It's been 2,000 years since
the glorious light of the cross
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illuminated a world
veiled in darkness and confusion
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about the character of God,
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and still today, the
greatest need of mankind
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is a revelation of God's love
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as revealed in
the life of Christ,
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Amazing Facts presents
"The Everlasting Gospel"
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with Pastor Doug Batchelor
coming to you each week
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from Sacramento Central
Church in sunny California!
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Discover hidden
treasures in God's Word today.
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Have you been hearing something
about the unusual weather
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that we've been
having across the country?
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They don't call it
a 100-year flood...
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A couple of years
ago, here in Sacramento,
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we had what they
called a 100-year flood.
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And they are telling us
now, in Iowa, they've had a
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500-year flood and I don't
know who they are interviewing
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from 500 years ago,
to know what it was like,
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but that's the
number that they've picked.
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Maybe they're looking at
the marks on the riverbank
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to see when they think
the last major flood was
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of this magnitude in Iowa.
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They say that
because of the cold fronts,
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and the lining up of
the low pressure systems,
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it has created an
unusual environment,
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not only are they
having record rains,
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this year they are having
a record number of tornadoes.
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A few years ago, someone coined
the term, " the perfect storm,"
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the arranging of
those ingredients.
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Well today, we're talking
about an "economic storm,"
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and more specifically...
how do we survive
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an economic crisis?
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I think most of us have
seen some of the statistics
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that are lining up.
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If you haven't seen
them, you've probably been
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to the pump recently and
I paid over $63.00 yesterday
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to fill up my car and
just - what like - 15 gallons!
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Pretty frightening!
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I actually drove by one
pump, they had a better price,
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but the cars were lined up.
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Would have had to
wait an hour to fill it up!
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Someone else
told me this week...
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fights breaking out at the
gas pump because of the lines.
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People waiting for gas.
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Well you know, we're heading
according to what a number of
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economists are saying...
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Newsweek Magazine this last
week - "Recession" was the title
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Some of you probably saw that...
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And a number of economists,
even the ones who are
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generally ALWAYS optimistic,
have some sobering, at least,
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short-term outlook.
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Not only the
skyrocketing oil prices,
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that then, of course,
affect the food prices,
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and all of the commodities;
record home foreclosures.
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We are living right now
with record credit card debt.
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I'll talk more about
that in a little bit.
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Rising unemployment;
increased overseas competition
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for products.
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We're in the midst
of an expensive war.
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Of course, I've
never heard of a cheap war.
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And this all
points towards inflation,
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and the volatility and
stagnation in the stock market;
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the ups and downs.
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Some people are worried
about the economic future.
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So I thought - Well you
know, the Bible has got a lot
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to say about economy.
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As-a-matter-of-fact,
I understand that 50%
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or more of all of the
parables that Jesus told,
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had to do with
economics and stewardship.
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So the Bible has a lot
to say about this subject,
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and there are a number
of stories in the Bible
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that we could look
at to give us some clues
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on how we can
successfully survive an economic
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or financial crisis.
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Now I personally
believe we are heading towards
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a financial crisis
and I think you need to be
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intelligent about what to do.
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There are some Bible
clues on what you can do to know
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that you'll be
sustained during those times.
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I don't know if you
want to takes notes,
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but I'm going to give you some
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key texts that I
think will help you.
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Maybe I'll even post
this at the church website.
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Have any of you been to the
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church website since
it has been upgraded?
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Is that beautiful?
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I want to thank Eric and Debbie
for all the work they've done.
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All right, here's tip #1...
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How you can survive the perfect
economic storm, so-to-speak.
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Remember the poor.
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Now you might be thinking...
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Pastor Doug, how is that
going to help my finances,
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to remember the poor?
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Well you know, it's
amazing, some people think
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when hard times are coming,
what you're supposed to do is
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stop giving...
that's backwards thinking.
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Let me give you some verses,
if you believe the Bible.
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Do you believe the
Bible? Audience: Yes
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"Blessed is he who
considers the poor;
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the Lord will deliver
him in time of trouble. "
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And it's understood
from the context here,
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that if you take care of
the poor during their time
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of trouble... what's
their problem? They're poor!
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...that God will watch over
you in your time of trouble.
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So one of the keys to remember
is to REMEMBER that even though
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you might be going
through hard times,
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don't stop giving!
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I'm going to give you
some stories in a little bit
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that will bear that out.
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Next verse... Proverbs 19:17
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"He who has pity on the
poor, lends to the Lord,
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and He... the Lord... will
pay back what He has given. "
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So when you consider those
who are less fortunate that you,
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even during times of economic
trial, you're giving to the Lord
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and He will take care of you!
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Sometimes that
requires a test of faith,
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and God will bless
you for remembering that.
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And then, of course, these
are the teachings of Jesus...
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1 John 3:17... "But
whoever had this world's
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goods... It doesn't say
how much but if you've got SOME
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of this world's goods, and
you see his brother is in need,
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and you shut up
your heart from him,
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how does the love
of God abide in him?"
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We need to learn not to tighten
our fist and become miserly
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when we see that
economic times are coming,
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that is exactly what the
devil would want you to do...
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that is the OPPOSITE
to the key of success.
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The key of success
is DO NOT STOP GIVING!
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THAT opens the way for God to
give to YOU during those times.
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Then of course,
there's the practical
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admonition in the Bible.
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Some people have
economic crisis because of
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lack of
industriousness in diligence.
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Plan CAREFULLY and be
industrious, work hard!
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Proverbs 13:4...
"The soul of a lazy man
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desires and has nothing;
but the soul of the diligent
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will be made rich. "
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That's not governed
during just economic times.
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You know, there are some
people, you look at the history
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of ups and downs of economy
and there are some people
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who make their wealth
during times of economic crisis;
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that's when they
make their wealth.
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God blesses them
during those times.
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During our Scripture
reading, we talked about a time
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of great economic trial in
Egypt when there was a famine.
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So you know, during that
time of economic trial in Egypt,
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the Pharaoh became fabulously
wealthy during that time
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because of Joseph's industry.
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Isn't that
right... you know the story,
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and so, some people,
they prosper even during the
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hard times if
they're industrious,
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and with God's blessing.
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Proverbs 12:11...
He who tills his land
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will be satisfied with bread,
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but he who follows frivolity
is devoid of understanding"
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...so keep working
during those times!
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And you know what
else is a principle...
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During times of
economy, certain economic trial,
00:08:22.81\00:08:27.41
certain basics
become more valuable.
00:08:27.44\00:08:30.78
Now people are
actually having to put padlocks
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on their trucks and their tanks.
00:08:33.82\00:08:37.82
Farmers around Sacramento have
diesel tanks that they use for
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running their water pumps
for irrigating their crops.
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They used to just leave them
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unlocked and are
going to lock them now
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because people are
stealing their diesel.
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It sells for $6.00 a
gallon; diesel is more than gas!
00:08:46.53\00:08:51.06
And they're going to
turn on their water pumps
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and someone is
stealing it from them.
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I don't know what that has
to do with being industrious,
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I just thought I'd
share that with you.
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2 Thessalonians
3:10... "For even when we were
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with you, we commanded you this;
that if anyone will not work,
00:09:05.35\00:09:09.02
neither shall he eat. "
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You notice it doesn't
say, "those who cannot work"
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Some cannot work; it's
talking about those who
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can that won't;
those who will not work.
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John 6:27... "Do
not labor for the food
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that perishes, but for the food
that endures to everlasting life
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that the Son of
Man will give you. "
00:09:25.61\00:09:27.15
So part of that industry
that gets you through the
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hard economic times is
not just working for your
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temporal food, but keep
working for your spiritual food;
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meaning
studying the Word of God.
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Genesis 32:10, Jacob says,
"I am not worthy of the least
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of all your mercies and all
the truth that you have shown
00:09:41.65\00:09:45.00
your servant; I
crossed over this Jordan with
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my staff and now I
have become 2 companies. "
00:09:47.88\00:09:50.66
When Jacob left
home, how much did he have?
00:09:50.69\00:09:54.49
Staff in his
hand - he had a stick;
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rock for a pillow, remember?
00:09:57.36\00:09:59.49
Was Jacob industrious
during that 21 years;
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I guess it was
even more than that,
00:10:03.54\00:10:05.21
that he was in
Laban's household?
00:10:05.24\00:10:07.65
He worked - he worked hard!
00:10:07.68\00:10:08.94
He recited how hard he
worked and his sleepless nights,
00:10:08.97\00:10:11.81
and taking care of the
flocks and watching over them,
00:10:11.84\00:10:14.14
and watering them.
00:10:14.17\00:10:15.20
And when he came back
home, was he now a wealthy man?
00:10:15.23\00:10:19.77
Was he a wealthy man because
he inherited it from Isaac,
00:10:19.80\00:10:22.73
or because of his industry?
00:10:22.76\00:10:25.02
God blessed him; he was
faithful and he worked hard!
00:10:25.05\00:10:29.17
And he got to
where he had 2 companies.
00:10:29.20\00:10:32.60
He had 2 complete families and
the servants and all the cattle.
00:10:32.63\00:10:36.34
And you notice, he
gave a tithe of everything;
00:10:36.37\00:10:38.03
and he came back to his brother
and he still had an abundance.
00:10:38.06\00:10:41.57
All right, now another
important thing to remember,
00:10:41.60\00:10:44.90
how to survive
an economic crisis -
00:10:44.93\00:10:47.30
Keep divine priorities;
don't let the world dictate
00:10:47.33\00:10:52.69
what your priorities are.
00:10:52.72\00:10:55.38
Here's a story I'd like to
direct you to about another
00:10:55.41\00:10:58.57
economic crisis.
00:10:58.60\00:11:00.83
1 Kings 17- you read about a
famine that lasted 3-1/2 years
00:11:00.86\00:11:04.91
during the time of Elijah.
00:11:04.94\00:11:07.37
The people were famishing
as they do during famine;
00:11:07.40\00:11:11.82
starving; the
animals were dying;
00:11:11.85\00:11:15.32
the ground was
dusty; it was barren;
00:11:15.35\00:11:18.57
the skies were dry and
people were dying from hunger;
00:11:18.60\00:11:23.43
starving to death.
00:11:23.46\00:11:25.52
During this time,
God miraculously fed
00:11:25.55\00:11:28.36
His servant, Elijah.
00:11:28.39\00:11:30.36
First, He fed him
miraculously by ravens bringing
00:11:30.39\00:11:35.47
him food twice a day.
00:11:35.50\00:11:37.22
He showed him a brook
that continued to flow.
00:11:37.25\00:11:40.01
But the famine was so severe,
even that brook dried up,
00:11:40.04\00:11:42.60
and God directed him to
go and to stay with a widow
00:11:42.63\00:11:46.94
who lived up north
of Israel in Serafat,
00:11:46.97\00:11:50.77
and when he went there, he
had a very unusual request.
00:11:50.80\00:11:56.45
As she is there coming out of
the city to gather a few sticks,
00:11:56.48\00:12:02.01
he asks her to go and
get him a drink of water.
00:12:02.04\00:12:05.32
Well, they still had a
little water in the well,
00:12:05.35\00:12:06.81
so that was a very
common request for a stranger,
00:12:06.84\00:12:10.07
and you should NEVER turn down
00:12:10.10\00:12:12.26
someone who asks
for a drink of water.
00:12:12.29\00:12:13.88
But even during a
famine, water is pretty scarce.
00:12:13.91\00:12:17.31
And as she is going to
get the water, he says...
00:12:17.34\00:12:19.43
And when you come back,
bring me a cake of bread
00:12:19.46\00:12:22.54
in your hand.
00:12:22.57\00:12:23.60
Oop... that's too much!
00:12:23.63\00:12:24.74
Everybody's starving, she
thinks and can tell from his
00:12:24.77\00:12:27.11
attire he's one of
the prophets of Israel.
00:12:27.14\00:12:29.26
They dressed in this uniform of
camel fabric with a leather belt
00:12:29.29\00:12:37.60
and she recognized he was
an Israelite, a man of God;
00:12:37.63\00:12:41.08
and you know, sometimes people
give to the Buddhist monks
00:12:41.11\00:12:45.07
...the "sons of the prophets"
that they had in Israel,
00:12:45.10\00:12:47.04
they would often
give offerings to them.
00:12:47.07\00:12:49.04
And she says, "I can
give you a drink of water,
00:12:49.07\00:12:50.59
but we're starving, I can't
give you anything to eat. "
00:12:50.62\00:12:52.43
And listen to what
Elijah says to this woman...
00:12:52.46\00:12:55.01
Well first, she says
and this is 1 Kings 17:12...
00:12:55.04\00:13:01.14
She says, "As the
Lord your God lives...
00:13:01.17\00:13:04.11
You notice - she
says, the Lord YOUR God.
00:13:04.14\00:13:06.13
"I do not have bread...
We haven't baked any bread,
00:13:06.16\00:13:10.30
there's nothing stored...
All I have is a handful
00:13:10.33\00:13:13.50
of flour in a bin and a
little oil in a jar, and see...
00:13:13.53\00:13:18.72
You know, right now, I'm
out gathering a couple of sticks
00:13:18.75\00:13:22.16
that I might go and
prepare it for myself and my son
00:13:22.19\00:13:25.79
that we might eat it and die. "
00:13:25.82\00:13:28.83
Now what do you think?
00:13:28.86\00:13:29.91
Was this a time of
a financial crisis?
00:13:29.94\00:13:34.12
They're getting
ready for their last meal;
00:13:34.15\00:13:36.24
they got one
handful of flour left,
00:13:36.27\00:13:38.76
just a little bit of
oil to mix with that.
00:13:38.79\00:13:41.64
She's going to get...
she doesn't say a bundle
00:13:41.67\00:13:43.37
of wood, just a
couple of sticks.
00:13:43.40\00:13:45.94
When I used to cook
on an open campfire,
00:13:45.97\00:13:48.91
when you're just
building a fire enough to cook,
00:13:48.94\00:13:52.34
a couple of long sticks,
you break them up in pieces,
00:13:52.37\00:13:54.27
and you can bake a
loaf of bread right there.
00:13:54.30\00:13:57.57
So I know exactly
what she is talking about.
00:13:57.60\00:14:01.27
Listen to what the AUDACITY of
Elijah - listen to what he says.
00:14:01.30\00:14:04.95
She says, I'm
going to eat DIE...
00:14:04.98\00:14:06.98
You want my last piece of bread?
00:14:07.01\00:14:09.03
And Elijah says to her, "Do not
fear, go do as you have said,
00:14:09.06\00:14:14.28
get your sticks, bake your
bread but make me a small cake
00:14:14.31\00:14:18.34
from it FIRST" Who
does he think he is?
00:14:18.37\00:14:23.55
I mean, it would be
one thing if he said,
00:14:23.58\00:14:24.99
"Break off a crumb and
share, or you eat and maybe
00:14:25.02\00:14:29.68
there will be some left
- I'll work a miracle. "
00:14:29.71\00:14:31.80
But before there's
even a miracle, he says,
00:14:31.83\00:14:34.02
"Make the first cake for me. "
00:14:34.05\00:14:37.11
Talk about a TEST!
00:14:37.14\00:14:40.12
Does that make any
economic sense at all?
00:14:40.15\00:14:44.11
What was the economic
secret here to her survival?
00:14:44.14\00:14:47.67
PRIORITIES - put God first.
00:14:47.70\00:14:52.38
Some people think...
Well, you know, during
00:14:52.41\00:14:53.96
hard times, I
like to help the church
00:14:53.99\00:14:55.23
and all, but
during hard times...
00:14:55.27\00:14:56.31
Why do you even go to church?
00:14:56.34\00:14:57.78
If God isn't
first, why are you going?
00:14:57.82\00:15:00.19
God has to be first,
and that's the smartest
00:15:00.22\00:15:04.16
thing in the world to do because
you need a miracle anyway!
00:15:04.19\00:15:06.53
I mean, after all, if you're
making your last loaf of bread,
00:15:06.56\00:15:08.83
and you're going to die,
what have you got to lose?
00:15:08.86\00:15:11.40
Give it to the
prophet and see what happens!
00:15:11.43\00:15:14.96
He gives it to
her with a promise...
00:15:14.99\00:15:17.46
He says, "Bring it to me
first," and then he promises her
00:15:17.49\00:15:20.68
that the barrel of meal will
not fail, nor the jar of oil
00:15:20.71\00:15:25.29
till God sends
rain on the earth. "
00:15:25.32\00:15:27.01
Trust the Lord - put Him first,
00:15:27.04\00:15:29.42
and see if He
doesn't provide for you.
00:15:29.45\00:15:32.61
So she does that,
and that's not easy.
00:15:32.64\00:15:35.65
By the way, I think
there's some interesting
00:15:35.68\00:15:38.02
parallels in this story.
00:15:38.05\00:15:39.68
What does a woman
represent? A church.
00:15:39.71\00:15:43.75
Who do you think
Elijah represents here? Jesus
00:15:43.78\00:15:47.72
Elijah - His name
means, "My God is Jehovah"
00:15:47.75\00:15:51.81
And what does oil
represent? Holy Spirit
00:15:51.84\00:15:56.43
What does bread
represent? The Word of God
00:15:56.46\00:16:01.11
Do you remember another
time in the Bible where the
00:16:01.14\00:16:03.75
disciples
brought bread to Jesus,
00:16:03.78\00:16:06.88
and that bread was
not unleavened bread,
00:16:06.91\00:16:08.63
it was probably made with oil;
00:16:08.66\00:16:09.91
and He blessed it,
gave it back to them,
00:16:09.94\00:16:11.72
and when they handed it to
Jesus, it turned into more.
00:16:11.75\00:16:15.17
Does that still happen?
00:16:15.20\00:16:17.42
Now bread represents sustenance.
00:16:17.45\00:16:22.64
Man doesn't live by bread
alone, but by every word...
00:16:22.67\00:16:25.40
And, as we put God
first in giving Him...
00:16:25.43\00:16:28.92
I mean, if you're starving
to death, can you eat money?
00:16:28.95\00:16:31.58
What do you buy
with your money if you're
00:16:31.61\00:16:33.81
starving to death? Bread
00:16:33.84\00:16:36.54
So what we're talking about
is really the essence of life.
00:16:36.57\00:16:39.40
Why is money even valuable?
00:16:39.43\00:16:42.08
Because you can buy bread
with it - you can't eat it.
00:16:42.11\00:16:44.84
They've got a new
commercial on T.V. "Quiznos"
00:16:44.87\00:16:47.68
It shows somebody
gobbling down a $5 bill...
00:16:47.71\00:16:51.60
They said - "You can
get a sandwich for $5,
00:16:51.63\00:16:53.53
wouldn't that
taste much better?"
00:16:53.56\00:16:55.88
By the way some
people hoard their money,
00:16:55.91\00:16:57.61
you would think
they were eating it.
00:16:57.64\00:17:00.47
Priorities - Jesus
says, Matthew 6:33,
00:17:00.50\00:17:05.40
"See ye FIRST the kingdom
of God and His righteousness,
00:17:05.43\00:17:09.65
and all these other
things will be added to you. "
00:17:09.68\00:17:13.09
Now, did she
listen to Elijah? She did
00:17:13.12\00:17:17.04
It might have been a tough test.
00:17:17.07\00:17:18.94
She represents the church.
00:17:18.97\00:17:20.07
If we put God
first with our substance,
00:17:20.10\00:17:23.76
He then multiplies it
and we get bread and oil;
00:17:23.79\00:17:27.17
we get the Word of God;
00:17:27.20\00:17:28.26
we get the Spirit back from Him.
00:17:28.29\00:17:30.68
Not only that, her son dies
and Elijah resurrects her son.
00:17:30.71\00:17:35.33
This is all the gospels
wrapped up in that one story
00:17:35.36\00:17:38.83
of when Elijah
stayed with that widow.
00:17:38.86\00:17:41.06
But it happened during a
time of an economic crisis,
00:17:41.09\00:17:44.13
and she was
sustained all through that time
00:17:44.16\00:17:46.95
until rain came upon the earth.
00:17:46.98\00:17:48.52
Why? Because of the
priority of putting God first.
00:17:48.55\00:17:52.23
He said, "Bring
the cake to me first. "
00:17:52.26\00:17:56.61
How often I've
heard people say...
00:17:56.64\00:17:58.19
When times get tough
and they're out of work,
00:17:58.22\00:17:59.86
their wages are cut,
their sales are down,
00:17:59.89\00:18:02.44
or inventory is bad or
whatever the problem is,
00:18:02.47\00:18:05.13
they say, "You
know, Pastor Doug,
00:18:05.16\00:18:06.30
I can't really pay my tithe
or do any offerings right now
00:18:06.33\00:18:10.36
because you know,
when things pick up,
00:18:10.39\00:18:11.65
and God prospers again... "
00:18:11.68\00:18:13.71
Well no wonder
you're having problems!
00:18:13.74\00:18:15.70
God is not your priority!
00:18:15.73\00:18:18.26
You put God first,
don't seek Jesus second.
00:18:18.29\00:18:23.11
If you seek Him at
all, seek Him First,
00:18:23.14\00:18:24.66
you'll be miserable
if you seek Him second.
00:18:24.69\00:18:27.40
Acts 20:35...
"And remember the words
00:18:27.43\00:18:31.53
of the Lord Jesus, He said,
00:18:31.56\00:18:33.35
It is more blessed
to give than receive. "
00:18:33.38\00:18:35.96
This is an
interesting verse. You know why?
00:18:35.99\00:18:38.78
It's in red letter - if
you've got a red letter edition;
00:18:38.81\00:18:41.94
it's quoting where
Jesus says "It's more blessed
00:18:41.97\00:18:44.19
to give than receive. "
00:18:44.22\00:18:45.46
Who wants to tell
me where in the Bible
00:18:45.49\00:18:47.36
Jesus says it's more
blessed to give than receive?
00:18:47.39\00:18:53.62
Right here - Acts 20,
it's not in the Gospels.
00:18:53.65\00:18:56.98
These are words of Christ
that are not in the Gospel
00:18:57.01\00:18:59.16
but Paul got them from Matthew,
Mark or Luke or somebody.
00:18:59.19\00:19:03.19
And Jesus must have said
this, but you won't find it
00:19:03.22\00:19:05.42
in the Gospel,
isn't that interesting?
00:19:05.45\00:19:06.68
But Jesus did say that -
00:19:06.71\00:19:08.01
It's more blessed
to give than receive.
00:19:08.04\00:19:10.22
Of course He teaches that
principle in all His parables.
00:19:10.26\00:19:13.05
Another key to
surviving an economic crisis is
00:19:13.08\00:19:17.32
avoid the slavery of debt!
00:19:17.35\00:19:21.71
Some people even
in the best of times,
00:19:21.74\00:19:23.86
have their own
economic crisis because
00:19:23.89\00:19:25.74
they're in credit to the limit.
00:19:25.77\00:19:27.73
And I've got to be very
gracious as I talk about this...
00:19:27.76\00:19:30.47
There are 2 of you
I'd like to speak to today
00:19:30.50\00:19:32.62
specifically about debt.
00:19:32.65\00:19:35.35
Some of you are in debt because
of some unforeseen calamity,
00:19:35.38\00:19:39.95
business failure,
unexpected expense;
00:19:39.98\00:19:43.68
maybe there was a death
that left great expenses,
00:19:43.71\00:19:46.35
it could have been a divorce,
00:19:46.38\00:19:47.75
something that you
really couldn't control.
00:19:47.78\00:19:49.95
And my heart goes out to
you, it's very difficult.
00:19:49.98\00:19:52.67
Some people,
because of circumstances,
00:19:52.70\00:19:54.80
they did NOT have control of,
00:19:54.83\00:19:56.60
they have had to borrow money,
00:19:56.63\00:19:58.77
their credit card limit is
high and there are some very
00:19:58.80\00:20:03.76
good Christian
ministries I recommend that have
00:20:03.79\00:20:06.57
priorities and principles
on how you can get out of debt
00:20:06.60\00:20:09.78
following these
Biblical principles.
00:20:09.81\00:20:11.30
One I'm happy to recommend
is "Crown Financial Concepts"
00:20:11.33\00:20:15.12
"Crown Ministries"
00:20:15.15\00:20:16.40
And if you go to their website,
I'm not going to try and
00:20:16.43\00:20:18.73
reproduce or plagiarize
what they already have;
00:20:18.76\00:20:20.94
they do as good a
job as I could ever do
00:20:20.97\00:20:23.40
in giving you biblical
principles on what you can do,
00:20:23.43\00:20:26.26
the steps you can take to be
00:20:26.29\00:20:27.83
liberated from
the slavery of debt.
00:20:27.86\00:20:30.35
Then there's the other group!
00:20:30.38\00:20:32.08
Those of us who are in
debt because we thought
00:20:32.11\00:20:35.53
we had to have everything
and we wanted it right now,
00:20:35.56\00:20:38.96
and so we thought - I'll own
it now, pay for it over time,
00:20:38.99\00:20:42.54
and that's a bad practice!
00:20:42.57\00:20:48.74
For one thing, our idea
of the necessities in America
00:20:48.77\00:20:55.77
is really not a
realistic idea of necessities.
00:20:55.80\00:20:59.88
Some people are in debt because
they had to buy a new car.
00:20:59.91\00:21:02.92
A car is not a necessity.
00:21:02.95\00:21:05.56
We think it's a necessity,
but you go to a lot of the world
00:21:05.59\00:21:09.20
you'll find out that
most people don't have cars.
00:21:09.23\00:21:12.99
In our lifestyle in
America, we're just like...
00:21:13.02\00:21:14.94
Aw, you didn't have a car?
00:21:14.97\00:21:16.00
Most people have MULTIPLE cars!
00:21:16.03\00:21:18.98
Or they go into debt because
00:21:19.01\00:21:20.97
"we want to own a
home" that's good.
00:21:21.01\00:21:22.34
And you know, if there's
an area where you would want
00:21:22.38\00:21:25.04
to carefully
take on some debt...
00:21:25.07\00:21:29.16
you want to do
it very carefully.
00:21:29.19\00:21:30.80
Sometimes with the
price of homes in California,
00:21:30.83\00:21:33.48
the only way you're
ever going to get a home
00:21:33.51\00:21:35.13
is you need to take out a
loan and I can understand that,
00:21:35.16\00:21:38.43
but some people buy
a whole lot more home
00:21:38.46\00:21:40.63
than they can
afford and they plan on
00:21:40.66\00:21:42.71
paying for it for 50 years.
00:21:42.74\00:21:44.61
The devil has stolen a
fortune from the coffers
00:21:44.64\00:21:50.02
of God's Kingdom by enslaving
God's people with paying
00:21:50.05\00:21:55.24
unnecessary debt.
00:21:55.27\00:21:57.62
You know how much
money could be in the
00:21:57.65\00:21:59.83
Kingdom of God spreading the
message of God around the world
00:21:59.86\00:22:03.06
if God's people didn't feel like
00:22:03.09\00:22:05.16
we've got to have
everything right now;
00:22:05.19\00:22:07.15
all these creature comforts
and all these possessions
00:22:07.18\00:22:09.45
and... Oh Pastor
Doug, come on, let's face it
00:22:09.48\00:22:11.83
...Flat screen
TVs, it's a necessity!
00:22:11.86\00:22:15.48
Or high
definition, I mean, you know,
00:22:15.51\00:22:17.42
if you don't
have high definition,
00:22:17.45\00:22:18.48
if you're in the
stone age, it's a necessity.
00:22:18.51\00:22:20.59
And you gotta have a
DVD, who has VCR anymore?
00:22:20.62\00:22:24.37
I still have one. I
still have 8-track... No
00:22:24.40\00:22:29.94
I don't.. I still have a record
player that plays records. Yeah
00:22:29.97\00:22:35.36
You know my mom has a
whole collection of records.
00:22:35.39\00:22:37.66
The only way I could
ever play the records
00:22:37.69\00:22:38.87
and things she wrote is gotta
keep the record player working.
00:22:38.90\00:22:42.06
But we all feel like
gotta have everything...
00:22:42.09\00:22:45.65
By the way, when we're
going through a recession in
00:22:45.68\00:22:49.95
North America, in many
countries of the world,
00:22:49.98\00:22:53.06
what you think is
recession-living is royal-living
00:22:53.09\00:22:57.66
in most of the
world... you listening?
00:22:57.69\00:23:01.25
When people talk about
what recession-living is,
00:23:01.28\00:23:04.06
for most of North America,
that would be considered
00:23:04.09\00:23:07.70
royal-living in
much of the world.
00:23:07.73\00:23:10.42
Do you believe me?
I've been there - trust me.
00:23:10.45\00:23:15.52
Americans driving around in
our cars with cruise control
00:23:15.55\00:23:20.51
and air-conditioning complaining
about the price of gas
00:23:20.54\00:23:23.52
and how little
disposable income we have.
00:23:23.55\00:23:26.87
2 Kings 4... Another
time of economic crisis.
00:23:26.90\00:23:31.02
"A certain woman of the
sons wives of the prophet
00:23:31.05\00:23:34.02
cried out to Elisha
saying, "Your servant,
00:23:34.05\00:23:37.19
one of the sons
of the prophets..
00:23:37.22\00:23:38.36
my husband is dead," and he
didn't have any life insurance,
00:23:38.39\00:23:42.82
and he was in debt before he
died and it would have been fine
00:23:43.82\00:23:46.25
if he was alive, he could
have worked us out of debt.
00:23:46.29\00:23:48.49
Be careful men about
taking on too much debt
00:23:48.52\00:23:52.08
because YOU might
have the confidence,
00:23:52.11\00:23:54.04
you can work your
way out of it over time,
00:23:54.07\00:23:55.96
what if
something happens to you?
00:23:55.99\00:23:59.07
You can end up leaving
your spouse with a lot of debt.
00:23:59.10\00:24:02.73
"He's dead and you know
your servant, my husband,
00:24:02.76\00:24:07.48
feared the Lord and
the creditor is coming
00:24:07.51\00:24:09.70
to take away my 2
sons to be his slaves. "
00:24:09.73\00:24:15.29
We ought to be avoiding debt.
00:24:15.32\00:24:17.76
Proverbs 22:7... "The
rich rules over the poor,
00:24:17.79\00:24:22.52
and the borrower is
servant to the lender. "
00:24:22.55\00:24:25.75
Romans 13:8... "Owe no
one anything except to love
00:24:25.78\00:24:30.52
one another for he who loves
another, has fulfilled the law"
00:24:30.56\00:24:34.92
As far as possible, now there
may be things, like I said,
00:24:34.95\00:24:36.80
buying a house or maybe
it is necessary for your job
00:24:36.83\00:24:39.62
to have a car, you
might need to incur some debt,
00:24:39.65\00:24:43.28
avoid it like the plague!
00:24:43.31\00:24:45.84
In other words, if
you have to go into a bank
00:24:45.87\00:24:49.95
and take out a loan, pretend
you're going into a leper colony
00:24:49.98\00:24:55.34
You want to pay it
off as quickly as you can.
00:24:55.37\00:24:59.49
Do not be buying other niceties
for yourself while you have debt
00:24:59.52\00:25:04.82
Make your priority to
get out from under that debt
00:25:04.85\00:25:07.60
because debt is a burden.
00:25:07.63\00:25:09.08
So what did this
woman do who was in debt?
00:25:09.11\00:25:11.90
She needed a miracle!
00:25:11.93\00:25:13.82
Praise God for His miracles!
00:25:13.85\00:25:16.22
Some of us have gotten
ourselves into debt and we just
00:25:16.25\00:25:19.05
don't see how we're
EVER going to get out.
00:25:19.08\00:25:21.11
You make God your priority,
you seek first His Kingdom
00:25:21.14\00:25:23.79
and He can work
miracles for you.
00:25:23.82\00:25:25.41
For one thing, she
started with what she HAD.
00:25:25.44\00:25:30.13
She said, "What
am I going to do?"
00:25:30.16\00:25:31.29
And he said, "What do you have?"
00:25:31.32\00:25:32.54
"What do you have in the house?"
00:25:32.57\00:25:33.93
All I got is a
little cruet of oil.
00:25:33.96\00:25:35.86
All right, take what you have.
00:25:35.89\00:25:38.06
You invest very
carefully what you have.
00:25:38.09\00:25:40.21
You go in through the
community and you get all these
00:25:40.24\00:25:42.00
empty vessels and you
bring those empty vessels
00:25:42.03\00:25:44.04
in and you begin to
pour out what you have,
00:25:44.07\00:25:46.64
and keep filling all
those and God worked a miracle
00:25:46.67\00:25:49.36
...By the way,
that's also an illustration
00:25:49.39\00:25:51.56
for what a Christian should do.
00:25:51.59\00:25:52.93
We should open our homes,
00:25:52.96\00:25:54.07
bring all these empty
vessels into our home;
00:25:54.10\00:25:56.06
pray for the Holy
Spirit, that's the oil,
00:25:56.09\00:25:57.99
pour it into them
and as she did that,
00:25:58.02\00:26:00.47
she then sold the oil.
00:26:00.50\00:26:01.57
She had enough to pay her
debt with extra left over!
00:26:01.60\00:26:05.87
So you notice what
happened, she had a crisis;
00:26:05.90\00:26:08.68
she was in slavery, they
were going to take her sons;
00:26:08.71\00:26:11.74
she brought the
problem to Elisha.
00:26:11.77\00:26:13.76
He's like us
bringing our problem to Jesus.
00:26:13.79\00:26:16.11
As-a-matter-of-fact,
Elisha's name is very much
00:26:16.14\00:26:18.13
like the name of Jesus.
00:26:18.16\00:26:20.55
Jesus' name is Ya
Shua - God is Savior,
00:26:20.58\00:26:24.11
Yahweh is Savior.
00:26:24.14\00:26:25.46
His name was Elohim Shua.
00:26:25.49\00:26:28.17
Elishua - God is
Savior, same name.
00:26:28.20\00:26:31.71
Bring your problem to Jesus.
00:26:31.74\00:26:34.40
Repent of anything you've
been doing that gets you in debt
00:26:34.43\00:26:38.57
and stop those buying practices
00:26:38.60\00:26:40.21
if it means baking your
credit card in the microwave
00:26:40.24\00:26:47.52
or whatever you've got to
do, get rid of your credit cards
00:26:47.55\00:26:51.27
if you're tempted to
buy things you don't need.
00:26:51.30\00:26:53.45
It just ends up
digging the hole deeper.
00:26:53.48\00:26:56.95
And God got her out of that.
00:26:56.98\00:26:59.22
Another thing to
remember tonight,
00:26:59.25\00:27:00.83
we started with this
illustration of the famine
00:27:00.86\00:27:04.23
in Egypt; Genesis 41, we
know, of course, there was an
00:27:04.26\00:27:10.22
economic disaster
during that time of Joseph.
00:27:10.25\00:27:12.87
Joseph and his family
prospered during that time
00:27:12.90\00:27:16.54
because he planned ahead.
00:27:16.57\00:27:18.38
It's the Methodist
principle of economics.
00:27:18.41\00:27:22.03
John Wesley - give all you can;
00:27:22.06\00:27:26.10
make God your
priority, save all you can;
00:27:26.13\00:27:33.14
earn all you can.
00:27:33.17\00:27:34.89
So being
industrious, earn all you can.
00:27:34.92\00:27:37.61
Make good use of
your time, invest well.
00:27:37.64\00:27:40.02
Don't speculate with a market
that's going to go up and down
00:27:40.05\00:27:42.85
or you'll learn what it
means to lose all you can.
00:27:42.88\00:27:46.41
There are things you can
do that are a little safer
00:27:46.44\00:27:48.60
than playing
the market or Lotto,
00:27:48.63\00:27:51.62
hopefully,
nobody is doing that...
00:27:51.65\00:27:53.21
or Reno or Thunder Valley...
00:27:53.24\00:27:55.53
I pray nobody is
going over there.
00:27:55.56\00:27:58.36
It's amazing how suddenly we
legalize gambling in California.
00:27:58.39\00:28:03.43
Give all you can... if you're
God, just think about this
00:28:03.46\00:28:09.57
for a second, and
you want to bless people,
00:28:09.60\00:28:13.09
and the way that you, as
God, bless people is you give
00:28:13.12\00:28:18.02
through people.
00:28:18.05\00:28:19.59
God wants to use
people to reach people.
00:28:19.62\00:28:21.63
He wants to use
people to bless people.
00:28:21.66\00:28:23.99
That's how He
teaches us children,
00:28:24.02\00:28:25.88
who are normally
selfish, to be generous!
00:28:25.91\00:28:28.59
You're going to
look down there and say,
00:28:28.62\00:28:30.31
"Who on earth are
the ones that I can use
00:28:30.34\00:28:33.55
as a conduit of blessing?
00:28:33.58\00:28:35.47
Who are the people down
there that I can give through?"
00:28:35.50\00:28:38.14
And you're going to see the
ones who are faithful in sharing
00:28:38.17\00:28:42.14
their 2 mites and you can
say, "This person is a giver. "
00:28:42.17\00:28:46.07
It doesn't matter how much...
00:28:46.10\00:28:47.36
"He that is faithful
in that which is least,
00:28:47.39\00:28:48.95
is faithful also in much. "
00:28:48.98\00:28:50.42
And you can say, "I'm
going to give them more
00:28:50.45\00:28:51.90
because I can trust
them that they'll share. "
00:28:51.93\00:28:53.87
You see how God is thinking?
00:28:53.90\00:28:55.25
So if you're a
giver, if you're faithful;
00:28:55.28\00:28:57.97
if you're considering
the poor and you're sharing,
00:28:58.00\00:28:59.79
God is going to give you
more because you are trustworthy
00:28:59.82\00:29:02.45
that He can give through you!
00:29:02.48\00:29:04.96
I mean, if you were God,
isn't that what you'd do?
00:29:04.99\00:29:07.76
If you wanted to give
to people through people,
00:29:07.79\00:29:09.87
you'd look for the
people that were giving,
00:29:09.90\00:29:11.54
and you'd give more to them
because you can trust them. Okay
00:29:11.57\00:29:15.73
Earn all you can - we
talked about being industrious;
00:29:15.76\00:29:18.81
pray that God will guide you,
give you wisdom and opportunity.
00:29:18.84\00:29:22.01
And save - Joseph
during this famine,
00:29:22.04\00:29:27.59
during the years of
prosperity, they stored.
00:29:27.62\00:29:29.99
I thought it was
interesting ... the numbers.
00:29:30.02\00:29:31.62
Genesis 41:54... I'll
read 54, 55, I'll probably
00:29:31.65\00:29:36.13
jump down to verse 57.
00:29:36.16\00:29:38.65
And it says, "The 7
years of famine began as Joseph
00:29:38.68\00:29:43.73
had said... oh
wait a second, no.
00:29:43.76\00:29:45.29
I want to start
with Genesis 41:34...
00:29:45.32\00:29:48.77
Genesis 41:34, please,
just a few verses back.
00:29:48.80\00:29:54.72
"Let Pharaoh do this, during
the years of prosperity...
00:29:54.75\00:29:57.95
Let him appoint officers over
the land to collect one-fifth
00:29:57.98\00:30:02.86
of the produce of
the land of Egypt in the
00:30:02.89\00:30:06.28
7 plentiful years. "
00:30:06.31\00:30:08.09
So during the years of
plenty, what were they doing?
00:30:08.12\00:30:10.77
Saving! Saving for the
economic crisis that might come.
00:30:10.80\00:30:16.30
Saving for this
need that was unforeseen.
00:30:16.33\00:30:19.98
Collect one-fifth. What
percentage is one-fifth?
00:30:20.01\00:30:25.57
20%... You're checking
your math - you're not sure.
00:30:25.60\00:30:28.21
Yeah, don't be afraid. It's 20%
00:30:28.24\00:30:31.74
What is tithe?
10% is your tithe.
00:30:31.77\00:30:36.34
Is tithe the only
giving we do with God?
00:30:36.37\00:30:40.14
Tithe... what's
beyond tithe? Offerings.
00:30:40.17\00:30:43.41
Now in Israel,
typically what they did is
00:30:43.44\00:30:46.07
it was called a second
tithe; it was a second 10%
00:30:46.10\00:30:48.91
covered all the different things
under the category of offering.
00:30:48.94\00:30:51.41
One was mandatory, in
the sense that God says,
00:30:51.44\00:30:54.40
This is Mine, return
it, it's My property;
00:30:54.43\00:30:56.43
that I'm asking
you to give cheerfully.
00:30:56.46\00:30:58.29
And the priests, when they
stipulated what the needs were
00:30:58.32\00:31:00.70
for the poor, for the
temple and the different things,
00:31:00.73\00:31:02.86
they called it
pretty much a second tithe.
00:31:02.89\00:31:04.79
So what is two-tenths? 20%
00:31:04.82\00:31:08.88
How did they get
through their financial crisis?
00:31:08.91\00:31:12.54
They were giving 2
groups of 10% during the time of
00:31:12.57\00:31:16.68
prosperity.
00:31:16.71\00:31:17.77
When the time of
crisis came, they were fine.
00:31:17.80\00:31:22.51
I have this theory that
those that are faithful in their
00:31:22.54\00:31:26.26
tithes and
offerings, God sustains them.
00:31:26.29\00:31:28.62
As-a-matter-of-fact,
it's not just a theory.
00:31:28.65\00:31:31.36
Read with me... These are
the keys to heaven's treasury.
00:31:31.39\00:31:35.63
Malachi 3- last book
in your Old Testament
00:31:35.66\00:31:42.95
Malachi 3:8... you've
heard this many times,
00:31:42.98\00:31:47.31
but some maybe
have not heard it.
00:31:47.34\00:31:49.77
"Will a man rob God?
Yet you have robbed Me!
00:31:49.80\00:31:53.49
But you say, In what
way have we robbed You?
00:31:53.52\00:31:55.86
In tithes... that's
one-10 and offerings,
00:31:55.89\00:31:59.36
that could be
up to the other 10.
00:31:59.39\00:32:01.46
Some people have
given a double tithe;
00:32:01.49\00:32:03.58
some more - it depends on every
man as he purposes in his heart.
00:32:03.61\00:32:07.62
You are cursed with a
curse, For you have robbed Me,
00:32:07.65\00:32:10.89
Even this whole nation.
00:32:10.92\00:32:13.11
Bring the tithes
into the storehouse,
00:32:13.14\00:32:15.41
that there might
be food in My house,
00:32:15.44\00:32:17.23
And prove Me now
herewith in this, says the Lord,
00:32:17.26\00:32:21.43
If I will not open for
you the windows of heaven
00:32:21.46\00:32:24.36
And pour out for
you such a blessing
00:32:24.39\00:32:25.87
There will not be room
enough to receive it. "
00:32:25.90\00:32:28.05
What are the keys to
unlock heaven's storehouse?
00:32:28.08\00:32:31.92
Faithfulness in giving!
00:32:31.95\00:32:34.06
STORE - during that
time, you're storing
00:32:34.09\00:32:36.47
treasure in heaven and He
is going to open the heavens.
00:32:36.50\00:32:39.18
And He will pay again;
it's like God said there
00:32:39.21\00:32:41.61
in Proverbs: "And I'll rebuke
the devourer for your sake
00:32:41.64\00:32:45.42
so that it will not
destroy... " Your car will get
00:32:45.45\00:32:48.06
better gas mileage -
that's the modern version.
00:32:48.09\00:32:52.87
"So it will not destroy
the fruit of your ground,
00:32:52.90\00:32:55.88
Nor shall the vine fail
to bear fruit for you in
00:32:55.91\00:32:58.58
the field, says the Lord.
00:32:58.61\00:32:59.92
And all nations will call
you blessed for you will be
00:32:59.95\00:33:02.75
a delightful land,
says the Lord of Hosts. "
00:33:02.78\00:33:05.04
All right, so this
principle of faithfulness,
00:33:05.07\00:33:08.74
especially during
the times of prosperity,
00:33:08.77\00:33:10.67
in tithes and offerings,
God promises to open the
00:33:10.70\00:33:13.41
windows of heaven and bless us.
00:33:13.44\00:33:14.80
You notice He says,
You are cursed with a curse
00:33:14.83\00:33:16.50
if you don't and I'll
bless you beyond what your
00:33:16.53\00:33:19.34
capacity is if you do.
00:33:19.37\00:33:21.31
Now, something I've
discovered personally
00:33:21.34\00:33:23.85
and through observation...
00:33:23.88\00:33:25.63
There are varying
degrees of blessing and cursing.
00:33:25.66\00:33:29.92
God doesn't have a big switch
in the sky where He looks down
00:33:29.95\00:33:32.25
at you and
says, Ye forgot the...
00:33:32.28\00:33:35.02
He only gave 90% of his tithe.
Cursing is on now for him.
00:33:35.05\00:33:39.94
Or, you know, he's
paying his tithe and he's paying
00:33:39.97\00:33:44.41
his offering but
not as much as he could;
00:33:44.44\00:33:46.06
100% blessing, 100% cursing!
That's not how God works.
00:33:46.09\00:33:47.90
It's not a
switch light off and on.
00:33:48.73\00:33:51.56
It's a graduated scale.
00:33:51.59\00:33:54.30
Some of you are
blessed; you are paying faithful
00:33:54.33\00:33:58.25
tithe and offering - pretty
faithful, sort of faithful.
00:33:58.28\00:34:03.93
But you could be a
whole lot more blessed
00:34:03.96\00:34:06.66
if you were 100% faithful.
00:34:06.69\00:34:09.44
Some of you are a little cursed;
00:34:09.47\00:34:12.03
you're not, you
know, it's not famine.
00:34:12.06\00:34:14.46
You're not going out to
gather your last 2 sticks
00:34:14.49\00:34:16.76
to make your last loaf of bread.
00:34:16.79\00:34:18.17
But BOY, seems like everything
is going wrong and you just
00:34:18.20\00:34:21.64
can't keep ahead and maybe
you're under a partial curse
00:34:21.67\00:34:25.26
because you're only
being partial in your giving.
00:34:25.29\00:34:29.07
I don't know where
you are on that scale,
00:34:29.10\00:34:31.86
but everybody here is probably
somewhere along that scale.
00:34:31.89\00:34:34.07
But I've observed and
I'm certain enough to share
00:34:34.10\00:34:36.96
this with you - it's not
just blessing or cursing,
00:34:36.99\00:34:39.64
it's anywhere in-between;
100% blessed and 100% cursed.
00:34:39.67\00:34:43.20
Based on what your
scale of faithfulness is.
00:34:43.23\00:34:47.89
REAL unfaithful, real curse.
00:34:47.92\00:34:49.56
REAL faithful, real blessed.
00:34:49.59\00:34:52.44
Praise the Lord, I was
hoping it wasn't total silence!
00:34:52.47\00:34:57.97
I believe it's true.
Did God bless Joseph?
00:34:58.00\00:35:02.39
Yeah, and he was
faithful in what he did.
00:35:02.42\00:35:06.42
Why did Jesus talk to His
disciples about their giving?
00:35:06.45\00:35:09.66
Because He was
concerned with their blessing.
00:35:09.69\00:35:13.65
He wanted them to be blessed.
00:35:13.68\00:35:15.26
Also, the whole Gospel
revolves around giving.
00:35:15.29\00:35:19.23
God so loved the
world that He gave...
00:35:19.26\00:35:23.25
Love gives.
00:35:23.28\00:35:26.21
And the other thing
is, we're naturally stingy.
00:35:26.24\00:35:30.91
The opposite of love
is what? Selfishness.
00:35:30.94\00:35:35.68
The opposite of
LOVE... Love is GIVING
00:35:35.71\00:35:38.36
Selfishness is
the opposite of that.
00:35:38.39\00:35:40.37
Yeah I know, we think
the opposite of love is hate,
00:35:40.40\00:35:42.72
but, you know, I
read an amazing fact..
00:35:42.75\00:35:49.51
Her name was
"Stingy Hetty Howland Green"
00:35:49.54\00:35:54.54
They wrote a book about
her called her a mad genius.
00:35:54.57\00:35:59.15
She lived from 1834-1916.
Her father was an investor
00:35:59.18\00:36:03.93
on Wall Street
and she was watching
00:36:03.96\00:36:05.31
the ways he was
investing even as a little girl.
00:36:05.34\00:36:07.44
And she just managed
to wrap her head around
00:36:07.47\00:36:10.01
careful investing and she
became FABULOUSLY successful
00:36:10.04\00:36:14.35
in investing.
00:36:14.38\00:36:16.48
They called her "The
Witch of Wall Street"
00:36:16.51\00:36:19.91
because she was the
most miserly person alive.
00:36:19.94\00:36:24.13
Paul Harvey did a story
about Hetty Green one time.
00:36:24.16\00:36:27.99
He talked about this woman
going up and down the streets
00:36:28.02\00:36:30.75
pushing a wagon with her
son, who had broken his leg,
00:36:30.78\00:36:33.51
and it had become infected.
00:36:33.54\00:36:34.88
She went from one
hospital to the next
00:36:34.91\00:36:37.41
trying to find a place
where she could get free care
00:36:37.44\00:36:40.19
for her son whose leg
was becoming gangrenous.
00:36:40.22\00:36:43.88
The reason that
his leg was gangrenous,
00:36:43.91\00:36:49.46
was because she didn't
want to take him to a hospital
00:36:49.49\00:36:51.16
because she didn't
want to pay the money,
00:36:51.19\00:36:52.53
that she'd have to pay a
doctor to fix his leg properly,
00:36:52.56\00:36:55.30
so she tried to do it at home;
00:36:55.33\00:36:56.66
she didn't know
what she was doing;
00:36:56.69\00:36:57.86
it got infected, then for
days, she went trying to find a
00:36:57.89\00:37:01.26
hospital, finally got a hospital
that gave him free care,
00:37:01.29\00:37:03.43
and they said it's too late,
they amputated her son's leg.
00:37:03.46\00:37:06.37
In the meantime, she had the
equivalent in today's standards
00:37:06.40\00:37:09.67
of 17 billion
dollars in the bank.
00:37:09.70\00:37:12.90
SO CHEAP! She
spent all night looking
00:37:12.93\00:37:17.65
for a 2 cents stamp
that she had misplaced.
00:37:17.68\00:37:21.54
I mean, the stories
I could tell you about
00:37:21.57\00:37:22.85
Hetty Green and how
miserly; went around her house
00:37:22.88\00:37:25.36
with clothing in the
wintertime bundled all over
00:37:25.39\00:37:27.82
because she didn't want
to put any coal in her stove.
00:37:27.85\00:37:29.95
So everybody was
always shivering in her house.
00:37:29.98\00:37:32.94
Wouldn't throw anything away,
just CHEAP, cheap, cheap...
00:37:32.97\00:37:37.60
Sounds like a
chicken cheap, cheap, cheap!
00:37:37.63\00:37:42.61
But you know, we
all got a little bit of
00:37:42.64\00:37:44.52
Hetty in us, don't we?
They used to call it "Scotch. "
00:37:44.55\00:37:50.53
Oh I'm just "frugal. "
00:37:50.56\00:37:54.00
Mark 8:36, "What will
it profit a man if he gains
00:37:54.03\00:37:57.89
the whole world
and loses his soul?"
00:37:57.92\00:38:01.90
Would you like to be a
billionaire the day you die?
00:38:01.93\00:38:07.79
If you knew you could sell
your soul and be a billionaire
00:38:07.82\00:38:10.10
the day you die,
would it be worth it?
00:38:10.13\00:38:13.56
What about a
week before you die?
00:38:13.59\00:38:16.63
When you think
about it, if you knew that
00:38:16.66\00:38:18.45
you were going to
trade eternal life
00:38:18.48\00:38:19.86
in order to be a billionaire,
and when you get your
00:38:19.89\00:38:22.12
billion dollar check,
you know that every day
00:38:22.15\00:38:23.89
you're marching towards oblivion
00:38:23.92\00:38:25.15
and eternal
destruction, would you enjoy it?
00:38:25.18\00:38:29.20
Well, how could you
enjoy selling your soul
00:38:29.23\00:38:31.35
for all the
pleasures of this world.
00:38:31.39\00:38:33.25
You wouldn't
enjoy those pleasures.
00:38:33.29\00:38:35.12
What profit is it?
00:38:35.15\00:38:38.49
Jesus then tells
the parable, Luke 12:16,
00:38:38.52\00:38:41.21
I'm going to read that
one to you, the whole thing.
00:38:41.24\00:38:47.39
Luke 12:16, "The ground
of a certain rich man yielded
00:38:47.42\00:38:51.64
plentifully, and he
thought within himself saying,
00:38:51.67\00:38:54.56
"What shall I do since I
have no room to store my crops?"
00:38:54.59\00:38:58.26
"So he said, "I'll do
this; I'll pull down my barns,
00:38:58.29\00:39:02.01
and build even BIGGER
barns and there I'll store
00:39:02.04\00:39:05.21
and hoard all my
crops any my goods;
00:39:05.24\00:39:08.07
And I'll say to my soul,
"Soul, you've got many goods
00:39:08.10\00:39:11.34
laid up for many
years," you notice, he thought
00:39:11.37\00:39:14.18
he had many years; you
wonder what he would have done
00:39:14.21\00:39:17.95
with his crops if he
thought he had 24 hours.
00:39:17.98\00:39:21.94
"You got many crops for
many years, take your ease,
00:39:21.97\00:39:24.76
eat, drink, be merry.
" "But God said to him,
00:39:24.79\00:39:28.16
You fool... you
know the Bible says
00:39:28.26\00:39:30.23
it's the fool that says in
their heart, there is no God.
00:39:30.26\00:39:32.96
Some of us would never
verbalize that there's no God,
00:39:32.99\00:39:35.96
but in our finances,
we say there's no God,
00:39:36.00\00:39:39.65
and we are
fools in our finances.
00:39:39.68\00:39:43.27
God said, "You fool,
this night your soul will be
00:39:43.30\00:39:45.56
required of you, then
who will those things be
00:39:45.59\00:39:48.40
for which you have provided?"
00:39:48.43\00:39:49.90
You had a chance, God
blessed you that you might
00:39:49.93\00:39:52.59
give to others but you hoarded
it all, built bigger barns,
00:39:52.62\00:39:55.22
so you could
hoard it even longer!
00:39:55.25\00:39:56.95
And that's the attitude of many.
00:39:56.98\00:39:58.72
You know, we hear about
the rich and the famous;
00:39:58.75\00:40:01.66
you know, the magazines
and the stories about these
00:40:01.69\00:40:04.94
incredible homes and incredible
wealth and I was watching the
00:40:04.97\00:40:09.45
Discover channel the
other day and they talked about
00:40:09.48\00:40:11.97
this guy who sold some dot-com
company for billions of dollars.
00:40:12.00\00:40:15.61
He went from nothing to
a billionaire by selling
00:40:15.64\00:40:17.49
his company and the
first thing he said is,
00:40:17.52\00:40:19.67
"I'm going to go out
and buy the best jet,"
00:40:19.70\00:40:21.38
and he bought a Gulfstream...
I'm a pilot you know,
00:40:21.41\00:40:23.59
and I've been on
a couple of jets.
00:40:23.62\00:40:25.61
My dad sold a couple of jets
to millionaires in Saudi Arabia
00:40:25.64\00:40:29.62
and I went on these
jets with leopard skin seats
00:40:29.65\00:40:32.48
and I mean - real leopard!
00:40:32.51\00:40:35.60
I know that sounds
kind of oowee now yeah,
00:40:35.63\00:40:37.41
that's bad,
politically incorrect but it was
00:40:37.44\00:40:39.56
not a problem back then.
00:40:39.59\00:40:40.91
Anyway, and so in my
heart I felt that little bit of
00:40:40.94\00:40:45.62
Hetty Green... But
man, private Gulfstream Jet,
00:40:45.65\00:40:49.98
wouldn't that be
something! Aughh!
00:40:50.01\00:40:52.87
What profit is it if you gain
all that and you lose your soul?
00:40:52.90\00:40:56.71
"Whose shall those things
be" and then Jesus ends by
00:40:56.74\00:41:03.21
saying in verse 21,
I'm still in Luke 12:21
00:41:03.24\00:41:06.98
"So is he who lays up treasure
00:41:07.01\00:41:09.21
for himself and is
not rich towards God. "
00:41:09.24\00:41:14.11
Now this is the
balance, you know how to work
00:41:14.14\00:41:17.01
and earn all you can;
you need to know how to
00:41:17.04\00:41:19.66
give all you can; you need
to know how much do you save.
00:41:19.69\00:41:22.40
You should save but
you shouldn't hoard.
00:41:22.43\00:41:25.61
We need to keep giving and
have that balance and pray God
00:41:25.64\00:41:28.67
to give us that
wisdom to know that.
00:41:28.70\00:41:32.02
Mark 12... "He that is
faithful in that which is least
00:41:32.05\00:41:36.25
is faithful also in much. "
00:41:36.28\00:41:37.59
If we're faithful
in pennies, we'll learn
00:41:37.62\00:41:39.27
to be faithful in dollars.
00:41:39.30\00:41:40.70
Mark 12:41- I want to talk
about being faithful in least.
00:41:40.73\00:41:44.69
You know the story...
Jesus sat opposite the treasury
00:41:44.72\00:41:49.45
and he saw how the people
put money into the treasury,
00:41:49.48\00:41:52.47
"And many who were
rich put in much... "
00:41:52.50\00:41:56.81
And you know, when a billionaire
00:41:56.84\00:42:00.08
gives $100, it's not
that impressive, is it?
00:42:00.11\00:42:04.78
I remember one time,
the smallest church I ever
00:42:04.81\00:42:08.37
preached in was in
Key Largo, Florida.
00:42:08.40\00:42:14.07
I was a camp pastor
for a cystic fibrosis camp,
00:42:14.10\00:42:17.68
my brother started; my father
came down to check out the camp.
00:42:17.71\00:42:20.55
I said, "I'm
going to be preaching
00:42:20.58\00:42:21.73
this afternoon, dad,
if you want to come by. "
00:42:21.77\00:42:23.44
This was the first time my dad
ever heard me preach as a pastor
00:42:23.48\00:42:25.69
So he came... You know every
son wants to have their dad
00:42:25.72\00:42:28.08
come and see them
preach and I've preached to
00:42:28.11\00:42:29.91
thousands of people!
00:42:29.94\00:42:30.97
First time my dad comes
and there's about 8 people
00:42:31.00\00:42:32.96
in the church.
00:42:32.99\00:42:36.82
And, my dad came and
then he brought my stepmother.
00:42:36.85\00:42:43.29
My brother came,
brought my sister-in-law.
00:42:43.32\00:42:46.55
My cousin, Danny Batchelor,
came and then pretty soon,
00:42:46.58\00:42:49.56
I looked around...
They were all on their way
00:42:49.59\00:42:51.46
back to Miami - they said
let's stop and hear Doug preach,
00:42:51.49\00:42:53.39
this should be entertaining!
00:42:53.42\00:42:55.26
Little-bitty
church, I was so nervous.
00:42:55.29\00:42:59.18
I still remember, I preached
about Naaman and the leper.
00:42:59.21\00:43:01.37
What profit is it to have all
that money if you've got leprosy
00:43:01.40\00:43:03.81
My dad is sitting
right there! Multimillionaire
00:43:03.84\00:43:07.93
There were more Batchelors
in the church than regular
00:43:07.96\00:43:10.02
members that day. Really!
00:43:10.05\00:43:13.75
So the offering plate goes
by and the guy who is the deacon
00:43:13.78\00:43:18.03
is also the Sabbath
School Superintendent
00:43:18.06\00:43:19.65
and he's the head elder
too, I believe... LITTLE CHURCH!
00:43:19.68\00:43:23.40
And so he takes up the offering
and he comes by my father
00:43:23.43\00:43:25.66
and my father pulls out a wad;
he always kept a wad of like
00:43:25.69\00:43:27.62
$100 bills - in case, I
don't know, he needed to bribe
00:43:27.65\00:43:30.74
some highway patrolman or
something, I don't know why.
00:43:30.77\00:43:33.14
So he takes $100 bill
and puts it in the plate...
00:43:33.17\00:43:36.04
And this guy... Oh this is the
whole church budget for a month!
00:43:36.07\00:43:41.28
But I knew better,
I wasn't impressed.
00:43:41.31\00:43:43.82
My dad had a whole wad of them.
00:43:43.85\00:43:46.20
And so you know the
Lord, when you're giving,
00:43:46.23\00:43:50.57
He's not looking at
the amount you're giving,
00:43:50.60\00:43:53.19
He's looking at the
amount of sacrifice.
00:43:53.22\00:43:56.50
Are you giving so
that it means self-denial?
00:43:56.53\00:44:00.01
That it means that
it's a sacrifice for you?
00:44:00.04\00:44:04.44
This woman comes in
and she throws in 2 mites,
00:44:04.47\00:44:11.04
2 little bronze copper coins
and He called His disciples
00:44:11.07\00:44:15.74
to Himself and he said to
them.. 'You see that woman,
00:44:15.77\00:44:19.17
I say this poor widow...
she's a widow no husband,
00:44:19.20\00:44:22.54
has put in more than
all of those who have given
00:44:22.57\00:44:25.44
to the treasury, for they have
all put in of their abundance,
00:44:25.47\00:44:28.92
but she, out of her poverty,
has put in ALL that she had,'
00:44:28.95\00:44:33.23
her whole livelihood, everything
in the world she owned was there
00:44:33.26\00:44:38.11
Now, there have been a couple
of times where I told myself
00:44:38.14\00:44:42.63
I was really generous
because I dug into my wallet,
00:44:42.66\00:44:45.95
and gave
everything in my wallet,
00:44:45.98\00:44:48.81
but I know I got
more in the bank account.
00:44:48.84\00:44:52.52
When she went by the treasury
box, she closed her account.
00:44:52.55\00:44:57.70
She gave everything
and you might wonder,
00:44:57.73\00:44:59.74
why did she do
that? Was this an offering
00:44:59.77\00:45:03.37
or was it tithe?
00:45:03.40\00:45:05.41
Maybe it was just
faithfulness and she said,
00:45:05.44\00:45:07.57
This is my tithe even
though it's the last thing
00:45:07.60\00:45:09.15
I have, I want
to give it to God.
00:45:09.19\00:45:10.52
Maybe she said, You know I
love the Lord and I want to
00:45:10.56\00:45:12.34
do something; I
want to worship Him.
00:45:12.37\00:45:14.45
Who knows? But anyway,
she decided to be faithful.
00:45:14.48\00:45:17.23
She felt impressed
by the Spirit to give.
00:45:17.26\00:45:19.56
Even though - WHAT
pastor, including myself,
00:45:19.59\00:45:23.86
would counsel a
widow - she might have had
00:45:23.89\00:45:26.11
children at home, who
says, You know, I want to make
00:45:26.14\00:45:28.68
an offering; all
I've got left is 50 cents.
00:45:28.71\00:45:31.64
Of course, I'd probably say,
If's that's all you've got left,
00:45:31.67\00:45:33.19
you may as well give all.
00:45:33.22\00:45:34.47
Right? You're not losing much.
00:45:34.50\00:45:37.39
But I've actually,
you know, we've had people
00:45:37.42\00:45:39.43
at Amazing Facts and even
here at Central Church that
00:45:39.46\00:45:41.54
they get carried
away with zeal for God,
00:45:41.57\00:45:43.55
and they say... You
know, we're not going to pay
00:45:43.58\00:45:45.03
the electric bill this
month, we're going to do without
00:45:45.06\00:45:46.64
electricity because
it's summer and we don't need
00:45:46.67\00:45:48.78
the air-conditioner;
we're going to give an offering,
00:45:48.81\00:45:50.62
and you know, we say to them,
"Brother, sister, let's talk. "
00:45:50.65\00:45:55.56
I think that, you know, God
bless you for your generosity,
00:45:55.59\00:45:58.20
you need to take
care of your family.
00:45:58.23\00:45:59.79
We've had to tell
people; we've sent checks back
00:45:59.82\00:46:01.98
to people when we found out how
much they sacrificed, we have!
00:46:02.01\00:46:05.08
We said, "No, you
shouldn't do that. "
00:46:05.11\00:46:09.19
This woman gave everything.
00:46:09.22\00:46:10.76
Now, did Jesus tell
her, "Don't do that?"
00:46:10.79\00:46:12.68
Did Jesus stop her?
No, He highlighted her,
00:46:12.71\00:46:17.90
and He brought
attention to her and He said...
00:46:17.93\00:46:21.22
"Everywhere the
gospel is preached...
00:46:21.25\00:46:23.52
People are going
to hear about this. "
00:46:23.55\00:46:24.84
You know how many billions
of dollars, think about it,
00:46:24.87\00:46:27.29
that woman went by the treasury
that day and she said...
00:46:27.32\00:46:29.81
No one is ever
going to know what I gave.
00:46:29.84\00:46:31.34
It's not much Lord,
but it's from my heart,
00:46:31.37\00:46:33.45
I pray that you'll
accept it, it's all I've got,
00:46:33.48\00:46:35.82
I wish I could give more...
And she probably was thinking
00:46:35.85\00:46:39.14
it's never going to amount
to much, no one will even know,
00:46:39.17\00:46:41.86
it won't make any difference.
00:46:41.89\00:46:43.29
Did it make a difference?
00:46:43.32\00:46:45.46
Think of the billions, billions
of dollars that have poured
00:46:45.49\00:46:48.83
into the treasury of God
over the centuries as people
00:46:48.86\00:46:52.22
have looked at the story in
the Bible of what that one widow
00:46:52.25\00:46:55.27
was doing - she
thought, in secret.
00:46:55.30\00:47:00.09
Does the Lord
see our faithfulness?
00:47:00.12\00:47:02.47
Does He observe it?
00:47:02.50\00:47:04.06
Wouldn't you like the
Lord to look down at you
00:47:04.09\00:47:06.26
in your faithfulness and
say, "Behold my servant,"
00:47:06.29\00:47:10.57
"Behold my servant,
Job. " "Behold this widow. "
00:47:10.60\00:47:13.36
You know the Bible doesn't go
on to say what happened to her.
00:47:13.39\00:47:15.82
Did God open the
windows of heaven for her?
00:47:15.85\00:47:17.49
Did He feed her
children? What happened?
00:47:17.52\00:47:20.09
I believe He did! Don't you?
00:47:20.12\00:47:22.96
I believe He took
care of her, you know why?
00:47:22.99\00:47:25.52
Cause God is faithful.
00:47:25.55\00:47:27.70
I've got a lot
more I could share
00:47:27.73\00:47:28.78
with you, but I
have run out of time.
00:47:28.81\00:47:30.90
You know my
last point is this...
00:47:30.94\00:47:31.97
You don't need to worry about
financial security if you're
00:47:32.00\00:47:35.65
faithful in the
priorities because your Father
00:47:35.68\00:47:39.49
owns the bank...
Isn't that right?
00:47:39.52\00:47:44.18
Everything you could possibly
need - He owns the bank.
00:47:44.21\00:47:48.59
He's going to take
care of His children.
00:47:48.62\00:47:50.07
"When I was young and
I'm now old and I've not seen
00:47:50.10\00:47:53.12
God's seed forsaken or
His children begging bread. "
00:47:53.15\00:47:55.93
That's what King David said.
00:47:55.96\00:47:57.94
Psalm 50:10, "For every
beast of the forest is Mine"
00:47:57.97\00:48:01.71
Their wealth was
measured in livestock back then.
00:48:01.74\00:48:05.89
"Every beast of the forest
is Mine' not only the wild ones,
00:48:05.92\00:48:10.24
but the cattle on 1,000
hills, the domestic ones.
00:48:10.27\00:48:14.41
"I know all the birds of the
mountains and the wild beasts
00:48:14.44\00:48:18.19
of the field are
Mine; If I were hungry,
00:48:18.22\00:48:20.17
I would not tell you,
for the world is Mine,
00:48:20.20\00:48:23.03
all the gold in it
and all the silver. "
00:48:23.06\00:48:24.97
Haggai 2:8, "The silver
is Mine and the gold is Mine,
00:48:25.00\00:48:29.38
says the Lord of Hosts. "
00:48:29.41\00:48:30.50
God is just asking us to
demonstrate our faith in Him
00:48:30.53\00:48:34.81
by being faithful stewards
of the little bit that goes
00:48:34.84\00:48:38.77
through our hands
during the little time
00:48:38.80\00:48:40.94
we're alive here on this earth.
00:48:40.97\00:48:43.43
In the Judgment,
remember we give account to God
00:48:43.46\00:48:46.19
for 2 simple
things, your time...
00:48:46.22\00:48:49.69
You've got some choices
to make over how you use
00:48:49.72\00:48:52.65
your time for influencing
people for God's Kingdom.
00:48:52.68\00:48:55.80
You can use your
life to influence people,
00:48:55.83\00:48:59.41
and how you use
your means to influence
00:48:59.44\00:49:02.26
people for God's
Kingdom. Isn't that right?
00:49:02.29\00:49:04.75
Those are the only 2 things
that we'll give an account for.
00:49:04.78\00:49:07.18
What do we do with our time and
what do we do with our means,
00:49:07.21\00:49:09.08
and everybody
has some influence.
00:49:09.11\00:49:11.08
I want to be
faithful to trust God.
00:49:11.11\00:49:14.32
If you follow
these principles friends,
00:49:14.35\00:49:16.37
God is not going to forsake
you, though there might be
00:49:16.40\00:49:18.61
economic ups and downs.
00:49:18.64\00:49:20.07
And by the way, in case you
think I'm saying that there is
00:49:20.10\00:49:23.72
going to be an economic disaster
and the world is going to end,
00:49:23.75\00:49:25.81
I'm not saying that - I
think there are going to be
00:49:25.84\00:49:28.43
economic disasters.
00:49:28.46\00:49:29.80
There's going to be
wars and rumors of wars.
00:49:29.83\00:49:31.67
There's going to be
highs and lows, but don't think
00:49:31.70\00:49:33.94
an economic disaster means the
world is ending the next day.
00:49:33.97\00:49:38.44
The way I read my
Bible, just before Jesus comes,
00:49:38.48\00:49:39.89
it's in a time you THINK NOT.
00:49:39.92\00:49:41.95
Before the flood came to Noah,
they were eating and drinking
00:49:41.98\00:49:45.26
and BUILDING - BOOMING economy!
00:49:45.29\00:49:47.56
Before the destruction
came to Sodom and Gomorrah,
00:49:47.59\00:49:52.59
everybody was
employed - it doesn't say that,
00:49:52.62\00:49:55.57
but it looked like the economy
00:49:55.60\00:49:56.69
was just fine -
see what I'm saying?
00:49:56.72\00:49:59.27
So this idea that the
economy is going to spiral down
00:49:59.30\00:50:02.39
a famine and then
the Second Coming,
00:50:02.42\00:50:04.11
is not really
what the Bible teaches.
00:50:04.14\00:50:05.98
It's going to happen suddenly.
00:50:06.01\00:50:08.39
But I just want
God's people to be faithful
00:50:08.42\00:50:10.02
during the hard times too, Amen?
00:50:10.05\00:50:12.77
Let's remember, "This is
Our Father's World," that's our
00:50:12.80\00:50:14.60
closing hymn - I'm going to
invite our singers to come out,
00:50:14.64\00:50:16.71
#92... I love
this song, don't you?
00:50:16.75\00:50:19.47
Let's sing this from our hearts
and read the words as we do.
00:50:20.34\00:50:24.15
Make it a prayer - let's
stand together as we sing.
00:50:24.18\00:50:27.84
This is my Father's
world, And to my listening ears,
00:50:44.76\00:50:53.72
All nature sings,
and round me rings,
00:50:53.75\00:50:58.32
The music of the spheres.
00:50:58.35\00:51:02.90
This is my Father's
world; I rest me in the thought
00:51:02.93\00:51:11.66
Of rocks and
trees, of skies and seas;
00:51:11.69\00:51:16.38
His hand the wonders wrought.
00:51:16.41\00:51:22.75
I'm going to pause
in these verses here,
00:51:22.78\00:51:25.53
and just ask you to
respond in a simple way.
00:51:25.56\00:51:28.68
First, I'd like to ask,
if the Holy Spirit has spoken
00:51:28.71\00:51:32.11
to you and you're
saying, 'Lord, I'm wanting to be
00:51:32.14\00:51:34.03
faithful but I want
to be 100% faithful,
00:51:34.06\00:51:37.14
I want to be 100% blessed.
00:51:37.17\00:51:39.26
If there's any area in my
life where I'm being a little
00:51:39.29\00:51:42.82
careless in being a
faithful steward of Your means,
00:51:42.85\00:51:45.65
I want to be
100% for you, Lord. '
00:51:45.68\00:51:47.95
Is that your desire,
friends? Let's sing verse 2.
00:51:47.98\00:51:54.30
This is my Father's world,
The birds their carols raise;
00:51:54.33\00:52:03.62
The morning
light, the lily white,
00:52:03.65\00:52:08.40
Declare their Maker's praise.
00:52:08.43\00:52:13.02
This is my Father's world;
He shines in all that's fair;
00:52:13.05\00:52:22.17
In the rustling
grass I hear Him pass,
00:52:22.20\00:52:27.15
He speaks to me everywhere.
00:52:27.18\00:52:33.91
Before we sing the last
verse, I'd like to offer
00:52:33.94\00:52:38.35
the opportunity for
you to respond in maybe
00:52:38.38\00:52:40.57
a little more tangible way.
00:52:40.60\00:52:42.67
Some of you might be
struggling with debt;
00:52:42.70\00:52:45.81
some of you may be doing well,
you might have money in the bank
00:52:45.84\00:52:49.59
but you want to
be more faithful.
00:52:49.62\00:52:52.60
You know that there
could be financial tough times,
00:52:52.63\00:52:55.55
and you need wisdom
so that you can know
00:52:55.58\00:52:58.53
how do you save and how do
you give and how do you earn,
00:52:58.56\00:53:02.34
how do you invest.
00:53:02.37\00:53:03.95
You know the Bible says
the Lord is the One who gives
00:53:03.98\00:53:06.64
His people the
ability to get wealth.
00:53:06.67\00:53:09.29
It's the wisdom of God
and the blessing and the
00:53:09.32\00:53:11.25
Spirit of God that
blesses His people.
00:53:11.28\00:53:13.98
You know, in Romans
12, in order for you to
00:53:14.01\00:53:18.36
give what you have,
you first give your heart.
00:53:18.39\00:53:20.70
You present
yourself a living sacrifice.
00:53:20.73\00:53:23.18
If God's got your
heart, He's got everything.
00:53:23.21\00:53:25.76
You'll have the right priority.
00:53:25.79\00:53:27.32
As we sing this last verse,
if there's some that would like
00:53:27.35\00:53:30.70
special prayer - that you
could put all that you are,
00:53:30.73\00:53:32.82
and all that you have on the
alter today, and be faithful;
00:53:32.85\00:53:35.43
maybe God help you out of debt
and you need special prayer,
00:53:35.46\00:53:37.82
come to the front,
we're going to close
00:53:37.85\00:53:39.55
this service with
that prayer... Verse 3
00:53:39.58\00:53:46.79
This is my Father's
world, O let me ne'er forget
00:53:46.82\00:53:56.49
That though the
wrong seems oft so strong,
00:53:56.52\00:54:01.41
God is the Ruler yet.
00:54:01.44\00:54:06.42
This is my Father's world;
Why should my heart be sad?
00:54:06.45\00:54:16.12
The Lord is King;
let the heavens ring!
00:54:16.15\00:54:21.17
God reigns; let
the earth be glad.
00:54:21.20\00:54:28.60
AMEN! I want the
Lord to bless you.
00:54:28.63\00:54:33.65
I think He can. No
matter what happens
00:54:33.68\00:54:36.61
in the economy of
the country or the world
00:54:36.64\00:54:39.35
or North America or
California or Sacramento,
00:54:39.38\00:54:41.91
He can still bless YOU.
00:54:41.94\00:54:44.66
I believe that God
can bring you ahead
00:54:44.69\00:54:46.80
if everyone else is going behind
00:54:46.83\00:54:48.53
if we follow His
principles and priorities.
00:54:48.56\00:54:50.57
Do you believe that friends?
00:54:50.60\00:54:52.59
People in Israel might
be starving but there is
00:54:52.62\00:54:54.61
where Elijah was,
there was bread. Amen?
00:54:54.64\00:54:57.73
Are you willing to
say, 'Lord, by Your grace,
00:54:57.76\00:55:00.07
I want to put my heart
and life on the alter,'
00:55:00.10\00:55:02.02
and that means all that
you are and all that you have,
00:55:02.05\00:55:04.47
and seek first His
kingdom, is that you're prayer?
00:55:04.50\00:55:07.81
Father in Heaven,
Lord, these are Your people.
00:55:07.84\00:55:11.56
You fed them in the wilderness.
00:55:11.59\00:55:13.46
We believe that You can
easily take care of them during
00:55:13.49\00:55:15.89
times of prosperity and
even times of adversity.
00:55:15.92\00:55:19.37
All things are
possible with You.
00:55:19.40\00:55:21.52
Lord, I want You to
bless Your children today.
00:55:21.55\00:55:24.40
There may be some
struggling here with debt,
00:55:24.43\00:55:26.90
maybe because of poor planning,
00:55:26.93\00:55:28.48
maybe circumstances
they could not control,
00:55:28.51\00:55:30.70
whatever the case,
work miracles for them,
00:55:30.73\00:55:32.61
and give them wisdom and
I pray that You'll remove
00:55:32.64\00:55:35.11
that bondage. Bless your people
00:55:35.14\00:55:37.75
Lord, I pray that
you'll give us wisdom
00:55:37.78\00:55:39.61
so we can know how
to earn all that we can
00:55:39.64\00:55:42.00
for Your cause and Your Kingdom;
00:55:42.03\00:55:43.79
How that we can know how much
to save and save all that we can
00:55:43.82\00:55:48.07
And also, how to balance things
00:55:48.10\00:55:50.20
so that we can give all that
we can and we can be channels
00:55:50.23\00:55:52.93
of blessing to
the world around us.
00:55:52.96\00:55:55.09
Lord, bless Your people.
Be with Your children here.
00:55:55.12\00:55:58.63
Lord, I pray the
promises we see in Your Word,
00:55:58.66\00:56:01.17
and others I
have not touched on,
00:56:01.20\00:56:02.80
that we'll find them,
we'll give cheerfully,
00:56:02.83\00:56:04.93
and that You will
open the windows of Heaven
00:56:04.96\00:56:07.04
and pour out a blessing so there
is not room enough to receive it
00:56:07.07\00:56:10.28
We're claiming
this promise now Lord,
00:56:10.31\00:56:12.46
help us to do our
part to be faithful.
00:56:12.49\00:56:14.16
We ask in Jesus' name... Amen
00:56:14.20\00:56:17.31