1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:08,000 Welcome to Healing Scars with Pastor Burton. Here you'll find practical, relevant, biblical information. 2 00:00:08,000 --> 00:00:19,000 The Bible will be broken down verse by verse so that you get the full context of the scripture to better grow in your relationship with Jesus. 3 00:00:19,000 --> 00:00:24,000 Good morning to everybody here. Thank you for joining us here in the sanctuary. 4 00:00:24,000 --> 00:00:31,000 And of course, you know, welcome to everybody joining us online and to everybody who listens on the podcast. 5 00:00:31,000 --> 00:00:34,000 We appreciate you as well. 6 00:00:34,000 --> 00:00:40,000 You know, it's, you know, it's we're just a couple of days away from New Year's. 7 00:00:40,000 --> 00:00:49,000 This is that time of year, you know, no doubt people even here in the room are going to be ringing it in, ringing it in, staying up late. 8 00:00:49,000 --> 00:00:57,000 I can tell you, I'm typically not one of those people. My wife will tell you I'm typically in bed with earplugs in. 9 00:00:57,000 --> 00:01:01,000 And trying to sleep. 10 00:01:01,000 --> 00:01:05,000 You know, all the loud pops and all that. Well, I ain't got time for that. I need my beauty sleep. 11 00:01:05,000 --> 00:01:10,000 I'm not as beautiful as my wife, so I, boy, I need it. I'll tell you what. 12 00:01:10,000 --> 00:01:14,000 But, you know, everybody has a lot of stuff going on. 13 00:01:14,000 --> 00:01:21,000 A lot of people, they look at at New Year's as being a fresh start, a chance to start anew. 14 00:01:21,000 --> 00:01:35,000 You know, it's one of those things where it's almost as if rolling that calendar over from December 31st to January 1st at the stroke of midnight just kind of magically makes all the all the bad that's just disappear. 15 00:01:35,000 --> 00:01:38,000 You know, starting anew. 16 00:01:38,000 --> 00:01:44,000 You know, and it's also that time of year, a lot of people are making resolutions, right? 17 00:01:44,000 --> 00:01:59,000 Resolutions, looking to start new routines, new processes, revamp how they're living, you know, or how they're going about certain things, whether it's in their personal life, their work life, or all the above, you know, all that kind of stuff. 18 00:01:59,000 --> 00:02:12,000 You know, this is that time of year where we're already seeing the ads, you know, the media and fitness companies are going nuts with their sales and their advertising saying, hey, you know, it's time for a healthier, sexier you and all that good stuff, you know. 19 00:02:12,000 --> 00:02:20,000 Matter of fact, gyms are already starting to get packed with people, you know, because everybody's, you know, I got to lose a few pounds and all that. 20 00:02:20,000 --> 00:02:22,000 That's always, you know, one of the big focuses. 21 00:02:22,000 --> 00:02:29,000 You know, this also, you know, we see the stuff from banking and all that saying, hey, you know, let's let's get you refreshed financially and all that kind of stuff. 22 00:02:29,000 --> 00:02:31,000 There's a lot going on. 23 00:02:31,000 --> 00:02:40,000 You know, this is, you know, those next few weeks where the the quote unquote health industry, you know, goes goes absolutely bonkers. 24 00:02:40,000 --> 00:02:43,000 You know, the new year knew me. 25 00:02:43,000 --> 00:02:53,000 So in preparing for the new year, let's take a look at this. 26 00:02:53,000 --> 00:02:55,000 So our first point. 27 00:02:55,000 --> 00:02:59,000 So as we get started. 28 00:02:59,000 --> 00:03:02,000 Oh, now I'm flashing. 29 00:03:02,000 --> 00:03:04,000 Maybe get some new batteries over here. 30 00:03:04,000 --> 00:03:32,000 Yeah, we got some double ace. 31 00:03:32,000 --> 00:03:38,000 Well, OK, I'm green on here again. 32 00:03:38,000 --> 00:03:40,000 Still can't hear me in the house, but that's OK. 33 00:03:40,000 --> 00:03:43,000 You all can hear me because I'm a loud guy. 34 00:03:43,000 --> 00:03:44,000 Right. OK. 35 00:03:44,000 --> 00:03:49,000 Sometimes. 36 00:03:49,000 --> 00:03:50,000 Yeah, there's something. 37 00:03:50,000 --> 00:03:51,000 We'll figure it out anyway. 38 00:03:51,000 --> 00:03:53,000 Oh, whoa. 39 00:03:53,000 --> 00:03:57,000 Well, see, you just talk about it and boom, there they go again. 40 00:03:57,000 --> 00:03:58,000 Weird. 41 00:03:58,000 --> 00:04:03,000 And I can assure you, because I was just looking at Darren. 42 00:04:03,000 --> 00:04:04,000 He wasn't touching nothing. 43 00:04:04,000 --> 00:04:07,000 Any of me attacks, right? 44 00:04:07,000 --> 00:04:10,000 Anyhow, let's get this train back on the track. 45 00:04:10,000 --> 00:04:20,000 Let's go ahead and let's open up our Bibles or Bible apps, whatever it is that you use to the book of Haggai chapter one. 46 00:04:20,000 --> 00:04:23,000 Yeah, just a little bit. 47 00:04:23,000 --> 00:04:28,000 So the book of Haggai chapter one verses five through seven is where we're at. 48 00:04:28,000 --> 00:04:32,000 So pretty much right there at the beginning. 49 00:04:32,000 --> 00:04:38,000 And the word says, Now, therefore, the says the Lord of Hosts, consider your ways. 50 00:04:38,000 --> 00:04:41,000 You have so much and bring in little. 51 00:04:41,000 --> 00:04:44,000 You eat, but do not have enough. 52 00:04:44,000 --> 00:04:48,000 You drink, but you're not filled with drink. 53 00:04:48,000 --> 00:04:52,000 You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. 54 00:04:52,000 --> 00:04:58,000 And he who earns wages earns wages to put into a bag with holes. 55 00:04:58,000 --> 00:05:03,000 Thus says the Lord of Hosts, consider your ways. 56 00:05:03,000 --> 00:05:06,000 Notice here how the word repeats itself. 57 00:05:06,000 --> 00:05:09,000 You know, it's really stressing the importance. 58 00:05:09,000 --> 00:05:13,000 Just like when we're in class and that sort of thing and somebody, you know, the teacher repeats something. 59 00:05:13,000 --> 00:05:15,000 It's usually saying, Hey, you should take note of this. 60 00:05:15,000 --> 00:05:17,000 This is probably on a test, that sort of thing. 61 00:05:17,000 --> 00:05:18,000 Right. 62 00:05:18,000 --> 00:05:20,000 It's no different when we see things in the Bible. 63 00:05:20,000 --> 00:05:23,000 It's definitely something that we need to take note of. 64 00:05:23,000 --> 00:05:25,000 So just that piece right there. 65 00:05:25,000 --> 00:05:26,000 Consider your ways. 66 00:05:26,000 --> 00:05:31,000 You know, I would highlight it, underline it, make a note in the margins, whatever. 67 00:05:31,000 --> 00:05:35,000 But, you know, it's worth it's worth looking at. 68 00:05:35,000 --> 00:05:45,000 Consider your ways, because it's another way of saying, be careful or give careful thought to your ways or your thoughts. 69 00:05:45,000 --> 00:05:49,000 The things that you do, you know, how you do things, why you're doing things. 70 00:05:49,000 --> 00:05:51,000 Who you're doing them for. 71 00:05:51,000 --> 00:05:54,000 You know, that's a big one right there. 72 00:05:54,000 --> 00:06:02,000 You know, it's telling us, don't get caught up in those selfish things and those selfish ways. 73 00:06:02,000 --> 00:06:09,000 See, at this point in time, when you're looking at this passage in the Bible, people were living in luxury. 74 00:06:09,000 --> 00:06:17,000 They were, you know, reaping the benefits of where they were and all the stuff that had come to them. 75 00:06:17,000 --> 00:06:27,000 And while they were living in luxury with the nice homes and the good furniture, you know, they had food, they had drink and everything. 76 00:06:27,000 --> 00:06:31,000 But they were letting God's house just go to disrepair. 77 00:06:31,000 --> 00:06:35,000 They're just putting him off to the side, you know, out of sight, out of mind. 78 00:06:35,000 --> 00:06:37,000 It's all about me. 79 00:06:37,000 --> 00:06:39,000 Me, me, me, me, me. 80 00:06:39,000 --> 00:06:42,000 It's a very selfish time. 81 00:06:42,000 --> 00:06:44,000 And it's no different today. 82 00:06:44,000 --> 00:06:46,000 People do the same thing. 83 00:06:46,000 --> 00:06:47,000 It's all about me. 84 00:06:47,000 --> 00:06:49,000 And they push God to the side. 85 00:06:49,000 --> 00:06:50,000 They don't want to make time for church. 86 00:06:50,000 --> 00:06:52,000 They don't want to make time for Bible study. 87 00:06:52,000 --> 00:06:56,000 They don't even want to make time for prayer and actually working on the relationship with God. 88 00:06:56,000 --> 00:07:00,000 Right? 89 00:07:00,000 --> 00:07:03,000 It's a life of indulgence. 90 00:07:03,000 --> 00:07:08,000 And God saw this, but he prepared for it. 91 00:07:08,000 --> 00:07:15,000 Because he's, with all this indulgence, all this luxury, all this selfishness, no matter how good things God. 92 00:07:15,000 --> 00:07:25,000 No matter how prepared people thought that they were with all the food and all the drink and all this other stuff. 93 00:07:25,000 --> 00:07:27,000 It was never enough. 94 00:07:27,000 --> 00:07:29,000 There was always going to be a hole. 95 00:07:29,000 --> 00:07:30,000 And it's the same today. 96 00:07:30,000 --> 00:07:34,000 There's still a hole there where you get something and it's nice. 97 00:07:34,000 --> 00:07:38,000 But then the next model comes along, that bigger and greater thing. 98 00:07:38,000 --> 00:07:39,000 Right? 99 00:07:39,000 --> 00:07:45,000 And so you're always wanting that bigger and better thing. 100 00:07:45,000 --> 00:07:49,000 I say just for a small while, it brings a little joy. 101 00:07:49,000 --> 00:07:52,000 But it's never going to bring total satisfaction. 102 00:07:52,000 --> 00:07:54,000 And it can't. 103 00:07:54,000 --> 00:07:59,000 Because the only person who can do that is God. 104 00:07:59,000 --> 00:08:02,000 Amen. 105 00:08:02,000 --> 00:08:04,000 You know, you take a look at it. 106 00:08:04,000 --> 00:08:07,000 Today, all this stuff that's put out there, all the vanity that's out there. 107 00:08:07,000 --> 00:08:12,000 The houses, the cars, the clothes, the jewelry, this and that. 108 00:08:12,000 --> 00:08:16,000 You know, money, position, stature. 109 00:08:16,000 --> 00:08:19,000 You know, you get a hold of something. 110 00:08:19,000 --> 00:08:24,000 All this stuff. 111 00:08:24,000 --> 00:08:27,000 And after a while, it still leaves you with the hole. 112 00:08:27,000 --> 00:08:31,000 All this stuff that we turn into idols. 113 00:08:31,000 --> 00:08:37,000 And you can become an idol. 114 00:08:37,000 --> 00:08:40,000 Going out with the friends, going out and doing this appearances. 115 00:08:40,000 --> 00:08:43,000 The way you look, the way you do certain things. 116 00:08:43,000 --> 00:08:50,000 You know, I was at work the other day and somebody was talking about how their pre-teen son, 117 00:08:50,000 --> 00:08:55,000 not even a teenager yet, has a signature scent. 118 00:08:55,000 --> 00:08:59,000 A specific loan that he wanted for Christmas. 119 00:08:59,000 --> 00:09:10,000 And that he's always asking for and goes through very rapidly that cost over $100. 120 00:09:10,000 --> 00:09:15,000 I'm middle-aged and I'm not even going to spend that kind of money on a cologne for me. 121 00:09:15,000 --> 00:09:17,000 It's outrageous. 122 00:09:17,000 --> 00:09:20,000 My wife's the first to tell you I have trouble spending money on new shoes. 123 00:09:20,000 --> 00:09:23,000 I look for sales at Skechers. 124 00:09:23,000 --> 00:09:25,000 All the time. 125 00:09:25,000 --> 00:09:31,000 Plus their shoes are really comfy. 126 00:09:31,000 --> 00:09:32,000 But it's still the same thing. 127 00:09:32,000 --> 00:09:33,000 It's that big hole. 128 00:09:33,000 --> 00:09:34,000 Who am I going to impress? 129 00:09:34,000 --> 00:09:37,000 I'm looking at the world and what the world says is important. 130 00:09:37,000 --> 00:09:43,000 I'm putting value into what the world says is important and is of worth, right? 131 00:09:43,000 --> 00:09:45,000 Is the things that matter. 132 00:09:45,000 --> 00:09:47,000 And that's really not what it is. 133 00:09:47,000 --> 00:09:53,000 We get a hold of all these things and we're looking for that hole that only the Holy Spirit can fill. 134 00:09:53,000 --> 00:09:58,000 The problem is the Holy Spirit's not able to fill that hole. 135 00:09:58,000 --> 00:09:59,000 Why? 136 00:09:59,000 --> 00:10:02,000 Because we're trying to satisfy it with all this other stuff. 137 00:10:02,000 --> 00:10:03,000 These selfish things. 138 00:10:03,000 --> 00:10:06,000 The greed, right? 139 00:10:06,000 --> 00:10:13,000 All this stuff that at some point has sin attached to it. 140 00:10:13,000 --> 00:10:19,000 And the Holy Spirit, God, cannot dwell where there is sin. 141 00:10:19,000 --> 00:10:35,000 We have to push all that stuff out and make room and give ourselves over fully to the Holy Spirit so that he can come and dwell within us. 142 00:10:35,000 --> 00:10:37,000 All that sin that carries over from the world. 143 00:10:37,000 --> 00:10:47,000 And we don't even use it or don't even realize it, but we're setting up a roadblock to keep the Holy Spirit out. 144 00:10:47,000 --> 00:10:49,000 We're going to be doing the same thing. 145 00:10:49,000 --> 00:10:51,000 We're going to be doing the same thing. 146 00:10:51,000 --> 00:10:58,000 It's just the world we live in. 147 00:10:58,000 --> 00:11:07,000 Now we're going to read back a little bit further back in Haggai, chapter 1 verses 7 through 8, so yes, we're going over 7 again. 148 00:11:07,000 --> 00:11:12,000 And the word says, actually, thus says the Lord of hosts, consider your ways. 149 00:11:12,000 --> 00:11:21,000 Go up to the mountains and bring wood and build the temple that I may take pleasure in it and be glorified, says the Lord. 150 00:11:21,000 --> 00:11:33,000 Now being that we're living in New Testament times and we have the Bible look at, we know what it's saying is we are temple. 151 00:11:33,000 --> 00:11:35,000 We are the temple. 152 00:11:35,000 --> 00:11:38,000 It's not the building, right? 153 00:11:38,000 --> 00:11:40,000 The places that people go. 154 00:11:40,000 --> 00:11:41,000 People, oh, I go to church. 155 00:11:41,000 --> 00:11:42,000 No, you are the church. 156 00:11:42,000 --> 00:11:44,000 You're going to the fellowship. 157 00:11:44,000 --> 00:11:47,000 You're going to the building. 158 00:11:47,000 --> 00:11:49,000 The Holy Spirit dwells within us. 159 00:11:49,000 --> 00:11:51,000 We are the temple. 160 00:11:51,000 --> 00:11:59,000 But in order for that to happen, I said we need to push out the world and shift our focus to him. 161 00:11:59,000 --> 00:12:08,000 We need to shift our focus and make sure it is on Jesus and give him the priority. 162 00:12:08,000 --> 00:12:10,000 Not the other stuff. 163 00:12:10,000 --> 00:12:14,000 We have to let the Lord be the most important thing in our lives. 164 00:12:14,000 --> 00:12:17,000 Everything else is temporary. 165 00:12:17,000 --> 00:12:25,000 Where God and his treasures and the stuff that he has in his kingdom is eternal. 166 00:12:25,000 --> 00:12:30,000 If we go to Matthew 6 verses 19 through 21, most of us are pretty familiar with this. 167 00:12:30,000 --> 00:12:34,000 Matthew 6, 19 through 21, the word puts it like this. 168 00:12:34,000 --> 00:12:39,000 Do not store up for yourselves treasure on earth. 169 00:12:39,000 --> 00:12:44,000 Where moths and vermin destroy and where thieves break in and steal. 170 00:12:44,000 --> 00:12:50,000 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven where moths and vermin do not destroy. 171 00:12:50,000 --> 00:12:52,000 And where thieves do not break in and steal. 172 00:12:52,000 --> 00:12:59,000 For where your treasure is, there your heart will also be. 173 00:12:59,000 --> 00:13:02,000 So if your heart is on yourself and not on God first, guess what? 174 00:13:02,000 --> 00:13:04,000 You're in trouble. 175 00:13:04,000 --> 00:13:05,000 You are. 176 00:13:05,000 --> 00:13:06,000 You're in trouble. 177 00:13:06,000 --> 00:13:08,000 Now, I'm not saying don't go exercise. 178 00:13:08,000 --> 00:13:10,000 The Lord knows we can all exercise. 179 00:13:10,000 --> 00:13:15,000 I can use more than a little bit myself. 180 00:13:15,000 --> 00:13:17,000 I like me. 181 00:13:17,000 --> 00:13:28,000 But, you know, what we need to do is we need to make sure that when we do look at these things and we do shift over, we are trying to make these life changes. 182 00:13:28,000 --> 00:13:30,000 That the Lord is who's coming first. 183 00:13:30,000 --> 00:13:35,000 That our focus is on him and that he is included in these things. 184 00:13:35,000 --> 00:13:41,000 Not pushed to the side to make way for these things in this new focus. 185 00:13:41,000 --> 00:13:45,000 So we have to make sure that we're asking ourselves who's on first. 186 00:13:45,000 --> 00:13:49,000 You or God? 187 00:13:49,000 --> 00:13:53,000 Choose wisely. 188 00:13:53,000 --> 00:13:54,000 Which brings me to the next point. 189 00:13:54,000 --> 00:13:57,000 The seed will die. 190 00:13:57,000 --> 00:14:04,000 New Year's resolutions are typically the first commitments and the first failures. 191 00:14:04,000 --> 00:14:09,000 People make year after year. 192 00:14:09,000 --> 00:14:10,000 Let me say that again. 193 00:14:10,000 --> 00:14:16,000 The first commitment and the first failure that people make year after year. 194 00:14:16,000 --> 00:14:18,000 That one stings a little bit, doesn't it? 195 00:14:18,000 --> 00:14:21,000 Because you get this that time of year, everybody's like, hey, what's your New Year's resolution? 196 00:14:21,000 --> 00:14:26,000 What are you doing? 197 00:14:26,000 --> 00:14:27,000 And everybody wants to share them. 198 00:14:27,000 --> 00:14:31,000 And even if it's not a New Year's resolution, because not everybody makes them. 199 00:14:31,000 --> 00:14:35,000 But everybody's made a promise to themselves, to others at some point. 200 00:14:35,000 --> 00:14:43,000 And we've all fallen through on those commitments. 201 00:14:43,000 --> 00:14:46,000 When we look at it, we're looking at a resolution. 202 00:14:46,000 --> 00:14:47,000 It is a promise. 203 00:14:47,000 --> 00:14:53,000 It's a sincere promise that we forget or we find excuses to dismiss. 204 00:14:53,000 --> 00:14:54,000 Oh, I don't have the time. 205 00:14:54,000 --> 00:14:56,000 Oh, I'm too tired. 206 00:14:56,000 --> 00:14:59,000 It's too expensive. 207 00:14:59,000 --> 00:15:02,000 Oh, I'm just, I don't know. 208 00:15:02,000 --> 00:15:06,000 I just, you know, there's always something. 209 00:15:06,000 --> 00:15:09,000 I'll get to it, in other words. 210 00:15:09,000 --> 00:15:11,000 But then we never do. 211 00:15:11,000 --> 00:15:24,000 And under any other name, this broken resolution, this broken promise, this broken vow is a lie. 212 00:15:24,000 --> 00:15:28,000 People don't think about it that way, especially when it's to yourself. 213 00:15:28,000 --> 00:15:33,000 But a broken promise is a broken promise. 214 00:15:33,000 --> 00:15:38,000 And a broken promise is a lie. 215 00:15:38,000 --> 00:15:39,000 Because we jump to it. 216 00:15:39,000 --> 00:15:41,000 And what is a lie? 217 00:15:41,000 --> 00:15:42,000 That's right. 218 00:15:42,000 --> 00:15:44,000 A sin. 219 00:15:44,000 --> 00:15:45,000 A sin. 220 00:15:45,000 --> 00:15:51,000 So as we look to the New Year, you know, I'll tell you a principle I've carried with me ever since my time serving on active duty. 221 00:15:51,000 --> 00:15:55,000 It's what we call one of our leadership principles. 222 00:15:55,000 --> 00:16:02,000 Know yourself and seek self-improvement. 223 00:16:02,000 --> 00:16:05,000 Know yourself and seek self-improvement. 224 00:16:05,000 --> 00:16:11,000 In other words, evaluate yourself, find your weaknesses, and improve upon them. 225 00:16:11,000 --> 00:16:14,000 Because we all have places that we're weak at. 226 00:16:14,000 --> 00:16:16,000 We all have places that we fail. 227 00:16:16,000 --> 00:16:18,000 Things that we need to build up. 228 00:16:18,000 --> 00:16:22,000 Every single one of us. 229 00:16:22,000 --> 00:16:27,000 And the thing is, when you build those things up, other things become weak. 230 00:16:27,000 --> 00:16:32,000 So you're constantly having to evaluate and shift to see where you need to work in your own life. 231 00:16:32,000 --> 00:16:35,000 Trying to create that balance. 232 00:16:35,000 --> 00:16:39,000 So it's a bit of a teeter-totter, right? 233 00:16:39,000 --> 00:16:42,000 This is something that we all should be applying to our lives. 234 00:16:42,000 --> 00:16:46,000 It's actually a pretty valuable principle when you think about it. 235 00:16:46,000 --> 00:16:47,000 And why? 236 00:16:47,000 --> 00:16:48,000 Why is this so important? 237 00:16:48,000 --> 00:16:55,000 Well, because, like I said, it forces us to be honest with ourselves. 238 00:16:55,000 --> 00:16:58,000 So look at our failures. 239 00:16:58,000 --> 00:17:02,000 And evaluate where we need to go in our lives. 240 00:17:02,000 --> 00:17:06,000 Where our paths need to take us. 241 00:17:06,000 --> 00:17:09,000 And not only that, but once we have an idea where we're heading, 242 00:17:09,000 --> 00:17:13,000 what do I need to do to effect this change? 243 00:17:13,000 --> 00:17:16,000 That's a big one. 244 00:17:16,000 --> 00:17:20,000 So you should renew your resolution. 245 00:17:20,000 --> 00:17:21,000 You should have a resolution. 246 00:17:21,000 --> 00:17:22,000 All of us should. 247 00:17:22,000 --> 00:17:24,000 But what should it be? 248 00:17:24,000 --> 00:17:26,000 Resolution to God. 249 00:17:26,000 --> 00:17:28,000 Because God should come first. 250 00:17:28,000 --> 00:17:31,000 That resolution, hey, you know what? 251 00:17:31,000 --> 00:17:33,000 I'm going to step back. 252 00:17:33,000 --> 00:17:35,000 And this is something I can do because I'm a Christian. 253 00:17:35,000 --> 00:17:36,000 I'm a believer. 254 00:17:36,000 --> 00:17:37,000 I love my God. 255 00:17:37,000 --> 00:17:40,000 I have a great relationship with Jesus. 256 00:17:40,000 --> 00:17:44,000 So I'm going to engage with Him first. 257 00:17:44,000 --> 00:17:48,000 I'm going to put Him at the forefront. 258 00:17:48,000 --> 00:17:49,000 I'm going to go to Him. 259 00:17:49,000 --> 00:17:50,000 I'm going to depend on Him. 260 00:17:50,000 --> 00:17:51,000 I'm going to lean on Him. 261 00:17:51,000 --> 00:17:52,000 I'm going to talk to Him. 262 00:17:52,000 --> 00:17:57,000 And I'm going to ask Him and follow His footsteps as He guides me. 263 00:17:57,000 --> 00:18:00,000 And let Him be my strength. 264 00:18:00,000 --> 00:18:05,000 That way I'm not going out and making promises that I'm iffy about, 265 00:18:05,000 --> 00:18:06,000 that I'm questionable about. 266 00:18:06,000 --> 00:18:08,000 Like, oh, yeah, I could do it. 267 00:18:08,000 --> 00:18:10,000 Oh, maybe. 268 00:18:10,000 --> 00:18:13,000 I don't know. 269 00:18:13,000 --> 00:18:16,000 I don't know. 270 00:18:16,000 --> 00:18:20,000 And that's really what it becomes. 271 00:18:20,000 --> 00:18:22,000 So again, how do we affect that change? 272 00:18:22,000 --> 00:18:25,000 How do we do the things without making a promise that we're not sure of 273 00:18:25,000 --> 00:18:27,000 whether or not we can actually deliver on it? 274 00:18:27,000 --> 00:18:28,000 We lean on Jesus. 275 00:18:28,000 --> 00:18:30,000 We depend on Jesus. 276 00:18:30,000 --> 00:18:34,000 And as Jesus puts it, the seed has to die. 277 00:18:34,000 --> 00:18:39,000 If we turn to John 12, verse 24. 278 00:18:39,000 --> 00:18:47,000 So John 12, verse 24, Jesus says, most assuredly I say to you, 279 00:18:47,000 --> 00:18:53,000 unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone. 280 00:18:53,000 --> 00:18:57,000 But if it dies, it produces much grain. 281 00:18:57,000 --> 00:19:01,000 Now, in this case, when Jesus is talking, He's referring to Himself as the seed. 282 00:19:01,000 --> 00:19:02,000 Right? 283 00:19:02,000 --> 00:19:06,000 He's talking about His future with having to go to the cross and die and be 284 00:19:06,000 --> 00:19:07,000 reborn. 285 00:19:07,000 --> 00:19:14,000 However, I shouldn't say be reborn, be resurrected. 286 00:19:14,000 --> 00:19:16,000 Excuse me. 287 00:19:16,000 --> 00:19:18,000 Go to the cross, die, and be resurrected. 288 00:19:18,000 --> 00:19:19,000 Right? 289 00:19:19,000 --> 00:19:22,000 Because we know three days later He rose again. 290 00:19:22,000 --> 00:19:29,000 So, but in turn, with Him doing this and how it applies to us is once He was 291 00:19:29,000 --> 00:19:33,000 resurrected, He was there for people to see. 292 00:19:33,000 --> 00:19:37,000 And then, of course, He ascended with the promise to return. 293 00:19:37,000 --> 00:19:46,000 We as believers, we as Christians, at that point, all became seeds ourselves. 294 00:19:46,000 --> 00:19:51,000 Every single one of us. 295 00:19:51,000 --> 00:19:54,000 So the first thing that we have to decide is whether or not we're going to follow 296 00:19:54,000 --> 00:20:00,000 Him or if we're going to follow the way of the world. 297 00:20:00,000 --> 00:20:06,000 If we're going to keep to His commands, or we're going to do what the world says 298 00:20:06,000 --> 00:20:10,000 is cool. 299 00:20:10,000 --> 00:20:14,000 Because at the end of it all, we have to give up our own pettiness, our own 300 00:20:14,000 --> 00:20:22,000 selfishness, our own desires and lust, and follow what Christ has told us to do. 301 00:20:22,000 --> 00:20:30,000 We have to give up our own ambitions and our own greed to follow Christ. 302 00:20:30,000 --> 00:20:36,000 And we have to trust in God as our provider. 303 00:20:36,000 --> 00:20:40,000 Because if we ever expect to have something that's truly meaningful, that's 304 00:20:40,000 --> 00:20:44,000 going to come from following Christ. 305 00:20:44,000 --> 00:20:46,000 We don't look at it as a reward. 306 00:20:46,000 --> 00:20:50,000 It is a reward, but we don't look to that. 307 00:20:50,000 --> 00:20:56,000 When we do things with a joyful heart, it's because we want to do it. 308 00:20:56,000 --> 00:21:00,000 When we have a relationship with Christ, we do the things that He asks us to do 309 00:21:00,000 --> 00:21:09,000 because we love Him and because we want to do it, not because we have to do it. 310 00:21:09,000 --> 00:21:12,000 You're not expecting necessarily to actually, you know, it's like yes, we know 311 00:21:12,000 --> 00:21:15,000 things are going to come, but you're not expecting that reward. 312 00:21:15,000 --> 00:21:18,000 It's like, hey, I know you don't have to. 313 00:21:18,000 --> 00:21:20,000 I know you can. 314 00:21:20,000 --> 00:21:25,000 I know you have the means, but you don't have to. 315 00:21:25,000 --> 00:21:30,000 So having that person, that friend or that relative, maybe they're kind of down 316 00:21:30,000 --> 00:21:33,000 on their luck, right? 317 00:21:33,000 --> 00:21:35,000 Maybe they're having health issues. 318 00:21:35,000 --> 00:21:39,000 And so you go and you take care of them. 319 00:21:39,000 --> 00:21:41,000 You're not looking for money. 320 00:21:41,000 --> 00:21:46,000 You're not looking to benefit from their weakness or their illness or wherever 321 00:21:46,000 --> 00:21:51,000 they're at, you're going to do things because you love them and because you care 322 00:21:51,000 --> 00:21:53,000 about them. 323 00:21:53,000 --> 00:21:59,000 For instance, our neighbor Phil, who's been called home by the Lord, he was in 324 00:21:59,000 --> 00:22:02,000 the hospital for quite some time dealing with health ailments. 325 00:22:02,000 --> 00:22:03,000 And what did my lovely wife do? 326 00:22:03,000 --> 00:22:06,000 She went over, hey, don't worry about putting your laundry through, 327 00:22:06,000 --> 00:22:08,000 enchanting things, getting lost here at the hospital. 328 00:22:08,000 --> 00:22:14,000 Let us take them home, wash them for you, bring them back, right? 329 00:22:14,000 --> 00:22:19,000 We all occasionally, we have that other person that's in the hospital. 330 00:22:19,000 --> 00:22:23,000 We know sometimes depending on the hospital, that food can be kind of eh, right? 331 00:22:23,000 --> 00:22:24,000 It's like, hey, what do you want? 332 00:22:24,000 --> 00:22:25,000 I'll bring you something. 333 00:22:25,000 --> 00:22:26,000 You want some KFC? 334 00:22:26,000 --> 00:22:28,000 What's going on, right? 335 00:22:28,000 --> 00:22:30,000 Some candy? 336 00:22:30,000 --> 00:22:35,000 No, I'm not bringing you alcohol, you know, something reasonable. 337 00:22:35,000 --> 00:22:38,000 It's those little things that we do. 338 00:22:38,000 --> 00:22:41,000 And it's because we love in Jesus. 339 00:22:41,000 --> 00:22:45,000 We want to have something meaningful. 340 00:22:45,000 --> 00:22:50,000 So we turn to 1 Corinthians 15 verse 36. 341 00:22:50,000 --> 00:22:52,000 So 1 Corinthians 15, 36. 342 00:22:52,000 --> 00:23:01,000 Paul writes, foolish one, what you sow is not made alive unless it dies. 343 00:23:01,000 --> 00:23:07,000 And if we turn back a little bit more to verses 42 through 44, he continues to say, 344 00:23:07,000 --> 00:23:09,000 the body is sown in corruption. 345 00:23:09,000 --> 00:23:11,000 It is raised in incorruption. 346 00:23:11,000 --> 00:23:13,000 It is sown in dishonor. 347 00:23:13,000 --> 00:23:15,000 It is raised in glory. 348 00:23:15,000 --> 00:23:16,000 It is sown in weakness. 349 00:23:16,000 --> 00:23:19,000 It is raised in power. 350 00:23:19,000 --> 00:23:21,000 It is sown in natural body. 351 00:23:21,000 --> 00:23:23,000 It is raised as spiritual body. 352 00:23:23,000 --> 00:23:26,000 Now for time's sake, we're not going to read through this whole passage, but, you know, 353 00:23:26,000 --> 00:23:30,000 I do encourage you all, you know, read through the whole thing starting in verse 35 354 00:23:30,000 --> 00:23:32,000 and going all the way through verse 58. 355 00:23:32,000 --> 00:23:37,000 But what Paul's talking about here is every believer not only being perfected in heaven, 356 00:23:37,000 --> 00:23:41,000 but that will be recognizable because of it. 357 00:23:41,000 --> 00:23:46,000 But the key, again, is to die and to die to self. 358 00:23:46,000 --> 00:23:52,000 In order to live, we all need to die. 359 00:23:52,000 --> 00:23:57,000 Churches sometimes go through the same thing where they have to die, revamp, 360 00:23:57,000 --> 00:24:01,000 change processes, and start anew, right? 361 00:24:01,000 --> 00:24:06,000 Businesses do it all the time. 362 00:24:06,000 --> 00:24:10,000 Whether they're facing bankruptcy or they're facing foreclosure and they go through a process 363 00:24:10,000 --> 00:24:17,000 so they can kind of wipe part of that slate and start again. 364 00:24:17,000 --> 00:24:21,000 Banks are real good for that, aren't they? 365 00:24:21,000 --> 00:24:24,000 How many times do you see them buying and trading each other out just to keep going, 366 00:24:24,000 --> 00:24:29,000 keep those doors open? 367 00:24:29,000 --> 00:24:34,000 You know, but we have to put our trust in him and we have to die. 368 00:24:34,000 --> 00:24:37,000 Not like literally a physical death, right? 369 00:24:37,000 --> 00:24:41,000 But to ourselves, we need to die spiritually and be born again. 370 00:24:41,000 --> 00:24:42,000 Why? 371 00:24:42,000 --> 00:24:47,000 So that we can come forth and bring forth fruit, right? 372 00:24:47,000 --> 00:24:53,000 That's a biblical term for it, to bring forth fruit, to be fruitful. 373 00:24:53,000 --> 00:25:01,000 In 2 Corinthians 5 verses 17, so 2 Corinthians 5, 17, the word says, 374 00:25:01,000 --> 00:25:05,000 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. 375 00:25:05,000 --> 00:25:07,000 Old things have passed away. 376 00:25:07,000 --> 00:25:11,000 Behold, all things have become new. 377 00:25:11,000 --> 00:25:14,000 When you're born again, things change. 378 00:25:14,000 --> 00:25:17,000 You change. 379 00:25:17,000 --> 00:25:23,000 Some people a little faster than others, sure, but we all change. 380 00:25:23,000 --> 00:25:29,000 What you do, why you do it, how you do it, all this kind of stuff. 381 00:25:29,000 --> 00:25:36,000 Your priorities shift from being here to being here. 382 00:25:36,000 --> 00:25:38,000 There's a lot that goes on there. 383 00:25:38,000 --> 00:25:43,000 You no longer want to make promises that you know you can't keep. 384 00:25:43,000 --> 00:25:46,000 You don't want to make those empty promises. 385 00:25:46,000 --> 00:25:49,000 You don't want to tell those little white lies, right? 386 00:25:49,000 --> 00:25:53,000 Because lies are lies. 387 00:25:53,000 --> 00:25:55,000 The Holy Spirit is working there. 388 00:25:55,000 --> 00:25:59,000 He's convicting you, all these little things. 389 00:25:59,000 --> 00:26:01,000 Don't do it. 390 00:26:01,000 --> 00:26:04,000 You no better don't. 391 00:26:04,000 --> 00:26:07,000 Don't do it, right? 392 00:26:07,000 --> 00:26:09,000 We all hear that in the back of our head. 393 00:26:09,000 --> 00:26:13,000 That parent, you better stop. 394 00:26:13,000 --> 00:26:14,000 I'm going to tan your hide. 395 00:26:14,000 --> 00:26:16,000 I'm going to give you something to cry about. 396 00:26:16,000 --> 00:26:20,000 Knock it off, right? 397 00:26:20,000 --> 00:26:29,000 Just saying that, I already see my mom in the back of my head taking off that clog and getting ready to throw it at me. 398 00:26:29,000 --> 00:26:30,000 Chancla nothing. 399 00:26:30,000 --> 00:26:34,000 It was a big wooden brick. 400 00:26:34,000 --> 00:26:35,000 But things change. 401 00:26:35,000 --> 00:26:38,000 The way you walk changes. 402 00:26:38,000 --> 00:26:48,000 The promises that you make, the vows that you make, whether they're to yourself or they're to somebody else, all of these things change. 403 00:26:48,000 --> 00:26:59,000 And when you make a promise at this point, once you're born anew, because you are a new creation, when you do make those promises, you do so with the intent of following them through. 404 00:26:59,000 --> 00:27:03,000 You're going to do everything in your ability to follow them through. 405 00:27:03,000 --> 00:27:07,000 Now, whether or not things work out or not, no. 406 00:27:07,000 --> 00:27:08,000 Who knows? 407 00:27:08,000 --> 00:27:09,000 Sometimes things just don't work out. 408 00:27:09,000 --> 00:27:10,000 Like, you know what? 409 00:27:10,000 --> 00:27:12,000 Hey, I tried. 410 00:27:12,000 --> 00:27:13,000 I did this. 411 00:27:13,000 --> 00:27:14,000 I did that. 412 00:27:14,000 --> 00:27:16,000 But this was the result. 413 00:27:16,000 --> 00:27:18,000 I'm sorry I couldn't come through. 414 00:27:18,000 --> 00:27:19,000 You know what? 415 00:27:19,000 --> 00:27:20,000 People respect that though. 416 00:27:20,000 --> 00:27:22,000 And at that point, it's not a broken promise. 417 00:27:22,000 --> 00:27:23,000 Why? 418 00:27:23,000 --> 00:27:24,000 Because you follow through. 419 00:27:24,000 --> 00:27:25,000 You did your due diligence. 420 00:27:25,000 --> 00:27:28,000 You did what you were supposed to do. 421 00:27:28,000 --> 00:27:31,000 People respect that. 422 00:27:31,000 --> 00:27:37,000 And that brings joy to the Lord. 423 00:27:37,000 --> 00:27:46,000 So instead of feeling unfulfilled when we get things, you feel fulfilled. 424 00:27:46,000 --> 00:27:48,000 You already feel fulfilled by the things that you have. 425 00:27:48,000 --> 00:27:54,000 Instead of being unfulfilled because you don't get something, you're still filled. 426 00:27:54,000 --> 00:27:56,000 You still feel good because of what you have. 427 00:27:56,000 --> 00:28:00,000 You appreciate it. 428 00:28:00,000 --> 00:28:02,000 I'd love a bigger motorcycle. 429 00:28:02,000 --> 00:28:04,000 I absolutely would. 430 00:28:04,000 --> 00:28:07,000 One with all the gadgets and everything, but you know what? 431 00:28:07,000 --> 00:28:12,000 It's not in the works for me right now, unfortunately. 432 00:28:12,000 --> 00:28:13,000 It's not there. 433 00:28:13,000 --> 00:28:14,000 Other things have to come first. 434 00:28:14,000 --> 00:28:15,000 There's other priorities. 435 00:28:15,000 --> 00:28:16,000 But you know what? 436 00:28:16,000 --> 00:28:17,000 I have a pretty good bike right now. 437 00:28:17,000 --> 00:28:19,000 I'm pretty happy with that one. 438 00:28:19,000 --> 00:28:22,000 It is a good bike. 439 00:28:22,000 --> 00:28:27,000 Matter of fact, I like it so much, it's the only vehicle that actually stays in the garage. 440 00:28:27,000 --> 00:28:35,000 My wife laughs because it's true. 441 00:28:35,000 --> 00:28:37,000 I love you too, wife. 442 00:28:37,000 --> 00:28:40,000 Sure, you're still going to want other things, but if they don't come, it's not the end of the world. 443 00:28:40,000 --> 00:28:46,000 It's not a big deal because what you have is enough. 444 00:28:46,000 --> 00:28:50,000 And as a seed, you will eventually die. 445 00:28:50,000 --> 00:28:53,000 Each of us will eventually die. 446 00:28:53,000 --> 00:29:01,000 And here, yes, I am talking about a physical death because none of us gets out of here alive in that sense, right? 447 00:29:01,000 --> 00:29:03,000 We all have to face that first death. 448 00:29:03,000 --> 00:29:10,000 So the question is, are you going to die as a part of the world? 449 00:29:10,000 --> 00:29:21,000 Or are you going to be die or be reborn to Christ to go and live forever in his kingdom? 450 00:29:21,000 --> 00:29:27,000 To go and live forever in his kingdom, a place with a true restart, right? 451 00:29:27,000 --> 00:29:33,000 Because that's where things change. 452 00:29:33,000 --> 00:29:39,000 When we die spiritually and we're born again as a new creature, it is a new start. 453 00:29:39,000 --> 00:29:41,000 People aren't necessarily going to see it. 454 00:29:41,000 --> 00:29:44,000 Unbelievers aren't going to agree with it, but that is the case. 455 00:29:44,000 --> 00:29:55,000 So as we start looking at the new year and we start going into it, this is a time to let go of our past sins, to let go of our past failures, 456 00:29:55,000 --> 00:30:05,000 to let go of our past mistakes and missteps and all the places that we've fallen short. 457 00:30:05,000 --> 00:30:13,000 This is also the time where we need to strengthen our relationship with God. 458 00:30:13,000 --> 00:30:15,000 I'm not saying you need to mend the bridge. 459 00:30:15,000 --> 00:30:20,000 If you already have a relationship with the Lord, the bridge is already there. 460 00:30:20,000 --> 00:30:22,000 Work to improve it. 461 00:30:22,000 --> 00:30:25,000 You want a rickety old shaking wooden bridge? 462 00:30:25,000 --> 00:30:31,000 Or do you want some fancy state-of-the-art thing that's going to take you over oceans? 463 00:30:31,000 --> 00:30:34,000 Right? 464 00:30:34,000 --> 00:30:38,000 So turn with me now to Philippians chapter 3. 465 00:30:38,000 --> 00:30:45,000 So Philippians chapter 3 verses 12 through 14. 466 00:30:45,000 --> 00:30:52,000 Paul writes, not that I have already attained or am already perfected, but I press on, 467 00:30:52,000 --> 00:30:59,000 that I may lay hold of that which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 468 00:30:59,000 --> 00:31:05,000 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended, 469 00:31:05,000 --> 00:31:10,000 but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind 470 00:31:10,000 --> 00:31:15,000 and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 471 00:31:15,000 --> 00:31:24,000 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God and Christ Jesus. 472 00:31:24,000 --> 00:31:29,000 That's a big one, because part of being a new creature, 473 00:31:29,000 --> 00:31:34,000 part of having that relationship with Christ, is learning to let go. 474 00:31:34,000 --> 00:31:37,000 And that's a hard one. 475 00:31:37,000 --> 00:31:38,000 That's a hard one. 476 00:31:38,000 --> 00:31:43,000 The Bible tells us not to hold on to our past in several places. 477 00:31:43,000 --> 00:31:46,000 It's like, yes, remember it, learn from it, but move on. 478 00:31:46,000 --> 00:31:48,000 Don't live there. 479 00:31:48,000 --> 00:31:54,000 And we like to live in those glory days, don't we? 480 00:31:54,000 --> 00:31:58,000 In our own sense, we're all albundies. 481 00:31:58,000 --> 00:32:01,000 We score three touchdowns in a single game. 482 00:32:01,000 --> 00:32:04,000 You know, whoa, Bundy. 483 00:32:04,000 --> 00:32:09,000 We all have these moments in our lives that we live in and we linger on. 484 00:32:09,000 --> 00:32:14,000 And it's very hard to get past them. 485 00:32:14,000 --> 00:32:16,000 It's really hard to start moving forward at that point though, 486 00:32:16,000 --> 00:32:21,000 because it is a chain, it is a shackle. 487 00:32:21,000 --> 00:32:26,000 Because while we look at it as the glory days and those better times, 488 00:32:26,000 --> 00:32:31,000 what we forget about are those hard things, those hardships, those sins 489 00:32:31,000 --> 00:32:34,000 that also happened at that time. 490 00:32:34,000 --> 00:32:39,000 Because no matter how good things were, at some point there was still some sin 491 00:32:39,000 --> 00:32:47,000 that had slid in there, right? 492 00:32:47,000 --> 00:32:51,000 But we do need to start moving forward on that new path with Christ. 493 00:32:51,000 --> 00:32:53,000 I want you to truly become a Christian, 494 00:32:53,000 --> 00:32:57,000 meaning you've truly accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior 495 00:32:57,000 --> 00:33:01,000 and had invited him into your heart and you've surrendered yourself over 496 00:33:01,000 --> 00:33:03,000 to his leading. 497 00:33:03,000 --> 00:33:05,000 The old you at this point has died. 498 00:33:05,000 --> 00:33:11,000 The new you is born and things are starting to change. 499 00:33:11,000 --> 00:33:16,000 And this happens because at this point we're being used. 500 00:33:16,000 --> 00:33:18,000 We're no longer being used by the world. 501 00:33:18,000 --> 00:33:24,000 We're no longer a tool of the enemy whether we realize it or not. 502 00:33:24,000 --> 00:33:29,000 But we are a part of the bride and what we do, we do for Christ. 503 00:33:29,000 --> 00:33:35,000 We are a tool that can be used by God to point the way to his kingdom, 504 00:33:35,000 --> 00:33:38,000 to bring light to his kingdom, right? 505 00:33:38,000 --> 00:33:40,000 Reflect the light, I shouldn't say bring light, 506 00:33:40,000 --> 00:33:46,000 but to reflect the light of his kingdom, to point the way to him. 507 00:33:46,000 --> 00:33:50,000 When you were called by Christ and you answered that, 508 00:33:50,000 --> 00:34:00,000 that little knock at this point, you were giving up part of yourself. 509 00:34:00,000 --> 00:34:07,000 You're giving yourself up to serve him, to be part of the church, 510 00:34:07,000 --> 00:34:17,000 to do his work in the world, to do his work for the kingdom. 511 00:34:17,000 --> 00:34:20,000 The thing is though, because the world that we live in, 512 00:34:20,000 --> 00:34:24,000 we're getting pulled in two different directions. 513 00:34:24,000 --> 00:34:26,000 There's a constant tug of war there, right? 514 00:34:26,000 --> 00:34:31,000 We have to remember which side that we're actually going to give the power to though, 515 00:34:31,000 --> 00:34:35,000 because he can't serve two masters. 516 00:34:35,000 --> 00:34:40,000 Going to Matthew chapter 6, verse 24. 517 00:34:40,000 --> 00:34:42,000 So Matthew 6, 24, the word says, 518 00:34:42,000 --> 00:34:49,000 no one can serve two masters for either he will hate one and love the other, 519 00:34:49,000 --> 00:34:52,000 or else he will be loyal to one and despise the other. 520 00:34:52,000 --> 00:34:56,000 You cannot serve God and mammon. 521 00:34:56,000 --> 00:34:59,000 So you either serve Christ or you serve the world. 522 00:34:59,000 --> 00:35:09,000 You have to be very careful how willing you are to jump into the new year and treat it as a new chapter, 523 00:35:09,000 --> 00:35:14,000 because the enemy has snares all over the place. 524 00:35:14,000 --> 00:35:20,000 You call him landmines, or you could pretend he's a toddler with a box of Legos thrown across the room, 525 00:35:20,000 --> 00:35:23,000 and it's dark and you can't see nothing on the floor. 526 00:35:23,000 --> 00:35:27,000 You're going to step on one of those things at some point, unfortunately. 527 00:35:27,000 --> 00:35:29,000 So you have to be very careful. 528 00:35:29,000 --> 00:35:34,000 You know, getting caught up in resolutions and all the new fads, and there are a lot of them. 529 00:35:34,000 --> 00:35:41,000 You know, you find yourself eventually realizing, hey, I've fallen into a snare. 530 00:35:41,000 --> 00:35:44,000 But the problem is a lot of us, we get so caught up in what's going on, 531 00:35:44,000 --> 00:35:50,000 we don't realize it until it's too late, until things already grabbed us, 532 00:35:50,000 --> 00:35:59,000 and we're caught up in it and say, oh, I shouldn't have done that. 533 00:35:59,000 --> 00:36:03,000 It happens. 534 00:36:03,000 --> 00:36:08,000 You know, the enemy loves to use idols, loves to use idols. 535 00:36:08,000 --> 00:36:13,000 It's one of his best snares right there, one of his best tools, 536 00:36:13,000 --> 00:36:20,000 because he can use those idols in various ways to tempt us and pull us away from Jesus. 537 00:36:20,000 --> 00:36:27,000 And the scary thing is, is they work, and they work really, really good. 538 00:36:27,000 --> 00:36:31,000 I mean really good. 539 00:36:31,000 --> 00:36:36,000 So we have to take that, we have to make that choice to walk away from him 540 00:36:36,000 --> 00:36:39,000 and to walk towards Christ, to walk towards the light, 541 00:36:39,000 --> 00:36:42,000 to repent of whatever snare it is that's caught us in. 542 00:36:42,000 --> 00:36:46,000 And people get caught up in all the time. 543 00:36:46,000 --> 00:36:50,000 Sports, celebrities, musicians, turn on the news, 544 00:36:50,000 --> 00:36:57,000 and half of that nonsense telling you, you know, oh, you've got to do this, this is the look. 545 00:36:57,000 --> 00:37:01,000 This is who you need to give to and how you need to do it. 546 00:37:01,000 --> 00:37:06,000 You know, even like we look at things like goodwill. 547 00:37:06,000 --> 00:37:09,000 You know, I hate to call out certain programs, there's veteran organizations as well, 548 00:37:09,000 --> 00:37:16,000 but you look at it and here's businesses built upon people going in, you know, 549 00:37:16,000 --> 00:37:20,000 all their product comes from donations essentially. 550 00:37:20,000 --> 00:37:26,000 Their employees are paid minimum wage, and they work a lot of hours. 551 00:37:26,000 --> 00:37:29,000 And yeah, they're getting some skills and there's some stuff that goes on there, yeah. 552 00:37:29,000 --> 00:37:36,000 But then you look at the CEOs who are billionaires, every single one of them, 553 00:37:36,000 --> 00:37:42,000 and they really don't care about their employees, their well-being, their health, 554 00:37:42,000 --> 00:37:43,000 or anything like that. 555 00:37:43,000 --> 00:37:45,000 It's just like, hey, guess what, you're expendable. 556 00:37:45,000 --> 00:37:49,000 If you don't like the job, bye-bye. 557 00:37:49,000 --> 00:37:56,000 I left some of those jobs. 558 00:37:56,000 --> 00:38:01,000 So we have to be very careful, because when we get caught up in these things, 559 00:38:01,000 --> 00:38:06,000 we need to remember the devil just placed a temptation there. 560 00:38:06,000 --> 00:38:08,000 Here's this trinket. 561 00:38:08,000 --> 00:38:09,000 Do you want it? 562 00:38:09,000 --> 00:38:14,000 I will give it to you for a price, but I'll give it to you. 563 00:38:14,000 --> 00:38:15,000 Don't read the small print. 564 00:38:15,000 --> 00:38:17,000 You don't need it, right? 565 00:38:17,000 --> 00:38:21,000 Fine print being your soul. 566 00:38:21,000 --> 00:38:26,000 We like to say the devil made me do it, but the devil didn't make us do anything. 567 00:38:26,000 --> 00:38:31,000 He cannot make you do anything. 568 00:38:31,000 --> 00:38:33,000 Instead, he entices you. 569 00:38:33,000 --> 00:38:35,000 He holds up the shiny little thing. 570 00:38:35,000 --> 00:38:37,000 It's so precious. 571 00:38:37,000 --> 00:38:42,000 Next, an eagle, my precious. 572 00:38:42,000 --> 00:38:46,000 Little nerdy reference for you there. 573 00:38:46,000 --> 00:38:52,000 But he holds it up, and it's on us to make the choice, like, yes, I want it. 574 00:38:52,000 --> 00:38:58,000 And a lot of us, we reach for it like a toddler, a little tight, right? 575 00:38:58,000 --> 00:39:02,000 Yes, I got it. 576 00:39:02,000 --> 00:39:08,000 But that relies on the price. 577 00:39:08,000 --> 00:39:13,000 It's our choice. 578 00:39:13,000 --> 00:39:14,000 So we have to be discerning. 579 00:39:14,000 --> 00:39:15,000 We have to be prayerful. 580 00:39:15,000 --> 00:39:20,000 We have to tread carefully on that battlefield, because it is treacherous, my friend, 581 00:39:20,000 --> 00:39:23,000 and something will reach up and it will grab you. 582 00:39:23,000 --> 00:39:31,000 When it comes to the new your, new me, sure, go ahead, make a resolution, but make sure it's biblical. 583 00:39:31,000 --> 00:39:41,000 Make sure it's something sincere within you that serves the Lord, that you know you can follow through one. 584 00:39:41,000 --> 00:39:48,000 And if you haven't given yourself to the Lord yet, my recommendation would make a resolution to die to the world 585 00:39:48,000 --> 00:39:53,000 and be reborn in Christ. 586 00:39:53,000 --> 00:40:06,000 Make that choice to go from death to life, from the world to the kingdom, to do the right thing for the right reason, and to love. 587 00:40:06,000 --> 00:40:13,000 So before we pray here, I'd like to remind everybody, as you leave here today, and for everybody online, 588 00:40:13,000 --> 00:40:20,000 as applies to you too, you are loved and you are blessed. 589 00:40:20,000 --> 00:40:23,000 So when you leave, you go out to the world, go and be the church. 590 00:40:23,000 --> 00:40:27,000 Let us pray. 591 00:40:27,000 --> 00:40:30,000 Lord, we thank you again for our time here together. 592 00:40:30,000 --> 00:40:32,000 We thank you for making us new in you. 593 00:40:32,000 --> 00:40:38,000 We thank you for your sacrifice so that we can be made new in you. 594 00:40:38,000 --> 00:40:47,000 We ask that you guide us and you continue to remind us to put you first in everything that we do 595 00:40:47,000 --> 00:40:55,000 to help us to ensure that everything that we do points the way to you. 596 00:40:55,000 --> 00:40:56,000 Help us where we're going to struggle. 597 00:40:56,000 --> 00:41:02,000 Help us those places that we have to go, that we're going to fall short, that we can't go to, 598 00:41:02,000 --> 00:41:08,000 and can't get through without you, remind us to lean on to you and depend on you for strength, 599 00:41:08,000 --> 00:41:14,000 and to follow you to step where you step. 600 00:41:14,000 --> 00:41:20,000 Help us with all these struggles with the world and its ways so that when we are out there, 601 00:41:20,000 --> 00:41:25,000 we don't fall into the enemy's traps. 602 00:41:25,000 --> 00:41:31,000 We thank you so much for your love, your mercy, your grace. 603 00:41:31,000 --> 00:41:35,000 All the blessings that you've given us and all the blessings yet to come. 604 00:41:35,000 --> 00:41:41,000 And we thank you for being our guide in this life. 605 00:41:41,000 --> 00:41:43,000 We thank you for all this and so much more. 606 00:41:43,000 --> 00:41:48,000 We love you and all of these people said amen and amen. 607 00:41:48,000 --> 00:41:52,000 Thank you all for joining us here today at Healing Scars with Pastor Burton. 608 00:41:52,000 --> 00:41:59,000 Please like, subscribe, and share our podcast on any platform it is that you tune into us on. 609 00:41:59,000 --> 00:42:06,000 If you do have any questions, any prayer requests, or would like to know more about our ministry, 610 00:42:06,000 --> 00:42:17,000 you can find us on our website at BeTheLightSanctuary.org or on Facebook at BeTheLightSanctuary. 611 00:42:17,000 --> 00:42:22,000 You can also find how to contact us there, whether it's direct message or email. 612 00:42:22,000 --> 00:42:29,000 We look forward to hearing from you all. God bless.