Hello, I'm Shelley Quinn.
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And again we welcome
you to Issues and Answers.
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Today, the issue
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is the last big
Temptation of Satan.
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And we're going to talking
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about preparing for
Satan's last big temptation.
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Our guest is no
stranger to those of you
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who've been
watching 3ABN for many years.
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He has done a
couple of series here,
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one was called "It's
Your Money Isn't It?"
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And the other was
called "By My Spirit."
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And I'm speaking of Ed Reid,
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who has a Master's in Divinity,
a Master's in public health,
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he also has a law degree,
and he is currently serving
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as the assistant to the
President of plan giving
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for Adventist World Radio.
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Formerly he was a
stewardship director
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for the North American division
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of Seventh-day
Adventists churches.
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And I told him you couldn't have
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a simple title, could you?
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But Ed has done a lot
of study on eschatology
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and a lot of study in the
area of finance and stewardship
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and he is a certified
counselor in stewardship.
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So we're so
excited to have him here.
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And, Ed, once again
thank you for coming.
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It's a pleasure
to be here with you.
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Yes, tell us, you retired
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from the full
time church position
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to work part time for
the Adventist World Radio.
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Have you slowed down at all?
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It doesn't seem like.
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We're traveling a
lot and working a lot
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and we're very active in
our local church as well,
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so we're staying
busy and we like that.
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Yes, I've heard
actually that you may be busier
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than when you
were working full time.
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It seems like, yes.
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There is no retirement, is
there, from the Lord's work?
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That's why the
millennium is a thousand years,
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so we can all rest up
a little bit, I think.
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Amen. Amen.
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This is just
fascinating, your idea
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and the title of
preparation or preparing
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for Satan's last big temptation.
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I know you have a
lot to say about this,
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so I'm going to let you
just kind of hop in here
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but first explain what
is the last big temptation?
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It's very interesting
that a number of things
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happen to people
as far as temptations.
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You'll be tempted in
a ways that I won't be
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and I will be that you won't be.
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Like for, I don't
think I'd ever be tempted
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to smoke or drink, I just...
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I might but I
don't think I would be.
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But there's one temptation
that everyone will face
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and that's that...
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just before Jesus comes
the ones who are faithful
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will not be able to buy or sell
and everybody goes through it.
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Everyone who
leaves this earth alive
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will go through
that period of time
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when they can't buy or sell.
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And that's going to a
fate almost worse than death.
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In other words,
when I came up here
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I had to stop and
get gasoline, of course,
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and I just put my credit card in
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and pulled it out
and that let me put gas
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but what if it
says, "Card declined,"
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and then you go
inside and you can't fix it
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in the service station
either, then you realize
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your phone
service is not working
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and, you know, you
can't get on the internet
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and your power is turned off
and your water is turned off,
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you just can't buy or sell.
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This is one of these things
that we're doing to countries
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right now, you know with
these embargos and so on.
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Sanctions and so on,
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but what will that be
like when it happens to people
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and how can you
prepare for that time?
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Yes.
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Now, Jesus had a
lot to say about money.
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And I learnt from you
that He actually spoke
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more about money
than He did about
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faith and prayer combined.
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That's true.
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So money is a topic
that He put much emphasis on.
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And when it comes to
the end, the end of times,
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when that last temptation
comes we're going to understand
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why money is so important.
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Exactly right.
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I've determined myself that
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the reason you
talk so much about it
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is so we would
be ready at the end.
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It's not because if we
teach more stewardship,
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people be more faithful
with their tithes and offerings
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because God does
not need the money,
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we all should understand that.
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He's told us in
Psalms, you know, that,
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"If I were hungry,
I wouldn't tell you
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because the world is
mine and everything in it."
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So the big deal is
that's for our own benefit
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to learn how to manage
money with the faith factor
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and trusting in God.
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Amen.
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So why don't you just tell us,
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just lay the
foundation for this.
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Well, the real...
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The thing actually
is a greater enigma
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when you think about
Jesus actually linked
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money management to salvation,
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and a lot of
people don't realize
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that it's not a
legalistic perspective,
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but I'll share it
with you in this way.
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One of the more
interesting and simple stories
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of the Bible is Zacchaeus.
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And I'll just give
you the one-minute version
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but Zacchaeus was
an attorney or a CPA,
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he worked for the IRS
as it were of his day,
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so he'd be
dressed in a business suit
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much like I am
today, but when he heard
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Jesus was coming to Jericho,
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he decided he
wanted to go and see Jesus.
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Well, the interesting thing
is so did a lot of other people.
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And when he got
out there to the road
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where Jesus would pass through,
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you know, what do we
know about him for sure?
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He's a tax
collector, he's a rich man,
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but he was also
short of stature,
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the Bible
indicates that in Luke 19.
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And the interesting
thing is he probably said,
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"Well, please get
away I'm a short man."
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And they thought,
"Well, you should have
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thought about that yesterday
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because we're out
here waiting to see Jesus."
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The most amazing thing
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and this is a real
touching point to me
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when you want to see
Jesus He wants to see you too
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and this is the
real incredible thing.
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So Zacchaeus, though
he's not a little boy
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in shorts and tennis
shoes, he runs ahead in his suit
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and climbs a tree.
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And Jesus moved the
crowd right under his tree
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and then looked up
and called him by name,
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though they
apparently had never met,
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"Zacchaeus, come down."
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And I like to ask
people, do you think
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He knows your name
too? And of course, He does.
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All the stuff in the
Bible is so we can have
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a closer relationship with God.
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And so Jesus did
something that I would never do,
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I doubt you would either.
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He invited
himself home for lunch.
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"I'm going to your
place for lunch today."
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Isn't that interesting? That is.
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And the most amazing
thing about it all is that
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Zacchaeus was cheerfully
willing to have Him come.
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He must have sent a
runner on head to his wife
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because when you get Jesus
you get 12 hungry disciples,
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they don't have regular meals.
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So 13 guys are coming for dinner
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and this is a
big deal, you know,
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for most people it would be
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but the real bottom line is that
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at the end of this
one encounter with Jesus,
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he said, "I'm going to give back
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four times what
I took from people
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and half of
what I have left them
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I want to give it to the poor."
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Now this is amazing
because Jesus didn't say,
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"That's a wonderful idea."
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You know what He said,
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"Today salvation
has come to your house."
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Isn't that incredible?
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I mean, we'd all love
Him to say that at our house.
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So that one encounter with Jesus
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changed his attitude
toward wealth in this world
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and a close
relationship with God.
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And I think the
way we look at money
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and money can
either be something that is
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the object of our affection
and it's a very selfish thing
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or we can look at money
as being a gift from God
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and a way to spread
His gospel, if you will.
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So Zacchaeus had a
complete change of heart
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at that moment.
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And the selfishness
all of what he had done
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as far as perhaps
cheating and lying
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and everything else
went out the window.
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Exactly, with one
encounter with Jesus.
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Would have been nice and late
it maybe the Lord recorded that
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somewhere so we can watch
it in heaven on the super DVDs,
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but what Jesus said to
him to bring about that
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response is pretty amazing.
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So the real deal is
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how do you prepare for a
time when you can't buy or sell?
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But could you explain to...
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Many of our viewers
don't understand the context
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of why you can't buy or sell.
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Okay, Revelation
13:18, verse 17 actually.
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Revelation 13:17.
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It actually says that,
"You cannot buy or sell
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unless you are
willing to receive
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the mark of the beast."
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This is an end time thing,
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and it's an amazing thing
where you understand that...
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most people talk about
living near the end of time now
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and the reason that
we know that is because
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you have signs of the
end which are being fulfilled
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and the great
prophetic timeline,
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so the things we
see happening now
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have more significance than
they would normally have had.
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Isn't that true?
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Oh, I mean, daily we see
prophecies being fulfilled,
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we see things that we've
been told about for many years
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and it seems
like on a daily basis
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the headlines are lining
up what the world has to say
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is lining up with
what the Bible says.
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Jesus told His disciples
that people will make it
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difficult on you
and they'll think
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they're doing God a
service when they do this.
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So they're not just
hateful, they're thinking
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they're doing God a
service, that's the thing.
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And then there will
be this financial embargo
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to God's faithful people
that you cannot buy or sell
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and that's in revelation 13:17,
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so people can read that and see.
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The interesting part
about this is how do you prepare
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for such a time?
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And in the
research that I've done
00:08:43.02\00:08:44.85
there's three things
that would be a hindrance
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to trusting God then.
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If you're not
willing to trust God,
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you will leave your
faith in God immediately
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when that
happens, because, you know,
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if all of your
services and supplies
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are cut off in one day,
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you're going to
have to decide right then
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or you will have
had decide beforehand
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what are you going
to do when that happens.
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You see what I'm saying? Sure.
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So I think there's
three things that keep people
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or will encourage
people to be faithful
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during that time on
the positive of that.
00:09:07.94\00:09:12.48
The negative would be
debt bondage, being in debt,
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you know, any kind of debt.
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And the other one is you
should have your treasure
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stored up on earth
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because if
you're leaving here soon
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you are looking
toward heaven and not toward
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your own
possessions on this earth.
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And the last one is
unfaithfulness to God.
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If we haven't learned to
trust God with our tithes
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and offerings and
management of the way
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He would have us manage.
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That's going to be a very, very
difficult time in the future.
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And, you know, the
Bible says a lot about debt...
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not being in debt bondage.
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Right.
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And it truly is, I
mean, that's a good word for,
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it is bondage, isn't it?
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Well, the Bible calls it
that, Proverbs 22:7 says,
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"The rich rule over the poor,
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and the borrower is
the slave of the lender."
00:09:52.29\00:09:54.52
So that's
really, really bondage.
00:09:54.56\00:09:56.29
We will never be free
until we're debt free.
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But I had never really
stopped there, you know,
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and praise the Lord,
I've reached that point.
00:10:00.76\00:10:02.96
My husband and I have
reached that point in our life
00:10:03.00\00:10:04.57
where we're
completely debt free.
00:10:04.60\00:10:05.93
Praise the Lord.
00:10:05.97\00:10:07.30
And the beauty of it
is that with the money
00:10:07.34\00:10:09.70
you do have you
can do more to support
00:10:09.74\00:10:11.71
the work of the Lord,
00:10:11.74\00:10:13.38
but I've never really thought
00:10:13.41\00:10:15.34
about how that
would be at the end time.
00:10:15.38\00:10:18.31
I'm so glad you're
bringing this topic
00:10:18.35\00:10:20.18
to those of you
00:10:20.22\00:10:21.55
who are watching by
television or by radio,
00:10:21.58\00:10:23.69
or listening by radio,
00:10:23.72\00:10:25.49
or maybe watching
over the Internet.
00:10:25.52\00:10:27.62
The idea that we
are in the last times,
00:10:27.66\00:10:31.16
we are approaching
this final great temptation
00:10:31.19\00:10:35.46
when we can't buy or sell.
00:10:35.50\00:10:37.00
If you have a
mortgage on your home
00:10:37.03\00:10:39.37
and you can no longer
pay the mortgage on your home
00:10:39.40\00:10:42.30
you would be much
more likely to acquiesce
00:10:42.34\00:10:46.74
and bow down to what
Satan's last temptation
00:10:46.78\00:10:52.11
is rather than lose your home
00:10:52.15\00:10:54.08
and have your family
out on the on the streets.
00:10:54.12\00:10:57.39
Is that's what
you're saying? Yes, it is.
00:10:57.42\00:10:59.29
I want to give
you a little quote
00:10:59.32\00:11:00.69
from Scott Christiansen's
book, "Planet in Distress."
00:11:00.72\00:11:04.46
He's a Christian author
who lives up in New England
00:11:04.49\00:11:07.26
but he for many years
served around the world
00:11:07.30\00:11:09.10
in humanitarian causes
00:11:09.13\00:11:10.47
and so on and
worked for ADRA for a while
00:11:10.50\00:11:12.27
and he says in his
Planet in Distress,
00:11:12.30\00:11:14.17
"The decay of our
global food system
00:11:14.20\00:11:15.84
is something to
be concerned about,
00:11:15.87\00:11:17.27
decay of our global
climate, decay of our oceans,"
00:11:17.31\00:11:20.61
a lot of people don't realize
00:11:20.64\00:11:21.98
but there are a
whole sections of the ocean
00:11:22.01\00:11:23.35
where nothing lives,
it's just dead zones.
00:11:23.38\00:11:26.01
"And the decay of
our freshwater systems,
00:11:26.05\00:11:27.78
decay of our
financial system, and so on."
00:11:27.82\00:11:29.28
We'll talk a little bit
more about the financial system
00:11:29.32\00:11:31.12
but then he ties this,
00:11:31.15\00:11:32.85
Scott does into
religious experience
00:11:32.89\00:11:35.99
or what we would call
the great controversy.
00:11:36.02\00:11:37.83
And here's just a little
quote, he begins by saying,
00:11:37.86\00:11:40.60
"Eliminate debt
00:11:40.63\00:11:42.10
when you're in debt to the world
00:11:42.13\00:11:43.47
you're beholden to the world,
00:11:43.50\00:11:44.83
and must remain
engaged in the world
00:11:44.87\00:11:46.20
in order to
maintain our debt payments.
00:11:46.23\00:11:48.00
So in order to
freely serve the Lord
00:11:48.04\00:11:49.40
whatever and wherever He calls,
00:11:49.44\00:11:50.97
we urgently need
to eliminate debt."
00:11:51.01\00:11:54.11
So that's one of the
reasons, the big one.
00:11:54.14\00:11:56.51
But you know, it makes
me think also what this,
00:11:56.54\00:11:59.08
your second point was
that the debt management
00:11:59.11\00:12:02.75
or debt bondage is
going to be a hindrance
00:12:02.78\00:12:05.62
to you obeying the Lord.
00:12:05.65\00:12:06.99
But you mentioned that if
we "store treasures on earth"
00:12:07.02\00:12:10.13
and that makes me think
of the rich young ruler.
00:12:10.16\00:12:12.13
Yes.
00:12:12.16\00:12:13.50
This is an incredible story
00:12:13.53\00:12:14.86
because this will transition
us into the second point
00:12:14.90\00:12:19.03
and that's treasure
stored up on this earth.
00:12:19.07\00:12:20.54
Right.
00:12:20.57\00:12:21.90
Many financial
counselors encourage people
00:12:21.94\00:12:23.81
to have a strategy
of savings to have,
00:12:23.84\00:12:25.71
you know, a certain
amount of money and so on.
00:12:25.74\00:12:28.44
My personal feeling
is the very best thing
00:12:28.48\00:12:30.41
people can do is get out of debt
00:12:30.45\00:12:31.78
because it's
cheaper to live out of debt.
00:12:31.81\00:12:34.12
And we don't need a
huge amount saved up
00:12:34.15\00:12:36.28
because I tell people
whether you're a Christian
00:12:36.32\00:12:39.49
or not when you die
you're taking nothing with you.
00:12:39.52\00:12:42.02
So you have to have a
plan to be of service to God,
00:12:42.06\00:12:44.49
your family, and
to others, and so on.
00:12:44.53\00:12:45.93
And that's why
00:12:45.96\00:12:47.30
we have Christian
Estate Planning for example.
00:12:47.33\00:12:49.70
You mentioned the rich and rule,
00:12:49.73\00:12:51.07
and I just tell you that
that is such an important story
00:12:51.10\00:12:53.74
that the Holy Spirit
00:12:53.77\00:12:55.24
inspired three
of the Bible writers
00:12:55.27\00:12:57.31
Matthew, Mark, and
Luke to record that story.
00:12:57.34\00:12:59.77
All of them
essentially the same thing
00:12:59.81\00:13:01.98
but this man
comes to Jesus and says,
00:13:02.01\00:13:04.18
"What could I do to
inherit eternal life?"
00:13:04.21\00:13:05.75
I mean, we all want
to know that, don't we?
00:13:05.78\00:13:07.68
Jesus said, "Keep
the Commandments."
00:13:07.72\00:13:09.05
And he said, "Well, which one?"
00:13:09.08\00:13:10.42
So Jesus started
quoting the 10 Commandments.
00:13:10.45\00:13:12.05
And He honestly
said, "You can stop now,
00:13:12.09\00:13:15.12
I've been doing that
since I was a little kid.
00:13:15.16\00:13:17.19
What do I lack yet?"
00:13:17.23\00:13:18.96
And then Jesus told him,
00:13:18.99\00:13:20.33
"Go and sell all you
have and give it to the poor
00:13:20.36\00:13:22.60
there by you will
store up treasures in heaven
00:13:22.63\00:13:24.57
and then come and follow me."
00:13:24.60\00:13:25.93
By the way all three writers say
00:13:25.97\00:13:27.30
you store up treasure in
heaven by helping others.
00:13:27.34\00:13:29.10
The interesting
part about all of this,
00:13:29.14\00:13:31.24
and the viewer
should understand this,
00:13:31.27\00:13:33.78
God does not
require all of His followers
00:13:33.81\00:13:36.64
to sell everything they
have, give it to the poor,
00:13:36.68\00:13:38.81
and become itinerant
preachers that's not God's plan.
00:13:38.85\00:13:41.72
But I once said as a
young man I told God in prayer,
00:13:41.75\00:13:45.15
"You have my permission to do
whatever it takes to save me,"
00:13:45.19\00:13:47.99
and that's what
it took for that guy.
00:13:48.02\00:13:50.06
He was so in love with his money
00:13:50.09\00:13:51.49
that God said the only thing
00:13:51.53\00:13:52.86
that's going to save us
is get rid of everything.
00:13:52.89\00:13:54.73
And then, you
know, and oh, by the way,
00:13:54.76\00:13:56.87
you know what He told him?
00:13:56.90\00:13:58.33
"Then come and follow me."
00:13:58.37\00:14:00.17
Those are the exact words
He told in the 12 disciples.
00:14:00.20\00:14:03.10
He could have
been the 13th disciple
00:14:03.14\00:14:04.74
and this is an incredible
thing but even as a young man,
00:14:04.77\00:14:07.74
he had so many possessions,
00:14:07.78\00:14:09.11
he must so attracted to
them that he went away sorrowful
00:14:09.14\00:14:11.61
because he had
great possessions.
00:14:11.65\00:14:12.98
He knew he was
making the wrong decision
00:14:13.01\00:14:14.88
but he couldn't let go.
00:14:14.92\00:14:16.42
And that's when we do,
you know, the Bible says,
00:14:16.45\00:14:20.09
"Don't lay up treasures on earth
00:14:20.12\00:14:22.32
rather treasures in heaven
00:14:22.36\00:14:23.69
because what's on
earth will rot, decay,"
00:14:23.73\00:14:25.69
and like you said,
00:14:25.73\00:14:27.06
you can't take it
with us when you go.
00:14:27.10\00:14:28.80
But when our heart,
00:14:28.83\00:14:30.17
his heart wasn't
really turned toward heaven,
00:14:30.20\00:14:32.80
he had not looked
at the eternal benefit
00:14:32.83\00:14:36.87
when he stored up
treasures in heaven toward God.
00:14:36.91\00:14:40.71
So the Lord
laid down a challenge
00:14:40.74\00:14:42.54
he didn't expect
and it was too much.
00:14:42.58\00:14:43.91
Isn't that true?
00:14:43.95\00:14:45.28
Well, another thing
that is very interesting
00:14:45.31\00:14:46.88
is that sometimes decisions
have to be made ahead of time.
00:14:46.92\00:14:50.59
When we came onto the
grounds of 3ABN last night,
00:14:50.62\00:14:52.85
three deer ran
across in front of our car.
00:14:52.89\00:14:54.62
It wasn't dangerous or anything
we just saw them hopping along.
00:14:54.66\00:14:57.46
But the interesting part
about it is in many places,
00:14:57.49\00:15:00.60
when we lived in Maryland
about 1,500 deer were hit
00:15:00.63\00:15:03.90
and killed in our
area every year by cars.
00:15:03.93\00:15:07.10
And of course, that can
be a big serious accident,
00:15:07.14\00:15:08.77
so we tell our children to keep
their steering wheel straight,
00:15:08.80\00:15:11.24
slow down if you can.
00:15:11.27\00:15:12.67
But the average person
will think turn out of the way
00:15:12.71\00:15:15.58
and then you
could cause something
00:15:15.61\00:15:16.95
very, very dangerous
and end up in a bad wreck
00:15:16.98\00:15:19.41
or hurt somebody's property
or your own car or whatever.
00:15:19.45\00:15:21.78
Well, the interesting thing
00:15:21.82\00:15:23.15
is you have to make
this decision ahead of time
00:15:23.18\00:15:25.02
and that is to
remember that no person
00:15:25.05\00:15:27.36
or anything is worth
trading for eternal life.
00:15:27.39\00:15:30.29
And that's what Lot's
wife didn't figure out.
00:15:30.33\00:15:32.99
That's right. It's true.
00:15:33.03\00:15:34.76
And that kind of,
brings me to your third point
00:15:34.80\00:15:37.80
was financial
unfaithfulness to God
00:15:37.83\00:15:40.84
is a hindrance to being prepared
00:15:40.87\00:15:43.00
for that last point.
00:15:43.04\00:15:44.37
If we are not
faithful in returning
00:15:44.41\00:15:47.81
part of our tithe now,
00:15:47.84\00:15:49.58
if we're not faithful
00:15:49.61\00:15:52.35
with our
finances toward God now,
00:15:52.38\00:15:55.68
how on earth will
we be in the end times?
00:15:55.72\00:15:59.59
Let me give you a
little illustration
00:15:59.62\00:16:01.02
that will help you to
see what I'm talking about.
00:16:01.06\00:16:02.59
I believe that every time,
00:16:02.62\00:16:04.59
well, let me
illustrate it this way.
00:16:04.63\00:16:07.46
We all
understand the tithe is 10%.
00:16:07.50\00:16:09.63
Right. We could
also all use a 100%.
00:16:09.66\00:16:12.00
I mean, I've got
ways I can figure out
00:16:12.03\00:16:13.37
I could use all 100% for myself
00:16:13.40\00:16:14.97
and almost anybody
could easily figure that out.
00:16:15.00\00:16:17.01
But we have to understand,
00:16:17.04\00:16:18.37
when we return our tithe to God,
00:16:18.41\00:16:19.74
we're not doing it
00:16:19.77\00:16:21.11
because we're of
gratitude or generosity,
00:16:21.14\00:16:22.88
it's a matter of simple honesty.
00:16:22.91\00:16:24.25
We're being faithful with God
00:16:24.28\00:16:25.98
and we show our
gratitude by our offerings,
00:16:26.01\00:16:28.28
and tithe and offerings together
00:16:28.32\00:16:29.75
show our faithfulness to God.
00:16:29.78\00:16:31.12
And this is
incredible to understand.
00:16:31.15\00:16:32.89
Remember again, that
God does not need the money
00:16:32.92\00:16:35.19
near as much as
we need the blessings
00:16:35.22\00:16:36.76
because we need to
strengthen our faith.
00:16:36.79\00:16:39.36
So I want to
illustrate it this way.
00:16:39.39\00:16:41.33
Think in terms of
every time you tithe,
00:16:41.36\00:16:43.87
the strength, the
core that binds you
00:16:43.90\00:16:45.83
to God gets bigger,
and bigger, and bigger.
00:16:45.87\00:16:48.37
And you see what I'm saying?
00:16:48.40\00:16:49.74
So, near the end
00:16:49.77\00:16:51.17
we're going to have
to depend on Him a 100%.
00:16:51.21\00:16:53.58
But if I haven't
developed a core that's strong,
00:16:53.61\00:16:55.54
my faith is not
strong, it's not going to last.
00:16:55.58\00:16:57.91
You see what I'm saying? Yes.
00:16:57.95\00:16:59.41
Those are really amazing
things to be to understand.
00:16:59.45\00:17:01.92
And, you know, it
is so difficult too.
00:17:01.95\00:17:03.92
I remember when we
were first married,
00:17:03.95\00:17:07.69
J.D. and I had a
business partner,
00:17:07.72\00:17:10.06
a little on the
shady side, I think.
00:17:10.09\00:17:11.99
And had $15,000 in
debt when we're married,
00:17:12.03\00:17:15.30
and we were
young and that's a lot,
00:17:15.33\00:17:18.20
that was a heavy load
00:17:18.23\00:17:19.63
but we didn't take bankruptcy
and we were paying this back.
00:17:19.67\00:17:24.54
And we weren't tithing
because there was no increase,
00:17:24.57\00:17:28.28
I mean, we were
still making money
00:17:28.31\00:17:29.64
but it all went
out to pay for the...
00:17:29.68\00:17:32.41
We were living on
credit cards basically,
00:17:32.45\00:17:34.12
the money was going
toward paying these debts.
00:17:34.15\00:17:36.92
But we decided that even though
00:17:36.95\00:17:38.69
we didn't have anything to tithe
00:17:38.72\00:17:40.56
because there was no increase
00:17:40.59\00:17:43.96
we decided that we
would make an offering
00:17:43.99\00:17:47.33
and I cannot tell you
when you're living in Dallas,
00:17:47.36\00:17:50.20
Texas and your grocery
budget is a $100 a month,
00:17:50.23\00:17:54.40
we decided we're going
to give a $100 a month,
00:17:54.44\00:17:56.54
and that was I mean,
that 100 was basically it.
00:17:56.57\00:18:00.71
And, you know
something, I don't know how,
00:18:00.74\00:18:03.21
I mean, I kept the
books and I cannot tell you
00:18:03.24\00:18:06.08
how God blessed that 90%.
00:18:06.11\00:18:08.88
And how easy He
made things for us
00:18:08.92\00:18:11.32
when we just
started giving it off
00:18:11.35\00:18:12.69
and pretty soon we
were able to pay tithe
00:18:12.72\00:18:14.52
because we
started seeing an increase
00:18:14.56\00:18:16.46
and that's the
money to pay the debts
00:18:16.49\00:18:18.53
and then holds money out for us
00:18:18.56\00:18:20.26
for something other
than our business expense.
00:18:20.30\00:18:22.80
It was amazing to me
that sometimes I'd look
00:18:22.83\00:18:26.03
and I think,
"What's happened here?
00:18:26.07\00:18:27.87
How come we've
got so much more?"
00:18:27.90\00:18:30.14
And we're living on 90%.
00:18:30.17\00:18:31.57
Well, that 90% God
said belonged to me,
00:18:31.61\00:18:33.61
but the 10% belong to Him.
00:18:33.64\00:18:35.28
It's really, really interesting
00:18:35.31\00:18:36.71
and in my work and
teaching stewardship
00:18:36.75\00:18:38.78
and money management,
00:18:38.81\00:18:40.15
I've heard literally hundreds
00:18:40.18\00:18:41.58
of similar
testimonies of people.
00:18:41.62\00:18:43.75
So amazing that it
brings tears to your eyes,
00:18:43.79\00:18:46.35
you know, and that
develops our trust in God.
00:18:46.39\00:18:49.29
So I'll just
mention it this way,
00:18:49.32\00:18:52.03
Psalms 33 talks about,
00:18:52.06\00:18:55.00
I'm going to get
the exact verse for you
00:18:55.03\00:18:56.60
so you can see what it is.
00:18:56.63\00:18:58.27
But the most amazing
thing about it is that there's,
00:18:58.30\00:19:04.87
you know...
00:19:04.91\00:19:07.31
This factor is I
think, its 33:17,
00:19:07.34\00:19:11.01
where it says that,
00:19:11.05\00:19:12.38
"You may learn to
trust the Lord always."
00:19:12.41\00:19:15.12
And then 33,
this is Deuteronomy.
00:19:15.15\00:19:17.95
I'll just point it out to you.
00:19:17.99\00:19:19.49
Deuteronomy 14:22-23, states,
00:19:19.52\00:19:22.59
you know, "That you
should tithe everything
00:19:22.62\00:19:24.03
that the Lord blesses you
00:19:24.06\00:19:25.39
with so you may learn
to fear the Lord always."
00:19:25.43\00:19:27.53
And then Psalms 33 says,
00:19:27.56\00:19:28.90
"The fear of the
Lord is trusting Him."
00:19:28.93\00:19:30.97
So you learn to
trust God by being faithful
00:19:31.00\00:19:33.30
with your stewardship,
it's a biblical concept;
00:19:33.34\00:19:35.27
it's not just
something I came up with.
00:19:35.30\00:19:37.54
It's a biblical concept
so that we can follow that.
00:19:37.57\00:19:39.77
So when we're faithful
00:19:39.81\00:19:41.14
we begin to
develop our trust in God.
00:19:41.18\00:19:43.31
So in an ideal world
when, I cannot buy or sell,
00:19:43.35\00:19:46.92
that wouldn't be ideal
but here's my ideal response,
00:19:46.95\00:19:49.95
if I've learned to trust
God I can just tell the devil
00:19:49.98\00:19:51.52
to take a hike
00:19:51.55\00:19:52.89
because I can just say, "Listen,
00:19:52.92\00:19:54.26
I've learned to trust in God,
00:19:54.29\00:19:55.62
and He's going
to take care of me
00:19:55.66\00:19:56.99
no matter what."
00:19:57.03\00:19:58.36
Amen. This is a
miraculous thing.
00:19:58.39\00:19:59.73
And it's interesting
00:19:59.76\00:20:01.10
that sometimes
people scoff at people
00:20:01.13\00:20:02.96
who believe in miracles,
00:20:03.00\00:20:04.47
but I believe in
miracles and I believe
00:20:04.50\00:20:05.90
that we've seen
them in our own lives.
00:20:05.93\00:20:07.27
Absolutely.
00:20:07.30\00:20:08.64
And the amazing thing is
when you learn to trust God,
00:20:08.67\00:20:10.87
you see miraculous
things happen on your behalf.
00:20:10.91\00:20:13.04
You can just
understand that God exists
00:20:13.07\00:20:16.24
and I tell people
that you can't see God
00:20:16.28\00:20:19.48
and no one has seen His face,
00:20:19.51\00:20:20.85
and that's the
most amazing thing,
00:20:20.88\00:20:22.22
but you can learn
that to know that He exists
00:20:22.25\00:20:24.09
because He answers your prayers,
00:20:24.12\00:20:25.62
fulfills His promises,
00:20:25.65\00:20:27.29
you see prophecy being fulfilled
00:20:27.32\00:20:28.72
and it's Providence
leading in your life
00:20:28.76\00:20:30.19
and those are amazing
things then you learn to do
00:20:30.23\00:20:32.73
that through
proper money management.
00:20:32.76\00:20:34.36
And you can be prepared
for difficult times in the end
00:20:34.40\00:20:36.33
when that happens as well.
00:20:36.36\00:20:37.70
And it's like what
the Bible says in Matthew,
00:20:37.73\00:20:40.00
I don't remember the
verse but where He says that,
00:20:40.04\00:20:42.64
"Where your treasure is
there your heart is also."
00:20:42.67\00:20:46.54
That's Matthew 6:21.
00:20:46.57\00:20:47.91
So as we put our
treasures in heaven
00:20:47.94\00:20:53.68
and trust in the Lord,
00:20:53.72\00:20:55.32
that's where
our heart will be...
00:20:55.35\00:20:56.69
Exactly.
00:20:56.72\00:20:58.05
That's when you were talking
about Lot's wife looking back,
00:20:58.09\00:21:01.59
her treasure was back there,
00:21:01.62\00:21:04.39
that big beautiful home
00:21:04.43\00:21:05.76
or whatever she
was leaving back there,
00:21:05.79\00:21:08.53
that's what
caused her to look back
00:21:08.56\00:21:10.20
and be lost, isn't it?
00:21:10.23\00:21:11.83
As a matter of
fact, in Luke 17:32,
00:21:11.87\00:21:14.60
Jesus says,
"Remember Lot's wife."
00:21:14.64\00:21:17.87
Yes.
00:21:17.91\00:21:19.24
And this is not just an abstract
00:21:19.27\00:21:20.61
recollection saying like,
00:21:20.64\00:21:22.08
well, "Oh yeah, I
remember that woman.
00:21:22.11\00:21:24.01
Isn't she the one that turned
00:21:24.05\00:21:25.38
to a pillar of
salt or something?"
00:21:25.41\00:21:26.75
But when you remember
in the biblical sense,
00:21:26.78\00:21:29.28
you do something,
00:21:29.32\00:21:30.72
like, when you
remember the Sabbath
00:21:30.75\00:21:32.22
you keep it holy,
00:21:32.25\00:21:33.96
and, you know,
that kind of thing.
00:21:33.99\00:21:35.96
Put something
into practice. Sure.
00:21:35.99\00:21:37.83
And when God remembered Hannah,
she had a baby named Samuel.
00:21:37.86\00:21:42.63
I mean, that's just
the kind of thing you see
00:21:42.66\00:21:44.47
when you remember.
00:21:44.50\00:21:45.83
So when you remember Lot's wife,
00:21:45.87\00:21:47.34
you remember that whole
story was kind of interesting.
00:21:47.37\00:21:49.84
God in His great
mercy sent two angels
00:21:49.87\00:21:53.17
and He came down
personally as well
00:21:53.21\00:21:55.08
to deliver Lot from Sodom.
00:21:55.11\00:21:57.58
And then it was
God who said to them,
00:21:57.61\00:21:59.58
"Do not look back."
00:21:59.61\00:22:01.75
But of course,
Lot argued with God
00:22:01.78\00:22:03.42
and said, "You know,
00:22:03.45\00:22:04.79
I don't want to
go to the mountains,
00:22:04.82\00:22:06.15
there's this little
city over here called Zoar
00:22:06.19\00:22:07.52
let me go over there.
00:22:07.56\00:22:08.89
And while he was arguing
with God, his wife looked back.
00:22:08.92\00:22:10.43
Well, we
understand now why she did,
00:22:10.46\00:22:12.79
and you've mentioned one of them
00:22:12.83\00:22:14.16
and that is that her
stuff was still back there.
00:22:14.20\00:22:16.30
But her kids
were still back there.
00:22:16.33\00:22:18.07
And all her family
members were still back there.
00:22:18.10\00:22:20.04
I mean, it's just incredible.
00:22:20.07\00:22:21.60
And that's why I said earlier
00:22:21.64\00:22:22.97
that every person who
leaves this earth alive
00:22:23.00\00:22:25.07
will have to have
the same experience
00:22:25.11\00:22:27.28
when Jesus says,
"It's time to leave,"
00:22:27.31\00:22:29.08
what will you say?
00:22:29.11\00:22:30.45
Do you
understand what I'm saying?
00:22:30.48\00:22:31.81
Yes.
00:22:31.85\00:22:33.18
Believe it or not it's...
00:22:33.21\00:22:34.55
The children
would be the most...
00:22:34.58\00:22:35.92
It's hard.
00:22:35.95\00:22:37.29
It's really hard
to understand it.
00:22:37.32\00:22:38.65
There's probably
not a person alive
00:22:38.69\00:22:40.02
who doesn't have a loved one
00:22:40.06\00:22:41.39
who has left the Lord or
has never come to the Lord.
00:22:41.42\00:22:42.76
But we pray for
those people regularly
00:22:42.79\00:22:44.13
and do our best to
win them to the Lord
00:22:44.16\00:22:45.63
but some day we're
going to have to walk off
00:22:45.66\00:22:47.00
and leave them.
00:22:47.03\00:22:48.36
That's pretty sad, isn't that?
00:22:48.40\00:22:49.73
But we have to make
the decision ahead of time.
00:22:49.76\00:22:52.33
When we talk about our
love for God in tithing,
00:22:52.37\00:22:56.00
I loved what you said about
how you're developing that cord
00:22:56.04\00:22:58.67
so that you've got that.
00:22:58.71\00:23:00.21
But there is
something that chains us
00:23:00.24\00:23:03.08
to the devil too, isn't there?
00:23:03.11\00:23:04.78
That's our loving buddy. Yes.
00:23:04.81\00:23:06.15
Ellen book, 'Steps to
Christ' I think it's page 44,
00:23:06.18\00:23:07.98
we're told that,
00:23:08.02\00:23:09.35
"The love of money,
the desire for wealth
00:23:09.38\00:23:10.89
is the golden chain
that binds people to Satan."
00:23:10.92\00:23:13.92
That's very, very interesting
when you think about it.
00:23:13.96\00:23:16.29
So from a Christian perspective
00:23:16.32\00:23:17.83
our goal is not to
become millionaires
00:23:17.86\00:23:19.49
but it's to have our
needs met and to have funds
00:23:19.53\00:23:21.93
that we can
advance the cause of God
00:23:21.96\00:23:23.30
and help other people
00:23:23.33\00:23:24.67
which both of those
store up treasures in heaven.
00:23:24.70\00:23:26.53
Absolutely. Absolutely.
00:23:26.57\00:23:28.70
So when you think
about these three things...
00:23:28.74\00:23:32.07
God has a plan for our
money, let's put it that way.
00:23:35.71\00:23:38.58
Yes.
00:23:38.61\00:23:39.95
And He's laid it out
00:23:39.98\00:23:41.32
and He wants us
to have nice things,
00:23:41.35\00:23:43.15
I mean, He
wants us to prosper...
00:23:43.18\00:23:44.65
Yes.
00:23:44.69\00:23:46.02
And, you know, one thing
that I always tell people
00:23:46.05\00:23:48.02
is that
something that I try to do
00:23:48.06\00:23:49.96
is I make certain
that I buy the best I can,
00:23:49.99\00:23:52.93
but I always get it on sale.
00:23:52.96\00:23:54.63
So I'm buying good quality
00:23:54.66\00:23:56.23
because something
that's going to last.
00:23:56.26\00:23:58.83
But Satan has a plan
00:23:58.87\00:24:00.20
for our money as
well as, doesn't he?
00:24:00.24\00:24:01.57
Well, here's the
interesting thing,
00:24:01.60\00:24:02.94
and since you brought that
up I can use this illustration.
00:24:02.97\00:24:05.17
A lot of people,
I think mistakenly,
00:24:05.21\00:24:07.38
believe that the Tree of
Knowledge of Good and Evil
00:24:07.41\00:24:09.31
is only in the Garden of Eden,
00:24:09.34\00:24:10.68
and Adam and Eve
only had that temptation.
00:24:10.71\00:24:13.18
Believe it or not,
for us tithe and offerings
00:24:13.21\00:24:16.55
is our Tree of
Knowledge of Good and Evil.
00:24:16.58\00:24:18.45
And the Bible is
very clear about,
00:24:18.49\00:24:20.12
you know, that
we learn to trust,
00:24:20.16\00:24:21.86
and I can just give you
the illustration of this.
00:24:21.89\00:24:24.46
I'm not the only one
that's come up with this,
00:24:24.49\00:24:25.89
I mean, I've
heard Larry Birkhead
00:24:25.93\00:24:27.26
and Howard Dayton
00:24:27.30\00:24:28.63
and many others
talk about this as well.
00:24:28.66\00:24:30.00
But what I can
just share with you
00:24:30.03\00:24:31.53
is when God created Adam and Eve
00:24:31.57\00:24:33.20
and put them in
the Garden of Eden,
00:24:33.23\00:24:34.57
He said, "Of all that
you see you may freely eat.
00:24:34.60\00:24:38.07
I only reserve this one tree."
00:24:38.11\00:24:40.41
And that was the one for,
00:24:40.44\00:24:41.78
you know, that they
were not to part take of.
00:24:41.81\00:24:43.58
And then in the same
manner God has placed us
00:24:43.61\00:24:45.61
in all the
abundance of the earth today
00:24:45.65\00:24:46.98
and He says,
"This is for you, enjoy.
00:24:47.02\00:24:49.25
And I only ask you to
return the tithe to me."
00:24:49.28\00:24:52.65
You see what I'm
saying? It's pretty simple.
00:24:52.69\00:24:54.82
And so when I
return the tithe to God
00:24:54.86\00:24:56.39
I show that I trust
Him, I believe His word
00:24:56.42\00:24:58.29
and I'm willing to
follow His counsel.
00:24:58.33\00:25:00.66
Those are the kinds of things
that people need to recognize
00:25:00.70\00:25:03.70
that it's a
relationship with Christ.
00:25:03.73\00:25:06.90
So let me ask this question.
00:25:06.94\00:25:08.50
If I'm
understanding you correctly,
00:25:08.54\00:25:11.07
if I were to paraphrase,
00:25:11.11\00:25:12.44
if somebody asked me
what we talked about today,
00:25:12.47\00:25:14.51
I would say, "Well, I
think one of his main points
00:25:14.54\00:25:16.58
is that paying a faithful tithe
00:25:16.61\00:25:19.68
is very definitely preparing us
00:25:19.71\00:25:22.45
for the final great
temptation of Satan.
00:25:22.48\00:25:26.99
And if we don't
pay a faithful tithe,
00:25:27.02\00:25:29.06
if we're not faithful in
our finances to the Lord,
00:25:29.09\00:25:31.99
or if we store treasures up
on heaven and if we are not...
00:25:32.03\00:25:35.56
if we are in financial bondage
00:25:35.60\00:25:38.53
then you're not going to be
ready to meet this temptation."
00:25:38.57\00:25:40.90
Exactly.
00:25:40.94\00:25:42.27
That's pretty, very close to it.
00:25:42.30\00:25:43.64
And I can tell you that
00:25:43.67\00:25:45.77
when you look at the money
management situation thing,
00:25:45.81\00:25:48.34
we always have to
remember two things.
00:25:48.38\00:25:49.84
One is God does
not need the money
00:25:49.88\00:25:51.65
and He's only
interested in our faithfulness.
00:25:51.68\00:25:53.92
And He even asked the question,
"When the Son of Man returns
00:25:53.95\00:25:55.88
will he find
faith on the earth?"
00:25:55.92\00:25:57.55
So that's the kind of
thing that I think about.
00:25:57.59\00:25:59.82
And I'm looking for the idea
00:25:59.85\00:26:02.96
that selfishness
is the primary thing
00:26:02.99\00:26:05.43
that keeps us away from
a relationship with God.
00:26:05.46\00:26:07.86
People think that sometimes
that a relationship with God
00:26:07.90\00:26:09.76
is just love,
love, love all the time
00:26:09.80\00:26:11.47
and the God
loves us and I love Him
00:26:11.50\00:26:12.83
and that's all that matters.
00:26:12.87\00:26:14.20
But we demonstrate our
love by being faithful to God.
00:26:14.24\00:26:17.21
And that's... I think
the real secret to it.
00:26:17.24\00:26:20.11
Okay, we have
about one minute left.
00:26:20.14\00:26:22.21
What would you tell
people who are watching
00:26:22.24\00:26:24.91
how to encourage
them to be how to prepare.
00:26:24.95\00:26:29.48
Well, even
though for some families
00:26:29.52\00:26:31.72
who living in
difficult times now,
00:26:31.75\00:26:33.69
I mean, in the last five years
00:26:33.72\00:26:35.42
more than 12
million American families
00:26:35.46\00:26:36.83
have lost their
homes to foreclosure.
00:26:36.86\00:26:38.23
So I don't need to tell people
we're living in good times,
00:26:38.26\00:26:40.30
we're in a stressful time.
00:26:40.33\00:26:41.73
But the bottom line is if
you put God first in your life
00:26:41.76\00:26:44.07
and you're faithful with Him,
00:26:44.10\00:26:45.43
He will take care of your family
00:26:45.47\00:26:46.80
and that's the
most important thing.
00:26:46.84\00:26:48.17
And another thing is,
this to me is very important.
00:26:48.20\00:26:51.21
Put God first in your life
00:26:51.24\00:26:52.67
and recognize that God has said,
00:26:52.71\00:26:54.74
"Prove me on this and
see if I want pour out,
00:26:54.78\00:26:56.64
open for you the
windows of heaven and pour
00:26:56.68\00:26:58.05
out such a blessing.
00:26:58.08\00:26:59.41
You don't have room
enough to receive it.
00:26:59.45\00:27:00.78
And if you
don't have room enough
00:27:00.82\00:27:02.15
you have a surplus you
can help even other people."
00:27:02.18\00:27:03.99
We don't have to become
millionaires on this road
00:27:04.02\00:27:05.75
because someday we're going to
walk off and leave everything.
00:27:05.79\00:27:08.32
So the idea is
let's be faithful with God
00:27:08.36\00:27:11.06
and God will be faithful to us.
00:27:11.09\00:27:12.89
Thank you so much
for your message today.
00:27:12.93\00:27:14.76
And I would just
add one thing with that
00:27:14.80\00:27:16.43
and that is learn to be
content in all circumstances
00:27:16.46\00:27:19.73
because a lot of reasons
people are losing their homes
00:27:19.77\00:27:22.87
is because they're out spending
the money that they're making.
00:27:22.90\00:27:26.51
We need to start
a little bit smaller
00:27:26.54\00:27:28.48
and then work our way up.
00:27:28.51\00:27:29.84
But thank you
so much for joining
00:27:29.88\00:27:31.85
and I hope today
has been something
00:27:31.88\00:27:33.62
that will really
make you pause and think.
00:27:33.65\00:27:37.35
Our prayer for you is
that you will be ready
00:27:37.39\00:27:40.62
for this final great temptation.
00:27:40.66\00:27:43.09
And the only way you can do
that is to trust in the Lord
00:27:43.12\00:27:46.29
with all your heart.
00:27:46.33\00:27:47.73
Good bye.
00:27:47.76\00:27:49.10