Having A Life Worth Living - Romans 6:12-23

foreign [Music] [Music] [Music] there's a throne beneath the name of names they're receded on it one who Reigns Kingdom now is here and getting closer [Music] to praise him like we're there in glory here and now he's just as holy Jesus he's so worthy of it all he exists in everlasting life [Music] [Applause] [Applause] [Applause] share [Music] a light green like real glory [Applause] [Music] every time [Applause] [Music] [Music] the one who was the one who is [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] holy holies [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] the one who is the one who is to come the one who was the one who is the one who is [Music] to come the one who was the one who it's the one who is to come [Music] [Applause] [Music] worthy of every song we could ever see [Music] worthy of all the praise we could ever breathe your breath we could ever breathe we live for you [Music] Jesus the name above every other name Jesus the only one who could ever save [Music] worthy of every breath we could ever breathe we live for you [Music] there is [Applause] tell me who you are with your heart and Lead Me [Music] you're worthy of every breath we could ever breathe [Music] Jesus the name above every other name [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Applause] [Applause] [Music] if I will feel my life [Music] it is [Music] [Applause] [Music] come on [Applause] [Music] [Applause] foreign [Applause] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Applause] and feel me [Applause] [Music] there is no one like you there is none beside you open up my eyes [Music] around me [Applause] [Music] you turn it all the times [Music] the things we did at first you're clearing out the temple you clean it out the dirt for we are your territory Lord we are your church we are people you are our God we are a temple make us holy life thank you see the holy nation a chosen generation the people called to pray so help us please [Music] [Music] God we are a temple make us holy [Music] God For Your Glory [Music] leave your presence make us a place where you Delights [Music] [Applause] [Music] online [Applause] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] make us we are your children [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] okay [Music] if you're calling we're coming we're not walking we're running God we need Resurrection so we research you sing it if you're calling [Music] so we resurreend Earth [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] wake up [Music] [Applause] [Applause] [Music] we are 10 times [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] oh it's your heart we're searching for we want you and nothing more Let Your Glory fill this place we're alive in your presence [Music] [Music] always [Applause] [Music] [Music] let us see what people [Applause] [Music] in [Music] this place [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] a girl [Applause] [Music] to do what you want to do what you want to guide me [Music] [Music] foreign [Applause] [Music] [Applause] foreign [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Applause] ERS who runs to you and surrender with enthusiasm knowing that you desire to do a work in your church to do a work in each of Our Lives God so do what you want to do in us all for your glory and all God's people said amen amen all right Church would you greet one another as you're being seated and have a look at our screens for the announcements [Music] hey Calvary Chapel family we're really excited that you could join us today if you would like to be a part of what God's doing here at the church through giving there's a few ways that you can do that number one by visiting our church website texting the number on our screen or by dropping your gift off at the Agape boxes on the way out of the sanctuary today here's a few more announcements hi hi ladies if you're between the ages of 18 and 30 then I would love to invite you to our fall flourish event It's always important to have Godly friendships and godly influences in our lives but during this stage of life it's vitally important so join us Friday October 7th at 6 30 PM in the church gym you can sign up and register online today it's sure to be a great time and we look forward to seeing all of you young ladies there also we'd like to invite all dating engaged and married couples to a movie night here in the sanctuary it's October 14th a Friday at 7 pm we will be watching the movie Unbroken path to Redemption Child Care will be provided for three-year-olds to sixth grade and you can register your child online greetings my friends from Calvary Chapel China Hills my name is Morgan I'm the senior pastor at Heritage Church in Escalon California this coming Wednesday we have the privilege to host happening now with Pastor Jack and Amir as you know Pastor Jack and Amir have an incredible ability to explain what is happening in the culture what is happening in the news and how it correlates to Bible prophecy so you will not want to miss this event what this means for you guys is you are going to meet here on Wednesday 7 P.M to tune in live to what's happening now from Heritage Church hey we wanted to remind you that the Futures conference is coming up September 30th and October 1st and you can live stream this event for free at futuresconference.org now Friday night we'll be kicking things off with Pastor Jack and Charlie Kirk as they sit down to discuss the great reset in light of Bible prophecy then Saturday morning at 10 A.M we're going to be picking things back up with Pastor Jack Amir sarfati Jeff Kinley and our very own high school Pastor Shadrach means and then at the end of that evening we're going to have a special q a with all of our guests so we hope that you'll join us again September 30th October 1st for free at futuresconference.org and last before we go today don't forget to get your copy of the book of the month life after loss by Becca Keating you can get it by visiting jackkibbs.com or our bookstore before you leave today with that would you open your Bibles and prepare your hearts to receive from the Lord all right good morning [Applause] beautiful morning um just want to make two things clear you saw Pastor Morgan do anybody remember when Pastor Morgan was on staff here yep they're doing great up there in Northern California uh in fact uh the church had been growing and growing and growing since uh he had started uh ministering there as the senior pastor and I told him last time I was up there we sat in service and I said you've got to you've got to go to two services and he goes I don't want to go to do Services it's just great just like this I go but people are trying to get in and you can't turn people away yeah but it's just so nice with one service and let me tell you as a pastor it is nice having one service um but I said I reminded him of course he knew this already but I said you know you're you and I are only called to be the teachers of his people it's his business to grow the church and and you cannot turn people away the moment you turn somebody away you're not doing a good thing and so um so they just uh they'll be going to two services and and I I don't think they're going to be uh in time the two Services want won't be able to handle it either but for those of you who know people up in the area of Oakdale Escalon Manteca and you say I've never heard of those places have you ever eaten an omen or drank almond milk or almond butter it's the land of the almonds it's where America gets her almonds from and uh or as they say up there eamonn's look who cares if they can't talk they grow great almonds but um if you know anybody in that area that's an excellent Bible teaching church that's the way it's been growing is because he took what he learned here he went up there and uh so I just want to make this clear that we want you all to come on out Wednesday night be here we're gonna listen we're gonna make this a family event so well now we're just going to stay home no no come here because we're going to be on the screens broadcasting into this service so we're going to be bringing two churches together and it's going to be kind of fun and we encourage you to come on out it'd be very encouraging and um and obviously very timely because of what's happened in the world around us Amira serafate and I will sit down and he will bring his expertise from uh his uh experience in the Israeli military is a major in the Israeli IDF among other things um and of course he's the president and founder of behold Israel so we're gonna have a great time together and I know many of you don't know who he is or maybe you've never been introduced to him but you're going to want to do this is going to be great and um I think what else oh I did you guys unders that very cute announcement where uh Felicia rotor heaver was speaking right and then her then this man comes into the scene and puts I just want to make sure you know they're married as soon as I saw that I went do they know their so uh but anyway uh very very exciting uh to uh to be with you guys it's been an amazing last couple of weeks and we've been looking at the schedule and we're going to be together often it's just in between often on Sundays where between now and in the first week of January it's just crazy schedule so I would really covet your prayers um but amazing opportunities are opening up and God's opened the door for us we wound up being invited by Daystar and we did a couple of programs with Daystar in Texas and it went over so well that uh by the time we even got back home from that from that trip um Daystar said we want you guys on every Sunday from here on out so that's a pretty amazing thing but because they're they're they're in their viewership I thought TBN was huge it's not compared to Daystar they're the world's largest Christian television broadcasting network and so uh they're in all kinds of foreign countries so that's very very exciting and then um we had a very powerful time addressing the issues of what's happening in California and Governor newsom's policies uh with Glenn Beck on on the Blaze TV and um what happens is when that stuff's broadcast then it goes on to social media and that's that's where uh YouTube and Instagram got all upset so we've been we've been blocked out I've been in the Penalty Box I did a Bad Thing by uh by disagreeing with California politics so um enlight in light of all that you think I'm I'm just I'm not going to talk about politics anymore no are you kidding no that's that's where you live we got we have to expose the evil that's going on but thank God hey we've got yeah we've got the word of God with us today as we do always so I'm going to ask you to stand if you would you guys let's read this together a new section of scripture Romans chapter 6 verses 12 to 23 12 to 23. and we're not even going to get close to verse 12 probably we'll see but uh we'll read it together I'll do the even numbered verses if you'll pick it up and read the odd number of verses Romans chapter 6 Paul's Magna Carta to the church and um nice and Loud New King James Version Bible please if you don't have that look to the screens uh but here we go Romans 6 verse 12 therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body that you should obey it in its lust foreign for sin shall not have dominion over you for you are not under law but under grace do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey you are that one's slave whom you obey whether of sin leading to death or of obedience leading to righteousness yeah Verse 18 and having been set free listen to this by the way as I read this look at the past tense statements they should encourage you and having been set free from sin you became slaves of righteousness verse 20 for when you were slaves of sin you were free in regard to righteousness but now having been set free from sin and having become slaves of God you have your fruit to Holiness and in the end everlasting life okay and all God's people said amen you may be seated Church so the title of this message in this series that will begin to dissect this lengthy portion of scripture and we must stay true to it by the way we had to read it the way that we did because of the way that the spirit of God gave the word of God it is structured in a manner that it's one as it were one breath from the Apostle or frankly and more accurate terms it was one breath breathed by the Holy Spirit who the Bible says is the author of The Bible and so the title of the message series is having a life worth living I want you to write that down if you would it's important having a life worth living is what we're going to be looking at and I'm going to put you through a little test for a moment think this through it's gonna it's gonna challenge you I know it's early but but listen to this which of the two would you rather pick so don't answer but just think about it first living a life worth having would you pick that or having a life worth living you say Jack are you kidding aren't those the same things isn't it the same really statement doesn't it mean the same and the answer is technically it does not we want to look at that carefully for example you might think that if you have the things of this life and that you have you've got uh good schooling you wound up getting a good trade or you got a good income you got a house you got kids you got a wife or a husband who loves you everything seems to be put in its place and you look around and you're tempted to think that you're living a life worth having and uh you marked that that statement by the things that you observe by what you see so you would I guess say I'm living a life that's worth having based upon the standards of success based upon the standards of this culture and so if you have that kind of life there's a Temptation whereby people would look at you and conclude or agree that you're living a life worth having hey I want that person's life we sum it up this way by saying the grass is greener on the other side and we're most often thinking that that person's got it better than I do I want what they have and immediately many of you recognize the danger of that as we looked at the Ten Commandments God warns us that we shall not covet and when you covet you know we think well what's the big deal covet coveting coveting leads to almost all manner of evil and some have linked it to this the Bible says here's another little test is money evil money is not evil the Bible makes it very clear money's not evil exactly the love of money is the root to all evil why because money is power you can remove you can remove money out of the factor and let's call let's call it position is having a position wrong no it's when you take that position and you use it wrongly right Authority is something that's created by God but when Authority is used wrongly it's tyranny it's a disaster so in everything in life from you and I to those who govern over us through the entire world itself there is this almost contradiction or dichotomy between the elements of things that are true Authority is true life is true power is true but is it good or is it evil you can be living a life right now that you're emitting or you are uh broadcasting uh an image of success and yet your life is a disaster even though people point at you or they they want to emulate you if they if they only knew the behind the scenes aspects of your life the story would change in Hallelujah to God almighty that he's not into that uh when when Samuel the great king maker Samuel went to Jesse remember Jesse paraded all of his sons in front of Samuel because Israel is going to get a king and he prays all of his sons in front of Samuel and Samuel God says though you know here comes the first boy and it's very very clear these guys are Jesse's sons are handsome they're very well built they were very pleasant to look at they were very bright very strong and look when the Bible says that kind of stuff about a person they must be something you know and uh so Samuel sees the first one come by and God God says no not him Samuel really okay next one comes along surely this is the one and God says not him either and after they're they're all being done paraded in front of Samuel Samuel says is that it because God said no no no no no no it's another of them to all of them no so Samuel says to Jesse don't you have any more kids well I've got one I've got one but he's just a little guy he's the baby and he's out tending the Sheep go get him the Bible says that little David came there and stood in front of Samuel and God said that's the one so you can almost see God tapping salmon on the shoulder and saying Samuel listen just a little take away from all of this you and the world that you live in judge by appearance I don't that's a shock for us God says I judge by what's inside the Heart by the way it's that reality that Martin Luther King made his famous statement about not being judged by the color of your skin but by the character of your heart that came right out of Samuel's encounter with God regarding who God chooses to be his leaders in that particular case leader David but we want to remember something that having a life worth living is what we want to possess not living a life worth having because that can be flexible so church family in our studies over the course of the next couple of weeks we want to look at having a life worthy of living that's what God wants to give you and that is all important Romans chapter 2 verse 4 this is a good place to start Romans 2 verse 4 says knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance we want to start with that that God is good and God displays goodness and God is so kind and so loving listen up that for the person today who may not know God God challenges you with Romans chapter 2 verse 4 and says you need to consider something it's my goodness in your life that ought to lead you to the repentance of your sins now I don't know about you but I was raised in a home and in a life that when I sinned I got a hit upside the head and uh it was it was tough my my dad was a judo instructor uh in the Marine Corps and um sometimes I think my brother and I thought that he practiced on us you know uh so I thought in becoming a Christian I thought well that's how God must speak hey Jack listen to this and that's not how God speaks God speaks first of all in his goodness to you and uh it's his goodness that leads a man or a woman to repentance when you look around your life uh you should come to the conclusion especially those of you who denied the existence of God or you doubt the existence of God you need to stop and ask yourself is there any goodness in the world right have you ever witnessed experienced any goodness well you're going to have to say yes you can't say no and so we would counter back to you and say then where'd that goodness come from right because goodness by the way it's very very cool C.S Lewis does this like nobody else can C.S Lewis in his argumentation remember he was once a famous atheist before he became the famed C.S Lewis of Legend and of apologetics C.S Lewis says uh regarding what came first the chicken or the egg C.S Lewis's uh goodness has to come Perfection has to come righteousness has to come before unrighteousness can come before Madness comes you can't Badness Badness can cannot create goodness are you with me goodness when it's not adhered to Badness follows this is a very important simple but challenging logic it's very good for us to be thinking this way especially again those who deny the existence of God if there's any good in this world then that goodness is a witness of God's remarkable intervention in this world and in this life and so I just want you to to consider what Paul is teaching us here in this bulk of scripture that he's very passionately he's gonna we're gonna see even today the very colorful Dynamic vivid words he uses to describe what's going on here and for some of you you might say isn't he kind of repeating himself from chapter three he's reiterating yeah you're going to recognize you see there seems to be some some linkage here to chapter three yes there is for a reason for a reason but I want you to consider this this is kind of cool that regarding Socrates who was a teacher of Plato who was a teacher of Aristotle who was a teacher of Alexander the Great not one of them or any of the Oriental philosophers not one compares to what the Holy Spirit has to say regarding God through Jesus Christ and salvation of man not a one so you might sit here today and say oh I'm a student of Socrates good for you that's awesome more more people should but just know this you're not going to get salvation out of Socrates well Plato Plato's the guy that I go to well that's fine and dandy and that's great but you're not going to get salvation out of Plato well you know bring whatever philosopher you want not one of them is going to answer the Dilemma that's before us regarding having a life worth living not a one by way of introduction Hebrews chapter 4 verse 12. in fact we're studying this right now on Wednesday nights literally Hebrews 4 verse 12 says for the word of God is living and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword watch this piercing even to the division of Soul and Spirit that is the Bible gets into every crack and crevice of your life down deep of Soul and Spirit and of the joints and Marrow and as a discerner notice the Bible the word of God is a discerner of the thoughts and the intents of our heart and there is no creature that includes you and I hidden from his sight but all things are naked and open to the eyes of him to whom we must give an account that that verse means it will all stand before God and that should cause a little bit um of a you know not I don't use the word fear but attention to shoot up our spine to say wait a minute Pastor are we gonna what do you mean we're all gonna stand before God and give an account well listen don't don't raise your hands but how many of you are are full-blown doubters an atheist the Bible says you're going to stand before God the father and give an account for your life well how many of us are born again Believers lovers in Jesus the Bible says every one of us are going to stand before God and give an account did you know that but here's the big difference by the way the unbeliever appears before the Judgment of God Almighty the almighty God Revelation chapter 20 verse 11 all unsaved will appear before God the Father alone naked you'll be naked and I am not listen physically naked would be easy think of this the inside of you will be turned inside out all of your motives of why you lived life how you live life how you thought what you thought what you believed who or what you trusted in everything is turned inside out that's what that term means that when the unsaved stands before the almighty Eternal God and all of his Perfection it's just you and him and his eyes have the ability to turn you inside out and there's nowhere to hide that's why the Bible says every mouth will be stopped in his presence now the believer that's a different story the believer says the Bible says regarding the believer it says that the believer will stand before the Judgment seat of Jesus Christ not the father you see the world has got no mediator between them and the father we have and had and will always have a mediator between the father and that is Jesus and he did that At The Cross by the way he he listen he he established that incredible position by not only being born into this world and living a perfect life in our place but what we do is trust in him not ourselves and then because you and I were alienated from God Jesus goes to the cross and dies for our sins and if that wasn't enough he rose again from the dead to ensure the deal okay it's it's one thing that he died right I mean that's amazing that somebody would love another so much no greater love than a man has than a man lay down his life for his friends and Jesus make that statement's made of him but as Noble as that is it wasn't enough oh Pastor what no it wasn't enough Jesus died for our sins but listen once he died for our sins we needed someone to argue our case before the father that our sin situation had been dealt with the word in the Bible is called advocate Jesus is our Advocate listen if you're in trouble with the law you've got to get an attorney an attorney another name for an attorney is an advocate the Bible says that the believer has an advocate Jesus Christ the righteous I love that it's not that Jesus died he died for the sins of all mankind at the cross but to empower what he did he rose again from the dead that's why listen today people people eventually I I can't prove what I'm about to tell you right now the world will tolerate it but something's coming you watch no one can deny nobody can refute the empty tomb in Jerusalem all right but I bet you the way the world is going nothing needs to make sense anymore and nothing needs to be factual anymore you can make up anything and I got a gut feeling that part of the last day's deception is somebody making up some hair brain cockeyed idea that Jesus's body was found under a bus station in Jerusalem during an archaeological dig or they were building a new mall and they found you watch and see and it's going to be on National Geographic and if it's on you know Discovery Magazine or the History Channel people will believe it we live in a world that nuts but I got news for you Jesus is risen from the dead and look I wasn't there at the cross and I wasn't there at the empty I mean I've been to the empty tomb I wasn't there when he rose from the dead but I can tell you this I don't need to see it and I don't need to know that stuff by eyewitness because something happened to me on the inside are you are you tracking with me something happened to me when I came to Faith In Jesus that in a sense I felt my life being turned inside out and I was naked and open before God and on June 20th 1977 Jesus Christ took my insides and turned them out and I had nowhere to go but to run to him and in doing that he transformed my life he changed the way I live and that's what we're talking about through this chapter is that when he goes to work in your life he changes your life you don't change your life oh Pastor just tell me what to do where do you want me to sit how much do you want me to give where do I sign on here what's next ain't gonna happen here not going to do that you want religion go down the street you want to meet Jesus head-on you're in the right place because here's the deal it's between you and him he invites you his goodness his love his care even his message his message that he died for us and rose again from the dead cannot be denied one more introductory verse Proverbs chapter 4 verse 23 what a verse this is proverbs 4 verse 23 keep your heart with all diligence for out of it spring the issues of Life boy do you have a teenager you need to stencil that spray it on their door front of their bedroom door front and back keep your heart the word keep is Garrison Garrison uh set up a military detail arm to the teeth you know what that term means arm to the teeth you've got swords and daggers in your boots you've got bullets across your chest you've got you've got pistols you've got a bazooka over your back you've got guns Every Which Way and knives and everything and it's like uh I still seems to me I could still do something with that one knife right there this is what it means and you grab it and you put it in your mouth and it means when someone's arm to the teeth that means they can't be any more further armed than what they are they can't even talk if they're going I have a knife right here they're armed to go for it and so this verse back on the screen guys this verse is announcing this guard your heart Garrison your heart arm to the teeth to protect your heart with all diligence wow how come why should I for out of its spring the issues of life you want to have a good life then you want to have your heart protected with the truth of God armored up armed to the teeth to make sure that this word is governing your heart so that you may have a life that has lived in such a way that it's worth living first argument today verses 12 to 14 having a life worth living is this is having the power of God and I want to underscore in your notes power the power of God not the power of man we're not interested in that we've all tried that already no this is the power of God and the first thing we do verse 12 is write this down please I'll explain but just write it down is the power over my demons can you write that down now I'm going to explain that for a moment in all 32 years of teaching the Bible I've never used a point even remotely like this so I want to explain it power over my demons he said what do you mean by that I'll tell you what I don't mean by that I'm not talking about oh Pastor are you talking about uh the demon the demon of nicotine no are you talking about the demon a drink no are you talking about the demon behind that doorknob over there no the demon of chocolate cake no but that's actually a really good place for us to start that's more closer to the truth than the other stuff listen there's Pentecostal type of teaching that says oh you know what we need to I think this is what's wrong you've got a demon of I mean you don't have that anywhere in the Bible do you have the opportunity listen demons have the opportunity according to scripture to attack you with temptations that are applicable to your particular life they're not stupid we know that they're very very uh attuned to our conduct but I'm not going to sit here today and glorify their ability to make your life miserable because here's the deal you want to shut that world down be obedient to God and it sends the kingdom of Hell into a tailspin he said Jack I just feel like I'm a victim at every corner I I feel like I'm being attacked this way and being attacked that way number one there's two ways of being attacked number one you're being attacked because you you've left the door open right have you ever gone to have you guys I'm sure you've never done this but have you ever come home and it's either so late or you're so tired or you're so distracted that you go home and in fact even in our house you go home and you get throw everything off throw your clothes off as you're jumping into bread you're just saying God I love you I'm tired good night and you jump into bed you know maybe you set the alarm to the house and you wake up the next morning and you go outside and I left the keys in the front door have you ever done that no just you and I that's it uh I could be under the perception of being guarded but I left the door open when somebody says oh my goodness this is what's going on oh you left the door open don't go around blaming other people or blaming Satan or his demonic host you left the door open it's like if you have a problem with alcohol and you're driving home from work say man I'm so thirsty I'm just dying to thirst okay just pull over and use somebody's garden hose if you have to but you don't go to Sam's Bar and Grill to get a cup of water are you hearing me you can't handle it so you don't do that are you hearing me you keep your heart with all diligence you conduct yourself under guard I used to be a drinker maybe that's your thing and God has Set Me Free and so I'm going to keep driving by these bars and grills and pubs until I can get to a water fountain you'll make it the other side of being attacked is the one that you and I want to be living in and this is having a life worth living and that is living for God in such a way that the host of hell is all been out of shape and they want to destroy you you said Jack are you wait here yes we should sign up for that absolutely every single one of us are in a battle you say I'm not I'm not a Believer boy are you a sucker you listen you're a casualty in the battle you've been taken captive by the enemy you're a prisoner of war we're not we're free and listen because we're free we don't leave the door open anymore we fight and we fight with a life that's been redeemed and if we fight with a life that's been empowered by the Holy Spirit and I'd like to look at it this way that when you and I sing our praises to God you know book James says that Satan believes in God and trembles that's awesome the word in Hebrew is goose flesh Satan gets Goose flesh when he thinks about God I like that you ever seen a naked turkey right we don't have geese around here usually but Thanksgiving is coming up and I don't know if we'll get any turkeys but right if for those of you who are going to invite us over to eat your turkey because you might have the only turkey in the county before you cook that thing you know you put butter on it if you notice you fill all the lumps where the where the quills used to be the Bible says when Satan thinks about God he goes he gets goose turkey skin it's like I can't handle it I don't want to hear about it every time you and I worship God Satan just goes oh I can't take it think about this when you and I are worshiping God and I bet in in the Kingdom of hell it's like somebody dragging their nails across the chalkboard [Applause] you ever think about that we need to listen we need to make sure that we are always making worship of God a priority because not only does it bless him the Bible tells us when Saul was being attacked by a demonic Spirit he called for David and David played worship unto God and it drove the spirit away right is your life under attack then thank God if is your life under attack praise the Lord listen are you going through a rough time give him all the praise and glory I like what uh Winston Churchill said Winston Churchill said if you find yourself Going Through Hell keep going a lot of people find themselves going through hell and they stop I can't take it anymore if you can't take it then keep going get out of it how do I get out of it give God praise and worship and honor him because it's his desire that you have a life that is absolutely worthy to be living that's what he wants to give you as a Believer but it's a life it's an amazing life it's an amazing life of warfare battles and victory and so we want to be on this part of that equation that as a believer we are contending against so many things but in this you look at verse 12 therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal that's our physical bodies that you should obey it in its lust this is quite quite revealing I'm going to throw every single one of us under the bus right now so get ready according to that verse you and I struggle with this flesh and this flesh wants to lust my granddaughter came up to me the other day and she she surprised me I was doing something and she walked up behind me and she goes hey papa watch this and she had this I don't it's like a little I don't know it was like a little rake and she started scratching my back and I went oh and I told her like you would have a little lower right there okay to the right to the right oh thank you that's so nice listen that's benign that's fine but there's a part of the flesh where we are dealing with every single day as a Christian I want the bigger piece of the pie how come they didn't invite me everybody else looks fine in that picture but me why did they use that one why have you noticed that when they do the family reunion photo you look horrible but everybody else looks great and so so somebody who took the photo picked it for yeah well the photographer looked good in it so you're the first one you look at in the picture why because we have this propensity in in our human mortal body and if we're not on guard the Bible tells us that we are prone to this and so we need we must have the power of God and church family I'm going to tell you straight up right now you've got the power of God so I wish God would give me power God is looking down from heaven saying I wish you would use it I gave it to you [Applause] look at me God says I spoke I spoke to you open the book and read it I'm talking to you God be with me he says and I'll never leave your forsake you look around kid we're so funny about that he has promised us his power and he says right there do not in fact mark it down do not let the Greek word is stop it seriously that's the Greek word stop it stop allowing sin to reign in your mortal bodies now number one take comfort in this he's talking to Christians does that make you feel better now legalists don't like what I just said but the reality is this Paul is telling the church at Rome stop letting your mortal bodies lead your life around you're a Christian he would say you're a follower of the Lord Jesus he's reminding them he's kind of slapping them upside the head in love of course Very Christian kind of way of doing that and he's saying listen and again I'm I'm saying it this way don't let the demons in your life control you and I'm not talking about little furry fanged things I'm talking about just the decisions that you make that are not right don't get a drink there get water over there if you've got a problem with your eyes regarding lust then don't look in that direction if you see that there's guys coming this way or girls coming that way look to the other side of the street guys listen I'm talking into you you know this ladies you don't know this guys know this I'm going to tell you a secret about guys we know up ahead at an eighth of a mile if we should turn our heads away or not I'm telling you you're right guys say Amen say it it's true it's true up I'm gonna look away right there and you look away now I don't know I don't know what women have to I don't know if it's a Nordstrom catalog or what you guys have to deal with is it did you see those curtains I don't know I don't know what the big temptation is with women I don't I don't get it don't plan on Ever Getting It but um but you've got to fight these things it's time for us to fight against the things that trip us up Solomon said it's a little foxes that spoil the graves it's a beautiful picture of Israel in The Vineyards gorgeous and the in the the vine dressers got all the fences set up just right and Solomon comes along in his wisdom and says you want to know why you're getting ripped off here dude I can't figure it out it's the little foxes that are spoiling your grapes so what do you mean by that you've got this fence set up to hold Becca and fox that's full grown this the puppies are getting through the hole it's those little puppy foxes running around eating all your grapes and that speaks to us about the sins that we allow in our lives we might consider them manageable sins there are no manageable sins we fool ourselves in thinking that well you know no no or yes yes we do know but no no we ought not to do that because listen God wants us to have a life that is so blessed and anointed by him so that others might look at us and say you know what how do you do this in this in this age in which we're living in how is it that you and your family have peace what's going on with you guys right the world is hurting right now really bad I've never seen it like this before neither of you when it may be it may look okay on the surface but there is lava flowing beneath you know but the word present here so we'll come to this in a moment it's going to be the answer to this thing so I'm going to give you a barrage of scripture are you guys ready for this um mark this down number one First Corinthians 10 13. very comforting you know it well but please please everybody maybe maybe this first time you're hearing this take this to Heart all right no temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man that's an amazing statement because when you and I are hit by the world or by the flesh or by our own lust it seems so powerful to us oh no one's ever had it as bad as I oh put a sock in it the Bible says yes every person gets hit exactly as hard as you do maybe listen it may be a different attack but it's the exact same scale to their faith and their existence as it is to yours okay but God is faithful but God is faithful who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able by the way that word implies and you already know this Darkly many of you that God's not the one bringing the temptation he's monitoring it the enemy the flesh launches its attack and God is looking he's watching over you to protect you and he will not let it go so far so you can't take it anymore so again one of two things you can't take it anymore shut the door or if this is the attack of the enemy because you've been serving God and the enemy hates your guts let's remember God loves you with all of his art that means the enemy hates you with all of his guts if that's going on cheer up welcome to the family of God hallelujah let's put a dent in Satan's car door right think about that and we do that by obedience to him and then he's going to launch an attack God says don't worry about it there's going to be a way of Escape I'm faithful to watch over you is this is what you're going through it's not uncommon but with the Temptation will also make the way of Escape that you may be able to bear it wow awesome next passage Colossians chapter 3 verse one starting there Colossians 3 1 if then you were raised with Christ and every single one of you Believers according to God have been raised with Christ Jesus okay seek those things which are above where Christ is in other words be interested in the things of Heaven um wow um stop being so concerned about the things of this world find out are you listening she's listening God is saying to us I want you to be concerned about the things that concern me where I live up here in heaven we need to hear this because this is good marching orders and it's also good medicine seek those things which are above where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God set your mind on things above not on things of the Earth for you died and your life is hidden with Christ in God that is so powerful my goodness verse 3 you memorize verse three look at the liberating power for you died and your life is hidden with Christ and God when Christ who is our life appears this is awesome if there's any Bible prophecy teachers or students verse 4 is epic watch this when Christ who is our life appears not comes are you hearing me when he appears not comes this is not an Earthly return this is an atmospheric appearance and if you know your Bible you know exactly where I'm going John chapter 14 verses one two and three first Thessalonians 4 13-18 that's a reference of the Rapture not the second coming when Christ who is our life appears I hope it's today then you also will appear with him in glory that's exactly what John 14 says when Jesus comes to pick us up if we are that generation that's living in every generation by the way since the day of Pentecost is to expect the coming of Christ that's the way you're supposed to live with that anticipation we're not we are not going to be disappointed we're going to experience his glory at his appearing that is glorious second Peter chapter one second Peter chapter one Verses 4 and 9 says by which having been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises that though these may be partakers that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature what a statement that is that doesn't mean you're a little God it means that you begin to reflect Jesus in your mind and in your daily living God does that remember what we're talking about we're talking about the power of God not you doing this having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust there's that word but also for this very reason giving all diligence add to your faith virtue and to Virtue knowledge I'm going to read that again but imagine America adopting imagine imagine for a moment wouldn't it be great to be able to just commandeer every radio and TV station for three four ten seconds can you imagine if you could say we interrupt this program to bring you this special announcement add to your faith virtue to Virtue knowledge to knowledge self-control to self-control perseverance to perseverance godliness your godliness brotherly kindness and to brotherly kindness love you know that should be a commercial on every channel what's wrong with what I just said right do we not need this in our world for if these things are yours and abound you will be neither Barren nor and fruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ verse 9 for He Who lacks these things is short-sighted even to blindness and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins that's a backslidden Believer you don't want to do that second thing under this point you guys is this is having the power of God and having a life worth living is this power over myself power over myself is what's in verse 13. and do not present your members as instruments of righteousness to sin the word present you guys you're going to want to write this down because we'll develop this uh more so present look at this word it means to stand beside or in front of to be readily at hand so we would say available to yield to willingly Place yourself under the authority of another in submission too all that in the word right here to present it's to come and it's to bring yourself and to declare it's a it's a a word that requires human will the will of each and every one of us as a human I will in my mind to present myself to Christ and look what he says present your members see see the word members the members members hold up your hands let's see your hands it's kind of like Pretend We're in the kids ministry right now wiggle your hands that's beautiful by the way uh it means your hands it means because you've presented yourself to God and you're a Believer these hands can only touch What God Says to touch they're not allowed to touch but God says you're not allowed to touch okay um my body uh my feet if I present myself to God my members are not only my entire body it's certainly in many commentators rightfully will suck rightfully so will say members being instruments of sensual gratification you already figured that one out as soon as I read it you and I know what he's talking about and that would be your private parts present your private parts to God well you might say why should I do that because he gave you those private parts not just your nose the private parts you have been given to you by God now I know there's a lot of people running around today trying to change that and say that God didn't know what he was doing I just want you to know that those are either lunatics or they're people trying to be God says I've given you body parts including your fingers and your nose and your eyes and you present it to me because if you don't look at what happens if you present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin well we read a moment ago that it eventually leads to destruction and you know this so yeah but you know what sin's fun of course it's fun why do you think it's a Temptation why do you think it's a satanic tool why do you think that's why do you think we turn our back on God and run toward it because it's fun listen cake is fun cheesecake's a blast let's be honest there's cake and then there's cheesecake but you can't sit there you know and eat cheesecake all the time you know if you love your kid right if you love your kid I want cheesecake if you're a kid I want cheesecake for for dinner I want cheesecake for breakfast if you love your kid you're going to say no it's not going to happen oh don't you love me of course I do that's why you're not going to have it you said Jack you sound just like my parents well your parents sound just like God I want that and God says no let me think about it no but I want that let me think about it no it'll kill you but it's fun yeah it's fun just like the sugar and cheesecake and it's nice and Rich but you have you noticed that when you eat dessert I don't know why I'm going food this is usually third service issues foreign but you know God there's a place down the road called it called The Cheesecake Factory God invented it there's no doubt but if you notice when you order they bring you a slice they don't bring you the whole thing because they don't want bad advertisement if you eat the whole thing and you can and you will if it's there you will you'll be throwing up before you leave the Bill and that doesn't go well for the selling of Cheesecake why what happened you say Jack you're going too far on this no I'm not the children of Israel said you know what God we're sick of manna this we're tired of the stuff you give us we want to live a little wish we were living back in Egypt again have you ever heard you know what that is part of our that's also a part of our rotten stinking nature of Who We Are I don't know why we even came I didn't want to even did that why'd he even sign up wish we would have stayed home it would have been better off if I never would I mean that's just all lies and and when when the world listen when Satan says oh and look at you you're a Christian you're going through all this hardship and you're fighting this war it wasn't it easier when you were back in the world yes notice this and he'll lie he'll tell you half the truth did you have fun sure did he doesn't tell you he doesn't remind you of the stuff that it was doing to you he's a good devil it's what he does gives you half the story God says no you can't have cheesecake for breakfast lunch and dinner you can have cheesecake sometimes I'll tell you when you say I don't like that kind of control in my life well listen you're actually controlling yourself like that but the problem is your control over your life will lead to death his control over our life will lead to Good Health when I say good health I mean living in heaven forever so you don't want to yield your members to instruments of sin you guys uh the word instrument check it out and then as I read this I'll explain the picture I see in my head so the word means uh Hopland is a it's a tool it's an Implement of War a weapon of Destruction it could be a soldier that has been fitted and armored up and placed into the fight or the cause of the one who is his Superior the word can also in the negative be translated as a draftee or a military conscript isn't that interesting depends on isn't that it depends on what master has control of you isn't that something so if God controls you you can be an awesome weapon for righteousness in the hand of God that's cool living man that's awesome but it fits in your hands or in the hands of the wicked one you're actually a draftee you have been constrict conscripted you've been taken by force or ordered to obey now I don't know how accurate this is right now but this last week the global news has been a full of trucks in Russia pulling up in Moscow St Petersburg and uh various Russian towns and cities have you seen this new is it's terrible uh I think it's a stunt I have a hard time believing it I just think it's a stunt something doesn't fit right but these military trucks are pulling up in the streets and soldiers are jumping out and they're grabbing uh men probably 18 17 18 about 30 years of age on the spot arresting them and putting them into the trucks and taking them away right from their families and right out of their uh areas of of life and they're immediately being placed in the Russian military as soldiers that's exactly the word that's used here in the negative the Bible is telling you that Satan will confiscate you in your Liberty and get you bound into a war to destroy yourself remarkable so vivid so growing up in my life and I wrote myself this no my dad's garage and his tools were spotless and he had he had I don't even know how much money might that it was over the top that was his he loved that stuff we weren't allowed to touch his tools and all of them looked brand new but he had he had them for who knows how long I mean at least 20 years I know that and they all look brand new but they're all well used and he had a tool for everything they were well used and they were well kept when God gets a hold of your life watch this you will be well used and well kept when the world gets a hold of you you'll be well used and broken you won't hang that shiny beautiful Snap-on or that Craftsman tool or whatever it might be on the wall because it's all busted up it's broken and it's rusted and it's messed up and listen friends especially young people here today let me tell you the world will say oh come on it's so good have you not learned by now at least theoretically at least reading that Satan came to Eve that way and it's not just limited to her you know friends who have who've had their lives completely destroyed because they fell for the glitz they fell for the line and the word will go out he'll send it the enemy will bring a word to you that will tantalize you people fall for it every day look at all the fraud that's taking place and how many times have you gotten an email have we all gotten the same email hi I'm so and so and I'm ministering the gospel here in Africa can you send me uh ten thousand dollars so I can buy a bicycle or this is listen it's getting pretty slick now right we've gotten stuff in the mail that I've turned in because I've gotten stuff from official government documents from the uh Department of this or from the IRS and it just doesn't look doesn't even sound right and yet you wind up handing in and they that's not us this is fake this is somebody trying to get your Social Security number the world is out there to deceive you and leave you that's a good motto to remember I just made that up the world is out there to deceive you and to leave you broke busted and bleeding when God uses you you can't wait to get used again man listen if I hope I'm I would love to be able to say every single one of us in this service today knows exactly that that reality oh my goodness when God uses me at the end of the day I might be exhausted physically absolutely pooped out and it's like I can't wait for tomorrow I gotta get some sleep so we can do it again tomorrow God man that's listen that is having a life worth living makes all the difference in the world but present he says verse 13 your yourselves your members to God as being alive from the dead oh that's you that's us we're going to end here I can't believe this what is with this this time what a powerful truth this is we have been made alive from the dead so Pastor yeah come on make it make it real to me what's the deal what's the thing here what's up it's it's this it's looking at these verses and finding out as we study them that we either in this room identify with what's being taught or we do not you're either here today scratching your head saying man it was I you might as well been speaking a foreign language these last 55 minutes I didn't get anything out of this class I don't understand what you just said versus those that are saying man that's exactly where I'm at do you know the difference is the difference is the spirit of God is living inside one of you and not in the other you can relate to what Paul is talking about or you cannot just ask yourself this question in your life is it important to you to have a life that's worth living or living a life worth having there's a difference in my mind I see those who might be gambling why why does someone gamble because I guess there's some sort of gambling Rush that you get out of it but I don't have that so that's not my temptation I don't I don't have that propensity but I'm assuming from what I hear there's this rush to gambling I'm thinking that's dumb if you're gonna gamble there ought to be a rush to win oh no I just love this I love doing it you mean you love winning right no I don't care if I win okay now you really messed up right but there's people that do that and I would assume that the goal is to win a million bucks or you do the Powerball or the scratch and sniff and look on it's 25 million I'm assuming that your Pursuit is to what just do what is to get out of debt is to what help people out I don't know I don't know but I'm thinking for you I'm thinking trying to figure this out there are those that will connive Rob and steal from others to have it climbed the top of the corporate ladder as you crush people all the way up you know nothing wrong with climbing the ladder as long as you don't crush people all the way up nothing wrong with being the president of the company but with that responsibility comes tremendous amount of consideration nothing wrong with those things but if you're living in such a way that you want to have this image when well when I arrive people will look at me and say there he is he arrived that's it huh it's like getting cheesecake for dinner you you buy a new car I mean you bought it because you it wowed you oh look at that thing it's kind of funny right is it just me or is it anybody about when you see a new car and you like that car and you look at it on the lot does it doesn't it talk to you or maybe it's Satan I don't know but but if you've ever had a new anything it's like oh look oh my goodness you sign your life away and it's you know the first hint is you know you need to sign right here you need to understand the moment it leaves the laws okay there's a there's a very important application to this the moment the brand new car leaves the lot if you bring it back you're going to get like ten thousand dollars less for it you'll either say I'm not interested now or you might say oh I don't care I don't care it's just where do I sign which one is it you start learning about it wait how does it leave me oh listen yeah oh you know I could see you fitting in this car but how many people stop and call their insurance company and say Hey you know I've got an 86 Chevy right now and I'm looking at getting into this whatever you know this thing and they'll tell you well that's fine good for you congratulations but your monthly insurance is going to go up three thousand dollars you know that's okay it's okay just where do I sign you get all the sugar and the rush and the projection is look at my life but after a few miles you're using that same vehicle to push shopping carts out of the way to get into the parking spot is that not true [Applause] and you're washing it and waxing it until it gets the first dent and then it's like that's it right that's the world how are you living that's the world you live in you're either living for that world or the world to come and you need to choose which one you're in Jesus is requiring you to choose the way this world's going you need to pick quick like now let's just pray father now is a perfect time we haven't heard a trumpet blast yet there's no tanks running through the sanctuary as far as We Know we're here right now with the liberty and the freedom and the most important thing of all is the free moral agency of ourselves to be able to determine right here right now really an opportunity a gift given by you to us to decide just this opportunity is so responsible for each and every one of us to be given the opportunity to say yes to God or to take the opportunity he has given us and say no to God leaves it so you get all the glory for providing the opportunity and should we reject you all the damage and Hell Comes To Us for having refused such goodness that was intended to lead us to repentance so Lord I pray right here right now may we surrender our will to you that Lord right now in these chairs and these seats are for those that are watching right now they might say Lord Jesus forgive me of my sins I've sinned against you I have fallen Lord to this lust and to this passion and I don't want it anymore it's led me broken it's led me destroyed and I come to you and you accept him friend he died on the cross for your sins he rose again from the dead for your justification and Christ is coming back and he wants you to live your life from this moment on for him God wants to give you a life that is worthy of his precious name Lord we pray this prayer in Jesus name and all God's people said amen Church let's stand together as we close men I want to remind you guys today at four o'clock men only for our buds Gathering if you're 18 years of age and up all the men back here in the church today bring a friend if they're 18 years of age and up and we're going to be talking about uh men's stuff at four o'clock in the Bible God bless you guys as we close [Music] [Music] do what you want to please [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] foreign [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] you away [Music] [Music]

Channel: Real Life with Jack Hibbs

Views: 46,397

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Id: 6JX0M2aitjA

Length: 96min 30sec (5790 seconds)

Published: Sun Sep 25 2022