1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:17,640 Thank you for listening to this message from Lifehouse Church. 2 00:00:17,640 --> 00:00:18,640 Good morning, Lifehouse. 3 00:00:18,640 --> 00:00:21,840 Hey, listen, I want you to do something. 4 00:00:21,840 --> 00:00:24,920 Now be gentle doing this, but I want you to do it. 5 00:00:24,920 --> 00:00:27,240 Just go ahead and elbow the person beside you. 6 00:00:27,240 --> 00:00:28,600 Just give them an elbow. 7 00:00:28,600 --> 00:00:30,640 Not a sharp elbow, no violence here today. 8 00:00:30,640 --> 00:00:32,920 Some of you did that with some attitude. 9 00:00:32,920 --> 00:00:33,920 I could see it. 10 00:00:33,920 --> 00:00:34,920 All right. 11 00:00:34,920 --> 00:00:37,600 Listen, I had to do that because here's what I believe. 12 00:00:37,600 --> 00:00:41,120 I believe the Holy Spirit is going to give some people some nudges today. 13 00:00:41,120 --> 00:00:42,120 All right. 14 00:00:42,120 --> 00:00:45,120 Sometimes the Holy Spirit comes in super soft, right? 15 00:00:45,120 --> 00:00:47,040 Sometimes God speaks in a whisper. 16 00:00:47,040 --> 00:00:51,360 Sometimes he comes in like thunder and lightning and sometimes it's a nudge. 17 00:00:51,360 --> 00:00:54,880 And sometimes it's like an elbow that the Holy Spirit does. 18 00:00:54,880 --> 00:00:58,000 Sometimes you need to understand like when you feel that thing inside of you that you 19 00:00:58,000 --> 00:01:01,760 know is not you, but you just sense it, man, I felt it all through worship. 20 00:01:01,760 --> 00:01:04,320 I could just feel the Holy Spirit just kind of nudging. 21 00:01:04,320 --> 00:01:05,320 And you feel that nudge. 22 00:01:05,320 --> 00:01:06,440 That's the Spirit speaking to you. 23 00:01:06,440 --> 00:01:09,120 I believe that that happens during worship. 24 00:01:09,120 --> 00:01:13,120 I think when we get before God's presence and we begin to open our mouths, right, and 25 00:01:13,120 --> 00:01:16,520 we begin to glorify him, God opens up and speaks to us. 26 00:01:16,520 --> 00:01:18,860 He ministers to us. 27 00:01:18,860 --> 00:01:20,680 You feel his presence taking place. 28 00:01:20,680 --> 00:01:23,520 I don't know if you felt it back there, but we sure did up here. 29 00:01:23,520 --> 00:01:26,120 And I believe that's true all the time. 30 00:01:26,120 --> 00:01:29,920 To just be open for God's nudge. 31 00:01:29,920 --> 00:01:31,880 That thing that he's going to speak to you. 32 00:01:31,880 --> 00:01:34,320 He'll speak something to you specifically. 33 00:01:34,320 --> 00:01:37,960 Some of you I know, you don't pick up on everything that goes on in the message. 34 00:01:37,960 --> 00:01:41,320 But if you just get, I'm happy if you walk out of here with one thing. 35 00:01:41,320 --> 00:01:44,800 Just one thing that God spoke to you along the way. 36 00:01:44,800 --> 00:01:47,100 So just go ahead, give somebody an elbow one more time. 37 00:01:47,100 --> 00:01:48,100 Now you know the reason for it. 38 00:01:48,100 --> 00:01:49,360 Just go ahead, give them a little elbow. 39 00:01:49,360 --> 00:01:50,360 I'm going to wait until you do it. 40 00:01:50,360 --> 00:01:51,360 All right, just elbow. 41 00:01:51,360 --> 00:01:52,360 Give them. 42 00:01:52,360 --> 00:01:53,360 There we go. 43 00:01:53,360 --> 00:01:55,360 That's why I was waiting to see. 44 00:01:55,360 --> 00:01:56,360 All right. 45 00:01:56,360 --> 00:02:03,240 Well in an article called, That's When I Knew I Was Free, several former prisoners were 46 00:02:03,240 --> 00:02:07,480 asked to describe their first hours or days of freedom. 47 00:02:07,480 --> 00:02:12,320 These men had been wrongfully convicted, but their first days of freedom was no different 48 00:02:12,320 --> 00:02:16,320 than that of the guilty or even those who have been forgiven by Christ. 49 00:02:16,320 --> 00:02:21,600 And I want to just read you a couple of short clips or short accounts of that. 50 00:02:21,600 --> 00:02:26,680 Jeffrey Deskovic was age 41, spent 16 years in prison. 51 00:02:26,680 --> 00:02:31,960 And he said this, at times I wasn't quite sure whether I was really out and free. 52 00:02:31,960 --> 00:02:36,960 I felt like a finger was tapping me on the back and saying, what are you doing? 53 00:02:36,960 --> 00:02:39,200 They belong out here, but you don't. 54 00:02:39,200 --> 00:02:41,380 They don't even realize that you don't. 55 00:02:41,380 --> 00:02:44,000 So I just did something I wanted to do for a long time. 56 00:02:44,000 --> 00:02:48,600 I wanted to sit outside in the nighttime and not have to go inside. 57 00:02:48,600 --> 00:02:49,920 I could see a few stars. 58 00:02:49,920 --> 00:02:52,300 I could see the lights in some other houses. 59 00:02:52,300 --> 00:02:57,160 It was just a minor thing that had been taken away from me for so long. 60 00:02:57,160 --> 00:03:04,200 Fernando Bermudez says this, he was age 46, spent 18 years in prison. 61 00:03:04,200 --> 00:03:09,240 The first thing I did, I went running into Inwood Hill Park, where all these childhood 62 00:03:09,240 --> 00:03:14,480 memories of wanting to be the first, wanting to be a geologist. 63 00:03:14,480 --> 00:03:18,800 I used to pick up rocks and collect insects before I became less of a nerd and more of 64 00:03:18,800 --> 00:03:20,200 a person in trouble. 65 00:03:20,200 --> 00:03:23,920 I'm coming off my run and I'm doing something I sorely missed. 66 00:03:23,920 --> 00:03:25,400 I'm looking at a tree. 67 00:03:25,400 --> 00:03:26,800 I'm just admiring it. 68 00:03:26,800 --> 00:03:29,440 I've been deprived of nature for so long. 69 00:03:29,440 --> 00:03:31,760 I finally got to feel the bark. 70 00:03:31,760 --> 00:03:36,400 I was literally crying and hugging a tree. 71 00:03:36,400 --> 00:03:39,920 Derek Hamilton, age 49, spent 21 years in prison. 72 00:03:39,920 --> 00:03:45,320 He says this, the day I walked out, my wife, my nephew, my son were all in the car waiting 73 00:03:45,320 --> 00:03:46,320 for me. 74 00:03:46,320 --> 00:03:48,440 There was a church right around the corner. 75 00:03:48,440 --> 00:03:51,760 I would always listen to the bells ringing when I was in jail. 76 00:03:51,760 --> 00:03:56,320 I didn't even know where the church really was, but I'd pray when I would hear those 77 00:03:56,320 --> 00:03:57,320 bells. 78 00:03:57,320 --> 00:04:01,480 It was my only opportunity to pray at the same time that others on the outside were 79 00:04:01,480 --> 00:04:02,480 praying. 80 00:04:02,480 --> 00:04:06,200 When I got out, that was one of the first things I wanted to do, just go around in that 81 00:04:06,200 --> 00:04:07,520 church and pray. 82 00:04:07,520 --> 00:04:14,320 I went in, thank God for my release, and going into that church, it was like being born again. 83 00:04:14,320 --> 00:04:21,240 Freedom in any area of your life is a lot like those who have spent time behind bars 84 00:04:21,240 --> 00:04:23,240 and who have gotten out for the first time. 85 00:04:23,240 --> 00:04:25,120 You could feel elation. 86 00:04:25,120 --> 00:04:26,960 You could feel disbelief. 87 00:04:26,960 --> 00:04:28,680 You could feel gratitude. 88 00:04:28,680 --> 00:04:32,000 You can feel emotional overload of some kind. 89 00:04:32,000 --> 00:04:35,480 You could feel so overwhelmed that you just want to hug somebody or something, even if 90 00:04:35,480 --> 00:04:37,120 it's a tree. 91 00:04:37,120 --> 00:04:41,840 Or you could just sit quietly in awe at the freedom. 92 00:04:41,840 --> 00:04:45,640 Look up at the heavens, maybe look out at the stars, maybe look at other lights, look 93 00:04:45,640 --> 00:04:47,120 in the distance. 94 00:04:47,120 --> 00:04:52,800 But no matter the reaction, freedom should never be taken for granted, never. 95 00:04:52,800 --> 00:04:57,960 It is a God-given gift to be free. 96 00:04:57,960 --> 00:04:59,320 God-given gift. 97 00:04:59,320 --> 00:05:01,560 Jesus came to this earth. 98 00:05:01,560 --> 00:05:06,600 He came, He died on a cross, He went into a tomb, He came out of that tomb so that you 99 00:05:06,600 --> 00:05:08,520 and I could experience freedom. 100 00:05:08,520 --> 00:05:13,600 So that if you partake in Christ and you partake in the salvation that He provides, we know 101 00:05:13,600 --> 00:05:15,520 freedom from sin. 102 00:05:15,520 --> 00:05:17,600 But it doesn't just stop there. 103 00:05:17,600 --> 00:05:23,420 His freedom actually extends way beyond just being free from sin, just being washed clean 104 00:05:23,420 --> 00:05:25,560 of the sin that we've been involved in. 105 00:05:25,560 --> 00:05:30,640 And over the next few weeks, I want to give you a little opportunity to hear about God's 106 00:05:30,640 --> 00:05:32,600 freedom in a particular area. 107 00:05:32,600 --> 00:05:34,720 Now I'm starting this this week. 108 00:05:34,720 --> 00:05:35,840 Next week is Mother's Day. 109 00:05:35,840 --> 00:05:37,160 I'm not doing this next week. 110 00:05:37,160 --> 00:05:38,780 I'm not even speaking next week. 111 00:05:38,780 --> 00:05:42,400 But on down the line, I'm going to continue to speak along the lines of freedom. 112 00:05:42,400 --> 00:05:47,720 And what I want to talk about is freedom in the area now of money and possessions. 113 00:05:47,720 --> 00:05:50,880 OK, freedom in the area of money and possessions. 114 00:05:50,880 --> 00:05:55,200 And here's my approach to tackling this, what often could be a very sensitive subject. 115 00:05:55,200 --> 00:05:56,200 Right. 116 00:05:56,200 --> 00:06:01,080 So you bring up money and possessions, people like, right, they clench up, you know, and 117 00:06:01,080 --> 00:06:02,080 what's he going to say? 118 00:06:02,080 --> 00:06:03,080 What's he doing? 119 00:06:03,080 --> 00:06:04,080 Right. 120 00:06:04,080 --> 00:06:05,080 Here's how I do this. 121 00:06:05,080 --> 00:06:07,480 I'm going to give you the truth straight out of God's word. 122 00:06:07,480 --> 00:06:10,120 What you do with the truth is on you. 123 00:06:10,120 --> 00:06:12,280 What you do with that is between you and God. 124 00:06:12,280 --> 00:06:14,320 I'm just going to give you the truth. 125 00:06:14,320 --> 00:06:15,640 I don't manipulate people. 126 00:06:15,640 --> 00:06:16,640 I don't believe in that. 127 00:06:16,640 --> 00:06:18,000 I'm not fundraising. 128 00:06:18,000 --> 00:06:19,000 I promise you. 129 00:06:19,000 --> 00:06:23,080 In fact, the church has had a great couple of years financially, and I'm not here to 130 00:06:23,080 --> 00:06:24,080 get a raise. 131 00:06:24,080 --> 00:06:25,080 All right. 132 00:06:25,080 --> 00:06:26,280 No matter how much you give, I don't get a raise. 133 00:06:26,280 --> 00:06:27,720 That doesn't work that way. 134 00:06:27,720 --> 00:06:30,400 My paycheck set by the Church of God. 135 00:06:30,400 --> 00:06:32,020 It's a standardized thing. 136 00:06:32,020 --> 00:06:33,640 So if you give more, it doesn't matter. 137 00:06:33,640 --> 00:06:36,480 If I'm not going to get a raise out of that, I'm not here for any of that. 138 00:06:36,480 --> 00:06:40,340 I'm just here to give you the truth about money and possessions. 139 00:06:40,340 --> 00:06:42,140 What does God's word say about that? 140 00:06:42,140 --> 00:06:43,280 And what's the truth about that? 141 00:06:43,280 --> 00:06:44,280 Amen. 142 00:06:44,280 --> 00:06:45,280 Is that all right? 143 00:06:45,280 --> 00:06:46,280 Come on. 144 00:06:46,280 --> 00:06:47,280 Good. 145 00:06:47,280 --> 00:06:48,280 Good. 146 00:06:48,280 --> 00:06:49,280 All right. 147 00:06:49,280 --> 00:06:51,080 But before we get into the specifics, you know, of finances and possessions and those 148 00:06:51,080 --> 00:06:55,680 kind of things, I got to lay out some foundational truths in God's word, because if you don't, 149 00:06:55,680 --> 00:06:58,240 how many of the foundations not right? 150 00:06:58,240 --> 00:07:00,040 Everything on top is just going to crumble. 151 00:07:00,040 --> 00:07:03,560 I don't know if you've ever, if you know anything about a foundation of a house, if 152 00:07:03,560 --> 00:07:08,000 you, if the foundation's cracked and breaking off, what happens to the house? 153 00:07:08,000 --> 00:07:09,420 It begins to crack, right? 154 00:07:09,420 --> 00:07:10,840 It begins to fall apart. 155 00:07:10,840 --> 00:07:15,080 I've gone into some houses where I've seen that, where the foundation has shifted, the 156 00:07:15,080 --> 00:07:18,720 walls pushed in, and what you'll start to see is you'll start to see things cave in. 157 00:07:18,720 --> 00:07:22,880 So if you don't get the foundation right, if you don't understand some very foundational 158 00:07:22,880 --> 00:07:26,920 things in God's word, you're not going to understand what God's really saying about 159 00:07:26,920 --> 00:07:28,380 money and possessions. 160 00:07:28,380 --> 00:07:29,840 So we're really going to start that this morning. 161 00:07:29,840 --> 00:07:34,720 I want to talk about foundational principles that will help us understand and help us find 162 00:07:34,720 --> 00:07:38,000 the truth about money and possessions in God's word. 163 00:07:38,000 --> 00:07:43,080 And I want to start with eight, John 8 31, because Jesus said this, and this is probably 164 00:07:43,080 --> 00:07:45,760 the most quoted verse in all the Bible. 165 00:07:45,760 --> 00:07:50,360 A lot of people say it's John 3 16, but I actually think this is probably quoted more. 166 00:07:50,360 --> 00:07:55,680 And Jesus said to those Jews who believed him, if you abide in my word, you are my disciples 167 00:07:55,680 --> 00:08:03,960 indeed and you shall know the truth, say the truth, and the truth shall make you free. 168 00:08:03,960 --> 00:08:09,860 The path to freedom is always paved with the truth. 169 00:08:09,860 --> 00:08:14,160 The path to freedom is always paved with the truth. 170 00:08:14,160 --> 00:08:18,160 Freedom and truth are always accompanying each other. 171 00:08:18,160 --> 00:08:19,660 And this is not just sometimes. 172 00:08:19,660 --> 00:08:21,320 This is not just occasionally. 173 00:08:21,320 --> 00:08:22,960 This is not just once in a while. 174 00:08:22,960 --> 00:08:25,800 This is not just one things, you know, or just right. 175 00:08:25,800 --> 00:08:28,520 It's not just on every third Sunday of the month. 176 00:08:28,520 --> 00:08:29,520 It's not. 177 00:08:29,520 --> 00:08:32,080 This is an always kind of thing. 178 00:08:32,080 --> 00:08:36,560 Freedom, the path to freedom is always paved with truth. 179 00:08:36,560 --> 00:08:40,700 Only the bricks of truth will get you to a place of freedom in your lives. 180 00:08:40,700 --> 00:08:42,200 And that's not just in money and possessions. 181 00:08:42,200 --> 00:08:43,600 It's really in everything. 182 00:08:43,600 --> 00:08:47,300 But the bricks of a lie always lead to bondage. 183 00:08:47,300 --> 00:08:48,300 They're opposites. 184 00:08:48,300 --> 00:08:49,300 All right. 185 00:08:49,300 --> 00:08:50,900 The bricks of truth lead to freedom. 186 00:08:50,900 --> 00:08:53,880 The bricks of a lie always lead to bondage. 187 00:08:53,880 --> 00:08:59,280 If you and you can count on this without fail, it's foundational. 188 00:08:59,280 --> 00:09:00,480 Say foundational. 189 00:09:00,480 --> 00:09:02,640 I want you to get this in your spirit. 190 00:09:02,640 --> 00:09:03,960 This is something you can take to the bank. 191 00:09:03,960 --> 00:09:05,760 Have you ever heard that phrase before? 192 00:09:05,760 --> 00:09:06,760 All right. 193 00:09:06,760 --> 00:09:07,760 You know what I'm talking about? 194 00:09:07,760 --> 00:09:09,140 That means you can count on it. 195 00:09:09,140 --> 00:09:16,680 The truth always leads to freedom and a lie always leads to bondage. 196 00:09:16,680 --> 00:09:18,900 Now let me ask you a question. 197 00:09:18,900 --> 00:09:21,240 How many of you have ever lied? 198 00:09:21,240 --> 00:09:22,240 Raise your hand right now. 199 00:09:22,240 --> 00:09:23,240 Raise your hand. 200 00:09:23,240 --> 00:09:24,240 Okay. 201 00:09:24,240 --> 00:09:25,240 All right. 202 00:09:25,240 --> 00:09:26,960 Some of you didn't raise your hand. 203 00:09:26,960 --> 00:09:29,240 If you didn't raise your hand, you're lying right now. 204 00:09:29,240 --> 00:09:30,240 All right. 205 00:09:30,240 --> 00:09:32,440 See, just go ahead and raise it up now. 206 00:09:32,440 --> 00:09:34,080 How many of you have ever lied? 207 00:09:34,080 --> 00:09:35,080 Raise your hand. 208 00:09:35,080 --> 00:09:36,080 Thank you. 209 00:09:36,080 --> 00:09:37,080 Hundred percent participation. 210 00:09:37,080 --> 00:09:38,080 All right. 211 00:09:38,080 --> 00:09:39,080 You've already lied. 212 00:09:39,080 --> 00:09:43,860 There's bondage in lies for all kinds of reasons. 213 00:09:43,860 --> 00:09:46,880 First and foremost, the word of God says it's a sin. 214 00:09:46,880 --> 00:09:47,880 All right. 215 00:09:47,880 --> 00:09:49,500 God says this is a sin. 216 00:09:49,500 --> 00:09:52,080 Lying is a violation of God's moral law. 217 00:09:52,080 --> 00:09:53,080 It really is. 218 00:09:53,080 --> 00:09:55,280 It's completely contrary to God's nature. 219 00:09:55,280 --> 00:09:56,920 It is completely the opposite. 220 00:09:56,920 --> 00:10:00,120 Matter of fact, the word of God even says that God hates lying. 221 00:10:00,120 --> 00:10:01,120 He really does. 222 00:10:01,120 --> 00:10:02,120 He doesn't hate the liar. 223 00:10:02,120 --> 00:10:03,120 He hates lying. 224 00:10:03,120 --> 00:10:05,240 He hates the lie. 225 00:10:05,240 --> 00:10:07,960 We don't say that much in our house, especially with the grandkids around. 226 00:10:07,960 --> 00:10:09,280 We don't use that word hate very often. 227 00:10:09,280 --> 00:10:11,960 Matter of fact, when our kids were little, we wouldn't let them use it. 228 00:10:11,960 --> 00:10:13,880 If they said the word hate, we made them just hug it out. 229 00:10:13,880 --> 00:10:16,200 They just had to hug it out. 230 00:10:16,200 --> 00:10:19,840 But we didn't use that word, but it is used at times. 231 00:10:19,840 --> 00:10:21,740 God literally hates lies. 232 00:10:21,740 --> 00:10:27,960 The Bible tells us that the nature or the moral operandi of a lie really stems from 233 00:10:27,960 --> 00:10:28,960 Satan. 234 00:10:28,960 --> 00:10:32,160 As a matter of fact, the word of God says that Satan is the father of all lies, that 235 00:10:32,160 --> 00:10:34,360 all lies stem from him. 236 00:10:34,360 --> 00:10:38,440 Anytime there's something connected with Satan, anytime there's something connected with the 237 00:10:38,440 --> 00:10:42,280 enemy, you can bet there's bondage that's going to follow. 238 00:10:42,280 --> 00:10:45,880 So a lie always leads to bondage. 239 00:10:45,880 --> 00:10:49,760 So if we purposely practice lying, bondage is in our future. 240 00:10:49,760 --> 00:10:50,760 It really is. 241 00:10:50,760 --> 00:10:54,640 Can I give you a very quick and convincing scripture on this? 242 00:10:54,640 --> 00:10:57,920 Revelation 21 says this, and he said to me, it's done. 243 00:10:57,920 --> 00:11:00,080 This is God speaking in Revelation. 244 00:11:00,080 --> 00:11:01,080 It's done. 245 00:11:01,080 --> 00:11:02,640 I am the Alpha and the Omega. 246 00:11:02,640 --> 00:11:04,960 I am the beginning and I am the end. 247 00:11:04,960 --> 00:11:08,800 I will give of the fountain of the water of life for Lee to him who thirsts. 248 00:11:08,800 --> 00:11:14,120 He who overcomes shall inherit all things and I shall be his God and he shall be my 249 00:11:14,120 --> 00:11:20,480 son, but the cowardly, the unbelieving, the abominable, the murders, the sexually immoral, 250 00:11:20,480 --> 00:11:23,280 the sorcerers, the idolaters and all what? 251 00:11:23,280 --> 00:11:24,280 Liars. 252 00:11:24,280 --> 00:11:29,320 So have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone and which is the second 253 00:11:29,320 --> 00:11:30,320 death. 254 00:11:30,320 --> 00:11:32,280 This is the ultimate bondage. 255 00:11:32,280 --> 00:11:36,560 If you're a practicing liar, you might want to change your practice because practicing 256 00:11:36,560 --> 00:11:39,160 liars, this is what it leads to. 257 00:11:39,160 --> 00:11:40,160 The word of God's clear. 258 00:11:40,160 --> 00:11:43,680 It talks about hell and the lake of fire and eternal separation from God. 259 00:11:43,680 --> 00:11:48,760 There is bondage long term in lying and it's in the here. 260 00:11:48,760 --> 00:11:54,760 There's bondage long term and there's bondage in lying in the here and now. 261 00:11:54,760 --> 00:11:55,760 Long term. 262 00:11:55,760 --> 00:11:59,080 I just gave you the verse for that short term. 263 00:11:59,080 --> 00:12:01,080 There's bondage as well. 264 00:12:01,080 --> 00:12:05,560 How many know if you tell one lie, then you got to tell about 12 other lies to cover up 265 00:12:05,560 --> 00:12:06,560 your first lie. 266 00:12:06,560 --> 00:12:07,560 Right? 267 00:12:07,560 --> 00:12:08,560 You tell one lie. 268 00:12:08,560 --> 00:12:10,320 There's probably it's not a one and done. 269 00:12:10,320 --> 00:12:12,120 You just got you have to tell a bunch of lies. 270 00:12:12,120 --> 00:12:15,120 Do you ever notice how hard it is to remember the lies? 271 00:12:15,120 --> 00:12:16,800 But it's super easy to remember the truth. 272 00:12:16,800 --> 00:12:17,800 Right? 273 00:12:17,800 --> 00:12:19,120 Because the truth actually happened. 274 00:12:19,120 --> 00:12:20,960 You know, the truth is easy. 275 00:12:20,960 --> 00:12:22,760 You remember what took place. 276 00:12:22,760 --> 00:12:24,000 You remember what was said. 277 00:12:24,000 --> 00:12:25,720 You remember what's actually there. 278 00:12:25,720 --> 00:12:26,720 Right? 279 00:12:26,720 --> 00:12:28,080 It's easy to remember a truth. 280 00:12:28,080 --> 00:12:30,240 It's difficult to remember all the lies. 281 00:12:30,240 --> 00:12:33,080 You know, when you get lies, they start stacking up. 282 00:12:33,080 --> 00:12:34,080 Right? 283 00:12:34,080 --> 00:12:35,080 They start. 284 00:12:35,080 --> 00:12:37,880 They start adding up because if you tell one lie, you got to tell some more. 285 00:12:37,880 --> 00:12:38,880 Right? 286 00:12:38,880 --> 00:12:41,080 If somebody asks you, did you take the last cookie? 287 00:12:41,080 --> 00:12:42,760 And you know you took the last cookie. 288 00:12:42,760 --> 00:12:43,760 All right. 289 00:12:43,760 --> 00:12:45,200 Did you take the last cookie? 290 00:12:45,200 --> 00:12:47,520 No, I did not take the last cookie. 291 00:12:47,520 --> 00:12:48,520 Lie number one. 292 00:12:48,520 --> 00:12:49,520 Right? 293 00:12:49,520 --> 00:12:52,120 Well, where did the last cookie go? 294 00:12:52,120 --> 00:12:53,600 I don't know. 295 00:12:53,600 --> 00:12:55,200 Lie number two. 296 00:12:55,200 --> 00:12:56,380 All right. 297 00:12:56,380 --> 00:12:58,880 My brother must have ate it. 298 00:12:58,880 --> 00:13:00,120 Right? 299 00:13:00,120 --> 00:13:01,520 You don't have a brother. 300 00:13:01,520 --> 00:13:02,800 Lie number three. 301 00:13:02,800 --> 00:13:03,800 All right. 302 00:13:03,800 --> 00:13:05,520 Lie number three. 303 00:13:05,520 --> 00:13:06,520 Right? 304 00:13:06,520 --> 00:13:09,480 Well, it must have been my sister. 305 00:13:09,480 --> 00:13:10,560 All right. 306 00:13:10,560 --> 00:13:12,360 Your sister isn't here. 307 00:13:12,360 --> 00:13:13,960 Lie number four. 308 00:13:13,960 --> 00:13:14,960 Right? 309 00:13:14,960 --> 00:13:17,320 Your sister's been gone for four years. 310 00:13:17,320 --> 00:13:19,320 She's at college. 311 00:13:19,320 --> 00:13:20,320 Okay? 312 00:13:20,320 --> 00:13:25,520 You just start stacking them up and you start getting under pressure and you got to start 313 00:13:25,520 --> 00:13:26,840 digging your way out. 314 00:13:26,840 --> 00:13:27,840 Right? 315 00:13:27,840 --> 00:13:29,120 So you start there's bondage in that. 316 00:13:29,120 --> 00:13:30,760 You start speaking lies. 317 00:13:30,760 --> 00:13:32,500 You start not telling the truth. 318 00:13:32,500 --> 00:13:33,760 You start covering up. 319 00:13:33,760 --> 00:13:34,760 Right? 320 00:13:34,760 --> 00:13:35,760 You just keep on shoveling. 321 00:13:35,760 --> 00:13:37,680 How many of you ever just keep on shoveling, get yourself in trouble? 322 00:13:37,680 --> 00:13:40,720 You just keep going shoveling a little deeper, a little deeper. 323 00:13:40,720 --> 00:13:43,480 And then you get labeled the liar. 324 00:13:43,480 --> 00:13:44,480 Right? 325 00:13:44,480 --> 00:13:45,840 You're lying about the cookies. 326 00:13:45,840 --> 00:13:48,040 I know you're lying about the cookies. 327 00:13:48,040 --> 00:13:51,320 And then once you get labeled, then you got to confess. 328 00:13:51,320 --> 00:13:52,320 Right? 329 00:13:52,320 --> 00:13:53,320 You got to fess up. 330 00:13:53,320 --> 00:13:54,320 You got to confess. 331 00:13:54,320 --> 00:13:55,840 Then you got to repent to make it right. 332 00:13:55,840 --> 00:13:57,360 So that means you got to change. 333 00:13:57,360 --> 00:13:58,360 And then you got to prove yourself. 334 00:13:58,360 --> 00:14:00,120 You got to start building trust back up. 335 00:14:00,120 --> 00:14:01,120 Right? 336 00:14:01,120 --> 00:14:02,120 There's bondage. 337 00:14:02,120 --> 00:14:03,120 Right? 338 00:14:03,120 --> 00:14:04,120 A lie. 339 00:14:04,120 --> 00:14:05,120 Right? 340 00:14:05,120 --> 00:14:06,120 You lie on your resume. 341 00:14:06,120 --> 00:14:09,400 And they ask, you know, you lie about your education on your resume. 342 00:14:09,400 --> 00:14:10,840 And they ask for the transcript. 343 00:14:10,840 --> 00:14:11,840 Right? 344 00:14:11,840 --> 00:14:12,840 It's bondage, man. 345 00:14:12,840 --> 00:14:14,320 You lie to the tax office, right? 346 00:14:14,320 --> 00:14:15,900 To the IRS. 347 00:14:15,900 --> 00:14:16,900 And they demand proof. 348 00:14:16,900 --> 00:14:17,900 All right. 349 00:14:17,900 --> 00:14:19,160 How many know there could be bondage in your future? 350 00:14:19,160 --> 00:14:20,160 All right. 351 00:14:20,160 --> 00:14:21,160 There can be. 352 00:14:21,160 --> 00:14:23,160 The truth always leads to freedom. 353 00:14:23,160 --> 00:14:25,320 And a lie always leads to bondage. 354 00:14:25,320 --> 00:14:27,240 It's foundational. 355 00:14:27,240 --> 00:14:28,240 Understand that. 356 00:14:28,240 --> 00:14:29,240 Anything in God's word. 357 00:14:29,240 --> 00:14:35,540 Jesus said, you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free. 358 00:14:35,540 --> 00:14:41,080 And that is completely true even in the area of money and possessions. 359 00:14:41,080 --> 00:14:43,200 Freedom is knowing the truth. 360 00:14:43,200 --> 00:14:44,200 It's attached. 361 00:14:44,200 --> 00:14:45,200 It's connected. 362 00:14:45,200 --> 00:14:51,240 I have never yet met a person who says, you know, you know, I've sat down across the table 363 00:14:51,240 --> 00:14:53,240 from them and they come talk to me as their pastor. 364 00:14:53,240 --> 00:14:56,880 I've never had anybody sit down and say, you know, pastor, I tried out some financial bondage 365 00:14:56,880 --> 00:14:57,880 this year. 366 00:14:57,880 --> 00:14:58,880 I think I like it. 367 00:14:58,880 --> 00:14:59,880 All right. 368 00:14:59,880 --> 00:15:00,880 It's kind of cool. 369 00:15:00,880 --> 00:15:01,880 All right. 370 00:15:01,880 --> 00:15:03,620 I think I'm going to do it again next year. 371 00:15:03,620 --> 00:15:05,720 It's never a conversation I've ever had. 372 00:15:05,720 --> 00:15:06,720 Right. 373 00:15:06,720 --> 00:15:07,720 Never happened that way. 374 00:15:07,720 --> 00:15:09,760 I've had plenty of people in tears about financial bondage. 375 00:15:09,760 --> 00:15:13,440 I've had lots of people frustrated and stressed out about financial bondage. 376 00:15:13,440 --> 00:15:16,220 And I've had people who've walked out of financial bondage. 377 00:15:16,220 --> 00:15:19,120 They learn the truth of God's word and they celebrate the whole time. 378 00:15:19,120 --> 00:15:22,040 They're telling me, I don't ever want to go back to that again. 379 00:15:22,040 --> 00:15:24,360 I don't ever want to experience that again. 380 00:15:24,360 --> 00:15:25,360 Right. 381 00:15:25,360 --> 00:15:28,100 Know the truth because the truth can set you free. 382 00:15:28,100 --> 00:15:29,940 Know the truth about money and possessions. 383 00:15:29,940 --> 00:15:31,880 Know the truth about everything in God's word. 384 00:15:31,880 --> 00:15:38,040 There's this freedom in that part of why part of knowing God's word is about setting us 385 00:15:38,040 --> 00:15:39,040 free. 386 00:15:39,040 --> 00:15:40,040 Amen. 387 00:15:40,040 --> 00:15:41,040 All right. 388 00:15:41,040 --> 00:15:42,040 So let me give you a principle. 389 00:15:42,040 --> 00:15:47,320 Number one, maybe this number two, number two, realize that you are a manager and God 390 00:15:47,320 --> 00:15:49,400 is the owner of everything. 391 00:15:49,400 --> 00:15:50,400 Okay. 392 00:15:50,400 --> 00:15:54,760 Now you got to get your head around this completely and you got to learn to function from this 393 00:15:54,760 --> 00:15:58,500 because if you don't function from this, this will kind of get warped. 394 00:15:58,500 --> 00:16:01,200 Things start to get cracked in the foundation. 395 00:16:01,200 --> 00:16:07,000 The perspective of is that God is the owner of everything and I'm just a manager. 396 00:16:07,000 --> 00:16:08,000 Okay. 397 00:16:08,000 --> 00:16:11,560 If you get your perspective with this, if you get your head in this, there's freedom 398 00:16:11,560 --> 00:16:12,680 at the end of this. 399 00:16:12,680 --> 00:16:14,360 There's freedom that awaits you truly. 400 00:16:14,360 --> 00:16:15,360 Okay. 401 00:16:15,360 --> 00:16:18,240 The truth is kind of like a set of railroad tracks. 402 00:16:18,240 --> 00:16:22,040 If you get on the right tracks and you keep going, you're going to get to the destination. 403 00:16:22,040 --> 00:16:24,460 It's a one way trip to freedom. 404 00:16:24,460 --> 00:16:26,100 God owns it all. 405 00:16:26,100 --> 00:16:28,640 I mean, he really owns it all. 406 00:16:28,640 --> 00:16:31,080 He owns everything that we have. 407 00:16:31,080 --> 00:16:33,200 Having this in your house, I want you to do a mental picture right now. 408 00:16:33,200 --> 00:16:34,520 You can close your eyes if you want to. 409 00:16:34,520 --> 00:16:36,960 I want you to just start a picture in your house. 410 00:16:36,960 --> 00:16:40,880 I want you to look inside your house and maybe take a stroll through the living room and 411 00:16:40,880 --> 00:16:44,240 through the bedroom and through the garage. 412 00:16:44,240 --> 00:16:45,400 Because God owns it all. 413 00:16:45,400 --> 00:16:46,600 He owns your house. 414 00:16:46,600 --> 00:16:50,720 He owns the 70 inch TV you got hanging in your living room. 415 00:16:50,720 --> 00:16:54,080 He owns the things that are stuffed in the basement. 416 00:16:54,080 --> 00:16:55,880 You don't even know what's there, some of you. 417 00:16:55,880 --> 00:16:57,380 It's been in the boxes for years. 418 00:16:57,380 --> 00:16:58,380 He owns that. 419 00:16:58,380 --> 00:17:02,520 He owns the juicer sitting up on the top shelf that you forgot about that's stuffed in the 420 00:17:02,520 --> 00:17:03,520 back. 421 00:17:03,520 --> 00:17:05,140 He owns the stuff that's on the countertop. 422 00:17:05,140 --> 00:17:07,600 He owns the siding that's on the side of your house. 423 00:17:07,600 --> 00:17:09,240 He owns it all. 424 00:17:09,240 --> 00:17:11,240 It's all his. 425 00:17:11,240 --> 00:17:12,240 Pinch yourself right now. 426 00:17:12,240 --> 00:17:13,240 Go ahead, pinch yourself. 427 00:17:13,240 --> 00:17:15,240 Better yet, pinch your neighbor. 428 00:17:15,240 --> 00:17:16,840 It's more fun to pinch somebody else. 429 00:17:16,840 --> 00:17:19,440 Come on, pinch somebody if you know them. 430 00:17:19,440 --> 00:17:20,440 He owns you. 431 00:17:20,440 --> 00:17:22,340 Do you know that? 432 00:17:22,340 --> 00:17:23,860 He owns you. 433 00:17:23,860 --> 00:17:25,320 He owns your body. 434 00:17:25,320 --> 00:17:26,320 He owns the mountains. 435 00:17:26,320 --> 00:17:27,880 He owns the valleys. 436 00:17:27,880 --> 00:17:29,160 He owns the desert. 437 00:17:29,160 --> 00:17:32,720 He owns the lush jungles. 438 00:17:32,720 --> 00:17:36,240 He owns the moon and the stars. 439 00:17:36,240 --> 00:17:40,020 He owns the earth beneath our feet. 440 00:17:40,020 --> 00:17:41,300 He owns your family. 441 00:17:41,300 --> 00:17:42,560 He owns your children. 442 00:17:42,560 --> 00:17:44,800 He owns your mother-in-law, right? 443 00:17:44,800 --> 00:17:45,800 Your grumpy uncle. 444 00:17:45,800 --> 00:17:46,800 He owns them, right? 445 00:17:46,800 --> 00:17:49,320 He owns them. 446 00:17:49,320 --> 00:17:55,240 Everything you see, touch, smell, feel, hear, it's his. 447 00:17:55,240 --> 00:17:57,480 He holds title to it. 448 00:17:57,480 --> 00:18:00,000 Understand, he's the owner. 449 00:18:00,000 --> 00:18:01,000 We're the managers. 450 00:18:01,000 --> 00:18:05,920 Psalms 24, 1 and 2 says this, the earth is the Lord's and everything that is in it. 451 00:18:05,920 --> 00:18:09,840 The world and all its people belong to him, for he laid the earth's foundation on the 452 00:18:09,840 --> 00:18:12,960 seas and built it on the ocean depths. 453 00:18:12,960 --> 00:18:15,920 Psalms 89, 11 says, and the heavens are yours. 454 00:18:15,920 --> 00:18:17,800 The earth also is yours. 455 00:18:17,800 --> 00:18:21,400 The world and its fullness, you have founded them. 456 00:18:21,400 --> 00:18:24,000 Job 41, 11, this is God speaking. 457 00:18:24,000 --> 00:18:27,800 He said, who has preceded me that I should pay him? 458 00:18:27,800 --> 00:18:30,280 Everything under heaven is mine. 459 00:18:30,280 --> 00:18:36,080 First Chronicles 29, 11 says, yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory 460 00:18:36,080 --> 00:18:41,640 and the victory and the majesty indeed everything that is in the heavens and earth. 461 00:18:41,640 --> 00:18:48,360 Yours is the dominion, O Lord, and you exalt yourself as head over all. 462 00:18:48,360 --> 00:18:50,420 He owns it all. 463 00:18:50,420 --> 00:18:55,280 He has dominion over it all. 464 00:18:55,280 --> 00:19:01,760 Nothing will change your perspective in money and finances more than realizing and not just 465 00:19:01,760 --> 00:19:07,160 realizing and believing that you don't earn any of it. 466 00:19:07,160 --> 00:19:09,240 It's all his. 467 00:19:09,240 --> 00:19:10,240 It's his. 468 00:19:10,240 --> 00:19:16,720 Now listen, he gave you the ability, right, and the opportunity to earn a wage so you 469 00:19:16,720 --> 00:19:21,200 could buy the right to manage his stuff. 470 00:19:21,200 --> 00:19:22,880 It's not so you could own it. 471 00:19:22,880 --> 00:19:30,760 He gave you the ability and the opportunity to earn a wage so you could buy stuff that 472 00:19:30,760 --> 00:19:34,300 you could manage for him, not to own it. 473 00:19:34,300 --> 00:19:36,320 We don't own a thing. 474 00:19:36,320 --> 00:19:41,920 We just earn the right to borrow what is his and to manage what is his. 475 00:19:41,920 --> 00:19:47,720 Listen, if we don't believe this, not just think about it, just not that it's a nice 476 00:19:47,720 --> 00:19:50,720 concept, but like actually get it in your belief system. 477 00:19:50,720 --> 00:19:56,440 If we don't believe this, our foundation, our financial foundation, a godly financial 478 00:19:56,440 --> 00:19:58,640 foundation will be cracked. 479 00:19:58,640 --> 00:20:04,280 We'll live under the delusion that we control everything or even some of the things, you 480 00:20:04,280 --> 00:20:06,200 know, when it comes to money and possessions. 481 00:20:06,200 --> 00:20:10,680 We'll think that we call the shots with the money and possessions instead of him, right, 482 00:20:10,680 --> 00:20:12,920 calling the shots. 483 00:20:12,920 --> 00:20:15,680 We won't pray about large purchases, right? 484 00:20:15,680 --> 00:20:18,800 Now I know you don't got to pray about getting toothpaste. 485 00:20:18,800 --> 00:20:21,160 I don't think anyway. 486 00:20:21,160 --> 00:20:22,440 You could challenge me on that. 487 00:20:22,440 --> 00:20:23,440 Maybe you do. 488 00:20:23,440 --> 00:20:24,440 All right. 489 00:20:24,440 --> 00:20:27,280 But, you know, God gives you the ability to those things. 490 00:20:27,280 --> 00:20:31,040 But if we don't believe this about God, we'll never consult with them. 491 00:20:31,040 --> 00:20:34,560 We never check with them and say, hey, is this a good idea or is this not a good idea? 492 00:20:34,560 --> 00:20:35,560 Right? 493 00:20:35,560 --> 00:20:36,560 Come on. 494 00:20:36,560 --> 00:20:38,600 Don't get all tense on me. 495 00:20:38,600 --> 00:20:45,280 I'll go as far as to say that we'll pick and choose what truths in the area of finances 496 00:20:45,280 --> 00:20:50,680 and possessions that we want to and we'll leave the rest behind. 497 00:20:50,680 --> 00:20:51,680 He owns it all. 498 00:20:51,680 --> 00:20:52,680 He owns it all. 499 00:20:52,680 --> 00:20:54,460 He owns it all. 500 00:20:54,460 --> 00:20:55,460 It's his. 501 00:20:55,460 --> 00:20:56,460 Get it in your spirit. 502 00:20:56,460 --> 00:20:57,460 Get it in your heart. 503 00:20:57,460 --> 00:20:58,460 Get it in your head. 504 00:20:58,460 --> 00:20:59,460 It's his. 505 00:20:59,460 --> 00:21:05,840 Because it's it's dangerous as a follower of Jesus to believe something different. 506 00:21:05,840 --> 00:21:10,120 Believe Jesus and believing that I'm the owner of the money and the possessions in my possession 507 00:21:10,120 --> 00:21:12,040 is a dangerous way to live. 508 00:21:12,040 --> 00:21:13,040 It really is. 509 00:21:13,040 --> 00:21:14,800 It's a dangerous way to live. 510 00:21:14,800 --> 00:21:19,520 Because one day, one day I'm either going to stand before God when I pass from this 511 00:21:19,520 --> 00:21:24,280 life to the next or one day Jesus is going to return and I'm going to stand before him. 512 00:21:24,280 --> 00:21:28,840 And as a follower of Jesus Christ, he's going to say, what did you do with my stuff? 513 00:21:28,840 --> 00:21:29,840 Right? 514 00:21:29,840 --> 00:21:32,060 What did you do with the things that I gave you? 515 00:21:32,060 --> 00:21:33,060 And let me prove this to you. 516 00:21:33,060 --> 00:21:34,060 All right. 517 00:21:34,060 --> 00:21:35,060 Because you might not want to take my word for it. 518 00:21:35,060 --> 00:21:40,160 But I want to show you in God's word, Matthew 25 14, Jesus tells a parable. 519 00:21:40,160 --> 00:21:43,320 He tells a story and he lays this out so so easily. 520 00:21:43,320 --> 00:21:44,880 And it says this at the beginning of this parable. 521 00:21:44,880 --> 00:21:47,520 It says, again, the kingdom of heaven can be illustrated. 522 00:21:47,520 --> 00:21:52,160 Anytime you see this in God's word, anytime you see the kingdom of heaven is like, anytime 523 00:21:52,160 --> 00:21:54,940 you see the kingdom of heaven can be illustrated by this story. 524 00:21:54,940 --> 00:21:57,120 This is how it works in God's kingdom. 525 00:21:57,120 --> 00:21:58,980 This is what you can picture this. 526 00:21:58,980 --> 00:22:01,120 You can pull a million different truths out of this. 527 00:22:01,120 --> 00:22:04,120 But I assure you, this is how it works in his economy. 528 00:22:04,120 --> 00:22:08,240 This is how he structures things, not the world around you, but how he does it. 529 00:22:08,240 --> 00:22:12,660 He says the kingdom of heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. 530 00:22:12,660 --> 00:22:13,660 Guess who the man is? 531 00:22:13,660 --> 00:22:14,660 God. 532 00:22:14,660 --> 00:22:15,660 Right? 533 00:22:15,660 --> 00:22:19,000 He called together his servants, who is us, and entrusted his money to them while he was 534 00:22:19,000 --> 00:22:20,040 gone. 535 00:22:20,040 --> 00:22:23,840 He gave five bags of silver to one, two bags of silver to another, and one bag of silver 536 00:22:23,840 --> 00:22:27,400 to the last, dividing it in proportion to their abilities. 537 00:22:27,400 --> 00:22:28,520 Then he left on his trip. 538 00:22:28,520 --> 00:22:32,480 The servant who received the five bags of silver began to invest the money and earn 539 00:22:32,480 --> 00:22:33,560 five more. 540 00:22:33,560 --> 00:22:37,680 The servant with two bags of silver also went to work and earned two more. 541 00:22:37,680 --> 00:22:42,440 But the servant who received one bag of silver dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's 542 00:22:42,440 --> 00:22:45,400 money, which his master did not tell him to do. 543 00:22:45,400 --> 00:22:49,440 After a long time, their master, the owner, returned from his trip and called them in 544 00:22:49,440 --> 00:22:52,240 to give an account of how they used his money. 545 00:22:52,240 --> 00:22:56,560 The servant to whom he had entrusted the five bags of silver came forward with five more 546 00:22:56,560 --> 00:23:01,560 and said, Master, you gave me five bags of silver to invest, and I've earned five more. 547 00:23:01,560 --> 00:23:05,200 His master was full of praise, well done, my good and faithful servant. 548 00:23:05,200 --> 00:23:08,280 You've been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I'm going to give you more 549 00:23:08,280 --> 00:23:09,720 responsibilities. 550 00:23:09,720 --> 00:23:11,120 Let's celebrate. 551 00:23:11,120 --> 00:23:15,080 The servant who received the two bags of silver came forward and said, Master, you gave me 552 00:23:15,080 --> 00:23:17,720 two bags of silver to invest, and I've earned two more. 553 00:23:17,720 --> 00:23:20,800 The master said to him, well done, my good and faithful servant. 554 00:23:20,800 --> 00:23:25,560 You've been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I'll give you more responsibilities. 555 00:23:25,560 --> 00:23:27,040 Let's celebrate. 556 00:23:27,040 --> 00:23:31,680 The servant with the one bag of silver came and said, Master, I knew you were a harsh 557 00:23:31,680 --> 00:23:35,000 man, harvesting crops you didn't plant and gathering crops you didn't cultivate. 558 00:23:35,000 --> 00:23:37,640 He comes in and first of all starts insulting the master. 559 00:23:37,640 --> 00:23:38,960 Bad idea, okay? 560 00:23:38,960 --> 00:23:42,800 I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth. 561 00:23:42,800 --> 00:23:44,400 Look, here's your money back. 562 00:23:44,400 --> 00:23:47,680 But the master replied, you wicked and lazy servant. 563 00:23:47,680 --> 00:23:52,560 If you knew I harvested crops I didn't plant and gathered crops I didn't cultivate, why 564 00:23:52,560 --> 00:23:54,840 didn't you deposit my money in the bank? 565 00:23:54,840 --> 00:23:57,400 At least I could have gotten some interest on it. 566 00:23:57,400 --> 00:24:02,680 Then he ordered, take the money from the servant and give it to the servant who has the one 567 00:24:02,680 --> 00:24:05,440 and give it to the one who has ten bags of silver. 568 00:24:05,440 --> 00:24:10,360 To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given and they will have 569 00:24:10,360 --> 00:24:11,360 an abundance. 570 00:24:11,360 --> 00:24:13,320 Come on, there's a principle there. 571 00:24:13,320 --> 00:24:18,180 But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away. 572 00:24:18,180 --> 00:24:23,120 Now throw this useless servant into the outer darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing 573 00:24:23,120 --> 00:24:25,640 of teeth. 574 00:24:25,640 --> 00:24:32,480 Who experiences freedom in this analogy of the kingdom of God? 575 00:24:32,480 --> 00:24:38,600 The two that managed well, the two that God put something in their hands and said, the 576 00:24:38,600 --> 00:24:42,600 manager put something or the owner put something in their hand and said, go manage this, go 577 00:24:42,600 --> 00:24:49,520 use this, go expand this, go make this larger, go use this for the kingdom of God, right? 578 00:24:49,520 --> 00:24:51,480 Go and do this. 579 00:24:51,480 --> 00:24:56,320 And those were the two, the one who didn't, the one who just went and did what he wanted 580 00:24:56,320 --> 00:24:57,320 to do. 581 00:24:57,320 --> 00:24:58,320 Just thought, well, you know what? 582 00:24:58,320 --> 00:25:00,320 I'm going to make up my mind and how this is all going to work. 583 00:25:00,320 --> 00:25:01,320 I'm going to stick it in the ground. 584 00:25:01,320 --> 00:25:02,320 I'm going to cover it up. 585 00:25:02,320 --> 00:25:05,520 And then when the match comes back, I'll just hand it back to him. 586 00:25:05,520 --> 00:25:06,520 Things will be good then. 587 00:25:06,520 --> 00:25:08,360 No, it wasn't. 588 00:25:08,360 --> 00:25:12,520 Because the owner said, go and invest it, go use it. 589 00:25:12,520 --> 00:25:15,920 Everything you got in your hand, everything that God's placed in your hand, that's a tool 590 00:25:15,920 --> 00:25:17,360 for the kingdom of God. 591 00:25:17,360 --> 00:25:22,160 You can use anything you've got in your home, in your possession, right? 592 00:25:22,160 --> 00:25:24,320 Anything that you have can be used for the kingdom of God. 593 00:25:24,320 --> 00:25:26,320 He said, just go use it. 594 00:25:26,320 --> 00:25:32,000 And he said to the one, to one who didn't, he said, listen, there's going to be bondage 595 00:25:32,000 --> 00:25:33,720 and torture, right? 596 00:25:33,720 --> 00:25:37,600 And I quote verse 30, now throw that useless servant into outer darkness where there will 597 00:25:37,600 --> 00:25:39,440 be weeping and ashing of teeth. 598 00:25:39,440 --> 00:25:40,440 That's tough, right? 599 00:25:40,440 --> 00:25:42,480 I know it is. 600 00:25:42,480 --> 00:25:43,480 Believe it. 601 00:25:43,480 --> 00:25:48,800 But instead of just the manager, it's a dangerous proposition in the kingdom of God. 602 00:25:48,800 --> 00:25:51,520 That's a bad idea, right? 603 00:25:51,520 --> 00:25:53,360 We got to understand. 604 00:25:53,360 --> 00:25:54,520 He's the owner. 605 00:25:54,520 --> 00:25:55,520 He's the owner. 606 00:25:55,520 --> 00:25:57,360 I'm the manager. 607 00:25:57,360 --> 00:26:00,840 Several years ago, we got the opportunity. 608 00:26:00,840 --> 00:26:03,360 We're part of a denomination of the Church of God. 609 00:26:03,360 --> 00:26:07,320 And of course, the Church of God has about seven million members worldwide. 610 00:26:07,320 --> 00:26:08,720 The big denomination. 611 00:26:08,720 --> 00:26:13,360 And we got the opportunity to go down to the denominational headquarters and tour the headquarters 612 00:26:13,360 --> 00:26:16,360 and I remember I was in this small group and they're taking us through and they're showing 613 00:26:16,360 --> 00:26:19,160 us the offices and they're showing us all these things. 614 00:26:19,160 --> 00:26:22,680 So we go into the office of the general overseer of the Church of God. 615 00:26:22,680 --> 00:26:24,000 Now, he's the top dog. 616 00:26:24,000 --> 00:26:25,000 Okay. 617 00:26:25,000 --> 00:26:26,360 He's the boss of all bosses. 618 00:26:26,360 --> 00:26:28,200 He's my boss's boss's boss. 619 00:26:28,200 --> 00:26:29,200 Okay. 620 00:26:29,200 --> 00:26:35,280 He calls the shots with a whole group of other council, different people, but they all take 621 00:26:35,280 --> 00:26:40,040 us into his office, you know, and we march in and it was just really kind of just a regular 622 00:26:40,040 --> 00:26:41,040 office. 623 00:26:41,040 --> 00:26:44,360 And one guy took us in and he marched us all in and I was like, I don't know, I can't remember 624 00:26:44,360 --> 00:26:45,960 like eight of us, something like that, ten of us. 625 00:26:45,960 --> 00:26:49,080 And he said, hey, by the way, if you want to, you can just sit in his chair. 626 00:26:49,080 --> 00:26:50,080 He wasn't there. 627 00:26:50,080 --> 00:26:53,960 And we're all looking around like, is this an integrity test? 628 00:26:53,960 --> 00:26:56,840 You know, that's the boss's, that's the boss's boss's chair. 629 00:26:56,840 --> 00:26:59,600 You know, we're like, are we supposed to say yes here? 630 00:26:59,600 --> 00:27:02,520 We supposed to, you ever wonder if something's a trick question? 631 00:27:02,520 --> 00:27:04,040 Because the door guy was serious. 632 00:27:04,040 --> 00:27:05,040 We're like, really? 633 00:27:05,040 --> 00:27:08,000 You can just take a, sit in his chair and take a selfie? 634 00:27:08,000 --> 00:27:09,000 And like all of us declined. 635 00:27:09,000 --> 00:27:12,520 We're like, no, because he might come back in, right? 636 00:27:12,520 --> 00:27:17,560 Here I am with my feet propped up taking a selfie in the general overseer seat, right? 637 00:27:17,560 --> 00:27:20,200 That's what we do with God. 638 00:27:20,200 --> 00:27:25,160 We sit in his seat and we say, Oh no, I'm the owner. 639 00:27:25,160 --> 00:27:26,160 I take a selfie. 640 00:27:26,160 --> 00:27:27,160 He says, no, you're not. 641 00:27:27,160 --> 00:27:28,160 You're the manager. 642 00:27:28,160 --> 00:27:29,160 Right? 643 00:27:29,160 --> 00:27:30,160 It's foundational. 644 00:27:30,160 --> 00:27:31,160 It's foundational. 645 00:27:31,160 --> 00:27:32,160 He's the owner. 646 00:27:32,160 --> 00:27:33,160 We're the manager. 647 00:27:33,160 --> 00:27:42,400 He'll bless your socks off, right? 648 00:27:42,400 --> 00:27:44,160 He did the service, right? 649 00:27:44,160 --> 00:27:45,760 You just do it his way. 650 00:27:45,760 --> 00:27:49,320 Listen, God is not about against you having things. 651 00:27:49,320 --> 00:27:50,320 He really isn't. 652 00:27:50,320 --> 00:27:52,680 Remember in fact, you know, you can go into God's word. 653 00:27:52,680 --> 00:27:56,280 There's a lot and I'm going to unfold them in the weeks to come, but some of the most 654 00:27:56,280 --> 00:27:59,880 wealthiest people in the world were, were, you know, following God. 655 00:27:59,880 --> 00:28:03,600 Solomon was one of the wealthiest men who ever walked the face of the planet, if not 656 00:28:03,600 --> 00:28:04,840 the wealthiest. 657 00:28:04,840 --> 00:28:07,200 Job was wealthy. 658 00:28:07,200 --> 00:28:08,200 Abraham was wealthy. 659 00:28:08,200 --> 00:28:12,760 You know, Isaac and Jacob, they're all God's not against God's. 660 00:28:12,760 --> 00:28:14,480 What it is, is a mindset. 661 00:28:14,480 --> 00:28:18,960 It's about, okay, can I trust you with what I put in your hands to manage? 662 00:28:18,960 --> 00:28:20,760 How many of you came into this world? 663 00:28:20,760 --> 00:28:22,800 You're going out with nothing, right? 664 00:28:22,800 --> 00:28:24,120 You came in with nothing. 665 00:28:24,120 --> 00:28:25,920 You're going to, you're not going to take anything with you. 666 00:28:25,920 --> 00:28:27,600 I don't care what they stuff in your coffin. 667 00:28:27,600 --> 00:28:28,600 All right. 668 00:28:28,600 --> 00:28:30,360 You don't have as much gold in your coffin as you. 669 00:28:30,360 --> 00:28:32,400 It's going to be, they could dig it up three months later. 670 00:28:32,400 --> 00:28:34,280 Guess what's still going to be there, right? 671 00:28:34,280 --> 00:28:36,960 If you put a bunch of gold in your coffin, somebody's going to dig you up sooner. 672 00:28:36,960 --> 00:28:37,960 All right. 673 00:28:37,960 --> 00:28:40,200 It just, you're not taking it with you when you go. 674 00:28:40,200 --> 00:28:43,000 God says, manage it. 675 00:28:43,000 --> 00:28:45,040 I'm the owner. 676 00:28:45,040 --> 00:28:49,360 Manage it and watch what I can do to expand it. 677 00:28:49,360 --> 00:28:51,360 One with the five, five more. 678 00:28:51,360 --> 00:28:53,000 One with the two, two more. 679 00:28:53,000 --> 00:28:56,960 When you do things, I tell people this all the time and it's completely true. 680 00:28:56,960 --> 00:29:01,320 I'm going to get you to stand as the worship team comes and just go ahead and stand. 681 00:29:01,320 --> 00:29:03,220 Understand this principle. 682 00:29:03,220 --> 00:29:07,800 If you do what God says in his word, do you know that it's already blessed? 683 00:29:07,800 --> 00:29:10,000 You don't have to ask for it to be blessed. 684 00:29:10,000 --> 00:29:13,120 You don't have to come and say, God, I'm going to obey you in this. 685 00:29:13,120 --> 00:29:14,120 Please bless me. 686 00:29:14,120 --> 00:29:18,460 You don't even have to say that because God says what I say is already blessed. 687 00:29:18,460 --> 00:29:21,260 If you walk in it, it's already done deal. 688 00:29:21,260 --> 00:29:24,120 If you step in it, you're already going to have the blessing. 689 00:29:24,120 --> 00:29:26,920 If you follow in obedience, it's already there. 690 00:29:26,920 --> 00:29:30,720 He wants to bless his children, but he says you've got to do it my way. 691 00:29:30,720 --> 00:29:34,920 That's why he says things in the word of God like the kingdom of heaven is like this because 692 00:29:34,920 --> 00:29:36,680 the world sees it completely opposite. 693 00:29:36,680 --> 00:29:38,420 Do you know that? 694 00:29:38,420 --> 00:29:40,840 This is what he says. 695 00:29:40,840 --> 00:29:45,540 One principle I want you to get in your head and your heart this morning is this. 696 00:29:45,540 --> 00:29:47,800 One thing, one thing. 697 00:29:47,800 --> 00:29:48,800 Close your eyes just for a moment. 698 00:29:48,800 --> 00:29:51,040 I want you to block out anything that's around you. 699 00:29:51,040 --> 00:29:56,260 You're not worried about who's standing beside you or what I'm saying or doing or moving. 700 00:29:56,260 --> 00:30:02,560 Do you see yourself as the manager or the owner? 701 00:30:02,560 --> 00:30:06,240 Because freedom begins when I believe that I'm managing for the owner. 702 00:30:06,240 --> 00:30:08,880 That's where it begins. 703 00:30:08,880 --> 00:30:13,640 In finances and possessions, this is where it begins. 704 00:30:13,640 --> 00:30:17,880 Now while you got your eyes closed, I know I took you through your house a little bit 705 00:30:17,880 --> 00:30:20,040 quickly virtually, right? 706 00:30:20,040 --> 00:30:24,960 Now I'm going to ask you to do, you get a little test you can do for yourself. 707 00:30:24,960 --> 00:30:27,840 Little manager test versus owner test. 708 00:30:27,840 --> 00:30:32,400 Would I be willing to give away anything God told me to give away? 709 00:30:32,400 --> 00:30:34,080 Anything that God's placed in my hand? 710 00:30:34,080 --> 00:30:35,080 Right? 711 00:30:35,080 --> 00:30:36,080 Anything that is in my hand. 712 00:30:36,080 --> 00:30:39,240 Now listen, if you borrowed money for whatever's in your hand, you don't really own it. 713 00:30:39,240 --> 00:30:40,240 You own it with somebody else. 714 00:30:40,240 --> 00:30:42,240 You'd have to ask them. 715 00:30:42,240 --> 00:30:46,480 But if you own it, would I be willing to give it away? 716 00:30:46,480 --> 00:30:49,000 Because if you're just the manager and you don't really own it anyway, why would you 717 00:30:49,000 --> 00:30:50,000 worry about it? 718 00:30:50,000 --> 00:30:55,720 And if we've got a God who owns the cattle on a thousand hills and can supply anything 719 00:30:55,720 --> 00:31:00,760 that we want, anything that we need, why would we worry about it? 720 00:31:00,760 --> 00:31:04,560 This is the difference between owning and managing. 721 00:31:04,560 --> 00:31:12,200 If God spoke it, if the owner said, give it away, would you give it away? 722 00:31:12,200 --> 00:31:15,120 I want you to look back up at me. 723 00:31:15,120 --> 00:31:17,080 God will test you in this sometimes. 724 00:31:17,080 --> 00:31:18,080 He really will. 725 00:31:18,080 --> 00:31:22,960 Just about a year ago, I'm not much of a... 726 00:31:22,960 --> 00:31:28,040 I look at possessions as a tool to do God's kingdom and whatever we're doing. 727 00:31:28,040 --> 00:31:31,080 God will give you things for the benefit of your family and to do kingdom work. 728 00:31:31,080 --> 00:31:32,080 I don't know if you know that or not. 729 00:31:32,080 --> 00:31:33,520 We'll unfold that along the way. 730 00:31:33,520 --> 00:31:36,320 He really will. 731 00:31:36,320 --> 00:31:38,640 But I don't hang on to things much. 732 00:31:38,640 --> 00:31:41,960 I'm not very sentimental with stuff. 733 00:31:41,960 --> 00:31:46,920 It's just stuff and it's just things that God gives to use and to give. 734 00:31:46,920 --> 00:31:50,480 But I have a few things, those things that you hang on to. 735 00:31:50,480 --> 00:31:53,600 I remember about a year ago, God said, give it away. 736 00:31:53,600 --> 00:31:56,600 I was like, it's just this one thing, God. 737 00:31:56,600 --> 00:31:58,560 I really like this thing. 738 00:31:58,560 --> 00:32:03,080 I have some attachment to it because it was tied with family. 739 00:32:03,080 --> 00:32:06,200 I had all this thing and I kind of argued with God for a little while. 740 00:32:06,200 --> 00:32:09,560 Honestly, I didn't really want to give it to the person He told me to give it to. 741 00:32:09,560 --> 00:32:13,440 I should be perfectly honest. 742 00:32:13,440 --> 00:32:16,560 God said, no, I need you to give that away. 743 00:32:16,560 --> 00:32:20,640 I fought with God for a little bit about it because I was owning it. 744 00:32:20,640 --> 00:32:23,320 Finally, I just gave in. 745 00:32:23,320 --> 00:32:26,360 Now I'd love to tell you, God returned that to me six-fold. 746 00:32:26,360 --> 00:32:27,360 He didn't. 747 00:32:27,360 --> 00:32:28,960 I just gave it away. 748 00:32:28,960 --> 00:32:30,920 But it was something I needed to do. 749 00:32:30,920 --> 00:32:33,200 It was something He said, okay, just let go. 750 00:32:33,200 --> 00:32:35,240 Just let go of it. 751 00:32:35,240 --> 00:32:37,440 Just let go. 752 00:32:37,440 --> 00:32:40,200 I'm not the owner. 753 00:32:40,200 --> 00:32:41,200 He is. 754 00:32:41,200 --> 00:32:43,240 We're just the manager. 755 00:32:43,240 --> 00:32:44,280 He has promised you. 756 00:32:44,280 --> 00:32:49,640 If you're following Him, He has promised you all of heaven. 757 00:32:49,640 --> 00:32:52,720 There's a place in His Word, He says, just try me in this. 758 00:32:52,720 --> 00:32:54,640 We're going to get to that in another message. 759 00:32:54,640 --> 00:32:57,600 Just try me in this and see if I don't open the windows of heaven and pour upon you blessings 760 00:32:57,600 --> 00:32:58,600 that you can't contain. 761 00:32:58,600 --> 00:33:00,600 He'll take care of you. 762 00:33:00,600 --> 00:33:02,800 He'll meet your need. 763 00:33:02,800 --> 00:33:03,800 Whatever it is. 764 00:33:03,800 --> 00:33:05,920 He's just looking for faith. 765 00:33:05,920 --> 00:33:06,920 Do we trust Him? 766 00:33:06,920 --> 00:33:07,920 Bow your heads now. 767 00:33:07,920 --> 00:33:08,920 All right. 768 00:33:08,920 --> 00:33:09,920 You did the tour. 769 00:33:09,920 --> 00:33:12,480 You've got to ask yourself the question. 770 00:33:12,480 --> 00:33:14,520 One question today. 771 00:33:14,520 --> 00:33:17,280 Am I the owner or am I the manager? 772 00:33:17,280 --> 00:33:18,840 I'm going to let you grapple with that. 773 00:33:18,840 --> 00:33:21,480 That's between you and God. 774 00:33:21,480 --> 00:33:25,200 Father, we come knowing, Lord, that you own everything. 775 00:33:25,200 --> 00:33:26,720 Lord, the earth is yours. 776 00:33:26,720 --> 00:33:28,520 God, everything above and below the earth. 777 00:33:28,520 --> 00:33:30,360 God, everything that surrounds the earth. 778 00:33:30,360 --> 00:33:33,040 God, as far as the universe is stretched, Lord. 779 00:33:33,040 --> 00:33:36,400 God, we don't even know where that ends or if it ends. 780 00:33:36,400 --> 00:33:37,880 Lord, it is yours. 781 00:33:37,880 --> 00:33:44,160 Lord, I pray right now that in my small little world that I have, Lord. 782 00:33:44,160 --> 00:33:47,800 Lord, I realize that I'm just the manager and I'm not the owner. 783 00:33:47,800 --> 00:33:50,320 Lord, I turn over to you this morning. 784 00:33:50,320 --> 00:33:54,000 God, the things that are in my hand because they're yours and they're not mine. 785 00:33:54,000 --> 00:33:55,400 Lord, I thank you. 786 00:33:55,400 --> 00:33:59,920 God, there is such freedom in you and there is such freedom in your word. 787 00:33:59,920 --> 00:34:03,840 Lord, I pray that right now, Lord, that I don't just think this is a good concept or 788 00:34:03,840 --> 00:34:06,760 I don't just kind of grab hold of this, but I actually believe it. 789 00:34:06,760 --> 00:34:13,520 Lord, help me to believe and to change my perspective on how I live and how I move. 790 00:34:13,520 --> 00:34:16,440 Lord, I ask this in Jesus' name. 791 00:34:16,440 --> 00:34:17,440 Amen. 792 00:34:17,440 --> 00:34:18,440 Amen. 793 00:34:18,440 --> 00:34:19,720 Here's the freedom in this. 794 00:34:19,720 --> 00:34:22,120 Here's the freedom in this. 795 00:34:22,120 --> 00:34:25,400 I can't tell you the amount of stress that will come off your life when you begin to 796 00:34:25,400 --> 00:34:29,960 realize that you don't own it anymore and you're just simply a manager because you don't 797 00:34:29,960 --> 00:34:32,120 have to be responsible for all of it. 798 00:34:32,120 --> 00:34:33,480 You just got to ask God about it. 799 00:34:33,480 --> 00:34:34,480 That's all. 800 00:34:34,480 --> 00:34:36,040 And He'll work it all out. 801 00:34:36,040 --> 00:34:41,960 There's this freedom in God that when you truly step in and you truly believe, you're 802 00:34:41,960 --> 00:34:44,960 just free because you're consulting the one who cannot fail. 803 00:34:44,960 --> 00:34:45,960 Amen. 804 00:34:45,960 --> 00:34:46,960 How many know I can fail? 805 00:34:46,960 --> 00:34:49,560 If you don't believe that, Dickey and I can talk to you. 806 00:34:49,560 --> 00:34:51,840 I've made some investments and failed. 807 00:34:51,840 --> 00:34:52,840 Okay. 808 00:34:52,840 --> 00:34:53,840 Long story. 809 00:34:53,840 --> 00:34:55,480 Let's share that another time. 810 00:34:55,480 --> 00:34:56,480 All right. 811 00:34:56,480 --> 00:34:58,360 I've made some investments and failed. 812 00:34:58,360 --> 00:34:59,360 I can fail. 813 00:34:59,360 --> 00:35:01,800 But I didn't consult God on it. 814 00:35:01,800 --> 00:35:02,800 Right. 815 00:35:02,800 --> 00:35:03,800 Consult Him. 816 00:35:03,800 --> 00:35:04,800 Amen. 817 00:35:04,800 --> 00:35:14,560 Man, got all kind of stares going at me right now. 818 00:35:14,560 --> 00:35:17,040 It's good to be in God's house. 819 00:35:17,040 --> 00:35:18,040 I know this. 820 00:35:18,040 --> 00:35:19,040 I know this. 821 00:35:19,040 --> 00:35:23,600 A lot of times we're looking for deliverance for something. 822 00:35:23,600 --> 00:35:28,120 We're asking God to move us out of something, a tough situation. 823 00:35:28,120 --> 00:35:29,960 And sometimes God does that immediately. 824 00:35:29,960 --> 00:35:33,520 Sometimes there's a moment in time when you can pray and that takes place. 825 00:35:33,520 --> 00:35:36,420 But a lot of times it's walking out God's process. 826 00:35:36,420 --> 00:35:38,120 It's walking out His word. 827 00:35:38,120 --> 00:35:41,480 But I'm telling you, there's freedom on the other end. 828 00:35:41,480 --> 00:35:42,480 There's freedom. 829 00:35:42,480 --> 00:35:43,480 There's freedom. 830 00:35:43,480 --> 00:35:47,560 I could take you to a half a dozen people in this house and they would talk to you about 831 00:35:47,560 --> 00:35:52,560 finances and how God set them free in so many ways. 832 00:35:52,560 --> 00:35:53,560 Know that. 833 00:35:53,560 --> 00:35:54,560 Know that. 834 00:35:54,560 --> 00:36:04,600 Thank you for tuning in to this message from Life House Church. 835 00:36:04,600 --> 00:36:09,120 We pray that you were impacted powerfully by this message. 836 00:36:09,120 --> 00:36:13,200 If you have been personally affected by our ministry and you would like to partner with 837 00:36:13,200 --> 00:36:24,840 us as we love God, love people every day, visit our website at www.lifehousecog.com.