The 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 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 our
3ABN Sabbath School Panel.
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So glad to have you tune in.
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I hope you've been tuning in.
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If not, remember this
network because we are committed
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to the undiluted
three angles' messages
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and even in the topic of
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"Stewardship
Motives of the Heart,"
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that message is interwoven
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through every one
of these messages.
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So glad to have
my panel with me.
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Mollie, good to
have you here. Thank you.
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Shelley, Jill, and
Danny, my good friend
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and the president,
the founder of 3ABN,
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it's always good to have you
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either on the panel or
on the basketball court.
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All right.
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And I've been learning lately,
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it's good to
have you on my team.
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I'm very glad to have
you on our team today.
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You know, we are
studying a lesson
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that has been a blessing
and this is the last one.
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Isn't that sad,
that's an up and down phase.
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It's like a reverse smile
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because we've learned
quite a bit, have we not?
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We have. Absolutely.
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And every one of our panelists
and we've had different people.
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I think at some
times Greg was here
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and also Pastor
Kenny Shelton was here.
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But today we're gonna
be capping off the lesson
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entitled "The
Results of Stewardship".
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We've been talking about
that all three months now
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but the results
of stewardship now
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as where we're headed today.
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If you want a
copy of the lesson,
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go to the following
website, ABSG.Adventist. org
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and download a copy.
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But if you already have one,
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you might want to join with one
of the local Adventist churches
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or if you don't have one,
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go there and become a part of
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their Bible study
fellowship Sabbath school class
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and I know that
you'll grow in the Lord.
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But before we go any further,
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we're gonna do a
couple of things.
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We're gonna have prayer first.
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Mollie, I'm
gonna have you do that,
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and then after that we're
gonna read our memory text,
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and then we're gonna dive
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into the study of
God's Word together.
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Let's pray.
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Holy Father, we come
before You in the name of Jesus.
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And, Father, we are so
grateful for Your presence.
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And, Father, we
pray for every person
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that's listening to us,
that's watching us Holy God,
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that You'll prepare
their hearts even now,
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that as this word goes forth,
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it will be
planted in our hearts,
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it will take
root and it will grow
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and it will produce
bountifully for Your kingdom.
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Now, Father, I commend
all of this into Your hands,
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ask You Lord to
touch us, anoint us,
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let the words that
we say bring health,
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healing and
deliverance to all that hear.
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This is my prayer
in Jesus' name, amen.
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Amen. Amen.
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Amen.
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Stewardship, the
results of stewardship.
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This has been a
lesson that's amazing.
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But I'd like us to
begin with 1 Peter 2:12,
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if you have your
Sabbath school lesson.
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That's the memory text
which really is the umbrella
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under which all the
study continues to go forward.
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Let's read that
memory text together.
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And we are told,
"Having your conduct honorable
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among the Gentiles,
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that when they speak
against you as evildoers,
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they may by your good
works which they observe,
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glorify God in the
day of visitation."
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When I talked about this lesson
or when I studied the lesson,
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I've been learning that...
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When we study the lesson
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and some of you probably
had the same experience.
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When you study the
lesson in preparation for it,
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more inspiration
comes when you sit down.
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Have you noticed that? Yes.
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And as I sit here, the
Lord brought me a thought.
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"A godliness is not a
debt, it is an eternal asset."
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Yes.
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But godliness will
always cost you something.
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But godliness is never a
debt but an eternal asset.
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And so when you think
about godliness and stewardship
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or stewardship and godliness,
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I think together it brings to us
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the reality that godliness
with contentment is what?
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Great gain. Great gain.
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Through the years finagle
that text and spun it around.
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It doesn't say great gain
with contentment is godliness,
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which many people
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in this
materialistic world would think.
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Great gain, I got all I need,
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the rich fool
with his bountiful.
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I've got all I
need, now I'm content,
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therefore I must be godly.
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It says, "Godliness with
contentment is great gain."
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And so we've learned also
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that sometimes it's
better to have a little,
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a little that a
righteous man has
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is better than all
the riches of a person
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that is evil or even have that,
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have access to those
things by manipulating,
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or by squandering, or by
some kind of unusual practice
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in his or her life."
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The results of godliness.
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What is godliness?
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Let's start with that.
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Godly people live
a godly lifestyle.
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Amen.
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And we talked about
habits in one of our lessons.
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A godly lifestyle is
developed by consistent habits,
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making decisions, making choices
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at critical intersections.
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My wife has a
saying. She always says that.
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She says,
"Everything in life is a test."
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Everything.
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If you lived your life
and thought all day long,
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this is just a
test, that's just a test.
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I mean, you won't
say that to a person,
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I know you're testing
me, it will get irritating.
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But if you think of every
decision you make as a test,
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it's kind of like, being in a...
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What did they call? A maze.
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Every intersection
you come to has a decision
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you have to make,
go right or go left.
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And also in life,
every decision you make
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as a Christian will either
build on your eternal values
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or begin to erode
your eternal values.
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So you have to think
of those choices you make
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as stewardship choices.
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Are the decisions
I'm about to make,
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investing in my eternal value,
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or are they taking
away like a bad investment?
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Are they chiseling away
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like credit card debt
and high interest rates?
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Are they taking
away from my value?
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I mentioned this before
and it just came back to me.
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Benjamin Franklin said that.
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He says, "When you subtract
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your good habits
from your bad habits,
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then your real value,
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your actual value
comes to the forefront."
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Your real value, when you
subtract one from the other,
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your real value
comes to the forefront.
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But now one of the things
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that we have to discover
is the age in which we live.
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We live in, I would
say probably hands down.
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I think we're catching
up to the antediluvians
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because their thoughts
were only evil continually
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and we're working really
hard on that in our world.
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But in the age in which I've
experienced through the years,
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I think we live
in one of the most
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ungodly ages of human history.
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In our country, on
the heels of capitalism,
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on the foundation of capitalism
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is destroying
morality at an alarming rate.
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But that's no surprise to God.
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Look at 2 Timothy 3.
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Not a surprise to God at
all the way that our world is...
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the way that our
world is being developed.
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And we have a saying in America.
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This is a
capitalistic saying by far,
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"Life, liberty, and
the pursuit of" what?
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"Happiness." The
pursuit of happiness.
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But in the kingdom of God,
it is the pursuit of godliness,
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not the pursuit of happiness,
the pursuit of godliness,
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because those who
pursue godliness...
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When you
discover the scriptures,
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those that pursued
godliness often ended up
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in prisons, or in dungeons,
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or in some kind
of adverse condition,
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but their record was preserved
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to this very day to let us know.
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As Paul says, "All those
that live godly in Christ Jesus
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shall suffer persecution."
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Look at Timothy's...
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Look at Paul's outline
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to the young
protege named Timothy.
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2 Timothy 3:1.
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"But know this,
or this know also..."
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Mollie, I want you
to read that for us.
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I knew you're
about to drink something.
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But I like the way
the King James Version
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outlines that, this
is locked in my head.
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One through
what? One through nine.
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All right. Ready? Go.
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"This know also,
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that in the last days
perilous times shall come.
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For men shall be
lovers of their own selves,
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covetous,
boasters, proud, blasphemers,
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disobedient to
parents, unthankful, unholy,
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without natural affection,
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trucebreakers, false
accusers, incontinent, fierce,
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despisers of those that
are good, traitors, heady,
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highminded, lovers of pleasures
more than lovers of God,
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having a form of godliness,
but denying the power thereof:
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from such turn away.
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For of this sort are
they which creep into houses,
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and lead captive
silly women laden with sins,
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led away with divers
lusts, ever learning,
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and never able to come to
the knowledge of the truth.
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Now as Jannes and
Jambres understood Moses,
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so do these also
resist the truth:
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men of corrupt minds,
reprobate concerning the faith.
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But they shall
proceed no further:
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for their folly shall
be manifest unto all men,
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as theirs also was."
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You know, Jannes and Jambres,
I want to bring them out.
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In all this, we don't talk
about them very, very much.
00:09:28.56\00:09:31.50
When the Lord told
Moses to cast down his rod
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and became a serpent.
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Jannes and Jambres
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through illusion
resisted in the very same way.
00:09:40.14\00:09:43.48
The devil created an illusion.
00:09:43.51\00:09:45.51
And I remember one day,
I thought to myself, "Wow.
00:09:45.55\00:09:47.75
Can the devil create life?"
00:09:47.78\00:09:50.32
Because the Lord gave Moses
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that ability to create
out of his rod the serpent.
00:09:51.82\00:09:56.12
Can the devil
also do the same thing?
00:09:56.16\00:09:58.33
And I was just
battling to try to figure out.
00:09:58.36\00:10:00.40
Wow, how could he do
the same thing God did?
00:10:00.43\00:10:03.06
Ellen White says,
"No, the devil has no power
00:10:03.10\00:10:05.97
to create life,
00:10:06.00\00:10:07.34
but he creates an illusion."
00:10:07.37\00:10:08.70
Yes.
00:10:08.74\00:10:10.07
And that's why we have to be
00:10:10.11\00:10:11.44
very, very careful
in our modern days.
00:10:11.47\00:10:12.81
It's no longer
called magic as much,
00:10:12.84\00:10:14.18
it's called
illusion, illusionist.
00:10:14.21\00:10:16.64
What that setting the ground for
00:10:16.68\00:10:18.68
is for the marvelous
working of Satan, illusions.
00:10:18.71\00:10:23.42
So but the point that
is being made is this list,
00:10:23.45\00:10:26.52
this list is a book
rather than just a sermon.
00:10:26.55\00:10:29.59
I stopped and took
the time to explain
00:10:29.62\00:10:31.93
what we covered here.
00:10:31.96\00:10:33.29
Thank you, Mollie, for...
00:10:33.33\00:10:34.66
And I was quoting
that in my head with you
00:10:34.70\00:10:36.03
because the King James Version
00:10:36.06\00:10:37.40
has been the
version I was raised with.
00:10:37.43\00:10:40.07
It's an amazing
thing when people hate,
00:10:40.10\00:10:43.94
despise those that are good.
00:10:43.97\00:10:46.64
I mean, if you're not
good that's one thing,
00:10:46.68\00:10:48.34
but don't despise
those that are good.
00:10:48.38\00:10:50.98
And we're living
in the day and age
00:10:51.01\00:10:52.35
where people that are
godly are being despised.
00:10:52.38\00:10:54.78
I mean, think
about the media today.
00:10:54.82\00:10:57.19
The media is
motivated to make a person
00:10:57.22\00:10:59.39
who's making good choices
seem like an evil individual.
00:10:59.42\00:11:02.32
That's right. Think about it.
00:11:02.36\00:11:05.59
Okay, here goes.
00:11:05.63\00:11:06.96
If you stand for morality...
00:11:07.00\00:11:08.56
All right.
00:11:08.60\00:11:10.03
You are listed
as old, out-of-date,
00:11:10.07\00:11:14.27
out of step with
society, a bummer,
00:11:14.30\00:11:17.21
you don't want
people to be free.
00:11:17.24\00:11:19.37
If you stand up for marriage
with one woman and one man...
00:11:19.41\00:11:24.68
If you don't stand up,
00:11:24.71\00:11:26.05
if you don't support
all these immorality,
00:11:26.08\00:11:27.45
same sex marriage
and all the stuff,
00:11:27.48\00:11:29.12
you're being seen as a person
that just don't like people
00:11:29.15\00:11:32.45
and you're called a hater.
00:11:32.49\00:11:33.82
Hate bunker, yeah.
00:11:33.86\00:11:35.19
And this called what, phobia...
00:11:35.22\00:11:37.23
What's the
phrases that they use?
00:11:37.26\00:11:39.23
Homophobia? Homophobia.
00:11:39.26\00:11:40.63
Yeah. Sure. No,
we're not homophobic.
00:11:40.66\00:11:43.06
We're spiritually
centered and that's the society.
00:11:43.10\00:11:48.87
Any time you decide
to take a moral stand,
00:11:48.90\00:11:52.17
talk show hosts
will belittle you,
00:11:52.21\00:11:54.54
the newspaper will belittle you,
00:11:54.58\00:11:56.58
people will try to
subvert your decisions,
00:11:56.61\00:11:58.85
they will try to undermine you,
00:11:58.88\00:12:00.72
all for the sake of
preserving godlessness,
00:12:00.75\00:12:04.35
that's the
generation which we live.
00:12:04.39\00:12:06.09
So as I said before,
00:12:06.12\00:12:07.59
Job however was
a man in his age...
00:12:07.62\00:12:11.29
As Job 2:3 says, "He
was blameless and upright."
00:12:11.33\00:12:16.10
Yes.
00:12:16.13\00:12:17.47
"One who feared
God and shunned evil."
00:12:17.50\00:12:20.47
In a perverse generation,
00:12:20.50\00:12:22.30
we think that Job
lived in an easy generation.
00:12:22.34\00:12:24.24
No, Job lived in a
very ungodly generation.
00:12:24.27\00:12:27.08
But I like what the Lord
said about Job and the devil.
00:12:27.11\00:12:30.45
Focused on Job saying,
00:12:30.48\00:12:31.81
"He will serve you
as long as you're good,
00:12:31.85\00:12:34.45
but if anything falls down,
00:12:34.48\00:12:35.92
Job will curse you
to your face and die."
00:12:35.95\00:12:37.99
But he did not.
00:12:38.02\00:12:39.35
And the Bible says in Job 1:1.
00:12:39.39\00:12:41.69
"He was one who feared God,
00:12:41.72\00:12:43.06
he was blameless
and he was upright."
00:12:43.09\00:12:45.39
And we know the stories.
00:12:45.43\00:12:46.83
The Lord gave the
devil permission to test him.
00:12:46.86\00:12:50.40
I thought about
that. I said, Lord...
00:12:50.43\00:12:54.64
I think in our lives sometimes
when the test come our way,
00:12:54.67\00:12:57.11
how many times
have we failed God?
00:12:57.14\00:12:59.27
But how many times
has God got our attention
00:12:59.31\00:13:01.88
and restored us and
put us back on the footing
00:13:01.91\00:13:04.38
where He's receiving the glory?
00:13:04.41\00:13:07.82
Remember these points.
00:13:07.85\00:13:09.88
Being godly does not
mean that we are perfect.
00:13:09.92\00:13:13.25
It means that we are allowing
00:13:13.29\00:13:14.62
our choices to
honor and glorify God.
00:13:14.66\00:13:18.79
Faithful stewardship
is not a form of godliness
00:13:18.83\00:13:22.40
but its access to the power
00:13:22.43\00:13:24.23
that is available
through the Holy Spirit.
00:13:24.27\00:13:26.53
All that live
godly in Christ Jesus
00:13:26.57\00:13:28.17
will suffer
persecution but remember,
00:13:28.20\00:13:30.44
"Godliness is not a
debt but an eternal asset."
00:13:30.47\00:13:34.24
Amen. Mollie?
00:13:34.28\00:13:35.61
You know, Pastor Lomacang,
00:13:35.64\00:13:36.98
that makes me
think of the Bible,
00:13:37.01\00:13:39.58
the scriptures in the
Bible that talks about
00:13:39.61\00:13:42.05
a wide road and a narrow path.
00:13:42.08\00:13:44.32
Amen. Matthew 7.
00:13:44.35\00:13:45.69
And we are on that
narrow path. Thank you, Lord.
00:13:45.72\00:13:49.29
Well, the
results of stewardship.
00:13:49.32\00:13:52.29
Pastor Lomacang
talked about godliness
00:13:52.33\00:13:55.26
and I want to
talk about contentment.
00:13:55.30\00:13:58.17
Contentment, one
of the results of our,
00:13:58.20\00:14:01.97
that we are going to find
00:14:02.00\00:14:03.67
for being a good
steward of the resources
00:14:03.71\00:14:07.41
God has blessed us with as
we are going to be content.
00:14:07.44\00:14:11.01
Now let me give you the
definition of contentment.
00:14:11.05\00:14:13.78
"A state of happiness."
00:14:13.82\00:14:15.15
How many of you
want to be happy?
00:14:15.18\00:14:16.52
Amen. Of satisfaction?
00:14:16.55\00:14:18.55
That's a good feeling.
00:14:18.59\00:14:19.92
When you just feel...
00:14:19.95\00:14:21.29
Sometimes when I
go home from work,
00:14:21.32\00:14:23.89
it's the days that I
have accomplished the most.
00:14:23.93\00:14:27.20
I got the most done
for the kingdom of God.
00:14:27.23\00:14:32.07
That's great
satisfaction, isn't it?
00:14:32.10\00:14:34.74
Fulfillment, wellbeing,
peace and tranquility.
00:14:34.77\00:14:39.07
Now, where does that come from?
00:14:39.11\00:14:40.44
Contentment.
00:14:40.48\00:14:42.01
And that's,
contentment comes from us
00:14:42.04\00:14:45.45
being good stewards of
all of the blessings of God,
00:14:45.48\00:14:49.65
the giftings and the
blessings God has given us.
00:14:49.68\00:14:52.62
And you might say,
00:14:52.65\00:14:53.99
"Well, I don't
feel contentment."
00:14:54.02\00:14:56.93
That's because you aren't
recognizing that these gifts,
00:14:56.96\00:15:00.23
callings, anointings, blessings
that God has blessed you with,
00:15:00.26\00:15:04.77
God knows exactly what you need.
00:15:04.80\00:15:06.97
So let me read
this quote to you.
00:15:07.00\00:15:09.50
"God wants us to
know that our gifts
00:15:09.54\00:15:13.21
are not an accident of
genetics or experience.
00:15:13.24\00:15:18.85
He knew what He was
doing when He made each of us
00:15:18.88\00:15:24.99
and He has
intentionally given us the gifts
00:15:25.02\00:15:29.22
we have in the
measure that we have."
00:15:29.26\00:15:31.93
You may be
discontent because you have,
00:15:31.96\00:15:35.20
God has graced you with
the gift of hospitality.
00:15:35.23\00:15:39.17
And what you say,
you really want to do
00:15:39.20\00:15:41.34
is be able to
sing or play the piano.
00:15:41.37\00:15:44.34
No, God knows what
will make you the happiest.
00:15:44.37\00:15:48.58
He knows the
gifts, the callings,
00:15:48.61\00:15:51.51
the gracings and the abilities
00:15:51.55\00:15:53.42
that will make you
be the most content.
00:15:53.45\00:15:57.05
You know the
scripture in Psalms 139:14.
00:15:57.09\00:16:01.42
It says, "We are" what?
00:16:01.46\00:16:03.93
"Fearfully and
wonderfully made."
00:16:03.96\00:16:07.23
Well, who made you?
00:16:07.26\00:16:09.10
God made you.
00:16:09.13\00:16:10.47
He designed you.
00:16:10.50\00:16:11.83
He sculpted you.
00:16:11.87\00:16:13.23
He knows exactly what
it will take for you to be,
00:16:13.27\00:16:17.61
you're very happiest.
00:16:17.64\00:16:18.97
Do you know
where you're gonna find
00:16:19.01\00:16:20.61
yourself to be the most happy?
00:16:20.64\00:16:22.71
Right in the center of God's
perfect will for your life.
00:16:22.74\00:16:26.95
You again...
00:16:26.98\00:16:28.75
The Lord may have
in His heart for you,
00:16:28.78\00:16:31.72
His desire for you,
00:16:31.75\00:16:33.09
His calling on your life
00:16:33.12\00:16:34.49
is for you to
teach children's church.
00:16:34.52\00:16:37.06
But you're saying,
00:16:37.09\00:16:38.43
"I don't want to
teach those little kids,
00:16:38.46\00:16:40.20
I want to be on the pulpit.
00:16:40.23\00:16:42.03
I want to teach the big kids.
00:16:42.06\00:16:43.77
But God knows
exactly what it would take
00:16:43.80\00:16:46.60
for you to be
the most fulfilled,
00:16:46.63\00:16:48.60
for you to have
that contentment.
00:16:48.64\00:16:52.27
Let's look at the Apostle Paul.
00:16:52.31\00:16:54.11
We're in Philippians 4:11.
00:16:54.14\00:16:57.75
Let's see what
the Apostle Paul says.
00:16:57.78\00:17:00.58
He says, "Not that I
speak in regard to need,
00:17:00.62\00:17:05.35
for I have learned in whatever
state I am, to be content."
00:17:05.39\00:17:11.89
Well, I learned
in whatever state
00:17:11.93\00:17:13.90
I was in to be content
00:17:13.93\00:17:15.40
because I was in Alabama
and I was perfectly content,
00:17:15.43\00:17:19.00
then I moved to
the State of Florida,
00:17:19.03\00:17:21.00
I was perfectly content.
00:17:21.04\00:17:22.70
Okay. But you know what?
00:17:22.74\00:17:24.07
When I moved to
the State of Illinois,
00:17:24.11\00:17:26.07
I know but it's
not what this means,
00:17:26.11\00:17:28.24
but then came great contentment
00:17:28.28\00:17:30.65
where I feel like God placed me
00:17:30.68\00:17:33.05
in the center of His
perfect will for my life
00:17:33.08\00:17:35.78
and there came great content.
00:17:35.82\00:17:37.35
But now listen at this.
00:17:37.39\00:17:39.12
These were the
words of the Apostle Paul.
00:17:39.15\00:17:42.22
Remember what he
said, I've learned.
00:17:42.26\00:17:44.03
Really, it's whatever condition,
00:17:44.06\00:17:45.53
whatever circumstance,
whatever situation,
00:17:45.56\00:17:48.30
I find myself, and
Paul says I am content.
00:17:48.33\00:17:52.33
Paul was writing
from a lonely cell.
00:17:52.37\00:17:56.97
He was writing to the
Christians from his cell,
00:18:00.24\00:18:03.04
he was in Philippi.
00:18:03.08\00:18:04.88
"Those are challenging words
00:18:04.91\00:18:07.25
and far easier to
say than to live out.
00:18:07.28\00:18:10.25
Paul knew what he
was talking about.
00:18:10.29\00:18:13.12
However, when it came to
suffering and tribulation,
00:18:13.15\00:18:17.23
few people had, had it
as bad as the Apostle Paul.
00:18:17.26\00:18:20.80
I'm just gonna read you
00:18:20.83\00:18:22.16
a very short
portion of scripture
00:18:22.20\00:18:24.23
out of 2 Corinthians 11.
00:18:24.27\00:18:27.70
Paul tells us this,
"From the Jews five times
00:18:27.74\00:18:32.81
I received forty
stripes minus one."
00:18:32.84\00:18:35.64
What verse you're in?
00:18:35.68\00:18:37.01
It's verse 24, the big part.
00:18:37.05\00:18:40.25
And verse 25.
00:18:40.28\00:18:41.62
"Three times I
was beaten with rods,
00:18:41.65\00:18:44.55
once I was stoned,
three times I was shipwrecked"
00:18:44.59\00:18:48.72
for Paul to have
found contentment
00:18:48.76\00:18:51.79
under such circumstances.
00:18:51.83\00:18:55.30
We have to know
that his contentment
00:18:55.33\00:18:59.07
didn't come from his exterior.
00:18:59.10\00:19:01.87
That's right. There is no way...
00:19:01.90\00:19:04.31
He was in a lonely jail cell
00:19:04.34\00:19:07.31
and he writes to the
Christians at Philippi,
00:19:07.34\00:19:10.41
no matter what
circumstance I find myself in,
00:19:10.45\00:19:13.95
I'm content.
00:19:13.98\00:19:15.32
He has been...
00:19:15.35\00:19:17.09
He was treated worse.
00:19:17.12\00:19:18.45
His description of how he had,
the things that he had suffered
00:19:18.49\00:19:22.59
are worse than any other
00:19:22.62\00:19:24.43
that we find in the Word anyway.
00:19:24.46\00:19:26.63
And he still says, "I
am perfectly content."
00:19:26.66\00:19:32.13
Listen to this
in Psalms 121:1-2.
00:19:32.17\00:19:36.54
For Paul to have
found contentment,
00:19:36.57\00:19:39.17
in any circumstance
he found himself in.
00:19:39.21\00:19:42.58
He wasn't
receiving his contentment
00:19:42.61\00:19:45.25
from external circumstances.
00:19:45.28\00:19:47.58
Something had to
be in Paul internally.
00:19:47.62\00:19:53.62
Psalms 121:1-2.
00:19:53.66\00:19:56.42
"I will lift up
my eyes to the hills,
00:19:56.46\00:20:00.10
from whence comes my help?"
00:20:00.13\00:20:02.13
My help comes
from who? The Lord.
00:20:02.16\00:20:04.20
"My help comes from the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth. "
00:20:04.23\00:20:07.60
And then Isaiah 26:3, I
think we quote this scripture
00:20:07.64\00:20:12.57
so often here at 3ABN.
00:20:12.61\00:20:15.11
"You will keep
him in perfect peace
00:20:15.14\00:20:19.18
whose mind is stayed on
you because you trust in Him. "
00:20:19.21\00:20:23.18
So Paul finds
himself perfectly content.
00:20:23.22\00:20:26.99
That means he's
in absolute peace.
00:20:27.02\00:20:29.49
Remember, the
definition of contentment,
00:20:29.52\00:20:32.43
happy, satisfied, fulfilled,
wellbeing, peaceful, tranquil.
00:20:32.46\00:20:38.53
Find yourself in perfect peace
00:20:38.57\00:20:40.87
if your mind is
stayed upon the Lord.
00:20:40.90\00:20:43.44
It wasn't Paul's
external situation,
00:20:43.47\00:20:47.64
it was his internal
commitment to the Lord.
00:20:47.68\00:20:51.35
Paul also speaks of his
contentment in 1 Timothy
00:20:51.38\00:20:56.52
and it's in chapter 6.
00:20:56.55\00:20:59.49
He begins with a
description of true godliness.
00:20:59.52\00:21:03.83
Then Paul warns Timothy about
00:21:03.86\00:21:06.49
those who think that godliness
is the means to financial gain.
00:21:06.53\00:21:11.37
That's verse 5.
00:21:11.40\00:21:12.87
He describes corrupt teachers
00:21:12.90\00:21:15.17
who will divert believers
from true faith in Christ
00:21:15.20\00:21:18.84
by arguing over words,
creating trivial controversies
00:21:18.87\00:21:23.75
and pursuing get
quick rich schemes.
00:21:23.78\00:21:26.95
Now, we looked at the
definition of contentment
00:21:26.98\00:21:31.22
but don't you think this
describes discontentment?
00:21:31.25\00:21:35.12
That would be the
opposite of contentment,
00:21:35.16\00:21:37.53
is what Paul is describing here.
00:21:37.56\00:21:40.00
The opposite of contentment,
unhappiness, dissatisfaction,
00:21:40.03\00:21:44.23
turmoil, misery, sadness.
00:21:44.27\00:21:46.77
Paul describes these men
as obsessed with disputes
00:21:46.80\00:21:51.31
from which come in the
strife reviling evil suspicions,
00:21:51.34\00:21:56.11
useless wranglings
of men of corrupt minds
00:21:56.14\00:21:59.25
and destitute of the truth.
00:21:59.28\00:22:01.15
Godless evil men exhibit
00:22:01.18\00:22:03.49
the characteristics
of discontentment
00:22:03.52\00:22:06.72
and who use the gospel as a
means of their natural gain.
00:22:06.76\00:22:11.39
Paul then clarifies
the meaning of godliness.
00:22:11.43\00:22:16.23
And emphasizes
00:22:16.26\00:22:17.63
that it is the
opposite of these troublemakers,
00:22:17.67\00:22:20.77
he was laying a foundation
to do a contrast for Timothy.
00:22:20.80\00:22:25.61
He then tells us, this
is first, in verse six.
00:22:25.64\00:22:29.44
1 Timothy 6:6.
00:22:29.48\00:22:31.28
And I think Pastor Lomacang,
you used this scripture.
00:22:31.31\00:22:34.98
Now "Godliness with
contentment is" what?
00:22:35.02\00:22:39.82
"It's great gain. "
00:22:39.85\00:22:41.52
They were looking at
using the gospel for gain
00:22:41.56\00:22:45.13
and we see that even today.
00:22:45.16\00:22:47.43
But he is saying godliness.
00:22:47.46\00:22:49.63
And what did
Pastor Lomacang tell us?
00:22:49.66\00:22:51.77
Godliness was living in
right relationship with God,
00:22:51.80\00:22:55.94
being obedient.
00:22:55.97\00:22:58.84
So let's go back to Paul's
in his address to the church
00:22:58.87\00:23:02.54
in Philippians.
00:23:02.58\00:23:03.91
So go to Philippians 4.
00:23:03.95\00:23:06.01
I'm going to look at
a few scriptures here.
00:23:06.05\00:23:08.48
Philippians 4:11.
00:23:08.52\00:23:10.92
"Not that I speak
in regard to need,
00:23:10.95\00:23:13.05
for I have learned in whatever
state I am in to be content."
00:23:13.09\00:23:16.73
Verses 12 and 13.
00:23:16.76\00:23:18.73
Paul says, "I
know how to be abased,
00:23:18.76\00:23:21.03
and I know how to abound.
00:23:21.06\00:23:22.63
Everywhere and in
all things I have learned
00:23:22.66\00:23:25.13
both to be full
and to be hungry,
00:23:25.17\00:23:27.90
both to abound
and to suffer need. "
00:23:27.94\00:23:30.37
And this is what he
says, "I can do" what?
00:23:30.41\00:23:33.04
"All things through
Christ who strengthens me."
00:23:33.07\00:23:36.85
And then Philippians 4:6
and 7, "Be anxious for nothing,
00:23:36.88\00:23:40.45
but in everything by
prayer and supplication,
00:23:40.48\00:23:43.05
with thanksgiving,
00:23:43.08\00:23:44.52
let your requests
be made known to God,
00:23:44.55\00:23:46.82
and the peace of God,
00:23:46.86\00:23:48.42
which surpasses
all understanding,
00:23:48.46\00:23:51.19
will guard your hearts and minds
00:23:51.23\00:23:53.60
through Christ Jesus."
00:23:53.63\00:23:55.46
Another one of the benefits
of being a good steward,
00:23:55.50\00:23:59.07
godliness and contentment.
00:23:59.10\00:24:00.97
Amen. Amen.
00:24:01.00\00:24:02.34
Thank you, Mollie.
00:24:02.37\00:24:03.71
I always enjoy
listening to your teaching
00:24:03.74\00:24:05.91
and that was very good.
00:24:05.94\00:24:07.64
We're talking about
the results of stewardship.
00:24:07.68\00:24:11.18
So when you use the resources
that God has given you,
00:24:11.21\00:24:14.75
your time, your talents
and your treasures for...
00:24:14.78\00:24:18.72
According to the biblical model,
00:24:18.75\00:24:21.02
what He asks us to do?
00:24:21.06\00:24:22.79
We're going to find
that we will have godliness.
00:24:22.82\00:24:25.19
We're going to find that
we will have contentment.
00:24:25.23\00:24:27.76
And one of the
results of stewardship
00:24:27.80\00:24:30.67
is that you trust
God and it's interesting.
00:24:30.70\00:24:35.20
That doesn't make sense
that, if you're a good steward,
00:24:35.24\00:24:38.37
you have as a result trust.
00:24:38.41\00:24:40.94
It's because trust grows.
00:24:40.98\00:24:43.45
You know, when you first hear...
00:24:43.48\00:24:45.21
When you first hear
of the concept of tithing
00:24:45.25\00:24:48.42
and that you are to return
00:24:48.45\00:24:49.78
that portion that belongs to God
00:24:49.82\00:24:51.85
and you're not
making it on a 100%
00:24:51.89\00:24:53.82
and you're sitting there
00:24:53.86\00:24:55.19
thinking, "Oh, my goodness. "
00:24:55.22\00:24:56.99
So you give,
return that 10% to God.
00:24:57.03\00:25:01.40
And guess what happens?
00:25:01.43\00:25:02.76
As He stretches
that 90% you realize,
00:25:02.80\00:25:06.30
yes, 90% under God's blessing
goes further than a 100%.
00:25:06.33\00:25:10.57
So trust begets trust.
00:25:10.61\00:25:12.51
And one of the results
of stewardship is trust.
00:25:12.54\00:25:15.44
I do want to
repeat the scripture.
00:25:15.48\00:25:17.75
I'm surprised it's
not here in our quarterly,
00:25:17.78\00:25:21.08
but let's look at Isaiah
26:3, one of my favorite verses.
00:25:21.12\00:25:27.36
And he says in Isaiah 26:3.
00:25:27.39\00:25:31.39
He's praying to the Lord.
00:25:31.43\00:25:33.23
"You O Lord will
keep him in perfect peace,
00:25:33.26\00:25:37.97
him or her in perfect peace,
whose mind is stayed on you,
00:25:38.00\00:25:44.24
whose mind is
focused on You because..."
00:25:44.27\00:25:48.54
Why are we focusing on God?
00:25:48.58\00:25:50.98
Because He trusts in you.
00:25:51.01\00:25:54.45
As we trust in the Lord
00:25:54.48\00:25:56.15
and keep our
mind focused on Him,
00:25:56.18\00:25:58.49
trust brings that perfect peace.
00:25:58.52\00:26:02.12
Let's look at
Proverbs 3:5 and 6.
00:26:02.16\00:26:05.33
Proverbs 3:5 and 6.
00:26:05.36\00:26:08.76
You know this one
by heart? Oh, yeah.
00:26:08.80\00:26:11.10
"Trust in the
Lord" with how much?
00:26:11.13\00:26:13.07
"All your heart and lean
not on your own understanding,
00:26:13.10\00:26:16.17
in all your
ways acknowledge Him,
00:26:16.20\00:26:18.91
And He shall direct your paths."
00:26:18.94\00:26:21.04
You know,
there's only one person,
00:26:21.08\00:26:24.68
only one being that
we can truly trust Him.
00:26:24.71\00:26:27.05
That's right.
00:26:27.08\00:26:28.42
And He is perfect being
knows the end from the beginning
00:26:28.45\00:26:33.92
and everything that He
does is for our eternal benefit.
00:26:33.96\00:26:38.33
God doesn't just do
it for your benefit here.
00:26:38.36\00:26:41.46
Everything He allows
to happen in your life,
00:26:41.50\00:26:43.93
everything that
He does in your life
00:26:43.97\00:26:45.43
is for your eternal benefit.
00:26:45.47\00:26:48.40
You can trust in His
power and His ability.
00:26:48.44\00:26:50.94
You can trust in His mercy,
and His goodness, and His love.
00:26:50.97\00:26:54.54
You can trust in
God's consistency.
00:26:54.58\00:26:58.21
You know, if you have a
broken foot or a broken leg,
00:26:58.25\00:27:02.55
what do you have to
rely on to get around?
00:27:02.58\00:27:04.59
Crutches. Crutches.
00:27:04.62\00:27:06.35
Our lives are broken with sin,
00:27:06.39\00:27:09.52
we need to rely
on the scriptures.
00:27:09.56\00:27:12.33
That's good.
00:27:12.36\00:27:13.70
Think of that, is
that, we don't want
00:27:13.73\00:27:15.33
to try to prop ourself up
with our own understanding,
00:27:15.36\00:27:18.63
we need to rely
on the scriptures.
00:27:18.67\00:27:22.24
God gave us intelligence.
00:27:22.27\00:27:24.27
He created us in His image.
00:27:24.31\00:27:26.11
He gave us intelligence.
00:27:26.14\00:27:28.61
But the interesting thing is,
00:27:28.64\00:27:30.01
do you realize that
His plan of salvation,
00:27:30.05\00:27:32.51
everything about God's plan
is total dependence upon Him.
00:27:32.55\00:27:36.65
And so it's easy
to trust in the Lord
00:27:36.69\00:27:39.95
when, maybe we have no
control over something,
00:27:39.99\00:27:43.43
but when we've got something
that we do have control over
00:27:43.46\00:27:47.40
and we have to trust according
to what God's Word says.
00:27:47.43\00:27:50.33
It takes a little bit more.
00:27:50.37\00:27:52.30
But we need to acknowledge Him.
00:27:52.33\00:27:55.37
I have recently, I say
recently the last year or two.
00:27:55.40\00:27:59.54
I've become aware
how many people pray?
00:27:59.57\00:28:02.04
O Lord be with us
through the night,
00:28:02.08\00:28:03.75
Lord be with us
through this day,
00:28:03.78\00:28:05.11
Lord be with, be with him and...
00:28:05.15\00:28:08.15
He is with us.
00:28:08.18\00:28:09.62
The Bible says, "He will
never leave us or forsake us."
00:28:09.65\00:28:13.15
I mean, He's promised
00:28:13.19\00:28:15.29
never to leave us or forsake us.
00:28:15.32\00:28:16.83
So when it says acknowledge
Him in all of your ways,
00:28:16.86\00:28:20.80
practice the presence of God,
00:28:20.83\00:28:22.63
recognize that He
is with you always
00:28:22.66\00:28:27.04
and He will make a level path
for your feet as you do that.
00:28:27.07\00:28:33.11
Psalms 16:11, one
of my favorite verses.
00:28:33.14\00:28:37.51
It says, "You will
show me the path of life,
00:28:37.55\00:28:43.08
and in Your
presence is fullness of joy,
00:28:43.12\00:28:47.09
at Your right hand
are pleasures evermore."
00:28:47.12\00:28:51.09
Proverbs 4:18 says
00:28:51.13\00:28:52.59
"That the path of the
righteous grows brighter,
00:28:52.63\00:28:55.80
it shines brighter,
every day God is leading us."
00:28:55.83\00:28:59.37
Now, why should
we trust in the Lord?
00:28:59.40\00:29:02.97
Isaiah 55:9
gives us a good reason
00:29:03.00\00:29:07.04
to put our trust in the Lord
00:29:07.08\00:29:09.04
and not in
mankind, not in princes,
00:29:09.08\00:29:11.91
not in our own abilities.
00:29:11.95\00:29:15.88
But He says in Psalm 55:9.
00:29:15.92\00:29:19.59
This is the Lord speaking.
00:29:19.62\00:29:21.32
"As the heavens are
higher than the earth,
00:29:21.36\00:29:25.09
so are my ways
higher than your ways
00:29:25.13\00:29:28.76
and my thoughts
than your thoughts."
00:29:28.80\00:29:30.97
God's wisdom, God's knowledge
00:29:31.00\00:29:33.07
is exponentially greater
than ours, exponentially.
00:29:33.10\00:29:38.51
There is no way...
00:29:38.54\00:29:41.04
God has given us the ability
to know truth but it's only...
00:29:41.08\00:29:45.85
I mean, He's given us truth
00:29:45.88\00:29:47.25
but we only have the ability
00:29:47.28\00:29:48.98
to the limitations of
our finite being, right?
00:29:49.02\00:29:52.95
This is why, you know, people
who think they intellectual,
00:29:52.99\00:29:56.79
snobbery is so foolish,
00:29:56.83\00:29:58.73
because I don't care how much
00:29:58.76\00:30:00.10
you know, God
knows so much more.
00:30:00.13\00:30:02.20
And we have a tendency...
00:30:02.23\00:30:04.23
Do we not?
00:30:04.27\00:30:06.07
People seem to have a tendency
00:30:06.10\00:30:07.57
to try to make God
conform to their plans.
00:30:07.60\00:30:10.64
We should be
striving to fit into His plan.
00:30:10.67\00:30:13.38
Paul said this in
1 Corinthians 3...
00:30:13.41\00:30:16.61
Excuse me, 1 Corinthians 13:12.
00:30:16.64\00:30:20.42
This is such a
wonderful scripture.
00:30:20.45\00:30:25.45
In 1 Corinthians 13:12.
00:30:25.49\00:30:29.02
Paul is talking about us
now in our current condition.
00:30:29.06\00:30:34.13
And he says, "Now we
see in a mirror" how?
00:30:34.16\00:30:38.30
Earthly. "Dimly, darkly, dimly."
00:30:38.33\00:30:41.10
But then when Christ
returns face to face...
00:30:41.14\00:30:46.68
Now I know...
00:30:46.71\00:30:48.04
This is Paul who wrote
the bulk of the New Testament.
00:30:48.08\00:30:52.05
Now I know in part,
00:30:52.08\00:30:55.15
but then I shall know
just as I am also known.
00:30:55.18\00:31:01.32
Did you know Corinth who was
known for their fine mirrors?
00:31:01.36\00:31:05.79
They made mirrors out of copper.
00:31:05.83\00:31:09.73
And so this was...
00:31:09.76\00:31:11.27
They beat them out of...
00:31:11.30\00:31:12.63
They polished brass
is what it was actually.
00:31:12.67\00:31:14.97
So they had these
polished brass and these...
00:31:15.00\00:31:17.64
They gave a
pretty fine reflection.
00:31:17.67\00:31:19.17
I mean, these were
good quality mirrors
00:31:19.21\00:31:21.21
but no substitute
for the real person.
00:31:21.24\00:31:23.81
And what happens to brass?
00:31:23.85\00:31:25.68
It tarnishes easily.
00:31:25.71\00:31:27.35
See, the more I study
about the love of God,
00:31:27.38\00:31:30.89
somebody, I've got
someone who keeps encouraging me
00:31:30.92\00:31:35.02
from the Bahamas.
00:31:35.06\00:31:36.39
They will say, write a
book on the love of God,
00:31:36.42\00:31:38.69
write a book.
00:31:38.73\00:31:40.06
And the more I study
about the love of God,
00:31:40.10\00:31:42.33
the more I realized how little
I know about the love of God.
00:31:42.36\00:31:45.50
We only know in part
and God's image has been
00:31:45.53\00:31:50.84
tarnished by people
who say wrong things.
00:31:50.87\00:31:54.48
Paul is actually
speaking here in context
00:31:54.51\00:31:57.11
about the gifts of the spirit.
00:31:57.15\00:31:59.51
These just...
00:31:59.55\00:32:00.88
As we exercise the
gifts of the spirit,
00:32:00.92\00:32:02.78
even good stewardship,
00:32:02.82\00:32:04.39
we're just reflecting
the Lord dimly, are we not?
00:32:04.42\00:32:07.46
But then he
says, "We will see face
00:32:07.49\00:32:10.53
to blessed face
with our beloved Savior,
00:32:10.56\00:32:13.29
we will see Him."
00:32:13.33\00:32:14.70
And I love what 1 John 3:2 says.
00:32:14.73\00:32:17.33
"Beloved now" right
now... That's right.
00:32:17.37\00:32:20.24
"We are the children of God,
00:32:20.27\00:32:22.07
but it's not yet been
revealed what we shall be,
00:32:22.10\00:32:24.74
but we know that
when He is revealed,
00:32:24.77\00:32:28.48
when He comes, we
shall be like Him,
00:32:28.51\00:32:31.08
for we shall see Him as He is."
00:32:31.11\00:32:33.68
Our complete maturity
00:32:33.72\00:32:35.78
and our perfect
knowledge will be attained then.
00:32:35.82\00:32:39.29
We will know Him fully.
00:32:39.32\00:32:41.62
So what should our motto be?
00:32:41.66\00:32:43.29
Trust in the Lord
with all of our heart.
00:32:43.32\00:32:46.29
Love Him with all
of your heart, soul,
00:32:46.33\00:32:48.46
mind and strength,
00:32:48.50\00:32:49.96
because everything that
He does is for your benefit.
00:32:50.00\00:32:55.14
And as you become a
good steward of the Lord,
00:32:55.17\00:32:59.14
you will find the
godliness that God gives to us,
00:32:59.17\00:33:04.11
the contentment that we enjoy,
and the peace that we enjoy
00:33:04.15\00:33:09.02
from trusting in
Him, it's just amazing.
00:33:09.05\00:33:12.05
I want to read
something that Ellen White wrote
00:33:12.09\00:33:16.22
in Gospel Workers, page 25.
00:33:16.26\00:33:18.53
She's talking
about the apostles.
00:33:18.56\00:33:21.23
And you know, we know that
their character, their motives,
00:33:21.26\00:33:26.60
and their intentions were good.
00:33:26.63\00:33:29.60
But listen what she says.
00:33:29.64\00:33:31.07
"They were by
nature as weak and helpless
00:33:31.11\00:33:34.24
as any of those now
engaged in the work,
00:33:34.28\00:33:37.11
but they put their
whole trust in the Lord.
00:33:37.15\00:33:40.85
Wealth they had,
00:33:40.88\00:33:42.22
but it consisted of
mind and soul culture,
00:33:42.25\00:33:47.26
and this every one
may have who will make
00:33:47.29\00:33:50.23
God first and last
and best in everything."
00:33:50.26\00:33:55.10
So one of the great results
00:33:55.13\00:33:58.67
of being a good
steward is trust.
00:33:58.70\00:34:01.87
Amen. Thank you so much.
00:34:01.90\00:34:03.64
Shelley, what a blessing.
00:34:03.67\00:34:05.27
You think about the results
of stewardship, godliness,
00:34:05.31\00:34:07.98
contentment, trust
00:34:08.01\00:34:09.58
and all of those
are worked in our lives
00:34:09.61\00:34:12.41
by the power of the Holy Spirit.
00:34:12.45\00:34:13.78
Amen.
00:34:13.82\00:34:15.15
Praise God that He
wants to work with us.
00:34:15.18\00:34:16.85
I have Wednesday
which is our influence.
00:34:16.89\00:34:19.75
And at first glance you think,
00:34:19.79\00:34:21.49
"What does our influence
have to do with stewardship?"
00:34:21.52\00:34:23.89
But really our influence,
it's stewardship on display.
00:34:23.93\00:34:28.00
Amen.
00:34:28.03\00:34:29.36
The opening scripture
00:34:29.40\00:34:30.73
that I want to
turn to is Ephesians 5.
00:34:30.77\00:34:32.57
If you want to turn,
you're at home, Ephesians 5:8.
00:34:32.60\00:34:37.64
"For you were once darkness,
00:34:37.67\00:34:39.94
but now you are
light in the Lord."
00:34:39.97\00:34:43.38
Every single one of
us were in darkness,
00:34:43.41\00:34:45.65
the darkness of sin
00:34:45.68\00:34:47.22
and Christ pulled us out of that
00:34:47.25\00:34:49.58
into His marvelous light,
00:34:49.62\00:34:51.15
now we are light in the Lord.
00:34:51.19\00:34:53.39
Then it says, "Walk
as children of light."
00:34:53.42\00:34:56.52
In the Greek, the word
for a walk literally means
00:34:56.56\00:34:59.39
how I conduct my life.
00:34:59.43\00:35:02.93
So you could almost then say,
00:35:02.96\00:35:04.47
now that we're
light in the Lord,
00:35:04.50\00:35:06.23
we are to live as
children of light.
00:35:06.27\00:35:10.37
Does it matter how we live?
00:35:10.41\00:35:12.11
Absolutely, because of
our influence on others.
00:35:12.14\00:35:17.51
What is influence?
00:35:17.55\00:35:18.88
If you look at the dictionary,
00:35:18.91\00:35:20.45
it says, "Influence is the power
00:35:20.48\00:35:22.15
to change or affect someone.
00:35:22.18\00:35:25.65
The power to cause changes
00:35:25.69\00:35:27.46
without forcing them to happen."
00:35:27.49\00:35:30.69
Influence is not control.
00:35:30.73\00:35:33.70
We exert influence
00:35:33.73\00:35:35.06
simply by being who
God has called us to be.
00:35:35.10\00:35:40.04
The closer other
people come to us,
00:35:40.07\00:35:42.50
the greater our influence would
be over them and vice versa.
00:35:42.54\00:35:47.41
The attempt to influence
is not a conscious thought,
00:35:47.44\00:35:50.48
it happens unconsciously,
just by us being who we are.
00:35:50.51\00:35:54.35
We influence
obviously our family members,
00:35:54.38\00:35:56.58
spouse, and kids,
neighbors, coworkers,
00:35:56.62\00:35:59.39
church, friends,
strangers, enemies.
00:35:59.42\00:36:03.22
We influence
everybody at some level
00:36:03.26\00:36:05.99
with whom we come in contact.
00:36:06.03\00:36:08.76
We don't have any choice that
we do influence other people
00:36:08.80\00:36:11.80
but we can choose whether
our influence is for good
00:36:11.83\00:36:15.64
or whether it's for evil.
00:36:15.67\00:36:18.64
There's a bumper
sticker that said,
00:36:18.67\00:36:20.61
"Don't follow me, I'm lost too."
00:36:20.64\00:36:25.55
You think about an
influence for evil.
00:36:25.58\00:36:27.78
I think about Eve
on her husband Adam
00:36:27.82\00:36:30.05
in the Garden of Eden.
00:36:30.09\00:36:31.49
And the Bible
says she was deceived
00:36:31.52\00:36:32.92
but she took the
fruit and she ate
00:36:32.95\00:36:36.12
that she went
against God's direct command.
00:36:36.16\00:36:39.09
Adam was, you could say
influenced in a negative way
00:36:39.13\00:36:43.60
by his wife's decision
00:36:43.63\00:36:46.07
and he made the
choice to take other fruit
00:36:46.10\00:36:48.60
and eat as well.
00:36:48.64\00:36:49.97
But by contrast we can
be an example for good.
00:36:50.01\00:36:54.38
1 Corinthians 11:1.
00:36:54.41\00:36:57.11
We're gonna lay two
foundational scriptures here
00:36:57.15\00:36:59.28
and then we'll look at
four characteristics of people
00:36:59.31\00:37:02.75
who have a godly influence.
00:37:02.78\00:37:04.72
But before we get to
those four characteristics,
00:37:04.75\00:37:06.79
let's look at
these two scriptures.
00:37:06.82\00:37:08.39
Shelley, do you have
it, 1 Corinthians 11:1?
00:37:08.42\00:37:10.89
"Imitate me, just as
I also imitate Christ."
00:37:10.93\00:37:15.03
Yes.
00:37:15.06\00:37:16.40
In the Greek imitate
would be one who mimics another.
00:37:16.43\00:37:19.53
We are to imitate Christ.
00:37:19.57\00:37:22.40
And other people...
00:37:22.44\00:37:23.77
Now it's not by our choice
00:37:23.81\00:37:25.14
but other people can imitate
us based on the influence.
00:37:25.17\00:37:28.81
It depends on how
strong that influence,
00:37:28.84\00:37:30.55
how much you want
to imitate the person.
00:37:30.58\00:37:32.95
But we are only safe to
follow if we follow Christ.
00:37:32.98\00:37:37.82
The key is, our lives,
our character, our habits,
00:37:37.85\00:37:41.59
our thoughts are to
represent the Lord Jesus Christ.
00:37:41.62\00:37:45.79
There's one more scripture
I want to look at here.
00:37:45.83\00:37:47.96
This is 1 Timothy 4:12.
00:37:48.00\00:37:53.74
1 Timothy 4:12.
00:37:53.77\00:37:56.00
This used to be
my favorite scripture
00:37:56.04\00:37:58.04
when I was a young person
00:37:58.07\00:37:59.51
and you're probably saying,
Jill, you're still young.
00:37:59.54\00:38:01.98
But especially when I
was a teenager in early 20,
00:38:02.01\00:38:04.65
I loved this scripture.
00:38:04.68\00:38:06.31
It says, "Let no
one despise your youth."
00:38:06.35\00:38:10.75
Right.
00:38:10.79\00:38:12.12
Now whether we're young or old,
this scripture applies to us.
00:38:12.15\00:38:15.09
But be an example.
00:38:15.12\00:38:17.43
In the Greek example means a
pattern, a figure or a model.
00:38:17.46\00:38:22.13
We are called to be a
pattern of the Lord Jesus
00:38:22.16\00:38:25.03
for other people, no
matter what age we are,
00:38:25.07\00:38:28.04
we are called to be an
example of the Lord Jesus.
00:38:28.07\00:38:30.17
That's right.
00:38:30.21\00:38:31.54
And then it list six things
00:38:31.57\00:38:33.21
that we're supposed
to be an example of.
00:38:33.24\00:38:35.44
We're to be an example in word.
00:38:35.48\00:38:37.35
Our word should
build other people up,
00:38:37.38\00:38:39.88
not tear people down.
00:38:39.91\00:38:41.78
Miss Mollie, you
quote this all the time,
00:38:41.82\00:38:43.25
Ephesians 4:29.
00:38:43.28\00:38:44.85
"Let no corrupt communication...
00:38:44.89\00:38:47.36
"Proceed out of your mouth,
00:38:47.39\00:38:48.82
but that which is good
to the use of edifying,
00:38:48.86\00:38:51.19
that it may minister
grace to the hearers."
00:38:51.23\00:38:53.09
Yes.
00:38:53.13\00:38:54.46
So we're to be
an example of Christ
00:38:54.50\00:38:56.53
in the words that we speak.
00:38:56.56\00:38:58.63
We're to be an example of Christ
00:38:58.67\00:39:00.14
in the conduct that we have.
00:39:00.17\00:39:02.87
That word
literally means the behavior.
00:39:02.90\00:39:04.84
So how we live our
lives, we are to be an example.
00:39:04.87\00:39:09.31
We're to be an example of Christ
00:39:09.34\00:39:11.05
in the love we
exhibit for other people,
00:39:11.08\00:39:13.98
in the spirit that we have,
00:39:14.02\00:39:15.95
in the faith that we possess
because we know Hebrews 11:6,
00:39:15.98\00:39:19.29
"If we don't have faith,
00:39:19.32\00:39:20.66
it is impossible to please God."
00:39:20.69\00:39:23.19
And finally
we're to be an example
00:39:23.22\00:39:24.99
of the Lord
Jesus Christ in purity.
00:39:25.03\00:39:28.13
So let's look at
four characteristics
00:39:28.16\00:39:30.13
of a godly steward.
00:39:30.17\00:39:31.50
This is by no means
comprehensive, just a few.
00:39:31.53\00:39:34.60
Number one, godly
person with godly influence
00:39:34.64\00:39:39.24
would love other people.
00:39:39.27\00:39:41.74
John 13:34 and 35.
00:39:41.78\00:39:46.51
John 13:34 and 35.
00:39:46.55\00:39:53.46
I need to get there.
00:39:53.49\00:39:54.82
"A new
commandment I give to you,
00:39:54.86\00:39:56.19
that you love one
another, as I have loved you,
00:39:56.22\00:39:59.39
that you also love one another.
00:39:59.43\00:40:02.06
By this all will know
that you are My disciples,
00:40:02.10\00:40:05.07
if you have love
for one another."
00:40:05.10\00:40:08.74
Now if we are
called to imitate Christ
00:40:08.77\00:40:11.97
and He is the perfect example,
00:40:12.01\00:40:14.11
and we are called then to
love our brothers and sisters
00:40:14.14\00:40:18.65
just as Christ has loved us,
we are called to love others.
00:40:18.68\00:40:23.15
If you care for someone,
00:40:23.18\00:40:24.75
you will give
them encouragement,
00:40:24.79\00:40:26.82
you will give them
time, you will give them love,
00:40:26.86\00:40:29.19
you will also
tell them the truth.
00:40:29.22\00:40:31.93
Amen.
00:40:31.96\00:40:33.29
We sometimes think love
is just a nice easy feeling
00:40:33.33\00:40:36.97
and it's just, but
love involves principle
00:40:37.00\00:40:40.44
and love also involves,
00:40:40.47\00:40:41.80
if you love someone
to tell them the truth.
00:40:41.84\00:40:45.24
Number two, characteristics
of people with godly influence.
00:40:45.27\00:40:49.04
They have integrity.
00:40:49.08\00:40:51.38
Let's look at Titus 2.
00:40:51.41\00:40:53.75
Titus 2.
00:40:53.78\00:40:55.12
And, Pastor John, you
want to get that for us?
00:40:55.15\00:40:56.48
Sure.
00:40:56.52\00:40:57.85
Titus 2, if you can
read verses 7 and 8.
00:40:57.89\00:41:01.69
All right.
00:41:01.72\00:41:03.06
Bible says, "In all
things showing yourself
00:41:03.09\00:41:05.99
to be a pattern of good works,
in doctrine showing integrity,
00:41:06.03\00:41:10.90
reverence, incorruptibility,
00:41:10.93\00:41:13.77
sound speech that
cannot be condemned,
00:41:13.80\00:41:16.67
that one who is,
00:41:16.71\00:41:19.27
that one who is an
opponent may be ashamed,
00:41:19.31\00:41:22.54
having nothing
evil to say of you."
00:41:22.58\00:41:25.38
Now did you notice
that? Wow, it's been...
00:41:25.41\00:41:26.75
Even an opponent,
someone who is opposed to you
00:41:26.78\00:41:29.92
having nothing
evil to say of you.
00:41:29.95\00:41:32.85
In Greek nothing
literally means not even one.
00:41:32.89\00:41:36.22
Now, I don't know
about you but I'm sure,
00:41:36.26\00:41:39.33
not just opponents
00:41:39.36\00:41:41.13
but even friends
would have more than
00:41:41.16\00:41:43.16
one evil thing to
say about me, right?
00:41:43.20\00:41:45.27
And I think about my own life
and character and how I live.
00:41:45.30\00:41:49.50
So I read this
verse, I need to grow.
00:41:49.54\00:41:52.67
We all.
00:41:52.71\00:41:54.41
People with godly
influence have integrity.
00:41:54.44\00:41:56.81
Integrity means
you have character.
00:41:56.85\00:41:59.08
You practice what you preach.
00:41:59.11\00:42:01.35
Integrity means
you have authenticity,
00:42:01.38\00:42:04.29
you are genuine and real.
00:42:04.32\00:42:06.55
Integrity means
you have honesty,
00:42:06.59\00:42:09.22
you are truthful and upright.
00:42:09.26\00:42:11.99
Integrity means
you have humility,
00:42:12.03\00:42:14.83
willingness to
admit when you are wrong.
00:42:14.86\00:42:18.07
Integrity means
that you are trustworthy.
00:42:18.10\00:42:21.80
Now let's look quickly
at our last two points.
00:42:21.84\00:42:24.11
Point number
three, they reveal Christ.
00:42:24.14\00:42:27.34
I think Jesus said, "I
am the light of the world."
00:42:27.38\00:42:30.45
In Matthew 5:14, He says,
00:42:30.48\00:42:32.78
"You are the light of the world.
00:42:32.81\00:42:35.48
Let your light
so shine before men
00:42:35.52\00:42:37.35
that they may
see your good works
00:42:37.39\00:42:39.12
and glorify your
Father which is in heaven."
00:42:39.15\00:42:43.02
Well, Jesus is the
light of the world.
00:42:43.06\00:42:44.53
We are called, we
can't force light to shine
00:42:44.56\00:42:47.73
but we can let it shine.
00:42:47.76\00:42:49.10
We can allow
Jesus as He comes in us.
00:42:49.13\00:42:52.17
Colossians 1:27,
00:42:52.20\00:42:53.57
"Christ in you,
the hope of glory."
00:42:53.60\00:42:55.47
As He lives in you,
00:42:55.50\00:42:57.07
you can allow His light to
shine forth to someone else.
00:42:57.11\00:43:01.71
And the final characteristic
00:43:01.74\00:43:03.24
is they choose to not
cause their brother to stumble.
00:43:03.28\00:43:08.15
Romans 14:13.
00:43:08.18\00:43:10.55
I have New King
James Version here
00:43:10.59\00:43:12.19
but I like it in the
New American Standard.
00:43:12.22\00:43:14.16
It says, "Therefore let us
not judge one another anymore,
00:43:14.19\00:43:17.93
but to determine
this, not to put an obstacle
00:43:17.96\00:43:20.50
or a stumbling
block in a brother's way."
00:43:20.53\00:43:25.27
So God calls us not to
put even with our influence,
00:43:25.30\00:43:28.34
not to put an
obstacle or stumbling block
00:43:28.37\00:43:30.71
in someone else's way.
00:43:30.74\00:43:32.71
We're involved in
the great controversy,
00:43:32.74\00:43:35.18
the battle really
between good and evil.
00:43:35.21\00:43:38.65
And in the midst of
that, God is calling for us.
00:43:38.68\00:43:42.05
As Christians,
God is calling for you
00:43:42.08\00:43:44.15
at home to make a stand
for the Lord Jesus Christ,
00:43:44.19\00:43:47.56
to know that your
influence will count for Him.
00:43:47.59\00:43:51.59
1 Corinthians 4:9,
00:43:51.63\00:43:53.23
"We are made a
spectacle to the world,
00:43:53.26\00:43:56.20
both to angels and to men."
00:43:56.23\00:43:58.23
And we are to be examples
of our Lord Jesus Christ.
00:43:58.27\00:44:01.64
Amen. Amen.
00:44:01.67\00:44:03.20
I'm always amazed that, Jill,
00:44:03.24\00:44:05.64
how organized she
is and how she can
00:44:05.67\00:44:07.54
get through these
points most of it actually.
00:44:07.58\00:44:09.41
But as we end our
quarter on stewardship motives
00:44:09.44\00:44:12.25
from the heart,
the end result is,
00:44:12.28\00:44:15.18
what voice...
00:44:15.22\00:44:16.55
When we hear Jesus,
what's He gonna say to us?
00:44:16.58\00:44:19.39
Matthew 12:30, "He that
is not with me is against me,
00:44:19.42\00:44:23.63
and he that gathereth not
with me scattereth abroad.
00:44:23.66\00:44:27.10
So there's only two
sides in this great controversy
00:44:27.13\00:44:30.37
between good and evil.
00:44:30.40\00:44:32.03
So it all comes down
to, not the knowledge
00:44:32.07\00:44:34.57
that we have but the
motives of our heart.
00:44:34.60\00:44:36.87
Have we given our life
to the Lord Jesus Christ
00:44:36.91\00:44:39.21
completely and said,
Lord, take me just as I am.
00:44:39.24\00:44:42.41
We do our best,
He'll do the rest,
00:44:42.44\00:44:44.05
but we have to confess our sins,
00:44:44.08\00:44:46.11
come to Him and He's
faithful and just to forgive us
00:44:46.15\00:44:48.68
from our sins.
00:44:48.72\00:44:50.05
At the second coming
of Christ we will hear.
00:44:50.09\00:44:52.35
Matthew 5:21 says,
"His Lord said unto him,
00:44:52.39\00:44:55.42
'Well done thou, good
and faithful servant" right?
00:44:55.46\00:44:58.79
"Thou has been
faithful over a few things,
00:44:58.83\00:45:01.70
I will make you
ruler over many."
00:45:01.73\00:45:03.73
Then he says, "Enter thou
into the joy of the Lord."
00:45:03.77\00:45:07.67
Now that's really
what we want to hear.
00:45:07.70\00:45:09.04
Am I right? Everyone of us here.
00:45:09.07\00:45:10.74
Can you imagine
what it would be like
00:45:10.77\00:45:12.34
in the second coming to look up
00:45:12.37\00:45:14.78
and Jesus coming
in the clouds of glory
00:45:14.81\00:45:17.45
and as the saints
go forward, He says,
00:45:17.48\00:45:20.15
enter because everyone going in.
00:45:20.18\00:45:22.35
Enter into the joy of the
Lord. We think we're happy now?
00:45:22.38\00:45:25.55
Right? Wait till
then. Wait till then.
00:45:25.59\00:45:28.19
We might see some of our saints
00:45:28.22\00:45:30.13
that are little tight
00:45:30.16\00:45:31.49
and getting
lose and happy and...
00:45:31.53\00:45:32.86
Mollie always says,
"Doing that happy dance, right?
00:45:32.89\00:45:35.23
Or on the other
hand and we hope and pray
00:45:35.26\00:45:37.93
this is not for any of us.
00:45:37.97\00:45:40.20
Matthew 7:23, "And then
will I profess unto them,
00:45:40.24\00:45:44.01
I never knew
you: depart from me,
00:45:44.04\00:45:46.24
you workers of iniquity."
00:45:46.27\00:45:48.78
And that is sad.
00:45:48.81\00:45:50.25
But I want to
tell you something.
00:45:50.28\00:45:51.61
We here at 3ABN
we're dedicating,
00:45:51.65\00:45:54.25
I've dedicated 2018 to
the year of present truth.
00:45:54.28\00:45:58.39
And the reason
we're doing that...
00:45:58.42\00:45:59.82
In the very beginning, John,
00:45:59.85\00:46:01.29
when I was impressed to
build a television station
00:46:01.32\00:46:03.32
to reach the world,
00:46:03.36\00:46:04.69
this impression
to give an undiluted
00:46:04.73\00:46:07.30
three angels' messages,
00:46:07.33\00:46:08.66
I didn't know what that meant
00:46:08.70\00:46:10.03
because far as I knew
our church is the only one
00:46:10.07\00:46:11.83
giving three angels' messages.
00:46:11.87\00:46:14.67
Why diluted?
00:46:14.70\00:46:16.04
It's the times in
which we're living.
00:46:16.07\00:46:17.71
Right now when I
looked in the past 33 years,
00:46:17.74\00:46:21.24
we've seen a lot change.
00:46:21.28\00:46:22.61
God hasn't changed and
His law hasn't changed,
00:46:22.64\00:46:25.38
but His people have changed.
00:46:25.41\00:46:28.42
And this is what we have to do.
00:46:28.45\00:46:29.88
It's a calling impart
and so we are dedicated
00:46:29.92\00:46:32.62
into giving present truth
to the lost and dying world.
00:46:32.65\00:46:36.12
I won't attempt to go into John,
00:46:36.16\00:46:37.99
the three angels' messages
because you have done it
00:46:38.03\00:46:39.79
so beautifully and
folks can go to our website.
00:46:39.83\00:46:42.36
But present truth is
the three angels' messages.
00:46:42.40\00:46:45.13
End times message
for an end times people.
00:46:45.17\00:46:47.80
God loved us enough that
He gives us a warning message,
00:46:47.84\00:46:51.64
that's out of love to say,
00:46:51.67\00:46:53.51
look, you don't have to be lost.
00:46:53.54\00:46:55.38
Satan cannot deceive you
if you keep your eyes on Me.
00:46:55.41\00:46:59.55
Turn your eyes
upon Jesus, right?
00:46:59.58\00:47:00.92
Look full in His wonderful face.
00:47:00.95\00:47:02.68
If we do that, we
will not be deceived.
00:47:02.72\00:47:05.49
So the trouble
that I'm seeing is,
00:47:05.52\00:47:08.12
because of the way the climate,
00:47:08.16\00:47:10.43
the spiritual
climate in the world today.
00:47:10.46\00:47:12.59
Satan knows that
his time is short.
00:47:12.63\00:47:15.03
It's getting inside the church.
00:47:15.06\00:47:17.70
Political correctness has
no business in the church.
00:47:17.73\00:47:21.07
Absolutely. That's right.
00:47:21.10\00:47:22.44
Leave in
politics, right? Absolutely.
00:47:22.47\00:47:24.14
But we tend to allow
to come into the church.
00:47:24.17\00:47:27.64
The trouble is, I put here,
00:47:27.68\00:47:29.31
most SDA seem to think
that because we as a church
00:47:29.34\00:47:32.75
have long taught obedience
00:47:32.78\00:47:34.52
to the Ten Commandments
of God including the Sabbath,
00:47:34.55\00:47:37.25
we will not be
deceived in the near future,
00:47:37.29\00:47:40.16
when a National
Sunday Law is passed.
00:47:40.19\00:47:42.32
So logically we think or
we, they, who may ever it is,
00:47:42.36\00:47:47.43
who may ever we're
talking about here,
00:47:47.46\00:47:49.03
I hope it's not me
but I've to put myself
00:47:49.06\00:47:51.97
and the rest of you.
00:47:52.00\00:47:53.34
Logically we think
00:47:53.37\00:47:54.70
there will be a
light into the world...
00:47:54.74\00:47:56.14
We will be a
light into the world
00:47:56.17\00:47:57.51
to stand for God's commandment
00:47:57.54\00:47:59.17
and be counted
among those that hear.
00:47:59.21\00:48:01.68
Well done thou good
and faithful servant.
00:48:01.71\00:48:03.75
But I want to tell you, if
that's what you're thinking,
00:48:03.78\00:48:06.48
we really need to refocus
and re-look at where we are.
00:48:06.51\00:48:10.32
Satan is way too smart for that.
00:48:10.35\00:48:12.49
Do we dare think that, he
says, oh, I have one people,
00:48:12.52\00:48:16.19
a remnant group of people
00:48:16.22\00:48:17.89
and they are just
waiting for this time,
00:48:17.93\00:48:19.89
they are gonna be
all perfect and ready,
00:48:19.93\00:48:21.73
they are gonna be
the bride of Christ
00:48:21.76\00:48:23.13
and then when
these things happen
00:48:23.16\00:48:24.87
and Sunday Laws are passed,
00:48:24.90\00:48:26.27
they are gonna
stand up and be counted.
00:48:26.30\00:48:28.30
It's what we do today decides
whether we're gonna be ready
00:48:28.34\00:48:32.44
when this time
comes or how do we know
00:48:32.47\00:48:34.08
we'll even live till tomorrow.
00:48:34.11\00:48:35.61
So we have to be ready today.
00:48:35.64\00:48:38.18
But Matthew 24:24.
00:48:38.21\00:48:40.08
Now, I've read this scripture
lot of times and so of you.
00:48:40.12\00:48:42.62
"For there shall arise
00:48:42.65\00:48:43.99
false christs and false prophets
00:48:44.02\00:48:45.82
and shall show
great signs and wonders,
00:48:45.85\00:48:47.99
and so much that
if it were possible,
00:48:48.02\00:48:50.09
they shall
deceive the very elect."
00:48:50.13\00:48:52.59
Now, how many of us
00:48:52.63\00:48:54.40
consider
ourselves the very elect?
00:48:54.43\00:48:55.96
We really want to, right?
00:48:56.00\00:48:58.07
We really want
to be but the devil
00:48:58.10\00:49:00.37
is the great deceptor,
00:49:00.40\00:49:01.74
that's who he is,
he's the father of lie.
00:49:01.77\00:49:03.10
So deception by
definition is someone
00:49:03.14\00:49:06.17
who's out to deceive.
00:49:06.21\00:49:07.78
So Satan is not gonna be
happy with those who profess.
00:49:07.81\00:49:11.08
And I've done that
and I'd think, boy,
00:49:11.11\00:49:12.81
I want to be part of the elect.
00:49:12.85\00:49:14.55
I'm those who keep
the commandments of God
00:49:14.58\00:49:16.58
and have the faith of Jesus.
00:49:16.62\00:49:17.95
So we tend to put that
Seventh-day Adventist Church
00:49:17.99\00:49:21.32
because we keep all
the commandments of God.
00:49:21.36\00:49:23.79
Well, if that's
what you're thinking,
00:49:23.83\00:49:25.16
let me rattle your cage
for just a moment if I may.
00:49:25.19\00:49:28.03
But it says...
00:49:28.06\00:49:29.40
Well, who would have believed...
00:49:29.43\00:49:30.77
John, you hit on while ago.
00:49:30.80\00:49:32.13
Who would have
believed, only a few years ago
00:49:32.17\00:49:34.04
many SDAs would support
same sex marriage and abortion?
00:49:34.07\00:49:38.57
Now, aren't these
also commandments of God?
00:49:38.61\00:49:41.01
Aren't they, the
seven commandments of God?
00:49:41.04\00:49:43.45
So if we're saying
that we are remnant folk,
00:49:43.48\00:49:47.75
remnant people, remnant
church, that God is coming back,
00:49:47.78\00:49:50.35
that's the church who
keeps the commandments of God
00:49:50.39\00:49:52.35
and have the faith of Jesus.
00:49:52.39\00:49:54.12
And yet we're not
keeping these commandments,
00:49:54.16\00:49:56.29
are we really remnant
people or a remnant church?
00:49:56.32\00:50:00.53
So I'm gonna give you some,
00:50:00.56\00:50:02.36
a few little
shocking things here.
00:50:02.40\00:50:04.30
Did you know that we now
have colleges and universities,
00:50:04.33\00:50:07.00
stick with me for a minute,
00:50:07.04\00:50:08.67
that support gay
and lesbian students,
00:50:08.70\00:50:10.87
allowing them to be openly gay,
promote their agenda on campus,
00:50:10.91\00:50:14.74
while at the same time
00:50:14.78\00:50:16.34
not allowing those
opposed to this lifestyle
00:50:16.38\00:50:19.51
and opportunity to
call sin by its right name.
00:50:19.55\00:50:22.92
Would you have
ever thought that?
00:50:22.95\00:50:24.49
We have pastors, would
you have ever believed?
00:50:24.52\00:50:27.59
Remnant church, would
you have ever believed
00:50:27.62\00:50:29.82
that we have pastors
who are now petitioning
00:50:29.86\00:50:32.63
the General Conference leaders.
00:50:32.66\00:50:34.00
I just talked to one last week,
00:50:34.03\00:50:35.36
the General Conference leader.
00:50:35.40\00:50:36.83
Are petitioning the
General Conference leaders
00:50:36.87\00:50:39.57
for permission to do
00:50:39.60\00:50:41.00
same sex
marriages in our churches.
00:50:41.04\00:50:43.71
Now, if you don't think
we're at the end of time,
00:50:43.74\00:50:49.04
let me give you
something to think about.
00:50:49.08\00:50:51.38
Did you ever think...
00:50:51.41\00:50:53.78
No matter what
you read in the Bible
00:50:53.82\00:50:55.15
about all these terrible
things it's gonna happen
00:50:55.18\00:50:57.49
and how people
will be so deceived.
00:50:57.52\00:50:59.52
Did you ever in
your wildest imagination,
00:50:59.55\00:51:02.02
Shelley, Mollie,
Jill, John, folks at home,
00:51:02.06\00:51:05.33
everything that we
would live in a generation
00:51:05.36\00:51:08.03
right before Jesus comes,
00:51:08.06\00:51:09.66
when people don't
know what gender we are.
00:51:09.70\00:51:12.00
We don't know if
we are boy or girl.
00:51:12.03\00:51:13.40
We don't know if
we're male or female.
00:51:13.44\00:51:15.04
Now it's funny, a five
and six year old child,
00:51:15.07\00:51:17.97
first grader knows
if he's boy or girl,
00:51:18.01\00:51:20.08
but by the time we
get 25, we don't know.
00:51:20.11\00:51:22.58
And we don't know
because there are so many
00:51:22.61\00:51:25.68
genders out there that
people are telling us about,
00:51:25.71\00:51:28.62
but people within
the church, this is,
00:51:28.65\00:51:31.05
this political correctness
is coming in the church
00:51:31.09\00:51:33.36
because as you
already mentioned,
00:51:33.39\00:51:35.19
we don't want to offend
others, so we're being careful.
00:51:35.22\00:51:38.53
So we don't want to
call sin by its right name.
00:51:38.56\00:51:41.33
Now, I do want to say,
00:51:41.36\00:51:42.70
homosexuality is
not any bigger sin
00:51:42.73\00:51:44.87
than any other
sin, but it is sin
00:51:44.90\00:51:47.94
and it needs to be
called by its right name.
00:51:47.97\00:51:50.24
So 10 to 20
years ago I wrote down,
00:51:50.27\00:51:52.67
"If a preacher talked about sin
or transgression of God's laws,
00:51:52.71\00:51:56.24
he would just get a
room, big room full of amens."
00:51:56.28\00:51:58.98
Today, if he does that,
00:51:59.01\00:52:00.62
he's considered
politically incorrect
00:52:00.65\00:52:03.39
and he's gonna find
himself in hot water.
00:52:03.42\00:52:05.82
But as I said earlier,
00:52:05.85\00:52:07.59
there's no room for political
correctness in the church.
00:52:07.62\00:52:10.09
That's right.
Now let me really...
00:52:10.13\00:52:12.23
Well, I'm gonna have to finish,
00:52:12.26\00:52:13.60
it looks like my
time has gone here.
00:52:13.63\00:52:14.96
So I'm gonna jump
up just a little bit.
00:52:15.00\00:52:16.56
But I want to say this
that people are saying,
00:52:16.60\00:52:19.00
why are you harping on this
00:52:19.03\00:52:21.44
and why are you harping on that?
00:52:21.47\00:52:23.64
For Seventh-day Adventists
have promoted the Sabbath...
00:52:23.67\00:52:27.04
Shelley and I
00:52:27.08\00:52:28.41
about 12 years ago
wrote a book called
00:52:28.44\00:52:29.78
the "Ten
Commandments Twice Removed",
00:52:29.81\00:52:31.85
because our people
wanted to get the message out
00:52:31.88\00:52:34.92
of keeping all of
God's commandments,
00:52:34.95\00:52:36.72
over 10 million
of those are in print
00:52:36.75\00:52:38.89
have been
distributed around the world.
00:52:38.92\00:52:41.19
But now I want to fast forward
you to 12 years later, Shelley.
00:52:41.22\00:52:44.79
I've written a book
called "Spiritual Vigilantes".
00:52:44.83\00:52:47.83
But in this book,
as part of the book,
00:52:47.86\00:52:50.27
I talk about how
same sex marriage
00:52:50.30\00:52:52.97
became law of the land here
in the United States of America
00:52:53.00\00:52:56.14
and I talk about abortion
00:52:56.17\00:52:58.27
and people within the
church are writing and saying,
00:52:58.31\00:53:02.98
you shouldn't be
putting this information out.
00:53:03.01\00:53:05.21
We also talk about
keeping the seventh day Sabbath.
00:53:05.25\00:53:08.65
But isn't it interesting,
00:53:08.68\00:53:10.15
we're all about
promoting what we believed,
00:53:10.19\00:53:12.72
everyone else, but if
it hits us in the face,
00:53:12.75\00:53:15.12
we're not so sure
we want to hear that.
00:53:15.16\00:53:17.99
But I'm happy to tell you
that we have reports of people
00:53:18.03\00:53:21.30
who already from
reading this book have said,
00:53:21.33\00:53:24.20
that I'm now
keeping the Sabbath because,
00:53:24.23\00:53:26.17
see, we name...
00:53:26.20\00:53:27.54
We'd only just
talk about those things,
00:53:27.57\00:53:28.97
we talk about those
from a biblical standpoint.
00:53:29.00\00:53:31.94
But sin is sin,
whether it's adultery,
00:53:31.97\00:53:34.41
whether it's
infidelity, whether it's lying,
00:53:34.44\00:53:37.11
whether it's
gossiping, all sin is sin.
00:53:37.15\00:53:39.25
So we're not
picking on any one sin.
00:53:39.28\00:53:41.25
But right now to see whatever
sin is creeping into church,
00:53:41.28\00:53:44.72
we have to as the
ministry and as individuals
00:53:44.75\00:53:47.79
and members of
this church stand up
00:53:47.82\00:53:50.13
and give a wake up call
to a lost and dying world.
00:53:50.16\00:53:53.73
So what I find out
00:53:53.76\00:53:55.30
is that people
want to know the truth.
00:53:55.33\00:53:58.77
And we want to give the truth
but we can't give something
00:53:58.80\00:54:02.14
that we don't have ourselves.
00:54:02.17\00:54:03.54
I don't have time
to get the whole quote,
00:54:03.57\00:54:05.34
but I had a
quote from Ellen White.
00:54:05.37\00:54:07.14
She says, "Near the
end of earth's history,
00:54:07.18\00:54:10.05
a special bestowal
of the spirit of grace
00:54:10.08\00:54:12.98
is promised to
prepare the church
00:54:13.01\00:54:15.05
for the coming
of the Son of man.
00:54:15.08\00:54:16.65
This outpouring of the Spirit
00:54:16.69\00:54:18.12
is likened to the
falling of the latter rain."
00:54:18.15\00:54:20.76
Now she says this.
00:54:20.79\00:54:23.02
"Before the final
visitation of God's judgments
00:54:23.06\00:54:25.59
upon the earth there will
be among the people of the Lord
00:54:25.63\00:54:28.10
such a revival of
primitive godliness
00:54:28.13\00:54:30.63
as has not been
witnessed since apostolic times.
00:54:30.67\00:54:33.54
The Spirit and power of God
00:54:33.57\00:54:35.57
will be poured
out upon His people."
00:54:35.60\00:54:37.14
So what we are
running into and what we're...
00:54:37.17\00:54:39.74
I am happy to say is happening.
00:54:39.77\00:54:41.81
John, there is a great
tribulation about to fall,
00:54:41.84\00:54:45.25
but the latter rain
is beginning to fall.
00:54:45.28\00:54:47.65
And when the latter rain falls,
00:54:47.68\00:54:49.02
it just separate
the wheat and the chaff,
00:54:49.05\00:54:50.65
and suddenly everybody is
gonna know where we stand.
00:54:50.69\00:54:53.69
But if we're gonna be ready,
we have to be ready today.
00:54:53.72\00:54:57.43
Not look forward to
00:54:57.46\00:54:58.79
when the Sunday Law
is passed or when...
00:54:58.83\00:55:00.60
So the question
today, "Where will you be,
00:55:00.63\00:55:03.37
what voice when
Jesus speaks will we hear,
00:55:03.40\00:55:06.70
enter in or will we
hear, depart from His?"
00:55:06.74\00:55:09.27
My prayer that each and
every one of us hear Jesus say,
00:55:09.30\00:55:12.71
enter into the joy of the Lord.
00:55:12.74\00:55:14.34
Amen.
00:55:14.38\00:55:15.71
But on that note,
Danny, let me give you
00:55:15.74\00:55:17.08
about a minute more
because we're winding up here.
00:55:17.11\00:55:18.51
And I think that will
give us enough time to go ahead
00:55:18.55\00:55:20.15
and each person could
summarize what we talked about.
00:55:20.18\00:55:22.95
But that's a powerful thing.
00:55:22.98\00:55:24.32
Any closing thoughts on
that, since you're on a roll?
00:55:24.35\00:55:26.39
Well, I just...
00:55:26.42\00:55:27.76
When I do it, I
want people to know
00:55:27.79\00:55:29.12
what I share is out of love.
00:55:29.16\00:55:30.49
I am not condemning people
00:55:30.53\00:55:31.86
or trying to call
out colleges or people,
00:55:31.89\00:55:34.46
but I want to know
that we're not immune
00:55:34.50\00:55:37.03
as Seventh-day
Adventist Christians
00:55:37.07\00:55:38.77
that we don't, because we
know the commandments of God.
00:55:38.80\00:55:41.20
We're not immune. Satan
has a plan to destroy us.
00:55:41.24\00:55:43.84
Who does he hate
the most on earth?
00:55:43.87\00:55:45.74
Those who are
standing up for God
00:55:45.77\00:55:48.41
and keeping the
commandments of God.
00:55:48.44\00:55:49.98
So it's a prayer.
00:55:50.01\00:55:51.65
Well, I may
sound like I'm harsh.
00:55:51.68\00:55:54.12
Please I'm doing this in love.
00:55:54.15\00:55:55.75
And I intend to
give a wake up call
00:55:55.78\00:55:57.69
to get us thinking,
00:55:57.72\00:55:59.15
where am I and how will I stand
00:55:59.19\00:56:01.42
when I stand in
the presence of God?
00:56:01.46\00:56:03.63
Amen. Amen. Praise the Lord.
00:56:03.66\00:56:04.99
Well, I'm gonna
just come with the line.
00:56:05.03\00:56:06.36
Jill, summarize what
you have covered for us
00:56:06.39\00:56:08.66
as we close out this
wonderful lesson on stewardship.
00:56:08.70\00:56:11.13
Our influence is incredible
because as we follow Jesus
00:56:11.17\00:56:15.30
and as we walk with Him,
00:56:15.34\00:56:17.37
then our influence will
point other people to Jesus.
00:56:17.41\00:56:20.24
That's right. Shelley? Amen.
00:56:20.28\00:56:21.61
And when you think
about being a good steward,
00:56:21.64\00:56:23.45
this, this is an...
00:56:23.48\00:56:25.38
I mean, people see
that, it has strong influence.
00:56:25.41\00:56:29.95
Simply that, as good stewards...
00:56:29.98\00:56:32.92
One of the
results of stewardship
00:56:32.95\00:56:34.52
is that we learn
to trust more and more
00:56:34.56\00:56:38.09
and we enjoy the
perfect peace of the Lord.
00:56:38.13\00:56:40.33
Mollie?
00:56:40.36\00:56:41.70
The results of
stewardship contentment.
00:56:41.73\00:56:43.33
But, Danny, from
what you're saying,
00:56:43.37\00:56:45.27
the results of
being a good steward
00:56:45.30\00:56:47.20
for all that God
had entrusted to us,
00:56:47.24\00:56:49.10
is that we'll be
obedient to His Word.
00:56:49.14\00:56:52.17
Amen. That's right.
00:56:52.21\00:56:53.54
Friends, remember godliness
will always cost you something,
00:56:53.58\00:56:55.88
but godliness is not a
debt, it is an eternal assert.
00:56:55.91\00:57:00.08
And all of us
together, we're looking
00:57:00.12\00:57:02.02
as we examine our
lives this quarter,
00:57:02.05\00:57:04.15
this lesson has
caused each one of us
00:57:04.19\00:57:05.69
to examine our
lives in so many areas.
00:57:05.72\00:57:07.49
And thank you, Danny,
00:57:07.52\00:57:08.86
for casting the vision
as we entered into 2018,
00:57:08.89\00:57:12.33
that this is the year of...
00:57:12.36\00:57:13.90
Present truth. Present truth.
00:57:13.93\00:57:15.66
The truth is always present
00:57:15.70\00:57:17.17
because Jesus is never, "a was."
00:57:17.20\00:57:20.07
He is and He is to come.
00:57:20.10\00:57:22.04
May the stewardship
of God's Holy Spirit
00:57:22.07\00:57:24.41
guide you to be
ready when Jesus comes.
00:57:24.44\00:57:27.34
God bless you
until we see you again.
00:57:27.38\00:57:29.61