1 00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:05,000 Speaker 1: Let us pray and be not conformed to this world, 2 00:00:05,800 --> 00:00:08,960 Speaker 1: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, 3 00:00:09,720 --> 00:00:13,160 Speaker 1: that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable 4 00:00:13,280 --> 00:00:18,600 Speaker 1: and perfect will of God Romans twelve two. Dear Father, 5 00:00:18,680 --> 00:00:22,000 Speaker 1: I surrender my thoughts to you to day. I ask 6 00:00:22,160 --> 00:00:27,520 Speaker 1: you to renew my thoughts with love, compassion, kindness, humility, 7 00:00:28,040 --> 00:00:33,159 Speaker 1: and peace. Shift my mind towards a positive outcome. If 8 00:00:33,200 --> 00:00:36,839 Speaker 1: a negative thought enters my mind, Please help me to 9 00:00:36,880 --> 00:00:41,479 Speaker 1: see the bright side when an unfavorable situation occurs. Grant 10 00:00:41,520 --> 00:00:46,120 Speaker 1: me patience when an unpleasant stranger tries to steal my happiness. 11 00:00:46,680 --> 00:00:49,879 Speaker 1: Allow my mind to fully rest in your word and 12 00:00:50,000 --> 00:00:53,840 Speaker 1: light so that I may adorn in your glory and splendor. 13 00:00:54,920 --> 00:00:57,560 Speaker 1: Guide my thoughts so that my faith can keep getting 14 00:00:57,560 --> 00:01:03,840 Speaker 1: stronger each day. Thank you for listening to today's daily 15 00:01:03,840 --> 00:01:07,720 Speaker 1: prayer for more inspiration and an incredible message from our 16 00:01:07,760 --> 00:01:11,520 Speaker 1: feature pastor. Stay tuned to pray dot COM's Sunday service. 17 00:01:12,720 --> 00:01:16,560 Speaker 2: Welcome to pray dot COM's Sunday service sponsored by Altrue Health. 18 00:01:16,560 --> 00:01:20,160 Speaker 2: Share Follow this podcast and listen weekly to receive godly 19 00:01:20,200 --> 00:01:23,800 Speaker 2: wisdom and practical advice for daily living. Stay tuned for 20 00:01:23,920 --> 00:01:27,280 Speaker 2: Sunday service coming up after a quick word from our sponsors, 21 00:01:29,240 --> 00:01:32,400 Speaker 2: there's an innovative, better way to find healthcare. We're our 22 00:01:32,480 --> 00:01:35,319 Speaker 2: True a Health Share, an affordable and flexible way to 23 00:01:35,360 --> 00:01:38,319 Speaker 2: take care of your family. 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Altru a health share where we care for 30 00:01:57,720 --> 00:01:58,280 Speaker 2: one another. 31 00:02:15,520 --> 00:02:16,720 Speaker 3: Shall we give the Lord a clap? 32 00:02:16,760 --> 00:02:19,600 Speaker 4: Offering Church, it is such a joy and a privilege 33 00:02:19,600 --> 00:02:22,320 Speaker 4: to study the Word of God together with you today 34 00:02:22,320 --> 00:02:26,360 Speaker 4: we're going to be talking about developing a biblical worldview. 35 00:02:26,919 --> 00:02:29,240 Speaker 4: Let's look to the Lord in prayer. Heavenly Father, we 36 00:02:29,280 --> 00:02:31,840 Speaker 4: thank you so much for this day. Grant us your 37 00:02:31,840 --> 00:02:34,440 Speaker 4: grace to study your word. Lord, we acknowledge that Holy 38 00:02:34,480 --> 00:02:36,920 Speaker 4: Spirit is our teacher, open our eyes to see and 39 00:02:36,960 --> 00:02:38,920 Speaker 4: give us listening, years to hear and a heart that 40 00:02:39,040 --> 00:02:42,440 Speaker 4: is willing to obey your word. We thank you in Jesus' name, 41 00:02:42,639 --> 00:02:46,640 Speaker 4: and people of God said Amen and Amen. You know, 42 00:02:46,680 --> 00:02:51,160 Speaker 4: there are three types of hairstyles, the center parted, the 43 00:02:51,320 --> 00:02:55,639 Speaker 4: side parted, and departed for their who don't have any hair. 44 00:02:56,040 --> 00:02:58,280 Speaker 4: The reason I'm thinking about hair is because this is 45 00:02:58,280 --> 00:03:00,359 Speaker 4: the first time in twenty one years of matter that 46 00:03:00,400 --> 00:03:02,200 Speaker 4: I allowed my wife to cut my hair. 47 00:03:03,680 --> 00:03:05,440 Speaker 3: Here's another hair joke for you. 48 00:03:08,160 --> 00:03:12,920 Speaker 4: If someone is bald at the back, they are great thinkers. 49 00:03:14,240 --> 00:03:19,200 Speaker 4: If men are bald in the front, they are great lovers. 50 00:03:20,400 --> 00:03:23,520 Speaker 4: What if they are bald in the front and the back, 51 00:03:24,520 --> 00:03:27,760 Speaker 4: they are the men who think they are great lovers. 52 00:03:31,000 --> 00:03:35,360 Speaker 4: Today we are talking about developing a biblical worlview, the 53 00:03:35,400 --> 00:03:37,640 Speaker 4: window through which you see the world. 54 00:03:38,520 --> 00:03:39,880 Speaker 3: Story was told of a. 55 00:03:39,920 --> 00:03:42,360 Speaker 4: Young couple who moved into their new apartment. 56 00:03:43,360 --> 00:03:44,560 Speaker 3: Now, the wife. 57 00:03:44,320 --> 00:03:48,120 Speaker 4: Every day she looks through her window and she sees 58 00:03:48,200 --> 00:03:51,520 Speaker 4: the laundry in the neighbor's backyard, and she commenced to 59 00:03:51,560 --> 00:03:55,280 Speaker 4: her husband and says, the laundry is very dirty. Is 60 00:03:55,360 --> 00:03:59,120 Speaker 4: still dirty. So every day she says that the laundry 61 00:03:59,200 --> 00:04:02,120 Speaker 4: is dirty. One day she looks through the window and 62 00:04:02,160 --> 00:04:05,560 Speaker 4: the laundry is super clean. And this time she commented 63 00:04:05,600 --> 00:04:07,880 Speaker 4: and turned to her husband and said they must have 64 00:04:08,120 --> 00:04:12,600 Speaker 4: changed their washing machine. The husband replied, no, no, I 65 00:04:12,800 --> 00:04:17,400 Speaker 4: just cleaned our windows. Listen to me carefully. Where you 66 00:04:17,520 --> 00:04:22,159 Speaker 4: live will determine what you see, and what you see 67 00:04:22,279 --> 00:04:25,360 Speaker 4: will determine how you live. I want you to catch 68 00:04:25,400 --> 00:04:28,960 Speaker 4: this principle. You and I are living in the world, 69 00:04:29,440 --> 00:04:30,720 Speaker 4: but the Bible says we are. 70 00:04:30,640 --> 00:04:31,800 Speaker 3: Not off the world. 71 00:04:32,240 --> 00:04:35,120 Speaker 4: There are two kingdoms here, the Kingdom of God and 72 00:04:35,160 --> 00:04:38,679 Speaker 4: the kingdom of this world. So where you live will 73 00:04:38,720 --> 00:04:43,240 Speaker 4: determine what you see, and what you see will determine 74 00:04:43,400 --> 00:04:44,080 Speaker 4: how you live. 75 00:04:44,839 --> 00:04:46,200 Speaker 3: That is why you and I we need. 76 00:04:46,080 --> 00:04:50,520 Speaker 4: To recognize that we need to develop a biblical worldview. 77 00:04:51,400 --> 00:04:54,120 Speaker 4: The Bible says in Romans, chapter twelve and verse two, 78 00:04:54,440 --> 00:04:58,480 Speaker 4: do not be conformed to this world. In other words, 79 00:04:58,560 --> 00:05:01,239 Speaker 4: don't look at the world the same way the world 80 00:05:01,600 --> 00:05:04,800 Speaker 4: looks at the world. You and I cannot be conformed 81 00:05:04,839 --> 00:05:07,320 Speaker 4: to the pattern of this world. But you and I 82 00:05:07,360 --> 00:05:10,400 Speaker 4: are called to be transformed by the renewing of our mind. 83 00:05:10,880 --> 00:05:13,800 Speaker 4: That means you and I we need to train ourselves 84 00:05:14,279 --> 00:05:15,360 Speaker 4: to see differently. 85 00:05:16,200 --> 00:05:19,440 Speaker 3: So let's come back to this question. What is a worldview? 86 00:05:20,200 --> 00:05:26,200 Speaker 4: A worldview is one's collection of presuppositions, convictions, and values 87 00:05:26,240 --> 00:05:30,119 Speaker 4: from which a person tries to understand and make sense 88 00:05:30,160 --> 00:05:33,919 Speaker 4: of the world and life. It is your value system. 89 00:05:34,160 --> 00:05:36,760 Speaker 4: It is the lens through which you see the world. 90 00:05:36,839 --> 00:05:40,960 Speaker 4: It's the window through which you see the world. This 91 00:05:41,040 --> 00:05:46,800 Speaker 4: is important. What, then, is a Christian worldview? A Christian 92 00:05:46,800 --> 00:05:52,400 Speaker 4: worldview is based on four truths. One, we recognize that 93 00:05:52,440 --> 00:05:56,440 Speaker 4: God is the unique source of all truth. Number two, 94 00:05:56,720 --> 00:06:00,880 Speaker 4: God's truth is revealed solely in his scriptures. And three 95 00:06:01,480 --> 00:06:05,760 Speaker 4: and we evaluate our life from God's perspective. And four 96 00:06:06,160 --> 00:06:10,479 Speaker 4: we order our life according to God's will. We recognize 97 00:06:10,520 --> 00:06:13,680 Speaker 4: that God's word is the truth, and we order our 98 00:06:13,760 --> 00:06:17,359 Speaker 4: life according to the word of God. And we evaluate 99 00:06:17,600 --> 00:06:21,760 Speaker 4: everything based upon the Word of God. In summary, let 100 00:06:21,800 --> 00:06:25,400 Speaker 4: me say this way, a Biblical worldview is about putting 101 00:06:25,440 --> 00:06:27,719 Speaker 4: God into the equation. 102 00:06:27,680 --> 00:06:28,880 Speaker 3: Of our lives. 103 00:06:29,279 --> 00:06:31,400 Speaker 4: It is about putting God into the equation of our 104 00:06:31,440 --> 00:06:36,640 Speaker 4: lives and gaining his perspective, walking in his ways, and 105 00:06:36,680 --> 00:06:41,080 Speaker 4: fulfilling His will. Hallelujah. Now we're not going to be 106 00:06:41,080 --> 00:06:45,680 Speaker 4: talking about worldview exhaustively, but I want you to consider 107 00:06:45,760 --> 00:06:50,680 Speaker 4: these five arenas where developing a Christian and a Biblical 108 00:06:50,720 --> 00:06:56,000 Speaker 4: worldview matters. Now, the first one is the theology of 109 00:06:56,080 --> 00:06:59,880 Speaker 4: the world. Your worldview about the community that you live in. 110 00:07:01,160 --> 00:07:03,320 Speaker 4: The Bible says that you are in the world, but 111 00:07:03,360 --> 00:07:06,880 Speaker 4: you're not off the world. And this is the command 112 00:07:06,920 --> 00:07:09,039 Speaker 4: that he has given to all believers. Look at this 113 00:07:09,160 --> 00:07:12,000 Speaker 4: in First Chance, Chapter two and verse fifteen. Do not 114 00:07:12,120 --> 00:07:15,240 Speaker 4: love the world nor the things in the world. If 115 00:07:15,280 --> 00:07:17,640 Speaker 4: anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is 116 00:07:17,760 --> 00:07:22,160 Speaker 4: not in him. Listen carefully, your command is to not 117 00:07:22,320 --> 00:07:25,480 Speaker 4: love the world nor the things in the world. Sadly, 118 00:07:25,520 --> 00:07:29,360 Speaker 4: today many Christians are in love with the world. In 119 00:07:29,360 --> 00:07:32,320 Speaker 4: other words, our ego is tied to this world. Our 120 00:07:32,560 --> 00:07:34,880 Speaker 4: esteem in life is tied to the world. That's why 121 00:07:34,920 --> 00:07:37,680 Speaker 4: we compare ourselves with others and we try to catch 122 00:07:37,720 --> 00:07:38,560 Speaker 4: up with the jones. 123 00:07:38,920 --> 00:07:42,160 Speaker 3: We are so gravitated towards the things of this world. 124 00:07:42,840 --> 00:07:47,320 Speaker 4: That's why a believer are to recognize this. I can't 125 00:07:47,360 --> 00:07:49,840 Speaker 4: love the world. If I love the world, it is 126 00:07:49,880 --> 00:07:54,080 Speaker 4: in direct opposition with love of the Father. And then 127 00:07:54,120 --> 00:07:56,560 Speaker 4: in verse sixteen, it goes on to say, for all 128 00:07:56,600 --> 00:07:57,960 Speaker 4: that is in the world, the. 129 00:07:57,760 --> 00:08:00,120 Speaker 3: Desires of the flesh, the desires. 130 00:07:59,680 --> 00:08:02,480 Speaker 4: Of the eyes, and the pride of life is from 131 00:08:02,560 --> 00:08:07,120 Speaker 4: the is not from the Father, but from the world. Listen, 132 00:08:07,720 --> 00:08:10,680 Speaker 4: the desires of the flesh, what is the desires of 133 00:08:10,720 --> 00:08:13,840 Speaker 4: the flesh. The desires of the flesh are sensualities. It 134 00:08:13,880 --> 00:08:16,600 Speaker 4: is the sexual desires. 135 00:08:17,000 --> 00:08:18,600 Speaker 3: It's the activation of the. 136 00:08:18,520 --> 00:08:22,440 Speaker 4: Passions of the flesh. What is the lust of the eyes? 137 00:08:22,680 --> 00:08:26,640 Speaker 4: The lust of the eyes is coveteousness. What I see, 138 00:08:26,800 --> 00:08:29,520 Speaker 4: I want to have it. The Bible says, do not 139 00:08:29,560 --> 00:08:33,599 Speaker 4: covet your neighbor's wife, your neighbor's property. 140 00:08:33,720 --> 00:08:35,600 Speaker 3: Do not covet what someone else's have. 141 00:08:36,320 --> 00:08:39,360 Speaker 4: But a heart is gravitated towards these things. 142 00:08:39,760 --> 00:08:41,720 Speaker 3: The third thing it says is pride of life. What 143 00:08:41,840 --> 00:08:42,600 Speaker 3: is pride of life? 144 00:08:43,040 --> 00:08:48,760 Speaker 4: That you take pride in your acquisitions, what you have accomplishments, 145 00:08:48,840 --> 00:08:52,640 Speaker 4: what you have achieved, your abilities, All these things gives 146 00:08:52,720 --> 00:08:57,840 Speaker 4: you a sense of pride within yourself. And the Bible says, 147 00:08:57,960 --> 00:09:00,280 Speaker 4: the love of the world will gravitate you to words 148 00:09:00,360 --> 00:09:03,320 Speaker 4: all these things. That's why a believer ought to deny 149 00:09:03,360 --> 00:09:09,200 Speaker 4: this world. And we need to stop loving the world. See, 150 00:09:09,280 --> 00:09:11,600 Speaker 4: I want you to catch this principle. You can't walk 151 00:09:11,640 --> 00:09:15,079 Speaker 4: with God while holding the hands with the world. Why 152 00:09:15,400 --> 00:09:20,040 Speaker 4: because they are both opposites. James, Chapter four and verse 153 00:09:20,080 --> 00:09:23,080 Speaker 4: four says you are doubtless people. In other words, you're 154 00:09:23,080 --> 00:09:25,880 Speaker 4: married to one, but you have an affair with something else. 155 00:09:26,800 --> 00:09:29,840 Speaker 4: You have two loves. You are doubtress people. Do you 156 00:09:29,880 --> 00:09:33,040 Speaker 4: not know that friendship with the world is enemity with God. 157 00:09:34,160 --> 00:09:36,880 Speaker 4: For therefore, whoever wishes to be a friend of the 158 00:09:36,920 --> 00:09:40,959 Speaker 4: world makes himself an enemy of God. Listen carefully. You 159 00:09:41,160 --> 00:09:45,840 Speaker 4: can't walk with God while holding hands with the devil. 160 00:09:46,800 --> 00:09:49,319 Speaker 3: You have to make a decisive choice here. 161 00:09:49,720 --> 00:09:55,800 Speaker 4: That's why the theology of the world matters. This is 162 00:09:55,840 --> 00:09:58,800 Speaker 4: what the Bible says in First Chance, Chapter two, verse seventeen. 163 00:09:59,080 --> 00:10:02,760 Speaker 4: The world is passing away along with its desires. But 164 00:10:02,880 --> 00:10:07,040 Speaker 4: whoever does the will of God abides forever. In other words, 165 00:10:07,120 --> 00:10:10,200 Speaker 4: look at how he contrasts the world and the will 166 00:10:10,200 --> 00:10:13,439 Speaker 4: of the Father. The world, along with all its desires, 167 00:10:13,520 --> 00:10:16,560 Speaker 4: are passing away. In other words, they are transient, they 168 00:10:16,559 --> 00:10:20,440 Speaker 4: are temporal, But the will of the Lord abides forever. 169 00:10:20,679 --> 00:10:23,200 Speaker 3: You do the will of God, that's what matters. 170 00:10:23,559 --> 00:10:28,520 Speaker 4: So your view of the world will help you choose wisely. 171 00:10:29,640 --> 00:10:32,960 Speaker 4: Your worldview will affect your lifestyle. It will affect the 172 00:10:33,080 --> 00:10:36,120 Speaker 4: choices that you make. And the word of God says here, 173 00:10:36,320 --> 00:10:38,720 Speaker 4: he who does the will of God. So your life 174 00:10:38,760 --> 00:10:42,320 Speaker 4: and my life is about doing the will of the Father. 175 00:10:42,880 --> 00:10:46,080 Speaker 4: That's what this world is about. Story was told of 176 00:10:46,160 --> 00:10:49,960 Speaker 4: a missionary who returned back from the mission field. He 177 00:10:50,160 --> 00:10:54,000 Speaker 4: arrived in his port in a ship, and there was 178 00:10:54,160 --> 00:10:56,760 Speaker 4: no one to welcome him on the harbor. 179 00:10:57,960 --> 00:10:59,199 Speaker 3: But in the same ship. 180 00:10:59,080 --> 00:11:02,839 Speaker 4: There was a celebrity, and to welcome the celebrity, there 181 00:11:02,840 --> 00:11:08,160 Speaker 4: were newspaper reporters, and there's so many fans in the harbor. 182 00:11:09,559 --> 00:11:12,360 Speaker 4: So this missionary side in his heart and he said, Lord, 183 00:11:12,880 --> 00:11:16,120 Speaker 4: I have served you faithfully, and I come home. There's 184 00:11:16,160 --> 00:11:19,640 Speaker 4: no one to welcome me. And the Lord replied to 185 00:11:19,720 --> 00:11:23,520 Speaker 4: him in his heart, you are not home yet. When 186 00:11:23,520 --> 00:11:26,880 Speaker 4: you come home, there will be a great celebration, a 187 00:11:27,000 --> 00:11:30,280 Speaker 4: great welcome for you. Now listen to me carefully. This 188 00:11:30,360 --> 00:11:33,360 Speaker 4: is the truth. The world is not our home. We 189 00:11:33,480 --> 00:11:37,920 Speaker 4: are just passing through. Is that the theology that you hold, 190 00:11:38,200 --> 00:11:41,960 Speaker 4: is that the worldview you carry about the world. Let's 191 00:11:41,960 --> 00:11:45,720 Speaker 4: examine the second one, the theology of work. It has 192 00:11:45,760 --> 00:11:50,880 Speaker 4: to do without calling. See, we need to understand there's 193 00:11:50,920 --> 00:11:55,680 Speaker 4: a difference between name card and calling card. Don't confuse 194 00:11:55,760 --> 00:11:59,679 Speaker 4: your name card with the calling card. What's the name card. 195 00:11:59,840 --> 00:12:02,080 Speaker 4: It's the name card you give to people to know 196 00:12:02,440 --> 00:12:03,080 Speaker 4: what you do. 197 00:12:03,600 --> 00:12:03,800 Speaker 3: See. 198 00:12:03,800 --> 00:12:06,640 Speaker 4: The key question that everybody asks you whenever they meet 199 00:12:06,679 --> 00:12:08,440 Speaker 4: you for the first time is what do you do? 200 00:12:09,200 --> 00:12:12,160 Speaker 4: Because they want to know where to place you in 201 00:12:12,200 --> 00:12:15,200 Speaker 4: the pecking order? Are you the CEO of a company? 202 00:12:15,320 --> 00:12:18,040 Speaker 4: Are you the janitor in the company? Because the world 203 00:12:18,120 --> 00:12:22,960 Speaker 4: measures these things. So that's why there is some attachments 204 00:12:23,040 --> 00:12:26,439 Speaker 4: of grandeur to certain roles and certain jobs. 205 00:12:27,559 --> 00:12:29,040 Speaker 3: And then the others had despise. 206 00:12:29,280 --> 00:12:32,000 Speaker 4: But can I humbly say this, The Bible makes no 207 00:12:32,040 --> 00:12:36,160 Speaker 4: difference like that. The Bible recognizes that every work is 208 00:12:36,200 --> 00:12:39,200 Speaker 4: honorable before God. See, many times when we think of 209 00:12:39,240 --> 00:12:43,200 Speaker 4: the work, we always think of the fruit of our labor, 210 00:12:43,440 --> 00:12:47,160 Speaker 4: rather than the focus of our labor. So what should 211 00:12:47,200 --> 00:12:51,080 Speaker 4: be the focus of a believer. The focus of a 212 00:12:51,120 --> 00:12:55,760 Speaker 4: believer must be the unseen eternal kingdom of God. I 213 00:12:55,800 --> 00:12:58,839 Speaker 4: want you to think about this verse. It's in Second Corinthians, 214 00:12:58,920 --> 00:13:02,719 Speaker 4: chapter four and verse eighteen. We look not to the 215 00:13:02,720 --> 00:13:05,920 Speaker 4: things that are seen, but to the things that are unseen. 216 00:13:06,559 --> 00:13:09,640 Speaker 4: For the things that are seen are transient, but the 217 00:13:09,679 --> 00:13:13,160 Speaker 4: things that are unseen are eternal. In other words, a 218 00:13:13,240 --> 00:13:17,200 Speaker 4: believer ought to train themselves to move away from what 219 00:13:17,320 --> 00:13:21,719 Speaker 4: they see. The pay packet, the position of influence, the 220 00:13:22,240 --> 00:13:25,480 Speaker 4: privileges that come with it, the responsibilities. 221 00:13:24,600 --> 00:13:25,120 Speaker 3: That come with it. 222 00:13:25,160 --> 00:13:28,679 Speaker 4: They got to see beyond these things. They see, how 223 00:13:29,360 --> 00:13:33,240 Speaker 4: is God going to use me in this role or 224 00:13:33,280 --> 00:13:36,520 Speaker 4: in this place of influence for His glory and for 225 00:13:36,600 --> 00:13:39,240 Speaker 4: the good of His kingdom. In other words, our focus 226 00:13:39,240 --> 00:13:42,240 Speaker 4: should not be on the scene. Our focus should be 227 00:13:42,280 --> 00:13:46,440 Speaker 4: on the unseen, eternal kingdom of God. I've always noticed 228 00:13:46,480 --> 00:13:50,560 Speaker 4: that people carry a dichotomous view of work, that there 229 00:13:50,600 --> 00:13:54,240 Speaker 4: are sacred work and secular work. Sometimes people think that 230 00:13:54,320 --> 00:13:57,240 Speaker 4: working in the church is sacred work and working in 231 00:13:57,280 --> 00:13:58,760 Speaker 4: a company is secular work. 232 00:13:59,080 --> 00:14:02,160 Speaker 3: Can I humbly say this, Even a secular. 233 00:14:01,720 --> 00:14:06,760 Speaker 4: Work will become spiritual if your focus is eternal, and 234 00:14:06,920 --> 00:14:10,600 Speaker 4: even a spiritual work will become secular if your focus 235 00:14:10,720 --> 00:14:15,040 Speaker 4: is temporal. So whatever work you do, your work is 236 00:14:15,200 --> 00:14:18,800 Speaker 4: meaningless if your work is divorced from your witness. 237 00:14:19,560 --> 00:14:21,440 Speaker 3: See, you got to recognize. 238 00:14:21,160 --> 00:14:25,000 Speaker 4: Your calling is meaningless when it's divorced from the collar. 239 00:14:25,840 --> 00:14:26,880 Speaker 3: God has called you. 240 00:14:27,280 --> 00:14:30,080 Speaker 4: But if you ignore God when you go to work, 241 00:14:30,600 --> 00:14:34,160 Speaker 4: you have divorced your collar from the calling. So your 242 00:14:34,200 --> 00:14:36,840 Speaker 4: calling becomes meaningless when it's divorced from the collar. 243 00:14:37,120 --> 00:14:37,960 Speaker 3: The same thing. 244 00:14:39,400 --> 00:14:43,760 Speaker 4: Your work is meaningless when your work is divorced from 245 00:14:43,840 --> 00:14:44,480 Speaker 4: your witness. 246 00:14:45,520 --> 00:14:46,960 Speaker 3: Can people look at your work. 247 00:14:46,720 --> 00:14:49,960 Speaker 4: And say, that's a man of integrity, that's a man 248 00:14:50,000 --> 00:14:53,360 Speaker 4: of character. That's a man that honors God with his work. 249 00:14:53,840 --> 00:14:56,920 Speaker 4: That's a man who takes his responsibility seriously. That's a 250 00:14:56,920 --> 00:15:00,440 Speaker 4: man who does everything excellently. That's what the by calls 251 00:15:00,480 --> 00:15:02,640 Speaker 4: you to do, whether you're the CEO or the janitor. 252 00:15:02,800 --> 00:15:05,600 Speaker 4: God says you and I need to do the work 253 00:15:05,640 --> 00:15:08,320 Speaker 4: as though we are doing it unto the Lord, for 254 00:15:08,440 --> 00:15:10,800 Speaker 4: his glory and for the good of his kingdom. 255 00:15:11,160 --> 00:15:14,520 Speaker 3: So what is your theology of work? Why do you 256 00:15:14,560 --> 00:15:16,600 Speaker 3: go to work? Examine it? 257 00:15:17,520 --> 00:15:19,480 Speaker 4: The third thing I want us to consider is the 258 00:15:19,480 --> 00:15:25,480 Speaker 4: theology of wealth consumption. See, life on earth is neither 259 00:15:25,600 --> 00:15:27,000 Speaker 4: a party nor a curse. 260 00:15:27,240 --> 00:15:28,359 Speaker 3: It is a stewardship. 261 00:15:29,200 --> 00:15:31,880 Speaker 4: Do we recognize that everything that God has given to 262 00:15:31,960 --> 00:15:35,760 Speaker 4: us is a stewardship. See I've told you earlier that 263 00:15:35,800 --> 00:15:38,760 Speaker 4: there are two extreme views of wealth that we have 264 00:15:38,800 --> 00:15:43,440 Speaker 4: studied in the past sessions. One is the poverty theology. 265 00:15:43,640 --> 00:15:47,600 Speaker 4: The other one is prosperity theology. Poverty theology says the 266 00:15:47,800 --> 00:15:52,160 Speaker 4: poorer you are, the holier you are. Prosperity theology says 267 00:15:52,200 --> 00:15:54,640 Speaker 4: the more richer you are, the more God is pleased 268 00:15:54,680 --> 00:15:54,920 Speaker 4: with you. 269 00:15:55,160 --> 00:15:56,960 Speaker 3: In other words, you are favored by God. 270 00:15:57,160 --> 00:16:01,800 Speaker 4: Listen, both are extreme ends of the spectrum. What is 271 00:16:01,840 --> 00:16:03,840 Speaker 4: the theology that you and I we need to hold onto. 272 00:16:04,280 --> 00:16:08,520 Speaker 4: It's the stewardship theology. It's the providential theology that God 273 00:16:08,760 --> 00:16:11,640 Speaker 4: is my provider, that God is the rightful owner of 274 00:16:11,720 --> 00:16:16,440 Speaker 4: everything I have, and I am merely a custodian. You 275 00:16:16,520 --> 00:16:19,880 Speaker 4: and I are called to steward our time, our talents, 276 00:16:19,920 --> 00:16:22,000 Speaker 4: and our treasures for the glory of God. 277 00:16:22,600 --> 00:16:25,640 Speaker 3: That's why you and I are called to honor God. 278 00:16:25,400 --> 00:16:29,120 Speaker 4: With everything we have, because we recognize that everything comes 279 00:16:29,160 --> 00:16:31,920 Speaker 4: from Him. Probably, Chapter three and verse nine says, honor 280 00:16:31,960 --> 00:16:35,080 Speaker 4: the Lord with your wealth and with the first fruits 281 00:16:35,080 --> 00:16:39,400 Speaker 4: of all your produce. This was written by the wealthiest 282 00:16:39,480 --> 00:16:44,280 Speaker 4: man during that time, who is King Solomon, and even 283 00:16:44,280 --> 00:16:46,920 Speaker 4: in today's terms he will still be the number one, 284 00:16:47,480 --> 00:16:49,160 Speaker 4: the wealthiest man in the world. 285 00:16:49,280 --> 00:16:52,120 Speaker 3: And he says, honor the Lord with your wealth. 286 00:16:52,320 --> 00:16:55,320 Speaker 4: Why it is to recognize that everything that I have, 287 00:16:55,480 --> 00:16:58,240 Speaker 4: whether I have much or have little, it comes from 288 00:16:58,320 --> 00:17:00,840 Speaker 4: the Lord. He is the one who has blessed me. 289 00:17:01,440 --> 00:17:04,520 Speaker 4: And whatever I have belongs to him. Therefore I want 290 00:17:04,560 --> 00:17:07,240 Speaker 4: to honor him. So how do you honor God? You 291 00:17:07,480 --> 00:17:11,199 Speaker 4: honor God by giving generously to God and to his 292 00:17:11,320 --> 00:17:16,520 Speaker 4: kingdom work. Start by tithing faithfully. See when you set 293 00:17:16,520 --> 00:17:19,199 Speaker 4: aside ten percent of your income for the work of 294 00:17:19,240 --> 00:17:21,920 Speaker 4: the kingdom and you give to the local church where 295 00:17:21,960 --> 00:17:25,639 Speaker 4: you are getting fed, it is an acknowledgment that God 296 00:17:25,760 --> 00:17:29,000 Speaker 4: is my rightful provider. He is my source of all 297 00:17:29,040 --> 00:17:32,280 Speaker 4: my blessing. Everything in my hands belongs to Him. So 298 00:17:32,359 --> 00:17:33,200 Speaker 4: that is why we. 299 00:17:33,080 --> 00:17:34,200 Speaker 3: Do it in obedience. 300 00:17:35,359 --> 00:17:37,920 Speaker 4: See, my wife and I we have been practicing tithing 301 00:17:38,240 --> 00:17:41,840 Speaker 4: ever since we got married. But we have also learned 302 00:17:42,720 --> 00:17:47,720 Speaker 4: the principle of graduated tithe. What is graduated tithe? Years 303 00:17:47,760 --> 00:17:51,120 Speaker 4: ago I was reading this book by Ron sider Rich 304 00:17:51,200 --> 00:17:54,600 Speaker 4: Christians in the Age of Hunger, where he talks about 305 00:17:54,640 --> 00:17:58,199 Speaker 4: how once the Lord has prospered you and blessed you, 306 00:17:59,200 --> 00:18:02,000 Speaker 4: that you no longer just limit yourself to give only 307 00:18:02,040 --> 00:18:06,159 Speaker 4: ten percent. Let's ten percent not become your ceiling but 308 00:18:06,320 --> 00:18:09,000 Speaker 4: your flooring. In other words, that's the minimum you give. 309 00:18:09,280 --> 00:18:12,199 Speaker 4: But from then on you graduate. In other words, you 310 00:18:12,359 --> 00:18:16,639 Speaker 4: now give more. You increase the percentage of your giving 311 00:18:16,960 --> 00:18:19,399 Speaker 4: based on how much more God has blessed you with. 312 00:18:20,080 --> 00:18:21,080 Speaker 3: Now listen carefully. 313 00:18:21,640 --> 00:18:23,879 Speaker 4: I'm not saying this that you should follow this, but 314 00:18:23,960 --> 00:18:25,200 Speaker 4: that's what my wife and I we do. 315 00:18:25,520 --> 00:18:27,680 Speaker 3: The reason is because we acknowledge that. 316 00:18:27,640 --> 00:18:30,720 Speaker 4: Everything that we have comes from Him, so we curb 317 00:18:30,840 --> 00:18:34,840 Speaker 4: our spending, we increase our giving as the Lord continues 318 00:18:34,920 --> 00:18:38,959 Speaker 4: to provide. That's why three times in our marriage so 319 00:18:39,080 --> 00:18:41,960 Speaker 4: far we have emptied everything that we have in the 320 00:18:42,000 --> 00:18:45,000 Speaker 4: bank and give for Kingdom work. The reason we can 321 00:18:45,040 --> 00:18:47,000 Speaker 4: do it is because we acknowledge that it is He 322 00:18:47,119 --> 00:18:51,440 Speaker 4: who has provided us, and everything that we have belongs 323 00:18:51,480 --> 00:18:52,560 Speaker 4: to him. 324 00:18:53,000 --> 00:18:53,680 Speaker 3: That's the call. 325 00:18:53,800 --> 00:18:56,920 Speaker 4: In the New Testament, Paul writes to all the rich, 326 00:18:57,400 --> 00:19:01,000 Speaker 4: the ones who are wealthy. In First Timothy chapter, he says, 327 00:19:01,119 --> 00:19:04,120 Speaker 4: as for the rich in this present age, charge them 328 00:19:04,160 --> 00:19:06,840 Speaker 4: not to be haughty. In other words, don't trust your riches. 329 00:19:07,160 --> 00:19:10,080 Speaker 4: Not to set your hopes on the uncertainty of riches, 330 00:19:10,359 --> 00:19:13,960 Speaker 4: but on God, who richly provides us with everything to 331 00:19:14,280 --> 00:19:19,200 Speaker 4: enjoy hallelujah. And then he says they are to do good, 332 00:19:19,440 --> 00:19:22,199 Speaker 4: to be rich in good works, to be generous, and 333 00:19:22,240 --> 00:19:24,960 Speaker 4: to be ready to share, thus storing up treasure for 334 00:19:25,040 --> 00:19:28,000 Speaker 4: themselves as a good foundation for the future, that they 335 00:19:28,000 --> 00:19:31,520 Speaker 4: may take hold of that which is truly life. Listen 336 00:19:31,560 --> 00:19:36,639 Speaker 4: to me carefully, Learn to invest wisely in the Kingdom 337 00:19:36,640 --> 00:19:37,000 Speaker 4: of God. 338 00:19:37,200 --> 00:19:38,800 Speaker 3: Learn to invest generously. 339 00:19:39,000 --> 00:19:44,440 Speaker 4: The reason is because thus you will store in heavens 340 00:19:45,000 --> 00:19:49,200 Speaker 4: and you lay hold of that which is truly life. 341 00:19:49,720 --> 00:19:54,680 Speaker 4: You know, in my own personal pilgrimage being generous into 342 00:19:54,720 --> 00:19:57,760 Speaker 4: the Kingdom of God, living like this with an open 343 00:19:57,800 --> 00:20:01,840 Speaker 4: palm and emptying when God ask me to do, I 344 00:20:01,920 --> 00:20:05,040 Speaker 4: have tasted the I have tasted. 345 00:20:06,000 --> 00:20:07,360 Speaker 3: I have tasted. 346 00:20:06,920 --> 00:20:11,640 Speaker 4: God in a spectacular manner. I've tasted his provision. I've 347 00:20:11,680 --> 00:20:15,399 Speaker 4: seen his miraculous You know. It reminds me of a 348 00:20:15,440 --> 00:20:19,560 Speaker 4: scripture in Luke, chapter twelve and verse thirty two. The 349 00:20:19,600 --> 00:20:22,320 Speaker 4: Bible says, fear not, little flock, for it is your 350 00:20:22,359 --> 00:20:25,960 Speaker 4: father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom, and then 351 00:20:26,000 --> 00:20:28,399 Speaker 4: in verse thirty three, he says, sell your possessions and 352 00:20:28,480 --> 00:20:31,359 Speaker 4: give to the needy. Provide yourselves with money bags that 353 00:20:31,400 --> 00:20:34,159 Speaker 4: do not grow old, with the treasure in the heavens 354 00:20:34,200 --> 00:20:37,159 Speaker 4: that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no 355 00:20:37,320 --> 00:20:40,440 Speaker 4: moth destroys. For where your treasure is there, your heart 356 00:20:40,520 --> 00:20:45,200 Speaker 4: will be also. Hallelujah, You and I have read this 357 00:20:45,280 --> 00:20:48,640 Speaker 4: and studied this in a parallel passage in Matthew chapter six, 358 00:20:49,200 --> 00:20:52,560 Speaker 4: Here he begins by saying, fear not, little flock, for 359 00:20:52,640 --> 00:20:55,159 Speaker 4: it is your father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 360 00:20:55,560 --> 00:20:59,000 Speaker 4: So therefore, sell your possessions, give to the needy, provide 361 00:20:59,040 --> 00:21:04,000 Speaker 4: yourselves with with money bags in heavens, and then where 362 00:21:04,040 --> 00:21:06,000 Speaker 4: your treasure is, that's where your heart will be also 363 00:21:06,920 --> 00:21:09,399 Speaker 4: right there in this verse. In Luke chapter twelve and 364 00:21:09,480 --> 00:21:13,280 Speaker 4: verse thirty two, you see three pictures of God. One 365 00:21:13,560 --> 00:21:18,160 Speaker 4: you see God as your shepherd. He says, you, little flock, 366 00:21:18,560 --> 00:21:22,639 Speaker 4: do not fear. See don't fear about where I'm going 367 00:21:22,720 --> 00:21:25,200 Speaker 4: to live. How am I going to provide for my family? 368 00:21:25,600 --> 00:21:28,840 Speaker 4: He says, don't worry, because you have a shepherd who 369 00:21:28,920 --> 00:21:33,639 Speaker 4: looks after his flock. Secondly, he says, father, it is 370 00:21:33,680 --> 00:21:35,720 Speaker 4: your father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. In 371 00:21:35,720 --> 00:21:38,639 Speaker 4: other words, the father loves to lavish good gifts to 372 00:21:38,720 --> 00:21:42,719 Speaker 4: his children. He says, if you live like this, you 373 00:21:42,960 --> 00:21:45,919 Speaker 4: are under the provision of a shepherd who is a 374 00:21:45,920 --> 00:21:49,160 Speaker 4: good shepherd. You are under the provision of a father 375 00:21:49,240 --> 00:21:54,119 Speaker 4: who loves his children and lavishes upon his children good gifts. Thirdly, 376 00:21:54,200 --> 00:21:56,720 Speaker 4: he goes on to say, it is your father's good 377 00:21:56,720 --> 00:21:59,000 Speaker 4: pleasure to give you the kingdom. Kingdom means that is 378 00:21:59,000 --> 00:22:01,880 Speaker 4: a king. He gives you the picture of God as king. 379 00:22:02,560 --> 00:22:06,639 Speaker 4: God as king, he looks after his subjects. God has father, 380 00:22:06,880 --> 00:22:09,960 Speaker 4: he looks after his children. God has shepherd, he looks 381 00:22:10,000 --> 00:22:12,680 Speaker 4: after his flock. In other words, you will be taken 382 00:22:12,800 --> 00:22:18,200 Speaker 4: care of. That's why your theology of the wealth matters. 383 00:22:18,680 --> 00:22:21,720 Speaker 4: So how do you view your wealth? Is it your 384 00:22:21,760 --> 00:22:25,240 Speaker 4: wealth or is it his? Are you doing what he. 385 00:22:25,160 --> 00:22:27,520 Speaker 3: Has asked you to do with the wealth that he 386 00:22:27,560 --> 00:22:29,320 Speaker 3: has given you? I hope. 387 00:22:29,359 --> 00:22:33,119 Speaker 4: So the next thing I want us to explore is 388 00:22:33,160 --> 00:22:34,760 Speaker 4: the theology of welfare. 389 00:22:35,240 --> 00:22:36,680 Speaker 3: It is about compassion. 390 00:22:37,640 --> 00:22:43,360 Speaker 4: See a clenched hand is a sign of a closed heart. 391 00:22:43,760 --> 00:22:48,080 Speaker 4: Open your heart to the needs of the people around you. Eutronomy, 392 00:22:48,160 --> 00:22:50,800 Speaker 4: Chapter fifteen and verse eleven. The Bible says, for there 393 00:22:50,840 --> 00:22:54,080 Speaker 4: will never cease to be poor in the land. Pause 394 00:22:54,280 --> 00:22:57,960 Speaker 4: reflect upon this. It says, there will always be poor 395 00:22:58,080 --> 00:23:01,280 Speaker 4: in the land. Therefore I come, o, you shall open 396 00:23:01,440 --> 00:23:05,679 Speaker 4: your hand wide to your brother, to the needy, to 397 00:23:05,760 --> 00:23:08,840 Speaker 4: the poor in your land. In other words, God says 398 00:23:09,280 --> 00:23:11,880 Speaker 4: you and I we need to be generous, open our 399 00:23:12,000 --> 00:23:16,439 Speaker 4: hand wide to feed the poor, to look after the 400 00:23:16,440 --> 00:23:20,520 Speaker 4: people who I marginalized. And this is something that He 401 00:23:20,720 --> 00:23:23,800 Speaker 4: commands to do. In the Old Testament, see, I want 402 00:23:23,880 --> 00:23:24,880 Speaker 4: you listen to me carefully. 403 00:23:25,119 --> 00:23:26,920 Speaker 3: If God is the rightful owner. 404 00:23:26,600 --> 00:23:30,320 Speaker 4: Of everything I have, then all my resources have borrowed resources. 405 00:23:30,400 --> 00:23:33,360 Speaker 4: Then all my resources belong to him. He can dictate 406 00:23:33,400 --> 00:23:35,920 Speaker 4: the terms upon which I live, and he directs way 407 00:23:35,960 --> 00:23:36,760 Speaker 4: I should invest. 408 00:23:36,880 --> 00:23:40,520 Speaker 3: And the more I release it, the more. 409 00:23:40,480 --> 00:23:44,159 Speaker 4: He is glorified. In the New Testament, the Bible says 410 00:23:44,320 --> 00:23:46,800 Speaker 4: in James chapter one and verse twenty seven, a religion 411 00:23:46,800 --> 00:23:49,679 Speaker 4: that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is 412 00:23:49,720 --> 00:23:54,600 Speaker 4: this to visit offans and widows in their affliction, and 413 00:23:54,680 --> 00:23:57,560 Speaker 4: to keep oneself unstained from the world. 414 00:23:57,680 --> 00:24:00,480 Speaker 3: So listen to me carefully. What is true religion? 415 00:24:00,560 --> 00:24:03,040 Speaker 4: It is to be able to serve the needs of 416 00:24:03,119 --> 00:24:05,520 Speaker 4: the poor that you find among you, whether it's the 417 00:24:05,560 --> 00:24:09,879 Speaker 4: widows or the orphans, and the whole general principle is 418 00:24:10,400 --> 00:24:14,920 Speaker 4: be generous to the poor. So how are you serving 419 00:24:14,960 --> 00:24:18,760 Speaker 4: the poor through your life? There are four areas where 420 00:24:19,040 --> 00:24:21,160 Speaker 4: we serve God's purposes. 421 00:24:21,440 --> 00:24:25,080 Speaker 3: One in our marriage, in our family life. 422 00:24:25,440 --> 00:24:29,399 Speaker 4: Secondly in our marketplace, in our work life, thirdly in 423 00:24:29,440 --> 00:24:33,320 Speaker 4: the ministry, in the church life, and fourthly in the 424 00:24:33,440 --> 00:24:37,080 Speaker 4: mission in the world. That are things that God has 425 00:24:37,359 --> 00:24:40,639 Speaker 4: earmarked for you to touch, that our mission feels that 426 00:24:40,680 --> 00:24:41,760 Speaker 4: He has earmarked. 427 00:24:41,400 --> 00:24:42,119 Speaker 3: For you to touch. 428 00:24:42,720 --> 00:24:47,439 Speaker 4: Be generous to these things, and sometimes people struggle with 429 00:24:47,640 --> 00:24:51,639 Speaker 4: the having compassion for this. I want to give you 430 00:24:51,640 --> 00:24:54,040 Speaker 4: a statement. I want you to take this down. While 431 00:24:54,080 --> 00:24:59,960 Speaker 4: compassion supersedes commitment, yet often it is commitment that precedes compassion. 432 00:25:00,480 --> 00:25:04,480 Speaker 4: In other words, start with a simple commitment. Start with 433 00:25:04,560 --> 00:25:08,320 Speaker 4: sponsoring maybe a child, give a destiny for a child, 434 00:25:09,040 --> 00:25:13,399 Speaker 4: give a lift up for a family, maybe uphold a 435 00:25:13,480 --> 00:25:14,720 Speaker 4: mission field somewhere. 436 00:25:15,320 --> 00:25:15,720 Speaker 3: Do that. 437 00:25:16,400 --> 00:25:22,160 Speaker 4: When you start with a commitment, the compassion will follow. Otherwise, 438 00:25:22,960 --> 00:25:27,560 Speaker 4: if we wait for compassion to kick start, it probably 439 00:25:27,600 --> 00:25:30,280 Speaker 4: would never will. So I want you to listen to me. 440 00:25:30,400 --> 00:25:33,080 Speaker 4: Start with simple steps of obedience. Start with a simple 441 00:25:33,119 --> 00:25:37,080 Speaker 4: commitment of sponsoring maybe one child, and. 442 00:25:37,080 --> 00:25:38,120 Speaker 3: Let it begin from there. 443 00:25:38,680 --> 00:25:41,000 Speaker 4: The fifth thing that I want you to consider is 444 00:25:41,040 --> 00:25:46,080 Speaker 4: this your theology of what's to come consummation. 445 00:25:47,040 --> 00:25:48,080 Speaker 3: In other words, you and I. 446 00:25:48,040 --> 00:25:50,600 Speaker 4: We need to think about things that are going to 447 00:25:50,600 --> 00:25:53,880 Speaker 4: take place in the world, and we need to be informed. 448 00:25:54,440 --> 00:25:56,480 Speaker 3: We need to be instructed by the word of God. 449 00:25:57,359 --> 00:25:59,959 Speaker 4: But we not call to be alarmed, but we are 450 00:26:00,080 --> 00:26:02,800 Speaker 4: called to be awakened, and we are called. 451 00:26:02,560 --> 00:26:03,360 Speaker 3: To be alert. 452 00:26:04,240 --> 00:26:07,879 Speaker 4: There are specific passages in the scripture that speaks about 453 00:26:07,880 --> 00:26:12,040 Speaker 4: the last days. This is what you call the apocalyptic chapters. 454 00:26:12,600 --> 00:26:17,360 Speaker 4: These apocalyptic chapters are found in Mark chapter thirteen, Luke 455 00:26:17,440 --> 00:26:20,800 Speaker 4: chapter twenty one, and Matthew chapter twenty four and twenty five. 456 00:26:21,760 --> 00:26:24,080 Speaker 4: I want to focus on Matthew twenty four and twenty five. 457 00:26:24,800 --> 00:26:29,119 Speaker 4: In Matthew chapter twenty four, Jesus speaks about the last 458 00:26:29,200 --> 00:26:32,760 Speaker 4: days and he gives you two things in specific for 459 00:26:32,840 --> 00:26:35,840 Speaker 4: you to consider. Look at this in verse twenty five, 460 00:26:36,119 --> 00:26:40,399 Speaker 4: he says, see, I have told you beforehand. In other words, 461 00:26:40,400 --> 00:26:44,080 Speaker 4: as a Christian, we are already informed about the end 462 00:26:44,320 --> 00:26:47,720 Speaker 4: of times. We are not surprised by what is taking 463 00:26:47,720 --> 00:26:50,520 Speaker 4: place in the world. We shouldn't be. Why because the 464 00:26:50,720 --> 00:26:53,960 Speaker 4: scripture points us to what is going on and what 465 00:26:54,080 --> 00:26:56,880 Speaker 4: will happen in the last days. That's why you don't 466 00:26:56,920 --> 00:26:59,560 Speaker 4: need to watch CNN to know how it will be 467 00:26:59,600 --> 00:27:02,000 Speaker 4: in the end. You don't need to read the newspaper 468 00:27:02,040 --> 00:27:05,639 Speaker 4: to find out what's going on in the world. Everything 469 00:27:05,640 --> 00:27:09,200 Speaker 4: in the world that's happening right now has already been foretold, 470 00:27:09,840 --> 00:27:12,720 Speaker 4: and we know what the future is. So that's why 471 00:27:12,800 --> 00:27:16,959 Speaker 4: Jesus says, you have already been informed. So how we 472 00:27:17,040 --> 00:27:19,200 Speaker 4: are to live? He says in verse forty two. That's 473 00:27:19,240 --> 00:27:22,520 Speaker 4: the second thing. He says, Therefore, stay awake, for you 474 00:27:22,600 --> 00:27:24,800 Speaker 4: do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 475 00:27:25,960 --> 00:27:28,280 Speaker 4: So the call of Jesus Christ to the church in 476 00:27:28,320 --> 00:27:32,000 Speaker 4: the last leg of the last days is this, stay awake. 477 00:27:32,440 --> 00:27:34,439 Speaker 3: And get ready for the coming of the Lord. 478 00:27:35,280 --> 00:27:38,440 Speaker 4: That's why in Matthew chapter twenty five he gives them 479 00:27:38,640 --> 00:27:43,280 Speaker 4: three parables. And these three parables applied to us who 480 00:27:43,280 --> 00:27:45,520 Speaker 4: are living in this last leg of the last days. 481 00:27:45,680 --> 00:27:48,960 Speaker 4: What are these three parables? The Parables of the ten 482 00:27:49,080 --> 00:27:54,159 Speaker 4: Virgins speaks about be alert, in other words, be awakened. 483 00:27:54,320 --> 00:27:57,639 Speaker 4: The bridegroom can come any moment. Are you ready for 484 00:27:57,680 --> 00:28:00,600 Speaker 4: the coming of the Lord. The second one is the 485 00:28:00,680 --> 00:28:04,600 Speaker 4: parables of the talents. There are three servants in Matthew 486 00:28:04,680 --> 00:28:10,120 Speaker 4: chapter twenty five that received talents from their master. The 487 00:28:10,160 --> 00:28:13,080 Speaker 4: master went away for a long time, and when he 488 00:28:13,320 --> 00:28:16,800 Speaker 4: came back, he asked them only one question, what did 489 00:28:16,800 --> 00:28:20,679 Speaker 4: you do with the talents I gave you? In the 490 00:28:20,800 --> 00:28:24,280 Speaker 4: time I gave you. So listen to me carefully. What 491 00:28:24,480 --> 00:28:27,119 Speaker 4: is Jesus calling us to be. He's calling us to 492 00:28:27,160 --> 00:28:28,160 Speaker 4: be accountable. 493 00:28:28,880 --> 00:28:29,600 Speaker 3: Be on alert. 494 00:28:29,760 --> 00:28:34,080 Speaker 4: The bridegroom can come anytime. Be accountable. Live your life 495 00:28:34,080 --> 00:28:37,400 Speaker 4: as a steward of God. The third parable is the 496 00:28:37,440 --> 00:28:40,640 Speaker 4: parable of the sheep and goat. In this parable of 497 00:28:40,680 --> 00:28:43,520 Speaker 4: sheep and goat, there is a judgment of God that 498 00:28:43,560 --> 00:28:48,040 Speaker 4: takes place. He judges those who did good works, where 499 00:28:48,040 --> 00:28:50,880 Speaker 4: they met the needs of the poor, where they clothed 500 00:28:50,880 --> 00:28:53,720 Speaker 4: the naked, where they saw the people in the hospital 501 00:28:54,240 --> 00:28:57,080 Speaker 4: and cared for them. And the Bible says, what you 502 00:28:57,200 --> 00:28:59,760 Speaker 4: do to the least of the brethren, you did for me. 503 00:29:00,200 --> 00:29:03,000 Speaker 4: Jesus says, So what is it He asks us to 504 00:29:03,040 --> 00:29:06,760 Speaker 4: be active in doing good works? So listen to me carefully. 505 00:29:07,880 --> 00:29:11,760 Speaker 4: He's calling his church to be ready for the coming 506 00:29:11,840 --> 00:29:14,280 Speaker 4: of the Lord. This is how we should be thinking 507 00:29:14,280 --> 00:29:17,440 Speaker 4: about the times that we are living in. Therefore it 508 00:29:17,480 --> 00:29:22,200 Speaker 4: should dictate how we live. In summary, what is a 509 00:29:22,200 --> 00:29:26,040 Speaker 4: biblical worldview? A biblical worldview is all about putting God 510 00:29:26,320 --> 00:29:29,760 Speaker 4: into the equation of our life. So I want to 511 00:29:29,760 --> 00:29:32,600 Speaker 4: give you the five summary statements of what we just 512 00:29:32,680 --> 00:29:37,160 Speaker 4: explored the theology of the world in the world, but 513 00:29:37,280 --> 00:29:41,280 Speaker 4: not of the world. The theology of work. I should 514 00:29:41,320 --> 00:29:46,360 Speaker 4: work honorably, be not consumed by my work. But my 515 00:29:46,560 --> 00:29:49,280 Speaker 4: ultimate work is to do the will of the Father. 516 00:29:50,320 --> 00:29:54,840 Speaker 4: What is the theology of wealth, It's the stewardship theology. 517 00:29:55,000 --> 00:29:59,400 Speaker 4: God is the rightful owner and are merely as custodian. 518 00:30:00,000 --> 00:30:02,760 Speaker 4: What is the theology of welfare? I must leverage my 519 00:30:02,920 --> 00:30:05,200 Speaker 4: resources and care for the poor. 520 00:30:05,760 --> 00:30:07,800 Speaker 3: In other words, I got to learn to be generous 521 00:30:07,840 --> 00:30:08,040 Speaker 3: for the. 522 00:30:08,080 --> 00:30:12,200 Speaker 4: Kingdom of God. Hallelujah. Theology of what's to come. The 523 00:30:12,240 --> 00:30:16,360 Speaker 4: world is passing away. Jesus is coming back in glory. 524 00:30:16,800 --> 00:30:20,240 Speaker 4: Until he comes, I must be on alert and live 525 00:30:20,360 --> 00:30:24,000 Speaker 4: as a good steward. I hope that we can embrace 526 00:30:24,200 --> 00:30:28,920 Speaker 4: a biblical worldview and continue to honor God with our lives. 527 00:30:29,280 --> 00:30:31,840 Speaker 3: God bless you. Let's look to the Lord in prayer. 528 00:30:31,920 --> 00:30:34,560 Speaker 4: Heavenly Father, I pray for each and every one of us, 529 00:30:34,640 --> 00:30:38,800 Speaker 4: Mighty God, that will continue to examine the worldview from. 530 00:30:38,640 --> 00:30:39,280 Speaker 3: Which we live. 531 00:30:39,840 --> 00:30:42,360 Speaker 4: Lord, I pray that you continue to tutor our hearts, 532 00:30:42,880 --> 00:30:46,920 Speaker 4: that we will be grounded in the scriptures under the. 533 00:30:46,800 --> 00:30:48,320 Speaker 3: Lordship of Jesus Christ. 534 00:30:49,000 --> 00:30:52,920 Speaker 4: Empowered by the Holy Spirit to live a life that 535 00:30:53,080 --> 00:30:57,560 Speaker 4: pleases you and live a life that expands your kingdom 536 00:30:57,800 --> 00:31:00,600 Speaker 4: wherever we go, that we will bring the Kingdom of 537 00:31:00,640 --> 00:31:03,680 Speaker 4: God and its influence. We thank you, Lord, I pray 538 00:31:03,760 --> 00:31:06,760 Speaker 4: your blessing upon your people in Jesus' name, and people 539 00:31:06,800 --> 00:31:08,920 Speaker 4: of God said Amen and Amen. 540 00:31:09,280 --> 00:31:11,080 Speaker 3: We love you, God, bless you. 541 00:31:12,240 --> 00:31:15,120 Speaker 5: The podcast The Bible in a Year with Jack Graham 542 00:31:15,320 --> 00:31:18,680 Speaker 5: is a moving and inspiring Biblical audio experience that will 543 00:31:18,680 --> 00:31:21,760 Speaker 5: help you master wisdom from the world's greatest book. In 544 00:31:21,800 --> 00:31:25,880 Speaker 5: each episode, you'll learn to apply Biblical principles to everyday life. 545 00:31:26,440 --> 00:31:29,440 Speaker 1: Each cinematic episode is a journey through the Bible's most 546 00:31:29,520 --> 00:31:33,000 Speaker 1: profound stories that will strengthen your appreciation of the Word 547 00:31:33,280 --> 00:31:35,920 Speaker 1: and inspire you to keep learning. 548 00:31:36,520 --> 00:31:38,760 Speaker 5: Listen to The Bible in a Year with Jack Graham 549 00:31:38,840 --> 00:31:42,560 Speaker 5: on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts.