Prior to Y2K, people
made millions of dollars
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by investing money
in the stock market.
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Overnight they raked
it in and reaped fortunes.
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Not any more.
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In fact, out of the blue
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Bill Gates and the world's
rich have been losing billions.
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Enron scandals, corporate greed,
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cheaters on Wall
Street, politics,
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war in the Middle East.
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You know, today's
financial roller-coaster
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spirals up and
down like a yo-yo.
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Unprecedented.
Heading who knows where.
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So people are
searching, they're wondering:
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"Is anything
stable or permanent?"
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Not just
security for the future,
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but for the present.
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Well, ladies and gentlemen,
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did you know that
God never intended
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that you and I
should have to worry
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about the present or the future?
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A perfect
partnership plan guaranteed
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so that we'd never have
to worry about the future
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or fear what's
going to happen to us?
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In Matthew 6:31
and 32, Jesus said,
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"Therefore do not worry,
saying, 'What shall we eat?'
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Or, 'What shall we drink?'
Or, 'What shall we wear?'...
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For your heavenly Father knows
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that you need all these things."
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God's social
security plan started
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way back there in
the Garden of Eden.
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When planet Earth came
fresh from the Creator's hands
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in all of its
splendor and perfection,
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glorious beyond description,
the stroke of the master artist
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just greeted the
eye at every turn.
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Magnificent
sunrises were rivaled
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only by breathtaking sunsets.
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Peaceful lakes
nestled between the hills.
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Gorgeous blossoms
delighting the senses.
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Trees were loaded with
delicious fruit of every kind.
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Songbirds filled
the air with melody.
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Animals out there
in the lush meadows
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just played and roamed unafraid.
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The streams and lakes were alive
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with beautifully colored fish.
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It was a paradise
from pole to pole.
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But there was even more.
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Genesis 2:8 says, "The
Lord God planted a garden
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and there He put the
man whom He had formed."
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Imagine this.
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God personally
sculptured and manicured
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a luxurious home
for Adam and Eve.
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So exquisite, so lavish,
it was incomparably beautiful.
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No down payment. No mortgage.
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Zero interest rate.
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In fact He even stocked their
refrigerator with groceries.
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Notice Genesis 1:29,
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"I have given you
every herb that yields seed
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which is on the
face of all the earth,
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and every tree
whose fruit yields seed,
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to you it shall be for food."
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Folks Adam and Eve paid no rent,
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they never worried about taxes,
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no locks or keys in their doors,
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no vandals, burglars,
no hospitals or drugstores.
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I mean they had everything.
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Perfect health. Endless youth.
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Undying commitment to each other
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and a boundless love for God
and God said, kids have at it
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"Live it up
Enjoy these blessings."
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Notice Genesis 1:28 He said,
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"Be fruitful, and multiply,
fill the earth and subdue it."
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God's original
design was one great big
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happy family
inhabiting Planet Earth.
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Life, Health and Wealth.
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Of course, God also knew
mankind would be happiest
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if he had something to do
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several kinds of
responsibilities,
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some challenges like employment,
00:04:13.52\00:04:16.61
tasks they'd be responsible for.
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So He told Adam and Eve,
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now Adam and Eve "I
own it, I've created it.
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But I want you to become
the managers of my property.
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I want you to be
partners." Not owners.
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Stewards who manage
everything I've created.
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Genesis 1:28 "Have dominion
over the fish of the sea,
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over the birds of the air,
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and over every living
thing that moves on the earth."
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And then we read in Genesis 2:15
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"Then the Lord God took the man,
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and put him in the Garden
of Eden to tend and keep it."
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You see, ladies and gentlemen.
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There are two
theories of ownership
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in our world today.
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One is right,
the other is wrong.
00:05:06.20\00:05:09.23
One is Christian,
the other is pagan.
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And because most people
practice the pagan concept,
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billions live
absolutely miserable lives.
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Now according to the
Bible's theory of ownership,
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Bill Gates and
Martha Stewart own nothing.
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God owns everything,
everything in the world.
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It's His as it
says in Psalm 24:1
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"The earth is the
Lord's and all its fullness,
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the world and
those who dwell therein."
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And Psalm 50:10, 11,
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"For every beast
of the forest is Mine,
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and the cattle
on a thousand hills.
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I know all the
birds of the mountains,
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and the wild beasts
of the field are Mine."
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But unfortunately
it is the primitive
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pagan concept of ownership
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that prevails,
you know what that is?
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It says this, well,
the best title to property
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is conquest,
ownership, earn, grasp.
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Get what you can by brute
force and then it's yours.
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Wit, conniving, get a
couple of Harvard degrees,
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earn an MBA in
Business Management.
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Develop market savvy.
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Conniving maybe some
real estate intellect
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and maybe a little
fraud and extortion.
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But friend is this
true that might makes right?
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And whoever gets
the most marbles wins?
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Well, Wall Street
would give that impression.
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But that is the pagan
concept that's cursing mankind.
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Because in the end that means
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the big man, the mafia gets all.
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This theory says,
according to Deuteronomy 8:17
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"My power and the
might of mine hand
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hath gotten me this wealth,"
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The best man wins.
Survival of the fittest.
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Dominate make your
pile early in life.
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Money, hey, money is power.
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And you only go
around once in life,
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so go for all of
that gusto you can get.
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That is the secular
concept of ownership.
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Over on the other
side of the spectrum.
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The Christian
concept of ownership
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is that we really don't own
anything, nothing, zilch, nada.
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God owns everything.
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We're just
managing things for Him.
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We're not owners.
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We're stewards
because Deuteronomy 8:18 says,
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"Remember, it is He God
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who gives you
power to get wealth."
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Now, put simply, folks we
really don't own anything.
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God the Creator has prior claim
on our possessions and on us.
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We're just stewards.
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Well, you say,
what is a steward?
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Oh, if you look in the
Concise Oxford Dictionary
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defines steward
as a person entrusted
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with the management
of another's property."
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So do you see the two theories?
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Two philosophies, two
radically different approaches
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to wealth and money
that are universes apart,
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one is Ownership the
other is Stewardship.
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And ladies and
gentlemen, these two opposites
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were the big issue back
there in the Garden of Eden.
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You see the question
wasn't over an apple.
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The big test was, would Adam
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let God be the
owner and trust His plan?
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Or would Adam try
to take over as owner
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and manage things his own way?
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Who is going to be boss?
00:09:03.99\00:09:07.06
You see, friend, that
is what sin is all about.
00:09:07.09\00:09:10.11
God or me.
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And just like Adam and Eve
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had a test back there
in the Garden of Eden,
00:09:15.72\00:09:18.33
God has a test for
us here in 2003 and 2004
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only it's not by a tree.
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In fact, there
are five basic areas
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God tests us as
stewards to see whether
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we're making proper
use to the glory of God
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of what He has entrusted to us.
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First of all, from
the very, very beginning,
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God outlined very clearly
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that we're stewards of
property and material goods.
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I want you to
notice Genesis 2:16, 17
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He said to Adam and Eve
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"Of every tree of the
garden you may freely eat
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but of the tree of the knowledge
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of good and evil
you shall not eat,
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for in the day
that you eat of it
00:10:00.09\00:10:02.05
you shall surely die."
00:10:02.08\00:10:05.67
I want you to notice
00:10:05.70\00:10:07.14
how God tests
our love and loyalty.
00:10:07.17\00:10:11.15
It's by something we
produce or something we grow.
00:10:11.18\00:10:15.69
Adam and Eve could eat from
all the trees in the garden,
00:10:15.72\00:10:18.82
they were their
trees, thousands of them
00:10:18.85\00:10:21.41
oh, except one restriction.
00:10:21.44\00:10:23.35
One specific tree
that was God's tree.
00:10:23.38\00:10:28.39
Okay, by obeying God,
00:10:28.42\00:10:31.01
they showed their recognition
of His rightful ownership.
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After all, He'd even
He'd made everything.
00:10:35.14\00:10:37.81
He even made them too.
00:10:37.84\00:10:39.89
So if they
remained faithful stewards
00:10:39.92\00:10:42.42
and respected that arrangement,
00:10:42.45\00:10:44.92
they would live forever
in a world that was paradise.
00:10:44.95\00:10:50.75
But sadly, man
failed back there.
00:10:50.78\00:10:53.92
They flunked the one simple test
00:10:53.95\00:10:57.11
God required of them.
00:10:57.14\00:10:59.07
They were unfaithful stewards.
00:10:59.10\00:11:01.89
You see by selfishness,
trying to be owners,
00:11:01.92\00:11:06.86
they lost everything.
00:11:06.89\00:11:08.82
They lost their garden home.
00:11:08.85\00:11:10.59
They lost
immortality. They lost love.
00:11:10.62\00:11:13.42
They lost
happiness. They lost security.
00:11:13.45\00:11:15.96
They lost those face to
face walks and talks with God.
00:11:15.99\00:11:20.19
And they slipped
from being heirs to slaves
00:11:20.22\00:11:24.25
from blessings to curses,
00:11:24.28\00:11:26.82
never realizing the
serious implications of adopting
00:11:26.85\00:11:30.64
the wrong theory of ownership.
00:11:30.67\00:11:35.16
And we know of course
that watching behind it all
00:11:35.19\00:11:39.00
in sadistic
satisfaction was Satan.
00:11:39.03\00:11:44.46
Who announced,
00:11:44.49\00:11:46.58
hey, I've
commandeered ownership now.
00:11:46.61\00:11:48.91
Man forfeited, abdicated
his control, his power.
00:11:48.94\00:11:52.81
By force and cunning,
00:11:52.84\00:11:54.95
Satan usurped
control of Planet Earth
00:11:54.98\00:11:58.02
with now a whole
planet in rebellion.
00:11:58.05\00:12:01.66
You know, folks, I thank God
that Satan's assumed domination
00:12:01.69\00:12:06.72
and hi-jacking was shattered
by Jesus Christ's entrance
00:12:06.75\00:12:10.63
into the world centuries later.
00:12:10.66\00:12:13.34
He bought back our
world at infinite cost.
00:12:13.37\00:12:19.83
That's why Satan's plan was
to go and deceive Jesus too.
00:12:19.86\00:12:23.58
Zero in on the very same way
that he tricked Adam and Eve.
00:12:23.61\00:12:27.24
Would Jesus came here,
Satan try to force Jesus
00:12:27.27\00:12:30.56
to take things into
His own hands and control.
00:12:30.59\00:12:33.74
Adopt the same pagan
theory of ownership of things.
00:12:33.77\00:12:38.82
Remember the
story there in Mathew 4,
00:12:38.85\00:12:40.99
Satan waited with his
dark glasses on one day
00:12:41.02\00:12:44.48
until Jesus had fasted
the Bible says for 40 days.
00:12:44.51\00:12:48.03
And then Satan took Jesus up
and it says in Matthew 4:8, 9
00:12:48.06\00:12:54.33
he took Him up in
"Exceedingly high mountain,
00:12:54.36\00:12:57.98
and showed Him all
the kingdoms of the world.
00:12:58.01\00:12:59.85
And he said, 'All
these things I will give you
00:12:59.88\00:13:02.77
if You will fall
down and worship me.'"
00:13:02.80\00:13:06.74
Do you see the issue here?
00:13:06.77\00:13:08.69
Satan tried to entice
Jesus to control things.
00:13:08.72\00:13:14.20
Here, Jesus,
money, kingdoms, finances.
00:13:14.23\00:13:19.95
I'll give you ownership
00:13:19.98\00:13:22.34
but his deception
didn't get very far with Jesus
00:13:22.37\00:13:25.35
because Jesus knew God
already owned the Universe.
00:13:25.38\00:13:30.30
The things that
Satan promised to give
00:13:30.33\00:13:32.67
Christ were not
really his to give.
00:13:32.70\00:13:35.87
Satan had hi-jacked a
planet by fraud and by deceit.
00:13:35.90\00:13:40.02
Right there, thank God,
00:13:40.05\00:13:41.88
Jesus Christ defeated
Satan with it is written.
00:13:41.91\00:13:47.33
Three times Jesus bowled
over the devil with those words.
00:13:47.36\00:13:51.18
And of course Calvary
forever sealed Satan's fate,
00:13:51.21\00:13:55.88
returning Planet Earth
back into the rightful hands
00:13:55.91\00:13:59.26
of men and women as stewards.
00:13:59.29\00:14:01.63
You and I today our very lives,
00:14:01.66\00:14:03.52
you see our
possessions are again
00:14:03.55\00:14:05.42
Christ's purchased property.
00:14:05.45\00:14:08.16
He's not only our Creator,
He's not only our Redeemer.
00:14:08.19\00:14:11.56
He is the rightful owner
of the world and the universe.
00:14:11.59\00:14:15.84
Whether we love
and serve Him or not,
00:14:15.87\00:14:17.82
our very lives all our
possessions are His property.
00:14:17.85\00:14:23.35
Just like Adam and Eve,
00:14:23.38\00:14:25.53
we too now are again stewards
of what God entrusts to us.
00:14:25.56\00:14:32.25
So what does He require of us?
00:14:32.28\00:14:36.48
When you and I stand
before God in the judgment,
00:14:36.51\00:14:39.49
what is God going to be
looking for in us stewards?
00:14:39.52\00:14:45.39
I want you to listen carefully
00:14:45.42\00:14:46.49
because the Bible
gets very specific
00:14:46.52\00:14:48.84
about God's
expectations of stewards.
00:14:48.87\00:14:52.24
For example Paul in
1 Corinthians 4:2 says,
00:14:52.27\00:14:55.63
"Moreover, Lonnie, it
is required of stewards
00:14:55.66\00:14:59.32
that one be found faithful."
00:14:59.35\00:15:03.61
Faithful first and foremost
in our stewardship of property,
00:15:03.64\00:15:09.25
material things.
00:15:09.28\00:15:11.74
But next,
faithful in a second area.
00:15:11.77\00:15:15.55
Folks, we are stewards of life.
00:15:15.58\00:15:19.01
The greatest of all God's gifts,
00:15:19.04\00:15:20.77
you know we
really take for granted.
00:15:20.80\00:15:22.51
It surges through our bodies.
00:15:22.54\00:15:24.53
Paul writes in Acts 17:24, 25,
00:15:24.56\00:15:29.05
"God, who made the
world and everything in it
00:15:29.08\00:15:32.70
gives to all life,
breath, and all things."
00:15:32.73\00:15:37.52
You know every
heartbeat, every breath of air,
00:15:37.55\00:15:40.94
every pulse of our bodies
is a gift from God, isn't it?
00:15:40.97\00:15:44.67
So you and I are
stewards of our life and health
00:15:44.70\00:15:49.22
because God originates life.
00:15:49.25\00:15:51.33
He sustains it. It's His.
00:15:51.36\00:15:53.78
Romans 12:1 Paul says,
"I beseech you therefore,
00:15:53.81\00:15:57.63
brethren, by the mercies of God,
00:15:57.66\00:15:59.17
that you present your
bodies a living sacrifice,
00:15:59.20\00:16:02.88
holy acceptable to God,
00:16:02.91\00:16:04.64
which is your
reasonable service."
00:16:04.67\00:16:08.21
You know a living sacrifice
00:16:08.24\00:16:09.67
simply means
unreserved commitment.
00:16:09.70\00:16:13.98
Stewards of life means
00:16:14.01\00:16:15.64
that we are stewards
of how we use our lives.
00:16:15.67\00:16:19.98
And Jesus for example said,
00:16:20.01\00:16:21.79
"Good stewards
should follow His example,
00:16:21.82\00:16:24.97
and they should
go about doing good."
00:16:25.00\00:16:27.29
Acts 10:38.
00:16:27.32\00:16:28.62
In their lives,
letting their lives shine
00:16:28.65\00:16:31.28
and affecting others for good.
00:16:31.31\00:16:33.10
You know that's what
Ann Landers recommends
00:16:33.13\00:16:34.97
in her advice
column, doesn't she?
00:16:35.00\00:16:37.25
Do a good deed every day. Why?
00:16:37.28\00:16:39.37
Because that builds integrity,
that builds character.
00:16:39.40\00:16:44.47
You see friend
you count, you matter.
00:16:44.50\00:16:48.33
You make a difference.
00:16:48.36\00:16:50.21
So number two, you
are stewards of life.
00:16:50.24\00:16:55.47
Third, we are stewards of time.
00:16:55.50\00:17:00.18
God gives us time 24
hours a day, 7 days a week.
00:17:00.21\00:17:04.25
Now how will the
faithful steward use it?
00:17:04.28\00:17:07.62
The Psalmist
wrote in Psalm 90:12,
00:17:07.65\00:17:10.82
"So teach us to number our days,
00:17:10.85\00:17:13.89
that we may gain
a heart of wisdom."
00:17:13.92\00:17:17.93
In a person who
wastes time, wastes life,
00:17:17.96\00:17:22.26
squanders the one
talent which God Himself gave
00:17:22.29\00:17:25.76
identically to
every man and woman.
00:17:25.79\00:17:28.51
In fact someone who said time
is the stuff life is made of.
00:17:28.54\00:17:32.88
And every person has the same
exact number of hours in a day.
00:17:32.91\00:17:36.62
24/7.
00:17:36.65\00:17:38.08
God expects that we
each use our time wisely.
00:17:38.11\00:17:41.82
And by the way
especially to remember
00:17:41.85\00:17:44.41
the seventh-day Sabbath
00:17:44.44\00:17:46.22
'cause that's His
special time set apart,
00:17:46.25\00:17:49.21
His gift to set aside
a time for rest for Him.
00:17:49.24\00:17:54.12
Holy time, God's
time. How will we use time?
00:17:54.15\00:17:59.15
Will we use it on
God's terms or our own terms?
00:17:59.18\00:18:04.15
Will we devote
just 1/7th of our time
00:18:04.18\00:18:07.43
to fellowship with
God, resting in His word,
00:18:07.46\00:18:10.46
drawing
refreshment from His promises
00:18:10.49\00:18:12.34
and putting aside the weekly
rat race of pressures at work?
00:18:12.37\00:18:15.88
Shopping, worldly pursuits.
00:18:15.91\00:18:17.88
And just
remembering Him as Creator.
00:18:17.91\00:18:21.66
So third, we are
stewards of time.
00:18:21.69\00:18:25.80
Fourth, we are stewards
of the talents God gives us.
00:18:25.83\00:18:32.43
Well, you ask, what
are the specific talents
00:18:32.46\00:18:35.47
for which I'm responsible
to God as His steward?
00:18:35.50\00:18:38.65
Lon, I don't think
I have any talents.
00:18:38.68\00:18:41.76
Oh, friend do
you sing like Joey?
00:18:41.79\00:18:43.77
You Play an
instrument like Phil Draper?
00:18:43.80\00:18:46.28
Do you paint pictures?
Maybe you can sew a dress?
00:18:46.31\00:18:49.67
Can you write maybe organize?
Can you talk on the phone?
00:18:49.70\00:18:54.51
God says, "I give you life,
time, possessions and abilities
00:18:54.54\00:19:02.35
and it's your
privilege to either use
00:19:02.38\00:19:03.93
these to enrich yourself,
00:19:03.96\00:19:05.75
satisfy your own
whims and pleasures
00:19:05.78\00:19:07.68
or you can choose to
use them to bless others."
00:19:07.71\00:19:12.60
We're stewards of talents,
00:19:12.63\00:19:15.07
loaned to us by God to
use in blessing other people.
00:19:15.10\00:19:19.92
And then number 5,
00:19:19.95\00:19:21.82
God says, we are stewards
of the money God gives us.
00:19:21.85\00:19:27.76
In fact, did you
know that the Bible spends
00:19:27.79\00:19:29.60
more time talking about
money than any other theme?
00:19:29.63\00:19:33.36
Money is very important to God.
00:19:33.39\00:19:36.71
And that's why He
invites faithful stewards
00:19:36.74\00:19:39.22
to go into business with God
00:19:39.25\00:19:40.87
and partnership with a
specific figure of money.
00:19:40.90\00:19:46.74
Millionaire Maurice
Hitchcock once called my friend
00:19:46.77\00:19:49.46
George Vandeman,
laughing, as he was studying
00:19:49.49\00:19:51.36
this subject he
says, George, is it true
00:19:51.39\00:19:54.71
that God is going to tax me 10%?
00:19:54.74\00:19:58.28
Well, he answers yes, in fact
that's all through the Bible.
00:19:58.31\00:20:03.27
Let's go back to a story
way back there in Genesis 14,
00:20:03.30\00:20:07.59
the very interesting story about
00:20:07.62\00:20:09.17
how to say thank you to God.
00:20:09.20\00:20:13.42
Bible tells us in Genesis 14
00:20:13.45\00:20:15.17
that one day Abraham's
nephew Lot was kidnapped
00:20:15.20\00:20:20.03
by an enemy tribe, the Elamites.
00:20:20.06\00:20:22.94
They took Lot,
they took his family,
00:20:22.97\00:20:24.45
they took their
possessions, everything.
00:20:24.48\00:20:26.86
Well, when news
reached uncle Abe,
00:20:26.89\00:20:29.70
wow, he mounted a
posse, he determined to rescue
00:20:29.73\00:20:32.78
Lot and the others,
00:20:32.81\00:20:34.05
praying Lord God
please will you help me?
00:20:34.08\00:20:37.28
And God did help him
deliver Lot and his family.
00:20:37.31\00:20:40.92
Abraham caught the
kidnappers along with their loot
00:20:40.95\00:20:43.80
and brought them
all back home to Sodom
00:20:43.83\00:20:45.51
where even the King
came out to meet him
00:20:45.54\00:20:47.32
with the whole bunch
of rewards and fanfare.
00:20:47.35\00:20:50.21
But Abraham refused to
take any reward for himself.
00:20:50.24\00:20:54.09
Instead, when
Melchizedek, a priest of God,
00:20:54.12\00:20:57.17
came to bless
Abraham, Genesis 14:20 says
00:20:57.20\00:21:00.68
that then Abraham,
"Gave him a tithe of all."
00:21:00.71\00:21:08.31
Now, here's an interesting
new insight in scripture.
00:21:08.34\00:21:12.11
A proposal to us
managers and stewards.
00:21:12.14\00:21:17.15
Here's an investment
where friend you can't lose,
00:21:17.18\00:21:20.72
that many modern
businessmen are catching on to,
00:21:20.75\00:21:24.57
a profound financial principle.
00:21:24.60\00:21:27.39
In fact most churches
today are re-discovering,
00:21:27.42\00:21:30.41
because you see
friend God doesn't lie.
00:21:30.44\00:21:34.10
When Abraham wanted to
express appreciation to God,
00:21:34.13\00:21:37.92
he gave a tithe,
holding those words for 10%.
00:21:37.95\00:21:43.86
And we know God blessed Abraham
00:21:43.89\00:21:46.26
that he became an
extremely wealthy man like
00:21:46.29\00:21:49.78
most of the
descendants of Abraham,
00:21:49.81\00:21:52.01
our Jewish friends who tithe.
00:21:52.04\00:21:54.92
Now fast-forward
with me 150 years later
00:21:54.95\00:21:58.74
to Abraham's grandson Jacob.
00:21:58.77\00:22:02.24
We find that he
expressed his gratitude to God
00:22:02.27\00:22:05.47
in the very same way
and over in Genesis 28:22
00:22:05.50\00:22:10.32
"Of all that You give me
00:22:10.35\00:22:12.55
I will surely
give a tenth to You."
00:22:12.58\00:22:16.12
What happened to Jacob?
He became a wealthy man.
00:22:16.15\00:22:20.55
Go on down to
King David. He tithed.
00:22:20.58\00:22:23.11
Psalm 116:12, same thing,
He was a financial success.
00:22:23.14\00:22:28.03
Over and over again,
00:22:28.06\00:22:29.09
the principle of
success through stewardship.
00:22:29.12\00:22:33.14
In fact, friend, did you know
the down on the New Testament
00:22:33.17\00:22:35.86
Jesus approved and endorsed
this same tithing principle?
00:22:35.89\00:22:40.71
In fact He told His disciples
that tithing was something
00:22:40.74\00:22:43.98
that ought to be
done by the Christian.
00:22:44.01\00:22:46.25
Matthew 23:23,
"For you pay tithe,
00:22:46.28\00:22:52.04
these you ought to have done."
00:22:52.07\00:22:55.57
Oh, But Jesus
also added something,
00:22:55.60\00:22:56.94
He said don't forget
also to be a nice person too.
00:22:56.97\00:23:00.78
In fact in today's
language I guess Jesus would say
00:23:00.81\00:23:03.01
something like
this, Hey, Scrooge,
00:23:03.04\00:23:06.35
don't forget that giving 10%
00:23:06.38\00:23:08.98
doesn't get you off the
hook from being a nice person.
00:23:09.01\00:23:12.96
It's a package deal.
00:23:12.99\00:23:14.22
You got to be
fair. You got to be kind.
00:23:14.25\00:23:16.40
You got to be just, courteous,
00:23:16.43\00:23:19.42
and then I'll
bless you big time.
00:23:19.45\00:23:23.43
One tenth. Now
God gives us 10/10s.
00:23:23.46\00:23:28.16
But to remind us
that we're just stewards,
00:23:28.19\00:23:31.24
He asks just 10
cents on a dollar.
00:23:31.27\00:23:33.32
Now He says
that 10% that's mine.
00:23:33.35\00:23:35.84
It's my property.
00:23:35.87\00:23:37.02
In fact It's holy like
the Sabbath, like I am holy.
00:23:37.05\00:23:41.79
The portion that I
God reserve for Myself.
00:23:41.82\00:23:45.27
Notice in Leviticus 27:30,
"And all the tithe of the land,
00:23:45.30\00:23:50.77
whether of the seed of the
land or the fruit of the tree,
00:23:50.80\00:23:53.66
is the Lord's.
00:23:53.69\00:23:54.86
It is holy to the Lord."
00:23:54.89\00:23:58.81
Well, now someone asks,
why does God specify 10%?
00:23:58.84\00:24:03.57
Does He need the money? Hardly.
00:24:03.60\00:24:06.92
But you see God knows
tithing does something for us.
00:24:06.95\00:24:11.95
You see, we humans have a
basic problem in our hearts,
00:24:11.98\00:24:14.34
don't we?
00:24:14.37\00:24:15.41
It's called selfishness.
00:24:15.44\00:24:18.30
You know, the
essence of sin is what?
00:24:18.33\00:24:20.98
Selfishness.
00:24:21.01\00:24:22.70
I remember reading about
a little boy was on his way
00:24:22.73\00:24:25.94
to Sunday school one morning.
00:24:25.97\00:24:27.90
As he started out,
00:24:27.93\00:24:29.18
his mother gave
him two silver dollars,
00:24:29.21\00:24:31.84
son one of these dollars is
for ice cream on the way home,
00:24:31.87\00:24:36.68
the other one is for the Lord,
00:24:36.71\00:24:38.93
you've to put that
in the offering plate.
00:24:38.96\00:24:40.94
So off he went
clutching the two silver dollars
00:24:40.97\00:24:42.87
tightly in his little fist.
00:24:42.90\00:24:43.95
But as he ran
along, he tripped, he fell.
00:24:43.98\00:24:47.44
The coins fell out of his hands
00:24:47.47\00:24:48.63
and they started
rolling down the street.
00:24:48.66\00:24:50.86
And he quickly reached out
and he grabbed one of them.
00:24:50.89\00:24:53.56
But the other kept
rolling and rolling
00:24:53.59\00:24:55.09
right down the drain
into the gutter in the sewer.
00:24:55.12\00:25:00.41
Oh, there goes the
Lord's dime he said,
00:25:00.44\00:25:05.77
isn't that our human dilemma.
00:25:05.80\00:25:07.76
See we're basically selfish.
00:25:07.79\00:25:10.32
No, friend, God
doesn't need the money.
00:25:10.35\00:25:13.80
We need a cure for selfishness
because the Bible says
00:25:13.83\00:25:17.69
that in our heart by
nature, well, I didn't say this
00:25:17.72\00:25:22.80
but Malachi 3:8-10 says
"We're by nature robbers."
00:25:22.83\00:25:28.71
Listen to him,
says, "Will a man rob God?
00:25:28.74\00:25:32.54
Yet you have robbed Me!
00:25:32.57\00:25:34.34
But you say, 'In what
way have we robbed You?'
00:25:34.37\00:25:36.92
In tithes and offerings.
00:25:36.95\00:25:39.07
You are cursed with a
curse, for you have robbed Me,
00:25:39.10\00:25:41.86
even this whole nation.
00:25:41.89\00:25:43.92
Bring all the
tithes into the storehouse
00:25:43.95\00:25:46.94
that there may be
food in My house."
00:25:46.97\00:25:52.23
I'd like to suggest
00:25:52.26\00:25:53.30
that tithing
challenges and tests us
00:25:53.33\00:25:55.97
according to the
Bible in four crucial ways:
00:25:56.00\00:26:00.88
It challenges our
obedience first of all.
00:26:00.91\00:26:03.98
It challenges our faith.
00:26:04.01\00:26:06.36
Like, Jesus
says in Matthew 6:33,
00:26:06.39\00:26:09.58
"Seek first, Lonnie,
the kingdom of heaven,
00:26:09.61\00:26:13.51
and God's righteousness,
00:26:13.54\00:26:15.08
and all these things
shall be added to you."
00:26:15.11\00:26:19.60
It also challenges us to
consistent responsibility.
00:26:19.63\00:26:22.85
In fact Paul says
in 1 Corinthians 6:1-2.
00:26:22.88\00:26:27.35
Christians ought to
give systematically.
00:26:27.38\00:26:31.15
Not just when we feel the mood.
00:26:31.18\00:26:33.83
In fact it says you
have to do it every week.
00:26:33.86\00:26:36.41
Oh, and by the way Paul says,
00:26:36.44\00:26:38.71
if it hurts you too
much, if you're gonna give,
00:26:38.74\00:26:41.72
well, grudgingly,
don't even bother.
00:26:41.75\00:26:44.80
One of my favorite
texts 2 Corinthians 9:7 says,
00:26:44.83\00:26:48.08
"God loves a cheerful giver."
00:26:48.11\00:26:51.66
Now in the Greek that's
a very interesting word,
00:26:51.69\00:26:53.55
the word for cheerful is hilaron
00:26:53.58\00:26:56.51
from which we get
our word hilarious.
00:26:56.54\00:26:59.77
That's the kind
of givers God wants
00:26:59.80\00:27:02.09
where it's such
a joy and privilege
00:27:02.12\00:27:03.58
to give responsibly that
it's hilarious to give to God.
00:27:03.61\00:27:07.69
See God doesn't want us
to give to Him grudgingly.
00:27:07.72\00:27:12.04
My friend Maurice Hitchcock
know the tithe is not a tax,
00:27:12.07\00:27:16.78
it's not something we
have to send to heaven
00:27:16.81\00:27:18.42
to kind of support
God and the angel like
00:27:18.45\00:27:20.28
some sort of
heavenly bureaucrats.
00:27:20.31\00:27:22.20
No, Psalm 50:12 says,
00:27:22.23\00:27:26.09
"If I were hungry,
I would not tell you,
00:27:26.12\00:27:29.03
for the world is
Mine, and all its fullness."
00:27:29.06\00:27:33.15
See God isn't
waiting for us to give
00:27:33.18\00:27:34.61
our tithes and offerings
so He can pay the bills,
00:27:34.64\00:27:37.32
keep the lights turned on.
00:27:37.35\00:27:39.80
Friend, the
reason why He asks us
00:27:39.83\00:27:41.75
to be faithful in our gifts
00:27:41.78\00:27:43.79
is found in the next two
verses of Psalm 50:14, 15,
00:27:43.82\00:27:48.51
"Offer to God thanksgiving,
00:27:48.54\00:27:51.54
and pay your
vows to the Most High.
00:27:51.57\00:27:53.76
Call upon Me in
the day of trouble,
00:27:53.79\00:27:55.71
I will deliver you,
and you shall glorify Me."
00:27:55.74\00:28:01.49
You see giving is
God's way of helping us
00:28:01.52\00:28:05.09
develop a
spirit of thankfulness,
00:28:05.12\00:28:06.99
a spirit of appreciation.
00:28:07.02\00:28:08.95
A spirit that revels
in and he's joyful about
00:28:08.98\00:28:12.19
all good things
that God gives us.
00:28:12.22\00:28:15.09
That joy comes from
giving, not just getting.
00:28:15.12\00:28:20.69
It's putting our faith in Him
00:28:20.72\00:28:22.62
when days of trouble come
instead of relying on our wits,
00:28:22.65\00:28:25.88
our savings
account, or our paycheck.
00:28:25.91\00:28:28.79
It's about developing
a deeper, more trusting,
00:28:28.82\00:28:32.18
more thankful
relationship with our Creator.
00:28:32.21\00:28:35.88
So giving
challenges our obedience.
00:28:35.91\00:28:40.71
Giving challenges our faith.
00:28:40.74\00:28:42.87
It challenges us to
consistent responsibility.
00:28:42.90\00:28:47.26
But there's something more about
00:28:47.29\00:28:48.53
being faithful
with our gifts to God.
00:28:48.56\00:28:51.73
It challenges us spiritually.
00:28:51.76\00:28:55.84
God says, "Lonnie, I'll
guarantee you something."
00:28:55.87\00:29:00.00
So amazing, you
won't believe it.
00:29:00.03\00:29:01.48
In fact, He says, "I want you
to try this as an experiment.
00:29:01.51\00:29:05.18
I want you to just
try Me for several months.
00:29:05.21\00:29:07.77
Test Me, prove
Me, see if I'm a liar.
00:29:07.80\00:29:12.00
You set that side the
tithe He said, set it aside.
00:29:12.03\00:29:16.43
Put it in a cookie jar
somewhere on the mantle,
00:29:16.46\00:29:18.53
don't take it,
don't steal from it,
00:29:18.56\00:29:20.10
don't borrow from it.
00:29:20.13\00:29:21.89
You try this
for couple of months
00:29:21.92\00:29:23.51
set that tithe aside.
00:29:23.54\00:29:25.08
If it doesn't
work, take it back.
00:29:25.11\00:29:28.08
I don't lie.
00:29:28.11\00:29:30.03
You see, He's saying Lon,
I'm the best financial partner
00:29:30.06\00:29:33.59
you can possibly
ever joint venture with.
00:29:33.62\00:29:36.49
Notice what He
says in Malachi 3:10
00:29:36.52\00:29:39.67
Lonnie, He says, "
Try Me now in this,''
00:29:39.70\00:29:42.72
says the Lord of hosts,
00:29:42.75\00:29:44.22
"if I will not open for
you the windows of heaven
00:29:44.25\00:29:47.02
and pour out for
you such a blessing
00:29:47.05\00:29:48.85
that there will not be
room enough to receive it."
00:29:48.88\00:29:53.79
You know, you go down
to any Christian book store
00:29:53.82\00:29:55.51
and there are
literally whole books
00:29:55.54\00:29:57.90
full of stories of people
who have tithed faithfully
00:29:57.93\00:30:01.22
and they have seen God's
blessings large and small.
00:30:01.25\00:30:04.53
Unbelievable
some of these stories
00:30:04.56\00:30:06.53
but they're true.
00:30:06.56\00:30:08.77
Take Joe and his wife,
they had been successful
00:30:08.80\00:30:13.83
Christian
business people for years
00:30:13.86\00:30:16.61
but they sensed the call of
God to sell their businesses
00:30:16.64\00:30:20.87
and that Joe
should go to college
00:30:20.90\00:30:22.48
to prepare for gospel ministry.
00:30:22.51\00:30:24.62
Well, you'd expect that
making a decision like that
00:30:24.65\00:30:27.57
and being faithful tithers,
00:30:27.60\00:30:29.72
well, they'd never encounter
any financial problems, right?
00:30:29.75\00:30:32.17
God's gonna bless them.
00:30:32.20\00:30:34.03
No, friend, God doesn't promise
00:30:34.06\00:30:36.79
that we'll never
have challenges to face.
00:30:36.82\00:30:39.36
He only promises to
see us through them,
00:30:39.39\00:30:42.43
and to bless us as we face them.
00:30:42.46\00:30:44.88
Well, after arriving
on the college campus,
00:30:44.91\00:30:47.39
Joe and his wife
tried opening a brand new
00:30:47.42\00:30:49.63
little small
clothing store business
00:30:49.66\00:30:52.78
but it didn't go too well.
00:30:52.81\00:30:54.72
In fact soon
their meager savings
00:30:54.75\00:30:56.70
dwindled down to nothing.
00:30:56.73\00:30:59.00
In fact Joe even
tried marking a few
00:30:59.03\00:31:00.81
leftover suits on
sale from the store
00:31:00.84\00:31:03.83
but it seemed like he
couldn't even give them away.
00:31:03.86\00:31:06.93
One particular Friday
Joe and his wife realized
00:31:06.96\00:31:10.04
that they were
finally flat broke.
00:31:10.07\00:31:12.80
Didn't have a
dollar to their name.
00:31:12.83\00:31:15.51
Very little food in the
house, no gas in the car,
00:31:15.54\00:31:18.48
and the
electricity bill was overdue.
00:31:18.51\00:31:20.25
In fact the power
company had given notice
00:31:20.28\00:31:22.16
they were coming out
that Friday afternoon
00:31:22.19\00:31:24.18
to shut off the power
00:31:24.21\00:31:25.24
because they owed $29.
00:31:25.27\00:31:28.85
Now they had tried, they
tried to get jobs at factories,
00:31:28.88\00:31:31.96
they tried by
maybe doing menial labor
00:31:31.99\00:31:34.46
but had been
turned down every time.
00:31:34.49\00:31:37.51
It was terrible,
00:31:37.54\00:31:38.80
they didn't know
which way to turn.
00:31:38.83\00:31:40.66
They literally
had lost everything.
00:31:40.69\00:31:43.13
All the capital
they had built up
00:31:43.16\00:31:45.25
in their two businesses,
all their savings gone.
00:31:45.28\00:31:50.26
And to be honest
their faith was waning
00:31:50.29\00:31:51.99
without heat, no power.
00:31:52.02\00:31:55.27
It's cold outside,
00:31:55.30\00:31:56.39
and they had a
little boy to take care of
00:31:56.42\00:31:58.73
and they didn't even
have money for groceries.
00:31:58.76\00:32:01.99
So what did they do?
00:32:02.02\00:32:03.06
They did the only
thing that they could do.
00:32:03.09\00:32:04.80
They drop down in
their knees in their house
00:32:04.83\00:32:07.16
and they prayed, "Lord,
please help us, or we perish."
00:32:07.19\00:32:14.24
Now this is the true
story, within one hour,
00:32:14.27\00:32:17.65
someone knocked
on the front door.
00:32:17.68\00:32:20.57
Well, Joe went to the
door and found two guys
00:32:20.60\00:32:22.70
from the college standing there.
00:32:22.73\00:32:24.29
Hey, Joe, we hear you
got some suits for sale here.
00:32:24.32\00:32:29.42
Well, they have given away
00:32:29.45\00:32:30.48
or sold a few
that he had to know.
00:32:30.51\00:32:32.30
No, I don't have any left
00:32:32.33\00:32:33.42
but then suddenly he remembered.
00:32:33.45\00:32:34.82
Well, I guess I
do have one left,
00:32:34.85\00:32:38.10
but I'm sorry it's an odd size,
00:32:38.13\00:32:40.19
I haven't been able to sell it.
00:32:40.22\00:32:41.74
It's a 39 short quad.
00:32:41.77\00:32:45.17
In case you don't
remember those days,
00:32:45.20\00:32:46.89
a quad was a polyester
suit with two pairs of pants
00:32:46.92\00:32:50.41
and a reversible vest.
00:32:50.44\00:32:52.75
Well, said the young
lad, let me try it on.
00:32:52.78\00:32:55.36
I do take a short.
00:32:55.39\00:32:58.01
You know that suit fit
him absolutely perfectly,
00:32:58.04\00:33:00.92
and he loved it and paid
Joe $50 right there on the spot.
00:33:00.95\00:33:06.54
Of course it had originally
retailed for over $200.
00:33:06.57\00:33:09.48
But Joe was absolutely happy.
00:33:09.51\00:33:12.03
In fact as Joe watched him
00:33:12.06\00:33:13.49
count out the 5, $10
bills from his wallet,
00:33:13.52\00:33:16.44
it was like the
biggest sale of his life.
00:33:16.47\00:33:18.94
In fact he was so excited,
00:33:18.97\00:33:20.08
he could hardly
keep from shouting
00:33:20.11\00:33:22.06
"Thank You Lord Thank You Lord,
Thank You Lord, with each bill.
00:33:22.09\00:33:27.97
What a thanksgiving session
00:33:28.00\00:33:29.66
Joe and his wife had in their
own little living room there
00:33:29.69\00:33:32.11
weeping, praying,
praising the Lord.
00:33:32.14\00:33:34.64
Their little boy
must have wondered
00:33:34.67\00:33:35.83
what in the world was
wrong with his parents,
00:33:35.86\00:33:38.68
but they were just overwhelmed
00:33:38.71\00:33:40.73
overcome with the
sense of God's leading
00:33:40.76\00:33:42.74
in His provision for them.
00:33:42.77\00:33:45.13
Because you see
Malachi goes further.
00:33:45.16\00:33:47.92
Malachi 3:11 says,
00:33:47.95\00:33:51.59
"And I will rebuke the
devourer for your sakes,
00:33:51.62\00:33:55.32
so that he will not destroy
the fruit of your ground,
00:33:55.35\00:33:57.97
nor shall the vine fail to bear
fruit for you in the field,''
00:33:58.00\00:34:01.34
says the Lord of hosts."
00:34:01.37\00:34:05.61
I know when they hear
this topic many people say,
00:34:05.64\00:34:08.19
you know, no way,
I just can't do it.
00:34:08.22\00:34:12.77
I can't give
away 10% of my income?
00:34:12.80\00:34:14.86
I have to think
of my children first.
00:34:14.89\00:34:18.34
Can I share a
little personal testimony?
00:34:18.37\00:34:21.40
Jeannie and I know from
firsthand experience it works.
00:34:21.43\00:34:26.25
We've proved Him.
00:34:26.28\00:34:28.89
My Dad and Mom
with their five kids
00:34:28.92\00:34:32.25
on a preacher's
salary, school tuition,
00:34:32.28\00:34:34.98
five sons in college,
all of us at the same time.
00:34:35.01\00:34:38.57
You know there was no way,
00:34:38.60\00:34:39.81
mathematically
that could work out
00:34:39.84\00:34:42.14
and I have to agree
00:34:42.17\00:34:43.20
that it was very
hard for sometimes.
00:34:43.23\00:34:45.81
We had a lot of
hand-me-downs in our family.
00:34:45.84\00:34:48.62
But my dear Dad and Mom
they always just squeezed out
00:34:48.65\00:34:52.54
an honest tithe out of
their scant little paycheck.
00:34:52.57\00:34:56.73
And folks a miracle happened.
00:34:56.76\00:34:59.02
God blessed, we
never went in the hole,
00:34:59.05\00:35:02.86
we never went on welfare.
00:35:02.89\00:35:04.99
I don't know how but somehow,
00:35:05.02\00:35:06.30
God stretches
nine-tenths of income
00:35:06.33\00:35:08.81
that's been tithed,
00:35:08.84\00:35:10.26
a whole lot further
than ten tenths ever went.
00:35:10.29\00:35:14.73
And right here is God's
financial secret to security.
00:35:14.76\00:35:19.89
In fact, do you know
00:35:19.92\00:35:22.22
that there is a lot of
big-name businessmen out there
00:35:22.25\00:35:24.90
who discovered the Bible's
secret to financial security?
00:35:24.93\00:35:28.49
And these big businesses,
00:35:28.52\00:35:30.15
they would not
think of not paying tithe.
00:35:30.18\00:35:33.37
Have you ever brushed
your teeth with Colgate?
00:35:33.40\00:35:36.40
William Colgate tithed,
00:35:36.43\00:35:37.90
the more tithed the
better his business got.
00:35:37.93\00:35:40.12
J. C. Penney,
have you heard of him?
00:35:40.15\00:35:42.30
How about Kellogg or
Kraft or Kerr, Heinz 57,
00:35:42.33\00:35:48.39
Quaker Oats,
Hershey, Baldwin Locomotive.
00:35:48.42\00:35:51.36
Alvin Dark, the big
league baseball manager.
00:35:51.39\00:35:53.86
McNeilus, you see
those big concrete cement
00:35:53.89\00:35:56.41
on the mudflaps, McNeilus,
00:35:56.44\00:35:57.85
how about I just saw one today
00:35:57.88\00:35:59.47
a truck riding down the freeway,
00:35:59.50\00:36:01.12
Little Debbies, McKee Bakery.
00:36:01.15\00:36:03.96
Now, I know
some of these people,
00:36:03.99\00:36:05.42
I know them
personally they're friends.
00:36:05.45\00:36:07.42
They all credit
God's tithing plan
00:36:07.45\00:36:10.27
for their success in finances.
00:36:10.30\00:36:13.19
Let me talk about
another gentlemen that I met.
00:36:13.22\00:36:15.12
His name is Ed.
Lives in Oklahoma City.
00:36:15.15\00:36:18.24
He sells motor homes.
00:36:18.27\00:36:21.56
He came to know
the Lord and decided
00:36:21.59\00:36:23.86
I should begin to tithe.
00:36:23.89\00:36:25.45
So he did, plus he
took another leap of faith
00:36:25.48\00:36:28.87
by closing his
business on the Sabbath.
00:36:28.90\00:36:31.82
I mean that was the
busiest day of the season.
00:36:31.85\00:36:34.94
Do you know that he did
more business in six days
00:36:34.97\00:36:38.25
than he ever did in
seven days of the week,
00:36:38.28\00:36:43.49
Friend, God is a promise keeper.
00:36:43.52\00:36:46.32
One of our staff
members at the Voice of Prophecy
00:36:46.35\00:36:48.79
comes from a family
whose very successful business
00:36:48.82\00:36:51.59
demanded 7-day-a
week involvement.
00:36:51.62\00:36:55.25
Well, they began
coming to some meetings
00:36:55.28\00:36:56.85
just like these
that you are attending.
00:36:56.88\00:36:58.87
They enrolled in a Bible course
00:36:58.90\00:37:00.26
which was much
like discover back then.
00:37:00.29\00:37:02.81
And they became convinced
00:37:02.84\00:37:04.49
they ought to
make some big changes
00:37:04.52\00:37:06.31
so that they
could keep the Sabbath
00:37:06.34\00:37:07.94
and give a faithful tithe.
00:37:07.97\00:37:10.02
So they sold their business
and they started paying tithe.
00:37:10.05\00:37:16.27
Then they went into
another line of business
00:37:16.30\00:37:19.86
and almost went broke.
00:37:19.89\00:37:22.95
But does the Lord ever
forget His faithful servants?
00:37:22.98\00:37:26.62
No, friend, no.
00:37:26.65\00:37:28.86
The Lord guided that family
into another line of work,
00:37:28.89\00:37:31.89
and from then on that
father worked five days a week
00:37:31.92\00:37:36.14
as a salesman for a company
00:37:36.17\00:37:37.76
that demanded six-days
a weeks from their staff.
00:37:37.79\00:37:40.96
But guess what happened?
You're absolutely right.
00:37:40.99\00:37:44.80
He became the top salesman
00:37:44.83\00:37:46.43
nearly every single
month working five days weeks,
00:37:46.46\00:37:50.98
giving the Sabbath to the Lord
and returning a faithful tithe.
00:37:51.01\00:37:57.03
Friend, I challenge
you, God challenge you.
00:37:57.06\00:37:59.37
Check it out, Test
God's promise in Malachi.
00:37:59.40\00:38:02.68
Try Him He says.
He keeps His Word.
00:38:02.71\00:38:06.43
But He wants you to
trust Him to give Him a chance.
00:38:06.46\00:38:12.67
You know when we
really love someone,
00:38:12.70\00:38:15.43
how do we express our love?
00:38:15.46\00:38:18.20
We automatically give
00:38:18.23\00:38:21.76
because it's impossible
to love without giving.
00:38:21.79\00:38:24.33
You take a little child
picks up a little flower,
00:38:24.36\00:38:26.95
here mommy.
00:38:26.98\00:38:29.02
Friend, it's the same with God.
00:38:29.05\00:38:31.40
If we love Him,
we'll cheerfully, gladly,
00:38:31.43\00:38:35.10
and generously
demonstrate we love Him
00:38:35.13\00:38:39.23
that we've been cured of
the cancer of selfishness.
00:38:39.26\00:38:44.68
No one learned that
lesson of what selfishness
00:38:44.71\00:38:47.01
with money can do to a person
00:38:47.04\00:38:50.30
more than John
D. Rockefeller, Sr.
00:38:50.33\00:38:55.53
As a boy John D.
Rockefeller was a strong
00:38:55.56\00:38:58.02
and husky as anybody else.
00:38:58.05\00:39:00.12
But when he entered business,
00:39:00.15\00:39:01.64
he drove himself harder
than any slave by a whip.
00:39:01.67\00:39:05.17
Man what a workaholic.
00:39:05.20\00:39:07.33
By the time John
D. Rockefeller was 33
00:39:07.36\00:39:10.06
he made his
first million dollars.
00:39:10.09\00:39:12.97
By staying awake
nights and pouring it on
00:39:13.00\00:39:14.88
he controlled at 43 years of age
00:39:14.91\00:39:16.82
the biggest
business in the world.
00:39:16.85\00:39:19.38
At 53 he was the
richest man on the earth
00:39:19.41\00:39:22.40
and the world's
only billionaire.
00:39:22.43\00:39:26.27
But for all this
John D. Rockefeller
00:39:26.30\00:39:28.46
lost his health.
00:39:28.49\00:39:29.52
He developed a strange
disease called alopecia,
00:39:29.55\00:39:32.53
where your hair
falls out from your head,
00:39:32.56\00:39:34.54
your eyelashes, your eyebrows.
00:39:34.57\00:39:37.36
I mean John D. Rockefeller
looked absolutely awful.
00:39:37.39\00:39:40.34
His own biographer
said he looked like a mummy.
00:39:40.37\00:39:44.67
You know what his
weekly income was?
00:39:44.70\00:39:47.13
A million dollars a week.
00:39:47.16\00:39:50.37
But his digestion was so bad
00:39:50.40\00:39:52.07
he could only eat
crackers and milk.
00:39:52.10\00:39:55.20
Like Scrooge,
John D. was a hermit.
00:39:55.23\00:39:57.90
Lived in solitary confinement,
no friends, no acquaintances.
00:39:57.93\00:40:01.84
Only lots of enemies,
people that he's crushed
00:40:01.87\00:40:05.06
and ground into
the dust in his lust
00:40:05.09\00:40:06.65
to make bigger profits.
00:40:06.68\00:40:08.10
In fact in the
Pennsylvania oilfields,
00:40:08.13\00:40:10.19
the men he'd made paupers
there hanged him in effigy.
00:40:10.22\00:40:13.83
He was hated.
00:40:13.86\00:40:15.43
In fact he had to have
bodyguards day and night.
00:40:15.46\00:40:17.75
His wealth was a nightmare.
00:40:17.78\00:40:20.00
He couldn't
sleep. He couldn't eat.
00:40:20.03\00:40:21.86
All he did was worry. His
wealth was smothering him.
00:40:21.89\00:40:26.31
Well, living on
just crackers and milk,
00:40:26.34\00:40:30.47
his medical prognosis
was that John D. Rockefeller
00:40:30.50\00:40:33.19
wouldn't live another year.
00:40:33.22\00:40:35.52
In fact the newspapers
had his obituary written
00:40:35.55\00:40:37.81
and ready in their files.
00:40:37.84\00:40:40.10
It was pathetic.
Then something happened.
00:40:40.13\00:40:46.23
One sleepless night
as he lay awake worrying,
00:40:46.26\00:40:50.39
he made a startling discovery.
00:40:50.42\00:40:53.64
He wouldn't be
able to take one thin
00:40:53.67\00:40:56.23
dime with him to the next world.
00:40:56.26\00:40:58.95
Oh, that nearly
killed him right there.
00:40:58.98\00:41:01.02
Oh, did he despair?
00:41:01.05\00:41:02.63
All of those riches,
00:41:02.66\00:41:03.69
all of those
dreams they meant nothing.
00:41:03.72\00:41:07.13
For the first time in his
life he recognized that money
00:41:07.16\00:41:11.30
wasn't a
commodity to be hoarded,
00:41:11.33\00:41:13.14
but something to be shared
for the benefit of others.
00:41:13.17\00:41:18.17
And suddenly the
light of truth went on,
00:41:18.20\00:41:20.75
and John D. Rockefeller Sr.
began transforming his money
00:41:20.78\00:41:26.34
into blessings for others.
00:41:26.37\00:41:28.98
He helped worthy causes.
00:41:29.01\00:41:30.70
He established the
Rockefeller Foundation.
00:41:30.73\00:41:32.92
He showered
money on universities,
00:41:32.95\00:41:34.95
hospitals, and missions,
00:41:34.98\00:41:36.59
and millions on
the underprivileged.
00:41:36.62\00:41:39.37
His money helped rid the
South of its greatest economic
00:41:39.40\00:41:43.90
and medical scourge, hookworm.
00:41:43.93\00:41:46.19
You folks in this
auditorium here in Columbia,
00:41:46.22\00:41:48.83
John D.
Rockefeller helped us out.
00:41:48.86\00:41:51.23
In fact every time we're saved
by an injection for penicillin,
00:41:51.26\00:41:55.20
we can thank John D,
because his contributions
00:41:55.23\00:41:57.58
aided in the
discovery of this miracle drug.
00:41:57.61\00:42:00.51
Millions are saved
today from malaria,
00:42:00.54\00:42:03.12
TB, diphtheria
for the same reason.
00:42:03.15\00:42:05.48
In fact folks
the world was blessed
00:42:05.51\00:42:08.35
when John D.
changed his thinking
00:42:08.38\00:42:10.31
from getting to giving.
00:42:10.34\00:42:14.81
And guess what
happened to old John D.
00:42:14.84\00:42:16.87
when he began
thinking outwardly?
00:42:16.90\00:42:20.35
A miracle. He didn't die.
00:42:20.38\00:42:24.67
He began to sleep,
to eat, to enjoy life.
00:42:24.70\00:42:28.40
In fact he started to
feel great, felt refreshed.
00:42:28.43\00:42:31.81
He should have died at 53.
00:42:31.84\00:42:34.69
But he started to practice
one of God's eternal laws.
00:42:34.72\00:42:37.63
In Luke 6:38, "Give, and
it shall be given to you:
00:42:37.66\00:42:42.70
good measure, pressed down,
00:42:42.73\00:42:44.51
shaken together,
and running over."
00:42:44.54\00:42:47.26
John D. Rockefeller
celebrated birthday number 54,
00:42:47.29\00:42:50.83
then number 55, then
number 56, number 57,
00:42:50.86\00:42:54.83
number 58 then
68, then 78, then 88.
00:42:54.86\00:42:59.41
He lived to be 98 years old.
00:42:59.44\00:43:03.76
You know modern psychiatry
00:43:03.79\00:43:05.23
is just now catching up to
this philosophy of the Bible
00:43:05.26\00:43:08.43
that living is not just
00:43:08.46\00:43:10.49
well, whoever dies
with the most toys wins.
00:43:10.52\00:43:14.64
It's not just
grabbing but giving.
00:43:14.67\00:43:18.39
And, friend, God
promises five special promises
00:43:18.42\00:43:23.07
when you begin by giving to Him.
00:43:23.10\00:43:25.68
Five promises for
our good stewardship.
00:43:25.71\00:43:28.75
He says, He'll
bless our Property,
00:43:28.78\00:43:31.40
he'll bless our
Life. He'll bless our Time.
00:43:31.43\00:43:34.90
He'll bless our Talents.
00:43:34.93\00:43:36.44
And he'll bless
especially our Tithe Money.
00:43:36.47\00:43:39.46
Proverbs 3:9, 10 says,
00:43:39.49\00:43:42.81
"Honor the Lord
with thy substance,
00:43:42.84\00:43:44.80
and with the first
fruits of thine increase.
00:43:44.83\00:43:48.05
So shall thy barns
be filled with plenty,
00:43:48.08\00:43:51.20
and thy presses shall
burst out with new wine."
00:43:51.23\00:43:55.73
Friend, why not
step out in faith
00:43:55.76\00:43:57.60
and joint venture with God.
00:43:57.63\00:43:59.87
Friend, He
invites you to try it.
00:43:59.90\00:44:02.22
Just Experiment
with it. Prove Him.
00:44:02.25\00:44:05.06
Lord, I'm going to take
You up on your challenge.
00:44:05.09\00:44:09.59
I'm going to test You in
this area of stewardship,
00:44:09.62\00:44:12.75
including tithing.
00:44:12.78\00:44:14.68
Friend, it's a
partnership incredible.
00:44:14.71\00:44:17.59
Tell him, Lord, I choose
00:44:17.62\00:44:20.05
to place You
first in my finances
00:44:20.08\00:44:22.32
and therefore in
every area of my life.
00:44:22.35\00:44:27.31
If that's your choice,
quietly tell God about it
00:44:27.34\00:44:32.28
during this song before we pray.
00:44:32.31\00:44:34.40
Something more
than gold for the Master
00:44:36.83\00:44:44.04
Something more
than gifts to appease
00:44:44.07\00:44:50.14
There is only one thing
that you alone can bring
00:44:50.17\00:44:56.99
There is only one
gift that will please
00:44:57.02\00:45:04.03
All He wants is you
00:45:04.06\00:45:10.75
No one else will do
00:45:10.78\00:45:17.51
Not just a part He
wants all of your heart.
00:45:17.54\00:45:25.50
All He wants
00:45:25.53\00:45:28.46
Is all of you
00:45:28.49\00:45:33.64
All He wants is you.
00:45:33.67\00:45:40.13
Let's pray together.
00:45:43.02\00:45:45.87
Lord, we'd like to make
a covenant with you today.
00:45:45.90\00:45:50.46
We'd like to enter into
a partnership incredible
00:45:50.49\00:45:52.86
to consecrate and
dedicate our entire selves,
00:45:52.89\00:45:56.82
our homes, our
families, our businesses,
00:45:56.85\00:45:59.13
everything, it's Yours.
00:45:59.16\00:46:02.82
From now on but
we're just managers
00:46:02.85\00:46:07.58
now Lord, You
promised in return to give us
00:46:07.61\00:46:11.12
joy and peace and to
open the windows of heaven
00:46:11.15\00:46:15.25
smiling down heaven's
choicest blessings on us.
00:46:15.28\00:46:19.19
So here we are I wonder how
many would like to say Lord,
00:46:19.22\00:46:25.41
I've heard your
amazing challenge
00:46:25.44\00:46:28.45
and I'm gonna test You.
00:46:28.48\00:46:30.86
Help me to try consistently
00:46:30.89\00:46:32.66
and regularly to return
what's rightfully Yours.
00:46:32.69\00:46:36.90
My goods, my life, my time,
00:46:36.93\00:46:40.39
my talents and my tithe 10%
00:46:40.42\00:46:45.40
wherever you are
watching or listening
00:46:45.43\00:46:47.01
would you just
raise your hand to heaven
00:46:47.04\00:46:48.56
and God will see your
hand, I may not see it
00:46:48.59\00:46:51.87
but He wants to
accept that commitment
00:46:51.90\00:46:54.88
so Lord help us.
00:46:54.91\00:46:57.24
May our consecration be
complete without reservation,
00:46:57.27\00:47:02.36
we do this in the name of Jesus
00:47:02.39\00:47:04.09
not only because
we seek Your blessing
00:47:04.12\00:47:07.49
but Lord because
You have promised.
00:47:07.52\00:47:13.06
I want you to take your
response card right now,
00:47:13.09\00:47:16.20
wherever you are
located the row captains
00:47:16.23\00:47:17.99
will pass these
down in the baskets.
00:47:18.02\00:47:20.97
I want you to
make a commitment here,
00:47:21.00\00:47:22.55
a covenant between you and God.
00:47:22.58\00:47:24.13
This is not a promise to
me that first response notice.
00:47:24.16\00:47:29.28
It says, I believe God wants me
00:47:29.31\00:47:31.28
to consecrate my
entire life to Him.
00:47:31.31\00:47:35.72
Check that off
if that's a prayer
00:47:35.75\00:47:37.53
that you would
like to concentrate
00:47:37.56\00:47:38.80
your entire life to Jesus.
00:47:38.83\00:47:41.77
Number two is a
little bit more specific,
00:47:41.80\00:47:43.48
a little bit more scary.
00:47:43.51\00:47:45.56
"I desire to
become a faithful steward
00:47:45.59\00:47:48.19
of my goods,
life, time, talents,
00:47:48.22\00:47:53.59
and I want to
return a faithful tithe."
00:47:53.62\00:47:56.83
Please space that check
there as Joey sings again.
00:47:56.86\00:48:01.65
All He wants is you,
00:48:01.68\00:48:07.91
No one else will do
00:48:07.94\00:48:14.15
Not just a part
00:48:14.18\00:48:17.20
He wants all of your heart.
00:48:17.23\00:48:22.01
All He wants is all of you
00:48:22.04\00:48:29.73
All He wants is you
00:48:29.76\00:48:36.85
Let's close with prayer.
00:48:39.17\00:48:40.31
Heavenly Father, would
you accept our commitment
00:48:40.34\00:48:44.09
and this consecration to
go into partnership with You.
00:48:44.12\00:48:48.44
Because we pray
it in Jesus' name,
00:48:48.47\00:48:51.73
we claim His promises, amen.
00:48:51.76\00:48:55.93
I want you to take
that response card right now
00:48:55.96\00:48:57.95
and please make sure it
gets into the container,
00:48:57.98\00:48:59.71
the row captains
will pick these up.
00:48:59.74\00:49:02.69
Thank you for putting your card
into the container right now.
00:49:02.72\00:49:07.36
We have a very
special Discover Bible lesson
00:49:07.39\00:49:09.99
that you must make sure
you pick up as you leave today.
00:49:10.02\00:49:13.59
It's the one on the secret
of growth through sharing.
00:49:13.62\00:49:18.03
Please, get your
Discover Bible lesson,
00:49:18.06\00:49:19.63
there's others
too on other topics.
00:49:19.66\00:49:21.00
If this is new to
you, ask your instructors
00:49:21.03\00:49:23.51
there in your local hosts
00:49:23.54\00:49:25.10
the Discover
Bible School lessons.
00:49:25.13\00:49:27.82
Now, next week this Voice
or Prophecy speaks meetings
00:49:27.85\00:49:31.82
they continue in your area
00:49:31.85\00:49:34.05
and once a week for the
next five weeks or more.
00:49:34.08\00:49:37.75
Same time, same location for you
00:49:37.78\00:49:40.19
at all of our downlink sites.
00:49:40.22\00:49:42.09
Every week for
five more subjects.
00:49:42.12\00:49:44.71
You'll enjoy the same powerful
message with the same graphics,
00:49:44.74\00:49:48.05
same materials with
your local instructors
00:49:48.08\00:49:50.75
and pastors speakers maybe
some evangelists, some laymen.
00:49:50.78\00:49:54.38
Friend, I know, you will
not want to miss a single topic.
00:49:54.41\00:49:57.50
For example, Secrets
of the Ancient Scrolls.
00:49:57.53\00:50:02.07
You're gonna
have an amazing story
00:50:02.10\00:50:03.27
about how we got our Bible.
00:50:03.30\00:50:05.47
And then the subject
of When the Smoke Clears,
00:50:05.50\00:50:08.82
a clear Bible study
on the topic of hell.
00:50:08.85\00:50:13.99
And then there's a prophecy
in Revelation Chapter 13
00:50:14.02\00:50:16.47
that brings the United
States in the prophecy,
00:50:16.50\00:50:18.90
that one is
called Let Freedom Ring.
00:50:18.93\00:50:22.56
Another one Set
Free by the Truth,
00:50:22.59\00:50:24.58
the prophecy
about God's true church
00:50:24.61\00:50:26.76
and finally
another book of prophecy,
00:50:26.79\00:50:28.80
The Battle for the Throne,
00:50:28.83\00:50:30.65
looks again into
Daniel Chapter 7.
00:50:30.68\00:50:33.62
And then after that's
completed in most areas
00:50:33.65\00:50:36.12
right where you are
attending right now,
00:50:36.15\00:50:38.12
you are going to be
introduced to a brand new
00:50:38.15\00:50:40.12
exciting series of
Bible studies called
00:50:40.15\00:50:42.72
Color Coded Chain Bible Market.
00:50:42.75\00:50:46.39
Now it's one of the most
handy ways to mark your Bibles
00:50:46.42\00:50:49.33
and study truth comparing
scripture with scripture
00:50:49.36\00:50:52.63
text on all the same subjects
00:50:52.66\00:50:54.69
that you can refer to as
well as share with your friends.
00:50:54.72\00:50:57.60
You mark your Bible.
00:50:57.63\00:50:59.40
By the way this
book has just come out.
00:50:59.43\00:51:02.17
It's available
on our websites too
00:51:02.20\00:51:04.15
but you're gonna
be given this book,
00:51:04.18\00:51:05.68
it's my latest book
what the Bible says about
00:51:05.71\00:51:09.29
and it's color
coded Bible marking.
00:51:09.32\00:51:12.85
One of the best
classes I've ever taught,
00:51:12.88\00:51:14.77
packed out www.vop.com if
you need more information.
00:51:14.80\00:51:22.09
I want to thank you for
joining us for each of this
00:51:22.12\00:51:23.92
Voice of
Prophecy speaks seminars.
00:51:23.95\00:51:27.95
Friend, may God bless you.
00:51:27.98\00:51:30.31
And remember, friend, to say
at the close of our broadcast,
00:51:30.34\00:51:33.58
the journey through
life, God really does love you.
00:51:33.61\00:51:40.34
Goodbye.
00:51:40.37\00:51:41.46