1 00:00:00,480 --> 00:00:02,110 Speaker 5: Well, hey, Restoration Church. 2 00:00:02,150 --> 00:00:02,840 Good morning. 3 00:00:03,310 --> 00:00:09,410 Today is the miracle offering and thousands and thousands and thousands 4 00:00:09,410 --> 00:00:14,890 of dollars will be received to use, to be used for projects around the world. 5 00:00:14,890 --> 00:00:18,830 If we haven't met before, my name is Nate Gagne and if it's your first time here 6 00:00:18,830 --> 00:00:24,000 today, I'll explain what's going on and, uh, and allow you to, uh, participate 7 00:00:24,000 --> 00:00:25,320 at the level you're comfortable with. 8 00:00:25,800 --> 00:00:31,580 But, Restoration Church, we give our tithe, we give our 9 00:00:31,580 --> 00:00:33,300 giving to our local church. 10 00:00:33,300 --> 00:00:38,490 We also give beyond that to something called Kingdom Builders, which is, uh, 11 00:00:38,510 --> 00:00:44,090 which is something that goes toward three types of projects, and already this year, 12 00:00:44,495 --> 00:00:49,315 We've, uh, together, our church, we've given over 100, 000 to Kingdom Builders, 13 00:00:49,555 --> 00:00:55,695 and we're believing that miraculously, we may be able to hit 250, 000 this year. 14 00:00:56,175 --> 00:01:01,175 And these projects that we give to are for local church expansion, to help 15 00:01:01,235 --> 00:01:04,985 churches reach more people, to help our church even reach more people. 16 00:01:05,705 --> 00:01:07,105 Global missions projects. 17 00:01:07,125 --> 00:01:11,295 We have partners around the world that we've, that we've been helping 18 00:01:11,315 --> 00:01:15,545 over the years and that we helped this year and then to help develop 19 00:01:15,555 --> 00:01:20,595 future Christian leaders that, uh, you know, it doesn't end with us. 20 00:01:20,925 --> 00:01:25,125 We won't be the last generation to follow the Lord, and it has been 21 00:01:25,155 --> 00:01:27,485 an amazing and impactful year. 22 00:01:27,645 --> 00:01:33,315 They're just going through, uh, you Uh, these pictures are a, uh, scroll of, 23 00:01:33,354 --> 00:01:38,315 that feels kind of far away, a scroll of, of, uh, just different projects 24 00:01:38,315 --> 00:01:39,425 that have happened through the year. 25 00:01:39,465 --> 00:01:44,395 We've had teams in Tanzania, teams in, in Cuba, and we've done things, it's 26 00:01:44,395 --> 00:01:47,545 been an amazing and impactful year. 27 00:01:47,555 --> 00:01:49,755 Will you put your hands together for everything that 28 00:01:49,755 --> 00:01:51,425 has happened already this year. 29 00:01:56,914 --> 00:02:01,525 We have projects that we're still hoping to do this year, ways 30 00:02:01,525 --> 00:02:02,825 that we're still trying to help. 31 00:02:03,310 --> 00:02:08,300 Uh, those are, uh, helping our teenagers with their Kingdom Builders 32 00:02:08,330 --> 00:02:11,340 projects of Speed the Light and BGMC. 33 00:02:11,350 --> 00:02:14,880 And these are projects that help missionaries and the 34 00:02:14,880 --> 00:02:16,310 gospel around the world. 35 00:02:16,930 --> 00:02:20,290 A couple weeks ago you heard from Mike Bartell of Free International. 36 00:02:21,060 --> 00:02:26,660 Our giving from Miracle Offering, um, uh, will, will complete that 37 00:02:26,660 --> 00:02:29,710 project of what we've committed to give to Free International. 38 00:02:30,079 --> 00:02:34,620 And then also, AG Foster Care Network and WorldServe are a couple other 39 00:02:34,620 --> 00:02:40,390 initiatives that we haven't funded yet that we'll be funding this, um, in the 40 00:02:40,390 --> 00:02:41,980 next couple weeks as we give today. 41 00:02:42,130 --> 00:02:46,820 Uh, as the, as the money comes in, we'll be, um, when we can complete a project, 42 00:02:46,860 --> 00:02:48,900 we'll be mailing out a check the same day. 43 00:02:49,450 --> 00:02:55,960 It has been amazing, uh, an amazing year, impactful year. 44 00:02:57,990 --> 00:03:02,760 For those of you who are, uh, part of the church, I have been asking you 45 00:03:02,760 --> 00:03:06,370 and your location pastors have been asking you over the last few weeks 46 00:03:06,620 --> 00:03:13,890 to pray to God and to ask Him this question, what do you want me to give? 47 00:03:14,940 --> 00:03:18,329 And it's nothing that in our church where we tell you what to give, we 48 00:03:18,329 --> 00:03:21,780 suggest to you an amount, we look at what you're giving, we're like, 49 00:03:21,790 --> 00:03:23,730 come on, you can do more than that. 50 00:03:24,090 --> 00:03:26,260 Uh, we're asking you to ask God. 51 00:03:26,800 --> 00:03:30,800 If you're here and you follow Jesus, then this would be an area where you'd 52 00:03:30,800 --> 00:03:34,090 say hey, I'll follow you in this area to Jesus What do you want me to do? 53 00:03:34,240 --> 00:03:35,850 How do you want me to participate? 54 00:03:35,950 --> 00:03:40,470 What's the level that you've asked and I and I I trust that you brought your gift 55 00:03:40,470 --> 00:03:44,700 this morning that as you as you've asked God that as he's spoken to you about that 56 00:03:44,960 --> 00:03:50,905 that you came prepared, but it's possible Like, that you're like me, and you forget. 57 00:03:51,005 --> 00:03:52,415 And like, I didn't know that was today. 58 00:03:53,485 --> 00:03:55,305 The other day, I didn't know we were in November. 59 00:03:55,325 --> 00:03:56,505 They said something about November. 60 00:03:56,505 --> 00:03:57,735 I'm like, oh, that's quite a ways away. 61 00:03:57,775 --> 00:03:59,395 They're like, no, it's literally November. 62 00:03:59,755 --> 00:04:02,065 And, uh, I'm like, what, what happened? 63 00:04:02,255 --> 00:04:03,425 Someone call my doctor. 64 00:04:03,426 --> 00:04:09,525 Um, now, they, there are gifts that have already started coming in online 65 00:04:09,525 --> 00:04:12,975 today, and so you can give through the Church Centre app on your phone. 66 00:04:12,975 --> 00:04:14,245 You can give through the website. 67 00:04:14,285 --> 00:04:15,515 I know people are doing that. 68 00:04:15,895 --> 00:04:19,730 Um, The one thing that I would ask is before you click enter 69 00:04:19,730 --> 00:04:23,260 on the app or before you write something on your envelope to make 70 00:04:23,260 --> 00:04:25,450 sure that you have prayed first. 71 00:04:26,710 --> 00:04:30,070 God, what do you want me to do? 72 00:04:31,210 --> 00:04:36,460 And if you're here for the first time or, um, you're, you're new to the church in 73 00:04:36,460 --> 00:04:40,260 the last couple of months, so you've never done, uh, been a part of this before, once 74 00:04:40,260 --> 00:04:42,290 a year, we receive the miracle offering. 75 00:04:42,380 --> 00:04:43,110 Once a year. 76 00:04:43,440 --> 00:04:48,100 We, uh, we encourage everybody to participate, and once a year, instead 77 00:04:48,100 --> 00:04:52,200 of, um, giving at our seats or giving online, we have everybody come up 78 00:04:52,200 --> 00:04:54,110 to the front and give in person. 79 00:04:54,760 --> 00:04:58,000 So, if it's your first time here, a couple things you can do, alright? 80 00:04:58,010 --> 00:05:02,020 So, you know first off, when everybody stands up and comes forward, if 81 00:05:02,020 --> 00:05:05,550 you want to, pick up an empty envelope, walk forward and put it in. 82 00:05:05,780 --> 00:05:08,650 No one's gonna double check, like, hey, you know, what did you put? 83 00:05:08,730 --> 00:05:09,680 No one's gonna check. 84 00:05:10,020 --> 00:05:12,310 Um, no one's, we don't want you to feel awkward. 85 00:05:12,875 --> 00:05:14,635 And so you don't have to participate. 86 00:05:14,645 --> 00:05:15,625 It's your first time here. 87 00:05:15,635 --> 00:05:17,345 You don't know us, you may not want to give. 88 00:05:17,595 --> 00:05:23,055 But it is possible that you're here, and you do follow Jesus already. 89 00:05:24,175 --> 00:05:26,175 So it would be something that you could ask him. 90 00:05:26,335 --> 00:05:29,045 Hey, it's my first time here But god, is there anything you want me 91 00:05:29,045 --> 00:05:32,485 to do and you are welcome to give we're not going to be like Hey, 92 00:05:32,485 --> 00:05:34,045 you want to help move the gospel? 93 00:05:34,255 --> 00:05:36,635 Uh, you want to help jesus to be known around the world? 94 00:05:36,835 --> 00:05:40,445 Sorry, we'd like to get you to know you first It's kind of like I don't 95 00:05:40,445 --> 00:05:43,795 know if you realize this back in the golden days If someone wanted to 96 00:05:43,795 --> 00:05:48,185 put money in your bank account, they just could Nowadays, they won't let 97 00:05:48,185 --> 00:05:51,975 you unless you have to unless you have like proof Which is so stupid. 98 00:05:52,055 --> 00:05:55,455 If someone wants to put money in my account, let them. 99 00:05:55,605 --> 00:05:58,485 They don't need my verification and my approval. 100 00:05:58,895 --> 00:06:01,535 Anyway, so anyway, we're not like the banks. 101 00:06:01,555 --> 00:06:05,865 We will, um, receive what you want to invest into the kingdom of God. 102 00:06:06,625 --> 00:06:10,515 And, uh, it is going to be a good time that we're together. 103 00:06:10,835 --> 00:06:15,765 And today I'm going to share with you a couple of testimonies because you've got 104 00:06:15,765 --> 00:06:18,475 to know that what we're, when we give. 105 00:06:19,270 --> 00:06:24,170 It has absolutely nothing to do with our own benefit. 106 00:06:24,520 --> 00:06:29,730 It's not about, it's not about whether we, we, what we feel. 107 00:06:29,750 --> 00:06:33,100 It's not about, um, uh, it's not about ourselves. 108 00:06:33,159 --> 00:06:35,310 It is about the kingdom of God. 109 00:06:35,550 --> 00:06:40,670 And this is something that we might hit later on through our message. 110 00:06:41,310 --> 00:06:48,765 When we give it something that is spiritual, it And it is a specific 111 00:06:48,765 --> 00:06:51,175 way God wants to move in our life. 112 00:06:51,525 --> 00:06:55,225 We know that God wants us to pray and talk with Him. 113 00:06:55,425 --> 00:06:56,915 And that something happens in that. 114 00:06:56,925 --> 00:06:58,665 It's not just about saying a recited prayer. 115 00:06:58,885 --> 00:07:00,435 It's a relationship that's built. 116 00:07:01,415 --> 00:07:02,355 He speaks to us. 117 00:07:02,355 --> 00:07:03,615 He guides us through that. 118 00:07:03,635 --> 00:07:05,065 He transforms us through that. 119 00:07:05,485 --> 00:07:06,725 And we should pray. 120 00:07:06,985 --> 00:07:10,290 We know that as we read the Bible, He speaks to us. 121 00:07:10,290 --> 00:07:11,090 He guides us. 122 00:07:11,100 --> 00:07:12,220 He protects to us. 123 00:07:12,320 --> 00:07:13,250 He protects us. 124 00:07:13,340 --> 00:07:15,360 He aligns us with his will. 125 00:07:15,500 --> 00:07:19,310 And so we pray, not just because we have to do a checklist, but because 126 00:07:19,620 --> 00:07:20,890 God wants to do something in us. 127 00:07:21,110 --> 00:07:22,570 And giving is a similar way. 128 00:07:22,720 --> 00:07:25,260 We don't just do it because we have to do it. 129 00:07:25,580 --> 00:07:28,320 We know that when we give, He speaks to us. 130 00:07:28,340 --> 00:07:29,300 He guides us. 131 00:07:29,310 --> 00:07:30,110 He aligns us. 132 00:07:30,260 --> 00:07:33,330 He transforms us as we do that. 133 00:07:33,700 --> 00:07:35,550 So I'm going to share a couple of testimonies with you. 134 00:07:35,550 --> 00:07:38,270 But the first I want to share with you is a video. 135 00:07:38,945 --> 00:07:42,585 And it's a testimony from someone at the Plymouth location. 136 00:07:42,595 --> 00:07:43,455 Her name is Brenna. 137 00:07:43,485 --> 00:07:45,775 You likely, uh, some of you have met her. 138 00:07:46,005 --> 00:07:50,355 She leads the youth, the youth group at the Plymouth location. 139 00:07:50,675 --> 00:07:53,855 And, uh, I want you to hear from her and hear her testimony 140 00:07:53,955 --> 00:07:55,115 that came out of last year. 141 00:07:55,915 --> 00:08:00,075 Speaker 6: My name is Brenna and I attend the Plymouth location here at Restoration. 142 00:08:00,415 --> 00:08:03,695 And as we step into our season of Kingdom Builders and Miracle Offering, 143 00:08:04,045 --> 00:08:06,560 I wanted to share with you guys what we're So this is a work that God 144 00:08:06,560 --> 00:08:08,830 moved in my life this time last year. 145 00:08:09,460 --> 00:08:14,470 Um, so this time last year I was deployed and I was stepping out of my comfort 146 00:08:14,470 --> 00:08:18,270 zone the most I ever have in my faith throughout that year of deployment. 147 00:08:18,320 --> 00:08:24,910 And I was attending a church down in Texas and I was attending their equivalent of 148 00:08:24,910 --> 00:08:29,860 circles and also trying to lead a ministry within my unit and lead a Bible study, 149 00:08:29,860 --> 00:08:34,825 which are all things that were already Out of my comfort zone to put myself 150 00:08:34,835 --> 00:08:40,335 really out there like that and through this season god was Kind of showing me 151 00:08:40,335 --> 00:08:44,535 and telling me that there was something more that he needed and it was asking 152 00:08:44,565 --> 00:08:51,645 of me to trust him more so I threw some prayer and through The miracle offering 153 00:08:51,675 --> 00:08:53,915 sunday that I was tuning into online. 154 00:08:54,305 --> 00:08:57,710 God really worked out in me that my giving and my tithing was 155 00:08:57,740 --> 00:09:00,740 inconsistent and something that I really needed to trust God with, 156 00:09:00,820 --> 00:09:02,810 which was hard for me to do before. 157 00:09:02,810 --> 00:09:05,020 I was 20 years old working part time in college. 158 00:09:05,610 --> 00:09:08,700 It felt like paycheck to paycheck, needing everything that I had. 159 00:09:08,720 --> 00:09:11,850 So to really trust God through that process, um, through the 160 00:09:11,900 --> 00:09:16,210 prayer that Sunday, God was speaking to me a specific number. 161 00:09:16,540 --> 00:09:20,820 And I thought it was a little outrageous and it was really uncomfortable at first, 162 00:09:20,830 --> 00:09:23,860 but I just decided right then and there that I was going to start my giving 163 00:09:23,860 --> 00:09:26,990 with a bang and just trust God with it, knowing that it's going to his kingdom. 164 00:09:27,750 --> 00:09:32,170 Um, so I whipped out my phone and I put 3, 000 into the miracle offering 165 00:09:32,170 --> 00:09:35,230 and just decided from then on that I was going to continue to tithe. 166 00:09:36,030 --> 00:09:39,760 Um, through that, I realized with the amount that I added to tithes that 167 00:09:39,760 --> 00:09:43,500 week to kind of backtrack the last few months and that 3, 000, it had 168 00:09:43,500 --> 00:09:45,740 been exactly 10 percent of what I had. 169 00:09:46,170 --> 00:09:50,320 And that's when I realized that my fluctuating that 10 percent mattered to 170 00:09:50,320 --> 00:09:53,550 God and it mattered to my faith and my trust in him So I decided from then on 171 00:09:53,550 --> 00:09:57,180 that that 10 percent really is important to God and it really is important to our 172 00:09:57,180 --> 00:10:02,430 trust in God and since then God has been Moving in my life working in my life 173 00:10:02,460 --> 00:10:06,200 giving me opportunities to speak The gospel and to share about my faith and my 174 00:10:06,200 --> 00:10:08,280 trust and to utilize that for his kingdom. 175 00:10:08,750 --> 00:10:13,665 So if any of you guys are In that position where you're worried about it, or you're 176 00:10:13,665 --> 00:10:18,355 not really sure how God is going to use you I just encourage you to just start 177 00:10:18,355 --> 00:10:22,825 giving now and and prayerfully Talk to God through it and let him work that in 178 00:10:22,825 --> 00:10:27,025 you and he will use you as a testimony In your family and in your friends and 179 00:10:27,025 --> 00:10:31,915 in your life To grow his kingdom and and he really cares about your trust in 180 00:10:31,915 --> 00:10:36,805 him in that so I encourage you to give and I May God bless you through that 181 00:10:38,465 --> 00:10:39,655 Speaker 5: It's it easy. 182 00:10:39,655 --> 00:10:41,385 Yeah, we put our hands together for Brenna. 183 00:10:41,445 --> 00:10:41,685 Brenna. 184 00:10:41,725 --> 00:10:42,495 We're proud of you. 185 00:10:42,495 --> 00:10:42,735 And, 186 00:10:44,985 --> 00:10:48,875 uh, thank you for, uh, being a part of our church. 187 00:10:48,875 --> 00:10:52,035 I think that's one of the beautiful things of church online that if you're 188 00:10:52,045 --> 00:10:57,265 deployed or, or things like that, like Brenna was still able to participate and 189 00:10:57,265 --> 00:10:59,005 be a part of the church through it all. 190 00:10:59,175 --> 00:11:02,315 And church online was a kingdom builders project. 191 00:11:02,315 --> 00:11:04,405 One of our very first kingdom builders project. 192 00:11:04,755 --> 00:11:11,415 In 2018 to get that started and to launch that Brenna, you, um, if you've never 193 00:11:11,415 --> 00:11:15,345 met her in person, you may remember back from a number of months ago when 194 00:11:15,345 --> 00:11:21,305 we shared a story, uh, from our trip in Tanzania that Brenna went on and she 195 00:11:21,305 --> 00:11:26,745 had had a vision and prayer previously and then found herself standing in the 196 00:11:26,745 --> 00:11:28,715 exact same spot that she had dreamed of. 197 00:11:29,075 --> 00:11:35,975 And shared her faith with, uh, a bunch of children that had gathered around to, uh, 198 00:11:36,015 --> 00:11:40,945 to stare at the white people and a bunch of them gave their life to Jesus and came 199 00:11:40,945 --> 00:11:44,455 to church with us that night and were able to begin their journey following Jesus. 200 00:11:44,455 --> 00:11:45,165 That was Brenna. 201 00:11:45,965 --> 00:11:53,215 And, uh, she, obviously God's done a lot in her life, you know, the 202 00:11:53,285 --> 00:11:57,145 previous, prior to the miracle offering, but, but then since then. 203 00:11:57,520 --> 00:12:01,480 As she communicated with you, and I, I, I want to make sure, right, 204 00:12:01,480 --> 00:12:05,540 because sometimes if you don't know me, you don't know our church, you 205 00:12:05,540 --> 00:12:08,290 could feel, I don't know, I don't know, this makes me uncomfortable, 206 00:12:08,310 --> 00:12:13,410 money makes me uncomfortable, but to hear testimonies from people who are 207 00:12:13,410 --> 00:12:16,680 in our church, I, I, I want you to hear that because I want you to know 208 00:12:16,680 --> 00:12:19,250 that what we're sharing, um, is true. 209 00:12:19,650 --> 00:12:23,060 And also for you to know what we're sharing we practice. 210 00:12:23,090 --> 00:12:28,130 My wife and I both grew up in this church and both tithe as teenagers and tithe 211 00:12:28,530 --> 00:12:30,850 as adults and give to kingdom builders. 212 00:12:31,240 --> 00:12:38,300 So if you've got your bibles open up to second kings chapter 14 and we're going 213 00:12:38,310 --> 00:12:42,970 to read through This scripture together this portion of the scripture together. 214 00:12:43,160 --> 00:12:48,070 This is a true story that's been recorded And it's miraculous. 215 00:12:48,070 --> 00:12:48,820 It's amazing. 216 00:12:48,910 --> 00:12:53,970 It's uh hard for us to to believe that it happened Um, but there's 217 00:12:53,980 --> 00:12:57,620 something to learn here from there's something to understand about god. 218 00:12:57,800 --> 00:13:00,270 God is the same He doesn't change. 219 00:13:00,270 --> 00:13:03,710 He's the same yesterday today and forever and so his ability to do 220 00:13:03,710 --> 00:13:08,345 miracles in The Bible is proven true. 221 00:13:08,345 --> 00:13:09,835 He's able to do those miracles now. 222 00:13:10,075 --> 00:13:16,175 His ability to provide for this widow who's in deep financial trouble, 223 00:13:16,435 --> 00:13:19,995 it tells us and shows us, hey, if he did it then, he can do it now. 224 00:13:19,995 --> 00:13:25,615 And there are testimonies in the room of people that God has done great things 225 00:13:25,745 --> 00:13:27,515 for, that He's helped them in a great way. 226 00:13:28,205 --> 00:13:32,595 So 2 Kings chapter 4, and I'm going to start reading at verse number 1. 227 00:13:33,200 --> 00:13:38,860 You can Use your Bible app to follow along or Google it You'll also have it 228 00:13:38,860 --> 00:13:41,950 here on the screen But I've got to tell you this before we move forward if you 229 00:13:41,950 --> 00:13:46,410 don't have a Bible We want to give you one for free And so if you leave the 230 00:13:46,420 --> 00:13:51,490 service today go to the new here Welcome the welcome area and we'll give you a 231 00:13:51,490 --> 00:13:54,710 Bible make sure you write your name in it because we give away a lot Of Bibles 232 00:13:54,710 --> 00:13:58,890 that look exactly the same and write your name in it But we want you to have 233 00:13:59,080 --> 00:14:05,915 a copy of God's Word So, verse number one says, One day, the widow of a member of 234 00:14:05,915 --> 00:14:12,055 the group of prophets came to Elisha and cried out, My husband who served you is 235 00:14:12,085 --> 00:14:14,845 dead, and you know how he feared the Lord. 236 00:14:15,925 --> 00:14:21,245 But now a creditor has come, threatening to take my two sons as slaves. 237 00:14:22,595 --> 00:14:26,865 Just pause right there, and can you place yourself in that situation? 238 00:14:26,905 --> 00:14:30,855 I mean, this is, um, this is several thousand years ago that this has happened, 239 00:14:31,155 --> 00:14:36,105 but here's a lady, her husband was a man of God, followed God, and now she's 240 00:14:36,165 --> 00:14:40,575 being harassed by creditors, and their payment that they're gonna say, it's 241 00:14:40,575 --> 00:14:44,645 not like we're gonna, um, we're gonna, uh, take money out of your bank account, 242 00:14:44,685 --> 00:14:47,225 or we're gonna seize your property, no, we're gonna seize your children, 243 00:14:47,415 --> 00:14:49,755 and they're gonna become our slaves. 244 00:14:50,240 --> 00:14:54,160 It's deep pressure, deep problem, deep pain. 245 00:14:55,140 --> 00:14:56,520 Don't miss that as you're reading that. 246 00:14:56,560 --> 00:15:00,070 Understand that what she's experiencing is horrible. 247 00:15:00,160 --> 00:15:01,140 It's horrifying. 248 00:15:01,250 --> 00:15:02,340 It's scary. 249 00:15:02,390 --> 00:15:03,250 It's hard. 250 00:15:06,440 --> 00:15:10,520 So Elisha says in verse number two, what can I do to help you? 251 00:15:11,100 --> 00:15:12,240 He's not sure. 252 00:15:12,640 --> 00:15:13,090 He's thinking. 253 00:15:13,090 --> 00:15:13,900 He's processing. 254 00:15:13,900 --> 00:15:15,370 What can I do to help you? 255 00:15:16,680 --> 00:15:20,060 He says, tell me, what do you have in the house? 256 00:15:20,080 --> 00:15:20,850 What do you have at home? 257 00:15:22,190 --> 00:15:26,980 This lady who's, I mean she has nothing, she says, I have nothing 258 00:15:26,980 --> 00:15:31,360 at all except a flask of olive oil. 259 00:15:32,760 --> 00:15:36,030 And Elisha said, and I'm sure he was thinking about it, I'm sure 260 00:15:36,140 --> 00:15:39,220 it clicked for him, he said, here's what you're going to do. 261 00:15:40,540 --> 00:15:45,450 Borrow as many empty jars as you can from your friends and your neighbors, 262 00:15:45,930 --> 00:15:50,400 then go into your house with your sons and shut the door behind you. 263 00:15:51,050 --> 00:15:55,680 Pour olive oil from your flask into the jars, setting each 264 00:15:55,680 --> 00:15:57,200 one aside when it is filled. 265 00:15:58,420 --> 00:16:02,220 So, she did as she was told. 266 00:16:03,180 --> 00:16:08,970 Her sons kept bringing jars to her, and she filled one after another. 267 00:16:09,460 --> 00:16:13,870 Soon, every container was filled to the brim. 268 00:16:15,060 --> 00:16:17,910 Bring me another jar, she said to one of her sons. 269 00:16:18,400 --> 00:16:19,900 There aren't any more, he told her. 270 00:16:20,140 --> 00:16:22,720 And then the olive oil stopped flowing. 271 00:16:24,430 --> 00:16:28,230 She went to go find Elijah, and when she told the man of God what had happened, 272 00:16:28,510 --> 00:16:33,880 he said to her, Now sell the olive oil and pay your debt, and you and your 273 00:16:33,890 --> 00:16:36,460 sons can live on what is left over. 274 00:16:37,680 --> 00:16:39,070 It was a financial miracle. 275 00:16:39,810 --> 00:16:40,840 It was a miracle. 276 00:16:40,870 --> 00:16:44,670 I mean, obviously it was a supernatural, uh, creative miracle. 277 00:16:44,670 --> 00:16:48,840 And by creative miracle, we say God creates something that does not exist. 278 00:16:49,350 --> 00:16:50,160 It's a creative miracle. 279 00:16:50,170 --> 00:16:51,480 He created something. 280 00:16:53,330 --> 00:16:54,800 It was also a financial miracle. 281 00:16:54,800 --> 00:16:55,810 It's a provision. 282 00:16:56,630 --> 00:17:01,870 Where, when they were pressed against the wall and it seemed like there was nothing 283 00:17:01,870 --> 00:17:05,849 could happen, God was able to do something they couldn't even have imagined. 284 00:17:07,765 --> 00:17:11,585 We don't know this lady's need, but she's in, this lady's name, 285 00:17:11,605 --> 00:17:14,095 but she's in deep financial need. 286 00:17:14,096 --> 00:17:22,265 She's grieving of the loss of her husband, fearful that she'd lose her sons, 287 00:17:23,095 --> 00:17:25,395 fearful she's gonna be without anything. 288 00:17:26,405 --> 00:17:30,425 And I think for some of us, we may have got to the place where, like, 289 00:17:30,425 --> 00:17:33,035 what is the point of serving God? 290 00:17:33,035 --> 00:17:33,080 I don't know. 291 00:17:33,510 --> 00:17:35,690 What is the point of following God? 292 00:17:36,100 --> 00:17:38,190 My husband feared the Lord. 293 00:17:38,330 --> 00:17:40,750 My husband trained with the prophet. 294 00:17:40,850 --> 00:17:43,700 My husband did everything God told him to do. 295 00:17:43,840 --> 00:17:45,380 Now he's dead. 296 00:17:45,500 --> 00:17:48,950 Now his legacy is we lost everything. 297 00:17:49,080 --> 00:17:51,840 Why would we even follow God? 298 00:17:54,120 --> 00:18:00,030 If you are in a place of desperation, stuck in a place of desperation, 299 00:18:00,990 --> 00:18:02,490 stuck in a place of loss. 300 00:18:03,045 --> 00:18:09,595 Stuck in a pace place of pain There's something to learn from this lady 301 00:18:12,755 --> 00:18:16,455 She didn't leave the lord when problems came no she 302 00:18:16,455 --> 00:18:19,775 continued to pursue the lord and 303 00:18:21,805 --> 00:18:26,725 I Have this in my notes, but it kind of is like a word. 304 00:18:27,015 --> 00:18:30,945 It's kind of like a rap or a spoken word So i'm just going to share it with you 305 00:18:37,450 --> 00:18:40,630 Don't be separate when you're desperate. 306 00:18:41,560 --> 00:18:44,220 Cling to the king through everything. 307 00:18:45,660 --> 00:18:50,440 When it is getting tough, don't say, God, where are you? 308 00:18:50,440 --> 00:18:51,210 What a waste! 309 00:18:51,210 --> 00:18:52,120 How could you? 310 00:18:52,210 --> 00:18:58,365 I thought you No, when things get back and they will for every single one of us 311 00:18:58,455 --> 00:19:03,235 difficult things Happen to every single one of us whether we've made a decision 312 00:19:03,235 --> 00:19:07,985 to follow the Lord or not whether we tithe or we haven't Things will happen. 313 00:19:07,995 --> 00:19:10,585 There'll be difficult things that happen, but don't be 314 00:19:10,625 --> 00:19:12,125 separate when you're desperate. 315 00:19:12,585 --> 00:19:14,525 Oh, it's so bad It's so bad God. 316 00:19:14,525 --> 00:19:17,215 How could you and then say well, I'm not gonna follow you anymore 317 00:19:19,245 --> 00:19:20,475 No cling to him. 318 00:19:21,075 --> 00:19:23,865 She said prophet, you know my husband. 319 00:19:23,865 --> 00:19:24,845 He feared the Lord. 320 00:19:24,905 --> 00:19:29,075 We are in bad in a bad place 321 00:19:31,645 --> 00:19:36,655 She was saying it but but I if I understand anything if I've 322 00:19:36,655 --> 00:19:42,385 learned anything if I've seen anything God can do a miracle 323 00:19:44,960 --> 00:19:48,800 I want to talk to you from this passage of Scripture, some things to learn. 324 00:19:49,530 --> 00:19:52,360 Some, some principles to apply from our life. 325 00:19:52,370 --> 00:19:54,030 Just things to live by. 326 00:19:54,330 --> 00:19:55,230 Things to understand. 327 00:19:55,250 --> 00:19:58,320 Things that, uh, that we want to understand about God 328 00:19:58,320 --> 00:19:59,910 that, that seem to be true. 329 00:20:00,310 --> 00:20:04,550 Not every, I, there's not really another miracle of, of pouring oil. 330 00:20:04,630 --> 00:20:06,000 It didn't happen in the New Testament. 331 00:20:06,030 --> 00:20:07,900 We don't hear too many testimonies like that. 332 00:20:08,190 --> 00:20:09,530 But the principle behind it. 333 00:20:11,590 --> 00:20:14,070 What is, what is it that God does? 334 00:20:14,080 --> 00:20:16,060 How is it that God functions that we can learn? 335 00:20:16,090 --> 00:20:17,110 Here's the first thing. 336 00:20:17,360 --> 00:20:20,960 God wants to use what you have right now. 337 00:20:22,310 --> 00:20:26,040 Elisha asked, What do you, uh, what do you have in your house? 338 00:20:27,720 --> 00:20:28,340 What's there? 339 00:20:28,350 --> 00:20:32,280 She said, I've got some, I've got a flask of olive oil. 340 00:20:32,281 --> 00:20:36,930 And, the, the thing for us, God. 341 00:20:37,225 --> 00:20:41,355 God is not expecting you to do anything with what you don't already have. 342 00:20:42,275 --> 00:20:44,245 The, the, the miracle offering. 343 00:20:45,905 --> 00:20:49,925 You know, there, there'll be some that God will speak maybe this year, 344 00:20:49,925 --> 00:20:53,485 maybe in the years ahead to give half a million, a million to give even 345 00:20:53,485 --> 00:20:55,055 more than that to kingdom builders. 346 00:20:55,755 --> 00:20:58,785 But he's not asking me that, at least not yet. 347 00:20:59,495 --> 00:21:02,255 Because he can ask for it and I can liquidate everything I have. 348 00:21:02,255 --> 00:21:04,895 We're not going to get to a million dollars yet. 349 00:21:07,400 --> 00:21:10,840 So he's not going to ask me for something that I don't have, but he 350 00:21:11,560 --> 00:21:14,380 often is going to use what I have. 351 00:21:15,090 --> 00:21:16,880 He's going to ask for something I already have. 352 00:21:17,050 --> 00:21:20,700 And so when we say, God, what do you want to do through me? 353 00:21:20,700 --> 00:21:22,160 God, what do you want me to give? 354 00:21:22,160 --> 00:21:24,530 What do you want me to do with the things that you've given me? 355 00:21:24,530 --> 00:21:25,950 What are you asking of me? 356 00:21:26,360 --> 00:21:27,280 He's going to look around. 357 00:21:27,280 --> 00:21:29,810 He's like, well, what's in, hey, there's some olive oil. 358 00:21:29,810 --> 00:21:31,840 Hey, there's some knitting needles. 359 00:21:31,840 --> 00:21:34,070 Hey, there's some money. 360 00:21:36,975 --> 00:21:42,285 He, he, he looks at what we have and he wants us to use what we have. 361 00:21:43,955 --> 00:21:49,735 And a thing about this is that God, when he asks, when he invites us to 362 00:21:49,735 --> 00:21:57,255 experience impossible things, he, he asks us to do that through possible ways. 363 00:21:58,345 --> 00:22:02,575 And he doesn't ask us, hey, if you want to experience impossible things, You 364 00:22:02,575 --> 00:22:05,815 better learn how to fly an aircraft. 365 00:22:05,865 --> 00:22:09,535 Because the only way that you'll be able to experience me is if 366 00:22:09,535 --> 00:22:13,475 you've got a pilot's license and you're up at 35, 000 feet. 367 00:22:13,485 --> 00:22:15,505 And you're like, well, we're all eliminated. 368 00:22:15,975 --> 00:22:18,555 There's like two people in the church who can do that. 369 00:22:18,795 --> 00:22:20,185 The rest of us, we're out of luck. 370 00:22:20,575 --> 00:22:25,495 He doesn't ask us to do impossible things in impossible ways. 371 00:22:25,495 --> 00:22:28,230 He's, what do you have? 372 00:22:28,720 --> 00:22:33,560 Alright, well, if you will place before me what you have, I can do 373 00:22:33,560 --> 00:22:36,510 impossible things through that. 374 00:22:37,430 --> 00:22:42,980 I remember many, many years ago, um, one of my, one of my friends at the 375 00:22:42,990 --> 00:22:46,180 church, or maybe he's not my friend anymore, well, I'll have to ask him. 376 00:22:46,525 --> 00:22:50,495 Um, but he said to me this, he was really excited, he, he had a, he had a, he had 377 00:22:50,495 --> 00:22:56,085 a job, but he had applied for a new job that was like, uh, more than double his 378 00:22:56,085 --> 00:23:00,525 current pay, and so he was wound up, he was, he was, he was well paid at the time, 379 00:23:00,555 --> 00:23:05,605 and he's like, man, if I get this job, oh man, and he, I remember him saying, 380 00:23:05,605 --> 00:23:08,345 he, and it was a bunch of us around, he said, if I get this job, I'll be the 381 00:23:08,345 --> 00:23:14,160 largest tither in the church, and he was so excited, And I asked him this question. 382 00:23:14,420 --> 00:23:17,720 I wasn't trying to be rude, but I said, oh, do you tithe now? 383 00:23:18,020 --> 00:23:18,910 And it was silence. 384 00:23:23,100 --> 00:23:27,100 And he was thinking about what I could do if I had what I did not 385 00:23:27,100 --> 00:23:32,620 have instead of thinking about what can God do with what I have now. 386 00:23:33,040 --> 00:23:37,420 God's not concerned with us giving five million dollars away a year. 387 00:23:37,630 --> 00:23:41,430 He's concerned with us being obedient to what he tells us to do. 388 00:23:41,750 --> 00:23:42,530 God's not concerned. 389 00:23:42,530 --> 00:23:48,570 If you, God spoke to you and he said, give five dollars, he's concerned with 390 00:23:48,570 --> 00:23:51,350 you being obedient to that five dollars. 391 00:23:51,350 --> 00:23:55,150 He's not comparing you to what anybody else gives in the room, what 392 00:23:55,150 --> 00:23:59,140 anybody else gives in the church, what anybody else gives in another church. 393 00:23:59,330 --> 00:24:03,150 He's saying, will you do, uh, what I've asked you to do? 394 00:24:03,550 --> 00:24:06,530 Will you be obedient with what you have? 395 00:24:06,570 --> 00:24:12,575 Because if you'll let me use what you have I can do impossible things through that. 396 00:24:13,985 --> 00:24:14,745 For each of us. 397 00:24:15,075 --> 00:24:16,495 It's the journey we're on. 398 00:24:16,855 --> 00:24:19,185 It's not a comparison journey with anybody else. 399 00:24:19,235 --> 00:24:22,655 It is me and Jesus, you and Jesus. 400 00:24:22,685 --> 00:24:23,865 What do you want? 401 00:24:25,095 --> 00:24:28,065 And then being obedient to him. 402 00:24:28,075 --> 00:24:31,215 God is not limited at all by what you have right now. 403 00:24:33,045 --> 00:24:37,875 He is not limited at all by what you have now. 404 00:24:38,385 --> 00:24:39,635 Here's the second. 405 00:24:40,025 --> 00:24:40,855 principle here. 406 00:24:41,515 --> 00:24:46,605 God stretches us through his instructions. 407 00:24:47,775 --> 00:24:53,055 He asks us to do something and it's possible, it is possible for us to do 408 00:24:53,055 --> 00:24:58,305 it, but it is not necessarily comfortable for us to do it or even easy for us 409 00:24:58,305 --> 00:25:02,995 to do it because it can really be humbling sometimes to be obedient to 410 00:25:02,995 --> 00:25:09,910 what God's doing or because it's Because we can't figure out how A leads to Z. 411 00:25:11,420 --> 00:25:12,710 God, I need a miracle. 412 00:25:13,010 --> 00:25:15,520 What you're asking me to do, this is stupid. 413 00:25:17,300 --> 00:25:18,070 No, it's not. 414 00:25:18,080 --> 00:25:21,530 God, I don't think this is gonna work out this way. 415 00:25:22,930 --> 00:25:32,990 And she was told by Elisha, pour your little jar into many larger empty jars. 416 00:25:34,620 --> 00:25:35,490 I'm pouring this out. 417 00:25:35,700 --> 00:25:36,730 Sure, it's possible. 418 00:25:37,460 --> 00:25:41,190 But it's through that instruction of saying, I'm going to waste my 419 00:25:41,190 --> 00:25:44,990 time pouring this out into all that. 420 00:25:45,230 --> 00:25:50,110 Pouring this out into all of these. 421 00:25:52,680 --> 00:25:55,560 And it's so simple. 422 00:25:56,080 --> 00:26:00,700 It's so stupid that some would say, that's not going to make a difference. 423 00:26:01,470 --> 00:26:04,140 Why is God just giving me busy work? 424 00:26:04,320 --> 00:26:11,610 And they'll walk away from doing the easiest thing possible. 425 00:26:15,310 --> 00:26:20,830 In her mind, it's like, well, that will take me about a minute 426 00:26:20,950 --> 00:26:23,670 and a half to pour that out. 427 00:26:26,030 --> 00:26:28,830 But, some people wouldn't even take the minute and a half. 428 00:26:30,780 --> 00:26:31,930 To see what would happen. 429 00:26:33,540 --> 00:26:36,130 God, some of you, God, what do you want to do through me? 430 00:26:36,170 --> 00:26:37,550 Well, that doesn't make any sense. 431 00:26:38,190 --> 00:26:41,150 Uh, well, well, it won't take a minute and a half. 432 00:26:41,240 --> 00:26:48,180 If it was 5, 50, 5, 000, 50, 000, 500, 000. 433 00:26:48,180 --> 00:26:51,600 I just, I'm not sure that it was actually God that wanted me to do that. 434 00:26:51,601 --> 00:26:55,730 And they wouldn't pour out the little bit that they have. 435 00:26:57,070 --> 00:26:59,840 There's a couple, uh, instances in Scripture. 436 00:26:59,990 --> 00:27:02,820 Well, there's a lot of instances in Scripture, but two that you may 437 00:27:02,820 --> 00:27:06,740 be familiar of or you've heard of before, or are easy to explain. 438 00:27:07,330 --> 00:27:10,040 There's a group of 5, 000 men needed to be fed. 439 00:27:10,280 --> 00:27:13,350 Jesus said to his disciples, Hey, take that little boy's 440 00:27:13,350 --> 00:27:16,510 lunch and feed everybody with it. 441 00:27:17,750 --> 00:27:24,440 And they looked at each other, and kind of looked back at Jesus, and they 442 00:27:24,440 --> 00:27:25,950 said, You just want to clarify Jesus? 443 00:27:26,710 --> 00:27:28,600 What do you want us to do for you? 444 00:27:29,710 --> 00:27:32,070 Take that little boy's lunch and feed everybody with it. 445 00:27:33,130 --> 00:27:40,160 And the, the instruction stretched them, not because it was difficult, but because 446 00:27:40,160 --> 00:27:42,090 it didn't make any freaking sense. 447 00:27:43,240 --> 00:27:44,660 I do not get this. 448 00:27:45,380 --> 00:27:50,740 Lord God, I do not understand how this instruction is 449 00:27:50,740 --> 00:27:52,090 going to lead to the miracle. 450 00:27:52,090 --> 00:27:53,070 I need to the result. 451 00:27:53,070 --> 00:27:54,990 I mean, I don't get it. 452 00:27:56,025 --> 00:27:58,945 And because we don't get it, we don't do it. 453 00:27:59,555 --> 00:28:03,715 But the people in scripture who saw the miracles did what they did not get 454 00:28:03,745 --> 00:28:05,315 and they got what they did not have. 455 00:28:05,316 --> 00:28:07,295 5, 000 people ate that day. 456 00:28:07,405 --> 00:28:10,425 There are 12 baskets of food left over. 457 00:28:10,535 --> 00:28:15,195 Because God can take the little that we have and do impossible things with it. 458 00:28:16,625 --> 00:28:21,255 God is, uh, and God wants us to obey Him even when we can't understand. 459 00:28:21,585 --> 00:28:25,665 In the Old Testament, there's a story of a man that had leprosy, and he went, uh, 460 00:28:25,805 --> 00:28:28,485 he went to say, Hey, I need a healing. 461 00:28:28,605 --> 00:28:31,665 I don't, you know, I'm coming from a faraway land. 462 00:28:31,675 --> 00:28:34,325 We worship other gods, but I heard your god can heal. 463 00:28:34,325 --> 00:28:35,045 I need a healing. 464 00:28:35,385 --> 00:28:39,245 And the prophet told him, Oh, a healing, healing, healing, here's what you can do. 465 00:28:39,485 --> 00:28:42,055 Go dip yourself in that river seven times. 466 00:28:42,425 --> 00:28:42,985 Do that. 467 00:28:43,425 --> 00:28:44,255 You'll get the healing. 468 00:28:44,405 --> 00:28:48,555 And Naaman, Naaman experienced what you probably experienced. 469 00:28:48,555 --> 00:28:50,705 Like, what a waste of time. 470 00:28:51,855 --> 00:28:54,595 Who told me to go see that idiot? 471 00:28:56,955 --> 00:28:57,355 Stupid. 472 00:28:59,775 --> 00:29:00,295 Stupid. 473 00:29:00,485 --> 00:29:02,545 Bathe in a river seven times? 474 00:29:02,546 --> 00:29:03,845 Stupid. 475 00:29:03,845 --> 00:29:04,855 And he's freaking out. 476 00:29:04,885 --> 00:29:05,825 He's, he's angry. 477 00:29:06,180 --> 00:29:08,710 Why would God, why would it be so stupid? 478 00:29:10,870 --> 00:29:16,490 And then one of his servants was like, hey, I don't try to be rude here, 479 00:29:18,780 --> 00:29:20,730 but he just said dip seven times. 480 00:29:21,460 --> 00:29:24,480 We're passing, it's not even out of our way, we're passing right by it. 481 00:29:25,620 --> 00:29:29,150 Why don't you just dip seven times and then that, that way you at least know 482 00:29:29,350 --> 00:29:31,130 how much of an idiot that guy was. 483 00:29:31,430 --> 00:29:35,770 And then, and then we'll go back and, Yeah, I dipped seven times, only thing I 484 00:29:35,790 --> 00:29:39,020 got was leeches, and you can share that. 485 00:29:40,700 --> 00:29:44,000 And so, Neiman's like, you're right, you're right, it's easy enough to do it, 486 00:29:44,050 --> 00:29:48,370 I think it's stupid, it's ridiculous, but I'll dip seven times, one, two, when I dip 487 00:29:48,370 --> 00:29:55,170 you dip, three, four, five, seven times, comes up, and he's like, I'm healed. 488 00:29:56,430 --> 00:30:00,970 Imagine if he didn't obey. 489 00:30:00,971 --> 00:30:02,355 Imagine. 490 00:30:02,355 --> 00:30:03,830 Imagine if. 491 00:30:05,135 --> 00:30:06,035 He didn't obey. 492 00:30:07,235 --> 00:30:08,925 Here's something I teach my children. 493 00:30:08,975 --> 00:30:11,725 They're still learning it, but I'll teach it to you as well. 494 00:30:12,455 --> 00:30:16,655 When I ask my kids to do something, they're like, why? 495 00:30:17,045 --> 00:30:18,345 Why do I have to do that? 496 00:30:18,345 --> 00:30:19,535 Why should I do that? 497 00:30:19,535 --> 00:30:20,995 Why do you want me to do that? 498 00:30:21,165 --> 00:30:24,665 And I respond with, you can ask me why after you obey. 499 00:30:25,255 --> 00:30:28,625 Do what I've asked you to do first, and then you can ask me why after. 500 00:30:29,695 --> 00:30:32,995 God, or, and, and, and I think the same thing. 501 00:30:33,055 --> 00:30:36,175 God, why do you want me to tithe? 502 00:30:36,175 --> 00:30:36,685 God? 503 00:30:36,715 --> 00:30:38,905 God, why do you want me to share my faith? 504 00:30:38,905 --> 00:30:41,305 God, why do you want me to to worship you? 505 00:30:41,305 --> 00:30:43,315 God, why do you want me to go to church? 506 00:30:43,705 --> 00:30:45,655 Ask why after you obey? 507 00:30:45,655 --> 00:30:49,675 'cause sometimes just the obedience you understand and it makes sense. 508 00:30:52,105 --> 00:30:54,560 Dad, why did you want me to not play in the middle of the road? 509 00:30:58,985 --> 00:30:59,465 They're learning. 510 00:31:00,255 --> 00:31:04,815 Um, Principle number three, God multiplies. 511 00:31:04,945 --> 00:31:08,835 Verse number six, Soon every jar was filled. 512 00:31:10,345 --> 00:31:11,225 A little bit of oil. 513 00:31:12,555 --> 00:31:14,035 Stupid instructions. 514 00:31:14,425 --> 00:31:15,435 But she does it. 515 00:31:16,085 --> 00:31:21,725 And God multiplies what she put in, to then it filled every jar. 516 00:31:22,395 --> 00:31:25,205 Obviously there was a huge miracle there. 517 00:31:25,505 --> 00:31:26,495 But every jar was filled. 518 00:31:29,935 --> 00:31:32,425 You should, I didn't put this in my notes, you should write this down, 519 00:31:32,675 --> 00:31:34,855 you should write this down, write this down, write this down, write 520 00:31:34,855 --> 00:31:36,825 this down, or type it in your notes. 521 00:31:38,695 --> 00:31:45,395 We move, you have the opportunity to move from feeling stupid 522 00:31:45,745 --> 00:31:50,255 for doing it, to feeling stupid that you almost didn't do it. 523 00:31:50,315 --> 00:31:51,755 That's the blessing for you. 524 00:31:52,150 --> 00:31:53,140 This is stupid. 525 00:31:53,140 --> 00:31:56,120 I'm not gonna do this and then you do it and then you feel stupid 526 00:31:56,120 --> 00:31:57,480 like what if I didn't do it? 527 00:31:57,850 --> 00:31:59,340 What would I have missed out on? 528 00:31:59,780 --> 00:32:03,410 Sometimes it's like I feel so stupid to go to that person and ask him to pray 529 00:32:03,430 --> 00:32:07,500 for them And then you're like, hey, I just felt like led to pray for you. 530 00:32:07,590 --> 00:32:08,470 Can I pray for you? 531 00:32:08,610 --> 00:32:11,480 Then they start crying and you walk away like I'm so stupid. 532 00:32:11,480 --> 00:32:15,390 I can't believe I almost didn't pray for them and This is a great 533 00:32:15,390 --> 00:32:20,090 blessing We feel stupid when God asks us to do something like, Okay, let's 534 00:32:20,100 --> 00:32:21,790 feed this lunch to 5, 000 people. 535 00:32:21,830 --> 00:32:23,980 Okay, let's dip in the river seven times. 536 00:32:24,240 --> 00:32:28,800 Okay, let's, let's, um, let's give him a miracle offering. 537 00:32:28,810 --> 00:32:33,220 Okay, let's come forward and let someone put their hands on me and pray for me. 538 00:32:33,520 --> 00:32:35,440 And we feel stupid and awkward. 539 00:32:35,610 --> 00:32:38,910 Listen, that's the enemy trying to keep you from obedience. 540 00:32:42,110 --> 00:32:44,950 God's instructions for us are gonna feel stupid. 541 00:32:45,200 --> 00:32:46,840 They're so easy for us. 542 00:32:47,250 --> 00:32:55,090 But yet it forces our pride to be taken out of the way Because god 543 00:32:55,090 --> 00:32:56,990 wants humble people following him. 544 00:32:57,150 --> 00:33:05,800 God wants to bless humble people god Desires a humble heart For us 545 00:33:05,800 --> 00:33:11,720 in the miracle offering how You know, we each give our part And 546 00:33:11,720 --> 00:33:17,160 somehow it turns into this huge astronomical number That every year we 547 00:33:17,160 --> 00:33:19,180 celebrate, and we can't even believe. 548 00:33:19,470 --> 00:33:21,560 Here's the fourth thing. 549 00:33:22,450 --> 00:33:25,720 God blesses according to our obedience. 550 00:33:28,030 --> 00:33:31,790 This is a principle of the kingdom of God that not everybody understands. 551 00:33:32,250 --> 00:33:33,630 We get jealous of other people. 552 00:33:34,980 --> 00:33:36,370 Oh, they get more. 553 00:33:36,950 --> 00:33:38,300 Oh, they're better looking. 554 00:33:38,970 --> 00:33:40,310 Oh, they get nicer clothes. 555 00:33:41,020 --> 00:33:42,980 Oh, they get to talk on stage all the time. 556 00:33:43,820 --> 00:33:46,090 Oh, they get to go to Pastor Nate's house. 557 00:33:46,090 --> 00:33:49,990 And we're just jealous about everything. 558 00:33:49,990 --> 00:33:51,840 They got healed, mine are not getting healed. 559 00:33:53,500 --> 00:33:56,130 And when we're spending all this time like trying to compare 560 00:33:56,130 --> 00:34:01,250 ourselves with other people and to recognize, first, you're not God. 561 00:34:02,550 --> 00:34:05,380 You don't get to determine what God does and doesn't do. 562 00:34:05,400 --> 00:34:06,720 I don't get to determine that either. 563 00:34:06,750 --> 00:34:08,000 He makes the decisions. 564 00:34:08,060 --> 00:34:10,280 He acts according to His wisdom and His purposes. 565 00:34:10,280 --> 00:34:11,485 I Not mine. 566 00:34:11,864 --> 00:34:13,264 So he does what he wants. 567 00:34:14,895 --> 00:34:22,135 But also to understand, that sometimes, people have had more years of obedience. 568 00:34:22,344 --> 00:34:24,255 They've taken bigger steps of obedience. 569 00:34:24,465 --> 00:34:29,205 And because of that, they've experienced greater blessings from God. 570 00:34:29,335 --> 00:34:33,505 Because those who obey the most, get blessed the most. 571 00:34:35,835 --> 00:34:41,364 This, this lady, only the containers she and her sons collected were filled. 572 00:34:41,725 --> 00:34:45,695 What would happen if they had scoured the land a little bit 573 00:34:45,695 --> 00:34:48,105 further and they found ten more jars? 574 00:34:49,324 --> 00:34:51,824 Ten more jars would have been filled. 575 00:34:53,925 --> 00:34:58,775 What happened if during the, the, the, the feeding of the 5, 000, another 576 00:34:58,775 --> 00:35:00,495 5, 000 people would have showed up? 577 00:35:00,985 --> 00:35:04,245 5, 000 extra people would have been fed. 578 00:35:05,545 --> 00:35:08,935 It's in our obedience that God blesses. 579 00:35:10,535 --> 00:35:12,215 So, those four things. 580 00:35:12,415 --> 00:35:14,535 God wants to use what you have right now. 581 00:35:15,405 --> 00:35:17,005 Don't feel bad about what you have. 582 00:35:18,815 --> 00:35:20,525 Retirement, fixed income. 583 00:35:22,025 --> 00:35:23,215 Low paying job. 584 00:35:23,325 --> 00:35:25,325 Don't you feel bad about what you have. 585 00:35:26,215 --> 00:35:28,165 God can use what you have. 586 00:35:29,625 --> 00:35:33,835 Principle number two, God stretches us through His instructions. 587 00:35:34,015 --> 00:35:39,555 He's not going to tell you to do something that's logical and makes sense every time. 588 00:35:39,715 --> 00:35:41,465 Something that's really easy. 589 00:35:43,935 --> 00:35:47,745 He's going to ask you to do things that don't quite make sense. 590 00:35:48,235 --> 00:35:51,085 So He can know if you're really going to follow Him. 591 00:35:52,770 --> 00:35:55,910 Principle number three, God multiplies. 592 00:35:56,280 --> 00:36:01,990 He takes the little that we have and he does something far beyond possible. 593 00:36:02,310 --> 00:36:04,420 Far beyond what we could imagine is possible. 594 00:36:04,640 --> 00:36:09,070 And principle number four, God blesses according to our obedience. 595 00:36:10,035 --> 00:36:15,685 It is being obedient to God that leads us to the abundant, John 10, 10, the 596 00:36:15,685 --> 00:36:20,815 abundant overflowing life that, that God has for us is by being obedient to Him. 597 00:36:21,045 --> 00:36:23,035 Why am I not blessed in my relationships? 598 00:36:23,155 --> 00:36:25,845 Well, are you following God's word in your relationship? 599 00:36:26,590 --> 00:36:28,750 Why, why am I not blessed in my marriage? 600 00:36:28,750 --> 00:36:31,320 Well, are you following God's Word in your marriage? 601 00:36:31,580 --> 00:36:33,540 Why am I not blessed in my workplace? 602 00:36:33,560 --> 00:36:36,590 Well, are you following God's Word in your workplace? 603 00:36:36,630 --> 00:36:39,270 Why am I not blessed in my finances? 604 00:36:39,270 --> 00:36:41,940 Well, are you following God's Word in your finances? 605 00:36:42,190 --> 00:36:43,830 Why am I not blessed in my health? 606 00:36:43,830 --> 00:36:46,430 Well, are you following God's Word in your health? 607 00:36:48,600 --> 00:36:51,200 So, usually it's not a God problem, it's us problem. 608 00:36:51,200 --> 00:36:52,370 It's a following problem. 609 00:36:53,140 --> 00:36:54,470 We know exactly what to do. 610 00:36:55,020 --> 00:36:55,980 We just don't do it. 611 00:36:57,310 --> 00:37:00,830 It's that same old stupid question, how do I lose weight? 612 00:37:02,280 --> 00:37:04,760 Eat less, move more. 613 00:37:06,920 --> 00:37:09,130 And we're like, I need a different way. 614 00:37:13,020 --> 00:37:14,310 What can you tell me about Ozepic? 615 00:37:14,980 --> 00:37:17,790 I need a different, eat less, move more. 616 00:37:17,790 --> 00:37:20,500 I, there's gotta be a different way. 617 00:37:23,190 --> 00:37:24,500 And I'm not mocking anything. 618 00:37:25,050 --> 00:37:30,975 Just, The simplest instructions that sometimes we don't want to follow. 619 00:37:31,615 --> 00:37:36,265 I want to share with you another testimony from a guy in our church named Bobby. 620 00:37:37,465 --> 00:37:40,225 And, uh, this is from him. 621 00:37:40,605 --> 00:37:41,715 And I want to share this with you. 622 00:37:43,445 --> 00:37:47,355 Bobby writes, I grew up in church and attended Christian schools where 623 00:37:47,395 --> 00:37:49,395 tithing was always talked about. 624 00:37:50,000 --> 00:37:53,600 But it wasn't until I attended Restoration Church that I began to 625 00:37:53,600 --> 00:37:56,980 understand the gift and joy of giving. 626 00:37:58,100 --> 00:38:01,410 To me, tithing always seemed like a chore rather than 627 00:38:01,410 --> 00:38:03,320 something to get excited about. 628 00:38:03,880 --> 00:38:08,350 Similar to going, similar to going to the gym, you know you're supposed to do it, 629 00:38:08,720 --> 00:38:10,900 but it's hard and much easier to avoid. 630 00:38:12,150 --> 00:38:16,660 When Pastor Nate returned from Africa in 2023, He shared a powerful message, 631 00:38:16,660 --> 00:38:20,350 thank you, about the work being done there with Kingdom Builders. 632 00:38:21,510 --> 00:38:26,630 He talked about, uh, giving away a pair of his shoes to Kasim, 633 00:38:26,640 --> 00:38:28,460 who called him Baba or Dad. 634 00:38:28,730 --> 00:38:32,760 It was such a powerful message that brought tears to my eyes and inspired 635 00:38:32,760 --> 00:38:36,780 me to think about the ways I could make an impact, not just locally, 636 00:38:36,960 --> 00:38:38,170 but throughout God's Kingdom. 637 00:38:39,335 --> 00:38:42,375 Watching the Gagne family and all the ways they're impacting our church and 638 00:38:42,375 --> 00:38:46,475 community both locally and overseas has shown me just how much someone 639 00:38:46,475 --> 00:38:50,035 can give when they intentionally and wholeheartedly pursue it. 640 00:38:50,755 --> 00:38:54,305 Being intentional and focused is the best way to attack anything 641 00:38:54,305 --> 00:38:55,575 and giving is no different. 642 00:38:56,015 --> 00:39:00,095 Figuring out your 10 percent tithe and an overall plan for giving 643 00:39:00,315 --> 00:39:02,345 forces you to budget and plan. 644 00:39:03,125 --> 00:39:06,225 Most importantly, it requires you to audit your spending and 645 00:39:06,225 --> 00:39:07,695 look at what you prioritize. 646 00:39:08,440 --> 00:39:12,800 Have you ever added up how much you spend at Dunkin Donuts each year? 647 00:39:13,850 --> 00:39:17,790 Let's be honest, the coffee and donuts aren't even that good. 648 00:39:20,240 --> 00:39:24,870 2023 was the first year our family budgeted and planned our giving 649 00:39:24,870 --> 00:39:27,310 with specific goals and intentions. 650 00:39:27,920 --> 00:39:32,530 We ended up giving more than twice the amount we gave the year before. 651 00:39:33,640 --> 00:39:37,560 This year, for 2024, we made it a goal to give even more. 652 00:39:38,020 --> 00:39:44,770 And we exceeded all of our giving in 2020, 2021, and 2022 combined. 653 00:39:46,060 --> 00:39:50,580 All along the way, God has blessed us in ways we could never imagine. 654 00:39:50,850 --> 00:39:52,390 You can't outgive God. 655 00:39:53,320 --> 00:39:54,570 He closes with this. 656 00:39:54,930 --> 00:40:01,140 In Acts 20, 35, Jesus says, It is more blessed to give than to receive. 657 00:40:02,035 --> 00:40:05,605 The impact of Kingdom Builders is eternal, and there is no 658 00:40:05,615 --> 00:40:07,875 greater joy than participating. 659 00:40:08,085 --> 00:40:09,685 Guys, put your hands together for Bobby. 660 00:40:15,895 --> 00:40:19,205 Thank you, Bobby, for sharing your testimony with the church. 661 00:40:20,715 --> 00:40:23,895 Yeah, we didn't, I'm getting myself in trouble. 662 00:40:24,065 --> 00:40:28,505 We didn't pay people to, to give these testimonies here. 663 00:40:28,945 --> 00:40:32,555 Um, no, these are people who want to share about what God has done. 664 00:40:33,950 --> 00:40:36,780 I would like you to grab your, every location, you need to grab 665 00:40:36,780 --> 00:40:39,190 your miracle offering envelopes. 666 00:40:39,390 --> 00:40:43,020 And in a moment, we're going to give, I want to invite, uh, location 667 00:40:43,020 --> 00:40:45,470 pastors to come up at your location. 668 00:40:45,471 --> 00:40:51,090 And, let me ask you, let me answer a question for you. 669 00:40:51,090 --> 00:40:54,680 You may be asking, why would others want to do this? 670 00:40:55,640 --> 00:40:56,950 Why would others want to do this? 671 00:40:57,420 --> 00:41:01,200 You're going to see people excited to give. 672 00:41:02,335 --> 00:41:03,215 Move to give. 673 00:41:06,645 --> 00:41:09,655 You, you, you, you stay around our church long enough. 674 00:41:09,665 --> 00:41:11,595 You're going to hear other testimonies. 675 00:41:11,595 --> 00:41:14,505 You're going to hear people praying to give more. 676 00:41:16,065 --> 00:41:17,175 God, I want to do more. 677 00:41:17,205 --> 00:41:18,665 God, I've got this future goal. 678 00:41:18,965 --> 00:41:21,055 God, I want to do more. 679 00:41:21,095 --> 00:41:22,045 Here's what I'm doing now. 680 00:41:22,045 --> 00:41:24,675 But God, I pray I'd have the ability to do more. 681 00:41:24,835 --> 00:41:29,355 That is so counter culture. 682 00:41:30,980 --> 00:41:35,360 And probably for some, not ever how you've experienced giving in church. 683 00:41:36,250 --> 00:41:38,470 It's like, you were trying to figure out ways. 684 00:41:38,620 --> 00:41:40,210 Is it like the government? 685 00:41:40,210 --> 00:41:42,040 Can I do some things to be able to give less? 686 00:41:45,800 --> 00:41:47,030 People praying that way. 687 00:41:48,280 --> 00:41:51,890 They give because God has done so much in their life. 688 00:41:53,460 --> 00:41:55,260 And they want it to be shared. 689 00:41:57,320 --> 00:41:59,360 God has done so much in our lives. 690 00:42:00,885 --> 00:42:03,035 That we want to do things across the world. 691 00:42:03,035 --> 00:42:12,195 We want to do things in New Hampshire to make a difference and to And 692 00:42:12,195 --> 00:42:17,475 to show Jesus around If you can't give today Don't feel like a slug. 693 00:42:17,475 --> 00:42:19,285 Don't feel Embarrassed. 694 00:42:20,345 --> 00:42:24,325 I just want you to pray that you'll have the ability to give next year 695 00:42:24,425 --> 00:42:32,385 God give me the ability to give next year Miracle Offering is a day when 696 00:42:32,385 --> 00:42:34,095 everybody walks up front, alright? 697 00:42:34,115 --> 00:42:36,905 We, we, what we love is 100 percent participation. 698 00:42:36,905 --> 00:42:39,165 If you're able to move and you're not able to move, you can pass 699 00:42:39,165 --> 00:42:40,225 your gift up with someone else. 700 00:42:40,765 --> 00:42:42,605 We love for 100 percent participation. 701 00:42:43,295 --> 00:42:45,395 And some of you already have given online. 702 00:42:45,535 --> 00:42:47,745 I want you to still move forward and come. 703 00:42:47,845 --> 00:42:49,885 You can write on your envelope, give online. 704 00:42:49,895 --> 00:42:51,905 You can just bring an envelope with you, symbolic of the 705 00:42:51,905 --> 00:42:53,225 gift you gave this morning. 706 00:42:54,125 --> 00:42:57,265 If you aren't prepared to give, write on that. 707 00:42:57,705 --> 00:42:58,385 I'd be ill. 708 00:42:58,815 --> 00:43:03,725 Pastor, pray for me that, uh, that things financially will change and 709 00:43:03,725 --> 00:43:08,665 that we'll be able to, to be people who aren't needing miracles but who can 710 00:43:08,665 --> 00:43:10,545 participate in miracles moving forward. 711 00:43:11,245 --> 00:43:16,805 And then, um, if you, you know, if you're not prepared, you forgot, you, 712 00:43:16,855 --> 00:43:19,655 you can come forward, you can give next week, you can give online after service, 713 00:43:19,695 --> 00:43:21,135 there's other ways to participate. 714 00:43:21,395 --> 00:43:23,305 Everybody, at every location, will you stand to your feet? 715 00:43:24,070 --> 00:43:27,070 Let me, over location, here's what you're going to do, if you can all give 716 00:43:27,070 --> 00:43:28,300 me your eyes so it's not confusing. 717 00:43:28,370 --> 00:43:31,250 You're going to all walk straight across to that aisle, 718 00:43:31,330 --> 00:43:32,570 and then come down that aisle. 719 00:43:32,580 --> 00:43:36,490 That'll, otherwise it'll be a traffic jam, like when Chick fil A opened, alright? 720 00:43:36,490 --> 00:43:40,290 It'll be a complete disaster, but we'll be stuck here for the next three days. 721 00:43:40,790 --> 00:43:47,000 Other locations, do what makes sense, but, is um, the music's going 722 00:43:47,010 --> 00:43:52,590 to start in a moment, so, let me pray, and then we can begin to give. 723 00:43:52,590 --> 00:43:53,230 Jesus, we pray. 724 00:43:54,320 --> 00:44:00,470 These gifts in our hands are like a small jar of olive oil. 725 00:44:00,710 --> 00:44:03,120 It is like a boy's lunch. 726 00:44:03,430 --> 00:44:08,940 It is, in our hands, it does not look like it's going to be enough 727 00:44:09,040 --> 00:44:10,660 to make a difference in the world. 728 00:44:11,130 --> 00:44:13,500 But we know, Lord God, what you do. 729 00:44:13,501 --> 00:44:16,570 You multiply. 730 00:44:17,250 --> 00:44:19,200 And what is going to happen today? 731 00:44:19,240 --> 00:44:26,690 God, every dollar given today is going to be, uh, transformed into souls. 732 00:44:27,620 --> 00:44:31,630 People are going to come to know Jesus, our Lord and Savior, through this giving. 733 00:44:32,610 --> 00:44:37,660 Some that we'll see, some that we'll meet in heaven, but we're going to look 734 00:44:37,660 --> 00:44:42,100 at what we gave today and look at the amount of lives that changed for eternity. 735 00:44:42,100 --> 00:44:44,410 And we're going to think that was a bargain. 736 00:44:45,215 --> 00:44:49,515 God, you've multiplied this offering into thousands and thousands and 737 00:44:49,515 --> 00:44:54,775 thousands and thousands, if not millions of lives coming into the kingdom of 738 00:44:54,775 --> 00:44:57,375 God through this offering here today. 739 00:44:57,555 --> 00:44:58,945 And we thank you for that. 740 00:44:59,105 --> 00:45:00,555 And we praise you for that. 741 00:45:00,785 --> 00:45:02,945 In Jesus name, Amen.