R855 The Teen Commitments

Encouraging Word for you and me today.

The Bible-based teaching of Dr. Don Wilton and the message on the team commandments. Yes, this was shared originally with students graduating high school, but you need to know the team commandments are just as applicable to me. I grandfather as it was to them. Let's open God Encouraging Word together now with Dr. Don Wilton. How many of you wish that you could go back and graduate all over again. I don't want anybody raising their hands. Because I do believe we will have a split vote on the subject, I will be quite honest with you, even though I graduated I was 35 years ago myself. There is a part of me that wishes I could go back but there's a part of me that doesn't wish that because as I look back upon my life. I see both the good and the not so good when I look back I wish that I could do a whole lot of things all over again and I wish that I could do some things a whole lot better than I did when I first began I want to share with you this morning.

The team commitments the team commitments. Open your Bibles to Psalm 101. Now David was the one who wrote an saying the song I wish that I could take you on a journey back into the life of this man, who became king. We know some of the stories about his growing up years I believe. Perhaps he graduated when he took that little payable any slaying the giant Goliath, he became king. But David's life was food with things that caused him great grief. There were many things that David did that displease the heart of God.

And when David wrote this song which I believe was sung. This is what he said I will sing of your love and justice to you oh Lord, I will sing praise.

I will be careful to lead a blameless life. When will you come to me I will walk in my house with a blameless heart, I will sit before my eyes. No vile thing. The deeds of faceless man I hate they will not cling to me man of perverse heart shall be far from me. I will have nothing to do with evil grandpa's lawn disease may be in secret, him will I put to silence whoever has 40 eyes and a proud heart him will I'm not in my eyes will be on the faithful in the land that they might dwell with me. He whose walk is blameless will minister to me. No one who practices deceit will dwell in my house one who speaks falsely will stand in my presence every morning.

I will put to silence all the wicked in the land, and I will cut off every evildoer from the city of the Lord. I wish that I could go back and graduate all over again because I find lot life to be wonderful God is blessed me in life and I have so much for which to thank the Lord. And yet at the same time, I would not want to go back to graduation because I'm looking back. With hindsight young people. I want to share with you this morning.

What I call the teen commitments. There are five of them and I'm going to submit to you that if you listen carefully to what God has to say these words and you write these things upon your heart. I truly believe that God is going to bless you in a way that perhaps you cannot even begin to imagine the they are number one number one. I will always praise God in everything Garrett is commitment number one. I will always praise God in everything now here in the first two verses, David, who was looking back upon his life put it into the rightful perspective. He said I will sing of your love and justice to you oh Lord, I will sing praise. We are a people who all made or designed to offer praise by the way, did you know that the ultimate purpose for which God created you and I was to praise him that we are a praise giving people if you take someone like myself and maybe just like me. Just come and observe the average football stadium during football season. I have no problem giving praise. I have no problem entering into a time of praise and worship about you go to doorman heart Chapman or Burns or Spartanburg on watch.

Those games see what happens. Take note of what happened when when teams win state titles and championships I've seen grown men just like myself have very little problem offering praise and worship. I have no problem going into a stadium standing up there and gesturing and pointing singing. I even entered into a time of unmitigated praise and worship. I'll sing along with the best of it. I'll get up there and I'll even conduct the whole team appointed for you all enjoy every single minute of it their all men and women just like you and me. We designed that way, folks. I love to pray so much.

You just want to watch me going fishing. You know that when I catch a fish. I praise the fish and they not tell all those in the boat with me to praise the fish to I'm bout the congregation the participant.

I have no problem doing I have no problem when I drain the part that 20 inches long, 20 feet long and I have no problem giving high fives praise and worship something happens when men like you and I come into the house of God chocolate hookworms.

I don't know what hookworms are, but they were all things I've seen grown man who will spend anything do anything, go anywhere, they will enter into a spirit of praise and worship accepting when it comes to the things of God. Guess what the Bible says.

The Bible says that God inhabits what the praise of his people. I don't about you but I want God to inhabit the very fabric of my life, and here the psalmist is talking about. This is not just talking about praising when you're on the mountaintop, but praising God when you're in the deepest valley. Paul put it like this. He said I have learned that, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content you know that spiritual contentment is spiritual worship.

It is saying.

I praise you oh God, because you are everything and I'm nothing you have given me everything. Everything that I have come from you. Are you ready to make that commitment of the team commitment number one. I will always praise God in everything.

Number two I will not miss my life up commitment number two.

I will not miss my life going back to your graduating clause. Whether it's 20 years ago or 25 or 15 years ago and you look at those pictures and you look into the faces of those students that graduated alongside of you folks. I'm not talking about the aging process. All of us are getting older and a little round and all the other things that go on but you know when you look into the face of that person who graduated with you and you say what in earth happened. What in the world could've happened to that person. Between the time we graduated, and now I want to show you something rather interesting. Here in Psalm 101, you know that David writing. Upon reflection, looking back upon his life.

He points to three things here in this passage number one. He points to the heart. In verse two, number three points to the eyes.

In verse three. The first part number three points to deeds when he points to the heart. He's talking about the spirit. When he points to the eyes. He's talking about the mind and when he points to deeds he's talking about the body when he points to the heart.

He's talking about the spirit which has to do with my spiritual relationship with God when he points to the eyes. He's referring to my mind, which has to do with my study the things that I am starting about and number three when he points to deeds he's pointing to the body, which is a direct reference to my physical well-being my book which was released last year totally secure. I'm grateful to sigh has sold thousands of copies. I've heard as many references to the lost chapter of totally secure is anything else that I wrote in my book.

What I write about the three most critical issues facing any person yet they all are you ready faith family and fitness.

Now watch the spokes. What's this faith family and fitness.

If you are after you graduate sick, Mesa, in one of those three areas, or any of those three areas your whole life is going to be more by the scars of the things that you have done why faith because it's all about the Lord Jesus Christ.

He's the centerpiece on the mantelpiece life without the Lord is nothing what about friend, our families are so precious.

God is given to us one another. I'm so grateful to these two young ladies are just a moment ago spoke about what it means to be a part not any of the blood family but I Christian family like this one about fitness folks, I'm going to tell you something in America today with killing our soups.

We spend as much time eating junk food and sitting on our couch is doing nothing as anything else you can possibly imagine.

I cannot tell you what a difference it makes in my life when I go to the mold list with the same four hang around my friend John Langford or I'm around people take my wife will on a Saturday off new or do some small little kind of exercise.

I promise you, as far as Don Wilton is concerned. When I have just a little bit of exercise and yes, when I tried to discipline myself and I turned down those French fries that I love so much and I stop consuming all those junk drinks that we drink. And when I stopped loading down my baked potato with cheese and everything else in between. And when I stop eating all these things that we Americans are feasting ourselves upon and we love to do it and I'm as guilty as anybody else about sit there look at me like you've arrived and I haven't.

I want you to know it does something for me. I feel so much better. I graduated some 35 years ago I feel is not being on died for 35 years, don't you folks listen to me faith family fitness if I was to be real negative now with you graduates. I would beg you to make a commitment that you will not mess up your life you know that the statistician Stella Starcher that there is at least one of you sitting out here today that five, six, seven years from now God's not going to smell you for dust statistics tell us there is at least one man among you here that you gonna marry a beautiful lady and you going to cheat on her, you gonna destroy your family gonna break up your marriage, gonna leave a trail of this zoster, you gonna do it for one minutes pleasure. You know that they some of you sitting here today that 10, 15, 20 years from now you gonna have every ache and pain. None of the book you gonna be fighting it at every turn.

Your clothes cannot put you gonna feel down depressed headaches can't get up in the morning. Don't know what to do with yourself, up one minute down the next. It takes a commitment. I called my eldest son Rob not too long ago. Sadie mob stated to both my sons my son I said Rob you played basketball football in high school and you did this and you did that and you were super fit son, don't let it go. Don't let it go.

Make a commitment to not match up, let me tell you something, folks. It can happen just like that. Just like that. I believe the Chinese are beating us at our own game you know where the Chinese are putting all their money today into engineering, science, mathematics, by reeducating the future generations by pouring their money into the things that count.

The arts and literature. Do you know why they putting their money. There because they not having this payment on health recovery likely doing in the United States of America problem is not how to pray for the bills problem is how we going to take care about ourselves and what is taking place. My friend, as we are one nation serving full generation like we are one church serving four generations. The Chinese are one nation serving one generation like a commitment. I don't fear for America today, like I do for America tomorrow and you all tomorrow. My precious graduates.

We depend upon you grandchildren are going to look to you like a commitment number one that you will always praise God in everything like a commitment that you will not mess up making commitments. All that's what it's all about.

Forgive the interruption will be back in just a moment, but Dr. Don Wilton remind you were here to pray with you anytime at 8668.number down stored in yourself 866-899-WORD 9673 or meet us online at our website tewonline.org cheap you will discover great resources like this.

My book Saturdays with Britney is about an extraordinary relationship with a precious man who impacted lives across the world.

You don't want to miss this opportunity to be inspired by his life to again call for your copy. It 866-899-WORD that's 866-899-WORD 9673 or email us at online@tewonline.org now back today's great teaching with Dr. Don Wilton to make a decision you gotta decide what is of value in your life.

David here this man became king back in the same lesson. Oh God, I'm so grateful that you love me like this because if you didn't love me like this. I could never begin again.

I could never begin again. There are three things I believe you are not old, never to forget number one, you become what you eat, number two, you believe what you see number three you behave, what you think. There is body so and mine. You become what you eat and you believe what you see in your beehive, what you think might I commitment I tell you there is no greater joy than getting into your 40s and your 50s and your 60s in your 70s and being able to look back your children to rise up and say bore. I think mom and dad because they have love one another. They stood by the commitments I can be proud of my grandparents that gone through thick and thin, but they remain firm in the commitments that they've made. When you look back and you say all yes I'm grown older and my body is tired and weak but I've done my best to stay healthy and I'm of a sound mind when you can look back on your lap and say I have learned alive trying my best to serve my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ commitment number three I will avoid on godly people. I will avoid ungodly people that watch the spokes in verses four and five in verse seven, David gives us a character disposition of on godly behavior. What is he talk about perversion evil's longer just another word for defamation arrogance accept World War III. There pride, deceit, gossip, what is he say about it.

I will not endure. I will put to silence. I will not have these things in my presence. We got a serious problem today, my beloved graduates.

You take out college campuses.

We brought some of the finest schools that the world has ever seen on one of the greatest schools in America today is school that I admire, love to watch the wish I could've gone and graduated from the school. This school today is facing unprecedented unwanted publicity of the highest order. I can guarantee you, Duke University never rolled out of bed one morning and said you know, I'd love to have this kind of publicity. Turn on your television set. Listen to the talk shows the debates that are all talking about the criminal behavior and I to be doing so there is no justification for criminal behavior of any full and right now there is a pursuit for justice.

These are alleged activities.

The jury is still out. The debate today is did they all didn't die but that's not the issue. The issue my friend is that one of the strongest and most powerful and most reputable universities in the world has allowed a behavior to permeate and cultivate the issue is what are people doing in places like this.

What about alcohol, what about the messages. What about the sea. That is the third file ground for these things to take place.

What are people doing they what kind of activities they ring. America is so important. Talking about everything accepting the issue at hand. Young people trust me you going to some of the finest universities in the world. What we brought them in South Carolina.

I love them I love going there watching the games and I can scream and shout along with the best of but every campus. You go on to the road going to be people who are going to beckon to you to come and join them. You gotta make a decision you gonna make a decision I'll guarantee you one thing you gonna hear people say will look I'll tell you what I'm gonna do. I'm going to join that club. But I'm not going to participate in their activities. I'm going to go to that party but I'm not going to drink folks. We've got every kind of rationalization going on in America today and there are tragedies off the tragedies off the tragedies I've had people sit in my office and say to me pasta. I actually have sex with that person. It just happened. Now my whole marriage is gone, my children's lives are destroyed. Watch this guys, I will always praise God in everything. I will not base my life up. I will avoid ungodly people. Someone said to me one time you become who you hang around with. But I love number four I will gravitate toward godly people. That's what verse six is all about.

My eyes will be on the faithful in the land that they might dwell with me. He was walk is blameless will minister to me that's an incredible Skype that's what you are bearing witness to the day, or are looking to your face as you know, you guys walk across your help foster an old man said our neighbor: I am here are: nine I mean all you guys.

I love you so much you every one of you can get up and testify to that circle in your church, grandparents, men will be without our grandparents and family friends at church I used ministers, where would we be just what the Bible says you go to make a commitment to gravitate toward people like us and you know what the Bible tells us how to do it. David tells us how to do it does how you gravitate toward godly people. Number one toward what he says your eyes need to focus on move toward number two. Invite in a number three.

Listen to at 20 tells us here in these verses you want to surround yourself with godly people.

There are three commitments you make about the number one that you are going to move toward people that a guy knew what grade you up and not break you down number two you going to invite them in frameless and you got to actively invite people to participate in your life.

It is a deliberate choice and number three listen to them say, but three things moving toward inviting in and listen.

You know those of us who are parents we say well you know we brought about children and how many times have we been around pop all on me me or whatever it is, and we sit there and there's so much godly advice and recite what I'm graduated now there's nobody else to move toward doing back in and to listen to the wrong butter on every college campus better in every church, every community you take the community of Spartanburg high rollover. They were all over the place. All right, what's his number one. I will always praise God in everything.

Number two I will not base my life up number three I will avoid ungodly people. Number four I will gravitate toward godly people. All right narratives number five, the fifth team commitment.

I will make needed decisions.

I will make needed decisions. I love the site every morning. I will put to silence all the wicked in the land I will cut off every evening from the city of the Lord such powerful teaching from Dr. Don Wilton. Now, as he steps in the studio. Open your heart to what he wants to share next are you ready to give your heart and life to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Why don't you pray this prayer with me right now. Dear God, I know that Iversen and I know that Jesus died for me on the cross today, I repent of my sin and by faith I receive you into my heart in Jesus night, my friend. I welcome you today into the family of God. This is exciting news. If you just gave your life to Jesus all how Dr. Don Wilton rejoice with you and give you free resources to help you grow, you can call us right now in your decision to follow Christ for the first time or rededicate your life at 866-899-WORD.this number town, 866-899-9673 call for your free resources today or escort them on our website at tewonline.org. That's TW online.org