Richard Thomas an emotion. Looking to cut the flow of American money to the Cuban military president prompts about to make a major policy announcement in Miami he's rolling back the parts of former President Obama's Cuba policy all maintaining different Mattick Relations also airlines in cruise ships from the u.s. Will still be allowed to operate in Cuba we're also joined his updating word of a change in immigration policy as a Trump is expected to announce that he's leaving in place a program protecting hundreds of thousands of young immigrants from deportation the program involves the so-called Dreamers those who were brought to this country's children the decision not to deport them reverses the president's campaign pledge since he became president Mr Trump has repeatedly expressed empathy with the young people protected under the Deferred Action for Childhood over. Program or DACA and back in April President Trump said is that ministration quoting here is not after the dreamers we are after the criminals and that the dreamers should rest easy Linda Kenyon at the White House also Deseret News dot com 20 year old Michelle Carter could get up to 20 years in prison in Massachusetts there for being convicted of involuntary manslaughter for sending numerous text messages to her boyfriend when they were teenagers urging him to kill himself the judge says Carter did nothing to dissuade Conrad Roy from taking his life even as he apparently wait for the call no one. And finally she did not issue a simple additional instruction. Get out of the truck the 18 year old was found dead of carbon monoxide poisoning in his truck Wall Street this hour the Dow was up about 8 points for the Nasdaq is 16 points lower Yes and p. 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Is sponsored by Dr Michael Hughes of. With the encouragement to be strong in the days in which we live Here's Dr Michael Youssef How could you and I be encouraged in the midst of what you see today all around us in this whole cycle departure from the faith how can you and I be strong when our circumstances sometimes ready to crush us and the answer comes just dreaming of the words of the scripture for I am with you if we are going to that is the secret of God That is the shores of encouragement. Welcome to leaving the way actionably proclaiming uncompromising truth at home and around the world today Dr Youssef brings his series know where you stand to a close it's a quick but encouraging look at the short book of heading on it's tucked away at the very end of the Old Testament but you'll see how the culture of hacking ice day is a lot like ours and you'll be encouraged by the timely nature of God's Word now to begin here's Dr Michael USSA in the last message I told you that you should never underestimate Satan's power of the scholars it is his most effective tool against the believer by the same token don't underestimate the power of encouragement while Satan is the one who discovered just God is the one who encourages us encouragement strengthens the weak encouragement uplifts the faint hearted encouragement gives hope to the hopeless encouragement boys up the falling and that is why in the scripture hundreds of times you read again and again be of good courage be encouraged. Whenever you see the word of the Lord to somebody saying Be of good courage being encouraged have courage whenever you see that in the scripture you can be absolutely sure that most times if not all times it is because the person being discouraged and that person is desperately in need of encouragement and as we come to this concluding message from that magnificent book of high gas we see how the Lord Himself encourages his faithful people he encourages the remnant even though they were discouraged even though they were tempted to give up the work even though they were going through a tough time but the Lord did not rebuke them he encouraged them and this is a word from the Lord for us today it's a word of encouragement for everyone here who's discouraged and so turn with me please to chapter 2 of the book of Hagia in verse 4 particularly his the word of encouragement he said be strong was not oval who's the king oh the governor declares the Lord Almighty be stronger Joshua the High Priest declares the Lord Almighty be strong all you people of the land declares the Lord how can they be strong when they're going to discouraged and give up the work how can you and I be encouraged in the midst of what we see today all around us in this whole sale departure from the faith how can we be strong and encouraged in the midst of compromise and defection from the truth how can you and I be strong when our circumstances sometimes ready to crush us and the answer comes to us screaming from the words of the Scripture and is found in verse 4 for our I am with you the clear the Lord that is the secret of courage that is the source of encourage me. The one thing that he would do is that he would whisper in your ear you who are all alone you are all are you do only one nobody believes like you do nobody's holding on to Biblical truth like you do God has moved on since the days of the pie both of the Bible does not meant to be taken literally God does not answer prayer like he answered in the Bible just go along and do some good and hope for the best but God's promise beloved is God's promise Amen and never changes he said I am with you and therefore you should be encouraged I have promised never to leave you know for sake you and I'm as good as my promise keep on trusting me I promise to honor those who honor me hold on your honor is on its way your honor is coming your way hold on I'm your strong tower in the days of battle I'm a strong tower in the days of battle and the battle is not over yet keep on being strong keep on holding on to me keep on being anchored in me I promise the world you'll have tribulation but be of good cheer be of courage for I have overcome the world a member longs here while the promise of God for them to be courageous because he's with them is enough but God goes on to say other things whenever we go through discouragement we kind of we fully think back of the good old days. And even there rightly or wrongly we become nostalgic in the midst of our discouragement. And then the time of Hagia the God's people looked at where they are. And the very discouraging condition of the temple and they began to weep their weeping they said to themselves we can't bring those glorious days back it's impossible we will never be able to bring back the good old days when this temple was in all with its glorious my just being and I wonder if you are like me when you look around and you see how church and pastures and church leaders defecting from the truth of the Word of God every single day albeit so slowly that when you see how some Christian leaders because they're being bullied and being intimidated they gave up and they have surrendered the white flag and they have given up the battle when you see all of this happening we can get nostalgic even if we didn't see some good old days we did in the history and we see how in days gone by when that God's Spirit moved with power and days of revival and great awakenings and how people were coming to these meetings of George Whitfield and others and they begin to weep over their sin before they even heard a sermon preached we look back in days that we read about when God's power was moving in his church days even when secular people respected Christian symbols days when school students began their day with prayer it is easy to fall back in the past it's easy to fall back into the style of Jim I know that because I've been there but when you begin to do that and look back nostalgically to the past you're going to be paralyzed in the present. And that's where they were as well they were a God knew that God saw that they were paralyzed in the presence. And when people are looking around and saying well what killed one person do what can one family do what can one church do the I'm certain come to us because God has a word for us for this generation for you and for me today God has a word because the answer comes straight to us from the Word of God the God who encourages us makes it very clear. I know where you are. God knows how you feel. God knows what you need. God knows and he doesn't go Also he doesn't gloss over way you are he doesn't try to cover it up and move on he did not even try to rebuke them in the discouragement. In fact he said to them don't get down on yourself that's what it means don't get down on yourself don't put yourself down so much don't look back too much don't let the nostalgia of the past paralyzes you today but instead he said be strong today be courageous because I am what. Don't be afraid don't give up the fight don't give it up don't surrender how many of you need to the word of encouragement from the Lord he's giving it to you today not from Michael Youssef it's from the war. In fact you see that happens again and again and again in Deuteronomy Chapter 31 verse 6 he gives the word of encouragement to Moses in the Book of Joshua chapter 13 times 67 and 9 he gives the word of encouragement to Joshua because he needed it in fact in Chronicles 1st Chronicles 2820 David gives that word of encouragement to his son Solomon because he knew that he needed it as he begins to build the temple the Apostle Paul when he was discovered in the prison the Lord himself showed up and said to him Be of good courage Paul and then Paul began to encourage others as he does in the features Chapter 6 verse 10 he said be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power and God was doing the same thing here in the book of Hagia as he's doing it today to you he's doing the same thing here for these folks these remnant these faithful people and so his speaks to them be strong all Zorobabel be strong all Joshua be strong all the people of the land how. Bought remembering the presence of the Lord how easy it is for us to forget the presence of the Lord. You know when you're in the model. When you're in the presence cell of your own making when you are in the dock place it's easy to forget the presence of the Lord. And the New Testament where believers are indeed welt of the Holy Spirit this word is even more poignant to us than it was in the Old Testament. But the word of God does something else that is so powerful I don't want you to miss it he's not only telling them not to look back with nostalgia but he tells them to look forward to the future. Looking forward to the future always will encourage you looking back will paralyze you looking forward will encourage you. And so God is saying to them the reason you are done in the dumps. Is because you are looking back and look at verse 6 all the way to 9 he's saying to them look forward to the future let me read them to you this is what the Lord God Almighty says in a little while I would once more shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land I will shake all nations now if you look historically at this prophecy it was physically fulfilled literally purged and the Persian Empire that was so mighty and powerful and dominated the world got shaken to its knees by the Greeks and then followed by the Romans who paved the way for the coming of the Messiah built all the roads in the Roman Empire and the places that are part and so that the Messiah came a dry time at the appointed time so that the Apostles and the disciples can take their gospel to the ends of the earth as they knew it back then what is this nations desiring the desired one. That desired one is the Messiah Jesus how come the nation desire him the nations reviled him the nations hate him are what he's saying here is that the believers from every nation is the ones who desire him. The faithful Christians from every nation today desiring the return of Jesus this is the prophecy of the returning of our glorious King Jesus. For in that great day of judgment God is going to shake the nations of the earth the proud and the out of kings and rulers and and heads of states are going to power to him even now the little announcements he keeps sending about his coming quakes and floods and tsunamis and and wrongdoings that taking players these are mere an announcement that God is sending I'm coming and when I come is not going to be little announcements like this is going to be a complete shaking these are gentle reminders that I'm coming these are gentle reminders that the world is coming to an end these are gentle reminders that I'm in charge these are gentle reminders that he's around the corner and he may be even closer than we think for on that day the mountains are going to fall into the sea on that day the elements Peter said will melt the earth will shake like a leaf the heavens will fund the with power the mighty will be terrified they out again hearts will Milt like butter the powerful well bogged down in fear those who persecuted Christian believers now today will Trimble those who hate God's people and God's Messiah they're going to weave blood those who curse God's anointed will try to run but they won't be able to hide those who mocked him those sort of vile him those who hated him those who sold the birthrights those who have rejected his truth those who took pride in denying Jesus those who have sought to modify his words those who watered down his words those who compromise his words they will be shaking like leaf. That's the word of God That's the promise of God. I'm going to shake everything that's be shaken the earth will shake the heavens will shake look at verse 9. You have to ask what's that mean in the lot of the New Testament listen very carefully we don't have temples and God does not dwell in places and buildings he dwells in the believers you are the temple of God He dwells in you God will never be satisfied again with animal blood when the purest blood of all His Son Jesus Christ was shed on Calvary that end all animal sacrifices God's temple are the people of God we have the true temple of Jesus Christ and that is the prophecy about these days it's not going to be a mere physical glory it's going to be a spiritual one Don't miss this please don't miss this this is important is the word from the law to every one of us because this glorious picture of have been shown to us by John the Revelator when he was privileged to look into pierce through history and see The Last Days see that in time and John the Revelator looks in there and he sees all these people millions of them worshiping the land from every tribe from every nation from every tongue gathered together praising the lord that's where the glory of his temple the believers is going to take place fog greater than the greatest days of Solomon and his temple but then in the 2nd half of the chapter. After. God reminds us of the future and how that future should encourage us to keep on going to keep on trusting the keep on serving to keep us standing up even if we stand up alone he gets back to the present he's back to the question What can I do now what can I do today it's well and good to be encouraged about the date that is coming in which will reign and rule with him it's wonderful it's great to look forward to those glorious days but what do I do now what do I do in the meanwhile we're still living and one of the most discouraging times we still living in the grind of today we still facing for Russia's enemy today again God does not gloss over that his feet to us here and now this moment whatever you are whatever your circumstances then I have a crush on you there may be discouraging you they may be taking this to your own get some money but God is being covered today they're going to get versed in this is the dramatic way of God saying to the faithful ones that women are the right people in the right place of doing the right thing at the right time his saying to them because you did get discouraged and because you have your priorities got inverted because you become lukewarm toward me and my work and my kingdom because of that you have become contaminated by the world. But listen listen this is the greatest greatest news but from this day forward what day is that the day of which there repented the day in which they re consecrated themselves for the service of God From this day on the 24th day of the 9th months from this day onward what I'm going to do is that I'm going to bless you . I'm going to bless you do you receive it. From this day forward I'm going to bless your verses 15 to 19 he says something important he said. Consider his that word again I've been talking about in the last 2 messages consider or give very careful examination to where you are now do a big audit of your life now of your time of your talent of your treasure How do you use it give careful thought now which they did praise God these folks did and the last words of the Prophet Hagia are directed to the governor Zorobabel this into me beloved everything hinges on leadership leadership can make or break an institution leadership can make or break a nation leadership can make or break a church leadership is of vital importance it is so important to God that he saved his last words to the governor Zorobabel he gives them a specific word because God values leadership God understand the importance of leadership God knows that that is why he saved those words to him tells of a bill the governor. Will take you and I will make you like a signal ring what is that what does it mean a signal of ring it was a very precious object for a king or a ruler so much so that he either places it on his finger or he puts it on a court around his neck that's how important that signet ring was. And so God is saying to this godly reader might be discouraged but is saying to him that God is going to guard him so that the remnant will remain strong if not amazing is not amazing So what is God saying listen to me here is what he's saying even in the midst of your discouragement even in the midst of your disappointment even in the midst of this heartening circumstances are I am solver on I want control I stand behind all of my promises no matter how bleak it might be no matter how dark it may appear big no no matter how difficult it is no matter how buggy the circumstances I am from Lord Amen. Dr Michael Usef on today's leading the way with a reminder that in times of trouble God offers assurance that he is with you it's part of his series called Know where you stand and if you missed any part of the series you can always listen online at l t w dot org You know it's just amazing how the cost of daily items has skyrocketed in recent years he just stopped at the grocery store for a few quick things and it's a shock when you get to the checkout line so it's extra important for us to make available some resources that can enhance your spiritual growth and no charge one of those is Dr Youssef monthly magazine my journal I love getting my copy of my journal I like to walk through the devotional material with my family it's a great prop for discussions about spiritual things and also marveling together what God is doing around the world so get your free trial subscription to my journal Call us 803375323 or look for the link at l t w dot org Or once again the phone number we love talking to you is $803.00. 375323 and online l t w dot org or write us a note we are leading the way Post Office Box 20100 Atlanta Georgia 30325 again that's Post Office Box 20100 Atlanta Georgia 30325. Everything that I am and everything but on hair my job my degrees my money my possessions even the gulag if it. Is rubbish when I compare them to lower priced unloved and try to follow. The love of listening to me until I come to about one and then on a. Long way to grow in love in Christ. Until I come to the Horn of so I. Can be compared to you on my love for you. That was just a preview of what Dr Yousef will be teaching next time on leading the way so make plans to join him for this powerful message when he takes turn them into this stuff today's program is for up to you by leading the way with Dr Michael you said confidently proclaiming uncompromising truth around the world for more than 25 years. Before some of them found bother's day is coming up and Lowe's has your gift list covered during our deals for doubt of that help him tackle his to do list with a double 20 volt drill bell for just $99.00 That's a $50.00 savings plus for 2 days only June 16th and 17th save even more and get 10 percent off when you use your Lowe's advantage credit card all projects have a star. Point start with Lowe's drill off about 6 ports into 621 while supplies last were worse part holders subject to credit approval can be combined with the credit offers exclusion splices or most dot com for details was only. Gretta is a drill instructor. When it comes to training lean mean fighting machines she doesn't mess around and give me 3000 but when it comes to getting a mortgage Grant is less confident I got nothing fortunately for Grad rocket mortgage my Quicken Loans It's simple so she can understand the details and know Going to go. To Media Group. With this news coverage in Washington Ok to cut the flow of American money to the Cuban military president from about to make a major policy announcement at Miami rolling back the parts of former President Obama's Cuba policy while maintaining diplomatic relations one of his latest tweets the president says he's being investigated for firing f.b.i. Chief James Comey by the very same man who told me should fire call the president calls it a witch hunt. 20 year old Michelle Carter could get up to 20 years in prison in Massachusetts convicted today of involuntary manslaughter and sending numerous text messages to her boyfriend when they were teenagers urging him to kill himself which he ultimately did on Wall Street the Dow is up 8 points the Nasdaq down 16 details had a News dot com. The final interior Corners program sponsored by pathway to make create a ministry or 1st Baptist Church Dallas today on pathway to victory Dr Robert Jeffers urges us to think about how our actions are affecting others but all is saying is whatever you do Christians don't even care what God is building up until you tear down that individual Christian who God is growing up into a mature disciple and what ever you do don't tear up that church that God is guilty to be a witness for him welcome to pathway to victory with author and pastor Dr Robert Jeffers because of the death burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ we no longer live under that strict system of laws dictated in the Old Testament but that doesn't mean we're allowed to do whatever we want today on pathway to victory Dr Robert Jeffress explains that our freedom in Christ ends when it becomes a stumbling block for other Christians now here's our Bible teacher to introduce today's message Dr Jeffers Thanks David and welcome again to pathway to victory in recent weeks you've heard me talk about an exciting season of growth for pathway to victory this daily program can now be heard in the Pacific Northwest on the American Christian Network also bought Radio Network and one of the largest Christian Networks in the country has offered us an additional primetime spot on 115 stations we've expanded our reach on Salem Radio Network as well airing a new cities like Boston Orlando San Francisco Columbus and many more and in addition to that the pathway to victory can now be seen on more than 45 new television stations across the us so if you at friends and family in other parts of the country just send them to our station locator link at p t v dot org where they can find a pathway to victory station near them don't for. Yet there is an exciting new $300000.00 matching challenge taking place in the month of June that means any gift you give today will be doubled by another generous friend of pathway to victory and to thank you for your generous gift this month I'm going to send you a brand new d.v.d. Cd 4 disc set called Be hold Israel 7 memorable messages from the Holy Land these messages will transport you to some of the most significant locations where Biblical history unfolded places like now Carmel Armageddon the Sea of Galilee and the empty tomb and again in this D.V.D.'s C.D.'s set called behold Israel comes with our thanks when you give a generous gift this month to a pathway to victory I'll say more about these resources later but right now let's continue our study in the book of Romans called Grace powered living is there ever a time when we should voluntarily limit our freedom in Christ for the sake of someone else well that's the topic we'll look at end of days message take your Bibles and Turn to Romans Chapter 14 as we glean some tips on tightrope walking you know in Romans Chapter $14.15 Pollock's plains that every Christian is walking a tightrope We're walking a tightrope between 2 twin towers of truth one of those towers of truth is the truth of our liberty in Christ but there's another equal tower of truth and that is our obligation to other Christians and you're always navigating those 2 truths our freedom and our obligation how do we keep our balance especially when we're talking about the. Gray areas of the Christian life where if you have your Bibles today turned to Romans Chapter 14 as we look at what I called some tips for walking let's remind ourselves what the subject Paul was talking about here is he's actually talking about what we many times called the grey areas of the Christian life we're not talking about black and white issues the Bible very clearly has things to say about premarital sex about adultery about drunkenness about lying about stealing and we're not talking about those areas we're talking about the gray areas those things the Bible doesn't necessarily prohibit and Paul today the issue he was talking about at the Church at Rome had to do with 1st of all die it isn't Ok to eat meat that have been sacrificed to an idol What about drinking wine Those were the dietary issues going on in the Church at Rome always or dressing to different groups within the Church at Rome 1st of all he talked about those who are strong in Christ that is they have the maturity to realize that Christianity is not a list of do's and don'ts there are certain freedom in the Christian area when it comes to these gray areas but then also he was addressing those who are weak in the faith that were in the church knew are Christians less mature Christians Well Paul actually has a word for both groups those who are strong in faith and those who are weak in faith in Romans Chapter 14 Let's look 1st of all at the command the exhortation and verse 13 therefore letters not judge one another anymore but rather to determine this not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother's way where you know there's Here are the 2 commands Paul gives in this verse 1st of all he says Stop judging other people in the church. Again not about black and white issues about the great issues quit judging each other if God has given you a freedom to do these things quit judging those who don't feel like they have that freedom if God hasn't given you freedom to do certain things in the gray areas of life quit judging those in the church to whom God has given that freedom if you're going to judge anything you judge yourself and that is not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother's way now what does the word stumbling block mean what is Paul talking about turn over in your Bibles to 1st Corinthians 8 and let's see what Paul means by Don't be a stumbling block there you're a member of the situation at Corinth was also whether or not to eat meat that had been offered to an idol and polytheistic culture where there were many gods and worship people would all for Meet Again the gods favor so that's the background should Christians mate that has been offered to an idol or not those who were stronger in the faith said what's the big deal there's no such thing as an idol but newer Christians who had come out of idol worship were offended by that they said how could you do such a thing and when they were tempted to do so they were being tempted to eat that mate that reminded them of their old way of life in many ways would call them back in their old way of why that's the subject now look at verse one of 1st Corinthians 8 now concerning things sacrificed to idols we know that we all have knowledge but knowledge makes arrogant but love edifies What is this knowledge we all have also is it's the knowledge that there's no such thing as an Idol we all agree on that but later verse 7 however not all men have this knowledge but some being accustomed to the idle until now that is until the moment of their conversion when they eat food as if it were sacrificed. To an idol their conscience being weak is the 5 hold to violate your conscience is wrong but listen to what Paul is saying to cause another Christian doesn't violate his conscience is equally wrong you say how does this work in the real world would look at 1st Corinthians 810 this is the example Paul gives for if somebody sees you have knowledge dining in an idol's temple that is the. Restaurant attached to the temple and they see you dining there will not his conscience if he is weak being drained to eat things sacrificed to idols he's saying to make this determination that you're not going to make another Christian stumble and violate his conscience and hurt his relationship with God That's the exhortation notice the explanation beginning of verse 14 Paul gives those 3 principles that undergird that command not to judge others but to judge yourself 1st principle gray areas are great gray areas are great Look at verse 14 I know and I am convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is done clane in itself but to him who thinks anything to be on plain him it is unclaimed when I say gray areas were gray all I'm saying is the things we're talking about there is no absolute right or wrong about it that's why we call them great if they're not black and white. This week I was on Jack Van Impe piece television program and they asked me a question they deal with current headlines and one of the headlines they were dealing with was about a well known Bible college you would know the name immediately if I said it and the news story was that this well known Bible College had made the decision to lift their prohibition against alcohol and tobacco use for their faculty and staff and in the release it says after months and months of exhaustive study we have determined that abstinence from alcohol and tobacco cannot be found anywhere in scripture or you know what I could have saved them months and months of exhaustive study if they would have just called me I'm going to tell them there is nothing in the Bible that says absolutely positively You cannot allow alcohol or tobacco to touch your lips we all agree on that there is nothing in the Bible that says that but there is another principle we have to consider as well Paul's was in verse 15 for if the cause of food your brother is hurt you are no longer walking according to law of do not destroy you with your food the one for whom Christ died it's not just a question of whether the Bible prohibits this or not it's a question of how does this behavior affect me how does it affect other people as well. You know you may think well briar patch or not alcohol a lot or there are a lot of doubtful things were done about dancing about going to the movies when talk about the length of hair when you talk about whether or not to wear tattoos I mean there's all kind of doubtful things you talk about the reason I mention alcohol is personal it's one of the issues Paul was talking about 1421 meat or wine but it's also a debate frankly that is raging in many churches right now and in many Christian organizations and I think there's a principle we need to understand here well if I can share with you the reasons I don't drink alcohol it's not because I think I'm going to hell if I do 3 reasons I don't drink number one because of the scriptural warnings against the dangers of alcohol and I want to jot this down Proverbs 23 verses 312331 of the many passages in Scripture do not look on wine when it is red when it sparkles in the cup when it goes down smoothly at the last it bites like a serpent and staying like a body for your eyes will see strange things in your mind will outer perverse things that's the danger of alcohol any time you allow a substance to control or diminish your judgment you're putting yourself in a very very dicey situation I think the reason I don't drink is I have to consider the possibility of alcoholism I mean the fact is one in 7 people in the world today have a genetic predisposition toward alcoholism did you know that we have it in my extended family I imagine you do as well and then number 3 I need to consider my example to other people especially my children just because God has given you the freedom to break. What impact does that have on your children or your grandchildren who may not be able to handle actual. All who may be those one in 7 Do you really want their blood on your hands you know I do not understand that these Christian leaders these pastors who stand up in their pulpits and flaunt their liberty in Christ they talk about how they're free to drink alcohol they talk about going out with their wives to get margarita on Friday evenings then they flaunt their Labor Day What is wrong with those people don't they understand there are people listening to them who may not be able to handle alcohol like they did that they may lead people to alcoholism and even to death if you've got the freedom to do there's great keep your freedom to yourself don't flaunt it and cause another Christian to stumble if you don't have the freedom to do those things keep that to yourself don't try to impose your restrictions on other people that's what Paul is saying gray areas are gray and again the principle in verse 1540 is because of food your brother is hurt you are no longer walking according to love do not destroy your food with him for whom Christ died for interval number 2 God is more concerned with internals the next journals and that's another principle at work here we need to understand God is more concerned with internals the next terminals look at verses 16 to 18 therefore do not let what is for you a good thing be spoken of is evil for the Kingdom of God is not about eating and drinking is about righteousness and pains to enjoy in the Holy Spirit for he in this way serves Christ is acceptable to God and are proved by man well if you God's giving you the freedom to eat and drink great if not that's great too but remember that's not what Christianity is about you know as Christians we want to focus on the external zone it's about doing this and not doing this if you ask the. Average non-Christian day his definition of a Christian Well it's somebody who doesn't do this this is this and this is this Now that's not what the Kingdom of God is the kingdom of God is about love and joy in a right relationship with God our behavior flows out of that you know it's so funny here in the Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex in the 21st century I still have people stop me and they say Pastor We love your church we would love to be a member of your church but we could never become a member and why is that and they look down and kind of shuffle their famous or well we like to dance. And I said that's Ok come on we have plenty of people in our church you dance not very well but they dance come on. In number 3 an important principle here my love limits my liberty my love for others the limits of my liberty look at 1st is 19 and 20 so then let us pursue the things which make for peace and building up of one another do not care down the work of God for the sake of food or staff and keeping our drinking or tattoos as well as talking about where you underlined there's a phrase in verse 19 building up did you know God is in the building business that's what he's saying here 1st of all God is building up individual Christians into mature disciples that's God's purpose in salvation to save people and make them more like Christ so when every Christian he's doing a construction project making people more like Christ but not only building up individual Christians God is also building a holy temple unto himself of these things for 12 and 1st Peter $25.00 That is he's putting individual Christians together into an organism called the local church well Paul is saying is whatever you do Christian don't you tear down well. God is building don't you tear down that individual Christian who God is growing up into a mature disciple and what ever you do don't tear up that church that God is building to be a witness for him. I read about a church in California that was having a Christmas pageant for children the week before the pageant they had rehearsals every night for the kids the parents would come and drop off their kids for the rehearsal one night they came in a group of parents then saw there wasn't a Christmas tree or Christmas decorations so they put up a Christmas tree and put up the ornaments another group of parents were offended by that so after the rehearsal they took down the decorations the next night the 1st group of parents saw what had happened they put the director ations back up after the rehearsal the other group took it back down after a couple of days of this a confrontation ensued a fist fight broke out lawsuits were actually filed and all the events were covered extensively in the local newspaper all because of Christians who couldn't get along with one another what Paul was saying here is don't let x. Terminal issues. Tear down an individual Christian or tear down the church for which Christ died and gave himself now tried Paul's as in 1st Corinthians 813 therefore if food causes my brother to stumble I'll never eat meat again that I might not cause my brother to stumble by the way will you notice verse 20 works both ways if I've got liberty to do something I'm to limit my liberty to others I'm not to tear down the church if I don't have liberty I'm not to tear down the church either by imposing my convictions on other people as well what's the application of this remember the stuff of yours how do you keep your balance between your own freedom in Christ and your obligation to others to principles for keeping your balance real quickly Number one the rule of conscience to figure out if you're really liberated to do something remember Ask yourself do you have any downside to look at verses 22 to 23 the faith which you have have is your own conviction before God happy is he who does not condemn himself and what he approves but he you Downs is condemned if he eats because his 18 is not from faith and whatever is not from faith is and make sure you don't have any doubts before you do this thing Secondly the rule of concerned after a balance my liberty with my concern my responsibility toward others what verse 21 it is good not to eat made or drink wine or to do anything by which your brother stumbles verse 23 but he who doubts is condemned if he eats because his eating is not from faith and whatever is not from faith is sin listen to me this morning as a Christian we have great liberty in Christ but our liberty ends when it negatively impacts another belief or. In the 1930 s. When American oil companies begin to travel to Saudi Arabia to develop the rich Arabian fields they found themselves suddenly in the midst of a strange culture and they weren't sure exactly how to conduct themselves so a group from a particular Oriel company went to the king of Saudi Arabia King Abdul Ali as the East's And as for permission to have churches in their camp there for the oil company McCain said well let me think about it a few weeks later other officials from the oil company came and asked the king if they could be permitted to have alcohol in their camps out all of course was against the Islamic tradition McKay said Warner wait a minute you came earlier asking for churches now you're asking for al call which do you want if you had to choose between one or the other which would you choose the company official said well let us get back to you on that. They went back in for several weeks had a debate within their company which would it be churches or alcohol finally they came back to the king and said we've talked about that we want the alcohol became said if you had said churches I would have given you both but since you said alcohol I'll give you need for thinking in a strange way understood a very important truth for Christians and that is if our heart is right with God then we can be trusted to make the right choices yes we have liberty in Christ liberties important liberties and part of growing up isn't that it's like taking the training wheels off of a bicycle it's risky sometimes we fall with our the party but it's necessary for us to grow up but the real test of whether we're strong in Christ if we've really grown up is our willingness to voluntarily in our liberty for the well being of others. That's the message a room in chapter 14. Making decisions regarding morally gray areas isn't just a matter of conscience it's a matter of how these decisions might affect our brothers and sisters in Christ before we conclude another week of programs here on pathway to victory let me remind you of our tremendous opportunity that we have several supportive friends of our ministry have agreed to match any gift you give in June that means if you give $100.00 today our friends will match it with another $100.00 if you give $500.00 it will be matched with another $500.00 if you give $5000.00 Our friends will match that with an additional $5000.00 all the way up to a total of $600000.00 Now many people often wonder why a ministry like pathway to victory nice to raise all this money is it so that I can buy a new car or take my family on a tropical vacation and not at all you see spreading the gospel through radio and television has a tremendous impact but it also cost a tremendous amount of money in fact simply paying for air time takes up the vast majority of our budget but when you give to support pathway to victory you can be confident in knowing that every dollar you give will be carefully used to help this ministry grow and reach more people with the Word of God at the end of the day we have one purpose in mind and that is to pierce the darkness with the light of God's word your financial investment in pathway to victory while hours to reach more and more people throughout this nation and around the world with the unchanging truths of scripture thank you so much for your generous giving that makes this ministry possible Now here's David to give. You are contact information and to tell you about the exclusive resources that are yours when you give today David thanks to the generous when you give a generous gift pathway to victory we're going to say thanks by sending you the d.v.d. Cd called behold Israel if each or 7 new messages from Dr Jeffress filmed on site in the Holy Land ask for your very own coffee when you call 866-999-2965 or visit us online at p t v dot org Now when you invest $75.00 or more in this ministry you receive not only the D.V.D.'s but also the complete cd teaching set for Grace powered living from Romans Chapter 12 to 16 remember your contribution today will be doubled by our matching challenge so don't wait take advantage of this opportunity to multiply your impact call 866-999-2965 or go to p.t.v. Dot org You can also write to us if you'd like p.o. Box 223609 Dallas Texas 75222 s.p.o. Box 223609 Dallas Texas 75222 I'm David j. Muslims wishing you a great weekend and inviting you to join us again next week when our study in Romans Chapter 12 to 16 continues that's Monday here on pathway to victory with Dr Robert Jeffress. This is Denver's all new 947 f.m. Bother's day is coming up and Liz has your gift list covered during our deals for dad of that helped him tackle his to do list with the wall 20 volt drill now for just $99.00 That's a $50.00 savings plus for 2 days only June 16th and 17th save even more and get 10 percent off when you use your Lowe's advantage credit card all projects have a starting point start with lows drill of about 64621 while supplies last. These are words are told are subject to credible group and can be combined with the good it offers expose and spicy story most comforting tales was only. Gretta is a drill instructor. 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