Is the Bible Enough?

So when we say the Bible is enough. What we mean by that stage for the line of fire with your host activist and author, international speaker and theologian Dr. Michael Brown your voice of moral cultural and spiritual revolution Michael Brown is the director of the coalition of conscience and president of fire school of ministry get into the line of fire now by calling 866-34-TRUTH 866-34-TRUTH here again is Dr. Michael Brown friends. This is Michael Brown coming your way, live from Little Rock, Arkansas and some wonderful ministry at agape church with Dr. Scott Stewart yesterday to radio now interview with Scott after that for his podcast and then fly back home soulful minds are open 866-34-TRUTH 866-34-TRUTH 87884.

I want to talk about some important sociological issues today and do our best to get clarity on what can be a misunderstood subject but I will open the phone lines to any saying you want to talk to me about that ties in with the line of our broadcast so 866-34-TRUTH. The source is appropriate for Christian radio. Give me a call. Also, I'll always put it out. You can never fault me for not putting this out enough critics are welcome to call those who differ with me are welcome to call those who believe I'm wrong on certain doctrinal points theological points.

Political points by all means call is Dr. Brown you do that all the time. They virtually never call correct can say we don't open the door and give the opportunity, I may weigh in on a few political things that are happening around us, but as you know I'm not commenting every day on the Trump impeachment hearings in the rightness and wrongness of what's happening. A lot of this is gonna play out like a so proper there's a whole lot going on between now and 2020 there so many potential things in terms of God's purposes in all of this and try to step back, get wisdom, share some input as I see it I may weigh in on the cultural controversy as well. We shall see. But I want to focus in on Scripture right now I want focus in on the question of is the Bible enough and in those of us who are of a Protestant expression of the faith. Whether you are evangelical with your charismatic Pentecostal with your messianic Jewish whether you identifies Orthodox Presbyterian or Southern Baptist. We would be put in the Protestant side of things. We would often talk about the sufficiency of Scripture by which we mean that God's word is enough for life and doctrine that we do not need later traditions to tell us how to interpret the word we were not looking for additional books of Revelation, we reject that. Rather, we say the Bible is enough. But the question is enough for what someone called me a couple weeks ago any challenge me and said the Bible is not enough for me. I'm looking for some experience outside of Scripture and we had very little time left in the show.

When I took the call but I responded immediately by quoting Scripture by quoting with the Bible tells us, for example. Second, Christians 13, 14 that we have fellowship of this is the prayer that we will have fellowship with the Holy Spirit. I will have fellowship with the Bible, have fellowship with God through the Scriptures right and based on the Scriptures, but I fellowship with God in relation with the Holy Spirit. I said that John 10 Jesus is my sheep hear my voice and it's ongoing and Greek about that that we hear the voice of God or the Holy Spirit. Romans eight the Holy Spirit leads us is as many as are led by the spirit of they are children of God. So a daily basis. The Holy Spirit is leading me to say no to the flesh notice and yes to God. So I responded by saying the Bible tells me that God speaks and God moves in these different ways and he responded well years in the Bible is not enough us though actually rejected the authority of Scripture is what you're doing so let's say that you believe God gives you a prophetic insight. That's what's gonna happen in the elections. Does that mean the Bible is not enough that mean you're adding to the Bible. If you say I really encountered God in worship tonight is that adding to the Bible's and why would those be added to the Bible. The Bible has a specific role and it is sufficient for what it does.

So what is the Bible here to do. In what way is the Bible, God's unique unparalleled word and nothing else competes with that and nothing else is in that same category. And in that sense, how is the Bible enough so why make the broad statement.

The Bible is enough, the sufficiency of Scripture. Obviously, I mean enough for particular thing sufficient for a particular thing so if you encounter someone that is starving right that they are starving they are dying they need food is the Bible enough where I can eat the Bible write the Bible tells me now to help this person and help the poor help the needy, but that the person can't eat the Bible if if you're praying for spouse want to be married and have children of the Bible is enough. What the Bible tells me it's a blessing to be married.

It's a blessing to have children. Micah married the Bible in that respect. Okay, my plane is late. I need to get somewhere, how my going to get there, after Rent-A-Car and get over to another airport hurt while the Bible is not what the Bible is not gonna take me from one place to thereof, and I give thousands millions of examples in that case that quote the Bible is not enough, but it's not enough of the things it's not called to do. It's not meant to do. It's not meant to take the place of physical food that you eat. It's not meant to take the place of an air pointed an airplane to transport you, so it's not meant to take the place of of a spouse or a child right and end the Trinity is not father-son and holy Bible before the son, and Holy Spirit. But for what the Bible does for God's purpose for his word. It is absolutely enough. I believe in the sufficiency of Scripture is there will then why you pray in tongues because the Bible encourages a system for big tongs possibly prayed in tongues spoken tongues more than all the Corinthians, Paul taught that we edify ourselves and speak mysteries in the spirit because these are good saying so by praying in tongues privately arm strength and edified, and that helps me out or edify and bless you publicly so I do it because it Scripture is able why do you need it.

If you have the Bible because the Bible and I don't have communion with the Bible live communion with God through the Bible I fellowship with the Holy Spirit. It is relationship that I have looked the Bible doesn't take the place of prayer does it by the Bible and need to pray who would ever think of that know the Bible tells you to pray in the Bible tells you how to pray and to whom we should pray, and what types of things we should pray that's in the Bible and God's word is EA a bit if you claim that the Holy Spirit spoke to that setting to the Bible while let's analyze that right. You have to make a major decision. You and your family really in prayer. You have two job opportunities. One of them. You can have to relocate. It seems like the job of a lifetime, but you have to relocate your kids. You have to start a new school. You can have to find a new home congregation, but it really feels like the right thing to do in many ways.

On the other hand, stay at your current job and in that you've got an offer or promotion. There every once in the same church the same neighborhood.

The same schools and but that the job design is much potential for the future and so you really pray about Lord leaders guide us and you talk about this family and you weigh the pros and cons and you get counsel from other leaders.

But then in prayer one day you just feel strongly impressed. It's time for us to move on and take this other job. So the Holy Spirit led you does that add to the biohazard add to the Bible in and what possible cases that add to the Bible where is the Bible say that every person's job decision for the rest of of of the history of the world. All human beings on the planet will find there is specific information in the Bible and in that case, the pie would be trillions of pages long. Right words at evenhanded and where is that the function of God's word for it saying.

I felt led to take this particular job does this that add doctrine, no cited revelations description no, this does it tell others what they should do what they should believe no course not.

There something else to think about. There were many prophecies given in the Old Testament, but they were included in the Bible because they weren't God's word for all people. They may have been a word from the Lord, but they were not the word of God which is binding for all people for all time) as his rock properly applied so in in the same in the same way.

In the same way you could you could say this in the New Testament era six Corinth, there were many prophecies that were given at Corinth, many prophetic words that were given with include in the Bible. No with included as part of first Corinthians 2nd Corinthians, no, why not because they want Scripture because their words for specific situations could be a personal prophecy you know here. The initial question, but say you're praying for me and your friend of mine and you call me; the Lord related to my heart to pray for you that a century to go through a real difficult time getting those real difficult time and and it's can be a real trial these next few months, but just hang in there. It's going to pass an injury to the growing grace through it and Anna and I pray and I feel yet it's true in that boy. Like all hell breaks loose, but I remember that word that helps me get through it and that I emerge strong in faith did that prophecy add to the Bible.

Now course, not this add doctrine to certain no so there may have been hundreds of thousands of prophecy spoken like that in the early church with a lot of the Bible because they were not part of what God wanted to communicate about himself as truth about how we live for all people right so the same way that prophecies that were given in biblical times that were not included in the Bible are not part of the Bible and prophecies that were given after the close of cattle. We have clear records of church leaders after the apostles were dead and and after the New Testament books written after the book of Revelation last book in the New Testament was written. We have clear testimony from church leaders for centuries about prophecies and things like that.

And yet didn't add to the Bible course not.

So what we need to understand is the Bible is 100% sufficient for everything God intended it to be, and nothing can be added to it or taken away. It is God's uniquely inspired word. The word of God. We don't test it. It tests us. Everything else is tested. Everything else is tested by Scripture and everything else is of a totally different level. It is not inspired the same way. So even if God gave me a prophetic word for stranger and I said hey I never met you that as I see you I see just jumping out of the knife.

I feel Sam is in trouble.

Does that mean severely breaks outcry.

That's my son Sam is a word for God's troubles, God sent me to tell you that we can pray in constant help women what that in the add to the Bible that that it's not sin. The Bible isn't enough. In fact, the Bible tells us that prophecies and and dreams and visions are for the period of the last days, which is from the death and resurrection of Jesus until he returns. So that's why I wrote the authentic fire book so the script Torah and therefore charismatic. I believe in the gifts and power of the Spirit for today because the word of God tells me they are for today and in my experiences in harmony. Scripture that makes sense to question, comment or take some calls become back 866-3487 80 the line of fire with your host Dr. Michael Brown line of fire now going to 866-34-TRUTH your exam is Dr. Michael Brown Brown come your way, live from Little Rock, Arkansas phone lines are open 866-34-TRUTH 866-34-TRUTH 87884 man encourager again in the midst of the political craziness in which we live in it.

It's it's crazy on all fronts right and it's it's divided as much as I can ever remember my life and probably more so when there was a vote to impeach Bill Clinton. There was much more of a partisan vote as opposed to what's happening now so we are a deeply divided nation. The one thing we can do is pray daily for the will of God to be done.

Pray daily for the purpose of God to be fulfilled.

Pray daily for his kingdom to come. Pray daily for God to bring about his purpose, his plan and the elections and for America. He is infinitely ahead of us in his planning in his thinking.

That's why we can often be very shortsighted. You as a nation we will sometimes go to war or or take out of particular political leader because in the short term, it's the better case scenario, but then that opens up some kind of warrior create some of the situational. We work with one organization which ends up working against us. For example in Afghanistan and Russia's invasion of Afghanistan.

Suresh is the bad guys see you support the Afghanistan freedom fighters the mujahedin and and then they turn out to be radical Islamic enemies. I'm oversimplifying the subdivisions of the groups and peoples involved. But God is not like that. God in that sense has an infinite chest plan that began before the beginning of time, and he's working toward something of great eternal value, so it just helps us to bow down before the throne of God to to worship him to settle our hearts. When you're all annoyed and aggravated because the new cycle whether it's reporting on on CNN or MSNBC or Fox or whoever it is, whatever the news outlet is your frustrated and you talk to people.

I seem to have such strong views and they don't seem to be open to reason and and they can't get their point across to good to step back and worship and bow down before God and recognize the greatness of our God is important is America is America's another nation that is a drop in the bucket in terms of God's awesome creation, and yet he cares deeply for the people of America and the people of this world are at. I got a ton more things to talk with you about on this Monday, November 4. Tomorrow is election day's river there elections in your area get involved in get educated and get involved with a bunch more things to talk about when the phones first 866-34-TRUTH starting in Greensboro North Carolina and DR welcome to the line of fire.Robert McCall you're very welcome Mr. I'm not quite sure it. My question is if it exactly into the conflict of your original question, but I do think it's relatable and it is the question often is a weapon getting quite a bit of criticism from other Christian Christian leaders as well and it kind of my mark… The Lord to share the gospel with our current take away a gospel Bennett approach without barley. Like negativity, prefect payment, Bennett being how it talked about in all Scripture is profitable for bit and that may affect the bet worktop profitable to me that it is beneficial, but I cannot take it to mean that Scripture got word in a way of light, the source for change in a heartbeat, as opposed to ghetto us trying to do it in the context of human reabsorption objective movement and are not archived by that and my community.

The African-American community. We can articulate as well. We try to change it, but we try to take the heart of the people forgot instead of allowing God to do that and have gotten credit back together like you have a person develop a relationship with the lower energy, more but your believer. God God's word will begin to transform the part of the person were at my counterpart, but often they will that not enough and we got a bill and a lot of people to do the building to do that, like why rabbit to give them the word of God and to minister to them, allow and allow the bill. My question is with better approach.

Where are the Within my theology that maybe I maybe not enough to help them make bit yes yes yes it did. And I appreciate the humility of your question in the way your framing it let me Soraya agree with you, and why I could add a little bit to it. Of course it's only the gospel by the Holy Spirit that can ultimately change people's hearts and lives, and that changing an opinion a little bit, influencing thinking a little bit can only go so far. So right now America. There is no political or social Band-Aid that we can put on the problems there needs to be a gospel based awakening reformation changing hearts, changing lives Christians living like Christians backsliders coming back to the Lord of the world people in the world coming to the Lord and and then people being discipled so that we change can come at the same time. When someone is becoming a disciple are we teaching them principles of justice and principles of God's heart. Sometimes it happened supernaturally right that the moment your saved you realize certain things are wrong. Okay you been a racist and you you get saved and you wake up and was what is that some are not loving others the way Jesus loves him and he died for everyone.

Just the same, but other times were saved in a certain environment and the environment. The sarong you had sincere Christians of the founding of American some of them were were slaveholders and they didn't realize the depth of evil of it yet.

They were Christians and so that they had to be awakened because they grew up with. It was just part of life. Part of culture so that's where I want to add in that were always seeking to influence hearts and minds. For example, I want people who are pro-abortion. A so-called pro-choice from the most radical feminist to the most passive person about. I want their hearts and minds to be changed. I wanted to become pro-life. Ultimately, the best thing is for them to be born again and know the Lord and and grow in the word of God.

However, if I can show someone in ultrasound and that ultrasound is gonna change their thinking so I show them in ultrasound.

They're not saved yet in a born-again yet they don't believe the Bible is God's word but they certainly have an appreciation for the reality of the life in the womb. That's a plus to me if if I can help a white supremacist see the evil of his ways and and recognizes black neighbor is a fellow human being and equal even if is not saved. That's a positive. So I don't I don't want to make my entire gospel emphasis one of social justice, be it fighting for pro-life. Fighting against racism fight against injustice. Pushing back against radical gay activism, but I don't want to excluded as if it is something totally unrelated.

So what I would say is the most important thing is to major on the majors to major on conversion discipleship life in the spirit and and living lives that set excellent examples. You were right heart donkey did his gospel crusades in Africa.

He would he would go out of his way as he was initially based in South Africa, to do everything he could sit to fight apartheid. He came from Germany to South Africa was shocked by the system and found many sincere Christians in it but just very blind in their thinking. So when he would hold the ministers conference. He would treat black and white exactly the same he would put them in the same housing, he would have them sharing life together. He would he would share the pulpit with a black minister so he was fighting against apartheid wall majoring on the preaching of the gospel. So if you don't make it strict categories and you make it. The emphasis is the gospel. The emphasis is transformation of hearts and lives, and now through interaction through dialogue but see we can do to change people's thinking. Some of the champions of the pro-life movement turned away from abortion before they were saved. So the evil of abortion before they were saved and then came to faith and then they became real warriors so I would say major on the majors but don't exclude others they they have a useful function as well in the larger focus of cultural transformations that make sense to you and in a look if you go back to William Wilberforce and when they were fighting against slavery and the slave trade in Europe and and this is just such a way of life and in the UK just what you did. This is how the economy ran and so on. So they they tried to to message him and to have the understanding then okay let's let's get a picture of a black man in African in chains basing our aunt are your brother and justice change thinking so you can change loss of change hearts change laws, but ultimately the lion share of it has to be the gospel. Changing people's lives and thinking so hate DR keep up the good work and let's be sure that we preach the gospel to the lost I just tweeted this out earlier today someone asked me about substitutionary atonement and I just tweeted this out substitutionary atonement simply states this we send Jesus died in our place. We were guilty. He took our punishment. That's the justice of God and the mercy of God. That's the gospel that's ultimately the hope of America, the gospel of Jesus lived out by God's people and preached by God's people in the life and power of the spirit, so they hear the message and God moves in the hearts and minds of people. Otherwise we going to continue to be divided. We can continue to tear each other apart were going to and roles can be divided on some level until Jesus comes. We hunt.

We understand that this part of the gospel brings division but we can see a lot more To set free a lot more lives healed. America can export good more than it exports bad but that's only going to be through a massive great awakening as well on our faces and more fresh working may start afresh work in the rekindle my first love as faith. I will be back for your calls is she rich Christians to boil their money in the line of fire with your host Dr. Michael Brown voice of more cultural and spiritual revolution. Here again is Dr. Michael Brown friends just ahead Kansas City. I'm doing a three day eschatology conference together with the Craig Keener Dr. Sam storms notice for Mike Bickel so if you're anywhere near Kansas City.

It should be really rich conference a lot of interaction letter getting into the Scriptures together. That's Wednesday Thursday Friday of this week and then Saturday is it Newton, Newton, North Carolina yeah conference with Jeremiah Johnson about sure what I'm speaking on yet but that will be this coming Saturday. It's all my itinerary please join us if you're anywhere near these meetings and then gobbling the weekend after.

So not this we can but we can after in Jacksonville, Florida for an Israel and in time revival conference with my friend Ron Kanter and Asher and trader John Burns and others have been preaching for pastor Stovall Williams all its celebration church in Jacksonville. So be on the road a lot these next few weeks I'm in Little Rock, Arkansas right now it is an amazing president Clinton and Hillary Clinton came from Arkansas and Gov. and then presidential candidate Mike Huckabee came from Arkansas. I'm sure many others as well. Or if you have a question of any kind, like we do on Friday.

You've got questions regarding answers. I try to open the phone lines extra days when I can 866-34-TRUTH 784 Emma back on YouTube.

After being banned because of her ridiculous in equity. This act by YouTube were back on YouTube and you know you still want to use the plaque from their other platforms just as we can reach a lot of people. There is a lot of people that watch and comment.

There I don't agree, and many others do agree but that's another fun out of every reverie go around America on the world at airports. People come up to me. All I want you on YouTube. I love your debates are live watch on YouTube so is our whole goal is to reach people. Our whole goal is to impact people's lives laws.

The doors open. We want to walk through it 866-34-TRUTH okay I have a question for you. If you are a wealthy person and you get. Let's let's say you build your wealth and in fairways you didn't build your wealth by saying being a drug Lord that you didn't build your wealth by selling people into sex slavery. You didn't build your wealth by having a company that took advantage of people in and rip people off of savings and he found a legal way to do unethical things you just have your hard-working, very successful, may be very worldly may be very materialistic.

Maybe your job and money.

Those things were gods in your life but you get saved you get wonderfully gloriously saved is is it now a true test of your Christianity to see if you will give all your money.

Is it a true test of your Christianity to see if you will say your beautiful home and and three beautiful cars you know for one you just use the special driving and another for your wife and another one for you and is it a real test of your faith to see if you sell those cars is a real test of your faith to see if you you now tie the rest of your life. Instead of giving 10% give 50%. Is that a test of your faith reset nobody else's business and no one has the right to judge the condition of your heart. Based on what you do outwardly or not.

Now I'm giving him some Scripture in terms of my thoughts on this, but I was afforded in an article by Christian leader, basically saying we'll see if Kanye West is really serious was if he gives his money away.

We'll see what happens with my note obviously he made his money with his his music and his ideology getting put out the music for probably some other ways that were this is sneaker line with with Nike right so obviously a lot of his music was not righteous. Music and engulf the music and profane filled with a lot of the ideology wrong and things like that and am sure he be the first to say it now, but it's not like he made all the money through overtly sending like a city drug Lord trafficking drugs and getting rich off of that or some scam where were your your stealing money from people begin their life savings and and so it wasn't that, but solicit will it will see what kind of Christian is by what he does with his money, is that the real test is that how you can judge whether someone who professes to be a Christian. Now there there wealthy they get saved. Let's see what they do with their money. So will the rich young ruler that settles it went with a richer world comes to Jesus in Matthew 19 and parallels and and and asked him what must I do to inherit eternal life. Jesus is with you know the commandments you don't don't murder.

Don't steal or commit adultery right love your neighbor's unity. You know the commandments love your neighbor as yourself any sort of kept all these all my life. Sure, I'm not that I'm a religious Jew of kept all these Jesus says in and there was Jewish teaching base Leviticus 18 that you live by observing the commandments of a man does this he will live by them. In some Jewish traditions of live forever to have eternal life.

So this is not always done that the Jesus of your liking. One thing sell your possessions and give to the poor no treasure in heaven and the egos away very sad because a great possessions.

So what was Jesus showing him he will show him that she really hadn't kept the commandments because he was covetous he was greedy and didn't love his neighbor as himself, but did he call everyone to sell their possessions who support reasonable 12.

He told us this is his apostles. So your possessions get to breath, but is that a New Testament command for all believers. The moment get saved you, so your possession can support what Luke 1433 motion for sick everything you have.

You can be my disciple. So it is that what actually happens. Take for example, Luke five were Jesus calls Matthew Levi to follow at least a tax collector, and he's obviously made money and in equity sways, but later that day they have a feast at his house so he gets up and leaves everything Basil has a house but he hasn't sold his house and given it away. Zacchaeus in Luke the 19th chapter Luke chapter 19 what happens with him is that Jesus just as I got to have a meal with you today because them out by name has a meal with him and he says this day I give half my money to the poor, and if five if I've taken a money by extortion on the payback fourfold so people say I would just wipe them out doing that and Jesus's salvation is come to this this house to this man was a son of Abraham. That was his repentance at having encountered the Lord, but there is not a New Testament mandate on every wealthy person or the person gets saved to sell all the possessions give to the poor to make the Lord may speak that someone there's a friend of mind. Who on several occasions. The Lord told him to give his car away and gave it away. We just have one vehicle. I believe another occasion, the Lord told him so. What he had and give it away and he did that and and several times over his life.

He was called to give sacrificially now he P pastors probably the most giving church in the world and and is financially blessed himself, but he remains a giver and lives by the same principles of generosity and giving soul. There is not an explicit New Testament command for every single believer that you must sell everything you have and give it away when you get safe. Of course, if that was the case, you have massive economic crisis wherever the gospel want because everyone be selling without giving away that you have the support you have no way to live in the real beginning of the other seven before they become a Christian say take me in because you still have stuff we get rid of all horse obviously that was not the case and the pooling of resources is done when their special needs but that was not always the case where everyone pulled all the resources you say will show me that the Bible give me Scripture for that absolutely.

Let's take a look in first Timothy chapter 6 that we have warnings throughout the Bible about covetousness of Paul teaches that covetousness, greed is a form of idolatry and and throughout the Bible, Old Testament and New Testament.

We have warnings about putting our trust in earthly things laying up our treasures on this earth or or the aspect of having the love of money, which is root of all kinds of evil or or seeking to get Rich through the gospel. These are corrupt and sinful things that Scripture rebukes and Timothy is told in first Timothy 611 you man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness God and his faith, love, endurance and deficits you flee from the love of money you flee and try to use the gospel for financial riches that's that's the carnal prosperity message that we categorically reject but but look at this first Timothy 617.

This is the most explicit word to rich Christians anywhere in the Bible and it doesn't lay a guilt trip on under read a couple verses of the moment. Some of you remember the classic book by Ronald sider, rich Christians in a hungry world. That was the title of it.

I believe rich Christians in a hungry world and he really challenge Christians in the West to live differently.

He challenged Christians in the West to to look at at rich Christians and in the age of hunger.

That was the title of of the cited book he really challenge Christians to look at things differently of subtitle moving from affluence to generosity and it was it was a book that on the one hand really ministered and really said hey live in the light of eternity and and really help many but others said you are you are just laying a guilt trip on people and you are stopping people from being productive and business people from being prosperous in your putting a roof on things and and things like that. So there was a response book written what was David Chilton that that wrote it about guilty Christians, and it was a response to Ronald sider and and of course the cited book got much bigger circulation and is better known, I would say to this day of, but Paul does not lay a guilt trip on believers for being rich… It's sinful to be rich. He doesn't say it's sinful to to have possessions. This is Paul's counsel. First Corinthians excuse me first Timothy chapter 6 command those who are rich in this present world, which for many of us in the West compared to the rest of the world that applies to us even in a middle-class America Uighur upper lower class America would be considered rich compared to the rest of the world or or some of the rest of the world. But he says this command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth.

So don't be arrogant find you have a bigger house and semester Vanessa Cardin semester for bigger bank account you McMoran your job. Don't be arrogant.

Don't put your hope in well thesis which is so uncertain. This is a theme throughout the Bible that riches can come and go. You can have it one day and it's gone the next right stock market goes up in the real estate goes up and down the sink you been working on for years. You know that this gets stolen or set in a project, it could be here today gone tomorrow so don't put your hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but rather tell them to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Listen, it doesn't make you holier have a car that breaks down six times on the way to work every day she have to leave an hour early to skin a break down so many times and instead of spending that hour with your family or in prayer or helping your neighbor, your ego get there early casual khakis break that this this is McKinney holier and and if God blesses you with a better car to get to work on time and have that extra hour for others. Praise God. Wonderful. That's a good thing but put your hope in God, or Carter, reminds us that when we don't understand or comprehend all that's taking place in our world. We have a God who does. It's the line of fire with your host activist and author, international leader and theologian Dr. Michael and voice of more cultural and spiritual revolution get into the line of fire now by calling 866 rate. We have a computer glitch because of which were normal music didn't come in because of which I Talking even when you couldn't hear me anymore, but many review this. Paul does not tell wealthy Christians to feel guilty for being wealthy, nor does he tell them that they're required to sell everything they have been given away to the poor is the say that this is his counsel right and in its wise counsel command, those suits come a strong command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant to begin with riches them. Some of my house, so it's nice you live over there.*Nobody, don't be arrogant. That's silly that that is very very carnal and very superficial. Don't be arrogant nor put your hope in wealth. Rather, which is so uncertain rather pieces to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment of the Lord said to remind me over the years after effects.

One plus should be blessed and feel guilty about want to bless you this be be blessed about pursuing earthly riches. My heart is not set on earthly riches. My life does not consist in earthly riches are people that are telling you you need a new car need to get a new car you drop some and give your car years ago… This little thing to get around and he said you still have to you can't get, so it's not like I'm my whole life consists that I have to have new, better things but sometimes when God blesses with me at me with something you should really have a stellar I'm blessed with it. It's fine. Be blessed with it. So God does provide us with everything for our enjoyment. So whether it's a beautiful sunset or you get to break away with your family for a fun vacation. Whether it's having a nice meal with relatives and Thanksgiving. Hey, rejoice, enjoy. Praise God for but your life does not consist in what you eat or what you drink, which you own your life consists in your relationship with God and your relationship with others. Command them to do good to be rich in good deeds and to be generous and willing to share. That's the calling. That's the measure the house.

I can work out what God knows each heart and each life, but it should be that those who have been given more, and entrusted with more in turn give more themselves in turn are generous now there are individuals you might fault them for being well have what you need $1 million a year salary for what it could be in the world in which they live and the people that God calls them to reach and interact with.

That's what they need, just like you need 20,000 year and someone else needs 100,000 year and someone's gotta reach the wealthy people and somebody's gotta live among them and work among them. But what if this person gives away $300,000 a year of the million dollar salary and you make $20,000 you give away $50 a year. Who's more generous in God's sight.

While obviously the one giving 30% of this out. On the flipside, you might be making $1 million year and you give 100,000 away to charitable causes her to gospel work and you think Matlab giveaway hundred thousand dollars. Here's this person makes $20,000 a year.

They give away 500.

That's nothing. I got site that 500 is a lot bigger than the 20,000 because it's proportional. We get from what we have, rather than what we don't have.

So there is a command to do good and be rich in good deeds and there are some wealthy people that I know don't know many that are really wealthy but some that I know are extraordinarily generous and extraordinarily gracious and they love to help others and them having a Mercedes-Benz is no different than you having beat up old Toyota Corolla resistance is the vehicle for them to get around it, but the country club where they hang out with friends and share the gospel with these other wealthy people. That's the car. The drive up it addresses and it's interesting. Maybe they get to leave these other wealthy people to the Lord in these wealthy people now pour into gospel mission and affects you directly or on the front lines overseas praying in funds and one is wealthy person. People get saved and now they support you and they help you reach people around the world. It's just the way God works out were all in different places in different settings, but this is the command commandment to be to do good to be rich in good deeds and to be generous and willing to share. That's the command in this way. In this way Paul writes they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age that they may take hold the light of the life that is really true life.

The life that is truly life so as they have an eternal perspective as they realize that they're just passing through this world and that God has blessed them in these earthly ways. Let them have that perspective that no colors the way they live. So they don't lead covetous lives in on the greedy loss and look I have met and know some rich people are people who are very very wealthy and they are generous and they are not caught up with the things of this world.

And then I know some poor people and they are very covetous and very caught up with the things of this world.

It's a condition of the heart, but often we know that those who have much in this world don't hear the gospel as readily as those who have very little interest. Think of this. You go preach the gospel to someone who's just fighting for day-to-day sustenance. They have no hope in this world. They have very little pleasure in this world. They have no sense of future in this world.

All they can look forward to is just surviving another day and you tell them about God's great love you tell them how Jesus shed his blood for them to tell him how he took their punishment on the cross you tell them how they can have eternal life and become children of the father and enjoyed true riches through a relationship with him eternal riches through relationship with him. Forgiveness of sins and fellowship with God and joy and peace. What wonderful news that's that's incredible and and the poor will often be the first ones to hear the gospel because they are less encumbered with the things of this world. On the flipside, you may talk to wealthy business person. Got time for God is not doing great in life. My kids are doing great to go to great schools. They got great futures and a run to God for, and they have this mistaken view of even who God is and what purposes are and that's what James Jacob says that that the poor are are are often the ones chosen by God to receive the gospel and in the ones who are often the first to hear, and in many countries that has to be overcome because the gospel is first received in the poor communities that it becomes. There was a poor man's religion and its dialogue in India, for example, is the poor man's religion. The higher caste that you're there there there can do in and they reject this and that they don't need this. This poor man's religion. You have to overcome these wrong conceptions but the Bible does not say this is sin to be rich. It is a sin to cover earthly things.

This assent to cover earthly wealth.

It is a sin to put your identity in earthly things, rather than in the Lord and it is sin to be selfish and greedy, but it is not a sin to be rich and there are many people who are rich because the blessing of God. Their business people that I know that that put biblical ethics to practice your what this Proverbs tell you what happened to the diligent versus the lazy to the generous versus the stingy.

As a general rule, diligent will be more financially prosperous than the lazy and the generous will be more financially prosperous than the stingy at the same time those religion by biblical principles are not putting their hope in earthly riches there putting their hope in God, they are not ultimately trying to strip earthly treasures, but heavenly treasures and their goal is to see Jesus glorified and they want to use their wealth for the good of the gospel.

But let's not judge by exteriors. Let's not put people under pressure to conform to what you think is right or I think is right well for me a house this size is the biggest Christian Shabazz you are the new Arvida new Arvida you don't judge someone else by that the Bible does not give us those parameters, but it gives us guidelines for living and and here's the other thing that a lot of people who were generous but they don't let others know it and it looked there's the story that was told in the Jewish community. There was one guy who is a miser and the nastiest guy when people would come by his house and say hey were recollecting charity for this cause for that because her for this children school or to help the poor in the community. The guy would send them away. Come to my door. They're afraid to do it because he was so wealthy they would still come to is Dorothy were also don't come to my door when he died suddenly there was a massive gap that a massive massive gap.

The schools could meet their budget children. Schools that the work for the poor. It suffered terribly. The money just wasn't there.

They found out that it was this guy that was giving the money secretly, but he sent everyone away, giving them the impression that he was greedy because he didn't want anyone to know he was the one giving his extreme story but it's quite an illustration and what I read it as if it was true, and God knows with extra but you don't know what's going on some assorted life you and and it's not up to us to monitor everybody's giving so let's pray for those who are wealthy that they would have a heart to love God hard to stir up eternal treasure and a heart of generosity and those may be the very people that help pour into gospel work and humanitarian work around the world that that save thousands and millions of lives the compass of a rich daughter who helps underwrite the unplanned movie how many babies is that going to say so let's try to bring people down and attacked her for being wealthy.

Let's pray that they'll have God's heart in the midst of their wealth. By the way, save a few dollars. Go to Amazon.com because of those war with America hardcover, it's on sale right now save you a few dollars