Getting Investments Right Part 2

Reason for us. Jesus phone number for shrinking market. People wonder where to place money Jesus taught a lesson on ultimate investments counsels believers to invest in God's kingdom because only in eternity will the true interest rate be on display church in Chicago. This is with Dr. Sir, whose clear teaching helps us make it across the finish line after Luther's again.

Chapter 16 for another lesson on getting investments right Dave, I love your intro where you talk about the fact that only in eternity will good better money is done. I love to talk about this. I like to introduce people to what I call transmutation transmutation is when you take your money and transform it into a different form so that it will last forever. Jesus talked about this when he said you know, lay up treasures in heaven.

We hear it running to win are totally committed to getting the gospel of Jesus Christ to as many people as possible and I want to take this opportunity to thank the many of you who support this ministry and you know this is the last day that we are making available what we call our matching gift we have friends were willing to match your gift up to $90,000.

Will you take advantage of that. Here is what you do go to RTW offer.com that's RTW offer.com or if you prefer, call us at 1-888-218-9337 now this is very important and because of that I'm going to be giving you the contact info at the end of this message as well. It's our last day you can participate in our matching gift but now let's go to the pulpit of Moody church where once again we listen to the words of Jesus about making wise investments. Elizabeth funded our vacation Bible school so that 485 children could hear the gospel, but I don't think that there is one individual. It spread among us. I like to think of giving to Moody church as sort of a mutual fund and that fund has various funds within it. You give to the mutual fund and there's a music fund and there is a children's fund and there is a family fund and there is are various other ministries men's ministries women's ministries we have equipping ministries of evangelism ministries and what we are doing actually is funding together in this mutual fund and then we had the worldwide missionary task that we are involved in all of our missionaries were leading people to saving faith in Christ. In countries that we will never visit, but someday those people in other countries arriving in heaven will also welcome us into everlasting dwelling places because they'll say you used your money to promote the gospel. I think of our media ministry. Many of you may not realize that thanks to the media ministry tens of thousands of people listen every day and even all throughout Southeast Asia because of Transworld radio, your contributions, your investment helps people explains the gospel to them that there may be people on the other side to welcome us into everlasting dwelling places and say thank you for using your money to make friends who will be there waiting for you. That is what Jesus here is teaching and I think for example of a ministry birth here called by the hand club for kids we know it was begun by Denita Travis, who is also its executive director, but I think today of all the people who have supported this ministry is great ministry of children here in the city of Chicago and many of them have believed on Jesus. Can you imagine being welcomed into heaven by children who are now adults and that they are saying thank you for thank you for supporting that because where your friends because you invested in our lives. That's what Jesus is teaching the way in which money should be used. And then there's 1/3 lesson and the third lesson is that money is a test. A test of our future reward a test of our future reward.

Listen to what Jesus says there in verse 12 and if you have not been faithful in that which is another's who will give you that which is your own. I should have actually begun just a little bit earlier than that one who is faithful in very little is also faithful in much and one who is dishonest and very little is dishonest and much here we are. If you that have not been faithful in unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches. I did not been faithful in that which is another's will give you that which is your own. What Jesus is saying that to.

If you aren't faithful in the realm of money which he calls very little in that which is little the thing that is little the Greek text says you imagine Jesus saying that it is a little tight among the world of money is in little money is big money is everything get it. Honestly, if you can and get it deceptively if you must, but it all counts and get it. USA Today many years ago. Not sure exactly the date that I wrote this down said that 48% of Americans said that they would be willing to cheat and to lie to get money if they were absolutely assured that they would not get caught.

In other words, they're willing to sacrifice all that they are just to get money and then I've been to Colorado a number of times and if you drive through, you know, the backwoods of Colorado. You notice all of these places now abandoned because of the gold rush that was there and you read stories I saw this on TV one time a special on the gold rush, I mean people sacrifice their families. They sacrificed their children. They sacrificed their lives, they took risks all to get the gold Jesus said you know it is a very little thing. If you contrasted with the true riches that awaits us in heaven.

It is a little thing. So Jesus is saying if you wanted faithful in the little thing is going to give you the big thing who's going to give you the true riches. Who is going to be there to welcome you.

Who is there going to be to affirm you so that you can rule with Jesus in the kingdom.

And then Jesus calls it unrighteous wealth.

I think it was the King James. That said, filthy lucre, and how Jesus knows that money is neutral. You can use $50 to buy Bible or you can use $50 to buy cocaine and it depends on how you use it, but because it is so sought-after and makes all the promises that God because it has so much power over us. Jesus calls his unrighteous wealth. Imagine Jesus calling at that.

Are you surprised at the fact that the Pharisees ridiculed him look at what it says in verse 14. Your eyes need to see this in the text, the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard these things and they ridiculed them. Why somebody calling money a little thing. Are you serious, were lovers of it. Bible says the love of money is the root of all evil. We say to ourselves what you know I don't love it.

I just think about it all the time I dated. I I hug it to my Buddhism my willing to do anything to get it home being no I don't I don't love at no wonder the Pharisees. They ridiculed him. The Bible says because they were lovers of money, your money lover you might not like this message but Jesus is saying this that the way in which you use it is going to be commensurate with the kind of reward that I will give you another think about this. Think of how wise it is to invest in God's work, because number one it's safe.

Number two, the rewards and the dividends are eternal. If you're interested during a financial downturn as to where you should park your money, give it to Christian ministry given for the advance of the gospel because Jesus said that if you do that it won't rust it won't wear away.

It's an eternal investment.

How in the world. Can you beat that. And then Jesus says finally that time. You can't serve God and money will read it again no servant can serve two masters for either he will hate the one I love the other, or else he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You can't serve God and money. This really needs a separate sermon sometime because it is here where we deceive ourselves, were absolutely confident that we can serve both God and money. We serve God on Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday and Friday we serve money and we can do both.

Jesus said you can't, it would be like trying to dance to two different tunes at the same time. Now, in my case, I wouldn't be able to dance to 12. So to very clearly would be a bit much but Jesus said examine your heart on this because you can't serve both. I recognize that we need money to live, saving money is wise we have it here at the Moody Church instruction on the money during these financial downturns continue to check your bulletin because some of you who are in debt. Some of you were looking for work. All of us can benefit from wise financial investments, but at the end of the day what you really want to do is to make sure that your money is working for the cause of the gospel to true stories very quickly the end of second world war in Berlin. Now all of us know about the hyperinflation in Germany that led actually to the rise of Adolf Hitler but thou, this is after World War II. Germany again has huge financial problems and rapid growing inflation in a book entitled the day, the dollar died. There's a story of a German woman who came with a bag of money to a Bible school in Berlin. She had carefully saved her marks her German marks and she brought this bag and she gave it to the head of the school and was so gratified that she be able to make an investment really that would pay dividends eternally. He was very sad because he had to tell her something she not been listening to the news and the day before the mark that Mark had been canceled and Germany was beginning again by printing brand-new money.

The money was entirely worthless. What happened to this dear lady, God bless her and God knows her intentions and shall be rewarded for her intentions but she waited too long to transmute her money into an eternal investment. I remember talking to a man when we had a downturn here a couple of years ago, who I suspect is a great deal of wealth actually lives in a different state, the state of Michigan but he told me said, you know, in light of what is happen. I wish I just given more to the church mortar missionary because he was losing so much anyway. How much better to transmuted into an eternal investment. Jesus what it said.

There's a place to put your money. Another true story princes Eugene out.

Now I know that there is a presence princes you Gina.

I checked that on the Internet.

But this is one who live some time ago wasn't able to actually track her down because there's a whole series of princes Eugene us, but she's the Christian lady who was given a crown because she was a prince and a queen and she was given that and the she said to her husband. I want to build an orphanage for children and she said I'd like to sell my jewels so that I could use the money to build an orphanage because she was wearing a crown with plenty of jewels he was against it. Now the crown is important you know keep all your wealth, etc. etc. but she insisted this so he let her sell the jewels in her crown.

She took the money and she built an orphanage and when she heard the children singing songs about Jesus, she came home one day and she said I found my jewel I found my jewels. I found them in the lives of these children singing about the Lord Jesus Christ 10 wise woman.

She couldn't take her crown with her those jewels and all the gold and everything like that. I mean, of what value is that what she was saying is you know people sale you can't take it with you. Absolutely you can take it with.

But you have to put it in a form that will actually overcome the gap called death so that it gets to the other side so that on the other side, their children and adults. There welcome you into eternal dwellings and say thank you for your sacrifice, you think that woman in heaven today regrets what she did.

It's what she did that will last eternally all the Jules while they are in case today. All throughout museums in Germany, but they do not they do not say souls is a closing comment.

I want to make. Maybe you're here today and you say will pass to Luther how much does it cost to become a Christian why it's a really good question. I'm glad you're asking it. I hope that many of you were asking because I would really not be fair to you if I didn't explain something with as much clarity as God can give me receiving Christ as your Savior is entirely a free gift.

Based on what Jesus has all ready accomplished. It is recognizing our sinfulness that we can make no contribution you can give all your jewels and all your money to the gospel that you can do all that and still be lost because what you need is a Savior and his righteousness and his gift comes to you freely. It has to be free because you and I can make no contribution whatsoever to warhead. It is entirely of God. So if you've come here today with a troubled conscience. You've come here seeking God come to Jesus. The Bible says participate in taking from the water of life freely. It is free.

Then after you have received the free gift of salvation. Then you begin to say okay my place in heaven is secure but now how do I live in such a way that when I arrive there will have something to show for my lifestyle and that's when you begin to ask yourself what investments can I make, whether financial volunteering doing whatever you can so that others in heaven will be there and say you know what, in part, I am here because of you I'm going to pray for some of you who never received Christ as Savior. You can play along with me. Those of you who know him. Can you actually say I'd rather have Jesus than silver, gold are your investments secure eternally everlastingly and very safe.

Join me as we pray father, we thank you for these words from Jesus parable about investments we pray today father that those of us who know you may be very faithful and those who don't they know that they can come without money, without price, they come freely to receive a gift that has already been made available to them, if only they believe they they believe right now in their hearts both in the sanctuary and around the world for those who are watching and listening. By way of the Internet. In Jesus name we pray.) Pastor Luther have to tell you that I become very excited when I talk about investments that last for ever and that are secure and that Jesus Christ take special note of you know today's the last day, we are giving you the opportunity to participate with us in what we call her matching gift. Thanks to friends, we are able to match your gift up to $90,000. Will you help us here at the ministry of running to win now. If you are blessed as a result of the ministry of running to win.

It's because other people have invested in this ministry, would you help us running to win is in 20 different countries in three different languages were grateful to God for all those who become our partners. Those who join. What I like to call the running to win the family. Remember, today is your last day to have your gift doubled. Here's what you do go to RTW offer.com that's RTW offer.com or if you prefer you can call us at 1-888-218-9337 now perhaps you did not have an opportunity to get a pencil or pen quickly enough. So let me give you that phone number again 1-888-218-9337 or RTW offer.com it's time now for you to ask Pastor Luther a question about the Bible or the Christian life. A sign of spiritual maturity is the recognition that our sins must be confessed to keep short accounts with God. Alex, with Mr. running to win is quite concerned about how to do this.

He writes I'd like to know how to confess sin biblically and completely, beginning at first John 18 through 10. There's the commands for confessing sin.

The Bible seems to give multiple methods of confession such as pray once and leave it there from second Samuel chapter 24. Pray multiple days and go without food from Nehemiah chapter 1, and finally to confess an agreement with the spiritual leader or pastor who prays for forgiveness that the numbers 21 seven. Which method is correct or are all methods correct is a change in the context of habitual sin. How much detail, need I go into when talking to God, ministry leaders, and others.

Alex, thanks so much for your question and I think that you have maybe needed a little bit more complicated than it is when we confess our sins, you're right, it means that we agree completely with God. And when you asked the question how much detail should I go in with God. The answer is whatever the Holy Spirit shows us, you know that's been my experience is that sometimes I may confess his sin, and discover that it's much deeper than I think it is because the spirit points out something that I need to confess and agree with God about know when you talk about praying once and leaving it there or fasting that all is a consequence of the Christian life. I believe that we should fasting during that period of time.

I'm sure that God shows us other sins that need to be confessed, but there is a difference between the confession of sin and prayer, and the giving of ourselves to the Lord our committal to the Lord all of that is part of the package, but the actual confession is us coming before God admitting our sin agreeing that we have sinned and agreeing that he has a right to take it from us because we are in total agreement with God. That's the bottom line. Now there may be times when you need to confess the sin with others, and so forth. Depending on the relationship. Depending on the situation. But confession itself, though painful hard for us to admit that we've send, though painful, is that quite simple. It's simply agreeing with God about our sin. Thank you Alex for your question. Thank you Dr. Luther for your counsel if you'd like to hear your question answered. You can just go to our website@rtwoffer.com and click on ask Pastor Luther or call us at 1-888-218-9337 that's 1-888-218-9337 you can write to us at running to win 1635 N. LaSalle Boulevard Chicago, IL 60614 running to win is all about helping you find God's roadmap for your race of life. Think about there is no U-Haul following your hearse to the cemetery. You can take it with you. Jesus told a story about a man who had a lot, wanted a lot more parable is killing that night. The man's life was demanded of him next time I'm running to win. Don't miss getting eternity right thanks for listening. This is Dave McAllister running to win is sponsored by the Moody Church