The Heart of a giver || Rev. Adeola Akanbi

So in the past three Sundays ago or so or

four Sundays ago we started the series and we used

two Sundays and then three Sundays ago. There were some

issues that last Sunday we had to trash all of

those issues out and with thank God for moving us forward.

So let's continue with this today. We want to look

at the heart of the giver, the heart of the Giver,

and we'll be looking at Second Corinthians chapter ninety six

to eight and then Mark twelve forty one to forty four.

So those are the two texts that we're going to

be looking at looking at And I wrote down there

this is not from me, but one of my Augusts.

While I was in school.

He used to tell us that the heart of the

matter is a matter of the heart. The heart of

the matter is matter of the heart. Can you say

to somebody by your side, the heart of the matter

is a matter of the heart.

All right?

It sounds like what the more people call tautology, but

it's not really tautology. There's a lot of things that

are you know, they're inside that that's understanding. So this morning,

imagine that two people walk into the church and then

someone came, you know, with his barbaria ga and then

come in and he has come to give as we

you know, ten thousand ira and he shows it to

everybody and he dropped his money. But there's another woman

who has decided to just come and with a five

hundred nira and just came and just drop Think about it.

Who among these two do you think God is going

to receive that offering from? Just think a moment. Who

do you think God is going to receive that from God?

What is God's value? It is the heart, not the amount.

It is the heart not the amount. What you see

with the first giver is somebody that is coming with

that notice me attitude, with that attitude of pride and arrogance,

that hey, I want to give big thing. But the

other person came with that humility and gave sincerely to

God out of the little she has. So we have

said when we started this series that all we have

is from God. Nothing comes from us. If God had

not given us what we have, we cannot say it

belongs to us in the first place. And that's what

we have established in the last session that we did.

So today our focus is on why and how we

are to give, how and why we are to give,

and that's what we want to look at in the Bible.

So we'll be looking at that first concience, and the

Book of Mark chapter twelve will be considering what God

has to give to us from those two texts. So

the first thing I want us to know in this

today is that God wants cheerful and willing give us.

Can we say it? God wants cheerful and willing give us.

That's all God wants. That's what God wants. And let's

see it from the Bible. Second Corinthians, chapter nine, six

to seven. Second Corinthians, chapter nine, six to seven. Let's

see what the Bible says. Remember this, whoever sows sparingly

will also reap sparingly. And whoever sows generously, we also

reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided.

In your heart.

Not reluctantly or under compulsion. For God loves a cheerful giver.

So what is the Bible telling us? Look at it again?

And in fact, Paul is beginning with remember this, meaning

that keep this to mind, don't forget it.

So she looked Baptist Church. This is instruction.

From a servant of God saying, remember this, keep this

one to heart. And he says, whoever, and I like

this because Paul is trying to give us disunderstanding from

farming or agricultural in a setting, who havever sols sparingly?

What does it mean to so sparingly?

Eh? What does feel? Feel?

Feel? In other words, you don't expect someone who has sown,

who has sown corn in this entire church auditorium like this,

uses this place to sow con and then someone who

just decides to sown between displaced and displace, you don't

expect them to get the same harvest at the end

of the day.

Is not so? And that's what the Bible is trying

to us understand that.

Whoever sows sparingly sows feel that person we also reap

feel Why, because whatsoever a man saws, what will happen?

That is what the person we reap. It is the

size that you are going to reap. It is it is,

It is not something more than that. But it also says,

whoever sows generously generously having to sew more. Whoever does

it in a better way, we also reap out generously.

So it is not possible for you to sew sparingly

and then you reap generously. It's not possible. So again

the Bible says, hah, look at this, he says, each

of you, eh, each one of us, as we are

seated here today. The Bible says, you should give what

you have decided where.

Where, what you have decided in your hearts.

It is not what somebody told you to give. It

is what you you have decided in your heart. That

is what God is saying that you give.

And it's saying it not reluctantly.

Reluctantly is when go and give, no give no july No,

I won't, I will I won't.

No, it's not.

Reluctantly, but it's saying that's not under compulsion, not that

they force you to come and give. Excuse me, have

we been fulfilling this part of the Bible in the church.

Mhm?

Have we been fulfilling it in the church. That's exactly

what the Bible is saying. The Bible is not looking

for people that are forced to come and give or free. No,

if you are willing and obedient, as I says, you

will eat the fruit of the land. I tell us again,

you see the Bible. The Christian life is a life

of obedience. It's not about what you think. I've gone

for some programs and in that program they were expecting

people to come and give to support the program. It

is not a church program. And they will call in

fact children program parents are there too, and they will say,

add this person. They've called them to come and do

this beauty pageant that they do, and all the children

would dress, and then they will come and do. They

will come and do, and then when they will go back,

and then all of them like that. Then they lined

up all the children and then they say parents should

start pay. So excuse me, So whatever whoever gives the

most is the winner. Excuse me? You said we should

do beauty pageants contests?

Is that not?

So?

Isn't not based on who dresses fine abbi, who has

had worked fine abby, who is looking better? That should

win the race? You're not turning it around. You say

it is the child that will win, is the one

that the parents. So they will put something in front

like this, so they will count all the morning. I say,

where are we going? And you know what, that's what

they want us to bring into the church, so that

I'll bring the Coward family. I'll bring the Lass family.

I'll bring the Bannerber's family. I'll bring the man On

the family. And I say all of them today, these

are the people who we give in the church. So

whoever is able to motivate church members to give them more,

these are.

The people that have given more to the Lord.

Come is shout allelujah, and then word shout allelujah.

And that is.

But look at what the Bible is saying.

It is what you have decided in your heart, not

because they forced you.

Not reluctantly. So reluctantly is something that is from you.

Compersion is something that all the other people are telling you.

Go now, go now. No.

I don't want to know, no why Because God lost

a cheerful giver. God lost a cheerful giver. What are

the points there for us? God is like I mean giving,

It's like planting seeds. You get what your plants. You

get what your plant. That's giving. That's giving. Number two me.

You see in that text, God is not seeing anyone.

No.

When we're looking at the Book of Some fifty, the

Bible says in that passage that the cutus on a

thousand ears who owns them, God honds them, God holds them.

And the Bible says some twenty four the earth.

Is the Lord's and the fullness thereof. So if God

holds everything, he wants us to give out willingly and cheerfully,

not grudgingly or under or out of pressure. No, God

doesn't want you to give in that way. Be free,

be willing to give. And that why the heart of

the matter is the matter of the heart. It's about

the heart. Again, we see in that text that if

you give because someone is watching or because you are

afraid of a pastor's words, that is not cheerfulgiving. Eh,

that's not cheerfulgiving. And it's not just about offering alone.

If Jesus was saying that when you are giving, don't

let the left hand know where the right hand is given,

what does that mean? It's not the physical hand in

this case, Jesus is just trying to give a figurative

expression that don't let someone by your side know what

you are giving. Give all right, let's summarize it. An example.

Some people give during church programs or public events just

to be praised. And that's why when you go for

the Oan bears, how many of us who were at

Owan Bear yesterday. You know you went for a party

yesterday when you were dancing and then somebody is singing ah,

and then you just go and then your dance like

that and then you carrying money and anything with your

in your bad context.

The thing is crazy small, eh.

You see this, This this drum that they used to

play like this is talking drome and that that drum

actually talks.

It talks.

In the Yorba palance, it is said that if they

want to, if they want to scatter the entire place,

they can use that gun going to do it, and

they will scattered, in fact, if gurgle man if for

like one month, because that's their business. If the man

never chop, eh, you know what they would do. They

will carry that there gaga and then somehow central place

in the community they will just start playing. I tell

you before that evening, somebody, one old person will die, yes, yes, yes,

and then they will go and once the person died

will come and tell that you want to announce the

date of that person. So they will now go to

the house and start play and start play, and then

people will now know that somebody is dead. And then

what happened, there will be enough. They will declare up

plus whether you have the money or not. When somebody dies,

because it's the crazy madness that we're having Nigeria. When

somebody dies like this, even if the money that you

didn't use to take care of the person when the

person was sick, you're gonna bring it and then you

declase surplus.

Eh. It is like somebody.

Whose wife I just put to bed nine months, even

common pampas you know by and the baby come, you

declare suplas.

Excuse me, what's happening to us?

So people give during these programs, why just to be praised,

just to be praised, not because they actually were giving

to bring glory to God. Some give so their names

will be announced.

Eh.

So that it is me I am the one giving.

But that's not what the Bible is teaching us. But

that's kind of giving us no reward from God is

looking at your heart. God is looking at our hearts.

What is the state of your heart? That's number one.

So let's go to number two. Things that I want

us to see from the Bible today. Number two, God

supplies and rewards faithful give us. He's there in the

verse nine of that place we're read. So you see

it in this.

This eight. Rather look at what the Bible says there.

And God is able to bless how abundantly. When you

say something is abundant, what is the size of abundant?

Immeasurably you can measure it abundantly, so that in all

things and at all times.

I in want all that you need.

But somebody is going to say, ah, but do you

usually have everything I need?

Let me tell you have what you need, it is

not what you want.

God is concerned, and that's why Paul when he was writing,

he said, and my God, we supply all that you need,

not what you want.

There's a difference. There's a difference. So he says, IVN

all that you need.

What we app you will abound, abounding, mean that you

will have sorts of the flowing supply that you can give,

that you can continue to give again, that you can

continue to gieve in every good work. So what's the

God the Lord telling us there? When you give with

the right heart, God blesses you. But listen, not always

with money, because that is where the issue is. Many

of us think, and that's why it has become the

church has become a place of transaction. Now HM, So

if I bring God must give me no. But if

you consider the peace somebody was sharing that God had

instructed the person to speak to a particular person, and

for some time, the person was reluctant. It didn't want to.

The person doesn't want to. He didn't want to speak

to the person, just to tell the person. And you

know what, as soon as the person decided to even

speak to that person that same week, there was a

gift that came to that person, appreciating the fact that

the person who took their college to.

Even warn that person.

There are times that God is expecting us to give

It is not because he doesn't have in the first place.

What you have.

He gave it, and he's saying just part of it,

and then we're still complaining. But when God blesses us,

he could give us opportunities. When God blesses us, he

could make it available. Sufficiency, sufficiency meaning that God will

always make it available.

You don't know about a begging.

I pray for deeper understanding of the revelation of the

world of God. Look at this, The more you give faithfully,

the more God trusts you.

With more.

Jesus gave the parable of the talent. A man was

giving fife, another man was giving to another, one was

giving one. The one that was giving fife multiplied. The

one that was given to multiply. The one that was

giving one buried it. So some of us we always

want to keep what we have. No, but that's not

what God wants us to do. A woman in a

local church was known to give small but faithful offering.

When a financial emergency came up, she testified to our

God provided through unexpected help. Through unexpected help, that's the

God who sees our hearts. God steps into situation for us.

God curses even to run away from us. God blesses

whichever weigh, just like a way looking at the matter

of prayer being answered, No, you don't dictate to God.

God has the right to do what he wants to do.

But he has promised that he's going to bless and

so whatever he has decided to do is left to him.

But it's going to bless. You made the Lord help

us in Jesus' name. All right, let's go to number three.

Thing that I want us to get this money a

heart of sacrifice and that's something about giving.

A heart of sacrifice.

So let's go to the Book of Marc Chapter twelve

forty one to forty four. Mark chapter twelve forty one

to forty four, Mark twelve forty one to forty four.

Look at what the Bible say is there. Jesus sat

down opposite the place where the offerings were put and

watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury.

Many rich people threw in large amounts, but a poor

widow came and put in two very small copper coins

worth only a few cents.

Colin Is disciples to him.

Jesus said, truly, I tell you, this poor widow has

put more into the treasury than all the others.

They all gave out of.

Their wealth, but she, out of her poverty, put in

everything all she had.

To leave on.

This is something about God, the institution of marriage. A

man and a woman, we come, eh, and the Bible

says they will do or they will become one.

You see something that is happening here.

People who are rich, they were coming with their big

bags of money, and the Bible said Jesus sat down

there and was watching, and he saw all of them

give it. But the conclusion is that the person who

came because she gave out of all she has, and

that's a big expression from that woman. It is not

about the amount now, so we will see it in details.

So what are the things that we can glean from

that text? Jesus watches how we give? Can you tell

somebody by your side say, Jesus watches how you give.

Jesus is always watching how you give.

Number two things you see in that textis that many

rich people gave large psums, but Jesus noticed the widows

gifts because it was sacrificial. I pray that each time

that you give, either in the church or even to

other people, that God evils will notice what you are

given in Jesus' name. It is not enough to give,

but does God notice what you are giving? The only

point when God notices such giving is when it is

actually sacrificial.

What else do we see there? She gave all she

had a heart.

It shows that she actually has a total trust in God,

total trust in God. I have this all I have,

but I believe that God will provide.

And that's what she gave.

Oh pastor is saying that as you're going to bring

all my bank accounts and come and pour it in

the church.

That is not it, That is not it.

And that's where we began from the first Corinthian account.

It's about your heart, what have you decided. But it's

not enough about the decision of what you intend to give,

but also that God is expecting a sacrificial giving. And David,

when David was to sacrifice to the Lord, and God

instructed him that he should sacrifice because of the plague

that was going on in the land and.

Around now the Jebucide said to.

When David told him that he wanted that land and

he will pay for it, he said, no, don't pay

for it. I will just give you everything, including all

this thing, for you to do the sacrifice. And he said, no,

I will not give to my God what will cost

me nothing. That's a level of sacrifice. And that's what

God again is expressing in this text about that woman.

Our motive was not to show off. When we come

to church to give, it is not to show off.

It's the motive was that of love, that of faith,

that of obedience to the instruction of God. And Jesus

was saying that give m h and it shall be

given unto you. What are we to give? From that text?

What are we to give? It's not clear. Give anything

that is givable and then it shall be given to you.

What would they give to you? Anything that is givable

to you? And that's the principle of the Kingdom of God.

What is it takeaway? Whether you end one thousand ira

or one hundred thousand ira. What masters is your motive?

And faith?

That widow will be unnoticed in our today's society. Is

that true or not very true? Nobody will notice her.

But meanwhile in the Kingdom of God, she's establishing mansions there.

But Jesus saw a heart. I pray that Jesus, we

always see your heart, and evans will notice what you

give in the name of Jesus Christ.

Let's go to number four and that's the final point

I want to bring.

Out this morning. God measures what we keep, not just

what we give. See, my sister is laughing.

God is also measuring what you don't give, not just

what you have given. What does this.

The rich in that text gave out of excess. They

have plenty. Out of plenty that they have, they give.

The widow gave.

Out of a lock, which means that there's a day

that you have ten thousand ira, there's another day, and

on that day you could give.

But now today.

All you have is just on hundred in ira, and

God wants to see how sacrificial that you are. God

is looking, it's also measuring what we have not given.

So when God is looking at what you have given,

it's also looking at what you have not given. God

is not asking for what you do not have. And

the Bible says, what do we have that has not

been given to us? Only this life? Even the life

God has given it to us. If God decided it's

going to take that life away from us, who are

you to question God?

God? Lives have been taken out of people.

What can they do about it? So God is not looking,

He's not asking for what you don't have. It is

based on what you have. If all that you have

is just ten thousand diar, God is just saying, take

part of it, and I'll go to another explanation later on.

So it is asking you to trust Him with what

you have. Trust God with what you have. It is

not what you don't have. Another point is that giving

that places God often comes with sacrifice, a cost, that

shows it comes first. And that's why the encouragement is

that we give our tithes as soon as you know

we receive something, give part of what we want to

give to God.

That's the encouragement.

Look at what the Bible says in the Book of

Proverbs Proveraps Eleven twenty four. See, there's some principles in

the Bible.

That I had to choose. Look at this.

The Bible says, one person give freely, eh, Yet it

gains more analysis. Somebody is always giving, it's always giving.

And yet the Bible says, the person has more when

you always give.

Eh.

God, we trust you with more, and so you will

always bless you with more. Because I know this one well,

not hide, it will not hold. But look at it.

The Bible now says that I'm not that person with

all unduly.

Eh.

Some people everything about them is how they will receive,

how they will receive, how they will receive. I am

in needle, I am in needle all the time. They

are always in need. They don't give, and the Bible say,

what apples they come to poverty? Ah, May the Lord

deliver us from perverting Jesus name. Sorry to use.

This description.

Our nation and Anigeria doesn't give to other nations, but

they are always borrowing.

You see the reason why we are poor.

And Angeria is one of the poorest the nations of

the world.

But we're always borrowing.

During about just time, you know, they wrote off many

of our debts eh, meaning that they gave it to us.

Then we went back.

We start borrowing and borrowing and collecting and collecting, but

never to give. If you're someone that's always receiving and receiving,

you're not giving out.

You are dead. See. And that's the tropic of dead sea.

For what they have told us about the dead sea.

Every river comes into the dead sea, but nothing goes

out of the dead sea. Nothing goes out of it.

Stagnant there. And that's the description that God is telling

us here. One person gives idea money life to the

service of God everything. It is not just about money alone. No,

you are available for the things of God. You are

available to assist other people. You are available to hep

and support. You are available all of these things. Is

part of giving, is part of giving, and the person

as it gives is energised. But somebody that doesn't give

is falling sick. Yet it doesn't give. He doesn't do

this one, he doesn't do all these other things. It's

fighting challenges.

How come.

Give us never lack. Everyone who gives will never lack.

That statement is not a prayer, it's a principle of life.

It's a strong facts of life. You don't have to

be a Christian. You don't even need to know Jesus.

If you give, you will never lack. Somehow somebody will

come to your head. I pray that God we open

our eyes in Jesus' name, had attitude that pleases God.

Number One, give with joy, not because you most give

with joy. The Sami says, I was glad when they

said to me, let us go to the house of God.

Some people, when.

They say it is time for church, they are sad.

They don't want to come to church. They will have

reasons upon reasons not to come to church. My bellot

is turning me. Something is happening to me, and I

say with joy, not because you must come to church,

not because you much, but because you are happy. Like

the Sami says, I was glad when they said to me,

let us go to the House of the Lord.

Because a place for you to worship and save your God.

Give with joy, not because it is a must, even

though it is required of you to give.

God does not.

Firsts trust God, don't fear, don't fear, trust him. Be

willing to sacrifice, Be willing to sacrifice.

Obey God's voice. What is God telling you right about?

Now? Obey his voice. Let's look at some real life

examples and then.

I'll be.

I'll give room. I will summarize it and then interact

real life examples. A wealthy business man in my Tama

gives five hundred thousand and ira offer him every Sunday,

but he spends two million Ira on one dinner. Now

let's understand this description. He's a business man. These are

ways that he could have spent the money. He's a

business man. I could get my business partners because I

want to get business from them, and then go there

and just let's have a business meeting. And then he

decided to spend the two million Iraw that's a possibility,

and God, it's not it's not faulting that it's business.

But just imagine this man is a business man, has

so much money and every Sunday it comes, it gives

five one hundred thousand dora. You know, it makes the ear,

it makes the account of the church to swear right.

But this same person can go and declare surplus with

two million ira get girls and just you know, declares

supplus everywhere. It is not about what has been done,

it's about the value. What value has this percing placed. Meanwhile,

a woman selling tomatoes in caramel market gives two hundred

naira every Sunday, which is our profit from the sales

of tomato. Every two days, she's only able to get

two hundred naira. And then she said that two hundred

naira that are we get for selling tomato in two days.

And we take that one and give in the church, all.

Right, But the rest of the two two hundred narra

that will come in the rest of the days of

the week. And we keep that one to myself to

help my family. In God's eyes, who gave more? In

God's eyes, who gave more? It is not what we

are thinking. I prave that God we open our eyes

beyond the letters in the name of Jesus. Sometimes these

principles of the kingdom are so tough, but you know what,

the hand is always peaceful look at this experience again.

A civil servant turning eighty thousand ira monthly decide to

give ten thousand naira as tithe for eighty thousand mira. Normally,

what should have been the tide eight thousand mira. Okay,

so ten percent of that should have been eight thousand ira.

But this person decided, I'm going to give ten thousand mira,

which is above the tide, even when for costs have increased.

School fees I do allelujah. Parents, parents shout allelujah. School

feez is coming is also uh h. But in spite

of all that, that person is giving ten thousand mira.

To do that.

This requires faith that God will provide this place. Is

God more than politician who gives one million naira from

money It should not have even half in the first place.

So when they bring it to church, you know where

we're talking about that the other time, whether we should

receive it or not. If they have brought it to

the Lord, we receive it and we use it to

the glory of God. But between you and God, and

that's why you see, it is very important that we

understand what is going on here. It is God who

decides in all of this, He has his principles. All

that God requires from us its obedience. Look at this.

A university student like Shello and Tardita gives one thousand

hour from our five thousand aram monthly. Mister Fanshadow, reduce

what you're giving her every month, please, is part of

the increase it. So she takes one thousand dora out

of five thousand hora to support church mission, fellowship mission

in school, meaning she must walk instead of taking an

acada some days. But you see what that sacrifice of

one thousand era that she's giving to mission work has

touched the heart of God. It doesn't have to be

much the rest of the four thousand era. What is

that going to be for? For other things that you

need to do. But you have taken again that Oh,

this one that should have been for me to take. No,

let me go through this. God will see the heart

and God will bless.

So personal check.

Why do you give? Can you ask yourself that question

this morning? Why exactly am I giving? How much do

you really give? Are you a cheerful I mean, are

you cheerful when giving? Or you are grumbling? These people

have come and let's just go and give. Let's just

go there. Let's just drop something that's not just about it.

Do you give only when you have enough? Or do

you trust God even when you have little? Even when

you have little? Do you trust God that's going to

bless you? So let's summarize the point this way. God

values the motive or the reason behind your giving more

than the amounts.

God is looking at. The reason.

Is it for you to show off? Or is for

you to glorify God? Cheerful and willing giving places? God

cheerful and willing given places God. The Widow's offering teaches

us about sacrificial giving and trust in God. Giving is

a way to honor God, not to impress people. So

when you bring, that is the reasy. Are you honoring God?

When you bring to God? It is not to impress anybody.

And finally, when we give faithfully, God supplies our needs.

When we give faithfully God, we always supply our needs. Remember,

God sees your heart. He is not impressed by big

envelopes or loud announcements. He is honored by a heart

that gives out of love, faith.

And joy.

That is what God is looking at. That is what

God is looking at because God wants to bless us,

so let me say this. Does it mean God is

not asking us for be big money? Bring the big money,

but give it from the heart that is out of love,

out of faith and joy, and me the Lord help

us in Jesus' name. All right, questions and interactions before

we pray. Questions and interactions?

Okay? One? Two? Just two people? Where's the second mic? Please?

Mister Barnabas and mister came up one of their church someday.

I told pastor about it that I will not becoming

at if Fred inverted me. So the first time I

actad the church, I said, Bro, your church is beautiful.

You say thank you? So where and it is time

for all three? Then I now went to outside then

and now remove to Aldrednran to Tally places as even

if they want to dance like dlet times after that

is my cot is. I just want to say, you

don't want to dance like Dley times. I have money

to to put so we have many in number. I

don't know why your eyes just flash to me, he said, Bro,

how much are you breaking out?

It's to organize? Are you saying? To now? Many of them?

Some of them are breaking five thousands even this mo

children one five, two thousands, he said, at the people

that respect me a lot in my working place.

Amen, bro, No, you can't do that. I was ashamed.

Immediately, people that I preach for, we're now telling me

how to give the approaching for me on how to

give the church. I shameless, lady move one thousand another

I put as an a free Immediately I do the

A three I run out of the church.

Were judging me.

I said, k Now, you see when I go back

to my church, no wonder, your church is beautiful. If

I go back to my church to ordnarize cancel, that

is that is me. That's my gos to hodnize, cancel

the broad them. But it's just I say, five thousands.

It's worse in the week. Now you know that you

are coming to the church. Praise Master Jesus. So web

pastor is dep preaching about it. Now reflect again and

now say I'm as say it to clear my court

yet Praise Master Jesus.

Amen.

Thank you very much, sir. I like the points you made.

Once in a week, many of us we don't even

get to this church environment except once, and it's only

on Sunday, and the only thing that you have of

everything that God has done, your God is so small

that it is only five point fifteen nine that you

can bring to him every week. It's a shame on you.

That's how big your God is. That's how much you

appreciate your God. That's how much you appreciate your God.

And I'm sure the church that you are talking about

is within this our vicinity.

They are not. They don't have two aids in that place.

No. I remember when Gary Kee was still struggling, people

were giving out of the little day had. But look

at that church today, the Convention president, while he was there,

that church was always giving as a church. And so

that thing has entered into every member of the church.

And I was sharing with somebody. When is the prayermitting

they don't need to announce in this church? Is only

on Sunday that we give?

Is not so?

Which other time do we give? There's none, There is

none in Garrigede. There is nothing that happens in that

church that they don't give. Even if you don't ask them.

The pastor has forgotten. Once you close, like these people,

they will they will open. Because the offa tree boxes

they are always lined up in front like this, they

will come and give.

That is a level of relationship with God.

But you see most times when we feel that God

has what exactly has God done for me? And because

God has not done anything, look at that proverbs that

we read. Some people keep holding like this, They keep

holding to themselves, and what is happening? They are getting poorer.

The church you have said, the members are giving. It

is once in a week, once in a week, once

in a week. May God open our eyes.

See. The principle of the world of God is simple.

It is what look at somebody decided that it is

five thousand I want to give.

He gave example of himself.

Ins still trying to divide the money in his pocket

even to two hundred, instill trying.

To divide it.

It's a mentality because you feel that God has not

done anything for me, So why should I give you?

But God, they allow what happened to Job and his

children and to happen to you. Your business did not collapse. Eh,

it is send you out of work. But you come

and the only thing you come and do is just

say this is God, just I beg manage this five

hundred this week. I will see you next week when

I come back. Made the Lord open our eyes. May

the Lord help our hearts.

Praise a lot, men, Thank you, Thank you person of

the lecture that you're giving us. My questions go like this,

and the example, yes, the teaching that you give us

about politicians and the market women. Now if the politicians,

we are aware the avoided contract and the federal government

removed the money gave him to do the contract of

his constituency, and he didn't do the project, and he

removed some amount of money, brought it to the church.

They supposed to accepted the money. That is my question.

No, make it clear I say that.

But yes, the example that you give the for the

politician the market Twolman.

Yes. Now, if the politicians.

The constituency requested a work for their side, yes, and

they go through him, Yes, and he submite the proposal

to the government, Yes, and the government approved the contracts okay,

and they give him the money.

He didn't do the work, okay.

And now you know removed amount of money inside that

project that he didn't do for the constituency. He brought

it to the church he was supposed to accepted the money. Okay,

So that's a question. Is the church supposed to accept

the money? Is the church supposed to accept the money?

You said, thank you very.

Much, man.

So the only reason why the church it is a

gift that you are bringing. The church is not aware

all of this story, their background stories. If the church

is aware, If the church is aware, thank you all right.

So if the church is aware that they of course

the church, sorry, please. The church is part of the community, abby,

and they are aware that the community has gone through

their representative, and they are also aware the government has

approved of the money, and they are also aware that

the money has been paid, and they are also aware

that that's the money is somewhere sitting in the politician's

bank account, and they are aware that he has taken

the money out of that account and he has brought

it to church. That's the scenario, is that not so

the church is aware of all of those steps, which

ideally the church can never be aware of all of that.

But let's hear prais the Lord.

From my own point of view, there are gifts and

there are a gift that are meant to shut them

out of the receiver. If that gift bringing to church

is like give you a night food that will not

make the church to say the truth to the power.

I'm of the opinion that the church should not collects

such And recently there was one that happened between Kby's

state government and one of our pastor and then Pastor

Pollinating when during the crusade, the governor sends money to

them like TEXTI maybe three million or texts a million.

As they were back announcing and saying that I want

to use this to support the ministry of.

Pastor this and this we heard. Even the wife was

the first person saying no, no, no, no, no no.

So when the pastor we talk, so I see there

are all funds in these states. There are people that

need this money. Take it to them, But are they

going to take it to them? So gifts are not

all the time gifts. So are we advised that the

Church of God should be sensitive.

And allow the only spirit to guide us in whom

we received from and what we received from them? The

lobby apples and Jesus, and.

You see, perhaps the church is not even a place

like dunamis the place.

It's like she Loo Baptist Church.

And somebody say, and somebody has brought teny million to

the pastor's office, say, pastor, give me the account of

the church, and this money is hot, let me drop

it to the account of the church.

God has led me to do that.

But this is money that you are aware there's supposed

to use for project community project.

Should the church take it.

Or not? He gets as he b and b as

he gets praise the Lord after mister Patrick mamadicness Bardi.

Yes, after what moment I've just said. I think I

think recently it's like the f City minister worship with

Apostolic Church. I don't know, maybe probably he grew grew

up from that church, so he visited a particular district.

So he went to the church and was like trying

to you know, trying to monetize the church and influence

them on their voting patterns, you understand. So recently the

hierarchy of the church came out and said that's that

should be the firsts and the last that any politician

will visit their church to try to influence them on

who to vote for or on how to go about.

Their voting im patterns.

You understand, because some of these politicians, we're talking politicians

we are talking about. Some of them are outside the outside,

their conturt jobs, their businessmen. I don't think there's no how.

Even there are criminals that will go we will go

out there, you understand. Raw people will still come back

to church, you understand, and go to church and job offerings.

So like those politicians we are talking about their businessmen,

there is no how you identify that this particular money

was taken from the contract awarded, and this particular money

is from their business aspect. So I feel that whatever

that is brought to church is left between you and

your God.

Thank you, sir, thank you.

My man.

Dickness, Oh there I said your mind, Okay.

Praise the Lord. Amen.

As human beings, we should look at money from each size,

like in this church. We have seen the way we

come to church and the way we look. Invariably, we

don't know each one's account, but from the look at

of things, you can be able to know that this

person heed this amount, this person heed this amount, and

if by tomorrow I should come here to give thirty million,

there should be questions around like a case we're handled

in soccer.

Somebody ran to you.

And say give me ten thousand, give me ten thousand,

I will sende it for thirty million.

It's got a questioning.

Sure, you are asking me for ten thousand and you

are giving me thirty million. Why not go with that

thirty million? Why do you want to which means in

the first place, you must know that that thirty million

is deity. He wants to drop that day thirty million

with you and go with your ten thousand.

And that was what's happened all these people. That's and.

They enter into somebody's account. Then he wants these Pews

people to give him ten thousand, and after collecting the

ten thousands from pos, he now enter into another person's

account and transfer that a million. And when the ICI

icip you see people was checking the account, they came

and hold the fewers. I was not the person somebody

transferred into my cant and he has this appeared. So

we must make use of our behavior, even why in

the church, even why in the market, thank you.

Thank you. We must be people of integrity. We must

be people of integrity.

Yes, we may not know whether or not that money,

as some of them are business people, and let's not

take that out of it, all right, But then as

a church, as a church we must leave under the

influence of the power of the Oly Spirit to guide

us in anything such as that. It's not just even

about politician illum, but people who are not politicians. So

let's take it out of those who are not even politician.

It's not just about politician illue. Do we just receive

anything just because it's coming from Uh? This is where

you are aware. But if you're not aware the person

has brought a gift to the church. Why should I question?

It is between you and God, and you have brought

it to God. You have left it on the Lord's

table let. It be used for the work of mission.

It's all about that. But then between you and God

the matter will be sorted out. Made the Lord guide

our thoughts. May the Low strengthen our beliefs. In Jesus' name.

All right, let us spray. Father, Let us seed of

your word mix up with faith in our lives. That

we bear much fruit, fruit that we love last generations.

As we go this week, go with us. Lord.

In Jesus' name, we pray