SPEAKER_00: Jesus gathered his disciples and walked to a high spot as a crowd swelled the students.
SPEAKER_00: Curious onlookers and possible enemies wanting to hear this religious leader who seemed different.
SPEAKER_00: Could it be the Messiah they have been waiting for to save them from their enemies?
SPEAKER_00: Could the old kingdoms of this world be passing away?
SPEAKER_00: Was this Jesus finally ushering in the kingdom of God?
SPEAKER_00: And then he spoke a verbal attack on unrighteousness and self-righteousness, an assault on I'ma get me and mine.
SPEAKER_00: And it was a message for the broken.
SPEAKER_00: Blessed are the poor spirit, the spiritually bankrupt, those who recognize desperate need for God.
SPEAKER_00: And starting with this deep truth, he dispensed world-changing, life-rearranging understanding.
SPEAKER_00: Love your enemies, be generous to everyone.
SPEAKER_00: Come on.
SPEAKER_00: For real?
SPEAKER_01: You will never be good enough by working harder.
SPEAKER_01: Pray this way.
SPEAKER_01: You are the light of the world.
SPEAKER_01: Do not worry about your life.
SPEAKER_00: Be realistic, Jesus.
SPEAKER_01: Ask, seek, knock, stop performing.
SPEAKER_01: Enter the thing.
SPEAKER_01: Enter through the narrow gate.
SPEAKER_01: Fill your own.
SPEAKER_00: Today, many likers of Jesus listen to these words and they say, He probably didn't mean that, but if we truly assume Jesus meant what he said, a better kingdom would shine brighter in a darker world.
SPEAKER_00: Together we can look to the Savior on the mountaintop and soak in the teachings of life.
SPEAKER_00: Join us for uncommon sense, joyfully living out the challenges of Jesus' sermon on the mount.
SPEAKER_02: It's good to be with you today for this one service on a Sunday.
SPEAKER_02: It's nice to see everybody at once.
SPEAKER_02: I love it.
SPEAKER_02: Here's today's reminder.
SPEAKER_02: We have a saying here in our church, and it's a crying church, ain't a dying church.
SPEAKER_02: And so when we hear kids screaming, that means one thing.
SPEAKER_02: It means that our church is alive.
SPEAKER_02: It means that one day when we're gone, these kids will be here leading the church.
SPEAKER_02: And so one of the things that we're we always want to say is we want kids to have a great experience here.
SPEAKER_02: And we, you know, some they're not always going to remember every Bible lesson that they hear, but they are going to remember how we treated them.
SPEAKER_02: And so when you hear a kid crying, um, they're not crying to ruin your worship experience, they're crying because they're kids.
SPEAKER_02: And Jesus uh welcomed children, and so we do too.
SPEAKER_02: So when we hear kids, it's a beautiful sound that we love.
SPEAKER_02: Also, when you hear kids, remember to pray for those parents, okay?
SPEAKER_02: Um, because parents show up and they're their minds divided, they're trying their best, but they they're thinking about so many things.
SPEAKER_02: So when you see a parent, bless them, pray over them, encourage them.
SPEAKER_02: And uh, you know, one day their kid will be able to go and and and and figure it out.
SPEAKER_02: So uh I know for my kids, I had one of my children that it was one year that it took before they they finally were like, okay, thank you for bringing your kid.
SPEAKER_02: But before that, it was like, oh, hey, it's you again.
SPEAKER_02: So uh sorry, all that is to say we're gonna be today in Matthew 6.
SPEAKER_02: Um, we're gonna be in Matthew 6 today.
SPEAKER_02: And if you don't have a good Bible, we have nice Bibles on that side and that side.
SPEAKER_02: And if you don't have a nice Bible, we would love to give you a Bible.
SPEAKER_02: We have study Bibles that we could give you if you don't have one at home.
SPEAKER_02: Uh, we also have them in multiple languages.
SPEAKER_02: Uh tenemos biblias bilingues, disponibles, acostada, del salon, bonju, muensat sim kanta, nueba vec mwen isila, nueguen bib creo i si e puno gratis, no som son o creo.
SPEAKER_02: Now, we are also gonna be trying something.
SPEAKER_02: I don't know, are we ready for this?
SPEAKER_02: I don't know.
SPEAKER_02: There's an app that we're gonna start using.
SPEAKER_02: We're gonna try it out.
SPEAKER_02: Are we ready?
SPEAKER_02: I guess not, but we're gonna be in the future.
SPEAKER_02: If you have friends that speak another language, we're gonna actually have an app that we're gonna put up the the QR code on the screen, and they're gonna be able to actually plug their headphones into their phone and hear a direct translation of the sermon on Sunday.
SPEAKER_02: So, yeah.
SPEAKER_02: You clap now, but we don't know if it's gonna work out.
SPEAKER_02: We'll see.
SPEAKER_02: All right.
SPEAKER_02: So we're gonna be in Matthew 6, 1.
SPEAKER_02: Uh, does anyone have a oh, this is it, yeah.
SPEAKER_02: So um uh I'm not gonna try to read that.
SPEAKER_02: Uh I don't speak.
SPEAKER_02: Crayol is rough, man.
SPEAKER_02: It's hard to say.
SPEAKER_02: But if uh you know someone that might need to hear the translation in their ear, we're gonna be slowly teaching them to use this, and we're hoping that it works out.
SPEAKER_02: We're we're partnering with an organization that has a special deal for churches um that normally works in international business.
SPEAKER_02: And so we're trying this out.
SPEAKER_02: Hopefully, it works.
SPEAKER_02: Our goal is to make the gospel accessible to more and more people.
SPEAKER_02: When you hear music sung in a different language, um, you can praise God that someone else is feeling feeling more welcome today.
SPEAKER_02: Um, it doesn't mean that you're not welcome because we're not singing your language, it means someone else is.
SPEAKER_02: So you can pray for those folks as well.
SPEAKER_02: So I hope you're noticing a pattern.
SPEAKER_02: Um, we're all about other people, and that's the way the church should be.
SPEAKER_02: Um, we're always about trying to bring other people in to where it's easier and easier for them to get to the feet of Jesus.
SPEAKER_02: All right, so Matthew 6.
SPEAKER_02: Does anybody have a physical Bible here today besides a phone?
SPEAKER_02: I know those are great, but I just love seeing these things.
SPEAKER_02: I just think they're beautiful.
SPEAKER_02: Love to see them.
SPEAKER_02: If you don't have one, we'd love to give you one.
SPEAKER_02: Now, let's move into Matthew 6.
SPEAKER_02: Uh, it's gonna be about giving.
SPEAKER_02: I don't know if you know that yet, but let's go.
SPEAKER_02: Um, Christmas morning is a morning that as a kid I looked forward to so much.
SPEAKER_02: Now, I was raised as a Baha'i, um, which is not Christian, and we fought our parents over and over again to celebrate Christmas.
SPEAKER_02: Uh, we we actually were raised to celebrate something called intercalary days, which is where they would give you gifts.
SPEAKER_02: And I remember when my parents got me like a Nerf gun that was like Ghostbusters, it was the greatest, but I was still like, man, I want to celebrate Christmas with everybody else.
SPEAKER_02: Can we do that?
SPEAKER_02: So my family switched over to Christmas, and I can tell you, like, I started celebrating Christmas probably around the age of eight.
SPEAKER_02: Um, I saw the other kids celebrate Christmas, it looked amazing.
SPEAKER_02: They would come with their new like starter jackets or whatever else got stolen from them later, and they were so excited to have them.
SPEAKER_02: But me, no, I didn't get to do that.
SPEAKER_02: Me, it was intercalary days, and when I told somebody about intercalary days and naruz, which was the uh it like Islamic New Year, they would say, What are you talking about?
SPEAKER_02: Well, that's what I was raised in.
SPEAKER_02: But when I started to celebrate Christmas, and I'm not talking about Jesus Christmas, I'm talking about gift-giving Christmas.
SPEAKER_02: When I started to celebrate that with my family, I can tell you the first couple years, I did not sleep.
SPEAKER_02: I did not sleep, and I remember wanting a game gear.
SPEAKER_02: I don't know if you know what this is, but it was like a Game Boy, but much better.
SPEAKER_02: And I wanted a game, a game gear so bad.
SPEAKER_02: Yes, Sega, that's right.
SPEAKER_02: And I just remember the one year my my family, my family is not so great with money, so they would buy stupid things that were so expensive for us at times.
SPEAKER_02: I got a game gear, but I can tell you the first that the week leading up to that was all I could think about.
SPEAKER_02: I couldn't think about anything else, just game gear, game gear.
SPEAKER_02: I wanted the new Lion King game, I wanted the new Aladdin game, I wanted Street Fighter, I wanted all that stuff.
SPEAKER_02: And then I got it, and that was fine.
SPEAKER_02: And then over time, around the age of 16, I became a believer in Jesus.
SPEAKER_02: And then Christmas took on a new feeling, but I still loved Christmas, and let me just say, I loved Christmas the secular holiday, okay?
SPEAKER_02: Not the celebration of Jesus, but the giving of gifts.
SPEAKER_02: And I I cannot tell you what it's like for me to give gifts now.
SPEAKER_02: I love to give gifts to my family when I get it right.
SPEAKER_02: Um, so let's say once a year, once every two years, when five years.
SPEAKER_02: I have this problem.
SPEAKER_02: If I'm gonna give somebody a gift and I know like I actually got it right, like I I struggle to keep that thing under the tree.
SPEAKER_02: Like I'm just like, hey, just open it now.
SPEAKER_02: Just come on.
SPEAKER_02: You just need it now.
SPEAKER_02: I'm so excited to give the gift.
SPEAKER_02: Does anybody else feel that way?
SPEAKER_02: You're just excited, you want that person to open that up.
SPEAKER_02: It feels good, doesn't it?
SPEAKER_02: Like maybe even you had to sacrifice to get them that gift.
SPEAKER_02: Maybe because you had to sacrifice for them to have that gift, it feels good.
SPEAKER_02: But the tough question becomes when it comes to our gift giving, when it comes to our good works, what about giving fires us up?
SPEAKER_02: Because it's a question we should be asking ourselves.
SPEAKER_02: The tough question becomes what about giving fires us up?
SPEAKER_02: And then we have to answer it with tough answers.
SPEAKER_02: Am I excited for their joy?
SPEAKER_02: Or am I excited because I am the source of their joy?
SPEAKER_02: If someone else gave them the exact same gift, would I be excited in the same way?
SPEAKER_02: I don't know.
SPEAKER_02: When we care for others, it should be out of the overflow of our love for God.
SPEAKER_02: But the question is, does gift giving, does generosity stem from a desire just to be loved, just to be liked, just to be seen, just to be respected?
SPEAKER_02: Church, when we recognize our motives are not always pure, it means we can recognize our need for God.
SPEAKER_02: Because our Father in heaven, he delights in rewarding righteous acts that flow out of his love.
SPEAKER_02: But God is uninterested in a generosity that is rooted in any kind of exploitation, any cheap ego boost.
SPEAKER_02: He is concerned with true justice, true mercy, and his glory alone.
SPEAKER_02: And that's what we're going to be talking about.
SPEAKER_02: So I hope you're with me in Matthew 6, 1.
SPEAKER_02: Let's read the word of God.
SPEAKER_02: Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others, to be seen by them.
SPEAKER_02: Otherwise, you have no reward with your Father in heaven.
SPEAKER_02: So, whenever you give to the poor, don't sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be applauded by people.
SPEAKER_02: Truly, I tell you, they have their reward.
SPEAKER_02: But when you give to the poor, don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret.
SPEAKER_02: And your father, who sees in secret, will reward you.
SPEAKER_02: Let's pray.
SPEAKER_02: Father, we are needy, needy people, and we are uh many of us are greedy for attention, greedy for recognition, and greedy for glory that only belongs to you.
SPEAKER_02: We also don't want it to be that way.
SPEAKER_02: And so we ask this morning that you would continue to chip away at this decomposing cadaver and replace us with people who hunger and thirst for your righteousness.
SPEAKER_02: We have seen the example of your son, and we have seen a better way in him.
SPEAKER_02: But we also understand that there will never be a better way until we truly accept you.
SPEAKER_02: So today we plead for your help.
SPEAKER_02: Make us generous for your glory alone.
SPEAKER_02: Restore us, teach us, empower us to be more like your Son.
SPEAKER_02: May the words of my mouth and the thoughts of our hearts be pleasing to you.
SPEAKER_02: We pray this all in Jesus' name, and all God's people said, Amen.
SPEAKER_02: So today I'm gonna start by badmouthing another church.
SPEAKER_02: Um it's a good way to start a service, but I I'm just I'm not gonna mention them by name.
SPEAKER_02: Honestly, I don't even remember their name, so I'm really glad about that.
SPEAKER_02: Um, but there was a time when I was on Instagram, and and I don't know what happens, but somehow you get in this this uh this thing where you see the same ads over and over and over again, doesn't matter uh who you are or why, how many times you say not relevant, not relevant, it comes back and it comes back again.
SPEAKER_02: And this one church, man, they were advertising to me like constantly.
SPEAKER_02: They're like, You like Jesus, you must need a church.
SPEAKER_02: And there were several things that bothered me about the way they advertised.
SPEAKER_02: First off, they were just advertising what it felt like was to get more Christians, which I'm like, man, why are we trying to just get more Christians in here?
SPEAKER_02: Like, I'm not trying to grow with more Christians, I'm trying to help you as Christians, if you're a Christian, to serve others, but we're not just trying to grow here from Christians.
SPEAKER_02: But the other thing that I noticed is that all the people in all of their Instagram, as I got creepier and creepier and just peeped the whole Instagram, was that they were all beautiful.
SPEAKER_02: Their outfits were all so up to date.
SPEAKER_02: Um, I just learned like what the shirts are called.
SPEAKER_02: I didn't know that guys were wearing shirts called crops.
SPEAKER_02: Um, back in the day, we called those crop tops for ladies.
SPEAKER_02: Um, but apparently that's a thing guys wear now, which I didn't know.
SPEAKER_02: That's new to me.
SPEAKER_02: I just learned this week.
SPEAKER_02: But they were all wearing the coolest outfits, the coolest hats, the freshest shoes.
SPEAKER_02: And then I noticed that the only people they showed that weren't like that were the people who were being served, the people who were getting bags of food in the photos, the people who were being given things in the photos, the people who were receiving the things from the generosity of the well-dressed people.
SPEAKER_02: And I just gotta tell you, man, I know I have sin in my heart, but that just made me angry.
SPEAKER_02: It made me angry because because God's church is made up of everyone, and if you are poor, you belong here just as much as anyone.
SPEAKER_02: If you are rich, you belong here just as much as anyone.
SPEAKER_02: And I'm sorry, sometimes I may not treat you as well.
SPEAKER_02: I'm working on that, but I will just tell you when we give to be seen, we're just like that Instagram page.
SPEAKER_02: I don't want us to be a brand.
SPEAKER_02: I don't want to sell Jesus like he's a product to be sold, and while I love our church, God has been challenging me personally lately.
SPEAKER_02: What are ways we can better tell people about Jesus and tell people less about city life church?
SPEAKER_02: That's something I've been challenged with.
SPEAKER_02: What are more ways we can tell people about Jesus and fewer ways we can tell people about city life?
SPEAKER_02: And I don't know all the answers, but I do know that when we seek our comfort, when we seek our applause, when we seek likes, those things we can be assured are short term.
SPEAKER_02: But when we seek God's kingdom first, he will be glorified, and we get to participate in something that is so much grander than me, than you, or City Life Church.
SPEAKER_02: And so today I'm gonna bring you two ways Jesus teaches about giving.
SPEAKER_02: Two ways Jesus teaches about giving.
SPEAKER_02: And my first way is this reputations fade quickly, righteousness for God's glory shines forever.
SPEAKER_02: Reputations fade quickly, but righteousness for God's glory shines forever.
SPEAKER_02: Verse one be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others, to be seen by them.
SPEAKER_02: Otherwise, you have no reward with your father in heaven.
SPEAKER_02: So we're seeing, watch out.
SPEAKER_02: If you do good things to be seen by humans, your father in heaven will see what it really is selfishness.
SPEAKER_02: And God is not impressed by generosity rooted in exploitation or cheap ego boosts.
SPEAKER_02: Now, this was actually the beginning of a new section for Jesus.
SPEAKER_02: We've been going through the Sermon on the Mount.
SPEAKER_02: This section is about motive, and the other section was also about motive.
SPEAKER_02: But this is motive versus outward appearances.
SPEAKER_02: Now, surely you have heard the saying if a tree falls in the forest and no one is around, does it make a sound?
SPEAKER_02: It's that idea that if no one is there to see it, how do we know it really happened, right?
SPEAKER_02: Now, um, here's the thing in our culture, we we we believe that, don't we?
SPEAKER_02: Like if something funny happens but not on video, did it happen?
SPEAKER_02: We even have that term picture, it didn't happen, right?
SPEAKER_02: If you drank an incredible boba drink, but nobody saw a picture, did you really drink it?
SPEAKER_02: If you saw a gorgeous sunset without your phone, did it really happen?
SPEAKER_02: Have you guys been to the Obi Cliffs when there is a good sunset?
SPEAKER_02: Goodness gracious, every hand is in the air, but they're not worshiping, are they?
SPEAKER_02: They got they got like a tablet in their hand taking a picture.
SPEAKER_02: That's not worship.
SPEAKER_02: They need someone else to see it to give we need someone else to see it to give us that feedback that we desire, that need to be fed by other likes.
SPEAKER_02: Guys, if you did something generous for Jesus, but nobody knew, would God still be honored?
SPEAKER_02: Yes, you can call back on that.
SPEAKER_02: The answer is yes.
SPEAKER_02: In the next few sermons, we're gonna look at how Jesus was speaking to the why that we do what we do.
SPEAKER_02: Don't give to be seen, don't fast to be seen, don't pray to be seen, especially if being seen is your motivation.
SPEAKER_02: Now, in baseball, and I grew up playing baseball, we had a term for this, and it was called eye wash.
SPEAKER_02: Has anybody else heard of the term eye wash before?
SPEAKER_02: Gosh dang, nobody, like not one hand has gone up.
SPEAKER_02: Eye wash, nobody ever.
SPEAKER_02: Okay, gotcha.
SPEAKER_02: Um, basically, it's doing something that is flashy to make it look like you're working hard.
SPEAKER_02: Like when a guy dives for a ball that he could have just caught, but everybody's like, Woo, look at you, you know, or when he exercises in a way that looks impressive, but it's actually unnecessarily extra.
SPEAKER_02: It's doing something to make the eyes comfortable that actually has no real substance.
SPEAKER_02: Eye wash.
SPEAKER_02: Now, it's that dude shouting like he's on rep 99 at the gym, but really he just wants you to know that he's lifting.
SPEAKER_02: That's his goal.
SPEAKER_02: Now, there's lots of terms for this.
SPEAKER_02: Some people call it fronting, some people call it virtue signaling.
SPEAKER_02: Um, they're all different things with different names, but it's all acting.
SPEAKER_02: It's all acting.
SPEAKER_02: Jesus called many religious people, and he does even in our text today, hypocrites.
SPEAKER_02: And what does a hypocrite mean?
SPEAKER_02: Actor.
SPEAKER_02: That's what that word means.
SPEAKER_02: Actor.
SPEAKER_02: You are wearing a mask.
SPEAKER_02: Back in the day, we used to have an ad on our website that said, you can come here and be honest.
SPEAKER_02: And we would say, Don't wear a mask to church.
SPEAKER_02: And then COVID happened, and we were like, This looks kind of weird, okay?
SPEAKER_02: We're not doing this on purpose.
SPEAKER_02: We just don't want you to act like you have to have it all together to be with us because we don't have it all together.
SPEAKER_02: And and here's the thing: if we're honest, while showing up no matter what is a good thing, there are days when we like to act pious, when we act godly, trying to make people think that we are better than we really are.
SPEAKER_02: But remember, Jesus started out his sermon on the mount by telling us we are no good, we're not good enough without him.
SPEAKER_02: Poor in spirit, spiritually bankrupt.
SPEAKER_02: He blessed those who understood our need for him.
SPEAKER_02: He called us spiritually bankrupt, poor in spirit.
SPEAKER_02: Now, uh, Dr.
SPEAKER_02: Tony Evans, he says, Jesus wanted his followers to be kingdom people, but he didn't want them to do kingdom activities in order to be praised by others.
SPEAKER_02: If you're playing for the applause of people, you have all you are going to get.
SPEAKER_02: See, Jesus didn't attack though the good things, did he?
SPEAKER_02: He didn't attack you doing good things.
SPEAKER_02: Jesus attacked the why people were doing good things and who they were doing good things for.
SPEAKER_02: It's not, if it's not for God or from God, it's not good.
SPEAKER_02: Eye wash.
SPEAKER_02: So, what are some examples of eye wash for Christians?
SPEAKER_02: Um, we would say giving to the poor, posting Instagram, that's a very common one, or maybe it's like giving out in places where everybody can see you.
SPEAKER_02: Worshiping loudly while not forgiving the person around you, while not coming to reconciliation to the people around you.
SPEAKER_02: That's eyewash.
SPEAKER_02: Worshiping loudly while taking advantage of others, or intentionally pursuing sin without seeking true repentance, eyewash.
SPEAKER_02: Now, I think often in the news we get to see a lot of examples of fronting or eyewash.
SPEAKER_02: We get to see it with some of our right-wing religious folks.
SPEAKER_02: You often read about the guy who is trying to save marriage from homosexuality, but he's sleeping with like his kid's nanny.
SPEAKER_02: You see that stuff happen on the news all the time.
SPEAKER_02: Hypocrisy in religious folks, this is easy to attack.
SPEAKER_02: The press are always going to speak on this.
SPEAKER_02: But I actually think usually in this room we have more people on the left than the right.
SPEAKER_02: I would say politically speaking, okay?
SPEAKER_02: Hear me, friends, politically speaking.
SPEAKER_02: So I I feel like what I need to do, if I'm a true pastor to you, is I need to probably pick on our side, okay?
SPEAKER_02: So to my dearest bleeding heart liberal brothers and sisters in Christ, you two are spiritually corrupt and cannot earn anything outside the work of Jesus.
SPEAKER_02: So I'm gonna pick on us a bit with some examples.
SPEAKER_02: Um, sometimes we call it slactivism or clicktivism.
SPEAKER_02: It's where we say how mad we are about something online, like racism or something Trump did, but we aren't actually doing anything for our fellow man.
SPEAKER_02: We pretend we care, but our good works are limited to sharing articles, condemning people in leadership, and posting witty replies online.
SPEAKER_02: But that is a mist, friends, and it evaporates instantly.
SPEAKER_02: There's like a 99% chance you've likely helped no one in Gaza with your post, no one in Iran, and no one in poverty.
SPEAKER_02: But there's a good chance you will feel good about yourself and you will stop there.
SPEAKER_02: Slactivism, it usually reaches only people who agree with you, and it's eye wash, it's acting.
SPEAKER_02: Clictivism usually only engages people who agree with you or people who want to argue with you that have their minds closed already.
SPEAKER_02: It doesn't change.
SPEAKER_02: Change anything, but it makes you feel good.
SPEAKER_02: It's like eating like a whole bunch of Halloween candy in one sitting.
SPEAKER_02: It feels good in that moment, but there's no substance, there's no meat.
SPEAKER_02: To my vegetarian friends, there's no protein beans.
SPEAKER_02: Um, and it rots away your insides, friends.
SPEAKER_02: But maybe you did go do something, maybe you marched, friends.
SPEAKER_02: And I will contend this marching can do something, okay?
SPEAKER_02: Like marching pressured our mayor in 2020 to make the karate hold illegal for the San Diego police.
SPEAKER_02: That was a direct result of marching.
SPEAKER_02: And I would say some pressure behind the scenes, but but even if marching is good, friends, I still see the way people film themselves when they're marching.
SPEAKER_02: And I worry, I worry that we think marching is the finish line.
SPEAKER_02: Rather than doing the hard work behind the scenes when nobody but your father in heaven sees.
SPEAKER_02: But it's all dependent on the state of your heart.
SPEAKER_02: You can march for the rights of others for good reasons and bad reasons.
SPEAKER_02: Now I remember um when I got asked to go stand behind a family, um, there was a man named Alfred Alongo in Oklahoma, and he had been shot by the police, and he had had gone through a mental health episode, and he had a vape in his hand that the police said they thought was a gun, and it was disturbing to see on video.
SPEAKER_02: And I remember I stood behind the family as they talked, and I heard people who loved this family and spoke for them and advocated for them, and then I heard some people that were there for other reasons, and I can I will never get it out of my head when someone started getting up there and just got so political.
SPEAKER_02: And at this moment, when he started talking about the Keystone oil pipeline that was going through the country, I was like, What are we doing, man?
SPEAKER_02: Why are we talking about all these political things?
SPEAKER_02: Do you even care about this family that's weeping right now?
SPEAKER_02: It was eyewash, not everyone, but let me just say it was gross.
SPEAKER_02: Now, if we need more examples of performative giving, um, who are better examples than actual hypocrites, actors, celebrities, politicians, they love to just give me the perfect example.
SPEAKER_02: Now, I gotta tell you to be really careful with this next section, okay?
SPEAKER_02: Because if we see this in them and not in ourselves, we miss the point, okay?
SPEAKER_02: But I do think sometimes they give us a really um, what's the right way to put this?
SPEAKER_02: A um very obvious way to see it, okay?
SPEAKER_02: So um, I just want to first off, just I'm gonna talk to you about something called the Met Gala.
SPEAKER_02: Does anyone know what the Met Gala is?
SPEAKER_02: Okay, I do see some hands there.
SPEAKER_02: Um, can we show some of the outfits from the Met Gala real fast?
SPEAKER_02: Okay, so we got that one, marshmallow, okay.
SPEAKER_02: That one, the fluffy coat.
SPEAKER_02: Um, he's got his head next to him for reasons.
SPEAKER_02: Uh I don't uh uh that's the that's the witch from uh uh Lion the Witch in the Wardrobe, probably.
SPEAKER_02: What else?
SPEAKER_02: That I mean that's like Bell times 10.
SPEAKER_02: What else?
SPEAKER_02: Uh that's I mean, these are all cool, aren't they?
SPEAKER_02: Some of them are at least.
SPEAKER_02: That that's the last one that I thought, you know, just the most ridiculous.
SPEAKER_02: Um that's a cat uh for reasons.
SPEAKER_02: Um I'll probably have to have you switch those off now because I'm like, that is too distracting.
SPEAKER_02: Um, but these are some of the outfits from the Met Gala.
SPEAKER_02: Uh is it Gala, Gala?
SPEAKER_02: Doesn't matter.
SPEAKER_02: Now, in in 2022, there was a famous uh politician, and she wore a dress to the Met Gala that said tax the rich.
SPEAKER_02: Now, let me just say, she paid$990 to rent that gown for one night.
SPEAKER_02: And um, it was designed by apparently very famous fashion designer.
SPEAKER_02: I'm not gonna get it right, Brother Vellies.
SPEAKER_02: Did I say that right?
SPEAKER_02: Anyone know?
SPEAKER_02: I don't know.
SPEAKER_02: They're famous, I guess.
SPEAKER_02: But the thing is, is there was an independent committee that actually ruled that um that outfit cost a whole lot more than she paid for it, and she had to pay an extra three thousand dollars for that costume by law as a politician.
SPEAKER_02: Also, someone wore a five million dollar dress that was once worn by Marilyn Monroe.
SPEAKER_02: People have worn dresses and jewelry, and I need you just to hear what I'm saying.
SPEAKER_02: One person at a time, hundreds of millions of dollars of jewelry at this at this event.
SPEAKER_02: Tickets can cost upwards of$140,000 per person.
SPEAKER_02: This is all to raise money for the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, and let me just say this art is a good cause.
SPEAKER_02: I like art, art is nice, you know, and stuff.
SPEAKER_02: Um, but we have to be honest here.
SPEAKER_02: We have to be honest.
SPEAKER_02: Why do celebrities and politicians alike go to these gay lifts?
SPEAKER_02: Why eyewashed to be seen, and and this that is the only thing that they will get, they will get seen, and it may be part of their job, but let me just say it's still gross.
SPEAKER_02: And you know what?
SPEAKER_02: Pastors can do this too.
SPEAKER_02: Right here, and friends, the same over-the-top desire to be seen is in all of us, isn't it?
SPEAKER_02: If you are coming to a church service for your business contacts, don't expect a blessing beyond that.
SPEAKER_02: If you are giving to the poor so someone will see you've already received your reward.
SPEAKER_02: But the answer is not to stop being generous, it's not to stop being consistent in church and doing good deeds even when you're not feeling it.
SPEAKER_02: It's also not to start giving to random people and aiding their addictions on the street.
SPEAKER_02: No, no, no.
SPEAKER_02: We need to seek God's heart in our generosity for all we do.
SPEAKER_02: We need to understand our sinful need for approval, and we need to go to the one whose only approval matters.
SPEAKER_02: See, God is not interested in generosity when it's rooted in exploitation or cheap egos, ego boosts.
SPEAKER_02: He's not.
SPEAKER_02: But this all comes down to our relationship with God.
SPEAKER_02: In 1 Samuel 16, the prophet reminds us humans do not see what the Lord sees.
SPEAKER_02: For humans see what is visible, but the Lord sees the heart.
SPEAKER_02: Also, for some of you in the room, others are often noticed for doing good things instead of you.
SPEAKER_02: You don't get noticed for the things you do, but you see other people get noticed, and this eats you up.
SPEAKER_02: This is also a problem.
SPEAKER_02: This is jealousy, and this is not from the Lord.
SPEAKER_02: God will settle accounts in the end, but just because someone else is getting credit for your generosity, just because nobody acknowledges your services and giftings, it doesn't mean that God doesn't see.
SPEAKER_02: He sees you, friend.
SPEAKER_02: Your church leaders, us, we may fail to recognize your gifts.
SPEAKER_02: I promise you, it's not on purpose.
SPEAKER_02: But just because nobody acknowledges it doesn't mean God doesn't see.
SPEAKER_02: Sometimes it may be just that you are doing it right.
SPEAKER_02: But it still may hurt you to never get recognized while less worthy people are being recognized constantly.
SPEAKER_02: And let me just say, I'm sorry if we are missing you for a leadership position.
SPEAKER_02: It's not on purpose, but your Father in heaven sees and he rewards generously, and your generosity will be known and is known by him because he cares.
SPEAKER_02: And this brings us to our second way Jesus teaches about giving.
SPEAKER_02: It is a quiet gift without need for acknowledgement, shouts the glory of God.
SPEAKER_02: I'll say it again.
SPEAKER_02: A quiet gift without need for acknowledgement shouts the glory of God.
SPEAKER_02: So then he says, So whenever you give to the poor, in verse 2, I would just like to point out Jesus is not saying if.
SPEAKER_02: Hear me, Jesus is not saying if this is not something that we can voluntarily choose not to do.
SPEAKER_02: He says, when.
SPEAKER_02: This is an expectation for Jesus' followers.
SPEAKER_02: And I will say, some of you who live on the streets in here, you are called to be generous to the poor too.
SPEAKER_02: I will tell you, you are.
SPEAKER_02: And I recognize giving to someone on the street with a sign will make you feel good, friends, but studies show this is rarely what's going to help.
SPEAKER_02: And it's rarely done in secret, too, let's be honest.
SPEAKER_02: When someone asks you for change, it's mostly to help them get drunk or high.
SPEAKER_02: But when you bring shoes, when you bring food and jackets and supplies to this pantry over here, more, it's so much more than money for beer.
SPEAKER_02: So verse 2 continues So, whenever you give to the poor, don't sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets to be applauded by people.
SPEAKER_02: Truly I tell you, they have the reward.
SPEAKER_02: Now, there is no biblical evidence that people were literally sounding off trumpets to announce their giving to the world, but there are writings from the time that tell us about something called the thirteen shofar chests, where you would give your offerings to the poor.
SPEAKER_02: Now, what's a shofar?
SPEAKER_02: Does anyone know what a shofar is?
SPEAKER_02: Say it.
SPEAKER_02: It's a ram's horn, right?
SPEAKER_02: So so what would happen is um it was often used in battle, and you would have somebody with a shofar, and it was often used for worship.
SPEAKER_02: The purp, you know, that kind of thing.
SPEAKER_02: If you have been in a couple churches as I have been, or I was in a touring worship band, some people would just show up with that shofar sometimes, and it didn't matter if it was in key, it didn't matter, they would just start playing that thing at the top of their lungs the whole time.
SPEAKER_02: Uh good for them.
SPEAKER_02: I don't, I'm not, I've got no problem with it.
SPEAKER_02: But what he is saying is don't sound the shofar.
SPEAKER_02: Don't sound the loud horn to say, look at my giving, look at me.
SPEAKER_02: Guys, we don't want to do that, do we?
SPEAKER_02: The shofar is a loud horn.
SPEAKER_02: There is a chance when people give, some might have literally blown on the horn, but this doesn't have to be true for Jesus' point, does it?
SPEAKER_02: Jesus was likely using hyperbole to illustrate a point.
SPEAKER_02: Don't call attention to your generosity.
SPEAKER_02: God is uninterested in generosity rooted in exploitation or cheap ego boosts.
SPEAKER_02: We all know this when we see it, right?
SPEAKER_02: Can we be clear?
SPEAKER_02: There are times when you will see generosity and you go, Well, I know what that's for.
SPEAKER_02: And it's an act of insecurity on our part when we try to do that, don't we?
SPEAKER_02: We want people to know we belong.
SPEAKER_02: We are insecure in our relationship with God and others, so we want people to know that we are kind and generous.
SPEAKER_02: Look at how kind and generous I am.
SPEAKER_02: What better way to be kind and generous than give money?
SPEAKER_02: Since Jesus says our hearts are slow, so connected to our finances.
SPEAKER_02: Look at how good my heart is.
SPEAKER_02: But that's not giving to God, is it?
SPEAKER_02: It's giving to your insecurity, and you can never feed your insecurity enough.
SPEAKER_02: Did you know that?
SPEAKER_02: It is a hungry beast.
SPEAKER_02: Now, maybe your insecurity is that you just don't feel good enough.
SPEAKER_02: Perhaps you can't fathom Jesus' gift as a truly free gift.
SPEAKER_02: Maybe you still struggle with sin and believe if you could just do some awesome things, maybe you'll be good enough for Jesus.
SPEAKER_02: Maybe you have always been made to think you don't deserve love, and so in your insecurity, you are telling the world, look how generous I am.
SPEAKER_02: See, I deserve some love, right?
SPEAKER_02: Look, Dad, I know you abused me, you left our family like it didn't matter, but look at what I can do without you.
SPEAKER_02: I'm generous.
SPEAKER_02: Look how I matter.
SPEAKER_02: Mom, you said I'd never amount to anything, but listen to those trumpets.
SPEAKER_02: Announcing all the good thing I do.
SPEAKER_02: Look at all the likes I'm getting, look at all the people I'm helping, look at how much the world needs me.
SPEAKER_02: But Jesus says, That's your reward, friends.
SPEAKER_02: This word reward is very close to receipt.
SPEAKER_02: You've been acknowledged.
SPEAKER_02: Here's your receipt, moving on.
SPEAKER_02: Verse 3 but when you give to the poor, don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret.
SPEAKER_02: And your father who sees in secret will reward you.
SPEAKER_02: Whenever you give to the poor, we don't play high and mighty.
SPEAKER_02: Remember, we are poor in spirit.
SPEAKER_02: God is the only one who needs to know.
SPEAKER_02: Now, here's the difficult part it's not only about doing something in secret so others won't praise you, is it?
SPEAKER_02: We are poor in spirit, and sometimes we will do things in secret and we will praise ourselves.
SPEAKER_02: Yikes.
SPEAKER_02: Jesus showed us how far short we fall from his perfection.
SPEAKER_02: I I get not letting others see our generosity, but but dang, try to make sure that we don't see our generosity.
SPEAKER_02: Try to make sure that we don't know what we did.
SPEAKER_02: That is impossible, Jesus.
SPEAKER_02: Uh but you notice Jesus tends to ask impossible things of us, but with God all things are possible.
SPEAKER_02: Now, my first advice is this please don't stop being generous.
SPEAKER_02: And if you think this is me trying to get some money here, forget that.
SPEAKER_02: Don't give to us ever.
SPEAKER_02: If you think that we're trying to just fool you into giving, that ain't it.
SPEAKER_02: Just consider ways to attune your heart to God's and maybe some practical things too.
SPEAKER_02: I have a few.
SPEAKER_02: There are some good practical ways to help you not dwell on your generosity.
SPEAKER_02: Here's the first one.
SPEAKER_02: This is silly.
SPEAKER_02: Bill pay, automatic deposit.
SPEAKER_02: If if if you have a uh if you give and you give consistently, set up the bill pay so you don't see it anymore.
SPEAKER_02: It just helps your left hand not know what your right hand is doing.
SPEAKER_02: Also, in my family, we have a fund that uh just comes out directly into our account where we know that is God's money, we don't touch it.
SPEAKER_02: And so if somebody else needs it, then we give it.
SPEAKER_02: But I cannot tell you how when I'm thinking about how I really, you know, my surfboard broke, it's time for me to get a new surfboard.
SPEAKER_02: When I look at our account, I don't see that money in there.
SPEAKER_02: When our car needs a smog and we need to get the money for the smog, I don't see the money for generosity.
SPEAKER_02: But when someone is in need, I see God's generosity account.
SPEAKER_02: It's not mine, it's not mine.
SPEAKER_02: That's why it doesn't matter anymore that uh that I know who's giving because it's not mine anyway.
SPEAKER_02: This is how we give, it's all about the why we give.
SPEAKER_02: And let me just say, when we write checks, I just have my wife do it.
SPEAKER_02: So I don't know really, even I'm not like involved in the writing of the check even.
SPEAKER_02: Now, this is not about me have having you give more to the church or anything.
SPEAKER_02: You gotta work that out with you and God so your right hand and your left hand won't know what each other is doing.
SPEAKER_02: But it's about how we give, this is about why we give, and it's about who we are ultimately giving to, the one who has given everything to us.
SPEAKER_02: Giving to be seen, though, giving to be seen hurts everyone, friends.
SPEAKER_02: It hurts the person giving, it puffs up our ego like that puffy jacket dress that you saw on there.
SPEAKER_02: It makes us arrogant, it it takes glory away from God that only He deserves.
SPEAKER_02: It makes us feel pressure to give, not joy.
SPEAKER_02: Now, Zambian pastor Joe Capolio he says it is better to give secretly so the beneficiary is not embarrassed, and only God who sees what is done in secret knows about the gift.
SPEAKER_02: Guys, it also hurts the people watching because then they feel competition, then they feel jealousy.
SPEAKER_02: It's not good to feel competition and jealousy about giving.
SPEAKER_02: Then you hurt the reputation of God.
SPEAKER_02: We are stealing from God's glory, he doesn't share worship.
SPEAKER_02: Our Father in heaven delights in rewarding righteous acts which flow from his love.
SPEAKER_02: See, giving for the glory of God is healing, and it also can bless the giver.
SPEAKER_02: Now, William Barclay, he once said, A man may give simply because he has to.
SPEAKER_02: He may give simply because the overflowing love and kindliness in his heart will allow him to do no other.
SPEAKER_02: He may give because try as he might, he cannot rid himself of the sense of responsibility for the man in need.
SPEAKER_02: See, that kind that sense sounds like you are being transformed into the image of God, and that's where the giving is coming from, him.
SPEAKER_02: And to the person receiving, when you are given in secret, you know you don't owe anybody anything, do you?
SPEAKER_02: I'll just tell you, I've had moments, and this story is kind of funny, but where people will come into the pantry, and actually some of you in the room have said this, like, Pastor, you're so amazing that you would give me this stuff.
SPEAKER_02: It usually happens during the week.
SPEAKER_02: And uh, some of you know this story, but guys, I don't put stuff in the pantry.
SPEAKER_02: So why like I can't take any credit for it.
SPEAKER_02: You guys fill the pantry with your things, and other churches send us things to fill that pantry.
SPEAKER_02: So when somebody tries to say, Pastor, you're so awesome that you you give me stuff in the pantry, I'm like, dude, don't put that on me.
SPEAKER_02: It is absolutely not from me.
SPEAKER_02: It is not my glory to take.
SPEAKER_02: And I didn't even do anything to earn it.
SPEAKER_02: That's the way that it's beautiful.
SPEAKER_02: Nobody gets glory.
SPEAKER_02: So if nobody gets glory, who gets glory?
SPEAKER_02: God.
SPEAKER_02: The people who see the gift but not the giver, they are encouraged to do the same thing.
SPEAKER_02: This is why when you receive something from God, tell the world about the gift and him, because it honors him.
SPEAKER_02: The giver doesn't get glory that doesn't belong to him, they don't steal from the reputation of God, but it also gets us back to the way God made us in his image.
SPEAKER_02: These commands of Jesus are not just so we will be rewarded, they are rewards in themselves.
SPEAKER_02: Jeremiah 42 says, Whenever it is pleasant or unpleasant, we will obey the Lord our God to whom we are sending you, so it may go well with us.
SPEAKER_02: See, it's about us too.
SPEAKER_02: Now, guys, I I probably need to take you back to the start of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount and remind you, Jesus said, You should not murder anyone, but you also should not hate them or call them fools with your words either.
SPEAKER_02: What was Jesus interested in here?
SPEAKER_02: The heart.
SPEAKER_02: He said, Don't have sex outside of marriage.
SPEAKER_02: But he takes it further, saying, A man should not even look at a woman with lust in his heart.
SPEAKER_02: Jesus cares about the heart.
SPEAKER_02: So now I need you to remember another text from Matthew 5, where we get real confusing.
SPEAKER_02: Let your light shine before others, so they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
SPEAKER_02: Does that not feel like a little bit like a like a contradiction there?
SPEAKER_02: Well, we know it's not, but but some of you may be thinking right now, wait, Pastor, so Jesus wants us to give without any effort to be seen, but he also says, Let your light shine before others.
SPEAKER_02: But friends, these statements are not contradictory.
SPEAKER_02: Jesus says, Let your light shine before others so that they may glorify who your father in heaven.
SPEAKER_02: That's right.
SPEAKER_02: He did not say, Let your light shine so people may tell you how awesome you is.
SPEAKER_02: No, he doesn't say that.
SPEAKER_02: He says, Let our light shine for the glory of God.
SPEAKER_02: Not for the glory of our awesome little church, not for the glory of me, not for the glory of you, but for the glory of God.
SPEAKER_02: Our Father in heaven delights in rewarding righteous acts, but they have to flow from his love.
SPEAKER_02: God is uninterested in generosity rooted in exploitation or cheap ego boosts.
SPEAKER_02: Now, one time I had a leader in our community, I'm gonna leave it at that, who wanted to meet with me for coffee.
SPEAKER_02: He said he was considering running for an office, and he said he could tell somehow online that I didn't believe in him.
SPEAKER_02: And he asked me why.
SPEAKER_02: And I was like, hey man, like more power to you, you do your thing, it's fine, don't worry about it.
SPEAKER_02: And he's like, No, no, let me know.
SPEAKER_02: And I'm like, I don't know if you really want to know what I think.
SPEAKER_02: Like, it's okay, like we could be cool with each other, but you don't need to.
SPEAKER_02: He's like, Tell me, I want to know.
SPEAKER_02: So I said it.
SPEAKER_02: And I said, Every time I see you doing something good for other people, I see your face and I see you drawing attention to yourself.
SPEAKER_02: And to me, what this feels like is that you have a deep insecurity that has to make sure that everybody knows every single good thing you do for people.
SPEAKER_02: And he said, That's right.
SPEAKER_02: I was like, Oh, okay.
SPEAKER_02: Um, and and and and then what I said is I was like, you need to repent of this and you need to accept Jesus.
SPEAKER_02: No, I didn't say that.
SPEAKER_02: I wish I did, you guys.
SPEAKER_02: Like, as I'm looking back, I'm like, I wish that I I drew him to Jesus in a good way.
SPEAKER_02: I don't know if I did, it was a while.
SPEAKER_02: That's the part that I remember most.
SPEAKER_02: But let me just say, I'm actually, I was like, honestly, I was like, I'm really appreciative of your honesty.
SPEAKER_02: But I want you to know too, like, you you don't have to do anything to earn it.
SPEAKER_02: You don't, you can just do the right thing because it's the right thing, guys.
SPEAKER_02: We give for the glory of God.
SPEAKER_02: Also, when it comes to giving, you are a part of a church for a reason.
SPEAKER_02: You giving, of course, supports my salary, no lies.
SPEAKER_02: The building or electric bills, which are insane.
SPEAKER_02: Let's get solar or something.
SPEAKER_02: But I'm sure that when you want to feel good about yourself, you could do what people did when I went when I worked in rich churches.
SPEAKER_02: Pastor, good to see you.
SPEAKER_02: $100 handshake.
SPEAKER_02: It's pretty amazing.
SPEAKER_02: Now you you know, you do that, I could go buy like half of a meal.
SPEAKER_02: Um, but like guys used to give me a hundred dollar handshake, you know, back in the day when I was young, young married man, and they would just try to like be like cool like that.
SPEAKER_02: But the thing is, is that like they're doing that, mmm, they're not doing that to be seen.
SPEAKER_02: I don't know their motives all the time, but they are being seen.
SPEAKER_02: Whereas if they give to the church, then that money will support my family in a way and it will support the other works we do, but they won't get the credit.
SPEAKER_02: They won't, guys.
SPEAKER_02: Um, when you give to the church, I'm not gonna owe you for my salary, I'm gonna owe God.
SPEAKER_02: Also, when you give, there are times when a partner in our church is struggling, and your leaders use the finances to help them get back on their feet in an emergency.
SPEAKER_02: But but won't they won't always know that it's you because it's us, all of us, it's God.
SPEAKER_02: God will only get the glory there.
SPEAKER_02: And and because our church mostly gives to those who are already in a relationship with us, it also means that we can trust that this is not gonna go towards drugs, not gonna go towards supporting someone's addiction.
SPEAKER_02: We'll get it wrong, but we're trying our best.
SPEAKER_02: So here's my challenge for you this week: give to someone or something this week in a way that nobody knows.
SPEAKER_02: Are you wanting to give to a do uh to a GoFundMe?
SPEAKER_02: How about you do it anonymously?
SPEAKER_02: If you want to know a GoFundMe, there's actually someone in this church that has a GoFundMe right now that uh I'm not gonna talk about up here because it then I'm gonna have to talk about all of them, but because there'll be a lot in the future, but uh there is one I can recommend to you that you can do anonymously and help that person, a young girl who's trying to go to college that just needs a little more.
SPEAKER_02: You can also bring food, you can bring uh supplies, uh, or you can just help support our pantry early next week so that no one who comes and receives after the service is gonna see that.
SPEAKER_02: You did it.
SPEAKER_02: They just know that God gave to them.
SPEAKER_02: And let me just say, that is worship.
SPEAKER_02: Giving to those in need for God's glory is worship.
SPEAKER_02: It glorifies your Father in heaven.
SPEAKER_02: Whenever someone says a church has great worship, I know what they mean.
SPEAKER_02: Like the sound guy is good.
SPEAKER_02: We have a sound guy once every like eight weeks.
SPEAKER_02: The musicians are talented and singers can sing.
SPEAKER_02: The subwoofer is booming.
SPEAKER_02: They wait on God and they are attentive to his leading when they sing, and that's beautiful and that's awesome.
SPEAKER_02: That is real worship.
SPEAKER_02: Don't get me wrong.
SPEAKER_02: But that is only one way to worship God.
SPEAKER_02: Serving others, giving for God's glory, seeking reconciliation, honor, honoring others, and treating them as more important than yourself.
SPEAKER_02: This is worship too.
SPEAKER_02: Guys, when our good friend, who played guitar up here for eight years, Rick, passed away just over a month ago.
SPEAKER_02: Many of you stepped up to help him.
SPEAKER_02: And nobody knows who did who gave.
SPEAKER_02: One of you actually paid$1,200 for his cremation to help his family.
SPEAKER_02: And I was so proud of the way that you stepped up for Rick's family, even though most of them will never come worship here on a Sunday.
SPEAKER_02: They will just give glory to God.
SPEAKER_02: You did this because you love God and it spilled over into your care for Rick's family.
SPEAKER_02: You didn't need anything in return, which is beautiful.
SPEAKER_02: Because I know because of you, a widow in her worst moment, in her most intense pain, in her deepest, darkest grief, that widow, she worshiped God for his provision.
SPEAKER_02: And when she said, Thank you so much, Pastor, once again I could say, I didn't give anything to you.
SPEAKER_02: It wasn't me, it was God.
SPEAKER_02: She worshiped God for his provision because of Christ in you, the hope of glory.
SPEAKER_02: Now I know what some of you are thinking, I cannot do all that Jesus is asking.
SPEAKER_02: I'm too poor, I'm too selfish, I'm too too insecure.
SPEAKER_02: And you would be right.
SPEAKER_02: You would.
SPEAKER_02: He's showing you why you need him.
SPEAKER_02: You can walk a tight rope of obedience, but eventually you are going to get it wrong, and our God is pure.
SPEAKER_02: He doesn't mix with your impurity.
SPEAKER_02: But the good news is that God made a way that that he left the perfection of heaven, sent his son Jesus to this earth to die in your stead, to live a perfect sacrificial life in your stead, not because we deserved it, but because we were enemies that he wanted to make family, co-heirs with Jesus.
SPEAKER_02: He rose again on the third day.
SPEAKER_02: That was the true receipt.
SPEAKER_02: That receipt of his power over death, over the devil, over sin.
SPEAKER_02: For you and me, if we would but repent, if we would but turn our backs on our old ways of life and turn to God and say, I'm done following this way, I'm done seeking approval from everyone else.
SPEAKER_02: I only want yours.
SPEAKER_02: For some of you, this has been a long time coming.
SPEAKER_02: It has it has been on your mind.
SPEAKER_02: God has been pursuing you.
SPEAKER_02: Now it's time, you got to surrender everything to Him and make today the day.
SPEAKER_02: For some of you, you've already given your life to Him, but you've not been obedient.
SPEAKER_02: It's okay.
SPEAKER_02: Today is the day.
SPEAKER_02: When's the best time to plant a tree 10 years ago?
SPEAKER_02: When's the second best?
SPEAKER_02: Today, guys, I know we like so much of life where we want to ask ourselves uh, do I do what God's God wants or do I do what I want?
SPEAKER_02: I know that life can be like that.
SPEAKER_02: But here is the beautiful thing: God's Holy Spirit will rest in you who belong to Jesus, and as you seek Him and as you allow Him to speak into your life, more and more you will find something magical happening.
SPEAKER_02: Not magical, spiritual happening.
SPEAKER_02: You will find the things God wants in you, and you will start to want those things.
SPEAKER_02: And so I close with this as I went too long, I apologize.
SPEAKER_02: So, City Life Church and Guests.
SPEAKER_02: Our Father in heaven delights in rewarding righteous acts which flow from his love.
SPEAKER_02: But God is uninterested in generosity that is rooted in exploitation or cheap ego boosts.
SPEAKER_02: Instead, he desires hearts attuned to his heart, hearts that want the whole world to know the glory of God.
SPEAKER_02: Let us pray.