 00:17:13,324 --> 00:17:16,432 are you messed up? 355 00:17:16,432 --> 00:17:20,362 Does it pollute you? 356 00:17:20,362 --> 00:17:22,746 Then don't do it. 357 00:17:22,746 --> 00:17:24,939 I mean think, think, think. 358 00:17:24,939 --> 00:17:26,896 We're to be renewing our minds. 359 00:17:26,896 --> 00:17:28,067 What is God's will? 360 00:17:28,067 --> 00:17:29,877 Run everything through that filter. 361 00:17:29,877 --> 00:17:32,806 Through God's will; through God's will; through God's will. 362 00:17:32,806 --> 00:17:34,256 What's pulling me away? 363 00:17:34,256 --> 00:17:35,938 What grabs my heart? 364 00:17:35,938 --> 00:17:37,635 So that my mind goes off it? 365 00:17:37,635 --> 00:17:38,829 What are the idols? 366 00:17:38,829 --> 00:17:40,892 What are the things in life? 367 00:17:40,892 --> 00:17:42,698 You know, somebody could watch 368 00:17:42,698 --> 00:17:45,510 a football game, and it's like, 369 00:17:45,510 --> 00:17:47,629 they're thinking about the Lord through it. 370 00:17:47,629 --> 00:17:49,949 Now they might focus on the game a little bit, 371 00:17:49,949 --> 00:17:51,531 but they're feeling like 372 00:17:51,531 --> 00:17:53,211 I need to go outside and pray. 373 00:17:53,211 --> 00:17:54,229 There's some people: 374 00:17:54,229 --> 00:17:56,115 how could you ever go outside and pray 375 00:17:56,115 --> 00:17:57,600 during a football game? 376 00:17:57,600 --> 00:18:00,599 What? Are you crazy? 377 00:18:00,599 --> 00:18:02,386 You're so excited. You're so into it. 378 00:18:02,386 --> 00:18:03,932 And then all you can think about 379 00:18:03,932 --> 00:18:07,156 is football stats and everything for the next week. 380 00:18:07,156 --> 00:18:09,750 You need to stop. 381 00:18:09,750 --> 00:18:13,556 Listen, Paul said, we've got liberty, 382 00:18:13,556 --> 00:18:15,504 but you don't let anything bring you 383 00:18:15,504 --> 00:18:16,659 under its power. 384 00:18:16,659 --> 00:18:19,101 You need to live your life that way. 385 00:18:19,101 --> 00:18:21,275 If you're living your life where it's like 386 00:18:21,275 --> 00:18:23,253 all you can think about is - 387 00:18:23,253 --> 00:18:25,387 whatever it is, put it in there, 388 00:18:25,387 --> 00:18:28,551 but if it's distracting, 389 00:18:28,551 --> 00:18:31,489 we need to live - 390 00:18:31,489 --> 00:18:33,131 and it doesn't mean 391 00:18:33,131 --> 00:18:34,536 that every song you listen to 392 00:18:34,536 --> 00:18:37,662 has to be specifically be the Christian song. 393 00:18:37,662 --> 00:18:40,367 But, it certainly doesn't hurt 394 00:18:40,367 --> 00:18:42,305 if you're singing Christian songs 395 00:18:42,305 --> 00:18:43,466 all through the day, 396 00:18:43,466 --> 00:18:47,340 and you're reciting biblical truths. 397 00:18:47,340 --> 00:18:49,840 Look, the more you can permeate your mind - 398 00:18:49,840 --> 00:18:52,406 I recognize, we don't read and we don't pray 399 00:18:52,406 --> 00:18:54,492 every hour of our waking day. 400 00:18:54,492 --> 00:18:56,452 I recognize we have lives to live 401 00:18:56,452 --> 00:18:57,985 where we have to work 402 00:18:57,985 --> 00:18:59,499 and we go to school 403 00:18:59,499 --> 00:19:02,136 and we shop and we get gas. 404 00:19:02,136 --> 00:19:03,571 I recognize that. 405 00:19:03,571 --> 00:19:06,450 But listen, if you're storing up 406 00:19:06,450 --> 00:19:08,955 and treasuring that Word in your heart, 407 00:19:08,955 --> 00:19:11,277 it's there when you're at the gas station. 408 00:19:11,277 --> 00:19:12,524 It's there at HEB, 409 00:19:12,524 --> 00:19:14,287 and it's there in the classroom. 410 00:19:14,287 --> 00:19:15,634 It's there in the workplace, 411 00:19:15,634 --> 00:19:18,494 and it's there at home when you're taking care of the kids. 412 00:19:18,494 --> 00:19:20,212 And it's there and it's permeating, 413 00:19:20,212 --> 00:19:23,202 and it's regulating, and it's guiding. 414 00:19:23,202 --> 00:19:25,761 The Word is a lamp unto my feet. 415 00:19:25,761 --> 00:19:27,092 You imagine walking around, 416 00:19:27,092 --> 00:19:28,591 pitch black outside. 417 00:19:28,591 --> 00:19:30,051 A lamp to your feet - 418 00:19:30,051 --> 00:19:31,369 it means I can see. 419 00:19:31,369 --> 00:19:33,922 I can see where I should put my next step. 420 00:19:33,922 --> 00:19:35,699 Notice it's a lamp to your feet, 421 00:19:35,699 --> 00:19:37,121 not just a lamp to your eyes; 422 00:19:37,121 --> 00:19:38,537 not just a lamp to your body. 423 00:19:38,537 --> 00:19:40,780 It's a lamp for your feet. What does that mean? 424 00:19:40,780 --> 00:19:42,216 It's showing you the ground - 425 00:19:42,216 --> 00:19:45,085 where to step, where to avoid. 426 00:19:45,085 --> 00:19:46,716 Fill your heads with it. 427 00:19:46,716 --> 00:19:48,321 Fill your minds with it. 428 00:19:48,321 --> 00:19:50,615 Don't just put it on the walls 429 00:19:50,615 --> 00:19:52,990 because that's the thing to do. 430 00:19:52,990 --> 00:19:55,491 Memorize it. 431 00:19:55,491 --> 00:19:57,809 Hide it. 432 00:19:57,809 --> 00:19:58,611 (From the room) 433 00:19:58,611 --> 00:20:01,171 Brother, can I read this verse in Job? 434 00:20:01,171 --> 00:20:05,712 In Job 23:11-12, Job says, 435 00:20:05,712 --> 00:20:08,661 "My foot has held fast to His steps. 436 00:20:08,661 --> 00:20:12,434 I have kept His way and have not turned aside. 437 00:20:12,434 --> 00:20:13,645 I have not departed 438 00:20:13,645 --> 00:20:16,012 from the commandments of His lips. 439 00:20:16,012 --> 00:20:17,933 I have treasured the words of His mouth 440 00:20:17,933 --> 00:20:21,612 more than my portion of food." 441 00:20:21,612 --> 00:20:25,449 Tim: Yep, and you have the New Testament version, 442 00:20:25,449 --> 00:20:27,310 "Man shall not live by bread alone..." 443 00:20:27,310 --> 00:20:29,626 Well, actually that comes from the Old as well, 444 00:20:29,626 --> 00:20:31,740 but it's recited by our Lord 445 00:20:31,740 --> 00:20:35,013 in His temptation. 446 00:20:35,013 --> 00:20:36,775 Man doesn't live by bread alone, 447 00:20:36,775 --> 00:20:39,396 but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. 448 00:20:39,396 --> 00:20:40,242 Remember that. 449 00:20:40,242 --> 00:20:42,841 The thing is Scripture is putting 450 00:20:42,841 --> 00:20:47,242 the Word of God in a more important category 451 00:20:47,242 --> 00:20:51,519 than food. 452 00:20:51,519 --> 00:20:53,932 We don't do well without food. 453 00:20:53,932 --> 00:20:55,790 We're constantly thinking about it. 454 00:20:55,790 --> 00:20:57,743 We need it. 455 00:20:57,743 --> 00:21:00,140 The thing that you don't want to do - 456 00:21:00,140 --> 00:21:05,078 what is it that kills physical appetite? 457 00:21:05,078 --> 00:21:06,926 Have you ever had times in your life 458 00:21:06,926 --> 00:21:09,433 when you're not hungry? 459 00:21:09,433 --> 00:21:13,806 Never? 460 00:21:13,806 --> 00:21:16,160 I mean you get sick? 461 00:21:16,160 --> 00:21:17,675 You know if you have a child 462 00:21:17,675 --> 00:21:20,070 and they're not hungry, that's bad. 463 00:21:20,070 --> 00:21:22,230 Like just recently this family, 464 00:21:22,230 --> 00:21:24,036 their little Abigail - 465 00:21:24,036 --> 00:21:26,090 she was in bad shape. 466 00:21:26,090 --> 00:21:29,565 They had her in ICU and transfusions. 467 00:21:29,565 --> 00:21:32,639 She wouldn't eat. 468 00:21:32,639 --> 00:21:35,349 But you know, that's not healthy. 469 00:21:35,349 --> 00:21:37,919 And when you get Christians and they don't eat, 470 00:21:37,919 --> 00:21:39,635 that's bad. 471 00:21:39,635 --> 00:21:43,443 That's your sustenance. That's your life. 472 00:21:43,443 --> 00:21:46,334 The Word. 473 00:21:46,334 --> 00:21:49,168 The Word. 474 00:21:49,168 --> 00:21:52,420 We had a sister here beforehand, 475 00:21:52,420 --> 00:21:54,766 she was talking about coming to our church, 476 00:21:54,766 --> 00:21:56,281 or coming to the conference, 477 00:21:56,281 --> 00:21:57,638 and she was making comments 478 00:21:57,638 --> 00:22:02,502 about how Scripture seems to be the focus. 479 00:22:02,502 --> 00:22:04,037 It's got to be. 480 00:22:04,037 --> 00:22:05,928 It's our only source of truth. 481 00:22:05,928 --> 00:22:08,166 There's no other source of truth in this world. 482 00:22:08,166 --> 00:22:09,414 This is it. 483 00:22:09,414 --> 00:22:11,402 God has given us one place. 484 00:22:11,402 --> 00:22:14,365 This is the only place we know for certain that's true. 485 00:22:14,365 --> 00:22:16,778 Even the stacks of books and stuff - 486 00:22:16,778 --> 00:22:18,750 yeah, they're written about the Bible, 487 00:22:18,750 --> 00:22:20,985 but you don't know if they're always right 488 00:22:20,985 --> 00:22:23,737 and the way men are interpreting it is always right. 489 00:22:23,737 --> 00:22:30,564 But here, we have a sure foundation. 490 00:22:30,564 --> 00:22:33,573 I mean, look, this is a treasure. 491 00:22:33,573 --> 00:22:36,701 People have died over it. 492 00:22:36,701 --> 00:22:39,579 Tyndale - his blood ran 493 00:22:39,579 --> 00:22:44,412 for trying to put this in our language. 494 00:22:44,412 --> 00:22:46,160 Many people have given their life 495 00:22:46,160 --> 00:22:47,315 for this book. 496 00:22:47,315 --> 00:22:48,830 There's no more precious book 497 00:22:48,830 --> 00:22:50,465 because of the truths held in it. 498 00:22:50,465 --> 00:22:55,749 These are the truths of life. 499 00:22:55,749 --> 00:22:57,850 There's places in the world 500 00:22:57,850 --> 00:22:59,526 where they have one Bible 501 00:22:59,526 --> 00:23:02,953 or a part of one Bible for a whole church. 502 00:23:02,953 --> 00:23:06,422 Most of you probably have multiple Bibles in your home. 503 00:23:06,422 --> 00:23:10,956 Don't take this for granted. 504 00:23:10,956 --> 00:23:14,493 Well, I think we'll call it a night right there. 505 00:23:14,493 --> 00:23:17,214 Let's pray. 506 00:23:17,214 --> 00:23:24,533 Father, we thank You that You've given us the Word. 507 00:23:24,533 --> 00:23:26,220 Lord, help us. Help us. 508 00:23:26,220 --> 00:23:28,409 We never want to take it for granted. 509 00:23:28,409 --> 00:23:29,637 Lord, open it up. 510 00:23:29,637 --> 00:23:31,662 May it become more alive, 511 00:23:31,662 --> 00:23:35,663 more real, more gripping. 512 00:23:35,663 --> 00:23:38,055 Lord, give us eyes to see. 513 00:23:38,055 --> 00:23:43,072 Give us hearts to dig. 514 00:23:43,072 --> 00:23:47,098 I pray for these brothers and sisters in this room 515 00:23:47,098 --> 00:23:48,271 that they would hide 516 00:23:48,271 --> 00:23:50,130 and continue to hide the Word of God 517 00:23:50,130 --> 00:23:51,964 in their hearts; 518 00:23:51,964 --> 00:23:53,726 that they would not be hearers only, 519 00:23:53,726 --> 00:23:55,751 but doers. 520 00:23:55,751 --> 00:24:00,083 Hearers and doers. 521 00:24:00,083 --> 00:24:05,733 Lest they deceive themselves. 522 00:24:05,733 --> 00:24:07,649 Lord, we thank You for this treasure 523 00:24:07,649 --> 00:24:09,064 that You've committed to us. 524 00:24:09,064 --> 00:24:11,715 We thank You in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 525 00:24:11,715 --> 00:24:13,095 Amen.