WEBVTT 00:00:01.360 --> 00:00:04.719 Welcome to this week's message from the church at Chelsea Westover. 00:00:04.879 --> 00:00:10.800 Our core values are vibrant worship, intimate fellowship, fulfilling service, and clear biblical truth. 00:00:10.960 --> 00:00:13.359 We pray that this message changes your life. 00:00:13.519 --> 00:00:17.519 Let's tune in to today's message and see what God has in store for you. 00:00:17.839 --> 00:00:24.960 We've got a we're a young church, but most a large percentage of our people have been saved. 00:00:25.120 --> 00:00:26.640 They were not Christians. 00:00:27.039 --> 00:00:31.839 And then a lot of our people that are coming regularly had been out of church for a long time. 00:00:32.479 --> 00:00:34.799 And reasons, people had hurt them. 00:00:34.880 --> 00:00:38.880 And let me go ahead and tell you right now, you don't put your eyes on people. 00:00:39.840 --> 00:00:40.479 Amen. 00:00:40.719 --> 00:00:54.320 Because Satan will use people within a church to do things to try to get you to uh assimilate that over to the church, and or that all churches are like that, and and you know, to keep you from coming to church or going to church. 00:00:54.560 --> 00:00:56.320 And he just works that way. 00:00:56.640 --> 00:01:01.039 That's who that's part of his strategic planning. 00:01:01.439 --> 00:01:12.400 But with that said, my prayer was that our people will not look at these three to four messages on stewardship as, oh no, the church is just needing money, needing money. 00:01:12.480 --> 00:01:13.599 No, no, no, no, no. 00:01:13.760 --> 00:01:15.120 Because it's more another money. 00:01:15.280 --> 00:01:17.680 And by the way, let me just go ahead and help us all. 00:01:17.920 --> 00:01:19.359 God doesn't need our money. 00:01:20.159 --> 00:01:20.560 Amen. 00:01:20.799 --> 00:01:22.000 God doesn't need our money. 00:01:22.239 --> 00:01:22.560 Okay? 00:01:23.120 --> 00:01:25.760 And by the way, hey, he doesn't. 00:01:26.079 --> 00:01:29.120 But God has a system, God has a plan. 00:01:29.280 --> 00:01:31.599 Do you know why God blesses you with money? 00:01:31.840 --> 00:01:33.920 Let me tell you why he blesses you with money. 00:01:34.239 --> 00:01:35.920 Somebody said, I don't have any. 00:01:36.000 --> 00:01:40.239 Well, just start applying the principles and watch what God does. 00:01:40.400 --> 00:01:44.560 Because it's not how much money you have, it's what you do with what you have. 00:01:45.680 --> 00:01:46.000 Amen. 00:01:46.319 --> 00:01:47.359 And you're going to see that. 00:01:47.920 --> 00:01:48.560 It really is. 00:01:48.719 --> 00:01:50.799 The widow's mic was the greatest gift of all. 00:01:50.959 --> 00:01:51.200 Hello? 00:01:51.840 --> 00:01:54.079 So it's not about how much and all that. 00:01:54.239 --> 00:01:56.000 What it's about is obedience. 00:01:56.560 --> 00:02:02.959 What it is about is you being a blessing because, hey, to give because God's blessed you. 00:02:03.359 --> 00:02:04.239 That's what it is. 00:02:04.319 --> 00:02:05.920 It's a chain reaction. 00:02:06.159 --> 00:02:07.519 And it's exciting. 00:02:07.680 --> 00:02:15.599 And the more you give, can I let me give you another thing that Susan and I, after 35, wonder, no, 34? 00:02:16.080 --> 00:02:16.719 34. 00:02:16.879 --> 00:02:18.400 Baby, it's been so good. 00:02:19.680 --> 00:02:22.400 34 wonderful years. 00:02:23.199 --> 00:02:26.479 And ever since God put us together, we've just been givers. 00:02:27.120 --> 00:02:31.759 But the watch how God blesses you back so you can give more. 00:02:32.000 --> 00:02:32.400 Hello. 00:02:32.960 --> 00:02:35.120 See, the key is don't ever hoard it. 00:02:35.919 --> 00:02:37.360 The key is just keep giving. 00:02:37.520 --> 00:02:39.199 The more you give, the more he gives back. 00:02:39.280 --> 00:02:40.240 That's the way it works. 00:02:40.400 --> 00:02:41.840 I promise you, I promise you. 00:02:42.080 --> 00:02:42.800 Been doing it. 00:02:42.879 --> 00:02:45.120 Oh, I've been doing it a lot longer before I even met her. 00:02:45.280 --> 00:02:48.319 I've been doing it almost 40 plus something years. 00:02:48.479 --> 00:02:50.000 And God has so blessed us. 00:02:50.080 --> 00:02:50.879 I look back today. 00:02:51.199 --> 00:02:53.599 I just turned 62 and I know I don't look it. 00:02:53.680 --> 00:02:54.560 Thank you very much. 00:02:56.879 --> 00:03:00.719 And and and I was telling Susan, God has so blessed us. 00:03:00.960 --> 00:03:10.719 I meant right now, uh, you know, if the Lord was hopefully not, but to take me home right now, I I I've had the greatest life I could have ever had. 00:03:11.039 --> 00:03:11.840 Really, really. 00:03:12.000 --> 00:03:13.680 But he's gonna give me many more years. 00:03:13.759 --> 00:03:15.520 We got a lot of work to do here. 00:03:15.759 --> 00:03:17.439 And uh and it's exciting. 00:03:17.599 --> 00:03:18.080 It is. 00:03:18.240 --> 00:03:19.520 But I'm just sharing. 00:03:19.680 --> 00:03:24.159 Don't, don't let Satan put that thought in you, it's all about money. 00:03:24.319 --> 00:03:26.560 That's the least thing it's about. 00:03:27.680 --> 00:03:34.240 It's about you and your relationship and me and my relationship with the awesome Almighty God. 00:03:34.479 --> 00:03:36.319 And that's what 2 Corinthians said. 00:03:36.560 --> 00:03:39.199 I really had never seen in such a strong way before. 00:03:39.360 --> 00:03:49.840 So if you're here, you do not have a worship guide, raise your hand because on the back of the worship guide is our outline, and I love teaching. 00:03:50.000 --> 00:03:52.639 Anyone that needs a worship guide, we got a few. 00:03:52.719 --> 00:03:56.319 Last week we ran out, had a great number last week, 200, about 280 folks. 00:03:56.560 --> 00:03:57.840 Wait a kick the new. 00:03:57.919 --> 00:04:06.560 I know it's a little cold, and you know, it's amazing how when it gets a little cold and a little bad weather, people can use a good excuse not to be in church. 00:04:06.719 --> 00:04:10.319 But maybe I know what you're saying, but Brother Danny, I'm watching you. 00:04:10.560 --> 00:04:13.759 Okay, all right, for you that are tuned in online. 00:04:14.319 --> 00:04:33.199 But in 2 Corinthians chapter 8, Paul is writing to the church at Corinth, and boy, he was dealing with them and encouraging them because a year prior to this uh letter, uh, as he's writing, uh, they had made a commitment. 00:04:33.279 --> 00:04:37.040 They had heard about, they had heard about the church in Jerusalem. 00:04:37.199 --> 00:04:41.040 The church in Jerusalem was in need of financial help. 00:04:41.199 --> 00:04:45.519 They were, you know, they were exploding, they were growing, and they needed help. 00:04:45.600 --> 00:04:47.519 They didn't have enough place to put the people. 00:04:47.680 --> 00:04:49.920 Anyway, they just needed a lot of financial help. 00:04:50.000 --> 00:05:00.480 So the the call went out to all the churches in the Judea region there and Achaea and Macedonia and Berea. 00:05:00.959 --> 00:05:04.480 And so all the churches, you know, said, Hey, we'll help, we'll help. 00:05:04.800 --> 00:05:09.839 Especially the one of the first churches to step to the plate was the church at Corinth. 00:05:09.920 --> 00:05:14.160 Uh, and they said, we'll start taking up an offering, then come back by and pick it up. 00:05:14.319 --> 00:05:18.879 And man, the Macedonians, they started giving unbelievably. 00:05:19.040 --> 00:05:39.600 And the testimony, the testimony here in 2 Corinthians 8 was the church at Macedonia and how they were giving because uh, as we looked at last week, to become a grace giver, they were grace givers because they were giving, not because they had just had tremendous financial blessings. 00:05:39.759 --> 00:05:51.279 In fact, the Bible says, as we looked at last week, they were giving out of their poverty, out of their poverty, not just out of their abundance. 00:05:51.439 --> 00:05:58.720 Now, folks, that's when you know you're a grace giver, when you can give out of your poverty instead of out of the abundance. 00:05:58.879 --> 00:05:59.759 Can I get an amen? 00:06:00.399 --> 00:06:01.120 That's it. 00:06:01.279 --> 00:06:01.839 That's it. 00:06:02.000 --> 00:06:03.519 You know, there's three types of givers. 00:06:03.759 --> 00:06:05.360 I didn't say this last week. 00:06:05.600 --> 00:06:10.079 There's the give to get giver, and hello. 00:06:10.240 --> 00:06:11.360 The give to get giver. 00:06:11.519 --> 00:06:12.879 Now, what you say, what is that? 00:06:13.040 --> 00:06:22.720 Somebody gives because they want to get something back, and they especially give to people that they know those people can give back to them down the line. 00:06:23.360 --> 00:06:23.839 Hello? 00:06:25.120 --> 00:06:30.000 Okay, and then there's a second type of giver, there's the grit giver. 00:06:30.800 --> 00:06:32.079 What is the grit giver? 00:06:33.920 --> 00:06:35.519 All the preacher wants this money. 00:06:36.800 --> 00:06:37.600 They just give grit. 00:06:40.160 --> 00:06:40.800 Hello. 00:06:43.040 --> 00:06:45.360 Do you say that when you go to the gas station? 00:06:47.120 --> 00:06:48.480 Not anymore, do you? 00:06:48.639 --> 00:06:56.639 You say hallelujah! I know I filled my Tahoe up yesterday for$34 and instead of$80, I said hallelujah. 00:06:58.319 --> 00:06:58.959 Amen. 00:07:00.160 --> 00:07:03.600 But everywhere you go, it's what do they ask you for? 00:07:05.279 --> 00:07:08.879 And a lot of your grit givers like me sometimes, I don't know, no, that's too much. 00:07:11.040 --> 00:07:12.959 Or I say, honey, do you really need that? 00:07:13.120 --> 00:07:18.240 And then I think a minute, if I don't shut up, she's gonna tell me, do I really need my toy? 00:07:18.800 --> 00:07:21.120 And I always lose when that happens. 00:07:21.360 --> 00:07:24.480 So I've learned to just about keep my mouth shut, Paul. 00:07:24.879 --> 00:07:37.279 But but grit givers, you you just grit, you know, not willingly, not out of a cheerful heart, you just give because you're supposed to, or you're being, you feel like you're under obligation, you feel like you have to. 00:07:38.800 --> 00:07:41.199 But then there's the grace giver. 00:07:41.759 --> 00:07:43.360 You know what a grace giver is? 00:07:43.920 --> 00:07:47.040 He just gives because he loves to give. 00:07:47.360 --> 00:07:49.680 He gives because he wants to give. 00:07:49.920 --> 00:07:52.639 And he gives because he's been blessed. 00:07:53.519 --> 00:08:06.240 See, I'm convinced the more I'm studying about giving, your relationship with God and how he's blessed you is such a great motivation, and you give him back in that proportion. 00:08:07.199 --> 00:08:08.639 I really believe that. 00:08:09.040 --> 00:08:11.040 So that means you can't outgive God. 00:08:11.600 --> 00:08:12.240 Amen. 00:08:13.199 --> 00:08:22.000 And, you know, as as we look today, as we look today at uh reasons people don't give. 00:08:22.079 --> 00:08:26.720 And I'm not just talking about of finances, I'm talking about of their time and their talents too. 00:08:26.959 --> 00:08:28.639 Just like up here, your talents. 00:08:29.040 --> 00:08:34.240 Ben's got talents of of beating the drums, and and trust me, I understand. 00:08:34.320 --> 00:08:35.519 I hear them all the time. 00:08:35.759 --> 00:08:38.320 And he no, I'm joking, Ben. 00:08:39.120 --> 00:08:40.159 You know what he does? 00:08:40.399 --> 00:08:46.320 He gets up in the in his room and he puts earphones in to the music so he can play. 00:08:46.399 --> 00:08:48.720 But he doesn't realize I don't have the earphones. 00:08:53.519 --> 00:08:54.879 Look at him smiling back. 00:08:55.840 --> 00:08:57.679 He's very conscientious. 00:08:58.000 --> 00:08:58.720 He really is. 00:08:58.960 --> 00:09:00.240 He just gets louder. 00:09:00.480 --> 00:09:07.120 But giving to the Lord is kind of like having children. 00:09:07.360 --> 00:09:12.559 And what I mean by that, you know, you really never plan for them. 00:09:12.720 --> 00:09:19.120 Or you try, if if, or let me put it this way: if you do plan for them, you may never have them. 00:09:19.519 --> 00:09:29.519 Because if you have you sat down and figured what it costs from the moment that baby's born till they graduate from college or vocational school, don't do it. 00:09:31.679 --> 00:09:33.440 Don't figure it out. 00:09:34.559 --> 00:09:38.240 And then that's not counting on the cars and the clothes. 00:09:38.320 --> 00:09:41.440 And and I had girls, two girls and a son. 00:09:41.679 --> 00:09:42.960 Son, no problem. 00:09:43.039 --> 00:09:46.000 Uh sons are easy compared to girls. 00:09:46.320 --> 00:09:48.480 Oh, girls, God help us. 00:09:54.240 --> 00:09:56.879 Ladies, I got two gorgeous, and I love them. 00:09:57.039 --> 00:09:58.720 But Lord, they just oh. 00:09:59.039 --> 00:10:00.320 And they had me around there. 00:10:00.480 --> 00:10:02.399 Anything they wanted, I gave them. 00:10:03.120 --> 00:10:05.200 And that was my fault. 00:10:05.440 --> 00:10:08.159 But they said, Diddy. 00:10:08.720 --> 00:10:09.039 Oh. 00:10:09.600 --> 00:10:11.679 And then those boys start coming around. 00:10:11.919 --> 00:10:13.440 Oh, Lord help me. 00:10:14.080 --> 00:10:14.720 It's over now. 00:10:15.279 --> 00:10:15.759 It is over. 00:10:16.240 --> 00:10:19.440 And you know, one of them told me, said, you know, I should have listened to you. 00:10:20.080 --> 00:10:22.000 You know what I told both of my son-in-laws? 00:10:22.320 --> 00:10:23.919 I said, I got one word of advice. 00:10:24.000 --> 00:10:28.080 I have spoiled them rotten, and don't you ever forget it. 00:10:28.320 --> 00:10:32.480 I said, hey, I've created two monsters and you're marrying them. 00:10:34.639 --> 00:10:35.679 Didn't I, honey? 00:10:35.840 --> 00:10:36.320 I did. 00:10:36.480 --> 00:10:36.799 I did. 00:10:36.879 --> 00:10:37.600 I warned them. 00:10:37.679 --> 00:10:41.039 And one of them told me, said, you were right. 00:10:42.320 --> 00:10:43.919 I said, I wasn't lying. 00:10:44.159 --> 00:10:44.799 Amen. 00:10:45.600 --> 00:10:51.600 So it's kind of like having, you know, if you plan to give of your time, your talents, your treasure, you'll never get around to it. 00:10:51.840 --> 00:10:56.720 And what makes some of the, hey, we made some of the same excuses that the church at Corinth. 00:10:56.799 --> 00:11:09.759 Undoubtedly, the church at Corinth had made a promise to uh Paul and the church at Jerusalem, and he just wanted to make sure they'd go through with their promise, their commitment, and undoubtedly some of them were not. 00:11:10.159 --> 00:11:15.759 So Paul's writing to encourage them that once you make a commitment, go through with it. 00:11:15.840 --> 00:11:21.840 But he's also encouraged them to be excited about giving of their time, their talents, and their treasures. 00:11:22.000 --> 00:11:34.320 Now, at the end of this month, we're going to have a seminar led by David, Dave Ramsey Financial Peace Seminar, a mini version of three hours, that will be life-changing for you. 00:11:34.480 --> 00:11:36.399 It will be life-changing for you. 00:11:36.559 --> 00:11:38.320 I'm telling you, listen to me. 00:11:38.480 --> 00:11:40.879 I heard this 30 plus years ago. 00:11:41.039 --> 00:11:56.399 And it's God has been able to allow Susan and I to be where we are today financially and every other way because we took these principles in our young years, in our early 20s, and we've applied them for almost 35 years. 00:11:57.679 --> 00:12:00.799 They work, they work. 00:12:01.600 --> 00:12:02.639 God, they work. 00:12:02.799 --> 00:12:05.039 Woo! And it's so good. 00:12:05.360 --> 00:12:13.600 So, with that said, there was a pastor named Braudus who was a famous preacher. 00:12:13.679 --> 00:12:16.960 In fact, he's got a book on preaching that's one of the best out there. 00:12:17.679 --> 00:12:22.000 But you know what he would do every once in a while when he'd be preaching on stewardship? 00:12:22.080 --> 00:12:22.879 You know what he'd do? 00:12:23.120 --> 00:12:30.480 He'd come down out of the pulpit, and as the offering was being passed, he would just walk up and down and look and see what everybody's giving. 00:12:34.720 --> 00:12:35.360 Hello? 00:12:36.320 --> 00:12:38.960 Now you're saying, mmm, I see those things. 00:12:39.840 --> 00:12:42.559 Brother Danny, I would not do that. 00:12:42.720 --> 00:12:43.519 Don't have to do that. 00:12:43.600 --> 00:12:46.879 Because I know, hey, it's not, hey, you're not answering to me. 00:12:47.600 --> 00:12:48.080 Hello. 00:12:49.039 --> 00:12:52.559 But what he would do, then he'd come back into the pulpit, and here's what he'd say. 00:12:52.720 --> 00:12:57.919 Now, some of y'all got a little uncomfortable as I was walking up and down looking at your giving. 00:12:58.080 --> 00:12:59.919 He said, I just got news for you. 00:13:00.240 --> 00:13:02.000 God sees you every week. 00:13:03.600 --> 00:13:05.039 He said, You can't fool. 00:13:05.279 --> 00:13:06.639 You can't fool God. 00:13:07.840 --> 00:13:12.960 He sees what you give of your time, your talents, and your treasures every week. 00:13:13.200 --> 00:13:15.279 So I thought that was pretty interesting. 00:13:15.519 --> 00:13:19.279 And I can just imagine, though, what the people were thinking. 00:13:19.519 --> 00:13:24.320 But the questions asked me most most often, why is it that more people don't give? 00:13:24.720 --> 00:13:26.720 Of their time, their talents, and treasures. 00:13:26.879 --> 00:13:35.440 And let me give you another statistic that after 30 years of ministry, checking statistic after statistic, it hadn't changed. 00:13:35.600 --> 00:13:36.639 This is what's sad. 00:13:36.960 --> 00:13:41.840 In fact, the giving percentage has gone down from about six to seven percent. 00:13:42.000 --> 00:13:45.200 Now the average giving of Christians is about three to four percent. 00:13:45.279 --> 00:13:48.879 So it's dropped three to four percent over the last 20 years, which is sad. 00:13:50.080 --> 00:13:51.120 Should have been going up. 00:13:51.279 --> 00:13:54.799 But now here's here's the answer that they give. 00:13:54.960 --> 00:13:58.480 And it's I wish we could change it, but we hadn't been able to. 00:13:59.120 --> 00:14:02.240 20% of the people do 80% of the giving. 00:14:04.080 --> 00:14:08.720 20% of the people do 80% of the serving. 00:14:09.759 --> 00:14:11.840 Hadn't changed in 30 years. 00:14:12.480 --> 00:14:13.679 Why is that though? 00:14:13.840 --> 00:14:14.879 That's the question. 00:14:15.120 --> 00:14:15.919 Why is it? 00:14:16.159 --> 00:14:17.200 That's the question. 00:14:17.440 --> 00:14:20.000 Well, today we're gonna look at why it is. 00:14:20.320 --> 00:14:36.960 Because Satan has so uh, so blinded us to these powerful principles of grace giving because he knows if a church or a person starts being a grace giver, then he is full of grace. 00:14:37.440 --> 00:14:47.039 And when he's full of grace, he is a radiant, dynamic Christian that draws people to the Christ-likeness that is in them. 00:14:48.799 --> 00:14:51.200 And that's a dangerous person. 00:14:51.600 --> 00:14:54.799 Do you know when you're walking in the remember we talked last week? 00:14:54.879 --> 00:14:57.759 If you didn't hear the message, you've got to go back and go over it. 00:14:57.840 --> 00:14:59.440 Please don't miss one of these messages. 00:14:59.600 --> 00:15:04.639 I'm telling you, the probably the three or four of the most important messages I'll preach all year. 00:15:05.360 --> 00:15:06.960 Because it's life-changing. 00:15:07.120 --> 00:15:13.759 You can't get any closer to God until you learn to be a grace giver. 00:15:15.600 --> 00:15:17.440 That's how important it is. 00:15:18.639 --> 00:15:22.720 So, with that said, number one, how does Satan blind us? 00:15:23.440 --> 00:15:27.600 People don't give to God, number one, because they're not a Christian. 00:15:27.919 --> 00:15:29.440 That made sense, doesn't it? 00:15:29.519 --> 00:15:31.759 Look at 2 Corinthians 8, 5. 00:15:32.559 --> 00:15:42.000 And this they did, not as we hoped, but first, now notice they gave their own selves to the Lord and then to us by the will of God. 00:15:42.159 --> 00:15:44.799 But notice the phrase, they gave themselves unto the Lord. 00:15:45.039 --> 00:15:50.799 Until you become a Christian, you have no desire to want to give back to God. 00:15:51.600 --> 00:15:52.240 Amen. 00:15:52.480 --> 00:15:54.480 2 Corinthians 2.14. 00:15:54.720 --> 00:16:03.120 The natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolish unto him, neither can he know them because they're spiritually discerned. 00:16:03.360 --> 00:16:04.559 You have no desire. 00:16:04.720 --> 00:16:15.679 And that's why a lot of times, hey, listen, if you're not, if you're here today and you're not a Christian, hey, listen, and if you're not a part of this church and want to be, you're not obligated to give anything. 00:16:15.840 --> 00:16:24.240 In fact, what scares me sometimes is about people that give that aren't saved, they may think they're buying their way to heaven. 00:16:24.399 --> 00:16:26.559 And that is not true. 00:16:27.679 --> 00:16:30.399 You cannot buy your way to heaven. 00:16:31.600 --> 00:16:32.080 Hello? 00:16:32.399 --> 00:16:37.039 Now, just because you doesn't give doesn't mean that you're not a Christian. 00:16:37.200 --> 00:16:42.320 And it also doesn't mean that because you give, you are a Christian. 00:16:43.600 --> 00:16:45.120 You gotta understand that. 00:16:45.360 --> 00:16:49.120 It's getting back to what we're gonna see in a minute in the scripture right here. 00:16:49.279 --> 00:16:50.639 It's about the heart. 00:16:50.879 --> 00:16:51.519 Amen. 00:16:51.759 --> 00:16:55.679 First, they gave their hearts to the Lord. 00:16:55.840 --> 00:17:01.120 When God gets your heart, he's got your pocketbook, he's got your time, he's got your talent. 00:17:01.840 --> 00:17:02.480 Amen. 00:17:03.200 --> 00:17:09.279 He says in Luke 12, 34, he says, For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. 00:17:10.000 --> 00:17:10.799 There it is, folks. 00:17:10.960 --> 00:17:12.000 Luke 12, 34. 00:17:12.079 --> 00:17:13.359 That's what it says. 00:17:14.000 --> 00:17:21.519 So we see we don't give, a lot of people don't give because they are not Christians. 00:17:21.680 --> 00:17:25.599 Because, see, when Christ comes into your life, he changes everything. 00:17:26.400 --> 00:17:29.599 The little baby from the manger changes everything. 00:17:29.759 --> 00:17:30.880 I love that song. 00:17:31.279 --> 00:17:33.839 The baby changes everything. 00:17:34.559 --> 00:17:35.200 Amen. 00:17:36.000 --> 00:17:42.480 When you had your first child, Susan and I were married three and a half years, almost four years before we had our first child together. 00:17:42.640 --> 00:17:44.880 Eric was seven years old when we got married. 00:17:45.039 --> 00:17:47.759 Eric's mother had had died in my arms. 00:17:47.839 --> 00:17:48.640 You've heard my story. 00:17:48.799 --> 00:17:51.359 For you that haven't, I've got it on tape. 00:17:51.519 --> 00:17:59.279 But but but but when Susan and I had Mary, our oldest daughter, who's just, again, I love my daughters. 00:17:59.440 --> 00:18:00.799 I love them so much. 00:18:00.960 --> 00:18:04.000 But when we had Mary, it changed everything. 00:18:04.720 --> 00:18:05.119 Hello? 00:18:05.440 --> 00:18:06.559 In a good way. 00:18:07.119 --> 00:18:08.000 But it changes. 00:18:08.160 --> 00:18:09.279 Well, I got news for you. 00:18:09.359 --> 00:18:12.400 When Jesus Christ comes into your life, it changes everything. 00:18:12.960 --> 00:18:16.480 Now, if you're here and you say, Well, it didn't change in me, you didn't get it. 00:18:17.599 --> 00:18:19.119 Hello, you didn't get it. 00:18:21.200 --> 00:18:22.640 You say, Well, I've been baptized. 00:18:22.720 --> 00:18:24.640 Well, all you did was get dunked. 00:18:25.839 --> 00:18:33.599 Baptism has nothing to do with salvation, but it has everything to do with being obedient to the command of a witness for the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:18:34.880 --> 00:18:35.519 Amen. 00:18:36.319 --> 00:18:40.079 So, change, therefore, if any man be in Christ Jesus, he's a new creation. 00:18:40.559 --> 00:18:41.440 Old things have passed away. 00:18:41.519 --> 00:18:42.720 Behold, all things have become new. 00:18:42.799 --> 00:18:44.240 2 Corinthians 5.17. 00:18:44.480 --> 00:18:48.799 When the Holy Spirit comes to dwell in that person, the love of God is made known to that person. 00:18:48.960 --> 00:18:53.359 The grace of God awakens that person, and he or she is transformed. 00:18:54.480 --> 00:18:58.880 For by one spirit is Christ, hey, by one spirit we're all baptized into one body. 00:18:59.039 --> 00:19:00.640 1 Corinthians 12, 13. 00:19:00.880 --> 00:19:04.640 God commended his love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 00:19:04.799 --> 00:19:08.240 Ladies and gentlemen, when he comes into your heart, he changes you. 00:19:09.200 --> 00:19:11.039 No change, no salvation. 00:19:13.519 --> 00:19:14.799 No salvation. 00:19:15.599 --> 00:19:22.640 2 Corinthians 5.8, Paul says that those who were given in Macedonia, look, first gave themselves to the Lord. 00:19:22.799 --> 00:19:24.799 That's the order of events, isn't it? 00:19:24.960 --> 00:19:28.079 First you give your heart to the Lord, then he has everything else. 00:19:28.240 --> 00:19:29.599 You don't mind giving to the Lord. 00:19:29.759 --> 00:19:32.160 Now, let me give you one of the greatest examples. 00:19:32.640 --> 00:19:33.680 Zacchaeus. 00:19:34.559 --> 00:19:37.039 Zacchaeus was a wee little man. 00:19:37.680 --> 00:19:40.480 Y'all remember that for us that went to Sunday school? 00:19:40.720 --> 00:19:42.160 A wee little man. 00:19:42.640 --> 00:19:47.759 But Zacchaeus was a very hated wee little man by the Jews. 00:19:48.079 --> 00:19:49.839 Zacchaeus was a Jew. 00:19:50.240 --> 00:19:53.759 But he also was a tax collector. 00:19:54.720 --> 00:19:56.640 Don't you just love the IRS? 00:19:58.000 --> 00:20:00.880 I'm from the IRS and I'm here to help you. 00:20:04.559 --> 00:20:05.759 Now watch this. 00:20:06.400 --> 00:20:07.440 Watch this. 00:20:08.799 --> 00:20:09.920 This is so good. 00:20:10.319 --> 00:20:13.599 So we see Zacchaeus was a tax collector. 00:20:13.759 --> 00:20:15.119 Let me tell you why Jews hated it. 00:20:15.279 --> 00:20:22.880 He was sanctioned and commanded and a part of the Roman army, the Roman government. 00:20:23.119 --> 00:20:30.000 So what it meant, a tax collector had the permission to take all the tax money to give to Rome. 00:20:30.160 --> 00:20:34.079 And all the tax collectors would do, here's what they'd do. 00:20:34.240 --> 00:20:39.359 They would tax the people more than what Rome required so they became wealthy. 00:20:40.240 --> 00:20:45.839 That's why everybody, all the Jews, hated tax collectors. 00:20:46.079 --> 00:20:50.880 They knew what they were doing with the money. 00:20:51.039 --> 00:20:52.799 It's almost like in America. 00:20:54.160 --> 00:20:56.480 38% taxation right now. 00:20:57.279 --> 00:20:59.279 Well, that's probably true. 00:20:59.759 --> 00:21:05.680 Can I remind you we fought the revolutionary war for two reasons taxation and freedom of religion? 00:21:06.000 --> 00:21:07.440 Just a thought. 00:21:07.680 --> 00:21:10.319 I'm not advocating we do another revolution. 00:21:10.559 --> 00:21:11.839 Don't go out of here. 00:21:12.559 --> 00:21:16.720 But that is kind of coincidental, isn't it? 00:21:17.039 --> 00:21:19.359 But we see, so guess what? 00:21:19.599 --> 00:21:21.680 Jesus comes into the city. 00:21:22.160 --> 00:21:25.680 Zacchaeus had heard about Jesus coming, so he couldn't see. 00:21:25.759 --> 00:21:27.039 There was such a large crowd. 00:21:27.119 --> 00:21:30.240 So he climbed up into the sycamore tree to see Jesus. 00:21:30.319 --> 00:21:32.319 And when Jesus came in, he looked up. 00:21:32.480 --> 00:21:38.640 Jesus, he's omniscient, he knows all things, and he said, and I will go to Luke, I think it is, what is it? 00:21:38.720 --> 00:21:40.400 Luke chapter 9, 19. 00:21:40.640 --> 00:21:41.759 Luke chapter 19. 00:21:41.920 --> 00:21:44.480 I've got it on there for you in my notes. 00:21:44.640 --> 00:21:51.119 And here's the exciting thing what I see in Luke chapter 19, verses 1 through 10. 00:21:51.200 --> 00:21:51.839 We see the story. 00:21:51.920 --> 00:21:54.799 We're only going to look at verses 7, 8, 9, and 10. 00:21:54.960 --> 00:21:59.839 But notice here's what happens Jesus comes into town and he looks up and he says, Zacchaeus. 00:22:02.079 --> 00:22:03.599 Come down now. 00:22:04.000 --> 00:22:06.559 I'm going to your house today. 00:22:07.920 --> 00:22:09.039 Remember the song? 00:22:10.960 --> 00:22:13.200 I'm going to your house today. 00:22:13.440 --> 00:22:14.559 In fact, look at it. 00:22:14.720 --> 00:22:15.359 It's powerful. 00:22:15.519 --> 00:22:16.720 Look at what he says. 00:22:17.039 --> 00:22:18.799 Verse 5, chapter 19. 00:22:18.960 --> 00:22:23.599 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and saw him and said unto him, Zacchaeus. 00:22:24.000 --> 00:22:25.279 Now watch what he says. 00:22:25.519 --> 00:22:30.480 Make haste and come down, for today I must abide at my house. 00:22:30.799 --> 00:22:35.200 And he made haste and came down and received him joyfully. 00:22:35.359 --> 00:22:36.960 Whoa, there's so many principles here. 00:22:37.039 --> 00:22:38.240 I'm going to show you in a minute. 00:22:38.400 --> 00:22:46.799 And when they saw it, they all mumbered, good, good, backslidden, lost Christians. 00:22:46.960 --> 00:22:48.799 Well, the lost are not a Christian. 00:22:48.880 --> 00:22:51.519 But if you're backslidden, sometimes they mumber. 00:22:51.599 --> 00:22:52.960 But these were all the people. 00:22:53.119 --> 00:22:54.000 They were the Jews. 00:22:55.200 --> 00:22:58.319 They were the Gentiles and the Jews all in the crowd. 00:22:58.480 --> 00:23:07.920 And when they saw it, everybody, they all mumbered, saying that he was, hey, he has gone to be a guest with a man that is a sinner. 00:23:09.680 --> 00:23:11.519 They knew he was a cheat. 00:23:11.759 --> 00:23:13.599 They knew he was stealing. 00:23:13.839 --> 00:23:15.359 They all knew it. 00:23:15.920 --> 00:23:16.480 Hello? 00:23:18.160 --> 00:23:19.119 Guess what? 00:23:19.359 --> 00:23:23.279 People know when you're not living for God. 00:23:24.240 --> 00:23:28.319 Hello, so don't try to fool somebody and you sure can't fool God. 00:23:28.880 --> 00:23:29.359 Amen. 00:23:29.519 --> 00:23:30.640 He knows your heart. 00:23:31.440 --> 00:23:32.079 Amen. 00:23:32.880 --> 00:23:34.640 Now, so that's one point. 00:23:34.720 --> 00:23:35.839 But here's another point. 00:23:36.079 --> 00:23:38.480 He's going to eat with a sinner. 00:23:38.720 --> 00:23:40.079 Hallelujah! 00:23:42.240 --> 00:23:46.559 And I'm glad he went to eat with a sinner because I be one. 00:23:48.880 --> 00:23:50.559 That's how much he loved him. 00:23:51.359 --> 00:23:52.559 That's how much he loved him. 00:23:52.720 --> 00:23:58.319 In fact, let me show you four good things here that you gotta see about Zacchaeus. 00:23:58.400 --> 00:24:03.039 He's a great illustration of the priority of giving oneself and then one's possessions. 00:24:03.279 --> 00:24:05.039 Because look what happens next. 00:24:05.359 --> 00:24:06.480 Verse 8. 00:24:08.240 --> 00:24:13.920 And Zacchaeus stood and said unto the Lord, Behold, Lord, now he's already gotten saved. 00:24:14.160 --> 00:24:15.119 How do you know that? 00:24:15.279 --> 00:24:16.960 He received him in verse 6. 00:24:17.119 --> 00:24:19.839 He made haste and came down and received him joyfully. 00:24:20.000 --> 00:24:20.880 He got saved. 00:24:21.039 --> 00:24:22.319 He's excited. 00:24:22.640 --> 00:24:24.400 His life's been changed. 00:24:24.640 --> 00:24:26.160 He met the master. 00:24:26.480 --> 00:24:27.359 He's been changed. 00:24:27.440 --> 00:24:28.559 And now look what happens. 00:24:28.720 --> 00:24:29.279 Verse 8. 00:24:29.440 --> 00:24:35.519