Participants: Pr. Doug Batchelor
Series Code: EG
Program Code: EG002951
|
00:09 >> IT'S BEEN 2,000 YEARS SINCE THE GLORIOUS LIGHT OF THE CROSS
00:12 ILLUMINATED A WORLD VEILED IN DARKNESS AND CONFUSION 00:15 ABOUT THE CHARACTER OF GOD. 00:17 AND STILL TODAY THE GREATEST NEED OF MANKIND IS A REVELATION 00:20 OF GOD'S LOVE AS REVEALED IN THE LIFE OF CHRIST. 00:23 AMAZING FACTS PRESENTS, "THE EVERLASTING GOSPEL" 00:27 WITH PASTOR DOUG BATCHELOR COMING TO YOU EACH WEEK 00:30 FROM SACRAMENTO CENTRAL CHURCH IN SUNNY CALIFORNIA. 00:33 DISCOVER HIDDEN TREASURES IN GOD'S WORD TODAY. 00:38 >> YOU PROBABLY HEARD ABOUT THE FAMOUS PREACHER, JOHN WESLEY. 00:43 IT WASN'T TILL THIS WEEK I HAD HEARD THIS BUT MOST OF THE TIME 00:48 WE THINK OF JOHN WESLEY HE WALKED OR RODE AROUND ENGLAND 00:54 OR THE EAST COAST OF THE U.S. 00:56 PREACHING, PREACHING OUTSIDE, AND SOMETIMES SLEEPING ON THE 01:02 GROUND OR UNDER TREES AND ON THE DECK OF A SHIP. 01:07 HE WAS A MISSIONARY, A TRAVELING EVANGELIST BUT MANY 01:10 PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THAT HE WAS ACTUALLY VERY WEALTHY. 01:15 BECAUSE HE LIVED A LONG LIFE AND HE PREACHED FOR MANY YEARS, 01:18 HE HAD A LOT OF FUNDS COMING IN FROM THE BOOKS THAT HE WROTE, 01:21 BUT HE BASICALLY WOULD GIVE IT ALL AWAY. 01:24 AS A MATTER OF FACT, ONE TIME HE GAVE AWAY 50,000 POUNDS. 01:29 THAT'S IN ENGLISH DOLLARS, WORTH MORE THAN OUR DOLLARS 01:32 WORTH RIGHT NOW PROBABLY WAS BACK THEN. 01:36 'CAUSE HE JUST BELIEVED IN GIVING SO MUCH. 01:40 HE REALLY PRACTICED WHAT HE PREACHED. 01:42 OF COURSE, THE END OF HIS LIFE, THERE WAS A WHOLE DENOMINATION 01:44 BASED ON HIS TEACHINGS, CALLED THE METHODISTS. 01:47 WHEN HE DIED, HE HAD 28 POUNDS TO HIS ENTIRE ESTATE AND HE 01:52 LIVED BY THE IDEA HE WHO HAS THE LEAST WHEN THEY GO WINS. 02:01 IT'S KIND OF LIKE PLAYING UNO, YOU WANT TO GET RID OF ALL 02:04 YOUR CARDS BEFORE THE END OF THE GAME. 02:09 IF YOU'RE GIVING WHILE YOU'RE LIVING, THEN YOU'RE KNOWING 02:11 WHERE IT'S GOING. 02:14 IF YOU LEAVE TOO MUCH BEHIND WHEN YOU GO, THEN ALL YOUR 02:16 RELATIVES FIGHT OVER IT AND THE GOVERNMENT. 02:19 SO THAT REALLY IS SOMETHING OF A PRINCIPLE THAT'S BIBLICAL. 02:22 THE OTHER THING THAT WESLEY BELIEVED IS THAT THERE IS 02:27 A BALANCE IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE. 02:29 THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH OWNING PROPERTY. 02:32 SOME PEOPLE HAVE TRIED TO MAKE CHRISTIANS FEEL GUILTY ABOUT 02:37 OWNING ANYTHING OR SAVING ANYTHING. 02:39 THEY TAKE THE VERSES IN THE BIBLE WHERE JESUS SAID 02:42 TO THE RICH YOUNG RULER, "GO SELL ALL THAT YOU HAVE, 02:45 GIVE IT TO THE POOR. 02:46 YOU'LL HAVE TREASURE IN HEAVEN. 02:47 TAKE UP YOUR CROSS AND FOLLOW ME." 02:49 AND THEY THINK THAT HE WAS REALLY SAYING THAT TO EVERYBODY, 02:52 BUT HE WASN'T. 02:53 HE WAS SAYING IT TO THAT YOUNG MAN BECAUSE FIRST OF ALL, 02:56 MONEY WAS HIS GOD, HIS REACTION PROVED THAT. 02:59 SECONDLY, HE WAS BEING CALLED TO BE AN APOSTLE AND HE DID ASK 03:04 THE APOSTLES TO LEAVE THEIR NETS AND TO LEAVE THEIR 03:06 TAX BOOTH. 03:08 BUT THE VERY FACT THAT JESUS LIKED GOING TO MARY AND 03:10 MARTHA'S HOUSE INDICATES THAT HE DIDN'T MIND SOMEBODY HAVING 03:14 A HOUSE AND HE ENJOYED THEIR COOKING. 03:18 AND SO WE'RE NOT CONDEMNED FOR OWNING THINGS. 03:21 WESLEY'S ATTITUDE WAS THERE NEEDS TO BE A HOLY SPIRIT 03:25 BALANCE BETWEEN EARNING ALL YOU CAN, SAVING ALL YOU CAN 03:32 AND GIVING ALL YOU CAN. 03:34 A CHRISTIAN NEEDS TO HAVE THAT BALANCE IN THEIR LIVES WHERE 03:37 THEY KNOW HOW DO THIS. 03:39 GOD OBVIOUSLY BLESSED PEOPLE LIKE ABRAHAM, VERY GENEROUS, 03:42 BUT A MAN OF GREAT WEALTH. 03:44 JOB, SECOND TIME JOB WAS BLESSED IT SAYS HE HAD TWICE AS 03:48 MUCH AS HE HAD THE FIRST TIME AND YOU COULD BARELY COUNT WHAT 03:50 HE HAD THE FIRST TIME, BUT HERE WAS A SPIRIT-FILLED MAN. 03:54 BUT THESE PEOPLE THAT YOU IDENTIFY THAT WE'RE PEOPLE 03:57 OF SUBSTANCE, THEY DID NOT MAKE THE OBJECT OF HAVING TREASURE 04:02 ON EARTH THEIR TREASURE. 04:04 THEIR TREASURE WAS IN HEAVEN. 04:06 THEY SAW ANY TREASURE ON EARTH AS SOMETHING THAT COULD BE 04:09 UTILIZED TO GENERATE TREASURE IN HEAVEN. 04:13 YOU KNOW THERE'S A STORY IN THE BIBLE I'D LIKE TO BEGIN WITH. 04:15 GO IN YOUR BIBLES TO THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 5. 04:20 THIS COMES RIGHT AFTER THE LORD'S PRAYER IN LUKE. 04:23 YOU DON'T FIND THIS IN MATTHEW. 04:25 LUKE 11:5, IT'S CALLED THE PARABLE OF THE PERSISTENT 04:31 FRIEND. 04:35 "AND JESUS SAID TO THEM, WHICH OF YOU SHALL HAVE A FRIEND AND 04:40 GO TO THEM AT MIDNIGHT AND SAY, 'FRIEND, LEND ME THREE LOAVES 04:44 FOR A FRIEND OF MINE HAS COME TO ME ON HIS JOURNEY, AND I 04:46 WASN'T EXPECTING HIS COMPANY AND I HAVE NOTHING TO SET 04:48 BEFORE HIM.'" THAT'S AT MIDNIGHT. 04:53 IF YOU COME TO MY HOUSE AT MIDNIGHT, THE LIGHTS ARE OFF, 04:56 WE'RE ASLEEP. 04:59 "AND HE ANSWERED FROM WITHIN AND SAID, 'DO NOT TROUBLE ME, 05:02 THE DOOR IS NOW SHUT. 05:04 MY CHILDREN ARE WITH ME IN BED. 05:06 I CANNOT RISE AND GIVE IT TO YOU.'" 05:08 THIS IS REALLY INCONVENIENT. 05:10 NOW IN BIBLE TIMES, LATCHING THE DOOR WAS A LITTLE 05:14 MORE WORK. 05:15 YOU KNOW THEY MIGHT HAVE A HOUSE BUILT OF MASONRY 05:17 AND THEY WOULD HAVE SHUTTERS ON THE WINDOWS AND THEY CLOSE 05:19 THEM AND THEY LOCK THEM AND THEY PUT A PIN IN THEM. 05:21 THEY CLOSE THE DOOR AND THEY PUT THE BIG BAR DOWN TO LOCK 05:23 THE DOOR AND THEN THEY PIN THE BAR AND THEY WOULD SECURE 05:27 THE HOUSE FOR THE NIGHT. 05:28 YOU KNOW 'CAUSE THEY HAD THIEVES, IT TALKS ABOUT THIEVES 05:31 AND ROBBERS BREAKING IN AND BINDING A STRONG MAN 05:33 AND LOOTING THEIR HOUSE. 05:35 THEY DID THAT. 05:35 YOU PROBABLY HEARD MISSION STORIES OF COUNTRIES WHERE IT'S 05:38 NOT UNCOMMON FOR BURGLARS TO COME IN AND RANSACK THE HOUSE 05:41 WHILE THE PEOPLE ARE STILL IN THE HOUSE. 05:44 HE'S SAYING, WE'RE ALL TUCKED IN FOR THE NIGHT. 05:47 THE HOUSE IS ALL SECURED. 05:49 COME BACK IN THE MORNING. 05:53 BUT EVIDENTLY HIS FRIEND DOESN'T GIVE UP. 05:58 HE STANDS OUT THERE AND SAYS, "OH, COME ON, YOU GOTTA HELP ME. 06:00 LOOK, WE'RE FRIENDS." 06:02 HE SAID, "I KNOW IT'S INCONVENIENT, BUT WHO ELSE 06:05 AM I GONNA GO TO?" 06:06 AND HE LABORS AND HE PLEADS WITH HIM. 06:09 IT SAYS IN VERSE 8, "I SAY TO YOU, THOUGH HE WILL NOT RISE 06:13 AND GIVE IT TO HIM BECAUSE HE'S HIS FRIEND, BECAUSE OF HIS 06:16 PERSISTENCE HE'LL RISE." 06:19 YOU KNOW HE'S NEVER GONNA GO AWAY UNLESS I GIVE HIM 06:21 HIS BREAD. 06:24 "HE'LL GIVE HIM AS MANY AS HE NEEDS. 06:27 I SAY TO YOU, ASK AND IT WILL BE GIVEN TO YOU. 06:30 SEEK AND YOU'LL FIND. 06:31 KNOCK AND IT WILL BE OPENED. 06:33 FOR EVERYONE WHO ASKS RECEIVES, HE WHO SEEKS FINDS AND TO HIM 06:37 WHO KNOCKS, IT WILL BE OPEN." 06:39 NOW HERE IT'S SETTING DOWN A PRINCIPLE THAT GOD 06:43 WILL GIVE TO US WHEN WE ASK. 06:44 FIRST OF ALL, GOD LOVES US, HE'S OUR PARENT. 06:48 GOD IS OUR FRIEND. 06:49 HE IS OUR CREATOR. 06:51 AND JESUS IS SAYING, "IF YOU BEING EVIL KNOW HOW TO GIVE 06:53 GOOD GIFTS TO YOUR CHILDREN, IF YOU'LL GIVE IT TO YOUR FRIEND 06:56 AND EVEN IF YOU'LL GIVE IT TO SOMEONE WHO'S JUST BASICALLY 06:59 PERSISTENT, HOW MUCH MORE WILL YOUR GOD WHO LOVES YOU AS 07:03 A FRIEND, A PARENT, A CREATOR, GIVE WHAT YOU NEED, 07:07 BUT YOU HAVE TO ASK." 07:09 GOD IS A GIVER. 07:12 AND I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE GLORY OF GIVING AND BEGIN 07:15 WITH GOD AS OUR PRIME EXAMPLE. 07:19 WHAT'S THE MOST FAMOUS VERSE OF THE GOSPEL? 07:22 JOHN 3:16, FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD HE DID WHAT? 07:29 THE EVIDENCE OF HIS SO LOVING IS HIS GIVING. 07:34 SO WHAT IS THE GREAT COMMAND? 07:36 LOVE THE LORD, LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR. 07:39 WHAT IS THE GREATEST EVIDENCE OF OUR LOVING GOD AND OUR 07:43 LOVING EACH OTHER? 07:45 IT'S REAL EASY. 07:46 YOU KNOW, PAUL SAID TO BE A CLANGING CYMBAL OR A SOUNDING 07:50 BRASS TO SAY I LOVE YOU, I LOVE YOU, I LOVE YOU JUST MAKES 07:54 THE NOISE BUT NOT DRAW NEAR WITH OUR HEARTS. 07:57 THE GREATEST EVIDENCE OF LOVE IS IN GIVING. 08:00 THIS TIME OF YEAR, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE SHOPPING. 08:02 THEY'RE WONDERING HOW DO I PICK THAT PERFECT GIFT 08:04 TO DEMONSTRATE MY LOVE AND APPRECIATION FOR THIS FAMILY 08:08 MEMBER OR THIS FRIEND. 08:12 SO WE EXPRESS OUR LOVE THROUGH GIVING. 08:14 GOD GIVES, HE IS A GIVER. 08:16 ROMANS 8:32, "HE WHO DID NOT SPARE HIS OWN SON BUT DELIVERED 08:23 HIM UP FOR US, HOW SHALL HE NOT WITH HIM ALSO FREELY GIVE US 08:30 ALL THINGS?" 08:31 IS GOD A GIVER? 08:32 I LOVE THIS VERSE IN PSALM 145:15, "THE EYES OF ALL 08:38 LOOK EXPECTANTLY TO YOU AND YOU GIVE THEM THEIR FOOD 08:41 IN DUE SEASON." 08:42 I LOVE THIS, "YOU OPEN YOUR HAND AND SATISFY THE DESIRE 08:46 OF EVERY LIVING THING." 08:48 GOD GIVES TO EVERY LIVING THING. 08:50 HE GIVES TO THE GOOD. 08:52 HE GIVES TO THE BAD. 08:52 HE SENDS THE SUNSHINE AND THE RAIN ON THE JUST 08:55 AND THE UNJUST. 08:56 GOD IS A CATARACT, HE IS A RIVER OF BLESSING. 08:59 HE'S GIVING ALL THE TIME. 09:02 EVER LIVES AND EVER GIVES, AS ONE OF THE HYMNS SAYS. 09:06 I DON'T KNOW WHICH HYMN IT IS BUT I'M SURE THERE'S A HYMN 09:08 SOMEWHERE THAT SAYS THAT 'CAUSE IT SOUNDS REALLY GOOD. 09:10 JAMES 1:17, "EVERY GOOD AND PERFECT GIFT IS FROM ABOVE 09:17 AND COMES DOWN FROM THE FATHER OF LIGHTS WITH WHOM THERE IS 09:20 NO VARIABLENESS OF SHADOW OF TURNING." 09:23 GOD IS A GIVER. 09:25 IF GOD SHOULD STOP GIVING TO YOU FOR ONE DAY, 09:29 WHERE WOULD YOU BE? 09:32 FIRST OF ALL, WHEN WE THINK ABOUT GIFTS, WE OFTEN THINK 09:36 IN THE CONTEXT OF MONEY, GOLD AND SILVER BUT IS THAT ONLY, 09:42 IS THAT ALL THAT GOD GIVES US EVERY DAY? 09:45 OR EVERY BREATH IS A GIFT. 09:48 SOMEDAY YOU'LL BREATHE YOUR LAST, BUT UNTIL THEN, 09:52 EVERY HEARTBEAT IS A GIFT. 09:53 EVERY TIME YOU BREATHE, IT'S A GIFT. 09:55 EVERY THOUGHT YOU'RE ABLE TO THINK, EVERYTHING YOU HAVE 09:58 AND EVERYTHING YOU ARE, IT'S ALL A GIFT OF GOD. 10:01 WE TEND TO TAKE THOSE THINGS FOR GRANTED. 10:03 HE GIVES AND HE GIVES AND HE GIVES. 10:06 WE, BY NATURE, ARE THE OPPOSITE. 10:08 SIN HAS HANDICAPPED OUR HEARTS. 10:13 WE ARE NATURALLY NOW SELFISH. 10:16 JUST THIS LAST WEEK I HEARD AN AMAZING STORY. 10:20 LET ME READ IT TO YOU HERE. 10:21 "WILMINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA. 10:23 THE DEAD BODY OF AN ELDERLY WOMAN REMAINED UP IN HER BED UP 10:27 TO 8 MONTHS EVEN THOUGH NOT ONLY WERE CARETAKERS DAILY 10:31 COMING TO THE HOUSE TO HELP KEEP THINGS TIDY, FOUR OTHER 10:34 FAMILY MEMBERS LIVED IN THE NICE HOUSE IN THE NICE 10:37 NEIGHBORHOOD." 10:38 I GUESS EVIDENTLY HUSBAND AND WIFE, TWO SONS. 10:40 ONE OF THEM CAME AND WENT TO SCHOOL EVERY DAY, GRANDMA 10:43 STAYED IN HER BED DEAD. 10:46 WHY? 10:47 WELL, THEY HAVEN'T TRIED IT YET BUT NEAR AS THEY CAN FIGURE, 10:50 THERE WAS A CHECK COMING IN FOR GRANDMA EVERY MONTH AND THEY 10:52 NEEDED THE CHECK SO IF THEY REPORTED THAT GRANDMA HAD DIED, 10:55 THAT WOULD CUT OFF THEIR INCOME SO THEY JUST LEFT HER THERE 10:57 IN HER BED 8 MONTHS. 11:02 GREEDY. 11:04 WE TEND TO BE GRASPING CREATURES. 11:07 WE HOARD. 11:08 WE TAKE. 11:10 WE'RE ALWAYS THINKING ABOUT, WHAT IS IT? 11:15 WIIFM, WIIFM, WIIFM, SOMEBODY TOLD THAT 11:18 TO ME ONE TIME, WIIFM. 11:19 I SAID, WHAT DO YOU ME WIIFM? 11:20 THEY SAID, WHAT'S IN IT FOR ME? 11:23 PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS WONDERING WHAT'S IN IT FOR ME? 11:26 IN ADVERTISING, IN BOARD MEETINGS, 11:31 ALL KINDS OF IN POLITICS, IN CONGRESS, EVERYBODY'S ASKING, 11:35 WHAT WILL IT DO FOR ME? 11:36 WHAT WILL IT DO FOR MY SAKE? 11:37 WIIFM, 'CAUSE THEY'RE ALWAYS THINKING ABOUT WHAT WILL THIS 11:40 MEAN TO ME? 11:42 BUT REAL LOVE FOR GOD AND OUR FELLOW MAN TURNS THAT AROUND. 11:46 IT'S WHAT ABOUT GOD? 11:48 WE ALL HAVE A MONSTER INSIDE. 11:52 IT'S A VORACIOUS MONSTER. 11:54 IT'S A GREEDY MONSTER IT'S ALWAYS THINKING ABOUT, 11:57 WHAT ABOUT ME? 11:59 WHY WASN'T I INVITED? 12:01 WHAT WILL I GET? 12:04 AND YOU GOTTA REALLY PRAY FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT TO STARVE 12:09 THAT MONSTER. 12:11 WHAT KILLS THE MONSTER OF GREED WITHIN US IS GIVING. 12:15 GIVING IS ACTUALLY AGAINST OUR NATURES. 12:18 WE WANT TO TAKE. 12:20 NOW SOME OF YOU HAVE BEEN TRAINED BY GOOD PARENTS AND BY 12:23 THE HOLY SPIRIT TO BE GIVERS. 12:25 IT'S A LITTLE MORE NATURAL FOR SOME THAN OTHERS. 12:27 YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT OTHERS' NEEDS ARE AND BLESS YOUR 12:29 HEARTS, I'M GLAD THERE'S PEOPLE LIKE YOU IN THE WORLD. 12:33 FOR THE REST OF US, THERE'S A LITTLE EXTRA EFFORT THAT GOES 12:36 IN AND IT'S ALMOST UNNATURAL. 12:39 BUT EVERY TIME WE CHOOSE TO GIVE TO OTHERS OR GIVE TO GOD, 12:43 YOU'RE STARVING THAT TROLL THAT LIVES UNDER THE BRIDGE OF YOUR 12:46 HEART, THAT MONSTER OF GREED AND GRASPING. 12:51 YOU CAN SEE IN THE BIBLE WHAT THE ULTIMATE END IS. 12:54 IF YOU LIVE WHERE YOU'RE A TAKER INSTEAD OF A GIVER-- 12:57 SEE, I HAVE A THEORY. 12:59 THERE ARE REALLY TWO KINDS OF PEOPLE IN THIS WORLD. 13:03 THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT PRODUCE. 13:07 THEY GO THROUGH LIFE, THEY MAKE LIFE BETTER IN THEIR WAKE, THEY 13:12 LEAVE BEHIND BLESSINGS AND IT MAY NOT BE MONEY, BUT IT MIGHT 13:17 BE IN SERVICE, IN TEACHING, IN GOOD. 13:20 THEY ARE LIFTING THOSE BEHIND THEM. 13:23 THEIR LIVES ARE LIVES OF GIVING. 13:26 THEN THERE ARE THOSE WHO ARE CONSUMERS, AND I DON'T JUST 13:30 MEAN THEY BUY THINGS AT THE SUPERMARKET. 13:33 I MEAN THAT THEY GO THROUGH LIFE TAKING MORE THAN 13:35 THEY GIVE. 13:37 THERE'S ONLY TWO KINDS. 13:38 THERE'S THE ONES WHO PRODUCE AND GIVE MORE TO THE WORLD THAN 13:41 THEY TAKE AND THEN THERE'S THE ONES WHO GO THROUGH THE WORLD, 13:43 THEY SPEND THEIR PARENTS' INHERITANCE AND THEY TAKE 13:45 FROM EVERYBODY THEY CAN. 13:47 AND IT'S ALWAYS, "WHAT'S IN IT FOR ME?" 13:49 AND THEY BASICALLY ARE VACUUMS IN THE WORLD THAT ARE TAKING. 13:54 WHEN YOU'RE CONVERTED, YOU KNOW WHAT KIND OF PERSON 13:56 YOU OUGHT TO BE. 13:58 YOU OUGHT TO BE A PRODUCER. 13:59 YOU OUGHT TO BE A GIVER. 14:01 YOU OUGHT TO BE MAKING THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE AND EVEN 14:04 THE LITTLE THINGS FROM THE PIECE OF PAPER YOU PICK UP ON 14:06 THE SIDEWALK THAT YOU DIDN'T DROP, YOU'RE MAKING THE WORLD 14:09 A BETTER PLACE TO YOUR GENEROSITY AND SHARING. 14:14 NOW THAT CAN'T BE MANDATED BY THE GOVERNMENT. 14:18 DON'T ASK ME TO GO DOWN THIS ROAD ABOUT MY POLITICAL VIEWS. 14:23 BUT SINCE YOU ASKED, I'LL SHARE A LITTLE BIT. 14:27 I REALLY DO THINK THAT WHENEVER WE ARE FORCED BY THE GOVERNMENT 14:33 TO CARE FOR THE NEEDY, IT ROBS US OF THE BLESSING OF BEING 14:36 ABLE TO DO IT BECAUSE OF LOVE FROM THE RIGHT MOTIVE FOR TRUST. 14:41 WHEN THE GOVERNMENT SAYS WE ARE GOING TO SHARE THE WEALTH AND 14:44 THEIR IDEA OF THAT MEANS WE ARE GOING TO REQUIRE YOU, 14:48 WE ARE GOING TO TAKE SOME OF YOUR WEALTH AND GIVE IT TO 14:51 THOSE WHO DON'T HAVE AS MUCH. 14:53 REALLY, IT'S AN INSULT BECAUSE THEY'RE SAYING, "WE DON'T TRUST 14:55 YOU TO BE A GOOD ENOUGH PEOPLE TO DO IT YOURSELF, SO WE'RE 14:59 GONNA DO IT FOR YOU." 15:01 AND THAT ROBS CHRISTIANS FROM PROVING THERE ARE STILL PEOPLE 15:04 OUT THERE THAT WILL CARE FOR THOSE THAT DO IT FREELY. 15:07 IT TAKES AWAY THE BLESSING OF LETTING US CHOOSE TO GIVE. 15:10 THEY SAY, "YOU DON'T GET TO CHOOSE. 15:12 IT'S THE LAW NOW. 15:13 WE'RE MAKING YOU DO IT." 15:14 THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH THAT PICTURE. 15:17 WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO IT FREELY 'CAUSE WE LOVE, AND I 15:21 BELIEVE THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST AND THE HOLY SPIRIT CAN STILL 15:24 CHANGE HEARTS THAT WAY. 15:26 WE CAN SEE IN HISTORY THOSE WHO LIVE TO RAKE AND ACCUMULATE 15:33 TOWARDS THEMSELVES SORT OF SELF-DESTRUCTIVE. 15:36 I MEAN SOME OF YOU ARE THINKING, $50 BILLION, WHAT IS 15:42 BILL GATES GONNA DO WITH ALL OF THAT MONEY? 15:46 AND YOU PROBABLY HAVE HAD FANTASIES WHERE ONE DAY 15:50 AN ANGEL WOKE UP BILL GATES AND SAID THAT HE WOULD WRITE YOU 15:52 A CHECK FOR JUST 1 BILLION. 15:55 IT WOULDN'T CHANGE HIS LIFE AT ALL, RIGHT? 15:57 HE'D STILL DRIVE THE SAME CAR, LIVE IN THE SAME HOUSE, 15:59 EAT THE SAME FOOD. 16:01 HE COULD GIVE YOU A BILLION AND NEVER MISS IT, RIGHT? 16:05 AND WOULDN'T THAT BE FUN? 16:06 YOU EVER THINK, WHAT WOULD I DO WITH IT? 16:10 I'M HOPING THE FIRST THING THAT YOU THINK IS TITHE 16:13 AND OFFERINGS. 16:19 BUT THERE WAS A MAN ONCE THAT HAD MORE THAN BILL GATES. 16:22 HIS NAME WAS SOLOMON. 16:24 GOD BLESSED HIM WITH EVERY EARTHLY TREASURE, AND YOU KNOW 16:27 WHAT HIS WORD WAS IN THE END? 16:29 VANITY OF VANITIES. 16:31 EMPTINESS, NOTHINGNESS, ALL IS VANITY. 16:35 A MAN'S LIFE, JESUS SAID, DOES NOT CONSIST IN THE ABUNDANCE 16:38 OF THINGS THAT HE POSSESSES. 16:40 AND IF WE'RE NOT FAITHFUL IN GIVING PENNIES, THEN IT'S 16:43 PROBABLY UNLIKELY WE'RE GONNA BE UNFAITHFUL IN GIVING 16:45 DOLLARS. 16:46 IF WE CAN'T GIVE OF OUR THOUSANDS, WE PROBABLY CAN'T 16:49 GIVE OF OUR BILLIONS. 16:51 BY THE WAY, STATISTICS HAVE PROVEN TIME AND TIME AGAIN THAT 16:57 THE POOR CLASSES OF PEOPLE GIVE A LARGER PERCENTAGE OF WHAT 17:01 THEY HAVE. 17:03 ISN'T THAT INTERESTING? 17:04 YOU THINK IF YOU HAVE MORE, YOU'LL GIVE MORE? 17:06 STATISTICALLY, THE MORE PEOPLE GET, 17:08 THE LESS PERCENTAGE THEY GIVE. 17:10 A FEW RARE EXCEPTIONS TO THAT, BUT THAT'S GENERALLY THE WAY 17:12 IT WORKS. 17:15 GOD WANTS US TO GIVE CHEERFULLY. 17:16 YOU THINK ABOUT THESE PEOPLE LIKE AKAN. 17:20 THOUGHT, "IF I JUST HAD A LITTLE MORE." 17:22 HE LOST ALL HE HAD AND LOST HIS FAMILY. 17:24 GEHAZI, "IF I COULD JUST GET SOME OF THAT MONEY THAT ELISHA 17:28 TURNED DOWN FROM NAAMAN." 17:30 WELL, HE GOT SOME OF THE MONEY AND HE GOT LEPROSY TOO. 17:33 WONDER HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE LOST THEIR HEALTH TRYING TO GET 17:35 A LITTLE MORE LIKE GEHAZI DID? 17:38 THEN YOU GOT ANANIAS AND SAPPHIRA, MADE A PUBLIC PLEDGE 17:42 TO GIVE AND THEN AFTER THEY MADE THE PLEDGE THEY REALIZED, 17:46 "HEY, BOY, WE DIDN'T EXPECT TO GET THIS MUCH FOR THE PROPERTY 17:48 AND THEY SAID LOOK, LET'S JUST SAY WE ACTUALLY GOT SO MUCH. 17:51 NO ONE WILL KNOW HOW WELL WE ACTUALLY DID." 17:53 BUT GOD KNEW. 17:55 PETER SAID, THEY LIED TO GOD AND THEN DROPPED DEAD. 17:58 I DON'T KNOW IF I SHOULD TELL YOU THIS BUT A FEW YEARS AGO, 18:05 KAREN AND I HAD A PIECE OF PROPERTY IN SOUTHERN 18:07 CALIFORNIA. 18:08 IT'S OUT IN THE DESERT. 18:10 WE'RE PAYING TAXES ON IT. 18:11 WE LOOKED AT EACH OTHER ONE DAY AND WE SAID, YOU KNOW WHY DON'T 18:15 WE JUST GIVE THIS TO THE LORD'S WORK? 18:18 SO WE DONATED IT TO AMAZING FACTS, THEN THEY HAD IT 18:22 APPRAISED. 18:24 AFTER WE FOUND OUT WHAT IT WAS WORTH, WE LOOKED AT EACH OTHER 18:26 AND SAID WHAT? 18:32 THE FACT THAT WE'RE STILL HERE MEANS THAT WE LET THEM KEEP IT. 18:36 REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED TO--BUT I MUST CONFESS, WE PROBABLY 18:40 WOULD HAVE THOUGHT LONGER ABOUT THAT IF WE HAD ANY IDEA. 18:44 BUT SINCE IT WAS DESERT LAND, WE JUST THOUGHT--BASED ON 18:47 TAXES, IT WAS APPRAISED, WENT HUH? 18:52 I THINK THE LORD HAS A SENSE OF HUMOR, DON'T YOU? 18:59 AND YOU KNOW GOD'S BLESSED US SO WE REALLY HAVE NO COMPLAINTS. 19:03 BUT AND THEN YOU GOT DEMAS. 19:05 PAUL SAID, "DEMAS HAS FORSAKEN ME LOVING THIS PRESENT WORLD 19:09 MORE." 19:12 YOU MIGHT BE SURPRISED, PASTOR DOUG, YOU'RE TALKING 19:14 ABOUT MONEY. 19:15 OH, YOU KNOW THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE SAY, PREACHERS ALL TALK ABOUT 19:18 MONEY, MONEY, MONEY, MONEY. 19:19 GO TO CHURCH, THEY TALK ABOUT MONEY. 19:21 AND IF YOU'RE VISITING TODAY, LET ME TELL YOU, THIS IS NOT 19:23 ALL WE TALK ABOUT AND I'M SORRY, THIS IS JUST HOW THE 19:27 STARS LINED UP AND I HOPE YOU GET A BLESSING SOMEHOW. 19:30 BUT IT IS A FACT IN THE BIBLE OF THE 29 PARABLES THAT JESUS 19:34 TOLD, 16 OF THEM, THAT'S MORE THAN HALF, DEAL WITH A PERSON 19:40 AND THEIR MONEY. 19:41 SO THIS IS WHAT THE BIBLE TALKS ABOUT. 19:45 SEE, THE REASON THAT THE BIBLE ADDRESSES THIS SO MUCH IS 19:48 BECAUSE MONEY REPRESENTS AN INCREDIBLE INFLUENCE 19:53 FOR GOOD OR FOR EVIL. 19:54 IT ALSO REPRESENTS AN INCREDIBLE POTENTIAL 19:57 TO BE AN IDOL. 19:58 JESUS SAID YOU CANNOT SERVE TWO MASTERS. 20:01 YOU CANNOT WORSHIP GOD, AND WHAT WAS THE OTHER THING 20:03 HE SET UP AGAINST GOD? 20:04 MONEY. 20:06 HE PUT TWO THINGS UP THERE THAT ARE TYPICALLY ON THE ALTAR. 20:10 AND WE ALWAYS THINK OF SOME PAGAN IDOL WITH MANY ARMS UP 20:13 THERE ON THE ALTAR AS BEING AN IDOL BUT FOR MOST PEOPLE, 20:16 THE IDOL IS MONEY, THE THINGS OF THE WORLD. 20:20 SO JESUS TALKS ABOUT A LOT. 20:22 IT'S MENTIONED IN MATTHEW, MARK, AND LUKE, ONE OUT OF 20:26 EVERY SIX VERSES DEALS WITH MONEY. 20:29 I THINK IN THE GOSPEL OF JOHN IT'S ABOUT 1 OUT OF 12. 20:32 AND SO CHRIST TALKED ABOUT MONEY FIVE TIMES MORE THAN ANY 20:36 OTHER SINGLE SUBJECT. 20:39 SO IS IT INAPPROPRIATE IF WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT THE BIBLE TO 20:42 TALK ABOUT THIS AND TO TALK ABOUT GIVING? 20:45 THE REASON IT'S IMPORTANT TO ME IS BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THE WAY 20:48 WE BECOME MORE CHRIST-LIKE IS BY IMITATING THE LIFE OF CHRIST 20:51 WHICH WAS ONE OF GIVING. 20:54 JESUS GAVE FOOD. 20:56 HE GAVE TRUTH. 20:58 HE GAVE AWAY HIS CLOTHES AT THE CROSS AND HE GAVE HIS LIFE. 21:01 BEING A CHRISTIAN IS ABOUT GIVING AND SO IT'S NOT A DIRTY 21:04 WORD, IS IT, TO BE CHRIST-LIKE IN THIS WAY? 21:08 AND WE SHOULD DO IT CHEERFULLY. 21:11 YOU KNOW, THIS VERSE, 2 CORINTHIANS 9:6-7, PAUL SAID, 21:17 "HE WHO SOWS SPARINGLY WILL REAP SPARINGLY. 21:20 HE WHO SOWS BOUNTIFULLY WILL REAP BOUNTIFULLY. 21:23 SO LET EACH ONE GIVE AS HE PURPOSES IN HIS HEART. 21:26 SHOULD BE FROM THE HEART, NOT GRUDGINGLY OR OF A NECESSITY, 21:30 FOR GOD LOVES A CHEERFUL GIVER." 21:33 MOTHER WENT TO CHURCH WITH HER LITTLE GIRL ONE DAY AND BEFORE 21:37 THEY WENT TO CHURCH SHE THOUGHT SHE THOUGHT SHE'D TEACHER HER 21:39 A MORAL LESSON. 21:40 SHE GAVE HER TWO PIECES OF CURRENCY. 21:42 SHE GAVE HER A DOLLAR BILL AND A QUARTER, AND THE MOTHER SAID, 21:45 "GIVE ONE OF THOSE AT CHURCH TODAY, YOU DECIDE WHICH ONE." 21:50 SO AFTER CHURCH, THE MOTHER CONTAINED HERSELF AS LONG AS HE 21:53 COULD AND SHE ASKED THE LITTLE GIRL, SHE SAID, "SO, WHICH DID 21:56 YOU DECIDE TO GIVE?" 21:58 SHE SAID, "WELL, I WAS GONNA GIVE THE DOLLAR BUT THEN 22:01 THE PASTOR STOOD UP AND SAID THE LORD LOVES A CHEERFUL GIVER, 22:04 AND I KNEW I'D BE A LOT MORE CHEERFUL GIVING THE QUARTER, 22:07 SO I GAVE THE QUARTER, KEPT THE DOLLAR." 22:13 I THINK WE CAN PROBABLY RELATE. 22:16 EXODUS 25:2, "SPEAK TO THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL THAT WHEN 22:21 THEY BRING ME AN OFFERING FROM EVERYONE WHO GIVES IT WILLINGLY 22:25 WITH HIS HEART, YOU SHALL TAKE AN OFFERING." 22:29 IT OUGHT TO BE GIVEN WILLINGLY FROM OUR HEARTS. 22:32 'CAUSE WHAT DOES GOD WANT? 22:33 DOES HE WANT YOUR MONEY OR DOES HE WANT YOUR HEART? 22:36 AND WHAT'S HAPPENING IS OUR HEARTS ARE TRANSFORMED 22:38 AS WE GIVE. 22:40 SOMETHING MIRACULOUS DOES HAPPEN AND SO WHEN WE CHOOSE 22:43 TO DO IT CHEERFULLY AND WILLINGLY, YOU GET 22:45 A BLESSING IN DOING THAT. 22:48 THE BIBLE ALSO TEACHES THAT OUR GIVING SHOULD BE DISCREET. 22:53 MATTHEW CHAPTER 3--SORRY, MATTHEW 6:3-4, 22:57 GIVING DISCREETLY. 22:59 "BUT WHEN YOU DO A CHARITABLE DEED, DO NOT LET YOUR LEFT HAND 23:02 KNOW WHAT YOUR RIGHT HAND IS DOING THAT YOUR CHARITABLE DEED 23:05 MIGHT BE IN SECRET AND YOUR FATHER WHO SEES IN SECRET WILL 23:09 HIMSELF REWARD YOU OPENLY." 23:14 NOW YOU KNOW I FIND THAT WHENEVER I PERFORM SOME 23:17 GENEROUS ACT, THERE'S SOME LITTLE MONSTER INSIDE, 23:23 ONE MONSTER'S GREED. 23:24 I GOT ANOTHER MONSTER THAT WANTS TO BLOW A TRUMPET AND LET 23:27 SOMEONE ELSE KNOW, AND I THINK I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE OR JESUS 23:30 WOULDN'T HAVE SAID THIS. 23:32 HE SAID THE SCRIBES AND THE PHARISEES, WHEN THEY MAKE A 23:35 GIFT, THEY SOUND A TRUMPET BEFORE THEM AND WITH A LOT OF 23:38 POMP AND CEREMONY, THEY DROP THEIR GIFT AND THEN YOU GOT 23:41 THAT WIDOW WHO GAVE A LOT MORE THAN ANY OF THEM. 23:44 SHE TRIED TO SNEAK INTO THE TEMPLE AND DROP IN ALL THAT SHE 23:48 HAD UNNOTICED, WASN'T GONNA TELL ANYBODY. 23:51 JESUS DREW ATTENTION TO HER. 23:53 THOSE TWO STORIES SORT OF HIGHLIGHT THE TWO WAYS PEOPLE 23:58 ARE REWARDED FOR THEIR GIVING. 24:00 IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN EARTHLY ACCOLADES BY GIVING, 24:03 "I WANT A BRICK WITH MY NAME ON IT. 24:05 I WANT SOME ACCLAIM, I WANT TO, YOU KNOW, MAKE MY GIFT 24:08 AND STAND UP AND BE IDENTIFIED AND APPLAUD." 24:11 AND JESUS SAID, YOU'VE GOT YOUR REWARD. 24:14 THOSE THAT WANT THAT, IT'S OKAY TO APPRECIATE PEOPLE. 24:18 DON'T MISUNDERSTAND, BUT IF THAT'S THE REASON A PERSON 24:20 IS GIVING, THAT'S THE WRONG REASON. 24:23 CHRIST SAID, BUT THE GIFT YOU GIVE SECRETLY, 24:26 HE WILL REWARD YOU OPENLY. 24:27 THAT LITTLE WIDOW CAME IN AND SHE PUT IN HER TWO MITES AND IT 24:31 WAS ALL SHE HAD AND JESUS DREW ATTENTION TO HER, NOT ONLY 24:34 THERE FOR THE APOSTLES, BUT SHE STILL GETS ATTENTION TODAY. 24:38 RIGHT HERE IN THIS SERMON, SHE'S STILL GETTING ATTENTION 24:40 FOR HER GIFT BEFORE GOD AND HIS ANGELS AND THE WHOLE HEAVENLY 24:43 AGENCIES. 24:44 HER GIFT SHE GAVE IN SECRET HAS BROUGHT BILLIONS INTO 24:47 THE TREASURY OF GOD BECAUSE OF HER EXAMPLE. 24:49 SHE GAVE EVERYTHING SHE HAD. 24:50 IT WASN'T MUCH. 24:51 IT WAS A BIG SACRIFICE THOUGH 'CAUSE IT WAS EVERYTHING SHE 24:55 HAD AND CHRIST HIGHLIGHTED THAT. 24:59 I REMEMBER HEARING A STORY ABOUT THE GREAT INDUSTRIALIST, 25:01 HENRY FORD AND, YOU KNOW, HE ENDED UP BEING A BILLIONAIRE 25:06 BY THE STANDARDS OF HIS DAY. 25:08 WELL, I THINK HE WAS ACTUALLY. 25:10 AND SOMEONE IN HIS NEIGHBORHOOD, THEY WERE 25:13 BUILDING A NEW HOSPITAL AND SO SOMEONE CAME FROM THE NEWSPAPER 25:16 AND ASKED IF HE WOULD MAKE A DONATION. 25:18 AND THEY FIGURED A MAN OF HIS STATURE SHOULD BE ABLE TO GIVE 25:20 SIGNIFICANTLY. 25:22 AND HE SAID, "I'LL GIVE $5,000." 25:24 AND THEY SAID, THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND THEY JOTTED IT DOWN. 25:27 THE NEXT DAY IN THE PAPER IT SAID, "HENRY FORD PLEDGES 25:29 $50,000 TO THE NEW HOSPITAL." 25:32 WELL, FORD WAS VERY IRATE. 25:33 HE CALLED UP THE FUND-RAISER AND HE SAID, "WHAT ARE YOU 25:35 SAYING, $50,000. 25:36 IT SAYS HERE IN THE PAPER $50,000." 25:38 HE SAID, "I TOLD YOU DISTINCTLY $5,000." 25:42 AND HE SAID, "WELL, WE'LL ASK THE NEWSPAPER TO PRINT THAT 25:45 YOU'VE REDUCED YOUR GIFT BY $45,000." 25:50 NOW THE PHONE GOT QUIET FOR A MINUTE AND FORD WAS VERY--HE 25:53 SAID, "ALL RIGHT, YOU CAN KEEP THE $50,000, BUT I WANT YOU 25:56 TO PUT SOMETHING CARVED ON THE FRONT OF THE HOSPITAL, 25:58 IT WILL SAY, I CAME TO THEM AND THEY TOOK ME IN." 26:07 THEN ON THE OTHER HAND YOU'VE GOT SOMEONE LIKE THE GREAT 26:10 PREACHER CHARLES SPURGEON AND HIS WIFE, THEY ACTUALLY HAD A 26:15 YARD WITH SOME CHICKENS IN IT. 26:17 AND PERIODICALLY PEOPLE WOULD COME BY AND ASK FOR SOME EGGS 26:21 AND THEY ALWAYS SOLD THE EGGS. 26:22 IT WASN'T MUCH, BUT THEY ALWAYS ASKED FOR PAYMENT BY THE EGGS. 26:26 SOMETIMES THEY WERE CHIDED BY OTHERS IN THEIR CHURCH 26:29 FOR BEING GREEDY. 26:31 AND THIS WENT ON IN GRASPING BECAUSE EVEN FAMILY MEMBERS 26:34 THAT CAME BY AND SAID, "CHARLES, CAN WE GET A COUPLE 26:35 OF EGGS?" 26:36 HE SAID, "YEAH, THAT WILL BE A PENNY AN EGG" OR WHATEVER IT 26:38 WAS. 26:39 "I'M YOUR BROTHER, I'M YOUR FAMILY." 26:41 PENNY AN EGG. 26:44 AND IT WASN'T TILL AFTER SPURGEON'S WIFE DIED THEY FOUND 26:47 OUT THAT THERE WERE TWO WIDOWS IN THEIR COMMUNITY AND THEY HAD 26:51 MADE A COVENANT TO GIVE EVERYTHING THAT CAME FROM 26:54 THE EGGS TO THOSE TWO WIDOWS. 26:55 THEY NEVER SAID ANYTHING TO DEFEND THEMSELVES, 26:58 NEVER EXPLAINED IT TO ANYBODY. 26:59 IT WAS ONLY AFTER THE WIDOWS HAD EXPLAINED IT. 27:02 THEY MADE A PROMISE TO GOD. 27:04 THEY WEREN'T LETTING THE LEFT HAND KNOW WHAT 27:06 THE RIGHT HAND DID. 27:07 THEY GAVE 100% OF ALL THE MONEY FROM ALL THOSE EGGS TO 27:09 A MISSION PROJECT AND NEVER TOLD ANYBODY ABOUT IT. 27:14 THAT'S THE EVIDENCE OF SOMEONE WHO REALLY HAS THE SPIRIT 27:17 OF CHRIST. 27:18 THEY'RE WILLING TO GIVE AND NOT GET ANY KIND 27:21 OF RECOGNITION IN THAT WAY. 27:23 GIVE DISCREETLY, THE BIBLE SAYS. 27:26 WE LOSE WHAT WE HOARD, IS A PRINCIPLE IN LIFE. 27:32 IF YOU HOARD YOUR TREASURE DOWN HERE, YOU LOSE EVERYTHING. 27:35 THAT'S WHY JESUS SAID, STORE YOUR TREASURE IN HEAVEN, 27:38 THAT'S WHAT'S GOING TO LAST. 27:40 PROVERBS 11:24, "THERE IS ONE WHO SCATTERS AND YET IT 27:44 INCREASES MORE, AND THERE'S ONE WHO WITHHOLDS MORE THAN HIS 27:48 RIGHT BUT IT LEADS TO POVERTY." 27:50 ONE WHO WITHHOLDS MORE THAN THEY SHOULD AND IT LEADS 27:54 TO POVERTY. 27:55 JUDAS THOUGHT THAT HE WOULD GET A LITTLE EXTRA BECAUSE HE'D DIP 27:59 INTO THE TREASURY BAG. 28:01 THE BIBLE SAID HE STOLE WHAT WAS IN THE BAG FOR THE POOR. 28:04 HE SOLD JESUS FOR 30 PIECES OF SILVER, AND HOW MUCH DOES JUDAS 28:07 END UP WITH IN THE END? 28:09 HE NOT ONLY LOST ALL THE SILVER, HE CAST IT DOWN IN THE 28:11 TEMPLE, LOSES EVERLASTING LIFE, COMMITS SUICIDE. 28:16 HE LOST EVERYTHING. 28:18 SOLD THE SAVIOR FOR SILVER. 28:19 THAT'S A BAD DEAL. 28:21 COLOSSIANS 3:5 SAYS, "AND COVETOUSNESS IS IDOLATRY." 28:28 I REMEMBER READING A STORY IN THIS MISSION MAGAZINE ABOUT 28:31 SADIE SEEKER. 28:32 SHE RAN A HOME IN THE PHILIPPINES FOR MANY YEARS. 28:35 SHE TOOK CARE OF MISSIONARIES' CHILDREN WHILE THEY WERE 28:38 OUT VENTURING AROUND IN THE PHILIPPINES. 28:41 AND SHE WAS AN AVID READER AND PEOPLE WOULD FREQUENTLY COME TO 28:44 HER AND ASK TO BORROW BOOKS, AND THERE'S SOME BOOKS THAT SHE 28:47 WOULD SHARE. 28:49 SHE'D PASS AROUND, THEY'D GIVE THEM BACK BUT SHE HAD SOME 28:51 BOOKS THAT SHE REALLY TREASURED AND SHE SAID, "I'M NOT SHARING 28:54 THESE BOOKS." 28:55 SHE PUT THEM IN A TRUNK AT THE FOOT OF HER BED AND SHE STORED 29:00 THEM AND WOULDN'T EVEN PUT THEM ON THE SHELF IN CASE SOMEONE 29:03 ELSE WOULD SEE THEM SO THEY WOULDN'T LOOK AT THE BOOK 29:06 AND SAY, "OH, I'D LOVE TO BORROW THIS BOOK." 29:08 HID THEM. 29:10 AND SHE NOTICED THAT FOR SEVERAL MONTHS SHE HEARD THIS 29:13 RUMBLING IN HER HOUSE AND SHE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THAT WAS. 29:18 AND ONE NIGHT SHE JUST COULDN'T STAND IT. 29:20 AT NIGHT SHE ALWAYS HEARD THIS RUMBLING AND SHE GOT UP ONE 29:23 NIGHT AND SHE LISTENED CAREFULLY AND SHE JUST TRACKED 29:26 IT AND AROUND. 29:27 IT WAS COMING FROM HER BEDROOM AND PRETTY SOON SHE REALIZED IT 29:29 WAS COMING FROM THE FOOT OF HER BED AND SHE TURNED ON A LIGHT. 29:33 SHE PULLED OUT THE TRUNK OF BOOKS, SHE OPENED IT UP. 29:36 IT WAS TERMITES. 29:38 THEY HAD REDUCED ALL OF HER PRECIOUS BOOKS TO PULP AND IT 29:44 JUST COMPLETELY DESTROYED THEM. 29:45 AND SHE SAID, THEN IT WAS LEARNED, THE ONES SHE SHARED, 29:48 SHE STILL HAD. 29:49 THE ONE SHE HOARDED WERE GONE TO EVERYBODY. 29:54 THERE'S A PRINCIPLE IN LIFE THAT YOU ONLY GET TO KEEP WHAT 29:58 YOU GIVE. 30:00 WHO WAS IT? 30:01 LUTHER THAT SAID, "THOSE THINGS THAT I'VE HELD IN MY HANDS 30:04 I'VE LOST. 30:06 THE THINGS THAT I'VE PLACED IN THE SAVIOR'S HANDS ARE THE ONLY 30:08 THINGS I STILL HAVE." 30:10 IT'S A PRINCIPLE OF GIVING. 30:13 AND IT'S TRUE, FRIENDS, IT REALLY DOES WORK THAT WAY. 30:16 GIVING WILL REBOUND. 30:18 ANOTHER PRINCIPLE, THE RICOCHET EFFECT. 30:21 YOU'VE HEARD ME TALK ABOUT THIS, IT'S ALL THROUGH THE BIBLE. 30:24 LUKE 6:38, "GIVE AND IT WILL BE GIVEN TO YOU," JESUS SAID, 30:30 "GOOD MEASURE, PRESSED DOWN, SHAKEN TOGETHER, RUNNING OVER." 30:35 NOW YOU REALIZE IN BIBLE TIMES THAT THEY OFTEN PAID AND DID 30:37 THINGS WITH GRAIN. 30:39 GRAIN SEED WAS FOR EVERYTHING. 30:42 YOU COULD TRADE IT FOR MONEY. 30:43 IT FED PEOPLE, IT FED ANIMALS. 30:45 IT PLANTED CROPS. 30:47 I MEAN EVERYBODY NEEDED THE GRAIN. 30:49 AND WHEN HE TALKS ABOUT IF YOU'RE GENEROUS, IT'S ONE THING 30:52 TO POUR SOME GRAIN AND HAND IT TO SOMEBODY, BUT IF YOU REALLY 30:55 WANTED TO BLESS THEM AND YOU POURED IT AND THEN YOU SHOOK IT 30:59 AND YOU PRESSED IT AND YOU POURED MORE IN AND YOU SHOOK 31:02 IT, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT? 31:04 I FILL UP THIS CONTAINER WITH CEREAL. 31:06 I MIX MY OWN CEREAL. 31:07 I MIX SEVERAL DIFFERENT KINDS OF CEREAL FOR BREAKFAST AND 31:09 I'VE GOT IT IN THIS BIG, PLASTIC CONTAINER AND I MIX UP 31:12 A BATCH ABOUT ONCE A WEEK. 31:13 AND I FIND THE ONLY WAY I CAN GET IT ALL IN THERE FROM THE 31:15 VARIOUS CEREAL BAGS IS I GOTTA SHAKE IT, I BANG IT AND I POUR 31:19 A LITTLE MORE IN, AND I SHAKE IT, I BANG IT." 31:21 YOU CAN GET A LOT MORE IN BY DOING THAT. 31:23 AND SO THE WAY THE LORD SAYS THAT HE'LL GIVE TO YOU 31:26 IF YOU GIVE. 31:28 HE SAYS, "PRESSED DOWN, SHAKEN TOGETHER, RUNNING OVER WILL BE 31:34 PUT INTO YOUR BOSOM FOR WITH THE SAME MEASURE THAT YOU USE, 31:38 IT WILL BE MEASURED BACK TO YOU." 31:40 SO HOW DO YOU WANT TO GIVE? 31:42 GRUDGINGLY, STINGILY. 31:44 IS THERE SUCH A WORD AS STINGILY? 31:46 THERE IS NOW. 31:48 IF EVERYBODY HERE GOOGLES THAT WORD TODAY, THEY'LL MAKE IT 31:50 A WORD. 31:54 OR DO YOU WANT TO GIVE BOUNTIFULLY? 31:56 HOW DOES GOD GIVE TO US? 31:58 PRESSED DOWN, RUNNING OVER? 31:59 DOESN'T IT SAY, MY CUP RUNS OVER? 32:02 WHEN JESUS FED THE MULTITUDES, WERE THERE LEFTOVERS? 32:06 I MEAN GOD FILLS US TO OVERFLOWING SO WE SHOULD NOT BE 32:10 SO MISERLY IN THE WAY WE GIVE. 32:12 IF WE'RE GENEROUS, YOU WAIT. 32:14 YOU TRUST GOD. 32:15 HE WILL BE GENEROUS WITH YOU. 32:16 OTHERS WILL BE GENEROUS WITH YOU. 32:18 WHEN I USED TO SELL FIREWOOD, SOME OF YOU REMEMBER 32:20 DAVE BOATWRIGHT. 32:21 HE AND CINDY WERE HERE A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO AND HE WAS IN 32:24 THE FIREWOOD BUSINESS WITH ME UP IN COVELO. 32:26 AND WE WOULD ADVERTISE OUR FIREWOOD AND WE PUT THIS 32:29 SCRIPTURE ON OUR FIREWOOD. 32:30 WE SAID, WE'LL GIVE YOU GOOD MEASURE AND WE QUOTED THIS 32:33 SCRIPTURE. 32:34 'CAUSE THE FIREWOOD, IT'S KIND OF, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE SAY A CORD 32:36 OF WOOD IS 128 SQUARE FEET OF WOOD. 32:38 YOU KNOW WOOD IS, YOU CAN STACK WOOD ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT 32:41 WAYS AND MAKE IT LOOK DIFFERENT. 32:44 YOU CAN JUST DUMP IT IN A PILE, AND SO MEASURING FIREWOOD IS 32:47 KIND OF A VERY NEBULOUS BUSINESS. 32:50 IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE 4 FEET HIGH BY 8 FEET LONG BY 4 FEET WIDE 32:54 IS A CORD OF WOOD, USUALLY 3 TIERS OF 16-INCH WOOD TO 32:57 A CORD, 128 CUBIC FEET. 33:00 AND SO DAVE AND I, WE WOULD ACTUALLY DRIVE FENCE POSTS IN 33:04 THE GROUND, WE'D STACK THE WOOD BETWEEN AND WE'D ROUND IT AT 33:07 THE TOP TO COMPENSATE THAT THERE MIGHT BE SOME DRYING 33:10 AND SETTLING THAT WOULD TAKE. 33:12 AND WHENEVER WE GAVE PEOPLE WOOD--ONE TIME WE GAVE PEOPLE 33:14 WOOD, THEY PAID ME. 33:16 AND I LEFT AND I SAID TO MYSELF, THAT WAS JUST BARELY 33:19 A FULL CORD. 33:20 A FEW DAYS LATER THEY SAW ME IN THEIR YARD AND THEY WONDERED 33:22 WHAT I WAS DOING. 33:23 I SAID, YOU KNOW, I LOOKED AT THAT WOOD AND IT WASN'T QUITE 33:25 A FULL CORD AND SO I'M TOSSING SOME MORE OUT. 33:28 BOY, I'LL TELL YA, THAT GUY, WHO WAS A PUBLISHER IN TOWN, 33:32 TOLD EVERYBODY THAT HE KNEW. 33:33 HE SAID, "YOU GUYS WANT WOOD?" 33:35 HE SAID, "GET IT FROM BATCHELOR AND BOATWRIGHT." 33:37 HE SAID, "I DON'T KNOW ANYBODY AFTER THEY GOT PAID WOULD HAVE 33:39 COME BACK AND GIVEN MORE WOOD BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T THINK IT 33:41 WAS A FULL CORD." 33:42 HE SAID, "I DIDN'T KNOW AND THEY KNEW I DIDN'T KNOW." 33:45 AND SO WHAT DO YOU THINK HAPPENED TO US? 33:47 WE HAD MORE ORDERS THAN WE COULD FILL. 33:50 WITH WHAT MEASURE YOU MEET, IT WILL BE MEASURED BACK TO YOU 33:53 AGAIN. 33:54 YOU'RE GENEROUS WITH PEOPLE. 33:55 IF YOU'RE GRASPING AND STINGY AND YOU'RE TRYING TO SEE HOW 33:58 MUCH YOU CAN SHAKE PEOPLE DOWN WHEN YOU MAKE A GOOD, WELL, 34:01 YOU MIGHT GET A GOOD DEAL BUT THAT'S HOW THE WORLD'S GONNA 34:03 DEAL WITH YOU. 34:06 SOMETIMES I FIND THAT I'M IN A SITUATION WHERE I COULD TAKE 34:09 ADVANTAGE OF A PERSON'S MISFORTUNE AND GET A REALLY 34:11 GOOD PRICE, BUT THEN I THINK TO MYSELF, IS THAT WHAT I WOULD 34:16 WANT SOMEONE TO DO TO ME IN THE SAME CIRCUMSTANCES? 34:18 EVEN THOUGH, YEAH, I COULD SAVE SOME MORE, I KNOW WHAT 34:21 I'M GETTING IS WORTH MORE AND THAT'S REALLY HARD TO DO 34:25 FOR ME. 34:27 BUT THE LORD'S SPOKEN TO ME BEFORE AND HE SAID, "DOUG, 34:29 DON'T GRIND DOWN THE POOR. 34:30 DON'T TAKE ADVANTAGE OF PEOPLE THAT ARE SELLING SOMETHING. 34:34 IT'S WORTH MORE, BE GENEROUS WITH THEM." 34:36 AND YOU KNOW WHAT? 34:37 GOD WILL COMPENSATE YOU. 34:39 HE WILL. 34:40 DO YOU BELIEVE HIS WORD? 34:41 GIVE HIM REBOUNDS. 34:43 PROVERBS 3:9-10. 34:45 THESE ARE GOOD PROMISES, YOU OUGHT TO WRITE 34:47 SOME OF THESE DOWN. 34:48 "HONOR THE LORD WITH YOUR POSSESSIONS AND WITH THE FIRST 34:51 FRUITS OF YOUR INCREASE, OF ALL OF YOUR INCREASE." 34:54 IT'S TALKING ABOUT TITHE AND OFFERINGS BASED ON YOUR 34:57 INCREASE. 34:58 "SO YOUR BARNS WILL BE FILLED WITH PLENTY AND YOUR VATS WILL 35:02 OVERFLOW." 35:03 THERE YOU HAVE IT AGAIN, RUNNING OVER WITH NEW WINE. 35:06 WHAT KIND OF WINE? 35:07 NEW WINE. 35:07 GOD SAID, "I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU ALL HEARD THAT, NEW WINE." 35:11 ECCLESIASTES--OH, HERE'S ANOTHER ONE, PROVERBS 11:25, 35:14 "THE GENEROUS SOUL WILL BE MADE RICH AND HE WHO WATERS WILL BE 35:19 WATERED HIMSELF." 35:21 ALL THROUGH THE BIBLE. 35:22 SOW SPARINGLY, YOU REAP SPARINGLY. 35:24 SOW BOUNTIFULLY, YOU REAP BOUNTIFULLY. 35:26 THIS RICOCHET, THIS REBOUND EFFECT IS ALL THROUGH 35:28 THE BIBLE. 35:30 PETER MARSHALL, THAT FAMOUS PREACHER, HE SAID, 35:33 "GIVE ACCORDING TO YOUR INCOME, LEST GOD MAKE YOUR INCOME 35:35 ACCORDING TO YOUR GIVING." 35:40 SOME OF YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED THAT. 35:42 IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE, BUT IT'S TRUE THAT GOD 35:45 MULTIPLIES THROUGH SUBTRACTION. 35:49 GOD MULTIPLIES THROUGH SUBTRACTION. 35:51 AS WE GIVE, HE MULTIPLIES. 35:54 YOU SUBTRACT, HE MULTIPLIES. 35:56 IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE, BUT IT WORKS. 35:59 WE MAKE A LIVING BY WHAT WE GET OUT OF LIFE BUT WE MAKE A LIFE 36:03 BY WHAT WE GIVE. 36:05 I LIKE THAT QUOTE. 36:06 I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHO SAID IT. 36:08 LET'S PRETEND IT'S MOTHER TERESA. 36:11 WE MAKE A LIVING BY WHAT WE GET, BUT WE MAKE A LIFE BY 36:14 WHAT WE GIVE. 36:16 FAITHFUL STEWARDS, ALL OF US REALLY DON'T OWN ANYTHING. 36:21 EVERYTHING WE HAVE BELONGS TO GOD. 36:24 PSALM 24:1, "THE EARTH IS THE LORD'S AND ALL OF ITS FULLNESS. 36:28 THE WORLD AND THOSE WHO DWELL THEREIN." 36:32 YOU KNOW THERE'S TWO PRINCIPLE STORIES THAT I LOOKED AT THAT 36:34 ARE EXAMPLES OF STEWARDSHIP. 36:36 ALL OF US REALLY, WHAT DO YOU TAKE WITH YOU WHEN YOU DIE? 36:41 YOU EVER SEEN A HEARSE PULLING A U-HAUL? 36:47 SOMEONE ASKED ME ONE TIME. 36:49 YOU DON'T EVEN GET TO TAKE THIS BODY WITH YOU, YOU HAVE TO GET 36:52 A NEW ONE. 36:54 SO THERE'S NOTHING, NO THING FROM THIS WORLD AND YET WE'RE 36:58 SO PREOCCUPIED WITH STUFF. 37:00 AND ESPECIALLY THIS TIME OF YEAR WE FEEL OBLIGATED TO GO 37:03 BUY MORE STUFF AND GIVE PEOPLE STUFF, AND IT'S ALL ABOUT 37:06 STUFF. 37:07 AND WHEN I TALK ABOUT GIVING, DON'T JUST BE THINKING ABOUT 37:08 MONEY AND STUFF. 37:10 A LOT OF GIVING HAS TO DO WITH GIVING YOUR TIME. 37:15 TYPICALLY, IF SOMEONE SAYS, "PASTOR DOUG, I WANT YOU TO 37:18 KNOW I'M AN AMAZING FACTS SUPPORTER," IN MY MIND I THINK, 37:21 I WONDER HOW MUCH THEY GIVE? 37:23 AND I WAS CONVICTED ONE DAY, THEY MIGHT NOT GIVE ANYTHING AS 37:27 FAR AS MONEY. 37:29 MAYBE THEY TELL OTHER PEOPLE GOOD THINGS ABOUT IT, 37:31 TELL PEOPLE TO TUNE IN. 37:34 MAYBE THEY PRAY FOR THE MINISTRY. 37:36 ARE THEY STILL SUPPORTERS? 37:40 AND SO WE'RE REALLY STEWARDS OF OUR TIME, OF OUR MEANS, 37:44 OF OUR THOUGHTS. 37:47 TWO BIG STEWARDS IN THE BIBLE I THOUGHT ABOUT, ONE OF COURSE 37:51 YOU'VE GOT ELIEZER WHO WAS THE PRINCIPAL STEWARD FOR ABRAHAM 37:54 WHO WAS VERY WEALTHY BACK THEN. 37:56 HE GOES TO FIND A WIFE FOR ISAAC AND IT SAYS THAT SERVANT 38:00 THEN TOOK TEN CAMELS, THE CAMELS OF HIS MASTER, 38:04 NOT TO GIVE THE CAMELS BUT THE CAMELS WERE LOADED. 38:06 IT WAS LIKE A CONVOY OF SEMIS BACK THEN. 38:10 HE'S TAKING A CONVOY OF SEMIS WITH WEDDING GIFTS TO FIND 38:14 A WIFE. 38:15 AND IT'S A LOT EASIER TO FIND A WIFE IF YOU'VE GOT A CONVOY 38:17 OF SEMIS FILLED WITH GIFTS. 38:19 THAT'S TRUE TODAY. 38:20 IT'S ALWAYS BEEN THE CASE. 38:24 "AND HE GOES ACROSS TO THE LAND OF NAHOR," AND THAT'S WHEN HE 38:28 FINDS REBEKAH. 38:29 IT SAYS, "FOR ALL OF HIS MASTER'S GOODS WERE IN HIS HAND. 38:35 ALL OF THE GOODS OF HIS MASTER WERE IN HIS HAND." 38:38 ABRAHAM TRUSTED HIM TO FAITHFULLY UTILIZE THOSE GIFTS 38:43 TO FIND A BRIDE FOR HIS SON. 38:46 NOW, WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF ANY GIFT THAT YOU AND I HAVE? 38:49 WE ARE STEWARDS OF OUR MASTER AND WE ARE TO UTILIZE OUR GIFTS 38:54 TO GET A BRIDE FOR THE SON. 38:57 THE CHURCH IS THE BRIDE OF CHRIST, YOU STILL WITH ME? 39:00 AND SO YOU AND I ARE TO HELP ATTRACT PEOPLE TO BE PART OF 39:06 THE BRIDE OF CHRIST FOR JESUS. 39:09 GENESIS CHAPTER--AND THEN WHEN HE FINDS A BRIDE IT SAYS, "THEN 39:13 THE SERVANT BROUGHT OUT JEWELRY OF SILVER AND JEWELRY OF GOLD 39:17 AND CLOTHING AND GAVE THEM TO REBEKAH. 39:19 HE ALSO GAVE PRECIOUS GIFTS TO HER BROTHER AND TO HER MOTHER." 39:22 HE WAS DISPENSING THESE THINGS TO THE FAMILY. 39:25 ALL OF THAT WAS IN HIS HAND. 39:27 AND THEN ANOTHER GREAT STEWARD IS JOSEPH, AND HE WAS BASICALLY 39:29 MADE STEWARD OF EGYPT. 39:31 HE WAS THE CONTROLLER OF EVERYTHING IN EGYPT. 39:35 THAT WAS THE WORLD'S BUSIEST ECONOMY IN THAT TIME 39:39 OF HISTORY. 39:41 AND GENESIS 39:4, FIRST JOSEPH STARTS OUT HE'S A STEWARD 39:45 FOR POTIPHAR. 39:46 "JOSEPH FOUND GRACE IN HIS SIGHT AND HE SERVED HIM AND HE 39:50 MADE HIM OVERSEER OF ALL THAT WAS IN HIS HOUSE AND ALL THAT 39:54 HE HAD, HE PUT INTO HIS HAND." 39:57 SO HE TRUSTS THINGS INTO OUR HAND. 39:59 AGAIN, YOU'VE GOT JOSEPH NOW, GENESIS 45:21, "THE SONS OF 40:04 ISRAEL DID SO AND JOSEPH GAVE THEM CARTS ACCORDING TO 40:07 THE COMMAND OF PHARAOH. 40:08 HE GAVE THEM PROVISIONS FOR THE JOURNEY. 40:10 HE GAVE TO ALL OF THEM, TO EACH MAN, CHANGES OF GARMENTS. 40:14 TO BENJAMIN HE GAVE 300 PIECES OF SILVER AND 5 CHANGES 40:18 OF GARMENTS." 40:19 ALL THAT PHARAOH HAD WAS PLACED IN JOSEPH'S HAND. 40:21 HE WAS GIVEN AUTHORITY. 40:24 NOW WHAT DID JOSEPH DO WITH PHARAOH'S GOODS? 40:27 HAVE YOU EVER WATCHED WHAT JOSEPH DID TO THE ECONOMY? 40:30 WHEN THE FAMINE WAS OVER, DID THE PHARAOH OF EGYPT 40:34 HAVE MORE OR LESS THAN HE STARTED OUT WITH? 40:38 IF YOU KNOW YOUR BIBLE, THE PHARAOH WAS A LOT RICHER 40:42 WHEN HE GOT DONE BECAUSE OF THE STEWARDSHIP OF JOSEPH. 40:46 AND IF WE ARE STEWARDS FOR OUR KING, WHAT DOES JESUS DO? 40:50 ANOTHER PARABLE WHERE HE TALKS ABOUT IT, HE GIVES TALENTS 40:52 BASED ON THE VARIOUS ABILITIES TO THE SERVANTS AND SOME TAKE 40:57 THEIR TWO, THEY TURN IT TO FOUR. 40:58 SOME TAKE THEIR FIVE, THEY TURN IT TO TEN. 41:01 SOME MULTIPLY, ANOTHER ONE PUTS IT IN THE GROUND AND IT LOSES 41:05 INTEREST. 41:06 IT GETS SMALLER BECAUSE HE DOESN'T SEE HIS RESPONSIBILITY 41:11 AS A STEWARD TO MULTIPLY IT, TO BE A PRODUCER RATHER THAN A 41:13 CONSUMER, AND HE'S JUDGED THAT WAY WHEN THE MASTER COMES BACK. 41:18 ALL OF US HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE STEWARDS FOR OUR KING. 41:22 WE'RE TO BE FAITHFUL STEWARDS. 41:25 REAL GIVING SHOULD BE SACRIFICIAL. 41:30 DEUTERONOMY 16:17, "EVERY MAN SHALL GIVE AS HE IS ABLE 41:35 ACCORDING TO THE BLESSING OF THE LORD YOUR GOD THAT HE'S 41:38 GIVEN YOU." 41:39 AS A MATTER OF FACT, IF YOU GIVE AS YOU'RE ABLE, 41:42 THAT ISN'T REALLY A SACRIFICE. 41:44 IT'S WHEN YOU GIVE AS YOU'RE NOT ABLE, IT'S A SACRIFICE. 41:47 NOW THIS IS A QUOTE BY MOTHER TERESA REALLY. 41:51 SHE SAID, "IF YOU GIVE WHAT YOU DO NOT NEED, IT ISN'T GIVING." 41:55 WHEN WE GIVE OF OUR SURPLUS, THAT'S NOT REALLY A SACRIFICE. 42:01 C.S. LEWIS SAID, "I DON'T BELIEVE ONE CAN SETTLE 42:04 ON HOW MUCH WE OUGHT TO GIVE. 42:05 I'M AFRAID THE ONLY SAFE RULE IS TO GIVE MORE THAN WE CAN 42:08 SPARE." 42:11 AND I AGREE WITH THAT. 42:13 THAT'S WHEN YOU'RE GIVING SACRIFICIALLY. 42:15 THAT WAS THE KIND OF GIVING THAT JESUS COMMENDED OF THE 42:18 WIDOW THAT YOU FIND IN THE PARABLE. 42:20 PHILIPPIANS 4:19, "AND MY GOD WILL SUPPLY ALL OF YOUR NEED 42:26 ACCORDING TO HIS RICHES IN CHRIST JESUS." 42:29 I THINK IT WAS VICTOR HUGO THAT SAID, "AS THE PURSE IS EMPTY, 42:32 THE HEART IS FILLED." 42:34 GOD GIVES TO US, AND THEN WE SHOULD GIVE OF OUR SERVICE 42:38 TO GOD. 42:39 WE'RE NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT FINANCES HERE. 42:42 JESUS SENT OUT THE DISCIPLES, WHAT DID HE TELL THEM TO TAKE 42:44 WITH THEM IN THEIR BANKBOOKS? 42:46 NOTHING. 42:48 HOW MANY EXTRA PAIR OF SHOES WERE THEY SUPPOSED TO TAKE? 42:51 NONE. 42:52 EXTRA STAFF? 42:54 NONE. 42:55 EXTRA CLOTHES? 42:56 NONE. 42:57 HE SAID, "I WANT YOU WANT TO GO OUT TRUSTING ME BECAUSE 42:59 IF YOU'RE SERVING ME, I WILL PROVIDE FOR YOUR NEEDS." 43:02 DID HE? 43:04 I CAN'T TELL YOU ALL THE STORIES WHERE I'VE TRAVELED AND 43:08 I'M OUT ON SOME MISSIONARY TRIP OR I'M DOING SOME REVIVAL OR 43:11 EVANGELISTIC PROGRAM AND I FORGET TO PACK SOMETHING. 43:14 I MEAN IT'S EVERYTHING FROM I'VE GOTTEN PLACES BEFORE 43:17 WHERE MY SUIT DIDN'T SHOW UP, MY BAGS DIDN'T SHOW UP. 43:20 AND IT JUST SO HAPPENS THAT AS SOON AS I'M READY TO GO SIT 43:23 DOWN ON 3ABN, I'VE GOT NOTHING ON BUT MY TRAVEL CLOTHES. 43:28 THE GUY WHO JUST GETS DONE DOING THE INTERVIEW IS MY SIZE 43:33 AND HE GIVES ME HIS SUIT, HIS TIE, HIS JACKET, HIS PANTS, AND 43:37 HE'S GOTTA WAIT IN THE DRESSING ROOM UNTIL I'M DONE WITH MY 43:39 BROADCAST. 43:42 BUT I MEAN I JUST COULD TELL YOU ALL THESE STORIES WHERE 43:45 I REMEMBER ONE TIME I WENT SOMEWHERE TRAVELING AND I 43:47 FORGOT TO PACK THE CHARGER OF MY PHONE. 43:50 I SAID, LORD, I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M GONNA DO. 43:52 THIS IS A TRUE STORY. 43:53 I SAID, I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M GONNA DO. 43:55 I SAID, I NEED MY PHONE. 43:56 I SAID, IT'S THE ONLY WAY I CAN COMMUNICATE WITH EVERYBODY AND 43:57 EVERYBODY WITH ME AND I'M GONNA BE HERE FOR SEVERAL DAYS, 43:59 AND I PRAYED. 44:01 AND THEN I WENT TO PUT MY BAG DOWN ON THE SIDE OF MY BED AND 44:05 STICKING IN THE SOCKET IN THE WALL WAS A PHONE CHARGER THAT 44:10 THE FORMER OCCUPANT OF THE ROOM HAD LEFT. 44:13 NOW YOU REALIZE IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THESE PHONES, 44:17 THEY'RE ALL DIFFERENT. 44:18 IT COULD BE MOTOROLA, IT COULD BE NOKIA. 44:20 IT COULD BE JUST ONE OF A THOUSAND DIFFERENT VARIETIES 44:23 AND I THOUGHT, NO. 44:27 AND I, AT THAT TIME, HAD A MOTOROLA PHONE. 44:30 AND I PULLED IT OUT AND I PLUGGED IT IN AND IT CHARGED 44:34 MY PHONE. 44:36 SO I MEAN THAT'S JUST A LITTLE THING. 44:38 IT IS A MIRACLE TO ME. 44:40 BUT SO MANY TIMES AS YOU TRAVEL, IF YOU'RE WORKING FOR 44:42 GOD, YOU SAY, OH MAN, I DIDN'T PACK ANY LUNCH TODAY AND I 44:45 DIDN'T MAKE ANY PLANS FOR LUNCH AND WHAT AM I GONNA DO? 44:48 ALL OF A SUDDEN, SOMEONE WALKS UP AND SAYS, "YOU GOT PLANS 44:50 FOR LUNCH?" 44:51 I SAY, THANK YOU, LORD. 44:54 I COULD TELL YOU STORY AFTER STORY. 44:56 BUT IF YOU'RE OUT WORKING FOR GOD, HE WILL SUPPLY ALL 44:59 OF YOUR NEED, THE BIBLE SAID. 45:01 SO YOU GO WILLING TO SERVE. 45:02 JESUS SAID, HEAL THE SICK, CLEANSE THE LEPERS, RAISE THE 45:05 DEAD, CAST OUT DEMONS. 45:07 FREELY YOU'VE RECEIVED, FREELY GIVE. 45:09 SO IS HE TALKING ABOUT GIVING MONEY HERE OR IS HE TALKING 45:11 ABOUT GIVING SERVICE? 45:13 HE'S TALKING ABOUT GIVING OF YOUR TIME, GIVING OF YOUR 45:16 SERVICE. 45:18 BUT WE ALWAYS THINK THAT HAPPINESS COMES IN THE CONTEXT 45:21 OF MONEY. 45:23 SOMEBODY ELSE SAID THE TROUBLE IS TOO MANY PEOPLE ARE SPENDING 45:25 MONEY THEY HAVEN'T YET EARNED FOR THINGS THEY DON'T NEED TO 45:27 IMPRESS PEOPLE THEY DON'T LIKE. 45:30 I THOUGHT THAT WAS GOOD. 45:32 SERVICE IS LOVE DRESSED IN WORK CLOTHES. 45:38 SOMEONE SAID, YOU'VE NOT REALLY LIVED UNTIL YOU'VE DONE 45:40 SOMETHING FOR SOMEONE WHO CAN NEVER REPAY YOU. 45:44 PROVERBS 28:27, "HE WHO GIVES TO THE POOR WILL NOT LACK." 45:49 THAT'S ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE RICOCHET PRINCIPLES IN THE 45:51 BIBLE. 45:52 "BUT HE WHO HIDES HIS EARS WILL HAVE MANY CURSES." 45:56 PROVERBS 19:17, "HE THAT HAS PITY UPON THE POOR LENDS TO 46:00 THE LORD AND THAT WHICH HE IS GIVEN, HE WILL PAY HIM AGAIN." 46:05 AND THEN PAUL SAID IN ACTS 20:35, "I'VE SHOWN YOU 46:09 IN EVERY WAY THAT LABORING LIKE THIS THAT YOU MUST SUPPORT 46:14 THE WEAK AND REMEMBER THE WORDS OF THE LORD JESUS, THAT IT IS 46:18 MORE BLESSED TO GIVE THAN TO RECEIVE." 46:20 YOU KNOW THERE'S NO QUOTE IN THE BIBLE WHERE YOU FIND JESUS 46:23 SAYING THOSE WORDS EXCEPT WHERE JESUS IS QUOTED BY PAUL. 46:26 IN OTHER WORDS, PAUL MAKES A STATEMENT JESUS MUST HAVE 46:29 MADE SOMEWHERE. 46:31 IT'S NOT IN ALL THE FOUR GOSPELS WHERE YOU HEAR JESUS 46:33 SAY IT'S MORE BLESSED TO GIVE THAN TO RECEIVE, BUT PAUL PUT 46:36 THE PRINCIPLE'S THERE. 46:37 PAUL IS ONE WHO SIMPLIFIES AND SUMMARIZES THE TEACHING OF 46:40 JESUS THAT IT IS MORE BLESSED TO GIVE THAN RECEIVE. 46:46 YOU MAYBE HEARD ME SHARE THE STORY ABOUT THIS 80-YEAR-OLD 46:48 MAN THIS THAT WAS PLANTING SOME PEACH TREES IN HIS BACKYARD AND 46:52 HIS NEIGHBOR CAME OVER AND SAID, "FRED," HE SAID, 46:57 "YOU'RE PLANTING PEACH TREES. 46:58 YOU KNOW THAT THEY DON'T EVEN START BEARING VERY WELL 47:01 UNTIL 5 TO 10 YEARS." 47:03 HE SAID, "YOU'RE 80 NOW." 47:05 HE SAID, "WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS?" 47:08 AND OLD FRED SAID, "WELL, I HAVE BEEN EATING PEACHES 47:11 OFF TREES THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE PLANTED ALL MY LIFE." 47:15 HE SAID, "I'M JUST PAYING IT FORWARD." 47:18 AND REALLY THAT'S WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A CHRISTIAN. 47:21 IT'S NOT ALWAYS, "WHAT'S IN IT FOR ME?" 47:24 I'VE PRAISED THE LORD FOR THE WORK THAT OTHERS HAVE DONE. 47:27 IT SAYS THEIR WORKS DO FOLLOW THEM. 47:29 AND WHEN YOU LIVE A LIFE OF PRODUCING FOR GOD, 47:31 YOUR INFLUENCE GOES ON LONG AFTER YOU'RE GONE. 47:34 BY YOUR PRAYERS AND BY YOUR SERVICE TO GOD, YOUR GIVING 47:36 GOES ON. 47:38 CAN YOU IMAGINE WHAT IT'S GONNA BE LIKE WHEN YOU GET TO HEAVEN 47:40 AND YOU SEE THE MANSIONS. 47:42 EVERYBODY'S GOT A MANSION BUT SOME HAVE GOT MANSIONS OF 47:44 DIFFERENT SIZES AND IT'LL BE THIS ONE MANSION THAT'S GONNA 47:48 BE JUST--YOU KNOW IN HEAVEN, REAL ESTATE, LOCATION, 47:52 LOCATION, LOCATION. 47:55 SOMEONE'S GONNA HAVE THAT LOCATION REALLY CLOSE TO THE 47:58 TEMPLE OF GOD ON THAT HILL WITH THAT WILL HAVE A VISTA OF THE 48:02 REST OF THE CITY, LOTS OF ANGELS ATTENDING TO THEIR 48:06 GARDEN AND THE PARKS AND THE FOUNTAINS INSIDE 48:08 THEIR LITTLE MANSION YARD. 48:10 AND YOU'RE GONNA SEE SOMEONE I THINK THEY'LL HAVE 48:13 A BIGGER MANSION. 48:15 YOU KNOW WHO I THINK IT'S GONNA BE? 48:18 CAN YOU IMAGINE THAT WIDOW THAT GAVE HER 2 CENTS, WHEN SHE GETS 48:21 TO THE KINGDOM AND SHE'S GONNA SAY, "WOW, I HAD NO IDEA." 48:27 I THINK WE'RE ALL GONNA BE SURPRISED THAT HOW IT 48:32 ENDS UP THERE. 48:33 JESUS SAID, "GIVES TO HIM WHO ASKS OF YOU AND FROM HIM 48:37 WHO WANTS TO BORROW, TURN HIM NOT AWAY." 48:40 AND ULTIMATELY, WHAT IS IT THAT THE LORD WANTS US TO GIVE? 48:45 YOU. 48:48 THERE'S A SONG, ALL HE WANTS IS YOU, NOTHING ELSE WITH DO. 48:52 NOT JUST A PART, HE WANTS ALL OF YOUR HEART. 48:57 AN OLD WILLIE NELSON SONG JUST POPPED INTO MY MIND. 49:01 IT'S A LOVE SONG BUT ACTUALLY THE WORDS, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'LL 49:03 FORGIVE ME, IT APPLIES HERE. 49:04 IT SAYS, "ALL OF ME, WHY NOT TAKE ALL OF ME? 49:07 CAN'T YOU SEE I'M NO GOOD WITHOUT YOU? 49:09 YOU HAVE THE PART THAT ONCE WAS MY HEART, SO WHY NOT TAKE 49:12 ALL OF ME?" 49:14 BUT IN PRINCIPLE, THAT'S REALLY WHAT IT MEANS, YOU'VE GOT MY 49:18 HEART, YOU'VE GOT ALL OF ME. 49:20 IF GOD'S GOT YOUR HEART, IF YOU GIVE YOURSELF, HE'S GOT YOUR 49:23 TIME, HE'S GOT YOUR WARDROBE. 49:26 HE'S GOT YOUR WALLET AND YOUR BANK ACCOUNT. 49:28 HE'S GOT EVERYTHING IF HE'S GOT YOUR HEART. 49:30 HAVE YOU GIVEN YOUR HEART? 49:33 YOU KNOW SOMETIMES YOU CAN MAKE IT EASIER TO GIVE YOUR HEART BY 49:36 GIVING IN OTHER WAYS. 49:37 YOU'LL KILL THAT MONSTER OF SELFISHNESS THAT WE ALL HAVE 49:40 INSIDE. 49:42 HEARD A STORY WHERE THEY WERE HAVING A YOUTH MEETING AND AT 49:47 THE END OF THE YOUTH MEETING THE DEACONS TOOK UP AN OFFERING 49:50 FROM THESE ROOM FULL OF TEENAGERS AND THEY'RE GOING 49:53 THROUGH THE CHANGE. 49:54 YOU KNOW THERE'S SOME DOLLARS IN THERE AND MOSTLY COINS 49:56 AND IN THE BOTTOM THERE WAS A PICTURE OF SOME TEENAGE GIRL. 50:00 AND THEY KIND OF LOOKED AT EACH OTHER AND THEY THOUGHT, OH, 50:02 ONE OF THE BOYS SNATCHED THIS SCHOOL PICTURE FROM ONE OF 50:05 THE GIRLS AND THREW IT IN. 50:07 AND THEY FLIPPED IT OVER AND ON THE BACK OF THE PICTURE IT 50:09 SAID, "I DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY TO GIVE, BUT I'D LIKE TO GIVE 50:13 MYSELF TO JESUS." 50:15 SO SHE TOOK OUT HER CLASS PICTURE AND THREW IT IN. 50:19 PAUL SAYS, "I BESEECH YOU," ROMANS 12:1, "THEREFORE, 50:24 BRETHREN, BY THE MERCIES OF GOD, THAT YOU PRESENT YOUR 50:27 BODIES, YOUR PRESENT YOURSELF A LIVING SACRIFICE HOLY 50:31 AND ACCEPTABLE TO GOD." 50:33 THAT IS YOUR REASONABLE SERVICE. 50:36 ALL HE WANTS IS YOU, NOTHING ELSE WILL DO. 50:39 AND HE DOESN'T JUST WANT A LITTLE, HE WANTS 50:41 ALL OF YOUR HEART. 50:43 IT'S LIKE THAT MAN WHO FINDS A TREASURE IN THE FIELD, 50:45 HE'S GOTTA SELL EVERYTHING HE HAS FOR THAT TREASURE. 50:48 THE LORD WANTS ALL OF OUR HEART. 50:50 YOU KNOW, FRIENDS, HERE WE ARE NOW AT THE CONCLUSION OF 2009 50:54 AND I'LL TELL YOU THIS YEAR HAS BEEN SOMETHING ELSE. 50:56 WE'VE WATCHED AS THE ECONOMY HAS CAREENED ON THE PRECIPICE 51:00 OF TOTAL DISASTER, AND YOU KNOW WHAT? 51:03 WE MAY NOT HAVE A JOB BUT WE'RE STILL HERE, PRAISE GOD, AMEN? 51:06 I MEAN HE'S BEEN GOOD. 51:08 HE SUSTAINED US. 51:10 HE PROVIDES FOR US. 51:12 THE ECONOMY GOES UP AND DOWN AND THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATES GO 51:15 UP AND DOWN AND THE STOCK MARKET GOES UP AND DOWN, 51:18 BUT JESUS CHRIST IS THE SAME. 51:20 AND IF YOU INVEST IN HIM, YOU WILL NEVER BE SORRY. 51:24 YOU KNOW I THOUGHT IT'D BE APPROPRIATE THAT AS WE CONCLUDE 51:27 OUR SERVICE TODAY, WE GIVE OURSELVES TO THE LORD. 51:30 OUR SONG IS, TURN IN YOUR HYMNALS, IT'S 330, 51:33 "TAKE MY LIFE AND LET IT BE." 51:36 TAKE MY LIFE, LORD. 51:37 WE'RE SAYING, LORD, TAKE MY LIFE, TAKE MY HEART. 51:39 AND WE'RE GONNA BRING OUR OFFERINGS AS A TANGIBLE SIGN OF 51:42 GIVING OURSELVES HERE AT THE CONCLUSION OF THIS SERVICE. 51:45 WE HAVE SOME DEACONS THAT ARE GONNA BRING SOME BASKETS TO THE 51:47 FRONT, IF THEY'D DO THAT NOW, OR THE USHERS WHEREVER. 51:51 HOPE WE DIDN'T FORGET THE BASKETS. 51:53 THERE WE GO. 51:54 GOOD PASTOR HAROLD, HE'S A SERVANT, AMEN? 51:58 AND I THINK THEY'LL HAVE ONE UPSTAIRS THEY'RE BRINGING UP 52:00 THERE NOW. 52:01 BUT THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO BRING OUR GIFTS INSTEAD 52:06 OF IT BEING COLLECTED. 52:07 AND IN DOING THIS I'D LIKE FOR YOU TO ASK, AND SAY, "LORD, NOT 52:11 ONLY AM I BRINGING AN OFFERING, REALLY I'M OFFERING MY HEART, 52:13 I'M OFFERING MY SOUL." 52:15 [MUSIC] ♪ TAKE MY LIFE ♪ 52:20 ♪ AND LET IT BE ♪ ♪ CONSECRATED, LORD, TO THEE ♪ 52:30 ♪ TAKE MY HANDS ♪ ♪ AND LET THEM MOVE ♪ 52:36 ♪ AT THE IMPULSE OF THY LOVE ♪ ♪ AT THE IMPULSE OF THY LOVE ♪ 52:49 ♪ TAKE MY FEET ♪ ♪ AND LET THEM BE SWIFT ♪ 52:57 ♪ AND BEAUTIFUL FOR THEE ♪ ♪ TAKE MY VOICE ♪ 53:04 ♪ AND LET ME SING ♪ ♪ ALWAYS ONLY FOR MY KING ♪ 53:14 ♪ ALWAYS ONLY FOR MY KING ♪ >> YOU FEEL A BLESSING WHEN YOU 53:24 GIVE YOUR HEART TO THE LORD, YOU FEEL A BLESSING WHEN YOU 53:27 BRING YOUR GIFTS TO THE LORD. 53:30 AND YOU KNOW WHEN JESUS CAME INTO OUR WORLD, HE DIDN'T SAY, 53:32 "I WANT YOU TO COME UP TO WHERE I AM." 53:35 HE SAID, "I AM GOING TO COME TO WHERE YOU ARE." 53:38 SO THIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN SPECIAL. 53:40 IT'S BEEN SOMETHING UNIQUE FOR ME THAT WE BRING OUR OFFERINGS 53:44 TO THE LORD, THAT'S WHAT THE WISE MEN DID, RIGHT? 53:47 THEY WENT A LONG WAY TO BRING THEIR OFFERINGS TO THE LORD 53:51 AND SO THAT'S WHY WE DO IT THIS WAY. 53:54 YOU KNOW I'D JUST LIKE TO ASK ONCE AGAIN AS WE CONCLUDE. 53:58 WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY, "LORD, BY YOUR GRACE, HELP ME TO LIVE 54:01 A LIFE THAT PRODUCES, A LIFE THAT GIVES TO THEE 54:04 AND TO MY FELLOW MAN. 54:05 HELP ME TO BE YOUR SERVANT, TAKE MY HEART"? 54:08 IS THAT YOUR PRAYER, FRIENDS? 54:10 LET'S ASK HIM TOGETHER AS WE CLOSE. 54:14 FATHER IN HEAVEN, LORD, WE AGAIN ARE SO THANKFUL THAT YOU 54:19 SO LOVED US THAT YOU GAVE, THAT IN GIVING YOUR SON, HE ALSO 54:25 TOOK THAT PILGRIMAGE ACROSS THE COSMOS TO COME TO THIS 54:28 LITTLE PLANET TO SAVE THESE REBELLIOUS, SELFISH CREATURES 54:32 DOWN, DOWN HERE, LORD, AND TO GIVE US NEW HEARTS, 54:35 HEARTS OF LOVE. 54:37 HELP US TO COOPERATE WITH YOUR SPIRIT, TO HAVE THOSE HEARTS, 54:40 LORD. 54:41 HELP US TO STARVE AND TO RESIST OUR NATURAL INCLINATION TO BE 54:44 GRASPING AND SELFISH AND HOARDING, AND I PRAY THAT 54:47 YOU'LL HELP US TO HAVE THE MIND AND THE HEART OF JESUS TO LIVE 54:50 LIVES OF SERVICE AND LOVE AND GENEROSITY. 54:54 WE PRAY THAT WE CAN DO THIS FROM OUR SPIRIT. 54:57 HELP US TO DO IT, LORD, CHEERFULLY. 54:59 HELP US TO DO IT DISCREETLY AND WILLINGLY AND I PRAY, LORD, 55:03 THEN WE'LL SEE, NOT ONLY IN THE WORLD TO COME, BUT EVEN IN THIS 55:06 LIFE, THAT YOU WILL OPENLY BLESS YOUR PEOPLE BECAUSE OF 55:10 OUR LOVE AND OUR GIVING. 55:13 BE WITH US NOW THROUGH THIS SABBATH DAY AND THROUGH THIS 55:16 WEEK, ESPECIALLY DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON, AS MANY ARE 55:19 TRAVELING, WE FELLOWSHIP WITH FAMILIES, HELP US TO BE YOUR 55:21 REPRESENTATIVES. 55:23 WE PRAY THAT ALL WE DO WILL BRING GLORY TO YOUR NAME AND WE 55:26 ASK THIS FOR CHRIST'S SAKE, AMEN. 55:30 >> HELLO FRIENDS, I'M DOUG BATCHELOR. 55:33 FOR MORE THAN 40 YEARS, AMAZING FACTS HAS BEEN 55:36 A MINISTRY OF EVANGELISM, REACHING PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE, 55:41 CHANGING LIVES WITH A POWERFUL MESSAGE OF HOPE 55:44 AND PURPOSE FOUND IN THE BIBLE. 55:46 AS DISCIPLES OF CHRIST, WE HERE AT AMAZING FACTS HAVE ACCEPTED 55:50 THE GREAT COMMISSION CHALLENGE TO SPREAD THE GOOD NEWS 55:53 THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. 55:55 WHAT BEGAN AS A 15-MINUTE RADIO PROGRAM HAS BEEN BLESSED 55:59 BY GOD TO GROW INTO A MULTIFACETED INTERNATIONAL 56:03 MEDIA MINISTRY. 56:05 THESE ARE TRULY EXCITING TIMES, YET WE CANNOT DO ANY OF THIS 56:08 WITHOUT YOUR CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP. 56:11 >> THE AMAZING FACTS HAS BEEN A HUGE CORNERSTONE IN MY WHOLE 56:15 CONVERSION EXPERIENCE AND MY WALK WITH CHRIST. 56:18 >> INVESTING IN AMAZING FACTS IS A NO-BRAINER. 56:21 IT'S AN INVESTMENT IN ETERNITY. 56:23 >> I'M SO THANKFUL FOR WHAT'S HAPPENING AT AMAZING FACTS. 56:25 IT'S CHANGING PEOPLE'S LIVES. 56:27 >> AMAZING FACTS HAS TOUCHED MY LIFE IN WAYS THAT I CAN'T EVEN 56:30 EXPLAIN. 56:31 >> WE ARE A PART OF GOD'S GREATER PLAN. 56:34 >> INVESTMENT IN AMAZING FACTS IS ACTUALLY AN INVESTMENT 56:38 IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD. 56:39 >> I'M A PRODUCT OF THE GIFTS THAT SOMEONE HAS GIVEN. 56:43 >> I'M ONE CHANGED LIFE. 56:45 >> I'LL NEVER BE THE SAME. 56:47 >> THOUSANDS OF LOST SOULS ARE COMING TO KNOW JESUS AND ARE 56:50 BEING TRANSFORMED INTO HIS LIKENESS. 56:52 THOUSANDS MORE ARE EXPERIENCING NEW DEPTH IN THEIR RELATIONSHIP 56:56 WITH CHRIST. 56:58 WE BELIEVE THAT THROUGH CONTINUED PRAYER, TRUST IN GOD 57:01 AND OUR SACRIFICIAL GIVING, THAT WE CAN TAKE THIS MESSAGE 57:04 OF HOPE AROUND THE WORLD TO ONE AND TO ALL. 57:18 >> HOW MUCH MORE EXCITING CAN IT BE THAN THAT? 57:31 >> A WEB SITE WHOSE ROOTS DATE BACK TO THE BEGINNING OF TIME, 57:34 SABBATHTRUTH.COM IS THE DEFINITIVE RESOURCE FOR 57:37 BIBLE LIGHT ON THE LORD'S DAY. 57:39 CLEAR BIBLE ANSWERS FOR EVERY QUESTION YOU'VE EVER HAD 57:42 ABOUT THE SABBATH. 57:43 SEVEN KEY TOPIC HEADINGS GUIDE YOU THROUGH THE PURPOSE 57:45 OF THE SABBATH, WHICH DAY IS THE LORD'S DAY, 57:48 THE SABBATH AND PROPHECY, QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SABBATH, 57:51 HOW TO KEEP IT HOLY, THE SABBATH AND HISTORY 57:54 AND MANY SABBATH RESOURCES. 57:56 VISIT SABBATHTRUTH.COM TODAY AND SHARE YOUR NEWFOUND |
Revised 2015-02-06