WEBVTT 00:00:00.320 --> 00:00:03.200 What's going on, my beloved brothers and sisters in Christ? 00:00:03.359 --> 00:00:08.080 This is Evangelist Toby Doubted, and we are back with another teaching today. 00:00:08.480 --> 00:00:11.119 We've been teaching out of the book of Philippians. 00:00:11.439 --> 00:00:13.839 We've made it all the way to chapter 3. 00:00:13.919 --> 00:00:19.359 So if you haven't checked out the other videos leading up to that point, I would suggest you do. 00:00:19.760 --> 00:00:22.079 The book of Philippians is very packed. 00:00:22.160 --> 00:00:33.280 And like I said before, one of the things about the book of Philippians, it is the only epistle where the Apostle Paul did not have to address the issue of sexual immorality. 00:00:33.520 --> 00:00:38.159 And today we're about to probably see the only issue he had to focus on. 00:00:38.320 --> 00:00:38.640 Okay. 00:00:39.039 --> 00:00:43.280 Now I spoke about the fact that the Apostle Paul didn't play around. 00:00:43.759 --> 00:00:49.439 He didn't just go and preach and minister the gospel to the Gentile nations. 00:00:56.320 --> 00:01:03.200 And this is why he focused on talking about walking in the reverent fear of the Lord, working out our own salvation. 00:01:03.359 --> 00:01:07.599 Now, this does not mean, like I said before, that you can earn your salvation. 00:01:07.760 --> 00:01:12.480 Otherwise, if you can do that, then you will have reason to boast and for God to owe you. 00:01:12.640 --> 00:01:15.519 No, the salvation from God is a free gift. 00:01:15.760 --> 00:01:26.560 But we do have to do a walk check periodically from time to time to make sure that we understand we're walking on the path of righteousness such as Jesus walked. 00:01:26.719 --> 00:01:32.079 Our righteousness, ladies and gentlemen, is not our righteousness, it is the righteousness of Jesus Christ. 00:01:32.239 --> 00:01:39.599 This is why it's so important to die to ourselves daily and keep putting on the clothing of the image of Jesus. 00:01:39.680 --> 00:01:42.560 And we're going to talk about that image today because that is very important. 00:01:42.799 --> 00:01:49.359 As the apostle Paul tells us that we are to have the same attitude that Jesus had when he walked this earth. 00:01:49.439 --> 00:01:59.680 And we're going to talk about that too because that is also important for our Christian walk, because our measuring stick is Jesus Christ. 00:01:59.840 --> 00:02:00.159 Okay. 00:02:00.879 --> 00:02:09.360 We take off the old self, which is that old Adam nature that comes with the sin with it, and we put on the new nature, which is Jesus. 00:02:09.520 --> 00:02:09.840 Okay. 00:02:10.080 --> 00:02:17.280 We walk in Jesus' obedience, his righteousness, his faithfulness, his justification, his no condemnation. 00:02:17.439 --> 00:02:17.759 Okay. 00:02:18.240 --> 00:02:23.120 So we're going to pick it back up in Philippians chapter 3. 00:02:23.280 --> 00:02:36.240 I want to get to verse 16 because there was a huge uh verse in here, and something that the apostle Paul talked about that many of us, when we're studying the book of Philippians, I believe we overlook. 00:02:36.319 --> 00:02:47.120 And you can't overlook this because this is all part of us being able to reach uh a level of the image of Christ that God wants us to reach. 00:02:47.280 --> 00:02:49.599 You want your prayers answered, ladies and gentlemen. 00:02:49.759 --> 00:02:54.800 You have to continue to die to yourself and walk in this righteousness. 00:02:55.039 --> 00:02:58.400 The Bible says that the feverent prayers of the righteous. 00:02:58.560 --> 00:03:03.759 I need y'all to understand that, underline that word when you look at that verse, avail of much. 00:03:03.919 --> 00:03:20.560 Meaning, the more righteous we begin to become as the image of Christ is taking hold in our life due to the transformation that this word should be causing, then our prayers can be sure to be heard and be answered. 00:03:21.039 --> 00:03:28.080 Okay, and this is how you know when you're walking in the righteousness that the image of Christ is taking hold. 00:03:28.319 --> 00:03:36.000 Because when God looks at you, he is looking at his son, he's looking for duplications of his son. 00:03:36.319 --> 00:03:40.400 Uh, one of the movies I always think about is the book is the movie Matrix. 00:03:40.560 --> 00:03:48.319 Uh, I want to say it's the last matrix, reloaded, where the evil guy figures out a way to duplicate himself. 00:03:48.479 --> 00:04:03.280 Uh, I'm sure you guys remember that scene where after Neil is talking to the Oracle, she goes through the door, and then his uh nephesis comes to face him and has learned how to duplicate himself within the program. 00:04:03.439 --> 00:04:05.759 He's mastered the program that they are within. 00:04:05.840 --> 00:04:08.719 Okay, that's a whole nother thing we can talk about later on. 00:04:08.960 --> 00:04:15.599 But Neil has not yet gotten to this place of being able to know how to do that until later on in the movie. 00:04:15.759 --> 00:04:20.639 But however the case, he's fighting all these duplications of his nemphesis, right? 00:04:21.279 --> 00:04:31.360 And so when God is looking at us, he's looking for a replica of his son, a pure, real replica, not a fake replica. 00:04:31.519 --> 00:04:36.639 And this word is what gives us the transformation, allows us to transform into that image. 00:04:36.720 --> 00:04:48.240 Now, that full image is not going to happen until we meet Jesus face to face, where the word says, and we're going to see that uh in Philippians chapter 3, that we will be changed on the spot. 00:04:48.480 --> 00:04:58.160 We will be like as Jesus is right now, tonight, with the exception of the wounds, which is his evidence that he was the one who went to the cross for us. 00:04:58.240 --> 00:05:06.879 Okay, so let's go ahead and let's get into uh verse 16, chapter 3, Philippians, and it reads Let me make sure I state this. 00:05:06.959 --> 00:05:07.759 I apologize. 00:05:07.920 --> 00:05:11.920 I am going to be reading out of an amplified Bible. 00:05:12.000 --> 00:05:14.560 Now I do have video versions of this. 00:05:14.879 --> 00:05:16.720 Uh, so you guys can go on YouTube. 00:05:17.040 --> 00:05:25.680 I have to make sure I start putting that in my um description so that you guys, if you want to see the video versions of it, uh you can see it. 00:05:25.759 --> 00:05:33.600 Uh I do wear a lot of Falcon's gear from time to time, and I do have to say that they are not under the expressed opinion of what I'm talking about. 00:05:33.680 --> 00:05:40.319 Now, there may be some that believe in what I believe in with this Bible, but uh I do not speak for them as a representative. 00:05:40.399 --> 00:05:45.680 I just like to wear a lot of Falcon stuff, so if you're watching the videos, you'll see that sometime uh from time to time. 00:05:45.759 --> 00:05:47.759 So let's go ahead and jump on into it. 00:05:48.000 --> 00:05:52.319 I want to start at verse 15 first, and then we'll work our way to 16. 00:05:52.399 --> 00:05:53.839 Watch what it says here. 00:05:54.720 --> 00:06:08.079 All of us who are mature pursuing spiritual perfection should have this attitude, and if in any respect you have a different attitude, watch this that too, God will make clear to you. 00:06:08.480 --> 00:06:12.399 Only let us stay true to what we have already obtained. 00:06:12.480 --> 00:06:21.439 Now, the apostle Paul is talking about he hasn't fully obtained the image fully to Jesus Christ. 00:06:22.160 --> 00:06:33.759 Okay, and like I said, you go to 1 Corinthians chapter 13, it tells us, yes, we know in part right now, but we will know in full when we get to Jesus, and we will be as Jesus is. 00:06:34.079 --> 00:06:55.360 But the apostle Paul tells us that he works toward pressing toward that goal, leaving those things behind, the life that he used to have, okay, the religious life that he once led, which was without Jesus Christ, and pressing toward the things of Jesus because all those things are garbage in comparison to Jesus in him. 00:06:55.759 --> 00:07:06.639 Okay, and so the apostle Paul is talking about here, those who are pursuing spiritual maturity should have this attitude. 00:07:06.959 --> 00:07:14.160 When we were reading in the book of Philippians, chapter 2, it talks about the attitude that Jesus had while he walked this earth. 00:07:14.399 --> 00:07:17.040 So let's look at some of those things right now. 00:07:17.439 --> 00:07:19.759 We're gonna go deeper into those things. 00:07:19.839 --> 00:07:28.800 I'm gonna go to Colossians chapter 3, and it's gonna talk about putting off the old nature and putting on the new nature, which is the image of Christ. 00:07:28.959 --> 00:07:36.079 Okay, what is this uh spiritual maturity, this attitude that we should have that Jesus had? 00:07:36.399 --> 00:07:47.439 It's him walking in humble humility, making himself of less importance, and putting other people above himself. 00:07:47.600 --> 00:07:52.079 Now that does not mean you totally forget yourself, okay? 00:07:52.319 --> 00:07:59.759 But it shouldn't be in a place where it's all about what you're going to get out of something before you do something for somebody else. 00:08:00.160 --> 00:08:08.639 We do good knowing that God is the source who blesses us, regardless of whether we do good for someone who does not return the favor. 00:08:09.120 --> 00:08:21.519 Okay, but Jesus had this humble humility about himself that allowed him to be obedient unto righteousness and walk in unselfish love. 00:08:21.680 --> 00:08:26.000 This is the attitude that we are to have, ladies and gentlemen. 00:08:26.160 --> 00:08:37.279 And if we do not have this attitude of being humble, walking in humility, walking in obedience unto righteousness, and walking in unselfish love, then there is a problem. 00:08:37.679 --> 00:08:48.480 Something is clogging up our spiritual arteries and not and not allowing the Holy Spirit to flow within us so that we can walk in this attitude of Christ. 00:08:48.799 --> 00:09:04.559 Okay, now let me get over here, and uh I want to go over to Colossians chapter 3, and let's look at this a little bit more, and uh I I do have to warn you, we do read a lot of scripture over here. 00:09:04.720 --> 00:09:09.679 I don't I do not play about the scriptural reading, okay? 00:09:10.000 --> 00:09:18.559 And so I didn't originally have this down in my notes, but we are definitely going to look at it today. 00:09:18.960 --> 00:09:29.440 Uh I think what we want to do, uh, I'm gonna read from verse one, and I want to go all the way to verse 10. 00:09:30.000 --> 00:09:31.360 Okay, all the way. 00:09:31.440 --> 00:09:48.080 There's a reason for this because we're gonna see a deep, detailed description of what it looks like to put off the old image of Adam that was given to us by default when he sinned in the garden and putting on the new nature, which is Jesus Christ. 00:09:48.159 --> 00:09:49.279 So let's get started here. 00:09:49.519 --> 00:09:50.960 Colossians chapter 3. 00:09:51.039 --> 00:09:54.000 We're gonna look all the way from verses 1 through 10. 00:09:54.240 --> 00:09:55.200 So let's go. 00:09:55.440 --> 00:10:04.639 It says, Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ to a look at this new life, sharing in his resurrection from the dead. 00:10:04.879 --> 00:10:09.039 Now, should we die before a rapture happens? 00:10:09.200 --> 00:10:39.039 And I know a lot of people don't want to believe in the rapture because the word is not in the Bible, but the connotation of what that rapture means is, and it simply means that those who are still alive will not have to taste death, but will have the benefit of being caught up in the clouds alive to meet Christ face to face, where we will completely be changed into bodies of immortality and having full knowledge of everything. 00:10:39.360 --> 00:10:43.519 There's going to be some things that you probably won't get to in your lifetime in this Bible. 00:10:43.679 --> 00:10:52.960 The word says we cannot exalt all of God's spiritual riches in this Bible that you will know once you meet Jesus Christ face to face. 00:10:53.200 --> 00:10:53.519 Okay? 00:10:54.159 --> 00:11:09.200 Now, so if we are part of the new life that Jesus has been given because of the Holy Spirit, the same Holy Spirit that was in him is in us today, we now have the guarantee of being resurrected from the dead. 00:11:09.279 --> 00:11:13.519 Should we not be one of those fortunate enough not to have to taste death? 00:11:13.679 --> 00:11:21.519 Watch this, keep seeking the things that are above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 00:11:21.759 --> 00:11:29.440 Now, ladies and gentlemen, our citizenship, the moment we got saved, is in heaven. 00:11:29.759 --> 00:11:41.840 Not only do we have a citizenship up in heaven, that which is the reason why the apostle Paul is admonishing us to think about things more above in the heavenly and not of the earth. 00:11:42.159 --> 00:11:44.320 Because we have our citizenship there. 00:11:44.480 --> 00:11:58.960 Ephesians chapter 2, verse 6 talks about this citizenship, but we also have uh our pre-invite into the earthly kingdom, okay, that is going to come down from heaven, the heaven's system, okay. 00:11:59.120 --> 00:12:07.600 Now, his perfect political system, Jesus Christ, who is going to reign as the king forever, is going to come down from heaven onto the earth. 00:12:07.840 --> 00:12:14.320 Okay, we now have not only heavenly citizenship, but already a pre-invite into the kingdom. 00:12:14.480 --> 00:12:32.879 Colossians chapter 1, verses 12 through 13 tells us that we've been translated out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of God, which is that millennial kingdom that will be sure to come back on the earth when God's children come back through the clouds with Jesus Christ. 00:12:33.039 --> 00:12:47.279 Okay, so we ought to set our minds and keep focused habitually, okay, on the things above, the heavenly things, not on things that are on the earth which have only temporal value. 00:12:47.519 --> 00:12:51.679 Now, why does the word habitually keep coming up? 00:12:52.000 --> 00:12:56.879 Because it takes practice to live out God's word. 00:12:57.519 --> 00:13:05.519 There are so many habits that you have developed throughout your lifetime that have to be broken by the anointing of the word. 00:13:06.399 --> 00:13:17.360 Okay, and so that takes a daily washing of the word and dying to ourselves so that we can continue to get to the image of Christ. 00:13:17.519 --> 00:13:17.840 Okay? 00:13:18.320 --> 00:13:20.240 And so this is what he's talking about. 00:13:20.480 --> 00:13:40.559 We are to habitually think about the things above, which means we have to continue to detach ourselves from the love of this world, and and now reattach ourselves to Christ, who has restored us and reconciled us into a right relationship with the Father when he went to the cross. 00:13:40.720 --> 00:13:41.279 Watch this. 00:13:41.360 --> 00:13:50.480 All right, verse 3 for you died to this world, and your new life, see this, is hidden with Christ in God. 00:13:50.960 --> 00:13:52.960 Now, when does that life get revealed? 00:13:53.120 --> 00:13:53.919 Watch this. 00:13:54.159 --> 00:14:01.759 Verse 4, when Christ, who is our life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. 00:14:02.000 --> 00:14:11.360 When he comes back to take care of all of his enemies, and they have been made uh a footstool under his foot. 00:14:12.000 --> 00:14:24.000 We will come back with him in glorious bodies that we have been guaranteed and given, whether through the rapture, we meet him being alive, of course, not having to taste death, or through that resurrection. 00:14:24.080 --> 00:14:40.720 Now, those who have died in the Lord first, according to 1 Thessalonians chapter 4, verses 13 through 18, will be raised from the dead first, and almost like same time simultaneously, those of us who are still alive will be caught up together with Jesus Christ. 00:14:40.879 --> 00:14:48.879 But there is a time in Jesus' second coming where he's going to come back with the body of Christ his bride. 00:14:49.200 --> 00:14:56.799 Romans chapter 8 talks about how all the creation is groaning tonight, awaiting for the revealing of the children of God. 00:14:56.879 --> 00:14:58.000 Because what does that mean? 00:14:58.159 --> 00:15:02.240 That sin and death have been defeated. 00:15:02.960 --> 00:15:05.360 Okay, now, so let's keep going. 00:15:05.519 --> 00:15:10.320 Our life now, when we get saved, has been hidden in Christ. 00:15:11.039 --> 00:15:16.240 Alright, and when we come back here, we will be revealed. 00:15:16.559 --> 00:15:20.000 The whole world will know who the children of God truly are. 00:15:20.240 --> 00:15:21.600 Alright, now, so watch this. 00:15:21.679 --> 00:15:24.320 Because our life is hidden in Him, watch what it says. 00:15:24.639 --> 00:15:52.960 So put to death and deprived of the power, the evil longings of your earthly body with its sensual, self-centered instincts, immortality, impurity, sinful passion, evil desire, and greed, which is a kind of idolatry because it replaces your devotion to God, it hinders you from walking in the image of Jesus Christ. 00:15:53.120 --> 00:15:59.360 And we're going to talk about more what could be causing you not to be walking in the image of Christ. 00:15:59.600 --> 00:16:14.480 Okay, now, because verse 6 of these sinful things, the divine wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience, those who fail to listen and who routinely and obstinately disregard God's precepts. 00:16:14.720 --> 00:16:24.080 Those people that don't want God in control of their lives, that believe they are God and that they can accomplish everything God can. 00:16:24.480 --> 00:16:26.240 Well, that's the lie from Satan. 00:16:26.399 --> 00:16:40.480 But it's gonna be so many people because they've decided to take upon their own selves to make their own decisions, do their own thing without God, not knowing that God still allows them to have the things that they have. 00:16:41.759 --> 00:16:59.039 But this is the arrogancy and pride, and so these are the people, such as we once were, that the wrath of God is coming upon, okay, if they don't get themselves right and allow the Holy Spirit to convict them and bring them to a place of repentance. 00:16:59.120 --> 00:17:10.559 Verse 7, and in these sinful things, watch this, you also once walked when you were habitually living in them without the knowledge of Christ. 00:17:11.359 --> 00:17:18.400 So the same way that we've developed these bad habits that go against the precepts of God is the same way now. 00:17:18.480 --> 00:17:21.200 We have to reverse that through the word. 00:17:21.839 --> 00:17:28.079 The more word we can understand, ladies and gentlemen, the greater the transformation into that image will be. 00:17:28.400 --> 00:17:36.880 Okay, and so the apostle Paul is telling these Gentiles back then, you once walked that way, but now you don't walk that way. 00:17:37.119 --> 00:17:38.079 Alright? 00:17:38.400 --> 00:17:39.200 Verse 8. 00:17:39.440 --> 00:17:44.240 But now, watch this, rid yourselves completely of all these things. 00:17:44.400 --> 00:17:53.039 Watch this anger, rage, malice, slander, and obscene, abusive, filthy, vulgar language from your mouth. 00:17:53.119 --> 00:17:57.680 For all the people that believe you can still be cursing and all that kind of stuff. 00:17:59.599 --> 00:18:09.359 Now there's a uh a scripture in Proverbs chapter 8 that caught my attention saying that wisdom does not hang with those with a perverse mouth. 00:18:10.799 --> 00:18:23.039 So you can't tell me you got wisdom, yet your mouth does not indicate it because wisdom doesn't hang with someone that doesn't know how to keep their mouth and their tongue bridle. 00:18:23.759 --> 00:18:24.079 Okay? 00:18:24.559 --> 00:18:26.000 Now, so let's keep going. 00:18:26.160 --> 00:18:30.000 Verse 9 do not lie to one another. 00:18:30.240 --> 00:18:39.920 That's we're in fellowship with other brothers and sisters in Christ, for you have stripped off the old self with its evil practices. 00:18:40.160 --> 00:18:43.200 You see that, and what have you done? 00:18:43.519 --> 00:19:06.640 And have put on the new spiritual self who is being watched this continually renewed and true knowledge in the image of Him who Jesus Christ, who created the new self, ladies and gentlemen, it is a continuous process of dying to ourselves daily. 00:19:06.880 --> 00:19:12.559 The only way we can do that is to face the truth in these Bibles, okay? 00:19:12.799 --> 00:19:30.640 And when we receive and understand these truths, these truths that the Holy Spirit gives us, because the Bible says that He had He guides us into all truth, will begin to transform us into the glorious image of Jesus Christ. 00:19:32.240 --> 00:19:36.799 That image is what is leading us into spiritual maturity. 00:19:36.960 --> 00:19:45.680 Now, let's go over here as we've gotten a more detailed sense of this attitude that Jesus possessed. 00:19:46.000 --> 00:19:56.400 Okay, Colossians 3 has covered all of that for us, giving us the instructions on our citizenship and where we're from and things of that nature. 00:19:56.480 --> 00:19:59.200 Now, we're not we're not of this earth anymore. 00:19:59.359 --> 00:20:03.680 We may live in this world, but we're not of this world because we have heavenly citizenship. 00:20:03.920 --> 00:20:21.119 Alright, now I want to go over here to uh Matthew before we get even serious into all this uh other things that can be hindering us that God will make clear to us that is keeping us from completely walking in the image of Christ. 00:20:21.359 --> 00:20:26.319 Such now we have looked up and hopefully have gotten a little bit more understanding of. 00:20:26.480 --> 00:20:31.039 So let's go to uh before I go to Matthew 13, let's go over to 1 Timothy. 00:20:31.680 --> 00:20:33.279 Let's go over here to 1 Timothy. 00:20:33.359 --> 00:20:38.480 I need to get back over here to this uh yeah, let's go over here to 1 Timothy. 00:20:38.799 --> 00:20:44.400 And I've read this scripture before, but we're gonna go and read more of it. 00:20:45.359 --> 00:20:48.799 But I want to get over here to 1 Timothy, chapter 4. 00:20:52.160 --> 00:20:53.440 Give me a second here. 00:21:14.640 --> 00:21:29.359 And we're gonna start at verse 6, and we're gonna finish up all the way verse 16 as we get a more detailed description from the Apostle Paul to Timothy on what spiritual maturity actually looks like. 00:21:30.319 --> 00:21:33.599 Alright, now let's start at verse 6. 00:21:35.839 --> 00:21:43.039 It says here, for I am already being poured out as a drink offering. 00:21:43.119 --> 00:21:51.839 Now we saw the apostle Paul talk about being a drink offering in the book of Philippians, and meaning he's giving it all he has. 00:21:51.920 --> 00:21:57.599 There's a saying in football talks about emptying out the bucket, he's left it all out there. 00:21:58.000 --> 00:22:08.880 All the wisdom that was given, he's Poured it all out on the people that he has helped to establish in God's word as he's getting ready to come closer to his time of death. 00:22:08.960 --> 00:22:17.200 And the time, look at this, of my departure from this world is at hand, and I will soon go free. 00:22:17.440 --> 00:22:29.279 Now, the apostle Paul talked about in Philippians chapter 1, how he was hard-pressed to stay home in this body and to go home to be with the Lord. 00:22:29.680 --> 00:22:33.039 To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. 00:22:33.119 --> 00:22:42.000 Now, a lot of people will talk about that being a figure of speech, but it doesn't sound like that from the way that the Apostle Paul talked about this in Philippians chapter 1. 00:22:42.160 --> 00:22:44.720 Okay, verses 23 and 24. 00:22:44.880 --> 00:22:48.319 And so the apostle Paul now knows he's coming to the end of his life. 00:22:48.480 --> 00:22:51.599 At this point, he's not going to get released from prison. 00:22:51.839 --> 00:22:57.519 Okay, and his ultimate fate is to be beheaded for the gospel of Jesus Christ. 00:22:57.759 --> 00:22:58.480 Alright now. 00:22:58.640 --> 00:23:00.799 So he's saying he's poured it all out there. 00:23:01.519 --> 00:23:03.119 He's emptied the bucket. 00:23:03.680 --> 00:23:06.319 And uh he will go free soon. 00:23:06.640 --> 00:23:16.000 Now he knows he's going to be absent from the body and to be with the Lord while his body is waiting on the clothing of immortality in the grave. 00:23:16.160 --> 00:23:17.359 He says, Watch this. 00:23:17.599 --> 00:23:21.599 I have fought the good and worthy and notable fight. 00:23:21.759 --> 00:23:28.640 I have finished the race, I have kept the faith firmly guarding the gospel against errors. 00:23:29.759 --> 00:23:42.559 Now, this is one of the things he admonished Timothy that Timothy needed to do when he's dealing with people, specifically in the vicinity, especially in his church, that are erring in the scripture. 00:23:42.799 --> 00:23:47.359 He is to correct them in a loving way and gentle way, in the truth, of course. 00:23:47.519 --> 00:23:52.559 Verse 8 In the future there is reserved for me the victor's crown of what? 00:23:52.880 --> 00:23:54.079 Righteousness. 00:23:55.039 --> 00:24:02.400 Because the apostle Paul was walking in the righteousness of Jesus Christ for being right with God and doing what? 00:24:02.640 --> 00:24:03.279 Right. 00:24:04.880 --> 00:24:18.400 What's the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that great day, and not to me only, but also to those who have loved and longed for and welcomed his appearance. 00:24:20.079 --> 00:24:20.720 Alright. 00:24:21.119 --> 00:24:30.240 Um I just realized I'm in the wrong one. 00:24:30.880 --> 00:24:34.640 I need to go back here because I don't went into the second epistle. 00:24:34.880 --> 00:24:37.759 I wonder if something didn't look right, but that's okay. 00:24:38.079 --> 00:24:40.480 That is okay, ladies and gentlemen. 00:24:40.720 --> 00:24:42.079 That is okay. 00:24:42.400 --> 00:24:47.200 Now, that was a practice run just to see if you was listening. 00:24:47.599 --> 00:24:55.279 But all jokes aside, now let's get back over here to 1 Timothy chapter 4, not 2 Timothy chapter 4. 00:24:55.359 --> 00:24:57.119 So I do apologize for that. 00:24:57.279 --> 00:24:59.599 Uh, but we're we're gonna keep on going. 00:25:00.559 --> 00:25:01.920 Let's get back over here. 00:25:02.000 --> 00:25:05.519 Now we can get into where we truly was going at. 00:25:05.680 --> 00:25:08.480 We had a little small delay there, but it's okay. 00:25:08.640 --> 00:25:10.720 Alright, so let's let's keep going. 00:25:11.200 --> 00:25:16.240 Let's go over here to 1 Timothy chapter 4 and look at verses 6 through 16. 00:25:16.559 --> 00:25:18.240 Alright, so now let's go. 00:25:18.480 --> 00:25:34.319 If you point out these instructions to the brothers and sisters, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished through study on the words of the faith and of good Christian doctrine, which you have closely followed. 00:25:34.480 --> 00:25:41.359 Now he's telling Timothy, when you share these truths with others, you will continue to be nourished. 00:25:41.440 --> 00:25:54.799 Meaning you empty yourself out, you will continue to be fed and become full and still walking in the Holy Spirit, being filled with the Holy Spirit because you are emptying out what is necessary. 00:25:55.119 --> 00:25:57.920 You can't just hold his word in, ladies and gentlemen. 00:25:58.000 --> 00:26:04.960 When you have an understanding, God does expect you at some point when he calls you to teach and preach this word. 00:26:05.440 --> 00:26:10.960 It is the only way that you can receive more revelation from the Holy Spirit. 00:26:11.200 --> 00:26:11.519 Okay? 00:26:12.000 --> 00:26:16.000 When you're too full, then you can't add anything else on there. 00:26:16.079 --> 00:26:17.519 You're going to spill over. 00:26:17.920 --> 00:26:27.599 So you have to be able to empty yourself in order to continue to receive nourishment and food, which is his word, to continue to fill you. 00:26:27.759 --> 00:26:36.240 And so, as he's telling Timothy, you share this word, instructing others in this word, then you will continue to be nourished in the word back. 00:26:36.400 --> 00:26:38.880 You'll continue to stay full of the word. 00:26:39.200 --> 00:26:46.079 Verse 7, but have nothing to do with irreverent folklore as or still silly myths. 00:26:46.319 --> 00:26:52.799 On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness, keeping yourself spiritually fit. 00:26:52.880 --> 00:26:54.799 This is what spiritual maturity is. 00:26:55.039 --> 00:27:05.200 This is what it means to pursue spiritual maturity is habitually changing and renewing your mind daily through getting this word. 00:27:05.680 --> 00:27:06.000 Okay. 00:27:06.960 --> 00:27:07.759 Alright now. 00:27:07.920 --> 00:27:09.279 So let's keep going. 00:27:10.240 --> 00:27:14.079 Verse 8 for physical training is of some value. 00:27:14.319 --> 00:27:30.160 Don't mean you don't do it, it's great for your body, but godliness, spiritual training is of value in everything and in every way, since it holds promise for the present life and for the life to come. 00:27:31.359 --> 00:27:38.720 Walking in this word allows us to have the spiritual success in everything that we do. 00:27:40.640 --> 00:27:45.200 You know, whatever you put your hands on, God will prosper it. 00:27:46.000 --> 00:27:48.240 This word is what does that. 00:27:48.480 --> 00:27:48.799 Okay? 00:27:49.279 --> 00:27:50.480 Now, verse 9. 00:27:50.559 --> 00:27:56.400 This is a faithful and trustworthy saying, worthy of full acceptance and approval. 00:27:56.880 --> 00:28:15.839 It is for this that we labor and strive, often called to account, because we have fixed our covenant hope on the living God, who is the savior of all people, especially of those who believe in him, recognize him as the Son of God, and accept him as Savior and Lord. 00:28:16.000 --> 00:28:24.960 Now I can jump back on this thing at why Jesus is God, because it pretty much says it here, but I'm not going to do that because I've already taught that. 00:28:25.359 --> 00:28:27.200 You get a chance, you can go and check that out. 00:28:27.519 --> 00:28:30.480 God, our Savior, is Jesus Christ. 00:28:30.640 --> 00:28:33.680 Verse 11, keep commanding and teaching these things. 00:28:33.839 --> 00:28:34.480 Watch this. 00:28:34.640 --> 00:28:55.279 Let no one look down on you because of your youth, but be an example and set a pattern for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in moral purity until I come, devote yourself to public reading of scripture, to preaching and to teaching the sound doctrine of God's word. 00:28:55.599 --> 00:29:20.000 Verse 14 Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, that special endowment which was intentionally bestowed on you by the Holy Spirit through prophetic utterance when the elders laid their hands on you at your ordination, meaning he was imparted some spiritual gifts that he has responsibility to use for the good of others. 00:29:20.319 --> 00:29:29.200 The apostle Paul tells him to continue to use these gifts, stir these gifts up so that they can benefit and impact others. 00:29:33.279 --> 00:29:40.880 But be absorbed in them, completely occupied in your ministry so that your progress will be evident to all. 00:29:41.119 --> 00:29:49.839 Verse 16, pay close attention, look at this, to yourself, concentrate on your personal development and to your teaching. 00:29:50.960 --> 00:30:00.960 Persevere in these things, hold to them, for as you do this, you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you. 00:30:01.119 --> 00:30:18.559 As you set the pattern of what spiritual maturity is and what it takes to be spiritually mature, habitually renewing your mind every day in this word, then you become a pattern for others to see how to do it and follow it as well. 00:30:19.039 --> 00:30:22.720 Okay, and this is what the apostle Paul is talking about. 00:30:22.799 --> 00:30:28.480 Now let's jump on this self-evaluation because this is so important. 00:30:28.720 --> 00:30:51.680 I talked about it in the book of Philippians before, but as the apostle Paul says, to continue to write the same things or repeat myself to you, it's okay because it is beneficial to you as a safeguard until it sinks in and you're habitually walking in what the apostle Paul is talking about. 00:30:52.319 --> 00:31:01.440 This self-evaluation is very important, ladies and gentlemen, because these are some of the things that God will make clear to you. 00:31:02.079 --> 00:31:17.359 And over your time, as you continue to walk with God, there are some things that you have probably buried within yourself, trying so hard to forget that may have happened in your uh lifetime as a child. 00:31:18.480 --> 00:31:29.200 And you buried them in order to forget those things that have happened to you, traumas that have happened to you, that have caused and altered your decision making growing up. 00:31:29.440 --> 00:31:29.759 Okay. 00:31:30.960 --> 00:31:45.920 And so these are things that God will help us, and I know this personally because I went through this transition when I was really studying this word and getting before God, and He was helping me to understand why I fell into certain traps that I fell into. 00:31:46.160 --> 00:32:06.240 Because of certain things from my childhood and my youth that affected me, that caused me to walk into these paths that the devil set up and tried to continue to keep hold on me as I was going through uh the removal from the anointing of these strongholds that he put on my life. 00:32:06.400 --> 00:32:18.400 Okay, and so these are things that God wants to bring to our attention so that we can be no longer hindered from walking in the image of Christ. 00:32:19.759 --> 00:32:22.319 Will we completely be walking in that image fully? 00:32:22.400 --> 00:32:22.960 No, we won't. 00:32:23.039 --> 00:32:29.200 And the apostle Paul says, not that I have completely obtained it, but I'm definitely on my way. 00:32:29.440 --> 00:32:33.519 Leaving those things in the past and pressing forward toward the mark. 00:32:33.839 --> 00:32:45.279 Okay, and so these things here is the requirement for self-evaluation, is how we get into this place of spiritual maturity. 00:32:46.079 --> 00:32:49.200 So let's go to Galatians chapter 6. 00:32:51.359 --> 00:32:53.359 Galatians chapter 6. 00:32:57.759 --> 00:33:00.720 And like I told you, we read a lot of scripture over here. 00:33:00.960 --> 00:33:01.359 Alright? 00:33:01.440 --> 00:33:07.279 Now, I kind of messed this up a little bit and detoured us going into 2 Timothy, but that's okay. 00:33:07.920 --> 00:33:08.720 God is good. 00:33:08.799 --> 00:33:10.559 We're gonna keep it moving, okay? 00:33:10.880 --> 00:33:16.960 Because the the the power is not within how perfect I can be with not messing up. 00:33:17.119 --> 00:33:27.279 The power is in the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit is the one who releases the power of stirring within you to understand and comprehend and to break free. 00:33:27.519 --> 00:33:28.319 Not me. 00:33:28.559 --> 00:33:33.680 So I'm thankful to God for the mess up because it's not all about me, it's about him. 00:33:34.000 --> 00:33:34.319 Okay? 00:33:34.480 --> 00:33:35.599 So now let's keep going. 00:33:35.680 --> 00:33:39.279 We're gonna go here and look into this self-evaluation. 00:33:39.440 --> 00:33:48.559 Things that are necessary for us, because if this word, ladies and gentlemen, is not working for us the way that it should, then we know there is a problem. 00:33:49.279 --> 00:34:01.599 We know that there are still some things that we haven't quite been broken from or made aware of that is hindering us to not receive the fast recovery time that this word is supposed to bring. 00:34:02.400 --> 00:34:02.720 Okay? 00:34:03.119 --> 00:34:04.880 Now it took me time to get to this point. 00:34:04.960 --> 00:34:11.840 I could be sad and depressed about something and go pray about it, and the burden gets released, and I'm recovered that quickly. 00:34:13.039 --> 00:34:19.039 This is why they give medicine for anxiety and depression, because by default, that medicine does that. 00:34:19.119 --> 00:34:30.960 But a lot of people don't like to take it because it slows them down from them being who they really feel themselves are, and that's why they don't really like to take the medicine because they don't want their lives feeling slowed down. 00:34:31.679 --> 00:34:45.199 But the word doesn't do that in that sense, but it does recover us the more that we grow in this righteousness of Jesus and understand this word, we get faster recovery time just like getting in an ice tub. 00:34:45.519 --> 00:34:58.800 Okay, and so just like getting in an ice tub where we're getting uh faster recovery in muscles that we've had to work out, whether it's practice or the weight room or whatever the case may be. 00:34:59.039 --> 00:35:14.639 You see a lot of football players that do it and they get in these ice tubs, these have these ice baths, because they've used a lot of the parts of their body that they need a faster recovery time uh to get them ready for the next practice or getting closer to the game day. 00:35:14.800 --> 00:35:31.599 Okay, and so we have to look at this word allowing us to do the same thing, and if we're not receiving that energetic recovery through the Holy Spirit quick enough, we know that there are some issues, transformation is being hindered because of certain things in our lives that are happening. 00:35:31.840 --> 00:35:44.400 But verse 3 in Galatians chapter 6, it reads this for if anyone thinks he is something special, when in fact he is nothing special except in his own eyes, he deceives himself. 00:35:44.639 --> 00:36:09.199 Now, this is what the whole situation is of removing self-importance because you begin to value yourself more than you really are, and that's very dangerous, okay, and this is why the apostle Paul is preaching and teaching against self-importance, and this is part of the walk check. 00:36:09.440 --> 00:36:28.159 Watch this, verse 4, but each one must carefully scrutinize, look at this, his own work, examining his actions, attitudes, and behavior, and then he can have the personal satisfaction and inner joy of doing something commendable without comparing himself to another. 00:36:28.480 --> 00:36:42.239 This is another dangerous place when we compare ourselves to what someone else has because we don't have it, and we're more focused on trying to have what they have instead of focusing on what God is doing and trying to do through us. 00:36:42.480 --> 00:37:05.280 Okay, but when we do these examinations to examine our own attitudes, actions, behavior, to realize what may be hindering us from having the attitude of Christ, of being humble, walking in humility, obedience unto righteousness, and unselfish love. 00:37:05.360 --> 00:37:12.239 And we looked at Colossians chapter 3 and got a further detailed description of what that image of Christ is. 00:37:13.039 --> 00:37:17.280 We have a responsibility, but God will help us, okay? 00:37:18.239 --> 00:37:30.880 Verse 5, for every person, watch this, will have to bear with patience his own burdens of faults and shortcomings for which he alone is responsible. 00:37:31.119 --> 00:37:50.000 Now, all of these things are not going to reveal themselves at once, but as we continue progressively walking in the process with God, over time he will continue to reveal certain things that you may have hidden within yourself. 00:37:50.159 --> 00:37:54.400 Now let's go to 2 Corinthians, continue to look at this self-evaluation. 00:37:54.480 --> 00:38:04.639 We're gonna go to 2 Corinthians chapter 13, and make sure I get it right this time and don't get crossed up between first and second. 00:38:05.360 --> 00:38:07.039 We're gonna keep on going here. 00:38:08.960 --> 00:38:16.159 We're gonna look at 2 Corinthians chapter 13 and look at verse 5 as we continue talking about this self-evaluation. 00:38:16.320 --> 00:38:17.199 Watch this. 00:38:17.760 --> 00:38:28.480 Verse 5, and it reads, Test and evaluate yourselves to see whether you are in the faith and living your lives as committed believers. 00:38:28.719 --> 00:38:30.800 Examine yourselves, not me. 00:38:31.280 --> 00:38:44.480 It's your responsibility, but God will help us by an ongoing experience or do you not recognize this about yourselves by an ongoing experience? 00:38:44.639 --> 00:38:59.920 Watch this that Jesus Christ is in you, unless indeed you fail the test and are rejected as a counterfeit as you continue to unveil the image of Jesus Christ. 00:39:00.159 --> 00:39:02.159 How do you unveil that image? 00:39:02.480 --> 00:39:18.000 By doing a walk check on yourself, being honest with your prayer life, asking God to help show you what could be blocking you from walking and benefiting in the righteousness of Jesus Christ. 00:39:18.719 --> 00:39:26.960 That's what the whole self-check uh evaluation is all about, the walk check, ladies and gentlemen. 00:39:28.639 --> 00:39:45.920 Because this word should be transforming you into the image, and if the image of Christ is not happening, you're not seeing evidence of that like you're supposed to, then God will make it clear to you what those issues are that is keeping you from walking in the image. 00:39:46.079 --> 00:39:48.079 Now, let's go over here. 00:39:48.480 --> 00:39:57.280 We're gonna continue to talk about some things that could be hindering you as you now understand why it's important to do this walk check. 00:39:57.599 --> 00:40:48.159 I want to go to uh Ecclesiastics, chapter 11, and you notice, and I talked about how certain things in your youth can have an effect on your life, and a lot of us don't realize this because many of us grow up in households that normalize the way that we think and do stuff, and so we don't realize and understand that a lot of these decisions that we make are against the word of God, but because we've normalized a lot of these things in our lives, it's the reason why we naturally do them without thought to it, until we have that encounter with God where He addresses those things. 00:40:48.320 --> 00:40:51.199 Alright, so now let's go to Ecclesiastics chapter 11. 00:40:51.280 --> 00:40:53.760 Look at verse 9 and 10. 00:40:55.519 --> 00:40:57.199 Watch what it says here. 00:40:58.880 --> 00:41:01.440 Rejoice, young man, in your what? 00:41:01.760 --> 00:41:02.960 Childhood. 00:41:03.599 --> 00:41:11.920 Go all the way back to your childhood here, and let your heart be pleasant in the days of your young manhood. 00:41:13.280 --> 00:41:20.800 So the things that you're doing in your childhood and you're progressing into a young, youthful manhood. 00:41:21.039 --> 00:41:27.519 He says, rejoice in those things, have great joy, experience life, but be careful. 00:41:28.159 --> 00:41:42.159 Okay, and walk in the ways of your heart, see, and in the desires of your eyes, but know that God will bring you into judgment for all these things. 00:41:42.880 --> 00:41:57.920 So you gotta understand, while you are having joy in your childhood, leading up to your young youthful life, that certain decision that you make can have an impact on your adult life on your on your adult life. 00:41:59.039 --> 00:42:09.840 So while King Solomon is saying to enjoy, fulfill the desires of your heart, but be careful because God will bring those things into judgment. 00:42:10.079 --> 00:42:24.480 Verse 10, therefore, remove, watch this, sorrow and anger from your heart and put away pain from your body for childhood in the prime of life are fleeting. 00:42:25.599 --> 00:42:31.599 Now, most of you probably didn't even realize that this was in here, and when I saw it, it blew my mind. 00:42:33.039 --> 00:42:43.840 But ladies and gentlemen, we can actually pack down sorrow, unresolved sorrow, unresolved anger, and unresolved pain in our bodies. 00:42:44.960 --> 00:42:55.280 That can be a hindrance from God's word sticking and allowing the transformation into the image that God wants us to walk into. 00:42:55.679 --> 00:43:01.519 Now, let's go to Ecclesiastes chapter 12 and look at the first two verses also. 00:43:01.920 --> 00:43:02.800 Watch this. 00:43:04.079 --> 00:43:11.679 Remember thoughtfully also your creator in the days of your youth, for you are not your own but his. 00:43:12.079 --> 00:43:21.840 Before the evil days come of the years, draw near when you will say of physical pleasures, I have no enjoyment and delight in them. 00:43:22.079 --> 00:43:23.519 What does that mean? 00:43:24.400 --> 00:43:35.920 Just like God will bring into judgments the decisions that we make from our childhood leading up into our youthful lives, which leads us ultimately into our adult lives. 00:43:37.119 --> 00:43:42.400 You see, King Solomon talking about remember your creator in the days of your youth. 00:43:42.559 --> 00:43:56.320 When you're making these decisions and things that you are doing, you got to be careful because if you're making decisions to do things that are not of God and what he wants, they will have an impact. 00:43:57.119 --> 00:43:59.840 And so it's our responsibility, ladies and gentlemen. 00:44:00.239 --> 00:44:06.880 And when we have children to teach our children to understand, be careful about the decisions that you make. 00:44:06.960 --> 00:44:12.079 Now, many of us, like I said, we've been put in a traumatized household. 00:44:12.320 --> 00:44:15.039 And we have not learned how to deal with that. 00:44:15.199 --> 00:44:22.400 And so when we go to the church, we get excited about the things that are being preached forth, but it's not sticking. 00:44:22.639 --> 00:44:40.400 And it is because we have yet to understand that there are certain things that have to be uprooted so that the root of God's word can take hold and firmly grow in the garden that He has given us, which is these bodies of ours. 00:44:40.559 --> 00:44:52.880 And so when we store pain, sorrow, and and unresolved anger in our bodies, it affects us, ladies and gentlemen. 00:44:53.119 --> 00:44:54.719 Nothing wrong with therapy. 00:44:54.880 --> 00:44:57.679 The Bible says we need wise counsel. 00:44:58.079 --> 00:45:05.039 But so many of us have normalized the fact of the things that we've gone through, even tried to forget those things. 00:45:05.199 --> 00:45:19.519 We don't realize that Satan's using those things to still impact our decisions, and they have to be resolved in order for us to get to the place where the transformation can show evidence within us. 00:45:20.000 --> 00:45:36.239 And that ultimate evidence is the image of Christ, walking in the righteousness of Jesus Christ, which will break the continued patterns that we have established for ourselves from our childhood all the way up into our adulthood. 00:45:36.480 --> 00:45:57.440 Now, let's go over to Hebrew chapter 12 and continue talking about things that could take root in our lives, which could hinder us from walking in God's image of his son. 00:46:00.159 --> 00:46:02.239 Hebrews chapter 12. 00:46:06.800 --> 00:46:09.360 Hebrews chapter 12, verse 15. 00:46:10.719 --> 00:46:12.400 Watch what it says here. 00:46:14.719 --> 00:46:19.679 See to it that no one falls short of God's look at this grace. 00:46:20.559 --> 00:46:32.159 That no root of resentment springs up and causes trouble, and by it many be defiled. 00:46:34.320 --> 00:46:45.519 When you're walking with resentment still stored up from the things that have happened to you and what people have done against you, ladies and gentlemen, this word will have no effect. 00:46:50.320 --> 00:46:58.719 This is part of what that entails, is that we have to come to an honest assessment on ourselves. 00:46:58.800 --> 00:47:02.960 And it's what has caused us to make some of the decisions that we made. 00:47:03.039 --> 00:47:18.079 Some of us have made decisions that have gotten us in stuff that we probably don't feel like we can get out of, but it's because we have not understood the importance of therapy in our lives. 00:47:19.840 --> 00:47:25.119 That can help us when we get that wise counsel so that we can talk out those things. 00:47:25.360 --> 00:47:30.559 Always have this process of confess, process, and release. 00:47:31.119 --> 00:47:32.800 We have to be able to confess. 00:47:32.960 --> 00:47:37.840 The word tells us to confess our sins to one another so that we can be covered. 00:47:38.239 --> 00:47:38.559 Okay? 00:47:38.880 --> 00:47:42.320 And we also have to allow things to be processed. 00:47:42.480 --> 00:47:50.800 We have to allow ourselves to fully feel what we're going through, knowing that we're not the only ones that are going through it. 00:47:50.880 --> 00:48:03.199 We're not going through it alone because Jesus sent us a comforter called the Holy Spirit, and he will help us as we're processing the things that we've had to encounter within our lives. 00:48:04.400 --> 00:48:04.719 Okay? 00:48:05.679 --> 00:48:15.280 That's why the apostle Paul tells us that God will make clear those things that are keeping you from walking in the attitude of Jesus Christ. 00:48:15.679 --> 00:48:25.280 So if you still have a root of unforgiveness in your hearts, it is going to affect the word and not allow the word to work. 00:48:25.519 --> 00:48:25.840 Okay? 00:48:27.039 --> 00:48:30.320 Now, let's go to Ephesians chapter 4. 00:48:30.400 --> 00:48:32.320 And I told y'all we read a lot of scripture over here. 00:48:32.480 --> 00:48:42.559 I do that on purpose because my goal is to give you as many spiritual word weapons, because our weapons are not carnal. 00:48:43.119 --> 00:48:44.800 We need this word, okay? 00:48:44.960 --> 00:48:50.159 And we need to be washed with this word daily, and that is the whole purpose. 00:48:52.159 --> 00:48:55.519 Ephesians chapter 4, verse 32. 00:48:56.800 --> 00:48:58.239 And let's read. 00:49:10.159 --> 00:49:10.480 Why? 00:49:10.639 --> 00:49:14.559 Just as God in Christ also forgave you. 00:49:14.800 --> 00:49:21.119 Now, you will read what Jesus said to forgive a man 77 times seven times. 00:49:21.280 --> 00:49:25.199 And if you don't forgive that man, you will not be forgiven. 00:49:25.519 --> 00:49:34.800 But now you see the apostle Paul come back and say, the reason why Jesus said that was because of the hard hearts of the people, the hardened hearts of the people. 00:49:35.599 --> 00:49:38.639 But now, what does the apostle Paul tell us? 00:49:38.880 --> 00:49:43.119 We forgive because we have already been forgiven. 00:49:43.840 --> 00:49:51.840 God didn't have to forgive us for us being sin-natured such as we are, walking in his sins such as we walk. 00:49:52.079 --> 00:49:58.000 But he did, and he did it freely, and because he did it freely, we have to do it freely. 00:49:58.960 --> 00:50:01.840 What do we see over there in Hebrews chapter 12, 15? 00:50:03.119 --> 00:50:13.679 Be careful that a root of bitterness or resentment does not take hold of your life because it can and will defile you. 00:50:14.480 --> 00:50:17.760 It will hinder God's word from working. 00:50:18.079 --> 00:50:18.400 Okay? 00:50:18.960 --> 00:50:21.280 Now, I want to go to Proverbs. 00:50:21.599 --> 00:50:23.360 Proverbs 11. 00:50:27.280 --> 00:50:30.880 And look at verse 14. 00:50:34.960 --> 00:50:37.519