There has to be a perspective shift when it comes to how we view the world that we live in.  There is always someone who is richer than us.  By the world standards, you are more than likely rich…very rich!  Because most of us have a huge advantage financially, it puts us at a huge disadvantage spiritually.  Let me put into perspective…every time we go to serve people on a mission trip it generally is the less fortunate.  They have very little but we are so amazed by their joy. It is the constant underlining realization on every trip I have ever been on…”they were so happy…they sing with so much joy”!

Mathew 19:16-26

¹⁶ Someone came to Jesus with this question: “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” ¹⁷ “Why ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. But to answer your question—if you want to receive eternal life, keep  the commandments.¹⁸ “Which ones?” the man asked. And Jesus replied: “‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. ¹⁹ Honor your father and mother. Love your neighbor as yourself. ²⁰ “I’ve obeyed all these commandments,” the young man replied. “What else must I do?” ²¹ Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” ²² But when the young man heard this, he went away sad, for he had many possessions. ²³ Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is very hard for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. ²⁴ I’ll say it again—it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!” ²⁵ The disciples were astounded. “Then who in the world can be saved?” they asked. ²⁶ Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.”

There are two kingdoms competing for you and God’s…which one are you building up?

With our money and energy we broadcast which kingdom is most valuable to us.

What can you do to make a difference in the lives of those who have less than you?

It is frustrating to realize that we have a different agenda for our life than God does.  Our goal is to avoid suffering at all costs.  God’s goal is for us to make much of Him.  If our primary goal in life is comfort, then when pain comes we will become its servant.  If our primary goal in life is to make much of God, then when pain comes it will be our servant.  We certainly don’t wish to suffer, but we can embrace pain when it comes as an avenue to broadcast our hope in God.

Mathew 11:

¹ When Jesus had finished giving these instructions to his twelve disciples, he went out to teach and preach in towns throughout the region.

 ² John the Baptist, who was in prison, heard about all the things the Messiah was doing. So he sent his disciples to ask Jesus, ³“Are you the Messiah we’ve been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?”

 ⁴ Jesus told them, “Go back to John and tell him what you have heard and seen—⁵ the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor. ⁶ And tell him, ‘God blesses those who do not turn away because of me.

Psalm46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. 
I will be honored throughout the world.”

I Timothy 2:For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus. 6 He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time. 

Proverbs 2:

1 My child,  listen to what I say,
 and treasure my commands.
 2 Tune your ears to wisdom,
 and concentrate on understanding.
 3 Cry out for insight,
 and ask for understanding.
 4 Search for them as you would for silver;
 seek them like hidden treasures.
 5 Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord,
 and you will gain knowledge of God.
 6 For the Lord grants wisdom!
 From his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
 7 He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest.
 He is a shield to those who walk with integrity.
 8 He guards the paths of the just and protects those who are faithful to him.

 9 Then you will understand what is right, just, and fair, 
 and you will find the right way to go.

 When I lived in Wake Forest I loved going to the YMCA to work out…in fact my whole family would go there because in was able to meet all of our needs.  The Y created a great environment for me to work out…it connected me to people and I was healthier as a result of my commitment to being there several days a week.  The church is not the YMCA but it should be a great environment to work out your faith…connect with people of like-mindedness and as a result you should be stronger in your faith as a result to your commitment to serve the church.  If your not connected to the church get connected and if you are connected ask God what more does He want you to do for His church! 

Live Connected…friends…church…God!

Ephesians 3:

God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was his eternal plan, which he carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord.

Acts 2:

8 Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 This promise is to you, and to your children, and even to the Gentiles all who have been called by the Lord our God.” 40 Then Peter continued preaching for a long time, strongly urging all his listeners, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!”

 41 Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all.

The Believers Form a Community

 42 All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals including the Lord’s Supper, and to prayer.

 43 A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. 44 And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. 45 They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. 46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity 47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.

Healthy Friends will protect us, encourage us, and challange us.  Check out these verese and see which ones match up. Get your Bible out for this!

Mathew 18:15, Ephesians 4:29, Proverbs 27:9.

Take time to find a few more on your own.

2 Timothy 3:All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. ¹⁷ God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

That basically means that every word of scripture is straight from the mouth of God.  2 Peter 1:21 says that although the words of scripture were written by men, those men, “spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”

It’s very clear…we know how important being clear is…scripture teaches us that the Bible is the very word of God.  So, either scripture is wrong…or lying…about its own nature. or it really is the Word of God.  If scripture isn’t really the true word of God, then 2 Timothy 3:16 and 2 Peter 1:21 are not true.  And that lives us with the conclusion that if one part of scripture can’t be trusted, can any of it be trusted?  Either all of the Bible is true, or none of it is true!

Attitude is everything…it can be your best friend or your worst.  Having the right attitude towards God’s Word is essential.

Proverbs 2:

¹ My son, if you accept my words 
       and store up my commands within you,

 ² turning your ear to wisdom 
       and applying your heart to understanding,

 ³ and if you call out for insight 
       and cry aloud for understanding,

 ⁴ and if you look for it as for silver 
       and search for it as for hidden treasure,

 ⁵ then you will understand the fear of the LORD 
       and find the knowledge of God.

Four things we see from this passage; First you got to ACCEPT God’s Word.  Second you need to STORE UP God’s commands within you.  Third, you need to TURN your ear toward understanding.  Forth, APPLY your heart to it!

1 Timothy 4:

¹¹ Teach these things and insist that everyone learn them. ¹² Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity. ¹³ Until I get there, focus on reading the Scriptures to the church, encouraging the believers, and teaching them.

The word “careful” brings about a response of awareness.  If you know me at all you would know that I have moved a few times since living here.  I like to buy a house live in it for a few years and then sell it but with that comes the unfortunate task of packing and moving.  Of the top 10 worst things to do on a weekend it would be #1!  When we begin to pack we will identify the outside of the boxes with what’s in them so we know where the stuff goes and how it needs to be handled.  When I pack away my wife’s good things and if there is a chance of it breaking then I pack it with extra caution and then I mark the outside to let everyone know they bettter be careful!  It usually works because there is an extra sense of awarness.  This passage that we are looking at does the same for us…as we have moved, changed, turned, let go, died, from our old self and begun living in a new way we are to proceed with excitemnt and caution.  We need to be aware of the things that please the Lord…they are to be the focus of our lives!

Ephesians 5:

⁶ Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him. ⁷ Don’t participate in the things these people do. ⁸ For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! ⁹For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.

 ¹⁰ Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. ¹¹ Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them.¹² It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. ¹³ But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, ¹⁴ for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said,

   “Awake, O sleeper,
      rise up from the dead,
      and Christ will give you light.”

Proceed with caution today!

Let’s look at the clarity of God’s word on some of this stuff…

Ephesians 5:3-5

³ Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people. ⁴ Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God. ⁵ You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.

just take a inventor of your life over that past few days and see what needs to be turned off!