WEBVTT 1 00:00:03.080 --> 00:00:06.960 Hello, and thanks for joining us here on Pastor Rick's 2 00:00:07.000 --> 00:00:12.039 Daily Hope, the audio broadcast ministry of Pastor Rick Warren. Today, 3 00:00:12.320 --> 00:00:16.320 Rick continues teaching a series called Connecting with God the 4 00:00:16.399 --> 00:00:19.760 Lord's Prayer. In these lessons, Rick shows you what it 5 00:00:19.839 --> 00:00:23.600 means to truly be spiritually connected to God and to 6 00:00:23.719 --> 00:00:27.440 each other through the power of God's love and God's word. 7 00:00:27.960 --> 00:00:30.000 In a moment, we're going to tell you how to 8 00:00:30.160 --> 00:00:34.399 get the Daily Hope Advent calendar. This special resource will 9 00:00:34.399 --> 00:00:38.679 help you experience all that Christmas promises. Go to Pastorick 10 00:00:38.759 --> 00:00:41.759 dot com to find out more, or text the word 11 00:00:41.840 --> 00:00:45.560 daily to eight hundred six hundred five thousand and four. 12 00:00:46.000 --> 00:00:50.079 That's Pastorick dot com. Or the word Daily to eight 13 00:00:50.159 --> 00:00:54.600 hundred six hundred five thousand and four Right now, Here's 14 00:00:54.679 --> 00:00:58.119 Pastor RICKOD Part one of a message called the Prayer 15 00:00:58.119 --> 00:00:59.039 of Deliverance. 16 00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:02.479 A year ago, I got a note that says this, 17 00:01:04.120 --> 00:01:08.560 Pastor Rick. Every morning I start out with great intentions 18 00:01:09.480 --> 00:01:13.959 to change my ways. I think today is going to 19 00:01:14.040 --> 00:01:20.840 be different, but it never is. Somehow, in some way 20 00:01:22.200 --> 00:01:24.319 I always seem to fall back into the same old 21 00:01:24.359 --> 00:01:28.400 pattern of relating to people and my old bad habits. 22 00:01:29.840 --> 00:01:31.959 Sometimes I feel like there's a tug of war going 23 00:01:31.959 --> 00:01:35.480 on inside of me. Honestly, I really want to do 24 00:01:35.519 --> 00:01:38.599 what's best, but I always end up disappointing myself. 25 00:01:39.760 --> 00:01:42.439 And God. Rick. 26 00:01:42.519 --> 00:01:53.200 I have tried everything, prayer, resolutions, self help tapes, even hypnosis. 27 00:01:53.239 --> 00:01:57.760 Nothing seems to work. Why do I keep making the 28 00:01:57.840 --> 00:02:04.280 same mistakes over and over and over. Why am I 29 00:02:04.319 --> 00:02:10.439 so resistant to change? Why do I think? Why do 30 00:02:10.479 --> 00:02:12.479 I do things that I know are bad for me? 31 00:02:14.680 --> 00:02:21.719 I'm really discouraged and I need help getting unstuck. If 32 00:02:21.719 --> 00:02:24.000 you're honest, every one of us have felt that way 33 00:02:24.000 --> 00:02:26.560 at different times in our lives about different things in 34 00:02:26.599 --> 00:02:30.319 our lives. Because the reality of living on this planet 35 00:02:30.479 --> 00:02:36.759 is good intentions are never good enough. Good intentions are 36 00:02:36.919 --> 00:02:41.080 never good enough. If your life is going to change, 37 00:02:41.240 --> 00:02:44.000 If you're going to break free from the hang ups 38 00:02:44.039 --> 00:02:47.039 in your life, from the stuff that messes you up, 39 00:02:47.080 --> 00:02:50.879 from the past, and from your temptations, and from bad 40 00:02:50.960 --> 00:02:53.199 thought patterns and all kinds of things, it's going to 41 00:02:53.280 --> 00:02:56.719 take more than just well, I hope I'll do better tomorrow. 42 00:02:57.639 --> 00:02:58.759 And the reality is we. 43 00:02:58.759 --> 00:03:04.879 Often get stuck in this this cycle of good intention, failure, guilt, confession, 44 00:03:05.199 --> 00:03:09.800 good intention, failure, guilt, confession, and on and on, around 45 00:03:09.840 --> 00:03:12.960 and around in a circle. Is that the way God 46 00:03:12.960 --> 00:03:16.840 wants you to live? No, that's why you need Well, 47 00:03:16.840 --> 00:03:18.919 we're going to talk about this week in the prayer 48 00:03:19.879 --> 00:03:23.240 of deliverance. Now we've been looking at each phrase of 49 00:03:23.280 --> 00:03:27.400 the Lord's prayer in depth and in detail, and this 50 00:03:27.520 --> 00:03:33.080 weekend we come to lead us not into temptation, but 51 00:03:33.199 --> 00:03:37.120 deliver us from evil. Now, the fact is some of 52 00:03:37.159 --> 00:03:39.199 you want to start checking out right now, So well, 53 00:03:39.240 --> 00:03:45.280 thank God, I haven't been tempted in fifty years, right. 54 00:03:46.520 --> 00:03:50.159 We often think temptation is an enticement or a llure 55 00:03:50.280 --> 00:03:53.520 to do something evil. We could mean bad and nasty, 56 00:03:54.719 --> 00:04:02.400 the really bad stuff, murder, adultery, and fornication, all of 57 00:04:02.439 --> 00:04:07.240 these different sins that other people do. And we tend 58 00:04:07.280 --> 00:04:10.479 to think that temptation is just about the big things 59 00:04:10.520 --> 00:04:14.479 in life, the forbidden, the evil things in life. But 60 00:04:14.599 --> 00:04:18.120 actually I found that satan is much more subtle in 61 00:04:18.120 --> 00:04:23.120 my life and some of those things. I'm not tempted 62 00:04:23.160 --> 00:04:24.920 to murder anybody. 63 00:04:25.519 --> 00:04:26.040 I'm just not. 64 00:04:26.959 --> 00:04:29.439 And you can train your mind to think in certain 65 00:04:29.480 --> 00:04:33.319 ways that certain things just don't tempt you anymore like 66 00:04:33.360 --> 00:04:35.160 they used to in hard ways. But I made a 67 00:04:35.199 --> 00:04:37.199 list off of the top of my head of what 68 00:04:37.240 --> 00:04:39.680 I call the subtle temptation. I don't know if any 69 00:04:39.720 --> 00:04:41.639 of you deal with any of these, but I do. 70 00:04:43.720 --> 00:04:44.240 Number one. 71 00:04:44.360 --> 00:04:50.879 The temptation to do what works, not necessarily the right thing, 72 00:04:50.959 --> 00:04:55.399 but what works. The temptation to do what's easy, like 73 00:04:55.439 --> 00:04:57.399 when you're a parent and you set your kid down 74 00:04:57.480 --> 00:05:02.240 in front of the television and let them babysit, and 75 00:05:02.319 --> 00:05:06.560 a thousand other ways we do what's easy. The temptation 76 00:05:06.720 --> 00:05:11.319 to do what's quick, The temptation to do what works 77 00:05:11.360 --> 00:05:16.000 in the short run, the temptation to do what is 78 00:05:16.040 --> 00:05:21.279 self serving or best for me. I find myself often 79 00:05:21.319 --> 00:05:26.519 tempted by the temptation to do what's unimportant, to not 80 00:05:26.560 --> 00:05:29.040 do what really matters in life, the essential things in life, 81 00:05:29.040 --> 00:05:29.519 but to do. 82 00:05:29.439 --> 00:05:31.079 Stuff that Why am I doing this? 83 00:05:31.600 --> 00:05:35.439 Why am I frittering away my time procrastinating? I'm doing 84 00:05:35.439 --> 00:05:41.959 the unimportant. The temptation to do what I've always done, 85 00:05:42.439 --> 00:05:45.920 The temptation to do what's right for the wrong reason. 86 00:05:48.199 --> 00:05:54.040 The temptation to do nothing. When you see something that 87 00:05:54.120 --> 00:05:56.600 I know I could help that person, I know I 88 00:05:56.639 --> 00:05:59.519 could help in that situation. I know I could do that, 89 00:05:59.639 --> 00:06:02.639 but you don't do anything when you see the poor, 90 00:06:02.680 --> 00:06:06.439 you see the sick, or you see the needy. The 91 00:06:06.519 --> 00:06:09.079 truth is, temptation is a lot more subtle than we 92 00:06:09.199 --> 00:06:13.639 think it is. But the answer to the temptations that 93 00:06:13.680 --> 00:06:17.360 we experience in life is this verse, which is the 94 00:06:17.399 --> 00:06:21.720 prayer of deliverance. And the prayer of deliverance always leads 95 00:06:21.800 --> 00:06:27.199 us to the path of escape. Now, Jesus said, you 96 00:06:27.240 --> 00:06:30.360 are to pray Thy kingdom Come. Thy will be done 97 00:06:30.360 --> 00:06:33.199 on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this 98 00:06:33.279 --> 00:06:37.600 day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, as we 99 00:06:37.720 --> 00:06:40.040 forgive those who sin against us. We've looked at that 100 00:06:40.120 --> 00:06:43.519 the last two weeks, and he says, lead us not 101 00:06:43.680 --> 00:06:46.959 into temptation. Now, if we didn't give into temptation, we 102 00:06:46.959 --> 00:06:50.240 wouldn't have to worry about the two sentences before the sins, 103 00:06:51.000 --> 00:06:53.839 the guilt and the resentment. We wouldn't have to worry 104 00:06:53.839 --> 00:06:57.639 about that one. But God says that the prayer of 105 00:06:57.680 --> 00:07:00.560 deliverance is the path of a escape. 106 00:07:01.160 --> 00:07:02.360 And what is the path of escape? 107 00:07:02.399 --> 00:07:04.120 I want you to take your outline, and I want 108 00:07:04.160 --> 00:07:07.480 you to read this verse with me. One Corinthians ten thirteen. 109 00:07:07.560 --> 00:07:11.120 Read it with me. The temptations that come into your 110 00:07:11.199 --> 00:07:15.639 life are no different from what others experience. Okay, stop 111 00:07:15.720 --> 00:07:21.079 right there. If you say nobody knows what I'm going through, 112 00:07:21.199 --> 00:07:25.560 you're wrong. The temptations that come your way are no 113 00:07:25.759 --> 00:07:27.839 different from what others experience. 114 00:07:28.079 --> 00:07:29.079 We all have. 115 00:07:29.079 --> 00:07:34.399 The same basic temptations in life. You are not unique 116 00:07:34.920 --> 00:07:38.160 in the fact that you're tempted. Some of your temptations 117 00:07:38.240 --> 00:07:41.199 are more unique. But temptation is not you needque We 118 00:07:41.240 --> 00:07:45.360 all get tempted and they're not any different. Then he says, 119 00:07:45.399 --> 00:07:48.920 and read it with me. God is faithful. You will 120 00:07:49.000 --> 00:07:53.399 keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can't 121 00:07:53.439 --> 00:07:55.959 stand up against it. Now, let me stop right there. 122 00:07:56.360 --> 00:07:59.680 When you say it was so strong, I just had 123 00:07:59.680 --> 00:08:02.680 to get in, then you were calling God a liar. 124 00:08:04.319 --> 00:08:07.120 Because God says I will always make a way out. 125 00:08:07.399 --> 00:08:10.199 I will never put more on you, or I will 126 00:08:10.199 --> 00:08:13.199 never allow more on you than I put in you 127 00:08:13.439 --> 00:08:16.519 to bear it up. And when somebody says I just 128 00:08:16.600 --> 00:08:20.759 couldn't help myself, they're not telling the truth. Because the 129 00:08:20.759 --> 00:08:24.439 truth is temptation is a choice, and you only do 130 00:08:24.680 --> 00:08:28.120 what you choose to do. So don't blame anybody else 131 00:08:28.439 --> 00:08:31.360 temptation is a choice to do do right or do wrong. 132 00:08:31.720 --> 00:08:35.039 And he says God will keep the temptation from becoming 133 00:08:35.080 --> 00:08:37.279 so strong you can't stand up against it. And then 134 00:08:37.320 --> 00:08:39.639 read the Ress with me. And when you are tempted, 135 00:08:39.919 --> 00:08:43.159 he will show you a way out so that you. 136 00:08:43.120 --> 00:08:45.480 Will not give in to it. And I want you to. 137 00:08:45.559 --> 00:08:49.120 Circle show you a way out, because this weekend we're 138 00:08:49.120 --> 00:08:51.039 going to look at the way out. 139 00:08:51.840 --> 00:08:52.399 Number one. 140 00:08:52.480 --> 00:08:55.879 The first step on the path to escape from the 141 00:08:55.919 --> 00:08:59.360 prayer of deliverance, as the Bible teaches, is first I 142 00:08:59.399 --> 00:09:06.000 have toy what makes me vulnerable. I must identify what 143 00:09:06.240 --> 00:09:07.679 makes me vulnerable. 144 00:09:07.759 --> 00:09:08.440 Now, notice I. 145 00:09:08.360 --> 00:09:11.279 Didn't say identify what tempts you. You already know what 146 00:09:11.320 --> 00:09:14.840 tempts you. What you may have never really thought through 147 00:09:14.919 --> 00:09:19.559 is what causes me to be tempted by that? What 148 00:09:19.759 --> 00:09:23.360 makes me vulnerable to that temptation, what makes me weak, 149 00:09:23.399 --> 00:09:28.639 what makes me susceptible. And more important than knowing what 150 00:09:28.679 --> 00:09:32.200 tempts you is knowing the when, why, how, where, and 151 00:09:32.240 --> 00:09:35.480 all the other factors that go into that temptation. If 152 00:09:35.480 --> 00:09:39.600 you're serious about permanent life change. Now, Jesus said this 153 00:09:40.559 --> 00:09:45.320 in Matthew twenty six forty one. He says, watch and 154 00:09:45.519 --> 00:09:50.919 pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The 155 00:09:51.000 --> 00:09:54.799 spirit is willing, but the body is weak. In other words, 156 00:09:55.039 --> 00:09:58.720 you may be willing, you may want to overcome your temptation, 157 00:09:59.039 --> 00:10:00.559 but will powers not enough. 158 00:10:01.360 --> 00:10:04.320 The spirit is willing. Have you learned that willpower is 159 00:10:04.360 --> 00:10:04.879 not enough? 160 00:10:06.360 --> 00:10:08.679 It'll work for a while, but after a while you 161 00:10:08.720 --> 00:10:13.799 get tired and willpower burns out. No lasting change ever 162 00:10:13.879 --> 00:10:18.919 happens with willpower. I'm gonna lose weight, I'm gonna stop smoking, 163 00:10:19.200 --> 00:10:23.039 I'm gonna whatever. Well, yeah, you can force yourself for 164 00:10:23.080 --> 00:10:25.120 a while, but as soon as you get tired, the 165 00:10:25.159 --> 00:10:31.720 will poops out. So he says the spirit is willing, 166 00:10:31.720 --> 00:10:33.759 but the body is weak. Now he says, watch and 167 00:10:33.799 --> 00:10:39.399 pray circle both of those. You can't just pray, You 168 00:10:39.519 --> 00:10:44.440 have to watch. So when Jesus says, as you are 169 00:10:44.480 --> 00:10:47.240 to pray, lead us not into temptation, he's even saying 170 00:10:47.360 --> 00:10:50.480 that's not enough. It's important to pray the prayer of deliverance. 171 00:10:50.840 --> 00:10:53.440 But besides praying, you aught to got it. You also 172 00:10:53.480 --> 00:10:56.399 have to do some watching. And what is he saying 173 00:10:56.639 --> 00:11:00.320 you need to watch for? You need to watch for 174 00:11:00.440 --> 00:11:04.919 the circumstances that make you vulnerable. You need to identify 175 00:11:05.000 --> 00:11:07.200 those and work with them. Now, let me explain what 176 00:11:07.200 --> 00:11:10.519 I'm talking about. If you've been around saddleback for a 177 00:11:10.639 --> 00:11:12.799 length of time, you know that the Bible teaches that 178 00:11:12.919 --> 00:11:16.879 every human being is unique. There's nobody in the world 179 00:11:17.000 --> 00:11:20.320 like you. You have a unique thumbprint, a unique EyePrint, a 180 00:11:20.399 --> 00:11:22.919 unique voice print. You have a unique heartbeat, you have 181 00:11:22.960 --> 00:11:27.519 a unique footprint. Everything about you's unique. God never MIxS copies, 182 00:11:27.519 --> 00:11:30.279 he never mikes clones. He will never make anybody like 183 00:11:30.320 --> 00:11:33.840 you before you or after you. And we call this 184 00:11:34.080 --> 00:11:36.000 your shape. 185 00:11:37.559 --> 00:11:40.679 You're listening to Pastor Rick's Daily Hope. Rick will be 186 00:11:40.759 --> 00:11:43.600 back in just a moment with the rest of today's lesson. 187 00:11:43.960 --> 00:11:47.080 You can sign up for Pastor Rick's free email devotional 188 00:11:47.320 --> 00:11:51.480 at pastorick dot com. That's pastorick dot com. 189 00:11:51.919 --> 00:11:54.960 Fall us here now, and that means Christmas is right 190 00:11:55.000 --> 00:11:57.200 around the corner. That's why we want to let you 191 00:11:57.320 --> 00:12:00.200 know that Pastor Rick and his wife Kay created an 192 00:12:00.279 --> 00:12:03.759 advoct calendar with specially commissioned custom artwork. 193 00:12:04.080 --> 00:12:05.120 It's beautiful. 194 00:12:05.600 --> 00:12:08.720 This two part resource includes a calendar with a special 195 00:12:08.759 --> 00:12:11.960 door for every day of December that opens to reveal 196 00:12:12.000 --> 00:12:15.480 a hidden image and an encouraging Bible verse. Use it 197 00:12:15.519 --> 00:12:18.720 with a companion daily Devotional booklet to help you and 198 00:12:18.799 --> 00:12:22.480 your family draw closer to Jesus and prepare your heart 199 00:12:22.519 --> 00:12:26.159 for the real celebration. The Daily Hope Advit calendar will 200 00:12:26.200 --> 00:12:30.399 help you spend the holidays worshiping instead of worrying, slowing 201 00:12:30.440 --> 00:12:34.840 down and reconnecting with God and expressing gratitude for the 202 00:12:34.960 --> 00:12:37.879 true meaning of the season. You want to get the 203 00:12:38.000 --> 00:12:41.480 Daily Hope Admit Calendar and devotional booklet in your hands 204 00:12:41.559 --> 00:12:45.240 now to start using it on December first. This resource 205 00:12:45.399 --> 00:12:47.720 is a perfect way to share the gift of Jesus 206 00:12:47.759 --> 00:12:51.159 at Christmas with your friends and family, and we'll send 207 00:12:51.200 --> 00:12:53.200 it to you to say thanks when you give a 208 00:12:53.240 --> 00:12:56.120 gift to Daily Hope to help take good news to 209 00:12:56.240 --> 00:13:01.159 people everywhere. Quantities are limited, so get yours now. Just 210 00:13:01.240 --> 00:13:04.799 call eight hundred six hundred five zero zero four or 211 00:13:04.960 --> 00:13:07.639 go to pastor Rick dot com. That's eight hundred and 212 00:13:07.759 --> 00:13:10.679 six hundred at five zero zero four, or go to 213 00:13:10.759 --> 00:13:13.639 pastor Rick dot com. Thanks so very much. 214 00:13:13.879 --> 00:13:16.919 This is Pastor Rick's Daily Hope once again. 215 00:13:17.120 --> 00:13:17.759 Here's Rick. 216 00:13:18.279 --> 00:13:21.039 Now what you may have never really realized as we 217 00:13:21.120 --> 00:13:23.879 talk about God shaped you for ministry, God shaped you 218 00:13:23.919 --> 00:13:28.399 for mission. It's gonna affect everything. Your shape also affects 219 00:13:28.879 --> 00:13:34.840 what tempts you. Your shape determines what tempts you. It's 220 00:13:34.879 --> 00:13:37.320 why some things tempt you and don't tempt other people. 221 00:13:37.840 --> 00:13:41.080 Why some things attempt other people don't tempt you. You 222 00:13:41.360 --> 00:13:49.120 have a unique susceptibility to temptation based on your shape, 223 00:13:49.759 --> 00:13:53.600 your personality, your experiences, your DNA, all. 224 00:13:53.440 --> 00:13:54.200 That kind of stuff. 225 00:13:54.960 --> 00:13:59.720 Certain sitting situations tempt you and others don't. And some 226 00:13:59.759 --> 00:14:02.240 of us just really get to you, and some of 227 00:14:02.240 --> 00:14:05.039 them you can just blow off. And some things entice 228 00:14:05.080 --> 00:14:08.120 you and lure you in, and others bore you to 229 00:14:08.200 --> 00:14:13.120 tears and have no effect on you. So where does 230 00:14:13.120 --> 00:14:16.879 that come from? Where do the temptations in your life 231 00:14:17.120 --> 00:14:21.639 come from? Well, some are caused by nature, your own 232 00:14:21.840 --> 00:14:24.639 said nature, and some are caused by nurture. 233 00:14:24.919 --> 00:14:26.000 The way you grew up. 234 00:14:26.759 --> 00:14:28.399 And if you grew up in a house that was 235 00:14:28.440 --> 00:14:31.399 prone to blow up in anger, you probably learned that pattern. 236 00:14:32.320 --> 00:14:34.480 If you grew up in a house where you learned 237 00:14:34.519 --> 00:14:38.360 to stuff your emotions, that's pattern you learned. So some 238 00:14:38.600 --> 00:14:41.720 temptations are by nature and some are by nurture, some 239 00:14:41.840 --> 00:14:44.840 are caused by your DNA, and some are caused by 240 00:14:44.879 --> 00:14:48.879 your environment, some are caused by your character, and some 241 00:14:48.919 --> 00:14:53.120 are caused by your your circumstance. What am I saying 242 00:14:53.360 --> 00:14:56.759 is this, you don't get to choose your temptations. 243 00:15:00.080 --> 00:15:02.600 You don't get to choose them the things that really 244 00:15:02.639 --> 00:15:03.120 tempt you. 245 00:15:03.480 --> 00:15:07.840 Sorry, it's just part of the negative side of your shape. 246 00:15:08.080 --> 00:15:08.919 Now what does that mean. 247 00:15:09.759 --> 00:15:12.440 Well, the implication of that is you cannot be self 248 00:15:12.480 --> 00:15:16.960 righteous about anybody else's temptation, and you can't be self 249 00:15:17.039 --> 00:15:19.120 righteous about your own. And what does tempt you and 250 00:15:19.159 --> 00:15:23.360 what doesn't. And so when you see somebody who's tempted 251 00:15:23.399 --> 00:15:28.120 by drugs, or you see somebody who's tempted by gossip, 252 00:15:28.679 --> 00:15:31.840 or you see somebody who's tempted by pornography, or you 253 00:15:31.879 --> 00:15:36.960 see somebody who's tempted to overeat, really doesn't matter where 254 00:15:36.960 --> 00:15:40.679 that temptation come from. From DNA, from genes, from nature, 255 00:15:40.720 --> 00:15:45.279 from nurture, from environment, from choices, from circumstances. All of 256 00:15:45.279 --> 00:15:47.720 those things fit into that. But the fact is they're 257 00:15:47.759 --> 00:15:51.279 all the same thing, and one is no better or 258 00:15:51.360 --> 00:15:52.480 less evil than the other. 259 00:15:52.679 --> 00:15:54.919 The Bible says sin is sin. 260 00:15:56.360 --> 00:16:00.600 So we have no right to judge and say, well, 261 00:16:00.639 --> 00:16:05.440 my sins are okay, yours are nasty. How could anybody 262 00:16:05.480 --> 00:16:05.879 do that? 263 00:16:06.840 --> 00:16:07.200 Okay? 264 00:16:07.960 --> 00:16:10.960 Now, what I'm saying is that you have a pattern 265 00:16:11.399 --> 00:16:14.360 of vulnerability, and you better figure out what it is, 266 00:16:14.399 --> 00:16:15.320 because I want to tell you. 267 00:16:15.200 --> 00:16:16.679 For sure, Satan knows what it is. 268 00:16:17.639 --> 00:16:22.480 Satan knows your vulnerable points, and he's plotting the moment 269 00:16:22.600 --> 00:16:24.840 you wake up. If you wake up in the morning, 270 00:16:24.879 --> 00:16:27.120 you don't hit Satan first face on, just means you're 271 00:16:27.159 --> 00:16:32.600 head in the same direction. To identify your pattern, you 272 00:16:33.759 --> 00:16:37.720 identify what makes you vulnerable. Now to get specific, let 273 00:16:37.759 --> 00:16:41.000 me give you five questions you need to ask yourself first. 274 00:16:41.080 --> 00:16:44.519 You need to ask yourself when am I most tempted? 275 00:16:45.519 --> 00:16:47.759 When am I most tempted? In other words, what day 276 00:16:47.799 --> 00:16:49.639 of the week you're going to find some days of 277 00:16:49.639 --> 00:16:51.759 the week you're more tempted about things than others, Like 278 00:16:51.799 --> 00:16:57.000 on Mondays, or on Fridays, or on Sundays. Maybe a 279 00:16:57.000 --> 00:16:59.559 certain time of the day. Maybe you're more tempted in 280 00:16:59.600 --> 00:17:02.440 the morning, or at lunch or early or late afternoon. 281 00:17:02.759 --> 00:17:07.039 Maybe you're tempted when everybody else is in bed. You know, 282 00:17:07.240 --> 00:17:09.880 you need to figure out when are you most tempted. 283 00:17:09.920 --> 00:17:15.720 You know, I can handle any diet till noon. I mean, 284 00:17:16.960 --> 00:17:21.839 that's nothing. It's the hours between about six o'clock and midnight. 285 00:17:23.240 --> 00:17:26.720 That's my pattern of temptation. It's when I want to 286 00:17:26.759 --> 00:17:31.319 eat everything in the refrigerator and buy an extra refrigerator. 287 00:17:33.519 --> 00:17:36.119 Now I could go out and blame my genes and say, 288 00:17:36.119 --> 00:17:40.440 you know what, I just came from an obese family. Well, 289 00:17:40.559 --> 00:17:43.200 just because it's genetic in me doesn't mean it's right 290 00:17:43.359 --> 00:17:43.920 or it's healthy. 291 00:17:44.039 --> 00:17:46.359 No, it is not. It is not. 292 00:17:47.720 --> 00:17:50.920 And so you have to say when am I most tempted? 293 00:17:50.960 --> 00:17:53.880 You need to ask where where am I most tempted? 294 00:17:54.680 --> 00:17:57.119 Some of you are most tempted at work. Some of 295 00:17:57.160 --> 00:18:01.799 you are most tempted at your neighbor's house because of 296 00:18:01.839 --> 00:18:12.559 your neighbor. When my neighbors come over to my house, 297 00:18:12.640 --> 00:18:19.319 they just get so tempted. Maybe you get tempted in 298 00:18:19.359 --> 00:18:21.920 the kitchen. You need to know where you get tempted. 299 00:18:22.119 --> 00:18:24.640 Do you get tempted at seven eleven's? Do you get 300 00:18:24.680 --> 00:18:26.079 tempted at a sports bar? 301 00:18:27.880 --> 00:18:28.720 Do you get. 302 00:18:28.519 --> 00:18:33.759 Tempted at the beach? A lot of you get tempted 303 00:18:33.759 --> 00:18:38.680 in front of a computer. You need to know your 304 00:18:38.799 --> 00:18:42.000 area of vulnerability. When am I most tempted? Where am 305 00:18:42.000 --> 00:18:42.680 I most tempted? 306 00:18:42.759 --> 00:18:43.400 Then? Number three? 307 00:18:43.640 --> 00:18:47.240 Who is with me when I'm most tempted? You need 308 00:18:47.279 --> 00:18:49.039 to know your pattern of vulnerability. 309 00:18:49.400 --> 00:18:50.079 Who is with me? 310 00:18:50.599 --> 00:18:54.079 Am I most tempted when I'm alone? Am I most 311 00:18:54.119 --> 00:18:57.279 tempted when I'm with friends who lead me in the 312 00:18:57.279 --> 00:19:00.839 wrong direction? You know you can't soar with the eagles 313 00:19:00.839 --> 00:19:06.440 if you're flying with the turkeys. Am I most tempted 314 00:19:06.480 --> 00:19:09.559 when I'm with my coworkers and I think they're a 315 00:19:09.559 --> 00:19:12.880 bunch of jerks? Or am I tempted when I'm with 316 00:19:12.920 --> 00:19:15.279 a crowd of strangers and I think nobody would know me? 317 00:19:16.279 --> 00:19:19.200 Am I tempted with my family? To say things to 318 00:19:19.279 --> 00:19:22.880 my family I would never say to anybody else. You 319 00:19:22.960 --> 00:19:26.839 need to figure this out. This is your pattern. Identify 320 00:19:26.920 --> 00:19:28.359 what makes me vulnerable when? 321 00:19:28.519 --> 00:19:30.839 Where? Who? Number four is what? 322 00:19:30.839 --> 00:19:36.079 What temporary benefit do I get if I give in 323 00:19:36.599 --> 00:19:37.400 to the temptation? 324 00:19:38.000 --> 00:19:39.680 There's always a payoff, you know. 325 00:19:39.720 --> 00:19:42.599 The Bible even says that the Bible says there is 326 00:19:42.799 --> 00:19:46.480 pleasure in sin. It just says there's pleasure in sin 327 00:19:46.799 --> 00:19:49.160 for a season. In other words, it doesn't last you 328 00:19:49.200 --> 00:19:51.000 have your kicks, then you get the kickbacks. 329 00:19:52.279 --> 00:19:54.480 Folks, let's just admit it. Sin's fun. 330 00:19:55.960 --> 00:20:02.640 It's fun if it were miserable, nobody do it. Okay, 331 00:20:02.759 --> 00:20:06.319 let's just admit this all right. Sin is fun, and 332 00:20:06.359 --> 00:20:09.720 the Bible says that. The Bible says disobeying God is 333 00:20:09.759 --> 00:20:12.480 a whole lot of fun. Doing the wrong thing is 334 00:20:12.559 --> 00:20:15.160 a whole lot of fun. There is pleasure in sin 335 00:20:15.480 --> 00:20:18.920 for a season. So what of the temporary benefit I 336 00:20:18.960 --> 00:20:21.599 give in when I give in the temptation? Do I 337 00:20:21.640 --> 00:20:25.759 get comfort? Do I get excitement? Do I get joy? 338 00:20:26.119 --> 00:20:28.880 Do I get pleasure? Do I get a false sense 339 00:20:28.920 --> 00:20:33.200 of confidence? You need to know what's the payoff when 340 00:20:33.240 --> 00:20:36.559 I do this? And then the fifth thing you need 341 00:20:36.599 --> 00:20:40.960 to ask is how how do I feel right before 342 00:20:41.079 --> 00:20:43.680 I'm tempted? Right before I'm tempted? 343 00:20:43.839 --> 00:20:44.720 You need to know. 344 00:20:44.640 --> 00:20:47.799 What your emotional triggers are. You need to know what 345 00:20:47.920 --> 00:20:50.759 makes your you vulnerable? Is it frustration? And then all 346 00:20:50.759 --> 00:20:52.640 of a sudden you get tempted? Is it stressed? You 347 00:20:52.640 --> 00:20:53.200 get tempted? 348 00:20:53.400 --> 00:20:55.599 Is it when you're bored? You get tempted? When you're lonely? 349 00:20:55.640 --> 00:20:58.880 You get tempted when you can't sleep at night? You 350 00:20:58.920 --> 00:20:59.599 get tempted. 351 00:21:01.119 --> 00:21:02.480 You need to know these things. 352 00:21:02.559 --> 00:21:08.039 Step one, identify what makes me vulnerable. Watch, don't just pray, 353 00:21:08.480 --> 00:21:12.039 Watch and pray. Then once you know that pattern, here's 354 00:21:12.200 --> 00:21:17.279 step number two. Plan to avoid it. You plan to 355 00:21:17.359 --> 00:21:20.920 avoid it. You don't wait until you're in the situation. 356 00:21:21.079 --> 00:21:24.720 Decide am I gonna give into this or not? No, 357 00:21:24.920 --> 00:21:28.119 you decide before your emotions kick into gear. 358 00:21:30.759 --> 00:21:34.240 This is Pastor Rick's daily Hope. We are so happy 359 00:21:34.240 --> 00:21:37.440 that you've chosen to study along with us today. If 360 00:21:37.440 --> 00:21:40.880 you'd like to receive ricks free daily devotional, go to 361 00:21:40.960 --> 00:21:44.960 Pastorick dot com and sign up right now. Rick will 362 00:21:44.960 --> 00:21:47.599 be back to close out our time in just a moment. 363 00:21:47.799 --> 00:21:51.839 But first fall is here, and that means Christmas is 364 00:21:52.000 --> 00:21:54.799 right around the corner. That's why we want to let 365 00:21:54.799 --> 00:21:58.160 you know that Pastor Rick and his wife Kay created 366 00:21:58.200 --> 00:22:02.400 an advent calendar with specially commissioned custom artwork. 367 00:22:02.640 --> 00:22:03.559 It's beautiful. 368 00:22:04.000 --> 00:22:06.079 Here's Pastor Rick to tell you more. 369 00:22:06.519 --> 00:22:08.640 You know, friends, one of the most common questions that 370 00:22:08.720 --> 00:22:10.480 you hear this time of the year is are you 371 00:22:10.640 --> 00:22:14.559 ready for Christmas? It's a question that shows how much 372 00:22:14.599 --> 00:22:19.200 preparation we think is necessary just to celebrate this holiday. 373 00:22:19.480 --> 00:22:22.640 And this holy day. We think getting ready for Christmas 374 00:22:22.680 --> 00:22:25.920 means putting up decorations and buying and wrapping gifts and 375 00:22:25.960 --> 00:22:29.160 sending cards and planning meals and helping with school plays 376 00:22:29.160 --> 00:22:32.359 and church musicals and office parties, and the list goes 377 00:22:32.400 --> 00:22:34.599 on and on, making sure that we help all the 378 00:22:34.640 --> 00:22:38.119 people who are in need. But does doing all that 379 00:22:38.359 --> 00:22:41.759 really get us ready for Christmas? We'll making it through 380 00:22:41.799 --> 00:22:44.680 a checklist, prepare me for celebrating the Birth of Jesus. 381 00:22:45.400 --> 00:22:48.519 We both know the answer is no, And we both 382 00:22:48.559 --> 00:22:50.079 know that it's too easy to get so caught up 383 00:22:50.119 --> 00:22:52.839 in doing too many things, many of them good things, 384 00:22:53.400 --> 00:22:56.160 but so many things that we forget the real reason 385 00:22:56.240 --> 00:22:59.279 for the season. So you know what, Here at Daily Hope, 386 00:22:59.319 --> 00:23:01.880 we've put together a brand new resource that I want 387 00:23:01.920 --> 00:23:04.839 you to have. I hope it will help you really 388 00:23:04.880 --> 00:23:09.119 get ready for celebrating the Birth of Jesus. It's an 389 00:23:09.160 --> 00:23:13.359 advent calendar, a calendar of preparation. And each day on 390 00:23:13.440 --> 00:23:16.440 this calendar, you'll open one Bible verse and then you 391 00:23:16.599 --> 00:23:19.279 just turn to the corresponding page and a companion book 392 00:23:19.319 --> 00:23:21.839 that we've put together, and you read through the very 393 00:23:21.880 --> 00:23:26.200 short spiritual growth devotional, not only takes a couple minutes 394 00:23:26.400 --> 00:23:29.279 to read the Bible verse and the devotional, but it's 395 00:23:29.319 --> 00:23:32.319 going to prepare your heart for the coming of Christ 396 00:23:32.759 --> 00:23:38.119 at Christmas. My hope is at this resource, this advent calendar. 397 00:23:38.440 --> 00:23:41.799 Preparing your heart for Christmas will help you spend the 398 00:23:41.839 --> 00:23:46.119 holiday expressing your gratitude to God, worshiping instead of worrying, 399 00:23:46.400 --> 00:23:50.240 and taking things off your schedule so you can appreciate 400 00:23:50.279 --> 00:23:52.759 the true meaning of Christmas. I don't want you to 401 00:23:52.799 --> 00:23:55.799