The opportunity to be together this morning.
It is a privilege on. And so many in this, this world
are unable to do so freely. What would we not take it for
granted? What we just In This Moment,
recognize that privilege. And recognize in this moment
that we can do so because of your shed Blood on the cross
Jesus that you have made away reconciliation with our heavenly
father because of sacrifice on the cross of calvary.
And Lord as we look into the subject of money this morning,
as we continue to finish off where we started last week, I
just pray that you would open our hearts to your truths.
That you would protect our minds from the enemy that would come
to distract us. And to cause offense, no doubt.
I pray. Lord that there would be fruit
from this talk and Lord. Would you help me?
Would you please God help me to convey your truth with Grace and
with love I asked in your precious name.
Amen. Hmm.
So we've got one of these Some of you have somebody have it.
If you haven't got one of these they are in the atrium over
there. But this is our reach brochure.
As Fair said at the start of the service and we have been in a
series called reach, which is on the screen about the vision of
this church. And I launched reach last year
as way of a mini recap about what the plans were for the next
10 years. And extent essentially it's
responding to that call of the Lord, to extend our reach to
reach the lost and I sorry, I just been distracted by Mel had
a couple and ahead, so some is just taking it down.
That was very good. I was quite impressed with how
you balance that Mill. He good extended our reach to
reach. The loss is about the fact that
we as a church, not just here in Saint Albans but globally.
The church has is a missional body, isn't it?
We are on a mission to make Christ known and you know, as we
since Pentecost which we going to celebrate next Sunday, all
the way up to the present day, 2000 years people.
To be making Christ known. I mean, you are here because
someone has made Christ known to you.
Is that correct? Yeah.
And so you have your part to play to carry on and we looked
at that mission as a church and the danger of a church where we
can get really comfortable. You know, is a nice place to
get, good coffee, got nice Donuts, the music's great.
And the danger with that is, the enemy would want us to Camp here
and create a cul-de-sac off the highway of that Great
Commission. And it's always good as a church
to remind ourselves that we are not here for Comfort.
We are here to be extending, Christ's Kingdom and inherently
with that. You are going to feel
uncomfortable. If you're not feeling a little
bit, uncomfortable in your walk with the Lord and being and
being kind of stepping into things out with faith and
feeling like you're stretching and having to sacrifice.
If you're not feeling any of those things, they might say in
love as your pastor. Maybe you're not growing with
the Lord as you should. Because it's in those plans.
It's in those places where we are extending ourselves that we
grow in Christ, right? And I let you into a little
secret last week about reach because reach the slogan is
extending our reach to reach the lost.
But here's The Secret Of Reach. It's also about extending
ourselves to grow in Christ. You see, reach is a double-sided
objective because God in his grace and his Mercy will always
give us as a people. If we are remain good stewards
opportunities. To extend ourselves to grow in
him. This is a god-given discipleship
program reach and you therefore have your part to play in this.
This is not a spectator sport. If you're visiting, you know, we
want you to feel, welcome here, but I want you to know from the
get-go that this isn't a place that you just turn up and
consumed and leave. This is a place where you join
as the body of Christ as a church, family on a mission.
To make Christ known. I'm clearly I'm not going to
find you this morning and get you to sign up to all the
amazing teams we have right now. I'll save that for next week.
But we are all here on a mission together.
And so, how are we going to extend our reach to reach the
last by creating places for people to encounter Jesus?
Well, done, I know it's on the screen for someone points out to
me. But this is what this is our
strategy. If you like this is how we're
going to do this creating spaces and places for people to
encounter Jesus. Because and I know I'm reminding
you of this every week and we've got one more talk next week and
then we're out of reach and we got some amazing speakers coming
up such as Sally, Davison speaking to us shortly, which
would be great in a couple weeks time.
We got Edward as well. Who heads up our youth kids and
now young adults. So you'll have a break from me
soon. You'll be pleased to hear but
it's all. Oh, that's so kind. and,
Untouched, thank you for that. Well you're my wife, you have to
say that. But I hear it.
But it's all about Jesus, we're not here to create an experience
for people to get hooked on. We're here to create a space so
people can encounter Jesus for themselves, right, hands up.
You have to be hand up who's encountered, Jesus?
And what's your testimony? Has your life been transformed?
Yeah, that's what we want for other people because, you know,
the reality is is that there are people out there heading to an
eternal separation from God. And I'd know we don't like to
get to the nuts and bolts of it, but it's called hell.
Man did a preacher talk about? Hell yeah.
I mean, otherwise what's the point of Jesus dying on the
cross? I heard about a preacher Pastor
recently that was that was decided.
Now there is no hell and he's preaching this What's the point,
then? Why did Jesus go to the Cross
universalism is a terrible heresy.
Will always lead to Christ to God and well, that just
nullifies the gospel. I don't know why he bothers
preaching on a Sunday. Quite frankly, I don't always
going to preach about and I say that in love to my brother who's
doing that. But listen, let's just Jesus
didn't die on the cross to give you a better life.
Although there is fruit in your walk with Christ.
He didn't give you, he didn't die on the Christ on the cross
so that you can have fun all the time.
Although we want to have fun in this place, he died on the cross
because your soul is on the line.
And I feel like, sometimes we this is me I'm preaching to me
at the moment and this is all Off Script but I'm like, Mark
you're a pastor for reason you're here to care for the
flock to nurture them and to proclaim the gospel.
What did Paul say? I'm not afraid of the Gospel of
God, because the power of God unto salvation, like we got to
get back to the reality that we need to save Souls.
I feel like sometimes we're more interested in Saving everything
else other than Souls. I mean we've got to be good
stewards of the planet but I know people are more concerned
about saving the planet, then saving Souls.
I mean, don't get me wrong. I don't mishear me.
I'm not saying it's unimportant, we are here on a mission to save
souls. And as a church that has been
our story for the past, 35, plus years.
And so that's a long way around to say reach is our 10-year
Vision to create spaces and places for people to encounter
Jesus because the time is short and we've got to have a sense of
urgency about this space. Is we looked at last year, we
did the youth Auditorium with Adventure Land Space special
educational needs treasure Jesus ministry.
Many other spaces, places. Hatfield, we launched.
And this year, we looked at all the new spaces and places we're
launching, which are really exciting.
New Young, a young, adults Ministry.
Connect Lounge that we've got and the, and the site in the
mount in a prison. So much to be grateful to God
for about what's happening. And that brings me full circle,
or should I say to the point of this morning which is about
everyone gets to play? And I looked at the subject of
money last week and in God's Providence And sovereignty.
He didn't want me to preach all of it in one go.
I mean, technically, I couldn't because I looked up and it said
1053 and I only got halfway. So if you're joining us, you're
going to have to for the first time or you missed last week,
going to recap, but we looked at the powerful subject of money
and the fact that the love of money is the root of all evil
money is at all, but it's a terrible tyrant.
And we looked at the key verse that we're going to start with
which is found in Matthew 6. 1921, why don't you just turn
with me to that? Scripture will be on the screen
and if you're online at home, it will be on whatever device you
are viewing. This, let's read it together.
It says, do not lay up for yourselves, Treasures on Earth,
where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and
steal. But lay up for yourselves.
Treasures in Heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys.
Troy's and where thieves do not break in and steal.
Listen to this for where your treasure is.
Let me also say this together there, your heart will be also.
And what is that treasure? Jesus goes on to say, you cannot
serve both God and money. You see where your treasure is
there. Your heart is also in your heart
is the is the is the true north of your life.
It's the thing that will direct your affections.
And so if your treasure is in Earthly material monetary
things, and in money itself, then you will always feel as if
you have a divided heart. In terms of your devotion
towards Jesus. Because God will require of you
to trust him. In spite of the money around, he
will require of you to sacrifice your money for the sake of his
kingdom, and in worship. And so, therefore, if your
treasure is in money, when these things come up, you're going to
feel a real pull. And that's why.
Jesus said, you cannot serve both God and money.
And so last week, we looked at the four lies of money.
Anyone? Remember those?
I won't ask you to get to the front and tell me what they are.
A few of you hands up. Now, that I've told you you
didn't have to come up. Good number one money will the
LIE of money. Is this money will bring you
happiness, fulfill you. That's the LIE of money and we
unpacked what that looks like is such a subtle lie.
Number two, money will give you status and identity.
That's the other line of money, a Telltale sign that your
treasure is there. You know, if only, I could
purchase this I will feel as if I'm successful, all I will be
accepted because I have this that and so So number three, and
as I said last week, The Troop reality is, is that our identity
is finding Christ number three. The LIE of money is just a
little more money will be enough when John D Rockefeller who a
very famous oil Baron in the 19th century.
If you look at his worth today, if you would take inflation into
account, would be worth, three hundred sixty billion dollars,
Makes it makes Ellen musk's 165 billion, looks small and
insignificant doesn't it. But when asked, when John D
Rockefeller was asked the question, how much money is
enough? He answered just a little bit
more, but that is the LIE of money.
You see? Because, as I said last week,
whatever you serve, whatever you worship.
Other than God you'll be in bondage to You see, we have been
created to worship God. And in that place, we find
Freedom, okay? Free to be all that God created
us to be. But if you worship something
other than God, you'll be in bondage to that thing, whether
it's a celebrity will be in bondage to that whether it's
money, money. The fruit of bondage is fear and
anxiety, you know, if you're wondering whether you are
worshipping money. And what I mean by worship is
that it takes a central place in your heart if you're
experiencing fear and anxiety about money, it could be that
You're in bondage to money. And if you're feeling that I
want to be sensitive about this subject, I'd encourage you to
seek the Lord on this. And as I shared last week and I
have been very honest as I talked about money, these past
five years. This is a weakness for me.
My bank balance can seriously dictate how I feel each day and
week a month. That for me is a sign that I am
worshipping money, that it's taken a place in my heart of
lordship, when actually that place should be Christ's alone.
If I choose to listen to what money tells me about my
security, then I'm going to feel fearful and anxious, but if I
make a choice, a listen to what God tells me about my future,
then I'll have freedom to understand.
And number for the other light of money is money is more
trustworthy than God and that's kind of what I've been
reflecting on. So those were the four lies.
And this brings us to the second part of the talk, which is the
truths of given the four truths of given.
And I touched on this, I kind of whetted your appetite last week
with a bit of a, with the first one, which is this, it positions
us for his Blessing. Now, let's look.
I want to look at two scriptures and I looked at this last week
and I would like us to unpack this together.
The first one is Proverbs 3:9-10.
It says, honor the Lord with your wealth, with the
firstfruits of your crops, then your barns will be filled to
overflowing and your Vats will brim brim over with new wine.
Second Corinthians 9 26. The point is this is what Paul
is writing to the church in Corinth.
The point is this whoever sow sparingly will also reap
sparingly. And whoever sows bountifully
will also reap bountifully. Now we cannot get away from a
truth. That there is a correlation
between how you give and how you receive.
Now the danger with this and we see it in in in the church
globally is that you can take a kingdom principle like this and
turn it into a worldly formula. If you saw one pound, you'll get
10 pounds back. If you give this ministry a
thousand pounds, I feel a word from the Lord to say, you'll get
10,000 over the next two years and we've heard this, this is
what happens, you see when your treasure is in the world because
you then look the scriptures. To justify it and you come up
with a worldly formula. Now, the problem with this is is
that the rest of the church you don't agree with that position.
In won't even touch the subject for fear of offense or
confusion. But in so, doing what we've done
is, we've done you a disservice and not talked about a kingdom
principle of sowing and reaping, you understand what I'm kind of
saying here. I'm what I'm not saying here.
I don't want you to think that the pastor is saying, listen,
every time you give a pound you'll get X about, I'm ex back.
I'm not saying that. What I'm saying is if you live
your life like this, You'll never receive like this. you try
receiving when your hands are like this, you can't You see
blessings from God, are a revelation of his heart to us do
that. God's blessings to us are a
revelation of his heart on, they You know, you know it with your
friends or family when you bless someone with the gift, you're
revealing to them your heart for them, aren't you?
And so God is wanting to reveal his heart to us in blessings.
But how can he when we do this with our own hearts?
And you see the whole point about money is that it's not a
subject of the notes and the coins.
It's a subject of where our heart is. and so God once a
generous people in order that he can pour into us, And the
reality is, I have heard so many testimonies of people that said,
when I started, tithing God, started to Sharp in miraculous
ways and provide for my needs. I'm not suggesting that everyone
got a check in the post, I'm suggesting that the blessings of
God were opened upon them. May I read this again, honor.
The Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your
crops, then your barns will be filled to overflowing and your
Vats will brim out brim over when you wire.
The point is this whoever spose sews sparingly will also reap
sparingly and whoever sows bountifully will also reap
bound. Matthew 6:33 seek first, his
kingdom and his righteousness. And then, all these things will
be given unto you. You see?
The problem is we've what Sinners done is turn, God's
kingdom upside down and so what we think is the opposite is true
seek first. My needs here and then I will be
able to serve God. I've said that before when God
called me to something I will do that.
Lord, once I have secured, my needs and my foundations and
then I will seek your kingdom. But God is saying here in a
Jesus saying listen, do it the other way around.
If you make a choice to seek me in spite of what you have and
make a choice to be obedient and walk in faith.
Not by sight. I'll show up and I'll Supply
your needs. Of course, the problem is, we
don't know the difference between needs and wants Dewey.
I mean, that's a problem with this really, isn't it?
What we've done is we've taken our knees and we've kind of
extended it to the to the mobile phone upgrade and the new car.
I've done it myself. Or to the designer clothes, or
to whatever it might be. So that's there for our need,
but Jesus saying, seek you first my kingdom, and it will be given
unto you, you know, Anne Frank said this no one ever became
poor by giving The point being generous to yield more to us
than we could ever imagine, I want to encourage you.
Be generous and to open up your hands, open up your hands to
God. And to his people around Because
then God can pour into you number two, number two of truth
of giving, it's part of our worship.
It glorifies God when we give him our money.
One of the conversations I've had and I know many of you
probably have had this is is the tithe law.
And therefore, because we're not in the law, does that mean that
we don't need to tie then when you thought he heard that right?
I I want to answer that question, not by being
legalistic and saying yes you have to tithe.
I want to get to the principle of tithing and actually what we
see in the principle of tithing is that it is pre law.
In other words, it's before the Mosaic law.
Its before the Covenant with Abraham, it goes way back and it
goes back into Genesis 14 20. Now, when you If you have time,
read this home, we don't have time for it this morning.
What happened is, is that Abraham had just won the battle
against the king of Elam. And all of a sudden Melchizedek
who was the high priest of God, shows up to bless a bra and in
response of worship and thankfulness to God for the
victory Abram before, he was called, Abraham gives
Melchizedek a tithe, which literally means 10% he did that
out of thankfulness and worship to God for the victory that
came. So it's high.
There's an even part of the law. So let's not have a conversation
about whether the tithe is law or not.
It was pre-law because the principle of a tithe is that it
is worship. Here's the thing and I love the
way scripture harmonizes with each other with itself.
We read in Hebrews, that Jesus is.
Now our high priest is says in the order of Melchizedek What
does that mean? We give our tithes Jesus.
Why? Because the victory on the
cross, each one of us. You see that?
If Abraham gave a 10% to Melchizedek because he beat an
army. How much more do you think our
hearts should overflow in giving to Jesus our high priest because
of the victory on the cross? Tithe is our first fruits.
It is saying, Lord, I want to give you the best.
Because you gave me your best Jesus and he died on the cross
for my victory. That is the purpose of a tie
this part of our worship. Good evening on number three, it
extends got Kingdom. That's the truth of giving 2
Corinthians 9:8 and God is able to bless you.
Abundantly, God is able to So that in all things at all times,
having all that you need, listen to this one.
The you will abound in every good work.
Whoa. Isn't that interesting?
So hold on a minute. Is Peter tying up the blessing
with the requirement for us to do.
Good works. Yes he is.
Isn't that the gospel message about Grace, not by works.
Absolutely. You are saved by grace not by
works. Lest any man should boast.
You can't earn your way to heaven.
Jesus did it for you on the cross, but an Evidence of your
faith is it says in James is good works, it's fruit.
And what God is saying here through the Apostle Peter is
that God is able to it. So in other words, he's willing
and ready for you, to make that decision to do it, he's able to
bless Yes, you to do good works. When you say I'm going to seek
first his kingdom, you see? You see the money that God gives
us, is there to extend his kingdom and that's what reaches
about reaches, A discipleship program that God gives us to
extend ourselves to grow in Christ.
Number four. I really don't want to do a part
3 on this talk, so I'm gonna have to carry on it.
Grows our faith We read in 1 Kings 7817. 8216 I haven't got
time to read it this one. When Elijah went to Elijah.
Elijah. It Was Elijah.
He went to the to the Widow. There was a drought that came on
the land and God said, listen. There's a widow.
They're just going to give you some food, the winner.
So this one, I'm just getting some sticks to make a last meal
for my son and I we've got this little bit of flour, a little.
And and essentially, God said to Elijah, Don't bless her and and
ask for the bread and she said, okay?
And it was extended and extended and extended What that signifies
to us and it's a principle that I think we need to understand is
that if God calls you to do something like, give your money
for a cause or to bless somebody in that way.
He will provide the means to do that.
That's what it means to live by faith and not by sight.
That's what it means to be obedient to the calling of God
in your life. You know, when Stephen died when
God called Stephanie into Ministry.
We had to make some decisions to change our lifestyle and our
income change my kind of stuff. But we said we believe Lord God
for your that you will supply our needs.
Because we're going to put the focus on following the cool that
you've laid on us first. And I can tell you right now,
God has never let us down. And I want to tell you right
now, God Will Never Let You Down.
Do you know God owns the Thousand cattle on a hill?
You can, you know, my couple of times when my boy you are one of
my girls said, Daddy how much money you got your bank.
Their question, darling. I'm not going to tell you that
but no, but have you got enough. God bless you all very kind for
asking, but you don't need to know.
But you've got enough. You know, I feel like sometimes
God, have you got enough in there?
How much have you got? Actually, you know, just you can
show me a bank statement, I'd appreciate it.
Dangerous. Listen, you don't need to know
but I can tell you this, he's got enough.
So you focus on following, the call that God has laid on your
life and he'll Focus. I'm bringing the abundance to
you, where you need that. All right, we're going to carry
on. Okay.
So we looked at the four truths of given, let me just summarize
for us all before I try and bring this plane to a land
without too many bumps. Number one, it positions us for
his Blessing. Number two is part of our
worship. It's inherently part of our
worship. You know, says in Romans 12:1,
brothers and sisters, in light of God's mercy, offer yourselves
as a Living Sacrifice, that is your act of spiritual worship.
Our act of worship is in response to the fact that Jesus
died on the cross, and if we can't give him our first fruits,
what can we give number three extends.
God's kingdom. It's part of his kingdom plans
that we're part of that number. 40, grows our faith.
Okay? So let me end with this.
So how do we respond and give to God?
We are is number one, Thai. I've already looked at this, not
to spend time or this, you know, Adrian Rogers who was a famous
evangelist and Pastor in the US said, God doesn't need us to
give him our money. He owns everything.
Tithing is God's way to grow Christians.
Is part of our worship, it grows us, it is a declaration and
sometimes I pray this at the offering.
It's a way in which we declare that we put our trust in God,
not in our money. It's a way that breaks our
spirit of poverty when we construct our lives around the
tithe. If you've got a question of
whether it's pre tax or tax or post tax or know if it's after
tax or before tax, let me just say what Jesus said, give to
Caesar what is Caesar's and give to God, what's good?
Not give to Caesar what is Caesar's and then whatever is
left over. Then you take 10% from that just
to clarify because I know it's a critically important question.
Well I hope that scriptural reference has helped you but we
give our tithes to God. And I want to just say this,
this is I don't need to walk out of here in shame and guilt in
bondage because I know the reality of life is it's not
always easy start small, you know, because it's pretty,
you're not under the law. In other words, God's not going
to come up and check your bank balance every month and beat you
over the head. If you ever given your tithe, he
wants you to tie it so that you can experience the blessings.
And and he wants to receive a worse.
Shipping want to give glory to him and there's benefit with
that but he's not going to bash overhead if you haven't done.
So I want to say this. Just start small, maybe it's one
percent. That's the start for you bless
you and maybe then, it's 2%, maybe 5%, I think, 10 percent is
a good Target. And actually, I pray that I'll
get to a position where I can do more than 10%.
And we'll look at ways we can do over and above our time, but I
want to say this, I want you to feel free in this, but I went to
feel an excitement about it. You are in your spirit and your
heart. Okay?
Number 2 offerings. So, a tithe is that 10%.
We build our lives around that, but offering is over and above.
It was a quote that from a guy called Fred Smith says, for some
rich Christians in America, and you can say, Rich Christians in
the West. Tithing is an excuse not to give
generously. Oh, It's a tick, the Box
exercise for you and I my 10%, thank you God, right, but
actually we read in the Bible, there's an offering over at
eyes. You know, when Ezra in Ezra the
book of Ezra the priest as where they were built, they came out
of Babylon and there were rebuilding the walls and people
gave to that project over and above the time, God is going to
give you discipleship programs like reach and we can look at
this in a moment. He said man this is the biggest
lead up to a donor request of ever heard.
No, it's not about that. But God will always put in your
path opportunities to offer over and above your type because
where there's a spirit of generosity.
It will bless others and it will bless you.
And number three, acts of righteousness.
This is specifically to people. So, you know, when you put, you
know, like a like a note, the money in an envelope and give it
to someone, they don't know who it's from, or you've given
someone a gift because I really needed some financials or
whatever that might be those acts of righteousness.
And you know what? Generosity releases generosity
kindness releases kindness. You know, if you look out for
opportunities to bless others, Not only, would you be a
blessing to them but those people will then be a blessing
to others. There is something contagious
about generosity and the enemy does not want generous
Christians because if there were generous Christians, the world
would be transformed. now, invite the band up as I as I
bring this to land, so As I said, the start reach has a
double duel secret purpose which is not only is it out would look
in extending our reach to reach the loss but it's also about
extending ourselves to grow in Christ.
And I want to say that reach like we've done, you know, as a
church over the past 30 years, we have collectively offered
over two million pounds to these discipleship programs.
Yeah. Two million.
Two million people who have sacrificed and who have given to
extend God's kingdom and to grow in faith and to be generous and
I don't know about you but I don't want to be a generation
that misses out on that opportunity and the blessings.
You're sitting here because of some of you have sewn into this
and prior have given. And those that have left us sewn
into this, in such a way that lives are changed in terms of
what we do in this building and Beyond.
And I want us all to have that opportunity last year with that,
we launched the Rich fund. Reach fund is an ongoing fund
that we use to fund all of our research initiatives.
And last year, we raised the considerable about money that
made next door a reality. And we seen use.
The lives are changed and those with special educational needs.
We're seeing people in Hatfield's, life's changed
because we've extended our reach and so this year is another
opportunity to go again. And we raising this year, and in
the brochure, you'll be able to find this information.
We're looking to raise 180,000 pounds.
Small fry, right? And when we raise more last
year, in terms of what we, our Target was And I want to give
you an opportunity to be part of creating a legacy.
I want to give you an opportunity to so into something
bigger than yourselves. I want to give you an
opportunity to extend yourself so that you can grow in Christ.
And you know maybe and it's definitely continue.
Have these kind of conversations we need to continue to do so
maybe it's you know I'm going to sacrifice three coffees a week
and I'm going to just put that money in a jar and I'm going to
pledge that maybe it's rather having to take aways a month.
I'll have one made. You say Mark I don't have any
takeaways. You know, it's not about equal
amounts, it's about equal sacrifice.
It's about saying, are we all in this together?
And we going to do something Beyond ourselves that's going to
change this area and region for Christ so that we can save
Souls. That's what this is.
And so I want you to prayerfully consider how you can be part of
this. On the back of this brochure is
a pleasurable, simply fill it in tear it off, and you can pop it
in the welcome desk, either this week or next week.
But how do you do this? Pray, pray, pray, pray.
Say Lord, what? Part have I got in this what are
you calling me to do as it relates to finances and then
make a You know, good desires and ideas are great but without