Bible tells us, "In
the beginning was the Word,
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and the Word was with
God, and the Word was God."
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It says, "To
receive with meekness
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the implanted Word,
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which is able
to save your souls.
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And to be diligent to
present yourself approved to God
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rightly dividing
the Word of truth."
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Join us now for the
3ABN Sabbath School Panel.
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Our study today is Stewardship,
Motives of the Heart.
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Hello, and welcome to 3ABN
Sabbath School lesson study.
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We are so glad you've take
the time to tune in with us
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as we begin a new
year in a new lesson.
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And what a
lesson it's going to be.
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Can we all say
amen to that? Amen.
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I'm always excited when we
have our panelists with us.
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None of them
are strangers to me,
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Jill, Kenny,
Mollie, and Shelley.
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And we're going to
combine our minds together
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as we hope the Lord
will lead us, and guide us.
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And when we ask him,
we know that He will.
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Now the lesson for this quarter,
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covering January, February,
and March is Stewardship,
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the Motives of the Heart. Mercy.
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And as you know, the Bible says,
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"Where your treasure is,
there will your heart be also."
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And we've just
come out of a season
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of amazing materialism,
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and the focus has been
tremendous financially,
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as well as many other ways.
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If you'd like to get a copy
of the lesson to follow along,
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you can go to the
following website,
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ABSG.Adventist.org,
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and you can download the lesson,
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or you can go to a local
Seventh-day Adventist Church,
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and then ask for a
copy of the lesson,
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or join them in
their fellowship.
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But before we do anything else,
we always begin with prayer.
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And, Jill, I'm just
going to require unto you.
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Could you pray
for us? Absolutely.
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Father, we come before
you in the name of Jesus,
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and we thank you
for the privilege
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of being able to
open up your Word.
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We thank you for the
anointing that's in your Word.
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And right now,
we open up our minds
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and our hearts to
receive what you have for us.
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Give us ears to
hear and a willingness
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to put into practice the truths
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that are contained in your Word.
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And we thank you in Jesus' name.
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Amen. Amen.
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Amen, amen.
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You know, this
lesson is one that
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has a perfect timing
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because we just came out
of a season of materialism.
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You know, if you go to Best Buy,
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or any other malls, or
any other shopping centers,
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even though online shopping
is increasing, Shelley...
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there is still
some motive that comes
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when you're in the crowds,
and you smell the cookies,
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and the candy,
and the chocolate.
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And you're passing by the stores
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where 40% is off and 60% is off,
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and people are
driven by materialism.
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Everyone wants to get that sale.
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And the
Christmas season is a time
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where the
merchants don't hesitate
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to reach into our hearts
and appeal to our materialism.
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That's for sure.
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Because
everybody likes the stuff.
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Yeah.
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I have the distinct
blessing of having stuff
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that I don't even know I have.
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And if you've been
married, going on 35 years,
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you know, you have stuff
you don't even know you have,
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and Kenny is a guy
that drives down the highway
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and sees a
perfectly good two by four.
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You say, "Honey,
I got to get that
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because I'm going to use that."
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And you don't use
it for 5 to 10 years.
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Yeah.
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And we start getting
nostalgic, and then our clothes
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that we wore when
we were in high school.
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Oh, mercy.
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We start saying, "Well, I
don't want to give that away
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because that means
something special to me."
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The beauty of it is,
as we go into the lesson,
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remember, my mother-in-law says,
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"Look at your
hand when you are born
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and see what you have in it,
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that's exactly what
you're taking with you
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when you leave."
Absolutely nothing.
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So let's begin, I'm just
going to go ahead and summarize
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because each of our panelists
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is going to cover different one.
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Jill is going to
cover filling the barns.
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I kind of identify with that.
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When you have a share
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that's about the
size of your house,
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I can call it a barn,
if that's a good term.
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And, Pastor Kenny,
the allure of materialism.
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Mollie Steenson, love of self.
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Wow.
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And Shelley, the ultimate
futility of materialism.
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Let's go ahead and look
at the memory text together.
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It comes from Romans 12:2.
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And if you have your
Sabbath School Lesson,
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read that along with us.
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The Bible says, "Do not
be conformed to this world
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but be transformed by
the renewing of your mind
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that you may
prove what is that good,
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and acceptable, and
perfect will of God."
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I want to begin by
just making a point
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that I want to make
sure people understand
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we're not
making money a villain.
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But money can be a
drug 'cause if you look at
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many of these
centers of gambling,
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there's only one
thing that drives it.
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It's money. It's
the love of money.
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Money is never
termed in the Bible as evil
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because the Lord blessed
many wealthy individuals.
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Many men had great possessions.
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I'm amazed for those of you
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who studied the Old
Testament, I'm always...
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my brakes always come on
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when I read
about Solomon's Temple.
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Yeah.
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And when I read
about the accoutrements
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and the beaten gold
and the many fountains,
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and I thought how
many fountains do you need?
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And when I read about the
way that the Lord had instructed
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the Israelites
to build the temple,
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and all the different types
of furniture, and the gold,
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and He surely is
not a god who hates gold
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because the new
Jerusalem, the streets are gold.
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And the foundations
are precious stones,
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but it is what it
does to the human heart
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on this side of heaven
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that is the issue
of this lesson's study.
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Nothing's wrong with money.
Can we all agree with that?
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It is the love of money
that is the root of all evil.
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And years ago, when we
had hour Ten Commandments week
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and I was given the
privilege of speaking
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on the tenth
commandment, covetousness,
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and covetousness
is, in fact, I believe,
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the key to every other
commandment being broken.
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Covetousness, one we
want the place of God,
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the first four commandments
are often overlooked by us
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as it pertains to God.
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When we love ourselves,
the last six commandments
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are not extended to our neighbor
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and our fellow believers
because we are the ones
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that's coveting either something
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materialistically,
another person,
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another position,
something they have,
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or something that
they're desiring to have.
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But the roadblocks is
what I want to talk about.
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Go to Matthews chapter 6:24,
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and let's look at
some of these examples
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bought out in scripture.
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Mine, by the way,
Sunday is God of this world,
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and in the summary
of that, obviously,
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the influence of
materialism, the first day
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on which is Saturday
afternoon or Sabbath afternoon.
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But Matthew 6:24 points
out why the God of this world
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is so determined to
get us into materialism
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because something happens here,
it says, "No one can serve."
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How many masters? Two masters.
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"Two masters for
either he will hate the one
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and love the other,
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or else he will
be loyal to the one
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and despise the other.
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You cannot
serve God and mammon."
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How amazing it is
in the example here.
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Mammon is a god literally
that was connected to money.
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And the Lord says,
"If your focus is money,
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you can't serve me.
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If your focus is me,
you can't serve money.
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One of them is going to
take the throne of your heart."
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And, Mollie, have
you ever been in a store,
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and you see
more than one outfit,
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and you know, how it goes,
it says, you know, one is $35
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but they brought the price down,
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and you couldn't
afford it when it was $35
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but they say, two for one.
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So now almost specifically,
one and the other is half off.
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So instead of $35,
you end up spending $45.
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How much is half? Whatever.
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$17-whatever.
Yeah, whatever it is.
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Mathematicians, you
get that, take care of it.
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But you end up buying more than
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what you could
afford in the first place.
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Has that ever
happened to you? Oh, yes.
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Because if one is good,
two is got to be better.
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And besides you're
saving 17 dollars and 50 cents.
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Exactly.
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Years ago, I saw
on the honeymooners,
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if you're young
just bear with me.
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It's an old black
and white Jackie Gleason,
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and most of you know
what I'm talking about.
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Jill may not
know. That's okay, Jill.
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We have memories that go
further back than your birth.
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But Norton asked Jackie Gleason
the question, "How much is it?"
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He says, "It's 2 for 25
cents. So how much is one?"
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He says, "13 cents."
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He says, "I'll
take the other one."
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Because he's split it down
13 and 12, you get the math.
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But what's happening here
is possessions have value.
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Everything you own has a value.
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Possessions have value,
but don't let your value
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be defined by your possessions.
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And I went to Dubai,
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My wife and I went to
Dubai a few years ago.
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I knew that America is...
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I know that America
is a country of luxury.
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But Dubai, I've
heard of five star hotels
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but seven star hotels
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with the picture frames
on the wall of gold plated,
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and the fixtures in the bathroom
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are not gold
looking but gold plated.
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Mercy.
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And where cars
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of a million
dollars is no big deal.
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Where the police car,
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we know this would never
happen in America is a Bugatti,
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and a Ferrari,
and a Lamborghini.
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That will never happen
in our police department
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in Thompsonville.
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No.
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But materialism
is the whole issue,
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and people just
live with great opulence.
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What happens is
we lose connection
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with the values of life
because we are automatically...
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And this is true, when we see
a person drive upon a very...
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What we might
consider expensive...
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Now, there's nothing wrong
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with having a car
that you can afford.
00:10:00.60\00:10:01.93
I don't want to
make that the issue.
00:10:01.96\00:10:03.30
Because when God blesses
some, they have the ability
00:10:03.33\00:10:05.77
and the right to
purchase something
00:10:05.80\00:10:07.60
as long as it doesn't take
00:10:07.64\00:10:08.97
the place of their
affection to the Lord.
00:10:09.00\00:10:11.77
But when
possessions become your measure
00:10:11.81\00:10:15.34
of your own personal value,
00:10:15.38\00:10:17.25
that's where the issue comes in.
00:10:17.28\00:10:18.95
Never allow your
possessions to be the measure
00:10:18.98\00:10:21.35
by which you are judged
00:10:21.38\00:10:22.72
because it's
futile, it's fleeting.
00:10:22.75\00:10:25.49
And when that thing
that you feel is valuable
00:10:25.52\00:10:28.49
is no longer at
the top of the list,
00:10:28.52\00:10:30.43
your pursuit for
something even of greater value
00:10:30.46\00:10:32.66
or further more value
will now begin to drive you.
00:10:32.69\00:10:36.13
Materialism is a driving thing.
00:10:36.16\00:10:39.00
Capitalism is the
kind of government we have,
00:10:39.03\00:10:42.24
but materialism
drives capitalism.
00:10:42.27\00:10:45.54
In places around the world
where people can't afford it,
00:10:45.57\00:10:47.98
I remember, we were
over in foreign country.
00:10:48.01\00:10:50.58
Once my wife and I, we
gave children a balloon.
00:10:50.61\00:10:54.42
We gave them a balloon,
and their eyes were just...
00:10:54.45\00:10:56.95
They were just
fighting over this one balloon
00:10:56.99\00:10:58.32
as we were blowing it up,
00:10:58.35\00:10:59.69
they can't wait till we're done.
00:10:59.72\00:11:01.09
You blow a balloon in
America, kids will pop it.
00:11:01.12\00:11:05.09
You know, I don't want
a balloon for Christmas.
00:11:05.13\00:11:06.93
You give a kid a
balloon for Christmas,
00:11:06.96\00:11:09.26
you know, there are
some terrible things
00:11:09.30\00:11:10.63
that will happen
in your household.
00:11:10.67\00:11:12.03
Materialism has
taken a hold of America.
00:11:12.07\00:11:14.74
And so I think this lesson,
00:11:14.77\00:11:16.40
a person that might be
in a Third World country,
00:11:16.44\00:11:18.94
and we incessantly
might say materialism,
00:11:18.97\00:11:21.78
I'm wondering where my
next meal is coming from.
00:11:21.81\00:11:23.51
Right.
00:11:23.55\00:11:24.88
But this is truly a
lesson or message to people
00:11:24.91\00:11:27.78
in very affluent
places in the world.
00:11:27.82\00:11:30.52
The other point is
Luke 12:15, look at that.
00:11:30.55\00:11:35.82
Luke 12:15, very important point
00:11:35.86\00:11:38.26
that is brought
out in scripture,
00:11:38.29\00:11:40.00
and Jesus makes it very clear.
00:11:40.03\00:11:41.40
He says, "Take heed
and beware of covetousness.
00:11:41.43\00:11:46.80
For one's life does not consist
00:11:46.84\00:11:48.84
in the abundance of
the things he possesses,
00:11:48.87\00:11:51.87
and the life does not
consist in the abundance
00:11:51.91\00:11:55.44
of the things that
possess," us either.
00:11:55.48\00:11:57.98
Because certain individuals...
00:11:58.01\00:11:59.58
And confession
is good for the...
00:11:59.61\00:12:02.48
Soul. But heart on the...
00:12:02.52\00:12:03.85
Reputation.
00:12:03.89\00:12:05.22
I'm a
gadgetarian, you all know that.
00:12:05.25\00:12:06.59
Yes. The latest
and the greatest...
00:12:06.62\00:12:08.29
But I use it for
the right reason.
00:12:08.32\00:12:09.66
I don't let my
devices control me,
00:12:09.69\00:12:11.59
because I'm a
person that always say,
00:12:11.63\00:12:12.96
"We got to be smarter
than our smartphones."
00:12:12.99\00:12:15.16
You know, because your gadgets
could really make you a person
00:12:15.20\00:12:18.50
that is linked to something
that is controlling you.
00:12:18.53\00:12:21.67
And so we have
to be very careful
00:12:21.70\00:12:23.14
of how we handle the things
00:12:23.17\00:12:24.51
that are made for
convenient reasons
00:12:24.54\00:12:27.44
and not for controlling reasons.
00:12:27.48\00:12:29.24
Yes.
00:12:29.28\00:12:30.95
Statistically, somebody
talked about the first text,
00:12:30.98\00:12:33.88
the very first text
was sent out in 1994.
00:12:33.92\00:12:38.15
And it was, "Merry Christmas".
00:12:38.19\00:12:40.72
And I thought
how amazing that was,
00:12:40.76\00:12:42.69
but they say, "Today, each day,
00:12:42.72\00:12:45.19
781 billion texts
are sent out per day."
00:12:45.23\00:12:50.10
Wow. Mercy.
00:12:50.13\00:12:51.47
And one of the newscaster said,
00:12:51.50\00:12:52.83
"Most of them
come from my children."
00:12:52.87\00:12:55.37
But that shows our world
00:12:55.40\00:12:56.74
is being
controlled by its devices.
00:12:56.77\00:12:58.71
So I want to bring out a
couple of principle points here
00:12:58.74\00:13:01.74
before we transition to Jill.
00:13:01.78\00:13:03.31
The first thing that
when we read Luke 14:26 to 33,
00:13:03.35\00:13:08.92
I'm going to give you
the opportunity to read that,
00:13:08.95\00:13:10.59
but I want to summarize
the things that you'll see
00:13:10.62\00:13:13.02
when you look at it.
00:13:13.05\00:13:14.52
It says, "If anyone comes to me
00:13:14.56\00:13:15.89
and does not hate
his father, or mother,
00:13:15.92\00:13:17.39
and his brother,
and wife, and children,
00:13:17.43\00:13:19.69
brothers, and sisters,
00:13:19.73\00:13:21.06
and as even his own
life cannot be my disciple.
00:13:21.10\00:13:23.73
Whoever does not bear his cross
00:13:23.77\00:13:25.10
and come after me
cannot be my disciple.
00:13:25.13\00:13:27.14
For which of you
intending to build a tower
00:13:27.17\00:13:29.34
does not sit down
first and count the cost.
00:13:29.37\00:13:31.91
Whether he has
enough to finish it,
00:13:31.94\00:13:33.94
lest after he has
laid the foundation
00:13:33.98\00:13:36.95
and is not able to finish,
00:13:36.98\00:13:38.68
all who see it
begin to mock him saying,
00:13:38.71\00:13:41.68
'This man began to build
and was not able to finish.'
00:13:41.72\00:13:44.25
What king going to make
war against another king
00:13:44.29\00:13:46.55
does not sit down first
00:13:46.59\00:13:47.92
and consider whether he is
able with 10,000 to meet him
00:13:47.96\00:13:52.06
who comes
against him with 20,000,
00:13:52.09\00:13:54.76
or else while the other
is still a great way off,
00:13:54.80\00:13:57.17
he sends a delegation and
asked conditions of peace.
00:13:57.20\00:14:01.34
So likewise, whoever
of you does not forsake
00:14:01.37\00:14:04.24
all that he has
cannot be my disciples."
00:14:04.27\00:14:06.88
Five very quick points.
00:14:06.91\00:14:08.24
One, that this brings out,
00:14:08.28\00:14:10.58
"Do not put earthly
family above Christ."
00:14:10.61\00:14:14.78
That is a form of materialism.
They mean more than Jesus does.
00:14:14.82\00:14:19.05
Second thing, we are
called to bear our cross.
00:14:19.09\00:14:22.39
Live sacrificially.
00:14:22.42\00:14:24.23
And that is a
challenge to anyone
00:14:24.26\00:14:26.16
because each one of us,
each one of us at some point
00:14:26.19\00:14:29.83
or the other has been
captured by materialism
00:14:29.86\00:14:33.07
from our
childhood to our adulthood.
00:14:33.10\00:14:35.67
To get a person to grow up
00:14:35.70\00:14:37.04
without having a
materialistic bend
00:14:37.07\00:14:38.61
is an amazing thing.
00:14:38.64\00:14:40.08
Third thing,
Jesus says, "Follow me.
00:14:40.11\00:14:42.41
Abandon your life to
the journey of Jesus."
00:14:42.44\00:14:45.05
Next thing, very important,
before you do anything,
00:14:45.08\00:14:48.42
count the cost, financially,
and socially, and spiritually.
00:14:48.45\00:14:53.25
What impact
would this next device
00:14:53.29\00:14:55.46
or this next
thing you're pursuing
00:14:55.49\00:14:57.26
have on your
eternal standing with God?
00:14:57.29\00:15:00.33
And then, most
amazingly, forsake all.
00:15:00.36\00:15:05.17
The question is, what are you
willing to trade for eternity?
00:15:05.20\00:15:09.64
And the point I
transition on is,
00:15:09.67\00:15:12.17
do you own things
or do things own you?
00:15:12.21\00:15:15.18
Amen. Jill.
00:15:15.21\00:15:17.01
That's powerful,
Pastor. Thank you so much.
00:15:17.05\00:15:19.48
I just wrote
those five points down.
00:15:19.51\00:15:21.88
My lesson Monday
is Filling the Barns.
00:15:21.92\00:15:25.32
And for that, we're
looking at Luke chapter 12.
00:15:25.35\00:15:27.99
So just turn back a couple
of chapters to Luke chapter 12.
00:15:28.02\00:15:32.19
Really, we're
looking at the danger,
00:15:32.23\00:15:34.20
the danger of self-trust,
the danger of boastfulness,
00:15:34.23\00:15:39.73
and the danger of
self-centeredness.
00:15:39.77\00:15:42.50
Now before we get into
actually the parable of the man
00:15:42.54\00:15:45.61
with a barn, let's
just look at the context.
00:15:45.64\00:15:48.51
Luke 12:1 says
that there is a large
00:15:48.54\00:15:51.98
and unruly crowd that
00:15:52.01\00:15:53.68
have gathered
here to hear Jesus.
00:15:53.72\00:15:56.45
It says, "In the mean
time, when an innumerable
00:15:56.48\00:15:59.25
multitude of people
had gathered together
00:15:59.29\00:16:01.89
so that they
trampled one another."
00:16:01.92\00:16:04.49
So this is a large
crowd, innumerable in number,
00:16:04.53\00:16:07.83
and they're beginning
to trample one another.
00:16:07.86\00:16:10.07
Jesus began to say to
his disciples first of all,
00:16:10.10\00:16:12.90
and then He gives
some teaching here.
00:16:12.93\00:16:15.47
We jump over to verse 13.
00:16:15.50\00:16:18.74
And all of a sudden,
00:16:18.77\00:16:20.11
all the way up to
verse 13 is Jesus talking.
00:16:20.14\00:16:22.61
He is instructing His disciples,
00:16:22.64\00:16:24.25
and I'm sure those
who are in the crowd.
00:16:24.28\00:16:26.72
And now all of a
sudden, a man raises his hand.
00:16:26.75\00:16:29.18
Or you'd imagine if
there's a large crowd,
00:16:29.22\00:16:31.09
and the Bible says
they're trampling one another,
00:16:31.12\00:16:33.49
they might be a little unruly.
00:16:33.52\00:16:35.16
All of a sudden, someone says,
00:16:35.19\00:16:36.62
"Teacher, tell
my brother to divide
00:16:36.66\00:16:39.26
the inheritance with me."
00:16:39.29\00:16:41.13
Now the man calls Jesus teacher,
00:16:41.16\00:16:43.37
but really he's not
looking for a teacher,
00:16:43.40\00:16:45.27
he's looking for a
judge, to make arbitration
00:16:45.30\00:16:48.10
or a decision
between the inheritance
00:16:48.14\00:16:50.11
with he and his brother.
00:16:50.14\00:16:52.07
And Jesus
recognizes that 'cause He says,
00:16:52.11\00:16:54.91
"He said to him,
'Man, who made me a judge
00:16:54.94\00:16:57.45
or an arbitrator over you,'"
00:16:57.48\00:16:59.31
and then He proceeds
not to judge but to teach.
00:16:59.35\00:17:03.49
Verse 15, the verse Pastor read,
00:17:03.52\00:17:05.69
"He said to them, 'Take heed
and beware of covetousness.'"
00:17:05.72\00:17:09.82
In the Greek,
00:17:09.86\00:17:11.19
it is the
greedy desire for more.
00:17:11.23\00:17:14.36
Beware of a
greedy desire for more.
00:17:14.40\00:17:18.57
"For one's life does not consist
00:17:18.60\00:17:20.97
in the abundance of
things he possesses."
00:17:21.00\00:17:24.11
Then we have our
parable of the barns.
00:17:24.14\00:17:26.81
Then He spoke a
parable to them saying,
00:17:26.84\00:17:28.98
"The ground of a certain
rich man yielded plentifully,
00:17:29.01\00:17:32.55
and he thought
within himself saying,
00:17:32.58\00:17:34.48
'What shall I do since I
have no room to store my crops?'
00:17:34.52\00:17:38.99
So he said, 'I will do this.
00:17:39.02\00:17:41.29
I will pull down my
barns and build grater.
00:17:41.32\00:17:45.36
There, I will store
all my crops and my goods.
00:17:45.39\00:17:48.83
And I would say to my soul,
00:17:48.86\00:17:50.80
'Soul, you have many
goods laid up for many years.
00:17:50.83\00:17:54.80
Take your ease. Eat,
drink, and be merry.'"
00:17:54.84\00:17:59.51
Verse 20, "But God
said to him, 'fool.'"
00:17:59.54\00:18:03.65
Now in English,
fool is pretty strong.
00:18:03.68\00:18:05.78
And in Greek, it means stupid,
00:18:05.81\00:18:09.32
senseless, foolish.
00:18:09.35\00:18:11.95
So it's a pretty
strong word God used for him.
00:18:11.99\00:18:15.42
"This night, your soul
will be required of you.
00:18:15.46\00:18:18.43
Then whose will these things
be which you have provided?
00:18:18.46\00:18:21.60
So is he who lays up
a treasure for himself
00:18:21.63\00:18:25.43
and is not rich toward God."
00:18:25.47\00:18:28.50
Why was the rich man a fool?
00:18:28.54\00:18:31.54
He was saving
up for another day.
00:18:31.57\00:18:33.58
We could say
that is a good thing.
00:18:33.61\00:18:35.81
But he was a fool
to me for five reasons.
00:18:35.84\00:18:39.15
Number one, he was
foolish not to realize
00:18:39.18\00:18:41.42
where his wealth came from.
00:18:41.45\00:18:43.99
He didn't
realize it came from God.
00:18:44.02\00:18:45.42
He thought it came from
him or something he had done.
00:18:45.45\00:18:47.92
He was foolish not to realize
where he had gotten his money.
00:18:47.96\00:18:51.36
Number two, he was
foolish not to understand
00:18:51.39\00:18:54.00
the purpose of his wealth.
00:18:54.03\00:18:56.20
He thought the
purpose was for himself
00:18:56.23\00:18:58.27
to tear down his barn
and build something bigger,
00:18:58.30\00:19:01.10
it was for himself,
instead of realizing
00:19:01.14\00:19:04.34
that wealth is given us
00:19:04.37\00:19:06.01
for the blessing of other people
00:19:06.04\00:19:07.58
for the spreading of the gospel.
00:19:07.61\00:19:09.31
Number three, he
was foolish to think
00:19:09.34\00:19:11.18
that his
possessions were his security,
00:19:11.21\00:19:14.28
and that he could now
cease to be productive.
00:19:14.32\00:19:16.42
Remember, he said, now
he's going to be at ease,
00:19:16.45\00:19:18.59
he's going to sit back,
00:19:18.62\00:19:19.95
and eat, and
drink, and be merry.
00:19:19.99\00:19:21.92
He was foolish to think
that that was his security,
00:19:21.96\00:19:24.59
and now he could
cease to be productive.
00:19:24.63\00:19:26.36
Number four, he
was foolish to presume
00:19:26.39\00:19:28.20
about his future thinking
00:19:28.23\00:19:30.90
that he would still
be wealthy in the future,
00:19:30.93\00:19:32.73
thinking that he would even
be alive to enjoy that wealth.
00:19:32.77\00:19:37.07
And number five, I
think, is the most important.
00:19:37.11\00:19:39.37
He was foolish
to go through life
00:19:39.41\00:19:41.71
without thought or
consideration of God.
00:19:41.74\00:19:46.01
That is the
biggest danger of all,
00:19:46.05\00:19:48.95
going through
life without thought
00:19:48.98\00:19:51.59
or consideration of God.
00:19:51.62\00:19:54.29
There's a danger we
have in our own lives
00:19:54.32\00:19:57.53
whether you're affluent,
and you have possessions,
00:19:57.56\00:20:01.66
or even someone who does not,
00:20:01.70\00:20:03.33
it's a danger
for us to forget God.
00:20:03.37\00:20:07.17
Turn with me to
Deuteronomy chapter 8.
00:20:07.20\00:20:09.07
Oh, yes. Deuteronomy Chapter 8.
00:20:09.10\00:20:12.24
We're going to
start in verse 10.
00:20:12.27\00:20:13.61
But before verse
10, in verse 2, it says,
00:20:13.64\00:20:16.95
"You remember
the Lord, your God,
00:20:16.98\00:20:19.01
how He led you 40
years in the wilderness."
00:20:19.05\00:20:22.32
Verse 3, "He
fed you with manna."
00:20:22.35\00:20:25.22
Verse 4, "Your
garments did not wear out,
00:20:25.25\00:20:28.96
your feet didn't swell,
and your shoes remained."
00:20:28.99\00:20:32.19
So basically he's saying,
00:20:32.23\00:20:33.73
"I provided for
you for 40 years."
00:20:33.76\00:20:36.77
In the wilderness, God provided
for the children of Israel.
00:20:36.80\00:20:40.94
And then He
brought them, verse 7,
00:20:40.97\00:20:43.10
"To a good land, a
land flowing with water,
00:20:43.14\00:20:46.71
and milk, and honey,
and wheat, and barley."
00:20:46.74\00:20:49.48
And it's a
wonderful thing that he did
00:20:49.51\00:20:51.91
for the children of Israel.
00:20:51.95\00:20:53.45
Then we get to verse 10.
00:20:53.48\00:20:55.18
"When you have
eaten and are full..."
00:20:55.22\00:20:59.12
In Hebrew, it says,
"When you are satisfied,
00:20:59.15\00:21:02.89
when you have
eaten and are satisfied,
00:21:02.92\00:21:05.69
then you shall
bless the Lord, your God,
00:21:05.73\00:21:08.73
for the good land
which He has given to you."
00:21:08.76\00:21:12.53
What are we to do
when we're satisfied?
00:21:12.57\00:21:14.34
What are we to
do when we're full
00:21:14.37\00:21:15.80
of the goodness of God?
00:21:15.84\00:21:17.74
We are to bless God,
we are to praise him,
00:21:17.77\00:21:20.11
we are to give
him honor and glory.
00:21:20.14\00:21:23.24
But what do we often do?
00:21:23.28\00:21:25.15
Maybe not you at home,
but what do I do sometimes,
00:21:25.18\00:21:28.35
I forget what
God has done for me.
00:21:28.38\00:21:32.32
When things go well
and things seem like
00:21:32.35\00:21:35.26
they are going easy,
00:21:35.29\00:21:36.62
it's easy to forget
what God has done for us.
00:21:36.66\00:21:41.43
Verse 11, "Beware that you do
not forget the Lord, your God,
00:21:41.46\00:21:47.57
by not keeping His commandments,
00:21:47.60\00:21:49.34
His judgments,
and His statutes."
00:21:49.37\00:21:52.07
And he goes on,
"With all the things
00:21:52.11\00:21:53.48
He has given to the
children of Israel."
00:21:53.51\00:21:55.58
Verse 14, "When
your heart is lifted up
00:21:55.61\00:21:57.75
and you forget
the Lord, your God,
00:21:57.78\00:22:00.32
who brought you out
of the land of Egypt,
00:22:00.35\00:22:02.18
from the house of bondage,"
00:22:02.22\00:22:03.55
it reminds me of Nebuchadnezzar.
00:22:03.59\00:22:04.99
Remember walking in the palace?
00:22:05.02\00:22:06.86
He said, "Is not this great
Babylon that I have built?"
00:22:06.89\00:22:11.19
And instantly at that
moment, God rebuked his pride
00:22:11.23\00:22:14.50
and his sense of
self-satisfaction
00:22:14.53\00:22:17.13
in what he thought
he had accomplished.
00:22:17.17\00:22:19.87
Jump down to verse 18,
"You should remember the Lord,
00:22:19.90\00:22:22.60
your God, it is He who
gives you power to get wealth
00:22:22.64\00:22:27.01
that He may
establish His covenant
00:22:27.04\00:22:28.88
which He swore to your
fathers as it is this day."
00:22:28.91\00:22:32.35
So what is the solution
if today you're feeling like
00:22:32.38\00:22:35.05
you have a forgetful heart,
you have a self-centered heart,
00:22:35.08\00:22:39.05
you have a self-trustful
heart, what's the solution?
00:22:39.09\00:22:43.76
I think, it's four fold.
00:22:43.79\00:22:45.13
Number one, ask God
to show you your heart.
00:22:45.16\00:22:48.23
Jeremiah 17:9, "The heart
is deceitful above all things
00:22:48.26\00:22:52.43
and desperately wicked."
00:22:52.47\00:22:54.70
Who can even know
it? And so we pray.
00:22:54.74\00:22:57.97
Mollie, you pray this
everyday, Psalm 139:23 and 24,
00:22:58.01\00:23:02.08
"Search me, oh
God, and know my heart.
00:23:02.11\00:23:04.61
Try me and know my thoughts.
00:23:04.65\00:23:07.02
And reveal to me those areas
00:23:07.05\00:23:09.78
that are not
pleasing in your sight."
00:23:09.82\00:23:12.12
So just go to God.
00:23:12.15\00:23:13.52
Sometimes I think
in my own experience,
00:23:13.56\00:23:16.16
I can have a forgetful
heart, I can forget the things
00:23:16.19\00:23:20.26
God has done for me,
but I can go to God and say,
00:23:20.30\00:23:23.60
"God, I want you
to search my heart.
00:23:23.63\00:23:26.10
I want you to remind me.
00:23:26.13\00:23:27.54
I want you to pull out
for me this self-centeredness,
00:23:27.57\00:23:31.24
this boastfulness.
00:23:31.27\00:23:33.14
And I want to
be focused on you."
00:23:33.17\00:23:34.81
Number two, behold Jesus.
00:23:34.84\00:23:37.68
II Corinthians 3:18.
00:23:37.71\00:23:39.51
We all, with open face,
beholding as in a glass,
00:23:39.55\00:23:42.38
the glory of the
Lord, are changed
00:23:42.42\00:23:44.35
into the same image
from glory to glory.
00:23:44.39\00:23:47.89
And so we are
changed, we are transformed
00:23:47.92\00:23:50.89
into the image of
Jesus by beholding Him.
00:23:50.93\00:23:54.33
Don't look at your
brothers and sisters
00:23:54.36\00:23:56.67
to see how they are doing
and compare yourself to them.
00:23:56.70\00:24:00.04
Don't look behind
and see who is there.
00:24:00.07\00:24:02.64
All we're to do is look forward.
00:24:02.67\00:24:04.11
Amen, true.
00:24:04.14\00:24:05.47
We are to look
straight at Jesus.
00:24:05.51\00:24:07.48
So ask God to
show you your heart.
00:24:07.51\00:24:09.24
Behold Jesus,
spend time in His Word.
00:24:09.28\00:24:13.11
I think many times, our
picture of God is distorted.
00:24:13.15\00:24:16.89
It could be because
of the way you grew up
00:24:16.92\00:24:19.55
from some pain or
something in your past,
00:24:19.59\00:24:22.19
and you're saying, "I
don't even know who God is."
00:24:22.22\00:24:24.99
You can get to know
Him by the Word of God.
00:24:25.03\00:24:27.96
Start with the Gospels,
00:24:28.00\00:24:29.46
that shows you
the picture of Jesus.
00:24:29.50\00:24:32.97
Spend time in His Word.
00:24:33.00\00:24:35.07
And number four,
focus on other people.
00:24:35.10\00:24:38.27
James 1:19, "We're
supposed to be swift to hear,
00:24:38.31\00:24:41.44
slow to speak," I
really need to learn that,
00:24:41.48\00:24:44.18
"And slow to wrath."
00:24:44.21\00:24:46.72
So focus on other people.
00:24:46.75\00:24:48.98
So what is the lesson
from the parable of the barn,
00:24:49.02\00:24:51.82
that we are to never forget God.
00:24:51.85\00:24:54.22
Amen.
00:24:54.26\00:24:55.59
Because He is the one
who has given us everything.
00:24:55.62\00:24:57.86
Amen. Amen.
00:24:57.89\00:24:59.53
Pastor Kenny. Well
done, praise the Lord.
00:24:59.56\00:25:01.53
That is good fruitful
thought. Praise the Lord.
00:25:01.56\00:25:04.10
We're going to be
on Tuesday's lesson.
00:25:04.13\00:25:05.73
I thought, how interesting
that I ended up with this one
00:25:05.77\00:25:09.20
because it said, the
allure of materialism.
00:25:09.24\00:25:12.71
And I don't know if
anyone, out there here,
00:25:12.74\00:25:14.88
has ever been allured
by things of this world.
00:25:14.91\00:25:18.51
So I thought, you know,
what does allure really means?
00:25:18.55\00:25:21.78
So I just, I looked
it up its definition,
00:25:21.82\00:25:24.45
to tempt with
something desirable.
00:25:24.49\00:25:27.72
How many of us
have ever been tempted
00:25:27.76\00:25:29.36
with something that's desirable?
00:25:29.39\00:25:31.46
And then, to attract
or to entice someone,
00:25:31.49\00:25:35.53
notice this, or a
fascination or charm.
00:25:35.56\00:25:39.83
And sometimes when
things are advertised
00:25:39.87\00:25:41.97
the way that they are,
when the allure of materialism,
00:25:42.00\00:25:45.94
they do, you are
almost hypnotized
00:25:45.97\00:25:48.61
by what they are offering.
00:25:48.64\00:25:50.68
I can remember
back so many years ago,
00:25:50.71\00:25:54.02
it may not be a
good illustration
00:25:54.05\00:25:55.48
but let's just use it anyway
because the impression it made
00:25:55.52\00:25:58.25
on my mind as a little
guy, it was advertising,
00:25:58.29\00:26:02.82
I think it was
cigarettes Marlboro
00:26:02.86\00:26:06.36
or another one
where they had the cowboy.
00:26:06.39\00:26:09.60
Camel. Camels.
00:26:09.63\00:26:11.47
I didn't smoke but I know that.
00:26:11.50\00:26:12.83
No, I didn't
either, but it was...
00:26:12.87\00:26:15.40
I was allured by
this advertisement
00:26:15.44\00:26:19.47
because I loved
cowboys back then.
00:26:19.51\00:26:22.54
You know, that's the only
time that I got caught stealing.
00:26:22.58\00:26:28.58
Did you say confession
was good for the soul?
00:26:28.62\00:26:30.25
What it was? Yeah, yeah.
00:26:30.29\00:26:32.65
I went to play at the neighbors,
00:26:32.69\00:26:34.52
and he had a little
cat gun in a holster,
00:26:34.56\00:26:37.09
and I wanted one so bad
00:26:37.13\00:26:38.46
because we don't
have any at home.
00:26:38.49\00:26:40.56
So when I got done playing,
00:26:40.60\00:26:41.93
I decided the best
thing to do is take it home.
00:26:41.96\00:26:44.27
And so I took it home with me.
00:26:44.30\00:26:45.63
See, I was allured
00:26:45.67\00:26:47.00
because I've seen
this advertisement.
00:26:47.04\00:26:48.37
I've seen the Marlboro Man
or Camel Man, handsome man,
00:26:48.40\00:26:52.84
cowboy hat, the guns,
the beautiful horse, and all,
00:26:52.87\00:26:57.41
you know, the
scenery, it was beautiful.
00:26:57.45\00:26:59.25
I thought, "Oh,
boy, to be like that,"
00:26:59.28\00:27:01.38
but they were
advertising something.
00:27:01.42\00:27:02.88
He was doing this.
00:27:02.92\00:27:04.25
And I thought,
"Well, it can't be too bad
00:27:04.29\00:27:05.62
because look at
all the surroundings."
00:27:05.65\00:27:07.82
So I wanted one of those guns.
00:27:07.86\00:27:09.26
So I went across the
neighbors, Gollio was her name.
00:27:09.29\00:27:13.40
I took the gun home with me.
00:27:13.43\00:27:15.70
And so we had just
little small closet for...
00:27:15.73\00:27:18.63
My brothers and I,
00:27:18.67\00:27:20.00
we lived in a
room with six by ten,
00:27:20.04\00:27:21.74
it was like a sell.
00:27:21.77\00:27:23.10
We had a bunk bed,
00:27:23.14\00:27:25.67
and then beside it
where you could sleep,
00:27:25.71\00:27:27.91
three this way and
one on top up here.
00:27:27.94\00:27:29.84
So you know how
small, it's part of a porch,
00:27:29.88\00:27:31.38
that's kind of a small.
00:27:31.41\00:27:32.75
Anyhow, I took that gun,
00:27:32.78\00:27:35.08
because I was allured
by materialism or things
00:27:35.12\00:27:38.09
what they can do in advertising,
00:27:38.12\00:27:40.06
and I took, and I hid
it in the dirty clothes
00:27:40.09\00:27:42.29
there in the room there.
00:27:42.32\00:27:44.29
But about every five
minutes, I couldn't stand it.
00:27:44.33\00:27:47.26
I had to go touch the gun.
00:27:47.30\00:27:49.63
I had to go peek
00:27:49.66\00:27:51.00
and make sure
it was still there.
00:27:51.03\00:27:52.53
I had to look at it
because it even reminded me
00:27:52.57\00:27:54.40
"The Lone Ranger", you know,
00:27:54.44\00:27:55.77
had the white
pearl handle and so on.
00:27:55.80\00:27:58.14
Pretty soon, mom came up
00:27:58.17\00:27:59.97
after my 20th
trip probably anyway.
00:28:00.01\00:28:03.31
"What are you doing running
back and forth in that room?"
00:28:03.35\00:28:05.58
"No, nothing,"
then I began to lie.
00:28:05.61\00:28:07.98
"Well, no,
there's nothing going."
00:28:08.02\00:28:09.35
Well, you know,
00:28:09.38\00:28:10.72
"Every time I look at you,
you're running back to room.
00:28:10.75\00:28:12.09
Let's go back and
see what it is you have."
00:28:12.12\00:28:14.39
Well, she found out
that I had taken the gun.
00:28:14.42\00:28:17.33
So that allurement
cost you initially to steal
00:28:17.36\00:28:20.80
and then to lie.
00:28:20.83\00:28:22.20
And then to lie.
Covet, steal, and lie.
00:28:22.23\00:28:24.27
I was doing all of the above.
00:28:24.30\00:28:26.03
I broke every one of them
00:28:26.07\00:28:27.40
because it was
just I had to have it
00:28:27.44\00:28:28.77
because the advertisement,
I want to be like it.
00:28:28.80\00:28:31.07
Anyway the
response of my mother,
00:28:31.11\00:28:32.54
and I'm glad she did.
00:28:32.57\00:28:33.91
She said, "Son, just
march your little self
00:28:33.94\00:28:36.31
right across the alley
way, and you knock on the door,
00:28:36.34\00:28:38.75
and you talk to
Mr. Gollio," the man,
00:28:38.78\00:28:41.45
"And you tell
him, 'I've taken this,
00:28:41.48\00:28:43.05
and I shouldn't have
done it, and I'm sorry,
00:28:43.08\00:28:44.75
and I'll never do it again.'"
00:28:44.79\00:28:46.65
That was a long walk.
00:28:46.69\00:28:48.56
It couldn't have
been over 200 feet,
00:28:48.59\00:28:49.92
but, man, it was a long walk.
00:28:49.96\00:28:51.29
And I was just
hoping maybe one of the boys
00:28:51.33\00:28:52.66
or momma would
answer, but here come dad.
00:28:52.69\00:28:54.70
So I thought, "Oh,
I had to face dad."
00:28:54.73\00:28:56.36
So I told, I said, "Mr. Gollio,
00:28:56.40\00:28:57.73
I'm so sorry I took
this gun and holster,
00:28:57.77\00:29:00.07
and I shouldn't have done it.
00:29:00.10\00:29:01.77
It was wrong, but I
sure, really, oh man,
00:29:01.80\00:29:03.71
I just want it so bad
that I got carried away,
00:29:03.74\00:29:06.31
and I took it."
00:29:06.34\00:29:07.68
And he said, "Well, son,
don't you worry about it.
00:29:07.71\00:29:09.28
It's okay."
00:29:09.31\00:29:10.68
I said, "Well, I
appreciate that anyway."
00:29:10.71\00:29:12.31
These are things
sometimes that take us
00:29:12.35\00:29:15.48
when we are
allured by the advertising
00:29:15.52\00:29:17.65
because there is
billions of dollars
00:29:17.69\00:29:20.26
that are spent to
entice us to buy things
00:29:20.29\00:29:23.36
that we really don't even need,
00:29:23.39\00:29:25.19
that we already have as
has been mentioned here.
00:29:25.23\00:29:28.00
I think about the
three parts of materialism.
00:29:28.03\00:29:32.37
I jotted those down.
00:29:32.40\00:29:34.17
Materialism, material
is what a thing is made of.
00:29:34.20\00:29:39.04
Material, we think about,
it's what something is made of,
00:29:39.07\00:29:41.58
and it's depending
on what might entice you
00:29:41.61\00:29:43.31
is not going to
entice me and vice versa,
00:29:43.35\00:29:45.21
but some things just entice us.
00:29:45.25\00:29:48.08
And it's advertising,
00:29:48.12\00:29:49.78
the advertising is
that we are a target.
00:29:49.82\00:29:54.32
We are a target
by the advertising,
00:29:54.36\00:29:57.13
you know, billions and
billions of dollar business.
00:29:57.16\00:29:59.79
They target the young people.
00:29:59.83\00:30:02.46
They do it by social media,
you know, whatever it might be.
00:30:02.50\00:30:06.37
They target you at Christmas.
00:30:06.40\00:30:08.30
They know what you
like, what you don't like,
00:30:08.34\00:30:10.41
and they get to you,
and they say the right thing
00:30:10.44\00:30:12.31
to make you buy
something you really don't need.
00:30:12.34\00:30:15.18
And so, you know, we
look at this thing here,
00:30:15.21\00:30:17.25
but all of a sudden,
we become materialized,
00:30:17.28\00:30:21.32
and we don't even
realize that we've done it.
00:30:21.35\00:30:22.98
We might
disappoint our Heavenly Father
00:30:23.02\00:30:25.92
and maybe our earthly
family by doing things
00:30:25.95\00:30:27.72
and taking things
that we shouldn't take.
00:30:27.76\00:30:29.99
Materialism, in philosophy,
don't throw stones yet,
00:30:30.03\00:30:35.33
but in philosophy, it says here
that everything in the world
00:30:35.36\00:30:38.93
including
thought, will, and feeling
00:30:38.97\00:30:42.44
can be explained
in terms of matter.
00:30:42.47\00:30:45.97
But what we are
looking at in our lesson,
00:30:46.01\00:30:47.44
we will look at the
spiritual part of it is,
00:30:47.48\00:30:50.05
materialism is a tendency
to be more concerned with
00:30:50.08\00:30:52.81
what's been brought out,
00:30:52.85\00:30:54.18
material things than
we are spiritual things.
00:30:54.22\00:30:57.49
I mean, that's
just the bottom line
00:30:57.52\00:30:58.85
as far as I am concerned.
00:30:58.89\00:31:00.76
And so we must be careful
not to become materialized.
00:31:00.79\00:31:04.36
Nothing wrong
with material things
00:31:04.39\00:31:05.89
has been brought
out or wrong with money,
00:31:05.93\00:31:07.80
but we don't want
to be materialized,
00:31:07.83\00:31:09.20
or we put that
above the things of God.
00:31:09.23\00:31:11.90
And I looked at the advertising,
00:31:11.93\00:31:15.00
some things on advertising,
I thought how interesting.
00:31:15.04\00:31:16.87
We don't have time
to go into all of them,
00:31:16.91\00:31:18.24
but there's five or six
things that the world does
00:31:18.27\00:31:21.51
to entice each one of us
00:31:21.54\00:31:24.58
to get involved in
things of the world.
00:31:24.61\00:31:26.98
And what are
some of the dangers?
00:31:27.02\00:31:28.42
To me, one of the dangers was,
00:31:28.45\00:31:29.78
when I get
involved in these things,
00:31:29.82\00:31:31.29
and I'm spending money,
00:31:31.32\00:31:32.65
maybe where I
don't even have it,
00:31:32.69\00:31:34.12
you know, and I'm going in debt,
00:31:34.16\00:31:35.49
and I'm using the credit cards,
how about the cause of God?
00:31:35.52\00:31:37.99
This is what these
lessons are all about.
00:31:38.03\00:31:40.60
Who really suffers
when you think about that
00:31:40.63\00:31:44.10
maybe we overspend
or we buy something
00:31:44.13\00:31:45.93
we don't need, even if it's...
00:31:45.97\00:31:47.30
What is it that one half price?
00:31:47.34\00:31:49.27
You know, buy one,
get one half price.
00:31:49.30\00:31:51.74
And you
mentioned, "Oh, I saved,"
00:31:51.77\00:31:53.84
that's kind of our reasoning.
00:31:53.88\00:31:55.21
We really didn't
needed it anyway but we saved.
00:31:55.24\00:31:57.18
We'd save a lot more
00:31:57.21\00:31:58.55
if we just didn't
have to purchase it.
00:31:58.58\00:32:00.62
But we spend everything
and then when it comes
00:32:00.65\00:32:03.02
to the calls of God
00:32:03.05\00:32:04.39
and getting this
message to the world
00:32:04.42\00:32:05.79
which it takes
finances is all of a sudden,
00:32:05.82\00:32:08.49
we say we don't have anything.
00:32:08.52\00:32:10.69
People will spend billions
here on the Christmas season.
00:32:10.73\00:32:15.26
They'll spend in presents,
00:32:15.30\00:32:16.63
not saying
everything is all wrong,
00:32:16.67\00:32:18.00
just simply, they'll spend.
00:32:18.03\00:32:19.37
They didn't
bring a gift to Jesus.
00:32:19.40\00:32:21.47
They didn't give
to support the gospel.
00:32:21.50\00:32:23.24
They didn't give to make sure
00:32:23.27\00:32:24.61
this message
goes into the world.
00:32:24.64\00:32:25.97
So they become materialized
and not even recognize
00:32:26.01\00:32:29.14
maybe that they
have become that.
00:32:29.18\00:32:30.85
So anyway, I looked
up a couple of things,
00:32:30.88\00:32:32.45
I thought interesting
here in a couple of minutes
00:32:32.48\00:32:34.08
that we have here.
00:32:34.12\00:32:35.92
It says a few steps,
and if you're looking at
00:32:35.95\00:32:38.92
something you want to
buy, it was worth looking at,
00:32:38.95\00:32:41.79
again, the allurement of it.
00:32:41.82\00:32:43.79
So the advertiser,
00:32:43.83\00:32:45.69
the one who wants
to sell something,
00:32:45.73\00:32:47.06
he's looking at you and he says,
00:32:47.10\00:32:48.50
"Well, what is
it that they want?
00:32:48.53\00:32:51.00
They're going to the
store and they'll say,
00:32:51.03\00:32:53.44
'Where is the best place
to put this on the shelf?'"
00:32:53.47\00:32:55.80
You know, how they do
that? Positioning, yeah.
00:32:55.84\00:32:57.71
They position.
00:32:57.74\00:32:59.14
And so they target
certain individuals
00:32:59.17\00:33:01.28
and certain
things that are going on.
00:33:01.31\00:33:03.04
And they say, "What do you
want to show the customers",
00:33:03.08\00:33:06.21
number one.
00:33:06.25\00:33:07.75
And then, "What do
you want them to do
00:33:07.78\00:33:10.69
when they see the ad?"
00:33:10.72\00:33:12.42
Well, naturally,
when you see the ad,
00:33:12.45\00:33:14.09
they make it so...
00:33:14.12\00:33:15.46
Sometimes oh, you
just want it right now.
00:33:15.49\00:33:18.09
You want to get the
card out, credit or whatever,
00:33:18.13\00:33:19.86
and charge even though you know,
00:33:19.89\00:33:21.23
you may not be
able to pay for it,
00:33:21.26\00:33:22.60
and say I want that now.
00:33:22.63\00:33:23.97
And a lot of times,
they will say 5 to 10 days.
00:33:24.00\00:33:28.64
But we can do it
for a little price,
00:33:28.67\00:33:30.97
we can get here overnight.
00:33:31.01\00:33:32.61
Oh, have mercy.
00:33:32.64\00:33:33.98
"Get it here overnight.
00:33:34.01\00:33:35.38
If you can get here
faster, get it here.
00:33:35.41\00:33:36.98
I got to have it
00:33:37.01\00:33:38.35
because they made it
sound so good, so realistic,
00:33:38.38\00:33:41.68
and made me feel
like I needed it."
00:33:41.72\00:33:43.75
And so sometimes, we are
just, may I use the word,
00:33:43.79\00:33:45.82
sucked into these things that,
what about the things of God.
00:33:45.85\00:33:49.66
That's the whole point
here, I say, the marketing.
00:33:49.69\00:33:52.23
Market, remember, you
are a target out there.
00:33:52.26\00:33:56.23
That's right.
00:33:56.26\00:33:57.60
The world out there
is targeting you and me.
00:33:57.63\00:34:00.24
And some of the
things are out there.
00:34:00.27\00:34:01.74
Even though we don't need them,
00:34:01.77\00:34:03.10
we're going to
go get them anyway.
00:34:03.14\00:34:04.54
And some people get them
00:34:04.57\00:34:05.91
because somebody mentioned here,
00:34:05.94\00:34:07.28
maybe the Jones or
the Smiths have it,
00:34:07.31\00:34:08.94
and we want to be like them.
00:34:08.98\00:34:10.45
Or sometimes it might
be when we are raised up
00:34:10.48\00:34:12.85
maybe in a poor environment,
00:34:12.88\00:34:15.35
and you don't have those things,
00:34:15.38\00:34:16.72
sometimes, I don't know
00:34:16.75\00:34:18.09
if that makes
sense to anybody...
00:34:18.12\00:34:19.45
But you want to have
a couple of those things
00:34:19.49\00:34:21.29
because you didn't have those.
00:34:21.32\00:34:23.46
You know, my brother
and I always talk about
00:34:23.49\00:34:24.99
when we went to
school, they just come out
00:34:25.03\00:34:26.66
with a government deal
of having milk everyday.
00:34:26.70\00:34:29.30
You know, and I
think it was five cents
00:34:29.33\00:34:33.27
for chocolate milk everyday.
00:34:33.30\00:34:34.74
So you got five little
cartons for five cents.
00:34:34.77\00:34:36.50
Well, we could never
afford the chocolate,
00:34:36.54\00:34:38.51
and it was two
cents for white milk.
00:34:38.54\00:34:41.31
So, you know, and
we could never get that
00:34:41.34\00:34:42.84
unless we found
some soda bottles,
00:34:42.88\00:34:44.61
and take them in, and
redeem those to get the money.
00:34:44.65\00:34:47.78
This is all good
stuff, but I'm saying,
00:34:47.82\00:34:49.22
we have to be careful in that
environment as we come forward,
00:34:49.25\00:34:52.39
we forget the things of God.
00:34:52.42\00:34:54.62
We forget, and we are allured
into materialism in a way
00:34:54.66\00:34:58.36
that somehow is very
difficult to come out of.
00:34:58.39\00:35:02.26
And so we need
to be praying daily
00:35:02.30\00:35:03.90
as mentioned here.
00:35:03.93\00:35:05.27
We need to set our eyes
upon certainly Jesus Christ
00:35:05.30\00:35:07.47
absolutely in Him.
00:35:07.50\00:35:08.84
And you know, I
appeal to each one of you
00:35:08.87\00:35:11.01
to make sure this season
00:35:11.04\00:35:12.91
or any season
that we put God first.
00:35:12.94\00:35:15.94
We give to God first.
00:35:15.98\00:35:17.31
We make sure, you know,
00:35:17.35\00:35:18.68
the things of
getting this gospel truth.
00:35:18.71\00:35:20.22
Giving the 3ABN,
giving this message
00:35:20.25\00:35:22.02
to go into the world.
00:35:22.05\00:35:23.39
Do those things first.
00:35:23.42\00:35:25.59
Don't let money be your God.
00:35:25.62\00:35:27.29
Give back to him.
00:35:27.32\00:35:28.66
And I guarantee you, He's
going to give back to you.
00:35:28.69\00:35:31.06
Guarantee, you're going to have
what you need to get by, why?
00:35:31.09\00:35:34.56
Because he said, He's
promised that He would do that.
00:35:34.60\00:35:36.73
Amen and amen. Excellent.
00:35:36.77\00:35:38.87
And I'm thinking
what's the number one reason,
00:35:38.90\00:35:41.37
Pastor Lomacang, that people say
00:35:41.40\00:35:43.30
they can't pay their times.
00:35:43.34\00:35:46.71
They can't afford
to, they can't afford to,
00:35:46.74\00:35:50.25
and what that does is
it cuts off your nose,
00:35:50.28\00:35:53.55
despite your face.
00:35:53.58\00:35:54.92
You can afford not to tie.
00:35:54.95\00:35:57.12
So I'm looking at Wednesday,
and it's love of self.
00:35:57.15\00:36:03.89
And actually I'm going to kind
of look at two different areas
00:36:03.93\00:36:07.96
that they have
similar definitions,
00:36:08.00\00:36:10.93
but they are different.
00:36:10.97\00:36:12.60
It's love of self
which is narcissism,
00:36:12.63\00:36:15.57
and we'll look at
that a little deeper,
00:36:15.60\00:36:17.24
and thinking more
highly of your self,
00:36:17.27\00:36:20.58
and so I want us to
turn to Romans 12:3.
00:36:20.61\00:36:25.91
That's Romans 12:3.
00:36:25.95\00:36:29.08
And the scripture says,
00:36:29.12\00:36:30.69
"For I say, through
the grace given to me,
00:36:30.72\00:36:35.32
to every one who is among
you not to think of himself,"
00:36:35.36\00:36:39.19
what, "More highly
than he ought to think.
00:36:39.23\00:36:43.47
But to think
soberly as God has dealt
00:36:43.50\00:36:46.84
to each one a measure of faith."
00:36:46.87\00:36:49.07
So we're looking at the
influence of materialism,
00:36:49.10\00:36:53.94
and I'm looking at love of self
00:36:53.98\00:36:56.01
or thinking more
highly than you should.
00:36:56.04\00:36:58.65
Now, I want to say this.
00:36:58.68\00:37:00.15
We shouldn't think more lowly
than what we should either.
00:37:00.18\00:37:03.92
We are what God has
made us, and we are...
00:37:03.95\00:37:09.36
The scripture plainly says that
00:37:09.39\00:37:11.89
when we've made
Jesus the Lord of our live,
00:37:11.93\00:37:14.30
we are nothing
because of who we are,
00:37:14.33\00:37:16.36
we are something
because of who we contain.
00:37:16.40\00:37:19.00
So we're not to think that
we are little bugs in the mud.
00:37:19.03\00:37:22.97
No, we are not. We are
God's very own children.
00:37:23.00\00:37:26.14
But we aren't to think
more highly than we should.
00:37:26.17\00:37:29.24
Now thinking more highly
of yourself than you should,
00:37:29.28\00:37:33.88
what do you
think that would become
00:37:33.92\00:37:36.48
when you think more highly
of yourself than you should?
00:37:36.52\00:37:39.19
Pride.
00:37:39.22\00:37:40.56
Pride often reveals itself
00:37:40.59\00:37:43.73
in an exalted
opinion of oneself.
00:37:43.76\00:37:48.56
Now, proverbs 16:18.
00:37:48.60\00:37:51.80
You can all quote this.
00:37:51.83\00:37:53.44
Pride goes before destruction
00:37:53.47\00:37:57.34
and a haughty
spirit before a fall.
00:37:57.37\00:37:59.94
So don't think more
highly than you should,
00:37:59.97\00:38:02.71
that's pride,
that's stinking pride
00:38:02.74\00:38:05.18
And have you ever seen
anybody that was full of pride?
00:38:05.21\00:38:10.39
And the scripture says
pride goes before destruction.
00:38:10.42\00:38:14.72
So you see somebody
that's full of pride,
00:38:14.76\00:38:16.99
you don't have to try to
work out their destruction.
00:38:17.03\00:38:20.03
They're putting a biblical
principle into operation,
00:38:20.06\00:38:23.20
and they're going to
get a biblical result.
00:38:23.23\00:38:25.63
It's not your place
to deal with their pride,
00:38:25.67\00:38:28.00
almighty God will
deal with their pride.
00:38:28.04\00:38:30.11
As a matter of
fact, I wanted to look at
00:38:30.14\00:38:33.21
where the
birthplace of pride was.
00:38:33.24\00:38:37.21
So Ezekiel 28:17,
00:38:37.25\00:38:39.75
just looking at the A
part of that scripture.
00:38:39.78\00:38:42.72
Tell me who I'm talking about.
00:38:42.75\00:38:45.29
"Your heart was lifted
up because of your beauty.
00:38:45.32\00:38:49.59
You corrupted your wisdom
for the sake of your splendor."
00:38:49.62\00:38:54.20
What are we
talking about? Lucifer.
00:38:54.23\00:38:56.26
And where was this,
where did this take place?
00:38:56.30\00:38:59.23
It was in heaven.
00:38:59.27\00:39:01.07
And the birthplace was in
the very portals of heaven
00:39:01.10\00:39:05.21
in the person of Lucifer.
00:39:05.24\00:39:08.64
Beauty and wisdom.
00:39:08.68\00:39:11.31
Where did each of
these attributes come from?
00:39:11.35\00:39:15.22
Can a beautiful
person take credit
00:39:15.25\00:39:18.12
for their genetic makeup?
00:39:18.15\00:39:21.02
Can an
intelligent person take credit
00:39:21.06\00:39:24.89
for their learning capacity?
00:39:24.93\00:39:26.86
Where does your
genetic makeup and your acuity,
00:39:26.90\00:39:32.20
where does that come from?
00:39:32.23\00:39:33.94
It comes from almighty God.
00:39:33.97\00:39:36.27
Lucifer
deceived himself thinking
00:39:36.30\00:39:41.11
he was greater
than he really was.
00:39:41.14\00:39:43.65
Now I don't want any of
us to be guilty of that.
00:39:43.68\00:39:47.75
I want us to turn
to Isaiah chapter 14,
00:39:47.78\00:39:50.32
going to go
through that very quickly.
00:39:50.35\00:39:52.19
Isaiah chapter 14,
00:39:52.22\00:39:55.06
here is what
Lucifer says about himself,
00:39:55.09\00:39:59.03
"For you have set in your heart,
00:39:59.06\00:40:01.73
'I will ascend into heaven.
00:40:01.76\00:40:04.97
I will exalt my throne
above the stars of God.
00:40:05.00\00:40:09.30
I will also sit on the
mount of the congregation
00:40:09.34\00:40:13.11
on the farther
side of the North.
00:40:13.14\00:40:15.71
I will ascend above the
heights of the clouds.'"
00:40:15.74\00:40:19.48
He goes on to say, "I
will be like the most high."
00:40:19.51\00:40:23.99
He had a lot of
confidence in the I, didn't he?
00:40:24.02\00:40:28.52
Now let me ask you
this. He had I trouble.
00:40:28.56\00:40:30.73
He had I trouble. That's right.
00:40:30.76\00:40:32.76
Did he have the ability
to be like the most high?
00:40:32.79\00:40:36.77
No. Did he have that ability?
00:40:36.80\00:40:39.27
He was self-deceived,
and he was ambitious.
00:40:39.30\00:40:46.17
Self-deception and self-ambition
00:40:46.21\00:40:49.94
are two traits of
Lucifer's fallen heart.
00:40:49.98\00:40:53.55
Now what were they?
00:40:53.58\00:40:54.92
Self-deception, self-deceit,
00:40:54.95\00:40:57.42
Satan was
self-deceived into thinking
00:40:57.45\00:41:00.36
he could make himself
like the most high God,
00:41:00.39\00:41:03.76
and he had self-ambition.
00:41:03.79\00:41:06.33
Ambition is a grievous fault.
00:41:06.36\00:41:09.90
It seems like I'm
quoting Shakespeare there,
00:41:09.93\00:41:11.83
but I think it's a good quote.
00:41:11.87\00:41:13.97
These texts
describe the fall of Lucifer,
00:41:14.00\00:41:17.61
and they show us
that in many ways,
00:41:17.64\00:41:20.61
the original sin is that
of narcissism, narcissism.
00:41:20.64\00:41:26.41
Have you ever seen
anybody that was narcissistic?
00:41:26.45\00:41:28.58
Yes.
00:41:28.62\00:41:30.59
Self-centered,
self-seeking, self-serving.
00:41:30.62\00:41:33.52
In fascination with one self,
00:41:33.56\00:41:38.83
self-love, vanity,
00:41:38.86\00:41:41.93
and inflated sense
of one's own importance,
00:41:41.96\00:41:46.03
self-love, Satan was reveling
00:41:46.07\00:41:49.57
in his natural
God-given attributes,
00:41:49.60\00:41:53.91
his beauty and his wisdom.
00:41:53.94\00:41:56.58
We, humans, can be
guilty of the same thing.
00:41:56.61\00:42:00.58
But there is another
danger that Paul warns us about.
00:42:00.62\00:42:04.02
Now I want you to go
to 2 Timothy chapter 3.
00:42:04.05\00:42:09.56
And Paul is writing
to his young protégé.
00:42:09.59\00:42:14.30
I love Timothy.
00:42:14.33\00:42:15.93
And Paul just loves Timothy,
and he's giving him instruction
00:42:15.96\00:42:21.34
on how to become
a mighty man of God,
00:42:21.37\00:42:23.81
and Timothy did.
00:42:23.84\00:42:25.17
But these are instructions
that we can all take to heart.
00:42:25.21\00:42:29.04
He says, "But know
this that in the last days,
00:42:29.08\00:42:33.72
perilous times will come."
00:42:33.75\00:42:35.72
Now do you all agree that
we're living in the last days
00:42:35.75\00:42:38.69
and are perilous times upon us?
00:42:38.72\00:42:40.82
Now listen at
Paul's description,
00:42:40.86\00:42:43.73
"For men will be
lovers of themselves,
00:42:43.76\00:42:48.13
lovers of money."
00:42:48.16\00:42:49.53
Now I'm stopping there
because we've just looked
00:42:49.56\00:42:52.80
at lovers of self,
that narcissistic attitude,
00:42:52.83\00:42:57.71
that self-love,
that self-exaltation.
00:42:57.74\00:43:02.31
But now he talks
about something else,
00:43:02.34\00:43:04.55
lovers of money.
00:43:04.58\00:43:05.91
Now, Pastor Lomacang,
00:43:05.95\00:43:07.28
you covered this
very well already.
00:43:07.32\00:43:09.28
But in the Amplified Bible,
00:43:09.32\00:43:11.65
let me read 2 Timothy 3:2.
00:43:11.69\00:43:17.33
It says, "For people will be
lovers of self, narcissistic,
00:43:17.36\00:43:23.10
self-focused, lovers
of money impaled by,"
00:43:23.13\00:43:28.17
and this is the word
that Pastor Lomacang used,
00:43:28.20\00:43:30.91
greed, that greed.
00:43:30.94\00:43:33.71
A further warning
in the book of Timothy,
00:43:33.74\00:43:36.18
that's 1 Timothy,
flip over to chapter 6
00:43:36.21\00:43:39.68
and let's look at verse 10,
00:43:39.71\00:43:41.28
and again, we know that
00:43:41.32\00:43:43.35
when we're
teaching these lessons
00:43:43.39\00:43:45.12
that we are going to share
a lot of the same scriptures.
00:43:45.15\00:43:48.56
But I think we were
talking a little earlier.
00:43:48.59\00:43:50.79
I think that I read
somewhere that it takes you
00:43:50.83\00:43:53.93
hearing something 26
times before you hear it.
00:43:53.96\00:43:57.23
Well, we're going to
hear this one again too,
00:43:57.27\00:43:59.43
1 Timothy 6:10,
00:43:59.47\00:44:01.34
"For the love of money is
a root of all kinds of evil
00:44:01.37\00:44:06.84
for which some have strayed
00:44:06.88\00:44:08.44
from the faith
in their greediness
00:44:08.48\00:44:11.08
and pierced themselves
through with many sorrows."
00:44:11.11\00:44:14.58
So again, money
isn't the root of all evil,
00:44:14.62\00:44:18.69
it's that love of money. Yes.
00:44:18.72\00:44:20.62
Materialism has the
potential to feel people
00:44:20.66\00:44:24.83
who have great possessions
00:44:24.86\00:44:27.40
with an inflated
sense of importance.
00:44:27.43\00:44:30.63
When one has a lot of money,
I would know I'm going to take
00:44:30.67\00:44:34.30
the writer of our
quarterly's word on this.
00:44:34.34\00:44:36.97
When one has a lot of money,
it's easy to think more highly
00:44:37.01\00:44:41.24
of one's self than one should.
00:44:41.28\00:44:44.45
What's the antidote?
00:44:44.48\00:44:45.81
Always, if we're
going to present a problem,
00:44:45.85\00:44:48.08
we need to present the
solution to the problem.
00:44:48.12\00:44:50.89
What's the antidote?
Having money isn't a sin?
00:44:50.92\00:44:53.86
Money in and of
itself isn't evil.
00:44:53.89\00:44:56.12
It's the love that's the snare.
00:44:56.16\00:44:59.16
Philippians 2:3,
"Let nothing be done
00:44:59.19\00:45:02.33
through selfish
ambition or concede
00:45:02.36\00:45:04.83
but in lowliness of mind,
00:45:04.87\00:45:06.87
let each esteem
others better than himself."
00:45:06.90\00:45:10.11
Jill quoted this
scripture earlier.
00:45:10.14\00:45:12.37
"Search me, oh
God, in all my heart.
00:45:12.41\00:45:14.64
Try me and know my thoughts.
00:45:14.68\00:45:16.11
See if there be
any evil way in me,
00:45:16.14\00:45:18.15
and lead me in the
path that's everlasting."
00:45:18.18\00:45:20.82
One last quote
from Sister White,
00:45:20.85\00:45:23.28
it's in the
Desire of Ages, page 20.
00:45:23.32\00:45:26.35
"There is nothing, save
the selfish heart of man
00:45:26.39\00:45:30.96
that lives unto itself."
00:45:30.99\00:45:33.23
Wow, that's
really good. Thank you.
00:45:33.26\00:45:35.83
I have Thursday,
00:45:35.86\00:45:37.20
the ultimate
futility of materialism.
00:45:37.23\00:45:39.23
First I want to
share a story with you
00:45:39.27\00:45:41.07
that I heard a pastor tell once,
00:45:41.10\00:45:43.67
and it just rungs so true.
00:45:43.71\00:45:48.81
He had announced in church
that he was going to take up
00:45:48.84\00:45:51.58
a collection for
a very needy family.
00:45:51.61\00:45:54.15
Well, Anna was a single
mother, had several children.
00:45:54.18\00:45:58.02
And when they heard
that this collection
00:45:58.05\00:46:00.16
was going to be taken up,
they wanted to participate.
00:46:00.19\00:46:02.92
So they were
living from, I mean,
00:46:02.96\00:46:06.56
just by the skin of their teeth,
00:46:06.59\00:46:08.26
they were getting by,
00:46:08.30\00:46:09.80
and she and her
children went out,
00:46:09.83\00:46:12.00
and found extra yard work to do,
00:46:12.03\00:46:14.07
and they raised $50.
00:46:14.10\00:46:16.34
So then they came and
made their contribution
00:46:16.37\00:46:19.01
of the $50.
00:46:19.04\00:46:20.51
Well, the following
week, they got a check, I mean,
00:46:20.54\00:46:26.25
they took up the
collection, the following week,
00:46:26.28\00:46:28.65
Anna and her
children got a check for $56.
00:46:28.68\00:46:32.39
They had not recognized that
they were the destitute family
00:46:32.42\00:46:37.63
for whom the
collection was being taken up.
00:46:37.66\00:46:41.16
And it's
interesting to me, first of all,
00:46:41.20\00:46:43.87
here they were the
poorest of the poor,
00:46:43.90\00:46:46.63
and they managed to give $50
00:46:46.67\00:46:49.00
whereas the rest
of the congregation
00:46:49.04\00:46:51.47
had only chipped in $6,
but also it's interesting to me
00:46:51.51\00:46:57.65
that they knew their
true identity in Christ.
00:46:57.68\00:47:03.28
They didn't feel destitute,
00:47:03.32\00:47:05.75
they knew that I
Corinthians 6:20,
00:47:05.79\00:47:08.66
that they had been
bought with the price.
00:47:08.69\00:47:11.29
They knew their
value before the Lord.
00:47:11.33\00:47:14.30
And you know, I
Peter 1:19 says that
00:47:14.33\00:47:18.60
we've been ransomed
not with corruptible things
00:47:18.63\00:47:22.44
like silver and gold but
with the precious lifeblood
00:47:22.47\00:47:25.41
of Jesus Christ.
00:47:25.44\00:47:26.78
I want you to
know if you're watching
00:47:26.81\00:47:28.51
or listening today that
you're worth nothing less
00:47:28.54\00:47:31.95
than the price
that He paid for you
00:47:31.98\00:47:34.28
with the blood of
His son Jesus Christ.
00:47:34.32\00:47:37.19
So their true
identity was wrapped up
00:47:37.22\00:47:41.56
in belonging it to God.
00:47:41.59\00:47:43.69
And I want us to
look at two scriptures,
00:47:43.73\00:47:46.70
and I'll just
read the first one.
00:47:46.73\00:47:48.13
You can turn to I
Peter 2:9 as I am,
00:47:48.16\00:47:50.67
because they are
counterparts, the Old Testament
00:47:50.70\00:47:54.00
and the New
Testament, but let me read
00:47:54.04\00:47:55.67
Deuteronomy 7:6.
00:47:55.70\00:47:58.27
We need to know that
we're God's possession
00:47:58.31\00:48:01.21
and find our
true identity in Him.
00:48:01.24\00:48:03.38
This is what He
said in Deuteronomy 7:6.
00:48:03.41\00:48:06.18
"You are a holy
people to the Lord your God,
00:48:06.21\00:48:08.58
the Lord your God has chosen you
00:48:08.62\00:48:11.05
to be a people for Himself,
00:48:11.09\00:48:12.65
a special treasure
above all the peoples
00:48:12.69\00:48:17.06
on the face of the earth."
00:48:17.09\00:48:18.43
That's the old covenant promise
00:48:18.46\00:48:19.79
but now we've
got the counterpart
00:48:19.83\00:48:21.93
in the New Testament.
00:48:21.96\00:48:23.33
The new covenant
counterpart in I Peter 2:9,
00:48:23.37\00:48:27.90
and Peter writes, "You
are a chosen generation
00:48:27.94\00:48:32.44
of royal
priesthood, a holy nation,
00:48:32.47\00:48:35.61
His own special
people that you may proclaim
00:48:35.64\00:48:39.91
the praises of Him who
called you out of darkness
00:48:39.95\00:48:44.62
into His marvelous light."
00:48:44.65\00:48:47.16
So we're a chosen group.
00:48:47.19\00:48:49.49
We've been chosen and destined
00:48:49.52\00:48:52.03
to fulfill His
purpose, to be a witness,
00:48:52.06\00:48:55.36
to testify to the
grace, and the goodness,
00:48:55.40\00:48:58.63
and the glory of Jesus.
00:48:58.67\00:49:01.24
And when you think
about it, the Old Testament,
00:49:01.27\00:49:04.41
there was a ritual
priesthood in the Old Testament
00:49:04.44\00:49:08.84
that was abolished
where, at the cross.
00:49:08.88\00:49:12.55
We are now a royal priesthood
00:49:12.58\00:49:16.15
based on Christ
as our high priest.
00:49:16.18\00:49:20.92
And we are associated
with Him in this priestly work.
00:49:20.96\00:49:24.46
Jesus has a finished work.
00:49:24.49\00:49:28.53
There is a work that
He finished at the cross,
00:49:28.56\00:49:31.43
and in John 19:30, He
cried out, "It is finished."
00:49:31.47\00:49:37.11
He fulfilled every sacrifice
00:49:37.14\00:49:40.24
that was typified in
these sanctuary services
00:49:40.28\00:49:43.85
of endless sacrifices.
00:49:43.88\00:49:46.35
He fulfilled that so that
00:49:46.38\00:49:49.48
the sacrifice for salvation
00:49:49.52\00:49:53.52
by grace has been fulfilled.
00:49:53.56\00:49:55.59
That's His finished work.
00:49:55.62\00:49:57.26
But Jesus has
an unfinished work.
00:49:57.29\00:50:00.36
He serves as our high priest.
00:50:00.40\00:50:02.90
He stands by the side of God.
00:50:02.93\00:50:05.30
Making intersession for us
and that's what He asks of us
00:50:05.33\00:50:10.67
in our priestly duty is
that we intercede for others
00:50:10.71\00:50:16.11
that we should be...
00:50:16.14\00:50:17.48
And, you know, we think of
intersession only as prayer.
00:50:17.51\00:50:20.25
Actually we need to realize that
00:50:20.28\00:50:22.12
we are the
hands and feet of God.
00:50:22.15\00:50:24.29
Sometimes He's
going to have us intercede
00:50:24.32\00:50:26.76
if Mollie's got four
little babies at home,
00:50:26.79\00:50:29.52
and she can't feed them,
He's going to have me intercede
00:50:29.56\00:50:32.43
by taking her
groceries, you know.
00:50:32.46\00:50:35.36
But I wanted to think of...
00:50:35.40\00:50:39.27
Let me just touch on this.
00:50:39.30\00:50:40.70
Let's turn to 1 John 2:16.
00:50:40.74\00:50:45.77
1 John 2:16.
00:50:45.81\00:50:49.01
I'll read 16 and 17.
00:50:49.04\00:50:51.61
This is so important.
00:50:51.65\00:50:54.35
John writes, "For
all that is in the world,
00:50:54.38\00:50:57.59
the lust of the
flesh, the lust of the eyes,
00:50:57.62\00:50:59.92
and the pride of life,"
that's the lust of the ego,
00:50:59.95\00:51:04.73
"is not of the
Father but is of the world."
00:51:04.76\00:51:09.36
This triad
temptation was Eve's problem.
00:51:09.40\00:51:13.84
Was it not?
00:51:13.87\00:51:15.20
The fruit was good to
eat, the lust of the flesh.
00:51:15.24\00:51:18.44
It was beautiful and
pleasing to her eyes,
00:51:18.47\00:51:21.91
the lust of the eyes.
00:51:21.94\00:51:23.45
That fruit, Satan told her,
00:51:23.48\00:51:26.15
would make her be like
God that she would know
00:51:26.18\00:51:30.12
the difference
between good and evil.
00:51:30.15\00:51:32.39
That's the pride of life.
00:51:32.42\00:51:34.69
She wanted to be like that.
00:51:34.72\00:51:36.83
Same thing, Jesus was tempted
with the same triad temptation
00:51:36.86\00:51:40.76
when the devil took
Him up, and first he said,
00:51:40.80\00:51:43.83
"Turn these stones into bread."
00:51:43.87\00:51:46.63
That's the lust of the flesh.
00:51:46.67\00:51:49.27
He was hungry. He'd
been fasting for 40 days.
00:51:49.30\00:51:51.94
Then he showed Him all
the kingdoms of the world
00:51:51.97\00:51:53.98
and said, "They will be yours."
00:51:54.01\00:51:55.34
That's the lust of the eye.
00:51:55.38\00:51:56.71
Then he said,
"Cast yourself down
00:51:56.75\00:51:58.61
because it is written,
00:51:58.65\00:52:00.12
He's going to charge
His angels to hold you up."
00:52:00.15\00:52:03.79
Jesus, the pride of
life, Jesus could have said,
00:52:03.82\00:52:06.22
"Yes, I could prove
that I'm the Son of God."
00:52:06.25\00:52:08.26
So this temptation,
00:52:08.29\00:52:12.53
scholars considered that
temptation as sensuality,
00:52:12.56\00:52:17.60
the lust of the
flesh, materialism,
00:52:17.63\00:52:21.44
the lust of the eyes
which you covered so well,
00:52:21.47\00:52:23.94
the allure, the
lust of the eyes, Kenny.
00:52:23.97\00:52:27.18
And then the pride of life,
00:52:27.21\00:52:30.28
the egotistical ostentation.
00:52:30.31\00:52:36.05
So materialism is a
form of identity crisis.
00:52:36.08\00:52:40.96
See, Anna and her children
00:52:40.99\00:52:43.19
didn't have that
identity crisis, did they?
00:52:43.22\00:52:46.66
And it's when we define
who we are by what we own.
00:52:46.70\00:52:52.20
And materialism which is
the love of owning things,
00:52:52.23\00:52:57.64
this is a spiritual
snare that the devil sets,
00:52:57.67\00:53:02.74
and it causes all groups,
all social and economic groups,
00:53:02.78\00:53:08.32
even the poor
people could be caught up
00:53:08.35\00:53:10.95
in materialism.
00:53:10.99\00:53:12.59
But the only way that
we can overcome this love
00:53:12.62\00:53:17.49
of owning things,
this idea of materialism,
00:53:17.53\00:53:20.73
it is tempered when we
practice being a good steward.
00:53:20.76\00:53:27.70
Materialism cannot withstand
the control of the Holy Spirit.
00:53:27.74\00:53:32.27
So if we read
James, in James 5:3,
00:53:32.31\00:53:38.38
he cautions against materialism.
00:53:38.41\00:53:40.62
Listen to this.
00:53:40.65\00:53:42.05
He said, "Your gold
and silver are corroded,
00:53:42.08\00:53:45.82
and their corrosion will
be a witness against you."
00:53:45.85\00:53:48.19
They're going to
testify against you.
00:53:48.22\00:53:49.89
It's going to eat
your flesh like fire.
00:53:49.92\00:53:52.09
He says, "You have
heaped up or hoarded treasure
00:53:52.13\00:53:57.37
in the last days."
00:53:57.40\00:53:59.33
So when you're looking at
the futility of materialism,
00:53:59.37\00:54:04.21
the vanity of
riches, first of all,
00:54:04.24\00:54:07.08
the destructive results of
the rusting and the corroding,
00:54:07.11\00:54:11.98
they're not going to
last forever, are they?
00:54:12.01\00:54:14.82
But look when you have that
uncontrolled appetite for that,
00:54:14.85\00:54:19.15
look how it affects
your spiritual relationship.
00:54:19.19\00:54:22.39
You begin to trust in the things
00:54:22.42\00:54:24.46
that you own
rather than trusting God.
00:54:24.49\00:54:26.80
You're desiring to own
more rather than to know more
00:54:26.83\00:54:30.50
about God.
00:54:30.53\00:54:31.87
And last days should be a
time for laying up treasures
00:54:31.90\00:54:36.20
in heaven rather than on earth.
00:54:36.24\00:54:38.34
Jesus said in Matthew 6:19.
00:54:38.37\00:54:41.98
He said, "Do not lay
up treasure for yourself
00:54:42.01\00:54:45.45
where rust and moth destroy,
00:54:45.48\00:54:48.78
and where thieves
break in, and steal.
00:54:48.82\00:54:51.42
But lay up for
yourself treasures in heaven
00:54:51.45\00:54:55.19
'cause where your treasure is,
00:54:55.22\00:54:56.89
that's where
your heart is also."
00:54:56.93\00:55:00.30
Here is the ultimate
futility of materialism.
00:55:00.33\00:55:03.40
You can't take it
with you when you go.
00:55:03.43\00:55:06.23
You know, generally,
00:55:06.27\00:55:08.10
it isn't even that
satisfying when you have it.
00:55:08.14\00:55:10.04
When you find people
who are materialistic,
00:55:10.07\00:55:12.87
they buy, they buy,
and they always want more.
00:55:12.91\00:55:15.94
These are superficial trappings
00:55:15.98\00:55:20.12
that appeal to our
flesh and our heart.
00:55:20.15\00:55:24.15
And it's just
Satan's way of buying souls.
00:55:24.19\00:55:28.22
Materialism corrupts the mind
because people begin to trust
00:55:28.26\00:55:32.19
in what they own
instead of in God.
00:55:32.23\00:55:34.76
And in the ultimate
end, we are going to hear
00:55:34.80\00:55:37.10
one of two
messages from the Lord.
00:55:37.13\00:55:40.70
He is either going
to say, "Depart from me,
00:55:40.74\00:55:45.24
I never knew you, you
who practiced lawlessness."
00:55:45.27\00:55:48.08
Or He is going
to say, "Well done,
00:55:48.11\00:55:50.21
thou good and faithful servant.
00:55:50.25\00:55:52.31
You've been
faithful over a little,
00:55:52.35\00:55:54.22
I'll make you
faithful over a lot.
00:55:54.25\00:55:55.95
Come and enter into
the joy of your master."
00:55:55.98\00:55:59.32
That's right, thank you.
00:55:59.35\00:56:00.69
Thank you, Shelley,
Mollie, Kenny, and Jill.
00:56:00.72\00:56:04.06
This lesson is showing
us that we're going to have
00:56:04.09\00:56:05.99
a tremendous time this
quarter walking through
00:56:06.03\00:56:09.03
what it means to be a
steward, and, you know,
00:56:09.06\00:56:11.43
stewardship is in four
areas, it's time, talent,
00:56:11.47\00:56:13.77
testimony, and treasure.
00:56:13.80\00:56:15.77
If you remember that,
so the Lord is calling
00:56:15.80\00:56:17.54
all of us to be a steward.
00:56:17.57\00:56:18.97
And thank you, Jill.
00:56:19.01\00:56:20.34
I like that you talked,
00:56:20.38\00:56:21.71
and what I got
from each one of you,
00:56:21.74\00:56:23.08
one is an empty life is a person
00:56:23.11\00:56:24.81
measured by possessions.
00:56:24.85\00:56:26.18
Amen.
00:56:26.21\00:56:27.62
Materialism minded
people are never satisfied.
00:56:27.65\00:56:31.32
Pastor Kenny, I couldn't forget,
00:56:31.35\00:56:32.95
you talked about
advertising, advertising,
00:56:32.99\00:56:35.16
we are the
target of advertising.
00:56:35.19\00:56:37.23
How amazing is
this historical targets.
00:56:37.26\00:56:41.33
And then,
Mollie, personal worship,
00:56:41.36\00:56:43.20
that was something
that was so amazing.
00:56:43.23\00:56:44.87
When you worship
self, you forget that
00:56:44.90\00:56:47.17
God is the one to be worshiped.
00:56:47.20\00:56:49.00
And, Shelley, so
wonderfully, I like this,
00:56:49.04\00:56:51.34
don't desire to own
more but to know God more.
00:56:51.37\00:56:54.88
Amen. Beautifully said.
00:56:54.91\00:56:56.68
And, you know, those of you
who are watching our program,
00:56:56.71\00:56:59.05
remember these two
very important thoughts.
00:56:59.08\00:57:01.55
Psalm 37:16, "A little
that a righteous man has
00:57:01.58\00:57:04.69
is better than the
riches of many wicked."
00:57:04.72\00:57:06.89
Yes.
00:57:06.92\00:57:08.26
And what a long name
Marie Von Ebner-Eschenbach
00:57:08.29\00:57:13.26
said, "To be content
with little is difficult,
00:57:13.29\00:57:16.80
to be content with
much is impossible."
00:57:16.83\00:57:20.00
We pray that the Lord
will give you contentment
00:57:20.04\00:57:21.90
with Godliness
which is great gain,
00:57:21.94\00:57:24.91
until we see you again.
00:57:24.94\00:57:26.37
Amen.
00:57:26.41\00:57:28.41