WEBVTT 00:00:00.719 --> 00:00:04.320 It's time now for the road with teachers' people. 00:00:05.919 --> 00:00:13.679 As long as we are so fearful of doing anything in the Middle East, ice was gonna grow stronger. 00:00:14.640 --> 00:00:16.800 I know history pretty well. 00:00:17.039 --> 00:00:27.039 And it really reminds me of 1932 to 1939 in Europe with Adolf Hitler, where we did nothing and we're doing nothing now. 00:00:27.839 --> 00:00:32.000 Welcome to another edition of The Road with Pastor Teacher Steve Holt. 00:00:32.320 --> 00:00:36.479 Steve is the headmaster of The Road in Colorado Springs, Colorado. 00:00:36.640 --> 00:00:43.759 It's our vision to make wholehearted disciples of Jesus Christ and to see you grow in the grace and knowledge of his love. 00:00:44.000 --> 00:00:50.240 If you're in the area, we welcome you to come out and join us for our Saturday night service beginning at 6 p.m. 00:00:50.640 --> 00:00:59.119 We meet at Chapel Hills Church, located at 2025 Harleman Drive, Colorado Springs, Colorado, 80920. 00:00:59.520 --> 00:01:05.040 Today on the road, Pastor Steve will be continuing his series on spiritual warfare. 00:01:05.200 --> 00:01:08.560 He'll be discussing how to destroy the works of the devil. 00:01:08.719 --> 00:01:17.599 You'll learn that the most consistent way to break the power of the devil and demons over your life is to build up the works of the Spirit in your heart. 00:01:17.760 --> 00:01:24.560 So if you have your Bibles handy, our teaching will be from the book of Romans, chapter 8, beginning in verse 1. 00:01:24.799 --> 00:01:29.120 Here now is Pastor Teacher Steve Holt with today's message. 00:01:31.599 --> 00:01:33.439 Turn your Bibles to Romans 8. 00:01:34.000 --> 00:01:37.200 Last week we went through the first half of Romans 8. 00:01:37.280 --> 00:01:43.760 And again, our thesis last week was the greatest defense is a bold offense. 00:01:43.840 --> 00:01:51.200 And a bold offense is not focusing on demons, but rather focusing on Jesus in our life. 00:01:51.359 --> 00:02:01.519 And that the spirit-filled life really centers around the building up of the works of the Spirit over your life, not focusing on all your issues. 00:02:01.680 --> 00:02:15.840 For example, Air Force Academy cadets, they they really work hard for four years at the Air Force Academy, but when they graduate, they know very little yet about how to fly a fighter plane. 00:02:16.000 --> 00:02:18.240 Okay, so then they go to pilot school, right? 00:02:18.400 --> 00:02:23.360 And so the reality is most believers are like Air Force Academy cadets. 00:02:23.439 --> 00:02:34.080 They may have been going to church their whole life, listening to messages their whole life, maybe grew up in a Christian home, but they've actually never been trained to fly the plane. 00:02:34.319 --> 00:02:37.360 And so I feel like that's our responsibility here, guys. 00:02:37.599 --> 00:02:40.719 My responsibility is not to be the greatest evangelist of Colorado Springs. 00:02:40.800 --> 00:02:47.759 My responsibility is not to be the coolest church with the coolest uh light show or the greatest worship or any of that. 00:02:48.159 --> 00:02:50.479 That means very, very little to me. 00:02:50.800 --> 00:02:51.919 Actually, zero. 00:02:52.080 --> 00:02:52.400 Okay? 00:02:52.719 --> 00:03:05.280 Our job here, as I read Ephesians 4, 11 and 12, is to equip you to be godly parents, to be godly workers in your jobs, to be disciples. 00:03:05.840 --> 00:03:12.240 And that's pretty, that's a pretty big calling because the reality is you're surrounded by demons. 00:03:12.800 --> 00:03:16.400 You guys are, some of you are packing some growlers right now. 00:03:16.639 --> 00:03:19.840 I mean, you you're packing some and you just think it's normal. 00:03:20.000 --> 00:03:21.120 It's not normal. 00:03:21.360 --> 00:03:29.680 I mean, it's normal in the church in America, but it is not normal as God meant it to be in your life. 00:03:29.919 --> 00:03:30.960 Does that make sense? 00:03:31.120 --> 00:03:37.919 So I remember walking around as a kid, and I got involved in gymnastics when I was in ninth grade. 00:03:38.000 --> 00:03:43.120 So I go to gymnastics and I'm trying to do all the stuff, and I had a really lousy coach. 00:03:43.280 --> 00:03:44.319 The guy was really terrible. 00:03:44.639 --> 00:03:47.599 He was a track coach, and he got extra money, I guess, for doing gymnastics. 00:03:47.759 --> 00:03:49.439 So anyway, it was a terrible year. 00:03:49.599 --> 00:03:54.240 And I just, you know, I just kind of flittered my life away, but I'd seen the Olympics. 00:03:54.400 --> 00:03:57.680 So I saw those guys, and oh, man, you know, I want to do what they do. 00:03:57.840 --> 00:04:03.680 And so I just kept trying, and I was just always screwing up until the next year a new coach came. 00:04:03.840 --> 00:04:09.520 That coach came, Coach Boyer, who had been 25th in the nation on rings for the University of Georgia. 00:04:09.680 --> 00:04:13.199 And he came and he knew the fundamentals, guys. 00:04:13.439 --> 00:04:15.039 He understood how to stretch. 00:04:15.199 --> 00:04:16.879 He understood basics. 00:04:17.040 --> 00:04:20.319 And with the basics, we took off as a team. 00:04:20.560 --> 00:04:28.639 And so I ask you to bear with me that sometimes we're talking basics here because it's not getting done in our homes. 00:04:28.879 --> 00:04:30.240 It is not happening. 00:04:30.399 --> 00:04:32.240 So, you know, I talk about PB and J. 00:04:32.560 --> 00:04:36.800 You know, if you j if you'll do this, you'll cover 50% of your problems. 00:04:37.040 --> 00:04:38.079 I'm serious. 00:04:38.240 --> 00:04:43.519 If we will, if we will spend time in God's word every day, even if it's really, really boring. 00:04:43.680 --> 00:04:50.079 And by the way, when you look at this list of what we got you, we got you going through Daniel, Ezekiel, Jonah, Amos. 00:04:50.319 --> 00:04:52.959 Um, I mean, honestly, those are kind of boring books. 00:04:53.120 --> 00:04:53.839 I'll be honest with you. 00:04:53.920 --> 00:04:54.560 It's boring. 00:04:54.720 --> 00:04:57.519 But if you go through them every day, God will change your heart. 00:04:58.240 --> 00:04:59.040 And he will. 00:04:59.120 --> 00:05:03.519 And he'll give you a word, he'll give you a revelation that you didn't think that you had before. 00:05:03.680 --> 00:05:05.759 So last week we went into Romans 8. 00:05:06.079 --> 00:05:06.959 Look at verse 1. 00:05:07.040 --> 00:05:09.920 Verse 1 is really key to the whole chapter, quite frankly. 00:05:10.079 --> 00:05:12.319 Um, so I'm just gonna review really fast. 00:05:12.959 --> 00:05:24.639 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus who do not walk, circle walk according to the flesh, but according to the spirit. 00:05:24.720 --> 00:05:30.480 So, what we talked about last week is you've got to walk this thing out in the power of the Holy Spirit. 00:05:30.639 --> 00:05:31.920 It is daily. 00:05:32.560 --> 00:05:41.439 It is a relationship that happens when you go to work, it's a relationship at home, it's dinner together and talking about the things of the spirit. 00:05:41.519 --> 00:05:43.360 It's walking in the spirit. 00:05:43.519 --> 00:05:44.959 Then look at verse 5. 00:05:45.519 --> 00:05:56.720 For those who live, live, circle, live according to the flesh, set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live, circle, live according to the spirit, the things of the spirit. 00:05:56.800 --> 00:05:57.920 It's life. 00:05:58.160 --> 00:05:59.519 It's a walk. 00:05:59.759 --> 00:06:02.879 I remember Ruth Bell Graham talking about her marriage to Billy Graham. 00:06:02.959 --> 00:06:07.519 She said, the only problem with being married is that it's so daily. 00:06:08.800 --> 00:06:12.319 You know, it's like everybody likes to, you know, get a ro have a retreat or something like that. 00:06:12.399 --> 00:06:18.720 It's really cool, you know, go to maybe Disneyland together or you go to Europe or something like that and or cruise or whatever. 00:06:18.959 --> 00:06:22.319 But it's the daily part that really makes the life, right? 00:06:22.480 --> 00:06:22.800 Okay? 00:06:23.040 --> 00:06:25.439 So the daily is the hard part. 00:06:26.160 --> 00:06:33.279 And so living daily is how we get victory, and that's what this chapter is about, is how to do that. 00:06:33.519 --> 00:06:35.360 And then look at verse 14. 00:06:35.680 --> 00:06:44.560 For as many as are led, circle led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 00:06:44.800 --> 00:06:54.720 So to build up, to build up the works of the Spirit in your heart, men and women, to be whole-hearted disciples is daily. 00:06:55.600 --> 00:06:58.720 It's a life, and it's learning to be led. 00:06:58.959 --> 00:07:01.600 Well, you learn to be led by doing the first two. 00:07:03.360 --> 00:07:08.879 And the way you do the first two is as you spend time in God's word, as you take God's word. 00:07:09.279 --> 00:07:11.680 And I've lost everything in my computer for a while. 00:07:11.759 --> 00:07:14.399 I found it, by the way, but I lost my program. 00:07:14.480 --> 00:07:20.959 So I've just been I've been in the word taking my study Bible here because I I can't, I don't have the program anymore for my Bible. 00:07:21.040 --> 00:07:23.199 But this, so this is what I use in my quiet time. 00:07:23.360 --> 00:07:36.639 So when I go into spending time with in the word, oftentimes with Liz, we do it together, we just take a verse and we work through a chapter, oftentimes in the Psalms, and we read a verse and then we pray it back to the Lord. 00:07:36.800 --> 00:07:38.240 We pray it back to the Lord. 00:07:38.319 --> 00:07:41.040 And I mean, it's it's it's not anointed. 00:07:41.279 --> 00:07:43.120 It's not anointed. 00:07:43.759 --> 00:07:48.079 It's like it's like really kind of dry half the time. 00:07:48.319 --> 00:07:54.480 But we do it, and then like the third day, you hit a verse, like, oh, man. 00:07:55.360 --> 00:07:57.120 And God speaks to our heart. 00:07:57.279 --> 00:08:03.920 And so so when we're doing this, it's not like it's this really just, ah, Jesus, you know. 00:08:04.079 --> 00:08:11.759 And you just feel like his spirit is just over you, and you know, with the light shining in through the window, you can see a halo on your wife or something. 00:08:11.920 --> 00:08:13.279 It's not like that, you know. 00:08:13.439 --> 00:08:24.560 It's it's it's daily, it's life, but then God shows up and he leads you, and when he leads you and speaks to you, it's evidence of you being sons and daughters of God. 00:08:24.720 --> 00:08:26.959 So let's pick it up at verse 15. 00:08:28.399 --> 00:08:33.200 And I guess I would call this destroying destroying the works of the devil, part two. 00:08:33.840 --> 00:08:34.639 Verse 15. 00:08:34.879 --> 00:08:38.480 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage. 00:08:38.799 --> 00:08:40.399 You know when he says that? 00:08:41.120 --> 00:08:45.120 Because most of us live with a spirit of bondage. 00:08:45.440 --> 00:08:49.519 He's not saying it because he's just trying to make a point, a theological point. 00:08:49.600 --> 00:08:53.519 He's saying it because the Roman Christians are still living in bondage. 00:08:53.919 --> 00:08:55.840 That's why he started in verse 1. 00:08:56.000 --> 00:08:57.759 There's no condemnation. 00:08:58.000 --> 00:09:02.480 Because, guys, we live so much of the time in shame. 00:09:03.039 --> 00:09:05.519 And we live in bondage, and that's where demons hang out. 00:09:05.600 --> 00:09:07.360 They hang out in bondage. 00:09:07.519 --> 00:09:12.960 We hang out in religious bondage, we hang out in fear of our partner. 00:09:14.559 --> 00:09:20.399 I mean, women, if you think you got problems with your man, it's because they are so scared of you. 00:09:20.639 --> 00:09:23.360 I mean, I know I am a man, I know what it's like. 00:09:23.600 --> 00:09:26.320 I fear my wife half the time, okay? 00:09:26.639 --> 00:09:28.639 Seriously, and it's an issue. 00:09:28.879 --> 00:09:31.279 I need help, I need therapy. 00:09:31.600 --> 00:09:40.720 But the reality is that we men, the way we're wired is we want to please, but also we're wired with a different kind of way of looking at life than women. 00:09:40.879 --> 00:09:48.159 We we have this masculine side of the image of God, and you beautiful women have a feminine uh side of the image of God. 00:09:48.240 --> 00:09:49.759 It's both, it's it's the image of God. 00:09:49.840 --> 00:09:50.320 They're equal. 00:09:50.399 --> 00:09:52.080 But the reality is I'm different. 00:09:52.240 --> 00:09:56.240 My role's different, my goals are different, your role's different. 00:09:56.399 --> 00:10:01.120 And so, in that, if we get it right, if we use the Bible as our guide, we complement. 00:10:01.600 --> 00:10:02.720 We compliment each other. 00:10:02.879 --> 00:10:06.480 But so many of us are not doing that, we live in bondage. 00:10:07.200 --> 00:10:11.360 And so he's saying here, look, you guys, I don't want you to live in bondage anymore. 00:10:11.840 --> 00:10:15.120 You did not receive the spirit of bondage, it's over. 00:10:16.320 --> 00:10:21.840 Technically, the spirit of condemnation and the spirit of bondage is over. 00:10:23.039 --> 00:10:26.159 Done with, has no power. 00:10:27.759 --> 00:10:30.159 You go, yeah, well, it's not happening in my life. 00:10:30.320 --> 00:10:31.360 Well, that's why we're here. 00:10:31.519 --> 00:10:31.840 Okay? 00:10:32.240 --> 00:10:34.320 It's job security for me. 00:10:34.799 --> 00:10:35.120 Okay. 00:10:36.159 --> 00:10:48.080 You did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, because that's where it always goes, is fear, but you received a spirit of adoption, whom we cry out, Abba Father. 00:10:48.320 --> 00:10:50.000 That means daddy in the Aramaic. 00:10:50.159 --> 00:10:50.799 Daddy. 00:10:51.039 --> 00:10:55.200 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we're children of God. 00:10:56.000 --> 00:11:03.440 And if children, then heirs, heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with him, that we may also be glorified together. 00:11:03.600 --> 00:11:17.039 So what he's saying is that the Spirit has come to bear witness in your spirit that you are now adopted into a new family and you are beloved. 00:11:17.919 --> 00:11:19.759 Saints, you are beloved. 00:11:20.720 --> 00:11:22.240 You have a new father. 00:11:22.480 --> 00:11:32.960 That father on earth did the best that he could, or maybe didn't do the best that he could, but that's not your father anymore in the sense of the development of your heart. 00:11:33.120 --> 00:11:34.559 He had his chance. 00:11:35.360 --> 00:11:36.799 He had his chance. 00:11:37.039 --> 00:11:38.879 He had the first 18 years. 00:11:39.039 --> 00:11:43.519 And some of them, some of the fathers that we have in this room were awesome and some were not. 00:11:43.759 --> 00:11:46.159 But the reality is there's a transference now. 00:11:46.240 --> 00:11:48.080 You're adopted into a new family. 00:11:48.240 --> 00:11:55.279 You don't have to carry that same stigma and that same shame from the past. 00:11:55.600 --> 00:11:56.879 It's done. 00:11:57.200 --> 00:12:03.679 And so he's saying, here's how we begin to grow so that we can be led by the Spirit. 00:12:03.759 --> 00:12:08.159 And he's saying, first of all, in verse 17, he says, look, you're a joint heir with Christ. 00:12:08.320 --> 00:12:25.840 That means, men and women, that we are being prepared to be co-regents on this earth to pull together what was the original command in Genesis chapter 1, 27 and 28, to rule over this earth. 00:12:26.080 --> 00:12:27.759 And we will rule over this earth. 00:12:27.919 --> 00:12:38.720 If you think that heaven is going to be, you know, all of us up there with little harps and violins, I can tell you right now, every guy in this room that has a masculine, any side of a masculine heart, that's not appealing. 00:12:41.120 --> 00:12:42.240 It's not. 00:12:42.799 --> 00:12:45.919 And it actually has nothing to do with biblical reality. 00:12:46.320 --> 00:12:50.000 The biblical reality is it's going to be a recreated heaven and earth. 00:12:50.159 --> 00:12:51.279 And we're going to be here. 00:12:51.519 --> 00:12:55.440 We're going to be in a beautiful earth and we're going to rule over creation. 00:12:55.679 --> 00:13:07.200 And I believe that scripture is very clear that according to the life we lived here, God will give us uh reigning uh abilities and anointings on this new earth. 00:13:07.360 --> 00:13:11.279 And I think it's going to be surprising who doesn't get a lot. 00:13:12.320 --> 00:13:18.240 I think people who had a lot on this earth, who did very little with it for the kingdom, will have nothing there. 00:13:18.320 --> 00:13:19.679 I mean, I mean they're going to get saved. 00:13:19.759 --> 00:13:21.759 But I'm talking about, I want rewards. 00:13:21.840 --> 00:13:22.799 How about you? 00:13:23.120 --> 00:13:25.679 And God is very clear about rewards. 00:13:25.840 --> 00:13:29.120 And so God is preparing you and me. 00:13:30.320 --> 00:13:31.840 And guess how he prepares us? 00:13:31.919 --> 00:13:33.440 You're not going to like this part. 00:13:34.159 --> 00:13:36.159 It's right here in the verse. 00:13:37.120 --> 00:13:48.320 If children, then heirs, heirs of God, join heirs with Christ, comma, if indeed we suffer with him. 00:13:49.759 --> 00:14:00.240 Suffering is the greatest school of higher learning in spiritual life. 00:14:00.639 --> 00:14:05.759 That's why the health and wealth gospel that we see on TV is a sham. 00:14:06.720 --> 00:14:08.159 It's heresy. 00:14:08.720 --> 00:14:20.720 This idea that we can name it and claim it, and that, you know, it's going to be this kind of kingdom on earth by and by, by you just claiming the promises of God is a sham, folks. 00:14:21.360 --> 00:14:25.200 The reality is that God does his best work. 00:14:25.519 --> 00:14:32.960 You're not going to like this, and there'll be nobody here next week, but is that he does his best work when you suffer. 00:14:33.360 --> 00:14:39.519 If you let the suffering transform you into Christ-likeness. 00:14:39.840 --> 00:14:43.039 So is everything about creation tells us this. 00:14:43.200 --> 00:14:45.279 Everything about our bodies tells us this. 00:14:45.519 --> 00:14:47.039 I worked out today. 00:14:47.279 --> 00:14:51.600 So I watched Georgia, and when there was a commercial break, I went down and did my workout. 00:14:51.679 --> 00:14:55.200 And then I came out and I was suffering in both places. 00:14:55.440 --> 00:14:58.320 So I should really have some reigning abilities today. 00:14:58.399 --> 00:15:04.720 You know, I'm like, oh, you know, just slam me in the room as Bamma just scores another touchdown and blocks a punt. 00:15:04.879 --> 00:15:06.720 And then go downstairs and then work out. 00:15:06.799 --> 00:15:08.080 But you tear down, right? 00:15:08.159 --> 00:15:10.559 You tear down your muscles and they get rebuilt. 00:15:10.720 --> 00:15:17.840 God even built within the fabric of creation, which we're about to read, through suffering, how he builds us stronger. 00:15:18.080 --> 00:15:19.039 Verse 18. 00:15:19.279 --> 00:15:30.639 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which will be revealed in us. 00:15:30.799 --> 00:15:37.360 And so he's saying here that there is actually a correlation between suffering and glory. 00:15:38.159 --> 00:15:42.320 That's why we're going to read All Things Work Together for Good in a few minutes. 00:15:42.639 --> 00:15:46.240 Because what God is doing is he's tearing down you. 00:15:47.679 --> 00:15:53.279 So that if you will allow him in the Spirit, he'll build up himself in you. 00:15:54.240 --> 00:16:01.440 So the goal of life is not to get as much as you can and sit on your can. 00:16:02.240 --> 00:16:09.919 The goal of life is actually that we would become conformed increasingly to the image of Christ. 00:16:10.159 --> 00:16:13.679 Now, for you that are struggling in your marriage, that's really good news. 00:16:14.159 --> 00:16:15.600 Because you're suffering. 00:16:16.080 --> 00:16:30.639 And if the husband and the wife will come to the same conclusion that they're being conformed to the image of Christ, you could have the most powerful, dynamic, wonderful marriage ever through the suffering you're going through. 00:16:31.519 --> 00:16:37.840 And so quit pointing the finger, but actually look within and say, what's God doing in me? 00:16:39.039 --> 00:16:45.600 How am I being built up with the works of the Spirit that are destroying the works of the devil in my life? 00:16:45.759 --> 00:16:48.799 It's usually, unfortunately, through suffering. 00:16:49.120 --> 00:16:53.519 But if we can have that mindset, church, it changes everything. 00:16:53.840 --> 00:16:59.440 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 00:16:59.759 --> 00:17:07.920 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected in in hope. 00:17:08.240 --> 00:17:16.240 Because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 00:17:16.799 --> 00:17:24.720 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. 00:17:24.880 --> 00:17:27.759 Now just circle in verse 18, sufferings. 00:17:28.559 --> 00:17:30.559 Verse 20, futility. 00:17:31.359 --> 00:17:34.799 Verse 21, bondage, corruption. 00:17:35.039 --> 00:17:37.920 And verse 22, labors. 00:17:39.119 --> 00:17:41.759 So God uses sufferings. 00:17:41.920 --> 00:17:43.039 He uses futility. 00:17:43.200 --> 00:17:44.319 He uses bondage. 00:17:44.480 --> 00:17:46.960 This is sort of where the demons hang out. 00:17:47.839 --> 00:17:50.160 This is where the demons hang out right here. 00:17:50.799 --> 00:17:53.920 Because most people curse God. 00:17:54.319 --> 00:17:55.680 Most people run. 00:17:55.920 --> 00:17:58.640 Most people cut and run right here. 00:17:59.039 --> 00:18:00.400 Most believers do. 00:18:01.200 --> 00:18:02.880 Because it's hard. 00:18:03.759 --> 00:18:06.079 It's hard to be a disciple. 00:18:07.039 --> 00:18:11.279 It takes everything within you to be a wholehearted disciple. 00:18:11.519 --> 00:18:14.880 Men, women, you're created to be wholehearted. 00:18:15.200 --> 00:18:20.319 And wholeheartedness is learning and growing that we are sons and daughters of God. 00:18:20.400 --> 00:18:25.200 And that's how he reveals that we're sons and daughters of God, is even through difficult times. 00:18:25.519 --> 00:18:27.519 And so even creation is watching. 00:18:27.599 --> 00:18:28.319 I don't get this at all. 00:18:28.480 --> 00:18:32.400 It's like these like the trees are watching. 00:18:32.480 --> 00:18:33.039 I mean, I don't know. 00:18:33.279 --> 00:18:42.079 That sounds a little bit like Taoism or something to me, but it's like creation even understands there's something unique about human beings. 00:18:42.240 --> 00:18:43.759 There's something at a higher level. 00:18:43.839 --> 00:18:47.839 Now, our biologists and our major universities don't even get this. 00:18:48.319 --> 00:18:52.079 I mean, they're what we call educated idiots, okay? 00:18:52.240 --> 00:18:53.279 Because they don't even understand that. 00:18:53.359 --> 00:18:59.440 It's like, oh, we're just, you know, we're just just an animal, we're just kind of one of the species, and so forth. 00:18:59.599 --> 00:19:02.079 No, we're the highest of creation by God. 00:19:02.240 --> 00:19:05.119 And you can't say that unless you believe in a creator God. 00:19:06.079 --> 00:19:10.079 So Jadis, I don't know if it's Jadis or Jadis, but she's that queen. 00:19:10.799 --> 00:19:13.759 She's the queen in the lion, the witch, and the wardrobe. 00:19:13.920 --> 00:19:19.599 And so she has taken over uh Narnia for a hundred years. 00:19:20.079 --> 00:19:22.559 And uh and she's made it perpetual winter. 00:19:22.720 --> 00:19:23.359 Remember that? 00:19:24.640 --> 00:19:26.400 See, it's a beautiful picture by C.S. 00:19:26.480 --> 00:19:28.000 Lewis of what demons do. 00:19:28.240 --> 00:19:31.119 They want to lock you and I into a perpetual winter. 00:19:32.079 --> 00:19:33.359 But God wants to change us. 00:19:33.920 --> 00:19:35.200 God wants to transform us. 00:19:35.359 --> 00:19:40.799 And we don't have to stay here because God, in his work, is revealing the sons of God. 00:19:40.880 --> 00:19:50.559 And so I've asked Lee, Lee Offner, to share about kind of what happened to him at the uh Wholeheart Advance and how God's doing stuff in his life. 00:19:50.960 --> 00:19:51.920 Thank you, Lee. 00:19:52.079 --> 00:19:53.920 Let's welcome Lee Offner. 00:20:00.400 --> 00:20:01.519 Thank you, Steve. 00:20:01.680 --> 00:20:06.880 Um, I wish I could be as eloquent a speaker as as Steve, so please bear with me. 00:20:07.359 --> 00:20:13.359 Um when I learned about the advance, I thought, I I don't know what to expect. 00:20:14.000 --> 00:20:15.359 Um, but I was excited. 00:20:15.440 --> 00:20:16.559 I wanted to go. 00:20:16.799 --> 00:20:21.359 I wanted to be there, so I excited I decided to go. 00:20:21.599 --> 00:20:28.559 I've been meeting in a D group for about a year with Paul Stanley, and that's been a great adventure as well. 00:20:29.279 --> 00:20:37.039 And fortunately, we were placed in D groups at the advance, and I was placed in Paul's group there also. 00:20:37.920 --> 00:20:45.440 And Paul asked that Thursday afternoon when we first arrived, he said, What are you doing here? 00:20:45.920 --> 00:20:47.039 Why are you here? 00:20:47.680 --> 00:20:53.279 And I I didn't realize until D group this week that he was quoting 1 Kings, 1 Kings 19. 00:20:53.440 --> 00:20:54.640 What are you doing here? 00:20:55.359 --> 00:20:59.680 So immediately my mind raced to my wife, Sherry. 00:21:00.880 --> 00:21:03.119 Was this the Holy Spirit talking to me? 00:21:03.440 --> 00:21:05.839 Well, I don't know, perhaps. 00:21:06.640 --> 00:21:09.920 Sherry and I have been married 40 years. 00:21:12.480 --> 00:21:17.519 Uh and Sherry's been a Christ follower for longer than she can remember. 00:21:17.839 --> 00:21:21.839 I trusted Christ about 10 years into our marriage. 00:21:22.079 --> 00:21:24.400 Trusted him as my Lord and Savior. 00:21:25.119 --> 00:21:30.079 We have two great kids who both trust and love Christ. 00:21:30.240 --> 00:21:33.599 Our daughter Courtney is here with her husband Kirk. 00:21:34.559 --> 00:21:38.240 Sherry's put up with a lot from me over the years. 00:21:38.640 --> 00:21:46.160 Anger, impatience, indecision, half hearted, as Steve has described. 00:21:46.480 --> 00:21:50.640 I've over the years not been very loving nor very lovely. 00:21:51.200 --> 00:21:53.440 And she hadn't been either sometimes. 00:21:53.920 --> 00:21:58.079 So when Paul asked us, What are we doing here? 00:21:58.799 --> 00:21:59.759 I was reminded. 00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:10.799 And probably from the Holy Spirit, that Sherry truly is a gift of God, a treasure that I often do not appreciate. 00:22:12.000 --> 00:22:15.039 So my prayer at that time kind of went like this. 00:22:15.599 --> 00:22:21.359 Father God, Sherry's your daughter before she's my wife. 00:22:22.079 --> 00:22:24.319 Teach me to love her like you do. 00:22:25.839 --> 00:22:29.759 And I I know I can't, but the Holy Spirit can. 00:22:30.400 --> 00:22:35.519 And the Holy Spirit through me can, even when she is unlovely. 00:22:36.240 --> 00:22:50.480 What was amazing during the adventure, during the advance, was we knew the ladies were praying for us 24 hours a day, every day, before, during, and after the advance. 00:22:50.799 --> 00:22:53.119 So, ladies, we knew it, we felt it. 00:22:53.359 --> 00:22:54.319 Thank you for that. 00:22:54.559 --> 00:22:57.200 It really gave us strength. 00:22:58.720 --> 00:23:00.160 And again, it's amazing. 00:23:00.240 --> 00:23:07.279 We've been taught that when God sees us, when God looks down on earth and sees us, he sees us as Christ. 00:23:08.559 --> 00:23:12.640 Totally forgiven, unconditionally loved. 00:23:12.880 --> 00:23:15.599 And this is how I want to love my wife. 00:23:16.160 --> 00:23:22.960 I'm glad you added the part about sometimes she's not easy to love, too, because every guy in the room can relate to that. 00:23:25.599 --> 00:23:29.359 You ever get tired of these commercials on TV? 00:23:30.079 --> 00:23:33.279 It always makes the guy look like a total idiot. 00:23:34.559 --> 00:23:38.720 So you're not so great yourselves, lady, sometimes, so I just want you to know that, okay? 00:23:39.359 --> 00:23:41.039 Not all our fault, okay? 00:23:41.279 --> 00:23:41.839 All right. 00:23:42.079 --> 00:23:43.279 Verse 23. 00:23:44.079 --> 00:23:59.200 So not only that, but we also who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. 00:23:59.920 --> 00:24:03.920 For we are saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope. 00:24:04.160 --> 00:24:07.119 For why does one still hope for what he sees? 00:24:07.519 --> 00:24:12.799 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance. 00:24:13.200 --> 00:24:16.240 So we are, men and women, the first fruits of the Spirit. 00:24:16.480 --> 00:24:31.599 So one of the ways that we know that we're growing in the Spirit is that the first fruits of the Spirit, even in the midst of our groaning, are being evidenced of love and joy and peace and patience and kindness and goodness and gentleness and self-control. 00:24:32.000 --> 00:24:37.839 And you could look around you and look into your own life and say, Well, I don't hardly see those ever in my life. 00:24:37.920 --> 00:24:38.799 And that's fine. 00:24:38.960 --> 00:24:40.799 But you may be the next day you will. 00:24:40.960 --> 00:24:44.480 The reality is that we've been given a deposit, is what Galatians says. 00:24:44.559 --> 00:24:53.680 So we've been given a deposit of the Spirit, church, that gives us hope, hope for what will be a redemption day. 00:24:53.839 --> 00:24:56.480 That the Catholics call a beatific vision. 00:24:56.720 --> 00:25:01.759 The beatific vision is that day when we will be in glory. 00:25:02.000 --> 00:25:10.240 So suffering is preparing us for glory, and glory is being evidenced in your life through suffering. 00:25:10.480 --> 00:25:25.519 So suffering creates glory because, verse 26, likewise the spirit also helps in our weakness, for we do not know what we or how we should pray for as we ought. 00:25:25.759 --> 00:25:31.680 But the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 00:25:32.000 --> 00:25:35.920 So this word weakness is so huge here. 00:25:36.480 --> 00:25:39.119 And we talked about this at the whole heart advance. 00:25:39.279 --> 00:25:44.960 I mention it from time to time here that the key to wholeheartedness is vulnerability. 00:25:45.920 --> 00:25:49.440 It's being willing to acknowledge weakness. 00:25:50.240 --> 00:25:57.680 It is the number one most difficult thing for men to do is acknowledge weakness. 00:25:58.319 --> 00:26:03.839 In thousands of studies, Brene Brown has found that among women, it's their appearance. 00:26:04.480 --> 00:26:07.200 And among men, it's appearing to be weak. 00:26:08.160 --> 00:26:11.440 Those are the areas that become our shame areas. 00:26:12.400 --> 00:26:24.079 And so he's saying that for those that are growing in Christ to destroy the works of the devil is we actually, this sounds counterintuitive, we acknowledge our weakness. 00:26:25.759 --> 00:26:28.720 You see, that's why pride is so dangerous. 00:26:29.680 --> 00:26:35.759 Kind of that smug, I've got it all figured out, tell me something I don't know kind of attitude. 00:26:36.319 --> 00:26:37.680 You're never gonna grow that way. 00:26:38.160 --> 00:26:39.119 You will not grow. 00:26:39.680 --> 00:26:47.920 And I tell you, if you keep that pride in the forefront of your life, God will get your attention, but you won't like it very much. 00:26:49.200 --> 00:26:56.240 So that's why the scriptures say, humble yourself under the mighty hand of God, that he might raise you up, he might lift you up in his proper time. 00:26:56.559 --> 00:27:02.559 Wouldn't you rather be humbling yourself before the Lord than having the Lord Almighty humble you? 00:27:04.079 --> 00:27:15.440 So we humble ourselves, realizing our weakness, so that the Spirit now has access into our heart, so we can learn to pray. 00:27:16.400 --> 00:27:18.160 We can learn to seek the Lord. 00:27:19.440 --> 00:27:21.279 Now, verse 27. 00:27:22.079 --> 00:27:24.400 One of our favorite verses in the Bible. 00:27:24.640 --> 00:27:25.519 All of us quote it. 00:27:25.680 --> 00:27:26.400 We love it. 00:27:26.799 --> 00:27:34.319 Now he who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is because he makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. 00:27:34.640 --> 00:27:43.920 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God and to those who are called according to his purpose. 00:27:44.079 --> 00:27:46.000 So see the context, church. 00:27:46.079 --> 00:27:47.599 It's important we see the context. 00:27:47.759 --> 00:27:51.039 It's under groanings, it's under. 00:27:52.079 --> 00:27:53.359 Is that rain? 00:27:54.799 --> 00:27:58.079 Wow, that's that was a beautiful day when I came in earlier. 00:27:58.400 --> 00:27:59.039 Raining. 00:27:59.279 --> 00:27:59.599 Okay. 00:28:00.079 --> 00:28:08.640 Under groanings, under weaknesses, that's when the spirit in verse 27 searches the hearts. 00:28:09.200 --> 00:28:11.200 Okay, everybody, get I want your attention again. 00:28:11.279 --> 00:28:12.160 Everybody's looking at each other. 00:28:12.319 --> 00:28:12.960 I don't know why. 00:28:13.200 --> 00:28:17.839 Like everybody's going, why did you roll up the windows? 00:28:17.920 --> 00:28:20.960 I don't know what you're doing, but everybody suddenly went like this. 00:28:22.559 --> 00:28:23.680 Okay, I'm still here. 00:28:23.839 --> 00:28:24.319 All right, here. 00:28:24.640 --> 00:28:25.200 All right. 00:28:26.240 --> 00:28:27.119 This is important. 00:28:27.200 --> 00:28:28.559 Okay, I really think it's important. 00:28:28.640 --> 00:28:30.160 If you miss it, then well, you miss it. 00:28:30.240 --> 00:28:36.799 I'm not going to repeat it, but um that he makes intercession with weak people. 00:28:38.240 --> 00:28:42.240 God's Spirit makes intercession with weak people. 00:28:43.200 --> 00:28:45.759 You want to be stronger in the Lord, get weaker. 00:28:46.880 --> 00:28:54.400 You want to grow stronger against the works of the devil, then become weaker in yourself. 00:28:55.920 --> 00:28:59.839 Don't boast about what you can do, boast about what you can't do. 00:29:00.400 --> 00:29:07.200 Don't talk about how great you are or position yourself to be kind of the cool guy or the cool gal. 00:29:07.599 --> 00:29:16.799 Actually, humble yourself, serve, and God begins to work out his plan, and then all things work together for good to those who love him and call it for his purpose. 00:29:17.039 --> 00:29:18.079 Isn't that good news? 00:29:18.240 --> 00:29:20.720 That is the opposite of the culture, church. 00:29:21.039 --> 00:29:22.720 That is everything the opposite of the culture. 00:29:22.799 --> 00:29:25.119 That's the opposite of the Christian church. 00:29:25.759 --> 00:29:35.279 I mean, the church among men, I'd say I've been in church for since I was, I was I was in the church nine months before I was born with my mom. 00:29:35.519 --> 00:29:35.839 Okay? 00:29:36.319 --> 00:29:45.279 And so for a lot of years, I've been in the church, and most guys in the church are posers and pretenders. 00:29:46.400 --> 00:29:52.960 Because we have we have this persona of having it all together that we need to project, right? 00:29:53.599 --> 00:29:55.200 Not at the road. 00:29:55.759 --> 00:29:57.599 Let's just bust that bubble. 00:29:57.759 --> 00:30:02.000 And the reality is the weaker we are, the stronger he is if we trust in him. 00:30:02.559 --> 00:30:04.960 And so doing, all things work together for good. 00:30:05.039 --> 00:30:09.200 I'll tell you what, you know, Liz spoke from Titus, and I was looking at her notes. 00:30:09.279 --> 00:30:11.680 She wanted me to look at her notes the other night before she spoke. 00:30:11.839 --> 00:30:15.759 She had a great quote by George Mueller, the great prayer warrior. 00:30:15.839 --> 00:30:18.559 And he said, There's two things that have guided my life, my whole life. 00:30:18.640 --> 00:30:20.240 Number one, always be in the word. 00:30:20.799 --> 00:30:21.599 Always be in the word. 00:30:21.680 --> 00:30:23.839 And number two, have a clear conscience. 00:30:24.240 --> 00:30:25.519 What a great quote. 00:30:25.680 --> 00:30:33.920 You see, if we keep a clear conscience in all of our relationships, and we are in the word, all things will work together for good. 00:30:34.160 --> 00:30:34.960 They will. 00:30:35.519 --> 00:30:42.880 For whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 00:30:43.039 --> 00:30:52.640 Moreover, whom he predestined, these he also called, whom he called, there he also has justified, and whom he justified, those he also glorified. 00:30:52.880 --> 00:30:56.079