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And so we're In Romans chapter
12, we're continuing our study in

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the book of Romans.

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As we've mentioned for the
past few weeks, Romans chapter one

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through chapter 11 really
deals with the understanding of who

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he is and what he has done for
us, who God is and what he has done,

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what we should believe about
him, what we should believe about

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our faith, what we should
believe about our salvation.

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And really Now Romans chapter
12 on is dealing with how we should

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live our lives in accordance
to that belief.

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And we've gotten here to
Romans chapter 12.

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And starting in verse 6, we
begin to study the gifts that God

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has given us within the body
of believers to exercise for the

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furtherance of the gospel of
Jesus Christ.

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You know, every believer has
been given something by God.

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Maybe they've been given the
ability to teach, maybe they've been

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given the opportunity to encourage.

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Maybe some are leaders, some
are those that extend mercy.

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But today we're going to see
the gift of giving.

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And anytime we bring up the
word giving within the church, there

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is some level of discomfort
for some people because of maybe

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someone in the past that
misunderstood the aspect of biblical

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giving, or maybe someone
that's abused biblical giving.

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But what we're going to see
here, Romans chapter 12 is this spirit

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through filled God given grace
that deals with the understanding

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of giving.

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Not just our finances, even
though that's a part of it, but giving

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ourselves to others so that
they can understand God and that

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they can grow in the Lord.

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And so today we come to a gift
that often gets misunderstood.

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When many people hear about
giving, they immediately think it's

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all about money.

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Well, now it's the pastor's
job to come up and start to talk

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about giving money to the church.

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And now going to hear a sales pitch.

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I can guarantee you that it
won't be that.

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Here this morning we want to
look at what the word of God says

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about giving.

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And we want to go back a
little bit deeper to the heart of

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giving because we can
understand that there's a way to

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give and there's a way to give
in a ungraceful spirit and then a

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spirit of grace, a spirit of joy.

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And we're going to talk about
that here this morning.

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Certainly, financial
generosity is part of the gift, but

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the gift of giving is so much
larger than writing checks.

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Giving includes our time, our
resources, our talents, our possessions,

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our opportunities, our
hospitality, even in our relationships,

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influence, and yes, finances.

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And so the believer with this
gift of giving consistently asks

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this question, how can what
God has entrusted me with become

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a blessing to somebody else.

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Think about that question that
the person with the gift of giving

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ask, how can what God has
given me become a blessing for somebody

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else?

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Now I've had some people ask
me, pastor, why are we spending so

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much time on these gifts that
are listed here in Romans chapter

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12?

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Well, for me, many times when
I hear Romans chapter 12 preached,

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I hear verses really six
through eight be done in about five

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minutes.

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Here's the gifts, here's what
they mean.

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Let's move on.

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But I really do believe that
it's important for the local church

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to understand the grace given
gifts from God to the believer so

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that we can all be more
effective in our service within the

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church.

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I think that we all want to be
effective servants of the Lord.

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And oftentimes what happens is
if someone doesn't know what their

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gift is, they're like, hey,
well, I'm just serving, but I'm not

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really sure if, if I'm gifted here.

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I really don't know if I'm
going to be effective.

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And so yes, there is a call
for all of us to serve in a general

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manner and sometimes we do
have to serve outside of our comfort

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zone.

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But what the Bible does say is
that these gifts are given to Christians,

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as it says in verse six, gifts
differing according to the grace

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that is given to us.

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So this is a gift from God.

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Therefore it's something that
we should study, it's something that

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we should identify in our lives.

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So number one, understanding
the gift that God has gifted us with

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or the gifts that God has
gifted us with brings us effective

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service within the body of believers.

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But it also brings us
something else with understanding

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the gift of grace that God has
given us.

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And when we exercise that gift
of grace within the body of believers,

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it brings us joy.

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How many times have you seen
someone serving within the church

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and they have no joy, they
have no zeal, they think like, well,

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maybe I'm not even really
accomplishing anything.

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Well, the truth is, is that
sometimes we're exercising outside

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of what God has gifted us in
and we lose that joy of service within

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the body of believers.

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So part of understanding our
God given grace is that we understand,

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number one, that we can be effective.

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And number two, we can
understand that there can be joy

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in our service to the Lord.

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And so that's why we're going
to break down each one of these gifts

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in a very detailed way so that
we can identify those gifts in our

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life and so that we can
utilize those gifts within the body

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of believers.

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So that we can be effective so
that we can be joyful, and that ultimately

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we can give glory to the Lord.

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And so we get to verse number
eight of Romans chapter 12.

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Last week we looked at exhortation.

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You can look back at the
sermon on exhortation on our YouTube

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or Facebook.

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But we now find in verse
eight, halfway through the verse,

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it says, he that giveth, let
him do it with simplicity.

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Now, that's just one phrase
there, but there's a lot there.

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He that giveth, give with simplicity.

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Now, what does that mean, simplicity?

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Well, we're going to dive
deeper into that here this morning.

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But basically, simplicity
means giving with sincerity, generosity,

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and singleness of purpose.

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I'm going to say that again.

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Giving with simplicity means
giving with sincerity, giving with

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generosity, and giving with a
singleness of purpose.

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We all know that there's a way
that we can give in which we're not

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giving with the right motivation.

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We're not giving with sincerity.

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We're not giving with generosity.

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We're not giving it with
singleness of purpose.

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We have our own purpose.

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And so what we see in this
passage is that, yes, it is good

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that we give, but those that
are gifted in giving must give in

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a specific way, a way that God
has called us to give.

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It's a way that we give
without hidden motives.

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It's a way that we give
without manipulation.

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It's a way that we give
without seeking recognition.

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Simply put, it is giving
because Christ has given to us first.

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And so some of us here today
might say, you know what, Pastor?

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I know right now I am not
spiritually gifted in the area of

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giving.

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I'm more on one of the other gifts.

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Well, that's understandable.

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I think that we all understand
that some of us might be gifted in

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certain things and not gifted
in others, but it doesn't mean that

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we neglect that gift.

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I think all of us can learn
what biblical giving is here today,

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because even if we are not
spiritually gifted in the area of

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giving, all of us are called
to give.

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And so we should learn and
grow in this area within our life.

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And so let's look at the
understanding of gift giving.

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Gift giving in the realm of
Scripture is a spirit given grace

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and motivation to serve God by
joyfully, wisely, and generously

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investing one's resources,
abilities, possessions, opportunities,

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and finances to meet needs, to
advance the Gospel, to strengthen

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Christ Church, and to glorify God.

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I want you to think about
those motivations.

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It says there to be the kind
of giver that is going to meet needs

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to advance the Gospel, to
strengthen Christ Church, and to

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glorify God.

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Giving should not be motivated
by obligation.

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Even though that's sometimes
how we feel within the church.

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We feel like, well, I better
give or else that's not the right

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type of motivation.

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That might be where it starts.

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But biblically speaking, as
God grows in our life as someone

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who we love, and as God works
in our life and grows us as believers,

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we must understand that it
cannot be motivated by obligation.

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It must be motivated by gratitude.

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The giver recognizes that
everything belongs to God.

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Psalm 24:1 tells us that the
earth is the Lord's and the fullness

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thereof.

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And so what we have to
understand when we're talking about

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the topic of giving is that
what we have is really not even ours.

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We are stewards of what God
has given us.

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Now, we need to define that
word steward this morning because

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that's so very important to understand.

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Giving, stewardship is this.

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God gives us something to
oversee for a time, to manage for

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a time.

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It's not ours to own, but it
is ours to manage and to use for

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the cause of the gospel.

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So we as Christians are
stewards of many different things

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that God has given us.

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But ultimately we're reminded
that everything belongs to God.

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And when we understand that
principle that everything belongs

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to God, it's a lot more of a
joy to give because we're giving

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back to God for what he has
already given us.

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We're not the owners, we're
just stewards.

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Everything that we possess has
first been entrusted to us by God.

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We even know that in James,
chapter one, verse 17.

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It tells us that every good
gift comes from God.

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So giving is more than just
money, even though that's part of

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it.

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Money is one expression of generosity.

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But throughout Scripture, we
see people giving their homes, their

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fields, their food, their
strength, their skills, their time,

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their encouragement, giving
their lives for other Christians.

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Some believers have
significant financial resources,

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and oftentimes the gift of
giving comes along with financial

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resources that God has blessed
an individual with.

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I think of Abraham, if you
know anything about Abraham.

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In the Old Testament, Abraham
was given many financial and material

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resources, and he was able to
use those resources to give to others.

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And so oftentimes, God gives
the person with the gift of grace

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the financial or material
resources to give to people within

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the body of believers.

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Others may have very little
money, but possess other things like

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time, hospitality, wisdom, or
even practical abilities.

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So the question is never, how
much do I have?

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Because I think that's
sometimes what people think.

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They think, well, Pastor, I
can't be a giver within the church

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because I don't have a lot.

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It's not about how much do I
have, but rather we should ask this

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question, how can I have.

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How can what I have serve the Lord?

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So it's not a matter of, well,
I need more so that I can give.

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It's a matter of, lord, what
do I have that I can give to you?

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And so we have to understand
the motivation of the giver.

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The motivation is to be
invested in what God has entrusted

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us with so that other people
can flourish spiritually.

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Remember the servant.

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The servant was someone who
could come alongside of someone and

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help them so that they can do
what they need to do for the Lord.

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Well, the giver is very similar.

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The giver is someone who says,
I can come and give you what you

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need so that you can do what
God has called you to do.

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So as you understand this,
within the Christian church, within

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the body of believers, we see
the giver helping the teacher.

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We see the giver helping the prophet.

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We see the giver helping the
exhorter to do what they have been

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called to do.

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The giver provides those
things and invests in that way so

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that people can spiritually
flourish within the body of Christ.

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And so they're asking
questions like this, who needs help?

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What need can be met within
the body?

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How can God's work move forward?

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How can we move things forward
in this plan?

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What has God placed in my
hands, in my possession for his kingdom?

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And so the giver finds joy not
in possessing, but in releasing and

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investing into the kingdom of God.

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Jesus tells us that giving is
a blessing.

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Acts chapter 20, verse 35 says this.

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It is more blessed to give
than to receive.

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We understand that there is a
blessing in receiving, but what the

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Bible says is that it's more
blessed to give than receive.

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Why?

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Because.

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00:11:59,650 --> 00:12:01,810
Because we're investing into
the kingdom of God.

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We're investing into a brother
or sister in Christ so that they

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00:12:05,090 --> 00:12:07,170
can see the blessings of God
in their life.

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00:12:07,170 --> 00:12:11,650
And so as we've studied this
passage of Scripture, we've seen

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that people who are gifted in
these areas can either exercise the

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00:12:15,769 --> 00:12:18,370
gift in the flesh or in the spirit.

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00:12:18,530 --> 00:12:20,290
And that's really the
Christian life in general.

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00:12:20,370 --> 00:12:22,850
If you think about the
Christian life in the big picture,

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we really have a decision to
make every day.

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00:12:25,490 --> 00:12:29,010
And I would even say not just
every day, but basically every minute.

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00:12:29,250 --> 00:12:32,290
We have a decision on whether
or not we're going to feed the flesh

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00:12:32,690 --> 00:12:33,890
or feed the spirit.

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00:12:34,130 --> 00:12:37,050
Are we going to Yield to the
spirit in the way that God has for

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00:12:37,050 --> 00:12:37,530
us to live.

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00:12:37,530 --> 00:12:40,730
Are we going to give into the
lust of the flesh, the lust of the

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00:12:40,730 --> 00:12:42,450
eyes and the pride of life?

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00:12:42,850 --> 00:12:46,770
Well, we know that as we're
gifted in certain areas, we can exercise

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00:12:46,770 --> 00:12:48,090
it in the flesh or in the spirit.

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00:12:48,090 --> 00:12:50,770
So what does a spirit filled
giver look like?

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00:12:51,180 --> 00:12:55,700
Well, biblically speaking, a
spirit filled giver recognizes that

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00:12:55,700 --> 00:12:57,220
everything belongs to God.

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00:12:57,220 --> 00:12:58,380
We already talked about that before.

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We should recognize in the
Spirit that everything that I have

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belongs to God.

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00:13:05,420 --> 00:13:06,860
Sometimes we get possessive.

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00:13:07,260 --> 00:13:10,140
Sometimes we think, well God,
you can have this, but not this.

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You can have my 10%, but
nothing else.

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00:13:13,340 --> 00:13:18,270
Lord, this is my thing, this
is my job, this is my house, these

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are my children.

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00:13:19,390 --> 00:13:23,430
And what we have to understand
is that in the grand picture, the

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00:13:23,430 --> 00:13:27,070
grand design of the Christian
walk, God owns it all.

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00:13:27,790 --> 00:13:32,230
And so a spirit filled giver
understands that we're just stewards,

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00:13:32,230 --> 00:13:34,750
we're just managers, we're not
the owners.

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00:13:34,990 --> 00:13:38,950
Every blessing is an
opportunity for ministry, but also

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00:13:38,950 --> 00:13:41,310
a spirit filled giver gives joyfully.

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00:13:41,870 --> 00:13:45,030
We're going to see in Second
Corinthians, chapter 9 that the Bible

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00:13:45,030 --> 00:13:47,990
says that God loves a cheerful giver.

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00:13:48,870 --> 00:13:52,390
So a spirit filled giver is
joyful when he or she gives.

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00:13:52,550 --> 00:13:55,750
Giving isn't painful, but it's worship.

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00:13:56,150 --> 00:13:59,350
We understand that as we
exercise these gifts within the church,

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00:13:59,430 --> 00:14:00,470
that's worship.

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00:14:00,790 --> 00:14:05,830
And so a spirit led grace
giver is someone who delights in

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00:14:05,830 --> 00:14:10,550
seeing God use what God has
already entrusted them with.

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00:14:10,840 --> 00:14:11,960
So God, you've given me this.

285
00:14:11,960 --> 00:14:15,040
I'm so happy that you're using
me to do this because you are the

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00:14:15,040 --> 00:14:16,680
source of all of this within
my life.

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00:14:16,920 --> 00:14:18,600
So there's a joy in giving.

288
00:14:19,400 --> 00:14:21,640
But also we see that they give quietly.

289
00:14:21,640 --> 00:14:23,400
It's not about having attention.

290
00:14:23,960 --> 00:14:26,440
They don't let the left hand
know what the right hand does.

291
00:14:26,920 --> 00:14:31,640
And so for a spirit filled
giver, recognition is not necessary.

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00:14:32,200 --> 00:14:34,960
We're going to see the flip
side of that is that a spirit filled

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00:14:34,960 --> 00:14:37,160
giver does need recognition.

294
00:14:37,830 --> 00:14:40,190
But for a, for a flesh filled.

295
00:14:40,190 --> 00:14:41,030
Sorry, excuse me.

296
00:14:41,110 --> 00:14:44,070
A flesh filled giver is going
to need recognition.

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00:14:44,070 --> 00:14:48,390
So what we're going to see is
that they give with sensitive sensitivity

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00:14:48,390 --> 00:14:50,870
to the needs of the body.

299
00:14:51,270 --> 00:14:53,910
They're sensitive to people
that are in pain.

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00:14:53,910 --> 00:14:56,430
They're sensitive to people
who are going through loss.

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00:14:56,430 --> 00:15:01,350
And oftentimes it's they who
don't necessarily notice because

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00:15:01,350 --> 00:15:04,340
that might be someone who has
the gift of mercy or maybe a servant.

303
00:15:04,340 --> 00:15:08,980
But as they are aware of the
gift that is needed, they notice

304
00:15:08,980 --> 00:15:11,500
and then they Quietly ask,
what can I do?

305
00:15:11,580 --> 00:15:12,620
How can I provide?

306
00:15:13,500 --> 00:15:16,940
And so there is this spirit
filled giver who is sensitive to

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00:15:16,940 --> 00:15:17,260
needs.

308
00:15:17,420 --> 00:15:20,700
They are generous not
necessarily because they're wealthy,

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00:15:20,700 --> 00:15:22,940
because we know that not
everyone that's wealthy is generous,

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00:15:23,340 --> 00:15:25,140
but because they trust God.

311
00:15:25,140 --> 00:15:28,820
Generosity is based in the
measure of faith that we have in

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00:15:28,820 --> 00:15:29,340
the Lord.

313
00:15:29,340 --> 00:15:32,230
Lord, I trust you that you're
going to provide and I can provide

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00:15:32,230 --> 00:15:32,910
for other people.

315
00:15:32,910 --> 00:15:33,590
So it's not.

316
00:15:33,590 --> 00:15:35,670
Generosity is not measured by dollars.

317
00:15:36,470 --> 00:15:38,430
It's measured by sacrifice.

318
00:15:38,430 --> 00:15:41,550
It's measured by submitting
ourselves to the Lord and saying,

319
00:15:41,550 --> 00:15:43,270
how can I meet someone else's need?

320
00:15:43,510 --> 00:15:46,870
Another way that a spirit
filled giver reacts is they invest

321
00:15:46,950 --> 00:15:48,390
into eternal things.

322
00:15:48,470 --> 00:15:50,070
It's not all about the material.

323
00:15:50,150 --> 00:15:51,670
It's not all about the here
and now.

324
00:15:51,670 --> 00:15:54,630
They're thinking, yes, that
this is a possession that we have

325
00:15:54,630 --> 00:15:54,870
now.

326
00:15:54,870 --> 00:15:56,230
But it's not for the here and now.

327
00:15:56,390 --> 00:15:59,220
It's not for the material,
it's not for the temporary, but it's

328
00:15:59,220 --> 00:16:00,220
for the kingdom of God.

329
00:16:00,220 --> 00:16:01,900
It's for eternal matters.

330
00:16:02,220 --> 00:16:05,980
They understand when Jesus
said, lay not up your treasures here

331
00:16:05,980 --> 00:16:09,100
on this world, but lay up your
treasures in heaven, that that's

332
00:16:09,100 --> 00:16:10,300
a principle that they live by.

333
00:16:10,460 --> 00:16:13,540
What I'm going to give now is
not for the here and now, but it's

334
00:16:13,540 --> 00:16:14,460
for eternity.

335
00:16:14,779 --> 00:16:18,140
It might get noticed, it might
not get noticed, but God understands

336
00:16:18,460 --> 00:16:20,460
that I am sacrificing for him.

337
00:16:21,100 --> 00:16:24,660
Another way that a spirit
filled giver reacts is that they're

338
00:16:24,660 --> 00:16:25,300
wise stewards.

339
00:16:25,300 --> 00:16:26,780
There's wisdom in their giving.

340
00:16:28,140 --> 00:16:31,220
It doesn't, by the way,
generosity doesn't eliminate wisdom.

341
00:16:31,220 --> 00:16:33,020
We should have discernment in
our giving.

342
00:16:33,180 --> 00:16:35,380
We shouldn't just throw our
money out everywhere and not know

343
00:16:35,380 --> 00:16:35,980
where it's going.

344
00:16:36,060 --> 00:16:40,140
The Bible says that someone
who is gifted in this area with the

345
00:16:40,140 --> 00:16:43,580
Spirit guiding them does have
an element of wisdom in their life.

346
00:16:43,660 --> 00:16:47,220
They seek to maximize the
kingdom of God, to utilize it for

347
00:16:47,220 --> 00:16:48,380
the right purposes.

348
00:16:49,100 --> 00:16:51,020
They delight in seeing others succeed.

349
00:16:51,580 --> 00:16:55,100
And ultimately they delight in
seeing the Lord be glorified through

350
00:16:55,180 --> 00:16:57,020
the their giving, not themselves.

351
00:16:57,580 --> 00:17:00,140
That's a spirit filled giver.

352
00:17:00,140 --> 00:17:02,020
But then we look at the other
side of the coin.

353
00:17:02,020 --> 00:17:05,180
The fleshly expressions of the
gift would be seen this way.

354
00:17:05,740 --> 00:17:09,500
Because we know that even
generosity can become self centered

355
00:17:09,500 --> 00:17:11,340
when exercised in the flesh.

356
00:17:12,300 --> 00:17:14,460
So Jesus warns against this.

357
00:17:14,620 --> 00:17:19,500
He says, don't give to be seen
of men, but to give before the Lord.

358
00:17:19,500 --> 00:17:23,140
The applause of people becomes
reward for some people and therefore

359
00:17:23,220 --> 00:17:26,180
it's giving to men so that
they can get the praise of men.

360
00:17:26,980 --> 00:17:32,020
So a fleshly expression of the
Gift of giving is to give for recognition

361
00:17:32,580 --> 00:17:33,340
like I gave.

362
00:17:33,340 --> 00:17:36,780
And I need someone to
recognize that another way that it

363
00:17:36,780 --> 00:17:40,740
could be experienced fleshly
is they give to gain influence.

364
00:17:40,740 --> 00:17:44,220
And so instead of helping
other people, it's to control other

365
00:17:44,220 --> 00:17:44,580
people.

366
00:17:45,140 --> 00:17:48,850
Their generosity becomes
manipulation and that manipulation

367
00:17:48,850 --> 00:17:50,610
becomes some level of control.

368
00:17:51,250 --> 00:17:52,930
That's the flesh filled experience.

369
00:17:52,930 --> 00:17:57,210
When it comes to the gift of
giving, sometimes the person who

370
00:17:57,210 --> 00:18:00,490
is the giver, who is trusting
in the flesh, trusts the wealth more

371
00:18:00,490 --> 00:18:01,090
than God.

372
00:18:01,170 --> 00:18:03,969
Well, I know that God said
this, but hey, I'm the one that has

373
00:18:03,969 --> 00:18:05,810
the money, I'm the one that
has the resources.

374
00:18:05,970 --> 00:18:09,090
And so I'm going to trust in
the material and not the things of

375
00:18:09,090 --> 00:18:09,490
God.

376
00:18:09,970 --> 00:18:12,450
There's that temptation to be
trusting the wealth.

377
00:18:12,450 --> 00:18:16,520
More than the power of God,
there is a temptation to become prideful.

378
00:18:16,920 --> 00:18:21,160
As someone who becomes more
and more generous continues to give,

379
00:18:21,240 --> 00:18:24,320
they become spiritually in
their mind superior and therefore

380
00:18:24,320 --> 00:18:26,120
fall into the trap of being prideful.

381
00:18:26,600 --> 00:18:29,200
Sometimes there's the
temptation to judge others that aren't

382
00:18:29,200 --> 00:18:30,680
giving as much as you.

383
00:18:30,920 --> 00:18:34,600
Sometimes there's the
temptation to give with strings attached.

384
00:18:35,160 --> 00:18:37,880
Generosity does not have
strings attached.

385
00:18:38,120 --> 00:18:40,760
True generosity expects
nothing in return.

386
00:18:41,430 --> 00:18:43,790
I was just having a
conversation with a Bible study that

387
00:18:43,790 --> 00:18:44,950
I have and I said, you know what?

388
00:18:45,110 --> 00:18:49,190
When God calls us to love
someone, it's not the type of love

389
00:18:49,190 --> 00:18:50,710
that the world defines as love.

390
00:18:50,790 --> 00:18:52,150
The world's love is this love.

391
00:18:52,150 --> 00:18:55,670
People who do things for you
love people who give you enjoyment

392
00:18:55,750 --> 00:18:58,230
love people who reciprocate
that love.

393
00:18:58,310 --> 00:19:00,590
But the Bible says that the
love that we're called to have is

394
00:19:00,590 --> 00:19:01,470
a different type of love.

395
00:19:01,470 --> 00:19:04,870
We're called to love people
that as the Bible says, are unlovable.

396
00:19:04,950 --> 00:19:07,110
We're called to love people
that are enemies.

397
00:19:07,190 --> 00:19:09,030
We called to love people that
are difficult.

398
00:19:09,110 --> 00:19:11,750
And the Bible says that that's
the same thing with our giving.

399
00:19:12,150 --> 00:19:15,670
If our giving is based in
love, it's not about receiving something

400
00:19:15,670 --> 00:19:19,110
in return, but it's about
giving it for the kingdom of God.

401
00:19:19,110 --> 00:19:21,590
And so what that can bring
about is resentfulness.

402
00:19:22,310 --> 00:19:27,430
The giver who is exercising in
the flesh can become resentful.

403
00:19:28,310 --> 00:19:33,840
When appreciation is lacking
and joy disappears, they now turn

404
00:19:33,840 --> 00:19:38,040
to the understanding that,
well, maybe it's not worth it to

405
00:19:38,040 --> 00:19:41,280
give and it reveals their motivation.

406
00:19:42,080 --> 00:19:47,840
Sometimes flesh filled givers
are enablers instead of helpers.

407
00:19:48,160 --> 00:19:50,240
Well, hey, you know, this
person has a problem, we'll just

408
00:19:50,240 --> 00:19:52,640
give money to them and that'll
make sure everything will go away.

409
00:19:52,640 --> 00:19:54,240
And that's not always the answer.

410
00:19:54,480 --> 00:19:56,960
Sometimes giving finances are
a good thing.

411
00:19:57,200 --> 00:20:00,360
So sometimes helping someone
out out of a situation is a good

412
00:20:00,360 --> 00:20:02,160
thing when it comes to the
financial resources.

413
00:20:02,700 --> 00:20:07,100
But sometimes we think that
money can solve all of our problems.

414
00:20:07,180 --> 00:20:10,220
And so it's not necessarily
about enabling, it's about helping

415
00:20:10,220 --> 00:20:10,540
people.

416
00:20:10,780 --> 00:20:14,620
And so as we mentioned before,
wisdom should always accompany generosity.

417
00:20:15,020 --> 00:20:17,300
And sometimes what happens
with the giver, the flesh filled

418
00:20:17,300 --> 00:20:20,260
giver, is that they neglect
their own selves or their own family

419
00:20:20,260 --> 00:20:21,820
because they're helping others
in need.

420
00:20:22,300 --> 00:20:25,660
And the Bible does say that we
should be good keepers of our home.

421
00:20:25,660 --> 00:20:29,220
The Bible says that we should
take care of those that we love and

422
00:20:29,220 --> 00:20:30,220
those that were overseeing.

423
00:20:30,220 --> 00:20:36,260
And so oftentimes generosity
can become an excuse for irresponsibility.

424
00:20:36,580 --> 00:20:40,500
And what we as Christians need
to understand is that responsibility

425
00:20:40,740 --> 00:20:42,900
needs to be tied to generosity.

426
00:20:43,300 --> 00:20:46,060
And the Bible tells us that
that is the way that it should be

427
00:20:46,060 --> 00:20:47,859
exercised in the Spirit.

428
00:20:47,860 --> 00:20:49,900
So let's go to 2 Corinthians,
chapter 8.

429
00:20:49,900 --> 00:20:51,940
This is going to be our main
text here this morning.

430
00:20:52,180 --> 00:20:53,420
Second Corinthians, chapter eight.

431
00:20:53,420 --> 00:20:57,720
We're going to see an example
of the Macedonian church who were

432
00:20:57,720 --> 00:21:00,960
considered to be wonderful
grace givers.

433
00:21:00,960 --> 00:21:04,120
And I think that this can be
an example for all of us as we look

434
00:21:04,120 --> 00:21:07,920
into the word here this
morning, that even if we're not gifted

435
00:21:08,880 --> 00:21:12,880
by the grace of giving, we all
should understand what it means to

436
00:21:12,880 --> 00:21:16,320
be a grace giver so that we
can exercise it within our lives

437
00:21:16,640 --> 00:21:18,600
in a way that glorifies God.

438
00:21:18,600 --> 00:21:20,080
2 Corinthians, chapter 8.

439
00:21:20,560 --> 00:21:24,710
Paul is speaking to the church
at Corinth, and he's reminding the

440
00:21:24,710 --> 00:21:27,550
church at Corinth that they
were the ones that influenced the

441
00:21:27,550 --> 00:21:29,470
Macedonian church to be givers.

442
00:21:29,630 --> 00:21:32,710
But now what's happening is
that church at Corinth has backed

443
00:21:32,710 --> 00:21:33,790
off in their giving.

444
00:21:33,870 --> 00:21:37,070
And by the way, the church at
Corinth had many resources.

445
00:21:37,310 --> 00:21:39,950
And what we're going to see is
that the Macedonian church didn't

446
00:21:39,950 --> 00:21:43,990
have as many resources, but
the Corinthian church had backed

447
00:21:43,990 --> 00:21:44,870
off in their giving.

448
00:21:44,870 --> 00:21:46,430
They had backed off in their joy.

449
00:21:46,430 --> 00:21:49,950
They had backed off in their
passion to support the work of God.

450
00:21:50,010 --> 00:21:53,840
And, and so this chapter
defines, I believe, biblical generosity

451
00:21:53,920 --> 00:21:56,240
and what it means to be a
grace giver.

452
00:21:56,640 --> 00:22:00,720
Paul is encouraging the church
here in Corinth to participate in

453
00:22:00,720 --> 00:22:05,120
an offering for helping the
suffering believers at Jerusalem.

454
00:22:05,280 --> 00:22:08,560
But before even speaking about
money, he talks about something greater.

455
00:22:08,560 --> 00:22:09,680
He talks about grace.

456
00:22:09,920 --> 00:22:12,680
And that's why we see that
this passage deals with something

457
00:22:12,680 --> 00:22:14,000
called grace giving.

458
00:22:14,320 --> 00:22:17,120
Look at verse number one with
me says, moreover, brethren, we do

459
00:22:17,120 --> 00:22:21,700
you, to wit, or to understand,
of the grace of God bestowed on the

460
00:22:21,700 --> 00:22:23,220
churches of Macedonia.

461
00:22:23,220 --> 00:22:25,020
He doesn't say here in verse one.

462
00:22:25,500 --> 00:22:27,100
Look, Corinth Church.

463
00:22:27,580 --> 00:22:29,140
The Macedonians are good givers.

464
00:22:29,140 --> 00:22:30,100
You be good givers.

465
00:22:30,100 --> 00:22:32,700
No, he starts with the grace
of God.

466
00:22:32,700 --> 00:22:34,380
He starts with the motivation.

467
00:22:34,380 --> 00:22:37,620
He starts with the blessing
that the Lord has brought to the

468
00:22:37,620 --> 00:22:38,940
church at Macedonia.

469
00:22:39,180 --> 00:22:42,660
So what I want you to see here
as we get started is that he doesn't

470
00:22:42,660 --> 00:22:43,420
bring up money.

471
00:22:43,500 --> 00:22:44,860
He doesn't bring up giving.

472
00:22:44,940 --> 00:22:46,220
He brings up grace.

473
00:22:46,220 --> 00:22:50,170
And what this tells us is that
giving always should be based in

474
00:22:50,170 --> 00:22:50,570
grace.

475
00:22:50,570 --> 00:22:54,050
It should always be based in
understanding of what God has done

476
00:22:54,050 --> 00:22:55,370
for us in our life.

477
00:22:55,690 --> 00:22:58,730
Their circumstances did not
control their giving.

478
00:22:58,970 --> 00:23:01,450
What controlled their giving,
it was God's grace.

479
00:23:02,090 --> 00:23:05,090
Oftentimes we think about
circumstances controlling all of

480
00:23:05,090 --> 00:23:07,370
these gifts that we see in
Romans chapter 12.

481
00:23:07,450 --> 00:23:12,090
But what the Bible says is
that that is not the deciding factor

482
00:23:12,090 --> 00:23:13,930
of how we exercise these gifts.

483
00:23:14,180 --> 00:23:16,980
The deciding factor of how we
exercise these gifts is the grace

484
00:23:16,980 --> 00:23:17,460
of God.

485
00:23:17,460 --> 00:23:21,140
So he says, remember,
understand, know the grace of God,

486
00:23:21,380 --> 00:23:22,100
verse 2.

487
00:23:22,260 --> 00:23:27,340
How that in great trial of
affliction, the abundance of their

488
00:23:27,340 --> 00:23:32,100
joy and their deep poverty
abounded unto the riches of their

489
00:23:32,100 --> 00:23:32,820
liberality.

490
00:23:32,820 --> 00:23:34,820
You would say, what is that
even saying?

491
00:23:34,980 --> 00:23:35,860
He says this.

492
00:23:36,100 --> 00:23:38,900
They're in a great trial of affliction.

493
00:23:39,140 --> 00:23:42,380
They're finding themselves in
deep poverty.

494
00:23:42,380 --> 00:23:46,700
Yet because of the grace of
God, they're able to give, as it

495
00:23:46,700 --> 00:23:47,860
says there, liberally.

496
00:23:48,020 --> 00:23:50,740
It goes back to the same
understanding that we see in Romans

497
00:23:50,820 --> 00:23:51,700
12:8.

498
00:23:51,940 --> 00:23:53,900
Those that give give with simplicity.

499
00:23:53,900 --> 00:23:56,660
Those that give give liberally
or generously.

500
00:23:57,299 --> 00:23:59,980
And so it's not about their
circumstance, because if it was about

501
00:23:59,980 --> 00:24:02,540
their circumstance, the
Macedonian church would have every

502
00:24:02,540 --> 00:24:03,620
reason not to give.

503
00:24:04,260 --> 00:24:06,340
It says that they were in
great affliction.

504
00:24:07,150 --> 00:24:10,310
It says that they were in deep
poverty, but it says also that they

505
00:24:10,310 --> 00:24:13,550
had joy and that they had the
riches of God that allowed them to

506
00:24:13,550 --> 00:24:14,350
give generously.

507
00:24:14,350 --> 00:24:14,910
Verse 3.

508
00:24:15,310 --> 00:24:18,830
For to their power I bear
record, yea.

509
00:24:18,830 --> 00:24:22,510
And beyond their power, they
were willing of themselves.

510
00:24:23,310 --> 00:24:25,790
The Bible says that they gave
beyond their own power.

511
00:24:26,030 --> 00:24:28,470
And that's really what it is
within our Christian walk, when we

512
00:24:28,470 --> 00:24:32,750
serve the Lord, when we give
anything to the Lord, when we serve

513
00:24:32,750 --> 00:24:37,230
within the church, folks, we
are able to serve beyond our capabilities

514
00:24:37,850 --> 00:24:40,570
when we're doing it in the
grace and the power of God.

515
00:24:40,890 --> 00:24:45,530
I. I love the fact that I can
recognize where I fall short and

516
00:24:45,530 --> 00:24:47,930
then I can recognize where God
takes over.

517
00:24:48,490 --> 00:24:50,730
That's the beauty of the grace
of God.

518
00:24:50,890 --> 00:24:52,410
And folks, it's more than just giving.

519
00:24:52,410 --> 00:24:54,089
It's in every element of our lives.

520
00:24:54,089 --> 00:24:57,650
It's in every gift, let's say,
for example, you're a teacher and

521
00:24:57,650 --> 00:25:00,170
you get to a situation and you
say, there's no way that I can teach

522
00:25:00,170 --> 00:25:01,210
this difficult subject.

523
00:25:01,290 --> 00:25:04,170
There's no way that I can
communicate this to the next generation.

524
00:25:04,170 --> 00:25:05,170
There's no way that.

525
00:25:05,320 --> 00:25:07,880
That I can articulate this in
a way that's going to impact someone's

526
00:25:07,880 --> 00:25:08,120
life.

527
00:25:08,200 --> 00:25:11,640
And the truth is, is that you
might fall short with your resources.

528
00:25:11,880 --> 00:25:14,040
You might hit the end of your power.

529
00:25:14,280 --> 00:25:16,960
But the Bible says it's
because of the power of God that

530
00:25:16,960 --> 00:25:21,160
we can exceed the expectations
that we have in our life and we can

531
00:25:21,320 --> 00:25:25,200
follow through with faith and
understand that God can push us farther

532
00:25:25,200 --> 00:25:26,080
than we could ever expect.

533
00:25:26,080 --> 00:25:27,480
And that's what verse three is
all about.

534
00:25:27,480 --> 00:25:29,240
He says, they gave beyond
their power.

535
00:25:29,800 --> 00:25:30,120
Why?

536
00:25:30,120 --> 00:25:31,920
Because they were willing of themselves.

537
00:25:31,920 --> 00:25:34,270
They were given, giving
themselves over to the Lord.

538
00:25:34,270 --> 00:25:38,750
They gave beyond their
ability, but we see that they first

539
00:25:38,750 --> 00:25:39,750
gave of themselves.

540
00:25:40,390 --> 00:25:44,230
Let's go to verses number four
and five, he says, praying us with

541
00:25:44,230 --> 00:25:46,430
much entreaty that we would
receive the gift.

542
00:25:46,430 --> 00:25:49,430
Basically, the church in
Macedonia was begging the.

543
00:25:49,430 --> 00:25:52,470
The church in Jerusalem to
take the money and take upon us the

544
00:25:52,470 --> 00:25:54,110
fellowship of the ministering
of the saints.

545
00:25:54,110 --> 00:25:56,670
They had a goal of helping
people, and they said, no, please

546
00:25:56,670 --> 00:25:57,350
let us help.

547
00:25:57,350 --> 00:25:58,630
We have a desire to help.

548
00:25:59,120 --> 00:26:02,320
But verse five, it says, and
this, they did not, as we hoped,

549
00:26:02,480 --> 00:26:08,040
but first gave their own
selves to the Lord and unto us by

550
00:26:08,040 --> 00:26:08,880
the will of God.

551
00:26:09,120 --> 00:26:12,400
So before they gave anything
else to anybody else, they gave themselves

552
00:26:12,640 --> 00:26:13,440
to the Lord.

553
00:26:13,440 --> 00:26:16,240
Before they gave money, they
gave themselves.

554
00:26:16,240 --> 00:26:19,600
They gave their heart to a
life of submission to the Lord.

555
00:26:20,640 --> 00:26:25,600
God has never primarily wanted
our money and our wallets.

556
00:26:26,150 --> 00:26:27,110
He wants our heart.

557
00:26:27,830 --> 00:26:32,070
And so when we give our heart
to the Lord, everything else follows.

558
00:26:32,390 --> 00:26:38,070
Our finances, our time, our
talents, our possessions, our family,

559
00:26:38,630 --> 00:26:39,030
everything.

560
00:26:39,190 --> 00:26:43,350
When we give him our heart,
it's not a chore to do things for

561
00:26:43,350 --> 00:26:45,030
him because our heart is
already there.

562
00:26:45,110 --> 00:26:46,310
That's where our treasure is.

563
00:26:46,310 --> 00:26:49,070
And so what we see here in 2nd
Corinthians, chapter 8 is.

564
00:26:49,070 --> 00:26:51,030
Paul's not addressing the
issue of giving.

565
00:26:51,110 --> 00:26:52,790
He's addressing the issue of
the heart.

566
00:26:53,120 --> 00:26:56,640
And it's the heart that brings
us the opportunity to follow whatever

567
00:26:56,640 --> 00:26:57,320
we desire.

568
00:26:57,320 --> 00:27:00,640
So he says, if your heart
desires the Lord, you will give properly.

569
00:27:00,640 --> 00:27:03,360
If your heart desires the
Lord, you will teach properly.

570
00:27:03,360 --> 00:27:07,520
You will exhort, you will have
mercy, you will have compassion.

571
00:27:07,520 --> 00:27:09,359
And so it's always a matter of
the heart.

572
00:27:09,359 --> 00:27:12,240
If I got up here today and
say, hey, folks, we need money.

573
00:27:12,720 --> 00:27:14,000
We're lacking in money, please.

574
00:27:14,000 --> 00:27:14,600
You got to give.

575
00:27:14,600 --> 00:27:15,280
You got to give.

576
00:27:15,280 --> 00:27:18,800
And it's all compelling in the
concept of making you feel guilty,

577
00:27:19,420 --> 00:27:21,980
making you feel as if
something's going to be lost if you

578
00:27:21,980 --> 00:27:22,380
don't give.

579
00:27:22,540 --> 00:27:26,100
That motivation might be
effective for a time, but the motivation

580
00:27:26,100 --> 00:27:29,660
of the heart must be the
motivation of what we ultimately

581
00:27:29,660 --> 00:27:30,140
desire.

582
00:27:30,140 --> 00:27:33,420
And if we ultimately desire
just things, eventually those things

583
00:27:33,420 --> 00:27:35,020
are never going to give us satisfaction.

584
00:27:35,180 --> 00:27:37,340
And eventually we might say,
yeah, I'm not getting what I want,

585
00:27:37,340 --> 00:27:38,220
so I'm not going to give.

586
00:27:38,620 --> 00:27:42,340
Folks, the motivation has to
be that I love God, and he has called

587
00:27:42,340 --> 00:27:42,940
me to give.

588
00:27:43,100 --> 00:27:45,340
I love God, and he's called me
to serve.

589
00:27:45,340 --> 00:27:47,510
I. I love God, and he's called
me to teach.

590
00:27:47,590 --> 00:27:49,670
I love God, and he's called me
to exhort.

591
00:27:49,830 --> 00:27:52,950
Folks, the matter is always a
matter of the heart.

592
00:27:53,430 --> 00:27:55,590
So they were able to give
beyond their ability.

593
00:27:55,590 --> 00:27:57,910
They were able to give in
times of poverty.

594
00:27:57,910 --> 00:28:00,630
They were able to give in
times of pain and suffering.

595
00:28:00,710 --> 00:28:01,110
Why?

596
00:28:01,110 --> 00:28:04,630
Because of the grace of God,
and they considered it a privilege.

597
00:28:06,070 --> 00:28:08,470
You, you see it there in verse
four, it says, they said, please

598
00:28:08,950 --> 00:28:10,310
let us give the gift.

599
00:28:11,110 --> 00:28:13,710
Paul was probably saying,
look, you guys have a difficult situation.

600
00:28:13,710 --> 00:28:14,350
You don't need to give.

601
00:28:14,350 --> 00:28:16,390
And they're like, no, please
let us be a blessing.

602
00:28:17,110 --> 00:28:17,910
Sometimes that's hard.

603
00:28:18,870 --> 00:28:22,110
Sometimes it's hard to give
when we don't know when it's going

604
00:28:22,110 --> 00:28:22,670
to come next.

605
00:28:22,670 --> 00:28:25,150
And I'm not saying here this
morning that you should give your

606
00:28:25,150 --> 00:28:27,190
last dollar to the Lord and
not be able to eat.

607
00:28:27,190 --> 00:28:28,550
That's not what we're saying here.

608
00:28:28,790 --> 00:28:31,390
What we're saying is that when
we give the heart, God will reveal

609
00:28:31,390 --> 00:28:34,710
to us what we're able to give,
and he'll place it upon our hearts.

610
00:28:35,590 --> 00:28:40,830
I think that one of the
examples of a grace giver is found

611
00:28:40,830 --> 00:28:42,470
in Second Corinthians, chapter 8.

612
00:28:42,680 --> 00:28:45,320
I know a lot of people will
talk about the widow with two mites,

613
00:28:45,720 --> 00:28:48,840
and they'll say, pastor, that
passage of Scripture teaches that

614
00:28:48,840 --> 00:28:50,880
every single person in the
church should give everything that

615
00:28:50,880 --> 00:28:51,320
they have.

616
00:28:52,360 --> 00:28:55,600
I think that that is one
element, is that we should be giving

617
00:28:55,600 --> 00:28:56,920
more than what's expected.

618
00:28:57,160 --> 00:29:00,160
But I do believe that the
story of the widow of two mites is

619
00:29:00,160 --> 00:29:04,160
also about how the leaders,
the spiritual leaders, the Pharisees,

620
00:29:04,160 --> 00:29:07,680
were abusing the widows and
telling them that they had to give

621
00:29:07,680 --> 00:29:08,040
everything.

622
00:29:08,630 --> 00:29:12,070
And they were misrepresenting
the love of Christ within the church.

623
00:29:12,230 --> 00:29:14,950
At that time, it wasn't the
church, it was the synagogue.

624
00:29:14,950 --> 00:29:17,870
But what we see is that the
Jesus in that context was talking

625
00:29:17,870 --> 00:29:21,510
about not abusing the widows
because the Pharisees were abusing

626
00:29:21,510 --> 00:29:21,910
the widow.

627
00:29:21,910 --> 00:29:25,070
So I'm not here today saying,
hey, look, if you've got $20 in your

628
00:29:25,070 --> 00:29:28,390
pocket, give that last $20 to
me and I'll take that from you.

629
00:29:28,390 --> 00:29:29,910
No, that's not what this is about.

630
00:29:29,990 --> 00:29:32,150
Because your, your life matters.

631
00:29:32,150 --> 00:29:33,430
You need to consider that.

632
00:29:33,510 --> 00:29:35,110
So that's not what that's
talking about here.

633
00:29:35,110 --> 00:29:36,310
What's talking about is this.

634
00:29:36,610 --> 00:29:40,370
If God places something on
your heart, he gives you the resources,

635
00:29:40,530 --> 00:29:44,210
he gives you the conviction,
then we should act on that.

636
00:29:44,290 --> 00:29:47,410
And so the possibility is that
we might have to give out of poverty.

637
00:29:47,410 --> 00:29:50,610
But the other side of the coin
is that most of us are not in poverty.

638
00:29:50,610 --> 00:29:53,450
Most of us are greatly blessed
with the things of God.

639
00:29:53,450 --> 00:29:55,650
Now you might say, pastor, I
think there might be people that

640
00:29:55,650 --> 00:29:56,610
are blessed more than me.

641
00:29:56,690 --> 00:29:57,770
That might be the case.

642
00:29:57,770 --> 00:29:58,250
Okay.

643
00:29:58,250 --> 00:30:00,850
But relatively speaking, let's
talk about this this morning.

644
00:30:01,010 --> 00:30:06,610
Relatively speaking, all of us
are greatly blessed with the grace

645
00:30:07,090 --> 00:30:09,970
of food, clothing.

646
00:30:10,290 --> 00:30:12,450
Most of us have some level of transportation.

647
00:30:12,690 --> 00:30:15,650
Most of us are probably living
with some level of shelter in our

648
00:30:15,650 --> 00:30:15,970
lives.

649
00:30:16,210 --> 00:30:19,610
Now, it might not be the type
of shelter that you've always wanted.

650
00:30:19,610 --> 00:30:20,930
It might not be your dream home.

651
00:30:20,930 --> 00:30:23,690
You might not be driving the
vehicle that you always dreamed you'd

652
00:30:23,690 --> 00:30:23,970
have.

653
00:30:24,050 --> 00:30:26,450
But the truth is, is that God
has greatly blessed us.

654
00:30:26,450 --> 00:30:30,780
And if we think about it, I
love being an American.

655
00:30:30,780 --> 00:30:32,300
I love living in America.

656
00:30:32,940 --> 00:30:34,380
I'm proud to be an American.

657
00:30:34,380 --> 00:30:35,500
I'm thankful to be here.

658
00:30:35,500 --> 00:30:38,660
But what opened up my eyes was
leaving America and going to another

659
00:30:38,660 --> 00:30:40,940
country that didn't have the
same resources that we had.

660
00:30:41,340 --> 00:30:43,740
And I was looking at it, how
can these people be happy?

661
00:30:44,140 --> 00:30:48,820
I'm looking at someone that
their house is literally like the

662
00:30:48,820 --> 00:30:50,620
size of probably my bedroom.

663
00:30:50,620 --> 00:30:52,220
And I'm looking at that going, wow.

664
00:30:52,540 --> 00:30:54,820
I'm going to come and try to
impart some, like, wisdom and knowledge

665
00:30:54,820 --> 00:30:56,860
to them and tell them what it
means to have the joy of the Lord.

666
00:30:57,070 --> 00:30:58,830
And they're smiling and having
the joy of the Lord.

667
00:30:58,830 --> 00:31:01,350
And I'm going, how can you
have the joy of the Lord?

668
00:31:01,350 --> 00:31:02,190
Where's your vehicle?

669
00:31:02,270 --> 00:31:03,110
They're like, we don't.

670
00:31:03,110 --> 00:31:03,470
We walk.

671
00:31:03,470 --> 00:31:04,830
These are our vehicles right here.

672
00:31:04,910 --> 00:31:05,870
And I'm like, wow.

673
00:31:06,190 --> 00:31:07,630
And that was a wake up call
for me.

674
00:31:07,630 --> 00:31:10,470
Because if I'm honest, can I.
I'll be honest with you today.

675
00:31:10,470 --> 00:31:12,270
I'm going to try to be honest
with you as much as I can.

676
00:31:12,350 --> 00:31:14,950
There's been times in my life
where I've looked at what God has

677
00:31:14,950 --> 00:31:15,430
blessed me with.

678
00:31:15,430 --> 00:31:17,310
And I said, why can't I have more?

679
00:31:17,790 --> 00:31:19,990
I want to have that house that
that person has.

680
00:31:19,990 --> 00:31:21,950
I want to have the vehicle
that that person has.

681
00:31:21,950 --> 00:31:24,190
I want to have whatever that
that person has.

682
00:31:24,470 --> 00:31:27,630
And that covetous spirit has
brought me to a place where I'm like,

683
00:31:27,630 --> 00:31:30,230
I can't give because I can't
afford to give folks.

684
00:31:30,230 --> 00:31:31,910
You can't not afford to give.

685
00:31:31,910 --> 00:31:32,350
Okay?

686
00:31:32,350 --> 00:31:35,190
The reality is, is that God
has given us so much in our life.

687
00:31:35,590 --> 00:31:38,990
And I'm not here today to say,
hey, look, there's a prosperity gospel

688
00:31:38,990 --> 00:31:40,790
that if you just love God,
he'll give you more money.

689
00:31:40,790 --> 00:31:41,990
That's not what I'm talking about.

690
00:31:42,070 --> 00:31:43,590
It's a completely different thing.

691
00:31:44,070 --> 00:31:46,910
What I am saying is that if we
look into our life and if we're honest

692
00:31:46,910 --> 00:31:48,950
with ourselves, God has
greatly blessed us.

693
00:31:50,000 --> 00:31:53,280
And so we see in Romans,
chapter 12 and 2 Corinthians, chapter

694
00:31:53,280 --> 00:31:57,080
8, that it should be
considered a privilege to give, not

695
00:31:57,080 --> 00:31:57,920
an obligation.

696
00:31:59,360 --> 00:32:01,840
And again, I'm not talking
just about finances.

697
00:32:02,160 --> 00:32:02,720
I was.

698
00:32:02,720 --> 00:32:08,440
I was so pleased and thankful
to look around at VBS and see people

699
00:32:08,440 --> 00:32:11,440
working behind the scenes,
getting the food out.

700
00:32:11,840 --> 00:32:12,400
I was.

701
00:32:12,640 --> 00:32:15,360
It was amazing to see people
working security, people working

702
00:32:16,150 --> 00:32:18,710
in the classrooms, getting
people to memorize verses, setting

703
00:32:18,710 --> 00:32:19,590
up for the game time.

704
00:32:19,750 --> 00:32:23,070
It was a blessing to see
people giving of their time and their

705
00:32:23,070 --> 00:32:24,150
talents for the Lord.

706
00:32:25,510 --> 00:32:27,350
Folks, you didn't have to be
out here for that.

707
00:32:27,510 --> 00:32:29,190
There could have been a lot of
other things that you were doing

708
00:32:29,190 --> 00:32:32,190
that was less stressful, but
God had called you for that moment

709
00:32:32,190 --> 00:32:33,710
to do that thing, and that was
such a blessing.

710
00:32:33,710 --> 00:32:35,270
And those kids will remember that.

711
00:32:35,430 --> 00:32:37,750
They'll remember the blessings
that they had at vbs.

712
00:32:38,150 --> 00:32:40,470
And it's important because
that's a thing that's going to last

713
00:32:40,470 --> 00:32:41,270
for eternity.

714
00:32:41,510 --> 00:32:44,310
And so in 2 Corinthians,
chapter 8, he says that it was a

715
00:32:44,310 --> 00:32:44,870
blessing.

716
00:32:45,110 --> 00:32:46,870
It was a privilege to give.

717
00:32:47,990 --> 00:32:50,870
And so we see going further, a
little bit more.

718
00:32:51,110 --> 00:32:56,070
He says in verse number six,
in so much that we desired Titus,

719
00:32:56,230 --> 00:33:00,070
that as he had begun, so we he
would finish in you the same grace

720
00:33:00,070 --> 00:33:00,390
also.

721
00:33:00,790 --> 00:33:03,670
And so what Paul says this, we
sent Titus to you so that you could

722
00:33:03,670 --> 00:33:06,870
have that same blessing, so
that you could have that same grace.

723
00:33:07,420 --> 00:33:10,060
He says, therefore, verse
seven, as ye abound in everything.

724
00:33:10,140 --> 00:33:12,740
So he says, you guys at the
church at Corinth, you guys have

725
00:33:12,740 --> 00:33:16,940
so many gifts, you have so
many talents, you have so many areas

726
00:33:16,940 --> 00:33:17,580
of service.

727
00:33:17,660 --> 00:33:18,180
Verse 7.

728
00:33:18,180 --> 00:33:20,700
He says that in everything in faith.

729
00:33:21,180 --> 00:33:24,620
He says, you guys have so much
faith and in utterance in your speech

730
00:33:24,620 --> 00:33:25,060
and in.

731
00:33:25,060 --> 00:33:28,540
And in knowledge and in all
diligence and your love to us.

732
00:33:28,780 --> 00:33:31,660
Paul is commending the church
at Corinth, saying, you have so many

733
00:33:31,660 --> 00:33:32,460
great gifts.

734
00:33:33,110 --> 00:33:36,230
You guys have faith, you guys
have teaching, you guys have service,

735
00:33:36,630 --> 00:33:39,710
you guys have love, you guys
have knowledge, you have diligence.

736
00:33:39,710 --> 00:33:40,710
You have all these things.

737
00:33:40,710 --> 00:33:44,590
He says, see that ye abound in
this grace.

738
00:33:44,590 --> 00:33:48,710
Also, he says, don't neglect
the gift of giving within all the

739
00:33:48,710 --> 00:33:49,750
other blessings that you have.

740
00:33:49,750 --> 00:33:53,630
He says, you're abundantly
blessed with so much spiritually

741
00:33:53,630 --> 00:33:54,550
and materially.

742
00:33:54,790 --> 00:33:58,850
Don't miss this grace because
it is a gift to be able to give.

743
00:33:58,850 --> 00:34:01,010
And that's what he's
mentioning here in verse number seven.

744
00:34:01,650 --> 00:34:04,450
Then he says in verse eight,
he says, I speak not by commandment,

745
00:34:04,450 --> 00:34:06,530
but by the occasion of
foreignness of others.

746
00:34:06,770 --> 00:34:10,890
And to prove the sincerity of
your love, he basically says this.

747
00:34:10,890 --> 00:34:14,250
He says, yes, you can not give
and still receive these blessings

748
00:34:14,250 --> 00:34:17,370
from the Lord, but you're
missing out and you're missing the

749
00:34:17,370 --> 00:34:19,730
opportunity to display your
love for others.

750
00:34:19,970 --> 00:34:22,290
One of the many ways that we
can show our love for other people

751
00:34:22,290 --> 00:34:23,090
is by giving.

752
00:34:23,090 --> 00:34:25,130
One of the ways that we can
show our love for the Lord is by

753
00:34:25,130 --> 00:34:29,270
giving not just our finances,
but also our time and our treasure

754
00:34:29,270 --> 00:34:32,430
and our talents and all the
things that we have within our life

755
00:34:32,430 --> 00:34:33,150
as gifts.

756
00:34:33,390 --> 00:34:36,430
And there's a lot of other
occasions in Scripture that speak

757
00:34:36,430 --> 00:34:38,870
to biblical examples of giving.

758
00:34:38,870 --> 00:34:39,350
There's the.

759
00:34:39,350 --> 00:34:41,390
Of course, we already
mentioned the widow with two mites.

760
00:34:41,789 --> 00:34:42,110
She.

761
00:34:42,110 --> 00:34:45,230
She didn't measure out like,
well, I can't afford to give this.

762
00:34:45,230 --> 00:34:45,950
She gave everything.

763
00:34:46,030 --> 00:34:49,110
But I do believe that passage
also deals more with the Pharisees

764
00:34:49,110 --> 00:34:50,910
who are abusing this widow.

765
00:34:51,319 --> 00:34:52,759
There's also the story of the
good Samaritan.

766
00:34:52,759 --> 00:34:54,239
Some of you know the story of
the good Samaritan.

767
00:34:54,239 --> 00:34:56,199
There's this fellow who's on
the side of the road.

768
00:34:56,199 --> 00:34:56,959
He's half dead.

769
00:34:56,959 --> 00:34:57,559
He's beaten.

770
00:34:57,559 --> 00:35:00,119
He's been taken for everything
that he has.

771
00:35:00,199 --> 00:35:04,079
And the Samaritan who comes
along, who shouldn't in the story

772
00:35:04,079 --> 00:35:07,759
be the logical person to help
that individual, you remember who

773
00:35:07,759 --> 00:35:08,599
came by before them.

774
00:35:08,599 --> 00:35:09,879
It was a priest and a Levite.

775
00:35:09,879 --> 00:35:11,879
It was the religious people
that should have helped.

776
00:35:12,119 --> 00:35:13,279
It wasn't the Samaritan.

777
00:35:13,279 --> 00:35:13,439
Why?

778
00:35:13,439 --> 00:35:15,319
Because the Samaritan and the
Jew were enemies.

779
00:35:15,479 --> 00:35:17,879
But the Samaritan said, no,
I'm going to help this individual.

780
00:35:18,110 --> 00:35:20,590
And In Luke, chapter 10, it
tells us that he gave him his time.

781
00:35:20,750 --> 00:35:24,030
He gave him oil, he gave him
bandages, he gave him transportation.

782
00:35:24,030 --> 00:35:24,910
He gave him money.

783
00:35:25,150 --> 00:35:26,870
And he gave him hope.

784
00:35:26,870 --> 00:35:29,630
He gave him an opportunity to
have a second chance.

785
00:35:29,630 --> 00:35:33,150
And that speaks not only to
the Christian as a believer.

786
00:35:33,150 --> 00:35:35,830
We should be the one who is
giving, but ultimately speaks to

787
00:35:35,830 --> 00:35:37,390
the greatest act of grace.

788
00:35:37,390 --> 00:35:41,110
And that is the grace that God
gave us by giving us his only begotten

789
00:35:41,110 --> 00:35:42,510
Son for us for salvation.

790
00:35:43,230 --> 00:35:44,670
Barnabas was a giver.

791
00:35:45,350 --> 00:35:48,230
There was an interesting
character in Acts, chapter nine named

792
00:35:48,230 --> 00:35:48,750
Dorcas.

793
00:35:48,750 --> 00:35:50,790
It says that she was full of
good works.

794
00:35:50,950 --> 00:35:54,790
She gave clothing, she gave
practical help, she gave of her abilities.

795
00:35:55,270 --> 00:35:58,350
There was, think about in
John, chapter six, the boy with the

796
00:35:58,350 --> 00:35:59,350
loaves and fishes.

797
00:35:59,590 --> 00:36:03,430
There was that opportunity for
him to give just a small piece.

798
00:36:03,510 --> 00:36:07,110
But eventually God multiplied
that to feed thousands.

799
00:36:07,190 --> 00:36:11,030
And so when we surrender
ourselves to Christ, God multiplies.

800
00:36:11,470 --> 00:36:13,710
And so we see all those
biblical examples of giving, and

801
00:36:13,710 --> 00:36:14,510
there's so many more.

802
00:36:14,510 --> 00:36:18,190
But the greatest example of
giving is found in Second Corinthians,

803
00:36:18,190 --> 00:36:19,190
chapter 8, verse 9.

804
00:36:19,190 --> 00:36:21,550
I want you to go there with me
because this is where we're going

805
00:36:21,550 --> 00:36:22,750
to spend the rest of our time.

806
00:36:24,590 --> 00:36:26,510
Some people say, well, you
know what, Pastor, I haven't been

807
00:36:26,510 --> 00:36:28,350
given very much, so I don't
know what I can give.

808
00:36:28,990 --> 00:36:30,190
I'm not talented.

809
00:36:30,670 --> 00:36:32,110
I don't have a lot of resources.

810
00:36:32,670 --> 00:36:33,470
I'm limited.

811
00:36:34,270 --> 00:36:34,750
So what?

812
00:36:34,750 --> 00:36:35,790
What have I received?

813
00:36:36,920 --> 00:36:40,440
Well, 2nd Corinthians 8, 9
summarizes this so well.

814
00:36:41,240 --> 00:36:45,240
It summarizes what we have in
Jesus and what he has given us.

815
00:36:45,240 --> 00:36:49,160
And as you've seen as a theme
in this study, we're ending every

816
00:36:49,240 --> 00:36:53,720
sermon with the greatest
example of these gifts being Jesus

817
00:36:53,720 --> 00:36:54,040
Christ.

818
00:36:54,600 --> 00:36:56,360
So 2 Corinthians, chapter 8,
verse 9.

819
00:36:56,360 --> 00:37:02,930
He says this, for ye know the
grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that

820
00:37:02,930 --> 00:37:05,250
though he was rich man.

821
00:37:05,250 --> 00:37:06,450
Is that an understatement?

822
00:37:07,410 --> 00:37:10,250
The Bible says that God owns
the cattle on a thousand hills.

823
00:37:10,250 --> 00:37:12,450
He owns all the wealth in all
the world.

824
00:37:12,690 --> 00:37:14,450
Jesus left his estate.

825
00:37:14,530 --> 00:37:19,330
Jesus left the place that he
had as God over the universe.

826
00:37:19,330 --> 00:37:20,530
And it says that he came.

827
00:37:21,170 --> 00:37:22,170
And what does it say?

828
00:37:22,170 --> 00:37:26,130
Says that though he was rich,
yet for your sakes he became poor.

829
00:37:27,250 --> 00:37:31,590
This speaks of the humbled
nature of Jesus, as Philippians chapter

830
00:37:31,590 --> 00:37:33,590
two says, that he took the
form of a servant.

831
00:37:34,230 --> 00:37:40,470
Jesus comes and sacrifices all
of the benefits of being who he is,

832
00:37:40,870 --> 00:37:41,470
and comes.

833
00:37:41,470 --> 00:37:42,950
And he could have been born anywhere.

834
00:37:43,030 --> 00:37:44,470
He could have been born in the palace.

835
00:37:44,470 --> 00:37:47,190
He could have been born in the
richest family.

836
00:37:47,350 --> 00:37:53,390
But no, Jesus came and was
born in a stable, in a manger, in

837
00:37:53,390 --> 00:37:54,470
a lowly place.

838
00:37:55,320 --> 00:37:56,200
Why did he do that?

839
00:37:56,760 --> 00:38:00,240
Well, the Bible's going To
tell us why he did that, he was placed

840
00:38:00,240 --> 00:38:03,960
in a feeding trough, probably
in a cave in Bethlehem.

841
00:38:04,600 --> 00:38:06,520
He grew up in a place called Nazareth.

842
00:38:06,520 --> 00:38:10,000
And we know that the
reputation of Nazareth was what good

843
00:38:10,000 --> 00:38:11,239
could come from Nazareth?

844
00:38:11,880 --> 00:38:13,640
Jesus humbled himself.

845
00:38:13,880 --> 00:38:14,280
Why?

846
00:38:14,360 --> 00:38:15,760
Why did he become poor?

847
00:38:15,760 --> 00:38:19,400
And it's not just talking
about physically or materially poor.

848
00:38:19,480 --> 00:38:21,680
He poured himself out for us.

849
00:38:21,680 --> 00:38:27,380
Why, as it says here in verse
nine, that though he was rich, yet

850
00:38:27,380 --> 00:38:29,540
for your sakes he became poor.

851
00:38:29,940 --> 00:38:35,300
That why that ye, through his
poverty might be rich.

852
00:38:36,100 --> 00:38:38,780
Now, if you were taking this
verse out of context, you would say,

853
00:38:38,780 --> 00:38:41,780
well, Jesus became poor so
that I could become materially rich.

854
00:38:41,860 --> 00:38:44,940
But if you understand the
context of this passage, he's not

855
00:38:44,940 --> 00:38:47,420
talking necessarily about the material.

856
00:38:47,420 --> 00:38:49,740
He's talking about the
spiritual and he's talking about

857
00:38:49,740 --> 00:38:53,250
all the riches and the
blessings that we find in knowing

858
00:38:53,250 --> 00:38:53,970
Jesus Christ.

859
00:38:53,970 --> 00:38:58,250
And he says, jesus gave
everything for you so that you could

860
00:38:58,250 --> 00:39:01,610
experience what he has, so
that you could experience everlasting

861
00:39:01,610 --> 00:39:04,210
life, so that you can
experience forgiveness, so that you

862
00:39:04,210 --> 00:39:07,209
can experience love, so that
you can experience hope and knowing

863
00:39:07,209 --> 00:39:09,770
that you can be united with
your heavenly Father one day.

864
00:39:09,770 --> 00:39:13,570
And so Romans chapter 8 says
that we can cry out abba, Father.

865
00:39:13,570 --> 00:39:16,510
That we can have access to our
Heavenly Father by.

866
00:39:16,580 --> 00:39:17,940
By going to the throne of grace.

867
00:39:17,940 --> 00:39:18,220
Why?

868
00:39:18,220 --> 00:39:19,940
Because of our high priest,
Jesus Christ.

869
00:39:20,020 --> 00:39:23,620
And so he says, Jesus became
poor so that you could become rich.

870
00:39:23,780 --> 00:39:25,860
Not in the financial, but in
the spiritual.

871
00:39:27,300 --> 00:39:31,300
And so Jesus possessed all the
glory in heaven, perfect fellowship

872
00:39:31,300 --> 00:39:33,460
with the Father, infinite majesty.

873
00:39:33,460 --> 00:39:36,900
Yet he became poor for our sakes.

874
00:39:37,460 --> 00:39:39,220
He entered into our world.

875
00:39:39,300 --> 00:39:40,500
He took on flesh.

876
00:39:40,740 --> 00:39:43,940
He endured rejection, he
suffered, he died.

877
00:39:44,740 --> 00:39:48,020
Not because he deserved that death.

878
00:39:48,660 --> 00:39:49,620
And guess what?

879
00:39:49,620 --> 00:39:54,500
Not because we deserve that
death, but because he loved us.

880
00:39:56,900 --> 00:39:59,460
We give because he first gave.

881
00:39:59,460 --> 00:40:01,700
We love because he first loved.

882
00:40:04,020 --> 00:40:06,420
Not gold, not land, not possessions.

883
00:40:08,830 --> 00:40:11,870
It was the Son of God who gave
Himself for us.

884
00:40:13,150 --> 00:40:21,430
It's the one who was placed on
a cross, beaten, mocked, not because

885
00:40:21,430 --> 00:40:24,269
he had to, but because of his
love for us.

886
00:40:24,269 --> 00:40:26,030
He was willing to endure the cross.

887
00:40:26,030 --> 00:40:28,670
The Bible says in the Book of
Hebrews that it was because of his

888
00:40:28,670 --> 00:40:30,350
joy that he endured the cross.

889
00:40:31,550 --> 00:40:35,220
That's the type of love that
should drive the understanding of

890
00:40:35,220 --> 00:40:36,380
what our giving is all about.

891
00:40:37,100 --> 00:40:38,540
He's given me so much.

892
00:40:38,700 --> 00:40:41,100
The least I can do is give as
he's given me.

893
00:40:41,820 --> 00:40:45,580
I hope that we can understand
here this morning that giving is

894
00:40:45,580 --> 00:40:48,980
not necessarily something that
we do just to receive the love of

895
00:40:48,980 --> 00:40:49,340
God.

896
00:40:49,420 --> 00:40:52,980
There are some people that
teach that we'll give more and you'll

897
00:40:52,980 --> 00:40:53,660
get more love.

898
00:40:54,780 --> 00:40:55,620
Hey, you know what?

899
00:40:55,620 --> 00:40:59,260
Just call this number and I'll
send you this little prayer card

900
00:40:59,260 --> 00:41:01,180
and you can give more money
and more blessings.

901
00:41:01,510 --> 00:41:04,190
Folks, that's not what God has
called us to do.

902
00:41:04,190 --> 00:41:05,190
That's called manipulation.

903
00:41:05,750 --> 00:41:07,590
Let me just tell you the truth
here this morning.

904
00:41:07,750 --> 00:41:10,470
God loves you infinitely.

905
00:41:10,950 --> 00:41:12,470
You can't get him to love you anymore.

906
00:41:12,470 --> 00:41:15,310
You say, well, if I just try a
little bit harder, give a little

907
00:41:15,310 --> 00:41:15,830
bit more.

908
00:41:16,070 --> 00:41:19,990
No, folks, God already proved
his love to you on the cross.

909
00:41:20,310 --> 00:41:23,510
But God commended or
demonstrated his love toward us in

910
00:41:23,510 --> 00:41:26,110
that while we were yet
sinners, Christ died for us.

911
00:41:26,110 --> 00:41:26,710
That's enough.

912
00:41:27,150 --> 00:41:27,870
That's the proof.

913
00:41:27,870 --> 00:41:28,950
That's infinite love.

914
00:41:28,950 --> 00:41:30,110
That's infinite grace.

915
00:41:30,430 --> 00:41:32,990
Now we get to be the
beneficiaries of that grace.

916
00:41:32,990 --> 00:41:36,590
And we give as we understand
how beautiful that is.

917
00:41:36,670 --> 00:41:39,830
When we give, we understand
that God infinitely loves us.

918
00:41:39,830 --> 00:41:42,510
And it's not about earning his
love, but it's about reciprocating

919
00:41:42,510 --> 00:41:45,630
what he has done for us in
thankfulness, in gratitude.

920
00:41:45,630 --> 00:41:47,070
And that's the motivation.

921
00:41:47,710 --> 00:41:49,710
So someone who's been gifted
by the gift of grace.

922
00:41:49,870 --> 00:41:52,270
We don't give with strings attached.

923
00:41:52,820 --> 00:41:55,140
We don't give with ulterior motivations.

924
00:41:55,460 --> 00:41:57,380
We don't give with control.

925
00:41:57,860 --> 00:42:00,420
We give because God has given
to us.

926
00:42:01,060 --> 00:42:03,940
And so there's this phrase
that if you can think about this

927
00:42:04,020 --> 00:42:06,900
today and meditate upon it
here this week, I believe it'll help

928
00:42:06,900 --> 00:42:09,940
all of us when it comes to the
understanding of the gift of giving.

929
00:42:10,260 --> 00:42:13,300
It's this giving as we have
been given.

930
00:42:14,420 --> 00:42:17,140
All God asks us to do is give
as we have been given.

931
00:42:17,620 --> 00:42:19,060
God has given us so much.

932
00:42:21,110 --> 00:42:25,350
The Christian life is just a
continual response to God's generosity.

933
00:42:26,150 --> 00:42:28,630
God has given us grace instead
of condemnation.

934
00:42:29,270 --> 00:42:31,510
He's given us mercy instead of judgment.

935
00:42:31,910 --> 00:42:33,990
He's given us forgiveness
instead of wrath.

936
00:42:34,230 --> 00:42:36,630
He's given us eternal life
instead of eternal death.

937
00:42:36,790 --> 00:42:38,950
He's given us spiritual gifts
for ministry.

938
00:42:39,270 --> 00:42:42,950
He's given us the Holy Spirit
for comfort, for power, for conviction.

939
00:42:42,950 --> 00:42:46,390
He's given us the church to
encourage us and to exhort us.

940
00:42:46,730 --> 00:42:49,890
And he's given us daily
provisions for our needs so that

941
00:42:49,890 --> 00:42:51,050
we can live for Him.

942
00:42:51,050 --> 00:42:55,130
And so the question is not, do
I have enough to give?

943
00:42:55,450 --> 00:42:57,450
The question is, is how should
we live?

944
00:42:57,770 --> 00:43:00,650
Well, we live in gratitude and thankfulness.

945
00:43:00,890 --> 00:43:05,370
And then that brings and
breeds mercy, grace, forgiveness.

946
00:43:06,170 --> 00:43:07,850
We give because we've been
given to.

947
00:43:07,850 --> 00:43:09,490
We forgive because we've been forgiven.

948
00:43:09,490 --> 00:43:11,810
We show mercy because we've
received mercy.

949
00:43:11,810 --> 00:43:14,520
We serve because Christ first
served us.

950
00:43:14,680 --> 00:43:21,000
And so generosity is simply
the gospel being made visible to

951
00:43:21,000 --> 00:43:21,480
the world.

952
00:43:22,120 --> 00:43:27,360
We're demonstrating just a
portion of the love of what God has

953
00:43:27,360 --> 00:43:28,120
done for us.

954
00:43:28,679 --> 00:43:32,200
And that's what generosity,
that's what giving looks like.

955
00:43:32,840 --> 00:43:37,560
And so if God has given you
the gift of giving, steward, faithfully

956
00:43:37,800 --> 00:43:43,870
give joyfully, give wisely,
give quietly, give sacrificially

957
00:43:44,350 --> 00:43:46,910
give, because Christ has given
everything to you.

958
00:43:47,070 --> 00:43:49,310
And so when we go through the
study, understand that there are

959
00:43:49,310 --> 00:43:53,870
going to be people, that this
is not a struggle for giving is like,

960
00:43:53,870 --> 00:43:54,750
it's natural.

961
00:43:55,070 --> 00:43:56,350
Of course I'm going to give.

962
00:43:56,990 --> 00:43:59,870
That's just what I'm doing
because that's how I'm gifted.

963
00:43:59,870 --> 00:44:03,470
It's kind of like telling me
it's not a stretch for me to teach.

964
00:44:03,870 --> 00:44:07,730
Okay, I'm gonna, I told
someone recently, if I wasn't teaching

965
00:44:07,730 --> 00:44:09,370
in the church, I'd be teaching somewhere.

966
00:44:09,770 --> 00:44:11,290
God has wired my brain.

967
00:44:11,770 --> 00:44:13,130
Whether it's good teaching or not.

968
00:44:13,210 --> 00:44:14,330
I want to teach.

969
00:44:14,970 --> 00:44:15,810
I'm gonna teach.

970
00:44:15,810 --> 00:44:17,370
I try to teach my children all
the time.

971
00:44:17,610 --> 00:44:19,690
Like, hey, guys, let me tell
you what this is all about.

972
00:44:19,690 --> 00:44:22,410
Let me, let me explain to you
that this is what you need to do.

973
00:44:23,290 --> 00:44:26,410
Like, going out fishing with
my son is always a struggle.

974
00:44:26,970 --> 00:44:31,690
And my daughter, because when,
when we first started, I have my

975
00:44:31,690 --> 00:44:32,770
children out, like two years old.

976
00:44:32,770 --> 00:44:35,520
Silas is already out with the
fishing rod and trying to get it

977
00:44:35,520 --> 00:44:35,800
going.

978
00:44:36,440 --> 00:44:39,640
And Micah, he's not here, so
I'm going to talk about him.

979
00:44:39,880 --> 00:44:42,200
First time he would get out
there, he tried to cast the rod and

980
00:44:42,600 --> 00:44:43,400
he throw it.

981
00:44:43,800 --> 00:44:45,800
Dad, it's not, this rod's not working.

982
00:44:46,120 --> 00:44:47,520
This, this, this reel's not good.

983
00:44:47,520 --> 00:44:49,400
I said, son, it's, it's Cuz
you're not using it right.

984
00:44:49,640 --> 00:44:50,760
Let me try to teach you.

985
00:44:51,080 --> 00:44:53,920
So pops it open and we work on it.

986
00:44:53,920 --> 00:44:56,560
Then, you know, he gets older
and he starts getting a little bit

987
00:44:56,560 --> 00:45:00,680
better, and then we get a
little bit more advanced.

988
00:45:00,940 --> 00:45:02,860
So it used to be a little
button that you push and you throw

989
00:45:02,860 --> 00:45:02,980
it.

990
00:45:02,980 --> 00:45:06,380
Now it's like you open it up
and, and then I, I, I'm gaining a

991
00:45:06,380 --> 00:45:09,980
little bit more trustful with
him that he can move down the bank

992
00:45:09,980 --> 00:45:11,300
a little bit and fish over here.

993
00:45:11,300 --> 00:45:13,820
And he's, he's on his own a
little bit more.

994
00:45:13,980 --> 00:45:17,099
And he comes up to me not too
long ago when we were fishing, and

995
00:45:17,099 --> 00:45:20,620
his whole fishing reel was
like a bird's nest.

996
00:45:20,940 --> 00:45:24,380
And he's like, dad, how did
this happen?

997
00:45:25,420 --> 00:45:27,300
And I said, well, obviously
you did something wrong.

998
00:45:27,300 --> 00:45:28,980
And he was like, no, no, it
wasn't me.

999
00:45:28,980 --> 00:45:29,740
This wasn't me.

1000
00:45:29,740 --> 00:45:30,700
I didn't do anything wrong.

1001
00:45:30,700 --> 00:45:33,580
I said, son, it lines up that
you did something wrong.

1002
00:45:33,580 --> 00:45:36,740
And so instead of, you know,
and different people would deal differently

1003
00:45:36,740 --> 00:45:39,820
in that situation, you know, a
mercy might say, oh, I'm so.

1004
00:45:39,820 --> 00:45:41,220
And like, crying with him.

1005
00:45:41,300 --> 00:45:42,420
I'm so sorry, Micah.

1006
00:45:42,420 --> 00:45:43,060
This is bad.

1007
00:45:43,060 --> 00:45:47,100
We don't have, you know, a
teacher like me sits down and says,

1008
00:45:47,100 --> 00:45:51,060
okay, son, this is all the
things you did wrong to get to this

1009
00:45:51,060 --> 00:45:51,380
place.

1010
00:45:53,140 --> 00:45:54,980
But a giver might say, well,
son, you know what?

1011
00:45:54,980 --> 00:45:56,180
That's just beyond repair.

1012
00:45:56,180 --> 00:45:57,460
Let's just go buy you a new one.

1013
00:45:57,700 --> 00:45:59,220
Okay, that's maybe the giver.

1014
00:45:59,860 --> 00:46:03,940
So the point is, some of us
here are just going to be natural

1015
00:46:03,940 --> 00:46:06,500
givers, just going to exude
out of us.

1016
00:46:06,900 --> 00:46:07,860
And that's a blessing.

1017
00:46:07,860 --> 00:46:08,900
That's a gift of God.

1018
00:46:09,860 --> 00:46:14,620
But there's a way to exercise
that in the spirit, the right way,

1019
00:46:14,620 --> 00:46:17,940
or to exercise that in the
flesh and be a certain way.

1020
00:46:18,660 --> 00:46:23,180
So if you are gifted in that
area of giving, utilize it in the

1021
00:46:23,180 --> 00:46:23,620
spirit.

1022
00:46:24,540 --> 00:46:25,780
Do it for the cause of the kingdom.

1023
00:46:25,780 --> 00:46:27,260
Don't do it with the strings attached.

1024
00:46:27,340 --> 00:46:28,380
Don't do it with control.

1025
00:46:28,700 --> 00:46:30,260
Don't do it to get the praise
of man.

1026
00:46:30,260 --> 00:46:32,900
Do it because it's an honor
and glory to the Lord and it helps

1027
00:46:32,900 --> 00:46:33,180
others.

1028
00:46:33,420 --> 00:46:37,700
But if you're like me, maybe,
and you don't have the natural gift

1029
00:46:37,700 --> 00:46:40,099
of giving, you think about all
the reasons why you shouldn't give

1030
00:46:40,099 --> 00:46:43,100
and why there might be better
places to do certain things.

1031
00:46:43,340 --> 00:46:45,900
Folks, it is a command from
God to.

1032
00:46:45,980 --> 00:46:47,740
To some degree, give back to Him.

1033
00:46:48,540 --> 00:46:49,810
God has called us to give.

1034
00:46:51,320 --> 00:46:53,560
And so he's not asking for everything.

1035
00:46:54,600 --> 00:46:58,440
He's asking for us to be able
to invest back into the kingdom of

1036
00:46:58,440 --> 00:46:58,680
God.

1037
00:46:58,680 --> 00:46:59,160
So for.

1038
00:46:59,160 --> 00:47:02,840
For me, or maybe for you, it's
a matter of learning what it means

1039
00:47:02,840 --> 00:47:05,440
to be a grace giver, learning
from those that are spiritually gifted

1040
00:47:05,440 --> 00:47:07,000
in the area of giving.

1041
00:47:07,560 --> 00:47:10,320
And so the measure of
generosity is not found in the size

1042
00:47:10,320 --> 00:47:13,800
of the gift necessarily, but
it's found in the greatness of the

1043
00:47:13,800 --> 00:47:16,440
Savior who has motivated us to give.

1044
00:47:16,440 --> 00:47:19,210
And so like you to ask a few
questions to yourself here, and then

1045
00:47:19,210 --> 00:47:19,730
we'll close.

1046
00:47:20,930 --> 00:47:24,090
Number one, do I view
everything I possess as belonging

1047
00:47:24,090 --> 00:47:24,690
to God?

1048
00:47:25,090 --> 00:47:27,250
It's a real question that I
want you to think about here this

1049
00:47:27,250 --> 00:47:27,570
morning.

1050
00:47:28,930 --> 00:47:32,530
Do I look at everything that I
have and do I say, yes, this belongs

1051
00:47:32,530 --> 00:47:32,969
to God?

1052
00:47:32,969 --> 00:47:35,890
Or do I say, God, you can have
this, but not this?

1053
00:47:36,930 --> 00:47:39,090
I encourage you to think about
that here this morning.

1054
00:47:39,090 --> 00:47:41,450
But number two, the question
would be this.

1055
00:47:41,450 --> 00:47:45,380
Am I giving from obligation or Gratitude.

1056
00:47:46,020 --> 00:47:49,460
If it is obligation, let's
inspect our lives.

1057
00:47:50,820 --> 00:47:53,700
Second Corinthians, chapter
nine tells us to be cheerful givers.

1058
00:47:54,020 --> 00:47:56,300
If I'm not cheerful in my
giving, I'm not following the way

1059
00:47:56,300 --> 00:47:57,460
that God has told me to give.

1060
00:47:59,860 --> 00:48:04,580
Third, is there a need God is
prompting me to meet right now?

1061
00:48:05,860 --> 00:48:08,740
Sometimes what happens is as
God has given us an opportunity to

1062
00:48:08,740 --> 00:48:11,050
give, he responds with giving us.

1063
00:48:12,570 --> 00:48:16,530
What I would say is a prompt
or a conviction to say, God's placed

1064
00:48:16,530 --> 00:48:17,370
that upon my heart.

1065
00:48:18,490 --> 00:48:21,810
I'm going to tell you, I
didn't know the country of Rwanda

1066
00:48:21,810 --> 00:48:24,170
existed like, three years ago.

1067
00:48:24,170 --> 00:48:26,410
Maybe, maybe I heard about it,
but I just didn't know anything about

1068
00:48:26,410 --> 00:48:26,730
it.

1069
00:48:28,650 --> 00:48:32,490
And it's probably like you.

1070
00:48:32,730 --> 00:48:34,010
You didn't know anything about it.

1071
00:48:34,570 --> 00:48:37,330
But when I went, my heart was there.

1072
00:48:37,490 --> 00:48:41,610
It's like, wow, there's some
kind of like God's placing them on

1073
00:48:41,610 --> 00:48:42,050
my heart.

1074
00:48:42,930 --> 00:48:44,610
Now you say, well, I've never
been to Rwanda.

1075
00:48:44,610 --> 00:48:45,250
I don't have that heart.

1076
00:48:45,250 --> 00:48:46,010
I understand that.

1077
00:48:46,010 --> 00:48:47,570
But you know where your heart
might be?

1078
00:48:47,810 --> 00:48:48,450
Bbs.

1079
00:48:49,250 --> 00:48:51,810
Man, I saw those kids out
here, and that was something unique.

1080
00:48:51,890 --> 00:48:52,930
That was something different.

1081
00:48:53,250 --> 00:48:55,290
I've never seen kids having
joy like that.

1082
00:48:55,290 --> 00:48:57,330
I've never seen people working
together like that.

1083
00:48:57,330 --> 00:48:58,690
Your heart might be there.

1084
00:48:59,250 --> 00:49:02,530
Maybe you say, well, Pastor,
my heart's not in VBS or Wanda, but

1085
00:49:02,800 --> 00:49:05,400
maybe I've traveled to this
country and that's where my heart

1086
00:49:05,400 --> 00:49:05,680
is.

1087
00:49:05,680 --> 00:49:08,240
I don't know where God is
going to place your heart in giving,

1088
00:49:08,960 --> 00:49:12,280
but what I am going to say is
that God will place you in a place

1089
00:49:12,280 --> 00:49:15,440
where you are going to desire
to invest into the kingdom of God

1090
00:49:15,440 --> 00:49:17,520
in the way that he has called
you to invest.

1091
00:49:18,640 --> 00:49:20,240
But then I would ask you this question.

1092
00:49:20,240 --> 00:49:25,840
Have you given yourself
completely to the Lord in your heart?

1093
00:49:26,720 --> 00:49:31,840
Or are you trying to say,
lord, I'll give you this, you give

1094
00:49:31,840 --> 00:49:32,280
me this.

1095
00:49:32,680 --> 00:49:35,200
I have this, and I'm not going
to let you have that.

1096
00:49:35,200 --> 00:49:37,400
Have you given yourself
completely to Him?

1097
00:49:38,360 --> 00:49:39,960
What if God called you?

1098
00:49:40,040 --> 00:49:41,560
Let's just say the big what if today.

1099
00:49:41,720 --> 00:49:43,720
What if God called you to
start a ministry?

1100
00:49:44,840 --> 00:49:47,080
What if God called you to give
to this need?

1101
00:49:47,800 --> 00:49:49,160
What if God moved you?

1102
00:49:50,120 --> 00:49:51,400
What if God changed you?

1103
00:49:51,560 --> 00:49:54,320
You don't know what God has in
store unless you give yourself over

1104
00:49:54,320 --> 00:49:57,570
to him and be willing and
ready to move when he calls you to

1105
00:49:57,570 --> 00:49:59,810
move or to stay when he calls
you to stay.

1106
00:50:01,650 --> 00:50:07,570
And last but not least, does
my generosity, my giving, my sacrifice

1107
00:50:07,570 --> 00:50:10,690
point people to me or to Jesus Christ?

1108
00:50:11,570 --> 00:50:13,650
Is it about me or is it about him?

1109
00:50:13,890 --> 00:50:17,370
And that could be for any one
of these gifts is my gift of teaching,

1110
00:50:17,370 --> 00:50:20,770
my gift of exhortation, my
gift of mercy, my gift of service

1111
00:50:20,850 --> 00:50:23,090
in Is it about me or is it
about Him?

1112
00:50:24,050 --> 00:50:27,210
Well, the Bible tells us that
it's all about Him.

1113
00:50:27,210 --> 00:50:28,690
It's all about giving glory to Him.

1114
00:50:29,250 --> 00:50:34,330
And so the gift of giving is
the Spirit given motivation to joyfully

1115
00:50:34,330 --> 00:50:38,250
steward everything that God
has entrusted us with for his glory

1116
00:50:38,250 --> 00:50:40,130
and for the good of others.

1117
00:50:40,930 --> 00:50:44,490
It's not merely about
financial generosity, but it's an

1118
00:50:44,490 --> 00:50:50,180
offering of our lives, our
resources, our abilities and our

1119
00:50:50,180 --> 00:50:55,180
opportunities in response to
the immeasurable gift that God has

1120
00:50:55,180 --> 00:50:56,460
given us in our life.

1121
00:50:59,340 --> 00:51:03,340
When we live this way, when we
live with that attitude of gratitude,

1122
00:51:03,340 --> 00:51:08,220
we're able to see the blessing
in the gift that God has given us.

1123
00:51:08,860 --> 00:51:13,150
And so we see that God tells
us over and over again that it is

1124
00:51:13,150 --> 00:51:14,670
a beautiful gift that he's
given us.

1125
00:51:14,670 --> 00:51:17,590
Second Corinthians, chapter 9,
verse 15 says, thanks be to God for

1126
00:51:17,590 --> 00:51:21,550
this unspeakable gift, this
immeasurable gift.

1127
00:51:21,950 --> 00:51:24,110
God has given us the greatest
gift in our salvation.

1128
00:51:24,110 --> 00:51:27,790
And if you don't know Jesus
Christ as your personal Savior, the

1129
00:51:27,790 --> 00:51:30,190
Bible says that today can be
the day of salvation.

1130
00:51:30,430 --> 00:51:32,830
The Bible says that today you
can find forgiveness.

1131
00:51:33,150 --> 00:51:35,310
Today you can find grace.

1132
00:51:35,550 --> 00:51:37,950
Today you can find everlasting life.

1133
00:51:38,850 --> 00:51:40,610
Jesus died on the cross for
your sins.

1134
00:51:41,250 --> 00:51:42,130
Say sins.

1135
00:51:42,370 --> 00:51:43,210
I'm not a sinner.

1136
00:51:43,210 --> 00:51:43,890
I'm a good person.

1137
00:51:44,290 --> 00:51:46,930
Bible says for all have sinned
to come short of the glory of God.

1138
00:51:47,650 --> 00:51:50,330
I hope that you understand
that it's not about being a good

1139
00:51:50,330 --> 00:51:53,890
person, because where do we
get that definition of good?

1140
00:51:54,450 --> 00:51:55,810
Well, I'm better than that person.

1141
00:51:57,250 --> 00:52:01,010
You might be less of a sinner
than that person, but the Bible says,

1142
00:52:01,010 --> 00:52:03,570
for all have sinned and come
short of the glory of God.

1143
00:52:03,900 --> 00:52:06,020
So really the true standard of
goodness is Jesus Christ.

1144
00:52:06,020 --> 00:52:08,860
And I think all of us, if we
match ourselves up to Jesus Christ,

1145
00:52:08,860 --> 00:52:11,020
will understand that we're
never going to meet that standard.

1146
00:52:11,900 --> 00:52:13,500
That's not bad news, that's
good news.

1147
00:52:13,500 --> 00:52:16,060
The good news is that I can
meet the standard of Jesus Christ,

1148
00:52:16,060 --> 00:52:18,220
but what I can know is the
gift of grace.

1149
00:52:18,540 --> 00:52:20,100
Jesus died on the cross for
our sins.

1150
00:52:20,100 --> 00:52:23,180
The Bible says that he
demonstrated his love towards us.

1151
00:52:23,500 --> 00:52:26,660
But the Bible also says that
he rose again on the third day and

1152
00:52:26,660 --> 00:52:28,380
that he conquered death
through the resurrection.

1153
00:52:28,940 --> 00:52:32,310
And then Ephesians 2, 8:9
says, for by grace are you saved

1154
00:52:32,310 --> 00:52:34,150
through faith, and that not of yourselves.

1155
00:52:34,150 --> 00:52:37,190
It is a gift of God, not of
works, lest any man should boast.

1156
00:52:37,910 --> 00:52:39,710
And so today you can receive
that gift.

1157
00:52:39,710 --> 00:52:42,710
You can believe in Jesus
Christ today and no forgiveness,

1158
00:52:42,870 --> 00:52:47,270
no love, no hope, and no
satisfaction and sufficiency in him.

1159
00:52:47,830 --> 00:52:51,950
And then it's not a matter of
man, it's such a struggle to give,

1160
00:52:51,950 --> 00:52:55,030
but it's a matter of I get to
give to the Lord.

1161
00:52:55,860 --> 00:52:58,620
And so here today, please know
that this is not Pastor Josh trying

1162
00:52:58,620 --> 00:53:02,700
to plead with you and pull all
of your resources so that I can have

1163
00:53:02,700 --> 00:53:03,220
more things.

1164
00:53:03,220 --> 00:53:06,900
Folks, I want you to
understand that I have more than

1165
00:53:06,900 --> 00:53:08,340
I've ever wanted in my life.

1166
00:53:08,340 --> 00:53:12,060
I am gifted beyond what I have
ever expected in my life.

1167
00:53:12,060 --> 00:53:14,340
And I think all of us, if
we're honest, would understand that.

1168
00:53:14,660 --> 00:53:18,580
So it's not a matter of trying
to get new things and nice things

1169
00:53:18,580 --> 00:53:20,300
and having all the bells and whistles.

1170
00:53:20,300 --> 00:53:24,190
It's a matter of fueling the
kingdom of God and being the vessel

1171
00:53:24,190 --> 00:53:28,190
of the gospel, going out to
the world and so invest into the

1172
00:53:28,190 --> 00:53:28,750
kingdom.

1173
00:53:28,750 --> 00:53:31,190
If there's something that
we're doing at Middletown Baptist

1174
00:53:31,190 --> 00:53:33,950
Church that is not about
bringing disciples into Jesus Christ,

1175
00:53:34,110 --> 00:53:35,870
it's time to reevaluate it.

1176
00:53:36,030 --> 00:53:39,110
Everything that we do must be
for the cause of making disciples.

1177
00:53:39,110 --> 00:53:39,870
Let me tell you this.

1178
00:53:40,190 --> 00:53:43,310
Someone told me this recently,
and it was a good teaching.

1179
00:53:44,270 --> 00:53:47,790
They said, what are you doing
at Middletown Baptist Church in this

1180
00:53:47,790 --> 00:53:48,070
area?

1181
00:53:48,070 --> 00:53:49,310
What ministries do you have?

1182
00:53:49,630 --> 00:53:51,030
What's the vision for all
those ministries?

1183
00:53:51,030 --> 00:53:52,350
And it made me really think.

1184
00:53:53,150 --> 00:53:54,350
And I'm going to tell you what.

1185
00:53:54,350 --> 00:53:57,150
What I believe should be the
answer to that question.

1186
00:53:57,150 --> 00:53:59,470
When someone asks, why do you
do vbs?

1187
00:54:00,190 --> 00:54:01,950
Why do you do men's ministry?

1188
00:54:02,510 --> 00:54:03,870
Why do you have a teen group?

1189
00:54:04,430 --> 00:54:06,030
Why do you have small groups?

1190
00:54:06,190 --> 00:54:07,510
Why do you have the music ministry?

1191
00:54:07,510 --> 00:54:08,110
Here it is.

1192
00:54:08,270 --> 00:54:09,190
I'm going to give you the answer.

1193
00:54:09,190 --> 00:54:10,430
It's a very simple answer.

1194
00:54:10,430 --> 00:54:11,550
To make disciples.

1195
00:54:12,270 --> 00:54:13,070
That's what it is.

1196
00:54:13,950 --> 00:54:16,630
Because if there's an answer
outside of that, it's not a biblical

1197
00:54:16,630 --> 00:54:16,990
answer.

1198
00:54:17,210 --> 00:54:17,970
Well, I have.

1199
00:54:17,970 --> 00:54:20,770
We have VBS because it's a
place where we can drop our kids

1200
00:54:20,770 --> 00:54:21,050
off.

1201
00:54:21,370 --> 00:54:22,570
That's not a biblical reason.

1202
00:54:23,210 --> 00:54:24,890
You can drop your kids off anywhere.

1203
00:54:25,930 --> 00:54:29,370
Truth is, is that we must
understand that everything that we

1204
00:54:29,370 --> 00:54:30,530
do is to make disciples.

1205
00:54:30,530 --> 00:54:32,250
So that would also go for giving.

1206
00:54:32,250 --> 00:54:33,610
Why do you give to the church?

1207
00:54:34,330 --> 00:54:36,570
Well, because I have to or
people are going to get mad at me.

1208
00:54:37,210 --> 00:54:38,170
No, that's not it.

1209
00:54:38,970 --> 00:54:40,890
First of all, let me tell you,
I don't know what you give here at

1210
00:54:40,890 --> 00:54:41,810
Middletown Baptist Church.

1211
00:54:41,810 --> 00:54:42,490
Way of transparency.

1212
00:54:42,490 --> 00:54:44,250
I have no idea what anybody
gives here.

1213
00:54:44,450 --> 00:54:46,890
I know what the final total
is, but I don't Know what everyone's

1214
00:54:46,890 --> 00:54:47,130
giving.

1215
00:54:47,130 --> 00:54:50,090
I don't know if you are
giving, that's a good thing.

1216
00:54:50,090 --> 00:54:51,170
I don't need to see that.

1217
00:54:51,730 --> 00:54:54,170
But at the end of the day,
what it is, is if I said to you,

1218
00:54:54,170 --> 00:54:56,290
what's your reason for giving
a Middletown Baptist Church?

1219
00:54:56,290 --> 00:54:59,210
And you said, any other reason
other than it's to make disciples

1220
00:54:59,210 --> 00:55:01,850
for Jesus Christ, I would say,
well, then we've got a problem with

1221
00:55:01,850 --> 00:55:02,690
our motivation.

1222
00:55:04,210 --> 00:55:06,810
Because our motivation as the
church is the great commission to

1223
00:55:06,810 --> 00:55:08,690
go and make disciples for
Jesus Christ.

1224
00:55:09,170 --> 00:55:11,490
If it's for any other reason,
we've lost track.

1225
00:55:11,840 --> 00:55:12,960
It's not for entertainment.

1226
00:55:13,120 --> 00:55:14,240
It's not for pleasure.

1227
00:55:14,320 --> 00:55:15,760
It's not for satisfaction.

1228
00:55:15,920 --> 00:55:18,640
Everything that we do within
the church should be to glorify God

1229
00:55:18,640 --> 00:55:20,080
by making disciples for him.

1230
00:55:20,400 --> 00:55:21,760
How do we make disciples for him?

1231
00:55:21,760 --> 00:55:24,720
We live out the message of
Jesus Christ in the Gospel.

1232
00:55:24,960 --> 00:55:27,879
And so the way that you give
is a gospel ministry.

1233
00:55:27,879 --> 00:55:30,320
The way that you serve is a
gospel ministry.

1234
00:55:30,320 --> 00:55:33,280
The way that you teach is
gospel ministry.

1235
00:55:33,280 --> 00:55:37,120
The way that you respond to
fellow Christians is a gospel ministry.

1236
00:55:37,140 --> 00:55:40,490
That the way that you
sacrifice for people is a gospel

1237
00:55:40,490 --> 00:55:40,850
ministry.

1238
00:55:40,850 --> 00:55:43,450
And so let me think about it
this morning from this perspective.

1239
00:55:44,010 --> 00:55:44,730
It's this.

1240
00:55:45,370 --> 00:55:48,850
Don't see all these things
that you do within the church as

1241
00:55:48,850 --> 00:55:51,210
segmented things that are
totally different.

1242
00:55:51,370 --> 00:55:55,610
See them all aligned with
worship and the gospel ministry.

1243
00:55:55,770 --> 00:55:58,530
And when we see it that way,
when we see giving as worship, when

1244
00:55:58,530 --> 00:56:01,850
we see giving as a gospel
ministry for the Lord, we're able

1245
00:56:01,850 --> 00:56:05,460
to do it in such a way that is
joyful, that isn't with strings attached,

1246
00:56:05,780 --> 00:56:06,900
that isn't manipulation.

1247
00:56:07,460 --> 00:56:09,540
And we can ultimately say
that, hey, you know what?

1248
00:56:09,540 --> 00:56:13,660
The reason why I give is
because of what God has given me

1249
00:56:13,660 --> 00:56:14,740
and he's given me everything.

1250
00:56:15,460 --> 00:56:16,380
So praise God for that.

1251
00:56:16,380 --> 00:56:18,980
If you need to trust in Jesus
Christ as your Savior today, we're

1252
00:56:18,980 --> 00:56:20,820
going to have an opportunity
for you to respond.

1253
00:56:21,380 --> 00:56:25,460
Get on track, get on the path
of the race that is set before you

1254
00:56:25,860 --> 00:56:27,860
because of what Jesus Christ
has done for you.

1255
00:56:27,860 --> 00:56:30,060
I'm going to ask if you're
able to stand with me this morning,

1256
00:56:30,060 --> 00:56:32,900
every head bowed, every eye
closed as the music plays here today,

1257
00:56:33,720 --> 00:56:35,960
or going to respond?

1258
00:56:37,800 --> 00:56:41,800
This isn't about impressing
somebody or influencing somebody.

1259
00:56:42,040 --> 00:56:46,280
This is all about responding
to what God has told us in his word.

1260
00:56:46,760 --> 00:56:50,360
The first question that I have
to ask is this.

1261
00:56:50,360 --> 00:56:52,520
Do you know Jesus as your
personal savior?

1262
00:56:52,920 --> 00:56:57,600
I would not be doing what God
has called me to do unless I confront

1263
00:56:57,600 --> 00:56:59,480
you with that decision here
this morning.

1264
00:57:00,470 --> 00:57:01,590
Do you know Jesus?

1265
00:57:01,830 --> 00:57:02,310
Oh, yeah.

1266
00:57:02,310 --> 00:57:03,110
I know about him.

1267
00:57:03,110 --> 00:57:04,150
I heard about him.

1268
00:57:04,310 --> 00:57:05,270
I know his story.

1269
00:57:05,270 --> 00:57:07,310
No, do you know him in a
personal way?

1270
00:57:07,310 --> 00:57:08,870
Do you have a relationship
with him?

1271
00:57:08,870 --> 00:57:12,830
Have you placed your faith and
trust in who he is and what he has

1272
00:57:12,830 --> 00:57:17,030
done for you on the cross,
conquering death through the tomb

1273
00:57:17,670 --> 00:57:19,750
and ultimately ruling and
reigning for you today?

1274
00:57:19,750 --> 00:57:22,190
If that's something that you
need, we've got folks up here that

1275
00:57:22,190 --> 00:57:24,910
will show you in the Bible
what it means to know Jesus and to

1276
00:57:24,910 --> 00:57:26,390
know the greatest gift ever given.

1277
00:57:27,300 --> 00:57:30,900
But secondly, if you have
trusted in Jesus Christ but yet giving

1278
00:57:30,900 --> 00:57:33,820
is a struggle for you, maybe
you say, I just don't know how I

1279
00:57:33,820 --> 00:57:35,780
could give anything this morning.

1280
00:57:35,780 --> 00:57:38,740
Maybe come forward and just
recognize what God has done for you

1281
00:57:38,900 --> 00:57:42,340
and give back just a portion
of what he has blessed you with.

1282
00:57:44,740 --> 00:57:47,780
I would ask you to think about
this this morning.

1283
00:57:48,180 --> 00:57:49,780
This is the last appeal.

1284
00:57:50,740 --> 00:57:53,140
Maybe you have been gifted in
the area of giving.

1285
00:57:53,140 --> 00:57:54,900
Maybe you're just like, I love
to give.

1286
00:57:55,220 --> 00:57:59,020
But am I giving out of the
right spirit or am I giving because

1287
00:57:59,020 --> 00:57:59,620
of me?

1288
00:58:00,580 --> 00:58:03,220
Is it about control or is it
about compassion?

1289
00:58:03,780 --> 00:58:05,060
Is it about manipulation?

1290
00:58:05,380 --> 00:58:09,500
Or is it about the message of
the gospel of Jesus Christ here this

1291
00:58:09,500 --> 00:58:09,860
morning?

1292
00:58:10,100 --> 00:58:13,140
May it be that it's the
message of the gospel, that it's

1293
00:58:13,140 --> 00:58:16,300
the compassion of the grace
that Jesus Christ extended to me

1294
00:58:16,300 --> 00:58:19,220
as I have been greatly given,
so I will give to him.

1295
00:58:19,300 --> 00:58:21,620
Lord, I pray that you'd be in
this time of invitation working hearts

1296
00:58:21,620 --> 00:58:21,860
and lives.

1297
00:58:21,860 --> 00:58:24,330
We thank you for all that you
do in Jesus name Amen.

1298
00:58:24,330 --> 00:58:26,410
As the music plays follows the
Lord leads here this morning.