The Discipline of Choices
Series: DISCIPLINES OF GRACE
Speaker: James Barnett
Date: 14th July 2019
00:00:00 --> 00:00:06 What kind of decision maker are you?
00:00:07 --> 00:00:09 Do you go with your heart?
00:00:09 --> 00:00:11 Are you a thinker and go with your head?
00:00:12 --> 00:00:15 Or are you controlled by a strong willpower?
00:00:16 --> 00:00:20 The way decisions are made are influenced by all three,
00:00:20 --> 00:00:21 the head, the heart and the will.
00:00:22 --> 00:00:25 For me, it depends on the time of day.
00:00:25 --> 00:00:29 First thing in the morning is when I make the best decisions.
00:00:30 --> 00:00:33 My willpower is always strongest when the sun is going up.
00:00:34 --> 00:00:38 I might have made the decision to eat healthy
00:00:38 --> 00:00:40 and try and be a fit type person.
00:00:41 --> 00:00:43 And so in the morning, it'll be a protein shake.
00:00:45 --> 00:00:47 And I'll make sure I get to the gym.
00:00:47 --> 00:00:52 But by the end of the day, I'll start making poor decisions.
00:00:52 --> 00:00:54 You know, the end of the day, 3 o'clock in the afternoon,
00:00:55 --> 00:00:59 when my heart desires chocolate and sugar,
00:01:00 --> 00:01:02 and so my mind justifies what I want.
00:01:03 --> 00:01:04 It says things like,
00:01:05 --> 00:01:06 you've been good all day.
00:01:07 --> 00:01:08 You've worked hard.
00:01:08 --> 00:01:10 You deserve that pile of donuts.
00:01:12 --> 00:01:13 You agree, right?
00:01:13 --> 00:01:14 I do.
00:01:15 --> 00:01:16 Fine.
00:01:16 --> 00:01:20 Which of these three influences the decisions that you make?
00:01:20 --> 00:01:22 The head, the heart or the will?
00:01:22 --> 00:01:27 Our head, our mind is the logical decision maker.
00:01:28 --> 00:01:34 Its electrical synapses allow thoughts at our senses to coordinate who we are.
00:01:35 --> 00:01:41 Our hearts are our emotion and passion center behind what we do and who we are.
00:01:41 --> 00:01:45 It's the basis of the actions that we choose and our will.
00:01:46 --> 00:01:51 Well, we speak of willpower, the amount of strength to make a decision to,
00:01:51 --> 00:01:54 that is important to who we are at any given moment.
00:01:54 --> 00:01:58 Choices about food and exercise,
00:01:58 --> 00:02:00 these might not seem that important,
00:02:00 --> 00:02:05 but the choices that we make impact our relationships with the people around us.
00:02:06 --> 00:02:09 I can make good choices to care for my marriage,
00:02:10 --> 00:02:12 and for my friends, and for my kids.
00:02:12 --> 00:02:20 I can make choices that are made of sin and hurt me and hurt others.
00:02:20 --> 00:02:25 I can choose impatience and anger over love and gentleness.
00:02:26 --> 00:02:29 And it's the same with our relationship with God.
00:02:30 --> 00:02:33 Our choices impact our relationship with Him.
00:02:33 --> 00:02:38 Are we aware of the things that are influencing our decisions?
00:02:38 --> 00:02:42 Do we know why we choose what we choose?
00:02:43 --> 00:02:47 We are in the middle of our series on the disciplines of grace.
00:02:47 --> 00:02:50 And God, in His love and mercy, has shown us His grace.
00:02:51 --> 00:02:53 He has brought us into His family.
00:02:54 --> 00:02:56 And we pursue holiness in His power.
00:02:57 --> 00:02:58 And over the last couple of weeks,
00:02:58 --> 00:03:01 we've seen that pursuing holiness can only be done
00:03:01 --> 00:03:05 because of God's unearned and undeserved grace.
00:03:06 --> 00:03:10 And last week, with John, we saw that without depending on God's strength,
00:03:10 --> 00:03:13 it's like trying to row a boat with one oar.
00:03:13 --> 00:03:17 We just end up going around in circles.
00:03:18 --> 00:03:20 And today, we come to a bit of a pointy end.
00:03:21 --> 00:03:24 How do we make good choices in life?
00:03:24 --> 00:03:29 How do we actually make worthwhile God-honoring decisions?
00:03:29 --> 00:03:34 Choosing the right things so that we are moving towards God in obedience
00:03:34 --> 00:03:36 instead of moving away from Him?
00:03:37 --> 00:03:42 What would we look like if our choices were disciplined by God's grace?
00:03:42 --> 00:03:45 So as we have a look at what God has to say to us today,
00:03:45 --> 00:03:48 let me pray for us before we jump into Ephesians.
00:03:49 --> 00:03:50 Heavenly Father,
00:03:51 --> 00:03:54 I thank You that You have given us Your Word
00:03:54 --> 00:03:58 and that You offer us salvation and love.
00:03:58 --> 00:04:02 Father, help us to understand who we are as people
00:04:02 --> 00:04:04 and why we make certain choices
00:04:04 --> 00:04:09 so that we can make choices to obey You
00:04:09 --> 00:04:11 because You have loved us, Lord.
00:04:11 --> 00:04:12 Amen.
00:04:13 --> 00:04:17 In the book of Ephesians, from the author Paul,
00:04:17 --> 00:04:21 he tells us what making good choices looks like.
00:04:22 --> 00:04:24 So please have your Bibles open with me at Ephesians 4.
00:04:24 --> 00:04:27 We're going to start in verse 25.
00:04:54 --> 00:04:56 Share with those in need.
00:04:56 --> 00:04:59 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths,
00:04:59 --> 00:05:02 but only what is helpful for building others up
00:05:02 --> 00:05:03 according to their needs,
00:05:04 --> 00:05:05 that it may benefit those who listen.
00:05:06 --> 00:05:08 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God
00:05:08 --> 00:05:10 with whom you are sealed for the day of redemption.
00:05:11 --> 00:05:13 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger,
00:05:13 --> 00:05:16 brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.
00:05:16 --> 00:05:18 Be kind and compassionate to one another,
00:05:19 --> 00:05:20 forgiving each other,
00:05:20 --> 00:05:23 just as in Christ God forgave you.
00:05:23 --> 00:05:26 So in the first half of the book of Ephesians,
00:05:26 --> 00:05:27 the first three chapters,
00:05:28 --> 00:05:30 Paul spends his time outlining
00:05:30 --> 00:05:33 all that God has done in His grace
00:05:33 --> 00:05:35 in salvation for us.
00:05:36 --> 00:05:41 And now Paul speaks about how a Christian is to live.
00:05:41 --> 00:05:46 What it looks like to live in the world as a Christian.
00:05:46 --> 00:05:49 And Paul is saying that the Christian life
00:05:49 --> 00:05:53 involves a long series of choices.
00:05:54 --> 00:05:57 You can make this choice or this choice.
00:05:57 --> 00:05:58 You can...
00:05:58 --> 00:05:59 I think there's a slide for it.
00:05:59 --> 00:05:59 Let me see.
00:06:00 --> 00:06:00 Here we go.
00:06:00 --> 00:06:03 You can choose truth or you can lie.
00:06:03 --> 00:06:05 You can deal with your anger
00:06:05 --> 00:06:09 or you can let it smolder and burn.
00:06:09 --> 00:06:11 You can work or you can steal.
00:06:11 --> 00:06:13 You can share or you can spend it on yourself.
00:06:13 --> 00:06:15 You can speak helpful words.
00:06:15 --> 00:06:16 You can speak damaging words.
00:06:17 --> 00:06:19 You can be kind or full of rage.
00:06:19 --> 00:06:23 You can be compassionate or full of malice.
00:06:24 --> 00:06:26 Because God in His love and grace
00:06:26 --> 00:06:28 has chosen to love us
00:06:28 --> 00:06:30 and make us right before Him.
00:06:30 --> 00:06:35 So now we get the choice to obey Him.
00:06:35 --> 00:06:38 That is an every step, every decision,
00:06:39 --> 00:06:41 every moment of the day type thing.
00:06:42 --> 00:06:44 Speech that builds up.
00:06:44 --> 00:06:45 Sexuality that honors God.
00:06:46 --> 00:06:47 Hands that work to God's glory.
00:06:48 --> 00:06:50 And Paul says in the book of Romans
00:06:50 --> 00:06:53 that we choose to obey God.
00:06:53 --> 00:06:55 When we choose to obey God,
00:06:56 --> 00:06:57 it leads to holiness.
00:06:58 --> 00:07:01 When we choose to obey God,
00:07:01 --> 00:07:02 it leads to holiness.
00:07:02 --> 00:07:05 We put on Christ-like behavior,
00:07:06 --> 00:07:07 Christ-like character,
00:07:08 --> 00:07:10 one choice at a time.
00:07:11 --> 00:07:13 One choice at a time
00:07:13 --> 00:07:15 in each and every situation
00:07:15 --> 00:07:17 we are faced with throughout the day.
00:07:18 --> 00:07:20 You all had to make a choice this afternoon.
00:07:21 --> 00:07:23 Am I going to go to church?
00:07:24 --> 00:07:25 Am I going to stay home
00:07:25 --> 00:07:27 and have that pile of donuts
00:07:27 --> 00:07:29 James has suggested already?
00:07:29 --> 00:07:33 We don't become more holy
00:07:33 --> 00:07:35 just by depending upon God.
00:07:36 --> 00:07:37 We don't become more holy
00:07:37 --> 00:07:38 and Christ-like
00:07:38 --> 00:07:40 through praying a prayer of commitment
00:07:40 --> 00:07:42 to commit our lives to God.
00:07:42 --> 00:07:44 We don't even become holy
00:07:44 --> 00:07:46 just by reading God's Word.
00:07:48 --> 00:07:50 Paul in Romans 6 encourages us
00:07:50 --> 00:07:51 that we become holy
00:07:51 --> 00:07:54 by choosing to obey God.
00:07:54 --> 00:07:55 We become like Christ
00:07:55 --> 00:07:57 when we make that choice
00:07:57 --> 00:07:59 to obey Jesus.
00:08:00 --> 00:08:01 By obedience to His Word.
00:08:02 --> 00:08:04 By choosing to obey God's will
00:08:04 --> 00:08:06 that He has outlined in the Scriptures.
00:08:07 --> 00:08:08 Even Jesus Himself,
00:08:08 --> 00:08:09 who was perfect,
00:08:10 --> 00:08:13 had to put on holiness.
00:08:14 --> 00:08:16 He had to choose God's way.
00:08:17 --> 00:08:19 Hebrews 5 tells us
00:08:19 --> 00:08:20 that He had to learn holiness
00:08:20 --> 00:08:21 through obedience.
00:08:21 --> 00:08:22 And you see this
00:08:22 --> 00:08:24 when Jesus is tempted
00:08:24 --> 00:08:27 both by Satan
00:08:27 --> 00:08:28 and in the Garden of Gethsemane.
00:08:29 --> 00:08:30 There is that moment
00:08:30 --> 00:08:31 where there's that moment
00:08:31 --> 00:08:32 before Satan
00:08:32 --> 00:08:33 when Satan's like,
00:08:33 --> 00:08:33 come on,
00:08:34 --> 00:08:35 choose this way.
00:08:36 --> 00:08:38 Turn this stone into bread
00:08:38 --> 00:08:40 or a pile of donuts.
00:08:41 --> 00:08:41 You know,
00:08:41 --> 00:08:42 Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane
00:08:42 --> 00:08:44 faced with that choice,
00:08:44 --> 00:08:46 am I going to obey God
00:08:46 --> 00:08:47 to my death
00:08:47 --> 00:08:49 or am I going to choose my life?
00:08:49 --> 00:08:52 He chooses to obey God.
00:08:54 --> 00:08:55 And He does that fully
00:08:55 --> 00:08:58 by obeying when He dies on the cross.
00:08:59 --> 00:09:01 Paul has given us
00:09:01 --> 00:09:03 this big list of choices to make.
00:09:04 --> 00:09:06 It seems pretty straightforward
00:09:06 --> 00:09:08 when you put it in black and white like that.
00:09:09 --> 00:09:11 Holiness comes from choosing obedience.
00:09:11 --> 00:09:12 Obedience.
00:09:13 --> 00:09:14 But the reality is
00:09:14 --> 00:09:16 obeying God,
00:09:16 --> 00:09:17 making good choices
00:09:17 --> 00:09:19 is hard.
00:09:21 --> 00:09:22 Good choices are hard.
00:09:23 --> 00:09:24 It's not just as simple
00:09:24 --> 00:09:25 as making a decision,
00:09:25 --> 00:09:26 I'm going to obey God
00:09:26 --> 00:09:28 and then it's exactly
00:09:28 --> 00:09:29 what you do forever.
00:09:29 --> 00:09:31 At least that's my experience.
00:09:32 --> 00:09:33 I wonder if that's yours.
00:09:33 --> 00:09:36 There is a very real struggle
00:09:36 --> 00:09:39 that goes on in each of us.
00:09:39 --> 00:09:40 A struggle
00:09:40 --> 00:09:42 to be a good person.
00:09:42 --> 00:09:43 A struggle to
00:09:43 --> 00:09:45 obey God.
00:09:45 --> 00:09:46 A struggle to
00:09:46 --> 00:09:49 not be someone who sins.
00:09:50 --> 00:09:52 Good choices are hard.
00:09:52 --> 00:09:54 Fighting against sin
00:09:54 --> 00:09:55 and obeying God
00:09:55 --> 00:09:56 is a real struggle.
00:09:57 --> 00:09:58 I see it in me.
00:09:58 --> 00:09:59 I see it in my sin.
00:10:00 --> 00:10:01 I see it in my kids.
00:10:01 --> 00:10:04 I see it in all of you.
00:10:04 --> 00:10:06 I've had plenty of conversations
00:10:06 --> 00:10:07 with people here
00:10:07 --> 00:10:08 at previous churches
00:10:08 --> 00:10:10 about people who are just
00:10:10 --> 00:10:11 struggling with their sin,
00:10:12 --> 00:10:13 who hate it.
00:10:14 --> 00:10:16 They want to see their sin dead,
00:10:17 --> 00:10:18 but they struggle
00:10:18 --> 00:10:20 with the desire and pull.
00:10:22 --> 00:10:22 So for us today,
00:10:23 --> 00:10:24 we're going to have a look at
00:10:24 --> 00:10:25 two reasons
00:10:25 --> 00:10:27 why obeying God is hard
00:10:27 --> 00:10:29 and then three reasons,
00:10:30 --> 00:10:31 three ways that God helps us.
00:10:31 --> 00:10:34 Two ways that making good choices
00:10:34 --> 00:10:34 is hard
00:10:34 --> 00:10:36 and three ways that God helps us.
00:10:37 --> 00:10:38 So the first reason
00:10:38 --> 00:10:40 making good choices is hard
00:10:40 --> 00:10:42 is our hearts.
00:10:43 --> 00:10:44 Paul in Romans 7
00:10:44 --> 00:10:47 goes into this internal struggle.
00:10:48 --> 00:10:48 He says,
00:10:49 --> 00:10:50 For I have the desire
00:10:50 --> 00:10:51 to do what is good,
00:10:52 --> 00:10:53 but I cannot carry it out.
00:10:53 --> 00:10:55 For I do not do the good I want,
00:10:55 --> 00:10:57 but the evil I do not want to do.
00:10:57 --> 00:10:59 This I keep on doing.
00:10:59 --> 00:11:00 This is Paul.
00:11:00 --> 00:11:03 He was the best of the best Pharisees
00:11:03 --> 00:11:04 of the time.
00:11:04 --> 00:11:05 He knew the Old Testament
00:11:05 --> 00:11:06 back to front.
00:11:07 --> 00:11:07 He wrote,
00:11:07 --> 00:11:09 and then he was converted
00:11:09 --> 00:11:11 by Jesus when he met Jesus.
00:11:11 --> 00:11:13 And he goes on to plant churches
00:11:13 --> 00:11:17 all across the region of Turkey
00:11:17 --> 00:11:19 and Asia at the time.
00:11:19 --> 00:11:20 And then he ends up writing
00:11:20 --> 00:11:21 half the New Testament,
00:11:21 --> 00:11:22 which we have.
00:11:22 --> 00:11:24 And he's saying
00:11:24 --> 00:11:26 that he struggled
00:11:26 --> 00:11:27 to do good,
00:11:28 --> 00:11:30 but he did evil instead.
00:11:31 --> 00:11:32 Thomas Cranmer,
00:11:32 --> 00:11:34 he was the head,
00:11:34 --> 00:11:35 the archbishop of the church
00:11:35 --> 00:11:37 in England about 500 odd years ago.
00:11:37 --> 00:11:38 And he thought a lot
00:11:38 --> 00:11:40 about this difficulty
00:11:40 --> 00:11:41 to obey God.
00:11:41 --> 00:11:42 And one person summarized
00:11:42 --> 00:11:43 his thoughts
00:11:43 --> 00:11:45 and said,
00:11:45 --> 00:11:47 What the heart loves,
00:11:48 --> 00:11:49 the will chooses,
00:11:49 --> 00:11:51 and the mind justifies.
00:11:52 --> 00:11:53 The first reason
00:11:53 --> 00:11:54 making good choices
00:11:54 --> 00:11:55 is hard
00:11:55 --> 00:11:56 is because of our hearts.
00:11:57 --> 00:11:58 There is this
00:11:58 --> 00:11:59 trifold battle
00:11:59 --> 00:12:01 between heart
00:12:01 --> 00:12:02 and will
00:12:02 --> 00:12:03 and mind
00:12:03 --> 00:12:04 and the heart
00:12:04 --> 00:12:05 is the one
00:12:05 --> 00:12:06 that wins.
00:12:07 --> 00:12:08 What we desire
00:12:08 --> 00:12:09 in our hearts
00:12:09 --> 00:12:11 is always going
00:12:11 --> 00:12:12 to win out.
00:12:12 --> 00:12:13 And our mind
00:12:13 --> 00:12:14 is just going
00:12:14 --> 00:12:15 to justify it.
00:12:15 --> 00:12:16 We say things like,
00:12:16 --> 00:12:19 I know
00:12:19 --> 00:12:21 I shouldn't do this.
00:12:22 --> 00:12:23 I know
00:12:23 --> 00:12:24 I shouldn't eat this food.
00:12:24 --> 00:12:24 I know
00:12:24 --> 00:12:25 I shouldn't speak.
00:12:25 --> 00:12:26 I know I shouldn't.
00:12:26 --> 00:12:27 And then
00:12:27 --> 00:12:28 there's always
00:12:28 --> 00:12:29 a but.
00:12:30 --> 00:12:32 But I want to.
00:12:32 --> 00:12:33 I know
00:12:33 --> 00:12:34 I shouldn't,
00:12:34 --> 00:12:34 but I'm going
00:12:34 --> 00:12:35 to make an exception.
00:12:36 --> 00:12:36 For me,
00:12:37 --> 00:12:37 I know
00:12:37 --> 00:12:38 I should be patient
00:12:38 --> 00:12:39 with my kids,
00:12:40 --> 00:12:41 but
00:12:41 --> 00:12:43 I am so frustrated
00:12:43 --> 00:12:44 with them.
00:12:45 --> 00:12:45 Maybe it's,
00:12:45 --> 00:12:46 I know
00:12:46 --> 00:12:47 I shouldn't say this
00:12:47 --> 00:12:48 to her behind her back.
00:12:49 --> 00:12:50 I should say this
00:12:50 --> 00:12:51 about her behind her back.
00:12:52 --> 00:12:52 But
00:12:52 --> 00:12:54 I get to share
00:12:54 --> 00:12:55 this gossip.
00:12:55 --> 00:12:55 I know
00:12:55 --> 00:12:57 I should declare this
00:12:57 --> 00:12:58 on my tax return,
00:12:59 --> 00:13:00 but what the tax office
00:13:00 --> 00:13:01 doesn't know.
00:13:01 --> 00:13:02 I know
00:13:02 --> 00:13:03 I shouldn't look
00:13:03 --> 00:13:04 at this
00:13:04 --> 00:13:05 inappropriate material
00:13:05 --> 00:13:06 on my phone.
00:13:06 --> 00:13:06 I know
00:13:06 --> 00:13:07 it's not good for me,
00:13:08 --> 00:13:08 but
00:13:08 --> 00:13:10 I want to.
00:13:12 --> 00:13:12 When our
00:13:12 --> 00:13:13 willpower
00:13:13 --> 00:13:14 is weak,
00:13:14 --> 00:13:15 our hearts
00:13:15 --> 00:13:16 desires
00:13:16 --> 00:13:17 are revealed.
00:13:18 --> 00:13:18 We can usually
00:13:18 --> 00:13:19 pretend that
00:13:19 --> 00:13:20 we're pretty good
00:13:20 --> 00:13:20 people,
00:13:21 --> 00:13:22 but sometimes
00:13:22 --> 00:13:23 things come along
00:13:23 --> 00:13:24 and knock down
00:13:24 --> 00:13:24 that
00:13:24 --> 00:13:25 and reveal
00:13:25 --> 00:13:26 who we really
00:13:26 --> 00:13:26 are.
00:13:28 --> 00:13:28 It's been
00:13:28 --> 00:13:29 interesting talking
00:13:29 --> 00:13:29 to people
00:13:29 --> 00:13:30 about this year's
00:13:30 --> 00:13:30 tax returns.
00:13:30 --> 00:13:31 I don't know
00:13:31 --> 00:13:32 if you're a
00:13:32 --> 00:13:32 person who
00:13:32 --> 00:13:33 pays tax,
00:13:33 --> 00:13:34 has a tax
00:13:34 --> 00:13:34 return.
00:13:34 --> 00:13:35 It reminded me
00:13:35 --> 00:13:36 of what happened
00:13:36 --> 00:13:36 years ago
00:13:36 --> 00:13:37 when the government
00:13:37 --> 00:13:38 first started
00:13:38 --> 00:13:39 handing out this
00:13:39 --> 00:13:39 thing called
00:13:39 --> 00:13:40 the baby bonus.
00:13:40 --> 00:13:41 Did anybody
00:13:41 --> 00:13:41 get the baby bonus?
00:13:41 --> 00:13:43 Are any
00:13:43 --> 00:13:43 of you
00:13:43 --> 00:13:44 children
00:13:44 --> 00:13:45 a baby
00:13:45 --> 00:13:45 of the baby
00:13:45 --> 00:13:46 bonus?
00:13:47 --> 00:13:47 That might
00:13:47 --> 00:13:47 be a more
00:13:47 --> 00:13:48 accurate.
00:13:49 --> 00:13:49 John is.
00:13:49 --> 00:13:50 John's a baby
00:13:50 --> 00:13:50 of the baby
00:13:50 --> 00:13:50 bonus.
00:13:50 --> 00:13:51 That's good.
00:13:51 --> 00:13:52 It was a
00:13:52 --> 00:13:53 financial boost
00:13:53 --> 00:13:53 that the
00:13:53 --> 00:13:54 government
00:13:54 --> 00:13:55 gave to
00:13:55 --> 00:13:55 people who
00:13:55 --> 00:13:56 had kids
00:13:56 --> 00:13:56 to pay
00:13:56 --> 00:13:57 for the
00:13:57 --> 00:13:57 associated
00:13:57 --> 00:13:57 costs
00:13:57 --> 00:13:58 of having
00:13:58 --> 00:13:58 a child.
00:13:59 --> 00:13:59 You know,
00:14:00 --> 00:14:00 nappies
00:14:00 --> 00:14:01 and all
00:14:01 --> 00:14:01 those wonderful
00:14:01 --> 00:14:02 things.
00:14:03 --> 00:14:03 But I had
00:14:03 --> 00:14:04 so many
00:14:04 --> 00:14:04 conversations
00:14:04 --> 00:14:05 with people
00:14:05 --> 00:14:06 about what
00:14:06 --> 00:14:06 they were
00:14:06 --> 00:14:07 actually spending
00:14:07 --> 00:14:07 their money
00:14:07 --> 00:14:08 on.
00:14:08 --> 00:14:09 Holidays,
00:14:10 --> 00:14:10 TVs,
00:14:10 --> 00:14:11 things for
00:14:11 --> 00:14:12 them and
00:14:12 --> 00:14:13 not what
00:14:13 --> 00:14:13 it was
00:14:13 --> 00:14:13 actually
00:14:13 --> 00:14:14 intended
00:14:14 --> 00:14:14 to.
00:14:15 --> 00:14:16 A big
00:14:16 --> 00:14:16 chunk of
00:14:16 --> 00:14:18 cash revealed
00:14:18 --> 00:14:19 where their
00:14:19 --> 00:14:19 hearts were
00:14:19 --> 00:14:19 at.
00:14:21 --> 00:14:22 I wonder
00:14:22 --> 00:14:22 what would
00:14:22 --> 00:14:23 you do
00:14:23 --> 00:14:24 if I gave
00:14:24 --> 00:14:24 you a
00:14:24 --> 00:14:24 sizable
00:14:24 --> 00:14:25 chunk of
00:14:25 --> 00:14:25 cash
00:14:25 --> 00:14:26 right now?
00:14:27 --> 00:14:28 Would it
00:14:28 --> 00:14:28 reveal
00:14:28 --> 00:14:30 where your
00:14:30 --> 00:14:31 heart is?
00:14:31 --> 00:14:31 Would it
00:14:31 --> 00:14:32 reveal how
00:14:32 --> 00:14:33 you were
00:14:33 --> 00:14:33 treasuring
00:14:33 --> 00:14:33 Jesus?
00:14:35 --> 00:14:35 There are
00:14:35 --> 00:14:36 times when
00:14:36 --> 00:14:37 our choices
00:14:37 --> 00:14:38 reveal the
00:14:38 --> 00:14:39 state of
00:14:39 --> 00:14:39 our hearts.
00:14:39 --> 00:14:40 If we
00:14:40 --> 00:14:41 were to
00:14:41 --> 00:14:41 just think
00:14:41 --> 00:14:42 that we
00:14:42 --> 00:14:43 as humans
00:14:43 --> 00:14:44 and people
00:14:44 --> 00:14:45 made decisions
00:14:45 --> 00:14:46 in our
00:14:46 --> 00:14:47 minds that
00:14:47 --> 00:14:47 weren't
00:14:47 --> 00:14:48 influenced by
00:14:48 --> 00:14:49 our hidden
00:14:49 --> 00:14:50 desires and
00:14:50 --> 00:14:51 motives in
00:14:51 --> 00:14:51 our heart,
00:14:51 --> 00:14:52 we would
00:14:52 --> 00:14:53 understand how
00:14:53 --> 00:14:54 we work and
00:14:54 --> 00:14:54 how other
00:14:54 --> 00:14:55 people work.
00:14:56 --> 00:14:57 We are far
00:14:57 --> 00:14:57 more complicated
00:14:57 --> 00:14:58 than that.
00:14:58 --> 00:14:59 And what is
00:14:59 --> 00:15:00 going in our
00:15:00 --> 00:15:01 hearts when it
00:15:01 --> 00:15:01 comes to what's
00:15:01 --> 00:15:02 really important
00:15:02 --> 00:15:03 is what
00:15:03 --> 00:15:04 wins.
00:15:05 --> 00:15:06 Even when
00:15:06 --> 00:15:07 our mind
00:15:07 --> 00:15:07 says something
00:15:07 --> 00:15:08 else.
00:15:08 --> 00:15:09 Because what
00:15:09 --> 00:15:09 the heart
00:15:09 --> 00:15:10 wants,
00:15:10 --> 00:15:10 what the
00:15:10 --> 00:15:10 heart
00:15:10 --> 00:15:11 desires,
00:15:11 --> 00:15:12 our will
00:15:12 --> 00:15:12 chooses,
00:15:13 --> 00:15:13 and the
00:15:13 --> 00:15:13 mind is
00:15:13 --> 00:15:14 just going
00:15:14 --> 00:15:14 to justify
00:15:14 --> 00:15:15 it.
00:15:15 --> 00:15:15 So that's
00:15:15 --> 00:15:16 the first
00:15:16 --> 00:15:17 reason that
00:15:17 --> 00:15:18 making good
00:15:18 --> 00:15:18 choices is
00:15:18 --> 00:15:19 hard,
00:15:19 --> 00:15:20 because of
00:15:20 --> 00:15:20 our hearts.
00:15:21 --> 00:15:21 The second
00:15:21 --> 00:15:22 reason making
00:15:22 --> 00:15:23 good choices
00:15:23 --> 00:15:24 is hard is
00:15:24 --> 00:15:25 because we
00:15:25 --> 00:15:26 get decision
00:15:26 --> 00:15:27 fatigue.
00:15:28 --> 00:15:28 Have you
00:15:28 --> 00:15:28 heard of
00:15:28 --> 00:15:29 decision
00:15:29 --> 00:15:29 fatigue?
00:15:29 --> 00:15:29 Have you
00:15:29 --> 00:15:30 felt decision
00:15:30 --> 00:15:31 fatigue?
00:15:31 --> 00:15:32 Paul is
00:15:32 --> 00:15:32 nodding with
00:15:32 --> 00:15:32 me.
00:15:33 --> 00:15:34 I remember
00:15:34 --> 00:15:34 when we were
00:15:34 --> 00:15:35 planning our
00:15:35 --> 00:15:35 wedding,
00:15:35 --> 00:15:36 not Paul and
00:15:36 --> 00:15:36 I,
00:15:36 --> 00:15:36 I'll listen
00:15:36 --> 00:15:37 to my
00:15:37 --> 00:15:37 wedding,
00:15:37 --> 00:15:38 when we were
00:15:38 --> 00:15:38 planning our
00:15:38 --> 00:15:38 wedding,
00:15:39 --> 00:15:39 there were
00:15:39 --> 00:15:39 just so
00:15:39 --> 00:15:40 many decisions
00:15:40 --> 00:15:41 that needed
00:15:41 --> 00:15:41 to be made.
00:15:42 --> 00:15:42 There was
00:15:42 --> 00:15:43 the wedding
00:15:43 --> 00:15:43 cake.
00:15:44 --> 00:15:45 What flavor
00:15:45 --> 00:15:45 was going to
00:15:45 --> 00:15:47 be of the
00:15:47 --> 00:15:47 cake?
00:15:47 --> 00:15:47 How many
00:15:47 --> 00:15:48 layers were
00:15:48 --> 00:15:48 going to be
00:15:48 --> 00:15:48 in the
00:15:48 --> 00:15:48 cake?
00:15:48 --> 00:15:49 What was
00:15:49 --> 00:15:49 going to
00:15:49 --> 00:15:49 be on
00:15:49 --> 00:15:50 the cake?
00:15:50 --> 00:15:50 What kind
00:15:50 --> 00:15:51 of knife
00:15:51 --> 00:15:51 were we
00:15:51 --> 00:15:51 going to
00:15:51 --> 00:15:52 use to
00:15:52 --> 00:15:52 cut the
00:15:52 --> 00:15:52 cake?
00:15:53 --> 00:15:53 Which we
00:15:53 --> 00:15:54 broke when
00:15:54 --> 00:15:54 we were
00:15:54 --> 00:15:54 cutting our
00:15:54 --> 00:15:54 cake?
00:15:56 --> 00:15:57 How many
00:15:57 --> 00:15:57 people are
00:15:57 --> 00:15:57 we going
00:15:57 --> 00:15:58 to invite?
00:15:59 --> 00:15:59 Where are
00:15:59 --> 00:15:59 they going
00:15:59 --> 00:16:00 to sit?
00:16:00 --> 00:16:00 In what
00:16:00 --> 00:16:01 order are
00:16:01 --> 00:16:02 they going
00:16:02 --> 00:16:02 to sit?
00:16:03 --> 00:16:03 There is
00:16:03 --> 00:16:04 the wedding
00:16:04 --> 00:16:04 dress.
00:16:04 --> 00:16:05 Maybe not
00:16:05 --> 00:16:06 that dress,
00:16:06 --> 00:16:06 maybe that
00:16:06 --> 00:16:06 dress,
00:16:08 --> 00:16:08 let's try
00:16:08 --> 00:16:09 another 15
00:16:09 --> 00:16:09 wedding
00:16:09 --> 00:16:09 dresses.
00:16:09 --> 00:16:10 Now,
00:16:10 --> 00:16:11 the bridesmaids
00:16:11 --> 00:16:11 dresses,
00:16:11 --> 00:16:12 I don't
00:16:12 --> 00:16:12 like that,
00:16:12 --> 00:16:12 I don't
00:16:12 --> 00:16:12 like you
00:16:12 --> 00:16:13 in that,
00:16:13 --> 00:16:13 and the
00:16:13 --> 00:16:14 man wears
00:16:14 --> 00:16:14 a suit.
00:16:16 --> 00:16:17 My wife
00:16:17 --> 00:16:17 helpfully
00:16:17 --> 00:16:18 pointed out
00:16:18 --> 00:16:19 to me that
00:16:19 --> 00:16:20 I didn't
00:16:20 --> 00:16:20 have to
00:16:20 --> 00:16:21 make all
00:16:21 --> 00:16:21 those decisions,
00:16:21 --> 00:16:22 it was
00:16:22 --> 00:16:22 mainly her
00:16:22 --> 00:16:23 making those
00:16:23 --> 00:16:23 decisions,
00:16:23 --> 00:16:23 but I was
00:16:23 --> 00:16:24 involved with
00:16:24 --> 00:16:24 enough of
00:16:24 --> 00:16:25 them.
00:16:25 --> 00:16:25 Making
00:16:25 --> 00:16:26 decisions
00:16:26 --> 00:16:27 is
00:16:27 --> 00:16:28 exhausting.
00:16:31 --> 00:16:31 And we
00:16:31 --> 00:16:31 have to
00:16:31 --> 00:16:32 make choices
00:16:32 --> 00:16:32 all day
00:16:32 --> 00:16:33 long.
00:16:34 --> 00:16:34 What am
00:16:34 --> 00:16:34 I going
00:16:34 --> 00:16:35 to wear?
00:16:35 --> 00:16:35 What am
00:16:35 --> 00:16:35 I going
00:16:35 --> 00:16:36 to eat?
00:16:36 --> 00:16:36 How am
00:16:36 --> 00:16:36 I going
00:16:36 --> 00:16:36 to get to
00:16:36 --> 00:16:37 work?
00:16:37 --> 00:16:37 Am I
00:16:37 --> 00:16:38 going to
00:16:38 --> 00:16:38 buy a
00:16:38 --> 00:16:38 coffee
00:16:38 --> 00:16:39 before
00:16:39 --> 00:16:39 work,
00:16:39 --> 00:16:39 or do
00:16:39 --> 00:16:39 I have
00:16:39 --> 00:16:40 a coffee
00:16:40 --> 00:16:40 at work?
00:16:41 --> 00:16:42 What
00:16:42 --> 00:16:43 flavour is
00:16:43 --> 00:16:43 it going
00:16:43 --> 00:16:43 to be?
00:16:44 --> 00:16:44 What am
00:16:44 --> 00:16:44 I going
00:16:44 --> 00:16:45 to do?
00:16:45 --> 00:16:46 Am I
00:16:46 --> 00:16:46 going to
00:16:46 --> 00:16:47 go to
00:16:47 --> 00:16:47 that
00:16:47 --> 00:16:47 tutorial
00:16:47 --> 00:16:48 today,
00:16:48 --> 00:16:49 or will
00:16:49 --> 00:16:49 I just
00:16:49 --> 00:16:50 do it
00:16:50 --> 00:16:50 at home?
00:16:51 --> 00:16:51 Will I
00:16:51 --> 00:16:52 get sushi
00:16:52 --> 00:16:52 or dumplings
00:16:52 --> 00:16:53 for lunch?
00:16:54 --> 00:16:54 And it
00:16:54 --> 00:16:55 leaves our
00:16:55 --> 00:16:55 brains
00:16:55 --> 00:16:57 exhausted,
00:16:58 --> 00:16:59 unable to
00:16:59 --> 00:17:00 make good
00:17:00 --> 00:17:00 decisions.
00:17:01 --> 00:17:02 This is
00:17:02 --> 00:17:02 why people
00:17:02 --> 00:17:04 like Steve
00:17:04 --> 00:17:04 Jobs,
00:17:05 --> 00:17:06 the founder
00:17:06 --> 00:17:06 and head
00:17:06 --> 00:17:07 of Apple
00:17:07 --> 00:17:07 until he
00:17:07 --> 00:17:07 passed
00:17:07 --> 00:17:07 away.
00:17:08 --> 00:17:09 He wore
00:17:09 --> 00:17:09 the same
00:17:09 --> 00:17:10 thing
00:17:10 --> 00:17:11 every day
00:17:11 --> 00:17:12 so he
00:17:12 --> 00:17:12 just didn't
00:17:12 --> 00:17:13 have to
00:17:13 --> 00:17:13 make that
00:17:13 --> 00:17:14 decision.
00:17:14 --> 00:17:15 So he
00:17:15 --> 00:17:15 could use
00:17:15 --> 00:17:16 his brain
00:17:16 --> 00:17:16 for other
00:17:16 --> 00:17:17 things.
00:17:19 --> 00:17:19 And how
00:17:19 --> 00:17:20 do we
00:17:20 --> 00:17:20 go then
00:17:20 --> 00:17:20 when it
00:17:20 --> 00:17:21 comes to
00:17:21 --> 00:17:21 making
00:17:21 --> 00:17:22 choices
00:17:22 --> 00:17:23 to obey
00:17:23 --> 00:17:23 God?
00:17:25 --> 00:17:25 Making
00:17:25 --> 00:17:26 good choices
00:17:26 --> 00:17:27 to obey
00:17:27 --> 00:17:28 God is
00:17:28 --> 00:17:28 influenced by
00:17:28 --> 00:17:29 how fatigued
00:17:29 --> 00:17:30 we get.
00:17:30 --> 00:17:31 As I
00:17:31 --> 00:17:31 mentioned
00:17:31 --> 00:17:32 earlier,
00:17:32 --> 00:17:32 I'm a
00:17:32 --> 00:17:33 morning
00:17:33 --> 00:17:33 person,
00:17:33 --> 00:17:34 so I
00:17:34 --> 00:17:35 make better
00:17:35 --> 00:17:35 choices in
00:17:35 --> 00:17:36 the mornings.
00:17:37 --> 00:17:37 Making
00:17:37 --> 00:17:38 the God
00:17:38 --> 00:17:38 honoring
00:17:38 --> 00:17:39 choice to
00:17:39 --> 00:17:39 be patient
00:17:39 --> 00:17:40 is much
00:17:40 --> 00:17:41 harder when
00:17:41 --> 00:17:42 I'm tired
00:17:42 --> 00:17:43 at the
00:17:43 --> 00:17:43 end of
00:17:43 --> 00:17:44 the day.
00:17:45 --> 00:17:45 Making
00:17:45 --> 00:17:46 the choice
00:17:46 --> 00:17:47 to be
00:17:47 --> 00:17:48 gentle and
00:17:48 --> 00:17:49 loving with
00:17:49 --> 00:17:49 my words
00:17:49 --> 00:17:50 at the
00:17:50 --> 00:17:50 end of
00:17:50 --> 00:17:50 the day
00:17:50 --> 00:17:51 for me
00:17:51 --> 00:17:51 is a
00:17:51 --> 00:17:52 lot
00:17:52 --> 00:17:52 harder.
00:17:53 --> 00:17:54 Recently
00:17:54 --> 00:17:54 I read
00:17:54 --> 00:17:55 a study
00:17:55 --> 00:17:56 about the
00:17:56 --> 00:17:56 impact
00:17:56 --> 00:17:58 decision
00:17:58 --> 00:17:59 making has
00:17:59 --> 00:17:59 on our
00:17:59 --> 00:18:00 willpower.
00:18:01 --> 00:18:01 In a
00:18:01 --> 00:18:02 research study
00:18:02 --> 00:18:02 by the
00:18:02 --> 00:18:03 National
00:18:03 --> 00:18:03 Academy
00:18:03 --> 00:18:04 of Sciences
00:18:04 --> 00:18:04 from the
00:18:04 --> 00:18:05 US,
00:18:05 --> 00:18:06 they examined
00:18:06 --> 00:18:07 the factors
00:18:07 --> 00:18:09 that impacted
00:18:09 --> 00:18:10 judges when
00:18:10 --> 00:18:11 they were
00:18:11 --> 00:18:11 making decisions
00:18:11 --> 00:18:12 whether criminals
00:18:12 --> 00:18:13 should go out
00:18:13 --> 00:18:13 on parole.
00:18:13 --> 00:18:14 They looked
00:18:14 --> 00:18:14 at all the
00:18:14 --> 00:18:16 factors and
00:18:16 --> 00:18:17 the biggest
00:18:17 --> 00:18:17 factor was
00:18:17 --> 00:18:18 not the
00:18:18 --> 00:18:19 type of
00:18:19 --> 00:18:19 crime,
00:18:19 --> 00:18:20 the severity
00:18:20 --> 00:18:20 of the
00:18:20 --> 00:18:20 crime,
00:18:20 --> 00:18:21 how long
00:18:21 --> 00:18:21 they've been
00:18:21 --> 00:18:22 incarcerated.
00:18:22 --> 00:18:23 The biggest
00:18:23 --> 00:18:25 factor that
00:18:25 --> 00:18:26 impacted whether
00:18:26 --> 00:18:27 a criminal
00:18:27 --> 00:18:27 got parole
00:18:27 --> 00:18:29 was the
00:18:29 --> 00:18:30 time of
00:18:30 --> 00:18:30 day.
00:18:30 --> 00:18:32 It was
00:18:32 --> 00:18:32 the time
00:18:32 --> 00:18:32 of day.
00:18:33 --> 00:18:33 So first
00:18:33 --> 00:18:34 thing in
00:18:34 --> 00:18:34 the morning
00:18:34 --> 00:18:35 the percentage
00:18:35 --> 00:18:36 of decisions
00:18:36 --> 00:18:37 made by a
00:18:37 --> 00:18:38 judge was
00:18:38 --> 00:18:39 65%.
00:18:39 --> 00:18:41 So 65%
00:18:41 --> 00:18:41 of their
00:18:41 --> 00:18:42 decisions
00:18:42 --> 00:18:42 of criminals
00:18:42 --> 00:18:43 they went
00:18:43 --> 00:18:43 out on
00:18:43 --> 00:18:44 parole.
00:18:45 --> 00:18:46 As the
00:18:46 --> 00:18:46 day went
00:18:46 --> 00:18:47 on that
00:18:47 --> 00:18:48 plummeted
00:18:48 --> 00:18:48 to zero.
00:18:50 --> 00:18:50 And so
00:18:50 --> 00:18:52 by and
00:18:52 --> 00:18:53 then the
00:18:53 --> 00:18:54 judge would
00:18:54 --> 00:18:54 have a
00:18:54 --> 00:18:54 lunch break,
00:18:55 --> 00:18:55 have some
00:18:55 --> 00:18:56 food,
00:18:57 --> 00:18:58 the brain
00:18:58 --> 00:18:58 would have
00:18:58 --> 00:18:59 some sugar
00:18:59 --> 00:18:59 in it so
00:18:59 --> 00:18:59 it could
00:18:59 --> 00:19:00 function
00:19:00 --> 00:19:00 properly,
00:19:00 --> 00:19:01 and they'd
00:19:01 --> 00:19:01 come back
00:19:01 --> 00:19:02 and their
00:19:02 --> 00:19:03 percentage of
00:19:03 --> 00:19:04 criminals out
00:19:04 --> 00:19:04 on parole
00:19:04 --> 00:19:05 would go
00:19:05 --> 00:19:05 back up to
00:19:05 --> 00:19:05 65.
00:19:06 --> 00:19:06 Very
00:19:06 --> 00:19:07 generous.
00:19:07 --> 00:19:07 It would
00:19:07 --> 00:19:08 drop again
00:19:08 --> 00:19:09 after that.
00:19:10 --> 00:19:11 Our
00:19:11 --> 00:19:12 willpower is
00:19:12 --> 00:19:13 like a
00:19:13 --> 00:19:13 muscle that
00:19:13 --> 00:19:14 gets fatigued.
00:19:15 --> 00:19:16 And so if
00:19:16 --> 00:19:16 you're going
00:19:16 --> 00:19:17 to go and
00:19:17 --> 00:19:17 commit a crime
00:19:17 --> 00:19:18 anytime soon,
00:19:18 --> 00:19:18 you want to
00:19:18 --> 00:19:19 see that
00:19:19 --> 00:19:20 judge early
00:19:20 --> 00:19:20 in the
00:19:20 --> 00:19:21 morning,
00:19:21 --> 00:19:21 not at
00:19:21 --> 00:19:22 11.30
00:19:22 --> 00:19:22 when he's
00:19:22 --> 00:19:23 hangry.
00:19:25 --> 00:19:25 Every time
00:19:25 --> 00:19:26 we make a
00:19:26 --> 00:19:26 decision,
00:19:26 --> 00:19:27 it gets
00:19:27 --> 00:19:27 harder to
00:19:27 --> 00:19:28 make the
00:19:28 --> 00:19:28 next one
00:19:28 --> 00:19:29 a good
00:19:29 --> 00:19:29 one.
00:19:31 --> 00:19:31 We get
00:19:31 --> 00:19:32 home from
00:19:32 --> 00:19:32 work or
00:19:32 --> 00:19:33 from school
00:19:33 --> 00:19:33 and we
00:19:33 --> 00:19:34 want to
00:19:34 --> 00:19:34 make good
00:19:34 --> 00:19:34 decisions.
00:19:35 --> 00:19:35 We want
00:19:35 --> 00:19:36 to love
00:19:36 --> 00:19:36 and honour
00:19:36 --> 00:19:37 our parents
00:19:37 --> 00:19:37 as we
00:19:37 --> 00:19:38 honour God,
00:19:38 --> 00:19:39 but we've
00:19:39 --> 00:19:39 run out of
00:19:39 --> 00:19:40 willpower.
00:19:41 --> 00:19:41 We want
00:19:41 --> 00:19:42 to eat a
00:19:42 --> 00:19:43 healthy meal,
00:19:43 --> 00:19:44 we want to
00:19:44 --> 00:19:44 cook good
00:19:44 --> 00:19:45 food,
00:19:45 --> 00:19:46 but we've
00:19:46 --> 00:19:46 run out of
00:19:46 --> 00:19:47 willpower and
00:19:47 --> 00:19:47 so we order
00:19:47 --> 00:19:48 Uber Eats
00:19:48 --> 00:19:48 instead.
00:19:50 --> 00:19:50 You know,
00:19:50 --> 00:19:51 you want to
00:19:51 --> 00:19:52 go out and
00:19:52 --> 00:19:52 exercise,
00:19:53 --> 00:19:53 you want to
00:19:53 --> 00:19:53 make good
00:19:53 --> 00:19:54 decisions,
00:19:54 --> 00:19:54 but it's
00:19:54 --> 00:19:55 cold and
00:19:55 --> 00:19:56 the TV is
00:19:56 --> 00:19:57 not going to
00:19:57 --> 00:19:57 watch itself.
00:19:58 --> 00:20:00 Why is
00:20:00 --> 00:20:00 this important?
00:20:01 --> 00:20:02 Why is
00:20:02 --> 00:20:02 this important
00:20:02 --> 00:20:03 for us as
00:20:03 --> 00:20:03 Christians?
00:20:05 --> 00:20:05 Well,
00:20:05 --> 00:20:06 we need to
00:20:06 --> 00:20:07 understand who
00:20:07 --> 00:20:08 we are as
00:20:08 --> 00:20:09 people with
00:20:09 --> 00:20:10 bodies.
00:20:11 --> 00:20:12 God has
00:20:12 --> 00:20:13 made us
00:20:13 --> 00:20:13 embodied
00:20:13 --> 00:20:14 creatures.
00:20:14 --> 00:20:15 We are not
00:20:15 --> 00:20:17 just spirits.
00:20:17 --> 00:20:18 We have a
00:20:18 --> 00:20:19 spiritual aspect,
00:20:19 --> 00:20:20 but we also
00:20:20 --> 00:20:21 have bodies
00:20:21 --> 00:20:21 who are
00:20:21 --> 00:20:22 reliant on
00:20:22 --> 00:20:23 food.
00:20:23 --> 00:20:24 We use
00:20:24 --> 00:20:25 energy that
00:20:25 --> 00:20:25 is not
00:20:25 --> 00:20:26 unlimited.
00:20:26 --> 00:20:28 do you
00:20:28 --> 00:20:29 know when
00:20:29 --> 00:20:30 you are
00:20:30 --> 00:20:30 tempted to
00:20:30 --> 00:20:31 sin?
00:20:31 --> 00:20:32 Do you
00:20:32 --> 00:20:33 know what
00:20:33 --> 00:20:34 is going to
00:20:34 --> 00:20:34 have a
00:20:34 --> 00:20:36 negative impact
00:20:36 --> 00:20:36 on you?
00:20:36 --> 00:20:37 Do you
00:20:37 --> 00:20:37 know the
00:20:37 --> 00:20:37 time of
00:20:37 --> 00:20:39 day that
00:20:39 --> 00:20:39 you are
00:20:39 --> 00:20:40 more likely
00:20:40 --> 00:20:41 to struggle?
00:20:42 --> 00:20:43 So when we
00:20:43 --> 00:20:43 are confronted
00:20:43 --> 00:20:44 by sin,
00:20:44 --> 00:20:45 maybe we
00:20:45 --> 00:20:45 need to be
00:20:45 --> 00:20:46 like the
00:20:46 --> 00:20:47 judge and
00:20:47 --> 00:20:47 go and
00:20:47 --> 00:20:47 eat some
00:20:47 --> 00:20:49 food so
00:20:49 --> 00:20:49 that our
00:20:49 --> 00:20:50 brains have
00:20:50 --> 00:20:51 some sugar
00:20:51 --> 00:20:51 and it
00:20:51 --> 00:20:53 functions so
00:20:53 --> 00:20:54 we can make
00:20:54 --> 00:20:55 good choices?
00:20:57 --> 00:20:58 Do you
00:20:58 --> 00:20:59 know what
00:20:59 --> 00:20:59 you are
00:20:59 --> 00:21:00 like as
00:21:00 --> 00:21:01 a person
00:21:01 --> 00:21:01 with a
00:21:01 --> 00:21:01 body
00:21:01 --> 00:21:02 following
00:21:02 --> 00:21:02 God?
00:21:03 --> 00:21:04 This all
00:21:04 --> 00:21:05 seems stacked
00:21:05 --> 00:21:06 against us.
00:21:07 --> 00:21:08 Our hearts
00:21:08 --> 00:21:08 are going to
00:21:08 --> 00:21:08 do whatever
00:21:08 --> 00:21:09 they want
00:21:09 --> 00:21:09 to do.
00:21:10 --> 00:21:11 Making
00:21:11 --> 00:21:12 decisions is
00:21:12 --> 00:21:13 exhausting for
00:21:13 --> 00:21:15 us, but
00:21:15 --> 00:21:16 good choices
00:21:16 --> 00:21:17 are possible.
00:21:19 --> 00:21:19 And there
00:21:19 --> 00:21:20 are three
00:21:20 --> 00:21:20 things,
00:21:21 --> 00:21:22 three ways
00:21:22 --> 00:21:22 to help
00:21:22 --> 00:21:24 us with
00:21:24 --> 00:21:24 making good
00:21:24 --> 00:21:25 choices.
00:21:25 --> 00:21:26 The first,
00:21:26 --> 00:21:27 let's have a
00:21:27 --> 00:21:27 look at that
00:21:27 --> 00:21:27 quote again.
00:21:28 --> 00:21:28 What the
00:21:28 --> 00:21:29 heart loves,
00:21:30 --> 00:21:30 the will
00:21:30 --> 00:21:31 chooses and
00:21:31 --> 00:21:31 the mind
00:21:31 --> 00:21:32 justifies.
00:21:33 --> 00:21:34 We don't
00:21:34 --> 00:21:35 need more
00:21:35 --> 00:21:36 willpower.
00:21:37 --> 00:21:38 Willpower is
00:21:38 --> 00:21:38 not going to
00:21:38 --> 00:21:39 help us.
00:21:39 --> 00:21:40 We don't
00:21:40 --> 00:21:41 need a
00:21:41 --> 00:21:42 more disciplined
00:21:42 --> 00:21:42 mind.
00:21:43 --> 00:21:44 We definitely
00:21:44 --> 00:21:44 don't need more
00:21:44 --> 00:21:45 guilt when we
00:21:45 --> 00:21:45 sin.
00:21:46 --> 00:21:47 What we need
00:21:47 --> 00:21:48 is the first
00:21:48 --> 00:21:48 one.
00:21:49 --> 00:21:50 We need a
00:21:50 --> 00:21:51 new heart.
00:21:52 --> 00:21:52 And this
00:21:52 --> 00:21:53 is what God
00:21:53 --> 00:21:54 promised in
00:21:54 --> 00:21:55 Ezekiel 11,
00:21:55 --> 00:21:55 that he would
00:21:55 --> 00:21:56 give us a
00:21:56 --> 00:21:57 new heart
00:21:57 --> 00:21:57 and a new
00:21:57 --> 00:21:58 spirit.
00:21:59 --> 00:21:59 And this is
00:21:59 --> 00:21:59 what happens
00:21:59 --> 00:22:00 when God
00:22:00 --> 00:22:01 reveals himself
00:22:01 --> 00:22:01 to us.
00:22:03 --> 00:22:03 And we can
00:22:03 --> 00:22:04 see Jesus
00:22:04 --> 00:22:04 for who he
00:22:04 --> 00:22:05 is.
00:22:05 --> 00:22:05 He is God's
00:22:05 --> 00:22:06 son.
00:22:06 --> 00:22:07 No longer
00:22:07 --> 00:22:07 are we
00:22:07 --> 00:22:08 slaves to
00:22:08 --> 00:22:08 sin.
00:22:09 --> 00:22:10 God has
00:22:10 --> 00:22:11 rescued us
00:22:11 --> 00:22:11 and he has
00:22:11 --> 00:22:12 given us a
00:22:12 --> 00:22:13 way to
00:22:13 --> 00:22:14 choose to
00:22:14 --> 00:22:14 obey him.
00:22:16 --> 00:22:17 And as
00:22:17 --> 00:22:18 we grow
00:22:18 --> 00:22:18 in Christ
00:22:18 --> 00:22:19 likeness and
00:22:19 --> 00:22:20 follow him,
00:22:20 --> 00:22:20 he is
00:22:20 --> 00:22:21 changing our
00:22:21 --> 00:22:22 hearts.
00:22:22 --> 00:22:23 He has
00:22:23 --> 00:22:23 taken out
00:22:23 --> 00:22:24 our heart
00:22:24 --> 00:22:24 of stone
00:22:24 --> 00:22:25 and put
00:22:25 --> 00:22:25 in a
00:22:25 --> 00:22:25 heart of
00:22:25 --> 00:22:26 flesh and
00:22:26 --> 00:22:27 he is
00:22:27 --> 00:22:28 changing our
00:22:28 --> 00:22:29 desires so
00:22:29 --> 00:22:29 that we can
00:22:29 --> 00:22:30 be more
00:22:30 --> 00:22:30 Christ-like,
00:22:31 --> 00:22:32 so that we
00:22:32 --> 00:22:32 can make
00:22:32 --> 00:22:34 decisions to
00:22:34 --> 00:22:34 honor him.
00:22:35 --> 00:22:35 He is
00:22:35 --> 00:22:36 changing us
00:22:36 --> 00:22:37 from just
00:22:37 --> 00:22:38 pursuing wealth
00:22:38 --> 00:22:39 and greed
00:22:39 --> 00:22:40 and power
00:22:40 --> 00:22:41 and immorality
00:22:41 --> 00:22:43 to choosing
00:22:43 --> 00:22:44 to love
00:22:44 --> 00:22:45 and be
00:22:45 --> 00:22:46 generous and
00:22:46 --> 00:22:46 gentle,
00:22:46 --> 00:22:47 to love and
00:22:47 --> 00:22:48 honor God.
00:22:48 --> 00:22:50 God offers
00:22:50 --> 00:22:50 a gracious
00:22:50 --> 00:22:51 gift of
00:22:51 --> 00:22:51 a new
00:22:51 --> 00:22:52 heart so
00:22:52 --> 00:22:53 that we
00:22:53 --> 00:22:53 can choose
00:22:53 --> 00:22:55 him, so
00:22:55 --> 00:22:55 we can
00:22:55 --> 00:22:56 obey him.
00:22:57 --> 00:22:58 When I've
00:22:58 --> 00:22:58 gotten really
00:22:58 --> 00:22:59 frustrated at
00:22:59 --> 00:23:00 bad choices,
00:23:00 --> 00:23:01 I'll usually
00:23:01 --> 00:23:02 respond,
00:23:02 --> 00:23:03 James, don't
00:23:03 --> 00:23:03 do that
00:23:03 --> 00:23:05 again, don't
00:23:05 --> 00:23:06 be an
00:23:06 --> 00:23:07 idiot, you're
00:23:07 --> 00:23:08 better than
00:23:08 --> 00:23:08 that, God
00:23:08 --> 00:23:09 loves you,
00:23:09 --> 00:23:10 you need to
00:23:10 --> 00:23:10 be stronger,
00:23:12 --> 00:23:13 you need to
00:23:13 --> 00:23:13 have more
00:23:13 --> 00:23:14 willpower and
00:23:14 --> 00:23:16 that is not
00:23:16 --> 00:23:17 always helpful.
00:23:18 --> 00:23:19 It is far
00:23:19 --> 00:23:19 better to
00:23:19 --> 00:23:21 remember and
00:23:21 --> 00:23:22 pray, God,
00:23:23 --> 00:23:24 change my
00:23:24 --> 00:23:26 heart, change
00:23:26 --> 00:23:27 my desires,
00:23:28 --> 00:23:29 give me new
00:23:29 --> 00:23:30 desires so
00:23:30 --> 00:23:31 that I am not
00:23:31 --> 00:23:32 seeking to
00:23:32 --> 00:23:33 please myself,
00:23:34 --> 00:23:34 but so that I
00:23:34 --> 00:23:35 want to honor
00:23:35 --> 00:23:36 you and love
00:23:36 --> 00:23:36 you.
00:23:37 --> 00:23:38 And so the
00:23:38 --> 00:23:38 first thing that
00:23:38 --> 00:23:39 helps us to
00:23:39 --> 00:23:40 obey God is
00:23:40 --> 00:23:41 that he offers
00:23:41 --> 00:23:42 and gives us
00:23:42 --> 00:23:43 a new heart,
00:23:44 --> 00:23:45 a new heart
00:23:45 --> 00:23:45 with new
00:23:45 --> 00:23:45 desires.
00:23:45 --> 00:23:48 Secondly, God
00:23:48 --> 00:23:49 has made us
00:23:49 --> 00:23:50 creatures of
00:23:50 --> 00:23:50 habit.
00:23:51 --> 00:23:52 You might
00:23:52 --> 00:23:52 even be
00:23:52 --> 00:23:53 sitting in the
00:23:53 --> 00:23:54 same seat
00:23:54 --> 00:23:55 thereabouts that
00:23:55 --> 00:23:55 you usually sit
00:23:55 --> 00:23:56 in, I don't
00:23:56 --> 00:23:57 know, I
00:23:57 --> 00:23:57 wonder if I
00:23:57 --> 00:23:58 could take a
00:23:58 --> 00:23:58 couple of
00:23:58 --> 00:23:59 panographs over
00:23:59 --> 00:23:59 the next couple
00:23:59 --> 00:24:00 of weeks and
00:24:00 --> 00:24:00 check that out
00:24:00 --> 00:24:01 if you like,
00:24:01 --> 00:24:01 but we are
00:24:01 --> 00:24:02 creatures of
00:24:02 --> 00:24:03 habit and
00:24:03 --> 00:24:04 this is one
00:24:04 --> 00:24:04 of the ways
00:24:04 --> 00:24:05 that God
00:24:05 --> 00:24:05 has given
00:24:05 --> 00:24:06 us to get
00:24:06 --> 00:24:07 over decision
00:24:07 --> 00:24:08 fatigue.
00:24:09 --> 00:24:10 If we make
00:24:10 --> 00:24:10 a decision
00:24:10 --> 00:24:12 enough times,
00:24:12 --> 00:24:13 it will become
00:24:13 --> 00:24:14 a habit so we
00:24:14 --> 00:24:15 don't have to
00:24:15 --> 00:24:16 make that
00:24:16 --> 00:24:16 decision.
00:24:17 --> 00:24:17 We'll just
00:24:17 --> 00:24:18 do it without
00:24:18 --> 00:24:19 thinking about
00:24:19 --> 00:24:19 it.
00:24:20 --> 00:24:20 And at the
00:24:20 --> 00:24:21 heart of
00:24:21 --> 00:24:22 habits is the
00:24:22 --> 00:24:23 brilliance of
00:24:23 --> 00:24:24 our Creator
00:24:24 --> 00:24:24 God.
00:24:25 --> 00:24:25 Because making
00:24:25 --> 00:24:26 decisions takes
00:24:26 --> 00:24:27 time and
00:24:27 --> 00:24:29 energy, but
00:24:29 --> 00:24:30 habits keep
00:24:30 --> 00:24:31 us from having
00:24:31 --> 00:24:32 to make that
00:24:32 --> 00:24:33 decision over
00:24:33 --> 00:24:33 and over and
00:24:33 --> 00:24:34 over again.
00:24:36 --> 00:24:37 We are really
00:24:37 --> 00:24:38 good at making
00:24:38 --> 00:24:39 habits because
00:24:39 --> 00:24:39 our brain is
00:24:39 --> 00:24:40 very lazy.
00:24:40 --> 00:24:42 Our brain doesn't
00:24:42 --> 00:24:42 want to use
00:24:42 --> 00:24:43 energy, it wants
00:24:43 --> 00:24:44 to conserve energy.
00:24:44 --> 00:24:45 It wants to
00:24:45 --> 00:24:46 take something
00:24:46 --> 00:24:46 that we do
00:24:46 --> 00:24:47 regularly and
00:24:47 --> 00:24:48 just make it a
00:24:48 --> 00:24:48 habit.
00:24:49 --> 00:24:49 It will turn
00:24:49 --> 00:24:50 almost any
00:24:50 --> 00:24:51 routine into a
00:24:51 --> 00:24:51 habit.
00:24:52 --> 00:24:53 This is why
00:24:53 --> 00:24:54 when I've hurt
00:24:54 --> 00:24:54 my right hand
00:24:54 --> 00:24:55 and have to
00:24:55 --> 00:24:56 brush my teeth
00:24:56 --> 00:24:56 with my left
00:24:56 --> 00:24:57 hand, it just
00:24:57 --> 00:24:58 doesn't know
00:24:58 --> 00:24:58 what to do.
00:24:59 --> 00:25:00 And I have a
00:25:00 --> 00:25:00 certain habit
00:25:00 --> 00:25:01 with my right
00:25:01 --> 00:25:03 So our brain
00:25:03 --> 00:25:03 is really good
00:25:03 --> 00:25:04 at making
00:25:04 --> 00:25:04 habits.
00:25:05 --> 00:25:06 And when we
00:25:06 --> 00:25:06 are trained to
00:25:06 --> 00:25:07 have good
00:25:07 --> 00:25:09 habits, our
00:25:09 --> 00:25:10 brain is then
00:25:10 --> 00:25:12 freed up to
00:25:12 --> 00:25:13 use that energy
00:25:13 --> 00:25:14 to make good
00:25:14 --> 00:25:15 choices to
00:25:15 --> 00:25:16 obey God.
00:25:17 --> 00:25:18 It's not going
00:25:18 --> 00:25:18 to get as
00:25:18 --> 00:25:19 fatigued as
00:25:19 --> 00:25:19 easily.
00:25:20 --> 00:25:21 It's freed up
00:25:21 --> 00:25:22 to use that
00:25:22 --> 00:25:23 energy to
00:25:23 --> 00:25:24 make good
00:25:24 --> 00:25:25 God-honoring
00:25:25 --> 00:25:26 choices.
00:25:27 --> 00:25:28 Imagine if
00:25:28 --> 00:25:30 we put some
00:25:30 --> 00:25:31 hard work and
00:25:31 --> 00:25:31 some energy
00:25:31 --> 00:25:32 into taking
00:25:32 --> 00:25:33 off some bad
00:25:33 --> 00:25:35 habits and
00:25:35 --> 00:25:35 putting on
00:25:35 --> 00:25:36 good ones.
00:25:37 --> 00:25:38 Imagine if we
00:25:38 --> 00:25:39 put on the
00:25:39 --> 00:25:39 habit of getting
00:25:39 --> 00:25:40 up first thing
00:25:40 --> 00:25:41 in the morning
00:25:41 --> 00:25:43 spending time
00:25:43 --> 00:25:44 with God,
00:25:44 --> 00:25:45 hearing from
00:25:45 --> 00:25:46 God's voice
00:25:46 --> 00:25:47 before anybody
00:25:47 --> 00:25:47 else's voice.
00:25:48 --> 00:25:49 Spending time
00:25:49 --> 00:25:49 in prayer.
00:25:50 --> 00:25:51 Imagine if we
00:25:51 --> 00:25:51 put on the
00:25:51 --> 00:25:52 habit of
00:25:52 --> 00:25:53 community group
00:25:53 --> 00:25:54 and gathering
00:25:54 --> 00:25:55 together to
00:25:55 --> 00:25:55 treasure Jesus
00:25:55 --> 00:25:56 and so that's
00:25:56 --> 00:25:57 just an automatic
00:25:57 --> 00:25:58 part of the
00:25:58 --> 00:25:58 week.
00:25:58 --> 00:25:59 Don't even have
00:25:59 --> 00:25:59 to think about
00:25:59 --> 00:25:59 it.
00:26:00 --> 00:26:01 I just go to
00:26:01 --> 00:26:01 church, I go to
00:26:01 --> 00:26:02 community group,
00:26:02 --> 00:26:03 they're just my
00:26:03 --> 00:26:03 habits.
00:26:04 --> 00:26:05 Because it's
00:26:05 --> 00:26:06 dangerous to have
00:26:06 --> 00:26:07 to make these
00:26:07 --> 00:26:08 decisions over and
00:26:08 --> 00:26:09 over again.
00:26:10 --> 00:26:10 Our hearts
00:26:10 --> 00:26:12 easily wander, we
00:26:12 --> 00:26:13 don't want to
00:26:13 --> 00:26:15 obey God and
00:26:15 --> 00:26:15 so if we make
00:26:15 --> 00:26:16 these habits it's
00:26:16 --> 00:26:17 going to protect
00:26:17 --> 00:26:18 us.
00:26:18 --> 00:26:19 I heard about a
00:26:19 --> 00:26:20 Christian recently
00:26:20 --> 00:26:22 who wasn't very
00:26:22 --> 00:26:23 encouraging.
00:26:24 --> 00:26:25 He put in his
00:26:25 --> 00:26:27 calendar to
00:26:27 --> 00:26:28 encourage someone
00:26:28 --> 00:26:29 every three days.
00:26:29 --> 00:26:30 I think if I was
00:26:30 --> 00:26:31 going to do that
00:26:31 --> 00:26:31 it would have to
00:26:31 --> 00:26:32 be every couple
00:26:32 --> 00:26:33 of hours but
00:26:33 --> 00:26:34 that's just me.
00:26:34 --> 00:26:35 But he made a
00:26:35 --> 00:26:36 habit out of it and
00:26:36 --> 00:26:37 so through that
00:26:37 --> 00:26:38 habit he has now
00:26:38 --> 00:26:38 become someone
00:26:38 --> 00:26:40 who habitually
00:26:40 --> 00:26:42 encourages and
00:26:42 --> 00:26:42 builds up other
00:26:42 --> 00:26:43 people with his
00:26:43 --> 00:26:43 words.
00:26:44 --> 00:26:46 That habit helped
00:26:46 --> 00:26:48 him to choose to
00:26:48 --> 00:26:49 become more
00:26:49 --> 00:26:51 Christ-like but it
00:26:51 --> 00:26:52 also took some
00:26:52 --> 00:26:52 effort.
00:26:54 --> 00:26:56 If Jesus truly is
00:26:56 --> 00:26:57 our Lord and
00:26:57 --> 00:26:58 Saviour and our
00:26:58 --> 00:26:59 greatest treasure in
00:26:59 --> 00:27:01 our lives, do our
00:27:01 --> 00:27:03 habits reflect that?
00:27:04 --> 00:27:06 It is worth it to
00:27:06 --> 00:27:07 make the effort and
00:27:07 --> 00:27:09 use our energy to
00:27:09 --> 00:27:10 cultivate a new
00:27:10 --> 00:27:12 habit, maybe even
00:27:12 --> 00:27:14 two new habits, to
00:27:14 --> 00:27:16 pursue God and
00:27:16 --> 00:27:17 being like him, to
00:27:17 --> 00:27:17 make him our
00:27:17 --> 00:27:18 greatest joy.
00:27:19 --> 00:27:20 But I want to give a
00:27:20 --> 00:27:21 brief warning on
00:27:21 --> 00:27:21 habits.
00:27:22 --> 00:27:23 Habits can be very
00:27:23 --> 00:27:24 good but they
00:27:24 --> 00:27:25 don't make us
00:27:25 --> 00:27:26 holy on their own.
00:27:27 --> 00:27:28 Some of us are
00:27:28 --> 00:27:29 incredibly disciplined.
00:27:30 --> 00:27:31 Some of us might be
00:27:31 --> 00:27:31 getting up really
00:27:31 --> 00:27:33 early, memorising
00:27:33 --> 00:27:34 large chunks of the
00:27:34 --> 00:27:34 Bible.
00:27:34 --> 00:27:35 Maybe we get out of
00:27:35 --> 00:27:36 bed and we spend
00:27:36 --> 00:27:38 exactly 16 minutes
00:27:38 --> 00:27:39 reading God's Word and
00:27:39 --> 00:27:40 then four and a half
00:27:40 --> 00:27:42 minutes praying every
00:27:42 --> 00:27:42 day.
00:27:44 --> 00:27:45 And it's easy to think
00:27:45 --> 00:27:47 that being disciplined
00:27:47 --> 00:27:48 and doing that kind of
00:27:48 --> 00:27:50 thing every day brings
00:27:50 --> 00:27:51 us closer to God.
00:27:52 --> 00:27:54 But it's not habits that
00:27:54 --> 00:27:55 bring us closer to God,
00:27:55 --> 00:27:57 it's choosing to obey
00:27:57 --> 00:27:57 him.
00:27:57 --> 00:27:59 And so habits are a
00:27:59 --> 00:28:00 wonderful blessing for
00:28:00 --> 00:28:02 us because they free up
00:28:02 --> 00:28:04 our brains to have the
00:28:04 --> 00:28:05 energy to make good
00:28:05 --> 00:28:05 choices.
00:28:06 --> 00:28:08 So firstly, God gives
00:28:08 --> 00:28:09 us new hearts with new
00:28:09 --> 00:28:10 desires.
00:28:11 --> 00:28:12 And secondly, God has
00:28:12 --> 00:28:14 made us people who can
00:28:14 --> 00:28:15 get over decision
00:28:15 --> 00:28:17 fatigue with good
00:28:17 --> 00:28:18 habits.
00:28:18 --> 00:28:21 And thirdly then, it's
00:28:21 --> 00:28:22 the importance of
00:28:22 --> 00:28:22 training.
00:28:23 --> 00:28:24 In 1 Timothy 4, Paul
00:28:24 --> 00:28:26 tells us that physical
00:28:26 --> 00:28:28 training is of some
00:28:28 --> 00:28:30 value, which is a
00:28:30 --> 00:28:31 little bit of
00:28:31 --> 00:28:32 justification for me
00:28:32 --> 00:28:32 spending some time at
00:28:32 --> 00:28:33 the gym.
00:28:33 --> 00:28:35 But spiritual
00:28:35 --> 00:28:38 training is of
00:28:38 --> 00:28:39 utmost value.
00:28:40 --> 00:28:41 We must train
00:28:41 --> 00:28:42 ourselves to be
00:28:42 --> 00:28:43 godly.
00:28:44 --> 00:28:45 Choosing godliness
00:28:45 --> 00:28:48 takes practice.
00:28:48 --> 00:28:49 We've seen that
00:28:49 --> 00:28:50 decision making is
00:28:50 --> 00:28:51 exhausting like
00:28:51 --> 00:28:52 exercising a muscle,
00:28:52 --> 00:28:54 but what happens when
00:28:54 --> 00:28:55 you exercise a muscle?
00:28:56 --> 00:28:56 Anybody?
00:28:57 --> 00:28:57 What happens when you
00:28:57 --> 00:28:58 exercise a muscle?
00:29:00 --> 00:29:00 Noeline, what was
00:29:00 --> 00:29:00 that?
00:29:00 --> 00:29:02 It builds.
00:29:02 --> 00:29:04 Hopefully, it might
00:29:04 --> 00:29:06 even get bigger and
00:29:06 --> 00:29:07 more defined.
00:29:08 --> 00:29:09 I don't know.
00:29:10 --> 00:29:11 But more importantly,
00:29:11 --> 00:29:13 it becomes more able to
00:29:13 --> 00:29:14 withstand pressure and
00:29:14 --> 00:29:15 weight.
00:29:16 --> 00:29:18 God wants us to train
00:29:18 --> 00:29:20 ourselves to obey him
00:29:20 --> 00:29:23 so that we can
00:29:23 --> 00:29:24 understand more
00:29:24 --> 00:29:26 pressure and more
00:29:26 --> 00:29:27 weight.
00:29:27 --> 00:29:28 God's love for you.
00:29:28 --> 00:29:29 He has saved us
00:29:29 --> 00:29:30 through his son.
00:29:30 --> 00:29:31 He gives us a new
00:29:31 --> 00:29:32 heart with new
00:29:32 --> 00:29:33 desires and we can
00:29:33 --> 00:29:34 now make good
00:29:34 --> 00:29:35 choices.
00:29:35 --> 00:29:36 But this is where the
00:29:36 --> 00:29:37 rubber hits the road.
00:29:37 --> 00:29:38 This is where things get
00:29:38 --> 00:29:39 real.
00:29:40 --> 00:29:41 Because we need to train
00:29:41 --> 00:29:43 ourselves to obey every
00:29:43 --> 00:29:44 single day.
00:29:45 --> 00:29:46 The temptation to sin
00:29:46 --> 00:29:46 comes.
00:29:47 --> 00:29:49 Imagine any of your
00:29:49 --> 00:29:49 sins.
00:29:49 --> 00:29:50 Just take one of them.
00:29:50 --> 00:29:51 That temptation to sin
00:29:51 --> 00:29:53 comes and you're tired.
00:29:53 --> 00:29:55 And you've been praying
00:29:55 --> 00:29:58 to God about this sin
00:29:58 --> 00:30:00 every day for the last
00:30:00 --> 00:30:01 five years.
00:30:01 --> 00:30:04 And you hate this sin.
00:30:04 --> 00:30:05 You want to put it off.
00:30:05 --> 00:30:11 Are you willing to say no
00:30:11 --> 00:30:12 in that moment?
00:30:13 --> 00:30:14 That's what it comes down
00:30:14 --> 00:30:15 to.
00:30:16 --> 00:30:18 Will we put off sin and
00:30:18 --> 00:30:20 put on choosing to
00:30:20 --> 00:30:21 obey God?
00:30:23 --> 00:30:24 Remember that list from
00:30:24 --> 00:30:26 Paul in Ephesians 4.
00:30:26 --> 00:30:28 Every day we are
00:30:28 --> 00:30:29 training ourselves to be
00:30:29 --> 00:30:31 people characterized by
00:30:31 --> 00:30:33 either godliness or
00:30:33 --> 00:30:35 ungodliness by by lies or
00:30:35 --> 00:30:37 by truth by selfishness
00:30:37 --> 00:30:39 or unselfishness by anger
00:30:39 --> 00:30:41 or forgiveness by impurity
00:30:41 --> 00:30:43 or purity pride or
00:30:43 --> 00:30:44 humility.
00:30:45 --> 00:30:47 Every day we are making
00:30:47 --> 00:30:48 us more like one of
00:30:48 --> 00:30:48 these.
00:30:48 --> 00:30:49 We are people.
00:30:51 --> 00:30:53 More used to are we
00:30:53 --> 00:30:54 people more used to
00:30:54 --> 00:30:55 lifting the weight of
00:30:55 --> 00:30:56 truth.
00:30:56 --> 00:30:58 Able to deal with truth
00:30:58 --> 00:31:00 or are we training
00:31:00 --> 00:31:01 ourselves to lie?
00:31:01 --> 00:31:03 Are we training
00:31:03 --> 00:31:05 ourselves to let go of
00:31:05 --> 00:31:08 our pride and to put on
00:31:08 --> 00:31:09 humility or are we
00:31:09 --> 00:31:11 training ourselves to be
00:31:11 --> 00:31:12 angry?
00:31:13 --> 00:31:15 Jess Backich in the
00:31:15 --> 00:31:16 office recently made a
00:31:16 --> 00:31:20 decision that she as part
00:31:20 --> 00:31:21 of a mental health
00:31:21 --> 00:31:22 awareness campaign she
00:31:22 --> 00:31:23 was going to do
00:31:23 --> 00:31:25 something like it's
00:31:25 --> 00:31:27 it's 6 push-ups.
00:31:27 --> 00:31:28 It's a ridiculous amount
00:31:28 --> 00:31:29 of push-ups over a month
00:31:29 --> 00:31:31 and she has to do
00:31:31 --> 00:31:32 something like 150
00:31:32 --> 00:31:33 every day.
00:31:33 --> 00:31:34 She's going to have the
00:31:34 --> 00:31:36 biggest shoulders here
00:31:36 --> 00:31:37 even bigger than Darcy
00:31:37 --> 00:31:39 by the end of the
00:31:39 --> 00:31:39 month.
00:31:40 --> 00:31:42 The reality is though
00:31:42 --> 00:31:43 she it's it's really
00:31:43 --> 00:31:44 easy to make that
00:31:44 --> 00:31:45 decision at the start
00:31:45 --> 00:31:46 of the month.
00:31:46 --> 00:31:48 But every day she's
00:31:48 --> 00:31:49 faced with a choice.
00:31:50 --> 00:31:51 Is she going to get
00:31:51 --> 00:31:52 down and do those
00:31:52 --> 00:31:52 push-ups?
00:31:52 --> 00:31:55 Now you may have
00:31:55 --> 00:31:56 chosen to follow the
00:31:56 --> 00:32:00 Lord and every day we
00:32:00 --> 00:32:01 are faced with a choice.
00:32:02 --> 00:32:03 How am I going to obey
00:32:03 --> 00:32:04 him today?
00:32:05 --> 00:32:07 Don't excuse sin in your
00:32:07 --> 00:32:08 life.
00:32:08 --> 00:32:09 Don't be too happy to
00:32:09 --> 00:32:10 say oh that's sin.
00:32:10 --> 00:32:11 That's just part of who
00:32:11 --> 00:32:11 I am.
00:32:12 --> 00:32:13 I'm a bit impatient.
00:32:14 --> 00:32:15 Particularly in the
00:32:15 --> 00:32:15 morning when I haven't
00:32:15 --> 00:32:16 had my coffee.
00:32:16 --> 00:32:17 I'm a bit fiery.
00:32:17 --> 00:32:18 I've just I've just got a
00:32:18 --> 00:32:19 hot temper.
00:32:19 --> 00:32:22 However bad habits
00:32:22 --> 00:32:24 come from a series of
00:32:24 --> 00:32:24 bad choices.
00:32:25 --> 00:32:27 We are all tempted to
00:32:27 --> 00:32:29 sin in many ways.
00:32:30 --> 00:32:32 And God enables us to
00:32:32 --> 00:32:33 make a choice to obey.
00:32:34 --> 00:32:35 He offers salvation to
00:32:35 --> 00:32:37 all people to give a
00:32:37 --> 00:32:38 new heart so that we
00:32:38 --> 00:32:40 are not stuck making
00:32:40 --> 00:32:41 bad choices but he
00:32:41 --> 00:32:44 offers a new heart with
00:32:44 --> 00:32:45 new desires.
00:32:46 --> 00:32:47 Have you taken God up
00:32:47 --> 00:32:48 on this offer?
00:32:49 --> 00:32:51 Are you frustrated with
00:32:51 --> 00:32:52 where your life is and
00:32:52 --> 00:32:53 where your life is going?
00:32:54 --> 00:32:55 Maybe you fall into bad
00:32:55 --> 00:32:57 habits and can't seem to
00:32:57 --> 00:32:58 make good ones.
00:32:59 --> 00:33:01 God offers a new heart
00:33:01 --> 00:33:02 that is filled with new
00:33:02 --> 00:33:03 desires to love.
00:33:04 --> 00:33:06 Ask him to have godly
00:33:06 --> 00:33:07 desires today.
00:33:08 --> 00:33:09 Brothers and sisters do
00:33:09 --> 00:33:11 you understand who you
00:33:11 --> 00:33:12 are as people?
00:33:13 --> 00:33:15 Do you know what and
00:33:15 --> 00:33:17 when it is hard for you
00:33:17 --> 00:33:17 to obey?
00:33:17 --> 00:33:20 What do you need to
00:33:20 --> 00:33:22 change so that you
00:33:22 --> 00:33:23 can obey God?
00:33:24 --> 00:33:27 It is possible to
00:33:27 --> 00:33:28 make good choices and
00:33:28 --> 00:33:29 it is possible to
00:33:29 --> 00:33:30 obey God.
00:33:30 --> 00:33:32 Because God has given
00:33:32 --> 00:33:32 us a new heart.
00:33:34 --> 00:33:35 He gives us habits to
00:33:35 --> 00:33:37 draw us closer to him
00:33:37 --> 00:33:39 to help us choose to
00:33:39 --> 00:33:39 obey.
00:33:40 --> 00:33:41 But will we choose to?
00:33:41 --> 00:33:44 Will you train yourself
00:33:44 --> 00:33:45 in the love of God
00:33:45 --> 00:33:47 to choose his will
00:33:47 --> 00:33:49 as long as it is today?
00:33:49 --> 00:33:50 Thank you.
00:33:50 --> 00:33:59 Thank you.
00:33:59 --> 00:33:59 Thank you, Jane.