Transcript
Speaker: Good morning. Hope you're having a good weekend. Getting ready to start a new week. Hope the kids' first week at school went well. and Hope you're all studying and ready for Monday. It's coming.
Speaker: Yes. Have you ever heard The idiom... Highway robbery. As a teenager, I used to say, man, that's such a ripoff. I don't know if you've ever said that. It may be old school now. Things change so often.
Speaker: But I remember my dad. He always would say if something was priced too high. He would say, man, that's highway robbery. And so anyway, I kept thinking. What is highway robbery anyway?
Speaker: But how great highway robbery. goes back to the 17th and 18th century in England. but also it could... go over into colonial America. But armed robbers wearing masks.
Speaker: Would. come along and ambush stagecoaches. and demand their money, their valuables, and so forth. And those armed robbers were called... Highwayman.
Speaker: Do you ever get tired of paying tolls in life? It's hard to go through life without spending money, isn't it? You got to spend money somewhere. And so I just thought, you know.
Speaker: Definitely. When you travel, you go through these tollbooths, even if you go to Houston. you'll go through toll booths. One man said he spent all his designated Christmas gift money. on paying off his overdue toll bill.
Speaker: It started out like 20 bucks or something, and it went up to $2 ,200. So whenever he finally had to pay up, he said, man, this is. highway robbery. But anyway, I think there's more more of highway robbery in what we're about to read.
Speaker: I just wanted to prepare you that as I've studied this. So many of the commentators and different Bible scholars. They've said over and over, this is a difficult passage. And it's difficult because sometimes you think that Jesus is.
Speaker: Sort of commending someone. Further dishonesty. But he would never do that. He's not commending someone. For the dishonesty. What we're going to see is he's going to commend someone for being shrewd. for making the most of an opportunity.
Speaker: And so the last couple of Sundays. I've been preaching from Luke chapter 15. And in those in that chapter, the Lord is dealing with the Pharisees.
Speaker: These men were not even born again. They were into religion. but they were not born again. They didn't know Christ. They were not trusting him. They were actually... rejecting him. And so Luke 15. Was addressing.
Speaker: Those men. But when you go into Luke 16, it says right off the top, you're going to see this in verse 1. He also said, To the disciples. So what he's about to say is not for the unbeliever.
Speaker: What he's about to say is for us. Those of us who believe. Those of us who are following Christ. And what I think he's wanting to say to us is. Are you making the most?
Speaker: Of all that God has placed in your hand. You know, sometimes we want to compare ourselves. to someone else. But there's no need in doing that. What God wants to know is what about the talents that he's entrusted to you?
Speaker: the gifts, the abilities. The personality. All of those relationships. What's the platform? That God has given to you. As you're here on this earth. Is there someone that you're influencing. And you're and impacting. I think that's what it's about.
Speaker: It's a parable of a dishonest manager. That's what he's called in verse 8. This guy was like a scam artist. He was a thief. He was irresponsible. He was conniving.
Speaker: Did you know that Jesus taught 40 parables? And out of the 40 parables, one third of those parables. dealt with money. In some way. Sometimes the Lord... used Get this.
Speaker: A bad example? To teach them good lessons. To say, don't do this. But... do this. And so that's what we're going to be watching for today. I know it's a challenging.
Speaker: Parable. But we can know what he meant by the parable. but what he says after he completes the parable. And so that's why we're going to see what he said in the parable. But then there's a certain point. where you'll tell Jesus is no longer telling the story.
Speaker: He's giving. principles. He's in. saying, apply this to your life. Just like ah Don Dishman just prayed. Lord, help us apply the message. That's what I pray that you will do when you go away from this. message today and from this passage today. Would you stand one more time in honor of God's word? Let's just.
Speaker: Really let this sink in. You can follow along on the screen. I'm reading from the ESV translation. You may have a different translation. But here's what it says from verse 1 all the way down through verse 13.
Speaker: He also said, To the disciples. There was a rich man. Who had a manager. And charges were brought to him that this man...
Speaker: Was wasting. His. possessions The rich man's possessions. And he called him and said to him, what is this? Did I hear about you?
Speaker: Turn in the account. of your management. For you can no longer be. manager. And the manager said to himself, what shall I do? Since my master is taking the management away from me.
Speaker: I'm not strong enough to dig. And I'm ashamed to beg. I've decided what to do. So that when I'm removed from management. People may receive me. into their houses.
Speaker: So... summoning. His master's debtors. One by one. He said to the first. How much do you owe my master? He said,
Speaker: A hundred measures of oil. He said to him, take your bill. And sit down quickly. And right now. 50. Then he said to another, And how much do you owe?
Speaker: He said, A hundred measures of wheat. He said to him, take your bill. And write. 80. The master. Commended. The...
Speaker: dishonest. manager. For his. Shrewdness. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation.
Speaker: then The sons of light. And I tell you, make friends for yourselves. by means of unrighteous wealth. So that when it fails. they may receive you into the eternal dwellings.
Speaker: One who is faithful. In a very little. Is also faithful. in much. And one who's dishonest. In a very little.
Speaker: is also dishonest. In much. If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth. Who will entrust to you the true riches.
Speaker: And if you have not been faithful in that which is another's. Who will give you. That which is your own. No servant.
Speaker: can serve. Two masters. For either he will hate the one. And love the other. or he will be devoted to the one. And despise the other.
Speaker: You cannot. serve God. And. money. Let's go to the Lord in prayer. Lord, I thank you so much for these people. I love this congregation. I love these people. I love these families and individuals.
Speaker: I thank you so much for guests that you have brought today. But Lord, we need to understand what you're saying here. Because I think what you're saying to us through this passage. Is to make the most.
Speaker: To make the most of what you've entrusted to us. Not just money. Not just material things. but also, Lord, our talents. our skills, our abilities. And our time.
Speaker: Help us, O Lord, to look at it from the perspective of... The management of our life. You give us breath. You give us strength. There's so many things you've given to us. Our personalities you've given to us. the wisdom that we've learned, the knowledge that we've learned through our lives.
Speaker: So the question is, Are we only using that for this world? Are we only using that for self? Or... Are we honoring God? With everything that we have.
Speaker: So Lord, please speak to us what we need to hear as we start this fall off together. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Thank you. You may be seated.
Speaker: Jesus was not. praising the dishonesty of the manager. Like I said, he calls him out in verse 8. The owner commended. his shrewdness do you know what shrewd means I don't use that word much so I had to look it up Biblically shrewdness.
Speaker: is often associated with... wisdom. and prudence. particularly in the context of making decisions that align with God's will.
Speaker: It can mean smart, strategic. Resourceful. So what I want to do is go back through the passage that I just read, and I want to give you five strategic lessons. For managing. God's investments.
Speaker: And keep in mind, I'm not just talking about material things. I'm talking way beyond that. I'm talking about... managing your life. So that your whole life is about bringing God the glory that he deserves.
Speaker: So what is the first lesson? That I would say we can learn from this passage. Well, I see it in verses 1 and 2. Especially in verse 2. What is this that I hear about you? Turn in the account.
Speaker: Turn in the account. of your management. For you can no longer be manager. You see, in the parable, there was a wealthy man And he hires. a manager.
Speaker: If you have the King James Version, it uses the word. A steward. So steward, manager, it's the same idea. the The idea in the Greek is... Someone who's going to oversee.
Speaker: The property, the wealth, the resources. of someone else who owns all of those things. So they're going to be given the right. to conduct business. For the owner.
Speaker: So what I'm saying is. this would be a ah place of high status. Someone has a high level of trust. In you. When they say I want you. to be the manager. overhaul that I have.
Speaker: So it's it's a place of high status, but it's also a place. Of high responsibility. You know, in some ways, I believe that every one of us in this room. You've been called to be a manager.
Speaker: God has entrusted you with life. He's given you breath. He's given you talents and skills and abilities. He's blessed you with so many relationships. So the question is,
Speaker: Do I remember that I too am going to give account? To God. For the way. That I've managed my life. Not just my life. But the way I've... managed it.
Speaker: His resources. that he's entrusted to me. In my life. So I noticed three things in these first two verses that I wanted to point out that will help us. to remember that we're accountable.
Speaker: The first word is the word assets. The essence. The manager did not own the assets. The owner owned the assets. They belong to Him. You can see this. Whenever he says. In verse 1. There was a rich man who had a manager. And charges were brought to him. That this man. Was wasting.
Speaker: His possessions. His possessions. These things belonged. To the manager, to the master rather, not to the manager, to the owner. To the rich man. That's who they are. That's who really owned all of these things.
Speaker: Do you believe that your life. And everything in it. Do you believe it belongs to you? Or when you came to Christ, did you surrender your life? Did you say, Lord? I lay it all down.
Speaker: I want you to be honored. In everything that I'm about. See, that's where I think some people get confused over Sunday. Sunday is a time when we come in and we encourage one another.
Speaker: It's a time when you come in and you're fed spiritually. You're built up. You're equipped. So that you can go out. And live life well. For Jesus. Monday through Saturday.
Speaker: So the assets belong to the owner. But there was an accusation. That was brought. not to the manager. It was brought to the owner. And they said, look, this guy is wasting. All that you've entrusted to him.
Speaker: And so what did we see next? to Verse 2. The accountability. before the owner. Since they belong to him, he's got a right. To say to that manager.
Speaker: I want you to turn in the ledger. I want to see how you've done. with what I've entrusted to you. So once again, I just ask you. Have you remembered? That one day you will give account to God. for the treasures that he's entrusted to you. Have you remembered that one day you will give account? for the talents.
Speaker: and the skills. The abilities that God has entrusted to you. Will you? Remember. And do you remember today even? One day I'm going to give a count. for my time.
Speaker: Have I spent all my time on me? Have I spent all my time on my career, my money? Or have I spent some of my time? For the Lord. to honor him, to serve him.
Speaker: But I believe also, most of all, we're going to give account. Four. Truth. Because we've lived in a place and we've lived in a day. Where we have the whole.
Speaker: Word of God. 66 books, the Bible. We have the gospel of Jesus Christ. So God's entrusted. something very valuable to him.
Speaker: to you and me. So the question is, Am I growing in the truth? The question is, am I sharing the truth? Am I learning more about the truth? So I would say the first thing we can take away from this safely is. there will be an account.
Speaker: For the way that we manage our life. But let's go to the second thing. The second thing would be to aim for the future. In your management. Verses 3 and 4 and verse 9.
Speaker: You know, if you were to rewind the clock. If you were to rewind the tape. And go back. I didn't always live for the Lord. And so if I'm going to be paralyzed today.
Speaker: Because of those things that I did. you know years and years back. then I'm not going to be able to effectively manage my life because I'm so burdened down. But don't you know?
Speaker: That the Bible says there is now. Right now in the present time, there is now. No condemnation. To those who are in Christ Jesus. He's not still holding something you've done. In the past. If you've already Repented.
Speaker: Confessed. acknowledge that. To him, it's gone. I'm just telling you, it's gone. He's cast it into the sea of forgetfulness. And so don't let something from the past Pulled you back in the present.
Speaker: You should be aiming for the future. I want to give something to Jesus. When I enter into. those gates. In heaven. And so I noticed the consequences.
Speaker: From. The failures. He knew he. He could not change what he had already done. And so listen to him as he agonizes. The manager said to himself, What shall I do?
Speaker: What shall I do? My master. Is taking the management away from me. And so he's struggling over this. And he's thinking, man, I'm in the consequences.
Speaker: You know, sometimes I think people don't want to face the consequences, but you know what? The first step toward Christ. It's just to acknowledge, you know what? I've been sinful. I've been rebellious.
Speaker: I've been going the wrong way. The very first step is when you come to him and say, I'm sorry, Lord. I've made some bad decisions. I've been on some wrong roads. Some of you that hang around me enough probably have heard me speak before from Proverbs chapter 14.
Speaker: From verse 8 down through verse 16, I made a list of people that I pray for. And I call them not the magnificent seven, but the significant seven. Because they're making bad choices in their lives. All seven of these Are taking a wrong road. But what they don't realize is.
Speaker: All seven of them. Even though the road was different. The end of the road's the same. destruction. There is a way that seems right. To a man. but its end is the way of death. That's just one verse in that section.
Speaker: But you know, I pray for those who are deceived. I pray for those who are defiant. I pray for those who are damaged. I pray for those who are near death and I pray for those who are discouraged.
Speaker: And I pray for those who are defeated. I pray for those who are distracted. There's so many things that can take our focus away. From the current. God wants to do something now.
Speaker: God wants to do something. This week. Next week. Live from now. To the future. To say, Lord, okay, the consequences from my failures. I'm i'm reaping those things.
Speaker: But here's the thing. You can make a choice. You can make a choice. related to your future. you can prepare for the future. And that's what I see this guy saying in verse four. Isn't that what he's saying? He said, I've decided. There's the choice.
Speaker: I've decided. What to do? are you Are you at that place where you don't know what to do? Well, one thing I would say is don't live in the past. Why don't you say, God, help me to be faithful in the present.
Speaker: Help me to be faithful in the future. Help me to walk with you and do what you want me to do. So I thought, well, there he is. You know? Contemplating in verse 3.
Speaker: But when you get to verse 4, he's not thinking about it anymore. Some people never... move forward in a decision for Christ because they're just stuck in verse three. They're just contemplating. But they make a decision whenever they cross the threshold into verse 4. That's what this guy did.
Speaker: He said, I've decided what to do. He knows what he's going to do next. Just a thought. What would have happened? If rather than talking to himself. Did you get that in verse 3?
Speaker: And the manager said, To himself. Some people talk to themselves a lot. If you ever answer yourself, man, you got some problems. Better go see somebody about that. But this guy's just talking to himself.
Speaker: You know what? ah I wonder if everything could have been different. If this guy would have said. I'm going to talk to the Lord. I want to have a little talk with Jesus. And I'm just going to lay it all down. We'll lay it all out.
Speaker: I wonder if it would have been totally different, but instead of talking to the Lord, he only talks to himself. And then you can tell it, right? Look from verse three through verse four.
Speaker: How many times do you see the personal pronoun I? How many times do you say my? How many times do you see me? It's all through there, isn't it? Eight times.
Speaker: Eight times. You see, His aim was not about the future because he's just... so caught up in what he did in the past. But you know what? Verse nine, Jesus tries to lift our eyes up.
Speaker: In that application section. What is it Jesus says? And I tell you. So now he's. Turn to the disciples. He's done with the story. He's done with the parable. He says, I tell you, make. friends.
Speaker: For yourselves. By means of unrighteous wealth. So that when it fails. they may receive you into the eternal dwellings. So I think verse 9 would tell us a third principle here on aiming for the future.
Speaker: How about caring? For your friends. Caring for your friends enough to Tell them about Jesus enough to invite them. to something where they're going to hear the gospel. You know, research studies have proven the impact of personal outreach You know why I think personal outreach is where it's at?
Speaker: Because people want to be loved. Whenever somebody really cares about them. They say, you know what? I'm going to lean into this. I like the way this feels. Hope Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas, where Jody and I went to seminary, we we would attend this Hope Baptist Church and join there.
Speaker: We were a part of a home fellowship group. And you know that every home fellowship group. had a care leader and a share leader. And they sort of gathered around themselves. People who would... You want to help us to care about other people? You want to help us share the gospel with other people? And so the care team and the share team was in every small home fellowship group. And I thought, that's amazing.
Speaker: And so we just learned how to care and how to share. So as we manage what God has invested in us. And entrusted. To us. Let's remember. That we will give an account for our management. Unless also.
Speaker: Aim. for the future. In our management. Let's go with number three. Try to be shrewd. In your management. Try to be shrewd. You know, the examples of shrewdness are found in verses 5 and 6 and 7.
Speaker: You know, what he did was he reduced. The debt. of um of one man. The first man that he reduces the debt, he reduced it by 50%. If you have an automobile loan.
Speaker: Wouldn't it be amazing if the car place just calls and says, hey, come in. We want to cut cut your loan in half. Wouldn't you be saying, praise the Lord. Wouldn't that be great? Yeah. You know, the current... The current balance.
Speaker: This guy owed was a hundred measures of oil. Now, a measure... is... A little over eight gallons. It's not just eight gallons. It's a little over. So if you multiply that time 100. That'd be 875 gallons.
Speaker: Of olive oil. That's a lot of olive oil. John MacArthur said that would be enough. for For the yield of 150 olive trees.
Speaker: That would be the equivalent of three years labor. But just imagine if somebody says your debt is reduced by half. From 100 measures. down to 50 measures.
Speaker: What's going on here? Is this guy cheating? Is he cheating on the on the owner even when he's on the way out? There's four different ideas. Some say, well, He dropped the price. to obligate debtors to himself.
Speaker: So like, he's like, I'll cut it in half. And now just remember me. You know, they're like, okay, number two. Maybe he's removing the hidden interest rates. that were padded in there.
Speaker: In the price. They didn't have interest rates back then. So it's like. He just... Maybe saying, you know what? I know the master wanted this, but. Why don't we cut that interest rate out? Others say he subtracted his personal commission.
Speaker: from the transaction So maybe he had put. What he was going to skim off the top. Some say maybe he just reduced the inflated amount. that he had overcharged them.
Speaker: So all of those kind of things are all possible. But the second debtor. And his obligation was. 20%. He reduced it by 20%. Verse 7 says there were a hundred measures of wheat. So it's going down to 80 measures.
Speaker: Just one thing so that you understand what's going on here. A measure in verse 7 is different than a measure. Back in verses 5 and 6. In verse 7, it's the word core.
Speaker: K -O -R. And it was worth 11 bushels. So if you multiply it out. it would be a hundred acres of wheat. I know we could ask Corey Piker down here about 100 acres of wheat. That'd be quite an incredible amount to owe.
Speaker: And so 100 acres of wheat. So just think about that. But this guy, what's happening is. He's excelling in shrewdness when he thinks of this whole idea.
Speaker: What am I going to do? I'm about to lose my job. I'm not going to have any contacts. What am I going to do? And that's why. Jesus says the sons of this world.
Speaker: They know how to do that way better than the sons of light. And so what Jesus is trying to say to the disciples is. Think. Think about how to maximize the resources, not by being dishonest. Like that guy, that guy was the dishonest manager, right?
Speaker: But what he's saying is. Think about how can you. Maximize. What he's placed in your hand. What is it he's placed in your hand? You will give an account for your management. You should aim for the future in your management. You should try to be shrewd in your management. But let's go to the fourth thing.
Speaker: Grow toward faithfulness. In your management. Verses 10 and 11 and 12. You know, the application point in verse 9, we've already covered, so I want to include that.
Speaker: But there's some... application points that Jesus moves to. For example, that one back in verse nine. I'll mention it again. manage your life to reach friends.
Speaker: who will be with you. in the future In heaven. But here's application number two. manage your finances toward Faithfulness.
Speaker: You see, I think what he's trying to tell us in these verses 10 and 11 and 12. He's trying to say, have integrity. In the ordinary.
Speaker: You know, that's what he's trying to say when if you've been faithful. With a little. Man, you'll be faithful. a lie. If you're not even faithful a little. You're not going to be faithful with more.
Speaker: And so integrity in the ordinary. The longer I live. the more I'm convinced. The greatest ability. you will bring to your career. the greatest ability you will bring to your marriage.
Speaker: The greatest ability you'll bring to our church. It's wild.
Speaker: dependability. Dependability. Can't people count on you? Would you say you can count on me? That's part of growing. That's part of maturing. That's part of why Jesus is speaking. To the disciples. And saying. Look. I want you to be faithful.
Speaker: With the finances. Faithful with all the other things. there was Another... application point. in The third one would be manage your focus. Upon faithfulness. Amen.
Speaker: Once again, John MacArthur says that circumstances... Don't determine faithfulness. Character does. Character determines. Faithfulness, not circumstances.
Speaker: He said it's a perspective. that has captured your heart. Have you ever heard of a man from the past named Peter Marshall? He was the chaplain of the US Senate. For a number of years, he's in glory. now But Peter Marshall, people would go and and share things with him. The one time a guy. came up to him and said, I have a problem. He said, oh, okay, what's the problem? He said, my problem is with tithing.
Speaker: He said, it was manageable when I used to make $20 ,000 a year. I could afford giving $2 ,000 a year in tithes. Now that I'm making $500 ,000 per year, it's just not possible for me to tithe. $50 ,000, 10%.
Speaker: So the pastor said, Well, why don't we pray about it? And all that guy heard him say was, Lord. Please reduce my brother's salary back to the place where he can afford to tithe again. so the guy said thank you so much and I think he was heard going out of the senate chamber I'll never ask him to pray for me about anything But application number four would be to manage toward faithfulness.
Speaker: Take care. Keep. The father. first. You ever tempted to put him last? Keep the Father first. I think that's what he's trying to get at here in verse 12. And if you've not been faithful in that which is another's.
Speaker: Who will give you that which is? your own. Wow. Matthew 6 .33 says, but seek first. the kingdom of God and his righteousness. And all these things will be added to you.
Speaker: The true riches would be things like these. the souls of men. Do you know that everyone in this room, your soul will go out into eternity and it will last forever and ever.
Speaker: Your soul. And so will the souls of everybody on your street. All the kids at your school. Everybody at your company. All your relatives. the soul will last forever. To invest in winning souls for Christ.
Speaker: That's an eternal investment. But also, here's something that's eternal. Right here. The word of God. The flower fails. the The grass withers. but the word of our God. stands forever.
Speaker: You invest your time. In the word of God. That's not a waste. That's an eternal investment. The kingdom of Christ. That's an eternal investment.
Speaker: Souls of men. The word of God. The kingdom. The kingdom of Christ. Last of all, be prepared for decisions. in your management.
Speaker: Be prepared. Because you know. Life is full of decisions, right? It's either this today or it's that today. It's either this. for this week coming weekend or it's going to be that for next weekend.
Speaker: what What will you decide? Stewardship is built upon. ownership. Do you really believe in your heart of hearts that God owns it all?
Speaker: Or do we? Own it all. I'll tell you the right way based on this whole passage, based on what he's saying in verse 13. No servant can serve two masters for either will hate the one and love the other. He'll be devoted to the one, despise the other. You cannot.
Speaker: Serve God and money. He can't. So... I think, okay. So the decision is. Am I going to live for money? Because I own it all anyway. Or...
Speaker: Am I going to live for God? Because he owns it. And I only manage it. That's the right way. He owns. I manage. How are you doing with that management?
Speaker: You know, it's It's just impossible to try to serve two masters. Because one or the other, you've got to decide who owns you. Which one owns you? But then there's the absurdity of trying to serve two masters. It's not going to work.
Speaker: Because in the end, you're going to lean more toward one. and move away from the other. You want to hate one, love the other? You'll see that there's like this enmity. If you're trying to serve two masters, you'll be devoted to one.
Speaker: And eventually you'll despise the other one. You'll despise it. Because they're infringing on your kingdom. If you've not made God's kingdom. first But then there's this e exclusivity.
Speaker: exclusivity of serving two masters. You know our culture is really big on being inclusive. And I get it. I think the gospel more than anybody. welcomes all people.
Speaker: But here's the thing. When it comes to... God and money. god's Exclusive. He said, you got to decide, man. It's God. or it's money. It can't be both.
Speaker: And so it's like so challenging. Remember the rich young ruler? He thought he could. be a good manager of his property, a good manager over his money. But when Christ said, come follow me.
Speaker: He refused to go. And how does it say he went away? Well, he went away sad. People always go away from God sad. You can't say no to Christ. And go away. Feeling real thrilled about life. It's just a matter of time.
Speaker: Till life will pile up on you. The bottom will fall out underneath you. The reason... Here's the reason why. I close with this. The reason we're miserable.
Speaker: Trying to do life without Jesus. is because of one thing. He made you. He loved you so much. He gave you life. He gave you breath.
Speaker: He gave you a body. He gave you a mind. He's given you so many opportunities in your whole life. It's all his. We should say, God, I want to honor you. I want to glorify you.
Speaker: And so whenever we say. It all belongs to me. It all belongs to me. I started having flashbacks of Lord of the Rings, man. You know what I'm thinking? What in the world? Where did that come from?
Speaker: Malachi 3 verse 8. Malachi 3 verse 8 says, That we're actually robbing God? When we refuse to trust him. When we refused. To love him.
Speaker: when we refuse to worship him, when we refuse to obey him. We refuse to honor him. Through tithes and offerings. Because... All we're saying is... My life.
Speaker: It belongs to me. Not to you. And we've got to come back to that place where we say, you know what? My life belongs to Him. Because if we sit. That our life belongs to Him.
Speaker: Do you know what God's going to say to us? It's going to say, man, that is highway robbery. That's my stuff. That's my life I placed in you. And look at what you're doing to me.
Speaker: You're ripping me off. I just encourage you. To start the fallout. by saying, you know what, Lord? My whole life is yours. Please guide me. in the best way to manage it.
Speaker: So would you stand with me? I want us to close with. A closing hymn of invitation. We should be grateful. you know, for all that God has done.
Speaker: We should say, God. I'm just so thankful for the life you've given me. I guarantee you there's somebody around the world. They've tried places with you. Just like that.
Speaker: You ought to say, God, thank you. Thank you for how good you've been graciously. Merciful. God's been so good to us. So that's why we ought to say to him. It's all yours, God. My life, everything I had.
Speaker: So let's pray together. Lord, I thank you so much. For Jesus. Thank you for salvation. Thank you for promising us forgiveness of our sins. through Christ. through your shed blood on the cross.
Speaker: Father, I thank you that you accepted. the son's sacrifice on the cross. By raising him from the dead. He's alive. Jesus, you're alive.
Speaker: And that's why we could sing earlier. I serve. Arisen. Savior. He's alive. And so, Lord, if there's someone here and they just didn't know that.
Speaker: But today, They're coming. encounter with the true and the living God. Would you just love on them? Would you encourage them? Would you let them know? that it's safer.
Speaker: to surrender to you than it is to surrender to this world. Lord this world will hurt people. and itll they'll betray people. But Lord, you are so incredibly faithful.
Speaker: And so, Lord, you're worthy of whatever we entrust to your care. So you've entrusted a lot to us, everything. So help us, O Lord. to entrust our souls to you.
Speaker: In Jesus' name we pray, amen.
Speaker: This is a ministry of First Baptist Church, located at 1700 Milam Street, Columbus, Texas.
