TH141106/So What?

Harvest messages are brought to you by harvest partners receive free email daily devotions were to become a harvest partner, please visit us online@harvest.org. The title of my message tonight is so what I know that sounds like a cynical title but it actually isn't because the subtitle is how the return of Jesus should affect us in day-to-day living. So what so what are we supposed to do. So what are we supposed to think so how are we supposed to behave in light of this great truth that Christ is coming back again.

That's what were going to talk about. So let's start with the prayer father, we thank you for the clarity of Scripture, the timelessness of your word. The power and the authority of it in the complete relevance to what were facing a life will speak to us as we look in your word together for we ask it in Jesus name and met about a guy was driving through Oklahoma and he sought sign in front of a house that really got his attention.

The sign said talking dog for sale. As I I have to check this out till he pulls his car over and gets out and goes up to the many sit near the front porch in 20 like to see your talking dog and cases guys over there in the backyard is over there so you want Dragon here's a lavatory just sitting there in the backyard and so the man asked so you taught the doctors yet and that this is a true story about the way so the master will watch what your story in the lives as well.

Actually I been able to talk since have been very young in I wanted to help the government so I hooked up with the CIA and it did a lot of work for them. Jetting from country to country, you know, sitting in room for people were talking.

They never thought a dog could understand the much less talk and repeat the information so I did that for many years. Leno started to wear me out all the traveling so I decided I needed a job with less stress.

So I worked security in the airport not go over to suspicious characters eavesdrop in their conversations and so forth. But I finally retired. He got married, you know, had some puppies with my wife and not just just kinda kicking back a little bit with this guy just blown away.

He couldn't believe what he just heard. He runs back to the owner. He said sir how much do you want for the talking dog commences them for $10-$10.

Why would you sell them so cheap. The guy says he's a liar.

He never did any of that stuff. Talk about missing the point. Beats know sometimes I think we missed the point when it comes to church, let me explain. Do we really get what church is supposed to be uniting some people sort of think of church like a movie theater right you have your seat and then you take your seat then you know you watch the trailers then and maybe you talk and admit you get in the later whatever, and but you know you watch the film you're there to be entertained and and then the movies over new leave and that's going to a movie theater. There's a lot of things that irritate me about people in movie theaters. By the way, one of these irritate you people that bring in five course meals. None of talking about they bring all this through their life is like really are people that are checking their cell phone constantly and you know how bright it is in the dark theater or you know people that talk during the film will anyway.

I think sometimes people come to church, that we sort of that mentality like okay entertaining impress me do something for me but that is not why the church exists and this is why a lot of us miss out on all the church can be.

The church is three basic purposes were here for three reasons. The glorification of God the edification of the saints. The evangelization of the world.

So were here to glorify God to build up one another. The edification of the saints in the evangelization of the world are a simpler way to put it up toward inward and outward. So if you're taking notes it's there up on the screen up toward inward and outward were here to honor the Lord upward inward building up one another and outward. Taking this message out to others. So the SU is that why you're here tonight are you here to glorify the Lord. That's why we worship. That's the purpose of worship. The praise band is not the warm-up act. That's prayer set the song so you know when we come late to worship.

And I know you guys working and you can always get here in time and understand that and appreciate you all coming on the Thursday night but sometimes maybe we we take our sweet time and and even when the worship band is that their plan would just kind of you know check in our are you know emails or texting friends or whatever, and when the second work frame would you do that while we were in prayer. I hope not. Maybe some would even do it that with the ideas. This is what were honoring the Lord were effectively fulfilling the purpose for which God created us know we don't only worship God and sons are many ways we worship him, but it certainly one of the ways do you engage during the worship so I don't know the words. Well, that's why we put them up on the screen so you'll see those words and you'll sing those words and this is great when these songs get embedded in your mind and you find yourself singing them through the day or you wake up in the middle of the night. One of those worship songs is going through your mind when her to glorify God. What about the edification of the same. See, this is a part of the church work were not just here to be ministered to what we say. What can I do how can I help others. I been so blessed. How can I serve what you need some help around here in Sunday school and are serene in counseling or is there some other need, then I would like to. That's the edification of the saints, building up one another.

Realizing this simple truth. It's not about you, but I come to church and it's all about me what you gonna do for me are you gonna bless me know and I can miss out. But Jesus said the Son of Man did not come to be served. What he came to serve and I think we come saying how can I be used of God to help others. The whole paradigm can change and then thirdly, we are for the evangelization of the world to get the gospel out. You know my job as your pastor is to teach you the word of God gets to declare you the whole counsel of God.

But that's not all.

The church is not merely a classroom. Other church is a place we get armed for battle to using because in Ephesians 4 it says that God is raised. The pastor teachers evangelist for the equipping of the saints for the work of the ministry so my job is to help you to do your job, which is the garden to the world and fulfill the great commission. So it's not just about learning data and hearing information is a place for that, but it's about finding out how we can be used by God, I'm here to feed you to equip you and challenge you to serve God in change our world. No one would bring this all up for the simple reason you/Jesus Christ is coming back again. How many of you believe that, okay so what, there's a message title. So what okay Christ is coming back again. So what am I supposed to do well for starters I'm supposed to be an active functioning part of the church.

Hebrews 1022 says let's hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm for God to be trusted to keep his promise.

Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.

And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. So let me listen, paraphrase, in light of the fact that Christ could come back at any moment we need to be in the church, encouraging one another motivating one another and listen if one of us is overtaken in a fault, we need to go and try to rescue those people.

Of course all know the Bible says in someone's overtaken in a bald exposure to as many people as possible and kick him to the curb right the way some people like to think that's what the Bible does say we know what Scripture actually says I is if Galatians 61 for someone is overtaken in a fault, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of meekness. So our job is to confront when necessary, and restore not hunt down and destroy. I've a friend who's a dermatologist and he specializes in treating skin cancer and so he was in the store the other day and he saw someone that had what appeared to him to be in. He would know a malignant melanoma that you know melanoma is a very serious form of skin cancer and can be deadly and so he didn't want to go and tell this person the company once in high, excuse me, but I'm a dermatologist.

My specializes in I believe on your cheek.

You have a malignant melanoma.

They were angry about shopping you leave that trip on me. But wait a second that's what he does he he's a doctor. He wants to save their life. But he had big you don't bring this topic up to a total stranger and they kinda got offended and walked away and and you want to give McCarty want to help them but see the whole point is sometimes before we can restore person we have to confront a person we have to see Haman I got to just tell you know you say you're a Christian here's what the Bible says in your life is in lining up with that and they were toward the men don't judge me in this age but you know the Bible tells us that we are to help one another and build up one another and I want to help you.

You know, so this is what we are to do this is the whole purpose of the church exist to get to me back to that passage. Let's think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works, or how are you doing in that regard is a question what is everybody attended church the way you attend one of every Christian was just like you. Every Christian was just like me. We would like me a lot less hair product in the world.

Let me think about life would be so much simpler. You know how long it takes me to get ready and more integral. Okay, let's go so we have a church of all people, a program that was like people what everyone was like you, you know. Would services be attended faithfully would use the empty or full. What if everyone prayed like you pray, would we be a praying church. One of everyone worship like you would we be a worshiping church or would we be a silent church.

What if everybody evangelized as often as you evangelized.

Would we be a church reaching the lost culture. What if everybody game is faithfully of their finances as you give what we have a church that had the needs met, or would they be neglected.

You see, the church is made up of all of us together and we either contribute to its strength and growth or to its weakness and decline with every one of us plays a role in the church story is full from history of the King of Sparta. He was boasting to a visitor about the walls of Sparta. The visitor looked around and couldn't see any walls at all and the Spartan King told us just using an Sparta everyman is a brick and pointing to the Army. He said these are the walls of Sparta. And that's true of the church. Every believer is a brick or as the Bible says were living stone to the great theologians Pink Floyd reminded us all and all, you're just another brick in the wall. Yeah. So we are were brick were a stone, we play a part in the church, so we should not be spectators. We should be participants in this is what can make the difference between church being life altering for you and just another thing that you do this, when you have time and we can work it in and you just can a check in and check out early and in your in a passive spectator mode.

The church is one thing, I mean, will do you some good. Still, but then you come and say no I'm I want to be in the game. I want to be involved. I want to serve.

I want to glorify God. I want to play a role in this church minute will make all the difference in the world. Pres. Theodore Roosevelt said years ago. Quote is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or the doer of deeds could have done better now since Roosevelt. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who wears and comes up short again and again because there is no effort without error or shortcoming" so in the same way the credit goes to the believer that's in the arena that doesn't just talk about it, but the believer is doing that you know some Christians are setting the world on fire while others are still looking for a match or coming up with excuses as to why it can't be done so we all have a role to play in order to our church is at a critical juncture right now is Pastor Mike was reminding us and we watched the Lord bless you I will course, been ministering in Orange County for years.

I did the Monday night Bible study at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa for at least 14 years and I and I don't think I'm exaggerating all at all when we would look back and say we probably saw some 30,000 people make a profession of faith over those years is amazing. Okay, that was kind of a long time ago I saw people come up to be a safe place to go to your Monday study and some people even sick.

I go to your Monday study Done that for a long time. So clearly you've not been out for a while and I was a great time but back in 2009 we felt specifically led by the Lord to come and plant a church year and since this church is been planted since 2009 we've seen about 4500 people come to Christ and you know it, folks. That's great for the party for listen were just getting started. What is getting started.

How many of you believe God wants to move in this area mightily. Okay, we don't have to live in the past and they all want those great days. 40 years ago. Hey, they were great days.

But what about today and what about tomorrow. I believe God can and will work and that's what we are moving forward in this old new plan with this new building and it was about a building who cares about building just a warehouse were building out you know so will we invest in that financially investing in a warehouse you're not investing in the building you're investing in a life. See that's true of all of us were more involved in the church were a part of seeing lives change for time and eternity.

Well, you know people say things and now I don't know I'm so over the church. I can hate the expression when anyone says there over anything. I'm so over people saying there over things so over that time. Especially so over people that say I'm so over the church really seriously, what would this world be without the church, what would this country be without the church I mean where do people turn on crisis kit when a marriage is unraveling. When you're having problems with your kids of income to the church. Trust me, we see them all week long, where people go when a loved one dies, especially about was unexpectedly they come to the church where they want the service to be done for that level. And even if they didn't attend church.

All they wanted done in the church when her child is having struggles maybe with addiction your teenage order they go they go to the church for help wanted to meet your husband or wife. Good chance you met them at the church 40 want to get married. I'll probably at the church. And that's good. We are here to serve you. We were rushing to go the YMCA. The gym this the mall retail therapy or does it every time will it talk about the bar for your troubles out to the bartender all the movie theater that'll solvency a good film. The movies can help you.

The bartenders can help you real good teacher can help you, but the church can and God has raised up the church wasn't, it's the only organization Jesus ever started. I'll never get over the church will grade you must live in a dream world as a church is full of hypocrites. You don't think I know that I know there's hypocrites in the church. There's no such thing as a hypocrite free church and if there was, if you join did give Reckitt but just because were still works in progress doesn't mean that God is not raise this wonderful thing called the church up. Listen, you need the church and the church needs you because were part of a family business. One of the problems with church hopping Lotta people like to do that. I like to go to law to churches ago to this church in the morning.

This church Sunday night and then sometimes it church next Sunday morning and entered the room when the next Sunday morning and sometimes I'll just watch them on TV and they think that's a great thing like there so mature they got all these churches actually that's a bad thing. I think you'd be surprised another most pastors would agree with me on this. I mean if someone's coming to our church emerges one of the church as they visit you know what I say to them is here walking budget came but you need to look into a single church and be a part of that church wife because first of all you need to consistent theology, number two, you need a pastor, number three, you need a body of believers, we are accountable who will help you and build you up and call you out of your crossing the line.

You know some people I think they don't want to walk as they ought to walk as a believer so they figure they keep moving. No one will know that's a way for them to avoid that. You need to be in a place where you can contribute with your gifts that God is giving you you need a place to serve. You need a place to give. We all need to be a part of the church looking out. With that in mind, let's look now at the words of Jesus in Matthew 25.

This is a parable that he told me in order parable is right parables a story. It's an illustration it's been defined as an earthly story with a heavenly meaning so to make this point Jesus would tell a story well of a good story. Don't wait.

We remember stories Jesus illustrated his messages a lot and told stories to bring the point home. So Matthew 25 is one of those stories showing us how we are to live as we wait for the Lord's return.

Matthew 2530 verse 14 and him and read from the new living translation.

Jesus is again the kingdom of heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a trip he called together his servants, and give the money to invest for him while he was gone he gave five bags of gold one, two bags of gold to another. One bag of gold to the lost divided to the last brother dividing it in proportion to their abilities.

Then he left on his trip. This revenue received by bags of gold began immediately to invest the money and he soon doubled the server with two bags of gold went right to work and doubled the money but the servant will receive the one bag of gold dug a hole in the ground and get the Masters money for safekeeping. After a long time. Their master return from his trip and he called them to give an account and how they use their money and the servitude whom he entrusted the five bags of gold said Sir, give me by bags of gold to invest and I doubled the amount the master was full of praise will done my good and faithful servant. You been peacefully in handling the small amount now will give you many more responsibilities let's celebrate together. Next comes a servant received two bags of gold where the reports are beginning to bags of gold will invest and I doubled the amount the master said well done good and faithful servant. You been faithful in handling the small amount now give you more responsibilities. Let's celebrate together. Then the servant with one bag of gold came and said Sir I know you're a hard man harvesting crops you didn't planning gathering crops you didn't cultivate. I was afraid I would lose your money so I hit it in the earth. And here it is bolted out of the ground. Worms coming out of it. That's my commentary by the way that the text but the master replied, you wicked and lazy servant, you think I'm a hard man, do you harvesting crops.

I didn't plan the gathering crops. I didn't cultivate well at least you should've put my money in the bank so I could obtain some interest.

Take the money from that servant given to the one who was 10 bags of gold. Now here's the conclusion Jesus always comes to a conclusion to those who use well what they're given even more will be given and I'll have an abundance but from those were indeed full even what little they Will be taken away stop there. Alright so in this parable. Each person is given a different amount to invest verse 15 gave five bags of gold one to bags and go do another one bag of gold of the laws dividing it in proportion to their abilities and then the left on his trip so this master did not give them his money to keep, but to invest even say here. This is yours now. It was still here.

He said invest my money. Not everyone was given equal amounts in the same way. We don't have equal abilities. You know it's not how much you have that matters to God is what you do with what you have that matters to God. Some of us are what we might describe as a five bag person you know we we have a lot of advantages in life. Some may be up you know one person that doesn't matter what. What matters is what you do with the opportunities that are given to you were not all dealt the same hand, if you will, at birth, you know, some are born into wealth. Some are not. Some are born perfectly healthy. Others are not. Some are born into intact homes, other are born, others are born and a broken home.

So again were not dealt the same hand but each of us has a God-given opportunity to play the cards we been dulled for the glory of God and the good of others. We say that again everyone of us is a God given opportunity to play the cards you've been dealt for the glory of God and the good of others will do this for Skype.

You could hardly wait to show the master what he had done.

Verse 20 about 225 the one that he gave five bags of gold. I gave I doubled what you gave me so is Masters very pleased with how well done on the second I did was also heat. He took with the master given doubled it, but this third kind and he's just pathetic. He didn't really do anything with what the master gave him enough the first two servants brought forth effort. The servant brought forth an excuse in the third category says well I know you're a hard man harvesting crops you didn't plant gathering crops you didn't cultivate. I was afraid I would lose your money so I hit him in the here and here it is said of loveliness master like the other two axons at this guy resented his master. He actually blames his boss for his own shortcomings and sometimes people are that way with God will so we know God is just not fair way. My life turned out. It's unfair they had you dealt me and I'm mad at you I'm angry at you because you are always out to get me when faulty view of God.

Maybe it's true. God's always been out to get you but he's been out to get you in the same way that the father was out to get the prodigal son he wanted to get to them and throw his arms around him and Seamus love, but maybe you have a concept of God as is someone who is out to ruin your life to to spoil your fun, etc., nothing could be further from the truth. The problem with this third guy. He was just lazy my friend James Merritt summed it up this way and spoke here a few weeks ago. He said this quote instead of doing the possible he's attempting the impossible.

He's trying to defend the indefensible. That's because there's no excuse there's no defense for refusing to seize an opportunity to take responsibility to use any ability for the glory of God." Was Benjamin Franklin who said my quote now. I found the people were bested making excuses are not much good at doing anything else under some people are just crazy excuse makers, or this is why it didn't happen in the always have their excuses and then there are those people that just go out there jetted done. You see this guy was offering an excuse or to be blunt, it really was a lie. Now here's an interesting thing.

The ancient Roman empire had a banking system not unlike what we have today. The interest earned on deposits back then was around 6%, which is a bad and so this guy couldn't just put it in the bank and earn 6% instead he buries it in the ground. Can a person takes money and buries it in the crown chair read a little news article the other day about a Sierra Nevada couple who dug up $10 million worth of 19th-century gold coins stuffed in the rusty cans turned out that the original owner of them took all of this money and put it in cans and buried it in their yard. They thought that was the best place to keep it. That was a bad decision and we can do the same thing we can take a gift that God gives to us and we can just bury it can use that gift of nothing to develop that gift, I'm gonna cultivate that gift. But think about this. There is three things that God is given to every believer to use a lot. Three things they are time, talent and treasure.

We all have we have time we have talent and we have treasure awarded take those things and use them for the glory of God. So how are you using so look at how the master deals with this one irresponsible servant of verse 28. Excuse me, he says take the money away from the servant given to the one with the 10 bags of gold to those who use well with their given even more will be given in the have an abundance but from those who are unfaithful, even what little they have will be taken away.

Interesting in God's kingdom.

The redistribution of wealth is a different meaning doesn't just take it from the guy was alive and given to the guy who doesn't have anything in this story. It's taken from the guy who didn't do anything with what he was given, and give it to them in with faithful with what the Lord gave him so maybe we need to be thinking about God would God is given to us is, as I said, he's given to us gifts when you become a Christian US God to fill you with the Holy Spirit.

The Bible promises that he gives gifts of the spirit to Christians that Romans 12 says we have different gifts, according to the grace that's given what's up. Your gift is prophesying the prophesy according to your proportion of faith that your gift is serving, then Sir, if your gift is teaching then teach if your gift is encouraging. Then encourage if it's contributing to the needs of others in give generously of its leadership then govern diligently if it's showing mercy to it cheerfully. We have different gifts, not according to our merit about us as we been many, are one body in Christ, having then gifts differing from each other. According to the grace that is given to us. So God gives you these gifts, but the kids don't come fully developed you up to take that gift and development of the passing of time. I share this story before but I only have four stories all recycle. I always wanted to be a graphic artist, a cartoonist and I love the Disney films when I was a kid growing up in so I really wanted to be an animator and so one day my mom who had a lot of husbands or boyfriends between brought a home guy up front home guy brought a guy home home guy is like a homeboy Woody's own God. So she brought a guy home there was an actual living breathing animator for Disney. I didn't believe it. I said prove it pulls out a pencil draws a flawless Mickey Mouse or Donald Duck.

I can't recall. Then he said to me Greg if you will take this pencil in go away and go to bed now and put the pencil under your pillow when you wake up in the morning you'll be able to draw like me while I believed it says there was $30 for you so I grabbed the little pencil in my mind the magical pencil. I went to bed so excited I can hardly sleep when I wake up strong to be able to get Disney animator and and I woke up the next one pulled the pencil out and sure enough I do the same. Where do the day before because there's no such thing as a magic pencil. Looking back in retrospect, I think that they just want to be with my mom but sometimes that's all we want to give to come to us to fully develop know God will give you a gift now you take to get any development through use. It's even that talent can be compared to at the gifts and talents are different in many ways but maybe you have a musical ability, but you get good at what you do. Through practice update these musicians they practice. They work hard at what they do and if you have a gift in another area you work at that one on the same way God gives you these gifts of the spirit so you develop them, and sometimes one of the best ways to find out which are called to do this by just volunteering to do step I discovered what I was gifted to do through process of elimination. Speaking of music back in the early days of Calvary Chapel. Everybody was forming bends back to Dan's reforming left and right, and clean the church that night so I was in Rome with a bunch of people in a home Bible study and one guy was a gifted singer-songwriter type and another guy was an amazing flautist isn't the right to play the flute flautist and and so that they were working on a song I would just sit there at the Bible study so I started counting on the tabletop unit and they said let's form a band even had a name and grade you will be the percussionist I said yeah and then we showed up at church would like to play.

Then I go ahead and I don't know why they let us do this. We walked up there and I'm standing there with a conga drum and I realize I have no musical skills at all. Why am I doing this. Everybody owes to play their instruments and I'm playing I'm not in the right rhythm. It was a humiliating moment.

I still wake up in the middle of the night, not cold sweat Nido I'm still looking for that magical pencil here's the thing that was on my Sometimes it's in all do that.

All I really benefit okay I will do that.

But then as you find it, which are not good at sometimes that sort of narrows it down to what you are good at and you're surprised to find God's gift to do in an area you never expected to be gifted in and so that's why we need to just get out there and do what we can do. Here's what the Bible says.

First Timothy 16 stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of hands, stirred up Dorchester means to fan into full flying.

It's like when you go camping you know you want to build that fire and when you're done camping you extinguish the fire. The promise some of us are extinguishing the fire. We are to be building because the Bible also warns to not quench the Spirit. And that word quench could be translated extinguish it or don't extinguish the work of the spirit.

Don't take a gift that God has given you and buried in the ground like a foolish servant God has given you certain caps may be overburdened for lost people maybe are called to be an evangelist. You don't have to have a pulpit to be an evangelist you notice, to preach in the stadium to be an evangelist. Some of the best evangelists I've ever seen God one on one and share the gospel with people when I'm around them. I'm in awe of their abilities to regrade our June evangelist yeah but there are different kind of evangelist and I and they have abilities that I don't have an CIF to push a pulpit around everywhere now and wheels its rear Nido.

My point is that some people are then kept one on one. I've watched it.

Then again, maybe your gifting is different. You might find that that you always see things that need to be fixed and things that that need to be corrected. So maybe you have the gift of complaining know you have the gift of helps give her her executive the gift of helps me to see a problem and you fix the problem of evil, so I'll think this is right about trek estate will get what we can do to fix it you have any ideas with problems coming with some ideas in light of the changes that will let's do that back window to do that.

All I just kind of like to complain more than actually you might be one of those detail people. John not a detail person.

Everyone that knows me knows I'm not a detail person, but there are people who are detail people and thank God for them through the minutia of their into that deed. The smallest good.

We need those people to maybe you like to encourage people you like to encourage people to reach their potential. Maybe you have the gift of exhortation to maybe like to take people in your home and feed them and bless them that's the gift of hospitality. Guess what, that's a real spiritual gift.

I know people that have it when I go over there home and they just have a way of making you so comfortable and they take care of you and your refreshed in every way. After spending time with them. That's a real spiritual gift feel people are taught what we have at your the gift of tongues. You have the gift of prophecy.

Those are gives to what about the gift of helps. What about the gift of hospitality.

What about the gift of exhortation the role OF the spirit that God gives. And guess what you've got some of those in your life. So what are your gifts water no more than it's time to start finding and just start volunteering and seeing what God will do in your life. Sometimes someone else can help you identify your gift better than you can identify yourself become a seat like I think you have a gift in the certain old not be know will into the think you know maybe they're right, Leonard Bernstein, you're probably hurting him famous composer and conductor was one staff what is the most difficult instrument to play in the orchestra's answer was surprising. He said second fiddle. He said I get plenty of first violinists, but to find someone to play second violin with as much as enthusiasm or second French horn or second flute that is a problem she would be them.

The person in the spotlight. I want to be the lead guitarist. I don't want to be the rhythm guitarist. I want to be this guy. Not that type will competently just be the guy of the girl that God calls us to inevitably just be faithful in the little things because if you're faithful in the little things, God will give you greater opportunities right so these folks that were faithful with the bags of gold and multiplied the more was given the know they have enough Takeaway no no more was given because they show their faithful with opportunities and resources Lords is on an open more doors for the person that hordes and hold onto it up. That's a minute I'm taken away majority characters you're not using what I gave you everyone had an ability. God does not expect the same results from every person, but he does expect the same, effortless, and God isn't comparing with you. She is not doesn't compare you with anybody else. He compares you with you. This is all about you just reaching your potential or not competing one with another. I am not your opponent you're not my opponent my opponents.

If you will of the world the flesh and the devil. I'm not trying to beat anybody.

I'm not trying to beat some other pastor or church is nurtured out. If you know you went okay so shut up.

Who cares let's just do it for the glory of God. You know not who has the biggest one who has hey let's just be faithful with what the Lord is given to us and run our race well and remember who the real enemy is notice. Jesus calls the unproductive servant lazy and wicked.

It can be a sin to not use what God has given them repeat that it can be a sin to not use what God is giving you sadder understand that well it's a sin of omission see a sin of commission is knowing what's wrong in not doing it Tuesday. It's it's doing what is wrong.

That's a sin of commission. I know this is wrong, but I do it anyway but a sin of omission is knowing what's right and I don't do it in the Bible says to him that knows to do good and does not do it to him it is sin see your blessed to be a blessing.

So the Lord might be nudging you to take a little step of faith may be shown you at your work in other some other Christians there. He's been nudging the one that you start little Bible study with your coworkers To have one or not a Bible scholar will you have to be a Bible scholar delete little Bible study. You can do is read a few verses and Cheryl got shown you and them and do some preparation before you get a Y could never do it. Why don't you dig a little step of faith and see what the Lord will tell you don't know what God has in store for you but to blow this off can actually be a sinful thing we want to find our place in the church.

We want to be faithful serving the Lord, until Christ comes again, you don't. Sometimes people study Bible prophecy almost as a form of entertainment W do all the latest information and get all excited about it and sort of miss the point. All their might be a war breaking on the Middle East will wait no were not supposed to get excited about wars in the Middle East, Jesus is coming, people get die in the war so is key perspective. Let's not be thrilled at how old are during an earthquake. We John will signs of the times you have with the second.

Let's have a little compassion for people that are suffering to and is not just about exciting that's it's about that penis in the way that we live as followers of Christ, so that's the focus of this parable as it's been said earlier tonight. We all want to find our place in the church and we all want to have skin in the game, you know, no one had more skin in the game to use that expression than Jesus Christ or destroy the little boy that was very scared one night because it was a lightning storm happening and he called out to his dad. Dad. I'm scared, to my room, brothers and son.

I am trying to sleep. This God is with you. You be okay Jesus is with you little boy pause for moments at dad.

I need someone with skin on right now.

That's who Jesus was. He was with him. He was God with skin on and he walked among us and showed the father's love for us and his love for us by going to the cross and dying in our place because he loves each one and ask you were told in the Bible that husband should love their wife as Christ loves the church when we come back to the church one last time before we wrap this up.

You want to get on my bad side insult my wife were not you and me were not to be friends much longer because I love my wife so don't diss my wife okay the same way when he insult God. This is brought loses brine euros drive. I'm his bride, where he is brought to mute measures and I don't want to be a bride. General read your bride. You're the bride of Christ, Noah's church is not perfect. Noah's church is not flawless, but he loves his church and he died for us and not just the church but he died for the whole world and that's because of his love and I wonder if there's not some you here tonight that come with your troubles to not talk about where people go where that when they have difficulties in life. They go to the church to me.

Were you going to go in in the bartenders and I can help you drugs and can help you. Alcohol is not going to help you in your fitness regime is not can I help you, your wardrobe is not can I help you, your cool cars not going to help you look your house is not going to help you.

Your education isn't going to fix it. Your friends are going to fix everything you walked out on you already. So here you are church feeling pretty bad. I think you should feel pretty good because you just came to the right place. I want you to think of this as the emergency ward, there were here to help you, the church, as I've said many times is not a museum for St. it's a hospital for sinners in this church is here to help people who are in trouble. As I said earlier, if someone's overtaken in a fault. Our job is not to kick you to the curb. It's to lift you up and help you get on your feet spiritually again to get right with God and if you don't know God. Yet we want to tell you how to come to Christ because this hospital is one thing. No other hospital does this hospital. People get raised from the dead.

Here by that I mean there brought to spiritual life is no hospital. I can do that but in God's church. It happens every day and every night.

I don't just mean this church honey churches all around the world doing the work of God. But we do it in this church to recall people to believe in Jesus and of their sins forgiven and have their eternal address changed and, to a personal relationship with God is a need to happen for you maybe were brought by a friend maybe didn't really want to come here you are, I'm telling you right now that God can change your life in Christ can forgive you of your sin and listen to this. He can take that guilt away that guilt that keeps you up at night that guilt that drives you crazy, the guilt is just the symptom of the deeper problem. The guilt is not the problem.

The sin is the problem. It's like having a payment going to a doctor and he treats the problem and then the symptom goes away the guilt is just saying you have trouble so get the trouble fixed nets by coming the Garden City Lord.

I'm sorry that I've broken your commandments and I've fallen short of your glory and I ask you to forgive me now and I need Jesus. If you do that. He'll forgive you and give you a fresh start in life. Jesus said, he that would come to me I would in no way cast out she'll forgive you and accept you to pray now, to give you an opportunity to pray and ask Christ to come into your life will talked our heads. Father I pray for everyone here and folks that are listening and watching this well. We need to help them to see their new her spiritual need is so real help them become to you now, we would pray what I have is about and her eyes are closed were praying.

How many of you would say that I Greg I want Jesus Christ to come in the my life. I want my sins forgiven. I want to know that when I die I will go to heaven. I want my guilt taken away. I want a fresh start in life. Pray for me that your desire. If you want Jesus to come into your life and forgive you of your sin if you want to be ready for his return would you raise your hand up right now and let me pray for you wherever you are is raise your hand up in a pray for you tonight publish that the department can see it. Please, bless, bless each one of you raising your hand. Anybody else need to get right with God tonight. You need Christ in your life tonight. Raise your hand up a pray for you, bless you. Anybody else raise your hand. Now, bless you there in the back, bless you what helped heads are still valid. Maybe some of you would say hey you know, I know what it means to follow Jesus part of gotten caught up in the things of this world have done things.

No Christian should ever do come ready to get right with God.

I need to be restored tonight need to come back to the Lord tonight.

Would you pray for me that surely would you raise your hand up when we pray for you right now need to return to Jesus Christ. Richard can God bless each one of you, and ask everyone to be that of raise your hand if you would please I want you to stand your feet and him and lead you in a prayer, a prayer of commitment you the razor can stand your feet wherever you are. Even if you did not razor can, but you want to make this commitment or recommitment to Christ.

Stand your fee right now we pray together: standup others are standing by the way, you will below standup if you mean the jewels them. If you don't give enough to end the pressure to stated you want to take the steps stand out more. Pray together, bless you. Anybody else might be a few more need to make this commitment or recommitment to Christ stand up you're among friends and family. Don't be embarrassed away one more moment publish anybody else in your feet publish you to you anybody else stand out. God bless you with a couple more moments stand now, bless each one of you and anyone else stand right you that understand and I want you to pray this prayer out loud after me right we used in pray this prayer out loud after me. Okay, pray this after me now Lord Jesus, I know I'm a sinner but I know you're a Savior, and I ask you to forgive me of my sin. I turn from it now and I choose to follow you from this moment forward as Savior and Lord as God and friend in Jesus name I pray