This broadcaster has 1366 podcast archives available on-demand.
Keep up-to-date with this broadcaster on social media and their website.
May 12, 2021 6:00 am
How do you get God's best for your life. You know, you see some believers, and you sense when they're in the right relationship to make wise decisions about money getting God's best eye was that how does it work today. I will give you for biblical principles that will help you discover how you can get God's best statements. Thanks for listening to this Edition of Living on the Edge chip Living on the Edges of international discipleship industry focused on helping Christians like Christians in the middle of chip series leaving a legacy that lasts forever on this program. He continues talking about why as we learned last time when we come to the road we have to ask ourselves decision makes me more like Jesus, just a minute. Chip shares practical ways we can adopt that mentality and then model for our kids and grandkids before we get started if you're new to Living on the Edge missed any of the series, you can always catch up on the chip and remap over that. Here's part two chips message. Teach them to make wise choices.
Paul would sensing three. When you talk about that in between all the new covenant, but we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed process from glory to glory, distance from the Lord, the spirit and his point is, as we get these glimpses of who God really is, how loving he is holy and how curious you know what when you have that attitude. It's not like I get how can read a chapter dedicate the devil away or I read five chapters. I feel really holy today. God what he think in a little star in the fridge right up there. I pray for 15.7 minutes. I fasted for two whole days of the those are all performance mentalities. I read because I love you, would you speak to me.
I fasted because I'm not clear and I don't know what to do and I want to eliminate the distractions I get no brownie points. I'm not better than anyone else.
I just need to pull away from the world because I need to hear your voice when you speak to me.
I love you.I want to sing to God because he's my Savior and what he's done and I forget that that's that's what holiness looks like and then you begin to pass on a give to others what God is given to you on the application it says I I like you. If you would be so bold to write your name in there commit to learn how to discern good from evil.
That's the heart of becoming holy to the problem is we have a roof over a hard time in our day you living in a mirage in a barrage of lies and appearances and Paul would pray will look at a little bit later in Philippians 1. He would pray that God would grant them the ability to discern good from evil Isaiah and hit his day would say the world and in the end, the religious leaders he would say you know what's happened is now recalling evil good and good evil and modern about you but I see that today everywhere so how do you pass this on and how do you pass on this view of God.
The sense of holiness because if holiness has to do with being whole and health and if God because of the nature of who he is, demands holiness for the health of his universe.
And when people violate that holiness. There's consequences because God is pure when a parent lets anyone do something that's harmful for them over and over without consequence.
If you don't love proverb says the evidence of love in Hebrews 12 says the evidence of real love is one apparent disciplines. So when we step outside of God's moral law and boundaries and he brings consequences is what he saying is I love you because you keep doing that you can get hurt badly. You can get real badly. That attitude is going to bring pain that behaviors can bring pain. You keep logging onto that site you lose affection for your wife. You keep chatting around and read those romance novels in creating this ultra world that you hide in and had this virtual world detail what it'll ruin your marriage. You keep letting your kids hang out with that group. I will take the land in the ditch and so he says there's a standard of holiness, but the standard of holiness is built out of blocks or bricks of love to bring the health and wholeness. So let's talk about maybe some practical ways. How do we pass this on so they can make wise decisions number one. Encourage them to saturate their minds with truth. The Bible great books, videos you have in your notes. This is one of my favorite passages Romans chapter 8 verses five through eight. It says those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires the mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace, the sinful mind is hostile to God.
It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so, and those who are controlled by the sinful nature the flesh cannot please God.
All I want you to get his where do you set your mind where you set your mind. First and foremost, we have to model this but who we have got to pass on to our kids to those who were discipling to our grandkids to the groups that we hang out with me on pay when I been in small groups where the Bibles never opened.
Truth is never discussed but we know a lot about you know what's on sale what sport teams are doing different.
We have a good social time and I think that social interaction is great. It just and transform your life. The great majority III don't do counseling per se and you and I was kinda joking, but when I get done speaking different places that usually align long line of people and they come up and tell me stuff out of the wine that I'm thinking I would never tell anybody that, and they tell me all kind of really painful renders difficult marriages, homosexual fares, drugs, addicts, all on and on and on and on and made very sincere believer to never dreamed this could happen to them and I despite what I told you about myself when I first meet people ask God for great compassion and I listen attentively and I asked questions and I try discover what's going on but I have learned over the years.
I always asked one question would you tell me, me. I know you been a believer so long.
I know you have thought this could happen to you and you know that someone like you could never have an affair in your leader in the church etc. etc. would you tell me right now. A little bit about your personal time in God's word and I can I find Noah. I almost know the answer Hunter sometime and I will tell you goes like this will I use to but why go to church regularly and ask you went to church regularly. While listen to Christian radio.
Now that what you have, the great God blessing us on those guys are okay, I ask you about your personal time, God's word.
God speaks to you in its heart relationship. Get pass that on. The great majority of Christians do not spend personal time in God's word and therefore are powerless to break the bonds of sin and are duped and seduced because not armed with the truth and we get a model that first and then you get pass that on.
And it's gotta be passed on, not as a club you know okay kids get around the table right now at breakfast time for supper time all right. Nathaniel open Proverbs chapter 1 its first demimonde is rated now shut up was in your brothers.
Read God's word. I can tell you where these kids you to be about 18 it will not be in church or much to be with God but in winsome ways. Early on I number my wife. She is read to all of her kids they became readers and I mean she read all the Chronicles of Narnia, and then she read other things and she read to them.
Even at times where they got old enough, it would've been embarrassing to read and talk about, and especially the boys and then I was much more concerned little by little by little, I met with my kids in, taught them how to spend some time with God and treason. I would just try and share the love and what was happening in our lives and our struggles in our journey but with God so and I wanted my kids far more to begin to meet with God on their own than us have sort of perfunctory family devotions. Although unit we met.
Did that and I I talked my kids now my one son is a pastor civil run went what what was it that really clicked for you in terms of how to God lead you that way. And I'm thinking maybe it's one of my great messages. I'm sure you know it, but this is the my kids he said with that is really pretty easy.
You know I don't how many times you know in your location you get up go to bathroom you think some overnight because it's like 5 o'clock and for you to mow the night and there's a light on moms on her knees praying or she sit in the chair of the cup of coffee, read God's word and I just grew up watching you and mom. That's what mattered and when we drove in the car and we were in the backseat.
You guys were just, you know what didn't sound spiritual just sound like I know what you are you doing life. That's what the catch. So you have to create when their little and then when they're older. I will tell you I didn't I didn't pay my kids to do the chores member we talked about. I paid for extra stuff.
I paid and read books you say this bribed him absolutely that on purpose. I mean, my kids got high school.
Another get all these worldviews James Cyrus with Windows okay today what are you 10 bucks read that, and rightly report on here's a thick when I give you 15 bucks read that one will discuss. I mean hey they wanted money.
I wanted truth to get their money but but you got it saturate their mind with truth and courage that the second is encourage them to hang out regularly will wise, godly people.
Proverbs 1320 he dwells with wise men will be wise, but the companion of a fool suffer harm. There's a great line. I got this from the hero is in a casual conversation and it was with the vice president of a guy that I work with and his wife was there. We were talking about the influence of kids and you know you're always worried about who to hang out with and she just turned to all of us is that all tell you, you show me your friends all show your future men on orgy I wrote that down I been using it since. And when I when I remember give her credit. I do like now that I mean it's true. Think of who your investing in you need.
If you have control you need to be very careful about who they hang out with you know some guys I've had the opportunity to help and disciple and I really talk about a brother. You know the news. We love you care for your reply and hope your new Christian making progress. Now tell me again about what you came out of his seat was New Age and cocaine right okay and used to smoke the stuff and sell it yeah okay yeah you tell me you're struggling right okay. Why struggle to tell me who you hang out with two other dealers now help me with this I mean I'm in Santa Cruz California me this is normal. Help me with this.
You think you not to do that hang out with them. Well, there my friends. I want to lead them to Christ.
Hey, you lead people to Christ on neutral turf.
You know what you don't go over there and they probably going to come to church but let's find some neutral places where let's have them hang out and you can influence them in stem set of them influence you are more than one time when my kids I said you can't play with his two kids in, but dad dad can't play with them if they can come to our house and hang out but you're not going to their house.
No one's home. I know what happens is not to do it well you did of course some of us need to be those of you that have smaller children or teenagers can be bad person. Okay that they can. I don't love you anymore, let them slam the door. You know who you tell me who I can be friends with your parent. That's who I don't love you, and here's what I hear and I got a number cases unit anecdotal. But here's what I hear. Well, if we set those boundaries to type than dull rebel, especially in the area of teenagers dating unbelievers and I here's all we can do that we can be real careful. I got news for you there heart gets connected to an unbeliever that is not walking with God there to go down the tubes so draw the line lovingly and catch it early and I know use a handful of success stories were that gaur. That girl finally came to Christ and all the rest. Let me tell you I got 100 other stories for every success story give me the number one thing that causes young people to fall and fall away from their faith when they go to college. The reason they change their morals is not. They really change their theology, but they have to change your theology to adapt their lifestyle and when you and find when your emotions kick in and you fall in love to get to have sex. I mean, let's see.
Do I really believe in God the Bible from this old-fashioned stuff for this. That's a no-brainer. And we can't figure out why I mean the statistics are alarming of the percentage of all of our quote young Christian youth to go away to school about 10 to 12%. Keep the faith.
Five years later and I've had some deep deep conflict with my children and that journey and I was a really really bad guy and wasn't always pretty, and I didn't always do it right, but I will tell you that is so nonnegotiable you're the parent. With that said you're having lots of fun investing in their life and and doing lots of great things that other parents don't do with them to see you could you can unit the bridge of truth is relationship and the more relationship you have, the more love. The more deposits the more truth that they can hold because at the end of the day. They don't want to disappoint you. They really don't. But but is in a tug-of-war times third model for them, how to ask God for discernment and wisdom. It's really important for those you're trying to help that you don't become like the answer manner.
The answer woman and what should I do about this and you you know more than able, can you tell me and you say well that it to do this. To do that motto form you know what, here's a passage in James chapter 1 verse five okay if any man lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach, but let him when he asked, let him ask in faith for the one who doubts is like a double minded man who's tossed here and there by the waves. Don't let that person expect to receive anything from the Lord, and you explained to him. Wisdom is doing life God's way. According to his design. He'll always show you what to do. I mean the Bible doesn't tell you what state to live in the Bible doesn't tell you what location the Bible doesn't say you now to go to Christian score non-Christian school. You need wisdom from God is what you want to model for them as I don't have the answer to that God makes a promise and will be a time to develop the whole text the thesis of that text of not ever doubting is not that you ever have doubts about God. Everyone has doubts it's this work, we get a word schizophrenic it's it's a double minded person when you pray God will you show me your will so I can consider it as one of the options. God says no. Did you catch that go over slightly slower. Some of you when you pray, and it is you don't do it like this intentionally, that's what we do.I really want to know what your will is about this relationship and then when I know your will all decide whether I'll take it or not, guess what God says you know what I don't answer the prayers but what he says is God I don't know about what to do about this relationship. I don't know what to do about this money situation. I don't what to do about this marriage crisis. I don't know what to do about this wayward son or wayward daughter got. I don't know about my calling. Whether I should get out of this work go to that work. Here's the promise.
James 15 if I will come and say God I want you to know that I sign my name on the bottom of the check and I've turned it like this and put it under the throne room of heaven, I will do no matter what it is whatever you tell me you fill in the top and I'll do it. He says 100% of time a fill in the top you need it, and now housing a show, you might be through person to the Scripture as you pray, wise counsel, but he promises he will show you what to do 90% of the will of God is being really willing to do whatever God says. Most of us, myself completely included. I kinda want to get God's lined up to get him to do what I want because I think I know it's best. It's that surrender to be willing to do it and have to model that this is where when that you know don't say stuff like my kids when they were hidden in the team to be something like hey you know what I want to do this or that or go to this movie or do that and I would think you know that's that's not good, but among the keep making every decision working to be in trouble. So I would often say well you do me a favor, yeah, I sit for about 24 hours and just really think it's rude you believe God want you mild dad, you know, I know I am going with me if I just talk to God about. I'm just asking again.
You take that responsibility instead of the power trip. I said no what you want to do is start help and I want to buy this. I want to go here I want to do that and if you not sure but down deep in your heart you thinking is probably not a very good thing. But it won't kill them.
Whatever they do always want to give them a lot more rope and say what you pray about it and and by the way this this parental thing we have of wanting to protect her kids from pain. It is not real smart. What you want to do is not protect them from small pain so it hurts really badly. You know like gosh, I just spent $25 on this wacky thing and it looks eerily dominant now. I wore to school it was even cool. What I believe 25 bucks. Good. Or, you know, I decided to go on this thing and then everyone did this terrible stuff and I wish I would've never there and good. See if you always tell them what to do and you always keep him inside your bounds then what happens is they can't wait to get away to go try some stuff you want to develop them hearing God's voice. You want to model for them how to get wisdom how to discern another practical thing with your kids is a unit unit will clicker when you're watching something as much as I'll talk a little bit later about limiting media my kids. It was like everything I believe every moment is a teachable moment. You don't go overboard, but I mean okay you're watching the Super Bowl right and so these commercials, and I mean they spent what how many zillion dollars create this commercial the pain $1.5 million for 30 seconds and there's a girl that she's got it cut down to hear and pushed up to there and pulled down to hear another God is been on steroids and he's got his course lightness that this that and the music comes on Bam Bam Bam Bam Bam and a stop okay for S again.
What was a message that okay where where they come and asked him why were they selling 240 think okay it why he think she's dressed that way. It why does he have that what Smith and and you what you doing your help them discern good from evil and so you and then you watch Israel, soaking movie, it makes you cry. It's really good and it's really warm and there's no sex in it and there's no violence in it.
The only problem is in this movie the person that you identify with his narrative is not very nice person and so this person married to the not very nice person falls in love with someone else and they have an affair, and eight have you know there's music and they're going out and doubted out about it and were all crying and thinking oh I'm glad she finally found love in her life and of the popular movie and everyone loves it, and you stop the thing is 2nd to 2nd, I got sucked in. Just like you. But what did she do mean we all love her and she was a pretty want and you and the music was really planted all the violins and her life was so hard before. Right. Okay, let's rewind. It's called adultery. So how does that play out in real life.
Let's go through some families in the church were someone committed adultery.
Let's remember what that look like let's remember what it did to the younger statement same. That's what you do this on a classroom it's every moment of it now. By the way, don't stop at every commercial summit is going to get out of here, but did you get finally teach them to monitor their exposure to the meeting.
Teach them to monitor their exposure to the media.
Romans 12 to we touched on earlier. Do not be conformed to this world, this present world system not the physical world. It's the cosmos it's the world system and first John tells us what it's made of the left of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life the way to help your kids.
Is this is like fortune Cosmo, and people magazine okay that's the world. If you can have her body like that, Cosmo, or 17 or what else then. Or, you know, muscle magazine men's fitness you get tiedowns baby and six seconds ago you know and with the right drugs or people if you just be famous right the whole goal is to be an American.
I don't want to be famous people to know me.
I will say ridiculous things on TV. I will go on reality shows make a complete full of myself doing things with a camera that I would never do privately even in my own home, but I have to get up on TV. It isn't that like the epitome of all of life. I famous now know you're an idiot now but I you, your kids, your grandkids, the people you're discipling are getting boom boom boom there bombarded and so what I want to go to buy something.
What is it you know, the closer that way the media's. That way the magazines are that way you will never be whole and healthy instead of being deceived and seduced unless you say stop allowing yourself to be molded by this world system. She got you that you can put a real barrier and in media and how much you watch what you watch my kids heard it a zillion times and the people of had a opportunity to help disciple what you allow to go into your mind is most important decision you make every day way more than what goes in your mouth like my wife is really healthy know this is organic and you know this is done any pesticides and you know I mean were really into eating good healthy things for you yet healthy stuff in your brain. You are the product of your thought life. You understand that as a man thinks is a woman thinks in his heart, so you become.
You watch enough TV you read enough videos.
You glance through enough magazines.
It will create desires that you can never fulfill and you'll never be satisfied and you'll get sucked in and the lure right in and Bam and so and and by the way, when you live this kind of life. This is where people start thinking you're weird because we were live in a day were, according to Barna. I don't know how accurate but according to Bart about one out of every 10 or one out of every 12 people who say I'm a Christian I'm born again. I prayed to receive Jesus Christ as my Savior. About one out of every 10 or 12 are living the life. The others have either a mentor not saying they're not believers. I don't know I'm just saying that they may have the living spirit of the living God living in them, but their external behavior, their values, their honesty, their commitment to marriage their lifestyle, their speech, their priorities and their values are exactly the same as her non-Christian friends because you are what you eat and if you don't believe me this is a mature group solve will go way out on the limb for you younger ones who want a mild challenge going to three day media fast. Okay, no rent, no afternoon TV. Don't get on surf the Internet media fast in the car talk radio.
If you can you can positive music teaching three days, no TV, no media you you get antsy. Some of you will find you have an addiction is when you walk in you turn it on. Some of you are like me that when I do watch TV and and as soon as commercial comes on board so I can watch for shows one time to relax. Of course, and I'm exhausted when I'm done I may not have to be this game this game.
This game states doing this. This in part of this movie this in about you you you go on a three day media fast and I will tell you you you will be 61. You have all this time he didn't think he had gone attending media fast for some of you.
You'll try you.
It will be scary because you can't do it, go on a 10 day media fast. Then sit down and watch just general prime time TV you will be shocked. That's how desensitized we become.
You'll be shocked at what comes out of people's mouth. You'll be shocked at the sexual innuendo you be shocked at and you'll see stuff that you've grown accustomed to in terms of, you know how people are dressed in different things that will stir your flesh that you don't doesn't even register now and it's the classic what's the illustration that you put the frog in the water and if you heat it up real slowly one jump out. We had a whole generation and jumping out. And here's a sadness, then we reap the consequences.
Even though it's not a willful volitional, I hate God. Sin, you just reap the consequences of a whole and unholy life because holiness is the demand of God to keep his universe healthy so there's consequences when I put jump my mouth junk in my head, it creates a set of desires and so limiting the video games the violence the sexuality I mean you are just going to be a spiritual salmon swimming upstream with your fellow friends and other people thinking you are wired. Now do I possess.
Never watch TV. Of course not this this is really asking yourself is this good honorable right praiseworthy is a sinner. Philippians 48 criteria does this draw me closer to God or pull me farther away and by the way for me sometimes is just good stuff.
I just have a limit after about two hours of TV, even a great game out of sports I did.
I just find I get spiritually desensitized side, I just, you know, and I'm differently. I don't know maybe some you can take a lot more than me but you if you take seriously what goes into your mind and then substituted, you will see dramatically change dramatically change what's the message living holy lives is how we get God's best holy living allows you to experience God's best for your life.
Let's move holiness out of this idea of the otherworldly dark robes. Something weird and let's move it into becoming whole healthy sure when some loving and receiving sort of that chalet my God have every relationship in every area of your life right this application.
This message to make choices you're listening to Living on the Edge and were in the middle of chip series leaving a legacy that lasts forever. The concept of passing on your face that were talking about in this series isn't new parents from the very beginning were instructed to teach their children about God and his faithfulness and were expected to build that same godly legacy from generation to generation five biblical habits chips been teaching are key to living a more Christ centered joy filled life.
So whether you're a parent or grandparent or a mentor. This series will help you connect in meaningful ways with the young people you love to check out the resource options for leaving a legacy that lasts forever. Go to LivingontheEdge.org call AAA 333-6003 that's AAA 333-6003 or click on special offers on the chipping remap chip in this series were talking about passing on a godly legacy to the next generation.
And for most parents reading Bible stories to their young children is easy because they're so receptive. But the real struggle comes when those kids get older the relationship dynamics change. The tension can build candid, Dave. I find that relationships with adult children are ones where there's parents that so want something for their kids that they just keep doing it for them or their such frustration when they don't share their values.
Even some biblical values or biblical morality that they so want them to change it creates incredible tension and conflict. And I don't think we've had a lot of good teaching about how do you move from being the parent that's in control to being the coaches there growing up to learning how to be a wise consultant to your grown kids who have to make their own decisions and their own consequences and and that means learning how to deal with financial issues. What you should do and what you shouldn't do. I went to speak and when not to speak a winter criticize and when to keep your mouth shut when to say it's a minor issue and you let it pass. And when you have to speak the truth and confront and so we've gotten more feedback and more requests about navigating life with adult children that I got together with the parenting expert, and Fran Jim Burns.
He's the founder and the leader of the ministry called homeward and we put together. I think the course that will really help navigate you through those kind of issues.
Few things will cause more long-term conflict than mismanaging finances, helping your kids or trying to control situations that you can't control, and the more you do it. It causes conflict. This is a course that I will say everyone to go through it short.
It's interesting and it's helpful all this online video course from Chip and Jim Burns is called how to navigate life with your adult children.
It's absolutely free and it's available now on either the chipping remap or our website LivingontheEdge.org because we know that some of the most painful challenging relationships can be between parents and adult children.
This resource gives you practical biblical wisdom for how to successfully navigate this particularly challenging season of life. You can do these six sessions at your own pace by yourself or with a few friends just go online to LivingontheEdge.org or Special offers on the app and take your next step toward building healthy relationships with the adult children in your life. Now here's chip with a final thought as we close today's program. Let me do a brief review because this is so important about away as I'm going to this brief review I will remind you that the very notes I'm reading off of you can get absolutely free go on the website LivingontheEdge.org and you can download the notes for free about what you some. I mean pass them on the whole goal is to put tools in your hands to help you grow. Now we want to get God's best answer number one we talked about renewing our mind, you'll know the truth and the truth will set you free. You've got to be in the Scriptures number to hang out regularly with wise people more is caught than taught. Just find someone who's more godly, more loving, has a better marriage is a pure single person whatever and just hang out with them. Three is ask God for discernment and wisdom mean sometimes wheat we get talking and praying about so many things in different directions. Ask God for some big stuff make me wise. God give me courage. God show me what to do in this situation. Number four limit your exposure to the media you will be the product of your thought life and I even good television or good movies. If there's too much of it I will tell you it will deaden your spirit. It will begin to cause your soul to shrivel. You have to keep your mind, your heart and your soul active in the way you do that is you have to limit how much bombardment you get of media. So let me ask you, in light of those things.
What one step does God want you to take.
Is it limiting media maybe do a wonder today fast. Is it something I was reading the Bible pretty regularly and it sort of slipped the need to get back to that. Is it calling someone today. Maybe on your cell phone and in just a hate. Could we meet for lunch in one of those wise, godly people take one action step and then watch God work as we wrap up I would say thanks to those who make this program possible through your generous financial support.
Your gifts help us create programs, purchase your time and develop additional resources to help Christians live like Christians. If you've been blessed by the ministry of Living on the Edge. Would you consider sending a gift today.
You can call us at AAA to 333-6003. Tap the donate button or donate online at http://livingontheedge.org. Your support is greatly appreciated will be sure to join us next time. When she continues his series leaving a legacy that lasts forever. Till then, this is Dave really saying thanks for listening to this edition of living all the