In 'Gods' We Trust — Shane Idleman

It's usually when I'm preparing sermons Sunday morning. I wake up tomorrow morning early actually tomorrow. I've got to preach Somewhere so I won't do that tomorrow. But normally I wake up Sunday morning and I start to just read over this text and pray about it start to write down a lot of different notes and Develop that even on Monday and possibly Tuesday and so by the time Wednesday rolls around there's a lot to talk about.

I just feel that you know God's been pouring a lot into my own heart. What does the text say practical application? But then I start to edit it down a little bit and kind of you know narrow it in and bring it into.

You know it has to flow. It's not just this thought and this thought and this thought and this thought and you'd be going where's he going with all this? That's kind of what I ask myself most weeks. I try to try to get it all Into what I believe that the text says what God wants to say and a lot of times.

You just can't go right through that you just can't go well. We've got to hurry up and get out of here. And it's just you know it might take a few weeks to kind of get out and what's interesting is A lot of times what I didn't say on a certain day.

But I say in the following week people are touched by it. And then what I said earlier in the week. But didn't get to on the last Saturday people were touched by that so it's it's God uses different areas of the sermon I think to speak to us where we're at different areas of our lives.

And what happens usually is as I'm preparing as I'm writing things down. They hurt my heart a little bit, too. It's like ah Lord. Are you sure and you know this is tough. And I know and I need to acknowledge that I need to Lord would you help me in this area?

So I know is when I'm when I'm coming up here, and then I'm giving it to you. It's already had a little bit of heart surgery. Happening in my own life especially on this topic as you can see in Gods we trust and we were talking about following Christ, and I gave out I think if you didn't get these let us know we gave out a hundred of these I think or maybe 80 we had a box ordered free of charge.

It's a it's KP. Oh Hanan's ministry there in India in Asia. And we're giving out books just to kind of get spark our interest number one. But number two is you don't realize how blessed we are in our country until you look outside of our country and I went into PetSmart this week, and I don't know if it was sad or funny and I just left there going unbelievable, but Our animals live better the majority of the world our animals Live better than the majority of the world especially if they're part of third world countries where this a lot of this takes place.

Our animals. I just I was driving home going Lord. I mean they had outfits. Green Bay Packer outfits for a poodle. And I laughed too, but I'm thinking Unbelievable I can go spend $25 For a Green Bay Packers outfit, that's not your team.

Whatever your team is I'm sure they have it to fit your poodle fit your cat. I mean just the beds nice soft beds better beds than what kids sleep in and it's for me. It's a kid's kind of like it's just a wake-up call.

Material Blessings and Responsibility to Others

However, let me say this Goodness, I don't want to say it the wrong way, and I don't want to not say it. But on one hand we don't. I don't think we should feel Guilty either when God has blessed us, and I don't know how quite that looks.

But it doesn't mean I think we should walk around saying oh woe is me. I can't believe I've got this. I guess we should be thanking God Lord. Thank you for blessing our nation Lord. Thank you for Blessing our prosperity, but the reason he gives prosperity is so that we can be a blessing to others.

So we live kind of in this unique state of I want to feel a little conviction because I think most of us own too much. We do. We buy too much we spend too much. But I don't think we should also feel guilty and say well.

You know I can't believe this and God's done this and I don't want any of this. My kids need to go just you know. Not have shoes, and they need to go live outside for a while, and we should say Lord. Thank you so much.

How can I better use your resources? The resources you've blessed me with Lord. How can I better use those resources? I want to be a blessing to others Lord. Would you show me how? And be careful when you pray that prayer because things will need to change as.

A personal testimony this has been hard for me living in America, and you know every you know once my trucks hit. You know 70 60 70 thousand miles. I've always traded for a used one and you know and now I've pushed that and I'm like okay Lord.

And you know it hurts a little bit. But we've had to structure our lifestyle in such a way that we are able to give more to people throughout the month a good chunk of What we would make goes to this type of organization goes back to this church goes to care net goes to families in need.

We? Just took last week with the church. Found out about a Muslim family actually whose kids were sleeping on the floor in an apartment. No, they just don't have anything and so they asked if we would help and well of course I know a scam when I see it sometimes so I went by the apartment meant that it's like wow.

They're really they have no furniture. They're nothing the kids are sleeping on the floor. So we got them four mattresses found a discount store. I went and picked him up with my truck got him a food card or target card and.

The ironic thing is they were absolutely shocked the my point person with that his name is Solomon. He's a converted Muslim now. He's a Christian. He's administering his family. They're actually considering coming to the church.

They want to know what is what is this? This is not the American the the the nation of Satan that we heard about. You know that's what I think Jesus said go to your enemy feed them, and they're not my enemies of course.

But you know I'm saying it's a why don't you just some people get upset? Why don't you just care for your own? Well Jesus said I'm doing whatever I see in need that pricks my heart. And I can go make a difference now show them the love of Christ.

They want me to come in and sit down with my little son and have tea with them and tell us more about why? Are you doing this? So I mean no and those are happening weekly these issues. And so if but if we live in such a way that all my my bills are tapped.

I'm tapped. I'm spent. You can't do that. You see what and so I think and and that's why I want to be careful with the sermon because sometimes we can leave here. Feeling beat up. Worthless there. Oh my goodness.

I shouldn't even have a car now, and I I don't I don't know if that's the case. Some people might feel inclined to sell a lot of things and get rid of everything and that's fine. But I think we also need to focus on the real issue here is God has blessed us to be a blessing.

God has blessed us have a vehicle have a reliable Reliable vehicle have a decent place for your kids and your family and be big be thankful for what God has done. But if we're not an outlet We can become Polluted and sick inside and and I thought of this many of you drive up to the high Sierras, right?

You see, you know a past mammoth Mono Lake and I've talked about this before but this analogy really hit home this morning. So I was kind of up on the aqueduct thinking about everything and how blessed we are and you think Lord help I we don't deserve this.

But it's interesting that they have the the the Sierra Mountains the freshest snow water around flowing into this lake. It's fresh it's good, but the lake is contaminates polluted. See there has to be an outlet.

Because what happens is the toxins and the pollutants stay in that lake. What happens with an outlet is fresh waters coming in and there's there's you know, fish are swimming. There's debris not in Mona Lake.

There's brine shrimp. I think it's all there is but that's why there's an outlet because toxics build up. Poisons build up and you've got to let it out. And that's what one thing is. God has blessed us.

Thank you. There's more people in America hearing the word than all over all the other countries millions of podcasts. You listen to Alistair Begg on the radio you ever hear him. I just heard the stats that they have like a million downloads a year.

So my where's all the changed lives? We're fat on the Word of God. We've got it flowing in but if you don't release it. You become just polluted like Mona Lake. I will too because we were not created to receive and receive because what happens when I release it the pride has to go.

The envy has to go the idolatry has to go all the junk that's built up. It has to go is when I release it because the only way you dethrone that God is to give him away. Because if not, he becomes an idol.

So we receive and that's the important part about budgeting and Lord. What do you want to do with your resources and paying bills and different things? But then we also have to give it a little so this hold isn't as strong.

So I think a lot of people they're inundated with the Word of God. I'm amazed at how many people listen to sermons on a weekly basis podcasts downloads iTunes Vimeo YouTube and we we have tons of problems in America therapy medic everything's on the rise what's going out because there's no outflow.

There's no outflow. Because when I give it hurts it hurts to let that go and in the Lord I am gonna humble my I'm gonna go, you know how busy I'm to go pick up four mattresses for a Muslim family. Lord, do you think I've got time to do this?

Oh, absolutely. You better make time to do it because that's the outflow to clear that junk out of you. And it was so refreshing. I mean I'm driving finding these things and I'm not trying to say you understand right?

Oh Shane good job. Boy. Boy. You're so spiritual. No, it hurts. I didn't want to do it. Ask Matt. I was trying Matt. Is there anybody anyway, you know pick up the mattresses if I I know they don't have a truck.

But you know what? I'll just go do it. I'll just do it. I want to meet this family. And now there's a connection there From that but I had to let I had to. I'm trying to make that outflow point. I had to give it because the more you give of yourself not just money.

So don't think Peter wants money. No, the church is doing very good. We don't want money. We don't need money. God provides that but I want to explain that you've got to let release it. Financially or with your time your energy your resources.

I've talked about before that we have a lot of young adults. Especially the 530 service and I could plug in about 10 mentors right now of young adults mainly men saying Can I meet with somebody. I need help in my walk.

No, we're all too busy, aren't we? Outflow outflow of your time. Yeah, it hurts you come home from work. You're tired now I've got to go meet with somebody help them. Yeah, it hurts. That's what it's called carrying a cross.

And I'm finding that out the ministry. I'm if I knew it was gonna be this difficult. Three or four years ago. I think he tricked me. Just go up there and preach shame people be changed and I didn't know it's difficult it's hard.

Ministries hard because you're ministering to others you're helping them. You're doing what the flesh doesn't want to do. And as I was preparing the sermon, I noticed something. The flesh all it wants to do is it wants to sleep too much.

It wants to eat too much and when you go to work It wants to do the least amount of work possible and be the highest be paid the highest amount of dollar and then when the flesh Gets home It wants to sit in a vehicle and then sit in a lounge chair for three hours and relax and then it wants to go back to sleep and Repeat that whole thing and we allow okay flesh just guide me guide me got it.

That's why we need a long clock which sleep too much many people don't do this. They get to work do most people not want to do the least amount of work possible. Right. I want to get paid as much as I can but without doing The least amount of work and then we get home pop down the TV big meal.

Oh, I'm so full. I just want to sit here all night and then you go to fall asleep and starts all over again. So you've got to crucify that flesh. That's what I'm learning. You've got to tell the flesh.

No. No, we're going to bed early. We're getting up early and knowing that we're going to work and we're gonna be the best employee on That job site because I do everything I do I do for the glory of God.

I'm not going to come home and sit in a recliner for three hours. I'm gonna come home and help others. So it's a constant fight against the flesh. I think we forget that we think it's like a day in the park being a Christian.

Jesus said no, you have to carry a load. There's a cross to carry. And that's where we kind of picked up in this message all these things that I didn't get to last week. But before I get to the actual message a lot of that introduction wasn't in my notes.

It was just something I've been feeling all week. I want to remind you that your deepest needs are spiritual. My deepest needs are spiritual not physical. The problem is we try to fill our deepest needs With that.

The deepest needs are to connect with God to worship God and then I believe from that flows everything out. Guards your heart the writer of Proverbs will say for it affects everything you do. It is the wellspring of life.

So from that heart in the right relationship with God. Then flows everything else. Our deepest needs are spiritual. So they must be met spiritually. So when we think that's our deepest that's going to fill our deepest needs money this whatever fame I mean you can fill in the blank.

We forget that. No, it's spiritual. My needs are spiritual first and foremost the second point. Peace does not come without effort. Many times we think oh just peaceful but peace does not come without effort if I want peace.

Among people Paul says as much as it depends upon you live with live at peace with all men. I've got to work towards peace if I want peace in my marriage. Does it just happen? I'll be quick not to get the last word in.

What can I do to help? Not express my agitation. It takes it takes work. So to have peace genuine peace given by Christ it takes work. By starving the flesh and dethroning these idols and then the peace of God will rule your hearts and minds.

Because it took a little bit effort there didn't it? Actually, if you don't work on peace, it doesn't come. That's why we feel flustered. That's why we feel in a hurry. That's why we feel burdened because working at peace the peace of God comes with the price.

God says hey, I've lined it out for you what to do in my word. Follow that begin to obey that and that's where the peace of God comes from. Of course, we know this this God never satisfies. We must starve it.

We must cut it cut off its fuel source. I said, what's she talking about? Just money? No, I'm getting somewhere. Hold on. Let me get there. But first I'm turning to this again. I want to read this. It just couldn't put this book down.

I know some of you have told me the same thing. But on January 7 2011 more than 50 women from a tribal village in West Bengal got together to sell their children at the market. First I thought it was a mint for misprint.

The author says people go to the market to sell vegetables and material things not to get not to sell their children as I read On however, I learned that their entire village is impoverished. None of these women were able to care for the children anymore.

The article continues among the women there was a lady named Malatry who had lined up Her five-year-old daughter to sell. I will sell her at whatever price I get the money is not important. I just want my daughter to be taken in by a family which will give her food shelter and education.

We are not being able to sustain ourselves as well as our children and the elders in the family. And he goes on to say I don't know if any of these women actually sold their children. But if someone offered these mothers money, I think they would have done so.

Sadly, I read that is not in common sight to see women going from door to door trying to find a buyer for their son. And their daughter and this isn't just emotional all Shane. You're just kidding. No, this is this is what's happening.

And we say well, I can't really make a difference. I mean they're out. Do I I got a hit with a sledgehammer this week when God said it was almost like Wow, it came to me that Shane I don't call you to make a difference.

I'll make the difference. I call you to be faithful because I'm so worried. I don't even know these people that's out. Okay. I've sponsored a few kids I don't know I don't. He doesn't call us to go and make the difference although we do make difference a difference when we when we help he calls us To be faithful to do what he's told us to do to to relinquish this Idolatry to give more to help more and then from that he'll bless our endeavors.

Jesus’ Call to Forsake Everything and Carry the Cross

Matthew 8 is where we left off last week. And this is where Jesus said. Then a teacher the law came to him and said teacher. I will follow you wherever you go. Jesus replied foxes have dens and birds have nests but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.

Another disciple said Lord, let me go and bury my father first. But Jesus told him follow me and let the dead bury their own dead and then Luke 14 26 gives us a parallel here. If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and his mother his wife and his children his brother and his sister.

Yes his own life. He cannot be my disciple. And we talked about what that meant last week. So if you weren't here go back and listen to last week's sermon if I take up the time now. It might take up too much time.

But in a nutshell, he's just saying you have to prefer your mother your father your sister your life. You have to prefer those things less than me. I have to I have to be the priority. People I said, well, that seems like a weird thing.

Why is Jesus? No, you don't understand from our relationship with Christ. Everything else is is is built on that. So if he's a priority that everything else Will fall in place not perfectly. But in place when he's not a priority when we put everything else above him and like I said before keep him in a pocket.

He's in my back pocket. Just case case. I need Jesus later on. I got it right here. He's not in the foreground on the forefront. He's in the background so that's what he's saying here and whoever does not bear his cross and come after me cannot be my disciple and This carrying the cross issue.

I wish I had some time to talk a little bit more about it. But in a nutshell, what is he talking about. Jesus had to carry his cross. I Mean, it's it's it's it's torture. Carry this cross. I'm gonna you're gonna hang on that cross and you're gonna carry it to the site.

Well, Jesus say basically carry your own cross. What is carrying the cross had to do these guys had to carry their own cross into submission to Rome. Rome say carry your cross. You're gonna be crucified on it.

It's a submission Issue they have to submit to Roman authority and carry the cross. So Christ is saying listen submit to me. Carry your cross submit to my leadership to my agenda die to self. Because when you're carrying your cross you're going to die.

What Christ calls us? I didn't realize he's saying come shame come and die. Not come and build a reputation not come and build the church not come and build this and do this and this come and die. Come and die and then I'll build the church.

I'll build the people but you're just a slave a doulas. We've taken that out of many of our modern translations. It's not a bond servant. The actual word is slave. I'm a slave of Christ a doulas wherever he bids that I go.

I go whatever he says I say not perfectly. I do a complaining sometimes I do it faltering and failing but nevertheless, I've got a cross. I've got a carry and the only way to know the Abundant life that Christ spoke of is to do that and the ironic thing about this is when I carry the cross.

Then the then the peace and the joy comes. It's like oh that seems yeah, but I'm tearing this cross for Christ. I'm as I'm delivering mattresses I felt more joy than I felt all week but when I try to jockey things and get my comfort zone in.

Then that's where the fights and quarrels come from. I'm not getting my way. This is difficult. But when you're carrying the cross come what may. Talk to my boss not me. Life gets challenging. I'm just carrying the cross the finances aren't there.

Like I thought I'm just carrying the cross. They're not my finances. Anyway, hey God, I'm making a little bit less. Your money's not coming in like he used to what do you want me to do? That's the kind of attitude we should have and it's difficult.

We're challenged weekly on this if not daily, but I think sometimes we need to remember that we've called to carry the cross. Christianity is not a lot of what you see on TV. We like it, right? I mean, there's motivational sermons.

God's gonna raise you up. He's gonna call you to this great ministry in this great position. Maybe so. But don't go with that on your mind go with dying to self because then he can build you up. He who humbles himself God will.

God will exalt you but he who exalts himself will be humbled. See the way to go up is down. The way to go up and Christianity is down. And I talk to people I touch you know what? Emails probably once a week on guys that want to be pastors all over our nation.

They watch the videos now. They think I have the solution, right? Oh, you've done it. What. God did it because he can. How can we promote this a marketing plans and demographic studies. No, no the way up is down.

Humble yourself. Let him exalt you let him promote you when it's all about Christ and Christ alone. That's where the solid foundation comes from. He's gonna grow your church. Not you. You can spend $10 ,000 in advertisements and have five people show up or you can let God build his church.

And I know these guys kind of like there's come on Shane there's more. No no, no seek him let him direct you. There's not a lot of tricks and try this and here's a seven-point checklist to do. I Do have a seven-point checklist actually begins at early in the morning on your knees and face saying God I can't do this without you.

I can't do this. You need to show me how to lead your church. I need to get into your word. I need to get direction then from that. I need to serve not be served. I need to serve. Where's Harold that there he is.

Harold we spent some time at his house the other day, too. It's just a treasure to just go to Mira Loma and spend time with him. You guys do that. You'll feel tremendous joy and peace that you've never felt before.

But you got to get through that wall of I don't feel like it. Guess what? I don't either. You know what? My wife and kids are doing before I went for church. They're my in-laws by the pool relaxing. You think I didn't want to just guys and can't make it tonight.

Somebody fill in for me real quick. Tell a story play video. My flesh feels that way but then When you submit say Lord, I need I. I know you need me to be there. I've committed to this and then the joy comes the worship starts.

I thank God. I didn't stay at home. See we've heard the joy and peace are brought by products of obedience. Many times I'm not experiencing the peace and joy. No kidding get an obedience to God's Word.

Spiritual Needs, Obedience, and Freedom from Idolatry

Many times I counsel people especially you guys. I don't know if you go to the Christian Post much but they ran an article last week that got some more negative Emails again and the kid KLA radio did an interview with me last week on this issue of depression mental illness depression.

I Definitely see the need for meds if people need those at some point. But why are we running to that and not running to the one who has the answer the people? I talked to a lot of them are feeding their mind with a bunch of garbage.

You're not having an outlet. They're not giving of themselves. They're not worshiping God. They have no time for prayer. No time for devotional. Yeah, you might be a little depressed and Anxious. I'm not trying to minimize those things, but I am saying you better check the obvious.

Before you go fill a prescription check the obvious. What does God's Word say? Are we doing those things? Well, I don't feel like it. No, the Bible doesn't say oh if you feel like it. If you seek me with all of your heart the seeking doesn't feel good.

But then I'll find you then you'll find me. See, it's always be doers of the word and then the reward comes the peace and the joy. So when it comes to issues like this of giving ourselves giving our finances letting that little go giving more it hurts.

But then the joy comes later. Then the peace comes late. I really want to get that point across because I think once we cross that bridge of feelings. Then you can experience the abundant life that Christ spoke of.

I've learned it. Yeah, you can't go through do ministry and living as a victorious Christian by your feelings. Because I don't feel like doing a lot of times. Counseling on the phone meeting people this that neither do you right?

I don't feel like it. I don't feel like giving this in this area. But we've got to break those feelings and here's a real quick test take spiritual inventory. This is healthy. I've done this often. Are you carrying a burden?

Are you carrying a burden for the gospel in your soul? Does your life go against the culture? Do people mock you make fun of you tease you that will happen the cultural hate. Anything that exempts exemplifies Christ in your life.

Do you make the right decisions in difficult circumstances? Is your heart filled with the fruit of the Spirit? This is this is this is important is your heart filled with love and joy and peace and contentment and gentleness and kindness.

Shane you've talked about this before right? This is a rocket science. This is a quantum physics where we're going to discuss a new theory next week. This is truth. And it needs to be repeated repeated often because what I found is people say oh brother the culture hates me and I'm proclaiming God's Word.

Yeah, but you don't have the fruit of the Spirit in your life. There's no love and joy and peace and contentment gentleness and kindness. You're just as rigid as a two-by-four. That's not spiritual.

That's arrogance. So be careful there. Do you? Ask yourself. Do you have the fruit of the Spirit is such-and-such such are you filled with peace and joy and love? Goodness and gentleness and kindness.

Are you filled with these things? That's the fruit of the Spirit if you're not if I'm not then some serious change needs to take place. We need that outflow. It's coming in. I hear it. I hear it. That's why I often say you can hear it and leave here nothing change.

Because it's just intake and there's no outflow. Do you lack purpose and peace is God's will elusive to you? I Hear people say I don't know what God's will is. I have no clue. You know, it's funny. There's in and I hate to use myself as example sometimes.

But this issue really isn't hasn't been in the last ten years like what's God's will. I don't know what he's doing. I know what he's doing. I just got to follow the course. We know what he's called it to be holy to be set apart for him to worship him to be saved to be sanctified to Be filled the Spirit of God.

Once we start doing those things his will becomes clear. The problem is for many people if they hold on to this and God's we trust and we don't trust the one true living God. I don't know his will Shane.

Of course, you don't know his will because you're not going in that direction. That's why peace and joy seem elusive God's will. I don't know what God's will is now, of course I say, I don't know what God's will is.

What's he going to do next year? Where's our building going to be is you know, I those things but I'm not driving the bus. He is. But you got to get on the bus. Get through the bus stop. No, I'm not taking that one.

Let it come by not taking that one. Just let it come by. I don't know what got. We got to get out. We got to move and do these things to follow the true God. We must dethrone the false gods. And what I mean by this basically is in our in our culture of materialism.

These things hold us our bank accounts our materialism. We hold on to everything because I Don't know why some people do but most time it's we just the more we can save the better and there's that well.

There's that there's a safety there, right? I've talked to many men. They've got you know, $100 ,000 in the bank account. They love money and and these things I say hey, there's I don't churches in India.

You could build a church for $6 ,000. That would only put me down to 94 ,000 Shane. I got to make sure I have a cushion in there. What do you say to that? These are just real examples. Now am I telling you to do that, of course not but I'm saying it's got a hold on you.

You can you can you can't you can make it with 100 grand in savings, but not 94 ,000. You see how this works with the bottom eyes we just don't want to do it we don't it's gonna hurt a little bit and.

Then that's how you get rid of this. God is you hurt him. Let me give you a little bit of it. Not saying drain everything and then go live in the desert. You got it because people always get upset through all I get you don't know the economy and the president this and that I don't know.

You're right. But all I know is I'm trusting in God not the Democrat or Republican. Who's running for Republican next year? I don't know idea. I'm looking to him. I'm looking to him. That's what I look to.

So in this whole issue of trust. But think about that. Don't we do that? We've got a whole we hold on as much as I can't give that this guy could plant a church in India and pave 10 Pastor salary or I can sit in Wells Fargo for the next 30 years.

So you got to kill that throat myself. I'm preaching myself to you know that right? That's why I didn't go get a truck. I use that to Explain that a couple weeks ago. I don't explain again. It hurts still.

Every time a fairly new Dodge drives by with a large cab. Man Lord and I get excuses to my family's growing. My kids are big their feet are up against the next seat. I need this. Need or want but once I made that decision sponsor we sponsor for kids this week.

And again, I don't say this. Oh, look, I'm just saying it hurts. It's hard. But that's where peace and joy came from the kids are looking forward to finding out who they're sponsoring who can't get rid of this Stuff I don't care what you know, you got it.

That's how you just thrown it because guess what next month He's gonna want to take residence again. He's gonna come up and he just keeps going and going and going. I'll be honest with you get another story.

I don't know how much I should be honest, but we've always wanted in our backyard. You see those sheds out in front of Home Depot, you know, the wood would nice wood. I don't know why they call those backyard sheds made out of wood.

They're nice or painted Home Depot $1 ,500 installation my kids I put the toys in there and get their bikes out. But all for the last three weeks me and Morgan we say for finally finally finally we can go get it $1 ,500 for a stupid thing in the backyard.

I can just put their bikes on the side of the yard. Do I need it or do I want it? You see these struggles. This is real life. Cuz you know, we don't need that. I can go on the side of the yard and I can have a dirty backyard.

But why do I want it organization organized my backyards clean everything's in there. That's not a bad thing, but it's sure not really a good thing. When I read stories like this. So can we find one that maybe somebody gives us and we can get rid of it?