Participants: Pr. David Klinedinst
Series Code: DPR
Program Code: DPR000022A
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00:09 Do you that there is on trait character
00:12 that almost us possess. There 00:16 is one characteristics that most have in common 00:20 and that is this, we don't like 00:24 to be different, most people do not like to stand 00:29 out in crowd they would rahter just blend in 00:33 this was emphasized to me a few years ago when I was 00:37 watching a clip of candid camera, now for those of 00:41 you don't know what candid camera is, this old time TV 00:45 show where they take people and they 00:49 purposely put them into difficult situations 00:53 and film them to see how they respond to it and I remember on this 00:57 on this particular clip, they had thought a group of people 01:01 to go into an elevator and when they go into the 01:05 elevator to turn around and face the back 01:09 off it, now for most of us and most people when going an elevator 01:13 which way do we face? We towards the door because we want lookup and 01:17 see what floor we are on, but told this group of people when 01:21 go in turn completely aroung and face 01:25 the back of elevator and then they turned cameras on 01:29 as the elevator went from floor to another and new 01:33 people can in and I was utterly astounded that 01:37 when whenever a new person walked in the elevator and they saw 01:41 all these facing the back of it guess what they did? 01:45 They did the exact same thing 01:49 one fool after another even thought normally they would always 01:53 face the front because this group of people was doing the opposite 01:57 they did the same thing because the did not 02:01 want to to be different. You know there is a Bible 02:05 verse there is a Bible people being different, it is 02:09 found 1Peter 2 chapter and verse 9, The 02:13 Bible say: 02:33 Now notice the word that the Bible uses here, it says that 02:37 God's are what? Particular and thats 02:41 doesn't in a sense that there're weird or there crazy 02:45 or that there something wrong though world might think that 02:49 but what is referring to that is something different 02:53 about the disciples of Jesus Christ. Can you say Amen? That 02:57 whatever we do, however we life, however we act 03:02 It aught to show forth the praises of the God that we serve 03:06 people should see something of the character of Jesus 03:10 in us. And so because God's people are to be different 03:14 that means when the world looks at us they ought to see 03:18 something different about the way we act, they way we talk, 03:22 they we we conduct ourselves, the way we interact with 03:26 others, because they need to see Jesus amen. 03:30 And so tonight we're gonna start talking about 03:34 living for Christ in the real world and we're gonna talk 03:38 about whats known as christian standards. Now 03:42 that phrase has kind of got a rep in many christian churches 03:46 unfortunately because the're are some unbalanced individuals 03:50 who like to take the bible and beat people people over the head with it. 03:54 But christian standards is something that God uses to help 03:58 us show forth His praises and his character 04:02 to the world around us. So we are going to talk about some things 04:06 that the devil uses in this world to try to destroy 04:10 or harm our relationship with Jesus Christ. 04:14 So we wanna begin with out foundational text this evening 04:18 and i want you to take your bible and turn with me to first John 04:22 chapter two and we're going to start in verse fifteen 04:27 the bible say, "Do not love 04:31 the world or the things in the world 04:35 if anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in 04:39 him, for all that is in the world... and then he names three 04:43 things the lust of the flesh, the lust of the 04:47 eyes, and the pride of life is not of the Father. 04:51 but is of the world, and the world is passing away 04:55 and the lust of it, but whoever does the will of 04:59 God abides, how long, Forver. Now lets 05:03 here for second, God is warning us about 05:07 not loving the the world in other words, to not become 05:11 so attached to thing in this world that we neglect our relationship 05:15 with Jesus that we begin to forget that most 05:19 important thing we possess is a intimate 05:23 dynamic born again relationship with the Savior and 05:27 world has away of distracting us sucking our 05:31 spiritual passion right out of our heart and so right from the begining 05:35 Gos is telling and warning us about thing in this world 05:39 But then God goes on and He makes 05:43 names three specific thing, He talks the lust of the flesh, 05:47 the lust of the eyes and the pride 05:51 of life. Now those are not three terms we very often 05:55 in the twenty first century, but what we're going to do is we're going to look 05:59 in detail at all three of those phrase and try 06:03 to understand what God is telling us and then 06:07 seek to apply it to our life today, because whatever 06:11 those three thing are, they have the potential to be 06:15 damaging to the spiritual life or else God would not have warned us 06:19 about and see go through we're sometimes temped to 06:23 look and says you what, God is just trying be old fashion 06:27 fuddy duddy to keep me from have fun. But see God 06:32 s a loving parent, we talked about that this morning the reason 06:36 you tell your children don't you passed the and go out 06:40 into that street because you know there is danger in 06:44 the street, now the child may not be able to see that, his 06:48 concept is simply that Oh my parents are being restrictive 06:52 they won't let me have any fun, but you can see the 06:56 bigger picture and you warn your child about it because 07:00 you love him. God is the same way 07:04 there are things in this world that may seem innocent at first 07:08 but God lets know that He set boundaries and if go 07:12 beyond those boundaries we open ourselves up 07:16 to really the temptations deception and of the Devil and sense 07:20 God can see the bigger picture and we can't always see the 07:24 danger that is out there, God warns us about because he 07:28 loves us He cares, He is the ultimate loving 07:32 parent. Can you says Amen? So let's start with this 07:36 first prase "the lust of flesh" what 07:40 in the world is that? Well 07:44 the word lust simply means to have strond desire 07:48 so the lust of flesh are some of strongest desire that human being 07:52 have. Now nothing there nothing wrong with having strong desire 07:56 but when to the point where they are put above God 08:00 or they cause us to us sin against God and the princple of 08:04 of His word, that is a problem. Now we could least a 100,000 08:08 things under the lust flesh, but the Bible is not going to do that. 08:12 We want to look some prinples in general and so as was 08:16 writing this I though to myself, what is one the 08:20 strongest desire that human being 08:24 have I want you to think about that. The word 08:28 that we might not want to says that we don't always talk in church 08:32 it is three letters and it begins with an s 08:40 sex , sexual pleasure or desire, that is one of the strongest desire that human 08:45 being have, maybe not the strongest but one of the strongest that contends 08:49 to get us in trouble, so yes believe it or not we are going to talk about sex 08:53 for few minutes in the prophecy seminar, but tear 08:57 something up. Is sex in of self 09:01 a sin? Yes Or No? It is not, who created sex 09:05 God did, God created it to be a 09:09 wonderful gift to be experienced between a husband and a wife 09:13 what we will find, is God has layed some 09:17 principles out for this desire of ours and He tells 09:21 if we follow these principles this will be blessing to you 09:25 but if go beyond the barriers and the bonders 09:29 and abuse it, it's going to bring sin and sorrow and heart 09:33 ache into our life. So let's take a look at passage from 09:37 scripture that we always realize that it is talking about 09:41 sexual union, I want us to go to Genesis chapter 2 09:45 and verse 22 all the way back to the begining 09:49 Genesis Chapter 2 and we want to start reading 09:53 in verse 22 the Bible say. 09:57 Then the rib which the LORD God 10:01 had taken from man He made into a (what?) 10:05 woman, and He brought her to the man.And 10:09 Adam said: (and you know in my mind, even though 10:13 we do not necessarily know how much excitement he may have shown here, be in vesre 10:17 23 I think Adam is just wee bit excited when he says this. I mean he look at 10:21 the beautiful creation God has give him and Adam says) "This is now 10:25 bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh; 10:29 shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of 10:33 Man." (and then verse 24 God laies 10:37 down a principle in one simply sentence, He says) 10:41 Therefore a man shall leave his father and 10:45 mother and be joined to his wife, 10:49 ( the King James says "cleave unto his wife") and 10:53 they shall be one flesh. 10:57 Let's pause here for a second, just in those two verse 11:01 God lays some principle out on how we 11:07 can enjoy the gift of sex to it fullest according His 11:11 principles. So let's put some thing up here, #1 11:15 The first principle is telling us that a man and woman should 11:19 not cleave together sexually until they are husband 11:23 and wife, because you notice what says here in verse 24 11:27 It clearly says a man leaves his father and mother and who is he joined 11:31 To? doesn't say he is join to any woman 11:35 It says he joined to his wife, and see 11:39 the word behind joined or cleaving that refers to both 11:43 sexually union but also coming together as family 11:47 and so see is helping us to understand, is that the 11:51 gift of sex which he has given us is something only 11:55 for to be shared between a husband and wife in a marriage 11:59 relationship who love each other and who have committed there lives 12:03 together. Can you say amen? In fact I'm going to be blunt 12:07 God know that when sex is at it best 12:11 two people who trust each other, they not just a physical connection 12:15 but an emotional, a mental connection 12:19 people who have committed themselves to each other 12:23 it is not that great when it is between who don't love each other 12:27 don't what the other person thinks about, don't know if that person if that person is going to be around 12:31 tomorrow they not history they no emotional together 12:35 because when you take the step of 12:39 becoming united sexually that is not just an active 12:43 of the body that is an active of the human mind 12:47 they sex begins in the mind, and so when go to 12:51 sharing that with anybody and every body 12:57 it begins cause pain and heart ache when that person chooses that they want to be around 13:01 because you have already a special part of yourself to someone else 13:05 see God want us to understand this is a gift from Him 13:09 and if want to experience it to the fullest we need to do it 13:13 within His framework His principle between a 13:17 husband and a wife in a marriage relationship who love each 13:21 and who have committed to each other that when we 13:25 experience it at it best, but when it with anybody and 13:29 everybody. I mean really the world says you want to meet 13:33 a stud, you meet a hunk find a men who has been bunch of 13:37 women, that is what society says, but the truth is 13:41 how satisfying can that be with someone 13:45 who doesn't even know you, you have not shared anything 13:49 to gather you don't if they are willing to comment 13:53 to you. God says I want something better for you than that 13:57 He gives these principles. In fact the second 14:01 principles in there, says a man should not joined together as 14:05 a family unit until they are husband and wife the is the other thing 14:09 that is behind here, and see this touches on something very very 14:13 popular in our society today, both with the younger generation 14:17 and with older generation and that is the idea 14:21 of living together before marriage 14:25 ah pastor Dave now the Bible is really become old fashion. 14:29 I don't think so and I'll tell you why, because 14:33 God know what makes us happy. Can you says amen? See 14:37 God know that when we go into something with less than full 14:41 commitment it becomes a self fulfilling prophecy 14:45 Now I don't have ever judge Judy, how many ever watch 14:49 judge Judy? I don't watch a lot of TV, but I just like judge Judy 14:53 I guess it because so blunt and guess I like that 14:58 directness, but know if you ever watch program 15:02 I kid you not 75% of the time 15:06 75% the case that are on there come from people 15:10 living together before being married and you see the pain 15:14 the anger, the heart and woe, because they 15:18 shared now children together, they have shared a home they shared 15:22 bills, they have shared other things together and now 15:26 they broken up, and really that can be almost painful 15:30 as a divorce and God says I'm trying spare you 15:34 from that. Now human logic says, but but 15:38 pastor Dave we think it wise to just live together 15:42 first and try it out to see if we're meet for each other 15:46 well humanly speaking that sound logical except for couple of thing 15:50 #1 that is what dating is for 15:54 to find out about that person, but #2 15:57 when I go into a situation saying 16:02 I'm not shure enough to make a live long commitment 16:06 I don't fully trust this person, I don't if I want to spend my 16:10 life with this person and I want away out just in case 16:14 what I'm doing is I'm go into it less that fully 16:18 committed and do no what happens in the vast majority 16:22 of case according to phycology statistics those relationship 16:26 do not last. I'm not saying that just from personal opinion 16:30 that is what the statistics show, if want to doom your relationship 16:34 live together before marriage, because most of them to not last 16:38 and God is telling I want something better 16:42 for you than wait until your sure to joined together 16:46 as a family as husband and as wife. When I look at this 16:50 world and see all the pain that resolutes from going outside God 16:54 principles I have to admit it is not old fashion 16:58 it is not being fuddy duddy God knows what he is talking about 17:02 Can you say amen? Another principle that come from there is that 17:06 getting together sexual never outside the husband and wife 17:10 relationship you know that when things go wrong in a 17:14 marriage that is not a time to excommunicate that a time 17:18 to communicate, that not a time to go outside 17:22 because you think someone else might be more exciting 17:26 because I call you, pastor Mark can tell you as minister to see the 17:31 kind of woe and heart ache and emotional turmoil 17:35 that comes the gift of sex is shared outside of marriage 17:39 God want us to avoid that He says I have something better for you 17:43 that is why I have these principle. Then number principle #4 17:47 cleaving together sexually is meet for only a man and a women 17:51 I don't say that to be offensive but simply to show that anatomically 17:55 God has shown us that is the principle he has outlined 17:59 from the the beginning. You may wonder well 18:03 why talk about this why make a big 18:07 deal about it. It is one of the strongest we have 18:11 in the human life, but when you think about it 18:15 the reason the Devil attacks this gift so much 18:19 the reason he want us to abuse and pervert it is this, think about this 18:23 when a husband and wife 18:27 can share the gift of sexually union 18:31 they are able in a sense to have one of the attribute 18:35 of God that the Devil cannot have, do you know what that is 18:40 procreate, God allows 18:44 a husband and wife through His grace to 18:48 actually take part in help to create life 18:52 The Devil cannot do that 18:56 He cannot create and and the fact that God 19:00 has created man and woman his images and has given them 19:04 that attribute that they can partake in, that makes the Devil 19:08 angry and because that's one of the ways we're created in 19:12 His image the the Devil tries very hard to pervert that gift 19:16 and bring all sort of woe and sorrow into our life 19:20 and you see that happen in this world. God says here are my principle 19:24 I love you, enjoy this within the borders that I 19:28 given you and if Jesus died for for us 19:32 we can choose trust the Him. Can you say amen? But let's go to 19:36 another lust of the flesh, what's another strong 19:40 desire that human beings tend to have or maybe even 19:44 struggle with, you got it the desire 19:48 for money thefinancial side of our 19:53 life. Notice what it say in 1st Timothy chapter 6 and 19:57 verse 10, The Bible say, For the love of money 20:01 is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some 20:05 have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced 20:09 themselves (notice the word) pierced themselves through with many 20:13 sorrows. Now we got to stop here for second 20:17 is money in and of it self evil? Yes or No? It is not 20:21 Notice it doesn't say money is the root of evil, it says the 20:25 love of money is root all kinds of evil 20:29 if you thinks having is a sin, I'm sure that are plenty of people 20:33 who would love it off your hands. In this world we need 20:37 money. Amen? Don't it in heaven but need it here 20:41 because God except us as disciples of Jesus to 20:45 to take care of our families to support them to put food on the table 20:49 clothing, food and lodging, you know to pay 20:53 our bills and our debts, so yes, money comes in handing is this world 20:57 and we should earn money in an honest and in faithful way 21:01 but what the Bible is warning about, is when 21:05 my love for money is put above my love for God 21:09 when my love for money cause to me to sin against Him 21:13 or ignore the principle of His Word, when desire 21:17 for money cause me to break any of His commandments 21:21 that is when it is a problem, that is when start to become a 21:25 lust of the flesh because I want money maybe I 21:29 squash everyone else as I climb the corporate lader 21:33 because I want money maybe I ignore the needs of others 21:37 because I want money maybe I begin to neglect my 21:41 family maybe even my church and when that happens 21:45 God is beware that when it becomes a root of evil 21:49 and really the truth is, money has this 21:53 insidious way, the love of money has this insidious of money 21:57 of having us focus on ourself and when we 22:01 focus on ourself we are never happen 22:05 that why the Bible says be careful, many have been pierced 22:09 with sorrow, well you say pastor Dave 22:13 how do I know if I have an unhealth love 22:17 of money? Believe it or not the Bible has actually 22:21 given us a test as to whether we have a love that is 22:25 unhealth. Do you know what it is? It's tithe and offerings 22:29 I want you to take your Bible go Malachi chapter 22:33 3 and we are going to read verses 8 through 10 22:37 the Bible says: "Will a man rob 22:41 God? Yet you have robbed Me! But 22:45 you say, 'In what way have we robbed You?' In tithes 22:49 and offerings You are cursed with a curse, For you have. 22:54 robbed Me,(and this God speaking) Bring ye all the tithes 22:58 into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And 23:02 try Me now in this," Says the LORD of hosts, "If I will not 23:06 open for you (what?) the windows of heaven 23:10 And pour out for you such blessing That there will not 23:14 be room enough to receive it. Now think about that 23:18 when we talk about sundering ourselves fully to Jesus 23:22 one side of live that sometime hard to surrender 23:26 is the financial side because we say that is our 23:30 money that belongs to me, that is a private and 23:34 sensitive subject, but you know one of the first prinicple 23:38 in God's word is that God owns everything 23:42 He is the Creator of it all, oh no I 23:46 work by the sweet of my hands. Who gave you your hands? 23:50 No I made my fortune by wise business decision 23:54 Who gave you a mind for discernment? God did. 23:58 It all belongs to Him, He could ask for 100% 24:02 of it and be perfectly just for doing it, but all God ask 24:06 for that we return the tithe. Not what's a tithe? 24:11 10% can you imagine that? Return 10% 24:15 keep 90% for yourselve and God will bless you 24:19 Now I will take that business deal any day, in fact God says 24:23 temp me, try me now in this 24:27 I now may time when it comes to doing and the bills budget at the end of the month 24:31 It doesn't look like we afford to return tithe sometimes 24:35 does it? I know for us Marquita works as Nurse not 24:39 in a Hospital, she is a stay at home mon, but she medical 24:43 coding over the internet, some months she got a lot of work 24:47 some months she doesn't have a whole lot of work and on those sparse months 24:51 when it comes to the end the of the month and we're look at all bills we have 24:55 and sending kids to christian school and thing like that, the though 24:59 crosses your mind boy, I could sure use that tithe money to pay off 25:03 a couple thing. But see God says 25:07 He will make 90% go 25:11 farther than if I had keep a 100% for my self 25:15 Now that mathematical imposable but you know what 25:19 who created mathematics? God did He is not limited by 25:23 mathematical formals, in fact people say I can't afford return 25:27 tithe, but according to this verse you can't afford not 25:31 to because when with held it, it's keeping 25:35 God from opening up the widows of heaven and see this 25:39 is God way of helping to us to surrender ourselves having a 25:43 of being able to take the gosple 25:47 of being able to take the gospel to the world. Amen? Because that little 25:51 10% is what used to pay pastor, to pay 25:55 missionaries, to pay those who work full time in gospel ministry 25:59 so that the world can hear about Jesus 26:03 that is the test that God gives us. Now idea 26:07 of the lust of the flesh we could list a lot of other things 26:11 but we can sum it up this way. Any desire I have 26:15 in my life that get put about God 26:19 any desire that cause me against God and His word 26:23 that is a lust of the flesh that must be let 26:27 go of and brother sister if you struggle with 26:31 any these thing maybe a sexual sin maybe it has been hard 26:35 for you to let go of your money and return tithe I want you to know 26:40 God loves and God cares for you and if you will 26:44 turn that over that over to him He promise to deliver you and He 26:48 promise He will bless and He take care of you and remember 26:51 no body is shutout from God grace when they kneel before the Cross of 26:55 calvary they repent and they turn it over 27:00 to Him. Jesus Christ can conker any lust of flesh 27:03 if we will give to Him. 27:08 But it doesn't stop there, 1st John 27:12 talk about the lust of the eye, you say what is that 27:16 I haven't heard anybody use that term lately 27:20 See the Bible wants use to be careful, what about the things 27:24 we put before are eyes? Because what we put before 27:28 our eyes has the penitential influence our heart 27:32 and our mind so the Bible be careful in that 27:36 God is loving enough give us some principle to guide our 27:40 decisions. So let's take our Bibles and let's go to Psalms chapter 27:44 101 and we are going read verse 2 and 3 27:48 The Bible says: I will behave 27:52 wisely in a (what? perfect way (now that word simple 27:56 means in mature way) Oh, when will You come to me? 28:00 I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. (and then verse 3) 28:04 I will set nothing wicked 28:08 before my eyes; See even David 28:12 realize whatever he put befor is like a window 28:16 into his heart and a window into mind it influences us 28:20 and so if I'm to apply that prinicple today in the 21st 28:24 century that means I going have to talk about 28:28 television, movies and the media, because really 28:32 those are put before our eyes in this modern ages 28:36 every single day influences us, either for good 28:40 or for evil. Now I'm not going to set here and say 28:44 the television is evil get it out of your house, now I don't fault anybody 28:48 that choose to do that, I have been do it myself sometimes but remember the 28:52 television or the media is simply a tool it is not 28:56 evil in and of it self, it can be used for good purposes 29:00 like taking the gospel to places that it has never gone before 29:04 it can also be use for evil purposes, to bring filth 29:08 into a family that destroys a home and a marriage 29:12 it all comes down to how I choose to use 29:16 it. So let's just take a look at somethings went it comes to television 29:20 Now the Bible is not going to give list of 100,000 things 29:24 you should or should not watch, mainly because there no such thing as television back 29:28 when the Bible was written, but it give principle to follow. 29:32 Now a few year ago there was a survey taken 29:36 of the the three major networks ABC, CBS, and NBC 29:40 of course a lot more today, and they did a survey to fine out 29:45 what kind of things are shown major networks durning 29:49 prime time television, and you know prime time is usually around 29:53 you know 7:00pm to 10:00 or 11:00 at night and this 29:57 what they discovered and understand this is a few a years ago, I'm sure is not 30:01 any better now they discovered there were over 30:05 minds they were over ten incidence of sexual 30:09 minds they were over ten incidence of sexual 30:13 activity most of them on the immoral side 30:17 and even it is between a husband and wife we don't need to watching and then there were 30:21 over eight incidence of profanity ever hour 30:25 on prime time television and as a christian 30:29 I have to be careful, because this is what being feed into my 30:33 heart through my eyes into my mind and it 30:37 can influence us. Now I when I was a teenager 30:41 you may not believe this, but I had big problem my 30:45 language I had an issue with curse words and 30:49 and with profanity and I was a christian who went to church 30:53 every single week and when I look back at that 30:57 I wonder how is it that was so easy for me to use that kind 31:01 of language. I'm talking some vulgar language and when I 31:05 look back I have to think you what? It is probably 31:09 because of two things, #1 becasue spend a lot of time people who use 31:13 profanity, so I heard it regularly and #2 31:17 I heard it on television on a regular basics 31:21 and after awhile I started to become familiar 31:25 with it so it didn't seem so wrong to me and see that 31:29 is what the Devil do, he wants to make familiar to us 31:33 so it doesn't seems so bad and more we get familiar 31:37 the next thing we find ourselves doing things that we would not normally do or say 31:41 Now someone may say this doesn't effect me 31:45 I can tell the difference, what I watch on TV that's not influence me 31:49 one way or the other. My answer to that is 31:53 don't be a fool, in 75 years or when ever 31:57 television was invented, society has mimic 32:01 exactly what it see on television and the media 32:05 hollywood knows if they want to get a culture 32:09 to think a certain way just bring it in through the media 32:14 and the more we get familiar the more it comes to our 32:18 eyes the more we learn to accepted it and 32:22 the Devil want us to get familiar with sin by what we put 32:26 into our eyes, and that is going to require me 32:30 having to make choices in my life. Now truth be told 32:34 is God send Gabriel down in your living room and the the remote out 32:38 of your and hand and say, ha let me you that we ota turn the station 32:42 Is that going to happen? No! 32:46 Is it a choice of ours, God gives us a free will and He gives us principles 32:50 to follow. In fact here is some question that might do well 32:54 for us to ask, when I think back to what I watched as a teenagers 32:58 I wish I had made different choses, you know thing my 33:02 parents never knew about, they would have never let me watch some of the things I did 33:06 and you know even to this day there are certain things the will trigger 33:10 certain things in my mind that are still there, that 33:14 have not been able to erase, now they get fuzzier the more Jesus come into my 33:18 heart and take over my mind but they are still there and the Devil 33:23 knows it and that is why he want to see thing through our eyes 33:27 What would happen if would ask ourselves these question. #1 What message is this 33:31 program or this movie sending you whatever it is? Is it a 33:35 positive message or is it a negative one? 33:39 Is it promoting morals and principle of God's word 33:43 or is it getting you familiar sin and actually making it look like 33:47 fun it is fun, see that is the thing, they picture a guy 33:51 how has a great body who goes from one girl from one woman another 33:55 and make that sound like that is the greatest thing in the world, but if I may 34:00 blunt, you know what it is not hard even animals can mate 34:04 what is hard is to have loving relationship with 34:08 someone that is what a real man and real woman is made of 34:12 I mean see hollywood does show happen when you go one to 34:16 the other they don't show the heart ache that happens when a man does out the door 34:20 they show the heart ache that happen someone get a sexual 34:24 transmitted disease, they don't show what happens 34:28 when someone has child out wedlock and doesn't know to do with them 34:32 they don't show what happens when an abortion has to 34:36 occur because they don't want or can't take care of that child 34:40 see hollywood seem like fun, like there no consequence to it 34:44 and sure it is fun but it is a lot more fun within 34:48 boundaries of God's word. Can you say amen? Question 34:52 #3 Would I let my Children watch it? That's a fuffy 34:56 because I have learn as parent, if think to myself 35:00 you know I don't mind watching but I don't about girls and I 35:04 think wait a minute if it is not good for my children 35:08 what makes me think it is good for me 35:12 and the forth one is the real kicker, I'm half scared to ask myself that one 35:16 Would I watch it with Jesus? 35:20 That will transform the decisions you make on what you put 35:24 before your eyes. The church can't give you a list of five hundred thousand 35:28 things nor should it, we can only share the principles 35:32 of God's Word and say hay let God's Holly Spirit guide you 35:36 in your situation. But sense we are talking what 35:40 put before our eyes, even thou not necessarily mention there 35:44 in 1st John, we go another sense you know what it is? 35:48 are ears, I know the Bible doesn't say the of ears 35:52 but you know what, what we put into our ears can be 35:56 and be just as influential in our life. Notice what 36:00 Isaiah here in chapter 33, The Bible Say 36:20 see God is pronoune a blessing 36:24 on the person who is careful about what he puts into his eyes 36:28 and into his ears. Now the truth is I can't 36:33 control everything that goes into my eyes and my ears I can't 36:37 control what is playing on the television at the fitness center where 36:41 I work out, I can't control what kind of music is played 36:45 in Walmart, I can't control what kind of 36:49 language is being used in my work place those things I can't control 36:53 but God says whatever is within my control 36:57 make wise choses about what I let influence me 37:01 so this going to force us talk to the subject music 37:05 Now, who created music? 37:09 That's not a trick question, who created music? God did! 37:13 Is there music in the Bible? Is there music in Biblical worship? 37:17 absolutely you see it all through out scripture 37:21 even sanctuary music was a big deal when it came to temple worship 37:25 an the people coming before, in fact if you were to go to Israel today 37:29 go over the wailing wall, it is quite a sight because whenever the sun 37:33 sets on Friday and Sabbath comes in, many of Jewish people 37:37 they well actually come out and they actually dancing around to celebrate 37:41 the come of the Sabbath, I mean I have seen it with my own eyes 37:45 it is not talking about you know a sexual kind a dance 37:49 but simple a religious dance celebrating what God has done 37:53 the beautiful Sabbath here so sure you have seen music 37:57 you see things in the Bible, but it can be used for it can be used 38:01 for evil. Now I'm not going to get into the subject about music in 38:05 church because frankly it doesn't matter that much to me I can deal with different kinds 38:09 kinds of music I think the Devil use that get us out track and that 38:13 in my own personal life 38:17 in my own personal life. Now when I was a teenager 38:21 I listen to a lot music that kinda wish I hadn't listen to 38:25 but there was one pictural song that I 38:29 really like, I hope you have never heard of it. It was a song that I 38:33 use to listen to that would psych me up and get ready for 38:37 basketball, remember I played basketball when I was a teenager I still 38:41 play basketball today and I took it very seriously 38:45 so there was this one song called I got the power 38:49 again I hope you have never heard it of course now that I said it you probable go look up on 38:54 internet, but this song I Got The Power what I used to do 38:58 I used to put my headphones on cause you know everything is in an iPod 39:02 now didn't have iPods when I was a teenagers I put the headphones on 39:06 and I would blast the the words of that song into my mind because it would get me 39:10 psyched up, it would mad and get me angry to get on 39:14 basketball court and be able to crush my opponent to knock them out my way 39:18 be able to pull down that rebound down low. I used to feed 39:22 this into my mind, in fact I remember ounce, we went 39:26 to one of the city basketball courts to you got to understand 39:30 I grew up in the inter-city and so you know all the brothers go to courts to play ball 39:34 you know that is how you keep you reputation and back in those days 39:38 there wasn't no iPods. You know what they caried to the basketball court? 39:42 That right, how many remember the big od boom boxes they used to have 39:46 come on, I know that you remember that, these big old things with big speaker 39:50 the guys would carry that to court sit it right by the basketball 39:54 court they would put thing up full blast and they play the music 39:58 I remember one time I was playing with my friend my best 40:02 friend Kevin, he was on the opposite team and I was bring up the court 40:06 and all of sudden that song came on I Got The Power 40:10 It psyched me up some much I remember I ran down that court 40:14 the middle of the lane I jumped I took the ball in my 40:18 hand and I did this huge tomahawk dunk 40:22 right throw the basket, it when throw hit Kevin in the face 40:26 and broke his glasses shattering them on the ground and I remember 40:30 he got up from that he looked at me and said I ain't never playing with you when that song on 40:34 because it had gotten me all worked up 40:38 it influence you sometimes it take your 40:42 rational thinking away, in fact if you don't 40:46 think music influence you I'm going dare you to do something ounce and 40:50 rarely would you ever say this but only example sake, if you think music doesn't 40:55 effect you I dare you to go turn MTV on sometime 40:59 put the mute button on and then watch 41:03 people who are dancing and you tell me that music doesn't effect you 41:07 music effect the way we move, music effect the way we think 41:11 that is why we use it worship, that is why God uses music 41:15 because He wants to use it to influence for good to 41:19 make wise choses. The Devil want to use it to 41:23 influence us for evil, so now here 41:27 is the question. Is there certain kind of music that is wrong? 41:31 I'm not going to say any particular genre 41:35 because what I think is far more important is the lyrics 41:39 of we are put in our mind. Now going back to how it influences 41:43 us. I remember Marquita when and I when we were first married when on vacation 41:47 in Florida and I can remember I was setting out on the 41:51 balcony look down at pool area and apparently some 41:55 company had rented the pool area I guess for some kind of party 41:59 they were having and though you what if I watch there long 42:03 enough I might get a good sermon illustration this when I first started in ministry 42:07 and so as I was watching I was noticing the music was blaring 42:11 you know people were drinking and I was watching this one guy 42:15 and watch this one guy go out on the dance floor 42:19 listen to the music and him get really I mean 42:23 really close to this one woman I could just tell 42:27 moves they were making basically reflect sex acts 42:31 and the though crossed my mind 42:35 I wonder how that man's wife would feel if she could 42:39 could see him and even he wasn't married 42:43 I wonder how that women husband would feel 42:47 if he saw her now, cause I 42:51 can tell you I would be mad I would be very mad 42:55 see sometime we wonder 42:59 music has more of influence than sometimes 43:03 we realize that 43:05 we realize. Now to illustrate 43:07 this let's do something fun this a serious subject 43:11 I decide a few years ago that I just turn the radio on 43:15 because I heard someone else do this, I decided just turn 43:20 to random stations just decide to write down all the 43:24 lyrics that heard from those songs and just kinda judge ok 43:28 what am I into my mind and into my heart I challenge you do that 43:32 sometime it will be eye open. In fact I'm going to show you I wrote it down 43:36 I'm actually going to take a couple of minutes and I'm going to read to some of the 43:40 lyrics I heard, now understand I wasn't trying good bad songs or 43:44 songs, this is just randomly going from one station to the other on 43:48 different genre of music I'm going to read some to you 43:52 this was the first one I'm pretty sure this was country song and it went 43:56 like this, obviously the words I'm not singing it, it said 44:00 The queen of memphis I woke up the the next 44:04 morning and she had charmed me with her charm that night 44:08 a boy became an man and I'm in love with queen 44:12 of memphis. So what do you think that is talking about 44:16 That about a young give way something special to 44:20 apparently a prostitute and this the so called 44:24 innocent lyrics that I am popping into my mind 44:28 I went the next station and these lyrics came out 44:32 this is actually a good one it say, so stop crying 44:36 and take my hand it will be alright, you'll be 44:40 in my heart, yes you'll both now and 44:44 forever more. Anything wrong with that one? That was pretty good 44:48 you know probable about husband apparently comforting his wife or maybe boy friend comforting 44:52 a girl friend or something so you that about compassion and caring so I thought 44:56 Ok I can deal with that that is a good one not all song are bad 45:00 I when on and then another one, here are the lyrics on this one 45:05 Sure feels good sitten with 45:09 you up here sure feels alright staying with 45:13 you all night it would sure feel real good if 45:17 would. If you would what? 45:21 Is not that hard to figure out, it goes sure is easy when 45:25 head is on my chest I can figure out the rest say that you 45:29 shouldn't say that you should it sure feel real good 45:33 if you would. This song about 45:37 man or boy trying to pressure a woman to do something she does 45:41 not to do, to take something very special away from her 45:45 that God her that she is saving for her husband 45:49 that what the lyrics of the song is about that I'm putting into my mind 45:53 The next one, well some of the one's I could not understand what hey were talking about 45:57 This one said you take my money I hate your 46:01 face you got your Jesus I got my space, get a nice cold beer 46:05 to drink yourself away, then he started screaming I don't what he said 46:09 mommy give my medicine to make feel like a tall 46:13 tree and you feel a-ok well there is lyrics 46:17 making fun of Jesus and mommy give me medicine what do you that is? 46:21 That is talking about drugs putting into a person 46:25 body that is lyrics. Now to be honest the next 46:29 song was the dumbest song ever heard I could hardly understand it, it went something like this 46:33 ah! ah! ah! ah! ah! ah! the car is in field the two doors are 46:37 torn off you have been drink my blood while I have been licking your wound and then he scream 46:41 I don't know what in the world he was saying, the song didn't make any sense to me 46:45 and then this caught my attention, now your going to think I'm making this 46:49 up. This comes straight from the radio these are the words 46:53 I make my throne a million 46:57 miles give me strength the to split 47:01 the world into, I lost my soul when I 47:05 fell to earth the time has come for me 47:09 to kill the king 47:14 You tell me what that is. That is a song 47:17 about story of Satan waiting to kill the Savior 47:22 I didn't go to a music to get this, I got this off the radio 47:26 and that was a few year ago I don't even on there 47:30 now. When I think back to what listen two as teenager 47:34 not realizing, listen when I turn the music on in the car sometimes and I'm driving late a night 47:38 and I'll flip the radio on, do you know even 47:42 today when a certain song I remember 47:46 being a teenager I will admit I well be transparent even today 47:50 as a Minister sometimes it still a little bit hard to 47:54 turn that dial to the next station because it made 47:58 and impression twenty years ago that apparently 48:02 part of it is still there today. God says 48:06 be careful what you put into ears. So could go back to this 48:26 You know just that last question 48:30 would probable solve a lot of our dilemma into what we wacth 48:34 and what we listen to. Because if we are honest that's 48:38 really hard on to have to answer honestly is in it? Would I watch 48:42 and listen to with Jesus. Now I 48:46 don't say that to make you feel bad because I'm in the same boat as you 48:50 but I call you even after I have made wrong choses about what I put into my 48:54 mind Jesus is still there, His Holy Spirit 48:58 is still working in your life and mine and He willing to take those things and 49:02 He can erase it from our and minds but first 49:06 we give to over to Him we have to say Lord to me make better choices 49:10 help me to put my heart and mind those things 49:14 that build be up and draw me closer to You 49:18 and God will do that. Can you say amen? 49:22 Lets go the last part, Ist John talked about the 49:26 price of life, you say now what is that, well 49:30 pride is mention about a hundred times in the Bible usually in a negative 49:34 context now there is good kind pride, such as 49:38 I proud of my children for getting good grades, I'm proud of my dad for 49:43 his accomplishments maybe a better word would be I"m thank for it 49:47 but when the Bible talks about pride, most of when it is 49:51 referring to is when I my attention on my self instead of 49:55 Jesus and I seek to exalt myself in a way 49:59 that it prevents people from seeing Jesus Christ inside of me 50:03 Now I can be prideful about the kind of car I drive the 50:07 kind of house I live in the eduction that I have 50:11 the money I make or even the way I dress my self 50:15 because when you think about the truth is 50:19 what is the first thing a person notice about you 50:23 when they meet you the very first time? Your appearance 50:27 even the business world knows that 50:31 If you go into an interview on a job you really want. 50:35 Ounce you walk through that door to the interviewer right away 50:39 what is he notice before any words come out of your mouth 50:43 your appearance the the way you dress because the way I dress 50:47 communicates something something about me It commucicates 50:51 something about character something about what I stand for 50:55 something about the things that I valve 51:00 you know if I'm wearing things have certain phrase maybe they are vulgar 51:03 you know or different symbols that maybe aren't of good and positive 51:07 things that's what you notice about the believer in Jesus Christ 51:12 and so you will find that the Bible even gives us a few principles 51:16 about christian dress. So let's go to one the 51:20 principles lined out in 1st Timothy chapter 2 51:24 and verse 10 let's go there 1st Timothy chapter 51:28 and I want to go to verse 9 and 10 now when I ready this 51:32 in its context it is talking about women but i the twenty first century 51:36 the principles in this passage apply equally 51:40 to both men and to women. Can you say amen? 51:44 Sorry men you can't set there with a smirk on your face says I'm off the hook 51:48 because this applies to me as well they are general principle 51:52 Notice what the Bible says, 1st Timothy 2 verse 9 51:56 The the Bible says; in like manner also, 52:00 that the women adorn themselves in (what kind of apparel?), 52:04 modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not 52:08 with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, 52:12 but, which is proper for women professing godliness, 52:16 with good works. Let's pause there for a second 52:20 just so there no doubt sometimes people is in there 52:24 braiding the the hair. What's wrong with braiding the hair? 52:28 You know my wife she braid our girls hair it cute thing to do, 52:33 What the Bible is talking about here, this 52:37 is a pagan society where many of the pagan ladies 52:41 to show there statis they would wive gold and jewels 52:45 through out their braid hair so that the entire head basiclly 52:49 look like an ornament and they way of communicate 52:53 I have high status I have money I have 52:57 power I am more superior than you are 53:01 so that was going on back then two thousand years ago so don't think that's about 53:05 we can't braid our little girls hair today, you have to know context 53:09 so I just want to set that straight but some of the principle it does say here is 53:13 it tells me drees modestly. Again that doesn't mean you wear 53:17 burlap bag you think about how your conducting yourself 53:21 the message that send both ladies and 53:25 gentlemen, because the truth is if may dare to be so bold 53:29 but a lot times let's start with the ladies and then I'm going to 53:33 myself and go to the men. If I'm not careful 53:37 I'm wearing things that everything hang out 53:41 so there is nothing left to the imagination 53:45 what I am communicating about my sexuality? 53:49 Are people then looking a me or is it prevent 53:53 them from seeing the character in me that's 53:57 supposed to shine through. You see I got two little girls 54:01 you say wait till they get to the teenage years, well sometimes I think 54:05 they got there early. My wife the one that does clothes shopping, 54:09 and even our six year she tells me when they got Walmart even 54:13 my six year old look at something says oh mommy that so 54:17 pretty I want to wear that and the thing is very 54:21 very very short and Marguita looks her at six and is having 54:26 the argument you are not wearing that and of course she cries and sometimes 54:30 pitches a fit at years old. Why? 54:34 Because this what society tells us, society 54:38 tells us you got to look prefect and so you got to draw all the 54:42 the attention to yourself because society not concern about people 54:46 seeing the character of Jesus Christ in us. I know I 54:50 have these two girls myself, Lets be honest here is what going to happen 54:54 ladies if dress in way where just everything is just 54:58 let's say front and center what you 55:02 are communicating is that you are available even you are not available 55:06 and that's men and boy you are going to get 55:10 The ones that are not interest having an emotional connection and relationship 55:14 the ones that are only interest physical things 55:18 because that what your are communicating to them, well you say pastor 55:22 Dave isn't there ever a time when I can wear those kind of things? 55:26 YES!! In the bedroom with your spouse 55:30 in privacy. Can you say Amen? That is how God designed 55:34 it to be. Ok, what about us men? 55:38 I work out the gym, been a little off schedule sense I have been here 55:42 but I gym I see guys who dress a certian way 55:46 they want to communicate to the women they got something that the woman needs to see 55:50 man can just as equally guilty at times. 55:55 We struggle with that to. Jesus is sayiing just make 55:59 wise choses, don't do things that keep people seeing 56:03 the character of Christ in you. It not necessary 56:07 gold, jewels, and pearls and things like that. Now I want to say something 56:11 about this because I have seen so many people just take that 56:15 to the extreme. Unfortunately you will sometimes 56:19 have people in churches who will take this idea 56:23 and they beat people over the head and be like 56:27 fashion police and judge everything that are wearing 56:31 that is not God intended, these are principle you let the Holy 56:35 Spirit work with that person. Now me and my wife 56:39 we just choose not wear doesn't mean you have to. But we just 56:43 kinda figured you what. I want people to see Jesus in me. I don't always do good job of it 56:47 but I make mistakes, I don't anything to cover up Christ me. 56:51 But see here is the key 56:55 so may time passage like this, which can be kind of sensitive 56:59 and you have people who go around in churches and their whole focus 57:03 what you don't wear, don't wear this, don't wear that 57:07 I got news for for you, this passage 57:11 the emphasis is not on what you don't wear 57:15 The emhasis is on what you do wear. 57:19 Because it talks about putting on Christ 57:23 Wearing the character of Christ in my life, the 57:27 fruit of the spirit, love, joy, peace, kindness 57:31 when I people who are all focused on you're not wearing this you're not that 57:35 outside of children and they got every body else and they mean 57:39 they are nasty, they are mean spirited I don't see any of the fruit of spirit in 57:43 them, I going to be honest you're missing the point completely 57:47 The point is do I have the character of Christ in my life? 57:51 That is what this passage is talking about and so any 57:55 thing that would keep people from seeing Jesus in me 58:00 wreather it is the lust of flesh, wreather what I put in my eyes or ears 58:03 wreather it is the way I dree whatever covers the character of Christ 58:07 Jesus says let go of it 58:12 so people can see a picture of Jesus 58:16 That is what it is all about, opening the window so that people can 58:20 Jesus and Him crucified and in 58:24 my life |
Revised 2018-12-15