1 00:00:12,751 --> 00:00:16,348 Ok. Here we go. 2 00:00:16,348 --> 00:00:19,682 This first one comes from Alexander. 3 00:00:19,682 --> 00:00:21,199 Here's what he says, 4 00:00:21,199 --> 00:00:24,160 "I've been reading Revelation, 5 00:00:24,160 --> 00:00:27,379 and while I'm saved, 6 00:00:27,379 --> 00:00:30,757 and I know what it is to be enraptured by God, 7 00:00:30,757 --> 00:00:35,076 I am fearful after reading Revelation 20:12..." 8 00:00:35,076 --> 00:00:38,504 (Now, I'll read that to you in just a second.) 9 00:00:38,504 --> 00:00:41,389 He says, "it states that all people, 10 00:00:41,389 --> 00:00:45,827 good and evil, will have their deeds judged. 11 00:00:45,827 --> 00:00:49,064 While I'm grateful and assured of my salvation, 12 00:00:49,064 --> 00:00:53,113 I'm fearful that any good deeds I've done 13 00:00:53,113 --> 00:00:56,894 are simple and personal and will not compare 14 00:00:56,894 --> 00:01:00,204 to great missionaries and so forth. 15 00:01:00,204 --> 00:01:02,255 I'm afraid that after giving my life to God, 16 00:01:02,255 --> 00:01:04,486 I will be embarrassed in front of all creation 17 00:01:04,486 --> 00:01:07,066 by the little good I've done in Jesus' name, 18 00:01:07,066 --> 00:01:10,160 when compared to the mistakes I've made. 19 00:01:10,160 --> 00:01:13,659 Am I right to be afraid?" 20 00:01:13,659 --> 00:01:16,249 Here's the first thing I want to say to you guys: 21 00:01:16,249 --> 00:01:18,621 If you put this up, 22 00:01:18,621 --> 00:01:20,771 and anybody out there that comes across 23 00:01:20,771 --> 00:01:23,845 this and listens to it, or any of you folks, 24 00:01:23,845 --> 00:01:27,022 listen: I have tried to find this on a number of occasions 25 00:01:27,022 --> 00:01:29,180 and I can't find it. 26 00:01:29,180 --> 00:01:33,776 There is a Spurgeon sermon, 27 00:01:33,776 --> 00:01:37,285 and I think it might be one that has to do with heaven, 28 00:01:37,285 --> 00:01:40,136 but I'm not absolutely certain. 29 00:01:40,136 --> 00:01:44,698 And he says many envision 30 00:01:44,698 --> 00:01:47,088 the Second Coming of Christ 31 00:01:47,088 --> 00:01:50,905 and Judgment Day and the entry into heaven. 32 00:01:50,905 --> 00:01:54,652 And all the famous people: 33 00:01:54,652 --> 00:01:56,503 the Whitfield's and the Wesley's 34 00:01:56,503 --> 00:01:58,410 and the Luther's and the Calvin's. 35 00:01:58,410 --> 00:02:00,264 They're going to go all marching into heaven 36 00:02:00,264 --> 00:02:03,006 in great parade and pomp. 37 00:02:03,006 --> 00:02:05,875 While all the little seamstresses 38 00:02:05,875 --> 00:02:08,128 and the little people of the Kingdom 39 00:02:08,128 --> 00:02:10,762 are kind of off to the sides, 40 00:02:10,762 --> 00:02:13,039 and they just get to watch. 41 00:02:13,039 --> 00:02:15,456 And he says if that's the way you read heaven, 42 00:02:15,456 --> 00:02:17,668 you've read it all wrong. 43 00:02:17,668 --> 00:02:19,518 If anybody can find that, 44 00:02:19,518 --> 00:02:21,115 where Spurgeon says that, 45 00:02:21,115 --> 00:02:22,882 please tell me what sermon it's in. 46 00:02:22,882 --> 00:02:25,329 Please tell me where I can find it. 47 00:02:25,329 --> 00:02:29,622 He goes on to describe this little seamstress 48 00:02:29,622 --> 00:02:33,159 in some back alley of London. 49 00:02:33,159 --> 00:02:36,093 Riddled through with some disease 50 00:02:36,093 --> 00:02:39,341 and bed-ridden half the time. 51 00:02:39,341 --> 00:02:41,752 But she has an aroma of Christ about her 52 00:02:41,752 --> 00:02:43,684 and she loves the Lord. 53 00:02:43,684 --> 00:02:45,067 And from time to time, 54 00:02:45,067 --> 00:02:47,204 somebody will come visit and she will be able to share 55 00:02:47,204 --> 00:02:48,955 the things of Christ with them. 56 00:02:48,955 --> 00:02:53,687 He says if you think that woman 57 00:02:53,687 --> 00:02:55,580 is not going to be at the head of the parade 58 00:02:55,580 --> 00:02:59,280 in heaven, you've read heaven all wrong. 59 00:02:59,280 --> 00:03:02,075 Now listen, that's what Spurgeon says. 60 00:03:02,075 --> 00:03:03,393 Of course, we're doing a Bible study. 61 00:03:03,393 --> 00:03:05,474 We're concerned about what the Bible says. 62 00:03:05,474 --> 00:03:06,744 But if you can come across that, 63 00:03:06,744 --> 00:03:10,136 please tell me where it is. 64 00:03:10,136 --> 00:03:13,150 You know what I have right here? 65 00:03:13,150 --> 00:03:15,071 When I heard this question, 66 00:03:15,071 --> 00:03:16,683 I just started thinking through, 67 00:03:16,683 --> 00:03:18,882 who are the people and who are the churches 68 00:03:18,882 --> 00:03:21,412 that are made much of in the Bible? 69 00:03:21,412 --> 00:03:23,061 And I just let my mind go through... 70 00:03:23,061 --> 00:03:25,243 and guess what the first one is that came 71 00:03:25,243 --> 00:03:30,704 shooting into my mind. 72 00:03:30,704 --> 00:03:33,639 The widow and her two mites. 73 00:03:33,639 --> 00:03:37,614 Now this woman was not a great missionary. 74 00:03:37,614 --> 00:03:40,953 This woman was not the great Apostle Paul. 75 00:03:40,953 --> 00:03:43,564 This woman was not Martin Luther. 76 00:03:43,564 --> 00:03:45,987 This woman was not John Calvin. 77 00:03:45,987 --> 00:03:48,103 You know what? This woman was so obscure, 78 00:03:48,103 --> 00:03:49,872 and so out of the way, 79 00:03:49,872 --> 00:03:51,346 that we don't have any idea what her name is. 80 00:03:51,346 --> 00:03:53,679 You know, it's really been striking me lately, 81 00:03:53,679 --> 00:03:55,934 just from Sunday, 82 00:03:55,934 --> 00:03:59,114 just a leper. 83 00:03:59,114 --> 00:04:00,927 A thief. 84 00:04:00,927 --> 00:04:02,474 A widow. 85 00:04:02,474 --> 00:04:03,676 We don't even know their names. 86 00:04:03,676 --> 00:04:04,479 Just a widow. 87 00:04:04,479 --> 00:04:07,434 A woman who was a sinner. 88 00:04:07,434 --> 00:04:09,606 Just no name people. 89 00:04:09,606 --> 00:04:12,918 This isn't a mighty Peter or a mighty Paul. 90 00:04:12,918 --> 00:04:15,587 Just a widow. 91 00:04:15,587 --> 00:04:19,385 And you know what, Jesus looked up, 92 00:04:19,385 --> 00:04:23,096 this comes out of Luke 21:1-4. 93 00:04:23,096 --> 00:04:24,688 He looked up. He saw the rich putting 94 00:04:24,688 --> 00:04:26,230 gifts in the offering box. 95 00:04:26,230 --> 00:04:27,780 He saw a poor widow 96 00:04:27,780 --> 00:04:29,606 put in two small copper coins. 97 00:04:29,606 --> 00:04:31,320 He said, "Truly, I tell you this poor widow 98 00:04:31,320 --> 00:04:33,775 has put in more than all of them." 99 00:04:33,775 --> 00:04:35,411 And do you know what He's saying? 100 00:04:35,411 --> 00:04:36,981 He's saying on Judgment Day, 101 00:04:36,981 --> 00:04:38,399 she is going to be commended 102 00:04:38,399 --> 00:04:39,399 more than those people 103 00:04:39,399 --> 00:04:41,382 that apparently did a whole lot. 104 00:04:41,382 --> 00:04:42,255 I'm telling you, 105 00:04:42,255 --> 00:04:44,151 there are people who, 106 00:04:44,151 --> 00:04:47,151 it doesn't appear that they do much, 107 00:04:47,151 --> 00:04:51,463 but they serve Jesus Christ with all they have. 108 00:04:51,463 --> 00:04:53,405 You know what this woman had? 109 00:04:53,405 --> 00:04:54,591 Two copper coins. 110 00:04:54,591 --> 00:04:56,593 You know what she served the Lord with? 111 00:04:56,593 --> 00:04:58,304 Two copper coins. 112 00:04:58,304 --> 00:05:01,657 And He said she put in more than all the rest. 113 00:05:01,657 --> 00:05:03,416 You know what? We can look at people with great gifts; 114 00:05:03,416 --> 00:05:05,021 we can look at the Charles Spurgeons, 115 00:05:05,021 --> 00:05:07,834 and the John G. Patons, and the Hudson Taylors, 116 00:05:07,834 --> 00:05:09,780 Adoniram Judsons and the William Careys. 117 00:05:09,780 --> 00:05:11,617 We look at them and we think, "Oh no!" 118 00:05:11,617 --> 00:05:13,834 And no doubt, they did a lot. 119 00:05:13,834 --> 00:05:15,352 And they expended their lives, 120 00:05:15,352 --> 00:05:17,835 and I don't take away from any of those guys. 121 00:05:17,835 --> 00:05:19,993 But you've got little no-name widows, 122 00:05:19,993 --> 00:05:24,703 little no-name single men and women in our church. 123 00:05:24,703 --> 00:05:26,916 Some of you, you're giving yourself, 124 00:05:26,916 --> 00:05:29,251 you're taking your two coins, 125 00:05:29,251 --> 00:05:31,448 you're taking what God has given you, 126 00:05:31,448 --> 00:05:33,661 and you're seeking to serve the Lord with them. 127 00:05:33,661 --> 00:05:34,885 And you know what it says? 128 00:05:34,885 --> 00:05:37,318 Where does it say it? Hebrews 10? 129 00:05:37,318 --> 00:05:40,138 God does not forget. 130 00:05:40,138 --> 00:05:43,678 God is not slow to remember those deeds 131 00:05:43,678 --> 00:05:45,486 that you have done. 132 00:05:45,486 --> 00:05:47,006 You've got this little woman. Who else? 133 00:05:47,006 --> 00:05:49,074 The woman with the alabaster flask. 134 00:05:49,074 --> 00:05:50,849 Listen to this: 135 00:05:50,849 --> 00:05:54,640 Mark 14:3 "While Jesus was in Bethany 136 00:05:54,640 --> 00:05:55,966 in the house of Simon the leper, 137 00:05:55,966 --> 00:05:58,153 He was reclining at table when a woman came 138 00:05:58,153 --> 00:06:00,944 with an alabaster flask of ointment of pure nard, 139 00:06:00,944 --> 00:06:04,456 very costly, she broke the flask and poured it over His head. 140 00:06:04,456 --> 00:06:07,336 There were some who said to themselves indignantly, 141 00:06:07,336 --> 00:06:10,227 'Why was the ointment wasted like that?'" 142 00:06:10,227 --> 00:06:13,914 Some - it was not just Judas. 143 00:06:13,914 --> 00:06:17,700 It's likely Peter was there. 144 00:06:17,700 --> 00:06:19,920 "The ointment could have been sold for more than 145 00:06:19,920 --> 00:06:22,893 300 denarius and given to the poor. 146 00:06:22,893 --> 00:06:24,447 They scolded her. 147 00:06:24,447 --> 00:06:25,840 But Jesus said, 'leave her alone. 148 00:06:25,840 --> 00:06:27,440 Why do you trouble her?'" 149 00:06:27,440 --> 00:06:29,519 And He says two things that are just amazing. 150 00:06:29,519 --> 00:06:32,594 "She has done a beautiful thing to Me. 151 00:06:32,594 --> 00:06:33,814 For you always have the poor with you, 152 00:06:33,814 --> 00:06:35,760 and whenever you want, you can do good for them. 153 00:06:35,760 --> 00:06:37,776 But you will not always have Me. 154 00:06:37,776 --> 00:06:42,800 She has done what she could." 155 00:06:42,800 --> 00:06:45,088 Now you know what's really amazing? 156 00:06:45,088 --> 00:06:47,071 "She's anointed My body beforehand for burial, 157 00:06:47,071 --> 00:06:49,372 and truly I say to you, 158 00:06:49,372 --> 00:06:53,530 wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, 159 00:06:53,530 --> 00:06:58,248 what she has done will be told in memory of her." 160 00:06:58,248 --> 00:07:00,496 That is phenomenal! 161 00:07:00,496 --> 00:07:03,187 You know what Jesus is saying? 162 00:07:03,187 --> 00:07:06,271 He is specifically making this woman an example 163 00:07:06,271 --> 00:07:08,505 to you who feel like: 164 00:07:08,505 --> 00:07:09,945 I'll never be a great missionary. 165 00:07:09,945 --> 00:07:11,556 I'll never be a great pastor. 166 00:07:11,556 --> 00:07:12,932 I'll never be... 167 00:07:12,932 --> 00:07:17,278 you know what? 168 00:07:17,278 --> 00:07:20,013 Both these ladies - again, this woman, 169 00:07:20,013 --> 00:07:22,553 just called a woman with an alabaster flask. 170 00:07:22,562 --> 00:07:26,724 Some surmise that this was Mary Magdalene. 171 00:07:26,724 --> 00:07:34,165 Or Mary the sister of Lazarus. 172 00:07:34,165 --> 00:07:36,760 And it could be. 173 00:07:36,760 --> 00:07:38,676 I think maybe it's not. 174 00:07:38,676 --> 00:07:41,970 I think probably two separate situations. 175 00:07:41,970 --> 00:07:43,440 But you know what? 176 00:07:43,440 --> 00:07:45,715 The fact is, what this is telling us, 177 00:07:45,715 --> 00:07:48,041 is on Judgment Day, 178 00:07:48,041 --> 00:07:52,921 you think this woman's going to be embarrassed? 179 00:07:52,921 --> 00:07:56,193 Look, I come back to this... 180 00:07:56,193 --> 00:07:59,826 do you know what Jesus Christ said? 181 00:07:59,826 --> 00:08:04,800 John 17. Concerning His disciples. 182 00:08:04,800 --> 00:08:06,349 Praying to His Father, He says, 183 00:08:06,349 --> 00:08:09,112 "They have kept Your Word." 184 00:08:09,112 --> 00:08:11,921 Do you know what this guy right here? 185 00:08:11,921 --> 00:08:14,830 This guy's afraid that 186 00:08:14,830 --> 00:08:17,451 compared to his mistakes 187 00:08:17,451 --> 00:08:19,709 he feels that his good is pretty little. 188 00:08:19,709 --> 00:08:22,152 Well, you know what? I've been there too. 189 00:08:22,152 --> 00:08:24,219 I think we've all felt that. 190 00:08:24,219 --> 00:08:25,936 But isn't it amazing after the unbelief 191 00:08:25,936 --> 00:08:27,987 of these guys, after the pride of these guys, 192 00:08:27,987 --> 00:08:29,966 as Peter falling on his face, 193 00:08:29,966 --> 00:08:31,896 and "Get thee behind Me, Satan" 194 00:08:31,896 --> 00:08:34,136 and "you Sons of Boanerges," 195 00:08:34,136 --> 00:08:35,136 you "Sons of Thunder" 196 00:08:35,136 --> 00:08:37,345 - you don't even know what spirit you're of. 197 00:08:37,345 --> 00:08:39,341 Jesus Christ rebuking these guys; the pride; 198 00:08:39,341 --> 00:08:41,113 who's going to be greatest? 199 00:08:41,113 --> 00:08:42,887 They want to sit on His right hand and left hand. 200 00:08:42,887 --> 00:08:45,067 And after all this, Jesus can say, 201 00:08:45,067 --> 00:08:46,670 they've kept Your Word? 202 00:08:46,670 --> 00:08:48,208 You've got people like Sarah 203 00:08:48,208 --> 00:08:50,616 in Hebrews 11 204 00:08:50,616 --> 00:08:53,513 It says by faith. By faith? 205 00:08:53,513 --> 00:08:54,636 I go back in the Old Testament 206 00:08:54,636 --> 00:08:56,851 and I see her laughing with unbelief. 207 00:08:56,851 --> 00:08:57,968 But you know what it is? 208 00:08:57,968 --> 00:09:00,267 When you're in Christ, it's like 209 00:09:00,267 --> 00:09:02,397 we don't even remember it. 210 00:09:02,397 --> 00:09:06,849 Don't even mention their sins. 211 00:09:06,849 --> 00:09:08,095 That's what's going to happen. 212 00:09:08,095 --> 00:09:10,153 This guy, "am I right to be afraid?" 213 00:09:10,153 --> 00:09:11,901 Look, it's good to have a healthy fear of God. 214 00:09:11,901 --> 00:09:13,340 There's no question about it. 215 00:09:13,340 --> 00:09:14,478 But you know what? 216 00:09:14,478 --> 00:09:17,216 Matthew 25:23 - "His master said to him, 217 00:09:17,216 --> 00:09:18,928 'Well done, good and faithful servant.'" 218 00:09:18,928 --> 00:09:23,005 Who is going to hear "Well done, good and faithful servant?" 219 00:09:23,005 --> 00:09:25,210 "You've been faithful over a little." 220 00:09:25,210 --> 00:09:26,682 You know who's going to hear it? 221 00:09:26,682 --> 00:09:28,710 You just be faithful over a little. 222 00:09:28,710 --> 00:09:32,000 If God has given you a little, just be faithful. 223 00:09:32,000 --> 00:09:33,185 Who else? 224 00:09:33,185 --> 00:09:34,766 Think about Philadelphia. 225 00:09:34,766 --> 00:09:35,899 Think about the two churches 226 00:09:35,899 --> 00:09:40,814 that are commended in Revelation 2-3. 227 00:09:40,814 --> 00:09:43,462 Which two? Smyrna and Philadelphia. 228 00:09:43,462 --> 00:09:45,949 Listen to Philadelphia. 229 00:09:45,949 --> 00:09:47,058 "To the angel of the church of Philadelphia 230 00:09:47,058 --> 00:09:48,376 write the words of the Holy One, the True One, 231 00:09:48,376 --> 00:09:50,124 the One that has the key of David Who opens 232 00:09:50,124 --> 00:09:52,179 and no one can shut, who shuts and no one opens. 233 00:09:52,179 --> 00:09:53,672 I know your works. 234 00:09:53,672 --> 00:09:56,022 Behold, I have sat before you an open door, 235 00:09:56,022 --> 00:09:57,555 which no one is able to shut. 236 00:09:57,555 --> 00:09:59,297 I know that you have but little power." 237 00:09:59,297 --> 00:10:02,077 This is a whole church, they're just little, 238 00:10:02,077 --> 00:10:03,858 they're nobodies. 239 00:10:03,858 --> 00:10:04,971 They have a little power. 240 00:10:04,971 --> 00:10:07,234 The world looks at these people and says, 241 00:10:07,234 --> 00:10:08,947 "What are they?" 242 00:10:08,947 --> 00:10:11,639 Kind of like a little bunch of people meeting at Fatty's. 243 00:10:11,639 --> 00:10:13,561 Who are they? Just a bunch of despised, 244 00:10:13,561 --> 00:10:16,541 off-scouring of this earth. 245 00:10:16,541 --> 00:10:19,449 "Yet, you have kept My Word." 246 00:10:19,449 --> 00:10:20,856 There it is again. 247 00:10:20,856 --> 00:10:21,879 "And have not denied My name." 248 00:10:21,879 --> 00:10:24,449 Listen to this: "Behold, I will make those 249 00:10:24,449 --> 00:10:26,875 of the synagogue of Satan who say they are Jews and are not 250 00:10:26,875 --> 00:10:29,555 and lie, behold, I will make them come and bow down 251 00:10:29,555 --> 00:10:31,938 before your feet, 252 00:10:31,938 --> 00:10:34,023 and they will learn that I have loved you." 253 00:10:34,023 --> 00:10:36,813 Can you imagine that? 254 00:10:36,813 --> 00:10:38,398 Your enemies are going to come bow down 255 00:10:38,398 --> 00:10:40,262 at your feet. 256 00:10:40,262 --> 00:10:44,066 To who? 257 00:10:44,066 --> 00:10:49,295 Some mighty Melanchthon out of church history? 258 00:10:49,295 --> 00:10:51,357 No, to these Philadelphia Christians 259 00:10:51,357 --> 00:10:53,242 who we don't even know them. 260 00:10:53,242 --> 00:10:54,602 They have little power. 261 00:10:54,602 --> 00:10:57,907 How about 2 Corinthians 8? 262 00:10:57,907 --> 00:11:00,191 You've got the Macedonians. 263 00:11:00,191 --> 00:11:01,936 Listen to these guys. 264 00:11:01,936 --> 00:11:04,849 Severe test of affliction, 265 00:11:04,849 --> 00:11:08,609 extreme poverty, 266 00:11:08,609 --> 00:11:10,226 these are a bunch of nobodies too. 267 00:11:10,226 --> 00:11:12,153 They don't have any wealth. They don't have anything. 268 00:11:12,153 --> 00:11:14,572 Extreme poverty and extreme affliction. 269 00:11:14,572 --> 00:11:15,404 And you know what? 270 00:11:15,404 --> 00:11:17,183 They're commended for all time 271 00:11:17,183 --> 00:11:20,463 in 2 Corinthians 8, 272 00:11:20,463 --> 00:11:26,121 as the example of those who are givers. 273 00:11:26,121 --> 00:11:30,833 Right alongside the widow. 274 00:11:30,833 --> 00:11:39,014 Folks, who are the ones that are blessed of the Father? 275 00:11:39,014 --> 00:11:46,658 In Matthew 25, I'll read it to you, 276 00:11:46,658 --> 00:11:48,410 "The King will say to those on His right, 277 00:11:48,410 --> 00:11:51,681 'come, you who are blessed by My Father, 278 00:11:51,681 --> 00:11:53,091 inherit the Kingdom prepared for you 279 00:11:53,091 --> 00:11:54,538 from the foundation of the world. 280 00:11:54,538 --> 00:11:56,678 I was hungry, you gave Me food. 281 00:11:56,678 --> 00:11:58,179 I was thirsty, you gave Me drink. 282 00:11:58,179 --> 00:11:59,821 I was a stranger, you welcomed Me. 283 00:11:59,821 --> 00:12:01,613 I was naked, and you clothed Me. 284 00:12:01,613 --> 00:12:03,047 I was sick and you visited Me. 285 00:12:03,047 --> 00:12:05,080 I was in prison and you came to Me.' 286 00:12:05,080 --> 00:12:06,593 Then the righteous will answer saying, 287 00:12:06,593 --> 00:12:09,198 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You 288 00:12:09,198 --> 00:12:10,539 or thirsty and give You drink? 289 00:12:10,539 --> 00:12:12,217 When did we see You a stranger and welcome You 290 00:12:12,217 --> 00:12:13,361 or naked and clothe You? 291 00:12:13,361 --> 00:12:15,087 When did we see you sick or in prison 292 00:12:15,087 --> 00:12:16,320 and visit You?' 293 00:12:16,320 --> 00:12:17,462 And the King will answer them, 294 00:12:17,462 --> 00:12:20,203 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these, 295 00:12:20,203 --> 00:12:21,734 my brothers, you did it to Me.'" 296 00:12:21,734 --> 00:12:23,005 And I'll tell you what, there's another place 297 00:12:23,005 --> 00:12:28,301 in Scripture that says if you but give a cold cup of water; 298 00:12:28,301 --> 00:12:30,366 you give a glass of water to somebody 299 00:12:30,366 --> 00:12:31,666 you'll not lose your reward. 300 00:12:31,666 --> 00:12:33,536 And in fact, 301 00:12:33,536 --> 00:12:37,202 you give something to a prophet 302 00:12:37,202 --> 00:12:39,302 in the name of the prophet, 303 00:12:39,302 --> 00:12:42,599 you do something because they indeed are one of the Lord's, 304 00:12:42,599 --> 00:12:47,457 and it says you'll have a prophet's reward. 305 00:12:47,457 --> 00:12:52,857 But I tell you this, I read that one right there. 306 00:12:52,857 --> 00:12:56,682 This is the character of the works, 307 00:12:56,682 --> 00:13:01,650 whether your name is well known or not known. 308 00:13:01,650 --> 00:13:05,464 These are the characteristics of the works. 309 00:13:05,464 --> 00:13:08,193 You've been entrusted with a little and you're faithful with it. 310 00:13:08,193 --> 00:13:10,296 And you use it. 311 00:13:10,296 --> 00:13:14,256 And this young man, Alexander. 312 00:13:14,256 --> 00:13:18,343 He says that his works are simple and personal. 313 00:13:18,343 --> 00:13:28,492 By personal, you don't want to get away from Matthew 25, 314 00:13:28,492 --> 00:13:30,839 where our works need to be expressions of love 315 00:13:30,839 --> 00:13:32,302 to other people. 316 00:13:32,302 --> 00:13:34,769 And I'm not sure exactly what he means by personal. 317 00:13:34,769 --> 00:13:38,103 But if he means that he's kind of cloistered himself, 318 00:13:38,103 --> 00:13:39,961 and all his good works are done there, 319 00:13:39,961 --> 00:13:51,540 that's not characteristic of the life of the child of God. 320 00:13:51,540 --> 00:13:53,752 We may be forgotten, we may be unknown, 321 00:13:53,752 --> 00:13:55,195 we may be no-names, 322 00:13:55,195 --> 00:13:57,406 but we definitely want to be pouring out our love 323 00:13:57,406 --> 00:13:59,840 for the sake of people. 324 00:13:59,840 --> 00:14:02,522 And though you quietly do it from a sickbed, 325 00:14:02,522 --> 00:14:08,582 though you quietly do it in the background. 326 00:14:08,582 --> 00:14:19,453 Listen, I hope you guys are hearing this. 327 00:14:19,453 --> 00:14:22,549 Let me tell you something, 328 00:14:22,549 --> 00:14:28,535 I've said this on and off through the life of our church, 329 00:14:28,535 --> 00:14:31,677 and I can say it in the life of this Bible study too. 330 00:14:31,677 --> 00:14:35,246 People come and people go. 331 00:14:35,246 --> 00:14:38,049 Now some true Christians will come 332 00:14:38,049 --> 00:14:41,560 and they'll go away for whatever reasons. 333 00:14:41,560 --> 00:14:43,472 That's not to say that everybody that comes to our church 334 00:14:43,472 --> 00:14:45,505 and goes away isn't saved. 335 00:14:45,505 --> 00:14:50,097 But the truth is, people fall out of rank. 336 00:14:50,097 --> 00:14:51,734 People fall away. 337 00:14:51,734 --> 00:14:54,102 People come and try it; they come and taste it. 338 00:14:54,102 --> 00:14:55,885 They come and see it, they come and hear it. 339 00:14:55,885 --> 00:14:59,808 And there may be a little thrill in the beginning. 340 00:14:59,808 --> 00:15:04,456 There's a parable of the soils for a reason. 341 00:15:04,456 --> 00:15:08,907 Even if you're a no-name, be faithful. 342 00:15:08,907 --> 00:15:10,837 Be faithful to the end. 343 00:15:10,837 --> 00:15:13,778 What I'm seeing lately is people falling out of ranks. 344 00:15:13,778 --> 00:15:14,939 You know why? 345 00:15:14,939 --> 00:15:18,587 Because they're not in this thing seeking to 346 00:15:18,587 --> 00:15:20,737 please the Lord and to love others. 347 00:15:20,737 --> 00:15:23,107 They're looking for what they can get. 348 00:15:23,107 --> 00:15:25,608 They're looking to be ministered to. 349 00:15:25,608 --> 00:15:27,806 They're looking for what they can receive. 350 00:15:27,806 --> 00:15:31,093 There should be an expectation in the church 351 00:15:31,093 --> 00:15:33,066 that there's a giving and a receiving, 352 00:15:33,066 --> 00:15:35,662 but if you come and you're just coming to get, 353 00:15:35,662 --> 00:15:37,563 and you're just coming to make friends, 354 00:15:37,563 --> 00:15:39,406 and you're coming to be socially accepted, 355 00:15:39,406 --> 00:15:42,369 and you're coming - and if people don't dish out 356 00:15:42,369 --> 00:15:44,092 to you what you think you deserve, 357 00:15:44,092 --> 00:15:45,326 you're going to be all offended, 358 00:15:45,326 --> 00:15:47,209 and you're going to walk away. 359 00:15:47,209 --> 00:15:49,419 That's so opposite to this. 360 00:15:49,419 --> 00:15:53,685 These people that were commended 361 00:15:53,685 --> 00:15:55,857 are the people in poverty, 362 00:15:55,857 --> 00:15:57,610 the people in extreme affliction, 363 00:15:57,610 --> 00:16:00,365 the people in extreme circumstances, 364 00:16:00,365 --> 00:16:02,686 that are seeking to do good. 365 00:16:02,686 --> 00:16:03,759 And you know what? 366 00:16:03,759 --> 00:16:05,379 They don't need all the limelight. 367 00:16:05,379 --> 00:16:08,284 They don't need all the applause. They don't need all the attention. 368 00:16:08,284 --> 00:16:11,414 They don't need to be the ones that are being catered to. 369 00:16:11,414 --> 00:16:17,133 They don't need to have everybody's arm around them, 370 00:16:17,133 --> 00:16:20,958 and have all the attention. 371 00:16:20,958 --> 00:16:23,094 That widow threw it in. 372 00:16:23,094 --> 00:16:24,002 And you know what? 373 00:16:24,002 --> 00:16:26,239 She didn't know anybody was looking. 374 00:16:26,239 --> 00:16:29,399 And I'm certain she had no agenda to tell anybody. 375 00:16:29,399 --> 00:16:32,926 Brethren, be faithful. 376 00:16:32,926 --> 00:16:37,065 You may never have any fame, 377 00:16:37,065 --> 00:16:39,386 any attention in this world, 378 00:16:39,386 --> 00:16:40,714 but I guarantee you, 379 00:16:40,714 --> 00:16:44,330 if you will be faithful, you will one day hear, 380 00:16:44,330 --> 00:16:47,287 "Well done, good and faithful servant." 381 00:16:47,287 --> 00:16:50,264 And just like Spurgeon talks about this seamstress 382 00:16:50,264 --> 00:16:53,325 just buried away in her hovel down at the end 383 00:16:53,325 --> 00:16:56,937 of some poverty stricken alley in the 384 00:16:56,937 --> 00:17:01,367 inner city of London in his day. 385 00:17:01,367 --> 00:17:07,419 I'll tell you what, when that welcome is made into glory, 386 00:17:07,419 --> 00:17:10,372 people just forgotten by this world 387 00:17:10,372 --> 00:17:12,233 and oftentimes people forgotten in human history. 388 00:17:12,233 --> 00:17:14,832 Most of us in this room, 389 00:17:14,832 --> 00:17:17,137 all of us in this room, 390 00:17:17,137 --> 00:17:20,901 are not going to have biographies written about us. 391 00:17:20,901 --> 00:17:23,289 I can say most - one of you guys 392 00:17:23,289 --> 00:17:24,909 might rise up and go to the mission field 393 00:17:24,909 --> 00:17:26,531 and become a famous missionary. 394 00:17:26,531 --> 00:17:31,332 I don't rule that out. 395 00:17:31,332 --> 00:17:34,255 Remember these folks. 396 00:17:34,255 --> 00:17:36,216 Let the Macedonians, 397 00:17:36,216 --> 00:17:38,713 let the Philadelphians, 398 00:17:38,713 --> 00:17:43,137 the Smyrnans (if that's how you say that), 399 00:17:43,137 --> 00:17:46,446 the woman with the alabaster, 400 00:17:46,446 --> 00:17:48,795 the widow with her mite. 401 00:17:48,795 --> 00:17:51,786 Remember these people. 402 00:17:51,786 --> 00:17:53,945 Let them be examples to you. 403 00:17:53,945 --> 00:17:55,941 Brethren, be faithful. 404 00:17:55,941 --> 00:18:00,701 Like I say, people are falling out of the ranks. 405 00:18:00,701 --> 00:18:04,406 People are giving up the race. 406 00:18:04,406 --> 00:18:05,995 People are becoming offended. 407 00:18:05,995 --> 00:18:09,259 The love of many will grow cold. 408 00:18:09,259 --> 00:18:11,314 That's what it says. Where? 409 00:18:11,314 --> 00:18:15,988 Matthew 24? 410 00:18:15,988 --> 00:18:18,376 The love of many grow cold. 411 00:18:18,376 --> 00:18:20,441 They fall out of ranks. 412 00:18:20,441 --> 00:18:24,384 People want what they can get.