Love of Money

1 Timothy 6:3-10

³If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness,

⁴he is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions,

⁵and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain.

But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment.

⁷For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either.

⁸If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content.

⁹But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction.

¹⁰For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

Today, there are many preachers of the prosperity gospel. In the Bible, we have already be warned about this. Yet, millions of people are still flocking to these places which they call church.

Clearly, they are just chasing after the pot of Gold from the true God.

Mark 10:17-24
The Rich Young Man
¹⁷As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him, and asked Him, "Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"

¹⁸And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone.

¹⁹"You know the commandments, DO NOT MURDER, DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, DO NOT STEAL, DO NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS, Do not defraud, HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER.'"

²⁰And he said to Him, "Teacher, I have kept all these things from my youth up."

²¹Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, "One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."

²²But at these words he was saddened, and he went away grieving, for he was one who owned much property.

Misinterpretation of Scriptures to say that God hints us on how to increase our wealth

Example:

This man was young just like many of you here today. The bible said he was also rich and how did he become rich? This passage gave us a clue… he kept the 4^th to the 10^th commandments since he was a youth. You see in the 10 commandments given from God to Moses and the children of Israel, the 1^st 4 commandments deals with our relationship with God and the last 6 deal with our relationships with others. Hence, when you are able to good relationships with others, you are likely to have good success in life.

Clearly totally misinterpreted and definitely the person here is picking cherries. Let carry on to see what Jesus has to say about wealth.

²³And Jesus, looking around, said to His disciples, How hard it will be for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!"

²⁴The disciples were amazed at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!

²⁵"It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."

²⁶They were even more astonished and said to Him, "Then who can be saved?"

²⁷Looking at them, Jesus said, With people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God."

²⁸Peter began to say to Him, "Behold, we have left everything and followed You."

Beyond doubt, that rich young man certainly gains wealth and he is just to sad to part with his wealth. Yes, he has gained the whole world but clearly, he loses his soul.

"How hard it will be for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!"

Mark 8:36
"For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?

If you anyone uses this text to preach about Wealth. Know that you just are asking people to take the path down to Hell :)

Ask yourself, have u left everything to follow Jesus Christ? or are you hoping that God is so kind as to grant u all your worldly desires (the same reason why that guy beside u believe in Dua Pei Kong/ Guan Yin Ma/ Prosperity Buddha etc) and at the same time gives you the membership pass to Heaven?
Think Twice

Again,

Matthew 7:21-23

²¹"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.

²²"Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?'

²³"And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.'

I hope these people wake up!

The LORD, the Psalmist’s Shepherd.

A Psalm of David.

1 The LORD is my shepherd,
I shall not want.

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside quiet waters.

3 He restores my soul;
He guides me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.

4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil, for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You have anointed my head with oil;
My cup overflows.

6 Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life,
And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

God Works Through Trials (James 1:1-13)

From Bible.org
http://bible.org/seriespage/god-works-through-trials-james-11-13

Introduction

As I have reflected over the events of the past few days and months I was drawn to the first chapter of James. In the first 13 verses we are given some understanding of the purpose of trials that come our way.

* The good that has come from trials.
* The comfort we can have in trials.

So this passage speaks to us to help us in our time of trial when we need understanding and comfort. And yet in a real way I have also thought that the life of our friend and loved one actually was a living example of this passage:

* As she and her family demonstrated before us the reality of this portion of God's Word.
* I shall never be able to read these verses without thinking of (Name) and how her life reflected this passage.

So for a few minutes, think with me as we look into God's Word. (Read verses 2-4) The Lord would first of all have us know that there is. . .
Purpose in Trials
(verses 2-4)

1. When difficult times come into our lives and we find ourselves unable to comprehend/to understand; the enemy is quick to throw doubts/questions into our minds.

2. We find ourselves questioning God's goodness/God's wisdom in allowing these things to happen.

3. We may even be bitter and angry with God for allowing this to happen to us and wonder if He really understands.

4. But God's word confidently reminds us that God does understand . . .

* Things do not just happen haphazardly to the Christian.
* With no meaning/no purpose.

5. God is in control and as Paul reminds us no one or nothing can separate us from God's love. Rom. 8--even the most difficult of circumstances.

6. James reminds us that God wants us to trust Him in the trials of life.

* For as we trust Him in the trials God can use the difficult trial to mold us:
* To mature us.
* So that we will be more like Jesus Christ our Savior.

7. Isaiah the prophet said in trying to comprehend God's ways: "For my thoughts are not your thoughts. Neither are your ways my ways, saith Jehovah. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." (Isa. 55:8-9)

8. God would have us trust Him in the difficult trials:

* For even though we cannot understand He loves us and He is in control.
* He will use this trial to help us grow spiritually and to help us mature and become more like Jesus Christ.

9. Trust Him! Keep your eyes on Him! And God will use even this trial for His glory.

10. But James goes on to tell us that not only does God have purpose in trials--but also that God gives wisdom in trials.
Wisdom in Trials
(verses 5-11)

(Read verses 5 and 6)

1. James recognizes that we may not always be able to see the purpose in trials or see the good that can come from trials.

2. When we find ourselves unable to see the good and the purpose in trials we are to:

* Keep on asking Him for wisdom.
* In faith.
* And our God who loves to give will respond so that we can see the good and the purpose in trials.

3. Then James illustrates and says:

* That even a poor man has much good in his trial of poverty if he knows God--the owner of the universe.
* And a rich man through he lose everything can rejoice in the good of having learned not to place his faith in riches which quickly pass away.

4. God has been very good to us in allowing us to see the good even in this difficult trial.

* For so much good has already come from this trial:
* As a church family we are growing spiritually and united together.
* As individuals we have seen faith in action and we have learned lessons we shall never forget.
* As we have seen at least three people come to Jesus Christ through faith. (As NAME shared her vital faith with Jesus Christ with others)

5. Yet in the days to come we will continue to need wisdom to see the purpose and the good in this trial.

* James exhorts us to keep on asking God in faith for wisdom.
* And our generous loving God will give us the wisdom needed.

(But finally James reminds us that not only does God have a purpose in trials; and gives wisdom in trials but thirdly there is comfort in trials.)
Comfort in Trials
(verse 12)

(Read verse 12)

1. James here reminds us that this life is not all there is to life.

* That right will be commended.
* That due reward will be give for faithfulness.

2. We often live as if we are the living on the way to the dying.

3. But God's word makes it very clear that we are the dying on the way to the living.

4. What is in store then for one who knows Jesus Christ as his personal Savior and passes from this life?

* Phil. l tells us that when a Christian departs he is with Christ.
* II Cor. 5 tells that when we are absent from the body we are present with the Lord
* And I Corinthians 15 and I Thessalonians 4 tells us that someday that body which for the present sleeps in the grave will be resurrected and united with our soul/spirit and in this glorified state we will be with the Lord forever.
* And there rewards will be given for endurance through trials and for faithfulness to God in difficult times.

5. So today we sorrow - but we sorrow not as others who have no hope.

* We have the assurance of the word of God that (name) is with Christ.
* (Name) had trusted Jesus Christ as her personal Savior from sin.

6. But I cannot help but think that perhaps some of you are not prepared to face death and you are not prepared to meet Jesus Christ face to face. Nor are you ready to face a trial like (Name) has faced with peace in your heart.

* The strength that enabled this dear one to face her trial with confidence and assurance was not her own.
* It came as she allowed the life of her Savior to live His life through her. It came from a confidence that she was ready to meet her Savior.
* She had made her peace with God through faith in Christ and desired above all else to glorify Him with her life.

7. I invite you right where you are sitting to invite Christ into your life as your Savior from sin.

* Jesus Christ died as your substitute paying the penalty for your sin.
* But He asks you ;by an act of your will to trust Him as your personal Savior from sin.
* If you do this, on the authority of God's word you are a new creature/born again and prepared to meet your Savior.

Conclusion

James (The Holy Spirit of God) in the quietness of this hour reminds us that . . .

l. There is purpose in trials:

* God is still in control
* He has not forsaken us but wants us to trust Him so we can mature.

2. God has and will give us wisdom to see the purpose and the good in this trial--As we ask in faith.

3. And there is comfort in knowing that this life is not all there is--that absent from the body means present with the Lord.

4. These truths were demonstrated before us in the life of (Name). (Name) faith in Christ enabled her to face her trial with the peace that passes understanding. Phil. 4:7

5. And I trust that now as her family as her family and friends we may lay hold of the same Savior and the same truths from God's word to enable us to bear this trial together.

The Heart of Man --> Full of deceit even in worship of the true God (Part II)

2 Timothy 3 >> New American Standard Bible ©

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“Difficult Times Will Come”

1 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. 2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, 4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these. 6 For among them are those who enter into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses, 7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men of depraved mind, rejected in regard to the faith. 9 But they will not make further progress; for their folly will be obvious to all, just as Jannes’s and Jambres’s folly was also.
10 Now you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance, 11 persecutions, and sufferings, such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium and at Lystra; what persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord rescued me! 12 Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. 13 But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

2 Timothy 4 >> New American Standard Bible ©

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“Preach the Word”

1 I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, 4 and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. 5 But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; 8 in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.

The Heart of Man --> Full of deceit even in worship of the true God

^{ACTS 14:8-20}
In Lystra and Derbe

<sup>Man worship many things and many gods and whatever that can give them things that they want in this life. Fishermen will worship the sea gods, farmers will worship the sun gods land gods, gamblers will worship the gambler gods, greedy people will worship the god of wealth etc etc.
All these forms of worship are clearly evident in our daily lives. Just look at the tabloid newspapers of 联合晚报 and 新明日报. Filled with all kinds of Sins that Men so love.

When the crowd in Lystra and Derbe saw what Paul had done (the miracle of healing the crippled), they shouted that the gods have come down to us in human form! Barnabas they called Zues, and Paul they called Hermes because he was the chief speaker. The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates because he and the crowd wanted to offer sacrifices to them.

So today, we see similar things of paganism, idol worshipers, mysticism, sorcery, etc etc for what purpose? To fill the greed and wants of man who threw away their souls for the desires and wants of this world-A temporal place that will eventually be done away with together with all things perishable. Worse of all, there are people who worship the true God as if it were an idol. Just look at the idols of Jesus Christ, Mother Mary, the Cross, etc. How about those worshiping Jesus Christ and God in order to get the desires of their heart?

How is it that the gospel and teachings taught from the same Bible are so different among churches? Didn't we use the same Bible? How about those so called Christians who prayed to strike toto, win lottery, greater wealth and better health? Did Jesus Christ come to save our souls or to heal our earthly shell and satisfy our earthly wants?

Clearly, the Bible says in 1 John 2:15-17</sup>

Do Not Love the World

¹⁵Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

¹⁶For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.

¹⁷The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.

¹⁸Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour.

¹⁹They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us.

²⁰But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all know.

²¹I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it, and because no lie is of the truth.

²²Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son.

²³Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father; the one who confesses the Son has the Father also.

²⁴As for you, let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father.

Apparently, deceitful people like to read and practice only what they like. Worse, they claim that what they are doing comes from the authority of God's Word in the Bible. Many have eyes but they are clearly blind to their folly.

^{WARNING FROM GOD}

Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Matt 7:21

^{Be careful of what you believe in and do not deceive yourself.}
Belief in the full Gospel can save you but if you want to pick cherries, then I am sorry to say that you can be sincerely doing something and yet sincerely doing it wrong :(

^{Salvation by grace without repentance of Sin will not bring you pass the gates of Heaven.}

若

若

若我是一朵路旁的小花，

开放在阳光下乐无涯，

我要活泼地吐露芬芳，

让人知道造物主的伟大。

他既不轻忽那小花的荣华，

必然更将我的身命看为可夸。

若我是一朵路旁的小花，

我要对人说主的伟大。

Book of Life

The Book of Life is God’s record book in which the names of the righteous, the redeemed or saved, those whom God has called are written.

The concept of God’s having a "Book of Life" was first hinted at by Moses after ancient Israel had grossly sinned by making the golden calf and God’s wrath was kindled and He was going to destroy them and then Moses said: "Oh, these people have committed a great sin, and have made for themselves a god of gold! {32} "Yet now, if You will forgive their sin; but if not, I pray, blot me out of Your Book which You have written" (Exodus 32:31-32). Notice that Moses was bold and yet humble when he asked God to blot out his name out of God’s Book if He wouldn’t forgive Israel their great sin of idolatry.

What is this Book? Why would the Great God, who created the heavens, the earth, and the sea and everything that is in them, need a book with people’s names written in it? God who is spirit relates to us on a physical plane so we can understand the spiritual. God has a Tabernacle in heaven and He had Israel make a physical Tabernacle after the pattern that He showed Moses on Mount Sinai (Exodus 25:8-9.) Through the physical Tabernacle we can comprehend God’s spiritual Tabernacle.

We, as humans, can relate to a physical book. God’s Book of Life gives us a sense of security and encouragement that by our names being written in the Book, then God will not forget us or our name.

Jesus said that our "names are written in heaven (Luke 10:20) and the apostle Paul made a statement that "Our citizenship is in heaven" (Philippians 3:20). Our birth certificate has the location of where we were born and that would indicate that we are citizens of the United States. Our spiritual citizenship is reserved in heaven in the Book of Life, but that does not mean that we are going to heaven and live there. Jesus said: "Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work" (Revelation 22:12). Jesus Christ is going to return to the earth at the seventh trump and we, the Saints, those whose names are written in the Book of Life will be resurrected at the first resurrection, and we are going to rule with Him on the earth for a thousand years (Revelation 5:10, 11:15, 20:4-6).

Who is Listed in the Book now?


The writer of the book of Hebrews said the Church of the firstborn are registered in heaven (Hebrews 12:23). The word ‘registered’ is another reference to being registered in the Book of Life. The term ‘firstborn’ is a term similar to ‘firstfruits’ which is a reference to the resurrected Saints. The apostle John recorded: "These are the ones who follow the Lamb (Jesus Christ) wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb (Revelation 14:4).

Let’s notice a few things that we need to do to make sure our names are recorded in the Book of Life. The prophet Malachi recorded the following: "Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another, And the LORD listened and heard them; so a Book of Remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the LORD And who meditate on His name" (Malachi 3:16).

This Book of Remembrance is another term for the Book of Life and to have your name recorded, you are to fear the LORD and meditate on His name.

Deuteronomy 10:12 amplifies the idea of how to fear the LORD: "What does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, {13} And to observe the LORD'S commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?" God was advising His people to FEAR him, walk in his ways, keep His commandments and honor His name.

A Warning

The apostle John recorded Jesus as saying: "He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels" (Revelation 3:5). Did you notice the warning? If you don’t overcome sin then your name will be blotted out of the Book of Life. Sin is the transgression of God’s Law (1 John 3:4, Hebrews 10:26).

What happens if your name is not written in the Book of Life? Jesus said: "Anyone not found written in the Book of Life will be cast into the lake of fire" (Revelation 20:15). This lake of fire is a reference to hell and the second death (Revelation 20:14).

Is your name written in the Book of Life? True Christians whose names are written in the Book of Life will be given eternal life and will inherit the earth, the new heavenly Jerusalem and ultimately the entire universe (Hebrews 12:23, Revelation 21:22-27).

Pray to God that He will write your name in the Book of Life and that you can be in the first resurrection and be a part of His family and inherit eternal life.