What are we thinking? - God's Will - February 16, 2025: full transcript and answers

▶ 0:12 We’ve been talking about what are we thinking what are we thinking and I’m. Uh. America uh oh I need to stop. This what are we thinking America I was listening to another uh. Interview and a former Christian in America he said his biggest stumbling block was that his wife had an affair and left him and he thought he had to deal with God that he didn’t smoke or swear he didn’t do drugs or drink he witnessed he read he prayed I did everything correct and he felt that God left him twisting in the wind and he he summarized it like this I was paying into this prot protetion service that no longer was protecting me and so this is the sentiments that we’re hearing in America and it’s important that we understand from the scriptures what the scriptures perspective is what is Christ’s perspective what is God’s perspective and uh it’s important that we go to the scriptures to find these.

▶ 1:24 Truths one of the things he also said uh his interpretation was that God is with with us he hates who we hate and we will win and squash the others that’s what he. Said but in acts chapter 8 verse one we know that it begins with uh that chapter begins with persecution at that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem and they were all scattered as for Saul of Tarsus he made havoc of the church entering every house and dragging off men and women committing them to prison. And so one of the few things I want to point out here the government that they were under at the time in acts chapter 8 was the roman government or the Jewish government also and uh the government they were under did not protect them but allowed this persecution and in fact the Jewish government was persecuting them in America today we have a choice on who our leaders are and what their judgments are and if they’re going to allow us to uh freely speak and teach Christ’s word the first amendment in united states of America guarantees free speech and the free exercise thereof of uh of being a Christian and speaking from the Bible.

▶ 2:50 Amen in case you didn’t know the judgments and management of California’s executive branch and leg legislative branch are not. Good they oppose these freedoms that we. Have and as Californians we have a responsibility to we have a responsibility because we have a ch a choice we have a vote we have a say okay now they were living in a time when they were being persecuted there’s nothing they could do about it but we as Californians have a vote and have a choice and that’s the balance amen you can’t just say oh we’re being persecuted and do nothing about it no we can do something about it did God stop Saul of Tarsus from persecuting the church.

▶ 3:44 Anybody. No he kept persecuting the church I mean not. Immediately I guess that’s a trick question does God always squash our enemies. No does God want to bless his people yes of course did persecution of the church stop after Saul was converted and his name was changed to Paul did persecution continue yes it. Did so this thinking that God always protects us and squashes our enemies we have to read some of the scriptures to get a good perspective of what is experienced and what God is saying uh recently in lessons past I showed you how the apostles were brutally put to death if you remember right and we don’t want that in our life and I’m not saying you know you got to be put to death but it’s it’s there you got to understand that just because they were put to death doesn’t mean they lost doesn’t mean that you know they didn’t lose the bad they lost the battle you know they won spiritually and they were reaching people with the kingdom and and teaching them the scriptures and they were killed for it doesn’t mean they.

▶ 5:17 Lost fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him Saul why are you persecuting me and Christ or he replied who are you Lord and Saul and Jesus says I am Jesus whom you are persecuting so yes God at some point addresses Saul and and stops him but he didn’t address the whole. Persecution. Um there’s something important here to understand Saul here is a religious man right he is with the Jews he thinks what he’s doing is what God. Wants but Jesus the one who is shining in light in the sky and stopping him is saying.

▶ 6:10 No Jesus doesn’t associate himself with Saul he associates himself with who the church that is being. Persecuted and so Saul has a little bit of a you know hits the big brick wall and finally wakes up. Christ is saying that I am them you’re not persecuting the church you’re directly persecuting. God and the persecuted church were the ones that were doing the will of the father was Saul doing God’s will no did he think he was doing God’s will yes and today we have people Christians that are deceiving themselves thinking that God is with them and they’re not doing God’s will they actually speak against the church that is doing the will of God and that’s I we see that today you can see that all you got to do is you know look up videos are everywhere you can find priests and and pastors and preachers that are uh talking against God’s truths.

▶ 7:34 Amen so it’s going on. Today so the question is are we on God’s side okay the guy said he is with us he hates who we hate no are you with him he hates who he hates he’s going to fight against who he’s going to fight against the question is are you on his side are you following his word amen. Amen Matthew chap 6:10 your kingdom come your will be done on earth as it is in heaven if there’s this little thing called the lord’s prayer anybody ever heard of it starts out with our father in heaven hallowed be thy name thy kingdom come your will what be done there God has a will.

▶ 8:26 And that lord’s prayer is said all the time throughout the world and it’s talking about the will of God Matthew chap 721 not everyone who says to me Lord Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven but only the one who does the will of my father you know if Saul and the Jewish priests and the religious people of that time were confused about what the will of God is it’s possible we may be confused. And that’s important you’ve got to address that in your walk and your relationship with Christ am I doing the will of God and that’s why you spend time daily in his word hearing what his voice says getting a balance uh reading through those scriptures asking him to help you understand.

▶ 9:30 Because you might be following like Saul he was following his teachers and listening to what they were telling him to. Do you’ve got to have a relationship and a meeting directly with God yourself John. 6:38 I have come down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me and God’s will is that all he has given me I should lose nothing but should raise it up in the last day so. Jesus the will uh God’s will is that none should none of Christ should be lost that’s us amen if you’re with Jesus you’re he he’s not going to lose you everyone who sees the son believes in him may have everlasting life and I will raise him up in the last day now in verse 40 it says believes in him right I will raise him up in the last day but this persecuted church don’t you think they’re doing a a little more than what we think of belief right these guys are going around they’re speaking they’re preaching they’re teaching truth aren’t they doing a little more than just you know believeing oh yeah do you believe in God yeah I believe in God I put it on my facebook.

▶ 10:48 Do you believe in God yeah I believe in God I got my don’t you see my cross right here did you see it I had this specially custom made. Or the big the guys now they have these big chains they’re like thick so thick the thing is heavy it weighs like 20. Pbs what was I talking. About looking at Jesus Matthew 26 he was betrayed by judas he was seized arrested falsely accused spit in his face struck with people’s fists slapped whole a whole company of soldiers surrounded him crown of a crown of thorns was put on him he was mocked scourged with the c of n tals he was crucified and saled and his disciples left.

▶ 11:50 Him man that is a long. List I am glad he took that I hope I don’t have to go through that but think about it Jesus Christ has endured persecution and he’s endured. Problems how do we read this and then go say I had to deal with God that nothing bad is going to happen to me. What come. On well he took it on the cross he took my p well you know what about the persecuted. Church he’s saying I’m with them. John 16:33 be of good cheer I have overcome the world did you see that I just listed everything that happened to Jesus and then he says I’ve overcome the world that’s overcoming the world.

▶ 12:46 Getting beaten and crucified Romans 8:11 if the spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living liv in you he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of the spirit who lives in you at spirit that Holy Spirit raised Christ from the dead and he overcame Jesus our Lord and savior captain of the hosts the lawyer of lawyers the king of kings the lion of Judah was spit on and beaten but he overcame it all he overcame the insults he was being he was mared more than any man his friends left him they falsely accused him he endured it all and he overcame it all by his resurrection.

▶ 13:40 And now when he’s resurrected you can’t touch. Him. Amen you can’t touch. Him they didn’t touch him after. That you know he was walking through walls. He was on the road to emus walking down he he disguised himself they didn’t know who he was if they come after again he’ll just disguise himself right they try to kill him again he’ll just raise himself he. Overcame. Amen and that overcoming Jesus that powerful resurrected king is our Lord and our savior and the same spirit that works in him works in who.

▶ 14:32 Us we’ve got to remember. That his wife had an affair Ecclesiastes 7:29 truly this only have I found that God made man upright but they have sought out many schemes God when he made us he said look everything I made is what good and in Genesis he made us what good but but we have sought out many schemes we come up with our ways of sinning. Right and today in America 202 what what year is it 2025 we have invented new ways of sinning right or we try to come up with some new way to do it Joshua 24:15 if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve every day you get up you have to choose am I going to serve God or do what I.

▶ 15:42 Want well you can’t make an adult uh do what you want that’s my point they have to. Choose all right people have a choice you get married to somebody they still have a choice whether or not they’re going to be faithful to you and you still have a choice of whether you’re not going to whether or not you’re going to be faithful to them. Amen and if they choose not to be what are you going to. Do it happens all the time with Jesus people they make a commitment to God and then they what. Change and they turn their back on God happens all the time Jesus understands this situation it happens all the time to him people commit themselves to Christ and later they turn their back on him.

▶ 16:42 Amen these things I have spoken to you that in me you may have peace in this world you have tribulation. Gosh more trouble but be of good cheer I have overcome the world you got to hang on to that resurrection there is such a power in his resurrection we can walk in newness of life you can keep uh overcoming as these things come in your life with that powerful. Resurrection I didn’t smoke I didn’t drink I didn’t swear he said well that’s. Good Romans chapter 13:9 God’s commands he says do not commit adultery don’t murder don’t steal don’t lie don’t covet it’s all uh summed up and love your neighbor as yourself now when he didn’t drink was he loving himself yeah he didn’t hurt himself when he didn’t do drugs was he loving himself yeah is that a bad thing.

▶ 17:45 No and of course you always affect the people around you when you do these things so was he loving his neighbor by not doing those things by not doing drugs by not doing alcohol was he loving his neighbor yes. Love is the fulfillment of the law love does no harm to a neighbor therefore love is the fulfillment of the law David hurt uriah when he committed adultery with his wife David hurt euriah when he told joab to put euriah at the front of the battle to be killed did he did David harm his neighbor did he love uriah no right. Simple so he was keeping the second greatest commandment of course you know you’re taking everybody by their word you know I don’t know this guy I don’t know his history and his past but if he did do these things that’s a good thing but you still have the greatest commandment and the greatest commandment is to what love who.

▶ 18:54 God love. God I read I prayed I did everything correct Psalm 53 there is none who does good know not one Isaiah chapter 64 all our righteousness is like filthy rags Matthew 19:18 all these I have kept the young man said what do I still lack we’re lacking something okay you’re not Jesus you haven’t arrived that’s what it’s saying okay if you think you’re you’re a Jesus walking on earth uh you go over over the water please and show me that you can walk on the water all right if you can’t then you’re still working on. Things. Amen I did everything. Correct keep doing what is correct right.

▶ 19:50 Amen but don’t get in your head oh what I’ve done is correct it’s going to earn me protection it’s going to earn me uh no problems you’re to have. Problems at the uh Matthew chapter 19:1 18 the rich young ruler came to Jesus and he was thinking he’d hear a good Job because he had kept all of these uh second greatest commandment things he didn’t steal he didn’t cheat his neighbor he didn’t commit adultery and Jesus said one thing you lack is go sell all that you have do you love me do you love God he loved his possessions. Amen so what do we do James chapter.

▶ 20:42 1:2 my brethren count it all joy count it all joy. Smile when you fall into various trials smile be happy about the situation oh and my wife was looking at me like you’re not. Smiling you know we’re all going through some situation or issue and uh it’s not always easy to smile but the scripture says hey count it all joy. Amen when you fall into various trials knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. Love is what. Patience the testing of your d your faith produces patience and let patience have its perfect work that you may be perfect and complete lacking.

▶ 21:47 Nothing and it says let patience right let patience have its perfect work you have to be patient in these things 1 Corinthians 13:7 at the end what does it say love. Never fails it never quits it never gives up so when you say I love God it means you don’t what give. Up you let patience have its perfect work to let patience have its perfect work you have to not give. Up and that’s what a lot of people are. Doing they’re giving up when things get.

▶ 22:43 Tough but we’re reminded in the scriptures there’s trials and tribulations are going to come but we can count it all joy man there’s see the scriptures are are challenging us a little bit. Here it’s saying that in your trial in your situation you can have what. Joy that’s a concept I mean maybe maybe we never even thought of that maybe we never even thought of smiling when that bad thing happen when that person comes over and gives. Us we can have joy. God has a goal amen blessed is the man who endures temptation for when he has been approved he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love him we got to endure temptations it’s part of God’s plan it’s part of God’s plan for your Christian walk to face situations to overcome them to uh not give up to keep going.

▶ 23:59 To keep growing 1 Corinthians 10:13 no temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man but God is what. Faithful who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able but with the temptation will also make the way of escape that you may be able to bear up under it. Amen so in this thinking that we have in America you can get through your situation there is no temptation first of all it’s what. Common every one of us has got to go through some sort of temptation every one of us you know if you feel like you’re being tempted you feel like you’re going through a difficult situation somebody else is going through it as well maybe not the same thing but they’re going through something.

▶ 24:59 And God has made a way of escape and he says you can count it all joy I don’t know if I’d like. That I don’t know I I think he needs to take a little eraser and be like count it all sadness then put that in there God count it all. Depression I don’t like this joy thing. Here telling me I got a smile call count it all frowns give me that one. And of course we know this happened in Job’s life and uh you can read Job the first couple chapters talks about everything that he went through but we also understand a few concepts here that I want to point out Job chapter 1:8 the Lord said to Satan have you considered my servant Job oh man God don’t mention my name.

▶ 25:56 There is none like him on the earth a blameless and upright man one who fears God and shuns evil so we also want to see here God is making a point to point out that he’s blameless that he’s upright that he fears God he fears departs from evil. Amen and he and God is talking and he’s saying this is important amen so when God’s making something important we should do it ourselves so Satan answered the Lord and said does Job fear God for nothing have you not made a what hedge around him around his household around all that he has on every side you have what you have what blessed the work of his hands his possessions have increased so we learn here a couple things he wants to bless you amen he blessed.

▶ 26:56 Job amen and and he also what protected Job so the default of God in your life is to what protect you and what bless. You God has to bring the walls. Down because he has a goal in your life he knows it’s going to make you. Better but his default is to bless you and protect you. Amen. Amen verse 12 the Lord said to Satan behold all that he has is in your power only do not lay a hand on his person so he see he took the barriers back just to him and everything else became.

▶ 27:50 Uh available to Satan ah. Yeah man I don’t want him having having writes to all that stuff do you. No uh Job lost all livestock 7,000 sheep 3,000 camels th000 oxen 500 donkeys he lost all 10 of his children lost all his children lost all servants except the ones that escaped and after this happened he praised God and he said the Lord gives and the Lord takes. Away and he praised God and worshiped. Him but then it came to his body and it went on for a long time and it was. Tough but through it all Job was looking for God and that’s the key are you looking for God in your situation are you looking to hear what he has to say are you looking and seeking him the scriptures say that we can seek we can knock we can ask.

▶ 29:04 Amen and that we. Should God wants us to seek. Him Hebrews 4:16 let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need and so God is looking for our response are we coming to him or do we give up and God is asking you today will you give up or will you respond and come to his throne you want to take some time here to respond to the scriptures this. Morning I trust you understand that things may not always go your way and that’s not because God doesn’t like you it’s not because God uh you know is upset with you it just may be that you are going through a situation amen and that’s.

▶ 30:15 Okay but also remember our sin can bring problems so if you are doing drugs you can’t sit there and be like I can’t I don’t understand why all this bad stuff’s happening. Me. Okay you know there my my my body is hurting in all this stuff you know you’re drinking oh I’ve got ulcers I don’t understand how come God’s not protecting me come on right you’re sin will correct you the scriptures say so remember that part of it but if you’re serving him you’re living for God you’re following him and bad things happens it’s okay. You can make it you can get through. It it’s. Common.

▶ 31:23 Amen so we encourage you this morning don’t stop loving your neighbor don’t don’t stop treating people right don’t stop loving yourself by not doing harm to yourself amen I was reminding a young man recently the Lord has fear you are fearfully and wonderfully made amen that you are made in the image of God you’re so important and you can have that resurrection power that same spirit that raised Christ from the dead is in us and can be in us and we want to encourage you this morning to come boldly before his throne to ask for that grace that spirit upon your heart amen so let’s take a a few moments to respond this morning will you stand with me and let’s commit unto. Him Lord I give you my heart I give you my soul.

▶ 32:23 I live for you al. Every breath that I take every moment I’m. Aake have your way in me Lord I give you my heart I give you my soul I live for you. Alone every breath that I take every moment I’m. Way have your way in. Me this is my desire.

▶ 33:22 To. Honor you. Lord with all my heart I worship. You all I have within. Me I give. You. Praise all that I adore door is in. You Lord. Jesus Lord I give you my heart I give you my soul I live for you.

▶ 34:19 Alone every breath that I take every moment I’m away. Have your way in me Lord I give you my heart I give you my soul I live for you. Alone every breath that I take every moment I’m. Aake have your way in me. With their heads bow our eyes closed let’s pray let’s lift up our voices.

▶ 35:14 And commit ourselves to to God let’s lift up our voices and pray this morning God we come before you Lord Jesus we pray God Lord God that you that we would be able to endure this temptation Lord God that we would be able to count it all joy Lord the trials and the situations that come in our life we pray for your strength God to overcome Lord Jesus you overcame the world Lord you rose powerfully from the grave Jesus Jesus Jesus God Lord we pray God Lord we want to be counted with those who were persecuted for your church God Lord I want to be part of that church Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus thank you Lord God your word is true God your word is right God you are good Jesus Jesus Lord we thank you we thank you Lord God.

▶ 36:16 Oh oh Lord I commit my life to you I commit my ways to you oh. Jesus. Oh thank. You Lord I give you my heart I give you my soul I live for you. Alone every breath that I take every moment I’m aake.

▶ 36:58 Have your way in. Me we also learn this morning as Jesus said to Saul of Tarsus why are you persecuting me the church is that body of Christ amen we are the many membered body of the Lord Jesus Christ so we want to pray for one another this morning that we would be able to bear up under any temptation that may be in our lives that we would seek God wholeheartedly let’s pray for one another let’s lay hands on one another and just ask that God would do a wonderful work in our life Jesus we pray Lord we pray for one another right now Jesus God we ask Jesus that you Lord God would help us bear up under whatever we’re going under Lord Jesus God Lord we pray for the way of escape Jesus we pray for our heart God Lord that you would give us a heart Lord God like Job God seeking after you Lord look searching after you God wanting Lord to meet with you Lord Jesus wanting to come before your face and Lord touch you Jesus Jesus God we pray right now Lord heavenly father king of kings Lord of lords do that wonderful work Lord in our in our in our church Lord Jesus in our lives God Lord we pray God oh God that we would walk in that res resurrection Lord that you would

▶ 38:29 raise us from the grave Lord that you would raise us in newness of life Jesus Jesus Jesus we pray we pray for your power this morning Jesus Lord we pray Jesus for your truth for your righteous oh Lord we come before you we look to you this morning God we praise you Jesus Jesus Jesus oh Lord God lift up your church right now we lift up your church together Lord Jesus we pray for your people we pray God Lord Jesus Lord Jesus God oh God oh God oh. God we’re going to take communion together this morning.

▶ 39:33 Going ask them to pass out the elements 1 Corinthians 11:24 Jesus said take eat this is my body which is broken for you I would like to invite you to stand with me in honor of our Lord Jesus Christ. Do this in remembrance of me we know that the bread is that that many membered body Jesus Christ I’m going to ask somebody to lift up their voice and pray for this bread before we partake with our eyes closed our heads. Bowed mr barnes should you play pray for the body I’m sorry mrs barnes mrs barnes pardon me.

▶ 40:30 We. May we’re not st nothing God chosen each one of us to supply to what we have and Lord Jesus we thank you for the body of Christ that you’re bringing unity and oneness to each one of us oh we thank you because you’re in the midst of your body Jesus we just love you. Thank thank you Jesus let’s eat the bread. Together Jesus said in 1 Corinthians. 11:26 this cup is the new covenant in my blood do this whenever you drink in remembrance of me I’m going to ask uh mr.

▶ 41:27 Eran would you please pray for the cup this morning before we partake together thank you. Lord. Open for us. Lord. Lord show that made a way for us to be forgiven and Lord let us trust in you for all that. And promises Lord knowing that we can trust in. All Lord I. Just thank you Jesus let’s drink together. Lord I give you my heart I give you my soul.

▶ 42:36 I live for you. Alone every breath that I take every moment I’m. Aake have your way in me. Amen amen amen uh we have a special event today we’re going to be there’s some folks getting baptized before I continue are you guys still getting baptized today did you change your mind what’s the word what about you Cody. Yes both are. All.

▶ 43:29 Right okay well before we uh change locations have lunch and all. That uh I want to. Before. Uh before we baptize them I want to share the new. Covenant in Ezekiel chapter. 3626 it says I will give you what let’s say this together a new heart. This song is talking about I give you my heart why are we giving them our heart so we can get make it what. New and let me tell you this world we need a new. Heart we need that mind being made new cuz there’s a lot of junk that we. Got and put a what new what spirit.

▶ 44:27 Within you how many you know we need a new spirit. Amen Cody and Jaden I want you guys to listen particularly to this part God the new covenant it’s an unbreakable promise that God has for every one of us and the first two parts are that he’s going to give you a new what new heart is it talking about the blood pumping thing no it’s talking about your mind right and also put a new what. Spirit now there’s a lot of spirits with out there right there’s evil spirits there’s this spirit that spirit but we want to have whose spirit God’s. Amen and his promise is that he’ll put his spirit into us and he explains I’ll take out your heart of stone.

▶ 45:21 Sometimes we have a hard heart. Amen when you walk in a God’s house and you read the Bible you hear the Bible and you’re numb you have a heart of stone out of your flesh I will take a heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh a tender heart a heart that is responsive. Amen a heart that is responsive to the word of God I will put my spirit within you and I will. What and will say that with me that c word. Cause. Cause cause you to walk in my statutes and you will keep my judgments and do. Them so I’m going to ask these two boys come come on up and we’re going to pray lay hands on him on them that God would give him a new heart cuz that’s the goal here when we go out to b be baptized the new covenant is very important in this whole process and uh you know we don’t want to just have water sprinkled on us we want God.

▶ 46:49 We we want a change happening on the inner man. Amen so. We want to pray for these two young men so I’m going to ask you guys to stand come on come forward and we’re going to pray for them okay.