Participants: Pr. Richard Daly (Host), Pr. John Lomacang
Series Code: 16LON
Program Code: 16LON000009A
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00:10 I heard the voice of the Lord saying,
00:13 "Whom shall I send and who will go for us." 00:17 Then I said, "Here am I, send me." 00:34 Three Angels Broadcasting Network 00:36 in the South England conference, 00:38 present London 2016. 00:46 Each night pastor Lomacang has been taking us 00:49 on a journey of Biblical discovery. 00:52 Last night we were introduced 00:54 to the wonderful message of God's Blessed Day, 00:59 and we truly appreciated the Word of God 01:03 being opened up to us 01:04 to understand that in a more detailed way. 01:07 This evening, the journey continues 01:10 and the topic is Making Ends Meet. 01:13 Making Ends Meet and I'm sure that 01:15 we can all relate to that phrase 01:18 at some point in the month. 01:21 But we were hear what the Word of God has to say 01:24 and how we can truly make ends meet. 01:27 Before pastor Lomacang speaks to us, 01:31 we're grateful Yolanda Innocent-Palmer 01:34 to sing for us. 01:51 Everyday they pass me by 01:58 I can see it in their eyes 02:04 Empty people filled with care 02:10 Headed who knows where 02:16 On they go through private pain 02:23 Living fear to fear 02:29 Laughter hides their silent cries 02:36 Only Jesus hears 02:43 People need the Lord 02:50 People need the Lord 02:56 At the end of broken dreams 03:03 He's the open door 03:10 People need the Lord 03:16 People need the Lord 03:23 When will we realize 03:30 People need the Lord 03:47 We are called to take this light 03:53 Into a world where wrong seems right 03:59 What would be too great a cost 04:04 For sharing life 04:08 With one who's lost 04:12 And through His love our hearts can feel 04:19 All the grief they bear 04:25 They must hear the words of life 04:32 Only we can share 04:39 People need the Lord 04:52 At the end of broken dreams 04:58 He's the open door 05:05 People need the Lord 05:11 I know, I need Christ my lord 05:18 When will we realize 05:25 That we must give our lives 05:31 For people need 05:37 The Lord 05:47 People need 05:53 The Lord 06:02 Open up your heart 06:07 And receive Christ the Lord 06:17 Amen. 06:22 Amen. 06:25 That was not just a song that was from the heart. 06:27 Thank you so much. 06:30 For ministering to my heart, 06:31 I've heard that song many times, 06:33 I've actually requested that 06:36 Yolanda sing that song tonight, 06:37 but she didn't sing it, she ministered that song. 06:41 And it is unmistakably true 06:43 that every one of us needs the Lord 06:45 in every area of our lives. 06:47 And that's why tonight's presentation, 06:50 it may seem to take a turn 06:52 from a vertical message 06:57 to a horizontal message. 07:01 But any message from the Bible 07:02 is always horizontal and vertical. 07:05 It has application and implication 07:08 in both directions 07:09 and before I open God's Word tonight, 07:11 on the topic Making Ends Meet, 07:14 I would like to invite you to bow your heads 07:16 with me this night. 07:19 Loving father in heaven, 07:21 thank you for your promise to provide 07:25 for your people both spiritual, physical 07:29 and temporal needs. 07:31 And Lord this night is no different, 07:33 each one of us has a need. 07:36 But father in your love and mercy 07:37 you've said to us in your word 07:41 that you will provide our need and your name 07:44 through those provisions will be continually glorified. 07:49 So send your spirit now Lord to speak to our hearts, 07:51 we pray in Jesus name, amen. 07:58 What would you do if I told you 08:01 that there was some one going to visit you tomorrow, 08:06 and then they knocked on your front door, 08:09 and when you Went to the front door 08:11 and opened the door you met him 08:13 and that said to you I'm here 08:17 that I promise to provide all of your need, 08:21 the rest of your life. 08:23 Would you slam the door? 08:25 Would you be suspicious? 08:28 Now if you're from New York, 08:30 you might be a little suspicious. 08:33 My wife and I have had moments in our lives 08:35 that have raised the antenna of suspicion 08:39 only to be reminded that sometimes 08:42 what seems suspicious 08:44 is a moment that God steps into your life 08:47 and blesses you in a way that you could never imagine. 08:51 I mean, if I stop right here and spend the rest of the night 08:54 just testifying about God's provision in our lives, 08:57 I really wouldn't have enough of the evening. 09:00 My wife and I periodically would sit down 09:03 and recount our journey. 09:05 And remember, that we are where we are 09:08 not because of some planet of our own 09:11 but of God's faithfulness. 09:14 As David and Psalms says, "I was young and now I am old, 09:19 and I've never seen the righteous forsaken, 09:22 nor his seed begging bread." 09:24 Come on, somebody say amen. 09:26 When you connect to God's plan for provision, 09:31 your age may change but God will remain the same. 09:35 And He will show up in moments 09:37 when you least understand your need 09:41 and remind you that He is the omnipotent, 09:44 the omnipresent, the omnipotent one. 09:47 He is the one that knows all, understands all 09:50 and could provide all of our need 09:53 according to his riches and glory. 09:56 You know, one knows that very well 09:57 as the apostle Paul 09:59 who mingled with cultures and philosophies. 10:01 He was surrounded in his many journeys 10:03 by many Lord's and many God's. 10:06 He was in villages and cities 10:07 where the unknown God was never known to the people, 10:11 he was where people worshiped stone 10:13 and wood and brick and gold and jewels. 10:16 Paul the apostle understood 10:18 the difference between lack and abundance. 10:20 He had prison food 10:22 and he also ate royal delicacies. 10:25 That's why the apostle Paul, 10:28 through God's Holy Spirit preserved a word 10:31 that we need to begin with tonight 10:34 from the book of Philippians 4:11-13. 10:37 Notice, as the text is brought up 10:40 to the screen tonight. 10:41 Notice what Paul communicates to us, 10:44 Centuries later there he says, 10:47 "Not that I speak in regard to need, 10:51 for I have learned in whatever state I'm in 10:55 to be content." 10:56 When I'm in the United States 10:57 I say whether I'm in the state of New York 10:59 or Illinois. 11:01 I know that where ever I am, I could be content. 11:04 But Paul was not speaking of a physical state, 11:07 but Paul was speaking 11:08 of whatever situation life you're confronted with. 11:11 Be content, why? 11:12 He says, "I know how to be abased, 11:15 and I know how to..." 11:16 What church? 11:17 Abound. 11:19 Everywhere and in all things 11:21 I have learned both to be full and to be what? 11:24 Hungry. Both to abound and to what? 11:26 Suffer need. 11:28 And then he said in the context of all these together, 11:31 "I can do all things through Christ 11:34 who strengthens me." 11:36 We've been here at Croydon, now going into our second week 11:41 and I have been saying to the cooks 11:42 and those providing our meals, 11:45 please, don't keep feeding me so much, 11:48 because I want to be able to standup 11:50 and make it through the message, 11:52 and now my suit feels a little tighter 11:55 than it was last week. 11:57 And I want to say, praise God for saints 12:00 who promise to provide as God enables them. 12:05 And now I understand 12:07 the righteous have never been forsaken 12:09 not here at Croydon. 12:10 Come on, say amen church. 12:12 See when the apostle Paul proclaimed 12:14 that I can do all things 12:15 through Christ who strengthens me, 12:16 he was in essence saying, 12:18 "If we have Christ we have everything 12:21 and everyone we will ever need. 12:24 If we have Christ 12:26 then he says in Philippians 4:19, 12:30 And my God, come on together. 12:32 "And my God shall supply what? 12:35 All your need according to His what? 12:39 Riches in glory by Christ Jesus." 12:43 Amen. 12:44 I must say tonight in a world of economic stability 12:46 I need to know that God will provide 12:48 what do you say? 12:49 Amen. 12:51 In a culture of depression and recession 12:52 I need to know that God will provide. 12:55 In a society of raising and falling investments 12:58 I need to know that God will provide 13:01 in a competitive job market 13:03 I need to know that God will provide. 13:06 When I was a young man growing up in New York city, 13:09 and I was working at an insurance company. 13:12 My commitment was to God not to money, 13:16 and so when the opportunity came and they told me 13:18 that I was scheduled to work on Sabbath. 13:21 I told my supervisor I won't be here. 13:23 He says, you have to be here. I said well, I won't be here. 13:26 So you need to schedule someone else. 13:28 He said well, it is your responsibility 13:31 as an employee of this company to be here on Saturday. 13:34 I said I won't be here. He said, what is your schedule? 13:38 I was in church on Sabbath morning. 13:41 I got to work on Monday morning. 13:43 He said, you were not here. I said, is it any surprise. 13:46 I told you on Friday I wouldn't be here. 13:48 He said, what is your schedule for the next, 13:50 in two more you're scheduled again. 13:53 I said, let's not hesitate, I won't be here. 13:57 And after the two weeks had passed 13:58 and they scheduled me again on Sabbath morning, 14:00 I wasn't there. 14:01 Monday morning, I got called into office, 14:03 they gave me my final check. 14:07 I would rather loose a job 14:09 than a loose a connection with Christ. 14:11 Amen. 14:12 Because my God, come on somebody. 14:14 My God shall supply all of our need 14:18 according to his riches, not insurance companies, 14:23 not banks, not investment holders, not stockbrokers, 14:27 God's provision is not based on anything that man has. 14:32 As a matter of fact God could out testify any billionaire 14:36 that has ever existed. 14:38 I wish somebody was listening to me tonight, 14:41 God could out testify. 14:43 Have you seen those cars 14:45 that pull up in front of Harrods? 14:47 My wife and I went there the other night 14:50 got sick, not physically sick, we got financially sick. 14:56 Walked in the store 14:58 and I looked in the glass window, 15:00 went to get some candy. 15:02 Chocolate, a box of chocolate 15:04 3450 pounds, 15:10 I had to ask what's in it? 15:13 She said, "A slither of gold." 15:16 But she said, "You don't need that because 15:17 you can't digest the gold anyway." 15:20 So she said why do people buy it? 15:21 Because they can. 15:23 And I look around that department 15:25 and I saw people, I want to say this clear, 15:26 I saw people that have wealth on their face. 15:32 They were reaching over buying by the multiple, 15:34 by the multiples, they were buying 15:36 they seemed to be and I said to my wife, 15:38 "Honey, we need to get out of this store, 15:39 we don't belong in Harrods." 15:43 So my wife leaned over to get a little gift for a friend 15:46 and we kind of figure out all we could afford is, 15:48 two small pieces of chocolate for seven pounds. 15:53 So we took our samples 15:55 and walked out like we had money. 16:00 But I thought about it when I got out, 16:02 we do have money because we have got God. 16:05 There nobody in Harrods that has more than God. 16:08 God could out testify any billionaire 16:11 that ever was alive. 16:13 Listen to God as He testifies tonight 16:14 Psalms 50:10-12, he said, 16:16 "For every beast of the forest is Mine," 16:19 you know anybody that can say that? 16:21 "And the cattle on a thousand hills." 16:23 God doesn't count his cattle by heads, but by hills. 16:26 Do you anybody that can say that? 16:28 He continues, "And I know all the birds," 16:30 He can call them by name and they will arrive. 16:34 I know all the birds of the mountains, 16:36 and the wild beasts of the field are Mine." 16:38 Do you know anybody that can say that? 16:40 "If I were hungry, I would not tell you, 16:42 for the world is mine, and all its fullness." 16:46 Can you say amen child of God? 16:48 Amen. 16:49 Two little boys sitting down, 16:51 one obviously wealthy the other poor. 16:53 And then little wealthy boy didn't like the neighbor boy 16:56 anyway because he was poor 16:57 and so he decided to boast on his father and he said, 16:59 "You see that large hill over there, 17:04 you see that big mansion on that hill, 17:06 that's my daddy's mansion." 17:08 And that little boy that have nothing 17:11 lowered his head in apparent shame 17:15 and without anything to say. 17:17 And he said, "You see that board 17:19 that yacht down at the dark, 17:22 that yacht is my daddy's yacht," 17:26 even hammering at this poor little boy. 17:30 And then he said, 17:31 "You see that plane flying over, 17:34 that's my daddy's plane." 17:37 And God touched that little poor boy 17:39 to respond to that little rich boy 17:41 who thought he had something over this little poor boy. 17:44 And that little poor boy said, 17:45 "You see that mansion on that hill, 17:47 that hill belongs to my daddy." 17:51 He said, "You see that boat on that water, 17:53 that water belongs to my daddy." 17:56 "You see that plane flying in the air 17:58 that air belongs to my daddy." 18:01 And he got up and walked away like he was wealthy little boy. 18:04 Sometimes we've got to remember 18:06 that we don't serve a material God 18:08 but we do serve a God that owns every material. 18:10 Psalms 24:1-2 he said, the Bible says, 18:13 "The earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof, 18:18 the world and those who dwell therein. 18:20 For He has founded it upon the seas, 18:24 and established it upon the floods." 18:26 That's the kind of God that I have is a father, 18:28 what about you tonight? 18:30 You see it that's why if you trust in anybody 18:32 or anything other than God, 18:34 you will be disappointed 18:37 'cause your friends no matter how close they are, 18:40 they can or not always come through for you. 18:44 David also says, in Psalms 146:3, 18:47 "Do not put your trust in princes, 18:50 nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help." 18:53 Don't trust people that can't do anything for you. 18:56 Sometimes your friends see your phone number 18:58 they decide I can't help her. I ain't picking up the phone. 19:02 That's why sometimes you got to go to your God 19:05 on your needs. 19:06 Let me sometimes you got to go to God first, 19:12 because you got a folk one person to the other 19:14 would disappoint you 19:16 you can go to church with a need 19:17 and leave without that need being there. 19:19 But you will never go to God with a need 19:21 and not leave with that need being there. 19:25 God has a system 19:26 that guarantees that we will be blessed. 19:29 Look in Luke 6:38. 19:33 He talks about this revolving door 19:36 of blessings 19:38 and he begins by with what word? 19:39 Give. 19:40 Together, 19:42 "Give, and it will be given to you: 19:44 good measure, hovels pressed down, 19:48 shaken together, and running over 19:51 will be put into your bosom." 19:53 And here is the law of blessings. 19:56 "For with the same measure that you use, 20:00 it will be measured back to you." 20:03 Let me make it clear, 20:04 stingy folk will get tiny blessings. 20:09 The same measure you meet, 20:10 it would be measured back to you again. 20:13 If you a little teaspoon of salt, 20:15 you're going to get a teaspoon of salt. 20:18 But if you feel that God has blessed you 20:20 and you can be abundant, God will bless you abundantly. 20:24 It's a reciprocating law. 20:26 The fact of the matter is it is impossible 20:30 to make a bank withdrawal without making a bank deposit. 20:34 Can I say that again? Yes. 20:36 It's impossible to make a bank withdrawal 20:38 without putting some money in the bank. 20:41 Somebody once said, 20:42 "I can't be broke I have a lot of checks left." 20:47 You better have someone to back that check up. 20:50 But when you have God, he can back up anything. 20:53 Come on, somebody say, amen. 20:55 The law of blessings 20:57 is a reliable law as reliable as gravity. 21:00 Galatians 6:7, 21:02 listen to the words of the apostle Paul. 21:04 He said, "Do not be deceived, 21:06 God is not mocked; for whatever a man what? 21:10 Sows, that he will also what?" Reap. 21:13 When you sow... 21:16 And sometimes, I want to just say this. 21:18 Sometimes I get sick and tired of people 21:20 that use God's word for their own financial gang. 21:24 Have you listen sometimes to those televangelists? 21:28 They talk about planting a seed of faith. 21:30 Tonight somebody needs to give me a $1,000. 21:33 I need $5,000 21:35 and then you see them on television 21:37 with their multiple jets, 21:39 their 15 mansions, their opulent homes 21:42 and they're taking the fall things of a poor widow 21:46 and spending it on themselves for self-praise 21:49 and self-exaltation. 21:50 That's not what this text is talking about. 21:53 So I'm not talking about sowing the seed, 21:55 I don't need a seed, I got God. 21:57 Come on, help me out. 21:58 You don't need to give me anything, 22:01 'cause God will give me whatever I need. 22:03 Amen. 22:04 And let me just also say, 22:05 sometimes God will keep some of us poor 22:07 just so that we can be saved. 22:09 Amen. 22:12 Isn't that right? 22:13 Because, some of you wouldn't be in here 22:15 if God didn't keep you on your knees. 22:17 Sometimes God got to give you 22:18 more months than you got check. 22:21 So you can pray. 22:22 And I believe this, then I'm not going to say it 22:25 but some Christians, 22:28 some Adventist Christians play the lottery, 22:32 'cause they don't know God's method of blessing. 22:36 God's method of blessing is not luck or chance, 22:40 it's a promise. 22:43 Look at what he says in 2 Corinthians 9:6. 22:47 "But I say to you, He who sows how? 22:50 Sparingly, will also reap how? 22:53 Sparingly, but he who sows how? 22:55 Bountifully will also reap how? 22:57 Bountifully." 23:00 God is in essence saying when you stand behind God, 23:04 you know, when we do evangelism 23:05 it is always amazing to me as a pastor. 23:08 That on Sabbath morning the pastor has to get up 23:12 and say please give, 23:13 our churches in a deficit please give. 23:17 I tell you if Jesus is your Lord, 23:19 He should never have to beg you to give anything to God. 23:23 Because the least that we can do for Jesus 23:28 is give him everything we have. 23:32 Let me illustrate 23:33 how terrible it is to not recognize 23:37 that God has given us 23:38 so that we can be a blessing to others. 23:41 If God gives us and we hold it to ourselves notice, 23:45 the rebuke in his word James 5:1-3, 23:48 how terrible it is 23:51 to keep everything that God gives us to ourselves. 23:54 "He says, "Come now, you rich, 23:57 weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you! 24:01 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are what? 24:04 Moth-eaten, your gold and silver are what? 24:08 Corroded, and their corrosion, 24:10 this is amazing, will be a witness against you 24:14 and will eat your flesh like fire. 24:16 Why? 24:17 You have heaped up treasure in the last days." 24:21 We were standing by Harrods and we walked outside, 24:25 and I saw cars that I could not even pronounce the name. 24:30 You know what I'm talking about. 24:33 My wife said, what kind of car is that? 24:34 Well, let me look at the symbol 24:36 and I saw a symbol I ain't seen in my life. 24:39 A Maybach, never heard of that car, 24:42 and I'm a car enthusiast, I never heard of that. 24:45 I looked at it closely and said, 24:46 "Honey, we'll just it put this way, 24:47 it's a car we can't afford." 24:51 But even if I could afford it 24:52 I still can't drive it to heaven. 24:57 That's why we're told that when we're blessed 25:00 God gives us financial and materialistic blessings 25:03 to advance his cause and not to spend it 25:05 wastefully on ourselves. 25:07 Because in reality when that Maybach $350,000 car 25:11 is on the free way or on the road way, 25:14 it's right next to what? 25:16 A $2000 car. 25:18 And that $2,000 car could conk out 25:21 just like that $350,000 car can. 25:23 And no matter how much fuel you put in that car, 25:26 neither one of them can drive you 25:27 to the kingdom. 25:29 Heard about story of a man who died 25:31 and he was so in love with his Corvette 25:36 that he had himself buried in the front seat 25:38 of his Corvette, a big old gigantic grave. 25:41 They put him propped up, dead as a doornail. 25:46 Don't want to sound insensitive, 25:49 dead as a doornail, lowering him got him propped up 25:53 in the front seat of his car, dead as a doornail 25:56 couldn't put his finger for to start the car. 25:59 In the car as though there is some glory 26:02 they burry him in his car. 26:03 I guarantee you he won't be driving that out. 26:09 If he's going to come at all, 26:10 it's going to be under God's power 26:12 and that car is going to stay in the grave. 26:13 Come on say, amen. Amen. 26:15 That's why the Lord says 26:17 people that are stingy and tight 26:19 don't have a financial problem, they got a heart problem. 26:23 Matthew 6:21, "For where your treasure is, 26:27 together, there your heart will be also." 26:32 Got to fail to realize some people fail to realize, 26:36 that we're not saved by stuff, we're saved by Jesus. 26:41 When we first got married, everything my wife and I owned, 26:45 when we move from Florida to California 26:48 everything we owned, 26:49 fit in the back of a five by eight foot U-Haul trailer. 26:54 That was it, every procession we had 26:57 was in the back of that trailer. 27:00 Lord have mercy, 33 years later. 27:03 Come on you old people, say amen. 27:06 You got stuff you don't even know you have. 27:09 And you keep stuffing stuff on top of stuff. 27:12 There are some men in this church 27:13 when they driving to the street 27:15 they see a piece of wood they pull of them pick it up, 27:16 honey, am I need that piece of wood. 27:18 Anybody know who I'm talking about. 27:20 There are people that pickup scrap metal 27:22 and go say before a rainy day and it ain't rain yet. 27:27 And we're stuff and stuff like we're saved by stuff, 27:31 and we have yacht sales 27:32 and it doesn't seem like it even dents our stuff. 27:35 My wife and I have stuff that in boxes 27:37 that we haven't opened them 12 years. 27:40 And somebody said, throw it away. 27:42 I said no I might throw some stuff away that I need. 27:45 I hadn't need it for that 12 years, 27:48 but that's how we are. 27:49 We like to horn but the Bible says, 27:51 in Luke 12:15 listen what the Lord says to us 27:53 and He said to them, 27:55 "Take heed and beware of covetousness. 27:58 Why? 28:00 For one's life does not consist in what? 28:03 The abundance of the things he possesses." 28:05 " Don't let your possessions possess you. 28:09 You got to be so loosely connected 28:12 to your possessions that when the Lord says run, 28:15 you don't go get a trailer truck. 28:20 Let me even go deeper. 28:22 There are some folk that are canning 28:24 and pruning stuff 28:26 and put them in jars and sealing it thing 28:28 and that they got a food supplier 28:30 for the time in trouble. 28:31 You better cut that out. 28:33 You know you can be buying them in those shopping bags 28:35 to the hills. 28:37 The Lord says your food, your bread, 28:39 and your water shall be what? 28:41 Sure and if God can feed Elisha, 28:44 he can provide for us. 28:48 You know, that some folk that they got this philosophy 28:50 you know, I'm leaving out the country. 28:51 That's a good thing to do. 28:53 We live in the country, 28:54 we love it we were from New York 28:56 but we love to wake up in the morning 28:57 and listen to the birds, not hear gunshots. 29:00 But anytime we heat gunshots in our community, 29:02 little different in England, 29:04 there is somebody shooting a dear, 29:05 not shooting each other. 29:08 We go to bed at night and if we hear tap on our roof, 29:10 it's a squirrel running after another squirrel. 29:13 If somebody taps on our window it's a bird, wanting food. 29:16 we got birds that recognize us and we recognize them. 29:20 Well, we sit at our table, 29:21 they fly up and they look at us like, 29:23 hey, what's up. 29:25 You ain't get my food yet. 29:29 And they know us. 29:31 And we love it and they come everyday. 29:32 They're because they know that we care about them, 29:35 if we care about birds, does God care about us? 29:39 Yes. 29:40 O ye of little faith, 29:42 consider the lilies of the field 29:44 how they need to toil nor spin, yet I say unto you that Solomon 29:48 in all his glory was not a rate like one of these. 29:51 So take no care about tomorrow but we've got to understand 29:55 some people think 29:56 that they engineer their prosperity 29:59 and when they think 30:00 that they engineer their prosperity 30:01 by their education and by their accomplishments 30:04 and by their financial stability 30:06 they tend to forget God. 30:08 Listen to Deuteronomy 30:10 couple of verses follow carefully. 30:12 Chapter 11, chapter 8:11-17 listen to what God's word says. 30:17 He says, "Beware that 30:18 you do not forget the Lord your God 30:20 by not keeping His what? 30:22 Commandments, His judgments, and His statutes 30:24 which I command you today. 30:27 Now follow carefully, 30:28 lest-when you have eaten and are what? 30:30 Full. 30:32 And have built beautiful houses and dwell in them. 30:35 And when your herds and your flocks multiply, 30:38 that today that's your cars and your bank accounts. 30:42 And your silver and your gold are multiplied, 30:44 when your stock is rolling over. 30:47 And all that you have is multiplied. 30:49 When your heart is lifted up, you begin to get proud 30:52 and say to your friends look what I got. 30:54 And you forget the Lord your God 30:56 who brought you out of the land of Egypt, 30:59 from the house of bondage. 31:01 Who led you through the great and terrible wilderness, 31:04 in which were fiery serpents and scorpions 31:07 and the thirsty land where there was what? 31:10 No water. 31:11 Who brought water for you out of the flinty rock, 31:15 who fed you in the wilderness with manna, 31:18 which your fathers did not know, 31:20 that He might humble you and that He might test you, 31:25 to do you good in the end. 31:28 Then you have the nerve to say I added that in. 31:33 'My power and the might of my hand 31:36 have gained me this wealth.' 31:39 Some of you came from nothing, 31:44 no response required. 31:47 Some of us came from a Shanti Shack 31:50 and some Caribbean country somewhere, 31:54 all of a sudden dropped into London, 31:56 and we're doing good now. 31:59 Got a house, that's appreciating in value. 32:02 Let me remind you, you better appreciate God 32:05 more than the value of your house. 32:07 Amen. 32:09 Some of us are born with a wooden spoon 32:12 or a plastic spoon 32:14 and all of a sudden we're doing good 32:17 and we think that I'm doing okay for myself 32:19 don't forget and save my power 32:21 and my might have gained me this wealth. 32:25 'Cause in a moment when God pulls his breathe 32:27 you'll discover how much you need God. 32:30 Always give God the glory for your possessions 32:32 and notice this in Luke 12:16-21, 32:35 you see as you go there success is a two edged sword. 32:38 Listen carefully, success can cut away poverty 32:42 but if your sweeping success can also cut away eternity. 32:48 I'll say that again, success can cut away poverty 32:53 but success with deception can cut away your eternity. 32:57 Luke 12:16-21, look what the Bible says to us. 33:04 "Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: 33:07 'The ground of a certain rich man 33:08 yielded what? 33:10 Plentifully.' 33:12 And he thought within himself, saying, 'What shall I do, 33:14 since I have no room to store my crops?' 33:18 So he said, 'I will do this: I will pull down my barns 33:21 and build what? 33:23 Greater.' 33:24 And there I will store all my junk. 33:29 Oh, that's sorry, all my crops and my goods. 33:34 And I will say to my soul, "Soul, just chill out. 33:39 You have many goods laid up for many years, 33:43 take ease, eat, drink and just party." 33:48 But God said to him, 'Fool! 33:52 What did he call them? 33:55 It's in the Bible what did he call them? 33:57 Fool. 33:58 This night your soul will be required of you; 34:02 then whose will those things be which you have provided?' 34:07 So is he who lays up treasure for himself, 34:11 and is not rich toward God." 34:16 Some people are going to die with seven or six 34:20 or five figures in the bank, 34:23 but no one to leave it to but the state. 34:27 The government steps in and takes it and uses it 34:30 for corrupt means. 34:32 'Cause they don't think about God's word. 34:36 I remember the story of a lady 34:38 who inherited millions, millions. 34:41 I know her personally. 34:43 And when there was something that needed to be fixed 34:46 in the house, in her kitchen, 34:48 there is a little broken piece of wood on the floor, 34:50 she inherited millions and she said, 34:52 in her years of, in her hoarding years 34:57 she says bent down in year, 35:00 she says, "I don't think I have enough money 35:02 to fix that piece of wood on the floor." 35:08 My wife and I look at each other and said, 35:10 Lord please, don't ever let me get like that. 35:14 Seven figures easily in the bank, millions. 35:19 But the comfort comes and they say 35:21 well, I'm saving it for rainy day. 35:23 Well, if I'm going to say this and I'm going to say this 35:26 in complete respect. 35:27 When you've got more time behind you, 35:30 then you got in front of you, 35:33 you better make your own rainy days 35:35 and start giving something to the work of God. 35:38 'Cause that rainy day will come 35:40 and you won't be able to open an umbrella. 35:42 The days when you say I have no pleasure in them. 35:45 Don't wait till somebody else comes in 35:46 and takes your hard earned funds 35:49 and start applying it 35:51 to whatever they desire to give that too. 35:52 People will come and spend the money 35:53 that you said you were holding on to 35:55 on their own pleasures, 35:57 if you're not assured of God's provision 35:59 and leave that for his work. 36:01 The fact of the matter is God won't give us anything 36:03 that will lead us away from him. 36:04 Amen somebody. Amen. 36:06 But if you can't trust God with your money, 36:08 he won't trust you with his. 36:11 Wealth does not equal to abundance 36:12 and poverty does not equal lack. 36:15 And God does not need all you have, 36:18 he just wants all your heart. 36:20 That's that simple. 36:22 You see the fact of the matter is in God's sight 36:24 sometimes a little has more value than a lot. 36:28 You heard the story of the widow 36:29 with how many mice? 36:30 Two mice. 36:32 The Bible says when that widow gave all, 36:34 when that widow gave, 36:36 she gave all she had, 36:37 they will fold that roll big gigantic checks 36:39 and put in the offering plate 36:41 and the mistake we often make is sometimes 36:43 we glorify the persons that can write a big check 36:46 and we ignore the widow that just gave all she had. 36:50 But the Lord in the same situation says, 36:52 "Oh, he gave because he should have, 36:55 but she gave because she loved." 36:57 Don't ever measure people by what they give. 36:59 Everybody has value in the side of God, 37:02 say amen somebody. 37:03 Amen. 37:04 The Lord says that that women, Mark 12:44, 37:06 "For they all put in, out of their abundance, 37:11 but she out of her poverty 37:13 put in all that she had, her whole livelihood." 37:18 I heard a poem about 37:20 how we have to be careful not to be greedy. 37:22 Listen very carefully, it talks about the full human journey. 37:26 When we were born with no possession, 37:29 the love received, it was our confession. 37:32 No worries, no fears, no troubles, no fuss. 37:35 In mothers arms we put our trust, 37:38 but as we grew we looked and craved 37:41 and all too soon became enslaved. 37:44 The more we saw, the more we wanted. 37:47 Our quest for more became undaunted. 37:51 Out thirst for more could not be quenched, 37:53 the more we grasped the tighter we clenched. 37:58 We scampered and gathered and stored to hoard, 38:01 possessions became our master and our Lord. 38:05 And when we were old with our treasures all heaped, 38:09 a sad example of what greed has reaped. 38:12 Our fists still clench in a grasping motion 38:16 to let our death, our hands were open. 38:20 Some people hold on, hold on, hold on, 38:22 refuse to let go 38:24 until they have no more breathe in their lives. 38:29 We have to remember tonight 38:31 that the best plan is investing in God's plan. 38:33 Can you say amen? 38:34 Amen. 38:36 Investing in self 38:38 sometimes measures in robbing God. 38:40 Look at Malachi 3 this is an amazing. 38:42 my wife and I have put this practice, 38:45 we have put this text, 38:47 the series of text to a test over and over 38:50 and after I read it out I'll tell you a story. 38:52 Here it is Malachi 3ABN, beginning with verse 8. 38:57 Here is the question, let's read this together. 38:59 "Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! 39:03 But you say, 'In what way have we robbed You?' 39:06 And the Lord says in what? 39:08 In tithes and in offerings." 39:10 See robbing God also robs not only us, 39:13 it robs our faith community and it robs our family. 39:16 Look at verse 9, He says, "You are cursed with a curse." 39:20 In other words what you have 39:21 is not going to be a blessing to you. 39:23 For you have robbed me, even this whole nation." 39:26 Even your family can be affected 39:29 by your unfaithfulness. 39:31 But look what happens when we're faithful. 39:33 Look at the promise, verse 10. 39:35 "Bring all the tithes into the what? 39:38 Storehouse. 39:39 That there may be what? 39:41 Food in My house, and try Me now in this, 39:44 Says the Lord of hosts, "If I will not do what? 39:47 Open for you the windows of the heaven 39:51 and pour out for you such a blessing 39:53 that there will not be room enough to do what? 39:56 To receive it." Here is God's promise. 39:58 90% in God's plan goes farther than 100%. 40:04 You know why? 40:05 Because the 90% is blessed. 40:07 And the fact of the matter is you don't ever pay tithe. 40:13 I wish we would stop saying that. 40:15 We don't ever pay tithe, we what? 40:17 Return. 40:19 The Lord gave us ten oranges and said I just need one 40:23 and he doesn't need it, he's just testing our hearts. 40:26 You see this entire system is a test 40:29 but it's so beautiful when you trust in it, 40:31 I don't have a whole lot of time 40:33 but I got to tell this story. 40:34 When I was a young man just beginning in ministry 40:36 and my tithe and offerings 40:38 where $75 and my insurance that was due on Monday 40:43 was $75 I was in a small parsonage 40:45 up in the mountains of Northern California. 40:48 And I said to the Lord 40:49 as I was going to preach the sermon 40:50 I said, father my insurance is due on Monday 40:53 it's $75 for my car and you know very well 40:56 insurance companies, as you don't pay the money 40:57 what did they do? 40:59 They cancel you right away. 41:01 I walked across the parking lot and into the back of the church 41:04 and when they play the opening the song 41:05 in this little small church, 41:07 I was mounting the podium or the rostrum 41:11 standing behind my elder and as I mounted the rostrum 41:14 and stood singing the opening song, 41:17 I heard the Lord say to me, 41:19 "If you don't trust me, you cannot speak for me." 41:24 There I was, I know what it's like to write a check 41:27 on Sabbath morning with a trembling hand. 41:31 So I took out my check book. 41:37 Okay, got them and I write the check. 41:39 You watching? 41:43 75, broke it down and my tithes and offering. 41:48 Put it trembling in the plate 41:51 because I knew Monday was coming, 41:54 but God also know Monday was coming. 41:57 That night I went to the post office in town, 42:00 and my wife and I, 42:01 we always went to the PO Box to get our mail. 42:04 Pulled up in the post office on Sabbath 42:06 after the sunset on Saturday night, 42:07 I went there, 42:09 got an envelope from somebody I never met in my life. 42:12 Opened that envelope, I gave $75 back to God 42:16 because it belong to him it was his. 42:18 I got a check that night for $238, 42:21 come on say amen somebody. 42:23 God triple that and then a little extra money 42:25 just so we could do it to prove that he is God. 42:29 And I want to tell you, I could spend a rest 42:30 of this message but I want to communicate 42:32 some very principles because what God is in essence 42:34 saying to us not only will he bless us 42:37 but what we have he will keep it moving. 42:41 He will let the enemy make your car break down, 42:44 anybody know what I'm talking about. 42:46 You might have just a little bit of gas 42:48 and you go further than the person 42:49 who has a whole lot of gas but no faith in God. 42:51 That's right. 42:52 Listen what he says in Malachi 3:11 and 12, 42:54 He says, I'll tell the devil stop and go no further 42:57 just because you're faithful, listen to this words. 43:00 He says, "I will rebuke the devourer for who sake? 43:04 For your sake. 43:05 So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, 43:07 you'll invest and it will come to fruition. 43:09 Nor shall the vine fail 43:12 to bear fruit for you in the field, 43:14 says the Lord of hosts; 43:16 And all nations will call you what? 43:18 Blessed. 43:19 For you will be a what? 43:21 Delightful land, says the Lord of hosts." 43:25 That's a promise from God, that's in what church, 43:28 promise from God. 43:32 But God also says something else. 43:36 1 Timothy 6:6 and 7, 1 Timothy 6:6 and 7. 43:42 The fact of the matter is we really don't own anything. 43:46 When you, when the next baby is born, go to the hospital, 43:52 when that baby comes out and they slap it, 43:56 I can guarantee you 43:57 that baby is not going to talk about 43:59 how much money he brought with him. 44:01 You're going to open his hands and what are you going to see? 44:04 Nothing. Absolutely what? 44:08 Nothing. 44:10 Look at how Paul communicated that to his protégé Timothy, 44:14 1 Timothy 6:6 and 7, 44:18 "Now godliness with contentment is what?" 44:22 Now let me stop and do this backward. 44:24 The Bible didn't say great gain with contentment his godliness. 44:30 See some folks think that, now I go I have a whole lot, 44:34 I'm content so I must be godly. 44:36 And it didn't say great gain with godliness is contentment, 44:43 it says, godliness first with contentment 44:48 to be godly next is great gain. 44:52 What do you say? 44:53 And here sis the reason why? 44:55 "For we brought how much? 44:57 Nothing. 44:59 How much? 45:00 Nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry 45:03 how much? 45:04 Nothing out." 45:06 Absolutely nothing. 45:10 So I want to testify tonight, 45:12 how good God is, how good God is. 45:17 My wife and I, I told you've got the call 45:19 that we got to go to Northern California. 45:22 Like in 1987, we prayed and God opened the door 45:26 in a field of ministry that we did not even know 45:28 that door was even there to be opened. 45:30 We were then sent to a Florida and we got a call 45:33 from the Northern California conference president 45:35 to come and to be involved in evangelism. 45:38 And Pastor Doug Batchelor and I worked 45:39 in evangelism together. 45:42 Well, they told us 45:43 when we got the phone call they said, pray about it 45:44 but we've had already been praying for a week 45:46 so when that call came through 45:48 we knew that God had called and when He calls like Samuel 45:52 the Bible says, we said speak Lord 45:55 for yourself and hear it. 45:57 So they said think about it 45:58 we packed while we thought about it, 46:01 'cause we knew this was a God's door opening 46:04 so we packed and when we left Orlando, 46:06 it was raining. 46:07 Every part of our journey was some kind of a test. 46:12 When we got middle way into Texas, 46:14 I never forgot my wife began to cry 46:16 because she realize we were leaving home 46:19 what we said we would never do, we were leaving home 46:21 and her family, her mother, her sisters, her brothers, 46:24 all were behind her and she began to weep there 46:28 and I said honey, what's wrong? 46:29 She said, "We were leaving home. 46:31 Some times God's got to take you from everything 46:33 to show you that he is everything." 46:36 Amen. 46:38 So that will be continued our journey 46:39 we got to California 46:40 and to provide this journey the conference, 46:43 I didn't have we hardly had anything. 46:46 We hardly had anything. 46:48 So I said I'll need some money 46:49 they said, will give you X amount of dollars, 46:51 a $1000 a month and you know, 46:53 you got to make it work and they said, 46:56 furthermore you got to find a place to live on your own, 47:01 you have no insurance, no health insurance, 47:05 no coverage at all from this conference, 47:07 you got to get out here how you can, 47:10 find your own place to live, 47:12 put your own down payment on apartment, 47:14 we ain't helping you in any of those areas, 47:17 but we went by faith. 47:19 When we got to California, 47:21 I'm gonna talk about Jesus tonight. 47:22 When we got to California we were below the $400 range. 47:28 Now if anybody knows anything about California, 47:31 California is kind of like 47:32 trying to get a place in London. 47:33 That's right. 47:35 First and last months rent plus security deposit. 47:39 So we went from one apartment to the other 47:41 trying to find a place that we can afford to move into 47:46 and every place we went, they required a $25 deposit 47:50 just to put an application in to see if you can fit. 47:55 And we got turned down three times 47:57 so now let's do the math. 47:58 We had under 400 left that was $75 gone already 48:02 and we're staying in this tiny little No-Tel Motel. 48:09 When no how they in, when no free breakfast 48:11 it was like you walk from your car 48:13 right into the room. 48:15 You leave the room, your car is right there. 48:18 One of those truckers stops Motel. 48:20 When you walk in 48:21 you know everybody had been in that room. 48:24 One of those No-Tel you know, what I'm talking about. 48:27 No frills, you be lucky if you get a towel. 48:30 The bed has a dent where everybody else sat. 48:34 But that's all we could afford. 48:38 $75 less, we went the next day, more. 48:42 No sorry, you haven't had a job long enough, 48:45 you don't qualify with this, 48:46 we got back to that hotel and my wife 48:48 to that No-Tel Motel get out of here. 48:51 The Lord of the flies won't irritate me. 48:54 And my wife said, honey, 48:55 we got enough money if we turn around, 48:57 now we got just enough money to make it back to Florida 49:00 if we just use it for fuel. 49:03 Three days journey, 49:05 I look to my dear wife and I said, 49:07 "Honey, God has not brought us this far, 49:10 first to turn around." 49:12 Not through the newspaper on the bed and frustration 49:14 and it appeared as though 49:16 God made this once, 49:17 this small one inch by one inch 49:20 add in the newspaper jump out at me. 49:24 And a $75 dep abbreviate deposit, 49:28 four forty seven 49:29 they said call by 5 o'clock, let's call them. 49:32 Lady said come on up and fill out an application, 49:37 we were looking all around in the valley 49:39 but when we went to this apartment building 49:41 it was the newest apartment complex 49:44 in the North Bay of California right in a city called Vallejo. 49:48 We mounted that hill 49:51 and when we enter that apartment complex 49:53 I looked at my wife and I said, honey, we need to turn around 49:55 as we couldn't afford that junk in the valley, 49:57 ain't no way we are moving in here. 49:58 There is no way that they're gonna give us 50:00 a place in this 50:01 but we went ahead by faith 50:03 went ahead through the emotions. 50:04 Manicured grass green 50:07 and the same color green everywhere, 50:08 anybody know what I'm talking about. 50:10 And a God that looked like his uniform just got pressed 50:14 and the yellow lines were yellow, 50:16 you could see them at night. 50:18 And they had a club room, in a club house 50:21 that waterfall that all of water 50:23 flowed in the same direction and they were even sprouts, 50:29 and I thought how can we then 50:30 because we were in the valley. 50:33 Went to the apartment office lady look like 50:36 she was just in hurry to get of there, 50:37 kind of threw us the application fill it out 50:39 gave her another $25 check. 50:44 And she said I'll let you know tomorrow, 50:49 I'll let you know tomorrow, she wants to go home. 50:52 Went down back into that valley, 50:54 back tot our No-Tel Motel. 50:57 And honey, we said well, okay if we don't get an answer 51:00 by the time we got to checkout 51:01 we got to do something seriously drastic. 51:04 Tomorrow is D-Day. 51:06 Got up in the morning anxiously 51:07 made this waiting for her phone call 51:09 she didn't call us 51:10 so just about hour and half before checkout we called her. 51:14 Ma'am, this... Who is this? 51:16 This is John Lomacang, remember me? 51:19 Yes. 51:21 I'm waiting for response so any news of application. 51:25 What application? 51:26 Oh, the application for the apartment. 51:28 Yeah, the apartment. 51:32 She says, you were approved. 51:36 You miss the chance to say amen. 51:39 She said, you were approved. 51:41 Amen. 51:44 Something for her to initiate she said, I said, 51:46 so when could we come up there, she said well, come on up now. 51:49 Amen. 51:50 We hooked up that little U-Haul trailer 51:52 and dragged our No-Tel Motel 51:53 broke bottoms up that hills as fast as we could. 51:57 Talk about rejoicing, 51:58 but there was some other issues that was still in front of us. 52:00 How much is it going to cost again this place? 52:03 Do we have the deposit? 52:04 We knew we didn't hardly have anything, 52:05 all we had was God and when you got God 52:07 you got everything. 52:10 Moving to that went that office, 52:13 had a different walk. 52:16 So tell us about the apartment. 52:20 She said, we only have one left, 52:22 I said, we only need one. 52:24 So she took us she said, now come with me. 52:27 She said, but now first let's do the paper work. 52:31 I said, how much is it going to cost to get in? 52:33 I brought in crossing no fingers, 52:35 I don't believe in like I believe in God. 52:37 Come on somebody. 52:38 Don't be saying, cross your fingers. 52:41 You better get on your knees and if you don't kneel down 52:43 you better be in a constant attitude of prayer. 52:46 So we're in attitude of prayer. 52:49 She said, well, now we do, what we're doing a special 52:51 $75 deposit 52:53 it's about the middle of the month, 52:54 so we're going to pro rate from the middle of the month 52:56 to the end of the month 52:57 and this month you're having a special, 52:59 'cause we just have about a few apartments 53:02 so it's going to cost you about 53:04 that only one apartment left, one. 53:07 She says it's going to cost you about, 53:08 she around the 200 plus dollar range under 300. 53:11 Amen somebody. Amen. 53:13 I said any I almost didn't want to say. 53:16 I said, but what about the Deposit? 53:19 She said, well, the deposit is 75. 53:21 What about the first and last months rent? 53:25 It's included in that whole special. 53:27 Amen. 53:29 Can God do it? Yes. 53:31 So she took us across the lawn, 53:33 now we're walking with the real serious drive. 53:36 Come on, honey, this is where we're going to be living, 53:38 right over there. 53:40 You know, God sometimes give you 53:41 an attitude of gratitude. 53:44 We walk into this apartment and she walks she said, 53:47 now let me tell you about this apartment. 53:49 Sometimes God's got to fingerprint so big 53:51 you can't miss it. 53:53 She walks us up to the door 53:54 and as we're standing in front of the door 53:57 it was like a blood stop or heart stop 53:59 then our hair raised. 54:01 'Cause the number on the apartment 54:03 was number seven. 54:06 God when he does he does it completely. 54:09 We walk through that beautiful. 54:10 She said, let me tell you about this apartment. 54:12 She said, this was one of the first one's 54:13 built with this complex 54:15 because this is the model apartment. 54:18 I said, what does that mean? 54:19 She said, this one has all the amenities. 54:22 I never heard the word of amenities. 54:24 What is that? Is that a disease? 54:26 What is amenity? 54:28 She said well, it's got the tile, 54:31 the upgraded tile, 54:32 it's got the stone counter tops, 54:34 it comes with curtains and special drapes. 54:37 It does. 54:38 And it's got real tile on the floor in the bathroom, 54:41 not linoleum, it does. 54:44 Talking about hobnobbing and praising Jesus. 54:48 We were thanking God for everything. 54:50 And I said now what about the lights? 54:53 How much it's going to cost to get that? 54:54 She said, it's already on, just call in 54:56 and have a change in your name, can God do it? 54:59 What about the phone? 55:01 She said, well here is your phone number, 55:03 just call them and tell them put it in your name. 55:05 Can God do it? 55:06 I said what about the heat? 55:08 She said, oh, just call and she gave me the company, 55:10 of the heating company just call them, 55:12 it's already on, just have them put it in your name. 55:15 The Lord was saying, if you call on my name, 55:17 I will honor your name. 55:18 So I'm not talking about making ends meet, 55:21 I'm talking about putting God to the test. 55:23 My God, come on say it, my God shall supply all my need 55:28 according to his riches in glory, God bless you. 55:31 Amen somebody. Amen. 55:34 So tonight why don't you stand with me, 55:36 we're going to praise the Lord, 55:37 we're going to thank him that He is not just a God, 55:42 who provides but the Bible says, 55:44 "He is able to do exceedingly, 55:48 abundantly above all that 55:52 you're going to ask or think 55:54 according to the power that is at work in us." 55:58 To God be the glory, what do you say? 56:00 Amen. 56:01 >> Our Father in heaven, as the musician plays softly, 56:03 our Father in heaven. 56:06 Tonight Lord Jesus, we've got some folk here 56:09 that don't know what it means to trust Jesus. 56:12 They've been trying to Make Ends Meet 56:14 and they have been coming up short. 56:15 They don't have enough month, enough money to make the month. 56:21 They don't have enough faith 56:24 to find their way through the dark 56:27 exchanges of life. 56:29 They don't know what it's like to say, 56:30 Father I'm going to give you my all 56:32 and I will trust you 56:33 even though I can't see what tomorrow is all about. 56:37 Lord Jesus, I didn't come tonight 56:38 to talk about the Bible only, 56:40 I came to tell people what you mean to us, 56:44 what you've done in our lives. 56:46 Oh, Father, cause us to be faithful, 56:50 cause us to always know that you're there for us. 56:54 How we proved you over and over. 56:56 Lord if there's somebody here tonight 56:58 that needs that act of faith, 57:00 may they leave here not confused 57:03 but may they leave here and say, 57:04 "I'm going to trust Jesus, 57:06 I'm going to trust him with my heart, with my family, 57:10 with my finances, with my faith 57:13 and one day my faith will be made side. 57:16 Father, thank you for your blessings, 57:18 both great and small, thank you for help, 57:20 thank you for sustaining me through this series 57:23 that has been taxing physically, 57:25 but yet I'm standing here tonight 57:26 in your grace and your power. 57:28 I give you glory for that. 57:29 Amen. 57:31 And Father, one day our faith will be made side 57:32 as we see you and then we'll be able to begin 57:35 that eon endless journey 57:38 of thanking you for everything that we knew about 57:41 and didn't know about. 57:42 So Lord take us from this place but Lord help us know that 57:45 we're never out of your presence 57:47 and we give you all the glory, all the honor 57:50 and all the praise in Jesus name 57:53 and all of God's people said... 57:54 Amen. 57:56 Amen and amen. Amen. |
Revised 2016-12-31