1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:03,520 Imagine this scenario. There is an invisible cameraman, 2 00:00:03,880 --> 00:00:06,840 and everywhere you've been in the last week, he's been there 3 00:00:06,840 --> 00:00:09,080 too. He was there when you woke up, 4 00:00:09,280 --> 00:00:12,200 he was there when you ate lunch, he was there when you relaxed in 5 00:00:12,200 --> 00:00:14,400 the evening, and he was there when you went to bed. 6 00:00:14,600 --> 00:00:17,800 He captured everything. And right now, he's about to 7 00:00:17,800 --> 00:00:21,480 show the entire world the footage of your life. 8 00:00:21,920 --> 00:00:25,160 As the people of the world watch this footage, what would they 9 00:00:25,160 --> 00:00:28,000 see? Would they see your priority as 10 00:00:28,000 --> 00:00:31,040 you put God first? God is everything to you? 11 00:00:31,680 --> 00:00:35,280 Or would they see other priorities creeping up, other 12 00:00:35,280 --> 00:00:37,000 things that are big in your life? 13 00:00:37,440 --> 00:00:40,760 Well, I can promise you this. I know exactly what you live 14 00:00:40,760 --> 00:00:43,440 for. I know exactly what you love by 15 00:00:43,440 --> 00:00:46,600 watching what you do. And that is the question I want 16 00:00:46,600 --> 00:00:49,920 to investigate today. What do you really love? 17 00:00:50,200 --> 00:00:54,560 Well, I think there are three signs, 3 signs that show us that 18 00:00:54,560 --> 00:00:58,080 we're not putting God first. OK guys, if today's your first 19 00:00:58,080 --> 00:01:00,800 time on the channel, a very warm welcome to you. 20 00:01:00,800 --> 00:01:04,640 This is my cup of Joe podcast where we just drink coffee. 21 00:01:04,800 --> 00:01:07,520 We drink coffee and we study the Bible together. 22 00:01:07,720 --> 00:01:10,520 If that's something you're a fan of, If you like warm drinks, 23 00:01:10,520 --> 00:01:13,320 maybe you're a cup of tea person, whatever it is or a cold 24 00:01:13,320 --> 00:01:16,240 drink and you want to study the Bible, please do click 25 00:01:16,240 --> 00:01:18,120 subscribe. And if you're wondering who 26 00:01:18,120 --> 00:01:21,080 these people are up here, these are my friends. 27 00:01:21,080 --> 00:01:24,120 These are people who have bought these off the curb mugs. 28 00:01:24,400 --> 00:01:26,800 There is no sort of profit margin for these. 29 00:01:26,800 --> 00:01:28,320 I just literally put them out there. 30 00:01:28,320 --> 00:01:31,080 The cost is to cover the mug. If you'd like to get one of 31 00:01:31,080 --> 00:01:35,200 them, what we'll do is I'll send you a mug, I'll send you an 32 00:01:35,200 --> 00:01:37,560 e-mail, and then we'll put your face up here. 33 00:01:37,560 --> 00:01:41,760 If you'd like to send me a photo of yourself drinking a nice cup 34 00:01:41,760 --> 00:01:57,220 of Joe. All right, sign number one that 35 00:01:57,220 --> 00:02:01,280 you are not putting God first is that you are constantly 36 00:02:01,280 --> 00:02:04,120 worrying. I'm not going to lie to you. 37 00:02:04,520 --> 00:02:08,960 This isn't easy for me to talk about because I am such a big 38 00:02:08,960 --> 00:02:11,039 warrior. And I've been talking about this 39 00:02:11,039 --> 00:02:13,840 on my channel on Off the Curb Ministries for years. 40 00:02:14,280 --> 00:02:17,280 And I really thought at the age I am now, I'm not, I know I'm 41 00:02:17,280 --> 00:02:21,880 not a donkey, but you know, I turned 34 just the other day. 42 00:02:22,360 --> 00:02:24,320 But I really thought I'd be further on in this. 43 00:02:24,320 --> 00:02:27,360 And actually, if anything, I feel like my worry has been like 44 00:02:27,360 --> 00:02:30,080 a little snowball. You know, when it snows and you 45 00:02:30,080 --> 00:02:32,760 get that little snowball and you push it down the hill and it 46 00:02:32,760 --> 00:02:35,840 gets bigger and bigger and bigger until it's it's so big 47 00:02:35,840 --> 00:02:39,000 you can't move it anymore. That's what I feel like worrying 48 00:02:39,000 --> 00:02:43,280 is done to me. It started little and got bigger 49 00:02:43,280 --> 00:02:47,120 and bigger and bigger, and some days I can't do anything. 50 00:02:47,440 --> 00:02:50,520 I can't focus because I'm so concerned. 51 00:02:51,000 --> 00:02:52,720 Well, what would Jesus say to me? 52 00:02:53,000 --> 00:02:55,240 And if you're a warrior, what would he say to you? 53 00:02:56,080 --> 00:02:58,880 If you've got a Bible there, turn to Matthew chapter 6. 54 00:03:04,040 --> 00:03:10,080 Matthew 6, verse 31. Therefore do not worry saying, 55 00:03:10,160 --> 00:03:14,600 what shall we eat, or what shall we drink, or what shall we wear? 56 00:03:15,240 --> 00:03:18,600 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. 57 00:03:19,000 --> 00:03:23,760 For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things, 58 00:03:24,320 --> 00:03:29,040 but seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and 59 00:03:29,040 --> 00:03:30,800 all these things shall be added to you. 60 00:03:31,480 --> 00:03:34,400 Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow we'll 61 00:03:34,400 --> 00:03:38,760 worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is it's 62 00:03:38,760 --> 00:03:41,960 own trouble. Hey, I think this is absolutely 63 00:03:41,960 --> 00:03:45,560 fascinating because in the Greek, in the original Greek, 64 00:03:45,560 --> 00:03:50,320 the word to worry, it translates to mean this being pulled in 65 00:03:50,320 --> 00:03:52,880 different directions. And for those of you who are 66 00:03:52,880 --> 00:03:55,440 watching this right now, that sounds very relatable. 67 00:03:55,440 --> 00:03:58,320 If you are a warrior, that's exactly how it feels. 68 00:03:58,560 --> 00:04:01,520 It feels like you're being OK. One part of you is being pulled 69 00:04:01,520 --> 00:04:04,400 by the approval of others. You want to be liked. 70 00:04:05,040 --> 00:04:08,320 The other part of you is being pulled by money, by worry. 71 00:04:08,320 --> 00:04:10,280 How am I going to pay these bills? 72 00:04:10,640 --> 00:04:14,080 The next part of you is being pulled by I'm worried about my 73 00:04:14,080 --> 00:04:15,640 parents, I'm worried about my family. 74 00:04:15,640 --> 00:04:18,320 I'm worried about my children. Then there's another party 75 00:04:18,320 --> 00:04:21,399 that's being pulled and I'm so concerned about my health. 76 00:04:21,399 --> 00:04:24,320 I'm I'm worried about this. I'm worried about the future. 77 00:04:24,320 --> 00:04:27,920 I'm worried about my marriage. I'm worried and literally, in 78 00:04:27,920 --> 00:04:30,080 other words, what are these worries doing to you? 79 00:04:30,080 --> 00:04:33,240 What is it doing to you? It's tearing you apart because 80 00:04:33,240 --> 00:04:36,280 you cannot focus, you cannot do anything because you're being 81 00:04:36,280 --> 00:04:39,160 pulled in all of these different directions. 82 00:04:39,160 --> 00:04:42,800 And that is exactly why Jesus has a word for you and I as 83 00:04:42,800 --> 00:04:47,520 warriors in verse 33. But seek first the Kingdom of 84 00:04:47,520 --> 00:04:51,920 God and his righteousness, and all of these things shall be 85 00:04:51,920 --> 00:04:54,880 added unto you. What is Jesus saying here? 86 00:04:55,240 --> 00:04:58,680 You're worrying, you're careful, you're anxious about many 87 00:04:58,680 --> 00:05:02,040 different things. As He said to Martha, stop. 88 00:05:02,280 --> 00:05:05,880 Stop being pulled in all these different directions and only be 89 00:05:05,880 --> 00:05:09,360 pulled one way. Only be pulled towards God and 90 00:05:09,360 --> 00:05:11,760 focus on Him and all these other things. 91 00:05:12,000 --> 00:05:15,840 Your family, your money, what you're going to wear, everything 92 00:05:15,840 --> 00:05:19,400 that's concerning, all of it will be dealt with because God 93 00:05:19,400 --> 00:05:21,240 is there and He will look after you. 94 00:05:21,720 --> 00:05:25,160 And that's exactly why it is actually an insult. 95 00:05:25,160 --> 00:05:28,440 It's actually a sin to worry because when we worry, what are 96 00:05:28,440 --> 00:05:30,720 we doing? We're showing that our heavenly 97 00:05:30,720 --> 00:05:33,120 Father in heaven doesn't care about us. 98 00:05:33,680 --> 00:05:37,520 If if your children went and spoke to another parent or 99 00:05:37,520 --> 00:05:41,360 another adult and they said yes, you know, I'm so scared all the 100 00:05:41,360 --> 00:05:42,560 time. I'm worried about this. 101 00:05:42,560 --> 00:05:45,240 And I'm worried I'm not going to be able to wear clothes. 102 00:05:45,240 --> 00:05:47,800 I'm worried I'm not going to be allowed to do this. 103 00:05:47,800 --> 00:05:49,560 And I'm worried about this. I'm worried about that. 104 00:05:49,960 --> 00:05:52,400 And they were just a wreck, you know, shaking. 105 00:05:53,040 --> 00:05:54,640 You would be embarrassed, wouldn't you? 106 00:05:54,640 --> 00:05:58,160 You'd be ashamed because it's a reflection on you as a parent 107 00:05:58,160 --> 00:06:00,360 that you've not raised that child right. 108 00:06:00,600 --> 00:06:05,480 And so when we sin, when when we are anxious, it's such a sin 109 00:06:05,480 --> 00:06:09,320 because it's saying to God that, OK, we don't trust you. 110 00:06:09,320 --> 00:06:15,320 Father, there was there was an American theologian, a man 111 00:06:15,320 --> 00:06:18,920 called Donald Gray Barnhouse. Now, I love that name. 112 00:06:18,920 --> 00:06:21,280 I don't know if there's any Americans watching right now, if 113 00:06:21,280 --> 00:06:23,720 that's a common name. But over here we don't get names 114 00:06:23,720 --> 00:06:26,800 like that anymore. Donald Gray Barnhouse. 115 00:06:26,920 --> 00:06:32,520 And he said, fretting is the caressing of the old nature. 116 00:06:32,880 --> 00:06:36,920 Isn't that interesting? Fretting is the caressing of the 117 00:06:36,920 --> 00:06:40,880 old nature. Jesus puts it like this in verse 118 00:06:40,880 --> 00:06:42,560 32. Some of you will have that 119 00:06:42,560 --> 00:06:46,480 version that says after all that the pagans they run after these 120 00:06:46,480 --> 00:06:50,600 things or the Gentiles. It says in my version, why, why 121 00:06:50,600 --> 00:06:52,320 is why did Donald Barnow say that? 122 00:06:52,320 --> 00:06:55,320 Because we're going back to the old nature, aren't we? 123 00:06:55,520 --> 00:06:58,480 When we start worrying, we're living like we're an atheist. 124 00:06:58,480 --> 00:07:01,280 We're living like the world. The world has no God. 125 00:07:01,600 --> 00:07:04,360 The world has no belief that there is a heavenly Father who 126 00:07:04,360 --> 00:07:06,520 cares for them. That that clothes the lilies of 127 00:07:06,520 --> 00:07:09,000 the field, that that feeds the sparrows of the air. 128 00:07:09,320 --> 00:07:11,320 That's what the the world doesn't believe in that. 129 00:07:11,560 --> 00:07:15,360 But you and I, as Christians do. So when we're always fretting 130 00:07:15,360 --> 00:07:17,840 them, we're always worried and concerned. 131 00:07:18,280 --> 00:07:20,560 It's a reflection upon our Father that we're saying, 132 00:07:20,560 --> 00:07:23,240 actually, we don't believe you're a good father. 133 00:07:23,440 --> 00:07:25,360 We don't believe that you are sovereign. 134 00:07:25,480 --> 00:07:28,120 We don't believe that you are watching over everything we do. 135 00:07:28,600 --> 00:07:32,160 We are taking action into our own hands, living like a 136 00:07:32,160 --> 00:07:35,240 practical atheist who believes there is no God. 137 00:07:35,280 --> 00:07:38,240 Now here's the part many preachers, myself included, can 138 00:07:38,240 --> 00:07:41,440 often skip over. We can point out the problem, 139 00:07:41,680 --> 00:07:45,360 but do we give a solution? So how do we stop worrying? 140 00:07:46,120 --> 00:07:50,080 Well, the honest answer is if you are given to that nature, 141 00:07:50,080 --> 00:07:53,680 some people are very laid back and I envy you so much if you're 142 00:07:53,680 --> 00:07:56,400 that person. But if you are given to a mind 143 00:07:56,400 --> 00:07:58,680 of worry, it's not just a quick fix. 144 00:07:58,880 --> 00:08:01,400 You can't just do 5 steps to quitting worrying. 145 00:08:01,960 --> 00:08:05,760 It doesn't happen that easy. It's a constant battle every 146 00:08:05,760 --> 00:08:08,400 day. You need to focus your mind back 147 00:08:08,400 --> 00:08:12,120 to, to stop being pulled in all these directions and to fix your 148 00:08:12,120 --> 00:08:15,320 mind on, on the Lord God. But how do we do it? 149 00:08:15,320 --> 00:08:18,240 Well, there's one thing I think that's very, very helpful and 150 00:08:18,240 --> 00:08:20,040 it's this. You need to remember this. 151 00:08:20,640 --> 00:08:22,320 Can I ask you, are you aware 1st? 152 00:08:22,400 --> 00:08:25,720 And then let me ask you this, do you have a good imagination? 153 00:08:26,360 --> 00:08:29,360 Like when you're at school, were you seen as quite creative? 154 00:08:29,720 --> 00:08:33,320 You see all the most creative people I know, all the people 155 00:08:33,320 --> 00:08:36,360 who are artists who know how to make things, who maybe they can 156 00:08:36,360 --> 00:08:39,159 do YouTube videos or all of those people who've got that 157 00:08:39,159 --> 00:08:43,799 creative mind, they're very often also huge, massive 158 00:08:43,799 --> 00:08:46,840 warriors. And that's literally what 159 00:08:46,840 --> 00:08:49,360 worrying is. It's just a very, very active 160 00:08:49,360 --> 00:08:51,480 imagination. That's who I am. 161 00:08:51,480 --> 00:08:55,960 I I think scenarios that will never ever happen and I dwell on 162 00:08:55,960 --> 00:08:59,880 them and even though they might never happen and the key 2 words 163 00:08:59,880 --> 00:09:02,720 you need to remember if you're a warriors, they these two words. 164 00:09:03,000 --> 00:09:06,200 What if that's your motto, isn't it? 165 00:09:06,200 --> 00:09:12,960 As a warrior, what if I wake up and my spouse has left me? 166 00:09:13,760 --> 00:09:16,760 What if I cannot pay the bills this month? 167 00:09:17,720 --> 00:09:22,720 What if I lose my children and I never see them again? 168 00:09:23,520 --> 00:09:28,040 What if no one likes me anymore? What if this friendship, What if 169 00:09:28,200 --> 00:09:31,160 I get that horrible note from the doctor? 170 00:09:31,160 --> 00:09:34,280 What if I get that thing I feared my whole life? 171 00:09:34,280 --> 00:09:37,800 What if, what if, what if? So that's the first thing to 172 00:09:37,800 --> 00:09:41,440 remember is very often these what ifs, they don't come true. 173 00:09:41,640 --> 00:09:46,280 And actually, as Jesus says earlier in Matthew chapter 26, 174 00:09:46,280 --> 00:09:50,000 you know which of you by worrying can add 1 cubit to your 175 00:09:50,000 --> 00:09:52,400 stature. It doesn't add anything to your 176 00:09:52,400 --> 00:09:54,080 life. In fact, it takes it away. 177 00:09:54,080 --> 00:09:56,960 And if anything, we know that worrying shortens your life. 178 00:09:56,960 --> 00:10:00,280 It doesn't expand it, does it? So remember that you've got an 179 00:10:00,280 --> 00:10:03,520 overactive imagination. The next thing to remember is 180 00:10:03,520 --> 00:10:06,960 this scripture and quotes are your best friend. 181 00:10:07,520 --> 00:10:11,320 My wife is also a warrior, but she doesn't worry about the same 182 00:10:11,320 --> 00:10:14,240 things. And the other day I was, I was 183 00:10:14,240 --> 00:10:18,240 St. preaching in Manchester and one of my big, big worries hit 184 00:10:18,240 --> 00:10:20,880 me straight in the face. You know, there it was. 185 00:10:20,880 --> 00:10:23,480 I won't go into it because it's just too embarrassed to share it 186 00:10:23,480 --> 00:10:25,280 with you. But I was, I was really 187 00:10:25,280 --> 00:10:27,720 panicking. I didn't know what to do and 188 00:10:27,720 --> 00:10:30,320 here I am. I'm due to preach the gospel and 189 00:10:30,320 --> 00:10:32,160 I just wanted to run away, go home. 190 00:10:32,960 --> 00:10:37,360 OK, So what, what happened? I text my wife and said this has 191 00:10:37,360 --> 00:10:39,080 happened. I'm really concerned, what 192 00:10:39,080 --> 00:10:42,960 should I do? Emma just wrote back be bold and 193 00:10:42,960 --> 00:10:47,800 courageous and that just. I love my wife. 194 00:10:47,960 --> 00:10:50,680 She really did me a massive favour and now whenever I'm 195 00:10:50,680 --> 00:10:52,400 anxious I just think of those words. 196 00:10:52,400 --> 00:10:54,680 It's scriptural but it also reminds me of Emma. 197 00:10:55,000 --> 00:10:59,040 Be bold and be courageous. We're to be bold, aren't we? 198 00:10:59,040 --> 00:11:01,120 We're to be courageous. That that helps me. 199 00:11:01,120 --> 00:11:03,640 I don't know what might help you, but there must be a verse. 200 00:11:03,640 --> 00:11:05,920 There must be a quote. There must be something that you 201 00:11:05,920 --> 00:11:09,200 can remind yourself every time you come to that worry and you 202 00:11:09,200 --> 00:11:12,960 just say it quickly and, and you know, you, you're teaching your 203 00:11:12,960 --> 00:11:15,440 brain there that I'm not going to go down this rabbit trail. 204 00:11:15,680 --> 00:11:17,560 No, I'm going to fix my mind on God. 205 00:11:17,560 --> 00:11:19,920 I'm going to focus on God. I'm going to trust him. 206 00:11:20,880 --> 00:11:24,600 And then the other thing is this prayer is there for a reason. 207 00:11:25,240 --> 00:11:28,720 The Bible says cast all of your burdens, cast all of your care 208 00:11:28,720 --> 00:11:33,200 on him for he careth for you. And Corrie Tamboom, you know the 209 00:11:33,480 --> 00:11:37,440 that wonderful woman who has a tremendous testimony We've made 210 00:11:37,440 --> 00:11:41,000 videos about before, but she's got, I won't go into detail. 211 00:11:41,000 --> 00:11:43,560 If you've never heard of Corrie Tamboom, that's your homework. 212 00:11:43,560 --> 00:11:45,680 Now go and watch some videos about her. 213 00:11:45,680 --> 00:11:47,640 It will just encourage you greatly. 214 00:11:47,920 --> 00:11:53,360 But Corrie Tamboom once said this, if a case is too small to 215 00:11:53,360 --> 00:11:57,240 be turned into a prayer, it is too small to be made into a 216 00:11:57,240 --> 00:11:59,880 burden. So in other words, if you can't 217 00:11:59,880 --> 00:12:02,480 be bothered praying for this thing, if you don't think it's 218 00:12:02,480 --> 00:12:05,160 worth praying for, well, it's not worth worrying about either, 219 00:12:05,160 --> 00:12:06,960 is it? But if it is something in your 220 00:12:06,960 --> 00:12:10,680 mind, take it to the Lord in prayer and let him deal with it 221 00:12:10,920 --> 00:12:12,760 as we did on our in our last video. 222 00:12:13,080 --> 00:12:17,080 Leave it in God's hands. Trust him, your heavenly Father 223 00:12:17,240 --> 00:12:20,280 that cares for you, that will not put anything in your path, 224 00:12:20,480 --> 00:12:22,520 that will not give you anything that's too great. 225 00:12:22,520 --> 00:12:25,800 Just trust Him to look after you and to watch your over you. 226 00:12:26,040 --> 00:12:29,240 Shall we talk about the second sign that you are not putting 227 00:12:29,240 --> 00:12:31,720 God first? It's very, very obvious. 228 00:12:31,720 --> 00:12:34,120 Many of these signs, as you can tell, are obvious. 229 00:12:34,120 --> 00:12:36,240 They're plain. But we need to think about them 230 00:12:36,240 --> 00:12:38,520 because often we're still doing them, aren't we? 231 00:12:38,840 --> 00:12:40,520 So what is it? It's this. 232 00:12:40,520 --> 00:12:43,240 You are worldly. Colossians 3. 233 00:12:43,240 --> 00:12:45,800 If you've got a Bible there, would you turn to Colossians 3? 234 00:12:45,960 --> 00:12:54,520 And we're going to read verses 1 to 4 lotions 3 want to form. 235 00:12:54,680 --> 00:12:58,360 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which 236 00:12:58,360 --> 00:13:01,560 are above where Christ is sitting at the right hand of 237 00:13:01,560 --> 00:13:04,200 God. Set your mind on things above, 238 00:13:04,200 --> 00:13:08,520 not on things on the earth, for you died and your life is hidden 239 00:13:08,520 --> 00:13:13,000 with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life 240 00:13:13,000 --> 00:13:17,560 appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. 241 00:13:18,680 --> 00:13:20,880 So what is the apostle Paul trying to say here? 242 00:13:21,040 --> 00:13:22,920 Well, here he is. He's writing to the church at 243 00:13:22,920 --> 00:13:26,360 Colossae, and he's saying to them, guys, listen, you now have 244 00:13:26,360 --> 00:13:28,560 a new life. You're a believer, You've 245 00:13:28,560 --> 00:13:32,840 trusted in Christ. So when Christ Jesus died, you 246 00:13:32,840 --> 00:13:36,960 died with him. When Christ Jesus rose, ascended 247 00:13:36,960 --> 00:13:39,080 on high, He's now at the right hand of God. 248 00:13:39,480 --> 00:13:42,840 You were also raised with him to, to, to, to new life. 249 00:13:43,040 --> 00:13:44,520 That's what baptism is all about. 250 00:13:44,520 --> 00:13:47,480 When you know this already, I know you know this, but when we 251 00:13:47,480 --> 00:13:50,680 go into the water, as we go beneath the water, it's a sign 252 00:13:50,680 --> 00:13:54,400 that the old Joe Kirby, when I was baptized, I've been buried. 253 00:13:54,400 --> 00:13:57,760 My old life is gone. All of Joe and his desires and 254 00:13:57,760 --> 00:14:00,360 his sin and all the things he wants, loved, it's gone. 255 00:14:00,360 --> 00:14:03,200 It's buried, it's dead. And then as I came out of the 256 00:14:03,200 --> 00:14:05,720 water, I've been raised now to new life. 257 00:14:05,720 --> 00:14:08,080 I've been raised with the Lord Jesus Christ. 258 00:14:08,080 --> 00:14:11,320 I have new desires. And what Paul is saying right 259 00:14:11,320 --> 00:14:13,840 here is this, you have a new life. 260 00:14:14,080 --> 00:14:15,960 Your life isn't the things of this world. 261 00:14:15,960 --> 00:14:21,240 It's it's heavenly things. It's hidden with Christ in God. 262 00:14:21,560 --> 00:14:24,920 You know, we can't see our life, our eternal life in heaven, but 263 00:14:24,920 --> 00:14:29,680 it's there with Jesus Christ. So stop fixing your mind on all 264 00:14:29,680 --> 00:14:33,000 of these earthly things and start putting heavenly things 265 00:14:33,000 --> 00:14:34,720 first. Start putting God first. 266 00:14:34,720 --> 00:14:37,120 Start thinking on those things now. 267 00:14:37,120 --> 00:14:39,800 When I read a passage like that, am I the only one who thinks 268 00:14:39,800 --> 00:14:42,440 this? Does that mean I can't enjoy 269 00:14:42,440 --> 00:14:45,680 life? I think that's something that 270 00:14:45,680 --> 00:14:50,040 can naturally come to us. All we say, you know, we're so 271 00:14:50,040 --> 00:14:52,600 good at being wired up to thinking, well, I can't do this, 272 00:14:52,600 --> 00:14:55,360 I can't do that. We get so religious, but that's 273 00:14:55,360 --> 00:14:58,400 not the message here. God put us on this earth to 274 00:14:58,400 --> 00:15:01,160 enjoy life. He wants us to have great fun. 275 00:15:01,160 --> 00:15:03,960 He wants us to be happy. He wants us to rejoice. 276 00:15:03,960 --> 00:15:06,160 That's exactly what Matthew 6 is all about. 277 00:15:06,160 --> 00:15:09,440 Enjoy your life trusting God. He's given you this life for a 278 00:15:09,440 --> 00:15:12,320 reason, to praise Him to, to bring worship to him. 279 00:15:12,920 --> 00:15:15,720 But what I want to say is this is whatever this thing might be 280 00:15:15,720 --> 00:15:20,160 in your life, ask yourself, is this a God thing or is this a 281 00:15:20,160 --> 00:15:22,640 worldly thing? So a God thing. 282 00:15:22,680 --> 00:15:24,920 Food is a God thing. We're there to enjoy food. 283 00:15:25,160 --> 00:15:28,160 Family is a God-given gift. Enjoy your family. 284 00:15:28,160 --> 00:15:31,280 These are good things. But then let's take something 285 00:15:31,280 --> 00:15:35,840 like a nightclub partying, you know, all these these are 286 00:15:35,840 --> 00:15:40,760 worldly things, you know, listening to to horrible wrong 287 00:15:40,760 --> 00:15:43,320 music that's full of terrible lyrics. 288 00:15:43,640 --> 00:15:47,000 These are worldly things. And I think Paul is, is straight 289 00:15:47,000 --> 00:15:49,160 to the point here. He's saying put off these 290 00:15:49,160 --> 00:15:53,640 earthly things and put and, and live your life, build your life 291 00:15:53,640 --> 00:15:56,960 in heaven. Put your mind on eternal things. 292 00:15:57,600 --> 00:15:59,920 Now I do want to know something. Just tell me, are you 293 00:15:59,920 --> 00:16:03,000 appreciating these quotes? I thought I'd add a few quotes 294 00:16:03,000 --> 00:16:05,600 in. It's something I used to do a 295 00:16:05,600 --> 00:16:08,520 lot with my old preaching, but there's a quote here by a man 296 00:16:08,520 --> 00:16:12,160 called John Blanchard. Now, if you don't know my story, 297 00:16:12,200 --> 00:16:13,920 I didn't start out as a Christian. 298 00:16:13,920 --> 00:16:16,000 YouTube. I started working as an 299 00:16:16,000 --> 00:16:20,000 evangelist for several churches, but the main organization I 300 00:16:20,000 --> 00:16:23,920 worked for was an organization called Young Life Campaign. 301 00:16:23,920 --> 00:16:26,040 Now, it's different to the American Young Life. 302 00:16:26,480 --> 00:16:28,960 This was one that's over here in the UK. 303 00:16:28,960 --> 00:16:32,480 It's called National Young Life, and a man who worked for them 304 00:16:32,560 --> 00:16:36,080 was a man called John Blanche Blanchard, who was a tremendous 305 00:16:36,080 --> 00:16:39,280 preacher, tremendous evangelist, and he wrote many books. 306 00:16:39,280 --> 00:16:42,560 Well, John Blanchard, there's a quote that I just think, I think 307 00:16:42,560 --> 00:16:45,040 you need to write this down because I want to remember this 308 00:16:45,040 --> 00:16:47,120 and I know you do too. So listen to this. 309 00:16:47,480 --> 00:16:50,680 Jesus did not pray that his Father would take Christians out 310 00:16:50,680 --> 00:16:54,080 of the world, but that he would take the world out of 311 00:16:54,080 --> 00:16:56,680 Christians. I told you that was powerful. 312 00:16:57,400 --> 00:17:01,040 So right now as I'm talking about this, I wonder has the 313 00:17:01,040 --> 00:17:05,800 Holy Spirit taking his finger and as he laid it on an area in 314 00:17:05,800 --> 00:17:12,000 your life and he's saying that's not the best, that's not what 315 00:17:12,000 --> 00:17:15,319 God wants for you, You're not putting God first. 316 00:17:15,560 --> 00:17:19,240 I want you to turn away from this sin and put it away. 317 00:17:19,680 --> 00:17:22,720 I know that God has been dealing with me even in the last few 318 00:17:22,720 --> 00:17:26,760 days with things saying, come on, if you want to be close to 319 00:17:26,760 --> 00:17:29,720 Him, if you want to have that nearness, that fellowship, that 320 00:17:29,720 --> 00:17:34,160 peace you want once had, these little things here and there, or 321 00:17:34,160 --> 00:17:37,400 big things that they may even be, you need to put them off. 322 00:17:37,560 --> 00:17:43,400 You need to turn from them. OK #3 #3 What is the third sign 323 00:17:43,400 --> 00:17:46,000 that you are not putting God first? 324 00:17:46,320 --> 00:17:50,480 Well, it's very simple. You love something more than 325 00:17:50,560 --> 00:17:52,800 Jesus Christ. I told you these signs are 326 00:17:52,800 --> 00:17:55,600 obvious, but you love something more than Jesus Christ. 327 00:17:55,800 --> 00:17:57,160 So let's get to the bottom of it. 328 00:17:57,160 --> 00:18:01,760 What is that thing? Let's get the Bibles out. 329 00:18:01,760 --> 00:18:05,600 Let's flick across to John chapter 21. 330 00:18:05,640 --> 00:18:09,000 John chapter 21. Now, some of you know that I 331 00:18:09,000 --> 00:18:13,040 actually did cover this. I did an entire Bible study on 332 00:18:13,040 --> 00:18:16,040 John 21. So if you missed that, I'll give 333 00:18:16,040 --> 00:18:18,000 you a link in a moment where you can find it. 334 00:18:18,240 --> 00:18:21,040 But just listen to this because I do think that this is very, 335 00:18:21,040 --> 00:18:24,520 very important. OK, John chapter 21. 336 00:18:24,920 --> 00:18:29,320 I'm going to read verse 15. So when they'd eaten breakfast, 337 00:18:29,480 --> 00:18:34,920 Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonah, do you love 338 00:18:34,920 --> 00:18:40,400 me more than these? Now I find that tremendous, 339 00:18:40,400 --> 00:18:43,280 tremendously interesting because he's saying he's not only saying 340 00:18:43,280 --> 00:18:46,920 do you love me, but he's saying, do you love me more than these? 341 00:18:47,200 --> 00:18:51,160 And theologians for centuries have argued about what are the 342 00:18:51,160 --> 00:18:54,560 these that he's talking about? So here he is, Simon Peter. 343 00:18:54,560 --> 00:18:58,000 He's gone out fishing. Is Jesus pointing to the fishing 344 00:18:58,000 --> 00:19:02,720 boat, to the Nets behind him? Simon Peter, you've, you've, I 345 00:19:02,720 --> 00:19:06,240 called you to be a minister. I called you to to be a Fisher 346 00:19:06,240 --> 00:19:07,560 of men. And now you've gone back to 347 00:19:07,560 --> 00:19:10,480 fishing for fish again. Do you love me more than your 348 00:19:10,480 --> 00:19:12,960 recreation? Do you love me more than your 349 00:19:12,960 --> 00:19:18,320 work than fishing, Peter? Or is he saying, do you love me 350 00:19:18,320 --> 00:19:22,000 more than these? These are the disciples, you 351 00:19:22,000 --> 00:19:24,280 know Peter's story well. At one time, Peter would have 352 00:19:24,560 --> 00:19:28,160 puffed his chest out and said, even if all the other guys, even 353 00:19:28,160 --> 00:19:31,440 if all of these deny you, I won't deny you. 354 00:19:31,680 --> 00:19:34,080 I love you. I'm, I'm, I'm the one who will, 355 00:19:34,240 --> 00:19:36,640 who will follow you? I'm, I'm the greatest disciple. 356 00:19:36,640 --> 00:19:39,840 Peter, can you really say these kinds of things now? 357 00:19:40,080 --> 00:19:43,240 Can you really exaggerate right now and say that you love me 358 00:19:43,400 --> 00:19:46,960 more than these after you've just denied me three Times Now, 359 00:19:46,960 --> 00:19:49,840 my friend, I want you to use your imagination again. 360 00:19:50,240 --> 00:19:53,920 I want you to think of a sports * someone who is really at the 361 00:19:53,920 --> 00:19:56,440 top of their game, really the best of it. 362 00:19:56,440 --> 00:20:00,400 Now, if you're a football fan, if you're or soccer, you might 363 00:20:00,400 --> 00:20:03,360 think of someone like Cristiano Ronaldo or Messi. 364 00:20:03,880 --> 00:20:06,840 I can't think of any American footballers. 365 00:20:07,200 --> 00:20:08,760 I'm not familiar with that sport. 366 00:20:09,160 --> 00:20:11,320 Tim Tebow is the only one I know. 367 00:20:11,320 --> 00:20:14,360 Or basketball. Maybe you think of Steve Nash. 368 00:20:14,360 --> 00:20:15,640 Is he 1? Jason Robin. 369 00:20:16,320 --> 00:20:19,320 Jason Robinson, was he one or am I thinking of a different sport? 370 00:20:19,520 --> 00:20:22,200 You know, I know obviously Kobe Bryant, you've got Michael 371 00:20:22,200 --> 00:20:24,120 Jordan, these kind of guys. There was another guy called 372 00:20:24,120 --> 00:20:28,040 Carmelo some somebody as well. Anyway, think of a sports star, 373 00:20:28,080 --> 00:20:30,440 whatever it is, get that sports star in your minds. 374 00:20:30,680 --> 00:20:35,280 Tiger Woods right now. If we again took the camera and 375 00:20:35,280 --> 00:20:38,200 we followed that person, what would we see them do? 376 00:20:38,720 --> 00:20:41,680 Someone like Cristiano Ronaldo, I've seen him before, He wakes 377 00:20:41,680 --> 00:20:45,000 up at like really early in the morning, five, 6:00 in the 378 00:20:45,000 --> 00:20:47,040 morning. He has one of these cold 379 00:20:47,040 --> 00:20:49,600 plunges. He goes and he studies the 380 00:20:49,600 --> 00:20:51,760 sport. He watches football. 381 00:20:52,040 --> 00:20:54,720 He then goes to the gym and he lifts all of these weights. 382 00:20:54,720 --> 00:20:56,720 He's he. And then he goes back and has a 383 00:20:56,720 --> 00:20:58,480 nap. He has something like 5 naps. 384 00:20:58,920 --> 00:21:01,120 You know, you watch these different sports stars. 385 00:21:01,120 --> 00:21:03,840 You'd see Tiger Woods swinging that Golf Club. 386 00:21:04,080 --> 00:21:07,320 You'd watch them over and over again and even just a couple of 387 00:21:07,320 --> 00:21:10,920 hours into the day it wouldn't be hard to realise what is it 388 00:21:10,920 --> 00:21:14,520 that this man or this woman, what is it they live for? 389 00:21:15,360 --> 00:21:17,040 And it's the same thing for you and I. 390 00:21:17,160 --> 00:21:20,880 You know, it really has made me think, what would people think 391 00:21:20,880 --> 00:21:24,320 if they watched me right now? My week? 392 00:21:24,640 --> 00:21:28,400 What do I live for? What's the first thing I do when 393 00:21:28,400 --> 00:21:31,680 I wake up? Yes, I read the Bible, but am I 394 00:21:31,680 --> 00:21:34,560 doing it for long enough? Am I rushing it so I can get on 395 00:21:34,560 --> 00:21:38,000 with other things? Do I love the Lord Jesus Christ 396 00:21:38,000 --> 00:21:42,640 more than my hobbies, more than my work, my YouTube? 397 00:21:43,560 --> 00:21:47,360 Do I love the Lord Jesus Christ more than my friends, more than 398 00:21:47,360 --> 00:21:51,960 my wife, more than my children? That is a very, very, very 399 00:21:51,960 --> 00:21:54,160 difficult. Do I love him more than my 400 00:21:54,160 --> 00:21:56,840 children? Do I love him more than anything 401 00:21:56,840 --> 00:21:59,840 else? Well, the Lord Jesus Christ, we 402 00:21:59,840 --> 00:22:02,840 know with Peter, Peter's love wasn't perfect. 403 00:22:02,840 --> 00:22:05,440 He did love him, but it wasn't perfect. 404 00:22:05,440 --> 00:22:09,120 And actually I'm not very good at pronouncing Greek words, but 405 00:22:09,120 --> 00:22:13,400 it was that Philly Philia love. It was a fond devotion he had 406 00:22:13,400 --> 00:22:17,400 for him. It was a 60% love. 407 00:22:17,640 --> 00:22:20,000 It wasn't, you know, I'm obsessed with you. 408 00:22:20,040 --> 00:22:22,520 I'm totally smitten by you, Jesus. 409 00:22:22,520 --> 00:22:24,840 But he had a fond affection for him. 410 00:22:25,240 --> 00:22:28,480 And yet Jesus said that's enough, I'm going to give you 411 00:22:28,480 --> 00:22:31,280 one of the greatest privileges. I'm going to make you one of my 412 00:22:31,280 --> 00:22:33,440 shepherds. I'm going to take you and I'm 413 00:22:33,440 --> 00:22:37,160 going to use you greatly. And my dear friends, let us just 414 00:22:37,160 --> 00:22:39,280 check. Let's search our hearts and see. 415 00:22:39,640 --> 00:22:44,160 Do we have the Lord God first? Because the reality is this, and 416 00:22:44,160 --> 00:22:47,080 this is something again, I'm realizing you can't. 417 00:22:47,360 --> 00:22:50,680 The man who chases 2 rabbits catches none. 418 00:22:51,440 --> 00:22:55,400 And you and I, we can't think that we can invest into this. 419 00:22:55,400 --> 00:23:00,520 Invest into sport, invest into money, invest into work, invest 420 00:23:00,520 --> 00:23:02,200 into family, invest into friends. 421 00:23:02,400 --> 00:23:04,760 We can't think we can have our finger in all of these different 422 00:23:04,760 --> 00:23:08,840 pies and then somehow have a good relationship with God. 423 00:23:09,440 --> 00:23:12,560 No, there's only enough room in our heart for one thing. 424 00:23:13,040 --> 00:23:15,320 There's only enough love for for one thing. 425 00:23:15,640 --> 00:23:18,200 And that is why we've got to put God first. 426 00:23:18,520 --> 00:23:20,640 Yes, that love might not be perfect at times. 427 00:23:20,640 --> 00:23:23,720 Yes, we might make a mess. But we need to do everything we 428 00:23:23,720 --> 00:23:27,840 can to make sure that He is on the throne and that He must 429 00:23:27,840 --> 00:23:30,840 increase and I must decrease. And all my desires and all the 430 00:23:30,840 --> 00:23:34,040 things I want, they've just got to go lesser and lesser. 431 00:23:34,400 --> 00:23:36,920 And it's all about putting Him first. 432 00:23:37,560 --> 00:23:40,160 Guys, I know it's been a bit of a challenging one, but I have 433 00:23:40,160 --> 00:23:43,880 enjoyed this. If you did for any reason miss 434 00:23:43,880 --> 00:23:47,000 my study on John 21, it's quite a detailed one. 435 00:23:47,000 --> 00:23:48,640 It's even more detailed than this. 436 00:23:48,960 --> 00:23:51,960 I think you'll find it helpful. So please do click here, 437 00:23:52,160 --> 00:23:54,120 especially if you've got some more coffee. 438 00:23:54,280 --> 00:23:57,560 You, that's the sign. That's sign #4 that you need to 439 00:23:57,560 --> 00:24:00,120 watch this video. God bless you all and thank you 440 00:24:00,120 --> 00:24:02,120 for your friendship and love on this channel.