Lessons from Paul's Spiritual Journey, Part 4 (cont'd)

Watch and pray. Jesus said you may not enter into temptation for the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Hello and thanks for being here for this Tuesday edition of Destin for victory coming up next pastor Paul Sheppard talks about the battle between the flesh and the spirit in his message lessons from Paul's spiritual journey. But first he joins me know from studio California will pastor. There's no doubt the churches have been affected by the coronavirus. Of course churches of had to go online, your own church is been going online and you been preaching to a camera and I'm wondering what kind of experience has been for you way let me just be real candid with you and with the audience. I just like very passionately back that I don't get the breach in the sanctuary full of people. My particular preaching style kind of arrives on the face-to-face time with people I need to not only see them. I need to hear them know I use a lot of humor in that sort of thing and I need to know that I'm connecting so I love the verbal responses I get at our church and all of that fact is I haven't been able to enjoy that since March early March or whenever it was when I last preached in our sanctuary and I've been pretty miserable talking to a camera but what I have to remind myself is that what makes the difference is not so much my style.

Although people enjoy my particular style of engaging with people live. The power is not in the style.

The power is in the message. Amen.

And so I'm trying to be faithful to share the good news to preach timeless truth and timely ways that will engage people's hearts and help us understand God's will, even in difficult times like this and I hope I'm getting through successfully. You know, whether it shared in person, online, or in any other format. There is great power in the word of God, the power to save to transform and to comfort God is moving mightily through the Destin for victory broadcast at a time with her so much pain and uncertainty in the world. The good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ remains a source of hope for all who embrace it and now more than ever.

Many are searching for that hope.

This is why your prayers and financial support of Destin for victory are so critical as our way of saying thanks for your generous donation. We like to send you a study guide from University press called fruit of the spirit.

It's a great companion to the series. Your hearing now from Pastor Paul Sheppard, one that will encourage you to go out and be to others what Jesus has been.

Do you that's fruit of the spirit our gift to you today by request for your generous gift to Destin for victory. Just call 855-339-5500 to give your gift over the phone or visit Pastor Paul.net to make a safe and secure donation online and you can also mail your gift to Destin for victory PO Box 1767, Fremont, CA 94538 and let me tell you something when you have your will will will.

The Bible says is always going to oppose God's will.

That's the nature of living according to the flesh is always going to fight what the spirit is trying to do in your life. Jesus gave us the perfect example of what a healthy relationship with God looks like. As he prayed in the garden of Gethsemane in the night before his crucifixion.

He said father if it is possible, let this cup pass from me but nevertheless not my will but thine be done today. Pastor Paul Sheppard talks about the importance of learning to submit to God's will because the only other option is to follow our own will and her own fleshly desires. So Nellis join Pastor Paul for today's Destin for victory message lessons from Paul's spiritual journey.

Sometimes your best ministry is on the other side of your worst tragedy. Sometimes your best ability to be used of God is on the other side of everything fallen apart in your life. One songwriter said when you come to the place that he's all you have your fine he's all you need. Some of us have been that place yet so you think you got a lot going for you and you're feeling really good, but I'm here to tell you sometime the Lord will allow a shakeup to come in your life, because he needs to shake you from everything you would depend on except Christ himself because your salvation is only in Christ. So now look at how this plays out for Peter and self-confident for some of you you think too much of yourself as a healthy kind of self-confident where you know you realize things like the Bible says I can do all things through Christ who gives me the strength. Remember my focus.

There is, on Christ given me the strength. It's not on my ability to be all that and so for some of us it's a challenge of self-confidence too much of it for others it's low self-esteem. You are mired in the sense of I can't be anything I can do anything in the Lord in order to use you have the say you have to learn to anchor yourself in me, and not in you, you know that people who are stuck up and people who have low self-esteem have the exact same problem. Just two different extremes of the same problem the same problem is the focus too much on them person who is stuck out was conceded not to pursue my own euro is focus on them so they think that all that they they can do anything they wanted to be anything they want to be there for Bolognese self-help things in the slogans and all that. All you have to do is imagine it and you can dream it, and it's a binder that garbage when people say you can be anything you want me you can be six cannot always talk you can be what God destined you to be. You have potentially played out to its logical conclusion. Whatever you if you okay for all you can be a quarterback now.

They got a positive thought you want.

You can't do it if you can job you not going be a star in the MBA daughter, positive.I envision myself. I saw myself flying through the air.

I put it up on the board. I put up a board of Kobe Bryant at the height of a dump and I just envision myself I put myself in his place I go to the playground.

See what happened to you. That's what you don't go buying it is garbage. Remember the truth is in the light of God you can be anything you want to be the words as you can be all things that Christ is distant you to be big, big difference, because who we are is anchored in who he is and who he's called us to be. And so, whether you struggle with conceit or low self-esteem. You have the same problem too much focus on you. You got ingrown eyeballs focused on me me me me.

That's why when you're going through trials all your friends got to hear about a Costley everything you're going through me me me me, your world revolves around you Christ as I need to set you free from that because your life is not about you. Your life is about me you were crucified with me in the life you now live your live by faith in the son of God who loved you and gave himself for you to get the focus on for you and is going to be a journey, but you got you got a surrender to God. I say yes to God. Lord, I want to reflect your glory.

So I need you to walk with me out of these unhealthy patterns of focusing on my own abilities or inabilities my strength or my weaknesses and teach me how to trust you and see you live your life through me for some of us were trying to mix faith not so much with law for some of us were trying to mix faith with our own will and let me tell you something when you have your will nor will the Bible says is always going to oppose God's will. That's the nature of living according to the flesh, which will learn more about as we move through this book, the flesh is always going to fight what the spirit is trying to do in your life. So if you're gonna die so that Christ can live through you. You are going to have to crucify your home will do in your life. What Christ had to do in the garden of Gethsemane. He said to his father if it's possible I would like this cup.

I'm about to drink of the past from me. Then he said nevertheless not my will but thine be done. In other words, he started by acknowledging now here's what I really wish would happen.

But I know your will is the only one that counts.

So I yield to it. Many of us start out with same Lord, I know what the Bible says never the less, do you got it reversed does not dine the cell that live in the cell that's killing the will of God and saying yes to me and that cancels what God is doing in your life you can make sure went with God. You can get God to go along with your program. You can live on your terms and be blessed of the Lord.

This is heartbreaking because we live in a day when people just think they can just say I love Jesus and live in the O'Connor way they want and I'm here to tell you the Bible says no you gotta get your own garden of Gethsemane and say Lord. Here's what I would like to do.

Nevertheless, I know your will is what matters and I say yes to your will have to take time and teach this about every area of your life because the word of God speaks every area of your life.

You can't customize your Christianity you can take a little bit of faith is not Burger King. You can't have it your way. They don't have those commercials now, but couple decades ago, they used to have commercials Burger King and the song was, have it your way and the big push for Burger King the way they do things himself back in those days was your special order didn't upset them. You know, you could tell and hold the pickles hold the lettuce holder, pickles, pickles and lettuce orders will go help me Bruce's method that was it. All we ask is that you have it your way that works at Burger King.

When you come to Jesus, you can't say I want salvation but hold the moral requirements I want to live the way I want to live. Hang out with the foregoing, to hang out do what I want to do and I still want your grace, your forgiveness, your love and all that. At the end can't do it your crucified with Christ and you gonna say no to the flesh, you can't have your way and impose it on God.

Look at the Scriptures whenever he tried to do that God just lets their fleshly myth turn on them. Looking Jacob in the Old Testament.

He was a trickster. The man messed up his life only, and God just let him suffer the consequences of his own mess and eventually he got to the place where he had to have a wrestling match and say Lord I need you to change me and transform me. I am tired of being the way I you gotta get sick to be in the way you are.

You gotta get sick of realizing that you can impose your will on God and so you gotta listen to the word and realize that God says you were crucified on the cross. Nevertheless, you live but it's really not you Christ lived through stay with us the second half of today's testing for Victor message with pastor Paul Sheppard is coming your way next we want to thank all of you whose prayers and financial support help pastor Paul share the gospel of Jesus Christ were a listener supported ministry on the depends on your faithful giving to fulfill the great commission to keep these messages coming your way around to make a safe and secure donation, visit pastor Paul.net that's pastor Paul.net or give us a call 855-339-5500 again. The numbers 855-339-5500. Now let's join Pastor Paul for the rest of today's testing for Victor message lessons from Paul's spiritual journey. I'm here to tell you, you gotta live your life. God's way to get God's results to you to do his will will. That's why gotta surrender your way and say yes only to him and impose a more living on him is not going to work. He won't allow it. I know these are days where people call themselves friends would benefit is very normal and natural. In today's world to learn pastoring this generation of people I had to learn that I can't take for granted that people understand that you can't live in sexual immorality and be in the will of God. I realized don't know that automatically go this generation was raised primarily in Sunday school, so I'm being patient as a leader and I gotta stop and explain things like that.

So here it is. If you're not married, you can have sax when you read your Bible. If you have certain translation of the word fornication.

If you have a more modern translation likesexualimmorality.Whatdoesthatmeanpastorthatmeansifyou'renotmarriedtoUKhititonlytherewhereweregreatlynow.Wegotamixedaudience.Wegotkidsinheresomaybegetmoreblameandthatcan'tthebigdealis.WewerecreatedtoglorifyGodandGodsaidthat'snotpartofmywillforyourlife.Igotaplanforyourlifeplanforyoursexualitybutyougottasurrendertomywill.Youcanimposeyoursonme.JustasI'mnotinthebusinessofjustmovingwiththecultureoftheculturesthatisokayisnotokay,butwe'recommitted.Afterall,whatismarriagebutapieceofpaperisapieceofpaperyouneediswhatitisapieceofpaperbecauseitsanctifiesthatcommitmentinthesightofGodandearthlywitnesses.Yes,weareincovenantwithoneanother.WewereChristiansandmarried.TheBiblesaysthatyoumarriedtilldeathdoyoupart.Therearesomegroundswhereaspousehasdishonoredthecovenantandtherearegroundsfordivorceandallofthatwepresentveryplainlybecausethewordisveryplainaboutitallthestuffdivorceandfocus.TheygetonyournervessteppedinfrontofGodtopreachandsayyouknowIwillstaywithyouforbetterforworsesicknessandhealth.YougetonmynervesthatoneinyourbowelssoyoupromisebeforeGodandwitnessesthatyouweregonnabetherethatthiscovenantwasseriousandnowwegotjustthrowawaymarriageslikewegotdisposable.EverythingelseyouknowIdrovethiscarforawhile,butit'stimefornewmodelcan'tdothatyourcrucifiedwithChristyousayLord,teachmehowtomakethismarriagewouldn'tbeteachmehowtoworkwhenyourcarisnotworkingright.Youtakeitgetfixedifyourmarriageismessedup,getthethingfixed.Don'ttradetheminforanothermodelgrassisgreenerontheothersidejustwateryourgrass.I'mnotsuggestingthisislikeinthinkingthroughsomedifficult26.Asweknowisnotalwayseasytodo.Youwakeupeverymorning,justfeelingthelovelifecantakeyouthroughsomechallenges.Sometimesyoucanlookoverthatpersonjustcalledlife.Butwhenyouhitthosetimes.Paulsaysyougottarealizethatyoumust.everythingbutthefaithofChristisultimatelythequestionisLordwhatyouwantmetodohereishowI'mfeeling.Nevertheless,Iwanttoseeyourwillcometopassinmylife.Ineedyourhelp.Ineedyourgrace.Ineedyourwisdom.Ineedyourpower,Lord,IwanttodoyourwillandyouseeGod'sresultsandit'sabouteveryareaoflife.YouraiseyourkidsGod'swaytoBeabusivetoyourchildren.Goddoesn'twantthatallmeanandthinkjustbecausethat'sthewayyouwereraised.Yougottashowasyouraiseyourchildrentothem.Theyarelegitimatepeopleintheprocessofbecomingpeopletopeopleyougotthemlookatthetimes.Thisisnotyourparentsgeneration.Yougottatakesometime.Yougottaspendqualitytime.Gottasay,Iwasn'traisedwiththerightamountofattentioninallwhatI'mgoingtochangethatpatternasIraisemychildrenbecauseIwanttodoitinChristyouweresingleparents.YougottabelieveGod.It'sunfortunatethatthenotbeingraisedinatwo-parenthome.It'sunfortunatethatmanypeoplehavenotthesametwofolksthatmadethechildarenotcommittedtoeachotherandraisingthechild,butthat'sthereality.InmanycaseswehavelotsofsingleparentsinthefamilyofGod.Thechurchowesthemloveandsupportandencouragementandallofthatequipthemtohelpthemtodothis.God'sway.Whatyougottasurrender.Youcan'tstartrunningabunchofunclesthroughyourhousewillpastoryourrooftodayisbecausewegottabecrucifiedinChristandliveaccordingtothefaithofGod.That'swheresalvationissalvationmessage.HegetsupeverymanIdon'tknowwhoputtheirtrustinuncleJohnny,uncleJimmywherethatgotit.WasitthreemonthsagoandseenhiminawhileI'lldon'tdothatdon'tdishonorthemsayI'mcommittedtoyouLordsendsmeasuitablespouse.ThenIwillcheckthemoutoutsideofthecontextofmychildren.Checkthemoutfirstbyyourkidsseehowtheythinkaboutcheckthemoutthoroughly.Letthechurchletthepastoralstaffhelpyoucheckthemout.WegotacheckoutministryandI'msogladIdon'tgettodothecountylikeIusedtointheolddays.IdiditbutnowthankGodthatsomeofourpastoralstaffhavegottenthesamekey.IprayGodputthesameanointingtodiscernacrazyfolkonthemthatyouputonmayIcanspotajokeoffalloffI'mtellingyouI'mtellingyouIgotagiftinanointingsometimeIcanjustlookathimasallIhavetohearthemsayhello.Godblessyousometimejustgotallnotknowyou,nottryingtorunthatupinhere,pasttheseatyoudon'tunderstand,Idounderstand.Gottacheckitbecauseyouwanttomakeabigmistakeinyourlife.Youthinkyouhaveajobifyoudon'tunderstandistubbyandsinglethingwasharderthanbeingsingleisrunningsomebodyupinyourlifewhohavenobusinessbeingthereandthenyougotaphonewiththemanddealwithdesktopandCMShandleyours.Youthinkyouhaveittough.Now,trustme.Prayforgrace.Lordhelpmegivemethegracetobealoneinthisseasontopartnerwithmybrothersandsistersgetinvolvedwiththemandfellowshipgroupsandstayconnectedwithotherfolksshortesttimeswhenyoufeellikeyouwantromanceinyourlife,butthisisn'tyourromance.Seasonwowhowyouknowthattherightpersonisn'tthereabenefitthatisnotrocketsciencetothis.Iknowyougotyourfavoritelovesongsandallputthatstuffinstorage.StorageforawhileandprayforthedaywhenyoucanbringitbackoutwithLutherbackoutalwaysandforeverbackoutallyourfavoritesongsbackoutstylisticallytocomefromMeyer.Betsy,bygollywowyouaretheonethatIbeenwaitingforforeverandwillmyloveforyoukeepgrowingstronggoaltosaveyouknowaboutthestylisticwaitfortheseason,bringitbackoutthemeantimesayLordgivemethegracetolivebythefaithofthesonofGodwholovedmeandgavehimselfformebecauseI'mtellingyouyourpower,yourstrengthisinthewillofGod.That'swhereyourendowmentisthat'swhereyourabilityistodowhatiscalledtodo.Youcannotmixfaithwithyourownwill.Whenyoutrytomixthetwoofthem.Youhaveadisaster.PaulsaidtoPeterandhesaystousbydivineinspiration.WearecrucifyingthelifewenowliveliveonherowntermslivebythefaithofthesonofGodwholovedusandgavehimselfthankssomuchforbeingherewithusfortoday'smessagelessonsfromPaul'sspiritualjourney.FormoreinformationaboutDestinforvictoryortolearnmoreaboutthismostspecialoffer.BesuretostopbypastorPaul.netthat'sPastorPaul.net,therearesomeblessingsthatcomealongwithbeingpartofthefamilyofGod.Theadvantagesofsurrenderingandrealizingthatyourcrucified,isyougettoenjoyGod'spartnership.That'snexttimeitpastorPaulSheppard'smessagelessonsfromspiritualjourney.Untilthen,rememberhewhobeganagoodworkandyouwillbringittocompletioninChrist,youaredestinedforvictory