Deuteronomy 8:17-18 • Success

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(This transcript was prepared using software tools and has not been reviewed for complete accuracy.)

THANK YOU, GREENVILLE
COLLEGE CHOIR, FOR GIVING US
BEAUTIFUL WORSHIP THIS MORNING.
>>> LET ME ASK THAT YOU WOULD
LOOK IN YOUR BIBLES THIS MORNING
AT DEUTERONOMY, DEUTERONOMY
CHAPTER 8, AS WE'LL BE FOCUSING
ON VERSES 17 AND 18, ALTHOUGH
LOOKING IN THE BROADER CHAPTER
AS WELL.
AS YOU'RE TURNING, LET ME PRAY
FOR US.
>>> HEAVENLY FATHER, WE THANK
YOU THAT ALREADY WE HAVE
EXPERIENCED THE BEAUTY OF
WORSHIP THIS DAY.
BUT IT IS REVELATION OF THE
BEAUTY OF YOUR HEART AND THE
ESSENCE OF THAT WAS WHEN YOU
POURED OUT LOVE FOR US ON THE
CROSS IN THE PERSON OF YOUR SON.
THIS DAY, WE NOT ONLY REMEMBER
THAT BUT CELEBRATE IT IN
COMMUNION, AND IN DOING SO, WE
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT OUR HANDS
CANNOT PROVIDE WHAT WE NEED FOR
A RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU.
BUT YOU IN MERCY PROVIDED IT FOR
US.
HELP US TO SENSE NOT ONLY HOW
GREAT WAS YOUR LOVE FOR US BUT
HOW OUR HEARTS MIGHT RESPOND IN
GRATITUDE AND THANKSGIVING, LOVE
FOR LOVE, BECAUSE OF THE GRACE
OF THE LORD JESUS.
GUIDE US, WE PRAY IN HIS NAME.
AMEN.
>>> AS YOU LOOK IN YOUR BIBLES
THIS MORNING, WE CONTINUE TO
THINK ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO
HAVE MISSION AT WORK.
AND I'VE TRIED TO EXPRESS THAT
IF THE EARTH IS THE LORD'S AND
EVERYTHING IN IT, THEN IN RECENT
WEEKS WE'VE BEEN REMINDED THAT
MEANS EVERY PLACE WE GO WE ARE
HONORING THE LORD.
WE BEAR ON US THE NAME OF
CHRIST, IF WE ARE CHRISTIANS.
AND FOR THAT REASON, NOT ONLY IS
OUR WORK WORSHIP, BUT WHAT WE
RECEIVE FROM THAT WORK, EVEN OUR
MONEY, IS PART OF OUR MISSION.
IT BECOMES MISSION IF WE
CONSIDER WHO PROVIDED IT.
APART FROM HIS PROVISION AND THE
RECOGNITION OF IT, WE'LL HAVE
EXACTLY THE WRONG ATTITUDE OF
WHAT MAKES FOR SUCCESS IN LIFE
AS WELL AS SUCCESS WITH OUR
MONEY.
THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL ARE JUST
PERCHED ON THE BRINK OF THE
PROMISED LAND THAT GOD IS
PROVIDING FOR THEM.
AND LEST THEY FORGET WHO HAS
PROVIDED, MOSES SPEAKS TO THEM
ABOUT THEIR WEALTH IN VERSES 17
AND 18 OF DEUTERONOMY 8.
HE SAYS THIS:  "'BEWARE LEST YOU
SAY IN YOUR HEART, 'MY POWER AND
THE MIGHT OF MY HAND HAS GOTTEN
ME THIS WEALTH.'
YOU SHALL REMEMBER THE LORD YOUR
GOD, FOR IT IS HE WHO GIVES YOU
POWER TO GET WEALTH, THAT HE MAY
CONFIRM HIS COVENANT THAT HE
SWORE TO YOUR FATHERS, AS IT IS
THIS DAY.'"
HOW DO YOU DEFINE SUCCESS?
ONE MEASURE:  HE WHO DIES WITH
THE MOST TOYS WINS.
I COULDN'T HELP BUT THINK OF
THAT PHRASE IN READING AN
INTERVIEW RECENTLY WITH JOSEPH
DEAR, THE CHIEF INVESTMENT
OFFICER FOR OUR NATION'S LARGEST
PENSION ORGANIZATION.
THE INTERVIEWER, SPEAKING OF
JOSEPH DEAR, SAID, "WE EXPECTED
DRY, SCULPTED RESPONSES FROM
SUCH A HIGH OFFICIAL OF SUCH A
LARGE FUND, BUT DEAR SURPRISED
US.
HE WAS FUNNY AS HE WAS WISE.
HE WAS HUMBLE AS HE WAS
BRILLIANT.
HE WAS OUR FAVORITE INTERVIEW."
WELL, THERE'S MORE THAN JUST
CELEBRATION OF HIS WEALTH.
THERE'S CELEBRATION OF HIS
WISDOM AND HIS HUMOR, HOW HE
DOES A GOOD INTERVIEW.
AND YOU KIND OF THINK, WELL,
WHAT REALLY IS THE MEASURE OF
SUCCESS IF YOU HAVE JUST
TREMENDOUS WEALTH, IF YOU'RE THE
CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER OF THE
WEALTHIEST PENSION FUND IN THE
WORLD'S WEALTHIEST NATION?
THEN HOW DO YOU MARK SUCCESS?
WELL, MAYBE IT'S BECAUSE PEOPLE
THINK YOU'RE VERY WISE.
PEOPLE THINK YOU'RE BRILLIANT.
PEOPLE THINK YOU JUST DO A GOOD
INTERVIEW.
BUT IN ALL THOSE MEASURES OF
SUCCESS, I HAD TO THINK OF WHAT
IT MEANT AS I READ THE PARTING
WORDS OF THAT INTERVIEW, WHAT
THE INTERVIEWER SAID RIGHT
TOWARD THE END OF THE ARTICLE.
"JOSEPH DEAR WAS DIAGNOSED WITH
CANCER SOON AFTER OUR INTERVIEW.
HE PASSED AWAY YESTERDAY."
WHOEVER DIES WITH THE MOST TOYS
WINS.
WELL, I'M NOT CERTAIN THAT'S
TRUE.
WHAT I AM CERTAIN OF:  WHOEVER
DIES WITH THE MOST TOYS DIES.
AND THAT'S USUALLY NOT WHAT WE
WANT TO THINK OF AS THE
CULMINATION OF OUR SUCCESS.
WHETHER YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR
YOUR WISDOM OR YOUR ARTISTRY OR
YOUR MONEY OR YOUR
ACCOMPLISHMENT, WE RECOGNIZE THE
END OF THOSE THINGS IS NOT
SOMETHING THAT WE WILL CELEBRATE
IN THIS LIFE, AS SOMEBODY SAID
AFTER THE FIRST SERVICE, "THERE
SIMPLY AREN'T BRINKS' TRUCKS IN
FUNERAL PROCESSIONS."
SO HOW DO YOU MARK SUCCESS,
PARTICULARLY AS A BELIEVER?
WELL, WHETHER YOU'RE IN BUSINESS
OR WHETHER YOU'RE IN EDUCATION
OR VIRTUALLY ANY OTHER ENDEAVOR,
YOU CAN'T MEASURE SUCCESS UNLESS
YOU HAVE A GOAL.
WHAT'S THE GOAL YOU'RE TRYING TO
ACHIEVE?
THAT WILL MARK SUCCESS.
AND PREVIOUSLY WE'VE SAID THAT
AT LEAST FOR THE BELIEVER, IF
YOU HAVE CHRIST UPON YOU, IF YOU
BEAR HIS NAME INTO THE WORKPLACE
AS WELL AS INTO THE WORLD, THEN
YOU RECOGNIZE THAT WHAT
MAGNIFIES THE NAME OF JESUS IS
ULTIMATELY WHAT IS THE MEASURE
OF YOUR SUCCESS BEFORE GOD.
I MEAN, WE SAY IN BUSINESS, OF
COURSE, THAT THE MARK OF SUCCESS
IN BUSINESS IS WHEN YOU MAXIMIZE
SHAREHOLDER VALUE.
BUT FOR THE BELIEVER, WHETHER IN
BUSINESS OR ARTS OR EDUCATION OR
AGRICULTURE, WE RECOGNIZE THAT
WHEN WE MAXIMIZE THE SAVIOR'S
VALUE TO OURSELVES, TO OUR
FAMILIES, AND TO OUR WORLD, THAT
ULTIMATELY BECOMES THE MARK OF
SUCCESS FOR A BELIEVER.
IF YOU THINK OF HOW SUCCESS IS
BEING MEASURED HERE, THERE'S
MUCH SAID IN THIS ACCOUNT OF
MOSES TO THE ISRAELITES ABOUT
THINGS THAT THEY RECEIVE, BUT
EVEN HE IS HELPING THEM TO
UNDERSTAND HOW THE METRICS ARE
SUCCESS--, OF SUCCESS BEFORE GOD
ARE MAXIMIZING HIS GIFTS.
THE GIFTS ARE WELL DEFINED HERE,
IF YOU'LL JUST LOOK AT VERSES 7
AND FOLLOWING.
MOSES SPEAKING TO ISRAEL SAYS,
"'THE LORD YOUR GOD IS BRINGING
YOU INTO A GOOD LAND, A LAND OF
BROOKS OF WATER, OF FOUNTAINS
AND SPRINGS, FLOWING OUT IN THE
VALLEYS AND HILLS, A LAND OF
WHEAT AND BARLEY, OF VINES AND
FIG TREES AND POMEGRANATES, A
LAND OF OLIVE TREES AND HONEY, A
LAND IN WHICH YOU WILL EAT BREAD
WITHOUT SCARCITY, IN WHICH YOU
WILL LACK NOTHING, A LAND WHOSE
STONES ARE IRON, AND WHOSE
HILL--, AND OUT OF WHOSE HILLS
YOU CAN DIG COPPER.'"
I MEAN, MOSES IS JUST EXPECTING
PEOPLE TO MAKE USE OF GOD'S
RESOURCES.
AND THAT'S PART OF SUCCESS
BEFORE GOD:  TO MAKE GOOD USE OF
THE RESOURCES THAT HE HAS GIVEN.
AND IF YOU'LL SEE JUST A LITTLE
BIT LATER, MOSES WILL SAY, "GOD
EXPECTS YOU TO MAKE GOOD USE OF
THE LAND; HE EXPECTS YOU TO
BUILD HOMES.
HE EXPECTS YOU TO MULTIPLY YOUR
FAMILIES."
THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE GOOD USE
OF THE RESOURCES THAT GOD IS
GIVING.
AND THE LESSON FOR US, AS WE
BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND THAT, IS
REALLY AT THE END OF VERSE 10.
"'YOU SHALL EAT AND BE FULL, YOU
SHALL BLESS THE LORD YOUR GOD
FOR THE GOOD LAND HE HAS GIVEN
YOU.'"
GOOD USE OF THE RESOURCES
BLESSES GOD.
NOW, WE THINK OF BLESSING AS
SOMETHING THAT WE RECEIVE.
BUT WHEN YOU BLESS GOD, IT'S
SOMETHING THAT YOU GIVE.
YOU GIVE GOD HONOR.
YOU GIVE HIM GLORY.
IF YOU MAKE GOOD USE OF THE
RESOURCES THAT GOD PUTS INTO
YOUR LIFE, YOU'RE ACTUALLY
HONORING HIM.
AND THE COROLLARY:  NOT TO USE
GOD'S GIFTS IS TO DISHONOR HIM.
WHAT THAT MEANS IS WE HAVE TO
ANALYZE OUR OWN LIVES AND SAY,
"WHAT ARE THE GIFTS THAT GOD HAS
PUT MY LIFE?
WHAT ARE THE GIFTS, THE TALENTS,
THE RESOURCES?
WHEN GIFTED MUSICIANS MAKE
MUSIC, THAT HONORS GOD.
WHEN FARMERS HARVEST FIELDS,
THAT HONORS GOD.
WHEN BUSINESSPEOPLE MAXIMIZE
SHAREHOLDER VALUE, THE HONORS
GOD.
WHEN ENGINEERS MOVE EARTH OR
OPEN THE SKIES, THAT HONORS GOD.
WHEN TEACHERS SHARE INFORMATION,
AND MOST PARTICULARLY WHEN THEY
BRIGHTEN FUTURES, THAT HONORS
GOD.
WHEN A MOM OR A DAD NURTURES THE
GIFT OF CHILDREN THAT ARE PUT
INTO OUR LIVES, THAT HONORS GOD.
I MEAN, THE SCRIPTURES SAY IT
OVER AND OVER AGAIN, RIGHT?
EPHESIANS 2:10, "WE ARE GOD'S
WORKMANSHIP, CREATED IN CHRIST
JESUS TO DO GOOD WORKS THAT HE
PREPARED IN ADVANCE FOR US TO
DO."
WE ARE FULFILLING HIS MISSION,
FULFILLING HIS PURPOSES, AS WE
ARE USING THE GIFTS THAT HE HAS
PUT INTO OUR LIVES.
TO WORK ACCORDING TO OUR WIRING
IS TO HONOR THE GOD WHO WIRED
US.
BUT WE DON'T MERELY USE GOD'S
GIFTS.
THE EXPECTATION IS THAT WE WILL
MAXIMIZE THE GIFTS THAT HE HAS
GIVEN, THAT WE WILL ACTUALLY
MULTIPLY THEM.
VERSE 12 IS RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE
OF A WARNING WHERE WE ARE BEING
CAUTIONED WITH THE ISRAELITES
NOT TO FORGET THE ONE WHO
PROVIDED THE GIFTS, "'LEST, WHEN
YOU HAVE EATEN AND ARE FULL AND
HAVE BUILT GOOD HOUSES AND LIVE
IN THEM, AND WHEN YOUR HERDS AND
FLOCKS MULTIPLY AND YOUR SILVER
AND GOLD IS MULTIPLIED AND ALL
THAT YOU HAVE IS MULTIPLIED.'"
THERE'S THE EXPECTATION:  THAT
WE ARE PROPERLY USING THE GIFTS
OF GOD IN SUCH A WAY THAT THEIR
EFFECTS, THAT THEIR GOODNESS IS
MULTIPLYING THROUGH WHAT GOD HAS
PROVIDED.
THIS IS A MESSAGE REPEATED IN
THE SCRIPTURES.
MATTHEW 25, A NUMBER OF YOU WILL
REMEMBER THE PARABLE OF THE
TALENTS, WHERE JESUS TALKS ABOUT
A MASTER WHO LEAVES, BUT BEFORE
HE LEAVES HE GIVES TO THOSE WHO
SERVE HIM A NUMBER OF TALENTS:
FIVE TO ONE, TWO TO ANOTHER, ONE
TO ANOTHER.
AND HE SAYS TO THE ONE WHO HAS
FIVE WHEN HE RETURNS AND FINDS
OUT THAT FIVE HAS BEEN INVESTED
AND MADE MONEY, "WELL DONE, GOOD
AND FAITHFUL SERVANT."
BUT TO THE ONE WHO HAS ONLY TWO,
EVEN AS THAT IS INVESTED AND
MULTIPLIES, HE SAID, "WELL DONE,
GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT."
THE AMOUNT IS NOT SO MUCH
IMPORTANT AS THE MULTIPLICATION.
YOU'VE MADE GOOD USE OF WHAT
I'VE GIVEN YOU.
WHO'S THE ONLY ONE WHO DOES NOT
GET THE COMMENDATION?
THE ONE WHO HAD ONE TALENT.
AND HIS CRITIQUE AT THE END IS
NOT BECAUSE HE HAD ONE TALENT.
BUT WHAT DID  HE DO WITH THE ONE
TALENT?
DO YOU REMEMBER?
HE BURIED IT.
HE DID NOT MAKE GOOD USE OF IT.
GOD IS EXPECTING US TO TAKE WHAT
HE HAS GIVEN AND USE THOSE
RESOURCES.
I MEAN, IT'S REALLY A WONDERFUL
MESSAGE:  THAT DEPENDING ON HOW
GOD HAS WIRED US, DEPENDING ON
WHAT RESOURCES HE HAS GIVEN TO
US, EVEN IF THE RESOURCES VARY,
EVEN IF THE GIFTING VARIED, JUST
TO USE THEM IN THE WAY THAT GOD
HAS DESIGNED THEM TO BE USED IS
BRINGING HONOR TO HIM.
WE'RE NOT SETTING UP
COMPARISONS:  YOU GOT MORE; YOU
GOT LESS.
WE'RE SIMPLY BEING HELD
ACCOUNTABLE FOR USING WHAT GOD
HAS PROVIDED.
SO USING RESOURCES THAT GOD
PROVIDES IN THE OPPORTUNITIES
THAT HE PROVIDES ACCORDING TO
HIS DESIGN PURPOSES IS SUCCESS.
WE'RE NOT SAYING HOW MUCH.
WE'RE SIMPLY SAYING:  IF YOU
TAKE THE RESOURCES THAT GOD
PROVIDES AND YOU USE THEM IN THE
OPPORTUNITIES HE PROVIDES FOR
THE PURPOSES HE DESIGNS, THAT'S
BIBLICAL SUCCESS.
WHY DO I NEED TO KNOW THAT?
YOU KNOW, AS I WAS WATCHING THE
ESTATE PLANNING VIDEO, I
COULDN'T HELP BUT THINK OF AN
ACCOUNT THAT I READ RECENTLY IN
TIM KELLER'S "EVERY GOOD
ENDEAVOR," A BOOK THAT I WOULD
RECOMMEND TO YOU IF YOU'RE
THINKING ABOUT FAITH IN WORK.
AND HE TALKS ABOUT AN ESTATE
PLANNER WHO WONDERED, "HOW DOES
MY JOB, SIMPLY HELPING PEOPLE
DISPERSE THEIR WEALTH AFTER
THEY'RE DEAD, HOW DOES THAT
HONOR GOD?"
AND HE BEGAN TO THINK ABOUT THAT
AS HE WAS DEALING WITH A
CHRISTIAN WOMAN WHO WAS WANTING
TO DEAL WITH BLESSING THE
PURPOSES OF CHRIST BEYOND HER
OWN LIFE.
SHE HAD THIS ETERNAL
PERSPECTIVE.
AND THE ESTATE PLANNER BEGAN TO
RECOGNIZE:  I'M STILL DOING
WORSHIP AT MY WORK.
NOW, MAYBE THAT'S OBVIOUS WHEN
YOU'RE AN ESTATE PLANNER.
IT WASN'T OBVIOUS TO HIM AT THAT
POINT.
AND I HAD TO BEGIN TO THINK OF
IT AS I HAVE READ OTHER ACCOUNTS
RECENTLY OF PEOPLE WHO ARE
SIMPLY TAKING THE RESOURCES GOD
PROVIDES IN THE OPPORTUNITY GOD
PROVIDES FOR THE PURPOSES THAT
HE DESIGNS.
BETHANY JENKINS WORKS FOR THE
GOSPEL COALITION, AND SHE WAS
DESCRIBING RECENTLY A BUS DRIVER
IN ALABAMA WHO HAD BEEN ON THE
SAME ROUTE FOR 17 YEARS AND IN
THE COURSE OF THAT TIME HAD
ACTUALLY HAD HER LIFE TOUCH 300
STUDENTS THROUGH THE COURSE OF
THAT 17 YEAR OLD--, 17 YEAR BUS
DRIVING EXPERIENCE AND BEGAN TO
SEE THOSE 300 CHILDREN AS HER
OPPORTUNITY TO WITNESS AND
EXPERIENCE AND SHOW THE HAND OF
CHRIST, THE HEART OF CHRIST DAY
AFTER DAY.
ONE OF THE MORE TELLING
EXPERIENCES WAS HER BEGINNING TO
RECOGNIZE THAT THERE WAS A
SPECIAL NEEDS GIRL THAT WOULD
GET ON THE BUS WHO ON SOME DAYS
WAS PARTICULARLY AGITATED.
AND THE BUS DRIVER BEGAN TO
NOTICE THAT THE YOUNG WOMAN WAS
AGITATED ON THE DAYS THAT HER
FATHER'S CAR WAS IN THE DRIVEWAY
AND BEGAN TO SUSPECT THAT THINGS
WERE NOT RIGHT, DID REPORT IT,
AND AS A CONSEQUENCE, THE LIFE,
THE FUTURE, THE BLESSING UPON
THAT CHILD BECAUSE SOMEBODY
SIMPLY SAID, "HERE I AM, NOT A
BILLIONAIRE, I'M A BUS DRIVER,"
TAKING GOD'S RESOURCES AND GOD'S
OPPORTUNITIES FOR GOD'S
PURPOSES.
AND THAT WAS SUCCESS.
I THINK OF HOW IT VARIES EVEN IN
LIFE FOR SOME OF US.
DON MCRAVEN, THE WISE AND
RESPECTED CARDIOLOGIST IN THIS
CONGREGATION WHO NOW IS NOT ABLE
TO EXPRESS HIS PROFESSION AS HE
ONCE WAS ABLE TO AND IS MORE
OFTEN IN THE HOSPITAL AS A
PATIENT THAN CARING FOR
PATIENTS.
BUT WHEN JOHN HOPWOOD, OUR
MINSTER OF PASTORAL CARE, GOES
TO HIM AND PLAYS THE GUITAR,
THEN DON MCRAVEN AND PASTOR
HOPWOOD SIT ON THE HOSPITAL BED
AND THEY BELT OUT HYMNS DOWN THE
HALLWAY.
[LAUGHTER]
IT'S STILL GOD'S RESOURCES:  I
CAN STILL SING.
IT'S STILL GOD'S OPPORTUNITY:
HE'S RIGHT HERE WITH US.
AND HERE'S HIS PURPOSE:  LET'S
LET THE WORLD KNOW.
IT'S GOD'S RESOURCES IN GOD'S
OPPORTUNITY ACCORDING TO GOD'S
DESIGN.
AND IT DOES NOT MATTER HOW YOUNG
OR OLD YOU ARE:  IT MATTERS
SIMPLY THAT YOU ARE DOING WHAT
GOD IS CALLING YOU TO DO
FAITHFULLY.
THAT'S THE MARK OF SUCCESS, NOT
FAT PAYCHECKS.
IF THAT'S WHAT GOD HAS CALLED
YOU TO DO, AND SOME PEOPLE HERE
IN THIS CONGREGATION HAVE AN
AMAZING ABILITY TO EARN MONEY.
SOME HAVE AN AMAZING ABILITY TO
SHARE SENTIMENT AND LOVE WITH
OTHER PEOPLE.
BUT HOWEVER GOD HAS CALLED US,
HOWEVER MADE US, THAT'S OUR
OPPORTUNITY TO HONOR HIM.
THE OLDEST MEMBER OF THIS
CONGREGATION IS LILLIAN FLOREY.
SHE IS, ANYBODY WANT TO GUESS?
106.
SHE IS 106.
AND WHEN SHE IS VISITED BY JOHN
HOPWOOD OR LOIS HUNT, WHEN THEY
CANNOT EVEN GET OUT OF THEIR
NURSING HOME BEDS AT THIS POINT,
AND JOHN SINGS, "HOLY, HOLY,
HOLY," WHAT CAN THEY DO NOW?
THEY RAISE A HAND IN PRAISE.
THAT'S WHAT THEY CAN DO.
THIS IS THEIR OPPORTUNITY.
THIS IS GOD'S DESIGN.
THAT'S SUCCESS.
WE NEED TO REMEMBER IT, WHEREVER
WE ARE CALLED, BECAUSE WE TEND
TO MEASURE BY THE WORLD'S
MEASUREMENT.
BUT IF WE'RE SIMPLY SAYING, "GOD
IS CALLING ME TO BE FAITHFUL IN
THIS MOMENT TO WHAT HE HAS GIVEN
ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO," THAT
TAKES SUCH PRESSURE OFF OF US OF
THE WORLD'S EXPECTATIONS.
BUT THERE IS A PROBLEM.
IF WE BEGIN TO SAY THAT WHAT GOD
IS ACTUALLY CALLING ME TO BE,
WHAT I CAN REJOICE IN, IS THE
FREEDOM TO BE ME, YOU RECOGNIZE
THAT THE FREEDOM TO BE ME IS
SOMETIMES THE SANCTIFIED
SELFISHNESS THAT EXCUSES THE
WORST OF THIS WORLD'S EVILS, THE
PEOPLE WHO ABANDON MARRIAGE OR
MORALITY, GIVE IN TO SEXUAL
URGES, GIVE IN TO SELFISHNESS
WITH THEIR OWN FAMILIES BECAUSE
THEY SAY, "I'M FREE TO BE ME."
IN THE MODERN ERA, IT'S NO
LONGER CALLED SELF
ACTUALIZATION:  IT IS EXPRESSIVE
INDIVIDUALISM.
THAT'S THE GREAT HONOR.
BUT IF IT CAN ACTUALLY BE USED
TO HURT PEOPLE, IF IT ACTUALLY
DEPRIVES PEOPLE, HOW DO WE TAKE
THIS FREEDOM TO BE ME AND
ACTUALLY USE IT IN A WAY THAT IS
BIBLICALLY SUCCESSFUL?
THE ANSWER TO THAT IS IN VERSE
11.
EVEN AS GOD IS CALLING HIS
PEOPLE TO USE THESE GREAT
RESOURCES THAT HE IS PROVIDING,
HE SAYS IN VERSE 11, "'TAKE CARE
LEST YOU FORGET THE LORD YOUR
GOD BY NOT KEEPING HIS
COMMANDMENTS AND HIS RULES AND
HIS STATUTES, WHICH I COMMAND
YOU THIS DAY.'"
WHAT A DOWNER.
ALL THIS FREEDOM TO BE ME.
HOW DO YOU BECOME YOU?
FOLLOW GOD'S COMMANDS.
JUST BE GOOD.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S NOT EXACTLY THE
HOPE I WAS HOPING FOR HERE, YOU
KNOW, THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE
TOLD THE GREAT WAY TO EXPERIENCE
THE BLESSING OF GOD IS JUST TO
FOLLOW HIS COMMANDS.
WHY DOES GOD SAY THAT?
WHAT'S HE ACTUALLY TRYING TO DO?
PART OF WHAT GOD IS DOING IS
HE'S ACTUALLY TRYING PRESERVE
HIS PEOPLE FROM HARM.
YES, THE COMMANDS ARE IN VERSE
11, BUT THE REASONS ARE
REFLECTED IN THE CHARACTER OF
GOD, VERSES 14-16.
I'M JUST GOING TO REMIND YOU
WHAT'S THERE.
HE SAYS IN VERSE 14, "I'M THE
GOD WHO FREED YOU FROM SLAVERY."
VERSES FISH--, VERSE 15, "I
PROTECTED YOU FROM THE TERRORS
IN THE WILDERNESS."
VERSE 15 AND 16, "I GAVE YOU
WATER FROM ROCKS AND MANNA IN
THE DESERT."
AND VERSE 16, PERHAPS THE MOST
TELLING AT ALL:  "DESPITE YOUR
REBELLION, I WAS WORKING OUT
EVERYTHING TO A GOOD END."
GOD WORKS ALL THINGS TOGETHER
FOR GOOD TO THEM THAT LOVE GOD
AND ARE CALLED ACCORDING TO.
HERE IS GOD SAYING, "LISTEN, WHY
WOULD YOU FOLLOW MY WAYS?
WHY WOULD YOU FOLLOW THE PATHS I
DESIGN?
WELL, REMEMBER, I'M GOOD.
I'M THE ONE WHO TOOK YOU OUT OF
SLAVERY.
I'VE GOT BETTER PLANS FOR YOU
THAN YOU YOURSELF WOULD HAVE."
AND TO THROW OFF THESE SHACKLES
OF GOD'S STANDARDS IS ACTUALLY
TO REENTER SLAVERY.
THINK OF IT, IF YOU THINK OF
THOSE WHO HAVE DELIGHTED TO
THROW OFF THE SHACKLES, WHETHER
IT'S A BERNIE MADOFF IN THE
BUSINESS WORLD WHO ABANDONED ALL
STANDARDS OF ETHICS AND
THEREFORE NOT ONLY HURT HIMSELF
BUT ULTIMATELY MULTIPLE
GENERATIONS OF HIS FAMILY AS
WELL AS OTHERS BY HIS LACK OF
INTEGRITY.
OR IF THAT'S NOT THE EXAMPLE, IF
IT'S NOT THE BUSINESS WORLD,
WHAT ABOUT JOHNNY MANZIEL, THE
CLEVELAND BROWNS QUARTERBACK WHO
NOW BEFORE THE WHOLE WORLD IS
THIS SLOW TRAIN WRECK OF A GUY
WITH SUCH TREMENDOUS GIFTS AND
TALENTS AND ABILITIES WHO BY
PARTYING AND ALCOHOL AND
APPARENTLY ABUSE IS JUST
WRECKING HIS LIFE, CAPTURING
HIMSELF IN HIS OWN
IRRESPONSIBILITY.
AND GOD IS SAYING, "I'VE GOT A
BETTER WAY; I'VE GOT A BETTER
THING FOR YOU.
AND WHAT I'M ACTUALLY TRYING TO
DO," GOD SAYS, THE ONE WHO
RELEASED ISRAEL FROM SLAVERY,
"IS TO PROTECT YOU FROM
SLAVERY."
BECAUSE IF FAITHFULNESS TO GOD
IS NOT OUR MEASURE OF SUCCESS,
THEN THE WORLD IS GOING TO BEGIN
TO DESCRIBE THE MEASURE OF
SUCCESS BY ITS EXPECTATIONS.
I MEAN, IF YOU JUST THINK TO
YOURSELF, "WHAT'S THE MARK OF
SUCCESS AS I UNDERSTAND IT?"
WELL, IN OUR CULTURE WE'D SAY,
YOU KNOW, BIG HOME, LUXURY CAR,
NICE CLOTHES, WHICH, BECAUSE
EVERYBODY USES A TOASTER AND
EVERYBODY DRIVES A CAR AND
EVERYBODY HAS A TV, I MEAN, WE
ALL HAVE THE BEX--, BASICALLY
THE SAME STUFF; WE JUST HAVE
BIGGER STUFF OR NEWER STUFF.
[CHUCKLES]
IF WE'RE DEFINING WHAT MAKES US
HAPPY BY WHAT WE HAVE, THEN
THERE ARE CULTURAL EXPECTATIONS
THAT ARE DRIVING US, NOT JUST
WHAT GOD PROVIDES BUT WHAT WE'RE
SAYING WE HAVE TO HAVE IN ORDER
TO SHOW PEOPLE THAT WE'RE
SUCCESSFUL.
AND IT DOESN'T HAVE TO JUST BE
IN TERMS OF HOMES OR CARS OR
CLOTHES.
YOU RECOGNIZE WHATEVER SEGMENT
OF CULTURE YOU'RE FROM, THAT
SEGMENT OF THE CULTURE IS
DESIRING TO PLAY THE TUNE THAT
YOU'RE GOING TO DANCE TO.
IF YOU'RE AN ARTIST, WHAT'S THE
MARK OF SUCCESS?
WELL, THE BEAUTY THAT YOU CAN
MAKE, THE AMOUNT THAT YOU CAN
PRODUCE, THE PERSONAL
RECOGNITION THAT YOU WILL
RECEIVE.
IF YOU'RE AN ATHLETE, HOW MANY
WINS, HOW MUCH RECOGNITION, HOW
MANY RECORDS CAN YOU SET?
IF YOU'RE A BUILDER OR REALTOR,
WHAT'S YOUR REPUTATION?
HOW MANY CONTRACTS HAVE YOU
SIGNED?
HOW MANY SALES THIS WEEK, THIS
MONTH, THIS YEAR?
ALL ARE MEASURING US BY OTHER
PEOPLES' EXPECTATIONS, WHICH IF
YOU MEET THOSE EXPECTATIONS
FEELS GOOD.
BUT IF THE EXPECTATIONS OF YOUR
CULTURAL SEGMENT BEGIN TO ELUDE
YOU OR YOUR OWN EXPECTATIONS ARE
NOT MEASURED UP OR YOUR FAMILY'S
EXPECTATIONS CANNOT BE MET, THEN
ULTIMATELY YOU BECOME A SLAVE TO
OTHER PEOPLES' EXPECTATIONS
RATHER THAN THE GOD WHO SAID,
"I'LL PROVIDE YOU EVERYTHING I
KNOW YOU NEED THAT IS BEST FOR
YOUR LIFE."
I SUPPOSE THERE'S NOT BEEN A
BETTER EXAMPLE RECENTLY THAN CAM
NEWTON AFTER THE 2016 SUPER
BOWL.
I MENTIONED TO YOU HIS RESPONSE
AFTER THE NEWS INTERVIEW, THE
NEWS INTERVIEW AFTER HIS LOSS.
I DON'T THINK I MENTIONED TO YOU
PREVIOUSLY THE INSTAGRAM THAT
WAS SENT TO HIM BY HIS MOTHER
PRIOR TO THE GAME.
HE PUBLISHED IT PRIOR TO THE
GAME, THESE WORDS.
HIS MOM SAID, "CAM, YOU HAVE A
BIG PLATFORM.
REPRESENT THE AWESOME GOD YOU
SERVE THROUGH YOUR WORDS.
SPEAK BOLDLY TO THE NATIONS THAT
YOU REPRESENT CHRIST FOR THE
GREAT THINGS HE HAS DONE IN YOUR
LIFE.
THROUGH YOUR LANGUAGE AND
ACTIONS, SPEAK WORDS TO UPLIFT.
REMEMBER YOUR GOD."
PRETTY GOOD, MOM.
THAT WAS WELL SAID.
[LAUGHTER]
BUT WHAT HAPPENED AFTER HE LOST
WAS SAD:  HEAD DOWN, HOODIE UP,
STOIC STARES, SINGLE SYLLABLE
ANSWERS AND ULTIMATELY WALKING
OUT OF THE PRESS CONFERENCE.
AND WHEN HE WAS CHALLENGED THAT
HE SHOULD BE A BETTER LOSER THAN
THAT, DO YOU REMEMBER THE
RESPONSE?
"SHOW ME A GOOD LOSER AND I'LL
SHOW YOU A LOSER."
AND YOU JUST HAVE TO THINK:
HERE IS A MAN WITH TREMENDOUS
TALENTS, TREMENDOUS FUTURE,
TREMENDOUS ACCOMPLISHMENT
ALREADY.
AND HIS OWN ASSESSMENT OF
HIMSELF IS, "I'M A LOSER."
WHY?
BECAUSE YOU DID NOT MEET THE
EXPECTATIONS OF OTHER PEOPLE.
WHAT IF, I MEAN, WHAT IF HE HAD
SIMPLY BEEN ABLE TO REMEMBER
WHAT HIS MOM SAID?
"REMEMBER GOD."
WHAT IF RIGHT AT THAT MOMENT
THAT HE WAS SO EMBARRASSED IN
THAT INTERVIEW, HE WAS ABLE TO
SAY, "FOLKS, YOU KNOW, THE GAME
DID NOT GO THE WAY I WANTED.
BUT MY IDENTITY IS IN CHRIST.
I AM UNITED TO THE KING OF THE
UNIVERSE WHO GAVE HIS SON TO DIE
FOR ME.
I AM ETERNALLY TREASURED.
ALL OF THIS WILL PASS, BUT I
WILL BE WITH MY SAVIOR FOREVER,
AND HE LOVES ME NO LESS BECAUSE
I FUMBLED A FOOTBALL."
WHAT IF YOU AND I CAN SAY THAT?
I MUST TELL YOU THAT THAT LITTLE
PHRASE OF MINE, IT'S NOT MINE
ALONE, OTHERS OF YOU HEARD IT,
BUT IT'S COME TO ME SO OFTEN:
MY IDENTITY IS IN CHRIST.
IN THE WORST MOMENTS OF MY LIFE,
IN THE MOST EMBARRASSING TIMES
OF MY LIFE, WHEN I HAVE BEEN
SHOCKED AT TIMES WHAT PEOPLE
HAVE DONE OR BEEN WILLING TO
SAY, WHAT PEOPLE HAVE DONE TO MY
REPUTATION, WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO
MY JOB, WHAT THINGS HAPPEN TIMES
TO MY CHILDREN, TO MY FAMILY, TO
BE ABLE TO SAY, "BUT MY IDENTITY
IS IN CHRIST."
I AM HELD DEAR BY THE CREATOR OF
ALL.
HE TREASURES ME.
AND THE REALITY OF THAT IS GOING
TO FREE ME FROM OTHER PEOPLES'
EXPECTATIONS.
AND BEING FREE TO BE ME IS FREED
TO BE THE ONE WHO IS LOVED BY
THE REDEEMER.
AND THAT'S MY ULTIMATE HOPE.
THAT'S MY ULTIMATE SUCCESS, TO
SAY, "I WILL LIVE FAITHFULLY FOR
THE ONE WHO'S BEEN FAITHFUL TO
ME."
THE PROBLEM, OF COURSE, IS THAT
EVEN KNOWING ALL OF THAT,
SOMETIMES MY FAITHFULNESS IS NOT
ALL THAT I WISH IT WERE.
WHAT DO WE THO--, DO THEN?
HOW DO WE RESPOND THEN, WHEN WE
KNOW THAT FAITHFULNESS IS THE
MARK OF CHRISTIAN SUCCESS AND WE
HAVE NOT SUCCEEDED IN OUR
FAITHFULNESS?
THEN WE REMEMBER THE GOD THAT
CALLS US TO REMEMBER.
VERSE 18, "'YOU SHALL REMEMBER
THE LORD YOUR GOD, FOR IT IS HE
WHO GIVES YOU POWER TO GET
WEALTH, THAT HE MAY CONFIRM HIS
COVENANT THAT HE SWORE TO YOUR
FATHERS, AS IT IS THIS DAY.'"
WHAT ARE YOU TO REMEMBER?
REMEMBER, IT'S HIS POWER THAT
PROVIDED FOR YOU.
IT'S THE OLD GOSPEL MESSAGE:
NOT WHAT MY HANDS HAVE DONE,
THAT'S NOT WHY I STAND BEFORE
GOD, BUT BECAUSE OF WHAT HE HAS
DONE FOR ME.
IT'S HIS POWER.
HIS POWER TO DO WHAT?
TO ESTABLISH A COVENANT WITH HIS
PEOPLE.
THAT'S OLD LANGUAGE WE DON'T
ALWAYS THINK ABOUT ANYMORE.
IT'S A COVENANT BY WHICH GOD
MAKES A PRIOR COMMITMENT TO US,
NOT BASED UPON OUR ACHIEVEMENT,
NOT BASED UPON OUR
ACCOMPLISHMENT, NOT SAYING, "YOU
DO GOOD AND THEN I'LL LOVE YOU."
BUT A COVENANT SAYS, "I LOVE
YOU.
NOW WALK WITH ME.
BUT EVEN IF YOU DON'T, I PRIOR
COMMITTED TO YOU.
MY LOVE CAME FIRST.
MY MERCY CAME FIRST."
AND THE REASON I KNOW THAT IS
WHEN I HAVE FAILED IN MY
FAITHFULNESS, I REMEMBER IT WAS
GOD'S POWER THAT CALLED ME IN
THE FIRST PLACE, AND IT'S GOD'S
COVENANT THAT KEEPS ME ALWAYS.
AND SO I COME TO HIM AGAIN.
AND I SAY, "GOD, FORGIVE ME AND
HEAL ME AND HELP ME, NOT BECAUSE
OF MY FAITHFULNESS BUT BECAUSE
OF YOURS.
GOD, HELP ME REMEMBER YOU."
AND HE DOES.
AFTER ALL, IN THIS TABLE, WHAT
DO WE DO?
REMEMBER, HE SAID WE SHOULD EAT
THIS BREAD AND DRINK THIS CUP IN
REMEMBRANCE OF HIM.
WE DO THIS SO REGULARLY AND SO
CONSISTENTLY SO THAT WE'RE NOT
SAYING GOD WILL LOVE ME BECAUSE
I'VE BECOME GOOD ENOUGH; GOD
WILL LOVE ME BECAUSE I DIDN'T
MESS UP, GOD WILL LOVE ME
BECAUSE I'VE ACCOMPLISHED
SOMETHING.
WE SAY, NO, GOD LOVES ME BECAUSE
JESUS ACCOMPLISHED EVERYTHING I
NEED:  HIS BLOOD AND HIS
RIGHTEOUSNESS WERE GIVEN FOR ME.
THAT'S WHAT WE CELEBRATE HERE.
WE REMEMBER THAT JESUS, THE
PERFECT LAMB OF GOD, SACRIFICED
HIMSELF FOR OUR SIN AND MINE, SO
THAT WHEN WE COME WITH OUR
FAITHLESSNESS, WE REMEMBER HIM
AND HIS FAITHFULNESS THAT WE
NEED EVERY DAY THAT WE MIGHT
LIVE FOR HIM TOMORROW AND
FOREVER.
>>> FATHER, WOULD YOU TAKE THESE
ELEMENTS THAT WE ARE ABOUT TO
RECEIVE NOW AND REMIND US WHAT
THEY CELEBRATE:  NOT OUR
ACCOMPLISHMENTS BUT CHRIST'S.
AND AS OUR HEARTS SWELL WITH
LOVE FOR HIM, INCREASE WITH THAT
MOTIVATION A DESIRE TO LIVE FOR
HIM, NOT THAT WE'RE PROVING
OURSELF TO YOU, BUT THAT WE ARE
ACKNOWLEDGING ALL THAT YOU HAVE
DONE FOR US.
WHEN WE RECEIVE THESE ELEMENTS,
FATHER, WHAT WE DO BEFORE FRIEND
AND FAMILY AND FELLOW CHURCH
PERSON AND THE WORLD IS WE SAY,
"NOT WHAT MY HANDS HAVE DONE CAN
MAKE ME RIGHT WITH GOD, BUT I
PUT TRUST IN WHAT HE HAS DONE
FOR ME, HIS BLOOD SHED, HIS BODY
BROKEN, HURTING, DYING FOR ME,
THAT THE PENALTY WOULD BE PAID."
AND THEN WHEN HE ROSE TO SHOW IT
WAS ALL DONE, THE "IT IS
FINISHED" DECLARATION WOULD BE
FOR MY SIN TOO, DONE, FINISHED,
PUT PAST, BECAUSE OF THE SAVIOR
WHO MAKES THINGS RIGHT FOREVER.
FATHER, MAY OUR HEARTS CELEBRATE
WHAT CHRIST HAS DONE THIS DAY,
THAT WE WOULD KNOW THE SUCCESS
OF HIS WORK THAT GIVES US THE
WILLINGNESS FOR FAITHFULNESS IN
OUR WORK FOR HIS NAME.
THIS WE ASK IN JESUS' NAME.
AMEN.
>>> THE SCRIPTURES SAY THAT ON
THAT NIGHT THAT JESUS WAS
BETRAYED, HE TOOK BREAD.
AND WHEN HE HAD BROKEN IT, WHEN
HE HAD PRAYED, HE BROKE IT AND
SAID, "THIS BREAD IS FOR YOU.
TAKE AND EAT; DO THIS IN
REMEMBRANCE OF ME."
IN THE SAME MANNER, HE TOOK THE
CUP AFTER SUPPER, AND HE SAID,
"THIS CUP IS THE NEW COVENANT."
REMEMBER WHAT COVENANT IS?
PRIOR COMMITMENT OF HIS
AFFECTION.
"THIS CUP IS THE NEW COVENANT IN
MY BLOOD, WHICH IS SHED FOR MANY
FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS.
ALL OF YOU, DRINK OF IT.
FOR AS OFTEN AS YOU EAT THIS
BREAD AND DRINK THIS CUP, YOU DO
SHOW FORTH THE LORD'S DEATH,"
WHAT HE DID FOR YOU, UNTIL HE
COMES.
HE IS COMING BACK FOR ALL WHO
SAY, "I NEED THIS.
I NEED THIS."
WHAT HE DID FOR ME IS MY HOPE.

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