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September 15, 2020 1:00 am
People who watch lottery winners on TV often think their number will come up someday. So, they keep buying a few more tickets. However, gambling is a shortcut, bypassing honest labor. And for a Christian, it violates all God stands for.
Click here to listen (Duration 25:02)Watch watery winners on TV say someday. My number one, just by a few more tickets when gambling is a shortcut bypassing honest labor trouble is Christian violates all God stands for, from the Moody Church in Chicago this morning with Dr. Erwin looks loose clear teaching helps us make it across the finish line. Estimates are gambling is one of the seven snares of the enemy you're dealing with in our current series.
Is there a way out for people getting a fast date.
Yes of course there's a way out and that is to call on God, but also I think that people need the support of the body of Christ. They need accountability because the addiction to gamble is powerful. I've met people who are addicted and they keep telling themselves that I will win next time. But of course they don't.
And so what we have to do is to warn people don't go in that direction and you know during this time of COBIT were under a tremendous amount of economic pressure. There are people who are listening today.
I have no doubt of lost their jobs there wondering where their next dollar is coming from. They are filled with fear and I can understand that.
You know I given a lecture entitled: 19 the economy and our future can be yours, either as a DVD or a CD.
Your choice for a gift of any amount.
Here's what you do go to RTW offer.com or call us at 1-888-218-9337. Let me explain that I gave this lecture that we might have a Christian perspective of what is happening in our economy as we see uncertainty all around us. RTW offer.com call us at 1-888-218-9337 today is the last day, we are making this offer, and now we go to the pulpit of Moody church were once again we hear about the dangers and the warnings regarding gambling problem is if I might be clear here, gambling, appeals to greed is what Bill Hibel scolds the monster of the more give me more give me more.
It's the itch to be rich and that's what drives people people would never gamble just for a few dollars but as the stakes go higher, and by the way, the gambling industry knows that in order for them to keep everybody pumped they have to sometimes have such things as a Powerball lottery that will go to a couple hundred million dollars because then people just lose all sense of reality and they begin to purchase tickets by the hundreds of thousands per minute throughout the United States and they are doing that because people aren't satisfied with winning a couple million anymore has to be 250 or 290 million like one of those Powerball your friend that is contrary to everything that we find in the Scriptures and the Bible warns about the desire to be rich and you can take the message that I preach last time on greed and all of its implications, and you can put it right here under this point, could I say. Also, number four, it violates the principle of God's providence.
You see God's providence governs our lives.
We are not governed by chance by the role of the dice by the twirl of the wheel, you say well yes of course God could govern the way the dice turns out, most assuredly, in fact, some people justify gambling because in the Scriptures, they sometimes cast lots.
But let me be very clear that the casting of the lot had to do with a decision that had to be made whether it was .80 or point B. It had nothing to do with getting money that didn't belong you. I can assure you my dear friend the whole principle of chance, let me talk to you about chance for a moment. So many gamblers misunderstand this, you know they think they think that the longer they play the lottery, the better chance they have to win now. Of course if you buy more tickets in a particular lottery, you have a better chance of winning that if you buy few that certainly true, but once that drawing has been made in the next one starts. You do not have a better chance than anyone else who is just beginning spiral of gambling. Your odds are not any better. I've heard people say well you know I've been gambling now for 30 years and I figure that it should be my turn. Well, let's look at the possibility of it being your turn.
Let's look at yesterday's newspaper. Ultimately, the factor that determines whether odds are acceptable is risk versus reward chances of winning the Illinois lottery in which six winning numbers must be picked from a grade of 52 are one in 20,358,000 all also add the 520 and the odds. If you're gonna play Powerball is one in the 76 million you know God could control it so that I can win miter friend.
I hope that he doesn't let you win because you know that means somebody else loses. As a matter of fact, she couldn't possibly control it so that everybody would way and that's contrary to the whole gambling philosophy. He couldn't possibly control it so that it would be beneficial to everyone because you see the whole deal of gambling is that there are some people who give their money in order that you might be rich. They give it gladly. Do they give it as a gift.
Say all you know we is like that person in Virginia's song that were to spend $3000 on Powerball their greedy their garage but they're getting it because they want at Bible is clear that our lives are not up to you know the turn of the dice are the twirl of the wheel. We believe in God's providence in God's provision.
How can I summarize all this except to quote the verse of Proverbs chapter 12 verse 11 he who works his land will have food but catch this. Now he who chases fantasies, lacks judgment and that's what gambling is it is the chasing of fantasies. Now let's take a little bit of time and the let's look into the let's look at life through the eyes of the gambler I'm talking about now and addicted gambler and what I have to say is going applied all addictions and when we talk about alcoholism as we will next time and sexual addictions were going have to repeat some of this but also take a just a little bit further you'll never understand an addict unless you realize that his particular addiction gives him a new change. He actually begins to see things differently and it's the Moody that he wants to re-create somebody's gambling on a football game and he believes that his team is gonna win by six points.
He puts a lot of money on it because he thinks to himself, if I went just think it'll justify gambling will be able to pay my mortgage. Finally, and all the excitement that's leading to the game is his euphoria is almost like Tran for the addicted gambler. Now remember this also. At that point he begins to build all kinds of protective devices around himself so that he will not he will not have to change his lifestyle. He begins to shape the truth he begins to lie over here.
He begins to borrow because he's losing money and and yet he must at all times maintain the possibility that euphoria, the thought of going without. It is, is to him incredible and no one knows the extent and the urgency of the needed that he has for that experience.
And now we come to something very important. He begins to use you see gambling as being something that he can depend upon his friends will be there for him. His church well before therefore him. His wife load his kids long but thank God there is that model that will always be there or where there is that gambling over there is that pornography it'll always be there and he can always count on is high but has he uses these objects to satisfy him when he begins to do is to use people. The very same way that he uses those on their there to be manipulated. They are there so that they fall in line with the way in which he views the world and by now he's beginning to see all of reality with abandon lands and that's why you can't argue with him. You can but you don't get anywhere. It's because the way in which he sees the world now is permanently changed. Apart from some miraculous deliverance. He believes that no one understands him, he believes that life with all of its difficulties. His difficulties are the fault of someone else.
He believes that everyone else around them should really exist to help him to get that euphoria and that's really the purpose and the sense of fulfillment in life that he pursue now what happens. Of course, is every time he sent to this the cycle of despair comes again and again he has his euphoric experience. But then there is sadness because he loses his that or he sobers up or whatever and Andy despair is deeper and now he's already been alienated from people. But he needs there's only one thing that can help them only one thing and that is Euphoric experience again. By now his friends have cut him off so he drifts into his isolation into that trans world and he goes from the world of trance to the world of reality.
And he finds that he can go back and forth, though ultimately he spends more time in the world of euphoria than he does in the world of reality and pretty soon there's only one thing that matters only one and that is the next fix. And he's addicted you can help them with argument you can't go there. Armed with this information, and safe read this book on gambling and then you'll change the facts are irrelevant.
I was trying to think of an illustration. It would be like glasses that cut out all color all that you see is black-and-white so you course to live in the real world. You see, greens and yellows and reds you say to him. Can't you tell the difference between red and green notice. It he doesn't see it.
He doesn't see it for him. It does not exist and is world reality is shaped and skewed and it will not be changed on till on till there is radical radical deliverance house that come about what you do take your Bibles for just a moment and turned to one of the most amazing passages that Jesus gives to us.
I read the Bible of course regularly and I'm constantly amazed at how accurate the Scripture is those of you who are skeptics out there who think the Bible is in the word of God. It's an analysis of human nature is so breathtakingly at Jesus said in John chapter 8 John eight and I'm picking it up in verse 31 to the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said if you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth. Notice this and the truth will set you free. They sent him away are Abraham's descendents and have never been slaves to anyone.
How then can you say we shall be set free.
Jesus replied, I tell you the truth. Everyone who sins is a slave to send out a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever.
So if the son is the sun set you free will be free indeed.
I speak to those of you who are addicted not just to gambling but other kinds of addictions and of course there are levels of addiction.
I speak to all of us. How are we set free. First of all, were set free by the truth.
That's why the experts will say you can change a gambler, you can change an alcoholic until he bottoms out until reality sets in and he has to admit something that he has not been willing to admit all the lies that have been built around all the manipulation to get money.
All the stories all the promises to reform which is used a thousand times and of course it's never help.
What is the truth that he needs to know first of all that he is indeed a servant and not a master if you commit sin, you are the servant of sin. Servants don't wake up in the morning and say I'm going to tell the master what to do know the servant does whatever the master says if the master says drink the servant drinks of visas and gamble. The servant gambles because what he has to do is to realize that he is no longer in control. He is simply doing what his desires. Now get paid and they drive him in this world of oblivion and isolation and the moral darkness, and he has to admit that is able yeah how you get them to admit it, oftentimes all that you can do is wait and then stop being an enabler. You know, and enablers. Somebody who who lies for the alcoholic to name an enabler is somebody who who gives money to the gambler so that he can continue his gambling and and an enabler is somebody who is willing to willing to accept these people without rebuke. You see, and so you encourage them in their misbehavior. Sometimes what you have to do is withdraw lovingly and pray and ask God to bring them to the point of reality. This is a painful thing for addicts to do absolutely painful because it has to shatter all the lies and the shell in which they are living and what do they have to admit that they are hooks that they are servants and not masters that to.
Indeed, they need divine help. Seneca cried.
Oh, that I hand it would come out of heaven and deliver me from my best setting.
Sin that's the second thing they have to learn is that Jesus Christ has to now be the substitute for their addiction is a there's a very difficult what shall we say a difficult chasm for them to get over because remember that their addiction promises everything that Christ does. The reason they got into it is because because of the natural desire that all of us for help for happiness.
The natural desire that all of us have from fulfillment and and these are the things that the addiction promised you'll be rich. You'll be happy you have that euphoric experience and so all of the things that the Scripture promises are promised by the addiction, and what he needs to know is to say realize that all those promises are flawed and they are lies.
As a matter of fact, forever euphoric experience. There are going to be hallows and trips to despair they need to understand and open their lives to the one who is able to Christ who now becomes the substitute Christ, who is able to forgive them, so that that Shane can you imagine the shame.
That's why it's so secretive it's so that so that Shane is taken away and that he can speak you clean any can say thou art forgiven and if the blood of bulls and of goats on the ashes of a heifer sprinkling to the unclean sanctified to the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God is consciences plan. I urge you, those of you who are bound to come to Christ you say will Pastor Luther yeah but I'm so bound. I don't know that I can comment bound, but come you don't have to clean yourself up before you come to Jesus you have to say no to the bottle before you come to Jesus you have to say no to gambling before you come to Jesus you come as a gambler you come as an alcoholic but you, because if the son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed. There is a hand from heaven that is come after that. Of course what is necessary is accountability because the temptations will come again and again and again. And when that desire arises.
Somebody has to be there for you who say no you do not have this and then of course there is acceptance of a whole new lifestyle, the acceptance of debt plan has to be worked out whereby the money that is been gambled away and the debts that have been incurred somehow need to be paid in and you need help for somebody to work you through the process because that's actually going to be the means, then, by which you finally understand and accept your new way of life is save it Pastor Luther it is so so hard so far, the burden that you are just just for some people, the very thought of leaving this world behind with its mood swings and its euphoria very thought of saying no to it and saying yes to Jesus is difficult, but don't let the difficulty stop you from coming to the one who can make you free. Indeed, the Scripture says I find it very ironic that some time ago, in our newspapers. As you well know, this was national news.
Great sort a group of senior citizens. The bus overturned on the way to a casino. Remember the story I think over 20 were killed and the headline in the newspaper that we are getting at our home these days, said this gambling bus overturns.
As I looked at that I thought will hear 22 people who did not know they thought they were on their way to the casino.
They did not know that they were on their way to eternity it done in me. I said I wonder how many of them since their gamblers on how many of them were gambling with their soul's Jesus said on one occasion, what shall it profit you. He says if you gain the world lose your own. Imagine winning the Powerball lottery.
What was it $295 million, but at some point, your bus is going to overturn if the bus is going to get your cancers going to get you and if it's not cancer it's going to be heart disease and is not hard to believe is going to be tuberculosis or you live in Chicago, somebody's gonna shoot you sums that I have been I don't know if that was funny or not it again.
The world lose your own soul of what profit is what profit is. Jesus said if the sun shall make you free, shall be free indeed.
There are some of you listening to this message, you need to pray that you also need to go to somebody you need to go to those from whom you have been hiding this addiction to whom you have a lie. You need to be so desperate that you come out from under the shadows and you come to the one who is able to forgive you and cleanse you and the people of God are able to help you decide what it's time for you to walk on a new path because your view of reality has been so skewed, you have to accept truth.
Truth truth of the world the truth of Christ, I urge you to come to him and if you will let us pray father as we look out over the congregation. Only you know the people to whom this message was specifically targeted because we don't know who those are who buy lottery tickets who are involved in casinos or 100 different other forms of gambling gambling on the Internet and many of whom are racking up debts and some of whom have one something and it's only made their plunge into gambling greater pray today that you will help your people to come clean and for those who do not know Christ as Savior, father living in their despair and their shame and loneliness may they come to him that they too might be set free, and that Jesus might be the replacement for their gambling habit. How you talk to God in whatever way in which he is talk to you, whatever you talk to you about you talk to him right now. Other please set your people free from the snares. Please Lord, we ask, because we know the despair in the loneliness we talk to them. We know the devastation family.
We know the depths. God help us, we pray, Jesus name this is Pastor Luther and yes if I had time I could tell you many stories of war gambling has led to deceit logging in to poverty.
You know today's the last day that we are offering a lecture I gave entitled covert, 19 the economy and our future. Let me explain the reason for this lecture is that we might have a Christian perspective of what is happening around us.
As a matter fact, the subtitle is five economic effects that I believe will continue as a result of what we've been through love for you to have this. I think it will be an encouragement and it will put us back in the Scriptures to help us to understand all that is going on here is what you can do.
Go to RTW offer.com let me get that to you again.
RT W offer.com or call us at 1-888-218-9337 ask for Colby. 19 the economy and our future.
Thanks in advance for your gift for your prayers because together we are making a difference. We are committed to helping Christians make it successfully all the way to the finish line.
You can write to is running to win 1635 N. LaSalle Boulevard Chicago, IL 60614 drunk drivers every day things will more of our kids alcohol it's tolerated drug alcohol abuse is costing society billions in lost productivity loss relationships and lost by and all too many Christians miss use what they feel is their freedom to drink by drinking one too many.
Next time I'm running to win the unvarnished truth about alcoholism quitting tomorrow. Thanks for listening for Dr. Erwin looks her, this is Dave McAllister running to win is sponsored by the Moody Church