WEBVTT 00:00:01.800 --> 00:00:04.169 Well, I encourage you to take some notes, always do. 00:00:04.589 --> 00:00:05.790 Uh, I believe that it will help you. 00:00:05.791 --> 00:00:07.259 I believe it will help you today. 00:00:07.440 --> 00:00:16.019 As we talk about sacred spaces, sacred spaces, our third lesson, uh, and, and my encouragement is write things down. 00:00:16.289 --> 00:00:27.719 Some when we write it down and we take notes through a sermon or a lesson, what we find is that it helps us to go back to those things and remember stuff, but it also does something else. 00:00:27.890 --> 00:00:30.149 And, and, um, I really encourage you in this today. 00:00:30.390 --> 00:00:37.619 As you hear something, if you're questioning well, I don't know if this is, uh, exactly what I think about this or how I think about this. 00:00:37.859 --> 00:00:44.789 Then my encouragement is that you take the note right then and there that you say, okay, I have a question about this. 00:00:45.179 --> 00:00:59.429 The scripture tells us about the Berean church that they would hear Paul speak, and then they would take what he said, go back to the scripture and search the scripture every day and determine if what Paul said was accurate or not. 00:00:59.789 --> 00:01:05.489 It's not that they didn't believe Paul it's just that they needed to solidify what he was saying within the scripture. 00:01:05.490 --> 00:01:14.939 And so I encourage you if Paul wasn't too good of a speaker to have himself fact checked with the scripture, then neither am I. 00:01:17.189 --> 00:01:21.959 Can we say, Hey man, actually I figured the sound booth would say amen to that. 00:01:21.960 --> 00:01:23.760 That's where my wife is sitting right now. 00:01:24.599 --> 00:01:26.519 I figured I'd hear arousing a man. 00:01:26.521 --> 00:01:27.629 And so I encourage you. 00:01:27.750 --> 00:01:32.549 If you maybe have a question about something that's being taught, just write it down, take a note. 00:01:32.730 --> 00:01:37.680 And if you're on your phone, I'm just going to assume it's not angry birds it's notes. 00:01:38.189 --> 00:01:47.400 So we're talking about sacred spaces and the word sacred can be applied to almost anything, anything at all, it simply means set apart. 00:01:47.819 --> 00:01:50.549 Something that is set apart is something that is untouchable. 00:01:50.551 --> 00:01:53.310 Something that it's unmovable, something that is special. 00:01:53.311 --> 00:01:55.500 It's unique in its own way. 00:01:55.501 --> 00:02:00.780 It has a certain level of importance that goes beyond just everyday things. 00:02:00.781 --> 00:02:06.719 And today we don't talk about it a lot because not a lot of things now are considered sacred. 00:02:06.719 --> 00:02:13.860 In fact, we kind of specialize in our current cultural climate of tipping over the sacred cows. 00:02:13.889 --> 00:02:16.560 If something is sacred, let's knock it down. 00:02:16.561 --> 00:02:19.229 If something is special, let's get it out. 00:02:19.230 --> 00:02:24.569 If something is unique and, and untouchable, well really why should it be untouchable at all? 00:02:24.599 --> 00:02:27.539 The reason why these things are the sacred things. 00:02:27.540 --> 00:02:32.879 The things that we're calling sacred is because these are the things that God says are sacred. 00:02:33.060 --> 00:02:42.330 And in his word, he says these things, I'm calling them sacred and we should consider making them sacred, untouchable, special, unique in our own life. 00:02:42.330 --> 00:02:48.569 And here's the reality about God, the things that God calls sacred apply to everyone. 00:02:48.810 --> 00:02:50.819 So it doesn't matter what culture you come from. 00:02:50.820 --> 00:02:53.699 It doesn't matter what time period you may have been born into. 00:02:53.909 --> 00:02:58.379 The fact is if God has called it sacred, it remains sacred. 00:02:58.381 --> 00:03:03.639 It is always sacred unless he says that's no longer sacred to me. 00:03:03.639 --> 00:03:05.409 And he removes that label from it. 00:03:05.680 --> 00:03:07.840 It remains sacred to him. 00:03:07.841 --> 00:03:12.129 Now we started off the series by saying that you are sacred. 00:03:12.490 --> 00:03:14.139 Your life is sacred to God. 00:03:14.140 --> 00:03:14.830 And I encourage you. 00:03:14.830 --> 00:03:21.550 If you haven't been able to be with us through the series, then there's, there is some foundational principles that have been laid down. 00:03:21.550 --> 00:03:29.469 And so I encourage you to go back to the podcast or on YouTube and hear the entire series because we started with you are sacred. 00:03:29.471 --> 00:03:33.340 And then last week we talked about the fact that time is sacred. 00:03:33.550 --> 00:03:36.789 God says, time is sacred to me. 00:03:36.879 --> 00:03:46.120 And so I care about how you use your time, how you, uh, delineate your time within your day, within your year, et cetera. 00:03:46.240 --> 00:03:47.319 I care about that. 00:03:47.680 --> 00:03:51.219 And we must prioritize time with Jesus and mind. 00:03:51.610 --> 00:03:57.219 And today's subject is sacred resources, sacred resources. 00:03:57.460 --> 00:04:03.639 The big idea today, if you're taking notes is your, your resources are sacred to God. 00:04:04.300 --> 00:04:10.449 Your resources are sacred to God and I've three declarations for us. 00:04:10.450 --> 00:04:14.469 And that's going to make some of you very happy because I've only had two things in the last two weeks. 00:04:14.620 --> 00:04:15.729 And it's really bothered. 00:04:15.730 --> 00:04:17.170 Some of you we're back to three. 00:04:17.410 --> 00:04:20.199 And so you can, you can be excited about that. 00:04:20.290 --> 00:04:21.100 Declaration. 00:04:21.100 --> 00:04:28.660 Number one is this my work ethic and attitude revealed Christ in my life. 00:04:29.230 --> 00:04:33.370 My work ethic and attitude revealed Christ in my life. 00:04:34.420 --> 00:04:34.990 Last week. 00:04:34.990 --> 00:04:43.199 We said that that there's a sacred element to your work, whatever works you may do as a sacred element to that. 00:04:43.920 --> 00:04:43.920 Why? 00:04:44.939 --> 00:04:46.350 Well, work is hard. 00:04:46.500 --> 00:04:48.660 We gather resources for life. 00:04:49.019 --> 00:04:52.560 Most of us didn't get up last Monday morning and say, you know what? 00:04:52.860 --> 00:04:55.259 I've got nothing better to do in my life. 00:04:55.470 --> 00:04:56.579 I'm going to go to work. 00:04:59.279 --> 00:05:04.920 And if that had happened, you'd have shown up to an office or to wherever it was that you showed up to work. 00:05:04.920 --> 00:05:06.089 And they would have said, who are you? 00:05:06.091 --> 00:05:07.019 And why are you here? 00:05:07.199 --> 00:05:08.730 And if you said, well, I just want to work. 00:05:09.420 --> 00:05:16.620 That has said go away because we don't typically say, I just love work so much. 00:05:16.620 --> 00:05:18.329 I'm just going to go do this work. 00:05:18.420 --> 00:05:19.110 Regardless. 00:05:19.110 --> 00:05:23.250 We say, I'm going to do this work in order to gain resources for my life. 00:05:23.250 --> 00:05:26.670 I'm going to trade my time for a paycheck. 00:05:26.910 --> 00:05:29.310 I'm going to trade time for resource. 00:05:29.459 --> 00:05:35.759 Now we said last week that God cares about time and the studying the sermon. 00:05:35.769 --> 00:05:41.550 I discovered that statistically, there are two things that dominate your time. 00:05:42.180 --> 00:05:43.589 The first is sleep. 00:05:44.370 --> 00:05:46.350 I know most of us think we don't get enough of it. 00:05:46.350 --> 00:05:50.610 And maybe we don't, but sleep is the first thing that dominates our time. 00:05:50.759 --> 00:05:55.350 The second thing work, work, dominate it's our time. 00:05:55.470 --> 00:06:03.620 So it makes sense that if God, about our time, and he says that our time is his, then he would care about how we spend our time. 00:06:03.860 --> 00:06:08.389 He would care about how we spend the resource that he's given us. 00:06:08.540 --> 00:06:10.100 And this thing called time. 00:06:10.579 --> 00:06:17.990 He care about how we, we used it to gain resource and he'd care about what we were doing within that context. 00:06:18.379 --> 00:06:22.310 And so what does the Bible say about work Ecclesiastes? 00:06:22.310 --> 00:06:24.920 Chapter nine, verse 10 is a great scripture for us. 00:06:25.220 --> 00:06:32.389 It says whatever your hands find to do, do it with your mind in the context. 00:06:32.391 --> 00:06:38.660 And then some translations, you'll see it say all your might or with the totality of what you have. 00:06:39.050 --> 00:06:48.110 So if you're going to do a thing, do it with everything you have within you, does that resemble your work in the office? 00:06:50.259 --> 00:06:51.189 I'm just asking. 00:06:51.850 --> 00:06:51.850 Okay. 00:06:52.300 --> 00:06:55.029 Colossians chapter three is another great passage for us. 00:06:55.031 --> 00:06:58.629 It says work willingly at whatever you do. 00:07:01.600 --> 00:07:01.600 Okay. 00:07:01.720 --> 00:07:11.500 As though you were working for the Lord, rather than for people That I knew, I wasn't getting a lot of amens in this section. 00:07:12.069 --> 00:07:21.069 The, uh, remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward and that the master you are serving is Christ. 00:07:22.689 --> 00:07:23.980 Thank you, Denise. 00:07:25.720 --> 00:07:27.069 You're serving Christ. 00:07:27.071 --> 00:07:28.779 You're not serving your employer. 00:07:28.839 --> 00:07:30.519 You're not serving the customer. 00:07:30.610 --> 00:07:32.170 You are serving Christ. 00:07:32.230 --> 00:07:32.980 Ultimately. 00:07:33.670 --> 00:07:41.560 Now, how, if you read these passages, what you discover is what you do is not sacred. 00:07:42.009 --> 00:07:47.709 You can do all most in the thing in this world that becomes your choice. 00:07:47.829 --> 00:07:49.779 Now legal is good. 00:07:49.839 --> 00:07:50.290 Okay. 00:07:50.290 --> 00:07:52.240 Just, just being clear on that. 00:07:52.360 --> 00:07:53.230 Legal is good. 00:07:53.230 --> 00:07:56.379 You don't leave here saying pastor Mike said, I can do whatever I want to do. 00:07:57.040 --> 00:07:57.040 No, 00:07:59.560 --> 00:08:00.009 You get it. 00:08:00.519 --> 00:08:01.540 So 00:08:01.750 --> 00:08:07.779 Work the, the w the, what you do, isn't as important as how you do it. 00:08:08.050 --> 00:08:12.160 The, how is sacred, the what is not. 00:08:14.589 --> 00:08:25.449 So how you serve others, how you treat your employer, how you treat your employees, all reflect Christ in your life. 00:08:26.319 --> 00:08:29.980 I have not always had jobs that I really loved. 00:08:30.279 --> 00:08:31.600 One of them was in Hawaii. 00:08:31.839 --> 00:08:35.710 We, I shoveled rock hurrah. 00:08:35.740 --> 00:08:36.940 Hawaii is rock. 00:08:37.240 --> 00:08:37.659 Okay. 00:08:37.660 --> 00:08:38.980 It's a volcanic Island. 00:08:39.220 --> 00:08:41.950 And so when you shovel in Hawaii, you're shoveling rock. 00:08:42.190 --> 00:08:44.500 And we lived up in Waikoloa, which is way up on the mountain. 00:08:44.500 --> 00:08:46.960 And I'd go every day to, to this job site. 00:08:46.961 --> 00:08:48.850 And I could see it on the road down. 00:08:48.850 --> 00:08:50.919 I could see way down by the ocean. 00:08:50.980 --> 00:08:53.500 We were building a resort community. 00:08:53.620 --> 00:09:02.370 Let me just say this, living a resort community, or, or a vacationing in a resort community is very different from building a resort community. 00:09:02.639 --> 00:09:07.200 And so I would drive down this, this road and I could see the resort community down there. 00:09:07.350 --> 00:09:10.080 And I would be so frustrated because I did not want to do that. 00:09:10.080 --> 00:09:16.590 I w I was there to build the church and I was building a church when I wasn't working, but we had to put food on the table somehow. 00:09:16.669 --> 00:09:18.419 And the church couldn't do that at that time. 00:09:18.600 --> 00:09:23.730 So, so I was working and there were days when I would have tears streaming down my face. 00:09:23.730 --> 00:09:24.929 I know it's not manly. 00:09:24.931 --> 00:09:27.120 And I know it's not goal, but it's true. 00:09:27.240 --> 00:09:31.169 I would have tears streaming down my face saying, God, this is not what I'm called to do. 00:09:31.230 --> 00:09:41.850 This is what I have to do, because, uh, because, uh, well, Christie wants to eat and the boys are selfish and they want to eat too. 00:09:42.720 --> 00:09:45.090 And, and well, I kind of liked to eat myself. 00:09:45.091 --> 00:09:51.389 And so with all of that being true, I've got to go to work and get this and be able to earn some money. 00:09:51.509 --> 00:09:53.820 And I was just, I was frustrated by it. 00:09:54.480 --> 00:10:01.049 And, but I go down there and then the boss would say, I want you to move this pile of rocks with that shovel over there. 00:10:01.200 --> 00:10:02.700 And so I would start shoveling. 00:10:03.179 --> 00:10:08.370 And then sometimes he'd come back and say, and I want to take those rocks and move them back over here. 00:10:08.700 --> 00:10:09.690 And I would say, 00:10:10.370 --> 00:10:19.129 Love you with the love of the Lord, but what sometimes is what the, 00:10:19.279 --> 00:10:20.240 The scripture is teaching us. 00:10:20.240 --> 00:10:27.440 He says, good work equals good earthly reward, but a good attitude and a good effort equals good heavenly reward. 00:10:28.669 --> 00:10:33.019 And sometimes we think, well, if the customer treats me good, and my employer treats me good. 00:10:33.020 --> 00:10:36.529 And if my employees treat me good, then I'll treat them good. 00:10:37.129 --> 00:10:38.330 But that's not what he's saying. 00:10:38.960 --> 00:10:46.399 He say, you treat them good regardless of how they treat you, because you're reflecting me to them. 00:10:46.940 --> 00:10:48.259 You're working for me. 00:10:48.260 --> 00:10:51.200 So however you treat them, that's how you're treating me. 00:10:51.320 --> 00:10:53.809 You say, well, that's a little bit, none, no read the scripture. 00:10:53.811 --> 00:10:56.509 That's what he just told us. 00:10:57.529 --> 00:10:59.029 However, you act to them 00:10:59.809 --> 00:11:00.980 Is representing me. 00:11:01.100 --> 00:11:02.330 Why does he care? 00:11:02.659 --> 00:11:04.549 He cares because he's our provider. 00:11:05.549 --> 00:11:12.590 Our, our employer may be the methodology he's using to, to bless us and benefit us. 00:11:13.429 --> 00:11:14.720 But he is the provider. 00:11:14.721 --> 00:11:17.419 Ultimately he is our father. 00:11:18.049 --> 00:11:21.139 He is the one who, uh, who we represent. 00:11:21.769 --> 00:11:24.889 In fact, he said, go into all the world and preach the gospel. 00:11:25.129 --> 00:11:25.759 Every creature. 00:11:25.970 --> 00:11:31.399 He said, when the Holy spirit comes upon you, you're going to be witnesses unto me in Jerusalem, Judea. 00:11:31.400 --> 00:11:38.750 He doesn't say, except that work Not when he says, you're my witnesses. 00:11:39.049 --> 00:11:45.710 He is our promoter Proverbs chapter 22, verse 29 says that competent workers stand before Kings. 00:11:45.830 --> 00:11:50.330 He gives opportunity for competent workers to be elevated and to be lifted up. 00:11:50.331 --> 00:11:56.679 And they stand before people who can make big decisions and be able to move their careers forward and greater blessings 00:11:56.919 --> 00:11:57.549 Flow. 00:11:58.870 --> 00:11:59.200 He's 00:11:59.200 --> 00:11:59.980 The focus. 00:12:00.370 --> 00:12:04.149 So if I, if I'm at a job, remember what I do. 00:12:04.150 --> 00:12:05.799 Isn't as important as how I do it. 00:12:05.889 --> 00:12:21.100 So if Adam I'm at a job and I don't like it, then I have the Liberty and the freedom to leave that job and go somewhere else that I feel more connected that I liked the environment better, whatever it may be, but how I do the work, where I am, as long as I'm there. 00:12:21.220 --> 00:12:25.629 My God, my God given duty is to do it with all of my 00:12:26.169 --> 00:12:26.169 Mind. 00:12:27.730 --> 00:12:29.529 And there are great rewards that come from it. 00:12:29.530 --> 00:12:33.370 I will tell you that, that to me, I drove down that Hill for a long time. 00:12:33.370 --> 00:12:35.679 And I looked at that community for a long time. 00:12:35.860 --> 00:12:44.409 And I was frustrated for a long time, but I'll never forget the day that Rodney and his wife come walking in the church, see Rodney was my boss's boss. 00:12:45.490 --> 00:12:46.379 And he came walking into 00:12:46.379 --> 00:12:49.240 The church and then Clifford 00:12:49.269 --> 00:12:51.250 Came walking into the church just a little while later. 00:12:51.549 --> 00:12:53.230 Clifford was my immediate supervisor. 00:12:54.159 --> 00:12:55.809 Well, actually he was my boss's boss too. 00:12:56.440 --> 00:13:05.529 And suddenly they start coming to church and, and guys from the construction crews started coming to church and, and they started becoming part of the family of God at, at legacy. 00:13:05.530 --> 00:13:08.019 And I got to baptize every one of them. 00:13:08.020 --> 00:13:14.919 And I got to celebrate Jesus and got to celebrate them, taking their next steps of life in Christ together. 00:13:14.921 --> 00:13:18.850 And it was a beautiful, beautiful thing, but here's, here's what touched me so much. 00:13:19.210 --> 00:13:20.919 The fact that they showed up to the church. 00:13:20.950 --> 00:13:21.940 Oh, that was awesome. 00:13:21.941 --> 00:13:31.299 I can't, I can't deny that, but the fact that they saw Micah Sutton when he was sweaty, whenever he hurt himself, when he passed out a bunch of times because of the heat. 00:13:31.419 --> 00:13:38.320 Whenever, whenever I wasn't, when I wasn't at my best, when I was frustrated, when I was angry, they saw me in all of those places. 00:13:38.320 --> 00:13:48.610 But somehow they looked at Micah and said, the character that this guy shows on the work site allows me to go to church and hear him teach and preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. 00:13:49.899 --> 00:13:55.929 And can I tell you that in your life, your work may be your greatest area of ministry. 00:13:56.950 --> 00:13:59.950 Some of you spend more time at work than you do with your own family. 00:14:01.330 --> 00:14:05.200 And you have an opportunity to show forth Christ or show forth. 00:14:05.201 --> 00:14:08.590 You, you can be a witness for Christ. 00:14:08.591 --> 00:14:14.919 And we have business people in this church all over the place who, who are witnesses for Christ in the place that they work. 00:14:15.309 --> 00:14:17.049 It is a God given 00:14:17.309 --> 00:14:17.850 Calling. 00:14:19.139 --> 00:14:20.159 And I encourage you. 00:14:20.879 --> 00:14:29.789 Remember that your work ethic and your work attitude, reveal Christ in your life, it will testify to somebody of who Christ is to you. 00:14:30.389 --> 00:14:31.679 And that brings us to the declaration. 00:14:31.681 --> 00:14:32.250 Number two, 00:14:33.299 --> 00:14:39.750 Then I will steward God's resources, according to his plan, according to his plan. 00:14:40.529 --> 00:14:52.669 Now, all the resources, everybody say all, all the reads that wasn't all by the way that wasn't all of you that said all, but all the resources that God has offered my life, they all belong to 00:14:52.669 --> 00:14:53.000 Him. 00:14:53.750 --> 00:14:54.919 They all belong to him. 00:14:55.850 --> 00:14:57.889 And we've read this particular verse every week. 00:14:58.039 --> 00:14:58.539 The last two. 00:14:58.820 --> 00:15:01.000 So we've been in this series, we've read this verse here it is. 00:15:01.210 --> 00:15:04.990 First Corinthians chapter two, chapter six, rather verse 19. 00:15:04.990 --> 00:15:08.080 It says, don't you realize that your body is the temple 00:15:08.450 --> 00:15:10.659 Spirit, praise the Lord for that. 00:15:11.350 --> 00:15:11.350 Okay? 00:15:11.409 --> 00:15:15.549 Who lives in you and was given to you by God, amen to that. 00:15:16.090 --> 00:15:18.159 You do not belong to yourself. 00:15:18.190 --> 00:15:19.090 Well, hold on 00:15:19.090 --> 00:15:19.720 Here. 00:15:21.190 --> 00:15:28.179 But he says, you do not belong to yourself for you, for God, bought you with a high priced, amen to that. 00:15:28.389 --> 00:15:30.370 So you must honor God with your body. 00:15:30.399 --> 00:15:31.059 Oh boy. 00:15:33.340 --> 00:15:40.120 See, he puts the reality that we are not our own within the context of what he's done for us. 00:15:41.230 --> 00:15:42.429 And we celebrate that. 00:15:42.600 --> 00:15:44.529 But can I say it this way? 00:15:45.700 --> 00:15:51.879 We cannot authentically believe that we are his and then act like what we gave 00:15:52.809 --> 00:15:53.500 Is ours. 00:15:54.970 --> 00:15:55.539 We can't 00:15:55.779 --> 00:16:00.879 Authentically believe that we are his and then act like what we gave 00:16:01.539 --> 00:16:02.559 Is ours. 00:16:03.759 --> 00:16:05.590 We want to, 00:16:06.399 --> 00:16:16.360 It's not an authentic belief that we are actually 100%, his first Corinthians chapter 10 verse 26, just in case we were confused about all of this. 00:16:16.419 --> 00:16:19.090 It says the earth is the Lord's and everything in it. 00:16:20.320 --> 00:16:23.950 That means that there is nothing in this earth that does not belong to God. 00:16:24.070 --> 00:16:28.600 So there is nothing in this earth, categorically that can literally become mine. 00:16:28.720 --> 00:16:31.509 Without the context of God being involved. 00:16:32.110 --> 00:16:36.100 God puts our resources in the category 00:16:36.309 --> 00:16:39.399 Of things that belong to him. 00:16:41.490 --> 00:16:49.720 And in the law of Moses, in the book of Leviticus, he does something even to another level and let's read it together. 00:16:49.721 --> 00:16:59.409 Leviticus chapter 27, verse 30 says, and all the ties of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree is the Lords. 00:16:59.440 --> 00:17:01.240 It is Holy to the Lord. 00:17:01.299 --> 00:17:02.590 It is Holy to the Lord. 00:17:02.591 --> 00:17:03.700 Could also be said 00:17:04.160 --> 00:17:06.579 This sacred to the Lord. 00:17:06.910 --> 00:17:07.539 Now 00:17:08.430 --> 00:17:11.170 Just talking about fruit of trees and seed of the ground. 00:17:11.289 --> 00:17:18.789 But if you, if you look at the agrarian culture that these folks were in and that he was writing to, this is the same thing as talking about your paycheck and mine. 00:17:19.630 --> 00:17:22.269 This is the increase that they have in their life. 00:17:22.930 --> 00:17:33.130 Now, if you're a guest with us today, I recognize that this may be a tough sermon to be the new person at the church and just walk in on, but I promise you it's going to get better. 00:17:33.190 --> 00:17:33.940 Okay. 00:17:34.480 --> 00:17:35.319 It's going to be all right. 00:17:36.099 --> 00:17:36.099 Okay. 00:17:36.400 --> 00:17:40.000 But let's, we are understanding the context of what we're talking about here. 00:17:41.170 --> 00:17:46.420 100% of our assets belong to God, but God, 00:17:47.440 --> 00:17:49.950 Part of those assets, 00:17:50.309 --> 00:17:54.869 Holy or sacred to him, that's the, what? 00:17:55.410 --> 00:17:58.650 Leviticus 27 calls all the time. 00:17:59.250 --> 00:18:07.529 Now tithing is giving 10% of your increase to God, 10% of your increase. 00:18:07.680 --> 00:18:10.500 Now it's not giving 10% of everything you have. 00:18:10.710 --> 00:18:14.970 It's 10% of your increase going to God. 00:18:14.971 --> 00:18:15.599 Okay. 00:18:15.690 --> 00:18:17.339 A tithe is a 10th. 00:18:17.369 --> 00:18:20.279 The word tied literally means a 10th. 00:18:20.430 --> 00:18:31.799 So if you're giving a fifth, if you're giving a ninth, if you're giving a one, if you're giving a 500th, okay, it is it a Thai remains a 10th. 00:18:31.800 --> 00:18:35.130 So sometimes people say, well, I'm going to give my ties today. 00:18:35.250 --> 00:18:36.809 And here's$10. 00:18:36.960 --> 00:18:50.579 Well, if that, if that$10, and I'm not knocking that, understand my heart here, if that tie this actually a, a 10th of your income, then, um, and you're trying to support a family and so on and so forth, and we need to pray for you. 00:18:50.759 --> 00:18:59.339 And we need to help find you a better job, because that, if a, if that is literally a tide, now it's a great offering and we're gracious and it's generosity. 00:18:59.490 --> 00:19:01.740 And it's all of those things, but it isn't a tie. 00:19:02.369 --> 00:19:04.710 A tie literally means a 10th. 00:19:04.890 --> 00:19:07.500 And so God, wasn't complacent about this. 00:19:07.650 --> 00:19:13.980 He said, if you, if you don't tie, then to me, give me 10% of what you have your increase. 00:19:14.130 --> 00:19:16.200 Then you will be punished for that. 00:19:16.380 --> 00:19:18.509 That's what the law said. 00:19:18.839 --> 00:19:20.250 Now, this is the tie. 00:19:20.460 --> 00:19:24.569 That's God commanded it, but it is not where the tie began. 00:19:25.259 --> 00:19:27.630 The ties began back with Abraham. 00:19:28.259 --> 00:19:30.539 Abraham gave 10% of all. 00:19:30.540 --> 00:19:34.710 He had to God, then his sons followed the patriarchs. 00:19:34.829 --> 00:19:38.880 And those scripture followed that example of Abraham. 00:19:39.509 --> 00:19:44.819 But when it came to the law of Moses, Moses is writing under the inspiration of the Holy spirit. 00:19:44.910 --> 00:19:47.640 God's giving him the law and he's writing it for the people. 00:19:47.880 --> 00:19:54.299 And God at that point says, if you don't tie, there's a curse involved in that. 00:19:54.720 --> 00:19:58.019 So now there's a penalty for not tithing. 00:19:58.470 --> 00:20:00.779 So sometimes people say, well, wait a minute is tithing. 00:20:00.780 --> 00:20:02.789 Then an old Testament concept. 00:20:03.000 --> 00:20:05.460 And thank God we're under the new covenant. 00:20:05.640 --> 00:20:07.200 And so we're under the new covenant. 00:20:07.201 --> 00:20:09.119 We don't have to worry about the old covenant. 00:20:09.329 --> 00:20:12.839 And I'm just going back to my roots for a minute. 00:20:12.990 --> 00:20:13.289 All right. 00:20:15.660 --> 00:20:16.289 And while 00:20:16.289 --> 00:20:23.730 It is true, it's an old Testament concept and old Testament beginning doesn't disqualify a new Testament application. 00:20:24.180 --> 00:20:27.900 For instance, it was in the old Testament that we learned that murder is wrong. 00:20:28.349 --> 00:20:32.519 It's in the old Testament that we find out that theft is wrong. 00:20:32.670 --> 00:20:34.769 That adultery is wrong. 00:20:34.770 --> 00:20:36.809 These are all old Testament concepts. 00:20:36.990 --> 00:20:39.869 We find out that respecting others is right. 00:20:40.019 --> 00:20:43.769 We find out that helping the poor and the orphan is right. 00:20:43.950 --> 00:20:49.869 All of these things are old Testament concepts, but we wouldn't say that they aren't applicable in our world today. 00:20:49.960 --> 00:20:52.240 In fact, we would say all of those things are still wrong. 00:20:52.359 --> 00:20:55.029 And all of those things are still right. 00:20:55.210 --> 00:20:57.940 They began as old Testament ideas. 00:20:58.210 --> 00:21:00.970 So tithing is a faith concept. 00:21:01.150 --> 00:21:02.920 And here's what Jesus said about it. 00:21:03.130 --> 00:21:07.240 Jesus, uh, you can't really argue with Jesus Matthew 23. 00:21:07.240 --> 00:21:08.920 He said, you are careful. 00:21:09.549 --> 00:21:17.799 Now he's talking to people who are very particular about the law and they use it for their own gain and for their own good. 00:21:17.980 --> 00:21:29.980 But he said, you're careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore the more important aspect aspects of the law, justice, mercy, and faith. 00:21:30.339 --> 00:21:33.339 So Jesus is saying that justice, mercy and faith 00:21:33.670 --> 00:21:35.490 Are more important. 00:21:36.569 --> 00:21:37.289 No argument. 00:21:37.349 --> 00:21:37.349 Yeah, 00:21:38.279 --> 00:21:40.440 But he doesn't stop talking 00:21:40.440 --> 00:21:40.859 There. 00:21:42.420 --> 00:21:42.630 And a 00:21:42.630 --> 00:21:45.269 Lot of people stop right there and say, see, that's more important. 00:21:45.569 --> 00:21:46.470 It is. 00:21:47.279 --> 00:21:50.099 Then he says, you should tie. 00:21:54.420 --> 00:21:55.079 See, he didn't 00:21:55.529 --> 00:21:56.490 A period there. 00:21:56.519 --> 00:22:01.500 Well, there is actually a period there, but he continued the conversation you should tie. 00:22:01.529 --> 00:22:04.559 Yes, but do not neglect the more important things. 00:22:05.309 --> 00:22:07.529 So he said, yes, these things are more 00:22:07.529 --> 00:22:09.869 Important, but tithing 00:22:09.869 --> 00:22:12.210 Is something that you should continue to do. 00:22:12.269 --> 00:22:13.859 It's a beginner step. 00:22:13.861 --> 00:22:21.390 I know when I got my very first job, first thing I did was give 10% of that to the kingdom of God. 00:22:21.509 --> 00:22:23.849 I do the same thing today. 00:22:24.059 --> 00:22:27.930 10% of our income goes to the kingdom of God. 00:22:27.960 --> 00:22:28.859 Bottom line. 00:22:28.980 --> 00:22:29.849 There's no argument. 00:22:29.851 --> 00:22:30.569 I started it. 00:22:30.570 --> 00:22:33.720 Then if you're a young person here today, start now. 00:22:33.839 --> 00:22:38.339 And as you grow into it and your salary increases, your title will increasing. 00:22:38.340 --> 00:22:39.329 God will bless you. 00:22:39.480 --> 00:22:40.950 That is what he says. 00:22:40.951 --> 00:22:43.920 Now let's continue in the series. 00:22:44.009 --> 00:22:47.700 So tithing is basic biblical stewardship. 00:22:48.240 --> 00:22:52.140 It's the same as say that we S we must spend less. 00:22:52.599 --> 00:22:54.480 We must spend less than we earn. 00:22:54.990 --> 00:22:57.450 You always want to earn more than you spend. 00:22:57.690 --> 00:23:00.119 That's your, that's just as simple as that. 00:23:00.420 --> 00:23:08.220 It's a basic biblical context, but the tide is the sacred part that God calls out and said, that belongs to me. 00:23:08.670 --> 00:23:10.140 And so that's our focus today. 00:23:10.440 --> 00:23:14.849 So what is the purpose of tithing what's tithing supposed to do to two things? 00:23:15.000 --> 00:23:18.869 First is tithing is a financial covenant with God. 00:23:19.230 --> 00:23:28.289 It's a financial covenant with God, Deuteronomy chapter 14 and verse number 15 says, if you tithe faithfully live generously, then I will bless. 00:23:28.290 --> 00:23:30.569 You greatly read it for yourself. 00:23:30.809 --> 00:23:32.069 That is what he says. 00:23:32.250 --> 00:23:33.210 That's what I will do. 00:23:33.509 --> 00:23:35.130 If you will do this, then I will do that. 00:23:35.730 --> 00:23:40.680 The tie also, number two, supports the place and the people that lead spiritually. 00:23:41.069 --> 00:23:43.589 That's what he, that's what he's called us to do. 00:23:43.799 --> 00:23:45.980 And that's what the does. 00:23:46.160 --> 00:23:56.440 So in numbers, chapter 18, it says the tie, the priests, they, the priest, the, uh, the children of Lee bye did not have an inheritance of land. 00:23:56.619 --> 00:24:07.509 So they didn't have the increase of the, the, the, uh, fruit of the trees and the seed of the ground and so on and so forth, which would be the earning capacity of the other tribes. 00:24:07.509 --> 00:24:10.539 And so he said, this is how they are going to be supported. 00:24:10.809 --> 00:24:13.779 And the temple of God will be[inaudible]. 00:24:14.079 --> 00:24:18.130 And the priests also gave tides from what they received. 00:24:18.309 --> 00:24:21.220 Now, you might say again, that's an old Testament concept. 00:24:21.369 --> 00:24:23.380 Well, let's take it into the new Testament. 00:24:23.710 --> 00:24:33.640 First Corinthians chapter nine, verse number 14, the Lord ordered that those who preach the good news should be supported by those who benefit from it. 00:24:34.509 --> 00:24:47.019 So this is a reciprocal relationship that there is a, that there are those who are called to preach the good news, the gospel of Jesus Christ, and they should be supported or what they do and how they do it. 00:24:47.170 --> 00:24:54.190 Now, I want to be very clear on this here in this church, you might say, well, this is a very self-serving sermon that you're giving right now. 00:24:54.670 --> 00:24:56.529 Not really because here's the thing. 00:24:56.530 --> 00:24:58.150 We have a administrative team. 00:24:58.240 --> 00:25:00.519 We have a great elder team in this church. 00:25:00.549 --> 00:25:05.200 I am, there's no one person that manages the money of this church. 00:25:05.319 --> 00:25:11.019 And I do not set my salary and our salaries go through the administrative team entirely and there. 00:25:11.049 --> 00:25:16.180 And we have a very, very strong policy in this church on how that gets all gets done. 00:25:16.359 --> 00:25:22.839 So if we built the largest church in the history of the world, I may not make one more dime than I do right now. 00:25:22.990 --> 00:25:26.319 This is not a self-serving situation at all. 00:25:26.440 --> 00:25:33.849 This is a biblical teaching on a sacred thing that God calls his praise, the Lord. 00:25:34.329 --> 00:25:40.059 And the whole idea is that the yes, would move forward, move forward. 00:25:40.089 --> 00:25:41.170 So what, how does it work? 00:25:41.200 --> 00:25:42.789 God blesses his people. 00:25:43.119 --> 00:25:52.150 And as he blesses them, the increase that they bring in rises as the increase that they bring in rises, their tide rises. 00:25:52.509 --> 00:25:56.619 Now, sometimes people do fine when they start off. 00:25:56.710 --> 00:25:58.119 Initially, they're like, okay. 00:25:58.150 --> 00:25:58.509 Yes. 00:25:58.779 --> 00:26:01.619 You know, I'm making X amount of dollars and I'm, and I'm giving. 00:26:01.930 --> 00:26:05.769 And usually we're giving because we're like, Lord, you don't make this work. 00:26:05.829 --> 00:26:07.599 Then I'm never going to make it Lord. 00:26:07.750 --> 00:26:09.190 And I can't pay this month's bills. 00:26:09.279 --> 00:26:11.859 So I'm going to be faithful to you, and you've gotta be faithful to me. 00:26:11.861 --> 00:26:12.759 And that's his promise. 00:26:12.760 --> 00:26:13.809 And I thank the Lord for it. 00:26:14.259 --> 00:26:15.490 I've been in that place. 00:26:15.910 --> 00:26:22.299 But as we, as he increases our life, our income grows, our tide starts growing. 00:26:22.450 --> 00:26:31.180 Sometimes, sometimes that success, it becomes kind of like, well, you know, that's, that's a lot of money to be giving to the church or to be given to something like that. 00:26:31.181 --> 00:26:34.630 And so, and so I I'm thinking that maybe I need to do something different. 00:26:34.631 --> 00:26:38.500 And it kind of reminds me of the old story of the young man who comes to the pastor. 00:26:38.500 --> 00:26:42.279 And he, he says, Hey, pastor, you know, I'm starting a new business and this is going to be great. 00:26:42.430 --> 00:26:46.980 And I just, you to pray for me, I really want to help support the kingdom of God and do good things. 00:26:46.980 --> 00:26:49.440 And so the pastor says, Hey, I'm going to pray for you. 00:26:49.441 --> 00:26:50.880