1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:12,000 Thank you for listening to this message from LifeHouse Church. 2 00:00:12,000 --> 00:00:16,920 Well, good morning, LifeHouse. 3 00:00:16,920 --> 00:00:17,920 How are we doing today? 4 00:00:17,920 --> 00:00:18,920 Good. 5 00:00:18,920 --> 00:00:19,920 Awesome. 6 00:00:19,920 --> 00:00:21,200 So, it's so good to see you today. 7 00:00:21,200 --> 00:00:24,040 In case you don't know who I am, I'm Pastor Eric. 8 00:00:24,040 --> 00:00:27,960 I am the campus pastor at LifeHouse Church, East Shore Campus. 9 00:00:27,960 --> 00:00:29,720 And it's going great over there. 10 00:00:29,720 --> 00:00:33,720 We're gathering every Thursday for Bible study, just having a time of connection and interaction 11 00:00:33,720 --> 00:00:35,200 with God's Word. 12 00:00:35,200 --> 00:00:38,280 Some people come and they haven't even heard of God's Word before. 13 00:00:38,280 --> 00:00:41,380 So there's awesome things happening. 14 00:00:41,380 --> 00:00:46,280 We just had our first community event with a Do It Yourself Women's Crafts thing, so 15 00:00:46,280 --> 00:00:49,760 I had no part in it. 16 00:00:49,760 --> 00:00:52,360 I learned a lot throughout that, but it was fun. 17 00:00:52,360 --> 00:00:56,440 We had 13 unchurched adults come and they just had a lot of fun. 18 00:00:56,440 --> 00:01:00,960 They got to experience God's presence, His love, His gentleness, His willingness to engage 19 00:01:00,960 --> 00:01:02,960 with people and just get creative. 20 00:01:02,960 --> 00:01:05,840 It was an awesome time that we got to connect with them. 21 00:01:05,840 --> 00:01:09,020 So there's a lot of stuff coming in the future months. 22 00:01:09,020 --> 00:01:11,760 So be on the lookout on our LifeHouse page. 23 00:01:11,760 --> 00:01:15,360 You'll see the East Shore Campus if you go on the LifeHouse website and there will be 24 00:01:15,360 --> 00:01:18,540 a list there of things that are happening. 25 00:01:18,540 --> 00:01:22,640 And also, I ask for your prayers for divine connections when we're in this journey together, 26 00:01:22,640 --> 00:01:24,680 because it's not easy. 27 00:01:24,680 --> 00:01:26,840 And your prayers make all the difference. 28 00:01:26,840 --> 00:01:32,120 When you pray for these divine connections and the launch team, in the abstractness, 29 00:01:32,120 --> 00:01:34,320 God molds something and it makes a reality for us. 30 00:01:34,320 --> 00:01:36,620 And we get to experience that firsthand. 31 00:01:36,620 --> 00:01:39,480 So we really appreciate all of your prayers. 32 00:01:39,480 --> 00:01:42,760 And we are going to be launching in the fall, October 15th. 33 00:01:42,760 --> 00:01:48,840 So after October 15th, we're going to be meeting regularly, like a regular church service every 34 00:01:48,840 --> 00:01:49,840 Sunday. 35 00:01:49,840 --> 00:01:55,040 So keep us in your prayers just for God to move in that. 36 00:01:55,040 --> 00:01:59,600 So we've been in this series, In God We Trust. 37 00:01:59,600 --> 00:02:06,660 Those four words, I wish every American citizen came out of their mouth, that in God we trust. 38 00:02:06,660 --> 00:02:10,280 Those four words are found in our money, our currency. 39 00:02:10,280 --> 00:02:15,840 And this was actually put into law in the 1950s by President Eisenhower to remind us 40 00:02:15,840 --> 00:02:22,200 that our values, no matter what we face as a nation, we will put our trust in God first. 41 00:02:22,200 --> 00:02:27,520 But over the years, it's drifted further away from In God We Trust. 42 00:02:27,520 --> 00:02:29,760 And it became a huge problem as a result. 43 00:02:29,760 --> 00:02:33,220 We continually kept growing in national debt. 44 00:02:33,220 --> 00:02:37,800 In God We Trust became In Debt We Trust. 45 00:02:37,800 --> 00:02:40,760 Amen. 46 00:02:40,760 --> 00:02:46,960 The U.S. national debt as of now is $31.4 trillion. 47 00:02:46,960 --> 00:02:54,320 Not a million, not a billion, or a cubillion, $31.4 trillion. 48 00:02:54,320 --> 00:02:55,320 That's a lot of money. 49 00:02:55,320 --> 00:02:59,920 I mean, think of all the food you could buy with that. 50 00:02:59,920 --> 00:03:03,960 Buffet Sundays every day for the next 55 billion years. 51 00:03:03,960 --> 00:03:06,320 I don't know. 52 00:03:06,320 --> 00:03:08,040 Think of all the traveling you could do. 53 00:03:08,040 --> 00:03:12,880 Go any place you want for all your future generations. 54 00:03:12,880 --> 00:03:15,000 You have a stacked retirement for your family. 55 00:03:15,000 --> 00:03:21,880 But let's say that this family owes $31.4 trillion. 56 00:03:21,880 --> 00:03:26,880 They would all owe all this money, which would be inherited by their children and their children 57 00:03:26,880 --> 00:03:31,360 and their children's children and their children, so on and so forth. 58 00:03:31,360 --> 00:03:34,480 Generations of owing this money of $31.4 trillion. 59 00:03:34,480 --> 00:03:39,080 Can I give you some numbers? 60 00:03:39,080 --> 00:03:46,240 The average American household has a student loan debt of $58,112. 61 00:03:46,240 --> 00:03:53,320 That student loan average per household, credit card debt, $14,241. 62 00:03:53,320 --> 00:03:58,200 Auto loan, $31,142. 63 00:03:58,200 --> 00:04:05,440 And of course, you have your mortgage, if you want to live a good American life, $202,454. 64 00:04:05,440 --> 00:04:13,480 So you take the average of all that, you get the average of $158,209. 65 00:04:13,480 --> 00:04:17,000 Excuse me, $158,209. 66 00:04:17,000 --> 00:04:19,640 Make sure that's precise. 67 00:04:19,640 --> 00:04:27,640 Per household, every household averages $158,000 in debt. 68 00:04:27,640 --> 00:04:32,160 That's not something to celebrate as a nation or household. 69 00:04:32,160 --> 00:04:36,460 It's not like every quarter of the year, we get a team of guys together and just to report 70 00:04:36,460 --> 00:04:39,480 out every quarter how much more debt we added to our reservoir. 71 00:04:39,480 --> 00:04:43,440 I mean, can you imagine if that played out? 72 00:04:43,440 --> 00:04:45,160 All right, guys, how'd we do this quarter? 73 00:04:45,160 --> 00:04:48,960 Oh, well, we got an extra $20,000 in debt this quarter. 74 00:04:48,960 --> 00:04:49,960 Woohoo! 75 00:04:49,960 --> 00:04:50,960 Good job, team. 76 00:04:50,960 --> 00:04:54,620 We did it. 77 00:04:54,620 --> 00:04:59,360 If they're saying, they wouldn't say something like that, it's like, what happened? 78 00:04:59,360 --> 00:05:01,760 Why the huge loss in our company? 79 00:05:01,760 --> 00:05:08,240 Because now they have to make up a lot of ground to get back on track. 80 00:05:08,240 --> 00:05:12,440 But we live in a country that wants more and more. 81 00:05:12,440 --> 00:05:17,920 You never have enough time, you never have enough resources like food or transportation, 82 00:05:17,920 --> 00:05:24,240 never enough house, never enough entertainment or social media. 83 00:05:24,240 --> 00:05:31,160 We want so much more all the time that we don't even celebrate what we do have. 84 00:05:31,160 --> 00:05:32,320 It's never enough. 85 00:05:32,320 --> 00:05:37,800 And how does it feel to perceive that you never have enough? 86 00:05:37,800 --> 00:05:40,480 You're always striving for the next best thing. 87 00:05:40,480 --> 00:05:44,840 And we're all familiar with this feeling, the feeling of falling behind. 88 00:05:44,840 --> 00:05:50,000 You can never quite catch up to where you want to be in life or what you want in life. 89 00:05:50,000 --> 00:05:53,680 You're pulled in one direction when you want to go the other way. 90 00:05:53,680 --> 00:05:59,120 Slavery is pulling the strings in our lives, controlling our way of life. 91 00:05:59,120 --> 00:06:03,280 It's a little known fact, perhaps, that slavery very much exists today. 92 00:06:03,280 --> 00:06:09,920 I looked it up, and as of today, 50 million people are owned by somebody else. 93 00:06:09,920 --> 00:06:12,720 50 million people. 94 00:06:12,720 --> 00:06:18,280 Someone else controls their time, their resources, their hopes and their dreams. 95 00:06:18,280 --> 00:06:22,040 50 million. 96 00:06:22,040 --> 00:06:23,880 And that's how slavery is. 97 00:06:23,880 --> 00:06:26,520 It's not too different, spiritually speaking. 98 00:06:26,520 --> 00:06:31,880 We can be slaves to all sorts of things, and money is just one of them. 99 00:06:31,880 --> 00:06:36,420 Our main passage today is going to be Romans 6, starting in verse 12. 100 00:06:36,420 --> 00:06:42,960 In this passage, the audience is Roman believers who were under the dominion of Rome, under 101 00:06:42,960 --> 00:06:44,240 Caesar. 102 00:06:44,240 --> 00:06:46,000 Everything was all about Caesar. 103 00:06:46,000 --> 00:06:50,080 They were slaves to Caesar. 104 00:06:50,080 --> 00:06:57,200 So these believers in Rome had to understand grace in this new birth that they have. 105 00:06:57,200 --> 00:06:58,520 So let's pray over the Word before we dig in. 106 00:06:58,520 --> 00:07:03,040 Father, we just thank you so much that your Word is pure, that your Word is everlasting, 107 00:07:03,040 --> 00:07:04,040 God. 108 00:07:04,040 --> 00:07:05,040 It has the power to save. 109 00:07:05,040 --> 00:07:06,800 It has the power to redeem, God. 110 00:07:06,800 --> 00:07:13,400 I just pray that your Word would be spoken loud and clear, God, into every heart, that 111 00:07:13,400 --> 00:07:18,240 you would speak into their hearts, God, and unveil your glory, unveil your truth in their 112 00:07:18,240 --> 00:07:22,080 hearts, that they may be forever changed, in Jesus' name. 113 00:07:22,080 --> 00:07:23,640 Amen. 114 00:07:23,640 --> 00:07:26,320 So starting in Romans chapter 6, verse 12, it says this. 115 00:07:26,320 --> 00:07:29,080 Do not let sin control the way you live. 116 00:07:29,080 --> 00:07:31,400 Do not give in to sinful desires. 117 00:07:31,400 --> 00:07:36,560 Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. 118 00:07:36,560 --> 00:07:42,020 Give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. 119 00:07:42,020 --> 00:07:48,160 So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God. 120 00:07:48,160 --> 00:07:52,280 Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. 121 00:07:52,280 --> 00:07:54,680 Instead you live under the freedom of God's grace. 122 00:07:54,680 --> 00:07:58,600 Well then, since God's grace has set us free from the law, does that mean we can go on 123 00:07:58,600 --> 00:07:59,600 sinning? 124 00:07:59,600 --> 00:08:01,080 Of course not. 125 00:08:01,080 --> 00:08:05,080 Don't you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey. 126 00:08:05,080 --> 00:08:09,400 You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which 127 00:08:09,400 --> 00:08:11,760 leads to righteous living. 128 00:08:11,760 --> 00:08:16,720 Thank God, once you were slaves of sin, but now you wholeheartedly obey this teaching we 129 00:08:16,720 --> 00:08:21,280 have given you, now you are free from your slavery to sin, and you have become slaves 130 00:08:21,280 --> 00:08:26,640 to righteous living. 131 00:08:26,640 --> 00:08:31,440 Biggest thing we can take away from that, from that passage, is what you give yourself 132 00:08:31,440 --> 00:08:35,020 to, you become, it becomes your master. 133 00:08:35,020 --> 00:08:39,080 What you give yourself to, it becomes your master. 134 00:08:39,080 --> 00:08:41,900 What are we saying when we give ourselves to debt? 135 00:08:41,900 --> 00:08:45,480 We are saying that the cost of this particular thing is worth it, even if you do not have 136 00:08:45,480 --> 00:08:48,200 the money at that time. 137 00:08:48,200 --> 00:08:52,600 So you can ask somebody for money, and they lend it to you, you can buy what you have 138 00:08:52,600 --> 00:08:54,240 your eyes set on as a result. 139 00:08:54,240 --> 00:08:59,840 Only thing is, now you have to pay the person who gave you money, typically with interest. 140 00:08:59,840 --> 00:09:03,160 So now instead of saving up money to purchase it from your account, you spend all your time 141 00:09:03,160 --> 00:09:04,880 paying someone else back. 142 00:09:04,880 --> 00:09:11,340 Now you are no longer free financially, you are legally obligated to pay it back. 143 00:09:11,340 --> 00:09:17,040 When Adam and Eve were in the Garden of Eden, God told Adam specifically that you may freely 144 00:09:17,040 --> 00:09:21,960 eat the fruit of every tree in the Garden, except the tree of knowledge of good and evil. 145 00:09:21,960 --> 00:09:25,240 If you eat its fruit, you will surely die. 146 00:09:25,240 --> 00:09:29,040 Was God being mean when he told him that he could not do that? 147 00:09:29,040 --> 00:09:32,920 No, it could be perceived that way, but it was not mean. 148 00:09:32,920 --> 00:09:39,920 He was looking out for him, because he knew that if he chose that tree, it meant death. 149 00:09:39,920 --> 00:09:41,640 And what happened next? 150 00:09:41,640 --> 00:09:43,200 The serpent came into the picture. 151 00:09:43,200 --> 00:09:50,920 The serpent came and asked Eve, did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of 152 00:09:50,920 --> 00:09:53,320 the trees in the Garden? 153 00:09:53,320 --> 00:09:59,120 Now I am no botanist or anything, but I looked it up, 2,000 fruit trees in the world. 154 00:09:59,120 --> 00:10:04,320 Now the Garden of Eden is like 100% God's presence, so I think anything can live in 155 00:10:04,320 --> 00:10:05,320 that environment. 156 00:10:05,320 --> 00:10:08,280 I could say 2,000 trees were in that environment. 157 00:10:08,280 --> 00:10:12,520 So you think about that, 2,000 trees to pick from, any of those trees you can eat from, 158 00:10:12,520 --> 00:10:18,640 but not this one. 159 00:10:18,640 --> 00:10:21,760 That's a lot of trees to pick from. 160 00:10:21,760 --> 00:10:30,720 And the enemy got Eve to focus on the one tree that they were not supposed to eat from. 161 00:10:30,720 --> 00:10:34,900 Here's what the scripture says, the woman was convinced, the serpent had convinced her, 162 00:10:34,900 --> 00:10:38,640 she saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the 163 00:10:38,640 --> 00:10:40,060 wisdom it would give her. 164 00:10:40,060 --> 00:10:42,320 So she took some of the fruit and ate it. 165 00:10:42,320 --> 00:10:46,560 Then she gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate it too. 166 00:10:46,560 --> 00:10:52,360 At that moment their eyes were opened and they suddenly felt shame. 167 00:10:52,360 --> 00:10:53,360 So what happened? 168 00:10:53,360 --> 00:10:57,640 Adam and Eve knew God's freedom very well in that Garden. 169 00:10:57,640 --> 00:11:02,040 They could have eaten from any other tree there, but once Eve got focused on the tree, 170 00:11:02,040 --> 00:11:03,820 she was sold on it. 171 00:11:03,820 --> 00:11:07,600 She saw that the tree was beautiful and it looked delicious, and wanted the wisdom that 172 00:11:07,600 --> 00:11:09,240 it would give her. 173 00:11:09,240 --> 00:11:12,400 She was sold and gave herself away to sin. 174 00:11:12,400 --> 00:11:16,600 She exchanged the freedom she had in God's presence in order to gain something that wasn't 175 00:11:16,600 --> 00:11:18,720 allowed in his presence. 176 00:11:18,720 --> 00:11:21,160 And that was sin. 177 00:11:21,160 --> 00:11:25,200 Adam and Eve were in deep, deep debt, a debt that thousands of generations cannot pay back 178 00:11:25,200 --> 00:11:26,860 in full. 179 00:11:26,860 --> 00:11:30,480 God no longer owned them, they were owned by Satan. 180 00:11:30,480 --> 00:11:34,000 Wherever paying back a debt, they cannot pay back in themselves. 181 00:11:34,000 --> 00:11:37,680 The hopes of being free were slim. 182 00:11:37,680 --> 00:11:43,560 Whenever we give ourselves to someone or something, we are under their requirements until what 183 00:11:43,560 --> 00:11:47,640 was required has truly been fulfilled or paid back. 184 00:11:47,640 --> 00:11:51,840 So it's important to ask ourselves, are we being careful to who we give ourselves to, 185 00:11:51,840 --> 00:11:54,000 or what we give ourselves to? 186 00:11:54,000 --> 00:11:58,720 When God has a command in scripture or an instruction, that is his freedom, that's not 187 00:11:58,720 --> 00:12:02,320 him adding more weight to your life. 188 00:12:02,320 --> 00:12:04,820 His yoke is easy and his burden light. 189 00:12:04,820 --> 00:12:11,960 So why do we think sometimes that what he says in scripture is burdensome or too much? 190 00:12:11,960 --> 00:12:15,240 If you're following God's commands and it feels heavy and hard to do, you must learn 191 00:12:15,240 --> 00:12:17,600 to give yourself to him first. 192 00:12:17,600 --> 00:12:21,440 Because if you are going to be in debt, be indebted to Christ. 193 00:12:21,440 --> 00:12:24,400 Because he already paid for you. 194 00:12:24,400 --> 00:12:27,680 When we give ourselves to him, we are not paying him back. 195 00:12:27,680 --> 00:12:29,000 We're living a life of gratitude. 196 00:12:29,000 --> 00:12:33,920 I'll say it again, when we give ourselves to him, we are not paying off the debt. 197 00:12:33,920 --> 00:12:37,280 He already did, so we're living a life of gratitude. 198 00:12:37,280 --> 00:12:40,240 And maybe that's what's missing for you right now. 199 00:12:40,240 --> 00:12:43,360 Is it possible you've given yourself to something and it's hindering your ability to follow 200 00:12:43,360 --> 00:12:45,360 God well? 201 00:12:45,360 --> 00:12:49,360 And God's desire, of course, is for you to be set free from that. 202 00:12:49,360 --> 00:12:53,680 But what happens once we know the truth? 203 00:12:53,680 --> 00:12:56,240 Satan comes in to divert your attention from it. 204 00:12:56,240 --> 00:12:59,600 Remember, Adam and Eve knew the truth in that garden. 205 00:12:59,600 --> 00:13:01,400 God made it clear. 206 00:13:01,400 --> 00:13:07,240 But the voice of the enemy got them focused on the one tree that was off limits. 207 00:13:07,240 --> 00:13:09,460 It wasn't good for them. 208 00:13:09,460 --> 00:13:14,020 So what we have to realize is that debt has a voice. 209 00:13:14,020 --> 00:13:16,720 Debt has a voice. 210 00:13:16,720 --> 00:13:20,280 What you give yourself to becomes your master. 211 00:13:20,280 --> 00:13:23,760 So if you give yourself to something, it must have said something in order for you to be 212 00:13:23,760 --> 00:13:27,120 convinced to give in to it. 213 00:13:27,120 --> 00:13:31,320 Whether you realize it or not, there are voices in your life that you're probably a little 214 00:13:31,320 --> 00:13:32,920 too familiar with. 215 00:13:32,920 --> 00:13:38,720 And no, I'm not talking about your mom's voice or your kid's voice or the radio. 216 00:13:38,720 --> 00:13:39,720 Not those voices. 217 00:13:39,720 --> 00:13:43,440 I'm talking about the things we sometimes think are simply normal. 218 00:13:43,440 --> 00:13:46,480 But do we ever question the origin of these voices? 219 00:13:46,480 --> 00:13:50,680 Does someone knock on your door and you just say, come on in? 220 00:13:50,680 --> 00:13:54,320 Without asking who is it or who's there? 221 00:13:54,320 --> 00:14:00,640 Normally you can tell by their voice whether they are welcome or not. 222 00:14:00,640 --> 00:14:09,560 At that point, you say either come in or please leave my property. 223 00:14:09,560 --> 00:14:13,960 When the unknown stranger is speaking at your door and you are just used to inviting them 224 00:14:13,960 --> 00:14:19,560 in time after time, it's no good. 225 00:14:19,560 --> 00:14:23,480 Jesus said when he has brought out all of his sheep, he walks ahead of them and they 226 00:14:23,480 --> 00:14:28,560 will follow him for they are familiar with his voice, but they will run away from strangers 227 00:14:28,560 --> 00:14:34,040 and never follow them because they know it's the voice of a stranger. 228 00:14:34,040 --> 00:14:35,720 Take Eve for example. 229 00:14:35,720 --> 00:14:36,720 She was healthy. 230 00:14:36,720 --> 00:14:39,640 She had a clear mind of God's voice and his freedom. 231 00:14:39,640 --> 00:14:41,160 She personally knew him. 232 00:14:41,160 --> 00:14:42,560 She was familiar with him. 233 00:14:42,560 --> 00:14:47,640 But Satan came one day and quite possibly many times before that even. 234 00:14:47,640 --> 00:14:53,880 Eve had treated the serpent like he was something to be trusted, but he was not for her. 235 00:14:53,880 --> 00:14:55,960 He was against her. 236 00:14:55,960 --> 00:15:01,440 He had asked, did God really say you can't eat from any of the trees in the garden? 237 00:15:01,440 --> 00:15:02,800 She tested him though. 238 00:15:02,800 --> 00:15:05,760 She had a good Christian woman response. 239 00:15:05,760 --> 00:15:07,680 She was like, oh, that's not true. 240 00:15:07,680 --> 00:15:09,600 He actually said this. 241 00:15:09,600 --> 00:15:14,300 She took that thought captive and threw it right back at him. 242 00:15:14,300 --> 00:15:20,320 This was her moment to shine and let God's word take residence in that place. 243 00:15:20,320 --> 00:15:23,440 And that's in Genesis 3 verse 3. 244 00:15:23,440 --> 00:15:26,040 Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden. 245 00:15:26,040 --> 00:15:31,320 It's only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we're not allowed to eat. 246 00:15:31,320 --> 00:15:33,440 God said you must not eat it or not even touch it. 247 00:15:33,440 --> 00:15:37,880 You're going to die or something. 248 00:15:37,880 --> 00:15:38,880 Serpents like you won't die. 249 00:15:38,880 --> 00:15:40,880 That's a little extreme don't you think? 250 00:15:40,880 --> 00:15:42,860 You eat the fruit from a tree, you're going to die. 251 00:15:42,860 --> 00:15:45,600 Come on now Eve. 252 00:15:45,600 --> 00:15:49,160 God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it. 253 00:15:49,160 --> 00:15:53,520 And you'll be like God knowing both good and evil. 254 00:15:53,520 --> 00:15:54,520 Now she was speechless. 255 00:15:54,520 --> 00:15:59,600 She didn't have a response like she did before. 256 00:15:59,600 --> 00:16:02,040 I wonder what she was thinking in that moment. 257 00:16:02,040 --> 00:16:04,960 Wait, God never mentioned that before. 258 00:16:04,960 --> 00:16:08,840 So are you saying I can know both good and evil? 259 00:16:08,840 --> 00:16:10,940 Like more than God? 260 00:16:10,940 --> 00:16:13,840 That's interesting. 261 00:16:13,840 --> 00:16:16,760 This is when she let that voice in. 262 00:16:16,760 --> 00:16:17,920 That voice of a stranger. 263 00:16:17,920 --> 00:16:19,900 She didn't hold on to the truth. 264 00:16:19,900 --> 00:16:24,560 She was convinced there was something more for her outside of God. 265 00:16:24,560 --> 00:16:28,240 And when she took that fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, Satan became 266 00:16:28,240 --> 00:16:30,040 her master. 267 00:16:30,040 --> 00:16:31,620 Why? 268 00:16:31,620 --> 00:16:35,240 Because what you give yourself to, it becomes your master. 269 00:16:35,240 --> 00:16:38,980 Everyone say debt has a voice. 270 00:16:38,980 --> 00:16:41,380 This happens to us all the time. 271 00:16:41,380 --> 00:16:42,380 Thoughts flood our minds. 272 00:16:42,380 --> 00:16:47,240 Satan sees an opportunity to convince you just like he did with Eve. 273 00:16:47,240 --> 00:16:50,920 And when you give up what God has said and open the door to the stranger's voice, he 274 00:16:50,920 --> 00:16:52,640 will own you. 275 00:16:52,640 --> 00:16:53,640 Think about it. 276 00:16:53,640 --> 00:16:56,360 Fear controls you because you give way for it. 277 00:16:56,360 --> 00:16:58,920 Anxiety can control you and call the shots in your life. 278 00:16:58,920 --> 00:17:00,580 Anger can control you. 279 00:17:00,580 --> 00:17:05,680 You listen to the voices of these things and treat them like they are trustworthy masters. 280 00:17:05,680 --> 00:17:06,960 But can I tell you something? 281 00:17:06,960 --> 00:17:10,480 You are actually in debt with them. 282 00:17:10,480 --> 00:17:11,720 They don't care about you. 283 00:17:11,720 --> 00:17:14,560 They just want you to work for them. 284 00:17:14,560 --> 00:17:18,040 You are convinced they make good masters. 285 00:17:18,040 --> 00:17:20,840 Debt has a voice. 286 00:17:20,840 --> 00:17:23,520 They promise you security by being fearful. 287 00:17:23,520 --> 00:17:27,340 They are promising you intellect by doubting everything. 288 00:17:27,340 --> 00:17:30,820 They are promising you safety in lack by hoarding everything. 289 00:17:30,820 --> 00:17:34,160 You are never going to pay them back in full. 290 00:17:34,160 --> 00:17:38,320 Without the voice of God, we are just prisoners to other things that would love to be our 291 00:17:38,320 --> 00:17:39,640 masters. 292 00:17:39,640 --> 00:17:45,840 When Cain was angry at his brother Abel, he had given way to these voices because he had 293 00:17:45,840 --> 00:17:51,480 justified that it wasn't fair that God would accept Abel's offering and not Cain's offering. 294 00:17:51,480 --> 00:17:54,800 But God said to Cain, if you do what is right, will you not be accepted? 295 00:17:54,800 --> 00:17:59,200 But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at the door. 296 00:17:59,200 --> 00:18:04,600 It desires to have you, but you must rule over it. 297 00:18:04,600 --> 00:18:05,800 What's been controlling you? 298 00:18:05,800 --> 00:18:10,160 Have you identified the thing calling the shots in your life? 299 00:18:10,160 --> 00:18:12,560 It may not feel like captivity. 300 00:18:12,560 --> 00:18:16,920 It may even feel like it's the right thing, just like Cain thought. 301 00:18:16,920 --> 00:18:21,960 But he was wrong, and God told him exactly what he needed to do to rule over it. 302 00:18:21,960 --> 00:18:29,020 Have we become more familiar with the enemy's voice rather than God's voice? 303 00:18:29,020 --> 00:18:34,440 If you listen to an enemy more than God, doesn't that make you friends with the enemy? 304 00:18:34,440 --> 00:18:39,440 I want to encourage you to really identify who's calling the shots, who or what you're 305 00:18:39,440 --> 00:18:44,380 in debt with spiritually, whether that be fear or impatience or whatever. 306 00:18:44,380 --> 00:18:47,400 You cannot pay yourself out of it in your own ability. 307 00:18:47,400 --> 00:18:49,400 You need new ownership. 308 00:18:49,400 --> 00:18:55,520 Thankfully, Jesus brought us back from these things that put us into debt. 309 00:18:55,520 --> 00:19:00,880 He paid your debt off in full for your lifetime. 310 00:19:00,880 --> 00:19:06,160 And you may be asking at this point, Pastor Eric, are you saying that debt is sin? 311 00:19:06,160 --> 00:19:09,280 No, I'm not saying that. 312 00:19:09,280 --> 00:19:14,400 In terms of finances, not necessarily, because debt is not always bad in itself. 313 00:19:14,400 --> 00:19:18,520 But debt that wasn't planned out or thought through is not a good thing. 314 00:19:18,520 --> 00:19:20,300 Anything can happen. 315 00:19:20,300 --> 00:19:25,040 If you know the cost and what it will take, I think a lot of good can come out of it. 316 00:19:25,040 --> 00:19:28,360 Jesus said, don't begin until you count the cost. 317 00:19:28,360 --> 00:19:32,220 For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see 318 00:19:32,220 --> 00:19:34,320 if there is enough money to finish it? 319 00:19:34,320 --> 00:19:38,700 Otherwise, you might complete only the foundation before running out of money. 320 00:19:38,700 --> 00:19:40,840 And then everyone would laugh at you. 321 00:19:40,840 --> 00:19:43,320 They would say, that's the person who started the building and couldn't afford to finish 322 00:19:43,320 --> 00:19:45,180 it. 323 00:19:45,180 --> 00:19:49,680 For the person in this example, maybe he was purely going out of pocket and he realized 324 00:19:49,680 --> 00:19:52,760 he just didn't have enough money to do what he needed to do. 325 00:19:52,760 --> 00:19:57,480 But on the other hand, let's say this guy took out a big loan to complete the project. 326 00:19:57,480 --> 00:20:03,280 And it's not shameful to finish what you started, but he underestimated how much it would cost 327 00:20:03,280 --> 00:20:04,600 the first time. 328 00:20:04,600 --> 00:20:08,240 Now, the second, hopefully he's learned that he needs to count the cost, what he actually 329 00:20:08,240 --> 00:20:09,920 needs to finish it. 330 00:20:09,920 --> 00:20:14,400 He has learned that he has to count the cost before making any major decision. 331 00:20:14,400 --> 00:20:16,520 And successful business people will do that. 332 00:20:16,520 --> 00:20:20,640 They don't just take out a loan on a whim or just because someone said so. 333 00:20:20,640 --> 00:20:24,680 They put together an intricate business plan of how much they're going to need, how much 334 00:20:24,680 --> 00:20:28,080 it's going to cost, whose help are they going to need, how are they going to make it all 335 00:20:28,080 --> 00:20:31,560 happen, how much time does this require, and much more. 336 00:20:31,560 --> 00:20:33,480 So not all of that is bad. 337 00:20:33,480 --> 00:20:38,800 Scripture says whether we eat or drink, we do it all for the glory of God. 338 00:20:38,800 --> 00:20:43,400 Ask yourself the question, is this for the purpose of glorifying God or is it just so 339 00:20:43,400 --> 00:20:46,720 I can have some temporary relief in my life? 340 00:20:46,720 --> 00:20:48,960 Is this for God or is this for me? 341 00:20:48,960 --> 00:20:54,760 And if you live in God's presence where his wisdom and counsel is prevalent, that is not 342 00:20:54,760 --> 00:20:59,320 your master because you are living under the rulership of Jesus Christ. 343 00:20:59,320 --> 00:21:02,860 He will give you what you need to overcome it. 344 00:21:02,860 --> 00:21:08,000 Remember in our main verse, sin is no longer your master for you no longer live under the 345 00:21:08,000 --> 00:21:09,480 requirements of the law. 346 00:21:09,480 --> 00:21:12,600 Instead you live under the freedom of God's grace. 347 00:21:12,600 --> 00:21:13,880 Amen? 348 00:21:13,880 --> 00:21:17,160 When I live in God's grace, I can overcome anything. 349 00:21:17,160 --> 00:21:18,160 Why? 350 00:21:18,160 --> 00:21:19,320 Because Jesus is the way. 351 00:21:19,320 --> 00:21:23,040 I can be a slave to debt or I can be a slave to Christ. 352 00:21:23,040 --> 00:21:24,480 They lead in opposite directions. 353 00:21:24,480 --> 00:21:28,760 One leads to destruction, one leads to life. 354 00:21:28,760 --> 00:21:32,360 If God is leading you, it means he is leading you somewhere good. 355 00:21:32,360 --> 00:21:33,360 That's his will for you. 356 00:21:33,360 --> 00:21:38,520 No matter if it be financial or spiritual, his plan is real and he paid a high price 357 00:21:38,520 --> 00:21:41,320 for it to become a reality for you. 358 00:21:41,320 --> 00:21:47,160 Jesus counted the cost and knew he was going to even die on the cross for us. 359 00:21:47,160 --> 00:21:49,600 He knew what it was going to take. 360 00:21:49,600 --> 00:21:54,200 He took upon himself our debt, our sin, so it wouldn't be our master anymore. 361 00:21:54,200 --> 00:22:01,280 When I give myself to him, my heart, my fears, my doubts, my finances, he will flip it upside 362 00:22:01,280 --> 00:22:02,280 down. 363 00:22:02,280 --> 00:22:06,280 He will turn what the enemy meant for evil and turn it for good. 364 00:22:06,280 --> 00:22:09,980 But that is when I submit myself to him. 365 00:22:09,980 --> 00:22:15,920 When I give my being to him, Jesus will reign and influence me for his glory. 366 00:22:15,920 --> 00:22:23,200 What does that look like for you? 367 00:22:23,200 --> 00:22:27,160 Have you given up on freedom in this life? 368 00:22:27,160 --> 00:22:31,380 Captive to something and just thinking it is hopeless? 369 00:22:31,380 --> 00:22:36,240 One step in Christ's direction is better than taking one step back from him. 370 00:22:36,240 --> 00:22:42,060 When you go his direction, you are more free than you were before. 371 00:22:42,060 --> 00:22:47,040 Are you trying to pay off a debt that Christ already paid for? 372 00:22:47,040 --> 00:22:52,920 Let his saving grace be the voice that breaks the chains of dominion over your life. 373 00:22:52,920 --> 00:22:55,040 He wants you to be free. 374 00:22:55,040 --> 00:23:05,960 Would you please stand? 375 00:23:05,960 --> 00:23:10,680 Is it clear now that whatever you give yourself to becomes your master? 376 00:23:10,680 --> 00:23:14,360 You give them a part of your life to them and they call the shots. 377 00:23:14,360 --> 00:23:19,120 The master has his own way, an invoice to keep you enslaved. 378 00:23:19,120 --> 00:23:23,400 But there is a better voice, a pure voice, gentle and true. 379 00:23:23,400 --> 00:23:27,880 He is Jesus Christ, the one true Lord and God. 380 00:23:27,880 --> 00:23:32,800 He was designed to be your savior, the one who paid off all of your debt. 381 00:23:32,800 --> 00:23:37,520 He gave himself for you so you could give yourself to him. 382 00:23:37,520 --> 00:23:40,640 Who doesn't want Jesus as their good shepherd? 383 00:23:40,640 --> 00:23:44,360 Where he leads, he always leads into freedom and redemption. 384 00:23:44,360 --> 00:23:46,760 So if you are in financial debt, don't worry. 385 00:23:46,760 --> 00:23:47,760 Trust in God. 386 00:23:47,760 --> 00:23:52,920 Remember, it is in God we trust, not in debt we trust. 387 00:23:52,920 --> 00:23:57,840 Really listen to the Spirit and let him identify those slave masters in your life. 388 00:23:57,840 --> 00:24:01,360 And you say with the authority of God, you don't own me. 389 00:24:01,360 --> 00:24:03,960 Jesus Christ does. 390 00:24:03,960 --> 00:24:05,760 I am done listening to you. 391 00:24:05,760 --> 00:24:07,320 I am listening to him. 392 00:24:07,320 --> 00:24:09,600 I am listening to Jesus. 393 00:24:09,600 --> 00:24:15,440 And he will always, always lead you into his presence, into his goodness. 394 00:24:15,440 --> 00:24:18,620 Even if you are in financial debt, ask him. 395 00:24:18,620 --> 00:24:19,620 Make a plan together. 396 00:24:19,620 --> 00:24:23,940 He has a lot of wisdom to offer. 397 00:24:23,940 --> 00:24:26,120 Make that plan together and stick to it. 398 00:24:26,120 --> 00:24:30,140 So we are going to close with a song. 399 00:24:30,140 --> 00:24:31,760 And really declare this over your life. 400 00:24:31,760 --> 00:24:35,040 Let it be true in your heart and speak it. 401 00:24:35,040 --> 00:24:38,760 Believe that Jesus truly does set you free from debts. 402 00:24:38,760 --> 00:24:41,440 And wants you to go into even deeper freedom with him. 403 00:24:41,440 --> 00:24:44,480 That there is nothing you can do by yourself. 404 00:24:44,480 --> 00:24:47,720 Let's admit it. 405 00:24:47,720 --> 00:24:49,520 Doing life alone, it is burdensome. 406 00:24:49,520 --> 00:24:50,520 It is weighty. 407 00:24:50,520 --> 00:24:51,520 It is hard. 408 00:24:51,520 --> 00:24:52,520 You need others. 409 00:24:52,520 --> 00:24:57,520 You need Jesus, his fellowship, to really live in freedom. 410 00:24:57,520 --> 00:25:06,320 Let him speak to you today. 411 00:25:06,320 --> 00:25:09,960 Thank you for tuning in to this message from LifeHouse Church. 412 00:25:09,960 --> 00:25:14,480 We pray that you were impacted powerfully by this message. 413 00:25:14,480 --> 00:25:18,560 If you have been personally affected by our ministry and you would like to partner with 414 00:25:18,560 --> 00:25:37,360 us as we love God, love people, every day, visit our website at www.LifeHouseCOG.com.