1
00:00:00,320 --> 00:00:03,920
Today we are launching a brand 
new series that we're calling 

2
00:00:03,920 --> 00:00:06,360
from here to There. 
Come on, let's all say that 

3
00:00:06,360 --> 00:00:11,480
together from here to there. 
OK, let me ask you a question. 

4
00:00:12,680 --> 00:00:16,440
When was the last time you were 
in a theme park or maybe an 

5
00:00:16,440 --> 00:00:18,080
airport? 
This literally just happened to 

6
00:00:18,080 --> 00:00:19,200
Sarah and I. 
We were flying, we went from 

7
00:00:19,200 --> 00:00:21,560
Buffalo to Pittsburgh. 
Sarah flew in, had some 

8
00:00:21,560 --> 00:00:23,480
leadership and pastors. 
Things that we were doing there 

9
00:00:23,480 --> 00:00:25,280
in in Pittsburgh literally just 
happened. 

10
00:00:25,720 --> 00:00:28,960
You're in an airport, a theme, 
but maybe in a subway and and 

11
00:00:28,960 --> 00:00:31,920
you don't know where you are. 
And so you go to one of those 

12
00:00:31,920 --> 00:00:34,960
information maps, right? 
And you're looking for one 

13
00:00:34,960 --> 00:00:36,360
thing. 
What are you looking for? 

14
00:00:37,640 --> 00:00:41,440
The little star that says you 
come on, stay with me, you are 

15
00:00:41,520 --> 00:00:43,120
here? 
We literally just did this in 

16
00:00:43,120 --> 00:00:45,920
the Pittsburgh airport. 
This cause 'cause here's the 

17
00:00:45,920 --> 00:00:49,200
deal, if you don't know where 
you are, you can't find 

18
00:00:49,200 --> 00:00:54,640
Starbucks. 
Just hypothetically speaking, 

19
00:00:54,640 --> 00:00:55,880
right? 
Of course, we've all been there,

20
00:00:55,880 --> 00:00:57,960
right? 
That feeling of like, I don't 

21
00:00:57,960 --> 00:01:00,280
know where I am. 
Well, today we're launching the 

22
00:01:00,280 --> 00:01:02,760
series that we're calling from 
here to there. 

23
00:01:02,960 --> 00:01:05,720
And for the next 4 weeks here at
Next Level Church, we're going 

24
00:01:05,720 --> 00:01:08,960
to be talking about finances. 
We're going to be talking about 

25
00:01:08,960 --> 00:01:12,840
what the Bible has to say about 
our financial lives. 

26
00:01:12,840 --> 00:01:15,920
And here's why. 
Because for so many of us, we 

27
00:01:15,920 --> 00:01:19,240
feel lost when it comes to our 
finances. 

28
00:01:19,240 --> 00:01:22,120
And we, we understand that that 
money is one of the most 

29
00:01:22,280 --> 00:01:26,000
consistent, you know, forces and
presences in our life. 

30
00:01:26,000 --> 00:01:30,480
And yet so many of us were never
taught how to handle money. 

31
00:01:30,480 --> 00:01:32,480
We were never taught how to 
manage money. 

32
00:01:32,480 --> 00:01:35,360
Well, we were never taught how 
to take care of money, much less

33
00:01:35,440 --> 00:01:38,680
win with money. 
But church, I've got great news 

34
00:01:38,680 --> 00:01:41,120
for you. 
According to the Bible, God 

35
00:01:41,120 --> 00:01:45,880
wants every one of us to win 
with money. 

36
00:01:46,720 --> 00:01:51,120
In other words, God has a there 
that he wants all of us to get 

37
00:01:51,120 --> 00:01:53,760
to, no matter where we're 
starting here. 

38
00:01:54,200 --> 00:01:57,080
God's there for us financially 
is a place of peace and 

39
00:01:57,280 --> 00:02:01,360
provision and and purpose. 
A place where our money is no 

40
00:02:01,360 --> 00:02:05,400
longer a a constant stressor, 
but it's actually a place where 

41
00:02:05,400 --> 00:02:07,400
we can feel like we're we're in 
control. 

42
00:02:07,400 --> 00:02:11,080
We can feel focused and and 
capable to live how God wants us

43
00:02:11,240 --> 00:02:12,480
to live. 
Anybody else? 

44
00:02:12,480 --> 00:02:14,520
Does that sound appealing to 
anybody else? 

45
00:02:14,520 --> 00:02:16,200
And just me, man? 
Yeah. 

46
00:02:17,040 --> 00:02:20,880
If there's a better way to do 
this, then I want in on it. 

47
00:02:20,880 --> 00:02:23,520
And that's why we're doing this 
series now. 

48
00:02:23,680 --> 00:02:26,440
Here's what I can promise you, 
what I can promise you about the

49
00:02:26,440 --> 00:02:28,600
next four weeks of this From 
here to There series we're 

50
00:02:28,600 --> 00:02:30,640
talking about. 
What the Bible says about our 

51
00:02:30,640 --> 00:02:36,520
personal finances is we're no 
guilt and no shame and we're 

52
00:02:36,520 --> 00:02:38,240
going to preach. 
All of us who are teaching 

53
00:02:38,240 --> 00:02:41,600
during this series are going to 
preach and teach with the same 

54
00:02:41,640 --> 00:02:46,960
energy and enthusiasm like that 
we do with any other subject. 

55
00:02:47,440 --> 00:02:50,280
I promise. 
And here's why. 

56
00:02:50,480 --> 00:02:53,240
Because for over 30 plus years 
we've lived the principles of 

57
00:02:53,240 --> 00:02:57,080
the Bible concerning our 
finances and we've seen it work.

58
00:02:57,080 --> 00:03:00,440
So let me encourage you, 
Prioritize these weeks, take 

59
00:03:00,440 --> 00:03:03,400
notes, and most of all, take the
next step. 

60
00:03:03,400 --> 00:03:06,720
Everyone say next step. 
Take the next step that God 

61
00:03:06,720 --> 00:03:08,680
prompts you to take. 
Here's why. 

62
00:03:08,800 --> 00:03:12,440
Because we believe these, the 
weeks of this series can be life

63
00:03:12,640 --> 00:03:17,400
changing for every one of us, no
matter where we start. 

64
00:03:19,200 --> 00:03:21,760
Did you know that the Bible has 
a lot to say about money? 

65
00:03:23,680 --> 00:03:27,720
Did you know that there are over
2000 verses in the Old and New 

66
00:03:27,720 --> 00:03:31,040
Testament that have to do with 
money, possessions and 

67
00:03:31,040 --> 00:03:34,440
stewardship? 
Did you realize that Jesus talks

68
00:03:34,440 --> 00:03:40,400
more about money than heaven, 
hell and grace combined? 

69
00:03:41,720 --> 00:03:45,840
16 of the 38 parables of Jesus 
found in the four gospels have 

70
00:03:45,840 --> 00:03:48,440
to do with money, possessions 
and stewardship. 

71
00:03:48,720 --> 00:03:52,680
One out of every 10 verses of 
the Gospels, which is Matthew, 

72
00:03:52,680 --> 00:03:55,400
Mark, Luke and John, The four 
books of the Bible that tell us 

73
00:03:55,400 --> 00:03:57,360
about Jesus life and ministry 
here on earth. 

74
00:03:57,960 --> 00:04:01,720
One out of 10 verses of all four
of the gospels have to do with 

75
00:04:01,720 --> 00:04:04,240
money, possessions and 
stewardship. 

76
00:04:04,280 --> 00:04:08,640
So in other words, this is a 
really big deal apparently to 

77
00:04:08,640 --> 00:04:11,040
God. 
So that's why we're talking 

78
00:04:11,040 --> 00:04:13,160
about it. 
That's why we're doing a series 

79
00:04:13,160 --> 00:04:14,800
like this. 
So let's get started. 

80
00:04:14,800 --> 00:04:18,160
Everybody ready? 
I wanted to share with us 4 

81
00:04:18,160 --> 00:04:20,880
truths. 
Everyone say 4 truths, 4 truths 

82
00:04:20,880 --> 00:04:22,520
about our money. 
Here's the first one. 

83
00:04:22,520 --> 00:04:24,040
Maybe we're going to write these
down, take some notes around 

84
00:04:24,040 --> 00:04:26,320
here at Next Level Church. 
We like to say we're note takers

85
00:04:26,320 --> 00:04:28,440
because we think we just get 
more out of it that way. 

86
00:04:28,440 --> 00:04:30,440
Here's the first truth about our
money. 

87
00:04:30,440 --> 00:04:36,400
Number one, we all start here. 
Everyone say here, see, in 

88
00:04:36,400 --> 00:04:40,800
whatever area of life we're 
talking about, God always meets 

89
00:04:40,800 --> 00:04:42,480
us right where we are. 
That's why I love our prayer 

90
00:04:42,480 --> 00:04:43,800
teams. 
That's why I love that every 

91
00:04:43,800 --> 00:04:47,000
Sunday at all of our locations 
during worship, we always bring 

92
00:04:47,000 --> 00:04:49,240
our prayer teams out and we give
people an opportunity. 

93
00:04:49,240 --> 00:04:50,800
Here's why. 
Because we know that every 

94
00:04:50,800 --> 00:04:54,040
Sunday you're walking in, many 
of you are walking into one of 

95
00:04:54,040 --> 00:04:58,200
our locations and you're here 
and there's something present 

96
00:04:58,400 --> 00:05:01,960
where God is wants to meet you. 
And we just believe there's 

97
00:05:01,960 --> 00:05:04,520
something powerful about that 
point of contact where you step 

98
00:05:04,520 --> 00:05:07,520
out of your seat, come down, let
someone lay a hand on your 

99
00:05:07,520 --> 00:05:10,880
shoulder and pray for you. 
We just think God meets us here.

100
00:05:10,880 --> 00:05:14,480
Everyone say here and see it's 
true in every area of our life. 

101
00:05:14,480 --> 00:05:18,880
I I think about myself, I was a 
15 year old young man living in 

102
00:05:18,880 --> 00:05:22,160
a small town in Indiana and I 
was invited to a an Eastern 

103
00:05:22,160 --> 00:05:27,080
musical came into a church a lot
like ours in Indiana and God met

104
00:05:27,080 --> 00:05:30,400
me here. 
He met me and he gave me 

105
00:05:30,400 --> 00:05:31,920
salvation. 
And you know, you're sitting in 

106
00:05:31,920 --> 00:05:34,880
a room right now with hundreds 
of people who've had a similar 

107
00:05:34,880 --> 00:05:38,440
same experience where Jesus 
saved us, found us in our 

108
00:05:38,440 --> 00:05:41,040
sinfulness and brought us 
salvation. 

109
00:05:41,040 --> 00:05:44,880
How by meeting us here. 
Everyone say here, let me show 

110
00:05:44,880 --> 00:05:49,160
you Psalm 139 verse one says you
have searched me Lord, and you 

111
00:05:49,160 --> 00:05:51,840
know me. 
Look at the intimacy of this. 

112
00:05:52,000 --> 00:05:56,160
You know when I sit and when I 
rise, you perceive my thoughts 

113
00:05:56,160 --> 00:05:59,600
from afar. 
You discern my going out and my 

114
00:05:59,600 --> 00:06:01,800
laying down. 
Come on Sunday afternoon, naps. 

115
00:06:02,280 --> 00:06:04,400
That's what I'm talking about. 
God discerns that. 

116
00:06:04,400 --> 00:06:07,160
I discern that's in my future. 
Amen. 

117
00:06:08,320 --> 00:06:11,920
Look, you're familiar with all 
my ways and see the same is true

118
00:06:12,040 --> 00:06:16,360
financially. 
God meets us right where we are.

119
00:06:17,120 --> 00:06:19,720
Proverbs chapter 20 verse 24 
says a person's steps are 

120
00:06:19,720 --> 00:06:23,280
directed by the Lord. 
How then can anyone understand 

121
00:06:23,520 --> 00:06:25,960
their way? 
In other words, we got to know 

122
00:06:25,960 --> 00:06:28,920
where we are starting from. 
So when it comes to our 

123
00:06:28,920 --> 00:06:31,320
finances, let me give us 5 
categories. 

124
00:06:31,320 --> 00:06:34,400
I want to give us 5 categories 
that I believe every single one.

125
00:06:34,400 --> 00:06:37,200
There's thousands of us 
listening to this teaching today

126
00:06:37,440 --> 00:06:41,280
and every one of us fit into one
of these five categories as it 

127
00:06:41,280 --> 00:06:45,560
relates to the here of our 
personal finances, of our money.

128
00:06:46,360 --> 00:06:48,400
See which one you feel like you 
fit in. 

129
00:06:48,400 --> 00:06:51,520
The first category that I would 
say some of us, maybe many of us

130
00:06:51,520 --> 00:06:53,720
feel like we're in is what I 
would say struggling. 

131
00:06:53,720 --> 00:06:56,920
Everyone say struggling, 
struggling, and some of us, 

132
00:06:56,920 --> 00:06:58,920
that's how you feel. 
You're barely getting by. 

133
00:06:59,520 --> 00:07:03,240
Maybe you're up to your eyeballs
in debt, you're not sure where 

134
00:07:03,240 --> 00:07:06,280
your money is going week in and 
week out. 

135
00:07:06,280 --> 00:07:08,400
You always feel like at the end 
of the month, there's more 

136
00:07:08,400 --> 00:07:13,320
months left than money. 
If you're struggling, maybe you 

137
00:07:13,320 --> 00:07:15,760
go to the grocery store and as 
you're loading the cart, you're 

138
00:07:15,760 --> 00:07:18,320
on your bank app checking to 
make sure that you have enough 

139
00:07:18,320 --> 00:07:20,840
money in your bank account to be
able to cover it. 

140
00:07:21,520 --> 00:07:23,800
People who are struggling, maybe
you avoid opening the mail 

141
00:07:23,800 --> 00:07:27,760
because you know it's just 
another bill from another bill 

142
00:07:27,760 --> 00:07:30,320
collector. 
The second category is 

143
00:07:30,320 --> 00:07:32,240
surviving. 
Surviving. 

144
00:07:32,240 --> 00:07:35,280
Maybe you fit into this category
as you're listening to me today,

145
00:07:35,280 --> 00:07:38,120
you're paying your bills like 
you're making ends meet, but you

146
00:07:38,120 --> 00:07:41,840
know there's not a lot of extra.
You're trying to pay off debt, 

147
00:07:42,800 --> 00:07:46,880
but you're so aware that one 
unexpected expense can just kind

148
00:07:46,880 --> 00:07:52,000
of throw the whole thing off. 
Struggling or surviving. 

149
00:07:52,320 --> 00:07:55,680
The third category that is our 
here category is what I would 

150
00:07:55,680 --> 00:07:58,960
call thriving. 
And there's some of us, maybe a 

151
00:07:59,080 --> 00:08:02,280
good percentage of us who are in
one of our rooms today at one of

152
00:08:02,280 --> 00:08:04,720
our locations and you're, this 
is you, you, you would say 

153
00:08:04,720 --> 00:08:06,440
you're thriving. 
You're, you're living on a 

154
00:08:06,440 --> 00:08:08,200
budget. 
Maybe you're, you're debt free. 

155
00:08:08,200 --> 00:08:11,040
You don't have any credit card 
debt or, or car debt or consumer

156
00:08:11,040 --> 00:08:12,720
debt other than your home. 
You're debt free. 

157
00:08:12,720 --> 00:08:15,640
You're tithing, you're giving 
God the first one out of every 

158
00:08:15,640 --> 00:08:18,240
10 that comes in all of your 
increase and you're fine. 

159
00:08:18,240 --> 00:08:21,080
You're saving for retirement. 
You probably own your home. 

160
00:08:21,200 --> 00:08:23,800
And the truth is you're probably
sleeping better than most of us.

161
00:08:24,520 --> 00:08:28,160
You're thriving. 
The 4th category I would say is 

162
00:08:28,560 --> 00:08:33,559
you're generous, the generous, 
but you're living on far less 

163
00:08:33,559 --> 00:08:36,000
than you make. 
You have margin in your 

164
00:08:36,000 --> 00:08:39,280
finances. 
You're enjoying fun things and 

165
00:08:39,280 --> 00:08:42,320
experiences and you're helping 
those in need that when a need 

166
00:08:42,320 --> 00:08:45,920
arises, you're able to, to jump 
in and, and, and, and meet that 

167
00:08:45,920 --> 00:08:47,840
need. 
You own stuff, but stuff doesn't

168
00:08:47,840 --> 00:08:50,440
own you. 
You would fit in this generous 

169
00:08:50,440 --> 00:08:52,200
category. 
And then the last category is 

170
00:08:52,200 --> 00:08:54,360
what I would call extravagantly 
generous. 

171
00:08:55,280 --> 00:08:58,000
And these are those of us who 
have recognized that the best 

172
00:08:58,000 --> 00:09:01,840
life you can live is where 
you're leveraging money in this 

173
00:09:01,840 --> 00:09:05,720
life for the next life. 
So church, family, when you look

174
00:09:05,760 --> 00:09:13,120
at those five categories, let me
ask you, where is your here? 

175
00:09:14,360 --> 00:09:20,320
Because we all start somewhere. 
Here's the second truth about 

176
00:09:20,320 --> 00:09:22,240
our money that I want to talk 
about for a few minutes. 

177
00:09:22,240 --> 00:09:24,320
And it's this, we all start 
here. 

178
00:09:24,920 --> 00:09:29,080
But #2 God has a there for all 
of us financially. 

179
00:09:29,080 --> 00:09:33,720
I'm gonna say there, God has a 
there for all of us financially.

180
00:09:33,720 --> 00:09:37,080
Now watch this. 
God's there for us financially 

181
00:09:37,320 --> 00:09:40,360
is not what the world says it 
is. 

182
00:09:41,520 --> 00:09:43,600
Can I just break something to a 
few of you? 

183
00:09:44,600 --> 00:09:50,680
Instagram is not reality. 
Can we all just agree with that?

184
00:09:50,680 --> 00:09:56,800
It just it's it's OK, OK, 
Listen, are there like the there

185
00:09:56,800 --> 00:09:59,360
that God wants for US 
financially is not traveling 

186
00:09:59,360 --> 00:10:02,080
like a rock star. 
It's not having a second home on

187
00:10:02,080 --> 00:10:06,160
the Amalfi Coast, right? 
It's not driving a Lambo and 

188
00:10:06,160 --> 00:10:09,320
rolling hundy sticks like 
they're toilet paper, Kay? 

189
00:10:09,680 --> 00:10:13,000
It's not that. 
OK. 

190
00:10:13,000 --> 00:10:15,400
That statement was way more 
funny than I'm going to get 

191
00:10:15,400 --> 00:10:19,440
credit for, and I'm not saying 
it again. 

192
00:10:19,520 --> 00:10:21,560
You just have to go back and 
watch it on YouTube. 

193
00:10:24,640 --> 00:10:28,160
Look what Jesus said about are 
there Jesus said in Luke 12 I 

194
00:10:28,160 --> 00:10:32,080
love this verse 15. 
Jesus said to them watch out be 

195
00:10:32,080 --> 00:10:34,600
on your guard against all kinds 
of greed. 

196
00:10:34,600 --> 00:10:37,560
In other words, there's a whole 
bunch of greeds kinds of greed 

197
00:10:37,840 --> 00:10:41,000
that can come at us in our life.
Then he makes this statement, 

198
00:10:41,000 --> 00:10:45,520
look, life does not consist is 
an abundance possessions. 

199
00:10:45,520 --> 00:10:48,320
In other words, Jesus wants us 
to understand that there's more 

200
00:10:48,320 --> 00:10:51,800
to this life than just acquiring
stuff. 

201
00:10:52,800 --> 00:10:55,240
Proverbs 23 we just read through
the book of Proverbs through the

202
00:10:55,240 --> 00:10:58,040
month of January. 
Proverbs 23 verses four and five

203
00:10:58,040 --> 00:11:00,680
says this. 
Do not wear yourself out to get 

204
00:11:00,680 --> 00:11:02,240
rich. 
Some of you. 

205
00:11:02,240 --> 00:11:05,320
That's a word for you right 
there because you are wearing 

206
00:11:05,320 --> 00:11:10,120
yourself out trying to get rich,
trying to to live up to some 

207
00:11:10,240 --> 00:11:12,680
impossible standard on 
Instagram. 

208
00:11:13,240 --> 00:11:15,800
The Bible goes on, Do not trust 
your own cleverness. 

209
00:11:19,440 --> 00:11:22,080
Some of you, you're trying to 
manipulate things and figure it 

210
00:11:22,080 --> 00:11:23,320
out. 
You're trying to trust your own 

211
00:11:23,320 --> 00:11:26,000
cleverness. 
I love this part cast but a 

212
00:11:26,000 --> 00:11:27,800
glance at riches and they're 
gone. 

213
00:11:29,360 --> 00:11:32,280
Look at the vividness of this, 
for they will surely sprout 

214
00:11:32,280 --> 00:11:36,120
wings and fly off to the sky 
like an eagle. 

215
00:11:37,480 --> 00:11:40,640
Some of you are like, that's it.
That explains it. 

216
00:11:40,960 --> 00:11:42,800
I don't know where my money 
goes. 

217
00:11:42,920 --> 00:11:47,160
Whenever I spend 11 or $12.00 on
a coffee it just seems to fly 

218
00:11:47,160 --> 00:11:52,160
away. 
It does, That's a reality. 

219
00:11:54,200 --> 00:11:59,000
The Bible's full of wisdom. 
See according to God's word, the

220
00:11:59,000 --> 00:12:03,920
there God has for us is not like
the world defines it. 

221
00:12:03,960 --> 00:12:06,560
Can I tell you let me give you 4
words that I think describe 

222
00:12:06,800 --> 00:12:11,560
God's there for every single one
of us concerning our finances. 

223
00:12:12,160 --> 00:12:16,200
According to God's word, his 
there is a place of peace. 

224
00:12:16,200 --> 00:12:19,760
Everyone say peace, but we're 
not laying awake at night 

225
00:12:19,880 --> 00:12:22,160
wondering how we're going to pay
our bills. 

226
00:12:22,160 --> 00:12:25,760
We're we're living with margin. 
There's there's peace in God's 

227
00:12:25,760 --> 00:12:30,400
there that he has for us. 
Psalm chapter 4, verse 8. 

228
00:12:30,400 --> 00:12:35,160
I love this verse in peace. 
I will lie down and sleep for 

229
00:12:35,160 --> 00:12:38,920
you alone. 
Lord, make me dwell in safety. 

230
00:12:40,320 --> 00:12:43,920
A second word that I think 
describes God's there for us 

231
00:12:43,920 --> 00:12:45,960
financially is the word 
provision. 

232
00:12:45,960 --> 00:12:49,960
Everyone say provision, see 
God's there for us is that place

233
00:12:49,960 --> 00:12:53,920
where we know that God is our 
source and that he has a good 

234
00:12:53,920 --> 00:13:00,400
plan to supply all of our needs.
Philippians 419 it says and my 

235
00:13:00,400 --> 00:13:02,560
God, we'll supply all your 
needs. 

236
00:13:02,560 --> 00:13:05,880
Everyone say all all your needs,
not all your wants. 

237
00:13:06,880 --> 00:13:11,880
Big difference my God will 
supply look all your needs 

238
00:13:12,040 --> 00:13:17,560
according to look at this his 
glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

239
00:13:18,040 --> 00:13:21,120
We serve a God some of you you 
need to let this start to sink 

240
00:13:21,120 --> 00:13:25,360
into your heart. 
We serve a God who will supply 

241
00:13:25,440 --> 00:13:30,600
all of our needs according to 
his riches in Christ Jesus. 

242
00:13:31,080 --> 00:13:34,960
Psalm 34 verse 10, I love it 
says those who trust in the Lord

243
00:13:35,160 --> 00:13:40,840
will lack no good thing. 
See God's there for our finances

244
00:13:40,840 --> 00:13:43,440
is a place of peace. 
It's a place of provision. 3rd 

245
00:13:43,560 --> 00:13:48,400
it's a place of perspective. 
See, God wants to change our 

246
00:13:48,400 --> 00:13:53,680
perspective over the weeks of 
this series cause some of us we 

247
00:13:53,680 --> 00:13:57,040
need to realize that there is 
more to this life that this life

248
00:13:57,040 --> 00:14:01,720
is not measured in things or 
possessions or stuff, but in 

249
00:14:01,720 --> 00:14:06,480
significance. 
I love this verse, first Timothy

250
00:14:06,480 --> 00:14:09,640
chapter 6 verse 6. 
But godliness, look at this word

251
00:14:09,640 --> 00:14:12,720
with say it with me contentment,
huh? 

252
00:14:14,480 --> 00:14:19,040
It's great gain. 
What if God's there for our 

253
00:14:19,040 --> 00:14:22,320
life? 
It's a place where where instead

254
00:14:22,320 --> 00:14:25,880
of always feeling like we're 
grappling and and wanting more, 

255
00:14:25,880 --> 00:14:28,640
more, more, more, more, more, 
more, instead we reach a place 

256
00:14:28,760 --> 00:14:30,960
of contentment. 
Can I tell you it's a beautiful 

257
00:14:30,960 --> 00:14:34,440
place to live? 
Contentment. 

258
00:14:35,720 --> 00:14:38,480
Isn't it interesting that there 
are no gated communities in 

259
00:14:38,480 --> 00:14:40,760
Southwest Florida that are 
called contentment? 

260
00:14:43,440 --> 00:14:48,600
Huh. 
Hebrews chapter 13 verse 14 says

261
00:14:48,600 --> 00:14:50,400
for this world is not our 
permanent home. 

262
00:14:51,120 --> 00:14:53,960
We're looking forward to a home 
yet to come. 

263
00:14:53,960 --> 00:14:55,960
Speaking of heaven, we'll talk 
more about that next week. 

264
00:14:57,640 --> 00:15:00,840
See, there's there's a 
perspective shift that God wants

265
00:15:00,840 --> 00:15:03,880
to bring to us. 
Where's God's there for our 

266
00:15:03,880 --> 00:15:06,680
finances, a place of peace, a 
place of provision, a place of 

267
00:15:06,680 --> 00:15:09,720
perspective and a place of 
purpose. 

268
00:15:10,760 --> 00:15:13,680
God wants to bring us to a place
where we begin to recognize that

269
00:15:13,680 --> 00:15:17,240
the greatest place we can ever 
be financially is when we're 

270
00:15:17,240 --> 00:15:21,200
making a difference with the 
money that God has given us. 

271
00:15:22,160 --> 00:15:24,960
One of my favorite verses in all
of the Bible, Acts chapter 20 

272
00:15:24,960 --> 00:15:28,840
verse 35 says this remembering 
the words that the Lord Jesus 

273
00:15:28,840 --> 00:15:30,480
himself said, look what Jesus 
said. 

274
00:15:31,040 --> 00:15:34,400
It is more blessed to give than 
receive. 

275
00:15:35,920 --> 00:15:39,280
That's God's there for us. 
The apostle Paul echoed a 

276
00:15:39,280 --> 00:15:42,160
similar sentiment when he wrote 
to the church in Corinth in 2nd 

277
00:15:42,160 --> 00:15:44,760
Corinthians 9 verse 11. 
And he said you will be 

278
00:15:44,760 --> 00:15:49,280
enriched. 
Look at this in every way so 

279
00:15:49,280 --> 00:15:53,760
that I will say so that in other
words, God wants to enrich our 

280
00:15:53,760 --> 00:15:59,480
lives to the degree so that with
the result of therefore look so 

281
00:15:59,480 --> 00:16:04,160
we can be generous on every 
occasion. 

282
00:16:05,000 --> 00:16:07,080
And then he says through US 
Speaking of the local church, he

283
00:16:07,080 --> 00:16:10,680
says your generosity will result
in Thanksgiving to God. 

284
00:16:10,680 --> 00:16:14,680
In other words, there is a there
there is a place in our personal

285
00:16:14,680 --> 00:16:17,280
finances that God wants to bring
us to. 

286
00:16:17,720 --> 00:16:20,880
There is a place where our 
perspective shifts and purpose 

287
00:16:20,880 --> 00:16:24,280
greater purpose than just the 
next newest thing and the next 

288
00:16:24,280 --> 00:16:26,760
whatever the greater purpose 
kicks in. 

289
00:16:28,040 --> 00:16:30,760
I told you I'd be as passionate 
about this as any other subject 

290
00:16:30,760 --> 00:16:34,400
we teach. 
I love this stuff because it 

291
00:16:34,400 --> 00:16:39,160
works. 
Living life how the Bible tells 

292
00:16:39,160 --> 00:16:42,560
us to live actually works. 
Who knew? 

293
00:16:44,920 --> 00:16:47,240
We know, but maybe you don't 
know. 

294
00:16:47,840 --> 00:16:49,760
That's why we're teaching. 
That's why we're slow. 

295
00:16:49,800 --> 00:16:51,360
That's why we're rolling up our 
sleeves. 

296
00:16:51,360 --> 00:16:53,680
OK, but I'm not going to roll my
sleeves up because I feel like 

297
00:16:53,680 --> 00:16:56,280
my new jacket that I got two 
weeks ago actually looks better 

298
00:16:56,280 --> 00:17:00,120
with the sleeves down. 
So if that's anyway OK. 

299
00:17:00,120 --> 00:17:04,119
So watch this church. 
We all over here where we start,

300
00:17:05,480 --> 00:17:09,880
God's got a there where He wants
us to get to financially. 

301
00:17:11,280 --> 00:17:13,400
So how do we get from here to 
there? 

302
00:17:15,359 --> 00:17:18,960
We all have to take a step, 
third truth of our finances and 

303
00:17:18,960 --> 00:17:22,240
that's this. 
We all have a step to take. 

304
00:17:23,119 --> 00:17:27,960
We all have a step to take and 
see the steps we're taking 

305
00:17:27,960 --> 00:17:34,040
financially every day in and 
out, small and big are either 

306
00:17:34,040 --> 00:17:40,240
leading us toward the their God 
has for us or they're not OK 

307
00:17:40,240 --> 00:17:43,560
question anybody, every 
location. 

308
00:17:43,600 --> 00:17:47,040
Anybody remember the little kids
board game Chutes and ladders? 

309
00:17:47,720 --> 00:17:48,960
Come on show of hands. 
Remember that game? 

310
00:17:49,320 --> 00:17:52,760
That was one of my favorite 
games growing up and thanks to 

311
00:17:52,760 --> 00:17:56,440
the miracle of technology. 
Come on somebody check this out.

312
00:17:56,440 --> 00:17:59,200
We have a giant Chutes and 
ladders board game. 

313
00:17:59,960 --> 00:18:01,800
Yes. 
So we're going to take the next 

314
00:18:01,800 --> 00:18:06,840
few minutes. 
We're going to play okay. 

315
00:18:06,880 --> 00:18:09,160
If you've never played shoots 
and ladders, basically there's 

316
00:18:09,160 --> 00:18:12,240
this little spinner that comes 
with the game and it you take 

317
00:18:12,240 --> 00:18:18,880
turns and you you spin little 
thing and whatever number it 

318
00:18:18,880 --> 00:18:22,800
lands on, then you start down 
here at #1 and you're trying to 

319
00:18:22,800 --> 00:18:25,800
get to #100 at the top of the 
game board. 

320
00:18:26,000 --> 00:18:29,240
But if you land on one of these 
little ladder spaces, like for 

321
00:18:29,240 --> 00:18:31,200
example, this is way harder to 
do than you think. 

322
00:18:31,200 --> 00:18:32,680
Weather people, you're pretty 
awesome. 

323
00:18:32,880 --> 00:18:34,000
I'll just, I'll just be honest 
with you. 

324
00:18:34,000 --> 00:18:35,280
We have some weather people that
come over here. 

325
00:18:35,280 --> 00:18:37,000
OK, this guy right here, space 
four. 

326
00:18:37,200 --> 00:18:40,480
OK, if you like, if you land A4,
then watch, then you get to go 

327
00:18:40,480 --> 00:18:42,160
up this ladder. 
Oh, look at that. 

328
00:18:42,160 --> 00:18:44,680
That was awesome. 
OK, look at this big ladder. 

329
00:18:45,040 --> 00:18:46,000
Look at this big ladder right 
there. 

330
00:18:46,000 --> 00:18:48,120
Whoa, it's got a little dizzy. 
Look at that big ladder. 

331
00:18:48,280 --> 00:18:52,120
Look at that duffer. 
If you land on Space 28, you get

332
00:18:52,120 --> 00:18:55,840
to go all the way to Space 84. 
That's what I'm talking about. 

333
00:18:56,520 --> 00:18:58,960
But there's not just ladders on 
the game board. 

334
00:18:59,880 --> 00:19:04,400
They're chutes or as we knew 
them as children, slides. 

335
00:19:06,160 --> 00:19:07,920
Apparently some British person 
or something. 

336
00:19:07,920 --> 00:19:09,360
I don't, I don't know why. 
Like, why? 

337
00:19:09,400 --> 00:19:11,200
Like why isn't it slides in 
ladders? 

338
00:19:11,240 --> 00:19:14,520
Like probably because of the 
alphabet, probably because C is 

339
00:19:14,520 --> 00:19:17,600
better than S. 
And so in terms of Walmart shelf

340
00:19:17,600 --> 00:19:20,080
space, you don't care. 
You just want to know how to 

341
00:19:20,080 --> 00:19:21,520
play the game. 
Well, I'm trying to tell you. 

342
00:19:21,520 --> 00:19:23,560
You guys keep distracting me 
with all your fancy British 

343
00:19:23,560 --> 00:19:25,400
words. 
KK watch this. 

344
00:19:25,400 --> 00:19:27,840
So K so look, so there's 
ladders, but then there's also 

345
00:19:27,840 --> 00:19:30,520
these slides or shoots. 
And so if you land on one of the

346
00:19:30,520 --> 00:19:33,440
look at that big purple duffer, 
if you land on that, what is it?

347
00:19:33,440 --> 00:19:37,280
Space 87? 
You got to come all you slide 

348
00:19:37,280 --> 00:19:40,360
all the way back down. 
A lady after first service 

349
00:19:40,360 --> 00:19:42,480
walked up to me. 
She goes, I remember that game 

350
00:19:42,480 --> 00:19:47,800
and all I remember is that I 
would cry when I landed on a 

351
00:19:47,800 --> 00:19:51,200
shoot. 
Or maybe it's a a double 

352
00:19:51,200 --> 00:19:55,440
entendre shoot. 
That's what it is. 

353
00:19:57,640 --> 00:19:59,240
OK, here, here's here's my 
point. 

354
00:19:59,280 --> 00:20:06,680
Watch this church every single 
day you and I are making 

355
00:20:06,680 --> 00:20:11,360
decisions, big and small. 
That are either helping us land 

356
00:20:11,360 --> 00:20:16,840
on spaces with ladders that 
allow us to advance in our 

357
00:20:16,840 --> 00:20:19,760
personal finances and get closer
to the there that God has for 

358
00:20:19,760 --> 00:20:22,480
us. 
Or some of us are making 

359
00:20:22,480 --> 00:20:28,320
decisions that are causing us to
land on slides and we can't 

360
00:20:28,320 --> 00:20:32,760
figure out how and why we can't 
get ahead. 

361
00:20:34,040 --> 00:20:37,120
Now, let me say this, I 
understand that there are 

362
00:20:37,120 --> 00:20:40,560
exceptions to what I just said. 
Some of you, you've had 

363
00:20:40,600 --> 00:20:44,320
situations that have happened to
you that you did not choose 

364
00:20:45,480 --> 00:20:50,080
something medical, something 
relational, and it has brought 

365
00:20:50,080 --> 00:20:53,400
negative consequences on you in 
your finances. 

366
00:20:53,400 --> 00:20:57,360
And can I just tell you, as your
church, as your pastors, we see 

367
00:20:57,360 --> 00:21:00,240
you, we love you, we want to 
help you, and we're so glad 

368
00:21:00,240 --> 00:21:01,360
you're here. 
Please, no shame. 

369
00:21:01,360 --> 00:21:04,200
There's no shame in that game. 
Don't hear what I'm not saying, 

370
00:21:05,400 --> 00:21:08,240
But the reality is for a lot of 
us, the decisions we make are 

371
00:21:08,240 --> 00:21:09,960
like a Chutes and Ladders game 
board, right? 

372
00:21:10,280 --> 00:21:11,640
Look how Proverbs talks about 
it. 

373
00:21:11,640 --> 00:21:13,840
Proverbs chapter 4 verse 26 says
this. 

374
00:21:13,840 --> 00:21:18,560
Give careful thought to the Pas 
for your feet and be steadfast 

375
00:21:18,680 --> 00:21:20,640
in all your ways. 
Do you know the root word of 

376
00:21:20,640 --> 00:21:24,000
steadfast is the word stead? 
It's the same word we get steady

377
00:21:24,000 --> 00:21:26,880
from. 
In other words, there's 

378
00:21:26,880 --> 00:21:30,280
something that happens when you 
and I decide we're going to get 

379
00:21:30,280 --> 00:21:33,280
steady in our finances every 
day. 

380
00:21:33,400 --> 00:21:35,680
We're just going to take a step.
We're going to take a step. 

381
00:21:35,800 --> 00:21:37,840
We're going to take a step. 
We're going to take a step. 

382
00:21:37,960 --> 00:21:40,080
We're going to take a step. 
Hey, elbow the person next to 

383
00:21:40,080 --> 00:21:41,760
you and tell them, come on, 
we're going to take a step. 

384
00:21:41,760 --> 00:21:47,320
Come on, tell them right now. 
We're going to take a step in 

385
00:21:47,320 --> 00:21:50,120
all kinds of areas in in 
people's lives. 

386
00:21:50,120 --> 00:21:53,760
Jesus was always calling people 
to take a step, watch this 

387
00:21:54,040 --> 00:21:57,240
toward his best for their lives 
in that area. 

388
00:21:58,040 --> 00:22:02,680
See Jesus, the word of God, the 
Bible has has a best way for us 

389
00:22:02,680 --> 00:22:06,520
to live our lives, every area of
our lives, from our 

390
00:22:06,520 --> 00:22:11,200
relationships to our sex lives 
to to every area of our lives, 

391
00:22:11,200 --> 00:22:13,840
including our finances. 
I got your attention when I said

392
00:22:13,840 --> 00:22:16,440
that, didn't I? 
Ha ha, ha, ha, ha ha. 

393
00:22:16,440 --> 00:22:18,280
Just when you thought you were 
getting a little distracted. 

394
00:22:18,280 --> 00:22:20,960
Maybe I'll check my phone. 
Oh wait, did he just say that? 

395
00:22:20,960 --> 00:22:23,080
Yes, I did. 
Welcome back. 

396
00:22:26,480 --> 00:22:34,200
Keeping it real people. 
What was Jesus call to his first

397
00:22:34,200 --> 00:22:37,760
disciples? 
We find it over and over again. 

398
00:22:37,760 --> 00:22:40,320
As he was calling the 12 he 
would say 4 simple words. 

399
00:22:40,320 --> 00:22:46,520
Come follow me. 
That's three words in the King 

400
00:22:46,520 --> 00:22:48,120
James. 
It's come thou follow. 

401
00:22:48,120 --> 00:22:50,680
No, I'm just kidding. 
See, it's important when we make

402
00:22:50,680 --> 00:22:54,280
a mistake, we just apologize and
own it. 4 truths. 

403
00:22:54,280 --> 00:22:57,000
We're talking about four truths 
of our money. 4 truths of our 

404
00:22:57,000 --> 00:23:01,280
money that we all start here. 
God has a there that He wants us

405
00:23:01,280 --> 00:23:05,840
to get, and every one of us have
a step that He wants us to take.

406
00:23:05,840 --> 00:23:09,160
Here's the final truth I want to
share with you #4 we all can 

407
00:23:09,360 --> 00:23:11,840
take a step. 
We all can. 

408
00:23:11,840 --> 00:23:15,760
Everyone say, can we all can 
take a step? 

409
00:23:15,760 --> 00:23:18,640
Listen to me, some of you, I 
want to build faith today 

410
00:23:18,800 --> 00:23:22,080
because some of you, there are 
generational things, thought 

411
00:23:22,080 --> 00:23:27,040
patterns, even generational 
curses that have been on you 

412
00:23:27,200 --> 00:23:30,160
forever and they were on your 
parents, They were on your 

413
00:23:30,160 --> 00:23:32,200
grandparents, your great 
grandparents. 

414
00:23:32,320 --> 00:23:35,440
You weren't, you did not, you 
were not raised in a home where 

415
00:23:35,440 --> 00:23:37,280
they thought this way about 
money. 

416
00:23:37,280 --> 00:23:40,400
You've been raised in an 
environment, in a home, in the 

417
00:23:40,400 --> 00:23:43,760
neighborhood, whatever in your 
family unit that has just taught

418
00:23:43,760 --> 00:23:46,600
you you'll never get get ahead, 
you'll never be able to 

419
00:23:46,600 --> 00:23:48,720
breakthrough. 
It'll always be the same. 

420
00:23:48,800 --> 00:23:53,840
And I want to say to you today, 
listen that you can take the 

421
00:23:53,840 --> 00:23:56,000
next step. 
You can break free. 

422
00:23:56,160 --> 00:24:01,120
You can be free in Jesus name 
and you can break that 

423
00:24:01,120 --> 00:24:05,840
generational stuff. 
It stops with me and your kids 

424
00:24:05,840 --> 00:24:09,760
and your grandkids will have a 
completely different financial 

425
00:24:09,760 --> 00:24:12,920
future because of the decisions 
you're going to make in the next

426
00:24:12,920 --> 00:24:18,080
few weeks. 
Philippians 413 says I can come 

427
00:24:18,080 --> 00:24:22,120
on, say I can. 
I can do what's it say all 

428
00:24:22,120 --> 00:24:25,520
things through Christ who gives 
me strength. 

429
00:24:25,760 --> 00:24:28,520
So watch this. 
I want us to look at this five 

430
00:24:28,520 --> 00:24:30,320
categories. 
Where's your here? 

431
00:24:30,680 --> 00:24:33,520
Where's your here struggling 
survivor? 

432
00:24:33,600 --> 00:24:35,200
I want you to get your here in 
mind. 

433
00:24:35,200 --> 00:24:37,440
Now watch this. 
This is the there that God wants

434
00:24:37,440 --> 00:24:39,560
to take us to watch. 
Church, family. 

435
00:24:39,800 --> 00:24:42,920
No matter what category you find
yourself in, all of us have a 

436
00:24:42,920 --> 00:24:45,760
next step to take. 
Let me give them to you. 

437
00:24:46,680 --> 00:24:49,640
If as I've been talking, you 
feel like you can relate to that

438
00:24:49,640 --> 00:24:53,600
struggling category, what you 
need is a strategy. 

439
00:24:54,600 --> 00:24:59,160
You need a strategy. 
You need a strategy, a strategy 

440
00:24:59,160 --> 00:25:01,520
that helps you understand some 
things. 

441
00:25:01,520 --> 00:25:03,560
And we as your church, in about 
two minutes, I'm going to tell 

442
00:25:03,560 --> 00:25:05,640
you what the strategy is. 
We have a practical next step 

443
00:25:05,640 --> 00:25:07,720
for you. 
If you're in that surviving 

444
00:25:07,720 --> 00:25:10,120
category and you feel like 
you're just barely keeping your 

445
00:25:10,120 --> 00:25:14,200
head above water financially. 
This is a season of sacrifice. 

446
00:25:14,800 --> 00:25:18,480
This is a season of sacrifice. 
That's the step you need to 

447
00:25:18,480 --> 00:25:20,880
take. 
Keep sacrificing, keep taking 

448
00:25:20,880 --> 00:25:22,440
it. 
And again, we as your church 

449
00:25:22,440 --> 00:25:25,480
family, we want to help you take
those steps. 

450
00:25:26,920 --> 00:25:29,520
If you're in that thriving 
category and you look on at your

451
00:25:29,520 --> 00:25:31,680
finances, you go, yeah, pastor 
man, that's us. 

452
00:25:31,680 --> 00:25:33,480
We're we're there. 
Here's what I would say to you. 

453
00:25:33,480 --> 00:25:38,400
Stay diligent, stay diligent, 
stay locked in, stay diligent. 

454
00:25:38,400 --> 00:25:39,960
Why? 
Because there's more. 

455
00:25:40,240 --> 00:25:42,800
And in the weeks of this series,
I believe God is going to start 

456
00:25:42,800 --> 00:25:46,440
to open up your mind and your 
perspective to see things like 

457
00:25:46,440 --> 00:25:49,760
you've never seen them before. 
If you're in that generous 

458
00:25:49,760 --> 00:25:54,040
category, here's your step. 
Begin to learn about and tap 

459
00:25:54,040 --> 00:25:57,440
into the satisfaction of giving 
like never before. 

460
00:25:57,800 --> 00:26:02,080
There is a satisfaction of 
giving that cannot be explained.

461
00:26:02,560 --> 00:26:05,840
It's supernatural. 
And that's what God wants to 

462
00:26:05,840 --> 00:26:08,120
unlock in you over the next few 
weeks. 

463
00:26:09,000 --> 00:26:11,640
And if you're in that 
extravagantly generous category,

464
00:26:11,760 --> 00:26:15,000
here's what I would say. 
God wants you to start to see a 

465
00:26:15,000 --> 00:26:19,200
greater significance to your 
generosity than you ever 

466
00:26:19,200 --> 00:26:26,640
realized was possible before. 
Where you're here, this is the 

467
00:26:26,640 --> 00:26:29,680
there. 
All of us have a step. 

468
00:26:31,160 --> 00:26:34,880
So before we move on with their 
time together, let me give us a 

469
00:26:34,880 --> 00:26:39,040
few action steps. 
If you find yourself in one of 

470
00:26:39,040 --> 00:26:42,720
those first two categories, 
struggling or surviving, we want

471
00:26:42,720 --> 00:26:46,160
to help you. 
And we've done this for about a 

472
00:26:46,160 --> 00:26:49,360
year now. 
We have a class, it's called My 

473
00:26:49,360 --> 00:26:54,040
God, My Money, and at every one 
of our locations this spring, 

474
00:26:54,400 --> 00:26:56,920
we're launching this class 
called My God, My Money. 

475
00:26:56,920 --> 00:26:59,880
We took our entire staff over 
the last year. 

476
00:26:59,920 --> 00:27:02,200
We took our entire staff through
this class. 

477
00:27:02,200 --> 00:27:04,920
It's that important. 
So listen, if you're struggling 

478
00:27:04,920 --> 00:27:07,400
or surviving, if you're like 
pastor, I think that's me, go to

479
00:27:07,400 --> 00:27:09,840
this website, 
nextlevelchurch.com/finances 

480
00:27:09,840 --> 00:27:12,520
with an S 
nextlevelchurch.com/finances. 

481
00:27:12,760 --> 00:27:14,760
There's a form on there, Super 
8. 

482
00:27:14,760 --> 00:27:15,840
You could do it right now. 
Go ahead. 

483
00:27:15,880 --> 00:27:17,120
I give you permission to be on 
your phone. 

484
00:27:17,120 --> 00:27:19,480
Go 
oknextlevelchurch.com/finance. 

485
00:27:19,480 --> 00:27:22,480
Go to the form, fill out the 
form, mark your location. 

486
00:27:22,840 --> 00:27:25,760
It will put your name on a list.
We have limited space for this. 

487
00:27:25,760 --> 00:27:27,600
So everybody get in now. 
Come on somebody. 

488
00:27:27,600 --> 00:27:29,520
But wait, there's more. 
Get in now. 

489
00:27:29,920 --> 00:27:31,800
Why? 
Because this spring we want to 

490
00:27:31,800 --> 00:27:33,960
help you. 
We we have tables and you're 

491
00:27:33,960 --> 00:27:36,120
going to have mentors and 
coaches that are going to come 

492
00:27:36,120 --> 00:27:39,520
around you and help you 
understand and start to break 

493
00:27:39,520 --> 00:27:43,160
off mindsets perhaps that have 
been on you and your family 

494
00:27:43,160 --> 00:27:46,240
maybe for decades, centuries. 
You can be free. 

495
00:27:46,240 --> 00:27:48,360
You can see finances 
differently. 

496
00:27:48,360 --> 00:27:50,040
God's way called my God, my 
money. 

497
00:27:50,040 --> 00:27:52,280
So go to the website. 
That's the step for you. 

498
00:27:53,520 --> 00:27:57,720
I love Zechariah chapter 4 verse
10 says do not despise these 

499
00:27:57,720 --> 00:28:00,920
small beginnings for the Lord. 
The Lord rejoices to see the 

500
00:28:00,920 --> 00:28:02,200
work begin. 
Some of you. 

501
00:28:02,200 --> 00:28:06,400
That's your verse right there. 
Don't despise the small steps. 

502
00:28:06,400 --> 00:28:10,280
Just take a small step. 
Sign up for my God, my money. 

503
00:28:10,880 --> 00:28:13,440
Why? 
Because the Lord delights to see

504
00:28:13,640 --> 00:28:17,920
the work that God wants to do in
your finances begin. 

505
00:28:19,440 --> 00:28:22,200
If you're in that surviving or, 
or thriving category, if that, 

506
00:28:22,200 --> 00:28:24,920
if you would put yourself there,
here's what I would say to you. 

507
00:28:25,120 --> 00:28:28,040
Review your budget like this 
week, like lock it down. 

508
00:28:28,040 --> 00:28:30,600
Like look again, go man, Where's
the superfluous spinning? 

509
00:28:30,720 --> 00:28:32,880
Where are the subscriptions that
add up? 

510
00:28:32,880 --> 00:28:35,200
Like where, where can I tighten 
things up? 

511
00:28:35,400 --> 00:28:38,680
And I would say to you, keep 
moving toward God. 

512
00:28:38,840 --> 00:28:43,000
He has more for you. 
Thriving is not the end. 

513
00:28:43,000 --> 00:28:48,520
Trust me, it gets way better. 
Proverbs chapter 12 verse 24 

514
00:28:48,520 --> 00:28:50,840
says this. 
Diligent hands will rule, but 

515
00:28:50,840 --> 00:28:56,800
laziness ends in forced labor. 
Come on, no room for laziness. 

516
00:28:56,800 --> 00:28:57,760
Why? 
Because you're winning. 

517
00:28:57,760 --> 00:28:59,680
You're getting there. 
Keep taking steps. 

518
00:28:59,680 --> 00:29:01,600
Keep taking steps. 
And then if you're in that 

519
00:29:01,600 --> 00:29:04,600
thriving or generous or even 
extravagantly generous category,

520
00:29:04,600 --> 00:29:08,080
here's what I would say to you. 
Make giving even even more of a 

521
00:29:08,080 --> 00:29:10,280
priority. 
Here's why. 

522
00:29:10,880 --> 00:29:14,440
Because the best life isn't the 
one where we have everything we 

523
00:29:14,440 --> 00:29:17,400
want. 
The best life is the one where 

524
00:29:17,400 --> 00:29:19,760
we're making a difference in the
lives of others. 

525
00:29:19,760 --> 00:29:23,400
You want me to say that again? 
That's a Matt Keller original. 

526
00:29:23,400 --> 00:29:26,880
By the way, was that Dave 
Ramsey? 

527
00:29:27,000 --> 00:29:30,040
No, that was Matt Keller. 
The best life. 

528
00:29:30,360 --> 00:29:33,280
The best life isn't the one 
where we have everything we 

529
00:29:33,280 --> 00:29:35,600
want. 
The best life is the one where 

530
00:29:35,600 --> 00:29:38,040
we're making a difference in the
lives of others. 

531
00:29:38,920 --> 00:29:45,000
And can I tell you that's the 
life God wants for every single 

532
00:29:45,000 --> 00:29:49,920
one of us? 
One last verse, First Timothy, 

533
00:29:49,920 --> 00:29:52,000
chapter 6. 
The apostle Paul is writing to 

534
00:29:52,000 --> 00:29:54,240
his spiritual son Timothy, who 
was pastoring the church at 

535
00:29:54,240 --> 00:29:55,800
Ephesus. 
The city's there and I got to go

536
00:29:55,800 --> 00:30:00,560
to last August in Asia Minor and
this church, there's revival 

537
00:30:00,560 --> 00:30:03,120
breaking out. 
And so God's reaching all all 

538
00:30:03,120 --> 00:30:04,480
kinds of people. 
He's reaching different 

539
00:30:04,480 --> 00:30:07,000
ethnicities, different races, 
and he's reaching different 

540
00:30:07,160 --> 00:30:10,440
socio economic groups as well. 
So there are poor people, there 

541
00:30:10,440 --> 00:30:12,440
are prostitutes, there are 
middle class, there are and 

542
00:30:12,440 --> 00:30:15,160
there are rich people. 
And so when Paul writes the 

543
00:30:15,160 --> 00:30:19,160
letter first Timothy to Timothy 
the pastor, he tells him right 

544
00:30:19,160 --> 00:30:23,560
at the very end, he says, hey, 
and those who are rich people in

545
00:30:23,560 --> 00:30:25,600
your church, here's what I want 
you to do. 

546
00:30:26,240 --> 00:30:28,920
Look at this verse, verse 18. 
Command them. 

547
00:30:28,920 --> 00:30:31,520
Who's he talking to about the 
rich people, those who have more

548
00:30:31,520 --> 00:30:35,160
than they need, command them. 
Look what he says to do good, to

549
00:30:35,160 --> 00:30:39,920
be rich in good deeds and to be 
generous and willing to share. 

550
00:30:40,640 --> 00:30:46,360
And then he says this in this 
way, they will lay up treasure 

551
00:30:46,360 --> 00:30:49,320
for themselves as a firm 
foundation in the coming age. 

552
00:30:49,320 --> 00:30:52,680
In other words, in heaven. 
So that look, he says, and 

553
00:30:52,680 --> 00:30:57,240
there's a bonus, they'll take 
hold of the life in this life 

554
00:30:58,120 --> 00:31:03,600
that's truly life. 
In other words, there's a secret

555
00:31:03,600 --> 00:31:07,120
life like God says, and we'll 
talk more about this next week. 

556
00:31:07,480 --> 00:31:12,680
God says if you and I handle our
money the right way, we actually

557
00:31:12,680 --> 00:31:19,000
have the ability to not only 
send treasure ahead for all 

558
00:31:19,000 --> 00:31:23,440
eternity. 
What now? 

559
00:31:23,440 --> 00:31:28,760
That's a letter. 
But we also get to take hold of 

560
00:31:28,760 --> 00:31:35,880
the life that is truly life down
here in this life. 

561
00:31:36,600 --> 00:31:40,680
And God wants that for every 
single one of us. 

562
00:31:41,440 --> 00:31:43,400
So here's what I want to do. 
I want to pray. 

563
00:31:44,400 --> 00:31:46,120
Come on, every location. 
Can we just bow our heads? 

564
00:31:46,120 --> 00:31:47,640
Father, I thank you that you're 
here today. 

565
00:31:48,240 --> 00:31:51,200
God, you're moving among us, 
God, you're moving in power, 

566
00:31:51,200 --> 00:31:52,960
you're moving in mind. 
God, you're, you're touching our

567
00:31:52,960 --> 00:31:55,120
hearts. 
And Lord, I pray that the words 

568
00:31:55,120 --> 00:32:01,000
that we have heard today from 
your word would begin to 

569
00:32:01,000 --> 00:32:03,320
resonate like they never had 
before in our heart. 

570
00:32:03,520 --> 00:32:07,680
Lord, each of us are starting at
a here and God, you have a there

571
00:32:07,760 --> 00:32:10,120
that you want to take us to 
Father. 

572
00:32:10,120 --> 00:32:12,560
I believe that right now. 
I felt it for weeks leading up 

573
00:32:12,560 --> 00:32:15,560
to this message today that you 
were going to set some of us 

574
00:32:15,560 --> 00:32:19,040
free that you were going to 
break off generational curses in

575
00:32:19,040 --> 00:32:22,400
the name of Jesus. 
And so some of you right now you

576
00:32:22,400 --> 00:32:24,560
are at your location. 
You are you have been battling 

577
00:32:24,560 --> 00:32:27,080
that that you have been taught 
that money is a necessary evil 

578
00:32:27,080 --> 00:32:29,600
and you just got to have it. 
You've taught this scarcity 

579
00:32:29,600 --> 00:32:32,240
thing or poverty mentality. 
I'm never going to get ahead. 

580
00:32:32,240 --> 00:32:35,440
You will never have enough. 
And right now, in the name of 

581
00:32:35,480 --> 00:32:37,800
Jesus, I call that curse 
cancelled. 

582
00:32:38,000 --> 00:32:41,720
In Jesus name, I call it broke. 
And I pray that the truth of 

583
00:32:41,720 --> 00:32:45,000
God's word in the coming weeks 
of this series would begin to 

584
00:32:45,000 --> 00:32:49,360
breakthrough in your heart, in 
your spirit, in your soul and in

585
00:32:49,360 --> 00:32:53,160
your mind like never before. 
And that the generations to come

586
00:32:53,280 --> 00:32:56,800
will not have to experience the 
the the mindset toward money 

587
00:32:56,960 --> 00:33:00,160
that you have had. 
And in Jesus name, I declare you

588
00:33:00,160 --> 00:33:06,280
free and God for all of us, 
would you help us to take a 

589
00:33:06,280 --> 00:33:08,840
step? 
Help us, God, to take a step. 

590
00:33:10,000 --> 00:33:12,200
Why? 
Because you have so much more 

591
00:33:12,200 --> 00:33:14,320
for us than we can ask or 
imagine. 

592
00:33:15,120 --> 00:33:17,760
And Lord, your way is always the
best way. 

593
00:33:19,280 --> 00:33:20,600
Staying in this atmosphere of 
prayer. 

594
00:33:20,600 --> 00:33:25,240
I just want to take a moment 
because I believe that there are

595
00:33:25,240 --> 00:33:27,920
some who have come into one of 
our rooms today or online 

596
00:33:27,920 --> 00:33:31,080
family. 
You too, and you're not in 

597
00:33:31,080 --> 00:33:34,040
relationship with Jesus, but you
can be. 

598
00:33:35,480 --> 00:33:38,600
It's a free gift. 
The reason we can be generous is

599
00:33:38,600 --> 00:33:43,120
because God was first generous. 
The Bible says in John 316 that 

600
00:33:43,120 --> 00:33:48,200
he so loved you and I fallen 
sinful, broken humanity, that he

601
00:33:48,200 --> 00:33:51,240
looked down from heaven and he 
could not stand for us to stay 

602
00:33:51,240 --> 00:33:54,880
in that state. 
And he so loved us that he gave 

603
00:33:54,920 --> 00:33:58,440
God was the first generous. 
He gave his one and only Son 

604
00:33:58,520 --> 00:34:02,480
Jesus, that whosoever believes 
in him, puts their faith in Him,

605
00:34:02,480 --> 00:34:04,920
surrenders their life to Him, 
would not perish. 

606
00:34:04,920 --> 00:34:07,800
In other words, spend eternity 
separated from God, but would 

607
00:34:07,800 --> 00:34:10,000
know what it is to spend 
eternity with God. 

608
00:34:11,440 --> 00:34:14,360
So if you've never said yes to a
relationship with Jesus, I want 

609
00:34:14,360 --> 00:34:17,840
to give you a chance to do that,
to surrender your life to Him. 

610
00:34:18,320 --> 00:34:21,960
Every location I want to pray 
for you if that's your desire. 

611
00:34:21,960 --> 00:34:23,960
Pastor Matt, include me in I 
want you. 

612
00:34:23,960 --> 00:34:24,920
I'm a count to three in a 
second. 

613
00:34:24,920 --> 00:34:28,280
And when I hit 3, would you 
throw your hand up Loud and bold

614
00:34:28,280 --> 00:34:29,880
and strong. 
Throw your hand up right now. 

615
00:34:29,880 --> 00:34:32,840
123 Pastor Matt, that's me. 
Awesome. 

616
00:34:32,960 --> 00:34:34,560
Yeah. 
Yeah, that's it. 

617
00:34:34,560 --> 00:34:35,840
Fantastic. 
Awesome. 

618
00:34:35,840 --> 00:34:38,440
Cape Coral East family downtown 
online. 

619
00:34:38,440 --> 00:34:40,880
You can mention it in the chat 
here in this room, additional 

620
00:34:40,880 --> 00:34:43,320
seating. 
So Father, right now you see the

621
00:34:43,320 --> 00:34:46,360
hands that have been raised. 
Jesus, we raise our hand as an 

622
00:34:46,360 --> 00:34:48,960
outward expression to 
acknowledge that we are a 

623
00:34:48,960 --> 00:34:50,960
Sinner. 
We need a Savior. 

624
00:34:51,679 --> 00:34:54,199
Jesus, we thank you right now 
for dying on the cross. 

625
00:34:54,199 --> 00:34:56,679
This payment for our sin. 
We receive that free gift of 

626
00:34:56,679 --> 00:34:59,440
salvation right now. 
Thank you for meeting us right 

627
00:34:59,560 --> 00:35:03,480
here. 
And Lord, right now we surrender

628
00:35:03,480 --> 00:35:05,920
our life to you. 
Would you help us from this day 

629
00:35:05,920 --> 00:35:08,960
on to go your way because it's 
the best way. 

630
00:35:09,600 --> 00:35:13,600
For the rest of our days, we 
pray in Jesus name, Amen. 

631
00:35:14,480 --> 00:35:16,360
Amen. 
Hey, come on church family, can 

632
00:35:16,360 --> 00:35:17,760
we celebrate all that? 
God's Son. 

633
00:35:18,640 --> 00:35:18,800
Amen.