WEBVTT

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 Please turn with me in your Bibles to Exodus chapter 20.

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 I'll be preaching on the 10th commandment, verse 17.

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 I was supposed to preach on this two weeks ago,

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 but then I couldn't,

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 and so now we're gonna go backwards

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 in our series in the book of Exodus

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 and cover this again.

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 Let me pray for the reading and preaching of God's word.

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 Heavenly Father, you are the Father of lights.

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 In you there is no shadow to change.

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 And you are indeed the giver of every good gift.

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 And the most precious gift you have given us

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 is your Son, Jesus.

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 And we want to exalt his name this morning.

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 We want to relish his grace this morning.

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 We want to be captivated by Jesus

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 and satisfied by Jesus this morning.

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 So meet with us.

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 Speak to us.

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 In the precious name of Jesus we pray.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 If you are able, please stand for the reading of God's word.

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 I am going to read the whole passage 1 to 17

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 since we're finishing off the 10 commandments today.

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 And God spoke all these words saying,

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 I am the Lord your God

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 who brought you out of the land of Egypt,

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 out of the house of slavery.

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 You shall have no other gods before me.

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 You shall not make for yourself a carved image

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 or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above

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 or that is in the earth beneath

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 or that is in the water under the earth.

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 You shall not bow down to them or serve them,

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 for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God,

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 visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children

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 to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,

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 but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me

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 and keep my commandments.

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 You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain,

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 for the Lord will not hold him guiltless

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 who takes his name in vain.

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 Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.

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 Six days you shall labor and do all your work,

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 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God.

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 On it you shall not do any work,

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 you or your son or your daughter,

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 your male servant or your female servant,

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 or your livestock or the sojourner

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 who is within your gates.

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 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth,

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 the sea and all that is in them,

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 and rested on the seventh day.

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 Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day

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 and made it holy.

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 Honor your father and your mother

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 that your days may be long in the land

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 that the Lord your God is giving you.

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 You shall not murder.

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 You shall not commit adultery.

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 You shall not steal.

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 You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

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 You shall not covet your neighbor's house.

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 You shall not covet your neighbor's wife

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 or his male servant or his female servant

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 or his ox or his donkey

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 or anything that is your neighbor's.

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 This is God's holy and authoritative word.

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 Please be seated.

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 While preparing for this sermon,

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 I came across a funny comic strip.

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 It's a comic strip called

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 Tia Carmen's Old World Wisdom

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 in which Auntie Carmen says to her nephew

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 who is staring greedily at Car Magazine,

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 she says this,

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 to achieve happiness,

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 be content with what you have.

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 Which is a sensible advice.

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 But right after she says that to her nephew,

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 she says this,

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 just be sure you have everything you want.

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 So it's,

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 her logic is get everything you want,

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 then you can be content with what you have.

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 It's ironic and humorous

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 because her second advice

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 completely nullifies her first advice.

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 But it's also witty

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 because it highlights the absurd contradiction

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 in how many people actually think and behave.

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 As long as we're craving and coveting

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 something we don't have,

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 we're not going to be happy.

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 But we still go on coveting and craving,

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 deluding ourselves into thinking that,

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 hey, if I only get this one thing,

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 I will finally be happy.

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 But there will always be something else

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 that we want that we don't have.

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 It's a futile pursuit

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 because Proverbs 27, 20 says,

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 never satisfied are the eyes of men.

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 The cure for coveting

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 is not acquiring more stuff,

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 but being content in Christ.

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 And so my main point for this morning is this,

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 as those who have found contentment in Christ,

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 we should not covet what belongs to our neighbor.

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 We're going to first talk about

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 the scope of covetousness

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 and the heart of covetousness

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 and then the cure for covetousness.

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 Let's first look at what covetousness is,

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 the scope of covetousness.

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 The Hebrew word that is translated here as covet

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 is actually a generic word that just means desire.

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 And it's not that the desire in and of itself is wrong.

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 You know, I mean, some religions teach that.

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 For example, Buddhism teaches that,

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 you know, you should seek freedom for yourself

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 by emptying yourself,

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 getting rid of all desires

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 because it claims that desire is the root,

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 the source of all suffering.

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 If you don't want anything,

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 then you will never suffer its lack.

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 So that's what Buddhism teaches.

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 But scripture teaches

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 a different understanding of human nature.

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 The problem is not that we have desires

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 that is normal and human,

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 but the problem is that we have disordered desires

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 and inordinate desires.

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 For example, even Jesus got hungry.

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 That's a desire.

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 And he got thirsty.

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 He wanted a drink.

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 It is human to have desires.

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 God created us, created us that way.

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 But when the desire to eat or drink becomes inordinate,

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 then we become gluttons and drunkards.

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 When our desire is disordered

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 and we desire money more than we desire God,

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 it becomes idolatrous.

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 So desire in and of itself is not the problem.

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 In fact, that word desire sometimes is used

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 in a positive sense in scripture.

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 That's why we have to refer to the context of this passage

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 to figure out what it means here.

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 You shall not desire.

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 You shall not covet.

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 We know that it's referring to a bad desire

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 because it's forbidden, right?

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 You shall not covet.

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 And then secondly,

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 because of the repetition of the phrase,

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 your neighbor.

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 Look again with me at the commandment.

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 It says,

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 you shall not covet your neighbor's house.

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 You shall not covet your neighbor's wife

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 or his male servant or his female servant

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 or his ox or his donkey

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 or anything that is your neighbor's.

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 This is a helpful clue for defining what covetousness is.

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 Coveting has a horizontal social dimension.

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 To covet is to crave what belongs to your neighbor.

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 To covet is to crave what belongs to your neighbor.

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 It's not merely noticing

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 that your neighbor's $3 million home,

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 which there's a whole bunch of them around here in this area,

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 that is spacious

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 and is elegantly decorated.

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 There's nothing wrong with noticing that,

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 but desiring it.

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 Wanting it for yourself.

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 It's covetousness.

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 It's not merely noticing

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 that your neighbor's wife is beautiful

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 and charming and industrious.

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 That's the problem.

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 Or that your neighbor's husband is handsome

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 and successful and caring.

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 That's the problem.

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 But desiring that she is your wife,

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 that she'd be your wife.

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 Desiring that he would be your husband,

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 that is covetous.

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 It's not merely noticing

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 that your friend has cute babies

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 or well-behaved kids,

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 talented kids,

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 but desiring such things for yourself.

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 Most likely,

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 none of your neighbors have

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 oxen

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 or donkeys,

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 it says here.

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 But maybe

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 they have a social media following

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 that you desire for yourself.

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 Maybe they have more friends than you do.

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 Maybe they are more published than you are.

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 Have a more influential ministry than you do.

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 Maybe they have a higher paying job than you do.

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 Or maybe they drive a brand new Mercedes-Benz,

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 Tesla,

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 BMW,

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 Porsche,

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 Lexus.

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 You pick your car.

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 While you drive your decade-old Hyundai or Toyota.

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 Like me.

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 And you envy them.

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 You desire those things for yourself.

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 Desiring for ourselves

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 what belongs to our neighbors

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 is sinful

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 because it is a failure

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 to love our neighbor.

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 Coveting prevents us from

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 rejoicing with those who rejoice

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 and weeping with those who weep,

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 as Romans 12, 15 commands us to do.

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 If we are covetous,

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 we begrudge

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 our neighbor's good fortune.

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 We're envious of it.

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 We gloat over their misfortune.

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 We weep when they rejoice

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 and we rejoice when they weep.

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 When we covet,

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 instead of humbly counting others

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 more significant than ourselves,

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 we are counting ourselves more important.

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 looking out to our interests

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 and not our neighbors.

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 Coveting is a bitter fruit

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 that brings forth many evil bitter fruits.

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 James 4, 1-2 says,

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 What causes quarrels

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 and what causes fights among you?

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 Is it not this,

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 that your passions are at war within you?

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 You desire and do not have,

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 so you murder.

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 You covet and cannot obtain,

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 so you fight and quarrel.

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 Coveting what belongs to another

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 leads to murder,

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 which is a violation of the sixth commandment.

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 Coveting what your neighbor's wife

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 leads to adultery,

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 which is a violation of the seventh commandment.

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 Coveting your neighbor's servant

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 or his ox or donkey

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 leads to stealing,

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 which is a violation of the eighth commandment.

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 Ahab's coveting of Naboth's vineyard

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 in 1 Kings 21

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 led to him setting up false witnesses,

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 which is a violation of the ninth commandment.

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 In this way,

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 coveting can lead to,

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 lead us to break

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 every single one of the commandments,

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 the latter half of the ten commandments

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 intended to help us love our neighbor.

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 Coveting is by very,

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 it's very nature,

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 antisocial.

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 In addition to this horizontal dimension

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 toward our neighbors,

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 coveting also has a vertical dimension toward God.

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 We can see this

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 in the very first sin

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 of humanity.

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 It says in Genesis 3, verse 6,

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 when the woman saw that the tree

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 was good for food,

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 and that it was a delight to the eyes,

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 and that the tree was to be desired,

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 it's the same word,

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 to make one wise.

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 She took of its fruit and ate,

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 and she also gave some to her husband

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 who was with her,

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 and he ate.

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 They coveted the tree

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 to make themselves wise.

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 God had forbidden them

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 from eating from the tree

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 of knowledge of good and evil

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 because it would lead to their death,

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 but Satan tempted them

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 saying it would open your eyes,

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 make you like God,

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 knowing good and evil.

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 And so they coveted that knowledge,

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 God's knowledge.

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 They coveted God's wisdom.

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 They coveted the place of God.

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 And so they took it.

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 And so before Adam and Eve

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 ever bid into that fruit,

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 before they ever laid hands on that fruit,

00:13:38.759 --> 00:13:41.019
 they had already sinned,

00:13:41.100 --> 00:13:42.120
 coveting with their eyes.

00:13:46.500 --> 00:13:47.460
 In this instance,

00:13:47.559 --> 00:13:48.879
 Adam and Eve's neighbor was God.

00:13:49.559 --> 00:13:51.500
 They craved what belonged to him.

00:13:53.200 --> 00:13:55.200
 So the story of Achan is similar.

00:13:55.379 --> 00:13:56.799
 You guys might be familiar with this.

00:13:56.939 --> 00:13:57.879
 In Joshua 7,

00:13:58.319 --> 00:14:01.080
 Israel is defeated in battle

00:14:01.080 --> 00:14:02.220
 by the city of Ai,

00:14:02.340 --> 00:14:03.740
 which is a relatively small city,

00:14:03.799 --> 00:14:05.100
 so it's an embarrassing defeat.

00:14:05.879 --> 00:14:07.139
 And the reason is because

00:14:07.139 --> 00:14:09.179
 they have taken some of the spoils

00:14:09.179 --> 00:14:10.919
 of war from Jericho,

00:14:11.319 --> 00:14:14.179
 a city that they had destroyed previously.

00:14:15.340 --> 00:14:17.600
 And that city had been devoted to God

00:14:17.600 --> 00:14:18.460
 for destruction.

00:14:19.340 --> 00:14:21.539
 So the Israelites don't devote

00:14:21.539 --> 00:14:22.799
 every city for destruction.

00:14:22.939 --> 00:14:25.100
 It was only cities that they would inhabit

00:14:25.100 --> 00:14:28.500
 that was part of God's promised land

00:14:28.500 --> 00:14:29.699
 that he had promised to his people,

00:14:29.799 --> 00:14:30.240
 the Israelites.

00:14:30.899 --> 00:14:32.439
 Those were the only cities

00:14:32.439 --> 00:14:33.720
 that were devoted to destruction.

00:14:34.220 --> 00:14:35.720
 And when it was devoted to destruction,

00:14:35.720 --> 00:14:37.160
 the reason for this was that,

00:14:37.700 --> 00:14:39.100
 as Deuteronomy 20, 18 says,

00:14:39.519 --> 00:14:41.019
 that they may not teach you to do

00:14:41.019 --> 00:14:43.240
 according to all their abominable practices

00:14:43.240 --> 00:14:45.200
 that they have done for their gods,

00:14:45.500 --> 00:14:47.620
 and so you sin against the Lord your God.

00:14:48.180 --> 00:14:50.080
 So the concern was idolatry.

00:14:50.460 --> 00:14:52.320
 If you leave the remnants of the city,

00:14:52.460 --> 00:14:54.500
 they will lead you astray into idolatry.

00:14:54.560 --> 00:14:55.680
 So devoted to destruction.

00:14:56.480 --> 00:14:58.800
 All the treasures were supposed to be dedicated

00:14:58.800 --> 00:15:00.060
 to the treasury of the Lord,

00:15:00.059 --> 00:15:03.259
 and everything else was supposed to be destroyed.

00:15:04.479 --> 00:15:07.500
 But Achan took some of the spoils of war

00:15:07.500 --> 00:15:08.199
 and hid it,

00:15:08.539 --> 00:15:09.619
 leading to God's judgment

00:15:09.619 --> 00:15:11.859
 and the defeat of the entire nation of Israel

00:15:11.859 --> 00:15:13.599
 against Ai.

00:15:14.419 --> 00:15:16.879
 And in Joshua 7, 20 to 21,

00:15:17.139 --> 00:15:18.939
 Achan confesses his sin this way

00:15:18.939 --> 00:15:19.819
 after he is confronted.

00:15:20.859 --> 00:15:23.859
 Truly I have sinned against the Lord God of Israel.

00:15:23.860 --> 00:15:26.460
 And this is what I did.

00:15:27.320 --> 00:15:28.779
 When I saw among the spoil

00:15:28.779 --> 00:15:31.300
 a beautiful cloak from Shinar

00:15:31.300 --> 00:15:34.180
 and 200 shekels of silver

00:15:34.180 --> 00:15:37.060
 and a bar of gold weighing 50 shekels,

00:15:37.159 --> 00:15:40.220
 then I coveted them and took them.

00:15:41.120 --> 00:15:42.700
 So there's an echo here

00:15:42.700 --> 00:15:44.399
 of what Adam and Eve did in the garden.

00:15:44.899 --> 00:15:47.019
 Two exactly the same verbs

00:15:47.019 --> 00:15:49.360
 are used to describe Achan's sins.

00:15:49.779 --> 00:15:51.180
 Eve desired,

00:15:51.179 --> 00:15:53.659
 Eve coveted and took,

00:15:54.579 --> 00:15:56.359
 and here Achan coveted

00:15:56.359 --> 00:15:59.299
 and took the cloak from Shinar,

00:15:59.479 --> 00:16:00.679
 which was devoted to destruction

00:16:00.679 --> 00:16:02.479
 because it was beautiful.

00:16:03.719 --> 00:16:05.639
 Achan coveted and took the silver

00:16:05.639 --> 00:16:06.479
 and the bar of gold,

00:16:06.579 --> 00:16:07.819
 which was dedicated to the Lord

00:16:07.819 --> 00:16:09.519
 because he coveted it

00:16:09.519 --> 00:16:12.059
 because it was 250 shekels in weight.

00:16:12.519 --> 00:16:14.399
 That's six pounds of silver

00:16:14.399 --> 00:16:16.299
 and a pound and a half of gold,

00:16:16.439 --> 00:16:17.799
 which would have been the equivalent

00:16:17.799 --> 00:16:19.240
 of an average worker's

00:16:19.240 --> 00:16:20.819
 entire lifetime of wages.

00:16:21.179 --> 00:16:24.299
 You can imagine the temptation.

00:16:24.699 --> 00:16:26.079
 You could see the gold and silver

00:16:26.079 --> 00:16:26.979
 right in front of your face.

00:16:27.039 --> 00:16:28.779
 He coveted it, took it.

00:16:29.939 --> 00:16:31.219
 A couple weeks ago,

00:16:31.439 --> 00:16:32.359
 Ed shared with me,

00:16:32.439 --> 00:16:33.659
 I guess three weeks ago now,

00:16:34.039 --> 00:16:36.120
 or told me about a helpful article

00:16:36.120 --> 00:16:37.939
 written by Pastor Garrett Kell

00:16:37.939 --> 00:16:39.479
 of Delray Baptist Church

00:16:39.479 --> 00:16:39.879
 entitled,

00:16:40.500 --> 00:16:42.379
 Stop Photobombing Jesus.

00:16:42.739 --> 00:16:43.759
 I don't know if you guys have heard of this.

00:16:44.939 --> 00:16:46.139
 The premise of the article

00:16:46.139 --> 00:16:48.279
 is that even as we serve Jesus,

00:16:48.279 --> 00:16:50.879
 we covet his spotlight.

00:16:52.659 --> 00:16:54.659
 We keep photobombing him.

00:16:55.139 --> 00:16:55.939
 You guys know what that means?

00:16:56.139 --> 00:16:57.459
 I mean, of course you guys know what that means.

00:16:57.919 --> 00:17:00.839
 It's not your picture,

00:17:01.059 --> 00:17:04.440
 but you're kind of entering into the frame

00:17:04.440 --> 00:17:07.240
 of someone else's picture,

00:17:08.139 --> 00:17:09.359
 pushing ourselves in

00:17:09.359 --> 00:17:11.399
 so that we can be the object

00:17:11.400 --> 00:17:12.580
 of the flashing lights

00:17:12.580 --> 00:17:15.480
 and the stares of admirers.

00:17:17.880 --> 00:17:19.500
 Kell lists six confessions

00:17:19.500 --> 00:17:21.280
 that expose this covetousness.

00:17:22.440 --> 00:17:22.980
 Number one,

00:17:23.140 --> 00:17:24.340
 I want to glorify Jesus,

00:17:25.180 --> 00:17:27.500
 but I want glory too.

00:17:28.860 --> 00:17:29.780
 Number two,

00:17:29.860 --> 00:17:31.460
 because I want affirmation,

00:17:32.040 --> 00:17:33.720
 I hide my sins.

00:17:34.840 --> 00:17:35.400
 Number three,

00:17:35.400 --> 00:17:36.780
 I become bitter

00:17:36.780 --> 00:17:39.140
 when God uses others

00:17:39.140 --> 00:17:40.360
 instead of me.

00:17:41.680 --> 00:17:42.380
 Number four,

00:17:42.440 --> 00:17:43.620
 I become more concerned

00:17:43.620 --> 00:17:45.560
 about my public performance

00:17:45.560 --> 00:17:47.980
 than my private devotion.

00:17:49.600 --> 00:17:50.259
 Number five,

00:17:50.340 --> 00:17:51.880
 I fear moral failure

00:17:51.880 --> 00:17:53.680
 for the wrong reasons,

00:17:54.560 --> 00:17:56.400
 not because it offends God,

00:17:57.060 --> 00:17:58.820
 but because it would take away

00:17:58.820 --> 00:18:00.240
 my standing before men.

00:18:02.140 --> 00:18:02.980
 Number six,

00:18:02.980 --> 00:18:04.779
 my desire to be something

00:18:04.779 --> 00:18:06.279
 rivals my desire

00:18:06.279 --> 00:18:07.099
 for Jesus

00:18:07.099 --> 00:18:08.380
 to be everything.

00:18:10.200 --> 00:18:11.380
 Do you covet

00:18:11.380 --> 00:18:12.759
 the glory of God?

00:18:15.019 --> 00:18:16.019
 Do you covet

00:18:16.019 --> 00:18:17.200
 the center stage

00:18:17.200 --> 00:18:18.279
 that you belong

00:18:18.279 --> 00:18:19.799
 to God alone

00:18:19.799 --> 00:18:21.299
 in the church,

00:18:21.740 --> 00:18:22.779
 in your life,

00:18:24.059 --> 00:18:27.940
 in your marriage?

00:18:27.940 --> 00:18:34.299
 When we first began

00:18:34.299 --> 00:18:35.019
 this series

00:18:35.019 --> 00:18:36.160
 in the Decalogue,

00:18:36.240 --> 00:18:37.000
 the Ten Commandments,

00:18:37.240 --> 00:18:38.000
 I mentioned that

00:18:38.000 --> 00:18:38.860
 the Ten Commandments

00:18:38.860 --> 00:18:39.960
 have a symmetrical structure.

00:18:40.680 --> 00:18:41.600
 The first half

00:18:41.600 --> 00:18:42.420
 deal with loving God,

00:18:42.500 --> 00:18:43.000
 the second half

00:18:43.000 --> 00:18:44.559
 deal with loving our neighbors,

00:18:44.779 --> 00:18:45.820
 and the two halves

00:18:45.820 --> 00:18:46.860
 mirror each other.

00:18:47.240 --> 00:18:48.320
 So commands

00:18:48.320 --> 00:18:50.519
 four, five, six, seven, eight

00:18:50.519 --> 00:18:50.980
 in the middle,

00:18:51.740 --> 00:18:53.220
 they deal with actions,

00:18:53.320 --> 00:18:53.820
 what we do.

00:18:54.779 --> 00:18:56.340
 And then commands three

00:18:56.340 --> 00:18:57.539
 and commands nine

00:18:57.539 --> 00:18:59.039
 flanking that,

00:18:59.259 --> 00:19:00.899
 both deal with our speech,

00:19:01.259 --> 00:19:01.940
 what we say,

00:19:02.500 --> 00:19:03.460
 not taking name

00:19:03.460 --> 00:19:04.339
 of the Lord in vain

00:19:04.339 --> 00:19:05.779
 and not bearing false witness

00:19:05.779 --> 00:19:06.500
 against our neighbor.

00:19:07.339 --> 00:19:08.159
 And then at the beginning

00:19:08.159 --> 00:19:09.319
 and end of the Decalogue,

00:19:09.579 --> 00:19:10.599
 commands one, two,

00:19:10.899 --> 00:19:11.819
 and ten,

00:19:12.339 --> 00:19:13.279
 deal with the heart

00:19:13.279 --> 00:19:14.039
 and the mind.

00:19:15.180 --> 00:19:16.240
 So the last word

00:19:16.240 --> 00:19:16.940
 of the Decalogue

00:19:16.940 --> 00:19:18.299
 peels off the layers

00:19:18.299 --> 00:19:19.119
 of our actions

00:19:19.119 --> 00:19:19.940
 and our speech

00:19:19.940 --> 00:19:21.200
 and gets right underneath

00:19:21.200 --> 00:19:23.079
 to what is going on

00:19:23.079 --> 00:19:23.859
 in our hearts.

00:19:23.859 --> 00:19:26.819
 what do we worship?

00:19:27.779 --> 00:19:29.639
 What do we love?

00:19:30.339 --> 00:19:31.899
 What do we desire?

00:19:33.459 --> 00:19:34.759
 And it is for this reason

00:19:34.759 --> 00:19:35.719
 that when we get

00:19:35.719 --> 00:19:36.619
 to the bottom of it,

00:19:36.719 --> 00:19:38.099
 the heart of covetousness,

00:19:38.179 --> 00:19:39.059
 that's my second point,

00:19:39.359 --> 00:19:40.599
 is idolatry.

00:19:41.500 --> 00:19:42.500
 That's the heart

00:19:42.500 --> 00:19:43.419
 of covetousness.

00:19:44.000 --> 00:19:45.159
 Colossians 3, 5 says,

00:19:45.259 --> 00:19:47.539
 covetousness is idolatry.

00:19:48.219 --> 00:19:49.500
 Ephesians 5, 5 says,

00:19:49.500 --> 00:19:50.839
 a person who is covetous

00:19:50.839 --> 00:19:52.740
 is an idolater.

00:19:53.619 --> 00:19:54.759
 It is not an accident

00:19:54.759 --> 00:19:55.640
 that the Decalogue

00:19:55.640 --> 00:19:57.099
 begins with the command,

00:19:57.240 --> 00:19:58.880
 you shall have no other gods

00:19:58.880 --> 00:20:00.200
 before me,

00:20:00.480 --> 00:20:01.480
 and then ends

00:20:01.480 --> 00:20:02.660
 with the tenth word,

00:20:02.759 --> 00:20:03.799
 you shall not covet.

00:20:07.539 --> 00:20:09.019
 Because when we desire

00:20:09.019 --> 00:20:10.900
 what belongs to another,

00:20:11.180 --> 00:20:11.900
 when we desire

00:20:11.900 --> 00:20:12.980
 what is not ours,

00:20:13.640 --> 00:20:15.579
 what God has not given to us,

00:20:15.579 --> 00:20:16.640
 we're desiring it

00:20:16.640 --> 00:20:18.579
 more than we desire God.

00:20:18.579 --> 00:20:19.099
 God.

00:20:22.480 --> 00:20:24.099
 John Piper helpfully

00:20:24.099 --> 00:20:25.519
 defines covetousness

00:20:25.519 --> 00:20:25.960
 this way.

00:20:26.099 --> 00:20:26.299
 He says,

00:20:26.899 --> 00:20:26.919
 quote,

00:20:27.000 --> 00:20:28.559
 covetousness is desiring

00:20:28.559 --> 00:20:29.919
 something so much

00:20:29.919 --> 00:20:31.699
 that you lose

00:20:31.699 --> 00:20:32.899
 your contentment

00:20:32.899 --> 00:20:33.519
 in God.

00:20:36.699 --> 00:20:37.419
 Covetousness,

00:20:38.259 --> 00:20:39.519
 when you covet money,

00:20:40.299 --> 00:20:41.379
 if you love money,

00:20:42.259 --> 00:20:43.019
 Jesus says that

00:20:43.019 --> 00:20:44.099
 your money is your God.

00:20:45.159 --> 00:20:47.339
 If you covet earthly things

00:20:47.339 --> 00:20:49.419
 and you're preoccupied

00:20:49.419 --> 00:20:50.779
 with worldly pleasures,

00:20:51.720 --> 00:20:52.980
 Philippians 3.19 says

00:20:52.980 --> 00:20:53.720
 that your God

00:20:53.720 --> 00:20:54.659
 is your belly.

00:20:56.579 --> 00:20:57.759
 Coveting at its heart

00:20:57.759 --> 00:20:58.959
 is idolatrous.

00:21:00.000 --> 00:21:01.099
 When you desire

00:21:01.099 --> 00:21:01.759
 or are devoted

00:21:01.759 --> 00:21:02.379
 to someone

00:21:02.379 --> 00:21:03.079
 or something

00:21:03.079 --> 00:21:03.980
 more than God,

00:21:04.419 --> 00:21:05.579
 you're idolizing it.

00:21:06.119 --> 00:21:07.240
 And that's what makes

00:21:07.240 --> 00:21:08.039
 covetousness

00:21:08.039 --> 00:21:09.179
 such a grievous sin.

00:21:10.319 --> 00:21:11.339
 We're really worshiping

00:21:12.059 --> 00:21:13.299
 something other than God.

00:21:13.299 --> 00:21:15.000
 we're declaring

00:21:15.000 --> 00:21:16.399
 by our covetousness

00:21:16.399 --> 00:21:17.419
 that God

00:21:17.419 --> 00:21:18.359
 is not

00:21:18.359 --> 00:21:19.259
 enough.

00:21:22.579 --> 00:21:24.019
 That we need

00:21:24.019 --> 00:21:24.980
 something more.

00:21:25.819 --> 00:21:27.839
 But that's not true.

00:21:29.759 --> 00:21:31.259
 God is

00:21:31.259 --> 00:21:32.039
 enough.

00:21:32.839 --> 00:21:34.279
 He is all we need

00:21:34.279 --> 00:21:35.639
 and all we could ever want.

00:21:35.640 --> 00:21:41.080
 in Psalm 73,

00:21:41.380 --> 00:21:42.320
 Asaph writes

00:21:42.320 --> 00:21:43.259
 of how he was formerly

00:21:43.259 --> 00:21:44.480
 envious of the wicked,

00:21:45.240 --> 00:21:46.259
 envious of the arrogant

00:21:46.259 --> 00:21:47.520
 because he saw

00:21:47.520 --> 00:21:48.600
 that they prospered,

00:21:49.680 --> 00:21:50.820
 lived long lives.

00:21:52.040 --> 00:21:53.020
 And when he saw this,

00:21:53.040 --> 00:21:53.900
 he says he almost

00:21:53.900 --> 00:21:54.800
 lost his faith,

00:21:54.920 --> 00:21:55.759
 thinking to himself,

00:21:56.160 --> 00:21:57.160
 all in vain

00:21:57.160 --> 00:21:58.660
 have I kept my heart clean

00:21:58.660 --> 00:21:59.500
 and washed my hands

00:21:59.500 --> 00:21:59.920
 in innocence.

00:22:01.100 --> 00:22:01.440
 However,

00:22:01.600 --> 00:22:02.560
 when Asaph

00:22:02.560 --> 00:22:03.680
 goes into the sanctuary

00:22:03.680 --> 00:22:04.780
 to worship God,

00:22:04.779 --> 00:22:05.879
 as he's worshiping,

00:22:06.039 --> 00:22:06.960
 he remembers

00:22:06.960 --> 00:22:08.200
 that all who are wicked

00:22:08.200 --> 00:22:09.559
 eventually fall into ruin

00:22:09.559 --> 00:22:10.559
 due to God's judgment.

00:22:11.200 --> 00:22:12.660
 Whereas he will be received

00:22:12.660 --> 00:22:13.680
 into God's glory.

00:22:14.539 --> 00:22:15.579
 And then he concludes

00:22:15.579 --> 00:22:16.019
 the Psalm

00:22:16.019 --> 00:22:17.500
 with this wonderful,

00:22:17.920 --> 00:22:18.839
 beautiful confession

00:22:18.839 --> 00:22:20.000
 of his contentment

00:22:20.000 --> 00:22:20.339
 in God.

00:22:20.480 --> 00:22:20.799
 He says,

00:22:21.379 --> 00:22:22.399
 Whom have I

00:22:22.399 --> 00:22:22.920
 in heaven

00:22:22.920 --> 00:22:23.700
 but you?

00:22:25.720 --> 00:22:26.740
 And there is

00:22:26.740 --> 00:22:27.460
 nothing

00:22:27.460 --> 00:22:28.460
 on earth

00:22:28.460 --> 00:22:29.819
 that I desire

00:22:29.819 --> 00:22:31.299
 besides you.

00:22:32.980 --> 00:22:33.980
 My flesh

00:22:33.980 --> 00:22:34.839
 and my heart

00:22:34.839 --> 00:22:36.000
 may fail

00:22:36.000 --> 00:22:37.420
 but God

00:22:37.420 --> 00:22:38.299
 is the strength

00:22:38.299 --> 00:22:39.059
 of my heart

00:22:39.059 --> 00:22:40.720
 and my portion

00:22:40.720 --> 00:22:42.039
 forever.

00:22:44.279 --> 00:22:45.339
 That God

00:22:45.339 --> 00:22:46.160
 is my portion.

00:22:47.819 --> 00:22:49.079
 There is nothing

00:22:49.079 --> 00:22:49.480
 on earth

00:22:49.480 --> 00:22:50.400
 that I desire

00:22:50.400 --> 00:22:51.059
 besides you,

00:22:51.160 --> 00:22:51.319
 Lord.

00:22:53.079 --> 00:22:54.099
 Regardless of what

00:22:54.099 --> 00:22:55.539
 other people's portions

00:22:55.539 --> 00:22:57.039
 in life may be,

00:22:57.460 --> 00:22:58.480
 my portion

00:22:58.480 --> 00:22:59.000
 is better.

00:22:59.579 --> 00:23:00.380
 I have God

00:23:00.380 --> 00:23:01.360
 as my portion.

00:23:03.960 --> 00:23:04.940
 This is why

00:23:04.940 --> 00:23:06.640
 I despise

00:23:06.640 --> 00:23:07.520
 and I oppose

00:23:07.520 --> 00:23:09.020
 the prosperity gospel.

00:23:11.160 --> 00:23:11.980
 It says,

00:23:12.120 --> 00:23:13.160
 if you follow God

00:23:13.160 --> 00:23:14.320
 and you are faithful

00:23:14.320 --> 00:23:14.740
 to him,

00:23:14.820 --> 00:23:15.600
 God will make you

00:23:15.600 --> 00:23:16.820
 healthy and wealthy

00:23:16.820 --> 00:23:17.640
 and prosperous.

00:23:18.300 --> 00:23:19.460
 That is not

00:23:19.460 --> 00:23:20.040
 the gospel.

00:23:22.940 --> 00:23:24.040
 Because it does not

00:23:24.040 --> 00:23:24.800
 make Jesus

00:23:24.800 --> 00:23:25.560
 look precious.

00:23:25.559 --> 00:23:27.819
 It makes

00:23:27.819 --> 00:23:28.480
 money

00:23:28.480 --> 00:23:29.500
 and health

00:23:29.500 --> 00:23:30.500
 and success

00:23:30.500 --> 00:23:31.299
 look precious.

00:23:32.460 --> 00:23:33.119
 The world

00:23:33.119 --> 00:23:33.679
 looks at the

00:23:33.679 --> 00:23:34.619
 prosperity gospel

00:23:34.619 --> 00:23:35.319
 and then says,

00:23:35.460 --> 00:23:35.599
 well,

00:23:35.919 --> 00:23:37.139
 if I were healthy

00:23:37.139 --> 00:23:38.000
 and wealthy

00:23:38.000 --> 00:23:38.839
 and prosperous

00:23:38.839 --> 00:23:39.480
 and successful,

00:23:39.639 --> 00:23:40.539
 I'd be happy too.

00:23:41.659 --> 00:23:42.339
 Why do you need

00:23:42.339 --> 00:23:42.899
 God in the picture?

00:23:46.720 --> 00:23:47.940
 It makes Jesus

00:23:47.940 --> 00:23:48.659
 a means

00:23:48.659 --> 00:23:49.659
 to an end.

00:23:51.980 --> 00:23:52.980
 Second fiddle

00:23:52.980 --> 00:23:54.339
 to our other

00:23:54.339 --> 00:23:55.339
 more important

00:23:55.339 --> 00:23:56.200
 pursuits in life.

00:23:57.579 --> 00:23:58.059
 No,

00:23:58.140 --> 00:23:59.099
 that's not right.

00:23:59.220 --> 00:23:59.599
 It makes

00:23:59.599 --> 00:24:01.460
 Jesus look precious

00:24:01.460 --> 00:24:03.059
 when we say,

00:24:03.339 --> 00:24:04.420
 whatever my lot

00:24:04.420 --> 00:24:05.240
 in life,

00:24:05.579 --> 00:24:06.620
 wealth or poverty,

00:24:07.180 --> 00:24:08.319
 health or sickness,

00:24:08.920 --> 00:24:09.539
 a podium

00:24:09.539 --> 00:24:10.900
 or a prison,

00:24:11.740 --> 00:24:12.400
 fame or

00:24:12.400 --> 00:24:13.500
 forgottenness,

00:24:13.839 --> 00:24:14.819
 a long life

00:24:14.819 --> 00:24:16.200
 or a short life,

00:24:16.700 --> 00:24:17.720
 Jesus is

00:24:17.720 --> 00:24:18.319
 enough

00:24:18.319 --> 00:24:19.160
 for me.

00:24:19.620 --> 00:24:20.559
 That makes

00:24:20.559 --> 00:24:21.200
 Jesus look

00:24:21.200 --> 00:24:21.599
 precious.

00:24:22.980 --> 00:24:26.740
 And that

00:24:26.740 --> 00:24:27.079
 should be

00:24:27.079 --> 00:24:27.599
 the cry

00:24:27.599 --> 00:24:28.299
 of our hearts

00:24:28.299 --> 00:24:29.380
 because that's

00:24:29.380 --> 00:24:30.079
 how precious

00:24:30.079 --> 00:24:31.019
 Jesus is

00:24:31.019 --> 00:24:31.680
 and we want

00:24:31.680 --> 00:24:32.599
 everyone to know

00:24:32.599 --> 00:24:32.839
 it.

00:24:35.880 --> 00:24:36.819
 But instead,

00:24:36.940 --> 00:24:37.500
 when we covet

00:24:37.500 --> 00:24:38.180
 and we say,

00:24:38.440 --> 00:24:38.579
 well,

00:24:38.640 --> 00:24:38.940
 Jesus,

00:24:39.299 --> 00:24:39.880
 he's great,

00:24:40.319 --> 00:24:41.440
 but I also

00:24:41.440 --> 00:24:42.880
 need that man

00:24:42.880 --> 00:24:44.779
 or that woman

00:24:44.779 --> 00:24:47.759
 or that job

00:24:47.759 --> 00:24:48.799
 or that car

00:24:48.799 --> 00:24:49.839
 or those

00:24:49.839 --> 00:24:50.279
 sneakers

00:24:50.279 --> 00:24:52.059
 or that publishing

00:24:52.059 --> 00:24:52.380
 deal

00:24:52.380 --> 00:24:53.600
 or that look

00:24:53.600 --> 00:24:55.100
 or that body

00:24:55.100 --> 00:24:56.260
 or that shape

00:24:56.260 --> 00:24:57.320
 or that promotion

00:24:57.320 --> 00:24:58.640
 or that lavish

00:24:58.640 --> 00:24:59.140
 lifestyle

00:24:59.140 --> 00:25:00.020
 or that comfortable

00:25:00.020 --> 00:25:00.620
 lifestyle

00:25:00.620 --> 00:25:02.060
 or that popularity

00:25:02.060 --> 00:25:03.060
 or that many

00:25:03.060 --> 00:25:04.120
 followers on Twitter

00:25:04.120 --> 00:25:04.700
 or TikTok,

00:25:05.260 --> 00:25:06.960
 no.

00:25:09.760 --> 00:25:10.600
 You don't need

00:25:10.600 --> 00:25:11.500
 any of those things

00:25:11.500 --> 00:25:14.920
 because Jesus

00:25:14.920 --> 00:25:16.380
 is enough.

00:25:20.180 --> 00:25:21.180
 I'm not saying

00:25:21.180 --> 00:25:22.220
 that it is wrong

00:25:22.220 --> 00:25:23.000
 necessarily

00:25:23.000 --> 00:25:24.099
 for you to seek

00:25:24.099 --> 00:25:24.980
 a promotion

00:25:24.980 --> 00:25:26.299
 or a new job

00:25:26.299 --> 00:25:27.160
 or to save up

00:25:27.160 --> 00:25:27.759
 for a house,

00:25:28.099 --> 00:25:32.039
 but if in your pursuit

00:25:32.039 --> 00:25:33.059
 of that thing

00:25:33.059 --> 00:25:34.500
 you are discontented

00:25:35.539 --> 00:25:36.460
 in the Lord

00:25:36.460 --> 00:25:40.559
 and if you

00:25:40.559 --> 00:25:42.500
 didn't get that thing

00:25:42.500 --> 00:25:43.340
 you would be

00:25:43.340 --> 00:25:44.200
 devastated.

00:25:46.400 --> 00:25:47.539
 Then you do not

00:25:47.539 --> 00:25:48.579
 have a pure desire

00:25:48.579 --> 00:25:50.880
 but a covetous one.

00:25:54.180 --> 00:25:55.120
 That brings us

00:25:55.120 --> 00:25:55.860
 to the cure

00:25:55.860 --> 00:25:57.019
 for covetousness.

00:25:57.400 --> 00:25:58.940
 The cure for covetousness

00:25:58.940 --> 00:25:59.779
 is contentment.

00:26:01.000 --> 00:26:01.440
 Immediately

00:26:01.440 --> 00:26:02.900
 being content

00:26:02.900 --> 00:26:03.740
 with what we

00:26:03.740 --> 00:26:04.519
 already have

00:26:04.519 --> 00:26:05.839
 and ultimately

00:26:05.839 --> 00:26:06.619
 being content

00:26:06.619 --> 00:26:07.500
 in Christ.

00:26:08.119 --> 00:26:08.779
 So let's look at

00:26:08.779 --> 00:26:09.619
 those two things

00:26:09.619 --> 00:26:09.960
 in turn.

00:26:10.059 --> 00:26:10.220
 First,

00:26:10.299 --> 00:26:10.900
 being content

00:26:10.900 --> 00:26:12.079
 with what we have.

00:26:12.200 --> 00:26:13.220
 1 Timothy 5,

00:26:13.299 --> 00:26:13.879
 5-10.

00:26:14.480 --> 00:26:15.139
 Paul denounces

00:26:15.139 --> 00:26:16.000
 those who imagine

00:26:16.000 --> 00:26:16.740
 that godliness

00:26:16.740 --> 00:26:17.599
 is the means

00:26:17.599 --> 00:26:18.099
 of gain,

00:26:18.539 --> 00:26:19.200
 who use their

00:26:19.200 --> 00:26:20.500
 spiritual standing

00:26:20.500 --> 00:26:21.639
 in an influence

00:26:21.639 --> 00:26:23.000
 to enrich themselves

00:26:23.000 --> 00:26:24.759
 and that should not

00:26:24.759 --> 00:26:25.119
 be so.

00:26:25.200 --> 00:26:25.440
 Instead,

00:26:25.559 --> 00:26:26.299
 Paul continues,

00:26:26.779 --> 00:26:28.759
 godliness with contentment

00:26:28.759 --> 00:26:29.740
 is great gain

00:26:29.740 --> 00:26:30.839
 for we brought

00:26:30.839 --> 00:26:31.960
 nothing into the world

00:26:31.960 --> 00:26:32.680
 and we cannot

00:26:32.680 --> 00:26:33.200
 take anything

00:26:33.200 --> 00:26:33.980
 out of the world

00:26:33.980 --> 00:26:34.880
 but if we have

00:26:34.880 --> 00:26:35.740
 food and clothing

00:26:35.740 --> 00:26:36.259
 with these

00:26:36.259 --> 00:26:37.220
 we will be content.

00:26:37.900 --> 00:26:38.839
 But those who desire

00:26:38.839 --> 00:26:39.559
 to be rich

00:26:39.559 --> 00:26:40.980
 fall into temptation,

00:26:41.519 --> 00:26:42.299
 into a snare,

00:26:42.440 --> 00:26:43.539
 into many senseless

00:26:43.539 --> 00:26:44.759
 and harmful desires

00:26:44.759 --> 00:26:45.980
 that plunge people

00:26:45.980 --> 00:26:47.319
 into ruin and destruction

00:26:47.319 --> 00:26:48.980
 for the love of money

00:26:48.980 --> 00:26:49.620
 is a root

00:26:49.620 --> 00:26:51.200
 of all kinds of evils.

00:26:51.740 --> 00:26:52.980
 It is through this craving

00:26:52.980 --> 00:26:54.200
 that some have wandered

00:26:54.200 --> 00:26:55.180
 away from the faith

00:26:55.180 --> 00:26:56.539
 and pierced themselves

00:26:56.539 --> 00:26:57.620
 with many pangs.

00:26:59.140 --> 00:27:00.519
 If we have food

00:27:00.519 --> 00:27:01.380
 and clothing,

00:27:01.740 --> 00:27:02.099
 Paul says,

00:27:02.200 --> 00:27:03.279
 we should be content.

00:27:03.279 --> 00:27:06.319
 The bare necessities

00:27:06.319 --> 00:27:07.139
 are sufficient.

00:27:08.579 --> 00:27:09.960
 Why should we be content

00:27:09.960 --> 00:27:11.359
 with what we already have?

00:27:13.119 --> 00:27:14.200
 Because we brought

00:27:14.200 --> 00:27:15.220
 nothing into the world

00:27:15.220 --> 00:27:16.839
 and we cannot take

00:27:16.839 --> 00:27:18.059
 anything out of the world,

00:27:18.139 --> 00:27:18.480
 it says.

00:27:20.819 --> 00:27:22.000
 As the saying goes,

00:27:22.119 --> 00:27:22.619
 I don't know if you guys

00:27:22.619 --> 00:27:23.139
 have heard of this,

00:27:23.259 --> 00:27:25.559
 I found a pretty groovy

00:27:25.559 --> 00:27:26.240
 country song

00:27:26.240 --> 00:27:27.019
 that sings this

00:27:27.019 --> 00:27:27.920
 this week.

00:27:28.319 --> 00:27:28.759
 It says,

00:27:29.180 --> 00:27:30.700
 there is no trailer hitch

00:27:30.700 --> 00:27:31.920
 on a hearse.

00:27:33.860 --> 00:27:34.299
 Yeah.

00:27:35.340 --> 00:27:36.200
 The hearse

00:27:36.200 --> 00:27:37.960
 carrying your coffin

00:27:37.960 --> 00:27:39.400
 is not going to be

00:27:39.400 --> 00:27:40.440
 pulling a U-Haul

00:27:40.440 --> 00:27:42.759
 with all your stuff in it

00:27:42.759 --> 00:27:44.180
 because you can't

00:27:44.180 --> 00:27:45.140
 take any of it with you.

00:27:48.440 --> 00:27:49.299
 You can't take

00:27:49.299 --> 00:27:50.039
 your money with you,

00:27:50.120 --> 00:27:50.620
 you can't take

00:27:50.620 --> 00:27:51.700
 your fame with you,

00:27:51.700 --> 00:27:54.819
 so why ensnare yourself

00:27:54.819 --> 00:27:55.900
 with the desire

00:27:55.900 --> 00:27:56.559
 to be rich?

00:27:57.400 --> 00:27:57.860
 Paul says,

00:27:57.960 --> 00:27:58.860
 it is senseless

00:27:58.860 --> 00:27:59.440
 to do that.

00:28:00.200 --> 00:28:01.620
 Jesus says in Luke 12, 15,

00:28:01.720 --> 00:28:02.180
 take care

00:28:02.180 --> 00:28:03.220
 and be on your guard

00:28:03.220 --> 00:28:04.860
 against all covetousness

00:28:04.860 --> 00:28:07.600
 for one's life

00:28:07.600 --> 00:28:08.519
 does not consist

00:28:08.519 --> 00:28:09.539
 in the abundance

00:28:09.539 --> 00:28:10.360
 of his possessions.

00:28:10.779 --> 00:28:12.360
 Life is not about

00:28:12.360 --> 00:28:13.680
 the abundance

00:28:13.680 --> 00:28:14.559
 of your possessions.

00:28:16.600 --> 00:28:17.720
 That is not

00:28:17.720 --> 00:28:18.340
 the measure

00:28:18.340 --> 00:28:19.100
 of your worth.

00:28:19.099 --> 00:28:21.679
 People in the world,

00:28:21.819 --> 00:28:22.219
 some of them

00:28:22.219 --> 00:28:23.000
 will say that.

00:28:24.199 --> 00:28:25.759
 How much you have

00:28:25.759 --> 00:28:28.299
 but your net worth

00:28:28.299 --> 00:28:29.879
 is not your life's worth.

00:28:32.399 --> 00:28:33.859
 So why wear yourself

00:28:33.859 --> 00:28:34.699
 down in pursuit

00:28:34.699 --> 00:28:35.179
 of wealth?

00:28:36.439 --> 00:28:37.379
 Despite the Bible

00:28:37.379 --> 00:28:38.599
 is very, very clear

00:28:38.599 --> 00:28:39.480
 teaching on this,

00:28:39.659 --> 00:28:40.459
 to this day,

00:28:40.599 --> 00:28:41.939
 I regularly meet

00:28:41.939 --> 00:28:42.819
 Christians who say,

00:28:43.439 --> 00:28:44.219
 hey, I really want

00:28:44.219 --> 00:28:44.939
 to get rich.

00:28:45.899 --> 00:28:46.519
 Can you imagine

00:28:46.519 --> 00:28:47.699
 all the good things

00:28:47.699 --> 00:28:48.939
 I can do with my wealth?

00:28:49.399 --> 00:28:50.279
 I will do so many

00:28:50.279 --> 00:28:50.879
 good things

00:28:50.879 --> 00:28:51.980
 once I get rich.

00:28:55.519 --> 00:28:56.719
 But it says right here,

00:28:57.779 --> 00:28:59.240
 in God's infallible word,

00:29:00.019 --> 00:29:00.759
 those who desire

00:29:00.759 --> 00:29:01.319
 to be rich

00:29:01.319 --> 00:29:02.359
 fall into temptation,

00:29:02.699 --> 00:29:03.359
 into a snare,

00:29:03.480 --> 00:29:04.459
 into many senseless

00:29:04.459 --> 00:29:05.419
 and harmful desires

00:29:05.419 --> 00:29:06.740
 that plunge people

00:29:06.740 --> 00:29:07.819
 into ruin and destruction.

00:29:08.639 --> 00:29:09.639
 No one falls

00:29:09.639 --> 00:29:10.379
 into a snare

00:29:10.379 --> 00:29:11.500
 because they want to.

00:29:12.579 --> 00:29:13.559
 They fall into it

00:29:13.559 --> 00:29:14.279
 unawares.

00:29:14.279 --> 00:29:14.419
 Yes.

00:29:14.420 --> 00:29:20.640
 You might desire

00:29:20.640 --> 00:29:21.120
 to be rich

00:29:21.120 --> 00:29:21.880
 for what you think

00:29:21.880 --> 00:29:23.259
 might be noble reasons,

00:29:23.480 --> 00:29:24.539
 but it doesn't matter.

00:29:24.660 --> 00:29:25.880
 It can ensnare you.

00:29:25.880 --> 00:29:29.320
 Do you want to be ruined?

00:29:30.520 --> 00:29:31.900
 Do you want to be destroyed?

00:29:32.900 --> 00:29:33.620
 If not,

00:29:33.720 --> 00:29:35.900
 then don't desire

00:29:35.900 --> 00:29:36.760
 to be rich.

00:29:36.759 --> 00:29:42.220
 Jesus says that the cares

00:29:42.220 --> 00:29:43.119
 of the world

00:29:43.119 --> 00:29:43.940
 and the deceitfulness

00:29:43.940 --> 00:29:44.539
 of riches

00:29:44.539 --> 00:29:45.740
 and the desires

00:29:45.740 --> 00:29:47.019
 for other things

00:29:47.019 --> 00:29:48.599
 choke the word of God

00:29:48.599 --> 00:29:49.319
 so that it does not

00:29:49.319 --> 00:29:50.420
 bear fruit in our lives.

00:29:50.799 --> 00:29:52.019
 Do you want the word of God

00:29:52.019 --> 00:29:52.759
 to be choked

00:29:52.759 --> 00:29:53.539
 in your life

00:29:53.539 --> 00:29:54.920
 so it doesn't bear fruit?

00:29:56.379 --> 00:29:57.140
 Do you want to be

00:29:57.140 --> 00:29:58.480
 an unfruitful Christian?

00:29:58.480 --> 00:30:00.279
 If your answer

00:30:00.279 --> 00:30:01.120
 to that is no,

00:30:01.200 --> 00:30:02.460
 then don't desire

00:30:02.460 --> 00:30:03.200
 to be rich.

00:30:05.360 --> 00:30:06.220
 Don't give in

00:30:06.220 --> 00:30:07.039
 to covetousness.

00:30:08.559 --> 00:30:09.660
 If you work hard

00:30:09.660 --> 00:30:10.319
 and get rich

00:30:10.319 --> 00:30:11.279
 as a byproduct

00:30:11.279 --> 00:30:12.640
 without desiring

00:30:12.640 --> 00:30:13.220
 to be rich,

00:30:13.579 --> 00:30:13.880
 fine.

00:30:14.940 --> 00:30:16.019
 Then be generous

00:30:16.019 --> 00:30:16.880
 with your wealth,

00:30:17.519 --> 00:30:19.059
 but don't desire

00:30:19.059 --> 00:30:19.779
 to be rich.

00:30:20.299 --> 00:30:21.480
 Don't love money

00:30:21.480 --> 00:30:22.519
 even when you have it.

00:30:23.700 --> 00:30:24.620
 Be content

00:30:24.620 --> 00:30:25.819
 with what you have.

00:30:26.920 --> 00:30:27.920
 Hebrews 13, 5,

00:30:27.920 --> 00:30:29.140
 keep your life free

00:30:29.140 --> 00:30:30.060
 from love of money

00:30:30.060 --> 00:30:31.000
 and be content

00:30:31.000 --> 00:30:31.940
 with what you have

00:30:31.940 --> 00:30:33.180
 for he has said,

00:30:33.660 --> 00:30:35.360
 I will never leave you

00:30:35.360 --> 00:30:36.880
 nor forsake you.

00:30:37.259 --> 00:30:38.519
 Isn't that an amazing promise?

00:30:39.480 --> 00:30:40.259
 That's the reason.

00:30:40.420 --> 00:30:41.580
 Why should we live free

00:30:41.580 --> 00:30:42.460
 from the love of money

00:30:42.460 --> 00:30:43.019
 and be content

00:30:43.019 --> 00:30:43.620
 with what we have?

00:30:43.660 --> 00:30:45.039
 Because God assures us,

00:30:45.519 --> 00:30:47.539
 I will never leave you

00:30:47.539 --> 00:30:48.820
 nor forsake you.

00:30:49.640 --> 00:30:50.519
 We can be content

00:30:50.519 --> 00:30:52.000
 in whatever situation

00:30:52.000 --> 00:30:54.680
 because we always have

00:30:54.680 --> 00:30:56.120
 God with us

00:30:56.119 --> 00:30:58.099
 and he is enough.

00:31:00.239 --> 00:31:01.259
 And that brings us

00:31:01.259 --> 00:31:02.500
 to the ultimate contentment

00:31:02.500 --> 00:31:03.119
 we should have

00:31:03.119 --> 00:31:03.819
 as Christians,

00:31:04.039 --> 00:31:05.099
 contentment in Christ.

00:31:06.559 --> 00:31:07.779
 And this contentment

00:31:07.779 --> 00:31:09.599
 goes even beyond

00:31:09.599 --> 00:31:10.339
 being content

00:31:10.339 --> 00:31:11.459
 with the bare necessities.

00:31:12.539 --> 00:31:13.659
 It says in Philippians 4,

00:31:13.719 --> 00:31:14.459
 11 to 13,

00:31:14.699 --> 00:31:15.459
 Paul says that

00:31:15.459 --> 00:31:16.019
 he learned

00:31:16.019 --> 00:31:17.500
 in whatever situation

00:31:17.500 --> 00:31:18.959
 to be content

00:31:18.960 --> 00:31:21.259
 even when he faced

00:31:21.259 --> 00:31:22.960
 plenty and hunger,

00:31:23.860 --> 00:31:25.279
 abundance and need.

00:31:28.180 --> 00:31:30.279
 He says in 2 Corinthians 12, 10,

00:31:30.340 --> 00:31:31.519
 for the sake of Christ

00:31:31.519 --> 00:31:32.860
 that I am content

00:31:32.860 --> 00:31:34.480
 even with weakness,

00:31:35.140 --> 00:31:35.860
 insults,

00:31:36.180 --> 00:31:36.620
 hardships,

00:31:37.079 --> 00:31:37.840
 persecutions,

00:31:38.079 --> 00:31:39.340
 and calamities.

00:31:39.720 --> 00:31:40.940
 For when I am weak

00:31:40.940 --> 00:31:42.240
 then I am strong.

00:31:44.860 --> 00:31:47.120
 Even without bare necessities.

00:31:47.119 --> 00:31:48.899
 Paul says

00:31:48.899 --> 00:31:50.059
 you can be content

00:31:50.059 --> 00:31:50.939
 in Christ.

00:31:52.799 --> 00:31:53.919
 Some of us

00:31:53.919 --> 00:31:54.659
 in the future

00:31:54.659 --> 00:31:55.899
 might have

00:31:55.899 --> 00:31:56.779
 the hardship

00:31:56.779 --> 00:31:58.019
 but also the privilege

00:31:58.019 --> 00:32:00.479
 of being in a situation

00:32:00.479 --> 00:32:01.139
 where we need

00:32:01.139 --> 00:32:01.779
 to display

00:32:01.779 --> 00:32:02.859
 the preciousness

00:32:02.859 --> 00:32:03.339
 of Jesus

00:32:03.339 --> 00:32:04.699
 by finding contentment

00:32:04.699 --> 00:32:05.819
 even in the midst

00:32:05.819 --> 00:32:07.500
 of a desperate situation.

00:32:09.899 --> 00:32:11.079
 Maybe it's in the midst

00:32:11.079 --> 00:32:11.879
 of brokenness,

00:32:12.199 --> 00:32:12.539
 weakness,

00:32:13.239 --> 00:32:13.639
 hunger,

00:32:14.459 --> 00:32:14.859
 suffering,

00:32:15.659 --> 00:32:15.979
 war,

00:32:15.980 --> 00:32:17.279
 persecution.

00:32:19.940 --> 00:32:20.660
 But in order

00:32:20.660 --> 00:32:21.200
 to be content

00:32:21.200 --> 00:32:22.120
 in Christ

00:32:22.120 --> 00:32:23.480
 even in such situations

00:32:23.480 --> 00:32:24.460
 we need to grasp

00:32:24.460 --> 00:32:25.880
 the surpassing worth

00:32:25.880 --> 00:32:26.299
 of Jesus.

00:32:29.180 --> 00:32:30.200
 What did Paul say

00:32:30.200 --> 00:32:30.819
 in Philippians 3

00:32:30.819 --> 00:32:31.579
 and this is the key

00:32:31.579 --> 00:32:32.440
 to this contentment.

00:32:33.299 --> 00:32:34.579
 I count everything

00:32:34.579 --> 00:32:35.360
 as loss

00:32:35.360 --> 00:32:36.860
 because of the

00:32:36.860 --> 00:32:38.779
 surpassing worth

00:32:38.779 --> 00:32:39.900
 of knowing

00:32:39.900 --> 00:32:41.099
 Christ Jesus

00:32:41.099 --> 00:32:41.960
 my Lord.

00:32:42.700 --> 00:32:43.819
 For his sake

00:32:43.819 --> 00:32:44.720
 I have suffered

00:32:44.720 --> 00:32:45.120
 the loss

00:32:45.119 --> 00:32:45.939
 of all things

00:32:45.939 --> 00:32:46.539
 and count them

00:32:46.539 --> 00:32:48.439
 as rubbish

00:32:48.439 --> 00:32:50.319
 in order

00:32:50.319 --> 00:32:51.199
 that I may gain

00:32:51.199 --> 00:32:51.779
 Christ.

00:32:54.539 --> 00:32:55.219
 Rubbish.

00:32:56.639 --> 00:32:58.019
 Street refuse.

00:32:59.299 --> 00:32:59.759
 Garbage.

00:33:02.719 --> 00:33:04.199
 Jesus is the pearl

00:33:04.199 --> 00:33:05.019
 of great price

00:33:05.019 --> 00:33:05.799
 worth selling

00:33:05.799 --> 00:33:06.599
 everything

00:33:06.599 --> 00:33:08.059
 you have

00:33:08.059 --> 00:33:09.000
 for

00:33:09.000 --> 00:33:10.039
 in order to acquire.

00:33:11.439 --> 00:33:12.919
 Jesus is the Lord.

00:33:12.920 --> 00:33:15.039
 the great I am

00:33:15.039 --> 00:33:15.800
 who died

00:33:15.800 --> 00:33:16.940
 on the cursed cross

00:33:16.940 --> 00:33:18.240
 so that our

00:33:18.240 --> 00:33:18.800
 covetous

00:33:18.800 --> 00:33:20.120
 and idolatrous hearts

00:33:20.120 --> 00:33:21.160
 might be cleansed

00:33:21.160 --> 00:33:21.680
 and forgiven.

00:33:24.279 --> 00:33:25.500
 We might not have

00:33:25.500 --> 00:33:26.600
 the perfect portfolio

00:33:26.600 --> 00:33:28.100
 or the perfect career

00:33:28.100 --> 00:33:29.420
 or the perfect family

00:33:29.420 --> 00:33:30.840
 or the perfect house

00:33:30.840 --> 00:33:31.960
 or the perfect body

00:33:31.960 --> 00:33:33.600
 but we have

00:33:33.600 --> 00:33:34.200
 Jesus.

00:33:36.700 --> 00:33:38.039
 Isn't Jesus enough?

00:33:38.039 --> 00:33:44.720
 In the book

00:33:44.720 --> 00:33:46.000
 The Insanity of God

00:33:46.000 --> 00:33:47.519
 author Nick Ripken

00:33:47.519 --> 00:33:48.960
 recounts his travels

00:33:48.960 --> 00:33:49.700
 to various parts

00:33:49.700 --> 00:33:50.159
 of the world

00:33:50.159 --> 00:33:50.720
 where Christians

00:33:50.720 --> 00:33:51.480
 are persecuted

00:33:51.480 --> 00:33:53.299
 and shares his interviews

00:33:53.299 --> 00:33:54.180
 with the Christians

00:33:54.180 --> 00:33:55.299
 in the book

00:33:55.299 --> 00:33:56.680
 and in one chapter

00:33:56.680 --> 00:33:57.680
 he tells the story

00:33:57.680 --> 00:33:58.659
 of the man he calls

00:33:58.659 --> 00:33:59.059
 the quote

00:33:59.059 --> 00:33:59.940
 the toughest man

00:33:59.940 --> 00:34:00.779
 I ever met

00:34:00.779 --> 00:34:02.940
 and this man

00:34:02.940 --> 00:34:03.680
 was in such an

00:34:03.680 --> 00:34:04.779
 intensely persecuted

00:34:04.779 --> 00:34:05.680
 part of the world

00:34:05.680 --> 00:34:06.220
 that he agreed

00:34:06.220 --> 00:34:07.039
 to meet Ripken

00:34:07.039 --> 00:34:08.019
 quote

00:34:08.019 --> 00:34:08.800
 in a secure

00:34:08.800 --> 00:34:09.800
 non-public setting

00:34:09.800 --> 00:34:10.480
 where he would not

00:34:10.480 --> 00:34:10.980
 even be able

00:34:10.980 --> 00:34:11.840
 to see his face

00:34:11.840 --> 00:34:12.199
 or attempt

00:34:12.199 --> 00:34:13.039
 to learn his name.

00:34:14.240 --> 00:34:15.320
 The whole time

00:34:15.320 --> 00:34:15.940
 during the interview

00:34:15.940 --> 00:34:16.659
 this man spoke

00:34:16.659 --> 00:34:17.019
 to Ripken

00:34:17.019 --> 00:34:17.740
 from the shadow

00:34:17.740 --> 00:34:18.380
 in a corner

00:34:18.380 --> 00:34:19.559
 so that his face

00:34:19.559 --> 00:34:20.480
 could not be seen.

00:34:21.360 --> 00:34:22.179
 He told Ripken

00:34:22.179 --> 00:34:22.800
 his testimony

00:34:22.800 --> 00:34:24.220
 of how prior

00:34:24.220 --> 00:34:25.139
 to coming to Christ

00:34:25.139 --> 00:34:26.400
 he was a zealous Muslim

00:34:26.400 --> 00:34:28.000
 and he killed

00:34:28.000 --> 00:34:28.800
 infidels

00:34:28.800 --> 00:34:29.980
 for sport.

00:34:30.880 --> 00:34:32.059
 He stopped counting

00:34:32.059 --> 00:34:32.820
 how many people

00:34:32.820 --> 00:34:33.260
 he killed

00:34:33.260 --> 00:34:33.980
 after 100.

00:34:33.980 --> 00:34:35.579
 he would slit

00:34:35.579 --> 00:34:36.280
 their throats

00:34:36.280 --> 00:34:37.260
 and let the blood

00:34:37.260 --> 00:34:38.260
 wash over his hands

00:34:38.260 --> 00:34:38.880
 as an offering

00:34:38.880 --> 00:34:39.360
 to Allah.

00:34:40.619 --> 00:34:41.639
 But after some time

00:34:41.639 --> 00:34:42.440
 he began to have

00:34:42.440 --> 00:34:43.579
 a recurring dream

00:34:43.579 --> 00:34:45.019
 the same dream

00:34:45.019 --> 00:34:46.039
 over and over again

00:34:46.039 --> 00:34:47.380
 of the spots

00:34:47.380 --> 00:34:48.079
 of blood

00:34:48.079 --> 00:34:48.860
 on his hands

00:34:48.860 --> 00:34:49.960
 that grew larger

00:34:49.960 --> 00:34:51.000
 and larger

00:34:51.000 --> 00:34:52.579
 until eventually

00:34:52.579 --> 00:34:53.280
 the blood

00:34:53.280 --> 00:34:54.360
 was running down

00:34:54.360 --> 00:34:55.059
 and dripping off

00:34:55.059 --> 00:34:55.559
 his arms

00:34:55.559 --> 00:34:57.440
 and the man knew

00:34:57.440 --> 00:34:58.800
 instinctively

00:34:58.800 --> 00:34:59.460
 that the blood

00:34:59.460 --> 00:35:00.039
 on his hands

00:35:00.039 --> 00:35:00.659
 were the blood

00:35:00.659 --> 00:35:01.320
 of the people

00:35:01.320 --> 00:35:02.059
 that he had killed.

00:35:02.059 --> 00:35:05.079
 the recurring dream

00:35:05.079 --> 00:35:06.159
 was so incessant

00:35:06.159 --> 00:35:06.599
 that the man

00:35:06.599 --> 00:35:07.340
 began to wonder

00:35:07.340 --> 00:35:08.759
 if he was insane

00:35:08.759 --> 00:35:10.059
 and even started

00:35:10.059 --> 00:35:10.960
 to see blood

00:35:10.960 --> 00:35:11.799
 on his hands

00:35:11.799 --> 00:35:13.119
 during the day

00:35:13.119 --> 00:35:14.400
 during his waking hours.

00:35:15.039 --> 00:35:16.539
 He'd wash his hands

00:35:16.539 --> 00:35:17.579
 and scrub it

00:35:17.579 --> 00:35:18.279
 with sand

00:35:18.279 --> 00:35:19.519
 and pumice

00:35:19.519 --> 00:35:20.579
 which is a rough

00:35:20.579 --> 00:35:22.079
 textured volcanic rock

00:35:22.079 --> 00:35:23.039
 that people use

00:35:23.039 --> 00:35:24.400
 as an abrasive

00:35:24.400 --> 00:35:24.960
 for cleaning.

00:35:25.940 --> 00:35:26.579
 But no matter

00:35:26.579 --> 00:35:27.980
 how hard he scrubbed

00:35:27.980 --> 00:35:28.900
 he could not

00:35:28.900 --> 00:35:30.199
 get the blood off.

00:35:30.199 --> 00:35:32.859
 Eventually

00:35:32.859 --> 00:35:33.319
 however

00:35:33.319 --> 00:35:34.379
 the dream changed.

00:35:35.139 --> 00:35:36.299
 In that same dream

00:35:36.299 --> 00:35:37.039
 there appeared

00:35:37.039 --> 00:35:37.819
 a man

00:35:37.819 --> 00:35:39.319
 clothed in white

00:35:39.319 --> 00:35:40.679
 with a scarred head.

00:35:41.679 --> 00:35:42.259
 He also had

00:35:42.259 --> 00:35:43.119
 scarred hands

00:35:43.119 --> 00:35:44.539
 a scarred side

00:35:44.539 --> 00:35:46.480
 and scarred feet

00:35:46.480 --> 00:35:48.299
 and the scarred man

00:35:48.299 --> 00:35:49.139
 said to this

00:35:49.139 --> 00:35:50.980
 Muslim man

00:35:50.980 --> 00:35:51.859
 I am Jesus

00:35:51.859 --> 00:35:53.039
 the Messiah

00:35:53.039 --> 00:35:54.980
 and I can

00:35:54.980 --> 00:35:56.179
 get the blood off

00:35:56.179 --> 00:35:58.119
 if you will just

00:35:58.119 --> 00:35:58.819
 find me

00:35:58.820 --> 00:36:00.039
 and believe in me.

00:36:01.680 --> 00:36:02.519
 So the man

00:36:02.519 --> 00:36:03.260
 began searching.

00:36:03.980 --> 00:36:04.400
 It took him

00:36:04.400 --> 00:36:04.880
 over a year

00:36:04.880 --> 00:36:05.860
 to locate a copy

00:36:05.860 --> 00:36:06.400
 of the Bible

00:36:06.400 --> 00:36:07.320
 and eventually

00:36:07.320 --> 00:36:08.019
 it took him

00:36:08.019 --> 00:36:08.480
 even longer

00:36:08.480 --> 00:36:09.260
 to understand

00:36:09.260 --> 00:36:10.240
 what he was reading.

00:36:10.780 --> 00:36:11.300
 Occasionally

00:36:11.300 --> 00:36:11.780
 he would run

00:36:11.780 --> 00:36:12.660
 into someone

00:36:12.660 --> 00:36:13.300
 who could answer

00:36:13.300 --> 00:36:14.120
 some of his questions

00:36:14.120 --> 00:36:15.160
 and finally

00:36:15.160 --> 00:36:16.120
 this man found

00:36:16.120 --> 00:36:16.539
 Jesus

00:36:16.539 --> 00:36:18.140
 and the man said

00:36:18.140 --> 00:36:18.780
 that when he gave

00:36:18.780 --> 00:36:19.840
 his life over to Jesus

00:36:19.840 --> 00:36:21.800
 I got the blood off.

00:36:22.620 --> 00:36:24.059
 Jesus took that blood

00:36:24.059 --> 00:36:25.440
 onto himself

00:36:25.440 --> 00:36:27.260
 and his nightmares

00:36:27.260 --> 00:36:28.559
 stopped immediately.

00:36:30.500 --> 00:36:31.280
 And the man

00:36:31.280 --> 00:36:32.019
 started smuggling

00:36:32.019 --> 00:36:32.519
 Bibles

00:36:32.519 --> 00:36:33.519
 into his country

00:36:33.519 --> 00:36:34.659
 even Jesus films

00:36:34.659 --> 00:36:35.900
 he went over mountains

00:36:35.900 --> 00:36:36.920
 to another country

00:36:36.920 --> 00:36:38.000
 and to smuggle

00:36:38.000 --> 00:36:38.720
 these things in

00:36:38.720 --> 00:36:39.880
 he did these for years

00:36:39.880 --> 00:36:41.119
 and in doing so

00:36:41.119 --> 00:36:42.099
 he had been beaten

00:36:42.099 --> 00:36:43.039
 near to death

00:36:43.039 --> 00:36:44.940
 by Muslim soldiers

00:36:44.940 --> 00:36:45.900
 he used to lead

00:36:45.900 --> 00:36:47.980
 because they heard

00:36:47.980 --> 00:36:49.139
 that he was an apostate.

00:36:50.099 --> 00:36:50.740
 After listening

00:36:50.740 --> 00:36:51.599
 to the man's story

00:36:51.599 --> 00:36:52.800
 for over six hours

00:36:52.800 --> 00:36:53.480
 Nick Ripken

00:36:53.480 --> 00:36:54.420
 asked him a question.

00:36:54.420 --> 00:36:56.579
 You have told me

00:36:56.579 --> 00:36:57.420
 that you are married

00:36:57.420 --> 00:36:58.700
 that you have sons

00:36:58.700 --> 00:36:59.400
 and that you have

00:36:59.400 --> 00:37:00.000
 led your wife

00:37:00.000 --> 00:37:00.500
 and your children

00:37:00.500 --> 00:37:01.059
 to Christ

00:37:01.059 --> 00:37:01.579
 and that you have

00:37:01.579 --> 00:37:02.579
 even baptized them.

00:37:03.500 --> 00:37:04.400
 What I'm wondering

00:37:04.400 --> 00:37:05.039
 is this

00:37:05.039 --> 00:37:06.380
 where do they fit

00:37:06.380 --> 00:37:07.200
 into your ministry?

00:37:08.240 --> 00:37:09.119
 You haven't talked

00:37:09.119 --> 00:37:09.740
 about that.

00:37:10.599 --> 00:37:11.820
 How do they help you?

00:37:12.559 --> 00:37:13.180
 What is happening

00:37:13.180 --> 00:37:13.820
 with your family?

00:37:15.820 --> 00:37:16.579
 And Nick Ripken

00:37:16.579 --> 00:37:18.000
 recalls how he did not

00:37:18.000 --> 00:37:19.500
 expect what happened next.

00:37:20.700 --> 00:37:21.019
 He says

00:37:21.019 --> 00:37:22.579
 the man leapt out

00:37:22.579 --> 00:37:23.260
 of the darkness

00:37:23.260 --> 00:37:24.180
 and suddenly stood

00:37:24.179 --> 00:37:25.199
 face to face

00:37:25.199 --> 00:37:25.759
 with me.

00:37:26.239 --> 00:37:26.940
 He clamped

00:37:26.940 --> 00:37:28.019
 his scarred hands

00:37:28.019 --> 00:37:29.059
 down tight

00:37:29.059 --> 00:37:29.839
 on my shoulders

00:37:29.839 --> 00:37:31.039
 and his fierce

00:37:31.039 --> 00:37:31.960
 dark eyes

00:37:31.960 --> 00:37:33.000
 bored like lasers

00:37:33.000 --> 00:37:33.659
 into mine

00:37:33.659 --> 00:37:35.179
 and I instinctively

00:37:35.179 --> 00:37:35.960
 thought of my earlier

00:37:35.960 --> 00:37:36.839
 question about the number

00:37:36.839 --> 00:37:37.759
 of men he had killed.

00:37:38.319 --> 00:37:38.919
 For hours

00:37:38.919 --> 00:37:39.519
 I had listened

00:37:39.519 --> 00:37:40.759
 to his inspiring story

00:37:40.759 --> 00:37:42.399
 but now I was terrified

00:37:42.399 --> 00:37:43.259
 as he shook me

00:37:43.259 --> 00:37:44.440
 and demanded to know

00:37:44.440 --> 00:37:47.099
 how can God ask it?

00:37:48.440 --> 00:37:49.119
 Tell me

00:37:49.119 --> 00:37:51.079
 how can God ask it?

00:37:51.079 --> 00:37:52.940
 I have given him

00:37:52.940 --> 00:37:53.500
 everything.

00:37:54.079 --> 00:37:55.920
 My body has been broken.

00:37:56.119 --> 00:37:57.139
 I have been jailed.

00:37:57.340 --> 00:37:58.480
 I have been starved.

00:37:58.659 --> 00:37:59.579
 I have been beaten.

00:38:00.239 --> 00:38:01.599
 I have been left for dead.

00:38:02.179 --> 00:38:03.340
 I have even been willing

00:38:03.340 --> 00:38:04.460
 to die for Jesus.

00:38:05.039 --> 00:38:05.920
 But do you know

00:38:05.920 --> 00:38:06.779
 what I fear?

00:38:07.619 --> 00:38:08.559
 When I go to bed

00:38:08.559 --> 00:38:08.980
 at night

00:38:08.980 --> 00:38:10.139
 what keeps me awake

00:38:10.139 --> 00:38:11.219
 and what actually

00:38:11.219 --> 00:38:12.299
 terrifies me

00:38:12.299 --> 00:38:13.360
 is a thought

00:38:13.360 --> 00:38:14.340
 that God might ask

00:38:14.340 --> 00:38:15.159
 of my wife

00:38:15.159 --> 00:38:16.239
 and my children

00:38:16.239 --> 00:38:17.239
 what I have already

00:38:17.239 --> 00:38:18.380
 willingly given him.

00:38:18.380 --> 00:38:20.160
 how can he ask it?

00:38:20.700 --> 00:38:21.280
 Tell me

00:38:21.280 --> 00:38:22.900
 how could God ask this

00:38:22.900 --> 00:38:24.200
 of my wife

00:38:24.200 --> 00:38:24.740
 and children?

00:38:31.500 --> 00:38:33.019
 Scared half to death

00:38:33.019 --> 00:38:33.740
 Ripken

00:38:33.740 --> 00:38:35.019
 who had suffered

00:38:35.019 --> 00:38:36.280
 the loss

00:38:36.280 --> 00:38:37.039
 of his own son

00:38:37.039 --> 00:38:37.860
 in the mission field

00:38:37.860 --> 00:38:39.059
 felt prompted

00:38:39.059 --> 00:38:39.920
 by the Holy Spirit

00:38:39.920 --> 00:38:40.640
 to say this

00:38:40.640 --> 00:38:41.220
 in response

00:38:41.220 --> 00:38:43.599
 I personally

00:38:43.599 --> 00:38:44.280
 cannot answer

00:38:44.280 --> 00:38:44.880
 your question

00:38:44.880 --> 00:38:46.619
 but I would ask you

00:38:46.619 --> 00:38:47.300
 another question

00:38:47.300 --> 00:38:47.920
 that I have had

00:38:47.920 --> 00:38:48.860
 to ask myself

00:38:48.860 --> 00:38:52.060
 is Jesus

00:38:52.060 --> 00:38:53.440
 worth it?

00:38:55.880 --> 00:38:56.960
 Is he worth

00:38:56.960 --> 00:38:57.519
 your life?

00:38:59.240 --> 00:39:00.200
 Is he worth

00:39:00.200 --> 00:39:00.720
 the lives

00:39:00.720 --> 00:39:01.480
 of your wife

00:39:01.480 --> 00:39:02.660
 and your children?

00:39:05.480 --> 00:39:07.120
 And this toughest man

00:39:07.120 --> 00:39:08.240
 that he had ever met

00:39:08.240 --> 00:39:09.880
 began to sob

00:39:09.880 --> 00:39:12.480
 and then he wrapped

00:39:12.480 --> 00:39:13.380
 his arms around

00:39:13.380 --> 00:39:14.060
 Ripken

00:39:14.060 --> 00:39:15.560
 and buried his face

00:39:15.560 --> 00:39:16.200
 in his shoulders

00:39:16.200 --> 00:39:16.880
 and wept

00:39:16.880 --> 00:39:17.980
 and then when he

00:39:17.980 --> 00:39:18.920
 finally stopped

00:39:18.920 --> 00:39:20.599
 stepped back

00:39:20.599 --> 00:39:21.160
 and wiped away

00:39:21.160 --> 00:39:21.680
 his tears

00:39:21.680 --> 00:39:23.820
 and he looked

00:39:23.820 --> 00:39:24.720
 into his eyes again

00:39:24.720 --> 00:39:25.260
 and nodded

00:39:25.260 --> 00:39:25.800
 and declared

00:39:25.800 --> 00:39:27.260
 Jesus

00:39:27.260 --> 00:39:29.019
 is worth it

00:39:29.019 --> 00:39:32.200
 He is worth

00:39:32.200 --> 00:39:32.880
 my life

00:39:32.880 --> 00:39:34.900
 my wife's life

00:39:34.900 --> 00:39:36.420
 and he is worth

00:39:36.420 --> 00:39:36.820
 the lives

00:39:36.820 --> 00:39:37.500
 of my children

00:39:37.500 --> 00:39:40.640
 I have got

00:39:40.640 --> 00:39:41.720
 to get them involved

00:39:41.720 --> 00:39:42.840
 in what God

00:39:42.840 --> 00:39:43.820
 is doing with me

00:39:43.820 --> 00:39:48.559
 with that

00:39:48.559 --> 00:39:49.360
 he said goodbye

00:39:49.360 --> 00:39:50.640
 turned around

00:39:50.640 --> 00:39:51.440
 walked out

00:39:51.440 --> 00:39:51.840
 of the room

00:39:51.840 --> 00:39:57.680
 brothers and sisters

00:39:57.680 --> 00:39:59.300
 that's what

00:39:59.300 --> 00:39:59.960
 contentment

00:39:59.960 --> 00:40:00.440
 in Christ

00:40:00.440 --> 00:40:01.039
 looks like

00:40:01.039 --> 00:40:04.740
 Jesus

00:40:04.740 --> 00:40:05.940
 is

00:40:05.940 --> 00:40:07.140
 worth it

00:40:07.140 --> 00:40:10.780
 Jesus

00:40:10.780 --> 00:40:11.640
 is worth

00:40:11.640 --> 00:40:12.100
 losing

00:40:12.100 --> 00:40:12.780
 everything

00:40:12.780 --> 00:40:13.240
 over

00:40:13.240 --> 00:40:19.480
 and so

00:40:19.480 --> 00:40:19.920
 even when

00:40:19.920 --> 00:40:20.640
 we are weak

00:40:20.640 --> 00:40:21.660
 insulted

00:40:21.660 --> 00:40:22.600
 even when

00:40:22.600 --> 00:40:23.200
 we are suffering

00:40:23.200 --> 00:40:23.580
 even when

00:40:23.580 --> 00:40:24.320
 we are persecuted

00:40:24.320 --> 00:40:26.720
 let's declare

00:40:26.720 --> 00:40:27.660
 to the world

00:40:27.660 --> 00:40:29.560
 by our contentment

00:40:29.560 --> 00:40:31.740
 that Jesus

00:40:31.740 --> 00:40:32.760
 is enough

00:40:32.760 --> 00:40:34.240
 let's pray

00:40:34.239 --> 00:40:55.579
 Jesus

00:40:55.579 --> 00:41:00.079
 you gave your all

00:41:00.079 --> 00:41:01.739
 which is much

00:41:01.739 --> 00:41:03.679
 to us

00:41:03.679 --> 00:41:07.779
 how can we not

00:41:07.779 --> 00:41:08.940
 give our little

00:41:08.940 --> 00:41:09.779
 all to you

00:41:09.779 --> 00:41:18.360
 Jesus

00:41:18.360 --> 00:41:19.299
 you are worthy

00:41:19.299 --> 00:41:22.599
 you are

00:41:22.599 --> 00:41:23.779
 enough

00:41:23.780 --> 00:41:27.800
 help us

00:41:27.800 --> 00:41:28.380
 to live

00:41:28.380 --> 00:41:28.920
 in a manner

00:41:28.920 --> 00:41:30.000
 that shows

00:41:30.000 --> 00:41:32.660
 that reveals

00:41:32.660 --> 00:41:35.720
 your surpassing

00:41:35.720 --> 00:41:36.019
 worth

00:41:36.019 --> 00:41:39.640
 help us

00:41:39.640 --> 00:41:40.280
 to treasure

00:41:40.280 --> 00:41:40.760
 you more

00:41:40.760 --> 00:41:41.560
 than anything

00:41:41.560 --> 00:41:42.360
 and anyone

00:41:42.360 --> 00:41:46.240
 for your glory

00:41:46.239 --> 00:41:51.399
 in Jesus

00:41:51.399 --> 00:41:52.159
 name we pray

00:41:52.159 --> 00:41:53.379
 amen

00:41:53.380 --> 00:41:57.260
 well

00:41:57.260 --> 00:41:57.940
 yeah

00:41:57.940 --> 00:42:01.860
 you

00:42:01.860 --> 00:42:02.300
 you

00:42:02.300 --> 00:42:03.840
 you