1 00:00:00,600 --> 00:00:03,680 This is City Post Church. We're about three things. 2 00:00:03,960 --> 00:00:08,160 Build equipped and send. All under the Lordship of Jesus 3 00:00:08,160 --> 00:00:11,000 Christ, a small church plant in Fort Worth, TX. 4 00:00:11,080 --> 00:00:13,320 Who decided to do things a little differently? 5 00:00:14,080 --> 00:00:18,480 Adoramos Ayesu cristo. I love City Post because of the 6 00:00:18,480 --> 00:00:20,480 people. It's where I belong. 7 00:00:20,640 --> 00:00:23,640 We truly preach the word. I love City Post because of the 8 00:00:23,640 --> 00:00:26,680 community we've been able to build to do ministry like Jesus 9 00:00:26,880 --> 00:00:32,600 for light to push back darkness. This is City Post podcast. 10 00:00:37,940 --> 00:00:40,940 My name is Gabriel. Gabe, if you don't know me and 11 00:00:40,940 --> 00:00:44,740 I'm blessed to share the word with you guys today again today. 12 00:00:45,300 --> 00:00:49,540 So let's pray. Lord, thank you so much for how 13 00:00:49,540 --> 00:00:54,700 good and awesome you are. You've been so faithful to us 14 00:00:57,660 --> 00:01:01,340 all through our lives and are faithful to us even today 15 00:01:02,360 --> 00:01:05,760 because you are a faithful God. We just pray that that we may be 16 00:01:05,760 --> 00:01:08,240 faithful to you as well. I speak to us this morning. 17 00:01:08,280 --> 00:01:11,680 Just kind of teach us, show us what you want us to to put into 18 00:01:11,680 --> 00:01:14,000 practice to change and help us trust you. 19 00:01:14,320 --> 00:01:16,240 I respond to you according to your will. 20 00:01:16,760 --> 00:01:21,200 Pray in the name of Jesus, Amen. All right, we're going to be the 21 00:01:21,200 --> 00:01:24,960 second Corinthians Chapter 9, verses 6 through 15. 22 00:01:24,960 --> 00:01:28,440 Before we read the passage, we I just want to give you a little 23 00:01:28,440 --> 00:01:31,800 bit of background. A second Corinthians chapter 8 24 00:01:31,800 --> 00:01:36,200 and Chapter 9 are about a fundraising project that Paul 25 00:01:36,200 --> 00:01:40,680 had been writing about in several of his letters to the 26 00:01:40,680 --> 00:01:43,080 church. And the project consisted in 27 00:01:43,080 --> 00:01:48,080 providing some relief, some aid for Christians that were in 28 00:01:48,080 --> 00:01:53,000 Jerusalem, in Judea, that were being persecuted and were 29 00:01:53,000 --> 00:01:57,160 experienced experiencing famine and had no food. 30 00:01:57,160 --> 00:02:00,040 And they were going through some very difficult, hard times. 31 00:02:00,960 --> 00:02:05,160 If you read through verses one through 5 of 2nd Corinthians 9, 32 00:02:05,480 --> 00:02:09,080 I just see, you'll see Paul reminding the Corinthians of the 33 00:02:09,080 --> 00:02:14,960 commitment they had previously made to give to that project and 34 00:02:14,960 --> 00:02:17,560 provide for the needs of the brothers and sisters in 35 00:02:17,560 --> 00:02:20,000 Jerusalem. He didn't think they needed 36 00:02:20,040 --> 00:02:23,960 reminding, but he went ahead and reminded them anyways, right? 37 00:02:23,960 --> 00:02:25,440 Have you ever done that with your kids? 38 00:02:26,080 --> 00:02:27,880 Yeah. I shouldn't need to remind him 39 00:02:27,880 --> 00:02:32,280 about this, but just in case, let me go ahead and remind him 40 00:02:32,760 --> 00:02:33,520 about it. Right. 41 00:02:34,040 --> 00:02:36,680 So that was Paul. So if you made it to our weekly 42 00:02:36,800 --> 00:02:40,560 Bible studies in First Corinthians, you know that a lot 43 00:02:40,560 --> 00:02:45,080 of things were going on and that church there that we're not, 44 00:02:45,160 --> 00:02:47,800 we're not the best, right? They that they were not good. 45 00:02:47,800 --> 00:02:52,480 So Paul wanted to make sure that they would at least keep their 46 00:02:52,480 --> 00:02:56,560 commitment to give to this project and do it with the right 47 00:02:56,560 --> 00:03:01,080 attitude and do it the right way, because that's what we're 48 00:03:01,080 --> 00:03:04,040 going to be talking about this morning, is how to give with the 49 00:03:04,040 --> 00:03:07,440 right attitude and with the right in the right way. 50 00:03:08,000 --> 00:03:11,160 So Paul had even told others about the commitment that the 51 00:03:11,160 --> 00:03:15,360 Corinthians had made to give and and how they Corinthians 52 00:03:15,360 --> 00:03:19,440 inspired others to give, even people from smaller churches 53 00:03:19,680 --> 00:03:25,160 that had less resources than the Corinthians. 1st Corinthians 16. 54 00:03:25,160 --> 00:03:27,920 If you read the first few verses, you'll see that Paul 55 00:03:27,920 --> 00:03:32,720 gives them instruction on how to save for this special occasion, 56 00:03:32,720 --> 00:03:36,080 special project. And now it was time to hand over 57 00:03:36,080 --> 00:03:40,640 that collection to some people that Paul was sending to the 58 00:03:40,920 --> 00:03:46,320 Corinthians. So the charity giving to others 59 00:03:46,320 --> 00:03:50,800 was something foreign, was strange, was not common on 60 00:03:50,800 --> 00:03:53,680 Paul's day. If money was to be earned for 61 00:03:53,680 --> 00:03:58,720 yourself and for you to enjoy and your family to enjoy, not to 62 00:03:58,720 --> 00:04:02,720 give to others right now, for sure not to send to people that 63 00:04:02,720 --> 00:04:06,760 you didn't know, especially if they were from a different race, 64 00:04:06,760 --> 00:04:09,840 different ethnicity, they were in a different country, 65 00:04:09,840 --> 00:04:12,480 something that most people would do. 66 00:04:13,600 --> 00:04:18,959 So in that context, Paul writes what we're about to read in 67 00:04:18,959 --> 00:04:21,839 Second Corinthians 9/6 through 15. 68 00:04:22,520 --> 00:04:28,040 Paul says the point is this. The person who sows sparingly 69 00:04:28,440 --> 00:04:32,920 will also reap sparingly, and the person who shows who sows 70 00:04:32,920 --> 00:04:36,120 generously will also reap generously. 71 00:04:36,800 --> 00:04:39,920 Each person should do as he decided in his heart, not 72 00:04:39,920 --> 00:04:42,200 reluctantly or out of compulsion. 73 00:04:42,480 --> 00:04:45,720 Since God loves a cheerful giver. 74 00:04:46,800 --> 00:04:50,520 God is able to make every grace overflow to you, so that in 75 00:04:50,520 --> 00:04:54,040 every way, always having everything you need, you may 76 00:04:54,040 --> 00:04:57,560 excel in every good work as it is written. 77 00:04:57,560 --> 00:05:00,880 He distributed freely, He gave to the poor. 78 00:05:00,880 --> 00:05:02,840 His righteousness endures forever. 79 00:05:03,720 --> 00:05:07,400 That the one who provides seed for the sower and bread for food 80 00:05:07,720 --> 00:05:11,640 will also provide and multiply your seed and increase the 81 00:05:11,640 --> 00:05:13,720 harvest for you of your righteousness. 82 00:05:14,280 --> 00:05:18,280 You will be enriched in every way for all generosity which 83 00:05:18,280 --> 00:05:22,200 produces Thanksgiving to God through us for the ministry of 84 00:05:22,200 --> 00:05:23,880 this service. I am speaking about that 85 00:05:23,880 --> 00:05:26,800 fundraising project. It's not only supplying the 86 00:05:26,800 --> 00:05:30,440 needs of the Saints, but it's also overflowing many 87 00:05:30,440 --> 00:05:35,160 expressions of thanks to God because of the proof provided by 88 00:05:35,160 --> 00:05:38,080 this ministry. They will glorify God for your 89 00:05:38,080 --> 00:05:40,880 obedient confession of the gospel of Christ and for your 90 00:05:40,880 --> 00:05:44,840 generosity sharing with them and with everyone. 91 00:05:45,960 --> 00:05:49,600 And as they pray on your behalf, they will have deep affection 92 00:05:49,600 --> 00:05:52,840 for you because of the surpassing grace of God in you. 93 00:05:52,840 --> 00:05:57,400 And then he finishes saying thanks be to God for his 94 00:05:57,400 --> 00:06:02,800 indescribable gift. So 1st 2 verses we see two ways 95 00:06:02,800 --> 00:06:06,120 to give all right. Number one first is to give 96 00:06:06,120 --> 00:06:08,800 generously. All right, verse 6 says the 97 00:06:08,800 --> 00:06:11,880 person who sows sparingly but also reap sparingly. 98 00:06:11,880 --> 00:06:14,960 The person who sows generously would also reap generously. 99 00:06:15,480 --> 00:06:17,800 That versus an illustration from farming. 100 00:06:17,800 --> 00:06:22,120 All right. No farmer considers sowing a 101 00:06:22,120 --> 00:06:26,880 waste of seeds because they know that the harvest that will come 102 00:06:26,880 --> 00:06:31,480 out of those seeds right will be we produce enough seeds for the 103 00:06:31,480 --> 00:06:35,840 next harvest time. So he willingly sows all that he 104 00:06:35,840 --> 00:06:40,720 can and he trusts God that God will reward the sowing with a 105 00:06:40,720 --> 00:06:45,680 great harvest so that he could sow for the next season. 106 00:06:46,440 --> 00:06:49,960 If the if the farmer for some reason cuts down on the sowing 107 00:06:49,960 --> 00:06:54,440 or doesn't sow much seed, then the farmer's kind of cheating 108 00:06:54,800 --> 00:07:00,440 himself right of that harvest. So the more he sows, the 109 00:07:00,440 --> 00:07:04,600 greatest the harvest he will reap and the more he will have 110 00:07:04,880 --> 00:07:11,000 for sowing for the next harvest. Plentiful giving or result in a 111 00:07:11,000 --> 00:07:14,960 plentiful harvest. Simple words if you sow a lot, 112 00:07:15,400 --> 00:07:19,720 you will read a lot. At least that's what God what 113 00:07:19,720 --> 00:07:22,920 God's. So now Paul Paul is not sharing 114 00:07:22,920 --> 00:07:26,760 an investment strategy with the church and current on on how to 115 00:07:26,760 --> 00:07:29,080 make or how to get more material blessings. 116 00:07:29,080 --> 00:07:33,680 No, you know if we give hoping to have more material 117 00:07:33,680 --> 00:07:38,160 prosperity, then we will experience and will always only 118 00:07:38,160 --> 00:07:43,560 harvest spiritual poverty. In simple words, when you give, 119 00:07:43,560 --> 00:07:48,160 God gives you more, but He gives you more, not for you to keep it 120 00:07:48,160 --> 00:07:53,800 to yourself, but to give it to others as they experience need. 121 00:07:55,280 --> 00:07:58,320 The world we live in tells us that a way to have more is to 122 00:07:58,320 --> 00:08:02,720 what? Make more and keep more, right? 123 00:08:03,040 --> 00:08:07,000 It's about keeping to yourself. God tells us that the way to 124 00:08:07,000 --> 00:08:12,960 have more is to to give more. But God gives us more so that we 125 00:08:12,960 --> 00:08:17,600 can give more. That's how it works. 126 00:08:18,600 --> 00:08:22,520 So ask yourself this morning, is your motivation for giving to 127 00:08:22,520 --> 00:08:27,240 try to see how much you can keep for yourself or to see how much 128 00:08:27,240 --> 00:08:34,520 you can actually give away? Listen, you can't reap if you 129 00:08:34,520 --> 00:08:40,159 don't sow You can't reap from the harvest if you don't sow 130 00:08:40,159 --> 00:08:43,360 seeds that will produce a harvest. 131 00:08:44,360 --> 00:08:47,040 Makes perfect sense in agriculture, right? 132 00:08:47,200 --> 00:08:50,200 But we tend to totally ignore that in our daily life. 133 00:08:51,160 --> 00:08:54,400 But we can't reap if we don't sow. 134 00:08:54,480 --> 00:09:00,240 So my prayers that our motivation to give generously is 135 00:09:00,240 --> 00:09:03,880 that you and I determine what's the maximum we can do when 136 00:09:03,880 --> 00:09:05,920 there's a need. Not the minimum we can do, but 137 00:09:05,920 --> 00:09:08,440 the maximum we can do. And then we act. 138 00:09:08,440 --> 00:09:14,160 We do it in obedience to Christ because ultimately he's the one 139 00:09:14,440 --> 00:09:21,280 that calls us to give. Second way to give is to give 140 00:09:21,280 --> 00:09:26,080 cheerfully verse 7 says each person should do as he decided 141 00:09:26,080 --> 00:09:31,080 in his heart, not reluctantly or out of compulsion since God 142 00:09:31,080 --> 00:09:35,880 loves a what a cheerful giver. How many of you have heard that 143 00:09:35,880 --> 00:09:39,560 before a God loves a cheerful giver. 144 00:09:40,120 --> 00:09:43,920 This mom was trying to teach her daughter, little daughter, some 145 00:09:43,920 --> 00:09:47,120 things about giving, right. So on Sunday morning before they 146 00:09:47,120 --> 00:09:50,560 went to church, she gave her little daughter a dollar and 147 00:09:50,560 --> 00:09:53,360 1/4. She said, all right, well, you 148 00:09:53,360 --> 00:09:57,560 go to church, you know, when the collection time comes to pick up 149 00:09:57,560 --> 00:10:01,840 the offering, I'm going to let you choose which one you give 150 00:10:01,840 --> 00:10:07,360 away, the dollar or the quarter. So the mom, the daughter was. 151 00:10:07,360 --> 00:10:08,600 Yeah. All right, let's go. 152 00:10:08,600 --> 00:10:11,920 Let's do it. After the service, the mom asked 153 00:10:11,920 --> 00:10:14,040 her, OK, So what did you end up doing? 154 00:10:14,040 --> 00:10:16,320 Which one did you give, the dollar or the quarter? 155 00:10:17,360 --> 00:10:20,440 He said, well, I really thought about giving the dollar away, 156 00:10:21,320 --> 00:10:25,880 but I heard the pastor say that God loves a cheerful giver and I 157 00:10:25,880 --> 00:10:29,200 knew it would make me more cheerful if I gave the quarter. 158 00:10:29,400 --> 00:10:32,840 So, So I gave the quarter. Mom, right? 159 00:10:34,800 --> 00:10:37,480 She missed the point. The Greek word for cheerful 160 00:10:37,480 --> 00:10:40,880 here, which I found interesting, is where we get the word 161 00:10:40,960 --> 00:10:44,160 hilarious, hilarious giving. I love that. 162 00:10:44,760 --> 00:10:48,640 So we must not be sad givers who give grudgingly, or we must not 163 00:10:48,640 --> 00:10:52,480 be mad givers who give because we have to, but we should be 164 00:10:52,880 --> 00:10:58,440 glad givers who give cheerfully when there's a need that calls 165 00:10:58,440 --> 00:11:01,240 for it. We cheerfully, happily share 166 00:11:01,240 --> 00:11:02,240 what we have. Why? 167 00:11:02,520 --> 00:11:05,720 Because we have experienced so much grace from God. 168 00:11:06,760 --> 00:11:09,480 We just sang about it. We've experienced so much grace 169 00:11:09,480 --> 00:11:13,800 from God, primarily in Jesus, that when there's a need, I 170 00:11:13,800 --> 00:11:19,800 should be willing, ready, eager, cheerful, together and bless 171 00:11:19,800 --> 00:11:22,520 others. So when you give, what is your 172 00:11:22,520 --> 00:11:25,080 attitude? See, the amount is important. 173 00:11:25,520 --> 00:11:28,800 We cannot deny that. But even more important is the 174 00:11:28,800 --> 00:11:33,760 attitude of your heart. Do you do it gladly, cheerfully? 175 00:11:33,760 --> 00:11:37,960 Do you do it excited that you're able to meet someone's need? 176 00:11:39,320 --> 00:11:41,080 See if your attitude is the correct one. 177 00:11:41,080 --> 00:11:45,920 God will bless you and you will have what you really need. 178 00:11:46,120 --> 00:11:50,600 And perhaps even more, because God loves what who? 179 00:11:51,520 --> 00:11:55,680 A cheerful giver. And that doesn't mean that God 180 00:11:55,680 --> 00:11:59,480 does not love those that don't give right or those that don't 181 00:11:59,480 --> 00:12:07,240 give as they should, but that God delights, God rejoices in 182 00:12:07,240 --> 00:12:12,080 the person who gives joyfully and cheerfully and does it with 183 00:12:12,080 --> 00:12:15,200 a right attitude. The wrong 10 through 11 should 184 00:12:15,200 --> 00:12:17,920 be on the screen. You should, you can look for it 185 00:12:17,920 --> 00:12:20,560 if you like. He says that is God speaking 186 00:12:20,560 --> 00:12:23,200 through the Moses, says you should generously give to him 187 00:12:23,200 --> 00:12:25,080 and is speaking about giving to the poor. 188 00:12:25,920 --> 00:12:29,600 And your heart shall not be grudging when you give to him, 189 00:12:29,600 --> 00:12:32,280 the poor. Because for this thing, the Lord 190 00:12:32,280 --> 00:12:36,840 your God, we bless you in all your work and in all your 191 00:12:37,200 --> 00:12:42,480 undertakings, for the poor would not exist to exist in the land. 192 00:12:42,480 --> 00:12:44,680 And Jesus would say that later in the Gospels. 193 00:12:45,040 --> 00:12:50,680 Therefore I'm commanding you, saying you shall fully open your 194 00:12:50,680 --> 00:12:53,320 hand. I like that. 195 00:12:53,920 --> 00:12:59,560 You shall fully open your hand to your brother, to your needy, 196 00:13:00,320 --> 00:13:04,720 and to the poor in your land. Very specific, right? 197 00:13:05,200 --> 00:13:10,240 To the brother, to your brother, to your needy, to the poor in 198 00:13:10,640 --> 00:13:14,920 your land again. So when God tells you to give, 199 00:13:14,920 --> 00:13:17,040 and when you give, what's your attitude? 200 00:13:18,440 --> 00:13:21,440 Are you glad about it? Cheerful? 201 00:13:21,440 --> 00:13:25,520 Are you excited to give and meet and meet and bless other people? 202 00:13:25,520 --> 00:13:28,400 Examine your heart this morning, right? 203 00:13:29,320 --> 00:13:32,720 Why you give? What's your attitude when you 204 00:13:32,720 --> 00:13:38,000 give? God loves and God is pleased. 205 00:13:38,760 --> 00:13:44,280 God delights with those that give cheerfully, and he blesses 206 00:13:44,280 --> 00:13:48,640 him and he blesses her. Have you heard of cirrhosis of 207 00:13:48,640 --> 00:13:51,280 the Giver? We've probably heard of 208 00:13:51,280 --> 00:13:54,800 cirrhosis of the liver, right? Cirrhosis of the liver is the 209 00:13:54,800 --> 00:13:59,160 scarring of the liver that occurs over time due to long 210 00:13:59,160 --> 00:14:03,320 term damage which prevents the liver from functioning properly. 211 00:14:04,040 --> 00:14:09,440 See Roses of the Giver was discovered in the year AD 34 212 00:14:09,440 --> 00:14:12,800 after Jesus when the church was established by the husband and 213 00:14:12,800 --> 00:14:15,880 wife team of Ananias and Sapphira. 214 00:14:16,960 --> 00:14:21,320 When you can take some time and read Acts chapter 5 verses one 215 00:14:21,320 --> 00:14:24,080 through 11 so you can get the full story. 216 00:14:25,360 --> 00:14:29,080 But see, Roses of the Giver is an acute condition that renders 217 00:14:29,440 --> 00:14:33,840 the patient's hands immobile when he or she is asked to move 218 00:14:33,840 --> 00:14:38,880 them in the direction of his wallet, her purse or their Apple 219 00:14:38,880 --> 00:14:43,160 Pay to meet a need. It's a stress disease that is 220 00:14:43,160 --> 00:14:49,160 clinically unobservable in such surroundings as Amazon, Walmart, 221 00:14:49,280 --> 00:14:54,600 clothing stores, restaurants. It doesn't show up, but we're 222 00:14:54,600 --> 00:15:00,920 all at those places. The best therapy and that which 223 00:15:00,920 --> 00:15:04,560 leads to a sure and lasting cure is to get the individual's 224 00:15:04,560 --> 00:15:06,840 heart, your heart and my heart right with God. 225 00:15:08,120 --> 00:15:11,760 The affliction, this affliction is actually a symptom of a more 226 00:15:11,760 --> 00:15:17,560 basic need of the soul. Do you have that cirrhosis of 227 00:15:17,560 --> 00:15:22,400 the giver? Giving, showing benevolence to 228 00:15:22,400 --> 00:15:26,440 the poor and the needy is a sign of righteousness. 229 00:15:27,600 --> 00:15:32,360 It's a sign that one has a right relationship with God. 230 00:15:32,360 --> 00:15:37,480 Listen, if I'm right with God and I have a close personal 231 00:15:37,480 --> 00:15:41,000 relationship with God, I will be more like God. 232 00:15:41,000 --> 00:15:47,200 Now what does God do? He cares for those in need. 233 00:15:48,800 --> 00:15:53,960 If we're the kind of people that try to hoard money or spend it 234 00:15:54,000 --> 00:15:58,880 all on ourselves, that should set off an alarm in your heart 235 00:15:59,600 --> 00:16:03,760 that your relationship with God is not what it needs to be. 236 00:16:03,960 --> 00:16:08,000 It's out of balance, or worse, you may not even have one. 237 00:16:09,960 --> 00:16:13,840 And if you realize today that that's you, today's a really 238 00:16:13,840 --> 00:16:16,560 good time to to get right with God. 239 00:16:19,640 --> 00:16:23,760 If I say I know Jesus and I'm a follower of Jesus, I must obey 240 00:16:23,760 --> 00:16:29,560 Jesus when he asked me to give generously to someone in need 241 00:16:30,800 --> 00:16:33,080 because that's what followers of Jesus do. 242 00:16:34,080 --> 00:16:40,000 See, our giving is tied to our knowing, to knowing who Jesus. 243 00:16:41,360 --> 00:16:45,440 If you know Jesus personally, you have a personal relationship 244 00:16:45,760 --> 00:16:50,720 with him that's going to impact your giving, how much you bless 245 00:16:51,040 --> 00:16:57,240 others through what you have. The next few verses we see two 246 00:16:57,240 --> 00:16:59,080 additional reasons to give. All right? 247 00:16:59,400 --> 00:17:02,800 The first one, because God provides for your giving. 248 00:17:03,080 --> 00:17:07,720 God provides for your giving. They asked this man Captain 249 00:17:07,720 --> 00:17:12,359 Levi, He was AUS naval officer, Christian philanthropist. 250 00:17:12,359 --> 00:17:15,440 Philanthropist is somebody that basically just gives money away. 251 00:17:15,640 --> 00:17:19,119 And they're asking, hey, how is it Captain Levi that that you 252 00:17:19,119 --> 00:17:23,480 give away so much? But then you still have a lot, 253 00:17:24,240 --> 00:17:26,560 you had still have a lot of wealth, you still have a lot of 254 00:17:26,560 --> 00:17:29,920 resources. And he said, well, I basically 255 00:17:29,920 --> 00:17:35,520 shove it out and God shoves it back in speaking about money. 256 00:17:36,240 --> 00:17:39,120 And God has a bigger shovel, right? 257 00:17:40,320 --> 00:17:45,000 So don't forget that as you give, God is going to bless you 258 00:17:46,080 --> 00:17:48,320 and give to you. And he has a bigger shovel. 259 00:17:49,000 --> 00:17:51,600 But again, he gives us so that we can do what? 260 00:17:52,800 --> 00:17:57,880 So we can give others and bless others that are in need. 261 00:17:57,880 --> 00:18:03,800 Verse 8, Second Corinthians 9 says and God is able to make 262 00:18:03,800 --> 00:18:10,600 every grace overflow to you so that in every way always having 263 00:18:10,600 --> 00:18:14,600 everything you need. You may excel in every good 264 00:18:14,600 --> 00:18:17,760 work. I love those words that are 265 00:18:18,000 --> 00:18:20,000 all-encompassing in this passage. 266 00:18:20,000 --> 00:18:22,720 They're awesome. Again, instead of God is able to 267 00:18:22,720 --> 00:18:29,800 make what every grace overflow to you so that in every way. 268 00:18:33,040 --> 00:18:35,920 This does not mean that God makes every Christian rich and 269 00:18:35,920 --> 00:18:40,080 material things, but it does mean that the Christian who 270 00:18:40,080 --> 00:18:45,560 gives generously with the right attitude would always have what 271 00:18:45,560 --> 00:18:48,600 they really need when they need it. 272 00:18:49,640 --> 00:18:55,120 God is never late. God is never late and show all 273 00:18:55,120 --> 00:18:58,360 of us if we take some time to tell stories and and give a 274 00:18:58,360 --> 00:19:02,120 testimony how how we pray for something that we really needed. 275 00:19:02,120 --> 00:19:07,720 God came through in the just at the right time, not when I 276 00:19:07,840 --> 00:19:11,160 thought I needed he needed to. Maybe not how I thought he 277 00:19:11,160 --> 00:19:16,280 needed to, but still, God came through right at the perfect 278 00:19:16,280 --> 00:19:23,680 time with what I really need. Not what I want, but what I 279 00:19:23,680 --> 00:19:28,120 really, really need. See, most people don't give as 280 00:19:28,120 --> 00:19:31,200 they should because they worry that they will not have enough 281 00:19:31,200 --> 00:19:34,160 for themselves. And listen, that's a common 282 00:19:34,160 --> 00:19:37,160 thought for many, if not all of us. 283 00:19:37,160 --> 00:19:40,080 We're all there. We're often there. 284 00:19:40,480 --> 00:19:43,000 It's very easy to think that way now. 285 00:19:43,000 --> 00:19:48,040 If we didn't have the truth and living God, if we didn't know 286 00:19:48,040 --> 00:19:53,520 Him who knows, owns everything and He's also our Father, then 287 00:19:53,520 --> 00:19:59,960 that thinking would make sense. But knowing God makes all the 288 00:19:59,960 --> 00:20:05,040 difference in the world. Paul assures us that God will 289 00:20:05,040 --> 00:20:12,680 always supply us with enough for our needs but also to bless 290 00:20:13,280 --> 00:20:16,120 others. See, we tend to think that we 291 00:20:16,120 --> 00:20:18,080 can only give when we are prospering. 292 00:20:19,120 --> 00:20:22,920 That we can only give when we have something extra that we 293 00:20:22,920 --> 00:20:26,280 will not need for ourselves and therefore we give it away. 294 00:20:27,280 --> 00:20:29,480 Last week Pastor Ricky spoke about Hoodie. 295 00:20:29,480 --> 00:20:36,520 Remember the widow, right? That she gave all that she had, 296 00:20:36,800 --> 00:20:43,640 which at that point was the equivalent of 1 sin, but she 297 00:20:43,640 --> 00:20:48,640 gave it. And Jesus said that he she out 298 00:20:48,640 --> 00:20:54,400 of her poverty, put in the coffin, another coffin, the the 299 00:20:54,400 --> 00:20:57,400 offering a place or whatever they had there. 300 00:20:57,760 --> 00:21:01,320 All she owed, all she had to live on. 301 00:21:03,920 --> 00:21:08,040 But she was recognized by Jesus and we're talking about her 302 00:21:08,440 --> 00:21:13,840 today. There's never any time when we 303 00:21:13,840 --> 00:21:17,560 cannot be generous. If all you have is very little, 304 00:21:17,880 --> 00:21:21,280 you can still be generous. If you don't have anything, no 305 00:21:21,280 --> 00:21:24,400 money whatsoever, you can still give something that you have 306 00:21:24,440 --> 00:21:26,640 that someone may need. You may need it, but somebody 307 00:21:26,640 --> 00:21:30,760 may need it more than you. You can give of your time to 308 00:21:30,760 --> 00:21:34,040 bless somebody. You can give of your skills and 309 00:21:34,040 --> 00:21:37,320 talents that God has blessed you with so that you can help 310 00:21:37,320 --> 00:21:40,800 somebody in need. There's never a time where we 311 00:21:40,800 --> 00:21:45,400 cannot be generous. In verse 9, Paul's quoting from 312 00:21:45,400 --> 00:21:51,160 Psalms 1 to 9, it says he distributed freely. 313 00:21:51,440 --> 00:21:53,960 He gave to the poor. His righteousness endures 314 00:21:53,960 --> 00:21:57,160 forever. Now it sounds like that Psalm is 315 00:21:57,160 --> 00:22:00,640 talking about God, right? But he's really not talking 316 00:22:00,640 --> 00:22:03,120 about God. He's speaking about the 317 00:22:03,120 --> 00:22:07,320 righteous man, the righteous woman, the righteous person. 318 00:22:07,920 --> 00:22:10,200 I love verse 6 and that Psalms 112. 319 00:22:10,200 --> 00:22:14,680 He says he will never be shaken. The righteous, the generous 320 00:22:14,840 --> 00:22:19,440 person will be remembered forever. 321 00:22:21,080 --> 00:22:24,360 Remember by, by who? Certainly remembered by God, 322 00:22:24,440 --> 00:22:27,200 right? Who is watching us, but also by 323 00:22:27,200 --> 00:22:28,760 others. Let me ask you this morning, 324 00:22:28,760 --> 00:22:31,560 how, how would you like to be remembered? 325 00:22:33,200 --> 00:22:36,720 Like when your time in this world ends, how would you like 326 00:22:36,720 --> 00:22:43,000 to be remembered? Will you be remembered as 327 00:22:43,000 --> 00:22:45,840 someone who just thought of themselves and never gave 328 00:22:45,840 --> 00:22:50,000 anything to anyone? Or will you be remembered as 329 00:22:50,000 --> 00:22:53,560 someone who constantly went above and beyond to meet 330 00:22:53,560 --> 00:22:57,040 significant needs for the glory of God? 331 00:22:58,360 --> 00:23:03,240 How would you be remembered if today was your last day on this 332 00:23:03,240 --> 00:23:06,440 earth? You can change that. 333 00:23:07,640 --> 00:23:11,680 Start changing that today. Certainly the Lord promises to 334 00:23:11,680 --> 00:23:14,720 give you all you need so that you can do all He has for you to 335 00:23:14,720 --> 00:23:22,080 do so bank trust not on your bank account, but on His promise 336 00:23:23,080 --> 00:23:28,080 that He will provide. I love Malachi chapter 3 verse 337 00:23:28,080 --> 00:23:32,160 10. Powerful verse. 338 00:23:32,160 --> 00:23:41,440 Malachi 310 says Bring all the tides into the storehouse so 339 00:23:41,440 --> 00:23:43,880 that there will be enough food in my temple. 340 00:23:45,280 --> 00:23:48,160 If you do, says the Lord of Heaven's armies. 341 00:23:48,640 --> 00:23:51,840 I like that it asks that. Praise the Lord of heaven, 342 00:23:51,840 --> 00:23:57,080 armies, we'll open the windows of heaven for you. 343 00:23:57,080 --> 00:24:02,240 I will pour out a blessing so great you won't have enough room 344 00:24:02,240 --> 00:24:08,800 to take it in. Try it, God says. 345 00:24:09,960 --> 00:24:15,880 And then what? Put me to the test, God is 346 00:24:15,880 --> 00:24:18,040 telling you today. Put me to the test. 347 00:24:18,920 --> 00:24:22,680 Try it. Let me tell you, He's ready for 348 00:24:22,680 --> 00:24:25,960 it. He's ready for you to trust Him 349 00:24:25,960 --> 00:24:30,120 like you never have before, and He's ready to come through for 350 00:24:30,120 --> 00:24:34,760 you in His time and His way with what you really need. 351 00:24:35,880 --> 00:24:39,840 He's ready for it. But you and I, we had to trust 352 00:24:39,840 --> 00:24:45,040 them and act accordingly. Second reason or give because 353 00:24:45,040 --> 00:24:48,520 God gave first. Verses 10 and 11, Second 354 00:24:48,520 --> 00:24:52,080 Corinthians 9 because God gave first. 355 00:24:52,080 --> 00:24:55,200 It says like this. Now the one who provides seed 356 00:24:55,200 --> 00:25:00,560 for the sower and bread for food will also provide and multiply 357 00:25:00,720 --> 00:25:04,240 your seed and increase the harvest of your righteousness. 358 00:25:04,280 --> 00:25:08,600 I love those 3 words. Provide, multiply, and what 359 00:25:08,600 --> 00:25:11,800 else? Increase the harvest of your 360 00:25:11,800 --> 00:25:14,760 righteousness. It says you will be enriched in 361 00:25:14,840 --> 00:25:20,880 every way for all generosity, which produces Thanksgiving to 362 00:25:20,880 --> 00:25:24,480 God through us. So we'll be we'll be enriched in 363 00:25:24,480 --> 00:25:27,560 every way. And it's not talking just about 364 00:25:27,560 --> 00:25:29,600 money. For what purpose? 365 00:25:30,200 --> 00:25:35,920 For all generosity to give, God blesses you to be generous to 366 00:25:35,920 --> 00:25:40,000 give to others. Martin Luther, he's the father 367 00:25:40,000 --> 00:25:44,960 of the Protestant Reformation. You can Google him later if if 368 00:25:44,960 --> 00:25:47,160 you want a lot of great things about him. 369 00:25:47,560 --> 00:25:54,080 Martin Luther said this, he I have had many things in my hands 370 00:25:54,080 --> 00:25:58,640 that I lost, but the things that I place in the hands of God, I 371 00:25:58,640 --> 00:26:04,120 still possess. God is the one who provides and 372 00:26:04,120 --> 00:26:08,040 multiplies. All harvest comes from God. 373 00:26:08,920 --> 00:26:14,840 Now the farmers, whatever we get, whatever we have, whatever 374 00:26:14,840 --> 00:26:19,400 we own, whatever we give comes from who comes from God. 375 00:26:20,640 --> 00:26:23,440 That's where it comes from. It doesn't come from from what 376 00:26:23,440 --> 00:26:26,160 you do. Our life, our health, our work, 377 00:26:26,360 --> 00:26:31,680 what we earn comes from God, not from your ability, not from your 378 00:26:31,680 --> 00:26:35,200 experience, not from your contacts, your hookups, who you 379 00:26:35,200 --> 00:26:39,680 know have a have a really good friend San Antonio that I that I 380 00:26:39,680 --> 00:26:44,480 work with every time something broke in the house or in the 381 00:26:44,480 --> 00:26:52,200 car, whatever he would say. I know a guy, I know the guy 382 00:26:52,560 --> 00:26:59,360 that you need right? But even that come from God. 383 00:27:00,520 --> 00:27:05,920 See what I what I have. Listen, what I have is his. 384 00:27:07,440 --> 00:27:12,480 What you have is God is not mine. 385 00:27:13,960 --> 00:27:18,400 It is not yours. I'm just a steward. 386 00:27:19,120 --> 00:27:22,720 You are just a steward. God hasn't trusted you in what 387 00:27:22,720 --> 00:27:27,400 you have, and he wants you to use it in a way that glorifies 388 00:27:27,400 --> 00:27:30,200 him, in a way that blesses others. 389 00:27:30,520 --> 00:27:33,560 But whatever you have, it is not yours. 390 00:27:36,560 --> 00:27:41,640 It is not yours. When we sow, when we give, we're 391 00:27:41,640 --> 00:27:45,880 really not giving what's ours. We're giving what's gods. 392 00:27:46,920 --> 00:27:51,360 Because what I have is not mine. The Bible says it. 393 00:27:52,400 --> 00:27:55,040 It's clear what I have is not mine. 394 00:27:55,040 --> 00:28:01,680 So when I give, I give what is God years ago. 395 00:28:02,440 --> 00:28:06,880 One thing I do is I plan these conventions of churches and get 396 00:28:06,880 --> 00:28:09,120 together and we have like exhibitors. 397 00:28:09,280 --> 00:28:11,080 You've been to place conventions like that. 398 00:28:11,560 --> 00:28:13,760 Then there's exhibitors, people giving away stuff. 399 00:28:14,400 --> 00:28:18,720 And this super sweet lady, dear servant, God, one of the 400 00:28:18,720 --> 00:28:21,800 sweetest people I know, She was working in one of the booths and 401 00:28:21,800 --> 00:28:25,600 they had this ministry to India and she was giving things away. 402 00:28:25,600 --> 00:28:29,920 And all of a sudden she looks and the people like a few boots 403 00:28:29,960 --> 00:28:31,760 over. We're not there. 404 00:28:31,760 --> 00:28:35,160 But some people were coming to their booth trying to, to get 405 00:28:35,160 --> 00:28:36,520 what they had in their booth, right. 406 00:28:36,520 --> 00:28:39,600 So she just wanted to help. She just wanted to give. 407 00:28:40,080 --> 00:28:44,560 She just wanted to bless people. So even if it was not hers, she 408 00:28:44,560 --> 00:28:46,520 wanted to go and help people and bless people. 409 00:28:46,520 --> 00:28:49,160 So she went to their table and she started giving all their 410 00:28:49,160 --> 00:28:55,080 stuff away. The issue was that they were 411 00:28:55,080 --> 00:28:59,040 actually selling those things. They were not giving them away. 412 00:29:00,840 --> 00:29:02,960 But that doesn't say anything about her heart. 413 00:29:04,560 --> 00:29:11,880 She was ready to give, even was not hers, in order to bless 414 00:29:11,880 --> 00:29:16,880 others that needed something. See, if we change the way we 415 00:29:16,880 --> 00:29:22,200 think about what we have, recognizing that it's not ours, 416 00:29:23,360 --> 00:29:30,720 we will be free to give eagerly, gladly, cheerfully, generously. 417 00:29:31,080 --> 00:29:35,560 There will be no limit to what God does through you, through 418 00:29:35,560 --> 00:29:40,880 us, as we give to those in need in the name of Jesus. 419 00:29:42,120 --> 00:29:43,600 What is the result of that giving? 420 00:29:43,640 --> 00:29:47,240 Verses 12 through 14 almost done so hang with me. 421 00:29:47,960 --> 00:29:50,400 As for the ministry of this service is not only supplying 422 00:29:50,400 --> 00:29:53,720 the needs of the Saints, but it's also overflowing in many 423 00:29:53,720 --> 00:29:58,360 expressions of thanks to God because of the proof provided by 424 00:29:58,360 --> 00:30:02,000 this ministry. They will glorify God for your 425 00:30:02,000 --> 00:30:05,280 obedient confession of the gospel of Christ and for your 426 00:30:05,280 --> 00:30:08,360 generosity in sharing with them and with everyone. 427 00:30:08,840 --> 00:30:13,120 And as they pray on your behalf, they will have deep affection 428 00:30:13,120 --> 00:30:16,920 for you because of the surpassing grace of God in you. 429 00:30:18,680 --> 00:30:21,120 So what were the results of their giving right? 430 00:30:21,360 --> 00:30:25,000 The Christians needs in Jerusalem and Judea were met. 431 00:30:26,200 --> 00:30:31,280 The Corinthians faith to Christians in Jerusalem was 432 00:30:31,280 --> 00:30:35,840 proven. God was glorified and he says 433 00:30:35,840 --> 00:30:39,160 that the affection, the unity, the community in the church 434 00:30:39,440 --> 00:30:42,800 grew. The same could be true or is 435 00:30:42,800 --> 00:30:45,920 true here at City Post Church today. 436 00:30:46,600 --> 00:30:53,920 When we give, needs are met, the genuineness of our faith and our 437 00:30:53,920 --> 00:30:59,760 commitment is demonstrated. God is glorified and the 438 00:30:59,760 --> 00:31:03,440 affection, the unity, the community in the church grows. 439 00:31:04,800 --> 00:31:09,680 It's been a blessing over the years to here to know, to 440 00:31:09,680 --> 00:31:15,840 experience the generosity of City Post Church and hundreds of 441 00:31:15,840 --> 00:31:17,320 people have been blessed by that. 442 00:31:18,400 --> 00:31:22,040 Not just where City Post has been in Fort Worth and there's 443 00:31:22,040 --> 00:31:25,640 been a few places where the church has been, but also in 444 00:31:25,720 --> 00:31:31,120 Honduras, in India and many other places glorifying God 445 00:31:31,120 --> 00:31:37,560 because of you. I absolutely love how Paul ends 446 00:31:37,920 --> 00:31:43,760 this section. Verse 15 says thanks be to God 447 00:31:44,080 --> 00:31:49,880 for his indescribable gift. Thanks be to God for his 448 00:31:49,880 --> 00:31:52,440 indescribable gift. What is he talking about? 449 00:31:53,760 --> 00:31:57,840 Jesus? This is ultimately all about 450 00:31:57,920 --> 00:32:00,480 Jesus. The ultimate example of 451 00:32:00,480 --> 00:32:03,600 generosity towards you and towards me. 452 00:32:03,600 --> 00:32:12,720 It's Jesus I love. Romans 832 it says God did not 453 00:32:12,720 --> 00:32:19,120 even spare his own Son Jesus, but gave him up for us all. 454 00:32:20,960 --> 00:32:27,760 Gave him up for us all. How he we will he not also with 455 00:32:27,760 --> 00:32:38,440 him grant us what everything, all things, but it all starts 456 00:32:38,720 --> 00:32:45,440 with Jesus because everything God has done for us and given us 457 00:32:45,520 --> 00:32:52,000 above all Jesus, his Son. Let us trust him like we never 458 00:32:52,000 --> 00:32:54,640 have before. I give like we never have 459 00:32:54,640 --> 00:32:59,480 before, all for his glory, not for my glory, for your glory, 460 00:32:59,920 --> 00:33:04,240 but for God glory. There's a prayer on the screen. 461 00:33:04,240 --> 00:33:08,280 I want you to pray this today as we wrap up. 462 00:33:10,200 --> 00:33:18,320 Lord, help me open my hands to give so I may receive from you 463 00:33:19,880 --> 00:33:24,480 to bless others. To you there to totally with all 464 00:33:24,480 --> 00:33:27,720 your heart this morning pray this prayer to God. 465 00:33:29,120 --> 00:33:35,480 Lord, help me open my hands to give so that I may receive from 466 00:33:35,480 --> 00:33:41,840 you with what purpose to bless others. 467 00:33:45,320 --> 00:33:48,320 Let's pray. After we're done praying, the 468 00:33:48,320 --> 00:33:50,480 band's going to be leading us in a song. 469 00:33:50,560 --> 00:33:52,800 The author's going to be open. Some of us are going to be out 470 00:33:52,800 --> 00:33:57,040 here. If you want someone to pray with 471 00:33:57,040 --> 00:34:00,400 you about where your heart is with God, your relationship with 472 00:34:00,400 --> 00:34:03,640 God, any means you're going through, any need of prayer, 473 00:34:03,640 --> 00:34:06,000 we're here to help you for that, with that. 474 00:34:06,800 --> 00:34:14,400 And the greatest thing you could ever give God is your life, your 475 00:34:14,400 --> 00:34:18,719 heart, your life. And if you've never done that, 476 00:34:18,840 --> 00:34:21,840 if you've never given your life to Jesus and fully surrender to 477 00:34:21,840 --> 00:34:24,719 him and get everything to him and put everything in his hands, 478 00:34:24,800 --> 00:34:27,760 come up while we sing again. We'll be here. 479 00:34:27,760 --> 00:34:30,800 We'll love to guide you in that and pray for you about that, 480 00:34:30,880 --> 00:34:31,920 Lord. Thank you.