(Due to technical difficulties, the audio\u00a0recording of\u00a0this sermon is unavailable.)\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \n A Christian publication had the following headlines:<\/p>\n On the left\u201d\u201d\u201cFirst Baptist Church Celebrates New $23 Million Building\u201d<\/p>\n On the right, a much smaller article \u201cBaptist Relief Helps Sudanese Refugees\u201d\u201d\u201dand the body of the article said, \u201cBaptists have raised $5,000 to send to refugees in western Sudan\u201d.<\/p>\n How can such things be in the church of Jesus Christ? <\/p>\n <\/em><\/p>\n Frederic Huntington (1890)<\/strong><\/p>\n It is not scientific doubt, not atheism, not pantheism, not agnosticism, that in our day and in this land is likely to quench the light of the gospel.\u00a0 It is a proud, sensuous, selfish, luxurious, church-going, hollow-hearted prosperity.<\/p>\n 6<\/sup> When I fed them, they were satisfied; It\u201d\u2122s hard for me to hear those words without thinking of the church in America\u201d\u00a6and more specifically, myself<\/em>!<\/p>\n Revelation 3:17 (NLT)<\/strong><\/p>\n 17<\/sup> You say, \u201d\u02dcI am rich. I have everything I want. I don\u201d\u2122t need a thing!\u201d\u2122 And you don\u201d\u2122t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.<\/p>\n William Wilberforce<\/strong><\/p>\n Prosperity hardens the heart.<\/p>\n Jesus told a young rich man, \u201cGo sell whatever you own and give it to the poor<\/em>. All your wealth will then be heavenly wealth. And come follow me.\u201d (Mark 10:21)<\/p>\n How are we to take that?\u00a0 I mean, did Jesus really mean what He said?<\/p>\n However we slice it, clearly Jesus is calling us to give up all we have in order to follow Him<\/em>.<\/p>\n David Platt<\/strong><\/p>\n Jesus never intended to be one voice among many counseling us on how to lead our lives and use our money.\u00a0 He always intends to be the<\/em> voice that guides whatever decisions we make in our lives and with our money.<\/p>\n Jesus really did mean what He said<\/em> to this young rich man\u201d\u201dHe really meant for him to go sell all he had and give it to the poor.<\/p>\n And Jesus just might mean for you to do the same!<\/p>\n I don\u201d\u2122t think He always<\/em> requires that of every person.\u00a0 But it would be irresponsible to our Savior\u201d\u2122s own words to believe that He never<\/em> requires a wholesale liquidation of material possessions in order to serve the poor!<\/p>\n I want to show you that there is something bigger in the background of this picture.\u00a0 Let\u201d\u2122s take a look at the whole story and notice a few details that make a real difference in our understanding of\u201d\u201dand that should make a difference in our response to\u201d\u201dJesus\u201d\u2122 words.<\/p>\n But here\u201d\u2122s the boiled down version\u201d\u00a6the \u201ctake home\u201d point:<\/p>\n Jesus came to redeem our love for material things!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Mark 10:17-31 (MSG)<\/strong><\/p>\n 17<\/sup>As he went out into the street, a man came running up, greeted him with great reverence, and asked, “Good Teacher, what must I do to get eternal life?”<\/p>\n 18-19<\/sup>Jesus said, “Why are you calling me good? No one is good, only God. You know the commandments: Don’t murder, don’t commit adultery, don’t steal, don’t lie, don’t cheat, honor your father and mother.”<\/p>\n 20<\/sup>He said, “Teacher, I have\u201d\u201dfrom my youth\u201d\u201dkept them all!”<\/p>\n This guy really thought he had it all together, religiously speaking.\u00a0 He\u201d\u2122d never really hurt anyone and he truly believed that he was a good person.<\/p>\n But Jesus wanted this young man to see himself as he truly was\u201d\u00a6so, He changes His approach.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 1. \u00a0Jesus Loves You AND the Poor Too Much to Let You Settle for Less than Heavenly Wealth!<\/strong><\/p>\n 21<\/sup>Jesus looked him hard in the eye\u201d\u201dand loved<\/span><\/strong> him! He said, “There’s one thing left: Go sell whatever you own and give it to the poor<\/em>. All your wealth will then be heavenly wealth. And come follow me.”<\/p>\n Jesus came to redeem our love for material things!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Ronnie McBrayer<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n In striking at our love for and addiction to money, Jesus has struck at the very heart of what it means to be an American.<\/em><\/p>\n There is a direct connection between Jesus\u201d\u2122 love for us and how we relate to the poor<\/em>!<\/p>\n Jesus wants to make us spiritually rich as we sacrifice to serve the poor!<\/p>\n Paul tells us just how this works\u201d\u00a6<\/p>\n 2 Corinthians 8:9 (NLT)<\/strong><\/p>\n 9<\/sup> You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich.<\/p>\n And Jesus wants us to know the privilege and the true<\/span> wealth of living as He lived, loving as He loved!<\/p>\n Jesus Loves You AND the Poor Too Much to Let You Settle for Less than Heavenly Wealth!<\/em><\/p>\n Jesus came to redeem our love for material things and give us love for heavenly things!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Today more than a billion people in the world live and die in desperate poverty.\u00a0 They attempt to survive on less than a dollar per day.\u00a0 Close to two billion others live on less than two dollars per day.\u00a0 That\u201d\u2122s nearly half the world struggling today to find food, water, and shelter on $2\/day.<\/p>\n David Platt<\/strong><\/p>\n Regardless of what we say or sing or study on Sunday morning, rich people who neglect the poor are not the people of God.<\/p>\n Jesus told the church in Laodicea that their lukewarm prosperity made Him want to vomit.\u00a0 And then He cuts to the chase about what they need to do!<\/p>\n Revelation 3:18-19 (NLT)<\/strong><\/p>\n 18<\/sup> So I advise you to buy gold<\/span>\u00a0from me\u201d\u201dgold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich. Also buy white garments from me so you will not be shamed by your nakedness, and ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see. 19<\/sup> I correct and discipline everyone I love. So be diligent and turn from your indifference<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Our love for material things blinds our hearts to the needs of people and makes us indifferent to what eternally matters\u201d\u201dnamely, pouring out our lives for the good of others, just as Jesus did for us!<\/p>\n Jesus came to redeem our love for material things and give us love for heavenly things!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n David Platt <\/strong>says we want a Jesus of our own making\u201d\u00a6<\/p>\n A nice, middle-class, American Jesus.\u00a0 A Jesus who doesn\u201d\u2122t mind materialism and who would never call us to give away everything we have\u201d\u00a6A Jesus who is fine with nominal devotion that does not infringe on our comforts, because, after all, he loves us just the way we are\u201d\u00a6A Jesus who brings us comfort and prosperity as we live out our Christian spin on the American dream.<\/p>\n NLT<\/strong><\/p>\n 21<\/sup> Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him<\/strong>. \u201cThere is still one thing you haven\u201d\u2122t done,\u201d he told him. \u201cGo and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.\u201d<\/p>\n Jesus is assuring us that the satisfaction we would receive from such upside down investing would far surpass the satisfaction we have in keeping all our stuff, for our wealth would be heavenly and everlasting\u201d\u00a6not just good for the here and now<\/span>!<\/p>\n Jesus Loves You AND the Poor Too Much to Let You Settle for Less than Heavenly Wealth!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Matthew 6:19-20<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Don\u201d\u2122t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust<\/p>\n destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in<\/p>\n heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in<\/p>\n and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.<\/p>\n Jesus came to redeem our love for material things and give us love for heavenly things!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a02. \u00a0Is My Heart Willing to Trust Jesus to Give Me What is Best?<\/strong><\/p>\n 22<\/sup>The man’s face clouded over. This was the last thing he expected to hear, and he walked off with a heavy heart. He was holding on tight to a lot of things, and not about to let go<\/em>.<\/p>\n The rich young man did NOT trust Jesus to give him what was best for him.<\/p>\n Isn\u201d\u2122t the crux of the matter really this\u201d\u201ddo we trust Jesus to give us the very best life possible, even if He tells us to sell all we have and give it to the poor?<\/em><\/p>\n Jesus came to redeem our love for material things and give us love for heavenly things!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \n <\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 3. \u00a0Material Prosperity Can Rob Us the Kingdom of God<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a023-25<\/sup>Looking at his disciples, Jesus said, “Do you have any idea how difficult it is for people who ‘have it all’ to enter\u00a0<\/span>God’s kingdom?” The disciples couldn’t believe what they were hearing<\/em>, but Jesus kept on: “You can’t imagine how difficult. I’d say it’s easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye than for the rich to get into God’s kingdom.”<\/p>\n 26<\/sup>That set the disciples back on their heels. “Then who has any chance at all?” they asked.<\/p>\n 27<\/sup>Jesus was blunt: “No chance at all if you think you can pull it off by yourself. Every chance in the world if you let God do it.”<\/p>\n 28<\/sup>Peter tried another angle: “We left everything and followed you.”<\/p>\n 29-31<\/sup>Jesus said, “Mark my words, no one who sacrifices house, brothers, sisters, mother, father, children, land\u201d\u201dwhatever\u201d\u201dbecause of me and the Message will lose out. They’ll get it all back, but multiplied many times<\/em> in homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and land\u201d\u201dbut also in troubles<\/em>. And then the bonus of eternal life<\/em>! This is once again the Great Reversal: Many who are first will end up last, and the last first<\/span>.”<\/p>\n Why were the disciples so confused<\/span><\/em>?\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n Why didn\u201d\u2122t Jesus\u201d\u2122 words immediately make sense to them?<\/p>\n Well, in part, it is just human nature to want material things and then want to believe that if we have them, Heaven must be smiling on us!<\/p>\n But moreover, in the Old Testament, God actually gave material prosperity as a sign of His blessing on His people.\u00a0 He was building a geo-political nation and such prosperity was essential to the growth of the nation of Israel.<\/p>\n Here, Jesus is telling His disciples\u201d\u201dand us, the American church\u201d\u201dthat with His coming there is a radical shift in God\u201d\u2122s purposes and ways with His people!<\/p>\n God is NOT building a geo-political nation today\u201d\u00a6He is building His unseen kingdom and the rules have changed!<\/p>\n Now, the way to expand the Kingdom of God is to give up those things we treasure in order to gain something far better and more long lasting!<\/p>\n Jesus says we\u201d\u2122ll get back all we give up multiplied many times over.\u00a0 Notice–He\u201d\u2122s straight up and says that trouble in this life will be multiplied as well.<\/p>\n BUT, Jesus is quick to point out the fact that the final reward is far more than worth it!\u00a0 A living relationship with Him now and forever in His presence!<\/p>\n As Peterson in the Message captures Jesus\u201d\u2122 thought, it\u201d\u2122s\u201d\u00a6<\/p>\n The Great Reversal: Many who are first will end up last, and the last first<\/span><\/strong>.<\/p>\n Material Prosperity Can Rob Us the Kingdom of God<\/em><\/p>\n Jesus came to redeem our love for material things and give us love for heavenly things!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n 1 Timothy 6:9-10 (NLT)<\/strong><\/p>\n 9<\/sup> But people who long to be rich\u00a0<\/span>fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. 10<\/sup> For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.<\/p>\n Luke 8:14 (NLT)<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The seeds that fell among the thorns represent those who hear the message, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. And so they never grow into maturity.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n David Goetz<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Too much of the good life ends up being toxic, deforming us spiritually.<\/p>\n Material Prosperity Can Rob Us the Kingdom of God<\/em><\/p>\n Jesus came to redeem our love for material things and give us love for heavenly things!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Conclusion<\/em><\/p>\n David Platt<\/strong><\/p>\n The reward of the American dream is safety, security and success found in more comfort, better stuff, and greater prosperity.\u00a0 But the reward of Christ trumps all these things and beckons us to live for an eternal safety, security, and satisfaction that far outweigh everything the world has to offer us\u201d\u00a6The key is realizing\u201d\u201dand believing\u201d\u201dthat this world is not your home\u201d\u00a6 (Radical<\/span>, 172, 179)<\/p>\n If we really believe that, it will affect how we think day to day, how we prioritize our life and how we spend our time.<\/p>\n Jesus came to redeem our love for material things and give us love for heavenly things!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n If we really believe that this world is not our home, that Jesus\u201d\u2122 reward is better than what we can get here, then to revamp our lives financially and materially is all that makes sense!<\/p>\n David Platt<\/strong><\/p>\n Following Christ is not sacrificial as much as it is smart.<\/p>\n Can you imagine what would happen if some of us sold our homes and moved into a less expensive one, if some of us sold our cars and bought less expensive ones, if some of us decided to live on as little as necessary, if others of us decided to purge our closets and not restock them, but stay very limited on the clothes we buy, if others of us cashed out our 401(k)s\u201d\u00a6all for the purpose of obeying Jesus and serving the poor?<\/em><\/p>\n We might just find that we don\u201d\u2122t miss the stuff we can\u201d\u2122t keep anyway!\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n And we might find ourselves blown away at the everlasting satisfaction of true, heavenly wealth that comes through sacrificial love for those all around us!<\/strong><\/p>\n Jesus came to redeem our love for material things and give us love for heavenly things!<\/em><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u00a0Message by Chad Kelly (Due to technical difficulties, the audio\u00a0recording of\u00a0this sermon is unavailable.)\u00a0 A Christian publication had the following headlines: On the left\u201d\u201d\u201cFirst Baptist Church Celebrates New $23 Million Building\u201d On the right, a much smaller article \u201cBaptist Relief … Continue reading Hosea 13:6 (NIV)<\/h3>\n
\nwhen they were satisfied, they became proud;
\nthen they forgot me.<\/p>\nRedemptive Economics<\/span><\/em><\/h3>\n