Are We Ready — Luke 12

0:06 Well, good morning, everybody. Good morning. Nice to be with you again today. A little flashback. Last time you saw me at this platform it was December 27.

0:18 Anybody remember that far back? I remember it well. It was the day that COVID entered the reader household. Yeah, lots happened in four months but nothing ever surprised the lord. Amen.

0:38 It has allow, it's changed our plans to go back to Manila. I was reading through my notes and it said we'll be leaving in a week and a half. Yeah, right. Okay, so that didn't happen and of course with two hospitals and about forty days of dealing with healthcare, We're glad that's behind us. We're glad that's behind us.

1:00 But as I said, nothing surprises the Lord. He's allowed us to be here through all those COVID challenges and other health concerns, and we are very blessed. And at the same time, we've been able to continue working at Faith Academy. We're not 8,000 miles away doing it, but because Faith Academy is still online, we're doing everything we would be doing had we been fifteen minutes away from campus. Just an FYI, the campus is still locked down.

1:30 Students are not able to come and The Philippines is still locked down. There's a travel ban. Even if we could go today, we couldn't because the Philippines government has locked down the country since March 15. We did have a special visa way back in January that we could have used, but in actuality, the Philippines President shut down The Philippines on December 29. We couldn't even have gone January 5 if we were healthy.

2:00 So all that to be said, here we are. And we just want to say thank you for your love, your support, your encouragement throughout these now eleven months that we've been here, thinking we are going to be here for two and again we just are excited about what's coming in the future. If the Lord does well, I make sure to state that. We hope to return to Manila in early August for the twenty twenty one-twenty twenty two, that's hard to say, school year and it will be starting online the first five weeks, they just announced this yesterday, but they do hope to be able to switch into a hybrid mode and eventually into face to face education next year. Once school finishes this year, June 1, Miriam and I will be hopefully doing some traveling for Faith Academy as I have three alumni reunions around the country.

2:52 Continue to covet your prayers. You know, these life experiences remind us all that we are not in control, right? We are not in control, but the Lord is. And some very famous verses, Proverbs chapter 16 verse nine says, The mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps. Our responsibility is commit our ways to Him and trust Him for the outcome, right?

3:17 And then we can also read in Proverbs 16 verse three, it says, Commit your works to the Lord and your plans will be established. So as we study God's word even this morning, may we be sensitive to the teaching of Jesus so that we can commit our plans and our works to the will of the Lord. Let's pray. Heavenly Father, thank you for this time that we can open your word and study it. I pray that you would speak through me Lord, what you'd want to say.

3:49 Father, you that you did give us your words in writing and that you did give us people that were very brave, very brave and took your word and translated it into a language that we can understand. We take it for granted I know but there are still places around this world that don't have your word in their heart language and just want to pray for all those involved with that kind of ministry. Lord please go before me right now, lead the way as we open up your word in Jesus name, Amen. Well, could you turn to Luke chapter 12? Luke chapter 12 and while you're looking for that, I want to share a quick little story, a little bit embarrassing for me, but a little story.

5:18 So this is a view from an area of our neighborhood we can actually see Faith Academy. In the distance you see the skyscrapers on Manila Bay and beyond that if you're a historic buff it's Bataan Peninsula, home of the very famous or infamous Bataan Death March. It's actually Bataan. Anyway, so this is what we would do each night and kind of reset ourselves and the sun would start to go down and we'd be home by the time the bats were flying around eating up the mosquitoes. Except for that one time one flew right between Miriam's legs as we were walking which shuddered, you know, scary.

5:54 Anyway, but there was one time, one time when I was not prepared. Alright, we had our walk, had my stick in case any of the dogs got out and you know, I never had to use it, praise the Lord. But we were prepared for that. We were prepared for the bats because we were going to get in soon enough, but I wasn't prepared for this big loud noise I heard. Man there's a train coming.

6:18 There's no train tracks anywhere near us. Mira's like, Oh no, it's a thunderstorm. It was not a thunderstorm it was just a rainstorm and you could hear it like a train coming through the trees and this is what we looked like in about five minutes. Alright, we actually took a picture of this when we got home because we said we'll never be this wet again unless we're underwater, you know. So what my point is here is that we were not ready.

6:44 We were just flat out not ready and it's a smiley, chuckling thing to think about when you're not ready for a rainstorm. Okay, so what do you do? You just hang up your clothes and let them drip dry and you go change and you're all set for the rest of the night. But it's not really true though when it comes down to life. The big picture of life.

7:05 And today as we look at Luke chapter 12, I'm just going to focus on the first three sections of that and look at this question. Look at this question. As children of God living in these last days, are we ready? As children of God living in these last days, are we ready for what the Lord will permit to happen to us? I'll repeat that.

7:35 As children of God living in these last days, are we ready for what the Lord will permit to happen to us? We're gonna look at three areas in Luke chapter 12. First one is whom shall we fear? Second section is what shall we fear? And the third, what shall we not fear?

8:00 Again, whom shall we fear? What shall we fear? And what shall we not fear? So let's start by looking at Luke chapter 12 reading the first 12 verses. Under these circumstances, after so many thousands of the multitude had gathered together that they were stepping on one another, Jesus began saying to his disciples, first of all, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

8:31 But there is nothing covered up that will not be revealed and hidden that will not be known. Accordingly, whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light and what you have whispered in the inner rooms shall be proclaimed upon the housetops. And I say to you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that have no more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear. Fear the one who after he is killed has authority to cast into hell.

9:08 Yes, I tell you, fear him. Are not five sparrows sold for 2¢ and yet one of them is forgotten? No, sorry, not one of them is forgotten before God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear.

9:26 You are of more value than many sparrows. And I say to you, everyone who confesses me before men, the Son of Man shall confess him also before the angels of God. But he who denies me before men shall be denied before the angels of God. And everyone who will speak a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him. But he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him.

9:54 And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not become anxious about how or what you should speak in your defense or what you should say. For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say. There's a lot in that first section, but let's take a look at that first, those first three words, under these circumstances. You know, we are in a situation right now in our life that people someday in the future could say under those circumstances, you can fill in the blank, right? Well under these circumstances, what were they at this moment?

10:33 Well the verse prior, the two verses prior to this, the last two verses of Luke 11 said, and when Jesus left there the scribes and the Pharisees began to be very hostile and to question him closely on many subjects plotting against him to catch him in something he might say. So what's the situation? They're hostile and they're plotting against him. And yet, the rest of this first verse says, so many people were gathering to listen to Jesus that they were stepping on each other. Thousands of people it says, thousands.

11:11 And yet Jesus knew, Jesus knew that in the very near future, his disciples would be challenged. His followers would be put to a test. And he wanted them to be ready for the trials that were ahead. What did he say? Beware.

11:48 But because they were filled with hypocrisy, they were not to be trusted or followed. The Lord told us in verse four, not to fear men though. So he warned about them but not to fear them. Instead he said, even unto death we shouldn't fear them. My friends, he said, do not be afraid of those who kill the body And after that, have no more that they can do.

12:16 So, whom shall we fear? Well, it's not men. Verse five though does say who we should fear. Jesus specified whom it is, God the Father. He said, But I will warn you whom to fear.

12:30 Fear the one who after he has killed has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. So what does that do for the disciples? What does that do for those who are listening? It resets everything that they're looking at when it comes to life.

12:52 Cause the most important figures in this culture were the religious leaders. Yeah, they had to deal also with the Roman government. But it was the religious leaders that they always wanted to please. We think about miracles that Jesus performed where someone said, well I know that I was blind, but now I see. And then they keep asking, well how did you become, how are you able to see?

13:15 And he goes, you me to say it again? Are you wanting to follow him? Do remember this story? Right? And the whole purpose, his parents didn't want to talk to the religious leaders, because they were afraid they'd get thrown out of the synagogue.

13:28 And that's exactly what happened to the man who was formerly blind. They cast him out. So they did wield all this authority. Yet Jesus said, don't listen to them. Don't even fear them.

13:44 He loves us and he is caring for us. You know this, it's interesting about this little verse that talks about the five sparrows sold for 2¢. Well, there's another verse in scripture says two sparrows are sold for just 1¢. So Jesus is up in that. So what happens?

14:05 You got two for one and you got two for one. Well, no, we'll throw in another one. Alright, just like bartering at the market, right? We'll throw in another one. That's how worthless this next one is, okay?

14:17 For, you know, we'll give two for one and two for one, but we'll throw that one in. And he's saying, yet these sparrows, I take care of them and you're much more valuable than sparrows. I will take care of you. However, he did give a warning, didn't he? Don't deny.

14:34 Don't deny the Father. Don't deny God. No matter what the pressure is from the religious leaders or whatever people have control over us. Don't allow them to cause you to deny your heavenly Father. The last two verses give us some interesting thoughts though, don't they?

14:58 Verse eleven and twelve. When they bring you. Oh, woah, what was that word again? When they bring you? It wasn't if they bring you.

15:10 It was when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities. Do not become anxious about how or what you should speak in your defense or what you should say. For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say. Now there's some men, maybe I was one of those this week who would say, I like that verse because that means I don't have to prepare a sermon. I can just wait for that moment.

15:37 No, that's not what Jesus is talking about here, okay? You don't have to wait till you get up here and go, okay, Lord, now's that moment, right? Where's that Holy Spirit lead? No, that's not it at all. It was a time of persecution.

15:49 A very serious time. A time when these people's lives are on the line. And you need to make a defense. You know, in my prayer I was talking about thanking the Lord for scripture that's in our own language. Have you guys ever learned about William Tyndale?

16:10 What did it cost William Tyndale to translate the word of God into the common language of English? He was burned at the stake for heresy. Wow! There have been missionaries throughout the ages that have tried to translate scripture and suffer because of it. So we are reminded that suffering has been out there, has been out there, has been out there, and there, and there, and there, but suffering's not here, right?

16:49 Suffering isn't going to be here, right? There's not gonna be pursuit. This is The United States Of America. Do you see anywhere in scripture that points out The United States Of America getting a pass on persecution? Do you think the disciples thought, well, we've got Jesus.

17:15 He's the miracle man. We're not gonna suffer persecution. And yet, historians have said that every single disciple was a martyr. What's the second section look like of this? Jesus continues on but he gets interrupted in verse 13.

18:15 Where people's values are and that they aren't listening. Where their values are, where their treasure is if I might go that far and that they don't listen. But Jesus, He addresses the question and then He gives a very good example of the problem that this not only this person had but I'll just expand, the entire world has. Let's read 13 through 21. Category here is, What Shall We Fear?

18:48 What Shall We Fear? And someone in the crowd said to him, Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me. But he said to him, man, who appointed me a judge or arbiter over you? And he said to them, beware and be on your guard against every form of greed. For not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.

19:17 And he told them a parable saying, the land of a certain rich man was very productive. And he began reasoning to himself saying, what shall I do since I have no place to store my crops? And he said, this is what I will do, I will tear down my barns and build larger ones and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come. Take your ease, eat, drink and be merry.

19:52 But God said to him, You fool, this very night your soul is required of you. And now who will own what you have prepared? So is the man who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God. So what shall we fear? Excuse me.

20:25 We are to beware of something. We are to be on our guard against something. And what is it? I don't think I've ever heard this except for the scriptures. Beware of greed.

20:41 Beware or be on your guard. Be on your guard against every form of greed? Boy, that smacks against our culture and obviously it smacked against that one. For this man to just totally ignore what Jesus had just taught in the first 12 verses and ask, hey, can you deal with my brother here? He's not splitting the inheritance with me.

21:03 I need some money. And Jesus is saying, you're the epitome of greed. And because of that, you are missing the greatest gift you could ever have right in front of you. So let's break down this scripture. Let's break down this parable.

21:28 Verse 16, he was already rich. He was already rich. How'd that happen? We don't know. It's a parable.

21:39 But we'll just say by God's sovereignty. Maybe he was born into the money. Maybe he found some valuable mineral on his property. Maybe he just had really good servants that knew how to bring in a crop. But the bottom line was he was already rich.

21:54 By the way, I just did a little research. Now this is five years old, so I apologize. It's not as of yesterday. But according to the Washington Post in an article five years ago, that if you have $70,000 If a person has $70,000 net worth, net worth, that you you have more money than 90% of the people in the world. You're in the top 10 percentile.

22:23 70,000 net worth five years ago was in the 90 percentile. Ain't that amazing? So do you think that the Lord chose a rich man? Because first of all, everybody wants to be rich and he knew that, but he also recognized that probably the majority of people were. Second point.

22:49 God gave him even more. In verse 16. Said the land of a certain rich man was very productive. God gave him more. Did this man cause the crop to grow so well that he had so much profit?

23:04 No, it was God's doing there too. Verse 17, he reasoned to himself. Ah, he reasoned to himself. Who did he not go to to say what would you like me to do with all this increase? God.

23:20 He never went to God, he reasoned to himself. He's talking to himself. So, I just love that. So, okay. He is reason to himself rather than praying to God.

23:29 So what's he going to get? An answer that's very selfish. An answer that's very selfish. He was then presumptuous. So with that selfishness and that presumption, he didn't seek God's will.

23:43 He didn't go, oh Lord willing, I will do this. James four fifteen, right? Instead he said four things. I will live a life of ease. I will eat.

23:55 I will drink, and I will be merry. Do you think that was just the culture of that day? Is that not the epitome of the world even today? Who are the people that are honored the most in our culture? And I'm talking the whole world.

24:14 People with a lot in their bank account. I have never seen Bill Gates' bank account. I don't care. But a lot of people do care what Bill Gates says because he has a lot of money in his bank account. I don't care what LeBron James thinks.

24:31 But a lot of people do because he can shoot a ball into a circle and he has a lot of money in his bank account. You can extrapolate all you want. Is it not true? The people who have money have power and have influence. It's a fact of life.

24:48 Jesus is smacking that right now. And if I could use another baseball term out of the ballpark. Alright, he's knocking this out. This is not his kingdom. And if we are to be followers of Jesus Christ, we can't do this.

25:07 Instead, if you do this according to Jesus, you are a fool. Two little examples of this. Ever heard Ron Blue, Christian financial advisor? I was on a webinar with him a week and a half ago, and he said that he goes to Africa often to visit missionaries there. And he said, I asked a missionary there, I said, so what's the biggest problem you have with all this poverty and sickness and, you know, the crop didn't come in?

25:39 We're talking, he showed a picture of a little hut. It was just a stick hut, dirt floor, just your epitome of a little village, right? And the missionary said, materialism. And he said, are you kidding me? They don't have anything.

25:54 He said, are you kidding me? They've got one pig. Guess what? They want two. They've got one field.

26:02 Guess what they want? Two. They've got three sons. Guess what they want? Four.

26:08 Whatever you have, you want more. It doesn't matter how poor you are. And it doesn't matter how rich you are. Go back to verse 15. Beware and be on your guard against every form of greed.

26:22 For what? Not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions. Someone once said, and I couldn't find. I looked all over the internet for who said this. And one person who said, someone once said.

26:44 Oh, so there you go. Someone once said, here's another definition of a fool. Someone whose plans end with the grave. Someone whose plans end with the grave. What does that say?

27:01 A person who is not foolish is someone who plans beyond the grave. We're sitting here today because we believe in after the grave. Amen? Amen. Why won't we consider living while we're on this planet for the eternity?

27:27 That's what Jesus is talking about here. Here's another question for you. We all probably agree that there's gonna be a time according to first Thessalonians four seventeen. Where we will either meet the Lord in the air because we're dead, then we're gonna rise. Or we'll be second string and we'll already be here on earth and we just skip that death thing and go straight to meet the Lord of the air.

27:55 Alright? I'm not gonna ask for a show of hands. Alright? But anyway, I bet you all believe that because it's in the scripture. First Thessalonians four seventeen says, Question for you.

28:10 Who gets all your stuff the day after? Woah, woah, woah, woah, now you're getting personal. Who gets all the world's stuff? We're talking believers in the entire world. Millions and millions of dollars are in the hands, stewards that they are, that we are.

28:34 I've got to include myself there. Stewards that we are no matter how little or how much we have. That's what the Lord's entrusted to us. The parables that talk about the steward. You get one.

28:45 You get two? Well, you're gonna get five. All right? Doesn't matter what you got. You're all steward.

28:51 What are you doing with it? Do your plans enter the grave? Are you thinking about eternity? Jesus knew what was going to happen. We can read scripture.

29:06 We can deny it. But it says in two Peter... I'm sorry, two Timothy chapter three verse 12 that we will experience persecution. We will. It's not if.

29:24 It's when. And if, back to this morning, wow, wasn't that interesting how the Lord led that this morning in breaking the bread talking about the value? Crypto whatever that is, kryptonite, what was that thing again? Cryptocurrency. Alright?

29:43 And seriously, by the way, I was checked, thank you our historians in the room. Hawaii wasn't a state yet in the beginning of World War II, sorry about that. Okay? But anyway, the dump of the coins is a fact, alright? And I still don't know where they are.

29:57 Probably people are still looking for them. But anyway, long and short of it is things can change overnight. I remember March 13. It was a Friday. Actually, remember March 12.

30:10 It was a Thursday and it was like snow day. No, we don't have school tomorrow. Well, we had a senior trip. We got people down on an island and we've got staff with them, but they're shutting down the whole country. And we looked at the tickets, we gotta get out of here.

30:26 And the tickets kept going, woo, woo, woo, woo. And they said, we're shutting down the airport. And I was like, wow. Talk to Nathan Morris about, he was in the airplane at nineeleven. He was in the air when the towers went down.

30:44 Talk about landing and finding out something had changed overnight. Or how about the last couple hours? Life does that. I'm not trying to scare us here. Do you think Jesus is trying to scare people?

31:13 For life is more than food and the body than clothing. Consider the ravens for they neither sow nor reap And they have no storeroom nor barn. And yet God feeds them. How much more valuable you are than the birds. And which of you by being anxious can add a single cubit to his life's span?

31:32 Now that's been talked about height. It's also been talking about duration. But you don't have any control over either. If then you cannot do even a very little thing, why are you anxious about other matters? Consider the lilies, how they grow.

31:51 They neither toil nor spin. But I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory did not clothe himself like one of those, one of these. But if God so raised the grass in the field which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will he clothe you, oh men of little faith? And do not seek what you shall eat and what you shall drink. And do not keep worrying.

32:14 For all these things the nations of the world eagerly seek. But your Father, capital f, that's God. Your Father knows that you need these things. But seek for his kingdom and these things shall be added to you. Do not be afraid little flock for your father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom.

32:47 Sell your possessions and give to charity. Make yourselves purses which do not wear out. An unfailing treasure in heaven where no thief comes near nor moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. I know you like the cute little bag.

33:09 I was teased when I came in. These were beautiful about a week ago. And there were still a few left that actually do look nice. These are just daffodils, all right? These are not lilies.

33:23 I still chuckle every time I read, consider the lilies of the field. When I went into my boss in Westlake City Schools before I ever thought I'm ever going to get a job at Faith Academy, I had to actually go to him and ask him if it was okay. I I was like, Are you kidding me? Who goes to their boss and says, I'm thinking about finding another job, you know, but that was part of the requirement back then for Faith Academy. And he said, you're going to do what?

33:49 And I said, I'm going to be a missionary teacher. And he goes, consider the lilies. Now this guy was heathen. He dropping f bombs all the time, all right? And he said consider the lilies because he said you're gonna trust God for your livelihood.

34:03 Yeah, consider the daffodils if I could change the word, okay? This is though what happens to them, right? And yet they're beautiful. Solomon in all his glory never looked as good as this. And yet this is what happens.

34:15 They get thrown to the fire, right? Or the dumpster or whatever you want to call it now in this day. But the point he was making is God can make so many beautiful things. Ravens are not only a terrible football team, but they... Sorry.

34:30 Ravens were cared for by the Lord. And then God even had a sense of humor. Jesus knew what happened to Elijah, right? Who brought food to Elijah? Ravens.

34:44 Brought food to Elijah when he was run away from Jezebel. I love the way Jesus went, he could have picked any bird, but he picked the ravens and the ravens were what God used. It's interesting, isn't it? So what are we supposed to do? This is chapter part three, right?

35:01 What shall we not fear? And this is hard to put into English. We are not to fear for our daily provision. We are not to fear for our daily provision. We could all give examples of how God has provided for our families.

35:17 Whether you have six children or no children or I'm still single, all right? God provides. He's been doing it since Adam and Eve. He's not gonna stop. So what did verse 22 say?

35:37 We're not supposed to be anxious about what we're supposed to eat nor what we're supposed to wear. We consider nature And we see there's geese out there eating grass. God provided for them. There's deer out there eating your flowers probably. Anyway, but God's providing for them.

35:59 Nature is our example. God made it. We're not necessarily supposed to worship it by the way. Happy Earth Day, whatever. Okay, the point is this.

36:13 We are not to fear. The main problem we have according to verse 28 is what? Our faith. It's our faith. Jesus said, if God so raised the grass in the field which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will he clothe you, O men of little faith?

36:39 It's our problem. It's our faith. Do we shudder to think that persecution could come to the American church? I was afraid to preach this. I had another chapter picked out and Miriam's like, Why are you preaching on that?

37:05 You're right. Dodgeball, you know, I I I, you know, I was dodging it. And then the Lord showed me exactly what to preach on. It's not a warm fuzzy, is it? But it is actually supposed to be a warm fuzzy because what is he saying?

37:21 I got you covered. I've got you covered no matter what. The worst thing that probably these disciples could think of is we're gonna die because we're following this guy. But at that point, he didn't say that. He just said, when, he said, when you're taken before the synagogue officials.

37:42 When power steps in and invades your life. Has power stepped in and invaded your life? Yeah. 03/13/2020. The world changed again.

38:01 And you can't do anything about it, pretty much. But can you? Because where is faith? It's between the ears and it's in your soul. When you're focusing on God's word, God's provision, God's economy, all these other things really don't mean that much.

38:25 What did we talk about last week? Focusing on the Lord. Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in his wonderful face and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of his glory and grace. That's what Jesus is saying here. This is not to be scary.

38:43 In fact, he said don't fear men, fear God. You're supposed to fear the same one who made you. You're supposed to fear the same one who sent his son to die for you. Wow. He loves you that much.

39:05 But I mean, I just look at families. If you don't respect your parents, your house is toast. But if you do and there's that mutual love and what's it say in the scriptures? Husband, love your wives as Christ of the church. Women, respect your husband.

39:24 Ain't that interesting? Those are actually different. But God wants both. God wants us to love him and respect him. And he will love you and he will honor you.

39:57 But it's right now preventing us from investing in eternal things. If we are focused on greed, we're focusing on now. We're not looking to the future. Back to that rapture question, who's gonna get it all? The world's gonna get it all.

40:14 They go, yeah baby, the aliens took them. Yes, we don't have to deal with those crazy Christians anymore. The aliens took them and we get all their stuff. It happened during World War two. The Jews were taken away.

40:28 Well guess what? We get all their stuff. It's morbid but it happened. And I don't think I'm stretching too much when I say what my little theory about ET and those folks, okay? My point is this though.

40:47 The money's in your hands now. What could God do with it? If you say, God, here you go. Well, there's a lot of scripture, I don't have time to go on that. But there's a lot of scripture that says, if you bless him, he will open up the store houses of heaven.

41:05 Malachi, read Malachi, it's wonderful. Second Corinthians eight and nine, all about how God will bless those who bless. Now this is not the get rich scream. Okay? That's not it at all.

41:18 We got to keep in mind, what's the point? The point is investing in eternal things. As he concluded this section, for where your treasure is there will your heart be also. It said if A equals B, B equals A. You look at either way.

41:35 Where's your treasure? Your heart. Some people say, where's your treasure? Look at your checkbook. Where are you investing?

41:43 Look at your calendar. Where are you investing? Where are your gifts? Where are you investing? Are you investing here that ends at the grave?

41:56 Or are you investing there which will never return void? It's an unfailing treasure, verse 33. Where is it located? In heaven. Do you get to see it?

42:10 Sometimes. Sometimes he gives us a little taste of heaven. To see a person come to Jesus Christ. To see a person just receive food because they were starving. And they say, wow, this is a good time to be a Christian.

42:27 I can attest that. That's what happened to our church back in The Philippines during the lockdown. They literally said, Qui Todd, can we give some of our money that we're getting from your church back in The United States to our neighbors? Yes, of course you can. I'm not telling you what to do with it.

42:45 And the neighbors are like, this is a great time to be a Christian. And one family started attending the church And still does when it's open. Right now it's not. So in conclusion, we've got some things to ponder. In these last days, yes, will say that again.

43:03 In these last days are we aware that persecution likely lies ahead in your lifetime for the American church and all believers? Second question, are we able to fear and trust God rather than fear and trust men? Third, are we willing to plan the rest of our lives with the perspective of eternity rather than the grave? Are we willing to commit to eternal investments that will bear heavenly rather than earthly treasure. And as children of God living in these last days, are we ready for what the Lord will permit to happen to us?

43:54 Getting caught in a rainstorm is really no big deal. Getting caught where your life comes to an end and we've heard it even last week, what are my regrets? We don't have to have any. We don't have to have any regrets. We are completely forgiven by the Lord Jesus, and we can choose any day to start saying, no more regrets here.

44:35 It's four thirty one if you want to look it up. Four thirty one, Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise. Thou mine inheritance, now and always. Thou and thou only first in my heart, high king of heaven, my treasure thou art. It's that kingdom that God's promised us.

45:07 He said, I will gladly give you the kingdom. You're all worried about what you're gonna wear, what you're gonna eat. And I'm telling you, I got it covered. I'm feeding birds. I'm feeding ravens.

45:19 I'll feed you. I will clothe you like the daffodils that are burned up. You don't need to worry about that. Instead, instead, I got you. The kingdom is yours.

45:31 I am gladly giving it to you. You're part of it. You are a prince. You are a princess of the king. Last verse says, high king of heaven, my victory won.

45:49 He did it. May I reach heaven's joys, O bright heaven's sun, heart of my own heart, whatever befall, still be my vision, a ruler of all. Let's pray. Heavenly Father, we just thank you so much that we have the truth. People are looking for it.

46:28 You chose us. You adopted us into your family. Thank you. Thank you for your word. Thank you for the truth thereof now, Lord.

46:39 Strengthen our faith. Help us to apply what we've learned today. In Jesus name, amen. Thank you.