1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:12,440 Welcome to the Potter's House Salmon Arm podcast. We are a Bible-Believing Church located 2 00:00:12,440 --> 00:00:16,680 in beautiful British Columbia, Canada. We are proudly part of the Christian Fellowship 3 00:00:16,680 --> 00:00:21,920 Ministries with 3,000 churches around the world. We are a church focused on world evangelism, 4 00:00:21,920 --> 00:00:27,300 discipleship and church planting. Here we will share recent sermons from P.H.S.A. Church 5 00:00:27,300 --> 00:00:31,880 and other sermons from throughout our fellowship. I am Pastor David Bigford and I will be your 6 00:00:31,880 --> 00:00:36,420 host for this podcast. I thank you for listening today and we hope these messages are a blessing 7 00:00:36,420 --> 00:00:41,080 to you and bring you closer to God. 8 00:00:41,080 --> 00:00:50,400 Hello and welcome back to the Potter's House podcast. My name is David Bigford. I'm the 9 00:00:50,400 --> 00:00:55,320 pastor here in Salmon Arm and I just want to welcome you to the podcast. If you're new 10 00:00:55,320 --> 00:01:01,440 or you're listening for the first or second time, thank you for joining us. The message 11 00:01:01,440 --> 00:01:08,760 I have today is the three C's for growth. Create, contribute and care. The text I'll 12 00:01:08,760 --> 00:01:15,640 be using is Matthew 25 verses 14 through 30. So if you have your Bibles you want to follow 13 00:01:15,640 --> 00:01:21,400 along, you can turn there today. Alright, perfect. So I found an illustration called 14 00:01:21,400 --> 00:01:28,080 Good Timber. It's a poem that came from Douglas Malick and it's pretty interesting and I think 15 00:01:28,080 --> 00:01:32,040 it'll help us as we jump into our message today. 16 00:01:32,040 --> 00:01:37,560 The tree that never had to fight for sun and sky and air and light, that stood out in the 17 00:01:37,560 --> 00:01:43,960 open plain and always got its share of rain, never became a forest king but lived and died 18 00:01:43,960 --> 00:01:50,760 a scrubby thing. The man who never had to toil to heaven from the common soil, who never 19 00:01:50,760 --> 00:01:58,280 had to win his share of sun and sky and light and air, never became a manly man but lived 20 00:01:58,280 --> 00:02:04,440 and died as he began. Good timber does not grow in ease, the strong wind, the tougher 21 00:02:04,440 --> 00:02:10,160 trees, the farther sky, the greater length, the more the storm, the more the strength. 22 00:02:10,160 --> 00:02:17,920 By sun and cold, by rain and snow, in tree or man, good timber grows. Where thickest stands 23 00:02:17,920 --> 00:02:23,400 the forest's growth, we find the patriarch of them both, and they hold converse with 24 00:02:23,400 --> 00:02:31,200 the stars whose broken branches show the scars. Of many winds, of many strife, this is the 25 00:02:31,200 --> 00:02:34,440 common law of life. 26 00:02:34,440 --> 00:02:41,280 So the question before us is, how do we grow to be strong, to be resilient? How do we grow 27 00:02:41,280 --> 00:02:47,720 to be made of the right stuff? And that is never more important than it is today as we 28 00:02:47,720 --> 00:02:54,160 just saw the Olympics kick off in France and the spectacle that's been made and the mockery 29 00:02:54,160 --> 00:03:03,480 that's been made of Christianity on a global stage. And everybody wants to say how brave 30 00:03:03,480 --> 00:03:08,940 it was for these people to do this mockery, but they would never try such a thing with 31 00:03:08,940 --> 00:03:15,360 other faiths, faiths that don't live by the tenets of Christ. No, they would actually 32 00:03:15,360 --> 00:03:22,800 be terrified of the violence that would occur if they were to do anything in regards to 33 00:03:22,800 --> 00:03:29,740 this with the other faith of Islam, especially given the demographics that have happened 34 00:03:29,740 --> 00:03:38,200 in Europe over the last decade or so. But we know that they fear the God that we serve. 35 00:03:38,200 --> 00:03:44,840 They fear Christ. They fear our Lord because that's why they are so drawn to mocking. So 36 00:03:44,840 --> 00:03:51,160 these scraggly little men and women that are on the global stage today, they're afraid 37 00:03:51,160 --> 00:03:56,480 of what it would take to actually grow and be strengthened because to grow and to be 38 00:03:56,480 --> 00:04:07,040 strengthened you need to give your life to Jesus Christ. It takes the servant leadership 39 00:04:07,040 --> 00:04:12,600 of Jesus Christ to create a new heart in somebody and that comes by hearing the good news that 40 00:04:12,600 --> 00:04:19,260 Jesus died for your sins, even the sins of those that mock him. That's also something 41 00:04:19,260 --> 00:04:23,240 that's a good thing for us to highlight at this point with everything wicked that goes 42 00:04:23,240 --> 00:04:29,920 on in the world. One of the things I tell my children is that Jesus prayed for the Roman 43 00:04:29,920 --> 00:04:37,600 centurions as they were crucifying him. As he was being hung on the cross, he prayed 44 00:04:37,600 --> 00:04:44,880 for those people. So as we see in our world today, we see people who, you know, it's been 45 00:04:44,880 --> 00:04:50,960 said that 33% of Democrats in the United States are upset that the shooter who tried to assassinate 46 00:04:50,960 --> 00:04:57,280 Donald Trump missed. The wickedness of their heart leads them to such a dark place that 47 00:04:57,280 --> 00:05:04,400 instead of wishing or praying or crying out that there would be an enlightenment towards 48 00:05:04,400 --> 00:05:09,960 their view of the world. No, no, they would rather see death on those they disagree with. 49 00:05:09,960 --> 00:05:14,820 And that's a very dark and twisted thing. But that is not uncommon in our society today. 50 00:05:14,820 --> 00:05:23,360 But us as Christians, we have to weather these storms. We have to allow these things to change 51 00:05:23,360 --> 00:05:32,040 us in a way that edifies and glorifies Christ. We have to take it and allow it to strengthen 52 00:05:32,040 --> 00:05:38,520 us in light of what our our Father in heaven and our savior, Jesus Christ, would want something 53 00:05:38,520 --> 00:05:45,660 that we would be able to be a blessing unto them. And that comes by accepting the reality 54 00:05:45,660 --> 00:05:50,640 that the world is wicked, but that doesn't give us an excuse to share in their wickedness. 55 00:05:50,640 --> 00:05:55,440 So guard your hearts today as we get jump into this word, but guard your hearts that 56 00:05:55,440 --> 00:06:01,520 you see the wickedness of the world and you do not wish ill on the people, but rather 57 00:06:01,520 --> 00:06:07,040 that you wish that the spirit or the conviction of the whole of God will deal with them in 58 00:06:07,040 --> 00:06:12,400 such a way that they will turn from their wickedness and seek salvation. For we are 59 00:06:12,400 --> 00:06:19,480 a church that strives to see people saved. We are a church that strives to see people 60 00:06:19,480 --> 00:06:30,520 restored and and changed by the the blood of Jesus. So they would go from being a Saul 61 00:06:30,520 --> 00:06:37,680 who's out seeking to kill Christians to becoming a Paul who is going out to the Gentile world 62 00:06:37,680 --> 00:06:44,200 so that they might be saved. Let's jump into our text in Matthew today, which is Matthew 63 00:06:44,200 --> 00:06:50,480 25 verses 14 through 30. And it's the parable of the tenants for it will be like a man going 64 00:06:50,480 --> 00:06:55,760 on a journey who have called his servant and entrusted them to or to them his property 65 00:06:55,760 --> 00:07:00,760 to one. He gave five talents to another two and to another one to each according to his 66 00:07:00,760 --> 00:07:07,200 ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with 67 00:07:07,200 --> 00:07:12,880 them and he made five more talents. Also he who had two talents made two talents more, 68 00:07:12,880 --> 00:07:18,040 but he who had received the one talent went and dug into the ground and hid his master's 69 00:07:18,040 --> 00:07:22,760 money. Now, after a long time, the master though of those servants came and settled 70 00:07:22,760 --> 00:07:27,800 accounts with him and he would receive the five talents came forward bringing five talents 71 00:07:27,800 --> 00:07:34,840 more saying, master, you delivered to me five talents here. I have made five talents more. 72 00:07:34,840 --> 00:07:38,920 His master said to him, well done, good and faithful servant. You've been faithful over 73 00:07:38,920 --> 00:07:45,280 a little and I will set you over much enter into the joy of your master. And he said he 74 00:07:45,280 --> 00:07:52,740 also who had two talents came forward saying, master, you delivered to me two talents. 75 00:07:52,740 --> 00:07:58,300 Here I have made two talents more. His master said to him, well done, good and faithful 76 00:07:58,300 --> 00:08:05,640 servant. You have been faithful over a little. I will set you over much enter into the joy 77 00:08:05,640 --> 00:08:12,260 of your master. He also who had received one talent came forward saying, master, I knew 78 00:08:12,260 --> 00:08:18,540 you to be a hard man reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered 79 00:08:18,540 --> 00:08:25,720 no seed. So I was afraid and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what 80 00:08:25,720 --> 00:08:31,360 is yours. But his master answered him, you wicked and slothful servant. You knew that 81 00:08:31,360 --> 00:08:38,360 I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed. Then you ought to have 82 00:08:38,360 --> 00:08:43,120 invested my money with the bankers and am I coming? I should have received what was 83 00:08:43,120 --> 00:08:50,520 my own with interest. So take the talent from him and give it to the one who has ten talents. 84 00:08:50,520 --> 00:09:00,960 For everyone who has, for everyone who has will more be given and he will have an abundance. 85 00:09:00,960 --> 00:09:07,760 But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away and cast the worthless 86 00:09:07,760 --> 00:09:13,160 servant into the outer darkness in the place where there will be weeping and gnashing 87 00:09:13,160 --> 00:09:24,240 of teeth. So this parable explains what Jesus regards as faithfulness. Essentially it involves 88 00:09:24,240 --> 00:09:31,320 using what God has entrusted to you to advance his interests in the world. It involves making 89 00:09:31,320 --> 00:09:37,160 a spiritual profit with the deposits God has entrusted to each disciple. We could see this 90 00:09:37,160 --> 00:09:43,640 more fully explained when we look at James 2 verses 14 through 26. This is a portion 91 00:09:43,640 --> 00:09:49,800 of scripture where we get the idea of faith without works is dead because we are saved 92 00:09:49,800 --> 00:09:59,000 by grace and that is all God. But that changed heart that you receive when you give your 93 00:09:59,000 --> 00:10:04,880 life over to Christ and you receive that abundance of grace, it should change you enough that 94 00:10:04,880 --> 00:10:11,040 you should desire to do more. You should be part of the team, part of that community now 95 00:10:11,040 --> 00:10:18,400 striving to do God's will. And it's not immediate, it's not overnight for everybody, but it should 96 00:10:18,400 --> 00:10:25,280 be something. There should be a change in your person. In verse 14 it says, what good 97 00:10:25,280 --> 00:10:31,560 is it my brothers if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save 98 00:10:31,560 --> 00:10:38,000 him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food and one of you says 99 00:10:38,000 --> 00:10:44,080 to them go in peace, be warm and filled without giving them the things they need for the body, 100 00:10:44,080 --> 00:10:50,860 what good is that? So also faith by itself if it does not have works is dead. But someone 101 00:10:50,860 --> 00:10:56,040 will say you have faith and I have works, show me your faith apart from your works and 102 00:10:56,040 --> 00:11:02,520 I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that God is one, you do well. Even 103 00:11:02,520 --> 00:11:08,940 the demons believe and shudder. Do you want to be shown, you a foolish person, that faith 104 00:11:08,940 --> 00:11:15,360 apart from works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by the works when he 105 00:11:15,360 --> 00:11:22,440 offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works 106 00:11:22,440 --> 00:11:29,160 and faith was completed by his works. And the scripture was fulfilled that saying that 107 00:11:29,160 --> 00:11:35,520 Abraham believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness. And he was called a 108 00:11:35,520 --> 00:11:41,800 friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone and in the 109 00:11:41,800 --> 00:11:48,360 same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers 110 00:11:48,360 --> 00:11:56,200 and sent them out by another way. For the body apart from the spirit is dead. So also 111 00:11:56,200 --> 00:12:03,160 faith apart from works is dead. We also see the parable of the ten virgins which precedes 112 00:12:03,160 --> 00:12:08,840 our texts that speaks of salvation. But this one emphasizes the importance of our rewards 113 00:12:08,840 --> 00:12:15,160 and judgment. It sets the stage for our understanding of Christian growth. This is not about salvation 114 00:12:15,160 --> 00:12:21,560 as I mentioned but rather our ability to persevere and grow with that relationship of Jesus Christ 115 00:12:21,560 --> 00:12:26,720 and on that path of sanctification. We're not meant to sit idly by letting the judgment 116 00:12:26,720 --> 00:12:33,360 of God come to those who have been saved had they just heard the gospel. So again I touched 117 00:12:33,360 --> 00:12:41,840 on what we see happening in the world today and society as a whole. What's happening at 118 00:12:41,840 --> 00:12:50,840 the Olympics as Christian our cry should be that they would turn to Christ. In 1 Corinthians 119 00:12:50,840 --> 00:12:55,920 1 30 it says and because of him you are in Christ Jesus who became to us wisdom from 120 00:12:55,920 --> 00:13:02,680 God righteousness and sanctification and redemption. So this is what we're always supposed to be 121 00:13:02,680 --> 00:13:06,960 looking for as part of our sanctification as we grow in Christ we're supposed to be 122 00:13:06,960 --> 00:13:11,840 seeking redemption of others as well. This brings me to my first point which is create 123 00:13:11,840 --> 00:13:17,320 more. How do we make the most of our time? What practices do we put in place to build 124 00:13:17,320 --> 00:13:23,460 the right habits and the right mindset? We're striving to genuinely feel fulfilled and focused 125 00:13:23,460 --> 00:13:31,500 in our lives and to create something worthy of the sacrifice the Lord made for us on Calvary. 126 00:13:31,500 --> 00:13:37,280 So I've been doing for a while I was doing these things called the morning minutes and 127 00:13:37,280 --> 00:13:44,340 they were one to five minute posts on Instagram. The point of those videos wasn't to become 128 00:13:44,340 --> 00:13:49,760 super popular wasn't to do them long term necessarily or to go viral but the main reason 129 00:13:49,760 --> 00:13:54,720 I started doing those videos was it was a way for me to hold myself accountable for 130 00:13:54,720 --> 00:14:01,140 my prayer life and for putting a use to the reading of the Bible as I was going through 131 00:14:01,140 --> 00:14:06,160 it and I might start those up again. You know we got a different building and so I've been 132 00:14:06,160 --> 00:14:10,440 able to go to prayer at our church building now so it changed a little bit of my morning 133 00:14:10,440 --> 00:14:19,000 schedule but it was it was a method it was something I put in place to just drive me 134 00:14:19,000 --> 00:14:29,720 to be accountable to the body of Christ. So here are the three C's of creativity. The 135 00:14:29,720 --> 00:14:35,120 first one is consume. Feed your brain and your spirit. So we should be purposeful in 136 00:14:35,120 --> 00:14:41,160 what we consume. We should be focusing in on the word of God the Bible and then you're 137 00:14:41,160 --> 00:14:44,480 obviously going to need to be up to date a little bit of what's going on in the world 138 00:14:44,480 --> 00:14:49,640 so that you can be able to reach people. So you should be paying attention to the news 139 00:14:49,640 --> 00:14:54,000 to some extent. So if someone comes up to you and goes hey what did you think of those 140 00:14:54,000 --> 00:14:58,520 the the opening ceremony of the Olympics you at least know what they're talking about and 141 00:14:58,520 --> 00:15:03,080 you can speak to it from a biblical perspective. And then of course there's things that are 142 00:15:03,080 --> 00:15:09,420 like your personal interests. So I am trying to learn the piano and I'm trying to be better 143 00:15:09,420 --> 00:15:13,640 at bass guitar. These types of things are something that I find personally interesting 144 00:15:13,640 --> 00:15:22,080 but it's also something I'm trying to hone or harness for the mission field for the church. 145 00:15:22,080 --> 00:15:27,240 Then we're supposed to be you know the second point or the three C's of creativity is to 146 00:15:27,240 --> 00:15:33,960 create. You got to know who your audience is. This this comes into many facets whether 147 00:15:33,960 --> 00:15:38,480 you're preaching the gospel you need to know you know what's going on in your church to 148 00:15:38,480 --> 00:15:44,640 a certain extent. But even more so your friends at work your friends that you know outside 149 00:15:44,640 --> 00:15:50,040 of work. Someone you bump into the street you want to know your audience so that you 150 00:15:50,040 --> 00:15:58,000 can leverage who you know what's important to them for the purpose of the gospel. Let 151 00:15:58,000 --> 00:16:03,800 your uniqueness show through you don't have to change who you are. Oftentimes your uniqueness 152 00:16:03,800 --> 00:16:11,560 is going to open up doors to somebody's life that someone else might not be able to deal 153 00:16:11,560 --> 00:16:19,200 with. And then as you're putting together you know whether it's content creation like 154 00:16:19,200 --> 00:16:24,640 I was doing with those morning minutes or whether it's work or whether it's you know 155 00:16:24,640 --> 00:16:32,580 the time you're spending with friends you should focus over you know quality over quantity. 156 00:16:32,580 --> 00:16:38,240 You should be concerned with being a quality person. Nobody cares if you're around all 157 00:16:38,240 --> 00:16:46,480 the time. If if when you are around you're not bringing some sort of quality. That that 158 00:16:46,480 --> 00:16:53,920 last servant who had the one talent he was there he was there when the master left he 159 00:16:53,920 --> 00:17:02,860 was there when the master returned but he did not bring any quality he had as one thing. 160 00:17:02,860 --> 00:17:09,480 The others they did bring more but they brought it because of the quality of their character 161 00:17:09,480 --> 00:17:15,500 and consistency is key. So framing learning a language learning an instrument these kind 162 00:17:15,500 --> 00:17:21,400 of things is you learn that you got to do something regularly in order for it to start 163 00:17:21,400 --> 00:17:28,880 sticking in your life. And lastly out of this this second point of creating things of the 164 00:17:28,880 --> 00:17:34,200 three C's of creativity is don't let perfection be the killer good. Oftentimes you'll you'll 165 00:17:34,200 --> 00:17:40,980 see a different. Have you even heard this from different churches. Wait till you learn 166 00:17:40,980 --> 00:17:47,880 a little bit more before you tell people about Jesus Christ or that you got saved. And I 167 00:17:47,880 --> 00:17:52,320 understand the idea behind this for some people it's like don't let don't tell a bunch of 168 00:17:52,320 --> 00:17:57,720 people because you're not strong enough in the Lord but hey I'm sorry but if the conversion 169 00:17:57,720 --> 00:18:04,880 was real if you really gave your life and you really felt a touch from God. We see Jesus 170 00:18:04,880 --> 00:18:12,040 telling people who you know he talked to to go and preach the gospel fairly quickly. The 171 00:18:12,040 --> 00:18:17,160 woman the well he spoke in her life and she immediately went and became the best witness 172 00:18:17,160 --> 00:18:23,680 or the entire town. Probably in the history of the entire town you know even to this day. 173 00:18:23,680 --> 00:18:29,840 In Matthew twenty five twenty four to twenty five which is part of our text. I'm going 174 00:18:29,840 --> 00:18:35,000 to repeat it he says he also who had received the one talent came forward saying master I 175 00:18:35,000 --> 00:18:39,880 knew you to be a hard man reaping where he did not so gathering where he didn't you scattered 176 00:18:39,880 --> 00:18:45,480 no seed. So I was afraid and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what 177 00:18:45,480 --> 00:18:56,040 is yours. So this the third C of the three C's of creativity is making connections is 178 00:18:56,040 --> 00:19:03,560 to connect making connections witnessing and serving are critical to a Christian's life. 179 00:19:03,560 --> 00:19:07,680 Seeking out like minded believers people who believe in the full gospel Jesus Christ as 180 00:19:07,680 --> 00:19:15,300 laid out in the New Testament and the old. And targeting those whom you seek to help 181 00:19:15,300 --> 00:19:25,060 so we seek to see people converted. So we spend a lot of time witnessing and outreaching 182 00:19:25,060 --> 00:19:29,980 so that those who might not know the gospel or might be backslidden in their life have 183 00:19:29,980 --> 00:19:35,960 the opportunity to hear the gospel again and turn back. Jesus focused on the sick and the 184 00:19:35,960 --> 00:19:42,240 lost we should be focusing on the sick and the lost and then ultimately serve where you 185 00:19:42,240 --> 00:19:46,680 can. You might not be good at certain things but I guarantee you there's going to be a 186 00:19:46,680 --> 00:19:52,060 way you could fit in and serve within the body. In first Peter four nine three eleven 187 00:19:52,060 --> 00:19:58,200 it says show hospitality to one another without grumbling as each has received a gift use 188 00:19:58,200 --> 00:20:03,740 it to serve one another as good steward of God's very grace. Whoever speaks as one who 189 00:20:03,740 --> 00:20:09,340 speaks oracles of God whoever serves as one who serves by the strength that God supplies 190 00:20:09,340 --> 00:20:15,680 in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ to him belong the glory 191 00:20:15,680 --> 00:20:25,260 and dominion forever and ever amen. My second point which is contribute more. As we get 192 00:20:25,260 --> 00:20:29,940 more mature in Christ we should be looking for more avenues to serve in the body of Christ. 193 00:20:29,940 --> 00:20:34,100 Some of us can teach some can speak some are great with numbers and finances and some are 194 00:20:34,100 --> 00:20:40,060 a huge help in their service and support. One thing is for sure we all have we're all 195 00:20:40,060 --> 00:20:47,620 going to have to give an account for the talents that God has given us. There's a great worth 196 00:20:47,620 --> 00:20:55,400 in the talents that God has given us. That is why the parable of talents is so interesting. 197 00:20:55,400 --> 00:21:01,060 The use of the term talent signifies something of great worth in the scripture. The one talent 198 00:21:01,060 --> 00:21:08,580 that we're talking about here was equal to about 20 years worth of wages for the laborer. 199 00:21:08,580 --> 00:21:15,340 So in terms of American dollars if we're looking at you know 2011 one talent would equal about 200 00:21:15,340 --> 00:21:23,960 $600,000 multiplied by 10,000 the amount the servant owed in 1824 the debt would have been 201 00:21:23,960 --> 00:21:33,260 six billion. Jesus uses this illustration to show us that without forgiveness from God 202 00:21:33,260 --> 00:21:38,740 our debt to him is impossible to pay. So I might have confused you there just for a second 203 00:21:38,740 --> 00:21:44,620 because it's you know mixing two different parts of Matthew. So in our text today the 204 00:21:44,620 --> 00:21:51,180 20 you know we see that each talents worth like $600,000 but in Matthew 1824 there's 205 00:21:51,180 --> 00:21:56,620 the the tale of the servant who owed a lot a great deal and his debt would have been 206 00:21:56,620 --> 00:22:04,260 like the equivalent of today of six billion dollars. So these things are you know huge 207 00:22:04,260 --> 00:22:13,820 amounts of money. So this there's importance there's heaviness to this. He had the ability 208 00:22:13,820 --> 00:22:20,340 to do something and he chose not to. In Romans 14 12 so then each of us will give an account 209 00:22:20,340 --> 00:22:29,980 of himself to God. In first Corinthians four verses one through four it says this is how 210 00:22:29,980 --> 00:22:34,380 one should regard us as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover 211 00:22:34,380 --> 00:22:40,180 it is required of stewards that they be found faithful but with me it is a very small thing 212 00:22:40,180 --> 00:22:46,500 that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact I don't do not even judge myself 213 00:22:46,500 --> 00:22:51,300 for I am not aware of anything against myself but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the 214 00:22:51,300 --> 00:22:57,120 Lord who judges me. So if we're going to be regarded as servants then we have to be expected 215 00:22:57,120 --> 00:23:02,740 to serve. This does not mean that the salvation depends on works I've already touched on this 216 00:23:02,740 --> 00:23:07,700 that is why you know I included that passage from James earlier. What it does mean though 217 00:23:07,700 --> 00:23:14,900 is that once you're saved by grace and made a new creation in Jesus Christ you should 218 00:23:14,900 --> 00:23:22,460 have the desire to partake in the same ministry that sets you free that set all of us free. 219 00:23:22,460 --> 00:23:29,660 So we often times over complicate the theology when in reality it isn't that complex. If 220 00:23:29,660 --> 00:23:34,560 you were shipwrecked and one of the sailors saved your life and pulled you onto the beach 221 00:23:34,560 --> 00:23:39,760 you would be saved. Now let's say you're a skilled carpenter would you withhold your 222 00:23:39,760 --> 00:23:46,260 talent and shelter building. Of course not. You would gladly help because you were saved. 223 00:23:46,260 --> 00:23:52,760 In first Corinthians 12 11 it says all these are empowered by one in the same spirit who 224 00:23:52,760 --> 00:24:00,060 apportion to each one individually as he wills. Creation and contribution go hand in hand. 225 00:24:00,060 --> 00:24:05,340 There's no purpose of creating for its own sake unless it's either to benefit self or 226 00:24:05,340 --> 00:24:11,340 share it with others. Either option involves contributing to that creation to give it meaning. 227 00:24:11,340 --> 00:24:16,540 The more the creation contributes to the lives of others the more meaningful the creation. 228 00:24:16,540 --> 00:24:21,880 In the world if the creator monetizes his output it will be rewarded commiserate to 229 00:24:21,880 --> 00:24:28,620 how much it contributes to others. Contribution does not have to be of an original creation. 230 00:24:28,620 --> 00:24:33,800 Volunteer work is a contribution. A job is a contribution. If these efforts are meaningful 231 00:24:33,800 --> 00:24:40,740 to you they are useful contributions. So in the Old Testament specifically in the Pentateuch 232 00:24:40,740 --> 00:24:45,460 wisdom was ascribed to the craftsman and the artist. These skills were meant to be shared. 233 00:24:45,460 --> 00:24:51,180 In the New Testament we see there is an equal honor given to those who serve humbly. Our 234 00:24:51,180 --> 00:24:56,880 king Lord Jesus gave the perfect example of servant leadership and this brings me to my 235 00:24:56,880 --> 00:25:03,660 final point which is care more. This is from an article the three C's of continuous improvement 236 00:25:03,660 --> 00:25:09,460 by Jay Tomlinson. It's structured for business so just play along and we'll get to the bottom 237 00:25:09,460 --> 00:25:16,980 of this. While contributing more focuses on benefiting others caring more involves a combination 238 00:25:16,980 --> 00:25:22,300 of external and internal fulfillment. If you personally have no interest in your creation 239 00:25:22,300 --> 00:25:26,940 your sole purpose for creating is the sake of making an income. While money is necessary 240 00:25:26,940 --> 00:25:31,980 for survival the reason behind making money must be established. You are making money 241 00:25:31,980 --> 00:25:37,780 in order to buy freedom. That is what financial independence is all about. If you care about 242 00:25:37,780 --> 00:25:45,220 your productive pursuits you will have less concern over how much freedom you are buying. 243 00:25:45,220 --> 00:25:50,260 If you feel obligated to share your creation with the world the resulting monetary return 244 00:25:50,260 --> 00:25:55,420 is less important than the act of contributing. So like I said this article is focused on 245 00:25:55,420 --> 00:25:59,620 creating business content and making a profit from what you create and contribute. But what 246 00:25:59,620 --> 00:26:04,540 I found interesting in this snippet is how it can be applied to our lives in Christ. 247 00:26:04,540 --> 00:26:09,340 Through prayer reading the Bible bonding together as Christians we should grow in compassion 248 00:26:09,340 --> 00:26:14,820 for one another and for those outside the church. Empathy is something that I struggle 249 00:26:14,820 --> 00:26:21,300 with personally. As a former Marine you know kind of hard nosed kind of guy it's a challenge 250 00:26:21,300 --> 00:26:27,100 for me to fully understand the emotions that I'm not feeling. I know very empathetic people 251 00:26:27,100 --> 00:26:32,740 even sometimes to a fault. But even so through prayer Bible reading and service I find that 252 00:26:32,740 --> 00:26:38,700 God can soften my heart and help me to be more empathetic. I believe that God can also 253 00:26:38,700 --> 00:26:44,820 help you be more pragmatic and more focused as you serve and gain wisdom and maturity. 254 00:26:44,820 --> 00:26:49,140 At the end of the day we should all strive to do as much as we can with what God has 255 00:26:49,140 --> 00:26:56,280 given us. In Proverbs 20 13-14 it says, Love not sleep lest you come to poverty. Open 256 00:26:56,280 --> 00:27:02,040 your eyes and you will have plenty of bread. Bad bad says the buyer but when he goes away 257 00:27:02,040 --> 00:27:12,980 then he boasts. So finally as we close I want to look at three more C's. Conviction, Conversion 258 00:27:12,980 --> 00:27:20,100 and Consecration. The point of this message is to convict us, to fully give in to Christ. 259 00:27:20,100 --> 00:27:25,920 When we are interacting with the world our purpose is to bring conviction of sin paired 260 00:27:25,920 --> 00:27:31,920 with the hope of salvation. We are praying for the conversion of the lost and their subsequent 261 00:27:31,920 --> 00:27:38,820 consecration to God. Everything we do is supposed to be done unto the Lord. In Colossians 3 262 00:27:38,820 --> 00:27:44,660 23-24 whatever you do work hardly as for the Lord and not for man knowing that from the 263 00:27:44,660 --> 00:27:51,860 Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward you are serving the Lord Christ. So 264 00:27:51,860 --> 00:27:56,980 as a person who is born again and starts a new life similar to that of a newborn infant 265 00:27:56,980 --> 00:28:01,580 seven rules that promote good health in babies can be adapted and applied to Christian spiritual 266 00:28:01,580 --> 00:28:08,700 health. Daily food, take in the pure milk of the word through study and meditation. 267 00:28:08,700 --> 00:28:16,880 Fresh air, pray often or you will faint. Prayer is the oxygen to our souls as Christians. 268 00:28:16,880 --> 00:28:21,860 Consider exercise, put into practice what you learn from God's word. Adequate rest, 269 00:28:21,860 --> 00:28:28,100 rely on God at all times in simple faith. Clean surroundings, avoid evil company and 270 00:28:28,100 --> 00:28:34,260 whatever will weaken you spiritually. Loving care, be a part of a church where you will 271 00:28:34,260 --> 00:28:40,420 benefit from a pastor's teaching and his shepherding, his headship and the fellowship 272 00:28:40,420 --> 00:28:46,300 of other Christians in the church body. And then periodic checkups regularly examine your 273 00:28:46,300 --> 00:28:56,580 spiritual health. As we close it's important that we recognize that we need to grow in 274 00:28:56,580 --> 00:29:03,100 our Christianity. We need to grow towards sanctification. We need to be able to take 275 00:29:03,100 --> 00:29:07,940 the talents that God has given us and use them for the kingdom so that we have more 276 00:29:07,940 --> 00:29:13,180 to give back to the kingdom years down the line of being a Christian than we did when 277 00:29:13,180 --> 00:29:21,340 we started out. But maybe as we come to the end of this message, maybe you're not saved. 278 00:29:21,340 --> 00:29:25,860 Maybe you've never given your life to Jesus Christ. That's why this message is for you. 279 00:29:25,860 --> 00:29:30,220 So if I could have every head bowed, every eye closed, wherever you are, unless you're 280 00:29:30,220 --> 00:29:40,580 driving, of course be safe. But I want to give an invitation. If this message is spoken 281 00:29:40,580 --> 00:29:43,940 to you or touched you in some way and you know that you're not right with God but you 282 00:29:43,940 --> 00:29:47,300 want to get right, maybe you're backslidden, maybe you've never given your life to Christ, 283 00:29:47,300 --> 00:29:51,340 I want you to signify that with an uplifted hand wherever you are because I can't see 284 00:29:51,340 --> 00:29:56,460 it but God can. And the reason I always do that is I want something to spur in you. I 285 00:29:56,460 --> 00:30:02,900 want your hand to go up because I want you to signify that this is hitting you. This 286 00:30:02,900 --> 00:30:09,260 is meaning something to you. And if you did that, I want you to repeat after me a simple 287 00:30:09,260 --> 00:30:16,140 prayer. It's just, Dear Lord, I know that you died for my sins and I know that I'm a 288 00:30:16,140 --> 00:30:23,660 sinner. I turn from my sin and I accept you as my Lord and my Savior. In Jesus' name, 289 00:30:23,660 --> 00:30:29,820 amen. The simple remission of sin or the repentance of sin and accepting of Jesus as your Lord 290 00:30:29,820 --> 00:30:37,860 and Savior is salvation by grace. Grace was sitting there waiting for you to accept it. 291 00:30:37,860 --> 00:30:46,900 The way that you accept it is you say, Dear Lord, you're God. Help me as I go and sin 292 00:30:46,900 --> 00:30:55,220 no more. I hope this message has impacted you. I hope that you understand that in order 293 00:30:55,220 --> 00:31:00,700 to be strengthened, even, and I speak to the rest of the audience who's been saved for 294 00:31:00,700 --> 00:31:07,780 a while, you need to move forward in your relationship with Christ. You need to grow. 295 00:31:07,780 --> 00:31:15,820 If you refuse to grow forward, then you'll become weak. I live in British Columbia. A 296 00:31:15,820 --> 00:31:21,380 good portion of who listens is in British Columbia. We have some crazy forest fires 297 00:31:21,380 --> 00:31:25,540 going on right now. We have them just about every year. A lot of that is because we've 298 00:31:25,540 --> 00:31:30,500 had pine beetle infestations in a lot of our forests. What a pine beetle does is go in 299 00:31:30,500 --> 00:31:38,420 and attack a forest doing what it does. But because we as humans don't allow fires to 300 00:31:38,420 --> 00:31:43,300 happen as regularly as nature would like, whenever there's a fire, we put it out as 301 00:31:43,300 --> 00:31:49,940 much as fast as we can because fire is bad, right? The reality is that the fire was always 302 00:31:49,940 --> 00:31:57,340 meant to be part of the ecology because it was meant to clean out the blight of the dead 303 00:31:57,340 --> 00:32:02,380 and unproductive trees and growth. The fire was meant to come through and the healthy 304 00:32:02,380 --> 00:32:08,700 trees would survive it. But because we've allowed the blight of these pine beetles and 305 00:32:08,700 --> 00:32:14,060 we've not allowed people to go in and clean out the debris because we're not letting 306 00:32:14,060 --> 00:32:21,660 fires happen, we've allowed the dead to sit there and be a fuel for when the fires come. 307 00:32:21,660 --> 00:32:27,300 Then when the fires come, not only does it take out the blighted trees and the dead undergrowth 308 00:32:27,300 --> 00:32:36,740 but now it puts at risk the healthier trees. This is why as a Christian you have to move 309 00:32:36,740 --> 00:32:42,380 forward in Christ and you have to persevere and you have to move towards sanctification 310 00:32:42,380 --> 00:32:46,460 in order for you to be healthy because if you don't, not only are you putting your 311 00:32:46,460 --> 00:32:52,900 own life at risk but you're putting the life of those around you at risk. So with that 312 00:32:52,900 --> 00:32:56,940 I just hope that this message has impacted you. I'm going to go ahead and close in prayer 313 00:32:56,940 --> 00:33:02,620 really quickly because I think this is an important message. Dear Lord I just pray that 314 00:33:02,620 --> 00:33:11,380 we as Christians would watch our tongues and be responsible for how we speak to the world. 315 00:33:11,380 --> 00:33:16,100 For when we see wickedness happen in the world, we should be able to call it out for what 316 00:33:16,100 --> 00:33:24,220 it is that it's wicked but we should also say we pray to see them turn to you and renounce 317 00:33:24,220 --> 00:33:32,340 their wickedness. If Manasseh, the worst king of Judah, could after many, many decades of 318 00:33:32,340 --> 00:33:39,760 being wicked turn to you to receive grace, far be it for us as Christians to deny the 319 00:33:39,760 --> 00:33:45,420 opportunity for anybody else to turn to you. But that being said Lord we pray that you'd 320 00:33:45,420 --> 00:33:51,980 help us to grow in our faith and grow in our sanctification towards you as we mature in 321 00:33:51,980 --> 00:34:00,140 our walk with you. In Jesus name we pray, Amen. So again thank you for listening to this message. 322 00:34:00,140 --> 00:34:06,300 I pray or I hope that these messages speak to you and I do ask you to like, share, and 323 00:34:06,300 --> 00:34:12,020 subscribe to the podcast so that we can get it out to more and more people. And of course 324 00:34:12,020 --> 00:34:19,420 to reach out, let me know that you've been liking these messages. My contact info is 325 00:34:19,420 --> 00:34:27,820 all in the show notes on the main feed from RSS but it does help us out but if you do 326 00:34:27,820 --> 00:34:33,540 want to get in touch with us also we're on Instagram at the pottershouse underscore salmon 327 00:34:33,540 --> 00:34:42,900 arm and our email is pottershousesa at iCloud.com and you can get in touch with us that way 328 00:34:42,900 --> 00:35:03,700 as well. So again God bless, thank you, and have a great day.