"LET'S
MAKE A DEAL!"
INTRODUCTION
a.
"Let's
Make A Deal!", with Monty Hall
[I want
you to imagine that have within my power to offer you some great deals...]
A. MY FIRST OFFER...
1.
I
will give each of you $100,000 for your car(s) right now!
2.
Would
anyone turn this offer down?
-- I doubt it; but before you spend the
money, I have another deal to offer you
B.
MY
SECOND OFFER...
1.
I
will give each of you $1,000,000 for your car(s), but...
a.
You
must give me back the $100,000 I just "gave" you
b.
You
must wait six months.
c.
You
must leave your car where it is parked right for six months
1)
Must
keep making payments, insurance, registration.
d.
You
must be back in six months Sunday to receive the money
2.
Would
anyone turn this second offer down? I
doubt it...
a.
I
suspect everyone would be willing to exchange $100,000 for $1,000,000
b.
Not
even the conditions would deter you; somehow you would:
1)
Get
back home (even walk if you have to)
2)
Get
along six months without your car
3)
Get
back here in six months, no matter what
-- For the sake of illustration, let's
assume everyone accepted the second offer
C.
LET'S
ANALYZE THIS...
1.
The
first offer sounded exciting at first, but paled in comparison to the second
offer
a.
Who
would wouldn't want $100,000 for their car(s)?
b.
But
then the offer wasn't as exciting compared to the second offer
1)
$1,000,000
is worth a lot more
2)
Even
if you have to wait six months
3)
Even
if you have the inconvenience of no car for six months
2.
By
accepting the second offer, you have turned down the first offer:
a.
An
offer of immediate gain for a much larger offer of future gain
b.
An
offer requiring no effort or sacrifice for a much larger offer requiring much
effort and sacrifice
[With this
illustration in mind, let's begin making the application...]
A. SATAN OFFERS YOU A DEAL...
1.
He
will give you immediate pleasures and rewards
a.
In
regards to the lusts of the flesh (immorality)
b.
In
regards to the lusts of the eyes (materialism)
c.
In
regards to the pride of life (self-glorification)
2.
He
requires virtually no effort or self-discipline on your part
a.
If it
feels good, do it!
b.
If it
looks good, take it!
c.
If it
sounds good, go for it!
-- The Bible refers to this deal as
"the passing pleasures of sin" - cf. He 11:25
B.
GOD
OFFERS YOU A DEAL...
1.
He
will give you future pleasures and rewards
a.
An
eternity of bliss
b.
Far
exceeding the pleasures and rewards of this life
2.
He
requires much effort and sacrifice on your part
a.
Such
as faithful service
b.
Such
as resisting temptation
c.
Such as
enduring persecution
-- The Bible refers to this deal as
"eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" - cf. Ro 6:23
C.
WHY
DO SO MANY ACCEPT SATAN'S OFFER OVER GOD'S...?
1.
For
the same reason anyone would keep $100,000 and refuse $1,000,000
a.
They
fail to appreciate the difference in value
b.
This
failure to appreciate the difference is especially true in real life
1)
The
promises of Satan last only a lifetime (if that)
2) The promises of God last for
eternity - cf.
3)
1
Tim. 4:8 for while
bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it
holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.
4) Matthew 10:28-30 And do not fear those
who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy
both soul and body in hell. [29] Are
not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground
apart from your Father. [30] But even
the hairs of your head are all numbered.
n Yet many people literally
"sell their souls" to accept the deal Satan offers!
3.
Moses
understood the difference,
and made the right choice –
a.
Hebrews
11:24-26 By faith Moses, when he was grown
up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, [25] choosing rather to be mistreated with
the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. [26] He considered the reproach of Christ
greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward.
b.
His
choice?
1)
"To
suffer affliction with the people of God (rather) than to enjoy the passing
pleasures of sin"
2)
"Esteeming
the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt"
c.
His
reason for this choice?
1)
"For
he looked to the reward"
2)
He
evaluated the "deals", and made the right choice!
4.
Paul
was content with his deal.
a.
2
Cor. 12:10 For the
sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships,
persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
b.
Philip.
4:11-12 Not that I am speaking of being in need,
for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. [12] I know how to be brought low, and I
know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of
facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.
D. WHAT DEAL HAVE YOU MADE...?
1.
Are
you accepting the deal made by Satan?
a.
Who offers
the path of least resistance, the immediate pleasures of this life?
b.
You
are if you refuse to obey the gospel
c.
You
may even as a Christian, for I fear there are many...
1)
Who
would have gladly accepted the second deal of $1,000,000
a)
No
matter how hard it would be to get home and back again
b)
They
would not let anything keep them from being here
2)
Yet
do not consider the promise of eternal life worth the same effort
a)
They
do not make the effort to be at services on Sunday and Wednesday nights
b)
They
allow many things to hinder their service to God and to their brethren
3)
Who
evidently...
a)
Place
a higher value on $1,000,000 than on the gift of eternal life
b)
Selling
their souls for much less (i.e., to the idols of money, materialism, or just
plain laziness) - cf. Ep 5:3-5
a.
Ephes.
5:3-5 But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be
named among you, as is proper among saints.
[4] Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which
are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. [5] For you may be sure of this, that
everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous ( that is, an
idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
c)
Have
accepted the offer of Satan over God's offer!
Brethren, let's make a deal...!
Together
we can help each other keep our priorities straight, and receive the best
"deal" that one can make!
Modified
from Mark Copeland outline