Hello, friends, welcome
to 3ABN Sabbath School Panel.
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Thank you for taking the
time to join us every week
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as we walk through a
wonderful study guide
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entitled "Education,"
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which is the
fourth quarter theme.
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But today, we're talking
about the Christian and Work.
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Everybody has a work to do.
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We're going to talk about
the specifics of work today.
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If you'd like a copy of
the lesson to follow along,
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go to ABSG.Adventist.org
and download a digital copy.
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But if you want to be
a part of a study group,
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look for a local Seventh-day
Adventist Church walk in
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and say 3ABN sent you.
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And sit down and
enjoy an excursion
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through the Word of God.
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What you need
for this study today
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is a Bible and some time.
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So thank you for joining us.
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We're about to get
started in God's Word.
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And we thank you
for joining us today.
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Welcome, friends,
we are so thankful
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that you've taken
the time to join us.
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We could not do
this without you.
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So thank you for your prayers
and all your financial support.
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And if you come
to volunteer here,
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that's a step above.
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Thank you so much
for taking the time
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to get your
Bibles and your lessons,
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and we're going to introduce you
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to our family today
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as we walk
through a lesson entitled
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"The Christian and Work."
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Everybody likes work I think.
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We'll find out
today more specifically,
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whether or not you like work,
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or whether or
not that's something
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that you might want to elude you
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in the annals of life.
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To my immediate left
is Pastor John Dinzey.
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Good to have you
here today, my Brother.
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It's a blessing to be here.
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And it's always
a blessing to see
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what God is doing
through His servants.
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Amen. Shelley?
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Excited to be here
with my brothers and sister.
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That's right,
Miss Shelley Quinn.
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I want to make sure that
if somebody is tuning in,
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they don't just
know you as Shelley.
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And Jill Morikone, our COO
and Vice President of the 3ABN.
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Good to have you here.
Thank you, Pastor John.
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Always a joy to
study the Word of God.
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And if you don't know who
she is, she's a list lady.
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That's right.
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And to my far left, the
singer in Israel, Ryan Day,
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Pastor Ryan Day.
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Good to have you
here, Ryan. Amen.
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It's a blessing to be
here, Brother, always.
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He's the evangelist personified.
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He's always
ready to preach, teach
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and do whatever comes
to the spiritual table.
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We thank you for that, Ryan.
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And we're going to
go into the Word of God,
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but we're going to
ask the Lord to bless us
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as we go before His
throne of grace and prayer.
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Pastor Dinzey?
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Sure. Let's go to
the Lord in prayer.
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Our loving and
wonderful heavenly Father,
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we do thank You,
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because the
scriptures are able to make us
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wise unto salvation.
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But, Lord, it is a vain effort
to seek to understand them
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without the aid
of Your Holy Spirit.
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We ask and plead
that You will bless us
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with Your Holy Spirit,
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that we may not only understand
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but communicate the message
You have for Your children.
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We ask You for them as
well that you will lead them
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in their understanding,
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and in making
decisions to follow You.
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In Jesus' name, amen.
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Amen.
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The Christian and Work.
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Now let's look
at our memory text,
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it's in 1 Corinthians 15:58.
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1 Corinthians 15:58.
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And I'm going to read
that and you're hearing.
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And the Bible
tells us the following,
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"Therefore, my beloved brethren,
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be steadfast, immovable,
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always abounding in
the work of the Lord,
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knowing that your labor
is not in vain in the Lord."
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Now there's a saying that goes,
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whatever we do
for self will pass,
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whatever we do
for Christ will last.
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And that's the reality of it.
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Because
everything in this world,
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no matter how
diligent you are in labor,
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if it's for things
that are temporary,
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those things are
going to pass away.
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But if it's for
the kingdom of God,
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that's a kingdom that
will never, never end.
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You know, the lesson
was well put together.
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And what I like
about this lesson,
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it is very practical.
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Do you notice that?
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A lot of practical topics,
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and work is a
very practical topic.
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Now we're in the
midst of still solving
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what we might
refer to as a disease
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that just showed up
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and it's deciding
when it's going to leave
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and we're doing our part.
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There's a lot of work
in trying to get rid of it.
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But when you think
about the work of the kingdom,
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work was God's idea.
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The way the author
of this lesson said it,
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it says, "In the
ideal world before sin,
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God gave Adam and Eve
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the task of
caring for the garden."
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Now it
specifically talked about Adam
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being in the garden.
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But Eve's housework,
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if you think about it
was also in the garden
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because they
didn't have a two storey,
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two car garage with the basement
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and the walkout.
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They didn't have that.
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They had the best accommodations
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with all the
accoutrements of heaven.
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The Master Builder
gave them a garden.
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They didn't need air
freshener, basically,
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because they had
flowers that will never die.
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Had a perfect setting,
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they had animals
that will come and go
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and that, at that time,
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the animals did
not fear humanity.
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But when sin came in,
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the entire
atmosphere changed drastically.
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Genesis 2:15
describes the kind of work
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that God gave to Adam
in the unfallen setting.
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He says, "Then the
Lord God took the man
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and put him in
the Garden of Eden
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to tend and keep it."
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Adam was the first gardener.
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I would say Adam
had a green thumb.
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Now, can you imagine?
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I think about it this
way, because you know,
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ladies like flowers.
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Some guys like flowers,
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but mostly maybe
ladies like flowers.
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But can you
imagine picking a flower
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that just doesn't
lose its pungent fragrance.
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It just, is not
in the dying state
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because death was not a
part of that environment.
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It just continues to go and go.
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It's like one of
those potent air fresheners.
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What a setting to be in.
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But when sin entered the
world, the work didn't end,
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but another
component was added to it.
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Look at Genesis 3:19.
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The Bible says in Genesis 3:19,
"In the sweat of your face,
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you shall eat bread till
you return to the ground."
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Notice the direction of
what happens when we die
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was introduced into this verse,
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"For out of it, you were taken
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for dust you are and
to dust you shall return."
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Right off the bat, the
Lord made it very clear,
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you're not going to heaven
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because you
didn't come from heaven.
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You came from the dust.
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When your work is done,
that's where you're going,
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right back to the dust.
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But the wise man Solomon
gives us the kind of attitude
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that we should have about work.
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Let's go to Ecclesiastes 9:9.
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There's an attitude
that comes along with work.
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And it's beautiful.
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You know, there are people
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that are
comfortable in the boardroom.
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There are other people
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that are
comfortable in the field.
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There are people that
love to be on tractors.
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There are people that
just don't even consider
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being in the outdoors
when it comes to work.
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But notice the
attitude that Solomon tells us,
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we should all possess
when it comes to work.
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Ecclesiastes 9:9.
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You have that, Jill?
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Read that for us.
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"Live joyfully with the wife
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whom you love all the
days of your vain life
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which He has
given you under the sun,
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all your days of vanity,
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for that is
your portion in life,
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and in the labor
which you perform
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under the sun."
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Isn't that amazing how he,
instead of saying, with a wife,
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you love all the
days of your life.
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He said all days
of your vain life.
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Because the wise man said
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when you look at
the scope of humanity,
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it's all vanity.
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Everything.
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My wife and I were sitting
once on the edge of our bed
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in a hotel room,
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and I was putting a
camera card in the camera,
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those micro-SD's and
it dropped on the bed.
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And I picked it up
and said, "Look at that.
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It's amazing how small
they made these things,
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128 gigabytes."
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And I said, "You
know what, honey?
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We can't even
take that to heaven.
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We can't even
take that to heaven.
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Everything we have,
we can't take any of it."
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And that's why
the wise man said,
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"It's vanity."
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All the things we
work for in labor for
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and are diligent about,
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we can't even take it with us.
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But now let's go
to the Christian side.
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On the topic of Christian work,
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I think the author
is referring to that
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more specifically.
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One of the greatest
challenges that the church faces
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is Christians that
don't feel the need to work.
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And we know
Ephesians 2:8-9 says,
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"For by grace, are
you saved through faith
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and that not of yourselves,
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it is the gift
of God not of works,
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lest any man should boast."
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And they kind of leave
it right there and say,
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"Well, that's
good enough for me."
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But don't forget verse 10.
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Look at verse 10. That's right.
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"For we are His workmanship,
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created in Christ
Jesus for good works,
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which God prepared beforehand,
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that we should walk in them."
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The thing that came to my
mind when I read this text,
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is the work of
salvation belongs to God,
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the work of the
saved belongs to us.
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The work of
salvation belongs to God,
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the work of the
saved belongs to us.
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The Lord has hired us
to work in His vineyard.
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And when we think about that,
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we cannot sidetrack the idea
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that while we don't
have anything to do,
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because James makes it clear.
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Go to James 2:14-17.
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Now the
Christian that doesn't feel
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the conviction to work
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really doesn't
have a viable commitment
00:10:00.30\00:10:02.06
to the Lord,
00:10:02.10\00:10:03.43
because that
commitment is validated by work.
00:10:03.47\00:10:07.14
Notice this, verse 14-17,
00:10:07.17\00:10:10.34
"What does it
profit, my brethren,
00:10:10.37\00:10:12.57
if someone says he has
faith and does not have works?
00:10:12.61\00:10:17.18
Can faith save him?
00:10:17.21\00:10:18.98
If a brother or
a sister is naked
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and destitute of daily food,
00:10:21.15\00:10:23.15
and one of you say to
them, 'Depart in peace,
00:10:23.18\00:10:25.72
be warmed and filled,'
00:10:25.75\00:10:27.46
but you do not
give them the things
00:10:27.49\00:10:29.12
which are needed for the body,
00:10:29.16\00:10:31.29
what does it profit?
00:10:31.33\00:10:33.23
Thus also faith by itself,
00:10:33.26\00:10:36.46
if it does not
have works is" what?
00:10:36.50\00:10:38.87
"Is dead."
00:10:38.90\00:10:40.24
So somebody might say, hey,
I'm a great baseball player.
00:10:40.27\00:10:42.80
What team do you play for?
00:10:42.84\00:10:44.17
I don't play for a team.
00:10:44.21\00:10:45.54
I just like baseball.
00:10:45.57\00:10:46.91
Have you ever played before? No.
00:10:46.94\00:10:48.28
I just like baseball.
00:10:48.31\00:10:49.64
Have you ever
swung a bat before?
00:10:49.68\00:10:51.01
No. I just like baseball.
00:10:51.05\00:10:52.38
I have a ton of
baseball uniforms,
00:10:52.41\00:10:53.82
a lot of baseball
bats, baseball gloves.
00:10:53.85\00:10:55.78
You don't play for any team.
00:10:55.82\00:10:57.15
I just like to
have the paraphernalia
00:10:57.19\00:10:58.95
of the baseball team.
00:10:58.99\00:11:01.62
No baseball coach
would have any use
00:11:01.66\00:11:03.16
for that kind of individual.
00:11:03.19\00:11:04.53
Do you agree, Ryan?
00:11:04.56\00:11:05.89
I mean, who wants a person
that just likes the uniform?
00:11:05.93\00:11:09.43
That's the case
with the Christian.
00:11:09.46\00:11:11.37
The uniform is the
righteousness of Christ.
00:11:11.40\00:11:14.14
How dear we take on His uniform,
00:11:14.17\00:11:16.44
and His mission
was to do the work
00:11:16.47\00:11:18.64
of the Father who sent Him.
00:11:18.67\00:11:20.68
As the Father sent
Him, He says, so send I you.
00:11:20.71\00:11:24.21
I send you forth as
laborers into the vineyard,
00:11:24.25\00:11:26.68
I send you forth
as lambs among wolves.
00:11:26.72\00:11:29.55
The work is not
easy as a Christian,
00:11:29.58\00:11:31.35
but the work is the validation
of our commitment to Christ.
00:11:31.39\00:11:34.89
Without work,
00:11:34.92\00:11:36.26
you don't really have a
relationship with Christ.
00:11:36.29\00:11:38.09
Let's go to
Ecclesiastes 3:12-13,
00:11:38.13\00:11:42.43
you'll discover
that true happiness comes
00:11:42.46\00:11:45.67
in working for the Lord.
00:11:45.70\00:11:47.80
Work is the one investment
00:11:47.84\00:11:50.11
that the Bible tells
us brings true happiness.
00:11:50.14\00:11:52.91
Ecclesiastes 3:12 and 13.
00:11:52.94\00:11:55.34
Do you have that, Ryan? I do.
00:11:55.38\00:11:56.71
Read that for me.
00:11:56.75\00:11:58.08
Ecclesiastes 3:12-13,
00:11:58.11\00:11:59.65
"I know that
nothing is better for them
00:11:59.68\00:12:02.32
than to rejoice, and
to do good in their lives,
00:12:02.35\00:12:05.92
and also that every
man should eat and drink
00:12:05.95\00:12:08.42
and enjoy the
good of all his labor,
00:12:08.46\00:12:10.93
it is the gift of God."
00:12:10.96\00:12:12.33
Right, this is the gift of God.
00:12:12.36\00:12:14.50
So the joy of your labors.
00:12:14.53\00:12:16.56
If you work,
hey, you'll benefit.
00:12:16.60\00:12:19.03
There's a text, I
don't have it in front of me.
00:12:19.07\00:12:20.47
I'll think I'll find it
for the end of the lesson.
00:12:20.50\00:12:22.67
But it was in
the Book of Proverbs.
00:12:22.70\00:12:24.24
It says, "The lazy man says,
'There's a lion in the street,
00:12:24.27\00:12:28.08
and he'll devour
me if I go out.'"
00:12:28.11\00:12:30.81
The lazy man says that.
00:12:30.85\00:12:32.88
Some people said,
"I can't find a job."
00:12:32.91\00:12:34.62
I said, "How are you looking,
00:12:34.65\00:12:35.98
with a remote in your
hand and a game controller."
00:12:36.02\00:12:38.95
I sent a couple
of job applications.
00:12:38.99\00:12:41.26
I didn't get any responses.
00:12:41.29\00:12:42.62
Man, get out there
and beat the pavement.
00:12:42.66\00:12:44.49
We live in a society today
00:12:44.53\00:12:45.96
that's developing
people into lazy individuals
00:12:45.99\00:12:50.07
trying to find a
work with a remote
00:12:50.10\00:12:52.33
and a game controller,
00:12:52.37\00:12:53.70
or some people are
settled with Facebook.
00:12:53.74\00:12:55.57
That's their job.
00:12:55.60\00:12:57.57
Now, if you work for Facebook,
that's a different story.
00:12:57.61\00:13:00.38
But if Facebook works you,
00:13:00.41\00:13:02.14
that's a whole another ballgame.
00:13:02.18\00:13:03.95
Ecclesiastes 9:10.
00:13:03.98\00:13:06.35
The Bible talks
about the kind of attitude
00:13:06.38\00:13:07.98
we should have
when it comes to work.
00:13:08.02\00:13:10.52
I love this passage,
00:13:10.55\00:13:12.05
because this is also
along the line of the living
00:13:12.09\00:13:13.99
know that they will die.
00:13:14.02\00:13:15.39
Notice verse 10,
00:13:15.42\00:13:16.83
"Whatever your hand finds to do,
00:13:16.86\00:13:19.03
do it with your might.
00:13:19.06\00:13:21.60
Therefore there
is no work or device
00:13:21.63\00:13:25.20
or knowledge or wisdom,
00:13:25.23\00:13:26.80
once again, in the
grave where you are going."
00:13:26.84\00:13:30.11
When you die, there's no money,
00:13:30.14\00:13:31.77
no more jobs, no
employment in the grave.
00:13:31.81\00:13:35.24
But the Bible
does believe in work.
00:13:35.28\00:13:36.95
You know, the fourth commandment
00:13:36.98\00:13:38.31
talks about
work in two contexts.
00:13:38.35\00:13:39.78
One, in Exodus 20:9,
"Six days you shall labor."
00:13:39.81\00:13:45.92
So from Sunday to
Friday, that's labor days.
00:13:45.95\00:13:50.73
When the
Sabbath comes, verse 10,
00:13:50.76\00:13:52.86
"But the seventh day
00:13:52.89\00:13:54.30
is the Sabbath of
the Lord your God,
00:13:54.33\00:13:57.10
in it you shall do no work."
00:13:57.13\00:13:59.27
So let me settle the argument.
00:13:59.30\00:14:01.17
The Sabbath is not
salvation by works.
00:14:01.20\00:14:05.04
The Sabbath is when work ceases
00:14:05.07\00:14:07.28
to rest in the
relationship with Christ.
00:14:07.31\00:14:10.18
So John makes it
very, very clear.
00:14:10.21\00:14:12.31
"I must work the works of
Him who sent me while it is day,
00:14:12.35\00:14:15.48
the night is coming,
when no one can work."
00:14:15.52\00:14:18.19
John 9:4. Amen.
00:14:18.22\00:14:20.92
Praise the Lord. Excellent.
00:14:20.96\00:14:22.89
Well, we continue
in Monday's lesson
00:14:22.92\00:14:24.66
which we're in, now we
have the lesson entitled
00:14:24.69\00:14:27.43
"Work and
Nurture," Work and Nurture.
00:14:27.46\00:14:30.13
This is Monday's part.
00:14:30.17\00:14:31.50
And this aspect of
working is very important,
00:14:31.53\00:14:36.54
you already read
Ecclesiastes 9:10,
00:14:36.57\00:14:40.61
in which we are encouraged
that whatever we find to do,
00:14:40.64\00:14:43.24
we are supposed to do the best
we can as hard as we can work.
00:14:43.28\00:14:47.42
Now I've been
around a little while
00:14:47.45\00:14:49.48
and I have seen
people avoid work
00:14:49.52\00:14:53.52
and some are very good at it.
00:14:53.56\00:14:55.69
As I've seen in
working in different places.
00:14:55.72\00:15:00.20
But I praise the Lord
00:15:00.23\00:15:02.80
that He has given us work to do.
00:15:02.83\00:15:05.93
It is a blessing
to work, and to work,
00:15:05.97\00:15:10.11
knowing that
there's a goal in mind.
00:15:10.14\00:15:14.11
My father was a
believer in hard work,
00:15:14.14\00:15:16.78
and he would
encourage us to work.
00:15:16.81\00:15:19.21
He says, He would say,
00:15:19.25\00:15:22.12
the Bible says
he who does not work
00:15:22.15\00:15:23.89
shall not eat.
00:15:23.92\00:15:25.69
He would mention
that to us very much,
00:15:25.72\00:15:29.76
as well as saying
that the lazy people
00:15:29.79\00:15:33.23
have to work twice as hard
00:15:33.26\00:15:34.60
because sometimes
they try to do something
00:15:34.63\00:15:36.40
the easy way
00:15:36.43\00:15:37.77
and then they have to redo
it because it doesn't work well.
00:15:37.80\00:15:40.50
Colossians Chapter 3
00:15:40.54\00:15:41.97
is the next verse
I want to point to.
00:15:42.00\00:15:44.24
Verses 23 and 24,
00:15:44.27\00:15:46.14
"And whatever you
do, do it heartily,
00:15:46.17\00:15:49.48
as to the Lord and not to men,
00:15:49.51\00:15:53.15
knowing that from the Lord
you will receive the reward
00:15:53.18\00:15:56.58
of the inheritance,
00:15:56.62\00:15:57.95
for you serve the Lord Christ."
00:15:57.99\00:16:00.46
Now, this is something
important to understand
00:16:00.49\00:16:02.99
because whatever your job is,
00:16:03.02\00:16:06.19
whether you work in a
school, in a hospital,
00:16:06.23\00:16:08.73
wherever you work,
we are to work heartily.
00:16:08.76\00:16:12.57
And it says, as to the
Lord, yes, you have supervisors,
00:16:12.60\00:16:15.20
yes, you have a
company you're working for.
00:16:15.24\00:16:17.11
And there's a
purpose for working
00:16:17.14\00:16:19.04
so that you can put,
00:16:19.07\00:16:20.41
as people say,
food upon your table,
00:16:20.44\00:16:22.68
but we are to work
00:16:22.71\00:16:24.05
because really the Christian
that works in any atmosphere
00:16:24.08\00:16:28.32
is representing God.
00:16:28.35\00:16:29.88
And you have to consider that,
Matthew Chapter 5 when it says,
00:16:29.92\00:16:35.49
"Let your light
therefore so shine before men
00:16:35.52\00:16:38.13
that they may
see your good works
00:16:38.16\00:16:39.73
and glorify your Father,
00:16:39.76\00:16:41.10
which is in heaven."
00:16:41.13\00:16:42.46
A Christian that
works in an environment
00:16:42.50\00:16:44.23
where there are people
that are not Christians
00:16:44.27\00:16:46.43
are to do their best
because they are representing,
00:16:46.47\00:16:50.21
they're representing
the Christians in general.
00:16:50.24\00:16:53.34
And I remember many times
00:16:53.38\00:16:56.24
hearing examples
of people where they,
00:16:56.28\00:17:00.22
they asked, "Are
you a Christian?"
00:17:00.25\00:17:04.32
"No." "Are you a Christian?"
00:17:04.35\00:17:05.69
"No." "Are you a Christian?"
"No." "Are you a Christian?"
00:17:05.72\00:17:07.06
"Yes."
00:17:07.09\00:17:08.42
"Okay, you're going to
be in charge of the money,"
00:17:08.46\00:17:09.79
because they believe
Christians will not steal.
00:17:09.82\00:17:12.49
I remember when
our car broke down once
00:17:12.53\00:17:15.40
and we took it
here to the local,
00:17:15.43\00:17:16.87
we went to see Philip.
00:17:16.90\00:17:18.43
You guys know Philip
at the local gas station.
00:17:18.47\00:17:21.64
And there was a serious
problem with our vehicle.
00:17:21.67\00:17:23.91
And he has a
very small shop there.
00:17:23.94\00:17:26.98
And he says, you
have a serious problem
00:17:27.01\00:17:28.54
with your engine and
we can't do that here.
00:17:28.58\00:17:31.28
I want to encourage
you to go into Benton
00:17:31.31\00:17:34.25
and he mentioned
the name of the place.
00:17:34.28\00:17:37.19
He said you see a
lot of cars there,
00:17:37.22\00:17:39.05
because there are
people just waiting
00:17:39.09\00:17:40.72
to get their
car serviced by then
00:17:40.76\00:17:42.22
because they're Christians,
00:17:42.26\00:17:43.59
and they will not lie to
you and they'll be reasonable.
00:17:43.63\00:17:46.23
I say wow, what a
recommendation he gave
00:17:46.26\00:17:49.63
of this particular place
00:17:49.66\00:17:51.43
that I will not mention by name,
00:17:51.47\00:17:52.80
but Christian should
have the best reputation
00:17:52.83\00:17:55.14
for good workers, honesty,
00:17:55.17\00:17:56.91
and they are
representing the Lord.
00:17:56.94\00:17:59.41
Now, nature has
good information for us.
00:17:59.44\00:18:03.04
Many lessons for us to learn.
00:18:03.08\00:18:04.81
Let's go to Proverbs Chapter 6.
00:18:04.85\00:18:07.32
Proverbs 6:6-11.
00:18:07.35\00:18:10.05
Notice, "Go to the
ant, you sluggard."
00:18:10.09\00:18:14.16
Wow!
00:18:14.19\00:18:15.52
"Consider her ways and be wise,
00:18:15.56\00:18:17.16
which, having no captain,
00:18:17.19\00:18:18.99
overseer or ruler,
00:18:19.03\00:18:20.50
provides her
supplies in the summer,
00:18:20.53\00:18:22.76
and gathers her
food in the harvest.
00:18:22.80\00:18:25.17
How long will you
slumber, O sluggard?
00:18:25.20\00:18:28.04
When will you
rise from your sleep?
00:18:28.07\00:18:30.67
A little sleep,
a little slumber,
00:18:30.71\00:18:32.54
a little folding
of the hands to sleep,
00:18:32.57\00:18:35.01
so shall your poverty
come on you like a prowler,
00:18:35.04\00:18:37.95
and your need
like an armed man."
00:18:37.98\00:18:40.95
Proverbs 6:6-11.
00:18:40.98\00:18:43.18
So we see here that
God has a message for us
00:18:43.22\00:18:46.52
that we should not be lazy,
00:18:46.55\00:18:48.82
or sluggard the
way it calls here,
00:18:48.86\00:18:50.63
we are all called to
put our best effort forward
00:18:50.66\00:18:53.90
to accomplish a task.
00:18:53.93\00:18:56.06
Now, the Bible also shows
us that there is satisfaction
00:18:56.10\00:19:01.54
and we enjoy the
things that we work for.
00:19:01.57\00:19:03.81
Let's go to
Ecclesiastes Chapter 2.
00:19:03.84\00:19:06.47
Ecclesiastes 2:24,
00:19:06.51\00:19:09.78
"Nothing is better for a
man that he should eat and drink
00:19:09.81\00:19:15.35
that his soul should
enjoy good in his labor.
00:19:15.38\00:19:20.16
This also I saw it
was from the hand of God."
00:19:20.19\00:19:24.53
God blesses our efforts.
00:19:24.56\00:19:26.43
When we do our best,
He will bless our efforts,
00:19:26.46\00:19:30.00
He will supply the
needs of our homes.
00:19:30.03\00:19:32.27
And so, now we want to
show you something important,
00:19:32.30\00:19:38.51
very important as
well in Deuteronomy 8:18.
00:19:38.54\00:19:42.08
Deuteronomy 8:18,
00:19:42.11\00:19:45.05
"And you shall
remember the Lord your God,
00:19:45.08\00:19:47.52
for it is He who gives
you power to get wealth,
00:19:47.55\00:19:51.39
that He may
establish His covenant
00:19:51.42\00:19:54.09
which He swore to your
fathers, as it is this day."
00:19:54.12\00:19:58.03
God is the one that
gives us health and strength.
00:19:58.06\00:20:00.70
God is the one that
gives us power to work to Him
00:20:00.73\00:20:04.23
the honor and glory.
00:20:04.27\00:20:06.27
And so with this
comes the thanksgiving
00:20:06.30\00:20:09.84
that we should express
00:20:09.87\00:20:11.27
by bringing to
the Lord offerings
00:20:11.31\00:20:13.58
and even tithe as
He instructs us to do.
00:20:13.61\00:20:18.35
Now, there is
doing work, working hard,
00:20:18.38\00:20:22.65
doing the best we can,
but also there is temperance,
00:20:22.68\00:20:26.79
we need to understand
that we need to take a break.
00:20:26.82\00:20:30.99
And so I pointed to Mark 6:31,
00:20:31.03\00:20:35.00
even Jesus that worked
hard from early in the morning
00:20:35.03\00:20:38.47
till late at night,
00:20:38.50\00:20:39.90
He understood the
necessity of taking rest.
00:20:39.93\00:20:43.84
So in Mark 6:31,
00:20:43.87\00:20:46.07
Jesus speaking to His disciples,
00:20:46.11\00:20:47.71
"And He said to them,
00:20:47.74\00:20:49.08
'Come aside by yourselves
00:20:49.11\00:20:50.88
to a deserted
place and rest a while.'
00:20:50.91\00:20:54.85
For there were
many coming and going,
00:20:54.88\00:20:56.85
and they did not
even have time to eat.'"
00:20:56.89\00:21:01.09
And so, sometimes
things are this way.
00:21:01.12\00:21:04.46
A lot of demand
is placed upon you.
00:21:04.49\00:21:07.26
They didn't even
have time to eat.
00:21:07.30\00:21:08.96
But there's a need to go aside,
rest a while, get refreshed,
00:21:09.00\00:21:14.77
recuperate,
because unfortunately,
00:21:14.80\00:21:17.47
some people are
prone to become workaholic.
00:21:17.51\00:21:21.74
Isn't the Lord
good? Lord is good.
00:21:21.78\00:21:24.41
If it wasn't for
the blessing of work,
00:21:24.45\00:21:27.28
imagine after sin
entered into the world,
00:21:27.32\00:21:31.25
how horrible things would be,
00:21:31.29\00:21:33.29
people would have
basically no work to do.
00:21:33.32\00:21:36.62
Their minds would be
continually trying to find
00:21:36.66\00:21:41.56
something evil to do.
00:21:41.60\00:21:43.26
But God gives us time to work.
00:21:43.30\00:21:46.40
And it is for us
to take advantage
00:21:46.43\00:21:48.87
of the
opportunity God gives to us.
00:21:48.90\00:21:51.41
Now, I want to read this to you,
00:21:51.44\00:21:54.61
it is from Acts
of the Apostles 352,
00:21:54.64\00:21:59.08
"Work is a
blessing, not a curse,"
00:21:59.11\00:22:01.55
some people look
at it as a curse,
00:22:01.58\00:22:02.92
they don't want to even get up.
00:22:02.95\00:22:05.02
Work is a blessing, not a curse,
00:22:05.05\00:22:06.42
a spirit of
indolence of laziness,
00:22:06.45\00:22:08.66
that's what that means,
00:22:08.69\00:22:10.03
destroys godliness and
grieves the Spirit of God.
00:22:10.06\00:22:13.76
So if you find it difficult
to get up and get going,
00:22:13.80\00:22:17.83
ask the Lord to
give you strength.
00:22:17.87\00:22:19.87
It continues here.
00:22:19.90\00:22:21.24
Let me go back, it says,
"A stagnant pool is offensive.
00:22:21.27\00:22:24.67
But a pure flowing stream
00:22:24.71\00:22:26.94
spreads health and
gladness over the land."
00:22:26.98\00:22:30.45
Paul knew that those who neglect
00:22:30.48\00:22:32.48
physical work
soon became enfeebled.
00:22:32.51\00:22:34.85
He desired to
teach young ministers
00:22:34.88\00:22:36.72
that by working
with their hands,
00:22:36.75\00:22:38.49
by bringing into
exercise their muscles and sinew
00:22:38.52\00:22:42.26
they would become
strong to endure the toils
00:22:42.29\00:22:44.86
and privations
00:22:44.89\00:22:46.23
that awaited them
in the gospel field.
00:22:46.26\00:22:48.06
And he realized
that his own teachings
00:22:48.10\00:22:51.40
would lack vitality and force
00:22:51.43\00:22:53.57
if he did not keep
all parts of the system
00:22:53.60\00:22:56.71
properly exercised.
00:22:56.74\00:22:58.44
And so that in today's world,
00:22:58.47\00:23:00.61
there are people they have
00:23:00.64\00:23:02.28
what you call
mental work to do this,
00:23:02.31\00:23:06.11
they are sitting in
office before a computer,
00:23:06.15\00:23:08.98
and they don't have
much physical activity
00:23:09.02\00:23:11.35
unless they go out into
doing something at home.
00:23:11.39\00:23:15.39
Some work at home,
helping around the house,
00:23:15.42\00:23:17.96
doing yard work.
00:23:17.99\00:23:19.33
This is very important
00:23:19.36\00:23:20.70
because your body
needs the exercise
00:23:20.73\00:23:23.33
to keep you in a
healthy condition.
00:23:23.37\00:23:25.83
I know of a minister,
00:23:25.87\00:23:27.54
that he was a very
hard-working minister.
00:23:27.57\00:23:31.11
Most of his work
was studying the Bible,
00:23:31.14\00:23:33.21
getting ready for messages,
00:23:33.24\00:23:34.71
he will visit
people in their homes,
00:23:34.74\00:23:36.64
but he was not exercising.
00:23:36.68\00:23:38.45
And he had a heart attack.
00:23:38.48\00:23:39.81
He was eating wonderful as well.
00:23:39.85\00:23:41.65
And he had a heart attack.
00:23:41.68\00:23:43.15
And that's what
the doctors told him,
00:23:43.18\00:23:44.85
"How much exercise do you do?"
00:23:44.89\00:23:46.22
"Well, I don't."
00:23:46.25\00:23:47.72
And so that
created a heart attack.
00:23:47.76\00:23:50.03
Physical activity is important.
00:23:50.06\00:23:51.86
So, if you have a
work that is sedentary,
00:23:51.89\00:23:55.00
I mean, then you
should look for opportunities
00:23:55.03\00:23:58.03
to get physical
exercise as well.
00:23:58.07\00:24:00.74
A balance, we need to
be temperate in all things.
00:24:00.77\00:24:03.47
So the
scriptures give us guidance.
00:24:03.51\00:24:05.71
Even in nature,
you find the example.
00:24:05.74\00:24:08.54
We already told
you about the ants.
00:24:08.58\00:24:10.25
There are many others
examples we find in nature,
00:24:10.28\00:24:13.78
because work is
part of the necessity
00:24:13.82\00:24:17.39
of our lives,
00:24:17.42\00:24:18.75
to keep ourselves
in healthy conditions
00:24:18.79\00:24:20.39
and provide for our families.
00:24:20.42\00:24:21.99
Thanks be to the Lord
that gives us power to work.
00:24:22.02\00:24:24.03
Amen. Thank you, Johnny.
00:24:24.06\00:24:25.99
That was wonderful.
00:24:26.03\00:24:27.70
You know, we're talking
about the Christian and Work,
00:24:27.73\00:24:30.87
and so far we have
talked about two aspects of it,
00:24:30.90\00:24:33.74
but we have three more to cover.
00:24:33.77\00:24:35.37
So don't go away,
we'll be right back.
00:24:35.40\00:24:37.67
Ever wish you could watch
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School Panel again,
00:24:44.08\00:24:46.28
or share it on
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00:24:56.96\00:24:59.03
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00:24:59.06\00:25:02.46
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Welcome back to our
Sabbath School Panel.
00:25:12.37\00:25:13.94
We go to Tuesday now
"Work and excellence."
00:25:13.98\00:25:16.61
Shelley, it's yours. Okay.
00:25:16.64\00:25:18.28
You know, we might wonder,
00:25:18.31\00:25:20.15
why is a quarterly that
is focused on education,
00:25:20.18\00:25:24.55
suddenly giving a whole,
00:25:24.59\00:25:26.55
devoting whole lesson to work?
00:25:26.59\00:25:29.26
Well, I want to
speak to you parents
00:25:29.29\00:25:31.03
and you grandparents at home.
00:25:31.06\00:25:33.23
It's because you need to educate
00:25:33.26\00:25:34.93
your children to work.
00:25:34.96\00:25:36.50
The two most important
things you can do is as a parent
00:25:36.53\00:25:39.80
or grandparent
00:25:39.83\00:25:41.17
is to teach your children
00:25:41.20\00:25:43.37
to have an
intimate love relationship
00:25:43.41\00:25:46.71
with the Lord.
00:25:46.74\00:25:48.08
That's first.
00:25:48.11\00:25:49.44
But second is give
them a good work ethic.
00:25:49.48\00:25:53.45
In today's world,
00:25:53.48\00:25:54.82
we are bombarded by
so much information.
00:25:54.85\00:25:59.15
And so many media sources
00:25:59.19\00:26:01.72
that a lot of youth
00:26:01.76\00:26:03.32
are developing
the attention span
00:26:03.36\00:26:05.43
of a hummingbird.
00:26:05.46\00:26:06.96
And you know, what's sad is that
00:26:07.00\00:26:10.77
the vast majority of people
00:26:10.80\00:26:13.13
are satisfied with
a mediocre existence.
00:26:13.17\00:26:17.67
They are not
striving for excellence.
00:26:17.71\00:26:20.61
But when we think about
our God, our God is love.
00:26:20.64\00:26:25.45
He is holy, He is magnificent.
00:26:25.48\00:26:28.08
Excellence is
rooted in His character.
00:26:28.12\00:26:32.69
And He calls us to excellence.
00:26:32.72\00:26:35.36
He created us in His image,
and anything He calls us to be,
00:26:35.39\00:26:41.86
He will cause us to be.
00:26:41.90\00:26:44.83
God is looking,
calling us to excellence,
00:26:44.87\00:26:48.40
not to perfectionism,
00:26:48.44\00:26:50.81
get that
straight, but to excellence.
00:26:50.84\00:26:53.68
He wants to maximize
our creative potential.
00:26:53.71\00:26:57.78
And there's three specific areas
00:26:57.81\00:26:59.88
of excellence He calls us to,
00:26:59.91\00:27:02.18
moral excellence,
relational excellence,
00:27:02.22\00:27:07.36
and vocational excellence.
00:27:07.39\00:27:09.29
So let's quickly look at that.
00:27:09.32\00:27:11.89
Turn to 2 Peter Chapter 1.
00:27:11.93\00:27:15.16
2 Peter Chapter 1,
00:27:15.20\00:27:17.43
God calls us to
moral excellence,
00:27:17.47\00:27:20.24
to be above reproach.
00:27:20.27\00:27:22.77
But guess what?
00:27:22.80\00:27:24.14
He's the one
that's going to equip us,
00:27:24.17\00:27:26.34
He does.
00:27:26.37\00:27:27.71
2 Peter 1:3 said,
00:27:27.74\00:27:29.68
"His divine power has
given to us," how much?
00:27:29.71\00:27:33.52
"All things
00:27:33.55\00:27:34.88
that pertain to
life and godliness,
00:27:34.92\00:27:37.45
through the knowledge of Him
00:27:37.49\00:27:38.82
who called us
by glory in virtue,
00:27:38.85\00:27:41.46
by which had given,
00:27:41.49\00:27:42.82
been given to us
00:27:42.86\00:27:44.19
exceedingly great
and precious promises,
00:27:44.23\00:27:46.36
that through these,
through these promises,
00:27:46.39\00:27:49.90
you may be partakers
of the divine nature,
00:27:49.93\00:27:53.10
having escaped the corruption
00:27:53.13\00:27:54.94
that is in the
world through lust."
00:27:54.97\00:27:59.21
So God equips us to
have moral excellence.
00:27:59.24\00:28:03.65
It doesn't mean that
we don't make an effort
00:28:03.68\00:28:06.21
because He goes on,
00:28:06.25\00:28:08.22
and He talks about to
this we, because of this,
00:28:08.25\00:28:12.29
we should be
diligent to add to our faith,
00:28:12.32\00:28:14.72
virtue, knowledge, self-control,
00:28:14.76\00:28:16.79
perseverance, godliness,
brotherly kindness, and love.
00:28:16.83\00:28:22.06
Which brings us
to the second call
00:28:22.10\00:28:25.53
to what we would say
is relational excellence.
00:28:25.57\00:28:31.41
This is the basis
of God's covenant.
00:28:31.44\00:28:35.44
God wants us to be loyal,
00:28:35.48\00:28:38.61
to be loving, to
practice fidelity,
00:28:38.65\00:28:42.48
and interdependence with
Him, and the community of faith.
00:28:42.52\00:28:48.52
God is calling us to love
Him, to love our neighbors,
00:28:48.56\00:28:52.49
to be excellent as a spouse,
excellent as parents, even for,
00:28:52.53\00:28:58.90
if you think
about these friends,
00:28:58.93\00:29:01.00
students or an
employer-employee.
00:29:01.04\00:29:03.67
Now let's get to the lesson.
00:29:03.71\00:29:05.54
God calls us to
vocational excellence.
00:29:05.57\00:29:10.18
He equips us with
creativity and eloquence,
00:29:10.21\00:29:16.05
and He wants our diligence.
00:29:16.08\00:29:18.82
He wants us to focus
00:29:18.85\00:29:21.96
and to pursue
excellence in everything we do.
00:29:21.99\00:29:26.59
I was brought up if
anything is worth doing,
00:29:26.63\00:29:29.36
it's worth doing well.
00:29:29.40\00:29:32.27
So let's look at excellence,
00:29:32.30\00:29:35.47
excellence, Exodus Chapter 25.
00:29:35.50\00:29:39.87
And we're going to
read or begin with verse 8.
00:29:39.91\00:29:43.24
Exodus 25:8.
00:29:43.28\00:29:46.45
God is speaking to Moses,
00:29:46.48\00:29:48.72
"He says, 'Let them
make me a sanctuary,
00:29:48.75\00:29:52.75
that I may dwell among them.'
00:29:52.79\00:29:55.32
The purpose of the covenant
00:29:55.36\00:29:57.76
and it is always
been God's purpose.
00:29:57.79\00:30:00.53
I will be your God,
you shall be My people.'"
00:30:00.56\00:30:05.03
But you know, this is a big deal
00:30:05.07\00:30:07.90
that He is asking Moses
00:30:07.94\00:30:11.07
to have them
build Him a sanctuary
00:30:11.11\00:30:13.58
because this is
something really big
00:30:13.61\00:30:16.88
in the experience of
the nation's understanding
00:30:16.91\00:30:21.08
of God's transcendence
here, God lives up in heaven,
00:30:21.12\00:30:24.85
but His imminence
00:30:24.89\00:30:26.25
that He is going
to dwell with them.
00:30:26.29\00:30:30.46
Now then verse 9
says, "According to all,"
00:30:30.49\00:30:34.66
we're going to
build a sanctuary,
00:30:34.70\00:30:36.43
"according to
all that I show you,
00:30:36.46\00:30:39.57
that is the
pattern of the tabernacle,
00:30:39.60\00:30:42.30
and the pattern of
all of its furnishings,
00:30:42.34\00:30:45.24
just so you shall make it."
00:30:45.27\00:30:49.98
You know, it's interesting.
00:30:50.01\00:30:52.55
The primary focus of
worship was in this design.
00:30:52.58\00:30:56.69
I mean, as I've
said before this,
00:30:56.72\00:30:58.85
this was
theology in physical form.
00:30:58.89\00:31:01.86
God gives a very
detailed blueprint
00:31:01.89\00:31:07.23
for the tabernacle.
00:31:07.26\00:31:08.60
There's 150 points of
things, point by point,
00:31:08.63\00:31:12.33
what they need to do,
00:31:12.37\00:31:13.74
even just for Moses to
follow to build a temple,
00:31:13.77\00:31:19.34
there was a
seven, I mean, a table,
00:31:19.37\00:31:21.84
it was a seven step procedure.
00:31:21.88\00:31:25.35
And, you know, the
origin of the tabernacle,
00:31:25.38\00:31:30.22
if you look at Hebrews 8:5,
00:31:30.25\00:31:32.82
the origin of the
tabernacle was found in God
00:31:32.85\00:31:37.89
and delivered to
Moses by special revelation.
00:31:37.93\00:31:41.20
Hebrews 8:5
00:31:41.23\00:31:44.00
is talking about the
tabernacle of that Moses built,
00:31:44.03\00:31:47.80
but it says,
00:31:47.84\00:31:49.60
"It serves as
the copy and shadow
00:31:49.64\00:31:53.48
of the heavenly things,
00:31:53.51\00:31:55.91
as Moses was
divinely instructed,
00:31:55.94\00:31:59.38
when he was about to make
the tabernacle, for he said,
00:31:59.41\00:32:03.69
"See that you make all things,
00:32:03.72\00:32:06.35
according to the pattern
shown you on the mountain."
00:32:06.39\00:32:11.19
God had the muse.
00:32:11.23\00:32:13.43
I mean, it's an
impeccable design,
00:32:13.46\00:32:15.46
they use the best materials.
00:32:15.50\00:32:17.83
But then God
provided the artisans
00:32:17.87\00:32:21.30
and the craftsman
00:32:21.34\00:32:23.10
with the ability
to accomplish it.
00:32:23.14\00:32:26.04
He filled them
with the Holy Spirit,
00:32:26.07\00:32:28.21
we're not going to
take time to read that.
00:32:28.24\00:32:29.98
But you can read Exodus 31:1-6,
00:32:30.01\00:32:34.22
Exodus 35:30
through Exodus 36:1.
00:32:34.25\00:32:39.95
He gave them the ability.
00:32:39.99\00:32:44.16
Now, our lesson says,
00:32:44.19\00:32:47.03
and this is a
quote from the quarterly,
00:32:47.06\00:32:49.36
"Thus being
fallen sinful humanity,
00:32:49.40\00:32:53.03
or humans is not a valid excuse
00:32:53.07\00:32:56.00
for treating any task
00:32:56.04\00:32:58.37
with anything less
than utmost dedication.
00:32:58.41\00:33:01.78
God expects us to
perform at our best,
00:33:01.81\00:33:06.28
putting our talents, our skills,
00:33:06.31\00:33:08.35
our time and education to
good use for great causes."
00:33:08.38\00:33:14.36
How can we pursue excellence?
00:33:14.39\00:33:18.49
I'm going to give you 4 P's.
00:33:18.53\00:33:20.90
We pray for the Holy
Spirit, purify our thoughts,
00:33:20.93\00:33:25.77
practice what you
learn, and press on.
00:33:25.80\00:33:30.24
We pray for the Holy Spirit.
00:33:30.27\00:33:32.81
And that's the
most important thing
00:33:32.84\00:33:34.24
you can do every morning
00:33:34.28\00:33:36.01
is pray to be filled
with the Holy Spirit.
00:33:36.04\00:33:38.75
That's something
that God wants to do.
00:33:38.78\00:33:41.38
You look at Luke
11, purify our thoughts,
00:33:41.42\00:33:45.49
and practice what you learn.
00:33:45.52\00:33:48.06
Philippians 4:8-9
covers both of those.
00:33:48.09\00:33:51.46
It says,
"Brethren, whatever is true,
00:33:51.49\00:33:54.23
whatever is worthy of reverence,
00:33:54.26\00:33:57.07
honorable and seemly,
whatever is just and pure,
00:33:57.10\00:34:00.84
whatever is lovely and lovable,
00:34:00.87\00:34:03.41
whatever is kind and
winsome and gracious,
00:34:03.44\00:34:07.48
if there is any
virtue and excellence,
00:34:07.51\00:34:10.65
if there's
anything worthy of praise,
00:34:10.68\00:34:13.31
think on."
00:34:13.35\00:34:15.42
And obviously, I'm
reading from the Amplified,
00:34:15.45\00:34:17.85
"And weigh and take
account of these things."
00:34:17.89\00:34:20.92
Fix your mind, on
these good things.
00:34:20.96\00:34:24.33
Purify your thoughts.
00:34:24.36\00:34:26.16
But look at verse 9.
00:34:26.19\00:34:27.86
"Practice what you
have learned and received
00:34:27.90\00:34:31.53
and heard and seen in me,
00:34:31.57\00:34:33.70
model your way of living on it
00:34:33.74\00:34:35.90
and the God of
peace will be with you."
00:34:35.94\00:34:39.21
So the fourth P is press on.
00:34:39.24\00:34:41.91
Philippians 3:12-14
again from the Amplified.
00:34:41.94\00:34:47.02
Paul says, "Not that I
have now attained this ideal
00:34:47.05\00:34:51.45
or have already
been made perfect,
00:34:51.49\00:34:52.82
but I press on to hold,
00:34:52.85\00:34:55.56
take hold and make my own
00:34:55.59\00:34:57.29
that for which
Jesus Christ the Messiah
00:34:57.33\00:35:00.76
has laid hold of me.
00:35:00.80\00:35:03.33
I do not consider
brethren that I've captured
00:35:03.37\00:35:06.90
and made it my own yet
00:35:06.94\00:35:08.60
but one thing I
do my one aspiration,
00:35:08.64\00:35:12.34
forgetting what lies
behind in straining forward
00:35:12.37\00:35:15.54
to what lies ahead."
00:35:15.58\00:35:17.01
I press on toward the goal,
00:35:17.05\00:35:19.45
to win the prize to
which God in Christ Jesus
00:35:19.48\00:35:23.18
is calling us upward.
00:35:23.22\00:35:24.59
Amen.
00:35:24.62\00:35:25.95
Thank you so much,
Shelley, each one of you.
00:35:25.99\00:35:27.62
I love that work and excellence.
00:35:27.66\00:35:30.29
Work is a gift. Yes, it is.
00:35:30.33\00:35:32.23
Given by God
Himself to Adam and Eve
00:35:32.26\00:35:34.76
in the Garden before sin.
00:35:34.80\00:35:36.63
Pastor John, as
you talked about,
00:35:36.67\00:35:38.00
I love that.
00:35:38.03\00:35:39.37
Wednesday, we have
"Work and Spirituality,"
00:35:39.40\00:35:42.74
bringing spirituality
into everything you do.
00:35:42.77\00:35:47.88
There's this concept
00:35:47.91\00:35:49.48
of compartmentalization
and integration.
00:35:49.51\00:35:53.05
We won't even get into that.
00:35:53.08\00:35:55.28
The only thing I
want to reference that
00:35:55.32\00:35:57.62
is that some
people compartmentalize
00:35:57.65\00:35:59.85
their spiritual life.
00:35:59.89\00:36:01.22
In other words, they say,
00:36:01.26\00:36:02.59
I'm a Christian on
Sabbath when I go to church,
00:36:02.62\00:36:04.79
or maybe you go
to church on Sunday,
00:36:04.83\00:36:06.46
whatever day you go to church,
00:36:06.49\00:36:07.83
I'm a Christian
when I go to church,
00:36:07.86\00:36:09.26
the rest of the
week, I'm not a Christian,
00:36:09.30\00:36:12.77
or I don't bring spirituality
00:36:12.80\00:36:16.07
and religion into my life.
00:36:16.10\00:36:20.38
However, God calls us
to be 24/7 Christians.
00:36:20.41\00:36:25.91
Christianity,
00:36:25.95\00:36:27.28
Jesus should pervade
every aspect of our lives.
00:36:27.32\00:36:32.09
Following Jesus is
not something I put on
00:36:32.12\00:36:34.32
when certain people are around.
00:36:34.36\00:36:36.06
It's not something I
wear at certain times,
00:36:36.09\00:36:37.96
and then take off.
00:36:37.99\00:36:39.63
It's not something
I only do at church
00:36:39.66\00:36:41.60
or with certain people.
00:36:41.63\00:36:44.63
Following Jesus should
impact how I speak, how I think,
00:36:44.67\00:36:49.70
who I am, and how I work.
00:36:49.74\00:36:53.01
That's what we look at
here on Wednesday's lesson
00:36:53.04\00:36:55.58
is integrating spirituality
into everything we do.
00:36:55.61\00:37:00.92
Paul tells us 1
Corinthians 10:31.
00:37:00.95\00:37:03.69
"Therefore,
whether you eat or drink,
00:37:03.72\00:37:05.49
or whatever you do,
00:37:05.52\00:37:06.86
do all to the glory of God."
00:37:06.89\00:37:10.26
Everything we do should be done
00:37:10.29\00:37:12.76
for the glory of God.
00:37:12.79\00:37:14.53
So how do you
manifest spirituality
00:37:14.56\00:37:16.93
in the day-to-day
tasks of everyday life?
00:37:16.97\00:37:19.43
That's just a
practical question.
00:37:19.47\00:37:20.84
How are you even
supposed to do that?
00:37:20.87\00:37:22.80
The lesson talks about
the fruit of the Spirit
00:37:22.84\00:37:25.77
and we're going there.
00:37:25.81\00:37:27.28
I'm calling it four steps
00:37:27.31\00:37:30.28
to bring
spirituality into my life,
00:37:30.31\00:37:33.01
into all of my life, not
just when I go to church,
00:37:33.05\00:37:36.12
Sabbath morning.
00:37:36.15\00:37:38.15
Step number one
is to abide in Him.
00:37:38.19\00:37:41.82
This is the
condition for fruitfulness
00:37:41.86\00:37:43.93
is that we abide in Him.
00:37:43.96\00:37:46.39
John 15, before
we go to Galatians,
00:37:46.43\00:37:48.60
we're going to John 15.
00:37:48.63\00:37:50.17
John 15:1 says,
"I am the true vine
00:37:50.20\00:37:53.13
and My father is
the vinedresser."
00:37:53.17\00:37:55.94
Jump down to verse 4,
"Abide in me and I in you,
00:37:55.97\00:37:59.81
as the branch
cannot bear fruit of itself
00:37:59.84\00:38:02.34
unless it abides in the vine,
00:38:02.38\00:38:04.08
neither can you
unless you abide in Me.
00:38:04.11\00:38:07.82
I am the vine,
you are the branches.
00:38:07.85\00:38:09.92
He who abides in Me and
I in him bears much fruit,
00:38:09.95\00:38:12.75
for without Me you
can do" just a few things.
00:38:12.79\00:38:16.42
"No, nothing."
00:38:16.46\00:38:18.23
Without Jesus we can do nothing.
00:38:18.26\00:38:19.89
So He, we are the branches
00:38:19.93\00:38:22.26
and we receive
life giving power,
00:38:22.30\00:38:25.83
to be fruitful,
00:38:25.87\00:38:27.44
to walk in Him to
bring that spirituality
00:38:27.47\00:38:30.57
into our life
00:38:30.61\00:38:31.94
that comes from
the Lord Jesus Christ.
00:38:31.97\00:38:34.74
Number two,
choose whom you serve.
00:38:34.78\00:38:39.21
Now we're going to Galatians.
00:38:39.25\00:38:41.15
Galatians 5:17.
00:38:41.18\00:38:45.75
This talks about the war
00:38:45.79\00:38:47.82
between the
flesh and the spirit.
00:38:47.86\00:38:50.33
"For the flesh
lusts against the spirit
00:38:50.36\00:38:52.96
and the spirit
against the flesh.
00:38:52.99\00:38:54.66
And these are
contrary to one another,
00:38:54.70\00:38:57.57
so that you do not do
the things that you wish."
00:38:57.60\00:39:02.40
It's interesting the contrast
00:39:02.44\00:39:04.41
between the
flesh and the spirit,
00:39:04.44\00:39:05.84
between self-centered living,
00:39:05.87\00:39:08.38
or I call it
flesh filled living,
00:39:08.41\00:39:11.45
and I've been there
and done that many times.
00:39:11.48\00:39:14.38
On the other side, we
have Christ centered living,
00:39:14.42\00:39:18.45
or spirit filled living.
00:39:18.49\00:39:22.16
Self-centered is
controlled by passion.
00:39:22.19\00:39:24.99
Christ centered is
controlled by the Holy Spirit.
00:39:25.03\00:39:27.90
Self-centered is a slave to sin.
00:39:27.93\00:39:31.30
Christ centered
dies to self and sin.
00:39:31.33\00:39:34.70
Self-centered
shows the fruit of sin.
00:39:34.74\00:39:38.34
Christ centered shows
the fruit of the Spirit.
00:39:38.37\00:39:40.94
Self centered walks in lust,
Christ centered walks in love,
00:39:40.98\00:39:46.11
that self-sacrificing love.
00:39:46.15\00:39:48.68
Self centered is an idolater.
00:39:48.72\00:39:50.62
They live for themselves.
00:39:50.65\00:39:52.32
Christ centered
lives for other people.
00:39:52.35\00:39:55.59
So we need to make a choice,
00:39:55.62\00:39:56.99
"Who are we going to
serve, the flesh or the spirit?
00:39:57.03\00:40:00.06
Romans 6:16 says,
00:40:00.10\00:40:02.10
"Do you not know
00:40:02.13\00:40:03.47
that to whom you
present yourself slaves to obey,
00:40:03.50\00:40:06.13
you are that one
slaves whom you obey,
00:40:06.17\00:40:08.84
whether of sin leading to death
00:40:08.87\00:40:10.84
or of obedience
leading to righteousness."
00:40:10.87\00:40:14.01
So every morning when we get up,
00:40:14.04\00:40:15.98
we want to
connect again to the vine,
00:40:16.01\00:40:18.45
that's the Lord
Jesus Christ and say,
00:40:18.48\00:40:20.52
"God, I give You my life,
00:40:20.55\00:40:22.48
I choose to follow You today."
00:40:22.52\00:40:25.55
Because if we don't do that,
00:40:25.59\00:40:27.26
and don't submit
throughout the day,
00:40:27.29\00:40:30.13
turning back to Jesus and
asking Him into our hearts,
00:40:30.16\00:40:33.06
choosing Him, when
we face those decisions,
00:40:33.09\00:40:35.36
or when the
flesh tends to rise up,
00:40:35.40\00:40:38.00
turn back to Him.
00:40:38.03\00:40:39.73
If we don't do that,
we're going, leading to sin,
00:40:39.77\00:40:43.10
and that leads to death.
00:40:43.14\00:40:44.47
We want that path of obedience
leading to righteousness,
00:40:44.51\00:40:47.54
and that comes about as
a result of whom we serve.
00:40:47.58\00:40:52.01
Number three,
walk in the Spirit.
00:40:52.05\00:40:54.68
Now we get the
fruit of the Spirit.
00:40:54.72\00:40:56.12
Galatians 5:16, I say,
"Then walk in the Spirit,
00:40:56.15\00:40:59.29
and you shall not
fulfill the lust of the flesh."
00:40:59.32\00:41:03.93
Now let's read the
fruit of the Spirit.
00:41:03.96\00:41:05.33
Those nine
fruit, verse 22 and 23.
00:41:05.36\00:41:09.26
"But the fruit of the Spirit
00:41:09.30\00:41:10.63
is love, joy, peace,
longsuffering, kindness,
00:41:10.67\00:41:13.70
goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness, self-control.
00:41:13.74\00:41:17.54
Against such there is no law."
00:41:17.57\00:41:21.64
I always coupled
the fruit of the Spirit
00:41:21.68\00:41:23.14
in three sections,
you have the first three,
00:41:23.18\00:41:25.31
love, joy and peace toward God.
00:41:25.35\00:41:28.62
You have the second three,
patience, kindness and goodness
00:41:28.65\00:41:31.35
that's fruit exhibited
00:41:31.39\00:41:32.72
toward your
brothers and sisters.
00:41:32.75\00:41:34.19
Then you have the final three,
00:41:34.22\00:41:35.69
faithfulness,
gentleness and self-control.
00:41:35.72\00:41:38.36
I would think of it
as fruit turned inward,
00:41:38.39\00:41:40.80
meaning it's how
I deal with myself.
00:41:40.83\00:41:43.87
The first three,
love, joy and peace.
00:41:43.90\00:41:45.30
What is that love?
00:41:45.33\00:41:46.67
That love is agape
love, self-sacrificing love.
00:41:46.70\00:41:51.14
Of course, we
don't have that love.
00:41:51.17\00:41:52.51
We ask God for His love.
00:41:52.54\00:41:55.24
We accept it by faith,
00:41:55.28\00:41:57.25
knowing that He
can give it to us.
00:41:57.28\00:41:59.61
And we actively reach out
in loving ways to other people.
00:41:59.65\00:42:03.49
What about the
second fruit, the joy?
00:42:03.52\00:42:06.76
Happiness is earthly
00:42:06.79\00:42:08.86
because happiness is
dependent on circumstances.
00:42:08.89\00:42:12.66
But joy, true joy
that comes from the Lord
00:42:12.69\00:42:15.53
is not dependent on
what goes on around you.
00:42:15.56\00:42:19.30
Psalm 16:11,
00:42:19.33\00:42:20.67
"You will show
me the path of life,
00:42:20.70\00:42:22.30
in your presence
is fullness of joy,
00:42:22.34\00:42:26.14
at your right hand are
pleasures forevermore."
00:42:26.17\00:42:28.84
What does that mean?
00:42:28.88\00:42:30.21
When we are in His
presence, we walk in joy.
00:42:30.25\00:42:33.85
Third fruit, peace.
00:42:33.88\00:42:35.55
Peace comes from
being justified with God.
00:42:35.58\00:42:38.09
That's Romans 5:1.
00:42:38.12\00:42:39.55
Peace comes from
Jesus in our hearts.
00:42:39.59\00:42:42.09
That's Romans 15:13.
00:42:42.12\00:42:44.19
Peace comes
from keeping my mind,
00:42:44.23\00:42:46.39
my thoughts stayed upon Him.
00:42:46.43\00:42:49.26
That's Isaiah 26:3.
00:42:49.30\00:42:52.03
What about the next three fruit,
00:42:52.07\00:42:53.74
turn toward
others, we have patience.
00:42:53.77\00:42:56.84
Ooh, accepting
God's will and timing,
00:42:56.87\00:43:00.08
endurance,
contentment, flexibility.
00:43:00.11\00:43:04.48
We have kindness.
00:43:04.51\00:43:05.85
I always think of
kindness, Pastor Ryan,
00:43:05.88\00:43:07.38
as being about my attitude,
00:43:07.42\00:43:09.55
and then we have goodness
00:43:09.58\00:43:10.92
and I always think of goodness
as being about my actions.
00:43:10.95\00:43:13.92
So kindness is my attitude.
00:43:13.96\00:43:16.16
Goodness, my actions.
00:43:16.19\00:43:17.63
We have the last
three, faithfulness,
00:43:17.66\00:43:19.83
the character of one
who can be relied on.
00:43:19.86\00:43:22.93
Gentleness or humility.
00:43:22.96\00:43:25.83
Meekness is not weakness.
00:43:25.87\00:43:28.34
Gentleness is not without power.
00:43:28.37\00:43:30.57
It just chooses
to defer to others.
00:43:30.61\00:43:33.84
It forgives others,
00:43:33.88\00:43:35.21
corrects with kindness
and lives in tranquility.
00:43:35.24\00:43:38.45
And the final
fruit, self-control.
00:43:38.48\00:43:41.88
True self-control is
not about bringing myself
00:43:41.92\00:43:45.72
under my own control,
00:43:45.75\00:43:47.09
but about being
under the power of Christ.
00:43:47.12\00:43:49.39
So I always renamed that
fruit instead of self-control,
00:43:49.42\00:43:52.39
I call it Christ control,
00:43:52.43\00:43:54.03
meaning I submit to Him
00:43:54.06\00:43:56.80
and He's the one who
does that work in me.
00:43:56.83\00:43:59.73
The fourth step and final
step is to crucify the flesh,
00:43:59.77\00:44:03.30
we're to walk in
the fruit of the Spirit,
00:44:03.34\00:44:05.54
but we are called
to crucify the flesh.
00:44:05.57\00:44:09.18
Galatians 5:24.
00:44:09.21\00:44:11.41
"And those who are of Christ
00:44:11.45\00:44:13.35
have crucified the flesh
with its passions and lust.
00:44:13.38\00:44:16.99
When we crucified the flesh,
00:44:17.02\00:44:18.45
that power is destroyed utterly.
00:44:18.49\00:44:21.96
Then what follows a list
of the works of the flesh.
00:44:21.99\00:44:27.03
We won't read them all
00:44:27.06\00:44:28.40
and it is not an exhaustive list
00:44:28.43\00:44:29.80
because there's a lot
of works of the flesh,
00:44:29.83\00:44:31.30
but it's an illustrative list.
00:44:31.33\00:44:33.03
The first four
00:44:33.07\00:44:34.40
deal with
sensuality and immorality.
00:44:34.44\00:44:37.37
That's in verse 19,
the works of the flesh,
00:44:37.41\00:44:39.47
adultery,
fornication, uncleanness,
00:44:39.51\00:44:41.64
which is impurity,
00:44:41.68\00:44:43.45
lewdness, which
is unbridled lust.
00:44:43.48\00:44:46.21
Then we have next idolatry.
00:44:46.25\00:44:48.65
We have sorcery or witchcraft,
00:44:48.68\00:44:50.92
and then the next
nine are all selfishness,
00:44:50.95\00:44:53.39
hatred, contention,
jealousies, outbursts of wrath,
00:44:53.42\00:44:56.66
envy, murders,
dissensions, heresies.
00:44:56.69\00:44:59.36
The last two deal
with intemperance,
00:44:59.39\00:45:01.30
drunkenness and revelries.
00:45:01.33\00:45:03.83
The point of all of
this, I don't know about you,
00:45:03.87\00:45:06.94
but I have walked
00:45:06.97\00:45:08.30
in some of those
works of the flesh,
00:45:08.34\00:45:09.67
but God by the
power of His Spirit says,
00:45:09.70\00:45:11.41
I can change you.
00:45:11.44\00:45:12.77
Connect to Me as the vine,
00:45:12.81\00:45:15.38
choose every moment of
every day to follow Me,
00:45:15.41\00:45:18.65
and I will work in you
the fruit of the Spirit.
00:45:18.68\00:45:22.78
Praise the Lord.
00:45:22.82\00:45:24.15
Thank you all so much,
that was such a blessing.
00:45:24.19\00:45:27.06
I have Thursday's lesson
00:45:27.09\00:45:28.42
entitled "Work and Stewardship."
00:45:28.46\00:45:31.19
And, you know, I'm
going to focus a little...
00:45:31.23\00:45:33.29
I'm gonna take a little
bit of a more of an emphasis
00:45:33.33\00:45:36.43
on the stewardship area.
00:45:36.46\00:45:37.80
But I'm going to
fold it into the work
00:45:37.83\00:45:39.17
because you guys have just
been work, work, work, work
00:45:39.20\00:45:40.84
up to this point,
00:45:40.87\00:45:42.20
which is the
purpose of this lesson.
00:45:42.24\00:45:44.71
But I'm going to
emphasize a little bit more
00:45:44.74\00:45:46.47
towards the stewardship
00:45:46.51\00:45:47.84
because stewardship
is a work in ministry,
00:45:47.88\00:45:51.35
it's a work in our
relationship with the Lord.
00:45:51.38\00:45:53.72
And so, I just want
to highlight or identify
00:45:53.75\00:45:55.85
what it is that stewardship is,
00:45:55.88\00:45:57.42
and this is a
very simple definition.
00:45:57.45\00:46:00.06
But steward is a person
00:46:00.09\00:46:01.52
entrusted with the management
of another person's property.
00:46:01.56\00:46:05.53
In this case,
all belongs to God.
00:46:05.56\00:46:08.76
Everything belongs to God.
00:46:08.80\00:46:10.20
In fact, there's only one thing
that we own in this lifetime,
00:46:10.23\00:46:13.27
and that's our sin.
00:46:13.30\00:46:14.64
And Jesus wants that too.
00:46:14.67\00:46:16.47
Jesus died for that
00:46:16.50\00:46:17.84
and He wants us to
turn that over to Him too.
00:46:17.87\00:46:19.71
But He allows us to
own that if we want it.
00:46:19.74\00:46:22.24
And I had a friend
who said something to me
00:46:22.28\00:46:23.68
one time very
simple, but very profound.
00:46:23.71\00:46:25.61
He said, "Why in the
world would you want to die
00:46:25.65\00:46:27.55
for your sins
00:46:27.58\00:46:28.92
when Jesus has
already died for them, right?"
00:46:28.95\00:46:31.02
Jesus owns everything.
00:46:31.05\00:46:32.45
And we are just
here, we are stewards,
00:46:32.49\00:46:33.96
we are managers of His property.
00:46:33.99\00:46:36.96
And you know, it kind
of, I really related to this,
00:46:36.99\00:46:38.93
because, you know, I'm
still relatively young man.
00:46:38.96\00:46:43.77
But I've been in ministry
now praise God for a few years,
00:46:43.80\00:46:46.43
but before I was in ministry,
00:46:46.47\00:46:47.97
I had the wonderful privilege
of being in the workforce
00:46:48.00\00:46:51.27
and in the work field
in a non-ministry setting.
00:46:51.31\00:46:54.38
And much of that was management,
00:46:54.41\00:46:56.24
I was in management.
00:46:56.28\00:46:57.61
And when you're in management,
you have a big responsibility.
00:46:57.65\00:47:00.92
It's a very,
very important work.
00:47:00.95\00:47:03.22
And essentially,
00:47:03.25\00:47:04.59
what you're doing
is you're managing
00:47:04.62\00:47:05.95
and you're a steward,
00:47:05.99\00:47:07.32
when you're a
manager of anything,
00:47:07.36\00:47:08.69
no matter what
type of workforce or job
00:47:08.72\00:47:11.56
or whatever you're involved in,
00:47:11.59\00:47:13.46
you are a steward,
00:47:13.50\00:47:14.83
you are managing
another person's property
00:47:14.86\00:47:17.17
or managing
another person's business
00:47:17.20\00:47:19.73
or affairs.
00:47:19.77\00:47:21.10
And so in this case,
God has entrusted us,
00:47:21.14\00:47:24.74
He's given us a special
work, and He's calling us,
00:47:24.77\00:47:27.28
He's saying, "Hey, this is mine.
00:47:27.31\00:47:28.84
I want to freely give it to you.
00:47:28.88\00:47:30.21
But can I count you faithful?
00:47:30.25\00:47:32.78
Can I trust you?"
00:47:32.81\00:47:34.58
When thinking of
stewardship though,
00:47:34.62\00:47:36.22
many people
automatically go to tithing,
00:47:36.25\00:47:39.25
right?
00:47:39.29\00:47:40.62
Because you
think of money, right?
00:47:40.66\00:47:41.99
Then while tithing
00:47:42.02\00:47:43.36
is a very important
aspect of stewardship,
00:47:43.39\00:47:45.09
there is much more
to being a good steward
00:47:45.13\00:47:47.43
than just the
money side of things.
00:47:47.46\00:47:48.86
And that's what we're
gonna kind of go in right now.
00:47:48.90\00:47:50.93
God has given us
all special gifts.
00:47:50.97\00:47:53.57
And we must
accept and trust in Him
00:47:53.60\00:47:57.11
as the Lord of our lives
with these special gifts.
00:47:57.14\00:47:59.97
And Peter kind of
gives us some insight
00:48:00.01\00:48:01.61
as to how God views us.
00:48:01.64\00:48:03.88
We're not just people,
00:48:03.91\00:48:05.98
we're not just
these little tiny ants
00:48:06.01\00:48:07.55
running around,
00:48:07.58\00:48:08.92
you know, in some
big giant God up there.
00:48:08.95\00:48:10.75
God is a personal God.
00:48:10.79\00:48:12.12
And in this case, He views us
00:48:12.15\00:48:13.92
as a very, very
special people to His heart.
00:48:13.96\00:48:16.69
In fact, notice 1 Peter.
00:48:16.73\00:48:18.06
I want to go to
1 Peter Chapter 2,
00:48:18.09\00:48:19.43
just read a couple of texts here
00:48:19.46\00:48:20.80
just to kind of set
the foundation here.
00:48:20.83\00:48:22.43
1 Peter Chapter 2,
00:48:22.46\00:48:23.80
I'm going to start
reading in verse 5.
00:48:23.83\00:48:25.17
And he says here very clearly,
"You also as living stones,
00:48:25.20\00:48:29.24
are being built
up a spiritual house,
00:48:29.27\00:48:33.21
a holy priesthood.
00:48:33.24\00:48:35.31
How does He see us?
00:48:35.34\00:48:37.21
He sees us as a holy
priesthood to offer up,
00:48:37.25\00:48:40.58
notice this,
spiritual sacrifices,
00:48:40.62\00:48:43.45
acceptable to God
through Jesus Christ.
00:48:43.49\00:48:46.19
Now jump down to verse 9.
00:48:46.22\00:48:47.56
This is that famous one
that that I love this verse,
00:48:47.59\00:48:50.03
it's one of my favorite verses.
00:48:50.06\00:48:51.43
He says, "But you,
this is personal, all of us.
00:48:51.46\00:48:54.00
You are a chosen
generation, a royal priesthood,
00:48:54.03\00:48:58.13
a holy nation, His
own special people,
00:48:58.17\00:49:01.20
that you may
proclaim the praises of Him,
00:49:01.24\00:49:03.87
Who called you out of darkness
into His marvelous light.
00:49:03.91\00:49:07.44
God is so good to us.
00:49:07.48\00:49:08.91
And He takes all that He
has, He says, it's all mine,
00:49:08.94\00:49:11.31
all that cattle out there.
00:49:11.35\00:49:12.68
I own all the
cattle on a thousand hills,
00:49:12.71\00:49:14.05
it's all mine.
00:49:14.08\00:49:15.42
But you know what? I'm
going to give it to you.
00:49:15.45\00:49:16.79
I'm going to make you
a manager over my stuff.
00:49:16.82\00:49:18.75
And what's mine is yours.
00:49:18.79\00:49:21.16
The truth is, the question is,
00:49:21.19\00:49:22.99
can we be faithful as stewards
00:49:23.02\00:49:25.09
in the work that
God has given us?
00:49:25.13\00:49:27.00
Stewardship and work is
a multi-dimensional aspect
00:49:27.03\00:49:30.40
of the Christian life
00:49:30.43\00:49:31.77
that includes us
putting to proper use
00:49:31.80\00:49:34.30
what God has
entrusted us to manage.
00:49:34.34\00:49:37.11
And so I wanna kind of
look at just many different ways
00:49:37.14\00:49:38.97
that we can be a good steward.
00:49:39.01\00:49:40.81
First of all the
time that God gives us.
00:49:40.84\00:49:43.41
It's not our time.
00:49:43.45\00:49:45.11
We're on borrowed
time. We're on God's time.
00:49:45.15\00:49:47.52
We are stewards of the
time that God has given us.
00:49:47.55\00:49:50.05
I love Psalm 90:12.
00:49:50.09\00:49:52.89
The Bible says so
teach us to number our days,
00:49:52.92\00:49:56.06
that we may gain
a heart of wisdom.
00:49:56.09\00:49:59.23
Another one, Ecclesiastes 7:17.
00:49:59.26\00:50:01.83
You know what, many of
us were kind of misusing
00:50:01.86\00:50:04.50
and abusing the time
that God has given us.
00:50:04.53\00:50:06.57
And we have a special
counsel here from the wisest man
00:50:06.60\00:50:09.20
to ever live other than Jesus.
00:50:09.24\00:50:10.64
He says here,
00:50:10.67\00:50:12.01
"Do not be overly
wicked nor be foolish
00:50:12.04\00:50:13.94
for why should you
die before your time."
00:50:13.98\00:50:17.78
We also have James 4:14,
00:50:17.81\00:50:19.85
which is another special text
00:50:19.88\00:50:21.45
that highlights the
importance of the time
00:50:21.48\00:50:23.39
that we have here that
God has entrusted to us
00:50:23.42\00:50:25.62
as His faithful servants.
00:50:25.65\00:50:27.09
It says in verse 14,
00:50:27.12\00:50:28.46
"Whereas you do not know
what will happen tomorrow,
00:50:28.49\00:50:31.19
for what is your life,
00:50:31.23\00:50:32.63
it is even a vapor
that appears for a time
00:50:32.66\00:50:34.90
and then vanishes away.
00:50:34.93\00:50:37.30
So we are the
stewards of the time
00:50:37.33\00:50:39.20
that God has given us,
00:50:39.23\00:50:40.57
we're also
stewards of the talents
00:50:40.60\00:50:42.30
that God has given us.
00:50:42.34\00:50:43.67
And that, you know,
every time I say this,
00:50:43.71\00:50:45.04
when I would
preach this on the road,
00:50:45.07\00:50:46.41
I had people come up to
me say, you know, you know,
00:50:46.44\00:50:48.21
you've got all these talents,
I don't have any talent.
00:50:48.24\00:50:51.21
No, everyone's got talents.
00:50:51.25\00:50:52.81
Everyone has a special gift,
00:50:52.85\00:50:54.55
an ability that
God has given just you
00:50:54.58\00:50:57.32
for you to use for His glory.
00:50:57.35\00:50:59.09
And I love Exodus Chapter
35, we were talking about,
00:50:59.12\00:51:01.49
I love Shelley, how
you brought up the temple,
00:51:01.52\00:51:03.12
the building of the
sanctuary, and how God said,
00:51:03.16\00:51:04.96
"Let them make me a sanctuary,
00:51:04.99\00:51:06.70
that I may dwell among them.
00:51:06.73\00:51:08.06
"Even God made,
God made His people,
00:51:08.10\00:51:10.37
these, these, these people,
00:51:10.40\00:51:12.77
controlling managers
over building His own house.
00:51:12.80\00:51:16.27
And so I love this
text here, Exodus 35,
00:51:16.30\00:51:18.44
in reference to of
the building of His house,
00:51:18.47\00:51:20.81
he said all,
this is Exodus 35:10,
00:51:20.84\00:51:23.65
"All who are gifted artisans,
00:51:23.68\00:51:25.91
among you shall come and make
00:51:25.95\00:51:27.38
all that the
Lord has commanded."
00:51:27.42\00:51:29.42
He bestowed that
special responsibility
00:51:29.45\00:51:32.32
upon those to build His house,
00:51:32.35\00:51:33.79
He made them a
steward over His house,
00:51:33.82\00:51:35.62
that's awesome.
00:51:35.66\00:51:36.99
And they were to
exercise the talents
00:51:37.03\00:51:38.99
and the gifts that
He gave them to do so.
00:51:39.03\00:51:41.36
1 Peter 4:10-11.
00:51:41.40\00:51:43.30
This is another
one where we're going,
00:51:43.33\00:51:44.70
we're going rapid fire here.
00:51:44.73\00:51:46.07
So here we go.
00:51:46.10\00:51:47.44
It says, "As each
one has received a gift,
00:51:47.47\00:51:50.37
minister it to one another,
00:51:50.41\00:51:52.11
as good stewards of
the manifold grace of God.
00:51:52.14\00:51:56.11
If anyone speaks,
00:51:56.14\00:51:57.48
let him speak as
the oracles of God.
00:51:57.51\00:52:00.32
If anyone
ministers let him do it,
00:52:00.35\00:52:02.88
as with the
ability, which God supplies."
00:52:02.92\00:52:05.29
And notice how the
emphasis is on God.
00:52:05.32\00:52:06.92
God gives it, God supplies
it, it's coming by God's grace,
00:52:06.96\00:52:10.53
that in all things, I love this,
00:52:10.56\00:52:11.99
God may be
glorified through Jesus Christ
00:52:12.03\00:52:14.93
to whom belong the glory
00:52:14.96\00:52:16.97
and the dominion
forever and ever.
00:52:17.00\00:52:18.40
Amen. So the emphasis is on God.
00:52:18.43\00:52:20.24
Why does God
give us these gifts?
00:52:20.27\00:52:21.80
So that we can
bring glory to Him.
00:52:21.84\00:52:23.94
And many of us
have all these talents,
00:52:23.97\00:52:25.74
we have these special gifts,
00:52:25.77\00:52:27.11
and some of us are out
there wasting it on the world,
00:52:27.14\00:52:29.51
wasting it on the devil.
00:52:29.54\00:52:30.88
My friends, if you're at home,
00:52:30.91\00:52:32.25
and God has given
you a special gift,
00:52:32.28\00:52:33.62
and you're watching
this program right now,
00:52:33.65\00:52:34.98
use it for Jesus, use
it for the glory of God,
00:52:35.02\00:52:37.25
because that's
why He gave it to you.
00:52:37.29\00:52:38.62
He gave it
00:52:38.65\00:52:39.99
so that He might
receive the glory.
00:52:40.02\00:52:41.59
We are stewards over
all of God's property,
00:52:41.62\00:52:44.36
get this even
including ourselves, our bodies.
00:52:44.39\00:52:48.83
1 Corinthians 6:19-20,
00:52:48.86\00:52:51.27
"Or do you not know
00:52:51.30\00:52:52.63
that your body is the
temple of the Holy Spirit
00:52:52.67\00:52:54.34
who is in you
whom you have from God,
00:52:54.37\00:52:56.71
and you are not your own,
for you were bought at a price.
00:52:56.74\00:53:00.94
Therefore
glorify God in your body
00:53:00.98\00:53:02.91
and in your
spirits, which are God."
00:53:02.94\00:53:05.38
So God gives us
this body, He says,
00:53:05.41\00:53:06.95
"Look, I created
you for My glory.
00:53:06.98\00:53:08.55
I've purchased it
with My blood on a cross."
00:53:08.58\00:53:11.15
And what we put into it,
00:53:11.19\00:53:12.79
what we put on it
00:53:12.82\00:53:14.19
inside and out
matters, my friends.
00:53:14.22\00:53:16.79
You know, I see people, I
know we live in a generation
00:53:16.83\00:53:18.76
where some people
don't know better,
00:53:18.79\00:53:20.23
but you have others out there
00:53:20.26\00:53:21.60
that are just very
careless with God's property.
00:53:21.63\00:53:23.83
And they just put
anything and everything on it.
00:53:23.87\00:53:26.37
You know, markings and tattoos
and etchings and, my friends,
00:53:26.40\00:53:29.34
you are damaging God's property.
00:53:29.37\00:53:31.57
Pray that the Lord will
give you victory over that
00:53:31.61\00:53:33.51
and to open your eyes to see
00:53:33.54\00:53:35.21
that we are all
servants of the Lord.
00:53:35.24\00:53:36.91
And this is His property.
00:53:36.95\00:53:38.28
Here's an important one.
00:53:38.31\00:53:39.65
We are stewards of
the people in the family
00:53:39.68\00:53:42.82
that God blesses us with.
00:53:42.85\00:53:45.42
1 Timothy 5:8,
00:53:45.45\00:53:47.26
"But if anyone does
not provide for his own,
00:53:47.29\00:53:50.19
and especially for
those of his household,
00:53:50.23\00:53:52.69
he has denied the faith
00:53:52.73\00:53:54.06
and is worse
than an unbeliever."
00:53:54.10\00:53:55.80
That's strong.
00:53:55.83\00:53:57.17
God blesses men and
women and people with family,
00:53:57.20\00:54:00.34
with the people
00:54:00.37\00:54:01.70
that He has
blessed you with Him.
00:54:01.74\00:54:03.07
It is, we are stewards, we
are managers of that family.
00:54:03.10\00:54:05.27
That's why it's important.
00:54:05.31\00:54:06.64
I'm just giving
this as an example,
00:54:06.68\00:54:08.01
for a father to lead
his home in the Lord,
00:54:08.04\00:54:10.98
to lead his family in the Lord
and to provide for their needs.
00:54:11.01\00:54:15.75
This next one I
want to bring out God,
00:54:15.78\00:54:17.52
and of course, this is
the one you knew was coming.
00:54:17.55\00:54:19.35
We are stewards of
God's money, God's resources.
00:54:19.39\00:54:23.06
And again, this
list that I'm giving is,
00:54:23.09\00:54:24.63
it's, I recognize it could
be much more complex than this.
00:54:24.66\00:54:27.36
But for the time giving,
00:54:27.40\00:54:28.73
we'll just bring
this out and emphasize it.
00:54:28.76\00:54:31.53
Malachi 3:10, this is
the one that comes to mind
00:54:31.57\00:54:34.17
anytime you're
thinking of returning to God.
00:54:34.20\00:54:36.77
I don't really like
saying paying tithes,
00:54:36.81\00:54:38.37
I don't pay tithe.
00:54:38.41\00:54:39.74
You don't pay tithe.
00:54:39.77\00:54:41.11
You know, you're
not paying God anything.
00:54:41.14\00:54:42.54
You're returning to
God what's already His.
00:54:42.58\00:54:44.88
Malachi 3:10.
00:54:44.91\00:54:46.25
"Bring all the
tithes into the storehouse,
00:54:46.28\00:54:48.05
that there may be
food in my house."
00:54:48.08\00:54:49.78
And he says, test
me on this, try me,
00:54:49.82\00:54:51.69
says the Lord,
00:54:51.72\00:54:53.05
"If I will not open
the windows of heaven
00:54:53.09\00:54:54.56
and pour out such a blessing
00:54:54.59\00:54:55.92
that there will not be
room enough to receive it."
00:54:55.96\00:54:58.66
That's why I love
the story in Luke 21:1-4
00:54:58.69\00:55:01.83
of the little widow.
00:55:01.86\00:55:03.80
Jesus is
observing all these people
00:55:03.83\00:55:05.37
bringing the
tithe into the treasury.
00:55:05.40\00:55:07.80
And He sees all these
people putting their money in,
00:55:07.84\00:55:09.70
you know, the rich
people and the wealthy people.
00:55:09.74\00:55:11.47
And here comes this little widow
00:55:11.51\00:55:12.84
with her two mites.
00:55:12.87\00:55:14.21
That's all she had.
And she put it in there.
00:55:14.24\00:55:15.58
And there's a
powerful lesson to learn here.
00:55:15.61\00:55:16.95
I just want to say
this in the closing moment.
00:55:16.98\00:55:18.31
There's someone out
there that's going to say,
00:55:18.35\00:55:19.68
Well, I don't return tithe
00:55:19.71\00:55:21.05
because I don't trust
the wicked people who,
00:55:21.08\00:55:22.85
you know, manage
this or whatever,
00:55:22.88\00:55:24.22
I don't pay to the conference.
00:55:24.25\00:55:25.59
I don't do this.
00:55:25.62\00:55:26.96
At the end of
the day, my friends,
00:55:26.99\00:55:28.32
we have to be reminded
00:55:28.36\00:55:29.69
that, you know,
Jesus could have stopped
00:55:29.72\00:55:31.06
that little widow and said,
00:55:31.09\00:55:32.43
"Hey, don't give your money
to these foolish Pharisees.
00:55:32.46\00:55:34.13
They're all wicked.
00:55:34.16\00:55:35.50
They're going to
crucify me in three years.
00:55:35.53\00:55:36.87
They're going to do all this
00:55:36.90\00:55:38.23
and are going
to do all of that."
00:55:38.27\00:55:39.60
But because it
was a responsibility,
00:55:39.63\00:55:40.97
not just for Him,
but for her and everyone
00:55:41.00\00:55:42.60
to return what is God's.
00:55:42.64\00:55:44.47
We are stewards
of God's property.
00:55:44.51\00:55:46.57
He has given us the
ability to manage it.
00:55:46.61\00:55:48.84
Let's be faithful in all things
and work and be a good steward.
00:55:48.88\00:55:52.15
Amen. Okay.
00:55:52.18\00:55:53.65
Pastor Dinzey,
Give me an overview
00:55:53.68\00:55:56.52
of what you covered?
00:55:56.55\00:55:58.42
Well, the blessing of work,
00:55:58.45\00:56:01.12
work is a blessing
that God has given us,
00:56:01.16\00:56:02.82
but whatever your
work is in this life,
00:56:02.86\00:56:05.96
take Jesus with you, and
let Him shine through you.
00:56:05.99\00:56:09.23
Amen and amen.
00:56:09.26\00:56:10.60
My day was Work and Excellence.
00:56:10.63\00:56:13.17
Just remember that
God calls us and equips us
00:56:13.20\00:56:17.94
for moral excellence,
relational excellence,
00:56:17.97\00:56:21.71
and vocational excellence.
00:56:21.74\00:56:23.85
And you can pursue that by
praying for the Holy Spirit,
00:56:23.88\00:56:27.62
purifying your thoughts,
00:56:27.65\00:56:29.45
putting into
practice what you learn
00:56:29.48\00:56:31.65
and pressing onward.
00:56:31.69\00:56:33.19
Amen.
00:56:33.22\00:56:34.56
Wednesday Work and Spirituality.
00:56:34.59\00:56:36.16
John 15:16, "You
did not choose me,
00:56:36.19\00:56:38.43
but I chose
you, and ordained you
00:56:38.46\00:56:40.86
that you should
go and bear fruit."
00:56:40.90\00:56:42.53
We are called to
bear fruit for His glory.
00:56:42.56\00:56:46.10
1 Corinthians 10:31,
00:56:46.13\00:56:48.47
"Therefore
whatever you eat, or drink,
00:56:48.50\00:56:50.61
or whatsoever you do,
00:56:50.64\00:56:52.31
do all for the glory of God."
00:56:52.34\00:56:54.34
It is our job to make sure
00:56:54.38\00:56:55.71
that whatever we
do in stewardship,
00:56:55.74\00:56:58.21
to be faithful to the Lord,
00:56:58.25\00:56:59.61
that we do it all to
God's glory, not our own.
00:56:59.65\00:57:01.78
That's right.
00:57:01.82\00:57:03.15
Thank you all for covering that.
00:57:03.18\00:57:04.69
You know, we all are called
to work for the kingdom of God.
00:57:04.72\00:57:08.19
And there are a
couple of passages
00:57:08.22\00:57:09.56
I wanted to add
in the beginning,
00:57:09.59\00:57:10.93
but I'll add
them before we close.
00:57:10.96\00:57:13.29
Matthew 25:21.
00:57:13.33\00:57:14.70
This is what all of us,
00:57:14.73\00:57:16.36
every one of us wants
to hear when Jesus returns.
00:57:16.40\00:57:19.47
"And the Lord said to him,
00:57:19.50\00:57:21.34
'Well done, good
and faithful servant.
00:57:21.37\00:57:25.47
You were faithful
over a few things,
00:57:25.51\00:57:27.68
I will make you
ruler over many things,
00:57:27.71\00:57:30.15
enter into the
joy of the Lord.'"
00:57:30.18\00:57:32.88
And then Revelation 22:12,
00:57:32.91\00:57:34.65
"Behold, I am coming
quickly and my reward is with me
00:57:34.68\00:57:38.29
to give to everyone
according to his work."
00:57:38.32\00:57:41.62
So as the song
says, to him work,
00:57:41.66\00:57:44.49
for the night is coming.
00:57:44.53\00:57:46.06
That's what God
has called us to do.
00:57:46.09\00:57:48.16
We must pray that we respond
00:57:48.20\00:57:50.43
to the voice of the vinedresser,
00:57:50.47\00:57:53.34
the voice of the one
who owns the harvest fields,
00:57:53.37\00:57:56.57
and go forth as
laborers into the field.
00:57:56.60\00:57:59.01
Join us for the next lesson,
lesson number 12 Sabbath,
00:57:59.04\00:58:02.61
experiencing and
living the character of God.
00:58:02.64\00:58:06.01
Until then, may you work,
00:58:06.05\00:58:08.22
only to be the one
to give glory to God.
00:58:08.25\00:58:11.15
See you next time.
00:58:11.19\00:58:12.55
Amen.
00:58:12.59\00:58:13.92