Transcript
Speaker: Trash can be defined as things that we may seem are that may seem unuseful or we may define as unwanted or even unneeded. I believe today ah that if we're going to grow our relationship with the Lord, then we have to evaluate and examine ourselves and make sure that there are not things in us that will hinder our spiritual growth. Things that we may define as trash.
Speaker: You see, anything ah that will hinder your spiritual growth, your development, your closeness, your intimacy or your relationship with God. I believe that we must get rid of.
Speaker: Some of these things that we should discard from our lives are things like sin, and unrighteousness, ungodly influences, anxiety or worry, even thoughts that may be contrary to God.
Speaker: These types of things, no doubt if we allow them to fester and to collect in our minds and internally within our ourselves, have the ability to slow or even stunt or dare I say, stop our spiritual growth and maturity, ultimately preventing us from being who God has called us to be.
Speaker: Welcome to Grace Talk, a podcast by Grace Temple Church Louisville. Experience biblical encouragement in every aspect of life as you see God through the truth of the scriptures.
Speaker: Our mission is to help save the lost and encourage the saved. Hosted by our senior pastor, Apostle Aisham Cordery, and the Grace Temple Church ministry, it's time for Grace Talk.
Speaker: Hello, welcome to Grace Talk. I'm Elder DeAntony Ray, and I would like to first say thank you for tuning in on today. It's my hope that you are enlightened, that you are encouraged, and that you are empowered and ultimately strengthened as you develop and grow your relationship with the Lord.
Speaker: See, every week on Fridays around the same time, um i can almost guarantee that the garbage man will come around my neighborhood and collect the trash from my neighbors and myself.
Speaker: It was one particular Friday, though, that um as I was lying in the bed, ah heard the trash man coming around and collecting ah the trash reciprocals ah from my neighbors.
Speaker: And it dawned on me that I forgot to put the trash can out on the curb the night before. In a panic, in a rush, I jumped out of the bed and I grabbed the ah closest pair of shoes that I could find and I ran down the steps and out the back door to the backyard.
Speaker: I grabbed the trash can and I pulled it to the curb. As I walked back in the house and shut the door, I went to ah the living room and I looked out the front window. ah To my surprise and ah to my amazement, I did not miss the trash man.
Speaker: In fact, I looked in joy and excitement when I saw him stop at my house, open up the trash can and empty it out into the truck.
Speaker: Trash can be defined as things that we may seem are that may seem unuseful or we may define as unwanted or even unneeded. I believe today ah that if we're going to grow our relationship with the Lord, then we have to evaluate and examine ourselves and make sure that there are not things in us that will hinder our spiritual growth, things that we may define as trash.
Speaker: You see, anything that will hinder your spiritual growth, your development, your closeness, your intimacy or your relationship with God, I believe that we must get rid of some of these things that we should discard from our lives are things like sin, and unrighteousness, ah ungodly influences, anxiety or worry, even thoughts that may be contrary to God.
Speaker: These types of things, no doubt if we allow them to fester and to collect in our minds and internally within our ourselves, have the ability to slow or even stunt or dare I say, stop our spiritual growth and maturity, ultimately preventing us from being who God has called us to be.
Speaker: However, today i want to encourage you because there is good news. You see, we have a savior, Jesus Christ, who is willing to take these things from us.
Speaker: If we would just simply bring them to him and lay them before him. You see, the Bible says in 1 Peter 5, verses 6 through 8 in the Amplified Version, "...therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God.
Speaker: Set aside righteous pride, so that he may exalt you to a place of honor in his service at the appropriate time." casting all your cares, all your anxieties, all your worries and all your concerns once and for all on him.
Speaker: For he cares about you with deepest affection and watches over you very carefully. It says, be sober, well-balanced and self-disciplined. Be alert and cautious at all times.
Speaker: That enemy of yours, the devil, he prowls around like a roaring lion, fiercely hungry, seeking someone to devour. Today, i want to encourage you.
Speaker: Don't forget to take out the trash. I believe and I want to encourage you today that there are a few ways to ensure that the trash is taken out of your life.
Speaker: The first way is that we must confess. You see, confession is acknowledging and admitting that we have fallen short You see, when we confess, we can be forgiven and we can be purified.
Speaker: I would even dare to say that we can even be healed. For the Bible says in 1 John 1 9, if we confess our He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Speaker: Wow, that ought to bring joy. That ought to bring excitement to know that I don't have to hold on to what may be useless. I don't have to hold on to the thing that's hindering me from a right relationship with the Lord.
Speaker: Not only do I believe that we must confess our faults and confess our sins, but I also believe that after we've confessed our sins, after we've been healed, after we have been purified,
Speaker: I also believe that we must accept God's grace and allow it to be effective in our lives. The Bible says in Titus chapter two, verses 11 through 14, for the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world.
Speaker: looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity.
Speaker: Hallelujah. And purify unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works. Lastly, not only do I believe that we must confess our faults,
Speaker: Secondly, accept God's grace and allow it to be effective in our lives. But lastly, after you've done those things, I encourage you, don't go back and get what you've just thrown out.
Speaker: I don't believe that one man's trash is another man's treasure. However, I believe that trash is trash. And if we discard it with the intent and acknowledging that it's unuseful, unwanted and undesired, I believe we ought to leave trash where we put the trash.
Speaker: For the Bible says in Proverbs chapter 26, verse 11, as a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.
Speaker: Today, don't forget to take out the trash. Examine yourself. Look deep inside. Is there sin and unrighteousness?
Speaker: Are there ungodly thoughts? Are there ungodly influences that you've connected yourself to? Are there worries and burdens and anxieties that are stunting, that are hindering your spiritual growth?
Speaker: Well, I admonish you today to confess your faults to God. For we know that if we confess, then he's righteous and just to forgive us. I admonish and encourage you to accept God's grace, accept this opportunity that God has given you.
Speaker: Allow it to be effective in your life and in return and in response to his redemption and return and in response to what he has done for us. Live a life that's pleasing to him.
Speaker: And lastly, once you've thrown it out, once you've given it to him, once you've laid it down, Don't go back and pick it back up. Allow Jesus to take it away.
Speaker: For I'm reminded of what the 103rd division of Psalms says, that he will remove our sins as far as the east is from the west.
Speaker: yeah Today, I hope that you've been encouraged. I hope you've been enlightened. I hope you've been empowered. Be blessed in Jesus name. Thank you for listening to Grace Talk.
Speaker: It is our prayer that you were encouraged through the Word of God. Listen in next time as we continue to help save the lost and encourage the saved. Please find us on social media or join us for one of our weekly Sabbath services at effectivegrace.org.
Speaker: If you would like to contact us with questions or comments, please email us at church at effectivegrace.org. Thank you again. Grace and peace.
