Financial Series: The Guide to Truth

As we are being challenged to read and study the book of John, I wanted to share some of my personal sermon notes with you to help you understand the book. I preached through the entire book over the course of 1 year when I pastored First Baptist Church Del Rio. Enjoy!

Introduction—Truth means different things to different people, wouldn’t you agree? Whatever is true for me isn’t necessarily true for you, right? Is there an absolute truth that we can know for sure is foolproof?

Let me give 3 things that point to an absolute truth, and once we establish that, then we can move into our second sermon of 3 on finances.

Human conscience—something inside of us says there is a way that is right or the way things should be. When things are wrong like, rape, murder, starvation, pain, evil, etc., it gives us the knowledge of the right “way” when we know that love, peace, generosity, and such.
Science—science it the study of knowledge of how things are and the pursuit to know more. There are absolute truths involved, if there wasn’t, then there would be no guidelines or facts for scientists to follow.
Religion—gives humans a reason to seek God for a more purposeful life other than the simple existence here on earth. Religion gives meaning and definition to life. We seek God for knowledge, purpose, forgiveness, peace, and answers to our deepest questions.

Read: John 16:1-15

“All this I have told you so that you will not fall away. 2 They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, the time is coming when anyone who kills you will think they are offering a service to God. 3 They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me. 4 I have told you this, so that when their time comes you will remember that I warned you about them. I did not tell you this from the beginning because I was with you, 5 but now I am going to him who sent me. None of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6 Rather, you are filled with grief because I have said these things.7 But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 about sin, because people do not believe in me; 10 about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11 and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.

12 “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.”

Financial Guidance comes from God—verses 1-3
Verse 1—the All that Jesus is talking about is found in John 15:26-27 “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me.27 And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.
When you start grasping the concept of Biblical financial giving, spending, and living, the liar, who is Satan will tell you that you don’t have to follow Biblical guidelines when it comes to your money. Let me ask you a very personal question—how is that working for you? If you have been listening to the world about how to manage your money, it doesn’t work. Our own country is in debt that will eventually crush our future generations. We have mortgaged our grandkids all for the sake of living our lives anyway we choose. It doesn’t work. Being a slave to the lender is a lie from the adversary himself. Satan will tell you all that you want to hear. That is why Jesus warns us about him.
He says in verse 1, I am giving you advanced warning so you continue to rely and believe that God’s ways are always the best when it comes to your finances.
Verse 2—Jesus says this statement in verse 2 that is directed at his disciples so that they will know to follow Christ is to place your life on the line.
In our world today it is very much like this isn’t it? If you claim to be a Christian, you are telling the world come and get me. Hatred is from Satan and He has blinded the eyes of many.
When it comes to your finances, the normal way of handling money doesn’t take into account God. When you apply for credit, the bank isn’t going to take your tithe as a deduction so they only lend you less credit. They want to lend you the maximum amount available to you so they can have a longer lasting relationship with you, or with your money I should say.
When God is cut out of the equation, the worldly view sees that as a service to God. He is removed from the scene, so now you have more money.
Verse 3—makes it clear that there is a reason people act the way they do. They do not know Jesus. When you know Jesus, you know he wants the best for you. He wants you to peace in all areas of your life, including your finances.

Application—Are you ready to take financial advice from God?

Financial Conviction from comes God—verses 4-11
When Jesus says I told you and I am warning you, I believe Him more than anyone else. I take to heart those signs.
These warnings are for all of our lives. They remind us of our need for a Savior. What better way to be convicted of truth?
If you really want to love out your faith in the truth, then be reminded of Jesus Words.
Verse 7—This is the second time Jesus reinforces the good of His departure. Without His departure, we would not experience the Holy Spirit. He is adamant the our Paraklete, our comforter, our Advocate will not come to us unless He leaves.
Verse 8—Since the arrival of the Holy Spirit indwelling us as we confess Jesus as our Lord, He has proven to the world that they are wrong about sin. Therefore, how is it possible for our financial convictions to come from anyone other than the Holy Spirit? The world wants you to be in debt so they can continue to keep you in bondage. This is not a truth form God. Listen to the Holy Spirit today.
Verses 9-11—Give us a detailed explanation of why we should believe what the Bible has to say about our money.
About sin—people don’t even believe in me. Are you willing to trust your resources to the world’s system? It doesn’t work. A court can convict a person of a crime, but only the Holy Spirit can convict a person of their sin and unbelief.
About righteousness—Jesus enforces the absolute standard of truth. It reflects the character of God. It penetrates our thoughts and actions so that it can be compared to sin.
About judgment—Judgment always occurs when an act or thought is evaluated by an absolute principle. In this context, judgment is against Satan and his self-willed rebellion as the prince of this world. Your financial convictions are far better off in the hands of Holy God verses the blind, selfish worldly status quo.

Illustration—Truett Cathy founder of Chick-Fil-A died in 2014. His convictions led him to close for business on Sundays in order to rest up for the coming week. 52 days a year closed!

Application—When God in His Word challenges you about your money, what do you do about it? Ignore it or accept it?

Financial Truth comes from God—verses 12-15
Verses 12-13—Only Truth will come from the God who has He has revealed Himself through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
What truth has been revealed about your finances in Scripture:
Proverbs 24:3-4
Luke 14:28-30
Psalm 112:5
Proverbs 13:4 NLT
Luke 16:10-12
Ecclesiastes 5:10
Matthew 6:31-33
Verse 14—If the Holy Spirit is here to glorify Jesus so that He can be made known to you and me, what should our response be to Him? Is your money worth more than God? If you aren’t in a place to be a good financial steward of what God has entrusted to you, it is ok. Maybe you haven’t understood these principles before now. But you know now.
Verse 15—The Father owns it all, and He has given everything to Jesus and now the Holy Spirit has enlightened us to that fact, so we are now without excuse. Amen.

Conclusion—Jesus came to fulfill the law, not abolish it. When you hear that tithing is an Old Testament law for Jewish decedents only, how do you react to that? I hear it a lot, and it is all over the Internet. Listen Jesus would never lower the standard if He fulfilled the law. Jesus always raised the standard. He made the law come to life. Murder didn’t just mean killing someone physically, Jesus said you could murder someone’s heart with your words. We want all the benefits that come with being a Christian, like God being our God now, instead just the God of Israel. We want all the same benefits of being a child of God, including eternal life, co-heirs to the throne of God, and on and on, yet we pick and choose the things we want to be part of, like obedience, prayer, going to church, and tithing. The Christian life isn’t about picking and choosing, it is about following the leader, Jesus. He is our guide to the Truth. He would never lead you astray. God is faithful.

Stay in the Light, 1 John 1:7,

Pastor Larry