What does it mean to put off the old self? What does it look like when we do? Answers are coming your way next in today's Destined for Victory message, Choices Grown-Ups Make. But before we get things started, I wanted to share a conversation I had with Pastor Paul Shepard. I asked him once to tell us about Destined for Victory's longstanding mission to reach the world for Christ, a mission he wanted to continue long after his preaching days were over.
And here's what he said.
Well, you know, when I think of Victorious, my mind goes back. I'm a kid growing up watching T V in the 60s, so my mind goes back to the wide world of sports. Oh, yeah. There was an announcer named James McKay, Jim McKay, something like that. He had this classic line where he talked about the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat.
And I love just thinking about how thrilling it is to be victorious. I love in any game I'm playing, I want to be victorious. I tell people I don't care whether it's monopoly or something really serious, I want to win. And in life, we can win in Christ, and that's what the Bible tells us: that we are victorious in Him. And victorious means that we're following His lead, that we're letting the Holy Spirit take us where He wants us to go in life.
We're saved by His grace, and then we're simply following His. His direction. And of course, the Word of God is so key to following God's direction because the Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our pathway. And so those who tune in to broadcasts like Destined for Victory are really supposed to be receiving guidance so that we can walk in and live in victory. And that's what I pray is happening as people tune in day by day.
Well, we say it every day. In Christ, you are destined for victory. And that is our prayer: that you will live the victorious Christian life today and every day. You know, the Destined for Victory media ministry can often go to places missionaries can't, into remote areas of the world that are often hostile to the Christian faith, or inside the homes of elderly shut-ins or those who can't always make it to church. Just one more reason why your gifts to Destined for Victory are so critical to the cause of Christ.
For your generous donation today, we'd love to send you our latest resource as our way of saying thanks. It's a booklet called Grown Up Faith and one every Christian should read at least once. Again, that's Grown Up Faith, and it's yours today for your gift to Destined for Victory. You can give by phone by calling 855-339-5500. Again, 855-339-5500 or visit pastorpaul.net to make a safe and secure donation online.
You can also mail your gift to Destined for Victory, post office box 1767, Fremont, California, 94538. This passage says there are some things we have to intentionally do. In order to become the people God has called us to be, we must cooperate. with what God is doing in us. And that's what putting off the old self is.
Is about. In Ephesians 4:22, the Apostle Paul says, You are taught with regard to your former way of life to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires. On today's Destined for Victory, featuring Pastor Paul Shepard, we'll tell you what it means to put off the old self and show you how to do it. Let's get started now with today's Destined for Victory message: Choices Grown-Ups Make. Intentionality.
Some change happens without our cooperation in life. But other change requires intentionality. And I want you to just think about that in this installment of the series.
Some change happens, and you don't have anything to do with it. You don't even have to cooperate with it, it just happens. If you don't think change just happens. Go to a mirror. Go to a mirror.
If you're still struggling with wanting to believe that change has happened, take your clothing off. In the mirror. I just shot you in the reality, didn't I? I just zoomed. Change happens.
You didn't ask for it? You didn't want it? You remember when you were at your best physically? You are a specimen. To be admired.
and sought after But change. Set in.
Now these are older amen. Young folk, y'all laugh now. I remember when I used to laugh when the older people said stuff like that. I'd be sitting there in church cracking, oh, they're so stupid. I remember when I was young and The world was ahead of me and there was nothing, I couldn't even imagine what could ever go wrong.
And I just laughed as my daddy and the other people just talked about change. It happened. It happened physically. Without your cooperation, I know some of y'all are still holding together pretty good, and as you move through the decades, you're still doing good. Congratulations.
Wonderful, but you still different. And it's now, ooh, for your age? See people. They grading you on the curve. For your air.
You are looking at it. I just said that to me. three four days ago. I was in San Antonio at my pastor's annual convocation. I spoke for one of the services, and I was there supporting this convocation.
And it was the high church day of the convocation, and we who are pastors had on our civics. my black suit, my black clergy shirt, and my my white collar. And all of us were looking, you know, like penguins, all of us, just preaching. And. I had my college stuff on, and one of the sisters, they see me, I preach in San Antonio often for my pastor or radio rallies or whatever.
And one of the sisters hadn't seen me in a few years because, and she said, Pastor. Faster. Whoa. For your age, you are, she said, you are aging so well. She did walk up to me and said, For my, I'm aging.
Real well. I had the nerve to enjoy it. I wasn't offended because I'm living in reality.
Some of y'all got to join me. In reality, no need to get mad. What are you talking about for my age? She meant what she said for my age. Page.
Change happens. So I tell young folk, I love you. I will never be one of your haters. When you find you find go head on young folk Y'all got your build, your everything. You're looking real good, brothers.
You got your six-pack. Cool. Don't worry about those of us who have a barrel. You got a six-pack, you're good. We got greater capacity.
That's all that means. Sisters, you're fine. And I'm challenging the ladies who are getting older in our ministry. Let's celebrate young people, don't get mad. Get an attitude?
With em She loved Jesus, she's a four. You love Jesus, you something else. Don't get mad. We all love Jesus. Change happens.
Without your cooperation. It's that kind of change That um We sang about in my high school graduation. I remember. One of the songs we sang at Germantown High School, it doesn't exist anymore, in Philadelphia. I graduated from high school in 1975.
And one of the songs we sang, it was a new song then, I think it was written the year before. It was entitled Everything Must Change. Everything must change, nothing stays the same. The young become the old. Mysteries do unfold Cause that's the way of time Nothing and no one goes unchanged.
There are not many things in life. you can be sure of. Except rain comes from the clouds. Sun lights up the sky. And hummingbirds do fly.
Winter turns to spring. Wounded heart will heal Never much too soon Everything. must change. I remember us singing that. Young teenagers.
looking forward to life. And we were singing something we didn't fully understand now. I understand it a lot better in my mid-60s. That Things are gonna change up on y'all. And a few years later, George Benson recorded that song.
And uh I still have it in my My library, my music library. And it spoke of what Paul said. That change occurs, and some of it is without. Our being willing to participate.
Some things are just going to change in your life. That's why you want to govern your life according to wisdom. Bible says the days of our years are three score and ten. Perhaps we'll make it to four score. But Lord, teach us to number our days, Moses said in that Psalm, that we may apply our hearts to wisdom.
See, Moses knew that. That was a Psalm of Moses. David wrote most of them, but Moses said, Lord, teach us to number our days. Don't just get older. Learn and grow and understand as you get older.
Because the aging is inevitable, but the wisdom requires cooperation. You got to stop and think, and you got to grow. And things are going to change up on you.
So just be ready for the change.
Some change happens without a corporation, but this passage says there are some things we have to intentionally do. In order to become the people God has called us to be, we must cooperate. with what God is doing in us. And that's what putting off the old self is about. You have to decide what about me.
has to change in order for me to do God's will. And he's waiting for me. to be intentional About the change. See, that's why I love growing up in a hymn-singing tradition. I grew up in a church.
That sang not only gospel songs, chorus gospel back, you know, I'm born in 57, so I'm a pew baby in the 60s, sitting on the pew. And they sang choruses and things, but it was very different back then. The choruses were things like, His name is wonderful. His name is wonderful, Jesus, my Lord. He is the mighty king, master of everything.
His name, those are the kinds of things. He's sweet, I know. Storm clouds may rise, strong winds may blow, but I'll tell the world wherever I go. That I found a Savior. He, sweet, I know.
Minister Joy singing a little bit in this service earlier. I love him, I love him, because he first loved me. I remember being a little boy watching the same thing, and he purchased my salvation. on Calvary's tree. They sang those songs too, and they had some songs that were kind of gospely, but we hadn't hit that full stride of gospel that folk know gospel as today.
But even back then, the church said, but we're going to keep our music rooted in the hymns. That was all they did. Young folks, they gave us a Sunday once we all got to teens and teens and started to get saved. They said, Y'all can have your service, and you can do a couple of your special selections, but you're going to sing these hymns. And even on Youth Day, they made us sing him.
I'm so grateful for that. We'll be right back with more of today's Destined for Victory message, so don't go away. Remember to visit us at pastorpaul.net to listen to the broadcasts on demand. And when you stop by, be sure to check out our online store where you'll find books and DVD messages that feature the teaching and preaching ministry of Pastor Paul Shepard. It's found at pastorpaul.net.
You can also subscribe to the podcast at Apple Podcasts, at Spotify, or wherever you enjoy your podcasts.
Well, when it comes to overcoming bad habits or sin patterns, the surest path to victory always begins with surrender. Here's Pastor Paul with the rest of today's message, Choices Grown-Ups Make. And one of the hymns I'm thinking of as I think about this business of putting off the old self is: it was, I surrender all. I surrender all, all to thee, my blessed Savior. I surrender.
Oh. You see, it's intentional. I gotta give it up. He's not gonna yank it. From you, they are things you've got to give up intentionally.
In order to do the will of God. Do you remember the story of the rich young ruler? This dude was rich. He was young, And he was a baller. That's the way I preach it.
When I preach my series on that, I said he's not a real, he's a baller. This boy is a baller for real. He's in charge and he's got everything going for him. But he runs up on Jesus and asks him, What do I have to do in order to gain eternal life? And Jesus said, Well, how are you doing with the commandments?
And he said, oh, I got those covered. I've been obeying them since a child. Jesus said, All right, well, one thing you lack. Go sell everything you have. He's rich.
Go sell everything you have. Give it to the poor. Jesus didn't say, and give it to me. He wasn't a false prophet. Sell it, give it to the poor.
Take up your cross. And you can follow me, and you can have eternal life. And the Bible says the young man walked away sad. Why? Because he's hoping Jesus is going to let him hold on to everything he's got like he's got it.
And just add eternal life. That's what some of us want today. I want to stay me. I want to do me. I want to have my way.
The hymn some of y'all sing in your heart is Have My Own Way, Lord. Have my own way. I am the potter. If you want to, you can be. The clay.
But I'm the potter. That's not the him, y'all. To him is have thine own way, have thine own way, thou art the potter. I am the clay. Mold me and make me.
After your will while I I am waiting. Yielded and still. And when Bala walked up on Jesus. And heard Jesus wasn't going to let him stay. stay in charge of his stuff.
Now, it's very interesting because after he walked away, the other apostles said, Well, wait a minute. The other disciples said, well, way. He had to give up everything with Well what's going on here? Jesus said said everybody Has got to give me what I ask of them. Peter and them were fishermen.
He said, Leave that trade because I'm going to make you fishers, but of a different catch. And so the sons of Zebedee had to walk away from their dad. And Matthew, the tax collector, walked away from his trade. Everybody gave up something important to them just so Jesus could let them know: if you're going to be a follower and the leader, I'm going to make you, you start at the place of surrender.
So he wouldn't walk up to poor people and say, give up everything you got. We'd be like, bet, cool. That's all it takes to get eternal life. I got that right here. Yeah.
Jesus never walked up on a poor person that give me everything you got if you want to follow me. Like, cool. But he's gonna go after what's in your heart.
So there's the question for you to just begin to maul and just begin to imagine as we look at putting off the old things and getting ready to do God's will. I need you to look at your true self. What about you contends, competes? For the will of God. What is it about you?
Is it a relationship? Is there somebody where you say, Lord, I'm going to give you all everything? Said him. You you don't touch him. That's my boo.
And the dude, that's my boo ess. Don't come for my relationship.
Well, I just showed up to tell you that's exactly what he's coming for. Because he will not allow something to To compete with His Lordship in our lives if we're going to call Him our Savior and Lord.
So he's saying, give them to me. It's up to me if I give them back to you. But the decision will be mine, not yours. You can't come and say, Lord, I know the word says.
Now I'm supposed to be living celibate 'cause I'm not married. I I realize that. But No, get that butt out of his way. Get that, but I wasn't vulgar B-U-T. Just one T.
Get that out of his way. Get it out the way. You can't say this is untouchable. Everything else, Lord, you can have. I will go to church.
I will give tithes and offerings. I will serve in some ministry or some volunteerism, something like that. I will do this, that, that, that, the other, but this Lord is untouchable. No, just the opposite. Whatever is in your heart.
is what he's coming for. Because God Wants us to understand he can't be Lord if there are any contingencies. That prohibits him from doing his will in your life. And so we've got to put off some things. What are the things?
Who are the people? What are the situations in your life? that he wants you to put off. Just send it away from yourself. Get rid of it.
Be done with it. Walk away from it. And we need to take seriously his claim to call us to total surrender.
So, you know, it's one thing to sing that Richard Smallwood song, I love. Lord, I will live. Everybody loves that song about surrendering to Him, but it's another thing when you actually have to surrender. And you actually have to say, nevertheless, it's what he did in the garden. When there's something you really want to hold on to, and Jesus says, no.
Then you've got to be willing to surrender it. To him. Jesus knows what that's like because he went through it in the garden. He took 11 disciples into the garden with him. Judas had already gone to set up the betrayal.
The other eleven were with him as he walked into the mouth of the Garden of Gethsemane. And then, as he realized what he was going to have to agonize about, he had eight of them. He said, You all stay here. And he walked a little farther into the garden with three: Peter, James, and John. What does that tell you?
Sometimes your crowd can be a hindrance to your surrender.
Some of y'all got some people in your lives, and they will agitate you not toward surrender, but toward holding on to the wrong things. And so sometimes you've got to drop them off. They're in your eight. Y'all stay here. And you go on further to the place of surrender.
He had three others that he wanted to be with him because he knew these would be key leaders. They needed to understand some things about him, and he invested more personal time in them. They were part of his inner circle. Peter, James, and John. They went a little farther, and he began to pour out his heart to them.
He said, My soul is exceedingly sorrowful unto death. Fellas, I feel like I'm about to die. Because he was about to die. Death didn't happen first on the cross. Death first happened in the garden.
Long before he died physically, he died spiritually. Nevertheless, Not by will. But thine be done. What in your life? Do you have to give up?
And say nevertheless, I love it. I want it. But nevertheless, Lord, if you're coming for this. I Surrender all. In the Garden of Eden, man chose his own will over God's.
In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus chose God's will over his own. The Christian life is about choosing the right garden. We pray you will choose it wisely. To find out more about Destined for Victory or about the special gift reserved for you when you give generously today, please visit pastorpaul.net. PastorPaul.net.
And I want to talk about not just our gifts and abilities. I want to talk about using all that you are, everything about your life God wants to use to impact other people. That's tomorrow in our message becoming excellent stewards of our talents. But until then remember. He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion.
In Christ, you are destined for victory.
