WEBVTT 00:00:00.239 --> 00:00:03.200 If you have your Bibles open to Luke chapter 16. 00:00:03.759 --> 00:00:04.799 Luke chapter 16. 00:00:04.959 --> 00:00:07.280 Robert normally has you running all over the Bible. 00:00:07.440 --> 00:00:20.719 You can rest today that this is the only scripture we're going to open to, but we want to examine all of Luke 16, really the first half of Luke 16, and look at it in a maybe in a different light than you've ever looked at this scripture before. 00:00:20.960 --> 00:00:23.039 It's the story of the unjust steward. 00:00:24.399 --> 00:00:26.719 I want to ask you a question as we start this morning. 00:00:26.879 --> 00:00:28.960 Do you have a plan for your life? 00:00:30.879 --> 00:00:32.880 And do you really have a life plan? 00:00:34.000 --> 00:00:36.079 Are you going somewhere? 00:00:39.439 --> 00:00:41.280 Will you know when you get there? 00:00:43.920 --> 00:00:45.200 Do you have a plan? 00:00:49.920 --> 00:00:51.119 I'm 41 years old. 00:00:51.200 --> 00:00:54.479 I'm not sure up to this point I've had a real strategic plan. 00:00:55.520 --> 00:00:58.000 I've been studying these verses for the last two or three months. 00:00:58.079 --> 00:00:59.359 And I've really been meditating. 00:00:59.520 --> 00:01:05.120 Some of you, I know we get in these Bible reading programs where we read and we we zip through scripture and we're just trying to get through the books. 00:01:05.280 --> 00:01:09.680 And you know, I would encourage you from time to time to stop and meditate. 00:01:10.159 --> 00:01:11.920 You see, I've read this story several times. 00:01:12.000 --> 00:01:17.840 I'm not sure I I've ever picked anything up out, but I've been meditating on it for the last two months. 00:01:19.599 --> 00:01:22.799 There's more in this scripture than I ever knew. 00:01:23.359 --> 00:01:27.120 I want to ask you again, do you have a plan for your life? 00:01:28.000 --> 00:01:32.879 Or are you aimlessly wondering whatever comes your way comes your way? 00:01:33.920 --> 00:01:36.319 I want to tell you, Jesus had a life plan. 00:01:37.359 --> 00:01:40.000 He didn't sit, he didn't come to earth without a plan. 00:01:40.159 --> 00:01:46.000 He came to earth with something in mind to accomplish it, and he had a step-by-step plan of how he was going to do it. 00:01:46.159 --> 00:01:47.439 I want to show you that this morning. 00:01:47.599 --> 00:01:52.480 When I was in the pharmaceutical business, I uh managed uh up to 10 or 12 representatives at a time. 00:01:52.719 --> 00:01:54.159 And uh I would always sit down. 00:01:54.239 --> 00:01:56.959 We had this one motto that many companies use, it's not a new one. 00:01:57.120 --> 00:01:58.959 We didn't create it, we still have one. 00:01:59.200 --> 00:02:01.120 Plan your work and work your plan. 00:02:02.000 --> 00:02:03.040 That was the motto. 00:02:03.120 --> 00:02:06.879 And many times I'd sit down with representatives and I'd say, what's your plan? 00:02:08.240 --> 00:02:12.960 Here's our goal, this is what we're trying to accomplish, these are our sales quotas. 00:02:13.120 --> 00:02:13.840 What's your plan? 00:02:14.000 --> 00:02:15.439 How are you gonna do it? 00:02:16.000 --> 00:02:24.000 And then they would lay out, these are my key positions in my territory, and these are the guys I'm going after, and this is what I'm gonna do. 00:02:24.159 --> 00:02:28.479 And when we saw the plan it went unfolding, if it didn't work, we changed plans. 00:02:30.879 --> 00:02:37.439 Sometimes in the Christian world and and the the way of when we the followers of the way, we don't have a plan. 00:02:38.400 --> 00:02:39.599 Where are we going? 00:02:40.319 --> 00:02:42.560 What are we trying to accomplish? 00:02:43.039 --> 00:02:45.520 I want to show you the plan that Jesus brought to earth. 00:02:45.840 --> 00:02:50.080 The plan, the only plan that I've seen that he said, that's the plan. 00:02:51.120 --> 00:02:57.439 That's what I did, that's what I want you to do, and I'm gonna commend that, and I'll bless that. 00:02:57.680 --> 00:02:59.599 Wouldn't you like to know what that plan is? 00:03:00.560 --> 00:03:02.800 Because it'll bless you for doing it. 00:03:03.280 --> 00:03:06.159 Luke chapter 16, verse 1, let's read. 00:03:06.960 --> 00:03:11.759 First verse says, and he said to the disciples, and I want you to catch this, it's important. 00:03:12.000 --> 00:03:15.759 Because what he said to disciples is not the same thing that he said to the Pharisees. 00:03:15.919 --> 00:03:17.199 It's different. 00:03:18.000 --> 00:03:24.000 When he turned and said something to the disciples, he was speaking to the church from now, from now to the end of history. 00:03:24.159 --> 00:03:29.039 He's saying to every believer, every disciple that's coming up, pay attention. 00:03:29.599 --> 00:03:33.759 I'm about to say something to you that's going to change you. 00:03:34.080 --> 00:03:34.639 Watch. 00:03:34.800 --> 00:03:37.680 So he said to the disciples, there's a certain steward. 00:03:37.919 --> 00:03:44.080 An accusation was brought to him concerning this steward, that he was wasting his goods. 00:03:44.479 --> 00:03:48.560 So he called him and he said, What is this I hear about you? 00:03:48.800 --> 00:03:53.360 Give an account of your stewardship, for you can no longer be a steward. 00:03:53.599 --> 00:03:57.520 In verse 3, then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? 00:03:57.840 --> 00:04:03.759 For my master is taking my stewardship away, I cannot dig, and I'm ashamed to beg. 00:04:05.280 --> 00:04:09.919 As if he thought for a minute, verse 4 picks up and he said, I've resolved what to do. 00:04:10.159 --> 00:04:14.639 When I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses. 00:04:14.960 --> 00:04:18.079 So he called every one of the master's debtors to him. 00:04:18.240 --> 00:04:21.360 And he said to the first, How much do you owe my master? 00:04:21.600 --> 00:04:23.839 And he said to him, A hundred measures of oil. 00:04:24.079 --> 00:04:28.079 So he said to him, Take your bill, sit down quickly, and write it for fifty. 00:04:28.399 --> 00:04:30.720 Then he said to another, How much do you owe? 00:04:30.959 --> 00:04:32.720 He said, A hundred measures of wheat. 00:04:32.879 --> 00:04:35.279 He said to him, Take your bill, write eighty. 00:04:35.519 --> 00:04:40.720 So the master commended the unjust steward, because he had dealt shrewdly. 00:04:41.680 --> 00:04:47.040 For the sons of this world are more shrewd in their generation than the sons of light. 00:04:47.199 --> 00:04:59.839 And then he said to the disciples, I say to you, make friends for yourself by unrighteous men, that when you fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations. 00:05:02.240 --> 00:05:03.759 I gotta be real honest with you. 00:05:03.839 --> 00:05:08.560 I read this story for the first time and that I can remember remembering the story. 00:05:10.959 --> 00:05:14.959 I said, Lord, why would you commend him for doing that? 00:05:16.399 --> 00:05:21.519 Here's a guy that wasn't doing his job, and he got fired. 00:05:22.160 --> 00:05:23.360 Did you see that? 00:05:24.160 --> 00:05:27.360 He got fired because he wasn't doing his job. 00:05:28.319 --> 00:05:41.600 And then as he's leaving the company, he goes to account receivables, pulls all of the records, and goes to every one of the debtors and says, We're going to give 20 to 50% off today. 00:05:41.839 --> 00:05:43.120 And today only. 00:05:45.920 --> 00:05:48.560 And Jesus said, Hey man, that was good. 00:05:50.399 --> 00:05:55.600 I I had to say to the Lord, you know, Lord, that kind of made me double dog mad. 00:05:57.680 --> 00:06:00.959 I mean, if you're the owner of this company, wouldn't that have made you a little bit mad? 00:06:01.839 --> 00:06:05.040 I mean, I mean, let's face it, this wasn't his money. 00:06:05.279 --> 00:06:08.079 And it'd be in a different story if it was his money. 00:06:08.240 --> 00:06:09.439 But it wasn't his money. 00:06:09.600 --> 00:06:11.519 It wasn't his accounts receivable. 00:06:11.759 --> 00:06:13.920 It was the master's accounts receivable. 00:06:14.079 --> 00:06:17.360 And the master comes back to him and says, Good job! 00:06:20.959 --> 00:06:21.759 Good job. 00:06:21.920 --> 00:06:22.480 Let's see. 00:06:23.040 --> 00:06:23.759 So what? 00:06:26.079 --> 00:06:29.519 So I saw her, I said, you're gonna have to shed some light on this story. 00:06:29.600 --> 00:06:31.519 I I'm missing the boat here a little bit. 00:06:31.759 --> 00:06:34.480 He said, yes, there's two things reason I say good job. 00:06:34.800 --> 00:06:37.759 One and one I want you to elaborate on is the plan. 00:06:38.319 --> 00:06:40.639 But the other thing is he finally did something. 00:06:40.879 --> 00:06:42.560 I mean, this guy was doing nothing. 00:06:42.720 --> 00:06:44.240 He was wasting all of my goods. 00:06:44.399 --> 00:06:49.839 He said, Do you remember the parable of the the talents and the last guy that did nothing, he buried it? 00:06:50.399 --> 00:06:52.639 He said, I called him wicked and lazy. 00:06:53.519 --> 00:06:57.360 He said, This guy, at least on his way out, did something. 00:06:59.199 --> 00:07:06.959 Which really you can you can draw that into an application for us is if you're still drawing breath, there's still time. 00:07:07.920 --> 00:07:10.399 There's still time for you to do something with your life. 00:07:11.199 --> 00:07:15.360 You know, I tell my kids all the time, I said, listen, I don't want you to serve God because I do. 00:07:17.920 --> 00:07:22.720 I'm not going to mandate that you serve God, but I'm going to tell you this, while you have breath, you have a choice. 00:07:23.040 --> 00:07:23.839 It's yours. 00:07:24.079 --> 00:07:32.160 I'm not forcing it down your throat, but I want to demonstrate before you that if you choose not to serve God, it's the biggest mistake you'll ever make. 00:07:33.040 --> 00:07:40.560 I want to live before them a true blue life filled with God. 00:07:40.879 --> 00:07:44.079 So that they're enticed to come to it. 00:07:44.319 --> 00:07:47.839 When they see God doing miracles in our lives, wow. 00:07:48.079 --> 00:07:55.680 When my son understands that God can take away hiccups just like that when he's tried for an hour, I want him to understand we're not serving a dead God. 00:07:55.839 --> 00:08:01.519 So I tell you, if you're here today and you're you you feel like you're on the outside of what God is doing, you're still drawing breath. 00:08:01.600 --> 00:08:03.360 There's still opportunity for you. 00:08:03.680 --> 00:08:05.439 You still have an opportunity. 00:08:05.600 --> 00:08:08.240 But I don't believe that's all he was saying here. 00:08:08.480 --> 00:08:09.920 I believe there's more. 00:08:10.160 --> 00:08:15.040 I believe that this unjust steward came up with a plan that Jesus said, I commend it. 00:08:15.120 --> 00:08:17.680 I want you to look back at verse 8, because you have to see this. 00:08:17.920 --> 00:08:19.600 Look back at verse 8. 00:08:20.079 --> 00:08:23.199 The master commended the unjust steward because why? 00:08:24.160 --> 00:08:26.160 Because he dealt shrewdly. 00:08:26.800 --> 00:08:33.440 Now that that word shrewdly is not a uh not a real popular word in our culture today, is it? 00:08:34.399 --> 00:08:37.919 I mean, if you're shrewd, people kind of give you the evil eye. 00:08:38.960 --> 00:08:41.039 Jesus said, you know, watch this. 00:08:41.279 --> 00:08:43.759 He just makes an indictment on the sons of light. 00:08:43.840 --> 00:08:45.519 Watch in verse 8, latter half. 00:08:45.759 --> 00:08:51.679 For the sons of this world are more shrewd in their generation than the sons of light. 00:08:51.840 --> 00:08:52.799 Now watch this. 00:08:53.120 --> 00:08:56.879 He just commended the unjust steward for being shrewd. 00:08:58.320 --> 00:09:03.279 And then he says, the sons of this world are more shrewd than the sons of light. 00:09:03.519 --> 00:09:06.159 Does that sound like he just made an indictment on us? 00:09:09.440 --> 00:09:10.879 Yes, it does. 00:09:11.440 --> 00:09:14.720 So what did the unjust steward do that was so shrewd? 00:09:14.960 --> 00:09:16.559 That's what I want you to see. 00:09:16.720 --> 00:09:21.519 Because I'm going to tell you this, if you'll catch this, folks, it'll change the way you live the rest of your life. 00:09:22.799 --> 00:09:28.879 If you catch this plan, it'll change the way you live the rest of your life. 00:09:29.039 --> 00:09:30.399 Let's look back at verse 3. 00:09:30.480 --> 00:09:31.840 We want to look at the shrewd plan. 00:09:31.919 --> 00:09:35.039 Verse 3, 4, 5, all the way down back to 9. 00:09:36.240 --> 00:09:40.720 The steward said within himself, now first off, you have to understand this this moment in time. 00:09:41.360 --> 00:09:46.720 I don't want you to raise your hands, but uh you ever been fired? 00:09:50.000 --> 00:09:51.519 It's kind of shocking. 00:09:52.480 --> 00:09:55.840 It's kind of one moment you go to work and the next moment you don't have a job. 00:09:56.159 --> 00:09:59.679 Then you start these things like, I'm gonna feed my family. 00:10:00.159 --> 00:10:03.440 You know, I'm a little embarrassed to tell my friends. 00:10:04.639 --> 00:10:06.720 I mean, think where this guy is. 00:10:07.120 --> 00:10:09.039 All of a sudden he's lost his job. 00:10:10.639 --> 00:10:12.559 He's kind of in a predicament. 00:10:12.960 --> 00:10:15.039 Does he go home and tell his wife? 00:10:17.759 --> 00:10:19.360 How do I handle the situation? 00:10:19.519 --> 00:10:21.120 So he comes to a shock. 00:10:21.279 --> 00:10:26.000 It's a little shocking to his system, and he said he starts talking within himself. 00:10:26.320 --> 00:10:27.679 You ever done that? 00:10:28.799 --> 00:10:31.200 Start trying to take a little inventory of what's going on. 00:10:31.360 --> 00:10:33.279 Look in verse 3 and he says, What shall I do? 00:10:33.440 --> 00:10:34.480 as he talks to himself. 00:10:34.639 --> 00:10:36.720 My master is taking the stewardship away from me. 00:10:36.879 --> 00:10:38.399 And then he begins to take inventory. 00:10:38.480 --> 00:10:39.919 He says, I cannot dig. 00:10:40.320 --> 00:10:44.080 I've looked at these hands, they're pencil pushers. 00:10:44.240 --> 00:10:45.759 There's no way I can dig. 00:10:46.159 --> 00:10:49.279 And then he says, I'm ashamed to beg. 00:10:50.480 --> 00:10:54.480 Seemed like he's seen a beggar or two in his time and said, I I'm not doing that. 00:10:55.120 --> 00:11:00.080 And it's as if he thought and he sat there for a minute and began to think, what am I going to do? 00:11:00.720 --> 00:11:03.440 And in verse 4, he said, I got it. 00:11:04.159 --> 00:11:05.120 I got it. 00:11:05.440 --> 00:11:07.440 I've resolved what to do. 00:11:07.679 --> 00:11:11.840 That when I'm put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses. 00:11:12.080 --> 00:11:14.960 Before you make a plan, you better have a goal. 00:11:16.480 --> 00:11:18.960 That's why I asked you today, do you have a plan? 00:11:19.440 --> 00:11:20.720 Do you have a goal? 00:11:20.960 --> 00:11:22.159 Where are you going? 00:11:22.639 --> 00:11:24.159 How will you know when you get there? 00:11:24.320 --> 00:11:26.559 How will you know if you achieve what you're after? 00:11:26.879 --> 00:11:28.879 This steward said, I've got it. 00:11:29.039 --> 00:11:35.360 When I'm put out of the stewardship, my goal is to get another job with the guys that I'm already in this industry. 00:11:35.519 --> 00:11:36.879 I already know the business. 00:11:37.039 --> 00:11:40.320 I'm going to get them to receive me into their house and they're going to give me a job. 00:11:40.399 --> 00:11:44.559 My family's going to move right across the street and I'm going to move in with them and I'll I'll be all right. 00:11:44.639 --> 00:11:48.399 I'll go home and tell my wife, hey, baby, I got a better opportunity today. 00:11:48.639 --> 00:11:50.879 I'm going to go work for a new company. 00:11:51.279 --> 00:11:53.600 I don't have to tell her I got fired. 00:11:54.320 --> 00:11:56.159 I mean, this is the flame. 00:12:00.799 --> 00:12:02.639 And he's excited about it. 00:12:03.440 --> 00:12:04.960 He's got a goal now. 00:12:06.159 --> 00:12:12.720 You know, I could stop for a moment and ask, I wonder why the steward was wasting the master's goods. 00:12:13.039 --> 00:12:16.720 I wonder why he'd already checked out a the job that he was already in. 00:12:19.759 --> 00:12:20.639 I'll tell you why. 00:12:20.720 --> 00:12:21.600 He had no goal. 00:12:22.000 --> 00:12:23.039 He had no plan. 00:12:24.320 --> 00:12:25.519 Maybe he was better. 00:12:25.679 --> 00:12:26.320 I don't know. 00:12:26.960 --> 00:12:28.559 I could go through a lot of scenarios. 00:12:28.639 --> 00:12:30.399 I know there's times I've checked out. 00:12:31.840 --> 00:12:37.519 But I'll tell you this, at this moment in his life he gets excited because he now has a goal. 00:12:37.759 --> 00:12:39.279 And he now has a plan. 00:12:39.360 --> 00:12:40.720 And let's look at his plan. 00:12:41.600 --> 00:12:43.919 In verse 5, he starts into the plan. 00:12:44.320 --> 00:12:45.600 So he called everyone. 00:12:45.759 --> 00:12:46.879 I want you to mark that one. 00:12:47.120 --> 00:12:47.840 Every one. 00:12:48.000 --> 00:12:49.120 He didn't call just two. 00:12:49.200 --> 00:12:53.279 He called every one of the master's debtors. 00:12:53.440 --> 00:12:55.759 And then he began to give this fire sale. 00:12:56.720 --> 00:12:58.320 Today and today only. 00:12:58.799 --> 00:12:59.840 Can I ask you a question? 00:13:00.000 --> 00:13:05.279 If your mortgage company called you today and they said, 50% day off. 00:13:06.080 --> 00:13:09.519 If you bring us half of what you owe for your house, we'll give you the deed. 00:13:10.799 --> 00:13:12.720 I knew we would leave the building right now. 00:13:14.159 --> 00:13:15.759 Would that be a good deal for you? 00:13:17.200 --> 00:13:18.320 It'd be a great deal for me. 00:13:18.399 --> 00:13:19.200 I wouldn't be here. 00:13:19.679 --> 00:13:20.879 That'd be a great deal. 00:13:25.759 --> 00:13:32.799 I'm gonna give these guys that owe my master money such a good deal that they're gonna receive me. 00:13:33.200 --> 00:13:34.879 They're gonna say, You are my buddy. 00:13:35.840 --> 00:13:37.519 How many of you have ever received a good deal? 00:13:38.320 --> 00:13:38.960 Why don't you think? 00:13:39.039 --> 00:13:41.360 How many of you ever received a a good deal? 00:13:41.679 --> 00:13:43.440 How many of you ever received a great deal? 00:13:44.960 --> 00:13:45.600 All three of us? 00:13:45.759 --> 00:13:49.759 How many of you have ever received an unbelievable deal? 00:13:51.279 --> 00:13:54.000 I didn't make you feel toward the person that gave it to you. 00:13:55.039 --> 00:13:56.320 You hated them, right? 00:13:57.600 --> 00:13:58.799 My wife goes shopping. 00:13:58.879 --> 00:14:00.559 I mean, this is the most incredible thing I watch. 00:14:00.720 --> 00:14:05.519 I mean, she comes home and she says to me, Honey, you're not gonna believe the deal I got. 00:14:05.840 --> 00:14:10.720 And my my first response, most of the times I hear this, honey, I don't care how much you saved me. 00:14:10.879 --> 00:14:12.799 I care how much you spent me. 00:14:14.159 --> 00:14:15.440 How much did you spend me? 00:14:15.519 --> 00:14:18.559 No, no, no, baby, you got it it's unbelievable. 00:14:19.759 --> 00:14:23.360 But you know, my wife actually goes and prays before she goes to shop. 00:14:23.600 --> 00:14:27.440 And she comes home with some of the most unbelievable deals I've ever seen. 00:14:27.679 --> 00:14:31.919 I'm like, Good baby. 00:14:32.159 --> 00:14:33.679 You have done good. 00:14:33.840 --> 00:14:40.000 I don't even have to ask her really lately how much did you spend me because I know she spent the least amount and she got the most. 00:14:40.159 --> 00:14:41.279 And she's just so excited. 00:14:41.519 --> 00:14:47.200 And all now that I have uh four women in my household, I have to sit on the couch for a long time and watch the deals. 00:14:47.600 --> 00:14:48.080 Very nice. 00:14:48.399 --> 00:14:49.360 Oh, that's a good deal. 00:14:49.519 --> 00:14:51.039 Ooh, good deal, very good deal. 00:14:51.200 --> 00:14:52.480 And the ball game's on behind. 00:14:53.039 --> 00:14:53.679 Very good deal. 00:14:53.759 --> 00:14:56.240 Very, very, very ooh, how much did you pay? 00:14:56.399 --> 00:14:58.080 Oh, great deal. 00:15:03.759 --> 00:15:05.679 My wife loves Nord Streams. 00:15:05.759 --> 00:15:07.200 They give good deals. 00:15:08.399 --> 00:15:12.639 You see, you change your attitude towards somebody who gives you a good deal, don't you? 00:15:13.440 --> 00:15:16.480 His goal was to get them to receive them into their houses. 00:15:16.639 --> 00:15:19.679 His plan was, I'm gonna give them a good deal in the process. 00:15:20.320 --> 00:15:30.320 Probably the best deal that my wife and I have ever received was a house that we bought in uh Mansfield, Texas about four or five years ago. 00:15:31.039 --> 00:15:34.159 We went out to this neighborhood one one particular Sunday afternoon. 00:15:34.240 --> 00:15:38.240 We were out, matter of fact with Donnie and Lori Hunt, we we drove out and we took a date, we date night. 00:15:38.320 --> 00:15:40.240 We have a we have a date night every week. 00:15:40.399 --> 00:15:44.559 We normally date on Friday nights, but this particular time we were dating on Sunday afternoons. 00:15:44.799 --> 00:15:48.080 And uh it's just healthy for our marriage. 00:15:48.240 --> 00:15:49.919 And we get a kick out of it. 00:15:50.080 --> 00:15:52.799 And this particular date night, we said, why don't we invite Donnie and Lori? 00:15:52.960 --> 00:16:04.879 And we went out and looked at this neighborhood, and I mean my wife, I mean, when the when the Lord begins to speak to my wife, at this particular moment in my time, I I I was I was walking with God, but she was way far ahead of me. 00:16:04.960 --> 00:16:11.039 And I mean she was really hearing God and I I and she said, Honey, I really feel like the Lord says we're gonna move out here. 00:16:11.279 --> 00:16:15.200 And I started looking around this neighborhood, I was like, Oh, that'll be a miracle. 00:16:15.919 --> 00:16:18.879 And she said, No, I really feel like God's gonna give us a house. 00:16:18.960 --> 00:16:21.600 And I said, Honey, come on, baby, listen to me. 00:16:22.399 --> 00:16:26.240 It takes a lot of money that we don't have. 00:16:26.639 --> 00:16:27.440 Wake up. 00:16:28.159 --> 00:16:31.600 And she's like, My dad said it, we need to shut up. 00:16:31.919 --> 00:16:33.200 And I said, Okay. 00:16:34.320 --> 00:16:36.320 Well, we thought we were moving that direction. 00:16:36.399 --> 00:16:37.600 The Lord sent us to California. 00:16:37.759 --> 00:16:39.279 I said, What about it? 00:16:39.440 --> 00:16:42.480 And she said, Well, I thought we were going, but I know he sent us to California. 00:16:42.559 --> 00:16:45.200 So we moved to California and we stayed out in San Diego. 00:16:45.279 --> 00:16:46.799 We hated the weather, it was horrible. 00:16:46.879 --> 00:16:48.480 I mean, it was just bad. 00:16:48.720 --> 00:16:51.440 We didn't want to we didn't want to go, but we did. 00:16:51.679 --> 00:16:56.960 And uh we had to go to Hawaii a time or two while we were so close, and uh, but we went ahead. 00:16:57.120 --> 00:17:03.840 And uh while we were out there, we were we we had worked for a season, we actually were trying to our goal was to hire 250 representatives. 00:17:04.000 --> 00:17:10.079 My job was to fly all over the nation and get my manpower in place and hire at least 250 representatives. 00:17:10.240 --> 00:17:17.920 And we accomplished that goal and we got all the representatives and we trained them and we sent them out in the field and we went from the Salesforce over a couple hundred to almost 500. 00:17:18.640 --> 00:17:22.799 And seven or eight months down the road, I felt like Lord said you can go home. 00:17:23.039 --> 00:17:24.160 I said, yeah. 00:17:24.319 --> 00:17:26.880 I like California, but it's a little expensive. 00:17:27.039 --> 00:17:28.000 I want to go home. 00:17:28.160 --> 00:17:31.200 So she said, hey, well Lord said we're gonna buy a house in Mansfield. 00:17:31.279 --> 00:17:31.920 Why don't you call that build? 00:17:32.079 --> 00:17:34.720 I'm I I I was really hoping she'd forgotten it. 00:17:35.039 --> 00:17:40.400 And she said, why don't you call that builder that we like and see if he he got a house left? 00:17:40.480 --> 00:17:42.160 And I said, Okay. 00:17:43.200 --> 00:17:45.039 I mean, it's real expensive. 00:17:45.359 --> 00:17:46.160 Do you want to spend that? 00:17:46.400 --> 00:17:47.440 She said, Call me. 00:17:47.680 --> 00:17:50.319 And he said, uh, I said, okay, now now what did you want? 00:17:50.400 --> 00:17:51.759 She said, five bedrooms and an office. 00:17:51.839 --> 00:17:52.880 And I said, Mm-hmm. 00:17:53.200 --> 00:17:53.440 Okay. 00:17:53.839 --> 00:17:58.319 So I called up the builder and he said on the phone, he said, uh, hey, I'm not building that community anymore. 00:17:58.400 --> 00:17:59.039 And I said, Well good. 00:17:59.119 --> 00:18:00.000 That's oh I'm sorry. 00:18:00.240 --> 00:18:01.440 That's that's that's nice. 00:18:03.680 --> 00:18:08.400 And she would have He said, uh, but I have two houses left. 00:18:09.599 --> 00:18:09.839 Okay. 00:18:10.319 --> 00:18:12.640 And he said, uh, what are you looking for? 00:18:12.799 --> 00:18:14.400 I said, well, you probably don't have it. 00:18:14.480 --> 00:18:16.000 I need five bedrooms and an office. 00:18:16.160 --> 00:18:17.279 He goes, I have one. 00:18:17.440 --> 00:18:21.680 I said Okay, how much you asking? 00:18:21.920 --> 00:18:25.599 He said, Well, we were asking three hundred thousand, but we dropped it to two fifty-five. 00:18:27.519 --> 00:18:28.480 I said, That's pretty good. 00:18:28.720 --> 00:18:29.680 I can't afford that. 00:18:30.160 --> 00:18:32.640 I said, Well he's got one but it's two fifty five. 00:18:36.240 --> 00:18:37.839 Do you know how this works? 00:18:41.039 --> 00:18:42.720 I said, Well, me and my wife talked about it. 00:18:42.799 --> 00:18:44.559 We we'd like to offer you two twenty five for that house. 00:18:44.640 --> 00:18:46.079 We'd seen the house one time. 00:18:47.279 --> 00:18:49.599 We'd trying to remember, oh yeah, okay, that'll be that okay. 00:18:50.000 --> 00:18:56.319 And uh he said, uh it it cost me a lot more to build a house than two twenty five. 00:18:56.480 --> 00:18:57.519 I said, Well, I I figured it would. 00:18:57.839 --> 00:18:58.319 That's okay. 00:18:58.480 --> 00:18:59.119 Well, thanks. 00:18:59.599 --> 00:19:01.759 He said, I tell you what, I'll give it to you for two forty-eight. 00:19:03.759 --> 00:19:05.039 I said he said two forty eight. 00:19:05.839 --> 00:19:07.119 Offering two forty. 00:19:08.400 --> 00:19:09.599 Do we have two forty? 00:19:10.240 --> 00:19:11.920 Do you know something I don't know? 00:19:14.799 --> 00:19:16.559 I said, all right, this is our final. 00:19:16.640 --> 00:19:22.799 And I started calculating our what the what the company had given us some stock out there and I could cash that stock in and I thought, okay. 00:19:22.960 --> 00:19:25.119 So I said, you know, our our final bid is gonna be two forty. 00:19:25.279 --> 00:19:25.920 He said, We'll take it. 00:19:26.079 --> 00:19:28.240 I went, You will? 00:19:28.720 --> 00:19:32.319 So I called my brother, immediately mortgage banker, and he worked out and said, I think you can do it. 00:19:33.519 --> 00:19:47.119 Folks, it was 4,157 square feet on the golf course, the number two T box looking down a fairway over a pond in the most gorgeous golf course down in Mansfield, and it was$57 a square foot. 00:19:48.880 --> 00:19:56.960 And I hung with the four mil lower and I said, would you calm down a little bit? 00:19:57.279 --> 00:19:58.799 I told you so. 00:20:00.160 --> 00:20:01.759 You great man a face. 00:20:05.119 --> 00:20:06.799 I knew it all the time. 00:20:08.400 --> 00:20:11.519 Fourteen months later we sold it for$270, and I made$30,000. 00:20:11.839 --> 00:20:12.559 I went, woo! 00:20:12.880 --> 00:20:14.799 See, I told you so, baby. 00:20:18.799 --> 00:20:21.200 I like that builder still today. 00:20:22.160 --> 00:20:23.599 He's one of my favorite builders. 00:20:23.759 --> 00:20:26.400 If I have an opportunity to buy a house on him, I'll do it again. 00:20:26.720 --> 00:20:29.519 Because he gave me a good deal. 00:20:30.880 --> 00:20:33.599 How do you feel towards people who give you a good deal? 00:20:34.559 --> 00:20:36.000 I want you to watch this. 00:20:36.240 --> 00:20:37.759 Go to verse 9. 00:20:38.799 --> 00:20:40.640 We've looked at the shrewd plan. 00:20:41.200 --> 00:20:42.799 But you've got to see this. 00:20:43.680 --> 00:20:49.359 Jesus says, guys, in verse 8, he said, don't let the world be more shrewd than you are. 00:20:49.680 --> 00:20:51.759 I want you to be more shrewd than the world. 00:20:51.920 --> 00:20:54.400 Then verse 9 he says, guys, listen to me. 00:20:54.640 --> 00:21:09.359 I say to you, make friends for yourself by unrighteous mammon, that when you fail or when you die, they may receive you into everlasting habitations. 00:21:10.240 --> 00:21:12.079 What do you say the goal was? 00:21:13.359 --> 00:21:15.839 It's the same goal the unjust steward had. 00:21:16.000 --> 00:21:17.200 I want you to compare these. 00:21:17.359 --> 00:21:23.920 Well, in verse 4, he very end, he said, his goal, that they may receive me into their houses. 00:21:24.079 --> 00:21:29.279 Verse 9 says, that they may receive me into everlasting habitations. 00:21:29.440 --> 00:21:33.359 Jesus was saying about the unjust steward, man, you got a good goal. 00:21:33.599 --> 00:21:39.519 The goal is when it's over, when it's said and done, they're going to stand at heaven's gates and welcome you in. 00:21:41.200 --> 00:21:43.039 He said, How do you get them there? 00:21:43.279 --> 00:21:44.960 Look at verse 9 again. 00:21:45.279 --> 00:21:53.440 I say to you, make friends for yourself by unrighteous men and how do you make friends? 00:21:55.920 --> 00:21:58.000 You give them a good deal. 00:21:58.640 --> 00:21:59.680 You know, the unjust steward. 00:22:00.400 --> 00:22:02.079 Did it selfishly, didn't he? 00:22:02.559 --> 00:22:04.960 He wasn't doing it to bless those guys, was he? 00:22:07.599 --> 00:22:09.440 He did it to bless himself. 00:22:09.839 --> 00:22:11.839 Jesus wasn't commending that. 00:22:13.359 --> 00:22:15.119 He was commending his plan. 00:22:20.880 --> 00:22:24.319 Did anybody ever just bless you because they wanted you to be blessed? 00:22:28.319 --> 00:22:29.440 It feels good. 00:22:32.960 --> 00:22:37.839 From time to time I uh I want to do something out of the ordinary for my own children. 00:22:38.480 --> 00:22:41.200 But I want them to know they're the apple of my eye. 00:22:43.839 --> 00:22:45.519 It keeps us talking. 00:22:46.240 --> 00:22:50.799 There are times I'll stay up till one or two or three o'clock in the morning talking to my oldest daughter. 00:22:52.319 --> 00:22:54.720 Because I want her to know what she says is important. 00:22:55.599 --> 00:22:57.359 It's a good deal for her. 00:23:00.160 --> 00:23:03.839 There are times the Lord tells me I want you to do something special for your wife. 00:23:04.160 --> 00:23:11.519 Because when it's all said and done, when we park this earth, when I lay down, I want her to be able to put on my spin song. 00:23:11.680 --> 00:23:14.799 Here lie the man who gave me a good deal. 00:23:16.079 --> 00:23:17.839 I want my family to have a good deal. 00:23:18.000 --> 00:23:24.160 When I reach heaven, and when my family reaches heaven, I want them to be able to say, now that was funny. 00:23:25.359 --> 00:23:26.640 That was funny. 00:23:28.319 --> 00:23:29.920 What a good deal. 00:23:30.559 --> 00:23:34.720 You see, this is exactly Jesus lived his entire life on the earth. 00:23:35.039 --> 00:23:42.480 He said to the Father, as they say he's about ready to get to leave heaven, and he's about to come to the earth, and the whole goal is I want to purchase back my people. 00:23:42.799 --> 00:23:44.880 They was lost in Adam, I'm going to buy them back. 00:23:44.960 --> 00:23:50.160 I'm going to shed my blood, and I'm going to get the contract, and we've signed the deed, and they're going to have a relationship with you again, Father. 00:23:50.240 --> 00:23:50.960 That's the goal. 00:23:51.119 --> 00:23:51.920 How are we going to do it? 00:23:52.000 --> 00:23:54.480 And God said, I want you to give them a good deal. 00:23:55.359 --> 00:23:57.440 I want you to heal their bodies. 00:23:57.839 --> 00:24:00.160 I want you to free them from their sicknesses. 00:24:00.400 --> 00:24:03.440 I want you to free them from every demonic oppression. 00:24:03.920 --> 00:24:06.880 I want you to give them a good deal. 00:24:07.279 --> 00:24:09.519 And that's the way we'll win them back. 00:24:09.920 --> 00:24:15.359 Did you notice in Scripture that the Pharisees never gave anybody a good deal? 00:24:16.319 --> 00:24:18.160 They didn't want anybody to have a good deal. 00:24:18.319 --> 00:24:25.759 The tax collectors and sinners never flocked to the synagogues to hear them, but they did to hear Jesus. 00:24:26.240 --> 00:24:28.160 Because he gave great deals. 00:24:28.720 --> 00:24:30.160 Everywhere he went. 00:24:30.400 --> 00:24:36.400