Allen Jackson - Money Matters (Part 2)

August 13, 2025 | S25 E228 | 28:35

Pastor Allen Jackson's mission is to help people become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.

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Allen Jackson Ministries | Allen Jackson - Money Matters (Part 2) | August 13, 2025
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Allen jackson: hey, i sat down recently
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  • With my father to do a podcast for my
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  • "culture & christianity" podcast, and it was
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  • So valuable to me.
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  • I mean, it was stories that obviously i'm familiar with, but
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  • As i heard him recount his faith, it ignited something in
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  • Me about the faithfulness of god across generations.
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  • Well, i encouraged my dad to put together a book about his
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  • Experiences with the holy spirit.
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  • It changed his life, my parents' life, ultimately my
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  • Family's life.
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  • I believe the book will be a real encouragement to you.
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  • I want to make it available to you right along with "unleashing
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  • The power of the holy spirit."
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  • It's something i put together a while back that's been one of
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  • The most effective tools we've ever had in the ministry.
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  • Together they'll open the doorway for you to not just have
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  • Language around the holy spirit, but to have something to
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  • Actually do to invite him into your life on a regular basis, to
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  • Give you the wisdom you need, to help you unlock the problems
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  • That we face.
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  • The spirit of god within us to help us, guide us, and direct
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  • Us, that's invaluable and these books will help you understand.
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Allen: i think it really takes some perverse effort to
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  • Interpret scripture and say that god is a socialist.
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  • Look at 1 corinthians chapter 12, and verse 14, "now the body
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  • Is not made up of one part but of many, and if the foot should
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  • Say, 'because i'm not a hand, i don't belong to the body,' it
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  • Wouldn't for that reason cease to be a part of the body."
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  • And paul actually goes on to use several body parts and he's
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  • Overemphasizing it.
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  • Repetition is a way of making emphasis.
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  • He said, "listen, if your hand says, you know, 'i'm not the
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  • Foot, so one of us isn't a part of the body,'" he said
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  • That's absurd.
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  • But hands and feet do different things.
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  • They have different strengths.
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  • They contribute in a different way.
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  • They're not identical.
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  • So in that context, in verse 18, he says, "in fact god has
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  • Arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he
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  • Wanted them to be.
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  • If they were all one part, where would the body be?
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  • As it is, there are many parts, but one body."
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  • I'll give you the middle tennessee interpretation
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  • Of that.
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  • God gives each of us gifts and abilities.
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  • And our assignment is to be the steward of the gifts and the
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  • Abilities he gives to us.
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  • Say, "well, i don't like that."
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  • Okay, duly noted.
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  • You can take it up with the boss when you see him.
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  • What this is, is an explanation of our circumstances if you want
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  • To be faithful to god and please him.
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  • If you do that, there's blessings that will come to you.
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  • In fact, at all times, you'll have all that you need for every
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  • Good work.
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  • If you choose to be in charge, you can try that and see how
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  • That works.
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  • But the biblical notion is our assignment is the stewardship of
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  • Our gifts.
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  • We are told, in fact, to avoid things like envy, covetousness,
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  • Wanting what other people have, greed, discontentment.
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  • And it's not just money, we look at other people and we're mad
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  • They got gifts we didn't get.
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  • Clearly, i can't play golf like john rahm.
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  • Seems a little unfair to me.
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  • I'm really good at cleaning stalls.
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  • Society does not attach, clearly, the same economic value
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  • To that.
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  • I can't envy or be covetous to those.
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  • I can enjoy them.
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  • I can benefit from them.
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  • I can't sing like a katina.
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  • They were one short today.
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  • Did you notice they did not invite me to fill in that void?
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  • But that was a little unthoughtful on their part.
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  • But for me, i thought it was very thoughtful on your part
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  • That they didn't invite me to do that.
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  • But we get confused on this point and we become jealous of
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  • People that have what we don't have.
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  • And we envy, and we covet, and people whose motives aren't
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  • Pure, then will motivate you by your wrong motives, by your envy
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  • And your covetousness, and they'll say, "they shouldn't
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  • Have that, so we should take something from them."
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  • Look, if the government was in charge of flowers, we'd only
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  • Have one kind and it would be one color, gray.
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  • When god made flowers, he made an infinite variety of every
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  • Imaginable color and shape and hue.
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  • It's remarkable his creation.
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  • We take verses of scripture and we misuse them to
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  • Manipulate people.
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  • James 1:27, "religion that god our father accepts as pure and
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  • Faultless as this: to look after orphans and widows in their
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  • Distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by
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  • The world."
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  • We have a biblical assignment to care for those less fortunate
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  • Than ourselves.
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  • I believe that's true.
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  • James said we have a special direction towards widows
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  • And orphans.
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  • How many of you have heard that at least once in your life?
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  • Nobody's going to raise their hand.
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  • It's like an auction.
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  • Don't raise your hand.
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  • There's probably something connected to it.
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  • I'm like, i bet most of us have heard it.
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  • In psalm 68, and verse 5, it says of god, he's, "a father to
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  • The fatherless, a defender of widows, god in his
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  • Holy dwelling."
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  • You don't want to pick on widows.
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  • God defends them.
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  • But you really need the broadest understanding of scripture, it
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  • Will help you.
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  • In 1 timothy chapter 5, that's the new testament for those of
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  • You who are really monitoring this.
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  • Paul, again, he's coaching a young man to provide leadership
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  • To the church in ephesus and beyond.
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  • He imagines his life and ministry will exceed his own,
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  • And he says, "no widow may be put on the list of widows
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  • Unless," so being a widow alone doesn't qualify you.
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  • Like most of the promises of god, there's conditions to be
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  • Met, even if you're a widow.
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  • Not in my opinion, it's like in the book, it's in the
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  • New testament.
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  • That's the chill part.
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  • "no widow may be put on the list of widows unless she's over
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  • Sixty, has been faithful to her husband, she's well known for
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  • Her good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing
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  • Hospitality, washing the feet of the saints, helping those in
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  • Trouble and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds."
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  • So there's even qualifications for our kindness and generosity.
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  • Do we help people sometimes who lives are struggling?
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  • Sure, but don't manipulate people.
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  • There's one more verse there, 2 thessalonians 3, "when we were
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  • With you, we gave you this rule:" paul's writing to
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  • A church.
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  • He's writing to the church, "if a man will not work, he
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  • Doesn't eat."
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  • Wow, now the room really is quiet.
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  • So i would submit to you, and it's really a significant
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  • Misconception that everyone should share equally.
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  • Not a biblical idea.
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  • We have different talents and different gifts and different
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  • Abilities, yes, we're all accountable for that.
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  • But we're being manipulated by people fueling envy and greed,
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  • And all sorts of ungodly things.
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  • And typically the people trying to motivate you with that, want
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  • More of your stuff.
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  • There's a third misconception.
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  • This one lives large in the church as well.
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  • I tried to take the ones that live amongst us.
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  • The prosperity is an indicator of holiness.
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  • If you have more, you must be really godly.
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  • Because we'll flip the script either way, whatever gives us an
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  • Advantage, that's called carnal.
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  • In matthew 6, jesus is teaching.
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  • He said this, "seek first his kingdom and his righteousness,
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  • And all these things will be given to you as well."
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  • And he's been talking about food, clothing, and shelter, our
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  • Material assets.
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  • He said, "if you'll seek first the kingdom of god, god will
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  • Give you those things."
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  • It's a promise.
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  • It's much like what we read in corinthians.
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  • God said, "if you'll honor me, if you'll recognize my grace and
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  • Cooperate with my grace at all times, you'll have all that
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  • You need.
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  • Jesus said, "seek first my kingdom."
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  • Our first priority is the kingdom of god.
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  • Remember i said we all have a choice.
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  • God gave us a choice.
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  • This is where our priorities come into play.
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  • Our first choice has to be the kingdom of god.
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  • The promise attached to that is god's blessing.
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  • But if we want the blessing more than we want to please god, or
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  • Reflect his kingdom, we will forfeit the blessing.
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  • The bible is very clear.
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  • We could go from the old testament through the new.
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  • Abundance is a blessing of god and poverty is a curse.
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  • We can choose to live sacrificial lives as a means of
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  • Honoring god, the same way we choose to fast from food or we
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  • Give our time as an expression of service.
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  • But fasting doesn't make me holy.
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  • Fasting is a discipline that shows me how fragile i am and
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  • Turns my attention to god.
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  • You can fast and be carnal.
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  • So please understand, abundance from god is a blessing.
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  • Poverty is a curse.
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  • Poverty does not make you holy.
  • 00:09:07.863 --> 00:09:11.767
  • Well, it's just as inappropriate to say, if somebody doesn't have
  • 00:09:11.767 --> 00:09:15.171
  • A great deal, that they must be sinful, as it would be wrong to
  • 00:09:15.171 --> 00:09:18.574
  • Say if somebody has a great deal, they must be godly.
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  • Don't conflate the two.
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  • Meet the conditions of the promises.
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  • In fact, the bible tells us very clearly that wealth brings some
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  • Challenges with it.
  • 00:09:28.084 --> 00:09:29.418
  • In luke 18, jesus is speaking again, and he said, the young
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  • Man had just approached him.
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  • Jesus invited him to be a disciple.
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  • And when the negotiation was done, the man walked away
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  • Because he felt the price was too high.
  • 00:09:40.229 --> 00:09:43.165
  • Imagine that, being invited to be in jesus's inner circle, and
  • 00:09:43.165 --> 00:09:47.236
  • Whatever the ticket cost was, you said it was too high?
  • 00:09:47.236 --> 00:09:50.606
  • That's a lack of awareness of the value of jesus's inner
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  • Circle, agreed?
  • 00:09:52.875 --> 00:09:55.344
  • You know, he's still giving that invitation.
  • 00:09:55.344 --> 00:09:58.814
  • Oftentimes we choose not to be obedient to the lord because we
  • 00:09:58.814 --> 00:10:01.851
  • Think the price is too high.
  • 00:10:01.851 --> 00:10:04.720
  • "well, if i spoke up and said what i really thought to be
  • 00:10:04.720 --> 00:10:07.023
  • True, there'd be a consequence and i don't want to pay it," so
  • 00:10:07.023 --> 00:10:09.925
  • We stay silent.
  • 00:10:09.925 --> 00:10:13.029
  • If i really encourage my family towards godliness, there could
  • 00:10:13.029 --> 00:10:16.532
  • Be repercussions at the holiday table, and i don't want to deal
  • 00:10:16.532 --> 00:10:18.968
  • With the repercussions, so i'll just stay silent in the face of
  • 00:10:18.968 --> 00:10:22.872
  • Their ungodliness.
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  • We make these choices all the time.
  • 00:10:24.206 --> 00:10:26.409
  • So don't think about it just in terms of wealth.
  • 00:10:26.409 --> 00:10:28.344
  • We have some very clear instructions on wealth.
  • 00:10:28.344 --> 00:10:30.379
  • You know, the bible talks more about our money than it does
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  • About prayer.
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  • And it's not always talking about us giving it away.
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  • It's just sometimes what to do with it.
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  • We need god's wisdom so we can use what he trusts us with to
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  • Make the greatest impact in this world and the greatest
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  • Opportunity in the world to come.
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  • We need godly people to be the wealthiest people on the planet.
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  • There would be an advantage in that.
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  • But god can't trust us with it if we can't get our
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  • Hearts right.
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  • He loves us more than he wants us to have stuff.
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  • So jesus is giving some instructions.
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  • This young man has walked away.
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  • He declined the invitation.
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  • And jesus looks at his disciples and, "see how hard it is for the
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  • Rich to enter the kingdom of god!"
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  • That's a sobering statement.
  • 00:11:09.885 --> 00:11:11.253
  • This is jesus, our lord.
  • 00:11:11.253 --> 00:11:12.588
  • He said, "it's hard for the rich to enter the kingdom of god!"
  • 00:11:12.588 --> 00:11:16.125
  • Now one escape clause there is nobody thinks they're rich.
  • 00:11:16.125 --> 00:11:20.529
  • No matter how much we have, we're not rich.
  • 00:11:20.529 --> 00:11:22.264
  • We know somebody's rich, but we're not rich.
  • 00:11:22.264 --> 00:11:25.501
  • You know it's always a sliding scale, it's like thin people.
  • 00:11:25.501 --> 00:11:29.605
  • You say, "you're so thin."
  • 00:11:29.605 --> 00:11:30.940
  • "oh, i'm not thin.
  • 00:11:30.940 --> 00:11:33.375
  • I'm 4 ounces heavy today."
  • 00:11:33.375 --> 00:11:37.413
  • Oh stop, "it's hard for the rich to enter the kingdom of god.
  • 00:11:37.413 --> 00:11:44.687
  • Indeed, it's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a
  • 00:11:44.687 --> 00:11:47.723
  • Needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of god."
  • 00:11:47.723 --> 00:11:49.925
  • He's got my attention now, not a physical needle.
  • 00:11:49.925 --> 00:11:53.262
  • He's not saying it's impossible.
  • 00:11:53.262 --> 00:11:55.164
  • An eye of a needle is a narrow place in a trail where the camel
  • 00:11:55.164 --> 00:11:58.033
  • Caravans are passing, and to get the camel through the narrow
  • 00:11:58.033 --> 00:12:01.237
  • Place you have to take the packs off, maybe even get the camel
  • 00:12:01.237 --> 00:12:04.840
  • Down on their knees, help them get through the narrow place.
  • 00:12:04.840 --> 00:12:07.943
  • So there's a lot of effort involved.
  • 00:12:07.943 --> 00:12:09.879
  • It's not just a casual walk.
  • 00:12:09.879 --> 00:12:12.448
  • So the more you have, the more intentional you have to be with
  • 00:12:12.448 --> 00:12:16.085
  • Regard to your relationship with the kingdom of god.
  • 00:12:16.085 --> 00:12:19.388
  • That's a biblical principle, "those who heard this asked,
  • 00:12:19.388 --> 00:12:26.428
  • 'well then who then can be saved?'
  • 00:12:26.428 --> 00:12:28.964
  • And jesus said, 'what is impossible with men is possible
  • 00:12:28.964 --> 00:12:31.767
  • With god.'
  • 00:12:31.767 --> 00:12:33.335
  • And peter chimed in, 'we've left everything to follow you!'"
  • 00:12:33.335 --> 00:12:37.339
  • Now you can read that passage and you can dismiss it and say,
  • 00:12:37.339 --> 00:12:39.341
  • "i'm not wealthy."
  • 00:12:39.341 --> 00:12:41.277
  • Or it applies to somebody else who has more than i do, but i
  • 00:12:41.277 --> 00:12:44.013
  • Would remind you, at least in passing, that by global
  • 00:12:44.013 --> 00:12:47.016
  • Standards today, everybody listening to this is wealthy.
  • 00:12:47.016 --> 00:12:53.489
  • Much of the world has never had a pair of shoes.
  • 00:12:53.489 --> 00:12:57.560
  • About half the world has never slept on a sheet.
  • 00:12:57.560 --> 00:13:02.832
  • We're wealthy.
  • 00:13:02.832 --> 00:13:05.000
  • We have so much, there's too much of us.
  • 00:13:05.000 --> 00:13:08.971
  • We have so much stuff, we have to rent little rooms away from
  • 00:13:08.971 --> 00:13:11.674
  • Our homes where we can keep it.
  • 00:13:11.674 --> 00:13:15.144
  • We are wealthy.
  • 00:13:15.144 --> 00:13:16.478
  • We need to listen to what jesus is saying.
  • 00:13:16.478 --> 00:13:18.013
  • The misconception that prosperity is an indicator of
  • 00:13:18.013 --> 00:13:21.183
  • Holiness is really incomplete.
  • 00:13:21.183 --> 00:13:22.885
  • So we've got three we've unpacked, all right?
  • 00:13:22.885 --> 00:13:25.421
  • Just for the record, it's unspiritual to be rich,
  • 00:13:25.421 --> 00:13:27.489
  • Not biblical.
  • 00:13:27.489 --> 00:13:29.091
  • Everyone should share equally, not biblical.
  • 00:13:29.091 --> 00:13:31.360
  • Dei is ungodly and prosperity is an indicator of holiness, i
  • 00:13:31.360 --> 00:13:38.167
  • Don't think so.
  • 00:13:38.167 --> 00:13:39.535
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:13:39.535 --> 00:13:43.672
  • Allen: hey, i got a question.
  • 00:13:45.941 --> 00:13:47.309
  • What's the eternal breath of life?
  • 00:13:47.309 --> 00:13:49.979
  • Well, the answer is a new book my dad just wrote.
  • 00:13:49.979 --> 00:13:52.181
  • When i sat down to do a podcast with him, and i was listening to
  • 00:13:52.181 --> 00:13:55.217
  • His story about how god had moved in his life and my
  • 00:13:55.217 --> 00:13:58.120
  • Family's life all the way up to the beginning of the church that
  • 00:13:58.120 --> 00:14:00.489
  • I've served now for several decades, i was so reminded of
  • 00:14:00.489 --> 00:14:04.093
  • The purpose and the power of the spirit of god in our lives, i
  • 00:14:04.093 --> 00:14:07.062
  • Asked him to put it in a book.
  • 00:14:07.062 --> 00:14:08.697
  • That's what we're sharing with you.
  • 00:14:08.697 --> 00:14:10.399
  • We all need god's help.
  • 00:14:10.399 --> 00:14:11.767
  • We all face challenges.
  • 00:14:11.767 --> 00:14:13.102
  • Life's not easy no matter who you are, but the spirit of god
  • 00:14:13.102 --> 00:14:15.905
  • Is present within us to bring the power and purposes of god
  • 00:14:15.905 --> 00:14:20.175
  • To bear in our lives.
  • 00:14:20.175 --> 00:14:22.011
  • I believe the book will be a blessing for you.
  • 00:14:22.011 --> 00:14:24.713
  • You'll pair it with, "unleashing the power of the holy spirit."
  • 00:14:24.713 --> 00:14:27.483
  • It's one of the most effective tools we have.
  • 00:14:27.483 --> 00:14:29.818
  • It'll give you a pathway that i believe will bring god's best
  • 00:14:29.818 --> 00:14:33.222
  • Into your family.
  • 00:14:33.222 --> 00:14:34.556
  • You may not plant a church, but you have been given the
  • 00:14:34.556 --> 00:14:36.725
  • Assignment as an ambassador for the kingdom of god, and we need
  • 00:14:36.725 --> 00:14:39.795
  • The help of the holy spirit.
  • 00:14:39.795 --> 00:14:41.563
  • Enjoy the book.
  • 00:14:41.563 --> 00:14:42.898
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:14:42.898 --> 00:14:49.772
  • Allen: so i want to wrap it up with a real quick lesson in
  • 00:14:51.707 --> 00:14:53.609
  • Kingdom economics.
  • 00:14:53.609 --> 00:14:54.944
  • We'll come back and work on this a little more.
  • 00:14:54.944 --> 00:14:56.278
  • If you want a larger passage, you want to read and meditate
  • 00:14:56.278 --> 00:14:58.213
  • And think about it a little more, go read matthew 25, 14
  • 00:14:58.213 --> 00:15:01.817
  • To 30.
  • 00:15:01.817 --> 00:15:03.185
  • And it's helpful to note that, that's in the context of this
  • 00:15:03.185 --> 00:15:04.920
  • Lengthy discussion jesus is giving about the end of the age.
  • 00:15:04.920 --> 00:15:09.058
  • So at the end of the age, the suggestion seems to be it's
  • 00:15:09.058 --> 00:15:11.560
  • Going to be a time with some unprecedented opportunities for
  • 00:15:11.560 --> 00:15:14.196
  • Resource accumulation.
  • 00:15:14.196 --> 00:15:17.866
  • I gave you two verses from that matthew 25.
  • 00:15:17.866 --> 00:15:20.002
  • They're the book end verses.
  • 00:15:20.002 --> 00:15:21.337
  • It's the parable of the stewards given resources and left with
  • 00:15:21.337 --> 00:15:25.874
  • Them for a season and then there's an accounting.
  • 00:15:25.874 --> 00:15:29.545
  • And these are the evaluations of two of the people that were
  • 00:15:29.545 --> 00:15:32.247
  • Entrusted with assets.
  • 00:15:32.247 --> 00:15:34.049
  • In verse 21, the response is, "well done, good and
  • 00:15:34.049 --> 00:15:36.385
  • Faithful servant!
  • 00:15:36.385 --> 00:15:37.753
  • You've been faithful with a few things; i'll put you in charge
  • 00:15:37.753 --> 00:15:40.055
  • Of many things.
  • 00:15:40.055 --> 00:15:41.390
  • Come and share your master's happiness!"
  • 00:15:41.390 --> 00:15:44.193
  • That was the person that had actually been given more.
  • 00:15:44.193 --> 00:15:47.296
  • You've been faithful with that, you can have even more.
  • 00:15:47.296 --> 00:15:50.265
  • On the other end of the spectrum, somebody had been just
  • 00:15:50.265 --> 00:15:52.034
  • Given the least amount of resources and trusted with them.
  • 00:15:52.034 --> 00:15:54.336
  • It should have been the easiest lift, but they buried it.
  • 00:15:54.336 --> 00:15:57.773
  • They didn't do anything with it.
  • 00:15:57.773 --> 00:15:59.675
  • They were fear based and the response in verse 28 was, "take
  • 00:15:59.675 --> 00:16:03.178
  • The talent from him and give it to the one who has the
  • 00:16:03.178 --> 00:16:05.180
  • Ten talents."
  • 00:16:05.180 --> 00:16:07.316
  • And in the context, he's called evil and wicked.
  • 00:16:07.316 --> 00:16:11.086
  • I assure you, how you handle your stuff has spiritual
  • 00:16:11.086 --> 00:16:15.290
  • Connotation, it does.
  • 00:16:15.290 --> 00:16:19.995
  • Please don't take my opinion for it.
  • 00:16:19.995 --> 00:16:21.463
  • Read your bibles, get to know what god says.
  • 00:16:21.463 --> 00:16:23.699
  • I'll give you three simple principles around god's attitude
  • 00:16:23.699 --> 00:16:27.202
  • Towards your money.
  • 00:16:27.202 --> 00:16:28.537
  • God's entrusted each of us with various gifts, not the same,
  • 00:16:28.537 --> 00:16:31.473
  • We've all got different things, different talents, different
  • 00:16:31.473 --> 00:16:33.575
  • Abilities, different opportunities, all sorts of
  • 00:16:33.575 --> 00:16:35.377
  • Different circumstances.
  • 00:16:35.377 --> 00:16:39.148
  • Secondly, god gives us the freedom to develop those gifts.
  • 00:16:39.148 --> 00:16:41.884
  • I've told you on many occasions, i've traveled places in
  • 00:16:41.884 --> 00:16:43.852
  • The world.
  • 00:16:43.852 --> 00:16:45.187
  • I became very conscious that it was only god's grace that
  • 00:16:45.187 --> 00:16:46.922
  • Defined the circumstances of my birth.
  • 00:16:46.922 --> 00:16:48.524
  • I could have been born in the amazon river valley and never
  • 00:16:48.524 --> 00:16:51.093
  • Seen electricity.
  • 00:16:51.093 --> 00:16:54.163
  • It would be foolish for me to have an inflated ego over the
  • 00:16:54.163 --> 00:16:57.666
  • Accomplishments of my life.
  • 00:16:57.666 --> 00:16:59.034
  • Most of them reflect, far and away, the grace and goodness of
  • 00:16:59.034 --> 00:17:01.837
  • God, not me.
  • 00:17:01.837 --> 00:17:03.839
  • And it's very similar with you.
  • 00:17:03.839 --> 00:17:06.508
  • God gives us the freedom to develop those gifts.
  • 00:17:06.508 --> 00:17:08.377
  • And thirdly, each of us will give an accounting before god,
  • 00:17:08.377 --> 00:17:11.713
  • Very clear in scripture.
  • 00:17:11.713 --> 00:17:15.551
  • And he knows what he gave you to begin with.
  • 00:17:15.551 --> 00:17:19.354
  • Not a warning, it's a promise.
  • 00:17:19.354 --> 00:17:22.124
  • He's already told us he'll give us everything we need at all
  • 00:17:22.124 --> 00:17:24.927
  • Times for every good work.
  • 00:17:24.927 --> 00:17:27.296
  • He said, "just choose me, seek first my kingdom."
  • 00:17:27.296 --> 00:17:31.266
  • I read a case study, i want to close with it.
  • 00:17:31.266 --> 00:17:34.470
  • It's a case study about new grass.
  • 00:17:34.470 --> 00:17:37.873
  • Summertime in tennessee, this is very appropriate.
  • 00:17:37.873 --> 00:17:40.175
  • Imagine i develop a grass seed that stops growing when it
  • 00:17:40.175 --> 00:17:42.911
  • Reaches 4 inches in height.
  • 00:17:42.911 --> 00:17:46.315
  • This is some sweet stuff.
  • 00:17:46.315 --> 00:17:48.984
  • Not only that, my discovery new grass, it stays green and
  • 00:17:48.984 --> 00:17:52.387
  • Healthy throughout the summer months.
  • 00:17:52.387 --> 00:17:55.257
  • In fact, it says it on my little sales pitch, "if you plant new
  • 00:17:55.257 --> 00:17:58.961
  • Grass in your yard, you would never again need to mow
  • 00:17:58.961 --> 00:18:01.763
  • Your lawn."
  • 00:18:01.763 --> 00:18:04.533
  • Now let's suppose i can produce new grass for $10 a bushel, but
  • 00:18:04.533 --> 00:18:08.670
  • I want to sell it to you at $100 a bushel, that's a
  • 00:18:08.670 --> 00:18:10.939
  • 1,000% profit.
  • 00:18:10.939 --> 00:18:13.041
  • And you may balk at my price, but if you buy the new grass
  • 00:18:13.041 --> 00:18:16.078
  • Seed for $100 you'll never have to mow your lawn again.
  • 00:18:16.078 --> 00:18:20.549
  • And somebody will say, "it's not honest to make such an
  • 00:18:20.549 --> 00:18:22.784
  • Exorbitant profit.
  • 00:18:22.784 --> 00:18:24.653
  • You should sell the seed for $20 a bushel.
  • 00:18:24.653 --> 00:18:28.423
  • However, i would submit to you, you have to consider my years of
  • 00:18:28.423 --> 00:18:31.326
  • Research and a fair reward for that.
  • 00:18:31.326 --> 00:18:34.096
  • You have to consider that i may not be able to sell this seed
  • 00:18:34.096 --> 00:18:36.398
  • Forever because eventually everybody will have it for
  • 00:18:36.398 --> 00:18:38.333
  • Their lawns.
  • 00:18:38.333 --> 00:18:40.135
  • Then what am i gonna do?
  • 00:18:40.135 --> 00:18:41.470
  • I spent my whole life in research and i start a new
  • 00:18:41.470 --> 00:18:44.139
  • Project and i'm going to need some seed money.
  • 00:18:44.139 --> 00:18:49.044
  • Don't mock, you could still argue that i would be making too
  • 00:18:49.044 --> 00:18:53.615
  • Much money off my discovery.
  • 00:18:53.615 --> 00:18:55.083
  • I've heard christians refer to billionaires and i bet you
  • 00:18:55.083 --> 00:18:57.686
  • Have too.
  • 00:18:57.686 --> 00:18:59.054
  • Nobody should be that rich.
  • 00:18:59.054 --> 00:19:01.657
  • Without really thinking about what they're saying, who decides
  • 00:19:01.657 --> 00:19:04.226
  • What is too rich?
  • 00:19:04.226 --> 00:19:05.961
  • I don't trust the people that tell me others are too rich.
  • 00:19:05.961 --> 00:19:09.965
  • Where do you draw the line?
  • 00:19:09.965 --> 00:19:11.300
  • What about the people in third world countries who see
  • 00:19:11.300 --> 00:19:13.402
  • Americans as a million times richer than they are?
  • 00:19:13.402 --> 00:19:16.572
  • You think millions and tens of millions of people have been
  • 00:19:16.572 --> 00:19:19.208
  • Pouring over our border because we're a sexist, racist,
  • 00:19:19.208 --> 00:19:23.245
  • Misogynistic, xenophobic country?
  • 00:19:23.245 --> 00:19:29.751
  • If i were to tell you that from every $100 bushel, i gave $60 to
  • 00:19:29.751 --> 00:19:33.855
  • Charities, then you might say my profit really wasn't wrong.
  • 00:19:33.855 --> 00:19:39.194
  • The legitimacy of the prophet is determined by two things, the
  • 00:19:39.194 --> 00:19:43.165
  • Manner in which it's made, "is it honest?"
  • 00:19:43.165 --> 00:19:45.867
  • And the manner in which it is spent, "am i a
  • 00:19:45.867 --> 00:19:48.470
  • Responsible steward?"
  • 00:19:48.470 --> 00:19:50.973
  • When we say nobody should be that rich, we're assuming that
  • 00:19:50.973 --> 00:19:53.075
  • The person failed to meet one of those two criteria.
  • 00:19:53.075 --> 00:19:57.446
  • Let's just say for the sake of argument that the first summer i
  • 00:19:57.446 --> 00:19:59.848
  • Make a million dollar profit after taxes from my new grass
  • 00:19:59.848 --> 00:20:05.354
  • Product, what's appropriate for me to do with that money?
  • 00:20:05.354 --> 00:20:08.390
  • Well, i could spend it all on myself.
  • 00:20:08.390 --> 00:20:11.126
  • That's probably sinful.
  • 00:20:11.126 --> 00:20:12.995
  • I could reinvest it all in the company or elsewhere and that
  • 00:20:12.995 --> 00:20:15.664
  • Would definitely be frugal.
  • 00:20:15.664 --> 00:20:18.267
  • Or i could do a combination of those things and i think that's
  • 00:20:18.267 --> 00:20:21.903
  • The discussion around stewardship.
  • 00:20:21.903 --> 00:20:24.773
  • It's not a law, it's an invitation.
  • 00:20:24.773 --> 00:20:27.909
  • Let's just say again for the sake of argument, that i decided
  • 00:20:27.909 --> 00:20:30.078
  • To do the following with my profitable year, i'm going give
  • 00:20:30.078 --> 00:20:33.348
  • Half of it to my church.
  • 00:20:33.348 --> 00:20:36.351
  • I think that's god.
  • 00:20:36.351 --> 00:20:37.719
  • I'm not sure.
  • 00:20:37.719 --> 00:20:39.054
  • I'm just kinda, i'm kidding.
  • 00:20:39.054 --> 00:20:40.422
  • Give half of it to your church and other deserving ministries.
  • 00:20:40.422 --> 00:20:42.991
  • Maybe you save a forth to help for your children's education.
  • 00:20:42.991 --> 00:20:47.262
  • You invest the remaining $125,000 in the company cover
  • 00:20:47.262 --> 00:20:52.067
  • Expenses, and you use the rest for living expenses.
  • 00:20:52.067 --> 00:20:56.772
  • It's not a law, it's one way to look at it.
  • 00:20:56.772 --> 00:20:58.907
  • Before you get any ideas just for the sake of clarity, i know
  • 00:20:58.907 --> 00:21:02.744
  • Nothing about grass seed.
  • 00:21:02.744 --> 00:21:05.781
  • This is just an illustration, but it illustrates some points
  • 00:21:05.781 --> 00:21:08.350
  • That are relevant to this discussion and i'll close
  • 00:21:08.350 --> 00:21:10.585
  • With them.
  • 00:21:10.585 --> 00:21:11.953
  • In a free society where individuals own things and don't
  • 00:21:11.953 --> 00:21:14.389
  • Just share everything in common, each person has the freedom to
  • 00:21:14.389 --> 00:21:18.026
  • Develop fully the gifts god has given him.
  • 00:21:18.026 --> 00:21:21.196
  • That's the best possible future for all.
  • 00:21:21.196 --> 00:21:25.100
  • Since each person is responsible to god for what he's received
  • 00:21:25.100 --> 00:21:28.036
  • And since god alone can see all, then we should not judge someone
  • 00:21:28.036 --> 00:21:31.873
  • Else's level of generosity simply by what we see on
  • 00:21:31.873 --> 00:21:34.309
  • The outside.
  • 00:21:34.309 --> 00:21:35.644
  • You and i don't know when others are being generous.
  • 00:21:35.644 --> 00:21:39.781
  • The disciples certainly couldn't tell.
  • 00:21:39.781 --> 00:21:41.383
  • They were the most godly in the first century.
  • 00:21:41.383 --> 00:21:43.352
  • Jesus recruited them to carry the mantle of his message in his
  • 00:21:43.352 --> 00:21:46.655
  • Absence, and they're standing watching people put their gifts
  • 00:21:46.655 --> 00:21:49.691
  • Into the temple treasury, and they cannot tell.
  • 00:21:49.691 --> 00:21:52.361
  • They're making decisions like the people amongst them who have
  • 00:21:52.361 --> 00:21:55.197
  • No spiritual insight and jesus challenges them on it.
  • 00:21:55.197 --> 00:21:58.633
  • He said, "you can't even tell who's making true sacrifices.
  • 00:21:58.633 --> 00:22:01.436
  • You can't tell who's generous."
  • 00:22:01.436 --> 00:22:04.673
  • You see we count what we give, god counts what we hold on to.
  • 00:22:04.673 --> 00:22:07.075
  • It's a little different equation.
  • 00:22:07.075 --> 00:22:10.512
  • When i stand before god, i want to know that i've done
  • 00:22:10.512 --> 00:22:13.215
  • Everything i can to be a good steward of what god has
  • 00:22:13.215 --> 00:22:15.317
  • Entrusted to me: that's my time, that's my talent, that's my
  • 00:22:15.317 --> 00:22:20.355
  • Opportunities, that's my resources.
  • 00:22:20.355 --> 00:22:25.160
  • I would encourage you to do the same.
  • 00:22:25.160 --> 00:22:26.595
  • Take those promises and let them inform your future.
  • 00:22:26.595 --> 00:22:30.165
  • It's a better future than you can secure for yourself.
  • 00:22:30.165 --> 00:22:35.170
  • "i don't believe that."
  • 00:22:35.170 --> 00:22:36.505
  • I understand, it's why it's worth taking some time to look
  • 00:22:36.505 --> 00:22:38.874
  • At scripture.
  • 00:22:38.874 --> 00:22:40.242
  • And finally there's a relationship between what i do
  • 00:22:40.242 --> 00:22:42.377
  • With my time and my talents and my place in the kingdom of god,
  • 00:22:42.377 --> 00:22:47.816
  • That's biblical.
  • 00:22:47.816 --> 00:22:49.818
  • Now you can't buy a place in the kingdom of god.
  • 00:22:49.818 --> 00:22:51.753
  • Some of us could give away seven figures and it might not
  • 00:22:51.753 --> 00:22:56.658
  • Represent the same sacrifice of someone who gave $7.
  • 00:22:56.658 --> 00:23:00.462
  • It's not for me or anyone else to determine what the
  • 00:23:00.462 --> 00:23:02.631
  • Sacrifice is.
  • 00:23:02.631 --> 00:23:04.833
  • What the scripture invites us to is to be good stewards.
  • 00:23:04.833 --> 00:23:08.937
  • Don't make your choices based on what other people think, you're
  • 00:23:08.937 --> 00:23:11.206
  • Not going to give an account to them.
  • 00:23:11.206 --> 00:23:15.043
  • Make your decisions based from an informed perspective on what
  • 00:23:15.043 --> 00:23:17.746
  • Scripture teaches and do your very best to be pleasing to god.
  • 00:23:17.746 --> 00:23:21.016
  • If you do that, the blessings of god will fill your life.
  • 00:23:21.016 --> 00:23:26.354
  • Stop being angry.
  • 00:23:26.354 --> 00:23:29.057
  • Stop being critical and judgmental.
  • 00:23:29.057 --> 00:23:33.094
  • We're going to work on this a little bit more.
  • 00:23:37.098 --> 00:23:39.034
  • We didn't get to everything, but it's a good start.
  • 00:23:39.034 --> 00:23:42.437
  • It grieves me to see the church manipulated by ungodly people
  • 00:23:42.437 --> 00:23:45.574
  • With ungodly agendas.
  • 00:23:45.574 --> 00:23:47.909
  • It grieves me to see christian schools and christian
  • 00:23:47.909 --> 00:23:50.078
  • Universities teaching ungodly principles.
  • 00:23:50.078 --> 00:23:59.454
  • I brought you a prayer.
  • 00:23:59.454 --> 00:24:01.490
  • We can pray it together.
  • 00:24:01.490 --> 00:24:02.858
  • Why don't you stand with me?
  • 00:24:02.858 --> 00:24:04.192
  • It's really a summary statement.
  • 00:24:04.192 --> 00:24:05.560
  • We're going to try to begin to appropriate those promises.
  • 00:24:05.560 --> 00:24:07.729
  • In our previous session, we talked about how to appropriate
  • 00:24:07.729 --> 00:24:10.065
  • The peace jesus said he would give to us.
  • 00:24:10.065 --> 00:24:12.868
  • In this one, the promise, god said that he can make all grace
  • 00:24:12.868 --> 00:24:16.505
  • Abound to us.
  • 00:24:16.505 --> 00:24:17.839
  • We read it in the corinthians 9, so that at all times, we would
  • 00:24:17.839 --> 00:24:20.909
  • Have all things we need to abound onto every good work.
  • 00:24:20.909 --> 00:24:24.145
  • That's an amazing promise.
  • 00:24:24.145 --> 00:24:26.715
  • But at the right time, we'll have what we need for every good
  • 00:24:26.715 --> 00:24:29.518
  • Work that god puts before us.
  • 00:24:29.518 --> 00:24:32.187
  • Wow, i want in that line.
  • 00:24:32.187 --> 00:24:36.324
  • I want in that line.
  • 00:24:36.324 --> 00:24:37.692
  • God's been faithful in my life.
  • 00:24:37.692 --> 00:24:39.027
  • I believe he'll be faithful in yours.
  • 00:24:39.027 --> 00:24:40.762
  • He's been far more faithful than i've been.
  • 00:24:40.762 --> 00:24:43.365
  • I'm working on it though.
  • 00:24:43.365 --> 00:24:44.966
  • I want better alignment in my life.
  • 00:24:44.966 --> 00:24:47.536
  • I believe you do too.
  • 00:24:47.536 --> 00:24:48.870
  • I see your generosity of time and talent and effort
  • 00:24:48.870 --> 00:24:51.273
  • And treasure.
  • 00:24:51.273 --> 00:24:52.607
  • We just finished our fifth kids camp for the summer.
  • 00:24:52.607 --> 00:24:59.314
  • And the only way that's possible is hundreds and hundreds of you
  • 00:24:59.314 --> 00:25:02.350
  • Give your time.
  • 00:25:02.350 --> 00:25:04.052
  • In the summer, many of you take vacation days, that's precious.
  • 00:25:04.052 --> 00:25:10.292
  • I'm very aware of the generosity of your hearts.
  • 00:25:10.292 --> 00:25:15.363
  • I'm very conscious of that.
  • 00:25:15.363 --> 00:25:16.698
  • I'm equally conscious of some very loud, powerful, persistent
  • 00:25:16.698 --> 00:25:20.001
  • Voices trying to manipulate the world we live in, in some very
  • 00:25:20.001 --> 00:25:23.438
  • Ungodly directions.
  • 00:25:23.438 --> 00:25:24.906
  • We need the grounding of scripture.
  • 00:25:24.906 --> 00:25:28.476
  • If you think that people with great educations who refuse to
  • 00:25:28.476 --> 00:25:32.180
  • Identify that there's two biological sexes is unsettling,
  • 00:25:32.180 --> 00:25:37.686
  • I assure you there's greater confusion about what to do
  • 00:25:37.686 --> 00:25:40.188
  • With stuff.
  • 00:25:40.188 --> 00:25:43.758
  • We need the council of scripture.
  • 00:25:43.758 --> 00:25:46.795
  • I brought you a prayer.
  • 00:25:46.795 --> 00:25:48.463
  • Let's read it together.
  • 00:25:48.463 --> 00:25:49.831
  • "heavenly father, thank you for your many blessings in my life.
  • 00:25:49.831 --> 00:25:54.336
  • Your goodness and grace have brought good things to me.
  • 00:25:54.336 --> 00:25:58.006
  • Help me to walk uprightly before you.
  • 00:25:58.006 --> 00:26:01.009
  • Holy spirit give me the wisdom to choose rightly that i may
  • 00:26:01.009 --> 00:26:04.980
  • Have treasure in heaven.
  • 00:26:04.980 --> 00:26:07.182
  • Give us this day our daily bread, in jesus' name, amen."
  • 00:26:07.182 --> 00:26:12.487
  • God bless you.
  • 00:26:12.487 --> 00:26:14.089
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:26:14.656 --> 00:26:19.861
  • Allen: hey, i got a question.
  • 00:26:21.296 --> 00:26:22.631
  • What's the eternal breath of life?
  • 00:26:22.631 --> 00:26:25.300
  • Well, the answer is a new book my dad just wrote, when i sat
  • 00:26:25.300 --> 00:26:28.236
  • Down to do a podcast with him, and i was listening to his story
  • 00:26:28.236 --> 00:26:31.239
  • About how god had moved in his life and my family's life all
  • 00:26:31.239 --> 00:26:34.275
  • The way up to the beginning of the church that i've served now
  • 00:26:34.275 --> 00:26:36.578
  • For several decades, i was so reminded of the purpose and the
  • 00:26:36.578 --> 00:26:40.248
  • Power of the spirit of god in our lives, i asked him to put it
  • 00:26:40.248 --> 00:26:42.917
  • In a book.
  • 00:26:42.917 --> 00:26:44.285
  • That's what we're sharing with you.
  • 00:26:44.285 --> 00:26:45.720
  • We all need god's help.
  • 00:26:45.720 --> 00:26:47.088
  • We all face challenges.
  • 00:26:47.088 --> 00:26:48.423
  • Life's not easy no matter who you are, but the spirit of god
  • 00:26:48.423 --> 00:26:51.226
  • Is present within us to bring the power and purposes of god to
  • 00:26:51.226 --> 00:26:55.597
  • Bear in our lives.
  • 00:26:55.597 --> 00:26:57.332
  • I believe the book will be a blessing for you.
  • 00:26:57.332 --> 00:27:00.135
  • You'll pair it with "unleashing the power of the holy spirit."
  • 00:27:00.135 --> 00:27:02.804
  • It's one of the most effective tools we have.
  • 00:27:02.804 --> 00:27:05.040
  • It'll give you a pathway that i believe will bring god's best
  • 00:27:05.040 --> 00:27:08.543
  • Into your family.
  • 00:27:08.543 --> 00:27:09.878
  • You may not plant a church, but you have been given the
  • 00:27:09.878 --> 00:27:12.013
  • Assignment as an ambassador for the kingdom of god, and we need
  • 00:27:12.013 --> 00:27:15.116
  • The help of the holy spirit.
  • 00:27:15.116 --> 00:27:16.885
  • Enjoy the book.
  • 00:27:16.885 --> 00:27:18.219
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:27:18.219 --> 00:27:25.694
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:27:27.662 --> 00:27:27.662