Good morning, friends,
00:00:34.76\00:00:35.83
and welcome to
Sabbath School Study Hour
00:00:35.83\00:00:37.93
right here at the Granite Bay
Seventh-day Adventist Church.
00:00:37.93\00:00:40.10
I'd like to warmly welcome
00:00:40.10\00:00:41.47
all of those who
are joining us online
00:00:41.47\00:00:43.81
across the country
and around the world,
00:00:43.81\00:00:45.61
also our Facebook friends
who are studying along with us.
00:00:45.61\00:00:49.08
Those of you on Facebook,
00:00:49.08\00:00:50.31
we are gonna have a few moments
of question and answer time
00:00:50.31\00:00:53.18
later in our study.
00:00:53.18\00:00:54.68
If you'd like to post a question
00:00:54.68\00:00:56.89
related to the
lesson, you can do so
00:00:56.89\00:00:59.09
and we'll try to answer
as many of those questions
00:00:59.09\00:01:01.69
as we can depending upon
time as we study together.
00:01:01.69\00:01:05.39
I'd also like to
welcome our members and visitors
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right here at the
Granite Bay Church.
00:01:07.60\00:01:08.80
It's always good to see you
week after week gathering here
00:01:08.80\00:01:11.27
early in the morning to
study the Word of God together.
00:01:11.27\00:01:14.64
We've been studying
through our lesson courtly
00:01:14.64\00:01:16.14
entitled, "Stewardship:
Motives of the Heart."
00:01:16.14\00:01:19.24
Today we find
ourselves on lesson number nine
00:01:19.24\00:01:22.31
which is entitled
"Offerings of Gratitude"
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and that'll be
our focus for today.
00:01:25.25\00:01:27.42
For friends who are joining us,
00:01:27.42\00:01:28.55
if you don't have a
copy of today's lesson,
00:01:28.55\00:01:30.99
we have a new website,
we'd like to direct you to.
00:01:30.99\00:01:33.86
It'll take you directly
to our study for this week
00:01:33.86\00:01:36.86
and that website is
simply study.aftv.org.
00:01:36.86\00:01:41.93
Just study.aftv.org
00:01:41.93\00:01:45.47
and you'll be able to
get the lesson for today
00:01:45.47\00:01:47.30
and study along with us.
00:01:47.30\00:01:49.00
We also have a free offer
00:01:49.00\00:01:50.07
for those of you who are
joining us in North America
00:01:50.07\00:01:53.17
a book entitled,
"The Surrender of Self."
00:01:53.17\00:01:55.78
And if you'd
like to receive this,
00:01:55.78\00:01:57.48
just give us a call on
our resource phone line.
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That number is 866-788-3966
00:02:00.18\00:02:04.69
and you can ask
for offer number 153.
00:02:04.69\00:02:08.02
That number
again is 866-788-3966,
00:02:08.02\00:02:11.66
ask for offer number 153,
00:02:11.66\00:02:13.56
we'll be happy to send that
to anybody who calls and asks.
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Well, before we get to
our study this morning,
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we'd like to begin by
lifting our voices in song.
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I'd like to
invite our song leaders
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to come join me on stage.
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Hello and we are so excited
to join with you in song,
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those of you around the
world and those of you here.
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So today we're gonna be singing
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"Come Christians join to sing."
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You'll find that on
number 10 in your hymnals.
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If you have one
of those at home,
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pull it up, we're gonna do
all three stanzas, number 10.
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We're looking
forward to that day
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when we will
get to sing together
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on heaven's blissful shore.
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At this time Pastor Ross will
be having our opening prayer.
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Let's bow our heads for prayer.
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Dear Father in heaven,
we thank You once again
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for the opportunity
together to open up Your Word
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and study this
very important subject
00:05:17.95\00:05:20.28
dealing with
motives of the heart.
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Father, we pray
for Your Holy Spirit
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to come and guard
our hearts and our minds,
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for we ask this
in Jesus' name, amen.
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Our lesson this morning
is gonna be brought to us
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by Pastor Doug.
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Good morning, everyone.
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I'm glad to see you here
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studying with us at Granite Bay.
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I want to welcome our
friends who are studying online.
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We have some extended class
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that study with us
through the internet.
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I also want to
remind our friends
00:05:46.04\00:05:47.11
that are watching the
live stream right now.
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You can go to the Facebook page
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if you want to
Facebook any questions,
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and I'm gonna remind people
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'cause these are questions
that deal with the subject
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of stewardship and the lesson,
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getting questions about marriage
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and all kinds of things,
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then send them in
00:06:01.26\00:06:02.32
and we have the
technology back there
00:06:02.32\00:06:04.46
where they will
try and type them in
00:06:04.46\00:06:05.73
in the last third of the lesson
00:06:05.73\00:06:07.03
I'll try and take
some of your questions.
00:06:07.03\00:06:08.73
We appreciate that.
00:06:08.73\00:06:09.83
I want to welcome
our online members.
00:06:09.83\00:06:11.90
There are people who
are members of this church,
00:06:11.90\00:06:14.44
a lot of folks around the
world have no local church
00:06:14.44\00:06:16.64
where they can attend,
00:06:16.64\00:06:17.71
but because of
satellite television
00:06:17.71\00:06:19.71
and because of the internet,
00:06:19.71\00:06:20.98
they said, "Look, we want
to be part of a church family,
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we have a mechanism to do that.
00:06:23.75\00:06:25.15
If you'd like to know
how you can be a member
00:06:25.15\00:06:27.72
of the Granite
Bay church family,
00:06:27.72\00:06:29.52
one of our digital members,
00:06:29.52\00:06:31.85
then just go
ahead and contact us
00:06:31.85\00:06:33.96
at GraniteBaysda.org,
00:06:33.96\00:06:37.56
we'll talk to you about that.
00:06:37.56\00:06:39.46
And we're gonna get
right into our lesson,
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we have a memory verse.
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The lesson today is dealing
with Offerings of Gratitude,
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lesson number nine.
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I bet you know the memory verse.
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It's John 3:16.
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How many can do that
without looking at it?
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Or shall we say it together?
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"For God so loved the world
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that He gave His
only begotten Son,
00:07:01.78\00:07:04.82
that whosoever believeth in Him
00:07:04.82\00:07:07.32
should not perish but
have everlasting life."
00:07:07.32\00:07:11.56
And, of course,
00:07:11.56\00:07:13.80
the key to that is
God so loved He gave.
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We're talking about giving,
00:07:18.43\00:07:20.24
talking in
particular about offerings,
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and we talked about tithe
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in several of our presentations.
00:07:25.74\00:07:27.34
Now we're gonna
talk a little more
00:07:27.34\00:07:28.51
about offerings and
the spirit behind it
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and what's involved there.
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One of the first
things we learn here
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as we take a look at the lesson
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is how much of the
Bible has to do with giving?
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I remember when I first
started coming to church
00:07:42.79\00:07:44.59
I thought, "All these preachers,
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all they do is they talk
about giving and offerings."
00:07:45.96\00:07:48.86
And soon as they pass the plate,
00:07:48.86\00:07:50.20
it seems like 10 minutes
later, they pass it again.
00:07:50.20\00:07:52.50
And they're having
an offering for this
00:07:52.50\00:07:54.50
and for that project
and this mission project,
00:07:54.50\00:07:57.91
it just seemed like
it was all about money.
00:07:57.91\00:08:00.54
And someone did a
study and they said...
00:08:00.54\00:08:04.58
When you go through
Matthew, Mark, and Luke,
00:08:04.58\00:08:08.12
one out of every six
verses deals with money.
00:08:08.12\00:08:12.29
Did you know that?
00:08:12.29\00:08:13.59
Of the 29
parables that Jesus tells,
00:08:13.59\00:08:16.96
16 deal with a
person and their money,
00:08:16.96\00:08:20.90
so the Lord
evidently talked about it.
00:08:20.90\00:08:23.00
Matter of fact,
Jesus talks about money
00:08:23.00\00:08:24.73
five times more
than any other subject.
00:08:24.73\00:08:28.14
Why is that?
00:08:28.14\00:08:29.47
It's because you can tell
how a person value something
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by how they spend
their time and their means.
00:08:34.81\00:08:39.18
It's incredible
00:08:39.18\00:08:40.52
people manage to have
money for what they want.
00:08:40.52\00:08:45.89
You know, there
are folks who will say,
00:08:45.89\00:08:47.26
"Boy, just I have
nothing to give for the Lord."
00:08:47.26\00:08:52.53
But you ask him, "Well,
do you have a television?"
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Oh, yeah.
00:08:54.93\00:08:56.40
I just can't
afford to pay tithe.
00:08:56.40\00:08:59.80
Do you have a car?
00:08:59.80\00:09:01.40
"Oh, yeah."
00:09:01.40\00:09:02.70
There's so many
things in our culture today
00:09:02.70\00:09:04.97
that we think are necessities,
00:09:04.97\00:09:06.88
but we have nothing for God
00:09:06.88\00:09:08.28
because we're trying to keep up
00:09:08.28\00:09:09.78
with a very
materialistic society.
00:09:09.78\00:09:13.42
But when God is
first placed in your heart,
00:09:13.42\00:09:16.15
you find the ability
to do what you want to do,
00:09:16.15\00:09:18.55
that's a law of life.
00:09:18.55\00:09:19.62
People kind of do
what they want to do.
00:09:19.62\00:09:21.39
People have time
for what they want
00:09:21.39\00:09:23.39
and they have
means for what they want.
00:09:23.39\00:09:25.13
Yeah, let me
tell you a quick story
00:09:27.86\00:09:29.06
before I get into lesson
00:09:29.06\00:09:30.23
because it
provides a good introduction
00:09:30.23\00:09:32.73
for what we're talking about.
00:09:32.73\00:09:33.84
I was driving to a town
00:09:33.84\00:09:36.37
to go to the
hospital, make a hospital visit.
00:09:36.37\00:09:38.94
On the way down the highway,
00:09:38.94\00:09:42.81
traffic came to a standstill
00:09:42.81\00:09:44.88
and as I thought
there had been an accident,
00:09:44.88\00:09:48.45
it turned out it
was a terrible accident.
00:09:48.45\00:09:51.72
What happened was
00:09:51.72\00:09:52.79
a logging truck going
one way on the highway
00:09:52.79\00:09:56.86
struck a family
that had rented a U-Haul
00:09:56.86\00:10:01.30
going the other
way on the highway,
00:10:01.30\00:10:02.83
it was head on collision.
00:10:02.83\00:10:05.83
And it was so
bad that the U-Haul,
00:10:05.83\00:10:07.87
the sides just
completely exploded open,
00:10:07.87\00:10:10.37
all they were moving,
00:10:10.37\00:10:12.37
all the home goods and
everything that they had,
00:10:12.37\00:10:15.84
the pressure of it just
blew the sides out of the truck
00:10:15.84\00:10:18.85
and their possessions
were just all over the road
00:10:18.85\00:10:23.42
on both sides of the road,
00:10:23.42\00:10:24.72
the logger I learned
later had died in the accident,
00:10:24.72\00:10:27.59
he had swerved.
00:10:27.59\00:10:29.86
Then I went to the hospital
to make this visit of a member
00:10:29.86\00:10:33.53
and while at the hospital,
00:10:33.53\00:10:35.13
I met the family
involved in the accident.
00:10:35.13\00:10:38.37
And what happened was a
family that quit their job,
00:10:38.37\00:10:44.21
they were moving
to southern California
00:10:44.21\00:10:46.01
to take up a new job,
00:10:46.01\00:10:47.34
all their earthly possessions
were in the moving van.
00:10:47.34\00:10:50.81
They had two vehicles,
00:10:50.81\00:10:52.48
the mother and I
think one of the child
00:10:52.48\00:10:54.85
was in the car out in front,
00:10:54.85\00:10:56.28
the father and the
daughter was in the moving van.
00:10:56.28\00:10:59.42
The mother every now and then
00:10:59.42\00:11:00.56
would look in
the rearview mirror
00:11:00.56\00:11:01.89
and she would see that U-Haul
00:11:01.89\00:11:04.13
and her husband
00:11:04.13\00:11:05.36
and her
daughter were back there.
00:11:05.36\00:11:06.96
And then all of a sudden
00:11:06.96\00:11:07.96
she looked in
the rearview mirror
00:11:07.96\00:11:09.86
and there was nobody behind her
00:11:09.86\00:11:12.00
and she wondered
what had happened.
00:11:12.00\00:11:14.04
And she turned
around and she came back
00:11:14.04\00:11:15.74
and saw the terrible
carnage of this accident.
00:11:15.74\00:11:19.21
Her daughter was alive.
00:11:19.21\00:11:20.34
Her husband was
alive seriously injured.
00:11:20.34\00:11:23.88
And she told me this firsthand
00:11:23.88\00:11:25.55
she said she could
not believe being here
00:11:25.55\00:11:28.15
her husband is in the
road, he's laying there,
00:11:28.15\00:11:31.25
he's bleeding, he's
possibly mortally wounded,
00:11:31.25\00:11:33.96
and daughter seriously injured,
and the truck driver is dead.
00:11:33.96\00:11:38.09
She said, "Our stuff
is all over the road,"
00:11:38.09\00:11:39.63
she said, "People were stopping
00:11:39.63\00:11:41.26
and putting their
stuff in their cars."
00:11:41.26\00:11:44.47
They're just
loading up her stuff
00:11:44.47\00:11:45.53
not to bring it to us
but driving off with it.
00:11:45.53\00:11:49.27
And her husband did
survive and she said...
00:11:49.27\00:11:53.01
She said, "I kind
of know how Job feels."
00:11:56.28\00:11:58.18
She says, "We've lost
everything in one day."
00:11:58.18\00:12:00.98
We moved, we lost our friends,
00:12:00.98\00:12:04.12
lost our health, lost
our earthly possessions.
00:12:04.12\00:12:07.16
She said, "If it wasn't for God,
00:12:07.16\00:12:08.26
we wouldn't have anything."
00:12:08.26\00:12:10.33
And so I have an opportunity
00:12:10.33\00:12:11.89
to visit that family a few times
00:12:11.89\00:12:13.66
while they were there in this,
00:12:13.66\00:12:15.40
for them, a strange town,
recovering from this accident.
00:12:15.40\00:12:18.47
But why would people do that?
00:12:18.47\00:12:24.67
Why would you stop
00:12:24.67\00:12:25.77
and, first of all it's stealing.
00:12:25.77\00:12:29.64
And they just figured,
well, if it's on the road,
00:12:29.64\00:12:33.01
you know,
finders keepers I guess.
00:12:33.01\00:12:35.92
The Bible says,
00:12:35.92\00:12:37.35
"Where your treasure is
that's where your heart is."
00:12:37.35\00:12:40.32
Matter of fact, we're
gonna go to that verse
00:12:40.32\00:12:41.96
and that's the section.
00:12:41.96\00:12:44.39
Matthew,
someone's gonna read for me
00:12:44.39\00:12:45.89
in just a moment
Hebrews 10:34, okay.
00:12:45.89\00:12:49.63
And I'm gonna read
Matthew 6:19 through 21.
00:12:49.63\00:12:53.47
Jesus said,
00:12:53.47\00:12:54.54
"Do not lay up for
yourselves treasures on earth,
00:12:54.54\00:12:56.77
where moth and rust destroys
00:12:56.77\00:12:59.54
where thieves
break through and steal.
00:12:59.54\00:13:01.51
But lay up for
yourselves treasures in heaven,
00:13:01.51\00:13:04.35
where neither
moth or rust destroys
00:13:04.35\00:13:06.92
and where thieves do
not break in and steal.
00:13:06.92\00:13:09.35
For where your treasure is,
there your heart will be also."
00:13:09.35\00:13:12.95
You know, everyone worries about
00:13:12.95\00:13:14.29
how secure are my investments.
00:13:14.29\00:13:17.06
At the time of this broadcast,
00:13:17.06\00:13:19.06
the stock market has gone
00:13:19.06\00:13:20.46
up and down thousands of points
00:13:20.46\00:13:22.73
it looks like in a week,
00:13:22.73\00:13:24.13
well, over a thousand
points in fluctuations
00:13:24.13\00:13:26.97
which is, you know, unheard of
00:13:26.97\00:13:28.37
and people are very
worried about their investments.
00:13:28.37\00:13:31.94
If your investment is in heaven,
00:13:31.94\00:13:33.84
do you ever have to worry?
00:13:33.84\00:13:36.68
You know, if everything
you have is in heaven,
00:13:36.68\00:13:39.05
you don't ever have to be afraid
00:13:39.05\00:13:41.42
that someone's
gonna break in and steal.
00:13:41.42\00:13:43.42
You don't have to be afraid
if your alarm system's working.
00:13:43.42\00:13:48.12
You don't have to be
afraid of the stock market.
00:13:48.12\00:13:50.39
If your treasure is in heaven,
you've got a very secure bank
00:13:50.39\00:13:54.46
that is guarding what you have.
00:13:54.46\00:13:57.93
Everyone lives based
upon where their treasure is.
00:13:57.93\00:14:01.14
Let me give you
one more verse here,
00:14:01.14\00:14:02.34
Colossians 3:1 and 2.
00:14:02.34\00:14:06.37
"If then you were
raised with Christ,
00:14:06.37\00:14:08.41
seek those
things that are above,
00:14:08.41\00:14:10.15
where Christ is seated
at the right hand of God.
00:14:10.15\00:14:12.85
Set your mind on things above,
00:14:12.85\00:14:14.78
and not on things of the earth."
00:14:14.78\00:14:16.85
So again there's a verse
00:14:16.85\00:14:17.95
which talks about
where is your treasure,
00:14:17.95\00:14:19.35
we need to be focusing on that
which is gonna last forever.
00:14:19.35\00:14:22.89
Why would you want to have
your treasure be so temporary?
00:14:22.89\00:14:27.30
How long is 70 years
compared to eternity?
00:14:27.30\00:14:32.23
Karen and I were
having worship last night
00:14:32.23\00:14:36.64
and it wasn't very structured,
00:14:36.64\00:14:38.07
I just grabbed the book,
00:14:38.07\00:14:39.67
Thoughts from
the Mount of Blessing
00:14:39.67\00:14:41.58
and we read a section in there
00:14:41.58\00:14:42.78
and it happened
to be the section
00:14:42.78\00:14:45.65
where Jesus shares a
Parable of the Rich Fool
00:14:45.65\00:14:49.28
who Lord blessed him abundantly,
00:14:49.28\00:14:53.39
his crops, he had
these bumper crops,
00:14:53.39\00:14:55.66
and his crops were so
big and the harvest so great,
00:14:55.66\00:14:59.73
he couldn't fit in the barn.
00:14:59.73\00:15:01.00
And so he said,
"What will I do?"
00:15:01.00\00:15:02.90
Said well, I guess
I'm gonna have my servants
00:15:02.90\00:15:04.60
quickly tear down my
barns and build bigger barns
00:15:04.60\00:15:07.74
and I'll just
jam it all in there
00:15:07.74\00:15:09.70
and I'll have such a
surplus that I can say,
00:15:09.70\00:15:12.04
"Soul, you have many
goods laid up for many years,
00:15:12.04\00:15:15.34
take it easy,
eat, drink, be merry."
00:15:15.34\00:15:18.41
And then God says, "You fool,
00:15:18.41\00:15:21.42
this night your
soul is required of you,
00:15:21.42\00:15:24.15
then whose will those things
be for which you provided."
00:15:24.15\00:15:27.39
Here he thought, you know,
I've got it all stored away,
00:15:27.39\00:15:29.46
I've got my treasure secure,
00:15:29.46\00:15:31.16
and God said, "No,
00:15:31.16\00:15:32.19
actually you're gonna
die in your sleep tonight."
00:15:32.19\00:15:34.93
Then what are you gonna get?
00:15:34.93\00:15:37.00
Instead of thinking
when he had this bumper crop,
00:15:37.00\00:15:39.17
how can I give to others,
how can I share with others.
00:15:39.17\00:15:42.30
His only thought was for self.
00:15:42.30\00:15:44.74
And so for the Christian,
it's all about giving,
00:15:44.74\00:15:49.28
storing your treasure in heaven
00:15:49.28\00:15:50.71
because you're giving to
God, you're giving to others,
00:15:50.71\00:15:52.78
you're trying to save up
that which is gonna last.
00:15:52.78\00:15:55.42
All right, go ahead
read for us Hebrews 10:34.
00:15:55.42\00:15:58.85
"For you had
compassion on me in my chains,
00:15:58.85\00:16:02.16
and joyfully accepted
the plundering of your goods,
00:16:02.16\00:16:05.13
knowing that you have a better
and an enduring possession
00:16:05.13\00:16:09.20
for yourselves in heaven."
00:16:09.20\00:16:11.20
You know, I like
the way Paul says this.
00:16:11.20\00:16:12.80
He said, "You joyfully endure
the plundering of your gifts,"
00:16:12.80\00:16:15.77
you know, of your
goods, you can picture soldiers
00:16:15.77\00:16:18.71
when they invade a city
and they conquer a city.
00:16:18.71\00:16:21.24
They go from house to house
00:16:21.24\00:16:22.41
and they take
everything of value
00:16:22.41\00:16:24.15
and they stored away
and that's called plunder.
00:16:24.15\00:16:27.45
And Paul was saying,
00:16:27.45\00:16:28.62
"You know, when I traveled
maybe with Silas or with Luke,
00:16:28.62\00:16:32.02
and we stayed,
00:16:32.02\00:16:33.86
you had to take
care of feeding us,
00:16:33.86\00:16:36.56
and you took care
of helping clothe us
00:16:36.56\00:16:38.39
and you made all of
your goods available,
00:16:38.39\00:16:40.90
and so he's using,
00:16:40.90\00:16:41.93
he's overstating
that's called hyperbole.
00:16:41.93\00:16:43.87
He says, "You accepted
our plundering your goods."
00:16:43.87\00:16:47.77
You ever have a
visitors come over
00:16:47.77\00:16:51.07
and then when they get
done, there's nothing left.
00:16:51.07\00:16:54.11
If they're teenagers,
00:16:54.11\00:16:55.14
there is no food
left in the refrigerator.
00:16:55.14\00:16:58.21
They've plundered your goods.
00:16:58.21\00:16:59.48
And Paul said, "Look,
00:16:59.48\00:17:00.78
you didn't mind
supplying our needs,"
00:17:00.78\00:17:03.35
is what he's saying,
00:17:03.35\00:17:04.95
"because you know you
have an enduring possession
00:17:04.95\00:17:07.79
in heaven."
00:17:07.79\00:17:09.86
And so when we give to
God, when we give our offerings,
00:17:09.86\00:17:15.23
we're really storing
treasure in heaven, aren't we?
00:17:15.23\00:17:19.40
In Hebrews 11,
00:17:19.40\00:17:22.47
here's another example
of where your treasure is.
00:17:22.47\00:17:26.01
He says, "By faith,
Moses, when he became of age,
00:17:26.01\00:17:30.61
he refused to be called
the son of Pharaoh's daughter,
00:17:30.61\00:17:33.38
choosing rather
to suffer affliction
00:17:33.38\00:17:35.18
with the people of God
00:17:35.18\00:17:36.58
than to enjoy the
passing pleasures of sin,
00:17:36.58\00:17:39.72
esteeming the reproach
of Christ greater riches
00:17:39.72\00:17:43.43
than the treasures in Egypt,
for he looked to the reward."
00:17:43.43\00:17:46.49
Which reward was he looking to?
00:17:46.49\00:17:48.16
The earthly reward
or the heavenly reward?
00:17:48.16\00:17:51.60
And Moses quite
literally did that,
00:17:51.60\00:17:53.54
he turned his back on
all of the treasures of Egypt
00:17:53.54\00:17:58.11
and they were one of
the wealthiest kingdoms
00:17:58.11\00:18:00.04
back then.
00:18:00.04\00:18:01.38
Egypt now is comparatively poor.
00:18:01.38\00:18:03.75
They don't have all the
oil of the Middle Eastern,
00:18:03.75\00:18:06.35
but back then it was
a great trading center.
00:18:06.35\00:18:09.05
And so many of the goods
from Africa came down the Nile
00:18:09.05\00:18:12.32
and it was a
very powerful kingdom.
00:18:12.32\00:18:14.62
They had a temperate climate
00:18:14.62\00:18:15.82
where they were able to
farm there by the delta,
00:18:15.82\00:18:18.16
and they had
great food resources.
00:18:18.16\00:18:20.20
Remember the story of Joseph.
00:18:20.20\00:18:22.36
At its zenith,
00:18:22.36\00:18:23.47
I mean you look at the
big pyramids they built.
00:18:23.47\00:18:26.77
And just King Tut's treasure,
King Tut was a poor king.
00:18:26.77\00:18:31.07
Look at all the gold
that these monarchs had.
00:18:31.07\00:18:35.91
Moses turned his
back on all of that.
00:18:35.91\00:18:38.55
And he said, "I
don't want that treasure.
00:18:38.55\00:18:40.25
I don't want to
be king of the world.
00:18:40.25\00:18:41.68
I want the
treasure that's in heaven."
00:18:41.68\00:18:45.45
Did you hear this last week?
00:18:45.45\00:18:47.92
A lady won the lottery,
00:18:47.92\00:18:51.99
roughly half a billion dollars,
00:18:51.99\00:18:54.10
400 and
something million dollars
00:18:54.10\00:18:57.07
and she's fighting in court,
00:18:57.07\00:18:58.20
now I haven't heard the
outcome if she succeeded or not.
00:18:58.20\00:19:00.74
She wants to remain anonymous
00:19:00.74\00:19:03.17
because she thinks, "My
life is gonna be destroyed
00:19:03.17\00:19:05.34
once everybody finds
out I've got all this money,
00:19:05.34\00:19:07.41
and I'm not gonna be
able to live my life anymore."
00:19:07.41\00:19:09.41
And so she's
fighting through the courts
00:19:09.41\00:19:11.88
to remain anonymous.
00:19:11.88\00:19:15.02
She's probably
all stressed out now.
00:19:15.02\00:19:18.32
Here she's got
$500 million coming in
00:19:18.32\00:19:20.92
and she has no peace.
00:19:20.92\00:19:23.73
She's all wrapped
up in the court system
00:19:23.73\00:19:26.03
because she's realized
00:19:26.03\00:19:27.40
what's gonna happen
to her life after this.
00:19:27.40\00:19:29.46
Isn't that ironic
when you think about it?
00:19:29.46\00:19:32.27
Wouldn't you like
to have that problem?
00:19:32.27\00:19:33.74
Here Moses is saying, "I
want the heavenly reward."
00:19:36.77\00:19:40.24
2 Corinthians 4:18,
00:19:40.24\00:19:43.08
"While we do not look at
the things that are seen,
00:19:43.08\00:19:45.88
but the things
that are not seen.
00:19:45.88\00:19:47.85
For the things that
are seen are temporary,
00:19:47.85\00:19:50.15
but the things which
are not seen are eternal."
00:19:50.15\00:19:52.85
You might say,
00:19:52.85\00:19:53.99
"How do I know I'm gonna
have that treasure in heaven?"
00:19:53.99\00:19:57.23
How do you know?
00:19:57.23\00:19:59.83
God said so.
00:19:59.83\00:20:01.96
He said, "Yeah,
you've got a reward,"
00:20:01.96\00:20:03.73
it's like Jesus said
to that rich young ruler,
00:20:03.73\00:20:05.47
"Go, give what
you have to the poor,
00:20:05.47\00:20:06.80
you'll have treasure in heaven."
00:20:06.80\00:20:08.64
If Jesus says that,
you need to believe it.
00:20:08.64\00:20:10.71
If you are willing to
forsake everything for Him
00:20:10.71\00:20:13.34
and that ought to excite you
if the Lord makes that promise.
00:20:13.34\00:20:17.21
Look in Colossians 3:1 and 2,
00:20:17.21\00:20:20.32
"If then you were
raised with Christ,
00:20:20.32\00:20:22.55
seek those
things that are above,
00:20:22.55\00:20:24.75
where Christ is seated
at the right hand of God.
00:20:24.75\00:20:27.86
Set your mind on things above,
not on things of the earth.
00:20:27.86\00:20:31.26
What's the rest of that
verse? "Seek ye first..." What?
00:20:31.26\00:20:35.90
"The Kingdom of God
and His righteousness."
00:20:35.90\00:20:39.13
You know what I think
Jesus was thinking about
00:20:39.13\00:20:40.67
when He said that verse.
00:20:40.67\00:20:41.77
A lot of what Christ said,
00:20:41.77\00:20:42.84
He's alluding to
the Old Testament.
00:20:42.84\00:20:44.61
You remember when
Solomon first became king
00:20:44.61\00:20:49.54
and he made a
great offering to God.
00:20:49.54\00:20:52.38
This story happens
00:20:52.38\00:20:53.75
after he makes
his great offering,
00:20:53.75\00:20:55.58
I forget he like
offers a thousand bowls
00:20:55.58\00:20:58.02
which is a very lavish offering,
00:20:58.02\00:21:00.09
show God his gratitude.
00:21:00.09\00:21:01.69
God appears to him in a
dream and give him at night.
00:21:01.69\00:21:05.46
And it says,
Solomon loved the Lord,
00:21:05.46\00:21:07.13
walking in all the
commandments of the Lord.
00:21:07.13\00:21:09.66
And God says to him,
00:21:09.66\00:21:14.80
ask what I shall give you.
00:21:14.80\00:21:17.67
Now what would you ask for?
00:21:17.67\00:21:20.94
It's kind of like, you're kid,
00:21:20.94\00:21:24.61
you hear about, you
know, rubbing the genie bottle
00:21:24.61\00:21:27.12
and the genie pops out
and says, "What do you want?"
00:21:27.12\00:21:29.72
So God says, "What do you want?
00:21:29.72\00:21:31.55
You want to win the lottery?
00:21:31.55\00:21:33.69
What do you want?
00:21:33.69\00:21:34.99
You want a new car?"
00:21:34.99\00:21:37.76
What would you ask
for, better newer house,
00:21:37.76\00:21:40.83
with bigger bank account?
00:21:40.83\00:21:42.86
I mean, how many
things could you say?
00:21:42.86\00:21:44.40
You know, it's one thing
if you've got a rich friend
00:21:44.40\00:21:46.20
and he says, "What do you want?"
00:21:46.20\00:21:47.60
But you've got God
saying, "What do you want?"
00:21:47.60\00:21:49.87
I mean that's called
a blank check, right?
00:21:49.87\00:21:53.68
I mean one time
00:21:53.68\00:21:54.74
Hezekiah brought a
message from the Lord...
00:21:54.74\00:21:56.91
I'm sorry
00:21:56.91\00:21:57.95
Isaiah brought a message
from the Lord to Hezekiah,
00:21:57.95\00:21:59.81
he said, "What sign
do you want from God?
00:21:59.81\00:22:01.92
You want the sun
to go down 10 degrees,
00:22:01.92\00:22:03.65
you want the sun
to go backwards,"
00:22:03.65\00:22:05.12
I mean, "what do you want?"
00:22:05.12\00:22:06.72
He says, yeah, we'll
have the sun go backwards.
00:22:06.72\00:22:09.49
So here God says,
"What do you want?"
00:22:09.49\00:22:11.29
What do you ask for?
What did Solomon ask for?
00:22:11.29\00:22:15.10
You know, the key is, it
says Solomon loved the Lord,
00:22:15.10\00:22:18.60
and Solomon
loved the people of God
00:22:18.60\00:22:22.10
because his answer is, he says,
00:22:22.10\00:22:23.47
"Here you've made me
king in the place of my father
00:22:23.47\00:22:25.51
and I'm just a child,
00:22:25.51\00:22:26.88
I don't know how
to go out or come in
00:22:26.88\00:22:28.58
and here I'm king
over this people of yours."
00:22:28.58\00:22:31.51
Solomon says,
"They're your people.
00:22:31.51\00:22:33.55
They're like the sand of the sea
00:22:33.55\00:22:35.45
and I don't know how
to govern your people."
00:22:35.45\00:22:37.89
And so he prays for
an understanding heart
00:22:37.89\00:22:40.49
to know the difference
between good and evil,
00:22:40.49\00:22:42.42
to govern God's people.
00:22:42.42\00:22:43.66
So what is he seeking?
00:22:43.66\00:22:44.93
He's seeking
first the kingdom of God
00:22:44.93\00:22:47.93
and he said, "I need
to know the difference
00:22:47.93\00:22:49.30
between right and wrong."
00:22:49.30\00:22:50.47
He's seeking the
righteousness of God.
00:22:50.47\00:22:53.54
And so because he saw it first,
00:22:53.54\00:22:55.70
the kingdom of God and
the righteousness of God,
00:22:55.70\00:22:57.97
what does he get?
00:22:57.97\00:23:00.11
God says,
"Because you saw at first
00:23:00.11\00:23:01.61
My kingdom and My righteousness,
00:23:01.61\00:23:03.98
I'm gonna give you
things you didn't ask for,
00:23:03.98\00:23:06.65
like nobody else before you."
00:23:06.65\00:23:08.92
And he ends up
becoming the richest king
00:23:08.92\00:23:10.49
who's ever lived,
richest earthly king
00:23:10.49\00:23:13.42
because he'd made
that his priority.
00:23:13.42\00:23:15.22
So this is what
the principle is here
00:23:15.22\00:23:17.26
in seeking first the kingdom
00:23:17.26\00:23:19.46
and making sure your
treasure is in heaven.
00:23:19.46\00:23:23.37
Now when we're talking
about Offerings of Gratitude,
00:23:23.37\00:23:28.54
what's the most
important thing we can give?
00:23:28.54\00:23:31.97
Give our heart?
Give our service?
00:23:31.97\00:23:35.18
What did God give?
00:23:35.18\00:23:36.44
God so loved the
world, He gave His Son.
00:23:36.44\00:23:39.71
Can you give the son?
00:23:39.71\00:23:43.25
Sort of.
00:23:43.25\00:23:44.72
What did Jesus mean when
He said to the disciples,
00:23:44.72\00:23:46.86
"I give to you the
keys of the kingdom?"
00:23:46.86\00:23:49.46
Whatever you bind on
earth will be bound in heaven.
00:23:49.46\00:23:51.53
Whatever you loose on
earth will be loosed in heaven.
00:23:51.53\00:23:53.80
Are apostles given literal keys
00:23:53.80\00:23:55.90
or are we given
the keys in the truth
00:23:55.90\00:23:57.97
when we share Christ?
00:23:57.97\00:24:00.37
So the most
important offering we can give
00:24:00.37\00:24:02.57
is when we give Jesus to others
00:24:02.57\00:24:05.11
'cause you're giving life,
00:24:05.11\00:24:06.81
that's why I still pinch myself
00:24:06.81\00:24:08.31
that I'm involved in
the most important work
00:24:08.31\00:24:10.71
in the world
00:24:10.71\00:24:12.05
that I could
share life with people.
00:24:12.05\00:24:14.72
It is so exciting
to hear the stories
00:24:14.72\00:24:16.95
and we hear the testimonies,
00:24:16.95\00:24:18.32
and I never get tired
of it of people that say,
00:24:18.32\00:24:20.59
"Because you were
preaching the Word,
00:24:20.59\00:24:23.76
I found the Lord" and
that's the short version,
00:24:23.76\00:24:25.59
I hear all kinds of
interesting ways it happened.
00:24:25.59\00:24:28.16
But here we've got some
verses that deal with that.
00:24:28.16\00:24:31.33
Ephesians 2:8,
00:24:31.33\00:24:33.17
"For by grace you have
been saved through faith,
00:24:33.17\00:24:35.44
and not of
yourselves, it is the gift."
00:24:35.44\00:24:37.64
What is salvation? It's a gift.
00:24:37.64\00:24:40.78
It's a gift of God.
00:24:40.78\00:24:42.64
2 Corinthians 8:9,
00:24:42.64\00:24:45.05
"For you know the grace
of our Lord Jesus Christ,
00:24:45.05\00:24:47.95
that though He was rich
for your sake He became poor,
00:24:47.95\00:24:51.15
that through His
poverty we might become rich."
00:24:51.15\00:24:55.89
We get these riches of
His grace in salvation.
00:24:55.89\00:25:00.70
And then one
more in 1 Peter 4:10,
00:25:00.70\00:25:05.33
it says, "As each
one has received a gift,
00:25:05.33\00:25:08.30
minister to it to one another,
00:25:08.30\00:25:10.17
as good stewards of
the manifold grace of God."
00:25:10.17\00:25:15.64
You know what a manifold is,
00:25:15.64\00:25:16.71
I think most of the men
here know what a manifold is.
00:25:16.71\00:25:18.61
You've got an intake
manifold and exhaust manifold,
00:25:18.61\00:25:21.18
we call the manifold.
00:25:21.18\00:25:22.95
It's similar to the
word mini, minifold,
00:25:22.95\00:25:25.32
it means it's
got mini outlets in
00:25:25.32\00:25:27.59
and mini outlets out.
00:25:27.59\00:25:29.16
You can have, you
got an eight cylinder.
00:25:29.16\00:25:31.36
You got a bigger manifold
00:25:31.36\00:25:32.59
then if you
have a four cylinder.
00:25:32.59\00:25:34.76
And I want to talk about
the manifold blessings of God.
00:25:34.76\00:25:37.70
He's talking about all
these different avenues
00:25:37.70\00:25:40.27
through which God
gives us His blessings.
00:25:40.27\00:25:42.67
And they're a gift.
00:25:42.67\00:25:44.44
I'm gonna jump on to
the next section here
00:25:44.44\00:25:46.11
where it talks
about our best offering.
00:25:46.11\00:25:47.71
We still got a lot to cover.
00:25:47.71\00:25:49.08
I see some
questions that came in.
00:25:49.08\00:25:51.05
I see one question there
00:25:51.05\00:25:52.08
that's actually coming up later,
00:25:52.08\00:25:53.42
so I'm holding on that one
00:25:53.42\00:25:55.45
until I get to it in the lesson.
00:25:55.45\00:25:58.85
What is the best
offering you can give?
00:25:58.85\00:26:01.26
If you were to
give 100% of your money,
00:26:01.26\00:26:04.63
is that the best
offering you can give?
00:26:04.63\00:26:07.56
What does the Lord
really want from us
00:26:07.56\00:26:09.63
as the most important offering?
00:26:09.63\00:26:12.87
I think I've got
it here in my lesson.
00:26:12.87\00:26:14.97
Yeah, Psalms 116:12,
00:26:14.97\00:26:18.31
"What shall I render to the Lord
00:26:18.31\00:26:20.58
for all of His
benefits toward me?"
00:26:20.58\00:26:23.71
It says, "I will
take the cup of salvation,
00:26:23.71\00:26:25.88
and call upon the
name of the Lord."
00:26:25.88\00:26:28.55
And so what is it
that we offer to God?
00:26:28.55\00:26:31.32
We take the cup of salvation.
00:26:31.32\00:26:32.79
The most important
gift that we can give
00:26:32.79\00:26:35.32
is by receiving
the gift of salvation.
00:26:35.32\00:26:38.93
Someone's gonna read for me
in just a moment, Exodus 25:2.
00:26:38.93\00:26:43.00
You'll have that, okay.
00:26:43.00\00:26:44.63
I heard a story about...
00:26:44.63\00:26:47.04
There was a youth
camp and at the youth camp,
00:26:47.04\00:26:50.64
after they took an offering
00:26:50.64\00:26:51.77
among this large group of youth,
00:26:51.77\00:26:53.61
the deacons were in the back
00:26:53.61\00:26:55.08
and they're going
through the offering
00:26:55.08\00:26:56.14
and they saw a
picture of a girl in there,
00:26:56.14\00:26:58.38
and they thought
we know what happened,
00:26:58.38\00:26:59.48
one of these teenage
boys, he snag some girl's wallet
00:26:59.48\00:27:03.18
and threw her picture in there,
00:27:03.18\00:27:04.32
it's a practical joke
00:27:04.32\00:27:05.39
that teenagers, you
know, play on one another.
00:27:05.39\00:27:07.39
And they picked up the
picture and they pulled it out
00:27:07.39\00:27:09.09
and they turned it over
00:27:09.09\00:27:10.39
and it actually
was put in by the girl,
00:27:10.39\00:27:12.16
she said, "Look, I
have no money to give
00:27:12.16\00:27:14.00
but I'll give myself."
00:27:14.00\00:27:16.33
And so she put her
picture in the offering basket.
00:27:16.33\00:27:20.00
Isn't that really what
the Lord wants us to do?
00:27:20.00\00:27:22.64
To give ourselves.
00:27:22.64\00:27:23.81
All right, go ahead
read for us, please,
00:27:23.81\00:27:24.94
Exodus 25:2.
00:27:24.94\00:27:27.74
"Speak to the
children of Israel,
00:27:27.74\00:27:29.84
that they bring Me an offering.
00:27:29.84\00:27:31.78
From everyone who gives
it willingly with his heart
00:27:31.78\00:27:34.92
you shall take My offering."
00:27:34.92\00:27:37.45
Now a...
00:27:37.45\00:27:40.29
What's the difference
between tithe and offering?
00:27:40.29\00:27:44.66
Should the tithe be given
whether you're cheerful or not?
00:27:44.66\00:27:50.10
Should the tithe be given
whether you're willing or not?
00:27:50.10\00:27:53.13
Yeah, some people say,
00:27:56.67\00:27:58.31
"Well, the Lord
loves a cheerful giver,
00:27:58.31\00:27:59.51
but he'll take
it from a grouch."
00:27:59.51\00:28:01.14
I remember
reading about this girl
00:28:04.78\00:28:06.72
that when she went to church,
00:28:06.72\00:28:07.85
her parents were
trying to teach her
00:28:07.85\00:28:09.38
the principles of giving,
00:28:09.38\00:28:11.12
and so on the way into church,
00:28:11.12\00:28:12.39
her mother gave her two coins,
00:28:12.39\00:28:13.72
one was a large silver
dollar and one was 25 cents
00:28:13.72\00:28:16.29
and she knew the difference.
00:28:16.29\00:28:17.99
And she said, the mother said,
00:28:17.99\00:28:19.83
"Now I want you
to give one of these
00:28:19.83\00:28:22.43
during church today."
00:28:22.43\00:28:24.33
And so after the offering
00:28:24.33\00:28:26.77
and after church,
they're on the way out
00:28:26.77\00:28:28.60
and mom said to her daughter,
00:28:28.60\00:28:29.70
"So what did
you decide to give?"
00:28:29.70\00:28:31.87
She said, "Well, I was
gonna give the silver dollar,"
00:28:31.87\00:28:35.48
but during the offering appeal,
00:28:35.48\00:28:37.91
the pastor said,
00:28:37.91\00:28:39.08
the Lord wants us
to be cheerful givers
00:28:39.08\00:28:41.72
and I realize I was
gonna be a lot more cheerful
00:28:41.72\00:28:43.92
about giving the 25 cents
than giving the silver dollar.
00:28:43.92\00:28:47.42
So I threw that in instead.
00:28:47.42\00:28:51.99
It's true that
there is a difference
00:28:51.99\00:28:53.56
between offerings and tithe.
00:28:53.56\00:28:56.36
In that the tithe is specified
00:28:56.36\00:29:01.44
and the offering is unspecified,
00:29:01.44\00:29:05.44
both should be
equally given faithfully
00:29:05.44\00:29:09.91
because the Bible says,
00:29:09.91\00:29:11.11
"You can rob God
in not paying tithe."
00:29:11.11\00:29:13.72
And it also says in Malachi,
00:29:13.72\00:29:15.68
"You've robbed Me
in offerings as well."
00:29:15.68\00:29:18.95
Now we should give
our tithe cheerfully.
00:29:18.95\00:29:21.66
We should give
it all cheerfully.
00:29:21.66\00:29:23.12
It's like this little
girl, very little girl
00:29:23.12\00:29:26.56
and her parents
gave her some money
00:29:26.56\00:29:29.13
and she started
counting out the money.
00:29:29.13\00:29:30.60
She had 10
pennies, shiny pennies
00:29:30.60\00:29:32.57
and she said,
"This one is for Jesus,"
00:29:32.57\00:29:35.87
and the parents said,
"Oh, she understands tithe,
00:29:35.87\00:29:37.47
it's very nice."
00:29:37.47\00:29:38.57
And then she said,
"This one's for mommy,
00:29:38.57\00:29:41.68
and this one's for daddy,
and this one's for Jesus."
00:29:41.68\00:29:44.88
And the parents said,
00:29:44.88\00:29:45.95
"Well, you already
gave one for Jesus."
00:29:45.95\00:29:47.02
She said, "No,
that was my tithe,
00:29:47.02\00:29:48.38
this one's a present."
00:29:48.38\00:29:50.42
And so she kind of
got the concept there
00:29:50.42\00:29:53.62
of tithe and offering.
00:29:53.62\00:29:55.86
Our Lord loves a cheerful giver
00:29:55.86\00:29:58.06
and there you have it,
00:29:58.06\00:29:59.83
2 Corinthians 9:6 and 7,
00:29:59.83\00:30:02.50
"But this I say,
He who sows sparingly
00:30:02.50\00:30:04.77
will also reap sparingly,
00:30:04.77\00:30:06.30
and he who sows bountifully
will reap bountifully.
00:30:06.30\00:30:09.17
So let each one give as
he purposes in his heart,
00:30:09.17\00:30:12.24
not grudgingly or of necessity,
00:30:12.24\00:30:15.41
for God loves a cheerful giver."
00:30:15.41\00:30:17.81
Lord wants us to
give from our hearts
00:30:17.81\00:30:20.22
and if He's got your
hearts, it is cheerful.
00:30:20.22\00:30:22.98
And again, you
find Exodus 34:26,
00:30:22.98\00:30:25.79
"It's not to be
the last thing you do,
00:30:25.79\00:30:27.82
it should be the first thing.
00:30:27.82\00:30:29.99
It says,
00:30:29.99\00:30:31.03
"The first of the
firstfruits of your land
00:30:31.03\00:30:34.00
you shall bring to the
house of the Lord your God."
00:30:34.00\00:30:38.33
Now there's a story that
we're asked in our lesson
00:30:38.33\00:30:40.90
to consider,
00:30:40.90\00:30:43.67
and you find it in Luke 7:37.
00:30:43.67\00:30:48.31
"Behold, a woman in the
city who was a sinner, when..."
00:30:48.31\00:30:51.78
And this is
included in that book
00:30:51.78\00:30:53.78
that we often give
away here on Mary Magdalene.
00:30:53.78\00:30:56.82
"A woman in the
city who was a sinner,
00:30:56.82\00:30:58.45
when she knew
that Jesus sat at table
00:30:58.45\00:31:00.56
in the Pharisee's house..."
00:31:00.56\00:31:01.96
You read this gospel in
Matthew, Mark, and Luke,
00:31:01.96\00:31:06.16
you compare them,
00:31:06.16\00:31:07.20
and you realize
this is the house,
00:31:07.20\00:31:08.66
this is
Martha's house at Bethany
00:31:08.66\00:31:11.20
and it was Mary
was their sister.
00:31:11.20\00:31:14.24
"She brought an
alabaster flask of fragrant oil,
00:31:14.24\00:31:17.14
and stood at His
feet behind Him weeping,
00:31:17.14\00:31:19.77
and she began to wash
His feet with her tears,
00:31:19.77\00:31:21.71
and wiped them with
the hair of her head,
00:31:21.71\00:31:23.61
and she kissed His feet
00:31:23.61\00:31:25.08
and anointed them
with fragrant oil.
00:31:25.08\00:31:27.42
Now when the Pharisee
who had invited Him saw this,
00:31:27.42\00:31:29.52
he spoke to himself,
00:31:29.52\00:31:30.95
'This Man, if He was a prophet,
00:31:30.95\00:31:32.12
He'd would know who
and what manner of woman
00:31:32.12\00:31:33.52
this is who is touching
Him, for she is a sinner.'"
00:31:33.52\00:31:36.56
By the way,
00:31:36.56\00:31:37.63
Judas also said something
about the gift, didn't he?
00:31:37.63\00:31:40.80
He said, "Why was
this terrible waste made?
00:31:40.80\00:31:43.06
This offering could have
been sold for 300 denarii
00:31:43.06\00:31:46.23
and given to the poor.
00:31:46.23\00:31:47.80
He goes on to saying,
"John..." I think it's John 12,
00:31:47.80\00:31:50.27
he didn't say this
00:31:50.27\00:31:51.34
because he cared about the poor,
00:31:51.34\00:31:52.57
he was a thief.
00:31:52.57\00:31:53.84
This is where
it's finally revealed
00:31:53.84\00:31:55.08
he was a thief.
00:31:55.08\00:31:56.71
Mary's generosity was
a rebuke to Judas' greed.
00:31:56.71\00:32:02.88
So back to Simon, he's there.
00:32:02.88\00:32:06.15
And Jesus knew
what he was thinking
00:32:06.15\00:32:08.12
and He said to him,
00:32:08.12\00:32:09.49
"Simon, I've got
something to say to you."
00:32:09.49\00:32:11.26
So he said, "Master, say on."
00:32:11.26\00:32:13.33
"There was a certain
creditor who had two debtors.
00:32:13.33\00:32:15.50
One owed five hundred
denarii, and the other fifty."
00:32:15.50\00:32:18.23
One owes 10 times more.
00:32:18.23\00:32:20.47
"And when he had
nothing with which to repay,
00:32:20.47\00:32:23.00
the creditor
freely forgave them both.
00:32:23.00\00:32:25.07
Tell me therefore,
00:32:25.07\00:32:26.17
which of them do you
think will love him more?"
00:32:26.17\00:32:28.61
Simon answered, he said,
00:32:28.61\00:32:29.68
"I suppose the one
that he forgave more."
00:32:29.68\00:32:32.51
And Jesus said, "You
have rightly judged."
00:32:32.51\00:32:35.02
Then He turned to the
woman and he said to Simon...
00:32:35.02\00:32:37.02
He's looking at the woman
but He's speaking to Simon.
00:32:37.02\00:32:39.35
"You see this woman?
00:32:39.35\00:32:40.52
I entered your house,
00:32:40.52\00:32:41.59
you gave Me no
water for My feet,
00:32:41.59\00:32:42.96
but she has washed
My feet with her tears
00:32:42.96\00:32:45.36
and wiped them with
the hair of her head.
00:32:45.36\00:32:47.40
You gave Me no kiss,
00:32:47.40\00:32:48.43
but this woman has
not ceased to kiss My feet
00:32:48.43\00:32:50.37
from the time I came in.
00:32:50.37\00:32:51.87
You did not
anoint My head with oil,
00:32:51.87\00:32:54.10
but this woman has anointed
My feet with fragrant oil.
00:32:54.10\00:32:57.14
Therefore I say to you,
00:32:57.14\00:32:58.57
her sins, which
are many are forgiven,
00:32:58.57\00:33:00.51
for she loved much.
00:33:00.51\00:33:01.91
But to whom little is forgiven,
the same loves little."
00:33:01.91\00:33:05.58
That's a very
important principle.
00:33:05.58\00:33:08.32
He who has
forgiven much loves much.
00:33:08.32\00:33:11.95
People who
understand the sacrifice
00:33:11.95\00:33:13.62
that Jesus made for them
00:33:13.62\00:33:14.89
have no problem
giving offerings.
00:33:14.89\00:33:18.16
When you think about
the price the Father paid
00:33:18.16\00:33:21.40
for your salvation.
00:33:21.40\00:33:22.43
God so loved the
world He gave His Son,
00:33:22.43\00:33:24.83
and then we tighten our knuckles
00:33:24.83\00:33:27.57
around our dollars
00:33:27.57\00:33:30.57
and think, "You know,
00:33:30.57\00:33:32.01
I don't want to let go of this."
00:33:32.01\00:33:33.61
You don't appreciate
how much was paid for you.
00:33:33.61\00:33:37.51
He's not saying,
00:33:37.51\00:33:39.25
"You need to go out
00:33:39.25\00:33:40.28
and become some kind of
just the terrible sinner,
00:33:40.28\00:33:43.35
and then you
repent, you come back
00:33:43.35\00:33:44.69
and then you
appreciate salvation."
00:33:44.69\00:33:47.19
We already are guilty
of the blood of His Son.
00:33:47.19\00:33:51.26
I know I talked
about this story one time
00:33:51.26\00:33:53.26
when I met a
lady after the service
00:33:53.26\00:33:54.93
and she said, "Pastor
Doug, you've got a testimony,
00:33:54.93\00:33:58.83
you know, you're
out there in the world,
00:33:58.83\00:34:00.20
then you were converted,
now you're enthusiastic.
00:34:00.20\00:34:02.70
And I feel like, I've
been raised in the church
00:34:02.70\00:34:04.31
and I've got to go out there
00:34:04.31\00:34:05.37
and just, if I go
and live a prodigal life
00:34:05.37\00:34:09.68
and then I'm
converted and I come back,
00:34:09.68\00:34:11.05
then I'll really
appreciate salvation.
00:34:11.05\00:34:12.78
I just don't feel
like I appreciate it now.
00:34:12.78\00:34:15.45
And I said,
"Sister, God forbid,"
00:34:15.45\00:34:16.75
I said, "You don't
need to go out there
00:34:16.75\00:34:18.42
and be a big sinner and
then repent and come back."
00:34:18.42\00:34:21.12
I said, "You just got to realize
00:34:21.12\00:34:22.16
you already are a big sinner."
00:34:22.16\00:34:24.16
She says, "There
are no little sinners
00:34:24.16\00:34:25.53
because all of
your sin doesn't matter
00:34:25.53\00:34:27.10
if you've grown
up in the church,
00:34:27.10\00:34:28.16
your sin whatever it is
00:34:28.16\00:34:29.70
was big enough to put Jesus
on the cross all by yourself."
00:34:29.70\00:34:33.70
And when you realize that
00:34:33.70\00:34:35.50
God so loved the
world, He gave His Son
00:34:35.50\00:34:37.14
for you and your sins already,
00:34:37.14\00:34:39.87
then you appreciate.
00:34:39.87\00:34:40.98
He who is
forgiven much loves much.
00:34:40.98\00:34:43.21
Say it this way, he who realizes
00:34:43.21\00:34:45.58
how much he was
forgiven loves much.
00:34:45.58\00:34:47.82
Isn't that right?
00:34:47.82\00:34:49.52
And this story is
also amazing in that.
00:34:49.52\00:34:53.22
It's recorded in the Bible
that two people kissed Jesus.
00:34:53.22\00:34:57.83
Judas who complained
about the gift of Mary,
00:34:57.83\00:35:02.10
he kissed Jesus' face
00:35:02.10\00:35:04.63
and betrayed him
for 30 pieces of silver.
00:35:04.63\00:35:07.54
Mary was willing
to kiss His feet,
00:35:07.54\00:35:09.24
and she gave this lavish gift.
00:35:09.24\00:35:12.74
And what a
contrast between the two.
00:35:12.74\00:35:16.61
Anyway, I got a
couple of questions
00:35:16.61\00:35:17.78
I see it coming in.
00:35:17.78\00:35:18.85
All right, let's take
one, this came in on Facebook.
00:35:18.85\00:35:22.12
"How do I find
the faith to give?"
00:35:22.12\00:35:25.39
Well, the same way
you learn arithmetic.
00:35:25.39\00:35:27.29
You may start
with little things.
00:35:27.29\00:35:30.26
And as you discover that
00:35:30.26\00:35:31.56
God takes care of
you in little things,
00:35:31.56\00:35:33.26
your faith will grow.
00:35:33.26\00:35:35.93
Some of the questions we get...
00:35:35.93\00:35:38.60
People are saying,
"Pastor Doug, you know,
00:35:38.60\00:35:40.97
after I pay all my bills,
I have nothing left to give."
00:35:40.97\00:35:44.47
Ah-ha, that's the problem.
00:35:44.47\00:35:46.98
After you pay all your bills,
you have nothing left to...
00:35:46.98\00:35:50.38
Are you supposed to
give your last fruits
00:35:50.38\00:35:51.98
or your first fruits?
00:35:51.98\00:35:54.38
If you would make God first,
00:35:54.38\00:35:55.98
you'd find
something happens miraculously
00:35:55.98\00:35:58.12
before you get to
the rest of your bills.
00:35:58.12\00:36:00.39
And He will
multiply the other 90%,
00:36:00.39\00:36:03.22
but if you wait until
you pay all your bills,
00:36:03.22\00:36:06.26
you say, "I'll see
if I have 10% left,"
00:36:06.26\00:36:08.96
you've made God last.
00:36:08.96\00:36:10.87
That takes no faith.
00:36:10.87\00:36:13.17
And so as you exercise
faith in the little things,
00:36:13.17\00:36:16.47
then your faith will grow.
00:36:16.47\00:36:18.21
Another question came in.
00:36:18.21\00:36:20.31
"What should one do
with the wages they receive
00:36:20.31\00:36:22.44
if they work in some
medical or emergency services?"
00:36:22.44\00:36:25.01
I'm guessing
like doctor or nurse.
00:36:25.01\00:36:26.98
"Should it be given
as tithe or offering?
00:36:26.98\00:36:29.02
Please provide Bible verses."
00:36:29.02\00:36:31.69
It's going to be hard to
provide a specific verse,
00:36:31.69\00:36:34.12
I'll think about that.
00:36:34.12\00:36:36.32
What they're asking is
00:36:36.32\00:36:37.56
obviously there are
certain necessary functions
00:36:37.56\00:36:40.63
if you're a doctor,
00:36:40.63\00:36:44.03
and, you know, you are
required to work on Sabbath,
00:36:44.03\00:36:48.00
or do some emergency work,
00:36:48.00\00:36:49.67
or nurse,
00:36:49.67\00:36:52.21
or some of these
other medical services,
00:36:52.21\00:36:55.38
and you, you know,
hospitals are set up
00:36:55.38\00:36:56.98
where they pay
you those days also,
00:36:56.98\00:36:58.35
even if it's the Sabbath,
00:36:58.35\00:37:01.58
should you turn that
in as tithe, offering,
00:37:01.58\00:37:03.25
keep it, or just
pay a tithe on it,
00:37:03.25\00:37:04.82
or what do you do?
00:37:04.82\00:37:06.62
Well, I tell you what I believe.
00:37:06.62\00:37:10.66
Now Karen is a
physical therapist,
00:37:10.66\00:37:12.43
and at one point when
we were living in Covelo,
00:37:12.43\00:37:15.63
she would drive down,
00:37:15.63\00:37:16.70
and she was on rotation to work
00:37:16.70\00:37:18.23
at one of the
Adventists hospitals
00:37:18.23\00:37:19.83
there in Ukiah.
00:37:19.83\00:37:21.10
And she, every now
and then, would have...
00:37:21.10\00:37:22.90
People had surgery,
00:37:22.90\00:37:23.97
and the next day
would be Sabbath and she...
00:37:23.97\00:37:25.54
They need a physical
therapy, and you have to do it.
00:37:25.54\00:37:28.04
She just decided that
any work she did on Sabbath
00:37:28.04\00:37:30.81
was non-remunerative,
00:37:30.81\00:37:32.41
meaning she'd get the paycheck
but it went to the Lord.
00:37:32.41\00:37:35.82
So the reason that's a
good practice is because
00:37:35.82\00:37:39.65
if you're in the
practice of being paid,
00:37:39.65\00:37:42.59
whenever you work on
Sabbath and keeping that,
00:37:42.59\00:37:45.16
you're going to be tempted
00:37:45.16\00:37:46.23
to just keep on
booking your Sabbaths.
00:37:46.23\00:37:48.70
If you realize,
"Any work I do Sabbath,
00:37:48.70\00:37:50.93
I'm going to
consecrate to the Lord,"
00:37:50.93\00:37:52.93
you're going to be careful that
you don't get booked every week
00:37:52.93\00:37:55.50
on Sabbath.
00:37:55.50\00:37:56.60
Even for those in
the medical field,
00:37:56.60\00:37:57.87
if you're booking
out every Sabbath,
00:37:57.87\00:38:00.64
and you're on
rotation where you're just...
00:38:00.64\00:38:02.34
You're not going to church,
00:38:02.34\00:38:03.75
that's going to
hurt you spiritually.
00:38:03.75\00:38:05.51
You need to try and
arrange your schedule
00:38:05.51\00:38:06.98
so it's the
exception and not the rule.
00:38:06.98\00:38:09.15
Of course, there has to
be people to do those things.
00:38:09.15\00:38:11.39
And there's a lot of unbelievers
00:38:11.39\00:38:12.72
that work in hospitals too.
00:38:12.72\00:38:14.62
I'd say, "Let the
dead bury the dead."
00:38:14.62\00:38:16.19
That's a bad analogy, isn't it?
00:38:16.19\00:38:17.56
But I'm glad someone's
working at the phone company
00:38:20.60\00:38:23.73
and that my phone
works on Sabbath, aren't you?
00:38:23.73\00:38:26.23
I'm glad there's somebody
00:38:26.23\00:38:27.34
keeping the
lights burning today,
00:38:27.34\00:38:28.57
or we'd all be
in the dark, right?
00:38:28.57\00:38:31.91
But I'm not going to do it.
00:38:31.91\00:38:34.18
You let the dead bury the dead.
00:38:34.18\00:38:36.04
You see, you know what
I mean when I say that.
00:38:36.04\00:38:37.98
Kind of overstating it.
00:38:37.98\00:38:39.41
All right, do we
have another question?
00:38:39.41\00:38:40.98
"Should I make my kids
tithe on their earnings?"
00:38:40.98\00:38:44.52
What do you think? Sure.
00:38:44.52\00:38:46.86
Or do they only start
obeying when they are adults?
00:38:46.86\00:38:49.96
Yeah, I think
that you teach them,
00:38:49.96\00:38:51.93
"He that is faithful
in that which is the least
00:38:51.93\00:38:54.10
is also faithful in much."
00:38:54.10\00:38:55.80
Teach them to be
faithful in the little things,
00:38:55.80\00:38:58.10
and have them be paying tithe
00:38:58.10\00:39:00.67
or whatever their allowance is,
00:39:00.67\00:39:01.84
you remind them,
pay tithe on that,
00:39:01.84\00:39:03.67
and be faithful
in the little things.
00:39:03.67\00:39:05.81
Another question,
"How do I find the faith
00:39:05.81\00:39:08.28
to let go of the
things of this world
00:39:08.28\00:39:10.25
and know it's going to be okay
00:39:10.25\00:39:12.08
to give everything over to God?"
00:39:12.08\00:39:15.48
Well, when you
really completely surrender
00:39:15.48\00:39:17.25
to the Lord, and you say,
00:39:17.25\00:39:18.35
"Lord, all that I am, and
all that I have is Thine."
00:39:18.35\00:39:21.99
That's actually in the Bible
00:39:21.99\00:39:23.53
where King Ahab
said to another king,
00:39:23.53\00:39:27.30
"All that I have, and
all that I am is yours."
00:39:27.30\00:39:30.90
It's a great
statement to make to the Lord.
00:39:30.90\00:39:33.23
When you make a
complete surrender,
00:39:33.23\00:39:34.50
and you take up your cross,
00:39:34.50\00:39:35.60
and you're
crucified with the Jesus,
00:39:35.60\00:39:36.87
once you're dead,
00:39:36.87\00:39:37.94
you're not
afraid of anything else.
00:39:37.94\00:39:40.28
Can anyone do
anything more to you
00:39:40.28\00:39:41.74
once you're dead?
00:39:41.74\00:39:43.81
And so if you really
laid all on the altar,
00:39:43.81\00:39:45.88
meaning your heart
and your life to the Lord,
00:39:45.88\00:39:48.48
you have nothing
to fear after that
00:39:48.48\00:39:50.09
'cause you are
fully consecrated to God.
00:39:50.09\00:39:52.75
And it all belongs to Him.
00:39:52.75\00:39:55.06
I have another question here.
00:39:55.06\00:39:56.39
We're going to get
back to the lesson here,
00:39:56.39\00:39:57.53
but I'll try and
take a few more questions.
00:39:57.53\00:40:00.23
"If my spouse is
the sole provider
00:40:00.23\00:40:02.56
but he's not a believer,
00:40:02.56\00:40:04.17
how do I tithe?"
00:40:04.17\00:40:07.20
Well, that is a
difficult situation.
00:40:07.20\00:40:10.67
It's especially difficult
if your spouse thinks that
00:40:10.67\00:40:13.27
because you may do
work around the house
00:40:13.27\00:40:17.88
that he is the sole provider,
00:40:17.88\00:40:21.12
that would be sort
of a terrible tyranny
00:40:21.12\00:40:22.78
to live under
00:40:22.78\00:40:23.95
where one member of the family
says a 100% of it is mine.
00:40:23.95\00:40:27.32
When you're married,
you become one flesh,
00:40:27.32\00:40:30.46
and the Bible says
you're not even supposed to say
00:40:30.46\00:40:32.39
your own body is yours.
00:40:32.39\00:40:34.86
So for one
spouse to tell the other
00:40:34.86\00:40:36.46
100% of the income is mine
00:40:36.46\00:40:38.67
because I'm the
one with the job,
00:40:38.67\00:40:40.10
that's a bad relationship.
00:40:40.10\00:40:42.87
And so typically, our
paycheck comes in my name.
00:40:42.87\00:40:46.68
Karen's also
working part time too.
00:40:46.68\00:40:49.48
But I've always understood
00:40:49.48\00:40:52.91
that she's got
some of the money,
00:40:52.91\00:40:55.92
as a matter of fact,
00:40:55.92\00:40:56.99
she takes care of
the whole checkbook.
00:40:56.99\00:40:58.05
She knows more about
how much money we have
00:40:58.05\00:40:59.39
than I do.
00:40:59.39\00:41:01.22
That's the truth.
00:41:01.22\00:41:02.46
And so I would
say to your spouse,
00:41:02.46\00:41:04.46
"Look, what do I
have for my budget?
00:41:04.46\00:41:07.03
Is any of this mine?"
00:41:07.03\00:41:08.86
There needs to be
some agreement to say,
00:41:08.86\00:41:10.60
"Yeah, you've got
some discretionary money
00:41:10.60\00:41:12.60
that is yours.
00:41:12.60\00:41:13.77
You pay tithe on what is yours."
00:41:13.77\00:41:15.67
And if not then you
get marriage counseling.
00:41:15.67\00:41:18.37
Because you ought
to be able to say,
00:41:18.37\00:41:21.31
"Some of this belongs to me."
00:41:21.31\00:41:23.41
Is that right? Yes.
00:41:23.41\00:41:24.75
Yeah, I just...
00:41:24.75\00:41:25.85
I think that if you're
going to have a happy marriage,
00:41:25.85\00:41:28.82
otherwise one person is
sort of hoarding everything,
00:41:28.82\00:41:30.65
and that's pretty greed.
00:41:30.65\00:41:32.19
"If I'm not able to
tithe because of all my bills,
00:41:32.19\00:41:35.16
should I sell my
belongings or sell my car
00:41:35.16\00:41:37.63
so I don't have a car payment?"
00:41:37.63\00:41:39.69
Well, there's two things
00:41:39.69\00:41:40.76
that are kind of
embedded in this.
00:41:40.76\00:41:42.06
One is, as I
mentioned, put your tithe first,
00:41:42.06\00:41:46.87
and see what God does
to bless what remains.
00:41:46.87\00:41:50.14
The other question is,
00:41:50.14\00:41:52.47
if you're buying
outside of your income,
00:41:52.47\00:41:55.54
you know, if you
have a lot of payments
00:41:55.54\00:41:56.81
on different things,
00:41:56.81\00:41:58.35
you might need to downsize
00:41:58.35\00:42:00.75
so that you can
live in the budget,
00:42:00.75\00:42:01.98
and part of your
budget is paying tithe.
00:42:01.98\00:42:04.09
I'm sorry, friends,
00:42:04.09\00:42:05.32
if you'd say,
"Well, Pastor Doug,
00:42:05.32\00:42:06.72
this tithe business
is really difficult."
00:42:06.72\00:42:08.29
You're going to have to
take it up with the Lord.
00:42:08.29\00:42:09.56
It's not my idea.
00:42:09.56\00:42:11.46
Isn't that right? Yes.
00:42:11.46\00:42:12.66
This is from the Lord.
00:42:12.66\00:42:13.73
It's His plan for blessing you
00:42:13.73\00:42:16.46
and for the propagation of
the gospel around the world.
00:42:16.46\00:42:20.20
All right, back to our study.
00:42:20.20\00:42:21.67
We got a few more
minutes to cover these things.
00:42:21.67\00:42:24.74
Proverbs, and
this is another one
00:42:24.74\00:42:26.04
about the firstfruits.
00:42:26.04\00:42:27.11
Proverbs 3:9 and 10,
00:42:27.11\00:42:28.68
"Honor the Lord
with your possessions
00:42:28.68\00:42:30.38
and with the
firstfruit of all your increase.
00:42:30.38\00:42:34.18
So your barns will
be filled with plenty,
00:42:34.18\00:42:37.05
and your vats will
overflow with new wine."
00:42:37.05\00:42:40.59
So what's the promise
if we do the firstfruits?
00:42:40.59\00:42:43.99
It says, your barns,
00:42:43.99\00:42:45.86
you know, the barn is where
they store the goods of vats
00:42:45.86\00:42:47.73
when they had the wine
00:42:47.73\00:42:48.86
or they had vats
that stored the oil,
00:42:48.86\00:42:50.73
he said, "You're just
going to have the abundance.
00:42:50.73\00:42:51.97
God will bless what remains
00:42:51.97\00:42:53.87
if you honor God
with the first fruits."
00:42:53.87\00:42:56.04
That's a promise you
need to prove the Lord on.
00:42:56.04\00:42:59.31
Now, what's the
motive for giving?
00:42:59.31\00:43:02.48
What should be
the motive for giving?
00:43:02.48\00:43:04.18
Needs to be gratitude and love.
00:43:07.48\00:43:08.55
You know, one of my
favorite stories in the Bible
00:43:08.55\00:43:10.29
is the story of
Naaman and leper.
00:43:10.29\00:43:12.72
Here you have
the Syrian General.
00:43:12.72\00:43:15.32
He comes down to Elisha
00:43:15.32\00:43:16.56
'cause he's heard that Elisha
can heal someone from leprosy.
00:43:16.56\00:43:20.26
And first,
reluctantly, he leaves it,
00:43:20.26\00:43:23.06
but he agrees to obey.
00:43:23.06\00:43:24.23
He washes in the
Jordan River seven times,
00:43:24.23\00:43:27.17
his leprosy is cleansed.
00:43:27.17\00:43:29.04
Now when he came to
Elisha for cleansing,
00:43:29.04\00:43:31.34
he brought this
fabulous amount of money
00:43:31.34\00:43:33.54
'cause he had come
from King of Syria,
00:43:33.54\00:43:35.44
and he has an
armed escort with him
00:43:35.44\00:43:37.25
'cause they're
guarding all of this wealth.
00:43:37.25\00:43:38.68
They've got
silver, they've got gold,
00:43:38.68\00:43:40.18
they've got clothing and gifts
00:43:40.18\00:43:42.05
to give to
Elisha for his healing.
00:43:42.05\00:43:43.55
It was like a
very high medical bill
00:43:43.55\00:43:45.19
he expected to pay,
00:43:45.19\00:43:46.69
kind of like
medical bills today.
00:43:46.69\00:43:48.66
Can you imagine how
much you could charge
00:43:48.66\00:43:50.03
if you could cure a
person from leprosy?
00:43:50.03\00:43:53.23
And so it was very expensive.
00:43:53.23\00:43:56.16
But here, Elisha tells him,
"Just go wash in the Jordan."
00:43:56.16\00:43:58.37
He washes, he
comes up, he is clean.
00:43:58.37\00:44:01.20
Now he's already on
his way back to Syria,
00:44:01.20\00:44:06.47
he is so thankful.
00:44:06.47\00:44:08.58
The Bible says
his flesh was restored
00:44:08.58\00:44:10.25
like the flesh
of a little child.
00:44:10.25\00:44:12.15
If you're dying, and
you know you're dying,
00:44:12.15\00:44:14.45
and you're dying from leprosy,
you're dying in degrees.
00:44:14.45\00:44:16.69
You're slowly falling apart.
00:44:16.69\00:44:19.45
And you can't
embrace your children
00:44:19.45\00:44:21.36
'cause it's contagious disease.
00:44:21.36\00:44:22.62
You are unclean
and you're dying.
00:44:22.62\00:44:24.93
That'd be terrible.
00:44:24.93\00:44:26.43
You're terminal.
00:44:26.43\00:44:27.76
All of a sudden,
you're completely healed,
00:44:27.76\00:44:29.60
not only are you healed,
you're better than before,
00:44:29.60\00:44:31.37
you got baby skin, right?
00:44:31.37\00:44:34.40
How happy are you?
00:44:34.40\00:44:36.54
Now he could
have taken his money
00:44:36.54\00:44:39.04
and just going back to Syria.
00:44:39.04\00:44:40.84
He got no bill from the doctor.
00:44:40.84\00:44:42.74
Elisha didn't give him a bill.
00:44:42.74\00:44:44.51
But Naaman is so thankful,
00:44:44.51\00:44:46.11
he doubles back
00:44:46.11\00:44:47.98
to go just for the purpose
of thanking the man of God.
00:44:47.98\00:44:52.32
He had no other
reason to go back.
00:44:52.32\00:44:54.06
He not only wants to thank
him verbally, and praise God,
00:44:54.06\00:44:56.79
he says, "Now take a
gift from your servant."
00:44:56.79\00:44:59.83
He hadn't gotten a bill.
00:44:59.83\00:45:02.36
So what is his
motive for giving?
00:45:02.36\00:45:06.00
Joy, love, gratitude.
00:45:06.00\00:45:09.60
He said, "I've been given life,
00:45:09.60\00:45:12.01
I will give everything
to be cleansed from leprosy.
00:45:12.01\00:45:14.81
Everything I
have, you can have it,
00:45:14.81\00:45:16.01
and I'll still be happy."
00:45:16.01\00:45:18.45
How happy was Naaman before
when he's dying of leprosy,
00:45:18.45\00:45:22.92
and he's very wealthy,
00:45:22.92\00:45:24.02
and he's very
famous, wasn't happy.
00:45:24.02\00:45:26.22
What profit is it if
you got all those things
00:45:26.22\00:45:27.79
and you're dying?
00:45:27.79\00:45:29.36
So there's a lot of
miserable millionaires
00:45:29.36\00:45:31.36
out there, did you know that?
00:45:31.36\00:45:33.96
And I grew up...
00:45:33.96\00:45:35.90
My father was one of them.
00:45:35.90\00:45:37.90
Drank himself to
sleep every night,
00:45:37.90\00:45:39.90
had millions of dollars.
00:45:39.90\00:45:40.97
And we knew a lot of
people that were in that world.
00:45:40.97\00:45:44.14
Happiness does
not come from money,
00:45:44.14\00:45:46.11
but if you've got life,
00:45:46.11\00:45:48.54
then Naaman, he's so happy.
00:45:48.54\00:45:50.35
He gives for the right
reason, gratitude in his heart.
00:45:50.35\00:45:54.08
All right, someone's going
to read for me Proverbs 11:25,
00:45:54.08\00:45:57.82
and I'll be
reading, just before that,
00:45:57.82\00:46:01.16
Luke 6:38,
00:46:01.16\00:46:02.96
"Give, and it
will be given to you,
00:46:02.96\00:46:05.16
good measure, pressed down,
shaken together, running over
00:46:05.16\00:46:08.80
will men put into your bosom.
00:46:08.80\00:46:10.57
For with the same
measure that you use,
00:46:10.57\00:46:12.77
it will be measured back to you.
00:46:12.77\00:46:15.14
The generous soul
will be made fat."
00:46:15.14\00:46:18.47
Now he's not talking
about the kind of fat
00:46:18.47\00:46:19.54
you worry about today.
00:46:19.54\00:46:20.94
He's taking about
00:46:20.94\00:46:22.01
the generous soul
will have in abundance.
00:46:22.01\00:46:24.31
And so God says, He
will give to the givers.
00:46:24.31\00:46:26.45
This is a principle
that Jesus shares also.
00:46:26.45\00:46:29.02
Please read for us Proverbs 11.
00:46:29.02\00:46:31.72
"The liberal soul
shall be made fat.
00:46:31.72\00:46:35.62
And he that watereth
shall be watered also himself."
00:46:35.62\00:46:39.86
Sorry, I stole part of
your verse just by memory,
00:46:39.86\00:46:42.86
but I like the
second part there.
00:46:42.86\00:46:44.63
"He that waters will
also be watered himself."
00:46:44.63\00:46:47.67
On the streets, we used to say,
00:46:47.67\00:46:49.47
"What goes
around, comes around,"
00:46:49.47\00:46:52.51
"You get what you give."
00:46:52.51\00:46:55.74
There's the
ricochet effect in life
00:46:55.74\00:46:58.35
that whatever you put
out is going to come back.
00:46:58.35\00:47:01.05
And so it is a
biblical principle,
00:47:01.05\00:47:03.39
you know, some
people call it karma.
00:47:03.39\00:47:05.22
I don't like
using that terminology
00:47:05.22\00:47:06.92
but it is true
00:47:06.92\00:47:08.29
that you tend to
get what you give.
00:47:08.29\00:47:10.59
And if you're generous,
00:47:10.59\00:47:12.13
and you care about
the poor when they cry,
00:47:12.13\00:47:14.30
God says, "When you
cry, I'll hear your prayer."
00:47:14.30\00:47:17.40
And so that's
something that stays with us.
00:47:17.40\00:47:22.27
It doesn't make sense but God...
00:47:22.27\00:47:26.07
Things are
multiplied through subtraction
00:47:26.07\00:47:29.38
when you give.
00:47:29.38\00:47:30.91
I think it was a...
00:47:30.91\00:47:32.91
Mother Teresa said,
00:47:32.91\00:47:33.95
"If you give
what you do not need,
00:47:33.95\00:47:35.92
it isn't really giving."
00:47:35.92\00:47:37.89
One where our offerings
are all composed of leftovers,
00:47:37.89\00:47:41.02
there's really no
sacrifice involved in that.
00:47:41.02\00:47:43.76
"He who gives what he
would readily throw away,
00:47:43.76\00:47:45.89
gives without generosity,
00:47:45.89\00:47:47.83
for the essence of generosity
is in self sacrifice."
00:47:47.83\00:47:52.20
And CS Lewis put it this way,
00:47:52.20\00:47:54.17
"I do not believe one can settle
00:47:54.17\00:47:55.90
on how much we ought to give,
00:47:55.90\00:47:57.84
I'm afraid the only safe rule
00:47:57.84\00:48:00.28
is to give more
than we can spare."
00:48:00.28\00:48:02.51
People kept
writing to CS Lewis saying,
00:48:02.51\00:48:04.35
"How much
exactly should we give?"
00:48:04.35\00:48:05.95
He said, "I don't
think there's a safe rule.
00:48:05.95\00:48:07.75
The only thing I
can come up with,
00:48:07.75\00:48:09.12
'give more than you can spare.'"
00:48:09.12\00:48:11.25
'Cause that means it
hurts a little bit, right?
00:48:11.25\00:48:13.89
You're giving so
that you sacrifice,
00:48:13.89\00:48:15.92
that's what Christian giving is.
00:48:15.92\00:48:18.06
And the promises
in Philippians 4:19,
00:48:18.06\00:48:20.86
"My God will
supply all of your need
00:48:20.86\00:48:23.06
according to His riches
in glory by Jesus Christ."
00:48:23.06\00:48:27.50
I think Victor Hugo
said, "As the purse is emptied,
00:48:27.50\00:48:30.71
the heart is filled."
00:48:30.71\00:48:34.71
What about the
experience of giving?
00:48:34.71\00:48:38.91
There's a joy that
comes, isn't there when we give?
00:48:38.91\00:48:45.32
1 Chronicles 29:13,
00:48:45.32\00:48:47.16
"Now therefore, our God,
00:48:47.16\00:48:48.32
we thank You, and we
praise Your glorious name.
00:48:48.32\00:48:50.99
But who am I, and
who are my people,
00:48:50.99\00:48:53.43
that we were able to give
to offer so willingly as this?
00:48:53.43\00:48:56.90
For all things come from You,
00:48:56.90\00:48:58.47
and of Your own
we have given You."
00:48:58.47\00:49:00.74
There's a joy
and the satisfaction
00:49:00.74\00:49:01.94
when we give.
00:49:01.94\00:49:02.97
And, you know, in reality,
00:49:02.97\00:49:04.14
you don't get to
keep unless you give.
00:49:04.14\00:49:07.08
I remember
reading about Sadie Saker.
00:49:07.08\00:49:09.08
She was working
in the Philippines,
00:49:09.08\00:49:11.41
a sort of a
mother in an orphanage,
00:49:11.41\00:49:13.55
a mother of a home.
00:49:13.55\00:49:15.02
And she loved to read,
00:49:15.02\00:49:16.25
and she had a great
collection of books.
00:49:16.25\00:49:17.95
And there are some books
00:49:17.95\00:49:19.02
she was willing
to share and lend
00:49:19.02\00:49:20.66
that she had a bookshelf,
00:49:20.66\00:49:22.02
and the book she
was willing to lend
00:49:22.02\00:49:23.36
she had it in bookshelf.
00:49:23.36\00:49:24.83
But she had certain
books she really treasured.
00:49:24.83\00:49:26.39
And she was afraid
she'd lend these books
00:49:26.39\00:49:28.50
and they wouldn't come back,
00:49:28.50\00:49:29.63
she said, "These are
the books I'm not giving,
00:49:29.63\00:49:31.40
I'm not lending to anyone.
00:49:31.40\00:49:32.83
I don't want to
risk losing them."
00:49:32.83\00:49:34.47
She kept them in a
footlocker under her bed.
00:49:34.47\00:49:37.94
And after many months
of working in this mission,
00:49:37.94\00:49:41.04
she woke one night,
and she kept thinking,
00:49:41.04\00:49:42.28
"I keep hearing
this strange noise,"
00:49:42.28\00:49:44.15
and she listened
and listens, said,
00:49:44.15\00:49:45.35
"What is that noise?"
00:49:45.35\00:49:46.95
And after weeks of hearing it,
00:49:46.95\00:49:48.05
she kind of tracked it
down to the foot over her bed,
00:49:48.05\00:49:50.35
and it was coming
from her footlocker.
00:49:50.35\00:49:52.82
And she opened
up her footlocker,
00:49:52.82\00:49:54.66
and it was full of termites.
00:49:54.66\00:49:57.26
She had heard the little
grinding noise of termites,
00:49:57.26\00:49:59.53
and what the
termites had done is
00:49:59.53\00:50:00.83
they had eaten through
all of her treasured books.
00:50:00.83\00:50:04.13
The books on the
shelf she shared,
00:50:04.13\00:50:06.17
she still had,
00:50:06.17\00:50:07.40
the ones she hoarded were lost.
00:50:07.40\00:50:11.31
I think it was
Martin Luther who said,
00:50:11.31\00:50:13.61
"I have held many
things in my hands,
00:50:13.61\00:50:15.08
and I've lost them all,
00:50:15.08\00:50:16.38
but whatever I
placed in God's hands,
00:50:16.38\00:50:18.18
that I still possess."
00:50:18.18\00:50:20.22
That's a good principle.
Amen. Well, we're out of time.
00:50:20.22\00:50:22.68
I want to remind you
that we have a special gift,
00:50:22.68\00:50:25.29
and this is at the heart
of what we've studied today,
00:50:25.29\00:50:27.29
it's called the
Surrender of Self.
00:50:27.29\00:50:29.36
If you'd like a
free copy of this book,
00:50:29.36\00:50:31.43
just call the
number, 866-788-3966,
00:50:31.43\00:50:35.86
ask for offer number 153.
00:50:35.86\00:50:38.87
And we'll send this to you.
00:50:38.87\00:50:40.57
Then read it, and share it
with a friend who talks about
00:50:40.57\00:50:42.50
what it really
means to surrender all
00:50:42.50\00:50:44.74
and to put your
life on the altar.
00:50:44.74\00:50:46.68
God bless you, friends,
00:50:46.68\00:50:47.71
we look forward to study
in His word with you again
00:50:47.71\00:50:50.28
next Sabbath.
00:50:50.28\00:50:51.48
Have you ever heard a
mouse howl like a wolf?
00:51:02.66\00:51:06.36
Well, what would
you expect would happen
00:51:06.36\00:51:08.13
when a creature
changes its destiny
00:51:08.13\00:51:10.43
from the hapless
prey to mighty predator?
00:51:10.43\00:51:14.17
From the outside
they look very much
00:51:14.17\00:51:15.84
like just an
oversized field mouse,
00:51:15.84\00:51:18.31
cute brown fur,
white on the underbelly,
00:51:18.31\00:51:20.71
nice little beady eyes,
00:51:20.71\00:51:22.64
but that's where
the similarity stop.
00:51:22.64\00:51:24.75
Grasshopper
mice are very unusual
00:51:24.75\00:51:27.15
making them the
objects of great interest
00:51:27.15\00:51:29.38
for animal researchers.
00:51:29.38\00:51:32.69
These furry little creatures
are found in the harsh deserts
00:51:32.69\00:51:35.32
of North America.
00:51:35.32\00:51:36.76
They're very
territorial in nature.
00:51:36.76\00:51:38.46
And they will monopolize
and fend off 25 acres.
00:51:38.46\00:51:42.13
They don't build their own homes
00:51:42.13\00:51:43.47
but sort of
confiscate the burrows
00:51:43.47\00:51:45.23
and the homes
of other creatures.
00:51:45.23\00:51:48.14
They're not
called grasshopper mice
00:51:48.14\00:51:49.47
'cause they hop around.
00:51:49.47\00:51:50.84
But it's because they
eat a lot of grasshoppers.
00:51:50.84\00:51:52.81
In fact
scientists have discovered
00:51:52.81\00:51:54.48
grasshopper mice
are the only mice
00:51:54.48\00:51:56.71
that are purely carnivorous.
00:51:56.71\00:52:00.28
They hunt much
like cats or weasels,
00:52:00.28\00:52:02.38
stalking their prey
in a predatory fashion,
00:52:02.38\00:52:04.99
and when they
pounce, they are ferocious.
00:52:04.99\00:52:07.66
Sometimes even taking on snakes,
00:52:07.66\00:52:09.59
and scorpions, and centipedes.
00:52:09.59\00:52:12.73
When a grasshopper mouse
gets into a fierce battle
00:52:12.73\00:52:15.30
with a snake, or a
scorpion, or centipede,
00:52:15.30\00:52:17.63
they may be bit or
stung several times.
00:52:17.63\00:52:20.67
But what is
amazing to researchers is
00:52:20.67\00:52:22.50
they've noticed
when they are bitten,
00:52:22.50\00:52:24.61
they somehow shake it off
00:52:24.61\00:52:26.61
because they convert the toxin
and the venom to pain killer.
00:52:26.61\00:52:31.55
I think you can
understand why this information
00:52:31.55\00:52:33.82
would be of special
interest to scientists
00:52:33.82\00:52:36.28
that are trying
to discover new ways
00:52:36.28\00:52:38.12
for people to
deal with chronic pain.
00:52:38.12\00:52:41.76
One of the most
intriguing characteristics
00:52:41.76\00:52:43.69
of these little creatures
00:52:43.69\00:52:45.59
is when they're
defending their territory
00:52:45.59\00:52:47.60
or celebrating a
victory over some adversary,
00:52:47.60\00:52:50.90
they'll threw back their head
00:52:50.90\00:52:52.17
and let out this
earthshaking howl.
00:52:52.17\00:52:55.30
It's a mousy howl. Check it out.
00:52:55.30\00:52:57.94
The grasshopper mouse is
not the only member of creation
00:53:04.08\00:53:07.22
that can survive encounters
with venomous predators.
00:53:07.22\00:53:10.82
In Luke 10:19 it says,
00:53:10.82\00:53:12.59
"Behold, I will
give you authority
00:53:12.59\00:53:15.12
to trample on
serpents and scorpions,
00:53:15.12\00:53:17.69
and over all the
power of the enemy.
00:53:17.69\00:53:20.16
Nothing will by
any means hurt you."
00:53:20.16\00:53:22.96
We don't have to be the
biggest and the strongest
00:53:22.96\00:53:25.20
to defeat our enemy and
led out that victory roar.
00:53:25.20\00:53:28.34
When God called
David to be king,
00:53:28.34\00:53:30.31
no human would have
guessed that he had it in him.
00:53:30.31\00:53:32.64
He was young and insignificant,
00:53:32.64\00:53:34.71
from the outside he looked like
there was no greatness in him.
00:53:34.71\00:53:38.38
But when God
looked at his heart,
00:53:38.38\00:53:39.98
He saw courage,
humility, compassion, and love.
00:53:39.98\00:53:43.65
David wasn't
perfect and he made mistakes
00:53:43.65\00:53:45.89
but through God's power,
he was able to conquer giants.
00:53:45.89\00:53:50.39
Friend, God does not intend
00:53:50.39\00:53:51.76
that you live out
the rest of your life
00:53:51.76\00:53:53.26
cowering and trembling
like a little field mouse.
00:53:53.26\00:53:56.43
If God can take
the grasshopper mouse
00:53:56.43\00:53:58.23
and give him courage
so that he fights snakes,
00:53:58.23\00:54:01.00
and scorpions, and centipedes.
00:54:01.00\00:54:03.24
If God can put in
the heart of David
00:54:03.24\00:54:04.77
the courage to
fight giants like Goliath,
00:54:04.77\00:54:07.91
then He can give
you that same courage.
00:54:07.91\00:54:10.18
The scripture say,
00:54:10.18\00:54:11.25
"God has not given
you the spirit of fear
00:54:11.25\00:54:13.78
but of power,
love, and a sound mind."
00:54:13.78\00:54:17.25
And you can have
that peace in your heart
00:54:17.25\00:54:18.92
when you invite
the Prince of Peace
00:54:18.92\00:54:20.62
in your heart.
00:54:20.62\00:54:21.72
Why don't you do that right now?
00:54:21.72\00:54:23.22
Let's face it,
00:54:32.17\00:54:33.57
it's not always easy
00:54:33.57\00:54:34.70
to understand everything
you read in The Bible.
00:54:34.70\00:54:37.24
With over 700,000
words contained in 66 books,
00:54:37.24\00:54:41.04
The Bible can
generate a lot of questions.
00:54:41.04\00:54:43.55
To get biblical
straight forward answers,
00:54:43.55\00:54:46.01
call into Bible Answers Live,
00:54:46.01\00:54:47.88
a live nationwide
call-in radio program
00:54:47.88\00:54:50.52
where you can talk
to Pastor Doug Batchelor
00:54:50.52\00:54:52.65
and ask him your most
difficult Bible questions.
00:54:52.65\00:54:55.36
For times and
stations in your area
00:54:55.36\00:54:57.59
or to listen to answers online,
visit bal.amazingfacts.org.
00:54:57.59\00:55:02.73
Amazing Facts, changed lives.
00:55:10.07\00:55:13.07
I grew up here in New York City.
00:55:17.88\00:55:20.48
I guess dealing
with all the temptations
00:55:20.48\00:55:23.02
that you would
have in a big city.
00:55:23.02\00:55:24.95
Everything that
you could imagine
00:55:24.95\00:55:26.55
that you could run into,
00:55:26.55\00:55:28.69
drugs, crime,
it was always here.
00:55:28.69\00:55:32.36
When I was at a young age,
00:55:32.36\00:55:33.60
I actually got into
trouble with the law,
00:55:33.60\00:55:36.73
and my only out was to
join the military at the time
00:55:36.73\00:55:40.40
in order to not do time.
00:55:40.40\00:55:42.17
So I left New York
00:55:42.17\00:55:43.71
and traveled the
world a little bit
00:55:43.71\00:55:46.37
while I was in the military.
00:55:46.37\00:55:48.61
Eventually I came back,
00:55:48.61\00:55:50.65
having grown up
as a hip hop kid,
00:55:50.65\00:55:53.31
I eventually found myself
00:55:53.31\00:55:54.78
working in a
music business actually.
00:55:54.78\00:55:57.15
I worked at a couple
of major radio stations,
00:55:57.15\00:55:59.32
hip-hop, reggae.
00:55:59.32\00:56:00.52
I was at all
the big reggae shows
00:56:00.52\00:56:01.86
working then.
00:56:01.86\00:56:02.86
No matter what I did
to try and satisfy myself,
00:56:02.86\00:56:05.79
nothing really worked.
00:56:05.79\00:56:08.83
I remember I used to play
at this one club in Manhattan.
00:56:08.83\00:56:12.23
I used to play
there every Friday night.
00:56:12.23\00:56:14.67
So I came home
one Saturday morning
00:56:14.67\00:56:17.14
after leaving the club,
00:56:17.14\00:56:18.64
and I turned on
the video channel
00:56:18.64\00:56:20.88
like I usually do.
00:56:20.88\00:56:22.14
So it was this guy in
the video channel talking,
00:56:22.14\00:56:24.15
and he was
definitely out of place
00:56:24.15\00:56:25.85
but the things
that he was saying
00:56:25.85\00:56:28.85
just totally amazed me.
00:56:28.85\00:56:30.72
I never heard anyone
speak about the Bible
00:56:30.72\00:56:33.79
like this before.
00:56:33.79\00:56:34.82
So I started coming home
early on Saturday mornings
00:56:34.82\00:56:37.66
just to catch this show.
00:56:37.66\00:56:39.39
I found the
things that he was saying
00:56:39.39\00:56:40.93
absolutely amazing.
00:56:40.93\00:56:43.20
To the point where it
literally made me stop
00:56:43.20\00:56:46.53
and start to think about
how I was living my life.
00:56:46.53\00:56:50.41
So I found that
all of these things
00:56:50.41\00:56:51.74
that I have been doing
to try and find happiness
00:56:51.74\00:56:55.71
were actually not
making me happy at all
00:56:55.71\00:56:57.58
but were really just
leaving me empty inside.
00:56:57.58\00:57:00.68
When I started reading the Bible
00:57:00.68\00:57:02.28
and it started to make sense,
I started to make changes.
00:57:02.28\00:57:06.39
I even tried to keep the Sabbath
00:57:06.39\00:57:08.92
which I failed at miserably.
00:57:08.92\00:57:10.83
So I was actually
invited by Amazing Facts
00:57:10.83\00:57:13.90
to go to see a live series
at one of the local churches,
00:57:13.90\00:57:18.27
but after going the first night,
00:57:18.27\00:57:19.73
I ended going up another
night, and another night.
00:57:19.73\00:57:22.87
I stayed for the entire series.
00:57:22.87\00:57:24.64
That was there I made a decision
00:57:24.64\00:57:26.07
that changed the
rest of my life forever.
00:57:26.07\00:57:28.61
I gave my life to Christ,
00:57:28.61\00:57:30.38
and everything was
different after that.
00:57:30.38\00:57:32.51
I made a decision to
give up the music business,
00:57:32.51\00:57:34.92
stop hanging out
or roll at the clubs.
00:57:34.92\00:57:36.58
I made a decision
that was eternal for me
00:57:36.58\00:57:39.15
and for my family.
00:57:39.15\00:57:41.86
I started going to church.
00:57:41.86\00:57:45.09
I got a position in church
where I was actually in charge
00:57:45.09\00:57:47.40
of the personal
ministries department
00:57:47.40\00:57:50.60
in the same
Amazing Facts studies
00:57:50.60\00:57:52.53
that changed my life.
00:57:52.53\00:57:54.14
I actually got to
share them with people
00:57:54.14\00:57:56.24
and sit down with them
and tell them about Jesus.
00:57:56.24\00:58:00.21