Participants:
Series Code: SSP
Program Code: SSP200050S
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00:01 Hello, friends, welcome to 3ABN Sabbath School Panel.
00:03 Thank you for taking the time to join us every week 00:06 as we walk through a wonderful study guide 00:09 entitled "Education," 00:11 which is the fourth quarter theme. 00:13 But today, we're talking about the Christian and Work. 00:16 Everybody has a work to do. 00:17 We're going to talk about the specifics of work today. 00:20 If you'd like a copy of the lesson to follow along, 00:22 go to ABSG.Adventist.org and download a digital copy. 00:28 But if you want to be a part of a study group, 00:30 look for a local Seventh-day Adventist Church walk in 00:32 and say 3ABN sent you. 00:34 And sit down and enjoy an excursion 00:36 through the Word of God. 00:38 What you need for this study today 00:39 is a Bible and some time. 00:41 So thank you for joining us. 00:42 We're about to get started in God's Word. 00:45 And we thank you for joining us today. 01:18 Welcome, friends, we are so thankful 01:20 that you've taken the time to join us. 01:22 We could not do this without you. 01:24 So thank you for your prayers and all your financial support. 01:27 And if you come to volunteer here, 01:29 that's a step above. 01:31 Thank you so much for taking the time 01:32 to get your Bibles and your lessons, 01:34 and we're going to introduce you 01:35 to our family today 01:36 as we walk through a lesson entitled 01:38 "The Christian and Work." 01:40 Everybody likes work I think. 01:43 We'll find out today more specifically, 01:45 whether or not you like work, 01:46 or whether or not that's something 01:48 that you might want to elude you 01:50 in the annals of life. 01:52 To my immediate left is Pastor John Dinzey. 01:54 Good to have you here today, my Brother. 01:55 It's a blessing to be here. 01:57 And it's always a blessing to see 01:58 what God is doing through His servants. 02:00 Amen. Shelley? 02:03 Excited to be here with my brothers and sister. 02:06 That's right, Miss Shelley Quinn. 02:07 I want to make sure that if somebody is tuning in, 02:10 they don't just know you as Shelley. 02:12 And Jill Morikone, our COO and Vice President of the 3ABN. 02:16 Good to have you here. Thank you, Pastor John. 02:18 Always a joy to study the Word of God. 02:20 And if you don't know who she is, she's a list lady. 02:23 That's right. 02:24 And to my far left, the singer in Israel, Ryan Day, 02:27 Pastor Ryan Day. 02:28 Good to have you here, Ryan. Amen. 02:29 It's a blessing to be here, Brother, always. 02:31 He's the evangelist personified. 02:34 He's always ready to preach, teach 02:36 and do whatever comes to the spiritual table. 02:39 We thank you for that, Ryan. 02:41 And we're going to go into the Word of God, 02:42 but we're going to ask the Lord to bless us 02:44 as we go before His throne of grace and prayer. 02:47 Pastor Dinzey? 02:49 Sure. Let's go to the Lord in prayer. 02:51 Our loving and wonderful heavenly Father, 02:53 we do thank You, 02:55 because the scriptures are able to make us 02:57 wise unto salvation. 02:59 But, Lord, it is a vain effort to seek to understand them 03:03 without the aid of Your Holy Spirit. 03:05 We ask and plead that You will bless us 03:08 with Your Holy Spirit, 03:09 that we may not only understand 03:11 but communicate the message You have for Your children. 03:14 We ask You for them as well that you will lead them 03:17 in their understanding, 03:19 and in making decisions to follow You. 03:21 In Jesus' name, amen. 03:23 Amen. 03:25 The Christian and Work. 03:27 Now let's look at our memory text, 03:29 it's in 1 Corinthians 15:58. 03:33 1 Corinthians 15:58. 03:37 And I'm going to read that and you're hearing. 03:40 And the Bible tells us the following, 03:44 "Therefore, my beloved brethren, 03:47 be steadfast, immovable, 03:51 always abounding in the work of the Lord, 03:54 knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord." 04:00 Now there's a saying that goes, 04:02 whatever we do for self will pass, 04:05 whatever we do for Christ will last. 04:08 And that's the reality of it. 04:09 Because everything in this world, 04:11 no matter how diligent you are in labor, 04:13 if it's for things that are temporary, 04:15 those things are going to pass away. 04:17 But if it's for the kingdom of God, 04:18 that's a kingdom that will never, never end. 04:21 You know, the lesson was well put together. 04:24 And what I like about this lesson, 04:25 it is very practical. 04:27 Do you notice that? 04:28 A lot of practical topics, 04:30 and work is a very practical topic. 04:32 Now we're in the midst of still solving 04:36 what we might refer to as a disease 04:38 that just showed up 04:40 and it's deciding when it's going to leave 04:41 and we're doing our part. 04:43 There's a lot of work in trying to get rid of it. 04:46 But when you think about the work of the kingdom, 04:47 work was God's idea. 04:49 The way the author of this lesson said it, 04:52 it says, "In the ideal world before sin, 04:55 God gave Adam and Eve 04:57 the task of caring for the garden." 05:00 Now it specifically talked about Adam 05:02 being in the garden. 05:03 But Eve's housework, 05:05 if you think about it was also in the garden 05:07 because they didn't have a two storey, 05:09 two car garage with the basement 05:11 and the walkout. 05:12 They didn't have that. 05:13 They had the best accommodations 05:16 with all the accoutrements of heaven. 05:18 The Master Builder gave them a garden. 05:21 They didn't need air freshener, basically, 05:23 because they had flowers that will never die. 05:25 Had a perfect setting, 05:26 they had animals that will come and go 05:29 and that, at that time, 05:30 the animals did not fear humanity. 05:32 But when sin came in, 05:34 the entire atmosphere changed drastically. 05:37 Genesis 2:15 describes the kind of work 05:41 that God gave to Adam in the unfallen setting. 05:44 He says, "Then the Lord God took the man 05:48 and put him in the Garden of Eden 05:50 to tend and keep it." 05:52 Adam was the first gardener. 05:54 I would say Adam had a green thumb. 05:57 Now, can you imagine? 05:58 I think about it this way, because you know, 05:59 ladies like flowers. 06:02 Some guys like flowers, 06:03 but mostly maybe ladies like flowers. 06:07 But can you imagine picking a flower 06:09 that just doesn't lose its pungent fragrance. 06:15 It just, is not in the dying state 06:17 because death was not a part of that environment. 06:21 It just continues to go and go. 06:23 It's like one of those potent air fresheners. 06:26 What a setting to be in. 06:27 But when sin entered the world, the work didn't end, 06:31 but another component was added to it. 06:33 Look at Genesis 3:19. 06:37 The Bible says in Genesis 3:19, "In the sweat of your face, 06:42 you shall eat bread till you return to the ground." 06:46 Notice the direction of what happens when we die 06:48 was introduced into this verse, 06:50 "For out of it, you were taken 06:52 for dust you are and to dust you shall return." 06:56 Right off the bat, the Lord made it very clear, 06:58 you're not going to heaven 06:59 because you didn't come from heaven. 07:01 You came from the dust. 07:02 When your work is done, that's where you're going, 07:04 right back to the dust. 07:06 But the wise man Solomon gives us the kind of attitude 07:09 that we should have about work. 07:10 Let's go to Ecclesiastes 9:9. 07:13 There's an attitude that comes along with work. 07:15 And it's beautiful. 07:17 You know, there are people 07:19 that are comfortable in the boardroom. 07:21 There are other people 07:23 that are comfortable in the field. 07:25 There are people that love to be on tractors. 07:28 There are people that just don't even consider 07:30 being in the outdoors when it comes to work. 07:32 But notice the attitude that Solomon tells us, 07:36 we should all possess when it comes to work. 07:38 Ecclesiastes 9:9. 07:40 You have that, Jill? 07:42 Read that for us. 07:44 "Live joyfully with the wife 07:46 whom you love all the days of your vain life 07:48 which He has given you under the sun, 07:49 all your days of vanity, 07:51 for that is your portion in life, 07:53 and in the labor which you perform 07:55 under the sun." 07:56 Isn't that amazing how he, instead of saying, with a wife, 08:00 you love all the days of your life. 08:02 He said all days of your vain life. 08:05 Because the wise man said 08:06 when you look at the scope of humanity, 08:08 it's all vanity. 08:10 Everything. 08:11 My wife and I were sitting once on the edge of our bed 08:12 in a hotel room, 08:14 and I was putting a camera card in the camera, 08:16 those micro-SD's and it dropped on the bed. 08:19 And I picked it up and said, "Look at that. 08:20 It's amazing how small they made these things, 08:22 128 gigabytes." 08:24 And I said, "You know what, honey? 08:25 We can't even take that to heaven. 08:28 We can't even take that to heaven. 08:30 Everything we have, we can't take any of it." 08:32 And that's why the wise man said, 08:34 "It's vanity." 08:35 All the things we work for in labor for 08:37 and are diligent about, 08:40 we can't even take it with us. 08:42 But now let's go to the Christian side. 08:44 On the topic of Christian work, 08:46 I think the author is referring to that 08:48 more specifically. 08:49 One of the greatest challenges that the church faces 08:52 is Christians that don't feel the need to work. 08:56 And we know Ephesians 2:8-9 says, 08:59 "For by grace, are you saved through faith 09:01 and that not of yourselves, 09:03 it is the gift of God not of works, 09:06 lest any man should boast." 09:08 And they kind of leave it right there and say, 09:09 "Well, that's good enough for me." 09:12 But don't forget verse 10. 09:14 Look at verse 10. That's right. 09:17 "For we are His workmanship, 09:20 created in Christ Jesus for good works, 09:24 which God prepared beforehand, 09:26 that we should walk in them." 09:29 The thing that came to my mind when I read this text, 09:31 is the work of salvation belongs to God, 09:34 the work of the saved belongs to us. 09:37 The work of salvation belongs to God, 09:40 the work of the saved belongs to us. 09:42 The Lord has hired us to work in His vineyard. 09:45 And when we think about that, 09:47 we cannot sidetrack the idea 09:49 that while we don't have anything to do, 09:51 because James makes it clear. 09:52 Go to James 2:14-17. 09:57 Now the Christian that doesn't feel 09:58 the conviction to work 10:00 really doesn't have a viable commitment 10:02 to the Lord, 10:03 because that commitment is validated by work. 10:07 Notice this, verse 14-17, 10:10 "What does it profit, my brethren, 10:12 if someone says he has faith and does not have works? 10:17 Can faith save him? 10:19 If a brother or a sister is naked 10:21 and destitute of daily food, 10:23 and one of you say to them, 'Depart in peace, 10:25 be warmed and filled,' 10:27 but you do not give them the things 10:29 which are needed for the body, 10:31 what does it profit? 10:33 Thus also faith by itself, 10:36 if it does not have works is" what? 10:38 "Is dead." 10:40 So somebody might say, hey, I'm a great baseball player. 10:42 What team do you play for? 10:44 I don't play for a team. 10:45 I just like baseball. 10:46 Have you ever played before? No. 10:48 I just like baseball. 10:49 Have you ever swung a bat before? 10:51 No. I just like baseball. 10:52 I have a ton of baseball uniforms, 10:53 a lot of baseball bats, baseball gloves. 10:55 You don't play for any team. 10:57 I just like to have the paraphernalia 10:58 of the baseball team. 11:01 No baseball coach would have any use 11:03 for that kind of individual. 11:04 Do you agree, Ryan? 11:05 I mean, who wants a person that just likes the uniform? 11:09 That's the case with the Christian. 11:11 The uniform is the righteousness of Christ. 11:14 How dear we take on His uniform, 11:16 and His mission was to do the work 11:18 of the Father who sent Him. 11:20 As the Father sent Him, He says, so send I you. 11:24 I send you forth as laborers into the vineyard, 11:26 I send you forth as lambs among wolves. 11:29 The work is not easy as a Christian, 11:31 but the work is the validation of our commitment to Christ. 11:34 Without work, 11:36 you don't really have a relationship with Christ. 11:38 Let's go to Ecclesiastes 3:12-13, 11:42 you'll discover that true happiness comes 11:45 in working for the Lord. 11:47 Work is the one investment 11:50 that the Bible tells us brings true happiness. 11:52 Ecclesiastes 3:12 and 13. 11:55 Do you have that, Ryan? I do. 11:56 Read that for me. 11:58 Ecclesiastes 3:12-13, 11:59 "I know that nothing is better for them 12:02 than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives, 12:05 and also that every man should eat and drink 12:08 and enjoy the good of all his labor, 12:10 it is the gift of God." 12:12 Right, this is the gift of God. 12:14 So the joy of your labors. 12:16 If you work, hey, you'll benefit. 12:19 There's a text, I don't have it in front of me. 12:20 I'll think I'll find it for the end of the lesson. 12:22 But it was in the Book of Proverbs. 12:24 It says, "The lazy man says, 'There's a lion in the street, 12:28 and he'll devour me if I go out.'" 12:30 The lazy man says that. 12:32 Some people said, "I can't find a job." 12:34 I said, "How are you looking, 12:36 with a remote in your hand and a game controller." 12:38 I sent a couple of job applications. 12:41 I didn't get any responses. 12:42 Man, get out there and beat the pavement. 12:44 We live in a society today 12:45 that's developing people into lazy individuals 12:50 trying to find a work with a remote 12:52 and a game controller, 12:53 or some people are settled with Facebook. 12:55 That's their job. 12:57 Now, if you work for Facebook, that's a different story. 13:00 But if Facebook works you, 13:02 that's a whole another ballgame. 13:03 Ecclesiastes 9:10. 13:06 The Bible talks about the kind of attitude 13:08 we should have when it comes to work. 13:10 I love this passage, 13:12 because this is also along the line of the living 13:14 know that they will die. 13:15 Notice verse 10, 13:16 "Whatever your hand finds to do, 13:19 do it with your might. 13:21 Therefore there is no work or device 13:25 or knowledge or wisdom, 13:26 once again, in the grave where you are going." 13:30 When you die, there's no money, 13:31 no more jobs, no employment in the grave. 13:35 But the Bible does believe in work. 13:36 You know, the fourth commandment 13:38 talks about work in two contexts. 13:39 One, in Exodus 20:9, "Six days you shall labor." 13:45 So from Sunday to Friday, that's labor days. 13:50 When the Sabbath comes, verse 10, 13:52 "But the seventh day 13:54 is the Sabbath of the Lord your God, 13:57 in it you shall do no work." 13:59 So let me settle the argument. 14:01 The Sabbath is not salvation by works. 14:05 The Sabbath is when work ceases 14:07 to rest in the relationship with Christ. 14:10 So John makes it very, very clear. 14:12 "I must work the works of Him who sent me while it is day, 14:15 the night is coming, when no one can work." 14:18 John 9:4. Amen. 14:20 Praise the Lord. Excellent. 14:22 Well, we continue in Monday's lesson 14:24 which we're in, now we have the lesson entitled 14:27 "Work and Nurture," Work and Nurture. 14:30 This is Monday's part. 14:31 And this aspect of working is very important, 14:36 you already read Ecclesiastes 9:10, 14:40 in which we are encouraged that whatever we find to do, 14:43 we are supposed to do the best we can as hard as we can work. 14:47 Now I've been around a little while 14:49 and I have seen people avoid work 14:53 and some are very good at it. 14:55 As I've seen in working in different places. 15:00 But I praise the Lord 15:02 that He has given us work to do. 15:05 It is a blessing to work, and to work, 15:10 knowing that there's a goal in mind. 15:14 My father was a believer in hard work, 15:16 and he would encourage us to work. 15:19 He says, He would say, 15:22 the Bible says he who does not work 15:23 shall not eat. 15:25 He would mention that to us very much, 15:29 as well as saying that the lazy people 15:33 have to work twice as hard 15:34 because sometimes they try to do something 15:36 the easy way 15:37 and then they have to redo it because it doesn't work well. 15:40 Colossians Chapter 3 15:42 is the next verse I want to point to. 15:44 Verses 23 and 24, 15:46 "And whatever you do, do it heartily, 15:49 as to the Lord and not to men, 15:53 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward 15:56 of the inheritance, 15:57 for you serve the Lord Christ." 16:00 Now, this is something important to understand 16:03 because whatever your job is, 16:06 whether you work in a school, in a hospital, 16:08 wherever you work, we are to work heartily. 16:12 And it says, as to the Lord, yes, you have supervisors, 16:15 yes, you have a company you're working for. 16:17 And there's a purpose for working 16:19 so that you can put, 16:20 as people say, food upon your table, 16:22 but we are to work 16:24 because really the Christian that works in any atmosphere 16:28 is representing God. 16:29 And you have to consider that, Matthew Chapter 5 when it says, 16:35 "Let your light therefore so shine before men 16:38 that they may see your good works 16:39 and glorify your Father, 16:41 which is in heaven." 16:42 A Christian that works in an environment 16:44 where there are people that are not Christians 16:46 are to do their best because they are representing, 16:50 they're representing the Christians in general. 16:53 And I remember many times 16:56 hearing examples of people where they, 17:00 they asked, "Are you a Christian?" 17:04 "No." "Are you a Christian?" 17:05 "No." "Are you a Christian?" "No." "Are you a Christian?" 17:07 "Yes." 17:08 "Okay, you're going to be in charge of the money," 17:09 because they believe Christians will not steal. 17:12 I remember when our car broke down once 17:15 and we took it here to the local, 17:16 we went to see Philip. 17:18 You guys know Philip at the local gas station. 17:21 And there was a serious problem with our vehicle. 17:23 And he has a very small shop there. 17:27 And he says, you have a serious problem 17:28 with your engine and we can't do that here. 17:31 I want to encourage you to go into Benton 17:34 and he mentioned the name of the place. 17:37 He said you see a lot of cars there, 17:39 because there are people just waiting 17:40 to get their car serviced by then 17:42 because they're Christians, 17:43 and they will not lie to you and they'll be reasonable. 17:46 I say wow, what a recommendation he gave 17:49 of this particular place 17:51 that I will not mention by name, 17:52 but Christian should have the best reputation 17:55 for good workers, honesty, 17:56 and they are representing the Lord. 17:59 Now, nature has good information for us. 18:03 Many lessons for us to learn. 18:04 Let's go to Proverbs Chapter 6. 18:07 Proverbs 6:6-11. 18:10 Notice, "Go to the ant, you sluggard." 18:14 Wow! 18:15 "Consider her ways and be wise, 18:17 which, having no captain, 18:19 overseer or ruler, 18:20 provides her supplies in the summer, 18:22 and gathers her food in the harvest. 18:25 How long will you slumber, O sluggard? 18:28 When will you rise from your sleep? 18:30 A little sleep, a little slumber, 18:32 a little folding of the hands to sleep, 18:35 so shall your poverty come on you like a prowler, 18:37 and your need like an armed man." 18:40 Proverbs 6:6-11. 18:43 So we see here that God has a message for us 18:46 that we should not be lazy, 18:48 or sluggard the way it calls here, 18:50 we are all called to put our best effort forward 18:53 to accomplish a task. 18:56 Now, the Bible also shows us that there is satisfaction 19:01 and we enjoy the things that we work for. 19:03 Let's go to Ecclesiastes Chapter 2. 19:06 Ecclesiastes 2:24, 19:09 "Nothing is better for a man that he should eat and drink 19:15 that his soul should enjoy good in his labor. 19:20 This also I saw it was from the hand of God." 19:24 God blesses our efforts. 19:26 When we do our best, He will bless our efforts, 19:30 He will supply the needs of our homes. 19:32 And so, now we want to show you something important, 19:38 very important as well in Deuteronomy 8:18. 19:42 Deuteronomy 8:18, 19:45 "And you shall remember the Lord your God, 19:47 for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, 19:51 that He may establish His covenant 19:54 which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day." 19:58 God is the one that gives us health and strength. 20:00 God is the one that gives us power to work to Him 20:04 the honor and glory. 20:06 And so with this comes the thanksgiving 20:09 that we should express 20:11 by bringing to the Lord offerings 20:13 and even tithe as He instructs us to do. 20:18 Now, there is doing work, working hard, 20:22 doing the best we can, but also there is temperance, 20:26 we need to understand that we need to take a break. 20:31 And so I pointed to Mark 6:31, 20:35 even Jesus that worked hard from early in the morning 20:38 till late at night, 20:39 He understood the necessity of taking rest. 20:43 So in Mark 6:31, 20:46 Jesus speaking to His disciples, 20:47 "And He said to them, 20:49 'Come aside by yourselves 20:50 to a deserted place and rest a while.' 20:54 For there were many coming and going, 20:56 and they did not even have time to eat.'" 21:01 And so, sometimes things are this way. 21:04 A lot of demand is placed upon you. 21:07 They didn't even have time to eat. 21:09 But there's a need to go aside, rest a while, get refreshed, 21:14 recuperate, because unfortunately, 21:17 some people are prone to become workaholic. 21:21 Isn't the Lord good? Lord is good. 21:24 If it wasn't for the blessing of work, 21:27 imagine after sin entered into the world, 21:31 how horrible things would be, 21:33 people would have basically no work to do. 21:36 Their minds would be continually trying to find 21:41 something evil to do. 21:43 But God gives us time to work. 21:46 And it is for us to take advantage 21:48 of the opportunity God gives to us. 21:51 Now, I want to read this to you, 21:54 it is from Acts of the Apostles 352, 21:59 "Work is a blessing, not a curse," 22:01 some people look at it as a curse, 22:02 they don't want to even get up. 22:05 Work is a blessing, not a curse, 22:06 a spirit of indolence of laziness, 22:08 that's what that means, 22:10 destroys godliness and grieves the Spirit of God. 22:13 So if you find it difficult to get up and get going, 22:17 ask the Lord to give you strength. 22:19 It continues here. 22:21 Let me go back, it says, "A stagnant pool is offensive. 22:24 But a pure flowing stream 22:26 spreads health and gladness over the land." 22:30 Paul knew that those who neglect 22:32 physical work soon became enfeebled. 22:34 He desired to teach young ministers 22:36 that by working with their hands, 22:38 by bringing into exercise their muscles and sinew 22:42 they would become strong to endure the toils 22:44 and privations 22:46 that awaited them in the gospel field. 22:48 And he realized that his own teachings 22:51 would lack vitality and force 22:53 if he did not keep all parts of the system 22:56 properly exercised. 22:58 And so that in today's world, 23:00 there are people they have 23:02 what you call mental work to do this, 23:06 they are sitting in office before a computer, 23:09 and they don't have much physical activity 23:11 unless they go out into doing something at home. 23:15 Some work at home, helping around the house, 23:17 doing yard work. 23:19 This is very important 23:20 because your body needs the exercise 23:23 to keep you in a healthy condition. 23:25 I know of a minister, 23:27 that he was a very hard-working minister. 23:31 Most of his work was studying the Bible, 23:33 getting ready for messages, 23:34 he will visit people in their homes, 23:36 but he was not exercising. 23:38 And he had a heart attack. 23:39 He was eating wonderful as well. 23:41 And he had a heart attack. 23:43 And that's what the doctors told him, 23:44 "How much exercise do you do?" 23:46 "Well, I don't." 23:47 And so that created a heart attack. 23:50 Physical activity is important. 23:51 So, if you have a work that is sedentary, 23:55 I mean, then you should look for opportunities 23:58 to get physical exercise as well. 24:00 A balance, we need to be temperate in all things. 24:03 So the scriptures give us guidance. 24:05 Even in nature, you find the example. 24:08 We already told you about the ants. 24:10 There are many others examples we find in nature, 24:13 because work is part of the necessity 24:17 of our lives, 24:18 to keep ourselves in healthy conditions 24:20 and provide for our families. 24:22 Thanks be to the Lord that gives us power to work. 24:24 Amen. Thank you, Johnny. 24:26 That was wonderful. 24:27 You know, we're talking about the Christian and Work, 24:30 and so far we have talked about two aspects of it, 24:33 but we have three more to cover. 24:35 So don't go away, we'll be right back. 24:42 Ever wish you could watch 24:44 a 3ABN Sabbath School Panel again, 24:46 or share it on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter? 24:49 Well, you can by visiting 3abnsabbathschoolpanel.com. 24:54 A clean design makes it easy 24:56 to find the program you're looking for. 24:59 There are also links to the Adult Bible Study Guide 25:02 so you can follow along. 25:04 Sharing is easy. 25:05 Just click share and choose your favorite social media. 25:08 Share a link, save a life for eternity. 25:12 Welcome back to our Sabbath School Panel. 25:13 We go to Tuesday now "Work and excellence." 25:16 Shelley, it's yours. Okay. 25:18 You know, we might wonder, 25:20 why is a quarterly that is focused on education, 25:24 suddenly giving a whole, 25:26 devoting whole lesson to work? 25:29 Well, I want to speak to you parents 25:31 and you grandparents at home. 25:33 It's because you need to educate 25:34 your children to work. 25:36 The two most important things you can do is as a parent 25:39 or grandparent 25:41 is to teach your children 25:43 to have an intimate love relationship 25:46 with the Lord. 25:48 That's first. 25:49 But second is give them a good work ethic. 25:53 In today's world, 25:54 we are bombarded by so much information. 25:59 And so many media sources 26:01 that a lot of youth 26:03 are developing the attention span 26:05 of a hummingbird. 26:07 And you know, what's sad is that 26:10 the vast majority of people 26:13 are satisfied with a mediocre existence. 26:17 They are not striving for excellence. 26:20 But when we think about our God, our God is love. 26:25 He is holy, He is magnificent. 26:28 Excellence is rooted in His character. 26:32 And He calls us to excellence. 26:35 He created us in His image, and anything He calls us to be, 26:41 He will cause us to be. 26:44 God is looking, calling us to excellence, 26:48 not to perfectionism, 26:50 get that straight, but to excellence. 26:53 He wants to maximize our creative potential. 26:57 And there's three specific areas 26:59 of excellence He calls us to, 27:02 moral excellence, relational excellence, 27:07 and vocational excellence. 27:09 So let's quickly look at that. 27:11 Turn to 2 Peter Chapter 1. 27:15 2 Peter Chapter 1, 27:17 God calls us to moral excellence, 27:20 to be above reproach. 27:22 But guess what? 27:24 He's the one that's going to equip us, 27:26 He does. 27:27 2 Peter 1:3 said, 27:29 "His divine power has given to us," how much? 27:33 "All things 27:34 that pertain to life and godliness, 27:37 through the knowledge of Him 27:38 who called us by glory in virtue, 27:41 by which had given, 27:42 been given to us 27:44 exceedingly great and precious promises, 27:46 that through these, through these promises, 27:49 you may be partakers of the divine nature, 27:53 having escaped the corruption 27:54 that is in the world through lust." 27:59 So God equips us to have moral excellence. 28:03 It doesn't mean that we don't make an effort 28:06 because He goes on, 28:08 and He talks about to this we, because of this, 28:12 we should be diligent to add to our faith, 28:14 virtue, knowledge, self-control, 28:16 perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love. 28:22 Which brings us to the second call 28:25 to what we would say is relational excellence. 28:31 This is the basis of God's covenant. 28:35 God wants us to be loyal, 28:38 to be loving, to practice fidelity, 28:42 and interdependence with Him, and the community of faith. 28:48 God is calling us to love Him, to love our neighbors, 28:52 to be excellent as a spouse, excellent as parents, even for, 28:58 if you think about these friends, 29:01 students or an employer-employee. 29:03 Now let's get to the lesson. 29:05 God calls us to vocational excellence. 29:10 He equips us with creativity and eloquence, 29:16 and He wants our diligence. 29:18 He wants us to focus 29:21 and to pursue excellence in everything we do. 29:26 I was brought up if anything is worth doing, 29:29 it's worth doing well. 29:32 So let's look at excellence, 29:35 excellence, Exodus Chapter 25. 29:39 And we're going to read or begin with verse 8. 29:43 Exodus 25:8. 29:46 God is speaking to Moses, 29:48 "He says, 'Let them make me a sanctuary, 29:52 that I may dwell among them.' 29:55 The purpose of the covenant 29:57 and it is always been God's purpose. 30:00 I will be your God, you shall be My people.'" 30:05 But you know, this is a big deal 30:07 that He is asking Moses 30:11 to have them build Him a sanctuary 30:13 because this is something really big 30:16 in the experience of the nation's understanding 30:21 of God's transcendence here, God lives up in heaven, 30:24 but His imminence 30:26 that He is going to dwell with them. 30:30 Now then verse 9 says, "According to all," 30:34 we're going to build a sanctuary, 30:36 "according to all that I show you, 30:39 that is the pattern of the tabernacle, 30:42 and the pattern of all of its furnishings, 30:45 just so you shall make it." 30:50 You know, it's interesting. 30:52 The primary focus of worship was in this design. 30:56 I mean, as I've said before this, 30:58 this was theology in physical form. 31:01 God gives a very detailed blueprint 31:07 for the tabernacle. 31:08 There's 150 points of things, point by point, 31:12 what they need to do, 31:13 even just for Moses to follow to build a temple, 31:19 there was a seven, I mean, a table, 31:21 it was a seven step procedure. 31:25 And, you know, the origin of the tabernacle, 31:30 if you look at Hebrews 8:5, 31:32 the origin of the tabernacle was found in God 31:37 and delivered to Moses by special revelation. 31:41 Hebrews 8:5 31:44 is talking about the tabernacle of that Moses built, 31:47 but it says, 31:49 "It serves as the copy and shadow 31:53 of the heavenly things, 31:55 as Moses was divinely instructed, 31:59 when he was about to make the tabernacle, for he said, 32:03 "See that you make all things, 32:06 according to the pattern shown you on the mountain." 32:11 God had the muse. 32:13 I mean, it's an impeccable design, 32:15 they use the best materials. 32:17 But then God provided the artisans 32:21 and the craftsman 32:23 with the ability to accomplish it. 32:26 He filled them with the Holy Spirit, 32:28 we're not going to take time to read that. 32:30 But you can read Exodus 31:1-6, 32:34 Exodus 35:30 through Exodus 36:1. 32:39 He gave them the ability. 32:44 Now, our lesson says, 32:47 and this is a quote from the quarterly, 32:49 "Thus being fallen sinful humanity, 32:53 or humans is not a valid excuse 32:56 for treating any task 32:58 with anything less than utmost dedication. 33:01 God expects us to perform at our best, 33:06 putting our talents, our skills, 33:08 our time and education to good use for great causes." 33:14 How can we pursue excellence? 33:18 I'm going to give you 4 P's. 33:20 We pray for the Holy Spirit, purify our thoughts, 33:25 practice what you learn, and press on. 33:30 We pray for the Holy Spirit. 33:32 And that's the most important thing 33:34 you can do every morning 33:36 is pray to be filled with the Holy Spirit. 33:38 That's something that God wants to do. 33:41 You look at Luke 11, purify our thoughts, 33:45 and practice what you learn. 33:48 Philippians 4:8-9 covers both of those. 33:51 It says, "Brethren, whatever is true, 33:54 whatever is worthy of reverence, 33:57 honorable and seemly, whatever is just and pure, 34:00 whatever is lovely and lovable, 34:03 whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, 34:07 if there is any virtue and excellence, 34:10 if there's anything worthy of praise, 34:13 think on." 34:15 And obviously, I'm reading from the Amplified, 34:17 "And weigh and take account of these things." 34:20 Fix your mind, on these good things. 34:24 Purify your thoughts. 34:26 But look at verse 9. 34:27 "Practice what you have learned and received 34:31 and heard and seen in me, 34:33 model your way of living on it 34:35 and the God of peace will be with you." 34:39 So the fourth P is press on. 34:41 Philippians 3:12-14 again from the Amplified. 34:47 Paul says, "Not that I have now attained this ideal 34:51 or have already been made perfect, 34:52 but I press on to hold, 34:55 take hold and make my own 34:57 that for which Jesus Christ the Messiah 35:00 has laid hold of me. 35:03 I do not consider brethren that I've captured 35:06 and made it my own yet 35:08 but one thing I do my one aspiration, 35:12 forgetting what lies behind in straining forward 35:15 to what lies ahead." 35:17 I press on toward the goal, 35:19 to win the prize to which God in Christ Jesus 35:23 is calling us upward. 35:24 Amen. 35:25 Thank you so much, Shelley, each one of you. 35:27 I love that work and excellence. 35:30 Work is a gift. Yes, it is. 35:32 Given by God Himself to Adam and Eve 35:34 in the Garden before sin. 35:36 Pastor John, as you talked about, 35:38 I love that. 35:39 Wednesday, we have "Work and Spirituality," 35:42 bringing spirituality into everything you do. 35:47 There's this concept 35:49 of compartmentalization and integration. 35:53 We won't even get into that. 35:55 The only thing I want to reference that 35:57 is that some people compartmentalize 35:59 their spiritual life. 36:01 In other words, they say, 36:02 I'm a Christian on Sabbath when I go to church, 36:04 or maybe you go to church on Sunday, 36:06 whatever day you go to church, 36:07 I'm a Christian when I go to church, 36:09 the rest of the week, I'm not a Christian, 36:12 or I don't bring spirituality 36:16 and religion into my life. 36:20 However, God calls us to be 24/7 Christians. 36:25 Christianity, 36:27 Jesus should pervade every aspect of our lives. 36:32 Following Jesus is not something I put on 36:34 when certain people are around. 36:36 It's not something I wear at certain times, 36:37 and then take off. 36:39 It's not something I only do at church 36:41 or with certain people. 36:44 Following Jesus should impact how I speak, how I think, 36:49 who I am, and how I work. 36:53 That's what we look at here on Wednesday's lesson 36:55 is integrating spirituality into everything we do. 37:00 Paul tells us 1 Corinthians 10:31. 37:03 "Therefore, whether you eat or drink, 37:05 or whatever you do, 37:06 do all to the glory of God." 37:10 Everything we do should be done 37:12 for the glory of God. 37:14 So how do you manifest spirituality 37:16 in the day-to-day tasks of everyday life? 37:19 That's just a practical question. 37:20 How are you even supposed to do that? 37:22 The lesson talks about the fruit of the Spirit 37:25 and we're going there. 37:27 I'm calling it four steps 37:30 to bring spirituality into my life, 37:33 into all of my life, not just when I go to church, 37:36 Sabbath morning. 37:38 Step number one is to abide in Him. 37:41 This is the condition for fruitfulness 37:43 is that we abide in Him. 37:46 John 15, before we go to Galatians, 37:48 we're going to John 15. 37:50 John 15:1 says, "I am the true vine 37:53 and My father is the vinedresser." 37:55 Jump down to verse 4, "Abide in me and I in you, 37:59 as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself 38:02 unless it abides in the vine, 38:04 neither can you unless you abide in Me. 38:07 I am the vine, you are the branches. 38:09 He who abides in Me and I in him bears much fruit, 38:12 for without Me you can do" just a few things. 38:16 "No, nothing." 38:18 Without Jesus we can do nothing. 38:19 So He, we are the branches 38:22 and we receive life giving power, 38:25 to be fruitful, 38:27 to walk in Him to bring that spirituality 38:30 into our life 38:31 that comes from the Lord Jesus Christ. 38:34 Number two, choose whom you serve. 38:39 Now we're going to Galatians. 38:41 Galatians 5:17. 38:45 This talks about the war 38:47 between the flesh and the spirit. 38:50 "For the flesh lusts against the spirit 38:52 and the spirit against the flesh. 38:54 And these are contrary to one another, 38:57 so that you do not do the things that you wish." 39:02 It's interesting the contrast 39:04 between the flesh and the spirit, 39:05 between self-centered living, 39:08 or I call it flesh filled living, 39:11 and I've been there and done that many times. 39:14 On the other side, we have Christ centered living, 39:18 or spirit filled living. 39:22 Self-centered is controlled by passion. 39:25 Christ centered is controlled by the Holy Spirit. 39:27 Self-centered is a slave to sin. 39:31 Christ centered dies to self and sin. 39:34 Self-centered shows the fruit of sin. 39:38 Christ centered shows the fruit of the Spirit. 39:40 Self centered walks in lust, Christ centered walks in love, 39:46 that self-sacrificing love. 39:48 Self centered is an idolater. 39:50 They live for themselves. 39:52 Christ centered lives for other people. 39:55 So we need to make a choice, 39:57 "Who are we going to serve, the flesh or the spirit? 40:00 Romans 6:16 says, 40:02 "Do you not know 40:03 that to whom you present yourself slaves to obey, 40:06 you are that one slaves whom you obey, 40:08 whether of sin leading to death 40:10 or of obedience leading to righteousness." 40:14 So every morning when we get up, 40:16 we want to connect again to the vine, 40:18 that's the Lord Jesus Christ and say, 40:20 "God, I give You my life, 40:22 I choose to follow You today." 40:25 Because if we don't do that, 40:27 and don't submit throughout the day, 40:30 turning back to Jesus and asking Him into our hearts, 40:33 choosing Him, when we face those decisions, 40:35 or when the flesh tends to rise up, 40:38 turn back to Him. 40:39 If we don't do that, we're going, leading to sin, 40:43 and that leads to death. 40:44 We want that path of obedience leading to righteousness, 40:47 and that comes about as a result of whom we serve. 40:52 Number three, walk in the Spirit. 40:54 Now we get the fruit of the Spirit. 40:56 Galatians 5:16, I say, "Then walk in the Spirit, 40:59 and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh." 41:03 Now let's read the fruit of the Spirit. 41:05 Those nine fruit, verse 22 and 23. 41:09 "But the fruit of the Spirit 41:10 is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, 41:13 goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. 41:17 Against such there is no law." 41:21 I always coupled the fruit of the Spirit 41:23 in three sections, you have the first three, 41:25 love, joy and peace toward God. 41:28 You have the second three, patience, kindness and goodness 41:31 that's fruit exhibited 41:32 toward your brothers and sisters. 41:34 Then you have the final three, 41:35 faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. 41:38 I would think of it as fruit turned inward, 41:40 meaning it's how I deal with myself. 41:43 The first three, love, joy and peace. 41:45 What is that love? 41:46 That love is agape love, self-sacrificing love. 41:51 Of course, we don't have that love. 41:52 We ask God for His love. 41:55 We accept it by faith, 41:57 knowing that He can give it to us. 41:59 And we actively reach out in loving ways to other people. 42:03 What about the second fruit, the joy? 42:06 Happiness is earthly 42:08 because happiness is dependent on circumstances. 42:12 But joy, true joy that comes from the Lord 42:15 is not dependent on what goes on around you. 42:19 Psalm 16:11, 42:20 "You will show me the path of life, 42:22 in your presence is fullness of joy, 42:26 at your right hand are pleasures forevermore." 42:28 What does that mean? 42:30 When we are in His presence, we walk in joy. 42:33 Third fruit, peace. 42:35 Peace comes from being justified with God. 42:38 That's Romans 5:1. 42:39 Peace comes from Jesus in our hearts. 42:42 That's Romans 15:13. 42:44 Peace comes from keeping my mind, 42:46 my thoughts stayed upon Him. 42:49 That's Isaiah 26:3. 42:52 What about the next three fruit, 42:53 turn toward others, we have patience. 42:56 Ooh, accepting God's will and timing, 43:00 endurance, contentment, flexibility. 43:04 We have kindness. 43:05 I always think of kindness, Pastor Ryan, 43:07 as being about my attitude, 43:09 and then we have goodness 43:10 and I always think of goodness as being about my actions. 43:13 So kindness is my attitude. 43:16 Goodness, my actions. 43:17 We have the last three, faithfulness, 43:19 the character of one who can be relied on. 43:22 Gentleness or humility. 43:25 Meekness is not weakness. 43:28 Gentleness is not without power. 43:30 It just chooses to defer to others. 43:33 It forgives others, 43:35 corrects with kindness and lives in tranquility. 43:38 And the final fruit, self-control. 43:41 True self-control is not about bringing myself 43:45 under my own control, 43:47 but about being under the power of Christ. 43:49 So I always renamed that fruit instead of self-control, 43:52 I call it Christ control, 43:54 meaning I submit to Him 43:56 and He's the one who does that work in me. 43:59 The fourth step and final step is to crucify the flesh, 44:03 we're to walk in the fruit of the Spirit, 44:05 but we are called to crucify the flesh. 44:09 Galatians 5:24. 44:11 "And those who are of Christ 44:13 have crucified the flesh with its passions and lust. 44:17 When we crucified the flesh, 44:18 that power is destroyed utterly. 44:21 Then what follows a list of the works of the flesh. 44:27 We won't read them all 44:28 and it is not an exhaustive list 44:29 because there's a lot of works of the flesh, 44:31 but it's an illustrative list. 44:33 The first four 44:34 deal with sensuality and immorality. 44:37 That's in verse 19, the works of the flesh, 44:39 adultery, fornication, uncleanness, 44:41 which is impurity, 44:43 lewdness, which is unbridled lust. 44:46 Then we have next idolatry. 44:48 We have sorcery or witchcraft, 44:50 and then the next nine are all selfishness, 44:53 hatred, contention, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, 44:56 envy, murders, dissensions, heresies. 44:59 The last two deal with intemperance, 45:01 drunkenness and revelries. 45:03 The point of all of this, I don't know about you, 45:06 but I have walked 45:08 in some of those works of the flesh, 45:09 but God by the power of His Spirit says, 45:11 I can change you. 45:12 Connect to Me as the vine, 45:15 choose every moment of every day to follow Me, 45:18 and I will work in you the fruit of the Spirit. 45:22 Praise the Lord. 45:24 Thank you all so much, that was such a blessing. 45:27 I have Thursday's lesson 45:28 entitled "Work and Stewardship." 45:31 And, you know, I'm going to focus a little... 45:33 I'm gonna take a little bit of a more of an emphasis 45:36 on the stewardship area. 45:37 But I'm going to fold it into the work 45:39 because you guys have just been work, work, work, work 45:40 up to this point, 45:42 which is the purpose of this lesson. 45:44 But I'm going to emphasize a little bit more 45:46 towards the stewardship 45:47 because stewardship is a work in ministry, 45:51 it's a work in our relationship with the Lord. 45:53 And so, I just want to highlight or identify 45:55 what it is that stewardship is, 45:57 and this is a very simple definition. 46:00 But steward is a person 46:01 entrusted with the management of another person's property. 46:05 In this case, all belongs to God. 46:08 Everything belongs to God. 46:10 In fact, there's only one thing that we own in this lifetime, 46:13 and that's our sin. 46:14 And Jesus wants that too. 46:16 Jesus died for that 46:17 and He wants us to turn that over to Him too. 46:19 But He allows us to own that if we want it. 46:22 And I had a friend who said something to me 46:23 one time very simple, but very profound. 46:25 He said, "Why in the world would you want to die 46:27 for your sins 46:28 when Jesus has already died for them, right?" 46:31 Jesus owns everything. 46:32 And we are just here, we are stewards, 46:33 we are managers of His property. 46:36 And you know, it kind of, I really related to this, 46:38 because, you know, I'm still relatively young man. 46:43 But I've been in ministry now praise God for a few years, 46:46 but before I was in ministry, 46:48 I had the wonderful privilege of being in the workforce 46:51 and in the work field in a non-ministry setting. 46:54 And much of that was management, 46:56 I was in management. 46:57 And when you're in management, you have a big responsibility. 47:00 It's a very, very important work. 47:03 And essentially, 47:04 what you're doing is you're managing 47:05 and you're a steward, 47:07 when you're a manager of anything, 47:08 no matter what type of workforce or job 47:11 or whatever you're involved in, 47:13 you are a steward, 47:14 you are managing another person's property 47:17 or managing another person's business 47:19 or affairs. 47:21 And so in this case, God has entrusted us, 47:24 He's given us a special work, and He's calling us, 47:27 He's saying, "Hey, this is mine. 47:28 I want to freely give it to you. 47:30 But can I count you faithful? 47:32 Can I trust you?" 47:34 When thinking of stewardship though, 47:36 many people automatically go to tithing, 47:39 right? 47:40 Because you think of money, right? 47:42 Then while tithing 47:43 is a very important aspect of stewardship, 47:45 there is much more to being a good steward 47:47 than just the money side of things. 47:48 And that's what we're gonna kind of go in right now. 47:50 God has given us all special gifts. 47:53 And we must accept and trust in Him 47:57 as the Lord of our lives with these special gifts. 48:00 And Peter kind of gives us some insight 48:01 as to how God views us. 48:03 We're not just people, 48:06 we're not just these little tiny ants 48:07 running around, 48:08 you know, in some big giant God up there. 48:10 God is a personal God. 48:12 And in this case, He views us 48:13 as a very, very special people to His heart. 48:16 In fact, notice 1 Peter. 48:18 I want to go to 1 Peter Chapter 2, 48:19 just read a couple of texts here 48:20 just to kind of set the foundation here. 48:22 1 Peter Chapter 2, 48:23 I'm going to start reading in verse 5. 48:25 And he says here very clearly, "You also as living stones, 48:29 are being built up a spiritual house, 48:33 a holy priesthood. 48:35 How does He see us? 48:37 He sees us as a holy priesthood to offer up, 48:40 notice this, spiritual sacrifices, 48:43 acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 48:46 Now jump down to verse 9. 48:47 This is that famous one that that I love this verse, 48:50 it's one of my favorite verses. 48:51 He says, "But you, this is personal, all of us. 48:54 You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, 48:58 a holy nation, His own special people, 49:01 that you may proclaim the praises of Him, 49:03 Who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. 49:07 God is so good to us. 49:08 And He takes all that He has, He says, it's all mine, 49:11 all that cattle out there. 49:12 I own all the cattle on a thousand hills, 49:14 it's all mine. 49:15 But you know what? I'm going to give it to you. 49:16 I'm going to make you a manager over my stuff. 49:18 And what's mine is yours. 49:21 The truth is, the question is, 49:23 can we be faithful as stewards 49:25 in the work that God has given us? 49:27 Stewardship and work is a multi-dimensional aspect 49:30 of the Christian life 49:31 that includes us putting to proper use 49:34 what God has entrusted us to manage. 49:37 And so I wanna kind of look at just many different ways 49:39 that we can be a good steward. 49:40 First of all the time that God gives us. 49:43 It's not our time. 49:45 We're on borrowed time. We're on God's time. 49:47 We are stewards of the time that God has given us. 49:50 I love Psalm 90:12. 49:52 The Bible says so teach us to number our days, 49:56 that we may gain a heart of wisdom. 49:59 Another one, Ecclesiastes 7:17. 50:01 You know what, many of us were kind of misusing 50:04 and abusing the time that God has given us. 50:06 And we have a special counsel here from the wisest man 50:09 to ever live other than Jesus. 50:10 He says here, 50:12 "Do not be overly wicked nor be foolish 50:13 for why should you die before your time." 50:17 We also have James 4:14, 50:19 which is another special text 50:21 that highlights the importance of the time 50:23 that we have here that God has entrusted to us 50:25 as His faithful servants. 50:27 It says in verse 14, 50:28 "Whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow, 50:31 for what is your life, 50:32 it is even a vapor that appears for a time 50:34 and then vanishes away. 50:37 So we are the stewards of the time 50:39 that God has given us, 50:40 we're also stewards of the talents 50:42 that God has given us. 50:43 And that, you know, every time I say this, 50:45 when I would preach this on the road, 50:46 I had people come up to me say, you know, you know, 50:48 you've got all these talents, I don't have any talent. 50:51 No, everyone's got talents. 50:52 Everyone has a special gift, 50:54 an ability that God has given just you 50:57 for you to use for His glory. 50:59 And I love Exodus Chapter 35, we were talking about, 51:01 I love Shelley, how you brought up the temple, 51:03 the building of the sanctuary, and how God said, 51:04 "Let them make me a sanctuary, 51:06 that I may dwell among them. 51:08 "Even God made, God made His people, 51:10 these, these, these people, 51:12 controlling managers over building His own house. 51:16 And so I love this text here, Exodus 35, 51:18 in reference to of the building of His house, 51:20 he said all, this is Exodus 35:10, 51:23 "All who are gifted artisans, 51:25 among you shall come and make 51:27 all that the Lord has commanded." 51:29 He bestowed that special responsibility 51:32 upon those to build His house, 51:33 He made them a steward over His house, 51:35 that's awesome. 51:37 And they were to exercise the talents 51:39 and the gifts that He gave them to do so. 51:41 1 Peter 4:10-11. 51:43 This is another one where we're going, 51:44 we're going rapid fire here. 51:46 So here we go. 51:47 It says, "As each one has received a gift, 51:50 minister it to one another, 51:52 as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 51:56 If anyone speaks, 51:57 let him speak as the oracles of God. 52:00 If anyone ministers let him do it, 52:02 as with the ability, which God supplies." 52:05 And notice how the emphasis is on God. 52:06 God gives it, God supplies it, it's coming by God's grace, 52:10 that in all things, I love this, 52:12 God may be glorified through Jesus Christ 52:14 to whom belong the glory 52:17 and the dominion forever and ever. 52:18 Amen. So the emphasis is on God. 52:20 Why does God give us these gifts? 52:21 So that we can bring glory to Him. 52:23 And many of us have all these talents, 52:25 we have these special gifts, 52:27 and some of us are out there wasting it on the world, 52:29 wasting it on the devil. 52:30 My friends, if you're at home, 52:32 and God has given you a special gift, 52:33 and you're watching this program right now, 52:35 use it for Jesus, use it for the glory of God, 52:37 because that's why He gave it to you. 52:38 He gave it 52:40 so that He might receive the glory. 52:41 We are stewards over all of God's property, 52:44 get this even including ourselves, our bodies. 52:48 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, 52:51 "Or do you not know 52:52 that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit 52:54 who is in you whom you have from God, 52:56 and you are not your own, for you were bought at a price. 53:00 Therefore glorify God in your body 53:02 and in your spirits, which are God." 53:05 So God gives us this body, He says, 53:06 "Look, I created you for My glory. 53:08 I've purchased it with My blood on a cross." 53:11 And what we put into it, 53:12 what we put on it 53:14 inside and out matters, my friends. 53:16 You know, I see people, I know we live in a generation 53:18 where some people don't know better, 53:20 but you have others out there 53:21 that are just very careless with God's property. 53:23 And they just put anything and everything on it. 53:26 You know, markings and tattoos and etchings and, my friends, 53:29 you are damaging God's property. 53:31 Pray that the Lord will give you victory over that 53:33 and to open your eyes to see 53:35 that we are all servants of the Lord. 53:36 And this is His property. 53:38 Here's an important one. 53:39 We are stewards of the people in the family 53:42 that God blesses us with. 53:45 1 Timothy 5:8, 53:47 "But if anyone does not provide for his own, 53:50 and especially for those of his household, 53:52 he has denied the faith 53:54 and is worse than an unbeliever." 53:55 That's strong. 53:57 God blesses men and women and people with family, 54:00 with the people 54:01 that He has blessed you with Him. 54:03 It is, we are stewards, we are managers of that family. 54:05 That's why it's important. 54:06 I'm just giving this as an example, 54:08 for a father to lead his home in the Lord, 54:11 to lead his family in the Lord and to provide for their needs. 54:15 This next one I want to bring out God, 54:17 and of course, this is the one you knew was coming. 54:19 We are stewards of God's money, God's resources. 54:23 And again, this list that I'm giving is, 54:24 it's, I recognize it could be much more complex than this. 54:27 But for the time giving, 54:28 we'll just bring this out and emphasize it. 54:31 Malachi 3:10, this is the one that comes to mind 54:34 anytime you're thinking of returning to God. 54:36 I don't really like saying paying tithes, 54:38 I don't pay tithe. 54:39 You don't pay tithe. 54:41 You know, you're not paying God anything. 54:42 You're returning to God what's already His. 54:44 Malachi 3:10. 54:46 "Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, 54:48 that there may be food in my house." 54:49 And he says, test me on this, try me, 54:51 says the Lord, 54:53 "If I will not open the windows of heaven 54:54 and pour out such a blessing 54:55 that there will not be room enough to receive it." 54:58 That's why I love the story in Luke 21:1-4 55:01 of the little widow. 55:03 Jesus is observing all these people 55:05 bringing the tithe into the treasury. 55:07 And He sees all these people putting their money in, 55:09 you know, the rich people and the wealthy people. 55:11 And here comes this little widow 55:12 with her two mites. 55:14 That's all she had. And she put it in there. 55:15 And there's a powerful lesson to learn here. 55:16 I just want to say this in the closing moment. 55:18 There's someone out there that's going to say, 55:19 Well, I don't return tithe 55:21 because I don't trust the wicked people who, 55:22 you know, manage this or whatever, 55:24 I don't pay to the conference. 55:25 I don't do this. 55:26 At the end of the day, my friends, 55:28 we have to be reminded 55:29 that, you know, Jesus could have stopped 55:31 that little widow and said, 55:32 "Hey, don't give your money to these foolish Pharisees. 55:34 They're all wicked. 55:35 They're going to crucify me in three years. 55:36 They're going to do all this 55:38 and are going to do all of that." 55:39 But because it was a responsibility, 55:41 not just for Him, but for her and everyone 55:42 to return what is God's. 55:44 We are stewards of God's property. 55:46 He has given us the ability to manage it. 55:48 Let's be faithful in all things and work and be a good steward. 55:52 Amen. Okay. 55:53 Pastor Dinzey, Give me an overview 55:56 of what you covered? 55:58 Well, the blessing of work, 56:01 work is a blessing that God has given us, 56:02 but whatever your work is in this life, 56:05 take Jesus with you, and let Him shine through you. 56:09 Amen and amen. 56:10 My day was Work and Excellence. 56:13 Just remember that God calls us and equips us 56:17 for moral excellence, relational excellence, 56:21 and vocational excellence. 56:23 And you can pursue that by praying for the Holy Spirit, 56:27 purifying your thoughts, 56:29 putting into practice what you learn 56:31 and pressing onward. 56:33 Amen. 56:34 Wednesday Work and Spirituality. 56:36 John 15:16, "You did not choose me, 56:38 but I chose you, and ordained you 56:40 that you should go and bear fruit." 56:42 We are called to bear fruit for His glory. 56:46 1 Corinthians 10:31, 56:48 "Therefore whatever you eat, or drink, 56:50 or whatsoever you do, 56:52 do all for the glory of God." 56:54 It is our job to make sure 56:55 that whatever we do in stewardship, 56:58 to be faithful to the Lord, 56:59 that we do it all to God's glory, not our own. 57:01 That's right. 57:03 Thank you all for covering that. 57:04 You know, we all are called to work for the kingdom of God. 57:08 And there are a couple of passages 57:09 I wanted to add in the beginning, 57:10 but I'll add them before we close. 57:13 Matthew 25:21. 57:14 This is what all of us, 57:16 every one of us wants to hear when Jesus returns. 57:19 "And the Lord said to him, 57:21 'Well done, good and faithful servant. 57:25 You were faithful over a few things, 57:27 I will make you ruler over many things, 57:30 enter into the joy of the Lord.'" 57:32 And then Revelation 22:12, 57:34 "Behold, I am coming quickly and my reward is with me 57:38 to give to everyone according to his work." 57:41 So as the song says, to him work, 57:44 for the night is coming. 57:46 That's what God has called us to do. 57:48 We must pray that we respond 57:50 to the voice of the vinedresser, 57:53 the voice of the one who owns the harvest fields, 57:56 and go forth as laborers into the field. 57:59 Join us for the next lesson, lesson number 12 Sabbath, 58:02 experiencing and living the character of God. 58:06 Until then, may you work, 58:08 only to be the one to give glory to God. 58:11 See you next time. 58:12 Amen. |
Revised 2020-12-09