1 00:00:27,536 --> 00:00:28,276 Speaker 6: Good morning. 2 00:00:30,806 --> 00:00:32,156 Oh, that's, that's English. 3 00:00:33,566 --> 00:00:35,916 I just said English, so you don't have to be like, what? 4 00:00:35,956 --> 00:00:37,226 What is, what languages? 5 00:00:37,226 --> 00:00:37,486 No. 6 00:00:37,636 --> 00:00:38,426 Good morning, church! 7 00:00:39,586 --> 00:00:40,596 There you go, there you go. 8 00:00:41,396 --> 00:00:42,226 You can come forward. 9 00:00:45,566 --> 00:00:46,626 You can start, yes. 10 00:00:46,776 --> 00:00:47,386 Speaker 7: Good morning. 11 00:01:13,011 --> 00:01:16,081 Speaker 6: Greetings greetings to you all in the name of the 12 00:01:16,091 --> 00:01:17,631 Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 13 00:01:18,021 --> 00:01:22,261 I take this opportunity to welcome everyone who's here, welcome everyone 14 00:01:22,481 --> 00:01:27,051 watching us online and from every other locations and also I wanna 15 00:01:27,051 --> 00:01:31,041 take this time to thank Pastor Nate and family for this opportunity. 16 00:01:42,431 --> 00:01:47,515 Uh, I, I wanna take, uh, this time to honor God first and also, uh, honor your 17 00:01:47,515 --> 00:01:51,806 senior pastor, our senior pastor, pastor Nate Gagne, for giving me this opportunity 18 00:01:51,985 --> 00:01:53,696 to preach the gospel this morning. 19 00:01:56,816 --> 00:01:58,765 Uh, first of all, I want to introduce myself. 20 00:02:02,831 --> 00:02:04,721 Uh, I'm a, uh, I'm from India. 21 00:02:04,721 --> 00:02:07,931 My, me and my family, we are from India and we are a small family. 22 00:02:12,011 --> 00:02:16,511 Uh, I'm serving in a denomination called New the Church of God back home in India, 23 00:02:16,721 --> 00:02:18,941 and I've been there for many years. 24 00:02:25,181 --> 00:02:27,706 I was born in a Syrian Orthodox family. 25 00:02:28,516 --> 00:02:28,736 Speaker 7: And 26 00:02:33,821 --> 00:02:37,180 Speaker 6: at the age of 13, I was, I was called into the ministry 27 00:02:37,511 --> 00:02:39,161 in a Syrian Orthodox church 28 00:02:39,971 --> 00:02:40,211 Speaker 7: school 29 00:02:46,241 --> 00:02:47,531 Speaker 6: after my high school. 30 00:02:47,651 --> 00:02:52,541 Uh, God enabled me to serve in the, uh, as a minister in this church. 31 00:02:56,861 --> 00:03:02,006 Uh, during those moments, uh, God enabled me to get married to my awesome wife. 32 00:03:12,491 --> 00:03:17,486 Uh, during that time when I was in, in the Surn Orthodox Church, uh, God met 33 00:03:17,486 --> 00:03:22,436 me and I had a eager to learn the word of God and to convert into Christianity. 34 00:03:29,811 --> 00:03:35,511 Uh, 34 years ago, God had, I had an encounter with God and I got saved. 35 00:03:35,511 --> 00:03:39,351 And from since then, 34 years ago, I became a Christian and 36 00:03:39,351 --> 00:03:40,881 followed Christ in the sense. 37 00:03:44,481 --> 00:03:46,162 I'm blessed with three, uh, uh, 38 00:03:46,221 --> 00:03:47,091 Speaker 7: three kids. 39 00:03:57,026 --> 00:04:01,736 Speaker 6: My oldest son, uh, when he was studying in eighth grade, ninth 40 00:04:01,736 --> 00:04:03,986 grade, he started his full-time ministry. 41 00:04:09,716 --> 00:04:13,946 Uh, he, he fought the good fight in this earth till he was 26 42 00:04:13,946 --> 00:04:15,476 and when to be with the Lord. 43 00:04:19,495 --> 00:04:20,755 Speaker 7: Pastor Steven Johnson. 44 00:04:21,026 --> 00:04:25,286 Speaker 6: Uh, second Child is Ringo Kos and her husband Steven Johnson. 45 00:04:28,286 --> 00:04:30,806 I don't have to, uh, introduce them to you. 46 00:04:30,806 --> 00:04:32,006 You already know them. 47 00:04:35,606 --> 00:04:36,236 Speaker 7: They serve as 48 00:04:36,236 --> 00:04:38,666 Speaker 6: one of the pastors at the Restoration Church in Bethlehem. 49 00:04:41,096 --> 00:04:41,276 Speaker 7: We 50 00:04:41,786 --> 00:04:42,896 Speaker 6: are all also blessed with 51 00:04:42,901 --> 00:04:43,471 Speaker 7: three grandkids. 52 00:04:46,541 --> 00:04:48,941 Speaker 6: They're also in this, uh, in this building, 53 00:04:50,981 --> 00:04:52,841 and the youngest son, Rufus 54 00:04:53,471 --> 00:04:54,761 Speaker 7: and the wife Elizabeth, 55 00:04:55,031 --> 00:04:56,081 Speaker 6: uh, wife Elizabeth. 56 00:04:59,531 --> 00:05:02,741 Uh, they're also in the ministry, uh, back in North India. 57 00:05:05,921 --> 00:05:09,491 Uh, the one good thing is we all are in ministry, but in 58 00:05:09,491 --> 00:05:10,721 different parts of the world. 59 00:05:13,961 --> 00:05:16,901 God has been so faithful in our lives till now. 60 00:05:19,691 --> 00:05:22,601 I request your sincere prayers, continue your prayers. 61 00:05:34,916 --> 00:05:38,216 If you have your Bible stern with me to second Corinthians 62 00:05:38,216 --> 00:05:40,406 chapter nine, verse five, 63 00:05:44,306 --> 00:05:46,376 why I chose this verse. 64 00:05:51,481 --> 00:05:55,271 As many of you know, we started this series called Kingdom Builders last week. 65 00:05:58,961 --> 00:06:02,261 And I want to continue in those, in that series. 66 00:06:02,261 --> 00:06:05,442 Speaker 7: Um, uh, when we look 67 00:06:05,442 --> 00:06:10,321 Speaker 6: at, uh, 2 Corinthians chapter 9 verse 6, it reads like this. 68 00:06:18,386 --> 00:06:22,136 Remember there's a farmer who plants only few seeds will get a 69 00:06:22,136 --> 00:06:26,636 small crop, but the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. 70 00:06:30,476 --> 00:06:30,686 Speaker 7: Here, 71 00:06:30,686 --> 00:06:33,716 Speaker 6: the writer, Paul uses a terminology that is 72 00:06:33,716 --> 00:06:34,771 understandable to the farmers. 73 00:06:40,171 --> 00:06:43,436 Uh, I, I came to know that Americans love farming. 74 00:06:46,466 --> 00:06:50,426 Uh, there are, uh, different kinds of farming in this, uh, in the United States, 75 00:06:55,406 --> 00:07:00,087 but what we read in this chapter is he, Paul is talking about the Kingdom of God. 76 00:07:05,546 --> 00:07:09,506 We also see that in the Bible there is, uh, there is this, uh, this theme 77 00:07:09,506 --> 00:07:11,606 called sowing and reaping that we see, 78 00:07:15,386 --> 00:07:18,476 but Paul here talks about giving to the kingdom of. 79 00:07:23,606 --> 00:07:24,956 Paul reminds us this. 80 00:07:25,166 --> 00:07:31,166 A farmer who plants few seeds will, uh, will have small crop, but who, who plants 81 00:07:31,166 --> 00:07:33,146 generously will have a generous crop. 82 00:07:36,356 --> 00:07:40,226 The person who gives generously will reap generously. 83 00:07:42,056 --> 00:07:43,586 We need to remember that 84 00:07:45,791 --> 00:07:46,331 Speaker 7: for a farmer. 85 00:07:51,366 --> 00:07:54,671 Speaker 6: A farmer always, uh, buys the best seed for 86 00:07:54,671 --> 00:07:56,321 him to sow it into the field. 87 00:08:02,561 --> 00:08:08,326 He looks under the field and he buys the seed according to how large his field is. 88 00:08:12,596 --> 00:08:12,776 Speaker 7: If 89 00:08:12,776 --> 00:08:16,256 Speaker 6: you give the best seed, if you sold the best seed into the 90 00:08:16,256 --> 00:08:18,686 field, you'll reap the best harvest. 91 00:08:23,771 --> 00:08:23,891 Speaker 7: A 92 00:08:24,116 --> 00:08:28,136 Speaker 6: farmer who plants a seed, he waits for the biggest harvest in return. 93 00:08:32,546 --> 00:08:35,371 That's the same thing that a farmer stores the seed. 94 00:08:40,376 --> 00:08:45,566 So Paul here reminds us about sowing into the kingdom of God. 95 00:08:47,576 --> 00:08:47,906 Speaker 7: When we 96 00:08:47,906 --> 00:08:49,766 Speaker 6: come to verse seven, 97 00:08:51,866 --> 00:08:55,256 we see a question there, how we need to give. 98 00:08:59,281 --> 00:09:01,681 We read that God loves a 99 00:09:01,681 --> 00:09:03,101 Speaker 7: cheerful giver. 100 00:09:05,351 --> 00:09:06,971 The Bible reminds us this. 101 00:09:08,961 --> 00:09:10,431 Don't give sadly. 102 00:09:12,031 --> 00:09:14,041 Don't give with peer pressure. 103 00:09:16,671 --> 00:09:16,841 For 104 00:09:16,841 --> 00:09:19,451 Speaker 6: God loves a cheerful giver. 105 00:09:21,461 --> 00:09:22,281 Let me ask you this. 106 00:09:22,281 --> 00:09:24,571 How should we give to God's kingdom? 107 00:09:27,386 --> 00:09:32,756 We read that we, whatever your heart has decided, that's what you need to give. 108 00:09:34,976 --> 00:09:35,546 Don't give 109 00:09:35,546 --> 00:09:36,566 Speaker 7: reluctantly. 110 00:09:39,056 --> 00:09:39,236 You 111 00:09:39,236 --> 00:09:39,626 Speaker 6: must. 112 00:09:39,716 --> 00:09:43,346 You must each decide in your heart how much you should give. 113 00:09:45,176 --> 00:09:46,556 And you need to make sure you give, 114 00:09:47,426 --> 00:09:49,376 Speaker 7: you give with, uh, gladness 115 00:09:52,196 --> 00:09:53,951 more than the amount that we give. 116 00:09:56,531 --> 00:09:58,271 Your attitude matters, 117 00:10:01,121 --> 00:10:01,811 uh, 118 00:10:01,811 --> 00:10:04,811 Speaker 6: how much that we sow our attitude matters for it. 119 00:10:07,001 --> 00:10:10,676 Uh, the, the farmer who sows, he's expecting something. 120 00:10:14,001 --> 00:10:15,521 And what is that expectation? 121 00:10:15,731 --> 00:10:19,351 The expectation is that he will reap a harvest in return. 122 00:10:22,381 --> 00:10:28,516 Paul reminds us again in these verses, Please don't give, sadly, 123 00:10:31,186 --> 00:10:35,446 don't think that, oh God, I'm going to give $10 or two a hundred dollars. 124 00:10:35,446 --> 00:10:38,236 What is going to be my next situation? 125 00:10:40,396 --> 00:10:40,876 Oh God. 126 00:10:40,936 --> 00:10:43,816 Uh, I'm going to give a thousand dollars, or I'm going to bless this, 127 00:10:43,996 --> 00:10:48,616 uh, ministry, uh, and wait to what is next or what we are expecting. 128 00:10:48,616 --> 00:10:50,986 God, what is going to be my life next? 129 00:10:53,686 --> 00:10:53,956 Speaker 7: Please 130 00:10:53,956 --> 00:10:55,066 Speaker 6: don't give like that. 131 00:10:56,896 --> 00:10:59,591 Speaker 7: Don't, don't give because somebody is forcing you. 132 00:11:02,171 --> 00:11:04,691 We are not giving because somebody is forcing us. 133 00:11:07,061 --> 00:11:10,481 Speaker 6: We are giving because God has done gracious things in our lives. 134 00:11:12,191 --> 00:11:15,851 He's not, he's not a God who's withhold stuff from 135 00:11:15,851 --> 00:11:16,151 Speaker 7: us. 136 00:11:18,321 --> 00:11:20,101 He's a God who provides for us. 137 00:11:20,101 --> 00:11:21,071 He's a good God. 138 00:11:23,911 --> 00:11:29,531 He's a God who will enrich and generously give us. 139 00:11:29,531 --> 00:11:31,781 When we go back to the verse four, 140 00:11:34,981 --> 00:11:38,371 we read that he loves a cheerful giver. 141 00:11:40,201 --> 00:11:41,201 How we give, 142 00:11:47,766 --> 00:11:49,566 Speaker 6: I want to ask you this today. 143 00:11:49,596 --> 00:11:51,386 How are you giving to God? 144 00:11:51,415 --> 00:11:54,636 Are you, are you giving to God's ministry with sadness? 145 00:11:54,656 --> 00:11:58,165 Are you giving with, uh, are you giving to God's ministry 146 00:11:58,165 --> 00:11:59,896 with, uh, with peer pressure? 147 00:11:59,896 --> 00:12:02,416 Or are you, are you giving it from your own heart? 148 00:12:09,616 --> 00:12:13,061 If we need to understand what the word of God is saying right here, 149 00:12:15,611 --> 00:12:20,036 we need to go, uh, to the, to the, uh, portion of this scripture. 150 00:12:20,096 --> 00:12:20,516 Second, 151 00:12:23,801 --> 00:12:25,181 uh, let's go to second cor. 152 00:12:25,181 --> 00:12:27,041 This chapter nine, verse five. 153 00:12:38,501 --> 00:12:43,781 So, so I thought I should send these brothers ahead of me to make sure the gift 154 00:12:43,781 --> 00:12:49,631 you promised is ready, but I want it to be a ruling gift, not one given grudge. 155 00:12:52,181 --> 00:12:52,451 Speaker 7: Paul 156 00:12:52,451 --> 00:12:53,111 Speaker 6: is reminding 157 00:12:53,111 --> 00:12:53,831 Speaker 7: us here. 158 00:12:58,096 --> 00:13:00,476 The gift you promised is ready. 159 00:13:04,976 --> 00:13:08,056 Speaker 6: I want to urge you that whatever you have promised, the gift 160 00:13:08,056 --> 00:13:09,636 that you promised, make it ready. 161 00:13:09,636 --> 00:13:11,956 Speaker 7: In the 162 00:13:11,956 --> 00:13:14,916 Speaker 6: mission field, there is a lot of expenses. 163 00:13:16,876 --> 00:13:20,326 Uh, that's, that needs to come through the mission of the church. 164 00:13:22,936 --> 00:13:27,226 Uh, uh, spreading the gospel is one of the, one of the missions of the church. 165 00:13:30,056 --> 00:13:32,966 Speaker 7: Uh, getting people saved is one of the mission of the church. 166 00:13:37,981 --> 00:13:41,411 Speaker 6: Helping to spread this gospel or this mission is one of the 167 00:13:41,411 --> 00:13:43,540 critical mission for us as a church. 168 00:13:46,151 --> 00:13:47,781 Speaker 7: What Paul is teaching here, 169 00:13:52,151 --> 00:13:55,471 the gift that we need to give, we need to make it ready. 170 00:13:57,361 --> 00:13:59,731 There needs to be an enthusiasm in us. 171 00:14:02,561 --> 00:14:05,441 And we also need to encourage other people to give. 172 00:14:05,441 --> 00:14:09,041 And 173 00:14:09,041 --> 00:14:12,421 Speaker 6: that's when we can see the goodness of God moving through 174 00:14:12,421 --> 00:14:13,791 our lives and in the church. 175 00:14:18,516 --> 00:14:21,546 Uh, when we, uh, when we look into the giving portion of, in the, 176 00:14:21,546 --> 00:14:23,046 in the, in the Kingdom of God, 177 00:14:25,236 --> 00:14:26,106 Speaker 7: Macedonian, 178 00:14:26,976 --> 00:14:29,406 Speaker 6: uh, Paul shows us an example. 179 00:14:29,406 --> 00:14:32,165 He sets an example as a Macedonian church. 180 00:14:32,196 --> 00:14:32,796 Speaker 7: Macedonian. 181 00:14:34,446 --> 00:14:35,826 Speaker 6: Uh, let's look into the, uh, Bassian Church. 182 00:14:44,601 --> 00:14:48,411 When we go to, uh, second Corinthians chapter eight, verse one to five, 183 00:14:48,411 --> 00:14:52,701 we see an example set before us as in the Macedonian Church, 184 00:14:52,731 --> 00:14:53,451 Speaker 7: Macedonia. 185 00:14:57,951 --> 00:15:00,901 Speaker 6: This example that we have set in Macedonian church, 186 00:15:00,901 --> 00:15:04,831 how they gave to the mission or the, or the mission of the church. 187 00:15:04,861 --> 00:15:09,841 We need to, uh, we need to, uh, we need to take that and grab us and then, 188 00:15:10,021 --> 00:15:11,961 uh, do the same thing in the church. 189 00:15:14,261 --> 00:15:16,561 A Paul is reminding us this again. 190 00:15:22,236 --> 00:15:27,586 Now, uh, 2 Corinthians chapter 8 verse 1, it reads like this, Now, I want you 191 00:15:27,586 --> 00:15:32,626 to know, dear brothers and sisters, what God in his kindness has done 192 00:15:32,876 --> 00:15:35,046 through the churches in Macedonia. 193 00:15:38,036 --> 00:15:41,796 Uh, what kind of kindness has, has the Macedonian Church got? 194 00:15:41,796 --> 00:15:47,236 Speaker 7: Uh, one 195 00:15:47,236 --> 00:15:51,026 Speaker 6: of the things that we see is the kindness that they got is because 196 00:15:51,036 --> 00:15:53,016 they gave to the Macedonian Church. 197 00:15:56,191 --> 00:16:00,261 Uh, the situation around them was not favorable for them to give. 198 00:16:02,571 --> 00:16:06,851 We read in the chapter two, they were, they've been tested in many troubles 199 00:16:09,101 --> 00:16:10,596 Speaker 7: and they were very poor. 200 00:16:13,541 --> 00:16:15,276 The verse two, it reminds us, 201 00:16:23,946 --> 00:16:26,641 Speaker 6: uh, second quarter, chapter eight, verse two reads like 202 00:16:26,641 --> 00:16:31,686 this, they are being tested by many troubles and they are very poor, but 203 00:16:31,686 --> 00:16:36,426 they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich. 204 00:16:37,551 --> 00:16:38,511 Generosity. 205 00:16:43,040 --> 00:16:47,931 Uh, Paul is reminding us the how the situation in the Macedonian Church, 206 00:16:50,271 --> 00:16:52,491 they're being tested in many troubles, 207 00:16:55,040 --> 00:16:56,540 but they're also filled. 208 00:16:56,941 --> 00:16:58,021 Abundant joy. 209 00:16:59,911 --> 00:17:02,221 They're very poor stage situation. 210 00:17:05,221 --> 00:17:09,121 If you look at the situation, the, uh, what they're going through, they cannot, 211 00:17:09,195 --> 00:17:11,580 they, they don't have much to give to God 212 00:17:11,611 --> 00:17:11,911 Speaker 7: our, 213 00:17:14,251 --> 00:17:15,451 Speaker 6: but we read that 214 00:17:15,931 --> 00:17:18,570 Speaker 7: they overflowed with the rich generosity. 215 00:17:23,031 --> 00:17:26,631 Speaker 6: I wanna ask you this, what are the situation that we are encountering? 216 00:17:28,731 --> 00:17:30,561 Speaker 7: Some people go through hardships, 217 00:17:32,811 --> 00:17:35,781 some people go through, uh, tough situations in their life. 218 00:17:39,216 --> 00:17:42,056 Speaker 6: Some people have a death situation that they're going through 219 00:17:43,566 --> 00:17:45,356 or other troubles in their life. 220 00:17:50,376 --> 00:17:55,086 We cannot wait for the situations to all be a favor for us to give 221 00:17:55,086 --> 00:17:57,066 to God, but we need to turn the 222 00:17:57,086 --> 00:17:57,606 Speaker 7: opposite. 223 00:18:03,041 --> 00:18:06,081 Speaker 6: When we look at the Macedonian church, even though they were tested 224 00:18:06,081 --> 00:18:10,621 in many troubles, even though they were in very poor stage, we see that they 225 00:18:10,621 --> 00:18:16,001 were filled with abundant joy and which has overflowed in rich generosity. 226 00:18:18,991 --> 00:18:21,721 Where did this happiness or joy came from? 227 00:18:31,311 --> 00:18:35,751 The kingdom of God is not just, uh, drinking water or being filled, but 228 00:18:35,761 --> 00:18:38,071 it's the Holy Spirit raining down on us. 229 00:18:42,071 --> 00:18:45,371 We see that they were filled with abundant joy. 230 00:18:48,351 --> 00:18:48,531 When 231 00:18:48,531 --> 00:18:51,771 Speaker 7: we come to, uh, verse three, uh, second Corinthians, 232 00:18:51,771 --> 00:18:53,391 chapter eight, verse three, 233 00:18:57,501 --> 00:19:02,571 Speaker 6: we can see that how, how the Macedonian Church gave Paul was a witness. 234 00:19:02,826 --> 00:19:03,046 Speaker 7: We. 235 00:19:11,646 --> 00:19:14,656 Speaker 6: For I testify that according to their ability and beyond their 236 00:19:14,676 --> 00:19:19,426 ability, they gave voluntarily begging us insistently for the privilege 237 00:19:19,586 --> 00:19:21,326 of participating in the service. 238 00:19:26,796 --> 00:19:30,936 The Macedonian Church is begging, begging them incidentally for the privilege 239 00:19:30,936 --> 00:19:32,736 of participating in the service. 240 00:19:42,631 --> 00:19:45,871 Even though they were, when we see, when we look at the Macedonian Church, 241 00:19:45,871 --> 00:19:49,921 even though they were going through things and hardships, we see that even 242 00:19:49,921 --> 00:19:54,661 in the midst of all that, they were having a joy that was overflowing. 243 00:19:57,796 --> 00:20:01,856 The, the, the rich generosity or the abundant joy that they're feeling. 244 00:20:09,381 --> 00:20:14,211 It reads like this, they gave according to their ability and beyond their ability, 245 00:20:16,461 --> 00:20:18,741 Speaker 7: how did they give to God's mission? 246 00:20:20,691 --> 00:20:23,481 They gave, uh, they gave according to their ability. 247 00:20:26,031 --> 00:20:27,781 And beyond their ability. 248 00:20:29,991 --> 00:20:31,531 I want to ask you this question today. 249 00:20:31,541 --> 00:20:34,381 How are we, uh, giving to God? 250 00:20:34,381 --> 00:20:39,841 We need to give according to our ability. 251 00:20:42,101 --> 00:20:44,321 And also beyond your ability. 252 00:20:47,591 --> 00:20:48,481 And the, and 253 00:20:48,481 --> 00:20:50,951 Speaker 6: the way the Holy Spirit leads us, we need to give. 254 00:20:53,541 --> 00:20:54,861 Speaker 7: We need to sow into the 255 00:20:54,891 --> 00:20:56,841 Speaker 6: kingdom of God according to how the Spirit 256 00:20:56,851 --> 00:20:57,521 Speaker 7: leads us. 257 00:21:02,136 --> 00:21:05,736 Speaker 6: Uh, as I mentioned earlier, God is not a God who, 258 00:21:05,766 --> 00:21:07,656 who withholds stuff from us. 259 00:21:10,236 --> 00:21:11,901 Paul reminds us in the next verse 260 00:21:21,036 --> 00:21:22,926 we read in verse five. 261 00:21:22,956 --> 00:21:23,826 It reads like this. 262 00:21:23,826 --> 00:21:26,316 They, they even did more than we hoped. 263 00:21:26,601 --> 00:21:30,681 For their first action was to give themselves to God and to 264 00:21:30,681 --> 00:21:32,601 us as God wanted them to do. 265 00:21:34,701 --> 00:21:36,561 Let me remind that verse again, 266 00:21:36,566 --> 00:21:36,806 Speaker 7: Adam. 267 00:21:44,571 --> 00:21:45,711 Speaker 6: They even did more than we hoped for. 268 00:21:47,181 --> 00:21:51,735 For their first action was to give themselves to God 269 00:21:51,735 --> 00:21:54,801 Speaker 7: and to us. 270 00:21:54,801 --> 00:21:55,561 Speaker 6: This we need to 271 00:21:55,621 --> 00:21:57,281 Speaker 7: carefully look into this verse. 272 00:22:01,681 --> 00:22:05,271 Paul was thinking this church is going through very hardship. 273 00:22:07,561 --> 00:22:09,381 They were in a very poor stage. 274 00:22:11,536 --> 00:22:12,036 How much 275 00:22:12,056 --> 00:22:14,281 Speaker 6: can this church give to the mission of the, 276 00:22:14,281 --> 00:22:15,446 Speaker 7: uh, mission of the church? 277 00:22:17,266 --> 00:22:21,096 Speaker 6: But when he understood how much they gave to the mission of the church, 278 00:22:25,176 --> 00:22:29,706 Paul is reminding us that Beyond their, beyond what Paul thought 279 00:22:29,716 --> 00:22:31,706 that church in Macedonia gave. 280 00:22:34,046 --> 00:22:36,716 First, they themselves gave to God. 281 00:22:40,006 --> 00:22:43,216 And not only they gave it to God's ministry, but they 282 00:22:43,216 --> 00:22:45,396 have blessed me as well. 283 00:22:45,396 --> 00:22:48,206 Speaker 7: So 284 00:22:48,206 --> 00:22:50,386 Speaker 6: what can we understand in these verses? 285 00:22:54,436 --> 00:22:58,666 They also gave it to the pastors that were there, which was Paul 286 00:22:58,706 --> 00:23:00,146 and their, and their friends. 287 00:23:01,776 --> 00:23:04,746 And not only that, they gave themselves to God. 288 00:23:07,146 --> 00:23:08,806 Speaker 7: Let's go back to chapter, 289 00:23:08,866 --> 00:23:09,916 Speaker 6: uh, chapter nine. 290 00:23:13,181 --> 00:23:15,431 Speaker 7: Let's come to verse eight. 291 00:23:27,651 --> 00:23:31,651 Speaker 6: And the God is able to make all grace, uh, come in 292 00:23:31,651 --> 00:23:36,901 abundance to you so that you may always have complete sufficiency in 293 00:23:36,921 --> 00:23:41,411 everything and have an abundance for every good work and act of charity. 294 00:23:47,856 --> 00:23:52,686 Paul here reminds us that we need to be, uh, sufficient or condemned 295 00:23:52,686 --> 00:23:54,756 in every situation that we have. 296 00:23:59,586 --> 00:24:03,306 We need to have contentment or we need to be condemned in every 297 00:24:03,306 --> 00:24:04,986 situation that God leads us. 298 00:24:10,716 --> 00:24:14,296 While we live in this earth, we go through things in our life. 299 00:24:18,796 --> 00:24:22,726 Though we are living in this world, when we are faced with troubles and 300 00:24:22,726 --> 00:24:26,786 sores, we need to make sure that we are content in what we have. 301 00:24:30,846 --> 00:24:32,626 In the next verses, we see that. 302 00:24:36,136 --> 00:24:39,266 Then you will always have everything you need and plenty 303 00:24:39,266 --> 00:24:40,896 left over to share with others. 304 00:24:44,796 --> 00:24:48,376 Uh, let me ask you how much can, uh, how much things that 305 00:24:48,446 --> 00:24:50,006 you're doing for the community? 306 00:24:53,926 --> 00:24:57,566 Speaker 7: Uh, Paul Hermine says we need to, we need to have plenty 307 00:24:57,566 --> 00:24:59,286 left over to share with others. 308 00:25:03,501 --> 00:25:03,711 Gonna, 309 00:25:10,731 --> 00:25:15,351 Speaker 6: well, when we, when we give out of our generosity, God will make sure 310 00:25:15,531 --> 00:25:17,871 that we will reap the harvest in return 311 00:25:19,791 --> 00:25:21,321 Speaker 7: when we go to the next verse. 312 00:25:23,871 --> 00:25:28,571 I'm going to need an egg and then I'm going to look into it. 313 00:25:28,571 --> 00:25:31,641 Speaker 6: They share freely and give generously to the poor. 314 00:25:31,801 --> 00:25:34,641 Their good deeds will remember it forever. 315 00:25:39,506 --> 00:25:43,506 If, if, if you're sitting here and you're going through things in your life, 316 00:25:46,526 --> 00:25:49,986 God is here to bring a generous life for you. 317 00:25:53,016 --> 00:25:54,836 God is the one who promotes you. 318 00:25:57,386 --> 00:25:59,266 Speaker 7: There's nothing impossible with God. 319 00:26:01,076 --> 00:26:02,406 The Bible reads as this. 320 00:26:05,886 --> 00:26:06,786 Uh, God will, 321 00:26:06,816 --> 00:26:09,546 Speaker 6: God is the one who brings the generosity in our lives. 322 00:26:18,606 --> 00:26:19,116 Alright? 323 00:26:21,786 --> 00:26:24,441 Uh, when we work, when we work, we earn. 324 00:26:28,291 --> 00:26:31,821 The blessings of God is what we have for us in our lives. 325 00:26:34,711 --> 00:26:39,251 In order for our things to shift, God has to bless us. 326 00:26:41,941 --> 00:26:45,451 In order for us to have a better life, God needs to bless us. 327 00:26:48,111 --> 00:26:52,671 In order for us to have, uh, to remove our hardships, God needs to bless us. 328 00:26:56,611 --> 00:27:00,211 Only then we can, we can be in that rich, abundant life. 329 00:27:03,031 --> 00:27:04,766 When we come to verse 10, 330 00:27:17,361 --> 00:27:19,731 this chapter nine verse standing reads like this, for 331 00:27:19,731 --> 00:27:20,991 God is the one who provides. 332 00:27:21,746 --> 00:27:24,926 seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. 333 00:27:29,966 --> 00:27:30,866 Paul is reminding 334 00:27:30,866 --> 00:27:31,796 Speaker 7: us here again, 335 00:27:34,346 --> 00:27:34,766 we need to 336 00:27:34,766 --> 00:27:38,096 Speaker 6: underline that verse 10 and read it carefully. 337 00:27:51,251 --> 00:27:56,771 Uh, the verse like this, he who provides seed to the sower and bread for life will 338 00:27:56,771 --> 00:27:59,171 provide and multiply your seed for sowing. 339 00:28:02,981 --> 00:28:07,781 The Paul reminds us here that only a sower needs this, this seed. 340 00:28:09,936 --> 00:28:11,316 Uh, for a farmer, 341 00:28:11,316 --> 00:28:19,496 Speaker 7: Uh, 342 00:28:19,496 --> 00:28:23,556 Speaker 6: for a farmer, he carries that seed in his shoulder and have 343 00:28:23,556 --> 00:28:25,896 that burden to, to sow into the field. 344 00:28:28,416 --> 00:28:31,186 He carries that burden and goes to the field. 345 00:28:34,886 --> 00:28:38,096 And he takes that seed and he sows it into the field. 346 00:28:40,656 --> 00:28:46,186 And when he sows the seed into the field, he's expecting something in return. 347 00:28:49,406 --> 00:28:53,836 And what is that expectation is this, that he will reap a huge harvest. 348 00:28:56,491 --> 00:29:00,141 And Paul is in the same sense is reminding us here again. 349 00:29:02,831 --> 00:29:06,031 Uh, the, only the sower will get the seed. 350 00:29:09,171 --> 00:29:10,511 Uh, I want to ask you this. 351 00:29:10,521 --> 00:29:13,941 How much are we willing to sow into the kingdom of God? 352 00:29:16,121 --> 00:29:19,171 How much are we willing to sow into the kingdom of God? 353 00:29:22,696 --> 00:29:26,326 According to that, God is able to give us the best seed to 354 00:29:26,326 --> 00:29:27,626 sow into the kingdom of God. 355 00:29:30,356 --> 00:29:34,826 Only if you sow the best seed, you will reap the best harvest. 356 00:29:41,001 --> 00:29:45,801 The field that is already prepared for the harvest is the only field 357 00:29:45,821 --> 00:29:48,261 that will reap the best harvest. 358 00:29:51,921 --> 00:29:55,071 The farmer who sows like that will never be disappointed. 359 00:29:57,766 --> 00:30:00,856 The farmer who sows, there's an expectation in his heart. 360 00:30:04,316 --> 00:30:08,346 When I sow into those fields, he is expecting at the right time 361 00:30:08,346 --> 00:30:09,906 he will reap the best harvest. 362 00:30:12,836 --> 00:30:14,026 Speaker 7: When we come to the verse 363 00:30:14,266 --> 00:30:14,806 Speaker 6: 11, 364 00:30:20,051 --> 00:30:23,951 We see that God enriched us in every way. 365 00:30:26,701 --> 00:30:29,751 What does it mean to be enriched in every way? 366 00:30:32,451 --> 00:30:36,911 It's the generosity or it's the increase or the harvest of that field. 367 00:30:45,916 --> 00:30:50,406 God is faithful, God is gracious enough to change the circumstances 368 00:30:50,436 --> 00:30:52,246 that we are going through right now. 369 00:30:56,636 --> 00:31:00,756 Children of God, Church, we need to have a heart to sow it into the kingdom. 370 00:31:02,896 --> 00:31:04,796 When we come to verse, uh, verse 371 00:31:04,866 --> 00:31:05,496 Speaker 7: 11. 372 00:31:05,511 --> 00:31:14,436 You can't take. 373 00:31:14,956 --> 00:31:19,546 Speaker 6: Verse 11 it reads like this, Yes, you will be enriched in every way 374 00:31:19,586 --> 00:31:21,686 so that you can always be generous. 375 00:31:21,856 --> 00:31:27,046 And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God. 376 00:31:27,046 --> 00:31:33,969 Speaker 7: Paul is reminding us, uh, reminding us here that when 377 00:31:33,969 --> 00:31:42,276 Speaker 6: he takes the gifts to the poor or who is in need. 378 00:31:42,276 --> 00:31:45,066 They will thank God for the gift. 379 00:31:48,066 --> 00:31:48,516 Speaker 7: They will. 380 00:31:48,636 --> 00:31:50,046 Thank God for the gift, 381 00:31:58,446 --> 00:31:59,226 Speaker 6: the value. 382 00:31:59,226 --> 00:32:02,616 The value of praise is written in Psalms. 383 00:32:06,306 --> 00:32:06,926 When, when 384 00:32:06,926 --> 00:32:09,286 Speaker 7: we give to the God's kingdom, 385 00:32:12,956 --> 00:32:16,756 Speaker 6: it's much more than the, the, the big stuff that we see. 386 00:32:21,286 --> 00:32:24,926 When we praise God, it's more than, more than the big stuff that we see. 387 00:32:24,926 --> 00:32:28,016 It's much more valuable when we praise God for what 388 00:32:28,016 --> 00:32:30,646 Speaker 7: He has done. 389 00:32:30,976 --> 00:32:34,966 Speaker 6: How I wanna ask you, how much are we thanking God for what he has done? 390 00:32:40,156 --> 00:32:44,506 Uh, here, Paul reminds us when we, when we take your gifts to 391 00:32:44,506 --> 00:32:46,846 those who are in need, they will. 392 00:32:46,846 --> 00:32:48,526 Thank God for your gifts, 393 00:32:52,366 --> 00:32:54,736 whatever you have done to the kingdom of God. 394 00:32:59,346 --> 00:33:03,126 When we give that way, we will be enriched in every way. 395 00:33:05,816 --> 00:33:08,126 Speaker 7: In everything, you will be enriched. 396 00:33:10,806 --> 00:33:13,176 You'll be enriched in your spiritual life. 397 00:33:16,416 --> 00:33:20,866 Speaker 6: And also, God is able to enrich our physical life. 398 00:33:25,821 --> 00:33:29,551 God can also change or enrich your finances. 399 00:33:32,801 --> 00:33:35,401 Speaker 7: God can enrich your kids life. 400 00:33:38,081 --> 00:33:41,151 God can enrich and bless you with homes. 401 00:33:43,551 --> 00:33:44,491 God can, God can 402 00:33:45,141 --> 00:33:46,811 Speaker 6: bless you with everything that you 403 00:33:46,811 --> 00:33:47,181 Speaker 7: need. 404 00:33:50,861 --> 00:33:53,541 God can change your circumstances today. 405 00:33:56,356 --> 00:33:58,346 Our God is a God who blesses us. 406 00:34:01,191 --> 00:34:03,381 Our God is a God who enriches. 407 00:34:07,551 --> 00:34:12,440 Speaker 6: God is not a God who who likes to see us crying or be in a bad situation. 408 00:34:15,380 --> 00:34:19,516 He's a God who enrich and enriches us and be glad about it. 409 00:34:24,606 --> 00:34:27,786 Speaker 7: So when we give it to the God's mission, we will, we 410 00:34:27,786 --> 00:34:29,556 need to be content in what we do. 411 00:34:34,076 --> 00:34:34,246 And 412 00:34:34,246 --> 00:34:38,096 Speaker 6: when we do that way, he's a faithful God to enrich our 413 00:34:38,196 --> 00:34:40,085 circumstances in everything that we do. 414 00:34:44,456 --> 00:34:49,116 Uh, the band can come forward, uh, the band can come forward. 415 00:34:49,306 --> 00:34:53,746 Uh, what he said was, uh, we have an opportunity right in front of us. 416 00:34:57,231 --> 00:35:00,561 God has given us an opportunity right in front of us today. 417 00:35:01,841 --> 00:35:04,321 What is this, what is this opportunity? 418 00:35:06,901 --> 00:35:10,951 Uh, I heard that there is a miracle offering that is happening next week. 419 00:35:13,571 --> 00:35:14,883 Uh, it was 420 00:35:14,883 --> 00:35:17,711 Speaker 7: shown, it was shown before. 421 00:35:21,901 --> 00:35:22,931 In this offering, 422 00:35:22,941 --> 00:35:25,951 Speaker 6: we want to make sure we give the best offering to God. 423 00:35:25,951 --> 00:35:28,481 Speaker 7: What is, 424 00:35:28,481 --> 00:35:30,711 Speaker 6: what is it reminding us? 425 00:35:39,336 --> 00:35:43,086 What Paul is reminding us here again, is how much what we give 426 00:35:43,086 --> 00:35:44,796 our tides and kingdom builders 427 00:35:49,296 --> 00:35:53,766 and the terminology he's he Paul has used is the farming language. 428 00:35:58,686 --> 00:36:02,796 We also saw that how Macedonian Church gave it to the work of God. 429 00:36:02,816 --> 00:36:06,376 They gave it with their ability and beyond their ability. 430 00:36:10,196 --> 00:36:14,816 And I pray that God, God blesses you in that way that you can give with 431 00:36:14,816 --> 00:36:16,766 your ability and beyond your ability. 432 00:36:19,391 --> 00:36:22,621 Whoever gives into the kingdom of God, they will be blessed. 433 00:36:24,871 --> 00:36:26,041 Uh, I want to say this. 434 00:36:26,041 --> 00:36:27,601 When you give, don't be weary. 435 00:36:31,341 --> 00:36:31,791 Speaker 7: Because at the 436 00:36:31,791 --> 00:36:34,021 Speaker 6: right time, you will reap a harvest. 437 00:36:38,411 --> 00:36:38,601 Speaker 7: Um, 438 00:36:39,021 --> 00:36:41,381 Speaker 6: uh, uh, church, I want to share something that 439 00:36:41,381 --> 00:36:42,821 happened in my own personal life. 440 00:36:46,881 --> 00:36:49,721 There were moments in my life where I couldn't feed my kids. 441 00:36:52,671 --> 00:36:56,681 There are moments in my life where I couldn't buy basic necessities, 442 00:36:56,771 --> 00:36:58,411 necessities for my family. 443 00:37:01,191 --> 00:37:05,091 Uh, there were moments in my life where I couldn't even buy things for our family. 444 00:37:08,391 --> 00:37:12,621 There were moments in my life where, uh, we had, we had hardships that were 445 00:37:12,631 --> 00:37:14,571 going circle by circle in our family. 446 00:37:17,561 --> 00:37:17,811 Speaker 7: And 447 00:37:17,831 --> 00:37:19,091 Speaker 6: in those situations, 448 00:37:19,101 --> 00:37:20,911 Speaker 7: I never looked to any people. 449 00:37:25,531 --> 00:37:29,851 Speaker 6: But we made sure we looked upon the face of Jesus and earnestly cry. 450 00:37:34,531 --> 00:37:35,701 Speaker 7: And we, uh, and we 451 00:37:35,701 --> 00:37:38,401 Speaker 6: saw the goodness of God move in our family 452 00:37:40,726 --> 00:37:46,291 know, uh, my oldest son encounter, ha my oldest son had cancer. 453 00:37:48,801 --> 00:37:52,181 And I didn't have money to, uh, money to send him to the hospitals. 454 00:37:54,986 --> 00:37:58,516 But I, I made sure I prayed and to seek the face of God. 455 00:38:02,676 --> 00:38:06,886 And at the right time, God provided us for the funding too, so that I can send 456 00:38:06,886 --> 00:38:09,236 my son to get the treatments for cancer. 457 00:38:16,596 --> 00:38:20,826 Even in those situations where we were going through hardships, We made sure 458 00:38:20,866 --> 00:38:25,336 every blessing that we got, we made sure we sew it back to the kingdom of God. 459 00:38:28,066 --> 00:38:28,966 My wife is sitting 460 00:38:28,966 --> 00:38:29,536 Speaker 7: right here. 461 00:38:29,536 --> 00:38:38,096 Her name is Mariamma Kurian. 462 00:38:38,096 --> 00:38:40,046 Speaker 6: She's a prayer warrior and God used 463 00:38:40,046 --> 00:38:41,146 Speaker 7: her in the prophetic gifts. 464 00:38:48,626 --> 00:38:52,286 Speaker 6: The, the backbone of my ministry is her prayer, prayer 465 00:38:52,286 --> 00:38:57,926 for life, uh, after my oldest son was, uh, as passed away. 466 00:39:00,446 --> 00:39:04,251 Next was my, uh, my wife who, who met with an encounter. 467 00:39:07,131 --> 00:39:11,741 The doctor said, uh, she was, her life was almost done and we didn't have money 468 00:39:11,741 --> 00:39:14,021 to, uh, send her to the good hospitals. 469 00:39:20,391 --> 00:39:24,371 Again, we, we encountered how God was faithful in our lives. 470 00:39:24,371 --> 00:39:27,631 At the right time, the funding came and we could treat her. 471 00:39:33,286 --> 00:39:35,976 God healed her from everything that she was going through 472 00:39:36,146 --> 00:39:37,396 and gave a brand new life. 473 00:39:37,396 --> 00:39:39,516 And now we are serving the ministry together. 474 00:39:45,376 --> 00:39:45,596 Speaker 7: But 475 00:39:45,596 --> 00:39:49,366 Speaker 6: always we made sure that we gave it back to the kingdom of God. 476 00:39:49,366 --> 00:39:52,796 God is not a God who 477 00:39:52,806 --> 00:39:54,026 Speaker 7: withholds stuff from us. 478 00:40:00,961 --> 00:40:04,521 Speaker 6: I pray that, uh, I, I encourage the church today that, 479 00:40:04,741 --> 00:40:08,351 uh, uh, give beyond your ability and with your, within your ability. 480 00:40:10,451 --> 00:40:12,031 Speaker 7: God will surely bless us. 481 00:40:14,741 --> 00:40:16,641 I want to conclude my sermon today. 482 00:40:20,141 --> 00:40:23,571 Speaker 6: Uh, I wanna, I wanna invite the prayer team to be, uh, 483 00:40:23,841 --> 00:40:25,821 go back to this, uh, auditorium. 484 00:40:29,011 --> 00:40:33,601 As how God has, uh, as, as provided for us and our needs. 485 00:40:35,871 --> 00:40:37,021 He's a faithful God 486 00:40:37,021 --> 00:40:37,901 Speaker 7: to meet your needs. 487 00:40:37,901 --> 00:40:41,471 He's a God who cares for us. 488 00:40:43,571 --> 00:40:44,671 He's a God who loves us. 489 00:40:47,921 --> 00:40:50,351 And he's a God who gives us generously. 490 00:40:53,681 --> 00:40:56,591 And he's a God who will enrich us in every way. 491 00:40:58,461 --> 00:41:00,271 May the good God bless you. 492 00:41:02,931 --> 00:41:04,996 I ask your earnest prayers. 493 00:41:12,136 --> 00:41:16,066 Speaker 6: I pray that, uh, I pray that you continue to, uh, pray for 494 00:41:16,066 --> 00:41:20,896 our ministry and, uh, and whenever you think about us, say a prayer, 495 00:41:24,841 --> 00:41:29,266 I I earthly pray that you remember us in your prayers. 496 00:41:30,676 --> 00:41:31,126 Pray the good. 497 00:41:31,126 --> 00:41:31,996 God bless you. 498 00:41:32,381 --> 00:41:33,421 Speaker 7: Church, would