In this sermon, the speaker discusses the topic of money and the potential loss that can occur if we don't take breaks. He emphasizes the importance of taking breaks and not constantly working, as it can lead to a loss of money. The speaker also mentions a conversation with someone named John, where John expresses his dislike for the speaker. The speaker reflects on the need to understand how others feel about us. The sermon concludes with gratitude and a reminder to go deep in our recovery and trust in God during times of transition.

I mean, when I first found that scripture, I couldn't believe it. What? You didn't do it for me? You did it for you? Alright. But anything God does for himself benefits those that are part of his family. When I support my family, I get to eat too, but it benefits my family. When I teach the Bible to my family, I get blessed, but so does my family. Anything God does for himself is good for his family. He's not selfish, but he cares for his own. Okay. After that, Ezekiel 36. If people come to Jesus mainly to get a blessing, or only to get forgiveness, they will ultimately be disappointed. But if they come to give him their lives in honor and worship, then they will truly have forgiveness and joy, more than they could ever imagine. Okay, what else is wrong with our modern gospel? It's shallow, cheap, and offered as a bargain. Our gospel reduces the good news to a come and get it while you can sale. We make every effort to take all the bones out and everything that might offend someone, might make them hesitate or put off their decision. Jesus didn't do this. He never lowered the requirements for anyone. One had to be completely sincere, totally humble, having counted the cost, willing to leave everything, family and property, count all things lost so that they might gain Christ. Philippians 3. When that same rich young ruler went away sad for he had many possessions, Jesus didn't go running after him shouting, Hey, wait a minute, let's talk this thing over. It isn't as bad as it might sound. Maybe I was a little too harsh. Maybe we're so eager to see the converts, to publish how many got saved at our last meeting or concert, and the bulletins to our supporters, that we'll do anything to rush someone into a decision before he's had a chance to really make one. The problem is if you have to rush him into it, he probably will change his mind later anyway. Don't forget about that 97%. For as a friend of mine says, if somebody can talk them into it, somebody can talk them out of it. You know who that was? That's Martha Ravenhill. She had a 15-year-old son. They were at Bethany Fellowship. He was going to Bible school there. No, I'm sorry, he was just going to high school. He was 15. And one of the elders came up to her one night and said, Do you realize that your son hasn't had a born-again experience yet? And she said in her Irish accent, I'll thank you to leave my boy alone. If somebody can talk him into it, somebody can talk him out of it. Leave him alone. That is the wisest thing that I've ever heard a mother say about her child. And that guy is a missionary in New Zealand today. That very same year, he got saved. And if we could only learn that. Sure, we are to encourage. Sure, we are to create an example. Sure, we are to preach the gospel and tell somebody their loss. Never try to talk them into making the actual decision though. Don't talk them, but encourage them into giving their hearts to God. Turning from their sin. But there is no rubber stamp, USDA Choice Saved Christian thing that you can pop on somebody's forehead. That is so ugly. Mass producing them for Christ. They all come out like this. All Christians, out of the cookie cutter mold. It's sick. We can't mass produce Christians. They must grow like oak trees. Slowly. One of a kind. All different from the other. Salvation is shown as a barter trade. This is one of the results of the modern gospel. Instead of the result of obedience by faith. We offer forgiveness of sin like Monty Hall in Let's Make a Deal. I've even heard, you give Jesus your sin and he'll give you salvation in return. No one in the Bible ever thought so low of the grace of God to talk about the gift of eternal life like it was for trade. It is a gift. You can't earn it. You can't buy it. You can't get anything in return for it. How it must offend the Holy Spirit to hear people talk of his Jesus so. Another thing wrong is that it produces selfish, blessed, and feelings oriented converts. Going back to that last thing. Never talk to somebody like they're making a deal with God. Don't ever let anybody have that concept. Well, you give Jesus your sin and he'll give you salvation. Or, don't worry, he'll save your mother. Hey, look, you can't make a deal with God. He's already offered you everything that you could ever want. It's just like somebody coming up to you, some rich uncle, and saying, I'm leaving everything to you. It's all yours. And then you say, well, alright, then I'll give you this in return for it. You know, can I give you, here's a vase. There's no ifs about it. God wants to give you himself. What else is there? All you need to do is to want to have him. And get rid of everything that gets in your way from having him. And you've got him. It produces selfish, blessed, and feelings oriented converts. Anyone who is made to believe he becomes a Christian under such preaching will never bring forth the true fruits of a real convert. He will remain just as selfish as he always was. Only now his selfishness will take on a religious form. If he wants something for himself, he will say he has a burden. Gee, I've got a burden to get married. I've got a burden to go talk to that blonde chick over there. I've got a burden for blondes all over. Or he will say, it's the desire of my heart. It's the desire of my heart to be rich and famous. God said he'd give me the desire of my heart, so why can't I be rich and famous? Or some other religious sounding phrase like that. He will pray selfishly, desiring blessings for himself. And even if he does pray for others, it usually will be for selfish reasons. Oh God, save my mother so she quits nagging me. Save my husband so that I can go preach to the lot. So he doesn't bother me about going to Sunday school. Save the car dealer on the corner so I can get a better deal on that car that's on the lot. Or whatever. I mean, there are people that actually pray like that. For any reason but save them, God. They're lost and they're hurting you. And their souls are lost, God, and you love that person. There's nothing worse than praying for the wrong motive. After all, when he accepted the Lord, he was told how much Jesus wanted to bless him. And how much God had stored up for his account. And how the Bible was like a big checkbook full of promises just waiting to be cashed. I've heard that terrible rap. Such a person always seeks to feel good about himself. His own church, his own pastor, etc. His whole world is built on feeling blessed. He was never shown how he was created to bless God. God was not created to bless him. God was not created. As you can see, the converts described above are not like those pictured in the book of Acts. When the church was new and the fire was hot. Take a look at Acts 2. And you will see the tender spirit of love and the mighty spirit of power that prevailed among the brethren in those early days. I believe that one of the great reasons that everyone kept feeling a sense of awe was because, quote, they were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to prayer. I believe that Peter and the others made every effort to convey the whole message of the gospel when they preached and taught. And that is why the spirit of God could anoint and bless the new converts so powerfully. God always anoints the truth. Well, that's the end of section 1. In the next installment, we're going to look at the things that God hates. We're going to look at all the things that God hates. The things that the church and Christians have tried to replace. The things they've removed. Like the Pharisees. Remember the Pharisees? They were always trying to replace what they couldn't have in the law. They were trying to have prayer. Oh God, bless me, the righteous man. But not that guy over there. Not that miserable tax gatherer. They were trying to replace real prayer with phony prayer. How about real giving, godly giving? Here comes the Pharisees with their big check. One thousand dollars for the temple. They always tried to replace godly things with selfish things. And they tried to replace the holy temple of God with a merchandise mart. With all kinds of products. With little bumper stickers and so on. Oops, I'm giving it away. Okay.