WEBVTT

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 Yeah, good morning, everyone.

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 If I haven't gotten a chance to meet you yet, my name is Ed, as both Jen and now Matt have

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 introduced.

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 I'm a pastoral intern here, and in the mini-series of the Ten Commandments, within the broader

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 series of preaching through the book of Exodus, we've now come to the Eighth Commandment.

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 That's in Exodus 20, verse 15.

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 That's Exodus 20, verse 15.

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 Please bow your heads in prayer as we just pray one more time for the reading and preaching

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 of God's Word.

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 Father, God, I am your humble servant.

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 All that I am, I'm just a herald of the King.

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 God, help me to preach faithfully to your Word, that you would speak mightily to our hearts,

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 to our spirits.

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 God, I humbly offer this.

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 We all humbly offer this time to you.

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 God, anything of this manuscript that is not of you, please show me.

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 Show me now.

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 That your name would be glorified.

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 God, we want to trust in you all the more.

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 I pray this time would be a reminder of your faithfulness to us.

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 In Jesus' name we pray.

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 Amen.

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 Please stand, if you're able, for the reading of God's Word.

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 I'm going to start from verse 1, go to verse 3, and then we're going to skip ahead to verse

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 12, and then get to verse 15.

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 So it's Exodus 20.

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 And God spoke all these words, saying,

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 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

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 You shall have no other gods before me.

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 Verse 12.

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 Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land 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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 And today's verse, you shall not steal.

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 This is God's holy and authoritative word.

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 Please be seated.

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 The act of stealing is almost as old as we are.

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 Despite having complete access to every other tree or fruit in the garden,

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 Adam and Eve commit the very first act of theft in human history

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 by partaking of the one fruit that isn't given to them by God.

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 That one act of stealing has then cascaded and multiplied to produce all kinds of stealing in this world.

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 For all of us, there's not one day.

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 We live that's not affected by that first theft,

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 as there are over 10 million acts of theft each year in America.

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 And that makes us live in fear or suspicion

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 to make sure that our car doors are locked,

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 that our checkbooks are somewhere safe,

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 and that our Amazon packages are picked up quickly.

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 And some of you have gone through firsthand the terrifying experience of being robbed in person.

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 But Adam's fall didn't just produce sin in the world surrounding us.

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 Adam was our representative too.

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 So we have that same sinful desire and impulse to steal.

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 Yet it's not surprising to feel like the Eighth Commandment is one of the more doable ones.

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 Me? A thief?

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 I've never scammed somebody out of their money.

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 I've never robbed somebody.

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 But God, knowing who he is addressing,

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 knows we are exactly the type of people who need to be told don't steal.

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 When packing for the retreat two weeks ago,

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 my wife, Christine, who graciously packed my bag,

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 she sat me down in front of my duffel

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 and slowly explained step by step

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 of what to do when I'm packing, unpacking,

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 what to do when my clothes got dirty.

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 This is where the socks go.

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 This is where the t-shirts go.

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 And out of my pride, I got a little irked.

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 She was talking to me like this,

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 like, babe, I'm not a child.

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 I don't need to hear this.

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 And to that she responded,

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 you are exactly the type of person that needs to hear this.

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 And in the end, for both Israelites and for us today,

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 we need to be reminded of this Eighth Commandment

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 because Jesus himself summarized the law

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 into two commands in Matthew 22,

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 in which he says,

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 you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart

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 and with all your soul and with all your mind.

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 And you shall love your neighbor as yourself.

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 We need to be reminded of this command

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 because it's essentially all about love.

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 So today we'll explore a couple questions

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 about the Eighth Commandment.

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 I think this sermon structure,

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 I think you'll find familiar, tried and true.

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 We'll talk about what the Eighth Commandment prohibits

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 or the scope of the command.

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 Then we'll talk about the spirit of the command

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 and how we can obey as new covenant believers.

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 Finally, we'll see how Jesus fulfills both the scope

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 and the spirit of the law in his life, death, and resurrection.

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 And ultimately, the heart of the sermon will drive home

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 that we shouldn't steal

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 because we can trust in our generous Heavenly Father

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 who will provide for our every single need.

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 So first, what does the Eighth Commandment prohibit?

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 This commandment itself is a simple command

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 given without much explanation or pretext,

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 similar to the latter half of the Decalogue

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 as the latter six words focus all about

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 how we can faithfully love our neighbor.

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 In fact, in the Hebrew, it's actually only two words

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 that could be roughly translated to no stealing.

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 How simple.

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 And for the most part,

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 we can intuitively understand that this is wrong

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 without much explanation.

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 We have a sixth sense of knowing stealing is wrong,

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 especially when it happens to you.

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 Just try letting someone steal your place in line

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 or have someone borrow something of yours

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 without ever returning it.

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 And most of us would define stealing

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 as taking something that doesn't belong to you.

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 And I think that's a very clear and intuitive definition.

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 But from the Christian worldview,

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 knowing that God owns the earth and everything within it,

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 we can expand that definition by saying stealing

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 is taking something that isn't given to you by God.

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 for what do we have that hasn't been given to us freely?

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 And that slight change in definition,

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 I think, helps us understand

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 that while stealing most clearly

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 shows a lack of love for your neighbor,

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 it also shows there's something not right

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 between our provider God and us.

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 So we have a definition,

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 but what about some examples?

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 Both the Westminster and the Heidelberg Catechism

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 helpfully lay out some examples

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 forbidden in the Eighth Commandment,

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 like fraudulent stealing, extortion,

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 plagiarism, bribery, and gambling.

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 And while I won't go through every single application,

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 I think it would be helpful for us

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 to go through some of them

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 to understand the scope

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 of what were prohibited in the Eighth Commandment.

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 So let's start with physical acts of robbery or theft

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 that are most clearly prohibited here

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 and elsewhere in the Pentateuch.

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 For example, in Exodus 22,

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 in a couple different scenarios,

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 God prohibits Israelites

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 from stealing their neighbor's oxen or sheep,

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 most valuable possessions

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 in an agrarian society back then.

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 God also prohibits moving boundary markers,

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 essentially stealing land,

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 in Deuteronomy 19, 14.

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 The Bible also gives and often condemns

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 other examples of stealing in historical narratives.

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 For example, even when God commanded the Israelites

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 to devote everything to destruction in Jericho,

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 in Joshua 7, Achan,

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 he stole a beautiful cloak,

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 he stole five pounds of silver,

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 and one and a quarter pounds of gold.

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 It's about what an average worker would have made

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 in an entire lifetime back then.

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 He was then met with decisive judgment from the Lord.

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 The Eighth Commandment naturally extends

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 to prohibit deception or unfaithfulness

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 for personal gain,

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 and this is a sad reality

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 that we see far too often in our day and age.

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 For example, take Mr. Bernie Madoff,

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 public enemy number one back in 08.

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 Mr. Madoff was a previous penny stock trader

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 who would then go on to manipulate

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 and lie to over 4,800 clients

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 to run the largest Ponzi scheme in all of human history.

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 In total, he would end up embezzling

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 over $20 billion from his clients,

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 many of whom entrusted their entire life savings

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 to his hands.

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 And this likely played a massive role

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 in his own son's suicide.

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 Given the scale of financial damage,

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 it's no surprise to see the massive cost

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 of fixing this mess.

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 It's estimated that law firms

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 have and still are pocketing

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 over $800 million

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 from all the litigation and legal fees.

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 This is just how destructive

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 one man's sin of theft

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 can be to our society.

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 It's not hard to see then

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 that God also forbids the act

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 of false advertising

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 or lying about how efficacious

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 your product is.

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 This too is sadly commonplace today,

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 even in the industry that I work in.

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 In a study by the Dartmouth Institute

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 for Health Policy,

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 researchers analyzed the claims

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 of randomly selected TV ads

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 for drugs that aired between 2008 and 2010.

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 And they concluded that in roughly

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 over 15,000 ads,

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 about 66% of those claims

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 were either blatantly false

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 or potentially misleading.

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 That's two-thirds.

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 That's crazy.

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 That's insane.

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 Where are the Christians

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 in those companies

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 to oppose these kinds of decisions

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 and say, no, I won't mislead millions

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 just to make a buck?

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 To lie and cheat on your tax forms

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 is also a violation

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 against the Eighth Commandment.

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 Jesus himself commanded

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 that we render to Caesars

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 the things that are Caesars,

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 meaning that if we are members

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 of a civil government,

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 we should pay the appropriate amount

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 of taxes

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 and obey the established laws.

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 I've heard of a tactic

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 that immigrant families

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 who own small businesses

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 might use to cut the amount of taxes

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 that they owe.

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 They take some or all the income

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 that they earn in the States

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 and they send it back to a contact

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 in their native country

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 as, quote-unquote, a gift.

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 The money is then sent back

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 with a small cut to the launderer

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 and it can then be considered

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 non-taxable income.

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 I don't know if this still works.

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 Please do not try it.

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 But they often justify cheating

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 the system because of their

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 economic situation.

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 But in the end,

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 this is still wrong.

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 The sin of stealing

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 goes beyond financial matters, however,

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 as God in Exodus 21.16

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 also prohibits man-stealing.

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 We in this world

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 are woefully guilty

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 of this command.

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 We are guilty of kidnapping,

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 of forced labor,

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 and sex slavery.

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 It depends on which source

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 and how they define slavery

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 to estimate the number of slaves today,

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 but one thing is clear.

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 Unequivocally,

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 there are more slaves today

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 than in any point

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 in all of human history.

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 50 for Freedom writes,

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 there are more than

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 40 million people

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 around the world

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 that are victims

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 of modern slavery

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 in 2016,

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 including 25 million

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 in forced labor

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 and 15 million

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 in forced marriages.

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 In our own backyard,

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 including,

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 in our own backyard,

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 the Global Slavery Index

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 estimates that there are

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 more than 400,000

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 modern slaves

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 in America today.

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 These are appalling numbers,

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 knowing that these people

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 were made

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 in the image of God.

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 And just as a side note,

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 the Bible,

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 while it doesn't condemn

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 all forms of slavery

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 in their day and age,

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 this verse in Exodus,

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 the biggest 19.13,

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 Deuteronomy 24.7,

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 they all make it clear

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 that God hates

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 all forms of chattel slavery,

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 meaning that a human

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 can be our personal possession,

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 that we could be their

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 quote-unquote owner,

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 that we can be their God.

00:13:55.440 --> 00:13:57.060
 Only the I am

00:13:57.060 --> 00:13:59.080
 can and should

00:13:59.080 --> 00:14:00.279
 sit in that place

00:14:00.279 --> 00:14:01.480
 of absolute authority

00:14:01.480 --> 00:14:02.879
 over our lives.

00:14:06.300 --> 00:14:07.159
 Now, so far,

00:14:07.220 --> 00:14:08.139
 I've been using examples

00:14:08.139 --> 00:14:08.659
 of stealing

00:14:08.659 --> 00:14:09.659
 that violate

00:14:09.659 --> 00:14:10.700
 the Eighth Commandment,

00:14:10.700 --> 00:14:12.100
 that as a church,

00:14:12.280 --> 00:14:13.220
 we're more likely

00:14:13.220 --> 00:14:14.520
 to say yes

00:14:14.520 --> 00:14:15.940
 and amen too.

00:14:16.360 --> 00:14:17.500
 It's easy to point fingers,

00:14:17.600 --> 00:14:18.740
 just like the rich young ruler

00:14:18.740 --> 00:14:19.540
 in Matthew 19,

00:14:19.780 --> 00:14:20.320
 and say,

00:14:20.780 --> 00:14:21.020
 see,

00:14:21.200 --> 00:14:22.400
 I've obeyed this command.

00:14:23.360 --> 00:14:24.540
 All those other people

00:14:24.540 --> 00:14:25.140
 are in the wrong.

00:14:26.200 --> 00:14:26.759
 But we know

00:14:26.759 --> 00:14:27.759
 that when the law came,

00:14:28.460 --> 00:14:29.259
 sin increased,

00:14:29.740 --> 00:14:30.640
 seized an opportunity

00:14:30.640 --> 00:14:31.379
 through the commandment

00:14:31.379 --> 00:14:32.320
 to produce in us

00:14:32.320 --> 00:14:33.520
 all kinds of sin.

00:14:34.240 --> 00:14:35.160
 And it seared

00:14:35.160 --> 00:14:36.860
 many of our consciences.

00:14:37.720 --> 00:14:38.320
 So much so

00:14:38.320 --> 00:14:39.420
 that some stealing

00:14:39.419 --> 00:14:40.339
 has become

00:14:40.339 --> 00:14:40.879
 quote-unquote

00:14:40.879 --> 00:14:41.439
 respectable.

00:14:42.679 --> 00:14:43.159
 I know it's

00:14:43.159 --> 00:14:43.939
 seared mine too.

00:14:45.360 --> 00:14:46.839
 We can easily avoid

00:14:46.839 --> 00:14:47.899
 sociopathic forms

00:14:47.899 --> 00:14:48.399
 of stealing

00:14:48.399 --> 00:14:49.779
 that we talked about,

00:14:49.899 --> 00:14:51.299
 but we often justify

00:14:51.299 --> 00:14:52.159
 these seemingly

00:14:52.159 --> 00:14:52.839
 quote-unquote

00:14:52.839 --> 00:14:54.159
 victimless

00:14:54.159 --> 00:14:55.259
 acts of theft.

00:14:56.519 --> 00:14:57.599
 One of the most

00:14:57.599 --> 00:14:58.360
 overlooked acts

00:14:58.360 --> 00:14:58.740
 of theft

00:14:58.740 --> 00:15:00.479
 must be taking money

00:15:00.479 --> 00:15:01.599
 or resources

00:15:01.599 --> 00:15:02.860
 from your employer

00:15:02.860 --> 00:15:04.779
 and being unfaithful

00:15:04.779 --> 00:15:05.419
 to the agreement

00:15:05.419 --> 00:15:06.039
 that you set

00:15:06.039 --> 00:15:06.719
 with your employer.

00:15:06.720 --> 00:15:08.820
 A study

00:15:08.820 --> 00:15:10.100
 from the University

00:15:10.100 --> 00:15:12.019
 of South Florida

00:15:12.019 --> 00:15:13.080
 reported that

00:15:13.080 --> 00:15:14.460
 up to 75%

00:15:14.460 --> 00:15:15.360
 of employees

00:15:15.360 --> 00:15:16.840
 admit to stealing

00:15:16.840 --> 00:15:17.700
 from their employers

00:15:17.700 --> 00:15:18.540
 at least once

00:15:18.540 --> 00:15:19.879
 in their lifetime.

00:15:21.060 --> 00:15:21.460
 Typically,

00:15:21.620 --> 00:15:22.779
 about 10 times

00:15:22.779 --> 00:15:24.000
 is stolen

00:15:24.000 --> 00:15:25.000
 more by

00:15:25.000 --> 00:15:26.060
 insiders

00:15:26.060 --> 00:15:27.019
 and employees

00:15:27.019 --> 00:15:28.600
 than by customers.

00:15:29.720 --> 00:15:30.240
 And about

00:15:30.240 --> 00:15:33.180
 $350 billion

00:15:33.180 --> 00:15:34.100
 is stolen

00:15:34.100 --> 00:15:34.680
 each year

00:15:34.680 --> 00:15:35.540
 from misused

00:15:35.540 --> 00:15:36.500
 sick days.

00:15:36.720 --> 00:15:39.340
 I've had to

00:15:39.340 --> 00:15:40.240
 spend time

00:15:40.240 --> 00:15:41.519
 myself repenting,

00:15:42.200 --> 00:15:42.879
 stealing from

00:15:42.879 --> 00:15:43.600
 my employers,

00:15:44.820 --> 00:15:45.660
 taking snacks,

00:15:46.360 --> 00:15:47.340
 which some of you

00:15:47.340 --> 00:15:47.899
 guys may have

00:15:47.899 --> 00:15:48.680
 previously enjoyed

00:15:48.680 --> 00:15:49.139
 for that.

00:15:49.300 --> 00:15:49.840
 I'm sorry.

00:15:52.300 --> 00:15:54.060
 For office supplies,

00:15:54.399 --> 00:15:55.160
 using the company

00:15:55.160 --> 00:15:55.680
 printer

00:15:55.680 --> 00:15:57.259
 for personal use,

00:15:57.320 --> 00:15:57.740
 all the while

00:15:57.740 --> 00:15:58.460
 justifying it

00:15:58.460 --> 00:15:58.820
 because,

00:15:59.200 --> 00:15:59.279
 hey,

00:15:59.360 --> 00:16:00.160
 I work hard.

00:16:00.259 --> 00:16:01.220
 I deserve these things.

00:16:01.220 --> 00:16:03.240
 Of course,

00:16:03.300 --> 00:16:03.980
 I'm not saying

00:16:03.980 --> 00:16:04.940
 that we should

00:16:04.940 --> 00:16:05.540
 now become

00:16:05.540 --> 00:16:06.519
 obsessed with

00:16:06.519 --> 00:16:07.120
 productivity,

00:16:08.399 --> 00:16:09.120
 anxiously making

00:16:09.120 --> 00:16:09.940
 sure that every

00:16:09.940 --> 00:16:10.440
 single moment

00:16:10.440 --> 00:16:10.920
 on the clock

00:16:10.920 --> 00:16:11.500
 is productive,

00:16:12.340 --> 00:16:13.160
 especially because

00:16:13.160 --> 00:16:13.800
 I know that

00:16:13.800 --> 00:16:14.840
 our church works

00:16:14.840 --> 00:16:15.600
 very hard.

00:16:15.840 --> 00:16:16.399
 Our church works

00:16:16.399 --> 00:16:16.980
 very hard

00:16:16.980 --> 00:16:17.660
 for our employers.

00:16:18.940 --> 00:16:20.279
 But I also

00:16:20.279 --> 00:16:21.240
 know personally

00:16:21.240 --> 00:16:22.300
 how easy it is

00:16:22.300 --> 00:16:23.019
 to justify

00:16:23.019 --> 00:16:24.000
 unfaithfulness

00:16:24.000 --> 00:16:25.559
 in our jobs.

00:16:26.940 --> 00:16:28.159
 Back in my own

00:16:28.159 --> 00:16:28.940
 college days,

00:16:29.460 --> 00:16:30.779
 I was guilty

00:16:30.779 --> 00:16:31.279
 of breaking

00:16:31.279 --> 00:16:31.899
 my contract

00:16:31.899 --> 00:16:33.440
 on various jobs

00:16:33.440 --> 00:16:35.220
 by reading

00:16:35.220 --> 00:16:36.080
 Christian books

00:16:36.080 --> 00:16:37.279
 or working

00:16:37.279 --> 00:16:37.759
 on ministry

00:16:37.759 --> 00:16:38.440
 tasks

00:16:38.440 --> 00:16:39.860
 while all

00:16:39.860 --> 00:16:40.519
 on the clock

00:16:40.519 --> 00:16:41.799
 because

00:16:41.799 --> 00:16:43.740
 I was justifying

00:16:43.740 --> 00:16:43.980
 it,

00:16:44.480 --> 00:16:45.259
 saying I was

00:16:45.259 --> 00:16:45.779
 doing a holy

00:16:45.779 --> 00:16:46.159
 thing.

00:16:46.279 --> 00:16:46.620
 I was doing

00:16:46.620 --> 00:16:47.000
 a Christian

00:16:47.000 --> 00:16:47.320
 thing,

00:16:47.820 --> 00:16:49.879
 but I wasn't

00:16:49.879 --> 00:16:50.740
 doing what I

00:16:50.740 --> 00:16:51.460
 would say I

00:16:51.460 --> 00:16:51.759
 would do,

00:16:52.139 --> 00:16:52.720
 what I'm getting

00:16:52.720 --> 00:16:53.420
 paid to do,

00:16:53.899 --> 00:16:54.279
 and that's

00:16:54.279 --> 00:16:54.620
 wrong.

00:16:56.660 --> 00:16:57.340
 What about

00:16:57.340 --> 00:16:58.820
 illegal downloads

00:16:58.820 --> 00:16:59.680
 or streaming?

00:17:00.519 --> 00:17:01.259
 In this digital

00:17:01.259 --> 00:17:01.600
 world,

00:17:01.720 --> 00:17:02.340
 we often have

00:17:02.340 --> 00:17:03.540
 become desensitized

00:17:03.540 --> 00:17:04.539
 to illegal

00:17:04.539 --> 00:17:05.880
 streaming of

00:17:05.880 --> 00:17:06.799
 movies and

00:17:06.799 --> 00:17:07.200
 music,

00:17:07.779 --> 00:17:08.160
 downloading

00:17:08.160 --> 00:17:09.160
 student textbooks,

00:17:10.360 --> 00:17:10.720
 sharing

00:17:10.720 --> 00:17:12.180
 Netflix passwords,

00:17:13.460 --> 00:17:14.440
 even creating

00:17:14.440 --> 00:17:15.319
 new email

00:17:15.319 --> 00:17:16.600
 accounts just

00:17:16.600 --> 00:17:17.000
 to save a

00:17:17.000 --> 00:17:17.579
 couple bucks

00:17:17.579 --> 00:17:19.039
 to get a

00:17:19.039 --> 00:17:19.380
 free month

00:17:19.380 --> 00:17:19.720
 of Hulu.

00:17:21.180 --> 00:17:22.059
 All under

00:17:22.059 --> 00:17:22.700
 the guise

00:17:22.700 --> 00:17:23.940
 of frugality

00:17:23.940 --> 00:17:24.779
 and stretching

00:17:24.779 --> 00:17:25.259
 your dollar.

00:17:26.619 --> 00:17:27.139
 You might

00:17:27.139 --> 00:17:27.579
 oppose that

00:17:27.579 --> 00:17:27.940
 last one

00:17:27.940 --> 00:17:28.200
 because,

00:17:28.319 --> 00:17:28.399
 hey,

00:17:28.480 --> 00:17:28.839
 that's the

00:17:28.839 --> 00:17:29.119
 promo,

00:17:29.259 --> 00:17:29.460
 right?

00:17:29.559 --> 00:17:29.940
 That's the

00:17:29.940 --> 00:17:30.159
 promo.

00:17:32.259 --> 00:17:32.919
 But I don't

00:17:32.919 --> 00:17:33.279
 think it

00:17:33.279 --> 00:17:33.980
 takes a lot

00:17:33.980 --> 00:17:34.319
 of humble

00:17:34.319 --> 00:17:35.099
 reflection to

00:17:35.099 --> 00:17:35.399
 see that

00:17:35.399 --> 00:17:36.059
 that violates

00:17:36.059 --> 00:17:36.659
 the spirit

00:17:36.659 --> 00:17:37.319
 of the

00:17:37.319 --> 00:17:37.639
 offer.

00:17:38.899 --> 00:17:39.299
 And this

00:17:39.299 --> 00:17:39.639
 kind of

00:17:39.639 --> 00:17:40.679
 theft feels

00:17:40.679 --> 00:17:41.599
 inconsequential

00:17:41.599 --> 00:17:42.960
 because we're

00:17:42.960 --> 00:17:43.559
 stealing from

00:17:43.559 --> 00:17:44.240
 non-personal

00:17:44.240 --> 00:17:45.039
 entities like

00:17:45.039 --> 00:17:46.200
 corporations or

00:17:46.200 --> 00:17:47.440
 businesses that

00:17:47.440 --> 00:17:47.759
 don't have

00:17:47.759 --> 00:17:48.159
 feelings.

00:17:48.160 --> 00:17:49.900
 there's an

00:17:49.900 --> 00:17:50.759
 extra barrier

00:17:50.759 --> 00:17:52.000
 between you

00:17:52.000 --> 00:17:52.440
 and another

00:17:52.440 --> 00:17:52.980
 person.

00:17:53.540 --> 00:17:54.100
 But rest

00:17:54.100 --> 00:17:54.460
 assured,

00:17:54.620 --> 00:17:55.040
 they are

00:17:55.040 --> 00:17:55.880
 still there.

00:17:57.000 --> 00:17:57.700
 We are

00:17:57.700 --> 00:17:58.420
 still affecting

00:17:58.420 --> 00:17:59.160
 somebody's

00:17:59.160 --> 00:17:59.720
 livelihood.

00:18:01.000 --> 00:18:01.300
 It's been

00:18:01.300 --> 00:18:02.000
 estimated that

00:18:02.000 --> 00:18:02.920
 Netflix is

00:18:02.920 --> 00:18:03.540
 missing out

00:18:03.540 --> 00:18:04.540
 on up to

00:18:04.540 --> 00:18:05.400
 six billion

00:18:05.400 --> 00:18:06.600
 dollars in

00:18:06.600 --> 00:18:07.220
 revenue because

00:18:07.220 --> 00:18:07.840
 of the simple

00:18:07.840 --> 00:18:08.519
 issue of

00:18:08.519 --> 00:18:09.200
 account sharing.

00:18:10.140 --> 00:18:10.720
 I don't claim

00:18:10.720 --> 00:18:11.300
 to know that

00:18:11.300 --> 00:18:12.240
 this is a

00:18:12.240 --> 00:18:13.180
 sole cause of

00:18:13.180 --> 00:18:13.720
 their financial

00:18:13.720 --> 00:18:14.300
 struggles this

00:18:14.300 --> 00:18:14.840
 past year,

00:18:15.360 --> 00:18:16.279
 but recently,

00:18:16.540 --> 00:18:17.180
 as you guys may

00:18:17.180 --> 00:18:17.420
 have heard,

00:18:17.480 --> 00:18:18.060
 they've cut up

00:18:18.060 --> 00:18:19.259
 to 16% of

00:18:19.259 --> 00:18:19.820
 their staff.

00:18:21.660 --> 00:18:22.160
 There are

00:18:22.160 --> 00:18:23.360
 always consequences

00:18:23.360 --> 00:18:24.480
 to our sins.

00:18:26.560 --> 00:18:27.400
 One of which

00:18:27.400 --> 00:18:28.440
 is that sinning

00:18:28.440 --> 00:18:29.100
 like this is

00:18:29.100 --> 00:18:29.620
 contagious.

00:18:30.940 --> 00:18:31.539
 That's what

00:18:31.539 --> 00:18:32.060
 makes stealing

00:18:32.060 --> 00:18:32.420
 in some

00:18:32.420 --> 00:18:33.700
 contexts feel

00:18:33.700 --> 00:18:34.960
 okay,

00:18:35.160 --> 00:18:35.900
 not that bad.

00:18:36.600 --> 00:18:37.259
 Some of us

00:18:37.259 --> 00:18:37.700
 are quick to

00:18:37.700 --> 00:18:38.100
 feel that if

00:18:38.100 --> 00:18:38.840
 another Christian

00:18:38.840 --> 00:18:39.759
 brother or

00:18:39.759 --> 00:18:40.320
 sister is

00:18:40.320 --> 00:18:40.900
 slacking off

00:18:40.900 --> 00:18:42.420
 at work or

00:18:42.420 --> 00:18:42.840
 financially

00:18:42.840 --> 00:18:43.680
 cutting corners

00:18:43.680 --> 00:18:44.100
 somehow,

00:18:44.420 --> 00:18:44.700
 we feel

00:18:44.700 --> 00:18:45.440
 justified to

00:18:45.440 --> 00:18:46.060
 do the same

00:18:46.060 --> 00:18:47.100
 or feel like

00:18:47.099 --> 00:18:47.480
 we're missing

00:18:47.480 --> 00:18:48.019
 out on some

00:18:48.019 --> 00:18:48.359
 kind of

00:18:48.359 --> 00:18:49.000
 life hack.

00:18:50.059 --> 00:18:51.500
 But the

00:18:51.500 --> 00:18:52.399
 opposite is

00:18:52.399 --> 00:18:53.119
 true as well,

00:18:53.219 --> 00:18:53.719
 that righteous

00:18:53.719 --> 00:18:54.500
 living can be

00:18:54.500 --> 00:18:54.959
 an example

00:18:54.959 --> 00:18:55.899
 for us all.

00:18:57.000 --> 00:18:57.639
 Back when I

00:18:57.639 --> 00:18:58.339
 was in college,

00:18:58.980 --> 00:18:59.439
 some friends

00:18:59.439 --> 00:18:59.980
 and I decided

00:18:59.980 --> 00:19:00.279
 that we were

00:19:00.279 --> 00:19:00.759
 going to watch

00:19:00.759 --> 00:19:01.339
 Inception.

00:19:02.539 --> 00:19:03.159
 So my

00:19:03.159 --> 00:19:04.039
 immediate gut

00:19:04.039 --> 00:19:05.319
 instinct was

00:19:05.319 --> 00:19:05.879
 to get on my

00:19:05.879 --> 00:19:07.119
 computer and

00:19:07.119 --> 00:19:07.659
 start scouring

00:19:07.659 --> 00:19:08.019
 the internet

00:19:08.019 --> 00:19:08.559
 of how I

00:19:08.559 --> 00:19:08.879
 could watch

00:19:08.879 --> 00:19:09.339
 it for free.

00:19:11.599 --> 00:19:12.379
 And by the

00:19:12.379 --> 00:19:12.959
 time I found

00:19:12.959 --> 00:19:13.500
 something,

00:19:13.899 --> 00:19:14.119
 I,

00:19:15.439 --> 00:19:16.059
 by which I

00:19:16.059 --> 00:19:16.740
 probably got

00:19:16.740 --> 00:19:17.099
 a virus

00:19:17.099 --> 00:19:17.339
 on my

00:19:17.339 --> 00:19:17.619
 computer,

00:19:18.500 --> 00:19:19.039
 one of my

00:19:19.039 --> 00:19:19.500
 friends already

00:19:19.500 --> 00:19:21.119
 paid $4 to

00:19:21.119 --> 00:19:21.619
 rent the movie,

00:19:21.720 --> 00:19:22.119
 just $4.

00:19:22.899 --> 00:19:23.819
 But me,

00:19:23.940 --> 00:19:24.700
 super confused,

00:19:25.579 --> 00:19:26.440
 I protested.

00:19:26.759 --> 00:19:26.919
 I said,

00:19:26.980 --> 00:19:27.359
 why would you

00:19:27.359 --> 00:19:27.859
 do such a

00:19:27.859 --> 00:19:28.059
 thing?

00:19:28.579 --> 00:19:28.839
 You could

00:19:28.839 --> 00:19:29.279
 watch it for

00:19:29.279 --> 00:19:29.659
 free right

00:19:29.659 --> 00:19:29.940
 now.

00:19:30.720 --> 00:19:31.159
 And he just

00:19:31.159 --> 00:19:31.759
 remarked,

00:19:31.940 --> 00:19:32.480
 because it's

00:19:32.480 --> 00:19:33.019
 the right

00:19:33.019 --> 00:19:34.059
 thing to do.

00:19:34.799 --> 00:19:36.200
 And he was

00:19:36.200 --> 00:19:36.419
 right.

00:19:37.359 --> 00:19:38.299
 He set the

00:19:38.299 --> 00:19:39.259
 standard for us

00:19:39.259 --> 00:19:40.019
 moving forward

00:19:40.019 --> 00:19:40.480
 of what was

00:19:40.480 --> 00:19:40.899
 the righteous

00:19:40.899 --> 00:19:41.779
 thing to do.

00:19:41.779 --> 00:19:44.660
 because in

00:19:44.660 --> 00:19:45.200
 the end,

00:19:45.379 --> 00:19:45.799
 the eighth

00:19:45.799 --> 00:19:46.240
 commandment

00:19:46.240 --> 00:19:47.139
 goes beyond

00:19:47.139 --> 00:19:48.599
 billion-dollar

00:19:48.599 --> 00:19:49.500
 Ponzi schemes

00:19:49.500 --> 00:19:50.399
 and kidnapping

00:19:50.399 --> 00:19:51.279
 for child

00:19:51.279 --> 00:19:51.599
 labor.

00:19:52.139 --> 00:19:53.240
 It condemns

00:19:53.240 --> 00:19:54.000
 this attitude

00:19:54.000 --> 00:19:55.180
 of scouring

00:19:55.180 --> 00:19:56.139
 for steals.

00:19:57.460 --> 00:19:58.220
 We use that

00:19:58.220 --> 00:19:59.180
 phrase so

00:19:59.180 --> 00:19:59.819
 gleefully,

00:19:59.940 --> 00:20:00.279
 don't we?

00:20:01.099 --> 00:20:01.339
 Hey,

00:20:01.420 --> 00:20:01.920
 there's a

00:20:01.920 --> 00:20:02.480
 sale going

00:20:02.480 --> 00:20:02.740
 on.

00:20:03.420 --> 00:20:03.700
 It's

00:20:03.700 --> 00:20:04.379
 practically a

00:20:04.379 --> 00:20:04.619
 steal.

00:20:05.500 --> 00:20:06.299
 We got such

00:20:06.299 --> 00:20:07.059
 a good deal

00:20:07.059 --> 00:20:07.339
 on our

00:20:07.339 --> 00:20:07.680
 apartment.

00:20:08.099 --> 00:20:08.319
 It was

00:20:08.319 --> 00:20:09.279
 such a

00:20:09.279 --> 00:20:09.539
 steal.

00:20:09.539 --> 00:20:12.099
 videos go

00:20:12.099 --> 00:20:12.799
 viral for

00:20:12.799 --> 00:20:13.339
 sharing life

00:20:13.339 --> 00:20:13.920
 hacks or

00:20:13.920 --> 00:20:15.180
 loopholes that

00:20:15.180 --> 00:20:16.099
 would save

00:20:16.099 --> 00:20:16.619
 us some

00:20:16.619 --> 00:20:17.440
 marginal amount

00:20:17.440 --> 00:20:18.599
 of cash or

00:20:18.599 --> 00:20:19.079
 make our

00:20:19.079 --> 00:20:19.980
 Chipotle bowls

00:20:19.980 --> 00:20:20.399
 just a little

00:20:20.399 --> 00:20:20.779
 bit bigger.

00:20:21.940 --> 00:20:23.220
 And we feel

00:20:23.220 --> 00:20:23.799
 like we've

00:20:23.799 --> 00:20:24.299
 won as

00:20:24.299 --> 00:20:25.039
 insiders and

00:20:25.039 --> 00:20:25.480
 we beat the

00:20:25.480 --> 00:20:25.819
 system.

00:20:27.200 --> 00:20:27.619
 And don't

00:20:27.619 --> 00:20:28.200
 get me wrong,

00:20:28.339 --> 00:20:29.159
 there's nothing

00:20:29.159 --> 00:20:29.659
 wrong with

00:20:29.659 --> 00:20:31.039
 sales or

00:20:31.039 --> 00:20:31.460
 getting good

00:20:31.460 --> 00:20:31.759
 deals.

00:20:31.940 --> 00:20:32.240
 Those are

00:20:32.240 --> 00:20:33.119
 often clear

00:20:33.119 --> 00:20:34.220
 blessings and

00:20:34.220 --> 00:20:35.519
 answered prayers

00:20:35.519 --> 00:20:36.259
 from God.

00:20:36.899 --> 00:20:38.279
 But speaking

00:20:38.279 --> 00:20:39.119
 from my own

00:20:39.119 --> 00:20:39.659
 experience,

00:20:39.939 --> 00:20:40.479
 things get

00:20:40.479 --> 00:20:41.119
 murky when

00:20:41.119 --> 00:20:42.099
 scouring for

00:20:42.099 --> 00:20:43.419
 steals is

00:20:43.419 --> 00:20:44.119
 our only

00:20:44.119 --> 00:20:44.799
 objective in

00:20:44.799 --> 00:20:45.479
 life, just

00:20:45.479 --> 00:20:45.979
 to stretch

00:20:45.979 --> 00:20:46.639
 our dollars

00:20:46.639 --> 00:20:47.479
 as much as

00:20:47.479 --> 00:20:48.099
 possible, to

00:20:48.099 --> 00:20:48.599
 get the most

00:20:48.599 --> 00:20:50.619
 stuff, and

00:20:50.619 --> 00:20:51.179
 to see our

00:20:51.179 --> 00:20:52.239
 network steadily

00:20:52.239 --> 00:20:52.659
 climb.

00:20:54.519 --> 00:20:55.239
 Some of us

00:20:55.239 --> 00:20:56.239
 are savers

00:20:56.239 --> 00:20:57.699
 who live with

00:20:57.699 --> 00:20:58.359
 a scarcity

00:20:58.359 --> 00:20:59.659
 mindset, who

00:20:59.659 --> 00:21:01.039
 live feeling

00:21:01.039 --> 00:21:02.679
 emboldened by

00:21:02.679 --> 00:21:03.139
 the security

00:21:03.139 --> 00:21:03.500
 that a

00:21:03.500 --> 00:21:04.539
 bank account

00:21:04.539 --> 00:21:04.959
 brings.

00:21:05.719 --> 00:21:06.079
 So no

00:21:06.079 --> 00:21:06.639
 matter what

00:21:06.639 --> 00:21:07.219
 happens with

00:21:07.219 --> 00:21:08.439
 our jobs or

00:21:08.440 --> 00:21:08.900
 our health

00:21:08.900 --> 00:21:09.539
 will be

00:21:09.539 --> 00:21:10.180
 okay.

00:21:10.700 --> 00:21:11.220
 Because why?

00:21:11.340 --> 00:21:11.640
 Because we

00:21:11.640 --> 00:21:12.299
 have money.

00:21:14.140 --> 00:21:14.980
 Therefore, we're

00:21:14.980 --> 00:21:15.860
 quick to justify

00:21:15.860 --> 00:21:17.220
 not giving or

00:21:17.220 --> 00:21:19.140
 taking a little

00:21:19.140 --> 00:21:20.200
 extra because

00:21:20.200 --> 00:21:21.420
 what if?

00:21:22.120 --> 00:21:22.920
 What if this?

00:21:23.580 --> 00:21:24.140
 What if that?

00:21:25.440 --> 00:21:26.480
 We're constantly

00:21:26.480 --> 00:21:27.180
 living in the

00:21:27.180 --> 00:21:27.680
 what ifs.

00:21:29.180 --> 00:21:29.660
 For our

00:21:29.660 --> 00:21:30.880
 spenders, we

00:21:30.880 --> 00:21:31.680
 feel our level

00:21:31.680 --> 00:21:33.080
 of status or

00:21:33.080 --> 00:21:33.980
 respect go up

00:21:33.980 --> 00:21:34.840
 as we steadily

00:21:34.840 --> 00:21:35.779
 upgrade our

00:21:35.779 --> 00:21:36.940
 lifestyle, our

00:21:36.940 --> 00:21:37.759
 clothes, our

00:21:37.759 --> 00:21:39.940
 possessions, or

00:21:39.940 --> 00:21:40.320
 we need to

00:21:40.320 --> 00:21:41.440
 feel that we

00:21:41.440 --> 00:21:42.140
 need to enjoy

00:21:42.140 --> 00:21:42.740
 that next

00:21:42.740 --> 00:21:43.320
 gadget with

00:21:43.320 --> 00:21:43.640
 the new

00:21:43.640 --> 00:21:44.160
 bells and

00:21:44.160 --> 00:21:45.000
 whistles, and

00:21:45.000 --> 00:21:45.500
 we slog

00:21:45.500 --> 00:21:45.900
 through the

00:21:45.900 --> 00:21:46.539
 work week just

00:21:46.539 --> 00:21:46.980
 to live for

00:21:46.980 --> 00:21:48.120
 the weekend or

00:21:48.120 --> 00:21:48.480
 that next

00:21:48.480 --> 00:21:48.980
 vacation.

00:21:50.120 --> 00:21:51.140
 Either form

00:21:51.140 --> 00:21:52.360
 of excessive

00:21:52.360 --> 00:21:53.880
 saving or

00:21:53.880 --> 00:21:55.519
 spending, it's

00:21:55.519 --> 00:21:57.140
 greed, and

00:21:57.140 --> 00:21:57.539
 it's a

00:21:57.539 --> 00:21:58.539
 disordered love

00:21:58.539 --> 00:21:59.340
 for money.

00:22:00.600 --> 00:22:01.019
 And with

00:22:01.019 --> 00:22:01.960
 that love for

00:22:01.960 --> 00:22:02.980
 money, immoral

00:22:02.980 --> 00:22:03.799
 acts of stealing

00:22:03.799 --> 00:22:04.700
 really aren't

00:22:04.700 --> 00:22:05.700
 too far away.

00:22:06.919 --> 00:22:07.619
 Corners are

00:22:07.619 --> 00:22:08.899
 cut, justifications

00:22:08.899 --> 00:22:10.359
 are made just

00:22:10.359 --> 00:22:11.000
 so that our

00:22:11.000 --> 00:22:11.879
 lives can be a

00:22:11.879 --> 00:22:12.299
 little more

00:22:12.299 --> 00:22:12.819
 convenient.

00:22:15.139 --> 00:22:15.919
 Speaking of

00:22:15.919 --> 00:22:16.480
 which can be

00:22:16.480 --> 00:22:17.559
 most inconvenient

00:22:17.559 --> 00:22:18.119
 to those who

00:22:18.119 --> 00:22:18.500
 have this

00:22:18.500 --> 00:22:19.500
 objective in

00:22:19.500 --> 00:22:20.899
 life, tithing,

00:22:21.919 --> 00:22:22.659
 which comes to

00:22:22.659 --> 00:22:23.559
 our final example

00:22:23.559 --> 00:22:24.099
 of stealing,

00:22:24.919 --> 00:22:25.859
 robbing God.

00:22:27.659 --> 00:22:28.220
 Withholding

00:22:28.220 --> 00:22:28.940
 their tithe is

00:22:28.940 --> 00:22:29.240
 how the

00:22:29.240 --> 00:22:30.500
 Israelites ended

00:22:30.500 --> 00:22:31.059
 up robbing

00:22:31.059 --> 00:22:31.440
 God.

00:22:31.440 --> 00:22:33.080
 We, of

00:22:33.080 --> 00:22:34.039
 course, never

00:22:34.039 --> 00:22:35.000
 can truly steal

00:22:35.000 --> 00:22:35.680
 from God in a

00:22:35.680 --> 00:22:36.640
 literal sense as

00:22:36.640 --> 00:22:37.580
 everything in the

00:22:37.580 --> 00:22:38.360
 end belongs to

00:22:38.360 --> 00:22:38.580
 him.

00:22:39.380 --> 00:22:40.460
 But following the

00:22:40.460 --> 00:22:41.240
 example from the

00:22:41.240 --> 00:22:41.740
 Israelites in

00:22:41.740 --> 00:22:42.740
 Malachi 3, we

00:22:42.740 --> 00:22:44.559
 can rob God by

00:22:44.559 --> 00:22:45.220
 not giving him

00:22:45.220 --> 00:22:45.660
 what he is

00:22:45.660 --> 00:22:45.960
 owed.

00:22:47.539 --> 00:22:48.240
 Malachi 3

00:22:48.240 --> 00:22:48.779
 reads,

00:22:49.900 --> 00:22:50.660
 return to me

00:22:50.660 --> 00:22:51.279
 and I will

00:22:51.279 --> 00:22:52.279
 return to you,

00:22:52.400 --> 00:22:52.759
 says the

00:22:52.759 --> 00:22:53.480
 Lord of hosts.

00:22:54.799 --> 00:22:55.440
 But you say,

00:22:55.740 --> 00:22:56.460
 how shall we

00:22:56.460 --> 00:22:56.960
 return?

00:22:57.900 --> 00:22:58.660
 Will man

00:22:58.660 --> 00:22:59.440
 rob God?

00:23:00.299 --> 00:23:01.080
 Yet you are

00:23:01.079 --> 00:23:01.879
 robbing me.

00:23:02.319 --> 00:23:02.819
 But you say,

00:23:02.879 --> 00:23:03.359
 how have we

00:23:03.359 --> 00:23:03.960
 robbed you?

00:23:04.960 --> 00:23:05.579
 In your

00:23:05.579 --> 00:23:06.359
 tithes and

00:23:06.359 --> 00:23:07.039
 contributions,

00:23:07.919 --> 00:23:09.039
 bring the

00:23:09.039 --> 00:23:10.339
 full tithe into

00:23:10.339 --> 00:23:11.159
 the storehouse

00:23:11.159 --> 00:23:12.480
 that there may

00:23:12.480 --> 00:23:13.259
 be food in

00:23:13.259 --> 00:23:14.339
 my house and

00:23:14.339 --> 00:23:15.460
 thereby put me

00:23:15.460 --> 00:23:16.460
 to the test,

00:23:17.199 --> 00:23:17.619
 says the

00:23:17.619 --> 00:23:18.179
 Lord of hosts.

00:23:18.379 --> 00:23:19.139
 If I will not

00:23:19.139 --> 00:23:20.439
 open the

00:23:20.439 --> 00:23:21.220
 windows of

00:23:21.220 --> 00:23:22.019
 heavens for

00:23:22.019 --> 00:23:22.839
 you and pour

00:23:22.839 --> 00:23:23.579
 down for you a

00:23:23.579 --> 00:23:24.339
 blessing until

00:23:24.339 --> 00:23:25.240
 there is no

00:23:25.240 --> 00:23:25.720
 more need.

00:23:25.720 --> 00:23:25.860
 God.

00:23:28.860 --> 00:23:30.940
 In Leviticus 27,

00:23:31.100 --> 00:23:32.380
 God establishes a

00:23:32.380 --> 00:23:33.380
 financial system to

00:23:33.380 --> 00:23:34.120
 support the

00:23:34.120 --> 00:23:34.740
 Levites and the

00:23:34.740 --> 00:23:35.940
 priests, namely

00:23:35.940 --> 00:23:37.279
 that a tithe or a

00:23:37.279 --> 00:23:38.279
 tenth of all the

00:23:38.279 --> 00:23:38.980
 produce in the land

00:23:38.980 --> 00:23:40.100
 be given to the

00:23:40.100 --> 00:23:42.200
 temple staff so

00:23:42.200 --> 00:23:43.259
 they can focus on

00:23:43.259 --> 00:23:44.640
 serving God and

00:23:44.640 --> 00:23:45.460
 maintaining the

00:23:45.460 --> 00:23:46.200
 tabernacle or

00:23:46.200 --> 00:23:46.920
 later the temple.

00:23:48.299 --> 00:23:48.860
 Fast forwarding

00:23:48.860 --> 00:23:50.039
 roughly a thousand

00:23:50.039 --> 00:23:51.299
 years after their

00:23:51.299 --> 00:23:52.100
 exile out of the

00:23:52.100 --> 00:23:53.600
 land, after 70

00:23:53.599 --> 00:23:55.059
 years, a

00:23:55.059 --> 00:23:55.839
 remnant of God's

00:23:55.839 --> 00:23:56.759
 people return and

00:23:56.759 --> 00:23:57.799
 they rebuild the

00:23:57.799 --> 00:23:58.099
 temple.

00:23:59.459 --> 00:24:00.719
 But in Nehemiah

00:24:00.719 --> 00:24:02.159
 13, during one of

00:24:02.159 --> 00:24:03.079
 Nehemiah's absences

00:24:03.079 --> 00:24:03.779
 to serve the

00:24:03.779 --> 00:24:05.319
 Persian king, the

00:24:05.319 --> 00:24:06.459
 Israelites began to

00:24:06.459 --> 00:24:08.299
 rob God and

00:24:08.299 --> 00:24:09.539
 refuse to support

00:24:09.539 --> 00:24:11.819
 the temple staff

00:24:11.819 --> 00:24:14.419
 financially, forcing

00:24:14.419 --> 00:24:15.319
 them to abandon

00:24:15.319 --> 00:24:16.199
 their temple

00:24:16.199 --> 00:24:17.199
 duties, their

00:24:17.199 --> 00:24:18.159
 posts to support

00:24:18.159 --> 00:24:18.639
 themselves.

00:24:19.199 --> 00:24:20.359
 The entire nation

00:24:20.359 --> 00:24:22.019
 then was unfaithful

00:24:22.019 --> 00:24:22.599
 to God's

00:24:22.599 --> 00:24:23.579
 commands and

00:24:23.579 --> 00:24:25.199
 desires, despite

00:24:25.199 --> 00:24:26.939
 God's faithfulness

00:24:26.939 --> 00:24:27.619
 to them throughout

00:24:27.619 --> 00:24:28.919
 their entire national

00:24:28.919 --> 00:24:29.379
 history.

00:24:31.299 --> 00:24:33.059
 So, I've gave some

00:24:33.059 --> 00:24:34.319
 examples of how

00:24:34.319 --> 00:24:35.240
 these acts of

00:24:35.240 --> 00:24:35.740
 stealing can

00:24:35.740 --> 00:24:36.559
 financially ruin

00:24:36.559 --> 00:24:36.980
 your fellow

00:24:36.980 --> 00:24:37.879
 neighbor, cause

00:24:37.879 --> 00:24:39.359
 him to live in

00:24:39.359 --> 00:24:40.579
 fear, and set an

00:24:40.579 --> 00:24:41.579
 ungodly example in

00:24:41.579 --> 00:24:42.039
 this world.

00:24:43.279 --> 00:24:44.679
 We steal ultimately

00:24:44.679 --> 00:24:45.159
 because we're

00:24:45.159 --> 00:24:46.159
 motivated by fear

00:24:46.159 --> 00:24:47.919
 instead of faith.

00:24:48.639 --> 00:24:49.339
 And we deem our

00:24:49.339 --> 00:24:50.199
 own wealth or

00:24:50.199 --> 00:24:51.240
 comfort more

00:24:51.240 --> 00:24:51.859
 important than the

00:24:51.859 --> 00:24:52.799
 will-being of the

00:24:52.799 --> 00:24:53.299
 people around

00:24:53.299 --> 00:24:53.639
 us.

00:24:55.019 --> 00:24:55.720
 Now, having

00:24:55.720 --> 00:24:56.859
 addressed the

00:24:56.859 --> 00:24:57.500
 scope of the

00:24:57.500 --> 00:24:58.039
 command, we can

00:24:58.039 --> 00:24:58.919
 now discuss the

00:24:58.919 --> 00:24:59.559
 spirit of the

00:24:59.559 --> 00:25:00.700
 command, that as

00:25:00.700 --> 00:25:01.220
 new covenant

00:25:01.220 --> 00:25:03.059
 believers who know

00:25:03.059 --> 00:25:03.500
 the eighth

00:25:03.500 --> 00:25:04.399
 commandment is all

00:25:04.399 --> 00:25:05.720
 about love, we

00:25:05.720 --> 00:25:07.299
 know that it's not

00:25:07.299 --> 00:25:09.099
 enough for us just

00:25:09.099 --> 00:25:10.039
 not to steal.

00:25:11.159 --> 00:25:12.079
 This is most

00:25:12.079 --> 00:25:14.000
 clearly demonstrated

00:25:14.000 --> 00:25:15.619
 by Jesus' parable of

00:25:15.619 --> 00:25:16.579
 the good Samaritan.

00:25:16.799 --> 00:25:17.559
 I know some of you

00:25:17.559 --> 00:25:18.759
 heard Sean's message

00:25:18.759 --> 00:25:19.980
 on this passage pretty

00:25:19.980 --> 00:25:21.059
 recently, but I

00:25:21.059 --> 00:25:21.579
 think it's helpful

00:25:21.579 --> 00:25:22.339
 for us to look at

00:25:22.339 --> 00:25:23.079
 it again through the

00:25:23.079 --> 00:25:24.400
 lens of the eighth

00:25:24.400 --> 00:25:24.900
 commandment.

00:25:26.240 --> 00:25:27.660
 To give context, in

00:25:27.660 --> 00:25:28.720
 attempts to minimize

00:25:28.720 --> 00:25:29.759
 the scope of

00:25:29.759 --> 00:25:30.700
 righteous living and

00:25:30.700 --> 00:25:32.460
 to justify himself, a

00:25:32.460 --> 00:25:33.519
 Jewish lawyer asked

00:25:33.519 --> 00:25:35.019
 Jesus, who is my

00:25:35.019 --> 00:25:35.299
 neighbor?

00:25:36.299 --> 00:25:37.920
 To his surprise, Jesus

00:25:37.920 --> 00:25:39.299
 doesn't minimize the

00:25:39.299 --> 00:25:40.660
 scope of the law, but

00:25:40.660 --> 00:25:42.180
 instead he expands it.

00:25:43.059 --> 00:25:43.880
 That's where we'll pick

00:25:43.880 --> 00:25:45.279
 up in Luke 10.

00:25:45.279 --> 00:25:48.779
 But he, desiring to

00:25:48.779 --> 00:25:50.420
 justify himself, said

00:25:50.420 --> 00:25:52.240
 to Jesus, and who is

00:25:52.240 --> 00:25:52.680
 my neighbor?

00:25:53.759 --> 00:25:55.059
 Jesus replied, a man

00:25:55.059 --> 00:25:56.119
 was going down from

00:25:56.119 --> 00:25:57.420
 Jerusalem to Jericho,

00:25:57.639 --> 00:25:58.859
 and he fell among

00:25:58.859 --> 00:26:00.420
 robbers, who stripped

00:26:00.420 --> 00:26:01.740
 him and beat him and

00:26:01.740 --> 00:26:03.059
 departed, leaving him

00:26:03.059 --> 00:26:03.779
 half dead.

00:26:04.779 --> 00:26:06.500
 Now by chance a priest

00:26:06.500 --> 00:26:07.399
 was going down that

00:26:07.399 --> 00:26:09.259
 road, and when he saw

00:26:09.259 --> 00:26:10.539
 him, he passed by on

00:26:10.539 --> 00:26:11.480
 the other side.

00:26:12.859 --> 00:26:14.259
 So likewise a Levite,

00:26:14.259 --> 00:26:15.099
 when he came to the

00:26:15.099 --> 00:26:16.279
 place, he saw him

00:26:16.279 --> 00:26:17.960
 pass by on the other

00:26:17.960 --> 00:26:18.339
 side.

00:26:19.480 --> 00:26:22.819
 But a Samaritan, as he

00:26:22.819 --> 00:26:23.859
 journeyed, came to

00:26:23.859 --> 00:26:25.160
 where he was, and when

00:26:25.160 --> 00:26:26.599
 he saw him, he had

00:26:26.599 --> 00:26:27.319
 compassion.

00:26:28.619 --> 00:26:29.879
 He went to him and

00:26:29.879 --> 00:26:30.920
 bound up his wounds,

00:26:31.559 --> 00:26:32.799
 pouring on oil and

00:26:32.799 --> 00:26:33.259
 wine.

00:26:34.519 --> 00:26:36.039
 Then he set him on his

00:26:36.039 --> 00:26:37.500
 own animal and brought

00:26:37.500 --> 00:26:38.400
 him to an inn and took

00:26:38.400 --> 00:26:38.879
 care of him.

00:26:40.279 --> 00:26:41.400
 And the next day he

00:26:41.400 --> 00:26:42.640
 took out two denarii

00:26:42.640 --> 00:26:43.619
 and gave them to the

00:26:43.619 --> 00:26:44.339
 innkeeper, saying,

00:26:44.659 --> 00:26:45.519
 take care of him.

00:26:46.079 --> 00:26:46.919
 And whatever more you

00:26:46.919 --> 00:26:48.459
 spend, I will repay you

00:26:48.459 --> 00:26:49.399
 when I come back.

00:26:50.719 --> 00:26:51.839
 Which of these three do

00:26:51.839 --> 00:26:53.000
 you think proved to be a

00:26:53.000 --> 00:26:54.599
 neighbor to the man who

00:26:54.599 --> 00:26:55.719
 fell among the robbers?

00:26:56.199 --> 00:26:58.159
 He said, the one who

00:26:58.159 --> 00:26:58.979
 showed him mercy.

00:26:59.859 --> 00:27:00.839
 And Jesus said to him,

00:27:01.219 --> 00:27:02.839
 you go and do likewise.

00:27:05.339 --> 00:27:06.899
 As Edmund Clowney puts in

00:27:06.899 --> 00:27:07.739
 his book how Jesus

00:27:07.739 --> 00:27:09.319
 transforms the Ten

00:27:09.319 --> 00:27:11.459
 Commandments, Jesus does

00:27:11.460 --> 00:27:12.840
 not suggest we ask who

00:27:12.840 --> 00:27:14.600
 is my neighbor, how many

00:27:14.600 --> 00:27:15.779
 must I love, but he

00:27:15.779 --> 00:27:18.220
 wants us to ask to whom

00:27:18.220 --> 00:27:20.079
 am I a neighbor, to how

00:27:20.079 --> 00:27:22.840
 many can I show unmeasured

00:27:22.840 --> 00:27:23.200
 love.

00:27:24.960 --> 00:27:26.240
 And when we're looking at

00:27:26.240 --> 00:27:27.440
 this parable specifically

00:27:27.440 --> 00:27:28.960
 through the lens of the

00:27:28.960 --> 00:27:30.440
 Eighth Commandment, we

00:27:30.440 --> 00:27:31.740
 must have learned that

00:27:31.740 --> 00:27:33.380
 technically all three men

00:27:33.380 --> 00:27:34.480
 who walked by the

00:27:34.480 --> 00:27:36.180
 helpless man, including the

00:27:36.180 --> 00:27:37.660
 priest and the Levite,

00:27:37.660 --> 00:27:39.279
 didn't steal.

00:27:40.420 --> 00:27:42.640
 But it was only the

00:27:42.640 --> 00:27:44.440
 Samaritan who displayed

00:27:44.440 --> 00:27:46.600
 righteous, generous love.

00:27:47.620 --> 00:27:49.180
 He was the only one who

00:27:49.180 --> 00:27:50.420
 obeyed this Eighth

00:27:50.420 --> 00:27:51.980
 Commandment to the

00:27:51.980 --> 00:27:52.320
 fullest.

00:27:53.620 --> 00:27:55.180
 He exhibited God's

00:27:55.180 --> 00:27:56.400
 compassion by using his

00:27:56.400 --> 00:27:58.340
 own resources, sacrificed

00:27:58.340 --> 00:27:59.940
 his own comfort by putting

00:27:59.940 --> 00:28:01.440
 the man on his horse, forcing

00:28:01.440 --> 00:28:04.279
 himself then to walk, gave

00:28:04.279 --> 00:28:05.779
 up his own time, and

00:28:05.779 --> 00:28:07.500
 generously gave to make

00:28:07.500 --> 00:28:08.220
 sure the man would be

00:28:08.220 --> 00:28:08.899
 taken care of.

00:28:10.099 --> 00:28:12.779
 This is the spirit of the

00:28:12.779 --> 00:28:13.579
 Eighth Commandment.

00:28:13.980 --> 00:28:16.000
 It's not enough just not to

00:28:16.000 --> 00:28:16.279
 steal.

00:28:17.339 --> 00:28:19.160
 But God is calling us to

00:28:19.160 --> 00:28:20.500
 give generously.

00:28:22.019 --> 00:28:23.099
 Therefore, our questions

00:28:23.099 --> 00:28:23.799
 about the Eighth

00:28:23.799 --> 00:28:25.019
 Commandment shouldn't just

00:28:25.019 --> 00:28:26.960
 be limited to, is this

00:28:26.960 --> 00:28:28.700
 particular act sinful or

00:28:28.700 --> 00:28:28.960
 not?

00:28:29.920 --> 00:28:31.960
 Or even, how much can I get

00:28:31.960 --> 00:28:32.440
 away with?

00:28:32.440 --> 00:28:35.640
 But Jesus compels us to

00:28:35.640 --> 00:28:38.000
 ask, who around me is in

00:28:38.000 --> 00:28:38.559
 need of help?

00:28:39.960 --> 00:28:41.100
 To whom can I show

00:28:41.100 --> 00:28:41.620
 generosity?

00:28:44.019 --> 00:28:46.380
 Paul, in Ephesians 4, 28,

00:28:46.500 --> 00:28:47.380
 teaches us the same

00:28:47.380 --> 00:28:47.880
 message.

00:28:48.340 --> 00:28:50.100
 He writes, let the thief no

00:28:50.100 --> 00:28:52.279
 longer steal, but rather

00:28:52.279 --> 00:28:54.559
 let him labor, doing honest

00:28:54.559 --> 00:28:56.400
 work with his own hands, so

00:28:56.400 --> 00:28:57.820
 that he may have something to

00:28:57.820 --> 00:28:59.820
 share with anyone in need.

00:28:59.819 --> 00:29:01.919
 Do you see this radical

00:29:01.919 --> 00:29:04.960
 transformation from taker to

00:29:04.960 --> 00:29:05.259
 giver?

00:29:06.779 --> 00:29:09.059
 Yes, we must work hard to

00:29:09.059 --> 00:29:10.399
 provide for ourselves and for

00:29:10.399 --> 00:29:13.139
 our families, but both Jesus

00:29:13.139 --> 00:29:15.559
 and now Paul expand our

00:29:15.559 --> 00:29:17.159
 responsibility that we are

00:29:17.159 --> 00:29:20.659
 duty-bound to help anyone in

00:29:20.659 --> 00:29:20.879
 need.

00:29:22.480 --> 00:29:24.159
 Paul also challenges our

00:29:24.159 --> 00:29:25.439
 motivations to work hard.

00:29:25.440 --> 00:29:29.779
 Why do we arduously labor to

00:29:29.779 --> 00:29:32.720
 publish that next paper, to

00:29:32.720 --> 00:29:34.160
 plan that next meeting, to

00:29:34.160 --> 00:29:35.140
 help that next patient?

00:29:36.340 --> 00:29:38.900
 Is it to give or to have

00:29:38.900 --> 00:29:39.700
 something to give?

00:29:40.559 --> 00:29:42.860
 Is it outward or is it

00:29:42.860 --> 00:29:43.940
 inward focused?

00:29:45.680 --> 00:29:48.880
 We as former thieves should no

00:29:48.880 --> 00:29:51.539
 longer steal, but work hard to

00:29:51.539 --> 00:29:53.860
 give, meaning that we cannot be

00:29:53.859 --> 00:29:55.759
 hoarders of blessings anymore.

00:29:56.679 --> 00:29:58.139
 We must be a means for

00:29:58.139 --> 00:29:59.419
 blessings to go forth.

00:30:00.919 --> 00:30:02.659
 And it doesn't take long to

00:30:02.659 --> 00:30:03.939
 take a look at this broken

00:30:03.939 --> 00:30:06.019
 world and see the need for

00:30:06.019 --> 00:30:07.379
 Christ's church to go and make

00:30:07.379 --> 00:30:08.899
 disciples, to feed the poor,

00:30:09.439 --> 00:30:10.699
 and to feed the robbed.

00:30:13.039 --> 00:30:14.279
 Understanding all the needs in

00:30:14.279 --> 00:30:16.439
 this world, John Bisagno, the

00:30:16.439 --> 00:30:17.959
 late preacher in Houston, once

00:30:17.959 --> 00:30:20.899
 proclaimed, God has all the

00:30:20.899 --> 00:30:23.539
 money in the world he needs to

00:30:23.539 --> 00:30:24.639
 help the needy.

00:30:24.759 --> 00:30:25.579
 He has it all.

00:30:27.019 --> 00:30:28.420
 It's in your pockets.

00:30:32.279 --> 00:30:34.079
 God desires for us not to

00:30:34.079 --> 00:30:35.539
 steal, but to give generously

00:30:35.539 --> 00:30:37.559
 because ultimately it's for our

00:30:37.559 --> 00:30:38.019
 own good.

00:30:38.680 --> 00:30:40.980
 Because that's how we store our

00:30:40.980 --> 00:30:42.740
 treasures in eternal secure

00:30:42.740 --> 00:30:43.220
 places.

00:30:44.119 --> 00:30:47.000
 You often hear about smart, safe

00:30:47.000 --> 00:30:49.440
 investments, but there is no

00:30:49.440 --> 00:30:51.119
 smarter investment than in the

00:30:51.119 --> 00:30:51.799
 kingdom of God.

00:30:51.799 --> 00:30:55.339
 Jesus commanded us to store our

00:30:55.339 --> 00:30:56.899
 treasures in places where moth and

00:30:56.899 --> 00:30:59.099
 rust cannot destroy and where

00:30:59.099 --> 00:31:00.659
 thieves cannot break in and steal.

00:31:01.220 --> 00:31:02.779
 He assumes that on this side of

00:31:02.779 --> 00:31:05.539
 heaven, no investment is ever

00:31:05.539 --> 00:31:06.079
 secure.

00:31:07.359 --> 00:31:10.779
 Your money, your car, your house,

00:31:10.839 --> 00:31:13.680
 it will all depreciate, let alone the

00:31:13.680 --> 00:31:15.359
 fact that none of us will ever take

00:31:15.359 --> 00:31:16.659
 this stuff into the next life.

00:31:18.639 --> 00:31:21.259
 And giving generously continually

00:31:21.259 --> 00:31:22.699
 reminds us of those truths.

00:31:23.079 --> 00:31:24.439
 So easy to forget that.

00:31:25.199 --> 00:31:27.079
 It kills our idolatry of money.

00:31:29.039 --> 00:31:30.419
 And one of my all-time favorite

00:31:30.419 --> 00:31:32.059
 quotes is from Jim Elliott.

00:31:32.199 --> 00:31:33.299
 I'm sure many of you know it.

00:31:34.159 --> 00:31:34.979
 It goes like this.

00:31:35.740 --> 00:31:38.399
 He is no fool who gives what he

00:31:38.399 --> 00:31:40.379
 can't keep to gain what he cannot

00:31:40.379 --> 00:31:41.000
 lose.

00:31:41.000 --> 00:31:42.700
 I love that.

00:31:44.779 --> 00:31:46.220
 And if you're laboring for the

00:31:46.220 --> 00:31:48.059
 kingdom right now, as I know many

00:31:48.059 --> 00:31:51.420
 in our church already are, be

00:31:51.420 --> 00:31:53.079
 encouraged that it's not in vain.

00:31:53.160 --> 00:31:55.400
 You're making the smartest, safest

00:31:55.400 --> 00:31:57.240
 investment with your life right now.

00:31:59.640 --> 00:32:01.779
 But that's not the full picture just

00:32:01.779 --> 00:32:04.019
 to say that earthly investments don't

00:32:04.019 --> 00:32:07.720
 amount to anything because storing our

00:32:07.720 --> 00:32:09.680
 treasures here on earth alone ultimately

00:32:09.680 --> 00:32:11.140
 does reap something.

00:32:12.660 --> 00:32:16.720
 It reaps judgment because it ultimately

00:32:16.720 --> 00:32:19.259
 brings disrepute to God.

00:32:20.299 --> 00:32:23.360
 We started reading from verse 1 of

00:32:23.360 --> 00:32:25.920
 today's passage to remember the context

00:32:25.920 --> 00:32:27.860
 in which this command is given.

00:32:28.480 --> 00:32:30.360
 The prologue to the Ten Commandments

00:32:30.360 --> 00:32:33.720
 starts with, I am the Lord, your God.

00:32:33.720 --> 00:32:38.180
 I am your God who brought you out of

00:32:38.180 --> 00:32:40.160
 the land of Egypt, out of the house of

00:32:40.160 --> 00:32:40.519
 slavery.

00:32:41.620 --> 00:32:45.019
 We must remember that God has been so

00:32:45.019 --> 00:32:48.180
 incredibly faithful to the Israelites.

00:32:48.460 --> 00:32:51.319
 He intimately heard their cries, their

00:32:51.319 --> 00:32:53.420
 struggles and their bondage to Egypt.

00:32:54.120 --> 00:32:57.740
 So God performed crazy miracle after

00:32:57.740 --> 00:32:59.059
 miracle to free them.

00:33:00.019 --> 00:33:02.759
 He fed them daily with miraculous

00:33:02.759 --> 00:33:05.379
 manna and gave them water from a rock.

00:33:05.519 --> 00:33:07.420
 Water from a rock to drink.

00:33:09.119 --> 00:33:12.180
 Every single need that they had,

00:33:13.079 --> 00:33:13.559
 he provided.

00:33:14.460 --> 00:33:16.920
 He is so sensitive to our needs.

00:33:19.019 --> 00:33:21.220
 So any kind of stealing or excessive

00:33:21.220 --> 00:33:23.619
 hoarding or spending ultimately is a

00:33:23.619 --> 00:33:26.400
 rejection of God and his kindness

00:33:26.400 --> 00:33:28.720
 because it says to God and to the world,

00:33:28.920 --> 00:33:31.599
 I don't or I won't have what I need.

00:33:31.599 --> 00:33:33.859
 God is insufficient for me.

00:33:34.399 --> 00:33:37.039
 Or it says my convenience is more

00:33:37.039 --> 00:33:38.939
 important than obedience to the king.

00:33:41.379 --> 00:33:44.819
 So in the end, stealing actually robs us

00:33:44.819 --> 00:33:46.319
 of greater treasures.

00:33:48.179 --> 00:33:50.519
 Almost every law regarding stealing

00:33:50.519 --> 00:33:53.279
 demands that the thief either pays more

00:33:53.279 --> 00:33:56.659
 on top of what he stole or he pays with his

00:33:56.660 --> 00:33:57.779
 very own life.

00:33:59.540 --> 00:34:01.560
 And even if you get away with stealing in

00:34:01.560 --> 00:34:03.540
 this life, the God who is omniscient

00:34:03.540 --> 00:34:06.500
 and omnipresent, will he not see your

00:34:06.500 --> 00:34:06.860
 folly?

00:34:08.700 --> 00:34:10.800
 And at the end of the day, our sins of

00:34:10.800 --> 00:34:13.079
 theft and unbelief deserve eternal

00:34:13.079 --> 00:34:16.659
 condemnation as 1 Corinthians 6-9

00:34:16.659 --> 00:34:18.880
 teaches us that thieves will never,

00:34:19.280 --> 00:34:22.539
 they will never inherit the kingdom of God.

00:34:22.539 --> 00:34:28.279
 But if we continue to read on from verse 9,

00:34:28.900 --> 00:34:31.840
 Paul teaches that though we were like them,

00:34:32.539 --> 00:34:36.659
 these thieves in these world that ruin lives,

00:34:37.519 --> 00:34:40.639
 create havoc, though we are like them,

00:34:40.679 --> 00:34:41.460
 we were washed.

00:34:43.259 --> 00:34:44.699
 We were sanctified.

00:34:44.860 --> 00:34:46.519
 We were justified.

00:34:47.039 --> 00:34:49.259
 In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ

00:34:49.260 --> 00:34:52.120
 and by the Spirit of our God, how?

00:34:54.280 --> 00:34:56.900
 It's only because Jesus fulfilled

00:34:56.900 --> 00:34:59.680
 both the scope and the Spirit

00:34:59.680 --> 00:35:00.680
 of the Eighth Commandment

00:35:00.680 --> 00:35:03.040
 with an unwavering trust

00:35:03.040 --> 00:35:05.180
 in his Father's good portion for him.

00:35:07.960 --> 00:35:10.900
 In Luke 4, during Jesus' fast for 40 days

00:35:10.900 --> 00:35:12.060
 and 40 nights in the wilderness,

00:35:13.000 --> 00:35:15.100
 Satan continually tempts Jesus

00:35:15.100 --> 00:35:16.260
 throughout the feast,

00:35:16.680 --> 00:35:18.180
 which culminates at the very end

00:35:18.179 --> 00:35:20.039
 with three final temptations.

00:35:20.399 --> 00:35:22.059
 First of which, Satan knowing

00:35:22.059 --> 00:35:24.639
 that this is when Jesus' physical body

00:35:24.639 --> 00:35:25.739
 was at its weakest,

00:35:26.639 --> 00:35:27.199
 he asked,

00:35:28.000 --> 00:35:29.279
 if you are the Son of God,

00:35:29.739 --> 00:35:32.199
 command this stone to become a loaf of bread.

00:35:33.399 --> 00:35:34.299
 He's asking,

00:35:34.919 --> 00:35:36.779
 why does the so-called Son of God

00:35:36.779 --> 00:35:38.319
 need to suffer in this way?

00:35:39.879 --> 00:35:40.899
 And maybe some of you

00:35:40.899 --> 00:35:42.919
 going through rough seasons in life

00:35:42.919 --> 00:35:45.519
 are asking the same question right now.

00:35:45.519 --> 00:35:48.000
 Why do I have to suffer?

00:35:51.039 --> 00:35:53.679
 Satan tempted Jesus and tempts us

00:35:53.679 --> 00:35:55.639
 to use then our power

00:35:55.639 --> 00:35:57.579
 to satisfy our own desires

00:35:57.579 --> 00:36:00.039
 rather than trusting in God

00:36:00.039 --> 00:36:02.179
 to supply all that we need.

00:36:03.679 --> 00:36:06.440
 But Jesus, out of an intimate love

00:36:06.440 --> 00:36:07.420
 for his Father,

00:36:07.800 --> 00:36:09.460
 he didn't justify sin.

00:36:10.199 --> 00:36:11.980
 And he clung to faith

00:36:11.980 --> 00:36:14.360
 as he quotes Deuteronomy 8.3,

00:36:14.360 --> 00:36:16.820
 man does not live by bread alone.

00:36:19.300 --> 00:36:22.019
 Jesus did not move a single inch

00:36:22.019 --> 00:36:23.000
 when it came to stealing

00:36:23.000 --> 00:36:25.780
 because he knew the Father's good desire

00:36:25.780 --> 00:36:26.740
 to provide for him.

00:36:27.780 --> 00:36:29.340
 We also know that Jesus was

00:36:29.340 --> 00:36:31.599
 not just not a thief,

00:36:31.900 --> 00:36:33.099
 but he was a generous giver,

00:36:33.840 --> 00:36:34.880
 fulfilling the spirit

00:36:34.880 --> 00:36:35.960
 of the Eighth Commandment.

00:36:36.140 --> 00:36:37.420
 Throughout Jesus' ministry,

00:36:37.940 --> 00:36:39.860
 he always looked outside himself.

00:36:39.860 --> 00:36:42.800
 He served and he gave

00:36:42.800 --> 00:36:45.019
 even when he was weary and tired.

00:36:46.420 --> 00:36:47.160
 Mark 6,

00:36:47.320 --> 00:36:49.460
 after the apostles returned to Jesus,

00:36:49.559 --> 00:36:51.380
 after their short-term missions trip,

00:36:51.440 --> 00:36:52.680
 after being sent two by two,

00:36:53.559 --> 00:36:55.240
 Jesus initially desires for them

00:36:55.240 --> 00:36:56.059
 to hide away

00:36:56.059 --> 00:36:57.840
 in a desolate place

00:36:57.840 --> 00:36:59.360
 to rest and to eat.

00:37:00.000 --> 00:37:01.840
 But upon hearing the masses

00:37:01.840 --> 00:37:03.700
 eagerly waiting for him,

00:37:03.820 --> 00:37:06.840
 Jesus has such great compassion

00:37:06.840 --> 00:37:08.940
 toward them and sees them.

00:37:09.220 --> 00:37:11.000
 He sees them as sheep

00:37:11.000 --> 00:37:11.980
 without a shepherd.

00:37:13.480 --> 00:37:14.440
 No complaining,

00:37:14.820 --> 00:37:16.400
 no excuses,

00:37:16.840 --> 00:37:17.920
 just compassion.

00:37:20.300 --> 00:37:23.019
 Then he abandons his plans for rest

00:37:23.019 --> 00:37:27.140
 to abundantly feed over 5,000 mouths.

00:37:27.300 --> 00:37:29.260
 No physically small task.

00:37:29.260 --> 00:37:30.880
 Jesus,

00:37:31.160 --> 00:37:33.060
 in every moment of his life,

00:37:33.180 --> 00:37:34.100
 oriented himself

00:37:34.100 --> 00:37:35.000
 towards loving

00:37:35.000 --> 00:37:36.560
 his Heavenly Father

00:37:36.560 --> 00:37:37.720
 and loving others.

00:37:38.180 --> 00:37:39.700
 No matter what the cost.

00:37:40.780 --> 00:37:42.100
 Not unlike the Good Samaritan.

00:37:43.900 --> 00:37:45.080
 And we see

00:37:45.080 --> 00:37:46.720
 just how far

00:37:46.720 --> 00:37:48.240
 his love would go.

00:37:49.260 --> 00:37:50.520
 That despite Jesus

00:37:50.520 --> 00:37:51.880
 living in sin,

00:37:52.060 --> 00:37:53.940
 living a sinless life

00:37:53.940 --> 00:37:54.660
 of trust,

00:37:55.540 --> 00:37:56.040
 generosity,

00:37:56.400 --> 00:37:57.220
 and sacrifice,

00:37:57.720 --> 00:37:58.540
 he died

00:37:58.539 --> 00:37:59.500
 the death

00:37:59.500 --> 00:38:00.719
 of a convicted thief

00:38:00.719 --> 00:38:01.619
 on our behalf.

00:38:02.980 --> 00:38:03.619
 In Gethsemane,

00:38:03.779 --> 00:38:04.500
 though agonizing

00:38:04.500 --> 00:38:05.000
 through prayer

00:38:05.000 --> 00:38:05.500
 and wrestling

00:38:05.500 --> 00:38:06.219
 with the Father,

00:38:06.599 --> 00:38:07.900
 sweating drops of blood,

00:38:07.960 --> 00:38:08.460
 in the end,

00:38:08.840 --> 00:38:09.980
 Jesus didn't rebel

00:38:09.980 --> 00:38:10.840
 in taking something

00:38:10.840 --> 00:38:12.279
 that God hadn't given to him.

00:38:12.659 --> 00:38:13.300
 But he,

00:38:13.500 --> 00:38:13.980
 for the joy

00:38:13.980 --> 00:38:15.380
 that was set before him,

00:38:16.519 --> 00:38:17.139
 he endured

00:38:17.139 --> 00:38:18.599
 an unjust trial,

00:38:19.199 --> 00:38:19.519
 beating,

00:38:20.519 --> 00:38:20.820
 mocking,

00:38:21.259 --> 00:38:21.860
 humiliation,

00:38:22.699 --> 00:38:23.340
 and ultimately

00:38:23.340 --> 00:38:24.539
 was hung on the cross

00:38:24.539 --> 00:38:26.279
 next to two thieves.

00:38:26.280 --> 00:38:29.180
 he lovingly

00:38:29.180 --> 00:38:30.900
 gave his body

00:38:30.900 --> 00:38:31.780
 and blood

00:38:31.780 --> 00:38:33.120
 as a propitiatory

00:38:33.120 --> 00:38:33.960
 sacrifice

00:38:33.960 --> 00:38:34.980
 for those of us

00:38:34.980 --> 00:38:36.300
 who have fallen short

00:38:36.300 --> 00:38:38.000
 of this Eighth Commandment,

00:38:38.660 --> 00:38:39.380
 for those of us

00:38:39.380 --> 00:38:40.720
 who feel the pangs

00:38:40.720 --> 00:38:43.240
 of our sins of theft,

00:38:43.940 --> 00:38:44.540
 unbelief,

00:38:45.380 --> 00:38:46.480
 and self-preservation.

00:38:48.240 --> 00:38:49.700
 He himself

00:38:49.700 --> 00:38:51.620
 bore the cost

00:38:51.620 --> 00:38:52.420
 of the thefts

00:38:52.420 --> 00:38:53.040
 we've committed,

00:38:53.039 --> 00:38:55.500
 and he withheld

00:38:55.500 --> 00:38:56.599
 absolutely nothing

00:38:56.599 --> 00:38:57.380
 from the one

00:38:57.380 --> 00:38:58.759
 he gave,

00:38:58.920 --> 00:38:59.420
 he loved

00:38:59.420 --> 00:39:01.199
 to give his very own life.

00:39:03.219 --> 00:39:04.920
 We read this passage earlier,

00:39:05.139 --> 00:39:05.579
 the thief

00:39:05.579 --> 00:39:07.079
 comes only

00:39:07.079 --> 00:39:07.779
 to steal

00:39:07.779 --> 00:39:08.800
 and to kill

00:39:08.800 --> 00:39:09.639
 and to destroy.

00:39:10.779 --> 00:39:11.599
 We have been reminded

00:39:11.599 --> 00:39:11.940
 of that

00:39:11.940 --> 00:39:13.219
 in sinful example

00:39:13.219 --> 00:39:14.099
 after example

00:39:14.099 --> 00:39:15.659
 in this broken world.

00:39:16.300 --> 00:39:17.259
 But Jesus,

00:39:17.940 --> 00:39:19.519
 our wonderful Jesus,

00:39:19.759 --> 00:39:20.360
 he came

00:39:20.360 --> 00:39:21.280
 and he gave

00:39:21.280 --> 00:39:22.079
 everything

00:39:22.079 --> 00:39:24.220
 that we may have life

00:39:24.220 --> 00:39:25.500
 and have it abundantly.

00:39:26.480 --> 00:39:27.599
 There is no one

00:39:27.599 --> 00:39:28.440
 like him.

00:39:29.599 --> 00:39:30.420
 There is no one

00:39:30.420 --> 00:39:31.620
 like our wonderful Jesus.

00:39:33.640 --> 00:39:34.440
 And what that means

00:39:34.440 --> 00:39:35.539
 is that poor thieves

00:39:35.539 --> 00:39:36.360
 like you and me

00:39:36.360 --> 00:39:37.099
 and the thief

00:39:37.099 --> 00:39:37.640
 on the cross

00:39:37.640 --> 00:39:38.280
 next to Jesus

00:39:38.280 --> 00:39:40.340
 will no longer

00:39:40.340 --> 00:39:41.480
 have a future inheritance

00:39:41.480 --> 00:39:42.120
 of hell,

00:39:42.240 --> 00:39:43.340
 but we will be rich

00:39:43.340 --> 00:39:44.000
 heirs

00:39:44.000 --> 00:39:45.539
 of the kingdom

00:39:45.539 --> 00:39:46.480
 in eternity

00:39:46.480 --> 00:39:47.360
 with our precious

00:39:47.900 --> 00:39:48.660
 Jesus.

00:39:48.659 --> 00:39:52.500
 Why should we gain

00:39:52.500 --> 00:39:53.559
 from his reward?

00:39:54.719 --> 00:39:55.899
 We cannot give

00:39:55.899 --> 00:39:56.879
 an answer to that,

00:39:57.399 --> 00:39:58.359
 but this we know

00:39:58.359 --> 00:39:59.339
 with all our hearts

00:39:59.339 --> 00:40:00.639
 that his wounds

00:40:00.639 --> 00:40:02.379
 have paid our ransom.

00:40:03.500 --> 00:40:04.679
 Brothers and sisters,

00:40:05.519 --> 00:40:06.659
 behold Jesus.

00:40:08.559 --> 00:40:09.659
 Isn't he so lovely?

00:40:12.339 --> 00:40:13.579
 Isn't our communion

00:40:13.579 --> 00:40:14.179
 with him

00:40:14.179 --> 00:40:15.659
 so precious?

00:40:15.659 --> 00:40:18.960
 Beholding Jesus

00:40:18.960 --> 00:40:21.960
 is the only way

00:40:21.960 --> 00:40:23.279
 we will ever

00:40:23.279 --> 00:40:24.719
 begin to lovingly

00:40:24.719 --> 00:40:25.799
 and sacrificially

00:40:25.799 --> 00:40:26.859
 be generous.

00:40:27.539 --> 00:40:28.480
 And this is by far

00:40:28.480 --> 00:40:29.359
 the most

00:40:29.359 --> 00:40:31.639
 important application

00:40:31.639 --> 00:40:32.619
 point in the whole sermon.

00:40:33.219 --> 00:40:34.639
 Only by beholding

00:40:34.639 --> 00:40:36.559
 our unbelievable

00:40:36.559 --> 00:40:37.359
 inheritance

00:40:37.359 --> 00:40:38.299
 in the person

00:40:38.299 --> 00:40:39.679
 of Jesus Christ

00:40:39.679 --> 00:40:40.739
 in whom the fullness

00:40:40.739 --> 00:40:41.480
 of deity

00:40:41.480 --> 00:40:42.940
 dwells bodily

00:40:42.940 --> 00:40:44.440
 can we ever

00:40:44.440 --> 00:40:45.340
 be transformed

00:40:45.340 --> 00:40:46.519
 from takers

00:40:46.519 --> 00:40:47.460
 to givers.

00:40:49.300 --> 00:40:50.420
 I pray we've all

00:40:50.420 --> 00:40:51.039
 come to the point

00:40:51.039 --> 00:40:51.539
 in our own

00:40:51.539 --> 00:40:52.320
 spiritual journeys

00:40:52.320 --> 00:40:52.940
 and maturities

00:40:52.940 --> 00:40:53.440
 to say,

00:40:53.900 --> 00:40:55.099
 who are we kidding?

00:40:56.019 --> 00:40:56.920
 I can't be super

00:40:56.920 --> 00:40:57.420
 generous

00:40:57.420 --> 00:40:58.559
 to the needy

00:40:58.559 --> 00:40:59.840
 and even to my enemies

00:40:59.840 --> 00:41:01.300
 by myself.

00:41:02.019 --> 00:41:02.880
 That's just not

00:41:02.880 --> 00:41:03.400
 possible

00:41:03.400 --> 00:41:04.500
 by myself.

00:41:06.579 --> 00:41:07.059
 Personally,

00:41:07.200 --> 00:41:07.940
 in my own pride,

00:41:08.019 --> 00:41:08.559
 I used to think

00:41:08.559 --> 00:41:09.380
 I could do this,

00:41:09.720 --> 00:41:10.380
 but years

00:41:10.380 --> 00:41:11.159
 and years

00:41:11.159 --> 00:41:11.779
 of trying

00:41:11.779 --> 00:41:12.500
 to muster up

00:41:12.500 --> 00:41:13.139
 this love

00:41:13.139 --> 00:41:14.199
 within myself,

00:41:14.279 --> 00:41:15.199
 I know for certain

00:41:15.199 --> 00:41:16.879
 I can't do this.

00:41:18.420 --> 00:41:19.879
 We cannot do

00:41:19.879 --> 00:41:20.500
 and be

00:41:20.500 --> 00:41:21.139
 what God

00:41:21.139 --> 00:41:22.719
 requires of us

00:41:22.719 --> 00:41:24.059
 by ourselves,

00:41:24.119 --> 00:41:24.920
 but it's only

00:41:24.920 --> 00:41:26.279
 through the past,

00:41:26.559 --> 00:41:27.099
 the present,

00:41:27.359 --> 00:41:28.699
 and the future work

00:41:28.699 --> 00:41:30.039
 of our forever

00:41:30.039 --> 00:41:31.000
 faithful king.

00:41:32.579 --> 00:41:34.399
 We must behold

00:41:34.399 --> 00:41:36.259
 the free riches

00:41:36.259 --> 00:41:37.559
 bestowed on us

00:41:37.559 --> 00:41:38.379
 through Jesus.

00:41:38.380 --> 00:41:40.800
 that's why

00:41:40.800 --> 00:41:41.360
 meditating

00:41:41.360 --> 00:41:42.300
 and savoring

00:41:42.300 --> 00:41:42.780
 scripture

00:41:42.780 --> 00:41:44.640
 is just so good

00:41:44.640 --> 00:41:46.599
 because it's full

00:41:46.599 --> 00:41:47.619
 of these reminders

00:41:47.619 --> 00:41:49.140
 of Jesus'

00:41:49.599 --> 00:41:50.940
 generous promises

00:41:50.940 --> 00:41:51.660
 and blessings

00:41:51.660 --> 00:41:52.619
 to us.

00:41:54.039 --> 00:41:55.340
 We read this passage

00:41:55.340 --> 00:41:55.960
 too earlier.

00:41:56.160 --> 00:41:57.519
 Take 2 Corinthians

00:41:57.519 --> 00:41:58.660
 8-9,

00:41:58.760 --> 00:41:59.519
 for we know

00:41:59.519 --> 00:42:00.700
 the grace

00:42:00.700 --> 00:42:01.380
 of our Lord

00:42:01.380 --> 00:42:02.140
 Jesus Christ

00:42:02.140 --> 00:42:03.240
 that though

00:42:03.240 --> 00:42:04.539
 he was rich,

00:42:04.900 --> 00:42:06.160
 yet for our sake

00:42:06.160 --> 00:42:07.280
 he became poor.

00:42:07.280 --> 00:42:10.060
 so that by,

00:42:10.380 --> 00:42:10.900
 so that you

00:42:10.900 --> 00:42:12.200
 by his poverty

00:42:12.200 --> 00:42:13.620
 might become rich.

00:42:14.620 --> 00:42:16.019
 We are so rich

00:42:16.019 --> 00:42:17.160
 in him,

00:42:17.440 --> 00:42:18.120
 so rich

00:42:18.120 --> 00:42:18.980
 in Jesus Christ.

00:42:20.200 --> 00:42:20.700
 Behold,

00:42:20.900 --> 00:42:22.800
 all our spiritual

00:42:22.800 --> 00:42:23.280
 blessings

00:42:23.280 --> 00:42:24.780
 are already yours

00:42:24.780 --> 00:42:26.180
 in Christ.

00:42:26.940 --> 00:42:27.840
 The spirit himself

00:42:27.840 --> 00:42:29.040
 has been given

00:42:29.040 --> 00:42:29.440
 to you

00:42:29.440 --> 00:42:30.440
 as a down payment,

00:42:30.960 --> 00:42:32.280
 as a guarantee

00:42:32.280 --> 00:42:33.100
 of your future

00:42:33.100 --> 00:42:33.600
 inheritance

00:42:33.600 --> 00:42:34.340
 of the kingdom.

00:42:34.660 --> 00:42:35.780
 That's Ephesians 1,

00:42:35.860 --> 00:42:36.620
 14-16.

00:42:36.619 --> 00:42:39.739
 Romans 8-32

00:42:39.739 --> 00:42:41.539
 is one of my

00:42:41.539 --> 00:42:42.599
 favorite promises

00:42:42.599 --> 00:42:43.400
 that

00:42:43.400 --> 00:42:44.679
 if God

00:42:44.679 --> 00:42:45.539
 did not spare

00:42:45.539 --> 00:42:46.719
 his only son

00:42:46.719 --> 00:42:48.339
 but gave him up

00:42:48.339 --> 00:42:49.199
 for us all,

00:42:49.940 --> 00:42:50.759
 how will he not

00:42:50.759 --> 00:42:51.339
 with him

00:42:51.339 --> 00:42:52.099
 give us

00:42:52.099 --> 00:42:53.679
 all things?

00:42:55.239 --> 00:42:56.119
 If God spared

00:42:56.119 --> 00:42:57.339
 no expense,

00:42:57.679 --> 00:42:58.299
 he's given us

00:42:58.299 --> 00:42:59.519
 the greatest thing,

00:43:00.019 --> 00:43:01.039
 the greatest inheritance

00:43:01.039 --> 00:43:01.679
 already,

00:43:02.500 --> 00:43:03.079
 and proven

00:43:03.079 --> 00:43:04.500
 his unbelievable

00:43:04.500 --> 00:43:05.360
 generosity,

00:43:05.860 --> 00:43:07.480
 why would the

00:43:07.480 --> 00:43:08.099
 most generous

00:43:08.099 --> 00:43:08.780
 God suddenly

00:43:08.780 --> 00:43:09.739
 be stingy?

00:43:11.739 --> 00:43:12.679
 We have

00:43:12.679 --> 00:43:13.539
 clear proof

00:43:13.539 --> 00:43:14.320
 on the cross

00:43:14.320 --> 00:43:14.840
 that God

00:43:14.840 --> 00:43:16.139
 will provide

00:43:16.139 --> 00:43:16.820
 for us

00:43:16.820 --> 00:43:18.460
 all things.

00:43:19.619 --> 00:43:20.619
 How will he

00:43:20.619 --> 00:43:21.380
 not with him

00:43:21.380 --> 00:43:21.860
 give us

00:43:21.860 --> 00:43:22.579
 all things

00:43:22.579 --> 00:43:23.219
 that we need?

00:43:24.840 --> 00:43:25.699
 Do you

00:43:25.699 --> 00:43:26.559
 trust him?

00:43:27.599 --> 00:43:28.780
 Do you trust him

00:43:28.780 --> 00:43:29.380
 that he will

00:43:29.380 --> 00:43:31.019
 provide for you

00:43:31.019 --> 00:43:31.940
 all things

00:43:31.940 --> 00:43:32.659
 that you need?

00:43:35.980 --> 00:43:36.740
 Then our

00:43:36.740 --> 00:43:37.340
 perspective

00:43:37.340 --> 00:43:38.320
 of giving

00:43:38.320 --> 00:43:39.460
 and living

00:43:39.460 --> 00:43:40.079
 for others

00:43:40.079 --> 00:43:40.619
 changes

00:43:40.619 --> 00:43:42.280
 by understanding

00:43:42.280 --> 00:43:43.139
 how well we are

00:43:43.139 --> 00:43:44.039
 provided for,

00:43:44.159 --> 00:43:45.420
 how rich we are

00:43:45.420 --> 00:43:46.059
 in Jesus.

00:43:46.059 --> 00:43:48.139
 how then can we

00:43:48.139 --> 00:43:49.460
 not generously

00:43:49.460 --> 00:43:50.400
 give and live

00:43:50.400 --> 00:43:51.039
 in freedom?

00:43:52.440 --> 00:43:53.099
 In the gospel

00:43:53.099 --> 00:43:53.619
 of grace

00:43:53.619 --> 00:43:54.119
 that Jesus

00:43:54.119 --> 00:43:55.440
 freely gives,

00:43:56.019 --> 00:43:57.980
 we are enabled

00:43:57.980 --> 00:43:59.199
 to be truly

00:43:59.199 --> 00:43:59.920
 content

00:43:59.920 --> 00:44:01.420
 in all that

00:44:01.420 --> 00:44:01.920
 we have.

00:44:02.759 --> 00:44:03.239
 Then we can

00:44:03.239 --> 00:44:04.659
 see money

00:44:04.659 --> 00:44:05.299
 as what it

00:44:05.299 --> 00:44:05.820
 really is,

00:44:05.860 --> 00:44:06.279
 a gift,

00:44:06.659 --> 00:44:07.320
 not our God.

00:44:08.719 --> 00:44:09.920
 We can budget,

00:44:11.099 --> 00:44:11.880
 we can set

00:44:11.880 --> 00:44:12.940
 financial goals,

00:44:13.179 --> 00:44:14.380
 all wise

00:44:14.380 --> 00:44:14.920
 things,

00:44:15.440 --> 00:44:16.119
 knowing that

00:44:16.119 --> 00:44:17.099
 we can save

00:44:17.099 --> 00:44:18.539
 and spend

00:44:18.539 --> 00:44:19.000
 money as

00:44:19.000 --> 00:44:19.440
 intended,

00:44:20.400 --> 00:44:21.460
 in trust,

00:44:22.059 --> 00:44:22.800
 in faith,

00:44:23.340 --> 00:44:23.640
 in our

00:44:23.640 --> 00:44:24.480
 provider God.

00:44:25.160 --> 00:44:25.680
 We don't have

00:44:25.680 --> 00:44:26.400
 to obsess

00:44:26.400 --> 00:44:27.000
 over having

00:44:27.000 --> 00:44:27.640
 the perfect

00:44:27.640 --> 00:44:28.760
 amount to

00:44:28.760 --> 00:44:29.079
 budget,

00:44:29.240 --> 00:44:29.800
 to give,

00:44:30.579 --> 00:44:31.099
 or spend

00:44:31.099 --> 00:44:31.880
 on ourselves.

00:44:32.680 --> 00:44:33.360
 When it

00:44:33.360 --> 00:44:33.880
 comes to

00:44:33.880 --> 00:44:34.380
 tithing,

00:44:35.619 --> 00:44:35.980
 while we are

00:44:35.980 --> 00:44:36.340
 not under

00:44:36.340 --> 00:44:36.840
 the same

00:44:36.840 --> 00:44:37.460
 obligation

00:44:37.460 --> 00:44:38.280
 from the

00:44:38.280 --> 00:44:38.920
 old covenant

00:44:38.920 --> 00:44:39.380
 to give a

00:44:39.380 --> 00:44:40.340
 tithe in the

00:44:40.340 --> 00:44:40.900
 same sense

00:44:40.900 --> 00:44:41.119
 that the

00:44:41.119 --> 00:44:41.420
 Israelites

00:44:41.420 --> 00:44:41.820
 were,

00:44:41.820 --> 00:44:44.039
 with Jesus

00:44:44.039 --> 00:44:45.240
 instituting a

00:44:45.240 --> 00:44:45.780
 new and

00:44:45.780 --> 00:44:46.500
 more glorious

00:44:46.500 --> 00:44:46.920
 covenant,

00:44:47.100 --> 00:44:47.920
 as Don Carson

00:44:47.920 --> 00:44:48.360
 has said,

00:44:48.800 --> 00:44:49.120
 we should

00:44:49.120 --> 00:44:49.860
 value our

00:44:49.860 --> 00:44:50.440
 riches in

00:44:50.440 --> 00:44:51.220
 Christ so

00:44:51.220 --> 00:44:51.620
 highly,

00:44:51.940 --> 00:44:52.620
 our freedom

00:44:52.620 --> 00:44:53.400
 from sin

00:44:53.400 --> 00:44:54.140
 so highly,

00:44:54.280 --> 00:44:54.960
 the gospel

00:44:54.960 --> 00:44:56.180
 so highly,

00:44:56.500 --> 00:44:56.800
 that we

00:44:56.800 --> 00:44:57.519
 should simply

00:44:57.519 --> 00:44:58.680
 love to

00:44:58.680 --> 00:44:58.940
 give.

00:45:01.519 --> 00:45:02.280
 There are

00:45:02.280 --> 00:45:03.140
 many examples

00:45:03.140 --> 00:45:03.539
 throughout

00:45:03.539 --> 00:45:04.559
 scripture and

00:45:04.559 --> 00:45:05.260
 church history

00:45:05.260 --> 00:45:06.000
 to show that

00:45:06.000 --> 00:45:07.760
 Christ alone

00:45:07.760 --> 00:45:08.440
 is the

00:45:08.440 --> 00:45:09.580
 catalyst of

00:45:09.580 --> 00:45:10.260
 that transformation

00:45:10.260 --> 00:45:11.360
 from stealer

00:45:11.360 --> 00:45:12.260
 to giver.

00:45:13.300 --> 00:45:13.980
 We see this

00:45:13.980 --> 00:45:14.880
 in Zacchaeus,

00:45:15.180 --> 00:45:16.860
 who is rejected

00:45:16.860 --> 00:45:17.640
 by society,

00:45:17.760 --> 00:45:18.560
 but accepted

00:45:18.560 --> 00:45:20.140
 by Jesus.

00:45:20.860 --> 00:45:21.580
 He commits

00:45:21.580 --> 00:45:22.940
 then to give

00:45:22.940 --> 00:45:23.820
 back fourfold

00:45:23.820 --> 00:45:24.980
 anything taken

00:45:24.980 --> 00:45:25.580
 in fraud.

00:45:26.640 --> 00:45:27.500
 To the early

00:45:27.500 --> 00:45:28.660
 church instituted

00:45:28.660 --> 00:45:29.480
 by Jesus

00:45:29.480 --> 00:45:30.660
 through the

00:45:30.660 --> 00:45:31.480
 Holy Spirit,

00:45:32.480 --> 00:45:33.360
 where they

00:45:33.360 --> 00:45:34.480
 give so

00:45:34.480 --> 00:45:34.920
 freely,

00:45:35.060 --> 00:45:35.700
 everything they

00:45:35.700 --> 00:45:36.380
 had was in

00:45:36.380 --> 00:45:36.720
 common,

00:45:36.920 --> 00:45:37.460
 no one had

00:45:37.460 --> 00:45:38.120
 any need.

00:45:38.600 --> 00:45:39.360
 To the church

00:45:39.360 --> 00:45:40.120
 addressed in

00:45:40.120 --> 00:45:40.440
 Hebrews,

00:45:40.559 --> 00:45:41.140
 in which the

00:45:41.140 --> 00:45:41.900
 author praises

00:45:41.900 --> 00:45:42.160
 him,

00:45:42.599 --> 00:45:43.160
 for you had

00:45:43.160 --> 00:45:44.079
 compassion on

00:45:44.079 --> 00:45:44.519
 those in

00:45:44.519 --> 00:45:44.800
 prison,

00:45:45.240 --> 00:45:45.640
 and you

00:45:45.640 --> 00:45:46.300
 joyfully

00:45:46.300 --> 00:45:47.140
 accepted the

00:45:47.140 --> 00:45:47.940
 plundering of

00:45:47.940 --> 00:45:48.660
 your property.

00:45:49.120 --> 00:45:49.400
 Why?

00:45:50.340 --> 00:45:51.140
 Since you

00:45:51.140 --> 00:45:52.120
 knew you

00:45:52.120 --> 00:45:52.840
 had yourselves

00:45:52.840 --> 00:45:53.420
 a better

00:45:53.420 --> 00:45:54.599
 possession and

00:45:54.599 --> 00:45:55.039
 an abiding

00:45:55.039 --> 00:45:55.320
 one.

00:45:57.140 --> 00:45:57.980
 From church

00:45:57.980 --> 00:45:58.360
 history,

00:45:58.480 --> 00:45:58.780
 one of the

00:45:58.780 --> 00:45:59.059
 greatest

00:45:59.059 --> 00:45:59.780
 testimonies

00:45:59.780 --> 00:46:00.620
 from a

00:46:00.620 --> 00:46:01.460
 stealer-turned

00:46:01.460 --> 00:46:02.559
 giver must

00:46:02.559 --> 00:46:03.300
 be George

00:46:03.300 --> 00:46:03.599
 Mueller.

00:46:04.720 --> 00:46:05.400
 We often

00:46:05.400 --> 00:46:05.900
 know him as

00:46:05.900 --> 00:46:06.400
 the incredible

00:46:06.400 --> 00:46:07.840
 man of faith

00:46:07.840 --> 00:46:08.240
 and prayer

00:46:08.240 --> 00:46:08.620
 that led

00:46:08.620 --> 00:46:09.300
 orphanages

00:46:09.300 --> 00:46:12.120
 in England

00:46:12.120 --> 00:46:12.980
 in the

00:46:12.980 --> 00:46:13.420
 early

00:46:13.420 --> 00:46:15.059
 1800s.

00:46:16.539 --> 00:46:17.120
 But I

00:46:17.120 --> 00:46:17.400
 think it's

00:46:17.400 --> 00:46:18.000
 less well

00:46:18.000 --> 00:46:18.519
 known that

00:46:18.519 --> 00:46:18.980
 he was a

00:46:18.980 --> 00:46:19.880
 thief and

00:46:19.880 --> 00:46:20.340
 a drunk

00:46:20.340 --> 00:46:21.059
 at a young

00:46:21.059 --> 00:46:21.720
 age prior to

00:46:21.720 --> 00:46:22.340
 meeting Christ.

00:46:22.900 --> 00:46:23.340
 He would

00:46:23.340 --> 00:46:23.860
 steal from

00:46:23.860 --> 00:46:24.360
 his father

00:46:24.360 --> 00:46:25.200
 and was

00:46:25.200 --> 00:46:25.740
 thrown in

00:46:25.740 --> 00:46:26.400
 jail even

00:46:26.400 --> 00:46:26.980
 for a couple

00:46:26.980 --> 00:46:27.340
 nights,

00:46:27.579 --> 00:46:28.140
 neglecting to

00:46:28.140 --> 00:46:28.640
 pay for a

00:46:28.640 --> 00:46:29.300
 hotel room.

00:46:30.120 --> 00:46:30.700
 But after

00:46:30.700 --> 00:46:31.340
 being invited

00:46:31.340 --> 00:46:32.000
 to a meeting

00:46:32.000 --> 00:46:32.440
 not too

00:46:32.440 --> 00:46:33.140
 different from

00:46:33.140 --> 00:46:33.720
 our own

00:46:33.720 --> 00:46:34.260
 community groups

00:46:34.260 --> 00:46:34.740
 that we have

00:46:34.740 --> 00:46:35.019
 here,

00:46:35.019 --> 00:46:36.759
 he encountered

00:46:36.759 --> 00:46:37.880
 Jesus' love

00:46:37.880 --> 00:46:38.259
 for him

00:46:38.259 --> 00:46:38.840
 there and

00:46:38.840 --> 00:46:39.119
 wrote,

00:46:40.340 --> 00:46:41.159
 and therefore

00:46:41.159 --> 00:46:42.400
 apprehending

00:46:42.400 --> 00:46:43.259
 in some

00:46:43.259 --> 00:46:43.840
 measure the

00:46:43.840 --> 00:46:44.320
 love of

00:46:44.320 --> 00:46:45.039
 Jesus for

00:46:45.039 --> 00:46:45.599
 my soul,

00:46:45.880 --> 00:46:46.480
 I was

00:46:46.480 --> 00:46:47.300
 constrained

00:46:47.300 --> 00:46:48.480
 to love

00:46:48.480 --> 00:46:49.039
 him in

00:46:49.039 --> 00:46:49.400
 return.

00:46:50.139 --> 00:46:50.639
 What all

00:46:50.639 --> 00:46:51.559
 the exhortations

00:46:51.559 --> 00:46:52.519
 and precepts

00:46:52.519 --> 00:46:53.219
 of my father

00:46:53.219 --> 00:46:53.759
 and others

00:46:53.759 --> 00:46:54.179
 could not

00:46:54.179 --> 00:46:54.559
 affect,

00:46:55.099 --> 00:46:55.539
 what all

00:46:55.539 --> 00:46:56.219
 my own

00:46:56.219 --> 00:46:56.739
 resolutions

00:46:56.739 --> 00:46:57.360
 could not

00:46:57.360 --> 00:46:57.940
 bring about

00:46:57.940 --> 00:46:58.880
 even to

00:46:58.880 --> 00:46:59.400
 renounce the

00:46:59.400 --> 00:46:59.980
 life of sin,

00:47:00.079 --> 00:47:00.920
 I was then

00:47:00.920 --> 00:47:01.840
 enabled to

00:47:01.840 --> 00:47:02.119
 do,

00:47:02.539 --> 00:47:03.179
 constrained

00:47:03.179 --> 00:47:04.179
 by the

00:47:04.179 --> 00:47:04.799
 love of

00:47:04.799 --> 00:47:05.119
 Jesus.

00:47:06.379 --> 00:47:06.599
 The

00:47:06.599 --> 00:47:07.079
 individual

00:47:07.079 --> 00:47:07.879
 who desires

00:47:07.879 --> 00:47:08.259
 to get

00:47:08.259 --> 00:47:09.119
 power over

00:47:09.119 --> 00:47:10.379
 sin must

00:47:10.379 --> 00:47:11.079
 likewise

00:47:11.079 --> 00:47:11.839
 seek it

00:47:11.839 --> 00:47:12.379
 in the

00:47:12.379 --> 00:47:13.699
 blood of

00:47:13.699 --> 00:47:14.019
 Jesus.

00:47:16.460 --> 00:47:16.960
 George

00:47:16.960 --> 00:47:17.480
 Mueller got

00:47:17.480 --> 00:47:18.539
 that only

00:47:18.539 --> 00:47:18.879
 through the

00:47:18.879 --> 00:47:19.239
 blood of

00:47:19.239 --> 00:47:19.679
 Jesus and

00:47:19.679 --> 00:47:20.539
 being constrained

00:47:20.539 --> 00:47:21.039
 by his

00:47:21.039 --> 00:47:21.759
 love can

00:47:21.759 --> 00:47:22.199
 we go and

00:47:22.199 --> 00:47:22.659
 be the

00:47:22.659 --> 00:47:23.259
 salt and

00:47:23.259 --> 00:47:23.639
 light of

00:47:23.639 --> 00:47:24.099
 this world.

00:47:25.119 --> 00:47:25.839
 Only then

00:47:25.839 --> 00:47:26.319
 did Mr.

00:47:26.379 --> 00:47:26.819
 Mueller go

00:47:26.819 --> 00:47:27.299
 on to live

00:47:27.299 --> 00:47:27.960
 a life of

00:47:27.960 --> 00:47:28.779
 faith and

00:47:28.779 --> 00:47:29.519
 dependence on

00:47:29.519 --> 00:47:29.919
 God for

00:47:29.919 --> 00:47:30.599
 every one

00:47:30.599 --> 00:47:31.259
 of his

00:47:31.259 --> 00:47:31.799
 needs.

00:47:33.179 --> 00:47:33.799
 Later in

00:47:33.799 --> 00:47:34.119
 life in

00:47:34.119 --> 00:47:34.359
 one of

00:47:34.359 --> 00:47:34.839
 his early

00:47:34.839 --> 00:47:35.299
 ministry

00:47:35.299 --> 00:47:36.259
 roles he

00:47:36.259 --> 00:47:36.799
 became a

00:47:36.799 --> 00:47:37.419
 pastor of

00:47:37.419 --> 00:47:37.839
 a small

00:47:37.839 --> 00:47:38.399
 church who

00:47:38.399 --> 00:47:39.359
 wanted to

00:47:39.359 --> 00:47:39.879
 pay him a

00:47:39.879 --> 00:47:40.279
 salary.

00:47:41.159 --> 00:47:41.719
 But a salary

00:47:41.719 --> 00:47:42.399
 is only

00:47:42.399 --> 00:47:43.299
 possible if

00:47:43.299 --> 00:47:43.899
 they continue

00:47:43.899 --> 00:47:44.659
 the practice

00:47:44.659 --> 00:47:46.099
 of selling

00:47:46.099 --> 00:47:46.819
 the front

00:47:46.819 --> 00:47:48.039
 seats of a

00:47:48.039 --> 00:47:48.679
 church service

00:47:48.679 --> 00:47:49.719
 at a premium

00:47:49.719 --> 00:47:50.379
 to the rich.

00:47:51.299 --> 00:47:51.799
 So then the

00:47:51.799 --> 00:47:52.440
 poor then had

00:47:52.440 --> 00:47:52.919
 to sit in the

00:47:52.919 --> 00:47:53.239
 back.

00:47:54.259 --> 00:47:54.679
 Such an

00:47:54.679 --> 00:47:55.419
 opposite trend

00:47:55.419 --> 00:47:56.199
 that we have

00:47:56.199 --> 00:47:56.599
 in our own

00:47:56.599 --> 00:47:57.219
 church I guess.

00:47:57.539 --> 00:47:58.359
 But seeing

00:47:58.359 --> 00:47:59.099
 how wrong

00:47:59.099 --> 00:47:59.940
 that is

00:47:59.940 --> 00:48:02.039
 he altogether

00:48:02.039 --> 00:48:02.719
 stopped that

00:48:02.719 --> 00:48:03.439
 practice and

00:48:03.439 --> 00:48:04.299
 refused then

00:48:04.299 --> 00:48:04.799
 to take a

00:48:04.799 --> 00:48:05.859
 salary trusting

00:48:05.859 --> 00:48:06.579
 in God to

00:48:06.579 --> 00:48:07.199
 then provide

00:48:07.199 --> 00:48:07.639
 for him.

00:48:08.279 --> 00:48:08.899
 Which he

00:48:08.899 --> 00:48:09.299
 did.

00:48:11.179 --> 00:48:11.659
 Walking

00:48:11.659 --> 00:48:12.279
 through Bristol

00:48:12.279 --> 00:48:12.939
 and seeing

00:48:12.939 --> 00:48:13.319
 the poor

00:48:13.319 --> 00:48:13.899
 orphans on

00:48:13.899 --> 00:48:14.339
 the streets

00:48:14.339 --> 00:48:14.939
 Mr.

00:48:15.019 --> 00:48:15.539
 Mueller then

00:48:15.539 --> 00:48:16.259
 felt God's

00:48:16.259 --> 00:48:16.899
 call on his

00:48:16.899 --> 00:48:17.579
 life to

00:48:17.579 --> 00:48:18.119
 start an

00:48:18.119 --> 00:48:19.059
 orphanage to

00:48:19.059 --> 00:48:19.659
 take care of

00:48:19.659 --> 00:48:20.039
 these very

00:48:20.039 --> 00:48:20.579
 children that

00:48:20.579 --> 00:48:21.119
 God loved.

00:48:21.639 --> 00:48:22.199
 But again

00:48:22.199 --> 00:48:23.639
 having no

00:48:23.639 --> 00:48:24.679
 resources he

00:48:24.679 --> 00:48:25.779
 simply prayed.

00:48:26.439 --> 00:48:27.399
 Prayed for a

00:48:27.399 --> 00:48:29.419
 building much

00:48:29.419 --> 00:48:29.939
 like a church

00:48:29.939 --> 00:48:30.459
 that I know.

00:48:31.539 --> 00:48:32.159
 People to

00:48:32.159 --> 00:48:32.920
 oversee it.

00:48:33.980 --> 00:48:34.940
 Furniture and

00:48:34.940 --> 00:48:36.000
 money for

00:48:36.000 --> 00:48:36.420
 food and

00:48:36.420 --> 00:48:36.759
 clothing.

00:48:37.480 --> 00:48:37.659
 And he

00:48:37.659 --> 00:48:38.339
 resolved to

00:48:38.339 --> 00:48:39.259
 operate his

00:48:39.259 --> 00:48:40.219
 orphanages on

00:48:40.219 --> 00:48:41.440
 prayer alone.

00:48:42.239 --> 00:48:43.379
 Asking God for

00:48:43.379 --> 00:48:44.079
 their needs.

00:48:44.460 --> 00:48:45.559
 And time and

00:48:45.559 --> 00:48:47.000
 time again God

00:48:47.000 --> 00:48:47.940
 answered these

00:48:47.940 --> 00:48:48.420
 prayers.

00:48:50.179 --> 00:48:51.059
 And over Mr.

00:48:51.119 --> 00:48:51.579
 Mueller's

00:48:51.579 --> 00:48:52.279
 lifetime he

00:48:52.279 --> 00:48:53.059
 recorded over

00:48:53.059 --> 00:48:55.619
 50,000 answered

00:48:55.619 --> 00:48:56.079
 prayers.

00:48:57.440 --> 00:48:58.339
 Sometimes with

00:48:58.339 --> 00:48:59.420
 no time to spare

00:48:59.420 --> 00:48:59.980
 right before

00:48:59.980 --> 00:49:00.559
 children's

00:49:00.559 --> 00:49:01.500
 mealtimes or

00:49:01.500 --> 00:49:02.079
 rent due

00:49:02.079 --> 00:49:02.420
 dates.

00:49:02.960 --> 00:49:03.840
 But always in

00:49:03.840 --> 00:49:04.599
 the end God

00:49:04.599 --> 00:49:06.539
 richly provided.

00:49:08.539 --> 00:49:09.039
 For the

00:49:09.039 --> 00:49:09.559
 truths of

00:49:09.559 --> 00:49:10.179
 scripture will

00:49:10.179 --> 00:49:10.900
 never fail.

00:49:11.380 --> 00:49:12.320
 My God will

00:49:12.320 --> 00:49:13.619
 supply all our

00:49:13.619 --> 00:49:14.300
 needs according

00:49:14.300 --> 00:49:14.980
 to the riches

00:49:14.980 --> 00:49:17.500
 of his glory by

00:49:17.500 --> 00:49:18.179
 Jesus Christ.

00:49:19.320 --> 00:49:20.300
 For our every

00:49:20.300 --> 00:49:21.219
 need and desire

00:49:21.219 --> 00:49:21.980
 may we carry

00:49:21.980 --> 00:49:22.880
 everything to

00:49:22.880 --> 00:49:23.639
 God in prayer

00:49:23.639 --> 00:49:25.320
 and trust in

00:49:25.320 --> 00:49:25.940
 his great

00:49:25.940 --> 00:49:26.920
 faithfulness to

00:49:26.920 --> 00:49:27.200
 us.

00:49:29.500 --> 00:49:30.340
 Finally let me

00:49:30.340 --> 00:49:31.059
 close with an

00:49:31.059 --> 00:49:31.820
 invitation to

00:49:31.820 --> 00:49:32.460
 anyone who's

00:49:32.460 --> 00:49:32.900
 joined us

00:49:32.900 --> 00:49:33.240
 today.

00:49:34.720 --> 00:49:35.280
 And if you

00:49:35.280 --> 00:49:35.940
 haven't put your

00:49:35.940 --> 00:49:36.840
 faith in Christ

00:49:36.840 --> 00:49:38.220
 please consider

00:49:38.220 --> 00:49:39.159
 this invitation to

00:49:39.159 --> 00:49:39.960
 hear this parable

00:49:39.960 --> 00:49:41.619
 and consider that

00:49:41.619 --> 00:49:42.440
 the cost benefit

00:49:42.440 --> 00:49:43.180
 analysis really

00:49:43.180 --> 00:49:44.800
 does work like

00:49:44.800 --> 00:49:45.200
 this.

00:49:46.519 --> 00:49:46.960
 In Matthew

00:49:46.960 --> 00:49:47.680
 13 the

00:49:47.680 --> 00:49:48.619
 kingdom of the

00:49:48.619 --> 00:49:49.420
 heaven is like a

00:49:49.420 --> 00:49:50.680
 treasure hidden

00:49:50.680 --> 00:49:51.780
 in a field which

00:49:51.780 --> 00:49:52.960
 a man found and

00:49:52.960 --> 00:49:53.680
 covered up.

00:49:55.039 --> 00:49:56.639
 Then in his joy he

00:49:56.639 --> 00:49:58.420
 goes and sells all

00:49:58.420 --> 00:49:59.940
 that he has and

00:49:59.940 --> 00:50:01.079
 buys that field.

00:50:01.420 --> 00:50:02.799
 It says in his

00:50:02.799 --> 00:50:03.259
 joy.

00:50:04.659 --> 00:50:05.420
 It's in his joy

00:50:05.420 --> 00:50:06.980
 because he did the

00:50:06.980 --> 00:50:09.759
 simple math and

00:50:09.759 --> 00:50:10.799
 saw that the value

00:50:10.799 --> 00:50:11.900
 of the kingdom of

00:50:11.900 --> 00:50:12.859
 Jesus Christ is

00:50:12.859 --> 00:50:13.879
 greater than

00:50:13.879 --> 00:50:15.559
 anything that he

00:50:15.559 --> 00:50:15.839
 owned.

00:50:16.900 --> 00:50:17.980
 That's Jesus'

00:50:18.219 --> 00:50:18.960
 claim for you

00:50:18.960 --> 00:50:19.319
 today.

00:50:20.980 --> 00:50:22.159
 That he is more

00:50:22.159 --> 00:50:23.859
 valuable and more

00:50:23.859 --> 00:50:25.039
 precious than all

00:50:25.039 --> 00:50:26.440
 your possessions and

00:50:26.440 --> 00:50:27.119
 anything else you

00:50:27.119 --> 00:50:27.639
 could be striving

00:50:27.639 --> 00:50:28.579
 for in this world.

00:50:29.360 --> 00:50:29.880
 Whether it's a

00:50:29.880 --> 00:50:31.019
 degree or a nice

00:50:31.019 --> 00:50:32.360
 house, a

00:50:32.360 --> 00:50:33.599
 promotion, marriage

00:50:33.599 --> 00:50:33.900
 even.

00:50:36.240 --> 00:50:38.119
 And I encourage

00:50:38.119 --> 00:50:39.460
 you to find that

00:50:39.460 --> 00:50:40.119
 out for yourself.

00:50:40.280 --> 00:50:40.700
 Look him up.

00:50:43.440 --> 00:50:44.119
 Let's pray.

00:50:44.119 --> 00:50:44.139
 Let's pray.

00:50:50.079 --> 00:50:51.820
 Father we trust

00:50:51.820 --> 00:50:52.500
 you.

00:50:52.500 --> 00:50:59.739
 God you are a

00:50:59.739 --> 00:51:00.860
 faithful, generous

00:51:00.860 --> 00:51:01.280
 God.

00:51:02.000 --> 00:51:02.880
 Would you help us

00:51:02.880 --> 00:51:03.900
 to stop looking to

00:51:03.900 --> 00:51:04.619
 other things

00:51:04.619 --> 00:51:08.599
 and see that your

00:51:08.599 --> 00:51:11.000
 hand is open.

00:51:12.699 --> 00:51:13.900
 See in our lives

00:51:13.900 --> 00:51:14.880
 your faithfulness to

00:51:14.880 --> 00:51:15.119
 us.

00:51:15.239 --> 00:51:16.420
 Every need that we've

00:51:16.420 --> 00:51:17.199
 had you provided.

00:51:17.679 --> 00:51:18.619
 How will you not

00:51:18.619 --> 00:51:21.380
 also give us all

00:51:21.380 --> 00:51:22.159
 things in the

00:51:22.159 --> 00:51:22.440
 future.

00:51:24.380 --> 00:51:25.099
 You've never

00:51:25.099 --> 00:51:26.059
 disappointed us.

00:51:26.119 --> 00:51:26.839
 You've never left

00:51:26.839 --> 00:51:27.380
 us alone.

00:51:28.000 --> 00:51:28.779
 So no matter where

00:51:28.779 --> 00:51:29.579
 we are, what we're

00:51:29.579 --> 00:51:30.259
 struggling with,

00:51:30.359 --> 00:51:31.579
 would we pray and

00:51:31.579 --> 00:51:32.599
 trust that you will

00:51:32.599 --> 00:51:33.679
 provide richly.

00:51:34.819 --> 00:51:35.859
 We are your needy

00:51:35.859 --> 00:51:36.199
 children.

00:51:38.159 --> 00:51:38.980
 Help us God.

00:51:39.759 --> 00:51:40.519
 In Jesus name we

00:51:40.519 --> 00:51:40.699
 pray.

00:51:41.699 --> 00:51:41.920
 Amen.

00:51:41.920 --> 00:51:42.019
 Amen.

00:51:42.019 --> 00:51:42.079
 Amen.

00:51:42.079 --> 00:51:42.099
 Amen.

00:51:42.099 --> 00:51:42.139
 Amen.

00:51:42.139 --> 00:51:42.159
 Amen.

00:51:42.159 --> 00:51:42.179
 Amen.

00:51:42.179 --> 00:51:42.199
 Amen.

00:51:42.199 --> 00:51:42.239
 Amen.

00:51:42.239 --> 00:51:42.259
 Amen.

00:51:42.259 --> 00:51:42.279
 Amen.

00:51:42.279 --> 00:51:42.299
 Amen.

00:51:42.299 --> 00:51:42.679
 Amen.

00:51:42.679 --> 00:51:44.119
 Amen.

00:51:44.119 --> 00:51:44.139
 Amen.

00:51:44.139 --> 00:51:44.159
 Amen.

00:51:44.159 --> 00:51:44.239
 Amen.

00:51:44.239 --> 00:51:46.159
 Amen.

00:51:46.159 --> 00:51:46.279
 Amen.

00:51:46.279 --> 00:51:48.599
 Amen.