The Mirage of Freedom

We need to check your nature. We need to check our nature. Right? If you're a Christian, you're still gonna struggle with sin. But the difference between a sheep and a pig is this. When a sheep falls into the mud, it wants to get out Just fast. It cries for the shepherd because it hates the filth. When a pig falls into the mud, it wants to stay in. Loves to wallow in the mire. You may have a friend, you may have a family member, and, boy, they love to wallow in the mire. But I know they're a Christian because they prayed a prayer when they were a child. [00:42:36] (49 seconds)  #SheepNotPigs

Don't settle for a wash. Don't settle for just cleaning up your habits or try and encourage someone else to clean up theirs. If you're a child of God, Jesus came and he gave his body to be broken for you. Shed his blood that you can be washed whiter than snow. And if you're his child, you are forever his child. So rest in his grace, not your ability to perform well. But repent often. Come home often. [00:45:45] (47 seconds)  #RestInGrace

Think about the alcoholic who says, I'm free to drink. I can do what I want. Bible doesn't say you can't have a drink, But but is he really free? Is she really free? Because I hear a lot of stories and I've met a lot of people who are not free. Whatever overcomes you to that, you are a slave. Think about the person addicted to pornography. Used to be a stack of magazines that had to be hid in a shed somewhere. Now it's right there on your phone. [00:32:04] (40 seconds)  #FreedomThatEnslaves

Parents, be careful what you give your children to carry in their pocket. It is hard work to manage, but it is worth it to fight for their souls, to fight for their true freedom. We've gotta put in the work. It's our responsibility. It's what we're called to. People addicted to pornography say that they're sexually liberated. But are they free? No. They're not. They are chained to an image on a screen, a video on a screen, and a lie about the narrative of that perceived relationship. It's fake. It's false. [00:32:44] (62 seconds)  #ProtectKidsScreens

New believers are not real stable. They're not real steady. They're on fire for Jesus. Oh, they're so thankful for the salvation that God has brought through Jesus Christ. And in their zeal, sometimes they lack knowledge, accurate knowledge of what it means to follow Christ. False teacher wraps his arm around him and says, hey. You don't need all that holiness stuff. You're free. You see, they take a biblical truth and they twist it. I mean, Satan is the deceiver. He is the king, the prince of the power of the air who will take a half truth and twist it and turn it into a complete untruth, stripping it of any biblical value or intent. [00:16:23] (59 seconds)  #HalfTruthsHarm

from those who live in error. I mean, this is a chilling reality when you think about it. When wolves come to attack a flock of sheep, they don't attack the alpha sheep. They don't go through the front gate. Jesus says in John 10, they climb over the fence. They find a way to sneak their way in. They don't go directly after the the elders or mature believers who know their bibles. That's not to say that elders and mature believers don't don't, undergo temptation or enticement, but those who are false teachers go after some of the easiest prey. Who are those? Well, they hunt the stragglers. [00:13:33] (43 seconds)  #WatchForWolves

Christians don't marry an unbeliever. And I I would go a little further. I think we're still with Paul in this to say, don't marry an don't marry even a believer who's pursuing nominal Christianity. Marry a believer who is pursuing Jesus like you want to pursue Jesus. But what if what if I don't find the right person? Well, you have the right person in Jesus, first of all. Marriage is wonderful, but we've sold ourselves short on the lie that you have to be married in order to be happy, in order to experience fulfillment. It's not true. [00:09:21] (45 seconds)  #MarryForFaith

Think about a fishing lure. That word entice, it's a fishing term. Right? And it means to, hook, hook the bait bait the hook. I guess you're gonna hook the bait too one way or another. Stephen Cole notes that false teachers rarely use logic or holiness as the bait. I wanna pause and ask you a question about your reception of biblical truth. Are there truths in the Bible that are commune that have been communicated to you? [00:08:28] (38 seconds)  #DontTakeTheBait