🎵Music🎵
Alright, good evening everyone. Let's all find our seats. Grab a hymnal. Let's all stand for this first song, If You're Able, which will be song 409. The fight is on. Song number 409.
🎵Music🎵
Song number 409 all together nice and strong in that first verse.
🎵The fight is on🎵
🎵The trumpet sound is ringing out🎵
🎵The cry to arms🎵
🎵Is heard afar and near🎵
🎵The Lord of hosts🎵
🎵Is marching on to victory🎵
🎵The triumph of🎵
🎵The Christ will soon appear🎵
🎵The fight is on🎵
🎵O Christian soldier🎵
🎵And face to face in stern array🎵
🎵With armor gleaming🎵
🎵And colors streaming🎵
🎵The right and wrong engaged today🎵
🎵The fight is on but be not weary🎵
🎵Be strong and in his might hold fast🎵
🎵The God before us🎵
🎵His man erode us🎵
🎵We'll sing the victor's song at last🎵
🎵The fight is on🎵
🎵Arousing soldiers brave and true🎵
🎵To all the beings and victory will assure🎵
🎵The world go on🎵
🎵The arm of God has given you🎵
🎵And in his strength forever will endure🎵
🎵The fight is on🎵
🎵O Christian soldier🎵
🎵And face to face in stern array🎵
🎵With armor gleaming🎵
🎵And colors streaming🎵
🎵The right and wrong engage today🎵
🎵The fight is on but be not weary🎵
🎵Be strong and in his might hold fast🎵
🎵The God before us🎵
🎵His man erode us🎵
🎵We'll sing the victor's song at last🎵
🎵The fight is leading on to certain victory🎵
🎵The fun while promise spans the eastern sky🎵
🎵His glorious name🎵
🎵In every blend shall honor me🎵
🎵The morn will break🎵
🎵The dawn of peace is nigh🎵
🎵The fight is on🎵
🎵O Christian soldier🎵
🎵And face to face in stern array🎵
🎵With armor gleaming🎵
🎵And colors streaming🎵
🎵The right and wrong engage today🎵
🎵The fight is on but be not weary🎵
🎵Be strong and in his might hold fast🎵
🎵The God before us🎵
🎵His man erode us🎵
🎵We'll sing the victor's song at last🎵
Amen, let's start off our service with a word of prayer.
Dear Lord God, Heavenly Father,
I thank you for giving us this day
and I thank you for our service this morning
and I thank you for the souls that were saved this afternoon
and I ask that you please just bless this service, Lord.
Bless the singing.
Most of all, bless the preaching of your word.
Fill the pastor with your Holy Spirit.
And bless the whole night, Lord.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Go ahead and turn to song number 377.
You may be seated.
That is song number 377, Rescue the Perishing.
377 altogether on that first verse.
🎵Rescue the perishing🎵
🎵Care for the dying🎵
🎵Snatch them in pity🎵
🎵Sin and the grave🎵
🎵Weep for the erring ones🎵
🎵Lift out the fallen🎵
🎵Tell them of Jesus🎵
🎵The mighty to save🎵
🎵Rescue the perishing🎵
🎵Care for the dying🎵
🎵Jesus is merciful🎵
🎵Jesus will save🎵
🎵Though they are smiting him🎵
🎵Still he is waiting🎵
🎵Waiting the penitent child to receive🎵
🎵Lead with them where to sleep🎵
🎵Lead with them gently🎵
🎵He will forgive if they only believe🎵
🎵Rescue the perishing🎵
🎵Care for the dying🎵
🎵Jesus is merciful🎵
🎵Jesus will save🎵
🎵Down in the human heart🎵
🎵Crushed by the tempter🎵
🎵Feelings lie buried🎵
🎵Like grace and restore🎵
🎵Touched by a loving heart🎵
🎵Waken by kindness🎵
🎵Force that are broken🎵
🎵Will wire it once more🎵
🎵Rescue the perishing🎵
🎵Care for the dying🎵
🎵Jesus is merciful🎵
🎵Jesus will save🎵
🎵Rescue the perishing🎵
🎵Doing a massive🎵
🎵Strength for thy labor🎵
🎵The Lord will provide🎵
🎵Back to the narrow way🎵
🎵Patiently win them🎵
🎵Tell them for wonder🎵
🎵A savior has died🎵
🎵Rescue the perishing🎵
🎵Care for the dying🎵
🎵Jesus is merciful🎵
🎵Jesus will save🎵
Thursday night Bible study at 7 o'clock
And then you see the so many times
The teams, the list of expecting mothers
Please continue to pray for them
The important reminders to make sure that you are watching your children
As they are in the building
And in any room there is in here just make sure you're supervising them at all times
No men allowed in the mother baby room
That's whether you're cutting through
You're looking for something
Now the reason why we don't want people just randomly walking through this
Because sometimes you have nursing mothers in there
And they don't feel comfortable with having men
Just kind of waltz in there and look for stuff
So just keep that in mind, make sure you're conscious of that
And if you're looking for something in there
Then just ask brother Ulysses
You can ask brother Ulysses
He more than likely will know where everything is at
And so just keep that in mind
And then we have pastor Roger Jimenez preaching for us this coming Thursday
He'll be here with his family, looking forward to having him
And then the sowing marathon that Saturday in Santa Ana
And of course we're going to meet here for breakfast at 9 o'clock
Breakfast will be from 9 to 10
Sowing from 10.30 to 12.30
Lunch from 1 to 2
And then the second session from 2.30 to 4.30
And we're looking forward to having you there
Make sure you sign up in the back so we can get a head count
Of all the people that are going to come
And we can properly prepare the food for that
And then on that Sunday the 28th
We have Angela and Cecilia's baby shower
You can see my wife if you'd like to help out with that
Sunday April 4th we have the special Easter service and breakfast
Make sure you're handing out the Easter invitations that we have here
And so they're not necessarily time sensitive
But we'd like to get rid of all of them this year
And so when you go out there
If you're going to different areas throughout the week
Make sure you just grab a stack and use that
We'll have a breakfast potluck on that Sunday
And then also we're going to have an Easter egg hunt for all the children
Use that as an incentive to invite people to church
And we're looking forward to a great Easter service
And then on Tuesday April 6th there's going to be a homeschool field trip to San Diego
You can see my wife for more details regarding that
Quiet time resumes from 3pm to 4.15
In the main auditorium and mother baby room
No food or drink allowed in the main auditorium
Except for water and coffee
And I guess tea
I'm just kidding where's brother Chevy?
He's like can I have tea?
I'm like just don't tell me you're doing this
That's fine but don't tell me
I'm just kidding
Please silence your phones during the service
And that's pretty much it for our announcements
Let's go ahead and take some soul winning numbers
Before we sing our next song
Let me actually pull up the page here so they're ready to go
Let's count some salvations from Monday up until Thursday
Any salvations from Monday to Thursday?
One for brother Maury
Okay anybody else?
Monday to Thursday how about Friday and Saturday?
Friday and Saturday?
Yes
Seven okay
Yes
Six?
Oxnard?
Great
Anybody else?
Going once alright and then how about on Sunday today
After this afternoon, salvations
Brother Paul?
One?
Brother Ulysses?
Two?
Okay
One for brother Mark's team
One for brother Hag's team
Brother Marcos?
Three for brother Marcos' team
Anybody else?
Did we miss anybody?
Going once, twice, thrice
Alright keep up the great work on soul winning
Let's go ahead and sing our next song
215 heaven came down
And glory filled my soul
We're going to sing all three verses
Make sure you sing nice and loud, nice and strong
With the joy of the Lord Amen
215 on that first verse
Oh what a wonderful, wonderful day
Day I will never forget
After I wandered in darkness away
Jesus my Savior again
Oh what a tender, compassionate friend
He met the need of my heart
Shadows dispelling with joy
And telling he may all the darkness depart
Heaven came down and glory filled my soul
When at the cross the Savior made me whole
My sins were washed away
And my life was turned to pain
Heaven came down and glory filled my soul
Lord of the Spirit would bind her up
Into God's family he'd find
Just the pride falling through Calvary's love
Oh what a stand in his mind
And the transaction so lately was made
When as a sinner I came
Took from the offer of grace
Didn't offer he sent me a praise as he came
Heaven came down and glory filled my soul
When at the cross the Savior made me whole
My sins were washed away
And my life was turned to pain
Heaven came down and glory filled my soul
Nice and strong on that third verse, sing it together, here we go
Now with a hope that was surely endured
After the passing of time
I hope future and heaven for sure
There in those mansions so blind
And it's because of that wonderful day
When at the cross I believe
Rich is eternal with blessings eternal
From his precious hand I receive
Heaven came down and glory filled my soul
When at the cross the Savior made me whole
My sins were washed away
And my life was turned to pain
Heaven came down and glory filled my soul
Great singing, at this time the ushers are going to come down and take the offering
Go ahead and take your Bibles to Luke chapter 8
Luke chapter 8
We're there in Luke chapter 8
Look down at your Bibles in Luke chapter 8
And it came to pass afterward that he went throughout every city and village
Preaching and showing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God
And the twelve were with him
And a certain woman which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities
Married, called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils
And Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and Susanna and many others
Which ministered unto him of their substance
And when much people were gathered together
And were come to him out of every city he spake by a parable
A sower went out to sow his seed
And as he sowed, some fell by the wayside
And it was trodden down and the fowls of the air devoured it
And some fell upon a rock
And as soon as it was sprung up it went away
Because it lacked moisture
And some fell among thorns
And the thorns sprang up with it and choked it
And others fell on good ground and sprang up
And bare fruit a hundred fold
And when he had said these things he cried
He that hath ears to hear let him hear
And his disciples asked him saying
What might this parable be
And he said unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God
But to others in parables
That seeing they might not see
And hearing they might not understand
Now the parable is this
The seed is the word of God
Those by the wayside are they that hear
Then cometh the devil
And taketh away the word out of their hearts
Lest they should believe and be saved
They on the rock are they which when they hear
Receive the word with joy
And these have no root
Which for a while believe and in time of temptation fall away
And that which fell among thorns
Are they which when they have heard
Go forth and are choked with cares and riches
And pleasures of this life
And bring no fruit to perfection
But they on the good ground
Are they which in an honest and good heart
Having heard the word keep it
And bring forth fruit with patience
No man when he hath lighted a candle
Covereth it with a vessel
Or putteth it under a bed
But seteth it on a candlestick
That they which enter in
May see the light
For nothing is secret
That shall not be made manifest
Neither anything hid
That shall not be known and come abroad
Take heed therefore how ye hear
For whosoever hath
To him shall be given
And whosoever hath not
From him shall be taken
Even that which he seemeth to have
Then came to him his mother and his brethren
And could not come at him for the press
And it was told him by certain
That thy brethren stand without
Desiring to see thee
And he answered and said unto them
My mother and my brethren are these
Which hear the word of God and do it
Now it came to pass on a certain day
That he went into a ship with his disciples
And he said unto them
Let us go over unto the other side of the lake
And they launched forth
But as they sailed he fell asleep
And there came down a storm of wind on the lake
And they were filled with water
And were in jeopardy
Master master we perish
Then he arose and rebuked the wind
And the raging of the water
And they ceased and there was a calm
And he said unto them Where is your faith?
And they being afraid
Wondered saying one to another
What manner of man is this?
For he commandeth even the winds and water
That they obey him
And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes
Which is over against Galilee
And when he went forth to land
There met him out of a city a certain man
For a long time and wear no clothes
Neither abode in any houses
But in the tombs
When he saw Jesus he cried out
And fell down before him with a loud voice and said
What have I to do with thee Jesus
Thou son of God most high
I beseech thee torment me not
For he had commanded the unclean spirit
To come out of the man
For often times it had caught him
And he was kept bound with chains and in fetters
And he break the bands and was driven
Of the devil into the wilderness
Jesus asked him saying
What is thy name? And he said Legion
Because many devils were entered into him
And they besought him
That he would not command them to go out
Into the deep
And there was there a herd of many swine feeding on the mountain
And they besought him
That he would suffer them to enter into them
And he suffered them
Then went the devils out of the man
And entered into the swine
And the herd ran violently down a steep place
Into the lake and were choked
And when they saw what was done
They fled and went and told
It in the city and in the country
Then they went down to see
What was done and came to Jesus
And found the man out of whom the devils
Were departed sitting at the feet of Jesus
Clothed in his right mind
And they were afraid
They also which saw it told them
By what means he that was possessed of the devils
Was healed
Then the whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes
Round about besought him
To depart from them
For they were taken with great fear
And he went up into the ship and returned back again
Now the man out of whom the devils
Were departed besought him
That he might be with him
But Jesus sent him away saying
Return to thy own house and show how great things
God hath done unto thee
And he went his way and published throughout the whole city
How great things Jesus had done unto him
And it came to pass
That when Jesus was returned
The people gladly received him
And they were waiting for him
And behold there was a man named Jairus
And he was a ruler of the synagogue
And he fell down at Jesus' feet
And besought him that he would come into his house
For he had one only daughter
About twelve years of age
And she lay a dying
But as he went with the people
Thronged him and a woman
Having an issue of blood twelve years
Which had spent all her living upon positions
Neither could be healed of any
Came behind him and touched the border
Of his garment and immediately
Her issue of blood stanched
And Jesus said, Who touched me?
When all denied, Peter
And they that were with him said, Master
The multitude throng thee and press thee
And sayest thou, Who touched me?
And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me
For I perceive that virtue was gone
Out of me. And when the woman saw
That she was not hid
She became trembling and falling down before him
She declared unto him
Before all the people for what cause
She had touched him
And how she was healed immediately
And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort
Thy faith had made thee whole
Go in peace
While yet spake, there cometh one
From the ruler of the synagogue's house
Saying to him, Thy daughter is dead
Trouble not the master
But when Jesus heard it, he answered him saying
Fear not, believe only
And she shall be made whole
And when he came into the house
He suffered no man to go in save Peter
And he said unto James and John
And the father and the mother of the maiden
And all wept and bewailed her
But he said, Weep not, she is not dead
But sleepeth
And they laughed him to scorn
Knowing that she was dead
And he put them all out and took her by the hand
And called saying, Maiden, arise
And her spirit came again
And she arose straightway
And he commanded to give her meat
And her parents were astonished
But he charged them that they should
Let's pray
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for everyone
that was able to show up today for this evening's service
Just please give the audience
ears to hear and listen
to the pastors preaching. Just fill Pastor with your
Holy Spirit as he preaches your word
and bless this service and bless the rest
of the time afterwards. And it's all in Jesus' name
we pray, Amen
Amen
Okay, we're going to continue
this evening with the
series on spiritual gifts in the Bible
According to Romans chapter 12
look down at your Bibles at verse number 1
of Luke chapter 8, it says, And it came to pass afterward
that he went throughout every city
and village, preaching and showing the glad tidings
of the kingdom of God, and the twelve were with him.
And certain women, which had been
healed of evil spirits and infirmities,
Mary called Magdalene, out of
whom went seven devils, and Joanna
the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward,
and Susanna, and many others
which ministered unto him
of their substance.
And this evening we're going to cover
the spiritual gift of giving
or the people who are givers
in the church. Now go to
Romans chapter number 12, but here
in Luke chapter 8, you don't have to stay there
go to Romans chapter 12 if you wouldn't
we see an example of what it means to have
the spiritual gift of giving
we see some
servants of the Lord, we see
Joanna the wife of Chuza
we see Susanna, Mary Magdalene
and many others which basically
ministered unto the Lord of
their substance. It doesn't mean that this is the
only way of ministering unto the Lord
but obviously this is very much important
to God, that's why he chose to
describe them as being people who
were characterized
by serving with whatever
finances they had, possessions they had
in order to be a blessing unto the Lord
and we actually see this throughout the Gospels
we see various women
who would come to Jesus and
purchase an alabaster box of
ointment that would break that and anoint his head
with that ointment, very costly
and they ministered unto him in that manner
we see also
Joseph, even after Jesus
Christ died, where he chose
to, he decided to basically
ask for the body of Jesus
and put him in his
own tomb, he's ministering unto the Lord
of his own possessions, of his own substance
of his own resources
and so, you know, this is an
important topic here
not just for those who have the spiritual
gift of giving, but just for Christians
just in general, because of the fact that all
of us should learn how to be a giver
we should all learn how to minister unto the Lord
of our substance, but there
are specific people who are given
this ability, look at verse number 8
it says, and he that exhorteth
on exhortation, he
that giveth, let him do it
with simplicity, now
before we get into the actual gift of
giving, let me just do a little bit of
review here regarding what a spiritual
gift is, spiritual gifts
are, or they're an ability, talents
that God gives the members of the bodies of
Christ, the body of Christ, and
God gives them to the
local body of Christ or the
local church because of the fact that it profits
the church, people can benefit
from those who have these talents
and abilities, the Bible tells
us that the manifestation of the Spirit
is given to every man to profit
with all, not only that, but it
helps us not only to just appreciate
the strengths of other people, but also to learn from them
you know, you may be weak in a specific
area, whether being a mercy
or being a prophet, being
a servant where other people are more
inclined to exert those
qualities a lot better than others
but that doesn't mean that we can't basically
learn those qualities, that we can't learn
how to be a servant, how to
be a prophet, how to be a mercy
how to be a ruler, etc.
The Bible tells us in Ephesians 4 verse 12
for the perfecting of the saints, for the work
of the ministry, for the edifying of
the body of Christ, and the
last few weeks we've gone over different gifts
the first one was the gift of prophecy
and the person with the gift of prophecy
possesses the ability to speak in God's
stead with accuracy, authority, and power
this is not referring to someone who is able to
tell the future, okay, they don't
walk around with a glass ball or
being able to foretell, they get a vision from God
this is just referring to a
preacher, someone who is able to
expand the word of God with accuracy, with
power and boldness, so on and so forth
then we have the gift of ministry
or the servant and
that person is
the one with the gift of ministry
possesses the ability to see a need
and fulfill it, okay
the gift of teaching, the teacher
this person, the person with the gift of
teaching possesses the desire to prove all
things and hold fast that which is
good, they want to keep doctrinal purity in the
church and often this becomes
a very high priority for them
more than anything else and
obviously we want to be balanced in all these areas but what I'm
saying here and what I believe the Bible is teaching us
is that there are certain individuals in the church
who weigh in a little more
on one gift than another, okay
we have the gift of exhortation
and we spoke about this gift
last week, the exhorter
the person with the gift of exhortation
possesses the ability to persuade,
inspire, and provoke others to
love and good works, these make great
leaders, they're able to cast vision
they are able to have a conversation
with you and give you a lot of hope for the
future, etc.
Tonight we're going to go over the gift of giving
and the giver
possesses the ability to discern
the financial needs of God's work
and God's people and
meet them, okay
so they like to minister unto the
Lord of their
substance, they like to meet physical
and practical needs, now look at
verse 13 of Romans chapter 12
because if you remember it kind of gives some
specific instructions and commandments
after he goes over the list of spiritual gifts
and a lot of these are actually tied into
the spiritual gifts themselves
and the one that's tied into the giver
we can see in verse number 13 it says
distributing to the necessity
of the saints given
to hospitality, so the person
who has the gift of giving
needs to make sure that
they're not hoarding that which God has
given to them, they're not hoarding the riches but rather
they're distributing to the necessities
of the saints, God has
specifically endowed this person
maybe with financial
understanding, they're good stewards
of finances, they're good
business people and it's for that reason
God allows them to have
that in order for them to be a blessing
to other people and really that's why we have anything
right, any possessions,
any talents, any
finances that we have, we use it
to further the work of God, to further the gospel
okay, now let me give you some characteristics
of the giver
you know we talk about the prophet
the prophet likes to call
out the sin and really
hones in on that, when someone's going
through a difficult time the automatic
thing that comes to a prophet's mind is are you involved
in sin, are you right with God?
The servant just wants to kind of help
out with the
just the physical needs
in the sense of you know just kind of
helping to sweep or throw out the trash
or just take care of things that people don't really think about
the teacher
is the one who really
wants to investigate
a situation, investigate issues and
know the statistics and
what goes into that
but the giver is the person
who really thinks everything from a financial
perspective, this is not bad
now you think well that sounds pretty bad though
if they view everything through finances
doesn't that mean that this person is just driven by
finances, that's all they care about
is finances? Not necessarily
because obviously it could be bad
you can have people who are givers
who are so financially
driven that they try to
weaponize that gift, we'll get into that
in just a bit, but if they are filled
with the spirit, they're walking in the spirit, they understand
biblical principles, they can use it
to be a blessing to others, let me give you a couple
things here, go to 2 Corinthians
chapter 12
the giver, number one
experiences joy when they give
now that should be obvious
we all experience a little bit of joy
when we give, but they're actually motivated
by that, and so when they see
a need, they desire to
fulfill that financially
they desire to fulfill that in a way
where they can impart another
possession into a person that they know
that they need it, and they enjoy
that, they have a sense of fulfillment
when they fulfill the financial
needs of another person
and look, the Bible tells us in
Acts chapter 20 verse 35
I have showed you all things, how that's so laboring
you ought to support the weak and to remember the
words of the Lord Jesus, how he said
it is more blessed to give
than to receive
so you know who understands that a lot is the giver
you know, for us it's like, well
you know, I like to be a blessing to others
but I don't know if I can just drop a hundred dollar
bill in someone's pocket like right away
well the giver's always thinking like that
they're just like, you know what, who doesn't like
money, or who doesn't like a gift card, or who
doesn't like this or that, and they actually like
to impart that, and you may think to yourself like
I don't know about that, that's not me, well that's because you don't have
the spiritual gift of giving
the giver's like, yeah, that's
exactly how I feel, they're like
I'm not really good at
you know, cleaning the church, or I'm not
necessarily good at spotting
the sin, but when there's a need, when a need
arises, that piques my
interest, and I like to meet that need
okay, and
so they have a sense of fulfillment
when they fulfill the financial needs of
another person, now obviously
you know, putting a giver in a
church, you know, that is
greedy or filthy lucre
people can take advantage of a person like that
right, they take advantage of that person
and seek to exploit
that individual, you know
so on and so forth, so obviously a giver needs to make sure
they're aware that they're in the right church
under the right leadership
where the pastor is not greedy or filthy
lucre, he's not a covetous person
the people in the church are not covetous
they're not just taking advantage of that individual
seeking to exploit their ability
and their generosity to give, okay
let me read to you from Philippians chapter 4
verse number 10, it says
But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now
at the last your care of me
hath flourished again, wherein
you were also careful, but
ye lacked opportunity. So what it's saying
here is that Paul is telling the Philippians
you guys were full of care
but for Paul
you see givers, they're full of care
but they're full of care for others
so they have a lot of
empathy for another individual
and they seek for opportunities to be
a blessing to those people, he says
wherein ye also are careful
but ye lacked opportunity
not that I speak in respect of want
for I have learned and whatsoever said I am
there was to be content, so he's saying look
you didn't know about the needs that I had
you lacked opportunity, you weren't able
to provide for the needs that I have, but that's okay
though because I'm content no matter what I have
okay, he says
I know both how to be abased, I know how to abound
everywhere and in all things I've instructed
both to be hungry, excuse me
both to be full and to be hungry
both to abound and to suffer need
I can do all things through Christ what strengtheneth me
notwithstanding, ye have done
well that ye did communicate
with my affliction
and when it says communicate
it actually means distribute financially
distribute to the necessities of the saints
that's what it's referring to
and he says you have well done
you've communicated with my affliction
you've helped me in times past and I'm thankful for that
look at 2 Corinthians chapter 12
you see
we as Christians need to learn this from the giver
because the giver
is happy to give
the giver feels
has a sense of fulfillment when they give
a giver gives cheerfully
right?
when they depart from money
or they give money away
it's not like oh here you go
it's like they do it with cheer
okay
let me give you an example of this
look at 2 Corinthians chapter 12 verse 14
it says behold the third time I am ready to come to you
and I will not be burdensome to you
for I seek not yours but you
for the children ought not to lay up for the parents
but the parents for the children
and I will very gladly
spend
and be spent for you
though the more abundantly I love you
the less I be loved
but I want you to notice in verse 15 that he says
I will, how is he spending?
with gladness
he goes I'm glad to spend and to be spent
for you, so he's not only willing
to give of himself
of his time, of his
investment, his own life to the people
but he's saying I'm willing to even spend
and I believe he's actually referring
to possessions, finances
which he might have resources
to be a blessing to other
people, he's glad to do it
and this ought to be the attitude of
every Christian that we should be glad
that when we have an opportunity to give
financially to someone who is in need
we will gladly depart with that money
okay
and gladly give to others who have that need
so because they experience joy in
meeting needs, actually
they often like to give anonymously
okay
and this will tell you whether you're a giver or not
okay, because givers don't like the sound
of trumpet
I just want to let everyone know I'm about to be a blessing
to the pastor here, I know
I know
I just want to let everyone know, hey did you hear what I did?
that's obviously not right
that's obviously not righteous
the giver
does not find fulfillment in having
everyone know that they gave
they actually like to do it in secret
they like
to give as anonymously as possible
and sometimes
even if the person they're giving it to
doesn't know who gave it
that fulfills them even more
they just like to slip it in there
and be a blessing and have no one know about it
okay
now let me give you an example of this
I remember years ago when I was in Bible college
there was a guy in the dorms
and he was a giver
he was a major giver
and this guy
he worked like crazy amount of hours
but he would do it so he can
pay for other people's school bill
his desire was just to make money
just to kind of give it away
and he lived a very simple, modest life
he didn't have the nicest things
he would actually just work
in order for him to have enough
surplus to find someone to be a blessing too
this is how this guy operated
but he was very quiet
and he didn't like anyone knowing
and in fact if anyone found out
that this is the one responsible for the giving
he'd actually get pretty upset
and that's just how he was wired
but I remember one time
he found out that I had told one of the guys
I want to get a
what are those called?
mp3 players, you guys know what that is?
it was like a, not an airpod
what are those called? the apple ones
ipod, okay
do those still exist anymore?
so I was like, I want to get one of those
so I can hear preaching
Christian music
and he overheard or something like that
or someone told him about it
and then a couple days afterwards
and I had my own room because I was at the dorm soup
at that time
one evening I came
to my room
and I opened my room and it looked like someone had
broken into my room
because my door
it wasn't like a doorknob, it was literally you stick a key in
and you unlock it and it opens
so there's no doorknob, so you can't get in if you don't have the key
but right next to my bed
was a window
and the screen was broken
and my bed is all
ravished
and I'm like, did someone just break in?
and on my pillow
was like a package
and so I'm like, what is this?
and I opened the package
and there's a note next to it
now, what am I about to say? I don't approve of this
the guy didn't know any better
but I opened the letter
and he said, Bruce
this is for you to listen to godly preaching
and Christian music
signed God
now, I don't agree with that
okay?
you know
obviously I don't agree with that
the guy, he's like putting
words in God's mouth, God didn't say that obviously
but you understand what he's doing
he's doing that because he doesn't
want anyone to know that it's him
but here's the thing
the guy had horrible writing
he had the worst writing
I've ever seen in my life and so everyone knew
who it was
because this looks like so and so's writing
and in the package
was an mp3 player
with preaching already inside
Christian music already inside
headphones and everything
and I was very grateful and I remember
he was in the next room
and I went over there and I was just like
I don't want to say his name
and he's like hey, did you get this
from me? and he's like
no?
he was like really
offended because apparently he worked
really hard to break into my room
and put the package
and write the
but he wasn't like the
sneakiest person obviously
I was like I think this is your writing
you know
he's like not me
like the guy even lied about it
good night
but he
would do that all the time, not lie
he would
do acts of giving like that all the time
and he would often
go to a friend of mine
and always say like hey, does anybody
have a bill that they need to get paid?
that needs to get paid?
is anyone struggling in Bible college?
is anyone struggling in the Christian school?
does anybody need anything? let me know
because I have money and I want to give that
he was just very content living a very
just basic life
and he found a lot
of fulfillment in giving to
the needs of others
and I remember telling him like well
thanks anyway, I know it's you
I know you're saying it's not you, but I'm really thankful for this
thank you, and he's like you're welcome
he's like you know
he didn't even want me to know about it
and to this day he'll still deny it
if I see him, he'll still deny it, but everyone knows it was him
what I'm saying is that
they find so much joy
in meeting
someone's needs that if they could
they just would give as anonymously as possible
they don't like anybody to know about it
now go to Matthew chapter 6 if you would
Matthew chapter 6
Matthew chapter number 6
and we have givers in our church
I know that we have givers in our church
and one of the qualities
of a giver is the fact that they like
to give and they'll literally tell me
like please don't tell anybody that I gave
this, or please don't tell anybody about this
I don't want anyone to know, and I'm like
don't worry about it, you know
that's how they operate, they rather
just kind of, they find
fulfillment, you say well don't you know about it
if they're giving it to you? Yeah, but if they're giving something to the
church or something, they're just like hey, here's
to meet this financial need, here's to meet
this, I don't want anyone to know about it, just
letting you know about that. Look at Matthew chapter 6
verse number 1, it says take heed that you do not
your alms before men to be seen of them
otherwise you have no reward
of your father which is in heaven
therefore when thou doest thine alms
do not sound a trumpet before thee
as the hypocrites do in the
synagogues and in the streets that they
may have glory of men
verily I say unto you, they
have their reward
but when thou doest thine alms, let not
thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth
that thine alms may be in secret
and thy father which seeth in secret
himself shall reward
thee openly. So the Bible actually teaches
that when we are a blessing to others
when we give alms or we want to be a blessing
to others financially, we should do it
so secretly, so anonymously
that the right hand doesn't even know
what the left hand does.
And this extra
hypocrites, these hypocrites
in Matthew 6 actually remind
me of someone who was in our church who we kicked out
I don't know about a year and a half ago or two years ago
his name is Eric Ballesteros
he's a weirdo who taught weird doctrine
but I remember one time
he came up to me right before
preaching, I don't remember what it was
but it was during a service and
the offering was already taken
and this guy came to me with a
bundle of cash
he's like, hey pastor, I forgot to put
this in the plate, can you take it?
like this bundle of money and I'm like
no? I don't
handle anybody
I said, go give that to one of the ushers
I don't want nothing to do with this, oh okay
I thought you would take it or something
what is he doing? He's trying to show
how much money he gives
you know, because he thought that that would
influence me to just allow
him to have influence in the church or whatever
he thought it could do
but I'm not greedy of filtered
lucre, I'm not covetous, I can care less
I don't even know who the biggest giver is in our church
I don't care, and I don't know
and so he, but he tried to use that because
here's the thing, he didn't read Matthew
chapter 6
where it's just like, hey, that's not something you do
unrighteous, that's wicked, you obviously have
an ulterior motive to giving
in the church or being a blessing to others
etcetera, and it's not like he said this is my
tithe, he was just like this is the money I want to put in the plate
but it already went by, sorry
you know, I was having trouble taking it out of my
pocket or something, you know
but
givers, real givers
not these phony givers, real givers
find joy in just
meeting the need, not necessarily
getting attention because you're meeting
the need, ok
now obviously they want the attention of God
you know, they want God to be pleased with them
and they feel a great sense of
fulfillment when they do that
turn with me if you would to
go to 2 Corinthians chapter number 8
the second quality of
a, or attribute of a giver
is that they're willing to lower
their standard of living
to help others, ok
and again, with this guy that I knew
that's exactly how he lived, he lived
such a basic life
we used to tell him like, just get something nice
for yourself sometimes man, like
you just don't have anything nice, and he's just like
well I don't want anything nice
I'd rather just be, have a bunch of money
in the bank that when a need arises
I just can give it to someone because I don't need it
and he was just content with like
you know, 2 meals a day, just the most basic
of clothing, would work like crazy
and serve like crazy, and
he liked that lifestyle
you know, and by the way I'm not saying that
you have to do that
right, but there could be times when
maybe you hear about a need that's taking place
and you know, you can
say to yourself, well you know, maybe
we don't, we can't necessarily afford it
but what we can do is lower our standard of
living for a week and not go on a date on a Friday
so we can provide for this need
ok, that's typically how
givers act, they say, you know what
I'm willing to go without
so that others do not go
without, ok
they're often very frugal and they're not
wasteful at all
and their frugality
is for the purpose of blessing others and not
hoarding it for themselves, because you know there's people out there
who are very frugal, but they're frugal
but they're cheapskate still
you know, they're frugal
they're like the guy
in Luke chapter 12 who wants to tear
down barns and build up graters so he can store
his goods, you know, I know
I've known some rich people in my life
who are so rich, I mean
they're millionaires, I've known millionaires
in my life and they're some of the most
greedy
just cheapskates you ever
know, you know
and it's like, and I've known
millionaires that actually died
ok, I've personally known millionaires that
died and you know
they didn't do anything with their money and now it's like
people are fighting for their millions and all these things
it's just like, what's the purpose of that?
you know, and so
they're frugal, the givers
are frugal because they know
that eventually they're going to be able to use
whatever they have accumulated
through their frugality
to be a blessing to others, they're not hoarding it
ok, and look, those Christians
shouldn't be hoarders, period
right, there's nothing
worse, have you guys ever seen
have you guys ever seen like those
hoarders, where it's just
like, they keep
everything, you're like
me
you know
I remember one time
someone actually hired me
to clean out a hoarder's house
and they're like, yeah this person has just accumulated
a lot of stuff, just go in there and just take
everything out
this person didn't throw away
anything
kept every milk carton
every trash, everything
everything
there was literally
like
where the baseboards were
out here, that's how high the dust was
on the corners
of the house
because obviously hoarding affects every aspect of the house
now they have like
thousands upon thousands
of dollars
in there that they did nothing with
they literally kept every
quarter, every penny, every dime
and when they collected
it all together, it was like thousands
upon thousands of dollars worth of coins
but they did nothing with it
they just kind of kept it to themselves
and didn't do anything with it
they have this two ten common mentality
where it's just like, well I'll die
and they'll just take it with me, wrong
it's not going to happen, you might as well just
get rid of it or use it for a just cause
use it for the Lord, serve the Lord
with your substance
so that you can have true riches
you know, instead of storing
all that money and all those possessions
and you're like, for a rainy day
and look, I'm not against saving up money for a rainy day
but just look
maybe a couple rainy days have already
come and gone
look at
2 Corinthians chapter 8
and verse number 1
and look, most givers are not necessarily
millionaires, although there are some out there that are
there are some givers out there
that are very wealthy, some of them
are just, you know
they make a decent living
but that's just their thing they like to give
and here's an example, sometimes they're even poor
or they don't have much, look at verse number 1
Moreover, brethren, we do you
to wit of the grace of God bestowed
on the churches of Macedonia
how that in a
great trial of affliction the abundance
of their joy and their
deep poverty abounded
unto the riches of their liberality
so
we see that they were
deeply, I mean, poor
they didn't have a whole lot
but because
they were so generous, when it says liberality
it's referring to their generosity
because of what they were generous
they received an abundance of joy
this is verse number 3, for to their power
I bear record, yea and beyond
their power, they were willing
of themselves, praying us with much
entreaty that we would receive a gift
and take upon us the fellowship of the ministry
unto the saints
even though they're poor, even though they didn't have much
they're like begging me to take a gift
they're like, please take this
please, just take this
from us, take this gift
take this possession, take this
financial means right here
and he says, for the fellowship of the ministry unto the saints
and this they did, verse 5
not as we hoped, but first gave
their own selves to the Lord
and unto us by the will of God
you see, givers
a righteous giver
first gives of themselves
you know, they're willing to take up their cross
and follow the Lord, and serve him
and once they're in that right mindset
of serving God, then they begin to minister
of their possessions
look at verse number 7
therefore, as ye abound in everything
in faith and utterance and knowledge and in all diligence
and in your love to us, see that ye
abound in this grace also
I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness
of others, and to prove the sincerity
of your love, for ye know the grace
of our Lord Jesus Christ, look what it says
that though he was rich
yet for your sakes, he
became poor
why? that ye through his poverty
might be rich
isn't that amazing?
that Jesus Christ, the king of the universe
took upon him the form of a
servant, he became
poor, why? so we can be made rich
so we can inherit eternal
life, so we can have
heaven, we can go into the kingdom of
God, and this is the exact
mentality of someone who has the gift of giving
they're willing to make themselves poor
in order to make others
rich, ok
and at the end of the day, anybody who makes themselves
poor to make another person rich really is not
poor at all, they're rich in faith
they're rich in rewards
they're rich in other areas
and they may not see the physical riches today
but they will someday
go to Mark chapter 12 if you would, Mark chapter
number 12
we're talking about the giver this evening
the spiritual gift of giving
they're willing to lower
their standard of living
in order to help others
they're willing to go without
in order to be a blessing
to others
look at Mark chapter 12 verse 41
it says, and Jesus sat over
against the treasury and beheld
how the people cast money into the treasury
and many that were rich were cast in
much, and there came a certain
poor widow and she threw in two
mites which make a farthing
and he called unto him his disciples and sayeth
unto them, verily I say unto you
that this poor widow hath cast
more in than all
they which have cast into the treasury
for all they did cast
in of their abundance, but
she of her want or her lack
she of her want did cast
in all that she had
even all her
living, the Bible says
and from God's perspective
because of the fact that she was poor
but she gave everything that she had
in God's eyes, that was more than anybody
else, percentage wise it was more
and so it's not necessarily
you have to be like some rich person, you're like
well just count me out because I'm not even rich
you know, well you know if you just give whatever
you have
in God's eyes, that's a lot
you know, and God's not
God's not impressed with your
millions of dollars, he's not impressed with your
thousands of dollars, he's not impressed with your
riches, what he's impressed with
is you willing to give of your want
you know
you give to the point where maybe it might hurt you
a little for the sake of helping
others, okay
and let me encourage you
to exercise this in a practical
way, look in our
church, ladies are always having
babies here, amen
that's good
that shows that God's hand
is on the church, amen
it's like the list is always growing, there's always ladies
who are getting pregnant and
one lady ends up having
a baby, another lady's expecting
again and you know this is going to continue
for years and years and years
as long as I'm the pastor here
it's going to continue for years because look
I'm going to continue to promote to have children
and say that children are a blessing from the Lord
and birth control is wicked as hell
and don't do that, you know
God wants us to have as many children as we
possibly can and you know when
he says the only birth control we believe
in is God you know controlling
whether we have children or not
we're not going to stop anything you know from having children
but let me say this is that you know
when a
a family has a baby
okay
it's a transitional period for them especially that first
week when they come home
and you know the dad
suffers a lot, okay
you know he's just like my wife can't cook
anymore, she's not there to baby me
and all that, he's having a hard
time guys, I'm just kidding
the wives are like are you serious
are you serious
I was
testing out the waters that didn't work out
very well
you know it is a transitional period
for a couple
you know because you got this little baby and
you know wakes up every two hours to eat and you know
obviously the wife can't cook and if the
husband's out there working you know
and he's not a good cook or something you know
he's going to struggle, so
here's how we can be a blessing to them
sign up to bring them a meal
Amen
Hey singles, sign up to bring them a meal
Amen
I can't even like, I barely afford to
get myself a pizza, go without
a box of pizza
and give them the box of pizza
Amen
That's what I learned, I remember before I was married
you know I had a Sunday school class
and I was actually like
an unmarried Sunday school teacher and I was leading a bunch
of married people and they would have
babies and we would sign them up for
meals and I would bring a meal
you know I didn't have a whole lot but
you know what it's okay, we just go without a couple
meals, go without eating, go without a
couple bangs
go without a couple reigns and bangs
and all these things and
look if you just go two days without that
you'll have enough for like a meal for an entire week
go without a couple things
and bring someone a box of pizza
bring someone some Pollo Loco
bring someone some Raising Cane
bring someone something when they're
going through that
and I'm telling you you're going to sow good seeds
because it's going to happen to you and you're going to
realize how difficult it is when you come home
and it's a transitional period
and it's just like you know
I don't feel like cooking right now
it's just like we're tired, we haven't gotten any sleep
and it's a box of pizza
we haven't gotten any sleep
and it's a blessing when a church member comes at your door
and says hey I brought you a meal
you know I brought you some dinner, I brought you some lunch
and so you have opportunity
hey we don't lack opportunity here
I mean how many
let's see
right here
one, two, three, four, five, six, seven
you have seven opportunities in the next couple
months
to be a blessing okay and I think
someone just had a baby
who else
someone just recently had a baby
oh Miss Ivy
yeah
they should be getting a lot of
meals folks, be a blessing
and
look it doesn't take much
and let me say this, the blessing
that they feel
even getting them a six dollar
Little Caesars box of pizza
there's a lot more
because you're confirming your love
towards them
and I'm telling you
I'm speaking to the singles
you can give
you can be a blessing
you can send a box
or some chicken or whatever it is
some rotisserie chicken from Albertans
you can do something
and I'm telling you
I'll go without
hey some of us can afford to go without
a little bit
and so be a blessing to others
but the giver, that's kind of how they're
naturally inclined, they love going without
in order to be a blessing to someone else
okay
go with me if you would to Luke chapter 16
Luke chapter 16
let me say this is also number three
givers are often successful business people
this is not always the case
but sometimes it is
they're typically wise stewards and thus excel
and succeed in the area of finances
the Bible tells us in Proverbs chapter 22
verse 29, Seeest thou a man diligent in
his business? He shall stand before kings
he shall not stand before mean men
and so
you know God is often
maybe give someone an ounce
of wisdom when it comes to this
area to become successful in their business
and you know they'll use it
for God's purpose
they'll use it for
the furtherance of the gospel
now, why is it that
they become successful? It's because of the fact
that they're faithful in that which
is little first
they were faithful in that which something
that which belonged to another man first
and then God gave them
you know more than that look at Luke chapter
16 we're going to see the opposite of this
in verse number one it says, And he said unto his
disciples, There was a certain rich man
which had a steward, and the same was accused
unto him that he had wasted his goods
and he called him and said unto him,
How is it that I hear this of thee?
Give an account of thy stewardship
for thou mayest be no longer steward
then the steward said within himself,
What shall I do for my lord taketh
away from me the stewardship?
I cannot dig, he's lazy
to beg I am ashamed
he's prideful
I am resolved what to do that when I am put out
of the stewardship they may receive me
into their houses so he called
every one of his lord's debtors unto him and said unto
the first, How much oweth thou unto
my lord? and he said,
One hundred measures of oil and he said unto him
take thy bill and sit down quickly and
write fifty. Then said he to another,
How much oweth thou?
and he said, One hundred measures of wheat
and he said unto him, Take thy bill and
write four score. And the lord
commanded the unjust steward because he had done
wisely for the children of this world and their
generation are wiser
generation wiser than the children of
light. So what do we see here?
We see a steward who is actually
unjust
with his master's goods
and because he's unjust and little
he's unjust and much as well
because then he goes out and he
steals from
his masters, the people who owe his master
he's stealing, he's still stealing
from him. He's wasting his goods
in the beginning and then we see
later on he's like well I
can't work because I'm too lazy. I can't
dig I'm too lazy. I can't beg because I'm too
ashamed. I know what I'm going to do
I'm just going to go to the people who
owe my master and act like I'm still
working for him
and collect what they owe
and just use that. That's an
unjust steward. He's stealing.
It's wicked.
Verse 9 says,
So the principle here is this.
Just like this guy was not a good steward
when he was under his masters, something that
belonged to someone else, he's going to do
more unrighteousness when he
comes out from under his master and in fact he's stealing
even more from his master in the latter
end. And the same is also said that
if you're faithful in that which is little
God will give you more because
you're faithful. He says in verse 11,
that which is your own.
And so often givers
in the church
who are wise businessmen
they're successful, it's probably because they've
been faithful in the little.
They're frugal, wise stewards
who are faithful in something that belonged to
another man and God blessed
them with their own possessions
their own finances because
they've shown themselves to basically
succeed and be a wise steward
of that which belongs not just to another man
here on this earth but even that which is God's.
Because at the end of the day that which we
have belongs to the Lord anyways.
And so
they often succeed in that
area. Go with me if you would to
1 Timothy chapter 6.
Now I mentioned this
at the beginning, if givers are not careful
they're a blessing, they could be a
blessing, they can distribute to the
necessities of the saints, but if they're not
careful, if they're
not spirit filled, they
can often weaponize their gift.
They'll weaponize it and
use it as leverage.
Fleshly givers can
use their wealth as leverage
to try to push their weight around to get
their weight. Now in
my opinion, this only happens
in a church where the pastor
is just like this guy who just likes money as well.
A pastor who's just kind of greedy
a filthy lucre or is not trusting in
the Lord and he's just kind of
like, we got to get tithers in
the church. And typically
people like that don't succeed
very much and they have
to compromise in order to get people into the church.
Now I'll give you an
example of this and I've given this an example
many times in prior sermons
but I knew a man
who, now he's
a pastor now, but
I remember I worked alongside this
guy to plant a church.
And this guy, he
was just shady in a lot of different areas
but especially when it came to finances.
And I remember one particular time
there was a brand new family that came to the church
and it was great.
We're always happy when you got a new family in the church.
It's like new blood, new people
come in, it's just exciting.
And I went
to his office on a Monday morning or something
like that and he told me
he's like, man you got to pray for these people.
And I'm like, alright
pray for them to get saved.
Pray for them to grow.
He's all because they got money.
Pray for them
because they got money.
He didn't even care about that.
And I told him, are they saved?
And he's like, I don't know.
I'm like, what?
How wicked is that?
He's like,
pray for them because they got money.
So he looks at him, he sees
dollar signs. He doesn't see souls
he sees dollar signs.
He can care less if they get saved.
He can care less if they grow
in the Lord. What he cares about
is what's in their bank account.
And he did this with
many other people in that church and that's why
in that church you had
people who were givers
but they weaponized their gift.
And they would often push their weight around
you know what I mean, like hey I'm not
really happy with this person here.
You need to ask this person to leave the church
and if not, you know what I mean, I'm going to pull out my
building fund giving or whatever.
And he would literally, he had a
staff member and he
literally fired that staff member because of
the biggest giver in his church.
Wicked folks.
He said,
what would you do if someone, I'd be like, dude, get
the hell out of my church. I don't want, I don't
I'm not driven by money.
I can care, let thy money perish
with thee. I don't
care about how much money you got in the bank, how much
money you bring in, what you tithe,
what you do over and above. Don't ever
try to weaponize finances with me, buddy.
Doesn't work like that.
And
you know, he would. He
would do that. And in fact, you know, it doesn't
surprise me because of the fact that his parents were just
like that too. His parents were in the church.
They were very wealthy people. And I
remember, you know, they were going to
ordain someone else or
they were actually going to put someone else in charge of that ministry.
And so they basically told them
hey, thou mayest be no more steward.
We're going to take you from your
stewardship. We're going to bring you back.
And he was not happy about that.
So what did he do? He went
to mama and papa,
complained to them. The next day,
because the pastor came, and I'll
just confess, it was me, all right. I was
going to replace him.
And the pastor came up to me and said, hey,
you're replacing this person. You're going
to be in charge of this right here, this church plant.
And you're going to be doing this. And so
excited, you know, these are the
plans. I said, great, you know.
He found out about it. He basically
almost had a heart attack.
He had a mental breakdown or something like that.
He was just in tears
that he was no longer
going to be the preacher
at this church plant.
So then he told his mom
and dad.
And his dad came into the office
that very next morning
and basically said, if you pull my
son, I'll pull my building fun
giving.
Not
two minutes after the meeting was over, they called
me and said, yeah, we made a mistake.
We
got to like, we're going to slow this down
actually. We're not going to do that. And it's like,
what in the world? But this is what I mean
by weaponizing
that gift, right.
And using it to push your leverage, trying to
use it to influence the pastor.
But that's why it's important you just get a pastor
that is not driven by, that's not motivated
by money.
Care less what comes in.
And by the way,
we don't have a building fun here.
And I'm not against if someone does have a building fun
necessarily, if that's what they want to do.
But a lot of times,
in the old IFB, what I've noticed is that
when that happens, pastors
are more likely inclined
to compromise
in order to keep that big giver in their church.
The one who's giving
multitudes of money to the building fun,
you know, to this fund
or whatever, a pastor
has the tendency to
compromise and cut back on the message
and favor that individual more than anybody
else because of the fact that they give.
It's wicked. It's not right.
Look what it says in 1 Timothy chapter 6,
verse 17.
So givers, if you're a giver in our church, don't
be high minded. Be humble.
Recognize that
God gave you those finances. He gave you those
resources and He can take them away at any moment.
Be not high minded
nor trust in uncertain
riches. Why are riches
uncertain? Because they can just come and go
at any time.
Who should you trust then?
In the living God it says. Who giveth
us richly all things to
enjoy. It says in
verse 18 that they do
good. That they be rich
in good works, ready
to distribute, willing to
communicate. Now we think
of communicating as, you know, words, communicating
you know, talking, having a conversation
or conveying a message.
Communicate here in the
Bible is actually referring to
give, to distribute financially,
distribute resources. And he's
saying, look, don't, you know, put
all your eggs in one basket and say, well because I have
financial riches, I got
it all together. No, he's saying you need to be
rich in good works.
It's great that God has blessed you with
finances, but you need to make sure that
you are rich in
soul winning, rich
in service, rich
in stepping on in faith, rich in
good works. Maintain good works, amen.
Be rich in that area.
Laying up in store for themselves
verse 19, a good foundation
against the time to come that they may
lay hold on eternal life. He's
saying, look, what you need to do
if you want to see this money
ever again, you need to
invest it into the work of God.
Invest it into other people and what happens
is you send that money ahead.
Your money gets saved.
You know, instead of saving your money
in the Jews, I mean
in the bank accounts,
what you need to do is actually
save your money by
spending it on godly things
which is not necessary
spending, it's investing and
it actually goes to heaven.
I'm not saying you're going to have dollar bills in heaven
I'm saying it will be converted
to eternal rewards.
Okay.
Bible says in Galatians chapter 6, go to
Galatians chapter 6 if you would.
Do not weaponize
your gift. Do not
try to use it to push your weight around.
And look,
maybe, you know, people try to weaponize
the gift against pastors but sometimes they'll
weaponize it against other people in the church.
It'll be a blessing to someone and they'll
kind of use that as leverage.
Well I did this for you, I blessed you, you know,
I gave you this. Folks, if you give
something to someone as a gift,
if you're a blessing to someone, don't
remind them of that. You remember how much
trouble with blessing I was to you?
Remember that one time that I gave you that?
Remember that?
No, once you depart from that, you give it
to them, you don't bring it up again.
Amen.
Now,
the reason it says don't be weary in
well-doing is because sometimes givers, they can give
to people who are not grateful.
They lack gratitude, they don't
say thank you, they're not
polite about it, or
you know, whatever it is. And
that can cause someone to grow weary. But here's the thing,
don't grow weary because you will
reap from that giving if
you faint not. And God
sees what you do, God sees what you give.
And look folks, if someone is a blessing to you
financially, say thank you.
Be grateful for that person.
You know,
show some gratitude towards that individual
and be thankful
that God has blessed them with that to be a blessing
to you. And look, I know
there's givers in this church because I've had people give
to me in my time of need
and I'm very thankful for them.
You know, I'm thankful for what they've done,
I'm thankful that that's how they express their love,
and they've been a blessing to me.
I know it's not only been to me, I know it's been to
different people in the church. And I'm sure
those different individuals are also equally grateful
for those people.
And so, keep at it, amen.
And it says, you know,
communicate to those who communicate the word of God,
but not just the preachers,
it says, especially unto them who are of the household
of faith, just Christians in general.
Look for an opportunity to be a blessing to someone
else. Go to Acts
chapter, let me see here,
go to
2 Corinthians 9.
2 Corinthians 9,
number 5, if givers are not careful,
they'll try to excuse themselves from other responsibilities
because they give.
They can often see giving as a substitution
for other services. Well it's like, well I gave this
so I don't have to go soul winning. I gave this
so I don't have to serve. Wrong.
You know, you're giving
the free will offerings that you give
or the blessings you are to other people,
that's just another pole in the pond
earning rewards, but that doesn't
excuse you from going out and preaching
the gospel, seeing people saved,
taking care of your spiritual responsibilities.
You can't
purchase souls
with money.
You need to make sure that you give,
you need to make sure that you preach.
We've got to be well balanced in all areas of life.
And then lastly is this,
givers inspire others to kick it up a notch.
You know, I've been inspired by
givers where it's just like, wow these people stepped out in
faith, they gave this, or they're a blessing to this
individual, and it inspires me,
it reminds me how important it is
to be a giver as well. Let me just say this,
we all can create a reason why
not to give. Oh man,
I got bills man, I got this, I got
payments, I got all these things.
We all do. Who does it?
Okay, so does the giver.
The important thing is, is that
you know, you
give willingly and with a cheerful
heart, and obviously we're not saying
like, hey, you know,
I'm going to be a blessing to this individual, I'm just going to run my
credit card through, and just
go into debt, and just, you know, to be a blessing to others.
No, obviously, it should be
something that you have, you know what I mean?
Don't go into like credit card debt
to be a blessing to someone else, okay?
I should make that disclaimer.
Let me just repeat that again.
You know, I'm going to be a blessing to this person, I'm going to pay
all their bills and just run my credit card, got to
provide for it somehow. Doesn't
necessarily work that way, okay?
Look at 2 Corinthians 9
verse 1, but you can inspire others to give.
It says in verse number 1
So what we see here is that their
willingness to give to others and be a blessing
to others, you know, through their
resources and their bounty, actually
inspired others, their zeal provoked
a lot of people. And you know what, this is happening
today, because I know churches, I'm friends
with churches who are extremely
generous. And you know what they do?
They inspire me.
They inspire me to be a church
that is also generous as
well, okay? And look,
you know, we need to change that when it comes to the
independent fundamental Baptist churches.
I'll be honest with you,
the IFB churches of yesteryear is very
stingy. You know,
they're selling things and selling tracks
and you have to buy
everything. You know, you have to
purchase everything. Nothing was ever given
away.
You know, and I'm not saying there wasn't
independent fundamental Baptist churches who weren't
like that. I'm sure there was many out there
who didn't sell anything. They
were very generous. But
for the most part, IFB churches have been
stingy and have been kind of
covetous in that manner, okay?
And I'm thankful for pastor
friends in churches who
were very liberal in their giving,
okay? Who were a blessing
to other people. And I know them personally
and I see them give, not just to our church,
but give to other people as well. And
it inspires me. It makes me
think like, man, I want to be liberal in our giving
as well. I want to make sure that I'm a blessing
to others. And when we have opportunity,
let's be a blessing to them and
not be afraid to just, you know,
to just give liberally
and generously and like, oh, but
how are we going to make it? Well, I'm sure
we'll be fine. And look,
I learned that the more you care about
money, the less money you
actually have to pay the bills.
The less you care about money
and you just do what you can with what you have,
the more God gives you
because he recognizes this
person is going to use it, this church is going to use it for the
right reasons. To further the
gospel, to be a blessing to others.
And so it inspires others. Now,
go with me if you would to, go back to
Romans chapter 12 and we'll finish there.
And if you take anything from the sermon,
just learn this is that
you're sowing good seeds
when you give. Not just
of your finances, your possessions,
just anything that you have,
any resource that you have that someone else
may need, if you give that
to someone else, you are sowing good seeds
and you will reap. Not just
in heaven, you're going to reap here as
well. It's going to happen.
Let me give you some final thoughts and instructions
regarding the giver. Number one, give with simplicity.
It says in Romans chapter 12
verse 8, he that exhorteth
on exhortation, he that giveth,
let him do it with simplicity.
Now, what does it mean to be, or to give
with simplicity? Well,
simplicity, a synonym to that is just sincerity.
Because it says in 2 Corinthians
1.12, for our rejoicing is this, the testimony
of our conscience, that in simplicity
and godly
sincerity. So it kind of uses those words
interchangeably and that would make a lot
of sense when the Bible tells us to give
with simplicity, we're supposed
to give with sincerity.
In other words,
don't have an ulterior motive.
You understand?
You give out of the pureness of your heart.
You give because you actually want to be a
blessing. Not because like, man
I hope someone sees me slip this
20 in his hand.
He's looking, hey, what's up man?
Here you go.
Don't
do it hoping that other people
will see you. Give with simplicity.
Be sincere.
And if you can't do it, then don't give.
If you
can't give with simplicity, then don't give.
Because
then people are just going to see you as
the self-righteous, virtue
signaling Christian.
And they're out there.
Give with simplicity. Be
sincere. I'm sure you've
had times in your life where someone comes
to you and they give you a paper handshake.
You guys know what I'm talking about?
How many know what a paper handshake is?
Basically,
they shake your hand and
there's like a
bill in there, a dollar bill
or something, like a $20 bill, $10.
They give you something and what are they doing?
They want to give with sincerity.
They're just like, I don't want anyone to know this is for you.
Or whatever, you know.
And what is that? That's showing sincerity.
They're not like, hey, I just want to let everyone know real quick.
I want to be a blessing to this person here.
Here you go. Here's the dollar.
Or whatever, you know.
Most people who give with simplicity are very discreet when they give.
So givers,
give with simplicity.
Don't sound a trumpet.
Most about giving, give with
sincerity, have the right type of
motives, not only that, but give with
cheerfulness.
2 Corinthians 9 says this,
every man according as he purposes in his heart
so let him give, not grudgingly,
or of necessity, for God
loveth a cheerful giver.
Go buy another meal for these people.
Can't they just stop having babies?
Man!
Here we go. He's talking about
giving to these people.
Here we go. Yeah, I guess.
Yeah, I guess so.
I guess I'll buy a piece of pizza.
I guess.
That's grudgingly.
If you have that attitude, just don't give.
And that same person is pretty cheerful
when someone's giving to them.
Oh, thanks!
Well, God actually
loves it when we give cheerfully.
When we're excited,
when we love to give,
when we find fulfillment in being a blessing to
someone else.
And then, of course,
give generously.
The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 9, 6, it goes on to say
But this I say, he which soweth sparingly
shall reap also sparingly.
He which soweth bountifully shall reap
also bountifully.
And then lastly is this, seek to be
rich in faith.
If God's blessed you with finances, that's great.
Thank God for that.
But just recognize this,
your focus should not be to be rich
with resources and money and possessions.
Your goal
should be to be rich in faith.
That your
bank account should be filled with faith.
The Bible says
in Matthew 6, 21
For where your treasure is,
there will your heart be also.
And so,
I want to encourage the givers.
Give me money! No, I'm just kidding.
I'm just trying to wake you up here.
I'm trying to encourage the givers.
Hey, hone in on your gift. Be a blessing to others.
And look, thank God that you're in a
church like this.
Where people don't take advantage of others.
I haven't seen that.
People taking advantage of others. People exploiting
others. People, you know,
their ability to give.
You know, you're in a church where you can
exercise your gift of giving
with sincerity and
simplicity.
And you have opportunity to do it.
And then
for the rest of us who don't have
the spiritual gift of giving, we need to learn
those attributes and exercise
those in our lives and can't use the
excuse, well, I don't have the gift of giving.
I have the gift of stinginess or something.
You know.
Oh, you're a Jew. No, I'm just kidding.
You know,
I don't have that
gift. Well, that's fine. You can learn it.
You can learn it.
You can learn how to give. You can learn
how to be generous. You can learn how to be
liberal in your giving.
You can learn how to be a blessing to others.
Amen.
Father, we thank you so much for
you giving to us eternal life.
The most generous gift we've ever received
is the gift of eternal life.
And
so thankful for that, Lord.
I pray that you'd help us, Lord, to be
givers. Thank you so much for the givers in our
church and that they use
that gift to be a blessing to others.
I'm so thankful they've been a blessing to me.
They've been a blessing to my family and to many
other families in our church here, Lord.
And I pray that you'd continue to bless
them so they can be a blessing to others.
And for those of us who may not have the
spiritual gift of giving, help us not to use that
as an excuse not to give. Help us to recognize
we still have the responsibility to
be a blessing to others as we
have the opportunity to do so.
Help us to be conscious of that.
That when a lady in our church has a baby,
that we would be the first ones
to sign up and send
a meal or maybe not even sign up.
Just, you know, just send a meal
without being asked to.
I pray, God, that you'd help us to be a blessing.
And I pray that you'd continue to
use this as a church to further the gospel.
In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
Song number 401,
Set My Soul Afire.
Song number 401,
all together nice and strong in that first verse.
Set my
soul afar,
Lord,
for thy
holy
Word.
Burn it
deep within
me.
Let your voice
be heard.
Millions
grow in
darkness
in this
day and hour.
I
will be your
witness.
Quail me
with thy
power.
Set my soul
afar.
Set
my soul
afar.
Make my
life a witness
of
thy saving
power.
Millions
grow in
darkness,
waiting
for thy
Word.
Set my
soul afar,
Lord.
Set my soul
afar.
Set
my soul
afar, Lord,
for the
lost in sin.
Give
to me
a passion
as I
seek to win.
Thou
be not
to falter.
Never
let me fail.
Fill me
with thy
Spirit.
Let
thy will
prevail.
Set
my soul
afar, Lord.
Set
my soul
afar.
Make my
life a witness
of
thy saving
power.
Millions
grow in
darkness,
waiting
for thy
Word.
Set my
soul afar,
Lord.
Set my
soul afar.
Set
my soul
afar,
Lord,
in my daily
life.
For too
long I
wandered
in this day
of strife.
Nothing
else will
matter,
but to
live for
thee.
I will be
your witness
as you
live in me.
Set
my soul
afar,
Lord.
Set my
soul afar.
Make
my life
a witness
of
thy saving
power.
Millions
grow in
darkness,
waiting
for thy
Word.
Set my
soul afar,
Lord.
Set my soul
afar.