This week’s talk is an exhortation by Brother Isaiah Small titled “Keep Ya Hands Up”, given at the Marlton Ecclesia in New Jersey, USA, on April 12th, 2026.<\/p>\n
We hope this strengthens your Faith and brightens your day!<\/p>\n
Thank you for listening, God bless, and talk to you next week.<\/p>\n
Send talk suggestions or comments to: \u2060\u2060\u2060\u2060\u2060\u2060\u2060GoodChristadelphianTalks@gmail.com\u2060\u2060\u2060\u2060\u2060\u2060\u2060<\/a><\/p>\n For Show Notes, visit our website: \u2060\u2060\u2060\u2060\u2060\u2060\u2060GoodChristadelphianTalks.com\u2060\u2060\u2060\u2060\u2060\u2060\u2060<\/a><\/p>\n Social Media: \u2060\u2060\u2060\u2060\u2060\u2060\u2060Facebook\u2060\u2060\u2060\u2060\u2060\u2060\u2060<\/a> | \u2060\u2060\u2060\u2060\u2060\u2060\u2060Instagram<\/a><\/p>\n 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240 241 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250 251 252 253 254 255 256 257 258 259 260 261 262 263 264 265 266 267 268 269 270 271 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280 281 282 283 284 285 286 287 288 289 290 291 292 293 294 295 296 297 298 299 300 301 302 303 304 305 306 307 308 309 310 311 312 313 314 315 316 317 318 319 320 321 322 323 324 325 326 327 328 This week’s talk is an exhortation by Brother Isaiah Small titled “Keep Ya Hands Up”, given…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":46,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"episode_type":"","audio_file":"https:\/\/anchor.fm\/s\/6d15708\/podcast\/play\/122078113\/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%2Fstaging%2F2026-5-27%2Fcf057db7-cc22-53b1-2459-e7071fdb5839.mp3","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"00:23:17","filesize":"15.99M","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":""},"tags":[],"series":[25],"class_list":["post-1497","podcast","type-podcast","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","series-gct"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t
\n00:00:03,960 –> 00:00:05,440
\nWelcome to good Christophian
\ntalks. <\/p>\n
\n00:00:05,920 –> 00:00:07,120
\nThank you for joining us this
\nweek. <\/p>\n
\n00:00:07,720 –> 00:00:11,040
\nOn this podcast, we select one
\ntalk a week to help us get the <\/p>\n
\n00:00:11,040 –> 00:00:16,000
\nBible in our Daily News feed.
\nEach week we post a talk that we<\/p>\n
\n00:00:16,000 –> 00:00:19,000
\npreviewed from suggestions sent
\nin by listeners from around the <\/p>\n
\n00:00:19,000 –> 00:00:21,560
\nworld.
\nThen we record a short intro <\/p>\n
\n00:00:21,560 –> 00:00:25,040
\nbeforehand as a personalized
\nrecommendation to you on why we <\/p>\n
\n00:00:25,040 –> 00:00:28,000
\nare sharing the talk.
\nAnd now let’s talk more about <\/p>\n
\n00:00:28,000 –> 00:00:34,680
\nthis week’s talk.
\nWelcome to the good Chris <\/p>\n
\n00:00:34,680 –> 00:00:37,400
\nAdelphian Talks podcast.
\nThis is brother Brian. <\/p>\n
\n00:00:38,640 –> 00:00:43,400
\nThis week’s talk is a recent
\nexhortation titled Keep Your <\/p>\n
\n00:00:43,400 –> 00:00:49,040
\nHands Up, given at the Marlton
\nEcclesia in New Jersey by very <\/p>\n
\n00:00:49,040 –> 00:00:51,280
\ngood friend of mine, brother
\nIsaiah Small. <\/p>\n
\n00:00:52,480 –> 00:00:57,480
\nI’m sure that you’re just like
\nme and that when you think about<\/p>\n
\n00:00:57,480 –> 00:01:02,480
\nthe temptation of Christ and His
\ntest of will in the wilderness <\/p>\n
\n00:01:02,480 –> 00:01:05,640
\nthat you immediately are
\nreminded of boxing, right? <\/p>\n
\n00:01:07,520 –> 00:01:11,080
\nOr vice versa.
\nThat 12 rounds of ducking, <\/p>\n
\n00:01:11,080 –> 00:01:15,640
\ndodging, bobbing and weaving
\nsurely gets you amazed about the<\/p>\n
\n00:01:15,640 –> 00:01:19,280
\ngrace of our God and the
\ndedication of His Son. <\/p>\n
\n00:01:21,680 –> 00:01:25,360
\nAnd if you’re not seeing that
\nconnection yet, then hopefully <\/p>\n
\n00:01:25,760 –> 00:01:28,640
\nyou will appreciate it after
\nthis talk. <\/p>\n
\n00:01:29,680 –> 00:01:34,600
\nIt was one of the funnest talks
\nI’ve ever heard live in that it <\/p>\n
\n00:01:34,600 –> 00:01:39,280
\nreally took something so out of
\nleft field, which was brother <\/p>\n
\n00:01:39,280 –> 00:01:42,360
\nIsaiah’s hobby of boxing
\ntraining. <\/p>\n
\n00:01:43,320 –> 00:01:50,480
\nAnd he placed it so perfectly as
\na metaphor for how the Lord <\/p>\n
\n00:01:50,520 –> 00:01:57,520
\nJesus overcame his temptations
\nin the wilderness after 40 days <\/p>\n
\n00:01:57,720 –> 00:02:04,200
\nof starvation and isolation,
\nrunning on fumes in every way, <\/p>\n
\n00:02:05,440 –> 00:02:09,840
\nand still he didn’t let his
\nguard down for a second. <\/p>\n
\n00:02:12,480 –> 00:02:16,680
\nWhat a model for us, and what a
\nhumbling reminder that we need <\/p>\n
\n00:02:16,680 –> 00:02:20,680
\nto brace ourselves for the
\ndanger of sin. <\/p>\n
\n00:02:20,680 –> 00:02:24,960
\nAnd giving into temptation is
\nnot a haymaker that we see <\/p>\n
\n00:02:24,960 –> 00:02:31,680
\ncoming from a mile away.
\nIt’s a subtle love tap in the <\/p>\n
\n00:02:31,680 –> 00:02:34,680
\n12th round that can drop us to
\nour knees. <\/p>\n
\n00:02:38,160 –> 00:02:42,760
\nAnd not because we aren’t trying
\nto resist, as Brother Isaiah <\/p>\n
\n00:02:42,760 –> 00:02:46,000
\nsays, it’s not for a lack of
\ncharacter. <\/p>\n
\n00:02:46,880 –> 00:02:49,640
\nWe don’t fall because we aren’t
\nconvicted enough. <\/p>\n
\n00:02:50,280 –> 00:02:55,720
\nWe give in when we already are
\nexhausted, when our buckets are <\/p>\n
\n00:02:55,800 –> 00:03:02,680
\nempty, but thanks be to God that
\nwe are not meant to rely purely <\/p>\n
\n00:03:03,280 –> 00:03:08,040
\non our own limitations.
\nThe grace and the power of the <\/p>\n
\n00:03:08,040 –> 00:03:13,680
\npeace and security that God
\nprovides us is more than enough <\/p>\n
\n00:03:13,680 –> 00:03:17,040
\nto wipe the slate clean round
\nafter round. <\/p>\n
\n00:03:18,080 –> 00:03:23,600
\nChrist already has the victory.
\nYour job? <\/p>\n
\n00:03:24,760 –> 00:03:31,080
\nWell, you know the title by now.
\nAs always, we hope this <\/p>\n
\n00:03:31,080 –> 00:03:33,920
\nstrengthens your faith and
\nbrightens your day. <\/p>\n
\n00:03:34,920 –> 00:03:37,960
\nBrother Isaiah Small, keep your
\nhands up. <\/p>\n
\n00:03:39,120 –> 00:03:44,880
\nSo I titled this excitation Keep
\nyour hands Up and after I tell <\/p>\n
\n00:03:44,880 –> 00:03:48,720
\nthis story y’all will eventually
\ncome to see why. <\/p>\n
\n00:03:49,960 –> 00:03:54,200
\nSo a couple of weeks ago my
\nbrother Ishmael gave an amazing <\/p>\n
\n00:03:54,200 –> 00:03:58,480
\nexcitation and he talked about
\npicking up an old hobby again <\/p>\n
\n00:03:58,760 –> 00:04:02,920
\nand the lessons he learned from
\npaying what he calls wood tax at<\/p>\n
\n00:04:02,920 –> 00:04:06,960
\nthe roller skating rink.
\nSo after I heard his excitation,<\/p>\n
\n00:04:07,680 –> 00:04:11,400
\nit actually inspired me to
\nreflect on a hobby that I picked<\/p>\n
\n00:04:11,400 –> 00:04:14,120
\nup and the spiritual lessons
\nthat I learned from that as <\/p>\n
\n00:04:14,120 –> 00:04:19,720
\nwell.
\nSo unlike my brother, I am not a<\/p>\n
\n00:04:19,720 –> 00:04:22,560
\nroller skater.
\nI don’t like it. <\/p>\n
\n00:04:23,200 –> 00:04:26,360
\nBut my hobby came a little bit
\nlater in life. <\/p>\n
\n00:04:27,280 –> 00:04:29,960
\nSo after high school, after I
\nhad stopped doing a lot of <\/p>\n
\n00:04:29,960 –> 00:04:33,720
\nsports, I decided that I wanted
\nto try boxing. <\/p>\n
\n00:04:34,720 –> 00:04:36,680
\nMy grandfather used to coach it.
\nHe used to talk about it all the<\/p>\n
\n00:04:36,680 –> 00:04:42,160
\ntime and it interests me.
\nSo I was extremely excited to <\/p>\n
\n00:04:42,160 –> 00:04:44,960
\nstart.
\nSo, you know, it was always nice<\/p>\n
\n00:04:44,960 –> 00:04:48,640
\nseeing the boxers on television
\nand it inspired me to get in the<\/p>\n
\n00:04:48,640 –> 00:04:52,360
\ngym and get started.
\nBut the one thing that I was <\/p>\n
\n00:04:52,360 –> 00:04:56,800
\nlooking forward to the most when
\nit came to boxing, it was the <\/p>\n
\n00:04:56,800 –> 00:04:59,440
\npad work.
\nAnd that’s what you see when all<\/p>\n
\n00:04:59,440 –> 00:05:02,360
\nthe boxes look their best.
\nIt’s when they stand across from<\/p>\n
\n00:05:02,360 –> 00:05:05,720
\ntheir trainer and the trainer
\nholds the pads up and they call <\/p>\n
\n00:05:05,720 –> 00:05:09,600
\nout the combos and the boxer
\nhits the pads and it looks nice.<\/p>\n
\n00:05:09,840 –> 00:05:11,760
\nIt looks fast, it looks
\neffortless. <\/p>\n
\n00:05:13,200 –> 00:05:21,680
\nSo I started in early 2020 at a
\nlocal gym and by the summertime <\/p>\n
\n00:05:21,920 –> 00:05:26,080
\nI had gotten cool with a
\nprofessional coach and the <\/p>\n
\n00:05:26,080 –> 00:05:32,520
\ncoach’s name was Mr. Abdul.
\nSo in a beginner gym, usually <\/p>\n
\n00:05:32,520 –> 00:05:33,960
\nthe pad work comes at the
\nbeginning. <\/p>\n
\n00:05:34,320 –> 00:05:36,720
\nSo when you first walk into the
\ngym, you stretch, you get your <\/p>\n
\n00:05:36,720 –> 00:05:39,760
\nsip of water, and then they line
\neverybody up and everybody does <\/p>\n
\n00:05:40,320 –> 00:05:42,640
\ntheir own individual pad work
\nwith each of the individual <\/p>\n
\n00:05:42,640 –> 00:05:47,880
\ncoaches.
\nSo Mr. Abdul, because he was a <\/p>\n
\n00:05:47,880 –> 00:05:50,640
\nprofessional coach, did things
\ndifferently. <\/p>\n
\n00:05:52,600 –> 00:05:55,880
\nThe pad work always came at the
\nend of the workout. <\/p>\n
\n00:05:56,600 –> 00:06:01,120
\nSo I would go in, it’d be 20
\nminutes of jumping rope, 6 <\/p>\n
\n00:06:01,120 –> 00:06:05,240
\nrounds of shadow boxing, heavy
\nback for 45 minutes, speed back <\/p>\n
\n00:06:05,240 –> 00:06:10,040
\nfor 15 minutes, and then he
\nlines you up to do the pad work.<\/p>\n
\n00:06:11,840 –> 00:06:14,920
\nSo the reason for that is that
\nthe most important part of pad <\/p>\n
\n00:06:14,920 –> 00:06:18,800
\nwork isn’t, you know, looking
\nnice or how hard you can hit or <\/p>\n
\n00:06:18,800 –> 00:06:21,720
\nhow accurate you are.
\nIt’s about keeping your hands <\/p>\n
\n00:06:21,720 –> 00:06:26,240
\nup.
\nSo in my case, it was towards <\/p>\n
\n00:06:26,240 –> 00:06:30,320
\nthe very end of my first workout
\nand I was, it was a hot gym. <\/p>\n
\n00:06:30,680 –> 00:06:34,080
\nI’m drenched in sweat, like I’m
\nI’m breathing heavy, I’m <\/p>\n
\n00:06:34,080 –> 00:06:37,040
\nheaving.
\nAnd he calls me up for the pad <\/p>\n
\n00:06:37,040 –> 00:06:41,160
\nwork and I’m standing from the
\nside of the ring, my knees <\/p>\n
\n00:06:41,160 –> 00:06:46,200
\nbuckling, my shoulders burning,
\nand he’s calling out the combos <\/p>\n
\n00:06:46,840 –> 00:06:49,720
\nand I’m throwing the shots that
\nI’m doing pretty good, at least <\/p>\n
\n00:06:49,720 –> 00:06:53,240
\nI think so.
\nAnd then he keeps constantly <\/p>\n
\n00:06:53,240 –> 00:06:55,760
\ntelling me he’s like, keep your
\nhands up, stop dropping your <\/p>\n
\n00:06:55,760 –> 00:06:58,920
\nhands, keep your hands up, stop
\ndropping your hands. <\/p>\n
\n00:07:00,320 –> 00:07:02,320
\nBut because it was the end of
\nthe workout, I was really just <\/p>\n
\n00:07:02,320 –> 00:07:04,480
\ntrying to get through it all.
\nLike I was, it was the last of <\/p>\n
\n00:07:04,480 –> 00:07:06,160
\nit.
\nI was ready to go home. <\/p>\n
\n00:07:06,280 –> 00:07:09,880
\nSo I was just kind of going
\nthrough the motions somewhere in<\/p>\n
\n00:07:09,880 –> 00:07:13,080
\nthe middle of those combinations
\nfor like, I blinked a little too<\/p>\n
\n00:07:13,080 –> 00:07:15,440
\nslow.
\nI felt the side of the pad <\/p>\n
\n00:07:15,440 –> 00:07:20,960
\nsmacked me in my face and I was
\ntired. <\/p>\n
\n00:07:20,960 –> 00:07:23,160
\nI was so tired.
\nMy knees like buckled and I fell<\/p>\n
\n00:07:23,160 –> 00:07:26,360
\nto the ground a little bit.
\nAnd I stood there for a little <\/p>\n
\n00:07:26,360 –> 00:07:30,520
\nbit and I looked up and my
\ncoach, he was like, I told you <\/p>\n
\n00:07:30,520 –> 00:07:37,320
\nto keep your hands up.
\nSo the most interesting about <\/p>\n
\n00:07:37,320 –> 00:07:40,360
\nthat, you know, my first
\nworkout, let me say Abdul, was <\/p>\n
\n00:07:40,360 –> 00:07:43,200
\nthat I didn’t really fall
\nbecause he hit me hard enough to<\/p>\n
\n00:07:43,200 –> 00:07:46,400
\nbe knocked out.
\nBut it’s that my body was so <\/p>\n
\n00:07:46,400 –> 00:07:50,880
\ntired that this little love tap
\nfrom a cushion pad was enough to<\/p>\n
\n00:07:50,880 –> 00:07:54,560
\nbring me to my knees.
\nI feels like when you’re working<\/p>\n
\n00:07:54,560 –> 00:07:57,840
\nfor that long, you almost feel
\nlike now, but after a while, it <\/p>\n
\n00:07:57,840 –> 00:08:00,760
\nfeels like weights are tied to
\nyour elbows and keeping your <\/p>\n
\n00:08:00,760 –> 00:08:04,320
\nhands up becomes the hardest
\nthing in the world. <\/p>\n
\n00:08:06,320 –> 00:08:10,880
\nSo that’s what I want to talk
\nabout today because the world <\/p>\n
\n00:08:11,040 –> 00:08:14,720
\nand its way of thinking and its
\ninfluence, it doesn’t wait for <\/p>\n
\n00:08:14,720 –> 00:08:18,280
\nus to be energized and
\nspiritually charged to come at <\/p>\n
\n00:08:18,280 –> 00:08:21,840
\nus and influence us.
\nIt waits for when we’re tired. <\/p>\n
\n00:08:23,360 –> 00:08:28,400
\nIt waits for things like when
\nthe bills are piling up and you <\/p>\n
\n00:08:28,400 –> 00:08:31,640
\ndon’t have enough money to cover
\nthem all, or a waste. <\/p>\n
\n00:08:31,640 –> 00:08:33,799
\nFor if you’re going through a
\nrough passion, your relationship<\/p>\n
\n00:08:35,039 –> 00:08:37,840
\nand walking away feels like the
\neasiest thing to do in that <\/p>\n
\n00:08:37,840 –> 00:08:43,559
\nmoment when you’ve taken loss
\nafter loss and that breakthrough<\/p>\n
\n00:08:43,559 –> 00:08:46,560
\nthat you’ve just been waiting
\non, it just, it seems like it’s <\/p>\n
\n00:08:46,560 –> 00:08:50,000
\nnot coming fast enough and you
\nstart to get frustrated or <\/p>\n
\n00:08:50,000 –> 00:08:55,440
\nstressed out with the process.
\nThe world waits for you to drop <\/p>\n
\n00:08:55,440 –> 00:09:00,840
\nyour hands.
\nSo the real question is, how can<\/p>\n
\n00:09:00,840 –> 00:09:05,440
\nwe keep our hands up?
\nHow can we stay spiritually <\/p>\n
\n00:09:05,440 –> 00:09:09,360
\nsharp in a world that looks for
\nthe perfect moment of spiritual <\/p>\n
\n00:09:09,360 –> 00:09:12,960
\nweakness and exhaustion to
\nattack our character? <\/p>\n
\n00:09:14,920 –> 00:09:20,880
\nSo I found the answer in Matthew
\nchapter 4 in Jesus Christ. <\/p>\n
\n00:09:22,920 –> 00:09:28,200
\nSo 1 chapter before in Matthew
\nchapter 3 we read about Christ <\/p>\n
\n00:09:28,200 –> 00:09:30,440
\nbeing baptized by John the
\nBaptist. <\/p>\n
\n00:09:31,400 –> 00:09:34,320
\nAnd at the end of the chapter in
\nthe last two verses, verses 16 <\/p>\n
\n00:09:34,320 –> 00:09:39,960
\nand 17, this is what it says.
\nIt says when he was baptized <\/p>\n
\n00:09:39,960 –> 00:09:44,080
\nJesus, he went up straight away
\nout of the water and lo, the <\/p>\n
\n00:09:44,080 –> 00:09:47,080
\nheavens were opened up to him
\nand he saw the Spirit of God <\/p>\n
\n00:09:47,080 –> 00:09:50,400
\ndescending like a dove and
\nlighting upon him. <\/p>\n
\n00:09:51,800 –> 00:09:55,680
\nAnd lo, a voice from heaven
\nsaying, this is my beloved Son <\/p>\n
\n00:09:56,120 –> 00:10:02,360
\nin whom I am well pleased.
\nSo Christ was coming off of 1 of<\/p>\n
\n00:10:02,360 –> 00:10:04,480
\nthe highest spiritual moments in
\nhis life. <\/p>\n
\n00:10:05,520 –> 00:10:09,040
\nBut in the next chapter, in
\nchapter 4, he wasn’t LED into <\/p>\n
\n00:10:09,040 –> 00:10:11,680
\ncomfort.
\nHe was led into the wilderness <\/p>\n
\n00:10:12,280 –> 00:10:16,560
\nand a place of isolation, a
\nplace of hunger, a place of <\/p>\n
\n00:10:16,560 –> 00:10:20,800
\ntesting, and a place that
\nexhausted him in every single <\/p>\n
\n00:10:20,800 –> 00:10:25,400
\naspect of life.
\nAnd it was there when he was at <\/p>\n
\n00:10:25,400 –> 00:10:28,720
\nhis weakest that the temptation
\ncame. <\/p>\n
\n00:10:30,240 –> 00:10:33,880
\nAnd verse 4, it says then was
\nJesus LED up of the Spirit into <\/p>\n
\n00:10:33,880 –> 00:10:38,000
\nthe wilderness to be tempted.
\nAnd when he had fasted 40 days <\/p>\n
\n00:10:38,480 –> 00:10:40,880
\nand 40 nights, he was afterward
\nin 100. <\/p>\n
\n00:10:40,880 –> 00:10:45,520
\nAnd when the tempter came to
\nhim, he said, If thou be the Son<\/p>\n
\n00:10:45,520 –> 00:10:49,520
\nof God, command that these
\nstones be made bred. <\/p>\n
\n00:10:51,920 –> 00:10:54,360
\nSo when that temptation came to
\nChrist, they didn’t come to him <\/p>\n
\n00:10:54,360 –> 00:10:57,800
\non day one.
\nThey didn’t come to him on day <\/p>\n
\n00:10:57,800 –> 00:11:00,120
\nthree or day 5 or not even week
\none. <\/p>\n
\n00:11:00,120 –> 00:11:04,520
\nThey didn’t come to him when
\neverything was clear and when <\/p>\n
\n00:11:04,520 –> 00:11:07,720
\nhis mind was sharp and when his
\nbody still had. <\/p>\n
\n00:11:07,720 –> 00:11:12,320
\nThe strength came later, and
\ncame after the time had passed, <\/p>\n
\n00:11:12,960 –> 00:11:17,400
\nafter the days had turned into
\nweeks and his body had been worn<\/p>\n
\n00:11:17,400 –> 00:11:23,040
\ndown little by little, day by
\nday, and that strength was being<\/p>\n
\n00:11:23,040 –> 00:11:26,680
\nchipped away, not all at once,
\nnot in one dramatic moment, but <\/p>\n
\n00:11:26,680 –> 00:11:29,920
\njust quietly, Gradually.
\nHe was getting more and more <\/p>\n
\n00:11:29,920 –> 00:11:34,520
\nhungry, at first, almost
\nunnoticeably, but with each <\/p>\n
\n00:11:34,520 –> 00:11:36,600
\npassing day, he’s getting more
\nhungry. <\/p>\n
\n00:11:36,600 –> 00:11:39,880
\nHe’s getting more drained, more
\nexhausted and worn down from the<\/p>\n
\n00:11:39,880 –> 00:11:43,080
\nfast.
\nAnd by that time that the <\/p>\n
\n00:11:43,080 –> 00:11:46,480
\ntemptation came to him, he
\nwasn’t at his peak anymore. <\/p>\n
\n00:11:46,560 –> 00:11:48,600
\nHe wasn’t operating at full
\nstrength. <\/p>\n
\n00:11:49,520 –> 00:11:54,400
\nHe was tired, his body was weak,
\nhis mind was under strain. <\/p>\n
\n00:11:55,400 –> 00:12:02,080
\nAfter 40 days with no food,
\nnothing to sustain his body, no <\/p>\n
\n00:12:02,080 –> 00:12:04,640
\nstrength left to rely on, he was
\nrunning on empty. <\/p>\n
\n00:12:06,160 –> 00:12:10,440
\nEvery part of him was worn down
\nand his thoughts were under <\/p>\n
\n00:12:10,440 –> 00:12:14,040
\npressure.
\nAnd something as simple as a <\/p>\n
\n00:12:14,040 –> 00:12:16,760
\npile of rocks draws his
\nattention. <\/p>\n
\n00:12:17,960 –> 00:12:21,520
\nNot because the stones had any
\nvalue, but because in that <\/p>\n
\n00:12:21,520 –> 00:12:25,200
\nmoment, he knew that he had the
\nmeans to end his hunger. <\/p>\n
\n00:12:27,680 –> 00:12:31,760
\nAnd in that moment, looking from
\nthe outside in, turning those <\/p>\n
\n00:12:31,760 –> 00:12:35,320
\nstones into bread probably
\ndidn’t seem like a big deal. <\/p>\n
\n00:12:35,920 –> 00:12:38,360
\nHe was hungry.
\nHe had every reason to eat. <\/p>\n
\n00:12:38,360 –> 00:12:41,320
\nAnd it would have been the most
\nnatural thing in the world. <\/p>\n
\n00:12:41,760 –> 00:12:44,520
\nWould have been quick, would
\nhave been easy, would have <\/p>\n
\n00:12:44,520 –> 00:12:47,640
\nsatisfied exactly what his body
\nwas craving in that very moment.<\/p>\n
\n00:12:49,200 –> 00:12:52,480
\nBut spiritually, that would have
\nbeen the moment that he let his <\/p>\n
\n00:12:52,480 –> 00:12:55,440
\nguard down.
\nThat would have been the moment <\/p>\n
\n00:12:55,440 –> 00:12:58,960
\nthat he stepped outside of
\ndiscipline and the moment that <\/p>\n
\n00:12:58,960 –> 00:13:04,960
\nhe chose relief over obedience,
\nnot because he lacked character,<\/p>\n
\n00:13:06,120 –> 00:13:11,360
\nbut because he was worn down.
\nAnd that’s what it means to drop<\/p>\n
\n00:13:11,360 –> 00:13:14,200
\nyour hands.
\nIt’s not some big obvious <\/p>\n
\n00:13:14,200 –> 00:13:17,280
\ndecision where you can clearly
\nsee that danger. <\/p>\n
\n00:13:18,560 –> 00:13:22,520
\nIt’s always subtle.
\nIt’s something small and <\/p>\n
\n00:13:22,520 –> 00:13:26,040
\nsometimes it even feels
\njustified, something that seems <\/p>\n
\n00:13:26,040 –> 00:13:29,520
\nreasonable in the moment.
\nYou always try to reason with <\/p>\n
\n00:13:29,520 –> 00:13:33,240
\nyourself, but without realizing
\nit, it creates an opening and it<\/p>\n
\n00:13:33,240 –> 00:13:39,000
\nleaves you exposed to be hit.
\nBut listen to how Christ <\/p>\n
\n00:13:39,000 –> 00:13:42,680
\nresponds to his own thoughts.
\nBut he answered and said this is<\/p>\n
\n00:13:42,680 –> 00:13:45,000
\nin verse 4.
\nIn Matthew 4 He answered and <\/p>\n
\n00:13:45,000 –> 00:13:49,000
\nsaid, it is written, man shall
\nnot live by bread alone, but by <\/p>\n
\n00:13:49,000 –> 00:13:52,760
\nevery word that proceedeth out
\nof the mouth of God. <\/p>\n
\n00:13:54,320 –> 00:13:57,920
\nSo even in that moment when he
\nwas hungry, when he was craving <\/p>\n
\n00:13:57,920 –> 00:14:00,920
\nthat relief, he chose not to
\ngive in. <\/p>\n
\n00:14:02,200 –> 00:14:05,400
\nHe chose not to allow his
\ncircumstances to control his <\/p>\n
\n00:14:05,400 –> 00:14:08,600
\nresponse.
\nHe didn’t let his physical <\/p>\n
\n00:14:08,600 –> 00:14:15,800
\ncondition dictate his decisions.
\nAnd instead, he actually leaned <\/p>\n
\n00:14:15,800 –> 00:14:19,200
\ninto his faith even more.
\nAnd instead of trying to fight <\/p>\n
\n00:14:19,200 –> 00:14:22,960
\nthat battle on his own, he
\nallowed his relationship with <\/p>\n
\n00:14:22,960 –> 00:14:26,480
\nhis father to alleviate the
\nbattle that was going on within <\/p>\n
\n00:14:26,480 –> 00:14:30,880
\nhis heart and in his head.
\nSo if we keep reading in <\/p>\n
\n00:14:30,880 –> 00:14:35,520
\nMatthew, he gets tested again
\nand he finds himself in <\/p>\n
\n00:14:35,520 –> 00:14:38,480
\nJerusalem, standing on the
\nhighest point of the temple. <\/p>\n
\n00:14:39,320 –> 00:14:40,840
\nAnd another thought comes into
\nhis mind. <\/p>\n
\n00:14:42,360 –> 00:14:45,280
\nIf you’re the Son of God, throw
\nyourself down. <\/p>\n
\n00:14:45,800 –> 00:14:50,440
\nJump.
\nAnd even Scripture is brought <\/p>\n
\n00:14:50,440 –> 00:14:53,320
\ninto this line of thinking
\nbecause it says that angels will<\/p>\n
\n00:14:53,320 –> 00:14:55,760
\ncatch him and keep him from
\nharm. <\/p>\n
\n00:14:57,320 –> 00:15:01,920
\nAnd this is where the temptation
\nbecomes subtle, because it’s not<\/p>\n
\n00:15:01,920 –> 00:15:05,560
\nabout the physical need, it’s
\nabout reasoning. <\/p>\n
\n00:15:07,200 –> 00:15:12,440
\nIt’s about a way of thinking
\nthat begins to justify itself, a<\/p>\n
\n00:15:12,440 –> 00:15:14,200
\nthought that sounds right on the
\nsurface. <\/p>\n
\n00:15:14,680 –> 00:15:18,080
\nIt uses Scripture, but it
\nultimately leads in the wrong <\/p>\n
\n00:15:18,080 –> 00:15:22,560
\ndirection because at its core,
\nit’s about testing God. <\/p>\n
\n00:15:22,560 –> 00:15:27,080
\nIt’s about acting on impulse,
\nputting himself in a situation <\/p>\n
\n00:15:27,680 –> 00:15:32,240
\nand expecting God to respond.
\nAnd when you’re tired, those <\/p>\n
\n00:15:32,240 –> 00:15:35,120
\nintrusive thoughts feel
\nconvincing and it can feel <\/p>\n
\n00:15:35,120 –> 00:15:41,080
\nreasonable in that moment.
\nBut once again, he doesn’t <\/p>\n
\n00:15:41,080 –> 00:15:45,480
\naccept that line of reasoning.
\nHe doesn’t act on impulse. <\/p>\n
\n00:15:46,240 –> 00:15:47,560
\nHe doesn’t try to prove
\nanything. <\/p>\n
\n00:15:48,920 –> 00:15:51,640
\nInstead he responds with
\nclarity. <\/p>\n
\n00:15:51,960 –> 00:15:55,000
\nOnce again he grounds himself in
\nthe word. <\/p>\n
\n00:15:55,680 –> 00:15:59,560
\nIt is written again, Thou shalt
\nnot tempt the Lord thy God. <\/p>\n
\n00:15:59,560 –> 00:16:03,280
\nAnd in that moment he keeps his
\nthinking a line. <\/p>\n
\n00:16:04,000 –> 00:16:07,240
\nHe leans on the word again to
\nmaintain his focus. <\/p>\n
\n00:16:07,840 –> 00:16:11,120
\nAnd he refused to let the
\npressure of that moment dictate <\/p>\n
\n00:16:11,120 –> 00:16:16,520
\nwhat he did yet again.
\nAnd we come to the final example<\/p>\n
\n00:16:16,680 –> 00:16:19,480
\nlater on in the chapter and
\nverses 8 to 10. <\/p>\n
\n00:16:21,600 –> 00:16:24,840
\nChrist goes high up on the
\nmountain top and he sees all the<\/p>\n
\n00:16:24,840 –> 00:16:28,160
\nkingdoms of the world and their
\nglory. <\/p>\n
\n00:16:29,840 –> 00:16:31,320
\nAnd the final thought is
\npresented to him. <\/p>\n
\n00:16:31,440 –> 00:16:36,880
\nAll of this can be yours.
\nYou can have this if you bow <\/p>\n
\n00:16:36,880 –> 00:16:40,160
\ndown.
\nAnd this temptation wasn’t about<\/p>\n
\n00:16:40,160 –> 00:16:42,480
\nany type of physical hunger like
\nthe first. <\/p>\n
\n00:16:42,480 –> 00:16:46,360
\nIt wasn’t about any type of
\nmental intrusive thoughts like <\/p>\n
\n00:16:46,360 –> 00:16:51,200
\nthe second This temptation
\nattacks him on a spiritual level<\/p>\n
\n00:16:52,040 –> 00:16:54,600
\nbecause everything that was
\nbeing offered to him in that <\/p>\n
\n00:16:54,600 –> 00:16:58,800
\nmoment on top of that mountain,
\nit was already in God’s plan for<\/p>\n
\n00:16:58,800 –> 00:17:04,119
\nhim to have it.
\nBut here he’s provided with a <\/p>\n
\n00:17:04,119 –> 00:17:11,920
\nshortcut, an elevator to
\nsuccess, a way to achieve <\/p>\n
\n00:17:11,920 –> 00:17:15,040
\neverything that he already knows
\nwill be his. <\/p>\n
\n00:17:16,599 –> 00:17:21,400
\nBut not like this, not without
\nobedience, not without going <\/p>\n
\n00:17:21,400 –> 00:17:24,240
\nthrough the process that God set
\nbefore him. <\/p>\n
\n00:17:28,800 –> 00:17:33,520
\nAnd in a situation like this,
\nit’s where the reasoning becomes<\/p>\n
\n00:17:33,520 –> 00:17:38,320
\ndangerous.
\nIt’s where that thought can <\/p>\n
\n00:17:38,320 –> 00:17:43,080
\nsound justified because anybody
\ncould say, well, why go through <\/p>\n
\n00:17:43,080 –> 00:17:45,840
\nall of this when there’s an
\neasier way? <\/p>\n
\n00:17:46,520 –> 00:17:48,480
\nIt’s in the palm of my hand
\nright here. <\/p>\n
\n00:17:49,880 –> 00:17:53,600
\nWhy endure when the outcome is
\nalready guaranteed? <\/p>\n
\n00:17:54,920 –> 00:17:58,000
\nWhen you’re tired, that thinking
\nsounds like fact. <\/p>\n
\n00:18:00,200 –> 00:18:06,520
\nThe long road feels heavier, the
\nhard path, the stairway to <\/p>\n
\n00:18:06,520 –> 00:18:11,520
\nsuccess feels unnecessary, and
\nthe shortcuts feel reasonable. <\/p>\n
\n00:18:12,920 –> 00:18:15,720
\nBut once again, Christ keeps his
\nhands up. <\/p>\n
\n00:18:17,000 –> 00:18:21,120
\nHe doesn’t allow that thinking
\nto take root in his mind. <\/p>\n
\n00:18:22,440 –> 00:18:27,200
\nIt’s written, thou shalt worship
\nthe Lord thy God, and him only <\/p>\n
\n00:18:27,720 –> 00:18:31,080
\nshalt thou serve.
\nHe stays grounded. <\/p>\n
\n00:18:31,760 –> 00:18:35,800
\nHe stays disciplined.
\nHe chooses obedience over <\/p>\n
\n00:18:35,800 –> 00:18:40,240
\nconvenience, even when the
\neasier option is sitting right <\/p>\n
\n00:18:40,240 –> 00:18:45,400
\nthere in front of him.
\nSo when we bring this chapter <\/p>\n
\n00:18:45,400 –> 00:18:49,240
\ntogether, this story together,
\nthis lesson becomes real for us.<\/p>\n
\n00:18:50,400 –> 00:18:53,400
\nBecause just like Christ was
\ntested physically, mentally, and<\/p>\n
\n00:18:53,400 –> 00:18:58,640
\nspiritually, we’re going to be
\ntested the same way in our daily<\/p>\n
\n00:18:58,640 –> 00:19:02,160
\nlives.
\nWe get physically tired from <\/p>\n
\n00:19:02,160 –> 00:19:06,400
\nwork clocking in, going in every
\nday, and lack of rest. <\/p>\n
\n00:19:07,240 –> 00:19:11,480
\nWe can get mentally worn down
\nwhen our thinking becomes more <\/p>\n
\n00:19:11,480 –> 00:19:15,520
\nreactive instead of more
\nreflective, and we face those <\/p>\n
\n00:19:15,520 –> 00:19:19,920
\nmoments where sometimes
\nshortcuts and the easier options<\/p>\n
\n00:19:19,920 –> 00:19:24,320
\njust seem like they’re the right
\npath to go on. <\/p>\n
\n00:19:27,720 –> 00:19:34,440
\nAnd the truth is that most of
\nthe time, we don’t fall when <\/p>\n
\n00:19:34,440 –> 00:19:40,040
\nwe’re at our strongest.
\nWe slip when we’re tired, when <\/p>\n
\n00:19:40,040 –> 00:19:44,520
\nour guard is already low, and
\nwhen we don’t even realize how <\/p>\n
\n00:19:44,520 –> 00:19:49,160
\nclose we are to compromise.
\nBut what’s important to <\/p>\n
\n00:19:49,160 –> 00:19:53,520
\nunderstand is that Christ didn’t
\njust rely on his own strength to<\/p>\n
\n00:19:53,520 –> 00:19:57,880
\nkeep himself steady.
\nHe didn’t simply just try harder<\/p>\n
\n00:19:57,960 –> 00:20:01,160
\nto keep his hands up and those
\nmoments of pressure. <\/p>\n
\n00:20:02,320 –> 00:20:04,040
\nInstead, he leaned on his
\nfather. <\/p>\n
\n00:20:04,880 –> 00:20:07,680
\nHe grounded himself in his
\nFather’s word. <\/p>\n
\n00:20:08,880 –> 00:20:11,560
\nWhen he was physically drained,
\nmentally strained, and <\/p>\n
\n00:20:11,560 –> 00:20:14,720
\nemotionally under pressure, he
\ndidn’t depend on his own <\/p>\n
\n00:20:14,920 –> 00:20:18,840
\nexhausted strength.
\nHe depended on God to sustain <\/p>\n
\n00:20:18,840 –> 00:20:22,120
\nhim.
\nAnd it was God’s word that held <\/p>\n
\n00:20:22,120 –> 00:20:25,800
\nhim steady when his human
\nstrength would have failed him, <\/p>\n
\n00:20:25,800 –> 00:20:30,680
\nand in the moments when dropping
\nhis guard would have been the <\/p>\n
\n00:20:30,680 –> 00:20:34,200
\neasiest, chose to lean on his
\nfather instead of relying on <\/p>\n
\n00:20:34,200 –> 00:20:39,280
\nhimself.
\nWhen we take all of this and <\/p>\n
\n00:20:39,280 –> 00:20:42,560
\nbringing it to our own lives
\nbrings us right to the table of <\/p>\n
\n00:20:42,560 –> 00:20:45,040
\nthe Lord.
\nBecause at the end of the day, <\/p>\n
\n00:20:45,200 –> 00:20:48,720
\nit’s not just about boxing and
\nit isn’t just about discipline, <\/p>\n
\n00:20:49,680 –> 00:20:53,400
\nIt’s about dependence.
\nJust like Christ didn’t rely on <\/p>\n
\n00:20:53,400 –> 00:20:56,240
\nhis own strength in the
\nwilderness, we are not meant to <\/p>\n
\n00:20:56,240 –> 00:21:02,320
\nrely on our own strength either.
\nHe leaned on his Father, and <\/p>\n
\n00:21:02,320 –> 00:21:05,880
\nthat’s what carried him through
\nwhen he would have failed. <\/p>\n
\n00:21:07,080 –> 00:21:10,840
\nAnd in the same way, when we
\ncome to this table, we’re <\/p>\n
\n00:21:10,840 –> 00:21:14,520
\nreminded that we are not strong
\nenough on our own. <\/p>\n
\n00:21:15,800 –> 00:21:19,040
\nWe are not meant to keep our
\nhands up by ourselves. <\/p>\n
\n00:21:19,480 –> 00:21:25,040
\nWe are meant to be sustained by
\nour God, by His Word and the <\/p>\n
\n00:21:25,040 –> 00:21:32,720
\nsacrifice that was made for us.
\nSo we take this bread and this <\/p>\n
\n00:21:32,720 –> 00:21:36,760
\ncup.
\nLet’s be reminded of the One who<\/p>\n
\n00:21:36,760 –> 00:21:41,240
\nnever dropped his guard, even
\nwhen he was tired, when he was <\/p>\n
\n00:21:41,240 –> 00:21:44,160
\ntested, and even when he was
\nunder pressure. <\/p>\n
\n00:21:46,080 –> 00:21:49,840
\nLet’s be reminded that our
\nstrength doesn’t only come from <\/p>\n
\n00:21:49,840 –> 00:21:55,040
\nwithin ourselves, but from what
\nGod has already provided for us <\/p>\n
\n00:21:55,920 –> 00:22:11,760
\nthrough His Son.
\nThank you for listening to the <\/p>\n
\n00:22:11,760 –> 00:22:13,360
\nGood Christadelphian Talks
\npodcast. <\/p>\n
\n00:22:14,160 –> 00:22:16,600
\nWe hope this talk helped you in
\nyour walk and brightened your <\/p>\n
\n00:22:16,600 –> 00:22:18,960
\nday.
\nIf you would like to hear more, <\/p>\n
\n00:22:18,960 –> 00:22:20,720
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\nepisodes. <\/p>\n
\n00:22:21,120 –> 00:22:24,360
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\nFor show notes on the talk you
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\n00:22:33,520 –> 00:22:37,400
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\n00:22:49,880 –> 00:22:51,600
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\n00:22:51,600 –> 00:22:54,240
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\n00:23:03,800 –> 00:23:05,720
\nGod bless and talk to you next
\nweek.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"