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Question: What would you say to those
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who are looking for a feeling,
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or they've got some sin
they're trying to let go of?
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That that's stopping them
from coming to Christ?
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Mack: Well, the New Testament
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never tells us to feel anything.
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It doesn't even use that word
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in the context of salvation.
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Our minds must know the facts.
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If I know I'm a true sinner,
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and I know I can't save myself,
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I must be persuaded that
these things are true,
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that they're facts.
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And my mind as well as my heart
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must embrace the truth.
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We shouldn't look for feelings.
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Feelings can be deceiving.
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Feelings can mislead us.
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If we're looking for feelings
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and we don't have them,
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then we think that we
still need something else
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or we're trusting in that.
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So, feelings mean nothing.
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Emotions mean nothing.
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They can mislead us and deceive us.
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So, they're not important.
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Now, oftentimes, they will come.
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Oftentimes, they will accompany salvation
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or they will accompany true conversion,
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but they're not necessary.
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And no one should look for those
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or be dependent on feelings
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to trust Christ.
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All that's needed is that we know
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in our hearts we're a true sinner
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and we truly need a Savior.
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You can be persuaded of that
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and that's a true feeling in your life
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and in your heart,
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but it necessarily doesn't mean emotions.
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All that's needed is to truly know
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of our need for Him.
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And that's the basis upon which we come.
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Don't trust feelings.
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We can look away from any feelings
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and trust the Savior.
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Question: What about someone
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who's holding on to a certain sin
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that's stopping them coming to Christ.
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What would you say?
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Mack: Well, any sin, any particular sin
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can have us in bondage,
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whether it's pornography, or lust,
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or greed, or love of money,
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or an adulterous relationship,
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or religious pride. It doesn't matter.
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One sin can keep you out of Heaven.
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One sin can put you in hell.
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So, Paul said to the Thessalonians,
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he spoke to them about how they had
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turned from idols
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to serve the living God.
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We must turn from our sins,
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which means if a person
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has come to the place where they know
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the Gospel is true;
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they know Jesus Christ is the only way,
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they will either hold on
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to the sin that they love the most
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and lose Christ and perish,
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or they must relinquish and lay down
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and turn from that sin
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to be able to embrace Christ.
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You can not have Him and your sin.
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So the important thing for
such a person to realize
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is do I love my sin so much
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that has me in bondage?
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Do I love my chains?
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The bondage that it brings?
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That I would rather have my sin
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and hell for eternity
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than freedom and Christ for eternity?
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Which is wise?
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Which do you truly want?
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Are you willing to love your sin
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and embrace it and not let it go
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and let it take you to hell for eternity?
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You need to see that your sin
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cannot save you,
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it cannot satisfy you,
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it can only destroy you.
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And yes, you love it,
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but you've got to
recognize it for what it is.
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You cannot hold on to it anymore.
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You have to count the cost.
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There was a young man in the New Testament
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who believed that he was upright,
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that he was good,
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that he kept the commandments of God,
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but he loved his riches.
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He loved his money
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because he was very rich.
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And Jesus told him that he had to
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give it all to the poor
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and come and follow Him.
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The man went away very sorrowful
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because he could not give up his money
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and follow Christ.
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So, if you have a sin
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that you're holding on to,
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forsake it. Turn from it.
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It will not satisfy you.
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It will only destroy you.
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You must see it as an enemy to your soul,
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whatever that sin is,
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that you might be able to embrace Christ.
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I would say be honest with God about that.
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Tell Him: I have this sin
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that is in my life.
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I have this thing that I love
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that I don't want to give up,
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but I know Jesus is real.
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Cry out to God for mercy.
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Ask Him to work in you.
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Begin to pray about that
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and be honest with God.
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That would be the beginning place.