My Body is Not My Boss - Herbert Cooper

Jesus came so lost people could be saved. This church is not a cruise ship where we lay by the pool. This is a battleship and for 23 years we've been on mission for Jesus. For 23 years we've been worshipping Jesus, preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ, reaching lost people, baptizing people, helping people know God and grow in God, discover a purpose and make a difference. We've been on the mission of Jesus. For one reason, to see more changed lives. Welcome to People's Church everyone and welcome to all of you joining us online. Come on, we just invite you to stand to your feet. I mean, you're grateful for God's amazing grace. Come on, let's worship Him together. But now, I'm found. Was blind, but now I see. Singing, Hallelujah. There's no chains on me. Thank you, Jesus. You have set me free. You welcomed me in. You called me by name. Was dead in my sin, now I'm dancing on that grave. Hallelujah. It really is amazing grace. I'll testify of what He did. He gave me life. I'm born again. My heart is free. My soul is saved. It really is amazing grace. I'll testify of what He did. He gave me life. I'm born again. My heart is free. My soul is saved. It really is amazing grace. It really is. It really is. It really is amazing grace. It really is. It really is. It really is. Singing, Hallelujah. There's no chains on me. Thank you, Jesus. You have set me free. You welcomed me in. You called me by name. Was dead in my sin, now I'm dancing on that grave. Hallelujah. It really is amazing grace. Yeah. It really is. We're thankful for your grace, God. Yeah. Yeah. Today we are celebrating life change as people go public for Jesus in water baptism.

Come on, will you put your hands together? You can watch on the screen to my left to right. Let's celebrate more change, God. I'm shaking off the heaviness. I'm dancing out of my regrets. I'm throwing caution to the wind. Oh, I am not ashamed to praise like this. Some would say it's foolishness. But I say it's worth the risk. I can't forget what Jesus said. Oh, I am not ashamed to praise like this. Where are those chains that once held? I'm free. I'm free. I'm free. I'm free. My sin is gone, how can it be? I'm free, I'm free, I'm free, I'm free And looking what the Lord has done I'm never going back to the way I was I'll sing, I'll dance cause I believe I'm free, I'm free, thank God I'm free You took the cross and you broke your bond You shed your blood, now the sinner can't sing My debt is paid and my record is clean I couldn't do it so it didn't fall You took the cross and you broke your bond You shed your blood, now the sinner can't sing My debt is paid and my record is clean I couldn't do it so it didn't fall You took the cross and you broke your bond You shed your blood, now the sinner can't sing My debt is paid and my record is clean

I couldn't do it so it didn't fall I couldn't do it so it didn't fall I couldn't do it so it didn't fall I couldn't do it so it didn't fall Where are those chains that once held me I'm free, I'm free, I'm free, I'm free My sin is gone, how can it be I'm free, I'm free, I'm free I don't care what the Lord has done I'm never going back to the way I was I'll sing, I'll dance cause I believe I'm free, I'm free, I'm free, I'm free You took the cross and you broke your bond You shed your blood, now the sinner can't sing My debt is paid and my record is clean I couldn't do it so it didn't fall I couldn't do it so it didn't fall I couldn't do it so it didn't fall I couldn't do it so it didn't fall I couldn't do it so it didn't fall Look at what the Lord has done I'm never going back to the way I was Look at what the Lord has done I'm never going back to the way I was Look at what the Lord has done I'm never going back to the way I was Look at what the Lord has done I'm never going back to the way I was Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! We thank You Lord! I pray into the atmosphere Spirit of God, You're here You have all authority And I pray over my heart and mind I am healed by Your stripes Your blood declares that I am free In the mighty name of Jesus Come on we sing I pray calling on the power of heaven I proclaim every weapon formed against me It must break in the mighty name of Jesus I draw a permanent boundary line The enemy has no right to come Near my family No scheme could ever undo God's plans No matter the circumstance The cross has sealed my destiny In the mighty name of Jesus I pray calling on the power of heaven I proclaim every weapon formed against me It must break in the mighty name of Jesus In the mighty name of Jesus, for I know, all the power of fear and darkness, it must go, every key to every victory, I hold, in the mighty name of Jesus. So I will not fear, I will not fear, when the enemy comes near, on the door frame of my life, it's the blood of Jesus Christ. So I will not fear, I will not fear, there's an army of angels here, I'm protected on all sides, by the blood of Jesus. So I will not fear, I will not fear, when the enemy comes near, on the door frame of my life, it's the blood of Jesus. So I will not fear, I will not fear, there's an army of angels here, I'm protected on all sides, by the blood of Jesus.

In the mighty name of Jesus, I pray, coming on the power of heaven, I proclaim, every weapon formed against me, oh it must break, in the mighty name of Jesus. In the mighty name of Jesus, for I know, all the power of fear and darkness, it must go, every key to every victory, I hold, in the mighty name of Jesus. In the mighty name of Jesus, in the mighty name of Jesus. So I will not fear, I will not fear, when the enemy comes near, on the door frame of my life, it's the blood of Jesus. So I will not fear, I will not fear, there's an army of angels here, I'm protected on all sides, by the blood of Jesus. Thank you Lord. Hallelujah. Lord, on this Mother's Day, I thank you for every woman. Bless the women who are rejoicing today, and heal those who are grieving the loss of a mother or child. Strengthen women longing to become mothers. Bring peace to those navigating infertility, miscarriage, disappointment, or a broken relationship. Be near to the women who feel forgotten or lonely. Let them feel your nearness today. Lord, bless every mother. Strengthen those raising children. Give patience to tired mothers, peace to anxious mothers, joy to overwhelmed mothers, and wisdom to mothers making difficult decisions. Provide for single mothers. Encourage adoptive mothers. Bless foster mothers and refresh grandmothers helping to raise children. Let every woman know that she is seen, valued, and loved by you. Lord, your name is powerful. I speak your name over every home, over every heart, and over every mind. May your name bring healing and life to mothers, grandmothers, and spiritual mothers who love and sacrifice for you. In Jesus' name, amen. I just want to speak the name of Jesus. Over every heart and every mind Cause I know there is peace within your presence I speak Jesus I just want to speak the name of Jesus Till every dark addiction starts to break

Declaring there is hope and there is freedom I speak Jesus Cause your name is power Your name is healing Your name is light Break every stronghold Shine through the shadows Burn like a fire Your name is faith Your name is power Your name is healing Your name is light Break every stronghold Shine through the shadows Burn like a fire Shout Jesus from the mountain Jesus in the street Jesus in the darkness over every enemy Jesus for my family I speak the holy name Jesus Shout Jesus from the mountain Jesus in the street Jesus in the darkness over every enemy Jesus for my family I speak the holy name Jesus Cause your name is power Your name is healing Your name is light

Break every stronghold Shine through the shadows Burn like a fire Cause your name is power Your name is healing Your name is light Break every stronghold Shine through the shadows Burn like a fire I just want to speak the name of Jesus Over every heart and every mind Cause I know there is peace within your presence I speak Jesus Shout Jesus from the mountain Jesus in the street Jesus in the darkness over every enemy Jesus for my family I speak the holy name Jesus Shout Jesus from the mountain Jesus in the street Jesus in the darkness over every enemy Jesus for my family I speak the holy name Jesus Oh we shout Jesus We shout Jesus We shout Jesus We shout Jesus Oh there is freedom in the name of Jesus

There is forgiveness in the name of Jesus Jesus, somebody shout Jesus, you have no rival, you have no equal, now and forever God you reign Yours is the kingdom, yours is the glory, yours is the name above all names You have no rival, you have no equal, now and forever God you reign Yours is the kingdom, yours is the glory, yours is the name above all names You have no rival, you have no equal, now and forever God you reign Yours is the kingdom, yours is the glory, yours is the name above all names What a powerful name it is, what a powerful name it is The name of Jesus Christ my King What a powerful name it is, nothing can stand against What a powerful name it is, the name of Jesus You have no rival, you have no equal, now and forever God you reign Yours is the kingdom, yours is the glory, yours is the name above all names You have no rival, you have no equal, now and forever God you reign Yours is the kingdom, yours is the glory, yours is the name above all names What a powerful name it is, what a powerful name it is The name of Jesus Christ my King What a powerful name it is, nothing can stand against What a powerful name it is, the name of Jesus Come on somebody shout the name of Jesus We honor you Lord, we lift up the name of Jesus in this place Be glorified God, be honored today And Father today we pray for everyone who was impacted by the shooting at Lake Arcadia Father we ask that you would surround those who have been injured with your presence Lord we pray for those who lost loved ones God would you touch and would you be near Lord Your word says you're near to the broken hearted Be near to these people Lord I pray And Lord touch us today in your presence Speak to our hearts, change us in your presence

In Jesus name we pray, Amen Come on give God praise one more time Amen, Amen Well church family before you're seated let's take the next few moments Find a few people you don't recognize, learn their names, shake some hands Let's connect church Alright well welcome to People's Church everybody Hey my name is Rob Champion, I am the campus pastor here at the Oklahoma City Campus Whether you're joining us online or in the house today we are family So glad to have you with us today I do want to take a moment just to welcome all of our first-time guests. Come on People's Church family Would you show them some love today? Welcome to People's Church Well People's Church family today is a Mother's Day. So moms, we love you We honor you today. We celebrate you today Well People's Church family and on this Mother's Day We want you to know that you are making a great impact in the lives of moms and in families Here at People's Church, God is moving and we are seeing so many lives changed I want you to take a look at this video. I Became a mother while I was here at People's Church and just being able to see my daughter grow In Christ has been amazing. People's Church has been a huge part of just my growth as a Christian and as a mom Oh, People's Church has changed my life allowing me to meet some of the most phenomenal Wonderful people. I have been so supported while being pregnant I just couldn't be more grateful for this church. People's Church has helped my kids to Understand how to treat other people with kindness and also to walk in the boldness of the Lord One of the things that I love and think about this church is the fact that I have a seven-year-old autistic son and the church Have made it such an amazing experience and so many accommodations for him My son, even though with his disability can enjoy the church and learn about God making it easy for me To enjoy the church and love the people around there. And so because of People's Church I have found my village. People here make you feel needed, wanted, loved and soothed

I prayed and prayed for Christian community and I feel like I finally have it Oh, it's been such a great foundation. As a mom It means a lot to me to have somebody that's coming alongside us as parents and reinforcing all the things that we're teaching at home It's just beautiful how it impacts children also as a mom It just changes you. To regain my faith that I lost without him in this faith. I don't know where I will be Yeah, praise the Lord Well church, I just want to say thank you. Thank you. Thank you Thank you to all of our dream team who serve in our PC kids environments Thank you to all of our volunteers who serve in our youth ministry And you pour out the love of Jesus and the word of God into our children's lives and moms We want you to know it is an absolute joy To have the opportunity to invest and pour God's word into your children. Church I want to say thank you for your faithfulness to give of your tithe and give Above your tithe to dream builders and to the more campaign. Your giving is literally transforming Generations. Father we pray a blessing over our moms on this Mother's Day. Father Would you bless them indeed? Would you keep your hand upon them Lord as they continue to lead and as they continue to love their families We just pray a special blessing on them today in Jesus name. Amen So So Well, hello people of church, how we doing today so good to see you Good to see you today. Welcome. Welcome. Welcome all of our locations today and Happy Mother's Day to all of you moms today I know we have said it several times, but I just want to say happy Mother's Day. My mother's in heaven I'm, so grateful for her and her influence in my life. I had such a great mama and To the mama of this house and the mama of my four children my baby mama she over here somewhere somewhere Anyway, but she's in this service somewhere. Praise the lord. I can't quite locate her but happy Mother's Day to the love Of my life. I love her so much and You know what? I want to just say to our baptism all those that got water baptized. Congratulations. That's a big spiritual step

Come on, congratulations to all of you got water baptized So big And today is the people's church 24 year anniversary Come on, can we thank God for all that he's done these past 24 years? I just thank the lord it's it's really unbelievable what God has done and Tiffany and I are so Honored that we've been able to pastor people's church for the last 24 years and knowing that our best days are ahead of us and people's church let's continue to be people of prayer you know you hear what happened in Arcadia Lake and just all of the chaos across our nation and we got to be people that pray I said we got to be people that pray I mean the God is a God that answers prayer come on we got to be people that are praying and seeking the face of God encourage you just to be people of prayer we're continuing our series today titled saved but struggling and today I want to talk to you from this thought my body is not my boss you can be saved and still struggling with sinful behaviors and I want to speak from Colossians chapter 3 verses 5 through 7 today and and really going to look through verse number 11 as we unpack the word of God today and as I always do I always always incorporate a lot of scripture I'm a bible preacher and teacher when I speak and teach God's word but let's pick up in Colossians chapter 3 verse 5 so put to death the sinful earthly things lurking within you have nothing to do with sexual immorality impurity lust and evil desires don't be greedy for a greedy person is an idolater worshiping the things of this world because of these sins the anger of God is coming you used to do these things when your life was still part of this world Paul tells the church they have sinful desires lurking within them but as Christians they should not continue to live a sinful life that that means there should be a before Christ us and an after Christ us there should be some things that we used to do but we no longer do but if we're honest there's a tension in the Christian life that many people don't like to talk about you can be in a church service with your hands raised full of the Holy Spirit tears flowing down your cheeks worshiping Jesus and five minutes later your flesh can be pulling you back into some bad habits some sinful cravings some destructive habits that you thought were behind you one moment you can love God be praying be praising God and then your flesh can

pull you right back into stealing and lying and cheating and having sex outside of marriage you can be on fire for Jesus and your flesh still crave drugs pornography gossip greed addictive behaviors you can be saved but still being defeated by fleshly desires part of you feels free but another part of you feels like you're still in chains the spirit is alive in you but the flesh the habits the cravings the automatic responses of your body are still at work within you as well there's a tug-of-war between who you are in Christ and who your flesh wants you to be and today I want to teach you how to demolish these fleshly strongholds I don't want you to live the rest of your life saved but defeated by the same fleshly desires and sin God's will is for you to live in victory that's why Paul writes you used to do these things in other words you don't have to keep living your old life you can live a new life in Christ you can live a new life today I want to give you four steps to get victory over your flesh straight from Colossians chapter 3 verses 5 through 11 if you are a note taker get your pen get your paper get your phone take you some good notes today steps to victory over your flesh number one recognize your flesh should not lead your life first Colossians chapter excuse me Colossians chapter 3 verse number 5 says Paul says this put to death the sinful earthly things lurking within you Paul is saying don't you let your flesh boss you around don't you let your flesh be in charge of your life when my kids were small when they were little, they would kind of goof around and say things like, you're not the boss of me. You're not the boss of me. You can't tell me what to do. You can't tell me what to do. And that's what you have to tell your flesh. You're not the boss of me. You don't tell me what to do. I tell you what to do. You don't boss me around. Romans chapter 12, verse number one. Therefore I urge you brothers and sisters in view of God's mercy to offer your bodies

as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God. This is your true and proper worship. Don't offer your body to sin. Offer your body to God as a living sacrifice. Your body should not be leading your life. But the problem is most people have put their flesh in charge of their life. And then our culture tells us, it's OK to let your flesh run your life. Our culture constantly tells us that our flesh is the boss. I mean, if it feels good, do it. I mean, do you, boo? Just do you. If it makes you happy, do it. Follow your feelings. Follow your desires. Follow your impulses. Follow your flesh. And so people believe the lie that their flesh and their feelings are the boss. So hunger overrides holiness. Freaky overrides faith. Comfort overrides calling. Paul is saying as Christ followers, our bodies are not our boss. We need to offer our bodies to God as a living sacrifice because God is our boss. 1 Corinthians chapter 6, verse 19 and 20, do you not know that your bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit who is in you,

who is in every Christian whom you have received from God? You are not your own. You were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your bodies. Every Christian is called to honor God with their body because God is our boss. God should be the one who tells us what to do with our bodies. Number two is this, all my note takers, write this down. Unify sinful patterns. But let's look at some of the sinful habits that Paul lists here in Colossians chapter number 3. In verse 5, he says, so put to death the sinful earthly things lurking within you. You have nothing to do with sexual immorality. He lists them out, impurity, lust, and evil desires. He says don't be greedy or an idolater worshiping the things of this world. Let's look a few verses later. He continues with a list. He says get rid of rage and anger in verse 8, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. Don't lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. Paul is not giving us an exhaustive list of sins that we need to put to death. He's giving us some examples of the type of sins that we should put to death. Paul is pointing this out to you and I. He's pointing out how we need to identify the sins that are tripping us up.

Because unnamed desires stay undefeated. If you just say, well, I'm just struggling. I'm just struggling. That's too broad. You have to get specific because you can't defeat what you won't define. James chapter 1 verse 14, but each of us, each person, they are dragged away by their own evil desires and enticed. You have your own set of evil desires. And today I want you to identify and be specific about your own sins and struggles. I want you to name the sins that are controlling your life. The sins that you keep doing over and over again. Be specific because you can't defeat what you won't define. James chapter 5 verse 16, therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. To defeat sin, you need to confess the sin. You have to get real and you gotta get specific about the sins that are. Messing you up, tripping you up, keeping you in bondage, because you can't defeat what you won't define. Hebrews chapter 12 and verse number one. Therefore, since we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles us and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

Think about this. Do you know what sin you need to throw off? Do you know what sin is so easily entangling you? Do you know what's keeping you from running the race God has marked out for you? Have you defined the sin and the struggle? What you hide, you empower. You can't break free from a habit you won't confront. But when you get specific, you gotta get specific, and when you get specific, you start saying things like this. This is the trigger. This is the sin cycle. This is the moment I give in. This is the issue. This is what trips me up. This is what tempts me. This is the situation that causes me to fall. This is the person that causes me to stumble. You're on your way to victory when you identify it because you can't defeat what you won't define. Clarity is the first step to freedom. I think about my own life. I know my own temptations. Herbert Lee Cooper Jr., I know what I'm susceptible to. I know when I'm vulnerable. I know what tempts me. You say, well, pastor, what is it? None of your business. I want you to figure out yours.

I've defined mine. You gotta define yours because you can't defeat what you won't define. Get specific. Number three is this. Recognize the consequences of flesh-led living. After Paul lists the sins in Colossians 3, and verse five, I want you to listen to what he writes in that very next verse, verse six. He says, because of these sins, the anger of God is coming. God's anger is coming due to sin. Paul writes in Galatians chapter six, verse seven and eight, do not be deceived. God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please the flesh from the flesh will reap destruction. Whoever sows to please the spirit from the spirit will reap eternal life. We destroy our own lives when we follow our fleshly desires. James says it like this in chapter one in verse 15, that after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin. And when sin is full grown, it gives birth to death. When we give in to sin, when we give in to our fleshly desires, it leads to death in different areas of our life.

Paul says it this way to the church at Rome in chapter eight in verse six, the mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the spirit is life and peace. Living by the flesh always leads to death and destruction. Your flesh, I don't want you to miss this, your flesh will deceive you. Your flesh will lie to you. The flesh has stuff like, come on now, come on. How can this pleasure, this fun, how can this relief, this comfort, this person, this choice lead to death? This feels too good to be wrong. Proverbs chapter 14, verse 12 says, there is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death. And there are so many ways that seem right. Culture says it is right, your flesh says it is right, but it ends in death. Don't let your flesh lie to you. You have to think beyond the moment. You must take time to consider the outcome. your choices. Because sin always over promises and under delivers. Short-term pleasure can lead to long-term pain. Wherever the flesh leads, destruction follows. And we've all seen it. We've all seen people blow up their life, their career, their marriage, their family over short-term pleasure. Recognize the consequences. Number four is this. Put your flesh in its rightful place. Let me teach you how to put your flesh in its rightful place. And first, you have to crucify your flesh. In Colossians chapter 3 verse 5, Paul says, put to death the

sinful earthly things lurking within you. Now notice, Paul does not say manage the flesh. He says kill it. Put it to death. Before Christ, we live for the flesh. After Christ, we must crucify the flesh. Too many Christians tolerate what God says to terminate. You have to kill the flesh. Now this is not talking about harming your body, hating yourself, or punishing yourself physically. Paul is talking about removing sinful desires and behaviors from your life. This means cut off those fleshly desires, those fleshly behaviors. Cut them off. Don't coddle the flesh. Don't manage sin. Don't keep it around just in case you might need it later. Don't pet what God told you to put to death. Kill it means to remove its access, remove its influence, remove its control in your life. Most Christians are not defeated by demons. They're defeated by the desires of the flesh they won't put to death. The flesh does not need to be cast out. You can cast out a demon, but you can't cast out the flesh. You crucify it. The Bible talks about this repeatedly. Romans chapter number 8 and verse number 13, for if you live according to the flesh, you will die. But if by the spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. You don't cast out the flesh. You crucify it. Galatians chapter 5 verse 24, those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with his passions and desires. You don't cast out the flesh, you crucify it. Jesus said in Matthew chapter 5 verse number 30, and if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It'd be better for you to go to heaven with a missing part of your body than to have your whole body and go to hell. Now, some of y'all are new to Bible teaching, and you're talking about, I got to go home and cut my hand off. No. Jesus is talking figuratively, not literally. What Jesus is teaching is you don't cast out the flesh, you crucify it. First Peter chapter 2 verse number 11, dear friends, I urge you as foreigners and exiles to abstain from sinful desires, which weighs war against your soul. You don't cast out the flesh, you crucify. Romans chapter 13 verse number 14, put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh to gratify its desires. You don't cast out the flesh, you crucify it. Jesus said in Luke chapter 9 verse 23, if you want to be my disciple,

if you really want to follow me, deny yourself, take up your cross daily and follow me. When Jesus said the word cross back in those days, everyone in that society in those days, they knew exactly what he was talking about, death. You don't cast out the flesh, you crucify it. And Jesus was saying, crucify the flesh. I've been reading a lot of scripture. I don't want you to tune me out. This last one is so important. Paul writes to the church at Corinth in chapter 9 and verse 27. He says, but I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others, I myself should be disqualified. Paul says, I discipline my body. Discipline means to strike, to subdue, to train in obedience. Again, this is not talking about abusing your body. Paul is telling us to cut off all sinful desires and behavior. The apostle Paul says something shocking. This is shocking what he says. He says, I discipline my body and keep it under control, less after preaching to others and seeing miracles and preaching to thousands and preaching and seeing people say, I did all that preaching, but I myself should be disqualified. Notice what concerned Paul. It was not persecution. It was not demons. It was not opposition. It was allowing his flesh to get out of control. And Paul said, that could lead to me disqualifying myself. He was concerned that he would stop submitting his body to God. He was concerned that his body would become his boss. He knew what you don't discipline will eventually dominate. And most Christians are not destroyed by demons. They're defeated by the undisciplined desires.

If you don't train your body to say no to sin, you'll eventually say no to God. No, I'm not doing your will. No, I'm not doing what you want me to do. I'm going to do what I want to do. And some of you are thinking, Pastor, this living for God thing sounds like bondage. Man, cut off the arm and do this and abstain and stop. This sounds restrictive, Pastor. No, no, no, no, you're thinking about this the wrong way. True freedom is not doing whatever you want to do. That's not freedom. That's bondage. Some of you have the wrong definition of freedom. True freedom is being able to say no to sin and yes to God. Jesus said in John chapter 8 and verse 34, he says, truly, truly, I say, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. So here's what Jesus is teaching us. If you are practicing sin, you're not as free as you think you are. You're actually in bondage. Everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. You say, Pastor, Pastor, I hear you, but I'm not a slave to my sin. I could stop it whenever I wanted to. OK, I want you to prove it to yourself. If you're not a slave to your sin, I want you to stop doing it for 60 days. Stop it for 60 days.

Stop having sex with your girlfriend or boyfriend for 60 days. Stop living together for 60 days. Some of you are struggling with alcohol addiction. You're getting drunk. So stop drinking alcohol for 60 days. Stop going by the CBD store and picking up marijuana, smoking marijuana for 60 days. Stop doing drugs for 60 days. You see how I smile at you? Is that teaching, huh? Stop going to parties and the clubs for 60 days. You're not as free as you think you are. Just stop for 60 days. Stop looking at pornography for 60 days. Stop cussing for 60 days. That got all of us. Somebody went, oh, glory to, stop cussing. What in the glory to God? What the man of God talking about today? Stop lying and cheating for 60 days. Listen, doing whatever you want to do is not freedom. That's bondage in disguise. Freedom is not following your desires. It's disciplining your desires. Freedom is not life without boundaries. It's choosing the right boundaries. Real freedom is the ability to say no to sin and yes to God. Pastor, how do I do this? How do I do this?

Start practicing spiritual habits. To gain victory over your flesh, you don't just crucify the flesh. You can't just remove the old habits. You must also start new habits. So back in Colossians chapter 3, our key verses, verse number 9 and 10, he says, don't lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all the wicked deeds. He says, put on the new nature. Be renewed as you learn to know your creator and become like him. Transformation requires replacement. New life demands new behavior. You must implement spiritual habits to demolish fleshly strongholds. And I love the word of God. I love the Lord, because God gave us spiritual tools to discipline and to retrain our bodies. Second Corinthians chapter 10, verse 4. I taught this last week. If you missed it, please go watch the message. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh. They have divine power to destroy or to demolish strongholds. God has given us divine spiritual weapons to defeat our flesh, weapons like putting on the full armor. of God, found in Ephesians chapter six, or in first Timothy chapter four, verse seven and eight,

training ourselves to be godly with spiritual disciplines like fasting. One of the best ways I crucify my flesh and I train my flesh to be godly is through fasting. There's nothing that kills my fleshly desires like fasting. Nothing. And every January when our church does 21 days of prayer and fasting, it kills my flesh. First of all, I find out how much my flesh is in control. And then I start fasting. And you know what fasting does? It crucifies my flesh. It gets my flesh out the driver's seat. Every August when we have 21 days of prayer at the church, I always choose something to fast. It's not as intense as the January fast, but I fast something to crucify my flesh. Different times throughout the year, I will fast certain things. You know what I'm doing? I'm just telling my flesh, you're not the boss of me. You're not controlling my life. I feel them urges. I see what you, you're not going to control. I'm the boss of you. You don't boss me around. Daily prayer, worship, and Bible reading. These are spiritual weapons that crucify our flesh. When you spend time with God every single day, praying and worshiping and reading scripture,

it gives you divine power to demolish strongholds. Psalm chapter 119, verse number 11, I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. You have to give God, start right now, giving God at least the first 15 minutes every day of prayer, worship, and Bible reading. And let me tell you what your flesh is going to do. Your flesh is going to say, don't read the Bible today. You're busy. Don't pray today. You're busy. You tell your flesh, you're not the boss of me. You're going to get this Bible in you today. You're going to pray today, flesh. You're going to worship today. You're not the boss of me. Not the boss of me. Another spiritual weapon is church. Attending church is a spiritual weapon. When you come worship with God's people, you hear the preaching of God's word that builds your faith, but your body will try to boss you around, have you missing church all the time. Some of you wanted to miss this morning, but it was Mother's Day. You feel all that rain, pitter-patter. You was like, I'm staying at the house today. Flesh, you don't tell me what to do. You're not the boss of me.

Next time, you can't tell me to stay home. I'm the boss of you. Get yourself up and get to church. Spiritual disciplines. Serving people in church and outside the church. Get your eyes off your fleshly desires and get your eyes on other people and making a difference in their life. It crucifies your flesh. Small groups and getting around other Christians. It crucifies your flesh. The Sabbath day. Not working one day a week is a powerful spiritual weapon to discipline our flesh. Because we're saying, God, we're depending on you. Six days a week, I will work, I'll work hard and I'll produce. And one day a week, I'm gonna rest and I'm gonna trust God to do what I can't do. The discipline of the Sabbath is very spiritual for me. It crucifies my flesh. For 24 hours, no email, no social media, no work for 24 hours. And I'm telling my body, you're not the boss of me. I don't trust you. I trust Jesus. It's spiritual weapons we use to discipline the flesh. You have to start following the leading of the Holy Spirit to walk in victory over your flesh. Galatians chapter five and verse 16, but I say,

walk by the Spirit or live by the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. To defeat the flesh, you need to implement this last very significant, very important spiritual practice. You must learn to live by the power of the Holy Spirit. If you don't learn to live by the power of the Holy Spirit, you will lose this war against your flesh. Next week, I'm gonna teach you how to live by the Spirit so that you won't gratify the desires of your flesh. It's gonna change your life. Lord, thanks for your word today. Thanks for speaking to us today. I thank you that your word fell on good ground today and will produce a harvest in our life of 30, 60, and 100 fold. I thank you that your word won't return void. And I thank you that we will be doers of the word. Lord, I thank you that people are gonna leave this place. They're gonna start living in victory. They're gonna start allowing the Holy Spirit to work in their life. They're gonna apply spiritual disciplines and they're gonna defeat the flesh. And they're gonna please you with their life. Their body have your way. I pray in Jesus name. His eyes are still closed and heads are still bowed There are some that are here That your body is running your life You're following your body. You're following its desires. You're doing whatever your body wants you to do You're not serving jesus because you're following your body

Some of you used to live for god used to serve god, but you've allowed your body to start controlling your life again And it's pulled you back into the things of this world And today is your day To surrender your life to jesus to come back home to quit letting your body run your life And to put jesus back in control If that's you as I count to three, would you lift your hand high you said pastor? I don't want my body to run my life anymore I want to give my life to jesus just shoot your hand up high as I count to three one two Three just lift it high say pastor. That's me. See your hand there. See your hand there others Did I see your hand see your hand there so awesome what god's doing so awesome See your hand there come on every location. Just lift your hand if that's you online Just click the raise your hand button or or write. That's me in the chat line. There's somebody else. That's it That's it. Just say pastor. That's me today. That's me. That's me. That's me. I want to surrender my heart to christ I'm gonna ask every hand that's raised to pray this prayer with me Confess it with your mouth and believe in your heart god's gonna wash away your sins pray with me now heavenly father I'll turn away from sin And i'll turn my life over to jesus I confess that jesus christ Is my lord And my savior I will follow jesus the rest of my life In jesus name I pray Amen, and amen. Come on somebody give god Your best praise today praise the lord Now, can I just have all of our moms stand? We want to honor every single mom in this house today Come on church family. Come on. You love your mom. Oh, you could do better than that. Come on Would you honor all these women of god? We honor you today. We celebrate you. Thank you For all that you do we love you

Love you moms if you're a guest with us here today looking for a home church I hope you don't need to look any further You're among some of the kindest most loving people in all of oklahoma. Give us a year of your life Watch what god will do in and through your life. Would you stand with me all over this room prayer team? Would you come down the front here if you need prayer for anything today? We would love to pray with you before you leave today. Come on. We're family. Would you shout it with me on three one two three We're family