The Battle of 2018

The biggest battles that we faced in 2017 revealed the condition of our hearts. No, again, think with me for a minute about that the biggest battles we faced in this last year really revealed the condition of our hearts. It doesn't matter what we faced it might've been physical sickness financial hardship relational distress. Some of the greatest temptations of our lives were leased temptations that we face. They all revealed the condition of our hearts who we trust what we trust. Even those resolutions that we have been making in preparing for this new year 2018. Most of them show up on the outside but really reflect a much deeper struggle.

Only inside.

Think about it I'm going to eat better and exercise more, lose some weight.

I'm going to spend more time with my family be a better husband about why anything that might deal with relationships do a better job of controlling my anger, my spending my lust, my gossiping or slander.

My language in general. Maybe another resolution be more involved in the church and find a ministry in which to serve or to get more organized in this new year my schedule my budget. Maybe my storage space or I'm going to read my Bible more.

I'm going to pray more built all of these are worthy goals and I hope that you have reflected in you have thought about many of these things, but but if were really changing our largest have to happen at a much deeper level. Just willpower. Then just doing better work really dealing with high dose of the heart were dealing with the desires of the flesh.

The attacks of the enemy.

The pressure that comes from the world and so how can we fight in the right way. How can we fight for the right reason. How can we fight for the right thing again. I hope you're hearing what I'm trying to communicate to you this morning.

It's a heart problem that were dealing with.

We need something much greater than willpower.

We need something much greater than just a book to read. We need to address the heart problems we need repentance and we need what God is given us to address those heart problems.

The very word of God giving God access to our hearts is not easy to matter fact it can be very painful because God begins to show us more things about ourselves that we really want to know begins to show us what we really love the show was we love begins to point out those idols and most of us don't like to really see we are at the core at the innermost deepest level of who we are. I say to you this coming year will face a lot of temptations every day.

Every one of us is because temptation is a common battle in these resolutions we make in these part issues that we really have that that show themselves and what kind of resolutions we we want to make, will their common battles for all of us. I think every parent ought to make sure he or she walks through first grade can start to and 13 with their children.

No temptation has seized you has grabbed you has overtaken you but such as is common to man were we all face struggles. Interestingly, verse 14.

In first Corinthians 10 Paul goes on to say. Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. These talking about temptation, but he knows it's a heart problem. He made that connection of what or whom we love most.

Jesus walked here on the earth.

As you know, just over 2000 years ago when he fall.

These battles the same battles that were fighting today.

He fought them himself. He won each and every time, but showing his qualifications to be the Savior of the world. He was that lamb that was without blemish.

He was that sinless offering that sinless Lamb of God that was necessary for the sacrifice of the sins of the world at the same time.

What he did was he provided a model for us to teach us how to deal with temptation. We can see how Jesus dealt with it and know that there's there's a model there's an example that we can look at as we look at Matthew chapter 4 this morning. Think about what leads us to that particular chapter. Matthew presents a majestic beautiful picture of who Jesus is the is the kingdom fulfills the Old Testament prophecies and rules. First, as the suffering, obedient servant in order to crush the head of the serpent and win every battle in chapter 1, Matthew shows us Jesus is the seed of the patriarch Abraham, you can just kind of follow along. Chapter 1 and see that he's also the descendent of the king after God's own heart.

David Matthew goes on the record, the miraculous conception of Jesus and the virgin birth and fulfillment of what Isaiah the prophet had audaciously claimed would happen. Records in chapter 2 the very place that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem, just like the prophet Micah foretold as a child, Jesus went down into Egypt with his family and then God called his family out of Egypt, confirming what Hosea the prophet communicated. Matthew continues hundreds of years before Jesus came that there would be weeping and lamentations around the ring surrounding Jesus's early years pinpointing the slaughter of boys two and under under. He then writes his growing up years would be in Nazareth, thus fulfilling another very specific prophecy about the Messiah from the prophet he would be called a Nazarene. How could we ever doubt who Jesus is God himself, the Messiah, and the flesh.

We doubt this this book. The very word of God is these hundreds of prophecies were fulfilled in this 1 million by chapter 3 of Matthew John the Baptist is a dot is identified as a voice crying in the wilderness prepared the way of the Lord just before in this epic battle scene in chapter 4 we see the Trinity in action three persons of the same essence. One in three all working together to bring about the redemption, the salvation of all who call on the name of the Lord, the one true God in three persons at his baptism, the Spirit descends upon Jesus. The father speaks about him. This is my beloved son, with whom I am well pleased. Again, who else would we focus on who else would we follow but this one who is been identified by the prophets about the very father inhabited by the spirit himself and we will begin a series on Sunday evenings called, we believe tonight is the first one we believe in the inerrancy of Scripture have some quotes for you from some people who were connected to Calvary like a Dr. Monroe and Ross Road. Even Richard land, the president, Southern Evangelical seminary to see her this morning to try to emphasize what we believe in the inerrancy of Scripture, but next Sunday night.

Pastor Jim Pyle will be speaking about the Trinity and you will be giving you three easy ways to explain the Trinity. And that's a joke. By the way, but I believe he will help us understand it better for as we come to this particular place allows us to see Jesus in action as he faces the battle had own in some ways like having access to the game feel you you you have an opponent you have an enemy. And so the football coach's Ron Rivera nominees gathering all this game field all the offense of coordinator deepest support letter the coaches and the players there watching these game field feels their child observe how the enemy are and what other teams have done that seem to work against that defense against that offense. Game films are huge in preparation for James and so we we get one of those game field here. This is Jesus, and in a great scene of being confronted by the enemy being tempted by him. We get the look in on how the enemy works and how to how to respond and react in a way that will lead us to obedience. Look with me into the replay of the master himself and Matthew four verse one then Jesus was led up by the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil after fasting for 40 days and 40 nights, he was hungry and the tempter came and said to him, if you are the son of God command these stones to become loaves of bread, but he answered it is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God and the devil took him to the holy city, and set them on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, if you are the son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written, he will command his angels concerning you in on their hands they will bear you up lets you strike your foot against a stone. Jesus said to him again.

It is written.

You should not put the Lord your God to the test. Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.

And he said to him, all these I will give you if you will fall down and worship me. Then Jesus said to him, because Satan, for it is written, you shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve. Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him. We've tried to cite this morning that all temptation is, that the battle that we face is a common battle and what we find in chapter 4. Is Jesus being tried and tested whether they be qualified to be the Savior of the world would he be qualified to save sinners when he be that lamb without blemish.

When he beat sinless just as much as the father sent the son, the spirit would lead the son he descended on him. We see at the baptismal scene in chapter 3, Jesus was full of the holy spirit is a pretty good indicator for us as we face battle how much we need to make sure where full of the spirit of God, and it was the spirit of God that led Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil spirit leads Jesus not just make sure you understand that the spirit leads Jesus to be tempted by the devil. Unbelievable that your holiness, God himself will allow himself long to live a sinful humanity and then allow himself to be in a battle with pure evil. Satan himself.

Satan has no right to the battle.

He has no authority in the battle he should have access but God chose to use the devil to show Christ unique qualification to die in our place. I suppose I should say a word to the Pope at this point. Not that I have anything really to teach him but if is troubling to pray lead us not into temptation, you're probably going to have a problem with this text is will I wouldn't say it's easy to understand Scripture there some tough places this is one that can give us some calls and some reflection but I would say the problem is not God's.

The problem is ours.

In trying to understand what it says but God is sovereign, nothing ultimately one of the answers we have for this. Even in the model prayer. Lead us not into temptation that Jesus taught us to pray that one of the things that we can say is that God is sovereign and yes, he even uses the enemy for his purposes in their terms. I believe we pray God keep me away from those temptations lead me not into temptation, protect me from temptation. I think Jesus shows us that God works and he he doesn't use the enemy and that kind of way in our lives to grow lesson to teach us as well, so first who is weak. See document before after fasting for 40 days and 40 nights, he was hungry. It wasn't enough that Jesus just took on human flesh that was probably enough but he fasted 40 days and nights is surrendering human flesh is total and complete.

He brought himself to a place of complete understanding of the deepest level of human physical needs.

If you want to. How could God understand what I'm going through how good, how could he possibly know this is Jesus experience the deepest level of human physical need to say he was hungry seem somewhat of an understatement to admit you hadn't eaten for 40 days and 40 nights. Would you not say I need to eat, would you not say I deserve to eat. Why can't I eat I mean you can imagine all the different things that would run through your mind about this one. Physical need to see Jesus is facing the battle of acting independently of God in his flesh.

He feels this this needed in verse three. That's where the tempter comes in and the tempter came and said to him, if you are the son of God command these stones become loaves of bread. The tempter knows our human desires are weaknesses are vulnerabilities doing a long time after humanity for thousands of years and you know where to go and he knew where to dive toward Jesus and attack him to try to bring him down these evil and deceptive working to thwart the purposes of God in a person's life. He's even referred to as an angel of light because he can take something good to make it look wonderful and yet aim for our destruction.

I can imagine some of the false it might go through a person's mind being tempted with this particular thing turning the stone into bread.

I can't be happy without.

Can you not imagine those kinds of thoughts I needed. I want it.

Yes he's told all of us those same kinds of things the enemy has the enemy came in the garden adamant even he showed his cards as the tempter there when he said, did God really say he made them doubt God's word.

There was doubt and deception and distortion. I take great comfort in one day. Knowing that this tempter is referred to in verse three that old serpent, the father of all lies. The murder of the devil who had deceived them and us will be thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and false prophet are, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever hope as you enter into this year. You fight the battles that that's encouragement to you to know his end. In Revelation 20 verse 10 he is attacked he is destroyed. People use attack families and destroy families. These attacked churches and destroyed churches.

He has been at work like a roaring line, seeking whom he may devour.

Will you fight will in 2018.

I think verse three. Again, it tells us a little bit about his strategy.

He said to him, if you are the son of God. Now that word gift could be translated as, since may help us to understand what is getting at, not necessarily making Jesus is that Jesus doubt whether he's the son of God, Jesus had complete affirmation of that he knows who he is here but if you are you saying you think you are. Since you are the son of God, it's that whole idea of doing thing you want to do you have the freedom to act any way you want it, it's that more of you deserve this you have the power to do this, why don't you just go ahead and do it. Why would you do this because I can sometimes how we rationalize things. The tempter said if you're the son of God command these stones become loaves of bread. I don't know if Jesus looked out into the wilderness and saw some rocks out there and thought men. If I was that was a loaf of bread. I imagine he was pretty hungry and a lot of different kinds of thoughts would've gone through his mind is not going to be hungry. It's not wrong to eat bread is not even wrong to turn stones into bread later. Jesus return water into wine.

Later he would take up to Lowe's and five fish and he would he would make a meal for 5000 men, and then on top of that all the women in all the children so it's not wrong to create it or to make in order to change it. So what's wrong with the temptation think we find it in Jesus's answer. Jesus knew what the enemy was after he answered it is written now, of course, that's a great part of this playbook because every time that it enemy attack.

You see, that was Jesus's strategy. That was his defense is written down to verse seven, it is written down verse 10 it is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.

Jesus is saying I'm not going to follow your directions. Satan I'm going to follow God's directions.

Because for Moses sermon in Deuteronomy 83 where Jesus is identifying the struggle in his own heart and the willingness to surrender to God's word to the people of Israel in Deuteronomy chapter 8, and their call to surrender their hearts to the very word of God says I go back and just read that Deuteronomy 8 in verses two and three and you shall remember the hallway that the Lord your God led you these 40 years in the wilderness that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart to temptation and struggle comes in that way. He humbles us to test us to know what's in our heart not so much so that he would know but that we would know where we are, whether you would keep his commandments or not. And he humbled you and let your hunger and let you hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know that he might make you know that man does not live but by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord God was at work in the Israelites at the heart level and God is at work here in these addressing a heart issue. Even as Jesus is going through this temptation would Jesus act independently of his father in heaven doing something is not necessarily wrong, but acting independently despite the enemy likes to take basic human needs attempt to act on our own outside of the will of God. Again Jesus answered, it is written is putting unusual supernatural weight own what Moses wrote that what Scripture is its supernatural was God given its God breathed, Jesus values these words and acknowledges them as the very words of God. But man will not live by bread alone, but by every word and of course that has inerrancy implications, perfection implications, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. Jesus is willing to deny himself give up legitimate human needs satisfied in the wrong way to be obedient to his father and to be in the center of God's wheel. He treasured the words of God's mouth more than his all necessary portion of food. Just like Job talked about in Job 23 has to remind us that life is not about us is not about us whenever we become so self-centered that we do what we would do when we will do it, how we would do if we see we have made life completely about us. We have a creator we been designed to live freaking out and bring glory to his name. It's about him and not about us don't get into that week. Superficial theology of being man centered that God is all about us seaward were to be all about God fulfilling his plan, his purposes are teenagers have a hard time grasping just the desperation that we have in the fight against the enemy, they, they oftentimes don't really get the enemy is trying to strike at them to affect the rest of their lives, that the enemy will take our God given creative desires and seek to use them against us so young girl needs the approval of her father. So the enemy comes any creeps in that relationship between father and daughter where there is a rift and she's not getting that approval that affects her from her father so she seeks out in other way enemy he's been at work doing that for a long long time in a young man, God's preparing of growing him up to be a father. Most likely, one day, and he's given them a lot of natural desires and becomes and is tempted by digital images to supplant what God's plan is for him that will ultimately bring about an addiction and CNN guilt and ultimately problems in a marriage later wrong and he holds that young man type sometimes free the rest of his life unless he seeks God's deliverance and help you see the enemies working in of clever way and so to that young woman she she could come up alongside of Jesus and say it is written, my God will supply every need of yours. She could say even with Jesus, man shall not live by bread alone. This need that I have deep within me, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. She could even go back to Deuteronomy like Jesus did in Deuteronomy 32 six is not God, your father who created you, made you and establish you that young man, he could come alongside of Jesus in any could say instead of me doing what I feel like I need him to do what God wills me to do, live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. He could even come alongside and Satan from Matthew 528 but it is written, I say to you that anyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart parents we teach our kids a lot of things even grandparents. We teach our kids a lot of things even church members.

As you serve in children's areas and you have an impact on relatives and in our church family community. We teach our kids many things, but don't leave them defenseless against the enemy because they want to face temptations that are difficult.

You know what it was like growing up in those years don't leave them defenseless. Read God's word. Listen to them daily living. Speak to your wives you not wise enough. You gotta study the words of God, the words from the mouth of God. The Scriptures to address those heart problems that will come into our lives. You see what happened in room one of this battle scene. The enemy attacked with temptation appealing to the physical natural desire tempting Jesus to ask act outside of God's will and Jesus answered with the word of God.

It is written, and not just any passage, but a specific passage that address the specific temptation in God's word is sufficient to help us with anything the enemy throws at us anything that we know that were really tempted with the word of God is sufficient to have the answer I got was to use it to speak into our hearts to speak and our lives is sufficient. It addresses the heart is not a lucky charm but is an active surrender and submission and obedience to God round to look with me verse five then the devil took him to the holy city outside of the wilderness. Now inside the city and the devil sitting on the pinnacle of the temple and sent him the son of God, throw yourself down first written people command his angels concerning you and on their hands they will bear you up lets you strike your foot against a stone. See is the common battle of using God for our own means. Now it's interesting when you look at where Jesus would have been on the southeast corner of the temple. If that picture yet there it is the picture the Kidron Valley was just beneath this highest point in the temple, probably about 400 feet from the top of the pinnacle to the bottom of that Valley 450 feet for you, me, and that's one of the half football fields. It's a long way. Nobody in their right mind would jump from that distance down to the ground because it would most certainly be a life-threatening job told them to jump. Now I wonder if, in Jesus's mind. He didn't hear his mom's voice in the back. If everybody jumps off the temple you jump off. I don't really know. Hope you did probably did marry was it was a good woman, but you you get the point here. Sometimes we do use common sense. Jesus is one person said God to take away our sins, not our minds God gave you a brain to think if you act outside of common sense. You better know your following very words of God. I'm sure as the devil was tempting Jesus that he saw what happened.

Jesus.

Jesus took strength and encouragement from the very word of God and so now he's going through the word of God back in him again. If you're the son of God, maybe even translated since you are this son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written. See how the devil can take the word of God and try to use it against us.

It's it's one of those lessons that we've got to take with us because not every body.

"The Bible leaves the Bible, not everybody who speaks saying that they are teaching you from the word of God are really teaching you the words of God.

There are people who will take certain Scripture passages and make them say things that the word of God never intended.

People can take Scriptures and justify CNN ungodliness. So if the devil can take the Scriptures and turn them upside down. We better be careful who we are listening to, and when people tell us that they're telling us something from God well in Texas.

Great passes, the devil does from Psalm 91 sometime go back and read that needs using verses 11 and 12 and using it to Jesus to presume upon God, or to use God for his own purposes, that that name. That claimant kind of thinking that whatever we do we wall God to do what we want and we will him to give us what we said say he should give us it's that thinking of. Oh well, God will take care of us. No matter what I do.

It'll all just work out. That's another passages taken out of context. In the it's it's the fact that we have a healthy fear of God and not treat them with respect just like the child who goes out in his rod drives his car recklessly is is all well my parents don't take care if I can figure 5. Reckon I'll be okay. I'm invincible.

You're showing disrespect want your characters or disrespected as the laws of nature and life itself. And sometimes we treat God like that ought to take care of any hope don't bail me out. That's disrespect more moms and dads shouldn't bail their kids out. God is not our slave.

We are here us instead of telling God what to do. He tells us what to do. That's out works is innocent of children tell their parents. This is what you better do this what I want you to do this the parent you should be telling the children.

This is what you are going today. God is God. He should be respected and reverence and honored and obey. Yes, as someone has said, we are free to choose our actions, but were not free to choose the consequences of our actions. Jesus answers this temptation with a powerful weapon. He says it is written in verse seven, it is written.

What a powerful think he's quoting Deuteronomy again.

Deuteronomy 616 you shall not put the Lord your God to the test, jumping from a tall building being called by an angel would be quite a feat. I'm sure it might if people were looking all bring up raw applause and praise and that would be a lot better than going to the cross that was not God's plan and often times we will take the easy way out to God, where you let me go through this we don't want to go to the suffering and the pain and and and I understand that I don't either but were trusting in the sovereignty of God is he's at work. Maybe when we are trying to use God for our own means is like praying. What we won't. Instead of praying for God's will to be done. Maybe it's making our plans and then asking God to bless them. Maybe it's all bring our obedience of God will do something for us bargaining. Maybe it's making demands of God. 1 Easy Way to tell if you're using God for your own means is how do you respond when you don't get what you will what God doesn't do what you want him to do it or even when you will him to do it. Are you unhappy complain or you grumble. Again we see ourselves. Often times is front and center rather than the glory of God in his majesty and act of humble submission. Jesus recalls the words of God, and he fully obeys. Now notice with me round three in verse eight round three.

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, all these I will give you if you will fall down and worship me. This is the compliment that the common battle of compromising God's commands. The common battle of compromising God's commands were usually tempted with what we might call paltry things may be a little fleeting pleasure little moment of gratification.

Maybe a few more dollars a little more convenience, but even if it was something more significant. All on this earth is compact compared to eternity in the goodness of God is paltry. It's it's not worth a whole lot no Jesus again was feeling the full weight of temptation here like none of us it was his. This experience of temptation was in a greater degree than any of us would ever experience. It was, he can understand our temptation, but was a lot worse. He was being offered everything as far as the world is concerned, all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. Now say want. Don't ever bank on what the enemy says because it is usually not what it's all cracked up to be. Think about what Jesus may have seen you might have seen this beautiful mountain scene.

I think that picture may come up that mountain scene when beautiful me. We get all this cold weather and getting that snow yet but maybe maybe before the years of him to try to help you thinking you pray for little bit of snow this year, but it's always beautiful scene of a mountain. This could be yours. Jesus worship me. Maybe your little bit more for the warm weather though. Maybe you'd like to think a little bit more about a beach resort maybe was throwing out a futuristic a futuristic kind of a picture of Jesus ministry. This could be yours if it is about worship me.

Maybe a little bit more common with some of you is. Maybe it's a vehicle Jesus if your phone number I'll give you this this vehicle, you know, this is the most expensive vehicle in the world. This is this is a $4 million car called and asked them Martin may maybe maybe slightly throughout their you know what, if you will worship me. I'll give you a whole football franchise understand it's going to be for sale for about $2.3 billion. So maybe if you have you will be takers and that I just want you to hear. What would you give here what would you give in exchange for your soul right now as we sit here beside me. I wouldn't get anything from us so much more important is like this is this is a short brief one-eternities forever out I wouldn't get anything for my soul yet. Day after day the enemy comes to us in these fitness in these tempting us with things that are not only outside of God's will. But contrary to God's will.

Compromising the very words of God and N-word giving him because we want what this world has to offer.

Whether it's acceptance among our peers or whether it's this moment of pleasure or whatever it might be. But what does Jesus come back with you see it there in verse 10 then Jesus said to him, because Satan, for it is written, you shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.

Instead of entertaining the devil's offer, it was immediate. That's one thing that helps us in our time of temptation to we can look at this game film and see that Jesus didn't think well what would it be like to own the whole world know. Maybe. Maybe this it may be that the longer we entertain those temptations, the more difficult it is to get out of them. The longer we go down that road, the more difficult it is the turn back even though every temptation that we face is common to man. God promised that he would be faithful provide a way out of every one of them go back again first written skin 13 will provide a way of escape, so that we can stand up under it. The sooner we take the escape route, the easier the better off we are going to be in dealing with that temptation don't spend days. Don't spend weeks don't spend months going to spend hours going to spend minutes thinking about what that would be like because the enemy is getting more more control of your heart rather than you surrendering your heart to the very word in the will of God and saying it is written in response he lets the word of God.

He has God and speak in to his heart is quoting Deuteronomy 63 I'm not sure but maybe was reading through the book of Deuteronomy. During this particular time, I'm being a little lighthearted but it is amazing how God will speak to us right where we are in reading his word and give us what we need for that day, and for that time how much, much important, isn't that where the word of God every day to let God give us what we need for that day to live by the word of God, but but here in Deuteronomy chapter 6 the Israelites before they went over to the promised land. They would be tempted to live according to the world standards.

According to Canaan land and Moses preaching of them that God is a jealous God fear him only served him only course, the Israelites failed instead of the greatest commandment earlier in Deuteronomy 6.

Loving God, they chose to love the world and their own desires, they show us how much we need heart changes at the core.

We really love the will of God enough to obey him to follow him to not give in to compromise you. You know how easy it is to compromise. We can justify anything but there's a clear command. You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve. Try to serve God and money.

Don't try to serve God and faith will try to serve God in your peers opinions of you serve God and worship him only as you look at these three temptations Jesus was tempted by what he should do for himself act independently. He was tempted by what he thought God should do for him and so presumptuously he was tempted down this third time by what Satan could do for him. Act compromising the different temptations, but the same solution probably submit to the word of God.

Do you see how Jesus fought the battle. He knew the word he believed it was God. He submitted to the word of God because it came from God himself. He preached the word to himself.

His words he spoke so much for the devil he was resisting the devil, but he was speaking the word of God into is all very hard.

He was preaching to himself. He was finding strip in the word of God. He was finding help from the word of God. He preached to himself. Do you really want when you really want to win the battle for your heart in 2018. I read a lot of books, but others only. One must read and that's really the title of an article recently came out from John Piper. The one must read this year. Listen to what he said the warfare against soul destroying said is one.

By the word of God. If you live according the flesh, you will die. But if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

Take the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God. I've stored up your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

Save the file them in the truth. Your word is truth. How do you take up the sword of the Spirit in this mortal daily warfare play games if you don't fight you.fight by the spirit wielding his sword you live. Everything is at stake. By God's grace with God spirit. The word is enough. God will keep us by this word take you to take it up every day don't walk out into the battle unarmed select just quickly for things to do this you read the Bible like your life depends only you need every day live on the word of God is more important then your food maybe you should say read before feed your mother read the word of God before you feed your face. We want to be that desperate to know God and to hear God and to be strengthened by him. If Jesus used the word of God to overcome temptation how much more do we need you in our constant need to be fed the word so we, and we listen as Dr. Monroe prepares each week and as he's been called to give us the word of God and we going to our life group so we study and we discussed the word of God together. But every day I need to be personally taking in the word of God.

Secondly, find specific verses that speak to your struggles, find the verses that speak to your struggles don't take them out of context but as you read. Ask God to give you what you need. I know in 2018. I need to eat more healthy is always asking God to give me something that will what will strengthen my heart and my resolving give me more strengthened and I was reading first Corinthians chapter 6 they came to verse 12 and any said about freedom. We all have freedom all things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful.

All things are lawful for me, but I will not be dominated by anything in verse 19 and 20 or do not know your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, and you have from God, you are not your own, for you were bought with a price.

So glorify God in your body.

You see, were getting to the heart issues.

This is a surrender to God, not just being more healthy. Maybe you have a worry problem take Philippians 4, six and seven do not be anxious about anything but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be known to God and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Maybe you have an anger in a bitterness problem. Ephesians 431 through 32.

Maybe I will start moving through these, maybe you have a spiritual lethargy problem they get Psalm one 1936 Betty Avalos problem. Matthew 528 maybe.

Maybe as a student or a child, you have a problem with talking back to respect the parent's biggest problems tonight that will change the heart. Maybe there issues in your family of being the husband wife, the parent, God want you to be to Colossians 3, or even Ephesians 5 memorize her job description what God expects from those specific verses be able to say it is written, when you're being tempted in the devil telling you one thing and you know that's not the word of God or the will of God within you hidden in your heart. The word of God so that you can say it is written. Thirdly, speak the word in others lives make disciples be a mental start a home equip your own kids to fight temptation you taught them all kinds of things to read how to write how to change a tire, how to shoot a gun to play ball. Do they really know how to fight temptation give them the word. If you don't under estimate number four. Don't underestimate the power of God's word in your own heart knowledge itself will save you. But faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. He gives us his word to teach us about himself and to show us RCN and show us the Savior, Jesus himself. Please every man in this room. Would you be committed to being in the word, to finding those passages that speak to your weaknesses to let God work in your why will you be committed to knowing Jesus better.

This book is a book about Jesus.

How can we know him better for not in his book, ladies. Would you be committed. Teenagers one of the things that they we have found statistically of kids to grow up and they maintain their faith into adulthood is they begin reading their Bible. That's one of the most common care characteristics. They begin reading the Bible as children she word of God impacts our hearts church. We can't enter the battle of 2018 on our own. We need the word of God.

We need the help of God and lonely, as we submit we surrender and were able to say it is written, spring father your word is truth. Your word is powerful. We pray that today is your people that we would surrender that we would fully give you control of our time and that we would be a people that is determined to say, it is written with every temptation we face in this new year. Give us your help. In Jesus name, amen