The Bible tells us, "In
the beginning was the Word,
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and the Word was with
God, and the Word was God."
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It says, "To
receive with meekness
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the implanted Word
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which is able
to save your souls,
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and to be diligent to present
yourself approved to God,
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rightly dividing
the Word of truth."
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Join us now for the
3ABN Sabbath School Panel.
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Our study today is
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"Stewardship
Motives of the Heart."
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Hello and welcome to
3ABN Sabbath School Panel.
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I'm Jill Morikone
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and we are delighted that you
are sharing this time with us
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as we open up God's
Word and study together.
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We are in first quarter
here, 2018, lesson number 9,
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Stewardship
Motives of the Heart.
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And last week we
talked about tithing.
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This week, I love this
week, it's about offerings,
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offerings of gratitude.
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Right now I want to
introduce to you our panel.
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We have sitting
next to me Shelley Quinn,
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then Greg Morikone,
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this is a privilege to introduce
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my husband here on the panel,
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so, sweetie, it's
good to have you here too.
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Next to you is
Pastor Kenny Shelton
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and Mollie Steenson.
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It is a joy to have
each one of you here
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and to open up the Word
of God and to share together.
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I want to encourage you,
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you can always
follow along with us.
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You can go to the
website ABSG.Adventist.org.
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That stands for Adult
Bible Study Guide.Adventist.org.
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You can download the
lessons and follow along
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or we always encourage you
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to visit your local
Seventh-day Adventist Church
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and they will give you one
of these quarterlies for free,
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and you can join a
Bible study group there.
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Before we go any further
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into our lesson on
offerings and gratitude,
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let's go to the Lord in prayer.
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And, Shelley,
would you pray for us?
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Absolutely.
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Heavenly Father, we
come once again to thank You
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for Your grace to thank You
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that You are the giver of
every good and perfect gift.
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And that You
have entrusted to us
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Your possessions as stewards.
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And, Lord, we want to give
You an offering of gratitude.
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And we want to learn
how to be good stewards.
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So please send Your Holy
Spirit to be our teacher today,
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speak through us,
give us all ears to hear
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what the Holy Spirit has to say
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and His power to
put it into practice
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in Jesus' name, amen.
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Amen. Amen.
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The foundational
principle of God's government
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is self-sacrificing love.
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We know that sin
originated in self-seeking.
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Lucifer in heaven, he
had a spirit of pride,
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a spirit of covetousness,
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a spirit of greed
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and that spirit
continued from Lucifer,
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it was introduced
here on this earth
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when Adam and Eve made
the choice to eat of the fruit
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from the tree of
knowledge of good and evil.
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And from that point,
that spirit of me first,
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that spirit of covetousness
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is present in
each one of our hearts,
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that spirit God
wants to eradicate,
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but in the natural
human heart it is present.
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And we see that spirit
even present in the church.
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I only give
because I have to, right?
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That is the
spirit of selfishness
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instead of the spirit of giving.
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I only give because
God says, "Oh, bless me,
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so maybe I'm going
to give something."
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The true motive, the
motivation for giving is
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because we love
our Father in heaven.
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Amen.
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Because of His gifts to
us, and our joy, and gratitude,
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and sacrificial
giving back to Him...
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Amen.
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It is the spirit of
self-sacrificing love.
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You think about Jesus
from the cradle to the cross,
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He lived to bless others.
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He had the essence of
self-sacrificing love.
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Now we're talking
this week about offerings.
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When Greg and I got married,
just before we got married,
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when we were engaged,
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we talked about
some of those things
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young couples talk about
and one of them was money,
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how are we going
to handle our finances
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as a married couple?
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And I remember we discussed
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the issue of
tithe and offerings.
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And I always paid my
10% tithe and Greg did too.
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But to be honest with you,
my offerings were hit and miss.
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I would hear a special appeal,
and my heart would be moved,
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and I'd give an offering.
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Greg on the other
hand gave systematically,
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"God I want to give You
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this percentage
every week in offerings."
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And then sometimes will
give in even greater percentage.
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And that was something
we made a covenant together,
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when we first
married that we would do
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and God has
blessed us immeasurably.
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So let's read our memory text,
then we'll get into Sunday.
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It's John 3:16,
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you can quote
it at home with us.
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Let's read it together,
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"For God so loved the world
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that He gave His
only begotten Son,
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that whoever believes
in Him should not perish
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but have everlasting life."
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Amen. Hallelujah.
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Sunday we'd look at
where your treasure is
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or storing treasure in heaven.
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Before we get to our
key scripture for Sunday,
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I just want to lay
just a little groundwork
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since we're
talking about offerings.
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The principle of
money throughout the Bible,
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you think about
the Old Testament,
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it's very clear on
the system of tithing,
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they were to give their 10%
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to the work of the
Levites and the priests,
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the work of the
tabernacle in the temple.
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There were also to
bring freewill offerings
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and the Bible is clear on that.
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And the New Testament,
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I think the New
Testament focuses
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almost more on the motive,
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the giving from the
heart and the sacrifice.
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I just want to look at a
couple of points real quick
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before we jump into the other
about where your treasure is.
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Matthew 23:23, let's
look at that scripture,
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we have talked about
it on previous lessons
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but let's look at that,
Matthew 23:23, "Woe to you..."
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Jesus is speaking, "Woe to you,
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scribes and
Pharisees, hypocrites!
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For you pay tithe of
mint and anise and cummin,
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and have neglected the
weightier matters of the law,
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justice and mercy and faith."
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So Jesus was not
negating the tithing principle
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in the New Testament.
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It was still in force,
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but they were
supposed to continue
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with the other things as well
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and not make tithing legalistic.
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They were to do it
out of that gratitude
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and that joy of the heart,
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the motives of the
heart made a difference.
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Also in the New Testament
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we see that money is to be given
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to support the gospel minister.
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In 1 Corinthians 9:14.
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It says, "Even so the
Lord has commanded that those
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who preach the gospel
should live from the gospel."
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So we see that in
the New Testament Church,
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not only is our
motivation important
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on what we give for
tithe and offerings,
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but we're to support the
work of the gospel ministry.
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Number three, we're to
give to support the gospel work
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in other parts of the world.
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We see that in 1 Corinthians 16.
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Let me turn over
there real quick.
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1 Corinthians 16,
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we'll look at just the
first couple of verses.
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"Now concerning the
collection for the saints,
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as I have given orders
to the churches of Galatia,
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so you must do also,
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on the first day of the
week lay something aside,
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storing up as he may prosper
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that there be no
collections when I come."
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So Paul says, just pick a
day and laid aside every day,
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every week so that when I come,
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we don't even have
to take up a collection,
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you will already
have the money prepared.
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And then they
would send the money
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to those who were struggling,
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those who were
in need in Jerusalem
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take up that collection.
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Number three, we're to give
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from the heart
willingly and cheerfully.
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What does it say?
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"Each one give as he
purposes in his heart,"
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2 Corinthians 9:6 and 7.
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Not grudgingly, how many
times do we give grudgingly?
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Not grudgingly or of necessity,
I just give because I have to.
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What does it say? For
God loves a cheerful giver.
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Hilarious.
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Number five, give sacrificially
even when it hurts.
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2 Corinthians 8,
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the first five
verses of that section,
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it talks about the
churches in Macedonia.
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They gave out of
their deep poverty
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to support the work elsewhere.
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The Bible says they gave
even beyond what they were able
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and they still gave,
they gave freely, liberally,
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urging their
sacrificial gift upon Paul
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and then he would take it
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to the needs of those
who were in need elsewhere.
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So give even when it hurts.
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Next one, give to relieve
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others' needs or
others' sufferings.
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Acts 11:29, let's turn there.
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Acts 11:29.
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Verse 28 talked
about this prophecy
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that Agabus gave that there
was going to be a great famine
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throughout all the world.
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Verse 29, "Then the
disciples determined
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each according to his
own ability determine to send
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relief to the
brethren dwelling in Judea."
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And they sent it by the
hands of Barnabas and Saul,
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so they gave to
relieve others' needs.
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And then finally the
parable, not the parable,
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but the lived out object lesson
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of the widow with the two mites.
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Because that wasn't
the story Jesus told,
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it was something the
disciples watched in action.
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Remember the rich men came in
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with all their
trappings of success
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and they gave just a few
coins into the temple treasury.
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And this poor
woman who had two mites,
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she turned it in and Jesus
said, "She gave all she had."
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Yes.
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When I think about
that giving radically,
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in my own life,
in my own experience,
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I don't think I've
ever given radically.
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Confession is
hard on the reputation
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and that's the honest truth.
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I don't think I have
given sacrificially, sometimes,
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but I don't think I
have ever given radically.
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So I think as we talk about
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this principle of giving to God,
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ask God what He would
have you do to support His work
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around the world.
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Let's look at Matthew 6.
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This is storing
your treasure in heaven.
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We want to make
sure we get to that.
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Matthew 6:19-21 is our
passage here for today.
00:10:54.72\00:11:00.29
Matthew 6:19-21,
00:11:00.32\00:11:03.63
"Do not lay up for
yourselves treasures on earth,
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where moth and rust destroy,
00:11:07.33\00:11:08.96
and where thieves
break in and steal.
00:11:09.00\00:11:11.37
But lay up for
yourselves treasures in heaven,
00:11:11.40\00:11:14.87
where neither moth nor rust
00:11:14.90\00:11:16.77
destroying were thieves
do not break in and steal..."
00:11:16.81\00:11:19.87
Then the clincher,
"For where your treasure is,
00:11:19.91\00:11:23.48
there your heart will be also."
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We talked in the beginning
the principle of God's Kingdom
00:11:27.15\00:11:29.62
is self-sacrificing love.
00:11:29.65\00:11:32.49
Whatever we put, time, money,
00:11:32.52\00:11:35.32
and effort into
that is what we love.
00:11:35.36\00:11:38.83
That is what we
will grow to love.
00:11:38.86\00:11:41.73
And that's the principle
that Jesus is laying forth here,
00:11:41.76\00:11:45.53
whatever His
disciples, that's you and I,
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whatever we put time into,
whatever we invest money into,
00:11:48.07\00:11:52.44
and thought that is
what we are eventually
00:11:52.47\00:11:55.31
going to grow to love.
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The word for moths in
the Greek is a clothes-moth
00:11:58.28\00:12:02.62
and I have
definitely seen some of those,
00:12:02.65\00:12:04.59
and they can wreck
some damage, havoc.
00:12:04.62\00:12:07.16
They can really get in and eat.
00:12:07.19\00:12:09.49
The word for rust is in
this sense meaning corrosion.
00:12:09.52\00:12:13.60
Now rust does corrode,
rust destroys, rust eats away.
00:12:13.63\00:12:19.30
The word for thieves,
00:12:19.33\00:12:20.74
talking about a
thief who comes in
00:12:20.77\00:12:22.40
and steals in secret.
00:12:22.44\00:12:25.04
And so if we
lay up our treasure,
00:12:25.07\00:12:27.18
if we put our time,
00:12:27.21\00:12:28.54
our effort, our
money, our every energies
00:12:28.58\00:12:30.61
into earthly things,
00:12:30.65\00:12:32.25
it's going to
eventually be eaten up,
00:12:32.28\00:12:34.52
it's going to be
eventually be destroyed,
00:12:34.55\00:12:36.62
but if we set it
on heavenly things,
00:12:36.65\00:12:39.32
what an incredible difference?
00:12:39.35\00:12:41.29
That treasure is secure forever.
00:12:41.32\00:12:43.06
Let's look at one more
scripture Colossians 3.
00:12:43.09\00:12:46.73
Colossians 3:1-2.
00:12:46.76\00:12:52.23
"If then you were
raised with Christ,
00:12:52.27\00:12:54.34
seek then those
things which are above,
00:12:54.37\00:12:57.74
where Christ is sitting
at the right hand of God.
00:12:57.77\00:13:01.54
Set your mind on things above,
not on things of this earth."
00:13:01.58\00:13:06.82
It's kind of the same principle
as Jesus explained in Matthew 6
00:13:06.85\00:13:11.45
about putting those
treasures in heaven,
00:13:11.49\00:13:13.36
we're to set our
mind, our thoughts,
00:13:13.39\00:13:15.39
our affections, things above.
00:13:15.42\00:13:19.03
So practically speaking,
how do we accomplish that?
00:13:19.06\00:13:22.83
Three things, number one,
spend more for eternal things.
00:13:22.86\00:13:28.54
Give more for
the needs of others.
00:13:28.57\00:13:30.77
Give more for the
salvation of souls.
00:13:30.81\00:13:33.27
Give more for spreading
the gospel, spend more.
00:13:33.31\00:13:36.44
If I think I want to a new dress
00:13:36.48\00:13:39.05
or I could spend
that to help someone else.
00:13:39.08\00:13:41.95
Now that does not
mean, we do need clothes,
00:13:41.98\00:13:44.15
so we're not talking about that.
00:13:44.19\00:13:46.32
But at the same time
where are my priorities.
00:13:46.35\00:13:49.66
And take a look at that,
00:13:49.69\00:13:51.03
how many dresses do I
already have in the closet
00:13:51.06\00:13:53.13
and do I really need that
00:13:53.16\00:13:54.50
or can I spend that
to support the work?
00:13:54.53\00:13:57.07
Number two,
radically alter your lifestyle
00:13:57.10\00:14:00.40
so that it becomes
focused on other people.
00:14:00.44\00:14:03.44
Becomes focused on
spreading the gospel.
00:14:03.47\00:14:05.64
I think Jesus is relentless
00:14:05.67\00:14:07.94
in His call to a
radical lifestyle
00:14:07.98\00:14:11.08
to spread and
sacrificially give for others.
00:14:11.11\00:14:15.35
I think about the people
00:14:15.38\00:14:16.72
who write us and
call us here at 3ABN.
00:14:16.75\00:14:19.05
I think about one person
00:14:19.09\00:14:20.42
who said they
gave up eating out.
00:14:20.46\00:14:23.79
This makes me want to cry,
00:14:23.83\00:14:25.63
so that they
could send that money
00:14:25.66\00:14:27.76
to support the gospel
work going forward here.
00:14:27.80\00:14:32.43
Now that is a
radical, right? Yeah.
00:14:32.47\00:14:34.40
They still ate
and we need to eat,
00:14:34.44\00:14:36.50
but that's a radical choice
to get out of our comfort zone
00:14:36.54\00:14:40.28
and seek to support
the work of the gospel.
00:14:40.31\00:14:43.81
And number three,
00:14:43.85\00:14:45.18
we experience the joy
of giving, Acts 20:35,
00:14:45.21\00:14:49.68
"It is more blessed
to give than to receive."
00:14:49.72\00:14:53.15
So when we give,
00:14:53.19\00:14:54.52
when we store up
treasure in heaven,
00:14:54.56\00:14:56.32
it's not that
we're going to get,
00:14:56.36\00:14:59.09
but the blessings we receive
00:14:59.13\00:15:02.36
just far surpass anything
that this world has to offer.
00:15:02.40\00:15:05.73
Amen. Well said, Jill.
00:15:05.77\00:15:08.34
Thank you so much.
00:15:08.37\00:15:10.71
It's interesting when you
think of offerings of gratitude.
00:15:10.74\00:15:15.21
My lesson is Monday's lesson,
stewards of the grace of God.
00:15:15.24\00:15:21.28
And if there is anything
for which I am thankful,
00:15:21.32\00:15:25.15
it is for God's grace.
00:15:25.19\00:15:27.46
Let's look at Ephesians 2:8,
the Sabbath School lesson says,
00:15:27.49\00:15:32.89
"What according to Ephesians 2:8
00:15:32.93\00:15:34.73
is something else we
have been given by God.
00:15:34.76\00:15:38.93
And Ephesians 2:8 tells
us, it's salvation by grace.
00:15:38.97\00:15:44.11
It says, "For
it is by free grace
00:15:44.14\00:15:46.81
by God's unmerited
favor that you are saved,
00:15:46.84\00:15:51.15
that you're
delivered from judgment,
00:15:51.18\00:15:53.68
and made partakers
of Christ's salvation
00:15:53.72\00:15:58.19
through your faith."
00:15:58.22\00:15:59.55
This salvation
is not of yourself,
00:15:59.59\00:16:01.72
it's not of your own doing,
00:16:01.76\00:16:04.86
it came not
through your own striving,
00:16:04.89\00:16:07.60
but it is what the gift of God.
00:16:07.63\00:16:10.80
Amen. That's right.
00:16:10.83\00:16:12.17
Let me quote this
from the quarterly,
00:16:12.20\00:16:13.84
well written,
"Grace is undeserved favor,
00:16:13.87\00:16:17.31
it is a gift you do not deserve.
00:16:17.34\00:16:19.74
God has poured out
His grace on this planet,
00:16:19.77\00:16:21.68
and if we would
simply not rejected,
00:16:21.71\00:16:26.21
His grace will reach
down and transform our lives
00:16:26.25\00:16:29.82
now and for eternity.
00:16:29.85\00:16:32.75
All the wealth
and power of heaven
00:16:32.79\00:16:37.39
is embodied in the gift of grace
00:16:37.43\00:16:41.00
and even angels long
to look into these things.
00:16:41.03\00:16:44.23
No question of all
that God has given us,
00:16:44.27\00:16:46.74
the grace given
us in Jesus Christ
00:16:46.77\00:16:49.14
is the most
precious gift of all..."
00:16:49.17\00:16:50.64
Yes, amen.
00:16:50.67\00:16:52.01
"Without grace we
would be without hope.
00:16:52.04\00:16:54.74
Since doleful impact on humanity
00:16:54.78\00:16:57.81
is too great for human power
ever to free themselves of it,
00:16:57.85\00:17:01.48
even obedience to God's
law couldn't bring us to life."
00:17:01.52\00:17:06.72
And then it
quotes Galatians 3:21,
00:17:06.76\00:17:09.52
"It is the law then..."
00:17:09.56\00:17:11.66
It is the law, Paul asks
against the promises of God,
00:17:11.69\00:17:15.90
"God forbid for
there not been a law
00:17:15.93\00:17:19.37
given which
could have given life
00:17:19.40\00:17:22.17
verily righteousness should
have been through the law."
00:17:22.20\00:17:25.74
And it says, "After all..."
00:17:25.77\00:17:27.11
If any law can save
us, it would be God's law,
00:17:27.14\00:17:29.14
but Paul says, "That
even that can't do it,
00:17:29.18\00:17:32.65
if we're to be saved, it
would have to be of grace."
00:17:32.68\00:17:36.18
I want to share with you
00:17:36.22\00:17:38.15
when God was
showing me what grace,
00:17:38.19\00:17:42.32
when I was trying
to understand grace
00:17:42.36\00:17:45.49
and I'm just sitting
at the feet of the Lord,
00:17:45.53\00:17:48.50
and finally it soaked
in and I understood it,
00:17:48.53\00:17:53.07
and I asked the
Lord for an illustration,
00:17:53.10\00:17:56.57
and He gave me the illustration
of the grace pipeline
00:17:56.60\00:18:00.38
for which I've
written a book by that title
00:18:00.41\00:18:02.64
and done a
program by that title.
00:18:02.68\00:18:04.58
But here's what God showed me,
00:18:04.61\00:18:07.02
God's heart, just
think of up there in heaven,
00:18:07.05\00:18:09.95
God's heart is welling
over with love for you.
00:18:09.98\00:18:14.09
He says, "I've loved you
with an everlasting love."
00:18:14.12\00:18:16.19
And therefore, He is
wooing us with loving kindness.
00:18:16.22\00:18:20.56
Well, from that
overflowing well of love,
00:18:20.60\00:18:25.50
all, He is the giver of
every good and perfect gift
00:18:25.53\00:18:28.44
and it comes down to us
through the grace pipeline,
00:18:28.47\00:18:32.61
every gift comes
to us by God's grace.
00:18:32.64\00:18:36.08
Romans 5:2 says,
00:18:36.11\00:18:37.48
we have access
into grace by faith.
00:18:37.51\00:18:40.82
So faith is how you tap
in to the grace pipeline.
00:18:40.85\00:18:47.36
Then how do we open
up the faith faucet?
00:18:47.39\00:18:50.63
The prayer of faith... Amen.
00:18:50.66\00:18:52.89
Trust is the foundation
for the prayer of faith,
00:18:52.93\00:18:56.33
relationship is the
foundation for trust,
00:18:56.36\00:18:59.70
and love is the
foundation for relationship.
00:18:59.73\00:19:03.20
See we only love Him
00:19:03.24\00:19:04.57
when we understand how
much He first loved us.
00:19:04.61\00:19:08.38
But the more we
understand His love,
00:19:08.41\00:19:10.11
the more that we then come
00:19:10.15\00:19:13.85
into that intimacy of
relationship with Him,
00:19:13.88\00:19:16.62
the closer we
are in relationship,
00:19:16.65\00:19:18.99
the more we trust Him,
00:19:19.02\00:19:21.16
and lean not on
what our thoughts are
00:19:21.19\00:19:24.03
but on what His word is...
00:19:24.06\00:19:26.13
Then the more we
trust Him, the more we pray
00:19:26.16\00:19:29.26
and that prayer of faith we
tap in to His grace pipeline.
00:19:29.30\00:19:34.20
And let me tell you God's
three greatest gifts of grace.
00:19:34.24\00:19:38.57
Number one, Jesus
told the woman at the well,
00:19:38.61\00:19:43.24
John 4, he said, "If
only you knew the gift of God
00:19:43.28\00:19:48.62
and who it is
that speaking to you,
00:19:48.65\00:19:50.99
for God so loved the world
He gave His only begotten Son,
00:19:51.02\00:19:54.26
that whosoever should
believe in Him would not perish,
00:19:54.29\00:19:57.23
but have everlasting life.
00:19:57.26\00:19:58.86
Jesus is God's
greatest gift of grace.
00:19:58.89\00:20:01.90
The second greatest gift
of grace is the Holy Spirit
00:20:01.93\00:20:06.23
and the third
greatest gift of grace
00:20:06.27\00:20:08.57
is the Holy Scriptures.
00:20:08.60\00:20:09.94
Amen.
00:20:09.97\00:20:11.31
So when we think
about God's grace, this is,
00:20:11.34\00:20:13.64
I liked what this lesson said
00:20:13.68\00:20:17.25
that all the wealth
and power of the heaven
00:20:17.28\00:20:20.22
is embodied in
the gift of grace.
00:20:20.25\00:20:23.02
See, grace doesn't
give us license to sin.
00:20:23.05\00:20:26.82
Grace is what enables us
to overcome the power of sin.
00:20:26.86\00:20:31.99
In 1 Peter 4:10,
00:20:32.03\00:20:36.26
we have received this grace.
00:20:36.30\00:20:40.54
Everything we have is by grace.
00:20:40.57\00:20:42.74
And 1 Peter 4:10 shows us
00:20:42.77\00:20:46.17
how we are to be
stewards of God's grace
00:20:46.21\00:20:48.91
and make this
offering of gratitude.
00:20:48.94\00:20:51.45
1 Peter 4:10 says, "As
each one has received a gift..."
00:20:51.48\00:20:56.12
Every one of us
have received a gift.
00:20:56.15\00:20:58.75
Every Christian has
received a gift of grace,
00:20:58.79\00:21:03.63
minister that gift,
"Minister it to one another,
00:21:03.66\00:21:07.83
as good stewards
00:21:07.86\00:21:10.17
of the manifold grace of God."
00:21:10.20\00:21:15.10
So he's referring
here to a spiritual gift,
00:21:15.14\00:21:18.07
the divine endowment that
God has given to each one of us.
00:21:18.11\00:21:23.58
And you know God
doesn't give it to us
00:21:23.61\00:21:25.85
so that we can be show offs.
00:21:25.88\00:21:28.48
God doesn't give it to us
00:21:28.52\00:21:30.55
that we just use it
for our own benefit.
00:21:30.59\00:21:33.02
He gives it to us
00:21:33.05\00:21:34.52
for the benefit
of the body of Christ
00:21:34.56\00:21:37.73
and anyone who is living
00:21:37.76\00:21:39.16
in the light of
Christ's Second Coming
00:21:39.19\00:21:40.86
and we know He's coming soon.
00:21:40.90\00:21:43.43
I mean, I believe
that with all my heart,
00:21:43.47\00:21:45.60
but if you're living in
the light of that knowledge,
00:21:45.63\00:21:49.17
knowing He's coming soon
00:21:49.20\00:21:51.24
and you want to
demonstrate agape love,
00:21:51.27\00:21:55.34
this unconditional love,
00:21:55.38\00:21:57.48
the self-sacrificing
love of Jesus Christ,
00:21:57.51\00:22:01.05
then what you need to do
is take those gifts of grace
00:22:01.08\00:22:05.62
that God have given you
00:22:05.65\00:22:07.42
and intensely
serve others with them.
00:22:07.46\00:22:12.03
That's how we demonstrate love.
00:22:12.06\00:22:15.70
And this is how as we share
00:22:15.73\00:22:19.63
that we are
faithfully ministering
00:22:19.67\00:22:23.97
the manifold grace of God.
00:22:24.01\00:22:27.31
We are only agents of grace
00:22:27.34\00:22:31.71
and we're supposed
to share with others.
00:22:31.75\00:22:34.15
Let me read this to
you from Matthew 10:8.
00:22:34.18\00:22:40.52
Matthew 10:8,
00:22:40.56\00:22:45.86
Jesus is speaking here
00:22:45.89\00:22:48.36
and He says, "Freely
you have received..."
00:22:48.40\00:22:52.00
Yeah, that's
right. Freely gifts.
00:22:52.03\00:22:53.37
"Freely gifts."
00:22:53.40\00:22:54.84
See everything that
we have, even our time,
00:22:54.87\00:22:58.87
boy, you can attest to
this, can you not, Kenny?
00:22:58.91\00:23:02.38
Our time is a gift
from God. That's right.
00:23:02.41\00:23:06.21
The devil tried to
take you out last year,
00:23:06.25\00:23:09.58
and God has given you
the gift of time, hasn't He?
00:23:09.62\00:23:12.79
Amen, that's true.
00:23:12.82\00:23:14.16
I mean, every
day when I wake up,
00:23:14.19\00:23:15.59
I thank God for
the gift of time,
00:23:15.62\00:23:17.76
I thank Him for this new day.
00:23:17.79\00:23:21.06
There is none of us
know... That's right.
00:23:21.10\00:23:24.30
You know, none of us are
promised of tomorrow, right?
00:23:24.33\00:23:27.44
So everything we have,
it is our time, our talents,
00:23:27.47\00:23:32.57
all of our treasures,
00:23:32.61\00:23:33.94
all of our possessions
actually belong to God.
00:23:33.98\00:23:36.64
They were freely bestowed on us,
00:23:36.68\00:23:39.68
entrusted to us
by God our Father,
00:23:39.71\00:23:42.38
but why does He give this to us?
00:23:42.42\00:23:45.92
It is to...
00:23:45.95\00:23:47.89
So that we will
have the opportunity
00:23:47.92\00:23:50.13
to develop our character
00:23:50.16\00:23:51.96
and to further His
kingdom message, is it not?
00:23:51.99\00:23:55.50
Oh, yeah.
00:23:55.53\00:23:56.87
So as God showers
us with His blessings,
00:23:56.90\00:24:00.60
what Jesus is saying
is we should generously,
00:24:00.64\00:24:05.47
freely we receive, freely give.
00:24:05.51\00:24:08.31
I just want to
encourage you at home,
00:24:08.34\00:24:11.15
maybe you don't know
the Lord Jesus Christ
00:24:11.18\00:24:13.42
as your personal Savior,
00:24:13.45\00:24:14.98
maybe you would like
to know the abundant life
00:24:15.02\00:24:19.15
that He has come to give you.
00:24:19.19\00:24:21.82
You know, Jesus
said in John 10:10,
00:24:21.86\00:24:24.06
"The thief comes to
steal, kill and destroy,
00:24:24.09\00:24:26.80
but I have come that
they may have life abundant."
00:24:26.83\00:24:30.73
And maybe you're in the church,
00:24:30.77\00:24:33.23
maybe you've got
the head knowledge,
00:24:33.27\00:24:34.90
but you've never developed
the relationship with Jesus,
00:24:34.94\00:24:39.27
if you want to connect to Jesus,
00:24:39.31\00:24:42.68
all you have to do
is pray and ask God
00:24:42.71\00:24:45.85
to let Him come into your heart
00:24:45.88\00:24:47.88
to send His Holy
Spirit into your heart.
00:24:47.92\00:24:50.85
And by the power
of the Holy Spirit,
00:24:50.89\00:24:53.62
by the power of Jesus Christ,
00:24:53.66\00:24:55.36
by the power of the Word
00:24:55.39\00:24:57.26
you will
receive the grace of God
00:24:57.29\00:25:01.76
and you can become
a steward of the grace
00:25:01.80\00:25:05.33
to share the
message with others.
00:25:05.37\00:25:07.74
Amen. Amen.
00:25:07.77\00:25:09.10
Well said,
Shelley. Praise the Lord.
00:25:09.14\00:25:10.81
It's a blessing
to open His Word.
00:25:10.84\00:25:12.17
Yes, it is.
00:25:12.21\00:25:13.54
It is a study and
it's always a blessing to,
00:25:13.58\00:25:14.91
I know we're here on
the Sabbath School Panel,
00:25:14.94\00:25:17.21
but we know that
you're studying at home
00:25:17.25\00:25:18.65
and it's always
nice to know that
00:25:18.68\00:25:20.22
and to realize that
we're one big family...
00:25:20.25\00:25:23.15
And we're
studying the Word of God.
00:25:23.18\00:25:24.89
Mine is Tuesday and
it's our best offering.
00:25:24.92\00:25:29.89
And what kind of gifts
do you give to your family?
00:25:29.92\00:25:33.29
I hope good gifts.
00:25:33.33\00:25:35.26
I won't ask if it's chunk
of coal or anything like that.
00:25:35.30\00:25:38.33
We are here at the
end of February already,
00:25:38.37\00:25:40.50
it's hard to believe,
00:25:40.54\00:25:41.87
but several
months ago was Christmas
00:25:41.90\00:25:43.41
and Jill and I
have several nephews
00:25:43.44\00:25:46.07
and it's always a lot of fun
00:25:46.11\00:25:47.88
'cause we go and buy
the Christmas presents.
00:25:47.91\00:25:50.51
And many times we
can be there together
00:25:50.55\00:25:52.65
as they open them
00:25:52.68\00:25:54.02
and it's a lot of fun to
watch the little youngsters,
00:25:54.05\00:25:56.02
they're getting older
now, but to open their gifts.
00:25:56.05\00:25:58.79
And it's always,
we enjoy that time
00:25:58.82\00:26:01.32
of family fellowship together,
00:26:01.36\00:26:02.82
but to give good gifts.
00:26:02.86\00:26:04.26
I remember as a child,
00:26:04.29\00:26:06.29
my parents were
trying to get out of debt
00:26:06.33\00:26:07.93
and we didn't have much,
00:26:07.96\00:26:09.30
we would eat a
lot of beans and rice
00:26:09.33\00:26:11.70
and my birthday came around,
00:26:11.73\00:26:14.30
and this is
probably giving my age,
00:26:14.34\00:26:16.81
but for my birthday I
received a record player,
00:26:16.84\00:26:20.08
it wasn't a CD
player or cassette player,
00:26:20.11\00:26:21.64
it was a record player.
00:26:21.68\00:26:23.11
And looking back, I
was just a young man,
00:26:23.14\00:26:26.05
but looking back now on
that I realized that my parents
00:26:26.08\00:26:29.25
sacrificed to
give me a good gift.
00:26:29.28\00:26:32.55
It wasn't brand
new, it was used,
00:26:32.59\00:26:34.69
it was from a yard sale,
00:26:34.72\00:26:36.29
but it was what
they could afford
00:26:36.32\00:26:38.49
and they wanted to see me happy.
00:26:38.53\00:26:40.03
So I knew that they were
giving me what they could,
00:26:40.06\00:26:42.50
looking back on now.
00:26:42.53\00:26:43.97
I want to look at Matthew 7.
00:26:44.00\00:26:48.50
Matthew 7.
00:26:48.54\00:26:51.54
I'm in Luke 7,
let's get to Matthew 7,
00:26:51.57\00:26:57.35
and let's look at verses 8-11.
00:26:57.38\00:27:02.28
And it says, "For
everyone that asketh, receiveth
00:27:02.32\00:27:06.52
and he that seeketh, findeth,
00:27:06.55\00:27:08.72
and to him that
knocketh it shall be opened."
00:27:08.76\00:27:11.73
And then ask the question,
"Or what man is there of you,
00:27:11.76\00:27:15.00
whom if his son
asks for bread..."
00:27:15.03\00:27:18.63
What does it say?
"Will he give him a stone?"
00:27:18.67\00:27:20.67
Of course not, for
father loves his son,
00:27:20.70\00:27:22.27
he's going to give him
bread if he certainly can.
00:27:22.30\00:27:25.01
"Or if he asks for a fish
will he give him a snake?"
00:27:25.04\00:27:29.71
No loving father would do that.
00:27:29.74\00:27:31.08
No.
00:27:31.11\00:27:32.45
"If ye then being evil,
00:27:32.48\00:27:34.35
know how to give good
gifts unto your children..."
00:27:34.38\00:27:36.75
I'm thinking of
my folks giving me
00:27:36.79\00:27:38.12
that used record player,
00:27:38.15\00:27:39.49
it's all they could afford,
00:27:39.52\00:27:40.89
"How much more
shall your heavenly Father
00:27:40.92\00:27:45.56
give good things
to them that ask Him?"
00:27:45.59\00:27:49.03
Yeah. It's good.
00:27:49.06\00:27:50.40
Beautiful
passages, isn't it? Yes.
00:27:50.43\00:27:52.23
We think about
God's illustration
00:27:52.27\00:27:53.94
of the human family here,
00:27:53.97\00:27:55.74
we like to give
good gifts to each other.
00:27:55.77\00:27:57.81
But He wants to give
us gifts, doesn't He?
00:27:57.84\00:28:00.74
And that's a precious thing.
00:28:00.78\00:28:02.28
Yes. Amen.
00:28:02.31\00:28:03.65
But our lesson is what?
00:28:03.68\00:28:05.01
Is entitled Our Best Offering,
00:28:05.05\00:28:06.38
that's giving
back to God, isn't it?
00:28:06.41\00:28:08.22
Yes. Yeah, it sure is.
00:28:08.25\00:28:10.75
There's a beautiful scripture
00:28:10.79\00:28:12.85
and that's the Luke 7
that originally had, Luke 7,
00:28:12.89\00:28:15.82
a great story of Mary
00:28:15.86\00:28:18.43
and the
alabaster box of perfume.
00:28:18.46\00:28:22.30
And for the sake of time
you all know the story well,
00:28:22.33\00:28:26.17
but here is a lady
that didn't have much,
00:28:26.20\00:28:30.64
but she had the alabaster
box of oil which was a lot.
00:28:30.67\00:28:33.78
I understand I think, Shelley,
was that may be a year's wage.
00:28:33.81\00:28:37.31
Yeah. A very expensive perfume.
00:28:37.35\00:28:39.78
Yes. This is her retirement.
00:28:39.81\00:28:41.42
Her retirement,
yeah. There you go.
00:28:41.45\00:28:43.35
And so here she is washing
Jesus' feet with her tears
00:28:43.39\00:28:46.09
and anointing Him with
His very precious perfume.
00:28:46.12\00:28:49.16
And there was some
murmurings going on
00:28:49.19\00:28:50.73
amongst the people
that were in attendance,
00:28:50.76\00:28:52.19
they could smell
the wonderful perfume
00:28:52.23\00:28:53.93
and saying, "Well, this
could be given to the poor.
00:28:53.96\00:28:56.06
You could have
done better with this."
00:28:56.10\00:28:58.03
And what does Jesus say?
00:28:58.07\00:28:59.63
Well, let's see,
skipping down to verses,
00:28:59.67\00:29:02.77
well, there is
certainly a lot here.
00:29:02.80\00:29:06.44
Let's just start with Luke 7:45.
00:29:06.47\00:29:09.51
"Now gaveth me no kiss..."
00:29:09.54\00:29:10.88
He's talking to Simon
who is hosting this dinner.
00:29:10.91\00:29:13.78
"But this woman since the time
00:29:13.82\00:29:15.48
I came in hath not
ceased to kiss my feet,
00:29:15.52\00:29:19.22
my head with oil,
Simon, you did not anoint.
00:29:19.25\00:29:22.06
But this woman hath
anointed my feet with ointment.
00:29:22.09\00:29:25.59
Wherefore, I say on to her..."
00:29:25.63\00:29:27.66
Beautiful, isn't it?
00:29:27.70\00:29:29.03
"Her sins which
are many are forgiven,
00:29:29.06\00:29:31.73
for she loved much,
00:29:31.77\00:29:33.10
but to whom little is forgiven,
the same loveth little.
00:29:33.13\00:29:36.10
And he said unto her..."
00:29:36.14\00:29:37.47
Powerful, isn't it,
Pastor Kenney, what does it say?
00:29:37.51\00:29:39.64
"Thy sins will be forgiven."
00:29:39.67\00:29:41.61
That's right. Yes.
00:29:41.64\00:29:42.98
She had a lot to be
thankful for, didn't she?
00:29:43.01\00:29:44.35
Oh, wow. Yes.
00:29:44.38\00:29:45.71
So you think about what
she was doing for Christ.
00:29:45.75\00:29:47.55
Yes, maybe her
ointment could have been sold
00:29:47.58\00:29:49.18
for much money for the poor,
00:29:49.22\00:29:51.82
but what she was doing was
giving her offering of what?
00:29:51.85\00:29:54.62
Gratitude for what
God had done for her.
00:29:54.66\00:29:58.93
I want to read
this from the lesson,
00:29:58.96\00:30:01.36
it says, "His generosity..."
00:30:01.40\00:30:03.30
God's generosity,"
also prompts us to give.
00:30:03.33\00:30:08.24
And when coupled
with our gratitude,
00:30:08.27\00:30:11.07
both make up ingredients
of meaningful offerings
00:30:11.11\00:30:13.74
including our time..."
00:30:13.78\00:30:15.14
We talked about time,
Shelley, remember that?
00:30:15.18\00:30:17.28
Talents, treasures,
or money, and our bodies.
00:30:17.31\00:30:20.95
So I have here God's
generosity which is amazing,
00:30:20.98\00:30:26.59
plus our gratitude equals
a meaningful offering to God.
00:30:26.62\00:30:30.86
Why do I give my best to God?
00:30:30.89\00:30:33.23
Again, a quote from the lesson,
00:30:33.26\00:30:34.60
"Giving God the best shows that
we put Him first in our lives."
00:30:34.63\00:30:39.23
Yes. Mercy.
00:30:39.27\00:30:40.60
"We don't give offerings
in order to receive favors."
00:30:40.64\00:30:43.04
You know, many times we
take that Malachi text and say,
00:30:43.07\00:30:45.17
"Oh, okay, so I'll
give, so I'll get more."
00:30:45.21\00:30:47.48
No, we don't do that,
00:30:47.51\00:30:48.84
we look at the motive
of our heart which I know,
00:30:48.88\00:30:50.28
that yours, Pastor
Kenney, is the motive, right?
00:30:50.31\00:30:52.08
That's your lesson.
Yeah, your day. Okay.
00:30:52.11\00:30:54.48
Instead we give
what we have out of love.
00:30:54.52\00:30:57.42
I like that. Amen. Yeah.
00:30:57.45\00:30:58.95
Gratitude for
what we have been given
00:30:58.99\00:31:00.89
in the wonderful
gift of Jesus Christ.
00:31:00.92\00:31:03.16
We've been bought with a price."
00:31:03.19\00:31:04.53
1 Corinthians 6:20.
00:31:04.56\00:31:08.03
Let's see our offerings
that are pleasing to God,
00:31:08.06\00:31:10.53
I have several
things written down here,
00:31:10.57\00:31:12.10
how do you give
your best to God?
00:31:12.13\00:31:14.77
We have several
references in the Bible.
00:31:14.80\00:31:16.87
One is going back
to the Old Testament
00:31:16.91\00:31:19.07
and the Israelites,
00:31:19.11\00:31:20.58
when God said in Exodus 34:26,
00:31:20.61\00:31:24.58
"The firstfruits of your land
you shall bring to the Lord."
00:31:24.61\00:31:28.02
So he had very
specific instructions
00:31:28.05\00:31:30.65
on what to give back to him.
00:31:30.69\00:31:32.62
And let's look at the Proverbs.
00:31:32.65\00:31:34.26
It's wonderful
to open God's Word.
00:31:34.29\00:31:35.62
Proverbs 3,
00:31:35.66\00:31:38.39
I see Psalms,
00:31:38.43\00:31:39.76
Proverbs
00:31:39.79\00:31:42.40
3:9-10 says,
00:31:42.43\00:31:47.84
"Honor the Lord
with your substance,
00:31:47.87\00:31:51.07
and with the firstfruits
of all your increase,
00:31:51.11\00:31:53.84
so shall your barns
be filled with plenty,
00:31:53.88\00:31:57.65
and thy presses
shall burst with new wine."
00:31:57.68\00:32:01.48
I have honored the
Lord with the substance
00:32:01.52\00:32:03.12
and with the firstfruits
of what God has given to you.
00:32:03.15\00:32:06.35
So we have, how do
you give your best?
00:32:06.39\00:32:07.89
I have down, "Giving
God the firstfruits."
00:32:07.92\00:32:10.39
Number two, "Bring God
an unblemished offering."
00:32:10.43\00:32:13.80
And again, going
back to His instructions
00:32:13.83\00:32:16.00
to the children of
Israel in Exodus 12:5,
00:32:16.03\00:32:21.50
it says "Your lamb
shall be without blemish,"
00:32:21.54\00:32:24.77
that means the sacrificial lamb,
00:32:24.81\00:32:26.61
which is
representation of who, Shelley?
00:32:26.64\00:32:28.71
It's representation of
Jesus. It is, isn't it?
00:32:28.74\00:32:31.11
The unblemished lamb for sure.
00:32:31.15\00:32:33.62
So in Malachi,
let's look at Malachi.
00:32:33.65\00:32:36.52
So many
scriptures here, Malachi 1,
00:32:36.55\00:32:41.82
get here, just before Mathew.
00:32:41.86\00:32:46.80
Malachi 1,
00:32:46.83\00:32:50.17
let's look at verses 6-8.
00:32:50.20\00:32:54.67
And it says, "A son
honoreth his father,
00:32:54.70\00:32:57.14
and a servant his master:
00:32:57.17\00:32:59.47
if then I be a
Father, where is Mine honor?
00:32:59.51\00:33:04.11
And if I be a
Master, where is My fear?"
00:33:04.15\00:33:07.38
So God is asking a question here
00:33:07.42\00:33:08.75
because He's not being honored.
00:33:08.78\00:33:11.02
Okay, so where is my fear saith
the Lord of hosts unto you,
00:33:11.05\00:33:14.26
"Oh, priests,
that despise my name
00:33:14.29\00:33:17.63
and ye say wherein
have we despised you?"
00:33:17.66\00:33:20.26
And here is the answer,
00:33:20.30\00:33:21.63
"You have polluted
bread upon mine altar.
00:33:21.66\00:33:24.63
You say where and
how we polluted you?
00:33:24.67\00:33:27.24
And that you say the table
of the Lord is contemptible."
00:33:27.27\00:33:32.41
And let me just
read one more verse 8,
00:33:32.44\00:33:34.64
"And if you offer
the blind for sacrifice."
00:33:34.68\00:33:37.25
So here the people
were bringing blind animals.
00:33:37.28\00:33:39.68
What do we just
read about in Exodus?
00:33:39.71\00:33:41.65
Unblemished. Unblemished.
00:33:41.68\00:33:43.02
"So they're bringing blind
sacrifices, is not this evil?
00:33:43.05\00:33:47.06
And if you offer the lame,
00:33:47.09\00:33:48.42
they're bringing
lame sacrifices and sick,
00:33:48.46\00:33:51.23
is it not evil?
00:33:51.26\00:33:52.69
Offer it now unto thy governor,
will He be pleased with you?"
00:33:52.73\00:33:56.77
Of course not.
00:33:56.80\00:33:58.17
"Or except thy persons
saith the Lord to hosts."
00:33:58.20\00:34:00.20
Basically, they were bringing
00:34:00.24\00:34:02.47
a corruptible
sacrifice to the Lord.
00:34:02.50\00:34:06.51
Yes. That's blasphemous.
00:34:06.54\00:34:08.24
It is. It's blasphemous.
00:34:08.28\00:34:10.48
So God has
specific instructions,
00:34:10.51\00:34:12.58
bring unblemished offerings.
00:34:12.61\00:34:14.28
Now for us we don't
bring a lamb anymore,
00:34:14.32\00:34:16.85
but what we give to God
needs to be our very best.
00:34:16.89\00:34:19.95
Amen. It really does.
00:34:19.99\00:34:22.62
Let's see, dedicate all to God.
00:34:22.66\00:34:24.53
So how do we
give our best to God?
00:34:24.56\00:34:25.89
Give our firstfruits,
00:34:25.93\00:34:27.26
bring in
unblemished offering to God,
00:34:27.30\00:34:28.66
dedicate all
that we have to God.
00:34:28.70\00:34:31.17
And I have down, time,
talents, money, and ourselves.
00:34:31.20\00:34:37.17
In closing I have several things
00:34:37.21\00:34:38.54
'cause time has
gotten away from me.
00:34:38.57\00:34:41.08
I have here several points.
00:34:41.11\00:34:42.81
We should give God the
best in terms of our money.
00:34:42.84\00:34:47.75
And quickly 2 Samuel 24:24,
00:34:47.78\00:34:50.72
David was faced with the choice
00:34:50.75\00:34:52.99
and he wanted
to give an offering
00:34:53.02\00:34:55.29
that cost him something.
00:34:55.32\00:34:56.66
Yes. He did.
00:34:56.69\00:34:58.03
He wanted to give an offering
to God that cost him something.
00:34:58.06\00:34:59.93
So we should give God the
best in terms of our money.
00:34:59.96\00:35:03.57
Number two, we
should give to God
00:35:03.60\00:35:05.07
the best in terms of quality...
00:35:05.10\00:35:08.47
We're talking
about the unblemished.
00:35:08.50\00:35:10.51
Number three, we
should give to God
00:35:10.54\00:35:12.27
the best in
terms of our priority.
00:35:12.31\00:35:15.81
Think of Matthew 6:33,
00:35:15.84\00:35:17.61
"Seek ye first
the Kingdom of God."
00:35:17.65\00:35:19.38
Number four, we
should give to God
00:35:19.41\00:35:21.82
the best in terms
of personal integrity,
00:35:21.85\00:35:25.65
our motives.
00:35:25.69\00:35:27.02
I think of again Malachi,
there's a verse in Malachi,
00:35:27.06\00:35:29.92
where we make a
vow and that serious.
00:35:29.96\00:35:31.59
Sometimes we can make a vow
00:35:31.63\00:35:32.96
and say, "Look
at me, look at me,
00:35:32.99\00:35:34.33
and then behind closed doors..."
00:35:34.36\00:35:35.70
You know what?
00:35:35.73\00:35:37.07
Maybe I really
shouldn't do that,
00:35:37.10\00:35:38.43
we do it for
public demonstration
00:35:38.47\00:35:39.93
which we shouldn't do.
00:35:39.97\00:35:41.30
So I want to encourage
you to give your best to God,
00:35:41.34\00:35:44.44
but with the happy attitude.
00:35:44.47\00:35:45.97
Amen. Amen. Amen.
00:35:46.01\00:35:48.04
Sorry, I took some of your time.
00:35:48.08\00:35:49.41
No, well
covered. That's alright.
00:35:49.44\00:35:50.78
No, it's all good. Good.
00:35:50.81\00:35:52.15
We're going to be looking
at the motives of the heart,
00:35:52.18\00:35:54.32
you know, I think
it's our Wednesday's lesson
00:35:54.35\00:35:57.19
and I want to just go
back just a little bit,
00:35:57.22\00:35:59.25
I think Sister Jill brought
it up in the very beginning,
00:35:59.29\00:36:01.82
the widow giving.
00:36:01.86\00:36:03.19
I think it was
two mites, two mites
00:36:03.22\00:36:04.69
and we realize
that's not very much,
00:36:04.73\00:36:06.80
but the story
of the widow's mite
00:36:06.83\00:36:08.83
shows her true character,
00:36:08.86\00:36:10.20
we've been talking
about here and her heart,
00:36:10.23\00:36:12.57
we just opened up.
00:36:12.60\00:36:14.04
Really, it's not all
the noise that she made
00:36:14.07\00:36:15.94
when she went by
like the rich man.
00:36:15.97\00:36:17.31
That's right.
00:36:17.34\00:36:18.67
Some will say,
"Well, the rich just,
00:36:18.71\00:36:20.04
you know, went by and
just gave a little bit."
00:36:20.08\00:36:21.41
But in my mind, if
you let me do this,
00:36:21.44\00:36:23.24
in my mind some of the rich,
00:36:23.28\00:36:24.61
they had nice big bags
probably of whatever, coins
00:36:24.65\00:36:27.15
and I think when they went by,
00:36:27.18\00:36:28.75
I won't say the offering,
the place they deposited,
00:36:28.78\00:36:31.15
I think they
rattled it a little bit,
00:36:31.19\00:36:32.65
they shake it up a little bit,
make a little bit of a noise,
00:36:32.69\00:36:34.76
and when they went
in there you go, "Wow!"
00:36:34.79\00:36:36.99
You were embarrassed
to follow them through.
00:36:37.03\00:36:41.00
And here comes the lady anyway
00:36:41.03\00:36:42.80
from an honest heart and
true motives of the heart,
00:36:42.83\00:36:45.80
she gave all that she had,
00:36:45.83\00:36:47.17
what's been brought out
here in our lesson, Luke 21.
00:36:47.20\00:36:51.17
I think that's
probably in the US,
00:36:51.21\00:36:53.24
less than a penny, isn't it?
00:36:53.27\00:36:54.61
Wow.
00:36:54.64\00:36:55.98
Two mites is probably
less than one penny right now.
00:36:56.01\00:36:58.21
And maybe not so
funny, my uncle says,
00:36:58.25\00:37:00.82
sometime he'd asked
me, one time he said,
00:37:00.85\00:37:03.72
"You know, who has
change for a penny?"
00:37:03.75\00:37:07.09
I said, "No."
00:37:07.12\00:37:08.72
I said, "I don't
know." He said, "I do."
00:37:08.76\00:37:10.09
I said, "How do you
have change for a penny?"
00:37:10.13\00:37:11.69
He says, "I have a meal,
his wife's name was Mildred.
00:37:11.73\00:37:15.23
So anyhow, that's
food for thought, okay.
00:37:15.26\00:37:18.33
So anyway, it's
less than a penny.
00:37:18.37\00:37:20.90
So, but she still gave all.
00:37:20.94\00:37:22.54
So again, I want to
look at what are our motives.
00:37:22.57\00:37:26.07
So maybe just to
look at the question,
00:37:26.11\00:37:28.61
what are our motives?
00:37:28.64\00:37:29.98
What does it really mean?
Motive is our inner drive.
00:37:30.01\00:37:33.21
That's what I looked
up, it's our inner drive.
00:37:33.25\00:37:35.12
It's our impulses that causes us
00:37:35.15\00:37:37.65
to act a certain way
00:37:37.69\00:37:39.45
or to do things
in a certain way,
00:37:39.49\00:37:42.29
is our motives.
00:37:42.32\00:37:43.66
And a lot of times you
just look at somebody said,
00:37:43.69\00:37:45.36
"Oh, they're doing so
well, but yet the motive,
00:37:45.39\00:37:47.93
you know, their heart
might be different than..."
00:37:47.96\00:37:50.07
So we're not to judge that,
00:37:50.10\00:37:51.43
but eventually it will show
up what I've found out in life,
00:37:51.47\00:37:54.80
eventually it will show
up what the motive really is.
00:37:54.84\00:37:57.27
Now is it possible,
a major question here,
00:37:57.31\00:37:59.37
is it possible to have
00:37:59.41\00:38:00.74
the right actions
with the wrong motives?
00:38:00.78\00:38:04.31
Oh, yes. Yeah.
00:38:04.35\00:38:05.68
The right action
doing the right thing,
00:38:05.71\00:38:07.58
but the wrong motive, I
think we have to say yes.
00:38:07.62\00:38:10.35
So, you know, how much
faith then does it really take
00:38:10.39\00:38:12.82
when you think
about it for us to give,
00:38:12.85\00:38:16.39
maybe a whole lot of stuff.
00:38:16.42\00:38:17.76
We've got a whole lot of stuff
00:38:17.79\00:38:19.39
and so how much
faith it take to give
00:38:19.43\00:38:21.10
as it were some of this
stuff, money, material things,
00:38:21.13\00:38:23.70
whatever it might be.
00:38:23.73\00:38:25.47
You know, if you've got a lot,
00:38:25.50\00:38:27.14
it really doesn't
take a whole lot of faith
00:38:27.17\00:38:29.10
or the right motive just to give
00:38:29.14\00:38:30.84
'cause you've
got a whole lot left.
00:38:30.87\00:38:32.51
I heard one person say one time,
00:38:32.54\00:38:34.08
they said, "Well, you know..."
00:38:34.11\00:38:35.44
Someone came in, they said,
"Well, you know, I want a can,
00:38:35.48\00:38:38.18
you know, I need some
food so a can of soup."
00:38:38.21\00:38:41.52
They went to the cupboard,
there was 10 cans there
00:38:41.55\00:38:44.39
and so they gave
one, you know, and said,
00:38:44.42\00:38:47.22
"What kind of sacrifice is that,
00:38:47.26\00:38:48.89
is that really sacrificing?"
00:38:48.92\00:38:50.26
The guy looked and says,
"It's not much of a sacrifice
00:38:50.29\00:38:52.16
because you've got nine left."
00:38:52.19\00:38:53.53
Yeah, that's right.
00:38:53.56\00:38:54.90
Well, you should be
glad to get the one,
00:38:54.93\00:38:56.60
but if you think about it,
00:38:56.63\00:38:57.97
you know, if I just
have one can in the cupboard
00:38:58.00\00:39:01.44
and Sister
Mollie needs that can,
00:39:01.47\00:39:03.30
and vice versa
you give me that can,
00:39:03.34\00:39:06.51
I mean, you've given all.
00:39:06.54\00:39:07.88
That's sacrifice.
That's a big difference.
00:39:07.91\00:39:09.24
That's a whole big difference.
00:39:09.28\00:39:10.61
It is always judged
on what we have left.
00:39:10.65\00:39:12.01
Yeah.
00:39:12.05\00:39:13.38
So and so gave, I'll be careful.
00:39:13.42\00:39:15.22
So and so gave $100,000.
00:39:15.25\00:39:18.65
You know, hair on the
back of our neck stands up
00:39:18.69\00:39:20.16
and we say, how...
00:39:20.19\00:39:21.52
And it is, praise God for those
kind of folks that have it.
00:39:21.56\00:39:24.53
But the question what
comes back was how much is left?
00:39:24.56\00:39:27.60
That's not for us to ask or do,
00:39:27.63\00:39:29.06
but it may not be
a sacrifice at all
00:39:29.10\00:39:31.90
and a dollar is
for you or for me.
00:39:31.93\00:39:34.40
So, you know, as I look at this,
00:39:34.44\00:39:35.94
remember, giving is
left up to the conscience.
00:39:35.97\00:39:38.54
I like this.
00:39:38.57\00:39:39.91
You know,
there's a lot of people
00:39:39.94\00:39:41.28
who try to judge what
a person is giving maybe,
00:39:41.31\00:39:43.11
you know, things
are written down,
00:39:43.14\00:39:44.91
well, they're
giving this tithe enough
00:39:44.95\00:39:46.28
and I don't think that's,
00:39:46.31\00:39:47.65
you know, correct
tithe or whatever.
00:39:47.68\00:39:49.88
It's up to our conscience.
00:39:49.92\00:39:51.25
God leaves it up to us
and holds us accountable.
00:39:51.29\00:39:53.39
3 Testimonies
3:94 says this, notice.
00:39:53.42\00:39:56.42
"As the amount required God
00:39:56.46\00:39:58.89
has specified
1/10th of the increase..."
00:39:58.93\00:40:01.63
I've heard a lot of
discussion on the increase.
00:40:01.66\00:40:03.57
Yeah. Notice.
00:40:03.60\00:40:05.27
"This is left to the conscience
and the benevolence of men
00:40:05.30\00:40:08.67
whose judgment in
this tithing system
00:40:08.70\00:40:11.37
should have free play."
00:40:11.41\00:40:13.17
It's kind of an
interesting thought,
00:40:13.21\00:40:14.54
so I have to ask
another question,
00:40:14.58\00:40:16.14
you know, what is
left to the conscience?
00:40:16.18\00:40:18.08
Here it is.
00:40:18.11\00:40:19.45
It says, it's
left to the conscience,
00:40:19.48\00:40:20.82
but what is left
to the conscience?
00:40:20.85\00:40:22.18
The 1/10th or the increase,
what is he talking about?
00:40:22.22\00:40:26.99
Well, I think the
1/10th will settle, how about,
00:40:27.02\00:40:29.26
are we right, panel?
00:40:29.29\00:40:30.63
The 1/10th is already
settled, so let's not lift,
00:40:30.66\00:40:32.19
"Well, I am free to
choose what I want to..."
00:40:32.23\00:40:34.90
God has already
made a statement on that.
00:40:34.93\00:40:36.36
That's right.
00:40:36.40\00:40:37.73
But then so we
have to look at the,
00:40:37.77\00:40:39.40
then giving the 10th,
you know, our increase.
00:40:39.43\00:40:42.37
And so we have to
judge, sometime people say,
00:40:42.40\00:40:44.31
"Well, my
increase, you know, is it,
00:40:44.34\00:40:46.37
when I get on my
paycheck or is it what I make?"
00:40:46.41\00:40:49.51
So all those
debates are going on.
00:40:49.54\00:40:50.88
We just better make sure
00:40:50.91\00:40:52.25
our conscience is clear with God
00:40:52.28\00:40:53.62
when we get because we're going
to have to answer for that.
00:40:53.65\00:40:56.58
Reading on, 3 Testimonies 3:94
00:40:56.62\00:40:58.39
it says these, I want to get
some couple of points in here.
00:40:58.42\00:41:01.16
It says, "He has
required a tenth of this,
00:41:01.19\00:41:04.33
he claims as his very least."
00:41:04.36\00:41:06.80
I think that's been
brought out somewhat here.
00:41:06.83\00:41:09.16
God asked just for what?
00:41:09.20\00:41:11.57
One-tenth, that is
the least. That's right.
00:41:11.60\00:41:13.90
Think about, the least,
that man should return to Him
00:41:13.94\00:41:18.04
and then we go back and we
say, in Mosaic dispensation,
00:41:18.07\00:41:21.41
think about as we go
back, there is also what?
00:41:21.44\00:41:23.81
They had the sin offering,
they had peace offerings,
00:41:23.85\00:41:26.15
they had thank
offerings that they all gave,
00:41:26.18\00:41:29.18
you know, some more money
00:41:29.22\00:41:30.55
in addition to that
1/10th or the increase.
00:41:30.59\00:41:34.29
And then even in Israel
we realized, there was what?
00:41:34.32\00:41:36.83
Three occasions during
the year that they were,
00:41:36.86\00:41:40.66
the God said, "Don't
come now to these occasions."
00:41:40.70\00:41:42.80
And that was the
Feast of Tabernacles
00:41:42.83\00:41:44.67
and what, the Feast of Weeks,
00:41:44.70\00:41:46.03
and the Feast of
Unleavened Bread.
00:41:46.07\00:41:49.44
But He said,
"Don't come empty-handed."
00:41:49.47\00:41:51.21
Wow.
00:41:51.24\00:41:52.57
So it says,
"Give as you are able."
00:41:52.61\00:41:55.51
Yeah.
00:41:55.54\00:41:56.88
And so what it looks,
then, at that point of time
00:41:56.91\00:41:58.95
they were giving we
say, "A good Israelite,
00:41:58.98\00:42:00.85
a good Jew was giving at
least a third of their income
00:42:00.88\00:42:04.52
back to the cause of Christ."
00:42:04.55\00:42:06.09
It's kind of interesting,
00:42:06.12\00:42:07.46
but again what are
the motives for giving?
00:42:07.49\00:42:10.56
You know, we do not
give God back that 10%,
00:42:10.59\00:42:13.80
we know we've been
reading that we rob God.
00:42:13.83\00:42:16.77
And one word is embezzling,
we'll read in a moment.
00:42:16.80\00:42:18.97
It's embezzling from God's
treasure, its record in heaven.
00:42:19.00\00:42:22.20
Now, if you rob God
maybe for many years,
00:42:22.24\00:42:24.77
I think this is important point.
00:42:24.81\00:42:27.11
Maybe we come to the point
00:42:27.14\00:42:28.48
that we find out that
God requires this of us,
00:42:28.51\00:42:31.11
it's not just Old Testament.
00:42:31.15\00:42:33.65
It's heaven
approved, it's Jesus approved.
00:42:33.68\00:42:35.88
Yeah. He gives us the nod.
00:42:35.92\00:42:37.99
This is the right thing to do.
00:42:38.02\00:42:40.22
And if we come this is a reality
00:42:40.26\00:42:41.59
because I dealt
with an individual,
00:42:41.62\00:42:44.83
years of not, going to church,
00:42:44.86\00:42:46.49
but realizing should be tithing,
00:42:46.53\00:42:48.03
but wasn't tithing
when giving their 10%.
00:42:48.06\00:42:50.57
And then they come
into the advent movement
00:42:50.60\00:42:53.20
and they realize the
importance of tithing,
00:42:53.23\00:42:55.00
and for years they haven't.
00:42:55.04\00:42:56.57
Every once in a while
sitting in the church,
00:42:56.60\00:42:57.94
they're just doing a 10 or 20
00:42:57.97\00:42:59.31
and they said,
"That's good enough."
00:42:59.34\00:43:01.24
Well, they found out
that wasn't good enough,
00:43:01.28\00:43:03.28
they'd been
robbing God for years.
00:43:03.31\00:43:05.18
And He went back,
guess what he did?
00:43:05.21\00:43:07.02
How do you do this thing?
00:43:07.05\00:43:08.38
Let me read these 3 Testimonies
and tell you the quick story.
00:43:08.42\00:43:10.82
He said, "It is not enough
for them to change their course
00:43:10.85\00:43:14.02
and begin the work
00:43:14.06\00:43:15.39
from the time
upon right principle."
00:43:15.42\00:43:17.33
In other words,
they just now learned,
00:43:17.36\00:43:19.06
but they've been
years robbing God,
00:43:19.09\00:43:20.43
notice this, "This
will not correct the figure
00:43:20.46\00:43:23.63
made in heavenly record
00:43:23.67\00:43:25.23
for the
embezzlement of the property
00:43:25.27\00:43:27.04
committed to them in the trust
and to return to the lender."
00:43:27.07\00:43:30.21
Wow. So what does one do?
00:43:30.24\00:43:32.37
I thought was very interesting.
00:43:32.41\00:43:33.74
I sit down and I talked
and this was my step dad.
00:43:33.78\00:43:37.41
Thought it was
interesting thing,
00:43:37.45\00:43:38.78
we could sit
down, we could talk,
00:43:38.81\00:43:40.15
and you know, put our
arm around on each other,
00:43:40.18\00:43:41.52
and we love and say,
"What does God require?"
00:43:41.55\00:43:43.79
Well, we sat down and we
look and he said, "For 10 years,
00:43:43.82\00:43:46.69
I haven't paid a correct tithe.
00:43:46.72\00:43:48.52
For 10 years I've
made this amount of money."
00:43:48.56\00:43:50.53
Wow. "And I owe
God this amount."
00:43:50.56\00:43:53.90
But that's way too
much, I don't have it.
00:43:53.93\00:43:56.56
I can't give it all right now.
00:43:56.60\00:43:58.30
I said, "Well,
how would you suggest
00:43:58.33\00:44:00.37
maybe giving this back to God
00:44:00.40\00:44:01.87
since you said
you've robbed Him,
00:44:01.90\00:44:04.11
your conscience have
been pricked with the truth,
00:44:04.14\00:44:06.37
you want to do the right thing."
00:44:06.41\00:44:08.04
He said, "Sit down,"
00:44:08.08\00:44:09.41
he said, "I tell you
what I'm going to do.
00:44:09.44\00:44:10.78
I'm going to give as I'm able
extra and above, beyond my 10%.
00:44:10.81\00:44:15.52
Every week, every month
00:44:15.55\00:44:17.15
I'm going to give to God back
00:44:17.19\00:44:18.95
until I die or till
I make up that amount.
00:44:18.99\00:44:22.46
And then I think
I'll be square with God
00:44:22.49\00:44:24.13
and I think I'll be
square with heaven."
00:44:24.16\00:44:26.53
I mean what a wonderful insight
00:44:26.56\00:44:27.96
that is that there are
people who really care.
00:44:28.00\00:44:29.80
Yeah.
00:44:29.83\00:44:31.17
The right motives of the heart,
00:44:31.20\00:44:32.87
you see, encouraged
him to come down and say,
00:44:32.90\00:44:36.81
it's not enough
just to come and say,
00:44:36.84\00:44:38.37
"Oh, I've robbed Him all time."
00:44:38.41\00:44:39.84
We have to make things up,
00:44:39.87\00:44:41.21
it's recorded in
the Book of Heaven
00:44:41.24\00:44:42.58
that I'm a robber.
00:44:42.61\00:44:43.95
I'm an embezzler,
that's got to be cleared.
00:44:43.98\00:44:45.61
So, you know, everybody may
not think along those lines,
00:44:45.65\00:44:47.88
but I want to think about
00:44:47.92\00:44:49.25
if I've taken
something for someone here,
00:44:49.28\00:44:51.55
then I have a
duty to give it back.
00:44:51.59\00:44:54.72
Didn't know maybe to begin with
00:44:54.76\00:44:56.09
but my conscience, you see,
00:44:56.12\00:44:57.46
the Spirit of God, I
need to give that back.
00:44:57.49\00:44:59.89
Not just, "I'm
sorry, I took your ten."
00:44:59.93\00:45:01.60
Right?
00:45:01.63\00:45:02.96
Brother, Greg, I took
ten from you, I'm sorry.
00:45:03.00\00:45:04.93
You'll say, "Well, give me
the ten back and we're okay.
00:45:04.97\00:45:07.37
We'll be settled."
00:45:07.40\00:45:09.37
I believe that there is a way
in which it can be worked out,
00:45:09.40\00:45:11.74
everyone have to pray
about it and see them,
00:45:11.77\00:45:13.48
make sure it's
all right with God.
00:45:13.51\00:45:15.08
Last one, quickly
3 Testimonies 3:95,
00:45:15.11\00:45:17.78
"When they rob God
in tithes and offering."
00:45:17.81\00:45:20.62
It's children of Israel,
00:45:20.65\00:45:22.92
"They were made to realize
00:45:22.95\00:45:24.39
that they were
not only robbing Him,
00:45:24.42\00:45:26.12
but themselves,
for He limited..."
00:45:26.15\00:45:29.16
This is interesting, "For He
limited His blessings to them
00:45:29.19\00:45:32.49
just as in proportion
00:45:32.53\00:45:34.26
as they limited
their offerings to Him."
00:45:34.30\00:45:36.56
Wow.
00:45:36.60\00:45:37.93
Man, if you want
blessed, just do,
00:45:37.97\00:45:39.30
be obedient that
we've talked about before
00:45:39.33\00:45:41.07
to what God says in His Word.
00:45:41.10\00:45:42.57
Yes.
00:45:42.60\00:45:43.94
"I'll open the
windows of heaven."
00:45:43.97\00:45:45.31
Oh, glory, "And
pour out a blessing,
00:45:45.34\00:45:46.68
they'll not be room
enough to receive it."
00:45:46.71\00:45:48.61
And that's exactly what He says,
00:45:48.64\00:45:50.05
that's exactly what He will do,
that's not having to withhold
00:45:50.08\00:45:53.62
those blessings
that we won't desire.
00:45:53.65\00:45:55.35
I love that, the
motive of the heart.
00:45:55.38\00:45:57.55
And I was thinking
00:45:57.59\00:45:58.92
if a billionaire
gives a $100,000...
00:45:58.95\00:46:01.36
Go on.
00:46:01.39\00:46:02.72
Well, thank God, we,
00:46:02.76\00:46:04.09
you know, you need the income
to further the cause of Christ,
00:46:04.13\00:46:07.86
but the little widow
that gave the two mites,
00:46:07.90\00:46:10.33
the motives of the heart,
00:46:10.37\00:46:12.03
who was the greatest giver?
00:46:12.07\00:46:14.54
It has to be that widow.
00:46:14.57\00:46:15.94
It's not equal
giving, it's equal sacrifice.
00:46:15.97\00:46:19.57
And I think that's
the motive of the heart.
00:46:19.61\00:46:21.54
Well, I have Thursday,
00:46:21.58\00:46:23.95
and I'm looking at
the experience of giving.
00:46:23.98\00:46:27.28
You know sometimes we just
need to experience something
00:46:27.32\00:46:31.52
before we really
understand the value of it.
00:46:31.55\00:46:36.76
Now here is a scripture
that is contrary to our...
00:46:36.79\00:46:41.73
At first I put human reasoning,
00:46:41.76\00:46:45.13
then I decided it's contrary
00:46:45.17\00:46:47.80
to our untested human reasoning
00:46:47.84\00:46:52.17
and that's Acts 20:35.
00:46:52.21\00:46:54.48
And it's just the
latter part of it.
00:46:54.51\00:46:57.55
It says, "And remember
the words of the Lord Jesus
00:46:57.58\00:47:01.55
that He said it is more blessed
to give than to receive."
00:47:01.58\00:47:07.66
Now untested human reasoning,
00:47:07.69\00:47:10.29
it's hard to
convince someone of that
00:47:10.33\00:47:12.73
until they have experienced it.
00:47:12.76\00:47:14.73
Any of you ever experienced
the blessings of giving?
00:47:14.76\00:47:18.73
Oh, yes. I can remember...
00:47:18.77\00:47:22.44
Oh, years ago,
around the holidays
00:47:22.47\00:47:28.04
I was privileged to be able
to take food baskets to people
00:47:28.08\00:47:33.45
that didn't have
food for the holidays.
00:47:33.48\00:47:37.19
And how blessed I was to
see the look on their face and,
00:47:37.22\00:47:42.72
you know, something
that we were quick to do
00:47:42.76\00:47:45.13
was tell people,
00:47:45.16\00:47:46.49
praise God from
whom all blessings flow.
00:47:46.53\00:47:49.00
Don't thank us,
00:47:49.03\00:47:50.40
but I left with
my heart so full,
00:47:50.43\00:47:53.03
no gift that
could have been given me
00:47:53.07\00:47:55.70
would have made my
heart overflow with such love,
00:47:55.74\00:48:00.11
as that being able
to minister to others.
00:48:00.14\00:48:03.38
Okay, just hearing
someone say something
00:48:03.41\00:48:07.72
doesn't convince
anybody of anything.
00:48:07.75\00:48:10.69
Actually
experiencing the blessing
00:48:10.72\00:48:13.86
that comes from
giving is the only way
00:48:13.89\00:48:17.49
we are going to be convinced.
00:48:17.53\00:48:19.79
Now Christ came to this earth
00:48:19.83\00:48:23.70
to reveal to us
the character of God,
00:48:23.73\00:48:28.17
to let us know what God is like.
00:48:28.20\00:48:31.27
Satan lied about
God's character, did he not?
00:48:31.31\00:48:35.71
Where did he lie
about God's character?
00:48:35.74\00:48:37.81
It was in heaven. That's right.
00:48:37.85\00:48:40.08
Then he lied about
God in the Garden of Eden.
00:48:40.12\00:48:43.72
And I wanted to
just look at that.
00:48:43.75\00:48:45.95
I think I've got that scripture
marked, it's Genesis 3.
00:48:45.99\00:48:51.66
I got it marked, Genesis 3.
00:48:51.69\00:48:53.83
And here is what
the serpent in lying,
00:48:53.86\00:48:59.37
in lying to Eve in
the Garden of Eden.
00:48:59.40\00:49:03.00
Dirty.
00:49:03.04\00:49:06.34
It says, "For God doth know
00:49:06.37\00:49:10.25
that in the day
you eat thereof..."
00:49:10.28\00:49:12.05
Well, first of
all, let's go back.
00:49:12.08\00:49:14.75
He asked Eve,
"Hath God surely said?"
00:49:14.78\00:49:19.55
And Eve said, "But
of the fruit of the tree
00:49:19.59\00:49:23.32
which is in the
Garden," this is Genesis 3:3,
00:49:23.36\00:49:27.00
God has said, "You
shall not eat of it,
00:49:27.03\00:49:28.86
neither shall you
touch it, lest you do," what?
00:49:28.90\00:49:31.13
"Lest you die."
00:49:31.17\00:49:32.50
Now here's what
Satan said to her.
00:49:32.53\00:49:35.77
"The serpent
said unto the woman,
00:49:35.80\00:49:38.57
'You shall not surely die.'"
00:49:38.61\00:49:39.94
What was he doing?
00:49:39.97\00:49:41.31
He was calling God
a liar, was he not?
00:49:41.34\00:49:42.78
Yes, he was.
00:49:42.81\00:49:44.15
He was defaming
the character of God.
00:49:44.18\00:49:47.42
And then he goes on,
00:49:47.45\00:49:48.78
"For God doth know that
in the day you eat thereof,
00:49:48.82\00:49:52.05
that your eyes shall be opened,
00:49:52.09\00:49:53.52
and you shall be as
God, knowing good and evil."
00:49:53.56\00:49:55.96
You know, what he
was conveying to her.
00:49:55.99\00:49:58.76
God is withholding
something good from you.
00:49:58.79\00:50:00.86
Yes. That's right.
00:50:00.90\00:50:02.23
So Christ came to earth
to set the record straight,
00:50:02.26\00:50:07.04
to reveal to us the
true character of God.
00:50:07.07\00:50:11.57
He continues to
lie to this very day.
00:50:11.61\00:50:14.94
He hasn't
stopped lying to humanity
00:50:14.98\00:50:19.05
about the character of God.
00:50:19.08\00:50:20.68
Christ is showing us the
blessings that come to us
00:50:20.72\00:50:25.12
by being obedient
to God's instructions.
00:50:25.15\00:50:28.62
He loves us.
00:50:28.66\00:50:30.86
And God wants
the very best for us.
00:50:30.89\00:50:33.43
Amen. So that's
what Christ is doing.
00:50:33.46\00:50:35.66
God doesn't ask
us to do anything
00:50:35.70\00:50:38.40
that isn't designed
to ultimately benefit us
00:50:38.43\00:50:42.40
to be in our very best interest.
00:50:42.44\00:50:45.24
So now we come to
this tithing issue.
00:50:45.27\00:50:48.28
And what do people are giving
are alms and their offerings.
00:50:48.31\00:50:53.92
What is the thought?
00:50:53.95\00:50:55.48
God wants my money.
00:50:55.52\00:50:57.69
And we have found
through this study
00:50:57.72\00:51:00.32
that everything belongs to God.
00:51:00.36\00:51:02.39
We get to keep
90%, that 10% is holy.
00:51:02.42\00:51:09.10
Amen. And it's committed to God.
00:51:09.13\00:51:12.97
Our being generous with others
doesn't just benefit them.
00:51:13.00\00:51:17.07
What does our
being generous to others?
00:51:17.11\00:51:19.31
Bless others.
00:51:19.34\00:51:20.68
You know, you
re-bought yourself.
00:51:20.71\00:51:22.71
And if you sow
meagerly you're going to reap,
00:51:22.74\00:51:25.65
but if you sow
with a generous heart
00:51:25.68\00:51:29.68
and Corinthians 9:7,
00:51:29.72\00:51:33.36
I've got that scripture
here, "But this I say..."
00:51:33.39\00:51:37.53
2 Corinthians
9:6-7, "But this I say,
00:51:37.56\00:51:41.06
he who sows sparingly
will also reap sparingly
00:51:41.10\00:51:46.20
and he who sows bountifully
will also reap bountifully.
00:51:46.23\00:51:50.14
So let each one give
00:51:50.17\00:51:51.94
as he purposes in
his heart," where?
00:51:51.97\00:51:54.58
"In your heart." Yes.
00:51:54.61\00:51:55.94
Where do you make the
purpose of your giving?
00:51:55.98\00:51:58.01
It's in your heart.
00:51:58.05\00:51:59.81
"Not grudgingly or of necessity,
00:51:59.85\00:52:02.88
for God loves a cheerful giver."
00:52:02.92\00:52:06.15
He wants us to experience
the joy that comes with giving
00:52:06.19\00:52:11.76
and He also, see
God wants to bless us.
00:52:11.79\00:52:15.36
God won't, He won't
chase you down to bless you.
00:52:15.40\00:52:18.20
If you're willing and obedient,
00:52:18.23\00:52:20.17
then all the blessings
of God will come upon you,
00:52:20.20\00:52:23.81
and if you bring all
your tithes and offerings
00:52:23.84\00:52:25.97
into the storehouse,
the blessings come on you.
00:52:26.01\00:52:28.84
And we don't, oh,
we've made this so clear,
00:52:28.88\00:52:31.58
we don't give to get,
00:52:31.61\00:52:33.21
we give because we love God
00:52:33.25\00:52:35.08
and we want to be
obedient to what He...
00:52:35.12\00:52:37.92
Well, in doing so we're putting
00:52:37.95\00:52:40.79
into practice a
biblical principle
00:52:40.82\00:52:45.49
and when you put into practice
00:52:45.53\00:52:47.23
or into operation
a biblical principle,
00:52:47.26\00:52:50.77
you are going to
receive the principle,
00:52:50.80\00:52:55.17
the blessing that comes with it.
00:52:55.20\00:52:57.64
If God says, "If you bring
all your tithes and offerings
00:52:57.67\00:53:00.44
into the storehouse,
00:53:00.48\00:53:01.81
He's going to
rebuke the devourer
00:53:01.84\00:53:03.24
and pour you out a
blessing you can't contain."
00:53:03.28\00:53:05.65
Do you know that
if you are a tither,
00:53:05.68\00:53:08.28
that biblical principle
comes into play in your life,
00:53:08.32\00:53:11.95
nothing can stop it.
00:53:11.99\00:53:13.49
The devourer is
going to be rebuked
00:53:13.52\00:53:16.42
on your behalf and again,
00:53:16.46\00:53:18.56
God's going to chase
you down to bless you.
00:53:18.59\00:53:21.53
Okay, Luke 6:38.
00:53:21.56\00:53:25.43
"Give and it
will be given to you,
00:53:25.47\00:53:28.00
good measure, pressed
down, shaken together,
00:53:28.04\00:53:30.67
and running over will
be put into your bosom.
00:53:30.71\00:53:34.64
For with the same
measure that you use,
00:53:34.68\00:53:36.85
it will be
measured back to you."
00:53:36.88\00:53:38.41
Again, you're putting
into a biblical principle,
00:53:38.45\00:53:41.52
"Give and it's
going to come back to you.
00:53:41.55\00:53:45.22
Pressed down, shaken
together, and running over."
00:53:45.25\00:53:48.22
If that's the
motive of your heart,
00:53:48.26\00:53:50.73
then pray and ask God to remove,
00:53:50.76\00:53:53.76
God will put in your
heart the right motives.
00:53:53.80\00:53:56.43
It is God who,
Shelley, quote this for me,
00:53:56.46\00:53:59.67
both to will and to
do of His good pleasure.
00:53:59.70\00:54:03.51
Okay, our giving
is very personal.
00:54:03.54\00:54:05.91
And oh, I've got to get to this.
00:54:05.94\00:54:07.51
To the extent
that we're able to,
00:54:07.54\00:54:09.54
we need to keep it
between ourselves and God.
00:54:09.58\00:54:12.35
Yes.
00:54:12.38\00:54:13.75
Here's what Jesus tells us,
00:54:13.78\00:54:15.72
"Take heed that you do not do
00:54:15.75\00:54:17.42
your charitable deeds
before men, to be seen by them.
00:54:17.45\00:54:20.79
Otherwise you have no reward
with your Father in heaven.
00:54:20.82\00:54:23.99
Therefore, when you
do a charitable deed,
00:54:24.03\00:54:27.63
do not sound a trumpet
before you as the hypocrites do
00:54:27.66\00:54:31.87
in the synagogues
or in the streets,
00:54:31.90\00:54:35.24
that they may
have glory from men.
00:54:35.27\00:54:37.37
Assuredly, I say to
you, they have their reward."
00:54:37.41\00:54:40.34
You know at 3ABN, occasionally,
00:54:40.38\00:54:43.65
you'll see these little
white envelopes going around.
00:54:43.68\00:54:46.25
Somebody will get a little
white envelope on their desk,
00:54:46.28\00:54:48.92
if somebody that's in need
00:54:48.95\00:54:50.82
and there is
nobody's name on it,
00:54:50.85\00:54:52.92
this comes from.
00:54:52.95\00:54:54.29
And anytime,
anybody receives anything,
00:54:54.32\00:54:56.83
again, it so, we better say,
00:54:56.86\00:54:59.56
"Praise God from
whom our blessings flow."
00:54:59.59\00:55:02.23
And I want us to
read Proverbs 19:17.
00:55:02.26\00:55:06.63
Proverbs 19:17.
00:55:06.67\00:55:11.01
Proverbs 19:17,
"He that have pity
00:55:11.04\00:55:16.14
and that's he that
ministers to upon the poor,
00:55:16.18\00:55:21.18
look at who he lendeth to,
00:55:21.22\00:55:23.59
he that hath pity
upon the poor who gives,
00:55:23.62\00:55:26.32
who ministers to the
poor lendeth" unto who?
00:55:26.35\00:55:30.09
"Lendeth unto the Lord,"
00:55:30.13\00:55:31.83
and the
scripture goes on to say,
00:55:31.86\00:55:33.90
"and that which He hath
given will He pay him again."
00:55:33.93\00:55:38.77
God is the one then
that will take care of you.
00:55:38.80\00:55:42.80
Oh, I just don't have time
00:55:42.84\00:55:45.17
to get through with all of this,
00:55:45.21\00:55:46.91
but I just wanted you to say,
if Jesus tells you something,
00:55:46.94\00:55:51.68
you can believe it.
00:55:51.71\00:55:53.05
And it was Jesus that says,
00:55:53.08\00:55:55.25
"It is more blessed
to give than to receive."
00:55:55.28\00:55:58.72
And if Jesus says it,
00:55:58.75\00:56:00.72
it's more blessed to
give than to receive.
00:56:00.76\00:56:03.66
Amen. Thank you so much, Mollie.
00:56:03.69\00:56:05.69
What a blessing.
00:56:05.73\00:56:07.06
One thing you said many things,
00:56:07.10\00:56:08.43
but one thing in
particular piqued my interest,
00:56:08.46\00:56:10.93
not equal giving,
but equal sacrifice.
00:56:10.97\00:56:14.24
Yeah, I like that.
00:56:14.27\00:56:15.60
On Friday's day of the lesson,
00:56:15.64\00:56:16.97
there's a quote
from Ellen White.
00:56:17.01\00:56:18.34
This is from Advent
Review, and Sabbath Herald,
00:56:18.37\00:56:20.24
October 17, 1882.
00:56:20.28\00:56:22.84
"The spirit of liberality
is the spirit of heaven.
00:56:22.88\00:56:26.82
The spirit of selfishness
is the spirit of Satan.
00:56:26.85\00:56:30.85
Christ self-sacrificing love
has revealed upon the cross.
00:56:30.89\00:56:35.19
He gave all that He had
00:56:35.22\00:56:37.93
and then He gave Himself
that man might be saved."
00:56:37.96\00:56:42.06
And so, as you consider
what God wants you to give
00:56:42.10\00:56:46.40
and it's not even
what God wants you to give,
00:56:46.43\00:56:48.60
but He has given
to you everything,
00:56:48.64\00:56:51.41
and what you can
share in return to Him
00:56:51.44\00:56:55.21
and to other people.
00:56:55.24\00:56:56.58
Think of the spirit
of self-sacrificing love,
00:56:56.61\00:57:00.15
the Spirit of Jesus,
00:57:00.18\00:57:02.18
that is the
essence of the gospel.
00:57:02.22\00:57:04.29
I want to thank, Miss Mollie,
00:57:04.32\00:57:05.65
Pastor Kenny, my husband
Greg, and Sister Shelley.
00:57:05.69\00:57:09.09
Thank you so much for
sharing from your heart
00:57:09.12\00:57:11.49
and your
experience in the Word of God.
00:57:11.53\00:57:13.73
And we thank you at
home for joining us.
00:57:13.76\00:57:16.36
What a blessing
to open up God's Word
00:57:16.40\00:57:19.23
and to study together.
00:57:19.27\00:57:21.64
I want to encourage
you to look into your heart
00:57:21.67\00:57:24.74
and see what God wants you
to give to support His work.
00:57:24.77\00:57:28.61
We'll see you
next time. Bye-bye.
00:57:28.64\00:57:30.31