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Series Code: SSH
Program Code: SSH021805A
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00:00 (MUSIC)
00:35 >>GOOD MORNING FRIENDS AND WELCOME AGAIN TO SABBATH SCHOOL 00:37 STUDY HOUR HERE AT THE GRANITE BAY SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST 00:40 CHURCH. VERY WARM WELCOME TO THOSE OF 00:42 YOU WHO ARE JOINING US ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND AROUND THE 00:44 WORLD ON THE VARIOUS TELEVISION NETWORKS AND ALSO THOSE WHO 00:47 ARE WATCHING ON FACEBOOK. WE HAVE A SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT 00:51 FOR YOU HERE IN JUST A FEW MOMENTS. 00:53 I'D ALSO LIKE TO WELCOME THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE HERE IN PERSON, 00:56 OUR REGULAR CHURCH MEMBERS AND OUR VISITORS, A VERY WARM 00:59 WELCOME TO ALL OF YOU. AS WE CONTINUE OUR LESSON 01:02 SERIES ON STEWARDSHIP. IF YOU'VE BEEN COMING FOR A FEW 01:06 WEEKS YOU KNOW WE STARTED A NEW LESSON ENTITLED STEWARDSHIP: 01:08 MOTIVES OF THE HEART . AND TODAY WE FIND OURSELVES ON 01:12 LESSON #5 WHICH IS ENTITLED STEWARDS AFTER EDEN SO THAT WILL 01:17 BE OUR SUBJECT THAT WE'LL BE LOOKING AT TODAY. 01:20 FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE JOINING US LIVE ON FACEBOOK WE WANT TO 01:23 LET YOU KNOW ABOUT A SPECIAL FEATURE THAT WE'RE GOING TO 01:25 INCLUDE IN OUR STUDY TIME TODAY. WE'RE GOING TO TRY AND TAKE SOME 01:29 BIBLE QUESTIONS, RELATED TO THE SUBJECT OF STEWARDSHIP, DURING 01:33 THE TIME OF OUR LESSON TODAY. SO IF YOU GO TO THE FACEBOOK AND 01:38 YOU CAN MAKE A NOTE ON THERE JUST ASK YOUR QUESTION. 01:40 WE'LL TRY TO ANSWER AS MANY OF THOSE QUESTIONS AS WE CAN DURING 01:43 THE PROGRAM THIS MORNING. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T HAVE 01:47 A LESSON QUARTERLY - I KNOW THOSE 01:48 OF YOU HERE IN PERSON, WE DO HAVE A FEW EXTRA ONES. 01:51 YOU CAN GET YOURS FOLLOWING THE CHURCH SERVICE, THEY'RE OVER 01:53 THERE IN THE FOYER FOR OUR FRIENDS ARE JOINING US VIA THE 01:57 VARIOUS MEDIA OUTLETS. YOU CAN GO TO THE AMAZING FACTS 01:59 WEBSITE - JUST AMAZINGFACTS.ORG - AND YOU CAN DOWNLOAD LESSON #5 02:05 AND YOU CAN STUDY ALONG WITH US TODAY. 02:07 WE HAVE A FREE OFFER THAT GOES ALONG WITH OUR STUDY. 02:10 IT'S ENTITLED IS OBEDIENCE LEGALISM? 02:12 THIS IS ONE OF THE AMAZING FACTS STUDY GUIDES. 02:14 TO RECEIVE THE STUDY GUIDE, GIVE US A CALL. 02:17 THE RESOURCE PHONE LINE IS 866-788-3966 AND YOU CAN ASK FOR 02:23 OFFER #706. WELL BEFORE WE GET TO OUR STUDY 02:27 TIME THIS MORNING INVITE YOU TO JOIN US AS WE'RE GOING TO 02:30 LIFT OUR VOICES IN SONG. (PIANO MUSIC) 04:31 >>THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SINGING ALONG WITH US. AND, AT THIS 04:34 TIME, PASTOR ROSS IS GOING TO HAVE OUR OPENING PRAYER. 04:38 >>LET'S BOW OUR HEADS FOR PRAYER. 04:40 DEAR FATHER IN HEAVEN, AGAIN WE THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO 04:42 BE ABLE TO GATHER TOGETHER AND OPEN UP YOUR WORD AND STUDY THIS 04:45 IMPORTANT SUBJECT OF STEWARDSHIP. 04:47 EVERYTHING WE ARE EVERYTHING WE HAVE IS YOURS. 04:50 FATHER WE PRAY THAT YOU GIVE US WISDOM TO KNOW HOW WE CAN USE 04:53 THE THINGS THAT YOU'VE GIVEN US TO YOUR GLORY. 04:57 BLESS OUR TIME TODAY, FOR WE ASK THIS IN JESUS' NAME. 05:00 AMEN. OUR LESSON THIS MORNING IS GOING 05:03 TO BE BROUGHT TO US BY PASTOR DOUG. 05:06 >>GOOD MORNING. >>GOOD MORNING. 05:08 >>HOW IS EVERYBODY? WANT TO WELCOME OUR FRIENDS THAT 05:11 ARE WATCHING ON TELEVISION OR ONLINE. 05:15 AS PASTOR ROSS SAID, IF YOU HEAR SOMETHING YOU HAVE A QUESTION 05:18 ABOUT, THOSE WHO ARE LISTENING ON FACEBOOK, THAT HAS TO DO WITH 05:22 THE LESSON ON STEWARDSHIP WE'RE DOING TODAY, THEN YOU CAN 05:25 ACTUALLY TEXT THOSE IN ON THE FACEBOOK PAGE. 05:27 WE HAVE SOME PEOPLE THAT WILL TRY AND RETRIEVE THOSE FOR US 05:30 AND GET THEM TO US FOR THE LESSON TODAY. 05:33 WE'RE GOING THROUGH LESSON #5 TODAY IN OUR QUARTERLY ON 05:37 STEWARDSHIP. AND A LOT OF VERY IMPORTANT 05:41 LESSONS HERE, I THINK, FOR US TO LEARN AND TO GLEAN. 05:45 TODAY WE'RE GOING TO BE DEALING WITH STEWARDS AFTER EDEN - 05:48 STEWARDS AFTER THE GARDEN OF EDEN - AND OUR MEMORY VERSE IS 1 05:52 THESSALONIANS 2, VERSE 4, IF YOU WANT TO READ IT THERE OUT OF 05:56 YOUR QUARTERLY, 1 THESSALONIANS 2, VERSE 4. 05:59 ARE YOU READY? "ON THE CONTRARY, WE SPEAK AS 06:03 THOSE APPROVED BY GOD TO BE ENTRUSTED WITH THE GOSPEL. 06:08 WE ARE NOT TRYING TO PLEASE PEOPLE BUT GOD, WHO TESTS OUR 06:12 HEARTS." ALL RIGHT MAYBE JUST AS A BROAD 06:16 INTRODUCTION TO THIS LESSON ON STEWARDSHIP, LET'S REMEMBER 06:19 SOME IMPORTANT BASICS. YOU'RE HERE. 06:24 YOU'RE BREATHING. YOUR HEART'S BEATING. 06:25 YOU'RE ALIVE. IT'S TEMPORARY. THEY SAY THERE'S LIKE, YOU KNOW, 06:33 100 PERCENT DEATH RATE AMONG THOSE WHO LIVE LONG ENOUGH, 06:41 WITH A COUPLE OF VERY RARE EXCEPTIONS. 06:44 YOU DO HAVE ENOCH AND YOU'VE GOT ELIJAH, THEN THERE'LL BE SOME 06:49 WHO LIVE AND REMAIN UNTIL THE LORD COMES, BUT OTHERWISE, YOU 06:54 GET OLD, YOU'RE GOING TO DIE. YOU'RE HERE TEMPORARILY. 06:56 IN THE JUDGMENT YOU WILL GIVE AN ACCOUNT TO GOD FOR TWO PRINCIPAL 06:59 THINGS: WHAT YOU DO WITH THE TIME YOU ARE GIVEN AND WHAT YOU 07:05 DO WITH THE THINGS THAT YOU HAVE SOME INFLUENCE OVER. 07:11 AND WE ARE STEWARDS, TEMPORARILY, OF A CERTAIN AMOUNT 07:17 OF TIME AND INFLUENCE OVER A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF THINGS OR 07:21 MEANS THAT GOD GIVES US. AND SO, YOU KNOW, THEY SAY 07:25 YOU DON'T TAKE IT WITH YOU. YOU'RE HERE MANAGING A GIFT 07:31 THAT'S BEEN GIVEN - A GIFT OF LIFE AND THE GIFT OF 07:32 A VARIETY OF THINGS. AND SO WE ARE STEWARDS OF OUR 07:36 TIME AND STEWARDS OF THE MEANS THAT GOD HAS GIVEN 07:39 US CONTROL OVER. NOW WE'RE GOING TO LOOK TODAY, 07:42 IN PARTICULAR, AT WHAT THE BIBLE HAS TO SAY ABOUT STEWARDSHIP 07:44 AND SOME OF THE PRINCIPLES OF STEWARDSHIP IN THE BIBLE. 07:47 THE TERM 'STEWARD,' THAT YOU FIND IN THE OLD TESTAMENT, COMES 07:52 FROM NOT ONE WORD BUT A PHRASE AND IT'S ASHAL ALBAT. 07:58 WHICH MEANS ONE WHO IS ON OR OVER A HOUSE; A PERSON WHO IS 08:03 PLACED TO BE ON OR OVER THE HOUSE, OSTENSIBLY OF ANOTHER. 08:09 A BIBLICAL WORLD VIEW OF STEWARDSHIP CAN BE 08:11 CONSCIENTIOUSLY DEFINED AS 'UTILIZING AND MANAGING ALL 08:15 RESOURCES GOD PROVIDES FOR THE GLORY OF GOD AND THE BETTERMENT 08:19 OF HIS CREATION. THE CENTRAL ESSENCE OF BIBLICAL 08:22 WORLD VIEW STEWARDSHIP IS MANAGING EVERYTHING GOD BRINGS 08:26 INTO THE BELIEVER'S SPHERE OF INFLUENCE IN A MANNER THAT 08:30 HONORS GOD AND IMPACTS ETERNITY.' 08:33 I LIKE THAT DEFINITION. IT SAYS HERE 'THE CENTRAL 08:35 ESSENCE OF BIBLICAL WORLD STEWARDSHIP IS MANAGING 08:39 EVERYTHING GOD BRINGS INTO THE BELIEVER'S SPHERE OF INFLUENCE 08:42 IN A MANNER THAT HONORS GOD AND IMPACTS ETERNITY.' STEWARDSHIP 08:46 BEGINS AND ENDS WITH AN UNDERSTANDING THAT GOD IS THE 08:49 ULTIMATE OWNER OF EVERYTHING. WE HAVE SOME VERSES ON THAT. 08:54 WELL YOU GOT REVELATION 22:13 WHERE HE SAYS "I AM THE ALPHA 08:58 AND OMEGA, THE FIRST AND THE LAST, THE BEGINNING AND THE 09:01 END." SO GOD IS EVERYTHING AND HE'S IN CHARGE OF EVERYTHING. 09:05 YOU HAVE PSALM 24:1, "THE EARTH IS THE LORD'S AND EVERYTHING IN 09:10 IT." WE WERE JUST SINGING, BEFORE WE WENT ON THE AIR, 09:12 THIS IS MY FATHER'S WORLD . THE EARTH IS THE LORD'S AND 09:16 EVERYTHING IN IT AND ALL WHO LIVE IN IT. 09:19 THE THINGS AND THE BEINGS ALL BELONG TO GOD. 09:22 DEUTERONOMY 10:14, "TO THE LORD YOUR GOD BELONGS THE HEAVEN, 09:28 EVEN THE HIGHEST HEAVENS, AND EVERYTHING - AND THE EARTH AND 09:31 EVERYTHING IN IT." MOSES SAID, "BECAUSE THE LAND IS 09:35 MINE AND YOU ARE BUT ALIENS AND TENANTS." 09:38 THAT'S LEVITICUS 25, VERSE 23. AND YOU READ JOB 41:11 "WHO HAS 09:44 A CLAIM AGAINST ME THAT I MUST PAY? 09:45 EVERYTHING UNDER HEAVEN BELONGS TO ME." 09:48 GOD IS SPEAKING THERE IN CHAPTER 41 HE SAYS 'EVERYTHING BELONGS 09:51 TO ME.' AND SO - JUST - STEWARDSHIP REALLY BEGINS BY 09:56 UNDERSTANDING THAT GOD OWNS IT ALL. 10:00 THAT WE ARE TEMPORARILY - WE HAVE SOME IMPACT OR INFLUENCE ON 10:04 THE THINGS THAT ARE IN OUR LIFE AND ON OUR TIME. 10:08 SO, LOOKING AT STEWARDSHIP IN THE OLD TESTAMENT, JUST TO GIVE 10:12 YOU AN IDEA, IT SAYS, 'SOMEONE WHO IS ON OR OVER ANOTHER 10:14 PERSON'S HOUSE.' THERE IS AN INDIVIDUAL YOU'LL READ ABOUT IN 10:17 THE LIFE OF ABRAHAM AND ABRAHAM HAD A STEWARD. 10:23 HIS NAME WAS ELEAZER AND HE WAS SO CLOSE TO ABRAHAM, HE - 10:28 ABRAHAM CHOSE A PERSON WITH SUCH IMPORTANT CRITERIA AND 10:32 QUALIFICATIONS THAT HE AT ONE POINT THOUGHT OF MAKING HIM THE 10:36 HEIR OF ALL THAT HE HAD. BEFORE ABRAHAM HAD A SON - AND 10:40 HE'S FABULOUSLY WEALTHY - WHO DOES HE LEAVE IT TO? 10:44 SO IF YOU LOOK IN GENESIS CHAPTER 15, VERSE 2, "BUT ABRAM 10:48 SAID TO THE LORD" - THIS IS GENESIS 15:2, "LORD, GOD, 10:52 WHAT WILL YOU GIVE ME SEEING I GO CHILDLESS AND THE HEIR OF MY 10:58 HOUSE IS ELEAZER OF DAMASCUS?" SO THERE IT GIVES YOU HIS NAME. 11:03 LATER IN THE BOOK IT JUST TELLS YOU THAT HE WAS A STEWARD OVER 11:07 EVERYTHING ABRAHAM HAD. BUT DO YOU THINK THAT BILL GATES 11:13 GOES TO THE POST OFFICE HIMSELF? DOES HE EVER MAIL ANYTHING? 11:19 PROBABLY. DOES BILL GATES GO GET HIS GROCERIES? 11:25 OR WARREN BUFFETT? OR JEFF BEZOS? 11:28 OR PICK YOUR FAVORITE BILLIONAIRE. 11:31 THEY MAY, AT TIMES BUT, FOR THE MOST PART, I THINK THAT THESE 11:35 FOLKS PROBABLY HAVE ADMINISTRATORS THAT HELP THEM. 11:41 THESE HAVE TO BE PEOPLE - I MEAN IF YOU MANAGED BILL GATES' 11:45 CHECKBOOK YOU'D HAVE TO BE PRETTY TRUSTWORTHY. 11:50 YOU'D HAVE TO BE A PERSON THAT HE HAD AN AWFUL LOT OF 11:52 CONFIDENCE IN. I CAN ALMOST GUARANTEE YOU THAT 11:55 HE HAS OTHER PEOPLE THAT HELP HIM WITH HIS ACCOUNTS AND 11:59 A LOT OF TRIVIAL MATTERS. THOSE WOULD NEED TO BE PEOPLE, 12:03 IF SOMEONE - WHO SAID THAT, KAREN? 12:05 HIS WIFE, YOU KNOW, MELINDA GATES IS REALLY BUSY WITH A 12:09 FOUNDATION. I'LL BET YOU SHE HAS PEOPLE THAT HELP. 12:12 THESE FOLKS HAVE PERSONAL SECRETARIES AND ATTENDANTS THAT 12:15 ARE BOOKING THEIR FLIGHTS, THEY'RE PLANNING THEIR TRAVEL - 12:18 THEY SAY, 'I WANT TO DO THIS.' 'I WANT TO DO THAT.' 'I WANT TO 12:20 BUY ONE OF THESE.' 'I WANT' - AND THEY TAKE CARE OF IT FOR 12:22 THEM. THEY'RE SORT OF LIKE A MODERN 12:25 EQUIVALENT OF WHAT WE WOULD CALL A STEWARD - THEY ARE A PERSON 12:29 THAT THEY HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF CONFIDENCE IN AND THOSE PEOPLE 12:32 USUALLY HAVE INCREDIBLE AUTHORITY TO DO THINGS, TO ORDER 12:38 THINGS, TO SAVE THINGS, TO BUY THINGS IN THEIR NAME. 12:42 AND SO, IN BIBLE TIMES, ABRAHAM - I MEAN HOW WEALTHY WAS HE? 12:48 JUST TO GIVE YOU CONTEXT, WHEN ABRAHAM WENT TO WAR, IT SAYS HE 12:51 HAD 300 TRAINED SOLDIERS IN HIS CAMP. 12:56 SO - AND ABRAHAM HAD HUNDREDS OF - AND HE CAME OUT OF EGYPT. 13:01 HE HAD EVEN MORE AFTER THAT. HE HAD GOLD AND SILVER. 13:04 IT SAYS HE HAD MALE AND FEMALE SERVANTS HE HAD SO MANY FLOCKS 13:06 AND HERDS HE AND LOT COULD NOT EVEN ABIDE TOGETHER. SO HE HAD 13:09 THIS INCREDIBLE SUBSTANCE HE COULDN'T MANAGE IT ALL. 13:12 HE HAD TO FIND SOMEBODY WHO HE COULD REALLY TRUST AND MAYBE IT 13:14 WAS WHEN HE WAS COMING FROM UR OF THE CHALDEES AND HE WAS GOING 13:17 THROUGH DAMASCUS, HE FOUND OR BOUGHT THIS SERVANT THAT WAS 13:22 EXTREMELY FAITHFUL THAT HE REALLY TRUSTED - HE MUST HAVE 13:25 BEEN VERY BRIGHT. HIS NAME WAS ELEAZER. 13:28 SO MUCH SO THAT WHEN YOU LOOK IN THE BIBLE AND YOU GO TO - 13:32 SOMEONE IN A MINUTE IS GOING TO READ FOR ME GENESIS 39, VERSE 4 13:37 - YOU'LL DO THAT IN JUST A MOMENT. 13:39 I WANT YOU TO NOTICE GENESIS 24, VERSE 2, "SO ABRAHAM SAID TO 13:44 THE OLDEST SERVANT OF HIS HOUSE WHO RULED OVER ALL THAT HE HAD. 13:51 HE SAID, 'PLEASE PUT YOUR HAND UNDER MY THIGH AND I'LL MAKE YOU 13:53 SWEAR BY THE LORD GOD OF HEAVEN AND THE LORD GOD OF EARTH THAT 13:56 YOU WILL NOT TAKE A WIFE FROM MY SON OF THE DAUGHTERS OF THE 13:59 CANAANITES AMONG WHOM I DWELL. 14:01 BUT YOU WILL GO TO MY COUNTRY AND MY FAMILY AND TAKE A WIFE 14:03 FOR MY SON ISAAC.'" (WHISTLES) JUST THINK ABOUT THAT. 14:08 HE NOT ONLY HAS THE KEY TO HIS SAFETY DEPOSIT BOX. 14:13 HE'S NOT ONLY GOT SIGNATORY AUTHORITY ON HIS CHECKBOOK, HE'S 14:17 SAYING 'I WANT YOU TO PICK THE WIFE FOR MY SON.' YOU'VE GOT TO 14:22 TRUST THAT STEWARD, AMEN? AND THEY MADE HIM SWEAR TO ME 14:28 - HE SAID, 'LOOK I'M TRUSTING YOU.' NOW, IF YOU READ THE REST 14:30 OF THAT CHAPTER WHERE ELEAZER PICKS REBECCA - 14:34 HE HAS TO PICK HER. HE PRAYS - HE'S A MAN OF GOD. 14:37 HE BELIEVES IN THE GOD OF ABRAHAM. 14:38 YOU READ THE PRAYER OF ELEAZER - MATTER OF FACT, I WISH I COULD 14:41 STOP HERE AND JUST LAUNCH INTO THE SERMON ON THAT CHAPTER. 14:45 BECAUSE IN THAT PASSAGE WHERE ABRAHAM SENDS HIS STEWARD TO 14:49 FIND A WIFE FOR HIS SON, THE LANGUAGE, FIRST OF ALL, 14:53 ELEAZER'S NAME NEVER APPEARS. HE NEVER REFERS TO 14:56 HIMSELF BY NAME. HE'S JUST 'I AM THE SERVANT OF 14:59 ABRAHAM,' SO HE IS VERY CONTENT TO BE A SERVANT. 15:03 HE IS ENTRUSTED WITH CAMELS LOADED WITH GOLD AND SILVER AND 15:08 GIFTS TO PAY A DOWRY FOR A WIFE. SO HE COULD HAVE TAKEN THOSE 15:12 CAMELS AND SAID, 'I'M OFF TO DAMASCUS. 15:15 I'M GOING BACK TO SOMEWHERE ELSE.' IT MEANS HE COULD RUN FOR 15:18 IT. HE HAD JUST BAGS OF MONEY. 15:21 BUT HIS PRINCIPAL LOVE WAS TO DO THE WILL OF ABRAHAM. 15:26 AND HE COULD BE TRUSTED THAT HE WAS GOING TO LEAVE WITH ALL THAT 15:29 MONEY AND COME BACK AGAIN WITH A WIFE FOR HIS - FOR HIS SON. 15:34 SO, TO ME, THAT IS JUST - YOU KNOW, IF WE STOP RIGHT HERE, 15:36 THAT JUST GIVES YOU A MIND-BOGGLING CONCEPT OF HOW 15:39 IMPORTANT THE ROLE WAS OF AN OLD TESTAMENT STEWARD. 15:44 IT REALLY NEEDED TO BE SOMEBODY THAT YOU HAD A GREAT DEAL OF 15:47 CONFIDENCE IN. SOMEONE - OR GO AHEAD READ FOR 15:51 ME PLEASE GENESIS 39, VERSE 4. >>GENESIS 39:4, "SO JOSEPH FOUND 15:58 FAVOR IN HIS SIGHT AND SERVED HIM. 16:00 THEN HE MADE HIM OVERSEER OF HIS HOUSE AND ALL THAT HE HAD HE PUT 16:04 UNDER HIS AUTHORITY." >>WELL THAT'S A 16:06 STEWARD ISN'T IT? IT DOESN'T CALL HIM A 16:07 STEWARD CALLS HIM A WHAT? AN OVERSEER. 16:11 BUT HE'S RESPONSIBLE FOR EVERYTHING POTIPHAR HAS. 16:15 THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN THE FIRST DAY. POTIPHAR WATCHED JOSEPH, 16:20 AND HERE HE WAS 17 WHEN HE BOUGHT HIM AS A SLAVE. 16:22 WE DON'T KNOW HOW LONG AFTER THAT, BUT HE NOTICED THAT THIS 16:25 YOUNG MAN WAS A QUICK LEARNER. HE WAS FAITHFUL. 16:30 EVERYTHING HE ASKED GOT DONE. YOU KNOW AT AMAZING FACTS, YOU 16:37 KNOW, INCLUDING OUR EVANGELISTS OUT IN THE FIELD WE HAVE 16:39 ABOUT A HUNDRED EMPLOYEES. AND THERE ARE A HANDFUL OF 16:44 PEOPLE THAT ARE VERY BUSY. BUT ANYTHING YOU GIVE 16:49 THEM THEY GET IT DONE. THEY DON'T SAY 'YEAH WHEN I GET 16:52 AROUND TO IT.' THEY GET IT DONE AND I'LL CALL THEM BACK AND 16:56 I'LL SAY, 'WELL WHEN YOU GET A CHANCE.' THEY SAY, 'I ALREADY 16:58 DID IT.' I MEAN, DON'T YOU LOVE PEOPLE LIKE THAT? 17:03 AND YOU WANT TO PUT THEM IN CHARGE OF EVERYTHING BECAUSE 17:06 IT'S LIKE EVERYTHING THEY TOUCH, THEY TAKE CARE OF IT. 17:09 THEY'RE ALWAYS BUSY BUT THEY'RE ALWAYS - YOU'VE HEARD THE 17:11 EXPRESSION 'YOU EVER WANT TO GET ANYTHING DONE GET A BUSY 17:14 PERSON'? AND HE SAW THAT JOSEPH WAS THAT KIND OF PERSON. 17:19 ANYTHING LITTLE HE STARTED FAITH - 'HE THAT IS FAITHFUL IN THAT 17:22 WHICH IS LEAST IS FAITHFUL IN MUCH.' JOSEPH WAS NOT SWEEPING 17:26 THE DIRT UNDER THE CARPET IN POTIPHAR'S HOUSE. 17:29 HE SAW THAT WHATEVER HE DID HE DID IT WELL. 17:31 AND JOSEPH OFTEN CAME BACK AND HE SAID, 'YOU KNOW, WOULD YOU 17:34 MIND, MASTER, IF I MADE A SUGGESTION? 17:36 I THINK THERE'S A MORE EFFICIENT WAY TO DO THIS.' AND HE WAS 17:40 ALWAYS IMPROVING ON THE WAY THINGS WERE HAPPENING. 17:42 HE SAID, 'BOY, YOU KNOW WHEN YOU - YOU'VE JUST GOT NATURAL 17:45 APTITUDE. ANYTHING THAT YOU DO, YOU DO 17:46 BETTER.' AND HE JUST KEPT PROMOTING HIM AND PROMOTING HIM. 17:50 AND HE SAID, 'BOY, EVERYTHING I'VE GIVEN TO HIM IS EXCELLING. 17:54 ANYTHING THAT HE'S IN CHARGE OF IS RUNNING.' AND HE JUST KEPT 17:59 GIVING MORE UNTIL PRETTY SOON EVERYTHING IS UNDER JOSEPH'S 18:04 CONTROL, EXCEPT POTIPHAR'S WIFE AND THAT'S A WHOLE OTHER STORY. 18:08 BUT YOU CAN READ HERE IN GENESIS 43, VERSE 19 THAT NOW JOSEPH - 18:15 YOU KNOW THE REST OF THE STORY. JOSEPH EVENTUALLY, BECAUSE HE 18:19 WAS A FAITHFUL SERVANT, HE COULD BECOME A FAITHFUL MASTER. 18:26 NOW WHERE DID JOSEPH LEARN TO BE A FAITHFUL SERVANT? 18:30 IN THE HOUSE OF POTIPHAR OR IN THE HOUSE OF JACOB? 18:33 HE WAS WORKING IN HIS OWN HOME WITH HIS FATHER. 18:37 YOU REMEMBER HIS FATHER SAID 'I WANT YOU TO GO FIND YOUR 18:39 BROTHERS.' AND HE WENT OUT TO FIND HIS BROTHERS. 18:41 HE WAS KEEPING HIS FATHER'S SHEEP. 18:43 HE WAS FAITHFUL IN THE LITTLE THINGS AND SO HE COULD LEARN. 18:47 YOU KNOW, THE BEST LEADERS IN HISTORY HAVE OFTEN HAD VERY 18:52 DIFFICULT HISTORIES - VERY DIFFICULT BEGINNINGS. 18:56 SOMETIMES THEY HAD POVERTY AND A LOT OF HARD WORK AND THEY 19:00 LEARNED PRINCIPLES, THROUGH THE POVERTY AND THE HARD WORK, THAT 19:03 HELPED THEM BE VERY SUCCESSFUL PRESIDENTS AND LEADERS. 19:10 YOU MAY, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE FACES OF THE PRESIDENTS 19:14 ON MOUNT RUSHMORE, ALL OF THEM WENT THROUGH GREAT ADVERSITY. 19:20 AND LINCOLN - FATHER AND MOTHER DIED WHEN HE WAS YOUNG. 19:25 JUST LIVING OUT THERE IN THE WOODS - HAD TO LEARN HOW TO 19:27 WORK, YOU LEARN HOW TO BE FRUGAL, YOU LEARN FAITHFULNESS. 19:31 ROOSEVELT WAS ACTUALLY BORN RICH BUT YOU MAY NOT KNOW HIS WIFE 19:35 DIED GIVING BIRTH AND HIS MOTHER DIED ON THE SAME DAY. 19:38 AND IT SO BROKE HIS HEART THAT HE LEFT EVERYTHING AND WENT TO 19:40 THE DAKOTAS AND LIVED FOR TWO YEARS LIKE A COWBOY. 19:44 AND THAT'S WHERE A LOT OF HIS CHARACTER WAS SHAPED DURING 19:47 THOSE YEARS. AND THEN ROOSEVELT STRUGGLING 19:50 AGAINST POLIO - TALKING ABOUT HIS COUSIN WHO LATER BECAME 19:54 PRESIDENT - AND WASHINGTON AND THE OTHERS THERE. 20:00 ANYWAY, AND SO IT'S THROUGH THESE THINGS THAT WE LEARN 20:03 FAITHFULNESS - JOSEPH LEARNED THAT. SO NOW JOSEPH IS THE RULER 20:06 OF ALL EGYPT. HE'S GOT STEWARDS UNDER HIM. 20:10 AND IT SAYS HERE IN GENESIS 43:19, "WHEN THEY DREW NEAR TO 20:14 THE STEWARD OF JOSEPH'S HOUSE, THEY TALKED WITH HIM AT THE DOOR 20:17 OF THE HOUSE, AND SAID, 'O SIR, WE INDEED CAME DOWN FIRST 20:23 TO BUY FOOD;'" - AND HE'S IN CHARGE OF DISTRIBUTING 20:28 EVERYTHING. NOW JOSEPH WAS REALLY A STEWARD 20:30 FOR PHARAOH WHEN HE WAS RULING EGYPT. 20:33 PHARAOH SAID 'EVERYTHING IN EGYPT IS IN YOUR CONTROL. 20:37 ONLY IN THE THRONE WILL I BE GREATER THAN YOU.' SO EVEN 20:40 JOSEPH WAS A STEWARD BUT HE HAD A STEWARD UNDER HIM. 20:44 AND YOU CAN READ HERE IT SAYS, "HE COMMANDED THE STEWARD" - 20:47 THIS IS GENESIS 44:1, "HE COMMANDED THE STEWARD OF HIS 20:50 HOUSE, SAYING, 'FILL THE MEN'S SACKS WITH FOOD, AS MUCH AS THEY 20:53 CAN CARRY, AND PUT EACH MAN'S MONEY IN THE MOUTH OF THE SACK." 20:58 NOW, IF YOU HAVE A FAITHFUL STEWARD IT'S GOT TO BE SOMEONE 21:01 DISCREET. JOSEPH IS UP TO SOMETHING AND HE 21:05 IS - HE'S TESTING HIS BROTHERS. HE NEEDS HIS STEWARD 21:09 TO BE DISCREET. HE NEEDS TO HAVE A 21:12 STEWARD HE CAN TRUST. I MEAN, HE'S SAYING LOOK YOU'VE 21:15 GOT TO FIND A CLEVER WAY TO PUT THEIR MONEY BACK IN THEIR BAGS. 21:17 JOSEPH KNEW ANYTHING HE ASKED THE STEWARD TO DO, HE WAS GOING 21:21 TO DO IT - ASSUMING IT WASN'T TO BE A HIT MAN. 21:27 AND THEN AGAIN, YOU READ IN THE SAME STORY, GENESIS 44, VERSE 4, 21:32 "WHEN THEY HAD GONE OUT OF THE CITY" - THE BROTHERS LEFT THE 21:33 CITY - "AND THEY WERE NOT YET FAR OFF, JOSEPH SAID TO HIS 21:37 STEWARD, 'GET UP, FOLLOW THE MEN; AND WHEN YOU OVERTAKE THEM, 21:41 SAY TO THEM, 'WHY HAVE YOU REPAID EVIL FOR GOOD?'" 21:44 THE STEWARD OF JOSEPH ACTUALLY HAD A POLICE FORCE UNDER HIS 21:48 POWER, AND SO HE HAD AUTHORITY. SO, BEING A STEWARD FOR GOD, 21:53 DOES IT MEAN THAT YOU'RE POOR? IS IT ONLY POOR PEOPLE THAT WILL 21:58 GIVE AN ANSWER TO WHAT THEY DO WITH THEIR RESOURCES? 22:02 OR IS IT THE MIDDLE CLASS, AND IS IT ALSO THE RICH? 22:05 IT DOESN'T MATTER WHETHER YOU LEARN MATH WITH A HUNDRED 22:08 DOLLARS OR WITH PENNIES. THE PRINCIPLES OF 22:11 MATH ARE THE SAME. AND HE THAT IS FAITHFUL IN THAT 22:14 WHICH IS LEAST IS ALSO FAITHFUL IN MUCH. 22:16 NOW WE'RE STILL LOOKING AT SOME OF THE OLD TESTAMENT EXAMPLES. 22:20 IF YOU GO TO ISAIAH CHAPTER 22 THERE IS A PROPHECY HERE ABOUT A 22:26 STEWARD THAT WAS IN THE PALACE OF KING HEZEKIAH. 22:29 AND ISAIAH SAYS IN CHAPTER 22, VERSE 15, "THUS SAYS THE LORD OF 22:35 HOSTS: 'GO PROCEED TO THIS STEWARD, TO SHEBNA, WHO IS OVER 22:40 THE HOUSE, AND SAY: 'WHAT HAVE YOU HERE, AND WHOM HAVE YOU 22:44 HERE, THAT YOU HAVE HEWN A SEPULCHER HERE, AND HE WHO HEWS 22:48 HIMSELF A SEPULCHER ON HIGH, WHO CARVES A TOMB FOR HIMSELF IN A 22:52 ROCK? INDEED, THE LORD WILL THROW YOU 22:54 AWAY VIOLENTLY, O MIGHTY MAN, AND WILL SURELY SEIZE YOU. 22:59 HE WILL SURELY TURN VIOLENTLY AND TOSS YOU LIKE A BALL IN A 23:03 LARGE COUNTRY; THERE YOU SHALL DIE, AND THERE YOUR GLORIOUS 23:07 CHARIOTS SHALL BE THE SHAME OF YOUR MASTER'S HOUSE. 23:11 SO I WILL DRIVE YOU OUT OF YOUR OFFICE, AND FROM YOUR POSITION 23:14 AND WILL PULL YOU DOWN.''" NOW THIS IS BEFORE THE BABYLONIAN 23:19 CAPTIVITY. ISAIAH'S FORETELLING THIS WILL HAPPEN. 23:22 IN THE HOUSE OF HEZEKIAH WAS A STEWARD WHO WAS BEING 23:28 UNFAITHFUL. AND SO HERE ISAIAH IS 23:32 PROPHESYING 'YOU'RE SPENDING THE KING'S MONEY ON YOURSELF. 23:35 YOU'RE MAKING AN ELABORATE SARCOPHAGUS - A TOMB FOR 23:40 YOURSELF. YOU'RE HAVING IT ENGRAVED. 23:42 AND YOU'RE SPENDING MONEY ON CHARIOTS.' YOU NOTICE THAT? 23:45 HE TALKS ABOUT THE CHARIOTS. 'AND YOU'RE GOING TO BE TAKEN 23:49 AWAY OUT OF YOUR OFFICE AND YOU'LL BE CAST OUT AND YOU'RE 23:52 GOING TO BE CARRIED OFF AND DIE IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY.' NOW, WE 23:56 DON'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW ALL OF THIS PLAYED OUT. 23:58 WE KNOW THAT HE WAS LATER REPLACED BY A FAITHFUL STEWARD. 24:01 HE MAY HAVE BEEN AMONG THOSE WHO WERE CAPTURED BY THE ASSYRIANS 24:04 WHEN THEY CAME AGAINST HEZEKIAH. BUT THIS WAS A PROPHECY AGAINST 24:07 THE STEWARD THAT HAD CONTROL OF THE KING'S RESOURCES THAT WAS 24:11 USING THE KING'S RESOURCES SELFISHLY. NOW THAT SORT OF 24:16 DESCRIBES A BIG CHALLENGE THAT WE ALL HAVE AS STEWARDS. 24:19 WE SOMETIMES FORGET THAT EVERYTHING YOU HAVE BELONGS TO 24:22 GOD, AND WE TEND TO THINK 'IT BELONGS TO ME.' AND IF, ALL OF A 24:27 SUDDEN, WE GET A WINDFALL - SOME REASON YOU END UP WITH A LITTLE 24:32 EXTRA MONEY - SOMETHING COMES IN THE BANK OR YOU FOUND OUT THAT 24:35 YOU MADE MORE ON A SALE THAN YOU EXPECTED, OFTEN OUR FIRST 24:38 THOUGHT IS 'WHAT SHALL I BUY? WHAT SHALL I DO FOR ME?' 24:43 DO WE THINK 'THIS IS THE LORD'S'? 24:45 'THE LORD HAS BLESSED ME BUT EVERYTHING I HAVE BELONGS TO THE 24:47 LORD. LORD WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO WITH THIS? 24:51 THIS IS YOUR MONEY.' SO IN THE JUDGMENT ARE WE THINKING OF ALL 24:55 THE BLESSINGS THAT GOD GIVES AND HOW WE CAN USE THEM SELFISHLY? 24:59 IT IS NOT WRONG TO EVER BUY SOMETHING NICE. BUT IF YOU'VE 25:03 GOT THE MIND OF A STEWARD, YOUR FIRST THOUGHT IS GOING TO BE 25:07 'HOW CAN I USE THESE RESOURCES FOR GOD INSTEAD OF THIS BEING AS 25:12 EXTRAVAGANT AS WE CAN FOR OUR OWN LIVES?' 25:15 AMEN? ALRIGHT, YOU STILL OUT THERE? 25:20 STEWARDS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT - AND YOU LOOK IN LUKE CHAPTER 12 25:25 VERSE 47. IT SAYS, "AND THAT SERVANT WHO 25:28 KNEW HIS MASTER'S WILL, AND DID NOT PREPARE HIMSELF TO DO 25:32 ACCORDING TO HIS WILL, SHALL BE BEATEN WITH MANY STRIPES. 25:36 BUT HE WHO DID NOT KNOW, YET COMMITTED THINGS DESERVING 25:39 STRIPES, SHALL BE BEATEN WITH FEW. 25:42 [FOR EVERYONE] TO WHOM MUCH IS GIVEN, FROM HIM MUCH WILL BE 25:45 REQUIRED; AND TO WHOM MUCH HAS BEEN COMMITTED, OF HIM THEY WILL 25:48 ASK THE MORE." SO WHICH STEWARDS ARE 25:52 THE MORE ACCOUNTABLE? TWO THINGS THAT IT SAYS HERE: 25:56 THE ONE WHO KNEW MORE AND THE ONE WHO HAD MORE IS 26:01 MORE ACCOUNTABLE. IF YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL KNOWLEDGE 26:04 THAT'S A BLESSING, BUT IT'S ALSO A RESPONSIBILITY. 26:08 IF YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES, THAT'S A BLESSING BUT 26:11 IT'S ALSO A RESPONSIBILITY TO BE FAITHFUL. 26:15 GOD WANTS US TO BE FAITHFUL WITH WHAT WE HAVE - WITH THE 26:18 KNOWLEDGE WE HAVE AND WITH THE BLESSINGS WE HAVE. 26:24 SOME OF YOU REMEMBER THERE IN HOSEA, IT SAYS 'MY PEOPLE ARE 26:26 DESTROYED FOR LACK OF KNOWLEDGE BECAUSE YOU'VE REJECTED 26:28 KNOWLEDGE; I'LL ALSO REJECT THEE.' 26:31 AND SO WE'RE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE KNOWLEDGE THAT WE HAVE 26:34 AND EVEN THE KNOWLEDGE WE CAN HAVE. 26:37 BECAUSE IF WE REJECT IT, WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT. 26:41 SO TO WHOM MUCH IS GIVEN OF HIM THEY WILL ASK THE MORE. 26:45 YOU READ IN TITUS CHAPTER 1, VERSES 6 AND 7, "IF A MAN IS 26:49 BLAMELESS," - ONE OF THE CRITERIA FOR BEING A BISHOP IN 26:52 THE CHURCH - "IF A MAN IS BLAMELESS, THE HUSBAND OF ONE 26:56 WIFE, HAVING FAITHFUL CHILDREN NOT ACCUSED OF DISSIPATION OR 27:00 INSUBORDINATION. FOR A BISHOP MUST BE BLAMELESS, 27:04 AS A STEWARD OF GOD, NOT SELF-WILLED, NOT QUICK-TEMPERED, 27:10 NOT GIVEN TO WINE, NOT VIOLENT, NOT GREEDY FOR MONEY," - SO 27:15 QUALIFICATIONS TO BE A STEWARD FOR GOD ARE, FOR ONE THING, YOU 27:19 NEED TO REALIZE EVERYTHING YOU HAVE - YOUR TIME YOUR FAMILY 27:22 EVERYTHING - BELONGS TO GOD. AND WE ALL WILL ANSWER TO GOD 27:26 SOMEDAY FOR THOSE THINGS. HE MUST BE BLAMELESS 27:31 AS A STEWARD OF GOD. EVERYTHING, WE BELIEVE, 27:34 ESPECIALLY AS CHRISTIANS, BELONGS TO GOD. 27:37 A QUOTE FROM THE BOOK CHRISTIAN EDUCATION . 27:39 PAGE 301, "SHALL I OPEN MY HEART TO THE HOLY SPIRIT SO THAT EVERY 27:43 FACULTY AND ENERGY MAY BE AROUSED WHICH GOD HAS GIVEN ME 27:47 IN TRUST? I AM CHRIST'S PROPERTY AND I 27:51 AM EMPLOYED IN HIS SERVICE. I AM A STEWARD OF HIS GRACE." 27:55 SO A STEWARD WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE RICHES OF ANOTHER PERSON. 28:00 WHAT ARE THE RICHES THAT A CHRISTIAN IS THE STEWARD OF? 28:04 THE RICHES OF HIS GRACE. SO YOU, NOT ONLY AS A CHRISTIAN, 28:10 WANT TO BE FAITHFUL ABOUT WHAT'S IN THE BANK; AS A CHRISTIAN YOU 28:13 WANT TO BE FAITHFUL ABOUT WHAT'S IN YOUR HEART. 28:16 YOU WANT TO BE FAITHFUL ABOUT WHAT'S IN YOUR HEAD. 28:18 GOD WANTS US TO FAITHFULLY DISPENSE THE GOSPEL. ARE YOU A 28:22 STEWARD OF THE GRACE OF CHRIST? LET ME PUT THAT PLAINLY. 28:26 DO YOU SHARE THE GOSPEL WITH OTHERS? 28:30 JESUS SAID IN MATTHEW 24, TALKING ABOUT THE SECOND COMING, 28:35 'WHOSO THEN IS A FAITHFUL SERVANT THAT GIVES EVERY MAN HIS 28:41 MEAT IN DUE SEASON, HE'LL DECLARE UNTO THEM 'WELL DONE 28:43 GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT.' BUT IF THAT SERVANT SAYS 'MY LORD 28:46 DELAYS HIS COMING' AND BEGINS TO EAT AND DRINK WITH THE DRUNKEN, 28:50 AND BEAT HIS FELLOW SERVANTS, THE MASTER OF THAT SERVANT WILL 28:52 COME IN A DAY WHEN HE'S NOT LOOKING FOR HIM AND AN HOUR HE'S 28:55 NOT AWARE OF.' NOW THE FIRST PART OF THAT HE SAID IF HE'S A 28:58 FAITHFUL SERVANT HE'S GIVING HIS BRETHREN MEAT IN DUE SEASON. 29:04 PART OF SERVANTS - A STEWARD'S JOB WAS TO DISTRIBUTE THE FOOD 29:08 FOR THE MASTER. WHAT DID JESUS HAVE THE APOSTLES DO? 29:11 COUPLE OF MIRACLES YOU REMEMBER? HE MULTIPLIED BREAD. 29:15 DID JESUS AND HAND OUT THE BREAD OR DID JESUS GIVE THE BREAD THAT 29:17 HE MULTIPLIED TO THE DISCIPLES AND THEY DISTRIBUTED IT? 29:20 AND THE MIRACLE ALSO HAPPENED AS THEY DISTRIBUTED IT. 29:24 WHAT IS THAT BREAD? MAN DOESN'T LIVE BY BREAD ALONE BUT BY. 29:29 ARE WE FAITHFUL STEWARDS OF THE GRACE OF GOD? 29:33 ARE WE SHARING THE TRUTH THAT WE HAVE? 29:36 DO YOU THINK FROM DAY TO DAY, 'WHAT CAN I DO?' 29:40 AND IT DOESN'T MEAN YOU'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH THE DAY LIKE AN 29:42 EVANGELIST AND JUST, YOU KNOW, BE CONVERTING ONE PERSON AFTER 29:45 ANOTHER. BUT WE SHOULD BE THINKING EVERY 29:47 DAY, 'HOW CAN I BE A STEWARD OF THAT GRACE? 29:50 HOW CAN I BE SHARING IT WITH OTHERS? 29:52 HOW CAN I BE DISPENSING THE BREAD OF LIFE?' 29:54 GIVING A TRACT TO SOMEBODY OR A CARD TELLING THEM WHERE TO GO TO 29:58 A WEBSITE OR SAYING A WORD ABOUT GOD AND ASKING THEM A QUESTION 30:02 ABOUT THEIR FAITH. EVERY BELIEVER OUGHT TO 30:05 BE STEWARDS OF HIS GRACE. NOT JUST PASTORS. 30:08 NOT JUST EVANGELISTS OR CHRISTIAN TEACHERS. 30:10 IS THAT RIGHT? SO STEWARDS ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE 30:14 RESPONSIBLE FOR THE RICHES OF ANOTHER. 30:17 WHAT IS THE GREATEST RICHES OR THE GREATEST TREASURE THAT WE 30:21 HAVE AS BELIEVERS? IF YOU LOSE ALL YOUR MONEY BUT 30:24 YOU STILL HAVE THE GOSPEL, YOU'RE RICH. 30:27 BUT IF YOU LOSE THE GOSPEL AND YOU HAVE YOUR MONEY, YOU'RE 30:29 BANKRUPT. SO WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT 30:32 THING WE'RE TO BE STEWARDS OF? THE GRACE OF CHRIST. AMEN? 30:38 ARE WE BEING FAITHFUL STEWARDS OF HIS GRACE? 30:41 ARE WE SHARING IT WITH OTHERS? IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT POINT 30:44 I WANTED TO KIND OF TAP ON A LITTLE BIT. 30:47 SOMEONE IS GOING TO READ FOR US MATTHEW 25:21. 30:51 >>"THIS LORD SAID TO HIM 'WELL DONE GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT. 30:55 YOU WERE FAITHFUL OVER A FEW THINGS I WILL MAKE YOU RULER 30:58 OVER MANY THINGS. ENTER INTO THE JOY OF YOUR LORD.'" 31:03 >>JESUS SHARES A COUPLE OF PARABLES. ONE I FOUND - IT'S NOT 31:06 IN MY NOTES BUT IT'S STILL IN THE BIBLE, BELIEVE IT OR NOT. 31:08 MATTHEW - I'M SORRY LUKE 19, VERSE 12, IT'S CALLED THE 31:13 PARABLE OF THE TALENTS AND HE TELLS IT A LITTLE DIFFERENT. 31:16 BY THE WAY, LET ME JUST PAUSE AND ADDRESS THAT. 31:18 HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED WHY, WHEN YOU READ IN MARK AND LUKE AND 31:22 JOHN AND MATTHEW, THAT SOMETIMES THE PARABLES SEEM TO HAVE A 31:26 WHOLE DIFFERENT TWIST - THE WAY ONE IS RECORDED AS OPPOSED TO 31:29 ANOTHER? SIMPLE ANSWER: JESUS WENT FROM TOWN TO TOWN. 31:34 THEY DID NOT PRINT HIS SERMONS. 31:36 HE WOULD PREACH THE SAME PARABLES AND SERMONS IN 31:39 DIFFERENT TOWNS AND HE WOULD CHANGE IT A LITTLE BIT BASED ON 31:42 HIS AUDIENCE. I DO THAT ALL THE TIME. 31:45 AS I GO FROM CHURCH TO CHURCH, I PREACH SOME OF THE SAME SERMONS. 31:48 POOR KAREN HAS HEARD THE SAME SERMON SO MANY TIMES, BUT THEY 31:51 ARE ALWAYS A LITTLE DIFFERENT BECAUSE SOME OF IT'S 31:53 EXTEMPORANEOUS AND I LOOK AT THAT AUDIENCE AND I EMPHASIZE 31:55 CERTAIN THINGS AND JESUS DID THAT WITH THE PARABLE OF THE 31:58 TALENTS. YOU'LL KNOW IT'S DIFFERENT IN 32:01 THE DIFFERENT GOSPELS BECAUSE THEY RECORDED IT BASED ON WHAT 32:03 THEY HEARD IN DIFFERENT TOWNS. ALL RIGHT, LUKE CHAPTER 19 VERSE 32:07 12, "A CERTAIN NOBLEMAN WENT INTO A FAR COUNTRY TO RECEIVE 32:12 FOR HIMSELF A KINGDOM AND TO RETURN. 32:15 SO HE CALLED TEN OF HIS SERVANTS AND DELIVERED TO THEM TEN MINAS 32:19 AND HE SAID TO THEM, 'DO BUSINESS TILL I COME." 32:22 NOW WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? HE'S GIVEN THEM HIS RESOURCES. 32:25 'YOU'RE STEWARDS OF MY MONEY. YOU'RE TO INVEST, YOU'RE TO BUY 32:30 AND SELL AND TRADE AND GROW THIS WHILE I'M GONE.' WHAT DOES THE 32:36 LORD WANT US TO DO WITH THE RESOURCES HE GIVES US? 32:41 THERE'S TWO KINDS OF PEOPLE IN LIFE. 32:43 I ALWAYS USED TO TELL MY KIDS THIS. 32:46 YOU'VE GOT CONSUMERS AND YOU HAVE PRODUCERS. 32:50 NOW ALL OF US PRODUCE A LITTLE. I MEAN ALL OF US CONSUME 32:55 BUT NOT EVERYONE PRODUCES. SOME PEOPLE SPEND THEIR LIVES 32:58 CONSUMING WHAT OTHERS HAVE PRODUCED. 33:00 BUT GOD WANTS US TO GO THROUGH LIVES - OUR LIVES LEAVING MORE 33:05 THAN WE TAKE. WE WANT TO MAKE THINGS BETTER 33:08 THAN WHEN WE FOUND THEM, RIGHT? WE DON'T WANT TO JUST BE 33:11 CONSUMING, WE WANT TO BE PRODUCING. 33:14 AND SO THIS IS WHAT THE LORD IS SAYING TO THEM, 'I'VE GIVEN YOU 33:16 GIFTS, MULTIPLY THOSE GIFTS.' "BUT HIS CITIZENS HATED HIM, AND 33:22 SENT A DELEGATION AFTER HIM, SAYING, 'WE WILL NOT HAVE THIS 33:24 MAN TO REIGN OVER US.' AND SO IT WAS THAT WHEN HE RETURNED, 33:28 HAVING RECEIVED THE KINGDOM THAT HE COMMANDED THE SERVANTS TO 33:31 WHOM HE HAD GIVEN THE MONEY TO BE CALLED TO HIM THAT HE MIGHT 33:34 KNOW HOW EVERY MAN HAD GAINED BY TRADING. 33:38 THEN CAME THE FIRST, SAYING, 'MASTER, YOUR MINA HAS EARNED 33:42 TEN MINAS'. AND HE SAID TO HIM 'WELL DONE, 33:45 GOOD SERVANT BECAUSE YOU WERE FAITHFUL IN A VERY LITTLE, HAVE 33:48 AUTHORITY OVER TEN CITIES.'" THIS IS DIFFERENT FROM MATTHEW'S 33:52 VERSION - "AND THE SECOND CAME, SAYING, 'YOUR MINA HAS EARNED 33:55 FIVE MINAS.'" THEY ALL STARTED WITH THE SAME AMOUNT. 33:58 "LIKEWISE HE SAID, 'YOU ALSO BE OVER FIVE CITIES.'" SO JUST PARK 34:04 RIGHT HERE AND THINK ABOUT THIS: ALL OF THE INVESTING AND TRADING 34:09 THAT THEY'RE DOING, THEY'RE DOING FOR THE MASTER. 34:11 BUT DO THEY GET REWARDED? SO DO THEY GET SOMETHING ALSO 34:16 FOR THEIR FAITHFULNESS AS STEWARDS? HE REWARDS THEM. 34:21 THE LORD REWARDS HIS STEWARDS. AND THEN THE OTHER ONE COMES AND 34:30 HE SAYS "'MASTER HERE IS YOUR MINA, WHICH I HAVE KEPT. 34:32 I PUT IT AWAY IN A HANDKERCHIEF FOR I FEARED YOU BECAUSE YOU ARE 34:35 AN AUSTERE MAN. YOU COLLECT WHAT YOU DID NOT 34:37 DEPOSIT AND REAP WHAT YOU DID NOT SOW.' AND HE SAID TO HIM, 34:41 'OUT OF YOUR OWN MOUTH I WILL JUDGE YOU. YOU WICKED SERVANT, 34:43 YOU KNEW THAT I WAS AN AUSTERE MAN COLLECTING WHAT I DID NOT 34:46 DEPOSIT AND REAPING WHAT I DID NOT SOW. 34:48 WHY DID YOU NOT AT LEAST PUT MY MONEY IN THE BANK THAT AT MY 34:51 COMING I MIGHT HAVE COLLECTED IT WITH SOME INTEREST? 34:54 AND HE SAID TO THOSE THAT STOOD BY, 'TAKE THE MINA FROM HIM AND 34:57 GIVE IT TO HIM WHO HAS TEN MINAS.' (BUT THEY SAID TO HIM, 35:00 'MASTER, HE HAS TEN MINAS.') 'FOR I SAY TO YOU THAT EVERYONE 35:03 WHO HAS MORE WILL BE GIVEN'" - REMEMBER WHAT I SAID ABOUT YOU 35:06 GIVE MORE TO THE BUSY SUCCESSFUL PERSON? 35:10 "EVERYONE WHO HAS, MORE WILL BE GIVEN. 35:12 BUT BRING HERE THOSE ENEMIES OF MINE THAT DID NOT WANT ME TO 35:15 REIGN OVER THEM AND SLAY THEM BEFORE ME.'" SO THIS IS AN 35:19 INTERESTING PARABLE. IT SAYS THAT THESE SERVANTS 35:22 - HE'S GOT THREE SERVANTS - THEY'RE ALL GIVEN ONE MINA. 35:25 ONE TURNS IT INTO TEN, ONE TURNS IT INTO FIVE, AND ONE DOESN'T DO 35:28 ANYTHING - DOESN'T EVEN PUT IT IN THE BANK. 35:30 HE SAYS, 'AW, IT'S NOT MINE. I'M JUST A STEWARD OF HIS. 35:33 I DON'T CARE.' HE LOSES EVERYTHING. 35:37 HE'S IN OUTER DARKNESS WHERE THERE'S WEEPING AND GNASHING OF 35:38 TEETH. THE ONES WHO WERE FAITHFULLY 35:41 TRADING THEY GET REWARDED IN A BIG WAY. HE SAYS, 'I'VE GONE TO 35:44 RECEIVE A KINGDOM AND IN THIS KINGDOM THERE'LL BE MANY CITIES 35:49 AND I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU LEADERSHIP OVER THE CITIES. 35:52 NOW, IF YOU'RE THE GOVERNOR OF A CITY, EVEN IF YOU'RE A GOVERNOR 35:55 FOR SOMEONE ELSE, DON'T YOU LIVE IN A BETTER HOUSE? 35:59 IF YOU'RE A GOVERNOR DON'T YOU MAYBE DRIVE A BETTER CAR? 36:02 AND SO, I'M SAYING THOSE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE PERSONALLY 36:04 BLESSED EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE STILL SERVANTS. 36:08 JOSEPH WAS A SERVANT OF PHARAOH. IS THAT RIGHT? 36:12 BUT DID HE LIVE IN A PALACE? HE DID. 36:14 AND SO YOU WANT TO BE FAITHFUL AND HE MAKES YOU RULER OVER 36:17 MUCH. OKAY, I SPENT TOO MUCH TIME 36:19 ON THAT, BUT IT WAS FUN. SOMEONE'S GOING TO READ FOR ME 36:24 1 CORINTHIANS 4, VERSE 1 IN JUST A MOMENT. 36:27 AND I'M GOING TO READ COLOSSIANS. NOW WE'RE TALKING 36:29 ABOUT STEWARDS OF THE MYSTERIES OF GOD . 36:32 I'M GOING TO READ COLOSSIANS 2:2 AND 3. 36:35 "THAT THEIR HEARTS MAY BE ENCOURAGED, BEING KNIT TOGETHER 36:39 IN LOVE, AND ATTAINING TO ALL RICHES OF THE FULL ASSURANCE OF 36:44 UNDERSTANDING, TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE MYSTERY OF GOD, BOTH OF 36:49 THE FATHER AND OF CHRIST, IN WHOM ARE HIDDEN ALL THE 36:51 TREASURES OF THE WISDOM OF KNOWLEDGE." 36:54 NOW YOU NOTICE IT TALKS HERE ABOUT UNDERSTANDING WISDOM - 36:58 KNOWLEDGE IN THIS ONE VERSE. YOU'RE NOT ONLY THE STEWARD. 37:02 YOU ARE A STEWARD OF A MYSTERY. 37:05 MOST PEOPLE DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT THE PURPOSE OF LIFE IS - 37:10 WHAT'S GOING ON - WHAT THE GOSPEL IS ALL ABOUT. 37:12 AND TO US, THROUGH STUDY AND THROUGH SPENDING TIME WITH THE 37:16 LORD, WE UNDERSTAND THESE THINGS AND GOD HAS GIVEN US THE GIFT OF 37:20 HELPING UNPACK THESE MYSTERIES FOR OTHERS. 37:23 GO AHEAD PLEASE READ FOR ME, >>1 CORINTHIANS 4, VERSES 1 AND 37:28 2. "LET A MAN SO CONSIDER US AS SERVANTS OF CHRIST AND STEWARDS 37:33 OF THE MYSTERIES OF GOD. MOREOVER IT IS REQUIRED IN 37:37 STEWARDS THAT ONE BE FOUND FAITHFUL." 37:40 >>AND HE TALKS ABOUT STEWARDS OF THE MYSTERIES OF GOD AND WHAT 37:45 KIND OF STEWARD? ONE BE FOUND FAITHFUL. 37:48 NOW WE DO HAVE SOME EXAMPLES IN THE BIBLE OF PEOPLE THAT WERE 37:51 NOT FAITHFUL. YOU CAN GO WITH ME TO LUKE 37:57 CHAPTER 16, VERSE 1, "THERE WAS A CERTAIN RICH MAN WHO HAD A 38:06 STEWARD, AND AN ACCUSATION WAS BROUGHT TO HIM THAT THIS 38:11 MAN WAS WASTING HIS GOODS." NOW WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? 38:15 HE'S SPENDING IT SELFISHLY. "SO HE CALLED HIM AND SAID TO 38:18 HIM, 'WHAT IS THIS I HEAR ABOUT YOU? 38:21 GIVE AN ACCOUNT OF YOUR STEWARDSHIP, FOR YOU CAN NO 38:23 LONGER BE STEWARD.'" IN OTHER WORDS, HE'S SAYING, 'LOOK, I'M 38:27 GOING TO BE FINDING SOMEONE ELSE, BUT I NEED AN ACCOUNTING.' 38:31 SO HE'S GOT A LITTLE TIME LEFT IN OFFICE WHILE HE SUPPOSEDLY IS 38:34 GIVING AN ACCOUNT - HE'S DOING AN INVENTORY. 38:37 "SO THE STEWARD SAID WITHIN HIMSELF 'WHAT SHALL I DO? 38:41 FOR MY MASTER IS TAKING AWAY THE STEWARDSHIP FROM ME. 38:44 I CANNOT DIG;'" HE SAID - POOR PEOPLE YOU CAN ALMOST ALWAYS 38:47 FIND A JOB JUST DIGGING DITCHES OR WHATEVER. 38:49 "'I'M ASHAMED TO BEG. I [HAVE RESOLVED] WHAT TO DO, 38:53 THAT WHEN I'M PUT OUR OUT OF THE STEWARDSHIP THEY MIGHT RECEIVE 38:56 ME INTO THEIR HOUSES.' SO HE CALLED EVERY ONE OF HIS MASTER'S 39:00 DEBTORS TO HIM, AND HE SAID TO THE FIRST, 'HOW MUCH 39:02 DO YOU OWE MY MASTER?' AND HE SAID, 'ONE HUNDRED 39:05 MEASURES OF OIL.' SO HE SAID TO HIM, 'TAKE YOUR BILL, AND SIT 39:07 DOWN QUICKLY WRITE FIFTY.'" - 'I'LL SIGN IT OFF. 39:11 I'LL ENDORSE IT THAT YOU'RE ALL PAID IN FULL.' HE SAID, 'OH 39:13 REALLY? WOW, WHAT A BARGAIN.' SO HE 39:15 IMPLICATES HIS MASTER'S DEBTORS WITH HIM. 39:19 HE SAID, 'I'M GOING TO MAKE YOU AN ACCESSORY TO MY CRIME. 39:21 YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF ME AFTERWARD.' THEN HE 39:25 SAID TO ANOTHER, 'AND HOW MUCH YOU OWE MY MASTER?' 39:27 'HUNDRED MEASURES OF WHEAT.' HE SAID, 'TAKE YOUR BILL, WRITE 39:29 DOWN FIFTY.' TO ANOTHER, 'HOW MUCH DO YOU OWE?' 39:31 'HUNDRED MEASURES OF WHEAT.' 'TAKE YOUR BILL, WRITE EIGHTY.' 39:35 SO THE MASTER FINDS OUT ABOUT THIS. 39:38 THE MASTER COMMENDS THE UNJUST STEWARD BECAUSE HE DEALT 39:42 SHREWDLY. NOW PEOPLE READ THIS PARABLE AND 39:45 I HAD TO PREACH A WHOLE SERMON ON THIS PARABLE BECAUSE I MET A 39:47 LOT OF FOLKS THAT WERE REALLY WORRIED. 39:50 'WHY WOULD JESUS COMMEND THIS STEWARD FOR BEING A SCOUNDREL? 39:56 ARE WE SUPPOSED TO BE SNEAKY? ARE WE SUPPOSED TO BE 40:00 CONNIVING AND DISHONEST? WHY WOULD HE COMMEND HIM?' 40:04 I'LL ASK YOU, WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THE MASTER COMMENDS THE 40:08 STEWARD?' IT SAYS IT SHOULD BE - A STEWARD SHOULD BE FOUND 40:13 FAITHFUL. HE'S NOT FAITHFUL. WHY IS HE BEING COMMENDED? 40:17 LET ME READ THE REST OF IT FOR YOU. 40:20 JESUS SAID, 'FOR THE SONS OF THIS WORLD ARE MORE SHREWD IN 40:24 THEIR GENERATION THAN THE SONS OF LIGHT.' AND HE SAID 'TAKE 40:28 HEED MAKE FRIENDS FOR YOURSELVES OF THE UNRIGHTEOUS MAMMON THAT 40:32 WHEN YOU FAIL THEY MIGHT RECEIVE YOU INTO THEIR EVERLASTING 40:36 HOMES.' THEN HE SAYS HE THAT IS FAITHFUL IN THAT WHICH IS LEAST 40:40 IS ALSO FAITHFUL IN MUCH. CHRIST IS COMMENDING THE STEWARD 40:43 BECAUSE HE SAID 'THE CHILDREN IN THIS WORLD, THEY'RE 40:46 THINKING 'WHAT WILL I DO? WHAT'S MY FUTURE GONNA BE? 40:49 I NEED A PLAN FOR MY FUTURE AND SO I'M GOING TO TAKE MY MASTER'S 40:52 MONEY AND I'M GOING TO MAKE SOME ACCOMPLICES IN THIS CRIME WITH 40:56 ME SO THAT THEY THEN WILL HAVE TO TAKE ME INTO THEIR HOUSES. 41:01 YOU KNOW THIEVES STICK TOGETHER AND THEY'LL WATCH OVER ME 41:05 BECAUSE I'VE GOT THE GOODS ON THEM. 41:09 THEY WERE IN WITH ME ON STEALING FROM MY MASTER AND SO THEY'RE 41:13 GOING TO RECEIVE ME INTO THEIR HABITATIONS.' HE'S ONLY 41:17 COMMENDING HIM BECAUSE HE THOUGHT ABOUT THE FUTURE AND 41:20 PREPARED FOR IT. THE LORD IS SAYING 'THE CHILDREN 41:22 OF THE WORLD ARE WISER THAN MANY CHRISTIANS BECAUSE WE DON'T 41:24 EVEN THINK ABOUT THE FUTURE. WE DON'T THINK ABOUT THE ETERNAL 41:27 FUTURE.' THIS MAN IT WAS AT LEAST - HE STOPPED AND HE 41:30 THOUGHT ABOUT IT AND HE MADE A PROVISION FOR IT. 41:33 GOD WANTS US TO MAKE A PROVISION FOR THE FUTURE TOO. 41:35 AMEN? ALRIGHT, MAYBE WE'LL PARK THERE 41:38 REAL QUICK AND WE HAVE SOME QUESTIONS THAT CAME IN. 41:40 PASTOR ROSS, YOU MIGHT HAVE SOME QUESTIONS THERE. 41:43 >>WE DO. WE WANT TO THANK THOSE OF YOU 41:45 WHO SENT IN YOUR QUESTIONS DURING THE PROGRAM. 41:47 WE'RE GOING TO ANSWER A FEW OF THEM HERE. 41:49 PASTOR DOUG, THE FIRST QUESTION THAT WE HAVE: 'MATERIALISM MAY 41:52 BE WRONG BUT WHAT ABOUT AMBITION AND THE DESIRE TO ACHIEVE THINGS 41:56 IN YOUR LIFE?' >>WELL, I THINK THE LORD WANTS 42:00 US TO BE - AMBITION FOR PERSONAL GLORY IS NOT GOOD, BUT THE LORD 42:08 DOES WANT US TO HAVE, I THINK, GOALS. 42:11 I THINK THE LORD WANTS US TO HAVE DREAMS. 42:14 I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE VISION. 42:16 IF I WERE TO ASK YOU 'DO YOU WANT TO HIRE, IN YOUR COMPANY, 42:21 SOMEBODY THAT HAS NO AMBITION OR HAS AMBITION?' 42:25 NOW IF THEIR AMBITION IS PERSONAL - IT'S ALL ABOUT THEIR 42:28 OWN GLORY - THAT PERSON CAN END UP BEING A PROBLEM. 42:30 BUT IF THEY'RE A PERSON WHO IS EAGER TO SUCCEED, THEN THAT'S A 42:33 GOOD THING. AND SO YOU WANT TO BE AN ACHIEVER. 42:37 IF I HAD TO STRUGGLE WITH HAVING A LOT OF FRIENDS AROUND ME THAT 42:41 WERE UNDERACHIEVERS OR OVERACHIEVERS - THERE ARE 42:44 PROBLEMS WITH OVERACHIEVERS - BUT I'D RATHER HAVE PEOPLE THAT 42:47 WANT TO ACHIEVE SOMETHING. >>ALRIGHT, I THINK WE 42:50 HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION. IT SAYS, 'WHAT DOES THE BIBLE 42:52 SAY ABOUT GAMBLING EVEN IN MODERATION?' JUST A LITTLE BIT. 42:56 'SHOULD CHRISTIANS STAY AWAY FROM EVEN THE LOTTERY?' 43:01 >>GAMBLING, NOW THERE'S NO VERSE THAT SAYS 'THOU SHALL NOT 43:04 GAMBLE.' BUT THERE ARE PLENTY OF PRINCIPLES IN THE BIBLE THAT 43:08 TELL US 'MAKE HASTE NOT TO BE RICH.' AND THE WHOLE IDEA OF 43:13 GAMBLING IS THE IDEA TO WIN OFF THE MISFORTUNE OF OTHERS WHO 43:17 WEREN'T AS LUCKY. THAT KIND OF SPECULATION - AND 43:22 'YOU'LL KNOW THEM BY THEIR FRUITS.' WHAT'S THE 43:25 FRUIT OF A CASINO? PEOPLE GO IN THERE. 43:29 WHO IS THE ONE MAKING THE MONEY? IT'S THE HOUSE. 43:33 THE PEOPLE GO IN - OFTEN POOR PEOPLE - DESPERATE PEOPLE - AND 43:36 THEY TAKE THEIR MONEY AND THEY SPECULATE AND THEY GENERALLY 43:40 LOSE. AND WE SHOULDN'T BE GAMBLING WITH GOD'S RESOURCES. 43:47 'THOSE WHO WILL NOT WORK SHALL NOT EAT.' GOD WANTS US TO WORK. 43:51 AND THERE ARE A LOT OF PROVERBS TALK ABOUT BEING DILIGENT, BEING 43:53 FAITHFUL, SAVING - AND THE LOTTERY, IT'S JUST 43:57 GOVERNMENT-SANCTIFIED GAMBLING, THAT'S ALL THAT IS. 44:02 AND SO, I HAVE NEVER BOUGHT A LOTTERY TICKET. 44:04 I SAW THAT JUST THIS LAST WEEK THAT THEY HAD A LOTTERY THAT WAS 44:09 GOING - 500 MILLION DOLLARS - IN THE NEWS. 44:13 AND IN MY QUIET MOMENTS I THOUGHT, 'BOY WHAT WE COULD DO 44:18 WITH THAT.' AND THEN I PICTURED - I'M TELLING THE TRUTH I'M 44:21 CONFESSING I FANTASIZED FOR JUST A MOMENT. 44:23 I THOUGHT BOY IF YOU COULD GO OUT AND JUST HAPPEN TO BUY THE 44:27 WINNING TICKET - OF COURSE YOU'RE - THE ODDS OF THAT ARE 44:30 LIKE, YOU KNOW, GETTING HIT BY AN ASTEROID. 44:33 IT'S PRETTY SMALL ODDS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO WIN. 44:35 AND THEN I THOUGHT THEN I'D WIN 500 MILLION DOLLARS AND THEY'D 44:39 WANT TO PUT ME IN THE PAPER AND THEY'D SAY PASTOR DOUG BOUGHT 44:42 THIS LOTTERY TICKET. I THOUGHT I'D BE REALLY HARD TO 44:46 EXPLAIN TO PEOPLE THAT GOD TOLD ME TO BUY THIS LOTTERY TICKET. 44:50 I WENT THROUGH THIS WHOLE FANTASY IN MY HEAD BUT I GOT 44:52 OVER IT PRETTY QUICK I WANT YOU TO REST ASSURED. 44:56 I JUST THOUGHT IT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE 500 MILLION DOLLARS - 44:59 WHAT WE COULD DO WITH THAT. BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? IT WOULD - 45:03 IT WOULD SET A PRINCIPLE. GAMBLING DESTROYS PEOPLE. 45:07 I REMEMBER WE HAD ONE MAN CAME TO CHURCH - THIS HAD BEEN YEARS 45:09 AGO SO I CAN TELL YOU THE STORY - HAD A GOOD JOB. 45:13 WORKED FOR THE STATE. AND WHEN WE MET HIM HE CAME TO 45:17 CHURCH HE SAID, 'PASTOR DOUG' I'D NEVER BEEN GAMBLING BEFORE. 45:20 JUST SOME FRIENDS INVITED ME THERE WAS SOME CONVENTION. 45:22 WE WENT TO LAS VEGAS - ACTUALLY WENT TO RENO - AND I STARTED 45:27 GAMBLING. AND I WON A LITTLE AND THEN I 45:30 LOST A LITTLE AND I GOT SO UPSET I CAME BACK THE NEXT WEEK 45:32 AND TRIED TO WIN IT BACK. THEN I CAME BACK THE NEXT 45:35 WEEKEND TO TRY TO WIN IT BACK.' AND HE SAID 'IT GOT 45:38 WORSE AND WORSE. IT BECAME A HABIT. 45:40 EVERY WEEKEND I WAS GOING TO RENO. 45:42 HE SAID, 'I HAD A WIFE, I HAD A HOME THAT WAS PAID FOR, I HAD A 45:45 RETIREMENT.' HE SAID, 'I'VE LOST MY FAMILY, I'VE LOST MY 45:47 RETIREMENT. I'VE GOT 60 THOUSAND 45:49 DOLLARS IN DEBT. MY HEALTH IS DESTROYED.' AND 45:52 HE SAID, 'I WAS ADDICTED TO GAMBLING.' HE CAME TO AN 45:54 EVANGELISTIC MEETING HE GOT THE VICTORY AND WE ENDED UP 45:57 BAPTIZING HIM BUT IT JUST DESTROYED HIM. 45:59 CHRISTIANS SHOULD NOT BE INVOLVED IN ANYTHING THAT A 46:01 PERSON GETS ADDICTED TO AND THEY HAVE ANNOUNCEMENTS - PUBLIC 46:07 ANNOUNCEMENTS EVERY NOW AND THEN FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE STRUGGLING 46:09 WITH GAMBLING ADDICTIONS. SO NO, I DON'T THINK - WHY WOULD 46:15 THE GOVERNMENT PAY FOR ADS TO HELP PEOPLE RECOVER FROM 46:19 GAMBLING AND THEN PAY FOR ADS TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO 46:23 BUY A LOTTO TICKET? ISN'T THAT KIND OF CONFLICTED? 46:28 OKAY, NO YOU SHOULDN'T GAMBLE. SORRY, LONG ANSWER. 46:30 >>ALRIGHT, WE HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION THAT IS 'WHAT ABOUT 46:32 TITHING WHEN YOU HAVE OR WHEN YOU ARE ON SOCIAL SECURITY?' 46:37 >>IF YOU'RE ON A LIMITED INCOME AND JUST ALL YOU'VE GOT YOU'RE 46:40 JUST LIVING ON SOCIAL SECURITY, A PERSON MIGHT SAY, 'WELL, WHAT 46:43 DO I DO ABOUT TITHE?' AND SOMEONE ACTUALLY WROTE US A 46:46 NOTE THIS WEEK AND THEY MADE A GOOD OBSERVATION. 46:49 SOCIAL SECURITY IF - IF YOU'RE ON SOCIAL SECURITY AT SOME POINT 46:54 TYPICALLY YOU OR YOUR SPOUSE HAVE PAID SOMETHING INTO THAT. 46:59 AND AT SOME POINT WHEN YOU RETIRE YOU WILL BEGIN TO RECOVER 47:02 SOME OF WHAT YOU HAVE PAID INTO IT. 47:05 AT SOME POINT YOU MAY END UP GETTING SOCIAL SECURITY THAT YOU 47:08 DIDN'T PAY INTO - IT'S ABOVE AND BEYOND THAT - DEPENDS ON HOW 47:11 LONG YOU LIVE AND A NUMBER OF FACTORS. 47:14 AND IT MIGHT BE HARD TO CALCULATE, YOU KNOW, 'HOW MUCH 47:18 DID I ALREADY PAY TITHE ON WHEN I WAS PAYING INTO IT?' 47:21 IF YOU PAID TITHE ON YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY INCOME WHEN YOU FIRST 47:24 PUT IT INTO THIS MYSTICAL ACCOUNT THAT THEY HOLD 47:29 SOMEWHERE, YOU MIGHT BE THINKING 'WELL, I'VE ALREADY PAID TITHE 47:32 ON THAT ONCE,' AND YOU COULD PROBABLY JUSTIFY SAYING 'WELL, 47:35 SOME OF THAT ANYWAY, I'VE ALREADY PAID TITHE ON.' I THINK 47:39 THE SAFEST THING TO DO IS JUST PROVE THE LORD. 47:41 TEST THE LORD. YOU CANNOT OUTGIVE GOD. 47:45 AND I JUST SEE TOO MANY EXAMPLES IN THE BIBLE WHERE PEOPLE SAY 47:49 'I'M GOING TO TAKE A STEP OF FAITH' AND 'GOD DOES NOT FORSAKE 47:53 THE RIGHTEOUS THEIR SEED DO NOT BEG BREAD.' YOU BE FAITHFUL AND 47:57 SEE. I BELIEVE GOD WILL COME THROUGH FOR YOU. 48:00 >>NEXT QUESTION THAT WE HAVE: GENESIS CHAPTER 14, VERSE 20 48:03 SAYS THAT ABRAM GAVE MELCHIZEDEK A TITHE OF ALL. 48:08 WHY DID MELCHIZEDEK NEED TITHE? AND HOW DID HE USE IT? 48:12 >>WELL, TITHE IN THE OLD TESTAMENT - BEFORE THE TIME OF 48:16 THE LEVITICAL PRIESTHOOD - MELCHIZEDEK WAS A PRIEST OF THE 48:20 MOST HIGH GOD. IT WAS NOT UNCOMMON THEN TO SHOW A THANK 48:24 YOU OFFERING AND YOU WOULD GIVE IT TO THE LEADER OF A CLAN. 48:28 AND SO MELCHIZEDEK WAS CALLED THE KING PRIEST OF SALEM AND IT 48:33 WAS USED FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF PROBABLY THE PERSONAL 48:36 MAINTENANCE AND HIS FAMILY AND HIS HOUSEHOLD AS HE WAS A 48:39 REPRESENTATIVE OF GOD IN THAT COUNTRY. 48:42 I BELIEVE MELCHIZEDEK WAS A REAL PERSON. 48:45 SOME THOUGHT THAT HE WAS JUST A SPIRITUAL TYPE OF CHRIST. 48:48 HE IS A TYPE OF CHRIST BUT HE IS A REAL PERSON AND YOU GIVE 48:53 TITHES TO THE PRIESTS. YOU NOTICE IT ALSO SAYS 48:56 REGARDING MELCHIZEDEK THAT HE BROUGHT FORTH TO ABRAHAM BREAD 49:00 AND WINE FOR HE AND HIS SOLDIERS THAT CAME OUT. 49:03 AND SO IT WAS ALSO THANKFUL THAT - IT WAS A SIGN OF THANKSGIVING 49:07 FOR THE MINISTRY MELCHIZEDEK DID FOR ABRAHAM AND HIS HOUSE COMING 49:10 BACK FROM THIS BATTLE. AND SO MELCHIZEDEK ALSO GAVE. 49:14 AND SO HE WAS DOING A - CHRIST - THE LAST SUPPER OF BREAD AND 49:16 WINE. HE'S THE TYPE OF CHRIST THERE. 49:19 >>OKAY, I THINK WE HAVE TIME FOR ANOTHER QUESTION. 49:21 IT SAYS, 'IF YOUR HOUSE NEEDS REPAIRS AND YOUR CAR IS OLD IS 49:24 IT WRONG TO WANT MORE?' >>WELL, IF YOU HAVE FEWER CARS 49:30 AND HOUSES YOU DON'T HAVE TAKE CARE OF 'EM. BUT I'M BEING 49:34 SARCASTIC, I'M SORRY. NOT JUST WANTING MORE, DO YOU 49:39 NEED MORE HOUSES OR DO YOU NEED BETTER? 49:42 OR DO YOU NEED THE RESOURCES TO WANT THINGS TO BE FIXED. 49:47 I HAVE DRIVEN THAT CAR THAT WAS FALLING APART AND I HAVE LIVED 49:51 IN THAT HOUSE BEFORE THAT WAS FALLING APART. 49:53 I CAN TELL YOU A LOT OF STORIES. I HAD A CAR THAT JUST REALLY 49:55 STRENGTHENED MY FAITH EVERY TIME I TURNED THE KEY. I'D PRAY THAT 49:59 IT WOULD START AND SOMETIMES GOD DIDN'T ANSWER MY PRAYER. 50:03 AND I USED TO PARK IT ON A HILL SO THAT IF I COULDN'T GET IT 50:07 STARTED - IT WAS OLD - THE ENGINE WAS SO WORN OUT THAT I 50:10 HAD TO ROLL A LONG WAYS AND POP START IT. 50:12 ANYONE EVER HAVE THAT CAR BEFORE? 50:16 AND, YOU KNOW WHAT? THE LORD TAUGHT ME THROUGH THAT. 50:18 BUT YOU EVENTUALLY YOU PRAY FOR BETTER THINGS. 50:22 I'M SO THANKFUL I'M IN MY CAR NOW. 50:24 IT'S GOT, YOU KNOW, A HUNDRED AND FIVE THOUSAND MILES ON IT 50:26 BUT I'M THANKFUL THAT IT'S DEPENDABLE. 50:28 AND SO NO, IT'S NOT WRONG TO WANT THINGS THAT ARE BETTER MORE 50:32 DEPENDABLE AND TO WANT A HOUSE THAT IS NOT FALLING APART OR 50:36 ROTTING AWAY. AND SO, I THINK THAT THAT'S JUST 50:39 HUMAN NATURE THAT WE WANT TO ALWAYS IMPROVE OUR LOT 50:42 AND OUR ENVIRONMENT. THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT. 50:45 I'VE GOT A COUPLE OF MINUTES LEFT TO JUST SORT OF WRAP OFF 50:47 THE LESSON. STEWARDS OF SPIRITUAL TRUTH . 50:51 YOU KNOW THE GOSPEL IS SOMETHING THAT WE WANT TO COMMUNICATE. 50:57 IT'S A GIFT THAT IS GIVEN US. IT'S A GIFT THAT 51:00 WE WANT TO PROTECT. DURING THE CONSTITUTIONAL 51:03 CONVENTION IN 1787, IT'S REPORTED THAT WHEN BENJAMIN 51:07 FRANKLIN CAME OUT OF INDEPENDENCE HALL SOMEONE SAID 51:10 'WHAT KIND OF GOVERNMENT DO WE HAVE A REPUBLIC OR A MONARCHY?' 51:14 AND FRANKLIN RESPON - REPLIED 'A REPUBLIC, IF YOU CAN KEEP IT.' 51:19 A REPUBLIC IS A DELICATE GOVERNMENT THAT DEPENDS ON BEING 51:23 CONSTANTLY NOURISHED AND NURTURED OR YOU CAN LOSE THE 51:27 GIFT. THE GOSPEL IS A GIFT BUT IT'S A 51:30 GIFT THAT MUST BE GUARDED AND WE MUST, EVERY DAY, BE GUARDIANS - 51:36 STEWARDS ARE ALSO GUARDS, YOU MIGHT SAY. HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE 51:39 REMEMBERED - YOU REMEMBER THE PASSAGE THERE IN EZEKIEL? 51:43 'WHERE I'VE SET YOU' - SAYS THERE IN EZEKIEL CHAPTER 33, 51:47 'I'VE SET YOU AS A WATCHMAN ON THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL.' EZEKIEL 33 51:51 VERSE 1, "THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME TO ME SAYING, 'SON OF MAN, 51:54 SPEAK TO THE CHILDREN OF YOUR PEOPLE AND SAY TO THEM 'WHEN I 51:58 BRING THE SWORD UPON THE LAND AND THE PEOPLE OF THE LAND TAKE 52:01 A MAN FROM THEIR TERRITORY AND MAKE THEM THEIR WATCHMAN. 52:04 WHEN HE SEES A SWORD COMING UPON THE LAND, IF HE BLOWS THE 52:07 TRUMPET AND WARNS THE PEOPLE WHOEVER HEARS THE SOUND OF THE 52:10 TRUMPET AND DOESN'T TAKE WARNING, IF THE SWORD COMES AND 52:12 TAKES THEM AWAY, HIS BLOOD IS ON HIS OWN HEAD. 52:15 HE HEARD THE SOUND OF THE TRUMPET BUT HE DIDN'T TAKE 52:17 WARNING. HIS BLOOD SHALL BE UPON HIMSELF. 52:20 BUT IF HE TAKES WARNING HE'LL SAVE HIS LIFE. 52:23 BUT, IF THE WATCHMAN SEES THE SWORD IS COMING" - AN ARMY'S 52:26 COMING - "AND HE DOESN'T BLOW THE TRUMPET AND THE PEOPLE ARE 52:29 NOT WARNED AND THE SWORD COMES AND TAKES ANY PERSON AWAY AMONG 52:32 THEM, HE'S TAKEN AWAY IN HIS INIQUITY BUT HIS BLOOD I WILL 52:35 REQUIRE THE WATCHMAN'S HAND." 52:38 WE, AS BELIEVERS, ARE STEWARDS OF THE GOSPEL. 52:42 WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO GUARD THE GIFT AND ALSO TO 52:45 PROTECT PEOPLE BY GIVING THEM A FAITHFUL WARNING. 52:49 WE HAVE A MESSAGE THAT WE ARE GUARDIANS OF AND THIS IS A 52:51 PRINCIPLE THAT YOU FIND THROUGHOUT THE NEW TESTAMENT. 52:54 I'LL GIVE YOU ONE LAST QUOTE HERE AND THIS IS FROM THE BOOK 52:57 TESTIMONIES VOL. 7 , PAGE 176. 53:01 "GOD DESIRES TO BRING MEN INTO DIRECT RELATION WITH HIMSELF. 53:05 IN ALL HIS DEALINGS WITH HUMAN BEINGS HE RECOGNIZES THE 53:09 PRINCIPLE OF PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY. 53:12 HE SEEKS TO ENCOURAGE A SENSE OF PERSONAL DEPENDENCE AND TO 53:15 IMPRESS THE NEED OF PERSONAL GUIDANCE. 53:18 HIS GIFTS ARE COMMITTED TO MEN AS INDIVIDUALS. 53:20 EVERY MAN HAS BEEN MADE A STEWARD OF THE SACRED TRUSTS. 53:24 EACH IS TO DISCHARGE HIS TRUST ACCORDING TO THE DIRECTION OF 53:27 THE GIVER. AND BY EACH ACCOUNT OF HIS 53:30 STEWARDSHIP MUST BE RENDERED TO GOD." 53:33 WE WILL ALL GIVE AN ACCOUNT TO GOD FOR BEING FAITHFUL STEWARDS. 53:38 WELL, THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING. 53:39 THANK YOU FOR THOSE WHO SENT IN QUESTIONS. 53:41 WANT TO REMIND YOU ABOUT THE FREE OFFER. 53:43 IT'S CALLED OBEDIENCE IS IT LEGALISM? 53:46 THIS IS ACTUALLY A GREAT STUDY. IF YOU WANT A FREE COPY OF 53:49 THIS, JUST CALL THE NUMBER 866-788-3966 BASICALLY 53:55 866-STUDY-MORE AND WE'LL SEND YOU THIS. 53:58 ASK FOR OFFER #706 WHEN YOU CALL IS OBEDIENCE LEGALISM ? 54:03 AND WHEN YOU DO PLEASE READ IT AND SHARE IT WITH SOMEONE ELSE. 54:07 YOU COULD BE A STEWARD OF HIS GRACE. 54:09 THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GOD BLESS YOU AND WE'LL LOOK 54:11 FORWARD TO STUDYING HIS WORD TOGETHER AGAIN NEXT WEEK. 54:15 (MUSIC) 54:25 >>FRIENDS, HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF THE BOWHEAD WHALE? 54:27 THIS ENORMOUS LEVIATHAN IS THE SECOND-LARGEST CREATURE IN THE 54:31 WORLD. DARK AND STOCKY, IT ROAMS THE 54:34 FERTILE ARCTIC NORTHERN WATERS. THESE MASSIVE CREATURES CAN 54:38 BE MORE THAN 65-FEET LONG AND WEIGHT MORE THAN 75 TONS. 54:42 THAT'S HEAVIER THAN THE SPACE SHUTTLE. 54:45 YET, IN SPITE OF THEIR TITANIC SIZE, THEY'RE ABLE TO LEAP 54:48 ENTIRELY OUT OF THE WATER. CAN YOU SAY 'BELLY FLOP'? 54:53 THE BOWHEAD WHALE GETS ITS NAME FROM ITS BOW-SHAPED SKULL - AND 54:57 THEY'VE GOT ONE GINORMOUS NOGGIN. 55:00 MATTER OF FACT, THEIR HEADS ARE ABOUT 40 PERCENT OF THEIR BODY 55:02 SIZE, WHICH COMES IN HANDY WHEN YOU FIND OUT HOW THEY USE THEIR 55:06 HEADS. THEY'VE GOT VERY THICK SKULLS. 55:08 SOMETIMES THEY GET TRAPPED UNDER THE SURFACE AND THEY USE THEIR 55:12 HEADS TO RAM THE ICE. THEY CAN BREAK A BREATHING HOLE 55:15 IN THE ICE THAT IS A FOOT AND A HALF THICK. FRIENDS, YOU HAVE TO 55:19 JUST IMAGINE WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE TO BE WALKING AROUND ON THE 55:22 ARCTIC ICE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN HAVE THE GROUND BENEATH YOU 55:25 CRACK AND SPLIT AND RISE AS ONE OF THESE SEA MONSTERS PUSHES ITS 55:30 HEAD UP TO BREATH FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 90 MINUTES. 55:34 BECAUSE BOWHEADS MAKE THEIR HOME IN THE COLDEST PART OF OUR 55:36 WORLD, THEY HAVE THE THICKEST BLUBBER OF ANY WHALE. 55:40 BUT THIS, PLUS THEIR FRIENDLY AND CURIOUS NATURE, MADE THEM 55:43 PRIME TARGETS WHEN THE EUROPEAN WHALERS DISCOVERED THE BOWHEADS. 55:47 THEY HUNTED THEM NEARLY TO EXTINCTION. 55:50 FORTUNATELY, BECAUSE OF CONSERVATION EFFORTS, WE'VE 55:54 SLOWLY SEEN THEIR NUMBERS BEGIN TO INCREASE SINCE THE 60S. 55:57 ONE OF THE MOST AMAZING FACTS ABOUT THE BOWHEAD WHALE IS ITS 56:01 LONGEVITY. SCIENTISTS HAVE DISCOVERED, BY 56:04 EVALUATING HARPOON TIPS FOUND IN THEIR SKULL, AND EXAMINING THEIR 56:08 EYE TISSUE, THERE ARE BOWHEAD WHALES OUT THERE THAT ARE 56:11 PROBABLY OVER 200 YEARS OLD. YOU REALIZE THAT MEANS THERE 56:16 ARE BOWHEAD WHALES SWIMMING THE OCEANS RIGHT NOW THAT WERE ALIVE 56:20 BEFORE ABRAHAM LINCOLN WAS ELECTED PRESIDENT. 56:23 CAN YOU IMAGINE THAT? AMONG THE OTHER AMAZING 56:26 MEGA-FACTS ABOUT THE BOWHEAD WHALE, IS ITS MEGA-MOUTH. 56:30 THEY HAVE THE LARGEST MOUTH OF ANY IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM. 56:33 AND WHEN THEY OPEN THEIR PIE HOLE FULL EXTENDED, IT'S LARGE 56:36 ENOUGH TO PARK A MEDIUM-SIZED SUV INSIDE. 56:40 YET, IN SPITE OF THE FACT THAT THEY'VE GOT SUCH BIG MOUTHS, 56:43 THEY SURVIVE BY EATING THE VERY SMALLEST CREATURES IN THE OCEAN 56:46 - PLANKTON, KRILL, AND OTHER MICROSCOPIC ANIMALS. 56:50 FRIENDS, I'M ALWAYS AMAZED BY THE CREATURES GOD HAS MADE. 56:54 THIS BOWHEAD WHALE IS ABLE TO DIVE TO THE DEEPEST OCEANS. 56:57 THEY CAN BREAK THROUGH THE ICE AND MOVE MOUNTAINS WITH THEIR 56:59 HEAD AND COMPLETELY LEAVE THE WATER AND FLY THROUGH THE AIR. 57:03 AND YET, THEY DO ALL THAT BY GAINING STRENGTH FROM ALMOST 57:07 MICROSCOPIC ORGANISMS. IT HELPS US REMEMBER THAT WE 57:10 SURVIVE THROUGH THE LITTLE PROMISES IN GOD'S WORD. 57:13 JESUS, WHEN TEMPTED BY THE DEVIL, HE QUOTED JUST A FEW 57:16 LITTLE VERSES AND HE SENT THE ENEMY RUNNING. 57:19 YOU CAN ALSO HAVE THAT SAME DURABILITY AND LONG LIFE AS THE 57:22 BOWHEAD WHALE, BY TRUSTING IN GOD'S WORD AND HIS PROMISES. 57:26 (MUSIC) 57:35 >>LET'S FACE IT, IT'S NOT ALWAYS EASY TO UNDERSTAND 57:37 EVERYTHING YOU READ IN THE BIBLE. 57:39 WITH OVER 700,000 WORDS CONTAINED IN 66 BOOKS, THE BIBLE 57:44 CAN GENERATE A LOT OF QUESTIONS. TO GET BIBLICAL STRAIGHTFORWARD 57:47 ANSWERS CALL IN TO BIBLE ANSWERS LIVE - A LIVE NATIONWIDE 57:51 CALL-IN RADIO PROGRAM WHERE YOU CAN TALK TO PASTOR DOUG 57:54 BATCHELOR AND ASK HIM YOUR MOST DIFFICULT BIBLE QUESTIONS. 57:58 FOR TIMES AND STATIONS IN YOUR AREA, OR TO LISTEN TO ANSWERS 58:01 ONLINE, VISIT BAL.AMAZINGFACTS.ORG . 58:09 (MUSIC) |
Revised 2018-01-29