Pastor Cody 10/20/24 Mark 10:17-31

kind of know and then you have Elder who Jim so Elder Jim you know who that is and then Sam or not Sam Josiah so enjoy gentlemen and we will get back up to [Applause] class okay wow what a morning of worship I uh well welcome to Baptist Church uh we are so glad that you're here with us this morning worshiping together if you uh if this is your first time or if it's second or third or even more um please take advantage of this resource in front of you um let us know who you are and how we might contact you and then on the back there's an opportunity for prayer and uh connection opportunities please take advantage of that we take that this card very seriously uh all requests are prayed for and uh we look forward to to hearing from you by way of announcement I just want to highlight um our candy paloa is coming up in a couple weeks uh this is one of our largest Outreach opportunities for our church uh to be engaging in our community and we are in need of candy uh to to provide for that opportunity we also need um I understand booths or tables or um but you can read more about that um coming up on November 1st at 5:30 there's a church game night opportunity uh to to play board games and also fellowship and some food festival of the Arts November 9th um you can read more about that business meeting just to put it in your calendar and prepare plan and prepare and please attend um if you're a member um nove that's coming up on November 17th uh immediately following church and there'll be a potluck dinner with that as well at that meeting we'll be uh the edmin team will be presenting the 2025 budget so it's a very important meeting to be at Joy group Christmas party is December 3rd from 6:00 to

8 please put that on your calendar if you're a part of the joy group if you're not a part of the joy group and you would like to be please uh see somebody and find out more about that um today at 2:00 I um ivories and harmonies will be here at the church and I think that's it um let's go to the Lord in prayer I don't know what kind of week that it's been um that you guys have or that any of us has experienced this past week but I want to invite you now uh just to to enter into this time of worship and uh just allow and ask the Lord to just quiet your heart to help you uh to have a posture of just sincere worship to our father that the anxious thoughts would be replaced with thankful heart thankful Hearts thankful thoughts ruminations of your word of Truth and that those things that are causing us um fear and doubt would be quieted and replaced uh just with the Gentle Touch of Our Shepherd father God I thank you and praise you uh for this church body I thank you and praise you just even for these things that's taken place this morning the appreciation um how you've provided finances to meet a need all of these things Lord are acts of worship to give worth back to you to who you are Lord I Thank you and praise you that we um can know you personally and intimately and I pray that as we engage in more worship uh now that Lord you would be high and lifted up that the noise of the world the noise of our schedules the the competing audiences for our attention would be stilled and that Lord we would hear nothing else but you and your spirit Lord I pray for the LOL family I pray for the Edwards family um Lord as they are continuing to walk this journey of grief but also uh rejoicing that

their loved one is with you I pray that you'd be near to them that that void would just be so filled with your presence so filled with the body of Christ meeting their needs and caring for them and being beside them next to them I pray that now Lord as we worship in music um that Lord we would just allow the posture of our hearts to ReSound openly honestly and freely and loudly that Lord we would give this as an offering to you for who you are and for what you've done we thank you and praise you for this in your name we pray amen I have a scripture uh it's Psalms 84 and I'm going to begin in verse four it says how blessed are those who dwell in your house they are ever praising you you how blessed is the man whose strength is in you in whose heart are the highways to Zion passing through the valley of baka they make it they make it a spring the early rain also covers it with blessings they go from strength to strength every one of them appears before God in Zion Oh Lord God of hosts hear my prayer give ear o God of Jacob behold hold our Shield oh God and look upon the face of your anointed for a day in your courts is better than a thousand outside I would rather stand at the threshold of the House of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness for the Lord God is a son and shield the Lord gives Grace and Glory no good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly oh lord of hosts how blessed is the man who trusts in you have you been to Jesus for the cing are youed in the blood on the lamb for you fully trusting in his grace this are you washed in the blood of the Lamb are you are you in the blood in the S cing blood of Lamb are your garments spotless are they white as snow are you washed in the

blood of the [Applause] Lamb are you walking daily by the Savior side for you washed in the blood of the Lamb do you rest each moment in the crucified are you washed in the blood of the Lamb are you are you in the blood in the sting blood of Lamb are your Gars spotless are they white as snow are you washed in the blood of the Lamb when the bridegroom cometh with your Roes are youed in the blood of the Lamb will your soul be ready for the manions bright and be washed in the blood of the Lamb are you are you in the blood in the soul have a lamb are your garments spotless are they white as snow are you washed in the blood of the Lamb [Music] lay aside the garments that are stained with and be washed in the blood of the Lamb there's a fountain flowing for the soul Beed in the blood of the Lamb you are youed in the blood in the soul of the Lamb are your garments spotless are they white as snow are you washed in the blood of the Lamb are you wased in the blood in the cleansing blood of the Lamb are your garments spot are they white as snow are you washed in the blood of the [Applause] [Music] Lamb all right we're going to continue worshiping this morning with something a little bit different that we're going to be adding to our service over the next few months each week we're going to use one of the questions from the Baptist catechism as a reminder of the things

that we believe now some of you may be surprised to find out that we have a Baptist catechism some of you may be asking yourselves what does that even mean so in short a catechism is a tool that we use to teach basic theological principles now we may think of that as being something that we should use for children and we should but it's always good to remind ourselves of the basic principles of the faith and so we're going to be incorporating this into our times of worship each Sunday so that uh we can be reminded not only of the things we believe but why we believe those particular things things uh I don't know if you guys can see what's on the screen but I can't and that's what I'm supposed to be reading for there we go all right so the first question in the catechism it's best to start with what's most important right the first question is who is the first and chiefest being and the response to that comes from Isaiah 44 and Psalm 97 thus says the Lord the king of Israel and his Redeemer the Lord of hosts I am the first and the last besides me there is no God and for you oh Lord our most high over all the Earth you are exalted far above all gods let's continue singing to our great God who is above all [Music] God is greater than T your can ever tell it goes beyond the highest star and reaches to the lowest H the guilty down with care gave his son to Wi hising child he reconcile and pardon from his God great and pure

me strong it shall forever more endure his Saints and Angels here shall pass away and Earthly throne Kingdom when men who he refuse to PR on rocks and hills and mountains [Music] all [Music] me and strong Redeeming Grace to Adam's race the Saints and [Music] Angels love of God how rich and pure how measur and strong it shall forever more endure the and Angels s good we with the o f and were the of parchment made where every Star on earth a qu and every man a by train toite the love of God AB train thean Dr nor could the scroll contain the whole the stretch from Sky to Sky love of God how rich and pure how meur and strong it shall forever more the sa and day Angels song oh love of God how rich and pure how measure and strong it shall forever more end the Saints and Angels s [Music] well there nothing much better than the preaching of the word hearing Christians sing is that great one day we're all going to be in heaven singing together and for those of you who think you can't sing you will be singing on tune then so we really appreciate your singing the way of blessing Our God we're going to be taking up our offering today give as the Lord's direction as directs you and uh as you give willingly so let's pray God the Father we just come before you thank you new for all you have done thanking is for giving music that we can sing praises to you thank you for the word you presented to us that we can

just learn more about you and your and your desire for our lives and just thank you for the privilege of giving just a portion of the many blessings you have given to us we ask that you use it bless it and use it for the continuance of your word throughout the world we pray this in Christ's name amen [Music] deep the father for us how that's beyond all meure that he should give his only son to make a rightous treasure how great the pain of staring was the father turns his face away as wounds which were the chosen one bring many sons to Glory but he was pierced for our transgressions he was crushed for our iniquities upon him was the chastisement that BR brought us peace and with his wounds we are healed all we like sheep have gone astray we have turned everyone to his own way and the lord has laid on him the iniquity of us [Music] all the men upon the cross my sin upon his shoulders ashamed to hear my talking voice craw Out Among the scers it was my sin that held him there until it was [Music] a his dying breath has brought me life I know that it is finished and you were dead in the TR passes in sins in once you once walked following the course of this world following the prince of the power of the air the spirit that is now at work in the sons of Disobedience among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh carrying out the desires of the body and the mind and were by Nature children of Wrath like the rest of mankind but God being rich in Mercy because of the great love with which he loved us even when we were dead in our

trespasses made us alive together together with Christ by Grace you have been [Music] saved I will not boast in anything no gifts no power no widom but I will boast in Jesus Christ his death and Resurrection [Music] why should I gain from his reward I canot give an answer but this I know with all my heart his wounds have PA my Rome for this reason I bow my knees before the father from whom every family in heaven and on Earth is named that according to the rich es of his glory he may Grant you to be strengthened with power through his spirit in your inner being so that Christ May dwell in your hearts through faith that you being rooted and grounded in love may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge that you may be filled with all the fullness of God [Music] should I gain from his reward I canot give an answer but this I know with all my heart his wounds have made my Ransom why should I gain from his reward I canot give an answer but this I know with all my heart his WS have paid myome [Music] Oh Come All Ye Unfaithful come weak and unstable come no You Are Not Alone Oh Come therein and wait on weary and praying see what your God has done Christ is born Christ is for you [Music] Oh Come bitter and broken come with fears

unspoken come taste of his perfect love Oh Come guilty and hiding on there is no need to run see what your God has done Christ is Bor Christ is born Christ is for you he's the love who was GI slain for our par his promise peace for those who he's the lamb who was GI slain for our pardon his promise his for those who so come though you have nothing come he is the [Music] offering come see what your God has [Music] done Christ is Bor born Christ is for you Christ is born Christ is for you [Music] let's pray father thank you for this time to Worship in music thank you for giving us voices to sing thank you for the opportunity to be here together as brothers and sisters praising you together Lord we pray for the preaching of your word that you would edify us that you would grow us you would strengthen us I pray for Cody as he preaches that you would give him Clarity of speech that you would open our hearts to hear your word in Jesus name amen you may be seated

well it looks like my clicker gone so in the back good luck uh one quick uh pastoral note not even pastoral I don't know um uh we're what three weeks out from election day right something like that two and a half weeks be praying for our nation okay uh legally we can't endorse any kind of candidates or anything like that I'm not going to uh but uh Christians I think according to the poll like 54 oh hey praise the Lord awesome it's a miracle he's like no I just went and found it that's not a miracle um one of the things I would encourage you all to do is get out and vote your conscience okay if you want vote no signs they're down in the uh office if you need one for voting no on Amendment Three remember that's much more than just uh abortion uh it's also about parental rights transgenderism and all that kind of stuff and so uh I don't consider that to be a political issue that is a moral issue and so um you know please get out and vote uh you yeah 49% are not voting or are voting are not voting so you know that isn't that Evangelical Christians you know not getting out to vote and so uh get out there vote okay otherwise that's going to dramatically change our state even much more than who is sitting in the White House and so um hey if you have your Bible and I hope that you do please turn to Mark chapter 10 that's where we're going to be today Mark chapter 10 uh we're talking about the rich young man in uh in 1348 our world went through an absolutely devastating crisis uh it is where the Black Death uh entered into Europe uh by by means of trade routes from uh from Asia and um it it absolutely devastated our civilization Black Death it's it's spread by a bacteria called uh urenia pesus um which means that it it it's it affects rats and it's

transmitted through fleas and things like that and so in Western Europe it killed over half the population in two years and so for us you know we look at uh uh our recent pandemic you know that had a mortality rate of 1% or something like that and we know how bad that was uh for for some of us who have lost loved ones but also um we look at uh what what would it have been like to have been a teenager back in 1349 Giovani bacho he wrote that people would go to bed healthy in the evening and be dead before noon the next day it's how effective that bacteria was and as it spread people they left the cities for the countryside not knowing that this bacteria was also transmitted to goats and chickens and horses and cattle and pigs and all sorts of different things loved ones were abandoned to die alone in the city ities doctors refused to go and give treatments because that was a death sentence for them uh priests and ministers didn't go and visit because it was a death sentence for them the population before the Black Death was 80 million and it was reduced to over just over 30 million at the end of two years just absolutely shocking and and when we hear stories of tragedy like that our hearts are naturally moved with compassion for the people uh we we put ourselves in their shoes on what it would have been like for for that to hit our family we we look at things that happen out in in in Tennessee and in North Carolina uh and you know we go back even to times of Hurricane Katrina in uh I think I was an ' 05 and and we think of of all of these devastating things that happen and and we just think how tragic well today we are looking at a tragedy of another kind that is actually far more common than even the death that came into the world in the 1300s we're going to see the story of a rich young man and his rejection of the

Savior so if you would please stand with me in honor of God's word as we read Mark chap 10: 17-31 God's word it says this and as he was setting out on his journey a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him good teacher what must I do to inherit eternal life and Jesus said to him why do you call me good no one is good except God alone you know the Commandments do not murder do not commit adultery do not steal do not bear false witness do not defraud honor your father and mother and he said to him teacher all these things I have kept from my youth and Jesus looking at him loved him and said to him you lack one thing go so all that you have and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven come follow me disheartened by the saying he went away sorrowful for he had great possessions and Jesus looked around and said to his disciples how difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God and the disciples were amazed at his words but Jesus said to them again children how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God and they were exceedingly astonished and said to him then who can be saved Jesus looked at them and said with man it is impossible but not with God for all things are possible with God Peter began to say to him see we have left everything and followed you Jesus said truly I say to you there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands for my sake and for the gospel who will not receive a h hundredfold now in this time houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands with persecutions and in the age to come eternal life but many who are first will be last and the last first let's pray and so Lord God we do thank you for

this time that we get to have to study your word uh thank you for U the clarity of the gospel and we just ask that you would help us as your people uh to be people of U uh willing sacrifice for the kingdom we ask that you would help us to honor you to love you to glorify you uh we do pray for our brothers and sisters around the world today um we pray for local churches that are uh preaching the word we pray that you Empower that we pray that you would move in our church uh move people from Death To Life uh make the Lost saved um help us God as your people to go forth from here as your ambassadors carrying with us the truth of the Gospel help us to sew those seeds into uh receptive hearts that we might make a harvest so that way when you return we would be found faithful in making disciples father we pray that you would continually work in our hearts in our minds help us to uh go where you want us to go and do what you want us to do God because we are your people and you are our God and we just ask that you would that uh you would just continually uh show us exactly what to do we love you Lord in Jesus name amen well the Bible it teaches that the Lost do not seek God okay the Bible says the Lord looks down from heaven and on the children of man to see if there are any who understand who seek after God they have all turned aside together they have become corrupt there is none who does good not even one the scriptures go on to say that no one can come to me unless the father who sent me draws him and I will raise him up on the last day and after Jesus talking about this he the people got really upset they got really angry with what Jesus was teaching about and Jesus just doubled down and he said this is why I told you no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the father and simultaneously we read this passage and there's this this rich young

man that comes to God comes to Jesus and he asks the ultimate question there are there are there are good questions and there are ultimate questions and I want you to notice the mind of the Lost okay and that they are focused on what they must do they must do in order to be saved for many church members if someone were to ask brother so and so sister so and so what must I do to be saved we say hurry pray this prayer ask Jesus into your heart before you change your mind now I know that there's many people that get irritated when I say this but that does not exist in the Bible it's not there there's not some special Mantra that we recite in order to be saved in fact that is a that is a I would say it is a false teaching in the sense that it creates a false sense of security for a lot of people that say well I prayed a prayer when I was 5 years old 7 years old 13 years old 15 years old 22 years old and I asked Jesus into my heart and then they go and they live like a demon for the rest of their lives that's not salvation that is not the kingdom of God that is not entrance into the kingdom of God Bible says You must be born again simple as that and I know that that irritates some of you what does the word say say that's ultimately what we believe as Baptists amen be born again this question that the man asks it becomes more desperate the older that a person gets or the harder that life becomes for a certain individual what can I do what must I do and the rich man uses an interesting word here he uses the word inherit and when we think of the word inherit and a Jewish person is using that we have to think of it in a different way than what

we understand it because the word inherit for a Jewish person was directly tied to the promised land was directly tied to the nation of Israel it's interesting that this wealthy young man in Israel he doesn't consider himself to have gained eternal life he knows that he's missing something he understands that he feels that deep within his soul that there is something missing from his life even though he's an Israelite even though he is God's people but Paul he doesn't think of inheritance that way okay the biblical belief when it comes to inheritance is that our inheritance is not about what we do it's about what Christ has done Paul he writes this in Ephesians 1 in him we have obtained in him we have obtained an inheritance having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will so that we who were the first to Hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory in him you also when you heard the word of Truth The Gospel of your salvation and believed in him were're sealed with the promised Holy Spirit who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it to the praise of his glory and it's not just Paul that believes this Peter as well blessed be the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ according to his great Mercy he has caused us to be born again to a Living Hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to an inheritance that is imperishable undefiled and unfading kept in heaven for you who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a Salvation ready to be revealed in the last time and so couple of things that we learn about this kind of inheritance there's six things that I wrote down these aren't my points okay these are just quick things so get your pen ready okay uh our inheritance is in Jesus Christ

okay it's in Jesus Christ it's found in him it's secured in him um and so that's the truth second thing is that it's obtained by faith in him faith in his work on the cross faith in his resurrection faith in his perfect sinless life his atonement for our sins third it is sealed by the Holy Spirit we are promised that by his very presence in our lives fourthly it doesn't Decay it doesn't go away praise the Lord amen it's not like our eternal life becomes less Eternal over time fifthly it points to a future event I have something in heaven set aside for me because of what Christ has done and by faith in him and so I I have it and yet I don't have it yet it's an already not yet and lastly it is ready for us to acquire at that future time when we will obtain it you see the rich man he wants to know what must I do to inherit eternal life quick quick aside here because we've dealt with belief uh in our church uh this is one of the reasons why we do not hold to annihilationism annihilationism is the belief that at some point in time in the future that God is going to cause every every uh person in hell to just go away okay that people will just be annihilated and they won't exist anymore okay we do not believe that because Bible teaches an eternal hell uh in the and it uses the same word to regard our eternal life so if we believe that that hell is eternal in the sense that at some point in time it ends and we also have to believe that at some point in time in our life that goes away as well which we know not to be true and so uh let's look at Jesus's response okay what does he say he points the rich man to the law of God what must you do he points them to the law Exodus 20 Deuteronomy 5 why does Jesus point this man to the law it's because this man believes that

he's a good man he believes that he can do something to inherit eternal life this is not someone that believes that they're a sinner in need of Salvation this is someone that thinks that they can earn God's grace that they can do something about the state of their soul and a lot of lost people are the same way right when I'm sharing the gospel the default position is I'm pretty good compared to the next guy you go to go to a lot of funerals and you know the person in the casket is painted as this wonderful Saint thankfully earlier this week uh and even a couple of weeks ago when we uh remembered the life of of Mike and and earlier this week when we celebrated the life of Mary Lou the gospel was preached they lived it out praise God that we have those kind of examples in our church but have you ever been to someone's funeral where they're painting the person as someone that you didn't know I I have I remember one time I was a youth pastor and one of the students that was in our group she lost her brother in a car accident her brother was angry abusive um not just physically but emotionally and a drug user a drunkard uh he he was just he was not a good guy you wouldn't know that at the funeral you would have you cannot preach someone into the kingdom of God when they're dead it created a lot of anger in that sister most people think that they're pretty good I go you know what I may have Dishonored my parents once or twice but I've never lied okay I may have lied but I've never stolen may have stolen but I've never committed adultery may have committed adultery but I've never murdered see what happens is is that we start making more and more exceptions for ourselves the preaching of the law must come first when sharing the gospel with someone and so blinded by the law of God

the Lost will say well yeah I've done all of those things from since I was a little child Matthew 19:20 in the parallel passage he says I've done all those things what do I still lack the fact is is that you can do everything right you can get the American dream you can be kind you can fulfill the 11th commandment be nice you can be obedient and loving and appreciative and on and on and on but you can still know that you're missing something and you can try to reinvent yourself move away to a new area you can change your behavior and read all the self-help books you can say all the right things but none of that will give you what you ultimately lack in fact taking all those steps will ultimately leave you feeling emptier and emptier over time and that's probably a good place for us to check our motives and ask are we merely doing what's right on the outside or are we really pursuing a relationship with God you see this rich man he's asking this genuine in question in seeking eternal life and he shows humility he runs up to Jesus you just didn't do that in that culture as a rich rich person you didn't hurry anywhere people waited on you you didn't kneel this man knelt he sought Jesus out he asks the good question he listens intently but true discipleship requires more than just external obedience I'll say that again True Discipleship requires more than just external obedience look at verses 21 and 22 Jesus looked at him loved him and said to him you lack one thing go sell all that you have give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven and come follow me disheartened by the saying he went away sorrowful for he had great possessions Luke 18:23 it makes it clear he was extremely

rich Jesus he says that the man like likes one thing and he goes ahead and he points to four things those four imperatives now those four imperatives ultimately lead to one thing to give up your life to follow God give your whole self for God all the Commandments deal with loving God and loving each other but that last commandment the 10th one it deals with our heart in a way that most people never deal with their heart in our culture we uh any anyone else just watch Facebook reals a lot anybody out there all right there's like two people that are honest in here the rest of you are liars Instagram Tik Tock okay and and you know like we we compare our lives with the highlights of so many people in our culture and we go man I really want that I want to go there I want to spend time doing that with my family I wish my family behaved that way you know there's a a picture above our fireplace where did oh there you are you Blended in with the green there um so there's a picture above our fireplace down stairs um and it's a it looks like a nice picture uh it's us we went uh uh for Amber's birthday a few years ago we went down to Arkansas and stayed in the little cabin where there was no cell phone reception it was amazing and uh it was it was uh Saturday morning and the sun was beautiful and everything's good but we're packing up to get back here for for Sunday morning and um it was it was literally one of the most stressful times in our entire life that morning trying to get that one picture all right one of our kids I won't name out who it was uh you know they were just moping around and trying

not not getting a good picture you know and and and so like I'm threatening her that that one within an inch of their life and and you know what happens like we we get a good picture but we know the story behind it and every time I look at that I'm like that was a really stressful morning people they compliment it all the time you know what coveting does does is it is it takes the gifts that God has given you and it makes them to where they're you don't view them in the right light as gifts kind of go well I want what the other person has I wish I had what they had and it deals with our heart in such a way that none of the other Commandments do the issue that Jesus is pointing this man to is not the fact that he's kept all of those commands the issue is that he loves his wealth more than everything else Paul in Philippians he points to all the righteous acts that he's done and he says that all of those things I count as count as rubbish for the sake of knowing Christ Jesus's implication to this man is that his wealth was his first love and it was ultimately keeping him from fulfilling the greatest commandment to love the Lord your God with all your heart with all your soul with all your mind with all your strength this man he loved his riches more than he loved God and he was willing to trust into his riches more than he was to trust in God how can he love the Lord his God with all of his heart soul mind and strength if his possessions are so vast that he doesn't have to trust God at all I don't think that anyone in here has a vast Empire of wealth but I'll say it anyways your wealth is a tool entrusted to you by the Lord for his kingdom so it's not your own okay he has blessed you with resources and so use them for the glory of God a couple of examples from history this guy handsome guy I

love this guy his name is Charles Spurgeon okay Randy you're giving him a run for his money on his beard just pointing it out there he he accumulated vast sums of wealth in his ministry in 1885 that was like n years before before he he died uh he had already made 26 million in Book Sales and sermon sales and with that money he spent nearly every dime on Ministry started a a pastor's College he used 1.8 million dollars in our money just to start the school every graduate that went through uh got a suit at the end so that way they would have a suit in order to go and preach in the pulpits around England he founded and person ly funded 66 Ministries from his own speaking engagements and Book Sales John W John Wesley in a time when a man could live comfortably on uh 30 pounds was making 1,400 pounds a year okay he resolved to live on 28 pounds and give the rest of it away to Ministry every single year o over 500 million doar worth of resources were given away in that man's lifetime for the sake of the kingdom of God when he died all he had was a little lock box couple of little momentos no money was in there he spent every bit of it on Ministry in the kingdom of God now these are exceptional cases right Jesus he addresses the rich man with his resources and the man asked what he needed to do and Jesus tells him exactly what to do the man asks what do I still lack one thing go and sell all that you have give it to the poor and then you will have treasure in heaven then come and follow me and the man couldn't do it he went away depressed that word sorrowful it means shocked and

darkened it's um means was depressed Jesus he was given this man a a radical call to surrender because that's what salvation is the world's average salary in 2020 was $8,700 and so most of us make more than that um I don't believe this passage is teaching that every Christian must give everything away they have resource wise that's much of the reason why the offering in the book of Acts was taken was because Believers were so so poor in Jerusalem because they had sold everything and given everything away that they didn't have any means of actually doing Ministry themselves I do believe that Christ is attempting to show this rich man his sins that are in heart for many Christians the last thing to be Sanctified is the bank account and it amazes me how many Christians don't give any money to churches I didn't grow up in a Christian Home much less a tithing home so when Amber and I got married it was a discipline that we had to grow in so many couples they said you know when we got together and we got married we we chose right then and there that they were going that wasn't my story okay I wish it was but God's still working on us but in 2014 um what prompted it was my loss of a job and you know we just started tithing you know we were like okay God we're just gonna do this and uh it it was hard that was a hard season for us and um and God was faithful and now it's uh um gosh I hate I hate talking about money in front of people you know especially my personal resources but we've been faithful in that uh since 2014 and God's been he's honored us and we've never gone without it's not like we miss it uh but it is something that we had to grow in and I encourage you practice it see what God does I mean it's not like we are are that the seems

like a lot of Word of Faith people say that you're going to do uh but God is always faithful in bringing along the right things at the right time um but if we look at the biblical story of zakus here's what it says this is kind of a contrast between the rich man and this man zakus he stood and he said to the you guys know zakus he's the we little man um he said behold hold Lord you could say Jesus the half of my goods I give to the poor and if I have defrauded anyone of anything I restore it fourfold Jesus said to him today salvation has come to this house since he is also a son of Abraham for the son of man came to seek and to save the Lost there is a direct correlation between the state of our souls and how we use our financial resources the reason is is because Jesus does not ask to be the Lord of our Salvation alone he demands to be the Lord Of Our Lives as Christians we don't get to say that Christ has Authority in my life while also simultaneously saying well I'm going to withhold my treasures my time my talent Jesus he calls us to submit and to surrender everything that takes priority over our relationship with Jesus and so that that maybe should cause us to question are there things in our lives that are preventing us from fully following him and I think it's important to note the look that Jesus gives this rich man because Jesus he's not harshen in his words he's very loving and compassionate towards this man but in his love he asks the hard question are you unwilling to follow me in this area of your life Amy carmichel she wrote in her book things as they are she was sitting with a Hindu Queen in her Palace and the queen knew why she was there in India

and she started asking her about eternal life and Amy carmichel she was trying to set aside the questions change the topic because she was not ready to receive the call to surrender to the gospel but that Queen she insisted she said no I must know right now what does it what will it take for me to have eternal life and Amy Carmichael she she just let God's word speak on its own and that lady that Queen she said so far I have to follow him so far I I can't go that far see the the rich man he left Jesus and it's the only time in Scripture that someone had an encounter with Jesus where they went away sorrowful as the scripture says what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and to Forfeit his soul now as that man went away uh the disciples are confused in fact I would say they're MiFi why there there's a a School of Theology called retribution theology retribution theology it's what the Book of Job deals with okay um how are people blessed why are they blessed by God and there was a a belief uh in the time of Christ that if someone was wealthy then they were favored by God they were blessed by God in a very special way and so if anyone is to be good and righteous then it's the wealthy people the rich people and we still deal with that today sometimes uh people believe that if sorrow came on to your home or poverty it was a sign of God's judgment because of sin of course you guys know the Book of Job it deals with that in detail but this rich man he would have been viewed as very righteous because of his wealth and so when Jesus looks at the disciples and says it is difficult for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God they're just they're stunned what do you mean that's hard for those people they're blessed by God right and so Jesus he doubles down and

what does he say that there is difficulty in coming to Christ because they must turn away from more in order to follow Jesus there is difficulty of being wealthy in the kingdom of God Jesus he says children how difficult it is the kingdom of God to enter the kingdom of God it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God now you may have heard from preachers in the past that there was a gate in Jerusalem called the eye of the needle where camels had to get down and shuffle through in order to get through that's false doesn't exist okay it it it takes away from exactly what Jesus is trying to say um the language in the Greek is referring to a Tailor's needle just like what we would understand it this is why the disciples are astonished the only time that the the disciples are astonished in the New Testament and this is worldview Chang because this is what prompts them to ask a question then who can be saved if it's not the the wealthy that are so blessed by God and Jesus he's trying to teach him that's not that way it doesn't work that way blessed are the meek blessed are the poor in spirit and rather than teaching that if you're poor then you're saved he's not saying that he's not teaching that if you're rich that you're lost he's not saying that that he's teaching that wealth can be a significant hindrance in coming to Jesus Christ because wealth Fosters self-reliance it teaches us to be unhealthily attached to things and stuff and while wealth itself is not evil the Bible makes it clear that the love of it is for the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil it is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierc themselves with many pain

pangs wealth is not evil but it can distort our values and our priorities so when someone trusts in wealth or anything other than Jesus Christ guess what that's a hindrance to entering the kingdom of God so what are you relying on you ever thought about the fact if I maybe had this then I'd be happier how how can we think that when Christ has already done so much for us we have an eternal home in heaven with an inheritance that is guaranteed to us by God by sending his own son to die on the cross he has purchased our salvation with his own blood he is preparing a place for us so that way when we when uh we are united with him we get to enjoy a place in heaven forever with our Lord what what more can he do the disciples thought if if rich men who are so favored can't get into heaven then who on Earth can and we get this wonderful promise from Jesus and he says with man it is impossible but not with God for all things are possible with God rich or poor you cannot enter the kingdom of heaven without Jesus Christ being your lord and savior completely the biblical belief is not that wealth prevents us from entering the kingdom of God the biblical belief is listen is using the same words of inheritance The Works of the flesh are evident sexual immorality impurity sensuality idolatry sorcery enmity Strife jealousy fits of anger rivalries dissensions divisions Envy drunkenness orgies and things like these I warn you as I warned you before those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God Paul writes elsewhere or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God do not be deceived neither the sexually immoral nor idolators nor adulterers nor men who practice homosexuality nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor revilers

nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God and so the question is is what are we willing to give up to gain eternal life the the only right response the only biblical response for those of us that are in Christ is everything I'm willing to give up everything that I might have salvation that's why Peter he says see we have left everything and followed you that's that's a great concern for Peter he had a wife he likely had children he had left a probably pretty successful business he had left his friends in his family in order to follow this Rabbi who he knows is the Christ the Son of God and so he asked what about me Jesus I don't have anything I've lost everything for you and so Jesus gives him a much needed word of comfort and he teaches that there is a tremendous reward for those worldly sacrifices for the kingdom of God truly I say to you there is no one who has left his house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or land for my sake and for the gospel who would not receive H hundredfold now in this time houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children in lands persecutions in the age to come eternal life you know you may have lost friends you may have had family members set against you you may have had to leave your your homes and your people but on that last day Christian you are not going to get the short end of the stick you're not going to feel cheated a hundred times more that's a good investment none of God's children are going to be losers on that last day we can lose everything for the sake of Christ and Jesus's promises and and we will receive it hand over fist back in the kingdom and following Jesus it might

involve sacrifices but the rewards outweigh the cost it's a good investment so are you willing to trust Jesus's promises our Allan Cole in his commentary he points out and I just love the way they phrases this that everyone who follows Christ ultimately makes the same sacrifice for every everyone must give all that they have and Christ does not reckon the sacrifice as great or small by the amount given but by the amount withheld for himself Christ does not reckon the sacrifices as great or small by the amount given but by the amount withheld so what are we going to do with this lesson well firstly we have to divest ourselves of our dependence upon wealth or whatever divest means get rid of right so pray about your resources pray about your time pray about all of that type of stuff and continue to do so your money time talents are all gifts from the Lord to be a blessing so make them matters of prayer know that you depend upon the Lord but secondly we must invest our wealth in the kingdom of God Jesus he told this man to go and sell his possessions and follow him and God he may not tell you to sell all your possessions okay but he may call you to give more to missions to Ministry he may instruct you to not buy that one thing that you've been saving up for because he has a better plan for it for the kingdom of God the Bible he refers to this man as rich and he was in a worldly way he had great wealth but in Christ we have riches and Glory guaranteed to us in our new life that's founding Christ you know if if you're on your deathbed let's say that you have a billion dollars okay you're on your deathbed you're gonna die tomorrow are you willing to give up that

billion dollars for eternal life yeah that's a good deal why is it when we have maybe 20 years we start to say you know what that thousand I don't know I'm not saying give a$ thousand dollar it's not about the amount that you give it's about the amount that you withhold the Kingdom of Heaven it's like a treasure hidden in a field which a man found and covered up and then in his Joy he goes and he sells all that he has and buys that field again the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant in search should fine pearls who on finding one pearl of Great Value went and sold all that he had and bought it the greatest treasure that pearl of Great Value was standing right before this man looking at the rich man with love in his eyes and the rich men could not do what needed to be done would you forsake everything to gain Christ salvation it costs us nothing yet it also costs us everything costs our lives or very lives head heartand head uh God he wants you to know that eternal life is a gift from God given by his his grace and it's not earned by works and so the call of Christ it's it's not because of how much money you may have or how talented you are the call to follow Christ is there because of your great need the rich man couldn't see his need for Christ that's why Jesus pointed this out heart God he wants you to believe that you were totally dependent on his grace for eternal life which requires your heart to be willing to forsake all the other attachments to follow Jesus we aren't granted anything accept Grace when he calls us that's how we come to Christ on his terms not our own we don't get to set

okay Jesus I'm gonna follow you but you don't get this area no he all are none with Jesus and he's God he can do that and God he wants you to examine yourself to make sure that nothing is competing with your full Reliance upon Christ for salvation this means take some time and and focus on the Lord in prayer and reflection practice the biblical principle of generosity and perhaps even consider simplifying your life so that you may be more effective in the Kingdom I think that'll do it today why don't we uh spend some time praying and I'll invite the worship team to come up and lead us in our song of response if you would bow your head and close your eyes with me as we pray Lord we uh do ask that you would watch over over us today as um Lord we are your people uh there are so many people here that give and give and give and uh Lord this sermon probably isn't for them it's probably for the person that is uh hanging on to their their uh their sin their pride their uh the things that they do or have done and so Lord I just pray that right now that you would move in their hearts and help them to understand uh their need that it's uh it's all about you it's all about following you 100% of the way help us to uh not go to the left or to the right but to follow you all the Days of Our Lives Lord help us oh shepher of our souls uh to draw Us close to you if need be uh put us on your shoulders Keep Us close uh don't let us wander but Lord Keep Us close help us God uh as we go from here uh to be dedicated more and more to your glory to consider exactly what we must do in light of the passage help us to not be like that rich young man and to go away sorrowful but help us to go okay I can do that and I will do that so that I might be pleasing to the

Savior Lord help us father in Jesus name amen [Music] worth is not in what I own not in the strength of Flesh and Bone but in the costly wounds of Love At The Cross [Music] my worth is not in skill or name in win or l in Pride or shame but in the blood of Christ that FL at the cross I rejoice in my redeem greatest Tre Welling of my soul I will trust in him no other my soul is satisfied in him [Music] alone and it's true it's not about our obedience at all is it it's all about what Christ has done and if you have questions about what it means to follow Christ grab someone that invited you or talk to me and we'll be happy to uh share with you what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ let's pray father we do love you uh we profess our need for you and we know that you are God you are good you are holy thank you for making a way uh by faith alone in Jesus Christ um and yet that call is also a call to sacrifice to die to ourselves so help us Lord uh thank you for the reminder from your word even personally about the sacrifices that um my family has to make um not to be more pleasing but to be most pleasing God to be more like your son help us Lord to do that in Jesus name amen [Music] all e Rand for