1 00:00:00,720 --> 00:00:10,240 Mark 10/23 And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples 2 00:00:10,240 --> 00:00:14,680 how difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter 3 00:00:14,680 --> 00:00:18,280 the Kingdom of God. And the disciples were amazed at 4 00:00:18,280 --> 00:00:20,800 his words. But Jesus said to them again, 5 00:00:20,800 --> 00:00:25,480 children, how difficult it is to enter the Kingdom of God. 6 00:00:26,240 --> 00:00:29,360 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle 7 00:00:29,360 --> 00:00:31,320 than. For a rich person to enter the 8 00:00:31,320 --> 00:00:35,960 Kingdom of God, and they were exceedingly astonished and said 9 00:00:35,960 --> 00:00:40,880 to him, then who can be saved? Jesus looked at them and said 10 00:00:40,880 --> 00:00:45,000 with man, it is impossible, but not with God, for all things are 11 00:00:45,000 --> 00:00:49,840 possible with God, Peter began to say to him, See, we have left 12 00:00:49,840 --> 00:00:54,840 everything and followed you, Jesus said, Truly I say to you. 13 00:00:55,880 --> 00:00:59,400 There is no one who has left house, or brothers, or sisters, 14 00:00:59,400 --> 00:01:02,960 or mother, or father, or children, or lands, for my sake 15 00:01:03,440 --> 00:01:07,480 and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in 16 00:01:07,480 --> 00:01:11,080 this time, houses and brothers, and sisters, and mothers and 17 00:01:11,080 --> 00:01:15,720 children, and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to 18 00:01:15,720 --> 00:01:19,560 come eternal life, but many who are first. 19 00:01:19,560 --> 00:01:27,120 Will be last and the last first. Father, help us understand your 20 00:01:27,120 --> 00:01:33,160 word here. Lord, arrest our attention and 21 00:01:33,160 --> 00:01:36,880 keep it on your voice for this next moment. 22 00:01:37,680 --> 00:01:42,400 And we pray that life would arise, that wherever we are 23 00:01:42,400 --> 00:01:47,400 dormant, wherever we are unnecessarily relaxed, that you 24 00:01:47,400 --> 00:01:54,840 would awaken us to know you and to serve you with the zeal and 25 00:01:54,840 --> 00:01:58,720 the commitment that you deserve. We look to you now and trust 26 00:01:58,720 --> 00:02:00,400 that you will speak in Jesus name. 27 00:02:00,880 --> 00:02:05,760 Amen. As the rich young ruler with his 28 00:02:05,760 --> 00:02:10,800 head hung low and his heart heavy with disappointment, 29 00:02:11,520 --> 00:02:16,040 turned his back on Christ and made his way back to where he 30 00:02:16,040 --> 00:02:20,560 came from, Jesus broke the silence of that scene with yet 31 00:02:20,560 --> 00:02:24,080 another shocking soul searching statement. 32 00:02:25,480 --> 00:02:29,240 How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter 33 00:02:29,240 --> 00:02:32,080 the Kingdom of God. Imagine it. 34 00:02:33,000 --> 00:02:37,920 Here's this misguided young man who's dragging his feet into the 35 00:02:37,920 --> 00:02:43,680 horizon of unbelief. And the Lord Jesus turns to his 36 00:02:43,680 --> 00:02:48,480 disciples and makes this very bold pronouncement. 37 00:02:50,400 --> 00:02:55,120 And perhaps the the disciples reaction is shared by some 38 00:02:55,520 --> 00:02:58,080 today. They were amazed at these words 39 00:02:58,720 --> 00:03:02,320 and we will get to in a moment why they were amazed themselves, 40 00:03:02,320 --> 00:03:05,760 why they were so astonished by Jesus making this declaration. 41 00:03:07,080 --> 00:03:10,440 But let's first examine why. Jesus said what He said. 42 00:03:10,760 --> 00:03:13,800 Why did the Lord say this at this time? 43 00:03:14,600 --> 00:03:20,240 For one main reason to teach. That this man's rejection of the 44 00:03:20,240 --> 00:03:24,280 invitation of the Gospel was not a rare one, but is a common one, 45 00:03:24,520 --> 00:03:29,360 especially among the affluent, especially among those who are 46 00:03:29,360 --> 00:03:33,560 prominent, especially among those who are successful in this 47 00:03:33,560 --> 00:03:35,800 life. The Lord wanted to take this 48 00:03:35,800 --> 00:03:41,040 moment and give a teaching lesson, to say don't just expect 49 00:03:41,040 --> 00:03:45,280 it from this young man believe. That it is common and will 50 00:03:45,280 --> 00:03:48,040 always be common until the last moment of history. 51 00:03:49,400 --> 00:03:52,080 But why? Why? 52 00:03:52,360 --> 00:03:57,080 Why is it difficult for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God? 53 00:03:57,200 --> 00:03:59,760 And notice Jesus didn't say it is impossible. 54 00:04:00,520 --> 00:04:05,120 He said it is difficult. It is very difficult and he 55 00:04:05,120 --> 00:04:08,880 double S down on it just in case anybody misinterpreted it just 56 00:04:09,200 --> 00:04:12,280 because they were astonished Jesus didn't pull anything back. 57 00:04:12,280 --> 00:04:17,640 He actually confirmed it even more with greater force, and 58 00:04:17,640 --> 00:04:21,160 it's worth us exploring why that is the case. 59 00:04:22,280 --> 00:04:25,120 And if you consider the entirety of the Word of God, if you look 60 00:04:25,120 --> 00:04:27,440 at the testimony of the scriptures from cover to cover, 61 00:04:27,440 --> 00:04:31,600 then you will quickly discern the dangers or the perils of 62 00:04:31,600 --> 00:04:36,120 riches and why it is that those who have accumulated much will 63 00:04:36,120 --> 00:04:42,440 actually be more tempted to be poor forever to make a decision, 64 00:04:42,440 --> 00:04:44,880 though they may have made very successful decisions in this 65 00:04:44,880 --> 00:04:49,880 life to make the most important decision the least important 66 00:04:49,880 --> 00:04:53,200 decision in their minds. And so I want us to consider 67 00:04:53,200 --> 00:04:58,640 just three factors, three simple realities concerning the 68 00:04:58,640 --> 00:05:02,400 possibilities the dangers that riches presents to the human 69 00:05:02,400 --> 00:05:05,000 soul. It always has and it always 70 00:05:05,200 --> 00:05:15,280 will. #1 riches can be a damning distraction. 71 00:05:16,120 --> 00:05:20,760 Number one, riches can be a damning distraction. 72 00:05:21,000 --> 00:05:24,960 And the apostle Paul builds on that truth, and he expounds on 73 00:05:24,960 --> 00:05:27,080 that truth in a very insightful way. 74 00:05:27,280 --> 00:05:30,160 And before we get into what Paul says, Please remember that this 75 00:05:30,160 --> 00:05:34,920 drive for wealth is not just something that the poor might 76 00:05:34,920 --> 00:05:38,760 do. Those who have much are just as 77 00:05:38,760 --> 00:05:42,680 susceptible and pursuing prosperity than those who have 78 00:05:42,680 --> 00:05:46,440 little. This desire, this affection for 79 00:05:46,440 --> 00:05:48,960 material gain, does not discriminate. 80 00:05:49,720 --> 00:05:53,440 It is found amongst all types of classes of people and those 81 00:05:53,440 --> 00:05:57,120 again who might have more than the average person are. 82 00:05:57,120 --> 00:06:00,240 Sometimes even more ambitious than those who don't have much. 83 00:06:02,080 --> 00:06:04,720 Paul says this in First Timothy 610. 84 00:06:05,280 --> 00:06:07,560 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. 85 00:06:08,160 --> 00:06:12,600 It is through this craving. It is through this craving that 86 00:06:12,600 --> 00:06:17,440 some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves 87 00:06:17,560 --> 00:06:20,400 with many pangs. The key phrase there is that 88 00:06:20,600 --> 00:06:24,360 some have wandered away from the faith. 89 00:06:24,360 --> 00:06:29,560 The word wandered away means to cause, to go astray. 90 00:06:30,280 --> 00:06:34,200 It is the same word that Jesus uses in Mark 1322 when he says 91 00:06:34,200 --> 00:06:38,960 that false Christ and false prophets will arise and perform 92 00:06:38,960 --> 00:06:44,320 signs and wonders to lead astray if possible. 93 00:06:44,320 --> 00:06:49,640 The elect to lead astray is the same word used by Paul when he 94 00:06:49,640 --> 00:06:56,200 said that through this craving for self indulgence people will 95 00:06:56,560 --> 00:07:01,800 be LED astray from the faith. So this yearning for riches, 96 00:07:01,800 --> 00:07:06,080 then, according to the scriptures, has a very powerful 97 00:07:06,400 --> 00:07:10,960 seductive force. Its influence can be so 98 00:07:10,960 --> 00:07:15,160 compelling that it can even convince people to neglect or to 99 00:07:15,160 --> 00:07:19,240 ignore, even to deny, the most important thing that you can 100 00:07:19,240 --> 00:07:21,800 acquire in this life and that is a saving relationship with the 101 00:07:21,800 --> 00:07:25,000 Lord Jesus. And it's not too difficult to 102 00:07:25,000 --> 00:07:27,920 understand why that is the case, how that even follows, how that 103 00:07:27,920 --> 00:07:30,160 works. Because the acquisition and the 104 00:07:30,480 --> 00:07:33,720 management of resources is no small feat. 105 00:07:35,720 --> 00:07:39,360 The sizable sacrifice that people have to make, the 106 00:07:39,360 --> 00:07:44,160 overtime, the great energy that is spent, the burden that it 107 00:07:44,160 --> 00:07:48,760 presents on a person's body and schedule and family life is 108 00:07:48,760 --> 00:07:52,080 something that both the poor and the rich who desire to pursue 109 00:07:52,080 --> 00:07:57,560 more are all very familiar with. And such a pursuit and ambition. 110 00:07:58,240 --> 00:08:03,480 Often times that cost is so great, the cost of making your 111 00:08:03,480 --> 00:08:09,840 life all about wealth and luxury and even, dare I say, security, 112 00:08:09,840 --> 00:08:16,640 financially speaking, can bring about this hefty tag of denying 113 00:08:16,640 --> 00:08:19,360 the demands that Christ makes to be a follower of his. 114 00:08:19,520 --> 00:08:21,880 Why? Because when Christ makes those 115 00:08:21,880 --> 00:08:25,520 demands to such a person that that is not a glorious 116 00:08:25,520 --> 00:08:28,440 invitation to them, it is an interference. 117 00:08:29,120 --> 00:08:32,000 This is not an invitation. This is an interference to what 118 00:08:32,000 --> 00:08:35,000 I truly desire and long to do in this life. 119 00:08:36,280 --> 00:08:38,400 And that is to get rich or die. Try. 120 00:08:38,400 --> 00:08:44,120 And there are so many examples from this in both the old and 121 00:08:44,120 --> 00:08:47,920 the new. And if you want a Bible study 122 00:08:47,920 --> 00:08:50,960 theme for the new year, here's one that you can consider. 123 00:08:51,400 --> 00:08:54,960 You will be shocked, I'm sure, to realize how many people in 124 00:08:54,960 --> 00:08:59,080 the Bible alone have turned their backs on righteousness and 125 00:08:59,080 --> 00:09:03,040 God all together because of this sort of affection. 126 00:09:04,160 --> 00:09:08,480 Just if you just look at and record on a piece of paper all 127 00:09:08,480 --> 00:09:12,440 the people who have turned their backs on grace, who have turned 128 00:09:12,440 --> 00:09:15,960 their backs on true spiritual treasures because of men and 129 00:09:15,960 --> 00:09:18,840 because of wealth, it is overwhelming. 130 00:09:19,280 --> 00:09:22,360 And sometimes the instances and the examples presented here are 131 00:09:22,360 --> 00:09:24,520 more subtle than you might imagine. 132 00:09:24,520 --> 00:09:26,880 Let me present to you one one that you might have not 133 00:09:26,880 --> 00:09:30,640 considered just to prove this first point, that riches can be 134 00:09:30,640 --> 00:09:34,400 a damning distraction in Luke chapter 12. 135 00:09:34,400 --> 00:09:37,520 Jesus shares a string of truths in the beginning of that 136 00:09:37,520 --> 00:09:39,760 chapter. He talks about not fearing man, 137 00:09:39,760 --> 00:09:42,960 but fearing God. He talks about how the Holy 138 00:09:42,960 --> 00:09:46,240 Spirit will grant you wisdom as you stand before those who seek 139 00:09:46,240 --> 00:09:49,360 to condemn you. He talks about the loving and 140 00:09:49,360 --> 00:09:52,680 incomparable care of God, who knows the number of hairs on 141 00:09:52,680 --> 00:09:54,160 your head and will take care of you. 142 00:09:54,280 --> 00:09:58,920 If he knows the, the, the future of the Sparrow, surely he cares 143 00:09:58,920 --> 00:10:02,360 about your, tomorrow's and all these different things that He 144 00:10:02,360 --> 00:10:07,800 packs in these series of truths and all of a sudden we get a 145 00:10:07,800 --> 00:10:09,760 response from somebody in the crowd. 146 00:10:10,400 --> 00:10:14,200 Somebody reacts to what Jesus is teaching when he presents these 147 00:10:14,280 --> 00:10:17,880 eternal pearls, these true treasures. 148 00:10:18,280 --> 00:10:20,000 And what do you think the response was? 149 00:10:20,000 --> 00:10:22,120 This is the first reaction that somebody makes. 150 00:10:22,960 --> 00:10:25,080 You would think that somebody was so moved by what the Lord 151 00:10:25,080 --> 00:10:27,440 said that he couldn't help himself and he just burst out 152 00:10:27,440 --> 00:10:30,520 with this request. And here's the request. 153 00:10:30,520 --> 00:10:36,240 According to Luke, chapter 12 and verse 13, someone in the 154 00:10:36,240 --> 00:10:41,440 crowd said to him, Teacher, tell my brother to divide the 155 00:10:41,440 --> 00:10:45,800 inheritance with me. There is absolutely no context 156 00:10:45,800 --> 00:10:49,880 for that request. Jesus wasn't teaching about 157 00:10:49,880 --> 00:10:51,680 inheritances. Jesus wasn't teaching about 158 00:10:51,680 --> 00:10:57,960 anything aligned with this plea. But you know what it tells me 159 00:10:57,960 --> 00:11:01,520 Here is this person who is in the presence of the Son of God. 160 00:11:02,120 --> 00:11:06,880 Here's this individual who is hearing a banquet of blessings 161 00:11:06,880 --> 00:11:10,200 that can be available to him. And according to this request, 162 00:11:10,200 --> 00:11:12,120 you know what's occupying his mind the whole time during the 163 00:11:12,120 --> 00:11:19,680 sermon? Money, money, inheritance, a 164 00:11:19,680 --> 00:11:25,440 better future for myself, acquisition of wealth and gain 165 00:11:25,440 --> 00:11:28,520 and materialism. This is what is occupying this 166 00:11:28,520 --> 00:11:30,840 man's mind to the point where out of the abundance of the 167 00:11:30,840 --> 00:11:34,200 heart, the mouth speaks and he tries to invite Jesus into his 168 00:11:34,200 --> 00:11:37,400 family problem or family situation so that he can be 169 00:11:37,440 --> 00:11:40,840 favored in this whole inheritance equation. 170 00:11:41,560 --> 00:11:43,720 And Jesus obviously doesn't get involved with it. 171 00:11:43,720 --> 00:11:47,120 He denies this and he uses that as an opportunity to teach about 172 00:11:47,120 --> 00:11:50,760 the dangers of covetousness. But what does this young man 173 00:11:50,760 --> 00:11:53,120 prove to us? It proves us that covetousness 174 00:11:53,520 --> 00:11:57,720 and material ambition can be so overpowering that it can blind 175 00:11:57,720 --> 00:12:01,160 you from seeing the treasure that Jesus Christ is. 176 00:12:02,600 --> 00:12:06,480 This man didn't see it. You have God in the flesh right 177 00:12:06,480 --> 00:12:08,400 before, and you're thinking about the inheritance being 178 00:12:08,400 --> 00:12:13,840 divided. Here's the Messiah spelling out 179 00:12:14,000 --> 00:12:17,000 what you can know if you just link your life with him. 180 00:12:17,000 --> 00:12:20,240 And you're thinking about what? How you can have a better 30-40 181 00:12:20,240 --> 00:12:22,240 years ahead, if you even have that. 182 00:12:25,160 --> 00:12:29,680 And so this yearning, this craving, as Paul says, can so 183 00:12:29,680 --> 00:12:31,800 warp. Somebody listen to this, that 184 00:12:31,800 --> 00:12:34,920 though they might not have any interest in Christ, if there be 185 00:12:34,920 --> 00:12:37,560 any appeal to Christ, it would be like this young man. 186 00:12:37,560 --> 00:12:40,440 To what? To join yourself to Christ? 187 00:12:40,440 --> 00:12:44,440 Or to invite Christ purely as a means to no greater personal 188 00:12:44,440 --> 00:12:47,760 gain. And there's a whole movement in 189 00:12:47,760 --> 00:12:50,520 the evangelical world that presents the gospel in that way. 190 00:12:50,600 --> 00:12:53,960 Here's Christ for you so that you can have a better material 191 00:12:53,960 --> 00:12:58,240 inheritance. Uyghur and Proverbs 30 192 00:12:58,360 --> 00:13:03,160 understood the danger, the distracting peril that riches 193 00:13:03,160 --> 00:13:04,920 can bring about in someone's life. 194 00:13:05,400 --> 00:13:08,200 And that's why when he prayed for God to take care of him in 195 00:13:08,200 --> 00:13:11,440 this life, he said, Lord, don't make me poor, Lord, I even ask 196 00:13:11,440 --> 00:13:12,480 that you don't even make me rich. 197 00:13:12,480 --> 00:13:15,160 Just give me what I need. And he gives the reason why in 198 00:13:15,160 --> 00:13:22,840 Proverbs 30, verse 9, lest I be full and deny you and say Who is 199 00:13:22,840 --> 00:13:25,040 the Lord? Who is the Lord? 200 00:13:25,200 --> 00:13:28,920 What is actor saying? That you can come to a place 201 00:13:29,160 --> 00:13:34,160 where you're so distracted by this thing that it causes you to 202 00:13:34,160 --> 00:13:37,080 say who's God? Who is time for God? 203 00:13:37,080 --> 00:13:39,160 Who has time for spirituality? Who has time for the House of 204 00:13:39,160 --> 00:13:40,120 worship? Who has time? 205 00:13:40,480 --> 00:13:44,000 There are more important matters at hand here, which brings us to 206 00:13:44,000 --> 00:13:47,920 our second point. #1 is that riches can be a damning 207 00:13:47,920 --> 00:13:51,000 distraction, right? People who make life about it, 208 00:13:51,000 --> 00:13:53,360 they don't think about sin. They don't think about eternity. 209 00:13:53,360 --> 00:13:54,640 They don't think about salvation. 210 00:13:54,840 --> 00:13:57,160 They think about what? How can I? 211 00:13:57,160 --> 00:13:59,920 How can I grow? How can I build my enterprise? 212 00:14:00,120 --> 00:14:02,720 That's what consumes them. But here's #2. 213 00:14:03,000 --> 00:14:06,800 This is why it is difficult for some who are rich to enter the 214 00:14:06,800 --> 00:14:11,200 Kingdom of God. Because riches, Riches can 215 00:14:11,200 --> 00:14:13,920 provide a superficial satisfaction. 216 00:14:14,720 --> 00:14:19,560 Riches can provide a superficial satisfaction, or else, why 217 00:14:19,560 --> 00:14:23,080 pursue it? Why make your life about it if 218 00:14:23,080 --> 00:14:28,160 it doesn't promise or vow? Some kind of prestige, power, 219 00:14:29,560 --> 00:14:32,360 pleasure. But there's something else that 220 00:14:32,640 --> 00:14:35,520 the whispers of wealth seduces the. 221 00:14:35,520 --> 00:14:38,720 Longing soul with and that is protection. 222 00:14:39,200 --> 00:14:42,360 Or in other words security, Security. 223 00:14:42,560 --> 00:14:44,400 Security is a form of satisfaction. 224 00:14:44,480 --> 00:14:46,840 You are at rest because you know that you are secure. 225 00:14:47,600 --> 00:14:48,840 Now, I know what some might be thinking. 226 00:14:48,840 --> 00:14:50,600 Why are you saying that we should not be wise with our 227 00:14:50,600 --> 00:14:52,040 resources? Are you saying that we shouldn't 228 00:14:52,240 --> 00:14:54,800 plan in our finances? No, I'm not saying that. 229 00:14:55,200 --> 00:14:58,120 Nor am I saying that having money is evil, or even being 230 00:14:58,120 --> 00:15:02,320 wealthy is evil in itself. It's what wealth can do to you 231 00:15:02,320 --> 00:15:05,560 and. What wealth can do to so many is 232 00:15:05,560 --> 00:15:10,160 promise people that you'll be safe as long as you have me and 233 00:15:10,160 --> 00:15:13,880 more of me. And riches has a way of blurring 234 00:15:13,880 --> 00:15:17,440 people's visions of God being the ultimate savior and provider 235 00:15:17,440 --> 00:15:20,960 of their lives. And Paul says that. 236 00:15:21,280 --> 00:15:24,560 And he warns that to believers, by the way. 237 00:15:25,000 --> 00:15:28,000 What does he warn believers in First Timothy 6? 238 00:15:28,000 --> 00:15:31,320 Not ten, but verse 17? He's speaking to Christians. 239 00:15:32,120 --> 00:15:35,680 He's speaking to those who attend church, so I'm speaking 240 00:15:35,680 --> 00:15:37,200 to those who attend church as well. 241 00:15:37,960 --> 00:15:41,640 And First Timothy 617. As for the rich in this present 242 00:15:41,640 --> 00:15:44,640 age, pause there. You can be rich in this present 243 00:15:44,640 --> 00:15:46,880 age and poor for eternity. You know that, right? 244 00:15:48,280 --> 00:15:52,600 As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be 245 00:15:52,600 --> 00:15:53,440 haughty. Don't. 246 00:15:53,440 --> 00:15:55,240 Don't be proud about where you're at in life. 247 00:15:55,600 --> 00:16:01,040 Charge them not to be haughty to, nor to set their hopes on 248 00:16:01,200 --> 00:16:06,760 the uncertainty of riches, but on God, But on God, who richly 249 00:16:06,760 --> 00:16:08,760 provides us with everything to enjoy. 250 00:16:08,760 --> 00:16:12,960 I love that last part because you have the prosperity gospel 251 00:16:12,960 --> 00:16:14,800 and then you have the poverty gospel. 252 00:16:16,000 --> 00:16:17,560 You didn't hear about that one, did you? 253 00:16:17,920 --> 00:16:20,240 Where if you're really pious and if you're really a St. and if 254 00:16:20,240 --> 00:16:22,640 you're really a disciple of Christ, you shouldn't enjoy 255 00:16:22,640 --> 00:16:26,600 anything in this present age, he says. 256 00:16:26,600 --> 00:16:29,120 God does provide us richly provides us for things to enjoy 257 00:16:29,120 --> 00:16:33,600 as a means an act of worship. But notice what he says here in 258 00:16:33,600 --> 00:16:36,240 the middle. Tell the believers in the church 259 00:16:36,240 --> 00:16:39,080 we're. Successful businessmen who own 260 00:16:39,080 --> 00:16:43,200 many properties and lands, we're very ambitious in this life not 261 00:16:43,280 --> 00:16:47,360 to give into the temptation of putting your trust in riches. 262 00:16:48,320 --> 00:16:51,680 Because no matter what kind of redeeming qualities wealth has 263 00:16:51,720 --> 00:16:56,280 in life, there's one thing about it that is certain that it does 264 00:16:56,280 --> 00:17:01,080 not always remain present and its value is subject to change. 265 00:17:01,080 --> 00:17:04,839 All it takes is for a dip in the economy or a personal crisis to 266 00:17:05,079 --> 00:17:09,240 make that happen. And so Paul warns and he says, 267 00:17:09,240 --> 00:17:13,319 be careful coming to a place where you have hoarded so much 268 00:17:13,319 --> 00:17:17,319 that now you've developed this sense of self-reliance and then 269 00:17:17,319 --> 00:17:18,920 you become like the Church of Laodicea. 270 00:17:18,920 --> 00:17:20,480 What happened with the Church of Laodicea? 271 00:17:21,280 --> 00:17:24,960 They said there in Revelation 3 that I am rich, I have prospered 272 00:17:25,240 --> 00:17:31,120 and I need nothing. I have rich, I have riches, I 273 00:17:31,120 --> 00:17:33,120 have prospered, and I need nothing. 274 00:17:33,400 --> 00:17:38,760 And listen, if the church can be deceived by wealth, by personal 275 00:17:38,760 --> 00:17:41,880 prosperity, believers are subject to that danger. 276 00:17:41,960 --> 00:17:45,160 How much more the unsaved? How much more the unsaved? 277 00:17:45,160 --> 00:17:47,080 Think about it. If the church you had a whole 278 00:17:47,080 --> 00:17:51,440 church that had that attitude. We're rich, we've prospered. 279 00:17:51,440 --> 00:17:54,120 We don't need anything. What do they mean by we don't 280 00:17:54,120 --> 00:17:56,200 need anything? We're satisfied. 281 00:17:57,440 --> 00:18:00,200 We're satisfied. And so the warning there is that 282 00:18:00,200 --> 00:18:02,480 a Christian can remain comfortable in their 283 00:18:02,480 --> 00:18:06,640 lukewarmness due to the lullabying effects of wealth. 284 00:18:08,040 --> 00:18:11,680 And if that is possible for a Christian, then surely a 285 00:18:11,680 --> 00:18:15,320 successful Sinner can remain comfortable in their unbelief 286 00:18:15,320 --> 00:18:17,920 for the same reason. In other words, let me put it 287 00:18:17,920 --> 00:18:19,960 this way. If a Christian, maybe some of 288 00:18:19,960 --> 00:18:23,240 you young people were very ambitious in life. 289 00:18:26,440 --> 00:18:31,880 If a Christian can be stalled in their advancement in 290 00:18:31,880 --> 00:18:35,400 spirituality. Then is it so shocking to 291 00:18:35,400 --> 00:18:38,360 believe that there are those in this world who won't even start 292 00:18:38,360 --> 00:18:42,200 their spiritual journey because they are consumed by superficial 293 00:18:42,200 --> 00:18:44,640 satisfaction? It's not surprising. 294 00:18:47,480 --> 00:18:50,080 And so you have some who here you need a savior. 295 00:18:50,120 --> 00:18:54,400 A savior. I've done what most people 296 00:18:54,400 --> 00:18:56,520 cannot do for themselves, all by myself. 297 00:18:58,240 --> 00:19:00,080 Christ desires to be your shepherd. 298 00:19:01,200 --> 00:19:03,560 He wants to lead you. He wants to provide for you. 299 00:19:03,560 --> 00:19:06,560 He wants to shelter you. He wants to nourish you day by 300 00:19:06,600 --> 00:19:09,280 day. Thanks for the invitation, but I 301 00:19:09,280 --> 00:19:13,600 think I'm OK. I. 302 00:19:14,080 --> 00:19:16,960 Have my life all together. I'm actually more than OK. 303 00:19:16,960 --> 00:19:20,080 And things are projected to look even better than what they were 304 00:19:20,080 --> 00:19:25,520 in 2023. Only Christ can satisfy you 305 00:19:25,520 --> 00:19:28,160 only. He can make you feel whole. 306 00:19:28,640 --> 00:19:31,280 Yeah, that might be true for those who can't get anything 307 00:19:31,280 --> 00:19:33,640 that they want in this life, but that's certainly not true for 308 00:19:33,640 --> 00:19:35,520 me, who can get anything I want in this life. 309 00:19:36,200 --> 00:19:40,040 And so I'm not looking for a crutch and I'm not looking to 310 00:19:40,040 --> 00:19:44,400 trade what I've worked. So hard for for some intangible 311 00:19:44,400 --> 00:19:48,960 reality or lifestyle. This is how some might think, 312 00:19:48,960 --> 00:19:50,880 though they might not say it out loud. 313 00:19:52,560 --> 00:19:55,840 And if you are a person who thinks that way, listen, even if 314 00:19:55,840 --> 00:19:58,840 you are a believer who has been caught in the snare of pursuing 315 00:19:58,840 --> 00:20:02,880 riches, then hear what Proverbs 11/28 says to you. 316 00:20:04,000 --> 00:20:09,320 Whoever trust in his riches will fall, not might fall, will fall, 317 00:20:10,040 --> 00:20:13,280 but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf. 318 00:20:13,960 --> 00:20:15,520 You know what true security is in life. 319 00:20:15,880 --> 00:20:18,120 It's not about trusting your riches, acquiring riches, 320 00:20:18,120 --> 00:20:20,440 building riches. It's about having a right 321 00:20:20,440 --> 00:20:23,720 relationship with God. That's where true security is. 322 00:20:23,720 --> 00:20:25,760 That's where true satisfaction is. 323 00:20:26,120 --> 00:20:28,680 But unfortunately for so many, because they are tasting the 324 00:20:28,680 --> 00:20:35,960 shallow satisfaction of riches, they can't scent the beauty and 325 00:20:35,960 --> 00:20:38,320 the fragrance of the living water that can be theirs. 326 00:20:38,320 --> 00:20:43,000 In Christ, riches can be a damning distraction. 327 00:20:43,320 --> 00:20:46,480 Riches can provide a sense of satisfaction, though it is 328 00:20:46,480 --> 00:20:50,560 superficial. And lastly, riches can stimulate 329 00:20:50,560 --> 00:20:54,160 and seal a person in sinful behavior. 330 00:20:56,080 --> 00:20:59,200 Go to James chapter 5 with me in verse one for a moment. 331 00:21:01,960 --> 00:21:08,440 James, chapter 5, verse one. Now here's the apostle James who 332 00:21:08,440 --> 00:21:13,320 speaks to a group of people in his letter, and he targets a 333 00:21:13,320 --> 00:21:17,200 certain demographic. Now remember, he's not just 334 00:21:17,200 --> 00:21:20,440 speaking about people out there, He's speaking to those who'd be 335 00:21:20,440 --> 00:21:22,320 exposed to the reading of this epistle. 336 00:21:23,160 --> 00:21:25,720 And notice who he is speaking to in James 5 verse one. 337 00:21:26,120 --> 00:21:31,160 Come now. Oh, James doesn't pull punches. 338 00:21:33,040 --> 00:21:36,880 James loves to use Old Testament prophet like language and here's 339 00:21:36,880 --> 00:21:42,680 one of them. Come now, come now you rich weep 340 00:21:42,680 --> 00:21:46,200 and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. 341 00:21:46,840 --> 00:21:47,720 That's. Bold. 342 00:21:48,520 --> 00:21:53,720 I like James Weep and Howl for the miseries that are coming 343 00:21:53,720 --> 00:21:56,880 upon you now. We are not certain of the 344 00:21:56,880 --> 00:22:00,040 spiritual saving condition of the people that he is ready to 345 00:22:00,040 --> 00:22:01,640 address. But one thing is for certain, 346 00:22:02,280 --> 00:22:05,640 that those he is writing to now at this time are merely 347 00:22:05,640 --> 00:22:09,120 attendees. They're attendees in the various 348 00:22:09,120 --> 00:22:11,880 churches that this letter would be distributed to. 349 00:22:11,880 --> 00:22:13,640 And so they're going to hear this. 350 00:22:13,640 --> 00:22:16,520 Can you imagine the elder of a church coming to the section of 351 00:22:16,520 --> 00:22:18,480 the letter? All right, James now says. 352 00:22:18,480 --> 00:22:21,560 Come now, you Rich, Weep and howl. 353 00:22:23,960 --> 00:22:27,560 And so, in blistering fashion, he is going to denounce this 354 00:22:27,560 --> 00:22:31,040 particular group. And there's good reason why. 355 00:22:31,880 --> 00:22:34,680 Scroll down here to verse four of James, chapter 5. 356 00:22:35,960 --> 00:22:41,000 Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, 357 00:22:41,160 --> 00:22:46,200 which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, And 358 00:22:46,200 --> 00:22:49,640 the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of. 359 00:22:49,640 --> 00:22:52,280 Hosts. You have lived on the earth in 360 00:22:52,280 --> 00:22:56,120 luxury and in self indulgence. You've fattened your hearts in a 361 00:22:56,120 --> 00:22:59,200 day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered 362 00:22:59,200 --> 00:23:02,440 the righteous person. He does not resist you. 363 00:23:03,080 --> 00:23:06,440 So here are these successful people who own lands and fields 364 00:23:06,440 --> 00:23:09,840 and farms and James is aware of how they're treating certain 365 00:23:09,840 --> 00:23:12,160 people. And what is he saying, 366 00:23:12,160 --> 00:23:14,040 essentially? In summary, you're frauds. 367 00:23:16,280 --> 00:23:19,760 You have a dishonest policy at work here. 368 00:23:21,200 --> 00:23:24,200 You're with help withholding the complete wages to those who 369 00:23:24,200 --> 00:23:28,040 deserve the wages that they've worked for. 370 00:23:28,560 --> 00:23:30,720 And you know what the reason is for the selfishness? 371 00:23:30,720 --> 00:23:32,480 You know what the reason is for this trickery and this 372 00:23:32,480 --> 00:23:36,840 deception, this manipulation? Verse 5 indicates what it is you 373 00:23:36,840 --> 00:23:39,080 have. Lived on the earth in luxury and 374 00:23:39,080 --> 00:23:43,720 in self indulgence. It was to fuel and to fund and 375 00:23:43,720 --> 00:23:49,200 to pamper their indulgence and part. 376 00:23:49,200 --> 00:23:51,640 Of. That glamorous way of life was a 377 00:23:51,640 --> 00:23:56,080 splurge on jewelry and clothing and the latest and the newest. 378 00:23:56,960 --> 00:23:59,000 Where do we get that from? Well, you read verse two and 379 00:23:59,000 --> 00:24:04,200 three and it's clear. So how does this all tie in with 380 00:24:04,200 --> 00:24:06,120 what the Lord says back in Mark chapter 10? 381 00:24:06,120 --> 00:24:11,000 Easy Riches has a way of encouraging unrepented patterns 382 00:24:11,000 --> 00:24:15,720 and sin in order to achieve and secure greater wealth. 383 00:24:17,760 --> 00:24:19,960 And one of the reasons people feel safe in their sin, 384 00:24:19,960 --> 00:24:22,480 especially when they arrive somewhere where they are 385 00:24:22,480 --> 00:24:26,800 successful, is because you can easily fall into the trap of 386 00:24:26,800 --> 00:24:32,680 paying off, paying off the consequences of sin and to evade 387 00:24:32,680 --> 00:24:35,760 it all together, right? That's what corruption is all 388 00:24:35,760 --> 00:24:37,880 about. People in positions of power are 389 00:24:37,880 --> 00:24:40,960 corrupt because not only do they do evil things, but they are 390 00:24:40,960 --> 00:24:43,520 able to get away with it by signing a check. 391 00:24:46,080 --> 00:24:50,240 So imagine imagine, like some in James chapter 5 who have 392 00:24:50,240 --> 00:24:54,920 achieved and secured wealth through unrepented sin patterns. 393 00:24:54,920 --> 00:24:56,200 And then the gospel comes to them. 394 00:24:56,280 --> 00:25:00,320 Repent. Turn everything over to Christ, 395 00:25:00,560 --> 00:25:04,640 Turn away from sin. And here's that how that's being 396 00:25:04,640 --> 00:25:07,840 translated. So you're asking me to cease the 397 00:25:07,840 --> 00:25:11,000 operations that are making my enterprise the way it is? 398 00:25:11,000 --> 00:25:16,640 What, for Jesus to save me? No, thank you. 399 00:25:17,920 --> 00:25:21,320 And a way to summarize what Jesus says about the dangers of 400 00:25:21,320 --> 00:25:23,800 riches is what he said earlier about riches in Mark chapter 4, 401 00:25:23,800 --> 00:25:27,520 verse 19, where he says but the cares of the world. 402 00:25:27,640 --> 00:25:30,160 And look at this description that he puts beside riches and 403 00:25:30,160 --> 00:25:36,400 the deceitfulness of riches, The deceitfulness of riches, That's 404 00:25:36,400 --> 00:25:39,120 scary. That's scary. 405 00:25:39,120 --> 00:25:41,360 Because the scary thing about deception is that you don't know 406 00:25:41,360 --> 00:25:43,320 you're being deceived. That's the whole point of 407 00:25:43,320 --> 00:25:47,040 deception. And riches has a way of 408 00:25:47,040 --> 00:25:50,680 deceiving people. Riches has a way of deceiving 409 00:25:50,680 --> 00:25:53,640 people and thinking, I'm not your God, just keep going the 410 00:25:53,640 --> 00:26:00,640 way you're going. I'm not hindering true life. 411 00:26:00,640 --> 00:26:02,960 I'm enhancing true life. Just like the Church of 412 00:26:02,960 --> 00:26:06,200 Laodicea, when the Lord gives a true, honest diagnosis to them 413 00:26:06,200 --> 00:26:07,760 about their actual state of life. 414 00:26:07,880 --> 00:26:09,280 You're poor, you're blind. You're naked. 415 00:26:10,640 --> 00:26:14,240 So riches has a way of blinding people and the scariest way that 416 00:26:14,240 --> 00:26:16,960 it deceased people is for them not to see their need to be 417 00:26:16,960 --> 00:26:19,880 saved. To see the wealth and treasure 418 00:26:19,880 --> 00:26:25,720 that Jesus Christ truly is, how difficult it is for those who 419 00:26:25,720 --> 00:26:28,680 have riches to enter the Kingdom of God. 420 00:26:29,840 --> 00:26:33,400 And we come back to Mark 10 and we look at the disciples 421 00:26:33,400 --> 00:26:39,400 reaction. Jesus says children verse 24, 422 00:26:39,400 --> 00:26:41,360 how difficult it is to enter the Kingdom of God. 423 00:26:41,360 --> 00:26:43,880 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than 424 00:26:43,880 --> 00:26:45,520 for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God. 425 00:26:45,720 --> 00:26:47,880 So he doesn't even take their shocked reaction to 426 00:26:47,880 --> 00:26:50,800 consideration. Again, he double S down and then 427 00:26:50,800 --> 00:26:56,120 he provides A humorous analogy with it, this beast trying to go 428 00:26:56,120 --> 00:27:00,520 through the eye of a needle. The possibility of that is the 429 00:27:00,520 --> 00:27:03,840 same for someone who has wealth to enter into the Kingdom of 430 00:27:03,840 --> 00:27:05,000 God. Which is really what? 431 00:27:05,760 --> 00:27:08,200 Impossible. If we're following the reason 432 00:27:08,200 --> 00:27:10,440 here, then it's impossible. Just like it's impossible for a 433 00:27:10,440 --> 00:27:11,720 camel to go through the eye of a needle. 434 00:27:12,120 --> 00:27:16,680 Lord, what are you saying here? No wonder verse 26 is written 435 00:27:16,680 --> 00:27:19,680 for us. And they were exceedingly 436 00:27:19,680 --> 00:27:24,680 astonished, like blown away, jaw-dropping. 437 00:27:24,680 --> 00:27:30,440 Breathtaking. Now we've explored just some of 438 00:27:30,440 --> 00:27:33,120 the possibilities to why that is the case, but isn't that 439 00:27:33,120 --> 00:27:36,520 shocking? Is is it deserve that kind of 440 00:27:36,520 --> 00:27:39,880 response for those who have wealth to not see the value of 441 00:27:39,880 --> 00:27:42,960 Christ? Perhaps there is a factor that 442 00:27:42,960 --> 00:27:46,720 we have not yet considered. Perhaps there's a contextual 443 00:27:46,720 --> 00:27:49,920 reason why the disciples did what they did here in verse 20. 444 00:27:49,920 --> 00:27:52,120 Six. And here it is. 445 00:27:52,440 --> 00:27:57,080 To the Jewish mind at this time, and for many, many decades, 446 00:27:57,080 --> 00:28:03,280 years, centuries, even, wealth was a sign of God's favour to be 447 00:28:03,280 --> 00:28:07,600 prosperous. Was in their minds the evidence 448 00:28:08,760 --> 00:28:12,400 of your righteousness being rewarded by God in this way. 449 00:28:13,560 --> 00:28:17,880 And one of the confusing parts for this to be the case could be 450 00:28:17,880 --> 00:28:20,240 that they looked at the commandments of God in the Old 451 00:28:20,240 --> 00:28:23,560 Testament that promised personal blessing and even national 452 00:28:23,880 --> 00:28:28,760 economic boom predicated and based on the fact that you are 453 00:28:28,760 --> 00:28:30,480 walking in obedience to the law of God. 454 00:28:30,480 --> 00:28:32,960 And we see many examples of that in the Old Testament. 455 00:28:33,560 --> 00:28:35,840 But even with that, there is nothing in the law that 456 00:28:35,840 --> 00:28:41,240 indicates that to walk in obedience guarantees salvation, 457 00:28:41,720 --> 00:28:44,560 no matter what kind of blessing comes with that obedience. 458 00:28:45,600 --> 00:28:48,040 Or it could be that the disciples, like many of the Jews 459 00:28:48,040 --> 00:28:51,760 in that day, had the theology of Job's friends. 460 00:28:52,880 --> 00:28:55,680 The the theology of Job's friends was retribution 461 00:28:55,680 --> 00:28:56,680 principle. Very simple. 462 00:28:56,680 --> 00:28:58,400 You do good, God will give you good. 463 00:28:58,400 --> 00:29:00,120 You do bad. God will treat you bad. 464 00:29:01,120 --> 00:29:02,640 And we see. Evidence that the disciples 465 00:29:02,640 --> 00:29:05,560 sought like this in John Chapter 9 verse one and two, when they 466 00:29:05,560 --> 00:29:08,600 passed by a man who was born blind and they asked the Rabbi 467 00:29:08,600 --> 00:29:13,280 Rabbi who is it that sinned this man or his parents for him to be 468 00:29:13,280 --> 00:29:15,800 blind this way. So how do they interpret this 469 00:29:15,800 --> 00:29:18,080 man's condition? Well, clearly he must have done 470 00:29:18,080 --> 00:29:20,680 something deserving this or his parents must have done something 471 00:29:20,840 --> 00:29:25,360 for him to be this way. Retribution, principle, good, 472 00:29:25,360 --> 00:29:30,800 good, bad, bad. And so it's no wonder for them. 473 00:29:31,520 --> 00:29:36,040 To hear Jesus saying this and to be shocked because of it, 474 00:29:37,360 --> 00:29:40,040 because they just witnessed this man walking away, surely. 475 00:29:40,040 --> 00:29:42,040 But Jesus makes this whole blanket statement. 476 00:29:42,040 --> 00:29:46,280 He makes this broad statement that not just this man, but for 477 00:29:46,280 --> 00:29:53,240 anybody who is wealthy, it's like a camel going through the 478 00:29:53,240 --> 00:29:56,480 eye of a needle. Now that statement collides with 479 00:29:56,480 --> 00:29:59,200 this belief system, and here's how they're translating it. 480 00:30:00,400 --> 00:30:02,960 If it's impossible for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God, and 481 00:30:02,960 --> 00:30:07,920 riches are a sign of God's favor, the opulence is a mark of 482 00:30:07,920 --> 00:30:11,880 being blessed by God, then what chance do others have in being 483 00:30:11,880 --> 00:30:14,240 saved? If you're saying that this class 484 00:30:14,240 --> 00:30:16,640 of people, it's impossible for them to be saved? 485 00:30:16,640 --> 00:30:20,040 And what about us? We're all doomed. 486 00:30:20,240 --> 00:30:24,520 You see how they're thinking, but the Lord doesn't allow them 487 00:30:24,520 --> 00:30:26,720 to be disoriented or disillusioned for too long 488 00:30:26,720 --> 00:30:28,440 because he says something so comforting. 489 00:30:28,440 --> 00:30:31,600 In verse 27, Jesus looked at them and said with man it is 490 00:30:31,600 --> 00:30:35,040 impossible. But not with God, but not with 491 00:30:35,040 --> 00:30:37,560 God, for all things are possible with God. 492 00:30:38,080 --> 00:30:40,800 Translation. It is impossible for man rich. 493 00:30:40,800 --> 00:30:46,280 Or poor to save themselves. It is impossible for anyone, 494 00:30:47,280 --> 00:30:50,920 including the rich, to attain their own salvation, to buy 495 00:30:50,920 --> 00:30:52,520 their salvation. It can't be. 496 00:30:53,560 --> 00:30:57,200 And as they're hearing this, it's something for you and I to 497 00:30:57,200 --> 00:31:00,960 consider as well. Because Jesus making the 498 00:31:00,960 --> 00:31:04,520 statement with man, it is impossible, but not with God, 499 00:31:04,520 --> 00:31:07,840 for all things are possible with God is found in one other place. 500 00:31:07,840 --> 00:31:12,560 In all of the Gospels you have this statement, yes, in the 501 00:31:12,560 --> 00:31:15,800 parallel account in Matthew chapter 19 and in Luke 18. 502 00:31:16,080 --> 00:31:19,160 But apart from the mirroring accounts of the scene, there is 503 00:31:19,160 --> 00:31:22,840 only one other place where Jesus, Jesus. 504 00:31:22,840 --> 00:31:28,560 Words here are found similarly, and it's just so fitting this 505 00:31:28,560 --> 00:31:32,640 time of the year. Similar words that Jesus makes 506 00:31:32,640 --> 00:31:36,800 here were on the lips of the Angel Gabriel when he appeared 507 00:31:36,800 --> 00:31:40,320 to Mary and told her that she would conceive a son though she 508 00:31:40,320 --> 00:31:45,480 was a virgin, and explained how that would be in Luke 137. 509 00:31:46,000 --> 00:31:49,080 Recess for nothing will be impossible with God. 510 00:31:49,640 --> 00:31:54,080 That's the only other place in all of the Gospels that this 511 00:31:54,080 --> 00:31:57,840 declaration of God's ability is mentioned, and I think it's a 512 00:31:57,840 --> 00:32:00,200 glorious coupling. I think it's a glorious 513 00:32:00,200 --> 00:32:01,360 connection, you're saying. Why? 514 00:32:01,720 --> 00:32:04,960 Because think about it. The impossibility of a virgin to 515 00:32:04,960 --> 00:32:09,360 conceive a child is no less of a challenge for one gaining their 516 00:32:09,360 --> 00:32:13,840 own salvation. You know what both require? 517 00:32:13,840 --> 00:32:17,440 You know what both require? For a virgin to conceive a son 518 00:32:17,440 --> 00:32:19,520 and for somebody to be saved. You know what both require? 519 00:32:20,040 --> 00:32:24,560 An act of God. An act of God. 520 00:32:25,200 --> 00:32:28,680 It requires an act of God for a barren room to come to life, and 521 00:32:28,680 --> 00:32:31,520 it requires an act of God for a barren soul to come to life. 522 00:32:33,000 --> 00:32:35,520 What is impossible with man is possible with God. 523 00:32:35,960 --> 00:32:39,880 And what was required of Mary is also required of us. 524 00:32:39,880 --> 00:32:42,680 When she heard this news that she would indeed bear a son, 525 00:32:42,680 --> 00:32:46,600 though she was pure and never known a man, you know what she 526 00:32:46,600 --> 00:32:50,400 said in response to that? Let it be to me according to 527 00:32:50,400 --> 00:32:53,480 your word. Let it be according to your 528 00:32:53,480 --> 00:32:56,280 word. If this is possible, then I 529 00:32:56,280 --> 00:32:59,160 trusted I acknowledge it and I will submit to it. 530 00:32:59,440 --> 00:33:01,960 You know what's required of you and let of Jesus statement about 531 00:33:01,960 --> 00:33:04,720 being saved. It's impossible with man but not 532 00:33:04,720 --> 00:33:07,280 with God. You to also acknowledge that you 533 00:33:07,280 --> 00:33:13,400 cannot know eternal life apart from Christ cleansing you and 534 00:33:13,400 --> 00:33:16,640 changing your heart. Let it be done to me. 535 00:33:16,640 --> 00:33:18,680 If this is available to me, then let it be done. 536 00:33:18,800 --> 00:33:21,000 You can't do anything for yourself, no more than Mary 537 00:33:21,000 --> 00:33:24,760 could do anything to produce this kind of a miracle. 538 00:33:25,080 --> 00:33:27,480 It has to be God. It has to be the Holy Spirit 539 00:33:27,480 --> 00:33:30,880 working in your heart. And she responded to that truth 540 00:33:30,880 --> 00:33:32,760 and faith and humility and submission. 541 00:33:32,880 --> 00:33:35,320 And so do you. So do you. 542 00:33:37,320 --> 00:33:40,560 Let it be to me, Let it be to me. 543 00:33:40,560 --> 00:33:44,640 According to your word, you can almost say that is what required 544 00:33:44,640 --> 00:33:47,880 of us in response to the gospel. If this cross can save me. 545 00:33:48,040 --> 00:33:49,760 If Christ wants to extend a gift to me. 546 00:33:49,760 --> 00:33:50,920 If. He wants to wash me. 547 00:33:50,920 --> 00:33:54,640 Then let it be. And you'll know joy in that. 548 00:33:56,640 --> 00:33:59,360 So we see here that Jesus saying a way of salvation has been 549 00:33:59,360 --> 00:34:02,480 made. Man can't do it himself. 550 00:34:02,480 --> 00:34:04,160 Man can't make a way for himself. 551 00:34:04,440 --> 00:34:08,719 And not only is this idea of impossibility with man linked to 552 00:34:08,719 --> 00:34:13,400 the way of salvation, but for the candidates of salvation, For 553 00:34:13,400 --> 00:34:17,080 the candidates of salvation, there is no impossible case with 554 00:34:17,080 --> 00:34:20,560 Christ. There is no person, no matter 555 00:34:20,560 --> 00:34:23,320 what kind of sin they're steeped in, no matter what kind of 556 00:34:23,600 --> 00:34:26,800 strongholds they are stuck behind. 557 00:34:27,000 --> 00:34:30,960 No such person is beyond the. Reach of the saving power if 558 00:34:30,960 --> 00:34:33,360 they would just respond with humility and repentance. 559 00:34:34,560 --> 00:34:37,639 And I think Luke's version of this is so exciting because 560 00:34:37,639 --> 00:34:40,679 again, you heard that in Luke 18 Jesus teaches this very same 561 00:34:40,679 --> 00:34:42,520 thing. But let me remind you what 562 00:34:42,520 --> 00:34:45,920 happens after Luke 18 up to this point, what has been Jesus 563 00:34:45,920 --> 00:34:48,639 saying how hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of 564 00:34:48,639 --> 00:34:50,239 God? It's like a camel going through 565 00:34:50,239 --> 00:34:54,120 the eye of a needle. Oh, but what is impossible with 566 00:34:54,120 --> 00:34:57,520 man is not impossible with God. So let me read this to you. 567 00:34:57,520 --> 00:34:59,120 And if you want to turn there, you can turn there. 568 00:34:59,440 --> 00:35:02,760 But in Luke 1826 to 27, he echoes what we read here in Mark 569 00:35:02,760 --> 00:35:05,000 10. Those who heard it said in Luke 570 00:35:05,000 --> 00:35:10,560 1826, then who can be saved? But he said what is impossible 571 00:35:10,560 --> 00:35:13,480 with man is possible with God. What happens in Luke 19? 572 00:35:16,560 --> 00:35:19,280 We're introduced to a man, and here's his description. 573 00:35:20,400 --> 00:35:23,640 Luke 19, verse one and two. He entered Jericho and was 574 00:35:23,640 --> 00:35:25,720 passing through. And behold, there was a man 575 00:35:25,720 --> 00:35:30,240 named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and 576 00:35:30,240 --> 00:35:32,880 was rich. Here's Jesus. 577 00:35:32,880 --> 00:35:36,040 We just finished saying how difficult it is for those who 578 00:35:36,040 --> 00:35:38,640 are rich to enter the Kingdom of God, and you read a few verses. 579 00:35:38,640 --> 00:35:41,080 This is why you don't just make your devotion verse of the day 580 00:35:41,080 --> 00:35:43,440 on the phone. You can miss out on things like 581 00:35:43,440 --> 00:35:45,560 this. So you're reading, reading, 582 00:35:45,560 --> 00:35:47,880 reading, and all of a sudden you're introduced to a rich man. 583 00:35:48,640 --> 00:35:51,040 Jesus just finished saying how difficult it is for the rich to 584 00:35:51,040 --> 00:35:52,520 be saved. And then you read down in Luke 585 00:35:52,520 --> 00:35:55,080 19/9. When Jesus is in Zacchaeus's 586 00:35:55,080 --> 00:35:58,640 home and Jesus said to him today, salvation has come to 587 00:35:58,640 --> 00:36:02,360 this house. So right after saying how hard 588 00:36:02,360 --> 00:36:06,160 it is, it happened. A rich man did get saved. 589 00:36:06,920 --> 00:36:13,400 Because all things are possible with God, and Peter heard this, 590 00:36:13,400 --> 00:36:16,240 and he wanted to make sure that he was in the right place. 591 00:36:16,240 --> 00:36:21,120 He's hearing impossible camel needles. 592 00:36:21,120 --> 00:36:27,400 Oh, oh, oh, oh. So in Mark 1028, Peter, as a 593 00:36:27,400 --> 00:36:33,560 spokesperson for the disciples, began to say to him, see, we 594 00:36:33,560 --> 00:36:35,040 have left everything and have followed you. 595 00:36:36,400 --> 00:36:39,600 What about us, Lord? You know what he's trying to 596 00:36:39,640 --> 00:36:41,720 say, Lord, we did the opposite of what that guy just did. 597 00:36:42,440 --> 00:36:44,240 He wouldn't want to give up anything and he turned his back. 598 00:36:44,240 --> 00:36:46,280 But we gave up everything that we have to follow you. 599 00:36:46,280 --> 00:36:50,200 So can you give us some more clarity on our condition here? 600 00:36:52,960 --> 00:36:59,040 And Jesus said, truly, I say to you, not just you, but there is 601 00:36:59,040 --> 00:37:02,760 no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or 602 00:37:02,760 --> 00:37:06,520 father or children or lands. For my sake and for the gospel, 603 00:37:08,680 --> 00:37:12,720 hey, this is for you. So listen to what is about to be 604 00:37:12,720 --> 00:37:15,120 said. Who will not receive a 605 00:37:15,160 --> 00:37:22,800 hundredfold now in this time. Houses and brothers and sisters 606 00:37:22,800 --> 00:37:24,680 and mothers and children and lands. 607 00:37:25,480 --> 00:37:27,440 Here's the part that we kind of read fast with persecution. 608 00:37:27,440 --> 00:37:32,160 With persecution no. A hundredfold persecutions too, 609 00:37:34,000 --> 00:37:36,560 with. Persecutions and, in the age to 610 00:37:36,560 --> 00:37:40,320 come, eternal life. So how does this make sense? 611 00:37:41,520 --> 00:37:43,440 How does it make sense according to Jesus words? 612 00:37:43,680 --> 00:37:45,480 Who doesn't lie? Who doesn't even exaggerate? 613 00:37:45,480 --> 00:37:48,720 For that matter, how is it the case that every single believer 614 00:37:48,760 --> 00:37:52,920 who has truly decided to follow Jesus will receive a hundredfold 615 00:37:53,080 --> 00:37:59,160 in their lifetime? In this era, in this age that 616 00:37:59,160 --> 00:38:02,640 whatever you gave up expect a hundredfold to come your way? 617 00:38:04,400 --> 00:38:06,200 Will that be property or persons? 618 00:38:08,440 --> 00:38:12,320 The only way to make sense of this, the answer to this is that 619 00:38:12,320 --> 00:38:15,920 the abundant resources and relationships that you and I 620 00:38:16,080 --> 00:38:18,920 would be able to enjoy on the other side of confessing, on the 621 00:38:18,920 --> 00:38:21,400 other side of repentance, on the other side of pledging your 622 00:38:21,400 --> 00:38:25,520 allegiance to Christ, is in one specific realm in this age, the 623 00:38:25,520 --> 00:38:32,880 Church of Jesus Christ. Because upon confession, upon 624 00:38:32,880 --> 00:38:36,080 repentance, upon putting your trust in Christ, you enter into 625 00:38:36,080 --> 00:38:40,800 this new realm, you have access now to this new reality known as 626 00:38:40,960 --> 00:38:42,720 the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ. 627 00:38:43,600 --> 00:38:49,360 And in that church you have an abundant of family members and 628 00:38:49,360 --> 00:38:55,040 even the support of resources if necessary. 629 00:38:56,480 --> 00:38:58,040 Didn't these disciples experience that? 630 00:38:58,040 --> 00:38:59,640 Didn't the early church experience that? 631 00:38:59,640 --> 00:39:04,640 Do you remember even in Acts, where people sold lands and 632 00:39:04,640 --> 00:39:08,560 homes and gave up their own resources for the sake of other 633 00:39:08,560 --> 00:39:11,640 believers, you see that even the Epistles, where different 634 00:39:11,640 --> 00:39:14,560 churches have come together for the Saints in Jerusalem to be 635 00:39:14,560 --> 00:39:18,280 supported financially. So even Acts, you see the 636 00:39:18,280 --> 00:39:22,440 fruition of this promise where believers who lost family, who 637 00:39:22,440 --> 00:39:26,560 were disowned by family. They gained 100 mothers, 100 638 00:39:26,560 --> 00:39:28,840 fathers, 100 brothers. Look, you're all my brothers and 639 00:39:28,840 --> 00:39:31,360 sisters, mothers and fathers. I hope you feel the same way 640 00:39:31,400 --> 00:39:39,040 about me and the help and the grace and the reliance and the 641 00:39:39,040 --> 00:39:40,960 assistance. Dad, doesn't that tell you what 642 00:39:40,960 --> 00:39:44,920 the church should be? So when I come to this place, I 643 00:39:44,920 --> 00:39:50,800 am to believe that I'm coming home to my siblings, my 644 00:39:50,800 --> 00:39:53,920 spiritual fathers, my and not. Not only that Jesus says homes 645 00:39:53,920 --> 00:39:56,560 and lands to an extent with wisdom, Obviously, yes, there's 646 00:39:56,560 --> 00:39:59,320 protocol here, but I'm to also know that I'm safe. 647 00:39:59,320 --> 00:40:02,440 I shouldn't worry that if I'm ever in a time of need, I have 648 00:40:02,440 --> 00:40:04,360 help. I have. 649 00:40:04,360 --> 00:40:07,440 That's the church. I feel bad for those who've 650 00:40:07,440 --> 00:40:10,240 made-up their church reality, their church experience, to 651 00:40:10,240 --> 00:40:14,160 listen to a sermon once a week. You're robbing yourself a 652 00:40:14,160 --> 00:40:19,040 blessing. And so this all makes sense when 653 00:40:19,040 --> 00:40:21,640 you understand the doctrine of the Church of Jesus Christ. 654 00:40:22,800 --> 00:40:25,680 The key to unlocking what Jesus mentions here is when you 655 00:40:25,680 --> 00:40:29,520 believe that the Church is also. A treasure. 656 00:40:31,640 --> 00:40:33,320 Unfortunately, so many people don't see it. 657 00:40:33,320 --> 00:40:37,640 And let me tell you that if that is the case for you, then you're 658 00:40:37,640 --> 00:40:42,240 the one missing out on brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers and so 659 00:40:42,240 --> 00:40:45,120 many resources, not just physically but spiritually. 660 00:40:45,840 --> 00:40:47,720 But Jesus doesn't even just speak of this era. 661 00:40:47,720 --> 00:40:49,320 He doesn't just speak of this age. 662 00:40:50,040 --> 00:40:53,280 He speaks of eternal life. He speaks of a life to come 663 00:40:53,360 --> 00:40:56,440 where there will be unbroken rest forever and ever and ever 664 00:40:56,440 --> 00:40:59,400 and ever. A family picnic that will not 665 00:40:59,440 --> 00:41:01,880 have an end to it. Maranatha Conference, but it 666 00:41:01,880 --> 00:41:05,200 doesn't end. And so much better than 667 00:41:05,200 --> 00:41:06,800 Maranatha conference, as great as it is. 668 00:41:08,000 --> 00:41:11,080 But you know, there's another time period that Jesus promises 669 00:41:11,080 --> 00:41:13,280 blessing. Not just in this age, not just 670 00:41:13,280 --> 00:41:15,520 in eternal life. There's something in between 671 00:41:15,520 --> 00:41:20,240 that and Jesus highlights it in Matthew's version in Matthew 19. 672 00:41:20,240 --> 00:41:22,280 I want you to see it as we're ready to close in a moment. 673 00:41:23,080 --> 00:41:28,800 Go to Matthew 19 and verse 28. Jesus gives this answer to his 674 00:41:28,800 --> 00:41:31,720 disciples. When Peter asked a very similar 675 00:41:31,720 --> 00:41:43,280 question, Matthew 1928, Jesus said to them. 676 00:41:43,320 --> 00:41:47,080 Truly I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will 677 00:41:47,080 --> 00:41:50,720 sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also 678 00:41:50,720 --> 00:41:55,280 sit on 12 Thrones judging the 12 tribes of Israel. 679 00:41:56,200 --> 00:41:59,080 OK, so this is where we have to do some systematic theology, 680 00:41:59,080 --> 00:42:04,320 right? Is Jesus describing this promise 681 00:42:04,320 --> 00:42:06,320 for this age concerning the disciples? 682 00:42:06,600 --> 00:42:09,240 Very easy answer, no. Why? 683 00:42:09,240 --> 00:42:10,760 Because the disciples are long gone. 684 00:42:11,280 --> 00:42:12,800 They're buried. They're in the presence of our 685 00:42:12,800 --> 00:42:14,720 master. They're not sitting on 12 686 00:42:14,720 --> 00:42:18,000 Thrones in Israel. Something else is happening in 687 00:42:18,000 --> 00:42:21,880 Israel as we speak. Well, are they going to sit on 688 00:42:21,880 --> 00:42:26,640 12 Thrones in the eternal age? No, because no judgment is 689 00:42:26,640 --> 00:42:31,200 necessary in the eternal age. There will be one final judgment 690 00:42:31,520 --> 00:42:33,760 that will usher in the eternal age. 691 00:42:34,160 --> 00:42:36,800 That one final judgement is what you read in Revelation 20, the 692 00:42:36,800 --> 00:42:39,840 Great White Throne Judgement. That's a judgement that you as 693 00:42:39,840 --> 00:42:41,920 believers and I will not stand at. 694 00:42:42,760 --> 00:42:44,720 That's going to be the judgement for those whose names have not 695 00:42:44,720 --> 00:42:47,160 been written in the Lamb's Book of Life, and the degree of their 696 00:42:47,160 --> 00:42:48,880 punishment for eternity will be determined. 697 00:42:48,880 --> 00:42:52,880 Then, and after the Great White Throne judgement, then a new 698 00:42:52,880 --> 00:42:54,640 heavens and a new earth will be created. 699 00:42:54,920 --> 00:43:00,280 So if this is not alluding to this age, and it's not Speaking 700 00:43:00,280 --> 00:43:04,720 of the Eternal age, then when will this promise be fulfilled? 701 00:43:05,600 --> 00:43:10,760 The Millennium? What is tucked in between this 702 00:43:10,760 --> 00:43:15,040 age and the Eternal age? Where Jesus Christ will return, 703 00:43:15,040 --> 00:43:20,040 rule and reign from Jerusalem, and you will also from Jerusalem 704 00:43:20,200 --> 00:43:25,000 in Israel have 12, his 12 sitting upon Thrones, and Israel 705 00:43:25,000 --> 00:43:28,200 will be their jurisdiction. That's when it's going to be 706 00:43:28,200 --> 00:43:30,840 realized. So you got to factor this into 707 00:43:30,840 --> 00:43:33,760 your eschatology here. How does this work with my view 708 00:43:33,760 --> 00:43:35,680 of the timeline of the end times? 709 00:43:36,840 --> 00:43:39,880 Well, Jesus clearly rewards them here with this guarantee, You 710 00:43:39,880 --> 00:43:43,560 will sit with me, those of you, the apostles, in training. 711 00:43:43,560 --> 00:43:47,040 Now I'm telling you that there is a time coming where you will 712 00:43:47,040 --> 00:43:50,520 have positions of power and authority and you will bring 713 00:43:50,520 --> 00:43:52,680 judgment mainly to the Jews. When's that going to happen? 714 00:43:54,200 --> 00:43:58,040 It's going to happen in 1000 year reign when the Lord returns 715 00:43:58,040 --> 00:44:01,320 physically on the earth. I'm not bringing this up to make 716 00:44:01,320 --> 00:44:03,400 a case for the Millennium, the literal physical millennial 717 00:44:03,400 --> 00:44:06,320 reign of Christ. It's to show the extent of the 718 00:44:06,320 --> 00:44:09,160 blessings of those who have surrendered everything to follow 719 00:44:09,160 --> 00:44:11,160 Christ. Here's what Christ is saying 720 00:44:11,160 --> 00:44:13,720 when you collect all these verses, you will know blessing 721 00:44:13,720 --> 00:44:16,240 in this age, you will know blessing in the Millennium, and 722 00:44:16,240 --> 00:44:18,480 you will know blessing in the eternal life to come. 723 00:44:25,320 --> 00:44:26,840 Somebody's very excited about that truth. 724 00:44:29,320 --> 00:44:31,800 And so this is something that Christ guarantees all of us. 725 00:44:33,160 --> 00:44:36,800 But he finishes off in a beautiful summary in verse 31 in 726 00:44:36,800 --> 00:44:39,760 Mark 10. But many who are first will be 727 00:44:39,760 --> 00:44:43,840 last and the last first. You've heard that before, 728 00:44:43,840 --> 00:44:45,200 haven't you? You've seen that in different 729 00:44:45,200 --> 00:44:46,520 portions of the gospel, have you not? 730 00:44:47,040 --> 00:44:49,480 Well, depending where it's placed will really determine its 731 00:44:49,480 --> 00:44:51,960 meeting meaning and its meaning here. 732 00:44:52,000 --> 00:44:55,080 You can't divorce it from what we just studied and learned. 733 00:44:55,840 --> 00:44:58,800 When the Lord says many who are first, we last and last for the 734 00:44:58,800 --> 00:45:02,600 last first, He is trying to now bring in all what He just said, 735 00:45:02,600 --> 00:45:05,720 concerning those who are rich in this life and how they will 736 00:45:05,720 --> 00:45:08,040 forfeit so much in the life to come, and those who have given 737 00:45:08,040 --> 00:45:11,080 up so much in this life and all the rewards that they will know. 738 00:45:11,320 --> 00:45:13,440 In the life to come, here's what he's essentially saying. 739 00:45:13,440 --> 00:45:16,720 Those who have gained in this life at the expense of rejecting 740 00:45:16,720 --> 00:45:19,800 Christ will end up losing more. They can imagine. 741 00:45:21,640 --> 00:45:25,560 But those who have sacrificed in this life to follow Christ will 742 00:45:25,560 --> 00:45:28,440 end up gaining more than they can imagine. 743 00:45:29,920 --> 00:45:31,840 That's the promise that Jesus has for you. 744 00:45:32,440 --> 00:45:35,120 And you're already experiencing that blessing, are you not? 745 00:45:36,280 --> 00:45:39,160 Are you not? If you need a reminder, where 746 00:45:39,160 --> 00:45:42,720 you're at right now is the fulfillment of what Jesus said. 747 00:45:43,520 --> 00:45:45,320 Look at all your brothers. Look at all your sisters. 748 00:45:45,320 --> 00:45:47,240 And by God's grace and in his perfect. 749 00:45:47,240 --> 00:45:49,680 Provision, he will add. To this place if he sees fit. 750 00:45:50,680 --> 00:45:53,600 And not only in this place, Not only in this place, but the 751 00:45:53,600 --> 00:45:58,920 church at large, across the lands are the extension of this 752 00:45:58,920 --> 00:46:00,560 blessing. I shared this testimony before, 753 00:46:00,560 --> 00:46:01,960 but I'll share it again as I close. 754 00:46:02,840 --> 00:46:05,520 I remember we were on a family vacation coming back from a trip 755 00:46:05,520 --> 00:46:07,240 and. We were sitting on a flight and 756 00:46:07,240 --> 00:46:09,720 across from the aisle was a couple and they were very 757 00:46:09,720 --> 00:46:11,080 friendly. We end up finding very quickly 758 00:46:11,080 --> 00:46:13,880 that they were believers and like believers. 759 00:46:13,880 --> 00:46:16,720 You know, the believers, It's like you're a believer, You're a 760 00:46:16,720 --> 00:46:18,280 believer. Not like are you a believer? 761 00:46:18,280 --> 00:46:21,480 No, you're a believer. Spirit bears witness. 762 00:46:22,920 --> 00:46:25,280 And we talked and talked about the things of God and the 763 00:46:25,280 --> 00:46:27,480 ministries that they're involved in their testimonies. 764 00:46:27,480 --> 00:46:29,200 I mean, it was a 5 hour flying when we landed. 765 00:46:29,200 --> 00:46:33,680 We went and walked to get our baggage and finally when we got 766 00:46:33,680 --> 00:46:35,680 our stuff and we made our way, obviously we weren't going to 767 00:46:35,680 --> 00:46:38,120 the same house. So we're ready to split ways and 768 00:46:38,120 --> 00:46:40,560 we looked at each other and we had such an amazing time 769 00:46:40,640 --> 00:46:42,840 conversing on that flight and even conversing in the airport. 770 00:46:42,840 --> 00:46:46,200 And here's what this gentleman said with his wife, with total 771 00:46:46,200 --> 00:46:50,320 confidence, not in a fascist way and with total confidence as 772 00:46:50,320 --> 00:46:52,440 though he was saying I'll see you next week is what he said, 773 00:46:52,880 --> 00:46:58,800 see you in heaven, brother. I was like, that's right, I'll 774 00:46:58,800 --> 00:47:01,080 see you in glory too. And there you go and walked off. 775 00:47:05,000 --> 00:47:08,600 Who else in the world can say that with absolute confidence 776 00:47:09,280 --> 00:47:11,920 because of what their savior has done for them? 777 00:47:11,920 --> 00:47:14,400 Only we have a Savior who has done everything necessary for us 778 00:47:14,400 --> 00:47:18,040 to be saved and to have those kind of treasures in this life 779 00:47:18,040 --> 00:47:21,800 and the life to come. So do you have it? 780 00:47:23,040 --> 00:47:26,520 Oh, you might have a lot. What does it compare with this 781 00:47:26,520 --> 00:47:29,440 though? Oh, you lot of hopes and dreams. 782 00:47:29,440 --> 00:47:31,440 Guess what? They're going to die with you. 783 00:47:31,440 --> 00:47:35,280 When you die, do you have eternal hope? 784 00:47:36,320 --> 00:47:38,040 Do you have treasures that don't expire? 785 00:47:39,520 --> 00:47:42,840 Do you have blessings that no thief can steal and no moth can 786 00:47:42,840 --> 00:47:43,560 rot? Do you? 787 00:47:45,640 --> 00:47:46,640 Let me tell you where you can get it? 788 00:47:46,640 --> 00:47:49,560 Only in one thing, Only in one person, only responding to one 789 00:47:49,560 --> 00:47:51,680 truth. And that's Jesus Christ, Him 790 00:47:51,680 --> 00:47:59,560 crucified, raised from the dead, extending his hand, asking you 791 00:47:59,560 --> 00:48:02,440 to know true riches by doing what? 792 00:48:02,600 --> 00:48:06,960 Losing your life. So let me put it this way, 793 00:48:06,960 --> 00:48:09,760 because New Year's is a very special time for me. 794 00:48:09,760 --> 00:48:11,600 It's where things changed for me in 2012. 795 00:48:11,600 --> 00:48:14,040 And so I want to extend the invitation that I had when I was 796 00:48:14,040 --> 00:48:18,040 20 years old. Not through a preacher, just 797 00:48:18,040 --> 00:48:20,160 through this book. This book is powerful. 798 00:48:22,600 --> 00:48:23,880 Why not? On this new year, you do 799 00:48:23,880 --> 00:48:25,960 something greater than making a resolution that you probably 800 00:48:25,960 --> 00:48:27,240 won't keep. You're going to get that gym 801 00:48:27,240 --> 00:48:29,160 membership. I hope you keep it, but it might 802 00:48:29,160 --> 00:48:34,880 not last past a month. You can make a resolution, the 803 00:48:34,880 --> 00:48:37,920 most important resolution, and that is reconciling with God. 804 00:48:38,680 --> 00:48:41,440 I mean, I'm not trying to sound clever in the way I'm speaking 805 00:48:41,440 --> 00:48:43,080 here. I'm trying to speak clearly, 806 00:48:43,920 --> 00:48:47,200 very directly. Wouldn't it be something 807 00:48:47,200 --> 00:48:48,800 special? That every new year you can look 808 00:48:48,800 --> 00:48:52,440 back and say, was this time going into 2024, where I got 809 00:48:52,440 --> 00:48:55,680 right with God and my life has never been the same? 810 00:48:57,600 --> 00:49:01,320 I want you to experience that. I want you in this place to know 811 00:49:01,320 --> 00:49:03,680 that you can bend your knee. That God and his Providence has 812 00:49:03,680 --> 00:49:06,240 brought you to this room to hear this message so that you can get 813 00:49:06,240 --> 00:49:08,720 right with him. No matter how many times you've 814 00:49:08,720 --> 00:49:10,880 ignored him in the past, no matter how many times you put 815 00:49:10,880 --> 00:49:14,680 riches above your relationship with God, it can all change. 816 00:49:14,680 --> 00:49:16,280 Now God has gotten your attention. 817 00:49:16,280 --> 00:49:19,360 I hope for you to make a decision that you will never 818 00:49:19,360 --> 00:49:21,720 regret, no matter what it costs you in this life. 819 00:49:22,520 --> 00:49:26,200 It doesn't compare to the reward that is now and that will come. 820 00:49:27,000 --> 00:49:30,000 Give your life to Christ. Surrender to Him. 821 00:49:30,000 --> 00:49:31,760 Now. Say yes to him. 822 00:49:32,720 --> 00:49:35,040 Why would you ignore? Why swat his hand away? 823 00:49:35,080 --> 00:49:36,880 What else are you going to go to? 824 00:49:39,560 --> 00:49:42,120 Just before you move on, and before you go and check your 825 00:49:42,120 --> 00:49:44,040 phone, and before you look at your stocks again, and before 826 00:49:44,040 --> 00:49:46,920 you think about how you're going to get better and how you're 827 00:49:46,920 --> 00:49:50,040 going to acquire more, just listen to me for a moment. 828 00:49:51,120 --> 00:49:54,200 It's not worth it. Don't be deceived by riches. 829 00:49:54,200 --> 00:49:58,360 Don't be deceived by sin. Realize that God, the God who 830 00:49:58,360 --> 00:50:02,320 created you and made you, made you primarily to worship him and 831 00:50:02,320 --> 00:50:04,680 to know him. You will never be satisfied. 832 00:50:04,680 --> 00:50:10,320 Any satisfaction and the pursuit of personal progression and 833 00:50:10,320 --> 00:50:15,160 profit doesn't even compare. It just skims your heart. 834 00:50:15,200 --> 00:50:17,680 This what I'm speaking about in Christ Jesus. 835 00:50:17,840 --> 00:50:20,600 Will deal with the deepest parts of who you are. 836 00:50:23,200 --> 00:50:26,320 And so the way you access that is by hearing what is just said 837 00:50:26,320 --> 00:50:29,400 and realizing that God has forgiven you in Christ, that he 838 00:50:29,400 --> 00:50:32,680 sent us something to die for you, shed His blood for you and 839 00:50:32,680 --> 00:50:35,800 conquered death for you. And that you can accept that 840 00:50:35,800 --> 00:50:40,200 gift and say, Lord, I I put everything aside. 841 00:50:40,200 --> 00:50:42,920 I put it all at your feet. I say, I don't want anything 842 00:50:42,920 --> 00:50:45,640 more than you. I want all that you have to 843 00:50:45,640 --> 00:50:47,280 offer. Would you give me yourself? 844 00:50:47,280 --> 00:50:49,280 Would you give me forgiveness? And through that forgiveness, 845 00:50:49,280 --> 00:50:52,200 access to friendship with you and God will answer you. 846 00:50:52,640 --> 00:50:55,480 Please make this decision. Please don't deny it. 847 00:50:55,720 --> 00:51:06,160 Please don't reject it. Father, we pray today and 848 00:51:06,160 --> 00:51:15,160 Thanksgiving, being reminded that our true riches are in 849 00:51:15,160 --> 00:51:20,400 Christ. And perhaps some might be 850 00:51:20,400 --> 00:51:24,120 fearful for this new year, a year that's going to be 851 00:51:24,120 --> 00:51:29,520 politically charged, a year that many are making forecasts about, 852 00:51:29,520 --> 00:51:32,960 even economically. But, Lord, our security is not 853 00:51:32,960 --> 00:51:37,000 in our bank account. You are a provider. 854 00:51:37,920 --> 00:51:40,760 You are our Sustainer. You are our Savior. 855 00:51:42,280 --> 00:51:46,040 Lord, we just ask that there be rekindled affections for you. 856 00:51:47,280 --> 00:51:49,920 Many of us believe the truths that we just heard, but perhaps 857 00:51:49,920 --> 00:51:54,080 our feelings, our affections, are not aligned with what we 858 00:51:54,080 --> 00:51:57,800 know to be sound. Lord, help us come alive in 859 00:51:57,800 --> 00:51:59,800 realizing what we have in Christ. 860 00:52:00,640 --> 00:52:05,360 For the person here who heard these truths and can't connect 861 00:52:05,360 --> 00:52:10,240 with them because it seems intangible, it seems invisible, 862 00:52:10,240 --> 00:52:14,560 It seems theoretical. Lord, by your Holy Spirit, would 863 00:52:14,560 --> 00:52:19,480 you show them the experiential reality of Christ? 864 00:52:20,080 --> 00:52:22,600 We can't do it. We can't provide that power. 865 00:52:22,600 --> 00:52:26,680 Only you can provide that power. And so we ask that you would 866 00:52:26,720 --> 00:52:29,640 brood over this place, more importantly, over every heart in 867 00:52:29,640 --> 00:52:33,000 this place, and that we would experience a fresh touch from 868 00:52:33,000 --> 00:52:36,160 you. We worship You, Lord, declaring 869 00:52:36,160 --> 00:52:41,080 that you indeed our treasure and you indeed are alone worthy of 870 00:52:41,080 --> 00:52:43,960 our worship. In Christ's name we pray. 871 00:52:43,960 --> 00:52:45,080 Amen. Amen. 872 00:52:46,800 --> 00:52:48,040 Let's stand together, Saints.