2-Freedom from Money

2-Freedom From Money

7/5/2015

Intro:

I.Hebrews 13:5

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

II.Grk (afilárguros ho trópas) silver-love, elemental symbol Ag

III.THE PROSPERITY GOSPEL

IV.Why did Jesus never carry any cash on Him?

a)Asking for a Denarius to see the inscription on it (Mk. 12:15)

b)Pulling a stater from the fishes mouth for temple tax (Mt. 17:27)

c)Telling the disciples not to take any money with them (Mk. 6.8)

d)3/5 of the parable were about money and possessions

Body:

I.What Do We Love?

A.The love of money is a sign that we are a conquered people.

1)Luke 16:13-14

“No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they derided Him. (NKJV)

2)There was no such god called “Mammon” at that time

3)THERE WAS NO MONEY IN PALESTINE BEFORE THE CAPTIVITY

a)Persians introduced the Daric in the 6th century BC

b)Greeks introduced the Athenian Drachma in the 4th(2—Didrachm, 4—Tetradrachm) and Corinthian Gold Stater

c)Romans introduced the Denarius in the 3rd (Dinero)

d)Pheonecians printed the Tyrian Shekel (temple tax)

(Image of Melqaart/Baal/Beelzebub, Judas’ 30 silver coins)

e)Jesus called it all “Mammon”—an Aramaic word

B.Whatever we fix our hearts upon will control our destiny.

1)Timothy 6:10

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

2)WALKING INTO THE CASINO AT SEVEN FEATHERS

II.What Do We Worship?

A.The worship of money is a violation of the second commandment.

1)Idolatry (eidololatreia) the worship of images

2)THE PAGAN COINS WERE IN THEMSELVES IDOLATROUS

a)The Greek Drachma had the image of Zeus, Apollo or Athena

b)Antiochus IVTetradrachma worshipped himself as god

“King Antiochus, Magnificent God, Bringer of Victory”

c)The Roman Denariusproclaimed the divinity of Caesar

“Caesar Augustus Tiberius, Son of the Divine Augustus”

d)The First Jewish Revolt (67-68) produced the Shekel of Israel

Simply a Pot of Manna and a Budding Almond

3)Mark 12:15-17

“Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.” They brought the coin, and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?” “Caesar’s,” they replied.Then Jesus said to them, “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.”

B.Anything that takes the place of God in our lives becomes an idol.

1)Colossians 3:5

Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.

2)PULLING MY CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD

III.Who Do We Trust?

A.What we put our trust in affects the decisions that we make.

1)Grk(pistis) faith, faithfulness, trust, fidelity

2)1 Timothy 6:17

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.

3)OUR NATIONAL MOTTO—“IN GOD WE TRUST”

a)In 1812 the phrase was included in the Star Spangled Banner

b)In 1865 congress passed a law allowing it on the coins

c)In 1957 began printing it on bills during the Cold War

B.Faith in God begins with faithfulness in the little things.

1)Luke 16:10-11

He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much. Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? (NKJV)

2)THE WIDOW’S MITE

a)Hasomonians and Herods only allowed to mint small coins

b)A Bronze Prutah or a Copper Lepton, 1/64 of a Denarius

c)An anchor on one side and a star on the other

3)MARY PENSE LEAVING BEHIND A LEGACY