back to indexBerean Community Church Sunday Service 5.18.25
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- Good morning church family, happy Lord's Day. 00:05:33.440 |
♪ The sun cannot compare to the glory of your love ♪ 00:05:56.520 |
♪ No mortal man would dare to stand before your throne ♪ 00:06:22.520 |
♪ I bring an offering of worship to my king ♪ 00:06:27.520 |
♪ No one on earth deserves the praises I receive ♪ 00:06:34.520 |
♪ Jesus may you receive the honor that you are today ♪ 00:06:53.520 |
♪ The sun cannot compare to the glory of your love ♪ 00:07:19.520 |
♪ No mortal man would dare to stand before your throne ♪ 00:07:45.520 |
♪ I bring an offering of worship to my king ♪ 00:07:50.520 |
♪ No one on earth deserves the praises that I receive ♪ 00:07:57.520 |
♪ Jesus may you receive the honor that you are today ♪ 00:08:14.520 |
♪ I bring an offering of worship to my king ♪ 00:08:19.520 |
♪ No one on earth deserves the praises that I receive ♪ 00:08:26.520 |
♪ Jesus may you receive the honor that you are today ♪ 00:09:09.520 |
We'll be having our Family Ministry Picnic today. 00:09:17.520 |
any picnic blankets or chairs, games that you'd like to. 00:09:22.520 |
So we hope that if you're part of Family Ministry 00:09:26.520 |
We also have our Summertime Seekers Group on Wednesdays 00:09:29.520 |
for four weeks, 7 p.m. upstairs in our Sprouts Room. 00:09:39.520 |
interacting with people about where they are in their faith, 00:09:45.520 |
the Koinonia groups are going to be closing today. 00:10:01.520 |
And you'll schedule those times within those groups. 00:10:06.520 |
we're going to be opening that up again in June 00:10:17.520 |
As you know, we have missionaries over in India 00:10:39.520 |
So take the next couple weeks to think about that. 00:10:49.520 |
And if you want to give offering, you can give electronically. 00:11:11.520 |
I pray, God, that our offering would truly be 00:11:15.520 |
God, that it would be given joyfully and cheerfully, 00:11:17.520 |
used for your kingdom. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen. 00:12:07.460 |
Let us all rise and spend a few moments to greet the 00:12:41.360 |
And to introduce it, I'd like to read a few verses for us. 00:12:44.560 |
Verse 1, it goes, "Man of sorrows, what a name! 00:12:47.960 |
For the Son of God who came, ruined sinners to reclaim. 00:13:02.240 |
And verse 4, it goes, "Lifted up was He to die. 00:13:11.820 |
So this is a simple hymn of exaltation of what Christ has 00:13:14.720 |
done for us on the cross, and how He resurrected and will 00:13:19.460 |
So let us reflect on this gospel as we sing this hymn. 00:21:38.800 |
Hi, my name is Katerina Chung, and this is my testimony. 00:22:02.720 |
However, it was in 10th grade when that truly seeped 00:22:12.460 |
and I didn't really have a sincere relationship with God 00:22:15.700 |
since I didn't believe the gospel because I couldn't fully 00:22:22.840 |
knew that God sent his son to die on the cross for our sins 00:22:26.880 |
because of his steadfast love for his children. 00:22:30.680 |
But that never seemed like a logical answer to me 00:22:42.800 |
I'd immediately blame God and question and doubt 00:22:47.300 |
I graduated middle school in the midst of quarantine, 00:22:50.440 |
and because my church was practicing sheltering in place 00:23:00.680 |
It felt like no one was willing to go the distance for me 00:23:12.060 |
why am I feeling such bad and overwhelming emotions? 00:23:18.460 |
and feeling discontent at God's presence or lack thereof 00:23:21.900 |
in my life, I stopped talking with friends from church, 00:23:25.500 |
and my fellowship presence started on a very rocky path. 00:23:29.740 |
It became something I would dread on Friday nights. 00:23:35.340 |
in the middle of meetings and convincing myself 00:23:38.180 |
I was still participating and being a good Christian 00:23:47.820 |
Spiraling, I made the decision to stop attending fellowship 00:23:52.460 |
All the while, my parents had no idea what I was up to. 00:24:04.340 |
notified of my absence and confronted me about it. 00:24:08.040 |
In choosing the consequence of me ditching fellowship, 00:24:18.680 |
And after an honest talk with them, I returned to fellowship. 00:24:24.520 |
was back to going to fellowship online every week, 00:24:29.760 |
With support from my friends and family and prayer, 00:24:38.360 |
and how I do have something to lean on for guidance and truth-- 00:24:48.800 |
and the understanding and receptiveness they gave me 00:24:53.480 |
My life still had its troubles, but I was now aware 00:25:08.160 |
By that, the love, encouragement, and honesty 00:25:10.800 |
my peers gave me were through the grace of God. 00:25:13.640 |
I started to realize my past and current interactions 00:25:21.000 |
I looked-- my friends who gave me time and patience, 00:25:24.540 |
my parents who showed me mercy and compassion, 00:25:30.220 |
However, that verse also tells that calamities, too, 00:25:37.160 |
and the sins of me straying from my friends, family, 00:25:41.860 |
that God used to reveal his masterful love and care for me. 00:25:46.440 |
And so I know now that all of those experiences and acts 00:25:50.400 |
of love were nothing compared to the love, mercy, grace, 00:25:54.340 |
patience, and compassion that God has for me. 00:26:00.240 |
And so I suppose I was somewhat correct before. 00:26:03.380 |
God's love for us while we were still sinners is illogical. 00:26:07.120 |
But instead of that causing me to dwell in paralyzing doubt, 00:26:10.860 |
it now only emphasizes my heart of repentance and gratitude 00:26:19.860 |
to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice acceptable 00:26:23.300 |
to God as spiritual service of worship because of the mercies 00:26:29.840 |
With new life in the Lord and by the help of the Holy Spirit, 00:26:34.240 |
I aim to please and be a living sacrifice for God, my Savior, 00:26:40.080 |
His providence through my well-being and calamities 00:26:44.340 |
are all a part of his mercies and love for me. 00:28:10.900 |
Heavenly Father, we thank you for purchasing our lives 00:28:19.300 |
Thank you, God, that by doing so you have redeemed us. 00:28:30.580 |
brought into your possession, God, that we belong to you. 00:28:35.620 |
We are so thankful, Lord, to be in such a place, 00:28:42.800 |
And I pray, Lord, as we look into today's passage, 00:28:46.900 |
that it would elicit in us not just something we ought to do, 00:28:52.780 |
but, Lord, that it would elicit in us desire. 00:28:57.840 |
If you could turn with me to 1 Timothy chapter 6, verse 17. 00:29:03.560 |
1 Timothy chapter 6, verse 17, "Instruct those 00:29:14.060 |
who are rich in this present world not to be conceited 00:29:16.260 |
or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, 00:29:18.840 |
but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. 00:29:22.380 |
Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, 00:29:31.320 |
so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed." 00:29:35.080 |
So we know that we live in a consumerist America. 00:29:44.220 |
We're very-- it's in recent years, actually, this-- 00:29:52.800 |
able to just purchase something from your home. 00:29:57.640 |
Years ago, of course, you would have to go to a mall, 00:30:01.340 |
would have to actually physically go somewhere. 00:30:11.760 |
And generally speaking, we understand this, too. 00:30:14.460 |
I know we're at different places financially, 00:30:20.060 |
we are amongst the richest people in the world. 00:30:26.300 |
The Bible has much to say about material possession. 00:30:30.100 |
And the passage we're going to look at today is about this. 00:30:36.080 |
even Jesus, when he was around, walking this earth, 00:30:57.700 |
And Paul is speaking to a young pastor named Timothy, who 00:31:02.000 |
is pastoring a church in a large church called Ephesus. 00:31:07.740 |
consists of many socioeconomic backgrounds, many of whom 00:31:13.380 |
And so these are the people that are being addressed today. 00:31:16.760 |
Today's passage is what we will call doctrinal, teachings. 00:31:22.920 |
Doctrine, sound doctrine, it just simply means sound 00:31:39.280 |
It's on what he desires and what he wants of us. 00:31:44.020 |
Over and over again, in the three pastoral epistles, 00:31:49.180 |
and Titus, this is the most repeated word, doctrine, 00:31:59.260 |
because Paul is supposed to be a pastor who is 00:32:05.760 |
So it's interesting because Paul is instructing Timothy 00:32:15.680 |
It's like, I'm passing on sound doctrine to you, 00:32:26.520 |
to preach the sound doctrine, and it's something 00:32:31.560 |
which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, 00:32:49.620 |
held to be, then, content and knowledge and information 00:32:53.280 |
that you possess, but it's meant to be followed. 00:32:56.420 |
Doctrine has always been and always will be a call to action. 00:33:03.420 |
he says, "In pointing out these things to the brethren, 00:33:08.260 |
constantly nourished on the words of the faith 00:33:10.560 |
and the sound doctrine which," and here it is, 00:33:16.500 |
So when it is that a parent would speak to a child 00:33:18.800 |
and give instruction, it's not enough for the child to say, 00:33:23.140 |
The expectation is there inside of the instruction, which 00:33:37.920 |
"Pay close attention to yourself and to this doctrine," 00:33:45.720 |
"Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching." 00:33:50.300 |
That is, how are you going to pass this on unless you 00:33:57.680 |
So in doctrine, there is this call to action. 00:34:01.400 |
Not just simply a set of laws, rules, facts, and principles 00:34:04.320 |
that you appreciate, not just a momentary conviction, 00:34:34.040 |
if you're living here almost like a practical atheist, 00:34:37.220 |
then you would call this gap here foolishness. 00:34:41.520 |
You bring this together as you grow in Christ like this, 00:34:47.500 |
because you don't just pronounce what you believe, 00:34:56.780 |
Biblical wisdom is born only if you have biblical knowledge 00:35:03.040 |
"You, however, continue in the things you have learned 00:35:10.860 |
"and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings 00:35:24.940 |
all of these things that we know in the Word of God 00:35:28.400 |
is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching. 00:35:32.880 |
There's not one of us who would disagree with that. 00:35:45.560 |
And we're looking for key words about the Bible, right? 00:35:52.400 |
"Okay, yes, I believe all scripture's inspired by God 00:36:06.340 |
It's a call to obedience, it's a call to action. 00:36:24.700 |
which is why he calls for Timothy to watch your life. 00:36:40.300 |
our passage today, the instruction that it gives 00:36:43.640 |
are to those who are rich in this present world. 00:36:52.380 |
He's saying if you are rich in this world, listen, 00:37:01.420 |
There are six instructions given in these three verses. 00:37:08.460 |
We're going to combine them together into only four points, 00:37:14.440 |
The first instruction is to not be conceited, 00:37:22.040 |
"Instruct those who are rich in this present world." 00:37:24.920 |
There it is again, that's who he's speaking to, 00:37:27.020 |
those who are rich in this world, right now, that's us. 00:37:37.720 |
Now Paul is talking to people who are already rich. 00:37:40.400 |
In 1 Timothy 6, 9, just a few verses before ours, 00:37:50.340 |
and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men 00:37:52.840 |
into ruin and destruction, for the love of money 00:37:56.240 |
and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith 00:38:03.380 |
Again, I understand that we're on a spectrum. 00:38:05.220 |
I understand that some of us are struggling financially 00:38:10.620 |
And so 1 Timothy 6, it speaks to a spectrum of people. 00:38:14.360 |
1 Timothy 6, 9, talking to those who want to get rich. 00:38:19.740 |
But today's passage is to those who are presently rich. 00:38:25.280 |
That the two people are going to be brought together 00:38:34.320 |
"This is to all believers, but godliness actually 00:38:37.060 |
is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment." 00:38:46.560 |
If we have food uncovering with these, we shall be content." 00:38:49.740 |
So in verse 9, when he talks to those who want to get rich, 00:38:58.080 |
And for our passage today, for those who are already rich, 00:39:10.760 |
is not that he ought to give away all that he has. 00:39:13.360 |
Although we should pause and ask ourselves, why not? 00:39:24.800 |
that's not what he really means to sell all that he has. 00:39:31.340 |
Sure, there might be one interpretation, many 00:39:39.280 |
that you must sell all that you have to the rich man. 00:39:49.760 |
A conceited man is a man who has grown arrogant, 00:39:56.900 |
As if having money in the bank, the car that he drives, 00:40:29.940 |
Just as our very breaths are sustained by God, in a moment, 00:40:57.760 |
Our investments in this world are easily decimated. 00:41:05.840 |
The rich are more easily deceived into thinking 00:41:16.020 |
where you are not dependent on God when you are rich. 00:41:29.500 |
A conceited person, everything revolves around him. 00:41:32.560 |
The opposite of a conceited person is a humble man. 00:41:36.240 |
A humble man knows that he is not in control. 00:41:38.580 |
A humble man is dependent on the Lord for everything. 00:41:56.120 |
Riches will bring a temptation to make you king. 00:42:01.400 |
It will allow you to have what you want when you want it. 00:42:07.700 |
that this world is here to satisfy and to please you. 00:42:28.560 |
we think of our cars, our homes, our possessions, 00:42:34.000 |
the comforts, the pleasures that this world has to offer, 00:42:44.780 |
The lie is that you are king, that you are sovereign, 00:42:50.880 |
and our money is going to be how we live it out. 00:42:55.360 |
King of a world that you know is already set ablaze and doomed, 00:43:05.460 |
buying into the best things that this world has to offer. 00:43:08.540 |
Our riches give away, in fact, what is inside of our hearts. 00:43:11.760 |
Our riches give away what is inside of our hearts. 00:43:13.920 |
It's far better to lose all that we have, all our possessions, 00:43:22.120 |
everything we own, than to fall into this kind of snare, 00:43:35.780 |
to grow arrogant in our lives, to say with our lips 00:43:39.140 |
and then use our finances, declaring that I am. 00:43:42.460 |
Whether we have a lot or whether we have a little, 00:43:49.600 |
whatever it is that we think, that this instruction is there 00:43:53.700 |
to those who are rich in this present world not 00:44:08.540 |
So again, instruct those who are rich in this present world 00:44:11.480 |
not to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, 00:44:14.020 |
but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. 00:44:18.360 |
And now, this idea of fixing hope is very easy. 00:44:46.920 |
Again, we have to be careful, because we can very quickly 00:44:49.380 |
look at our lives and our hearts and think, I'm not. 00:44:54.260 |
He says, do not fix hope on the uncertainty of riches. 00:45:10.580 |
the temptation for you to set your hearts upon them 00:45:13.380 |
There are a lot of college students, young people 00:45:23.220 |
You think, oh, once I get there, I don't have a big paycheck. 00:45:34.760 |
will set upon them that those temptations will increase. 00:45:39.100 |
These are not truths that are difficult to understand. 00:45:41.540 |
So doctrine means, OK, sure we understand that. 00:46:04.120 |
It's not just telling you facts that we already know. 00:46:06.400 |
Otherwise, I'm just going to keep saying the same things 00:46:23.840 |
Not other people, not in comparison to other people. 00:46:31.280 |
This is here for all of us, this temptation that's there. 00:46:38.920 |
When you see your wealth grow, the temptation 00:46:43.800 |
And we think we don't have much, so it's not going to be there. 00:46:48.340 |
Proverbs 23.4, "Do not weary yourself to gain wealth. 00:46:57.940 |
Sometimes I think we think it means slow down. 00:47:02.840 |
It means to just take some time to evaluate it. 00:47:11.320 |
It means cease from your consideration of it. 00:47:20.400 |
When, when you set your eyes on it, poof, it is gone. 00:47:24.260 |
For wealth certainly makes itself wings like an eagle that 00:47:28.600 |
And so we come across passages like Luke 12.19. 00:47:35.740 |
you have many goods laid up for many years to come. 00:47:40.200 |
But God said to him, you fool, this very night 00:47:46.740 |
So is the man who stores up treasure for himself 00:47:51.080 |
So is the man who stores up treasure for himself 00:48:09.860 |
Talking about doctrine, how we spend our money 00:48:12.660 |
is that intersection of things that we might be taught, 00:48:19.640 |
And so, yes, evaluating how we spend our money 00:48:23.240 |
Putting this sermon together, it was very uncomfortable for me. 00:48:35.220 |
It's awesome because we have an excellent tool 00:48:52.640 |
Each of us, we get bank statements every single month. 00:48:59.420 |
is look and ask myself, what does this say about my heart? 00:49:11.820 |
Later on, he says, "For where your treasure is, 00:49:29.580 |
who is your functioning master, who is your God, who 00:49:35.720 |
It says in Matthew 6.24, "No one can serve two masters, 00:49:38.320 |
for either he will hate the one and love the other, 00:49:40.160 |
or he will be devoted to one and despise the other." 00:49:53.680 |
Does our use of money show where we are fixing our hope? 00:49:56.980 |
Is it upon the things of this world that do not last, 00:50:01.280 |
Is it upon the things of our kingdom and what I want, 00:50:06.820 |
What this passage says is that there is no neutral place 00:50:11.200 |
There is struggle, yes, but there is no in-between place 00:50:16.340 |
where you're like, "It's neither for God's kingdom or for mine. 00:50:18.940 |
It's one or the other, and then everything else is a fight." 00:50:34.880 |
what does my spending have to do with my heart? 00:50:41.120 |
what does my spending of money say about my heart? 00:50:56.500 |
Money will come and money will go, but our hope is anchored. 00:51:03.940 |
Put your money there, because God does not come and go. 00:51:09.840 |
That's why this is not just about money management. 00:51:12.880 |
We're not just trying to get better in how we spend our money. 00:51:16.120 |
We're not just trying to get better at sinning less 00:51:19.360 |
by being less greedy, by stealing less from God. 00:51:32.200 |
And so all that I own, not just my money, my time, my life, 00:51:44.980 |
we are pursuing, and we are fighting for this. 00:52:13.080 |
There's a man by the name of Jim Elliott, famous quote, 00:52:42.640 |
At the age of 26, he gave his life for this doctrine. 00:52:52.380 |
How large is our gap between what we practice 00:52:59.080 |
For to me, to live is Christ and die is gain. 00:53:12.560 |
Spurgeon, he says, "I do not want you to have to say 00:53:17.560 |
I have had large possessions, but I have been a bad steward. 00:53:21.300 |
I have had a competence and I have wasted my master's goods. 00:53:25.740 |
All I have done with my wealth was to furnish my house well, 00:53:28.880 |
perhaps to buy expensive pictures and to allow myself 00:53:34.420 |
Brethren, some men spend so much upon themselves and so little 00:53:38.860 |
for the Lord that they seem to me to eat the apple 00:53:46.560 |
The instruction is not to fix hope on uncertain riches, 00:53:51.200 |
And he begins to describe what this looks like 00:53:55.240 |
Point number three, the instruction to do good 00:53:57.940 |
and to be rich in good works, these are instructions 00:54:01.580 |
The instruction is to do good and to be rich in good works. 00:54:04.380 |
Verse 17 tells us, "Those who are rich in the present world, 00:54:08.580 |
instruct them," and then verse 18 says, very simply, 00:54:19.260 |
This portion of the instruction is what you would call 00:54:26.500 |
It's not fix your hope on the things of the world, 00:54:36.680 |
Doing good is the same instruction for the rich 00:54:40.380 |
When it comes to Christianity, it's not whether you have a lot 00:54:47.420 |
This is the responsibility given to us as believers 00:54:51.500 |
In Ephesians 2.10, it says, "For we are his workmanship, 00:54:54.120 |
we are created in Christ Jesus," and that word "for," 00:55:04.560 |
We are created in Christ Jesus for good works. 00:55:12.540 |
There's a reason why people build things, right? 00:55:15.500 |
For a purpose, whether it's functional or whether it's 00:55:21.540 |
Because our purpose is for good works, which God prepared 00:55:33.520 |
What this means is that if God has given you riches, 00:55:37.100 |
It means, the point of it is, that it is that we are to do 00:55:43.060 |
Because we were created in Christ Jesus for good works. 00:55:51.680 |
All the works he does, it shouldn't even have to be 00:55:55.020 |
He just does works and all of it is just good. 00:56:02.980 |
Hands and feet of Christ here in this world, the body of Christ. 00:56:07.220 |
And we were created to do the things that he wishes and wills 00:56:14.260 |
What Jesus came to do that we are here to do. 00:56:18.440 |
All of the resources given to us to be expended for that 00:56:35.580 |
there's an expectation that comes with that giving. 00:56:39.460 |
With my children, if I'm to give them something, 00:56:41.760 |
they know automatically because this is who we are in the home, 00:56:48.700 |
Very simple parental thing that all of us as parents, 00:56:56.280 |
That we are called to teach them this, to share, 00:56:59.980 |
to be gracious, to be generous, and to be kind. 00:57:02.480 |
It's one of the ugliest things to see when out of your love 00:57:05.640 |
and desire for your child to have such good things and you 00:57:08.480 |
give it to them, only to overhear in the other room them 00:57:11.360 |
flaunting it and hoarding it and not sharing it. 00:57:15.560 |
What you would want to do is just to take that away or not 00:57:24.360 |
God has given to us all that we have for a purpose. 00:57:45.420 |
Why has he given you your families for good works? 00:57:55.560 |
Does he see a child who is being selfish, hoarding, 00:58:00.260 |
simply for my own good pleasure, and not in any way 00:58:03.940 |
considering what he wants, not in any way considering 00:58:14.820 |
My backyard, even in the things that we would say is good 00:58:19.820 |
works, it's just about me, about accomplishing my duties. 00:58:39.480 |
He says, this is what you were called to do, and then now, 00:58:48.340 |
Doing good is something that is commanded actively. 00:58:51.380 |
But if we are to look under the hood of a Christian, 00:58:59.160 |
Rich, not just trying to do good works here and there. 00:59:02.160 |
It should be growing in richness in good works. 00:59:04.640 |
If we're Christians who have been living for year 00:59:16.140 |
when it comes to good works, to use money to help others, 00:59:25.820 |
to use what I have to help in any capacity that I see. 00:59:30.560 |
Ultimately, ultimately, to do what God wants, 00:59:37.620 |
And so it doesn't stop with just feeding a perishing life. 00:59:47.340 |
And so we use what we have to accomplish his purposes, 00:59:53.940 |
For the Christian is to be good in good works, 01:00:07.060 |
But money in the hands of a Christian saved by grace 01:00:09.760 |
is altogether functional for the kingdom to spread God's love. 01:00:14.160 |
Our aim is to use wealth to do this ultimate good, 01:00:18.400 |
there for personal comfort, pleasures, and luxuries. 01:00:22.080 |
John 10:10 shows why Jesus came into this world. 01:00:24.940 |
"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. 01:00:27.280 |
I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." 01:00:31.980 |
Taken incorrectly, this can seem like it's all about me 01:00:35.060 |
because Jesus came, and wow, he came to give me life 01:00:39.360 |
And we can stop there and think that that's what-- 01:00:53.380 |
that are passing and fleeting and leading to death. 01:00:57.880 |
An abundant life is this life that proliferates, 01:01:00.680 |
and it expands, and it grows, and it's lavish. 01:01:04.080 |
Jesus came so that I might have that kind of life. 01:01:17.820 |
trying to live out the things that we want here, 01:01:21.860 |
just biding our time till we get into that kingdom. 01:01:24.240 |
This idea of abundant life means something that keeps growing. 01:02:03.820 |
are the instructions to be generous and to be sharing. 01:02:06.500 |
1 Timothy 6, 18, "to be generous and ready to share." 01:02:17.840 |
for themselves the treasures of a good foundation 01:02:33.420 |
Be generous, give without restraint, to be liberal, 01:02:45.140 |
We don't get to redefine what it means to give. 01:02:51.000 |
We don't get to redefine what it means to love. 01:02:52.880 |
Jesus came and he says, this is what it is to love. 01:02:55.880 |
He says, the things that I give were to be abundant, 01:03:05.080 |
so I'm not going to even try, but I'll give you the meaning. 01:03:20.160 |
You see your kids, and you don't take notes saying, 01:03:30.640 |
And then I took them to Chuck E. Cheese for a birthday party, 01:03:39.180 |
Parents, we budget, and we look at our finances, 01:03:48.660 |
But the Korean saying goes, that's how it goes, 01:03:52.060 |
children, when they come to age where they have to begin 01:03:54.200 |
to provide for their parents, count every cent. 01:03:57.240 |
It's really interesting that the idea of this 01:04:05.340 |
there's something where you're counting the dollars. 01:04:07.580 |
And there's a reason why instruction is given to parents 01:04:18.820 |
Instruction needs to be given because of what's there. 01:04:24.360 |
But these parents, they give it gladly, lavishly. 01:04:29.300 |
We are to give generously, liberally, bountifully. 01:04:46.420 |
Let me tell you, that service auction every year 01:04:52.020 |
That's what I think at every service auction. 01:04:54.280 |
But I'm so thankful that it goes to missions. 01:05:07.340 |
I'm not going to tell you how much, but it's there. 01:05:19.520 |
the way God came into this world, to give abundant life. 01:05:24.060 |
What it took, 1 John 3:16 says, "If we know love by this, 01:05:29.060 |
and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 01:05:33.620 |
and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, 01:05:38.140 |
Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, 01:05:43.080 |
Not just that you have the truth, but in deed. 01:05:46.480 |
Don't just say the words, but to live it out. 01:05:53.380 |
Ephesians 1:7, "In him, we have redemption through his blood. 01:05:57.520 |
according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished on us. 01:06:04.100 |
What are the riches of the glory of his inheritance 01:06:16.740 |
It feels like this is just like a child's sermon, you know? 01:06:30.780 |
That all that you have, you do not have anything 01:06:44.340 |
Now, of course I'm not discounting the hard work. 01:07:01.620 |
my breath, my hands, my feet, my body, my life-- 01:07:15.220 |
2 Corinthians 9.10, "Now he who supplies seed to the sower 01:07:18.120 |
and bread for the food will supply and multiply 01:08:01.000 |
So we're called, then, to give generously and to be sharing. 01:08:12.180 |
Now, this is where I kind of titled the sermon what it was, 01:08:15.780 |
because we're not health wealth, and we're not name and claim. 01:08:21.720 |
wants you to be rich and everything here in this world 01:08:24.020 |
and have everything that you would ever want. 01:08:36.280 |
What we invest here in this world will have eternal reward. 01:08:39.240 |
It's the soundest advice that you will ever receive. 01:08:47.880 |
It just makes no sense for us to say that this world is just 01:08:51.280 |
gone like that, and that we are going to live forever there. 01:08:55.060 |
You know what this passage is saying is invest in the there, 01:09:04.440 |
Why is it that when I pull up my bank account, 01:09:16.280 |
He's commanding us to store up great wealth in the kingdom. 01:09:37.960 |
Your financial advisor will say if you delay gratification. 01:09:43.980 |
grow to here so that you can use it when you are 65. 01:10:04.460 |
When God promises good things, we know it's going to be good. 01:10:06.720 |
So we don't know exactly what that's going to look like. 01:10:12.340 |
Every year, I look for one thing because it's 01:10:19.140 |
And in this mystery box, the first time I saw it, 01:10:26.780 |
You don't even know what you're going to get. 01:10:31.720 |
Because they knew the person who was putting it up. 01:10:35.080 |
They knew that this person only gives good things. 01:10:44.060 |
it was everyone just trying to get what you could get. 01:10:48.000 |
Oh, if only we could look like that when it came 01:10:55.440 |
To know that what God gives is so much better. 01:11:04.540 |
He isn't just looking for donors for his kingdom. 01:11:08.180 |
and dispassionately consider acts of philanthropy. 01:11:13.120 |
He wants people so filled with a vision for eternity 01:11:16.300 |
that they wouldn't dream of not investing their money, time, 01:11:22.860 |
And so today, these instructions are not prohibitions, mainly. 01:11:29.980 |
It's saying, yeah, stop putting your money here 01:11:32.540 |
because that makes no sense, but invest in kingdom things 01:11:50.120 |
In 1 Timothy 6.11, it says, but flee from these things, 01:11:53.300 |
you men of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, 01:12:00.600 |
Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, 01:12:02.640 |
and you made the good confession in the presence 01:12:05.800 |
If you look very carefully here in the passage that 01:12:26.720 |
You have to work hard in order to be able to get. 01:12:40.340 |
to go away because you know that it's going to be there. 01:12:44.200 |
You're not going to be like, oh, I have some convictions, 01:12:46.600 |
so we walk out that door and something has changed in me. 01:12:54.580 |
What he's saying here is fight for every step, 01:13:02.560 |
Take hold of that which is life, because you will not naturally 01:13:11.160 |
Get away from the things that take your eyes off 01:13:13.640 |
on the things of this world, and take your eyes off of God. 01:13:16.140 |
Put your things into the things that will cause 01:13:26.540 |
Don't sit there wondering, why am I so apathetic? 01:13:45.320 |
Live in accordance to the things that you believe, 01:13:54.540 |
Look with your own two eyes, and see that that is worth it. 01:14:03.580 |
And we will check under the hoods of our hearts 01:14:08.060 |
in each other, and we will see rich and good works. 01:14:26.000 |
1 Timothy 6, verse 10, it says, "For the love of money 01:14:32.800 |
is root of all sorts of evil, and some, by longing for it, 01:14:47.860 |
If we don't take hold of that which is life indeed, 01:14:53.120 |
Mark 10, 21, looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him. 01:14:55.560 |
This is the rich, young ruler, the one who said, 01:14:57.420 |
I have done all these things you have commanded. 01:15:02.160 |
I've been a good Krishna, I've gone to church, 01:15:03.840 |
I've done good things, I've given to the poor. 01:15:05.740 |
I've done all of this to the best of my ability. 01:15:08.940 |
And Jesus, it says, felt a love for him and said to him, 01:15:11.480 |
one thing you lack, go and sell all you possess 01:15:13.440 |
and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven 01:15:17.480 |
Meaning that we can do all that we say with our lips. 01:15:22.320 |
and say all the right doctrines and say, yes, I'm trying. 01:15:31.320 |
And all of this, we can put all these things up. 01:15:36.560 |
The point of living like this is that by living generously 01:15:41.540 |
and sharing and storing up in treasures in heaven, 01:15:44.240 |
it's not just sacrifice that he's talking about, 01:15:49.040 |
We're talking about surrender of life to something 01:15:52.320 |
that we believe, that is, that this world is uh-uh. 01:16:14.840 |
propels our heart towards the kingdom and the king. 01:16:18.340 |
If money is causing us to take our eyes off of Christ, 01:16:20.840 |
or what it can purchase is taking off our eyes off 01:16:36.060 |
knowing he will care for us and give abundantly and lavishly 01:16:44.940 |
The world might see us as failing, losing, dying, 01:16:51.640 |
We are no fools who give up what we cannot take. 01:16:55.420 |
A.W. Tozer, to conclude, says, "As basic a thing as money often 01:17:03.580 |
is, it yet can be transmuted into everlasting treasure. 01:17:06.420 |
It can be converted into food for the hungry and clothing 01:17:09.920 |
It can keep a missionary actively winning lost men 01:17:12.300 |
to the light of the gospel, and thus transmute itself 01:17:16.340 |
Any temporal possession can be turned into everlasting wealth. 01:17:24.500 |
And so this was the doctrine from 1 Timothy chapter 6, 01:17:33.180 |
to preach to the church, to those who are presently 01:17:41.500 |
Here are your six instructions to go and live it out. 01:17:50.600 |
To not think that our decisions are just going to change, 01:17:56.080 |
Because if we are not being intentional and active, 01:18:14.060 |
Whether we have a lot or whether we have a little. 01:18:19.640 |
As Christians, we live together for the same purpose. 01:18:39.620 |
That we would hear, listen, obey, and understand. 01:18:43.620 |
And Father, that we would look to our hearts, to our lives. 01:18:46.100 |
That your spirit would cause that kind of reflection 01:18:50.800 |
And that by your work, Lord, that we would respond. 01:18:55.240 |
Let us all rise as we sing our closing praise. 01:21:40.100 |
He's sweeter than honey from out of the comb. 01:23:17.240 |
We trust in you, God, that you are enough for everything. 01:23:21.220 |
So we thank you, Lord, for your son Jesus and the work 01:23:25.520 |
And I pray, God, for fruit that goes out and causes us to be 01:23:32.520 |
and the love of God our Father and the fellowship 01:23:34.860 |
of the Holy Spirit be with us both now and forevermore. 01:23:39.400 |
(SINGING) God sent his Son, they called him Jesus. 01:24:11.400 |
An empty grave is there to my Savior's place. 01:24:58.260 |
And life is worth the living just because he lives. 01:25:10.740 |
In time of need, Lord, I can't help but see faithful you are, 01:25:28.140 |
faithful forever you will be, faithful you are. 01:26:17.400 |
Blessed Redeemer, you have set this captor free.