SPEAKER_00: Welcome to Sharper Sword, the publication ministry of Lighthouse Baptist Church in Lemon Grove, California.
SPEAKER_00: Lighthouse believes that individuals can reach their potential for the Lord as they grow in Christ.
SPEAKER_00: We want to hear our Lord say, Well done, thou good and faithful servant.
SPEAKER_00: Let's join Pastor Doug Fisher as he preaches another important biblical message from the Word of God.
SPEAKER_01: Luke chapter 16.
SPEAKER_01: I want to give you two words tonight that I hope will ring true with you for a little while.
SPEAKER_01: Luke chapter 16, and then also would you pick up Matthew chapter number 6?
SPEAKER_01: Luke 16, Matthew chapter number 6.
SPEAKER_01: I hope you're still a little excited about Easter and by the way, Resurrection Day and what God has done.
SPEAKER_01: And I hope you haven't lost the glow of that a little bit yet.
SPEAKER_01: Luke chapter 16, Matthew chapter number 6.
SPEAKER_01: I'm not going to read the whole parable, but there's a parable that in Luke chapter 16 talks about a steward down here that didn't do very well with his stewardship.
SPEAKER_01: And then he commanded some things to happen, but I want you to get down to verse number 10.
SPEAKER_01: Verse number 10.
SPEAKER_01: And here's the principle that he wants us to get out of the first nine verses.
SPEAKER_01: Verse 10.
SPEAKER_01: He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much.
SPEAKER_01: Now stop right there.
SPEAKER_01: If we can't be faithful in the least, then he's not going to give us the much, but he said, He that is faithful in that which is least, which means everything he gives us to be faithful in, don't count that as something small.
SPEAKER_01: It's very important.
SPEAKER_01: And he that is unjust in the least is also unjust in much.
SPEAKER_01: But if therefore you have been faithful in the unrighteous, uh if you have been faithful in the unrighteous mammoth, who will commit to your trust the true riches?
SPEAKER_01: Now, brethren, I I want to get, and I hope we can talk about a little bit tonight, the true riches.
SPEAKER_01: The true riches.
SPEAKER_01: Because, brethren, the the righteous, unrighteous mammon down here and the money and and all the things that are uh are temporal down here, it's all important.
SPEAKER_01: We ought to be good stewards of money.
SPEAKER_01: Would you agree with that?
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, you can say amen right there.
SPEAKER_01: And look, none of us are perfect with that.
SPEAKER_01: We all we all have made mistakes with that.
SPEAKER_01: We ought to be faithful in a lot of different things, but what he says is make sure that you get to the place where he can trust you with the true riches.
SPEAKER_01: And may I say, I do believe that the true riches is something that is so vital to our eternity.
SPEAKER_01: What do you mean?
SPEAKER_01: Salvation is more than being saved.
SPEAKER_01: There's more to salvation than just being, hey, I'm saved, I'm on my way to heaven.
SPEAKER_01: Praise the Lord.
SPEAKER_01: We ought to thank God for that tonight.
SPEAKER_01: But salvation is more than being saved because we are his workmanship.
SPEAKER_01: We are his artistry, we are his craftsmanship.
SPEAKER_01: He's crafting us unto good works, and he wants us to lay up in store true riches.
SPEAKER_01: Now, the true riches, brethren, are not kept in a bank.
SPEAKER_01: It's what you do with that which is kept in the bank to give him glory.
SPEAKER_01: Come on, is that right?
SPEAKER_01: The true riches are not something that are temporal.
SPEAKER_01: The true riches are something that are that are much more valuable.
SPEAKER_01: If you would uh hold your place in Luke and look over at Matthew 6 to a scripture that you're already familiar with, but it fits where we're at tonight.
SPEAKER_01: You're holding your place in Luke.
SPEAKER_01: Look at Matthew chapter 6.
SPEAKER_01: We want to be careful about being faithful in the things that he's given us to do and to steward over.
SPEAKER_01: Matthew chapter 6, look at verse number 19.
SPEAKER_01: Verse number 19, he says, Lay not up for yourself treasures upon earth.
SPEAKER_01: Now, brethren, I don't think there's anything wrong with making investments.
SPEAKER_01: I don't think there's anything wrong with doing wise things down here, with gaining, with having a home, having a car paid off, whatever it is that's important to you.
SPEAKER_01: But he says uh that's not the extent of what a Christian should focus on.
SPEAKER_01: Nothing wrong with focusing on, you know, get your mortgage paid if you can, uh get your car paid off, uh, have this, have that, uh, get that education paid for, and uh, and do things for people.
SPEAKER_01: But he says, don't put all your treasures upon earth, where moth and wrath doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal.
SPEAKER_01: So, brethren, if it can be taken from us, in some way, shape, or form, he says, be careful, be careful about putting your heart in that kind of treasure.
SPEAKER_01: He says, But lay up for yourself treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor wrath doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.
SPEAKER_01: Brethren, what we lay up in heaven and put ahead of us, rot, moth can't get to it, rust can't get to it, and thieves can't get to it.
SPEAKER_01: Now I want to make this statement to you.
SPEAKER_01: There's nothing wrong with having things down here, nothing wrong with the temporal.
SPEAKER_01: But it's so wonderful that even people who are not very wealthy can lay up things that nobody can steal.
SPEAKER_01: Even people that are not very extremely high, high IQ with these great degrees can still lay up a lot of treasure in heaven.
SPEAKER_01: Brethren, understanding and faith allows us to lay something up that God says is true riches, because the true riches are not just the temporary things.
SPEAKER_01: You know this little statement down here you'll see on the back of a car sometime, he who has the most toys wins.
SPEAKER_01: That's ridiculous to a Christian, because it goes against scriptures.
SPEAKER_01: There's nothing wrong with having stuff, but he who has the most stuff doesn't necessarily win.
SPEAKER_01: It's more like the ones who are wise and lay something up, understanding what that something is, and keep working at it and keep doing it to give God glory, those are the wise ones.
SPEAKER_01: The wise ones are are the ones that are that are doing something with people as unto the Lord.
SPEAKER_01: What do you mean?
SPEAKER_01: Because a lot of the true riches revolve around people.
SPEAKER_01: A lot of the true riches revolve around people and what we do with the word of God towards people, and what we do with our money towards people.
SPEAKER_01: Because one of the good stewardships is uh is helping the poor.
SPEAKER_01: Come on, is that right?
SPEAKER_01: One of the good stewardships is taking the word of God and using it right, it's laying something up.
SPEAKER_01: Now, again, I want to say this again: nothing wrong with having stuff down here, but don't put your heart fully in that and miss the true riches.
SPEAKER_01: Because that was the parable.
SPEAKER_01: The parable was you can, you know, you can have all this stuff down here, but if you're not careful, you'll miss the true riches, and and God determines what true riches are.
SPEAKER_01: Riches, what's valuable?
SPEAKER_01: Riches, what's important.
SPEAKER_01: Riches, not what's so important to us, but what's important to God.
SPEAKER_01: Riches, riches, like, like how will we give an account when this is all over and our lives are all over?
SPEAKER_01: I pray we have some riches laid up.
SPEAKER_01: That the world may say, you guys didn't do anything down there.
SPEAKER_01: Look at your accumulation, look at your net worth, and you say, You can't see my my bank account in heaven.
SPEAKER_01: You you can't see my profit and loss statement in heaven.
SPEAKER_01: You don't know what I've been doing privately.
SPEAKER_01: You don't know what I've been doing uh getting some tracks out every day.
SPEAKER_01: You don't know what I've been doing uh uh witnessing to people.
SPEAKER_01: You don't know what I've been doing uh in association, affiliation with the word of God and God's people or people that need to be reached.
SPEAKER_01: Come on, are you still with me?
SPEAKER_01: Because that's where some of the true riches comes in.
SPEAKER_01: You don't know what I've been doing to help the poor as under the Lord.
SPEAKER_01: Like you don't know the ones I've been visiting in prison.
SPEAKER_01: You know, Bill Pierce sitting down here.
SPEAKER_01: It doesn't look like he has a whole lot, but he might be a very, very wealthy man.
SPEAKER_01: What do you mean?
SPEAKER_01: You mean he's got money in his mattress?
SPEAKER_01: No, I mean he's got something laid up in heaven.
SPEAKER_01: He might have money in his mattress, too.
SPEAKER_01: He just looks that kind of guy, you know.
SPEAKER_01: He's probably got a half a million stuff in his mattress.
SPEAKER_01: But the point of it is him just down there being faithful in that prison year after year after year after year after year, witnessing, witnessing, witnessing, whistling, lay up, lay up, lay up.
SPEAKER_01: Some people may say, Oh, he don't have much, and God may say, you don't know, that's a very wealthy man right there.
SPEAKER_01: You just can't see it down here.
SPEAKER_01: So the idea, the concept of true riches is where rust can't get to it, where moth can't do anything to it, and where no thief can break through and steal what's being done.
SPEAKER_01: It's real important to understand that.
SPEAKER_01: Look at the book of Luke back at the book of Luke.
SPEAKER_01: Look at Luke 12.
SPEAKER_01: Luke 12, stay with me, you're doing great tonight.
SPEAKER_01: Look at Luke 12, and I want to get I can't wait to get it to a scripture.
SPEAKER_01: I'm only a couple scriptures away from it.
SPEAKER_01: I just can't wait to get there.
SPEAKER_01: It's just, it just right, it just it just kind of leaped off the page at me.
SPEAKER_01: Say which one?
SPEAKER_01: It's coming.
SPEAKER_01: Luke chapter 12, look at verse 21.
SPEAKER_01: Verse 21.
SPEAKER_01: So is he that layeth up treasure for himself and is not rich towards God.
SPEAKER_01: Well, what is that?
SPEAKER_01: It's the parable, verses 16, 17, 18, 19.
SPEAKER_01: I hope you'll study these at home.
SPEAKER_01: Like, like, go back and start where we're at in uh in Luke 16 and study verse 11 before that.
SPEAKER_01: And here he says, uh, so is he that layeth up treasure for himself.
SPEAKER_01: That's that's this this guy who's got a barn, and he's got a it's bringing forth, the the harvest is bringing forth plentifully.
SPEAKER_01: And and uh, and he says, uh, verse 19, and I will say to my soul, so thou hast much goods laid up for many years.
SPEAKER_01: Take thy ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
SPEAKER_01: But God said unto him, Thou fool.
SPEAKER_01: Isn't that interesting?
SPEAKER_01: What he's saying is, everything you just talked about in verses 17 and 18, a thief can steal.
SPEAKER_01: If a thief can steal it, then it's only so important.
SPEAKER_01: I'll say it again.
SPEAKER_01: If a thief can steal it, if a human can steal it, it's only so important.
SPEAKER_01: It might be important, but it's only so important.
SPEAKER_01: If somebody can rip you off in that area, it's only so important because the things we do for God can't be ripped off.
SPEAKER_01: Nobody can get to them once they're laid up.
SPEAKER_01: But we don't do that unless we believe by faith what this book says.
SPEAKER_01: We don't lay something else up unless we have understanding.
SPEAKER_01: So, so not to say that what we have is not important, but what we have to do is say, if a thief can steal it, then it's probably not, you know, it's not, it's not where my heart should be totally.
SPEAKER_01: Like I got a garage full of stuff.
SPEAKER_01: It's lot, some of it's not mine.
SPEAKER_01: Well, whose is it?
SPEAKER_01: Some of it's my children's.
SPEAKER_01: What do you mean?
SPEAKER_01: I don't know.
SPEAKER_01: They just keep bringing junk, man.
SPEAKER_01: No, I'm just kidding, just kidding.
SPEAKER_01: But I know this when I walk out there and I look around that garage, that garage does not have my heart.
SPEAKER_01: It's just stuff, man.
SPEAKER_01: Can we do stuff with the stuff in there?
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, yeah, but it doesn't have my heart.
SPEAKER_01: Why?
SPEAKER_01: Because I could walk around and say a thief could steal that, a thief could steal that, they could take that, they could take that, they could take that.
SPEAKER_01: And even though it's nice stuff, I do not put my heart there because if it can be ripped off, it's not quite as important as true riches.
SPEAKER_01: True riches is something that can't be ripped off.
SPEAKER_01: Everybody's still all right with that?
SPEAKER_01: And true riches does require faith, it requires understanding.
SPEAKER_01: So he says this in verse 21, and so he that so is he that layeth up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.
SPEAKER_01: It's not so much what we do for ourselves as what we do for others as unto the Lord that God says that's where the true riches are.
SPEAKER_01: Now, do we get something out of it?
SPEAKER_01: Absolutely, but if it's just for me, for me, for me, for me, God sees all that.
SPEAKER_01: Stay with me.
SPEAKER_01: Notice chapter 12 again.
SPEAKER_01: Look at chapter 12, look at verse 7.
SPEAKER_01: Verse 7.
SPEAKER_01: We're almost to that scripture.
SPEAKER_01: Verse 7.
SPEAKER_01: But even the very hairs of your head are numbered.
SPEAKER_01: Fear not, therefore, ye are of, look at this underline, more value than many sparrows.
SPEAKER_01: Brethren, what God values is people.
SPEAKER_01: I know we value animals.
SPEAKER_01: We got a new little dog.
SPEAKER_01: It's a nice dog.
SPEAKER_01: It's it's it's of some value.
SPEAKER_01: You say, don't, don't say something bad about your dog, I won't.
SPEAKER_01: It's not my dog.
SPEAKER_01: It's a dog.
SPEAKER_01: It's a nice dog.
SPEAKER_01: But it's not more valuable than people.
SPEAKER_01: Don't make fun of pets.
SPEAKER_01: I'm not making fun, I'm just saying.
SPEAKER_01: People are more valuable.
SPEAKER_01: People are the true riches.
SPEAKER_01: The harvest.
SPEAKER_01: When you read about the harvest, brethren, a lot of times the harvest in the Bible is people.
SPEAKER_01: When they reap in the book of Revelation, it's people that those angels are putting their sickles in and reaping.
SPEAKER_01: A lot of times in the New Testament, in the gospels, when they talk about the harvest, he relates to the fruit bearing.
SPEAKER_01: But man, I tell you, even in John 15, it's people.
SPEAKER_01: It's people.
SPEAKER_01: I'm just saying, the true riches, uh, people and their souls, once they're saved, they're laid up.
SPEAKER_01: No thief can steal a man's salvation.
SPEAKER_01: No thief can steal a person's eternal life.
SPEAKER_01: No person can.
SPEAKER_01: And the workmanship, the work that we do, that that stuff that we did for Easter, the prayer, the the effort, the outreach, the bringing people, the the preaching, the singing, the everything that went on on the property, all that stuff is laid up.
SPEAKER_01: You say, wait a minute, what do you mean you think you think people laid up?
SPEAKER_01: They were true riches that day.
SPEAKER_01: True riches.
SPEAKER_01: Now, stay with me and look at Ephesians 1.
SPEAKER_01: This is the one that kind of got on my heart a bit.
SPEAKER_01: Ephesians 1.
SPEAKER_01: You're doing great tonight.
SPEAKER_01: We're talking about true riches.
SPEAKER_01: If I said something about a dog the wrong way or your pet the wrong way, I halfway apologize, all right?
SPEAKER_01: I didn't mean to do that.
SPEAKER_01: Ephesians 1.
SPEAKER_01: Ephesians 1, so watch verse number 13.
SPEAKER_01: In whom ye also trusted after that you heard the word of the truth, a word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, in whom also, after that ye believed, ye were sealed.
SPEAKER_01: Sealed with that holy spirit of promise, which is the earnest, the spirit is the earnest of our inheritance under the redemption of the purchased possession.
SPEAKER_01: Under the praise of his glory.
SPEAKER_01: Now, look, first of all, focus on the purchased possession.
SPEAKER_01: Brethren, the person purchased possession is people.
SPEAKER_01: That which he purchased is people.
SPEAKER_01: Wait a minute, how do you know it's people?
SPEAKER_01: Because it's people that are sealed with the Holy Ghost of promise.
SPEAKER_01: It's people.
SPEAKER_01: Don't take this wrong.
SPEAKER_01: He's not sealing dogs.
SPEAKER_01: I need to get off of that.
SPEAKER_01: He's not sealing, he's not sealing the things in my garage.
SPEAKER_01: It's just things.
SPEAKER_01: Seal, what does seal mean?
SPEAKER_01: Seal is the authentication, the confirmation, but it's also the enclosing of.
SPEAKER_01: So it's the authentication.
SPEAKER_01: It's like seal that, authenticate that, confirm that.
SPEAKER_01: But it's also seal it like enclose it within.
SPEAKER_01: We're sealed with the Holy Ghost, and you're going to see in a moment we're sealed by the Holy Ghost, too.
SPEAKER_01: The Holy Ghost seals himself inside of us.
SPEAKER_01: Would you agree with that?
SPEAKER_01: He comes in, he quickens us, and he seals himself, and he's the earnest.
SPEAKER_01: He's the down payment.
SPEAKER_01: Until the full purchase is done.
SPEAKER_01: We're going to heaven because the Holy Ghost is in us.
SPEAKER_01: I'm going to say it again.
SPEAKER_01: We're going to heaven because the Holy Spirit's in us.
SPEAKER_01: It's the same spirit that quickened Jesus will quicken us.
SPEAKER_01: Will make us alive again.
SPEAKER_01: So he says this after you believe you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.
SPEAKER_01: Which spirit is the earnest?
SPEAKER_01: The earnest is like that down payment, that first payment that goes towards the full assured price.
SPEAKER_01: Which is the earnest of our inheritance unto the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
SPEAKER_01: The purchased possession is a person, people, and the earnest that's put down as a down payment, as the as that which secures it is the Holy Spirit, which is enclosed in us.
SPEAKER_01: Now watch, we're sealed, but notice Ephesians 4.
SPEAKER_01: Ephesians 4.
SPEAKER_01: Look at this, you're doing great.
SPEAKER_01: Ephesians 4, you know this verse 30.
SPEAKER_01: A lot of people know the first half of the verse 30, but not the second.
SPEAKER_01: And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God.
SPEAKER_01: So we know that.
SPEAKER_01: Whereby ye are sealed until the day of redemption.
SPEAKER_01: So he's the earnest, but he's also the redeeming one.
SPEAKER_01: You say it's Jesus.
SPEAKER_01: Jesus and the Spirit of God are one.
SPEAKER_01: He says this, you're sealed.
SPEAKER_01: You're sealed by the Spirit of God.
SPEAKER_01: You're seared with the Spirit of God.
SPEAKER_01: He authenticates you.
SPEAKER_01: He's the earnest.
SPEAKER_01: He's that which makes us into true riches.
SPEAKER_01: I'm going to say it again.
SPEAKER_01: The Holy Ghost is what makes us into true riches.
SPEAKER_01: Let me say it again.
SPEAKER_01: When we get saved, the Holy Spirit quickens us, comes into us, never to leave us.
SPEAKER_01: Because we're the purchased possession.
SPEAKER_01: Well, wait a minute.
SPEAKER_01: Why are we true riches?
SPEAKER_01: Because of the purchase price.
SPEAKER_01: And the purchase price is the blood.
SPEAKER_01: And the purchase price is the death.
SPEAKER_01: And the purchase price is what we celebrated the death, the burial, and the resurrection.
SPEAKER_01: It's what we commemorated at the Lord's table.
SPEAKER_01: It's the purchase.
SPEAKER_01: It's the purpose purchased possession.
SPEAKER_01: You're bought with a price.
SPEAKER_01: And the price is that blood of Christ, which makes us of great value.
SPEAKER_01: That's why when the angel harvests, we're called wheat in the barn.
SPEAKER_01: We're not tares.
SPEAKER_01: T-A-R-E-S.
SPEAKER_01: We're not weeds.
SPEAKER_01: We're fruit bearing.
SPEAKER_01: We're important.
SPEAKER_01: We're the good grapes of the sickle in the book of Revelation.
SPEAKER_01: Come on, is that right?
SPEAKER_01: We're worth something.
SPEAKER_01: But it's only because we're saved.
SPEAKER_01: Because if a person's not saved yet, if a person's not saved yet, they're not sealed yet.
SPEAKER_01: And they're not eternal yet.
SPEAKER_01: Now wait a minute, wait a minute.
SPEAKER_01: What do you mean they're not eternal?
SPEAKER_01: Well, they're they're if they're not saved yet, they're heading for eternal death and eternal destruction.
SPEAKER_01: Are they important?
SPEAKER_01: Yes, but the true riches is after they get saved.
SPEAKER_01: Then they're going up to glorify God in heaven.
SPEAKER_01: Would you agree with that?
SPEAKER_01: Don't go away from here and said, he said people that are lost aren't important.
SPEAKER_01: I didn't say that.
SPEAKER_01: I said when the Holy Ghost seals us, then we become true riches.
SPEAKER_01: Because He makes us that way.
SPEAKER_01: Gold, silver, precious stone, not wood, hay, and stubble.
SPEAKER_01: Not something that's going to be cast away from his presence forever.
SPEAKER_01: True riches.
SPEAKER_01: Now, if you don't mind tonight, I want you to turn to 1 Samuel 30 and just hold your place there for a moment.
SPEAKER_01: 1 Samuel chapter 30.
SPEAKER_01: And I want to make this on a practical basis tonight.
SPEAKER_01: Please don't go out of here and say, boys.
SPEAKER_01: Said people aren't important.
SPEAKER_01: No, I said people are important.
SPEAKER_01: And when they get sealed with the Holy Ghost, then then that is a purchased possession.
SPEAKER_01: A purchased possession, owned by God, but with a valuable price.
SPEAKER_01: The problem is we don't know who's going to get purchased or not.
SPEAKER_01: We don't know who's going to get saved or not.
SPEAKER_01: So we just try to tell everybody they need to be saved.
SPEAKER_01: Come on, is that right?
SPEAKER_01: That's why we still believe whosoever will.
SPEAKER_01: We have to believe that.
SPEAKER_01: We have to go about our lives thinking, whosoever will.
SPEAKER_01: Because I don't know.
SPEAKER_01: I don't know who the so whosoever is.
SPEAKER_01: But I know this.
SPEAKER_01: If they get saved, they become part of the earnest of the Holy Ghost in them, and they become a purchased possession whereby they are sealed unto the day of redemption, and that's true riches that no thief can break through and steal.
SPEAKER_01: So it's true riches.
SPEAKER_01: You're in 1 Samuel chapter 30.
SPEAKER_01: Let me do this tonight if you don't mind.
SPEAKER_01: We just come off of uh uh Easter.
SPEAKER_01: True riches.
SPEAKER_01: Caesar Ramirez, salvation, Kenya Alston, salvation.
SPEAKER_01: Uh Annalee Riggle, salvation.
SPEAKER_01: There's four true riches.
SPEAKER_01: Are you still with me or not?
SPEAKER_01: What do you mean?
SPEAKER_01: People getting saved, we ought to be rejoicing.
SPEAKER_01: You say, did they get saved?
SPEAKER_01: Well, at least they came and heard the gospel plan and said something to the Lord.
SPEAKER_01: I hope they got saved.
SPEAKER_01: We're checking that out now.
SPEAKER_01: Come on.
SPEAKER_01: We're doing the follow-up.
SPEAKER_01: Eric Rowe, salvation.
SPEAKER_01: Sergio Rodriguez, salvation.
SPEAKER_01: Devontae Blair, uh, wanted to make sure of salvation and get baptized.
SPEAKER_01: Evelyn Mayers, salvation.
SPEAKER_01: Maria Smith, salvation.
SPEAKER_01: You don't mind this, do you?
SPEAKER_01: True riches.
SPEAKER_01: Tidings.
SPEAKER_01: They went and saw the grace of God.
SPEAKER_01: This is what the grace of God is to see.
SPEAKER_01: Harmony Jimenez.
SPEAKER_01: Kimoni Hayes, salvation, salvation.
SPEAKER_01: Yvonne Martinez, salvation.
SPEAKER_01: William Washington, salvation.
SPEAKER_01: Come on.
SPEAKER_01: Look, we ought to be, these are people that become true riches.
SPEAKER_01: Oh, I let me let me read to you another way.
SPEAKER_01: I was just thinking about this.
SPEAKER_01: I was up here.
SPEAKER_01: I won't now tell you the name.
SPEAKER_01: This one's in his in his 20s.
SPEAKER_01: This one is in his 20s.
SPEAKER_01: Oh, this one is a teenager.
SPEAKER_01: You say, why, why, why are you doing this?
SPEAKER_01: Uh I just want you to see uh this one came in on bus three.
SPEAKER_01: This one came in on bus three.
SPEAKER_01: This one just came in on the bus ministry.
SPEAKER_01: My point, brethren, is it doesn't matter how they get here.
SPEAKER_01: This is uh this is true.
SPEAKER_01: Riches can't be stolen away.
SPEAKER_01: Now there's more, but I'm just I just pulled out some tonight.
SPEAKER_01: Why?
SPEAKER_01: Uh uh down in Ticate last week, I can tell you that they had about seven or eight saved down there last week.
SPEAKER_01: And then they come up here and and there was about four or five saved last week, uh, Easter morning here in the Spanish ministry.
SPEAKER_01: You say, why do you say that?
SPEAKER_01: Well, that's the Spanish ministry.
SPEAKER_01: Oh no, you're missing something.
SPEAKER_01: We're all one.
SPEAKER_01: You say, why do you why do you say that?
SPEAKER_01: Look at 1 Samuel 30.
SPEAKER_01: 1 Samuel 30.
SPEAKER_01: You know this story.
SPEAKER_01: I've read it to you before.
SPEAKER_01: Look at verse 10.
SPEAKER_01: But David pursued he and 400 men, for 200 abode behind, which were so faint they could not go over the brook.
SPEAKER_01: So 400 go after the the the enemy upcoming, and 200 were so faint they just couldn't go on.
SPEAKER_01: Well, there was a great recovery and a great uh blessing of spoil taken in this particular battle.
SPEAKER_01: There was an increase taken.
SPEAKER_01: It was actually given by God.
SPEAKER_01: What do you mean?
SPEAKER_01: The increase was given by God.
SPEAKER_01: And we got done dividing up and getting ready to divide up the spoil.
SPEAKER_01: Look at verse 24.
SPEAKER_01: Who will hearken unto you in this matter?
SPEAKER_01: But as his part is that goeth to the battle, so shall his part be that tarrieth by the stuff.
SPEAKER_01: They shall part alike.
SPEAKER_01: What do you mean?
SPEAKER_01: Those that were so faint that couldn't go over were still part of the group.
SPEAKER_01: There was 400 that went, 200 that stayed behind.
SPEAKER_01: But David said, It's gonna be the same.
SPEAKER_01: They're gonna part alike.
SPEAKER_01: Those that that could go to the battle and those that were not able to go to the battle.
SPEAKER_01: Brethren, here's what that means.
SPEAKER_01: Whether you went out door knocking or not, if you prayed, you're part of the battle.
SPEAKER_01: Whether you were up here preaching or not, or got to actually lead somebody to Christ, if you're part of our church, you're part of the battle.
SPEAKER_01: You're part of the spoil.
SPEAKER_01: And whether we were in Ticate or not, that was part of our church going over to minister there.
SPEAKER_01: Whatever happened there, we get a little part of that.
SPEAKER_01: If you read the scriptures carefully, and this is not the only scriptures that point to this, he said, you will part alike.
SPEAKER_01: And then he says this, look at verse number uh verse 25.
SPEAKER_01: And it was so from that day forward.
SPEAKER_01: That he, who, David, made a statue and an ordinance for Israel unto this day.
SPEAKER_01: Who did that?
SPEAKER_01: David, a man after God's own heart.
SPEAKER_01: So often as you see what David did, what you're reading there, God put that down and said, uh, what you're really reading, don't just read and say that's David.
SPEAKER_01: What you're reading about is my character.
SPEAKER_01: What do you mean?
SPEAKER_01: God's character.
SPEAKER_01: The way God sees it.
SPEAKER_01: So whoever did whatever, in whatever capacity, somebody worked nursery, got a part of who got saved up here.
SPEAKER_01: What?
SPEAKER_01: True riches.
SPEAKER_01: Laid something up.
SPEAKER_01: Because that's the way it works.
SPEAKER_01: Well, well, who does the accounting on that?
SPEAKER_01: I guess God does the accounting.
SPEAKER_01: And he never makes a bad error in his accounting system.
SPEAKER_01: Because, brother, I want to tell you something.
SPEAKER_01: The accounting system is talked about in 1 Corinthians 3.
SPEAKER_01: It's in there.
SPEAKER_01: There's rewards and there's suffering loss.
SPEAKER_01: Stay a part of a good local church that's doing something, even with all the stuff that goes on in a local church.
SPEAKER_01: What do you mean, stuff?
SPEAKER_01: When you would do good, evil is present.
SPEAKER_01: That's a law in Romans 7.
SPEAKER_01: So every time we're going to do something good, there's something other stuff going to happen.
SPEAKER_01: Well, I'm just tired of stuff in church.
SPEAKER_01: Brother, I'm going to tell you something.
SPEAKER_01: If a church is doing something, there's going to be stuff.
SPEAKER_01: There's going to be those that get a little faint that have to stay by the stuff.
SPEAKER_01: But they still part alike.
SPEAKER_01: And we're not tootin our horn tonight because we didn't save anybody.
SPEAKER_01: And we didn't do a whole lot.
SPEAKER_01: You say, wait a minute.
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, we did.
SPEAKER_01: They sang.
SPEAKER_01: Brethren, that was wonderful.
SPEAKER_01: Praise the Lord.
SPEAKER_01: Somebody preached.
SPEAKER_01: That was wonderful.
SPEAKER_01: Praise the Lord.
SPEAKER_01: But it's God that draws.
SPEAKER_01: And God opens up the heart.
SPEAKER_01: And it's God that gives the increase.
SPEAKER_01: And it's God that quickens.
SPEAKER_01: And it's God that seals.
SPEAKER_01: And it's God that buys his purchased possession that's still his tonight.
SPEAKER_01: And he never loses one.
SPEAKER_01: Whatever he buys, it's purchased.
SPEAKER_01: Now we don't know which one of them got saved or not.
SPEAKER_01: We're trying to check up on that.
SPEAKER_01: But praise the Lord for the good spirit where they were receptive.
SPEAKER_01: And all that went into that, the atmosphere of music.
SPEAKER_01: Don't think I'm downing our music, our drama, our preaching.
SPEAKER_01: Don't think I'm down at the atmosphere of greeters, the atmosphere, if you would, going over to the nurseries, the atmosphere on the property, the beginners, the atmosphere of the ladies coming down and giving the gifts, the atmosphere created by the Holy Ghost through us little servants.
SPEAKER_01: What do you mean us little servants?
SPEAKER_01: Through we little unprofitable servants that got to have a little part.
SPEAKER_01: Look, when I got up to preach on Sunday morning, I felt about this big.
SPEAKER_01: Literally.
SPEAKER_01: How big?
SPEAKER_01: This big.
SPEAKER_01: Where at?
SPEAKER_01: Up here.
SPEAKER_01: Because it's better when you're small in your own sight.
SPEAKER_01: Lord, don't let me mess this up.
SPEAKER_01: Don't let me mess this up.
SPEAKER_01: And don't let me put in there things that aren't important to what you're doing.
SPEAKER_01: Don't let me put in crafty words or clever thoughts.
SPEAKER_01: Let's just get with the real thing, baby.
SPEAKER_01: May the Holy Spirit do something.
SPEAKER_01: Explain something and beg them to come and do something for God.
SPEAKER_01: Persuade them.
SPEAKER_01: And let God do His work.
SPEAKER_01: And then when you walk away from that, you don't think you did anything.
SPEAKER_01: You just had a very little part.
SPEAKER_01: But, brethren, you get to part alike.
SPEAKER_01: And you get to lay something up, and whatever's laid up that day, it's laid up there.
SPEAKER_01: Nobody can steal it.
SPEAKER_01: It's more important than the stuff in my garage.
SPEAKER_01: It's more important than your stuff.
SPEAKER_01: It's more important than your bank account.
SPEAKER_01: It's more important than you name it.
SPEAKER_01: It's more important.
SPEAKER_01: Why?
SPEAKER_01: Because that day gave glory to God.
SPEAKER_01: I got a text from somebody that afternoon that really just made my day.
SPEAKER_01: I mean, it really did.
SPEAKER_01: There was a lot of things that made my day, but that afternoon text was something.
SPEAKER_01: It said something simple.
SPEAKER_01: It was only about four lines or so.
SPEAKER_01: Said, brought a friend to church today who I've been praying for.
SPEAKER_01: I think he got saved.
SPEAKER_01: Now, now I liked it because the guy did walk the aisle.
SPEAKER_01: The guy did pray.
SPEAKER_01: The guy was dealt with.
SPEAKER_01: But I like the fact that the member who said, brought a guy to church, I think he got saved.
SPEAKER_01: I really like that.
SPEAKER_01: Because you never know.
SPEAKER_01: We'll still work and see if there's a little fruit by the changing of the life a little bit.
SPEAKER_01: Come on, is that right?
SPEAKER_01: Let's see if there's a little changes here and there.
SPEAKER_01: Little, little, little, little things that only the Holy Ghost would change.
SPEAKER_01: Let's see if if the guy's understanding starts opening up a little bit to the Word of God.
SPEAKER_01: I know we can't, we can't, well, you can't just inspect fruit.
SPEAKER_01: Brethren, brethren, come on.
SPEAKER_01: After a while, you kind of know whether some are or not.
SPEAKER_01: They get a little hungry for the Word of God and got questions.
SPEAKER_01: There's little things that come up that way, but I like the fact that he said, I think he got saved.
SPEAKER_01: That was a wonderful text to me.
SPEAKER_01: You say, Did you get other texts?
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I got a couple.
SPEAKER_01: That one just kind of stood out.
SPEAKER_01: Brought a friend to church today.
SPEAKER_01: I think he got saved.
SPEAKER_01: I'm thinking he got saved.
SPEAKER_01: I'm rejoicing in it.
SPEAKER_01: I'm thinking the guy became a true riches.
SPEAKER_01: Sealed.
SPEAKER_01: Purchased possession of God.
SPEAKER_01: With the earnest, the down payment leading to redemption.
SPEAKER_01: Why do you say that?
SPEAKER_01: Because you're sealed with the Holy Spirit and by the Holy Spirit until the day of redemption.
SPEAKER_01: Don't lose it.
SPEAKER_01: It's, brother, once it's true riches, it's true riches.
SPEAKER_01: It's never going to become devalued.
SPEAKER_01: You don't have to worry about inflation.
SPEAKER_01: In heaven, brother, in this economy we're talking about, there's no seven-year cycle, you know, where, well, you know, it's inflation, deflation.
SPEAKER_01: It true riches just stays true riches.
SPEAKER_01: And the true riches glorify God.
SPEAKER_01: So tonight, why don't we thank him a little bit?
SPEAKER_01: Why don't we praise him a little bit?
SPEAKER_01: And if you ever became uh received Christ as Savior tonight, brother, you you could become gold, silver, precious stones tonight.
SPEAKER_01: What do you mean?
SPEAKER_01: True riches.
SPEAKER_01: You could become a purchased possession tonight.
SPEAKER_01: You say, Do I really want to be purchased?
SPEAKER_01: Oh, you want to be bought.
SPEAKER_01: You want to be paid for.
SPEAKER_01: You want to become the temple of the Holy Ghost.
SPEAKER_01: You want to be bought and paid for because at the day of death and redemption, you get quickened and raised from the dead.
SPEAKER_01: That's a wonderful thing.
SPEAKER_01: The concept is true riches.
SPEAKER_01: If you haven't received Christ tonight, tonight would be the night.
SPEAKER_01: The rest of us, let's rejoice that we got the work for him in some way, shape, or form.
SPEAKER_01: You say, What did I do?
SPEAKER_01: If you were in church, you did something.
SPEAKER_01: If you prayed a little bit, you did something.
SPEAKER_01: If you put a little money in the offering, you did something.
SPEAKER_01: You paid for buses to go out and pick up people that came and got saved.
SPEAKER_01: You did something.
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, but I didn't do enough.
SPEAKER_01: Okay, we all don't feel like we did enough.
SPEAKER_01: We all don't feel like we did enough, but at least we had a part of something that glorified God.
SPEAKER_00: Thank you for listening to this message by Pastor Doug Fisher of Lighthouse Baptist Church in Lemon Grove, California.
SPEAKER_00: To learn more about Lighthouse Baptist Church, visit our website at www.lighthousebaptist.com or call 619 461 5561.