Kingdom Values in the Electronic World - Brian Lapp 6-9-2024

Good morning, bringing greetings in Jesus name, our King. Thank you for

that song we sang. We have an anchor, I was blessed by.

That gives us confidence, doesn't it. We have an anchor to to face

these uh battles that we and we face in this world electronic world. It's

a very pertinent subject that we have to talk about. I feel like I

don't have many answers, but we can go to God's word. We can

find principles that you can guide us in this subject. Thankful for that.

Exactly one hundred and eighty years ago, on May twenty four, Samuel Morse

sent his first telegraph, an electronic device that tapped out a message a series

of dots and dashes that corresponded with the letters of the alphabet. That first

message went from Washington, DC to Baltimore exactly a forty around forty miles,

and it read what hath God wrobbed thought? That was interesting. It changed

the way people communicated today. Only one hundred eighty years ago, only one

hundred eighty years later, we can wirelessly talk, text, email, video

call to someone across the world Bangladesh, over seven thousand miles away, to

other parts of the world instantly, easily and on our own. We don't

have to have some of the tap the message out for us like Samuel Morse

did. If you were born on December seventeen, nineteen oh three, the

date of the Right Brothers first successful flight, you could have then witnessed the

first fighter jet flight at age thirty seven. You could have then bought a

ticket for your commercial jetliner at the age of forty eight. Then you could

have seen the first rocket launch into space at age fifty three. You could

have then watched the televised broadcast of the moon landing at age sixty five.

Then you could have attended the first space Shuttle launch at age seventy seven,

all in one lifetime. It's incredible how fast technology has evolved changed our lives,

and yet we hardly know anything different. We flip light switches, we

turn the keys, We run water, we make ice, we do laundry,

We listen to music, we take pictures, We get X rays,

we check the weather, we make coffee, transfer funds, we book a

flight, We click in brows, we tap and watch, sometimes we play.

We've become accustomed to it, and I would say that we've almost reached

a point where we think and act like we just about deserve it, don't

we deserve this kind of world. We expect it to work smoothly, We

expect it to just to operate as part of our life. And then when

something goes wrong, when there's a when there's a lip or a glitch,

we how quickly do we get upset? Get frustrated, maybe a little stressed,

gloomy. It's twenty twenty four. We say it's supposed to work.

Well, maybe you're thinking, see recommending we were back to covered wagons and

smoke signals. Well, sometimes I wonder that be simpler, that be a

simpler way of life. Well, I am thankful for where we are today.

There is blessings in the technology that we have. There is blessings gives

us opportunities, but gives us opportunities to benefit the Kingdom of God. But

also there is an equal or a greater number of curses that go along with

it. We need to be aware of that. We need to wake up,

pay attention to where we're going, what we're doing with it. And

I guess that's why we need a message like this this morning. I need

it. I have a lot of room to grow. I don't have all

the answers I'm learning and preaching to myself. I was studying for this message.

I was convicted, I was guilty, and I have a lot to

learn. If God is the center of our life, technology is a great

gift. If technology is our God, then we are lost. And if

you if you don't remember anything else, I say remember that if t if

uh God is the center of our life, technology is a great gift.

But if technology is our God, then we are lost. What kingdom are

you seeking to advance your own or God's? Let's not f let's not forget

why we are here on this earth? Why did God put you here?

Why? Why did God put you in this time when uh in this time

of electronic age? Why did he see fit that we have to deal with

cell phones and technology and internet? And turned the Titus two Titus two and

verse eleven for the grace of God that that bringeth salvation. Hath appeared to

all men, teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lust, we should live

soberly, righteously and godly in this present. It's today looking for that blessed

hope and the glorious appearing of the Great God and our savior, Jesus Christ,

who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity,

and purifying to himself a peculiar people zealous of good works. That's why we're

here. God is looking for a purified people, purified bride, people that

are looking to Him for their hope, not other things. Turning away from

worldly lust, turning away from living for yourself, living righteously, godly lives

in this present day that brings God glory. It's what we're here for that

advances God's kingdom. Samuel Morse, the one that sent that first telegraphed,

he himself said, wrote a letter to his business partner, and he said

this about the telegraph. This mode of instantaneous communication must inevitably become an instrument

of immense power, to be wielded for good or for evil, as it

shall be properly or improperly directed. He said that about the telegraph, how

much more so about the electronic world. In what we live today, all

can be wielded for good or for evil. And how am I how are

you wielding yours? Are you able to discern what is good? And what

is evil? Are you able to discern what God wants for you in your

usage of technology, or maybe importantly, are you able to discern what is

good for God's Kingdom in our usage? Think about that as you use your

technology. Kingdom values Values has the idea of something that is important, something

that is needful, something that we need to stand on to, beliefs that

we need to have, and principles that we need to live by. What's

important to God's Kingdom? I have seven points Kingdom values that I felt God

speaking to me, areas that I need to grow in. I'm sure there

could be more that could be added to this list. It's not an exhaustive

list. There could be more. I'm sure a couple of books that I

would recommend to read. I'm sure you've heard of Gary Miller's text Surviving the

Tech Tsunami excellent teaching. Another one God, Technology and the Christian Life by

Tony RANKEI very good teaching, very thought provoking. All right. First kingdom

value that I have is God dependence. What are we depending on? Turned

to Jeremiah seventeen. Jeremiah seventeen, verse five. Let's say it. The

Lord cursed be the man that trusteth in man and maketh flesh his arm,

and whose heart departeth from the Lord, For he shall be like the heath

in the desert, and he shall not see when good cometh, but shall

inhabit the parch places in the wilderness, in AsSalt land, and not inhabited.

Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, whose hope the Lord

is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and

that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when he

cometh by her leaf shall be green, and shall not be careful in the

year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit. The heart is deceitful

above all things, and desperately wicked. Who can know it? I the

Lord search the heart. I try the reins, even to give every man

according to his ways and according to the fruit of his doings. There we

have it. What are we trusting in the arm of man or God?

I need more dependence on God, less dependence on m one, man,

less dependence on tech, more dependence on on God. Some twenty s twenty

verse seven says some trust in chariots, some in horses. But we will

remember the name of the Lord, our God. How does that work out

for you? And dealing with your technology, dealing with mine? It's very

practical. Where do we turn to when we face life's challenges? Where do

you turn to when you get lost in the city? Where you turn to

when you face illness or sickness or injury. It's the first thing you do.

I'm pretty quick to look it up, find my way out of my

problem on my own. Search engines then to go than to the doctor,

or sorry, then to the doctor, then to God. I think it

should be the other way around, God the top. What's our dependence on.

That's saying it's wrong to look up how to bandage a wound or something

like that, But what is our dependence on? What's our priority? We

like to be in control, at least feel like we're in control. Technology

promises to give us more control. More control promises happiness, But the desire

to control is an illusion. It's not real. We will never be in

control. Big tech companies promise to give us more control, but before they

will lose our private data, they will steal our feelings of security, and

they will leave us feeling vulnerable as ever before and We need to be aware

of that too. Where do we place our control and trust? Only when

we give up control, Only when we hand it all over to God and

say, Lord, it is yours. Do with me, do with my

technology as you as it pleases you. Then we can experience God dependence.

Another thing we need to remember is that electronic technology will not save us.

I work with tech a lot for my work, and yeah, it does

not save you. It does not satisfy. Technology is making great advances into

health care, surgeries, implants, medicine advances. Discoveries are being made to

end cancer, polio, dementia. Great advances being made. It's amazing how

my dad just had a stint put in his heart a while, a couple

months ago, and they can make a small incision in his in your arm

grew up through a blood vessel threat, a threat, a stint all the

way up to your heart. Amazing technology. It's also studies and advances being

made to slow down aging. The world is looking to medical technology to be

their savior too. Yeah, they don't want to face death, they don't

want to face pain, but they will not find it. We need to

remember that God uses chronic pain. God uses pain to teach us. God

uses weakness to teach us to chisel for shaping our soul. Weakness deepens our

dependence on Christ for strength. Each day, the weaker we feel, the

hearder we lean. The hearder we lean, the stronger we grow spiritually.

Even while our bodies waste away. Christ is the only one who can save

us. They need to remember that we need dependence on Christ. The next

kingdom. Value I have is contentment, and this was mentioned last last evening

by Ethan turnover to Jeremiah two verse thirteen. Jeremiah two verse thirteen says,

for my people, I've committed to evils. They have forsaken me the fountain

of living waters and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns that can hold no

water. Is the electronic world a broken cistern that we're trying to fill.

It's broken, it will never fulfill, it will never satisfy, It has

holes in It can hold no water for our thirsty soul? What are we

trying to fill our lives with? Technology promises to simplify our lives, give

us more free time, promises, stronger relationships, added security, better societies,

But too often, what are we left with more complex lives, less

free time, increased loneliness, added insecurities, and social inequality, and that

reads discontent. We're not happy with that. So it's a vicious cycle,

always wanting more but never getting filled. Upgrading your gadgets only to find out

two weeks later there's a new new one in the market. You can chase

the you can chase the latest tool, you can chase the newest iPhone or

whatever, but they will never satisfy. Does browsing Amazon make you more content

less content to seeing someone else's status about their new pick up, their new

tractor, their new sewing project, their cookware will make you more satisfied or

less satisfied with my life? Or does it make me thinks? Make me

wish want to have for myself? I think I can breed consciousness. We

need a new well. We need to turn back to our fountain of living

water. Matthew five six. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after

righteousness, for they shall be filled. To promise we have we thunk hunger

and thirst after the right things, we can be filled. Verse Timothy six

six to eight says, but godliness with contentment is great gain, for we

brought nothing into this world and is certain we will carry nothing out and having

food and raiment. Let us be there with content. How does my commitment

level match up to that? How is my contentment level? You always have

to have the latest? Can you make do with less than the best?

Is your well filling up with things that will last? Next? Kingdom value

that I have is think deeply? Can we do that? We live in

a sound bite society short bursts. Every day we process an incredible amount of

information on a model tude of topics. We glance over the news, we

scan emails, we skim a printed article, answer our phone call, reply

to a text, check an alert, watch a video, find out what's

new in that group that I'm on, add to kart, check out,

and the list goes on until we drop exhausted in bed and we wonder why

we're so busy. The instant access to information all the time puts us at

risk of losing our desired ability to think deeply. We're becoming masters, or

should I say slaves, of juggling so many tasks, filling our minds with

so many things that we fail too often to think deeply about the important things.

Of life, just some practice things, questions to check my life with?

Can you take time to read to your children? Can you explain a

Bible story to them they understand? Can you read God's word and meditate on

it for more than fifteen minutes? Can you find inspiration from God's word other

than the verse of the day that comes across to you every morning? Can

you pray without falling asleep or your mind wandering off? Do you ever try

preparing a devotional without consulting Google or your Bible app Can you hear the still

small voice of God speaking? What are you doing that? So that you

can follow the noise around you? What are you doing about it? It's

going to take some serious discipline in our part. Turned to sewod Timothy two

second Timothy two, verse seven says, consider what I say, and the

Lord will give thee understanding in all things. Consider it takes time to think,

and he will give the understanding of all things. We can find a

way and then verse Peter verse Peter, verse chapter four, verse seven.

But the end of all things is at hand. Be Ye therefore sober and

watch them the prayer. Sober, not drunk, not drugged, but thinking

clearly. Can you think clearly on issues? On subjects. When someone is

sober, they can think clearly. When someone is not drugged, they can

think clearly, able to think alert, watching a weak praying number four kingdom

value using our time wisely Ephesians five re the verse there Fijians five, verse

fourteen. Wherefore he saith awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead,

and Christ shall give thee light. See then that you walk circumspectully,

not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days

are evil. Wherefore be not unwise, but understanding what the will of the

Lord is. Be not drunk with wine where is excess, be filled with

the spirit, redeeming the time. I don't think I have to tell you

how much time you can waste watching or reading the news, watching videos,

looking at profiles and statuses. It doesn't take It doesn't take long for an

hour to roll by. Did you know that most videos, most apps,

most games are intentionally designed to hook us. That's what they're made for,

or to hook us to want more. These creators of apps are being very

intentional to keep you using it. They want you to They want you to

stay with it, stay on there on their platform. You watch one video,

what happens when you get to the end, another one pops up.

It looks just as interesting, just as helpful, whatever it may be,

and you click on it, and you go on and on. It's like

a bait a lure, and they reel you in pretty soon. We waste

a bunch of time. We need to beware. Wake up. What are

we doing with our time? Set time limits? If you need to be

accountable with somebody, remember that we will give an account to God for our

use of time. Number five Kingdom values real relationships. God made us with

a need for real relationships, and first of all to God himself. And

brother Ed talked about this yesterday about loving the Lord, our God with all

our soul, mind and strength. And then the next one was love our

neighbor as ourself. And that has to do with relationships. How is our

relationship with our Father Jesus Christ? I believe technology is threatening this relationship with

God. A lot of our relationship with God requires time and patience and waiting

on him. It tests our patience. When we live in an instant,

instantaneous world, we expect things right away. We can ask Google or Siri,

Hey, I need an answer, and you'll get a response immediately.

But God says in Psalm twenty five, verse four, show me thy ways

of Lord, teach me thy paths, leave me in thy truth, and

teach me for Thou art the God of my salvation. On thee do I

wait how long all the day? Our relationship with God is gonna take time.

It's gonna take effort, it's gonna take some waiting, it's gonna take

patience, and technology threatens to take over that. I believe Satan wants us

to turn to technology for our God. We don't have to wait for God

to answer. We can turn to tech and get an answer right away.

But we need to what are we What are we doing about it? We

need to wake up and beware. Maybe we need to do some practical things

disable serie if you need to. Can we hear the spirit speaking? The

Spirit usually speaks in whispers. We have to be intentional to listen, and

then relationships with other people leave. The technology is threatening this one as well.

Virtual friends, I can talk with whoever I want to, however far

away I want to, and yet not talk to my brother nearby. Virtual

friends make it easy to connect that doesn't require a high level of commitment.

It's comforting. I can usually find someone somewhere on this planet that will agree

with me, somewhere someone that will show me support, sympathy, and if

I get tired of them, or if they offend me, I can,

I can, I can leave when I want, or connected but lonely.

Virtual means appearing to exist but not really existing in in the physical world.

A hundred virtual friends but no real ones, no one to be truly present

there with you. God wants us to have real relationship and guess what it's

gonna mean that they're messy. Sometimes you may get asked hard questions. You

may share a good laugh with them. You may wish they would leave,

but they don't, or you may wish they would come more Often real relationships,

it takes time, effort, time and commitment. The Good Samaritan he

had to dig in, he had to pour in the oil and wine,

load him on his beast and take him to an end. Do we have

real relationships with God, the brotherhood and our church, with our neighbor?

Are you open? Are you vulnerable with your life? You open yourself up?

Are you closed? And hiding behind your device. Is the real you

the one you are on your device or the one you are in your church?

And do they match? Are you two sided? Are you committed?

Or do you burn through? Relationships? Quickly? Challenge for me relation six

ten. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good into all men,

especially unto them who have the household of faith. Why is that word

especially in there? I believe it's because it takes more time, more effort

for those that we know well, for those who are in our house,

they can see our mistakes, they can see our failures, they can see

our mess ups. But it's real relationships. Number six Kingdom values, cross

bearing. Turn to Mark eight, Mark eight, verse thirty four. And

when he and when he had called the people with him sorry, and when

he had he called the people unto him with his disciples, Also he said,

unto them, whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself,

take up his cross and follow me. For whosover will save his life shall

lose it. Who serve whosoever shall lose his life for my sake, and

the gospels the same shall save it. For what shall it profit a man

if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul. Or what

shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Who whoever therefore shall be

ashamed of me and of my words miss adulterous and sinful generation of him?

Also shall the son of man be ashamed when he cometh in the glory with

his father, with the Holy angels. Do we know what it is to

take up our cross today? I think that we're if we're going to be

followers of Christ today, we're going to have to We're going to need to

take a stand against some of the popular culture in our world today. In

technology, doing things God way is not popular, you will likely find yourself

in the minority, and we will likely most often suffer reproach, suffer ridicule

because of it. By taking a stand on some of these things, Dads,

I believe it's our responsibility to step up and set some boundaries, set

some protections for our children. Bear our cross. We may make get flats

from it, but if we don't. If we don't bear a cross,

they probably won't either, probably won't learn h learn how to. Are we

engaged? Are we alert? Are we active in our teaching in this what

do we actually need on our device? Can we eliminate some apps? Do

I need all the things that I have? Go through? Go through your

phone? Figure out is it necessary? Is it? Is it not?

Can I take a tech fast for a time? Can you unplugg forget?

Who was it said yesterday at a box? To your phone in? Unplugged?

When I'm spending time with my family, am I present or am I

preoccupied? Let's think about that when we are. When we are with them,

they will notice the electronic world is offering a way to bypass the cross.

But they think they can bypass the cross through entertainment, amusement, having

fun. Look around the world. That's what they're after. Entertainment, amusement,

having fun. They're living for that, and I think it's can affect

us in our churches. Why would I want to bear a painful cross when

I can have fun? The world says, if it feels good, do

it, If it looks good, look at it, if it tastes good,

eat it. It appeals to our senses, and the Christian is not

exempt from our senses. Comes very close home and we need to wake up

and beware. Can the world's entertainment culture movies, sports, TikTok, lust,

social media, news, you name it. Can that be mixed with

the kingdom of God, with God's kingdom culture? How much of it is

beneficial? You know, if we eat food that has chemicals in it,

we expect our health probably suffer will Why is it hard to correlate that with

our spiritual health? But we are taking in through our eyes and through our

ears. Suppose we adults think that i'mmature, I can handle it, I

can ignore the bad stuff, won't affect me. But it's already inside,

and there isn't a simple way to erase it from our minds. Gonna be

like you, like drinking a glass of water with some sewage in it.

I'm thinking we can spit out the bad I don't think so. It's gonna

affect us. A number of verses here, I'm sure how many I'll read

here? Turn to first John two verse John two verse fifteen. Love not

the world, neither of the things that are in the world. If any

man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

For all that is in the world. The lust of the flesh, the

lust of the eyes, the pride of life, is not of the Father,

but is of the world, and the world passeth away, and the

lust thereof but he that doeth the will of God about it forever Matthew six,

talking about bearing the cross. Matthew six, verse twenty four. No

man can serve two masters, for he that either he will hate the one

and love the other, or else he will hold to the one spies the

other. You cannot serve God and Mammon ortech Matthew five, verse twenty eight.

But I say unto you that whosover looketh on a woman to lust after

her, have committed the doltry with her already in his heart. And if

thy right I offend THEE, pluck it out and cast it from THEE,

for it isn't for it is profitable for THEE that one of thy members should

perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. And

thy right eye offend THEE. So bearing our cross, be willing to get

rid of the things that are that are going to take us down. And

then number seven kingdom value a focused godly vision. Where are you going?

Do you know what direction you're going? What direction am I headed? Can

you see what's ahead? What am I focused? On on my phone,

or on God and his kingdom. Yes, there's blessings of having a phone,

But uh, what's our vision? What are we looking at? What

are we focused on? Luke twenty one, verse twenty five. And there

shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the

stars, and upon the earth, distress of nations with perplexity, sound familiar,

the sea and the waves, roaring men's hearts, failing them for fear,

and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth. For

the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the sun

a man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these

things begin begin to come to pass, then look up and lift up your

heads for your redemption. Draw nine. Where are you looking? Let's look

up. One of these days we're going to be called down to lay We're

going to be called to lay down all this stuff, all our technology,

all of our devices. We're going to be called to evacuate this world.

Get out. Are we gonna be able to do it? Put down our

phones, close our computers, ignore the suv in the garage, Walk out

the front door of your home, filled with the comforts and tools and leave

our town without looking back. When we do that, maybe it will be

our generation, maybe it will be the next. We don't know. But

are we ready to go or will will we be too attached? We live

in the city today, but we're looking for a greater city to come.

Let's keep our vision, keep our focus alive, keep it on the right

thing. Hebrews eleven says about Noah. I think it was about Noah.

Maybe it was Abraham where he looked for a city which have foundations. Who's

builder and maker was God? One more story here and closing back. In

the fall of eighteen eighty eight, Charles Spurgeon heard recorded music for the first

time. It's hard for us to imagine this, but recorded music has always

been a part of my life. But the innovation was brand new for Charles.

And here's what he had to say. I sat yesterday with two tubes

in my ears to listen to sounds that came from revolving cylinders of wax.

I heard music, though I knew that no instrument was near. It was

music which had been caught up months before and now was bringing out as clearly

and distinctly in my ears as it could have done. Had I been present

at its first sound? I sat and listened, and I felt lost in

the mystery. But then Spurgeon wondered out loud, why are we not lost

in the mystery of the Gospel? Why do shiny new innovations more easily capture

our wonder? Why was it that the electric lights began illuminating London churches the

same time the glory of Christ began dimming into the intellectual skepticism of the age.

The glory of the Gospel is more wonderful than the electricity and radiance of

engineered lighting. In the Gospel of the Lord Jesus, God speaks into the

year of his child more music than all the harps of heaven can yield.

I pray you do not despise it be not such dull driven cattle that,

when God has set before you what angels desired to look into, you close

your eyes to such glories and pay attention to the miserable trifles of time and

sense. You know, angels, they don't bend down to stand in all

silicon valley and google. The angels kneel in all to study the glories and

agonies of Jesus Christ. So should we when we are properly oriented towards the

soul satisfying creator, the electronic world and technology is no longer made into a

god. Only then can our technologies become as mysterious and marvelous as the first

recorded music. And only then can we have kingdom values in an electronic world.

God, bless you.