The Apostle Paul calls us Jars of Clay (2 Corinthians 4:7). As followers of Jesus we must allow the Word of God to fill us with it's message of Truth and Grace. In this way, we become a "vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work" (2 Timothy 2:21).

Monday, June 11, 2018

Satan’s Economic System - June 10, 2018 sermon


By Pastor Greg...

There was a little old lady who would come out every morning on the steps of her front porch, raise her arms to the sky and shout, "Praise the Lord!"  Well, one day an atheist moved into the house next door.  Over time, he became irritated at the little old lady.  So, every morning he would step out onto his front porch and follow with, "There is no Lord!"
Time passes with the two of them carrying on this way every day.  Then one morning in the middle of winter, the little old lady stepped onto her front porch and shouted, "Praise the Lord!  Lord, I have no food, and I am starving.  Please provide for me, oh Lord!"  The next morning, she stepped onto her porch, and there were two huge bags of groceries sitting there. "Praise the Lord!" she cried out.  "He has provided groceries for me!"  Well, the atheist jumped out of the hedges and shouted, "There is no Lord.  I bought those groceries!"  The little old lady threw her arms into the air and shouted, "Praise the Lord!  He has provided me with groceries, and He made the Devil pay for them!”
I chuckle at that story because, unknowingly, the atheist was being used by God.  It’s true!  Here was a faithful woman who brought her need to God, and of all people, a man who didn’t believe in God was being used by God to answer her prayer.
Does it seem troubling to you that many people appear oblivious to the needs of those around them?  Why is that?  Why are some people blind to the obvious struggles people face in life?  I suspect it is caused by the way these people view their possessions.
Consider the story we read in Luke 18.  18 Once a religious leader asked Jesus this question: “Good Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?”
19 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked him. “Only God is truly good. 20 But to answer your question, you know the commandments: ‘You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. Honor your father and mother.’”  21 The man replied, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.”  22 When Jesus heard his answer, he said, “There is still one thing you haven’t done. Sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”  23 But when the man heard this he became very sad, for he was very rich. [1]
Jesus observed that although this man acted very religious, his wealth had become a stumbling block.  This rich leader could not find eternal life because of his attitude toward money and possessions.  Of course, it wasn’t the money that kept him separated from God; it was his attitude.  His money and possessions had become his source of security; they were his life.  His fear of losing his wealth was greater than his fear of God.  Just think about that for a moment.  This man would rather give up eternal life than the money in his savings account.  Naturally, he would not be inclined to help the poor or the needy; to do so would take away his financial security.
I suspect we are seeing the same thing today.
In God’s economic system it is the needs of others that come first, not the accumulation of wealth.  John the Apostle highlights this attitude when he wrote, “If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person[2] (1 John 3:17)?  In contrast, Satan’s economy causes a person to become selfish and greedy; they are stingy and uncompassionate toward the needs of others.  They view money as something to be hoarded and protected.  The more wealth they have, the more secure they feel.  Those who have been seduced by Satan hold their money tightly in their hand while insisting they are merely acting like a “Good Steward.”  But a “Good Steward” does not hide their money away while the needs of others are being neglected.  According to God, a “Good Steward” is someone who uses that wealth for the work of His kingdom (compare the Parable of the Three Servants in Matthew 25:14-30).  God gives His “Well done” to those who use wealth for what is good, not hoard the wealth out of fear.  Satan has corrupted wealth and turned it into something dark and evil.  He has made wealth a stumbling block… something that keeps us away from God.
In our world today, some people are seduced by Satan’s counterfeit religious system; a system that entices people to worship false gods or the pleasures of life.  But, Satan has another trap.  This “trap” affects our attitude toward finances and possessions.  It steals our trust.  Satan’s corrupt economic system is a way of living where wealth and possessions become a person’s foundation in life.  In Satan’s economy, there is no room for God.  Those who have been seduced by this corrupt system give birth to self-sufficiency.  They give in to greed, selfishness, and fear.  A person living according to Satan’s economy trusts in their own finances or possessions.  Instead of turning to God in a crisis, they turn to their wealth; it has become their security in life.  They trust in themselves.  And anyone who places their trust in themselves will live their life in fear; fear of not having enough wealth to sustain them and fear of losing that financial foundation.  
This is Satan’s economy; he seduces us into a misplaced trust.  He lies to the unsuspecting, convincing them that their security in life can be found in the things which moth and rust can destroy.  In Satan’s economic system, people “desire extravagant luxury,” and “the merchants of the world grown rich” (Revelation 18:3).   And this system of wealth and luxury sets the standard of living in this world.  Like some temptress, “She boasts in her heart, ‘I am queen on my throne. I am no helpless widow, and I have no reason to mourn[3] (Revelation 18:7).  In other words, Satan deceives us into thinking that we have nothing to fear in life provided we have sufficient wealth.
  But one day, God is going to pass judgment against this corrupt economic system; this way of doing business that lures the unsuspecting away from God.  This is what is judged and destroyed in Revelation 18.  As the Bowls of Wrath are poured out upon the earth, this counterfeit economy is finally destroyed.  This system of wealth that has stolen our trust – this “Babylon” – will ultimately fall.
Don’t get me wrong.  God is not condemning buying and selling.  But He is passing judgment against those who embrace Satan’s counterfeit economy.  Satan has taken an economic system, corrupted it, and used it as a stumbling block.  As we see in the wealthy ruler from Luke 18, possessions and wealth can even keep a religious person separated from God.  It does this because it steals our trust.
Jesus warned that a day was coming when money and possessions would fade away.  And this is what we see happening in Revelation 18.  In a day, it will all be gone (Revelation 18:8).  The whole corrupt financial system will be destroyed.  And people will be terrified; they will weep and cry (Revelation 18:15).  And then what?  What will all their wealth and possessions have gained them in this life?  Jesus warns, “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?[4] (Mark 8:36).  For this reason, a Christian is not to store up treasures on earth, but instead store up treasures in heaven (Matthew 6:19-20).

Please don’t misunderstand what I am saying here.  Money and possessions are not evil.  It is not wrong to earn a wage or sell something for a profit.  Commerce is not sinful.  But, instead of being something good that honors the Lord, we have allowed Satan to deceive us, and suddenly God has been replaced by money, wealth, and possessions; He is no longer Lord of our life.
In Revelation 18 we read that this whole financial foundation that has been corrupted by Satan will one day be destroyed.  Those who stored up treasures on earth will lose everything in a day, but not those who have stored up treasures in Heaven.  What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.
34 “Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes[5] (Matthew 6:31-34).


[1] Tyndale House Publishers. (2013). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Lk 18:18–23). Carol Stream, IL.
[2] Tyndale House Publishers. (2013). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (1 Jn 3:17). Carol Stream, IL.
[3] Tyndale House Publishers. (2013). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Re 18:7). Carol Stream, IL.
[4] New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). (Mk 8:36). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[5] Peterson, E. H. (2005). The Message: the Bible in contemporary language (Mt 6:31–34). Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress.

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