Luke 16:1-15 | Be faithful with the SMALL then you'll receive the Big.

This is City Post Church. We're about three things.

Build equipped and send. All under the.

Lordship of Jesus Christ, a small church plant in Fort

Worth, TX. Who decided to do things a

little differently? Adoramos Ayesu cristo.

I love City Post because of the people.

It's where I belong. We truly preach the word.

I love City Post because of the community we've been able to

build. To do ministry like Jesus.

For light to push back darkness, this is City Post Podcast.

Awesome. All right, guys, we're going to

be in. The Book of Luke, chapter 16.

Luke 16 · chapter mention

Luke 16. Hey so I don't know if y'all are

familiar with this concept. Of rap battles you.

Guys know what I'm talking about.

Yeah. All right.

So in. Early in the 2000s, there was a

a rap battle between Ja Rule and $0.50.

Some a lot. Of people don't know about and

in 2018, $0.50 pulled one of the the.

Greatest what I like. To think the greatest

demonstrations of offense that I've.

Ever. Seen so him and JA.

Rule for years are. Battling it out and if you guys

don't know who JA. Rule is he was a.

Rapper in the 90s that. You know he's he's.

Nostalgia, you know? 50 is a legend.

And so they're. Battling it out in 2018, Ja Rule

has a concert actually in Arlington, TX.

And what? $0.50 does $0.50 and and this is

real, $0.50 finds out that he's having a concert and what?

50 does is that 50 buys the 1st 5 rows of tickets.

And they interviewed him about this and he said, you know, when

I found out how cheap the. Seats.

Were I was like, huh, I'm kind of bored So him and his people

go on Ticketmaster and all these things and they.

Buy the 1st 5. Rows to his concert.

So guess what happens when the concert starts?

There's nobody in the front, which in the hip hop concert.

That's like the most important. Area to be in and.

Especially if you're a performer.

So you have this. Full place except this empty.

This empty area up front and I. Remember, like there were some

people interviewing $0.50 about and they're like.

Why did you do that? And he said, I don't know.

Like I was just bored. And I saw how cheap.

His tickets were and I decided, I think that.

That would have been fun. To mess with them.

And when you read something like that, you're.

Like Dang, that's kind of jacked up.

But there's a little. Bit on the inside of you that's

like man, that's actually pretty.

I got to give it to him, man. I guess actually like.

That's pretty good. Even though it's wrong, there's

a little bit of inside. Of us that's like that's.

Kind of. Genius and the story we're going

to. Look at today.

Jesus is. Going to be telling a.

Parable about a rich. Man and his manager.

And the manager, even though he's wrong, he does something.

That actually gets. A little bit of some props from

Jesus. You're like, man, even though

it's kind of wrong, he actually. Did some things that were.

Right. And this story, This parable.

Is one of the most. Difficult to teach, and there's

a lot that. People don't really understand

about it, like why would? Christ.

Give this man like some props, even though he did some things

that were wrong. So I want us to walk.

Through this story together and. Then we're going to be done and

then we'll leave. So let's.

Go to Luke chapter 16. I'm just going to read a few

Luke 16 · chapter mention

verses and then we'll talk and then and then just move forward

from there. So verse one.

Says this Jesus told his disciples there was a rich.

Man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions, so he

called him in and asked him. What is this I?

Hear about you. Give an account of your

management, because you cannot be manager here no more.

You're fired, the manager said to himself.

What shall I do now? My master's taking away my job.

I'm not strong enough to dig. I'm ashamed to beg.

I know what I'll do so that when I lose my job here, people will

welcome me into their houses. All right, let's stop.

Right there for a second. Go to verse one.

There's a few things I want you guys to pay attention to.

Because whenever we read the scripture, you got to pay.

Attention to who Jesus is talking about now.

The previous. Chapter Jesus tells us a.

Parable about the prodigal son. He's there.

He's talking with the Pharisees. And and he's trying to explain

the Kingdom of God. And what God is like as a

father. And in verse one, pay attention.

Who's Jesus talking to y'all? Say it out loud, His disciples,

he's. Talking to his.

Disciples, we have to. So many times it'll say Jesus.

Said to the Pharisees, Jesus said to the people.

So here Jesus looks. At his disciples.

Now what we're going to. See is even though he's talking

to his disciples, the. Pharisees are still lingering

around trying to. Listen in.

So he's. Going a little bit deeper, he

wants to explain some things to his disciples and then he gives

a story and there's 2 characters in the story.

There's a rich man and there is a manager.

Now this is normal in these times when somebody's extremely

rich or wealthy. They have a lot of land, cattle,

property. Whatever it is you hire.

A manager to manage the family wealth and to manage all the.

Family to steward what the family has.

And the goal in the job of that manager is to continue to grow

the family business and wealth. That's how he makes a living,

even to the point that the manager has the same name and

the same seal and the same responsibilities.

As. If someone were to be talking to

the rich man. So it's like if you.

Slap the manager in the. Face, It's like slapping the.

Face of the rich man. If you accuse.

The manager of a crime, it's like accusing the rich man of a

crime. It's like whatever happens to

the manager happens to the rich man.

Like, that's how serious. This was taken in this culture.

So this manager was accused of something.

He was accused of wasting his possessions.

He was mismanaging the rich man's stuff here.

Verse 2 So he called. Him in and asked him.

What is this I hear? About you give an account of

your management because you cannot be manager here no

longer. You know, I think this is a A.

Weird verse because it's like. I want you to give an account

because I'm about to. Fire you so I'm.

Giving you a heads up that you're not going to have a job

here anymore. Now if it was.

Me and I knew there was someone's.

Going to fire me. I don't think I'm be staying

there. Working much longer my last.

Day is how we talked about Joseph.

I'm out, but no he. Gives him the heads up.

And the problem is the rich man saying to the manager, I need

you to give an account because you're not stewarding my stuff

well. And let me just be honest with

us, all of us in this room one day will have to give an

account. One day we're going to have.

To stand before a holy and righteous.

God in heaven, in glory, and we have to give an account on what

we've done what what he has given us.

We're. Going to have to give an account

what he's done, what he what, what we've done with our

families, what we've done. With the things that he's.

Blessed us with. And what we've done with the

gospel, we're going to have to stand and give the holy and

righteous God one day an account of what we've done.

And what we see here is that the manager has not done a very

good. Job.

With what he's doing now, this is the.

Story that Jesus is is telling his disciples so.

The manager is not guilty of fraud.

He's not guilty of stealing. No, he's guilty of being

incompetent, of not doing what he's supposed to be doing.

I love Charles. Spurgeon, man, he has a, he has

a quote, he says, Spurgeon noted.

That each of us will. Have to give an account of our

stewardship regarding our time, our talents, our substance and

our influence. You see when you.

Give an account of something. A lot of us.

Just think of possessional things, no?

It is what God has. Given you in all.

Aspects of your life you're. Going to have to give an account

to it all. Now look at verse 3.

The mantra is kind of. Smart though.

Right, look what the manager says.

He goes, The manager said to himself, What shall I do now?

My master's taking away my job. I ain't got no job.

I got nothing to do. I got to start thinking about.

What is it that I? Am going to do next, he says.

I'm not strong enough to get to dig, but I'm also way too.

Proud to beg. So he's like, man, I can't work

in agriculture, I don't have that.

Skill set, I don't have the physicality for it.

But man, I have way too much pride to ask.

For help. So they're funny that sometimes

when we find ourselves in these situations.

We kind of juggle those. Things you're like, man, Like

ah. Man, I'm trying to.

Steward things right, but. I'm too.

Proud. I'd rather just just.

Fail, but I also know that I. Can't do certain things.

I'm stuck now to give. Credit to the manager here.

He actually. Acts on it though he.

Doesn't just stay. There and pity in his wallow or

wallow in his pity right he acts on it so look what he says in

verse four he goes I know what I'll.

Do. When I lose my job here.

People. Will welcome me into their

houses. That's it.

That's what I'll. Do so.

What he's going to rely on is that when he loses it, when he

gets removed. When he loses his job, he's.

Like, you know what? I can't do these things, but you

know what? I'm going to get people.

To like me. I'm going to get on, people.

'S side so that way. They will welcome me in their

houses. That's how I'm going to find

work so. How does he do it?

Look at verse 5. He's going to.

Walk us through His plan now. This is a remember.

This is the story. Jesus is teaching to his.

Disciples to talk about stewardship here.

So what does the manager? Do he called each one of his

master. 'S debtors.

So remember, he's running the business.

He asked the 1st. How much do I owe my master?

900 gallons of olive. Oil he.

Replied the master told him. Take your bill, sit down quickly

and make it. 450, I'm going to give you 50% off right now

because. That's the kind of guy.

I am remember this. Then he.

Asked the second how much? Do I owe?

1000 bushels of. Wheat he.

Replied he told him. Take your bill and make.

It 100. So look what he does.

He knows. He knows that he is.

Going to lose his. Role as a manager from the rich

man and. He's weighing like, what do I?

Do next. I need to get people to like me,

So what I'm going to do is I'm. Going to help them out now.

Here's another little trick here.

That we have to understand, because when we read the Bible,

we have to. Understand the cultural context

of the time. Jewish.

Law said that it's illegal. For you to overcharge interest

right payday loans. You guys would be in.

Jail, but you should be. So I can go.

Somewhere and borrow 50. Bucks and then charge $200 in

interest. That's illegal.

In this time you can't do that. So what do business people do in

order to cover for their interests or the lack?

Of what they would do is that. They would overcharge on.

Supply. So what?

A lot. Of scholars are saying.

Is that what the managers? Actually.

Doing He's not just winning their favor, but he's actually

kind of charging them what they're supposed.

To get but. Because of the rich man, because

of his wealth, he's not wealthy. Because he's.

Stupid. He knows what he's doing.

He might have overcharged the supplies and that's what some of

the scholars are teaching us here.

But then it says that the math here's.

The verse that throws everybody look at verse 8, the.

Master commanded the dishonest manager.

Like what? The master commended the

dishonest sent manager. Like what?

Why? Because he acted shrewdly.

And look what Jesus. Says for the people of the

world. Are more shrewd in dealing with

their own kind then are the people.

Of light. That's a strong teaching.

So what is he He? Commending the dishonest manager

about you know, this throws a lot of.

People are like what? Jesus.

Is giving props to this guy for being dishonest.

He's saying yay to $0.50 for messing up job.

Rules what? So there's two.

Things that the dishonest manager does, and I'm going.

To put on the. Screen that I think we could pay

attention to why he's being commended.

Why? Well, when the dishonest

manager. Knew.

That he would be. Called to account for his life.

He actually took it seriously. He took it serious.

He. Knew that he would be account,

so instead of him just figuring out, he tried to do something

about it and listen when. We're going to be called.

To be to give an account. To a holy and righteous God.

We have to make the. Decision whether I take that?

Serious. Or I'm just like.

Whatever. And we?

Have to take that serious. He takes it seriously.

And then #2 he gives him props. Sorry, I lost my notes here.

Oh, he gives. Him prop because he took.

Advantage of his present position.

To arrange his future, he. Knew what was going on and what

he did was he made the most out of.

He didn't just take it seriously, but he's like, you

know, I'm going to use where I am now to.

Get to the future or where I need to go and what Jesus is.

Pointing out here is that's. How we should view our

stewardship and what God gives us he's.

Like, man, like you're not managing things well.

Maybe it's time to take. It a little bit Seriously.

And on top. Of that you should use your

resources not for this world, but you use it for the.

Kingdom of God. He says it right here.

He's like, listen the people. Of this world.

They're more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than the.

People of light, people of this world.

Non believers might do it. Probably do a better job

utilizing their resources, their talents, their innovation for

the things of this. World and for the comforts of

this world. Than believers do for the.

Kingdom of God and Jesus is calling it out right here and

he's like, no, like we should, man, we should.

Be in the. Forefront of generosity and

innovation and doing amazing things in this world.

Imagine what it would. Look like if we were just as

shrewd for the. Things of the Kingdom of.

God, what would that look? Like in our neighborhoods.

How would the gospel be? Presented and move forward in

our nation. If we had the.

Same exact shrewdness. Of getting it out.

Then the world does. For their comfort.

Jesus is calling us out. Here it's a very.

Strong teaching and then look what he says.

In verse 9 he goes. I tell you, use worldly wealth.

To gain friends for yourself so that.

Way and it is gone. You will be.

Welcomed into eternal dwellings. Now what is Jesus saying?

Should we? Should just?

Use. Whatever.

Just to make ourselves, just to get friends.

No, that's not what he's saying. Jesus is.

Talking about a perspective of Kingdom here.

We should use our. Resources, everything that we

have to. Pour into people so that.

Way when you go to eternity, you will see your.

Fruit, the things of this world, it all.

Adds up. The things of this world is

they're not lasting. And he's saying, man, listen.

You should use what you have. You should be shrewd with what

you have with the gospel. Message with everything that

I've. Blessed you with to get.

People to eternity. So that way when you're in.

Eternity, you're going to see those friends that you made here

on this earth. You know, yesterday our group we

went to the apartment complex to.

Hang out with the community. And something we were talking

about is we're just talking with.

Folks that live there. And and just.

Hanging out with kids and. Buying them paletas or whatever.

It is. Many are from different

countries, Honduras, Venezuela. Mexico, all that stuff and.

We're just hanging out there and just.

Asking them questions, we're asking them what is it that the

church can do for you? What?

What are some needs? That you're seeing for your

family. And we're just out there.

Talking and hanging out, making a.

A. Just a A A.

Very welcoming setting. Why?

Why do we do? This What is it about that

activity? That's us being shrewd.

We're using our worldly wealth, we're using our resources here

to invest in the Kingdom. Over there.

And we don't know what that looks like in the.

Future but. We know that we want people to

come to know Christ and we want to see people in the internal

dwellings. And that's why we.

Do what we do. We have to use.

The master's money. To help our earthly.

Friends, meet the Master. We have to.

Use what he's giving. Us everything that we're

stewarding. Goes to.

Eternal matters not matters. Of this world not matters.

Of this earth. It makes no sense.

And listen, I'm not talking about like it's good for

Christians to manage your money well.

It's good to have a budget. Listen, you should.

Have a budget? It's.

Good not to be in debt. It's good.

It's good to. Invest in your.

Future and get a four. O1K and a 529 and all that

stuff. Listen, that stuff is good, but

when you invest, when you steward.

What God has you do? It investing with an eye to

eternity, which is our everlasting home that will last

forever not. Here, which we're here just for

a vapor you're. Wasting it and Jesus is pointing

this thing out. He's like man, we invest like I

want you guys bring your friends to the eternal.

Don't waste time here. Verse 10 Now Jesus is going to

drop this. I think this is one of the.

Greatest verses and. Listen, when Jesus says

something, that means it's true. It's real.

Look what he says in verse 10. Whoever can be trusted.

With very little can also be trusted.

With much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will

also be dishonest with much. So if you.

Have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth.

Who will trust you with true riches?

And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else's.

Property who will give you. Property of your own, for no one

can serve 2 masters either. You hate the one and love.

The other or you? Will be devoted to 1.

And despise the other you. Cannot serve both God and money.

And I love how. Jesus ends this.

He says that the Pharisees. Were listening in verse 14.

They were eavesdropping a little.

Bit so Jesus is. Pointing out to his disciples.

Like, you got to steward, you got to get people now take it

serious. But you if I'm going to trust

you with more. You have to be faithful.

With a little bit. And if you're not faithful?

With a little. Bit I can't trust you with more.

It's in the. Text and many of us and I want

to challenge. Just a little bit.

Because especially for you students like this is a great.

Principle for you to like start implementing in your life now so

that way when you're an adult. It sticks with you because.

Many of us want the. Big stuff of God.

You know, we want the platforms, we want to do some great things,

but God's like man, can I trust you with.

What a little bit first. Many of us like when we want to

be preachers and pastors, but can I trust?

You with just Bible study? Right now, can I trust?

You with just leading a group of middle schoolers before I give

you a church. In the way.

That we show up. Matters.

And then Jesus drops the bomb. Here with like this blows.

Everybody's mind Look. At these last two verses, the

Pharisees who loved money heard all of this.

And they were sneering at Jesus. They're like, man, how?

Dare you say that? And then he said to.

Them I love this because it says that they heard all of this.

They were. Sneering.

And then Jesus turns and it doesn't say.

That they told Jesus this. Jesus knows the heart.

He's. God and he said to.

Them you are the. Ones who justify yourselves.

In the eyes of others. But God knows your hearts and

what? People value highly is

detestable. In God's sight.

Yo, that that's hard. I love this because our culture,

like you, got to look at what do people value in this?

World like think about. The stuff that we value.

Stuff money, right attention we want our lives we value all

these things and we. Think this is like.

Super awesome for us and the. Bible says that God.

Says I find that detestable. The testable.

Means deserving of an intense. Dislike God?

Looks at that and says. That's cute, but I that's.

No, that's not when I'm about. I'm about the heart.

So listen how I want to end our time.

Today is. Man, I want to give you, I want

to leave you guys with four things, just four things.

And I think as students if if you.

Begin to understand these principles.

Not just about. Stewardship not just about

managing our money or for the love of money.

If you understand these this. Is going to set you up.

Nicely in life so according to our deed now, and I try to just.

Fuse it all together. So let's walk through.

This thing #1 if you want to invest in your future, you

invest in eternity. Listen when you start.

Looking at your. Future when you start thinking.

About where I want to go to college, what I want to do in

life, how am I going to get stuff paid for?

What? What scholarship?

Am I going to get? You don't.

Listen that it's good to. Study all that stuff, but you

better. Start making deposits in

eternity. You better start putting things

in God's Kingdom. Jesus tells us in Matthew 6.

Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and

everything is going to be given to you as well.

Imagine if your mindset. Was God.

First, everything else second man.

The way I want to live my life, I want to honor the Lord.

Everything else second man, I want to pursue the things of

God. And put aside the things of

this. World.

Everything else is second, man. It's all about me following the

Lord, following his righteousness, His Holiness.

I don't. Care about what the.

World is pulling me to. All of that is second I'm.

Going to pursue the Lord 1st and what you're doing is you're

investing eternity and when you invest in eternity your ROI here

on this earth is beyond imaginable.

The return on investment in eternity is goes far beyond in

verse 2. You're like man, Ricky.

Just making that stuff up. Where do you?

Get that? All right, let's look at the

text. Listen in verse.

Two, it says he. Tells the rich man.

Tells the manager to give an account.

The manager's. Job was to.

Reinvest the family wealth to take care of the family wealth.

But he didn't do that. And because he didn't do that,

he lost it. And many.

Of us have to understand. When you invest in eternity, you

don't lose anything here on this earth, you grow everything.

Here on this earth. Many of us have it.

Backwards, so we have to start. Looking how do I invest in my

future? How do I mess in?

Like everything I want, man. You got to invest in eternity.

That's where it comes. You got to give an account.

To what you do. Here on this earth, how do we

manage what God has given us here on this earth?

All right, number. Two how What do we?

Do what are some good things? Listen.

Avoid shortcuts. Avoid the shortcuts.

There's a saying that says everybody.

Wants to be the boss until it's time to do boss things.

Everybody wants to do big things.

Everybody wants to own a business.

Everybody wants streams of income until you have to stay up

for 30 hours straight and do hard things in verse 10.

In the text. To make sure I don't mess this

thing up here in verse 10. Jesus is very clear, whoever

could be trusted. With very little can be trusted

with a lot, but whoever cannot be trusted very little.

Will also be this. I'm sorry whoever is dishonest

with very little. Will also be.

Dishonest with very much students listen to me.

Avoid the shortcuts. What does that look like?

If I'm walking to a building, I'm not going to walk.

On the. Grass.

I'm going to walk on the sidewalk.

Why? Well, Ricky, it's longer.

Yes, but you avoid. Stepping on the grass, That's

avoiding a shortcut. Many of us do this in.

Life we avoid we we actually take shortcuts because.

We want to go around the. Process that God has.

In placed in our life. So that way we can.

Learn, get molded, and grow. To get us ready to.

Jump into what's next and if you can't be faithful in the little

and you're so busy looking for shortcuts, God is not going to

be able to entrust. You with the big SO?

We have to start having a mentality of, you know what?

I'm going to be faithful. Where God has placed.

Me at it's going to be difficult.

It's going to. Cause me to work.

It's going to cause me to sacrifice some things, but I'm

going to. Trust the process of God.

Molding me and as I am not avoiding shortcuts, God is going

to begin to build me up and get me ready for the next level of

what? He wants me to do.

But we live in a culture that wants.

Everything right now and right. Away.

We don't want to work. We don't want.

We want. Ease.

You can't do that, especially if God's working.

Let the Lord mold you. Let the Lord develop you.

Let the Lord. And you know.

Why this is so important? Because as.

You're working and as you're. Taking care of the things of

God. He's not just molding your

future, but listen. He's molding your character.

He can't give you something if your character can't handle it.

If your character does not match with what he's trying to achieve

in you, it's going to destroy you.

The blessing is going to become. A burden and it's going to crush

you. Because you don't have the

character to withhold it. What's character?

What's godly character? What's godly integrity?

What do you do? When nobody else is looking.

Are you faithful to the? Lord, when nobody else knows.

Your dirt. When nobody else knows your.

Business. Are you able to be strong?

Are you able to be light and live for?

Christ, in those times when nobody else knows what you're

doing. That's godly character.

And in these moments. God is developing us.

God is making us stronger. God is.

Building us from the inside out and there's levels to this and

as you take. Care of the small, like Jesus

said, when you manage the small well.

Then he's going to be. Able to give you larger.

Things to do. It's all depending on your

character, and your character does not develop if you embrace

shortcuts. I've got to go two more number.

Three, you sneer at. Statements that attack your

idols you know it's funny as. Jesus is.

Talking and he's telling the. His disciples about.

This manager and about the things of stewardship it.

Says that the Pharisees who? Love Money are listening to

this. And they're sneering, and many

of us. Whenever we embrace.

What? God is doing and whenever.

We're trying. To do shortcuts and whenever.

We want the quick fix or whenever we're in our sin,

whenever you hear something that pushes against your idols.

You start to sneer. You're like.

What are you sneering about? Well, they're.

Judging. They're judging me.

Nobody's judging you. It's that your idols.

Are being pushed on. So whenever you have an idol in

your life, whenever you're. Something in your life?

That you love. So much that you're not.

Going to let. Go of it when God.

Begins to call it out when his word.

Begins to illuminate when it's sharper.

Than the double edged sword. When it starts to cut.

Instead of being convicted and repenting, what do we do?

We sneer and we run and listen. The Pharisees, they sneered at

Christ because they loved money and Jesus says you got to pick.

You can't love money and God. You got to pick which one and

whenever he starts pushing against the things that you.

Love at the. Same height of Christ of

himself. You begin to kind of push away,

you begin to sneer. So listen, if you find yourself

students feeling that like, oh, like that conviction.

And you start. Getting a little bit upset.

Like, oh, they don't know. You need to pause and you need

to. Ask yourself a question.

Why am I sneering? At what Jesus?

Is trying to tell me now I'm not talking about like your homeboy

home like I'm talking about people who are spiritually

sound. And who love?

You and that want the best for your life and if they're trying

to warn your tell you something and you begin to push and sneer.

We have to ask ourselves what? Where's that coming from?

Because it might be something that we have that we're not

willing to let go of. And listen, the last thing I'll

talk about what this will end in verse 15.

I think this is this is probably one of the greatest statements

and this is one of the most freeing statements.

God knows your heart. God knows your heart.

And listen this this. I know for some people this

comes off as like. No, listen, this, this is one of

the most. Loving and the most freeing

statements in the world. You know why?

Because God knows your heart. You don't have to pretend.

You just be you. And God will.

Use you. I love these.

Statements and be like man what? God knows no.

God knows your heart. You know what millennials became

really good at? Millennials became really good

at pretending. You know why?

Because we grew. Up in the era of social media.

We're the ones that developed. It we're the ones that.

Grew up in it. We're the ones that know like if

I post certain things like. I could use this strategically

with people. But you know what?

Gen. Z is really good.

At. Calling out the fake stuff.

Which I love about y'all's generation.

Like y'all, y'all look at something and you're like, yeah,

ain't real like you guys are so. Good at calling out

authenticity. I think it's fabulous.

With the church. And I think that's why there's

this resurgence of your demographic coming back.

To the scriptures and to the church.

Because you're tired of the fakeness of it all.

You're tired of the BS. You're tired of the bull.

You want what's? Real in your life?

And listen, this is what God is. Calling us to God.

Knows your heart. So listen, whoever's up here

pretending you could. Be able to look at.

That and say hey, there's something off, there's something

off. Why?

Because God understands the heart.

Of a person, God knows your heart.

You want big stuff, you want larger influence.

God is saying, listen, it's your heart that I'm after.

It's your heart that I'm after. You want a larger influence, you

want, you want bigger ministries, all these things.

God is looking at. Building.

He's like man it. Is your heart that you're after?

You don't have to. Pretend.

Let me just work. Through you.

Let me just work through. You and.

I will develop you. You come to me.

And I will take your. Gifts and talents and I will

use. Them for my Kingdom.

Get out of the right heart. God knows your heart.

I love. So close with this.

Someday you guys might not know about Quick fun fact, me and

Rachel, when we met, you know, we did not immediately fall in

love with each other. I know it's kind of hard to

believe. I remember meeting Rachel at the

BSM in college and actually the first time that we met, it was

actually in passing. We just.

We just. Chopped it up.

We just, we just talked and we had a conversation.

That was it. I didn't see her immediately be

like, oh, that's the one right there.

I got butterflies. Selena's all playing in my mind.

No, I'm just like, I didn't. I didn't get that.

What happened? You see, why does Jesus address

the heart? Why does Jesus address the

heart? You see?

As my faith began to grow, as I surrendered my life to Christ,

and as God began to change my heart, I began to seek Him more

and I began to follow Him more and I began to want things of

Him more. I wanted to grow it and pursue

Him more. And when I started to pursue Him

more because my heart changed, my plans changed.

And listen for many of us. We're, we're, we're.

Wandering around in. Circles trying to figure out

life and especially you guys your generation like that's the

big thing you guys have so much pressure on you everybody asking

you 10 million questions we're going to do in the.

Future we're going to go study what?

Are you going to? Yeah, Yeah, we get that.

But listen, when your heart changes for Christ and you start

pursuing Jesus, and you start going after Jesus, and you start

fighting the flesh, and listen, you're not going to be.

Perfect. Then it's OK, Ask the holy.

Spirit to help. Your heart's going to begin to

change and your heart's going to begin to form, and you're going

to start looking at things from, not.

The world. Perspective, but from a Kingdom.

Perspective. So what?

Happens. How did me and Rach end up

together? It was an act of God and because

my heart changed and I started. Loving the things of the.

Lord the Lord. Opened my eyes to her and he.

Opened her eyes to me and I was like, OK, I could do that.

And I saw her as beautiful and loving and I was like, wow, this

is awesome and our relationship. Bonded and we barely.

Grew to grow together. What was it?

What was it about that whole? Thing.

What was it about our lives? Was it because like you had get?

No, like it wasn't all that. When my heart changed, my plans

changed, and when my plans changed, it was the.

Plans of him not. Me and when you say Lord, I'm

going to follow you, I'm going to seek your.

Plans, then God's like. OK.

You're investing in Kingdom now. So I'm going to take care of

your future. See how that works?

And listen, my future is now awesome because I married the

most wonderful woman in the world.

The ultimate pastor's wife. God knew this.

Whole plan, even when I fell short, Even when I Jack things

up. God.

Knew that. Listen.

He's going to be faithful in the small.

Developing the. Big, but it took.

Time, and it took. Time and.

Effort. But the biggest thing here?

The biggest? Thing I want you guys to

understand, the biggest thing is that God knows your heart.

Work on the heart first. When you work on the heart,

everything else is going to come in align.

Your steward's going to your. Stewardship's going to change.

Your eternity's going to change. Everything else is going to

work. We pray for us, so listen as.

We end in worship as we end in worship.

Amen. Let's stand in worship.