How To Change Banks Series

Not in My House Series

How to Change Banks

January 24, 2010

Dr. Mike Fogerson, Speaker

Introduction

A There are banks on every corner, but there are really only two: bank of the world or Bank of God.

1 I’m not talking about where you put your money as much as where you put your trust (world or Kingdom).

a Matt. 6:24, you must make a choice, you can’t do both. No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Matt 6:24 (KJV)

aa Mammon (literally riches) refers to wealth personified (money, possessions, ultimately to another god in the earth)

b Most Christians would say, “I bank at the Kingdom,” but saying it is much different than doing it (saying it IS NOT doing it).

2 You can make deposits, withdrawals, loans at either, but not both.

a Both banks do these transactions, but in completely different ways.

b We’ll look at both banks & how to make sure you’re at the right one.

B (transitional sentence)

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I The bank of the world always falls, fails.

A In Gen. 11:1-4, we see the most telltale signs of the bank of the world. Now the whole earth used the same language and the same words.2 It came about as they journeyed east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there.3 They said to one another, "Come, let us make bricks and burn them thoroughly." And they used brick for stone, and they used tar for mortar.4 They said, "Come, let us build for ourselves a city, and a tower whose top will reach into heaven, and let us make for ourselves a name, otherwise we will be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth." Gen 11:1-4 (NASB)

1 The people spoke in one language (probably Hebrew), and they looked out for only one.

a Built a tower to reach heaven in order to do two things:

aa To overtake God (a name for themselves)

bb To determine their own destiny; get up high enough to survive another flood (God can do what He wants, He can’t get us).

b These folks were determined to meet their needs without God

aa Let US build, make a name for ourselves, lest we get scattered.

bb They were determined to make it without God.

2 The Lord said, "Behold, they are one people, and they all have the same language. And this is what they began to do, and now nothing which they purpose to do will be impossible for them.7 "Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language , so that they will not understand one another's speech ."8 So the Lord scattered them abroad from there over the face of the whole earth; and they stopped building the city.9 Therefore its name was called Babel , because there the Lord confused the language of the whole earth; and from there the Lord scattered them abroad over the face of the whole earth. Gen 11:6-9 (NASB)

a Things got hard, difficult, scattered when they chose to bank at Babylon.

b It is the blessing of the Lord that makes rich, and He adds no sorrow to it. Prov 10:22 (NASB) Why did God add “...and He adds no sorrow to it?”

aa If you choose to try to make it without Him, in the Babylonian system, you’re going to have sorrow, fatigue, grief, worry.

bb There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death. Prov 14:12 (NASB) If you chose to do things without God, according to the Babylonian system, you’re going to have some areas lacking.

c (IL) Scouts are making a step stool, & the boys want to do it, build it...let’s do it, & about 3 minutes later, “Pastor Mike, can you help us cut the board, nail this side?”

aa On their own it’s not going to be built, but if they ask for help it will get done!

bb Daddy, I need your help!

B There are telltale signs you’re with the wrong bank.

1 You constantly worry about money. For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life , as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 31 Do not worry then, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear for clothing?'32 "For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.33 "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 "So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matt 6:25, 31-34 (NASB)