1 00:00:02,870 --> 00:00:10,790 Welcome to From the Pulpit in Classic Sermons. 2 00:00:11,310 --> 00:00:13,270 Each week we bring you a different message 3 00:00:13,270 --> 00:00:15,390 from some of history's greatest speakers in the 4 00:00:15,390 --> 00:00:18,430 Christian faith, and powerful sermons from modern preachers, 5 00:00:18,590 --> 00:00:18,730 too. 6 00:00:20,010 --> 00:00:21,830 This week we have Chuck Smith with his 7 00:00:21,830 --> 00:00:23,850 message, Beware of Ambition. 8 00:00:26,660 --> 00:00:29,980 Alright, let's turn now in our Bibles to 9 00:00:29,980 --> 00:00:35,120 Acts chapter 3, and we want to begin 10 00:00:35,120 --> 00:00:36,860 tonight at verse 12. 11 00:00:40,880 --> 00:00:45,240 We've been looking at the characteristics of the 12 00:00:45,240 --> 00:00:49,800 men that God used to accomplish His eternal 13 00:00:49,800 --> 00:00:51,500 purposes here on earth. 14 00:00:52,740 --> 00:00:54,800 We found that they were men of prayer, 15 00:00:56,060 --> 00:00:58,760 and that they were men of faith. 16 00:00:58,760 --> 00:01:02,440 And now we come to a vital and 17 00:01:02,440 --> 00:01:07,120 extremely important characteristic as we get to verse 18 00:01:07,120 --> 00:01:07,680 12. 19 00:01:08,620 --> 00:01:11,520 We discover that they are men who have 20 00:01:11,520 --> 00:01:15,200 come to the cross in their own lives. 21 00:01:16,300 --> 00:01:19,140 They've reckoned the old nature to be dead, 22 00:01:19,440 --> 00:01:24,200 crucified with Christ, and they are not thus 23 00:01:24,200 --> 00:01:27,420 looking for glory for themselves. 24 00:01:29,640 --> 00:01:31,780 Peter and John were going into the temple 25 00:01:31,780 --> 00:01:32,780 at the hour of prayer. 26 00:01:32,960 --> 00:01:36,300 The lame man sought alms from them. 27 00:01:37,440 --> 00:01:39,120 Peter said, Look at us. 28 00:01:39,160 --> 00:01:41,360 He turned, expecting to receive something. 29 00:01:42,540 --> 00:01:44,740 Peter said, Silver and gold have I none, 30 00:01:44,800 --> 00:01:46,320 but what I have I'll give to you 31 00:01:46,320 --> 00:01:49,260 in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. 32 00:01:49,440 --> 00:01:50,680 Rise to your feet and walk. 33 00:01:51,360 --> 00:01:53,620 And Peter, lifting the man to his feet, 34 00:01:53,680 --> 00:01:56,120 immediately the man received strength. 35 00:01:56,120 --> 00:01:59,100 He began to walk and leap and praise 36 00:01:59,100 --> 00:01:59,500 God. 37 00:01:59,820 --> 00:02:02,420 Went into the temple with Peter and John, 38 00:02:02,540 --> 00:02:04,400 walking, leaping, praising God. 39 00:02:04,700 --> 00:02:07,960 And all of the people gathered together on 40 00:02:07,960 --> 00:02:11,080 Solomon's porch, greatly wondering. 41 00:02:12,120 --> 00:02:16,620 And when Peter saw them, he answered the 42 00:02:16,620 --> 00:02:21,420 people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye 43 00:02:21,420 --> 00:02:22,300 at this? 44 00:02:22,640 --> 00:02:25,240 Or why do you look so earnestly on 45 00:02:25,240 --> 00:02:28,340 us as though by our own power or 46 00:02:28,340 --> 00:02:32,400 holiness we have made this man to walk? 47 00:02:34,000 --> 00:02:38,980 Peter, recognizing that the people are about to 48 00:02:38,980 --> 00:02:44,060 worship him, look upon him as though he 49 00:02:44,060 --> 00:02:45,700 was something special. 50 00:02:46,700 --> 00:02:50,580 Immediately seeks to turn them away from himself 51 00:02:50,580 --> 00:02:53,620 to the worship of God. 52 00:02:55,280 --> 00:03:01,460 Many people cannot distinguish between God and the 53 00:03:01,460 --> 00:03:06,600 instrument that God uses to accomplish his purposes. 54 00:03:08,980 --> 00:03:14,200 Because I can see the individual and I 55 00:03:14,200 --> 00:03:19,200 can't see God, I am often prone to 56 00:03:19,200 --> 00:03:24,380 exalt the individual that God used rather than 57 00:03:24,380 --> 00:03:29,040 exalting God who used that individual. 58 00:03:30,380 --> 00:03:33,620 And this is just the way people are. 59 00:03:34,540 --> 00:03:39,460 You can't stop people from being this way, 60 00:03:41,420 --> 00:03:47,020 but you can, as Peter, be careful not 61 00:03:47,020 --> 00:03:50,080 to try to stand on that pedestal that 62 00:03:50,080 --> 00:03:51,520 they're trying to put you on. 63 00:03:52,760 --> 00:03:55,900 You can be careful to turn the people 64 00:03:55,900 --> 00:03:59,900 away from you and turn them unto the 65 00:03:59,900 --> 00:04:04,320 Lord and let them get focused upon the 66 00:04:04,320 --> 00:04:07,040 Lord who was using you. 67 00:04:07,720 --> 00:04:09,520 I think that one of the greatest dangers 68 00:04:09,520 --> 00:04:12,660 in the ministry is when God truly begins 69 00:04:12,660 --> 00:04:17,120 to use you in a supernatural, marvelous way, 70 00:04:17,640 --> 00:04:22,440 because the people then want to exalt the 71 00:04:22,440 --> 00:04:22,980 instrument. 72 00:04:24,120 --> 00:04:25,780 And that's not good. 73 00:04:26,620 --> 00:04:28,900 The crowd began to look at Peter and 74 00:04:28,900 --> 00:04:33,900 John as it was the result of their 75 00:04:33,900 --> 00:04:38,340 great holiness or that they had some kind 76 00:04:38,340 --> 00:04:41,860 of special powers that they were able to 77 00:04:41,860 --> 00:04:43,740 make this lame man to walk. 78 00:04:44,520 --> 00:04:48,340 And they were ready to worship them for 79 00:04:48,340 --> 00:04:51,100 the miracle that was done for the lame 80 00:04:51,100 --> 00:04:51,500 man. 81 00:04:54,240 --> 00:04:56,300 If you want to be used of God 82 00:04:56,300 --> 00:05:04,160 and continue to be used by God, you've 83 00:05:04,160 --> 00:05:07,420 got to come to the death to the 84 00:05:07,420 --> 00:05:08,600 self-life. 85 00:05:11,500 --> 00:05:15,800 It's a very easy trap to fall into, 86 00:05:16,400 --> 00:05:19,540 that is, to take the credit and the 87 00:05:19,540 --> 00:05:21,760 glory for what God has done. 88 00:05:21,760 --> 00:05:26,520 When people begin to elevate you, look up 89 00:05:26,520 --> 00:05:32,300 to you, and begin to revere you, it 90 00:05:32,300 --> 00:05:36,360 is so easy to then begin to accept 91 00:05:36,360 --> 00:05:40,660 the praise, accept the adulation. 92 00:05:41,740 --> 00:05:45,100 And our old flesh loves that. 93 00:05:46,280 --> 00:05:49,580 Our old nature wants to be worshiped. 94 00:05:49,920 --> 00:05:51,880 It wants to be admired. 95 00:05:53,220 --> 00:05:56,780 We want people to look up to us, 96 00:05:57,020 --> 00:06:00,080 and in fact, we want people to think 97 00:06:00,080 --> 00:06:03,160 that we are very holy and we are 98 00:06:03,160 --> 00:06:06,600 very righteous and we are very spiritual. 99 00:06:08,220 --> 00:06:11,940 And so often we then put on spiritual 100 00:06:11,940 --> 00:06:12,740 airs. 101 00:06:14,600 --> 00:06:21,280 We begin to have certain affectations that appear 102 00:06:21,280 --> 00:06:24,020 to be extremely spiritual. 103 00:06:24,280 --> 00:06:27,580 You can even develop a spiritual voice. 104 00:06:28,480 --> 00:06:32,720 Oh brother, God bless you, you know. 105 00:06:33,860 --> 00:06:38,520 And you can begin to hold your hands 106 00:06:38,520 --> 00:06:42,100 in a very spiritual posture and close your 107 00:06:42,100 --> 00:06:46,480 eyes and you can give off the affectations 108 00:06:46,480 --> 00:06:49,600 of being a deeply spiritual person. 109 00:06:50,660 --> 00:06:53,540 But what that does is draw attention to 110 00:06:53,540 --> 00:06:56,700 you, not to the Lord. 111 00:07:00,660 --> 00:07:06,380 I was in a church recently as they 112 00:07:06,380 --> 00:07:08,040 were having the worship service. 113 00:07:09,780 --> 00:07:12,100 They were singing choruses, some new ones that 114 00:07:12,100 --> 00:07:13,960 I didn't know, and so I had to 115 00:07:13,960 --> 00:07:19,620 read the screen to worship with the words. 116 00:07:20,770 --> 00:07:22,560 They had some beautiful choruses. 117 00:07:23,680 --> 00:07:29,300 But as they were singing, some unthoughtful person 118 00:07:29,300 --> 00:07:33,720 and persons started standing up in front of 119 00:07:33,720 --> 00:07:40,120 me, hands raised, swinging back and forth, and 120 00:07:40,120 --> 00:07:43,300 they were very effectively stopping me from worship 121 00:07:43,300 --> 00:07:45,460 because I couldn't see the words anymore. 122 00:07:46,480 --> 00:07:49,640 And I thought, would you please sit down? 123 00:07:51,260 --> 00:07:54,620 If you want to stand and wave, then 124 00:07:54,620 --> 00:07:57,180 sit in the back row where nobody notices 125 00:07:57,180 --> 00:07:57,600 you. 126 00:07:59,180 --> 00:08:00,780 Why is it they always want to sit 127 00:08:00,780 --> 00:08:01,440 down front? 128 00:08:04,440 --> 00:08:08,740 And so it draws attention to the individual. 129 00:08:09,560 --> 00:08:13,080 Now, you might be completely sincere and you 130 00:08:13,080 --> 00:08:16,160 might feel that you can worship better standing 131 00:08:16,160 --> 00:08:18,520 with your hands raised and swinging back and 132 00:08:18,520 --> 00:08:18,800 forth. 133 00:08:19,280 --> 00:08:22,140 Fine, if that's so, then go outside where 134 00:08:22,140 --> 00:08:23,540 you're not bothering anybody. 135 00:08:24,380 --> 00:08:26,500 Or at least sit in the back row 136 00:08:26,500 --> 00:08:30,060 where you're not drawing attention to yourself. 137 00:08:30,060 --> 00:08:32,500 But you see, it is so subtle and 138 00:08:32,500 --> 00:08:37,360 so easy to do things that draw attention 139 00:08:37,360 --> 00:08:42,460 to ourself and to give off the aura 140 00:08:42,460 --> 00:08:47,900 of being spiritual or more spiritual than the 141 00:08:47,900 --> 00:08:48,400 rest. 142 00:08:54,160 --> 00:08:56,200 As God begins to use you and people 143 00:08:56,200 --> 00:08:59,620 begin to look to you because God has 144 00:08:59,620 --> 00:09:04,100 been using you as an instrument, Satan often 145 00:09:04,100 --> 00:09:09,760 offers a subtle suggestion that it's all right 146 00:09:09,760 --> 00:09:15,460 to let them really admire you because when 147 00:09:15,460 --> 00:09:19,060 they really gain confidence in you, then you 148 00:09:19,060 --> 00:09:20,680 can turn them to Jesus. 149 00:09:21,660 --> 00:09:22,840 Look out for that one. 150 00:09:23,800 --> 00:09:27,420 Many have fallen into that trap. 151 00:09:30,540 --> 00:09:35,100 People that begin to take the glory to 152 00:09:35,100 --> 00:09:39,900 themselves soon become unusable by God. 153 00:09:41,440 --> 00:09:45,720 One of the main prayers that I have 154 00:09:45,720 --> 00:09:47,880 for myself and I ask people to pray 155 00:09:47,880 --> 00:09:52,280 for me is that God will keep me 156 00:09:52,280 --> 00:09:52,980 usable. 157 00:09:52,980 --> 00:09:58,540 I stand in amazement at what God has 158 00:09:58,540 --> 00:10:00,980 done and what God is doing. 159 00:10:02,180 --> 00:10:09,140 I marvel and I am so grateful for 160 00:10:09,140 --> 00:10:10,280 what God has done. 161 00:10:11,640 --> 00:10:15,620 But I realize that it is God who 162 00:10:15,620 --> 00:10:16,440 has done it. 163 00:10:17,280 --> 00:10:19,720 And I realize that if I begin to 164 00:10:19,720 --> 00:10:22,600 take credit or glory for it, God can 165 00:10:22,600 --> 00:10:24,660 set me aside in a hurry. 166 00:10:27,320 --> 00:10:29,940 And so my prayer is, God, keep me 167 00:10:29,940 --> 00:10:30,740 usable. 168 00:10:32,140 --> 00:10:34,780 Keep me in that place where you can 169 00:10:34,780 --> 00:10:37,780 continue to do through my life, Lord, what 170 00:10:37,780 --> 00:10:39,260 you desire to do. 171 00:10:39,420 --> 00:10:42,980 Keep me from ever trying to touch the 172 00:10:42,980 --> 00:10:46,840 glory or take credit for what you have 173 00:10:46,840 --> 00:10:47,300 done. 174 00:10:48,400 --> 00:10:51,400 Paul the Apostle was concerned about this very 175 00:10:51,400 --> 00:10:51,960 thing. 176 00:10:52,760 --> 00:10:55,500 Writing to the Corinthians, he spoke about how 177 00:10:55,500 --> 00:10:59,640 he beat himself to keep his body under, 178 00:11:00,520 --> 00:11:04,860 lest having preached to others, he would be 179 00:11:04,860 --> 00:11:06,760 set aside, he would be put on the 180 00:11:06,760 --> 00:11:07,180 shelf. 181 00:11:08,480 --> 00:11:16,560 He realized that that's a prevalent danger if 182 00:11:16,560 --> 00:11:18,960 you don't keep the body under. 183 00:11:19,440 --> 00:11:21,360 And that's not an easy thing. 184 00:11:22,740 --> 00:11:26,860 To keep the body under, to keep the 185 00:11:26,860 --> 00:11:32,180 spirit uppermost, because the body wants to rule 186 00:11:32,180 --> 00:11:35,500 over your life, even as the spirit desires 187 00:11:35,500 --> 00:11:36,920 to rule over your life. 188 00:11:37,140 --> 00:11:39,340 And you will be ruled by one or 189 00:11:39,340 --> 00:11:39,840 the other. 190 00:11:41,460 --> 00:11:43,880 You'll be governed by your flesh or you'll 191 00:11:43,880 --> 00:11:45,480 be governed by your spirit. 192 00:11:46,600 --> 00:11:50,460 And unfortunately, sometimes we are governed by the 193 00:11:50,460 --> 00:11:50,740 spirit. 194 00:11:50,740 --> 00:11:51,920 We yield to the spirit. 195 00:11:52,140 --> 00:11:55,200 And then, unfortunately, sometimes we yield to the 196 00:11:55,200 --> 00:11:58,300 flesh and we respond and react after the 197 00:11:58,300 --> 00:11:58,780 flesh. 198 00:12:01,140 --> 00:12:07,000 And so there is this battle for supremacy. 199 00:12:08,180 --> 00:12:11,240 What is going to rule over you, whether 200 00:12:11,240 --> 00:12:14,460 you'll be ruled by the spirit or you'll 201 00:12:14,460 --> 00:12:16,780 be ruled by the flesh. 202 00:12:17,760 --> 00:12:19,900 We are told if we sow to the 203 00:12:19,900 --> 00:12:23,340 flesh, then of the flesh we're going to 204 00:12:23,340 --> 00:12:23,720 reap. 205 00:12:24,420 --> 00:12:26,840 If we sow to the spirit, then of 206 00:12:26,840 --> 00:12:28,560 the spirit we will reap. 207 00:12:30,300 --> 00:12:32,960 And it is a mistake to think that 208 00:12:32,960 --> 00:12:35,400 you can sow to the flesh and then 209 00:12:35,400 --> 00:12:37,840 reap of the spirit. 210 00:12:39,800 --> 00:12:42,660 It's important, if I am to be used 211 00:12:42,660 --> 00:12:50,130 by God in a powerful way, that I 212 00:12:50,130 --> 00:12:56,770 have no personal ambitions for greatness, no ambitions 213 00:12:56,770 --> 00:13:01,610 to be famous, no ambitions to be known, 214 00:13:02,470 --> 00:13:05,670 no ambitions to see my name in print. 215 00:13:08,380 --> 00:13:13,520 As Paul said, God forbid that I should 216 00:13:13,520 --> 00:13:18,900 glory, save in the cross of Jesus Christ. 217 00:13:19,820 --> 00:13:22,560 As the hymn that was taken from that 218 00:13:22,560 --> 00:13:26,140 verse of Paul, forbid it, Lord, that I 219 00:13:26,140 --> 00:13:29,740 should boast, save in the death of Christ 220 00:13:29,740 --> 00:13:30,520 my God. 221 00:13:31,200 --> 00:13:35,080 All the vain things that charm me most, 222 00:13:35,340 --> 00:13:39,400 I sacrifice them to his blood. 223 00:13:40,540 --> 00:13:45,340 When Paul was in Lystra, he faced the 224 00:13:45,340 --> 00:13:47,860 greatest peril of his ministry. 225 00:13:49,060 --> 00:13:53,420 Not when they stoned him, thought he was 226 00:13:53,420 --> 00:13:56,440 dead, and drug him out of the city. 227 00:13:57,300 --> 00:13:59,180 That wasn't the greatest peril. 228 00:14:00,160 --> 00:14:04,180 The greatest peril was when they thought he 229 00:14:04,180 --> 00:14:11,140 was a god, Mercury, and the priest of 230 00:14:11,140 --> 00:14:14,780 Jupiter was dragging an ox down the street 231 00:14:14,780 --> 00:14:18,120 to sacrifice it to him, for the people 232 00:14:18,120 --> 00:14:20,000 said the gods have come down. 233 00:14:20,320 --> 00:14:23,420 That was the greatest peril in the ministry 234 00:14:23,420 --> 00:14:23,980 of Paul. 235 00:14:23,980 --> 00:14:27,320 When the people were ready to exalt him 236 00:14:27,320 --> 00:14:33,600 as a god, the danger of receiving, accepting 237 00:14:33,600 --> 00:14:40,640 that kind of praise and adulation, the self 238 00:14:40,640 --> 00:14:42,780 -life desires worship. 239 00:14:45,590 --> 00:14:48,310 This is what caused Satan to fall. 240 00:14:49,350 --> 00:14:51,130 He wanted to be worshiped. 241 00:14:51,290 --> 00:14:55,050 I will exalt my throne above the stars 242 00:14:55,050 --> 00:14:55,730 of God. 243 00:14:55,730 --> 00:14:59,670 I will be like the most I. 244 00:15:05,580 --> 00:15:12,860 The flesh life manifests itself quite early, and 245 00:15:12,860 --> 00:15:15,800 as long as we are living in this 246 00:15:15,800 --> 00:15:20,420 body of flesh, we're going to be having 247 00:15:20,420 --> 00:15:24,800 problems with the old nature and the flesh 248 00:15:24,800 --> 00:15:25,200 life. 249 00:15:28,240 --> 00:15:32,720 In fact, the flesh life is so universally 250 00:15:32,720 --> 00:15:36,980 manifested that we just call it natural. 251 00:15:38,920 --> 00:15:41,560 Well, God doesn't want you to live a 252 00:15:41,560 --> 00:15:42,500 natural life. 253 00:15:42,600 --> 00:15:46,380 He wants you to live a supernatural life. 254 00:15:47,140 --> 00:15:51,140 But you cannot live a supernatural life without 255 00:15:51,140 --> 00:15:54,180 the power of the Holy Spirit. 256 00:15:55,920 --> 00:15:59,620 Very early in life, a child begins to 257 00:15:59,620 --> 00:16:04,200 manifest the desire for worship, the desire for 258 00:16:04,200 --> 00:16:05,700 praise and adulation. 259 00:16:07,380 --> 00:16:10,260 As your child is standing on the wall 260 00:16:10,260 --> 00:16:12,920 saying, watch, daddy, watch. 261 00:16:14,180 --> 00:16:17,200 And you look at him as he leaps 262 00:16:17,200 --> 00:16:19,120 from the wall and you pray that he 263 00:16:19,120 --> 00:16:20,340 doesn't break a bone. 264 00:16:21,340 --> 00:16:25,200 But he wants you to say, oh, big 265 00:16:25,200 --> 00:16:26,060 boy. 266 00:16:26,340 --> 00:16:27,100 Wow. 267 00:16:28,240 --> 00:16:30,420 And and they're wanting the praise. 268 00:16:30,540 --> 00:16:30,960 They're wanting. 269 00:16:31,200 --> 00:16:32,620 It's just natural. 270 00:16:34,900 --> 00:16:37,060 That's just a part of human nature. 271 00:16:37,520 --> 00:16:39,860 That is the old nature. 272 00:16:41,400 --> 00:16:44,580 Just like the little girl who dresses up 273 00:16:44,580 --> 00:16:49,800 in those dress up clothes and comes out 274 00:16:49,800 --> 00:16:53,740 and she's wanting you to say, oh, a 275 00:16:53,740 --> 00:16:55,800 princess, you're gorgeous. 276 00:16:57,620 --> 00:16:59,960 I mean, that's just natural. 277 00:17:00,920 --> 00:17:04,400 We just that's just our nature. 278 00:17:04,859 --> 00:17:10,819 We want people to admire us, to praise 279 00:17:10,819 --> 00:17:11,560 us. 280 00:17:16,260 --> 00:17:20,220 It's just a demonstration as the truth of 281 00:17:20,220 --> 00:17:22,780 Paul's statement to the church in Ephesus when 282 00:17:22,780 --> 00:17:25,060 he said we were all by nature. 283 00:17:25,980 --> 00:17:28,980 The children of wrath, even as others. 284 00:17:30,280 --> 00:17:32,520 So I have a real problem when I 285 00:17:32,520 --> 00:17:33,540 become born again. 286 00:17:34,420 --> 00:17:36,860 When my spirit comes alive. 287 00:17:37,900 --> 00:17:41,240 Because now my spirit wants to rule. 288 00:17:42,860 --> 00:17:46,040 And my flesh is fighting against my spirit 289 00:17:46,040 --> 00:17:49,100 because my flesh doesn't want the spirit to 290 00:17:49,100 --> 00:17:49,360 rule. 291 00:17:49,360 --> 00:17:51,680 It's been on the throne for a long 292 00:17:51,680 --> 00:17:56,660 time and it is reluctant to cede the 293 00:17:56,660 --> 00:17:57,980 throne to the spirit. 294 00:18:00,990 --> 00:18:02,590 And if it has to cede the throne, 295 00:18:02,830 --> 00:18:04,990 it's going to counterattack and try to get 296 00:18:04,990 --> 00:18:06,450 back on the throne again. 297 00:18:08,070 --> 00:18:12,030 And so as long as we live in 298 00:18:12,030 --> 00:18:13,770 these bodies of flesh. 299 00:18:14,510 --> 00:18:19,330 We're going to be subject to the choices 300 00:18:19,330 --> 00:18:23,950 constantly of yielding to the spirit or yielding 301 00:18:23,950 --> 00:18:25,590 to the flesh. 302 00:18:29,270 --> 00:18:31,430 And that is why Paul tells us that 303 00:18:31,430 --> 00:18:35,230 we and all of creation together grown and 304 00:18:35,230 --> 00:18:38,770 travail until now, as we are waiting for 305 00:18:38,770 --> 00:18:42,070 the manifestation of the sons of God to 306 00:18:42,070 --> 00:18:44,590 wit the redemption of our bodies. 307 00:18:44,670 --> 00:18:46,350 Our bodies are not redeemed. 308 00:18:46,350 --> 00:18:48,090 Your soul is redeemed. 309 00:18:48,970 --> 00:18:51,610 But a redeemed soul in a corrupt body 310 00:18:51,610 --> 00:18:53,490 is a bad combination. 311 00:18:55,100 --> 00:18:56,550 But that's the way it is. 312 00:18:57,470 --> 00:18:59,350 My spirit is redeemed. 313 00:18:59,470 --> 00:19:00,890 My soul is redeemed. 314 00:19:01,030 --> 00:19:03,970 And in my heart, I long after God. 315 00:19:04,090 --> 00:19:05,990 In my heart, I want to serve God. 316 00:19:06,150 --> 00:19:08,850 But my flesh is fighting against that. 317 00:19:11,990 --> 00:19:14,310 Now, if I want God to really use 318 00:19:14,310 --> 00:19:14,690 me. 319 00:19:16,010 --> 00:19:18,190 I've got to come to the cross. 320 00:19:18,790 --> 00:19:21,630 I've got to reckon that old flesh life 321 00:19:21,630 --> 00:19:24,670 to be dead, crucified with Christ. 322 00:19:29,440 --> 00:19:33,960 In a few chapters, we'll see how severely 323 00:19:33,960 --> 00:19:37,360 God dealt with this problem in the early 324 00:19:37,360 --> 00:19:37,860 church. 325 00:19:39,060 --> 00:19:41,600 People who were desiring glory. 326 00:19:42,800 --> 00:19:45,960 People who were desiring the ooze and the 327 00:19:45,960 --> 00:19:49,120 awes of the rest of the congregation. 328 00:19:50,660 --> 00:19:52,320 And God dealt with it in a very 329 00:19:52,320 --> 00:19:53,900 severe manner. 330 00:19:55,000 --> 00:19:59,820 As Ananias and Sapphira sought to put on 331 00:19:59,820 --> 00:20:02,640 a act for the people. 332 00:20:04,440 --> 00:20:06,980 Pretending to give more than what they were 333 00:20:06,980 --> 00:20:07,360 giving. 334 00:20:07,360 --> 00:20:09,940 Pretending to give all when they were holding 335 00:20:09,940 --> 00:20:10,480 back. 336 00:20:11,560 --> 00:20:14,000 It wasn't wrong that they held back. 337 00:20:15,200 --> 00:20:18,440 But the fact that they were acting and 338 00:20:18,440 --> 00:20:21,220 declaring that they were giving everything when they 339 00:20:21,220 --> 00:20:22,360 were holding back. 340 00:20:23,740 --> 00:20:26,280 But why would you do that except that 341 00:20:26,280 --> 00:20:29,420 you want people to praise and to say, 342 00:20:29,560 --> 00:20:31,260 Oh, did you hear what they did? 343 00:20:31,560 --> 00:20:33,080 Isn't that marvelous? 344 00:20:33,460 --> 00:20:34,980 Isn't that wonderful? 345 00:20:34,980 --> 00:20:39,100 And that desire for the adulation and praise 346 00:20:39,100 --> 00:20:40,580 cost them their lives. 347 00:20:45,450 --> 00:20:47,330 We look in the Old Testament. 348 00:20:49,700 --> 00:20:53,300 And we see there in Leviticus where when 349 00:20:53,300 --> 00:20:56,440 the tabernacle was complete. 350 00:20:57,760 --> 00:21:00,660 And they were ready now to inaugurate the 351 00:21:00,660 --> 00:21:02,560 worship of God in the tabernacle. 352 00:21:02,560 --> 00:21:11,820 They had killed the animals for the burnt 353 00:21:11,820 --> 00:21:13,360 offering sacrifice. 354 00:21:14,440 --> 00:21:17,940 They were getting ready to offer the animals 355 00:21:17,940 --> 00:21:19,020 on the altar. 356 00:21:20,480 --> 00:21:22,000 Consecration to God. 357 00:21:22,120 --> 00:21:23,500 Complete consecration. 358 00:21:25,140 --> 00:21:29,700 When suddenly God kindled the fire. 359 00:21:31,100 --> 00:21:33,000 Spontaneous combustion. 360 00:21:34,080 --> 00:21:36,280 Fire leaped from the altar. 361 00:21:37,420 --> 00:21:41,360 And the people seeing this manifestation of God's 362 00:21:41,360 --> 00:21:45,700 power began to shout and praise the Lord. 363 00:21:46,920 --> 00:21:53,080 And Aaron's two sons, Nadab and Abihu, grabbed 364 00:21:53,080 --> 00:21:54,420 their little golden censers. 365 00:21:54,820 --> 00:21:58,160 They put fire in it and poured incense 366 00:21:58,160 --> 00:22:00,380 on it and went running in. 367 00:22:01,320 --> 00:22:03,460 Because the people were all excited. 368 00:22:03,680 --> 00:22:06,080 And now they are going to show that, 369 00:22:06,460 --> 00:22:08,280 you know, that they have a part of 370 00:22:08,280 --> 00:22:09,040 this whole thing. 371 00:22:09,160 --> 00:22:09,900 They are priests. 372 00:22:09,980 --> 00:22:11,540 They are to offer the incense. 373 00:22:13,630 --> 00:22:16,550 And fire came from the altar and consumed 374 00:22:16,550 --> 00:22:17,750 the two of them. 375 00:22:19,590 --> 00:22:22,410 God would not have any flesh to glory 376 00:22:22,410 --> 00:22:23,790 in His sight. 377 00:22:23,790 --> 00:22:26,450 Or have them take away the glory that 378 00:22:26,450 --> 00:22:28,050 was being given to God. 379 00:22:28,310 --> 00:22:31,550 Because of God's miraculous work among the people. 380 00:22:40,410 --> 00:22:45,710 God had to dwindle Gideon's army down to 381 00:22:45,710 --> 00:22:46,630 just 300. 382 00:22:47,810 --> 00:22:50,770 To give them the victory over the Midianites. 383 00:22:52,170 --> 00:22:57,110 Because God said, There are too many for 384 00:22:57,110 --> 00:22:59,630 me to give the Midianites into their hands, 385 00:22:59,730 --> 00:23:05,270 lest Israel vaunt themselves over me, saying, My 386 00:23:05,270 --> 00:23:07,910 own hand hath saved me. 387 00:23:09,310 --> 00:23:13,110 God had to bring the odds down until 388 00:23:13,110 --> 00:23:14,750 they were absolutely ludicrous. 389 00:23:17,210 --> 00:23:19,670 Because God knew that if He gave the 390 00:23:19,670 --> 00:23:22,690 victory to the 32,000, they would be 391 00:23:22,690 --> 00:23:27,250 boasting of their prowess and their toughness and 392 00:23:27,250 --> 00:23:27,690 so forth. 393 00:23:28,170 --> 00:23:29,830 And so God brought it down to where 394 00:23:29,830 --> 00:23:31,350 it was absolutely ridiculous. 395 00:23:31,590 --> 00:23:35,930 300 going out against over 135,000. 396 00:23:36,450 --> 00:23:39,110 But by giving the victory to the 300, 397 00:23:39,470 --> 00:23:41,670 there is no way that they could boast 398 00:23:41,670 --> 00:23:45,150 but could only glorify God who delivered the 399 00:23:45,150 --> 00:23:46,570 enemy into their hands. 400 00:23:49,500 --> 00:23:53,960 When we talk about the old man, the 401 00:23:53,960 --> 00:23:54,700 old nature. 402 00:23:55,420 --> 00:23:56,800 What do we mean? 403 00:23:59,520 --> 00:24:01,700 We're talking about the natural man. 404 00:24:02,560 --> 00:24:05,360 As you were born of the flesh. 405 00:24:06,420 --> 00:24:09,140 Jesus said that which is born of the 406 00:24:09,140 --> 00:24:10,300 flesh is flesh. 407 00:24:10,420 --> 00:24:14,080 So you're talking about the unregenerate man or 408 00:24:14,080 --> 00:24:17,000 the man who has not been born of 409 00:24:17,000 --> 00:24:18,180 the spirit born again. 410 00:24:18,180 --> 00:24:24,080 From the moment that you were born, you 411 00:24:24,080 --> 00:24:27,080 began to let the desires of your flesh 412 00:24:27,080 --> 00:24:27,620 known. 413 00:24:29,080 --> 00:24:32,160 And if you were not catered to, then 414 00:24:32,160 --> 00:24:35,160 you let everyone within your ears reach know 415 00:24:35,160 --> 00:24:36,140 of your displeasure. 416 00:24:38,920 --> 00:24:42,240 And it's fortunate that you weren't stronger at 417 00:24:42,240 --> 00:24:44,560 that point, or you would have torn the 418 00:24:44,560 --> 00:24:45,380 crib to pieces. 419 00:24:48,600 --> 00:24:54,140 That same trait remains in a person until 420 00:24:54,140 --> 00:24:55,360 they are born again. 421 00:24:58,080 --> 00:25:00,660 Now with some people, it does become a 422 00:25:00,660 --> 00:25:01,900 little more refined. 423 00:25:04,240 --> 00:25:08,720 But with others, they haven't really advanced much 424 00:25:08,720 --> 00:25:09,460 from the crib. 425 00:25:10,480 --> 00:25:16,240 They're noisy, they're demanding, and they've got to 426 00:25:16,240 --> 00:25:18,960 have their way or they're going to tear 427 00:25:18,960 --> 00:25:19,880 things apart. 428 00:25:21,240 --> 00:25:23,920 The old nature is the nature that is 429 00:25:23,920 --> 00:25:29,380 constantly insisting that things go my way or 430 00:25:29,380 --> 00:25:30,600 I'm not going to cooperate. 431 00:25:32,400 --> 00:25:35,880 It's manifested in the child who says if 432 00:25:35,880 --> 00:25:39,560 I can't be the cops, then I'm going 433 00:25:39,560 --> 00:25:41,420 to go home and I'm not going to 434 00:25:41,420 --> 00:25:42,760 play with you anymore. 435 00:25:44,240 --> 00:25:45,700 I want my way. 436 00:25:47,100 --> 00:25:49,700 I want you to yield to my desires. 437 00:25:51,500 --> 00:25:54,000 It is sort of like Johnny's mother as 438 00:25:54,000 --> 00:25:57,360 she's watching the whole regiment of Marines marching 439 00:25:57,360 --> 00:25:59,940 by in the parade and she said, look 440 00:25:59,940 --> 00:26:00,520 at that. 441 00:26:01,260 --> 00:26:03,640 The whole regiment is out of step but 442 00:26:03,640 --> 00:26:04,340 my Johnny. 443 00:26:16,950 --> 00:26:21,790 It's putting my opinion above everyone else's. 444 00:26:23,630 --> 00:26:25,350 Everyone else is wrong. 445 00:26:25,510 --> 00:26:26,550 I'm right. 446 00:26:27,930 --> 00:26:30,510 It's talking about my rights. 447 00:26:31,270 --> 00:26:33,270 Well, I have a right to be upset. 448 00:26:33,430 --> 00:26:35,010 I have a right to be angry. 449 00:26:35,510 --> 00:26:37,370 They offended me. 450 00:26:38,770 --> 00:26:40,810 You see, we usually don't put the emphasis 451 00:26:40,810 --> 00:26:43,630 where it belongs, but that's what it really 452 00:26:43,630 --> 00:26:44,410 is all about. 453 00:26:46,190 --> 00:26:51,270 It's the I, it's the me, the I 454 00:26:51,270 --> 00:26:54,550 life, the me first life. 455 00:26:58,180 --> 00:27:00,080 It's putting my needs above the needs of 456 00:27:00,080 --> 00:27:00,520 others. 457 00:27:02,340 --> 00:27:04,620 And if you don't like it, that's tough. 458 00:27:05,500 --> 00:27:07,340 You know, it's that kind of an attitude. 459 00:27:07,960 --> 00:27:11,400 Frank Sinatra surely expressed it in the song, 460 00:27:11,540 --> 00:27:12,840 I did it my way. 461 00:27:14,000 --> 00:27:16,700 And that's what so many people are today. 462 00:27:17,080 --> 00:27:19,220 I'm going to do it my way. 463 00:27:24,310 --> 00:27:29,790 Now, it's interesting that God has only one 464 00:27:29,790 --> 00:27:31,670 remedy for your flesh life. 465 00:27:33,800 --> 00:27:36,260 And it is not reformation. 466 00:27:37,720 --> 00:27:40,280 God knows that your flesh is so rotten, 467 00:27:40,460 --> 00:27:42,720 he doesn't even try to reform it. 468 00:27:44,120 --> 00:27:47,800 This is the problem, of course, with our 469 00:27:47,800 --> 00:27:51,200 man-developed programs that are dreamed up by 470 00:27:51,200 --> 00:27:56,320 sociologists as they try to reform our society. 471 00:27:59,540 --> 00:28:03,600 My mother's cousin used to be the head 472 00:28:03,600 --> 00:28:10,980 over the state of California juvenile oh, whatever 473 00:28:10,980 --> 00:28:15,680 they called it, they used to call them 474 00:28:15,680 --> 00:28:16,920 reform schools. 475 00:28:18,440 --> 00:28:23,020 And the program that they had in reforming 476 00:28:23,020 --> 00:28:24,780 juveniles, he was the head over all of 477 00:28:24,780 --> 00:28:28,100 the reformatories in the state of California. 478 00:28:29,500 --> 00:28:39,840 He finally quit heartbroken, discouraged, depressed, because 479 00:28:39,840 --> 00:28:44,920 he saw the inability of reforming these kids. 480 00:28:46,280 --> 00:28:49,180 He saw that the whole program was a 481 00:28:49,180 --> 00:28:49,680 failure. 482 00:28:52,180 --> 00:28:54,800 God's remedy is not reformation. 483 00:28:55,860 --> 00:28:58,600 He's not going to try to reform your 484 00:28:58,600 --> 00:28:59,600 old flesh. 485 00:29:03,780 --> 00:29:07,460 God's remedy is to kill it, not to 486 00:29:07,460 --> 00:29:08,220 reform it. 487 00:29:10,300 --> 00:29:13,160 Paul said, For if you live after the 488 00:29:13,160 --> 00:29:15,480 flesh, you will die. 489 00:29:16,440 --> 00:29:19,040 But if you through the spirit do put 490 00:29:19,040 --> 00:29:22,580 to death the deeds of the body, you 491 00:29:22,580 --> 00:29:23,280 will live. 492 00:29:24,360 --> 00:29:26,740 So to live after the flesh is death. 493 00:29:27,640 --> 00:29:29,360 But if by the spirit you will put 494 00:29:29,360 --> 00:29:31,140 the flesh to death, then you'll have real 495 00:29:31,140 --> 00:29:31,680 life. 496 00:29:32,420 --> 00:29:35,560 Writing to the Colossians, he said, Mortifier, put 497 00:29:35,560 --> 00:29:38,820 to death therefore your members which are upon 498 00:29:38,820 --> 00:29:42,100 the earth, talking about your body, the parts 499 00:29:42,100 --> 00:29:47,540 of your body, fornication, uncleanness, that is sexual 500 00:29:47,540 --> 00:29:54,840 impurities, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, covetousness, which is 501 00:29:54,840 --> 00:29:55,700 idolatry. 502 00:29:56,940 --> 00:30:00,520 And so God tells us to reckon the 503 00:30:00,520 --> 00:30:05,300 old man to be dead, crucified with Christ. 504 00:30:05,980 --> 00:30:07,620 And we are told to put on the 505 00:30:07,620 --> 00:30:11,960 Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for 506 00:30:11,960 --> 00:30:15,960 the flesh to fulfill the lust thereof. 507 00:30:16,060 --> 00:30:17,980 Don't make any room for it. 508 00:30:17,980 --> 00:30:22,160 Don't say, well, that's just my Irish temperament, 509 00:30:22,260 --> 00:30:24,980 or I have a Latin temperament. 510 00:30:25,500 --> 00:30:29,060 Make no excuses, no provision for the flesh. 511 00:30:29,340 --> 00:30:30,860 That's the old flesh. 512 00:30:30,920 --> 00:30:32,060 You're not an Irishman. 513 00:30:34,950 --> 00:30:38,890 And you shouldn't trace your ancestry back to 514 00:30:38,890 --> 00:30:39,610 the Irish. 515 00:30:40,650 --> 00:30:41,970 Or any other. 516 00:30:42,410 --> 00:30:44,590 You're a new person in Christ. 517 00:30:45,290 --> 00:30:48,150 And you trace now your ancestry back to 518 00:30:48,150 --> 00:30:48,590 Jesus. 519 00:30:49,890 --> 00:30:52,750 And the old things are passed away. 520 00:30:54,410 --> 00:30:59,810 The characteristics, the natural testament, the natural temperaments 521 00:30:59,810 --> 00:31:04,610 and so forth have no place in the 522 00:31:04,610 --> 00:31:05,550 Christian's life. 523 00:31:06,930 --> 00:31:09,830 For I am a new creature in Christ 524 00:31:09,830 --> 00:31:10,610 Jesus. 525 00:31:13,070 --> 00:31:14,370 Walking in the Spirit. 526 00:31:14,730 --> 00:31:16,630 Someone called this last week and wanted to 527 00:31:16,630 --> 00:31:18,350 know, what does it mean to walk in 528 00:31:18,350 --> 00:31:18,950 the Spirit? 529 00:31:18,950 --> 00:31:23,890 Well, it means to walk in love. 530 00:31:24,910 --> 00:31:27,330 Because love is the fruit of the Spirit. 531 00:31:28,390 --> 00:31:30,610 It's to walk in love as it is 532 00:31:30,610 --> 00:31:33,730 defined in 1 Corinthians 13. 533 00:31:35,390 --> 00:31:38,930 To walk in the Spirit means that I 534 00:31:38,930 --> 00:31:39,710 suffer long. 535 00:31:40,290 --> 00:31:41,870 I put up with a lot of things 536 00:31:41,870 --> 00:31:43,110 and I am kind. 537 00:31:45,350 --> 00:31:47,450 It means that I'm not envious. 538 00:31:48,490 --> 00:31:52,430 It means that I don't vaunt myself. 539 00:31:53,410 --> 00:31:56,790 It means that I'm not puffed up. 540 00:31:58,090 --> 00:32:01,130 It means that I do not behave myself 541 00:32:01,130 --> 00:32:03,050 in an unbecoming manner. 542 00:32:04,250 --> 00:32:07,230 It means that I do not seek my 543 00:32:07,230 --> 00:32:08,470 own way. 544 00:32:09,370 --> 00:32:10,350 Or will. 545 00:32:11,370 --> 00:32:14,410 It means that I do not get provoked. 546 00:32:14,410 --> 00:32:19,790 It means I do not harbor evil thoughts. 547 00:32:20,810 --> 00:32:23,710 It means that I do not rejoice in 548 00:32:23,710 --> 00:32:24,330 iniquity. 549 00:32:24,510 --> 00:32:27,130 It does mean that I rejoice in the 550 00:32:27,130 --> 00:32:27,630 truth. 551 00:32:28,450 --> 00:32:30,590 And that I bear all things. 552 00:32:31,030 --> 00:32:33,190 And I believe all things. 553 00:32:33,730 --> 00:32:36,250 And I hope for the best. 554 00:32:36,930 --> 00:32:40,190 And I endure all things. 555 00:32:44,160 --> 00:32:49,860 Now, when I can live up to those 556 00:32:49,860 --> 00:32:54,860 things, walking after the Spirit, I'm not looking 557 00:32:54,860 --> 00:32:57,160 for glory for myself anymore. 558 00:32:58,540 --> 00:33:02,180 I realize how rotten my flesh is. 559 00:33:03,640 --> 00:33:07,000 And I desire not to give place to 560 00:33:07,000 --> 00:33:10,940 my flesh, knowing how rotten and evil it 561 00:33:10,940 --> 00:33:11,460 is. 562 00:33:12,840 --> 00:33:17,220 And so, I am now in the place 563 00:33:17,220 --> 00:33:19,920 where God can begin to use me because 564 00:33:19,920 --> 00:33:23,540 I'm not seeking the glory or the honor 565 00:33:23,540 --> 00:33:24,620 or the fame. 566 00:33:27,090 --> 00:33:32,030 Only seeking to bring glory unto Jesus Christ. 567 00:33:32,990 --> 00:33:37,510 And so, as the people gathered, because of 568 00:33:37,510 --> 00:33:42,410 the miracle, seeing this lame man, who they 569 00:33:42,410 --> 00:33:44,790 knew he had been there for years. 570 00:33:46,190 --> 00:33:48,110 He had never been able to walk. 571 00:33:49,530 --> 00:33:51,710 It was a thing that he had had 572 00:33:51,710 --> 00:33:52,510 from birth. 573 00:33:53,390 --> 00:33:58,030 And now seeing him walking and leaping, and 574 00:33:58,030 --> 00:34:00,730 seeing him as he was hugging Peter and 575 00:34:00,730 --> 00:34:06,090 John, they immediately related the fact that he's 576 00:34:06,090 --> 00:34:10,909 walking to somehow Peter and John are responsible. 577 00:34:12,510 --> 00:34:15,710 And so, they began to look steadfastly at 578 00:34:15,710 --> 00:34:15,949 them. 579 00:34:16,770 --> 00:34:20,810 They began to worship them. 580 00:34:21,909 --> 00:34:25,449 Looking with adoration and worship. 581 00:34:26,489 --> 00:34:28,510 And Peter said, wait a minute, wait a 582 00:34:28,510 --> 00:34:28,830 minute. 583 00:34:30,449 --> 00:34:34,889 You men of Israel, why marvel ye at 584 00:34:34,889 --> 00:34:35,409 this? 585 00:34:40,630 --> 00:34:41,830 That's a good question. 586 00:34:43,920 --> 00:34:45,219 How big is your God? 587 00:34:45,460 --> 00:34:46,800 You are the men of Israel. 588 00:34:46,960 --> 00:34:49,040 Your God is the one that created the 589 00:34:49,040 --> 00:34:49,380 universe. 590 00:34:49,380 --> 00:34:52,040 Why should you marvel because a lame man 591 00:34:52,040 --> 00:34:52,699 is walking? 592 00:34:54,969 --> 00:34:57,230 Don't you know how big your God is? 593 00:34:59,800 --> 00:35:00,640 Good question. 594 00:35:00,780 --> 00:35:02,380 Why marvel ye at this? 595 00:35:03,660 --> 00:35:05,280 But then the second question. 596 00:35:05,680 --> 00:35:07,200 Why do you look upon us? 597 00:35:08,080 --> 00:35:12,320 As though it was because of our power 598 00:35:12,320 --> 00:35:16,540 or our holiness that this man is able 599 00:35:16,540 --> 00:35:17,700 to walk. 600 00:35:18,700 --> 00:35:22,140 And notice how immediately he turns them away 601 00:35:22,140 --> 00:35:25,080 from their worship of him to God and 602 00:35:25,080 --> 00:35:26,320 to the worship of God. 603 00:35:27,020 --> 00:35:30,160 The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the 604 00:35:30,160 --> 00:35:35,000 God of our fathers, has glorified his son, 605 00:35:35,580 --> 00:35:39,280 Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in 606 00:35:39,280 --> 00:35:42,900 the presence of Pilate when he was determined 607 00:35:42,900 --> 00:35:43,900 to let him go. 608 00:35:45,180 --> 00:35:50,280 So, he points them away from himself and 609 00:35:50,280 --> 00:35:52,600 he points them to Jesus Christ. 610 00:35:54,370 --> 00:35:57,650 And as long as you will be doing 611 00:35:57,650 --> 00:36:01,670 that, God can continue to do through you 612 00:36:01,670 --> 00:36:04,870 what he desires and longs to do. 613 00:36:07,340 --> 00:36:09,980 But the moment you begin to take the 614 00:36:09,980 --> 00:36:12,400 glory or the praise that the people are 615 00:36:12,400 --> 00:36:15,840 wanting to heap upon you and you begin 616 00:36:15,840 --> 00:36:21,130 to accept it for yourself, then before long, 617 00:36:21,530 --> 00:36:23,410 you're going to be sitting on the shelf 618 00:36:23,410 --> 00:36:26,810 wondering what happened to you, why God isn't 619 00:36:26,810 --> 00:36:28,310 using you any longer. 620 00:36:32,600 --> 00:36:36,380 The person that God uses is a person 621 00:36:36,380 --> 00:36:39,560 who has come to the cross in his 622 00:36:39,560 --> 00:36:45,480 own life, has reckoned the old nature, the 623 00:36:45,480 --> 00:36:47,040 old life to be dead. 624 00:36:47,320 --> 00:36:49,620 Now, the word reckon is a word of 625 00:36:49,620 --> 00:36:50,140 faith. 626 00:36:51,100 --> 00:36:53,200 If it were dead, I wouldn't have to 627 00:36:53,200 --> 00:36:54,480 reckon it to be dead. 628 00:36:56,460 --> 00:36:58,400 But it's something that I have to reckon. 629 00:36:58,580 --> 00:37:01,120 I have to say that is a part 630 00:37:01,120 --> 00:37:01,940 of the old life. 631 00:37:02,060 --> 00:37:03,920 I'm not going to be subject to that. 632 00:37:04,040 --> 00:37:06,840 I'm not going to live under the tyranny 633 00:37:06,840 --> 00:37:08,340 of my flesh any longer. 634 00:37:08,540 --> 00:37:10,820 I recognize that as a part of the 635 00:37:10,820 --> 00:37:11,380 flesh life. 636 00:37:11,520 --> 00:37:13,700 That was put to death on the cross. 637 00:37:13,860 --> 00:37:16,400 I'm crucified with Christ and that is not 638 00:37:16,400 --> 00:37:18,380 going to rule over me any longer. 639 00:37:19,900 --> 00:37:22,640 And you've got to take that stand. 640 00:37:24,380 --> 00:37:28,220 And whenever the flesh life manifests itself, you've 641 00:37:28,220 --> 00:37:29,800 got to take that stand. 642 00:37:30,440 --> 00:37:32,260 That's a part of the old nature. 643 00:37:32,480 --> 00:37:33,860 That's a part of the old life. 644 00:37:33,960 --> 00:37:35,660 I'm not going to be ruled by that. 645 00:37:35,980 --> 00:37:38,100 I'm going to be ruled by the Spirit 646 00:37:38,100 --> 00:37:38,740 of God. 647 00:37:39,580 --> 00:37:42,160 And it's a fresh commitment of yourself to 648 00:37:42,160 --> 00:37:44,120 be ruled by God's Spirit. 649 00:37:45,540 --> 00:37:49,980 And in that position, God can use you 650 00:37:50,780 --> 00:37:52,700 and continue to use you. 651 00:37:53,340 --> 00:37:58,320 Father, we do desire that our lives count 652 00:37:58,320 --> 00:38:00,360 for eternal things. 653 00:38:01,540 --> 00:38:03,600 We desire, Lord, that you would use us 654 00:38:03,600 --> 00:38:06,100 in the accomplishing of your eternal purposes. 655 00:38:07,960 --> 00:38:10,440 And Lord, whatever might stand in the way, 656 00:38:11,900 --> 00:38:14,100 we ask, Lord, that you would reveal it 657 00:38:14,100 --> 00:38:17,260 to us and that you would help us, 658 00:38:17,420 --> 00:38:20,500 Lord, to deal with it, to be freed 659 00:38:20,500 --> 00:38:24,480 from it, in order, Lord, that we might 660 00:38:24,480 --> 00:38:29,020 bring praise and glory and honor unto you. 661 00:38:30,680 --> 00:38:37,440 And so, Lord, we just come tonight asking 662 00:38:37,440 --> 00:38:41,500 for the help of your Holy Spirit as 663 00:38:41,500 --> 00:38:45,540 we seek to reckon the old nature to 664 00:38:45,540 --> 00:38:49,620 be dead, not to be governed and ruled 665 00:38:49,620 --> 00:38:53,940 by it any longer, that we might manifest 666 00:38:53,940 --> 00:38:59,440 the characteristics of Jesus Christ, that His love 667 00:38:59,440 --> 00:39:06,280 might be manifested through us, the nature of 668 00:39:06,280 --> 00:39:08,520 Christ within us. 669 00:39:09,480 --> 00:39:13,060 In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. 670 00:39:14,160 --> 00:39:15,220 Shall we stand? 671 00:39:19,340 --> 00:39:21,320 The pastors are down here at the front 672 00:39:21,320 --> 00:39:22,540 to minister to you. 673 00:39:25,880 --> 00:39:29,020 It may be that there's an area of 674 00:39:29,020 --> 00:39:34,440 that old nature that has sort of kept 675 00:39:34,440 --> 00:39:38,960 you under, brought you into defeat, and tonight 676 00:39:38,960 --> 00:39:42,920 you'd like to have God's victory and the 677 00:39:42,920 --> 00:39:48,060 help of God in really being freed from 678 00:39:48,060 --> 00:39:50,600 the power of the flesh. 679 00:39:50,720 --> 00:39:52,240 It is a tremendous power. 680 00:39:52,840 --> 00:39:54,540 You can't free yourself. 681 00:39:54,780 --> 00:39:56,060 It isn't reformation. 682 00:39:56,520 --> 00:39:57,780 It's transformation. 683 00:39:57,780 --> 00:40:01,340 And that can only happen through the Spirit. 684 00:40:02,180 --> 00:40:04,000 They're down here in the front to pray 685 00:40:04,000 --> 00:40:08,000 for you tonight that you might experience God's 686 00:40:08,000 --> 00:40:11,540 power in your life, setting you free. 687 00:40:12,600 --> 00:40:14,280 It may be that you're desiring to be 688 00:40:14,280 --> 00:40:15,200 used of God. 689 00:40:16,720 --> 00:40:18,660 You want the power and the anointing of 690 00:40:18,660 --> 00:40:19,880 the Spirit on your life. 691 00:40:20,900 --> 00:40:22,220 They're here to pray for you. 692 00:40:22,740 --> 00:40:24,780 There will be no afterglow tonight in the 693 00:40:24,780 --> 00:40:26,840 fellowship hall, but right here in the front 694 00:40:27,360 --> 00:40:29,240 these men are here to pray for you 695 00:40:29,240 --> 00:40:29,820 this evening. 696 00:40:30,540 --> 00:40:33,080 So we encourage you to come forward, you 697 00:40:33,080 --> 00:40:35,360 that desire to receive prayer. 698 00:40:38,320 --> 00:40:39,200 May the Lord be with you. 699 00:40:39,640 --> 00:40:41,380 May the Lord watch over and keep you. 700 00:40:43,860 --> 00:40:45,980 And may, by the grace of God, we 701 00:40:45,980 --> 00:40:50,060 keep the body under, not let it rule, 702 00:40:50,200 --> 00:40:53,140 not let it reign, but we'll be ruled 703 00:40:53,140 --> 00:40:56,500 by the Spirit of God that we might 704 00:40:56,500 --> 00:41:00,120 live and serve our Lord Jesus Christ. 705 00:41:07,960 --> 00:41:09,920 You've been listening to the From the Pulpit 706 00:41:09,920 --> 00:41:11,300 and Classic Sermon series. 707 00:41:11,820 --> 00:41:13,660 This week you heard Chuck Smith with his 708 00:41:13,660 --> 00:41:15,420 message, Beware of Ambition. 709 00:41:16,700 --> 00:41:18,620 Tune in next week to hear John Piper 710 00:41:18,620 --> 00:41:21,040 talk about Are You Wasting Your Life? 711 00:41:21,140 --> 00:41:23,820 on From the Pulpit and Classic Sermons.