WEBVTT

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 Let's pray while we're standing.

00:00:03.060 --> 00:00:05.799
 Gracious God, we ask as we open up your word now,

00:00:06.000 --> 00:00:08.439
 you would pour out your spirit amongst us.

00:00:09.040 --> 00:00:12.720
 We pray that we would understand your word

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 and that you might give us through the power of your spirit

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 the courage to obey it,

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 to live our lives in accordance with it,

00:00:20.980 --> 00:00:23.620
 that we might more and more reflect your glory.

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 And we ask it for your sake.

00:00:25.519 --> 00:00:25.879
 Amen.

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 Please be seated.

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 I want to begin this morning

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 with the life of one of the greatest philosophical thinkers,

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 one of the sharpest political minds,

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 and one of the most quoted individuals of the past 100 years.

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 Arnold Schwarzenegger

00:00:56.420 --> 00:01:03.660
 was born the son of a low-ranking Austrian police officer

00:01:03.660 --> 00:01:06.099
 and destined to be a nobody

00:01:06.099 --> 00:01:10.620
 until his hands wrapped around a barbell for the very first time.

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 By the age of 18, he was travelling the world,

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 competing in bodybuilding championships.

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 At one point, as he was living in England,

00:01:20.799 --> 00:01:23.659
 his coach, Wag Bennett, asked him,

00:01:24.340 --> 00:01:27.060
 Arnie, what do you want to do with your life?

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 His response was astounding.

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 18 years of age.

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 I want to be the greatest

00:01:35.379 --> 00:01:39.040
 and the richest bodybuilder of all time.

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 I want to live in the United States.

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 I want to be an actor,

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 a movie director,

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 own an apartment block,

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 and dabble in politics.

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 He saw the future,

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 he saw what he wanted,

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 and he just went for it.

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 Just went for it.

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 Jesus told a similar story

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 about a man who saw the future,

00:02:06.379 --> 00:02:07.920
 saw what he needed to do,

00:02:08.360 --> 00:02:09.759
 and he just went for it.

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 It's that passage that was read out to us.

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 If you'd like to grab your Bibles

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 and open up to Luke 16,

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 it's a passage in the Bible

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 that on the surface

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 seems to be a bit of a problem for us.

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 Is Jesus actually saying

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 that it's okay to steal from your employer?

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 We know that can't be right.

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 Surely he wouldn't be saying that.

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 So let's have a look

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 and see what Jesus is actually saying

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 in Luke 16.

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 Fundamentally,

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 it has nothing to do with dodgy deals.

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 It has everything to do

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 in terms of acting now

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 in view of the future.

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 Acting now in view of the future.

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 So verse 1,

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 Jesus told his disciples

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 there was a rich man

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 whose manager was accused

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 of wasting his possessions.

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 So he called him in

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 and asked him,

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 what is this I hear about you?

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 Give an account of your management

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 because you cannot be manager any longer.

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 The manager said to himself,

00:03:17.340 --> 00:03:18.340
 well, what shall I do now?

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 My master is taking away my job.

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 I'm not strong enough to dig

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 and I'm ashamed to beg.

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 I know what I'll do.

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 So that when I lose my job here,

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 people will welcome me

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 into their houses.

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 You see,

00:03:34.579 --> 00:03:36.699
 the issue in first century Palestine

00:03:36.699 --> 00:03:38.960
 was that there was no unemployment benefits.

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 You had a choice.

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 You begged or you worked.

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 Clearly,

00:03:44.699 --> 00:03:46.439
 this manager wasn't going to get

00:03:46.439 --> 00:03:47.659
 another manager's job

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 after his poor handling

00:03:49.579 --> 00:03:51.039
 of his previous position.

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 And he says,

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 I'm too ashamed to go right

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 to the other end

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 of the social scale and beg.

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 And frankly,

00:03:57.879 --> 00:03:58.859
 I haven't got the muscles

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 to go and dig holes for a living.

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 And so the issue for this

00:04:05.399 --> 00:04:08.299
 manager was,

00:04:08.659 --> 00:04:10.359
 if I'm not going to beg

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 and I'm not going to work,

00:04:13.340 --> 00:04:14.719
 how am I going to eat?

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 That's the issue.

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 The issue that this man

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 was faced with

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 was a life and death decision.

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 And so in verse 4,

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 he sees what's going to happen

00:04:27.320 --> 00:04:28.740
 in the future

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 and he acts accordingly.

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 For that short period of time,

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 for this manager,

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 he still has his laptop

00:04:35.900 --> 00:04:36.780
 on the desk,

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 he still has

00:04:38.080 --> 00:04:39.600
 the company checkbook,

00:04:39.960 --> 00:04:41.100
 he still has

00:04:41.100 --> 00:04:42.160
 his name

00:04:42.160 --> 00:04:42.900
 on the plaque

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 at the front of the office,

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 and he can still act now

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 in view

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 of the future.

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 And he grabs

00:04:50.859 --> 00:04:51.560
 his opportunity.

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 He went for it

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 in verse 5,

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 so he called in

00:04:55.500 --> 00:04:56.899
 each one of his master's

00:04:56.899 --> 00:04:57.360
 debtors.

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 He asked the first,

00:04:59.019 --> 00:04:59.839
 how much do you owe

00:04:59.839 --> 00:05:00.479
 my master?

00:05:01.419 --> 00:05:02.199
 800 gallons

00:05:02.199 --> 00:05:02.919
 of olive oil,

00:05:03.060 --> 00:05:03.620
 he replied.

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 The manager told him,

00:05:05.039 --> 00:05:06.000
 take your bill,

00:05:06.120 --> 00:05:06.959
 sit down quickly

00:05:06.959 --> 00:05:08.120
 and make it 400.

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 Then he asked the second,

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 and how much do you owe?

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 1,000 bushels of wheat.

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 He replied.

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 He told him,

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 take your bill

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 and make it 800.

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 And in the process

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 of acting for the future,

00:05:22.439 --> 00:05:23.360
 he won the favour

00:05:23.360 --> 00:05:24.340
 and obligation

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 of his master's

00:05:25.899 --> 00:05:26.699
 debtors.

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 He calls in people

00:05:28.560 --> 00:05:29.660
 who owes his boss

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 money,

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 and he substantially

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 cuts the debt,

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 potentially just taking

00:05:35.259 --> 00:05:36.160
 off the top

00:05:36.160 --> 00:05:37.620
 his own commission.

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 He substantially

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 cuts the bills.

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 and the people

00:05:43.760 --> 00:05:44.280
 are naturally

00:05:44.280 --> 00:05:44.960
 pleased.

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 The really strange

00:05:47.819 --> 00:05:48.620
 thing is those,

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 the master's response,

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 the master says to him,

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 in effect,

00:05:52.360 --> 00:05:52.860
 well done.

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 Well done.

00:05:56.340 --> 00:05:57.040
 Verse 8,

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 the master commended

00:05:58.200 --> 00:05:59.480
 the dishonest manager

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 because he had acted

00:06:01.100 --> 00:06:01.800
 shrewdly.

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 It's incredible,

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 isn't it?

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 I mean,

00:06:04.660 --> 00:06:06.040
 he's just ripped him off.

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 And he says,

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 well done.

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 That was really clever

00:06:11.439 --> 00:06:12.400
 what you just did.

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 He didn't commend you

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 for being dishonest.

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 He commended him

00:06:16.860 --> 00:06:17.800
 for shrewdness.

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 So this parable

00:06:19.460 --> 00:06:20.260
 is not about

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 being dishonest.

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 It's about being

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 shrewd

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 and especially

00:06:24.920 --> 00:06:26.280
 shrewd

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 in regard

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 to the future.

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 He acted

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 because he knew

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 what the future held.

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 But it's a really

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 logical choice,

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 isn't it?

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 If you're going to die,

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 you want to make sure

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 you do things

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 so you don't die.

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 It's fairly logical.

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 But as we read

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 in the second half

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 of verse 8,

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 this logical

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 and shrewd action

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 is not a logical

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 and shrewd action

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 that the people

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 of God

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 often make.

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 Verse 8,

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 for the people

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 of this world

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 are more shrewd

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 in dealing

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 with their own kind

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 than are the people

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 of the light.

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 What he's saying

00:07:01.580 --> 00:07:02.160
 there is

00:07:02.160 --> 00:07:03.759
 that the non-Christian

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 knows what they

00:07:05.079 --> 00:07:05.599
 want to do

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 and they live

00:07:06.459 --> 00:07:07.379
 by their philosophy.

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 They live

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 day by day

00:07:10.180 --> 00:07:10.639
 as if God

00:07:10.639 --> 00:07:11.519
 doesn't exist.

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 But the Christian,

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 well,

00:07:15.719 --> 00:07:16.599
 they muck around

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 with their relationship

00:07:17.420 --> 00:07:17.899
 with God

00:07:17.899 --> 00:07:18.519
 all the time.

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 But the non-Christian,

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 they live by it.

00:07:23.180 --> 00:07:23.860
 Take, for instance,

00:07:23.980 --> 00:07:24.480
 Philip Adams.

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 He's a journalist,

00:07:25.779 --> 00:07:26.219
 a writer,

00:07:26.339 --> 00:07:27.219
 and an outspoken

00:07:27.219 --> 00:07:27.839
 atheist.

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 Philip Adams

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 believes that

00:07:29.920 --> 00:07:30.740
 when he dies,

00:07:30.860 --> 00:07:32.019
 he faces oblivion,

00:07:32.099 --> 00:07:32.379
 that is,

00:07:32.379 --> 00:07:33.740
 he faces nothingness,

00:07:34.240 --> 00:07:35.519
 and he said this,

00:07:36.120 --> 00:07:37.139
 when I die,

00:07:37.480 --> 00:07:38.579
 that is my lot.

00:07:39.240 --> 00:07:39.839
 I don't have

00:07:39.839 --> 00:07:40.920
 any form of afterlife,

00:07:41.120 --> 00:07:42.100
 any form of survival

00:07:42.100 --> 00:07:42.740
 of the ego.

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 To me,

00:07:43.980 --> 00:07:44.800
 the end of life

00:07:44.800 --> 00:07:45.480
 which is rushing

00:07:45.480 --> 00:07:46.159
 towards me

00:07:46.159 --> 00:07:46.899
 with increasing

00:07:46.899 --> 00:07:47.459
 velocity

00:07:47.459 --> 00:07:49.180
 is very real.

00:07:49.699 --> 00:07:50.879
 I once worked out

00:07:50.879 --> 00:07:51.899
 that the average person

00:07:51.899 --> 00:07:52.439
 was born

00:07:52.439 --> 00:07:53.199
 with approximately

00:07:53.199 --> 00:07:54.759
 600,000 hours

00:07:54.759 --> 00:07:55.360
 to live.

00:07:56.079 --> 00:07:56.939
 You spend

00:07:56.939 --> 00:07:57.459
 approximately

00:07:57.459 --> 00:07:58.000
 one-third

00:07:58.000 --> 00:07:58.899
 of those asleep,

00:07:58.899 --> 00:08:00.479
 another 20,000

00:08:00.479 --> 00:08:01.239
 to 50,000

00:08:01.239 --> 00:08:01.919
 hours sitting

00:08:01.919 --> 00:08:02.579
 on the toilet,

00:08:03.239 --> 00:08:04.019
 and when you

00:08:04.019 --> 00:08:04.419
 eliminate

00:08:04.419 --> 00:08:06.139
 all the wasted

00:08:06.139 --> 00:08:06.979
 hours,

00:08:07.879 --> 00:08:09.139
 there are not

00:08:09.139 --> 00:08:09.959
 many left

00:08:09.959 --> 00:08:10.719
 which are going

00:08:10.719 --> 00:08:11.439
 to be of any

00:08:11.439 --> 00:08:11.899
 use.

00:08:13.899 --> 00:08:15.159
 So if I have

00:08:15.159 --> 00:08:16.539
 50,000 to 60,000

00:08:16.539 --> 00:08:17.379
 good hours

00:08:17.379 --> 00:08:18.319
 left in me,

00:08:18.579 --> 00:08:19.679
 then that's all

00:08:19.679 --> 00:08:21.120
 that I can expect.

00:08:21.120 --> 00:08:22.699
 Therefore,

00:08:23.540 --> 00:08:25.160
 I don't waste

00:08:25.160 --> 00:08:26.459
 time on trivia

00:08:26.459 --> 00:08:28.360
 or irrelevancies

00:08:28.360 --> 00:08:29.319
 anymore.

00:08:29.780 --> 00:08:30.740
 I want to get

00:08:30.740 --> 00:08:31.160
 it right.

00:08:32.360 --> 00:08:33.519
 That is an

00:08:33.519 --> 00:08:33.960
 atheist

00:08:33.960 --> 00:08:35.299
 speaking

00:08:35.299 --> 00:08:37.259
 who has

00:08:37.259 --> 00:08:37.940
 no hope

00:08:37.940 --> 00:08:38.720
 for the future.

00:08:40.399 --> 00:08:41.279
 How much

00:08:41.279 --> 00:08:41.659
 more the

00:08:41.659 --> 00:08:42.120
 Christian

00:08:42.120 --> 00:08:43.159
 with a certain

00:08:43.159 --> 00:08:44.060
 hope of eternity

00:08:44.060 --> 00:08:44.860
 in the presence

00:08:44.860 --> 00:08:45.539
 of God

00:08:45.539 --> 00:08:46.960
 be wanting

00:08:46.960 --> 00:08:48.440
 to get

00:08:48.440 --> 00:08:48.700
 it

00:08:48.700 --> 00:08:49.620
 right.

00:08:51.120 --> 00:08:53.240
 But Jesus

00:08:53.240 --> 00:08:54.060
 says that we're

00:08:54.060 --> 00:08:54.580
 not shrewd

00:08:54.580 --> 00:08:55.320
 enough in acting

00:08:55.320 --> 00:08:55.980
 now in view

00:08:55.980 --> 00:08:56.500
 of what is

00:08:56.500 --> 00:08:56.960
 around the

00:08:56.960 --> 00:08:57.240
 corner,

00:08:57.700 --> 00:08:58.480
 and so this

00:08:58.480 --> 00:08:59.299
 parable is a

00:08:59.299 --> 00:09:00.360
 parable that

00:09:00.360 --> 00:09:00.919
 is meant to

00:09:00.919 --> 00:09:01.639
 focus our

00:09:01.639 --> 00:09:02.799
 attention to

00:09:02.799 --> 00:09:03.639
 live each

00:09:03.639 --> 00:09:04.560
 day with

00:09:04.560 --> 00:09:05.039
 the end

00:09:05.039 --> 00:09:05.659
 in mind.

00:09:07.399 --> 00:09:08.240
 In World

00:09:08.240 --> 00:09:08.799
 War II,

00:09:09.860 --> 00:09:10.500
 Germany

00:09:10.500 --> 00:09:11.120
 occupied

00:09:11.120 --> 00:09:11.740
 France,

00:09:12.480 --> 00:09:13.220
 but all

00:09:13.220 --> 00:09:14.259
 through 1942

00:09:14.259 --> 00:09:15.159
 and 1943,

00:09:15.560 --> 00:09:16.100
 the Allies

00:09:16.100 --> 00:09:16.740
 planned a

00:09:16.740 --> 00:09:17.340
 massive

00:09:17.340 --> 00:09:18.259
 counterattack.

00:09:19.480 --> 00:09:19.799
 General

00:09:19.799 --> 00:09:20.879
 Dwight Eisenhower

00:09:20.879 --> 00:09:21.559
 was selected

00:09:21.559 --> 00:09:22.340
 to command

00:09:22.340 --> 00:09:23.200
 the assault,

00:09:24.000 --> 00:09:24.299
 and so

00:09:24.299 --> 00:09:24.799
 during the

00:09:24.799 --> 00:09:25.500
 night of

00:09:25.500 --> 00:09:25.939
 Jude the

00:09:25.939 --> 00:09:27.279
 6th,

00:09:27.360 --> 00:09:28.939
 about 2,700

00:09:28.939 --> 00:09:30.299
 ships carrying

00:09:30.299 --> 00:09:31.200
 loading craft

00:09:31.200 --> 00:09:33.600
 and 176,000

00:09:33.600 --> 00:09:34.799
 soldiers crossed

00:09:34.799 --> 00:09:35.279
 the English

00:09:35.279 --> 00:09:35.720
 Channel.

00:09:36.759 --> 00:09:37.519
 At dawn,

00:09:38.159 --> 00:09:38.740
 battleships

00:09:38.740 --> 00:09:39.659
 opened up

00:09:39.659 --> 00:09:40.019
 on the

00:09:40.019 --> 00:09:40.419
 beaches.

00:09:41.259 --> 00:09:42.080
 They stormed

00:09:42.080 --> 00:09:43.220
 ashore in

00:09:43.220 --> 00:09:44.039
 the largest

00:09:44.039 --> 00:09:44.759
 seaborne

00:09:44.759 --> 00:09:45.600
 invasion in

00:09:45.600 --> 00:09:46.100
 history.

00:09:47.320 --> 00:09:47.960
 By the end

00:09:47.960 --> 00:09:48.720
 of D-Day,

00:09:49.540 --> 00:09:50.420
 all five

00:09:50.420 --> 00:09:51.340
 Allied landing

00:09:51.340 --> 00:09:52.060
 beaches were

00:09:52.060 --> 00:09:52.519
 secure.

00:09:53.920 --> 00:09:54.680
 Over the

00:09:54.680 --> 00:09:55.160
 next few

00:09:55.160 --> 00:09:55.500
 months,

00:09:55.639 --> 00:09:55.940
 more than

00:09:55.940 --> 00:09:56.560
 one million

00:09:56.560 --> 00:09:57.580
 Allied troops

00:09:57.580 --> 00:09:58.639
 poured into

00:09:58.639 --> 00:09:59.259
 France,

00:09:59.639 --> 00:10:01.040
 and they

00:10:01.040 --> 00:10:01.620
 cleared the

00:10:01.620 --> 00:10:02.540
 Germans out of

00:10:02.540 --> 00:10:03.080
 most of

00:10:03.080 --> 00:10:03.780
 northwestern

00:10:03.780 --> 00:10:04.280
 France.

00:10:05.420 --> 00:10:06.300
 The German

00:10:06.300 --> 00:10:07.160
 generals knew

00:10:07.160 --> 00:10:07.680
 that they were

00:10:07.680 --> 00:10:08.120
 defeated.

00:10:08.900 --> 00:10:09.620
 They didn't

00:10:09.620 --> 00:10:10.060
 have enough

00:10:10.060 --> 00:10:10.620
 troops or

00:10:10.620 --> 00:10:11.220
 enough fuel

00:10:11.220 --> 00:10:11.660
 to turn

00:10:11.660 --> 00:10:12.100
 back the

00:10:12.100 --> 00:10:12.540
 tide,

00:10:12.539 --> 00:10:13.539
 but Hitler

00:10:13.539 --> 00:10:15.240
 refused to

00:10:15.240 --> 00:10:16.079
 admit defeat.

00:10:16.779 --> 00:10:17.419
 By April

00:10:17.419 --> 00:10:18.259
 1945,

00:10:18.959 --> 00:10:19.719
 Soviet troops

00:10:19.719 --> 00:10:20.480
 had surrounded

00:10:20.480 --> 00:10:21.000
 Berlin,

00:10:21.839 --> 00:10:22.240
 and from

00:10:22.240 --> 00:10:22.980
 his underground

00:10:22.980 --> 00:10:23.439
 bunker,

00:10:23.620 --> 00:10:24.399
 Hitler ordered

00:10:24.399 --> 00:10:25.219
 German soldiers

00:10:25.219 --> 00:10:25.719
 to fight

00:10:25.719 --> 00:10:26.039
 on.

00:10:26.919 --> 00:10:27.319
 But on

00:10:27.319 --> 00:10:28.159
 April 30,

00:10:28.439 --> 00:10:29.179
 Hitler himself

00:10:29.179 --> 00:10:29.519
 committed

00:10:29.519 --> 00:10:30.259
 suicide.

00:10:31.019 --> 00:10:31.579
 Seven days

00:10:31.579 --> 00:10:31.919
 later,

00:10:32.000 --> 00:10:32.559
 the 7th of

00:10:32.559 --> 00:10:33.500
 May 1945,

00:10:34.179 --> 00:10:34.740
 the new

00:10:34.740 --> 00:10:35.480
 Chief of

00:10:35.480 --> 00:10:36.039
 Staff of

00:10:36.039 --> 00:10:36.459
 the German

00:10:36.459 --> 00:10:37.379
 Armed Forces

00:10:37.379 --> 00:10:38.439
 signed a

00:10:38.439 --> 00:10:38.959
 statement of

00:10:38.959 --> 00:10:39.500
 unconditional

00:10:39.500 --> 00:10:41.199
 surrender to

00:10:41.199 --> 00:10:42.279
 Eisenhower.

00:10:42.539 --> 00:10:43.559
 World War

00:10:43.559 --> 00:10:44.620
 II in

00:10:44.620 --> 00:10:45.299
 Europe had

00:10:45.299 --> 00:10:45.799
 ended.

00:10:46.519 --> 00:10:47.000
 The Allies

00:10:47.000 --> 00:10:47.699
 declared the

00:10:47.699 --> 00:10:48.339
 8th of May

00:10:48.339 --> 00:10:49.740
 1945 as

00:10:49.740 --> 00:10:50.899
 VE Day,

00:10:51.459 --> 00:10:52.259
 Victory in

00:10:52.259 --> 00:10:52.939
 Europe Day.

00:10:53.819 --> 00:10:54.799
 The decisive

00:10:54.799 --> 00:10:55.759
 day was the

00:10:55.759 --> 00:10:56.659
 6th of June

00:10:56.659 --> 00:10:57.860
 1944,

00:10:58.719 --> 00:10:59.199
 D-Day.

00:11:00.179 --> 00:11:00.759
 The final

00:11:00.759 --> 00:11:01.539
 Victory Day,

00:11:01.699 --> 00:11:02.459
 VE Day,

00:11:02.860 --> 00:11:03.319
 was the

00:11:03.319 --> 00:11:03.879
 8th of May

00:11:03.879 --> 00:11:04.559
 1945.

00:11:06.000 --> 00:11:06.579
 Friends,

00:11:06.959 --> 00:11:07.419
 the death

00:11:07.419 --> 00:11:08.039
 and resurrection

00:11:08.039 --> 00:11:08.639
 of Jesus

00:11:08.639 --> 00:11:09.719
 2,000 years

00:11:09.719 --> 00:11:10.439
 ago was

00:11:10.439 --> 00:11:11.779
 our D-Day.

00:11:12.539 --> 00:11:13.579
 It was the

00:11:13.579 --> 00:11:14.579
 decisive day.

00:11:15.039 --> 00:11:15.639
 That was the

00:11:15.639 --> 00:11:16.480
 day when Jesus

00:11:16.480 --> 00:11:17.399
 dealt with our

00:11:17.399 --> 00:11:18.980
 independence and

00:11:18.980 --> 00:11:20.259
 now we live

00:11:20.259 --> 00:11:22.059
 remembering D-Day.

00:11:22.379 --> 00:11:23.679
 We live in the

00:11:23.679 --> 00:11:25.679
 light of D-Day and

00:11:25.679 --> 00:11:26.639
 we are waiting for

00:11:26.639 --> 00:11:27.679
 the final reckoning,

00:11:28.079 --> 00:11:29.039
 waiting for our

00:11:29.039 --> 00:11:29.980
 independence and

00:11:29.980 --> 00:11:31.019
 all the independence

00:11:31.019 --> 00:11:32.000
 of this world to

00:11:32.000 --> 00:11:33.579
 finally be overrun.

00:11:33.980 --> 00:11:34.860
 We are living

00:11:34.860 --> 00:11:35.679
 through the last

00:11:35.679 --> 00:11:36.839
 days of cosmic

00:11:36.839 --> 00:11:38.759
 war and the

00:11:38.759 --> 00:11:40.240
 outcome is

00:11:40.240 --> 00:11:40.779
 certain.

00:11:42.120 --> 00:11:42.980
 The outcome

00:11:42.980 --> 00:11:43.820
 is certain.

00:11:44.680 --> 00:11:45.279
 D-Day has

00:11:45.279 --> 00:11:45.740
 happened.

00:11:46.500 --> 00:11:47.080
 The cross of

00:11:47.080 --> 00:11:47.720
 Christ is

00:11:47.720 --> 00:11:48.279
 heralded the

00:11:48.279 --> 00:11:49.159
 final victory.

00:11:49.980 --> 00:11:50.620
 The decisive

00:11:50.620 --> 00:11:51.320
 victory has

00:11:51.320 --> 00:11:51.980
 been won.

00:11:52.440 --> 00:11:53.039
 D-Day has

00:11:53.039 --> 00:11:53.639
 happened in the

00:11:53.639 --> 00:11:53.960
 death and

00:11:53.960 --> 00:11:54.740
 resurrection of

00:11:54.740 --> 00:11:56.100
 Jesus and we

00:11:56.100 --> 00:11:57.899
 wait for VE

00:11:57.899 --> 00:11:58.860
 Day to come.

00:12:00.779 --> 00:12:01.840
 Every person

00:12:01.840 --> 00:12:02.740
 will stand

00:12:02.740 --> 00:12:04.379
 before his

00:12:04.379 --> 00:12:05.500
 throne and give

00:12:05.500 --> 00:12:06.700
 an account on

00:12:06.700 --> 00:12:07.440
 that day.

00:12:08.720 --> 00:12:09.640
 How should we

00:12:09.640 --> 00:12:10.280
 live therefore?

00:12:12.060 --> 00:12:14.240
 We live each

00:12:14.240 --> 00:12:15.860
 moment as if

00:12:15.860 --> 00:12:17.700
 VE Day was

00:12:17.700 --> 00:12:18.160
 today.

00:12:19.740 --> 00:12:21.180
 We live each

00:12:21.180 --> 00:12:22.180
 moment as if

00:12:22.180 --> 00:12:24.200
 VE Day was

00:12:24.200 --> 00:12:24.720
 today.

00:12:27.180 --> 00:12:28.060
 That's what it

00:12:28.060 --> 00:12:28.580
 means to be

00:12:28.580 --> 00:12:28.960
 shrewd.

00:12:30.720 --> 00:12:31.580
 That's what it

00:12:31.580 --> 00:12:32.020
 means to be

00:12:32.020 --> 00:12:32.440
 shrewd.

00:12:32.440 --> 00:12:33.860
 But the

00:12:33.860 --> 00:12:34.260
 warning of

00:12:34.260 --> 00:12:34.900
 this parable

00:12:34.900 --> 00:12:37.920
 is that too

00:12:37.920 --> 00:12:38.660
 many Christians

00:12:38.660 --> 00:12:39.160
 are not

00:12:39.160 --> 00:12:39.920
 shrewd enough.

00:12:41.640 --> 00:12:42.480
 You can't

00:12:42.480 --> 00:12:42.980
 tell the

00:12:42.980 --> 00:12:43.880
 Christians from

00:12:43.880 --> 00:12:44.660
 the non-Christians

00:12:44.660 --> 00:12:44.960
 in their

00:12:44.960 --> 00:12:45.740
 priorities by

00:12:45.740 --> 00:12:46.220
 the way they

00:12:46.220 --> 00:12:46.660
 use their

00:12:46.660 --> 00:12:47.220
 time and

00:12:47.220 --> 00:12:47.620
 their money

00:12:47.620 --> 00:12:48.080
 and their

00:12:48.080 --> 00:12:49.260
 relationships.

00:12:51.580 --> 00:12:52.340
 In verse

00:12:52.340 --> 00:12:53.100
 9, Jesus

00:12:53.100 --> 00:12:54.040
 tells us one

00:12:54.040 --> 00:12:54.560
 way that we

00:12:54.560 --> 00:12:55.640
 can live as

00:12:55.640 --> 00:12:56.500
 if VE Day

00:12:56.500 --> 00:12:56.980
 were right

00:12:56.980 --> 00:12:57.520
 here, right

00:12:57.520 --> 00:12:57.900
 now.

00:12:58.320 --> 00:12:59.240
 I tell you,

00:12:59.560 --> 00:13:00.060
 use your

00:13:00.060 --> 00:13:00.780
 worldly wealth

00:13:00.780 --> 00:13:01.140
 to gain

00:13:01.140 --> 00:13:01.700
 friends for

00:13:01.700 --> 00:13:02.280
 yourselves.

00:13:02.440 --> 00:13:03.300
 So that when

00:13:03.300 --> 00:13:04.260
 it is gone,

00:13:04.560 --> 00:13:05.020
 you'll be

00:13:05.020 --> 00:13:05.920
 welcomed into

00:13:05.920 --> 00:13:07.020
 eternal dwellings.

00:13:07.980 --> 00:13:08.820
 Jesus isn't

00:13:08.820 --> 00:13:09.400
 saying you can

00:13:09.400 --> 00:13:09.900
 buy your way

00:13:09.900 --> 00:13:10.280
 into heaven.

00:13:10.400 --> 00:13:10.900
 We know that

00:13:10.900 --> 00:13:11.480
 for sure from

00:13:11.480 --> 00:13:12.300
 other places,

00:13:12.680 --> 00:13:13.560
 that it's only

00:13:13.560 --> 00:13:14.140
 through him,

00:13:14.240 --> 00:13:14.560
 through his

00:13:14.560 --> 00:13:14.920
 death and

00:13:14.920 --> 00:13:15.440
 resurrection.

00:13:16.500 --> 00:13:17.220
 What he is

00:13:17.220 --> 00:13:18.340
 saying is use

00:13:18.340 --> 00:13:19.060
 your possessions

00:13:19.060 --> 00:13:20.260
 now in view

00:13:20.260 --> 00:13:21.200
 of the future,

00:13:21.520 --> 00:13:22.400
 in view of

00:13:22.400 --> 00:13:23.060
 eternity.

00:13:24.280 --> 00:13:25.020
 Use everything

00:13:25.020 --> 00:13:25.980
 you have now to

00:13:25.980 --> 00:13:27.020
 please God and

00:13:27.020 --> 00:13:27.680
 not yourself.

00:13:28.920 --> 00:13:29.640
 What he is

00:13:29.640 --> 00:13:30.740
 saying here is

00:13:30.740 --> 00:13:31.240
 what he has

00:13:31.240 --> 00:13:32.360
 said consistently

00:13:32.360 --> 00:13:33.399
 through the

00:13:33.399 --> 00:13:34.860
 gospels is

00:13:34.860 --> 00:13:36.060
 build up

00:13:36.060 --> 00:13:37.600
 treasure in

00:13:37.600 --> 00:13:37.980
 heaven.

00:13:39.680 --> 00:13:40.399
 Build up

00:13:40.399 --> 00:13:40.899
 treasure in

00:13:40.899 --> 00:13:41.139
 heaven.

00:13:43.279 --> 00:13:44.060
 So let me

00:13:44.060 --> 00:13:44.500
 give you a

00:13:44.500 --> 00:13:44.919
 scenario.

00:13:45.639 --> 00:13:46.159
 The sort of

00:13:46.159 --> 00:13:46.680
 thing I think

00:13:46.680 --> 00:13:47.560
 Jesus is talking

00:13:47.560 --> 00:13:48.220
 about here,

00:13:49.379 --> 00:13:50.360
 opening scene.

00:13:51.360 --> 00:13:51.980
 You have

00:13:51.980 --> 00:13:52.980
 $200 that

00:13:52.980 --> 00:13:53.539
 you've saved

00:13:53.539 --> 00:13:54.800
 up and

00:13:54.800 --> 00:13:55.419
 there is an

00:13:55.419 --> 00:13:56.500
 MP3 player,

00:13:56.639 --> 00:13:57.100
 forgive me if

00:13:57.100 --> 00:13:57.440
 you're from a

00:13:57.440 --> 00:13:58.240
 different generation

00:13:58.240 --> 00:13:59.480
 on this one.

00:14:02.180 --> 00:14:02.720
 There's an

00:14:02.720 --> 00:14:03.899
 MP3 player that

00:14:03.899 --> 00:14:04.399
 you've had your

00:14:04.399 --> 00:14:05.180
 eye on for a

00:14:05.180 --> 00:14:05.680
 little while,

00:14:06.159 --> 00:14:07.240
 but you hear

00:14:07.240 --> 00:14:08.340
 someone struggling

00:14:08.340 --> 00:14:09.680
 to put themselves

00:14:09.680 --> 00:14:10.279
 through Bible

00:14:10.279 --> 00:14:10.820
 college,

00:14:11.279 --> 00:14:12.139
 you've got your

00:14:12.139 --> 00:14:12.659
 $200,

00:14:13.320 --> 00:14:14.220
 it's a hard

00:14:14.220 --> 00:14:14.560
 call,

00:14:14.620 --> 00:14:15.200
 you know it,

00:14:15.700 --> 00:14:16.899
 but you give

00:14:16.899 --> 00:14:17.460
 it to them to

00:14:17.460 --> 00:14:17.960
 help them get

00:14:17.960 --> 00:14:18.460
 through Bible

00:14:18.460 --> 00:14:18.919
 college.

00:14:20.100 --> 00:14:20.940
 Next scene,

00:14:21.700 --> 00:14:22.419
 you're dead.

00:14:22.840 --> 00:14:23.340
 Sorry about

00:14:23.340 --> 00:14:23.940
 fast forwarding

00:14:23.940 --> 00:14:24.280
 your life

00:14:24.280 --> 00:14:24.500
 there.

00:14:26.820 --> 00:14:27.520
 You're dead,

00:14:28.380 --> 00:14:28.820
 you're in

00:14:28.820 --> 00:14:29.120
 heaven,

00:14:29.700 --> 00:14:30.540
 and this guy

00:14:30.540 --> 00:14:31.180
 comes up to

00:14:31.180 --> 00:14:31.720
 you and says,

00:14:31.820 --> 00:14:32.320
 while I was

00:14:32.320 --> 00:14:32.720
 on earth,

00:14:32.780 --> 00:14:33.160
 I used to

00:14:33.160 --> 00:14:33.500
 live in

00:14:33.500 --> 00:14:33.760
 Chile,

00:14:34.360 --> 00:14:34.900
 and you know,

00:14:35.360 --> 00:14:36.320
 one day an

00:14:36.320 --> 00:14:36.980
 extraordinary

00:14:36.980 --> 00:14:37.900
 thing happened.

00:14:38.900 --> 00:14:39.700
 This guy came

00:14:39.700 --> 00:14:40.140
 up to me in

00:14:40.140 --> 00:14:40.740
 the street and

00:14:40.740 --> 00:14:41.300
 told me about

00:14:41.300 --> 00:14:41.800
 Jesus,

00:14:43.020 --> 00:14:43.740
 thank you,

00:14:44.660 --> 00:14:45.600
 thank you for

00:14:45.600 --> 00:14:45.860
 that,

00:14:47.060 --> 00:14:47.880
 and you think

00:14:47.880 --> 00:14:48.580
 this guy's gone

00:14:48.580 --> 00:14:49.080
 mad.

00:14:50.300 --> 00:14:51.140
 You've got no

00:14:51.140 --> 00:14:51.720
 idea what he's

00:14:51.720 --> 00:14:52.500
 talking about,

00:14:52.500 --> 00:14:53.980
 what he's

00:14:53.980 --> 00:14:54.700
 saying is that

00:14:54.700 --> 00:14:55.860
 that $200 that

00:14:55.860 --> 00:14:57.019
 you gave and

00:14:57.019 --> 00:14:57.899
 many others like

00:14:57.899 --> 00:14:59.039
 you allowed that

00:14:59.039 --> 00:14:59.779
 student to get

00:14:59.779 --> 00:15:00.320
 through Bible

00:15:00.320 --> 00:15:00.820
 college.

00:15:01.340 --> 00:15:02.100
 That person

00:15:02.100 --> 00:15:02.740
 worked in a

00:15:02.740 --> 00:15:03.039
 church,

00:15:03.139 --> 00:15:03.919
 discipled young

00:15:03.919 --> 00:15:04.480
 Christians,

00:15:04.879 --> 00:15:05.620
 one or two of

00:15:05.620 --> 00:15:06.460
 those people went

00:15:06.460 --> 00:15:07.039
 into Bible

00:15:07.039 --> 00:15:08.019
 college themselves,

00:15:09.120 --> 00:15:10.100
 and years,

00:15:10.559 --> 00:15:11.679
 generations later,

00:15:11.779 --> 00:15:12.379
 one of their

00:15:12.379 --> 00:15:14.639
 kids went as a

00:15:14.639 --> 00:15:15.379
 missionary to

00:15:15.379 --> 00:15:16.519
 Brazil and

00:15:16.519 --> 00:15:17.519
 evangelized some

00:15:17.519 --> 00:15:18.019
 people in

00:15:18.019 --> 00:15:18.440
 Brazil,

00:15:18.799 --> 00:15:19.620
 and the guy

00:15:19.620 --> 00:15:20.360
 who came up to

00:15:20.360 --> 00:15:20.919
 you in heaven

00:15:20.919 --> 00:15:22.259
 is a grandchild

00:15:22.259 --> 00:15:22.759
 of one of the

00:15:22.759 --> 00:15:23.840
 people who

00:15:23.840 --> 00:15:24.740
 brought Jesus

00:15:24.740 --> 00:15:25.539
 to Brazil,

00:15:26.139 --> 00:15:26.679
 but who ended

00:15:26.679 --> 00:15:27.379
 up working and

00:15:27.379 --> 00:15:27.860
 living and

00:15:27.860 --> 00:15:28.779
 ministering in

00:15:28.779 --> 00:15:29.519
 Chile instead.

00:15:30.000 --> 00:15:30.580
 If you can

00:15:30.580 --> 00:15:31.299
 follow that,

00:15:31.659 --> 00:15:32.059
 you're better

00:15:32.059 --> 00:15:32.519
 than me.

00:15:34.399 --> 00:15:35.439
 But the point

00:15:35.439 --> 00:15:36.700
 is your $200

00:15:36.700 --> 00:15:37.860
 has an enormous

00:15:37.860 --> 00:15:39.059
 impact not just

00:15:39.059 --> 00:15:39.620
 for now and

00:15:39.620 --> 00:15:40.460
 this generation,

00:15:40.879 --> 00:15:41.319
 but for

00:15:41.319 --> 00:15:42.439
 generations to

00:15:42.439 --> 00:15:43.439
 come because

00:15:43.439 --> 00:15:44.439
 you are building

00:15:44.439 --> 00:15:46.059
 treasure in

00:15:46.059 --> 00:15:46.439
 heaven.

00:15:50.139 --> 00:15:51.139
 When you give

00:15:51.139 --> 00:15:51.620
 to gospel

00:15:51.620 --> 00:15:52.519
 ministry, you

00:15:52.519 --> 00:15:53.299
 are making

00:15:53.299 --> 00:15:54.259
 an investment

00:15:54.259 --> 00:15:55.199
 for generations.

00:15:55.679 --> 00:15:56.460
 You are not

00:15:56.460 --> 00:15:57.199
 balancing the

00:15:57.199 --> 00:15:57.740
 budget of

00:15:57.740 --> 00:15:58.620
 St. Paul's.

00:16:00.620 --> 00:16:01.240
 It's an

00:16:01.240 --> 00:16:01.960
 investment for

00:16:01.960 --> 00:16:02.779
 generations to

00:16:02.779 --> 00:16:03.460
 come, building

00:16:03.460 --> 00:16:04.100
 treasure in

00:16:04.100 --> 00:16:04.779
 heaven for all

00:16:04.779 --> 00:16:05.360
 of eternity,

00:16:05.679 --> 00:16:06.759
 and it may

00:16:06.759 --> 00:16:07.620
 not seem like

00:16:07.620 --> 00:16:08.039
 you get an

00:16:08.039 --> 00:16:08.899
 immediate return

00:16:08.899 --> 00:16:09.419
 because you

00:16:09.419 --> 00:16:10.220
 can't stick ear

00:16:10.220 --> 00:16:10.819
 plugs in your

00:16:10.819 --> 00:16:11.480
 ears and get

00:16:11.480 --> 00:16:12.199
 your mind blown

00:16:12.199 --> 00:16:13.039
 out by music,

00:16:13.779 --> 00:16:15.039
 but the value

00:16:15.039 --> 00:16:15.740
 is priceless.

00:16:16.740 --> 00:16:17.700
 For all of

00:16:17.700 --> 00:16:19.620
 eternity, you

00:16:19.620 --> 00:16:20.179
 will never

00:16:20.179 --> 00:16:21.060
 regret what

00:16:21.060 --> 00:16:21.539
 you did

00:16:21.539 --> 00:16:21.860
 with that

00:16:21.860 --> 00:16:22.340
 $200.

00:16:24.720 --> 00:16:25.200
 Never

00:16:25.200 --> 00:16:25.779
 regret it.

00:16:27.879 --> 00:16:28.560
 And that

00:16:28.560 --> 00:16:29.139
 is, if that

00:16:29.139 --> 00:16:29.440
 is the

00:16:29.440 --> 00:16:29.740
 Christian

00:16:29.740 --> 00:16:30.480
 perspective on

00:16:30.480 --> 00:16:32.000
 life, if

00:16:32.000 --> 00:16:32.679
 D-Day is

00:16:32.679 --> 00:16:33.679
 happening, V-E-Day

00:16:33.679 --> 00:16:34.879
 is about to

00:16:34.879 --> 00:16:35.860
 come, and we

00:16:35.860 --> 00:16:36.519
 are to live in

00:16:36.519 --> 00:16:36.980
 the light of

00:16:36.980 --> 00:16:38.080
 V-E-Day, and

00:16:38.080 --> 00:16:38.759
 all of our

00:16:38.759 --> 00:16:39.879
 giving is an

00:16:39.879 --> 00:16:40.419
 internal

00:16:40.419 --> 00:16:41.220
 investment,

00:16:43.220 --> 00:16:44.740
 then why are

00:16:44.740 --> 00:16:45.399
 churches nearly

00:16:45.399 --> 00:16:46.220
 always under

00:16:46.220 --> 00:16:46.720
 resourced?

00:16:46.720 --> 00:16:50.019
 Why is it

00:16:50.019 --> 00:16:50.800
 the missionaries

00:16:50.800 --> 00:16:51.540
 have to return

00:16:51.540 --> 00:16:52.060
 home through

00:16:52.060 --> 00:16:52.940
 lack of funds?

00:16:54.240 --> 00:16:54.800
 Why do

00:16:54.800 --> 00:16:55.200
 Christian

00:16:55.200 --> 00:16:56.320
 organisations have

00:16:56.320 --> 00:16:57.139
 to waste so

00:16:57.139 --> 00:16:58.840
 much time and

00:16:58.840 --> 00:16:59.700
 energy on

00:16:59.700 --> 00:17:00.740
 fundraisers and

00:17:00.740 --> 00:17:01.440
 fairs and

00:17:01.440 --> 00:17:01.899
 Lamington

00:17:01.899 --> 00:17:03.480
 drives to

00:17:03.480 --> 00:17:04.880
 try and

00:17:04.880 --> 00:17:05.559
 raise money?

00:17:06.839 --> 00:17:07.460
 Why?

00:17:09.920 --> 00:17:10.759
 Because we've

00:17:10.759 --> 00:17:11.220
 forgotten the

00:17:11.220 --> 00:17:11.539
 gospel.

00:17:13.299 --> 00:17:14.120
 Because we've

00:17:14.120 --> 00:17:14.579
 forgotten the

00:17:14.579 --> 00:17:14.860
 gospel.

00:17:14.859 --> 00:17:16.979
 we've

00:17:16.979 --> 00:17:17.459
 forgotten that

00:17:17.459 --> 00:17:18.439
 V-E-Day is

00:17:18.439 --> 00:17:19.079
 just around the

00:17:19.079 --> 00:17:19.379
 corner.

00:17:19.839 --> 00:17:20.339
 We've forgotten

00:17:20.339 --> 00:17:21.179
 Jesus' words

00:17:21.179 --> 00:17:21.659
 builds up

00:17:21.659 --> 00:17:22.299
 treasure in

00:17:22.299 --> 00:17:22.779
 heaven, not

00:17:22.779 --> 00:17:23.379
 on earth.

00:17:23.879 --> 00:17:24.759
 Jesus' words

00:17:24.759 --> 00:17:25.899
 use worldly

00:17:25.899 --> 00:17:26.500
 wealth to

00:17:26.500 --> 00:17:27.359
 gain friends

00:17:27.359 --> 00:17:28.199
 with yourselves,

00:17:28.599 --> 00:17:29.079
 eternal

00:17:29.079 --> 00:17:29.740
 friends who

00:17:29.740 --> 00:17:30.399
 will rejoice

00:17:30.399 --> 00:17:31.359
 with you

00:17:31.359 --> 00:17:32.179
 around that

00:17:32.179 --> 00:17:34.839
 throne for

00:17:34.839 --> 00:17:35.279
 time and

00:17:35.279 --> 00:17:35.679
 eternity.

00:17:38.319 --> 00:17:39.299
 Jesus sums

00:17:39.299 --> 00:17:39.939
 up the idea

00:17:39.939 --> 00:17:41.019
 in verse 13,

00:17:42.179 --> 00:17:42.919
 no servant

00:17:42.919 --> 00:17:43.799
 can serve two

00:17:43.799 --> 00:17:44.339
 masters,

00:17:44.859 --> 00:17:45.500
 either he

00:17:45.500 --> 00:17:45.859
 will hate

00:17:45.859 --> 00:17:46.159
 the one

00:17:46.159 --> 00:17:46.459
 and love

00:17:46.459 --> 00:17:46.799
 the other

00:17:46.799 --> 00:17:47.059
 or he will

00:17:47.059 --> 00:17:47.500
 be devoted

00:17:47.500 --> 00:17:47.939
 to the one

00:17:47.939 --> 00:17:48.579
 and despise

00:17:48.579 --> 00:17:49.000
 the other.

00:17:49.379 --> 00:17:49.879
 You cannot

00:17:49.879 --> 00:17:50.659
 serve both

00:17:50.659 --> 00:17:51.419
 God and

00:17:51.419 --> 00:17:51.759
 money.

00:17:53.000 --> 00:17:53.599
 Strong

00:17:53.599 --> 00:17:54.099
 words,

00:17:55.079 --> 00:17:55.779
 but very

00:17:55.779 --> 00:17:56.659
 clear words.

00:17:57.699 --> 00:17:58.379
 Jesus didn't

00:17:58.379 --> 00:17:58.979
 say it wasn't

00:17:58.979 --> 00:17:59.579
 a good idea

00:17:59.579 --> 00:18:00.079
 to try and

00:18:00.079 --> 00:18:00.879
 serve two

00:18:00.879 --> 00:18:01.319
 masters.

00:18:02.119 --> 00:18:02.679
 He actually

00:18:02.679 --> 00:18:03.819
 says here that

00:18:03.819 --> 00:18:04.759
 it is impossible

00:18:04.759 --> 00:18:06.500
 to serve two

00:18:06.500 --> 00:18:06.959
 masters.

00:18:07.419 --> 00:18:08.339
 It is impossible

00:18:08.339 --> 00:18:09.719
 to serve both

00:18:09.719 --> 00:18:10.419
 God and

00:18:10.419 --> 00:18:10.740
 money.

00:18:10.740 --> 00:18:12.680
 your life is

00:18:12.680 --> 00:18:13.440
 focused in one

00:18:13.440 --> 00:18:13.759
 of two

00:18:13.759 --> 00:18:14.359
 directions,

00:18:14.819 --> 00:18:15.240
 God and

00:18:15.240 --> 00:18:15.779
 serving him

00:18:15.779 --> 00:18:16.259
 or serving

00:18:16.259 --> 00:18:16.859
 yourself and

00:18:16.859 --> 00:18:17.339
 what you want

00:18:17.339 --> 00:18:17.859
 in life.

00:18:18.059 --> 00:18:18.620
 You cannot

00:18:18.620 --> 00:18:19.359
 do both,

00:18:19.599 --> 00:18:20.440
 is what Jesus

00:18:20.440 --> 00:18:21.400
 says in this

00:18:21.400 --> 00:18:21.880
 passage.

00:18:24.839 --> 00:18:25.839
 So friends,

00:18:26.700 --> 00:18:28.819
 we stand at

00:18:28.819 --> 00:18:29.420
 the edge of

00:18:29.420 --> 00:18:30.000
 something big

00:18:30.000 --> 00:18:30.740
 for us as a

00:18:30.740 --> 00:18:32.180
 church and I

00:18:32.180 --> 00:18:32.700
 want to ask

00:18:32.700 --> 00:18:33.059
 you, what are

00:18:33.059 --> 00:18:33.500
 you going to

00:18:33.500 --> 00:18:33.799
 do?

00:18:35.099 --> 00:18:35.500
 What are you

00:18:35.500 --> 00:18:36.099
 going to do?

00:18:36.099 --> 00:18:37.319
 You and I

00:18:37.319 --> 00:18:38.000
 are in exactly

00:18:38.000 --> 00:18:38.779
 the same boat

00:18:38.779 --> 00:18:39.559
 as this shrewd

00:18:39.559 --> 00:18:39.959
 manager.

00:18:41.339 --> 00:18:42.279
 The books are

00:18:42.279 --> 00:18:42.919
 still open.

00:18:43.959 --> 00:18:45.059
 We still have a

00:18:45.059 --> 00:18:45.899
 chance to act

00:18:45.899 --> 00:18:47.579
 now in view

00:18:47.579 --> 00:18:48.259
 of eternity.

00:18:49.259 --> 00:18:50.439
 A chance to

00:18:50.439 --> 00:18:51.359
 make sure that

00:18:51.359 --> 00:18:53.059
 we are not

00:18:53.059 --> 00:18:53.779
 mastered by

00:18:53.779 --> 00:18:55.379
 money, but to

00:18:55.379 --> 00:18:56.199
 give it generously

00:18:56.199 --> 00:18:57.179
 because of the

00:18:57.179 --> 00:18:58.779
 impact of such

00:18:58.779 --> 00:18:59.559
 an investment

00:18:59.559 --> 00:19:00.819
 will be felt

00:19:00.819 --> 00:19:01.819
 for ages,

00:19:02.299 --> 00:19:03.179
 for all of

00:19:03.179 --> 00:19:03.699
 eternity.

00:19:03.700 --> 00:19:06.240
 It is the

00:19:06.240 --> 00:19:07.039
 greatest legacy

00:19:07.039 --> 00:19:07.640
 that you could

00:19:07.640 --> 00:19:08.559
 leave your

00:19:08.559 --> 00:19:09.220
 generation.

00:19:10.340 --> 00:19:11.019
 It's the

00:19:11.019 --> 00:19:11.700
 greatest legacy

00:19:11.700 --> 00:19:12.240
 that we could

00:19:12.240 --> 00:19:12.700
 leave the

00:19:12.700 --> 00:19:13.460
 generations to

00:19:13.460 --> 00:19:14.779
 follow us

00:19:14.779 --> 00:19:15.319
 at St.

00:19:15.380 --> 00:19:17.319
 Paul's and

00:19:17.319 --> 00:19:17.740
 the greatest

00:19:17.740 --> 00:19:18.340
 legacy we

00:19:18.340 --> 00:19:18.840
 could leave

00:19:18.840 --> 00:19:19.700
 our children's

00:19:19.700 --> 00:19:20.259
 generations.

00:19:23.519 --> 00:19:24.400
 Investment in

00:19:24.400 --> 00:19:25.279
 people's lives

00:19:25.279 --> 00:19:26.140
 with our

00:19:26.140 --> 00:19:27.940
 time, our

00:19:27.940 --> 00:19:29.680
 prayers, our

00:19:29.680 --> 00:19:31.319
 energy, our

00:19:31.319 --> 00:19:32.740
 encouragement, and

00:19:32.740 --> 00:19:33.240
 from this

00:19:33.240 --> 00:19:34.519
 passage, our

00:19:34.519 --> 00:19:34.819
 money.

00:19:36.339 --> 00:19:37.339
 In view of

00:19:37.339 --> 00:19:37.900
 the fact that

00:19:37.900 --> 00:19:39.140
 VE Day is

00:19:39.140 --> 00:19:39.859
 just around the

00:19:39.859 --> 00:19:41.740
 corner, I'm

00:19:41.740 --> 00:19:42.380
 calling you to

00:19:42.380 --> 00:19:43.180
 do what Jesus

00:19:43.180 --> 00:19:44.359
 is calling us

00:19:44.359 --> 00:19:45.019
 to do as his

00:19:45.019 --> 00:19:47.200
 disciples, give

00:19:47.200 --> 00:19:47.559
 it up.

00:19:48.480 --> 00:19:49.420
 Give it up for

00:19:49.420 --> 00:19:49.900
 the kingdom.

00:19:51.200 --> 00:19:51.980
 Stake everything

00:19:51.980 --> 00:19:53.440
 in this world on

00:19:53.440 --> 00:19:54.240
 the world that is

00:19:54.240 --> 00:19:54.720
 to come.

00:19:58.380 --> 00:19:59.440
 So today we

00:19:59.440 --> 00:19:59.940
 stand on the

00:19:59.940 --> 00:20:00.539
 edge of 11

00:20:00.539 --> 00:20:01.180
 year ministry

00:20:01.180 --> 00:20:01.640
 plan.

00:20:01.640 --> 00:20:02.920
 And the

00:20:02.920 --> 00:20:03.540
 bottom line of

00:20:03.540 --> 00:20:04.460
 this plan is

00:20:04.460 --> 00:20:05.100
 a call for

00:20:05.100 --> 00:20:05.640
 us to

00:20:05.640 --> 00:20:06.600
 strongly,

00:20:07.160 --> 00:20:08.100
 single-mindedly,

00:20:08.380 --> 00:20:09.700
 doggedly be

00:20:09.700 --> 00:20:10.640
 focused on the

00:20:10.640 --> 00:20:11.500
 kingdom of God

00:20:11.500 --> 00:20:12.280
 and the coming

00:20:12.280 --> 00:20:14.100
 VE Day when

00:20:14.100 --> 00:20:14.820
 Jesus will

00:20:14.820 --> 00:20:15.759
 return and he

00:20:15.759 --> 00:20:16.460
 will wind up

00:20:16.460 --> 00:20:17.180
 this whole show.

00:20:18.920 --> 00:20:19.740
 Today I'm

00:20:19.740 --> 00:20:20.440
 calling you to

00:20:20.440 --> 00:20:21.340
 act now in

00:20:21.340 --> 00:20:21.700
 view of

00:20:21.700 --> 00:20:22.200
 eternity.

00:20:22.860 --> 00:20:24.160
 I'm calling the

00:20:24.160 --> 00:20:25.000
 whole church to

00:20:25.000 --> 00:20:26.000
 make wise

00:20:26.000 --> 00:20:26.660
 investments.

00:20:26.660 --> 00:20:28.519
 God calls

00:20:28.519 --> 00:20:31.180
 us to

00:20:31.180 --> 00:20:32.920
 demand our

00:20:32.920 --> 00:20:34.240
 allegiance, he

00:20:34.240 --> 00:20:35.019
 demands our

00:20:35.019 --> 00:20:35.779
 time, our

00:20:35.779 --> 00:20:36.620
 energy, our

00:20:36.620 --> 00:20:37.340
 prayers, our

00:20:37.340 --> 00:20:37.960
 money, our

00:20:37.960 --> 00:20:38.580
 lives.

00:20:40.680 --> 00:20:41.880
 He helps us

00:20:41.880 --> 00:20:43.220
 see that for

00:20:43.220 --> 00:20:45.100
 all of us we

00:20:45.100 --> 00:20:46.840
 only all have a

00:20:46.840 --> 00:20:48.480
 few good hours

00:20:48.480 --> 00:20:49.300
 left.

00:20:50.860 --> 00:20:52.259
 We all only

00:20:52.259 --> 00:20:53.019
 have a few good

00:20:53.019 --> 00:20:53.740
 hours left.

00:20:53.740 --> 00:20:55.740
 people

00:20:55.740 --> 00:20:56.539
 who are

00:20:56.539 --> 00:20:56.740
 going to

00:20:56.740 --> 00:20:57.220
 go to the

00:20:57.220 --> 00:20:57.740
 church.

00:20:57.740 --> 00:20:58.400
 But because this

00:20:58.400 --> 00:20:58.480
 passage is specifically

00:20:58.480 --> 00:20:59.220
 about money

00:20:59.220 --> 00:21:01.500
 primarily, I want

00:21:01.500 --> 00:21:02.400
 to call you to put

00:21:02.400 --> 00:21:03.440
 your money behind the

00:21:03.440 --> 00:21:04.140
 ministry of the

00:21:04.140 --> 00:21:04.900
 gospel in this

00:21:04.900 --> 00:21:05.599
 church and from

00:21:05.599 --> 00:21:06.279
 this church.

00:21:07.180 --> 00:21:08.500
 We need money to

00:21:08.500 --> 00:21:09.900
 build disciples and

00:21:09.900 --> 00:21:10.480
 to reach the

00:21:10.480 --> 00:21:10.980
 nations.

00:21:10.980 --> 00:21:12.960
 Christians, I

00:21:12.960 --> 00:21:13.319
 was very

00:21:13.319 --> 00:21:14.140
 comforted to

00:21:14.140 --> 00:21:14.880
 discover this

00:21:14.880 --> 00:21:16.720
 week that the

00:21:16.720 --> 00:21:17.720
 good news is that

00:21:17.720 --> 00:21:19.079
 God has given us

00:21:19.079 --> 00:21:20.500
 all the money we

00:21:20.500 --> 00:21:21.880
 need to realise the

00:21:21.880 --> 00:21:23.000
 plans that he has

00:21:23.000 --> 00:21:23.819
 for this church.

00:21:24.700 --> 00:21:26.120
 The bad news is it's

00:21:26.120 --> 00:21:26.880
 in your pockets.

00:21:33.480 --> 00:21:37.380
 And so our giving

00:21:37.380 --> 00:21:38.420
 to gospel ministry

00:21:38.420 --> 00:21:39.319
 should never be

00:21:39.319 --> 00:21:39.960
 haphazard.

00:21:41.139 --> 00:21:42.099
 It needs to be

00:21:42.099 --> 00:21:42.599
 planned.

00:21:42.819 --> 00:21:43.500
 It needs to be

00:21:43.500 --> 00:21:43.960
 generous.

00:21:44.240 --> 00:21:44.839
 It needs to be

00:21:44.839 --> 00:21:45.419
 sacrificial.

00:21:46.359 --> 00:21:47.359
 And I want to say

00:21:47.359 --> 00:21:48.220
 a step further, it

00:21:48.220 --> 00:21:49.159
 also needs to be

00:21:49.159 --> 00:21:49.539
 open.

00:21:51.419 --> 00:21:52.659
 Over the last few

00:21:52.659 --> 00:21:53.339
 months I've been

00:21:53.339 --> 00:21:54.379
 preaching from here

00:21:54.379 --> 00:21:57.439
 that money is

00:21:57.439 --> 00:21:58.519
 never a financial

00:21:58.519 --> 00:21:59.019
 issue.

00:22:00.019 --> 00:22:01.220
 It is a spiritual

00:22:01.220 --> 00:22:02.000
 issue for the

00:22:02.000 --> 00:22:02.399
 church.

00:22:03.019 --> 00:22:03.779
 John Dunn said the

00:22:03.779 --> 00:22:04.419
 same thing when he

00:22:04.419 --> 00:22:05.099
 preached a couple of

00:22:05.099 --> 00:22:05.619
 months ago.

00:22:06.819 --> 00:22:08.039
 It is a spiritual

00:22:08.039 --> 00:22:09.059
 issue for us.

00:22:09.319 --> 00:22:10.460
 And because it's a

00:22:10.460 --> 00:22:11.599
 spiritual issue, it

00:22:11.599 --> 00:22:12.679
 is never to be off

00:22:12.679 --> 00:22:13.700
 limits for the senior

00:22:13.700 --> 00:22:14.379
 minister and the

00:22:14.379 --> 00:22:14.960
 leaders of this

00:22:14.960 --> 00:22:15.359
 church.

00:22:16.639 --> 00:22:17.779
 It is never to be

00:22:17.779 --> 00:22:18.379
 off limits.

00:22:20.139 --> 00:22:21.859
 And to that end, you

00:22:21.859 --> 00:22:22.799
 have all received an

00:22:22.799 --> 00:22:23.519
 envelope with

00:22:23.519 --> 00:22:24.700
 information, a card to

00:22:24.700 --> 00:22:25.539
 pledge your giving

00:22:25.539 --> 00:22:26.659
 for next year.

00:22:27.659 --> 00:22:29.019
 Between now and the

00:22:29.019 --> 00:22:30.359
 29th of November, which

00:22:30.359 --> 00:22:31.019
 is our commitment

00:22:31.019 --> 00:22:33.220
 Sunday, I want you to be

00:22:33.220 --> 00:22:33.779
 prayerful.

00:22:33.779 --> 00:22:34.920
 I want you to be

00:22:34.920 --> 00:22:36.460
 considerate about your

00:22:36.460 --> 00:22:37.720
 pledge for next year

00:22:37.720 --> 00:22:38.980
 and your one-off

00:22:38.980 --> 00:22:39.859
 donation to the

00:22:39.859 --> 00:22:41.000
 internal and external

00:22:41.000 --> 00:22:42.180
 projects we have.

00:22:42.839 --> 00:22:44.859
 In the week ahead or

00:22:44.859 --> 00:22:46.500
 weeks ahead, you're

00:22:46.500 --> 00:22:47.139
 going to hear more

00:22:47.139 --> 00:22:48.299
 from me about this,

00:22:49.899 --> 00:22:50.420
 where I'm going to

00:22:50.420 --> 00:22:51.539
 explain my thinking

00:22:51.539 --> 00:22:52.299
 behind it.

00:22:52.779 --> 00:22:54.059
 What I'm calling us to

00:22:54.059 --> 00:22:54.899
 do as a church is

00:22:54.899 --> 00:22:55.859
 something that is not

00:22:55.859 --> 00:22:58.920
 culturally acceptable,

00:22:59.240 --> 00:23:00.740
 even amongst churches,

00:23:00.740 --> 00:23:02.359
 religious, but I

00:23:02.359 --> 00:23:03.200
 believe it's strongly

00:23:03.200 --> 00:23:03.640
 biblical.

00:23:04.700 --> 00:23:05.900
 In fact, there is more

00:23:05.900 --> 00:23:07.440
 biblical evidence for

00:23:07.440 --> 00:23:09.380
 your giving to be

00:23:09.380 --> 00:23:10.779
 public than there is

00:23:10.779 --> 00:23:11.799
 for it to be private.

00:23:16.640 --> 00:23:17.960
 Your staff and parish

00:23:17.960 --> 00:23:18.859
 council will be setting

00:23:18.859 --> 00:23:19.920
 the pace in a couple of

00:23:19.920 --> 00:23:21.359
 weeks' time when we

00:23:21.359 --> 00:23:22.660
 meet and we pledge our

00:23:22.660 --> 00:23:23.799
 commitment for 2010.

00:23:24.880 --> 00:23:25.960
 We'll be calling the

00:23:25.960 --> 00:23:26.799
 church to follow our

00:23:26.799 --> 00:23:28.059
 example just over a week

00:23:28.059 --> 00:23:28.420
 later.

00:23:28.420 --> 00:23:31.180
 It's all new for us as

00:23:31.180 --> 00:23:33.300
 a church, but it's

00:23:33.300 --> 00:23:34.140
 also exciting.

00:23:34.880 --> 00:23:36.200
 It's an exciting time

00:23:36.200 --> 00:23:37.900
 for us as the people

00:23:37.900 --> 00:23:39.320
 of God will stop

00:23:39.320 --> 00:23:41.860
 keeping secret what is

00:23:41.860 --> 00:23:42.740
 at the heart of

00:23:42.740 --> 00:23:43.960
 Christian discipleship.

00:23:45.259 --> 00:23:46.300
 I look forward to

00:23:46.300 --> 00:23:47.279
 seeing what God will do

00:23:47.279 --> 00:23:48.640
 amongst us in the

00:23:48.640 --> 00:23:50.039
 coming weeks and months

00:23:50.039 --> 00:23:51.019
 and years.

00:23:52.900 --> 00:23:54.340
 I want to remind you

00:23:54.340 --> 00:23:56.640
 that our giving to

00:23:56.640 --> 00:23:58.100
 gospel ministry in this

00:23:58.100 --> 00:24:01.000
 place is not so that

00:24:01.000 --> 00:24:01.920
 we might balance the

00:24:01.920 --> 00:24:02.259
 budget.

00:24:03.960 --> 00:24:05.720
 It's to realise the

00:24:05.720 --> 00:24:07.500
 vision of the

00:24:07.500 --> 00:24:09.060
 nations coming under

00:24:09.060 --> 00:24:10.680
 the cosmic lordship of

00:24:10.680 --> 00:24:13.180
 Jesus and building

00:24:13.180 --> 00:24:14.100
 treasure in heaven.

00:24:15.140 --> 00:24:16.600
 So we stand on the

00:24:16.600 --> 00:24:17.720
 edge of a new day for

00:24:17.720 --> 00:24:18.300
 us as St.

00:24:18.380 --> 00:24:20.060
 Pauls and I'm

00:24:20.060 --> 00:24:21.160
 calling everyone here

00:24:21.160 --> 00:24:23.540
 gathered today to

00:24:23.540 --> 00:24:24.420
 give yourself

00:24:24.420 --> 00:24:25.720
 wholeheartedly to a

00:24:25.720 --> 00:24:26.519
 biblical vision,

00:24:27.299 --> 00:24:28.360
 to build up

00:24:28.360 --> 00:24:29.960
 treasure and to

00:24:29.960 --> 00:24:31.940
 act now in view

00:24:31.940 --> 00:24:33.440
 of the certain

00:24:33.440 --> 00:24:35.579
 VE day which

00:24:35.579 --> 00:24:36.579
 is just around the

00:24:36.579 --> 00:24:36.819
 corner.

00:24:36.819 --> 00:24:37.579
 Amen.