1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:16,100 Welcome to Hub City Vineyard. 2 00:00:16,100 --> 00:00:22,720 To get connected or to give online, go to hcv.church or give.htv.church. 3 00:00:22,720 --> 00:00:26,960 If at any point during this message you feel called to make a change in your life, text 4 00:00:26,960 --> 00:00:30,200 change me to 970-00. 5 00:00:30,200 --> 00:00:58,560 Thank you and enjoy the message. 6 00:01:01,200 --> 00:01:09,200 24 karat magic in the air. 7 00:01:09,200 --> 00:01:12,200 Look out! 8 00:01:12,200 --> 00:01:15,200 Pop pop it's showtime, showtime, showtime. 9 00:01:15,200 --> 00:01:17,200 Guess who's back again? 10 00:01:17,200 --> 00:01:18,200 They don't know? 11 00:01:18,200 --> 00:01:19,200 They don't know? 12 00:01:19,200 --> 00:01:21,200 I bet they know as soon as we walk in. 13 00:01:21,200 --> 00:01:24,200 Wearing Cuban links, yes, yes, yes. 14 00:01:24,200 --> 00:01:26,200 Inga wants to find his shoes. 15 00:01:26,200 --> 00:01:28,200 Don't look too hard, might hurt yourself. 16 00:01:28,200 --> 00:01:30,200 No need to use the color red, the blues. 17 00:01:30,200 --> 00:01:32,200 Kill! 18 00:01:32,200 --> 00:01:35,200 I'm a dangerous man with some money in my pocket. 19 00:01:35,200 --> 00:01:37,200 Keep up! 20 00:01:37,200 --> 00:01:39,200 So many pretty girls around me and they know just how to talk. 21 00:01:39,200 --> 00:01:41,200 Keep up! 22 00:01:41,200 --> 00:01:42,200 Why you mad? 23 00:01:42,200 --> 00:01:44,200 Get your face in my butt that you'll be jumping. 24 00:01:44,200 --> 00:01:45,200 Keep up! 25 00:01:45,200 --> 00:01:46,200 Play your zone then, come on. 26 00:01:46,200 --> 00:01:51,200 Put your biggie legs up, do the move. 27 00:01:51,200 --> 00:01:55,200 Girls, what you're trying to do? 28 00:01:55,200 --> 00:02:01,200 24 karat magic in the air. 29 00:02:01,200 --> 00:02:03,200 Had you told me so bad? 30 00:02:03,200 --> 00:02:05,200 Look out! 31 00:02:05,200 --> 00:02:07,200 Second verse for the hustlers. 32 00:02:07,200 --> 00:02:10,200 Gangsters, pretty ladies and all of their friends. 33 00:02:10,200 --> 00:02:11,200 Can I preach? 34 00:02:11,200 --> 00:02:12,200 Can I preach? 35 00:02:12,200 --> 00:02:14,200 I gotta show them how to do it again. 36 00:02:14,200 --> 00:02:17,200 Verse, take your dip, do your dip. 37 00:02:17,200 --> 00:02:20,200 Spend your money like money don't quit. 38 00:02:20,200 --> 00:02:22,200 Too fresh, got the moment on Jesus. 39 00:02:22,200 --> 00:02:25,200 Hashtag, play, stay ready for me. 40 00:02:25,200 --> 00:02:28,200 I'm a dangerous man with some money in my pocket. 41 00:02:28,200 --> 00:02:30,200 Keep up! 42 00:02:30,200 --> 00:02:33,200 So many pretty girls around me and they know just how to talk. 43 00:02:33,200 --> 00:02:35,200 Keep up! 44 00:02:35,200 --> 00:02:36,200 Why you mad? 45 00:02:36,200 --> 00:02:37,200 Get your face in my butt that you'll be jumping. 46 00:02:37,200 --> 00:02:38,200 Keep up! 47 00:02:38,200 --> 00:02:40,200 Play your zone then, come on. 48 00:02:40,200 --> 00:02:44,200 Put your biggie legs up, do the move. 49 00:02:44,200 --> 00:02:47,200 Girls, what you're trying to do? 50 00:02:47,200 --> 00:02:49,200 What you're trying to do? 51 00:02:49,200 --> 00:02:55,200 24K every magic in the air. 52 00:02:55,200 --> 00:02:57,200 Had you told me so bad? 53 00:02:57,200 --> 00:03:01,200 Look out! 54 00:03:01,200 --> 00:03:05,200 Everywhere I go it be like ooh, so play down. 55 00:03:05,200 --> 00:03:10,200 It be like ooh, so play down. 56 00:03:10,200 --> 00:03:14,200 Everywhere I go it be like ooh, so play down. 57 00:03:14,200 --> 00:03:19,200 Now, now, now, now let me break it down like uh. 58 00:03:19,200 --> 00:03:22,200 24K, 24K magic. 59 00:03:22,200 --> 00:03:23,200 What's that sound? 60 00:03:23,200 --> 00:03:26,200 24K, 24K magic. 61 00:03:26,200 --> 00:03:27,200 Come on now. 62 00:03:27,200 --> 00:03:31,200 24K, 24K magic. 63 00:03:31,200 --> 00:03:33,200 Don't fight the feeling, invite the feeling. 64 00:03:33,200 --> 00:03:37,200 Just put your biggie legs up, do the move. 65 00:03:37,200 --> 00:03:41,200 Girls, what you're trying to do? 66 00:03:41,200 --> 00:03:43,200 What you're trying to do? 67 00:03:43,200 --> 00:03:48,200 24K every magic in the air. 68 00:03:48,200 --> 00:03:52,200 Had you told me so bad? 69 00:03:52,200 --> 00:03:57,200 Put your biggie legs up, do the move. 70 00:03:57,200 --> 00:03:59,200 Girls, what you're trying to do? 71 00:03:59,200 --> 00:04:01,200 What you're trying to do? 72 00:04:01,200 --> 00:04:06,200 24K every magic in the air. 73 00:04:06,200 --> 00:04:09,200 Had you told me so bad? 74 00:04:09,200 --> 00:04:13,200 Look out! 75 00:04:13,200 --> 00:04:25,200 Applause 76 00:04:25,200 --> 00:04:27,200 Excellent! 77 00:04:27,200 --> 00:04:34,200 What a way to close out Summer Jams! 78 00:04:34,200 --> 00:04:38,200 That was a challenging one and of course it was the song that I chose. 79 00:04:38,200 --> 00:04:41,200 And encouraged them to do. 80 00:04:41,200 --> 00:04:47,200 Because I wanted to launch a new series today with the help of that song. 81 00:04:47,200 --> 00:04:50,200 So if you're joining us from home, thank you for welcoming us into your space. 82 00:04:50,200 --> 00:04:53,200 It is great to have you with us. 83 00:04:53,200 --> 00:04:59,200 As many of you know, for the last four weeks we have been looking at culture songs. 84 00:04:59,200 --> 00:05:02,200 Songs that are sung and written for us to listen to. 85 00:05:02,200 --> 00:05:07,200 But looking at them through a godly perspective in our Summer Jams series. 86 00:05:07,200 --> 00:05:11,200 This morning you just heard 24K Magic. 87 00:05:11,200 --> 00:05:14,200 A song by American singer Bruno Mars. 88 00:05:14,200 --> 00:05:19,200 Released by Atlantic Records on October 7th of 2016. 89 00:05:19,200 --> 00:05:24,200 The song has been described as a funk, disco and contemporary R&B track. 90 00:05:24,200 --> 00:05:30,200 While its lyrics address extravagance, glamour and the party lifestyle. 91 00:05:30,200 --> 00:05:34,200 The song of course had initial commercial success. 92 00:05:34,200 --> 00:05:37,200 It debuted at number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100. 93 00:05:37,200 --> 00:05:40,200 And peaked at number 4 in the United States. 94 00:05:40,200 --> 00:05:44,200 Remained in the top 10 for at least two months. 95 00:05:44,200 --> 00:05:51,200 It has been certified five times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. 96 00:05:51,200 --> 00:05:55,200 Though Mars was praised for his world class vocals. 97 00:05:55,200 --> 00:05:59,200 Thank you Alan Tolentino on the song. 98 00:05:59,200 --> 00:06:06,200 Many critics felt the song was nothing new or creative and actually left listeners wanting more. 99 00:06:06,200 --> 00:06:09,200 It simply kept the party going. 100 00:06:09,200 --> 00:06:15,200 24K Magic refers to the fact that money is what makes party impossible. 101 00:06:15,200 --> 00:06:23,200 24K of course is the purest kind of gold and Bruno Mars is enjoying the good times his wealth enables him to have. 102 00:06:23,200 --> 00:06:31,200 Next you heard Mars sing about what he was wearing and words to others not to look too hard because they might hurt themselves. 103 00:06:31,200 --> 00:06:37,200 Of course he's wearing Cuban links, designer minks and Inglewood's finest shoes. 104 00:06:37,200 --> 00:06:44,200 He describes himself as being on fire and also believes that his lifestyle is on fire. 105 00:06:44,200 --> 00:06:51,200 Of course you heard him credit Jesus when he sings hashtag blessed they ain't ready for me. 106 00:06:51,200 --> 00:06:59,200 He claims seemingly tongue-in-cheek that his skills musical talent and charisma is a special design by God. 107 00:06:59,200 --> 00:07:13,200 Now one critic concluded 24K Magic is an excellent example of a song that's designed entirely to create a loose party feeling with nothing important to say. 108 00:07:13,200 --> 00:07:18,200 The critic goes on to say there's a time and place for these songs so I don't condemn the song itself. 109 00:07:18,200 --> 00:07:35,200 But it's certainly not a piece of art and is rather a product made by a music industry capable of using writers, designers and producers to manufacture something they will think will sell rather than to create something beautiful or honest about what life is really like. 110 00:07:35,200 --> 00:07:40,200 In other words the song was written as a means to sell records. 111 00:07:40,200 --> 00:07:52,200 They were pushing the party life, they were pushing the party lifestyle and within 24K Magic it leaves people feeling empty and without. 112 00:07:52,200 --> 00:08:01,200 In a world full of people who have become selfish consumers and takers what does it mean to live a generous life? 113 00:08:01,200 --> 00:08:07,200 Because see a generous life is the exact opposite of the song you just heard sung. 114 00:08:07,200 --> 00:08:11,200 And in fact the Bible contradicts what this song is all about. 115 00:08:11,200 --> 00:08:16,200 Proverbs chapter 11 verse 25 says the generous will prosper. 116 00:08:16,200 --> 00:08:20,200 Those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed. 117 00:08:20,200 --> 00:08:29,200 And Psalm 37 26 reads the righteous are always generous and lend freely their children will be a blessing. 118 00:08:29,200 --> 00:08:41,200 So as you can see talking about wanting more and looking and playing the part and living a lifestyle of just greed is the exact opposite of what God wants. 119 00:08:41,200 --> 00:08:49,200 In fact Jesus when discussing the issue of generosity says it is more blessed to give than to receive. 120 00:08:49,200 --> 00:09:00,200 So this morning as we conclude our Summer Jams 2024 I am kicking off a new series that focuses on what it means to daily live a generous life. 121 00:09:00,200 --> 00:09:06,200 Why? Because our culture communicates that we should put ourselves first. 122 00:09:06,200 --> 00:09:16,200 Our culture dictates that we should focus on what makes us happy, what we need to have a good time and be successful. 123 00:09:16,200 --> 00:09:25,200 And that is what we are doing to Bruno Mars that is spending all your money on looking good creating a carefree party image that does not have a care in the world. 124 00:09:25,200 --> 00:09:38,200 But if we are honest, if we are really honest our initial response to being generous and listen to the definition of generous liberal in giving or sharing unselfish a generous gift. 125 00:09:38,200 --> 00:09:48,200 And if we think about that description our initial physical personal reaction to generosity is reluctance. 126 00:09:48,200 --> 00:09:55,200 Because of our sin nature, because of the culture we live we are constantly bombarded and taught to be selfish. 127 00:09:55,200 --> 00:10:02,200 We are taught to be tight fisted with our time, talents, money, stuff and energy. 128 00:10:02,200 --> 00:10:11,200 Well Jesus says no, if you are in a relationship with me be different, focus on the kingdom and live life open handed. 129 00:10:11,200 --> 00:10:24,200 Which in fact it is kind of ironic when I was researching the word generous in dictionary.com the synonym for generous is living an open handed life. 130 00:10:24,200 --> 00:10:28,200 And that is exactly what Jesus calls us to do. 131 00:10:28,200 --> 00:10:33,200 As we kick off this new series let's open in prayer to invite the Holy Spirit to come and just overwhelm us with His love. 132 00:10:33,200 --> 00:10:37,200 God we are just so thankful for time and talent and energy. 133 00:10:37,200 --> 00:10:43,200 We are thankful for our team that is able to just sing and perform and use their talents for us. 134 00:10:43,200 --> 00:10:46,200 God bless them mightily for this past month God. 135 00:10:46,200 --> 00:10:49,200 Thank you for using them to further your kingdom. 136 00:10:49,200 --> 00:10:56,200 And God as we kick off this new series on generosity may we all reflect and be different than we walked in God. 137 00:10:56,200 --> 00:11:01,200 Change our hearts, change our minds, change our entire outlook on this word. 138 00:11:01,200 --> 00:11:03,200 In Jesus name, amen. 139 00:11:03,200 --> 00:11:05,200 So all of that leads us to our first thought. 140 00:11:05,200 --> 00:11:10,200 You see kingdom generosity is achieved through a lifestyle of worship. 141 00:11:10,200 --> 00:11:18,200 And before we jump into generous and generosity I am going to look at that word first, that word kingdom. 142 00:11:18,200 --> 00:11:25,200 Because I believe in order to understand generosity and to be generous with our life we have to understand what the kingdom is. 143 00:11:25,200 --> 00:11:29,200 And please understand kingdom it is not a King James word. 144 00:11:29,200 --> 00:11:31,200 It is not a spiritual word. 145 00:11:31,200 --> 00:11:35,200 It does not make us more holy because we say the word kingdom. 146 00:11:35,200 --> 00:11:41,200 Kingdom simply defined is two words the kings domain. 147 00:11:41,200 --> 00:11:43,200 That is all it means. That is what kingdom means. 148 00:11:43,200 --> 00:11:50,200 The kings domain when Jesus came to earth John the Baptist is recorded as saying in Matthew 3 2. 149 00:11:50,200 --> 00:11:58,200 Repent of your sins and turn to God for the kingdom of heaven is near or the kingdom of God is near. 150 00:11:58,200 --> 00:12:00,200 And what is he talking about? 151 00:12:00,200 --> 00:12:05,200 Well he is talking about what the Bible recorded that Jesus what did he do? 152 00:12:05,200 --> 00:12:10,200 He performed many miracles and he preached the good news of the kingdom. 153 00:12:10,200 --> 00:12:13,200 So the kings domain is simply this. 154 00:12:13,200 --> 00:12:15,200 It is living out the great commission. 155 00:12:15,200 --> 00:12:17,200 That is the kingdom. 156 00:12:17,200 --> 00:12:25,200 It is establishing heaven right no more tears no more crying right no more pain here on earth. 157 00:12:25,200 --> 00:12:28,200 That is what the kingdom is. 158 00:12:28,200 --> 00:12:39,200 Quite often at the beginning of football contests or soccer games across our country many teams gather to kneel and pray the Lord's prayer before games. 159 00:12:39,200 --> 00:12:44,200 Right our father who art in heaven hallowed be your name. 160 00:12:44,200 --> 00:12:47,200 May your kingdom come soon Matthew 16. 161 00:12:47,200 --> 00:12:50,200 May your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 162 00:12:50,200 --> 00:13:00,200 Now could you imagine could you just imagine for a second if when those teams were praying God actually broke in and released his kingdom in that huddle as they were praying. 163 00:13:00,200 --> 00:13:03,200 Guess what there would be no football game. 164 00:13:03,200 --> 00:13:12,200 Because they would be out in his presence and they wouldn't want to go and compete because they would be experiencing heaven. 165 00:13:12,200 --> 00:13:18,200 And see what we have to realize is when we pray that prayer there is power in it. 166 00:13:18,200 --> 00:13:20,200 It is not just words. 167 00:13:20,200 --> 00:13:23,200 When Jesus said pray this way he meant it. 168 00:13:23,200 --> 00:13:26,200 He meant that we are actually praying for something. 169 00:13:26,200 --> 00:13:39,200 We are asking God to do something when we reference the kingdom and if you are in a relationship with Jesus our responsibility as his followers is to establish the kingdom of God on the kingdom of earth. 170 00:13:39,200 --> 00:13:41,200 That is our responsibility. 171 00:13:41,200 --> 00:13:47,200 In other words we are called to colonize earth with the atmosphere of praise. 172 00:13:47,200 --> 00:13:49,200 With the atmosphere of breakthrough. 173 00:13:49,200 --> 00:13:53,200 With the atmosphere of joy that we will experience in heaven. 174 00:13:53,200 --> 00:13:55,200 We are called to bring it here. 175 00:13:55,200 --> 00:13:59,200 Okay when we read the word kingdom it is not a holy word. 176 00:13:59,200 --> 00:14:01,200 It is not an old testament word. 177 00:14:01,200 --> 00:14:03,200 It is a word that should activate our faith. 178 00:14:03,200 --> 00:14:06,200 It is a word that should activate our praise. 179 00:14:06,200 --> 00:14:12,200 It is a word that should activate our testimony and begin to expand the kingdom of God. 180 00:14:12,200 --> 00:14:16,200 And all of this happens church outside of this place. 181 00:14:16,200 --> 00:14:18,200 It doesn't happen in here. 182 00:14:18,200 --> 00:14:27,200 When we gather together this is a celebration of people coming together to celebrate all that God is doing in our midst. 183 00:14:27,200 --> 00:14:32,200 Church and the kingdom of God starts when we leave this place. 184 00:14:32,200 --> 00:14:36,200 When this gathering is over that is when you start being the church. 185 00:14:36,200 --> 00:14:38,200 Look around. 186 00:14:38,200 --> 00:14:40,200 The church did her hair this morning. 187 00:14:40,200 --> 00:14:42,200 Look around. 188 00:14:42,200 --> 00:14:46,200 Hopefully the church brushed his teeth this morning. 189 00:14:46,200 --> 00:14:48,200 Look around. 190 00:14:48,200 --> 00:14:52,200 Hopefully the church got a shower this morning. 191 00:14:52,200 --> 00:14:54,200 That is what the church is. 192 00:14:54,200 --> 00:14:56,200 We are the church. 193 00:14:56,200 --> 00:14:59,200 We are the kingdom of God in motion. 194 00:14:59,200 --> 00:15:04,200 And if we want to bring heaven to earth we have to learn to worship. 195 00:15:04,200 --> 00:15:07,200 We have to learn to worship. 196 00:15:07,200 --> 00:15:10,200 What is worship? It is a daily sacrifice. 197 00:15:10,200 --> 00:15:16,200 It is a sacrifice of ourselves so that we can become conduits to bring heaven to earth. 198 00:15:16,200 --> 00:15:18,200 And it comes through worship. 199 00:15:18,200 --> 00:15:22,200 And friends please understand it does not involve lyrics. 200 00:15:22,200 --> 00:15:24,200 It has nothing to do with lyrics. 201 00:15:24,200 --> 00:15:25,200 This is true worship. 202 00:15:25,200 --> 00:15:27,200 Romans 12.1. 203 00:15:27,200 --> 00:15:33,200 Dear brothers and sisters I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. 204 00:15:33,200 --> 00:15:36,200 Let them be a living and holy sacrifice. 205 00:15:36,200 --> 00:15:38,200 The kind he will find acceptable. 206 00:15:38,200 --> 00:15:44,200 Notice this is truly the way to worship him. 207 00:15:44,200 --> 00:15:46,200 We worship him by laying our lives down. 208 00:15:46,200 --> 00:15:49,200 Worship is not singing. 209 00:15:49,200 --> 00:15:55,200 Because if worship was singing and you were standing beside me while I was out there worshiping you would think that has nothing to do with heaven. 210 00:15:55,200 --> 00:15:58,200 Because my voice, right? 211 00:15:58,200 --> 00:16:01,200 You cringe when you hear my voice. 212 00:16:01,200 --> 00:16:03,200 It is cringe worthy. 213 00:16:03,200 --> 00:16:05,200 Worship is not lyrics. 214 00:16:05,200 --> 00:16:06,200 Worship is a lifestyle. 215 00:16:06,200 --> 00:16:08,200 It is faith in action. 216 00:16:08,200 --> 00:16:14,200 And please understand the kingdom of God is not reserved for a church gathering. 217 00:16:14,200 --> 00:16:15,200 Okay? 218 00:16:15,200 --> 00:16:17,200 This is just a pep rally. 219 00:16:17,200 --> 00:16:21,200 This gets us stirred and excited to move outside of these walls. 220 00:16:21,200 --> 00:16:24,200 To go to our cities, our neighborhoods, our workplaces, our schools. 221 00:16:24,200 --> 00:16:30,200 And it is my prayer that the kingdom of God flows through you this week. 222 00:16:30,200 --> 00:16:32,200 And you bring heaven to earth. 223 00:16:32,200 --> 00:16:33,200 Right? 224 00:16:33,200 --> 00:16:35,200 It is bringing the kingdom of God to earth. 225 00:16:35,200 --> 00:16:37,200 Where there is no worship team. 226 00:16:37,200 --> 00:16:39,200 Where there is no prayer team. 227 00:16:39,200 --> 00:16:43,200 Where there is no Maverick City playing on your play list. 228 00:16:43,200 --> 00:16:44,200 Right? 229 00:16:44,200 --> 00:16:46,200 It is living the kingdom. 230 00:16:46,200 --> 00:16:48,200 Ask yourself a question. 231 00:16:48,200 --> 00:16:50,200 Is the kingdom of God in my marriage? 232 00:16:50,200 --> 00:16:53,200 Is the kingdom of God in my parenting? 233 00:16:53,200 --> 00:16:54,200 In my parenting? 234 00:16:54,200 --> 00:16:55,200 In my workplace? 235 00:16:55,200 --> 00:17:00,200 Does the kingdom of God change how I use social media and what I post? 236 00:17:00,200 --> 00:17:03,200 My prayer is, and it does. 237 00:17:03,200 --> 00:17:05,200 Because that is what church is all about. 238 00:17:05,200 --> 00:17:08,200 It is empowering you to reach more people. 239 00:17:08,200 --> 00:17:11,200 To see lives change in the tri-state area. 240 00:17:11,200 --> 00:17:13,200 I mean look at Matthew 11-12. 241 00:17:13,200 --> 00:17:17,200 From the time John the Baptist began preaching until now. 242 00:17:17,200 --> 00:17:19,200 Remember what John the Baptist preached? 243 00:17:19,200 --> 00:17:21,200 Jesus is bringing the kingdom of God. 244 00:17:21,200 --> 00:17:25,200 The kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing. 245 00:17:25,200 --> 00:17:27,200 And violent people are attacking it. 246 00:17:27,200 --> 00:17:30,200 And my challenge to you church is this. 247 00:17:30,200 --> 00:17:33,200 Let's take this city by force. 248 00:17:33,200 --> 00:17:35,200 The kingdom of God is forcefully advancing. 249 00:17:35,200 --> 00:17:38,200 Let's come against addiction by force. 250 00:17:38,200 --> 00:17:44,200 Let's participate in seeing people mentally healed and set free with force. 251 00:17:44,200 --> 00:17:50,200 Let's release those that are caught in trafficking and slavery. 252 00:17:50,200 --> 00:17:52,200 And see them set free. 253 00:17:52,200 --> 00:17:56,200 Let's release meaning and significance in people's lives by what? 254 00:17:56,200 --> 00:17:59,200 By force. 255 00:17:59,200 --> 00:18:06,200 And if we're going to do that church, this means we have to stop being distracted. 256 00:18:06,200 --> 00:18:09,200 We have to stop being distracted. 257 00:18:09,200 --> 00:18:12,200 We have to go against our culture. 258 00:18:12,200 --> 00:18:17,200 And Bruno Mars singing, don't fight the feeling, invite the feeling. 259 00:18:17,200 --> 00:18:23,200 Inviting us to spend our hard earned money and focus and our time on our cell phones. 260 00:18:23,200 --> 00:18:28,200 And on partying and on a carefree attitude. 261 00:18:28,200 --> 00:18:34,200 But church, we have to make the sacrifice to worship in order to be generous. 262 00:18:34,200 --> 00:18:38,200 If you want to be generous, it all starts with worship. 263 00:18:38,200 --> 00:18:40,200 Which leads us to our next thought. 264 00:18:40,200 --> 00:18:45,200 Kingdom generosity requires a currency exchange. 265 00:18:45,200 --> 00:18:48,200 Now some of you are sitting there thinking, what? A currency exchange? 266 00:18:48,200 --> 00:18:53,200 See when Justin and I, we recently went to Kenya, we had to learn that the money in my pocket 267 00:18:53,200 --> 00:18:55,200 that Bruno was singing about, right? 268 00:18:55,200 --> 00:18:58,200 It had a different value in Africa. 269 00:18:58,200 --> 00:19:02,200 We were experiencing a different country with a different system 270 00:19:02,200 --> 00:19:07,200 and we had to figure out what the exchange rate was in order for us to make transactions. 271 00:19:07,200 --> 00:19:10,200 Now some of you are thinking, well, okay, that's great. That's Africa. 272 00:19:10,200 --> 00:19:12,200 Let me bring it back to the U.S. for you. 273 00:19:12,200 --> 00:19:16,200 I was driving by Chuck E. Cheese this week on Vesel Boulevard. 274 00:19:16,200 --> 00:19:19,200 Everybody knows where Chuck E. Cheese is, right? 275 00:19:19,200 --> 00:19:21,200 And I noticed, it's closed! 276 00:19:21,200 --> 00:19:23,200 What's up? Chuck E. closed! 277 00:19:23,200 --> 00:19:26,200 Chuck E. Cheese closed! 278 00:19:26,200 --> 00:19:30,200 Now some of you parents are sitting there thinking, thank God. 279 00:19:30,200 --> 00:19:32,200 Thank God Chuck E. Cheese closed. 280 00:19:32,200 --> 00:19:35,200 And it was the weirdest thing because that's what went into my mind. 281 00:19:35,200 --> 00:19:38,200 I thought, man, thank goodness that place was closed. 282 00:19:38,200 --> 00:19:41,200 That pizza was terrible. My kids were afraid of Chuck E. 283 00:19:41,200 --> 00:19:44,200 Cheese. It was a waste of money. 284 00:19:44,200 --> 00:19:50,200 Now, as I continued to drive though, I got this flood of memories 285 00:19:50,200 --> 00:19:55,200 of taking my children to Chuck E. Cheese. 286 00:19:55,200 --> 00:19:58,200 And I had to smile because they were good memories, right? 287 00:19:58,200 --> 00:20:01,200 I laughed and chuckled at several of my kids that were afraid. 288 00:20:01,200 --> 00:20:03,200 Right? They roll in, they see Chuck E. 289 00:20:03,200 --> 00:20:05,200 They're like, I'm out of here. 290 00:20:05,200 --> 00:20:07,200 Getting behind me, they're like, don't let him near me. 291 00:20:07,200 --> 00:20:08,200 Don't let him near me. 292 00:20:08,200 --> 00:20:10,200 But Chuck E. Cheese, now think about it. 293 00:20:10,200 --> 00:20:15,200 Chuck E. Cheese has a system that as soon as you walk into the restaurant, 294 00:20:15,200 --> 00:20:20,200 you have to spend your hard earned money on tokens. 295 00:20:20,200 --> 00:20:23,200 Because cash didn't work in Chuck E. Cheese. 296 00:20:23,200 --> 00:20:26,200 You couldn't play games. You couldn't roll the bocce balls. 297 00:20:26,200 --> 00:20:29,200 You could do nothing without the tokens. 298 00:20:29,200 --> 00:20:31,200 Cash didn't work. 299 00:20:31,200 --> 00:20:34,200 And the tokens allowed for my kids to play games. 300 00:20:34,200 --> 00:20:37,200 And when they played the games, guess what they earned? 301 00:20:37,200 --> 00:20:39,200 They earned tickets. 302 00:20:39,200 --> 00:20:41,200 They earned their tickets. 303 00:20:41,200 --> 00:20:44,200 In exchange for the cash, right, they got the tokens. 304 00:20:44,200 --> 00:20:46,200 The tokens then gave them tickets. 305 00:20:46,200 --> 00:20:49,200 And what is that? That's a currency exchange. 306 00:20:49,200 --> 00:20:51,200 Because then they would take all these tickets 307 00:20:51,200 --> 00:20:55,200 that they collected throughout the time at the restaurant. 308 00:20:55,200 --> 00:21:00,200 And they would spend those tickets on worthless junk. 309 00:21:00,200 --> 00:21:03,200 Heck, I still remember, I was thinking one time, 310 00:21:03,200 --> 00:21:05,200 I walked up to, I don't even remember who it was. 311 00:21:05,200 --> 00:21:06,200 I walked up to one of my kids. 312 00:21:06,200 --> 00:21:07,200 I was like, hey, let me have a token. 313 00:21:07,200 --> 00:21:09,200 I want to go play Galaga or Ms. Pacman. 314 00:21:09,200 --> 00:21:11,200 You know, I wanted to relive my childhood a little bit. 315 00:21:11,200 --> 00:21:12,200 I was like, let me borrow a token. 316 00:21:12,200 --> 00:21:16,200 They're like, no. 317 00:21:16,200 --> 00:21:17,200 No. 318 00:21:17,200 --> 00:21:19,200 Like, you're not getting a token. 319 00:21:19,200 --> 00:21:22,200 That game don't give you any tickets. 320 00:21:22,200 --> 00:21:24,200 Okay, that's just a game. 321 00:21:24,200 --> 00:21:25,200 We don't play that game. 322 00:21:25,200 --> 00:21:29,200 We play a game to get what? Tickets. 323 00:21:29,200 --> 00:21:31,200 They wanted the tickets. 324 00:21:31,200 --> 00:21:35,200 So they were keeping all their tokens 325 00:21:35,200 --> 00:21:39,200 so they could get these tickets for a piece of junk. 326 00:21:39,200 --> 00:21:41,200 Okay, we were not learning what it means 327 00:21:41,200 --> 00:21:43,200 to be generous and chuck-a-cheese. 328 00:21:43,200 --> 00:21:46,200 Okay, doesn't matter, they were good memories. 329 00:21:46,200 --> 00:21:49,200 Okay, we gave those kids all that money 330 00:21:49,200 --> 00:21:53,200 to spend on those tokens that then became tickets. 331 00:21:53,200 --> 00:21:56,200 Right, so I'm wondering in the church, 332 00:21:56,200 --> 00:22:00,200 is there a currency exchange where God wants your story? 333 00:22:00,200 --> 00:22:02,200 Is there a currency exchange where God wants 334 00:22:02,200 --> 00:22:06,200 to use your testimony to change someone else's life? 335 00:22:06,200 --> 00:22:08,200 Is there a currency exchange where God wants to use 336 00:22:08,200 --> 00:22:12,200 your gifts and your talents to give to others, 337 00:22:12,200 --> 00:22:15,200 but instead, we're holding on to our tickets? 338 00:22:15,200 --> 00:22:18,200 We're holding on to our gifts and our talents 339 00:22:18,200 --> 00:22:20,200 and our testimony because we're embarrassed 340 00:22:20,200 --> 00:22:24,200 or we're fearful of man or whatever it may be. 341 00:22:24,200 --> 00:22:26,200 But when in reality, when we do, 342 00:22:26,200 --> 00:22:27,200 when we share ourselves with God, 343 00:22:27,200 --> 00:22:31,200 when we make a sacrifice of worship for God's kingdom, 344 00:22:31,200 --> 00:22:35,200 it may not be that we receive natural value, 345 00:22:35,200 --> 00:22:38,200 but in God's kingdom, that becomes supernatural value, 346 00:22:38,200 --> 00:22:40,200 and that's what's important. 347 00:22:40,200 --> 00:22:42,200 We have to realize that our marriage, 348 00:22:42,200 --> 00:22:44,200 our finances, our relationships, 349 00:22:44,200 --> 00:22:48,200 our freedom that we experience in God each and every day 350 00:22:48,200 --> 00:22:52,200 is a result of people that came before us. 351 00:22:52,200 --> 00:22:55,200 See, so often, we forget about the people 352 00:22:55,200 --> 00:22:57,200 that came before us. 353 00:22:57,200 --> 00:22:59,200 Jesus tells us this in John chapter 12. 354 00:22:59,200 --> 00:23:01,200 I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat 355 00:23:01,200 --> 00:23:05,200 is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. 356 00:23:05,200 --> 00:23:08,200 But its death will produce many new kernels, 357 00:23:08,200 --> 00:23:10,200 a plentiful harvest of new lives. 358 00:23:10,200 --> 00:23:13,200 Those who love their life in this world will lose it. 359 00:23:13,200 --> 00:23:15,200 Those who care nothing for their life in this world 360 00:23:15,200 --> 00:23:17,200 will keep it for eternity. 361 00:23:17,200 --> 00:23:21,200 See, friends, there were individuals who came before us 362 00:23:21,200 --> 00:23:26,200 that did not trade in their tickets for worthless stuff. 363 00:23:26,200 --> 00:23:30,200 They traded in their tickets for what has eternal value. 364 00:23:30,200 --> 00:23:32,200 They invested in the kingdom of God, 365 00:23:32,200 --> 00:23:36,200 and the result is this church became a reality. 366 00:23:36,200 --> 00:23:40,200 This church is here today and has been here for 18 years 367 00:23:40,200 --> 00:23:42,200 making a difference in Washington County 368 00:23:42,200 --> 00:23:46,200 because people well before me gave their time 369 00:23:46,200 --> 00:23:48,200 and their talents and their energy 370 00:23:48,200 --> 00:23:52,200 so that I could meet Jesus, have my life transformed, 371 00:23:52,200 --> 00:23:55,200 thus fast forward that he could then build this church 372 00:23:55,200 --> 00:23:58,200 so that hundreds and thousands of people 373 00:23:58,200 --> 00:24:04,200 could see their lives transformed and changed for eternity. 374 00:24:04,200 --> 00:24:07,200 See, those people gave their gifts, their time, 375 00:24:07,200 --> 00:24:10,200 their money, and their energy to the local church, right? 376 00:24:10,200 --> 00:24:14,200 Where we now have worship teams and prayer teams, 377 00:24:14,200 --> 00:24:16,200 and we have a team of freedom fighters 378 00:24:16,200 --> 00:24:19,200 that's trying to end child slavery, right? 379 00:24:19,200 --> 00:24:21,200 We have outreach teams, we have staff, 380 00:24:21,200 --> 00:24:25,200 we have a building, and all of this stuff 381 00:24:25,200 --> 00:24:29,200 is so that people can experience Jesus. 382 00:24:29,200 --> 00:24:34,200 What if today God wants to do a currency exchange in your life? 383 00:24:34,200 --> 00:24:39,200 What if today we offer ourselves, we make a sacrifice, 384 00:24:39,200 --> 00:24:43,200 and give of our time, our energy, our talents, and our abilities? 385 00:24:43,200 --> 00:24:48,200 What if we actually began to give of our financial resources? 386 00:24:48,200 --> 00:24:53,200 And see, some of you, right, you were fine with time, talent, energy, 387 00:24:53,200 --> 00:24:58,200 you were fine with serving, but suddenly, oh, he said money. 388 00:24:58,200 --> 00:25:04,200 Oh, you all were good until suddenly there's money. 389 00:25:04,200 --> 00:25:07,200 And why is it within our culture, within us as people, 390 00:25:07,200 --> 00:25:10,200 when we hear money, a nervous stroke? 391 00:25:10,200 --> 00:25:12,200 Because some of you, just being honest, you have a hurt, 392 00:25:12,200 --> 00:25:14,200 you have a pain, you have a heartache, right? 393 00:25:14,200 --> 00:25:16,200 Maybe you grew up without money. 394 00:25:16,200 --> 00:25:18,200 Maybe you didn't have enough. 395 00:25:18,200 --> 00:25:20,200 Maybe you weren't able to do all the things you wanted to do 396 00:25:20,200 --> 00:25:22,200 because of finances. 397 00:25:22,200 --> 00:25:24,200 Okay, maybe you were poor, maybe you were forgotten, 398 00:25:24,200 --> 00:25:27,200 maybe a previous church took advantage of you. 399 00:25:27,200 --> 00:25:30,200 Of that, I am saying I am sorry. 400 00:25:30,200 --> 00:25:34,200 But what I do want to say is the kingdom of God needs you, right? 401 00:25:34,200 --> 00:25:37,200 There is a person in your life that needs to hear the good news 402 00:25:37,200 --> 00:25:41,200 about the kingdom, about Jesus, and all that he has done for the world, 403 00:25:41,200 --> 00:25:47,200 so that you can be used to bring them to that freedom, right? 404 00:25:47,200 --> 00:25:52,200 You can be used to give and to give out of the extravagance of your heart, right? 405 00:25:52,200 --> 00:25:54,200 So that we can add services and add a campus 406 00:25:54,200 --> 00:25:58,200 and continue to expand and make a difference in the tri-state area. 407 00:25:58,200 --> 00:26:03,200 God is calling you to make a difference in a child's life 408 00:26:03,200 --> 00:26:08,200 that is poor and forgotten and hungry and living in a third world country 409 00:26:08,200 --> 00:26:13,200 and doesn't have the resources to survive, but you can change their life. 410 00:26:13,200 --> 00:26:16,200 We need to begin to focus on kingdom generosity 411 00:26:16,200 --> 00:26:20,200 that will exchange in kingdom currency 412 00:26:20,200 --> 00:26:26,200 so that we as a church always operate with more than enough, not just enough. 413 00:26:26,200 --> 00:26:29,200 Because that is who God is. 414 00:26:29,200 --> 00:26:33,200 And when we realize that our freedom, that our relationship with Jesus 415 00:26:33,200 --> 00:26:36,200 is the result of someone else's currency exchange, 416 00:26:36,200 --> 00:26:38,200 then we want to get involved. 417 00:26:38,200 --> 00:26:45,200 So God, right, he will never ask you to give something that he doesn't plan to fill. 418 00:26:45,200 --> 00:26:47,200 He never will, right? 419 00:26:47,200 --> 00:26:50,200 Think about Chuck E. Cheese. My kid wanted these tickets, right? 420 00:26:50,200 --> 00:26:52,200 They want these tickets. They want more tickets 421 00:26:52,200 --> 00:26:56,200 so they could exchange them for a piece of junk 422 00:26:56,200 --> 00:27:01,200 that was going to fall apart within two hours of the time he left the restaurant, right? 423 00:27:01,200 --> 00:27:05,200 When in reality, if I would have spent the same amount of money on a Build-A-Bear, 424 00:27:05,200 --> 00:27:09,200 they would have it for ten years. 425 00:27:09,200 --> 00:27:15,200 The same goes with the kingdom economy, right? 426 00:27:15,200 --> 00:27:17,200 God has so much more for us. 427 00:27:17,200 --> 00:27:20,200 There's blessings and riches and peace and joy. 428 00:27:20,200 --> 00:27:24,200 Please understand prosperity is not just finances. 429 00:27:24,200 --> 00:27:30,200 Okay, eradicate that lie from our culture that prosperity is finances. 430 00:27:30,200 --> 00:27:34,200 Prosperity can be experienced in our health, in our relationships, 431 00:27:34,200 --> 00:27:36,200 in our families, right? 432 00:27:36,200 --> 00:27:43,200 And I wonder all that God has for us if we would simply trust him with our tickets. 433 00:27:43,200 --> 00:27:46,200 We have to begin to trust him with our tickets. 434 00:27:46,200 --> 00:27:51,200 But friends, we have to fight against that cultural norm to accumulate more stuff, 435 00:27:51,200 --> 00:27:57,200 that cultural norm to focus on yourself and your needs to party and make yourself feel good. 436 00:27:57,200 --> 00:28:00,200 That lifestyle, it leads to emptiness and frustration 437 00:28:00,200 --> 00:28:03,200 while Jesus challenges us with these words. 438 00:28:03,200 --> 00:28:06,200 Give and you will receive. 439 00:28:06,200 --> 00:28:11,200 Your gift will return in full, pressed down, shaken together to make room for more. 440 00:28:11,200 --> 00:28:17,200 Running over and poured into your lap, the amount you give will determine the amount you get back. 441 00:28:17,200 --> 00:28:24,200 See, God's currency is the exact opposite of our culture's currency, 442 00:28:24,200 --> 00:28:28,200 which leads me to four simple truths that I want to share with you about generosity. 443 00:28:28,200 --> 00:28:31,200 I don't want to give you steps to be in generous 444 00:28:31,200 --> 00:28:36,200 because if it doesn't start with the heart and the truths that we find in the Bible, 445 00:28:36,200 --> 00:28:38,200 then you're never going to be generous. 446 00:28:38,200 --> 00:28:40,200 Okay, it's got to start with your heart. 447 00:28:40,200 --> 00:28:43,200 And number one, we are God's plan. 448 00:28:43,200 --> 00:28:48,200 Look at your neighbor, look at your neighbor and say, I am God's plan. 449 00:28:48,200 --> 00:28:51,200 That's right, it's not Drake, okay? 450 00:28:51,200 --> 00:28:52,200 It's not Drake. 451 00:28:52,200 --> 00:28:56,200 You are God's plan. 452 00:28:56,200 --> 00:28:59,200 And to drive home this point about kingdom generosity, 453 00:28:59,200 --> 00:29:04,200 I'm going to jump into the Old Testament and look at a man named Abram, right? 454 00:29:04,200 --> 00:29:10,200 Abram who became Abraham, a man who had a father that was an idol worshiper. 455 00:29:10,200 --> 00:29:17,200 Abram, a man that didn't have a good example of what it meant to be a man and to have godly manhood. 456 00:29:17,200 --> 00:29:21,200 Abram who got buried, tried to have children and couldn't, right? 457 00:29:21,200 --> 00:29:28,200 Basically his whole life because he was trying to do things in his own strength and was constantly failing. 458 00:29:28,200 --> 00:29:35,200 Then God, then God spoke to him with this promise in Genesis 12, 1 through 3. 459 00:29:35,200 --> 00:29:40,200 The Lord said to Abram, leave your native country, your relatives, your father's family, 460 00:29:40,200 --> 00:29:45,200 and go to the land that I will show you and I will make you into a great nation. 461 00:29:45,200 --> 00:29:47,200 Now Paul is there for a second. 462 00:29:47,200 --> 00:29:50,200 He couldn't have kids. 463 00:29:50,200 --> 00:29:54,200 He had no children and here God's promising and make him what? 464 00:29:54,200 --> 00:29:57,200 A great nation. 465 00:29:57,200 --> 00:30:02,200 I will bless you and make you famous and you will be a blessing to others. 466 00:30:02,200 --> 00:30:05,200 I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. 467 00:30:05,200 --> 00:30:11,200 All the families on the earth will be blessed through you. 468 00:30:11,200 --> 00:30:14,200 And he couldn't have children. 469 00:30:14,200 --> 00:30:19,200 But Abraham received that promise from God, right? 470 00:30:19,200 --> 00:30:25,200 Because he began to understand that God wanted to use him in the kingdom currency. 471 00:30:25,200 --> 00:30:33,200 That God was going to use him to restore the covenant that God had with man that Adam and Eve messed up in the Garden of Eden when they sinned. 472 00:30:33,200 --> 00:30:37,200 God would use Abram to restore the connection with his creation. 473 00:30:37,200 --> 00:30:39,200 Now think about this. 474 00:30:39,200 --> 00:30:41,200 A man who could not have children. 475 00:30:41,200 --> 00:30:44,200 I'm going to make you a great nation. 476 00:30:44,200 --> 00:30:46,200 A man who had no purpose. 477 00:30:46,200 --> 00:30:48,200 No, right? 478 00:30:48,200 --> 00:30:53,200 He had no plan and he says, I will bless you and make you famous. 479 00:30:53,200 --> 00:30:56,200 See, God wants to do the same in your life. 480 00:30:56,200 --> 00:30:59,200 God can use you and me to bless others. 481 00:30:59,200 --> 00:31:00,200 Right? 482 00:31:00,200 --> 00:31:01,200 Someone without pedigree. 483 00:31:01,200 --> 00:31:03,200 Someone without history. 484 00:31:03,200 --> 00:31:04,200 Right? 485 00:31:04,200 --> 00:31:08,200 Someone that has messed up time and time and time again. 486 00:31:08,200 --> 00:31:10,200 God can use you to change lives. 487 00:31:10,200 --> 00:31:11,200 How do I know that? 488 00:31:11,200 --> 00:31:13,200 Well, it's all throughout the Bible. 489 00:31:13,200 --> 00:31:15,200 Think about the lady named Rahab. 490 00:31:15,200 --> 00:31:19,200 Rahab operated a prostitution house. 491 00:31:19,200 --> 00:31:26,200 And God used a prostitute to preserve the lineage of Jesus that came down the Davidic line. 492 00:31:26,200 --> 00:31:31,200 God took her history and made a currency exchange with her life. 493 00:31:31,200 --> 00:31:33,200 Look at Joshua 6.25. 494 00:31:33,200 --> 00:31:39,200 So Joshua spared Rahab the prostitute and her relatives who were with her in the house 495 00:31:39,200 --> 00:31:43,200 because she had hidden the spies Joshua sent to Jericho. 496 00:31:43,200 --> 00:31:45,200 And she lives among the Israelites to this day. 497 00:31:45,200 --> 00:31:49,200 And then in Matthew 1.5, looking at Jesus' lineage, 498 00:31:49,200 --> 00:31:55,200 Sammon was the father of Boaz whose mother was Rahab. 499 00:31:55,200 --> 00:31:58,200 God can use a prostitute. 500 00:31:58,200 --> 00:32:01,200 God can use someone like David. 501 00:32:01,200 --> 00:32:05,200 And if you don't know anything about David, he doesn't just sin. 502 00:32:05,200 --> 00:32:07,200 He messes it all up. 503 00:32:07,200 --> 00:32:08,200 All right? 504 00:32:08,200 --> 00:32:10,200 Look at Samuel 12.9 through 10 and 13. 505 00:32:10,200 --> 00:32:14,200 Why then have you despised the word of the Lord and done this horrible deed? 506 00:32:14,200 --> 00:32:19,200 For you have murdered Uriah the Hittite with the sword of the Ammonites and stolen his wife. 507 00:32:19,200 --> 00:32:24,200 From this time on your family will live by the sword because you have despised me 508 00:32:24,200 --> 00:32:27,200 by taking Uriah's wife to be your own. 509 00:32:27,200 --> 00:32:28,200 Think about it. 510 00:32:28,200 --> 00:32:30,200 David lusted. 511 00:32:30,200 --> 00:32:31,200 Wanted this woman. 512 00:32:31,200 --> 00:32:34,200 Had her and then killed her husband. 513 00:32:34,200 --> 00:32:35,200 Murderer. 514 00:32:35,200 --> 00:32:38,200 Adopted her. 515 00:32:38,200 --> 00:32:39,200 Let's continue. 516 00:32:39,200 --> 00:32:42,200 And David confessed to Nathan, I have sinned against the Lord. 517 00:32:42,200 --> 00:32:48,200 And Nathan replied, yes, but the Lord has forgiven you and you won't die for this sin. 518 00:32:48,200 --> 00:32:51,200 God called David to repentance. 519 00:32:51,200 --> 00:32:58,200 And then we learn when we read the Bible that David was a man after God's heart. 520 00:32:58,200 --> 00:33:00,200 Because God worked in him and changed him. 521 00:33:00,200 --> 00:33:05,200 There was a currency exchange so that his kingdom could be advanced. 522 00:33:05,200 --> 00:33:09,200 And in the same way that God used Abraham and Rahab and David, guess what? 523 00:33:09,200 --> 00:33:12,200 God wants to use you to make a difference in the lives of others. 524 00:33:12,200 --> 00:33:15,200 But we have to stop trying to buy our happiness. 525 00:33:15,200 --> 00:33:20,200 We have to stop striving as a means of earning recognition. 526 00:33:20,200 --> 00:33:25,200 I am here to tell you this morning, you are God's plan to redeem the world. 527 00:33:25,200 --> 00:33:26,200 You. 528 00:33:26,200 --> 00:33:28,200 And how do we do that? 529 00:33:28,200 --> 00:33:29,200 Revelation 12, 11. 530 00:33:29,200 --> 00:33:35,200 And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony. 531 00:33:35,200 --> 00:33:38,200 And they did not love their lives so much that we're afraid to die. 532 00:33:38,200 --> 00:33:43,200 See, we have to start sharing our stories as a means of overcoming this world. 533 00:33:43,200 --> 00:33:48,200 Some of you are getting drug back in this sin, drug back into temptation, drug back into lies. 534 00:33:48,200 --> 00:33:52,200 Because you're not sharing your testimony of freedom and recovery. 535 00:33:52,200 --> 00:33:56,200 And it happens through sacrifice. 536 00:33:56,200 --> 00:33:57,200 Right? 537 00:33:57,200 --> 00:34:00,200 God called Abram to step out in faith. 538 00:34:00,200 --> 00:34:01,200 How do I know that? 539 00:34:01,200 --> 00:34:04,200 Well, look what happens in Genesis 22, 1. 540 00:34:04,200 --> 00:34:05,200 Right? 541 00:34:05,200 --> 00:34:10,200 So, after God tested Abraham's faith, Abraham, God called. 542 00:34:10,200 --> 00:34:14,200 Yes, he replied, here I am. 543 00:34:14,200 --> 00:34:16,200 So now listen to what happens in verse 2. 544 00:34:16,200 --> 00:34:18,200 And I just want to read it for you so you can hear it. 545 00:34:18,200 --> 00:34:27,200 Take your son, your only son, yes, Isaac, whom you love so much, and go to the land of Moriah. 546 00:34:27,200 --> 00:34:30,200 Go and sacrifice him as a burnt offering. 547 00:34:30,200 --> 00:34:32,200 So suddenly. 548 00:34:32,200 --> 00:34:33,200 Right? 549 00:34:33,200 --> 00:34:39,200 God tells Abram, God speaks to Abraham and says, you're going to be a great nation. 550 00:34:39,200 --> 00:34:42,200 So he has a son named Isaac. 551 00:34:42,200 --> 00:34:47,200 Then God says, no, go and sacrifice him. 552 00:34:47,200 --> 00:34:48,200 Right? 553 00:34:48,200 --> 00:34:53,200 And God is calling us, we'll be looking at this, to sacrifice our shame and share our story. 554 00:34:53,200 --> 00:34:54,200 Right? 555 00:34:54,200 --> 00:34:57,200 Some of you won't share your testimony because you're ashamed of what you did. 556 00:34:57,200 --> 00:34:58,200 Right? 557 00:34:58,200 --> 00:35:01,200 But God says, why don't you go back and help others? 558 00:35:01,200 --> 00:35:06,200 Sacrifice your gifts and your talents, not for yourself, but for others and for God's purpose. 559 00:35:06,200 --> 00:35:07,200 Right? 560 00:35:07,200 --> 00:35:11,200 He calls us to sacrifice our finances for others. 561 00:35:11,200 --> 00:35:13,200 Because we're God's plan. 562 00:35:13,200 --> 00:35:14,200 Right? 563 00:35:14,200 --> 00:35:15,200 Because God wants to use us. 564 00:35:15,200 --> 00:35:16,200 To do what? 565 00:35:16,200 --> 00:35:18,200 To see others changed. 566 00:35:18,200 --> 00:35:23,200 We have to realize our purpose always points back to our pain. 567 00:35:23,200 --> 00:35:25,200 It always points back to our pain. 568 00:35:25,200 --> 00:35:36,200 The word of our testimony, the currency of reaching people in the kingdom of God is your testimony, your story about how God changed your life. 569 00:35:36,200 --> 00:35:40,200 The currency of expanding the kingdom of God, it's inside of us. 570 00:35:40,200 --> 00:35:42,200 It comes out of us. 571 00:35:42,200 --> 00:35:45,200 It's inside of our pockets. 572 00:35:45,200 --> 00:35:51,200 It's called giving and allowing God to use us so we can be a part of his plan. 573 00:35:51,200 --> 00:35:53,200 So that we're called to make a difference. 574 00:35:53,200 --> 00:35:57,200 Some of you heard, we have bags of glow bracelets for you. 575 00:35:57,200 --> 00:35:58,200 Right here. 576 00:35:58,200 --> 00:35:59,200 And they do glow in the dark. 577 00:35:59,200 --> 00:36:00,200 They wake you up at night. 578 00:36:00,200 --> 00:36:01,200 They glow so much. 579 00:36:01,200 --> 00:36:02,200 Right? 580 00:36:02,200 --> 00:36:04,200 So I want to encourage you when you're leaving here, grab a bag. 581 00:36:04,200 --> 00:36:05,200 There's like 25 in each one. 582 00:36:05,200 --> 00:36:07,200 Set it out in the sun all week. 583 00:36:07,200 --> 00:36:15,200 And on Thursday, when you go to see the fireworks, just walk around for five minutes and say, free glow bracelets. 584 00:36:15,200 --> 00:36:17,200 And all these kids will just come running at you. 585 00:36:17,200 --> 00:36:19,200 And you just hand them out. 586 00:36:19,200 --> 00:36:21,200 They love these things. 587 00:36:21,200 --> 00:36:23,200 They're like all up their arm. 588 00:36:23,200 --> 00:36:24,200 And you say, and then you just walk away. 589 00:36:24,200 --> 00:36:25,200 You don't even have to say anything. 590 00:36:25,200 --> 00:36:26,200 You say, Chris, why would I do that? 591 00:36:26,200 --> 00:36:31,200 Because on this bracelet, it says, glow up, Matthew 5 14. 592 00:36:31,200 --> 00:36:32,200 Be a light to the world. 593 00:36:32,200 --> 00:36:34,200 And then it says, come as you are. 594 00:36:34,200 --> 00:36:35,200 Because at some point, guess what? 595 00:36:35,200 --> 00:36:36,200 You don't have to say anything. 596 00:36:36,200 --> 00:36:40,200 But that kid and that family is going to read that bracelet. 597 00:36:40,200 --> 00:36:46,200 And if there's a need in their life, they now have somewhere to go and somewhere to call home. 598 00:36:46,200 --> 00:36:47,200 Right? 599 00:36:47,200 --> 00:36:49,200 See, it's just all about sacrifice. 600 00:36:49,200 --> 00:36:51,200 You heard about the backpack giveaway last year. 601 00:36:51,200 --> 00:36:54,200 We gave away 1,200 backpacks. 602 00:36:54,200 --> 00:36:57,200 1,200 backpacks. 603 00:36:57,200 --> 00:36:58,200 Was it for us? 604 00:36:58,200 --> 00:37:01,200 Did we do it so that we could get the glory? 605 00:37:01,200 --> 00:37:03,200 No, we did it to serve our community. 606 00:37:03,200 --> 00:37:04,200 Right? 607 00:37:04,200 --> 00:37:09,200 Eight years ago, we only gave away 300 backpacks because we weren't that big of a community of faith. 608 00:37:09,200 --> 00:37:13,200 Now we're a larger community of faith, giving away thousands of backpacks. 609 00:37:13,200 --> 00:37:14,200 Right? 610 00:37:14,200 --> 00:37:16,200 And you say, well, Chris, does that make a difference? 611 00:37:16,200 --> 00:37:17,200 Yes, it makes a difference. 612 00:37:17,200 --> 00:37:19,200 It gives value to a child. 613 00:37:19,200 --> 00:37:22,200 It makes them feel loved and accepted. 614 00:37:22,200 --> 00:37:27,200 You are God's plan, which leads us to our next truth. 615 00:37:27,200 --> 00:37:31,200 The church where you're sitting is God's house. 616 00:37:31,200 --> 00:37:33,200 Genesis 22, one through two. 617 00:37:33,200 --> 00:37:35,200 Sometime later, God tested Abraham's faith. 618 00:37:35,200 --> 00:37:36,200 Abraham got called. 619 00:37:36,200 --> 00:37:37,200 Yes, he replied. 620 00:37:37,200 --> 00:37:38,200 Here I am. 621 00:37:38,200 --> 00:37:40,200 Take your son, your only son. 622 00:37:40,200 --> 00:37:41,200 Yes, Isaac, whom you love so much. 623 00:37:41,200 --> 00:37:43,200 And go to the land of Moriah. 624 00:37:43,200 --> 00:37:46,200 And when all Paul is there, everyone say Moriah. 625 00:37:46,200 --> 00:37:47,200 That's good. 626 00:37:47,200 --> 00:37:54,200 Now that's a significant word because the word Moriah is translated as the place of worship. 627 00:37:54,200 --> 00:37:59,200 God told Abraham to go to the place of worship. 628 00:37:59,200 --> 00:38:06,200 And this place that we gather week after week after week, friends, this is a place where people get set free. 629 00:38:06,200 --> 00:38:10,200 This is a place where people meet Jesus. 630 00:38:10,200 --> 00:38:11,200 Right? 631 00:38:11,200 --> 00:38:16,200 In the last three years, we've baptized nearly 400 people in the last three years. 632 00:38:16,200 --> 00:38:21,200 And you say, well, Chris, why is that important? 633 00:38:21,200 --> 00:38:29,200 That's eternally important because when you get baptized and you declare that you're following Jesus publicly, 634 00:38:29,200 --> 00:38:33,200 your date with heaven and eternity starts right then. 635 00:38:33,200 --> 00:38:37,200 And for those of you in a relationship with Jesus, you're already in heaven. 636 00:38:37,200 --> 00:38:38,200 Right? 637 00:38:38,200 --> 00:38:39,200 You're already in. 638 00:38:39,200 --> 00:38:46,200 And God says, OK, bring heaven that you're already in to earth and make a difference. 639 00:38:46,200 --> 00:38:48,200 So God gave Abraham what? 640 00:38:48,200 --> 00:38:54,200 A specific place to sacrifice, a specific place to worship. 641 00:38:54,200 --> 00:38:55,200 Right? 642 00:38:55,200 --> 00:38:59,200 And so many people, they don't quite understand, well, Chris, when it comes to my finances, 643 00:38:59,200 --> 00:39:02,200 why do I need to give to this place called worship? 644 00:39:02,200 --> 00:39:06,200 Or why do I need to give to the house where worship happens? 645 00:39:06,200 --> 00:39:08,200 I'm not even talking about tithing today. 646 00:39:08,200 --> 00:39:09,200 Everyone relax. 647 00:39:09,200 --> 00:39:12,200 Not even mentioning it. 648 00:39:12,200 --> 00:39:14,200 Not even going to teach about it. 649 00:39:14,200 --> 00:39:15,200 That's next week. 650 00:39:15,200 --> 00:39:18,200 OK, so I have a bunch of empty seats. 651 00:39:18,200 --> 00:39:20,200 So I'm going to tithe in next week. 652 00:39:20,200 --> 00:39:21,200 All right. 653 00:39:21,200 --> 00:39:24,200 But notice what Malachi 3.10 says. 654 00:39:24,200 --> 00:39:27,200 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse. 655 00:39:27,200 --> 00:39:28,200 What is the storehouse? 656 00:39:28,200 --> 00:39:29,200 That's God's house. 657 00:39:29,200 --> 00:39:33,200 So there'll be enough food in my temple if you do, says the Lord of heaven's armies. 658 00:39:33,200 --> 00:39:37,200 I will open the windows of heaven for you and I'll pour out a blessing so great 659 00:39:37,200 --> 00:39:39,200 that you won't have enough for him to take it in. 660 00:39:39,200 --> 00:39:40,200 Try it. 661 00:39:40,200 --> 00:39:42,200 Put me to the test. 662 00:39:42,200 --> 00:39:46,200 Now the window for Abraham, OK, I want you to understand this. 663 00:39:46,200 --> 00:39:48,200 It had nothing to do with finances. 664 00:39:48,200 --> 00:39:52,200 The window for Abraham had everything to do with faith. 665 00:39:52,200 --> 00:39:57,200 Abraham had to step out in faith to believe that God was going to provide a means 666 00:39:57,200 --> 00:39:59,200 that he didn't have to sacrifice his son. 667 00:39:59,200 --> 00:40:00,200 Right? 668 00:40:00,200 --> 00:40:03,200 Because Abraham knew that he needed to love his wife better. 669 00:40:03,200 --> 00:40:08,200 He knew he needed more faith to go on this journey that God was calling him on. 670 00:40:08,200 --> 00:40:09,200 Right? 671 00:40:09,200 --> 00:40:13,200 He found his faith and his support where? 672 00:40:13,200 --> 00:40:16,200 In the house of worship. 673 00:40:16,200 --> 00:40:17,200 Right? 674 00:40:17,200 --> 00:40:20,200 And that's what we do when we gather here. 675 00:40:20,200 --> 00:40:23,200 And when we gather here, you see, God speaks directly to our hearts 676 00:40:23,200 --> 00:40:26,200 through the Holy Spirit when it comes to giving. 677 00:40:26,200 --> 00:40:30,200 And not just remember, not just our finances, but our time, talent, and energy. 678 00:40:30,200 --> 00:40:33,200 2 Corinthians 9, 6 through 8, remember this. 679 00:40:33,200 --> 00:40:38,200 A farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. 680 00:40:38,200 --> 00:40:42,200 But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. 681 00:40:42,200 --> 00:40:47,200 You must each decide in your heart how much to give. 682 00:40:47,200 --> 00:40:51,200 And don't give reluctantly or in response to pressure 683 00:40:51,200 --> 00:40:55,200 for God loves a person who gives cheerfully. 684 00:40:55,200 --> 00:40:56,200 Right? 685 00:40:56,200 --> 00:40:59,200 Are you a cheerful giver? 686 00:40:59,200 --> 00:41:02,200 Do you share your kingdom currency with others? 687 00:41:02,200 --> 00:41:05,200 Jesus also challenged us in Luke 12, 34, 688 00:41:05,200 --> 00:41:09,200 wherever your treasure is, there your desires of your heart will also be. 689 00:41:09,200 --> 00:41:10,200 Right? 690 00:41:10,200 --> 00:41:12,200 So ask yourself this morning, 691 00:41:12,200 --> 00:41:16,200 does your time, your energy, your talent show up in God's house? 692 00:41:16,200 --> 00:41:18,200 Do you serve? Do you volunteer? 693 00:41:18,200 --> 00:41:22,200 Do your finances show up in God's house? 694 00:41:22,200 --> 00:41:25,200 Because if they don't, then are you really being generous? 695 00:41:25,200 --> 00:41:29,200 I remember one time, Jess and I stopped by the bank, Phoenix was with us, 696 00:41:29,200 --> 00:41:32,200 hanging out in the back, Jess went into the depository check or something, 697 00:41:32,200 --> 00:41:35,200 I don't remember what it was, but Phoenix and I were having this conversation, 698 00:41:35,200 --> 00:41:38,200 and we were talking about a bank, and then he says to me, 699 00:41:38,200 --> 00:41:40,200 Dad, does God have a bank? 700 00:41:40,200 --> 00:41:42,200 I was like, absolutely He does. 701 00:41:42,200 --> 00:41:44,200 It's called the local church. 702 00:41:44,200 --> 00:41:46,200 That's His bank. 703 00:41:46,200 --> 00:41:50,200 It's where God takes what's natural paper in our pockets 704 00:41:50,200 --> 00:41:53,200 and turns it into supernatural, 705 00:41:53,200 --> 00:41:56,200 where people get set free and spend eternity. 706 00:41:56,200 --> 00:41:57,200 Right? 707 00:41:57,200 --> 00:41:59,200 He turns the natural into the supernatural. 708 00:41:59,200 --> 00:42:01,200 And see, I want to challenge you with you. 709 00:42:01,200 --> 00:42:05,200 If you're not serving at HCV, it's a lack of faith. 710 00:42:05,200 --> 00:42:09,200 If you're not giving to HCV, it's a lack of faith. 711 00:42:09,200 --> 00:42:12,200 If you're not participating in our weekly gatherings and growth groups, 712 00:42:12,200 --> 00:42:14,200 you know what it is? 713 00:42:14,200 --> 00:42:16,200 It's a lack of faith. 714 00:42:16,200 --> 00:42:18,200 And I want to say this, 715 00:42:18,200 --> 00:42:21,200 God challenges us in our faith. 716 00:42:21,200 --> 00:42:23,200 He stretches us in our faith. 717 00:42:23,200 --> 00:42:27,200 Remember last year, God called our community of faith to what? 718 00:42:27,200 --> 00:42:29,200 To build wells in Africa. 719 00:42:29,200 --> 00:42:30,200 Right? 720 00:42:30,200 --> 00:42:31,200 I took a step of faith and I said, 721 00:42:31,200 --> 00:42:35,200 Hey, I feel like God's calling us to make a difference with the Christmas gift 722 00:42:35,200 --> 00:42:36,200 and build wells in Africa. 723 00:42:36,200 --> 00:42:41,200 I had no idea that we would raise nearly $60,000 724 00:42:41,200 --> 00:42:43,200 and build more than five wells in Africa. 725 00:42:43,200 --> 00:42:46,200 Check out this picture for those of you who missed it last week. 726 00:42:46,200 --> 00:42:47,200 Right? 727 00:42:47,200 --> 00:42:50,200 That is a well that we built in Kenya. 728 00:42:50,200 --> 00:42:51,200 And I'm not making that up. 729 00:42:51,200 --> 00:42:54,200 That is a well that we built in Kenya. 730 00:42:54,200 --> 00:42:59,200 And we built five more like that because of your generosity. 731 00:42:59,200 --> 00:43:00,200 Right? 732 00:43:00,200 --> 00:43:03,200 We wrote a Christmas gift to the world. 733 00:43:03,200 --> 00:43:06,200 It had nothing to do with our community of faith. 734 00:43:06,200 --> 00:43:07,200 Why? 735 00:43:07,200 --> 00:43:10,200 Because we want to make a difference. 736 00:43:10,200 --> 00:43:12,200 And for those of you who missed last week, 737 00:43:12,200 --> 00:43:17,200 you heard me share in KS Vision for the opportunity for us to build a kitchen. 738 00:43:17,200 --> 00:43:18,200 Right? 739 00:43:18,200 --> 00:43:21,200 I feel like our community of faith is called to build a kitchen 740 00:43:21,200 --> 00:43:23,200 at a school and a church house in Kenya 741 00:43:23,200 --> 00:43:26,200 that Jess and I visited a few months ago 742 00:43:26,200 --> 00:43:31,200 because to build a kitchen in Kenya only costs $10,000. 743 00:43:31,200 --> 00:43:33,200 $10,000. 744 00:43:33,200 --> 00:43:34,200 Right? 745 00:43:34,200 --> 00:43:38,200 I spent nearly $60,000 on my mom's place, on my house. 746 00:43:38,200 --> 00:43:42,200 $10,000 builds a kitchen. 747 00:43:42,200 --> 00:43:45,200 Church, do you think we can build that kitchen? 748 00:43:45,200 --> 00:43:46,200 I think we can. 749 00:43:46,200 --> 00:43:48,200 I think we can build that kitchen. 750 00:43:48,200 --> 00:43:50,200 And some of you have already been generous and have given, right, 751 00:43:50,200 --> 00:43:54,200 to make a difference so that we can build that kitchen 752 00:43:54,200 --> 00:43:57,200 because the best investment that we can make in this world 753 00:43:57,200 --> 00:43:59,200 is to invest in God's kingdom. 754 00:43:59,200 --> 00:44:03,200 Is to invest in God's kingdom, which leads us to our third truth. 755 00:44:03,200 --> 00:44:07,200 See, God's perspective is always a kingdom perspective. 756 00:44:07,200 --> 00:44:10,200 And this is where it gets real hard. 757 00:44:10,200 --> 00:44:14,200 Genesis 22, 3 through 5, imagine you were Abraham. 758 00:44:14,200 --> 00:44:16,200 The next morning Abraham got up early. 759 00:44:16,200 --> 00:44:19,200 He saddled his donkey, took his two of his servants with him 760 00:44:19,200 --> 00:44:20,200 along with his son Isaac. 761 00:44:20,200 --> 00:44:23,200 Then he chopped wood for a fire for a burn offering 762 00:44:23,200 --> 00:44:26,200 and set out for the place God had told him about. 763 00:44:26,200 --> 00:44:29,200 On the third day of their journey, Abraham looked up 764 00:44:29,200 --> 00:44:31,200 and saw the place in the distance. 765 00:44:31,200 --> 00:44:34,200 Stay here with the donkey, Abraham told his servants. 766 00:44:34,200 --> 00:44:36,200 The boy and I will travel a little further. 767 00:44:36,200 --> 00:44:37,200 We will worship there. 768 00:44:37,200 --> 00:44:39,200 Then we will come right back. 769 00:44:39,200 --> 00:44:43,200 Now, as I was studying these scriptures this week, 770 00:44:43,200 --> 00:44:46,200 it's like God just highlighted for me, I was just like, 771 00:44:46,200 --> 00:44:52,200 wait a minute, God told Abraham to go and sacrifice his son. 772 00:44:52,200 --> 00:44:54,200 True or false? 773 00:44:54,200 --> 00:45:00,200 Okay, so how does this scripture not say, I will be right back? 774 00:45:00,200 --> 00:45:05,200 Right, he told the servants, we will be right back. 775 00:45:05,200 --> 00:45:10,200 But wait a minute Abraham, I thought your son was gonna die. 776 00:45:10,200 --> 00:45:15,200 And see we all have to realize Abraham had a kingdom perspective. 777 00:45:15,200 --> 00:45:20,200 Right, he wasn't going to the mountain to earn God's respect, 778 00:45:20,200 --> 00:45:22,200 he was going to worship. 779 00:45:22,200 --> 00:45:27,200 He had a kingdom perspective, a vision that is different than ours. 780 00:45:27,200 --> 00:45:31,200 Right, ours is always focused on me. 781 00:45:31,200 --> 00:45:36,200 When God is always focused on his kingdom, he's always focused on others. 782 00:45:36,200 --> 00:45:40,200 Whatever God brought us out of, whatever he set us free from, 783 00:45:40,200 --> 00:45:43,200 listen church, he desires we go and meet more people like us 784 00:45:43,200 --> 00:45:46,200 that were in that position and bring them along. 785 00:45:46,200 --> 00:45:54,200 Our pain is often the means for others to experience freedom. 786 00:45:54,200 --> 00:45:58,200 God wants us to get a vision for his kingdom. 787 00:45:58,200 --> 00:46:00,200 Because Proverbs 29 and 18 tells us, 788 00:46:00,200 --> 00:46:06,200 where there is no vision, the people perish. 789 00:46:06,200 --> 00:46:11,200 Don't ever say I don't use King James, that's King James. 790 00:46:11,200 --> 00:46:17,200 And see when people don't walk in purpose, they don't have a kingdom perspective. 791 00:46:17,200 --> 00:46:20,200 And what is a kingdom perspective? Matthew 20, 28. 792 00:46:20,200 --> 00:46:23,200 Even the son of man came not to be served, 793 00:46:23,200 --> 00:46:27,200 but to serve others and give his life as a ransom for many. 794 00:46:27,200 --> 00:46:32,200 See Abraham had a vision that God was going to provide a means for his son to survive. 795 00:46:32,200 --> 00:46:37,200 Abraham had a kingdom perspective and friends we need to do the same. 796 00:46:37,200 --> 00:46:41,200 We need to adopt a kingdom perspective every single day, 797 00:46:41,200 --> 00:46:43,200 which leads us to our final truth. 798 00:46:43,200 --> 00:46:50,200 Our last is actually our first for the next God moment. 799 00:46:50,200 --> 00:46:56,200 Our last is actually our first for our next God moment. 800 00:46:56,200 --> 00:46:58,200 Genesis 22. 801 00:46:58,200 --> 00:47:02,200 So Abraham placed the wood for the burnt offering on Isaac's shoulders 802 00:47:02,200 --> 00:47:04,200 while he himself carried the fire and the knife. 803 00:47:04,200 --> 00:47:07,200 As the two of them walked on together, Isaac turned to Abraham and said, 804 00:47:07,200 --> 00:47:10,200 Father, yes my son Abraham replied. 805 00:47:10,200 --> 00:47:12,200 We have the fire and the wood, the boy said, 806 00:47:12,200 --> 00:47:15,200 but where is the sheet for the burnt offering? 807 00:47:15,200 --> 00:47:20,200 Imagine your son asking you that question. 808 00:47:20,200 --> 00:47:25,200 Abraham continues on, picks up the knife to kill his son as a sacrifice. 809 00:47:25,200 --> 00:47:29,200 At that moment, the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven, Abraham, Abraham. 810 00:47:29,200 --> 00:47:31,200 Yes, Abraham replied, here I am. 811 00:47:31,200 --> 00:47:33,200 Don't lay a hand on the boy. 812 00:47:33,200 --> 00:47:35,200 The angel said, do not hurt him in any way. 813 00:47:35,200 --> 00:47:38,200 For now I know that you truly fear God. 814 00:47:38,200 --> 00:47:41,200 You have not withheld for me even your son, your only son. 815 00:47:41,200 --> 00:47:45,200 Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught in its horns in a thicket. 816 00:47:45,200 --> 00:47:49,200 So he took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering in place of his son. 817 00:47:49,200 --> 00:47:54,200 See what happens in situations like this 818 00:47:54,200 --> 00:47:57,200 when we kick off a series on generosity. 819 00:47:57,200 --> 00:48:04,200 See quite often our sacrifices begin to speak to our hearts louder than the Holy Spirit. 820 00:48:04,200 --> 00:48:09,200 Our sacrifices, those things that God is asking us to give up, 821 00:48:09,200 --> 00:48:12,200 to lay down for the kingdom, 822 00:48:12,200 --> 00:48:16,200 they begin to speak louder than the Holy Spirit. 823 00:48:16,200 --> 00:48:21,200 Well, Chris, I have that money saved for a vacation. 824 00:48:21,200 --> 00:48:25,200 But Chris, I need a new sofa. Mine has holes in it. 825 00:48:25,200 --> 00:48:31,200 But Chris, I only have a 52-inch TV. I'm saving up for a 75. 826 00:48:31,200 --> 00:48:36,200 But Chris, it's a new line of makeup. It's going to end my acne. 827 00:48:36,200 --> 00:48:40,200 And isn't it funny? What do we accumulate through life? 828 00:48:40,200 --> 00:48:42,200 Tickets. 829 00:48:42,200 --> 00:48:46,200 We accumulate all these tickets. 830 00:48:46,200 --> 00:48:53,200 And when our sacrifice, what God's calling us to sacrifice, gets louder than the Holy Spirit, 831 00:48:53,200 --> 00:48:57,200 then we miss out on those God moments. 832 00:48:57,200 --> 00:49:01,200 We have to be willing to say, God, it's not about me. It's all about you. 833 00:49:01,200 --> 00:49:05,200 I want to experience a miracle. 834 00:49:05,200 --> 00:49:08,200 And how do we experience a miracle? It's when we give everything. 835 00:49:08,200 --> 00:49:12,200 Look at Mark 12. Jesus sat down near the collection box in the temple 836 00:49:12,200 --> 00:49:15,200 and watched as the crowds dropped in their money. 837 00:49:15,200 --> 00:49:18,200 Many rich people put in large amounts. 838 00:49:18,200 --> 00:49:22,200 Then a poor widow came and dropped in two small coins. 839 00:49:22,200 --> 00:49:25,200 Jesus called his disciples to him and said, I tell you the truth, 840 00:49:25,200 --> 00:49:30,200 this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions, 841 00:49:30,200 --> 00:49:37,200 for they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, gave everything. 842 00:49:37,200 --> 00:49:42,200 We experience a miracle when we participate in the kingdom of God. How do I know that? 843 00:49:42,200 --> 00:49:47,200 In the book of Acts, Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, 844 00:49:47,200 --> 00:49:49,200 looked up toward heaven and he blessed them. 845 00:49:49,200 --> 00:49:56,200 Then breaking the loaves into pieces, he kept giving the bread to the disciples. 846 00:49:56,200 --> 00:50:01,200 He kept giving the bread to the church so they could distribute it to the people. 847 00:50:01,200 --> 00:50:05,200 And then as they gave to the people, he also divided the fish for everyone to share. 848 00:50:05,200 --> 00:50:10,200 And afterward, the disciples picked up 12 baskets of what? 849 00:50:10,200 --> 00:50:13,200 Of abundance. Right? 850 00:50:13,200 --> 00:50:16,200 And all through life, we just keep collecting tickets. 851 00:50:16,200 --> 00:50:21,200 I got my 401k. I got my white picket fence with my dog. Right? 852 00:50:21,200 --> 00:50:26,200 I got my flat screen surround sound TV. I got perfume. I got shoes. 853 00:50:26,200 --> 00:50:30,200 And we accumulate all these tickets. 854 00:50:30,200 --> 00:50:36,200 And God is saying, are you willing to sacrifice them for me? 855 00:50:36,200 --> 00:50:38,200 Because here's the crazy thing. 856 00:50:38,200 --> 00:50:42,200 In America, we have abundance. We have extravagance. 857 00:50:42,200 --> 00:50:47,200 What did he ask Abraham to give? His one son. 858 00:50:47,200 --> 00:50:50,200 His one son. 859 00:50:50,200 --> 00:50:53,200 And Abraham could have made excuses. Right? 860 00:50:53,200 --> 00:50:56,200 He could have said, but I'm 99. I'm not going to have any more kids. 861 00:50:56,200 --> 00:51:01,200 I can't sacrifice this one that you blessed me with. Right? 862 00:51:01,200 --> 00:51:06,200 Notice he didn't bring the servants. He didn't bring Sarah along 863 00:51:06,200 --> 00:51:10,200 because if Sarah would have known that he was going to sacrifice that son, 864 00:51:10,200 --> 00:51:15,200 Abraham wouldn't have made it. 865 00:51:15,200 --> 00:51:17,200 And now fast forward today. 866 00:51:17,200 --> 00:51:22,200 Because he had a kingdom-minded focus. 867 00:51:22,200 --> 00:51:26,200 And he exchanged that kingdom currency. 868 00:51:26,200 --> 00:51:34,200 He now has, right, a multi-platinum selling song that many of you know. 869 00:51:34,200 --> 00:51:36,200 And you say, what do you mean? 870 00:51:36,200 --> 00:51:39,200 He's got a song that's greater than Bruno Mars. 871 00:51:39,200 --> 00:51:41,200 Okay? Let me start it for you. 872 00:51:41,200 --> 00:51:43,200 And I guarantee you some of you will start singing it. 873 00:51:43,200 --> 00:51:46,200 Father Abraham had many sons. 874 00:51:46,200 --> 00:51:50,200 And many sons had Father Abraham. 875 00:51:50,200 --> 00:51:52,200 And I am on them. 876 00:51:52,200 --> 00:51:54,200 And so are you. 877 00:51:54,200 --> 00:51:58,200 So let's still praise the Lord. 878 00:51:58,200 --> 00:52:02,200 Amen. 879 00:52:02,200 --> 00:52:09,200 All because of one ticket, Dave. 880 00:52:09,200 --> 00:52:15,200 Abraham is a multi-millionaire platinum singing album. 881 00:52:15,200 --> 00:52:18,200 And my question to you is this. 882 00:52:18,200 --> 00:52:22,200 Are you willing to be generous? 883 00:52:22,200 --> 00:52:26,200 Are you willing to take on a kingdom perspective 884 00:52:26,200 --> 00:52:30,200 and move past a selfish perspective 885 00:52:30,200 --> 00:52:33,200 that our culture wants us to adopt? 886 00:52:33,200 --> 00:52:39,200 And focus on the next generation of believers 887 00:52:39,200 --> 00:52:41,200 that will impact and change this world. 888 00:52:41,200 --> 00:53:09,200 Because that's what we're called to do. 889 00:53:11,200 --> 00:53:13,200 Amen.