Pastor Cody Harlow 10/20/24

I [Music] for [Music] for [Music] for [Music] now [Music] for e all right good morning everyone welcome here it's good to be here it's good to see all your faces I'm going to start off with announcements this morning with a special announcement Larry if I could have that slide but this year we're going to do a volunteer Children and Youth Christmas banquet and so it's going to be Friday December 6 from 6:00 to 8 so if you've been involved in any way in the past year with children or with youth you and your spouses are welcome to come to this banquet it's going to be a great time the kids are going to serve us and yeah it's going to be semiformal and there's we're going to have a VBS a theme release we're going to have a little short devotion with and share just some of the vision for the next year you know some games and we also have food options so if you if you have the church that's where you can register so head over there you can register you and your spouse and pick your if you do not like to use Church Center please email me the registration for you that way we can we know how much food to prepare for and all that so we want to say thank you to all of you guys who have been helping we have I think for VBS we had 70 volunteers and there's yeah there's just a ton of you guys who've just been pouring into our so we want to just say thank you and kids be a part of

That as well so thank [Applause] you we interrupt this program sorry Cody were was a little bit long this is Thomas and his beautiful wife de it's coming up here too and hopefully you've been praying for this not only in their Ministry but scheduled for surgery coming up right in January February hopefully right and they had some extended cost that they didn't really on so we took up a little ction if you haven't heard or anything normally we take up a Sunday benevolence fund and we have designated that to them this last time and So currently we're at $6,500 that will be going to you to help so we continue to pray for more to come in to help you guys we love you guys and we love you guys give me a hug and well we're not we're done with now I need the guy sitting right here to come up you know as I was here a couple of weeks ago because I've been missing a lot Sunday and I don't for pastor appre appreciation month that's the best GI you could what a he said it was quiet I don't know so if you remember last time I said only pastors get a month appreciation most people just get a day you know Mother's Day Father's Day pastor month well you know I got to read a Scripture 1 Timothy 5 says the do well are to be considered worthy of double honor especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching now we have several elders but this is our main preacher teacher so that's why I called him up today Elders your time later I think but anyway it says you're worthy adult so the community groups took up a little collection for you

And I made sure that since it's double honor enough there for two Happy Meals anyway seriously we appre other Elders anyway the rest of you if you would like to help because we got what another week to go to appreciate you and then after that it's all gone but they okay there are cards over here you can and you can see pictures of the other elders and you write them a note drop it in the Box just tell them your appreciation for that yes I know that we're going to send them away because kids don't belong in just learned that last Sunday right oh for those of you believe half of what I but the hard part is to know which half so anyway Cindy is coming up with some of the children have a presentation for some of our other elders and you too I think if you that give it to Cindy when she comes come on up stand [Applause] you know who you're supposed to I'll announce okay Sam you want to bring your gift to your dad and there's cards that all the made for them okay who's next who have you okay Elder Steve stand forward waving at you Luc can you give Elder Steve his Annie who have you got you have Elder PJ so wave week so we kind of and then who Jim so Elder Jim you know who that is and then Sam Josiah so enjoy gentlemen and we will get back up to [Applause] class okay wow what a morning of worship I well Church we are so glad that you're here with us this morning worshiping together if you if this is your first time or if it's second third or even more please take advantage of this resource in front of you let us know who you are and how we might come and

Then on the back there opportunity for prayer and connection opportunities please take advantage of that we take that this card very seriously all requests are prayed for and we look forward to hearing from you by way of announcement I just want to highlight our candy paloa is coming up in a couple weeks this is one of our largest Outreach opportunities for our church Community candy to provide for that opportunity we also need I understand booths or tables or but you can read more about that coming up on November 1st at 5:30 there's a church game night opportunity to play board games and so fellowship and some food festival the Arts November 9th you can read more about that business meeting just to put it in your calendar and prepare plan and if you're a member nove that's coming up on November 17th immediately following Church there'll be a potluck dinner with that as well at that meeting we'll be the admin team will be presenting the 205 budget so it's a very important meeting to be at Joy group Christmas party is December 3rd from 6 please put 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 see somebody and find out more about that today at 2 o' I ivories in harmonies at the church and I think that's it let's go to the Lord in prayer I don't know what kind of week has been that you guys have or has experien this past week but I want to invite you now just to enter into this time of worship and just to allow and ask the Lord to just quiet your heart you have a posture of just sincere worship to our father that the anxious thoughts

Would Hearts thank thoughts ruminations of your word of Truth and that those things that are causing fear would with the Gentle Touch of Our Shepherd God I thank you and praise you for this church body I thank you and praise you just even for these things that's taken place this morning the appreciation how you've provided finances to meet a need all of these things Lord are act of worship worth back to you to who you are Lord I Thank you and praise you that we can you personally and intimately and I pray as we engage in more worship now that Lord you would be high and lifted up that the noise of the world the noise of our schedules the competing audiences for our attention would be stilled would hear nothing else in your spirit Lord I pray for the lutal family Edwards Lord as they are continuing to walk this journey of grief but also rejoicing that their loved one is with you I pray that you would be near to them that void would 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 music 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 it's Psalms 8 and I'm going to begin in verse four it says how blessed are those who dwell in your they are ever praising you how 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 the early rain covers it with blessings they go from strength to

Strength one of them appears before God in Zion Oh Lord God of hosts hear my prayer give oh God of Jacob behold hold our Shield oh God and look upon the face of your anointed for a day in your course is better than a thousand outside I 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 [Music] you of the L for you fully trusting in his grace this are you washed in the blood of the Lamb are you are you in theing Blood of the L your garments are they white as snow are you washed in the blood of the [Applause] Lamb are you walking daily l do you rest in [Music] [Applause] the in the blood in the blood of the lamb as in the blood of the [Applause] Lamb when the Bri gr cometh where your Rob are you in the blood of the Lamb will be ready for theed In The Blood of the Lamb are you [Music] in are youed in the blood of the [Music] lay aside the garments with and washed in the blood [Applause] [Music] of are

Blood are your garments snow are you wased in the blood the are you in the [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] blood all right we're going to continue worshiping this morning with something a little bit different we're going to be adding to our over the next few months each week we're going to use one of the questions of the thing believe now some of you may be a some of you may be asking yourselves what does that even cism is a tool that we use to teach basic theological princi principles now we may think of we should use for children but it's always good to remind ourselves basic principles of the faith and so we're going to be incorporating this into our times of worship each Sunday that we can be reminded not only of the things we believe but why we believe those particular I don't know if you guys can see what's on the screen but I can't be reading for there we go all right so the question in the catechism it's best to start with most important right the first question is who first and chiefest being and the response to that Isaiah 44 7 thus says the Lord the king of Israel and his Redeemer the Lord of hosts I am the first last besides me there is no God and for you oh Lord are most high over all the Earth you are exalted far above all gods let's continue to our great God who is above all [Music]

[Applause] beond the highest and reaches to the guil down with care gave his son [Music] toile and pardon from his God [Music] [Applause] [Music] Angels some [Music] andom to [Music] [Applause] [Music] strong redeeming gra to the Saints and [Music] Angels God how rich and pure how measur and strong it shall [Applause] forever into [Music] the and were [Music] the where every Star [Music] Earth God who TR me dry with the scroll contain the stretch [Music] fromy love rich and [Music] pure and it shall for and angels how rich and [Music] pure strong forever the sa and [Music]

Word hearing Christians sing is that great one day we're all going to be in heaven singing 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 we're going to be taking up our offering today give Us's direction as directs you and as you give let's pray we just come before you thanking you for all you have done thanking this for giving me 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 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] de father love for us how that's beyond all meure that he should give his only son to make a rightous treasure how great the [Music] staring the father turn [Music] glor but he was pierced for our transgressions he 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 stray we have turned every on him the iniquity of us [Music] all the men upon the cross my sin upon his shoulders a sham I hear my mocking voice among the it there until it was [Music] accomplished his has brought me life I know that it is and you were dead in the trespasses

And sins in once you walked following the course of this world following the prince of the power of the air the spirit that is 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 with which he loved us even when we were dead in our trespasses made us alive together with Christ by Grace you have [Music] I will not in anything no gifts no [Music] power but I will boast in Jesus Christ death and Resurrection why should I gain from I canot give an answer but I know all my heart his [Music] my for this reason I bow my knees before from whom every family in heaven and on Earth is named that according to the riches of Glory he may Grant you to be strengthened with 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 what is the breadth and length and height and depth and to know the love of Christ knowledge that you may be filled with all the fullness of God [Music] gain from his reward give an answer but this I [Music] know [Music] my why should I from his reward I canot [Applause] give

But with all my heart his WS have paid my r [Music] oh come on [Music] you [Music] we no you are not alone on we and praying come see what your God [Music] has Christ Christ is [Music] born Christ is born [Music] come anden unspoken come taste of his perfect love Oh Come guilty and [Music] hiding there is no need to run see what your God isor Christ is born Christ is Bor [Music] you the who was g SL for his [Music] prise to he the L who GI slain for our part his prise isace those to so come though you have nothing he is the [Music] offering Christ is born Christ is born [Music] born Christ is Bor Christ Christ is

Born Christ is for you [Music] for this time to worship and music thank you for giving us voices to sing thank you for the opportunity 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 grow I pray for Cody as he preaches that you would give him Clarity of that you would open our hearts to hear your word in Jesus name amen you may be seated well it looks like my clicker is gone so in the back good luck one quick pastoral note not even pastoral I don't know you're what three weeks out from election day right something like that weeks be praying for our nation okay legally we can't endorse any kind of candidates or anything like that and Christians I think according to the poll 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 one of the things I would encourage is get out and vote your conss okay if you want vote no signs they're down in the office if you need one for vot remember that's much just abortion it's also about parental rights transgenderism and all that kind of stuff and so I don't consider that to be a political issue that is a moral issue and so you 49% are not voting or are voting so you know that isn't that Evangelical Christian you know not getting out to vote and so get out there okay otherwise that's going to dramatically change our state even much more than who is sitting in the white and so U if you have your Bible and a hope please turn to Mark chapter 10

That's where we're going to be today Mark chapter 10 we're talking about the rich man in 1348 our world went through an absolutely devastating crisis it is where the Black Death entered into Europe by means of trade routes from Asia it itely devastated our civilization death it's it's spread by a bacteria called pesus which means that it's it affects rats and it's transmitted through fleas and things like Europe over half the population in two years and so for us you know we look at our recent pandemic you know that had a mortality rate of 1% or something like was of us who also we look at what would it have been like to have been a teenager back in 1349 Giovanni 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 cattle and pigs and all sorts of different things loved ones were abandoned to die alone in the cities doctors refused to go and give treatments that was a death sentence for them priests and ministers did because it was a death sentence for them the population before the Black Death was 8 million and it was reduced to over just over 30 million at the end of two years just shocking and when we hear stories of tragedy like that our heart with for the we put ourselves in their shoes on what it would have been like for that our family we look at things that happen out in Tennessee and in North

Carolina and you know we go back even to times of hurricane in I think that was in ' 05 and we think of all of these devastating things that happen and we just how tra to today we are looking at a tragedy of another kind that is actually far than that came into the world in the 1300s we're going to see the story of a rich young man and his rejection if you would please stand with me in honor of God's as we read Mark 10 ver 1731 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 good no one is good except God alone you know the Commandments do not murder do not commit adultery 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 sell all that you have and give to the poor you will have treasure in heaven come follow me disheartened by the saying he went great possessions and Jesus looked around and said to his disciples how difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the of God and the disciples were amazed at his words but Jesus said to them again children how difficult 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 enter the kingdom of God and they were exceedingly astonished said Jesus looked at them and said with me 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 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

Hundredfold now in this time houses 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 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 thank you for clarity of the Gospel we just ask that you would help us as your people to be people of willing sacrifice for the kingdom we ask that help us to honor you to love you to glorify you we do pray for our brothers and sisters the world world today local churches preaching the word we pray that you Empower that we pray that you would move in our church move people from Death To Life make the Lost saved help us as your people to go forth from your ambassadors with us the truth of the Gospel help us to sew those seeds to 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 go want us to go and do what you want us to do God because we are your people and we just ask that you would that you would just continually show us exactly what to do we love you in Jesus name amen the Bible it teaches that the Lost do not seek God okay the Bible says the Lord man to see if there are understand who seek after God they all turned aside to become corrupt there is none who does good the Scriptures 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 angry what Jesus was teaching about and Jesus just doubled down this is why I told you no one can

Come to me unless it is granted him by the father and this rich young man that comes to God comes to Jesus and he asks ultimate question there are good questions and there are ultimate questions and I want you to notice the mind of the Lost okay 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 we say pray this prayer as your heart before you change your mind I know people that get irritated when I this but that does not exist in the Bible it's not there there's not some special Mantra that we recite in 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 five years 7 years old 13 years old 15 years old 22 years old and I this into my heart and then they go and they live like a demon for the rest of their lives salvation that is not the kingdom of that is not entrance into the kingdom of God Bible says You must be born again simple as that and I know that irrit of you what does the word say that's ultimately what we believe is 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 and a way than what we understand it because the word inherit for a Jewish person was directly tied to the

Promis 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 an Israelite even though he is God's people but Paul he doesn't think of inheritance that way okay the Biblical when it comes to inheritance is that our inheritance 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 and according to him who works all things the counsel of his will so that we who were the first to Hope in Christ might be to the Pres of his GL also when you heard the word of truth of your salvation and believe them were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit who is the guarantee of our inheritance 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 imper undefiled and unfading kept in heaven for you who by God's power are being guarded through faith for ready to be revealed in last time and so couple of things that we learn about this kind of inheritance there's six things wrote down these aren't points okay these are just quick things so get your pen ready okay our inheritance is in Jesus Christ okay found in him it's secure him and so that's the truth second thing is that it's a faith in him faith in his work on the cross faith in his resurrection faith his perfect sinless

Life his atonement for our sins third it is 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 eternal life becomes less Eternal over time fifthly it points to a future event something in heaven set aside for me because of what Christ has done faith in him and so I have it and yet I don't have it yet already not yet andly 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 because we've dealt this belief in our church this is one of the reasons why we do not hold to annihilationism annihilationism is the belief at some point in time in the future that God has caus every every person in hell to just go away okay that people annihilated and they won't exist anymore okay we do not believe that because Bible teaches an eternal hell and it uses the same word to regard our eternal life so if we hell is eternal 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 way as well which we know not to be true and so let's look at Jesus's response okay does he say he points the rich man to the law of God what must you do law Exodus 20 Deuteronomy 5 why does Jesus point this man to the this man believes that he's a good man he believes that he can do something to inherit 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 the default position is I'm pretty

Good compared to you go to a lot of funerals and know the person in the casket is painted as this wonderful Saint thankfully earlier this week and even a couple of weeks ago remembered the life of Mike and earlier this week when we celebrated the life of Mary Lou the Gospel was preached they lived it out those kind of examples in our church but have you ever been to someone's funeral where they're paint as someone that you didn't know I have I remember one time I was a youth pastor and one of the students that was in our group she lost her car accident her brother was angry abusive not just physically but emotionally a drug user a drunkard he was just he was not a good guy you wouldn't know that funeral 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 they're pretty good like 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 but have never committed adultery have committed adultery but I've never murdered see what happens is that more and more exceptions for our the preaching of the law must come first when 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 you can do everything right you can dream you can you can fulfill the 11th commandment be nice loving and appreciative and on and on and on but you can still know that you're missing something and you can try

To vent 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 lack in fact taking all those steps will ultimately leave you feeling emptier and emptier over time and that's probably a good 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 asking this genuine question in seeking eternal life and shows humility he runs up to he just didn't do that in that culture as a rich you didn't hurry anywh waited on you didn't kneel this man knelt he sought Jesus out he asks the good question he 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 you lack one thing go so all that you have give to the poor have treasure in heaven and come follow me disheartened by the saying he went away sorrowful for he had possessions Luke 18:23 it makes it clear he was extremely rich Jesus he says that the man lacks one thing and he goes ahead and he points to four those four imperatives now those four ultimately one thing to give up your life to follow God give your whole self for God all the Comm with loving God and loving each other but that last commandment it deals with our heart in a way that most people never never deal with their heart in our culture we anyone else just watch Facebook reals a lot anybody

Out there all right there's like two honest in here the rest of you are liars Instagram Tik Tok okay and you know like we compare our lives with the highlights of so many people in our culture and we go man I really that I want to go there I want to spend time doing that with my family I wish my family behaved that way a picture above our place where did oh there you are you Blended in with the green there so there's a picture above our fireplace down and it's a it looks like a nice picture it's us we went for Amber's birthday a few years we went down to Arkansas and stayed in the little cabin where there was no cell phone reception it was amazing and it was it was a Saturday morning in the sun was beautiful and good but we're packing up to get back here for Sunday morning and it was it was literally one of the most stressful times entire life that morning trying to get that one picture all right one of our kids I won't name out who it was you know around and trying not good picture you know and so like I'm threatening her that within an inch of their life and you know what happens like we get a good picture but we know that find 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 is it gifts that God has given you and it makes to where they're you don't view them in the right light as gifts kind of go well what the other person has I had what they had and it deals with our heart in such a way that none of the other Commandments do isue that Jesus is pointing as 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 act he's done and he says that all of those things count as rubbish for the sake of knowing Christ 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 and with all your strength this man he loved his riches more than he God and he was willing to trust in his riches more than he was trus in God how can he love the Lord his God with all of his heart soul mind and strength if his possessions are so V that he doesn't have to trust God at all I don't think that anyone in Empire of wealth It Anyways your wealth is a tool entrusted to you by the Lord for his kingdom so it's not your own okay heed 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 just point it out there he accumulated vast in his ministry in 1885 that was like nine years before he died he had already made 26 million in Book Sales and with that money he spent nearly every dime on Ministry started a pastor's College he used $1.8 million in our money just to start the school every graduate that went through got a suit at the end so that way they would have a suit in order to go and preaching the pulpits around England he founded and personally funded 66 Ministries from his own speaking engagements and Book Sales W in time when a man could live

Comfortably on 30 pounds was making 1,500 pounds a year okay he resolved to live on 28 pounds and give the rest of it away every year over $500 million do worth of resources were given away in that man's life for the sake of the kingdom of God when he died all he had was a little lock box couple of little momentos was there he spent bit of it on Ministry in the Kingdom of now these are exceptional cases right Jesus he addresses the rich man with his and the man asked what he needed to do and Jesus tells him exactly what to do the man asks what do I still one thing go and sell all that you have to the poor and then you will have treasure in heaven then come and follow me didn't do it he went away depressed word sorrowful means shocked and darkened it's means that was Jesus he was given this man call because that's what salvation is the world's average salary in 2020 was $8,700 and so us make more than that 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 were so poor in Jerusalem because they had sold everything thing and given everything away that they didn't have any means of actually doing Ministry themselves I do attempting to show this rich man his sins in his heart for many Christians the last thing to ified is the bank account and it amazes me how many Christians don't give any money I didn't grow up in a much less a tithing home so when I got married it was a discipline that we had to grow in

So many couple said you know when we got together and we got married we chose then and there that they were going that wasn't my story okay I wish but God's still working on us but in 2014 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 that was a hard for us and God was faithful and it's gosh I hate talking about money in front of people you know especially my personal resources but we in that since 2014 and God's been he's honored us and we've never gone without it's not like we miss it but it is had to grow in and I encourage you practice it see what God does I mean it's not like we are busting at the seams like a lot of Word of Faith people say that you're going to do but God has always along the right right time 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 little man he said behold Lord you could say Jesus the half of my goods I give to the poor and if I have defrauded anyone I restore it fourfold Jesus said to him today salvation has come to this house since he is all him for the son of man came to seek and to save lost there is a direct correlation between the state of our souls and how we use oural resources the reason 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 also simultaneously saying well I'm going to withhold my time Jesus he calls us to submit and

Surrender everything that priority over our relation reltionship with Jesus and so that 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 that Jesus gives this rich man because Jesus he's not Haren in his word he's very loving and compassionate towards this man but in his love he asked the hard question are you unwilling to follow me in this area of your life Michael 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 she started asking her about eternal life and Amy carmichel she's trying to set aside the questions changed the topic because she was not ready to receive the call to surrender to the Gospel but that Queen she insisted no I must know what does it what will it take for me to have eternal life and Amy carmichel she just let God's word speak on its own lady that Queen she said so far I have to follow him so far I can't see the rich man he left Jesus in Scripture that someone had an encounter with Jesus where they went away sorrowful as the Scripture says what does it Prof the whole world and to Forfeit his soul now as that man went away the disciples are confused in fact I say they're MiFi why there there's a School of Theology called retribution theology retribution theology is Book of Job deals with okay how are people blessed blessed and there was a belief in the time 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 if sorrow came your home or poverty 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 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 what do you mean that's hard for those people they're blessed by God right and so doubles down and what does he say that there's difficult in coming to Christ because they must turn away from more in order to follow Jesus there is difficulty of being wealthy of God he says children how difficult it is the kingdom of God to enter the kingdom of God it is e the eye of an than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God heard from preachers in the past 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 takes away from exactly what Jesus is trying to say 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 discip are astonished in the New Testament and this is worldview changing because this is what prompts them to ask a question then who can be saved if it's not the wealthy that are so bless God and Jesus he's teach them that's 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 he's teaching Health can be a significant hindrance in coming to Jesus because wealth Fosters selfreliance it teaches us to be unhealthily attached to things and stuff and while wealth itself is not evil 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 and Pierce themselves with many pangs well wealth is not evil but it can distort values and our priorities so when someone trusts in one Jesus Christ guess what that's hindrance to entering the kingdom of God so what ever thought about the fact if I maybe this then I'd happier how can we think that when Christ we have an eternal home in heaven with an inheritance that is guaranteed to us by God by sending his own son to cross he has purchased our salvation with his own blood he is preparing a place for us so that way when we when we are united we get to enjoy a place in heaven forever with our Lord what more can he do the disciples thought who are so favored can't get into heaven then who on Earth can we get this wonderful promise from Jesus and he says with men it is impossible but not with God for all 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 wealth prevents us from entering the God the Biblical belief is listen is using the same words of inheritance the work flesh are evident sexual immorality impurity sensuality idolatry sorcery enmity Strife jealousy fits of anger rivalries dissensions divisions Envy drunkenness ories and like these I warn

You as I warned you before those who do such things will not inherit 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 imort idolators nor adulterers nor practice homosexuality nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God and so the question is what are we willing to give up to gain eternal life the only right response the only Biblical response for those of us that are in Christ is everything I'm willing to give up every everything that I might have salvation that's why Peter he says see we have left everything for Peter he likely had children he had left a probably pretty successful business he had left his friends and 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 teaches that there is a tremendous reward for those worldly sacrifices for the kingdom of God I say to you there is no one who has left his house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands 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 and the eternal life you know you may have lost friends you may have had family members set against you may have had but on that last day Christian you are not going to get the short end 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 sake of Christ and Jesus's promises and we will receive it hand over fist back in the kingdom and following Jesus it might involve sacrifices but cost it's a investment so are you willing to trust Jesus's promises our Allan Cole in his commentary he points out and the way they phrases this that everyone who follows Christ ultimately sacrifice for everyone must give all that they have chist does not reckon the sacrifice as great or small by the amount given by the amount withheld for himself Christ does not reckon the sacrific 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 upon wealth or whatever divest means get rid of about your resources pray about your time pray about all of that type of stuff and continue money time talents are all gifts from the Lord to be a blessing so may matters of prayer know that you depend upon the Lord but 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 but he may call you to give more to missions hisry he may instruct you to not buy that one' 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 have riches guaranteed to us in our new life that's founding Christ you know if you're on your deathbed

Let's say that you have a billion dollars okay you're on your deathbed 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, I don't know give a $1,000 do it's not about the amount that you give it's about the withhold the Kingdom of Heaven it's like a treasure hidden in a field his Joy he goes and he sells all that he has and buys that field heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls who 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 this man looking at the rich man with love and the rich man not do what needed to be done would you forsake everything to gain Christ salvation that costs us nothing yet it also costs us everything costs Our lives our very lives heart hand head God he wants you to know that eternal life is a gift from God grace and it's not earned by works and so the call of Christ it's not because of how much money you may have or how talented you are 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 totally dependent on his grace for eternal life which requires your to be willing to forsake all the other attachments to follow Jesus we aren't granted anything except Grace any call calls us that's how we come to Christ on his

Terms not our own we don't get to say okay Jesus I'm follow you but you don't get this area no he all are none with Jesus and he's God that hand God he wants you to examine yourself is compete with your full Reliance upon Christ for salvation take some time and focus on the Lord in prayer and reflection practice the Biblical principle perhaps even consider simplifying your life so that more effective in the Kingdom I think that'll do it today why don't we spend praying and I'll invite the worship team to come up and lead us in our song of your head and close your eyes Lord do ask that you would watch over us today as Lord we are your people there's so many people here that give and give and give and Lord the Ser probably isn't for them it's probably for the person that is hanging on to their their their their pride the things that they or have done and so Lord I just pray right now that their need that it's it's all about you it's all about following you 100% way help us to not go to the left or to the right but to follow you all the Days of Our Lives help us oh Shepherd of our souls to draw Us close to you be put us on your shoulders Keep Us close don't let us wand but Lord Keep Us close help go from here 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 go away sorrowful but help us to go okay 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] in the strength of Flesh [Music]

And but in the cly Words of Love at the my worth is not name win or lose in Pride or but in the blood of Christ [Music] at my Redeemer greatest treasure will of my soul I will trust in him no my is saisi [Music] in and it's true it's not about our obedience at all it's all 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 share what it means to be of Jesus Christ let's pray father we do love you we profess our need for you and we know that you are God you are good you are holy in Jesus Christ and yet that call is also a call to sacrifice to die to ourselves so help us Lord thank you for the reminder from your word even about the sacrifice my family has to make more