{# pb-24 reserves room so the sticky audio player, when docked to the bottom of the viewport, never covers the last content (related sermons, tags…). Only needed when there's an audio player to dock. #}

Making the Most of It

{# The tooltip goes through the catalogs so the separator can follow the language - CJK wants a full-width colon and no space, not ": ". #} Stories Jesus Told - Part 12

{# justify-center, not justify-around: around gives each item a half-size space at the row ends, which reads as an even spread with three items but leaves two items sitting off-centre. Centring the group keeps the row balanced whatever combination of preacher, date, time and series a sermon has. The lg:px-8 on each item supplies the gap between. #}

Preacher: Dr. Daniel Heeringa
Date: Oct. 16, 2022
Series: Stories Jesus Told

{# The compact player docks to the bottom of the viewport once you scroll past it; the waveform above and the download/share row below stay in normal flow. The `stickyPlayer` component lives in assets/public/public.js. #}

{# Tinted off the page background rather than filled white, so the passages read as a grouped area instead of a raised box. #}

Passage

{# The description and the sermon's metadata share one grid: the description takes two thirds, the metadata rail takes the last third. Explicit column starts keep the rail on the right even when the description is absent. On small screens the grid collapses to one column and the rail follows the description. The transcription sits outside this grid, below it, so it keeps the full page width - its two-column timestamp/paragraph rows and tall scroll pane need the room. #}

{# Top margin here rather than on the caller: the transcription is no longer a grid item, so nothing else supplies the gap above it. #} {# The component is `transcript` in assets/public/transcript-component.mjs; it runs auto-scroll and the in-page search. Search is entirely client-side: queries are never sent or recorded. #}

Transcription

{# Both routes redirect to the archived page for a delinquent church, so offering them is a dead button. The transcript itself still reads, and so does searching it. #} PDF txt

Auto-generated - may contain small errors. Always verify with the audio version.

{# Hidden until the magnifying glass (or "/") opens it. On phones the buttons get their own row so the query isn't squeezed. #}

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

Of all the parables that I preached of Jesus, this is not one of them. And I was tempted to skip it. I read what a lot of people had to say about it.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

A lot of them skipped it. And so let's try it together. Because you seem to be a forgiving folk. I know it's early, but you seem to be.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

And it's different. And it's a little bit difficult, at least until you get your mouth right. And I want you to see it, though, because it's told by the master teacher.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

It's worth our time. And I believe if you get the message, it can be life-changing. It's in Luke chapter 16, beginning in verse 1.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

Jesus also said to the disciples, there was a rich man who had a manager and charges were brought to him that this man was wasting his possessions.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

And he called him and said to him, what is this that I hear about you? Turn in the account of your management, for you can no longer be manager. And the manager said to himself, what shall I do?

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

Since my master is taking the management away from me, I'm not strong enough to dig. I'm ashamed to beg. I've decided what to do so that when I'm removed from management, people may receive me into their houses.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

So summoning his master's debtors, one by one, he said to the first, how much do you owe my master?

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

He said, a hundred measures of oil. He said to him, take your bill and sit down quickly and write 50. Then he said to another, and how much do you owe?

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

He said, a hundred measures of wheat. He said to him, take your bill and write 80. The master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

For the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light. And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth so that when it fails, they may receive you into eternal dwellings.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

See what I mean? It is often misunderstood or just passed by. And I had misunderstood it in the past.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

And so I want to first share with you some mistakes that people often make when they read this parable. You got to get this now. The first mistake they make is this.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

Jesus is not the owner of the estate in this story. He is not. The mistake that a lot of people make is to read this parable like an allegory and believe that everything in the story stands for something.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

And therefore there are many messages here. There is one message here. And that's often the case in parables. It's not always the case, but it's often the case. There's one message here. And it is not that God appreciates our seemingly successful deception.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

That's not the message. The second mistake people make is they don't understand that Jesus does not condone the manager's actions here.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

He states what he did clearly. He states what the master's response was clearly. He said we ought to learn from it.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

But he does not condone it. The master condoned it. But Jesus is not the master in this story. And he was still speaking.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

It says that he, in verse 1 he says he also said this to the disciples. He's still speaking to the Pharisees and the scribes and they heard him say it.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

Third thing is this. We are not sure what the manager did here. There's some options as to how he was trying to win some friends for upcoming hard times.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

He could have forgiven some of their debt and paid it himself. That's what some folks said. That's not what he did. He could have given them credit for some of the debt and then gave the master less than expected.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

That's possible. But most likely he knocked off what he was going to charge them for handling the debt. And what I mean by that was a common trait in that culture was that if somebody owed 50 measures of oil on credit, the manager who's responsible for billing that and collecting that under the authority of the owner of the estate would add his little surcharge on there.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

And so he may only owe 50 measures of oil on credit, but instead he'd write the ticket for 80.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

Not call it interest because interest was considered usury and it was highly frowned upon. And the Old Testament speaks of it often. That was not looked upon good well.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

So instead they'd just make the ticket out for a different amount than what he had previously borrowed. He'd just put 80. And the manager would keep the 30 on the authority of the owner.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

Owner didn't care. He just wanted his 50 back. Now that was common in that day. So it could be that the manager is cutting out his portion or at least some of his portion and looking like he's doing his friend a favor.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

And so he can have a friend because he's about to be terminated. And he didn't have the back to dig or do heavy physical labor.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

And unlike the temptations, he was too proud to beg. He had been in management. He was no beggar.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

Just ask him. It reminds me of a lady that due to health concerns fell into hard times. And I knew she had worked hard before that time.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

And the church I was pastoring at the time wanted to help her, offered to help her. She wouldn't take it. She said, I don't stoop.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

I didn't know what she meant and I thought about it. This man ain't gonna stoop. So when the owner and his boss finds out about his parting gift, he admires him for making the most of a bad situation.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

So why did Jesus share that story? Well, anytime you read a miracle in scripture, read the context of what's happening around it.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

Because there's always a message in a miracle. It's powerful to see. Once you get that concept. There's always something there. Of all the people Jesus healed, he didn't heal them all.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

So why did he heal the ones that he did? There's always a point there that shows that. And if you look at the context of this parable, you'll understand more so why he shared what he did.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

It's in the verses that follow. It says in verse 10, One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

And one who's dishonest in very little is also dishonest in much. If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth who will entrust you with the true riches.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

And if you've not been faithful in that which is another's, who would give you that which is your own? No servant can serve two masters. For either he'll hate the one and love the other.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

Or he'll devote to the one and despise the other. You can't serve both God and money. Now the point is that the manager had very little time to use the resources that he was in charge of.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

And so he made the most of it. He did not freeze up. He made use of the authority that had been given to him while he had that authority because he was about to lose it.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

And for that he's called dishonest, but he's called shrewd. And we ought to learn from it. Now, if the wicked of the world can make the most of opportunities, shouldn't the people of God make the most of opportunities too?

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

Not in the same way. But Jesus is saying we need to make the most of the opportunities. Not with dishonesty, but with shrewd decisions. So I believe the message here is a threefold one.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

The first one is this. Make the most of what you have. Make the most of what you have. And you have two things.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

You have your treasures. And you have your time. The moment you die, you can no longer sign a check.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

And if one's been endorsed to you and somebody else signs their name on it, that's illegal. Once you die, it's worth nothing to you. You have to leave it behind.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

You can't take it with you. And so you use it now for purposes that last. I would encourage you to use it for purposes that will even outlast you.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

Use it for eternal purposes. And back to the context of the parable. And may you be welcomed into heaven by the lives that you've impacted due to your generosity.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

When he says here what you do with unrighteous wealth in verse 11, he's not saying this is dirty money. He's not saying this money is evil.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

Because money's not evil. He's really saying it's neutral. It's not righteous. It's unrighteous. It's just wealth.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

It's just money. Money's not evil no matter where it comes from. I'll tell you what's evil. The love of money's evil. I'll tell you what's evil. The improper use of money.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

That's evil. The lure of money is evil. But money that sometimes is used for wrong purposes can then again be used for right purposes afterwards.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

And God has entrusted you with whatever you have, little or much. So how you doing? With what God has given to you.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

A man heard a message something like this and took it to heart years and years ago. And he made a commitment to his pastor. He said, I'm going to tithe my money.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

And the man at the time made $40 a week. And so he began writing a check for $4 and putting it on the plate every week. And God blessed him.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

Many times over. Over the years, God blessed him a hundredfold. True story. And the man was tithing $500 a week to his church.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

He came back to his pastor, who was W.A. Criswell, who pastored First Baptist Dallas for 50 years, who told the story. The man came back to W.A. Criswell and said, I need to back off my tithing commitment.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

He said, it's a little too costly now. Don't you think I could back off that some? And Criswell said, no. But we can ask the Lord to take you back to $40 a week.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

So you won't have to give so much money. Friend, it's all in perspective. Make the most of what you have.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

Second thing is this. Be a blessing. Be a blessing. Listen, the manager blessed those in debt with giving them a way to get out from under the debt.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

Did he do it right? No, he did not. But I believe you can learn truth from other people's examples. Truth is always the truth, even if it is spoken of by untrue people.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

And the truth here is that we can be a blessing to those who are overwhelmed by a debt that they cannot pay. Because we are surrounded by people in spiritual debt.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

Debt they cannot pay. People who are heavy in sin, separated from God, struggling in the midst of that.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

And I want you to know, if you're a born-again believer today, we have been authorized, we have been instructed, we have been empowered and able to tell them how they can have their debt removed from their life.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

Jesus said, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven. Whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. And when he says that, he's talking about the keys of the kingdom. I'll tell you what that means. He's talking about the power of the gospel.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

The debt of others that we need to be concerned about is the spiritual debt that they carry. And today, I'm under the authority of the owner of heaven as just a measly manager to offer you spiritual debt forgiveness.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

Thank God, regardless of what you owe God, he'll forgive you today. I do not do it dishonestly. And I probably don't do it very shrewdly.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

But I offer it all the more. And I want you to know, if you're a child of God today, you can offer it too. And when you do, you'll be a blessing.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

Take advantage of the time that we have and be a blessing. And the third thing I learned from the story is this.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

Serve the right one. Put your resources in the right place. It is amazing what we get enthusiastic about.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

I will not tell you who. But I cheered hard for a team yesterday that I normally don't care if they win or not. But yesterday, I was charged.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

If we get as excited about Jesus as we are of the matters that we put our heart into, that we put our money into, what a world of difference we could make.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

And that's what Jesus is saying. Jesus is saying, make a world of difference. Because if we're not careful, we won't until it's forever too late.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

And so I'm going to ask you, are you faithful with what you have? You're not responsible for anything that you don't.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

But you are responsible for what you have. Malachi chapter 3, verse 7 and 8 and 10 says this. From the days of your fathers, you've turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

Return to me and I'll return to you, says the Lord of hosts. But you say, how shall we return? Will man rob God? Yet you're robbing me. But he says, how have we robbed you?

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

God says, in your tithes and contributions. Bring the full tithe into the storehouse that there may be food in my house. And therefore put me to the test, says the Lord. If I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down to you a blessing until there is no more need.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

How much blessings are we missing? How much ministry are we missing out on? How many opportunities are we meandering by because we're robbing God and missing the blessings of heaven?

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

May the Lord let us hold on. May the Lord not let us hold on to things on this earth so tight that we miss the blessings of God that would fall into our open hands if we just open them before the Lord.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

G. Campbell Morgan tells the story of being in a home of a wealthy man for dinner. As they sat down to dinner, the man prayed over the meal and he prayed an elegant and tender prayer for the salvation of the lost and for missionaries serving the world.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

And when his prayer was over, he was startled by his son who said, Dad, I love to hear you pray for missionaries. He said, well, I'm glad, son. And the little boy said, but you know what I was thinking was when you were praying, if I had your money, I'd answer half your prayers.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

Those who rob God by withholding their tithes will never be all that they should be for the Lord.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

It stunts your growth. Not only financially. Not only in faith, but it stunts your spiritual growth. Now, I want to be clear.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

One salvation is not based upon their giving, but giving is an evidence of one salvation. May the Lord not allow us to settle for showing religious concern for matters that we could make an eternal difference in for simply just by being faithful.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

Enough with tokens. Let's just be faithful. And if we gave God our all, a tenth of our income is a gesture. It's a gesture.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

A gesture that's obedient and faithful, that is coming to the storehouse. That's the place you're fed. But it's more than a gesture.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

For me, it is an acknowledgement that all that I truly have is his. And gladly, cheerfully give that portion that he's shown us that we're to give.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

You say, well, I don't know that I can. Well, I promise you, if you'll obey God in any area of your life, God will fill your void.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

God will provide your need. You be a blessing and God will bless you. And the good news is, folks, we have all we need to fulfill our budget goals.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

We have all we need to fulfill our building plans. We have all we need to fulfill our mission efforts. We have all we need. The bad news is too much of it's still in our pockets.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

It's time to be spiritually and financially shrewd and watch God bless beyond what we can ask, beyond what we can think.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

I want you to listen to how Jesus describes. He says in Luke chapter 6, verse 38, he says, Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, we'll put it into your lap.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. Do you ever buy one of those big bags of chips? Or like a big old box of cereal?

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

And you open up that box. And you pull out that bag. Now, I'm going to warn you, if you pull out that bag, don't go home and do this. Because you'll never get that bag back in the way it came out.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

Okay? It just don't want to happen. I'm just going to go ahead and tell you, that bag ain't but half full. And them chips full of air, it ain't but half full.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

But I'm going to tell you something. That's not the way God gives to us. He don't leave us half full. Notice what it says. It says, good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, it'll pour out into your lap.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

You know how God gives? God gives like a kid fills up a cup at a fountain drink machine. You know? Never backing up. Letting it flow all over the floor and then putting a lid on it.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

That's how God blesses. So let's be a blessing. And let's be blessed. John Wesley had three rules for managing money.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

I thought it was pretty good. Maybe all I need to say, but I wouldn't dare let you go that early. Make all you can. Save all you can.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

Give all you can. Jesus is telling us, folks, make the most of the opportunity that you have.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

Be spiritually shrewd. See lives change with our opportunities. Those who serve the world get good at it.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

They become shrewd at it. Those who serve the Lord ought to do it as well. May all we do with whatever God gifts us with bring honor and glory to him.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

And I want to be clear. When you obey God by his formula, that does not mean the rest of it's yours.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

It's all still his. He just allowed you to be a steward of it. So don't be dishonest with it. Now, if that makes you mad or you don't like that, I'm going to tell you, you can't serve both God and money.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

You'll hate the one and you'll love the other and you'll serve the other. Who are we going to serve? Let's make the most of our opportunity.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

With every head bowed and every eye closed, let me tell you what your greatest opportunity is. And that is to surrender your life to the Lord Jesus Christ.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

I don't ever want you to misunderstand me this morning or what the focus of what we do and who we are. Most important to us. Is that folks come to know the Lord Jesus Christ and then grow in him.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

And if today you're here and you don't know the Lord Jesus, I want you to know he'll save you today. I'd love to guide you in that. Love to help you in that.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

We're going to stand and we're going to sing in just a moment. I encourage you to sing. But more important than that, I want you to do exactly what God tells you to do. And if you don't know the Lord, just come down and tell me, Pastor, I need to be saved.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

I need to know the Lord. Now maybe you do and maybe you need to put your wallet or your pocketbook on this altar. You can do that where you are or you can do it at this altar.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

I just want you to obey God. Just do what he tells you to do. Maybe God's drawing you to be a part of this fellowship, this church. You know this is where God would have you to be. No need to put that off any longer.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

You come and we'll guide you through that process. I don't know what God's telling you to do. I just know you're responsible for whatever he's leading us to do. So I encourage you to simply be obedient.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

Let's honor him today by making the most of this opportunity by simply being obedient. Lord Jesus, I love you. And I thank you for the opportunity to be here today.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

Thank you for the opportunity to worship with these dear folks. God, guide us right now to be obedient to everything that you tell us. In Jesus' precious name, amen. Stand together.

{# Without a player to seek there is nothing to click, so the timestamp drops to plain text rather than a button that silently does nothing. #}

We're going to sing.