WEBVTT

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 Well, I know John puts a lot of preparation into our singing portion of the service.

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! So it's not by accident we sing, we finish with a song, Jesus paid it all, all to him I owe.

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 So, on a morning that we're going to talk about money.

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 Yeah, you know, this is our favorite subject, I'm sure, to talk about money.

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 And if all of you don't just walk out the back right now, I will be a very happy preacher today.

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 You know, I feel a little inadequate, to be honest with you, in talking to you about something as significant as how to give.

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 How to put your money to work.

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 I feel a little inadequate because, number one, this is a church that I know does a great job at investing in eternity.

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 Just a look at this past year is a tremendous example of how much you desire and invest in the things that really matter.

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 If I remember correctly, I think around $46,000 that you gave to the summer youth missions trip.

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 And in the last month of our time last year, I think there was almost $100,000 that you gave as a church

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 in contributing to the ministry here and to the ongoing work of the kingdom.

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 And so, in a lot of respects, I should be the one sitting in the pew.

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 And many of you should be the ones who are here sharing the significance of how to make much of your money.

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 I think there's also a bit of an adequacy in my own life, just knowing how much I need,

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 how much more room there is in my own life to grow in this area.

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 So, I would encourage us, this morning as we come to the Word of God, the Word of God is the standard.

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 God has set the principles for us.

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 That is the authority by which we live.

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 And so, even though there is room in my own life to grow,

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 and you can probably teach me a lot in relationship to how to be a better kingdom giver,

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 we can all sit underneath the authority of the Scripture,

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 and we can all find in this passage room for us to really grow in our giving to God.

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 But before we do that, let's go to the Word, the Lord in prayer,

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 and ask for His help in this very important subject.

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 God, we praise You this morning that You paid it all.

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 And because You paid it all, all to You we owe.

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 And as we sang earlier, my hope is built on nothing less but Jesus' blood and righteousness.

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 There is security in You.

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 There is hope in You.

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 There is certainty in You.

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 There is confidence for life.

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 There is the knowledge that You will provide for our needs.

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 And even though at times we feel overcome by our circumstances,

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 even though at times we feel overwhelmed by the pressures of this life,

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 especially as it relates to finances,

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 God, we know that we can rest in the fact, the promise that You are in control,

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 that we can trust You with all of our resources,

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 and that You will help us to be more like Christ.

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 On Him is the solid rock in which we stand.

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 All other ground is sinking sand.

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 And so it is not this morning that we are putting our hope in Christ and in finances,

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 but that as an expression of our life, our desire, God, is to put our hope in You alone.

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 So help us this morning as we look at this passage to see the significance of anchoring our hope in the solid rock.

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 May we grow in this area.

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 May we shine in this world because they see that our hope is distinctive,

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 that our hope is in Christ.

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 May it be attractive.

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 May it be compelling.

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 We pray in Jesus' name.

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 Amen.

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 This is something that you have heard year after year.

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 This is a series of messages that the pastor has consistently brought to you

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 in relationship to how can we be better stewards of God's money.

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 So I really have nothing extra to bring to the table that you haven't already heard.

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 I just hope that through our time together this morning,

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 what I can do is just remind us of those simple, basic principles,

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 the things that God has told us in His Word so that we can be more like Christ,

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 be reminded of the standard and grow in this area of generosity and kingdom building.

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 Of course, we know that Jesus had much to say about this significant topic.

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 Although the crowds that came to hear Him speak were sprinkled with those who were rich

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 and those who were poor and everything in between,

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 we find even at the outset of Jesus' ministry,

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 this is something that He came to correct.

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 This is an understanding that He desired to help bring some clarity to,

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 even at the very beginning, the outset of ministry.

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 He's coming to a group of individuals in that ancient Middle East period of time

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 that believed that money was an indication that God was actually blessing an individual.

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 And so Jesus had to shatter that understanding.

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 He had to help them understand that whether you had money or didn't have money,

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 that God's favor could be on a life regardless of the economic status of an individual.

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 And as a matter of fact, those who seemed to be most favored by God

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 because they had the most in the bank account

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 were actually those who were furthest away from the kingdom.

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 He wanted to help correct their understanding of this important principle of money.

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 The very beginning of ministry on the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew chapter 6,

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 familiar passage to you,

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 Jesus says,

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 Don't be anxious.

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 Don't be fearful.

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 Saying,

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 What shall we eat?

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 Or,

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 What shall we drink?

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 Or,

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 What shall we wear?

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 For the Gentiles seek after these things.

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 This is not only an important topic for us today,

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 this is a differentiating topic.

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 This is a distinguishing component of the Christian life.

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 This sets you apart from the world.

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 Where is your confidence?

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 Where is your hope?

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 Is your hope in your 401k,

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 your savings account,

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 all of those things that you are putting your confidence in for the future?

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 Or,

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 Is your hope in God?

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 Is it on the solid rock upon which we stand?

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 That all other ground is sinking sand?

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 The world looks at money in one way,

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 and Jesus sought to bring a different perspective.

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 A heavenly one.

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 What we do with our money can either enhance our testimony,

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 increase our joy,

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 bring delight to God,

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 and maximize our future reward.

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 Or,

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 it can distract our focus from what really matters,

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 lead to anxiety,

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 dissatisfaction,

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 and ineffectiveness in the Christian life.

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 So it really raises this important question,

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 what will we do with our money?

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 And how can we put our money to work?

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 Even the world understands that there are opportunities in relationship to money.

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 Just this past week,

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 there was an article that I read that said that eight of the world's wealthiest men

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 are richer than three and a half billion people combined in the world.

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 That's a staggering figure.

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 Eight people,

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 as this one article said,

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 that can fit into a minivan,

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 own more than the sum total of individuals who can fit on,

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 let me get the figure correct.

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 Oh,

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 I lost it.

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 Here we go.

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 50 million school buses.

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 Think of that.

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 Eight men

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 that fit into one minivan

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 have more than the sum total

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 of all the people that can fit on 50 million school buses.

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 That is mind-boggling.

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 And of course,

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 the world has their ideas

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 of how to resolve the issue.

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 This distribution of wealth

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 that needs to happen.

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 And all of these ideas

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 that certainly the world is broken

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 and we need to fix it somehow.

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 And of course,

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 Jesus has his ideas as well.

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 And the Apostle Paul,

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 in working through this issue,

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 wants us to understand

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 that having wealth is not the problem.

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 It's what we do

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 with the opportunities that wealth affords us.

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 What will we do to make much

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 of the gifts that God has entrusted to us?

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 How can we put it to work in this world?

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 It's a plan that involves deliberate investment,

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 but one that has a guaranteed result.

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 And that's what I want to look at this morning

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 from 1 Timothy chapter 6.

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 So turn with me, if you would,

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 to 1 Timothy chapter 6.

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 And we'll look at just these three verses.

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 And I want us to see that in three verses,

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 there are two commands and one promise.

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 And as we look at this together this morning,

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 I want us to understand

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 that Paul is interested in helping Timothy,

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 as a pastor to the church of Ephesus,

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 to coach and to encourage

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 and to command the people

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 in relationship to this important area of life.

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 So 1 Timothy chapter 6,

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 if you're a guest with us this morning,

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 it's on page 993

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 in the Pew Bible in front of you.

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 1 Timothy chapter 6,

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 actually beginning in verse 17.

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 It says,

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 As for the rich in this present age,

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 charge them not to be haughty

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 or to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches,

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 but on God,

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 who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.

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 They are to do good,

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 to be rich in good works,

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 to be generous and ready to share,

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 thus storing up treasures for themselves

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 as a good foundation for the future,

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 so that they may take hold of that

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 which is truly life.

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 Paul begins encouraging Timothy

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 with some strong language.

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 He tells Timothy to charge

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 the rich of the present age.

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 We see that his encouragement to Timothy

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 is a non-negotiable.

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 I want you, Timothy, as a pastor,

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 to elevate this to the area of urgency

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 that it belongs.

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 I want you to help the people

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 who are rich in your church,

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 rich in that culture,

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 to understand the significance

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 of the opportunities that they have

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 and that this is a non-negotiable in life.

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 This is not optional.

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 This is something that is commanded

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 by the Apostle Paul

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 and coming from the Lord himself

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 to us this morning.

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 Something that we need to know.

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 Something that will encourage

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 and help us in relationship

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 to using the money

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 that God has given to us

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 in a way that honors God

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 and magnifies his testimony

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 in the world.

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 Now, Timothy, you all know,

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 joined the Apostle Paul

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 in ministry early on in life.

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 There was some real suffering

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 and persecution that took place

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 in Timothy's hometown

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 as Paul was there.

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 And yet, his mother and grandmother

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 entrusted Timothy to Paul's care.

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 And so, Timothy was really,

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 in a lot of ways,

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 a real son,

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 not just a spiritual son

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 to the Apostle Paul,

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 but in many ways,

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 nurtured and encouraged

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 and raised by the Apostle Paul himself.

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 And here, Timothy is in

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 the city of Ephesus

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 helping to provide some

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 pastoral leadership

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 over this city.

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 Now, this was a city

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 that was kind of at the crossroads

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 of the Roman Empire.

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 This was a prominent

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 and affluent city

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 in many ways.

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 And one look at the city

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 from Acts chapter 19,

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 you'll get an idea

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 of how wealthy they were.

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 Remember that once

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 they were converted to Christ,

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 they had this massive bonfire

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 of all of these books

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 of sorcery and witchcraft

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 that they had owned

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 and they wanted to get rid of.

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 Remember that?

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 Well, it says that

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 when they brought their books

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 and counted the pieces

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 of them,

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 they found that they was worth

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 50,000 pieces of silver.

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 Now, looking at commentaries,

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 we find that one piece of silver

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 would have been equivalent

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 to 150 salaries for the year.

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 And to kind of equate that

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 to our day and age,

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 that would have been

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 somewhere around

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 $7.8 million worth of books

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 that they burned

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 in that bonfire.

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 So, we can understand

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 why Paul would be talking

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 about the rich of that age.

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 This was an affluent community.

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 A group of individuals

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 who had great opportunity

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 to use their wealth

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 in a way that was

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 pleasing to the Lord.

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 This was not just

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 a friendly suggestion.

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 This was a command,

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 a charge.

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 Now, I want us to understand

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 that this not only relates

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 to the city of Ephesus,

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 but this relates to you.

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 There are three little

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 bullet points right there,

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 and I just want to lead you

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 through quickly,

00:14:54.019 --> 00:14:55.120
 helping you understand

00:14:55.120 --> 00:14:56.240
 how this relates

00:14:56.240 --> 00:14:58.659
 to our specific situation,

00:14:58.860 --> 00:14:59.740
 where we live

00:14:59.740 --> 00:15:01.319
 in this present day.

00:15:02.279 --> 00:15:02.960
 I want to take a look

00:15:02.960 --> 00:15:03.899
 at the world situation.

00:15:04.000 --> 00:15:04.799
 I want to understand

00:15:04.799 --> 00:15:06.659
 where we fit in this picture,

00:15:06.659 --> 00:15:07.339
 and I want to see

00:15:07.339 --> 00:15:08.559
 that this is relevant

00:15:08.559 --> 00:15:10.319
 to us this morning.

00:15:13.819 --> 00:15:14.919
 First, just a quick look

00:15:14.919 --> 00:15:15.879
 at the world situation.

00:15:16.839 --> 00:15:18.539
 Almost one billion people

00:15:18.539 --> 00:15:21.379
 are living on just a dollar a day.

00:15:22.439 --> 00:15:23.459
 Can you imagine?

00:15:24.740 --> 00:15:26.279
 One billion people

00:15:26.279 --> 00:15:28.839
 living on a dollar a day.

00:15:29.519 --> 00:15:31.819
 Nearly half of the world's

00:15:31.819 --> 00:15:33.539
 population are living

00:15:33.539 --> 00:15:35.539
 on two and a half dollars a day.

00:15:35.539 --> 00:15:38.079
 And 80% of the population

00:15:38.079 --> 00:15:41.199
 is living on $10 a day.

00:15:42.240 --> 00:15:43.459
 And in case you're thinking,

00:15:43.659 --> 00:15:45.860
 well, you've got to apply

00:15:45.860 --> 00:15:49.419
 the going rate of that culture

00:15:49.419 --> 00:15:50.659
 and then understand

00:15:50.659 --> 00:15:52.319
 how that factors in,

00:15:53.399 --> 00:15:54.500
 maybe this will bring

00:15:54.500 --> 00:15:56.399
 this to light for us.

00:15:56.480 --> 00:15:58.980
 There are some 22,000 children

00:15:58.980 --> 00:16:02.360
 who die every single day

00:16:02.360 --> 00:16:04.039
 because of malnutrition.

00:16:04.039 --> 00:16:07.279
 That's how far the dollar

00:16:07.279 --> 00:16:07.779
 has gone.

00:16:08.480 --> 00:16:09.679
 It's not feeding tummies.

00:16:10.639 --> 00:16:11.439
 It's not meeting

00:16:11.439 --> 00:16:13.919
 even the basic needs of life.

00:16:15.559 --> 00:16:17.179
 60% of the people

00:16:17.179 --> 00:16:18.000
 around the world

00:16:18.000 --> 00:16:19.059
 have no access

00:16:19.059 --> 00:16:19.839
 to clean water.

00:16:20.819 --> 00:16:21.539
 Even the things

00:16:21.539 --> 00:16:22.439
 that we take for granted

00:16:22.439 --> 00:16:23.159
 from day to day,

00:16:23.699 --> 00:16:25.099
 60% of the world

00:16:25.099 --> 00:16:26.919
 doesn't even have access

00:16:26.919 --> 00:16:28.240
 to clean water.

00:16:29.199 --> 00:16:30.759
 So how rich are you?

00:16:30.759 --> 00:16:32.740
 Well, if you're making

00:16:32.740 --> 00:16:34.620
 more than $10 a day,

00:16:35.100 --> 00:16:37.080
 you're richer than 80%

00:16:37.080 --> 00:16:37.720
 of the world.

00:16:40.019 --> 00:16:42.299
 You're in the top 20%,

00:16:42.299 --> 00:16:44.200
 the upper echelon

00:16:44.200 --> 00:16:45.080
 of society.

00:16:46.039 --> 00:16:47.580
 And if you make a minimum wage,

00:16:47.700 --> 00:16:49.220
 $8.15

00:16:49.220 --> 00:16:51.600
 here in 2017,

00:16:52.460 --> 00:16:54.179
 you make in one hour

00:16:54.179 --> 00:16:55.939
 what most of the world

00:16:55.939 --> 00:16:56.639
 doesn't even make

00:16:56.639 --> 00:16:57.779
 in an entire day.

00:16:57.779 --> 00:17:00.759
 If your household income,

00:17:01.139 --> 00:17:02.079
 combined income,

00:17:02.240 --> 00:17:04.279
 is $50,000 or more,

00:17:04.819 --> 00:17:06.740
 you make five and a half times

00:17:06.740 --> 00:17:07.899
 more than the typical person.

00:17:09.000 --> 00:17:10.160
 And if your household income

00:17:10.160 --> 00:17:12.500
 is $80,000 or more,

00:17:12.859 --> 00:17:15.740
 you make eight and a half times,

00:17:15.839 --> 00:17:17.559
 almost nine times more

00:17:17.559 --> 00:17:18.940
 than the person

00:17:18.940 --> 00:17:21.099
 who lives in this world.

00:17:21.099 --> 00:17:23.859
 So is this relevant to us?

00:17:24.179 --> 00:17:25.139
 You better believe it.

00:17:25.759 --> 00:17:26.459
 And it's relevant

00:17:26.459 --> 00:17:27.319
 not only because

00:17:27.319 --> 00:17:30.319
 we are part of the puzzle here.

00:17:30.659 --> 00:17:32.259
 We fit in the category

00:17:32.259 --> 00:17:33.399
 of those who are wealthy.

00:17:33.539 --> 00:17:34.500
 But it's relevant

00:17:34.500 --> 00:17:35.719
 to any of us

00:17:35.719 --> 00:17:36.799
 who have experienced

00:17:36.799 --> 00:17:38.059
 a measure of anxiety

00:17:38.059 --> 00:17:40.000
 thinking about the future

00:17:40.000 --> 00:17:41.019
 in terms of

00:17:41.019 --> 00:17:42.119
 how we're going to make it.

00:17:42.819 --> 00:17:43.919
 Like if you come

00:17:43.919 --> 00:17:45.399
 to the end of a month

00:17:45.399 --> 00:17:45.959
 and you wonder

00:17:45.959 --> 00:17:47.139
 how you're going to get by,

00:17:47.899 --> 00:17:48.599
 that the pressures

00:17:48.599 --> 00:17:49.779
 of finances

00:17:49.779 --> 00:17:51.079
 are weighing down

00:17:51.079 --> 00:17:51.779
 on your shoulders,

00:17:52.079 --> 00:17:53.440
 then this passage

00:17:53.440 --> 00:17:54.319
 is for you.

00:17:55.279 --> 00:17:56.720
 If you have ever been

00:17:56.720 --> 00:17:57.399
 disappointed

00:17:57.399 --> 00:18:01.539
 by a financial investment

00:18:01.539 --> 00:18:02.639
 and your heart

00:18:02.639 --> 00:18:05.220
 has been in angst

00:18:05.220 --> 00:18:06.980
 over the money

00:18:06.980 --> 00:18:07.980
 that you have lost,

00:18:08.139 --> 00:18:08.359
 well,

00:18:09.259 --> 00:18:10.119
 this passage

00:18:10.119 --> 00:18:10.980
 is for you.

00:18:11.819 --> 00:18:12.899
 If you're wondering

00:18:12.899 --> 00:18:15.019
 how to make ends meet

00:18:15.019 --> 00:18:16.960
 from day to day

00:18:16.960 --> 00:18:19.359
 and you're worried

00:18:19.359 --> 00:18:21.619
 about how your 401k

00:18:21.619 --> 00:18:24.579
 will benefit you

00:18:24.579 --> 00:18:26.240
 at your retirement age,

00:18:26.919 --> 00:18:28.639
 then this passage

00:18:28.639 --> 00:18:29.219
 is for you.

00:18:30.059 --> 00:18:31.299
 Maybe you're stressed

00:18:31.299 --> 00:18:32.679
 about your current

00:18:32.679 --> 00:18:34.659
 employment situation

00:18:34.659 --> 00:18:36.219
 or lack thereof.

00:18:36.979 --> 00:18:38.959
 If that's your situation today,

00:18:39.519 --> 00:18:40.939
 then this passage

00:18:40.939 --> 00:18:41.899
 is for you.

00:18:43.199 --> 00:18:44.099
 So let's look

00:18:44.099 --> 00:18:45.939
 at some of the obstacles.

00:18:46.139 --> 00:18:47.299
 What are some of the things

00:18:47.299 --> 00:18:48.740
 that get in the way

00:18:48.740 --> 00:18:51.799
 of God helping us

00:18:51.799 --> 00:18:52.700
 to make the most

00:18:52.700 --> 00:18:53.359
 of our money?

00:18:53.460 --> 00:18:55.180
 What stands in the way?

00:18:56.460 --> 00:18:58.059
 And that is our first point

00:18:58.059 --> 00:18:58.680
 for this morning.

00:18:59.159 --> 00:19:00.519
 There are some obstacles.

00:19:01.079 --> 00:19:01.940
 The obstacles

00:19:01.940 --> 00:19:03.460
 to a good investment.

00:19:04.399 --> 00:19:05.599
 And if you can move

00:19:05.599 --> 00:19:07.559
 to the next group of slides,

00:19:07.680 --> 00:19:08.200
 that would be great.

00:19:08.460 --> 00:19:08.639
 Good.

00:19:08.720 --> 00:19:09.419
 I think you already did that.

00:19:09.420 --> 00:19:09.820
 First,

00:19:11.120 --> 00:19:12.200
 I want us to see here

00:19:12.200 --> 00:19:13.560
 in verse 17.

00:19:14.519 --> 00:19:15.220
 It says,

00:19:17.360 --> 00:19:18.880
 Charge them not

00:19:18.880 --> 00:19:20.120
 to be haughty.

00:19:21.180 --> 00:19:23.039
 Charge them not

00:19:23.039 --> 00:19:23.960
 to be haughty.

00:19:24.120 --> 00:19:26.039
 That is the first obstacle

00:19:26.039 --> 00:19:27.640
 to making the most

00:19:27.640 --> 00:19:28.160
 of your money.

00:19:29.840 --> 00:19:31.900
 Money can make us haughty.

00:19:34.060 --> 00:19:35.560
 Money can make us haughty.

00:19:36.220 --> 00:19:37.580
 That's just another word

00:19:37.579 --> 00:19:38.379
 for proud.

00:19:41.740 --> 00:19:42.460
 Charge them

00:19:42.460 --> 00:19:43.799
 not to be haughty.

00:19:44.919 --> 00:19:46.559
 Paul's first concern

00:19:46.559 --> 00:19:47.899
 is the unity

00:19:47.899 --> 00:19:49.279
 of the church.

00:19:50.919 --> 00:19:52.240
 His focus

00:19:52.240 --> 00:19:54.059
 is how the church

00:19:54.059 --> 00:19:55.339
 relates together

00:19:55.339 --> 00:19:56.819
 and how the church

00:19:56.819 --> 00:19:58.559
 represents Christ.

00:20:00.460 --> 00:20:02.279
 When we use our money

00:20:02.279 --> 00:20:03.819
 in the wrong way,

00:20:04.519 --> 00:20:05.639
 we tarnish

00:20:05.640 --> 00:20:06.540
 the reputation

00:20:06.540 --> 00:20:07.180
 of God.

00:20:07.300 --> 00:20:08.640
 We corrupt

00:20:08.640 --> 00:20:09.700
 the beauty

00:20:09.700 --> 00:20:10.400
 of the gospel

00:20:10.400 --> 00:20:11.259
 in this world.

00:20:12.520 --> 00:20:13.600
 Money has the potential

00:20:13.600 --> 00:20:14.520
 of creating

00:20:14.520 --> 00:20:16.400
 huge divisions

00:20:16.400 --> 00:20:17.280
 and factions

00:20:17.280 --> 00:20:18.660
 and separations

00:20:18.660 --> 00:20:19.420
 within the church.

00:20:20.420 --> 00:20:21.180
 This is not

00:20:21.180 --> 00:20:22.800
 just a tangential issue.

00:20:23.500 --> 00:20:24.800
 This is a central one.

00:20:25.840 --> 00:20:26.320
 It's something

00:20:26.320 --> 00:20:26.960
 that we see

00:20:26.960 --> 00:20:28.140
 throughout the New Testament.

00:20:28.500 --> 00:20:29.160
 We see it's something

00:20:29.160 --> 00:20:29.720
 that's addressed

00:20:29.720 --> 00:20:30.400
 consistently

00:20:30.400 --> 00:20:31.060
 throughout

00:20:31.060 --> 00:20:32.440
 the New Testament.

00:20:32.620 --> 00:20:34.100
 Jesus deals with it.

00:20:34.440 --> 00:20:34.880
 The church

00:20:34.880 --> 00:20:35.480
 of Jerusalem

00:20:35.480 --> 00:20:36.600
 deals with it.

00:20:36.880 --> 00:20:37.260
 The church

00:20:37.260 --> 00:20:38.120
 of Corinth

00:20:38.120 --> 00:20:39.120
 is dealt

00:20:39.120 --> 00:20:40.100
 with this issue.

00:20:40.840 --> 00:20:41.880
 The Jerusalem Council

00:20:41.880 --> 00:20:43.120
 in commissioning

00:20:43.120 --> 00:20:44.100
 Paul and Barnabas

00:20:44.100 --> 00:20:44.680
 to ministry

00:20:44.680 --> 00:20:45.520
 makes sure,

00:20:45.900 --> 00:20:46.040
 Paul,

00:20:46.120 --> 00:20:46.460
 that you

00:20:46.460 --> 00:20:47.900
 don't forget

00:20:47.900 --> 00:20:48.440
 the poor.

00:20:49.720 --> 00:20:50.380
 The writer

00:20:50.380 --> 00:20:51.060
 of the Hebrews

00:20:51.060 --> 00:20:52.040
 commands it.

00:20:52.960 --> 00:20:53.780
 Paul commends

00:20:53.780 --> 00:20:54.400
 the church

00:20:54.400 --> 00:20:55.060
 of Philippi

00:20:55.060 --> 00:20:56.100
 for their

00:20:56.100 --> 00:20:57.660
 investment

00:20:57.660 --> 00:20:58.940
 into his ministry.

00:21:00.140 --> 00:21:00.900
 This is a

00:21:00.900 --> 00:21:01.700
 significant issue

00:21:01.700 --> 00:21:02.660
 in the church

00:21:02.660 --> 00:21:03.620
 that causes

00:21:03.620 --> 00:21:04.320
 incredible

00:21:04.320 --> 00:21:05.000
 division

00:21:05.000 --> 00:21:05.340
 or at least

00:21:05.340 --> 00:21:05.800
 it can

00:21:05.800 --> 00:21:06.380
 cause

00:21:06.380 --> 00:21:06.800
 incredible

00:21:06.800 --> 00:21:07.180
 division.

00:21:08.779 --> 00:21:09.920
 Those who are proud,

00:21:10.060 --> 00:21:11.180
 those who are haughty.

00:21:13.040 --> 00:21:13.759
 How does that look?

00:21:13.860 --> 00:21:15.040
 What form

00:21:15.040 --> 00:21:15.860
 does that take?

00:21:17.340 --> 00:21:17.580
 Well,

00:21:17.620 --> 00:21:18.480
 any number of things.

00:21:18.860 --> 00:21:19.540
 It can relate

00:21:19.540 --> 00:21:20.220
 to the company

00:21:20.220 --> 00:21:21.060
 that people keep.

00:21:22.220 --> 00:21:22.900
 It can relate

00:21:22.900 --> 00:21:24.160
 to the small groups

00:21:24.160 --> 00:21:24.700
 or the little

00:21:24.700 --> 00:21:25.220
 cliques

00:21:25.220 --> 00:21:25.840
 that they're willing

00:21:25.840 --> 00:21:27.360
 to associate with.

00:21:28.279 --> 00:21:29.100
 Somebody maybe

00:21:29.100 --> 00:21:30.580
 doesn't smell right.

00:21:30.579 --> 00:21:31.460
 Maybe they don't

00:21:31.460 --> 00:21:32.220
 talk right.

00:21:32.339 --> 00:21:32.919
 Maybe they don't

00:21:32.919 --> 00:21:33.919
 dress right.

00:21:34.759 --> 00:21:35.359
 Maybe they don't

00:21:35.359 --> 00:21:35.960
 seem to have

00:21:35.960 --> 00:21:37.359
 the right education

00:21:37.359 --> 00:21:39.019
 or the right

00:21:39.019 --> 00:21:39.619
 etiquette.

00:21:39.699 --> 00:21:40.179
 They just don't

00:21:40.179 --> 00:21:41.139
 know how to do

00:21:41.139 --> 00:21:42.339
 church the right

00:21:42.339 --> 00:21:42.679
 way.

00:21:43.379 --> 00:21:44.019
 They don't come

00:21:44.019 --> 00:21:44.460
 from the right

00:21:44.460 --> 00:21:45.220
 part of town.

00:21:45.679 --> 00:21:46.240
 They don't seem

00:21:46.240 --> 00:21:46.899
 to have the right

00:21:46.899 --> 00:21:47.419
 hygiene.

00:21:48.419 --> 00:21:48.839
 They certainly

00:21:48.839 --> 00:21:49.539
 don't dress

00:21:49.539 --> 00:21:50.779
 in the distinguished

00:21:50.779 --> 00:21:51.559
 way they should

00:21:51.559 --> 00:21:52.000
 be dressing

00:21:52.000 --> 00:21:52.539
 when they come

00:21:52.539 --> 00:21:53.079
 to church.

00:21:55.039 --> 00:21:55.679
 Maybe they don't

00:21:55.679 --> 00:21:56.099
 come from the

00:21:56.099 --> 00:21:56.720
 most prominent

00:21:56.720 --> 00:21:57.279
 job.

00:21:58.019 --> 00:21:58.579
 So it's hard

00:21:58.579 --> 00:21:59.019
 to make a

00:21:59.019 --> 00:21:59.779
 connection with them

00:21:59.779 --> 00:22:00.500
 because there

00:22:00.500 --> 00:22:00.940
 doesn't seem

00:22:00.940 --> 00:22:01.460
 to be any

00:22:01.460 --> 00:22:02.440
 overlap or

00:22:02.440 --> 00:22:03.019
 any common

00:22:03.019 --> 00:22:03.779
 ground with

00:22:03.779 --> 00:22:03.920
 them.

00:22:04.039 --> 00:22:04.880
 And so instead

00:22:04.880 --> 00:22:05.599
 of engaging

00:22:05.599 --> 00:22:06.279
 them in

00:22:06.279 --> 00:22:07.019
 conversation,

00:22:07.440 --> 00:22:07.819
 there is

00:22:07.819 --> 00:22:08.519
 distance that

00:22:08.519 --> 00:22:09.019
 happens.

00:22:09.859 --> 00:22:10.680
 That's natural.

00:22:11.680 --> 00:22:12.119
 I understand

00:22:12.119 --> 00:22:12.700
 that when it

00:22:12.700 --> 00:22:13.259
 comes to

00:22:13.259 --> 00:22:13.980
 comfort.

00:22:14.279 --> 00:22:14.940
 But those

00:22:14.940 --> 00:22:15.220
 who are

00:22:15.220 --> 00:22:16.099
 interested in

00:22:16.099 --> 00:22:17.140
 loving God

00:22:17.140 --> 00:22:17.980
 and loving

00:22:17.980 --> 00:22:18.779
 their neighbor

00:22:18.779 --> 00:22:19.539
 will be those

00:22:19.539 --> 00:22:20.700
 who will engage

00:22:20.700 --> 00:22:21.680
 the individuals

00:22:21.680 --> 00:22:22.220
 who are right

00:22:22.220 --> 00:22:23.019
 around them.

00:22:24.880 --> 00:22:25.559
 The Bible

00:22:25.559 --> 00:22:26.180
 talks about

00:22:26.180 --> 00:22:27.240
 the exclusiveness

00:22:27.240 --> 00:22:28.859
 and prejudice

00:22:28.859 --> 00:22:29.640
 that can happen

00:22:29.640 --> 00:22:30.180
 for those

00:22:30.180 --> 00:22:30.660
 who are

00:22:30.660 --> 00:22:31.040
 haughty

00:22:31.040 --> 00:22:31.340
 and those

00:22:31.340 --> 00:22:31.580
 who are

00:22:31.580 --> 00:22:31.980
 proud.

00:22:33.020 --> 00:22:33.800
 James really

00:22:33.800 --> 00:22:34.980
 concentrates on

00:22:34.980 --> 00:22:36.020
 this in chapter

00:22:36.020 --> 00:22:36.420
 two.

00:22:36.420 --> 00:22:37.840
 He uses an

00:22:37.840 --> 00:22:39.280
 example of a

00:22:39.280 --> 00:22:39.960
 man who comes

00:22:39.960 --> 00:22:40.580
 into the church

00:22:40.580 --> 00:22:42.020
 with fine clothes

00:22:42.020 --> 00:22:42.920
 and gold rings

00:22:42.920 --> 00:22:44.240
 and then obviously

00:22:44.240 --> 00:22:45.460
 this poor man

00:22:45.460 --> 00:22:46.540
 who walks in

00:22:46.540 --> 00:22:47.500
 and there is

00:22:47.500 --> 00:22:49.320
 this distinctiveness

00:22:49.320 --> 00:22:50.440
 in how they treat

00:22:50.440 --> 00:22:50.940
 these two

00:22:50.940 --> 00:22:51.480
 individuals.

00:22:52.780 --> 00:22:53.220
 The one,

00:22:53.360 --> 00:22:53.560
 he says,

00:22:53.660 --> 00:22:53.820
 hey,

00:22:53.940 --> 00:22:54.700
 come sit next

00:22:54.700 --> 00:22:55.100
 to me.

00:22:55.300 --> 00:22:55.840
 I want you to

00:22:55.840 --> 00:22:56.240
 have the place

00:22:56.240 --> 00:22:56.580
 of honor.

00:22:56.700 --> 00:22:57.540
 You're wealthy.

00:22:57.539 --> 00:22:58.720
 Let's make this

00:22:58.720 --> 00:22:59.220
 connection.

00:23:00.319 --> 00:23:00.779
 But then the one

00:23:00.779 --> 00:23:01.299
 who is poor,

00:23:01.379 --> 00:23:01.500
 he says,

00:23:01.559 --> 00:23:01.659
 hey,

00:23:01.819 --> 00:23:02.619
 you go stand

00:23:02.619 --> 00:23:03.259
 over there.

00:23:04.099 --> 00:23:04.960
 You can be in

00:23:04.960 --> 00:23:05.339
 the room,

00:23:05.579 --> 00:23:07.000
 but go have a

00:23:07.000 --> 00:23:07.559
 seat in the

00:23:07.559 --> 00:23:08.460
 corner over there

00:23:08.460 --> 00:23:09.700
 or if you want

00:23:09.700 --> 00:23:09.839
 to,

00:23:09.899 --> 00:23:10.319
 you can sit

00:23:10.319 --> 00:23:10.720
 here at my

00:23:10.720 --> 00:23:11.039
 feet.

00:23:12.960 --> 00:23:13.659
 Pride does

00:23:13.659 --> 00:23:14.920
 a great deal

00:23:14.920 --> 00:23:15.420
 of harm in

00:23:15.420 --> 00:23:16.000
 the church.

00:23:16.740 --> 00:23:17.440
 Church that was

00:23:17.440 --> 00:23:18.240
 intended to be

00:23:18.240 --> 00:23:20.079
 this beautiful

00:23:20.079 --> 00:23:20.920
 picture of the

00:23:20.920 --> 00:23:21.920
 unity of Christ

00:23:21.920 --> 00:23:23.059
 and the unity

00:23:23.059 --> 00:23:24.700
 of the people

00:23:24.700 --> 00:23:25.480
 that God has

00:23:25.480 --> 00:23:27.039
 connected in

00:23:27.039 --> 00:23:27.559
 Christ.

00:23:29.500 --> 00:23:30.379
 I wonder this

00:23:30.379 --> 00:23:31.740
 morning if we

00:23:31.740 --> 00:23:32.220
 need to ask

00:23:32.220 --> 00:23:32.859
 ourselves this

00:23:32.859 --> 00:23:33.319
 question.

00:23:34.740 --> 00:23:35.740
 What ministries

00:23:35.740 --> 00:23:36.779
 or activities

00:23:36.779 --> 00:23:37.539
 do I avoid

00:23:37.539 --> 00:23:38.980
 because it

00:23:38.980 --> 00:23:39.559
 either makes me

00:23:39.559 --> 00:23:40.159
 uncomfortable

00:23:40.159 --> 00:23:42.139
 or takes too

00:23:42.139 --> 00:23:42.659
 much work?

00:23:43.599 --> 00:23:44.399
 That may be

00:23:44.399 --> 00:23:45.519
 an indication

00:23:45.519 --> 00:23:46.359
 that pride

00:23:46.359 --> 00:23:48.319
 is something

00:23:48.319 --> 00:23:48.839
 that God

00:23:48.839 --> 00:23:49.419
 needs to help

00:23:49.419 --> 00:23:50.019
 you overcome.

00:23:50.019 --> 00:23:51.900
 Like for

00:23:51.900 --> 00:23:52.279
 example,

00:23:52.859 --> 00:23:53.440
 on a Saturday

00:23:53.440 --> 00:23:54.000
 morning you

00:23:54.000 --> 00:23:54.539
 might say,

00:23:55.139 --> 00:23:56.599
 I don't really

00:23:56.599 --> 00:23:57.639
 want to go to

00:23:57.639 --> 00:23:58.099
 the homeless

00:23:58.099 --> 00:23:58.839
 people and

00:23:58.839 --> 00:23:59.539
 hand out oatmeal

00:23:59.539 --> 00:24:00.900
 because it

00:24:00.900 --> 00:24:01.680
 makes me feel

00:24:01.680 --> 00:24:02.660
 so uncomfortable.

00:24:03.980 --> 00:24:04.759
 Or maybe you

00:24:04.759 --> 00:24:05.240
 would say,

00:24:05.619 --> 00:24:06.779
 I don't want to

00:24:06.779 --> 00:24:07.559
 serve in the

00:24:07.559 --> 00:24:08.440
 nursery, that is

00:24:08.440 --> 00:24:09.319
 way too much

00:24:09.319 --> 00:24:10.299
 work and I

00:24:10.299 --> 00:24:11.160
 might get stuck

00:24:11.160 --> 00:24:11.480
 there.

00:24:16.180 --> 00:24:16.960
 Just as a

00:24:16.960 --> 00:24:17.400
 side note,

00:24:17.400 --> 00:24:20.000
 for at least

00:24:20.000 --> 00:24:20.780
 eight years

00:24:20.780 --> 00:24:22.280
 when I was

00:24:22.280 --> 00:24:22.980
 in high school

00:24:22.980 --> 00:24:23.560
 and college,

00:24:23.880 --> 00:24:25.060
 I got stuck

00:24:25.060 --> 00:24:26.220
 in the fours

00:24:26.220 --> 00:24:26.560
 and fives

00:24:26.560 --> 00:24:27.080
 ministry.

00:24:28.640 --> 00:24:29.740
 Every single

00:24:29.740 --> 00:24:31.180
 Sunday for

00:24:31.180 --> 00:24:31.780
 four years.

00:24:33.580 --> 00:24:34.519
 Some of those

00:24:34.519 --> 00:24:36.160
 kids still

00:24:36.160 --> 00:24:37.820
 look to me

00:24:37.820 --> 00:24:39.220
 as a significant

00:24:39.220 --> 00:24:40.660
 example and

00:24:40.660 --> 00:24:41.759
 mentor and

00:24:41.759 --> 00:24:42.519
 help in their

00:24:42.519 --> 00:24:42.820
 life.

00:24:43.940 --> 00:24:44.660
 Let me tell

00:24:44.660 --> 00:24:45.759
 you, it

00:24:45.759 --> 00:24:46.860
 might be hard

00:24:46.859 --> 00:24:48.299
 work, but

00:24:48.299 --> 00:24:48.740
 it's worth

00:24:48.740 --> 00:24:48.959
 it.

00:24:49.559 --> 00:24:50.279
 The investment

00:24:50.279 --> 00:24:50.939
 that you make

00:24:50.939 --> 00:24:51.819
 in the hearts

00:24:51.819 --> 00:24:53.000
 and lives of

00:24:53.000 --> 00:24:53.519
 children,

00:24:54.879 --> 00:24:55.519
 partnering with

00:24:55.519 --> 00:24:56.439
 parents, helping

00:24:56.439 --> 00:24:57.459
 to lead them

00:24:57.459 --> 00:24:58.139
 along may be

00:24:58.139 --> 00:24:59.459
 the very best

00:24:59.459 --> 00:25:00.599
 ministry you

00:25:00.599 --> 00:25:01.459
 could ever do

00:25:01.459 --> 00:25:02.219
 because it will

00:25:02.219 --> 00:25:02.859
 have the most

00:25:02.859 --> 00:25:04.000
 traction and

00:25:04.000 --> 00:25:04.439
 will have the

00:25:04.439 --> 00:25:05.000
 most fruit.

00:25:06.259 --> 00:25:06.979
 Think about

00:25:06.979 --> 00:25:07.339
 that.

00:25:08.539 --> 00:25:09.379
 But sometimes

00:25:09.379 --> 00:25:11.259
 we want the

00:25:11.259 --> 00:25:12.159
 upfront ministries,

00:25:12.279 --> 00:25:12.719
 we want the

00:25:12.719 --> 00:25:13.500
 adult ministries,

00:25:13.599 --> 00:25:14.059
 we want the

00:25:14.059 --> 00:25:14.559
 things that are

00:25:14.559 --> 00:25:15.459
 fun and exciting

00:25:15.460 --> 00:25:16.460
 and I get

00:25:16.460 --> 00:25:16.880
 that.

00:25:17.980 --> 00:25:18.500
 But there are

00:25:18.500 --> 00:25:19.220
 times where

00:25:19.220 --> 00:25:20.259
 God is asking

00:25:20.259 --> 00:25:21.100
 us to overcome

00:25:21.100 --> 00:25:21.900
 some of those

00:25:21.900 --> 00:25:23.200
 obstacles of

00:25:23.200 --> 00:25:24.340
 pride perhaps in

00:25:24.340 --> 00:25:25.480
 our life to do

00:25:25.480 --> 00:25:26.480
 what's difficult

00:25:26.480 --> 00:25:29.340
 so that we can

00:25:29.340 --> 00:25:31.620
 really magnify

00:25:31.620 --> 00:25:33.440
 the testimony of

00:25:33.440 --> 00:25:34.539
 Christ in this

00:25:34.539 --> 00:25:34.819
 world.

00:25:35.960 --> 00:25:38.220
 Or maybe

00:25:38.220 --> 00:25:39.740
 greeting the

00:25:39.740 --> 00:25:40.340
 guests on a

00:25:40.340 --> 00:25:40.880
 Sunday morning

00:25:40.880 --> 00:25:42.000
 is a little

00:25:42.000 --> 00:25:42.819
 awkward for you

00:25:42.819 --> 00:25:43.759
 because you may

00:25:43.759 --> 00:25:44.259
 have met them

00:25:44.259 --> 00:25:44.660
 a couple of

00:25:44.660 --> 00:25:45.200
 weeks ago but

00:25:45.200 --> 00:25:45.579
 you kind of

00:25:45.579 --> 00:25:46.039
 forget their

00:25:46.039 --> 00:25:46.420
 name.

00:25:49.519 --> 00:25:50.200
 Oh the

00:25:50.200 --> 00:25:50.759
 things that we

00:25:50.759 --> 00:25:51.440
 can do to

00:25:51.440 --> 00:25:53.619
 save face,

00:25:54.299 --> 00:25:54.740
 to keep

00:25:54.740 --> 00:25:55.460
 ourselves from

00:25:55.460 --> 00:25:55.960
 embarrassment

00:25:55.960 --> 00:25:56.619
 because of

00:25:56.619 --> 00:25:57.440
 pride in our

00:25:57.440 --> 00:25:59.900
 hearts when we

00:25:59.900 --> 00:26:00.500
 could actually be

00:26:00.500 --> 00:26:01.500
 useful for the

00:26:01.500 --> 00:26:02.059
 Lord in

00:26:02.059 --> 00:26:02.859
 significant ways.

00:26:04.019 --> 00:26:05.440
 Pride is a

00:26:05.440 --> 00:26:06.339
 way, it is an

00:26:06.339 --> 00:26:07.359
 obstacle, it gets

00:26:07.359 --> 00:26:08.259
 in the way of us

00:26:08.259 --> 00:26:09.759
 being able to

00:26:09.759 --> 00:26:10.839
 use money in a

00:26:10.839 --> 00:26:12.119
 way that pleases

00:26:12.119 --> 00:26:12.539
 the Lord.

00:26:14.079 --> 00:26:14.959
 But it doesn't

00:26:14.959 --> 00:26:15.539
 stop there.

00:26:15.659 --> 00:26:16.799
 He talks about

00:26:16.799 --> 00:26:17.779
 being haughty but

00:26:17.779 --> 00:26:19.019
 here also in

00:26:19.019 --> 00:26:19.799
 verse 17 he

00:26:19.799 --> 00:26:22.019
 says, don't be

00:26:22.019 --> 00:26:23.519
 haughty or set

00:26:23.519 --> 00:26:24.699
 their hopes on

00:26:24.699 --> 00:26:25.619
 the uncertainty

00:26:25.619 --> 00:26:26.719
 of riches.

00:26:27.799 --> 00:26:28.319
 The second

00:26:28.319 --> 00:26:29.079
 obstacle is that

00:26:29.079 --> 00:26:29.899
 money can

00:26:29.899 --> 00:26:30.919
 misdirect our

00:26:30.919 --> 00:26:31.339
 hope.

00:26:32.479 --> 00:26:34.000
 And it was of

00:26:34.000 --> 00:26:34.399
 the Lord that

00:26:34.399 --> 00:26:35.419
 we sang, my

00:26:35.419 --> 00:26:36.559
 hope is built

00:26:36.559 --> 00:26:37.739
 on nothing less

00:26:37.739 --> 00:26:38.399
 but Jesus'

00:26:38.679 --> 00:26:39.599
 blood and

00:26:39.599 --> 00:26:40.480
 righteousness.

00:26:41.779 --> 00:26:42.419
 When our

00:26:42.419 --> 00:26:43.679
 hope is founded

00:26:43.679 --> 00:26:45.119
 in Christ alone,

00:26:45.500 --> 00:26:46.419
 it sets a

00:26:46.419 --> 00:26:47.119
 testimony to the

00:26:47.119 --> 00:26:48.159
 world of where

00:26:48.159 --> 00:26:48.859
 our confidence

00:26:48.859 --> 00:26:49.459
 is.

00:26:50.319 --> 00:26:51.639
 It's not Christ

00:26:51.639 --> 00:26:52.759
 plus something

00:26:52.759 --> 00:26:53.439
 else, it's

00:26:53.439 --> 00:26:54.339
 Christ alone.

00:26:55.859 --> 00:26:56.679
 And money can

00:26:56.679 --> 00:26:58.259
 misdirect our

00:26:58.259 --> 00:26:58.679
 hope.

00:27:00.559 --> 00:27:01.259
 Biblical hope

00:27:01.259 --> 00:27:02.539
 is not the

00:27:02.539 --> 00:27:03.839
 possibility of

00:27:03.839 --> 00:27:04.959
 wishful thinking

00:27:04.959 --> 00:27:05.519
 that something

00:27:05.519 --> 00:27:06.240
 might happen.

00:27:06.659 --> 00:27:07.359
 Biblical hope

00:27:07.359 --> 00:27:08.419
 is where do you

00:27:08.420 --> 00:27:08.820
 put your

00:27:08.820 --> 00:27:09.279
 confidence?

00:27:09.960 --> 00:27:10.580
 Where is your

00:27:10.580 --> 00:27:11.100
 security?

00:27:11.820 --> 00:27:12.519
 Where have you

00:27:12.519 --> 00:27:13.640
 placed your

00:27:13.640 --> 00:27:15.480
 hope for the

00:27:15.480 --> 00:27:15.840
 future?

00:27:17.400 --> 00:27:18.240
 And there's a

00:27:18.240 --> 00:27:19.120
 significance here

00:27:19.120 --> 00:27:19.860
 in the grammar.

00:27:21.720 --> 00:27:22.480
 The Apostle Paul

00:27:22.480 --> 00:27:24.759
 uses a word that

00:27:24.759 --> 00:27:25.820
 helps to describe

00:27:25.820 --> 00:27:26.680
 something that has

00:27:26.680 --> 00:27:27.320
 happened in the

00:27:27.320 --> 00:27:28.759
 past but it has

00:27:28.759 --> 00:27:29.720
 ripple effects into

00:27:29.720 --> 00:27:30.200
 the future.

00:27:31.560 --> 00:27:32.440
 That our hope has

00:27:32.440 --> 00:27:33.640
 been placed in

00:27:33.640 --> 00:27:34.400
 Christ and because

00:27:34.400 --> 00:27:35.440
 it's there, it

00:27:35.440 --> 00:27:37.019
 will have real

00:27:37.019 --> 00:27:37.740
 and tangible

00:27:37.740 --> 00:27:38.700
 results for the

00:27:38.700 --> 00:27:39.240
 future of your

00:27:39.240 --> 00:27:39.640
 life.

00:27:43.480 --> 00:27:44.799
 In each season

00:27:44.799 --> 00:27:45.420
 of life it's

00:27:45.420 --> 00:27:45.940
 easy to get

00:27:45.940 --> 00:27:46.640
 distracted, isn't

00:27:46.640 --> 00:27:46.799
 it?

00:27:47.620 --> 00:27:48.799
 The pressures of

00:27:48.799 --> 00:27:49.920
 life weigh down

00:27:49.920 --> 00:27:50.480
 on you, the

00:27:50.480 --> 00:27:52.299
 financial burdens

00:27:52.299 --> 00:27:53.319
 you experience

00:27:53.319 --> 00:27:54.480
 never seem to go

00:27:54.480 --> 00:27:54.759
 away.

00:27:56.420 --> 00:27:57.180
 Maybe you're a

00:27:57.180 --> 00:27:57.700
 college student,

00:27:58.700 --> 00:27:59.180
 you're barely

00:27:59.180 --> 00:28:00.220
 making ends meet,

00:28:00.920 --> 00:28:02.140
 trying to pay the

00:28:02.140 --> 00:28:02.819
 monthly bills,

00:28:02.940 --> 00:28:04.980
 trying to put some

00:28:04.980 --> 00:28:05.480
 food in your

00:28:05.480 --> 00:28:06.039
 stomach and to

00:28:06.039 --> 00:28:06.460
 have a couple

00:28:06.460 --> 00:28:07.720
 extra bucks so

00:28:07.720 --> 00:28:08.220
 that you can do

00:28:08.220 --> 00:28:08.740
 some things with

00:28:08.740 --> 00:28:09.299
 your friends.

00:28:10.240 --> 00:28:11.399
 Or maybe you're a

00:28:11.399 --> 00:28:12.359
 young married couple

00:28:12.359 --> 00:28:14.059
 and now there's the

00:28:14.059 --> 00:28:15.599
 burden of a new

00:28:15.599 --> 00:28:16.799
 home or a new

00:28:16.799 --> 00:28:18.279
 car or now

00:28:18.279 --> 00:28:19.700
 purchasing all of

00:28:19.700 --> 00:28:20.440
 those things that

00:28:20.440 --> 00:28:21.500
 are so necessary

00:28:21.500 --> 00:28:22.379
 for raising

00:28:22.379 --> 00:28:22.980
 children.

00:28:24.480 --> 00:28:25.200
 There are the

00:28:25.200 --> 00:28:27.180
 new pressures of

00:28:27.180 --> 00:28:28.159
 family and medical

00:28:28.159 --> 00:28:29.639
 insurance and all

00:28:29.639 --> 00:28:30.319
 of those things that

00:28:30.319 --> 00:28:31.420
 are bombarding you

00:28:31.420 --> 00:28:32.720
 and you say,

00:28:32.880 --> 00:28:34.480
 well, I will use

00:28:34.480 --> 00:28:35.700
 my money sometime

00:28:35.700 --> 00:28:36.519
 in the future when

00:28:36.519 --> 00:28:37.440
 I get established.

00:28:38.960 --> 00:28:40.080
 That pushes you

00:28:40.080 --> 00:28:42.300
 into middle age.

00:28:43.519 --> 00:28:44.440
 And you have an

00:28:44.440 --> 00:28:45.380
 established job, you

00:28:45.380 --> 00:28:46.200
 don't have to jockey

00:28:46.200 --> 00:28:47.100
 for a position

00:28:47.100 --> 00:28:47.660
 anymore.

00:28:48.460 --> 00:28:49.180
 But now the

00:28:49.180 --> 00:28:50.820
 expenses that were

00:28:50.820 --> 00:28:52.220
 smaller when your

00:28:52.220 --> 00:28:53.400
 kids were little,

00:28:53.519 --> 00:28:54.680
 now they begin to

00:28:54.680 --> 00:28:56.700
 expand as kids are

00:28:56.700 --> 00:28:58.120
 getting married, as

00:28:58.120 --> 00:28:59.240
 now you're helping

00:28:59.240 --> 00:29:00.580
 them purchase cars

00:29:00.579 --> 00:29:01.460
 and you're helping

00:29:01.460 --> 00:29:02.519
 them with various

00:29:02.519 --> 00:29:04.059
 school activities or

00:29:04.059 --> 00:29:04.980
 you're sending them

00:29:04.980 --> 00:29:05.679
 to college.

00:29:07.000 --> 00:29:08.299
 Pressures continue to

00:29:08.299 --> 00:29:09.000
 weigh you down.

00:29:09.939 --> 00:29:10.799
 Or perhaps you're

00:29:10.799 --> 00:29:12.199
 nearing retirement and

00:29:12.199 --> 00:29:13.480
 all of the investment

00:29:13.480 --> 00:29:14.240
 that you have wanted

00:29:14.240 --> 00:29:15.199
 to do in the past,

00:29:15.299 --> 00:29:16.059
 you realize you've got

00:29:16.059 --> 00:29:16.859
 some catching up to

00:29:16.859 --> 00:29:17.039
 do.

00:29:19.039 --> 00:29:19.779
 There are regular

00:29:19.779 --> 00:29:20.879
 trips to the doctor,

00:29:21.799 --> 00:29:22.759
 still helping out with

00:29:22.759 --> 00:29:23.679
 the kids periodically

00:29:23.679 --> 00:29:24.839
 as they have left

00:29:24.839 --> 00:29:26.539
 the home, but now

00:29:26.539 --> 00:29:27.740
 the financial burdens

00:29:27.740 --> 00:29:29.439
 are still considerable.

00:29:30.579 --> 00:29:31.419
 The stock market

00:29:31.419 --> 00:29:32.019
 hasn't been as

00:29:32.019 --> 00:29:34.220
 favorable to you as

00:29:34.220 --> 00:29:34.819
 you had hoped.

00:29:36.960 --> 00:29:38.099
 And the looming

00:29:38.099 --> 00:29:39.059
 pressures of

00:29:39.059 --> 00:29:40.659
 retirement age are

00:29:40.659 --> 00:29:41.259
 weighing down.

00:29:42.199 --> 00:29:42.939
 Perhaps you are

00:29:42.939 --> 00:29:43.379
 retired.

00:29:44.679 --> 00:29:45.579
 There's no more

00:29:45.579 --> 00:29:46.059
 income.

00:29:47.819 --> 00:29:49.019
 What used to be

00:29:49.019 --> 00:29:50.079
 coming in month

00:29:50.079 --> 00:29:50.879
 after month is no

00:29:50.879 --> 00:29:51.460
 longer there.

00:29:52.319 --> 00:29:53.159
 The pressures of

00:29:53.159 --> 00:29:54.779
 life weigh you

00:29:54.779 --> 00:29:55.079
 down.

00:29:56.119 --> 00:29:58.220
 At each season of

00:29:58.220 --> 00:29:59.059
 life, the money

00:29:59.059 --> 00:30:00.079
 that has flowed

00:30:00.079 --> 00:30:01.259
 through your hands

00:30:01.259 --> 00:30:03.079
 seems to evaporate.

00:30:04.039 --> 00:30:04.759
 And the result of

00:30:04.759 --> 00:30:06.139
 our focus is

00:30:06.139 --> 00:30:07.119
 diverted from hope

00:30:07.119 --> 00:30:08.859
 to God, to hope

00:30:08.859 --> 00:30:10.099
 in the security of

00:30:10.099 --> 00:30:10.460
 things.

00:30:11.500 --> 00:30:12.579
 That's the danger.

00:30:13.000 --> 00:30:13.839
 That's the obstacle

00:30:13.839 --> 00:30:15.099
 that keeps us from

00:30:15.099 --> 00:30:16.919
 making much of the

00:30:16.919 --> 00:30:18.179
 money that God has

00:30:18.179 --> 00:30:19.619
 entrusted to us.

00:30:21.359 --> 00:30:22.159
 The Apostle Paul is

00:30:22.159 --> 00:30:23.000
 calling them to

00:30:23.000 --> 00:30:23.619
 something greater.

00:30:23.619 --> 00:30:25.019
 He says,

00:30:26.019 --> 00:30:26.779
 Don't put your

00:30:26.779 --> 00:30:28.019
 hope in the

00:30:28.019 --> 00:30:28.619
 uncertainty of

00:30:28.619 --> 00:30:29.339
 riches, but on

00:30:29.339 --> 00:30:31.279
 God, who richly

00:30:31.279 --> 00:30:32.539
 provides us with

00:30:32.539 --> 00:30:33.879
 everything to

00:30:33.879 --> 00:30:34.339
 enjoy.

00:30:35.159 --> 00:30:35.939
 Now, this little

00:30:35.939 --> 00:30:37.299
 phrase is packed

00:30:37.299 --> 00:30:38.799
 full of promise.

00:30:40.419 --> 00:30:42.339
 That God richly

00:30:42.339 --> 00:30:42.959
 provides.

00:30:43.139 --> 00:30:44.819
 He gives lavishly.

00:30:44.899 --> 00:30:46.099
 He gives liberally.

00:30:46.219 --> 00:30:47.619
 He gives graciously.

00:30:48.359 --> 00:30:49.859
 He gives abundantly.

00:30:50.399 --> 00:30:51.419
 All of these things

00:30:51.420 --> 00:30:52.759
 that are couched

00:30:52.759 --> 00:30:53.519
 within this term.

00:30:53.880 --> 00:30:55.360
 Do we trust the

00:30:55.360 --> 00:30:56.700
 rich provisions of

00:30:56.700 --> 00:30:57.039
 God?

00:30:58.460 --> 00:30:59.620
 Does our confidence

00:30:59.620 --> 00:31:01.240
 in Him show to

00:31:01.240 --> 00:31:01.960
 the world that He

00:31:01.960 --> 00:31:03.200
 is a God who is

00:31:03.200 --> 00:31:04.380
 faithful to care for

00:31:04.380 --> 00:31:04.860
 our needs?

00:31:05.380 --> 00:31:06.880
 And not just a

00:31:06.880 --> 00:31:07.800
 little bit, but

00:31:07.800 --> 00:31:08.660
 abundantly,

00:31:08.779 --> 00:31:09.539
 overflowing.

00:31:11.120 --> 00:31:12.259
 That He cares for

00:31:12.259 --> 00:31:13.160
 our needs richly,

00:31:13.220 --> 00:31:14.440
 but He also cares

00:31:14.440 --> 00:31:15.200
 for our needs

00:31:15.200 --> 00:31:16.400
 individually.

00:31:17.240 --> 00:31:18.400
 Notice it says

00:31:18.400 --> 00:31:19.340
 that He provides

00:31:19.339 --> 00:31:20.199
 for us.

00:31:21.459 --> 00:31:22.500
 He knows your

00:31:22.500 --> 00:31:24.059
 unique situation.

00:31:24.839 --> 00:31:25.720
 He cares about

00:31:25.720 --> 00:31:27.059
 the circumstances

00:31:27.059 --> 00:31:27.980
 that you face.

00:31:28.220 --> 00:31:28.959
 He knows the

00:31:28.959 --> 00:31:29.959
 pressures before you

00:31:29.959 --> 00:31:31.220
 even ask Him for

00:31:31.220 --> 00:31:31.500
 help.

00:31:32.480 --> 00:31:33.519
 He cares about you

00:31:33.519 --> 00:31:34.000
 individually.

00:31:35.899 --> 00:31:36.839
 He doesn't just

00:31:36.839 --> 00:31:38.199
 provide us with a

00:31:38.199 --> 00:31:40.059
 few things, but He

00:31:40.059 --> 00:31:40.799
 says He provides us

00:31:40.799 --> 00:31:41.399
 with everything.

00:31:42.779 --> 00:31:43.679
 It's the word for

00:31:43.679 --> 00:31:44.119
 all.

00:31:44.519 --> 00:31:45.899
 It's all-encompassing

00:31:45.899 --> 00:31:47.359
 that God has given

00:31:47.359 --> 00:31:48.859
 all things for us

00:31:48.859 --> 00:31:49.279
 to enjoy.

00:31:49.379 --> 00:31:50.899
 He does not skimp

00:31:50.899 --> 00:31:51.859
 on His kids.

00:31:53.119 --> 00:31:54.079
 We do not have a

00:31:54.079 --> 00:31:56.240
 God who just

00:31:56.240 --> 00:31:57.899
 piddles away a

00:31:57.899 --> 00:31:58.559
 little bit of His

00:31:58.559 --> 00:31:59.899
 resources for us,

00:31:59.959 --> 00:32:00.939
 but He gives us

00:32:00.939 --> 00:32:02.859
 all things for

00:32:02.859 --> 00:32:04.119
 our enjoyment.

00:32:05.479 --> 00:32:07.179
 He wants us to

00:32:07.179 --> 00:32:08.719
 delight in His

00:32:08.719 --> 00:32:09.899
 provision because He

00:32:09.899 --> 00:32:10.519
 wants us to

00:32:10.519 --> 00:32:11.240
 delight in Him.

00:32:12.819 --> 00:32:13.500
 But more than

00:32:13.500 --> 00:32:15.240
 anything, the

00:32:15.240 --> 00:32:16.159
 provision that God

00:32:16.160 --> 00:32:17.200
 has given to us

00:32:17.200 --> 00:32:18.259
 is provision through

00:32:18.259 --> 00:32:19.000
 His Son, Jesus

00:32:19.000 --> 00:32:19.400
 Christ.

00:32:20.320 --> 00:32:21.860
 Just keep your

00:32:21.860 --> 00:32:23.320
 finger here in 1

00:32:23.320 --> 00:32:24.120
 Timothy chapter 6,

00:32:24.160 --> 00:32:24.660
 and I want just

00:32:24.660 --> 00:32:26.060
 briefly to turn with

00:32:26.060 --> 00:32:26.680
 me to Romans

00:32:26.680 --> 00:32:27.740
 chapter 8.

00:32:29.259 --> 00:32:30.040
 I want you to see

00:32:30.040 --> 00:32:30.960
 what God has given

00:32:30.960 --> 00:32:32.340
 to us through

00:32:32.340 --> 00:32:32.759
 Christ.

00:32:33.240 --> 00:32:34.080
 Familiar verse,

00:32:34.980 --> 00:32:35.840
 Romans chapter 8,

00:32:38.519 --> 00:32:39.660
 verse 31.

00:32:42.200 --> 00:32:43.180
 If you're visiting

00:32:43.180 --> 00:32:43.900
 with us, it's on

00:32:43.900 --> 00:32:45.060
 page 944.

00:32:46.160 --> 00:32:48.700
 Romans says in

00:32:48.700 --> 00:32:49.820
 verse 31 of

00:32:49.820 --> 00:32:50.340
 chapter 8,

00:32:50.460 --> 00:32:51.540
 what then shall

00:32:51.540 --> 00:32:52.279
 we say to these

00:32:52.279 --> 00:32:52.620
 things?

00:32:52.960 --> 00:32:54.200
 If God is for us,

00:32:54.420 --> 00:32:55.620
 who can be against

00:32:55.620 --> 00:32:56.120
 us?

00:32:56.840 --> 00:32:58.080
 He who did not

00:32:58.080 --> 00:32:59.759
 spare, notice that

00:32:59.759 --> 00:33:00.840
 word, it's integral

00:33:00.840 --> 00:33:02.340
 here, he did not

00:33:02.340 --> 00:33:03.420
 spare his own Son,

00:33:03.500 --> 00:33:04.740
 but gave him up for

00:33:04.740 --> 00:33:05.220
 us all.

00:33:05.400 --> 00:33:06.820
 How will he not

00:33:06.820 --> 00:33:07.900
 also with him

00:33:07.900 --> 00:33:09.740
 graciously give us

00:33:09.740 --> 00:33:11.160
 all things?

00:33:11.160 --> 00:33:11.300
 grace?

00:33:14.900 --> 00:33:15.920
 I want you to think

00:33:15.920 --> 00:33:17.519
 about the seriousness

00:33:17.519 --> 00:33:19.200
 of our discontentment.

00:33:21.460 --> 00:33:22.880
 The seriousness of

00:33:22.880 --> 00:33:24.900
 our discontentment is

00:33:24.900 --> 00:33:26.160
 to say, God may have

00:33:26.160 --> 00:33:28.060
 given us the best in

00:33:28.060 --> 00:33:29.660
 Christ, but it's not

00:33:29.660 --> 00:33:30.380
 enough.

00:33:31.860 --> 00:33:33.019
 That's what we say

00:33:33.019 --> 00:33:34.540
 when we become anxious

00:33:34.540 --> 00:33:35.720
 about the things that

00:33:35.720 --> 00:33:38.220
 God has seemed to

00:33:38.220 --> 00:33:38.600
 withhold.

00:33:38.599 --> 00:33:40.240
 when he has given

00:33:40.240 --> 00:33:41.939
 us Christ, he's given

00:33:41.939 --> 00:33:43.319
 his best, he's given

00:33:43.319 --> 00:33:44.419
 us his all, and he

00:33:44.419 --> 00:33:46.000
 promises to meet all

00:33:46.000 --> 00:33:46.759
 the other things.

00:33:47.480 --> 00:33:48.899
 If he can give us the

00:33:48.899 --> 00:33:49.779
 supreme things in

00:33:49.779 --> 00:33:51.159
 Christ, he can give us

00:33:51.159 --> 00:33:52.879
 the secondary things of

00:33:52.879 --> 00:33:53.279
 this world.

00:33:54.699 --> 00:33:55.839
 But let's move to the

00:33:55.839 --> 00:33:57.759
 next part of this

00:33:57.759 --> 00:33:58.179
 passage.

00:33:58.439 --> 00:33:59.779
 In chapter, in verse

00:33:59.779 --> 00:34:01.759
 17 of 1 Timothy

00:34:01.759 --> 00:34:02.959
 chapter 6, we saw the

00:34:02.959 --> 00:34:04.719
 obstacles to our

00:34:04.719 --> 00:34:05.159
 investment.

00:34:05.160 --> 00:34:06.920
 Now in verse 18, we're

00:34:06.920 --> 00:34:07.400
 going to see some

00:34:07.400 --> 00:34:08.119
 opportunities.

00:34:08.880 --> 00:34:09.579
 Some opportunities.

00:34:10.659 --> 00:34:11.360
 I need to move through

00:34:11.360 --> 00:34:12.039
 this a little bit more

00:34:12.039 --> 00:34:12.320
 quickly.

00:34:13.619 --> 00:34:14.440
 Here's what it says.

00:34:15.220 --> 00:34:16.460
 They are to do good,

00:34:17.000 --> 00:34:18.360
 to be rich in good

00:34:18.360 --> 00:34:20.200
 works, to be generous

00:34:20.200 --> 00:34:21.260
 and ready to share,

00:34:22.019 --> 00:34:22.920
 thus storing up

00:34:22.920 --> 00:34:23.480
 treasures for

00:34:23.480 --> 00:34:24.340
 themselves as a good

00:34:24.340 --> 00:34:25.200
 foundation for the

00:34:25.200 --> 00:34:25.480
 future.

00:34:26.240 --> 00:34:27.039
 There are two

00:34:27.039 --> 00:34:28.780
 commands in this

00:34:28.780 --> 00:34:30.800
 little verse that

00:34:30.800 --> 00:34:32.400
 both orient themselves

00:34:32.400 --> 00:34:34.280
 around good works.

00:34:34.280 --> 00:34:36.300
 first we can see

00:34:36.300 --> 00:34:37.280
 that money can be a

00:34:37.280 --> 00:34:38.800
 means of blessing

00:34:38.800 --> 00:34:39.519
 others.

00:34:40.640 --> 00:34:42.160
 Paul almost repeats

00:34:42.160 --> 00:34:43.720
 himself in this

00:34:43.720 --> 00:34:44.160
 verse.

00:34:44.560 --> 00:34:45.760
 He wants to stress

00:34:45.760 --> 00:34:46.800
 the significance of

00:34:46.800 --> 00:34:48.440
 the goodness that we

00:34:48.440 --> 00:34:49.740
 can be about, the

00:34:49.740 --> 00:34:51.340
 opportunity that comes

00:34:51.340 --> 00:34:53.440
 to us in using the

00:34:53.440 --> 00:34:54.100
 wealth that he has

00:34:54.100 --> 00:34:55.820
 distributed to us to

00:34:55.820 --> 00:34:58.260
 bless others, to do

00:34:58.260 --> 00:34:59.820
 good works for others.

00:35:00.780 --> 00:35:01.900
 Here in this first

00:35:01.900 --> 00:35:02.660
 little phrase, they

00:35:02.660 --> 00:35:04.120
 are to do good, is a

00:35:04.119 --> 00:35:05.679
 compound word that is

00:35:05.679 --> 00:35:06.859
 good works.

00:35:06.980 --> 00:35:08.639
 It's the agathos

00:35:08.639 --> 00:35:09.199
 ergon.

00:35:10.400 --> 00:35:11.759
 The second here, be

00:35:11.759 --> 00:35:12.940
 rich in good works, is

00:35:12.940 --> 00:35:14.539
 also good works, but

00:35:14.539 --> 00:35:16.380
 it's kalas ergon.

00:35:17.440 --> 00:35:18.279
 And you might say, who

00:35:18.279 --> 00:35:19.380
 cares about these

00:35:19.380 --> 00:35:19.679
 things?

00:35:19.759 --> 00:35:21.219
 Well, what I want you

00:35:21.219 --> 00:35:22.339
 to see is that there

00:35:22.339 --> 00:35:23.619
 are, there's a

00:35:23.619 --> 00:35:24.599
 distinction between the

00:35:24.599 --> 00:35:24.819
 two.

00:35:25.400 --> 00:35:26.799
 The first concentrates

00:35:26.799 --> 00:35:28.139
 on the goodness as it

00:35:28.139 --> 00:35:29.400
 relates to benevolence,

00:35:29.400 --> 00:35:31.039
 and blessing, and

00:35:31.039 --> 00:35:32.759
 helping, and distributing,

00:35:32.760 --> 00:35:34.400
 and meeting needs.

00:35:35.080 --> 00:35:37.200
 It has as its focus the

00:35:37.200 --> 00:35:38.340
 welfare of other

00:35:38.340 --> 00:35:38.720
 people.

00:35:39.840 --> 00:35:40.880
 When you are involved

00:35:40.880 --> 00:35:42.640
 in doing good works in

00:35:42.640 --> 00:35:44.120
 this way, you are

00:35:44.120 --> 00:35:45.840
 interested in enhancing

00:35:45.840 --> 00:35:47.380
 your surroundings, and

00:35:47.380 --> 00:35:49.040
 helping, and enabling

00:35:49.040 --> 00:35:49.960
 the people who are

00:35:49.960 --> 00:35:50.560
 around you.

00:35:52.180 --> 00:35:53.180
 Paul starts with this

00:35:53.180 --> 00:35:54.620
 general do good, and

00:35:54.620 --> 00:35:55.840
 then he moves to the

00:35:55.840 --> 00:35:58.500
 more specific features of

00:35:58.500 --> 00:35:59.560
 this statement in the

00:35:59.560 --> 00:36:00.540
 next command.

00:36:00.539 --> 00:36:02.800
 To do good always

00:36:02.800 --> 00:36:03.739
 involves using our

00:36:03.739 --> 00:36:04.639
 wealth in a positive

00:36:04.639 --> 00:36:05.059
 way.

00:36:05.739 --> 00:36:07.039
 And here, agathos is

00:36:07.039 --> 00:36:08.480
 something that involves

00:36:08.480 --> 00:36:09.940
 benevolence and care for

00:36:09.940 --> 00:36:11.300
 the individuals around

00:36:11.300 --> 00:36:11.699
 us.

00:36:12.440 --> 00:36:13.759
 It asks this question,

00:36:14.779 --> 00:36:16.300
 how can I use my money

00:36:16.300 --> 00:36:18.039
 to bless the world

00:36:18.039 --> 00:36:19.199
 around me?

00:36:22.400 --> 00:36:23.519
 How can I use the

00:36:23.519 --> 00:36:23.719
 world?

00:36:24.119 --> 00:36:25.159
 How can I use my money

00:36:25.159 --> 00:36:26.239
 to bless the world

00:36:26.239 --> 00:36:26.699
 around me?

00:36:26.699 --> 00:36:28.399
 Now, the church of

00:36:28.399 --> 00:36:30.739
 Corinth is an example of

00:36:30.739 --> 00:36:32.299
 this kind of giving

00:36:32.299 --> 00:36:34.339
 through the exhortation

00:36:34.339 --> 00:36:35.339
 of the Apostle Paul.

00:36:36.219 --> 00:36:37.619
 We find in 2 Corinthians

00:36:37.619 --> 00:36:38.599
 chapter 9 that they did

00:36:38.599 --> 00:36:40.199
 give, and as a result of

00:36:40.199 --> 00:36:43.039
 their giving in chapter 9,

00:36:43.099 --> 00:36:44.819
 we see so many things that

00:36:44.819 --> 00:36:46.259
 trickle out of that.

00:36:46.839 --> 00:36:47.899
 There was thanks that went

00:36:47.899 --> 00:36:50.000
 to the church of Corinth for

00:36:50.000 --> 00:36:50.759
 their contribution.

00:36:51.199 --> 00:36:52.299
 There was thanks that went

00:36:52.299 --> 00:36:54.119
 to God for meeting a need.

00:36:54.119 --> 00:36:56.119
 There was glory that went

00:36:56.119 --> 00:36:57.400
 to the Lord for the way

00:36:57.400 --> 00:36:59.119
 that He was able to settle

00:36:59.819 --> 00:37:01.039
 their hearts and to help

00:37:01.039 --> 00:37:02.099
 them in crisis.

00:37:02.960 --> 00:37:04.299
 A connection was made

00:37:04.299 --> 00:37:06.019
 between two churches, and

00:37:06.019 --> 00:37:07.500
 hearts were knit together.

00:37:08.299 --> 00:37:10.099
 There was praying that

00:37:10.099 --> 00:37:11.839
 happened from the Jerusalem

00:37:11.839 --> 00:37:13.099
 church to this church of

00:37:13.099 --> 00:37:14.639
 Corinth, and the testimony

00:37:14.639 --> 00:37:16.339
 of the gospel was magnified

00:37:16.339 --> 00:37:19.239
 in the area because of this

00:37:19.239 --> 00:37:21.960
 sacrificial and beneficial

00:37:21.960 --> 00:37:22.380
 care.

00:37:22.380 --> 00:37:25.619
 money can be used as a

00:37:25.619 --> 00:37:27.840
 means of blessing, but also

00:37:27.840 --> 00:37:29.000
 money can be used as a

00:37:29.000 --> 00:37:30.960
 means of bearing fruit.

00:37:31.780 --> 00:37:32.579
 That's really what this

00:37:32.579 --> 00:37:34.660
 second aspect of being rich

00:37:34.660 --> 00:37:35.980
 in good works is all about.

00:37:36.700 --> 00:37:38.240
 It concentrates on the

00:37:38.240 --> 00:37:40.360
 intrinsic or inherent nature

00:37:40.360 --> 00:37:43.579
 of the rightness of this

00:37:43.579 --> 00:37:43.980
 deed.

00:37:44.960 --> 00:37:47.559
 It is an overflow or an

00:37:47.559 --> 00:37:49.860
 expression of what is truly

00:37:49.860 --> 00:37:51.980
 going inside of the heart.

00:37:52.559 --> 00:37:53.880
 It's a reflection of what

00:37:53.880 --> 00:37:55.360
 the work that God is doing

00:37:55.360 --> 00:37:57.000
 in a life by helping to

00:37:57.000 --> 00:37:59.200
 bear out good works in the

00:37:59.200 --> 00:37:59.559
 world.

00:38:01.660 --> 00:38:04.120
 Is there an abounding work

00:38:04.120 --> 00:38:05.240
 of God in your life?

00:38:05.320 --> 00:38:07.340
 It will show up in how you

00:38:07.340 --> 00:38:09.940
 do good works, how you bless,

00:38:10.099 --> 00:38:11.900
 and how you help the world

00:38:11.900 --> 00:38:12.360
 around you.

00:38:12.400 --> 00:38:13.800
 It is inherently right.

00:38:13.800 --> 00:38:18.740
 We are told not just to hoard

00:38:18.740 --> 00:38:20.800
 our money, but to give it

00:38:20.800 --> 00:38:23.600
 lavishly, to be rich in this

00:38:23.600 --> 00:38:25.740
 process, to emulate our Savior

00:38:25.740 --> 00:38:28.180
 who was rich and for our sakes

00:38:28.180 --> 00:38:29.160
 became poor.

00:38:30.160 --> 00:38:34.039
 We are, as people who have been

00:38:34.039 --> 00:38:38.240
 recipients of the grace of God,

00:38:38.320 --> 00:38:40.640
 to also bestow that grace on the

00:38:40.639 --> 00:38:43.239
 world around us, to be rich in

00:38:43.239 --> 00:38:43.799
 good works.

00:38:45.539 --> 00:38:47.940
 In Matthew 5, 16, Jesus says

00:38:47.940 --> 00:38:48.139
 this.

00:38:48.199 --> 00:38:48.519
 He says,

00:38:48.819 --> 00:38:51.119
 Let your light so shine before

00:38:51.119 --> 00:38:52.819
 men that they may see your

00:38:52.819 --> 00:38:53.119
 what?

00:38:54.039 --> 00:38:55.099
 Your good works.

00:38:55.699 --> 00:38:56.460
 It's the same word.

00:38:56.519 --> 00:38:57.559
 That's the word kalas.

00:38:57.719 --> 00:38:58.799
 That's the word that we find

00:38:58.799 --> 00:38:59.159
 here.

00:39:00.059 --> 00:39:02.859
 How does the fruit of the

00:39:02.859 --> 00:39:04.359
 Spirit show up in your life?

00:39:04.420 --> 00:39:05.639
 Is it creating righteousness?

00:39:06.679 --> 00:39:08.639
 Is it creating benevolence to

00:39:08.639 --> 00:39:09.519
 the world around you?

00:39:10.500 --> 00:39:12.420
 And that's really now the two

00:39:12.420 --> 00:39:15.519
 components that Paul focuses on

00:39:15.519 --> 00:39:18.099
 here in terms of being rich in

00:39:18.099 --> 00:39:18.519
 good works.

00:39:18.639 --> 00:39:19.420
 How do we do that?

00:39:19.839 --> 00:39:21.079
 Well, he gives two examples.

00:39:21.659 --> 00:39:23.679
 There in verse 18, he says,

00:39:23.819 --> 00:39:26.920
 Be generous and be ready to

00:39:26.920 --> 00:39:27.199
 share.

00:39:28.099 --> 00:39:29.039
 Be generous.

00:39:29.779 --> 00:39:30.839
 Be ready to share.

00:39:31.980 --> 00:39:33.639
 Be liberal in your sharing.

00:39:35.019 --> 00:39:36.259
 Bountiful in your giving.

00:39:37.199 --> 00:39:38.339
 Willing to contribute to the

00:39:38.340 --> 00:39:39.280
 needs around you.

00:39:40.220 --> 00:39:41.760
 And this word, ready to share,

00:39:41.840 --> 00:39:43.579
 is also closely connected to the

00:39:43.579 --> 00:39:45.340
 word fellowship, the word

00:39:45.340 --> 00:39:45.860
 koinonia.

00:39:46.840 --> 00:39:49.860
 This really is a way for us to

00:39:49.860 --> 00:39:51.700
 be connected as God's people,

00:39:52.500 --> 00:39:53.860
 is when we are contributing to

00:39:53.860 --> 00:39:54.200
 needs.

00:39:56.240 --> 00:39:57.760
 Maybe the sharing involves your

00:39:57.760 --> 00:39:59.200
 money, but maybe it also

00:39:59.200 --> 00:40:00.059
 involves your time.

00:40:00.960 --> 00:40:03.579
 That instead of spending extra

00:40:03.579 --> 00:40:05.800
 time that you might do on the

00:40:05.800 --> 00:40:07.940
 side to build up more income,

00:40:08.080 --> 00:40:09.800
 maybe instead what you do is you

00:40:09.800 --> 00:40:13.780
 use those gifts to benefit the

00:40:13.780 --> 00:40:14.180
 church.

00:40:14.500 --> 00:40:17.480
 Like, maybe you know how to fix a

00:40:17.480 --> 00:40:17.680
 car.

00:40:18.660 --> 00:40:20.160
 Instead of fixing a car for money,

00:40:20.300 --> 00:40:21.800
 you decide, you know what, we've

00:40:21.800 --> 00:40:23.140
 got some people in our church that

00:40:23.140 --> 00:40:24.320
 need their car fixed.

00:40:24.820 --> 00:40:26.160
 Or maybe you know that there are

00:40:26.160 --> 00:40:28.039
 individuals in the church who have

00:40:28.039 --> 00:40:30.480
 issues with their home and it's

00:40:30.480 --> 00:40:31.120
 breaking down.

00:40:31.200 --> 00:40:32.620
 Maybe the plumbing or electrical is

00:40:32.619 --> 00:40:33.940
 going bad and you can say, listen,

00:40:34.079 --> 00:40:35.179
 I can do that.

00:40:35.900 --> 00:40:37.799
 I can use my time.

00:40:37.900 --> 00:40:39.819
 I can use my skills.

00:40:40.099 --> 00:40:41.859
 And instead of building into me,

00:40:41.940 --> 00:40:44.039
 I can build into a brother or

00:40:44.039 --> 00:40:44.779
 sister in Christ.

00:40:45.659 --> 00:40:48.059
 Maybe you are really gifted in the

00:40:48.059 --> 00:40:50.559
 area of cooking or baking or you are

00:40:50.559 --> 00:40:52.779
 a good seamstress and you can use

00:40:52.779 --> 00:40:55.119
 your gifts and your time to benefit

00:40:55.119 --> 00:40:56.859
 somebody who's in need.

00:40:57.880 --> 00:40:58.980
 That's what God has called us to.

00:40:59.819 --> 00:41:00.819
 But it doesn't end there.

00:41:00.820 --> 00:41:03.500
 God doesn't just give us the

00:41:03.500 --> 00:41:04.000
 obstacles.

00:41:04.220 --> 00:41:05.400
 He doesn't just give us the

00:41:05.400 --> 00:41:05.840
 opportunities.

00:41:06.039 --> 00:41:09.080
 But he finishes here with a promise.

00:41:09.280 --> 00:41:10.940
 He finishes with the outcome.

00:41:11.640 --> 00:41:13.380
 What does it result in in life?

00:41:14.940 --> 00:41:16.519
 What is the benefit to me?

00:41:17.980 --> 00:41:19.320
 We see that here in verse 18.

00:41:20.240 --> 00:41:22.320
 Thus storing up treasure for

00:41:22.320 --> 00:41:24.800
 themselves as a good foundation for

00:41:24.800 --> 00:41:27.000
 the future so that they may take

00:41:27.000 --> 00:41:29.960
 hold of that which is truly life.

00:41:30.820 --> 00:41:32.240
 I want us to see two things.

00:41:32.320 --> 00:41:34.180
 I want us to see that it leads to

00:41:34.180 --> 00:41:35.760
 eternal reward in heaven.

00:41:36.940 --> 00:41:39.019
 And secondly, that it leads to

00:41:39.019 --> 00:41:41.240
 eternal life with God.

00:41:42.840 --> 00:41:45.160
 God has always called us to a long

00:41:45.160 --> 00:41:46.660
 view of investment.

00:41:47.519 --> 00:41:50.000
 He's always called us to a long view

00:41:50.000 --> 00:41:54.140
 of a future look as it relates to

00:41:54.140 --> 00:41:55.400
 everything in life.

00:41:55.400 --> 00:41:57.940
 when it relates to suffering, when it

00:41:57.940 --> 00:42:00.579
 relates to love, when it relates to

00:42:00.579 --> 00:42:02.460
 loving our neighbors.

00:42:02.599 --> 00:42:04.820
 All of these things, including money,

00:42:05.940 --> 00:42:07.880
 finds its hope in the future.

00:42:08.599 --> 00:42:11.079
 This guaranteed eternal reward in

00:42:11.079 --> 00:42:11.320
 heaven.

00:42:12.680 --> 00:42:15.539
 The motivation is the glory of Christ.

00:42:16.180 --> 00:42:19.099
 The motivation for us is how does it

00:42:19.099 --> 00:42:21.139
 show Christ in the world?

00:42:21.139 --> 00:42:24.519
 And how can I take part in making

00:42:24.519 --> 00:42:26.199
 much of him where I am?

00:42:31.400 --> 00:42:33.859
 It's an evidence, secondly then here,

00:42:34.079 --> 00:42:35.659
 of eternal life.

00:42:36.739 --> 00:42:38.299
 How does it lead to eternal life?

00:42:38.339 --> 00:42:41.079
 And you might say, time out.

00:42:41.440 --> 00:42:42.159
 Wait a second.

00:42:43.119 --> 00:42:46.239
 Are you telling me that we are saved

00:42:46.239 --> 00:42:47.179
 by giving?

00:42:47.519 --> 00:42:48.920
 No, I'm not telling you that at all.

00:42:48.920 --> 00:42:51.320
 What I am telling you though is that

00:42:51.320 --> 00:42:54.760
 this is such a distinctive fruit of a

00:42:54.760 --> 00:42:55.119
 Christian.

00:42:55.320 --> 00:42:57.639
 This is such a work of the Spirit

00:42:57.639 --> 00:43:00.480
 that only those who are in Christ

00:43:00.480 --> 00:43:01.579
 will love this way.

00:43:02.599 --> 00:43:04.840
 It's an unmistakable mark of a true

00:43:04.840 --> 00:43:05.200
 believer.

00:43:06.220 --> 00:43:08.840
 It's the way they meet needs of their

00:43:08.840 --> 00:43:09.599
 Christian family.

00:43:10.960 --> 00:43:14.159
 Just write down Matthew chapter 25.

00:43:15.599 --> 00:43:16.840
 Matthew chapter 25.

00:43:16.840 --> 00:43:20.740
 I forget where it begins.

00:43:20.920 --> 00:43:22.039
 I'll look here for a second.

00:43:22.300 --> 00:43:23.320
 Matthew chapter 25.

00:43:33.320 --> 00:43:34.539
 Beginning at verse 31.

00:43:35.840 --> 00:43:36.440
 It says,

00:43:36.440 --> 00:43:38.539
 When the Son of Man comes in His glory

00:43:38.539 --> 00:43:40.980
 and all the angels with Him,

00:43:41.579 --> 00:43:43.440
 He will sit on His glorious throne

00:43:43.440 --> 00:43:45.579
 and before Him will be gathered

00:43:45.579 --> 00:43:46.380
 all the nations.

00:43:47.139 --> 00:43:48.779
 And He will separate the people

00:43:48.779 --> 00:43:49.840
 one from the other

00:43:49.840 --> 00:43:53.299
 as a shepherd separates the sheep

00:43:53.299 --> 00:43:54.360
 from the goats.

00:43:55.299 --> 00:43:56.819
 And what is the standard?

00:43:57.420 --> 00:43:58.139
 You might ask.

00:43:58.940 --> 00:44:00.519
 As He works through this passage,

00:44:00.699 --> 00:44:03.480
 He demonstrates that those who are

00:44:03.480 --> 00:44:05.739
 involved in meeting needs,

00:44:06.319 --> 00:44:07.659
 in helping those who are naked,

00:44:07.819 --> 00:44:09.039
 in clothing them,

00:44:09.119 --> 00:44:10.900
 in feeding those who are hungry,

00:44:11.239 --> 00:44:13.480
 in giving drink to those who are thirsty,

00:44:13.480 --> 00:44:16.119
 those are the ones that will be put

00:44:16.119 --> 00:44:17.300
 on the category of sheep

00:44:17.300 --> 00:44:20.280
 where those who refuse to do that

00:44:20.280 --> 00:44:21.960
 will be considered goats.

00:44:24.360 --> 00:44:26.840
 Jesus says here in verse 40,

00:44:27.539 --> 00:44:28.820
 The King will answer them,

00:44:29.380 --> 00:44:30.460
 Truly I say to you,

00:44:30.559 --> 00:44:32.340
 as you did to one of these,

00:44:32.740 --> 00:44:34.380
 of the least of my brothers,

00:44:34.940 --> 00:44:35.619
 you did it to me.

00:44:35.619 --> 00:44:39.480
 The hallmark of a Christian life

00:44:39.480 --> 00:44:41.480
 is the spiritual fruit

00:44:41.480 --> 00:44:42.960
 that God will create in your life

00:44:42.960 --> 00:44:44.719
 to give you a compassion

00:44:44.719 --> 00:44:46.199
 for the world around you

00:44:46.199 --> 00:44:47.380
 so that you can work out

00:44:47.380 --> 00:44:49.420
 this loving your neighbor principle,

00:44:49.819 --> 00:44:50.719
 not only in the world,

00:44:50.819 --> 00:44:52.460
 but especially as it relates

00:44:52.460 --> 00:44:55.960
 to people here in this church,

00:44:56.599 --> 00:44:57.579
 those who are your brothers

00:44:57.579 --> 00:44:58.599
 and sisters in Christ.

00:44:58.599 --> 00:45:00.799
 How is the Spirit

00:45:00.799 --> 00:45:01.860
 showing up in your life?

00:45:02.059 --> 00:45:04.880
 And just to close,

00:45:06.119 --> 00:45:07.199
 you might be asking yourself,

00:45:07.339 --> 00:45:08.179
 Where do I go from here?

00:45:08.319 --> 00:45:09.219
 What's the next step?

00:45:09.799 --> 00:45:10.659
 What do I need to do?

00:45:11.139 --> 00:45:13.940
 How do I make this process

00:45:13.940 --> 00:45:18.400
 of loving God in this way

00:45:18.400 --> 00:45:18.960
 with my money,

00:45:19.039 --> 00:45:20.440
 of making the most of my money?

00:45:21.819 --> 00:45:23.139
 The danger at this point

00:45:23.139 --> 00:45:24.079
 is to give you a number.

00:45:24.079 --> 00:45:27.139
 The danger at this point

00:45:27.139 --> 00:45:28.960
 is to give you a percentage

00:45:28.960 --> 00:45:31.579
 or some dollar amount

00:45:31.579 --> 00:45:32.219
 to shoot for

00:45:32.219 --> 00:45:33.940
 or some number of people

00:45:33.940 --> 00:45:34.920
 that you need to help.

00:45:36.319 --> 00:45:38.319
 But the target is Christ.

00:45:40.019 --> 00:45:42.079
 The model, the example,

00:45:42.759 --> 00:45:46.079
 the supreme example

00:45:46.619 --> 00:45:48.259
 of all things is found in Him.

00:45:48.960 --> 00:45:49.920
 He is the target.

00:45:50.819 --> 00:45:52.579
 So until we measure up

00:45:52.579 --> 00:45:53.380
 to His example,

00:45:53.380 --> 00:45:54.660
 we're going to fall

00:45:54.660 --> 00:45:55.579
 woefully short

00:45:55.579 --> 00:45:56.720
 of the standard.

00:45:58.780 --> 00:46:00.140
 So how can our giving

00:46:00.140 --> 00:46:01.079
 be shared

00:46:01.079 --> 00:46:02.680
 by the example of the Lord?

00:46:03.079 --> 00:46:04.360
 How can your giving

00:46:04.360 --> 00:46:05.539
 demonstrate the hope

00:46:05.539 --> 00:46:06.340
 that you have in heaven?

00:46:07.300 --> 00:46:08.940
 How can we shift our focus

00:46:08.940 --> 00:46:11.440
 onto eternal joys

00:46:11.440 --> 00:46:12.740
 so that we can magnify

00:46:12.740 --> 00:46:13.640
 our delight in God?

00:46:13.740 --> 00:46:15.460
 That is the direction

00:46:15.460 --> 00:46:16.740
 that we need to go in

00:46:16.740 --> 00:46:18.360
 and ask God for help

00:46:18.360 --> 00:46:19.480
 in providing wisdom

00:46:19.480 --> 00:46:19.920
 and clarity

00:46:19.920 --> 00:46:20.700
 on how to do that.

00:46:20.699 --> 00:46:22.819
 unless our giving

00:46:22.819 --> 00:46:23.960
 looks like Christ

00:46:23.960 --> 00:46:24.799
 then we've got

00:46:24.799 --> 00:46:25.519
 some work to do.

00:46:27.259 --> 00:46:28.419
 Though He was rich

00:46:28.419 --> 00:46:30.099
 yet for your sake

00:46:30.099 --> 00:46:30.939
 He became poor

00:46:30.939 --> 00:46:32.419
 so that you

00:46:32.419 --> 00:46:33.980
 through His poverty

00:46:33.980 --> 00:46:36.099
 might become rich.

00:46:36.480 --> 00:46:37.899
 That is the standard.

00:46:38.899 --> 00:46:39.879
 May God help us

00:46:39.879 --> 00:46:41.379
 to measure up

00:46:41.379 --> 00:46:42.259
 to that standard

00:46:42.259 --> 00:46:43.399
 through the power

00:46:43.399 --> 00:46:44.299
 of the Spirit

00:46:44.299 --> 00:46:45.199
 working within us.

00:46:45.199 --> 00:46:45.859
 Let's pray.

00:46:49.819 --> 00:46:50.899
 Lord, we understand

00:46:50.899 --> 00:46:52.039
 the weightiness

00:46:52.039 --> 00:46:53.879
 of this subject.

00:46:54.159 --> 00:46:55.239
 We understand

00:46:55.239 --> 00:46:56.179
 the sensitivity

00:46:56.179 --> 00:46:58.219
 of this topic.

00:46:59.359 --> 00:47:00.559
 We recognize

00:47:00.559 --> 00:47:03.799
 how much room

00:47:03.799 --> 00:47:04.559
 we have to grow

00:47:04.559 --> 00:47:06.179
 in this area.

00:47:07.179 --> 00:47:08.419
 Oh God, help us

00:47:08.419 --> 00:47:10.239
 to magnify You

00:47:10.239 --> 00:47:11.519
 through our giving.

00:47:11.519 --> 00:47:13.780
 help us to put aside

00:47:13.780 --> 00:47:14.500
 these obstacles

00:47:14.500 --> 00:47:15.719
 the pride

00:47:15.719 --> 00:47:16.500
 that often gets

00:47:16.500 --> 00:47:16.980
 in the way

00:47:16.980 --> 00:47:19.239
 and the hoping

00:47:19.239 --> 00:47:21.739
 in this worldly stuff

00:47:21.739 --> 00:47:24.159
 that often redirects

00:47:24.159 --> 00:47:24.699
 our attention

00:47:24.699 --> 00:47:25.440
 from things

00:47:25.440 --> 00:47:26.320
 that are truly eternal.

00:47:27.559 --> 00:47:28.219
 And help us

00:47:28.219 --> 00:47:29.960
 to see the opportunities

00:47:29.960 --> 00:47:30.360
 that are right

00:47:30.360 --> 00:47:31.159
 in front of us

00:47:31.159 --> 00:47:32.719
 the benevolence

00:47:32.719 --> 00:47:33.940
 that we can give

00:47:33.940 --> 00:47:35.099
 to those around us

00:47:35.099 --> 00:47:37.840
 and how it bears out fruit

00:47:37.840 --> 00:47:40.600
 the gospel testimony

00:47:40.600 --> 00:47:41.800
 of a life

00:47:41.800 --> 00:47:42.480
 that's been changed.

00:47:42.600 --> 00:47:43.260
 Lord, help us

00:47:43.260 --> 00:47:45.340
 to be those kinds

00:47:45.340 --> 00:47:45.780
 of people

00:47:45.780 --> 00:47:47.120
 so that we can show

00:47:47.120 --> 00:47:47.460
 the world

00:47:47.460 --> 00:47:48.000
 that our hope

00:47:48.000 --> 00:47:48.780
 is in heaven

00:47:48.780 --> 00:47:49.980
 and not in the things

00:47:49.980 --> 00:47:50.559
 of this earth.

00:47:51.640 --> 00:47:52.539
 We pray that You

00:47:52.539 --> 00:47:54.059
 would be blessed

00:47:54.059 --> 00:47:57.340
 through the transformation

00:47:57.340 --> 00:47:58.800
 that will happen

00:47:58.800 --> 00:47:59.500
 in our lives.

00:47:59.940 --> 00:48:01.240
 We pray in Jesus' name.

00:48:01.660 --> 00:48:01.920
 Amen.

00:48:03.360 --> 00:48:04.140
 As we go

00:48:04.140 --> 00:48:05.120
 and sing,

00:48:05.220 --> 00:48:05.960
 I want to just

00:48:05.960 --> 00:48:07.360
 make opportunity

00:48:07.360 --> 00:48:08.500
 for any of you

00:48:08.500 --> 00:48:09.599
 who do not know Christ.

00:48:09.720 --> 00:48:11.059
 Maybe as you're listening

00:48:11.059 --> 00:48:11.740
 this morning

00:48:11.740 --> 00:48:12.139
 you say,

00:48:12.240 --> 00:48:12.480
 you know,

00:48:13.159 --> 00:48:14.539
 I'm not sure

00:48:14.539 --> 00:48:15.460
 that I'm that kind

00:48:15.460 --> 00:48:15.960
 of person.

00:48:16.740 --> 00:48:17.699
 Maybe the Spirit

00:48:17.699 --> 00:48:18.740
 isn't really living

00:48:18.740 --> 00:48:19.500
 inside of me.

00:48:19.740 --> 00:48:20.539
 We would love

00:48:20.539 --> 00:48:21.780
 to lead you

00:48:21.780 --> 00:48:22.720
 to an understanding

00:48:22.720 --> 00:48:24.159
 of who Christ is

00:48:24.159 --> 00:48:24.740
 in the gospel.

00:48:25.360 --> 00:48:26.079
 We encourage you

00:48:26.079 --> 00:48:27.980
 during this singing time

00:48:27.980 --> 00:48:29.119
 to come forward.

00:48:29.320 --> 00:48:30.420
 And if you would like

00:48:30.420 --> 00:48:31.039
 to be a member

00:48:31.039 --> 00:48:32.280
 of this church,

00:48:32.360 --> 00:48:33.460
 be part of this fellowship,

00:48:34.240 --> 00:48:35.260
 be part of the connection

00:48:35.260 --> 00:48:35.980
 that we have

00:48:35.980 --> 00:48:37.040
 in ministering

00:48:37.040 --> 00:48:38.080
 to one another

00:48:38.080 --> 00:48:38.700
 and ministering

00:48:38.700 --> 00:48:39.580
 to the world together,

00:48:39.780 --> 00:48:40.280
 we would love

00:48:40.280 --> 00:48:41.020
 just to encourage you

00:48:41.020 --> 00:48:42.160
 to make that statement

00:48:42.160 --> 00:48:43.640
 public by coming

00:48:43.640 --> 00:48:45.280
 forward this morning.

00:48:46.020 --> 00:48:46.660
 Why don't we stand

00:48:46.660 --> 00:48:47.260
 and we sing

00:48:47.260 --> 00:48:48.020
 as we close

00:48:48.020 --> 00:48:48.680
 this last song.

00:48:48.679 --> 00:48:50.339
 And I'll talk about you

00:48:50.339 --> 00:48:52.679
 through this holy chat chat

00:48:52.679 --> 00:48:52.679


00:48:52.679 --> 00:48:52.679


00:48:52.679 --> 00:48:52.679


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00:48:52.679 --> 00:49:22.659
 guitar solo

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 guitar solo

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 guitar solo

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 guitar solo

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 guitar solo

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 guitar solo

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 guitar solo

00:52:22.679 --> 00:52:29.679
 guitar solo

00:52:29.679 --> 00:52:37.119
 I think of a better way to end this service than that song.

00:52:38.879 --> 00:52:44.679
 And I can't think of another truth that is so distant from me.

00:52:44.679 --> 00:52:46.679
 guitar solo