Stewardship for Eternity: The Urgency of the Gospel

[00:00:00] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]
[00:00:00] Amen. If you would, turn your Bibles to the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 16. Our sermon is simply entitled, What Really Matters? What Really Matters? We could say, What Matters the Most? Since Pastor Andy's not here, I'll drink from his cup, too. But What Really Matters, or What Matters the Most? This is our sermon. We're going to look at all of Luke, Chapter 16, and we're also going to mention Chapter 15,
[00:00:40] though we're not preaching from it.
[00:00:41] But really, if you go and you study, 15 and 16 kind of go together.
[00:00:46] And in chapter 15 is the famous prodigal son parable.
[00:00:50] And now in chapter 16, there is the unjust steward, as well as the rich man and Lazarus.
[00:00:58] So let's now turn to God's word, Luke chapter 16.
[00:01:02] We're going to read the chapter in its entirety.
[00:01:07] Luke 16, verse 1.
[00:01:11] And this is Christ, of course, speaking.
[00:01:14] And he said unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man which had a steward, and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods.
[00:01:24] And he called him and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee?
[00:01:28] Give an account of thy stewardship, for thou mayest be no longer steward.
[00:01:32] Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do?
[00:01:36] For my Lord taketh away from me the stewardship.
[00:01:39] I cannot dig to beg I am ashamed I am resolved what to do that when I am put out of the stewardship they may receive me into their houses so he called every one of his lord's debtors unto him and said
[00:01:53] unto the first how much owest thou unto my lord and he said a hundred measures of oil and he said unto him take thy bill and sit down quickly and write 50 then said he to another how much owest
[00:02:06] thou? And he said, A hundred measures of wheat. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and write fourscore, or eighty. And the Lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely. For the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light. And I say unto
[00:02:25] you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness, that when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations. He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much, and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. If therefore ye have not
[00:02:42] been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own?
[00:02:54] No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will hold to the one and despise the other, ye cannot serve God and mammon, mammon being
[00:03:07] riches, earthly riches, and especially earthly riches that we trust in as opposed to God.
[00:03:15] Verse 14, and the Pharisees also who were covetous heard all these things and they derided him, a special word there, derided, which means turned up their nose at him, that's what it literally means. They derided him, and he said unto them, Ye are they which justify
[00:03:36] yourselves before men, but God knoweth your hearts. For that which is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God. The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the
[00:03:47] kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it. And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle, smallest mark, of the law to fail. Whosoever putteth away his wife and
[00:04:00] marrieth another, committeth adultery. And whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband, committeth adultery. There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day. And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus,
[00:04:17] which was laid at his gate full of sores, and desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table.
[00:04:23] Moreover, the dogs came and licked his sores.
[00:04:27] And it came to pass that the beggar died and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom.
[00:04:32] And the rich man also died and was buried.
[00:04:36] And in hell, he lift up his eyes, being in torment, and seeth Abraham afar off and Lazarus in his bosom.
[00:04:44] And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am tormented in this flame.
[00:04:57] But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime received thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things, but now he is comforted and thou art tormented.
[00:05:09] And beside all this, between us and you, there is a great gulf fixed, so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot, neither can they pass to us that would come from thence.
[00:05:20] Then he said, I pray thee, therefore, Father, that thou wouldst send him, that is Lazarus, to my father's house.
[00:05:27] For I have five brethren that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
[00:05:35] Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets. Let them hear them.
[00:05:40] And he said, Nay, Father Abraham, but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
[00:05:47] and he said unto him if they hear not Moses and the prophets neither will they be persuaded though one rose from the dead let's pray the heavenly father help us we pray to understand these words
[00:06:05] of your precious matchless son Jesus Christ to understand to receive and to be more conformed to his image who loved us and paid for our sins on the cross from 2,000 years ago.
[00:06:20] Help us now, we pray, in Christ's name, for your glory.
[00:06:24] Amen.
[00:06:27] Interesting passage, to say the least.
[00:06:29] There's a lot going on here.
[00:06:30] We could preach a series of sermons from this chapter, but I wanted to preach the entire chapter, as I mentioned, and if you have a Bible with red letters of Jesus, you may find that most all of this is red, not only this, but the previous chapter, chapter 15, and
[00:06:47] they really kind of go together.
[00:06:48] Chapter 15, again, having the prodigal son story or parable.
[00:06:54] Here, though, we start out with a parable about an unjust steward.
[00:07:01] And this has troubled or befuddled many a Christian, that here's this guy who has wasted his master's goods.
[00:07:10] He's not been a good steward at all.
[00:07:12] And the master says, hey, you haven't done any good.
[00:07:16] You've wasted my goods.
[00:07:17] you need to go. You're going to be fired. Get ready. Get the books in order and get out of here.
[00:07:22] Well, this guy is now concerned. I'm going to lose my job. What am I going to do? And so he has an idea. I know what I'll do. I'll go to all of the debtors, to my master, and I'll lower their
[00:07:38] debt. I say, hey, I'm going to do something for you. Lower the debt. And then if I do this with enough of them, then after I get fired, they'll owe me, or they'll take care of me, and I'll have
[00:07:48] a lot of friends who will help me out and remember me. Well, this doesn't sound very honest, doesn't sound very commendable, and many Christians have wondered, how did this guy get commendation from his master, and why does Jesus actually say that there's something for Christians to learn here?
[00:08:07] Let's take a look at the end of the parable.
[00:08:10] It says, verse 8 of our chapter 16, And the Lord commended the unjust steward because he had done wisely.
[00:08:18] For the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.
[00:08:23] It's kind of like, be wise as serpents, but harmless as doves.
[00:08:30] Amen?
[00:08:31] And so here, he's saying there's something for Christians to learn from this unjust steward.
[00:08:37] His dishonesty? No, no.
[00:08:40] What? What is he doing?
[00:08:44] He is doing all he can to prepare for a time when he's going to be without.
[00:08:53] Without what?
[00:08:55] Notice he says in verse 4, I am resolved what to do that when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.
[00:09:06] We as Christians are stewards of the Lord, of his word, of his gospel, of his truth, of our very life and our time.
[00:09:15] There is a time when we're going to be put out of our stewardship.
[00:09:19] When is that?
[00:09:20] Death.
[00:09:22] Everything that we do now should be in rightful preparation for what comes after death.
[00:09:28] Because life is a vapor and after death is eternity, you see.
[00:09:33] This is the commendation that the master gives him in a sense, but that Jesus tells us there's something that we can learn from this man in this particular aspect.
[00:09:44] Notice he says in verse 9, And I say unto you, make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness, that when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitation.
[00:09:56] In other words, we are to use our time and our money, our opportunities, because we are called to love the Lord our God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength first and to love our neighbor as ourself.
[00:10:09] How are we taking care of our neighbors?
[00:10:11] How are we ministering to them?
[00:10:12] And the idea here is we go and we share.
[00:10:16] We share with people who couldn't care anything about Jesus.
[00:10:19] And guess what?
[00:10:20] Some of them will thumb the nose at you, but others, by God's grace, will be saved.
[00:10:25] And when we get to heaven, when we fail, when we're put out of our stewardship, you might be surprised.
[00:10:31] How many people?
[00:10:33] Ah, you remember when you shared Christ with me on that airplane?
[00:10:37] You remember when you gave me a gospel tract?
[00:10:40] Do you remember in that difficult time when you prayed with me?
[00:10:43] You thought nothing happened?
[00:10:44] Here I am because of what God did through you.
[00:10:47] And they'll be there to receive you into everlasting habitations.
[00:10:52] And so here is the picture that Christ is painting for us.
[00:10:56] And he goes on to explain that we as Christians are stewards.
[00:11:01] We're not saved by how good of a steward we are, but if we are saved and if we are Christians, we will be faithful stewards because we recognize that we are a steward of what God has given us.
[00:11:17] Say, well, God hasn't given me much.
[00:11:19] Well, you're here and you're alive.
[00:11:21] That's better than a lot of people.
[00:11:23] You have breath.
[00:11:25] You have a mind.
[00:11:26] You're awake.
[00:11:26] You're able.
[00:11:27] You have a place to live.
[00:11:29] All of you have clothes.
[00:11:31] You're able to get here.
[00:11:33] You have transportation.
[00:11:34] How are we using these things for the Lord?
[00:11:38] And he goes on to explain in the next couple of verses, verse 10, He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in that much.
[00:11:45] He that is unjust in the least is unjust in much.
[00:11:48] Now listen to verse 11, very important.
[00:11:50] If ye therefore have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, that is to say, the money and the wealth of this world, and what have you done with what you have in this world for Christ,
[00:12:03] who will commit to your trust the true riches?
[00:12:05] Herein is an exposition of the truth that our life is a test.
[00:12:11] It is a test.
[00:12:13] If we are going to be in heaven and have the true riches of the presence of God, the glory of God, the absolute time of peace and joy and love manifest and the absence of sin, heaven itself, the presence of Jesus Christ
[00:12:29] and the holy angels, true riches and inheritance in heaven co-heirs with Christ.
[00:12:35] What a wonderful thing we're going to, a wonderful place, a wonderful person, a wonderful reality, far greater than we can hope, ask, think, or even imagine.
[00:12:44] How is God going to give that to us if we have not been faithful stewards with this life that he's given us here, which is just, the Bible says, a vapor.
[00:12:57] Why would we expect him to give us eternal salvation if we've wasted this life for our own carnal pleasures?
[00:13:06] This is what Jesus is saying.
[00:13:09] Verse 12, and if you have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own?
[00:13:15] And here's the key.
[00:13:16] This is a repeating of what's said in the Gospel of Matthew.
[00:13:19] you, no servant, verse 13, can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will hold to the one and despise the other.
[00:13:30] You cannot serve God and worldly wealth.
[00:13:34] Doesn't mean you can't have wealth.
[00:13:37] There's no condemnation here for someone that has wealth or is even rich.
[00:13:42] But if you find that that's what you're serving, that's what it's all about, keeping, getting, retaining or making more of material wealth is what drives you, then you're not serving God.
[00:13:55] You can call yourself a Christian all you want. This is what he's saying. You can't have two masters. Ultimately, one's going to win out. Who's it going to be? Well, for the world, more or less, it's worldly wealth, isn't it? It's the economy. What do they say? It's the
[00:14:10] economy, stupid? Well, for God's people, we say we're not stupid, and it's not about the economy.
[00:14:16] it's about God and his son, Jesus Christ.
[00:14:19] Now with that, the Pharisees, who are the straightest sect, they know the Bible well, they know the Old Testament, and they follow it to a T, and yet they have an Achilles heel, if you will.
[00:14:32] They are covetous.
[00:14:34] They like fine things.
[00:14:36] And when they hear this, it says, they thumb the nose, thumb the nose at Jesus.
[00:14:43] The Greek word there, a funny word, ek mouk terizo, ek mouk terizo, which literally means to thumb the nose, you know.
[00:14:56] Well, Jesus sees that and hears that, and notice in verse 15, he says to them, you are they which justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts, for that which is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.
[00:15:14] Isn't it interesting?
[00:15:15] We were reading in our study on Wednesday night from Thomas Watson's book, Body of Divinity.
[00:15:20] Thomas Watson said it well.
[00:15:22] He said, men judge the heart of someone by their actions, but God judges actions by the heart.
[00:15:35] Men judge the heart, because we can't see other people's heart, by their actions.
[00:15:40] but God judges the actions by the heart who he alone knows.
[00:15:48] How is your heart today with Jesus?
[00:15:51] And so this is what he's saying.
[00:15:53] The Pharisees are hearing this.
[00:15:54] His disciples are hearing this.
[00:15:56] And this is why he continues on and he says, Look, you Pharisees who pride yourselves.
[00:16:03] I follow the law to the T.
[00:16:05] I check off all the boxes every day.
[00:16:07] You can't get me, Jesus.
[00:16:08] I'm good.
[00:16:09] I'm holy.
[00:16:09] I'm righteous.
[00:16:10] Of course, this isn't exactly what they're saying, but this is the idea.
[00:16:14] They justify themselves.
[00:16:17] And then Jesus, that explains what comes next.
[00:16:21] Jesus says, the law and the prophets were until John.
[00:16:24] Since that time, the kingdom of God is preached and every man presseth into it.
[00:16:28] We'll talk about that later.
[00:16:29] He says, it's easier for heaven and earth to pass than one tittle of the law to fail.
[00:16:34] Now, this thing about divorce and adultery, this is repeated several times in the Gospels.
[00:16:41] but it really seems out of place here.
[00:16:44] I wondered, why is this verse about, it's just like, he goes to this and he goes right back.
[00:16:49] But no, there's a purpose because we find that the Pharisees were very hypocritical of this.
[00:16:54] You know, the law talks about, Jesus actually explains when they challenge him, is it okay for a man to divorce his wife for any cause?
[00:17:03] And Jesus actually says, well, you know, Moses, for the hardness of your heart, allowed this, but it wasn't so from the beginning.
[00:17:09] Adam and Eve, one man and one woman, and for this cause shall a man leave his father and mother and cling unto his wife.
[00:17:17] This is the way it's supposed to be.
[00:17:19] Here, he's accusing them of hypocrisy.
[00:17:23] You say you follow the law perfectly, but in their day, there were rabbis.
[00:17:28] We still have their writings, Rabbi Hillel and Rabbi Akiba.
[00:17:33] And they said, men, listen up.
[00:17:35] You can divorce your wife if she burns your food.
[00:17:39] They had a list of reasons.
[00:17:42] I see some looks now.
[00:17:45] Now, here's another one that was on the list.
[00:17:50] You can divorce your wife if you find somebody prettier.
[00:17:55] Talk about hypocrisy.
[00:17:57] In other words, they're saying, these are reasons that you can do this and still be right with God.
[00:18:04] And so I think that's why Jesus brings it up.
[00:18:05] He says, you guys are just terrible hypocrites.
[00:18:08] You're claiming that you're perfectly right with God, Your vain traditions have made the word of God a non-effect.
[00:18:14] And that's why I think he brings this up.
[00:18:16] Now, the rest of this chapter, verse 19 to 31, is this story.
[00:18:22] Is it a parable?
[00:18:22] The scripture doesn't say it's a parable.
[00:18:24] Many people believe it is.
[00:18:26] Maybe it is, though, an actual story of two individuals, a rich man and Lazarus.
[00:18:31] And they both die.
[00:18:32] One goes essentially to heaven, Abraham's bosom.
[00:18:35] One goes to hell.
[00:18:36] It's very instructive.
[00:18:38] And this is where I want us to take some time in the rest of our message today, primarily.
[00:18:44] Let's take a look.
[00:18:46] Notice, we find, this begins in verse 19.
[00:18:51] There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day.
[00:19:00] Now, purple was really only reserved for kings.
[00:19:04] It was very expensive.
[00:19:05] There was only a certain crustacean, shellfish, that they could get purple dye.
[00:19:09] You had to be filthy rich, if you will, to have purple clothing at this time.
[00:19:15] And also linen.
[00:19:16] Linen was a luxury at this time.
[00:19:19] Fared sumptuously every day.
[00:19:21] Buffeted, just very rich, very upper, high, high, upper class individual.
[00:19:29] And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which means he whom God helps, interestingly enough, which was laid at his gate full of sores and desiring to be fed with the crumbs.
[00:19:42] He would have been satisfied with just a crumb from this guy's table and probably the crumb would be very nice.
[00:19:49] But he didn't, it seems, get any and the dogs came and licked his sores.
[00:19:55] It seems he was in such a pitiful state he couldn't shoo them away.
[00:19:58] Nobody else was helping him.
[00:20:00] The best we can understand is the rich man is not really caring about Lazarus at all, though we don't have much information.
[00:20:08] Now, verse 22, and it came to pass that the beggar died and was carried by angels into Abraham's bosom.
[00:20:15] How precious is the death of God's saints.
[00:20:19] And then the rich man died also and was buried.
[00:20:23] No mention of the angels carrying him.
[00:20:27] And notice, the rich man is in hell.
[00:20:30] The Bible talks about hell, but we don't have much insight.
[00:20:33] This is one of the only places, and Jesus himself gives us this picture.
[00:20:37] And the message today, what really matters?
[00:20:40] What really matters to you?
[00:20:42] Just think for a moment.
[00:20:43] Family, make sure you have money coming in, your retirement, your salary, your job, your hobbies, what matters to you?
[00:20:55] What mattered to the rich man before he died and after he died radically changed.
[00:21:03] Before he died, purple clothing, show-off, linen, the finest things of life.
[00:21:12] Like someone told me recently, their relative has to have an SUV.
[00:21:17] They won't drive any other vehicle because apparently that's what cool people drive, I guess.
[00:21:21] But not just an SUV, a certain type of SUV with certain options and everything.
[00:21:26] Otherwise, they're not going to drive.
[00:21:27] I wonder how much the rich man was caring about SUVs, chariots in his day.
[00:21:35] You know, when he's in hell, what does he ask for?
[00:21:38] Oh, bring me that purple cloak and the linen.
[00:21:43] And oh, can you bring that big roast turkey that I had and everything else, that lamb.
[00:21:48] I'm really hungry down here.
[00:21:49] I'd like to have a feast.
[00:21:52] None of that matters anymore.
[00:21:54] Nothing, nothing matters.
[00:21:55] Oh, can you bring my house down?
[00:21:57] It was so beautiful.
[00:21:57] or the artwork that I had or all of these things that meant so much to him that his life consisted in not even a thought anymore.
[00:22:09] In hell, he can only, and he doesn't, you know.
[00:22:13] I've often said, if it was me, I would ask at least for a glass of water, not a drop.
[00:22:20] But he knows that his state is so pitiful and so sorrowful and so without hope that he doesn't dare ask for anything more than just one drop of water to cool his tongue, for he says, I am tormented in this flame.
[00:22:40] What really matters, folks?
[00:22:43] What really matters?
[00:22:44] Right now, a lot of things might matter to you.
[00:22:47] Once you die, it'll all change.
[00:22:49] All change.
[00:22:51] And really, only one thing will matter.
[00:22:53] And what is that?
[00:22:54] Well, let's take a look further.
[00:22:56] So he asks for Lazarus, who is now comforted in Abraham's bosom, essentially heaven.
[00:23:03] Please send Lazarus that he might dip his finger in water and just cool my tongue.
[00:23:10] For I'm tormented in this flame.
[00:23:12] Abraham says it can't happen.
[00:23:15] There are no second chances.
[00:23:17] And by the way, in hell there is no relief.
[00:23:20] There is no comfort and consolation in hell.
[00:23:23] He says he can't come to you, neither can you come to us.
[00:23:26] So then he has a second request.
[00:23:28] Is it for the cloak?
[00:23:29] For the linen?
[00:23:31] Maybe some of his gold?
[00:23:32] Maybe some of his possessions?
[00:23:33] Send that bag of gold down here.
[00:23:35] That'll comfort me.
[00:23:37] It'll melt just like you in hell.
[00:23:40] So what does he ask for?
[00:23:41] He can't get any relief.
[00:23:44] So then he has a different request.
[00:23:47] Suddenly he becomes evangelical.
[00:23:50] Suddenly he wants to do mission work.
[00:23:53] Suddenly he wants to support the Billy Graham Association.
[00:23:56] or whatever else, suddenly he wants the gospel to be spread.
[00:24:00] He could care less about the gospel.
[00:24:02] He could care less about church, as far as we can tell, and the Bible or anything else.
[00:24:07] It's not worth any of my time.
[00:24:10] Now this is the only thing that's on his mind.
[00:24:12] Notice, since he's been denied the request of a drop of water, he says, verse 27, Then he said, I pray thee, therefore, Father, that thou would send him, Lazarus, back from the dead, To my father's house, for I have five brethren,
[00:24:30] that he may testify unto them, lest they also come to this place of torment.
[00:24:34] What's he concerned about?
[00:24:36] Sharing Christ with other people.
[00:24:37] Did he care about that at all when he was on earth?
[00:24:39] Not at all.
[00:24:40] Not even close.
[00:24:42] Now that's all he cares about.
[00:24:43] Why?
[00:24:44] Because now he sees that this is all that matters.
[00:24:48] Whether or not you're going to be in eternal life or eternal death.
[00:24:51] This is all that matters.
[00:24:53] That this life is a test.
[00:24:54] Just like the unjust steward.
[00:24:55] The idea is that he spent this life, he was preparing for that time when he was going to be out of his stewardship, which is death.
[00:25:04] That this is really a preparation.
[00:25:06] This is a time of testing.
[00:25:08] He recognizes it now.
[00:25:10] Praise God, he recognizes it, but it's too late.
[00:25:14] What about you, brothers and sisters?
[00:25:17] What about the people you know?
[00:25:18] There are no second chances.
[00:25:20] He doesn't have an opportunity.
[00:25:21] He doesn't say, I get it now.
[00:25:23] I see.
[00:25:23] Now, can I go back and try again?
[00:25:26] No.
[00:25:27] It's impossible for you to come back.
[00:25:30] There is no more time left.
[00:25:32] What is most important?
[00:25:35] Getting that promotion, getting that benefit, getting the latest model vehicle, the greenest lawn in the neighborhood.
[00:25:44] I don't know what it is.
[00:25:46] You fill in the blank.
[00:25:49] Even family.
[00:25:50] Family is wonderful.
[00:25:51] It's a blessing.
[00:25:51] But if we love family more than we love Christ and salvation, it too is an idol.
[00:25:57] what is it that you want you want to get the lottery you want to get rich that's what the prodigal son wanted right in chapter 15 how long did that money last him not long and that poor
[00:26:12] jewish boy was down in the slop with the pigs and that's about as low as you can get for a jewish boy but he won the lottery he got his whole inheritance at one time and isn't that what
[00:26:24] the world. Well, I want it now. Remember that song? I haven't listened to popular music in so long. Remember, I want to be rich. I want to be rich. It was in the 80s or now, I don't know.
[00:26:35] Anyways, but it was popular because everybody wants to be rich. That's what it's all about, isn't it? Not for the rich man. He knows better now. Isn't it sad that it takes death for some
[00:26:49] people to understand the truth? And then once they understand it, it's too late. And so he asks Abraham, please send Lazarus back. Apparently he doesn't have children.
[00:27:01] To my five brethren, he wants them to get saved so that they will not also end up in this place of torment and hell.
[00:27:09] Verse 29, Abraham says unto him, hey, they have Moses and the prophets.
[00:27:13] Let them hear them. He says, look, you have the Bible. Now at that time it was only the Old Testament. He says, you have the Bible. They have the Bible.
[00:27:21] They can hear them and they can get saved. And look what the guy says? He says, no, that's not good enough.
[00:27:29] Haven't they been to Pastor Joseph's church?
[00:27:31] No, not me. The Word of God. I can't save anybody.
[00:27:36] Only God can. And he said, Nay, Father Abraham, but if one went unto them from the dead, they'll repent. Isn't that how carnal minds are?
[00:27:46] We want to see something special.
[00:27:48] If I could just see an angel. Oh, if Jesus were just here physically now, oh, how that would be wonderful.
[00:27:54] If I could have been with the Israelites going through that sea and seeing the sea parted and the cloud of fire, the pillar of fire by night and the cloud by day and the manna from heaven.
[00:28:08] Oh, I would be such a great Christian.
[00:28:10] Didn't work for them.
[00:28:12] Didn't work for them at all.
[00:28:15] He says, oh, do something special and then they'll get saved.
[00:28:19] In other words, preaching is boring.
[00:28:22] Who wants to listen to that?
[00:28:24] In other words, there's no power.
[00:28:25] He still, though this guy understands that it's all about salvation, he still doesn't get it that the power of salvation is in the word of God.
[00:28:35] And so go send them someone special from the dead, and that'll do it.
[00:28:40] Abraham says, verse 31, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
[00:28:51] And that is so true.
[00:28:52] Because it's interesting, in the Gospel of John, there's another man named Lazarus, remember?
[00:28:57] And that's Martha and Mary's brother.
[00:29:00] And he does die.
[00:29:01] And guess what?
[00:29:02] Jesus raises him from the dead.
[00:29:05] And it does say that some believed, but what about the Jewish leaders?
[00:29:10] They not only didn't believe, they said, we've got to kill Lazarus because he's proof of how great Jesus is.
[00:29:15] So this poor guy's been dead.
[00:29:18] Jesus raised him.
[00:29:19] They want to kill him again.
[00:29:21] And they want to kill Jesus.
[00:29:22] Did that save them by seeing one raised from the dead?
[00:29:26] No, it just made them even more angry.
[00:29:32] How sad.
[00:29:33] And so we find that the power of salvation is in the word of God.
[00:29:38] And if people aren't going to listen to God's word, some miracle taking place, you know, it's sad.
[00:29:44] Whether it's whatever, whatever it is, whether it's Roman Catholicism or certain different religions in the world that put a great deal of emphasis, in some groups, on miracles.
[00:29:56] This is why you should believe.
[00:29:57] Look at this miracle.
[00:29:58] Look at that miracle.
[00:30:00] Well, certainly miracles have their place.
[00:30:02] Jesus did work miracles.
[00:30:05] But we need to understand that we have an even more sure word of testimony in the Word of God, because the Bible tells us at the end of time, someone else is going to work
[00:30:14] miracles, or at least appear to.
[00:30:16] And who's that?
[00:30:16] the devil himself, the beast, the false prophet. Lying miracles. Don't put your faith in apparent signs or those things that are spectacular or appear to be spectacular. Put your faith in the Word of God
[00:30:31] that Jesus Christ bled and died for. He said, this is the cup of the New Testament, the institution of the Lord's Supper, written in my blood. That's pretty important ink, isn't it?
[00:30:46] It seems like we should listen.
[00:30:49] And so, not only does Abraham say, hey, they've got Moses and the prophets, but today, we don't just have that, we have the whole New Testament.
[00:30:57] And the fact that Jesus did rise from the dead and ascend to heaven and send his spirit on the day of Pentecost and all the rest.
[00:31:05] And if they hear not that, neither will they believe if one rose from the dead.
[00:31:10] Interesting how what matters most depends on our circumstances, right?
[00:31:15] Even if you're in jail versus free, what matters most tends to change.
[00:31:22] But when we die, it's a complete change, an immediate change.
[00:31:28] And so we need to be looking forward to that.
[00:31:30] And that's the point of the parable of the unjust steward.
[00:31:33] It's also the point of other parables, like the one we find in Matthew 25 and also in Luke, about the parable of the talents or the parable of the pounds.
[00:31:44] God gives us and entrusts to us when we are born again, gifts, time, talents, opportunities.
[00:31:52] What are we going to do with them?
[00:31:54] When the Lord returns, He's going to take an accounting of how we have been faithful or not.
[00:32:01] I'm not going to read the entire thing for time's sake.
[00:32:04] I know some of you hopefully are familiar with it, but you find it in Matthew 25, Matthew 25, verses 14 through 30.
[00:32:13] And you see this parable of the talents.
[00:32:20] It's very similar to what we're talking about.
[00:32:25] Actually, it says, verse 14, For the kingdom of heaven is a man, like a man traveling to a far country, who called his servants and delivered unto them his goods.
[00:32:35] Unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one.
[00:32:39] Every one according to their several ability, and he took his journey.
[00:32:42] That's Christ.
[00:32:43] When we're saved, Christ gives us gifts.
[00:32:45] He gives us opportunities.
[00:32:47] He gives us His Spirit.
[00:32:48] He gives us knowledge.
[00:32:49] He gives us a healthy body.
[00:32:51] We are to use what He's given us for His glory.
[00:32:54] Because the whole point of this exercise called life is to glorify God.
[00:32:59] And if we don't get that, we miss the whole thing.
[00:33:02] If it's about the satanic trinity, me, myself, and I, but we go to church because somehow that soothes our conscience, how are we any different from the rich man?
[00:33:12] No, it's all about Christ and to His glory.
[00:33:15] because in Him we live and move and have our being.
[00:33:18] He's the one that gave us life.
[00:33:20] He's the one that created us.
[00:33:21] And He's the one, if you've been saved, that has given us new life in Christ.
[00:33:25] He's the one that is going to judge us.
[00:33:27] He's the one that gives us our very next breath.
[00:33:30] And without His leave, we will not have it and we will die sitting here, standing here today.
[00:33:36] Glory to God who gives us life, who gives us the ability to serve Him.
[00:33:42] And so the rest of the parable basically says, and then the Lord, the Master goes on a far journey.
[00:33:48] That's Christ.
[00:33:49] After he dies, he's resurrected on the third day.
[00:33:52] The 40th day he ascends to heaven.
[00:33:54] He goes to heaven and he's coming back after a long journey.
[00:33:59] What's that?
[00:33:59] The second coming.
[00:34:01] When he comes back, he's going to have an accounting.
[00:34:04] What have you done with what I've given you?
[00:34:06] What have you done with your life?
[00:34:08] Now, we are not saved based on our works.
[00:34:11] We're saved based on the finished work of Jesus Christ.
[00:34:14] That's why he says it is finished.
[00:34:17] But if we are truly saved, then we will be living our life as a living sacrifice, a life of thanksgiving and praise unto the one who loved us and gave himself for us.
[00:34:28] And that's what that parable is saying.
[00:34:30] When he returns, the one that had five talents, he made five others.
[00:34:35] God commends him.
[00:34:37] The one who had two, he made two others.
[00:34:39] God commends him.
[00:34:40] The one that had one talent, he didn't do so well.
[00:34:45] He took the one talent, and what did he do?
[00:34:49] He digged in the earth and he hid his Lord's money.
[00:34:53] And when the Lord comes back, he commends the first two that had five and two.
[00:34:59] But when he comes to the one with one talent, he thinks, look, you gave me one.
[00:35:04] He comes back, here it is, this is yours.
[00:35:11] You think God's going to be pleased with that?
[00:35:15] And the Lord answers and says unto him, verse 26, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed.
[00:35:25] You ought to have at least put my money to the exchangers.
[00:35:28] In it my coming I should have received mine own with usury, at least interest.
[00:35:32] Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
[00:35:37] And unto every one that hath shall be given, and shall have abundance.
[00:35:41] But to him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
[00:35:45] And look at verse 30.
[00:35:46] And cast ye the unprofitable servant unto outer darkness.
[00:35:50] There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
[00:35:52] Where is that?
[00:35:53] The same place as the rich man.
[00:35:56] Why?
[00:35:57] Because he didn't perform enough as a Christian?
[00:36:00] No, because he didn't perform at all.
[00:36:03] Thank you, Lord.
[00:36:04] I said a prayer.
[00:36:05] I went up on stage and I got wet.
[00:36:08] They put me in this pool.
[00:36:09] They said, you're baptized.
[00:36:10] You're a Christian and you're going to go to heaven.
[00:36:14] And then I lived my life and had a wonderful time enjoying the sun and the beach and the mountains and the lake and this and that and the other thing.
[00:36:22] It was just so wonderful.
[00:36:23] I enjoyed all of my money and my family and my friends and vacations and spent all sorts of time looking for seashells on all the beaches of the world.
[00:36:31] Just a wonderful time.
[00:36:33] And then it's time for me to die.
[00:36:34] Oh, yes, Lord.
[00:36:37] You remember about 35 years ago when I said that prayer and got wet.
[00:36:42] Okay, I'm ready to enter in now.
[00:36:47] What have you been doing for the Lord?
[00:36:50] Well, I said a prayer, and I got wet.
[00:36:53] Am I not saved?
[00:36:55] What have you done with your life?
[00:36:57] I gave it to you for a purpose.
[00:36:59] And it's not just ultimately for his glory, but how do we glorify him by serving others?
[00:37:05] Remember the first and second commandment?
[00:37:07] Number one, love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.
[00:37:09] And second, love your neighbor as yourself.
[00:37:11] What if America would follow that?
[00:37:13] Whatever happened to do unto others as you'd have them do unto you?
[00:37:17] I think that ice place in New Jersey would look different.
[00:37:19] And the White House where they've been shooting people.
[00:37:21] And everything else.
[00:37:23] Just hatred and polarization and people killing people.
[00:37:27] Oh Lord God.
[00:37:28] Charlie Kirk, whether you like him or you don't like him, don't kill him.
[00:37:31] Just because you don't agree with him.
[00:37:33] What's going on?
[00:37:34] Murder.
[00:37:35] People don't know the Lord.
[00:37:36] They're not living for him.
[00:37:37] They're living for themselves.
[00:37:38] This is what happens when we become selfish, self-centered, and turn our hearts away from God.
[00:37:45] God is going to have an accounting.
[00:37:47] How have we lived for Him?
[00:37:49] Not, I'm a member of such and such church.
[00:37:52] Not, I said a prayer at a Billy Graham thing, or whoever else at some time or another.
[00:37:57] No.
[00:37:58] Yes, we do need to believe.
[00:37:59] We do need to confess Christ.
[00:38:01] He is the one that saves us.
[00:38:03] We are not saved by good works.
[00:38:06] Good works cannot save us.
[00:38:08] But we are saved by a faith that works.
[00:38:13] True biblical faith in Jesus will result in the fruit of good works and a life of works not done grudgingly and seeing Jesus.
[00:38:24] Now, you remember what all I did for you, Jesus?
[00:38:26] Forgive me, Lord.
[00:38:26] I hope you'll give me a good reward now.
[00:38:30] We come as beggars, Lord.
[00:38:33] Just like the prodigal son in the previous chapter.
[00:38:35] Remember?
[00:38:36] I want to be rich.
[00:38:37] He probably would have sang that song, would have led the song in the 80s.
[00:38:41] And he wants it now.
[00:38:42] And he basically tells his father, I could care less about you I wish you were dead so I can get my inheritance.
[00:38:49] Give me my inheritance.
[00:38:50] He goes, just like people that want a lottery.
[00:38:52] I just want to be rich.
[00:38:53] That'll solve everything.
[00:38:55] In the meantime, you go poor trying to get rich.
[00:38:58] Lord have mercy.
[00:38:59] And once he gets it, how long does it last?
[00:39:02] Does it solve all of his problems?
[00:39:06] In short order, he's wasted it all in riotous living.
[00:39:11] And now what happens?
[00:39:13] He gets down to the place.
[00:39:15] There's a bad famine in the land.
[00:39:17] He's a servant.
[00:39:18] He's a slave almost, and he's feeding the pigs and the pig slop, and it says he was so hungry, nobody gave him anything to eat.
[00:39:26] He was so hungry that he was happy to eat the slop that the pigs were eating.
[00:39:32] All of a sudden, he's not interested in harlots or in banquets.
[00:39:39] He'd be happy just to eat pig slop.
[00:39:43] What things matter most, right?
[00:39:45] What really matters?
[00:39:46] And then it dawns on him.
[00:39:49] Even the servants in my father's house have bread and have more than they can eat.
[00:39:55] I know what I'll do.
[00:39:57] I'll humble myself, go to my father, and beg him to take me back as a servant, and then I'll be essentially happy.
[00:40:05] What do you mean?
[00:40:05] You were a son, and you were not happy, and you had to go and have everything now.
[00:40:12] Now that you're in such a reduced state, you'd be happy to be a servant with bread.
[00:40:19] But that's not as bad as a rich man.
[00:40:21] He didn't even ask for bread.
[00:40:23] Just a drop of water to cool my tongue, for I'm tormented in this flame.
[00:40:29] Brothers and sisters, think for a moment on what really matters.
[00:40:35] All of these people used to be, when someone dies, it's a big deal.
[00:40:38] We have a funeral.
[00:40:39] We have visitation.
[00:40:41] We say prayers, and we remember.
[00:40:45] Now, a lot of times, there's nothing at all.
[00:40:48] I don't even know people have died.
[00:40:50] Somebody tells me that somebody knew somebody on Facebook that knew this person, that person.
[00:40:55] They used to go here whenever they die.
[00:40:57] Just get rid of them.
[00:40:58] They're done.
[00:40:59] In some states now, they are trying to pass a law to make human remains fertilizer.
[00:41:05] What is this?
[00:41:06] Is human life worth no more than that?
[00:41:09] No.
[00:41:09] God created us for something far greater.
[00:41:12] Eternal life with him in his image.
[00:41:15] And this is what God is calling us to.
[00:41:17] and he's calling us in this word to believe and to understand what really matters. We're moving to the close of the message but I want you to take just a moment I've been reading Jonathan Edwards lately
[00:41:33] what a brilliant mind what a great servant of Christ but if you wrote about, if you hear what he wrote about hell and the suffering of people in hell oh, it's just, it's terrifying and when we think of
[00:41:47] people who don't know the Lord. We need to really think about this. And God forbid, if there's anyone here that doesn't know the Lord, think about how the Bible pictures hell. In hell, there's absolutely
[00:41:58] no relief at all. In hell, there is no second chance. Have you ever been tired? Can you think about the most tired you've ever been in your life? At least you're looking at some time you're
[00:42:12] and I get to go to sleep.
[00:42:14] In hell, there's no rest, day or night, ever and ever and ever.
[00:42:19] Absolutely no relief, no rest.
[00:42:23] There is no escape.
[00:42:25] There is no end in sight.
[00:42:27] Yea, there's no end forever.
[00:42:30] After thousands of years, there will be no saying, ah, well, at least I'm done with that.
[00:42:35] For you'll look forward and see millions of ages before you.
[00:42:39] Eternal damnation.
[00:42:41] There is no release.
[00:42:43] On earth, people are driven to suicide.
[00:42:46] What a horrible thing.
[00:42:47] But on hell, you cannot commit suicide.
[00:42:51] There is no way to overdose and get out of this thing.
[00:42:54] There's no way to kill yourself.
[00:42:56] There is absolutely no escape whatsoever.
[00:42:59] There is utter despair.
[00:43:03] No hope whatsoever, excruciating pain without the least abatement.
[00:43:08] and eternal remorse might be the worst thing.
[00:43:11] All I had to do was just become a servant and trust in Jesus.
[00:43:19] If I would have just listened to that crazy Christian that I thought was a nut job.
[00:43:23] If I just would have listened to the Bible.
[00:43:25] If I just would have just bowed the knee to Christ and truly believed I would be in heaven forever in perfect joy and bliss.
[00:43:32] But I wasted my life on myself and now there's nothing that I can do for all eternity.
[00:43:37] I shall suffer this torment.
[00:43:44] And maybe one of the greatest fears, like the rich man, is as you're in hell, you will see those that you loved, who you did not share Christ with, enter in with you in the same horrid fate for all eternity.
[00:44:03] God forbid.
[00:44:04] Just to think on it is a terrible thing.
[00:44:07] But if we believe that it is true, as the Lord Jesus preaches and teaches it, then we must consider the seriousness of what is before us what really matters brothers and sisters I want my kid to go to the greatest school
[00:44:20] to have the finest degree to drive the finest automobile to be in the most prestigious neighborhoods and places and to get the greatest degrees to have the wonderful this that and the other thing it's all going to burn up one day
[00:44:36] and be completely worthless What really matters?
[00:44:44] How many of you, you don't raise your hand.
[00:44:46] I know there's a couple of you at least.
[00:44:47] How many of you regularly share your faith with others?
[00:44:51] I think that's something that we're commanded to do.
[00:44:53] It's extreme importance.
[00:44:54] And we see again, once the rich man goes to hell, that's all he can think of.
[00:44:59] Well, please send somebody to warn my family about this terrible place.
[00:45:03] Tell them about Jesus.
[00:45:04] Of course, ultimately, that's what he's wanting to happen.
[00:45:08] Just think for a moment.
[00:45:10] If Pastor Andy, we'll pick on him, he's not here.
[00:45:13] It says on the wall, it says, see Pastor Andy for a million dollar bill.
[00:45:17] Well, that's a gospel tract.
[00:45:18] But let's say we change it up.
[00:45:20] We said, every time you share the gospel with someone, Pastor Andy will give you $1,000.
[00:45:29] Literal $1,000.
[00:45:30] Every time you share a tract.
[00:45:31] Every time you tell someone about Jesus, he will give you $1,000.
[00:45:35] Now, you go right there down.
[00:45:38] And this is no joke.
[00:45:40] $1,000 for each time.
[00:45:42] Would any of you here maybe do it more often than you do it now?
[00:45:49] I have to admit, I would.
[00:45:52] Preacher, don't you do it all the time?
[00:45:55] $1,000 each time.
[00:45:56] Thomas, I think, says, I'll do it.
[00:45:58] I think that's what he's thinking, right, Thomas?
[00:46:02] That's a lot of money.
[00:46:03] How many times can you share the gospel in a day?
[00:46:06] Hey, we can get $30,000 a day.
[00:46:08] But if your answer, like me, is yes, doesn't that say that your priorities are wrong?
[00:46:15] You have to choose.
[00:46:18] You cannot serve God and riches.
[00:46:25] Hasn't God already told us to do it?
[00:46:28] Aren't we supposed to do it?
[00:46:30] Do we need $1,000 each time to make us do it?
[00:46:34] Where is our hearts, brothers and sisters?
[00:46:36] And I include myself in this.
[00:46:37] I share Christ, but if you give me $1,000 each time, whoo, look out, you know.
[00:46:43] But doesn't that tell us there's a problem?
[00:46:46] God have mercy upon us.
[00:46:49] Before we end, this funny word, Ec Muc Terrizo, thumb in the nose.
[00:46:57] It's only two places in the whole Bible.
[00:46:59] One is our text in Luke chapter 16, and the other is later in the end of the gospel of Luke chapter 23, when Jesus is on the cross.
[00:47:08] Let's hone in on just a couple of verses and see where this word appears and the context.
[00:47:14] Luke chapter 23, Jesus is going to the cross.
[00:47:19] And here in verse 33, And when they were come to the place which is called Calvary, there they crucified him and the malefactors, one on the right hand and the other on the left.
[00:47:31] And what does Jesus do?
[00:47:34] Well, in this day and time, you'd think that he would be spitting nails and curse them and try to kill them.
[00:47:39] But Jesus says, Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.
[00:47:45] How wonderful.
[00:47:46] How gracious.
[00:47:47] How loving and merciful is our Lord Jesus.
[00:47:51] and look at the response of those same Pharisees who thumbed the nose at Jesus when he said, look, you've got to choose between God and material wealth.
[00:48:00] In other words, I can serve God and be rich and keep it all myself, what's the problem?
[00:48:06] And look what they do when Jesus says forgive them because by saying forgive them, those religious rulers, they don't think they need any forgiveness.
[00:48:16] What we're doing is right.
[00:48:17] You're a blasphemer.
[00:48:19] You're horrible.
[00:48:19] You need to be on that old cross.
[00:48:21] called Calvary. You need to be killed.
[00:48:23] And when he says, Father, forgive them, they can't even receive the forgiveness.
[00:48:27] Look what they do in the next verse. Verse 35.
[00:48:33] Oh, and they parted lots for his clothing and the people stood beholding and the rulers also, the Pharisees, the Sadducees, they derided him. There's that word.
[00:48:44] Sum the note.
[00:48:46] Derided him, saying he saved others.
[00:48:50] Let him save himself if he be the Christ, the chosen of God.
[00:48:55] They missed the whole thing.
[00:48:57] He's not saving himself so he can save you.
[00:49:02] If he saved himself from the cross, there would be no salvation for us.
[00:49:09] Jesus says, he who saves his life will, and he who loses his life for my sake and the gospel shall save him.
[00:49:21] Which way are you?
[00:49:25] If they tell you, you go to church, you might get a virus made in China that will kill you.
[00:49:34] You're going to come to church?
[00:49:36] You better believe.
[00:49:38] Praise God.
[00:49:39] Be a martyr for Jesus.
[00:49:40] I'm ready to go.
[00:49:41] Let's go.
[00:49:44] Go to church and we'll put you in jail.
[00:49:47] Put me in jail.
[00:49:48] We'll start a prison ministry.
[00:49:53] Where is our heart, brothers and sisters?
[00:49:57] Where is our heart?
[00:49:58] I'll end with this.
[00:49:59] There is one verse we didn't comment on in our text back in Luke chapter 16.
[00:50:05] That's where I want to end.
[00:50:07] Verse 16, Luke 16, verse 16, the law and the prophets were until John.
[00:50:17] Since that time, the kingdom of God is preached and every man presseth into it.
[00:50:24] The kingdom of God is ultimately salvation wherever Christ is reigning.
[00:50:28] There is an aspect of the coming kingdom when the Lord returns and he reigns in every way, but there's also an aspect of the spiritual kingdom that is here now in the hearts of those who believe. The kingdom of God has an already but not yet aspect. And he says,
[00:50:45] from the days of John the Baptist, who's Jesus' forerunner, the kingdom of God, and he says it here, but also in Matthew, the wording there is, suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. And the point here is, it's not easy to be a Christian. This business of, just say this
[00:51:01] prayer, and go be rich and healthy and have fun, and you'll see you in heaven in 50 years is cool.
[00:51:08] No, no, this is the hardest thing in the world, and yet it's the most needful, it's the most wonderful, it's the most glorious, it's the highest calling of humanity is to be in service of the king.
[00:51:23] Service of the king.
[00:51:25] Why would you prostitute yourself and serve some CEO or serve as your ultimate master or serve even a president or a prime minister, an earthly king, when you have been called to the service of the Creator of the heavens and the earth,
[00:51:39] the One who put everything in motion, and the One who will judge every individual creature on earth, heaven, and under the earth.
[00:51:48] He's called you to His service.
[00:51:51] It's hard. It's not easy.
[00:51:53] And that's why He talks about people are pressing in.
[00:51:56] They have to fight against their lust and fight against Satan and his cohorts, fight against temptation and fight against sloth and laziness and selfishness and wickedness and greed and press into the kingdom by the Holy Spirit of God
[00:52:12] and by the power of Jesus Christ clothed in the armor of God that we might be His servants and His soldiers here in this life which is the church militant.
[00:52:24] That we might press into the kingdom and ultimately be the church at rest in perfect peace in His presence.
[00:52:35] The prodigal son finally got it.
[00:52:39] He got a chance.
[00:52:41] The rich man didn't.
[00:52:43] The prodigal son got it before he died.
[00:52:46] And that's how he got saved.
[00:52:48] The rich man got it after he died.
[00:52:52] And that's why he was eternally damned.
[00:52:55] What about you, brothers and sisters?
[00:52:57] Yes, it's hard.
[00:52:58] Preacher, I don't want to do something hard.
[00:53:00] Listen, if you will humble yourself and come to Christ as a servant, how does he receive you?
[00:53:12] Remember the story of the prodigal son?
[00:53:14] Go back and read Luke chapter 15.
[00:53:19] Though we humble ourselves, Jesus says, if you humble yourself, I will exalt you.
[00:53:23] He who exalts himself will be humbled.
[00:53:25] If you will humble yourself and come to Christ saying, I have no rights whatsoever.
[00:53:30] I'm entitled to nothing but your wrath.
[00:53:32] Oh, please take me as your servant and you do it in faith, you do it in humility, you trust in Christ as the one who loved us and gave himself for us, who lived the perfect life, fulfilling the Old Testament law,
[00:53:45] took the wrath of God upon himself so that we who believe in him might receive the righteousness of God in Christ and we trust in him alone and come as a servant willing to go where he says go, do what he says do,
[00:53:57] be what he says be and then praise God instead of a servant.
[00:54:01] He says, ah, get the fatted calf, get shoes for his feet, put a ring on his finger, bring the best robe, for this my son was lost and now he is found.
[00:54:13] And the God of heaven and earth takes you not as a slave, not as a servant, but as his very son and daughter into his house, into a place of privilege, into a place of honor to serve him as his very children
[00:54:26] with the greatest inheritance that you can even imagine for all eternity in His presence giving Him praise and glory and honor, enjoying joy and peace, the absence of sin, the absence of sadness, the absolute
[00:54:44] opposite of what those in hell are facing pure joy, perfect love and excitement yes, it's not boring folks, I know we're out of time.
[00:54:56] Just hear this and we're going to end.
[00:54:57] It's not boring what heaven is.
[00:54:59] We should be hungry for heaven.
[00:55:01] It's not just sitting on a cloud in a robe and playing a harp.
[00:55:04] I don't know how to play anyways.
[00:55:05] No, it's something much more wonderful, much more engaging to see God who is infinitely beautiful and eternally righteous and holy.
[00:55:14] And when you see Him the first time, amazing.
[00:55:17] And you say, well, I've seen that.
[00:55:18] Let me move on.
[00:55:19] No, you'll never move on because He is so infinitely beautiful that will take all eternity to explore the beauty of our God and His Christ, to explore His love, to explore His grace, more and more capacity
[00:55:34] in our souls being grown every day to greater and greater appreciate the most exhilarating love and high that you can hope, ask, or think.
[00:55:44] Something far greater than we can even comprehend or imagine awaits.
[00:55:49] I'm ready to go.
[00:55:52] I know some people are ready to help me.
[00:56:00] Set your love upon Jesus Christ.
[00:56:04] He died for us.
[00:56:06] Will you live for Him?
[00:56:09] To Him be the glory, honor, and praise.
[00:56:11] Amen?
[00:56:12] Let's pray.
[00:56:13] Dear Heavenly Father, thank you so much for this wonderful opportunity to serve you and how we marvel that when we become servants, true servants with a true heart, for you judge our actions by the heart,
[00:56:29] that you embrace us and receive us, though we have been lost, though we have strayed, though we have sinned.
[00:56:37] You forgive us.
[00:56:38] You cleanse us.
[00:56:40] You clothe us in robes of righteousness through the blood of Your Son Jesus and You embrace us no longer as slaves or servants but as very sons and daughters to enjoy Your presence for all eternity.
[00:56:56] O Lord, help us to go forth now and remind us the rest of this day and help us to be thinking always what matters most.
[00:57:07] You, Your Son Christ Jesus, Your Gospel, Your salvation, and that I know that I am saved and that everyone around me also hears this truth.
[00:57:20] Lord, may it be in the forefront of our minds, in the bottom of our hearts.
[00:57:25] May it consume us for Your glory, honor, and praise.
[00:57:28] In Jesus' name, Amen.
[00:57:30] we end with this hymn the word, the idea at Calvary