WEBVTT 00:00:02.479 --> 00:00:11.279 The Lord is really walking through this uh Pastor's Choice Sermon series where each pastor's kind of talked about what's been on their heart. 00:00:11.359 --> 00:00:22.960 Um over this year, God has really been telling me three big things, and really the one that I'm gonna talk about today is kind of a fresh one that the Lord's been dealing with me on. 00:00:23.199 --> 00:00:25.760 And so I'm gonna switch mics. 00:00:27.039 --> 00:00:27.839 There we go. 00:00:28.079 --> 00:00:29.920 So I don't have to carry this thing anymore. 00:00:30.160 --> 00:00:34.240 I just realized I was still holding a mic while I had another mic right here. 00:00:35.679 --> 00:00:39.600 And so the Lord's been really walking with me through it. 00:00:39.920 --> 00:00:45.679 And so uh to begin today's service, uh I just want to take a moment of silence. 00:00:45.840 --> 00:02:28.479 And so if we could just be here for a moment, is it awkward? 00:02:30.639 --> 00:02:33.039 That was two minutes of silence. 00:02:35.680 --> 00:02:39.680 And what's become awkward is actually a gift from God. 00:02:42.639 --> 00:02:50.319 The reason why I wanted to start this, I felt like the Lord laid it on my heart to say, you can't be quiet. 00:02:51.280 --> 00:02:52.960 It's uncomfortable for us. 00:02:53.120 --> 00:02:55.360 And this is what he's been saying to me. 00:02:56.879 --> 00:03:02.479 And what normally happens why at the end, did somebody pick up their phone, play with their phone for a minute? 00:03:02.639 --> 00:03:04.639 Did somebody start whispering to one another? 00:03:04.879 --> 00:03:07.919 Did somebody look at me like this dude's gone crazy? 00:03:08.319 --> 00:03:09.840 Is he alright? 00:03:11.680 --> 00:03:12.000 Right? 00:03:12.240 --> 00:03:14.000 How long is this going to be? 00:03:15.120 --> 00:03:17.120 Does he know what he's doing? 00:03:19.520 --> 00:03:25.919 But it's it's a gift from God to step into silent spaces. 00:03:27.520 --> 00:03:54.560 And so because we are so afraid of silence, we take out this phone most of the time, we take out iPads, we take out the TV, and we fill this blank space, and we instantly have to fill it with Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, TVs, books. 00:03:55.439 --> 00:04:00.639 Most of us in the room can't even go to sleep without having some type of noise going on. 00:04:00.960 --> 00:04:02.560 Running around. 00:04:02.960 --> 00:04:13.439 The world gets louder, louder, and louder, and our lives become crazy and chaotic, and we can't even hear the voice at all. 00:04:13.759 --> 00:04:15.520 If we're low key at all. 00:04:20.399 --> 00:04:24.720 We might hear a single word from God. 00:04:28.160 --> 00:04:29.600 This was an example. 00:04:29.839 --> 00:04:30.720 Thank you guys. 00:04:30.879 --> 00:04:36.160 That was a lot of work for them to even do that four minutes of thing here. 00:04:38.160 --> 00:04:41.759 But that is what our lives look like on a daily basis. 00:04:43.360 --> 00:04:51.600 This thing right here, the watch that I took off this morning, they're a distraction. 00:04:52.959 --> 00:04:57.360 And not only that, there's so many other distractions. 00:04:57.680 --> 00:05:09.519 So a couple of weeks ago, when I opened the service, I felt like the Lord gave me the word about distraction, and I spoke about it for about four minutes with Mary and Martha. 00:05:10.480 --> 00:05:13.759 And there they were in the room with Jesus. 00:05:15.360 --> 00:05:27.360 And Martha was so consumed with all of the things that needed to be done that she missed the point of the king of glory being in her living room. 00:05:30.160 --> 00:05:31.920 Mary didn't. 00:05:32.399 --> 00:05:36.639 And she sat very quietly at the feet of Jesus. 00:05:38.959 --> 00:05:44.959 And it was not by coincidence that Patty's talking about why she had this morning. 00:05:46.160 --> 00:05:48.319 We have crazy anxiety. 00:05:49.439 --> 00:05:56.639 We struggle with our minds being all over the place and racing and going through all this stuff. 00:05:58.079 --> 00:06:00.319 Many times it's self-induced. 00:06:02.639 --> 00:06:08.079 Because we've always got to be feeling the quiet spaces up. 00:06:09.519 --> 00:06:16.160 This year, the word that has been, one of the words that we're given was sharpened Christians are prepared for crisis. 00:06:17.120 --> 00:06:20.399 Well, how many people know how to sharpen a knife? 00:06:20.639 --> 00:06:24.959 Not a lot of us, because like it's precise, but it's some of us. 00:06:25.600 --> 00:06:29.759 Can I sharpen a knife by taking the knife and banging it on a stone? 00:06:30.399 --> 00:06:31.680 But it makes noise. 00:06:31.920 --> 00:06:33.600 Why ain't that working? 00:06:34.240 --> 00:06:37.759 Can I sharpen a knife by running it through cardboard? 00:06:38.720 --> 00:06:41.439 No, that's worse for them than anything, really. 00:06:42.720 --> 00:06:55.120 No, we have to lay that knife down on a precise angle and slowly bring it over the right kind of stone. 00:06:56.319 --> 00:07:06.800 Just because there's noise going on when I bring a knife to a grinding wheel doesn't mean I'm sharpening the grinding wheel or sharpening the knife. 00:07:07.040 --> 00:07:09.120 I'm destroying the knife. 00:07:09.439 --> 00:07:12.959 It will not get sharp on a big loud grinder. 00:07:14.160 --> 00:07:25.839 But when we lay it down and quietly and precisely pull it over the right kind of stone, the edge of that knife becomes sharp. 00:07:26.480 --> 00:07:28.639 It's not the chaos and stuff. 00:07:28.879 --> 00:07:31.360 And that's what we're doing in our lives. 00:07:32.000 --> 00:07:37.519 We're dulling ourselves on a constant basis with all the noise of this world. 00:07:37.759 --> 00:07:42.399 And we're not ready for if crisis meets because we can't listen. 00:07:43.120 --> 00:07:46.959 Oftentimes we hear that we are the army of God. 00:07:47.920 --> 00:07:55.360 But with the example I just gave and all the noise going on, how in the world are we ever going to hear the marching orders? 00:07:56.399 --> 00:07:57.439 We're not. 00:07:58.000 --> 00:08:03.199 And the truth is, is I don't want to be in a war that I don't even know I'm in. 00:08:03.600 --> 00:08:04.240 Right? 00:08:05.439 --> 00:08:14.639 So I need to be quiet and I need to hear what the commander is teaching and what he's saying and which direction we're going. 00:08:16.319 --> 00:08:30.720 One of the big things that I felt like the Lord has given me this year is that we are, and I talked about it with the youth this week, that we are in a spiritual world and we don't even notice it. 00:08:31.120 --> 00:08:36.159 See, in the book of Genesis, God said, Let us make man in our image. 00:08:36.240 --> 00:08:41.679 That's the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit together saying, Let us make man in our image. 00:08:41.919 --> 00:08:47.120 So we are made in the image of God, in the image of Him, He created us. 00:08:48.559 --> 00:08:51.120 So we also have spirit. 00:08:51.360 --> 00:08:54.159 You don't deny this because where do we go when we die? 00:08:54.320 --> 00:08:59.279 Our spirit goes to heaven until the new earth is made and we raised up, right? 00:08:59.440 --> 00:09:01.200 So you already believe that. 00:09:01.519 --> 00:09:04.399 But how much do you really believe that? 00:09:04.639 --> 00:09:13.200 Because have you thought about what's going on in the spiritual realm of your life right now, at this day, when you woke up this morning? 00:09:14.559 --> 00:09:16.799 No, I haven't. 00:09:18.559 --> 00:09:24.240 And it it just came to me that I am living a physical life. 00:09:25.279 --> 00:09:29.919 When the battle that's actually being raged for my soul is in the spirit. 00:09:31.200 --> 00:09:46.240 Ephesians chapter 6, for we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against rulers and against authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 00:09:49.279 --> 00:09:56.159 We are fighting a battle in the physical that's actually in the spiritual. 00:09:56.399 --> 00:09:59.759 And we don't understand why our anxiety is so high. 00:10:01.279 --> 00:10:07.200 Because we're not actually paying attention to the devil's schemes all around us at all times. 00:10:08.799 --> 00:10:13.759 Now I'm bringing this to you today as something that I'm currently walking through. 00:10:13.919 --> 00:10:20.639 These sermons like this, they hit hard and they get a little solemn because I'm walking in it now. 00:10:21.200 --> 00:10:27.679 So if it's hitting you, welcome to the game because it's hitting me as well, and it has. 00:10:28.320 --> 00:10:40.480 I've been jumping through scripture and praying over the church over the last few months, and the Lord's been showing me this uh this clear blueprint of what the animals and the enemy's tactics have become. 00:10:40.720 --> 00:10:51.120 And the main tactic that the devil has right now is to stay incognito, means to stay out of the limelight. 00:10:52.320 --> 00:10:59.919 Listen, the devil doesn't have to show up in our community and manifest himself and start flopping around on the floor. 00:11:00.559 --> 00:11:08.320 The devil doesn't have to show up in the community and wreak havoc over here to get somebody's attention to worship him. 00:11:09.279 --> 00:11:14.000 Because our culture is bowing down to him at every moment. 00:11:15.679 --> 00:11:18.159 So you don't have, he doesn't have to do anything. 00:11:18.320 --> 00:11:20.559 He's already got the world. 00:11:20.799 --> 00:11:25.519 And that's why the scripture says that he is the ruler of the world. 00:11:26.960 --> 00:11:35.600 So a few weeks ago, it was about six weeks ago, I guess, I taught, I had a sermon on a word that God gave me called desensitization, which I have learned how to say now. 00:11:38.399 --> 00:11:43.039 And if you haven't heard it, I encourage you to go back and listen to it. 00:11:43.600 --> 00:11:51.279 But instead of sudden things that he would do to bother you, he brings in small little things. 00:11:51.919 --> 00:11:54.399 And the Lord gave me the word sin shots. 00:11:55.519 --> 00:12:01.039 And that's one of the big ways that he comes in and he gets us. 00:12:01.679 --> 00:12:23.440 And then isolating the spiritual, which is what I'm talking about right now, the ultimate goal is to trap people entirely within the bonds of physical world, keeping our eyes locked on the things around us, keeping our eyes locked on immediate gratification on material success, on our anxieties. 00:12:23.759 --> 00:12:28.960 We completely forget that we are on a spiritual battleground. 00:12:30.720 --> 00:12:47.679 If we come to the realization that we're in a battle in the spirit realm, but that the Lord's already won that battle, then we can come and we say, Lord, I see what's going on, I see the enemy's plan, but you won the battle. 00:12:47.919 --> 00:12:55.120 And you've given me the authority through the blood that you shed for me, and I will no longer deal with those things. 00:12:55.440 --> 00:12:58.240 Then our eyes turn to the Father. 00:12:58.720 --> 00:13:01.759 Instead of our eyes looking at the physical of what's going on. 00:13:01.840 --> 00:13:16.240 Well, I can't pay my bills and I've got my job, like if I'm fixing to lose a job, or I've got this going on and I'm sick, and I've whatever of all these physical things turn our minds to the real battle in the spirit. 00:13:16.720 --> 00:13:19.519 The Lord has already won that battle. 00:13:19.840 --> 00:13:31.200 He's already won all battles, but we turn to him and we see that, devil, you do not have a place and you will not wreak havoc on my mind without me realizing it. 00:13:31.440 --> 00:13:41.519 Because, see, the devil, if we're not paying attention to the spiritual realm, the devil's throwing images at us and things constantly to make our mind this anxious mess of chaos. 00:13:42.399 --> 00:13:46.159 And we're not turning and going, get out in the name of Jesus. 00:13:46.720 --> 00:13:49.360 We're going, what is going on in my life that this is going on? 00:13:49.440 --> 00:13:50.159 Why I don't understand? 00:13:50.320 --> 00:13:51.279 Why is this going on? 00:13:51.440 --> 00:14:00.480 Well, the third thing I feel like the Lord is talking to me about and us is the flood of noise that we just had an example for. 00:14:00.879 --> 00:14:04.399 The enemy doesn't want to force himself outright. 00:14:04.639 --> 00:14:20.080 He just simply wants to keep us very busy, overstimulated, bombarded with a ton of notifications, distract us with entertainment, keep the modern chaos of this world at the forefront of our mind at all times. 00:14:21.440 --> 00:14:22.799 You don't understand. 00:14:23.360 --> 00:14:29.759 Most of what you see out in the world is actually Satan's scheme to keep your eyes off of Jesus. 00:14:32.080 --> 00:14:37.120 That TV show that makes you have some fear inside, that's the devil's plan. 00:14:38.240 --> 00:14:49.120 The agendas that's out here in the world that are totally against the scripture, but that have been brought in over the last 50 years silently, little by little, that's the devil's plan. 00:14:49.279 --> 00:14:51.200 He's gotten you okay with them. 00:14:51.600 --> 00:14:54.320 And in the spiritual rim, he's dulled us. 00:14:54.559 --> 00:14:55.840 And we're no longer sharp. 00:14:55.919 --> 00:14:58.720 We're a bunch of dull blades with rust all over them. 00:14:58.960 --> 00:15:01.440 And they're not good for much of anything. 00:15:01.679 --> 00:15:09.279 You know, they find a knife under the water that's been rusting for 200 years and they try to pull it out, it does nothing. 00:15:10.720 --> 00:15:17.840 And that's what we have become because we're not paying attention to what the devil's schemes are. 00:15:18.559 --> 00:15:25.840 Because the devil knows that the very moment that we get quiet, his grip on us slips. 00:15:26.879 --> 00:15:32.399 He knows that when we're quiet, we will hear conviction. 00:15:32.799 --> 00:15:38.639 Conviction brings repentance, which brings us closer to God. 00:15:40.399 --> 00:15:44.879 We will hear direction, we will hear God's plan. 00:15:45.759 --> 00:15:49.200 But it's alarming how blind we have become. 00:15:50.080 --> 00:15:54.000 We even have internal negotiations with ourselves. 00:15:54.159 --> 00:15:56.879 Well, you know, I probably shouldn't watch that. 00:15:57.360 --> 00:15:59.120 Well, then why are you? 00:15:59.360 --> 00:16:00.559 Why am I? 00:16:02.480 --> 00:16:04.960 Oh, but what if that no, no, it's really not. 00:16:05.039 --> 00:16:06.240 I'm overthinking this. 00:16:06.399 --> 00:16:08.879 No, like listen to the spirit. 00:16:09.200 --> 00:16:11.120 Stop playing it off. 00:16:11.679 --> 00:16:18.960 Why are we trying to talk ourselves into things that will definitely dull our blade? 00:16:19.759 --> 00:16:26.480 So many things in our life that we we make a decision, we have to look at the spiritual side of it. 00:16:27.519 --> 00:16:40.000 You know, when I go on vacation, I have to think about where I'm going and what I might see to be sure that I keep my eyes and my ears safe from the devil's schemes. 00:16:40.320 --> 00:16:51.200 Because all it takes is on the first day to see something and get locked in and be dulled all week long to a place that could have been a type of relaxation. 00:16:53.039 --> 00:16:59.440 See, we we have to look into the Word of God and realize that there are a number of warnings for us. 00:16:59.679 --> 00:17:05.039 Now, unfortunately, today a lot of people see the Bible as a set of rules. 00:17:06.160 --> 00:17:15.920 It's not just like uh your kids not sticking their hand in a fire or playing with a stove, it's not just a set of rules. 00:17:16.640 --> 00:17:39.200 If the creator of the universe put together words from thousands of years that all came together and tells you about a loving God who created his favorite creation, who then fought for his favorite creation with his son's blood to buy it back and gives us a way to follow him. 00:17:39.839 --> 00:17:50.720 If he has some things he says, do not do, it's the exact same thing as you and I looking at our child and saying, don't put your hand in the fire. 00:17:51.920 --> 00:18:00.960 But no, the world right now, it's really sad because some of us have even done this, and some of us are doing it right now with our families. 00:18:01.440 --> 00:18:13.359 We look over at our growing child who's a teenager, and we see them sticking their hand in the fire, and in the spiritual rim, the skin is falling off. 00:18:14.160 --> 00:18:17.440 And yet we look at them and go, yeah, it's okay. 00:18:17.519 --> 00:18:22.880 Let me help you figure out a way to live with your hand in the fire because that's really what you want to do. 00:18:23.440 --> 00:18:30.480 And I'm gonna keep helping you, even though I know that this is destroying your life. 00:18:30.720 --> 00:18:35.039 And you look, well, but my child's gonna think I'm just a bunch of rules and I'm like. 00:18:36.000 --> 00:18:41.680 Okay, that's your job, is to protect them from getting burned. 00:18:41.839 --> 00:18:49.279 And if your whole life needs to be turned upside down to keep our children from being burned, then that is what we do. 00:18:50.720 --> 00:19:02.000 Because we are not fighting against flesh and blood, but against the devil's evil schemes to destroy our life and our families' lives. 00:19:03.680 --> 00:19:09.279 So when we look at the Bible, we have to stop looking at it like it's just a bunch of rules that I gotta follow. 00:19:09.519 --> 00:19:10.319 No, hello. 00:19:10.480 --> 00:19:17.039 The creator of the universe knows what's best for his creation to keep it safe. 00:19:17.359 --> 00:19:28.480 So when you look at all the things in the Word of God and it says, don't do this or don't do that, or hey, I got a warning for this and a warning for that, it's to keep you from being burned. 00:19:28.799 --> 00:19:32.640 It's to keep you from constantly being burned. 00:19:32.880 --> 00:19:37.839 And it's to keep other people, his creation, from being burned. 00:19:38.799 --> 00:19:45.599 So let's look at the word of God as more of what's our Father in heaven trying to protect us from? 00:19:47.519 --> 00:19:54.079 We shouldn't look at it as, oh man, if God's real, he's taking all the fun out. 00:19:54.319 --> 00:19:56.160 It's really fun to be burned all the time. 00:19:56.319 --> 00:19:58.400 It's really fun to lose my heart. 00:19:58.480 --> 00:20:01.440 It's really fun to have all these troubles and anxiety. 00:20:01.599 --> 00:20:03.039 Oh, that's really that fun. 00:20:04.079 --> 00:20:06.640 No, sin's miserable. 00:20:07.359 --> 00:20:10.640 So it gives us some scriptural warnings in the spirit realm. 00:20:10.720 --> 00:20:15.279 Now I'm only going to bring up a few because they're all over the place in the Word of God. 00:20:15.839 --> 00:20:19.039 But 1 Timothy 4, chapter 1, verse 1. 00:20:19.279 --> 00:20:33.839 Now the Spirit expressively says, of course, that's the Holy Spirit talking here, that in latter times some will depart the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons. 00:20:34.559 --> 00:20:39.440 Y'all, that is in so many churches right now. 00:20:41.680 --> 00:20:47.920 My wife and daughter went to a church the other day with certain types of flags hanging all over the outside. 00:20:48.000 --> 00:20:58.559 And the moment she said it, I had a vision of the name of the church, Church of Satan, was what popped up in the vision. 00:20:59.359 --> 00:21:04.799 And yet it has a lot of members at the Church of Satan down the street. 00:21:05.839 --> 00:21:23.680 And we ourselves could do the same if we continue to walk away from spiritual things, seeing that the devil's plan is to quietly, over a number of years, get us to be okay with the things that are ungodly. 00:21:24.559 --> 00:21:30.400 Little by little by little, we could become apostate. 00:21:31.119 --> 00:21:38.559 We could become the church in Revelation that God's like, I'm gonna spew you out of my mouth. 00:21:41.039 --> 00:21:44.799 Lord, help us to never be that. 00:21:45.279 --> 00:21:59.599 Ephesians 4, chapter 14, warning us not to be tossed to and fro by the waves of carried about by every wind of doctrine, by humankunning and craftiness of deceitful schemes. 00:22:00.480 --> 00:22:13.759 And Jesus, even talking with the parable of the sower, said, and he directly warned that the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke out the word. 00:22:14.640 --> 00:22:18.400 All this noise chokes out the life. 00:22:19.039 --> 00:22:26.160 The devil's schemes are to be quiet and to let you fall into a pit. 00:22:27.200 --> 00:22:30.079 Because it's all around us. 00:22:31.359 --> 00:22:32.480 Just turn around. 00:22:32.960 --> 00:22:35.680 Follow the world for one second, and you're in its pit. 00:22:37.599 --> 00:22:41.519 So God has given us this thing of silence. 00:22:42.640 --> 00:22:46.480 And when I say this, I'm not saying that you just be quiet all the time. 00:22:46.960 --> 00:22:50.720 I'm not saying just like what we did earlier for two minutes. 00:22:50.799 --> 00:22:52.480 But yes, in prayer time we should. 00:22:53.119 --> 00:22:58.559 Problem is, is we talk too much because we're trying to fill up the space. 00:22:59.519 --> 00:23:01.039 We're not the first ones to do it. 00:23:01.200 --> 00:23:04.160 It was written about in the 12 disciples. 00:23:04.400 --> 00:23:09.440 I mean, there's Jesus on a mountaintop with Moses and and uh Elijah. 00:23:09.680 --> 00:23:13.440 And was it Peter that says, Well, do you want me to build something right now? 00:23:13.599 --> 00:23:14.880 I'll do it right now. 00:23:15.200 --> 00:23:18.720 Could you just be quiet and be here for a second? 00:23:19.920 --> 00:23:21.440 Be quiet and listen. 00:23:21.680 --> 00:23:27.119 And at that moment, was then God's voice came out, and those two disappeared and said, This is my son. 00:23:27.440 --> 00:23:28.319 Right here. 00:23:28.880 --> 00:23:29.839 Look at him. 00:23:30.799 --> 00:23:33.039 Stop just trying to work it all up all the time. 00:23:33.200 --> 00:23:35.359 Stop trying to figure out a plan. 00:23:36.079 --> 00:23:36.720 Listen. 00:23:37.680 --> 00:23:39.279 Put your eyes on him. 00:23:40.000 --> 00:23:40.799 Follow him. 00:23:41.200 --> 00:23:43.279 Well, I don't know what's going to happen next. 00:23:43.519 --> 00:23:46.000 You don't need to know what's happening next. 00:23:46.880 --> 00:23:51.519 Look upon your leader, our Savior in heaven. 00:23:52.319 --> 00:23:56.400 A few scriptures to kind of point toward that is Psalm 46, 10. 00:23:56.640 --> 00:23:58.000 She said it earlier. 00:23:58.240 --> 00:24:01.759 Be still and know that I am God. 00:24:03.440 --> 00:24:13.440 One of the good ones that I love is in Ephesians chapter 14, and Moses is leading the Israelites out to get away from Pharaoh, and Pharaoh's coming at them. 00:24:13.519 --> 00:24:15.599 And there's a huge sea in front of them. 00:24:15.920 --> 00:24:18.319 And you again kind of mentioned this as well. 00:24:18.720 --> 00:24:20.559 Mountains in our way. 00:24:20.799 --> 00:24:23.039 But here's a sea in our way. 00:24:23.920 --> 00:24:29.039 And thousands of people shouting at Moses, how could you bring us here? 00:24:29.200 --> 00:24:34.079 Was there not enough graves in Egypt that you want us to be buried here? 00:24:34.400 --> 00:24:40.000 And the noise, could you just imagine the chaos that was going on? 00:24:40.720 --> 00:24:42.799 What was Moses' words? 00:24:43.680 --> 00:24:49.440 The Lord will fight for you, and all you have to do is be silent. 00:24:50.799 --> 00:24:54.079 Did he really say that or did he look at them all and say something else? 00:24:54.240 --> 00:24:59.119 Could y'all just no, I'm won't say it because there's kids in the room, and my wife hates when I say that. 00:24:59.440 --> 00:25:05.440 So all we have to do is stay silent. 00:25:05.599 --> 00:25:09.759 When you're in the battles in our lives, remember we're in a spiritual battle. 00:25:09.920 --> 00:25:12.000 The devil's trying to grab at us. 00:25:12.319 --> 00:25:13.359 Turn to the Lord. 00:25:13.599 --> 00:25:15.839 God, I know you've won this battle. 00:25:16.160 --> 00:25:19.759 Satan, I command you to leave me alone right now in the name of Jesus. 00:25:20.240 --> 00:25:22.880 And then sit in silence and listen. 00:25:23.200 --> 00:25:25.599 God, what do you want to say right now? 00:25:26.319 --> 00:25:34.640 Are you trying to show me something in my life in this trial that I might be bringing this trial on myself over and over again? 00:25:38.880 --> 00:25:45.200 1 Kings chapter 19, Elijah looked for God in the great wind, the earthquake, the fire. 00:25:45.680 --> 00:25:49.440 God wasn't in any of the noise, he was in the low whisper. 00:25:49.680 --> 00:26:01.279 And then we even see it into the New Testament as Jesus himself, the Savior of the world, pulled away on a regular basis over and over again. 00:26:01.359 --> 00:26:03.359 We see one in Luke chapter 5. 00:26:03.680 --> 00:26:08.160 But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray. 00:26:08.400 --> 00:26:10.720 Well, I don't have time to, I'm so busy. 00:26:10.960 --> 00:26:11.599 Really? 00:26:13.039 --> 00:26:17.200 Jesus had three years to do his ministry and yet he did this all the time. 00:26:17.519 --> 00:26:19.440 Yeah, I know we're in ministry. 00:26:19.920 --> 00:26:26.319 But if we don't pull away and hear the marching orders from our Father in heaven, what are you marching for? 00:26:30.559 --> 00:26:35.200 So, as I said earlier, I'm totally dealing with this personally. 00:26:35.599 --> 00:26:44.880 To give you a little bit of confession, I even while preaching, I feel like I always have to earn something. 00:26:45.119 --> 00:26:55.279 I feel like I always have to fight through, constantly have to be filling in all the quiet times, working on projects, even here at the church. 00:26:55.519 --> 00:27:02.799 I feel like if I'm not physically doing something, then I'm not, I don't deserve to be here. 00:27:04.720 --> 00:27:08.000 But yet I have worked myself into a frenzy. 00:27:08.960 --> 00:27:11.039 How many of you are doing the same? 00:27:14.240 --> 00:27:18.640 So if I'm honest, it's not just about a strong work ethic. 00:27:19.359 --> 00:27:25.200 It's an intentional strategy to keep noise so busy that I can't face the quiet. 00:27:25.359 --> 00:27:32.559 My racing thoughts demand me to build a project because it won't be quiet. 00:27:33.279 --> 00:27:37.440 But it'll also stop me from seeing the true condition of my heart. 00:27:38.480 --> 00:27:43.440 When the Holy Spirit says, Hey son, I'm trying to get you to stop doing that. 00:27:44.079 --> 00:27:45.839 That's what's bringing this on. 00:27:46.400 --> 00:27:49.599 Hey, son, I'm trying to get you to move over here. 00:27:50.240 --> 00:27:51.759 Let someone else do that. 00:27:51.839 --> 00:27:52.960 And I don't. 00:27:55.759 --> 00:27:58.000 Silence is a gift from God. 00:27:59.359 --> 00:28:06.160 And just as much as we get up every single morning and prayerfully, this is what you do, you at least brush your teeth. 00:28:06.240 --> 00:28:13.519 I don't know, some of you are shower at night, shower in the morning, but you have personal hygiene that you do every day. 00:28:15.359 --> 00:28:20.240 Spending time with Jesus is more exp more uh important than that. 00:28:22.160 --> 00:28:27.440 If you're to go out in the world with stinky breath, it's terrible. 00:28:27.920 --> 00:28:33.359 But what's even more terrible is when we go out in the world with stinky attitudes. 00:28:35.759 --> 00:28:37.119 Not convicted. 00:28:38.880 --> 00:28:40.559 Just lukewarm. 00:28:43.359 --> 00:28:49.119 So I found five things that we can do to help battle against these things. 00:28:49.839 --> 00:28:53.200 We got to guard the gates, the eyes, and the ears. 00:28:53.440 --> 00:28:57.519 Talked a little bit about it six weeks ago, but it's good. 00:28:57.599 --> 00:28:59.920 We need to hear it on a regular basis. 00:29:00.160 --> 00:29:15.359 It is time for us to look out for what's all around us and remember that on those TV shows, the majority of them have an underlying scheme of the devil to pull you away from the Father God. 00:29:15.759 --> 00:29:22.160 TV shows are meant for you to get caught in and binge them. 00:29:23.200 --> 00:29:31.440 And then we spend eight hours in a weekend watching our favorite show, and we spend three minutes talking to the creator. 00:29:31.599 --> 00:29:35.440 And then we go, why does my life seem so upset right now? 00:29:35.680 --> 00:29:39.519 I'm just telling you my exact experience right now. 00:29:39.680 --> 00:29:41.759 I'm not pointing fingers at anyone. 00:29:42.400 --> 00:29:45.119 But if any of this steps on your toes, it's not me. 00:29:45.200 --> 00:29:46.240 I'm sorry. 00:29:47.519 --> 00:29:52.559 But we have to guard what is going on around us at all times. 00:29:52.960 --> 00:29:57.039 These are stopping us from hearing the word of God. 00:29:57.680 --> 00:29:59.039 Are you listening? 00:30:00.000 --> 00:30:02.480 This can be a great tool. 00:30:03.279 --> 00:30:04.880 It's a lousy master. 00:30:05.039 --> 00:30:07.519 One of my favorite sayings from Pastor Neil. 00:30:08.880 --> 00:30:16.960 This is ruining our lives because we're stuck on it. 00:30:18.640 --> 00:30:28.000 And when we took our two-minute little thing earlier, how many people's immediate reaction was to reach into pocket and pull out the phone? 00:30:29.920 --> 00:30:33.519 It would have been mine if I didn't know what was going on. 00:30:35.599 --> 00:30:40.640 And I know this because throughout this week I tested myself in many areas. 00:30:42.000 --> 00:30:49.599 And somehow, this thing is living, somehow, attached to my hand. 00:30:50.000 --> 00:31:01.839 And I didn't even notice the devil had put this thing into my life and got me where this was what I looked at the most. 00:31:05.440 --> 00:31:08.240 Again, be a good tool. 00:31:09.119 --> 00:31:17.599 But when it becomes the thing that we do the most, I would venture to say that might even be our God. 00:31:18.400 --> 00:31:27.680 If we pick up that phone to be entertained at every silent spot in our life, it's probably our God. 00:31:28.640 --> 00:31:43.680 Because if we spend 20 hours a week on our phone, which you would be surprised if you looked at your phone and its battery usage, uh, the average would probably be three to four hours per day of it being used. 00:31:44.960 --> 00:31:46.079 Check it out. 00:31:46.559 --> 00:31:48.559 And how much did we pray? 00:31:48.799 --> 00:31:50.480 How much do we talk to the Lord? 00:31:50.720 --> 00:31:53.279 How much do we spend that time with Jesus? 00:31:54.960 --> 00:32:00.079 Again, this is my own conviction right now, but I know I'm not alone. 00:32:00.799 --> 00:32:13.440 So we need to take a digital inventory, we need to see what's going on, we need to see what we're watching, and we need to take and remove the things that are ungodly. 00:32:13.599 --> 00:32:20.480 Psalm 101.3 says, I will set no wicked thing before my eyes. 00:32:20.960 --> 00:32:26.000 So if it pricks our conscience the first time, it won't the next. 00:32:26.160 --> 00:32:27.680 So listen the first time. 00:32:28.079 --> 00:32:29.039 Put it away. 00:32:29.279 --> 00:32:31.200 You don't need another app on your phone. 00:32:31.440 --> 00:32:32.240 You don't. 00:32:32.559 --> 00:32:34.960 We all need to go back to stinking flip phones. 00:32:35.759 --> 00:32:37.119 I wish I could. 00:32:38.240 --> 00:32:42.720 We need to schedule digital fasts to reclaim the silence. 00:32:42.960 --> 00:32:44.720 I did this some time back. 00:32:45.200 --> 00:32:47.680 And uh, well, it was during our prayer and fasting time. 00:32:47.759 --> 00:32:49.039 It's 21 days. 00:32:49.279 --> 00:32:50.720 Oh, it's amazing. 00:32:52.079 --> 00:32:53.839 And I'm gonna do it again. 00:32:54.480 --> 00:32:56.720 I'm going back to my old fossil watch. 00:32:56.799 --> 00:32:59.599 How many people from my early 2000s wear fossil, right? 00:33:00.000 --> 00:33:01.839 I'm gonna pull it out of the drawer. 00:33:02.079 --> 00:33:06.240 I gotta buy a battery, put it back in it because it's been sitting there 10 years. 00:33:06.559 --> 00:33:10.240 But I'm gonna get the distractions off of my wrist. 00:33:10.640 --> 00:33:16.079 And I'm gonna turn my phone to where it only notifies me at different times. 00:33:16.240 --> 00:33:19.200 Because why does this need to be our boss? 00:33:19.440 --> 00:33:28.000 Why do we need to let everyone in our life have access to every area of our life at all times? 00:33:29.440 --> 00:33:32.799 Your boss calls you at eight o'clock at night. 00:33:33.119 --> 00:33:33.759 Why? 00:33:34.079 --> 00:33:35.920 This is your family time. 00:33:36.640 --> 00:33:41.440 That boss does not need to call you at eight o'clock at night, and you don't need to answer it. 00:33:43.119 --> 00:33:46.880 People in your life don't have to be able to call and get you immediately. 00:33:47.039 --> 00:33:51.359 Listen, this was me just last year. 00:33:52.240 --> 00:33:55.440 You could call me and call this phone at any time. 00:33:55.519 --> 00:33:57.359 I would always answer. 00:34:00.400 --> 00:34:03.039 That's not my family deserves better than that. 00:34:04.799 --> 00:34:08.559 My wife and kids, they deserve better than that. 00:34:09.519 --> 00:34:13.360 So after 4:30, I'm sorry. 00:34:13.760 --> 00:34:16.159 I'll catch back with you at some point in time. 00:34:16.400 --> 00:34:20.159 It might be today, it might be tomorrow, it might be next week. 00:34:21.119 --> 00:34:22.800 That's just the way it is. 00:34:23.199 --> 00:34:36.400 Let's go back to the days of the 90s when I had a cord on my phone that was attached to a voicemail that I went to check a couple times a week and go, oh, dude, Uncle Dan called me four days ago. 00:34:36.639 --> 00:34:44.800 And you call him and you leave him a message, and then a month or so goes down the road and you finally talk. 00:34:45.760 --> 00:34:53.280 It was actually kind of nice to not have all of the news and everything traveling around at lightning's pace. 00:34:53.440 --> 00:34:57.679 Why do I need to know what's going on in Venezuela two seconds ago? 00:34:58.000 --> 00:34:58.639 Why? 00:34:59.440 --> 00:35:01.679 I can't do anything in Venezuela. 00:35:02.159 --> 00:35:06.960 Like, why do I need to know everything that's going on in Russia 30 seconds ago? 00:35:07.199 --> 00:35:12.000 Like, I can't do anything about it, but I can pray for them. 00:35:12.239 --> 00:35:17.599 So I don't need to sit for 30 minutes and see it all and get my brain all in a messed up place, right? 00:35:18.000 --> 00:35:21.440 So silence forces us to confront the true condition of our heart. 00:35:21.679 --> 00:35:26.239 A Holy Spirit to convict us and heal us and speak without competition. 00:35:26.559 --> 00:35:30.880 We need to put on the full, this is number three, put on the full armor of God daily. 00:35:31.119 --> 00:35:35.679 Now, if you've missed a couple of weeks of our Wednesday nights, go back, listen to them. 00:35:35.760 --> 00:35:36.480 They're talking about it. 00:35:36.559 --> 00:35:37.519 It's really great. 00:35:37.760 --> 00:35:42.000 So we need to put on all of the armor of God. 00:35:42.159 --> 00:35:45.280 And this is from later on in chapter six of Ephesians. 00:35:45.440 --> 00:35:50.800 It says, therefore, take up the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day. 00:35:50.960 --> 00:35:53.119 We are in the evil day right now. 00:35:53.280 --> 00:35:54.159 We are there. 00:35:54.320 --> 00:35:56.719 And having done all, stand firm. 00:35:56.960 --> 00:36:04.079 Stand therefore, having fastened the belt of truth, which means that we're going to have to uh push off the lies. 00:36:04.559 --> 00:36:10.159 And having put on the breastplate of righteousness, which means we're going to have to let the Lord call out sin. 00:36:11.039 --> 00:36:20.079 And as shoes for your feet, having put on readiness given by the gospel of peace, we're going to have to walk in the truth that God's got all this. 00:36:20.800 --> 00:36:40.639 In all circumstances, take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one, and take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, all times, all day, every day, all the time, with all prayer and supplication. 00:36:41.519 --> 00:36:43.760 This is putting on the armor of God. 00:36:44.159 --> 00:36:44.800 Daily. 00:36:45.039 --> 00:36:45.840 Wake up. 00:36:46.079 --> 00:36:48.480 Lord, I'm putting it on now. 00:36:48.719 --> 00:36:49.679 I need you. 00:36:51.199 --> 00:36:55.840 Number four, we need to stay anchored in the flock. 00:36:57.199 --> 00:37:03.119 Wolves go after the lone sheep standing out in the field. 00:37:03.840 --> 00:37:09.840 When that sheep got distracted, it was once apart just a couple weeks ago. 00:37:10.239 --> 00:37:14.800 But he got distracted over here and he's moving over here and he gets devoured. 00:37:15.440 --> 00:37:16.719 Completely devoured. 00:37:17.280 --> 00:37:20.239 We need to be in the flock. 00:37:20.559 --> 00:37:24.559 Because when we are together, the wolves don't want to come inside. 00:37:25.280 --> 00:37:32.719 So surround yourself with a few trusted, mature Christians who have the permission to look into your life. 00:37:33.360 --> 00:37:40.719 Listen, guys, one of the greatest freedoms that I have received in the past five years is accountability. 00:37:42.239 --> 00:37:43.119 Wait, what? 00:37:43.440 --> 00:37:47.360 You have to tell everybody your deepest, darkest stuff that you're dealing with every moment. 00:37:48.719 --> 00:37:49.840 So freeing. 00:37:50.559 --> 00:37:52.159 Because the devil can't use it anymore. 00:37:54.000 --> 00:37:55.119 It's been exposed. 00:37:55.679 --> 00:37:58.960 I've got somebody helping me to keep away from it. 00:37:59.280 --> 00:38:04.800 It is the most freeing thing that I have experienced is accountability. 00:38:05.039 --> 00:38:14.239 And if you are you or I are too prideful to let somebody into our life, then it's clear that there's a sin holding you back from God. 00:38:14.960 --> 00:38:15.840 Clear. 00:38:17.039 --> 00:38:20.159 Because you shouldn't be hiding anything. 00:38:21.679 --> 00:38:32.000 Husbands, if your wife doesn't know the code to this and have full freedom to walk through it, you need to check your spirit immediately, right now, and go repent to your wife right now. 00:38:32.239 --> 00:38:34.000 Women, the same thing. 00:38:34.639 --> 00:38:39.119 There should be no secrets between a husband and a wife. 00:38:39.440 --> 00:38:44.639 Husband and wife should be the type of friend that they know everything about everything. 00:38:44.880 --> 00:38:54.000 But you also, if you're going to have that type of relationship, you have to be all right with them screwing up every now and then because they're human. 00:38:54.800 --> 00:38:57.440 So stop condemning just because you did what? 00:38:57.760 --> 00:38:58.559 And then it's like a week. 00:38:59.039 --> 00:39:01.760 Yeah, of course he's never going to tell you what he did ever again. 00:39:02.880 --> 00:39:09.679 Because you didn't give the grace that you would hope somebody would give to you when, not if, when you do the same. 00:39:12.559 --> 00:39:15.760 So we should not have any locked areas in our life. 00:39:15.920 --> 00:39:19.280