LL EE TT ‘‘ SS

MM AA KK EE AA

DD EE AA LL !!

MM YY

FF II RR SS TT

OO FF FF EE RR ……

I will give each of you $100,000 for your I will give each of you $100,000 for your car(s) right now!car(s) right now!

Would anyone turn this offer down?Would anyone turn this offer down?

-- I doubt it; but before you spend the -- I doubt it; but before you spend the money, I have another deal to offer youmoney, I have another deal to offer you

MM YY

CC OO NN DD

OO FF FF EE RR ……

SS EE

I will give each of you $1,000,000 for I will give each of you $1,000,000 for your car(s), but …your car(s), but …

a.a. You must give me back the $100,000 You must give me back the $100,000 I just “gave” you.I just “gave” you.

b.b. You must wait one week.You must wait one week.

c.c. You must leave your car where it is You must leave your car where it is parked right now until next week.parked right now until next week.

d.d. You must be back here next Sunday You must be back here next Sunday to receive the money.to receive the money.

Would anyone turn down this second Would anyone turn down this second offer? I doubt it …offer? I doubt it …

a.a. I suspect that everyone would be willing I suspect that everyone would be willing to exchange $100,000 for $1,000,000.to exchange $100,000 for $1,000,000.

b.b. Not even the conditions would deter you; Not even the conditions would deter you; somehow you would:somehow you would:

1.1. Get back homeGet back home2.2. Get along all week without your car.Get along all week without your car.3.3. Get back here next Sunday, no matter what.Get back here next Sunday, no matter what.

-- For sake of illustration, let’s assume -- For sake of illustration, let’s assume everyone accepted the second offer.everyone accepted the second offer.

LL EE

AA LL YY ZZ

TT HH II SS ……

AA NN

TT ‘‘ SS

EE

The first offer sounded exciting at first, but The first offer sounded exciting at first, but paled in comparison to the second offer.paled in comparison to the second offer.

a.a. Who wouldn’t want $100,000 for their car(s)?Who wouldn’t want $100,000 for their car(s)?b.b. But then the offer wasn’t as exciting compared to the But then the offer wasn’t as exciting compared to the

second offer.second offer.1.1. $1,000,000 is worth a lot more.$1,000,000 is worth a lot more.2.2. Even if you have to wait a week.Even if you have to wait a week.3.3. Even if you have the inconvenience of no care.Even if you have the inconvenience of no care.

By accepting the second offer, you have By accepting the second offer, you have turned down the first offer:turned down the first offer:

a.a. An offer of immediate gain for a much larger offer of future gain.An offer of immediate gain for a much larger offer of future gain.b.b. An offer requiring no effort or sacrifice for a much larger offer An offer requiring no effort or sacrifice for a much larger offer

requiring much effort and sacrifice.requiring much effort and sacrifice.

LL EE TT ‘‘ SS

MM AA KK EE AA

DD EE AA LL --

II NN RR EE AA LL

LL II FF EE !!

SS AA TT AA

OO FF FF EE RR

YY OO UU AA

DD EE AA LL ……

NN

SS

He will give you immediate pleasure and He will give you immediate pleasure and rewards.rewards.

a.a. In regards to lusts of the flesh (immorality)In regards to lusts of the flesh (immorality)b.b. In regards to the lusts of the eyes (materialism)In regards to the lusts of the eyes (materialism)c.c. In regards to the pride of life (self-glorification)In regards to the pride of life (self-glorification)

a.a. If it feels good, do it!If it feels good, do it!b.b. If it looks good, take it!If it looks good, take it!c.c. If it sounds good, go for it!If it sounds good, go for it!

He requires virtually no effort or self- discipline He requires virtually no effort or self- discipline on your part.on your part.

-- The Bible refers to this deal as -- The Bible refers to this deal as “the passing pleasures of sin”“the passing pleasures of sin”

SSWWHH EE BB RR EE

11 11 :: 22 55

choosing rather to suffer choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin,passing pleasures of sin,

GG OO DD

OO FF FF EE RR

YY OO UU AA

DD EE AA LL ……

SS

He will give you future pleasures and rewards.He will give you future pleasures and rewards.

a.a. An eternity of bliss.An eternity of bliss.b.b. Far exceeding the pleasures and rewards of this life.Far exceeding the pleasures and rewards of this life.

a.a. Such as faithful service.Such as faithful service.b.b. Such as resisting temptation.Such as resisting temptation.c.c. Such as enduring persecution.Such as enduring persecution.

He requires much effort and sacrifice on your He requires much effort and sacrifice on your part.part.

-- The Bible refers to this deal as -- The Bible refers to this deal as “eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord”“eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord”

SSRR OO MM AA NN

66 :: 22 33

For the wages of sin is For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God death, but the gift of God

is eternal life in Christ is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.Jesus our Lord.

WW HH YY

SS OO YYMM AA

AA CC CC EE PP TT

SS AA TT

NN

DD OO

AA NN ‘‘ SS

OO FF FF EE RR

OO VV EE RR

GG OO DD ‘‘ SS

OO FF FF EE RR ??

For the same reason anyone would keep For the same reason anyone would keep $100,000 and refuse $1,000,000.$100,000 and refuse $1,000,000.

a.a. They fail to appreciate the difference in value.They fail to appreciate the difference in value.b.b. This failure to appreciate the difference is especially This failure to appreciate the difference is especially

true in real life.true in real life.

1.1. The promises of Satan last only a lifetime (if that).The promises of Satan last only a lifetime (if that).2.2. The promises of God last for eternity.The promises of God last for eternity.

HHTT II MM OO TT YY

44 :: 88

For bodily exercise For bodily exercise profits a little, but profits a little, but

godliness is profitable for godliness is profitable for all things, having all things, having

promise of the life that promise of the life that now is and of that which now is and of that which

is to come.is to come.

11 ss tt

11

MM AA RR KK

00 :: 22 88

Then Peter began to say to Him, "See, we have Then Peter began to say to Him, "See, we have left all and followed You."left all and followed You." 29 So Jesus answered and said, "Assuredly, I 29 So Jesus answered and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel's,gospel's, 30 "who shall not receive a hundredfold now 30 "who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time--houses and brothers and sisters in this time--houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions--and in the age to come, eternal persecutions--and in the age to come, eternal life.life.

For the same reason anyone would keep For the same reason anyone would keep $100,000 and refuse $1,000,000.$100,000 and refuse $1,000,000.

a.a. They fail to appreciate the difference in value.They fail to appreciate the difference in value.b.b. This failure to appreciate the difference is especially This failure to appreciate the difference is especially

true in real life.true in real life.

1.1. The promises of Satan last only a lifetime (if that).The promises of Satan last only a lifetime (if that).2.2. The promises of God last for eternity.The promises of God last for eternity.

-- Yet many people literally “sell their -- Yet many people literally “sell their souls” to accept the deal Satan offers!souls” to accept the deal Satan offers!

Moses understood the difference, and made Moses understood the difference, and made the right choice. (Hebrews 11:24-26)the right choice. (Hebrews 11:24-26)

a.a. His choice?His choice?

1.1. ““to suffer affliction with the people of God (rather) to suffer affliction with the people of God (rather) than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin.than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin.

2.2. ““esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt”than the treasures in Egypt”

Moses understood the difference, and made Moses understood the difference, and made the right choice. (Hebrews 11:24-26)the right choice. (Hebrews 11:24-26)

a.a. His reason for this choice?His reason for this choice?

1.1. ““for he looked to the reward”for he looked to the reward”

2.2. He evaluated the “deals”, and made He evaluated the “deals”, and made the right choice!the right choice!

WW HH AA

EE AA LL SS

HH AA VV EE

YY OO UU

TT

DD

MM AA DD EE ??

Are you accepting the deal made by Satan?Are you accepting the deal made by Satan?

a.a. Who offers the path of least resistance, the Who offers the path of least resistance, the immediate pleasures of this life?immediate pleasures of this life?

b.b. You are if you refuse to obey the gospel.You are if you refuse to obey the gospel.

1.1. You may even as a Christian, for there are many…You may even as a Christian, for there are many…a)a) Who would have gladly accepted the second deal of Who would have gladly accepted the second deal of

$1,000,000.$1,000,000.

I.I. No matter how hard it would be to get home and No matter how hard it would be to get home and back again.back again.

II.II. They would not let anything them from being here.They would not let anything them from being here.

Yet those same people do not consider the Yet those same people do not consider the promise of eternal life worth the same effort.promise of eternal life worth the same effort.

a.a. They do not make the effort to be at services on Sunday and They do not make the effort to be at services on Sunday and Wednesday nights.Wednesday nights.

b.b. They allow many things to hinder their services to God and to They allow many things to hinder their services to God and to their brethren.their brethren.

Who evidently…Who evidently…a.a. Place a higher value on $1,000,000 than on the gift of eternal Place a higher value on $1,000,000 than on the gift of eternal

life.life.

b.b. Selling their souls for much less (to the idols of money, Selling their souls for much less (to the idols of money, materialism, or just plain laziness)materialism, or just plain laziness)

c.c. Have accepted the offer of Satan’s over God’s offer!Have accepted the offer of Satan’s over God’s offer!

EE pp hh ..

55 :: 3 -3 - 55

But fornication and all uncleanness or But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints;you, as is fitting for saints; 4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor 4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.giving of thanks. 5 For this you know, that no fornicator, 5 For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Christ and God. (Ephesians 5:3-5)(Ephesians 5:3-5)

CC --

CC LL UU SS II OO NN

OO NN

The purpose of this lesson has not been to The purpose of this lesson has not been to bestow feelings of guilt, but to remind bestow feelings of guilt, but to remind ourselves…ourselves…a.a. That each day we are making choices.That each day we are making choices.

b.b. We are choosing to serve either Satan or God.We are choosing to serve either Satan or God.

-- I hoped to illustrate the folly of letting immediate -- I hoped to illustrate the folly of letting immediate and temporary gratification keep us from a much and temporary gratification keep us from a much greater and future reward.greater and future reward.

Brothers and sisters, let’s make a deal…!Brothers and sisters, let’s make a deal…!

a.a. To esteem the reproach of Christ greater riches than To esteem the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of the world.the treasures of the world.

b.b. To choose to suffer affliction with the people of God To choose to suffer affliction with the people of God (even if it means assembling more often!) than to (even if it means assembling more often!) than to enjoy passing pleasures of sin and selfishness.enjoy passing pleasures of sin and selfishness.

c.c. To keep looking to the reward that God has prepared To keep looking to the reward that God has prepared for His children.for His children.

Together we can help each other keep our priorities Together we can help each other keep our priorities straight, and receive the best “deal” that one can make!straight, and receive the best “deal” that one can make!