WEBVTT 00:00:09.040 --> 00:00:13.300 All right. You guys would please grab your Bibles, 00:00:13.400 --> 00:00:19.160 turn to Matthew 6. Also, we're going to do the 00:00:19.160 --> 00:00:22.660 scripture, the doctrinal focus. Let's read the 00:00:22.660 --> 00:00:24.519 question and then you guys will read the answer. 00:00:24.910 --> 00:00:28.030 What does it benefit us to know that God has 00:00:28.030 --> 00:00:32.090 created all things and still upholds them by 00:00:32.090 --> 00:00:37.229 his providence? We can be patient in adversity, 00:00:37.670 --> 00:00:41.890 thankful in prosperity, and with the view of 00:00:41.890 --> 00:00:45.670 the future, we can have a firm confidence in 00:00:45.670 --> 00:00:49.820 our faithful God and Father. that no creature 00:00:49.820 --> 00:00:54.560 shall separate us from his love. For all creatures 00:00:54.560 --> 00:00:59.460 are so completely in his hand that without his 00:00:59.460 --> 00:01:04.980 they cannot... Excellent. Thank you very much. 00:01:05.760 --> 00:01:11.260 All right. So, this is not going to be an easy 00:01:11.260 --> 00:01:17.920 sermon. You guys just don't know how providential... 00:01:18.200 --> 00:01:24.939 Welcome back is. It's quite cool, actually. We 00:01:24.939 --> 00:01:27.599 have to address this issue. So I'm going to be 00:01:27.599 --> 00:01:30.000 very frank and open with you. And then I'm going 00:01:30.000 --> 00:01:32.859 to deal with this very biblically. We are going 00:01:32.859 --> 00:01:36.099 to be doing a series over this next month, a 00:01:36.099 --> 00:01:38.180 four -part series. Love God, love his word, love 00:01:38.180 --> 00:01:40.680 his ways, love his things. If you haven't had 00:01:40.680 --> 00:01:44.280 a chance, go downstairs. You'll see on the above 00:01:44.280 --> 00:01:47.459 the double door. Thank you, Pam. I forgot what 00:01:47.459 --> 00:01:53.700 that machine is. Cricket. She cricketed it. Cricketed 00:01:53.700 --> 00:02:00.140 it. And that's really our purpose is to love 00:02:00.140 --> 00:02:01.819 God, love his word, love his ways, love his things. 00:02:02.640 --> 00:02:04.340 And so we're going to be dealing with those four 00:02:04.340 --> 00:02:06.620 parts, those four things over this next month. 00:02:06.760 --> 00:02:09.680 And so the first issue is to love God. And there 00:02:09.680 --> 00:02:12.280 is a very practical, simple, biblical way that 00:02:12.280 --> 00:02:16.569 God determines love, right? One. Love is obedience. 00:02:16.689 --> 00:02:18.789 I'll prove that. Two, it's seen in your wallet. 00:02:19.129 --> 00:02:22.009 Now, I don't like preaching on money messages. 00:02:22.370 --> 00:02:23.990 You guys know that. I've been here three years. 00:02:24.129 --> 00:02:26.770 We talked about money once, I think. And it was 00:02:26.770 --> 00:02:29.189 not even like that kind of like a giving thing 00:02:29.189 --> 00:02:31.229 because we were fine. But I'll make it really 00:02:31.229 --> 00:02:33.530 frank with you like I did with first service. 00:02:34.150 --> 00:02:38.789 Financially, we're in trouble. So when I got 00:02:38.789 --> 00:02:41.789 back, I got a phone call from finance department, 00:02:41.969 --> 00:02:46.039 finance. Yeah, pastor. We only got like $7 ,600 00:02:46.039 --> 00:02:49.740 in the bank. When we started the year, we had 00:02:49.740 --> 00:02:53.219 $30 ,000 in the bank. In four months, we've lost 00:02:53.219 --> 00:02:55.900 $25 ,000. So what's the first question I'm going 00:02:55.900 --> 00:02:59.960 to ask? How are we spending our money? Good news 00:02:59.960 --> 00:03:02.759 is it's not a spending issue. The deacons have 00:03:02.759 --> 00:03:05.400 done a phenomenal job in stewarding the money. 00:03:05.960 --> 00:03:08.840 It's not a spending issue. It's not because we're 00:03:08.840 --> 00:03:10.740 overspending on electric. It's not because we're 00:03:10.740 --> 00:03:13.699 overspending on other things. It's a giving issue. 00:03:15.599 --> 00:03:22.060 We have lost $10 ,000 a month in giving. So how 00:03:22.060 --> 00:03:25.939 does a pastor address this? Does he do like other 00:03:25.939 --> 00:03:31.139 pastors do? Lock the doors and, you know, got 00:03:31.139 --> 00:03:33.539 to pay the electric bill. It's $1 ,000. Come 00:03:33.539 --> 00:03:36.379 on, who wants to help? Have guys stand up here 00:03:36.379 --> 00:03:39.120 and people walk up and then count the money and 00:03:39.120 --> 00:03:41.099 then they go, oh, we're $500 short. We need to 00:03:41.099 --> 00:03:43.689 do five more. I'm not going to do that. Or do 00:03:43.689 --> 00:03:45.590 we do a marketing scheme like the rest of these 00:03:45.590 --> 00:03:49.129 quote -unquote churches do, put on concerts and 00:03:49.129 --> 00:03:52.530 fundraisers, and is that the way church is supposed 00:03:52.530 --> 00:03:56.270 to work? Do we create marketing schemes in order 00:03:56.270 --> 00:03:59.370 to raise money? No. We deal with it biblically. 00:04:00.110 --> 00:04:03.550 We deal with the issue biblically. There are 00:04:03.550 --> 00:04:06.990 three types, three people within the church when 00:04:06.990 --> 00:04:09.620 it comes to money. Those who give out of ignorance. 00:04:09.860 --> 00:04:11.060 In other words, they don't know that they're 00:04:11.060 --> 00:04:12.740 supposed to give and they don't know how they're 00:04:12.740 --> 00:04:14.979 supposed to give. And so they just don't know. 00:04:15.020 --> 00:04:16.220 They haven't been taught. They're new in the 00:04:16.220 --> 00:04:20.420 faith. And giving has a stigma to it because 00:04:20.420 --> 00:04:24.279 churches, bad churches, have presented giving 00:04:24.279 --> 00:04:28.600 in such a way that it makes it look like churches, 00:04:28.639 --> 00:04:31.319 all they want is money. That's not our church. 00:04:31.879 --> 00:04:35.420 And there are those who just don't give. They 00:04:35.420 --> 00:04:37.730 know they should give. They just don't give, 00:04:37.930 --> 00:04:40.670 and as a result of them not giving, they're living 00:04:40.670 --> 00:04:43.670 disobediently. And then there are those who give 00:04:43.670 --> 00:04:47.829 faithfully, and within that faithful group, there 00:04:47.829 --> 00:04:52.769 are those who give abundantly. They are generous, 00:04:52.990 --> 00:04:56.209 and then there are those who are not. They just 00:04:56.209 --> 00:05:00.750 give a little and say, I did my deed. Well, God 00:05:00.750 --> 00:05:02.850 deals with it in a very practical way, and that's 00:05:02.850 --> 00:05:05.029 how we're going to look at this today. I will 00:05:05.029 --> 00:05:09.050 tell you. It's sin. There is sin that leads to 00:05:09.050 --> 00:05:11.189 death, and there is sin that does not lead to 00:05:11.189 --> 00:05:13.689 death. The sin that does not lead to death is 00:05:13.689 --> 00:05:17.350 sin out of ignorance. I just didn't know. After 00:05:17.350 --> 00:05:20.129 today, you'll know. Then there is sin that is 00:05:20.129 --> 00:05:23.470 rebellious, that leads to death. Purposeful sin, 00:05:23.589 --> 00:05:27.889 unwilling to be generous with their lives. Because 00:05:27.889 --> 00:05:31.930 they place a value on a dollar, and they compare 00:05:31.930 --> 00:05:35.360 that dollar to the value of the sacrificed Son 00:05:35.360 --> 00:05:38.779 of God, and say, that's how much it's worth. 00:05:38.959 --> 00:05:41.759 And so here we go. Are you ready? We're going 00:05:41.759 --> 00:05:43.420 to handle this on a biblical way. I told you 00:05:43.420 --> 00:05:47.379 that. We talked about this in our deacons meeting 00:05:47.379 --> 00:05:51.319 and elder meeting. And I told them I will address 00:05:51.319 --> 00:05:53.879 it immediately because we can't go another month. 00:05:54.360 --> 00:05:58.399 If we don't change this now, the church will 00:05:58.399 --> 00:06:01.860 start to desize. Here's what will happen. I'm 00:06:01.860 --> 00:06:03.680 going to make it very clear with you what I told 00:06:03.680 --> 00:06:07.199 the deacons and the elders agree. We would then 00:06:07.199 --> 00:06:10.399 lay off the non -essential staff. After the non 00:06:10.399 --> 00:06:12.459 -essential staff, if things don't change, then 00:06:12.459 --> 00:06:18.319 we lay off Jody. After Jody comes Marilyn. After 00:06:18.319 --> 00:06:22.420 Marilyn comes me. After me, we sell the church. 00:06:23.160 --> 00:06:26.439 That is what disobedience will do. Just being 00:06:26.439 --> 00:06:30.259 very real with you. This church will not close. 00:06:30.860 --> 00:06:33.579 I am fully convinced that the Lord has established 00:06:33.579 --> 00:06:37.220 her for 142 years for a reason. But in order 00:06:37.220 --> 00:06:39.660 for us as a people of God to get to where we 00:06:39.660 --> 00:06:42.500 need to be spiritually with him, in the total 00:06:42.500 --> 00:06:45.560 surrender of our lives, we must learn to surrender 00:06:45.560 --> 00:06:49.220 the very thing that has the least value. But 00:06:49.220 --> 00:06:51.079 the thing that has the least value is the one 00:06:51.079 --> 00:06:53.240 thing we hold on to tighter than anything because 00:06:53.240 --> 00:06:56.199 we think that without it, I will not survive. 00:06:56.939 --> 00:06:59.459 So I will share biblically how God handles this 00:06:59.459 --> 00:07:03.649 issue, okay? If this was not an issue, even then, 00:07:03.790 --> 00:07:06.490 Christ would have never addressed it. God would 00:07:06.490 --> 00:07:10.009 have never addressed it. God addressed it in 00:07:10.009 --> 00:07:13.470 the tithe. Christ addresses it in the sacrifice. 00:07:14.350 --> 00:07:18.509 Either way, we must learn to give sacrificially. 00:07:19.110 --> 00:07:24.290 So here we go. Matthew 6. Verse 19 through 34. 00:07:24.629 --> 00:07:26.750 Now one of the things I want you to notice concerning 00:07:26.750 --> 00:07:30.230 Matthew 6, verse 19 through 34, is please be 00:07:30.230 --> 00:07:32.990 quick to get rid of the headings. The headings 00:07:32.990 --> 00:07:37.029 mean nothing. This is a continual thought that 00:07:37.029 --> 00:07:40.649 Christ is clearly articulating concerning the 00:07:40.649 --> 00:07:44.110 heart of his people. One, before he deals with 00:07:44.110 --> 00:07:46.670 the issue of the treasures in heaven, he deals 00:07:46.670 --> 00:07:49.600 with the issue of fasting. That means, am I willing 00:07:49.600 --> 00:07:53.379 to give up my physical body for the sake of Christ 00:07:53.379 --> 00:07:56.759 and to be holy and to really understand the importance 00:07:56.759 --> 00:08:00.980 of why I do fast? But he gets to the point where 00:08:00.980 --> 00:08:03.079 he deals with the treasure. And this thought 00:08:03.079 --> 00:08:07.060 continues from verse 19 through 34. It's a continual 00:08:07.060 --> 00:08:09.079 thought, not different thought, continual thought. 00:08:09.160 --> 00:08:10.779 You're going to see that in a minute. Here we 00:08:10.779 --> 00:08:13.920 go. Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on 00:08:13.920 --> 00:08:17.639 earth. Where moth and rust destroy, where thieves 00:08:17.639 --> 00:08:20.879 break in and steal. But lay up for yourselves 00:08:20.879 --> 00:08:24.100 treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust 00:08:24.100 --> 00:08:28.300 destroys or thieves break in and steal. For where 00:08:28.300 --> 00:08:30.620 your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 00:08:30.779 --> 00:08:33.559 Father, I want to thank you that you are good. 00:08:34.139 --> 00:08:37.019 That you want our heart. You want our entire 00:08:37.019 --> 00:08:42.820 being. You want everything of us. as stewards 00:08:42.820 --> 00:08:46.240 of all that you've given. We are not the owners. 00:08:46.740 --> 00:08:51.019 We are the stewards. Help us to see our responsibility 00:08:51.019 --> 00:08:54.179 to turn our hearts towards you in obedience, 00:08:54.559 --> 00:08:57.340 to live rightly before a holy and mighty God, 00:08:57.480 --> 00:09:00.480 and to love you supremely in Jesus' name. Amen. 00:09:00.759 --> 00:09:04.019 The eye is the lamp of the body. So if the eye 00:09:04.019 --> 00:09:07.860 is healthy, your whole body will be full of light. 00:09:07.960 --> 00:09:27.599 But if your eye is bad, your whole body... Do 00:09:27.599 --> 00:09:33.820 you see the thought here? Why does he deal with 00:09:33.820 --> 00:09:35.960 the eye? Because we have placed our affection 00:09:35.960 --> 00:09:40.889 on our wallets. Therefore, That when you see 00:09:40.889 --> 00:09:44.149 a therefore, it's therefore because it's there 00:09:44.149 --> 00:09:47.529 for you to pay attention. Hope you like that 00:09:47.529 --> 00:09:49.809 one. That's kind of a new one. Everyone else 00:09:49.809 --> 00:09:51.490 usually says the same thing. I just want to be 00:09:51.490 --> 00:09:55.389 slightly different. I am different. Therefore, 00:09:55.529 --> 00:09:58.389 I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, 00:09:58.509 --> 00:10:01.169 what you will eat or what you will drink, nor 00:10:01.169 --> 00:10:05.269 about your body, what you will put on. Is not 00:10:05.269 --> 00:10:07.750 life more than food and the body more than clothing? 00:10:08.360 --> 00:10:11.000 Look at the birds of the air. They neither sow 00:10:11.000 --> 00:10:14.480 nor reap nor gather in the barns, yet your heavenly 00:10:14.480 --> 00:10:18.879 Father feeds them. And are you not more value 00:10:18.879 --> 00:10:22.779 than they? And which of you, being anxious, can 00:10:22.779 --> 00:10:27.019 add a single hour or span of life? And why are 00:10:27.019 --> 00:10:30.100 you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies 00:10:30.100 --> 00:10:33.379 of the field, how they grow. They neither toil 00:10:33.379 --> 00:10:36.629 nor spin. Yet I tell you, even Solomon in all 00:10:36.629 --> 00:10:40.309 of his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 00:10:40.429 --> 00:10:44.210 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, 00:10:44.309 --> 00:10:46.850 which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into 00:10:46.850 --> 00:10:50.929 the oven, will he not much more clothe you? And 00:10:50.929 --> 00:10:54.570 you, O you of little faith, therefore do not 00:10:54.570 --> 00:10:58.389 be anxious, saying, What shall we eat? Or what 00:10:58.389 --> 00:11:14.929 shall we drink? Or what shall we wear? Do you 00:11:14.929 --> 00:11:18.889 hear that? Don't hold on to your money because 00:11:18.889 --> 00:11:20.330 you're afraid you're not going to be able to 00:11:20.330 --> 00:11:22.509 pay a bill. Don't hold on to your money because 00:11:22.509 --> 00:11:24.809 you're afraid I've got to feed my family. Don't 00:11:24.809 --> 00:11:26.509 hold on to your money because I need new clothes. 00:11:26.870 --> 00:11:29.909 Or my kids might need sneakers. Don't hold on 00:11:29.909 --> 00:11:31.429 to your money because you think you're not going 00:11:31.429 --> 00:11:34.750 to make it. What's he say? Seek first the kingdom 00:11:34.750 --> 00:11:36.590 of God and his righteousness and all these things 00:11:36.590 --> 00:11:39.509 shall be added unto you. I am a personal testimony 00:11:39.509 --> 00:11:46.509 of that. When you start ministry off at 200 to 00:11:46.509 --> 00:11:50.470 400 and 800 hours a month for two years with 00:11:50.470 --> 00:11:53.110 a family of four and you're wondering how am 00:11:53.110 --> 00:11:56.409 I going to feed my family? When you don't have 00:11:56.409 --> 00:12:00.070 the money to buy the food and you give your tithe 00:12:00.070 --> 00:12:04.590 anyway, watch what God did. He fed, we lived 00:12:04.590 --> 00:12:09.149 like kings. Why? Because we didn't care. We wanted 00:12:09.149 --> 00:12:12.570 the kingdom of God. That's what we wanted. Therefore, 00:12:12.730 --> 00:12:16.429 do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow 00:12:16.429 --> 00:12:19.629 will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the 00:12:19.629 --> 00:12:24.070 day is its own trouble. Stop living for tomorrow. 00:12:24.750 --> 00:12:27.590 Live now. Tomorrow will take care of itself, 00:12:27.769 --> 00:12:31.269 and God will take care of everything. You're 00:12:31.269 --> 00:12:32.889 like, well, pastor, why are you talking about 00:12:32.889 --> 00:12:36.090 this stuff? Because people stop giving because 00:12:36.090 --> 00:12:37.169 they're afraid they're not going to be able to 00:12:37.169 --> 00:12:42.090 make their ends meet. Here's why. God owns it 00:12:42.090 --> 00:12:48.830 all. Literally everything. It all exists, and 00:12:48.830 --> 00:12:53.629 you exist for his good pleasure. You don't exist 00:12:53.629 --> 00:12:57.389 because you own yourself. God owns you. He owns 00:12:57.389 --> 00:13:02.090 the saved and the unsaved. He owns it all. Everything 00:13:02.090 --> 00:13:04.590 is his. You're like, what's the point of living? 00:13:04.750 --> 00:13:08.570 Because he is God and he deserves glory. That's 00:13:08.570 --> 00:13:12.129 why we live. Philippians 2 .13 clarifies the 00:13:12.129 --> 00:13:14.730 reality that everything exists for his pleasure. 00:13:15.289 --> 00:13:24.809 Colossians 1 .16 -17. On earth, visible, invisible, 00:13:25.110 --> 00:13:30.529 whether thrones, dominions, or rulers, or authorities, 00:13:30.649 --> 00:13:35.470 all things were created through him and for him. 00:13:35.929 --> 00:13:40.809 Who created America? Jesus did. America didn't 00:13:40.809 --> 00:13:43.169 exist because we wanted our freedom. America 00:13:43.169 --> 00:13:48.009 exists because God wanted her to exist. He established 00:13:48.009 --> 00:13:52.200 her. Our responsibility is to steward it. Have 00:13:52.200 --> 00:13:57.639 done a good job. Here we go. Verse 17 says, And 00:13:57.639 --> 00:14:01.080 he is before all things, and in him all things 00:14:01.080 --> 00:14:04.100 hold together. The literal existence of the earth 00:14:04.100 --> 00:14:07.299 and you being here is God literally keeps you 00:14:07.299 --> 00:14:13.240 from exploding. It's literal. Psalm 24. Verse 00:14:13.240 --> 00:14:17.399 1 and 2. The earth is the Lord's and the fullness 00:14:17.399 --> 00:14:21.360 thereof. The world and those who dwell therein. 00:14:21.940 --> 00:14:26.299 Are whose? The Lord's. Why? For he has founded 00:14:26.299 --> 00:14:28.519 it upon the seas and established it upon the 00:14:28.519 --> 00:14:33.019 rivers. Psalm 50, verse 10 through 15. For every 00:14:33.019 --> 00:14:38.230 beast of the forest is mine. The cattle on a 00:14:38.230 --> 00:14:41.429 thousand hills. I know all the birds of the hills 00:14:41.429 --> 00:14:46.370 and all that moves in the field is mine. If I 00:14:46.370 --> 00:14:49.970 were hungry, I would not tell you. You think 00:14:49.970 --> 00:14:52.330 God needs to come to you and go, you know, I'm 00:14:52.330 --> 00:14:54.990 really hungry right now. Would you please give 00:14:54.990 --> 00:14:57.450 me something to eat? Do you think God comes to 00:14:57.450 --> 00:15:00.409 you and says, you know, I have a bill I have 00:15:00.409 --> 00:15:03.029 to pay for. I really need your help for me to 00:15:03.029 --> 00:15:06.149 pay it. So when I tell you that God doesn't need 00:15:06.149 --> 00:15:09.139 your money, He doesn't need your money. He's 00:15:09.139 --> 00:15:11.820 not in need of anything. He is completely self 00:15:11.820 --> 00:15:15.759 -sufficient and fully self -governed. He is in 00:15:15.759 --> 00:15:18.419 need of nothing. He is completely and totally 00:15:18.419 --> 00:15:22.039 satisfied within himself. There is nothing that 00:15:22.039 --> 00:15:24.379 God needs. Why does God do anything for his glory? 00:15:24.799 --> 00:15:27.779 If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the 00:15:27.779 --> 00:15:32.279 world and its fullness are mine. Do I eat the 00:15:32.279 --> 00:15:36.490 flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats? No. 00:15:36.830 --> 00:15:40.450 Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving. When 00:15:40.450 --> 00:15:43.909 we give to God, it's because thank you. Everything 00:15:43.909 --> 00:15:47.830 I give you, everything to thank you. And perform 00:15:47.830 --> 00:15:52.710 your vows to the Most High. So when God calls 00:15:52.710 --> 00:15:56.730 us to give, it's to give a sacrifice of thanksgiving 00:15:56.730 --> 00:16:00.879 and to fulfill a vow that we've promised. And 00:16:00.879 --> 00:16:04.580 call upon me in the day of trouble. I will deliver 00:16:04.580 --> 00:16:08.059 you and you shall glorify me. Do you see that? 00:16:08.240 --> 00:16:12.100 It's not just for your benefit. He will deliver 00:16:12.100 --> 00:16:16.019 us and we shall glorify him in our acts of giving 00:16:16.019 --> 00:16:20.600 towards him. Why? God has called and made us 00:16:20.600 --> 00:16:24.179 alive in Christ to love. To love him specifically. 00:16:24.539 --> 00:16:28.860 Why do we give? Because God loved us first. God 00:16:28.860 --> 00:16:33.120 gave first. God gave the most valued thing first. 00:16:33.240 --> 00:16:37.700 We are created to love him and serve him. 1 John 00:16:37.700 --> 00:16:41.759 4, 7 -9 Beloved, let us love one another for 00:16:41.759 --> 00:16:44.679 love is from God and whoever loves has been born 00:16:44.679 --> 00:16:47.019 of God and knows God and anyone who does not 00:16:47.019 --> 00:16:50.690 love does not know God because God is love. In 00:16:50.690 --> 00:16:54.090 this the love of God was made manifest among 00:16:54.090 --> 00:16:58.269 us that God sent his only son into the world 00:16:58.269 --> 00:17:00.370 so that we might live through him. Do you see 00:17:00.370 --> 00:17:03.049 what God gave? For God so loved the world that 00:17:03.049 --> 00:17:06.190 he gave his only begotten son. Do you think a 00:17:06.190 --> 00:17:09.750 dollar is worth Jesus? Think about that. Matthew 00:17:09.750 --> 00:17:13.160 22. And he said to them, you shall love the Lord 00:17:13.160 --> 00:17:14.839 your God with all your heart and with all your 00:17:14.839 --> 00:17:17.859 soul and with all your mind. This is the greatest 00:17:17.859 --> 00:17:19.700 and first commandment. And the second is like 00:17:19.700 --> 00:17:21.539 it. You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 00:17:21.680 --> 00:17:26.039 On these two commandments depend all the law 00:17:26.039 --> 00:17:29.960 and the prophets. The entire word of God hangs 00:17:29.960 --> 00:17:34.839 on the command to love God and love others. Why? 00:17:35.779 --> 00:17:39.119 Because Christ commands us to love him. Obedience 00:17:39.119 --> 00:17:43.440 is not an option. It's a command. Giving is not 00:17:43.440 --> 00:17:47.000 an option. It's a command. God commands you to 00:17:47.000 --> 00:17:50.460 give. Christ commands us to love him, and the 00:17:50.460 --> 00:17:54.359 proof of that love is in obedience. John chapter 00:17:54.359 --> 00:17:59.720 14, verse 15 and 21. John 14, verse 15 and 21. 00:17:59.960 --> 00:18:04.900 If you love me, let me say it again. If you agape 00:18:04.900 --> 00:18:09.869 me, he says. If you love me, you will keep my 00:18:09.869 --> 00:18:12.670 commandments. Look what it says in verse 21. 00:18:12.890 --> 00:18:16.490 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, it 00:18:16.490 --> 00:18:20.049 is he who loves me. And he who loves me will 00:18:20.049 --> 00:18:22.509 be loved by my father and I will love him and 00:18:22.509 --> 00:18:26.130 manifest myself to him. How do we know that we 00:18:26.130 --> 00:18:28.769 are in him and that he has manifested himself 00:18:28.769 --> 00:18:32.150 to us? It's because I love him and I want to 00:18:32.150 --> 00:18:36.589 be obedient to him. The fact that I love God, 00:18:36.940 --> 00:18:38.940 And I want to obey him as the reality of his 00:18:38.940 --> 00:18:41.680 manifestation to me because he made me love him. 00:18:42.000 --> 00:18:45.599 Here's the proof. 1 John 2, verse 3 through 6. 00:18:46.000 --> 00:18:51.420 And by this we know that we have come to know 00:18:51.420 --> 00:18:55.700 him if we keep his commandments. Whoever says 00:18:55.700 --> 00:18:58.839 I know him but does not keep his commandments 00:18:58.839 --> 00:19:02.079 is a liar and the truth is not in him. But whoever 00:19:02.079 --> 00:19:05.500 keeps his word, in him truly the love of God 00:19:05.500 --> 00:19:09.579 is perfected. By this we know, we may know that 00:19:09.579 --> 00:19:12.440 we are in him. Whoever says he abides in him 00:19:12.440 --> 00:19:15.880 ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. 00:19:16.180 --> 00:19:20.299 Do you think Jesus needed anything? No. Jesus 00:19:20.299 --> 00:19:22.500 said, the son of man has no place to lay his 00:19:22.500 --> 00:19:25.700 head. Did he ever ask for a house? No. As a matter 00:19:25.700 --> 00:19:27.940 of fact, do you remember this little story? There's 00:19:27.940 --> 00:19:30.359 a bunch of people gathered outside. They're all 00:19:30.359 --> 00:19:32.880 sitting down and Jesus was talking. And Peter, 00:19:32.940 --> 00:19:35.640 you know, brave. Peter, you know Peter. He opens 00:19:35.640 --> 00:19:37.799 his mouth and gets himself in trouble, I think. 00:19:38.319 --> 00:19:41.599 He's like, hey, Jesus, I think we should send 00:19:41.599 --> 00:19:43.299 these people home because it's getting late and 00:19:43.299 --> 00:19:46.380 they need to eat. Did Jesus go, oh, my gosh, 00:19:46.579 --> 00:19:50.380 I need your help. What did he say to them? He 00:19:50.380 --> 00:19:53.900 said, you give them something to eat. It'd take 00:19:53.900 --> 00:19:56.420 an entire week's of work to get enough money 00:19:56.420 --> 00:19:58.160 to buy food for these people. And plus the next 00:19:58.160 --> 00:20:02.680 market is like 50 miles. I'm just being, I'm 00:20:02.680 --> 00:20:05.740 adding, I'm being a little bit. It wasn't like 00:20:05.740 --> 00:20:09.220 50 miles. I'm just saying. No, Jesus goes, you 00:20:09.220 --> 00:20:11.339 feed them. And what does he do? Peter goes, oh, 00:20:11.420 --> 00:20:14.500 okay. He said, go find some food. So he walks, 00:20:14.559 --> 00:20:16.000 finds a little boy. The little boy has what? 00:20:17.160 --> 00:20:21.240 Five loaves and? What did Jesus do? Thank you, 00:20:21.240 --> 00:20:24.299 Father, for all your provision. And he fed 5 00:20:24.299 --> 00:20:27.740 ,000 people and then had 12 basketfuls left over 00:20:27.740 --> 00:20:31.039 eat one basket for each disciple. Do you think 00:20:31.039 --> 00:20:34.480 Jesus needs anything? Not at all. Look what it 00:20:34.480 --> 00:20:38.680 says. 1 John 5, 1 through 5. Everyone who believes 00:20:38.680 --> 00:20:40.839 that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God. 00:20:41.420 --> 00:20:44.539 And everyone who loves the Father loves whoever 00:20:44.539 --> 00:20:48.700 has been born of him. By this we know that we 00:20:48.700 --> 00:20:53.140 love the children of God. I want you to hear 00:20:53.140 --> 00:20:58.619 this. By this we know that we love one another. 00:20:59.400 --> 00:21:02.779 You ready? I bet you didn't see this here. When? 00:21:03.130 --> 00:21:07.309 We love God and obey his commands. You mean I 00:21:07.309 --> 00:21:10.210 love you when I'm obedient? Yes. When I'm disobedient, 00:21:10.210 --> 00:21:12.390 do you think it doesn't affect you? It's like 00:21:12.390 --> 00:21:14.130 a ripple. Take a stone, throw it in the lake. 00:21:14.210 --> 00:21:16.230 What happens to the ripple? All the little secret 00:21:16.230 --> 00:21:19.210 things we all do behind the doors, don't you 00:21:19.210 --> 00:21:21.690 think that doesn't affect the church? All of 00:21:21.690 --> 00:21:23.769 us are affected. And I'll give you an example 00:21:23.769 --> 00:21:26.990 of what God dealt with me on my sabbatical. You're 00:21:26.990 --> 00:21:29.190 going to notice that I will no longer be on Facebook 00:21:29.190 --> 00:21:32.269 anymore. Facebook will be deleted officially 00:21:32.269 --> 00:21:36.109 on the 27th of this month. It will no longer 00:21:36.109 --> 00:21:39.450 exist. Almost 20 years of memories will be wiped 00:21:39.450 --> 00:21:42.089 out in a matter of a second. All the pictures, 00:21:42.250 --> 00:21:46.369 784 pictures, will be deleted. Why? Because no 00:21:46.369 --> 00:21:51.670 memory is worth the testimony of my life concerning 00:21:51.670 --> 00:21:55.710 the redemption of Christ upon me. Facebook isn't 00:21:55.710 --> 00:22:01.470 worth a single iota of sexual porn. That's what's 00:22:01.470 --> 00:22:06.609 filled with Facebook now. Gone. Done. Not supporting 00:22:06.609 --> 00:22:09.390 it and I don't want it. Because it's not going 00:22:09.390 --> 00:22:12.150 to hook me and drag me down like other men of 00:22:12.150 --> 00:22:16.990 God. My point, I love God. I love God. I want 00:22:16.990 --> 00:22:21.029 to obey him. Why? Because he lives in me. Obedience. 00:22:21.809 --> 00:22:24.369 Bye bye Facebook. That's good because I don't 00:22:24.369 --> 00:22:26.250 have any more social medias. I don't have to 00:22:26.250 --> 00:22:28.450 worry about it anymore. Worry about all the weird 00:22:28.450 --> 00:22:31.599 stuff too. For this, Is the love of God. Verse 00:22:31.599 --> 00:22:34.819 3. That we keep his commandments. Do you hear 00:22:34.819 --> 00:22:37.279 that? This is the love of God. That we keep his 00:22:37.279 --> 00:22:40.519 commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. 00:22:40.779 --> 00:22:43.279 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes 00:22:43.279 --> 00:22:46.319 the world. And this is the victory that has overcome 00:22:46.319 --> 00:22:49.720 the world. Our faith. Who is it that overcomes 00:22:49.720 --> 00:22:52.160 the world? Except the one who believes that Jesus 00:22:52.160 --> 00:22:56.440 is the son of God. Two stories. I'm almost done. 00:22:56.680 --> 00:22:59.440 It's going to be a long. It's okay. It's church. 00:23:00.079 --> 00:23:01.880 Two stories I want you to see, and I want you 00:23:01.880 --> 00:23:04.460 to be able to see it biblically. A great act 00:23:04.460 --> 00:23:07.480 of love and obedience versus a great act of selfishness 00:23:07.480 --> 00:23:11.180 and disobedience. First, Matthew 19, verse 16 00:23:11.180 --> 00:23:14.779 through 22. Pay attention to the sign of disobedience. 00:23:14.779 --> 00:23:18.420 Here we go. And behold, a man came up to Jesus, 00:23:18.619 --> 00:23:21.539 came up to him saying, Teacher, what good deed 00:23:21.539 --> 00:23:26.599 must I do to have eternal life? Really? Which 00:23:26.599 --> 00:23:30.509 one should I do? Interesting statement. And he 00:23:30.509 --> 00:23:33.190 said to him, why do you ask me about what is 00:23:33.190 --> 00:23:37.410 good? There is only one who is good. If you would 00:23:37.410 --> 00:23:40.650 enter life, keep the commandments. That's not 00:23:40.650 --> 00:23:45.289 rocket science. He's a Jew. The young man said 00:23:45.289 --> 00:23:50.509 to him, which ones? That's what I thought. All 00:23:50.509 --> 00:23:53.789 of them. Like, which ones should I do? I don't 00:23:53.789 --> 00:23:56.390 know. Which ones feel good? Doesn't that make 00:23:56.390 --> 00:23:59.480 sense? And Jesus said to him, you should not 00:23:59.480 --> 00:24:01.180 murder, and you should not commit adultery, and 00:24:01.180 --> 00:24:02.519 you should not steal, and you should not bear 00:24:02.519 --> 00:24:04.960 false witness, honor your father or mother, and 00:24:04.960 --> 00:24:07.440 you shall love your neighbor as yourself. Isn't 00:24:07.440 --> 00:24:09.579 it interesting that the commandments that Jesus 00:24:09.579 --> 00:24:11.779 gives are the ones that are relational to you 00:24:11.779 --> 00:24:14.220 and me? How about if you love your neighbor first? 00:24:14.900 --> 00:24:20.279 How about if you do the last six? He uses all 00:24:20.279 --> 00:24:22.619 those. Do these last six. Because remember, what 00:24:22.619 --> 00:24:26.240 it says is if I'm loving you, I'm being obedient 00:24:26.240 --> 00:24:29.880 to the word. Look what it says here. Verse 20. 00:24:30.119 --> 00:24:32.779 The young man said to him, all these I've kept. 00:24:33.180 --> 00:24:36.019 What do I still lack? I should do it in like 00:24:36.019 --> 00:24:43.559 that rich voice. Oh, I've done all these. What 00:24:43.559 --> 00:24:49.619 do I lack? Doth I lack anything? Watch what Jesus 00:24:49.619 --> 00:24:53.099 says. It's so cool. And he says to him. Jesus 00:24:53.099 --> 00:24:57.240 said to him, if you would be perfect, go sell 00:24:57.240 --> 00:25:03.099 all. Go sell what you possess. Go sell your stuff, 00:25:03.319 --> 00:25:07.240 all of it. He doesn't go 10%. He doesn't say, 00:25:07.359 --> 00:25:09.720 hey, you know, just sell 10 % and then come follow 00:25:09.720 --> 00:25:12.660 me, and you keep 90. You notice that? So it's 00:25:12.660 --> 00:25:15.039 more than a tithe. The idea is that God wants 00:25:15.039 --> 00:25:18.380 all of it. He wants all of you, every ounce of 00:25:18.380 --> 00:25:22.079 you, every single cell. Everything. He wants 00:25:22.079 --> 00:25:24.359 his heart. And he says, go sell your possessions. 00:25:24.480 --> 00:25:27.779 Why? Because he loved his possessions. And give 00:25:27.779 --> 00:25:30.420 it to the poor and you will have treasure in 00:25:30.420 --> 00:25:34.200 heaven. Give away your stuff. Store your wealth 00:25:34.200 --> 00:25:37.180 up there. Come follow me. Isn't that interesting? 00:25:37.519 --> 00:25:40.180 Come follow me. Sell your stuff. Come follow 00:25:40.180 --> 00:25:42.880 me. And when the young man heard this, he went 00:25:42.880 --> 00:25:46.180 away sorrowful for he had great possessions. 00:25:47.480 --> 00:25:51.599 Disobedience. Did he obey the commands? No. Why? 00:25:51.839 --> 00:25:54.279 Because he loved his value, which was in his 00:25:54.279 --> 00:25:57.640 back pocket, more than he loved God. Luke 21, 00:25:57.980 --> 00:26:00.880 1 through 5. Jesus looked up and saw the rich 00:26:00.880 --> 00:26:04.079 putting their gifts, putting their money into 00:26:04.079 --> 00:26:07.880 the offering box. And he saw a poor widow put 00:26:07.880 --> 00:26:10.980 in two small copper coins. And he said, truly 00:26:10.980 --> 00:26:14.099 I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than 00:26:14.099 --> 00:26:17.299 all of them. For they all contributed out of 00:26:17.299 --> 00:26:19.859 their abundance, but she, out of her poverty, 00:26:20.059 --> 00:26:26.720 put in all she had to live on. So it does not 00:26:26.720 --> 00:26:29.759 matter if the government takes away your Medicaid. 00:26:30.559 --> 00:26:33.039 Doesn't matter if it takes away your Medicare. 00:26:34.039 --> 00:26:37.019 Doesn't matter if it takes away your SNAP. It 00:26:37.019 --> 00:26:40.420 doesn't matter. She gave everything she had. 00:26:40.579 --> 00:26:42.099 In other words, this is what she did. You know 00:26:42.099 --> 00:26:44.759 what? I'm really hungry today. I'm not going 00:26:44.759 --> 00:26:47.059 to go food shopping. I'm going to give my money 00:26:47.059 --> 00:26:51.160 to God. And Jesus notes that. She gave all she 00:26:51.160 --> 00:26:54.200 had to live on. You know what that means? I'll 00:26:54.200 --> 00:26:56.359 put it this way. Mark puts it this way. Mark 00:26:56.359 --> 00:26:59.920 chapter 12, verse 41 through 44. Now Jesus sat 00:26:59.920 --> 00:27:02.519 opposite the treasury. Interesting, it's his 00:27:02.519 --> 00:27:04.880 treasury. He was like sitting outside of his 00:27:04.880 --> 00:27:07.740 bank. He was like, that's kind of cool. And saw 00:27:07.740 --> 00:27:10.440 how the people put money in the treasury. And 00:27:10.440 --> 00:27:13.440 many who were rich put in much. Then one poor 00:27:13.440 --> 00:27:17.539 widow came and threw in two mites, which make 00:27:17.539 --> 00:27:21.819 a quadrants. So he called his disciples to himself 00:27:21.819 --> 00:27:24.960 and said, Assuredly, I say to you that this poor 00:27:24.960 --> 00:27:28.440 widow has put in more than all those who had 00:27:28.440 --> 00:27:32.799 given to the treasury. Everyone who put money 00:27:32.799 --> 00:27:36.339 in, all of that money doesn't compare in the 00:27:36.339 --> 00:27:40.440 economy of God, the value of this woman. Watch 00:27:40.440 --> 00:27:44.009 what it says. For they all put in out of their 00:27:44.009 --> 00:27:49.730 abundance. But she, out of her poverty, put in 00:27:49.730 --> 00:27:55.710 all that she had. Her whole livelihood. That's 00:27:55.710 --> 00:28:00.049 giving. God doesn't need your abundance. He wants 00:28:00.049 --> 00:28:04.269 all of you. That's what he wants. 2 Corinthians 00:28:04.269 --> 00:28:08.750 chapter 2. Now, I'm going to summarize this. 00:28:09.210 --> 00:28:11.210 Because it's a long chapter. So here's what happens. 00:28:12.009 --> 00:28:15.509 So Paul writes a letter to the Corinthians and 00:28:15.509 --> 00:28:19.390 says, hey, do you remember the church in Jerusalem? 00:28:20.069 --> 00:28:23.869 They need your money. And you made a vow that 00:28:23.869 --> 00:28:27.529 you would give a gift, financially support them 00:28:27.529 --> 00:28:30.450 so that they're not struggling. I'm calling you 00:28:30.450 --> 00:28:33.690 on your vow. So what he does is he sends men 00:28:33.690 --> 00:28:36.279 out there. To let them know ahead of time because 00:28:36.279 --> 00:28:38.240 he doesn't want to go there with the people of 00:28:38.240 --> 00:28:41.420 Macedonia and then find out that they weren't 00:28:41.420 --> 00:28:44.859 ready and that it makes him look bad. And so 00:28:44.859 --> 00:28:47.180 he's like, I want to do that. So I'd rather send 00:28:47.180 --> 00:28:49.539 some dues for you so you can get ready because 00:28:49.539 --> 00:28:51.180 we're going to come and we're going to collect 00:28:51.180 --> 00:28:53.599 the money that you promised. You made a vow to 00:28:53.599 --> 00:28:59.119 do it. Verse 6, 2 Corinthians 9, verse 6. The 00:28:59.119 --> 00:29:03.170 point is this. Whoever sows sparingly will also 00:29:03.170 --> 00:29:05.829 reap sparingly. Whoever sows bountifully will 00:29:05.829 --> 00:29:08.529 also reap bountifully. Each one must give as 00:29:08.529 --> 00:29:10.990 he's decided in the heart, not reluctantly or 00:29:10.990 --> 00:29:14.170 under compulsion. For God loves a cheerful giver. 00:29:14.529 --> 00:29:17.930 And God is able to make all grace abound to you 00:29:17.930 --> 00:29:21.569 so that having all sufficiency in all things 00:29:21.569 --> 00:29:24.369 at all times, you may abound in every good work 00:29:24.369 --> 00:29:29.650 as it is written. He, God, has distributed freely. 00:29:30.589 --> 00:29:35.309 God was generous to you. He has given to the 00:29:35.309 --> 00:29:38.529 poor. His righteousness endures forever. So he 00:29:38.529 --> 00:29:41.809 who supplies seed to the sower, God, and bread 00:29:41.809 --> 00:29:46.690 for food will supply and multiply your seed for 00:29:46.690 --> 00:29:50.150 sowing and increasing your harvest for your righteousness. 00:29:50.609 --> 00:29:53.210 In other words, whatever you give, God will give 00:29:53.210 --> 00:29:56.549 to take care of you. The point is, he calls them 00:29:56.549 --> 00:29:59.289 out to hold the vow that they made. They made 00:29:59.289 --> 00:30:02.359 a vow. This is what we're going to do. And Paul 00:30:02.359 --> 00:30:05.420 says it's time to pay. Look what it says, verse 00:30:05.420 --> 00:30:10.119 12. For the ministry of this service is not only 00:30:10.119 --> 00:30:14.339 supplying the needs of the saints, but also overflowing 00:30:14.339 --> 00:30:18.619 in many thanksgivings to God. Your giving supplies 00:30:18.619 --> 00:30:22.319 the needs of the saints and is a sacrifice of 00:30:22.319 --> 00:30:24.319 thanksgiving to God. That's what he means here. 00:30:25.299 --> 00:30:29.299 Why do I say that? You made a vow. You made a 00:30:29.299 --> 00:30:32.599 vow in October. Article 5, membership, section 00:30:32.599 --> 00:30:36.500 3, membership responsibility. Members shall strive 00:30:36.500 --> 00:30:39.619 to attain the maturity in Christ by the increase 00:30:39.619 --> 00:30:42.440 in the knowledge of the Son of God to keep... 00:30:42.720 --> 00:30:45.140 The unity of the faith to speak the truth in 00:30:45.140 --> 00:30:48.259 love, to grow in every way into him who is the 00:30:48.259 --> 00:30:50.740 head so that the church builds itself up in love. 00:30:50.819 --> 00:30:53.240 Do you hear that? Your responsibility as a member 00:30:53.240 --> 00:30:55.400 is that you're going to commit to walking in 00:30:55.400 --> 00:30:58.559 obedience through the work of sanctification. 00:30:58.799 --> 00:31:00.920 That's what this means. You notice we deal with 00:31:00.920 --> 00:31:03.099 the issue of obedience first. That's the important 00:31:03.099 --> 00:31:08.259 part. They shall constantly strive to walk worthy 00:31:08.259 --> 00:31:11.660 of their high calling and seek control. Seek. 00:31:11.930 --> 00:31:15.349 control of every unholy disposition. The honor, 00:31:15.450 --> 00:31:18.690 stability, and effectiveness of the church is 00:31:18.690 --> 00:31:23.329 dependent upon the prayers, labors, and financial 00:31:23.329 --> 00:31:26.849 support of its members. All members, therefore, 00:31:27.049 --> 00:31:30.950 are expected to faithfully bear a just portion 00:31:30.950 --> 00:31:34.690 of the necessary expenses of the church and contribute 00:31:34.690 --> 00:31:38.589 regularly to their means in proportion as God 00:31:38.589 --> 00:31:41.559 has prospered you. Envelopes will be provided 00:31:41.559 --> 00:31:43.759 and online giving options are available for this 00:31:43.759 --> 00:31:47.000 purpose. You vowed that when you voted on this 00:31:47.000 --> 00:31:48.940 Constitution. That's your vow. It's not mine. 00:31:49.140 --> 00:31:51.819 It's mine because I took it. It's a vow you made. 00:31:52.059 --> 00:31:54.740 I'm holding you accountable to your vow. Here's 00:31:54.740 --> 00:31:57.160 the promise. You know what the promise was that 00:31:57.160 --> 00:32:01.220 we all made? Unanimously, mind you. It's called 00:32:01.220 --> 00:32:05.359 the budget. We promised to provide enough money 00:32:05.359 --> 00:32:09.589 for a budget of $306 ,000. Let's take Knowlton 00:32:09.589 --> 00:32:12.430 out. Let's get rid of Knowlton since they're 00:32:12.430 --> 00:32:15.509 not going to be here. It's actually $285 ,000. 00:32:16.309 --> 00:32:18.910 That's the budget promise you made. In order 00:32:18.910 --> 00:32:21.930 to meet that budget, we must be at $25 ,000 a 00:32:21.930 --> 00:32:28.690 month. We are getting $2 ,400 a week, $9 ,000 00:32:28.690 --> 00:32:31.569 a month. You know what that covers? Look in your 00:32:31.569 --> 00:32:36.890 budget. You'll know. We can pay our regular bills 00:32:36.890 --> 00:32:40.980 with that. But staff, not possible. So that's 00:32:40.980 --> 00:32:43.660 the promise you made. I'm holding you accountable 00:32:43.660 --> 00:32:46.420 to your promise. As a pastor, you know what? 00:32:46.440 --> 00:32:48.460 Most pastors avoid this stuff because they're 00:32:48.460 --> 00:32:51.799 afraid. I'm not. I've got to manage my house. 00:32:52.160 --> 00:32:54.720 I've got to manage this house. When things are 00:32:54.720 --> 00:32:56.400 rough at home, we have to have a discussion. 00:32:57.220 --> 00:33:00.500 Sometimes it gets a little, huh, it's about money, 00:33:00.599 --> 00:33:03.759 right? We don't want to always agree. But we've 00:33:03.759 --> 00:33:05.039 got to do what we've got to do because if we 00:33:05.039 --> 00:33:08.190 don't. The house folds. We can't do that. As 00:33:08.190 --> 00:33:10.369 a pastor, I'm not going to do that. I'm not going 00:33:10.369 --> 00:33:11.890 to do that. I'm not going to be like the rest 00:33:11.890 --> 00:33:13.549 of these false teachers out there begging you 00:33:13.549 --> 00:33:16.150 for money, trying to create some scheme. I'm 00:33:16.150 --> 00:33:17.710 going to hold you accountable to the things that 00:33:17.710 --> 00:33:20.089 God holds me accountable to. If he's going to 00:33:20.089 --> 00:33:22.049 hold me accountable to his word and being obedient 00:33:22.049 --> 00:33:23.950 and giving, I'm going to hold you accountable 00:33:23.950 --> 00:33:26.549 to it. Why should I have to be held at a higher 00:33:26.549 --> 00:33:28.829 standard than you? God holds us all at the same 00:33:28.829 --> 00:33:31.670 standard. And as a pastor, I have to rebuke you 00:33:31.670 --> 00:33:34.609 sometimes and also build you up. All scripture 00:33:34.609 --> 00:33:37.990 is... God breathed and is useful for? Rebuke, 00:33:37.990 --> 00:33:40.509 correction, teaching, and training in righteousness. 00:33:40.950 --> 00:33:43.450 So let's keep reading. Here's what R .C. Sproul 00:33:43.450 --> 00:33:46.630 has to say concerning this. God instituted in 00:33:46.630 --> 00:33:50.630 order to support the Levites who had no tribal 00:33:50.630 --> 00:33:55.170 allocation of land, the Levites were set apart 00:33:55.170 --> 00:33:57.710 to take care of the spiritual and educational 00:33:57.710 --> 00:34:01.670 responsibilities of the nation. And their work 00:34:01.670 --> 00:34:04.549 and physical necessities were paid for by the 00:34:04.549 --> 00:34:08.369 tithe. The labor is due his wages. So when you 00:34:08.369 --> 00:34:10.789 don't give like you promised you would give, 00:34:10.829 --> 00:34:13.929 it not only affects our ability to preach and 00:34:13.929 --> 00:34:16.630 proclaim the gospel, it affects the livelihood 00:34:16.630 --> 00:34:20.849 of the pastors. Not good. Under the new covenant. 00:34:21.670 --> 00:34:25.130 The tithe, that's in Numbers 18. Under the new 00:34:25.130 --> 00:34:27.610 covenant, the tithe continues to support the 00:34:27.610 --> 00:34:29.869 work of the building up of the people in the 00:34:29.869 --> 00:34:32.690 truth of God and reaching sinners with the gospel. 00:34:32.869 --> 00:34:36.449 Christ works through churches, seminaries, parachurch 00:34:36.449 --> 00:34:39.150 organizations, missionaries, and many others 00:34:39.150 --> 00:34:43.550 to build and grow his kingdom. Guess who will 00:34:43.550 --> 00:34:47.329 be affected if we don't give? All the missionaries 00:34:47.329 --> 00:34:51.480 we have. Most important investment. we can ever 00:34:51.480 --> 00:34:54.599 make is in the kingdom of God because it has 00:34:54.599 --> 00:34:57.840 eternal returns. Don't store up treasures on 00:34:57.840 --> 00:35:01.039 earth, store up treasures in heaven. Your return, 00:35:01.239 --> 00:35:04.679 eternal return, is greater than anything any 00:35:04.679 --> 00:35:07.860 man could ever give you. These returns, quote 00:35:07.860 --> 00:35:10.820 unquote, these returns are not just for us, but 00:35:10.820 --> 00:35:13.699 also for our family, our children, and our grandchildren. 00:35:14.889 --> 00:35:18.170 This generation of Christians must invest in 00:35:18.170 --> 00:35:20.489 the things of God for the sake of the next generation. 00:35:21.070 --> 00:35:24.610 If you don't do it now, your children won't do 00:35:24.610 --> 00:35:27.650 it. And you wonder why churches are closing and 00:35:27.650 --> 00:35:30.469 why other churches are opening. Because they 00:35:30.469 --> 00:35:32.309 have marketing schemes. Know what their marketing 00:35:32.309 --> 00:35:35.650 scheme is? Minister to the gays. Because they're 00:35:35.650 --> 00:35:39.090 loaded. Give them a place where they feel accepted 00:35:39.090 --> 00:35:42.389 to be exactly as they want to be. Never really 00:35:42.389 --> 00:35:44.869 dealing with the condition of the heart. Letting 00:35:44.869 --> 00:35:47.349 them die in their sin. That's a marketing scheme. 00:35:47.730 --> 00:35:49.690 Not really dealing with the spiritual reality 00:35:49.690 --> 00:35:52.929 of the eternity. They're dying without Christ, 00:35:53.010 --> 00:35:54.389 thinking they're going to heaven because they 00:35:54.389 --> 00:35:58.769 go to a church. This article is written by R 00:35:58.769 --> 00:36:03.329 .C. Sproul in 2024 at Ligonier .org. Articles, 00:36:03.469 --> 00:36:07.429 stewardship, tithing, and giving. So why do I 00:36:07.429 --> 00:36:11.409 share this? Because eventually all of this will 00:36:11.409 --> 00:36:14.139 affect our ability to do ministry. And it affects 00:36:14.139 --> 00:36:16.760 people. And our church needs to get to the next 00:36:16.760 --> 00:36:19.480 place it needs to be. I don't think God's closing 00:36:19.480 --> 00:36:22.539 our doors. Honestly. You know what I think God 00:36:22.539 --> 00:36:26.099 is doing? He's disciplining us. He's turning 00:36:26.099 --> 00:36:29.800 our heart toward him. Because the world is changing. 00:36:30.480 --> 00:36:34.900 Changing drastically, very fast. Everyone else 00:36:34.900 --> 00:36:37.780 will fold. But if we love God. and are obedient 00:36:37.780 --> 00:36:42.460 to him, and do what his word says, we will survive 00:36:42.460 --> 00:36:45.719 and last. That's what I think he's doing, okay? 00:36:46.480 --> 00:36:50.440 So that's my challenge to you. Very frank, very 00:36:50.440 --> 00:36:53.000 straightforward, very to the point. I hope and 00:36:53.000 --> 00:36:57.139 pray it hit on the right heart, and I didn't 00:36:57.139 --> 00:36:59.300 come out condemning because that wasn't my goal, 00:36:59.400 --> 00:37:02.539 but I did want to come out and rebuke and deal 00:37:02.539 --> 00:37:06.030 and love you. If I did not love you, I would 00:37:06.030 --> 00:37:08.309 have lied to you and just kept on doing our same 00:37:08.309 --> 00:37:11.570 thing. It's okay. But that's not the kind of 00:37:11.570 --> 00:37:15.269 guy I am, nor the pastor I am. Okay? So let's 00:37:15.269 --> 00:37:18.809 lock arm in arm, and let's continue working for 00:37:18.809 --> 00:37:20.809 the kingdom of God, seeking first his kingdom. 00:37:20.909 --> 00:37:23.650 God will take care of us, and he will take care 00:37:23.650 --> 00:37:27.170 of you personally. Stop worrying about it. Trust 00:37:27.170 --> 00:37:30.090 him. He will do it. And there are testimonies 00:37:30.090 --> 00:37:32.409 upon testimonies, which we'll probably share 00:37:32.409 --> 00:37:35.250 next week. Okay? Do a little bit of testimony 00:37:35.250 --> 00:37:38.730 time next week on how God has done great things 00:37:38.730 --> 00:37:41.789 through his word. Okay? All right. I love you. 00:37:42.929 --> 00:37:45.869 Thank you. Thank you. It's a rebuke. It's a correction. 00:37:46.150 --> 00:37:48.550 It's a training. I mean, it's a teaching. Now, 00:37:48.610 --> 00:37:51.590 go train. Go practice. Follow the word of God. 00:37:51.630 --> 00:37:54.329 You'll be good. Trust me. Trust him. Don't trust 00:37:54.329 --> 00:37:58.469 me. I shouldn't have said trust me. Trust God. 00:38:00.259 --> 00:38:01.940 All right. Father, I want to thank you so much 00:38:01.940 --> 00:38:03.460 for your goodness and faithfulness to you. Be 00:38:03.460 --> 00:38:05.780 honor and glory forever in Jesus' name. Amen.