Original Power Point By Richard Thetford www.thetfordcountry.com Edited with additions of scriptures/etc Jack Wheeler –

1. Original Power PointByRichard Thetford www.thetfordcountry.comEdited with additions of scriptures/etcJack Wheeler – Clovis Ca.www.powerpointstojesus.com Email: jack@powerpointstojesus.com

2. Worldliness Gambling Gambling in America is bigger than it has ever been! • 85% of adults have gambled • Lotteries / Casinos are most common • Americans bet $482 billion last year • 44 states have legalized gambling

3. Gambling Takes on Different Forms Cards (Poker) Horse Racing Dog Racing Lottery Bingo Raffle Tickets Slot Machines Roulette Pitching or Matching Coins Betting on Ball Games

4. Clearly Defining Gambling • What is Gambling? • “wagering money or other items of value on an uncertain event that is dependent either wholly on chance, as in roulette, or partly on chance and partly on skill, as in certain card games and in sporting contests.” • Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia • “to play any game of chance for stakes…to stake or risk money, or anything of value, on the outcome of something involving chance…bet; wager” • Random House College Dictionary

5. Clearly Defining Gambling • What Gambling Is Not: • Taking normal risks of business or life • Farming, driving a car, etc. • In Gambling: • One stands to gain at the loss of others • In Farming: • Profit is not sought at the loss of others and risk is not contrived

6. Sinful Problems of Gambling • Essential motive is covetousness • Covet – “to fix passion upon” • Ephesians 5:5 Colossians 3:5 • The love of money is the root of Gambling • 1 Timothy 6:10 What is the Remedy? “….seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth….” Colossians 3:1-2

7. Sinful Problems of Gambling • It violates the principle of honest labor • One is to earn income from his own work • 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 2 Thessalonians 3:10 • Perpetuates the “get something for nothing” • Gambles away money and shuns responsibility to provide for his family • Matthew 7:12

8. Sinful Problems of Gambling • Gambling is accompanied by other evils evils • Cannot produce good things – it produces: • Greed, domestic violence, child abuse, divorce, theft, fraud, organized crime, prostitution, murder, drinking, suicide • Destroys confidence, credibility, reliability & security between spouses & family members You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? Matthew 7:16 Better is a little with the fear of the LORD, than great treasure with troubleProverbs 15:16

9. Sinful Problems of Gambling • Gambling does NOT promote godliness • Can the following be said of gambling? Philippians 4:8 1 Thessalonians 5:21 Matthew 5:16 James 4:4 I Tim 6:17-19

10. Sinful Problems of Gambling • Gambling is deceptive • Consumes innocent souls • Constant appeal to raw greed • Carefully crafted fantasy of getting rich quick • Deception that winning is easy and likely • Trap of devastating addiction • Victimization of the poor • Offers success and freedom • Delivers sorrow and bondage! “Do not be deceived: Evil company corrupts good habits.”(1 Cor 15:33) Prov 22:16 2 Peter 2:19

11. Conclusion • Gambling is a product of worldliness • An effort to lay up treasure on this earth • It is a deceiver, mocker and destroyer • Lives, families, souls • Put away covetousness and greediness • Learn to be content with our life • As we press on toward heaven Could any of us picture Jesus gambling?

12. Conclusion “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you.”Hebrews 13:5 “Pressing Toward the Goal Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.”Philippians 3:12