WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.459
 But I strongly recommend flicking to it, because apart from anything else, you should want to check whether what I'm saying is actually in this text,

00:00:07.620 --> 00:00:11.339
 or whether I'm just making something up to talk to you about this morning.

00:00:11.820 --> 00:00:18.460
 And I'd encourage you as well to keep it open throughout the sermon, because we'll be referring back to it, of course, throughout that time.

00:00:18.519 --> 00:00:26.500
 And again, being able to understand that when I say, like, let's look at verse 8, we look at verse 8 and verse 8 has something to tell us in that kind of way.

00:00:26.500 --> 00:00:35.340
 So the passage, as I say, is Acts chapter 4, verse 32 to Acts chapter 5, verse 11.

00:00:37.659 --> 00:00:42.960
 Now, all the believers were one in heart and mind.

00:00:44.140 --> 00:00:49.719
 No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.

00:00:49.719 --> 00:00:56.960
 With great power, the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.

00:00:58.140 --> 00:01:03.799
 And God's grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there was no needy person among them.

00:01:04.819 --> 00:01:12.299
 For from time to time, those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales, and put it at the apostles' feet.

00:01:12.299 --> 00:01:15.399
 And it was distributed to anyone who had need.

00:01:16.859 --> 00:01:27.319
 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas, which means son of encouragement, sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles' feet.

00:01:28.900 --> 00:01:34.840
 Now, a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property.

00:01:34.840 --> 00:01:43.900
 With his wife's full knowledge, he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles' feet.

00:01:45.380 --> 00:01:56.740
 Then Peter said, Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land?

00:01:57.620 --> 00:02:00.140
 Didn't it belong to you before it was sold?

00:02:01.060 --> 00:02:04.040
 And after it was sold, wasn't the money at your disposal?

00:02:04.840 --> 00:02:07.140
 What made you think of doing such a thing?

00:02:08.020 --> 00:02:12.280
 You have not lied just to human beings, but to God.

00:02:13.920 --> 00:02:17.560
 When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died.

00:02:18.460 --> 00:02:21.439
 And great fear seized all who heard what had happened.

00:02:22.659 --> 00:02:27.120
 Then some young men came forward, wrapped up his body and carried him out and buried him.

00:02:28.659 --> 00:02:32.620
 About three hours later, his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.

00:02:32.620 --> 00:02:39.980
 Peter asked her, tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?

00:02:41.099 --> 00:02:44.099
 Yes, she said, that is the price.

00:02:45.560 --> 00:02:50.180
 Peter said to her, how could you conspire to test the spirit of the Lord?

00:02:50.180 --> 00:02:58.760
 Listen, the feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door and they will carry you out also.

00:03:00.159 --> 00:03:02.939
 At that moment, she fell down at his feet and died.

00:03:04.099 --> 00:03:10.180
 Then the young men came in and finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband.

00:03:10.180 --> 00:03:16.219
 Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.

00:03:18.159 --> 00:03:22.900
 Before I start talking about this, let's take time to pray together as we come to look at God's word together.

00:03:22.900 --> 00:03:28.520
 Heavenly Father, we thank you for your word.

00:03:29.540 --> 00:03:37.360
 We thank you for all that is in it, both the easy passages that we like and the difficult passages that are awkward for us to understand.

00:03:37.840 --> 00:03:46.360
 As we come to look at this passage this morning, we pray that you would be softening our hearts to understand the message, but also to respond to it.

00:03:46.360 --> 00:03:53.720
 I pray, Lord, that as I speak, if anything is not from you, then it would quickly be forgotten by everyone here.

00:03:54.800 --> 00:04:01.920
 But Lord, I pray that any word that is from you would be enduring and lasting, not just in our memories, but in our lives and our actions as well.

00:04:02.700 --> 00:04:07.620
 I pray that you will help all of us, including me, to listen, to hear, to respond.

00:04:08.680 --> 00:04:11.400
 In Jesus' name, I pray these things. Amen.

00:04:15.240 --> 00:04:15.600
 Money.

00:04:16.360 --> 00:04:20.780
 Money is one of those things that tends to grab people's attention, isn't it?

00:04:21.439 --> 00:04:27.439
 A few weeks ago, I was on a train from Cork to Dublin, and there were two IT consultants across the aisle from me,

00:04:27.720 --> 00:04:32.020
 and they were talking quite loudly about data security in one of their clients.

00:04:32.939 --> 00:04:38.759
 And everyone was doing their best, their absolute utmost, to ignore what they were saying,

00:04:39.139 --> 00:04:42.580
 because they weren't particularly interested, riveting topic though it is.

00:04:43.379 --> 00:04:45.000
 And then something changed.

00:04:45.000 --> 00:04:47.079
 One of them said to the other,

00:04:47.079 --> 00:04:50.860
 Yeah, it's probably going to be about 50 grand, isn't it?

00:04:52.180 --> 00:04:53.740
 At that, I looked up.

00:04:54.079 --> 00:04:57.480
 Not so much at them, but at everyone else in the carriage,

00:04:57.579 --> 00:05:03.339
 to see how everyone would react to a number like that just being thrown out casually in conversation.

00:05:04.199 --> 00:05:06.839
 And a remarkable change had come on all of them.

00:05:07.319 --> 00:05:12.480
 Suddenly, everyone was very interested in this conversation that was being had about data security.

00:05:12.480 --> 00:05:16.620
 You'd think it was the most interesting thing they had heard all week.

00:05:16.620 --> 00:05:22.980
 We tend to notice when money is mentioned, either consciously or subconsciously, we tend to notice that.

00:05:23.480 --> 00:05:26.680
 And I'm sure that many of you noticed it was mentioned in the passage today.

00:05:27.420 --> 00:05:31.040
 In fact, money and possessions play a key role in the passage, don't they?

00:05:31.040 --> 00:05:38.420
 And because money and possessions play a key role in the passage, we can't really ignore them as we go through it.

00:05:38.939 --> 00:05:44.780
 And so I just want to take a couple of minutes before we go on to talking about what may be a sensitive topic for some people,

00:05:45.060 --> 00:05:49.020
 to check in on two elephants that people may see in the room.

00:05:49.019 --> 00:05:52.659
 And those two elephants ask two main questions.

00:05:53.680 --> 00:05:56.159
 One, how is the preacher qualified to talk about money?

00:05:56.539 --> 00:05:59.180
 The guy up the front, what does he know about money?

00:05:59.819 --> 00:06:04.639
 And two, does he stand to profit or to gain from talking about money in some way?

00:06:05.039 --> 00:06:10.819
 Is he going to go out and buy a private jet somewhere after the service if you give him all your money, so to speak?

00:06:10.819 --> 00:06:15.800
 Now, as many people will know here, or at least hopefully know, I'm not Johnny Grant.

00:06:16.420 --> 00:06:18.500
 I'm not the pastor of this church.

00:06:19.079 --> 00:06:20.240
 I'm not tall enough.

00:06:21.079 --> 00:06:23.199
 I'm not indeed the pastor of any church.

00:06:23.560 --> 00:06:24.980
 I work in financial services.

00:06:25.480 --> 00:06:29.600
 And so I have a bunch of qualifications and letters after my name that all have to do with money.

00:06:29.839 --> 00:06:31.060
 I've thrown them up on the screen there.

00:06:31.100 --> 00:06:34.120
 There's a bunch of letters that I don't really like to use.

00:06:34.379 --> 00:06:38.199
 I'm almost embarrassed to put them on the screen there, but I put them up there for two reasons.

00:06:38.199 --> 00:06:47.459
 The first is to emphasize that none of this is in any way beneficial when talking about money as far as the Bible is concerned.

00:06:48.019 --> 00:06:50.719
 So you can see up there, I'm a financial advisor.

00:06:51.039 --> 00:06:51.779
 I'm an actuary.

00:06:51.980 --> 00:06:53.039
 I do financial reporting.

00:06:53.539 --> 00:06:55.180
 Accountant, actuary, financial advisor.

00:06:55.459 --> 00:06:59.480
 What they can tell you or what we can tell you generally is how much money do you have?

00:07:00.219 --> 00:07:03.159
 What should you do with your money to achieve the goals that you have?

00:07:03.160 --> 00:07:09.939
 And generally, maybe how you should go about investing or spending to achieve those goals,

00:07:10.080 --> 00:07:13.040
 what amount of money you need for certain things, and so on.

00:07:13.880 --> 00:07:19.720
 What we can't tell you is what you should or should not do with your money.

00:07:20.300 --> 00:07:26.879
 We can't tell you what your financial goals should be or how you should view money in general.

00:07:26.879 --> 00:07:32.300
 Meanwhile, God says quite a lot about all of those topics in the Bible,

00:07:32.300 --> 00:07:35.980
 and he is a far more authoritative source than any human could be,

00:07:36.019 --> 00:07:38.079
 and certainly far more authoritative than I am.

00:07:38.600 --> 00:07:40.879
 So who am I to talk about money, that first question?

00:07:41.219 --> 00:07:42.920
 Well, in this context, nobody.

00:07:43.300 --> 00:07:43.959
 I'm nobody.

00:07:44.079 --> 00:07:48.100
 But insofar as my words align with what the Bible says, they will be good.

00:07:48.439 --> 00:07:50.420
 So we'll aim for that throughout this.

00:07:50.420 --> 00:07:56.600
 And the second reason I put the qualifications on the screen is to address one second elephant in the room.

00:07:57.280 --> 00:08:01.699
 So as you're probably aware, there are several so-called preachers or pastors in various parts of the world,

00:08:01.819 --> 00:08:05.640
 particularly in the United States where they have these sort of mega churches, etc.,

00:08:05.640 --> 00:08:11.840
 who would use, let's say, cherry-picked verses from Scripture to try to get you to give them money

00:08:11.839 --> 00:08:18.519
 to manipulate people into donating large sums of money that they can then use to build or buy mansions

00:08:18.519 --> 00:08:21.119
 or acquire private jets for themselves.

00:08:21.939 --> 00:08:24.779
 So it's right to be wary of falling into that kind of trap.

00:08:25.219 --> 00:08:27.679
 But in my case, I work in the financial services sector.

00:08:28.000 --> 00:08:31.419
 I'm not now, nor have I ever been employed by a church.

00:08:31.419 --> 00:08:37.639
 And to the best of my knowledge, I have never received any financial reward or compensation or anything like that

00:08:37.639 --> 00:08:39.519
 for any church-related work I do.

00:08:39.519 --> 00:08:42.600
 So there is no vested interest there.

00:08:43.600 --> 00:08:46.480
 As one final thought before we delve in,

00:08:48.159 --> 00:08:53.659
 I will say to you now that even though this passage talks about money and possessions,

00:08:54.480 --> 00:08:59.559
 at its core, I don't think this passage is actually about money.

00:09:00.419 --> 00:09:03.879
 It's about something that's a whole lot deeper than that.

00:09:04.699 --> 00:09:07.000
 But in order to understand what the passage is about,

00:09:07.000 --> 00:09:12.620
 we need to understand what the Bible does say about money, both in this passage and outside it.

00:09:13.379 --> 00:09:17.840
 So with all of that caveat out of the way, let's dive into the text here.

00:09:18.179 --> 00:09:20.259
 We start off in verse 32 of chapter 4.

00:09:20.700 --> 00:09:24.419
 And this first paragraph we have here, from verse 32 to verse 35,

00:09:24.840 --> 00:09:28.240
 showcases some extraordinary generosity, doesn't it?

00:09:28.240 --> 00:09:33.299
 At the end of verse 32, we read that the believers shared everything they had.

00:09:34.060 --> 00:09:37.560
 And verses 34 to 35 become even more remarkable.

00:09:38.159 --> 00:09:41.740
 We read that there was no needy person among them,

00:09:42.000 --> 00:09:45.919
 for from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them,

00:09:46.340 --> 00:09:49.680
 brought the money from the sales, put it at the apostles' feet,

00:09:50.080 --> 00:09:52.000
 and it was distributed to anyone who had a need.

00:09:52.000 --> 00:09:54.700
 This is extraordinary generosity.

00:09:55.399 --> 00:09:57.200
 You can see that even in our own world today.

00:09:57.279 --> 00:10:02.039
 People don't generally or typically sell property in order to give to the poor and needy.

00:10:02.740 --> 00:10:06.120
 And we might be prompted to ask, well, what causes this?

00:10:07.039 --> 00:10:09.679
 How or why are they being so generous?

00:10:11.240 --> 00:10:15.179
 Well, verse 32 gives us one unifying fact about all of them.

00:10:15.679 --> 00:10:19.440
 It says all the believers were one in heart and mind.

00:10:19.440 --> 00:10:22.140
 So who are the believers?

00:10:23.360 --> 00:10:27.100
 Well, that may be a bit of a silly question to ask in a church on a Sunday morning.

00:10:27.660 --> 00:10:29.080
 The Christians are the believers.

00:10:29.200 --> 00:10:30.500
 The believers are the Christians, right?

00:10:31.520 --> 00:10:33.100
 But what do they believe?

00:10:34.220 --> 00:10:36.860
 Well, you can see if you flip back to the end of chapter 2,

00:10:37.300 --> 00:10:39.280
 you can see chapter 2, verse 42.

00:10:39.840 --> 00:10:42.560
 They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching.

00:10:43.620 --> 00:10:45.180
 So what were the apostles' teaching?

00:10:45.179 --> 00:10:49.839
 Well, verse 33 of chapter 4, our passage here, gives us the answer.

00:10:50.339 --> 00:10:54.079
 With great power, the apostles continued to testify to what?

00:10:54.639 --> 00:10:57.659
 To the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.

00:10:58.579 --> 00:11:00.979
 They testified to Jesus' death, yes,

00:11:01.439 --> 00:11:03.699
 but they also testified to his resurrection.

00:11:04.219 --> 00:11:07.559
 And that's what the author actually focuses on both here and throughout Acts.

00:11:08.019 --> 00:11:10.519
 So by the time we get to this passage, chapter 4 of Acts,

00:11:10.519 --> 00:11:15.840
 the author has told us at least seven times that Jesus has been raised from the dead.

00:11:16.439 --> 00:11:18.179
 In Acts chapter 1, we have verse 3.

00:11:18.279 --> 00:11:21.600
 It says he gave many convincing proofs that he was alive.

00:11:22.079 --> 00:11:24.639
 Verse 22, when choosing who would replace Judas,

00:11:25.100 --> 00:11:29.519
 Peter says that someone must become a witness with us of his resurrection.

00:11:30.220 --> 00:11:32.779
 In Acts chapter 2, we have verses 23 and 24.

00:11:32.860 --> 00:11:34.899
 You put him to death by nailing him to the cross,

00:11:35.199 --> 00:11:37.319
 but God raised him from the dead.

00:11:37.320 --> 00:11:40.100
 It was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.

00:11:40.840 --> 00:11:43.240
 Again, in Acts chapter 2, verses 31 and 32,

00:11:43.480 --> 00:11:46.720
 David spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah.

00:11:47.379 --> 00:11:50.660
 God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it.

00:11:51.379 --> 00:11:53.900
 Acts 3.15, you killed the author of life,

00:11:54.300 --> 00:11:56.640
 but God raised him from the dead.

00:11:57.540 --> 00:11:59.120
 Acts chapter 4, verse 2,

00:11:59.180 --> 00:12:01.760
 the priests and Sadducees were greatly disturbed.

00:12:02.260 --> 00:12:02.520
 Why?

00:12:02.880 --> 00:12:04.940
 Because the apostles were teaching the people,

00:12:04.940 --> 00:12:08.380
 proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.

00:12:09.260 --> 00:12:11.060
 And Acts chapter 4, verse 9,

00:12:11.500 --> 00:12:14.240
 we have, it is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,

00:12:14.560 --> 00:12:17.260
 whom you crucify, but whom God raised from the dead.

00:12:18.040 --> 00:12:20.140
 And then here in verse 33 of our passage,

00:12:20.220 --> 00:12:22.060
 the apostles continued to testify

00:12:22.060 --> 00:12:25.080
 to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.

00:12:25.080 --> 00:12:31.120
 The church was born in the proclamation of the resurrection.

00:12:32.139 --> 00:12:34.020
 And if you think about it, actually, for a minute,

00:12:34.160 --> 00:12:39.100
 Jesus' death means nothing without the resurrection.

00:12:40.100 --> 00:12:43.420
 Imagine how hollow the gospel would be if he had stayed dead.

00:12:44.320 --> 00:12:45.280
 We'd be left saying,

00:12:45.520 --> 00:12:47.240
 Jesus was a good man.

00:12:47.720 --> 00:12:48.680
 He never sinned.

00:12:48.679 --> 00:12:50.819
 And now he's dead.

00:12:52.399 --> 00:12:53.479
 That's not the gospel.

00:12:53.839 --> 00:12:55.239
 That's not good news.

00:12:55.739 --> 00:12:57.599
 Jesus' death is only good news

00:12:57.599 --> 00:12:59.819
 because of the resurrection that followed.

00:13:00.519 --> 00:13:02.659
 And you can pick out a ton of writing in the New Testament

00:13:02.659 --> 00:13:03.759
 that makes that point.

00:13:04.039 --> 00:13:05.659
 So Romans chapter 4, verse 25,

00:13:05.739 --> 00:13:08.000
 he was delivered over to death for our sins.

00:13:08.459 --> 00:13:11.179
 And he was raised to life for our justification.

00:13:12.159 --> 00:13:13.039
 Romans 6, 4,

00:13:13.139 --> 00:13:15.379
 just as Jesus Christ was raised from the dead

00:13:15.379 --> 00:13:16.639
 through the glory of the Father,

00:13:16.639 --> 00:13:19.559
 we too may live a new life.

00:13:20.500 --> 00:13:21.539
 Romans 10, 9,

00:13:21.639 --> 00:13:22.439
 so if you may know it,

00:13:22.480 --> 00:13:23.639
 if you declare with your mouth,

00:13:23.779 --> 00:13:24.460
 Jesus is Lord,

00:13:24.519 --> 00:13:25.720
 and believe in your heart,

00:13:25.840 --> 00:13:26.199
 what?

00:13:26.419 --> 00:13:28.480
 That God raised him from the dead,

00:13:29.019 --> 00:13:29.980
 you will be saved.

00:13:31.199 --> 00:13:32.639
 1 Corinthians 6, 14,

00:13:32.740 --> 00:13:33.500
 by his power,

00:13:33.819 --> 00:13:35.559
 God raised the Lord from the dead,

00:13:35.740 --> 00:13:38.759
 and he will raise us also.

00:13:40.199 --> 00:13:42.139
 So Jesus' resurrection

00:13:42.139 --> 00:13:44.039
 is tied to our resurrection.

00:13:44.039 --> 00:13:45.860
 It's tied to our ultimate fate.

00:13:45.860 --> 00:13:48.620
 And we depend on Jesus' resurrection

00:13:48.620 --> 00:13:50.440
 just as much as on his death,

00:13:50.500 --> 00:13:51.399
 if not more so.

00:13:52.340 --> 00:13:53.960
 In fact, later in 1 Corinthians,

00:13:54.419 --> 00:13:56.060
 Paul makes that exact argument.

00:13:56.240 --> 00:13:57.500
 He makes it abundantly clear.

00:13:58.080 --> 00:13:59.159
 He says things like,

00:13:59.680 --> 00:14:01.419
 if Christ has not been raised,

00:14:01.919 --> 00:14:04.279
 our preaching is useless,

00:14:05.279 --> 00:14:06.340
 and so is your faith.

00:14:07.279 --> 00:14:07.779
 And again,

00:14:07.899 --> 00:14:09.500
 if Christ has not been raised,

00:14:09.620 --> 00:14:11.139
 your faith is futile.

00:14:11.560 --> 00:14:13.420
 You are still in your sins.

00:14:13.419 --> 00:14:16.279
 And if we have hope in Christ

00:14:16.279 --> 00:14:17.679
 only for this life,

00:14:18.319 --> 00:14:19.759
 then we are of all people

00:14:19.759 --> 00:14:21.079
 most to be pitied.

00:14:22.279 --> 00:14:23.759
 And against all of that,

00:14:24.019 --> 00:14:25.799
 Paul just has one simple argument.

00:14:26.919 --> 00:14:29.799
 But he has been raised.

00:14:30.799 --> 00:14:32.279
 And there is so much more

00:14:32.279 --> 00:14:32.759
 that could be said

00:14:32.759 --> 00:14:33.559
 about the resurrection.

00:14:33.799 --> 00:14:35.759
 It's the foundation of our hope.

00:14:35.759 --> 00:14:39.039
 the resurrection changes our futures

00:14:39.039 --> 00:14:40.259
 if we're trusting in Jesus.

00:14:41.700 --> 00:14:43.639
 But coming back to our passage today,

00:14:44.039 --> 00:14:45.539
 it's also the foundation

00:14:45.539 --> 00:14:47.000
 of everything that happens

00:14:47.000 --> 00:14:49.179
 in verses 32 to 35.

00:14:50.580 --> 00:14:51.799
 Why do I say that?

00:14:52.779 --> 00:14:54.259
 Well, what happens

00:14:54.259 --> 00:14:56.259
 when you believe in the resurrection?

00:14:57.100 --> 00:15:00.240
 You see a different future ahead of you.

00:15:00.240 --> 00:15:03.740
 And that changes your heart.

00:15:04.419 --> 00:15:07.080
 The resurrection changes our future

00:15:07.080 --> 00:15:08.840
 and our hearts.

00:15:10.120 --> 00:15:12.399
 If we want to be specific to this passage,

00:15:12.519 --> 00:15:13.960
 talking about possessions and money,

00:15:14.340 --> 00:15:14.980
 what does that mean

00:15:14.980 --> 00:15:16.580
 for our view of possessions and money?

00:15:16.639 --> 00:15:17.879
 What does it mean for our hearts

00:15:17.879 --> 00:15:19.460
 in respect of those sides of things?

00:15:20.220 --> 00:15:21.399
 Because we have to see here

00:15:21.399 --> 00:15:23.279
 that the people's generosity here,

00:15:23.779 --> 00:15:25.060
 giving to the poor and needy,

00:15:25.120 --> 00:15:26.779
 ensuring there wasn't one among them,

00:15:27.519 --> 00:15:29.019
 even being willing to sell property

00:15:29.019 --> 00:15:30.259
 to make sure that was the case.

00:15:31.220 --> 00:15:31.860
 Well, this is something

00:15:31.860 --> 00:15:33.620
 that flows out of their faith

00:15:33.620 --> 00:15:34.639
 in the resurrection.

00:15:36.340 --> 00:15:37.360
 How do we know that?

00:15:38.519 --> 00:15:39.620
 Well, we're told that the believers

00:15:39.620 --> 00:15:41.299
 did these things to support each other.

00:15:42.360 --> 00:15:44.299
 But in order to sell property,

00:15:44.799 --> 00:15:47.419
 you first have to have property,

00:15:47.740 --> 00:15:48.220
 don't you?

00:15:49.360 --> 00:15:50.899
 And as these are new believers

00:15:50.899 --> 00:15:52.079
 here in Acts 4,

00:15:52.340 --> 00:15:53.759
 we know that they chose

00:15:53.759 --> 00:15:55.679
 to accumulate this wealth

00:15:55.679 --> 00:15:57.720
 before they became believers.

00:15:57.720 --> 00:16:00.759
 The only thing that has changed here

00:16:00.759 --> 00:16:02.100
 is that they are now believers

00:16:02.100 --> 00:16:02.899
 in the resurrection.

00:16:03.620 --> 00:16:05.460
 And now they are giving it away.

00:16:06.220 --> 00:16:07.000
 They're selling.

00:16:07.480 --> 00:16:08.360
 They're distributing.

00:16:08.700 --> 00:16:09.420
 They're making sure

00:16:09.420 --> 00:16:11.120
 that there's no one needy among them.

00:16:12.620 --> 00:16:14.700
 So why does this change them?

00:16:16.340 --> 00:16:17.379
 Well, suppose for a moment

00:16:17.379 --> 00:16:18.580
 that this life is all there is,

00:16:19.160 --> 00:16:20.820
 which is a mortifying thought

00:16:20.820 --> 00:16:21.379
 to begin with.

00:16:21.460 --> 00:16:22.259
 But suppose for a moment

00:16:22.259 --> 00:16:23.360
 this life is all there is.

00:16:23.360 --> 00:16:25.740
 That seems logical

00:16:25.740 --> 00:16:27.340
 to live,

00:16:28.060 --> 00:16:28.500
 drink,

00:16:28.700 --> 00:16:29.259
 be merry.

00:16:30.419 --> 00:16:31.519
 We know how short

00:16:31.519 --> 00:16:32.360
 our lives are.

00:16:32.960 --> 00:16:34.519
 If this earth is all there is,

00:16:34.600 --> 00:16:35.899
 then it's better to live it

00:16:35.899 --> 00:16:36.680
 with plenty of money.

00:16:36.779 --> 00:16:37.259
 It's better to live it

00:16:37.259 --> 00:16:38.240
 with plenty of comfort,

00:16:38.320 --> 00:16:38.740
 isn't it?

00:16:39.879 --> 00:16:40.639
 And we can be tempted

00:16:40.639 --> 00:16:41.740
 even to rejoice

00:16:41.740 --> 00:16:42.820
 in that wealth

00:16:42.820 --> 00:16:43.580
 and in that comfort.

00:16:44.340 --> 00:16:44.659
 In fact,

00:16:44.740 --> 00:16:45.840
 in Psalm 119,

00:16:46.080 --> 00:16:46.720
 when the psalmist

00:16:46.720 --> 00:16:47.620
 wants a simile

00:16:47.620 --> 00:16:48.659
 to describe

00:16:48.659 --> 00:16:49.800
 how much he loves

00:16:49.800 --> 00:16:50.399
 God's law,

00:16:50.480 --> 00:16:51.120
 something that everyone

00:16:51.120 --> 00:16:52.060
 will understand,

00:16:52.059 --> 00:16:54.139
 he says in verse 14,

00:16:54.719 --> 00:16:55.399
 I rejoice

00:16:55.399 --> 00:16:57.099
 in following your statutes

00:16:57.099 --> 00:16:59.319
 as one rejoices

00:16:59.319 --> 00:17:01.119
 in great riches.

00:17:02.259 --> 00:17:03.359
 He wants to talk

00:17:03.359 --> 00:17:03.979
 about how much

00:17:03.979 --> 00:17:04.879
 he loves God's law

00:17:04.879 --> 00:17:06.720
 and the best comparison

00:17:06.720 --> 00:17:07.579
 he can give

00:17:07.579 --> 00:17:09.399
 in terms of earthly joy

00:17:09.399 --> 00:17:12.259
 is having great riches.

00:17:13.659 --> 00:17:14.799
 And even if we know

00:17:14.799 --> 00:17:15.519
 that this is all

00:17:15.519 --> 00:17:17.159
 not going to last,

00:17:17.419 --> 00:17:17.980
 we're ultimately

00:17:17.980 --> 00:17:18.679
 going to die

00:17:18.679 --> 00:17:19.419
 even if we think

00:17:19.419 --> 00:17:20.159
 that's the case

00:17:20.159 --> 00:17:20.839
 and we know

00:17:20.839 --> 00:17:21.419
 that the treasures

00:17:21.420 --> 00:17:22.460
 will ultimately perish

00:17:22.460 --> 00:17:23.200
 and fade away,

00:17:23.900 --> 00:17:24.640
 if this world

00:17:24.640 --> 00:17:25.300
 is all there is,

00:17:25.400 --> 00:17:26.779
 then it makes sense

00:17:26.779 --> 00:17:28.000
 to store up treasure here.

00:17:29.580 --> 00:17:30.000
 Meanwhile,

00:17:30.120 --> 00:17:30.580
 the resurrection

00:17:30.580 --> 00:17:32.279
 changes all of that.

00:17:32.840 --> 00:17:33.680
 Suddenly we're sure

00:17:33.680 --> 00:17:35.539
 of an eternal life

00:17:35.539 --> 00:17:37.120
 that puts this life

00:17:37.120 --> 00:17:37.860
 into context

00:17:37.860 --> 00:17:38.580
 and makes it look

00:17:38.580 --> 00:17:39.940
 pathetically short.

00:17:41.019 --> 00:17:41.580
 And if there is

00:17:41.580 --> 00:17:42.500
 a resurrection to come,

00:17:42.560 --> 00:17:43.279
 if there's new life

00:17:43.279 --> 00:17:43.580
 to come,

00:17:43.620 --> 00:17:44.500
 and we gain access

00:17:44.500 --> 00:17:45.660
 to that through Jesus,

00:17:46.460 --> 00:17:48.840
 then suddenly treasure here

00:17:48.840 --> 00:17:50.500
 doesn't really matter

00:17:50.500 --> 00:17:51.220
 all that much.

00:17:51.720 --> 00:17:52.660
 It's only around

00:17:52.660 --> 00:17:54.400
 for the tiniest sliver

00:17:54.400 --> 00:17:55.900
 of the eternal lives

00:17:55.900 --> 00:17:56.579
 that we will have.

00:17:57.759 --> 00:17:59.079
 So if you believe

00:17:59.079 --> 00:17:59.880
 in the resurrection,

00:18:00.660 --> 00:18:01.299
 if we believe

00:18:01.299 --> 00:18:01.980
 in the resurrection,

00:18:03.099 --> 00:18:04.220
 then we believe

00:18:04.220 --> 00:18:05.700
 that our genuine faith,

00:18:05.759 --> 00:18:06.299
 to use the words

00:18:06.299 --> 00:18:07.099
 of 1 Peter,

00:18:07.619 --> 00:18:08.500
 we believe that

00:18:08.500 --> 00:18:09.420
 our genuine faith

00:18:09.420 --> 00:18:10.619
 is of more worth

00:18:10.619 --> 00:18:11.539
 than gold,

00:18:12.119 --> 00:18:12.920
 which perishes

00:18:12.920 --> 00:18:13.779
 even though refined

00:18:13.779 --> 00:18:14.420
 by fire,

00:18:14.819 --> 00:18:15.759
 because it lasts.

00:18:16.440 --> 00:18:17.099
 We believe that

00:18:17.099 --> 00:18:17.740
 the resurrection

00:18:17.740 --> 00:18:18.500
 of Jesus Christ

00:18:18.500 --> 00:18:18.960
 from the dead

00:18:18.960 --> 00:18:19.559
 has given us

00:18:19.559 --> 00:18:20.140
 new birth

00:18:20.140 --> 00:18:21.420
 into a living hope

00:18:21.420 --> 00:18:22.940
 and into an inheritance

00:18:22.940 --> 00:18:24.240
 that can never perish,

00:18:24.819 --> 00:18:25.200
 spoil,

00:18:25.480 --> 00:18:26.299
 or fade,

00:18:26.960 --> 00:18:28.220
 kept in heaven for us.

00:18:29.599 --> 00:18:30.859
 And that fundamentally

00:18:30.859 --> 00:18:31.980
 changes how we look

00:18:31.980 --> 00:18:32.420
 at money

00:18:32.420 --> 00:18:33.539
 and earthly treasure

00:18:33.539 --> 00:18:34.539
 and possessions now.

00:18:35.900 --> 00:18:36.539
 As Paul says

00:18:36.539 --> 00:18:38.039
 in 1 Timothy chapter 6,

00:18:38.140 --> 00:18:38.420
 it says,

00:18:38.799 --> 00:18:40.319
 Command those who are rich

00:18:40.319 --> 00:18:41.740
 in this present world

00:18:41.740 --> 00:18:43.380
 not to be arrogant,

00:18:44.259 --> 00:18:45.359
 nor to put their hope

00:18:45.359 --> 00:18:45.959
 in wealth,

00:18:46.139 --> 00:18:47.559
 which is so uncertain,

00:18:48.299 --> 00:18:49.979
 but to put their hope

00:18:49.979 --> 00:18:50.740
 in God,

00:18:50.979 --> 00:18:52.339
 who richly provides

00:18:52.339 --> 00:18:54.059
 everything for our enjoyment.

00:18:55.699 --> 00:18:56.500
 Command them,

00:18:56.619 --> 00:18:57.500
 command those who are rich

00:18:57.500 --> 00:18:58.259
 in this present age

00:18:58.259 --> 00:18:59.639
 to do good,

00:19:00.379 --> 00:19:01.639
 to be rich

00:19:01.639 --> 00:19:03.319
 in good deeds,

00:19:04.019 --> 00:19:05.639
 and to be generous

00:19:05.639 --> 00:19:06.959
 and willing to share.

00:19:07.919 --> 00:19:08.819
 In this way,

00:19:09.319 --> 00:19:10.619
 they will lay up treasure

00:19:10.619 --> 00:19:11.179
 for themselves

00:19:11.179 --> 00:19:12.679
 as a firm foundation

00:19:12.679 --> 00:19:14.059
 in the coming age,

00:19:14.059 --> 00:19:15.659
 so that they may

00:19:15.659 --> 00:19:17.500
 take hold of that life

00:19:17.500 --> 00:19:20.519
 which is truly life.

00:19:22.099 --> 00:19:23.559
 Jesus himself said

00:19:23.559 --> 00:19:24.139
 something similar

00:19:24.139 --> 00:19:25.099
 in Matthew chapter 6.

00:19:25.220 --> 00:19:25.399
 He said,

00:19:25.559 --> 00:19:26.359
 Do not store up

00:19:26.359 --> 00:19:26.740
 for yourselves

00:19:26.740 --> 00:19:27.700
 treasures on earth

00:19:27.700 --> 00:19:29.799
 where moths and vermin destroy,

00:19:29.899 --> 00:19:31.039
 where thieves break in

00:19:31.039 --> 00:19:31.599
 and steal,

00:19:32.700 --> 00:19:33.799
 but store up for yourselves

00:19:33.799 --> 00:19:35.000
 treasures in heaven

00:19:35.000 --> 00:19:36.359
 where moths and vermin

00:19:36.359 --> 00:19:37.139
 do not destroy

00:19:37.139 --> 00:19:37.579
 and where thieves

00:19:37.579 --> 00:19:38.559
 do not break in

00:19:38.559 --> 00:19:38.980
 and steal.

00:19:40.299 --> 00:19:41.039
 Why does Jesus

00:19:41.039 --> 00:19:41.960
 give that advice?

00:19:42.759 --> 00:19:43.379
 Well, he tells us

00:19:43.380 --> 00:19:44.140
 in the next words.

00:19:44.540 --> 00:19:45.500
 Store up for yourselves

00:19:45.500 --> 00:19:46.740
 treasure in heaven

00:19:46.740 --> 00:19:49.720
 for where your treasure is,

00:19:50.760 --> 00:19:53.000
 there your heart is also.

00:19:54.960 --> 00:19:55.720
 Earlier I said

00:19:55.720 --> 00:19:56.640
 the core message

00:19:56.640 --> 00:19:57.260
 of this passage

00:19:57.260 --> 00:19:57.860
 I didn't believe

00:19:57.860 --> 00:19:59.020
 was about money.

00:20:00.280 --> 00:20:01.120
 And this is what I mean.

00:20:01.820 --> 00:20:03.000
 It's fundamentally

00:20:03.000 --> 00:20:03.900
 not about money,

00:20:05.100 --> 00:20:06.120
 but it's about our hearts.

00:20:07.320 --> 00:20:08.080
 This passage

00:20:08.080 --> 00:20:09.560
 is a really practical

00:20:09.560 --> 00:20:10.980
 worked example

00:20:10.980 --> 00:20:12.220
 of one of the things

00:20:12.220 --> 00:20:13.160
 that Jesus taught,

00:20:13.579 --> 00:20:14.759
 which is that money

00:20:14.759 --> 00:20:16.640
 is a real indicator

00:20:16.640 --> 00:20:18.799
 of where our hearts lie.

00:20:20.600 --> 00:20:22.120
 Now, money is just

00:20:22.120 --> 00:20:23.160
 an indicator

00:20:23.160 --> 00:20:24.000
 of where our hearts lie.

00:20:24.059 --> 00:20:24.839
 It's not the be-all

00:20:24.839 --> 00:20:25.559
 and end-all

00:20:25.559 --> 00:20:26.279
 in and of itself.

00:20:27.420 --> 00:20:29.519
 But it is a powerful indicator

00:20:29.519 --> 00:20:30.559
 of where our hearts lie.

00:20:31.860 --> 00:20:32.640
 And look at what the author

00:20:32.640 --> 00:20:33.980
 does between verses 33

00:20:33.980 --> 00:20:34.980
 and 34 here.

00:20:35.339 --> 00:20:36.120
 In verse 33,

00:20:36.220 --> 00:20:37.839
 he talks about God's grace

00:20:37.839 --> 00:20:39.559
 being so powerfully

00:20:39.559 --> 00:20:40.460
 at work in them.

00:20:42.500 --> 00:20:43.379
 God's grace.

00:20:44.460 --> 00:20:45.659
 God's free gift.

00:20:47.019 --> 00:20:48.679
 And then he links that in

00:20:48.679 --> 00:20:49.919
 with their not being

00:20:49.919 --> 00:20:50.919
 a needy person

00:20:50.919 --> 00:20:51.519
 among them.

00:20:53.419 --> 00:20:54.379
 So how does that work

00:20:54.379 --> 00:20:54.899
 in practice?

00:20:55.980 --> 00:20:56.980
 Do we see that

00:20:56.980 --> 00:20:58.779
 when God saves people,

00:20:58.899 --> 00:21:00.159
 he creates a money tree

00:21:00.159 --> 00:21:01.299
 for the new believers?

00:21:02.200 --> 00:21:03.440
 Or do we see that

00:21:03.440 --> 00:21:05.099
 in saving these people,

00:21:05.200 --> 00:21:05.659
 he gives them

00:21:05.659 --> 00:21:06.980
 some sort of new skills

00:21:06.980 --> 00:21:08.079
 or work attitude

00:21:08.079 --> 00:21:09.240
 that means that they're able

00:21:09.240 --> 00:21:10.400
 to improve their financial

00:21:10.400 --> 00:21:11.440
 condition themselves

00:21:11.440 --> 00:21:12.319
 or that sort of thing?

00:21:13.519 --> 00:21:13.920
 Well, no.

00:21:14.019 --> 00:21:15.079
 God's grace led

00:21:15.079 --> 00:21:15.660
 to there being

00:21:15.660 --> 00:21:16.860
 no needy people

00:21:16.860 --> 00:21:17.579
 among them

00:21:17.579 --> 00:21:19.240
 for or through

00:21:19.240 --> 00:21:20.240
 the means of

00:21:20.240 --> 00:21:22.160
 verses 34 to 35.

00:21:23.140 --> 00:21:24.160
 Those who owned

00:21:24.160 --> 00:21:25.360
 or land or houses

00:21:25.360 --> 00:21:26.160
 sold them.

00:21:26.839 --> 00:21:27.539
 They brought the money

00:21:27.539 --> 00:21:28.079
 from the sales.

00:21:28.180 --> 00:21:29.620
 They put it at the apostles' feet.

00:21:30.059 --> 00:21:31.039
 It was distributed

00:21:31.039 --> 00:21:32.200
 to those who had need.

00:21:33.960 --> 00:21:35.160
 God's grace is tied

00:21:35.160 --> 00:21:37.680
 directly into how believers

00:21:37.680 --> 00:21:39.440
 act with money.

00:21:40.660 --> 00:21:41.380
 I think it was something

00:21:41.380 --> 00:21:42.660
 that Ralph was saying earlier.

00:21:43.480 --> 00:21:44.519
 Real faith

00:21:44.519 --> 00:21:46.700
 or real worship of God

00:21:46.700 --> 00:21:48.300
 leads to a change

00:21:48.300 --> 00:21:49.000
 in our actions.

00:21:50.500 --> 00:21:51.500
 I want to be careful here.

00:21:51.560 --> 00:21:52.860
 I want to be really careful here.

00:21:53.120 --> 00:21:54.480
 This is not a contradiction

00:21:54.480 --> 00:21:55.720
 of the gospel message.

00:21:56.320 --> 00:21:57.820
 If you're following Christ,

00:21:58.320 --> 00:21:59.320
 then you are saved

00:21:59.320 --> 00:22:00.500
 by grace alone,

00:22:00.840 --> 00:22:01.740
 through faith alone,

00:22:02.120 --> 00:22:03.040
 in Christ alone,

00:22:03.220 --> 00:22:05.080
 to the glory of God alone.

00:22:06.160 --> 00:22:07.200
 And two of the clearest

00:22:07.200 --> 00:22:08.220
 verses in all of Scripture

00:22:08.220 --> 00:22:08.800
 that point to that

00:22:08.800 --> 00:22:09.759
 are Ephesians 2,

00:22:09.840 --> 00:22:10.540
 verses 8 and 9.

00:22:10.600 --> 00:22:11.380
 If you went to camps

00:22:11.380 --> 00:22:12.779
 or clubs as a child,

00:22:13.019 --> 00:22:14.000
 you may know those

00:22:14.000 --> 00:22:14.779
 of us as well.

00:22:15.300 --> 00:22:16.420
 For it is by grace

00:22:16.420 --> 00:22:17.540
 you have been saved,

00:22:17.640 --> 00:22:18.360
 through faith.

00:22:18.420 --> 00:22:19.779
 And this is not of yourselves.

00:22:20.340 --> 00:22:21.620
 There's a gift of God,

00:22:21.680 --> 00:22:22.820
 not by works,

00:22:23.060 --> 00:22:24.620
 so that no one can boast.

00:22:25.800 --> 00:22:26.900
 Saved by grace,

00:22:27.460 --> 00:22:28.240
 through faith.

00:22:29.380 --> 00:22:31.300
 But we can't detach

00:22:31.300 --> 00:22:33.060
 verses 8 and 9

00:22:33.059 --> 00:22:34.679
 from verse 10.

00:22:35.579 --> 00:22:36.279
 Verse 10,

00:22:36.399 --> 00:22:36.720
 which says,

00:22:36.879 --> 00:22:38.319
 we are God's workmanship,

00:22:39.220 --> 00:22:40.779
 created in Christ Jesus

00:22:40.779 --> 00:22:42.519
 to do good works,

00:22:43.059 --> 00:22:44.460
 which God prepared

00:22:44.460 --> 00:22:45.200
 in advance

00:22:45.200 --> 00:22:46.399
 for us to do.

00:22:46.400 --> 00:22:49.620
 And one of those good works,

00:22:49.720 --> 00:22:50.759
 referenced all the way

00:22:50.759 --> 00:22:51.480
 through Scripture,

00:22:52.480 --> 00:22:53.500
 is help the poor.

00:22:54.860 --> 00:22:55.360
 In the law,

00:22:55.420 --> 00:22:56.440
 we read various requirements

00:22:56.440 --> 00:22:57.060
 to help the poor.

00:22:57.400 --> 00:22:58.400
 If you read the first five books

00:22:58.400 --> 00:22:58.840
 of the Bible,

00:22:59.180 --> 00:22:59.860
 we have, for example,

00:22:59.980 --> 00:23:00.780
 one of the tithes

00:23:00.780 --> 00:23:01.980
 goes towards helping them.

00:23:02.340 --> 00:23:03.180
 Farm owners are forbidden

00:23:03.180 --> 00:23:04.120
 to glean to the edges

00:23:04.120 --> 00:23:04.620
 of their fields

00:23:04.620 --> 00:23:05.860
 so that people can come along

00:23:05.860 --> 00:23:07.100
 and make sure they have food.

00:23:07.460 --> 00:23:07.960
 The poor can have

00:23:07.960 --> 00:23:08.640
 something to eat.

00:23:09.340 --> 00:23:10.340
 If you look at the prophets,

00:23:10.780 --> 00:23:11.680
 the treatment of the poor

00:23:11.680 --> 00:23:13.519
 is tied to righteousness

00:23:13.519 --> 00:23:14.980
 and unrighteousness.

00:23:15.599 --> 00:23:16.139
 Isaiah 3,

00:23:16.240 --> 00:23:16.460
 we have,

00:23:16.700 --> 00:23:18.599
 the Lord enters into judgment

00:23:18.599 --> 00:23:20.019
 against the elders

00:23:20.019 --> 00:23:21.119
 and leaders of the people.

00:23:21.740 --> 00:23:22.500
 It is you

00:23:22.500 --> 00:23:24.000
 who have ruined my vineyard.

00:23:24.440 --> 00:23:25.799
 The plunder from the poor

00:23:25.799 --> 00:23:27.180
 is in your houses.

00:23:28.099 --> 00:23:28.720
 What do you mean

00:23:28.720 --> 00:23:30.099
 by crushing my people

00:23:30.099 --> 00:23:31.960
 and grinding the faces

00:23:31.960 --> 00:23:32.579
 of the poor?

00:23:33.799 --> 00:23:35.000
 Or Jeremiah 2,

00:23:35.119 --> 00:23:35.639
 verse 34,

00:23:35.819 --> 00:23:36.579
 on your clothes

00:23:36.579 --> 00:23:37.900
 is found the lifeblood

00:23:37.900 --> 00:23:39.619
 of the innocent poor.

00:23:41.039 --> 00:23:42.139
 Ezekiel 16,

00:23:42.140 --> 00:23:44.160
 this was the sin of Sodom.

00:23:44.640 --> 00:23:45.420
 If you know Genesis,

00:23:45.580 --> 00:23:46.000
 you might think,

00:23:46.080 --> 00:23:46.320
 oh, well,

00:23:46.340 --> 00:23:47.140
 the sin of Sodom

00:23:47.140 --> 00:23:48.900
 was relating to sexual immorality

00:23:48.900 --> 00:23:49.560
 and impurity.

00:23:50.140 --> 00:23:50.800
 Ezekiel 16,

00:23:50.900 --> 00:23:52.020
 this was the sin of Sodom.

00:23:52.740 --> 00:23:53.700
 She and her daughters

00:23:53.700 --> 00:23:54.560
 were arrogant,

00:23:55.380 --> 00:23:56.080
 overfed,

00:23:56.540 --> 00:23:57.640
 and unconcerned.

00:23:58.520 --> 00:23:59.700
 They did not help

00:23:59.700 --> 00:24:00.759
 the poor and needy.

00:24:02.100 --> 00:24:02.940
 And then by contrast

00:24:02.940 --> 00:24:03.800
 in Isaiah 57,

00:24:04.100 --> 00:24:04.759
 God sets out

00:24:04.759 --> 00:24:05.380
 what he wants

00:24:05.380 --> 00:24:06.080
 from his people.

00:24:06.080 --> 00:24:07.620
 Is it not to share

00:24:07.620 --> 00:24:09.000
 your food with the hungry?

00:24:09.340 --> 00:24:11.080
 To provide the poor wanderer

00:24:11.080 --> 00:24:11.660
 with shelter?

00:24:12.140 --> 00:24:13.120
 When you see the naked

00:24:13.120 --> 00:24:13.980
 to clothe them

00:24:13.980 --> 00:24:15.259
 and not to turn away

00:24:15.259 --> 00:24:16.520
 your own flesh and blood?

00:24:18.040 --> 00:24:19.000
 In the New Testament,

00:24:19.120 --> 00:24:19.580
 I could point you

00:24:19.580 --> 00:24:20.259
 to the Gospels

00:24:20.259 --> 00:24:21.240
 or to James.

00:24:21.820 --> 00:24:22.540
 Concern for the poor

00:24:22.540 --> 00:24:24.000
 comes across really clearly

00:24:24.000 --> 00:24:24.560
 in those.

00:24:25.520 --> 00:24:26.100
 But I think maybe

00:24:26.100 --> 00:24:27.120
 the best place to go

00:24:27.120 --> 00:24:28.820
 for us may be Galatians.

00:24:29.540 --> 00:24:30.320
 Because Galatians

00:24:30.320 --> 00:24:31.520
 has one major message

00:24:31.520 --> 00:24:32.340
 from start to finish.

00:24:32.340 --> 00:24:33.200
 If you know that book,

00:24:33.360 --> 00:24:34.400
 it is you are saved

00:24:34.400 --> 00:24:35.040
 by grace,

00:24:35.040 --> 00:24:35.780
 through faith,

00:24:35.900 --> 00:24:36.820
 and not by works.

00:24:37.340 --> 00:24:38.380
 That is the summary

00:24:38.380 --> 00:24:39.080
 of Galatians

00:24:39.080 --> 00:24:39.940
 in one sentence.

00:24:40.779 --> 00:24:41.240
 At the start

00:24:41.240 --> 00:24:41.799
 of chapter 2,

00:24:41.920 --> 00:24:42.720
 Paul talks about

00:24:42.720 --> 00:24:43.420
 going to Jerusalem

00:24:43.420 --> 00:24:44.460
 to discuss the message

00:24:44.460 --> 00:24:44.920
 of salvation

00:24:44.920 --> 00:24:45.420
 with Peter,

00:24:45.559 --> 00:24:45.779
 James,

00:24:45.880 --> 00:24:46.580
 and John.

00:24:47.000 --> 00:24:47.840
 He says that they

00:24:47.840 --> 00:24:49.140
 agreed with his message.

00:24:49.480 --> 00:24:50.299
 They gave the right hand

00:24:50.299 --> 00:24:50.779
 of fellowship

00:24:50.779 --> 00:24:51.660
 to Barnabas and to me

00:24:51.660 --> 00:24:52.259
 when they recognized

00:24:52.259 --> 00:24:53.299
 the grace that was given

00:24:53.299 --> 00:24:53.660
 to me.

00:24:53.960 --> 00:24:54.720
 They agreed that we

00:24:54.720 --> 00:24:55.759
 should go to the Gentiles

00:24:55.759 --> 00:24:57.120
 and they to the circumcised.

00:24:57.860 --> 00:24:58.519
 So first,

00:24:58.720 --> 00:24:59.860
 they discussed and agreed

00:24:59.860 --> 00:25:01.500
 the fundamental message

00:25:01.500 --> 00:25:02.180
 of the Gospel.

00:25:02.180 --> 00:25:04.539
 And the only other thing

00:25:04.539 --> 00:25:05.299
 that Paul mentions

00:25:05.299 --> 00:25:05.920
 from this meeting

00:25:05.920 --> 00:25:07.000
 comes in verse 10.

00:25:08.620 --> 00:25:09.600
 All they asked,

00:25:10.340 --> 00:25:11.900
 the only other thing,

00:25:12.640 --> 00:25:14.100
 was that we should continue

00:25:14.100 --> 00:25:15.160
 to remember the poor.

00:25:16.039 --> 00:25:17.140
 The very thing

00:25:17.140 --> 00:25:18.100
 I've been eager to do

00:25:18.100 --> 00:25:18.820
 all along.

00:25:20.519 --> 00:25:23.140
 Even in the quintessential

00:25:23.140 --> 00:25:25.539
 grace not works

00:25:25.539 --> 00:25:27.200
 letter of the New Testament,

00:25:28.400 --> 00:25:29.340
 Paul can't avoid

00:25:29.340 --> 00:25:30.820
 mentioning helping the poor

00:25:30.819 --> 00:25:33.379
 and mentioning it

00:25:33.379 --> 00:25:34.980
 in the same breath

00:25:34.980 --> 00:25:36.700
 as the Gospel itself.

00:25:38.359 --> 00:25:39.720
 And in this passage

00:25:39.720 --> 00:25:40.799
 we see this is related

00:25:40.799 --> 00:25:41.399
 to the believers.

00:25:41.579 --> 00:25:42.639
 But this isn't restricted

00:25:42.639 --> 00:25:43.279
 to the believers.

00:25:43.460 --> 00:25:43.919
 We have passages

00:25:43.919 --> 00:25:45.059
 like Galatians 6

00:25:45.059 --> 00:25:45.740
 which says,

00:25:45.919 --> 00:25:46.799
 do good to all.

00:25:47.539 --> 00:25:48.639
 It says especially

00:25:48.639 --> 00:25:50.500
 to the family of the church,

00:25:50.779 --> 00:25:51.679
 especially to the believers.

00:25:52.059 --> 00:25:52.939
 But do good to all

00:25:52.939 --> 00:25:53.819
 is not restricted

00:25:53.819 --> 00:25:55.879
 to the believers.

00:25:56.919 --> 00:25:57.539
 Help the poor.

00:25:58.859 --> 00:25:59.519
 And helping the poor

00:25:59.519 --> 00:26:00.099
 is exactly what

00:26:00.099 --> 00:26:01.019
 the early church did.

00:26:02.000 --> 00:26:03.379
 We see it in this passage here.

00:26:04.939 --> 00:26:06.099
 But it also continued

00:26:06.099 --> 00:26:07.219
 for years after this.

00:26:08.099 --> 00:26:08.659
 Some of the people

00:26:08.659 --> 00:26:09.599
 in Rooted will have heard

00:26:09.599 --> 00:26:10.359
 me a quote

00:26:10.359 --> 00:26:11.719
 from Mike Duncan before.

00:26:11.819 --> 00:26:13.259
 He's a secular historian

00:26:13.259 --> 00:26:14.279
 who specialised

00:26:14.279 --> 00:26:15.259
 in the history of Rome.

00:26:15.319 --> 00:26:15.719
 If you're interested,

00:26:15.839 --> 00:26:16.559
 his podcast is like

00:26:16.559 --> 00:26:17.419
 70 hours

00:26:17.419 --> 00:26:18.299
 on the history

00:26:18.299 --> 00:26:19.119
 of ancient Rome.

00:26:19.939 --> 00:26:20.799
 And describing

00:26:20.799 --> 00:26:21.740
 the Roman citizens'

00:26:22.000 --> 00:26:22.480
 reaction

00:26:22.480 --> 00:26:24.959
 to the great persecution

00:26:24.959 --> 00:26:25.719
 of the Christians

00:26:25.719 --> 00:26:27.439
 in the early 300s AD.

00:26:27.619 --> 00:26:28.899
 So nearly 300 years

00:26:28.900 --> 00:26:30.060
 after the events of Acts,

00:26:30.780 --> 00:26:31.380
 he writes

00:26:31.380 --> 00:26:32.480
 that the Christians

00:26:32.480 --> 00:26:34.100
 were by the citizens

00:26:34.100 --> 00:26:35.480
 by this time

00:26:35.480 --> 00:26:36.920
 widely viewed

00:26:36.920 --> 00:26:38.220
 as a harmless cult

00:26:38.220 --> 00:26:40.320
 comprised of law-abiding,

00:26:40.680 --> 00:26:41.759
 tax-paying citizens

00:26:41.759 --> 00:26:43.759
 whose most visible

00:26:43.759 --> 00:26:44.940
 public act

00:26:44.940 --> 00:26:46.540
 was what?

00:26:47.540 --> 00:26:48.500
 Tending to the poor

00:26:48.500 --> 00:26:48.940
 and sick?

00:26:48.940 --> 00:26:51.820
 That was their most

00:26:51.820 --> 00:26:53.880
 visible public act.

00:26:55.500 --> 00:26:56.820
 That's what the early church did.

00:26:58.039 --> 00:26:59.000
 What about us today?

00:27:00.600 --> 00:27:01.180
 We have,

00:27:01.279 --> 00:27:02.360
 I would really hope,

00:27:02.440 --> 00:27:03.720
 we have the same faith,

00:27:04.259 --> 00:27:05.080
 the same hope,

00:27:05.200 --> 00:27:06.100
 the same God,

00:27:06.200 --> 00:27:06.820
 the same knowledge

00:27:06.820 --> 00:27:07.620
 of the resurrection.

00:27:09.299 --> 00:27:09.920
 So what should that

00:27:09.920 --> 00:27:10.420
 lead us to?

00:27:12.420 --> 00:27:13.220
 It might be tempting

00:27:13.220 --> 00:27:13.660
 to say,

00:27:13.779 --> 00:27:14.080
 you know,

00:27:14.120 --> 00:27:15.220
 selling property, etc.

00:27:15.220 --> 00:27:15.900
 This is only something

00:27:15.900 --> 00:27:16.820
 for the mega-rich.

00:27:16.819 --> 00:27:18.000
 If you have property

00:27:18.000 --> 00:27:18.859
 lying around,

00:27:18.980 --> 00:27:19.220
 then, you know,

00:27:19.379 --> 00:27:20.500
 what greater parallel

00:27:20.500 --> 00:27:21.539
 or what easier parallel

00:27:21.539 --> 00:27:22.539
 could you find here?

00:27:23.240 --> 00:27:24.939
 It's not presented

00:27:24.939 --> 00:27:26.779
 as a necessity

00:27:26.779 --> 00:27:28.179
 or required of everyone

00:27:28.179 --> 00:27:28.899
 since that's something

00:27:28.899 --> 00:27:29.539
 that everyone seems

00:27:29.539 --> 00:27:30.519
 to have done voluntarily.

00:27:30.939 --> 00:27:31.980
 But it's not presented

00:27:31.980 --> 00:27:32.759
 as fanatical

00:27:32.759 --> 00:27:34.179
 or a step too far either.

00:27:35.619 --> 00:27:36.559
 But we also need

00:27:36.559 --> 00:27:36.960
 to recognize

00:27:36.960 --> 00:27:37.639
 that most,

00:27:37.879 --> 00:27:39.200
 if not all of us,

00:27:39.980 --> 00:27:40.919
 fall into the category

00:27:40.919 --> 00:27:41.599
 of rich here.

00:27:42.939 --> 00:27:44.079
 We all have things

00:27:44.079 --> 00:27:44.899
 that we can give up.

00:27:44.900 --> 00:27:47.480
 If we look globally

00:27:47.480 --> 00:27:48.420
 around the world,

00:27:48.620 --> 00:27:50.100
 we are one of the richest

00:27:50.100 --> 00:27:52.160
 nations in the world.

00:27:53.440 --> 00:27:54.800
 I'm standing up here

00:27:54.800 --> 00:27:55.940
 in clothes,

00:27:56.040 --> 00:27:56.980
 if we include, like,

00:27:57.380 --> 00:27:58.160
 watch, shoes,

00:27:58.300 --> 00:27:59.000
 everything I'm wearing

00:27:59.000 --> 00:27:59.360
 at the moment,

00:27:59.500 --> 00:28:00.180
 I'm standing up here

00:28:00.180 --> 00:28:00.680
 in clothes

00:28:00.680 --> 00:28:02.820
 that I probably paid

00:28:02.820 --> 00:28:03.440
 more for

00:28:03.440 --> 00:28:04.280
 than some people

00:28:04.280 --> 00:28:05.660
 get paid in a year

00:28:05.660 --> 00:28:06.440
 for work.

00:28:07.880 --> 00:28:08.940
 We have wealth.

00:28:08.940 --> 00:28:12.299
 And we know

00:28:12.299 --> 00:28:13.400
 all too well

00:28:13.400 --> 00:28:14.580
 what need exists

00:28:14.580 --> 00:28:15.160
 in the world,

00:28:15.259 --> 00:28:15.660
 don't we?

00:28:17.259 --> 00:28:17.980
 Close to home

00:28:17.980 --> 00:28:18.340
 in Ireland,

00:28:18.440 --> 00:28:18.820
 we know that

00:28:18.820 --> 00:28:20.299
 over 10,000 people

00:28:20.299 --> 00:28:21.200
 are homeless,

00:28:22.160 --> 00:28:23.100
 each one a story.

00:28:24.680 --> 00:28:25.380
 And 10%

00:28:25.380 --> 00:28:26.180
 of the population

00:28:26.180 --> 00:28:26.620
 is estimated

00:28:26.620 --> 00:28:27.620
 to live in food poverty.

00:28:28.519 --> 00:28:29.539
 And we know

00:28:29.539 --> 00:28:29.980
 what's happening

00:28:29.980 --> 00:28:30.539
 with inflation

00:28:30.539 --> 00:28:31.100
 at the moment.

00:28:31.880 --> 00:28:32.400
 We know

00:28:32.400 --> 00:28:33.180
 what's happening there.

00:28:33.779 --> 00:28:34.880
 We can't ignore that.

00:28:35.259 --> 00:28:35.840
 That's just going

00:28:35.840 --> 00:28:36.320
 to rise,

00:28:36.400 --> 00:28:36.799
 isn't it?

00:28:36.799 --> 00:28:39.019
 Further away

00:28:39.019 --> 00:28:39.299
 from home,

00:28:39.339 --> 00:28:39.899
 we know well

00:28:39.899 --> 00:28:40.319
 from the news

00:28:40.319 --> 00:28:40.779
 what's happening

00:28:40.779 --> 00:28:41.339
 in Ukraine.

00:28:42.359 --> 00:28:42.799
 Similarly,

00:28:43.019 --> 00:28:43.460
 in Yemen,

00:28:43.960 --> 00:28:44.480
 it's estimated

00:28:44.480 --> 00:28:45.799
 that over half a million

00:28:45.799 --> 00:28:47.059
 are at acute risk

00:28:47.059 --> 00:28:47.819
 of starvation.

00:28:48.819 --> 00:28:49.899
 And that's the number

00:28:49.899 --> 00:28:50.599
 of children,

00:28:51.519 --> 00:28:52.559
 never mind the adults.

00:28:54.319 --> 00:28:55.379
 As James says,

00:28:55.440 --> 00:28:56.079
 suppose a brother

00:28:56.079 --> 00:28:56.559
 or sister

00:28:56.559 --> 00:28:57.899
 is without clothes,

00:28:58.220 --> 00:28:59.059
 daily food.

00:29:00.139 --> 00:29:00.619
 If one of you

00:29:00.619 --> 00:29:01.159
 says to them,

00:29:01.339 --> 00:29:02.119
 go in peace,

00:29:02.759 --> 00:29:03.359
 keep warm

00:29:03.359 --> 00:29:04.119
 and well fed,

00:29:05.240 --> 00:29:06.059
 but does nothing

00:29:06.059 --> 00:29:07.319
 about their physical needs,

00:29:07.679 --> 00:29:09.440
 what good is it?

00:29:11.379 --> 00:29:11.899
 So there are

00:29:11.899 --> 00:29:12.539
 some easy questions

00:29:12.539 --> 00:29:13.299
 we can ask ourselves

00:29:13.299 --> 00:29:14.220
 on a personal level,

00:29:14.319 --> 00:29:15.240
 on an individual level.

00:29:16.059 --> 00:29:16.579
 One of the ones

00:29:16.579 --> 00:29:17.200
 that the charities

00:29:17.200 --> 00:29:18.019
 would often go with

00:29:18.019 --> 00:29:18.879
 is can you give up

00:29:18.879 --> 00:29:19.759
 a coffee a week

00:29:19.759 --> 00:29:20.980
 to help someone in need?

00:29:21.399 --> 00:29:22.179
 Maybe even a coffee

00:29:22.179 --> 00:29:22.539
 a month,

00:29:22.619 --> 00:29:23.299
 given the way things

00:29:23.299 --> 00:29:24.799
 are going at the moment

00:29:24.799 --> 00:29:25.679
 in terms of inflation.

00:29:27.019 --> 00:29:27.779
 We can go deeper

00:29:27.779 --> 00:29:28.220
 than that.

00:29:28.339 --> 00:29:28.839
 Do we need

00:29:28.839 --> 00:29:30.740
 as many Amazon packages

00:29:30.740 --> 00:29:32.399
 or takeaways

00:29:32.399 --> 00:29:34.099
 or streaming services

00:29:34.099 --> 00:29:34.700
 or games

00:29:34.700 --> 00:29:35.319
 or cameras

00:29:35.319 --> 00:29:36.980
 or the newest laptop,

00:29:37.120 --> 00:29:37.880
 the best phone,

00:29:38.660 --> 00:29:39.539
 the latest app

00:29:39.539 --> 00:29:40.120
 on our phone

00:29:40.120 --> 00:29:40.680
 that costs

00:29:40.680 --> 00:29:42.360
 just a little bit extra?

00:29:43.700 --> 00:29:44.440
 Do we need

00:29:44.440 --> 00:29:45.360
 another trip abroad?

00:29:46.039 --> 00:29:46.740
 Do we need

00:29:46.740 --> 00:29:48.539
 another set of clothes?

00:29:49.440 --> 00:29:49.920
 Do we need

00:29:49.920 --> 00:29:51.039
 a newer car?

00:29:52.340 --> 00:29:52.940
 Do we need

00:29:52.940 --> 00:29:53.920
 a more

00:29:53.920 --> 00:29:55.319
 upper-middle-class

00:29:55.319 --> 00:29:55.940
 lifestyle?

00:29:57.539 --> 00:29:58.319
 Because we know

00:29:58.319 --> 00:29:58.779
 that this is going

00:29:58.779 --> 00:29:59.360
 to pass away.

00:30:01.019 --> 00:30:02.100
 We may not have

00:30:02.100 --> 00:30:03.319
 property to sell now,

00:30:03.319 --> 00:30:04.480
 but we have

00:30:04.480 --> 00:30:05.700
 extraordinary levels

00:30:05.700 --> 00:30:06.039
 of wealth

00:30:06.039 --> 00:30:07.259
 that previous generations,

00:30:07.700 --> 00:30:08.240
 including those

00:30:08.240 --> 00:30:08.859
 in this text,

00:30:08.939 --> 00:30:09.599
 could only have

00:30:09.599 --> 00:30:10.599
 dreamt of.

00:30:12.159 --> 00:30:13.059
 And I ask myself

00:30:13.059 --> 00:30:13.980
 these questions too.

00:30:14.619 --> 00:30:15.099
 And please,

00:30:15.179 --> 00:30:16.039
 if you see the love

00:30:16.039 --> 00:30:16.639
 of wealth

00:30:16.639 --> 00:30:17.299
 in my life,

00:30:17.639 --> 00:30:18.500
 please do me a favor

00:30:18.500 --> 00:30:18.960
 and point out

00:30:18.960 --> 00:30:19.799
 the giant plank

00:30:19.799 --> 00:30:20.379
 in my eye.

00:30:22.679 --> 00:30:23.019
 And yet,

00:30:23.059 --> 00:30:23.859
 as we ask these questions,

00:30:23.939 --> 00:30:24.439
 I'm also aware

00:30:24.439 --> 00:30:25.799
 that this is low-hanging fruit.

00:30:26.899 --> 00:30:28.059
 It's easy to pick.

00:30:29.179 --> 00:30:30.559
 But let's consider it more.

00:30:31.000 --> 00:30:32.099
 Let's think about it.

00:30:32.099 --> 00:30:33.379
 What more can we do

00:30:33.379 --> 00:30:34.559
 here and around the world?

00:30:34.639 --> 00:30:35.259
 What more can we do

00:30:35.259 --> 00:30:35.859
 individually?

00:30:36.740 --> 00:30:37.599
 And what more can we do

00:30:37.599 --> 00:30:38.219
 as a church?

00:30:39.859 --> 00:30:40.699
 I do mean that.

00:30:40.740 --> 00:30:41.859
 Let's think about it.

00:30:42.779 --> 00:30:44.099
 Let's chat about it

00:30:44.099 --> 00:30:45.000
 after the service

00:30:45.000 --> 00:30:45.759
 before we leave.

00:30:46.019 --> 00:30:46.819
 Let's plan.

00:30:47.819 --> 00:30:48.459
 Let's make sure

00:30:48.459 --> 00:30:49.519
 it gets beyond

00:30:49.519 --> 00:30:50.819
 the level of thoughts

00:30:50.819 --> 00:30:51.639
 and feelings

00:30:51.639 --> 00:30:53.199
 and gets into action.

00:30:53.559 --> 00:30:54.639
 Let's do something.

00:30:56.599 --> 00:30:57.939
 I'm going to move on

00:30:57.939 --> 00:30:58.419
 now shortly

00:30:58.419 --> 00:30:58.919
 in the passage,

00:30:59.000 --> 00:30:59.359
 and trust me,

00:30:59.379 --> 00:30:59.859
 I won't be spending

00:30:59.859 --> 00:31:00.859
 anywhere near as long

00:31:00.859 --> 00:31:02.199
 on the rest of the text

00:31:02.199 --> 00:31:03.039
 as they're in those

00:31:03.039 --> 00:31:03.759
 first few verses

00:31:03.759 --> 00:31:04.919
 because that's established

00:31:04.919 --> 00:31:05.759
 the foundation

00:31:05.759 --> 00:31:06.979
 and the rest

00:31:06.979 --> 00:31:08.199
 is basically one example.

00:31:09.059 --> 00:31:10.240
 But before I do move on,

00:31:10.319 --> 00:31:11.500
 please take a note.

00:31:12.259 --> 00:31:13.179
 I don't mind if it's like

00:31:13.179 --> 00:31:14.779
 a strong mental note

00:31:14.779 --> 00:31:16.439
 or a physical one

00:31:16.439 --> 00:31:17.459
 and a pen and paper

00:31:17.459 --> 00:31:18.899
 or a note in a phone

00:31:18.899 --> 00:31:20.359
 with a reminder set on it,

00:31:20.919 --> 00:31:22.279
 but let's not forget.

00:31:23.419 --> 00:31:24.659
 It can be so dangerous

00:31:24.659 --> 00:31:25.399
 to forget.

00:31:26.299 --> 00:31:27.000
 As Paul writes

00:31:27.000 --> 00:31:28.039
 in 1 Timothy 6,

00:31:28.179 --> 00:31:28.500
 he says,

00:31:28.500 --> 00:31:29.480
 if we have food

00:31:29.480 --> 00:31:30.140
 and clothing,

00:31:30.759 --> 00:31:31.660
 we will be content

00:31:31.660 --> 00:31:32.200
 with that.

00:31:33.880 --> 00:31:34.700
 Is that us?

00:31:36.079 --> 00:31:36.980
 He goes on,

00:31:37.039 --> 00:31:37.859
 those who want

00:31:37.859 --> 00:31:38.759
 to get rich

00:31:38.759 --> 00:31:40.440
 fall into temptation

00:31:40.440 --> 00:31:41.259
 and a trap

00:31:41.259 --> 00:31:43.420
 and into many foolish

00:31:43.420 --> 00:31:44.779
 and harmful desires

00:31:44.779 --> 00:31:46.599
 that plunge people

00:31:46.599 --> 00:31:47.960
 into ruin

00:31:47.960 --> 00:31:49.079
 and destruction.

00:31:50.000 --> 00:31:51.480
 For the love of money

00:31:51.480 --> 00:31:52.160
 is a root

00:31:52.160 --> 00:31:53.839
 of all kinds of evil.

00:31:54.720 --> 00:31:55.420
 Some people,

00:31:56.059 --> 00:31:56.859
 eager for money,

00:31:56.859 --> 00:31:58.240
 have wandered

00:31:58.240 --> 00:31:59.159
 from the faith

00:31:59.159 --> 00:32:01.500
 and pierced themselves

00:32:01.500 --> 00:32:03.740
 with many griefs.

00:32:05.679 --> 00:32:06.879
 It's not written down

00:32:06.879 --> 00:32:08.439
 in my notes here,

00:32:08.479 --> 00:32:08.959
 but the passages

00:32:08.959 --> 00:32:10.019
 have just come to me.

00:32:10.479 --> 00:32:11.039
 There's a part,

00:32:11.119 --> 00:32:12.240
 I think it's in Mark's gospel,

00:32:12.500 --> 00:32:13.699
 where a rich young man

00:32:13.699 --> 00:32:14.419
 comes to Jesus

00:32:14.419 --> 00:32:15.479
 and he asks,

00:32:15.859 --> 00:32:16.379
 good teacher,

00:32:16.479 --> 00:32:17.019
 what must I do

00:32:17.019 --> 00:32:18.219
 to inherit eternal life?

00:32:18.719 --> 00:32:19.699
 And they run down

00:32:19.699 --> 00:32:20.679
 through a list of laws

00:32:20.679 --> 00:32:21.339
 and requirements

00:32:21.339 --> 00:32:23.039
 and eventually

00:32:23.039 --> 00:32:24.099
 they get to the end

00:32:24.099 --> 00:32:24.379
 of it

00:32:24.380 --> 00:32:25.640
 and the guy says,

00:32:25.840 --> 00:32:26.040
 look,

00:32:26.120 --> 00:32:26.980
 I've kept all these

00:32:26.980 --> 00:32:27.700
 since I was a boy.

00:32:28.540 --> 00:32:28.920
 It says,

00:32:29.000 --> 00:32:29.940
 Jesus looked at him

00:32:29.940 --> 00:32:30.680
 and loved him

00:32:30.680 --> 00:32:31.700
 but said,

00:32:32.040 --> 00:32:33.040
 one thing you lack,

00:32:34.120 --> 00:32:35.160
 go sell everything

00:32:35.160 --> 00:32:35.720
 you have,

00:32:36.240 --> 00:32:36.860
 give to the poor

00:32:36.860 --> 00:32:37.760
 and you'll have treasure

00:32:37.760 --> 00:32:38.160
 in heaven,

00:32:38.640 --> 00:32:39.580
 then come follow me.

00:32:41.360 --> 00:32:41.820
 And it says

00:32:41.820 --> 00:32:42.740
 that rich young man

00:32:42.740 --> 00:32:44.000
 went away sad

00:32:44.000 --> 00:32:45.640
 because he had

00:32:45.640 --> 00:32:46.360
 great wealth,

00:32:47.760 --> 00:32:48.700
 wasn't willing

00:32:48.700 --> 00:32:49.260
 to give it up.

00:32:49.259 --> 00:32:52.420
 let's not wander away

00:32:52.420 --> 00:32:53.680
 for love of money

00:32:53.680 --> 00:32:55.119
 as we also see

00:32:55.119 --> 00:32:56.119
 later in this passage.

00:32:57.099 --> 00:32:58.519
 In verses 36 and 37

00:32:58.519 --> 00:33:00.119
 we have one example

00:33:00.119 --> 00:33:01.099
 basically of what's been said

00:33:01.099 --> 00:33:02.019
 in the previous verses.

00:33:02.480 --> 00:33:03.779
 We have a guy called Joseph

00:33:03.779 --> 00:33:04.619
 who's a Levite,

00:33:04.720 --> 00:33:06.180
 the apostles call him Barnabas

00:33:06.180 --> 00:33:07.200
 which means son of encouragement,

00:33:07.619 --> 00:33:08.440
 he sells a field,

00:33:08.539 --> 00:33:09.160
 he brings the money

00:33:09.160 --> 00:33:09.799
 to the apostles,

00:33:10.140 --> 00:33:10.960
 they distribute it.

00:33:12.339 --> 00:33:12.579
 Now,

00:33:12.759 --> 00:33:13.500
 if some of you know

00:33:13.500 --> 00:33:15.000
 Matthew 6 well,

00:33:15.879 --> 00:33:17.259
 you might wonder

00:33:17.259 --> 00:33:18.420
 if this is okay.

00:33:19.259 --> 00:33:20.579
 Because Matthew 6

00:33:20.579 --> 00:33:21.400
 verses 3 and 4

00:33:21.400 --> 00:33:22.160
 says that when you give

00:33:22.160 --> 00:33:22.799
 to the needy,

00:33:23.079 --> 00:33:23.599
 incidentally,

00:33:23.940 --> 00:33:24.259
 when,

00:33:24.759 --> 00:33:25.480
 not if,

00:33:26.480 --> 00:33:27.019
 when you give

00:33:27.019 --> 00:33:27.740
 to the needy,

00:33:28.279 --> 00:33:29.960
 do not let your left hand

00:33:29.960 --> 00:33:31.119
 know what your right hand

00:33:31.119 --> 00:33:31.640
 is doing

00:33:31.640 --> 00:33:33.160
 so that your giving

00:33:33.160 --> 00:33:34.000
 may be in secret.

00:33:35.240 --> 00:33:36.480
 And people clearly know

00:33:36.480 --> 00:33:37.140
 that Barnabas

00:33:37.140 --> 00:33:38.299
 has given this money here.

00:33:38.839 --> 00:33:39.839
 So it doesn't seem

00:33:39.839 --> 00:33:40.680
 to meet the requirements

00:33:40.680 --> 00:33:41.420
 on the face of it.

00:33:41.779 --> 00:33:42.539
 But Matthew 6

00:33:42.539 --> 00:33:42.980
 is more about

00:33:42.980 --> 00:33:43.539
 whether the giving

00:33:43.539 --> 00:33:44.400
 is done in public

00:33:44.400 --> 00:33:45.900
 to be honoured by others

00:33:45.900 --> 00:33:46.920
 as it says in verse 2

00:33:46.920 --> 00:33:47.519
 of that chapter.

00:33:47.960 --> 00:33:48.680
 It doesn't look like

00:33:48.680 --> 00:33:49.119
 Barnabas

00:33:49.119 --> 00:33:50.859
 fails this test.

00:33:51.899 --> 00:33:52.619
 But for us,

00:33:52.759 --> 00:33:53.500
 if we're giving,

00:33:53.919 --> 00:33:54.739
 if we're supporting,

00:33:56.319 --> 00:33:57.119
 the best way,

00:33:57.199 --> 00:33:57.919
 the safest way

00:33:57.919 --> 00:33:58.500
 to be sure

00:33:58.500 --> 00:33:59.379
 that we're not

00:33:59.379 --> 00:34:00.119
 doing this

00:34:00.119 --> 00:34:00.679
 to be honoured

00:34:00.679 --> 00:34:01.259
 by others

00:34:01.259 --> 00:34:02.759
 is to do it

00:34:02.759 --> 00:34:03.199
 in secret.

00:34:03.859 --> 00:34:04.939
 That way we can be

00:34:04.939 --> 00:34:06.399
 sure of our motivations.

00:34:08.079 --> 00:34:08.500
 Having said that,

00:34:08.519 --> 00:34:09.339
 I just want to take a moment

00:34:09.339 --> 00:34:09.980
 to talk about

00:34:09.980 --> 00:34:11.480
 one specific Irish example,

00:34:11.599 --> 00:34:12.319
 particularly for anyone

00:34:12.319 --> 00:34:13.139
 who's earning money

00:34:13.139 --> 00:34:14.139
 here and paying taxes.

00:34:14.799 --> 00:34:15.319
 In Ireland,

00:34:15.480 --> 00:34:16.319
 if you're a taxpayer

00:34:16.320 --> 00:34:17.320
 and you give

00:34:17.320 --> 00:34:18.320
 more than €250

00:34:18.320 --> 00:34:19.019
 a year

00:34:19.019 --> 00:34:19.960
 or more than €21

00:34:19.960 --> 00:34:20.740
 a month

00:34:20.740 --> 00:34:21.480
 to a charity,

00:34:22.000 --> 00:34:22.720
 they can claim

00:34:22.720 --> 00:34:23.760
 almost 45%

00:34:23.760 --> 00:34:24.640
 of that back

00:34:24.640 --> 00:34:25.500
 from the government.

00:34:26.140 --> 00:34:26.780
 And all you have to do

00:34:26.780 --> 00:34:27.840
 is sign a very simple

00:34:27.840 --> 00:34:28.680
 basic form.

00:34:28.840 --> 00:34:29.600
 I think people get worried

00:34:29.600 --> 00:34:30.420
 whenever you talk about

00:34:30.420 --> 00:34:32.380
 taxes and forms

00:34:32.380 --> 00:34:33.200
 and, oh,

00:34:33.240 --> 00:34:34.140
 this is going to be difficult.

00:34:34.660 --> 00:34:35.220
 It's literally,

00:34:35.480 --> 00:34:36.600
 what is your PPS number?

00:34:37.059 --> 00:34:38.220
 Do you want this charity

00:34:38.220 --> 00:34:39.000
 to be able to reclaim

00:34:39.000 --> 00:34:39.400
 the money?

00:34:39.840 --> 00:34:40.100
 Tick.

00:34:40.620 --> 00:34:41.320
 Sign your name.

00:34:41.580 --> 00:34:42.000
 Date it.

00:34:42.600 --> 00:34:43.220
 Send it off.

00:34:43.219 --> 00:34:44.399
 And that gets

00:34:44.399 --> 00:34:45.139
 whatever charity

00:34:45.139 --> 00:34:45.619
 you're given to,

00:34:45.699 --> 00:34:46.480
 whether it's this church

00:34:46.480 --> 00:34:47.339
 or any other,

00:34:47.799 --> 00:34:48.679
 it gets them an extra

00:34:48.679 --> 00:34:49.839
 roughly 45%

00:34:49.839 --> 00:34:50.659
 from the government.

00:34:50.819 --> 00:34:51.459
 So just something

00:34:51.459 --> 00:34:52.019
 to think about

00:34:52.019 --> 00:34:53.000
 when it comes to mind there.

00:34:54.179 --> 00:34:55.000
 But if we go back

00:34:55.000 --> 00:34:55.839
 to Barnabas here,

00:34:56.899 --> 00:34:57.679
 it is clear

00:34:57.679 --> 00:34:58.359
 that his example

00:34:58.359 --> 00:34:59.299
 acts as a really

00:34:59.299 --> 00:35:00.419
 marked contrast

00:35:00.419 --> 00:35:01.519
 to what Ananias

00:35:01.519 --> 00:35:02.619
 and Sapphira do next.

00:35:03.799 --> 00:35:04.980
 They sell a plot

00:35:04.980 --> 00:35:05.619
 of land,

00:35:05.739 --> 00:35:06.599
 we're told in verse 2

00:35:06.599 --> 00:35:07.279
 of chapter 5,

00:35:08.000 --> 00:35:08.879
 and they keep

00:35:08.879 --> 00:35:10.719
 back some of the money.

00:35:10.719 --> 00:35:13.459
 Now, interestingly,

00:35:13.819 --> 00:35:14.399
 keeping back some

00:35:14.399 --> 00:35:14.659
 of the money

00:35:14.659 --> 00:35:15.899
 doesn't seem to be

00:35:15.899 --> 00:35:17.519
 a problem here.

00:35:17.579 --> 00:35:17.859
 It doesn't seem

00:35:17.859 --> 00:35:18.839
 to be the problem.

00:35:19.639 --> 00:35:20.319
 So much is the fact

00:35:20.319 --> 00:35:20.799
 that they're saying

00:35:20.799 --> 00:35:21.279
 and implying

00:35:21.279 --> 00:35:22.859
 that they're not doing that.

00:35:23.599 --> 00:35:24.399
 So they're saying

00:35:24.399 --> 00:35:24.919
 or implying

00:35:24.919 --> 00:35:25.719
 that they're handing

00:35:25.719 --> 00:35:26.939
 over the full sum.

00:35:27.659 --> 00:35:28.159
 And we get that

00:35:28.159 --> 00:35:28.839
 from what Peter says

00:35:28.839 --> 00:35:29.399
 in verse 4.

00:35:29.459 --> 00:35:31.000
 He's berating Ananias.

00:35:31.500 --> 00:35:32.119
 He says,

00:35:32.480 --> 00:35:33.139
 didn't it,

00:35:33.319 --> 00:35:33.899
 didn't the piece

00:35:33.899 --> 00:35:34.579
 of property

00:35:34.579 --> 00:35:36.319
 belong to you

00:35:36.319 --> 00:35:37.980
 before it was sold?

00:35:38.659 --> 00:35:39.659
 And after it was sold,

00:35:39.739 --> 00:35:40.339
 wasn't the money

00:35:40.340 --> 00:35:41.300
 at your disposal?

00:35:42.200 --> 00:35:43.180
 What made you think

00:35:43.180 --> 00:35:44.400
 of doing such a thing?

00:35:44.720 --> 00:35:45.460
 You have not lied

00:35:45.460 --> 00:35:46.920
 just to human beings,

00:35:47.360 --> 00:35:48.059
 but to God.

00:35:49.720 --> 00:35:50.940
 He had the choice

00:35:50.940 --> 00:35:51.920
 of what to do here.

00:35:52.680 --> 00:35:53.579
 His land was,

00:35:54.039 --> 00:35:54.320
 well,

00:35:55.019 --> 00:35:55.340
 his.

00:35:56.220 --> 00:35:57.120
 He had been granted

00:35:57.120 --> 00:35:58.019
 stewardship of it

00:35:58.019 --> 00:35:58.460
 by God,

00:35:58.519 --> 00:35:58.900
 ultimately.

00:35:59.820 --> 00:36:00.740
 He could have kept it.

00:36:01.420 --> 00:36:02.300
 He could have sold it

00:36:02.300 --> 00:36:03.340
 and kept all the money

00:36:03.340 --> 00:36:03.980
 if he wanted to.

00:36:04.940 --> 00:36:05.720
 From what Peter

00:36:05.720 --> 00:36:06.320
 is asking here,

00:36:06.380 --> 00:36:07.000
 it doesn't look like

00:36:07.000 --> 00:36:07.820
 either of those courses

00:36:07.820 --> 00:36:08.260
 of action

00:36:08.260 --> 00:36:08.880
 would have been

00:36:08.880 --> 00:36:10.620
 wrong or sinful

00:36:10.620 --> 00:36:11.320
 for him to do.

00:36:12.320 --> 00:36:13.620
 But what is wrong

00:36:13.620 --> 00:36:14.640
 is the lie.

00:36:15.360 --> 00:36:15.960
 Verse 4.

00:36:16.660 --> 00:36:18.060
 You have not just lied

00:36:18.060 --> 00:36:19.180
 to human beings,

00:36:19.740 --> 00:36:20.820
 but to God.

00:36:22.680 --> 00:36:23.640
 What is that lie?

00:36:23.980 --> 00:36:24.120
 Well,

00:36:24.160 --> 00:36:24.420
 in effect,

00:36:24.480 --> 00:36:25.180
 it's that they're giving

00:36:25.180 --> 00:36:27.040
 everything to God.

00:36:27.420 --> 00:36:28.360
 We don't see that so much

00:36:28.360 --> 00:36:29.100
 when Peter is talking

00:36:29.100 --> 00:36:29.780
 with Ananias.

00:36:29.880 --> 00:36:31.080
 We see it in verse 8

00:36:31.080 --> 00:36:31.680
 when he's talking

00:36:31.680 --> 00:36:32.280
 with Sapphira.

00:36:32.780 --> 00:36:33.400
 He asks,

00:36:33.400 --> 00:36:35.220
 tell me this.

00:36:35.800 --> 00:36:36.880
 Is this the price

00:36:36.880 --> 00:36:37.840
 that you and Ananias

00:36:37.840 --> 00:36:38.579
 got for the land?

00:36:39.220 --> 00:36:40.380
 He clearly has the money

00:36:40.380 --> 00:36:41.539
 that Ananias left with him.

00:36:41.599 --> 00:36:41.840
 He's saying,

00:36:41.940 --> 00:36:42.660
 is this the price

00:36:42.660 --> 00:36:43.400
 that you received?

00:36:44.940 --> 00:36:45.940
 And the lie

00:36:45.940 --> 00:36:46.840
 is where she says,

00:36:47.300 --> 00:36:47.579
 yes,

00:36:48.500 --> 00:36:49.519
 that is the price.

00:36:51.059 --> 00:36:51.980
 And there's a lot

00:36:51.980 --> 00:36:52.960
 we don't know about this.

00:36:53.700 --> 00:36:54.400
 We don't know

00:36:54.400 --> 00:36:55.500
 how much money

00:36:55.500 --> 00:36:57.039
 or what proportion

00:36:57.039 --> 00:36:57.559
 of the money

00:36:57.559 --> 00:36:58.740
 or what proportion

00:36:58.740 --> 00:36:59.900
 of their total wealth

00:36:59.900 --> 00:37:00.579
 represented.

00:37:01.300 --> 00:37:01.980
 We don't know

00:37:01.980 --> 00:37:02.780
 why they decided

00:37:02.780 --> 00:37:03.200
 to do this.

00:37:03.260 --> 00:37:04.160
 Maybe looking back

00:37:04.160 --> 00:37:05.380
 to verse 36 and 37,

00:37:05.560 --> 00:37:06.820
 maybe they're seeing

00:37:06.820 --> 00:37:07.840
 this new name

00:37:07.840 --> 00:37:08.900
 being given to Barnabas

00:37:08.900 --> 00:37:09.560
 and maybe they want

00:37:09.560 --> 00:37:10.180
 a new name

00:37:10.180 --> 00:37:10.840
 for themselves

00:37:10.840 --> 00:37:11.680
 from the apostles.

00:37:13.200 --> 00:37:14.340
 But whatever the case is,

00:37:14.360 --> 00:37:15.460
 you can see the judgment here.

00:37:16.300 --> 00:37:17.980
 It's really not easy

00:37:17.980 --> 00:37:18.540
 to read.

00:37:19.780 --> 00:37:20.560
 As both of them

00:37:20.560 --> 00:37:21.940
 claim to be giving

00:37:21.940 --> 00:37:23.960
 everything to God,

00:37:24.740 --> 00:37:25.580
 they lie

00:37:25.580 --> 00:37:27.800
 and they fall down dead.

00:37:29.440 --> 00:37:30.700
 The punishment is death.

00:37:30.699 --> 00:37:33.960
 And here is where

00:37:33.960 --> 00:37:34.379
 I think

00:37:34.379 --> 00:37:35.500
 we come back

00:37:35.500 --> 00:37:36.480
 to our hearts.

00:37:37.319 --> 00:37:38.419
 We saw earlier

00:37:38.419 --> 00:37:39.759
 money is an indicator

00:37:39.759 --> 00:37:41.419
 of where our hearts lie.

00:37:42.759 --> 00:37:43.939
 But we see here

00:37:43.939 --> 00:37:45.460
 that our hearts' lies

00:37:45.460 --> 00:37:47.159
 will be revealed.

00:37:49.159 --> 00:37:50.219
 We can't hide stuff

00:37:50.219 --> 00:37:50.659
 from God.

00:37:51.359 --> 00:37:52.319
 This isn't just

00:37:52.319 --> 00:37:52.919
 about money.

00:37:53.879 --> 00:37:54.919
 There are many other ways

00:37:54.919 --> 00:37:55.559
 in which we could

00:37:55.559 --> 00:37:56.619
 theoretically be claiming

00:37:56.619 --> 00:37:57.819
 to give everything

00:37:57.819 --> 00:37:58.460
 to God

00:37:58.460 --> 00:37:59.379
 throughout our lives.

00:37:59.380 --> 00:38:01.059
 It could be,

00:38:01.180 --> 00:38:01.500
 for example,

00:38:01.599 --> 00:38:02.160
 in church.

00:38:02.920 --> 00:38:03.579
 Maybe the reason

00:38:03.579 --> 00:38:04.240
 we volunteer

00:38:04.240 --> 00:38:05.220
 isn't exactly

00:38:05.220 --> 00:38:06.260
 what it seems to be

00:38:06.260 --> 00:38:06.760
 to everyone

00:38:06.760 --> 00:38:08.039
 or what we make it out to be.

00:38:09.180 --> 00:38:10.019
 Or at home,

00:38:10.800 --> 00:38:11.820
 what we think,

00:38:12.000 --> 00:38:12.619
 say and do

00:38:12.619 --> 00:38:13.720
 behind closed doors.

00:38:13.820 --> 00:38:14.940
 Maybe only select few

00:38:14.940 --> 00:38:15.619
 know about it.

00:38:16.360 --> 00:38:17.340
 Maybe even only God

00:38:17.340 --> 00:38:18.079
 knows about it.

00:38:19.660 --> 00:38:20.680
 Or it could be

00:38:20.680 --> 00:38:21.720
 when we're talking

00:38:21.720 --> 00:38:23.260
 with certain friends

00:38:23.260 --> 00:38:23.880
 or family

00:38:23.880 --> 00:38:25.740
 from years gone by.

00:38:26.240 --> 00:38:27.000
 Maybe from before

00:38:27.000 --> 00:38:27.940
 we became a Christian,

00:38:27.940 --> 00:38:28.679
 before we started

00:38:28.679 --> 00:38:29.760
 living out our faith.

00:38:30.920 --> 00:38:31.960
 We're willing to change

00:38:31.960 --> 00:38:32.639
 everything

00:38:32.639 --> 00:38:33.460
 in church

00:38:33.460 --> 00:38:33.940
 and in church

00:38:33.940 --> 00:38:34.720
 and Christian circles.

00:38:34.860 --> 00:38:36.280
 We are on fire for God.

00:38:36.360 --> 00:38:36.900
 But when talking

00:38:36.900 --> 00:38:37.599
 with these people,

00:38:37.760 --> 00:38:38.900
 we can't show them

00:38:38.900 --> 00:38:39.619
 that we've changed.

00:38:40.500 --> 00:38:41.099
 They'll mock us

00:38:41.099 --> 00:38:41.840
 if we've changed.

00:38:42.059 --> 00:38:42.380
 They'll be like,

00:38:42.440 --> 00:38:43.240
 what's wrong with you?

00:38:44.340 --> 00:38:46.079
 Maybe that's us.

00:38:47.079 --> 00:38:48.019
 Or maybe it's at work.

00:38:49.240 --> 00:38:50.519
 Do we claim to work

00:38:50.519 --> 00:38:51.800
 for the glory of God?

00:38:52.400 --> 00:38:53.159
 Have we really given

00:38:53.159 --> 00:38:54.519
 everything to Him

00:38:54.519 --> 00:38:55.460
 in that area

00:38:55.460 --> 00:38:56.039
 of our lives?

00:38:56.039 --> 00:38:58.199
 There might be

00:38:58.199 --> 00:38:58.519
 other ones

00:38:58.519 --> 00:38:59.360
 that come to your head,

00:38:59.480 --> 00:39:00.219
 ways we lie,

00:39:00.340 --> 00:39:01.059
 places we say

00:39:01.059 --> 00:39:02.159
 we're giving everything

00:39:02.159 --> 00:39:02.519
 to Him

00:39:02.519 --> 00:39:03.219
 and yet we're not.

00:39:05.279 --> 00:39:06.079
 The resurrection

00:39:06.079 --> 00:39:07.199
 changes our future

00:39:07.199 --> 00:39:08.320
 and our hearts.

00:39:09.199 --> 00:39:10.300
 Money is an indicator

00:39:10.300 --> 00:39:11.380
 of where our hearts lie.

00:39:11.599 --> 00:39:12.460
 One indicator,

00:39:12.579 --> 00:39:14.000
 a powerful indicator though.

00:39:15.059 --> 00:39:16.239
 And our hearts' lies

00:39:16.239 --> 00:39:17.300
 will be revealed

00:39:17.300 --> 00:39:18.699
 whatever they may be.

00:39:20.639 --> 00:39:21.480
 As I wrap up,

00:39:21.539 --> 00:39:22.559
 I'd like to encourage you

00:39:22.559 --> 00:39:23.460
 again to consider

00:39:23.460 --> 00:39:24.139
 and think about

00:39:24.139 --> 00:39:25.179
 your use of

00:39:25.179 --> 00:39:25.819
 and your attitude

00:39:25.819 --> 00:39:26.659
 towards money

00:39:26.659 --> 00:39:27.319
 and possessions.

00:39:28.420 --> 00:39:29.359
 I'd encourage you again

00:39:29.359 --> 00:39:30.339
 to talk about it

00:39:30.339 --> 00:39:31.199
 after the service.

00:39:32.259 --> 00:39:33.339
 Where can you use it better?

00:39:33.440 --> 00:39:34.279
 Where can we all

00:39:34.279 --> 00:39:35.119
 use it better?

00:39:36.519 --> 00:39:37.519
 But far more than that

00:39:37.519 --> 00:39:38.839
 on an individual level,

00:39:39.179 --> 00:39:40.119
 can I encourage you,

00:39:41.079 --> 00:39:42.099
 don't lie to God.

00:39:43.799 --> 00:39:45.319
 Your lies will be found out.

00:39:46.900 --> 00:39:48.420
 As the Apostle John writes,

00:39:48.420 --> 00:39:49.780
 if we claim to be

00:39:49.780 --> 00:39:50.680
 without sin,

00:39:50.960 --> 00:39:53.159
 we deceive ourselves

00:39:53.159 --> 00:39:54.579
 and the truth

00:39:54.579 --> 00:39:55.400
 is not in us.

00:39:56.800 --> 00:39:58.500
 The truth is not even in us.

00:40:01.460 --> 00:40:02.420
 But we know

00:40:02.420 --> 00:40:03.579
 that if we confess

00:40:03.579 --> 00:40:04.480
 our sins,

00:40:05.440 --> 00:40:06.420
 He is faithful

00:40:06.420 --> 00:40:07.480
 and just

00:40:07.480 --> 00:40:08.559
 to forgive us

00:40:08.559 --> 00:40:09.079
 our sins

00:40:09.079 --> 00:40:10.800
 and to purify us

00:40:10.800 --> 00:40:12.619
 from all unrighteousness.

00:40:12.619 --> 00:40:15.699
 So let's be honest

00:40:15.699 --> 00:40:16.159
 with God

00:40:16.159 --> 00:40:18.539
 and let's surrender

00:40:18.539 --> 00:40:19.619
 everything to Him.

00:40:20.960 --> 00:40:21.659
 Let's pray.

00:40:28.659 --> 00:40:29.619
 Heavenly Father,

00:40:29.739 --> 00:40:30.639
 we thank You

00:40:30.639 --> 00:40:31.759
 for the resurrection.

00:40:32.819 --> 00:40:33.539
 We thank You

00:40:33.539 --> 00:40:34.659
 for this foundation

00:40:34.659 --> 00:40:35.619
 to our hope.

00:40:36.339 --> 00:40:37.199
 We thank You

00:40:37.199 --> 00:40:38.319
 that we can see

00:40:38.319 --> 00:40:39.159
 in Jesus'

00:40:39.599 --> 00:40:41.019
 rising again

00:40:41.019 --> 00:40:42.699
 our future

00:40:42.699 --> 00:40:43.759
 being changed.

00:40:44.800 --> 00:40:45.659
 We thank You

00:40:45.659 --> 00:40:46.639
 that You

00:40:46.639 --> 00:40:47.579
 are changing

00:40:47.579 --> 00:40:48.360
 our hearts

00:40:48.360 --> 00:40:49.460
 and have changed

00:40:49.460 --> 00:40:49.960
 our hearts

00:40:49.960 --> 00:40:51.280
 if we are following Christ.

00:40:52.599 --> 00:40:53.119
 And we pray

00:40:53.119 --> 00:40:54.039
 that You would help us

00:40:54.039 --> 00:40:55.139
 to find those parts

00:40:55.139 --> 00:40:55.639
 of our hearts

00:40:55.639 --> 00:40:56.840
 that are not fully

00:40:56.840 --> 00:40:58.139
 given over to You.

00:40:58.659 --> 00:40:59.300
 We pray that You

00:40:59.300 --> 00:40:59.820
 would help us

00:40:59.820 --> 00:41:00.420
 in particular

00:41:00.420 --> 00:41:01.360
 to think about

00:41:01.360 --> 00:41:02.400
 how we use money

00:41:02.400 --> 00:41:02.900
 and possessions,

00:41:03.019 --> 00:41:03.440
 whether that is

00:41:03.440 --> 00:41:05.019
 honouring or glorifying

00:41:05.019 --> 00:41:05.519
 to You.

00:41:06.139 --> 00:41:06.880
 We pray that this

00:41:06.880 --> 00:41:07.400
 would lead to

00:41:07.400 --> 00:41:09.119
 concrete steps

00:41:09.119 --> 00:41:09.840
 that we have

00:41:09.840 --> 00:41:10.679
 in our lives

00:41:10.679 --> 00:41:12.500
 but Lord,

00:41:12.559 --> 00:41:13.339
 we also recognise

00:41:13.339 --> 00:41:13.799
 that money

00:41:13.799 --> 00:41:14.980
 is only an indicator

00:41:14.980 --> 00:41:16.239
 of where our hearts

00:41:16.239 --> 00:41:16.559
 lie.

00:41:17.379 --> 00:41:17.919
 We recognise

00:41:17.919 --> 00:41:18.399
 that there are

00:41:18.399 --> 00:41:19.440
 so many ways

00:41:19.440 --> 00:41:20.079
 that we lie

00:41:20.079 --> 00:41:21.039
 to ourselves

00:41:21.039 --> 00:41:22.899
 and maybe even

00:41:22.899 --> 00:41:23.759
 lie to You, Lord,

00:41:23.799 --> 00:41:24.399
 and we pray

00:41:24.399 --> 00:41:25.019
 that we would

00:41:25.019 --> 00:41:26.059
 not do that.

00:41:27.179 --> 00:41:27.719
 We pray that You

00:41:27.719 --> 00:41:28.219
 would help us

00:41:28.219 --> 00:41:29.179
 to be honest with You,

00:41:29.219 --> 00:41:29.799
 to recognise

00:41:29.799 --> 00:41:31.099
 the sin in our lives

00:41:31.099 --> 00:41:32.659
 and to come to You

00:41:32.659 --> 00:41:33.259
 with it knowing

00:41:33.259 --> 00:41:34.399
 that You are faithful

00:41:34.399 --> 00:41:35.099
 and just

00:41:35.099 --> 00:41:36.000
 to forgive us

00:41:36.000 --> 00:41:36.599
 our sins

00:41:36.599 --> 00:41:37.779
 and cleanse us

00:41:37.779 --> 00:41:39.239
 from all unrighteousness.

00:41:39.239 --> 00:41:40.979
 Father,

00:41:41.039 --> 00:41:41.959
 we praise You

00:41:41.959 --> 00:41:42.739
 for what You

00:41:42.739 --> 00:41:43.279
 have done.

00:41:44.139 --> 00:41:44.959
 We praise You

00:41:44.959 --> 00:41:45.699
 for what Christ

00:41:45.699 --> 00:41:46.179
 has done

00:41:46.179 --> 00:41:48.099
 and we praise You

00:41:48.099 --> 00:41:49.019
 for what the Spirit

00:41:49.019 --> 00:41:49.959
 will do

00:41:49.959 --> 00:41:51.079
 in our lives.

00:41:52.319 --> 00:41:53.159
 As it's in Jesus'

00:41:53.359 --> 00:41:53.979
 precious name

00:41:53.979 --> 00:41:54.459
 we pray.

00:41:55.719 --> 00:41:56.119
 Amen.

00:41:56.119 --> 00:41:56.259
 Amen.

00:41:56.260 --> 00:41:57.260
 Amen.

00:41:57.740 --> 00:42:00.000
 Amen.

00:42:00.160 --> 00:42:00.700
 Amen.

00:42:00.840 --> 00:42:02.180
 Amen.

00:42:02.180 --> 00:42:04.220
 Amen.