Wise Investment
Speaker: Steve Jeffrey
Date: 7th November 2009
Passage: Luke 16:1-15
00:00:00 --> 00:00:01 Let's pray while we're standing.
00:00:03 --> 00:00:05 Gracious God, we ask as we open up your word now,
00:00:06 --> 00:00:08 you would pour out your spirit amongst us.
00:00:09 --> 00:00:12 We pray that we would understand your word
00:00:12 --> 00:00:16 and that you might give us through the power of your spirit
00:00:16 --> 00:00:17 the courage to obey it,
00:00:17 --> 00:00:20 to live our lives in accordance with it,
00:00:20 --> 00:00:23 that we might more and more reflect your glory.
00:00:23 --> 00:00:25 And we ask it for your sake.
00:00:25 --> 00:00:25 Amen.
00:00:27 --> 00:00:27 Please be seated.
00:00:30 --> 00:00:39 I want to begin this morning
00:00:39 --> 00:00:44 with the life of one of the greatest philosophical thinkers,
00:00:45 --> 00:00:48 one of the sharpest political minds,
00:00:48 --> 00:00:52 and one of the most quoted individuals of the past 100 years.
00:00:54 --> 00:00:56 Arnold Schwarzenegger
00:00:56 --> 00:01:03 was born the son of a low-ranking Austrian police officer
00:01:03 --> 00:01:06 and destined to be a nobody
00:01:06 --> 00:01:10 until his hands wrapped around a barbell for the very first time.
00:01:11 --> 00:01:14 By the age of 18, he was travelling the world,
00:01:15 --> 00:01:17 competing in bodybuilding championships.
00:01:17 --> 00:01:20 At one point, as he was living in England,
00:01:20 --> 00:01:23 his coach, Wag Bennett, asked him,
00:01:24 --> 00:01:27 Arnie, what do you want to do with your life?
00:01:28 --> 00:01:30 His response was astounding.
00:01:31 --> 00:01:33 18 years of age.
00:01:34 --> 00:01:35 I want to be the greatest
00:01:35 --> 00:01:39 and the richest bodybuilder of all time.
00:01:39 --> 00:01:42 I want to live in the United States.
00:01:42 --> 00:01:44 I want to be an actor,
00:01:45 --> 00:01:46 a movie director,
00:01:47 --> 00:01:48 own an apartment block,
00:01:49 --> 00:01:50 and dabble in politics.
00:01:52 --> 00:01:54 He saw the future,
00:01:55 --> 00:01:56 he saw what he wanted,
00:01:57 --> 00:01:59 and he just went for it.
00:02:00 --> 00:02:01 Just went for it.
00:02:01 --> 00:02:04 Jesus told a similar story
00:02:04 --> 00:02:05 about a man who saw the future,
00:02:06 --> 00:02:07 saw what he needed to do,
00:02:08 --> 00:02:09 and he just went for it.
00:02:10 --> 00:02:13 It's that passage that was read out to us.
00:02:13 --> 00:02:14 If you'd like to grab your Bibles
00:02:14 --> 00:02:16 and open up to Luke 16,
00:02:19 --> 00:02:21 it's a passage in the Bible
00:02:21 --> 00:02:23 that on the surface
00:02:23 --> 00:02:27 seems to be a bit of a problem for us.
00:02:27 --> 00:02:30 Is Jesus actually saying
00:02:30 --> 00:02:32 that it's okay to steal from your employer?
00:02:33 --> 00:02:35 We know that can't be right.
00:02:35 --> 00:02:36 Surely he wouldn't be saying that.
00:02:37 --> 00:02:38 So let's have a look
00:02:38 --> 00:02:40 and see what Jesus is actually saying
00:02:40 --> 00:02:41 in Luke 16.
00:02:43 --> 00:02:44 Fundamentally,
00:02:44 --> 00:02:46 it has nothing to do with dodgy deals.
00:02:46 --> 00:02:48 It has everything to do
00:02:48 --> 00:02:51 in terms of acting now
00:02:51 --> 00:02:53 in view of the future.
00:02:54 --> 00:02:56 Acting now in view of the future.
00:02:57 --> 00:02:58 So verse 1,
00:02:59 --> 00:03:00 Jesus told his disciples
00:03:00 --> 00:03:01 there was a rich man
00:03:01 --> 00:03:03 whose manager was accused
00:03:03 --> 00:03:04 of wasting his possessions.
00:03:05 --> 00:03:07 So he called him in
00:03:07 --> 00:03:07 and asked him,
00:03:08 --> 00:03:09 what is this I hear about you?
00:03:10 --> 00:03:11 Give an account of your management
00:03:11 --> 00:03:13 because you cannot be manager any longer.
00:03:15 --> 00:03:16 The manager said to himself,
00:03:17 --> 00:03:18 well, what shall I do now?
00:03:19 --> 00:03:21 My master is taking away my job.
00:03:21 --> 00:03:23 I'm not strong enough to dig
00:03:23 --> 00:03:24 and I'm ashamed to beg.
00:03:24 --> 00:03:26 I know what I'll do.
00:03:27 --> 00:03:30 So that when I lose my job here,
00:03:30 --> 00:03:31 people will welcome me
00:03:31 --> 00:03:32 into their houses.
00:03:33 --> 00:03:34 You see,
00:03:34 --> 00:03:36 the issue in first century Palestine
00:03:36 --> 00:03:38 was that there was no unemployment benefits.
00:03:39 --> 00:03:41 You had a choice.
00:03:41 --> 00:03:42 You begged or you worked.
00:03:44 --> 00:03:44 Clearly,
00:03:44 --> 00:03:46 this manager wasn't going to get
00:03:46 --> 00:03:47 another manager's job
00:03:47 --> 00:03:49 after his poor handling
00:03:49 --> 00:03:51 of his previous position.
00:03:51 --> 00:03:52 And he says,
00:03:52 --> 00:03:54 I'm too ashamed to go right
00:03:54 --> 00:03:54 to the other end
00:03:54 --> 00:03:56 of the social scale and beg.
00:03:56 --> 00:03:57 And frankly,
00:03:57 --> 00:03:58 I haven't got the muscles
00:03:58 --> 00:04:01 to go and dig holes for a living.
00:04:03 --> 00:04:05 And so the issue for this
00:04:05 --> 00:04:08 manager was,
00:04:08 --> 00:04:10 if I'm not going to beg
00:04:10 --> 00:04:12 and I'm not going to work,
00:04:13 --> 00:04:14 how am I going to eat?
00:04:15 --> 00:04:16 That's the issue.
00:04:16 --> 00:04:18 The issue that this man
00:04:18 --> 00:04:19 was faced with
00:04:19 --> 00:04:21 was a life and death decision.
00:04:24 --> 00:04:25 And so in verse 4,
00:04:25 --> 00:04:27 he sees what's going to happen
00:04:27 --> 00:04:28 in the future
00:04:28 --> 00:04:30 and he acts accordingly.
00:04:31 --> 00:04:32 For that short period of time,
00:04:33 --> 00:04:33 for this manager,
00:04:34 --> 00:04:35 he still has his laptop
00:04:35 --> 00:04:36 on the desk,
00:04:37 --> 00:04:38 he still has
00:04:38 --> 00:04:39 the company checkbook,
00:04:39 --> 00:04:41 he still has
00:04:41 --> 00:04:42 his name
00:04:42 --> 00:04:42 on the plaque
00:04:42 --> 00:04:44 at the front of the office,
00:04:44 --> 00:04:46 and he can still act now
00:04:46 --> 00:04:47 in view
00:04:47 --> 00:04:48 of the future.
00:04:49 --> 00:04:50 And he grabs
00:04:50 --> 00:04:51 his opportunity.
00:04:52 --> 00:04:53 He went for it
00:04:53 --> 00:04:54 in verse 5,
00:04:54 --> 00:04:55 so he called in
00:04:55 --> 00:04:56 each one of his master's
00:04:56 --> 00:04:57 debtors.
00:04:57 --> 00:04:58 He asked the first,
00:04:59 --> 00:04:59 how much do you owe
00:04:59 --> 00:05:00 my master?
00:05:01 --> 00:05:02 800 gallons
00:05:02 --> 00:05:02 of olive oil,
00:05:03 --> 00:05:03 he replied.
00:05:04 --> 00:05:04 The manager told him,
00:05:05 --> 00:05:06 take your bill,
00:05:06 --> 00:05:06 sit down quickly
00:05:06 --> 00:05:08 and make it 400.
00:05:09 --> 00:05:10 Then he asked the second,
00:05:10 --> 00:05:11 and how much do you owe?
00:05:11 --> 00:05:13 1 bushels of wheat.
00:05:13 --> 00:05:14 He replied.
00:05:15 --> 00:05:15 He told him,
00:05:16 --> 00:05:16 take your bill
00:05:16 --> 00:05:18 and make it 800.
00:05:19 --> 00:05:20 And in the process
00:05:20 --> 00:05:21 of acting for the future,
00:05:22 --> 00:05:23 he won the favour
00:05:23 --> 00:05:24 and obligation
00:05:24 --> 00:05:25 of his master's
00:05:25 --> 00:05:26 debtors.
00:05:27 --> 00:05:28 He calls in people
00:05:28 --> 00:05:29 who owes his boss
00:05:29 --> 00:05:30 money,
00:05:31 --> 00:05:31 and he substantially
00:05:32 --> 00:05:33 cuts the debt,
00:05:33 --> 00:05:35 potentially just taking
00:05:35 --> 00:05:36 off the top
00:05:36 --> 00:05:37 his own commission.
00:05:38 --> 00:05:40 He substantially
00:05:40 --> 00:05:41 cuts the bills.
00:05:41 --> 00:05:43 and the people
00:05:43 --> 00:05:44 are naturally
00:05:44 --> 00:05:44 pleased.
00:05:46 --> 00:05:47 The really strange
00:05:47 --> 00:05:48 thing is those,
00:05:48 --> 00:05:49 the master's response,
00:05:50 --> 00:05:51 the master says to him,
00:05:51 --> 00:05:52 in effect,
00:05:52 --> 00:05:52 well done.
00:05:54 --> 00:05:55 Well done.
00:05:56 --> 00:05:57 Verse 8,
00:05:57 --> 00:05:58 the master commended
00:05:58 --> 00:05:59 the dishonest manager
00:05:59 --> 00:06:01 because he had acted
00:06:01 --> 00:06:01 shrewdly.
00:06:02 --> 00:06:03 It's incredible,
00:06:03 --> 00:06:03 isn't it?
00:06:04 --> 00:06:04 I mean,
00:06:04 --> 00:06:06 he's just ripped him off.
00:06:06 --> 00:06:07 And he says,
00:06:08 --> 00:06:09 well done.
00:06:10 --> 00:06:11 That was really clever
00:06:11 --> 00:06:12 what you just did.
00:06:13 --> 00:06:14 He didn't commend you
00:06:14 --> 00:06:15 for being dishonest.
00:06:15 --> 00:06:16 He commended him
00:06:16 --> 00:06:17 for shrewdness.
00:06:18 --> 00:06:19 So this parable
00:06:19 --> 00:06:20 is not about
00:06:20 --> 00:06:21 being dishonest.
00:06:21 --> 00:06:22 It's about being
00:06:22 --> 00:06:23 shrewd
00:06:23 --> 00:06:24 and especially
00:06:24 --> 00:06:26 shrewd
00:06:26 --> 00:06:27 in regard
00:06:27 --> 00:06:27 to the future.
00:06:28 --> 00:06:29 He acted
00:06:29 --> 00:06:30 because he knew
00:06:30 --> 00:06:31 what the future held.
00:06:31 --> 00:06:32 But it's a really
00:06:32 --> 00:06:33 logical choice,
00:06:33 --> 00:06:34 isn't it?
00:06:34 --> 00:06:35 If you're going to die,
00:06:35 --> 00:06:36 you want to make sure
00:06:36 --> 00:06:37 you do things
00:06:37 --> 00:06:38 so you don't die.
00:06:38 --> 00:06:39 It's fairly logical.
00:06:40 --> 00:06:41 But as we read
00:06:41 --> 00:06:42 in the second half
00:06:42 --> 00:06:42 of verse 8,
00:06:43 --> 00:06:44 this logical
00:06:44 --> 00:06:45 and shrewd action
00:06:45 --> 00:06:46 is not a logical
00:06:46 --> 00:06:47 and shrewd action
00:06:47 --> 00:06:48 that the people
00:06:48 --> 00:06:49 of God
00:06:49 --> 00:06:50 often make.
00:06:51 --> 00:06:52 Verse 8,
00:06:53 --> 00:06:53 for the people
00:06:53 --> 00:06:54 of this world
00:06:54 --> 00:06:55 are more shrewd
00:06:55 --> 00:06:55 in dealing
00:06:55 --> 00:06:56 with their own kind
00:06:56 --> 00:06:58 than are the people
00:06:58 --> 00:06:59 of the light.
00:07:00 --> 00:07:01 What he's saying
00:07:01 --> 00:07:02 there is
00:07:02 --> 00:07:03 that the non-Christian
00:07:03 --> 00:07:05 knows what they
00:07:05 --> 00:07:05 want to do
00:07:05 --> 00:07:06 and they live
00:07:06 --> 00:07:07 by their philosophy.
00:07:08 --> 00:07:09 They live
00:07:09 --> 00:07:10 day by day
00:07:10 --> 00:07:10 as if God
00:07:10 --> 00:07:11 doesn't exist.
00:07:12 --> 00:07:13 But the Christian,
00:07:14 --> 00:07:14 well,
00:07:15 --> 00:07:16 they muck around
00:07:16 --> 00:07:17 with their relationship
00:07:17 --> 00:07:17 with God
00:07:17 --> 00:07:18 all the time.
00:07:19 --> 00:07:21 But the non-Christian,
00:07:21 --> 00:07:22 they live by it.
00:07:23 --> 00:07:23 Take, for instance,
00:07:23 --> 00:07:24 Philip Adams.
00:07:24 --> 00:07:25 He's a journalist,
00:07:25 --> 00:07:26 a writer,
00:07:26 --> 00:07:27 and an outspoken
00:07:27 --> 00:07:27 atheist.
00:07:28 --> 00:07:29 Philip Adams
00:07:29 --> 00:07:29 believes that
00:07:29 --> 00:07:30 when he dies,
00:07:30 --> 00:07:32 he faces oblivion,
00:07:32 --> 00:07:32 that is,
00:07:32 --> 00:07:33 he faces nothingness,
00:07:34 --> 00:07:35 and he said this,
00:07:36 --> 00:07:37 when I die,
00:07:37 --> 00:07:38 that is my lot.
00:07:39 --> 00:07:39 I don't have
00:07:39 --> 00:07:40 any form of afterlife,
00:07:41 --> 00:07:42 any form of survival
00:07:42 --> 00:07:42 of the ego.
00:07:43 --> 00:07:43 To me,
00:07:43 --> 00:07:44 the end of life
00:07:44 --> 00:07:45 which is rushing
00:07:45 --> 00:07:46 towards me
00:07:46 --> 00:07:46 with increasing
00:07:46 --> 00:07:47 velocity
00:07:47 --> 00:07:49 is very real.
00:07:49 --> 00:07:50 I once worked out
00:07:50 --> 00:07:51 that the average person
00:07:51 --> 00:07:52 was born
00:07:52 --> 00:07:53 with approximately
00:07:53 --> 00:07:54 600 hours
00:07:54 --> 00:07:55 to live.
00:07:56 --> 00:07:56 You spend
00:07:56 --> 00:07:57 approximately
00:07:57 --> 00:07:58 one-third
00:07:58 --> 00:07:58 of those asleep,
00:07:58 --> 00:08:00 another 20
00:08:00 --> 00:08:01 to 50
00:08:01 --> 00:08:01 hours sitting
00:08:01 --> 00:08:02 on the toilet,
00:08:03 --> 00:08:04 and when you
00:08:04 --> 00:08:04 eliminate
00:08:04 --> 00:08:06 all the wasted
00:08:06 --> 00:08:06 hours,
00:08:07 --> 00:08:09 there are not
00:08:09 --> 00:08:09 many left
00:08:09 --> 00:08:10 which are going
00:08:10 --> 00:08:11 to be of any
00:08:11 --> 00:08:11 use.
00:08:13 --> 00:08:15 So if I have
00:08:15 --> 00:08:16 50 to 60
00:08:16 --> 00:08:17 good hours
00:08:17 --> 00:08:18 left in me,
00:08:18 --> 00:08:19 then that's all
00:08:19 --> 00:08:21 that I can expect.
00:08:21 --> 00:08:22 Therefore,
00:08:23 --> 00:08:25 I don't waste
00:08:25 --> 00:08:26 time on trivia
00:08:26 --> 00:08:28 or irrelevancies
00:08:28 --> 00:08:29 anymore.
00:08:29 --> 00:08:30 I want to get
00:08:30 --> 00:08:31 it right.
00:08:32 --> 00:08:33 That is an
00:08:33 --> 00:08:33 atheist
00:08:33 --> 00:08:35 speaking
00:08:35 --> 00:08:37 who has
00:08:37 --> 00:08:37 no hope
00:08:37 --> 00:08:38 for the future.
00:08:40 --> 00:08:41 How much
00:08:41 --> 00:08:41 more the
00:08:41 --> 00:08:42 Christian
00:08:42 --> 00:08:43 with a certain
00:08:43 --> 00:08:44 hope of eternity
00:08:44 --> 00:08:44 in the presence
00:08:44 --> 00:08:45 of God
00:08:45 --> 00:08:46 be wanting
00:08:46 --> 00:08:48 to get
00:08:48 --> 00:08:48 it
00:08:48 --> 00:08:49 right.
00:08:51 --> 00:08:53 But Jesus
00:08:53 --> 00:08:54 says that we're
00:08:54 --> 00:08:54 not shrewd
00:08:54 --> 00:08:55 enough in acting
00:08:55 --> 00:08:55 now in view
00:08:55 --> 00:08:56 of what is
00:08:56 --> 00:08:56 around the
00:08:56 --> 00:08:57 corner,
00:08:57 --> 00:08:58 and so this
00:08:58 --> 00:08:59 parable is a
00:08:59 --> 00:09:00 parable that
00:09:00 --> 00:09:00 is meant to
00:09:00 --> 00:09:01 focus our
00:09:01 --> 00:09:02 attention to
00:09:02 --> 00:09:03 live each
00:09:03 --> 00:09:04 day with
00:09:04 --> 00:09:05 the end
00:09:05 --> 00:09:05 in mind.
00:09:07 --> 00:09:08 In World
00:09:08 --> 00:09:08 War II,
00:09:09 --> 00:09:10 Germany
00:09:10 --> 00:09:11 occupied
00:09:11 --> 00:09:11 France,
00:09:12 --> 00:09:13 but all
00:09:13 --> 00:09:14 through 1942
00:09:14 --> 00:09:15 and 1943,
00:09:15 --> 00:09:16 the Allies
00:09:16 --> 00:09:16 planned a
00:09:16 --> 00:09:17 massive
00:09:17 --> 00:09:18 counterattack.
00:09:19 --> 00:09:19 General
00:09:19 --> 00:09:20 Dwight Eisenhower
00:09:20 --> 00:09:21 was selected
00:09:21 --> 00:09:22 to command
00:09:22 --> 00:09:23 the assault,
00:09:24 --> 00:09:24 and so
00:09:24 --> 00:09:24 during the
00:09:24 --> 00:09:25 night of
00:09:25 --> 00:09:25 Jude the
00:09:25 --> 00:09:27 6th,
00:09:27 --> 00:09:28 about 2
00:09:28 --> 00:09:30 ships carrying
00:09:30 --> 00:09:31 loading craft
00:09:31 --> 00:09:33 and 176
00:09:33 --> 00:09:34 soldiers crossed
00:09:34 --> 00:09:35 the English
00:09:35 --> 00:09:35 Channel.
00:09:36 --> 00:09:37 At dawn,
00:09:38 --> 00:09:38 battleships
00:09:38 --> 00:09:39 opened up
00:09:39 --> 00:09:40 on the
00:09:40 --> 00:09:40 beaches.
00:09:41 --> 00:09:42 They stormed
00:09:42 --> 00:09:43 ashore in
00:09:43 --> 00:09:44 the largest
00:09:44 --> 00:09:44 seaborne
00:09:44 --> 00:09:45 invasion in
00:09:45 --> 00:09:46 history.
00:09:47 --> 00:09:47 By the end
00:09:47 --> 00:09:48 of D-Day,
00:09:49 --> 00:09:50 all five
00:09:50 --> 00:09:51 Allied landing
00:09:51 --> 00:09:52 beaches were
00:09:52 --> 00:09:52 secure.
00:09:53 --> 00:09:54 Over the
00:09:54 --> 00:09:55 next few
00:09:55 --> 00:09:55 months,
00:09:55 --> 00:09:55 more than
00:09:55 --> 00:09:56 one million
00:09:56 --> 00:09:57 Allied troops
00:09:57 --> 00:09:58 poured into
00:09:58 --> 00:09:59 France,
00:09:59 --> 00:10:01 and they
00:10:01 --> 00:10:01 cleared the
00:10:01 --> 00:10:02 Germans out of
00:10:02 --> 00:10:03 most of
00:10:03 --> 00:10:03 northwestern
00:10:03 --> 00:10:04 France.
00:10:05 --> 00:10:06 The German
00:10:06 --> 00:10:07 generals knew
00:10:07 --> 00:10:07 that they were
00:10:07 --> 00:10:08 defeated.
00:10:08 --> 00:10:09 They didn't
00:10:09 --> 00:10:10 have enough
00:10:10 --> 00:10:10 troops or
00:10:10 --> 00:10:11 enough fuel
00:10:11 --> 00:10:11 to turn
00:10:11 --> 00:10:12 back the
00:10:12 --> 00:10:12 tide,
00:10:12 --> 00:10:13 but Hitler
00:10:13 --> 00:10:15 refused to
00:10:15 --> 00:10:16 admit defeat.
00:10:16 --> 00:10:17 By April
00:10:17 --> 00:10:18 1945,
00:10:18 --> 00:10:19 Soviet troops
00:10:19 --> 00:10:20 had surrounded
00:10:20 --> 00:10:21 Berlin,
00:10:21 --> 00:10:22 and from
00:10:22 --> 00:10:22 his underground
00:10:22 --> 00:10:23 bunker,
00:10:23 --> 00:10:24 Hitler ordered
00:10:24 --> 00:10:25 German soldiers
00:10:25 --> 00:10:25 to fight
00:10:25 --> 00:10:26 on.
00:10:26 --> 00:10:27 But on
00:10:27 --> 00:10:28 April 30,
00:10:28 --> 00:10:29 Hitler himself
00:10:29 --> 00:10:29 committed
00:10:29 --> 00:10:30 suicide.
00:10:31 --> 00:10:31 Seven days
00:10:31 --> 00:10:31 later,
00:10:32 --> 00:10:32 the 7th of
00:10:32 --> 00:10:33 May 1945,
00:10:34 --> 00:10:34 the new
00:10:34 --> 00:10:35 Chief of
00:10:35 --> 00:10:36 Staff of
00:10:36 --> 00:10:36 the German
00:10:36 --> 00:10:37 Armed Forces
00:10:37 --> 00:10:38 signed a
00:10:38 --> 00:10:38 statement of
00:10:38 --> 00:10:39 unconditional
00:10:39 --> 00:10:41 surrender to
00:10:41 --> 00:10:42 Eisenhower.
00:10:42 --> 00:10:43 World War
00:10:43 --> 00:10:44 II in
00:10:44 --> 00:10:45 Europe had
00:10:45 --> 00:10:45 ended.
00:10:46 --> 00:10:47 The Allies
00:10:47 --> 00:10:47 declared the
00:10:47 --> 00:10:48 8th of May
00:10:48 --> 00:10:49 1945 as
00:10:49 --> 00:10:50 VE Day,
00:10:51 --> 00:10:52 Victory in
00:10:52 --> 00:10:52 Europe Day.
00:10:53 --> 00:10:54 The decisive
00:10:54 --> 00:10:55 day was the
00:10:55 --> 00:10:56 6th of June
00:10:56 --> 00:10:57 1944,
00:10:58 --> 00:10:59 D-Day.
00:11:00 --> 00:11:00 The final
00:11:00 --> 00:11:01 Victory Day,
00:11:01 --> 00:11:02 VE Day,
00:11:02 --> 00:11:03 was the
00:11:03 --> 00:11:03 8th of May
00:11:03 --> 00:11:04 1945.
00:11:06 --> 00:11:06 Friends,
00:11:06 --> 00:11:07 the death
00:11:07 --> 00:11:08 and resurrection
00:11:08 --> 00:11:08 of Jesus
00:11:08 --> 00:11:09 2 years
00:11:09 --> 00:11:10 ago was
00:11:10 --> 00:11:11 our D-Day.
00:11:12 --> 00:11:13 It was the
00:11:13 --> 00:11:14 decisive day.
00:11:15 --> 00:11:15 That was the
00:11:15 --> 00:11:16 day when Jesus
00:11:16 --> 00:11:17 dealt with our
00:11:17 --> 00:11:18 independence and
00:11:18 --> 00:11:20 now we live
00:11:20 --> 00:11:22 remembering D-Day.
00:11:22 --> 00:11:23 We live in the
00:11:23 --> 00:11:25 light of D-Day and
00:11:25 --> 00:11:26 we are waiting for
00:11:26 --> 00:11:27 the final reckoning,
00:11:28 --> 00:11:29 waiting for our
00:11:29 --> 00:11:29 independence and
00:11:29 --> 00:11:31 all the independence
00:11:31 --> 00:11:32 of this world to
00:11:32 --> 00:11:33 finally be overrun.
00:11:33 --> 00:11:34 We are living
00:11:34 --> 00:11:35 through the last
00:11:35 --> 00:11:36 days of cosmic
00:11:36 --> 00:11:38 war and the
00:11:38 --> 00:11:40 outcome is
00:11:40 --> 00:11:40 certain.
00:11:42 --> 00:11:42 The outcome
00:11:42 --> 00:11:43 is certain.
00:11:44 --> 00:11:45 D-Day has
00:11:45 --> 00:11:45 happened.
00:11:46 --> 00:11:47 The cross of
00:11:47 --> 00:11:47 Christ is
00:11:47 --> 00:11:48 heralded the
00:11:48 --> 00:11:49 final victory.
00:11:49 --> 00:11:50 The decisive
00:11:50 --> 00:11:51 victory has
00:11:51 --> 00:11:51 been won.
00:11:52 --> 00:11:53 D-Day has
00:11:53 --> 00:11:53 happened in the
00:11:53 --> 00:11:53 death and
00:11:53 --> 00:11:54 resurrection of
00:11:54 --> 00:11:56 Jesus and we
00:11:56 --> 00:11:57 wait for VE
00:11:57 --> 00:11:58 Day to come.
00:12:00 --> 00:12:01 Every person
00:12:01 --> 00:12:02 will stand
00:12:02 --> 00:12:04 before his
00:12:04 --> 00:12:05 throne and give
00:12:05 --> 00:12:06 an account on
00:12:06 --> 00:12:07 that day.
00:12:08 --> 00:12:09 How should we
00:12:09 --> 00:12:10 live therefore?
00:12:12 --> 00:12:14 We live each
00:12:14 --> 00:12:15 moment as if
00:12:15 --> 00:12:17 VE Day was
00:12:17 --> 00:12:18 today.
00:12:19 --> 00:12:21 We live each
00:12:21 --> 00:12:22 moment as if
00:12:22 --> 00:12:24 VE Day was
00:12:24 --> 00:12:24 today.
00:12:27 --> 00:12:28 That's what it
00:12:28 --> 00:12:28 means to be
00:12:28 --> 00:12:28 shrewd.
00:12:30 --> 00:12:31 That's what it
00:12:31 --> 00:12:32 means to be
00:12:32 --> 00:12:32 shrewd.
00:12:32 --> 00:12:33 But the
00:12:33 --> 00:12:34 warning of
00:12:34 --> 00:12:34 this parable
00:12:34 --> 00:12:37 is that too
00:12:37 --> 00:12:38 many Christians
00:12:38 --> 00:12:39 are not
00:12:39 --> 00:12:39 shrewd enough.
00:12:41 --> 00:12:42 You can't
00:12:42 --> 00:12:42 tell the
00:12:42 --> 00:12:43 Christians from
00:12:43 --> 00:12:44 the non-Christians
00:12:44 --> 00:12:44 in their
00:12:44 --> 00:12:45 priorities by
00:12:45 --> 00:12:46 the way they
00:12:46 --> 00:12:46 use their
00:12:46 --> 00:12:47 time and
00:12:47 --> 00:12:47 their money
00:12:47 --> 00:12:48 and their
00:12:48 --> 00:12:49 relationships.
00:12:51 --> 00:12:52 In verse
00:12:52 --> 00:12:53 9, Jesus
00:12:53 --> 00:12:54 tells us one
00:12:54 --> 00:12:54 way that we
00:12:54 --> 00:12:55 can live as
00:12:55 --> 00:12:56 if VE Day
00:12:56 --> 00:12:56 were right
00:12:56 --> 00:12:57 here, right
00:12:57 --> 00:12:57 now.
00:12:58 --> 00:12:59 I tell you,
00:12:59 --> 00:13:00 use your
00:13:00 --> 00:13:00 worldly wealth
00:13:00 --> 00:13:01 to gain
00:13:01 --> 00:13:01 friends for
00:13:01 --> 00:13:02 yourselves.
00:13:02 --> 00:13:03 So that when
00:13:03 --> 00:13:04 it is gone,
00:13:04 --> 00:13:05 you'll be
00:13:05 --> 00:13:05 welcomed into
00:13:05 --> 00:13:07 eternal dwellings.
00:13:07 --> 00:13:08 Jesus isn't
00:13:08 --> 00:13:09 saying you can
00:13:09 --> 00:13:09 buy your way
00:13:09 --> 00:13:10 into heaven.
00:13:10 --> 00:13:10 We know that
00:13:10 --> 00:13:11 for sure from
00:13:11 --> 00:13:12 other places,
00:13:12 --> 00:13:13 that it's only
00:13:13 --> 00:13:14 through him,
00:13:14 --> 00:13:14 through his
00:13:14 --> 00:13:14 death and
00:13:14 --> 00:13:15 resurrection.
00:13:16 --> 00:13:17 What he is
00:13:17 --> 00:13:18 saying is use
00:13:18 --> 00:13:19 your possessions
00:13:19 --> 00:13:20 now in view
00:13:20 --> 00:13:21 of the future,
00:13:21 --> 00:13:22 in view of
00:13:22 --> 00:13:23 eternity.
00:13:24 --> 00:13:25 Use everything
00:13:25 --> 00:13:25 you have now to
00:13:25 --> 00:13:27 please God and
00:13:27 --> 00:13:27 not yourself.
00:13:28 --> 00:13:29 What he is
00:13:29 --> 00:13:30 saying here is
00:13:30 --> 00:13:31 what he has
00:13:31 --> 00:13:32 said consistently
00:13:32 --> 00:13:33 through the
00:13:33 --> 00:13:34 gospels is
00:13:34 --> 00:13:36 build up
00:13:36 --> 00:13:37 treasure in
00:13:37 --> 00:13:37 heaven.
00:13:39 --> 00:13:40 Build up
00:13:40 --> 00:13:40 treasure in
00:13:40 --> 00:13:41 heaven.
00:13:43 --> 00:13:44 So let me
00:13:44 --> 00:13:44 give you a
00:13:44 --> 00:13:44 scenario.
00:13:45 --> 00:13:46 The sort of
00:13:46 --> 00:13:46 thing I think
00:13:46 --> 00:13:47 Jesus is talking
00:13:47 --> 00:13:48 about here,
00:13:49 --> 00:13:50 opening scene.
00:13:51 --> 00:13:51 You have
00:13:51 --> 00:13:52 $200 that
00:13:52 --> 00:13:53 you've saved
00:13:53 --> 00:13:54 up and
00:13:54 --> 00:13:55 there is an
00:13:55 --> 00:13:56 MP3 player,
00:13:56 --> 00:13:57 forgive me if
00:13:57 --> 00:13:57 you're from a
00:13:57 --> 00:13:58 different generation
00:13:58 --> 00:13:59 on this one.
00:14:02 --> 00:14:02 There's an
00:14:02 --> 00:14:03 MP3 player that
00:14:03 --> 00:14:04 you've had your
00:14:04 --> 00:14:05 eye on for a
00:14:05 --> 00:14:05 little while,
00:14:06 --> 00:14:07 but you hear
00:14:07 --> 00:14:08 someone struggling
00:14:08 --> 00:14:09 to put themselves
00:14:09 --> 00:14:10 through Bible
00:14:10 --> 00:14:10 college,
00:14:11 --> 00:14:12 you've got your
00:14:12 --> 00:14:12 $200,
00:14:13 --> 00:14:14 it's a hard
00:14:14 --> 00:14:14 call,
00:14:14 --> 00:14:15 you know it,
00:14:15 --> 00:14:16 but you give
00:14:16 --> 00:14:17 it to them to
00:14:17 --> 00:14:17 help them get
00:14:17 --> 00:14:18 through Bible
00:14:18 --> 00:14:18 college.
00:14:20 --> 00:14:20 Next scene,
00:14:21 --> 00:14:22 you're dead.
00:14:22 --> 00:14:23 Sorry about
00:14:23 --> 00:14:23 fast forwarding
00:14:23 --> 00:14:24 your life
00:14:24 --> 00:14:24 there.
00:14:26 --> 00:14:27 You're dead,
00:14:28 --> 00:14:28 you're in
00:14:28 --> 00:14:29 heaven,
00:14:29 --> 00:14:30 and this guy
00:14:30 --> 00:14:31 comes up to
00:14:31 --> 00:14:31 you and says,
00:14:31 --> 00:14:32 while I was
00:14:32 --> 00:14:32 on earth,
00:14:32 --> 00:14:33 I used to
00:14:33 --> 00:14:33 live in
00:14:33 --> 00:14:33 Chile,
00:14:34 --> 00:14:34 and you know,
00:14:35 --> 00:14:36 one day an
00:14:36 --> 00:14:36 extraordinary
00:14:36 --> 00:14:37 thing happened.
00:14:38 --> 00:14:39 This guy came
00:14:39 --> 00:14:40 up to me in
00:14:40 --> 00:14:40 the street and
00:14:40 --> 00:14:41 told me about
00:14:41 --> 00:14:41 Jesus,
00:14:43 --> 00:14:43 thank you,
00:14:44 --> 00:14:45 thank you for
00:14:45 --> 00:14:45 that,
00:14:47 --> 00:14:47 and you think
00:14:47 --> 00:14:48 this guy's gone
00:14:48 --> 00:14:49 mad.
00:14:50 --> 00:14:51 You've got no
00:14:51 --> 00:14:51 idea what he's
00:14:51 --> 00:14:52 talking about,
00:14:52 --> 00:14:53 what he's
00:14:53 --> 00:14:54 saying is that
00:14:54 --> 00:14:55 that $200 that
00:14:55 --> 00:14:57 you gave and
00:14:57 --> 00:14:57 many others like
00:14:57 --> 00:14:59 you allowed that
00:14:59 --> 00:14:59 student to get
00:14:59 --> 00:15:00 through Bible
00:15:00 --> 00:15:00 college.
00:15:01 --> 00:15:02 That person
00:15:02 --> 00:15:02 worked in a
00:15:02 --> 00:15:03 church,
00:15:03 --> 00:15:03 discipled young
00:15:03 --> 00:15:04 Christians,
00:15:04 --> 00:15:05 one or two of
00:15:05 --> 00:15:06 those people went
00:15:06 --> 00:15:07 into Bible
00:15:07 --> 00:15:08 college themselves,
00:15:09 --> 00:15:10 and years,
00:15:10 --> 00:15:11 generations later,
00:15:11 --> 00:15:12 one of their
00:15:12 --> 00:15:14 kids went as a
00:15:14 --> 00:15:15 missionary to
00:15:15 --> 00:15:16 Brazil and
00:15:16 --> 00:15:17 evangelized some
00:15:17 --> 00:15:18 people in
00:15:18 --> 00:15:18 Brazil,
00:15:18 --> 00:15:19 and the guy
00:15:19 --> 00:15:20 who came up to
00:15:20 --> 00:15:20 you in heaven
00:15:20 --> 00:15:22 is a grandchild
00:15:22 --> 00:15:22 of one of the
00:15:22 --> 00:15:23 people who
00:15:23 --> 00:15:24 brought Jesus
00:15:24 --> 00:15:25 to Brazil,
00:15:26 --> 00:15:26 but who ended
00:15:26 --> 00:15:27 up working and
00:15:27 --> 00:15:27 living and
00:15:27 --> 00:15:28 ministering in
00:15:28 --> 00:15:29 Chile instead.
00:15:30 --> 00:15:30 If you can
00:15:30 --> 00:15:31 follow that,
00:15:31 --> 00:15:32 you're better
00:15:32 --> 00:15:32 than me.
00:15:34 --> 00:15:35 But the point
00:15:35 --> 00:15:36 is your $200
00:15:36 --> 00:15:37 has an enormous
00:15:37 --> 00:15:39 impact not just
00:15:39 --> 00:15:39 for now and
00:15:39 --> 00:15:40 this generation,
00:15:40 --> 00:15:41 but for
00:15:41 --> 00:15:42 generations to
00:15:42 --> 00:15:43 come because
00:15:43 --> 00:15:44 you are building
00:15:44 --> 00:15:46 treasure in
00:15:46 --> 00:15:46 heaven.
00:15:50 --> 00:15:51 When you give
00:15:51 --> 00:15:51 to gospel
00:15:51 --> 00:15:52 ministry, you
00:15:52 --> 00:15:53 are making
00:15:53 --> 00:15:54 an investment
00:15:54 --> 00:15:55 for generations.
00:15:55 --> 00:15:56 You are not
00:15:56 --> 00:15:57 balancing the
00:15:57 --> 00:15:57 budget of
00:15:57 --> 00:15:58 St. Paul's.
00:16:00 --> 00:16:01 It's an
00:16:01 --> 00:16:01 investment for
00:16:01 --> 00:16:02 generations to
00:16:02 --> 00:16:03 come, building
00:16:03 --> 00:16:04 treasure in
00:16:04 --> 00:16:04 heaven for all
00:16:04 --> 00:16:05 of eternity,
00:16:05 --> 00:16:06 and it may
00:16:06 --> 00:16:07 not seem like
00:16:07 --> 00:16:08 you get an
00:16:08 --> 00:16:08 immediate return
00:16:08 --> 00:16:09 because you
00:16:09 --> 00:16:10 can't stick ear
00:16:10 --> 00:16:10 plugs in your
00:16:10 --> 00:16:11 ears and get
00:16:11 --> 00:16:12 your mind blown
00:16:12 --> 00:16:13 out by music,
00:16:13 --> 00:16:15 but the value
00:16:15 --> 00:16:15 is priceless.
00:16:16 --> 00:16:17 For all of
00:16:17 --> 00:16:19 eternity, you
00:16:19 --> 00:16:20 will never
00:16:20 --> 00:16:21 regret what
00:16:21 --> 00:16:21 you did
00:16:21 --> 00:16:21 with that
00:16:21 --> 00:16:22 $200.
00:16:24 --> 00:16:25 Never
00:16:25 --> 00:16:25 regret it.
00:16:27 --> 00:16:28 And that
00:16:28 --> 00:16:29 is, if that
00:16:29 --> 00:16:29 is the
00:16:29 --> 00:16:29 Christian
00:16:29 --> 00:16:30 perspective on
00:16:30 --> 00:16:32 life, if
00:16:32 --> 00:16:32 D-Day is
00:16:32 --> 00:16:33 happening, V-E-Day
00:16:33 --> 00:16:34 is about to
00:16:34 --> 00:16:35 come, and we
00:16:35 --> 00:16:36 are to live in
00:16:36 --> 00:16:36 the light of
00:16:36 --> 00:16:38 V-E-Day, and
00:16:38 --> 00:16:38 all of our
00:16:38 --> 00:16:39 giving is an
00:16:39 --> 00:16:40 internal
00:16:40 --> 00:16:41 investment,
00:16:43 --> 00:16:44 then why are
00:16:44 --> 00:16:45 churches nearly
00:16:45 --> 00:16:46 always under
00:16:46 --> 00:16:46 resourced?
00:16:46 --> 00:16:50 Why is it
00:16:50 --> 00:16:50 the missionaries
00:16:50 --> 00:16:51 have to return
00:16:51 --> 00:16:52 home through
00:16:52 --> 00:16:52 lack of funds?
00:16:54 --> 00:16:54 Why do
00:16:54 --> 00:16:55 Christian
00:16:55 --> 00:16:56 organisations have
00:16:56 --> 00:16:57 to waste so
00:16:57 --> 00:16:58 much time and
00:16:58 --> 00:16:59 energy on
00:16:59 --> 00:17:00 fundraisers and
00:17:00 --> 00:17:01 fairs and
00:17:01 --> 00:17:01 Lamington
00:17:01 --> 00:17:03 drives to
00:17:03 --> 00:17:04 try and
00:17:04 --> 00:17:05 raise money?
00:17:06 --> 00:17:07 Why?
00:17:09 --> 00:17:10 Because we've
00:17:10 --> 00:17:11 forgotten the
00:17:11 --> 00:17:11 gospel.
00:17:13 --> 00:17:14 Because we've
00:17:14 --> 00:17:14 forgotten the
00:17:14 --> 00:17:14 gospel.
00:17:14 --> 00:17:16 we've
00:17:16 --> 00:17:17 forgotten that
00:17:17 --> 00:17:18 V-E-Day is
00:17:18 --> 00:17:19 just around the
00:17:19 --> 00:17:19 corner.
00:17:19 --> 00:17:20 We've forgotten
00:17:20 --> 00:17:21 Jesus' words
00:17:21 --> 00:17:21 builds up
00:17:21 --> 00:17:22 treasure in
00:17:22 --> 00:17:22 heaven, not
00:17:22 --> 00:17:23 on earth.
00:17:23 --> 00:17:24 Jesus' words
00:17:24 --> 00:17:25 use worldly
00:17:25 --> 00:17:26 wealth to
00:17:26 --> 00:17:27 gain friends
00:17:27 --> 00:17:28 with yourselves,
00:17:28 --> 00:17:29 eternal
00:17:29 --> 00:17:29 friends who
00:17:29 --> 00:17:30 will rejoice
00:17:30 --> 00:17:31 with you
00:17:31 --> 00:17:32 around that
00:17:32 --> 00:17:34 throne for
00:17:34 --> 00:17:35 time and
00:17:35 --> 00:17:35 eternity.
00:17:38 --> 00:17:39 Jesus sums
00:17:39 --> 00:17:39 up the idea
00:17:39 --> 00:17:41 in verse 13,
00:17:42 --> 00:17:42 no servant
00:17:42 --> 00:17:43 can serve two
00:17:43 --> 00:17:44 masters,
00:17:44 --> 00:17:45 either he
00:17:45 --> 00:17:45 will hate
00:17:45 --> 00:17:46 the one
00:17:46 --> 00:17:46 and love
00:17:46 --> 00:17:46 the other
00:17:46 --> 00:17:47 or he will
00:17:47 --> 00:17:47 be devoted
00:17:47 --> 00:17:47 to the one
00:17:47 --> 00:17:48 and despise
00:17:48 --> 00:17:49 the other.
00:17:49 --> 00:17:49 You cannot
00:17:49 --> 00:17:50 serve both
00:17:50 --> 00:17:51 God and
00:17:51 --> 00:17:51 money.
00:17:53 --> 00:17:53 Strong
00:17:53 --> 00:17:54 words,
00:17:55 --> 00:17:55 but very
00:17:55 --> 00:17:56 clear words.
00:17:57 --> 00:17:58 Jesus didn't
00:17:58 --> 00:17:58 say it wasn't
00:17:58 --> 00:17:59 a good idea
00:17:59 --> 00:18:00 to try and
00:18:00 --> 00:18:00 serve two
00:18:00 --> 00:18:01 masters.
00:18:02 --> 00:18:02 He actually
00:18:02 --> 00:18:03 says here that
00:18:03 --> 00:18:04 it is impossible
00:18:04 --> 00:18:06 to serve two
00:18:06 --> 00:18:06 masters.
00:18:07 --> 00:18:08 It is impossible
00:18:08 --> 00:18:09 to serve both
00:18:09 --> 00:18:10 God and
00:18:10 --> 00:18:10 money.
00:18:10 --> 00:18:12 your life is
00:18:12 --> 00:18:13 focused in one
00:18:13 --> 00:18:13 of two
00:18:13 --> 00:18:14 directions,
00:18:14 --> 00:18:15 God and
00:18:15 --> 00:18:15 serving him
00:18:15 --> 00:18:16 or serving
00:18:16 --> 00:18:16 yourself and
00:18:16 --> 00:18:17 what you want
00:18:17 --> 00:18:17 in life.
00:18:18 --> 00:18:18 You cannot
00:18:18 --> 00:18:19 do both,
00:18:19 --> 00:18:20 is what Jesus
00:18:20 --> 00:18:21 says in this
00:18:21 --> 00:18:21 passage.
00:18:24 --> 00:18:25 So friends,
00:18:26 --> 00:18:28 we stand at
00:18:28 --> 00:18:29 the edge of
00:18:29 --> 00:18:30 something big
00:18:30 --> 00:18:30 for us as a
00:18:30 --> 00:18:32 church and I
00:18:32 --> 00:18:32 want to ask
00:18:32 --> 00:18:33 you, what are
00:18:33 --> 00:18:33 you going to
00:18:33 --> 00:18:33 do?
00:18:35 --> 00:18:35 What are you
00:18:35 --> 00:18:36 going to do?
00:18:36 --> 00:18:37 You and I
00:18:37 --> 00:18:38 are in exactly
00:18:38 --> 00:18:38 the same boat
00:18:38 --> 00:18:39 as this shrewd
00:18:39 --> 00:18:39 manager.
00:18:41 --> 00:18:42 The books are
00:18:42 --> 00:18:42 still open.
00:18:43 --> 00:18:45 We still have a
00:18:45 --> 00:18:45 chance to act
00:18:45 --> 00:18:47 now in view
00:18:47 --> 00:18:48 of eternity.
00:18:49 --> 00:18:50 A chance to
00:18:50 --> 00:18:51 make sure that
00:18:51 --> 00:18:53 we are not
00:18:53 --> 00:18:53 mastered by
00:18:53 --> 00:18:55 money, but to
00:18:55 --> 00:18:56 give it generously
00:18:56 --> 00:18:57 because of the
00:18:57 --> 00:18:58 impact of such
00:18:58 --> 00:18:59 an investment
00:18:59 --> 00:19:00 will be felt
00:19:00 --> 00:19:01 for ages,
00:19:02 --> 00:19:03 for all of
00:19:03 --> 00:19:03 eternity.
00:19:03 --> 00:19:06 It is the
00:19:06 --> 00:19:07 greatest legacy
00:19:07 --> 00:19:07 that you could
00:19:07 --> 00:19:08 leave your
00:19:08 --> 00:19:09 generation.
00:19:10 --> 00:19:11 It's the
00:19:11 --> 00:19:11 greatest legacy
00:19:11 --> 00:19:12 that we could
00:19:12 --> 00:19:12 leave the
00:19:12 --> 00:19:13 generations to
00:19:13 --> 00:19:14 follow us
00:19:14 --> 00:19:15 at St.
00:19:15 --> 00:19:17 Paul's and
00:19:17 --> 00:19:17 the greatest
00:19:17 --> 00:19:18 legacy we
00:19:18 --> 00:19:18 could leave
00:19:18 --> 00:19:19 our children's
00:19:19 --> 00:19:20 generations.
00:19:23 --> 00:19:24 Investment in
00:19:24 --> 00:19:25 people's lives
00:19:25 --> 00:19:26 with our
00:19:26 --> 00:19:27 time, our
00:19:27 --> 00:19:29 prayers, our
00:19:29 --> 00:19:31 energy, our
00:19:31 --> 00:19:32 encouragement, and
00:19:32 --> 00:19:33 from this
00:19:33 --> 00:19:34 passage, our
00:19:34 --> 00:19:34 money.
00:19:36 --> 00:19:37 In view of
00:19:37 --> 00:19:37 the fact that
00:19:37 --> 00:19:39 VE Day is
00:19:39 --> 00:19:39 just around the
00:19:39 --> 00:19:41 corner, I'm
00:19:41 --> 00:19:42 calling you to
00:19:42 --> 00:19:43 do what Jesus
00:19:43 --> 00:19:44 is calling us
00:19:44 --> 00:19:45 to do as his
00:19:45 --> 00:19:47 disciples, give
00:19:47 --> 00:19:47 it up.
00:19:48 --> 00:19:49 Give it up for
00:19:49 --> 00:19:49 the kingdom.
00:19:51 --> 00:19:51 Stake everything
00:19:51 --> 00:19:53 in this world on
00:19:53 --> 00:19:54 the world that is
00:19:54 --> 00:19:54 to come.
00:19:58 --> 00:19:59 So today we
00:19:59 --> 00:19:59 stand on the
00:19:59 --> 00:20:00 edge of 11
00:20:00 --> 00:20:01 year ministry
00:20:01 --> 00:20:01 plan.
00:20:01 --> 00:20:02 And the
00:20:02 --> 00:20:03 bottom line of
00:20:03 --> 00:20:04 this plan is
00:20:04 --> 00:20:05 a call for
00:20:05 --> 00:20:05 us to
00:20:05 --> 00:20:06 strongly,
00:20:07 --> 00:20:08 single-mindedly,
00:20:08 --> 00:20:09 doggedly be
00:20:09 --> 00:20:10 focused on the
00:20:10 --> 00:20:11 kingdom of God
00:20:11 --> 00:20:12 and the coming
00:20:12 --> 00:20:14 VE Day when
00:20:14 --> 00:20:14 Jesus will
00:20:14 --> 00:20:15 return and he
00:20:15 --> 00:20:16 will wind up
00:20:16 --> 00:20:17 this whole show.
00:20:18 --> 00:20:19 Today I'm
00:20:19 --> 00:20:20 calling you to
00:20:20 --> 00:20:21 act now in
00:20:21 --> 00:20:21 view of
00:20:21 --> 00:20:22 eternity.
00:20:22 --> 00:20:24 I'm calling the
00:20:24 --> 00:20:25 whole church to
00:20:25 --> 00:20:26 make wise
00:20:26 --> 00:20:26 investments.
00:20:26 --> 00:20:28 God calls
00:20:28 --> 00:20:31 us to
00:20:31 --> 00:20:32 demand our
00:20:32 --> 00:20:34 allegiance, he
00:20:34 --> 00:20:35 demands our
00:20:35 --> 00:20:35 time, our
00:20:35 --> 00:20:36 energy, our
00:20:36 --> 00:20:37 prayers, our
00:20:37 --> 00:20:37 money, our
00:20:37 --> 00:20:38 lives.
00:20:40 --> 00:20:41 He helps us
00:20:41 --> 00:20:43 see that for
00:20:43 --> 00:20:45 all of us we
00:20:45 --> 00:20:46 only all have a
00:20:46 --> 00:20:48 few good hours
00:20:48 --> 00:20:49 left.
00:20:50 --> 00:20:52 We all only
00:20:52 --> 00:20:53 have a few good
00:20:53 --> 00:20:53 hours left.
00:20:53 --> 00:20:55 people
00:20:55 --> 00:20:56 who are
00:20:56 --> 00:20:56 going to
00:20:56 --> 00:20:57 go to the
00:20:57 --> 00:20:57 church.
00:20:57 --> 00:20:58 But because this
00:20:58 --> 00:20:58 passage is specifically
00:20:58 --> 00:20:59 about money
00:20:59 --> 00:21:01 primarily, I want
00:21:01 --> 00:21:02 to call you to put
00:21:02 --> 00:21:03 your money behind the
00:21:03 --> 00:21:04 ministry of the
00:21:04 --> 00:21:04 gospel in this
00:21:04 --> 00:21:05 church and from
00:21:05 --> 00:21:06 this church.
00:21:07 --> 00:21:08 We need money to
00:21:08 --> 00:21:09 build disciples and
00:21:09 --> 00:21:10 to reach the
00:21:10 --> 00:21:10 nations.
00:21:10 --> 00:21:12 Christians, I
00:21:12 --> 00:21:13 was very
00:21:13 --> 00:21:14 comforted to
00:21:14 --> 00:21:14 discover this
00:21:14 --> 00:21:16 week that the
00:21:16 --> 00:21:17 good news is that
00:21:17 --> 00:21:19 God has given us
00:21:19 --> 00:21:20 all the money we
00:21:20 --> 00:21:21 need to realise the
00:21:21 --> 00:21:23 plans that he has
00:21:23 --> 00:21:23 for this church.
00:21:24 --> 00:21:26 The bad news is it's
00:21:26 --> 00:21:26 in your pockets.
00:21:33 --> 00:21:37 And so our giving
00:21:37 --> 00:21:38 to gospel ministry
00:21:38 --> 00:21:39 should never be
00:21:39 --> 00:21:39 haphazard.
00:21:41 --> 00:21:42 It needs to be
00:21:42 --> 00:21:42 planned.
00:21:42 --> 00:21:43 It needs to be
00:21:43 --> 00:21:43 generous.
00:21:44 --> 00:21:44 It needs to be
00:21:44 --> 00:21:45 sacrificial.
00:21:46 --> 00:21:47 And I want to say
00:21:47 --> 00:21:48 a step further, it
00:21:48 --> 00:21:49 also needs to be
00:21:49 --> 00:21:49 open.
00:21:51 --> 00:21:52 Over the last few
00:21:52 --> 00:21:53 months I've been
00:21:53 --> 00:21:54 preaching from here
00:21:54 --> 00:21:57 that money is
00:21:57 --> 00:21:58 never a financial
00:21:58 --> 00:21:59 issue.
00:22:00 --> 00:22:01 It is a spiritual
00:22:01 --> 00:22:02 issue for the
00:22:02 --> 00:22:02 church.
00:22:03 --> 00:22:03 John Dunn said the
00:22:03 --> 00:22:04 same thing when he
00:22:04 --> 00:22:05 preached a couple of
00:22:05 --> 00:22:05 months ago.
00:22:06 --> 00:22:08 It is a spiritual
00:22:08 --> 00:22:09 issue for us.
00:22:09 --> 00:22:10 And because it's a
00:22:10 --> 00:22:11 spiritual issue, it
00:22:11 --> 00:22:12 is never to be off
00:22:12 --> 00:22:13 limits for the senior
00:22:13 --> 00:22:14 minister and the
00:22:14 --> 00:22:14 leaders of this
00:22:14 --> 00:22:15 church.
00:22:16 --> 00:22:17 It is never to be
00:22:17 --> 00:22:18 off limits.
00:22:20 --> 00:22:21 And to that end, you
00:22:21 --> 00:22:22 have all received an
00:22:22 --> 00:22:23 envelope with
00:22:23 --> 00:22:24 information, a card to
00:22:24 --> 00:22:25 pledge your giving
00:22:25 --> 00:22:26 for next year.
00:22:27 --> 00:22:29 Between now and the
00:22:29 --> 00:22:30 29th of November, which
00:22:30 --> 00:22:31 is our commitment
00:22:31 --> 00:22:33 Sunday, I want you to be
00:22:33 --> 00:22:33 prayerful.
00:22:33 --> 00:22:34 I want you to be
00:22:34 --> 00:22:36 considerate about your
00:22:36 --> 00:22:37 pledge for next year
00:22:37 --> 00:22:38 and your one-off
00:22:38 --> 00:22:39 donation to the
00:22:39 --> 00:22:41 internal and external
00:22:41 --> 00:22:42 projects we have.
00:22:42 --> 00:22:44 In the week ahead or
00:22:44 --> 00:22:46 weeks ahead, you're
00:22:46 --> 00:22:47 going to hear more
00:22:47 --> 00:22:48 from me about this,
00:22:49 --> 00:22:50 where I'm going to
00:22:50 --> 00:22:51 explain my thinking
00:22:51 --> 00:22:52 behind it.
00:22:52 --> 00:22:54 What I'm calling us to
00:22:54 --> 00:22:54 do as a church is
00:22:54 --> 00:22:55 something that is not
00:22:55 --> 00:22:58 culturally acceptable,
00:22:59 --> 00:23:00 even amongst churches,
00:23:00 --> 00:23:02 religious, but I
00:23:02 --> 00:23:03 believe it's strongly
00:23:03 --> 00:23:03 biblical.
00:23:04 --> 00:23:05 In fact, there is more
00:23:05 --> 00:23:07 biblical evidence for
00:23:07 --> 00:23:09 your giving to be
00:23:09 --> 00:23:10 public than there is
00:23:10 --> 00:23:11 for it to be private.
00:23:16 --> 00:23:17 Your staff and parish
00:23:17 --> 00:23:18 council will be setting
00:23:18 --> 00:23:19 the pace in a couple of
00:23:19 --> 00:23:21 weeks' time when we
00:23:21 --> 00:23:22 meet and we pledge our
00:23:22 --> 00:23:23 commitment for 2010.
00:23:24 --> 00:23:25 We'll be calling the
00:23:25 --> 00:23:26 church to follow our
00:23:26 --> 00:23:28 example just over a week
00:23:28 --> 00:23:28 later.
00:23:28 --> 00:23:31 It's all new for us as
00:23:31 --> 00:23:33 a church, but it's
00:23:33 --> 00:23:34 also exciting.
00:23:34 --> 00:23:36 It's an exciting time
00:23:36 --> 00:23:37 for us as the people
00:23:37 --> 00:23:39 of God will stop
00:23:39 --> 00:23:41 keeping secret what is
00:23:41 --> 00:23:42 at the heart of
00:23:42 --> 00:23:43 Christian discipleship.
00:23:45 --> 00:23:46 I look forward to
00:23:46 --> 00:23:47 seeing what God will do
00:23:47 --> 00:23:48 amongst us in the
00:23:48 --> 00:23:50 coming weeks and months
00:23:50 --> 00:23:51 and years.
00:23:52 --> 00:23:54 I want to remind you
00:23:54 --> 00:23:56 that our giving to
00:23:56 --> 00:23:58 gospel ministry in this
00:23:58 --> 00:24:01 place is not so that
00:24:01 --> 00:24:01 we might balance the
00:24:01 --> 00:24:02 budget.
00:24:03 --> 00:24:05 It's to realise the
00:24:05 --> 00:24:07 vision of the
00:24:07 --> 00:24:09 nations coming under
00:24:09 --> 00:24:10 the cosmic lordship of
00:24:10 --> 00:24:13 Jesus and building
00:24:13 --> 00:24:14 treasure in heaven.
00:24:15 --> 00:24:16 So we stand on the
00:24:16 --> 00:24:17 edge of a new day for
00:24:17 --> 00:24:18 us as St.
00:24:18 --> 00:24:20 Pauls and I'm
00:24:20 --> 00:24:21 calling everyone here
00:24:21 --> 00:24:23 gathered today to
00:24:23 --> 00:24:24 give yourself
00:24:24 --> 00:24:25 wholeheartedly to a
00:24:25 --> 00:24:26 biblical vision,
00:24:27 --> 00:24:28 to build up
00:24:28 --> 00:24:29 treasure and to
00:24:29 --> 00:24:31 act now in view
00:24:31 --> 00:24:33 of the certain
00:24:33 --> 00:24:35 VE day which
00:24:35 --> 00:24:36 is just around the
00:24:36 --> 00:24:36 corner.
00:24:36 --> 00:24:37 Amen.