WEBVTT 1 00:00:02.359 --> 00:00:06.559 Today on Daily Hope with Pastor Rick Warren, we continue 2 00:00:06.559 --> 00:00:10.560 in our riveting journey through the series The Invisible War. 3 00:00:11.000 --> 00:00:14.320 In it will explore the unseen world of good and 4 00:00:14.359 --> 00:00:18.199 evil and see how it impacts our day to day existence. 5 00:00:18.879 --> 00:00:23.120 Join us for eye opening biblical insights into the spiritual 6 00:00:23.199 --> 00:00:27.839 dimensions that influence our lives in ways we never imagined. 7 00:00:28.679 --> 00:00:32.079 Right now, here's Pastor Rick Warren with the final part 8 00:00:32.119 --> 00:00:35.960 of a message called being faithful in a faithless world. 9 00:00:36.799 --> 00:00:40.159 Anybody be generous when you got a surplus. I can 10 00:00:40.200 --> 00:00:42.240 be generous with my time when I got a lot 11 00:00:42.280 --> 00:00:46.439 extra time. I can be generous with my money when 12 00:00:46.439 --> 00:00:49.640 I got a lot extra money. I can be generous 13 00:00:49.679 --> 00:00:52.880 when with my energy, when I got extra energy to spend. 14 00:00:53.679 --> 00:00:56.960 I can be generous with help when I've got a 15 00:00:56.960 --> 00:01:00.840 lot of extra help to give that when I don't 16 00:01:00.840 --> 00:01:05.079 have enough for me, I don't have enough time for me, 17 00:01:05.560 --> 00:01:08.120 I don't have enough energy for me, I don't have 18 00:01:08.239 --> 00:01:11.840 enough money for me, I don't have enough talent for me, 19 00:01:12.159 --> 00:01:14.719 and I give it a way to help others. God 20 00:01:14.799 --> 00:01:19.680 goes This is a test and I'm watching you to 21 00:01:19.719 --> 00:01:23.159 see if you are faithful it will you be faithful 22 00:01:23.359 --> 00:01:24.840 and will you trust me? 23 00:01:26.079 --> 00:01:26.239 Now. 24 00:01:26.280 --> 00:01:28.719 A great example of this in the Bible is the 25 00:01:28.719 --> 00:01:33.000 story of the Church in Macedonia. Macedonia was an area 26 00:01:33.159 --> 00:01:37.719 of Greece. Alexander the Great he was from Macedonia. His 27 00:01:38.239 --> 00:01:42.200 father was Philip of Macedonia. Now there's a church in 28 00:01:42.239 --> 00:01:45.560 this place called Macedonia in Greece, and there's another church 29 00:01:45.599 --> 00:01:47.560 in Greece called the Corinthians. 30 00:01:47.640 --> 00:01:49.439 Corinth is a city in Greece. 31 00:01:49.799 --> 00:01:52.640 And Paul writes a letter to the church at Corinth 32 00:01:52.840 --> 00:01:56.359 and he's bragging on the church at Macedonia for them 33 00:01:56.439 --> 00:01:59.480 being generous in the middle of their shortages. 34 00:02:00.400 --> 00:02:01.120 Here's what he says. 35 00:02:01.120 --> 00:02:03.879 Look up here on the screen, he says, those people 36 00:02:03.879 --> 00:02:06.280 over there in Macedonia, they're going through this enormous recession. 37 00:02:06.920 --> 00:02:11.439 He goes, they have been going through severe trouble. They've 38 00:02:11.479 --> 00:02:16.240 been going through very hard times, and out of their 39 00:02:16.439 --> 00:02:21.800 extreme poverty, these people are flat broke has flowed extreme 40 00:02:21.960 --> 00:02:24.280 generosity and overwhelming joy. 41 00:02:24.360 --> 00:02:25.759 What's you talking about, he said, Those. 42 00:02:25.639 --> 00:02:29.000 People over there, they are hurting like crazy, but they 43 00:02:29.039 --> 00:02:31.199 gave a huge offering to help the church down in 44 00:02:31.280 --> 00:02:35.280 Jerusalem that's starving right now. He goes, out of their 45 00:02:35.319 --> 00:02:41.080 poverty came generosity. He said, God's watching that they are 46 00:02:41.120 --> 00:02:42.199 being faithful. 47 00:02:43.000 --> 00:02:43.919 They are being faithful. 48 00:02:44.120 --> 00:02:49.120 Did you know that the number one test, the acid 49 00:02:49.240 --> 00:02:52.960 test of your faith in your life, is. 50 00:02:52.919 --> 00:02:57.479 Your finances, not anything else. But it's your finances. 51 00:02:57.599 --> 00:03:03.199 Why Because we spend most of our time thinking, making, worrying, investing, 52 00:03:03.319 --> 00:03:04.319 saving money. 53 00:03:05.039 --> 00:03:06.680 It's the acid test. 54 00:03:06.520 --> 00:03:10.879 Of how much do I trust God my finances? In fact, 55 00:03:11.240 --> 00:03:19.000 Jesus said it like this. I tell you use worldly wealth, 56 00:03:19.520 --> 00:03:20.759 your worldly resources. 57 00:03:20.800 --> 00:03:24.400 That's your time, your money, your energy, everything. Use your worldly. 58 00:03:24.080 --> 00:03:29.479 Resources to benefit others and to make friends for eternity, 59 00:03:29.520 --> 00:03:32.319 in other words, to help get people into heaven, finance missions. 60 00:03:33.280 --> 00:03:38.039 In this way, your generosity stores up a reward for 61 00:03:38.280 --> 00:03:42.719 you in heaven, he said. When you help other people 62 00:03:42.800 --> 00:03:45.520 with whatever you've got, you're storing up a reward for 63 00:03:45.560 --> 00:03:49.759 you in heaven. But if you are unfaithful, there's that word. 64 00:03:50.319 --> 00:03:53.960 If you're unfaithful with your worldly wealth, you just spend 65 00:03:53.960 --> 00:03:58.039 it all on yourself. Who will trust you with the 66 00:03:58.159 --> 00:04:03.719 true riches of heaven. You cannot serve both God and money. 67 00:04:03.800 --> 00:04:06.199 Did you know that God says, I use money to 68 00:04:06.240 --> 00:04:07.879 test how much I'm going to be able to trust 69 00:04:07.919 --> 00:04:11.400 you in heaven. He said, If I can't trust you 70 00:04:11.479 --> 00:04:14.719 with material world wealth in this world, I'm not going 71 00:04:14.759 --> 00:04:17.680 to trust you with the true riches of heaven in eternity. 72 00:04:17.759 --> 00:04:21.519 This is a test. Money management is not just. 73 00:04:21.480 --> 00:04:26.839 A good idea staying out of debt, investing wisely, giving liberally, 74 00:04:27.199 --> 00:04:30.399 sharing generously. That's not just a good idea. It is 75 00:04:30.439 --> 00:04:34.079 a spiritual test. And God says, if you're not faithful 76 00:04:34.079 --> 00:04:36.879 in how you handle your finances on earth, I'm not 77 00:04:36.959 --> 00:04:40.160 going to trust you with true spiritual blessing in heaven. 78 00:04:41.839 --> 00:04:43.759 It's a test. It's a test. 79 00:04:44.040 --> 00:04:47.680 Now, friends, as your pastor who loves you, I told 80 00:04:47.759 --> 00:04:51.120 you I'm praying for your blessing, and I pray for 81 00:04:51.279 --> 00:04:52.680 your financial blessing. 82 00:04:52.720 --> 00:04:53.680 I do it all the time. 83 00:04:54.120 --> 00:04:58.199 I want you to succeed financially, not so you can 84 00:04:58.240 --> 00:05:00.839 be some fat cat and just spend it all on yourself, 85 00:05:00.959 --> 00:05:04.399 but so that you can use it wisely and then 86 00:05:04.480 --> 00:05:05.560 be rewarded in heaven. 87 00:05:06.519 --> 00:05:07.759 That's what I want God to do. 88 00:05:08.240 --> 00:05:11.120 I want you to get those rewards in heaven, and 89 00:05:11.399 --> 00:05:15.319 I pray for you to be financially successful, so not 90 00:05:15.439 --> 00:05:18.120 so you can go spend it on a bunch of luxuries, 91 00:05:18.160 --> 00:05:20.959 but so that you can use it to help other 92 00:05:21.040 --> 00:05:24.759 people and then get rewards in heaven. So you need 93 00:05:24.800 --> 00:05:27.560 to know I'm praying for your success. But let me 94 00:05:27.600 --> 00:05:29.920 give you five principles right now. I want you to 95 00:05:29.920 --> 00:05:33.879 write these down to make it through tough times. These 96 00:05:33.920 --> 00:05:36.680 are five principles that if you will do these things, 97 00:05:37.439 --> 00:05:39.519 God will bless you. 98 00:05:40.079 --> 00:05:43.879 In your life in these areas. Okay. Number one. 99 00:05:43.959 --> 00:05:48.519 First principle in a recession, God gives to generous people. 100 00:05:50.079 --> 00:05:54.160 God gives to generous people. This is a principle in 101 00:05:54.199 --> 00:05:58.160 the Bible. God says, the more generous you are, the 102 00:05:58.160 --> 00:06:00.199 more generous I'm going to be with you. If you're 103 00:06:00.279 --> 00:06:02.439 generous with your time, I'm going to give you more time. 104 00:06:02.600 --> 00:06:04.639 If you're generous with your energy, I'm going to give 105 00:06:04.639 --> 00:06:06.680 you more energy. If you're generous with your talent, I'm 106 00:06:06.680 --> 00:06:09.720 going to give you more talent. God says, why does 107 00:06:09.759 --> 00:06:14.079 God want me to be generous? Obviously he doesn't need it. 108 00:06:14.759 --> 00:06:17.839 He wants me to be like him. Everything I have 109 00:06:17.959 --> 00:06:20.160 in my life, everything you have in your life, is 110 00:06:20.160 --> 00:06:23.600 because of the generosity of God. Your heart is beating 111 00:06:23.839 --> 00:06:26.839 because of the generosity of God. The blood in your 112 00:06:26.959 --> 00:06:30.319 veins and the air you breathe is all there because 113 00:06:30.319 --> 00:06:34.199 of the generosity of God. God so loved that he gave. 114 00:06:34.720 --> 00:06:37.639 And God wants us to grow up and be like him, 115 00:06:37.920 --> 00:06:41.560 like father, like son, like father, like daughter. God wants 116 00:06:41.639 --> 00:06:46.439 me to learn to be generous, and so he rewards it. 117 00:06:47.279 --> 00:06:49.680 And there's a principle throughout the Bible where God says, 118 00:06:50.120 --> 00:06:53.000 the more generous you are, the more generous I will. 119 00:06:52.879 --> 00:06:53.959 Be with you. 120 00:06:53.199 --> 00:06:58.279 You cannot outgive God. I have played this game for 121 00:06:58.360 --> 00:07:00.240 many years. Most of you know my story. He and 122 00:07:00.279 --> 00:07:03.439 I started tithing when we were married thirty six years ago, 123 00:07:03.639 --> 00:07:06.519 and each year raised our tithe from ten percent at 124 00:07:06.600 --> 00:07:08.680 least one percent a year to eleven percent, to twelve 125 00:07:08.680 --> 00:07:12.079 percent to thirteen fifteen. Sometimes on big years i'd get 126 00:07:12.120 --> 00:07:14.720 a raise. I'd raise it three or four percent. Sometimes 127 00:07:15.199 --> 00:07:17.279 it was really tight, we were barely making ends meet. 128 00:07:17.279 --> 00:07:19.680 We'd raised it just quarter percent. Why we didn't tell 129 00:07:19.800 --> 00:07:22.160 We weren't trying to show off. I didn't tell anybody 130 00:07:22.199 --> 00:07:25.920 about this for thirty years. But I wanted my heart 131 00:07:25.959 --> 00:07:28.560 to grow bigger, and every year I wanted to be 132 00:07:28.680 --> 00:07:32.399 more like Jesus. So I was trying to learn generous. 133 00:07:32.439 --> 00:07:34.519 Most of you know that today CA and I give 134 00:07:34.560 --> 00:07:37.759 away ninety one percent of our income and live on 135 00:07:37.879 --> 00:07:40.199 nine percent. Most of you know I don't take a 136 00:07:40.279 --> 00:07:43.279 salary from this church. I've served this church free for 137 00:07:43.399 --> 00:07:46.560 thirty one years, and it's been fun learning to give 138 00:07:46.560 --> 00:07:48.560 it away. And I've played this game where God says, rick, 139 00:07:48.600 --> 00:07:49.879 you give to me, and I'll give. 140 00:07:49.759 --> 00:07:51.560 To you and we'll see who wins. 141 00:07:53.079 --> 00:07:59.519 And I have lost that game for thirty six years. People, Obviously, 142 00:08:00.079 --> 00:08:02.199 why do you think God shows you to write the 143 00:08:02.240 --> 00:08:03.480 best selling book in history. 144 00:08:03.560 --> 00:08:07.079 I'll tell you why. God knew what I'd do with 145 00:08:07.120 --> 00:08:09.079 the money. 146 00:08:09.759 --> 00:08:12.720 He knew that I wouldn't spend it on myself, that 147 00:08:12.800 --> 00:08:14.319 I would use it for good. 148 00:08:14.279 --> 00:08:14.959 And for God. 149 00:08:15.879 --> 00:08:18.639 I mean, when I wrote that book, if I had 150 00:08:18.680 --> 00:08:22.040 wanted to, I could have gone and bought a dozen Bentleys. 151 00:08:22.839 --> 00:08:25.439 I could have gone out and bought an island and 152 00:08:25.519 --> 00:08:29.759 retired and had people serve me little glasses of iced 153 00:08:29.759 --> 00:08:33.559 tea with umbrellas in them. 154 00:08:33.720 --> 00:08:36.360 But it's not about you now. 155 00:08:36.679 --> 00:08:40.519 God gives to generous people, and the more I give, 156 00:08:40.600 --> 00:08:41.799 the more God blesses me. 157 00:08:42.039 --> 00:08:44.120 Number two, this is a real important one. 158 00:08:44.360 --> 00:08:52.480 Obeying God's vision will bring God's provision obeying God's vision 159 00:08:53.720 --> 00:08:57.240 will bring God's provision. In other words, if you do 160 00:08:57.399 --> 00:08:59.600 what God tells you to do, and you don't have 161 00:08:59.639 --> 00:09:01.279 the money, you don't have the energy, you don't have 162 00:09:01.320 --> 00:09:04.320 the people, you don't have it, God will bring. 163 00:09:04.000 --> 00:09:06.360 It along the resources you need at the right time. 164 00:09:06.480 --> 00:09:08.879 Because what He calls you to do, he's going to 165 00:09:08.919 --> 00:09:11.759 fulfill what he's given you the vision for. 166 00:09:12.000 --> 00:09:16.480 He will give you the provision for. He'll give you 167 00:09:16.519 --> 00:09:17.320 the provision for. 168 00:09:18.120 --> 00:09:21.799 And so what you need to do is you step 169 00:09:21.879 --> 00:09:24.039 out in faith to do what you know God's called 170 00:09:24.039 --> 00:09:24.360 you to do. 171 00:09:25.559 --> 00:09:27.039 This is a real important one. 172 00:09:27.200 --> 00:09:31.639 When I do all God tells me to do, he 173 00:09:31.720 --> 00:09:36.360 does what I can't do. When I do all God 174 00:09:36.399 --> 00:09:40.039 tells me to do, he does what I can't do. 175 00:09:41.440 --> 00:09:43.440 Now, this story of the Feeding of. 176 00:09:43.360 --> 00:09:46.200 The five thousand in the Bible is a perfect example 177 00:09:46.240 --> 00:09:49.279 of this. Do you remember this story, the miracle of 178 00:09:49.360 --> 00:09:52.879 Jesus feeding five thousand people. They're all out in the desert. 179 00:09:52.960 --> 00:09:55.039 Jesus been teaching all day. It's the end of the 180 00:09:55.080 --> 00:10:01.320 day and everybody's hungry. There's no McDonald's anywhere, So the 181 00:10:01.360 --> 00:10:03.000 disciples come to Jesus says. 182 00:10:02.840 --> 00:10:04.600 Send them all away. Lord so then go home and eat. 183 00:10:05.080 --> 00:10:09.759 Jesus looks at the disciples and he says, you feed him. Now, 184 00:10:10.039 --> 00:10:13.639 that was impossible. Here God often asks you to do 185 00:10:13.759 --> 00:10:18.840 the impossible, to stretch your faith. He looks and says, 186 00:10:18.840 --> 00:10:20.200 you feed him. He said, Lord, we can't. We don't 187 00:10:20.279 --> 00:10:22.039 have any money, we don't have any food. There's no 188 00:10:22.080 --> 00:10:23.080 place to buy food. 189 00:10:23.440 --> 00:10:25.879 We can't. Jesus said, you feed him. 190 00:10:26.200 --> 00:10:29.279 So that he says, anybody got a lunch? And out 191 00:10:29.320 --> 00:10:33.600 of that entire five thousand people, one little kid has 192 00:10:33.679 --> 00:10:37.080 little sack lunch. And in that little sack lunch are 193 00:10:37.120 --> 00:10:40.720 five little tiny rolls of bread and two little fish 194 00:10:40.840 --> 00:10:45.279 like sardines. And the little kid takes his measly little 195 00:10:45.360 --> 00:10:47.320 lunch and he gives it to Jesus. 196 00:10:47.600 --> 00:10:49.200 He gives Jesus everything he's got. 197 00:10:49.240 --> 00:10:51.799 It's not much, but he gives to him. Jesus takes it, 198 00:10:53.120 --> 00:10:57.559 he breaks it, he blesses it, and he multiplies it, 199 00:10:57.879 --> 00:11:00.960 and he feeds five thousand people with it. And then 200 00:11:00.960 --> 00:11:03.600 at the end of their all feeling, they gather twelve 201 00:11:03.639 --> 00:11:04.799 baskets of leftover. 202 00:11:04.840 --> 00:11:08.759 There was so much leftover. What's the principle there? 203 00:11:09.039 --> 00:11:13.759 When I give what little I've got, God multiplies it 204 00:11:13.840 --> 00:11:18.159 and he makes up for it. Fourth principle very important. 205 00:11:18.720 --> 00:11:22.519 When I have a need, I sow a seed. When 206 00:11:22.600 --> 00:11:26.759 I have a need, I sew a seed. Now here's 207 00:11:26.799 --> 00:11:30.159 the point. Whatever you need more of give it away. 208 00:11:31.120 --> 00:11:35.240 If you need more energy, give energy to helping other 209 00:11:35.279 --> 00:11:37.519 people and God will give you more energy. If you 210 00:11:37.639 --> 00:11:41.559 need more time, give some of your time away unselfishly 211 00:11:41.720 --> 00:11:43.960 and God will give you more time. If you need 212 00:11:44.000 --> 00:11:47.360 more intelligence, you give whatever you got away to help others. 213 00:11:47.639 --> 00:11:51.000 If you need more money, whatever you need, you sow 214 00:11:51.200 --> 00:11:55.759 a seed. Can you imagine a farmer going, well, it's recession. 215 00:11:55.759 --> 00:11:58.639 I think I'll just keep all the seed in the barn. No, 216 00:11:58.960 --> 00:12:03.279 you got a planet in order to profit from it. Now, 217 00:12:03.960 --> 00:12:07.360 whatever you need in your life, you sow that as 218 00:12:07.360 --> 00:12:10.240 a seed, and it will be responsible to come back 219 00:12:10.279 --> 00:12:14.320 to you. Here's the fifth principle, very important. There's always 220 00:12:14.320 --> 00:12:19.919 a delay between sowing and reaping. There is always a 221 00:12:20.000 --> 00:12:25.600 delay between sowing and reaping. In other words, if I 222 00:12:25.639 --> 00:12:27.360 go out and I plant a kernel of corn in 223 00:12:27.399 --> 00:12:30.080 the ground tomorrow, I'm not going to see a full 224 00:12:30.120 --> 00:12:32.639 grown stock of corn with twenty years on it. 225 00:12:32.639 --> 00:12:33.480 It ain't going to happen. 226 00:12:34.000 --> 00:12:38.840 There is a season between planting and harvesting, Between the 227 00:12:38.919 --> 00:12:42.360 seed and the fruit, there is always a time delay. 228 00:12:42.440 --> 00:12:45.639 And what's going on in the time delay. This is 229 00:12:46.320 --> 00:12:51.039 a test. It's a test of your faith. There's two 230 00:12:51.080 --> 00:12:53.240 other ways that God tests your faithfulness. 231 00:12:53.960 --> 00:12:55.039 And see when you. 232 00:12:55.000 --> 00:12:58.240 Pass these tests, he pours out blessing on your life. 233 00:12:58.320 --> 00:12:59.320 Here they are a number five. 234 00:13:01.120 --> 00:13:08.000 Faithful people bring friends to Jesus. God is watching you 235 00:13:08.759 --> 00:13:15.639 and faithful people. Faithful people share their faith. Faithful people 236 00:13:15.759 --> 00:13:19.600 share their faith. Faithful people bring others into the faith. 237 00:13:20.360 --> 00:13:25.240 If I don't share my faith, I am being unfaithful. 238 00:13:26.480 --> 00:13:26.559 Now. 239 00:13:26.600 --> 00:13:29.840 A good example of this is these four guys in 240 00:13:29.879 --> 00:13:34.279 the Bible had a friend who was paralyzed, and they 241 00:13:34.320 --> 00:13:35.960 had the faith to think, you know, if we could 242 00:13:36.039 --> 00:13:38.720 just get our friend to Jesus, Jesus would heal the 243 00:13:38.720 --> 00:13:41.600 guy and then our friend would be well. And they 244 00:13:41.639 --> 00:13:44.200 had faith that if they could get their friend to Jesus, 245 00:13:44.320 --> 00:13:48.639 he'd be healed. The story is told here in They're 246 00:13:48.639 --> 00:13:53.519 on your Outline. In Matthew chapter nine, it says some 247 00:13:53.759 --> 00:13:58.799 men brought to Jesus a paralytic, a paralyzed man, a 248 00:13:58.840 --> 00:14:02.320 paralyzed friend lying on a mat. He couldn't even get 249 00:14:02.320 --> 00:14:07.000 to Jesus. He was paralyzed. When Jesus saw their faith 250 00:14:07.080 --> 00:14:10.519 circle the phrase their faith. When Jesus saw their faith, 251 00:14:11.080 --> 00:14:15.080 he said to the paralyzed man, take heart, son, your 252 00:14:15.080 --> 00:14:17.480 sins are forgiven. I didn't print the rest verse. Rest 253 00:14:17.600 --> 00:14:19.279 verse says, and they said, take up your mat and 254 00:14:19.320 --> 00:14:24.000 go home. And the guy was instantly healed. Now Jesus 255 00:14:24.080 --> 00:14:26.919 heals the guy. Now, according to that verse, did Jesus 256 00:14:27.000 --> 00:14:30.000 heal the guy because of the sick man's faith or 257 00:14:30.039 --> 00:14:31.320 because of the friend's faith? 258 00:14:32.679 --> 00:14:32.759 What? 259 00:14:33.960 --> 00:14:37.279 Yeah, the friends, It says, when Jesus saw their faith, 260 00:14:37.440 --> 00:14:40.039 you guys had enough faith that if you could get 261 00:14:40.080 --> 00:14:43.480 your paralyzed man to me, I'd save him on the 262 00:14:43.519 --> 00:14:44.679 basis of their faith. 263 00:14:44.919 --> 00:14:47.519 Not the guy who was sick, but their faith. 264 00:14:47.759 --> 00:14:52.440 He healed the man. Now, listen very closely. You have 265 00:14:52.600 --> 00:14:58.240 friends that are paralyzed and can't get to Jesus. You 266 00:14:58.320 --> 00:15:01.279 have friends who are paralyzed by guilt and they can't 267 00:15:01.320 --> 00:15:04.679 get to Jesus. They're paralyzed by doubt and they can't 268 00:15:04.679 --> 00:15:09.159 get to Jesus. They're paralyzed by fear, they're paralyzed by worry, 269 00:15:09.360 --> 00:15:11.879 they're paralyzed by insecurity. 270 00:15:11.360 --> 00:15:12.799 And they can't get to Jesus. 271 00:15:13.000 --> 00:15:15.000 And the only way they're going to get to Jesus 272 00:15:15.120 --> 00:15:18.559 is you're going to have to bring them. And if 273 00:15:18.600 --> 00:15:21.679 you have enough faith to bring them to Jesus, they 274 00:15:21.919 --> 00:15:25.559 will get saved. But they're not going to get saved. 275 00:15:25.600 --> 00:15:27.480 They're not going to be healed. Their life is going 276 00:15:27.559 --> 00:15:31.360 to be turned around until you have enough faith to 277 00:15:31.440 --> 00:15:34.600 bring them to Jesus. Now, when God looks out and 278 00:15:34.639 --> 00:15:38.480 he sees people bringing people to him, he not only 279 00:15:38.519 --> 00:15:41.519 heals those people, he blesses the person who brought them. 280 00:15:42.000 --> 00:15:44.840 If you want the blessing of God on your business, 281 00:15:45.080 --> 00:15:47.360 if you want the blessing of God on your family, 282 00:15:47.799 --> 00:15:50.279 if you want the blessing of God on your life, 283 00:15:50.679 --> 00:15:54.919 just start bringing friends to Jesus. And if you bring 284 00:15:55.080 --> 00:15:57.759 your friends to Jesus, God says, that's the kind of 285 00:15:57.759 --> 00:16:02.360 person I'm looking for. They are are faithful, and God 286 00:16:02.720 --> 00:16:06.279 blesses faithfulness. You want God's blessing on any air of 287 00:16:06.279 --> 00:16:08.960 your life, just start bringing your friends to Jesus, and 288 00:16:09.039 --> 00:16:12.159 you watch what happens. God will do things in your life, 289 00:16:12.200 --> 00:16:16.440 your finances, your health, your business. You could not imagine 290 00:16:16.480 --> 00:16:19.840 faithful people bring friends to Jesus, which is why we 291 00:16:19.960 --> 00:16:24.159 don't ever stop reaching out. One last principle, number five 292 00:16:25.519 --> 00:16:32.120 R six. Faithful people build the faith of others. Faithful 293 00:16:32.200 --> 00:16:36.000 people build the faith of others, and when God sees 294 00:16:36.039 --> 00:16:40.799 your faithfulness, he blesses you. Now, building the faith of 295 00:16:40.840 --> 00:16:47.320 others is called mentoring or discipling. It's simply encouraging somebody 296 00:16:47.600 --> 00:16:50.320 in the faith who's younger in the faith than you. 297 00:16:51.159 --> 00:16:55.399 Everybody in life needs a Pall, and everybody needs a Timothy. 298 00:16:55.679 --> 00:16:56.320 What's a Pall. 299 00:16:56.600 --> 00:16:59.000 That's somebody who's older than you who can kind of 300 00:16:59.080 --> 00:17:02.320 encourage you and encourage you and be a coach to 301 00:17:02.360 --> 00:17:04.359 you spiritually and just be there to pray for you. 302 00:17:04.599 --> 00:17:08.759 Everybody needs Paul, and everybody needs a Timothy. That's somebody 303 00:17:08.799 --> 00:17:11.079 who's not been a Christian as long as you, maybe 304 00:17:11.079 --> 00:17:13.640 you've only been a Christian one week longer. But they 305 00:17:13.680 --> 00:17:17.359 can be your Timothy. And you need to be mentoring 306 00:17:17.640 --> 00:17:20.400 somebody younger than you. Now, you don't need to be 307 00:17:20.440 --> 00:17:22.799 one hundred steps ahead of that person because they can't 308 00:17:22.799 --> 00:17:25.160 see you. You only need to be one step ahead. 309 00:17:25.960 --> 00:17:29.039 And if you start helping other people in their faith, 310 00:17:29.480 --> 00:17:34.279 you're going to find God blessing your socks off. Faithful 311 00:17:34.279 --> 00:17:37.759 people build the faith of others. God has called every 312 00:17:37.839 --> 00:17:41.759 Christian to do this. Notice this verse second Timothy, Chapter two, 313 00:17:41.839 --> 00:17:47.240 Verse two. The things Paul is talking to Timothy, Paul says, 314 00:17:47.599 --> 00:17:52.240 the thing you've learned, things you've learned from me, Timothy, 315 00:17:52.319 --> 00:17:56.119 in the presence of many witnesses, you are to entrust 316 00:17:57.119 --> 00:18:00.799 to other faithful people. There's that word faithful, who will 317 00:18:00.839 --> 00:18:03.079 also be qualified to pass it. 318 00:18:03.079 --> 00:18:04.000 On to others. 319 00:18:04.400 --> 00:18:09.119 Now, notice in that verse there are four generations. Paul says, 320 00:18:09.599 --> 00:18:12.519 I helped build up your faith. Now you're to find 321 00:18:12.559 --> 00:18:15.480 somebody who's faithful and help build up their faith, who 322 00:18:15.519 --> 00:18:17.759 they will turn around and build up the faith of others. 323 00:18:17.880 --> 00:18:24.279 Four generations in one verse, four generations. This is called mentoring, 324 00:18:24.480 --> 00:18:26.200 it's called discipling. 325 00:18:27.240 --> 00:18:28.480 Don't you wish. 326 00:18:28.400 --> 00:18:32.119 When you were in your twenties and you're a young guy, 327 00:18:32.359 --> 00:18:34.240 if you had had an older guy who was a 328 00:18:34.279 --> 00:18:35.680 Christian who said, you know what, I don't know a 329 00:18:35.720 --> 00:18:38.279 whole lot, but let's just get together for coffee once 330 00:18:38.279 --> 00:18:41.240 a month and we'll just talk and I'll pray for you, 331 00:18:41.640 --> 00:18:43.160 and you need some help in your business. 332 00:18:43.200 --> 00:18:44.359 I don't know a whole lot. But I can tell 333 00:18:44.400 --> 00:18:47.319 you what. I know you need some help in your family, 334 00:18:47.400 --> 00:18:47.839 your marriage. 335 00:18:47.880 --> 00:18:51.279 I can tell you what not to do. I can 336 00:18:51.279 --> 00:18:54.359 tell you what not to do. That's mentoring. See, it's 337 00:18:54.359 --> 00:18:56.440 wise to learn from experience. It's wise to learn from 338 00:18:56.480 --> 00:18:59.519 experiences mistakes of others. I don't have time to learn 339 00:18:59.559 --> 00:19:02.720 it all my life. And let's say, if you're a 340 00:19:02.759 --> 00:19:06.400 young woman, wouldn't you like to have an older woman, 341 00:19:06.400 --> 00:19:09.440 a godly woman, who takes you under your her wing 342 00:19:09.599 --> 00:19:12.079 and says, look, I know you got problems with your kids, 343 00:19:12.119 --> 00:19:15.039 problems with your husband, or problems with your career, or 344 00:19:15.079 --> 00:19:17.240 problems with this going to school. I'll tell you what. 345 00:19:17.319 --> 00:19:19.559 I'll just be there to hang on with you. I'll 346 00:19:19.559 --> 00:19:21.440 be there to pray with I don't know a whole lot, 347 00:19:21.559 --> 00:19:22.279 but I'll just be. 348 00:19:22.279 --> 00:19:24.720 There for you. Wouldn't you have wanted that as a 349 00:19:25.319 --> 00:19:28.079 young Christian? Of course you would have. Of course you 350 00:19:28.079 --> 00:19:28.480 would have. 351 00:19:29.559 --> 00:19:33.920 I have had six mentors in my life. One of 352 00:19:33.960 --> 00:19:39.279 them died this week. His name was John Stott. He 353 00:19:39.440 --> 00:19:43.279 was ninety years old. He lived in England. He wrote 354 00:19:43.319 --> 00:19:46.319 over fifty books. He was one, in my opinion, of 355 00:19:46.359 --> 00:19:49.119 the four greatest Christians of the twentieth century. To me, 356 00:19:49.240 --> 00:19:52.759 the four greatest Christians of the twentieth century were Billy Graham, Pope, 357 00:19:52.839 --> 00:19:55.759 John Paul, the Second Mother, Teresa, and. 358 00:19:57.200 --> 00:19:57.920 John Stott. 359 00:19:58.519 --> 00:20:01.480 John Stott was a mentor to me, and in my 360 00:20:01.559 --> 00:20:05.519 life I've had six different mentors who encouraged me. Now, 361 00:20:05.559 --> 00:20:07.839 he didn't sit down and teach me lessons. I just 362 00:20:07.880 --> 00:20:10.519 call him up and talk. And I just knew that 363 00:20:10.559 --> 00:20:12.400 there was somebody who was a little further down the 364 00:20:12.440 --> 00:20:16.119 road than I was who cared about me. Now, I 365 00:20:16.160 --> 00:20:18.759 know what somebody's saying, Rick, you don't know the mess 366 00:20:18.839 --> 00:20:21.000 I've made of my life. You don't know all the 367 00:20:21.039 --> 00:20:23.359 problems I've done. You don't have to be perfect to 368 00:20:23.359 --> 00:20:25.400 be a mentor. If you did, there would be no mentors. 369 00:20:26.920 --> 00:20:31.240 There are no perfect mentor. Everybody's flawed. It's interesting to 370 00:20:31.279 --> 00:20:34.200 me that when God chose the leader of the church, 371 00:20:34.599 --> 00:20:37.200 the person he chose out of all his twelve disciples 372 00:20:37.359 --> 00:20:42.480 was the biggest failure. He chose Peter, the guy who 373 00:20:42.559 --> 00:20:46.839 denied Jesus three times, is the guy Jesus chose to 374 00:20:46.920 --> 00:20:48.920 be the leader of the first Church and preach on 375 00:20:48.960 --> 00:20:51.079 the day of Pentecost, and three thousand people were saved. 376 00:20:51.359 --> 00:20:58.799 God loves to use losers. He doesn't use the perfect winners. 377 00:20:58.799 --> 00:21:02.839 He loves to use losers. And he chose the biggest 378 00:21:03.119 --> 00:21:07.799 leader loser, to be the leader who can better understand 379 00:21:07.839 --> 00:21:10.480 somebody going through a bankruptcy than somebody's been through bankruptcy, 380 00:21:11.519 --> 00:21:14.160 somebody who's had problems with their kids, then somebody who's 381 00:21:14.160 --> 00:21:16.960 had problems with their kids. Somebody's gone through cancer, then 382 00:21:17.000 --> 00:21:19.880 somebody who's going through cancer, somebody who went through cancer, 383 00:21:20.680 --> 00:21:23.599 somebody who struggled with drugs, and somebody who struggled with drugs. 384 00:21:24.559 --> 00:21:26.759 Don't waste your hurts. 385 00:21:28.880 --> 00:21:33.160 Use them to help the next generation. God will use it. 386 00:21:34.319 --> 00:21:38.000 Here's what Jesus said to Peter Luke twenty two. This 387 00:21:38.079 --> 00:21:41.480 is before Peter denied Jesus three times. Jesus knew he 388 00:21:41.519 --> 00:21:43.240 was going to do it, and he said this, Peter, 389 00:21:44.039 --> 00:21:46.960 Satan has asked to sift you like wheat, but I've 390 00:21:47.000 --> 00:21:50.880 prayed for you that your faith will not completely fail. 391 00:21:51.119 --> 00:21:53.160 He said, Peter, I already know you're going to fail, 392 00:21:53.559 --> 00:21:55.680 but I've already prayed for you, and I know you're 393 00:21:55.680 --> 00:21:59.200 going to come out of it. So after you've repented 394 00:21:59.240 --> 00:22:01.720 and come back to me, after you've blown it, and 395 00:22:01.759 --> 00:22:02.519 you've come back to me. 396 00:22:02.960 --> 00:22:06.680 Strengthen and build up the faith of your brothers. Another 397 00:22:06.759 --> 00:22:07.920 hey saying be a mentor. 398 00:22:09.319 --> 00:22:11.480 What I want you'll be able to do this fall 399 00:22:11.720 --> 00:22:15.279 is you to take your biggest problems and failures and 400 00:22:15.359 --> 00:22:18.920 save somebody else from making the same mistake. And you'll 401 00:22:18.960 --> 00:22:20.799