WEBVTT 00:00.000 --> 00:26.000 Let's be seated, gang. 00:27.000 --> 00:33.000 It's always hard to stop, isn't it? 00:33.000 --> 00:38.000 If you love one another, show the world that you're my friends. 00:38.000 --> 00:47.000 And I would like to say the first hour that Kim Garrett placed her membership with us 00:47.000 --> 00:51.000 and her young son was baptized this week, Tyler. 00:51.000 --> 00:54.000 So welcome them if you haven't got to see them. 00:54.000 --> 01:01.000 We're proud of that and very, very happy for the church and for them. 01:01.000 --> 01:05.000 Also, we had a wonderful get-together yesterday. 01:05.000 --> 01:11.000 The clays had 25 years of celebration together and had a great crowd 01:11.000 --> 01:14.000 and it was just good to just visit and talk. 01:14.000 --> 01:16.000 You'd be sure and congratulate them. 01:16.000 --> 01:18.000 They've done the hard part. 01:18.000 --> 01:22.000 The seven-year to 11-year itch is the most vulnerable all. 01:22.000 --> 01:23.000 They've done the hard part. 01:23.000 --> 01:25.000 Now they're going to coast in there. 01:25.000 --> 01:29.000 I guess our highest is 61 years together, isn't it? 01:29.000 --> 01:31.000 The Wasik family. 01:31.000 --> 01:34.000 And we have a number who have had 50 years together. 01:34.000 --> 01:41.000 And I just want you to know it can work God's way to stick together and to love each other. 01:41.000 --> 01:45.000 Well, this sermon topic is one that means a great deal to me 01:45.000 --> 01:50.000 because it refers to the health of spiritual people and to the church itself. 01:50.000 --> 01:53.000 And we've been talking about stewardship, giving. 01:53.000 --> 01:58.000 We just do this three times in 52 sermons. 01:58.000 --> 02:04.000 So you just bear with me because I believe it is the most important spiritual thing 02:04.000 --> 02:10.000 that you are going to learn if you love the Lord Jesus Christ and if you love His church. 02:10.000 --> 02:18.000 We will be reading out of 2 Corinthians 9, beginning at verse 6, and we'll read through 11. 02:18.000 --> 02:21.000 So I will be reading many, many scriptures. 02:21.000 --> 02:27.000 Now, you know, you wouldn't want to hear a sermon about the tithe by a phony. 02:27.000 --> 02:31.000 And that's someone who tells you to do it, but they don't do it. 02:31.000 --> 02:36.000 And that's certainly not the case in the leadership here in this church. 02:36.000 --> 02:43.000 We have been held together by people who have been prospered by the tithe. 02:43.000 --> 02:47.000 And I know that many young couples say it's impossible for me to tithe or for us to tithe. 02:47.000 --> 02:51.000 But I am saying you will live better if you will. 02:51.000 --> 02:58.000 And we have said already that if you try tithing and it doesn't work, we'll give you your money back. 02:58.000 --> 03:07.000 Because we believe that promises made come true when you follow biblical admonition. 03:07.000 --> 03:08.000 And you will be blessed. 03:08.000 --> 03:09.000 And I believe that. 03:09.000 --> 03:13.000 And we all practice it who are up in front of you. 03:13.000 --> 03:16.000 And I know it works, for God provides. 03:16.000 --> 03:24.000 You know, you simply cannot, of your own flesh and blood, give to something that you're not interested in. 03:24.000 --> 03:31.000 And you know, the Bible has a way of provision to make ends meet. 03:31.000 --> 03:35.000 He wanted his people to have plenty. 03:35.000 --> 03:38.000 He wanted them to succeed in life. 03:38.000 --> 03:45.000 He wanted them to have good relationships with their creditors and with the people they lived with. 03:45.000 --> 03:48.000 And be honest in their debts. 03:48.000 --> 03:53.000 And you know, it seems to be a way of life that's disappearing in America today, isn't it? 03:53.000 --> 03:56.000 And people are often living above their heads. 03:56.000 --> 03:57.000 But there is a better way. 03:57.000 --> 04:01.000 And it's the biblical way, the Bible way. 04:01.000 --> 04:05.000 And you know, I know that God's provide. 04:05.000 --> 04:08.000 If he provides, then there is a way. 04:08.000 --> 04:10.000 And I believe it is the time. 04:10.000 --> 04:11.000 And listen to this. 04:11.000 --> 04:21.000 They are coming to a king, large petition with the bring for his grace and power such that you can never ask too much. 04:21.000 --> 04:27.000 When his children ask for help, I believe that God sees his children don't go begging for bread. 04:27.000 --> 04:31.000 In Ephesians 4, 22 through 24, I just quickly read verse 24. 04:31.000 --> 04:36.000 He said, be made new in the attitude of your mind. 04:36.000 --> 04:38.000 And I believe that that's what we need. 04:38.000 --> 04:48.000 Worldly people are not interested in being generous to others or something so vague as a thing called God. 04:48.000 --> 04:59.000 But you with the manifestation of the Holy Spirit have the authority and the power to give and as well live generously yourself. 04:59.000 --> 05:08.000 Romans 12 verse 6 says this, we have different gifts according to the grace that is given to us. 05:08.000 --> 05:13.000 Larry mentioned last week that the word grace was used eight times in this passage. 05:13.000 --> 05:17.000 It's actually used 127 times in the New Testament. 05:17.000 --> 05:23.000 Grace is a gift that makes glad or unmerited favor. 05:23.000 --> 05:26.000 You got a gift you really didn't deserve. 05:26.000 --> 05:30.000 And I think that's the most joyous part of coming to Jesus Christ. 05:30.000 --> 05:33.000 I got eternal life and I know I didn't deserve it. 05:33.000 --> 05:34.000 I didn't earn it. 05:34.000 --> 05:42.000 And it's a gift that's going to make me and mine so glad as we all come home together and celebrate in that great crowd of witnesses. 05:42.000 --> 05:45.000 Which waits for all of us who love the Lord. 05:45.000 --> 05:47.000 God provides. 05:47.000 --> 05:51.000 I don't think that we can do it by ourselves. 05:51.000 --> 05:55.000 You know, Ted E. Turner can give a billion dollars to an idiot purpose. 05:55.000 --> 05:59.000 And yet people think, well, tithing is so ridiculous. 05:59.000 --> 06:01.000 When it isn't at all, is it? 06:01.000 --> 06:04.000 Tithing is for eternal life. 06:04.000 --> 06:06.000 Tithing is to spread the gospel. 06:06.000 --> 06:08.000 It's to heal the sick. 06:08.000 --> 06:10.000 It's to guide those who are lost. 06:10.000 --> 06:12.000 It's to turn lives around. 06:12.000 --> 06:18.000 It's to help us to live together for a long and faithful and sweet time together in our marriage. 06:18.000 --> 06:19.000 And it just goes on and on. 06:19.000 --> 06:23.000 God rewards with eternal results in this veil of tears. 06:23.000 --> 06:27.000 And I don't think we can do it alone or very rarely will we ever do it. 06:27.000 --> 06:39.000 Verse 7, if in speaking of the gifts that God gives his people, if it is contributing to the needs of others, let each one give generously. 06:39.000 --> 06:41.000 Now that's a commandment. 06:41.000 --> 06:54.000 You know, if you want to be gracious, if you want to be spiritual, God wants you to have the means to be generous to those who have not received as much as you have. 06:54.000 --> 07:01.000 And oh, there's a lot of problems in the world and a lot of needs for things just to get by in this veil of tears. 07:01.000 --> 07:06.000 This is the richest nation and the richest time the world has ever known. 07:06.000 --> 07:13.000 And yet many people even in this rich land are hurting and they need help and they needed to be guided along. 07:13.000 --> 07:16.000 I believe we're commanded to do such a thing. 07:16.000 --> 07:19.000 2 Corinthians 8 verse 7 says this, 07:19.000 --> 07:33.000 And just as you excel in everything, and he lists them in faith, in knowledge, in complete earnestness, and in your love for us, see that you also excel in this gift. 07:33.000 --> 07:36.000 That gift was the gift of giving. 07:36.000 --> 07:38.000 And I know that some people are very good at it. 07:38.000 --> 07:40.000 Some people are very poor at it. 07:40.000 --> 07:43.000 And some people haven't thought about it. 07:43.000 --> 07:49.000 But I tell you what, God will prosper you if you practice what he commands you to do. 07:49.000 --> 07:51.000 I believe that with all of my heart. 07:51.000 --> 07:54.000 It's been a thing I learned. 07:54.000 --> 08:01.000 It took so long to learn some things, but this one didn't because this was kind of obvious because I've been a businessman all my life. 08:01.000 --> 08:04.000 And I know you got to put into something, get something out of it. 08:04.000 --> 08:10.000 You know, someone said there isn't any free advice unless it would be don't smoke in bed. 08:10.000 --> 08:14.000 And I'd say that's some free worthwhile advice. 08:14.000 --> 08:18.000 But that's about the only thing I would knowledge that's free. 08:18.000 --> 08:22.000 Boy oh boy, God rewards those who excel in that gift. 08:22.000 --> 08:30.000 And we are given grace as well as we are able to develop it and perfect that gift of grace. 08:30.000 --> 08:37.000 And you know, I go back in my life and I remember the first money I gave to the church outside of my tithe. 08:37.000 --> 08:40.000 It was $27 to a little church in Lander. 08:40.000 --> 08:45.000 A young man with tears in his eyes said, I want to build us a pew here in Lander. 08:45.000 --> 08:48.000 And he says, I don't have the money. I need $27. 08:48.000 --> 08:50.000 And I said, well, I'll get that. 08:50.000 --> 08:58.000 And I remember specifically that's the first time, just like the letter of the law, I went above the tithe. 08:58.000 --> 09:03.000 And I preached there several years ago and there was this beautiful cedar pulpit. 09:03.000 --> 09:06.000 And you know, I had a small part in that. 09:06.000 --> 09:10.000 The young man that did it, of course, he was more proud than I was. 09:10.000 --> 09:14.000 Because you know, when you're giving, you're generating love. 09:14.000 --> 09:19.000 And people who give don't wear out, don't get tired. 09:19.000 --> 09:21.000 Their needs are met. 09:21.000 --> 09:23.000 And I believe that with all of my heart. 09:23.000 --> 09:26.000 God provides not human nature. 09:26.000 --> 09:29.000 Human nature doesn't do that well, does it? 09:29.000 --> 09:31.000 2 Corinthians 9 beginning in verse 6. 09:31.000 --> 09:34.000 We're going to be reading there 6 through 9. 09:34.000 --> 09:37.000 And he talks about the laws of the harvest. 09:37.000 --> 09:42.000 First of all, it says this, and this makes sense to me, plant more seed, you get a greater harvest. 09:42.000 --> 09:44.000 That just seems self-evident, doesn't it? 09:44.000 --> 09:50.000 I'm just going to plant 27 seeds this time because I don't need much. 09:50.000 --> 09:54.000 But if you need much, you better plant 10,000 seeds, hadn't you? 09:54.000 --> 09:59.000 Because from that will come an abundant crop, which will provide for your sustenance. 09:59.000 --> 10:01.000 You harvest only what you plant. 10:01.000 --> 10:03.000 You want to be a spiritual person? 10:03.000 --> 10:05.000 Then try the tithe. 10:05.000 --> 10:07.000 Want to be a spiritual person? 10:07.000 --> 10:10.000 Start being generous with the house of God and the Lord Jesus Christ. 10:10.000 --> 10:13.000 And I believe He will care for your needs. 10:13.000 --> 10:15.000 I believe it is a promise. 10:15.000 --> 10:19.000 Harvest occurs also where it is planted. 10:19.000 --> 10:23.000 What do you want to be known for in your life? 10:23.000 --> 10:27.000 Well, think and consider about spiritual things 10:27.000 --> 10:31.000 and attending to things that you know are being left undone 10:31.000 --> 10:35.000 because there simply are not enough pesos to carry it off. 10:35.000 --> 10:42.000 I think of the church's generosity and over the years what we have done just astounds me. 10:42.000 --> 10:46.000 And I know not everybody tithes, and I don't know who it is. 10:46.000 --> 10:48.000 I just know it doesn't come out quite right. 10:48.000 --> 10:51.000 I know some people are carrying more than their share. 10:51.000 --> 10:54.000 And you know, that never appealed to me. 10:54.000 --> 10:57.000 You know, I couldn't let some of you guys down. 10:57.000 --> 11:00.000 You know, I wouldn't feel right about that. 11:00.000 --> 11:03.000 Do you ever get in a fight and your buddy says, 11:03.000 --> 11:07.000 hey Al, you did the mouth and off, I'll see you later. 11:07.000 --> 11:09.000 I got in a fight like that once. 11:09.000 --> 11:12.000 All my buddies left and went elsewhere. 11:12.000 --> 11:14.000 I never could be that way. 11:14.000 --> 11:17.000 I know that some of you really do more than your share. 11:17.000 --> 11:19.000 But hey, that ought not to be. 11:19.000 --> 11:23.000 It just tears my heart up, but a little couple almost 80 with no means of support 11:23.000 --> 11:27.000 saw in the bulletin that we were a little bit short of our budget one Sunday 11:27.000 --> 11:29.000 and sometimes we are, who knows? 11:29.000 --> 11:31.000 We always pay our bills, that's for sure. 11:31.000 --> 11:35.000 And they gave a thousand dollars, and they didn't have that money to give. 11:35.000 --> 11:38.000 But you know they gave it, but that hurts me. 11:38.000 --> 11:44.000 Oh God, I'm not hurting for money, but you know, that was their gift to God 11:44.000 --> 11:48.000 and I know that God will prosper him, but I don't want it to be that way. 11:48.000 --> 11:51.000 I want everyone to be involved with it. 11:51.000 --> 11:53.000 And so God tells us about the laws of the harvest. 11:53.000 --> 11:54.000 Let's read about it. 11:54.000 --> 11:59.000 But this I say, he which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly 11:59.000 --> 12:03.000 and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 12:03.000 --> 12:05.000 And that's really right, isn't it? 12:05.000 --> 12:10.000 Boy, when you put your heart into a thing, you put your money into a thing too, don't you? 12:10.000 --> 12:15.000 And you're involved and life is exciting and something's happening 12:15.000 --> 12:17.000 and you feel good about it, see? 12:17.000 --> 12:19.000 And then verse seven, 12:19.000 --> 12:25.000 Every man according as he hath purposed in his heart, so let him give. 12:25.000 --> 12:34.000 Not grudgingly, or of necessity, for God loveth a cheerful giver. 12:34.000 --> 12:39.000 I practiced giving for a while, I wasn't cheerful about it. 12:39.000 --> 12:40.000 Because man, I am tight. 12:40.000 --> 12:46.000 I know what a Purina egg mask shirt is, because we raised in northern Oklahoma where folks were poor 12:46.000 --> 12:50.000 and you could go out in the evening and kick the cow and lay down in the warm spot 12:50.000 --> 12:53.000 and life was better for a while. 12:53.000 --> 12:58.000 And I'll tell you, many of you have come up the hard way, the depression and all that, 12:58.000 --> 13:00.000 but it is interesting. 13:00.000 --> 13:06.000 Some of those folks that had the hardest times are the most generous to the Lord Jesus Christ. 13:06.000 --> 13:13.000 And you look into that and see if maybe there isn't a reason for that very thing. 13:13.000 --> 13:18.000 And God is able to make all grace and ground bound toward you 13:18.000 --> 13:25.000 that you always having all sufficiency in all things may abound to every good work. 13:25.000 --> 13:29.000 God doesn't just want you to prosper, but he wants you to prosper enough 13:29.000 --> 13:35.000 that you can be generous to another little couple, or to a child, or to someone hurting. 13:35.000 --> 13:42.000 Or a powerful need overseas maybe, or to preach the gospel in a place that's never been preached before 13:42.000 --> 13:48.000 because sometimes that gets put down because we don't have enough to do that. 13:48.000 --> 13:51.000 And so he gives us the law of the harvest. 13:51.000 --> 13:54.000 So generously, reap generously. 13:54.000 --> 13:57.000 And then he says in verse 7, it's your choice. 13:57.000 --> 13:59.000 Now we talked about this. 13:59.000 --> 14:04.000 You older folks don't have to do this, but you young couples, you get your spouse. 14:04.000 --> 14:10.000 You get your older children and you get together and say, honey, this is what I propose that we do, 14:10.000 --> 14:17.000 that this house and this household and its people shall serve the Lord Jesus Christ. 14:17.000 --> 14:21.000 Now older folks don't have to consult each other because they know what they're thinking. 14:21.000 --> 14:26.000 But young couples, it's not your decision alone, isn't it? 14:26.000 --> 14:30.000 And it will never work unless you agree, this is what we shall do. 14:30.000 --> 14:33.000 This is what me and my household shall do. 14:33.000 --> 14:35.000 And you agree on that, see? 14:35.000 --> 14:41.000 And you consult one another and you consider the tender heart of that one that's close to you as well. 14:41.000 --> 14:47.000 But I tell you what, with great conviction, I guarantee that if you get together in the name of God, 14:47.000 --> 14:51.000 God will bless whatever you set out to do. 14:51.000 --> 14:55.000 I have seen it in others, I have seen it in my own life. 14:55.000 --> 15:02.000 You know, I have heard the last few weeks, this precious thing. 15:02.000 --> 15:06.000 I'm going to put my children above my job. 15:06.000 --> 15:09.000 In some variety, that's what the three people that I've heard. 15:09.000 --> 15:11.000 I'm going to put my children above my God. 15:11.000 --> 15:14.000 Well, hey, above my job. 15:14.000 --> 15:20.000 That's a great thing to do whether you're a disbeliever, an unbeliever, a total atheist. 15:20.000 --> 15:23.000 Put your children first before your own needs, isn't it? 15:23.000 --> 15:28.000 But the most precious promise that a young couple on their knees can make together in a decision 15:28.000 --> 15:32.000 was we are going to put God first in our life. 15:32.000 --> 15:39.000 And if you say that, if God is going to come first, then I truly think that the axiom comes after it. 15:39.000 --> 15:43.000 I'm going to put the tithe first in my giving. 15:43.000 --> 15:46.000 I'm going to put the tithe first in my giving. 15:46.000 --> 15:49.000 Ten percent doesn't seem like a big deal. 15:49.000 --> 15:51.000 It isn't with God. 15:51.000 --> 15:54.000 It's a marvelous deal. 15:54.000 --> 15:59.000 And 10% without God, you see, doesn't amount to anything. 15:59.000 --> 16:05.000 But when you give it to God, it's 90% plus 100 fold times that. 16:05.000 --> 16:09.000 He said he would multiply or giving 100 fold. 16:09.000 --> 16:12.000 Verse 8 says, all grace abound. 16:12.000 --> 16:15.000 And we would have all that you would need. 16:15.000 --> 16:19.000 Now, I know that that is a promise from God. 16:19.000 --> 16:21.000 And why not try what he directs us to do? 16:21.000 --> 16:24.000 There's that formula, that wonderful formula. 16:24.000 --> 16:26.000 Give 10% to God. 16:26.000 --> 16:29.000 Save 10%. 16:29.000 --> 16:30.000 Get out of debt. 16:30.000 --> 16:32.000 Give 10% to God. 16:32.000 --> 16:38.000 Give 10% to saving for the future so that you don't pay interest. 16:38.000 --> 16:45.000 And you don't get buried by the terrible problems of burdened debt. 16:45.000 --> 16:49.000 There is no profit in giving it to interest. 16:49.000 --> 16:51.000 And spend that 80 cents. 16:51.000 --> 17:01.000 And I praise God that he has promised he will bless you in spite of the difference in the final outcome that's spent on you specifically. 17:01.000 --> 17:03.000 Now, test us. 17:03.000 --> 17:11.000 You heard not long ago that the church had decided if you try the tithe and it doesn't work, we'll give it back to you. 17:11.000 --> 17:14.000 I don't want it if it doesn't prosper. 17:14.000 --> 17:16.000 Church doesn't need it if it doesn't prosper. 17:16.000 --> 17:24.000 I think that God builds on generosity of his people as a manifestation of their spiritual grace. 17:24.000 --> 17:25.000 Grace. 17:25.000 --> 17:27.000 God is the one who can do this. 17:27.000 --> 17:30.000 And that cheerful, we looked it up, you know, hilarious. 17:30.000 --> 17:32.000 You've heard that word a million times. 17:32.000 --> 17:34.000 Oh, it's simply hilarious. 17:34.000 --> 17:37.000 And what that says, and there were three words that came up. 17:37.000 --> 17:44.000 Most texts use the word cheerful willingly, promptly, cheerfully. 17:44.000 --> 17:48.000 I don't know, cheerfully just as good a way to say it as any, isn't it? 17:48.000 --> 17:54.000 To give graciously what else is there in life, but to do that. 17:54.000 --> 18:03.000 Now, the reason that Jesus chose to be sassy about one guy who didn't include God in his plans is obvious. 18:03.000 --> 18:10.000 He says, if you want to prosper, give to my kingdom. 18:10.000 --> 18:16.000 If you want to really do well in life, then lean on me. 18:16.000 --> 18:18.000 Give your needs to me. 18:18.000 --> 18:20.000 Understand that you're not all sufficient. 18:20.000 --> 18:24.000 Look, even the farmer and ranchers, and we've got folks here, haven't we? 18:24.000 --> 18:26.000 Knows that, yeah, you got to plow deep. 18:26.000 --> 18:27.000 You have to have good seed. 18:27.000 --> 18:29.000 You need irrigation in this country. 18:29.000 --> 18:36.000 But tell you what, you also recognize that God brings the wind and the warm sunshine. 18:36.000 --> 18:40.000 And God brings the moisture from the atmosphere. 18:40.000 --> 18:47.000 And you know, even the most independent person in the world is living in the grace of God and prospers. 18:47.000 --> 18:52.000 As God prospers him, not as he plans himself. 18:52.000 --> 18:58.000 Listen, Jesus in Luke 12 verse 15 through 21 says this, and Jesus gets sassy here. 18:58.000 --> 19:00.000 What do you mean, Jesus gets sassy? 19:00.000 --> 19:06.000 He says it a little differently than he did in this second Corinthians nine in verse six. 19:06.000 --> 19:08.000 Watch out. 19:08.000 --> 19:11.000 Be on guard against all kinds of greed. 19:11.000 --> 19:15.000 A man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions. 19:15.000 --> 19:20.000 A lot of people see the world looks at prosperity as the things you own. 19:20.000 --> 19:24.000 You're not posh prosperous because you own things. 19:24.000 --> 19:27.000 You're prosperous because you're at peace with God. 19:27.000 --> 19:29.000 You're in good conscience. 19:29.000 --> 19:30.000 Go to bed at night. 19:30.000 --> 19:31.000 You haven't hurt anybody. 19:31.000 --> 19:33.000 You haven't put down anybody. 19:33.000 --> 19:35.000 You've just done the right thing. 19:35.000 --> 19:39.000 That's a reason to love the Lord. 19:39.000 --> 19:43.000 Go to bed at peace, you know, at night and not worry about it. 19:43.000 --> 19:46.000 And he told him this parable, the ground of a certain man produced a good crop. 19:46.000 --> 19:49.000 He thought to himself, what shall I do? 19:49.000 --> 19:51.000 I have no place to store all this wealth. 19:51.000 --> 19:53.000 Then he said, this is what I'll do. 19:53.000 --> 19:56.000 I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones. 19:56.000 --> 19:59.000 I will store all my grain and my goods and I'll say to myself, 19:59.000 --> 20:02.000 you have plenty of good things leaned up for many years. 20:02.000 --> 20:05.000 Take life, eat, drink, and be merry. 20:05.000 --> 20:09.000 The Romans added something else, didn't they? 20:09.000 --> 20:12.000 For tomorrow we die. 20:12.000 --> 20:14.000 He doesn't even mention that. 20:14.000 --> 20:17.000 But God said to him, you fooled. 20:17.000 --> 20:20.000 And that's something we can't say to one another. 20:20.000 --> 20:24.000 Jesus said a lot about the fool. 20:24.000 --> 20:28.000 We're not entitled to call others fool, but Jesus said, 20:28.000 --> 20:33.000 a man who could have my providence and doesn't want it is a foolish man. 20:33.000 --> 20:35.000 And he has the right to say that. 20:35.000 --> 20:37.000 I don't. 20:37.000 --> 20:39.000 Call no man a fool. 20:39.000 --> 20:43.000 I believe that that's a scriptural commandment. 20:43.000 --> 20:47.000 This very night your life will be demanded from you. 20:47.000 --> 20:50.000 What was it all worth then, all the struggle? 20:50.000 --> 20:55.000 He dies without the Lord condemned by a curse of his own choice. 20:55.000 --> 20:58.000 Then will you get what you have prepared for yourself? 20:58.000 --> 21:00.000 Who will get what you have prepared? 21:00.000 --> 21:03.000 I can tell you having had 314 or so funerals, 21:03.000 --> 21:07.000 give or take three or four, now that's preacher counting, but pretty close. 21:07.000 --> 21:10.000 And I'll tell you who gets it. 21:10.000 --> 21:13.000 And sometimes you wouldn't want them to get it. 21:13.000 --> 21:15.000 You really wouldn't want them to get it. 21:15.000 --> 21:19.000 And the kingdom of God goes begging so many, many times. 21:20.000 --> 21:25.000 This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself, 21:25.000 --> 21:27.000 but is not rich toward God. 21:27.000 --> 21:31.000 God wants you to rich, be rich, but he wants you to be rich to him, 21:31.000 --> 21:33.000 and he will give you plenty. 21:33.000 --> 21:35.000 God blesses rich men. 21:35.000 --> 21:36.000 They're powerful men. 21:36.000 --> 21:38.000 They do a great deal of work. 21:38.000 --> 21:41.000 It's not everybody's sweet gift from God. 21:41.000 --> 21:43.000 And he's not critical of wealth. 21:43.000 --> 21:45.000 Jesus didn't condemn wealth. 21:45.000 --> 21:48.000 He condemned the arrogance that said, 21:48.000 --> 21:51.000 I choose this rather than you. 21:51.000 --> 21:54.000 And you know, check out a cemetery sometimes. 21:54.000 --> 22:00.000 I've had a chance to go there 314 times, plus many other times. 22:00.000 --> 22:03.000 Everybody leaves the world behind. 22:03.000 --> 22:05.000 There's lots of stones that say so, 22:05.000 --> 22:08.000 and that's not really a secret to any of us. 22:08.000 --> 22:12.000 And listen to what Max Lucado had to say, just a few words. 22:12.000 --> 22:18.000 But he said, funeral herces never pull you holes to the cemetery. 22:18.000 --> 22:20.000 You don't take it with you. 22:20.000 --> 22:23.000 You don't need a U-Haul to cart it off, would you? 22:23.000 --> 22:25.000 Foolish man. 22:25.000 --> 22:28.000 Because God provided, and he said all these things. 22:28.000 --> 22:30.000 What will I do? 22:30.000 --> 22:31.000 What will I do? 22:31.000 --> 22:35.000 I will store, and I'll say to myself, 22:35.000 --> 22:38.000 you see, he can't save his own soul that way, 22:38.000 --> 22:40.000 nor be spiritual that way. 22:40.000 --> 22:41.000 Listen to this scripture. 22:41.000 --> 22:42.000 This is worth writing down. 22:42.000 --> 22:44.000 Deuteronomy 10 verse 14. 22:44.000 --> 22:48.000 The Lord owns the world and everything in it. 22:48.000 --> 22:50.000 Now what does that leave out? 22:50.000 --> 22:52.000 He owns the world and everything in it. 22:52.000 --> 22:55.000 The heavens and even the highest heavens are here. 22:55.000 --> 22:57.000 There's the three celestial heavens. 22:57.000 --> 23:01.000 And up to the highest heaven of heavens, 23:01.000 --> 23:05.000 he owns it all from the footstool to the top of the throne. 23:05.000 --> 23:07.000 Everything belongs to God. 23:07.000 --> 23:09.000 Why not share a little bit with it? 23:09.000 --> 23:13.000 And then read in 2 Corinthians 9, beginning in verse 10, 23:13.000 --> 23:14.000 he says this. 23:14.000 --> 23:17.000 Now he, that minister of seed to the sword, 23:17.000 --> 23:22.000 does minister bread for your food and multiply your seed sown 23:22.000 --> 23:26.000 and increase the fruits of your righteousness. 23:26.000 --> 23:27.000 See, you're not going to do that, 23:27.000 --> 23:30.000 but he says, because you've invested in me, 23:30.000 --> 23:33.000 I will cause you great profit. 23:33.000 --> 23:37.000 I will increase your value to a great, great degree. 23:37.000 --> 23:39.000 Isn't that cool? 23:39.000 --> 23:42.000 And then he says, being enriched in everything 23:42.000 --> 23:47.000 to all bountifulness, which causes through us 23:47.000 --> 23:50.000 a reason to be of thanksgiving to God. 23:50.000 --> 23:55.000 And you all are prospered by that, see. 23:55.000 --> 24:00.000 I liked, Larry read it last week, it was out of NIV 24:00.000 --> 24:03.000 and I happened to be in King James and I missed it. 24:03.000 --> 24:05.000 And I thought something sounded better. 24:05.000 --> 24:07.000 And if you'll get that verse, 24:07.000 --> 24:10.000 he said this in that verse 11 in the NIV, 24:10.000 --> 24:13.000 which is closer to the truth than the King James, 24:13.000 --> 24:16.000 or at least more richly understood. 24:16.000 --> 24:20.000 You will be made rich in every way 24:20.000 --> 24:25.000 so that you too can be generous. 24:25.000 --> 24:28.000 And God not only wants you to have enough, 24:28.000 --> 24:30.000 but enough to be generous with others. 24:30.000 --> 24:32.000 Isn't that a wonderful promise? 24:32.000 --> 24:34.000 Praise God for everything. 24:34.000 --> 24:37.000 We've been blessed because God provides. 24:37.000 --> 24:39.000 The church here has been provessed 24:39.000 --> 24:42.000 not because of any know-how that we have, 24:42.000 --> 24:46.000 but because God provided when we tried so hard 24:46.000 --> 24:48.000 to give ourselves to Him. 24:48.000 --> 24:50.000 You know, missions. 24:50.000 --> 24:53.000 We got a beautiful girl that's over there 24:53.000 --> 24:57.000 in a hard and bitter land. 24:57.000 --> 24:59.000 And she's preaching. 24:59.000 --> 25:02.000 The church didn't send her, a precious family did. 25:02.000 --> 25:05.000 I'm just so proud of that 25:05.000 --> 25:08.000 because if the church had more money, 25:08.000 --> 25:10.000 we could do more of that. 25:10.000 --> 25:13.000 This church gave 25,000 Bibles, 25:13.000 --> 25:15.000 which is quite a bit of money 25:15.000 --> 25:19.000 because they all cost over several dollars a piece. 25:19.000 --> 25:21.000 And we distributed them personally there 25:21.000 --> 25:26.000 in Moscow and Voronezh and all kinds of places. 25:26.000 --> 25:28.000 Boy, those people don't talk very good. 25:28.000 --> 25:32.000 And you know, that's what the church's business is. 25:32.000 --> 25:34.000 Have those people heard? 25:34.000 --> 25:36.000 Indeed they have. 25:36.000 --> 25:38.000 And I just pray that Kelsey will write back 25:38.000 --> 25:41.000 one of these days and say, 25:41.000 --> 25:45.000 Papa or elders, you know, here's a need 25:45.000 --> 25:49.000 and we'd like to have the church send some money over there. 25:49.000 --> 25:51.000 And if we don't do it, you know, 25:51.000 --> 25:54.000 boy, we're missing a boat, aren't we? 25:54.000 --> 25:56.000 And there's a young lady whose life will be forever. 25:56.000 --> 25:59.000 You know, what kind of a place was Russia? 25:59.000 --> 26:03.000 Remember, it is the exact size of the width of the moon. 26:03.000 --> 26:08.000 It is 12 timelines in width. 26:08.000 --> 26:11.000 It's big beyond belief. 26:11.000 --> 26:13.000 They have suffered terribly. 26:13.000 --> 26:19.000 78 years they have not had a professing Christian church. 26:19.000 --> 26:21.000 And where she is going, 26:21.000 --> 26:25.000 we have at least two or three within 300 miles 26:25.000 --> 26:30.000 Bible schools, seminaries, and struggling new churches. 26:30.000 --> 26:32.000 So it is fulfilled. 26:32.000 --> 26:35.000 Those that have lived in darkness have seen a great light. 26:35.000 --> 26:37.000 And you know, if we had more pesos, 26:37.000 --> 26:41.000 we could do more sending of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. 26:41.000 --> 26:45.000 Sometimes it's frustrating to us how bad was it? 26:45.000 --> 26:50.000 Lavrentia Berea said of his work with the NKVD 26:50.000 --> 26:53.000 that it was now possible to break every bone 26:53.000 --> 26:57.000 in a witness's body without causing the death of the victim. 26:57.000 --> 26:59.000 Isn't that a scientific breakthrough? 26:59.000 --> 27:01.000 And did you know that for 78 years 27:01.000 --> 27:05.000 there was not a visible church with the precious cross of Christ? 27:05.000 --> 27:09.000 And the last elder to perish of a church just like this 27:09.000 --> 27:13.000 was in October 17th by the end, actually beginning into November. 27:13.000 --> 27:17.000 And I have this on a man who knew about it. 27:17.000 --> 27:21.000 Was a great elder there in the church just like this. 27:21.000 --> 27:23.000 Preaches just the way we do. 27:23.000 --> 27:26.000 Much bigger than this, by the way, in those days. 27:26.000 --> 27:27.000 He was stripped naked. 27:27.000 --> 27:30.000 He was placed in the red square there. 27:30.000 --> 27:34.000 And a bucket with boiling water with holes in it was placed over his head. 27:34.000 --> 27:37.000 And in that 20 degree below weather, the water was poured in 27:37.000 --> 27:40.000 and he was suffocated by the freezing ice 27:40.000 --> 27:42.000 so that all might ridicule him. 27:42.000 --> 27:45.000 That's just like Christ on the cross, isn't it? 27:45.000 --> 27:49.000 Have they that have been in darkness been blessed now 27:49.000 --> 27:51.000 because the gospel is over there? 27:51.000 --> 27:54.000 You betcha that is the case. 27:54.000 --> 27:57.000 And it goes on and on and I don't wish to stress that. 27:57.000 --> 27:59.000 But aren't you proud of our missions? 27:59.000 --> 28:01.000 God has provided it. 28:01.000 --> 28:04.000 And then God's provided our youth. 28:04.000 --> 28:07.000 You know what this church has been able to do 28:07.000 --> 28:09.000 in sending out its young people. 28:09.000 --> 28:11.000 Kelsey's one example. 28:11.000 --> 28:15.000 But we've had three others that have gone to that hard place 28:15.000 --> 28:18.000 and we have missions all over the country. 28:18.000 --> 28:21.000 And there have been many years we gave more to others 28:21.000 --> 28:23.000 and we gave to ourself. 28:23.000 --> 28:25.000 And the reason we couldn't give anymore was 28:25.000 --> 28:28.000 we had to spend something on ourself. 28:28.000 --> 28:32.000 It's a pretty selfless bunch of people and I am very proud of that. 28:32.000 --> 28:38.000 Jim Holzer had the best announcement the other day at the Elders Meeting 28:38.000 --> 28:43.000 and he was talking about how downstairs there's rooms full of kids 28:43.000 --> 28:46.000 that's just chuck full of little wiggly kids. 28:46.000 --> 28:47.000 And aren't you excited about that? 28:47.000 --> 28:49.000 Wouldn't it be nice if we had more cash? 28:49.000 --> 28:52.000 We could get them up in the sunlight maybe over there on our ten acres 28:52.000 --> 28:54.000 which we own where our school is. 28:54.000 --> 28:58.000 And then thirdly, God has prospered us because of our school. 28:58.000 --> 29:00.000 I believe that with all of my heart. 29:00.000 --> 29:04.000 And we have worried and we've just done everything we could 29:04.000 --> 29:10.000 and God somehow manages to keep the school open 29:10.000 --> 29:13.000 and it is still a place of healing. 29:13.000 --> 29:16.000 And the family that came forward the first service 29:16.000 --> 29:19.000 are a result of that ministry. 29:19.000 --> 29:22.000 And it's still doing it and it will continue to do so. 29:22.000 --> 29:25.000 God be praised, God provides. 29:25.000 --> 29:31.000 You will be made rich in every way so that you can be made generous. 29:31.000 --> 29:35.000 It is a hurting world and I want to conclude with this thought. 29:35.000 --> 29:37.000 It is a hurting world. 29:37.000 --> 29:42.000 In a time of great plenty there are people who are really down and out. 29:42.000 --> 29:47.000 In a time of immorality people have been touched and hurt 29:47.000 --> 29:50.000 and beat about and put upon. 29:50.000 --> 29:52.000 And there is a world of hurt. 29:52.000 --> 29:55.000 And if you think not, I heard a song the other day 29:55.000 --> 29:58.000 I was driving my little pickup along and I pulled it over. 29:58.000 --> 30:01.000 I grabbed a sheet of yellow paper there which I always have 30:01.000 --> 30:04.000 and I started writing down the words, it is cool. 30:04.000 --> 30:07.000 Here's what the world is offering others. 30:07.000 --> 30:09.000 And just think of this. 30:09.000 --> 30:13.000 I had to look at it to be sure because I don't really want to memorize this. 30:13.000 --> 30:18.000 We got losers. 30:18.000 --> 30:20.000 We got boozers. 30:20.000 --> 30:23.000 We got chain smokers. 30:23.000 --> 30:25.000 And what was the last thing? 30:25.000 --> 30:27.000 Nighttime cruisers. 30:27.000 --> 30:29.000 Wow! 30:29.000 --> 30:31.000 I'd want some of that, wouldn't you? 30:31.000 --> 30:35.000 Boy, the world offers a great deal, don't they? 30:35.000 --> 30:40.000 I wouldn't write it all down because you wouldn't be fit to... 30:40.000 --> 30:42.000 I don't know whether that's fit or not. 30:42.000 --> 30:48.000 But you see the decadence, the world and its society for possessions and things 30:48.000 --> 30:51.000 and actually getting away from things that are righteous, 30:51.000 --> 30:54.000 things that are holy, things that are pure 30:54.000 --> 30:58.000 have got themselves in a quagmire, haven't they? 30:58.000 --> 31:01.000 And it's a septic tank and they're standing on their toes 31:01.000 --> 31:03.000 and the level comes right up to here 31:03.000 --> 31:06.000 and the guy is saying, don't make any waves. 31:06.000 --> 31:09.000 It's a foul place. 31:09.000 --> 31:11.000 It is a foul place. 31:11.000 --> 31:15.000 And we are this deep in our own excrescence 31:15.000 --> 31:20.000 and you think about, I don't need to define that. 31:20.000 --> 31:23.000 I don't want the world to live like that 31:23.000 --> 31:27.000 because there's people I love and you love, they're outside Jesus Christ 31:27.000 --> 31:31.000 who don't know holiness and who do not know purity. 31:31.000 --> 31:35.000 It was like Mary, the mama of Jesus, and you remember? 31:35.000 --> 31:38.000 She was kind of upset because this thing which had come upon her, 31:38.000 --> 31:40.000 she didn't understand that her husband was fleeing 31:40.000 --> 31:44.000 and they're trying to go somewhere where they could take care of this 31:44.000 --> 31:48.000 because she was pure and he was pure. 31:48.000 --> 31:54.000 And oh, in this day and age, isn't that the way we should live before the world? 31:54.000 --> 31:58.000 And you know a dear lady named Lizbeth came 31:58.000 --> 32:03.000 and Lizbeth said something that cheered her up. 32:03.000 --> 32:07.000 Blessed art thou. 32:07.000 --> 32:10.000 And you know when you're hurting and someone says, 32:10.000 --> 32:13.000 hey, God's blessing on you, there's a way out of this. 32:13.000 --> 32:17.000 God's blessing on you, we can solve that problem and we can help you 32:17.000 --> 32:20.000 and things will get better. 32:20.000 --> 32:24.000 You know, there's a marvelous little story. 32:24.000 --> 32:26.000 People are trapped, they're lost. 32:26.000 --> 32:28.000 They're like people in a snare. 32:28.000 --> 32:35.000 It's drinking, it's alcohol, or it's drugs and it's lust 32:35.000 --> 32:40.000 and it's just sin and it's indulgence and bad habits 32:40.000 --> 32:42.000 and they're trapped in that. 32:42.000 --> 32:46.000 But you know, we are the holy hounds of God. 32:46.000 --> 32:52.000 We will seek them out in their traps and help heal them and set them free. 32:52.000 --> 32:58.000 Listen to what this glorious mind has written. 32:58.000 --> 33:00.000 Listen to what he says. 33:00.000 --> 33:03.000 One of my favorite poems is by James Stevens. 33:03.000 --> 33:07.000 It's a tale about a dying rabbit, or is it? 33:07.000 --> 33:11.000 I hear a cry, a sudden cry of pain, there's a rabbit in a snare 33:11.000 --> 33:15.000 and I hear the cry again and I cannot tell from where. 33:15.000 --> 33:18.000 No, I cannot tell from where he is crying out afraid, 33:18.000 --> 33:21.000 crying on the frightened air, making everything afraid. 33:21.000 --> 33:25.000 Making everything afraid, wrinkling up his little face 33:25.000 --> 33:28.000 and I hear the cry again and I cannot find the place. 33:28.000 --> 33:30.000 No, I cannot find the place. 33:30.000 --> 33:32.000 He is crying out for air. 33:32.000 --> 33:36.000 Little one, oh little one, I'm searching everywhere 33:36.000 --> 33:40.000 and that's the message of the church, to go out where people are hurting 33:40.000 --> 33:42.000 and it isn't easy. 33:42.000 --> 33:46.000 And you know, we've sure tried hard, haven't we? 33:46.000 --> 33:48.000 And you can see the fruits of that. 33:48.000 --> 33:53.000 New faces, young couples, precious gray hairs. 33:53.000 --> 33:57.000 Every walk of life has been hurt and so many people have been helped 33:57.000 --> 34:01.000 because of the word of Jesus Christ and his church, 34:01.000 --> 34:04.000 the body that's preached this message. 34:04.000 --> 34:06.000 I'm searching everywhere. 34:06.000 --> 34:10.000 We are the hounds of God, but not seeking out whom we may kill, 34:10.000 --> 34:15.000 but whom we may disin snare, who we can set free, who we can heal, 34:15.000 --> 34:19.000 who can preach the gospel to that are lost. 34:19.000 --> 34:24.000 Somehow, this is Calvin Miller, somehow I know this is not about rabbits. 34:24.000 --> 34:28.000 It's about the neurotic love of a man trying to lighten suffering in the world. 34:28.000 --> 34:34.000 It is the drive of the holy predator to find the world's pain and to stop it. 34:34.000 --> 34:38.000 It is the need of caring men to put the world back together again. 34:38.000 --> 34:44.000 It is a shout, blessed art thou, you have worth. 34:44.000 --> 34:46.000 Weep no more. 34:46.000 --> 34:51.000 God couldn't come to you because you would not receive him when you first heard him. 34:51.000 --> 34:53.000 So I'm playing his part today. 34:53.000 --> 34:55.000 You are worth the universe. 34:55.000 --> 34:57.000 We are brothers. 34:57.000 --> 34:58.000 We are one. 34:58.000 --> 35:00.000 Be healed. 35:00.000 --> 35:03.000 Blessed art thou. 35:03.000 --> 35:05.000 That's the message of the church. 35:05.000 --> 35:06.000 Isn't that thrilling? 35:06.000 --> 35:08.000 It makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up 35:08.000 --> 35:11.000 because that's the message of the church. 35:11.000 --> 35:19.000 And sometimes we had our step forward shortened 35:19.000 --> 35:22.000 and we didn't have enough pesos and we couldn't do the job. 35:22.000 --> 35:29.000 And that hurts me because I really believe that God wants us to do more than we have done. 35:29.000 --> 35:33.000 An old little church, you've done more than 10 churches have done. 35:33.000 --> 35:45.000 And I just want to know with all of your heart that we are not the devil's disciples. 35:45.000 --> 35:48.000 We are not the dogs of hell. 35:48.000 --> 35:58.000 We are the dogs of heaven sniffing out the loss, the hurt, the needy, the lonesome. 35:58.000 --> 36:02.000 Those who are incapable of defending and caring for themselves. 36:02.000 --> 36:04.000 And that is our job. 36:04.000 --> 36:06.000 Lack of money cramps that work. 36:06.000 --> 36:08.000 Lack of money hinders the gospel. 36:08.000 --> 36:13.000 And it leaves souls dying in the night. 36:13.000 --> 36:18.000 And I don't think God wanted that for any body. 36:18.000 --> 36:20.000 I conclude I didn't use any poem. 36:20.000 --> 36:23.000 That's why the poems have been very good today. 36:23.000 --> 36:24.000 But this is one by Pat. 36:24.000 --> 36:26.000 I'd like to share with you. 36:26.000 --> 36:34.000 Grace has left an open door where I must walk through once more to leave behind the sobs 36:34.000 --> 36:38.000 and soar to fly where Christ has gone before. 36:38.000 --> 36:44.000 For love has left an open door. 36:44.000 --> 36:48.000 Grace has used 127 times. 36:48.000 --> 36:58.000 And God will provide if you decide to put your faith, your money, your family, 36:58.000 --> 37:05.000 your hopes in Jesus Christ as the Lord of your life. 37:05.000 --> 37:08.000 If you have a decision to make today.