WEBVTT 00:00:07.679 --> 00:00:11.759 You're listening to the road with Pastor Teacher Steve Holt. 00:00:12.640 --> 00:00:30.239 This morning I want to challenge you that it could be that the Christian life you've grown up with, your relationship with God that you've grown familiar with may not be good enough for where God wants to take you. 00:00:30.480 --> 00:00:35.200 Somebody said the definition of insanity is to keep doing the same thing, expecting different results. 00:00:35.600 --> 00:00:46.880 If you're frustrated and you walk with God, if you're struggling with the same old stuff, it might be God wants to shake things up, and you need to go to a different part of the gym with God. 00:00:47.200 --> 00:00:51.200 And begin to work out with Him in a new way. 00:00:51.600 --> 00:00:57.200 At The Road, our vision is to raise up wholehearted disciples of Jesus Christ. 00:00:57.439 --> 00:01:01.759 For more information on the road, visit theroad.org. 00:01:01.920 --> 00:01:07.120 We hope you are encouraged by today's message from Pastor Teacher Steve Holt. 00:01:10.000 --> 00:01:12.159 Well, we are in the book of Philippians. 00:01:12.239 --> 00:01:15.519 If you're a guest with us today, we welcome you to The Road. 00:01:15.599 --> 00:01:17.519 We are in the book of Philippians. 00:01:17.840 --> 00:01:27.680 This is the eighth message, and we're talking about joy, the joy that comes through intimacy with Christ, quite frankly. 00:01:27.760 --> 00:01:29.599 That's the rubric over it all. 00:01:30.239 --> 00:01:33.120 But also, we're looking at these leverage points. 00:01:33.280 --> 00:01:37.760 We're looking at leverage points, and that's what this model up here is for. 00:01:38.159 --> 00:01:51.359 This idea that as we grow closer, more intimate in our relationship with Christ, his joy begins to flow through us, and with that joy, we can face problems. 00:01:52.000 --> 00:01:54.400 We can face issues in our life. 00:01:54.560 --> 00:02:00.000 And I'm using these blocks as kind of like burdens, burdens that weigh us down. 00:02:00.319 --> 00:02:15.280 That when we increasingly walk in joy and we press Christ, instead of running from our problems, we face our issues, then it's actually easier to lift those things in our life because the joy of the Lord becomes our fulcrum for living in Christ. 00:02:15.360 --> 00:02:18.000 And so we're in Philippians chapter 2. 00:02:19.039 --> 00:02:32.960 Last week we talked about the joy of living a selfless life, and I even share with you kind of from the perspective of a contrast to what I would call the selfie-ish life. 00:02:33.199 --> 00:02:34.639 The selfie-ish life. 00:02:34.800 --> 00:02:41.680 The average of 16 to 25-year-old will take 25,793 selfies in their lifetime. 00:02:41.840 --> 00:02:51.199 So we're living in a pretty selfie-driven, selfish, kind of driven American culture, and God wants us to find joy through selfless living. 00:02:51.280 --> 00:03:01.360 And I shared last week that the statistics, even in psychological and mental health, shows that the more we give ourselves out to others, actually the healthier you are. 00:03:01.439 --> 00:03:03.199 It lowers blood pressure. 00:03:03.439 --> 00:03:06.159 It actually causes less heart attacks. 00:03:06.319 --> 00:03:11.919 You actually become healthier mentally and emotionally and even spiritually because of that. 00:03:12.080 --> 00:03:16.319 And we're talking about Christ in us, the hope of glory, Christ flowing through us. 00:03:16.400 --> 00:03:21.840 But they're even showing that from a secular viewpoint that this is so healthy for us. 00:03:21.919 --> 00:03:22.960 So how do we do that? 00:03:23.120 --> 00:03:31.199 How do you become a selfless person without it being just outward religious pressure and this pressure of duty? 00:03:31.360 --> 00:03:33.039 Well, I think that's where he goes next. 00:03:33.120 --> 00:03:34.319 That's where Paul goes next. 00:03:34.479 --> 00:03:37.680 Look at verse 12, and you see the word therefore. 00:03:38.159 --> 00:03:45.360 Whenever you see therefore, you should circle it because it's there for the next points that he's going to make. 00:03:45.520 --> 00:03:47.360 And so here's what he says in verse 12. 00:03:47.599 --> 00:04:01.599 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out, circle that, underline that, highlight that. 00:04:01.919 --> 00:04:13.840 Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who, here's it, here it is again, works in you, works in you. 00:04:14.080 --> 00:04:27.199 That word works, the second works is energy, the energy of the Lord works in you both to will and to do for his good pleasure. 00:04:28.160 --> 00:04:29.839 Joy leverage number eight. 00:04:30.000 --> 00:04:33.199 Here's joy leverage number eight. 00:04:33.680 --> 00:04:38.480 Get in spiritual shape by working out. 00:04:39.439 --> 00:04:41.439 You've got to work out. 00:04:42.240 --> 00:04:49.839 So a year and a half ago, I lingered at the mirror with my shirt off. 00:04:51.360 --> 00:04:54.720 And it was stunning what I saw. 00:04:55.279 --> 00:04:57.040 So I started working out. 00:04:57.360 --> 00:05:13.120 I started working out, and and uh Ryan and I, Pastor Ryan and I had a competition about who could drop the most, it wasn't weight entirely, but it was also a fat did that fat index thing. 00:05:13.279 --> 00:05:15.199 So I went to Villa. 00:05:16.160 --> 00:05:19.839 And with fear and trembling, oh, that's in my passage. 00:05:20.079 --> 00:05:28.879 With fear and trembling, I met with a trainer and she took me through my fat index. 00:05:29.360 --> 00:05:32.800 And so that was also stunning. 00:05:33.120 --> 00:05:34.959 I started working out. 00:05:35.279 --> 00:05:40.000 And we don't think of physical workout the same way we think of a spiritual workout. 00:05:40.079 --> 00:05:58.240 And yet he's saying he wants us to work out not working for our salvation, not working at our salvation, not trying to get more salvation, but working from, don't miss this, working from our salvation. 00:05:58.480 --> 00:06:00.879 Because we're saved, work it out. 00:06:01.120 --> 00:06:04.480 Because we have Christ living in us, work it out. 00:06:04.879 --> 00:06:13.600 Because we are saved through grace alone, by faith alone, in Christ alone, through the resurrection alone, by the word of God alone. 00:06:13.920 --> 00:06:20.879 So you're saved because of your faith, but so many believers never become wholehearted. 00:06:21.040 --> 00:06:24.800 So many believers never learn to love God with all of their heart, soul, mind, and strength. 00:06:24.959 --> 00:06:29.519 And so what happens in their lives is they look no different than the rest of the world. 00:06:29.920 --> 00:06:38.720 Their body, soul, and spirit looks no different than most people in the world because they never progress past getting saved. 00:06:38.959 --> 00:06:45.759 And Paul is concerned about that with the Philippians, and he's saying, beloved, work it out. 00:06:45.920 --> 00:06:54.879 You've got a workout, you need to have a spiritual workout in your life to grow and define this joy that we're looking for. 00:06:55.360 --> 00:06:57.920 It's a progression in our faith. 00:06:58.160 --> 00:07:05.600 So Ephesians 2, 8 through 10, for by grace you've been saved through faith, not of yourself. 00:07:05.759 --> 00:07:12.160 It is a gift of God, not as a result of works that no man should boast. 00:07:12.560 --> 00:07:21.040 But then verse 10 says, For we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works. 00:07:22.079 --> 00:07:24.240 So grace saves us. 00:07:24.720 --> 00:07:27.680 Our faith in Christ saves us. 00:07:28.160 --> 00:07:31.839 But it's for the purpose of the poem of God. 00:07:32.000 --> 00:07:34.000 That's actually what workmanship means. 00:07:34.240 --> 00:07:40.240 The poema of God, he's working his poem within us, letting him work that out. 00:07:40.319 --> 00:07:43.360 How many of you feel like you've reached your full potential? 00:07:43.680 --> 00:07:46.399 You have reached your full potential. 00:07:48.800 --> 00:08:05.920 It's a progression, men and women, young people, of you discovering this poem, this beauty, this gifting, this talent through intimacy with Christ that's within you. 00:08:06.399 --> 00:08:10.319 And it's and it's a progression and it's hard work. 00:08:11.439 --> 00:08:12.879 It's hard work. 00:08:13.759 --> 00:08:16.399 I did new exercises this week. 00:08:16.720 --> 00:08:24.079 When you go to villa, there's all these different machines on one side, and there's kind of free weights on the other side, and I've tended toward the free weights. 00:08:24.639 --> 00:08:36.000 But this week, because I only had 25 minutes, I had this one window, and then I had to get one of my sons to school, and it was on my day off, and so I had gone to uh do an adjustment with a chiropractor. 00:08:36.080 --> 00:08:37.440 I came back, I went right through. 00:08:37.600 --> 00:08:42.240 I knew I had 30 minutes, that was it, to get uh Isaac to school, uh Josh to school. 00:08:42.480 --> 00:08:45.600 Isaac, Josh, charity Deborah. 00:08:47.919 --> 00:08:50.320 That's what happens when you have seven kids, folks. 00:08:50.559 --> 00:08:53.919 If you have two kids and you're messing up, you got problems. 00:08:54.480 --> 00:08:56.480 If I have seven kids, I'm normal. 00:08:56.639 --> 00:08:58.000 I just want you to know that. 00:08:58.320 --> 00:09:01.360 So that's because they're on my heart in prayer. 00:09:01.840 --> 00:09:06.559 But I go into this one different part of the weight room. 00:09:06.639 --> 00:09:07.360 Now, this is important. 00:09:07.440 --> 00:09:08.799 You think, well, what's he talking about? 00:09:08.960 --> 00:09:09.840 This is really important. 00:09:10.000 --> 00:09:25.120 I went into this different area with these different kinds of weights, and I only had 30 minutes, so I kind of worked within a frame of maybe 20 feet of all these ones that I'd never used before, but they were still kind of the areas I wanted to work on. 00:09:25.279 --> 00:09:30.320 So I did that, and guess what happened two days later? 00:09:30.799 --> 00:09:32.080 I'm sore. 00:09:32.559 --> 00:09:33.519 It hurts. 00:09:33.840 --> 00:09:35.279 I'm sore right now. 00:09:35.440 --> 00:09:38.480 You're never sore the next day, you're sore two days later. 00:09:39.200 --> 00:09:58.879 This morning I want to challenge you that it could be that the Christian life you've grown up with, your relationship with God that you've grown familiar with may not be good enough for where God wants to take you. 00:09:59.759 --> 00:10:04.720 Someone said the definition of insanity is to keep doing the same thing, expecting different results. 00:10:05.919 --> 00:10:17.919 And if you're frustrated in your walk with God, if you're struggling with the same old stuff, it might be God wants to shake things up and you need to go to a different part of the gym with God. 00:10:18.960 --> 00:10:23.600 And begin to work out with Him in a new way. 00:10:24.159 --> 00:10:26.320 And that's our challenge today, is it not? 00:10:26.559 --> 00:10:29.840 That God wants us working out spiritually in our lives. 00:10:30.159 --> 00:10:34.960 I can do all things, I can do all things. 00:10:35.039 --> 00:10:37.039 That's Philippians 4.13. 00:10:37.360 --> 00:10:45.360 Philippians 2.12, we just read, is working out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 00:10:45.519 --> 00:10:47.279 I can do all things. 00:10:47.440 --> 00:10:48.799 There is effort. 00:10:49.360 --> 00:10:51.679 Paul is saying, I have to do this. 00:10:51.919 --> 00:11:05.120 I have got to commit myself to something where Christ can work in me through the power of the Holy Spirit. 00:11:05.279 --> 00:11:17.919 The Holy Spirit, men and women, is within you, but God is calling you to work it out, to set your heart toward the work of the Spirit. 00:11:18.320 --> 00:11:19.120 What does it say? 00:11:19.440 --> 00:11:24.399 So that he can will and do for his good pleasure. 00:11:24.480 --> 00:11:25.919 And it takes effort. 00:11:26.159 --> 00:11:27.840 And it's a battle. 00:11:28.080 --> 00:11:29.679 And it's hard. 00:11:30.159 --> 00:11:31.600 It's hard to progress. 00:11:31.919 --> 00:11:35.440 My effort with God's energy. 00:11:36.480 --> 00:11:38.399 Character is built that way. 00:11:38.639 --> 00:11:48.000 Character is forged in that effort of I can do all things, but it's through Christ who strengthens me. 00:11:48.320 --> 00:11:51.279 It's the Spirit-filled life. 00:11:52.480 --> 00:12:00.240 Working out our salvation with fear and trembling, that He might work His will and His works through us. 00:12:00.960 --> 00:12:09.200 Here in the front of my podium that I look at, you can't see it, but where I put my Bible and notes and everything right here is Galatians 2.20. 00:12:09.360 --> 00:12:10.399 My life first. 00:12:10.639 --> 00:12:13.919 I've been crucified with Christ. 00:12:14.159 --> 00:12:18.240 It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. 00:12:18.399 --> 00:12:24.559 And the life that I live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God who was delivered up for me. 00:12:24.799 --> 00:12:35.440 So it is a crucifixion, it's hard, but it's a crucifixion of our heart and our mind to Christ Jesus on a daily basis. 00:12:36.639 --> 00:12:38.480 Joy is found in that. 00:12:38.879 --> 00:12:41.360 Surrendering of our will to Him. 00:12:41.679 --> 00:12:47.120 When we get saved, we don't change overnight, do we? 00:12:47.440 --> 00:12:54.399 I mean, we we still have the same, we have the same habits, we have the same addictions, we have the same struggles. 00:12:54.480 --> 00:13:00.240 I love the testimonies where God met someone and they were set free from porn. 00:13:00.399 --> 00:13:03.759 Or they were set free from whatever that addiction was. 00:13:04.000 --> 00:13:07.759 Those are wonderful, and I just rejoice in that. 00:13:08.000 --> 00:13:11.360 But 99% of the time it doesn't work that way. 00:13:11.919 --> 00:13:22.159 It works wherein we give our faith to Christ, we give our heart to Christ, we surrender to Christ, but then the next day we wake up and the same temptations are there. 00:13:22.399 --> 00:13:24.559 Or maybe maybe it lasts two weeks. 00:13:24.720 --> 00:13:28.720 But then the temptations come back, the habits come back. 00:13:28.879 --> 00:13:30.240 This is what Paul's talking about. 00:13:30.399 --> 00:13:31.519 You've got to work out. 00:13:31.679 --> 00:13:36.960 You've got to decide you're going to work out and you're going to be transformed by the renewing of your mind. 00:13:37.120 --> 00:13:39.200 You're going to be transformed by the renewing of your heart. 00:13:39.279 --> 00:13:40.960 That's what OU's about. 00:13:41.679 --> 00:13:44.879 That's why we started Outlier University. 00:13:45.360 --> 00:13:53.600 Was because there's no way that we're going to grow from the church side of the equation just on Sunday morning. 00:13:53.919 --> 00:13:55.759 We need other options to grow. 00:13:55.919 --> 00:13:58.000 We need other information flowing. 00:13:58.240 --> 00:14:01.919 Information leads to formation, which leads to transformation. 00:14:02.240 --> 00:14:08.720 So through information, I mean, if we don't know how to eat right, you can't have formation. 00:14:08.960 --> 00:14:10.879 You can't become healthier if you don't know. 00:14:10.960 --> 00:14:13.519 So information really is vital. 00:14:14.240 --> 00:14:17.039 But not just information alone. 00:14:17.600 --> 00:14:22.159 Information here has to be turned into formation here. 00:14:23.120 --> 00:14:26.879 That passionate desire to change. 00:14:27.919 --> 00:14:33.519 I feel like that's the main responsibility of what we do on Sunday morning. 00:14:33.679 --> 00:14:49.200 Is that the presence and the power of God would be here, that you would come out of this sanctuary with a greater passion and a greater desire to be formed in Christ and to want to change. 00:14:49.600 --> 00:14:56.559 Then it's up to you for the next six days of the week to do that, to start forming new habits and developing new habits in our life. 00:14:56.799 --> 00:15:00.240 And then that leads to revival and transformation. 00:15:00.399 --> 00:15:05.279 You young people, you're fired up right now. 00:15:06.080 --> 00:15:15.039 But that fire has to now be translated into spending time with the Lord, spending time in his word in the days ahead. 00:15:15.200 --> 00:15:20.480 And that's what you were taught through Bobby and Ryan about being a wholehearted disciple. 00:15:20.879 --> 00:15:25.279 And loving him with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. 00:15:25.360 --> 00:15:29.919 That's what they were taught at the retreat loving God with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength. 00:15:30.159 --> 00:15:33.200 So here's what happens in our passage. 00:15:33.519 --> 00:15:36.799 Paul now tells us how to set goals. 00:15:38.240 --> 00:15:41.440 He shows us what to do to work this out. 00:15:41.679 --> 00:15:48.799 He doesn't leave us hanging, but he shows us practically how to work out spiritually. 00:15:48.960 --> 00:15:50.879 Look at verse 14 and 15. 00:15:52.159 --> 00:15:53.679 Do all things. 00:15:54.960 --> 00:15:55.679 Oh no, no. 00:15:55.759 --> 00:15:57.519 He said, do some things. 00:15:59.120 --> 00:16:00.320 Oh wait, I didn't read that right. 00:16:00.559 --> 00:16:01.919 Do a few things. 00:16:04.720 --> 00:16:07.200 Do the things you really like to do. 00:16:09.120 --> 00:16:11.919 Without complaining and disputing. 00:16:13.279 --> 00:16:15.039 I don't know why you put that in there. 00:16:15.279 --> 00:16:17.120 Nobody in the church does that. 00:16:19.039 --> 00:16:21.679 Nobody on an athletic team does that. 00:16:22.000 --> 00:16:24.320 Nobody in your company does that. 00:16:24.879 --> 00:16:27.039 Nobody in a marriage does that. 00:16:27.279 --> 00:16:30.639 Nobody at your high school ever complains or disputes. 00:16:33.440 --> 00:16:54.240 Do all things, all things, without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation among whom you shine as lights in the world. 00:16:54.399 --> 00:16:55.519 Here's goal number one. 00:16:55.600 --> 00:17:03.759 Here's the first thing of how we work out our salvation, our sanctification with fear and trembling. 00:17:04.000 --> 00:17:07.599 Number one, work on your character first. 00:17:09.039 --> 00:17:16.079 Work on you first, quit looking at everybody else and quit judging everybody else and look at you. 00:17:16.240 --> 00:17:19.119 As soon as you become perfect, you can judge. 00:17:20.160 --> 00:17:24.079 Quit judging others, work on you character first. 00:17:25.119 --> 00:17:32.400 And it starts with our mouth. 00:17:33.599 --> 00:17:38.400 It's what comes out of our mouth that constantly gets us in trouble. 00:17:38.799 --> 00:17:45.039 Complaining, disputing, talking about others behind their back. 00:17:47.440 --> 00:17:49.200 Have you heard the Psalms? 00:17:50.079 --> 00:17:55.839 I mean, David is gutterly honest. 00:17:56.799 --> 00:18:10.319 He is on the one hand just full of sublime worship to Jehovah God, and then the next line, he's like, kill them all. 00:18:11.039 --> 00:18:12.960 Yes, kill them all. 00:18:15.119 --> 00:18:18.720 Either David had a heart after God or he was bipolar. 00:18:20.799 --> 00:18:22.319 Here's what we can learn. 00:18:22.559 --> 00:18:24.240 Here's what we can learn. 00:18:24.559 --> 00:18:31.839 Instead of talking to people about people, why don't we talk to God about people? 00:18:32.480 --> 00:18:38.160 Why don't we take our inner frustrations to God instead of telling our neighbor about it? 00:18:38.480 --> 00:18:48.559 Why don't we learn to take our prayers, even when it's full of anger and frustration, to God rather than sitting around the dinner table and talking about people. 00:18:50.400 --> 00:18:51.680 Character first. 00:18:52.799 --> 00:18:56.400 And I think it's the leadoff because I think it's the hardest one to do. 00:18:56.640 --> 00:19:03.759 It is so hard to do to quit focusing on others and focus on yourself. 00:19:05.440 --> 00:19:12.799 So I don't know if you've noticed when you go through our parking lot that there is a light that flickers on and off. 00:19:13.119 --> 00:19:14.240 Anybody notice that? 00:19:14.480 --> 00:19:14.799 Okay. 00:19:14.960 --> 00:19:17.839 All of Steve Clark and his team all know about it. 00:19:18.000 --> 00:19:19.519 We're gonna fix it. 00:19:19.920 --> 00:19:24.240 But it's that corner right here where the handicap parking is. 00:19:24.559 --> 00:19:27.519 That light is always on and off and on and off. 00:19:27.680 --> 00:19:30.640 And I couldn't help but think about that light when I read this verse. 00:19:30.799 --> 00:19:43.359 Because he says this becoming blameless and harmless children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation among whom you shine as lights in the world. 00:19:43.839 --> 00:19:54.400 So we're supposed to be a light on a hill, a light in our city, a light at our job, a light in our family, a light in our high school, a light wherever we go. 00:19:54.559 --> 00:19:58.799 But but you can't be a light if you're not connected to the power. 00:19:59.759 --> 00:20:04.160 And so there's evidently a short over there on that lamp. 00:20:05.200 --> 00:20:06.160 Flickers. 00:20:07.359 --> 00:20:09.279 And some of us have a short. 00:20:10.000 --> 00:20:15.200 And because of the short, sometimes we're a light and sometimes we're not, and we're flickering on and off. 00:20:15.279 --> 00:20:17.200 And God wants a beam. 00:20:18.000 --> 00:20:21.119 God wants a beam shining through us. 00:20:21.599 --> 00:20:29.119 He wants people of the road to be a beam in our city, to be a beam at our school, to be a beam at our work. 00:20:29.359 --> 00:20:31.839 We have to be connected to the power. 00:20:32.240 --> 00:20:41.519 If there's a short, because you're complaining all the time or you're disputing, or you're backstabbing, or you're talking about people, you're gonna be a flicker. 00:20:41.920 --> 00:20:43.359 Kind of on and off. 00:20:44.880 --> 00:20:50.240 Now let me say the caveat of this is all of us are a flicker and all of us are on and off sometimes. 00:20:50.559 --> 00:20:57.839 But wouldn't you want to be less off and more on next year than you are this year? 00:20:58.160 --> 00:20:59.759 That's what he's talking about. 00:21:00.079 --> 00:21:14.559 Work out, work on your tongue, work on how you talk about people, turn things that frustrate you into prayer about them to God so that God can change their heart. 00:21:14.720 --> 00:21:18.079 But in the process of you praying for them, guess who he's changing the most? 00:21:18.400 --> 00:21:18.720 You. 00:21:19.839 --> 00:21:23.200 I've been in this city for 23 plus years. 00:21:23.519 --> 00:21:27.839 And let me just tell you, I have a number of enemies. 00:21:29.359 --> 00:21:37.200 There are people that do not like Steve Holt, they don't like me, and I don't like them. 00:21:40.079 --> 00:21:40.640 I don't. 00:21:40.720 --> 00:21:42.640 I mean, I don't like them, I don't want to hang out with them. 00:21:42.880 --> 00:21:51.759 It's you know it's okay not to like everybody, but I pray for them all the time on my prayer walks. 00:21:52.000 --> 00:21:58.960 I do by name, I pray this morning, driving in, because I'm thinking about this message, I prayed for them. 00:21:59.039 --> 00:21:59.759 Each one of the joys. 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:03.119 Of the Lord would be their strength, and they would repent. 00:22:07.759 --> 00:22:28.079 Actually, I did because they need to, but um, but that's between them and the Lord, that's not my issue, and I'm not gonna let the conversations of my heart be polluted by overly thinking about how other people live their lives, even yours. 00:22:28.960 --> 00:22:30.960 Because I just can't handle it. 00:22:31.519 --> 00:22:35.119 But I can handle my relationship with God and stay pure with Him. 00:22:35.200 --> 00:22:39.279 And when those struggles come my way, and they do, I've got to turn it into prayer. 00:22:39.359 --> 00:22:43.920 So the conversations in my heart are God word instead of people word. 00:22:46.160 --> 00:22:55.279 So then he says in verse 16, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain or labored in vain. 00:22:55.359 --> 00:23:03.440 So, second, here's goal number two hold tightly, hold fast the word of God, the scriptures, the Bible. 00:23:03.680 --> 00:23:09.759 Hold it tight, eat it, live it, drink it. 00:23:10.000 --> 00:23:12.640 First Thessalonians, I love 1 Thessalonians 2.13. 00:23:12.799 --> 00:23:13.359 Jot this down. 00:23:13.440 --> 00:23:15.039 1 Thessalonians 2.13. 00:23:15.119 --> 00:23:16.720 Wow, this is a great verse. 00:23:17.039 --> 00:23:41.119 For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, listen to this, which also effectively works in you who believe. 00:23:41.359 --> 00:23:46.799 See, this is how the this is how God's divine energy works, is through the word. 00:23:47.200 --> 00:23:56.880 It is through the word, young people, mainly through the word, that God's spiritual power and energy of the Holy Spirit flows. 00:23:57.200 --> 00:24:08.720 The word of God is the main vessel, the main channel that God pours his energy into you guys as you spend time in God's Word. 00:24:09.039 --> 00:24:15.039 So God's word is living and active, he's sharper than any two-edged sword, and it's able to pierce soul and spirit. 00:24:15.200 --> 00:24:20.079 It pierces in there like a sword with both conviction and compassion. 00:24:20.160 --> 00:24:28.240 I believe that's that two-edged sword, both with compassion of the love of God, but also the conviction of the holiness of God. 00:24:28.720 --> 00:24:29.839 Found in God's word. 00:24:30.160 --> 00:24:33.839 Spending time in God's word, meditating in his word. 00:24:34.079 --> 00:24:37.599 I love what is said to Ezekiel. 00:24:37.759 --> 00:24:39.599 Ezekiel wants to quit church. 00:24:40.000 --> 00:24:40.960 He's had it. 00:24:41.200 --> 00:24:43.920 He's fed up with the people of Israel. 00:24:44.480 --> 00:24:48.319 And the Lord said to him, Son of man, eat what is before you. 00:24:48.480 --> 00:24:52.319 Eat this scroll, then go and speak to the people of Israel. 00:24:52.480 --> 00:24:56.400 So I opened my mouth and he gave me this scroll to eat. 00:24:56.559 --> 00:25:02.000 Then he said to me, Son of man, eat this scroll I'm giving you and fill your stomach with it. 00:25:02.240 --> 00:25:06.319 So I ate it and it tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth. 00:25:07.039 --> 00:25:24.079 So each day, almost each day, not every day, I miss days, just like any of us do, but as much as possible, I have physical breakfast, but before that I have spiritual breakfast. 00:25:24.319 --> 00:25:28.960 And if you don't start having spiritual breakfast, you will not get in shape. 00:25:29.200 --> 00:25:32.400 So I put a little chair up here, and this is what I do. 00:25:32.480 --> 00:25:39.680 So I'm gonna show you what I do in spending time in God's Word almost every morning. 00:25:39.920 --> 00:25:43.279 And I like to wear a hoodie, so I'm not gonna wear a hoodie right now. 00:25:44.240 --> 00:25:49.680 But I like to wear a hoodie because it's always cold in our house because I keep the temperature at 65 degrees. 00:25:50.000 --> 00:25:52.559 But um, sometimes have a fire. 00:25:52.799 --> 00:25:55.279 But these are the ingredients of a spiritual breakfast. 00:25:55.359 --> 00:26:01.039 This is the ingredients of holding tightly the Word of God. 00:26:01.200 --> 00:26:06.079 So I like to just take my hoodie and I put it over my head, and somehow it just kind of focuses my mind. 00:26:06.799 --> 00:26:10.319 But before I do that, I grind my coffee. 00:26:12.000 --> 00:26:14.079 Major Dickinson's blend. 00:26:15.200 --> 00:26:19.519 Pete's so this is the first thing that's really important. 00:26:20.160 --> 00:26:23.279 This is vital for time with the Lord. 00:26:25.119 --> 00:26:26.319 And then this. 00:26:28.400 --> 00:26:35.359 So on YouTube, you can get all the great worship leaders of our time right now. 00:26:35.440 --> 00:26:36.480 It's very, very easy. 00:26:36.559 --> 00:26:42.880 You can just open up your phone, and it's right there, and you can put in your favorite worship group. 00:26:43.279 --> 00:26:50.160 And so I switch around, but I have a few of them that I I go to, and then I put the earphones on. 00:26:50.480 --> 00:26:53.519 Much to the chagrin of my wife if I'm near the room. 00:26:53.920 --> 00:27:00.400 But I sometimes go into my study and just hear, put these in and worship the Lord. 00:27:01.279 --> 00:27:02.960 Start with worship. 00:27:03.599 --> 00:27:05.279 Start with worship. 00:27:05.920 --> 00:27:07.839 Actually, I'm gonna say a caveat of that. 00:27:08.000 --> 00:27:09.279 Start with silence. 00:27:10.880 --> 00:27:11.680 So come. 00:27:12.880 --> 00:27:15.039 Be quiet before the Lord. 00:27:16.079 --> 00:27:20.640 Get ready with your phone or your laptop or whatever it is you like to use. 00:27:20.799 --> 00:27:27.279 But then put these on and get into the zone of the presence of God. 00:27:27.759 --> 00:27:36.799 Before you do anything else, don't look at your schedule, don't look at your calendar, don't look at what the weather's gonna be, don't look at what you're gonna do that day. 00:27:36.960 --> 00:27:38.319 But this is the first thing. 00:27:38.559 --> 00:27:41.440 He says, hold tightly the word of God. 00:27:42.720 --> 00:27:44.400 And then you got your word. 00:27:45.039 --> 00:27:46.559 This is my study Bible. 00:27:46.799 --> 00:27:49.519 Love this study Bible because I can see it. 00:27:49.920 --> 00:27:54.160 And uh and it's got a big margin. 00:27:55.039 --> 00:27:59.440 And I think if you're not used to doing this, just start with one chapter a day. 00:28:00.160 --> 00:28:12.799 I started in the New Testament in January, so I'm in Luke, so I've gone through Matthew, Mark, and Luke, and my pen is ready at all times for God to speak to me. 00:28:12.960 --> 00:28:15.920 And when God's speaking something to you, write it down. 00:28:16.079 --> 00:28:20.000 Put the date, put what God is saying to you right there in the Word. 00:28:20.240 --> 00:28:22.079 That's metabolizing. 00:28:23.039 --> 00:28:31.359 That's metabolizing God's energy into your spiritual bloodstream. 00:28:32.079 --> 00:28:46.720 And so God's there and he meets us there, and it's and we hold tightly God's word and we spend time with him, and it's and it becomes it'll become your most special time of your life, the most special time of your day each day. 00:28:47.039 --> 00:28:54.079 So, first, he says, work out by working on us first, work on our character first, our heart first, work on our mouth. 00:28:54.240 --> 00:28:56.000 Second, hold tightly the word of God. 00:28:56.079 --> 00:29:00.160 And then thirdly, verses 17 and 18. 00:29:00.400 --> 00:29:05.920 Yes, and I'm being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith. 00:29:06.160 --> 00:29:09.599 I am glad and rejoice with you all. 00:29:10.400 --> 00:29:13.359 For the same reason you also be glad and rejoice with me. 00:29:13.440 --> 00:29:15.920 I think thirdly, find joy in service. 00:29:16.720 --> 00:29:20.319 Find joy in sacrifice, find joy in loving others. 00:29:20.640 --> 00:29:26.079 If you're not serving in some way, shape, or form, serving other people, you're missing out. 00:29:26.240 --> 00:29:28.000 There's so much joy in that. 00:29:28.160 --> 00:29:38.160 There's something that's that's so powerful about not thinking totally about your own life, but beginning to give it away to others. 00:29:39.759 --> 00:29:44.160 You've been listening to The Road with Pastor Teacher Steve Holt. 00:29:44.559 --> 00:29:47.279 We hope you have been blessed by today's message. 00:29:47.440 --> 00:29:51.279 To connect with us further, visit theroad.org. 00:29:51.519 --> 00:29:55.359 If you are walking through a difficult time, we want to pray for you. 00:29:55.519 --> 00:30:02.640 Go to theroad.org, click on the ministries tab, and go to our prayer page to send us your prayer request. 00:30:02.880 --> 00:30:10.720 Thanks again for tuning in today, and be sure to listen to the next edition of The Road with Pastor Teacher Steve Holt.