WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.919 I tell you what, if you've been missing these services, you've been missing a lot. 00:00:05.040 --> 00:00:10.720 God's been pouring out his spirit and he's been doing something real for his people and showing himself to his people once again. 00:00:13.599 --> 00:00:24.480 As they make the grand escape, tell you what, it takes a man of skill to get at all them wires and straps and everything else and get off the stage without tripping over something. 00:00:26.000 --> 00:00:30.879 If you have your way, just go ahead and fall forward in the arms right to the altar, brother. 00:00:31.679 --> 00:00:32.640 Go ahead. 00:00:33.200 --> 00:00:38.159 If you have your Bible today, look with me in 1 Corinthians chapter 16, verse 13. 00:00:43.039 --> 00:00:45.679 If you're already there, say amen. 00:00:46.079 --> 00:00:47.840 If you need more time, say hold up. 00:00:48.560 --> 00:00:49.359 I got you. 00:00:57.439 --> 00:01:00.960 Like Brother Vernon said, if you don't have a church home, welcome home. 00:01:03.359 --> 00:01:08.319 If you didn't notice, we like having fun, but we also stick to the scripture and what the word of God says. 00:01:08.719 --> 00:01:11.920 And anything outside of that will not be coming from this pulpit. 00:01:12.959 --> 00:01:14.799 We believe that the word of God is infallible. 00:01:14.879 --> 00:01:15.280 It is true. 00:01:15.359 --> 00:01:17.840 It is the one true source of all knowledge and truth. 00:01:18.000 --> 00:01:19.439 There is no other truth. 00:01:19.760 --> 00:01:23.519 Doesn't matter what your opinion and feelings say about it, it doesn't matter what the culture says. 00:01:23.680 --> 00:01:27.040 There is only one truth, and it comes from God, and it comes from the word. 00:01:27.359 --> 00:01:31.760 And we do not bend and we do not let the culture influence the church. 00:01:31.920 --> 00:01:34.400 The church needs to be influencing the culture. 00:01:37.200 --> 00:01:48.239 1 Corinthians chapter 16, verse 13, it says, Be on guard, stand firm in the faith, be courageous, and be strong. 00:01:48.480 --> 00:01:49.120 Let's pray. 00:01:49.200 --> 00:01:51.359 Father, we thank you so much for your presence. 00:01:51.599 --> 00:01:56.239 I pray, God, that the hardest of hearts here today, that your word penetrate. 00:01:57.519 --> 00:02:01.280 Let my mouth be the mouthpiece of the Lord today. 00:02:01.519 --> 00:02:06.719 Let lives be transformed, let spirits be renewed, let minds be regenerated. 00:02:06.799 --> 00:02:08.319 In the name of Jesus, we pray. 00:02:08.560 --> 00:02:09.199 Amen. 00:02:09.680 --> 00:02:10.800 You may be seated. 00:02:10.960 --> 00:02:13.759 Now, we're going to do a small little recap. 00:02:13.840 --> 00:02:15.599 If you anybody here last week? 00:02:16.319 --> 00:02:16.800 Anybody? 00:02:17.039 --> 00:02:19.039 We got some that were, some that weren't. 00:02:19.199 --> 00:02:20.719 So right now we're in this series. 00:02:20.879 --> 00:02:25.520 Last week was our first Sunday of in the series of choose first. 00:02:26.400 --> 00:02:27.520 Choose first. 00:02:28.080 --> 00:02:34.319 We have to make a decision today for the choices and temptations that we will be faced with tomorrow. 00:02:34.879 --> 00:02:40.719 We have to choose today that we are going to serve the Lord no matter what comes our way. 00:02:40.879 --> 00:02:52.479 We are going to stand firm and steadfast where God has called us to be, where God has planted you to grow, and we're going to make the decision now for the future of tomorrow. 00:02:53.599 --> 00:02:55.199 So last week was take it back. 00:02:55.360 --> 00:02:57.439 Did anybody carry home a stake with you? 00:02:58.000 --> 00:03:02.639 If you were here, you didn't get a steak like a medium rare version or a T-bone. 00:03:02.879 --> 00:03:04.080 You got a stake. 00:03:04.240 --> 00:03:06.719 It looked like a tent steak in the ground. 00:03:06.879 --> 00:03:14.080 You went home, and my instructions were it had a scripture on it that whatever the weapons the enemy is going to form, that he will form them. 00:03:14.240 --> 00:03:21.039 It is promised that we will have trouble, we will have turmoil, we will be on the spotlight for God. 00:03:21.120 --> 00:03:25.919 When you say I am a Christian, people begin to take notice and they watch to see what you're gonna do. 00:03:26.000 --> 00:03:31.199 And sometimes people who don't come to church will use the church to dictate how they live their lives. 00:03:31.360 --> 00:03:35.680 So we need to make sure that we are living accordingly to the scriptures. 00:03:36.000 --> 00:03:50.879 And so on those stakes, I instructed you to take them home and to drive them in the ground with your family, to pray over them, to pray over your property, to pray over Longview, Texas, to pray over Kilgore and Hawesville and New Diana. 00:03:51.199 --> 00:03:59.199 And by this, we are declaring that what the enemy has tried to take from us, we are here to take it back in the name of the Lord. 00:03:59.759 --> 00:04:17.680 That everything the enemy has tried to rob us of, and sometimes we give it to him, that we are making claim, we are putting a stake in the ground, that we are here to stay, and no matter what it looks like, we are going to follow the Lord. 00:04:18.560 --> 00:04:32.079 The whole idea behind this series is to retrain our minds and our spirits to stop letting life just happen to you, that you have the authority to take control of your life. 00:04:32.879 --> 00:04:37.920 Last week, the stakes to reclaim your physical property surrounding Longview, Texas. 00:04:38.160 --> 00:04:40.800 This brings the body into unity. 00:04:42.079 --> 00:04:50.800 That everyone, imagine this is how when I when I thought that up, and uh we had at the beginning of the year Stake Longview, and it was kind of the same principle. 00:04:50.959 --> 00:04:56.800 We went to schools this time and the entrances of Longview, Texas. 00:04:56.879 --> 00:04:59.360 It's time that we keep out the enemy of our business. 00:05:01.040 --> 00:05:11.839 A lot of us, we have something we put stock into and we let the enemy move in and build a house when he has no business having real estate there. 00:05:15.839 --> 00:05:18.560 That the territory, imagine this. 00:05:18.800 --> 00:05:29.279 Everyone who took home a stake in all of the area that we covered, all of us put the stakes in the ground, and everything inside of there is now going to be blood bought and redeemed by God. 00:05:29.920 --> 00:05:31.439 That's what I believe. 00:05:31.680 --> 00:05:39.279 That when you put scripture, I said it last week, but actually in the foundation of this church, there is an actual Bible in the foundation of this church. 00:05:39.360 --> 00:05:50.240 Because when you put your foundation on the word of God, you will not falter, you will not wane, you will not wine, you will continue to serve the Lord because you know what real truth is. 00:05:51.439 --> 00:06:08.720 There's people, Brother Vernon told me this story, and I've heard I've heard it from other places, is that money, currency, the dollar bill of America, the people who study to make sure it's not being produced and ripped off and used as fake currency, they don't study the fake currency because there's too many variations. 00:06:08.879 --> 00:06:14.879 They study the one true piece of currency to know when a fake comes about. 00:06:15.920 --> 00:06:29.040 The problem is we get wrapped up on YouTube ministers and you don't have a real relationship with God, you haven't been diving into his word for yourself. 00:06:29.360 --> 00:06:39.040 And so when false prophets and false ministries come knocking at your door, you don't have a clue, and the enemy sneaks into your camp and you just eat whatever's served at the table. 00:06:41.279 --> 00:06:45.519 You've got to have a relationship with the one true God, and we start by getting into his word. 00:06:45.759 --> 00:06:51.600 You must put a stake in the ground and say, For me and my house, we will serve the Lord. 00:06:53.759 --> 00:06:55.279 Enough is enough. 00:06:55.920 --> 00:06:58.639 I choose this day from here forward. 00:06:59.199 --> 00:07:01.120 Let me say something to you. 00:07:01.839 --> 00:07:06.959 You cannot sin too hard or too loud to not be welcomed in when God's grace and mercy covers you. 00:07:08.879 --> 00:07:12.000 It doesn't matter what you did last night, you're here today. 00:07:13.120 --> 00:07:19.680 It doesn't matter your struggles, it cannot rob you of your salvation unless you give it over. 00:07:20.720 --> 00:07:28.800 But if you keep trying and you keep pushing and you keep reading and you keep praying, one day I believe we serve a God of breakthrough. 00:07:30.160 --> 00:07:35.600 But it starts with you putting in the stake in the ground and saying, I don't care what everybody else is doing around me. 00:07:36.399 --> 00:07:45.600 Sometimes you gotta cut some relationships, sometimes you gotta let some people go because they are poisoned to your very soul. 00:07:47.600 --> 00:07:52.560 That we as followers of Christ, we do not have to sit and wait for the enemy to come to us. 00:07:52.639 --> 00:07:57.439 We need to be more on the offense and stop playing only defense. 00:07:59.040 --> 00:08:03.920 No sport in the history of sports has ever been won by only good defense. 00:08:04.240 --> 00:08:27.600 If you can't get the ball in the end zone, we are to be, we are to understand that we have the authority and the power to go to the enemy's playground and win souls for the kingdom, to be in the offensive moment, not just defensive. 00:08:27.680 --> 00:08:32.000 So today we're gonna be talking about overcoming temptation. 00:08:32.559 --> 00:08:41.120 Because here's what I know as soon as I make a claim and put my stake in the ground, the enemy comes knocking on my door. 00:08:42.000 --> 00:08:50.240 He starts trying to find places he can disrupt and dismantle my divine destiny that God has called me into, and sometimes we let him. 00:08:51.360 --> 00:08:51.919 Why? 00:08:52.159 --> 00:08:56.080 It's not because we want to invite him in, it's because we're not paying attention. 00:08:57.200 --> 00:09:08.159 You haven't been preparing for the battle at hand, and so you look around and you find yourself in the middle of this season or battle or circumstance, and you're like, oh, if only I would have blah blah blah blah. 00:09:08.320 --> 00:09:09.120 Yeah, guess what? 00:09:09.279 --> 00:09:13.120 Today is the time that you make that decision from here on forward. 00:09:13.200 --> 00:09:20.000 I'm going to preemptively prepare myself spiritually for the battles that are coming my way. 00:09:20.159 --> 00:09:20.480 Why? 00:09:20.559 --> 00:09:23.679 Because we know that it rains on the just and the unjust. 00:09:23.840 --> 00:09:35.200 It is proven, ask anyone who's been on this earth for a while that you will have hardships, you will have troubles, you will have loss, you will have pain. 00:09:36.399 --> 00:09:46.240 So it would be stupid and ignorant for someone who knows God to let these things just happen to us. 00:09:47.679 --> 00:09:49.200 So I'm gonna tell you the weeks coming up. 00:09:49.279 --> 00:09:52.080 We got a seven-week series, maybe the longest one I've done yet. 00:09:52.320 --> 00:09:55.519 And we may not stop at seven, just depends on what the Lord does. 00:09:57.360 --> 00:10:02.480 Week three is we're gonna be talking about the power of consistency. 00:10:05.919 --> 00:10:12.000 You ever talk to somebody about their Christian faith belief before and they just rattle off a bunch of cherry-picking scriptures and they have no consistency? 00:10:16.159 --> 00:10:19.919 Week four, drawing closer to God. 00:10:22.080 --> 00:10:32.320 Sometimes we get caught up on programs and time and everything else that goes on in a structure of a church, and we forget to tarry and wait and draw closer to God. 00:10:32.480 --> 00:10:37.200 If you're waiting for a Sunday service to draw closer to God, your well will dry up. 00:10:40.080 --> 00:10:54.960 Because what you're doing, and listen to me, I'm gonna say this as bluntly as possible to hurt your feelings, is that if you wait for God to do something in your life to come and hear a word from a preacher, you have made an idol. 00:10:59.120 --> 00:11:13.519 If you come to a church and you're wanting to be filled by God, you're wanting to feel his spirit, and yes, he does those things in his house, but you are a temple of the Holy Spirit. 00:11:13.840 --> 00:11:21.279 You carry with you the name of God, you bear witness with God going with you in the name of the Lord. 00:11:21.440 --> 00:11:34.639 It is not a building that is the church, the people in the seats are the church, and if you only see church as a place you go to, you will never ever find the place that you're looking for. 00:11:36.320 --> 00:11:42.960 Because it's not a person, it's not a man or a woman, it's not a worship team, it's not a certain song. 00:11:43.120 --> 00:11:52.000 Yes, these things are wonderful, these things are great, and I believe that God has designed them for our enjoyment, that we are not to forsake the gathering. 00:11:52.159 --> 00:11:56.639 It's important to be with each other, but if you don't get along with God, it's all for nothing. 00:11:58.480 --> 00:12:00.559 Drawing closer to Him, week five. 00:12:01.360 --> 00:12:05.440 What happens when you in your life stop holding back? 00:12:08.720 --> 00:12:10.480 Paint that however you want. 00:12:10.799 --> 00:12:17.360 But what if what if God has been waiting to use you and you keep holding back his spirit from your life working? 00:12:20.000 --> 00:12:24.240 What if God has a divine purpose for you, and guess what? 00:12:26.960 --> 00:12:39.120 And you have been sitting there on your gift, constraining the spirit of God working in your life because you're whining about what your circumstance looks like. 00:12:40.320 --> 00:12:50.320 If you do this, you are saying that God is not big enough, that his grace is not sufficient enough, that whatever's going on in my life, it trumps God. 00:12:52.480 --> 00:12:53.759 And I'll say it again. 00:12:54.000 --> 00:12:57.600 If you do this and you live this life, you have made an idol. 00:13:01.840 --> 00:13:03.759 What happens when you stop holding back? 00:13:04.240 --> 00:13:07.200 Week six, one word that will change your life. 00:13:07.679 --> 00:13:08.960 I'm not gonna give it to you. 00:13:10.320 --> 00:13:11.919 You gotta stick around that long. 00:13:13.519 --> 00:13:14.559 Week seven. 00:13:15.519 --> 00:13:18.159 When you want to give up. 00:13:19.840 --> 00:13:23.279 See, all these things are surrounding choosing first. 00:13:23.519 --> 00:13:32.480 But there's a lot of times when you may make a choice and you choose first, but you're in the middle of it and you get tired, you get exhausted, and you just want to throw in the towel. 00:13:33.600 --> 00:13:36.320 So we're gonna be talking about what to do when you get to that point. 00:13:36.559 --> 00:13:44.399 So if you come here all the time, or you're visiting today, or if you go back and want to watch the messages, I want to let you know. 00:13:44.480 --> 00:13:47.840 If you've been looking on Facebook, we stopped going live on Facebook. 00:13:48.080 --> 00:13:49.600 We have no more videos on Facebook. 00:13:49.679 --> 00:13:50.879 It kept giving us trouble. 00:13:51.120 --> 00:13:59.039 And I was actually thinking about this the other day, because I I had a uh an online apparel store where I'd make t-shirts and hats and all these other things. 00:13:59.200 --> 00:14:07.039 And I just a couple weeks ago I cut that and let it loose because I'm getting to the age now to where if it ain't working for me, it's working against me, and I ain't got time for that. 00:14:08.879 --> 00:14:15.519 So we had Facebook and YouTube that we would do simultaneously, and Facebook kept giving us issues, and they're like, we can't figure it out. 00:14:15.600 --> 00:14:16.799 I said, then cut it. 00:14:17.600 --> 00:14:25.279 So if you want to watch our sermons, every single sermon since the conception of this church and this building with the cameras is on our YouTube channel, Connect Church Longview. 00:14:25.519 --> 00:14:26.080 Look it up. 00:14:26.240 --> 00:14:29.679 You'll see the logo and everything on the on the channel. 00:14:29.840 --> 00:14:33.120 So that's where, if you're looking for the services, that's where they are. 00:14:33.360 --> 00:14:36.960 Sunday, as soon as they're as soon as they're live, let me tell you the process. 00:14:37.120 --> 00:14:42.159 As soon as they're live and they go off, they are not rebroadcasted until Monday again, okay? 00:14:42.320 --> 00:14:43.759 At about eight o'clock in the morning. 00:14:44.240 --> 00:14:47.440 That gives me time to edit the photos and the thumbnail and all the YouTube fun stuff. 00:14:47.600 --> 00:14:50.879 So just letting you know if you can't find it on a Sunday afternoon, that's where it's at. 00:14:50.960 --> 00:14:55.840 If you want to share it with somebody, Monday morning, it will be there ready for you to share and give to somebody else. 00:14:55.919 --> 00:14:58.480 So I just want to let y'all know we're not doing Facebook anymore. 00:14:58.639 --> 00:15:07.600 We still have a page, we still have an Instagram, but we are only going live on YouTube because I ain't got time to waste on their precious time and energy to try to figure out what's going on. 00:15:07.759 --> 00:15:17.919 If you ain't working for us, I have the same policy about programs. 00:15:19.519 --> 00:15:23.679 People think the more programs you have, the better your church is. 00:15:24.159 --> 00:15:26.320 Usually this the more dead weight you got. 00:15:26.799 --> 00:15:29.039 So if a program ain't working, I'm cutting. 00:15:30.480 --> 00:15:32.240 So one day if your program, I'm just kidding. 00:15:32.480 --> 00:15:33.200 Just kidding. 00:15:36.879 --> 00:15:43.519 So I believe that through this seven-week process that God is going to speak to someone here today. 00:15:44.080 --> 00:15:45.200 So prepare your hearts. 00:15:45.279 --> 00:15:52.080 Every week I want you to, before you come into this church, you should be already every single day preparing your hearts. 00:15:54.320 --> 00:15:56.639 Not Sunday morning on the way to church. 00:15:59.360 --> 00:16:02.720 Let me ask you this, and I'm I'm gonna be very, y'all know I'm pretty blunt already. 00:16:03.120 --> 00:16:04.879 I may have to apologize later. 00:16:06.159 --> 00:16:09.200 Will you ever come to a Sunday service and it was just, yeah, it's okay? 00:16:10.159 --> 00:16:11.120 You're the problem. 00:16:15.600 --> 00:16:18.159 A pastor does not manifest something. 00:16:19.120 --> 00:16:22.480 I'm not your motivational speaker, I'm the deliverer of the word of God. 00:16:24.320 --> 00:16:29.440 I sing, I do other things to lead worship, but I can only do what I can do. 00:16:29.679 --> 00:16:36.960 That's what's so awesome about being a part of a body, is every single piece of the body has a purpose, it has a place. 00:16:37.519 --> 00:16:41.440 So if you're not feeling the service, start worshiping a little harder. 00:16:42.320 --> 00:16:46.799 If you don't like the pastor, say amen a little louder and you'll just start enjoying yourself. 00:16:48.960 --> 00:16:53.840 And I promise you, the more you say amen, the faster I talk and preach, so the faster I'll get done. 00:16:53.919 --> 00:16:58.240 So if you're worried about lunch, just start saying hallelujah, praise God, and we'll get out of here. 00:17:10.559 --> 00:17:13.039 I told you, man, church is too fun. 00:17:14.000 --> 00:17:15.119 I have good in church. 00:17:15.279 --> 00:17:17.279 I have good times in the Lord. 00:17:17.599 --> 00:17:24.079 All the times in the Lord that I have had and experienced is better than any second in the world. 00:17:27.119 --> 00:17:29.359 This is why I've been beating you over the head. 00:17:29.440 --> 00:17:30.799 I say it every single Sunday. 00:17:30.880 --> 00:17:32.160 The challenge is 17. 00:17:32.319 --> 00:17:35.839 Five minutes in prayer, five minutes of reading the word, five minutes of praising. 00:17:36.000 --> 00:17:37.680 Start your day off that way. 00:17:37.920 --> 00:17:39.359 Some of you are like, that's not 17. 00:17:39.440 --> 00:17:40.400 Hold on, I'm getting there. 00:17:40.559 --> 00:17:44.079 Start your day off that way, and you'll be ready and prepared. 00:17:44.160 --> 00:17:46.799 And I promise you, after a few days, five minutes won't be enough. 00:17:48.319 --> 00:17:53.680 And then do one small act of faith every single day and invite one person to church. 00:17:54.319 --> 00:17:57.920 Start quacking as loud as you can to get the other ducks to come to the pond. 00:17:59.119 --> 00:18:01.440 Why do one small act of faith every day? 00:18:01.759 --> 00:18:07.680 Same reason you go to the gym every single day to work out is you want to get that muscle larger. 00:18:07.839 --> 00:18:17.920 So when you start believing and other people start believing, everybody may have baby faith, but when you get together, your faith becomes larger and you are built up in strength and faith. 00:18:18.160 --> 00:18:24.160 And all of a sudden, things that you never would have prayed for or believed in, all of a sudden you're like, I know God can do it. 00:18:24.240 --> 00:18:26.160 Let's go to the hospital and clear that place out. 00:18:28.720 --> 00:18:31.039 And if you got a lot of faith, you'll go to the morgue. 00:18:34.319 --> 00:18:38.160 I've heard stories of people spitting up embalming fluid after they've already been embalmed. 00:18:39.599 --> 00:18:42.640 Now, listen, I don't want to be around that, that will scare me. 00:18:43.200 --> 00:18:48.240 I'm just being honest, but I know God can do it, and I'll pray for that from a distance. 00:18:52.000 --> 00:18:56.319 So today's message, now that we've got a little spiritual, right? 00:18:57.839 --> 00:19:00.079 Overcoming temptation. 00:19:02.000 --> 00:19:16.319 Now, why is it so important to understand that you have an assignment on you, that you have the enemy coming for you when you begin to declare and rightly divide the way you're going to be living? 00:19:16.880 --> 00:19:29.279 When you start diving into the word, when you start witnessing the people, when you start inviting people to church, everything in your life is going to begin to break down, it seems. 00:19:29.680 --> 00:19:34.880 Now, the question is, and this part doesn't matter, but think about it. 00:19:35.680 --> 00:19:39.920 Is it the devil coming after you, or is it God perfecting your faith? 00:19:42.960 --> 00:19:50.640 You read Job, it was it was the devil that did all the things to him, but it was a step of approval from the Heavenly Father. 00:19:52.000 --> 00:19:55.359 So let me twist up your theology a little bit. 00:19:55.759 --> 00:19:59.119 Maybe sufferings and issues and pains are not for you. 00:20:01.279 --> 00:20:09.680 Maybe what you're walking through right now, it is hard, it is a struggle, but it may not be for you. 00:20:10.720 --> 00:20:13.440 Is anybody else in the house very selfish like this? 00:20:13.759 --> 00:20:19.200 You think when you're going through something, oh Lord, I just can't believe God. 00:20:19.279 --> 00:20:20.960 I've been paying my tithes. 00:20:21.599 --> 00:20:23.200 I've been coming to church faithful. 00:20:23.279 --> 00:20:24.160 Why is this happening? 00:20:24.559 --> 00:20:25.759 Because you have been faithful. 00:20:25.920 --> 00:20:28.640 And now we're going to see if you really believe what you say. 00:20:32.400 --> 00:20:36.160 Do you not build and trust when you have to trust? 00:20:37.200 --> 00:20:42.000 Do you not start to build your faith when you actually have to believe? 00:20:43.680 --> 00:20:48.960 Do you not truly begin to thirst when you're in the desert? 00:20:50.640 --> 00:20:58.799 Do you begin to seek his face the most when everything is right or when everything is wrong? 00:20:59.759 --> 00:21:02.799 Sadly enough, that is our human condition. 00:21:03.200 --> 00:21:11.519 Is that we seem to have to be pressed on every side before we begin to look up? 00:21:15.200 --> 00:21:28.079 Because as soon as you start to declare that I am going to change, I am going to live for God, I'm going to give him everything, the enemy's ears begin to perk up, and he begins to look in your direction. 00:21:30.480 --> 00:21:32.480 You are now his number one enemy. 00:21:34.400 --> 00:21:36.880 So, how does the enemy fight against us? 00:21:37.200 --> 00:21:42.480 He tries to get us to drink from the well of temptation. 00:21:44.400 --> 00:21:46.079 Now let me ask you this. 00:21:47.200 --> 00:21:51.440 Probably everyone in here, you're in church, you know the story of Jesus that he was perfect. 00:21:51.599 --> 00:21:55.039 He was the perfect sacrificial lamb for our sins. 00:21:56.480 --> 00:21:59.759 And yet he's still reading when he 00:22:00.079 --> 00:22:04.400 He was baptized, the spirit came down like a dove on him. 00:22:04.720 --> 00:22:14.240 Immediately, not the devil led him out into the wilderness to be tempted, the spirit led him out to be tempted. 00:22:15.279 --> 00:22:16.079 What does that mean? 00:22:16.240 --> 00:22:25.119 That means if you're following closely behind the Lord and you're being led by his spirit, who are you to be better than Jesus? 00:22:29.119 --> 00:22:31.119 Now, what did Jesus do when he was tempted? 00:22:31.440 --> 00:22:34.319 He stuck to what he knew to be true. 00:22:34.559 --> 00:22:38.799 If you don't know or understand the scriptures, how are you supposed to face temptation? 00:22:39.680 --> 00:22:45.680 If you don't know what's available to you and who is fighting for you, how will you stand against temptation? 00:22:46.640 --> 00:22:52.400 You may think this is pretty obvious that when the devil's coming at you, oh, I could spot that easy. 00:22:52.559 --> 00:22:54.079 But let me ask you some questions. 00:22:54.240 --> 00:22:56.480 I'm gonna ask you, Jesus did this all the time. 00:22:56.559 --> 00:23:01.359 He he said parables that were a physical example of spiritual things. 00:23:01.599 --> 00:23:02.559 So listen to this. 00:23:05.759 --> 00:23:06.880 Have you ever? 00:23:10.400 --> 00:23:12.400 You ever met anybody who planned? 00:23:14.559 --> 00:23:15.519 Anybody, what's that show? 00:23:15.680 --> 00:23:18.319 A thousand pounds, my sister, a thousand pounds or something like that? 00:23:18.559 --> 00:23:19.440 Something like that? 00:23:20.559 --> 00:23:21.839 A thousand pounds sister. 00:23:22.079 --> 00:23:24.559 I was I was reading the Spanish version, it was backwards. 00:23:24.799 --> 00:23:28.559 Um I knew Spanish. 00:23:30.880 --> 00:23:40.799 Does anybody in here think that one day when she was a child, she woke up and she was like, you know, I think a thousand is probably a good place to try to hit. 00:23:42.400 --> 00:23:44.960 Do we think that that was an actual accurate thing? 00:23:45.119 --> 00:23:51.200 Or does over time slowly you get to a place where you're like, oh my goodness, I have to get new clothes because my pants don't fit anymore? 00:23:51.440 --> 00:23:52.720 I just recently went through this. 00:23:52.799 --> 00:23:54.079 Some of you are like, no, you didn't. 00:23:54.160 --> 00:23:54.720 Yes, I did. 00:23:54.799 --> 00:23:55.119 Shut up. 00:23:55.200 --> 00:23:56.880 You don't understand my pain. 00:23:59.519 --> 00:24:02.640 I went from size 28 to size 30. 00:24:03.119 --> 00:24:04.720 Because shut up, listen, listen. 00:24:06.640 --> 00:24:08.720 It's a it's that Pentecostal weight. 00:24:08.799 --> 00:24:09.920 It's coming on. 00:24:12.720 --> 00:24:21.279 I know some of you are like, oh, that's so stupid, but I I seriously would get angry when I put on pants and the buttons would not touch anymore. 00:24:23.039 --> 00:24:25.680 Because I listen, I'm not a bigger frame guy. 00:24:25.920 --> 00:24:27.680 It's snuck up on me. 00:24:28.240 --> 00:24:33.119 I thought I was gonna go walking out looking good, and I couldn't even leave the bedroom because I wouldn't go on. 00:24:35.680 --> 00:24:37.519 No, this was months ago. 00:24:37.680 --> 00:24:39.279 This was not recent. 00:24:42.240 --> 00:24:45.039 And some of y'all laughing because you really understand. 00:24:45.279 --> 00:24:48.960 Anyone ever, when they were younger, they were a little smaller than they are now. 00:24:50.559 --> 00:24:54.079 Come on, we got some people living in the truth in the house of God today. 00:24:54.720 --> 00:24:58.400 When you were a little younger, you were a little smaller. 00:24:58.960 --> 00:25:03.839 None of us said, Oh, as soon as I get out of high school, I'm getting my fantastic 50 on. 00:25:05.119 --> 00:25:06.799 Nobody says that. 00:25:07.839 --> 00:25:12.960 Nobody says when they are four years old, you know, just one day I want to be bankrupt. 00:25:14.880 --> 00:25:18.240 I just, you know, I want to give it all away. 00:25:19.200 --> 00:25:21.200 I just want to have nothing. 00:25:22.240 --> 00:25:24.240 Matter of fact, I would love. 00:25:24.400 --> 00:25:25.440 I would just love. 00:25:25.759 --> 00:25:29.519 Mom, I would just love to be in debt to the IRS. 00:25:30.559 --> 00:25:31.599 That's just a goal of mine. 00:25:31.759 --> 00:25:32.720 God placed it on my heart. 00:25:32.880 --> 00:25:36.400 I want the IRS to chase after me, apparently, with their new guns. 00:25:38.480 --> 00:25:39.279 Apparently. 00:25:39.440 --> 00:25:40.400 I don't know. 00:25:40.799 --> 00:25:44.960 No one sets out with these goals, but yet things happen in life. 00:25:45.200 --> 00:25:48.799 Little small steps in the wrong direction, just a little bit. 00:25:49.279 --> 00:25:52.559 It's not always a hard right and you find yourself there. 00:25:52.640 --> 00:25:55.920 It's always a little bit, just a little bit, just a little bit. 00:25:56.000 --> 00:25:56.720 I'm sorry. 00:25:56.880 --> 00:26:00.559 And you end up in a place where you never desire to be. 00:26:12.960 --> 00:26:15.920 Yet I know people that enjoy it. 00:26:17.119 --> 00:26:19.839 No one set out to be hooked on it. 00:26:20.640 --> 00:26:23.440 Temptation is sly like that. 00:26:25.359 --> 00:26:27.599 Because we don't pay attention. 00:26:29.759 --> 00:26:38.640 I don't know of anybody who plans to do something just completely outrageous, stupid, knowing that it's stupid and you make it on your calendar. 00:26:38.799 --> 00:26:41.039 I'm gonna do something stupid today. 00:26:42.079 --> 00:26:47.519 Or I'm gonna set out and I'm gonna do something sinful today and then hide it and then lie about it. 00:26:47.599 --> 00:26:51.200 Oh, and then I'll lose some trust in some people that I really love the most. 00:26:51.440 --> 00:26:55.599 The people that you end up hiding things from are the ones you end up hurting the most. 00:26:56.559 --> 00:27:00.400 No one ever sets out, they don't put that in their plan book. 00:27:01.440 --> 00:27:06.319 I'm gonna betray some trust today in the name of Jesus. 00:27:07.359 --> 00:27:09.440 It don't have it don't, we don't do that. 00:27:09.759 --> 00:27:10.240 Why? 00:27:10.400 --> 00:27:13.839 Because on the outside looking in, you're like, man, that is stupid. 00:27:14.079 --> 00:27:14.799 That's dumb. 00:27:14.960 --> 00:27:22.000 Nobody would do that, but we make these spiritual decisions slightly every single day. 00:27:24.559 --> 00:27:34.000 The problem is that most of us we don't plan to do this, but we don't plan to not do it either. 00:27:35.119 --> 00:27:36.640 We just let it happen. 00:27:37.359 --> 00:27:38.880 And that's what we're gonna talk about. 00:27:38.960 --> 00:27:51.279 Something today that I believe has the potential to impact your life in a very, very powerful way, is to choose first before you end up in the depths of sin. 00:27:51.759 --> 00:27:52.799 Choose first. 00:27:53.359 --> 00:28:01.039 We need to understand that the quality, I said this last week, the quality of our decisions determines the quality of our life. 00:28:01.200 --> 00:28:06.480 In other words, we make our decisions, and then our decisions make us. 00:28:07.359 --> 00:28:09.279 And we've said this since the beginning of the year. 00:28:09.359 --> 00:28:11.440 We've been talking about retraining your mind. 00:28:11.599 --> 00:28:17.039 You can literally rewrite, it's so awesome what the God has given the uh the body the ability to do. 00:28:17.279 --> 00:28:21.759 We can rewrite and retrain ourselves in 90 days to form new habits. 00:28:22.160 --> 00:28:25.839 You can literally physically reroute brain waves. 00:28:26.160 --> 00:28:27.440 Why do we want to do this? 00:28:27.599 --> 00:28:28.720 Why is it so important? 00:28:28.880 --> 00:28:32.640 Because your life will go to the motion of your strongest thoughts. 00:28:34.319 --> 00:28:39.119 That's why the Bible says to think on things above and do not let what's going on around you to distract you. 00:28:39.200 --> 00:28:41.440 Because if you do, you will be messed up. 00:28:41.519 --> 00:28:44.240 You will be constantly depressed, full of anxiety. 00:28:44.400 --> 00:28:46.480 You have to keep your eyes on him. 00:28:47.279 --> 00:28:54.960 The problem is, although we have good intentions, many of us are simply not very good decision makers. 00:28:56.480 --> 00:29:00.960 If I was a better decision maker, I would not have ended up divorced. 00:29:01.119 --> 00:29:03.599 I would not have ended up in jail twice. 00:29:03.839 --> 00:29:06.079 I would not have ended up hooked on meth. 00:29:06.880 --> 00:29:12.480 I would not have played my mother's favorite and caused a wedge between my parents that ended in divorce. 00:29:12.720 --> 00:29:21.039 There's a lot of things I would have not done if I could have seen clearly and chosen first that I was not going to let these things happen. 00:29:21.119 --> 00:29:26.799 When I was young in high school, I had so many friends in high school that their parents were divorced. 00:29:28.400 --> 00:29:30.000 Mine wasn't. 00:29:30.480 --> 00:29:32.559 And that was the song that I sang. 00:29:32.960 --> 00:29:34.079 My parents aren't divorced. 00:29:34.160 --> 00:29:36.000 I'm not getting divorced either. 00:29:37.519 --> 00:29:39.519 But a series of poor decisions. 00:29:41.039 --> 00:29:52.640 A series of simple, seemingly innocent temptations that led me little by little down the wrong path. 00:29:52.799 --> 00:30:03.519 And that's why we introduced a big idea called choose first because we want to understand the power of choosing ahead of time what we are going to face in the future. 00:30:03.759 --> 00:30:09.680 To make good decisions now so that we don't have to suffer in the damage later. 00:30:10.640 --> 00:30:11.599 Choose first. 00:30:11.680 --> 00:30:14.160 We want to make good decisions now. 00:30:14.880 --> 00:30:16.720 Let's be adults about it. 00:30:16.960 --> 00:30:18.960 Look at yourself honestly. 00:30:19.279 --> 00:30:21.279 Some of you may stick to what you stick to. 00:30:21.440 --> 00:30:24.000 Said, I'm not crossing this line, I'm not doing this, I'm not doing that. 00:30:24.079 --> 00:30:25.759 And you may actually be able to do it. 00:30:25.920 --> 00:30:30.079 But majority of people, we can make decisions and we end up not sticking to it. 00:30:30.160 --> 00:30:34.880 And you know, the number one reason we don't stick with things is the people we allow to speak into our lives. 00:30:38.400 --> 00:30:43.920 Make good decisions now so that we don't have to suffer in the damage later. 00:30:44.160 --> 00:30:58.640 Instead of waiting until the moment to give into temptation or let our emotions take us to a place that we don't really need and want to go, we're choosing first what we're going to do before we ever get into that circumstance. 00:30:58.799 --> 00:31:05.920 We're choosing first who we are because when we know who we are, we know what we will do. 00:31:07.200 --> 00:31:18.480 If you have a clear definition, clear core values, clear core beliefs in your heart, you know who you are, and you will not waver from the truth that you know. 00:31:19.279 --> 00:31:21.519 So I want you to declare these statements. 00:31:21.599 --> 00:31:24.640 I'm gonna put them up on the on the board, on the what do you, whatever you call it? 00:31:24.799 --> 00:31:25.200 Screen. 00:31:25.279 --> 00:31:25.680 There we go. 00:31:25.839 --> 00:31:27.359 Not the board, we're not in class. 00:31:29.440 --> 00:31:30.799 But I want you to think about this. 00:31:30.960 --> 00:31:33.920 See, a lot of times we allow the world to speak negativity into us. 00:31:34.000 --> 00:31:40.480 I mean, look at any news channel you want, and one person showing the worst parts of the riots, the other one showing peaceful protest. 00:31:40.720 --> 00:31:42.000 They all have an agenda. 00:31:43.200 --> 00:31:45.599 Sorry if that messed with some of y'all and the people you watch. 00:31:45.680 --> 00:31:46.640 I don't care. 00:31:46.960 --> 00:31:48.480 They all have an agenda. 00:31:48.640 --> 00:31:51.119 That's why you have to study and look up for yourself. 00:31:51.839 --> 00:31:55.519 Don't let other people tell you what you are and who you are. 00:31:56.079 --> 00:31:58.240 This is a proclamation of faith. 00:31:58.480 --> 00:32:02.480 This is something that I've been saying to God recently, and He's been transforming my heart. 00:32:02.720 --> 00:32:12.000 I am ready, I am consistent, I am devoted, I am generous, I am faithful, and I am a finisher. 00:32:13.039 --> 00:32:23.440 I am ready, I am consistent, I am devoted, I am generous, I am faithful, and I am a finisher because I choose first to be the man of God that he wants me to be. 00:32:23.759 --> 00:32:37.839 Our decisions won't be based on our feelings in the moment if we choose first, but on who you want to be for the rest of your life, not on feelings, but on facts. 00:32:50.400 --> 00:32:55.440 When our values are clear, our decisions are easier. 00:32:55.759 --> 00:32:56.960 I want to ask you a question. 00:32:58.480 --> 00:33:06.559 How many of you of the faithful people of the Lord have ever given in to temptation and regretted it? 00:33:08.079 --> 00:33:11.440 Should be 100%, unless you're just the second coming. 00:33:13.119 --> 00:33:21.759 All of us, every person in here has at some point in time in their life given into some sort of temptation and regretted it. 00:33:22.079 --> 00:33:24.880 Now, why? 00:33:25.200 --> 00:33:28.319 Why at some point have we fallen into the temptation? 00:33:28.400 --> 00:33:29.119 I said it earlier. 00:33:29.279 --> 00:33:32.079 Chances are it's because you weren't ready. 00:33:33.440 --> 00:33:35.440 Chances are it's because you weren't ready. 00:33:35.519 --> 00:33:45.599 You were blindsided, but when we choose first what your decision will be, no matter what comes, you will make better decisions and stick to your values. 00:33:45.920 --> 00:33:50.640 Things will not affect you in the same way if you stick to your values. 00:33:51.440 --> 00:33:57.759 So we have to understand that your flesh is constantly at war with your spirit. 00:34:00.000 --> 00:34:01.359 Paul talks about this a lot. 00:34:01.440 --> 00:34:04.319 He even called himself the chief of sinners. 00:34:04.640 --> 00:34:10.719 A man that wrote the majority of the New Testament, labeled himself as the chief of sinners. 00:34:10.880 --> 00:34:11.119 Why? 00:34:11.280 --> 00:34:19.360 Because he understood that temptation is real, and if we do not prepare ourselves, we will fall into temptation. 00:34:20.079 --> 00:34:24.639 If you have your Bibles, look with me in Matthew chapter 26. 00:34:26.960 --> 00:34:28.480 Verse 41. 00:34:28.880 --> 00:34:31.280 And Jesus is talking to the disciples here. 00:34:32.159 --> 00:34:34.559 He says, Keep watch and pray. 00:34:34.800 --> 00:34:37.920 Now Jesus knew that he was about to get taken and crucified. 00:34:38.079 --> 00:34:39.280 He knew it was coming. 00:34:39.440 --> 00:34:43.599 And all he was asking for is some people to be by his side. 00:34:53.840 --> 00:34:56.639 And listen to what he says and listen to what he calls it. 00:34:56.880 --> 00:35:02.000 Verse 41 in Matthew chapter 26, it says, Keep watch and pray. 00:35:02.320 --> 00:35:07.760 Now, these two first things that he says to do are so important if you want to avoid temptation. 00:35:08.000 --> 00:35:16.880 You have to keep your eyes open, keep focus and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. 00:35:17.280 --> 00:35:21.679 For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak. 00:35:22.000 --> 00:35:27.039