WEBVTT 00:00:00.239 --> 00:00:03.279 Last weekend we talked about the high electric bills. 00:00:06.160 --> 00:00:09.679 We thought this was a much better way to use our money. 00:00:12.160 --> 00:00:16.559 Jesus, also known as the light of the world. 00:00:16.960 --> 00:00:21.199 In John chapter 8, verse 12, it says, I am the light of the world. 00:00:21.440 --> 00:00:28.079 If you follow me, you won't be stumbling through the darkness because you will have the light that leads to life. 00:00:28.320 --> 00:00:30.719 It's kind of awkward sitting in the dark, isn't it? 00:00:31.199 --> 00:00:34.479 We really weren't created to live our lives in the dark. 00:00:34.880 --> 00:00:41.840 This is why Jesus was saying, if you're living in darkness, it's like stumbling through life, taking small steps instead of running. 00:00:42.640 --> 00:00:48.079 Fearful of falling in a place, a trap that the enemy set for you because you can't see the next step. 00:00:48.640 --> 00:00:51.840 I don't know about you, but I remember living in the darkness. 00:00:52.240 --> 00:00:55.039 I remember living in absolute darkness. 00:00:55.280 --> 00:01:07.439 I remember walking through life looking for answers, looking at people, wondering if they had the light that I was looking for, wondering if there was a light at all, or if it was just religion. 00:01:08.239 --> 00:01:17.040 And I remember one night driving home in a pickup truck on the back roads of Louisiana. 00:01:17.840 --> 00:01:24.239 And I remember the Holy Spirit coming to me and saying, Brady, I am the light of the world. 00:01:25.280 --> 00:01:28.319 And I want to shine my light in your heart. 00:01:29.280 --> 00:01:40.799 And I got home that night, and I knelt beside my bed, and I said, Lord, I'm so tired of walking in the dark, looking for the light. 00:01:41.519 --> 00:01:45.599 Lord, if you're there, would you come right now and shine your light into my heart? 00:01:46.159 --> 00:01:47.439 And he came. 00:01:48.959 --> 00:01:56.159 You see, there's only one light that is powerful enough to penetrate the human heart. 00:01:56.640 --> 00:01:59.120 And his name is Jesus. 00:01:59.599 --> 00:02:02.319 He is the light of the world. 00:02:03.680 --> 00:02:12.080 I want you to turn in your Bible now that you can see to Matthew chapter 5 because I want you to hear, I want you to catch this morning. 00:02:12.400 --> 00:02:19.919 All of us as believers have to realize how important it is that we have the light of God in our lives. 00:02:20.400 --> 00:02:25.120 I'm only going to talk about two different types of light this morning, but I want you to really catch this in your heart. 00:02:25.280 --> 00:02:36.400 We're headed into an evangelistic series next weekend, and it is our desire, it is God's desire, more importantly, that we point thousands of people toward the light of the world. 00:02:36.479 --> 00:02:37.199 Do you agree? 00:02:37.439 --> 00:02:39.439 I want you to really pray this week. 00:02:39.680 --> 00:02:40.719 Pray, Lord. 00:02:41.039 --> 00:02:45.039 Lord, show us how to point others to the light of the world. 00:02:45.280 --> 00:02:52.800 And in Matthew chapter 5, when Jesus is talking, sometimes we read Scripture and we miss out on the practical things that God's saying. 00:02:52.879 --> 00:02:58.800 We try to spiritualize everything that we read in the Bible when a lot of times Jesus was just being practical. 00:02:59.039 --> 00:03:03.039 He just tells us in practical ways what to do to show people to Jesus. 00:03:03.199 --> 00:03:05.199 And he does this in Matthew chapter 5. 00:03:05.520 --> 00:03:07.759 Light, by the way, is always a witness. 00:03:07.919 --> 00:03:09.919 That's the first thing I want you to hear this morning. 00:03:10.080 --> 00:03:11.840 Light is always a witness. 00:03:12.080 --> 00:03:20.960 And in Matthew chapter 5, verse 14, it says, You are the light of the world, a city like a city on a mountain, glowing in the night for all to see. 00:03:21.280 --> 00:03:23.919 Don't hide your light under a basket. 00:03:24.159 --> 00:03:27.360 Instead, put it on a stand and let it shine for all. 00:03:27.680 --> 00:03:34.879 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. 00:03:35.439 --> 00:03:40.560 Jesus is saying to us this morning, there are things that you should be doing in your life. 00:03:41.039 --> 00:03:41.680 Doing it. 00:03:41.840 --> 00:03:42.159 Deeds. 00:03:42.319 --> 00:03:43.439 Deeds are things that you do. 00:03:43.520 --> 00:03:44.479 Do you agree with that? 00:03:44.719 --> 00:03:52.319 He is saying there should be things that you are doing in your life that point people to the light that you already have in your own heart. 00:03:52.479 --> 00:03:54.800 Because no one wants to live in darkness. 00:03:55.039 --> 00:03:58.800 Jesus said in John chapter 8, we read that at the beginning of the sermon. 00:03:59.039 --> 00:04:02.159 John chapter 8, he says, I am the light of the world. 00:04:02.400 --> 00:04:06.800 In Matthew chapter 5, he looks at all of us and says, Now you are the light of the world. 00:04:07.039 --> 00:04:08.479 Do you know why he said that? 00:04:08.719 --> 00:04:12.159 Because the responsibility to witness has now shifted. 00:04:12.560 --> 00:04:17.279 Jesus is not coming to the earth to personally witness to your children. 00:04:17.680 --> 00:04:24.319 Jesus is not coming back to the earth in bodily form to personally witness to the people at work for you. 00:04:24.800 --> 00:04:28.879 Jesus is not coming back in bodily form and witnessing to your neighbors. 00:04:29.120 --> 00:04:33.360 Jesus did not die so that we could join the witness protection program. 00:04:34.160 --> 00:04:36.879 He doesn't need it, he undercover believers. 00:04:37.439 --> 00:04:39.360 Jesus needs us to be a witness. 00:04:39.439 --> 00:04:45.839 And he says there are practical things that I want you to do that point people to the life that you have in your heart. 00:04:46.079 --> 00:04:50.319 He says, to let your good deeds shine out for everyone to see. 00:04:50.560 --> 00:05:04.160 And I believe that sometimes we think that witnessing is knocking on someone's door, a stranger, handing a track to them, having to explain deep theological truth, having to answer all the questions about Christianity. 00:05:04.240 --> 00:05:16.480 And so because of that, because we don't want to knock on someone's door, we don't want to get into an argument, so we just back away altogether from witnessing and assume that someone else will share the light with those in darkness. 00:05:16.800 --> 00:05:21.199 You see, I believe that there are three very practical ways that we can be witnesses. 00:05:21.360 --> 00:05:22.800 That we can actually share the light. 00:05:22.959 --> 00:05:27.439 The first one is that our light, our attitude should reflect the light. 00:05:27.680 --> 00:05:34.959 If there were ever a group of people on the earth that should have the best attitude available, it should be believers, right? 00:05:35.199 --> 00:05:43.120 I mean, we should have the best possible attitude because, let's just take the first three fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, and peace. 00:05:43.360 --> 00:05:51.120 If those three things really are fruits, if they are really growing in your life, if they really are the fruits of your life, love, joy, and peace. 00:05:51.279 --> 00:05:53.040 Not to mention all the others, the good ones. 00:05:53.199 --> 00:05:54.079 Love, joy, and peace. 00:05:54.160 --> 00:05:55.199 Let's just take the top three. 00:05:55.279 --> 00:05:56.480 Work on those today. 00:05:56.800 --> 00:06:08.720 Our attitudes, no matter what's happening around us, if we're filled with love and filled with joy and filled with peace, our attitude should reflect the light of people around us. 00:06:08.959 --> 00:06:14.000 When everyone else has a bad attitude, they should look at us and say, what's different about you? 00:06:14.399 --> 00:06:20.959 Our attitudes, not our words, not our deep theology, just our attitudes, the way we respond to life. 00:06:21.199 --> 00:06:26.959 The second way that I believe that God practically helps is our words should reflect the light. 00:06:27.199 --> 00:06:36.399 For example, if you have one of those little fish emblems on the back of your car, don't yell at someone while at a red light. 00:06:37.439 --> 00:06:44.240 If you have an I love Jesus button on your shirt, don't get into an argument at Costco. 00:06:44.639 --> 00:06:50.160 If you have a WWJD bracelet, don't get into a verbal fight. 00:06:50.240 --> 00:06:52.319 That's not what Jesus would do. 00:06:53.920 --> 00:06:56.399 Our words should reflect the light. 00:06:56.639 --> 00:07:00.560 What we say should carry tremendous weight with people. 00:07:00.720 --> 00:07:01.759 Let me ask you a question. 00:07:01.920 --> 00:07:03.680 Are your words weighty? 00:07:04.480 --> 00:07:07.759 Do you have the weight of God on the words that you speak? 00:07:08.000 --> 00:07:11.839 Because they should be reflecting the light of the creator of the universe. 00:07:12.079 --> 00:07:16.000 Here's the third thing: our actions should reflect the light. 00:07:16.240 --> 00:07:19.279 Now I'm married to the most honest woman on the earth. 00:07:19.519 --> 00:07:20.399 Pam's here today. 00:07:20.560 --> 00:07:21.759 We've been married 17 years. 00:07:21.839 --> 00:07:28.720 In 17 years of marriage, I've not even suspected that she's ever even stretched the truth with me, much less ever lied. 00:07:28.959 --> 00:07:31.279 Last Saturday night, we had some guests at our house. 00:07:31.439 --> 00:07:36.639 Pam had to run by Target, Super Target, that super mega Target, and pick up some things. 00:07:36.800 --> 00:07:43.199 So she's walking down the produce aisle and she said, Brady, I found some money at Target. 00:07:43.279 --> 00:07:46.319 It was like a$20 bill wrapped around a stack, a wad of money. 00:07:46.399 --> 00:07:49.120 It was laying on the on the produce floor, aisle floor. 00:07:49.279 --> 00:07:50.720 I said, Well, where is it? 00:07:54.560 --> 00:07:57.360 Husbands, how many of you would have asked the first question, where is it? 00:07:57.519 --> 00:07:58.879 How much was it? 00:07:59.360 --> 00:08:01.040 She said, Well, Brady, I didn't pick it up. 00:08:01.120 --> 00:08:02.079 It's not mine. 00:08:04.480 --> 00:08:06.639 Pam, it was laying there on the floor. 00:08:06.879 --> 00:08:10.000 Could it been that God was leaving some manna from heaven for you? 00:08:13.680 --> 00:08:17.519 She said, Brady, it's not my money. 00:08:17.759 --> 00:08:19.439 I said, Well, what did you do? 00:08:19.680 --> 00:08:25.040 She said, I went to the produce manager, the guy working there, and I said, Hey, there's some wad of money laying over there. 00:08:25.120 --> 00:08:27.120 You might want to pick that up and find out who it belongs to. 00:08:27.199 --> 00:08:29.199 I said, Well, I know who it belongs to now. 00:08:31.279 --> 00:08:34.960 Couldn't you have maybe given it to him and said, listen, you know, put this in an envelope. 00:08:35.039 --> 00:08:37.919 If nobody comes back to claim it in seven days, I'll be back. 00:08:38.639 --> 00:08:41.919 How many of you are going to go to the super target produce aisle today? 00:08:42.559 --> 00:08:44.080 Here's what Pam said. 00:08:44.320 --> 00:08:47.519 Brady, the Lord has so blessed us. 00:08:47.759 --> 00:08:50.320 Somebody else needs that money more than us. 00:08:51.759 --> 00:08:53.679 What do you say after that? 00:08:54.559 --> 00:08:56.240 Yes, Pam, you're right. 00:08:56.559 --> 00:09:00.320 The issue is this it's not that you have to do exactly what Pam did. 00:09:00.559 --> 00:09:07.039 But our actions, the way we behave, the things that we do should reflect the light. 00:09:07.279 --> 00:09:09.519 And you don't have to reflect much light today. 00:09:09.600 --> 00:09:10.399 Do you know that? 00:09:10.639 --> 00:09:16.720 Just a glimmer of light would shine really bright right now because we're living in a really dark world. 00:09:17.039 --> 00:09:20.559 You don't have to glow, just have a flicker every once in a while. 00:09:20.799 --> 00:09:22.399 A little spark would help. 00:09:22.559 --> 00:09:24.240 Just a little bit of light. 00:09:24.480 --> 00:09:27.360 Because light is always a witness. 00:09:28.000 --> 00:09:31.840 Second thing I want you to hear this morning is light always wins. 00:09:32.480 --> 00:09:33.600 Light always wins. 00:09:33.679 --> 00:09:44.480 Now in John chapter 1, verse 1 through 5, these five verses in John chapter 1, you literally can write thousands of pages of theological insight from these five scriptures. 00:09:44.639 --> 00:09:45.840 Let's read it together. 00:09:46.080 --> 00:09:49.200 In the beginning, the word already existed. 00:09:49.360 --> 00:09:52.000 So it answers the question about how old is Jesus? 00:09:52.320 --> 00:09:54.639 He was with God, and he was God. 00:09:54.799 --> 00:09:57.279 So it answers the question: how can you have three and one? 00:09:57.440 --> 00:10:01.759 The Trinity can be three separate, distinct identities, but be one God. 00:10:02.000 --> 00:10:03.679 He was in the beginning with God. 00:10:03.840 --> 00:10:06.000 He created everything there is. 00:10:06.240 --> 00:10:08.720 Nothing exists that he didn't make. 00:10:09.120 --> 00:10:14.320 Life itself was in him, and this life gives light to everyone. 00:10:14.559 --> 00:10:21.120 And the light shines through the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. 00:10:21.440 --> 00:10:24.720 And what he's saying is that light always wins. 00:10:24.960 --> 00:10:31.519 Do you know that there are two opposing forces right now that are competing for your mind and your thoughts, your emotions, for your life? 00:10:31.759 --> 00:10:34.960 There's the forces of darkness and there's the forces of light. 00:10:35.200 --> 00:10:39.279 Both of those things are competing for your family, for you, and for your home. 00:10:39.519 --> 00:10:41.200 How do you know the difference? 00:10:41.440 --> 00:10:43.279 How do you know what's dark and what's light? 00:10:43.360 --> 00:10:46.480 If those two things are competing, we need to know what they look like and what they are. 00:10:46.799 --> 00:10:49.360 I'm trying to make this very simple to you this morning. 00:10:49.600 --> 00:10:56.399 Darkness is anything that's not submitted to the Lordship of Jesus Christ and does not obey the Word of God. 00:10:56.639 --> 00:11:06.639 Anything that does not submit to the Lordship of Jesus Christ or is submitted to the Word of God, which by the way, those things have to both happen at one time, and they will. 00:11:06.799 --> 00:11:09.279 If they can't do that, it's darkness. 00:11:09.519 --> 00:11:22.399 Now listen, God Himself gave the devil and all of his demonic forces permission, temporary permission, by the way, to inhabit any area of darkness that they can find. 00:11:22.559 --> 00:11:24.240 But they cannot come into the light. 00:11:24.480 --> 00:11:26.399 They don't want to come into the light. 00:11:26.720 --> 00:11:33.039 So they have permission, according to Scripture, to inhabit any place of darkness. 00:11:33.840 --> 00:11:34.799 And they do. 00:11:35.039 --> 00:11:40.320 And those areas of darkness, by the way, can be in the hearts of believers. 00:11:41.039 --> 00:11:44.720 How many of you have sinned since you were born again? 00:11:45.279 --> 00:11:45.679 Good. 00:11:45.840 --> 00:11:46.320 Half of us. 00:11:46.399 --> 00:11:49.120 The other half, if they didn't raise your hand, you just sinned. 00:11:51.759 --> 00:11:58.720 So all of us, did you realize that once you were born again, in fact, sometimes we thought we were doing pretty good until we were born again. 00:11:58.799 --> 00:12:01.600 Then we realized I'm messed up. 00:12:02.480 --> 00:12:05.679 I realized I have things I need to work on in my life. 00:12:05.840 --> 00:12:10.480 The Holy Spirit will not let you stay the same after you're born again. 00:12:10.639 --> 00:12:13.200 This is what we call sanctification. 00:12:13.440 --> 00:12:17.840 That's a big word, a big religious term, but we need to know what that means. 00:12:18.159 --> 00:12:22.960 This term means simply this: Jesus will not let you stay the way you are. 00:12:23.279 --> 00:12:35.919 He is going to continually shine his light into every dark part of your heart until there are no more dark places so that you can look more and more like Jesus the older that you get. 00:12:36.559 --> 00:12:38.000 That's sanctification. 00:12:38.240 --> 00:12:51.440 That's the process of the Holy Spirit coming to you, convicting you, changing you, so that you can look like Jesus more and more and more and more as you get older. 00:12:52.159 --> 00:12:53.759 And that's what that means. 00:12:54.080 --> 00:13:04.639 Now, the enemy, by the way, when he's in an area of darkness, when he has given permission to inhabit an area of darkness, he torments people that have darkness in their heart. 00:13:04.720 --> 00:13:06.879 And listen, I want you to really catch this today. 00:13:07.200 --> 00:13:09.919 Satan is a master tormentor. 00:13:10.559 --> 00:13:13.840 In fact, he's the one that created torment. 00:13:14.720 --> 00:13:16.960 He is the one that is the best at it. 00:13:17.120 --> 00:13:20.399 God, in his nature, cannot torment you. 00:13:20.720 --> 00:13:21.919 God is love. 00:13:22.480 --> 00:13:24.000 God is peace. 00:13:24.320 --> 00:13:25.759 God is grace. 00:13:26.080 --> 00:13:28.799 God is not the one who torments people. 00:13:29.039 --> 00:13:32.159 It's Satan and his enemies that torment people. 00:13:32.559 --> 00:13:37.840 And they can only torment people that have areas of darkness in their life. 00:13:38.080 --> 00:13:44.879 If you know that there's a broken relationship in your life and you're doing nothing about it, you know that you have unforgiveness. 00:13:45.120 --> 00:13:47.120 You know that you have an issue with anger. 00:13:47.279 --> 00:13:52.960 You know that you have an addiction that needs to be brought under control, then you know that that's an area of darkness. 00:13:53.120 --> 00:13:59.360 And the enemy will come to that place of darkness in your life because he has permission to abide there. 00:13:59.679 --> 00:14:02.240 He has your permission to be there. 00:14:03.039 --> 00:14:12.320 And he'll stay there and torment you and torment you and torment you until you get tired of being tormented and you say, enough of this. 00:14:12.559 --> 00:14:14.000 I need the light. 00:14:14.320 --> 00:14:17.120 I want the light to shine on that darkness. 00:14:17.440 --> 00:14:18.320 Here's what happens. 00:14:18.399 --> 00:14:19.840 I want to show it to you in Scripture. 00:14:20.000 --> 00:14:22.399 Let me show you the first step of shining the light. 00:14:22.480 --> 00:14:25.200 It's found in Psalms 119, 105. 00:14:25.919 --> 00:14:32.720 Here's what this scripture says: Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. 00:14:33.039 --> 00:14:37.200 Darkness is defeated when it is exposed to the light of Scripture. 00:14:37.360 --> 00:14:38.240 Here's another scripture. 00:14:38.320 --> 00:14:40.399 It's not in your bulletin, but I want you to write it down. 00:14:40.559 --> 00:14:42.159 Hebrews 4.12. 00:14:42.559 --> 00:14:46.159 For the word of God is full of living power. 00:14:46.399 --> 00:14:52.720 It is sharper than the sharpest knife, cutting deep into our innermost thoughts and desires. 00:14:52.960 --> 00:14:59.279 In other words, when we read scripture, when we open the Bible and read scripture, this is not just ink and paper. 00:14:59.519 --> 00:15:02.240 This is a living, breathing organism. 00:15:02.399 --> 00:15:04.399 It is God speaking to us. 00:15:04.559 --> 00:15:05.360 It's alive. 00:15:05.519 --> 00:15:12.000 And when you read this scripture, any part of it, it has the ability to go to the very deep place of our thoughts. 00:15:12.320 --> 00:15:16.720 The Bible says, one translation says it's able to separate your motives. 00:15:16.799 --> 00:15:20.960 In other words, it's able to separate what's good and separate what's bad. 00:15:21.200 --> 00:15:29.759 By reading the word, the power of the Holy Spirit, that by the way, moved men to write this word, is still alive and active today when you read it. 00:15:30.000 --> 00:15:32.159 And it has the ability to come into your heart. 00:15:32.240 --> 00:15:36.960 In fact, every place that I've ever discovered darkness, I found because I read the word. 00:15:37.600 --> 00:15:41.759 I read the word, I discovered that I had an area of darkness. 00:15:42.000 --> 00:15:54.559 Now, it also says in Proverbs 20, 27 that the Lord's searchlight penetrates the human spirit, exposing every hidden motive. 00:15:55.279 --> 00:16:01.759 Now, I want you not to see this because you think God's mad at you, because God's trying to find something wrong with you. 00:16:02.000 --> 00:16:06.080 Listen, it's God's grace that he shines light on you. 00:16:06.879 --> 00:16:11.600 It is because of God's mercy that he shines light into the dark places of your heart. 00:16:11.759 --> 00:16:12.799 Do you know why? 00:16:13.279 --> 00:16:18.480 If you have a place of darkness, that's where the enemy will torment you. 00:16:19.120 --> 00:16:21.519 And you wouldn't want anyone to torment your children. 00:16:21.759 --> 00:16:24.879 Would you give someone permission to torment your children? 00:16:25.120 --> 00:16:33.120 If someone said, I want to torment your child for the next three weeks, you would never give anyone permission to torment your children. 00:16:33.440 --> 00:16:41.440 That's why God, in his mercy, in his grace, does not want the enemy to torment you and I. 00:16:42.000 --> 00:16:49.919 He does not want you to give the enemy permission to come and to ruin your heart and ruin your life, to ruin your emotions. 00:16:50.159 --> 00:16:59.360 So he sent his word, and in his word, he gave the word ability, the ability to shine the spotlight into every dark part of our hearts. 00:16:59.600 --> 00:17:03.360 So guess what the enemy would want you to do if you have areas of darkness? 00:17:03.600 --> 00:17:06.559 Above all costs, keep them away from the word. 00:17:07.359 --> 00:17:20.160 Keep them away from the word, because if they ever hear the word or read the word, if they're ever exposed to the word of God, the word of God's going to shine a spotlight on this dark place that we have inhabited. 00:17:20.400 --> 00:17:25.599 And when it shines the spotlight on this dark place, we can no longer abide here. 00:17:25.839 --> 00:17:27.039 We can't stay here. 00:17:27.200 --> 00:17:33.519 So at all cost, keep them away from the spoken or written word of God. 00:17:34.480 --> 00:17:40.559 It's critical that we expose ourselves to the Holy Spirit and to the Word of God on a regular basis. 00:17:40.799 --> 00:17:46.880 Many of us are better at taking care of our cars and our yards than we are taking care of our soul. 00:17:47.440 --> 00:17:55.279 Of maintaining a healthy yard or a healthy car than we are maintaining healthy emotions and healthy thoughts. 00:17:55.839 --> 00:18:00.400 And so I remember when the Lord really began to show me that I had dark corners. 00:18:00.640 --> 00:18:04.640 And literally, this is what he said to me, Brady, there are dark corners of your life. 00:18:04.880 --> 00:18:07.359 There are places in your life, there's a lot of light. 00:18:07.519 --> 00:18:11.440 You've allowed a lot of light to come into your heart, but there are some dark corners, Brady. 00:18:11.839 --> 00:18:14.880 In fact, he took me to Luke chapter 11, verse 36. 00:18:15.039 --> 00:18:24.000 And he says, if you are filled with light, with no dark corners, then your whole life will be radiant. 00:18:24.319 --> 00:18:27.119 As though a floodlight is shining on you. 00:18:27.440 --> 00:18:28.720 Let me ask you a question. 00:18:28.960 --> 00:18:35.680 If a floodlight is shining on me, and there are no dark corners, here's the good news. 00:18:36.240 --> 00:18:40.319 The enemy cannot inhabit any part of my life. 00:18:40.880 --> 00:18:42.960 And he cannot torment me. 00:18:43.759 --> 00:18:47.519 And I'm telling you, I have lived a life of torment before. 00:18:47.680 --> 00:18:49.599 I have been tormented in my thinking. 00:18:49.759 --> 00:18:51.599 My emotions have been tormented. 00:18:51.759 --> 00:18:56.240 I have awakened in the middle of the night being tormented about my future, about my past. 00:18:57.200 --> 00:19:02.400 Torment and blessing are as far apart on the spectrum as you can get. 00:19:02.720 --> 00:19:14.559 And you can choose today to either stay in darkness and continue to give the enemy permission to torment you, or you can choose today to step into the light, and the torment stops immediately. 00:19:15.119 --> 00:19:17.680 And so I remember, Lord, then teach me how to pray. 00:19:17.759 --> 00:19:18.880 Lord, I've read your word. 00:19:19.119 --> 00:19:20.480 I see the dark corners. 00:19:20.720 --> 00:19:22.000 Lord, show me how to pray. 00:19:22.160 --> 00:19:24.400 Show me how to give myself soul care. 00:19:24.640 --> 00:19:26.480 Tell me how to take care of my soul. 00:19:26.640 --> 00:19:29.359 What's the regular maintenance that you want me to have? 00:19:29.519 --> 00:19:32.799 The way I regularly change the oil in my car every 3,000 miles. 00:19:32.960 --> 00:19:36.799 Lord, I want to regularly maintain the condition of my heart. 00:19:36.960 --> 00:19:38.799 And so the Lord showed me how to pray. 00:19:38.960 --> 00:19:40.240 And it's found throughout Scripture. 00:19:40.480 --> 00:19:42.400 I wrote it down and it's in your sermon notes this morning. 00:19:42.480 --> 00:19:43.279 And I want you to read this. 00:19:43.359 --> 00:19:45.039 This is the way I pray in my quiet time. 00:19:45.119 --> 00:19:49.599 Now I don't get this out and read it, but this is generally how I pray every morning. 00:19:49.920 --> 00:19:52.160 I believe your word is truth. 00:19:52.480 --> 00:19:59.440 Therefore, I ask the Holy Spirit to shine his light into every dark area of my soul. 00:19:59.680 --> 00:20:04.160 I will not hide and I will not withdraw from your holy presence. 00:20:04.480 --> 00:20:08.240 Expose and remove all the darkness in my life. 00:20:08.480 --> 00:20:14.640 I give the Holy Spirit permission to establish the kingdom of Jesus Christ in every part of my life. 00:20:14.880 --> 00:20:17.119 I do not want any dark corners. 00:20:17.359 --> 00:20:19.759 I want to be filled with light. 00:20:20.079 --> 00:20:21.680 Lord, I'm not running from you. 00:20:21.839 --> 00:20:23.279 Lord, I'm not hiding from you. 00:20:23.440 --> 00:20:25.200 Lord, I'm here in front of you right now. 00:20:25.440 --> 00:20:29.440 Lord, as I read your word, I realize there are dark places in my heart. 00:20:29.599 --> 00:20:31.440 Lord, I give you permission right now. 00:20:31.680 --> 00:20:35.200 If you'll just give him permission, all you have to do is agree with him. 00:20:35.519 --> 00:20:37.920 You don't have to do any special works for him. 00:20:38.079 --> 00:20:39.599 You don't have to impress God. 00:20:39.759 --> 00:20:41.599 You simply have to give him permission. 00:20:41.839 --> 00:20:44.720 And then he comes and the torment stops. 00:20:44.960 --> 00:20:47.039 That sounds simple, but it is that simple. 00:20:47.359 --> 00:20:50.400 Jesus, listen, he has already defeated the enemy at the cross. 00:20:50.720 --> 00:20:52.319 The enemy is already defeated. 00:20:52.480 --> 00:20:58.000 And the only permission the enemy has to torment us is the permission that we have now given back to him. 00:20:58.400 --> 00:21:05.039 Because at the cross, all of the authority and all of the permission to torment people was taken away. 00:21:05.279 --> 00:21:11.519 And the only authority that they have to torment us again after the cross is the permission that we give them. 00:21:11.680 --> 00:21:13.440 And the authority that we give them. 00:21:13.759 --> 00:21:15.680 I hope you're catching this this morning. 00:21:15.839 --> 00:21:20.480 I'm telling you, it could absolutely change your life if you'll begin to walk in the light. 00:21:20.720 --> 00:21:23.599 Stumbling through life in the darkness is no fun. 00:21:23.839 --> 00:21:27.440 But walking with the light is real joy and real peace. 00:21:27.759 --> 00:21:29.519 I really appreciate the last four weeks. 00:21:29.599 --> 00:21:31.359 He letting me just share my heart about Jesus. 00:21:31.440 --> 00:21:34.319 I hope that you're thinking about Jesus more often. 00:21:34.559 --> 00:21:35.759 I really appreciate it. 00:21:35.920 --> 00:21:36.799 Thank you. 00:21:39.279 --> 00:21:40.640 Thank you very much. 00:21:42.160 --> 00:21:47.759 But four weeks, as I said in the beginning, that four weeks, 350 names and descriptions of Jesus. 00:21:47.839 --> 00:21:51.119 There's no way that I can cover that in four weeks. 00:21:51.279 --> 00:21:54.880 But I heard a sermon recently, it's a tape of a sermon from a man named S. 00:21:55.039 --> 00:21:55.119 M. 00:21:55.200 --> 00:21:56.160 Lockridge. 00:21:56.400 --> 00:21:59.839 He was a pastor for 40 years at Calvary Baptist Church. 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:01.279 Church in San Diego. 00:22:01.519 --> 00:22:06.240 And he preached one of the greatest messages I've ever heard on the names of Jesus. 00:22:06.400 --> 00:22:09.599 And I'm going to show you about a three-minute clip of this message. 00:22:09.759 --> 00:22:16.079 And it's the best three-minute message on the names and descriptions of Jesus that I've ever heard in my life. 00:22:16.319 --> 00:22:18.079 And I heard it for the first time just a few weeks ago. 00:22:18.240 --> 00:22:18.559 S.M. 00:22:18.640 --> 00:22:22.000 Lockridge has been dead now for almost six years. 00:22:22.240 --> 00:22:25.039 But his message still has the life of God on it. 00:22:25.119 --> 00:22:26.240 And I hope you enjoy it this morning. 00:22:26.319 --> 00:22:27.599 Let's watch it on the video. 00:22:29.920 --> 00:22:34.000 The Bible said, My King is the King of the Jews. 00:22:34.559 --> 00:22:36.720 He's the king of Israel. 00:22:36.880 --> 00:22:38.880 He's the king of righteousness. 00:22:39.039 --> 00:22:40.640 He's the king of the ages. 00:22:40.799 --> 00:22:42.160 He's the king of heaven. 00:22:42.400 --> 00:22:44.000 He's the king of glory. 00:22:44.240 --> 00:22:45.920 He's the king of kings. 00:22:46.079 --> 00:22:48.640 And he's the Lord of Lords. 00:22:48.880 --> 00:22:50.240 That my king. 00:22:50.559 --> 00:22:52.079 I wonder, do you know him? 00:22:52.720 --> 00:22:58.720 He's the greatest phenomenon that has ever crossed the horizon of this world. 00:22:58.880 --> 00:23:00.480 He's God's Son. 00:23:00.720 --> 00:23:02.480 He's a sinner's savior. 00:23:02.640 --> 00:23:05.599 He's the set of beast of civilization. 00:23:05.920 --> 00:23:07.680 He's unparalleled. 00:23:07.920 --> 00:23:09.519 He's unprecedented. 00:23:09.920 --> 00:23:13.119 He is the lostest idea in literature. 00:23:13.279 --> 00:23:16.720 He's the highest personality in philosophy. 00:23:16.880 --> 00:23:20.319 He's the fundamental doctrine of true theology. 00:23:20.559 --> 00:23:25.839 He's the only one qualified to be an all-sufficient savior. 00:23:26.079 --> 00:23:28.160 I wonder if you know him today. 00:23:28.400 --> 00:23:30.160 He heals the sick. 00:23:34.400 --> 00:23:36.400 He discharges debtors. 00:23:36.559 --> 00:23:38.319 He delivers the captives. 00:23:38.480 --> 00:23:40.240 He defends the feeble. 00:23:40.480 --> 00:23:42.160 He blesses the young. 00:23:42.400 --> 00:23:44.400 He serves the unfortunate. 00:23:44.640 --> 00:23:46.480 He regards the age. 00:23:46.960 --> 00:23:49.440 He's the doorway of deliverance. 00:23:49.599 --> 00:23:51.759 He's the pathway of peace. 00:23:52.000 --> 00:23:54.319 He's the roadway of righteousness. 00:23:54.559 --> 00:23:56.799 He's the highway of holiness. 00:23:56.960 --> 00:23:59.200 He's the gateway of glory. 00:23:59.359 --> 00:24:00.480 Do you know him? 00:24:00.960 --> 00:24:03.839 Well, his life is matchless. 00:24:04.160 --> 00:24:06.160 His goodness is limitless. 00:24:06.400 --> 00:24:08.720 His mercy is everlasting. 00:24:08.960 --> 00:24:11.200 His love never changes. 00:24:13.599 --> 00:24:15.599 His grace is sufficient. 00:24:15.920 --> 00:24:17.839 His reign is righteous. 00:24:18.000 --> 00:24:20.160 And his yoke is easy. 00:24:20.319 --> 00:24:22.640 And his burden is lighter. 00:24:23.039 --> 00:24:25.440 I wish I could describe him to you. 00:24:25.599 --> 00:24:26.000 Yes. 00:24:26.160 --> 00:24:27.920 He's indescribable. 00:24:28.319 --> 00:24:30.400 He's incomprehensible. 00:24:30.640 --> 00:24:32.240 He's invincible. 00:24:32.480 --> 00:24:34.000 He's irresistible. 00:24:34.160 --> 00:24:36.319 You can't get him out of your mind. 00:24:37.519 --> 00:24:39.599 You can't get him off of your hand. 00:24:39.839 --> 00:24:43.359 You can't outlive him and you can't live without him. 00:24:43.599 --> 00:24:49.519 Well, the Pharisees couldn't stand him, but they found out they couldn't stop him. 00:24:50.720 --> 00:24:52.640 Couldn't find any fault in him. 00:24:52.880 --> 00:24:54.880 Herod couldn't kill him. 00:24:55.200 --> 00:24:56.880 Death couldn't handle him. 00:24:57.039 --> 00:24:59.359 And the brave couldn't hold him. 00:25:43.680 --> 00:25:45.279 He is the Prince of Peace. 00:25:45.599 --> 00:25:47.279 He's the light of the world. 00:25:47.519 --> 00:25:49.200 I'm so grateful I know him. 00:25:50.079 --> 00:25:52.240 So grateful he lives in my life. 00:25:52.640 --> 00:25:55.279 Would you just close your eyes for a moment this morning? 00:25:55.599 --> 00:26:00.319 In fact, I want the altar ministry team to come forward right now, and I need every one of you to come today. 00:26:01.039 --> 00:26:12.079 Because I know in a crowd this size that there are many of you today who you realize maybe for the first time today that there are a lot of dark corners that you want the light of the Holy Spirit to shine on you. 00:26:12.720 --> 00:26:14.480 And Jesus is here today. 00:26:14.640 --> 00:26:22.880 His Spirit, He's alive and well, and He's here today to shine the light of His Holy Spirit into every dark corner of our lives. 00:26:24.319 --> 00:26:26.000 This is a prayer that I pray all the time. 00:26:26.240 --> 00:26:28.880 I ask the Lord, Lord, shine your light into my heart. 00:26:29.279 --> 00:26:30.640 I don't want to be deceived. 00:26:30.799 --> 00:26:32.160 I want to know the truth. 00:26:32.319 --> 00:26:35.119 I don't want to walk in darkness any longer. 00:26:36.559 --> 00:26:46.319 How many of you are here today and you know in your heart that the Holy Spirit is making you aware of a dark place in your heart and you need the light of the Holy Spirit to shine on you? 00:26:46.640 --> 00:26:49.119 Would you lift your hand and just be agree with God? 00:26:49.599 --> 00:26:51.200 Just agree with the Holy Spirit? 00:26:51.279 --> 00:26:55.200 And just keep your hands up and just begin to pray that prayer that I just told you how to pray. 00:26:55.359 --> 00:26:56.319 Lord, I give you permission. 00:26:56.400 --> 00:27:00.880 If all you can say is, Lord, I give you permission, that will be enough for you to pray today. 00:27:01.039 --> 00:27:05.119 If you can get those words out of your mouth, Lord, I give you permission. 00:27:05.599 --> 00:27:13.519 Jesus, I give you permission to shine the light of your Holy Spirit into every dark corner of my life. 00:27:14.160 --> 00:27:20.480 Lord, with our hands lifted, we are aware today that in darkness there is torment. 00:27:20.960 --> 00:27:25.680 But in light there is life and joy and peace. 00:27:26.079 --> 00:27:32.640 And Lord, today, with our hands lifted up, we choose today to walk in light and not in darkness. 00:27:32.880 --> 00:27:36.079 We choose today to live in the light of your truth. 00:27:36.480 --> 00:27:45.839 We choose today to allow your Holy Spirit to shine like a spotlight, like a floodlight into every part of our lives. 00:27:46.079 --> 00:27:47.680 We receive your light today. 00:27:47.759 --> 00:27:49.440